Jewish Connection AUGUST 2026
DEDICATED TO ENGAGING, INFORMING, & INSPIRING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
‘A Night In Havana’
.NEWS
Benefiting The Beth El Center For Jewish Life And The People Of Cuba
The vibrant rhythms, colors and spirit of Cuba will come alive this fall as the Beth El Center for Jewish Life presents A Night in Havana, an extraordinary evening of music, culture, fine dining and philanthropy featuring internationally acclaimed four-time Grammy Award-winning percussionist, singer, songwriter and producer Tomasito Cruz. The elegant celebration will transform the Beth El Center for Jewish Life’s Katz Pavilion into an authentic Havana-inspired experience complete with spectacular live entertainment, Cuban-inspired cuisine and desserts, premium open bar, dancing, classic cars, cigars, a silent
The spectacular Cuban-themed celebration featuring Tomasito Cruz will combine world-class entertainment, exceptional cuisine and humanitarian impact in one unforgettable evening auction and an atmosphere unlike any other fundraising event in Palm Beach County. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Beth El Center for Jewish Life while also supporting humanitarian relief efforts for the people of Cuba. “This is much more than an evening of enter-
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tainment,” said Rabbi Alan Bell. “A Night in Havana celebrates the power of culture to bring people together while helping us strengthen our own community and extend compassion to others who are facing tremendous challenges. It embodies the values that define the Beth El Center for Jewish Life.”
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Headlining the evening is one of Latin music’s most celebrated performers. Tomasito Cruz has earned four Grammy Awards during an extraordinary career that has taken him around the world. Known for his elecContinued On Page 6
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Professor Miriam Hoffman, World-Renowned Yiddish Scholar And “The World’s Yiddishe Mameh,” Has Died
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Professor Miriam Hoffman, the fiery, funny, and fiercely prin- too much life — too much argument, irony, and love — to vanish 2nd, 2026; 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. cipled matriarch of modern Yiddish culture, has passed away. She quietly.” In lieu of flowers or gifts, tax deductible donations to support was 90. In her later years, Hoffman extended her life’s work beyond Professor Hoffman’s Yiddish legacy can be made to Yiddishkayt Born Mirl Schmulewicz in Siberia in 1936, Hoffman spent the classroom, co-founding the Not-For-Profit Yiddishkayt Initiative at: www.YILoveJewish.org/donate her earliest years in the shadow of the Tobolsk Slave Labor Camp Initiative, Inc. and its global platform, YILoveJewish.org, with her Professor Hoffman is survived by her two sons, Avi and and the Russian border town of Saratov, before walking, at age son, actor, director, and producer Avi Hoffman. Benjamin; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild — and by nine, in a post-war refugee caravan from Poland to the “My mother didn’t just teach Yiddish — she made the whole a worldwide community of students, readers, theatergoers, and Hindenburg-Kaserne Displaced Persons Camp in Ulm, Germany. world fall in love with it,” says Avi Hoffman, Co-Founder of the activists who carry forward her conviction that languages do not That journey — from a stateless child behind barbed wire to one of Yiddishkayt Initiative. “She survived the worst of the 20th cen- die of old age; they die of neglect. the most influential voices in Yiddish language, academia and culture — became the foundation of a six-decade career devoted to proving that Yiddish was not a relic, but a living, breathing act of resistance to forgetting and a commitment to reviving the legacy of Ashkenazic Jewry. Hoffman’s academic career began at the storied Sholem Aleichem Folkshul #21 on Bainbridge Avenue in The Bronx and culminated in 25 years as professor of Yiddish language and Jewish culture at Columbia University, where she turned an elective language course into a life-altering experience for thousands of students. Her 700-page textbook, “Key to Yiddish,” remains the preeminent reference for Yiddish educators around the world. An award-winning playwright, Hoffman collaborated internationally on her Yiddish translations of Mel Brook’s The Producers (Montreal) and Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple (Israel). Together with her longtime writing partner, Rena Berkowicz Borow, she was embraced by the late Broadway impresario Joseph [L] Professor Miriam Hoffman [R] Avi Hoffman with his mother Professor Miriam Hoffman. Papp, co-writing the libretto for the groundbreaking 1989 Yiddish/English musical Songs of Paradise, staged by The tury and spent the rest of her life making sure the language and About the Yiddishkayt Initiative, Inc. Public Theater — a landmark moment in the modern rebirth of the people who spoke it would never be erased and forgotten. Founded by Professor Miriam Hoffman and Avi Hoffman, the Yiddish theater that paved the way for later Yiddish-language pro- Every joke, every lecture, every column was her way of saying: Yiddishkayt Initiative, Inc. (YILoveJewish.org) is a global ductions of Waiting for Godot, Death of a Salesman, and Fiddler “We are still here.” I have spent most of my life making sure her resource dedicated to preserving and celebrating Jewish and on the Roof. voice would be heard and remembered.” Yiddish culture, education, and entertainment for new generaFor more than 35 years, Hoffman was a weekly columnist for Shiva took place at Country Club Towers, 10777 West tions. Advocating for Jewish Pride, Building Cultural Bridges and the Forverts (The Yiddish Forward), where her thousands of Sample Road, Apartment 1105, Coral Springs, Florida 33065 Challenging antisemitism through the Arts. https:// essays fused sharp social critique with the warmth of Jewish folk- on Friday, July 31st, 2026; 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, yilovejewish.org/ lore. “Yiddish will never die,” she insisted, “because it contains August 1st, 2026; 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, August
A WIC First: New York To Cover Cholov Yisroel Baby Formula After Met Council Campaign For the first time ever, Orthodox Jewish families in New York will be able to use WIC to purchase Cholov Yisroel certified baby formula.
state with a simple message: this product meets the federal requirements, so put it on the list. Met Council was uniquely positioned to lead this fight. It operates the largest Kosher Food Pantry network in America, feeding more than 350,000 people every year, and runs the largest public policy and advocacy operation in the Jewish community dedicated to fighting poverty. That combination, feeding the community every day while fighting for it in Albany and Washington, is what turned one agency’s complaint into a statewide solution. “This is what effective government looks like,” Greenfield said. “Governor Hochul and Commissioner McDonald heard that families were being left behind, reviewed the solution we brought them and took action. We are grateful to them and to the Department of Health team for making sure WIC finally works for every New York family.” This victory builds on Met Council’s successful advocacy to create the USDA’s Kosher Foods in TEFAP webpage and increase the number of Kosher products available through the Federal Emergency Food Program to 13. Met Council will continue pressing local, state and federal agencies to remove barriers that keep families from fully using WIC, SNAP, school meals, emergency food assistance and other benefits for which they qualify. “There are still too many government programs that work on paper but fail families in practice,” Greenfield said. “Our job is to find those gaps and keep pushing until they are fixed, so that every family receives every benefit they qualify for.”
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For the first time ever, frum families in New York will be able to use WIC to purchase Cholov Yisroel infant formula. The New York State Department of Health has confirmed that it will add the first Cholov Yisroel formula to the state’s WIC formulary later this month. The historic change is the culmination of a three-year campaign led by Met Council and a decision made under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul and State Health Commissioner Dr. James V. McDonald. The change will benefit tens of thousands of frum families across New York, including families in Boro Park, Williamsburg, Flatbush, Crown Heights and Far Rockaway, as well as growing kehillos such as Monsey and Kiryas Joel. In the years ahead, as more children are born and new families enroll in WIC, this one fix will help generations of New Yorkers. “This is a tremendous victory for frum families, and it happened because Governor Hochul’s administration listened and acted,” said David G. Greenfield, CEO of Met Council. “I especially want to thank State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald for taking this issue seriously and working with us to get it fixed. For years, mothers were told that WIC would help them buy formula for their babies, but not a single approved product was Cholov Yisroel. Met Council identified the problem, found the solution and kept pushing until New York fixed it.” WIC, the federal nutrition program for women, infants and children, is administered by each state, with every state determin-
ing which infant formulas its program will cover. As of early 2026, New York’s formulary included more than 40 formulas. Many carried Kosher Certification. Not one was Cholov Yisroel. The result was that a mother in Boro Park could qualify for WIC, walk into a grocery store with her benefits and still walk out empty-handed because not one formula on the list was permitted in her home. The barrier came down to one-tenth of a milligram of iron. Cholov Yisroel formulas already existed, but the products previously considered fell 0.1 milligrams short of the USDA’s minimum iron requirement. That tiny gap kept every Cholov Yisroel option off New York’s WIC list and left frum families without a single approved choice. “No mother should have to choose between keeping Cholov Yisroel and feeding her baby,” Greenfield said. “This may look like one more item on a government list. For the families affected, it is life-changing. It means a benefit they were always entitled to will finally work for them.” The issue first surfaced at the annual convening of Met Council’s Kosher and Halal Food Network in early 2023, when a member agency reported that WIC-eligible mothers were leaving stores without formula because nothing on the approved list met their religious requirements. Met Council’s Food Programs and Policy teams spent the next three years working with the Department of Health, WIC advocates and formula manufacturers to find a solution. In 2025, Hannah Lupien, Met Council’s Managing Director of Food Programs, identified a Cholov Yisroel formula that met the USDA’s iron standard. Met Council brought it directly to the
Understanding Immediate Relative Visas: IR-1/CR-1, IR-2 and IR-5 Visas By Mary Wilkowski
This article is Part 1 of a series on familybased immigration to the United States. Family-based visas provide one of the most meaningful paths to immigrate to the United States. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders, may be able to sponsor certain relatives for permanent residence. However, not every family relationship qualifies, and the rules governing eligibility can be surprisingly detailed. Immediate relative visas are generally available to the spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens. These visas offer several important advantages, including the opportunity to obtain lawful permanent resident status without being subject to a visa backlog or waiting list. The immediate relative visa categories include: • The IR-1/CR-1 visa for spouses • of U.S. citizens; • The IR-2 visa for under 21, unmarried • children of U.S. citizens; and • The IR-5 visa for parents of U.S. • citizens who are at least 21. Understanding the differences among these visa categories can help families better navigate the immigration process. What is an IR-1/CR-1 visa? The IR-1/CR-1 visa is available to the spouse of a U.S. citizen. In addition to receiving lawful permanent resident status, qualifying applicants may be eligible for work authorization and travel during the adjustment process, as well as an expedited path toward U.S. citizenship. To qualify, the marriage must be legally valid
and bona fide. In other words, the couple must have entered into the marriage for legitimate reasons rather than to evade U.S. immigration laws. Immigration officers carefully review evidence demonstrating that the marriage is genuine, such as documentation showing a shared residence, joint financial responsibilities, or children together. What is a conditional green card? If the couple has been married for less than two years when permanent residence is granted, the immigrant spouse will receive conditional resident status and a two-year conditional green card. Before that status expires, the conditional resident must file Form I-751 during the 90day period preceding the expiration date. This filing requests the removal of the conditions and, if approved, allows the resident to obtain a 10-year green card. If the marriage remains intact, the individual may later apply for naturalization after three years. If the couple separates or divorces before that time, naturalization generally may be pursued after five years. Lawful permanent residents may also renew their green cards by filing Form I-90 during the six months before expiration. What is an IR-2 visa? The IR-2 visa is designed for the unmarried child of a U.S. citizen. Like other immediate relative visas, the IR-2 category is not subject to a visa backlog or waiting list for lawful permanent resident status. In certain circumstances, an IR-2 visa may also result in the child’s automatic acquisition of U.S. citizenship. Who qualifies for an IR-2 visa? Eligibility depends on several factors. The
child must be unmarried and under the age of 21, and the sponsoring parent must be a U.S. citizen. Additional requirements may apply depending on the family relationship. Adoption and stepparent relationships are also subject to specific eligibility rules. Does an IR-2 child automatically become a U.S. citizen? If an IR-2 beneficiary is under the age of 18 and resides in the United States with the parent after admission, the child should automatically acquire U.S. citizenship. Children who do not automatically become citizens receive lawful permanent resident status and may apply for naturalization after five years. What is an IR-5 visa? The IR-5 visa allows a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old to sponsor a parent for lawful permanent residence. Like the other immediate relative visa categories, the IR-5 visa is not subject to annual visa backlogs. It also has no annual numerical limit, allowing qualified applicants to obtain lawful permanent resident status upon approval. Who qualifies for an IR-5 visa? To qualify, the petitioner must be at least 21, and there must be a valid parent-child relationship. Depending on the circumstances, that relationship may be biological, adoptive or through a stepparent. The required supporting documentation varies from case to case but may include: birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, adoption records, death certificates, annulment decrees establishing the qualifying relationship, etc. Successful applicants receive a 10-year green card. They may apply for naturalization after five years or renew their green card before it expires. Immediate relative visa categories
provide valuable opportunities for families to reunite in the United States. However, eligibility requirements differ depending on the relationship involved, and every case is different. Careful preparation and thorough documentation are important components of a successful application. Consulting an immigration attorney can help families understand the available options, identify potential complications and approach the process with greater confidence. At Polatsek, Boheme & Wilkowski, we guide families, individuals, and businesses through U.S. immigration with a single goal: making your next step clear and achievable. About the Author: Mary Wilkowski is an immigration attorney and partner at Polatsek, Boheme & Wilkowski. The firm advises employers and families on work visas, PERM labor certification, and permanent residence under U.S. immigration law. The firm’s attorneys provide guidance on H-1B sponsorship, employment-based green cards, investor visas, and family immigration matters. Mary can be reached at: 954-566-0377 or: clientservices@polatsek.law. Polatsek, Boheme & Wilkowski 500 W. Cypress Creek Road, Ste. 650 - Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 This article includes general information only that is intended to help consumers learn about the legal system. It does not constitute legal advice and must not be relied upon or used as a substitute for the counsel and services provided by a licensed attorney. You should refrain from acting on the basis of this information alone without seeking legal advice from a qualified attorney.
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The Holocaust Chapter Almost No One Knows:
First Eyewitness Account Of Hungary’s Jewish Forced-Labor Service Published In English
owes the victims of its own uniform. It also speaks to this moment. With antisemitic violence at record levels in the United States, Europe, and Australia, Bihari’s diary reads as a warning about how that ends when it goes unanswered: these men were not attacked by invaders, but degraded step by step — by law, by neighbors, by their own army — while a nation looked away. He wrote it down so no one could claim it hadn’t happened. Eighty years on, that is the record this moment requires. Among the atrocities Bihari documents is the Dorosics fieldhospital fire of April 29–30, 1943 — a barn packed with Typhus patients that burned with the doors locked from the outside, killing more than 500 men in a single night. An official commission ruled it an accident the next morning. Bihari’s detailed eyewitness account — from the start of the fire through the forced participation in the cleanup — corrects the official record. The accounting no one required No accounting was ever demanded of anyone — so Bihari made one himself. Page by page, the diary names the conscripted men, records the deaths he witnessed, and identifies the guards by name and rank — and its epilogue lists the sentences they received after the war: one chief tormentor executed in 1945, others imprisoned. For families still searching for men who vanished into the labor service, it is a finding aid as much as a memoir. A family accounting The diary was translated and edited by Dr. Ivan Gulas — retired Board-Certified Clinical Psychologist (ABPP) and former Harvard Medical School faculty member — who is Bihari’s nephew. His father and two uncles walk through its pages; one of them never came home. “For eighty years, this entire chapter has been missing from what English-language readers know of the Holocaust,” Gulas said. “My uncle understood that no court, no commission, no government was ever going to demand an account of what happened to these men. So he built the account himself — every name, every date, every rank. Translating it was finishing what he started.” Those for Whom No Accounting Was Required is available now at: https:// biharidiary.com, on Amazon, and by order from major book retailers.
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Some 100,000 Hungarian Jewish men were conscripted into the munkaszolgalat. Tens of thousands died — before Germany ever occupied Hungary. Almost none left a written record. Never before published in any language, this is the first full-length diary of the labor service to appear in English. American Jewish memory of the Hungarian Holocaust begins in May 1944, at the trains to Auschwitz. But the catastrophe began earlier — in the munkaszolgalat, Hungary’s forced-labor service, into which the Hungarian army conscripted its own Jewish men. Unarmed, marked with armbands, they dug fortifications, cleared minefields, and hauled supplies on the Eastern Front under overseers with absolute power over life and death. Of the roughly 45,000 sent east, most never came home. Some companies lost more than ninety percent of their men. It is among the least documented chapters of the Holocaust — and to English-language readers, virtually unknown. No full-length diary of the labor service has ever been available in English. This is the first. Those for Whom No Accounting Was Required: The Forced Labor Service Diary of Dr. Jozsef Bihari (Salisbury & York Academic Press) is the account of one man who survived it. Bihari — a Hungarian Jewish linguist and Hebrew teacher, later a professor — was conscripted into labor company 106/8 in October 1942 and marched into Ukraine. Two hundred thirteen men set out with his company. Roughly fifty returned. In 1951, six years after coming home, with a scholar’s precision and a refusal to let a single name fade, Bihari wrote down everything he had witnessed — by hand, in Hungarian. The manuscript was never published, in any language. Translated now for the first time, it gives readers a complete, day-by-day view of the labor service from inside: the conscription, the march east, the starvation winter on the Don, the Typhus Epidemic, the retreat, and the return of the few. “The ones we had most to fear were our own.” What makes the diary singular is who the perpetrators were. The Germans cursed these men and moved on; the men who starved, robbed, and killed them were Hungarian — often officers of their own country’s army. “The ones we had most to fear,” Bihari writes, “were our own.” That is a hard conversation about neighbors — and not only a historical one. It bears directly on today’s contests over Holocaust memory in Hungary, and on what a country
From Front Page
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trifying stage presence and extraordinary musicianship, Cruz has performed and recorded with legendary artists including Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan and George Benson. His dynamic performances seamlessly blend Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, Latin music and contemporary influences into an unforgettable musical experience. His appearance at A Night in Havana promises to be one of the cultural highlights of the South Florida season. Guests will be immersed in an evening inspired by the romance and excitement of Old Havana while enjoying exceptional food, lively music and elegant hospitality in support of two meaningful causes. “This event is about creating an experience people will remember long after the final song has ended,” said A Night in Havana committee member Ivy Faske, who, along with her husband, Jack Mayer, are sponsoring the event at the highest Event Level. “Whether guests come for the music, the cuisine, the atmosphere or the opportunity to make a difference, they will be part of something truly special. We hope the entire community will join us for what promises to become one of Palm Beach County’s signature annual events.” Created by Temple Beth El of West Palm Beach as part of its centennial vision, the Beth El Center for Jewish Life serves as an innovative hub for Jewish spirituality, lifelong learning, culture, service, advocacy, wellness and community engagement. Building upon the congregation’s 100year legacy, the Center welcomes individuals and families from every stage of life while creating meaningful opportunities to connect with Jewish traditions, values and one another. A Night in Havana reflects that mission by celebrating community, cultural appreciation and generosity while extending support beyond South Florida through humanitarian assistance for the people of Cuba. Corporate and individual sponsorship opportunities are currently available, offering prominent recognition, VIP experiences and exclusive marketing benefits. Sponsorship levels range from $500 to $10,000, allowing businesses and community leaders to demonstrate their commitment while reaching an influential audience of philanthropists, professionals and civic leaders. Individual tickets are $250, with couples tickets available for $500. Details: https:// www.bethelwpb.com/havana Additional event details, sponsorship opportunities and ticket information are available by contacting the Beth El Center for Jewish Life at: (561) 833-0339. Or by visiting: www.bethelwpb.com
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80 Outstanding Jewish Students From 12 Countries Complete Prestigious Birthright Israel Excel Summer Fellowship
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The 2026 cohort of the Birthright Israel Excel Fellowship - 80 outstanding college students from around the world - completed the prestigious 9-week program in Israel this week. The fellowship develops emerging leaders in business, technology and Jewish communal life. This year’s cohort included participants from 12 countries, including host Israel with 80 local participants. Fifty participants are from the United States, while 30 come from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Russian Federation, Spain, United Kingdom. A few of the participants are visiting Israel for the first time. “Birthright Israel is thrilled to welcome the 2026 cohort of Birthright Israel Excel: 80 outstanding students selected from thousands of applicants at leading universities around the world, alongside 80 exceptional young Israelis,” said Gidi Mark, International CEO of Birthright Israel. “Birthright Israel Excel is more than an internship program - it is an investment in the future of Jewish leadership. The Jewish world needs talented emerging leaders to carry it into the future. This program is a strategic lifeline for world Jewry, helping ensure our next generation continues to thrive.” During the last 9 weeks, participants experienced Israel through its innovation, economy, and people, built meaningful relationships with one another, and joined a global community of leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. Since 2011, the Excel Fellowship has cultivated the next generation of Jewish business leaders. Each year the fellowship carefully selects top students from thousands of applicants for summer internships with leading business and tech companies in Tel Aviv. Their internships spanned fields including finance, consulting, engineering, venture capital, software development, cybersecurity, biotechnology and business development. “One of the pillars of the program this year was preparing community members for the hostile environment they might face on campuses, by giving them tools to better deal with the challenges they encounter there, along with a supportive network,” said Idit Rubin, Executive Director of Birthright Israel Excel. “We genuinely believe that by strengthening ties in the business world and through professional connections, we’re also strengthening Israel and the Jewish communities around the world. We look forward to continuing these relationships and developing them.” After their return home, the Excel fellows enter a global network that provides resources for professional and personal development, Israel engagement, Jewish leadership, and encouraging them as philanthropists. Birthright Israel Excel fellows have gone on to positions at top-tier companies such as J.P. Morgan Chase, Bain & Company, and Google. Others have developed strategic partnerships with Israeli companies and started their own companies, often hiring other fellows. Please find below photos of the 2026 cohort of the Birthright Israel Excel Fellowship Graduation event, which took place last week in Tel Aviv. Photo credit: courtesy of Birthright Israel Excel.
Group photo of graduates.
(L-R) Gidi Mark, Idit Rubin
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A Cruise Designed for People Who Are Serious About Marriage.
A Jewish Singles Cruise With A Purpose: Where Shidduch Meets Adventure
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Shalom U’bracha! Imagine stepping aboard a beautiful cruise ship with hundreds of Jewish singles from across the country, all sharing one meaningful goal: not simply to date, but to meet the person they could build a Jewish home with. That is the vision behind a new kind of Jewish Singles Cruise— an experience designed to combine the excitement and adventure of a luxury cruise with the seriousness, intentionality, and personal connection of the shidduch process. The concept is inspired by the growing popularity of Jewish singles cruises, including the cruise highlighted in the accompanying promotional image. The image captures the energy of the experience: a magnificent cruise ship sailing at sunset, Kosher meals, social events, speed dating, icebreakers, beautiful destinations, and opportunities to meet other Jewish singles. But our vision takes that concept a step further. This would not simply be a vacation where Jewish singles happen to meet. It would be a carefully designed matchmaking experience where the entire trip is built around the possibility of finding a spouse. A Cruise Designed for People Who Are Serious About Marriage The foundation of this experience is intentionality. Participants would not simply sign up because they are looking for a fun vacation or casual dating opportunities. Everyone would understand from the beginning that the purpose of the cruise is Meeting to Marry. To help create a community of people who share that mindset, participants would go through a thoughtful vetting process. Each guest would complete a detailed questionnaire or shidduch resume, providing information about their background, values, lifestyle, Jewish observance, interests, family, and what they are looking for in a future spouse. References could also be requested as part of the process. The goal is not to make the experience feel like an application or interrogation. Rather, it is to create an environment where participants can feel confident that the other people onboard are genuinely serious about finding a life partner. Matchmaking Meets Modern Dating One of the most unique aspects of the cruise would be the
involvement of professional matchmakers. Before and during the cruise, matchmakers could review participant profiles and identify potential connections. Instead of leaving everything to chance, the matchmaking process would become part of the experience. A matchmaker might notice that two people have compatible values, personalities, geographic preferences, religious lifestyles, or long-term goals. They could then encourage those individuals to meet during a speed-dating session, an activity, a meal, or a private conversation. This creates an important balance: technology and matchmaking can open the door, but genuine human connection has to walk through it. Meaningful Opportunities to Meet The cruise would feature a carefully planned schedule of social opportunities designed to make meeting people natural and comfortable. Icebreakers could help participants move beyond the awkwardness of approaching someone they do not know. Speeddating events would provide structured opportunities for guests to meet many potential matches in a short period of time. Group activities, entertainment, excursions, and social gatherings would allow people to see one another in different settings. Even something as simple as dinner could become part of the matchmaking strategy. Rather than allowing guests to sit randomly throughout the ship, meals could be organized with intentional seating. Participants might be seated according to geography, age range, interests, and—where appropriate—potential matchmaking opportunities. Someone from New York might discover a potential match from Los Angeles. Someone who never would have crossed paths with another Jewish single in everyday life could suddenly find themselves sitting across a dinner table from the person they have been hoping to meet. More Than Dating—An Experience Of course, the cruise itself should be an unforgettable experience. The promotional image evokes the beauty of sailing aboard a
world-class ship such as the *Oasis of the Seas*, surrounded by ocean views, tropical destinations, pools, entertainment, and incredible amenities. A Jewish singles cruise can combine that sense of adventure with private Kosher dining and Jewish programming. Guests could enjoy Kosher meals, guest speakers, meaningful discussions, Shabbath programming, social events, and private gatherings—all while experiencing destinations such as Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. The result would be more than a series of dates. It would be a community experience where friendships are formed, confidence grows, and people have the opportunity to discover compatibility in an authentic environment. The Goal: Build Jewish Homes At the heart of the entire concept is a simple but powerful goal: help Jewish singles meet their bashert. The objective is not to promise that every participant will leave the ship engaged. Finding a spouse cannot be guaranteed, and meaningful relationships take time. But the environment can be intentionally created to maximize the possibility of a lifechanging connection. Imagine hearing months later that two people who met at dinner are now engaged. Another couple met during a speed-dating event and discovered they lived only a few miles apart. Another friendship turned into a relationship after the cruise ended. Those are the stories that could make this experience truly special. This is not merely a cruise for Jewish singles. It is an opportunity to bring together people who are ready for the next chapter of their lives—and to give them an extraordinary setting in which to begin it. A beautiful ship. Meaningful conversations. Jewish community. Professional matchmaking. And one unforgettable possibility: meeting the person you will marry. That is the vision behind a Shidduch Cruise designed for people who are serious about finding their spouse. For more information, visit: www.ShidduchCruises.com
Award-Winning Jewish Family Home Care Named An Official Accreditation Commission For Health Care Jewish Family Home Care (JFHC) CEO Robin Miller (ACHC)-Certified Consultant Jewish Family Home Care (JFHC) – an award-winning, NotFor-Profit agency – is proud to announce that it was named an Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) Certified Consultant. This distinction follows successful completion of ACHC’s rigorous training course and competency examination, which verifies expert knowledge of current ACHC standards and survey processes. JFHC provides multi-reach, non-medical home quality home health care for Broward County, Florida seniors from all reaches of life and any faith. JFHC is one of the largest providers of home health care, providing assistance to Holocaust survivors and anyone in Broward County needing in-home care. Providing service to more than 400 clients, including over 300 Holocaust survivors, JFHC offers services such as home health aides, companions, housekeepers and certified nursing assistants. It delivers tailor-made home health care plans, with special consideration to patients’ physical and emotional needs, as well as their family’s budgets, allowing seniors to continue living at home with wellness, dignity and independence. CEO Robin Miller, Supervisor of Nursing Services Tatyana Virsta and Assistant Nursing Supervisor Shelly-Ann Johnson each received the ACHC accreditation. As an ACHC-certified consultant, JFHC is fully equipped to guide health care providers through the complex accreditation journey. Clients benefit from precise, up-to-date regulatory insight designed to streamline survey readiness, elevate patient care quality, and ensure long-term operational compliance. This accomplishment demonstrates JFHC’s long-term dedication to excellent care and quality
improvement. “Achieving the official ACHC consultant status reinforces our deep commitment to operational excellence,” said JFHC CEO Robin Miller. “We look forward to leveraging this expert insight to help our health care clients navigate the accreditation process with total confidence.” Also in 2026, JFHC once again received three 2026 Best of Home Care Awards from Activated Insights, formerly Home Care Pulse, the leading firm in experience management for post-acute care. The awards include the Leader in Experience, Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice. JFHC received all three awards in 2025 and 2024, and both the Best of Home Care® – Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice Awards from Activated Insights in 2023. As a Leader in Experience award recipient, Jewish Family Home Care ranks among the top 10% of home care providers nationwide participating in the Activated Insights Experience Management program. This recognition reflects the organization’s sustained commitment to delivering outstanding experiences for both clients and caregivers. JFHC is also recognized as one of the largest local providers of dedicated home care assistance to Holocaust survivors. To find out more about JFHC’s commitment to excellence, please visit: www.JFCares.org. Or call: (954) 908-5677. About Jewish Family Home Care, Inc.: Jewish Family Home Care (JFHC) is a Not-For-Profit Agency providing quality home
care for Broward County seniors from all reaches of life, enabling them to continue living at home and have the best level of wellness, dignity and independence throughout life. Such services are often a welcomed alternative to moving to a nursing home or assisted living facility. JFHC is dedicated to empowering individuals, strengthening older adults and families, and protecting the vulnerable and frail by providing direct home care and personal care services guided by Jewish values, social responsibility, compassion and respect. JFHC is an affiliated agency of Goodman Jewish Family Services of Broward. JFHC is located at 5890 South Pine Island Road, Suite#: 200, Davie, Florida 33328. For more information, visit JFHC at: www.jfcares.org. Contact: (954) 908-5677. Or visit: Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn. JFHC received three 2024, 2025 and 2026 Best of Home Care Awards® from Activated Insights, formerly Home Care Pulse, the leading firm in experience management for post-acute care, including the Leader in Experience, Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice awards. JFHC received both the Best of Home Care® – Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice Awards from HCP in 2023.
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The Druze Community Will Receive Eight Therapeutic Gardens Through a Birthright Israel Project
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Birthright Israel announced today the launch of a major community healing project in Majdal Shams, Israel’s northernmost village, home to a Druze community that was once under Syrian control. The initiative, coming exactly two years after the Hezbollah terrorist attack that killed 12 children in the community, was made possible by a donation from the The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation, through the Birthright Israel Foundation. The project will establish eight therapeutic educational gardens across four local educational institutions, creating spaces of healing, growth, and hope for the Druze community. The project is being carried out by the Birthright Israel Volunteer Program, a joint initiative with the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), which will bring approximately 1,000 volunteers to Majdal Shams in the coming months to take part in the effort. The project carries deep significance for Majdal Shams. On July 27, 2024, twelve children from the village were killed when a Hezbollah rocket struck a local soccer field - a tragedy that devastated the close-knit community and left a lasting mark on its schools and families. In the two years since, residents have turned to gardening and connection with nature as vital tools for rehabilitation and collective healing. Since the beginning of July 2026, Birthright Israel volunteers have been on the ground in Majdal Shams building the first of these therapeutic gardens. On Friday, July 17, a mission trip group was welcomed at Elementary School B by Dolan Abu Saleh, Head of the Majdal Shams Municipality, who spoke about the impact the volunteers are making on the community. Audible booms across the border in Syria during his remarks underscored the complexity of daily life in the village’s easternmost neighborhood. Following the mayor, Jihan Safdi, Principal of Elementary School B, addressed the group about the aftermath of the 2024 attack, in which she personally lost six of her students. She spoke about how gardening and nature-based programming have become central to the community’s healing process over the past two years. After the welcome remarks, mission participants joined 25 Birthright Israel Excel volunteers to plant greenery, arrange gravel, build planters, and lay paving stones at the Resilience Center, which borders the soccer field where the 2024 attack took place. Speaking to the group, Abu Saleh reflected on the deeper significance of the moment, describing what he called a “dual realization” that took hold among the Druze of the Golan following the October 7, 2023 attacks: a recognition that their security is inextricably tied to the State of Israel, and a definitive break from fundamentalist Islam, which the community now views as a force with which it shares no connection. “The turning point for the Golan Druze began on October 8, 2023,” Abu Saleh said. “On October 8, we accepted the Jews and Israelis as our home. Now, the Jews finally accepted us. We
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[1] David Kaplan; Dolan Abu Saleh, Head of the Majdal Shams Municipality; Gidi Mark, International CEO, Birthright Israel. [2] The project will establish eight therapeutic educational gardens across four local educational institutions. [3] Birthright Israel volunteers in Majdal Shams. arrived first; you met us there.” Launched in November 2023 in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 attacks, the Birthright Israel Volunteer program has quickly grown into one of the largest organized Jewish volunteer initiatives supporting communities across Israel. Since its launch, 30,000 Jewish adults have traveled to Israel through the program, contributing more than 60,000 volunteer days in areas including agriculture, food security, logistics, community support, and assistance to communities impacted by the war. The program has already served nearly 100 communities across Israel, giving participants a hands-on opportunity to support the country’s recovery and resilience while strengthening their personal connection to Israel. “The demand from diaspora Jews to serve in Israel keeps growing. Every volunteer we send strengthens the bond between world Jewry and Israel. Majdal Shams shows what that looks like on the ground, and we are grateful to the The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation for making this project possible. We want to bring tens of thousands more volunteers over the next few years. We need partners who will help us get there,” said Elias Saratovsky, President and CEO of Birthright Israel Foundation. “We need to expand the volunteer program so we can bring more diaspora Jews to Israel and strengthen the connection between world Jewry and Israel.” The Druze community of the Golan Heights occupies a uniquely sensitive position in the region. Numbering roughly
25,000 people concentrated in four villages - Majdal Shams, Buq’ata, Mas’ade, and Ein Qiniyye - the Golan Druze trace their presence in the area back centuries, predating both the modern State of Israel and the modern Syrian state. Following Israel’s capture of the Golan Heights in the 1967 Six-Day War and its formal annexation in 1981, most Golan Druze retained strong family, cultural, and historical ties to Syria, and for decades many declined to accept Israeli citizenship, identifying instead as Syrian nationals living under Israeli control. The October 7, 2023 events have reshaped calculations of safety, belonging, and loyalty on both sides of the border. About Birthright Israel: Birthright Israel is the largest educational tourism organization in the world. Founded 25 years ago with the dream to provide all young Jewish adults with opportunities for transformative and immersive shared experiences in Israel and a foundation for ongoing Jewish connection. Birthright offers multiple short- and mid-length programs in Israel for Jewish young adults. More than 950,000 young Jewish adults from 70 countries participated in one of the Birthright Israel programs. The gift of a Birthright Israel trips is made possible thanks to an innovative partnership between Jewish philanthropists, Jewish communities and Federations, the people of Israel through the Government of Israel, tens of thousands of alumni, their families, and individual donors from around the world.
Veteran Psychiatrist Says All Major Religions Are More Alike Than Different How is it that people from vastly different faith traditions have such remarkable similarities in their religionsł Veteran Psychiatrist Dr. Ed Siegel says the answer lies not in doctrine, but in fundamental components shared by all. In his book, A Spiritual Journey: To Know the Creator Despite Limitations of the Brain, Dr. Siegel explores common questions that unite the world’s faith traditions. “Each religion has developed its own way of grappling with life’s greatest mysteries,” he said. Among those are: “How was the universe createdł Can we truly understand the Creator’s planł What is expected of us, and how do we meet those expectationsł And what happens to the self after deathł” While traveling through Morocco and Spain, coincidentally for 40 days and 40 nights, Dr. Seigel mused that he “might have an epiphany” that could unite rather than divide the world’s religions. On day 37 of his journey, while sitting at a table on the Plaza Mayor of Salamanca, Spain, “enjoying a rather expensive Coca-Cola,” he produced an 81-word statement that, to his surprise, was just what he had hoped to compose. He calls it his “laconic synthesis,” and this sentence became the foundation for A Spiritual Journey. Blending Psychiatry, Neuroscience and faith, Dr. Siegel traces his own spiritual journey while exploring the limits of human cognition, interfaith understanding and the sense of belonging provided by religion. “It is about time that we come to grips with the fact that there is no one religion for all,” he said. “I have traveled the world visiting cathedrals, churches, temples, synagogues, mosques and shrines, both large and small, and have seen the same kind of uniting peaceful expressions on faces in each and every religious congregation.”
teacher and spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, provide a powerful epilogue, ending the book on an optimistic note and urging readers to recognize and respect the commonalities that religious traditions offer humanity. “There is a mystery of faith that we as humans cannot be expected to comprehend,” Dr. Siegal added. A Spiritual Journey: To Know the Creator Despite Limitations of the Brain ISBN-13: 979-8285567172 Available from: https://www.amazon.com /dp/B0FCYPYBBZ
Co-authors representing each of the six major faith traditions contribute their own chapters; among them are internationally known entertainer and inspirational speaker Ben Vereen; India’s treasured Hindu Kathak dancer Purnima Jha; renowned former Yale professor and researcher Jose Manuel Delgado, M.D., Ph.D; and Benin West Africa’s former President of Parliament, the Honorable Kolawole Idji. The words of renowned Buddhist
About The Author Edward Siegel, M.D., is a California Psychiatrist with more than 50 years of clinical experience. Throughout his career, he has combined interests in Medicine, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Spirituality, Music and Public Education. In addition to his Psychiatric Practice, he has been active as a lecturer, pianist and community advocate. He received national media attention for his campaign to lower the key of the United States National Anthem so that singers can reach its high notes. His lifelong interest in the relationship between the human brain and spiritual experience led to the writing of A Spiritual Journey: To Know the Creator Despite Limitations of the Brain. For more information, please visit: www.edsiegelmd.com.
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Children showing off their trophies for mastering Alef Bet & Hebrew Reading. Credits: HebrewSchool.info
Where Public School Ends, Jewish Learning Begins By Rabbi Moishe Kievman - Chabad Chayil
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Absolutely! And when it’s fun, happens every day right after school, and children actually look forward to it, the answer is obvious. As South Florida public schools begin a new school year, hundreds of Jewish children will also be starting an exciting year at CHAP—Chabad Chayil’s daily after-school Hebrew School. More than a traditional once-a-week Hebrew school, CHAP is a comprehensive educational program designed specifically for Jewish children attending public schools who do not receive a formal Jewish education. The program serves boys and girls ages 5–12 from schools including Aventura Waterways K–8, American Heritage, BridgePrep, Charter, Country Dade, Nova, Ojus, Pine Crest, Riviera, Virginia A. Boone Highland Oaks Elementary (VABHOE), and many others. Any family looking for a highquality daily after-school Jewish education is welcome. Before Rosh Hashanah, every Jewish child is invited to experience CHAP completely free of charge, with no obligation to enroll. Simply choose one of the CHAP Trial Days. No membership, prior Jewish knowledge, or synagogue affiliation is required. Following the holidays, regular classes continue at affordable tuition rates. The program follows the public school calendar and meets every weekday immediately after school at Chabad Chayil in West Aventura, conveniently located across from Aventura Waterways K–8. The curriculum includes Jewish traditions, holidays, history, Parshah, Hebrew reading, prayer, Judaic studies, and creative art projects. A primary emphasis is placed on personalized Hebrew reading instruction, allowing each child to progress at his or her own pace. Our goal is to give every child a joyful first taste of Jewish learning through creative, hands-on, and engaging lessons. We strive to instill a lifelong love of Judaism and Jewish tradition by combining timeless values with innovative teaching methods.
This is a Hebrew school where children genuinely look forward to coming each day. CHAP’s commitment to excellence has been recognized throughout Miami-Dade County. An independent educational consulting company hired by the county to evaluate after-school programs rated Chabad Chayil’s program among the very best. After spending two weeks observing every aspect of the program, Cynthia Serure, President of A Gift for the Soul, Inc., described it as exemplary. “This program scored at the top on virtually all analytical criteria, including quality of staff, student-teacher interaction, and curriculum. It is a model program.” Study after study has shown that meaningful Jewish education is one of the strongest factors in fostering lifelong Jewish identity, involvement, and continuity. Our mission is to ensure that every Jewish child has access to a warm, meaningful, and high-quality Jewish education. CHAP provides an environment where parents feel comfortable, children thrive, and Jewish learning becomes something they eagerly anticipate. Today, CHAP serves children from numerous public and private schools throughout the area and is popular among homeschooling families as well. As enrollment continues to grow, Chabad Chayil remains committed to expanding its educational facilities to meet the community’s needs. Transportation is currently available for students attending Virginia A. Boone Highland Oaks Elementary (VABHOE), Ojus Elementary, and BridgePrep Academy. Families from other schools often organize carpools, and when enough students enroll from a particular school, additional transportation can often be arranged. Everyone is welcome. CHAP embraces every Jewish child regardless of religious background, affiliation, or level of observance. Membership is never required for enrollment. Chabad Chayil’s mission is to strengthen Jewish awareness,
pride, and observance by providing educational, cultural, and social opportunities for every Jewish individual and family. One of our flagship programs, CHAP, exists to provide affordable, highquality Jewish education for children who are not enrolled in Jewish day schools. We also aim to give parents peace of mind, knowing their children are safe, happy, active, and growing in a warm Jewish environment that nurtures a lasting love for their heritage, Torah, and Israel. To register or learn about our additional afterschool programs—including Leadership 4 Kids, Homework Help, Bar and Bat Mitzvah preparation, the JewQ International Torah Championship, once-a-week Hebrew School, private tutoring, and Camp Gan Israel—please contact our School Director, Mrs. Layah Kievman at: (305) 770-1919. Or visit: HebrewSchool.info. A Jewish day school remains the ideal educational choice for every Jewish child. But for families who, for whatever reason, are unable to choose that option, CHAP provides an outstanding alternative—offering children the opportunity to build a strong Jewish identity, develop Hebrew literacy, and experience the joy of being part of the Jewish community every single day. About the author: Rabbi Kievman together with his wife are the ambassadors of The Rebbe to Highland Lakes, FL. They are the founders of CHAP - an afterschool program for Jewish children in Public Schools, Gan Chabad Preschool and direct Chabad Chayil. He’s the Rabbi at The Family Shul and can be reached at: (305) 7701919. Or: rabbi@ChabadChayil.org, where you can also sign up for his weekly Torah Thought & Newsletter. Visit: www.ChabadChayil.org/Partner
Teachers From 5 States Join Jewish Foundation For The Righteous Intensive European Holocaust Education Program The program was a high-level, intensive and immersive educational experience, noted historian Robert Jan van Pelt, one of the world’s leading experts on the Holocaust, served as the accompanying scholar for the program.
The 2026 European Study Lerner Fellows include: • Angie Thompson of Alma Bryant High School in Irvington, Alabama • Maureen Carter a veteran high school educator who resides in Sanford, Florida • Mary Ellen Richichi of Independence Middle School
in Jupiter, Florida • Krystal Lamb of Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School in Lake Worth, Florida • Charles Hagy, Jr. of The Benjamin School in North Palm Beach, Florida • Kelly Warsaw of inSIGHT Through Education in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida • Julie Gates of Logger’s Run Middle School in Boca Raton, Florida • Sheri Crowley of Polo Park Middle School in Wellington, Florida • Bradd Weinberg of School District of Palm Beach County in West Palm Beach, Florida • Micaela McNiff of School District of Palm Beach County in West Palm Beach, Florida • Charles Dickens of The Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida • Julie Klein of Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois • Nicole Kepner of Branchburg Central Middle School in Branchburg, New Jersey • Stacy Steele of York Comprehensive High School in York, South Carolina The JFR continues its work of providing monthly financial assistance to aged and needy Righteous Gentiles living in 10 countries. Since its founding, the JFR has provided more than $46.5 Million to aged and needy rescuers. Its Holocaust teacher education program has become a standard for teaching the history of the Holocaust and educating teachers and students about the significance of the Righteous as moral and ethical exemplars. For more information, visit: https://www.jfr.org/.
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The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous (JFR) has selected 14 middle and high school teachers and Holocaust center personnel from five U.S. states to participate in its 2026 European Study Program in Poland. Through lectures and visits to actual Holocaust sites, these educators gain a more profound understanding of the complex and tragic history of the Holocaust. The program is a high-level, intensive and immersive educational experience that includes visits to concentration camps, ghetto sites and Holocaust memorials. Noted historian Robert Jan van Pelt, one of the world’s leading experts on the Holocaust, served as the accompanying scholar for the program. The immersive program began in Warsaw, where the group toured the Jewish Historical Institute (Zydowski Instytut Historyczny, ZIH), met with Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary of State Dr. Wladysław Teofil Bartoszewski, hosted a luncheon with the Polish Society of the Righteous Chairman Emeritus Dr. Anna Bando and Polish Society of the Righteous President Andrzej Mikolaklpw and visited both the Jewish and Catholic cemeteries, including the gravesite of Irena Sendler. They also visited the Footbridge of Memory memorial, the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, the Rapoport Monument and the Zegota and Jan Karski memorials. They walked through the former Warsaw Ghetto, touring Mila 18, the Umschlagplatz. The group then traveled to Tykocin, home to one of Poland’s few remaining intact shtetls, before visiting nearby Lopuchowo
Forest, the site of the mass grave of Tykocin’s Jewish community and continuing to Treblinka. The trip also included visits to Chelmno nad Nerem, the Kulmhof extermination camp, Rzuchow Forest, Lodz, the Radegast Station Museum, the Marek Edelman Dialogue Center, and Survivor’s Park, Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Additional stops included Harmeze, home to Marian Kolodziej’s Labyrinth; Budy, the site where SS female guards massacred French Jewish women; Himmler’s carp ponds; and Krakow, where the group toured the Kazimierz neighborhood, the Galicia Jewish Museum’s and the Podgorze neighborhood, the site of the former ghetto and its chair memorial. Throughout the program, participants connected and reflected on how to bring their experiences back to their students. “As we continue to move further away from the Holocaust, it is more important to empower our educators to better teach their students about the Holocaust,” said JFR Executive Vice President Stanlee Stahl. “By visiting the places where these complex events occurred, educators are better able to connect to what they are teaching, making them more effective teachers.” “The program is designed to help educators learn the Holocaust experientially so they can present it in a more meaningful and insightful way to their students and colleagues when they return to their schools,” she added.
Cyberwell Warns Of Antisemitic Conspiracies Blaming Jews For Wildfires Across Europe Fire danger forecast between August 6 and 12, 2026 - Credit: https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu
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CyberWell, a NonProfit and trusted partner of Meta (Facebook, Instagram and Threads), TikTok and YouTube working to combat online antisemitism, alerted X after identifying a new wave of antisemitic conspiracy theories falsely blaming Jews for wildfires across Europe. CyberWell identified nearly identical narratives surrounding recent wildfires in Norway, France, and Spain, reinforcing what the organization describes as a recurring pattern of event-driven antisemitism, in which major crises are exploited to spread hate toward Jews. The organization’s analysts identified multiple posts in English, French, and Spanish falsely claiming that Jews deliberately started the fires or orchestrated them for political or financial gain. CyberWell has documented similar antisemitic conspiracy theories during previous wildfires, including the Los Angeles wildfires in 2025 and the Patagonia wildfires earlier this year. More broadly, the posts reflected a recurring pattern of eventdriven antisemitism that CyberWell has observed following crises, including the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting and the hantavirus outbreak. CyberWell found that bad actors and antisemites repeatedly inserted Jews into breaking news through familiar antisemitic tropes portraying them as secretly responsible for disasters or as profiting from human suffering. CyberWell’s monitoring of antisemitic content surrounding the Norway wildfires found that one post alone surpassed 2 mil-
lion views on X, helping transform an isolated conspiracy into a broader wave of antisemitic content. Another post on Spain’s wildfires reached more than 69,100 users. As the false claims spread, posts increasingly incorporated dehumanizing language, calls to expel Jews and well-known antisemitic imagery, including the “Happy Merchant” caricature. “The same scapegoating stories, once popular in Nazi propaganda during the Third Reich, now trend on every major social media platform after a crisis. Any major event can become a vehicle for blaming Jews online,” said CyberWell CEO and Founder Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor. “Whether the story involves a wildfire, a disease outbreak, a shooting, or another international crisis, we repeatedly see the same conspiracy theories emerge within hours. The details change but the underlying message does not: Jews are maliciously portrayed as secretly orchestrating disasters or profiting from human suffering. This pattern demonstrates how antisemitism continuously adapts to the news cycle while recycling centuries-old myths.” This content reflects well-established antisemitic conspiracy frameworks recognized under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, including collective accusations against Jews and conspiratorial claims of hidden Jewish control. “Contextual expertise and sustained partnerships with civil society organizations are crucial for any digital platform or AI company that wants to take safety and tech governance seriously,” added Cohen Montemayor. “Platforms can only respond effectively when they understand how antisemitic narratives evolve across languages, current events and online communities. One of
the most effective steps digital platforms can take right now is to recognize this hateful, event-driven anti-Jewish conspiracy narrative and begin limiting its reach at scale. The last few years have been marked by multiple incidents in which unfounded conspiracies and misinformation led to targeted violence against Jewish communities around the world. The writing is already on the wall, and it is inscribed in blood.” CyberWell calls on platforms to strengthen detection tools targeting recurring antisemitic conspiracy tropes tied to breaking news, address policy gaps related to antisemitic scapegoating, apply enforcement consistently across comparable cases and continue expanding partnerships with organizations specializing in online hate. CyberWell said early identification of emerging trends remains essential to preventing false narratives from gaining widespread traction before they become normalized. CyberWell is an independent, tech-based nonprofit combating the spread of antisemitism online, operating globally. Its AIpowered technologies monitor social media in English and Arabic for content promoting antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and incitement to violence against Jews and their allies based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. Its analysts review and report this content to platform moderators and index verified posts in the first-ever open database of antisemitic social media posts, cataloging it openly for transparency at: app.cyberwell.org. Through partnerships, education and real-time alerts, CyberWell partners with social media platforms and digital service companies to help them enforce their policies more effectively, promoting proactive steps against online Jew-hate. For more info, visit: cyberwell.org.
Teach & Inspire Your Kids By Exploring History As A Family (Feature Impact)
“Anne Frank’s story is a powerful reminder of what happens when fear and hatred are allowed to take root,” said Dr. Chevy Humphrey, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry President and CEO.
About the exhibition Anne Frank The Exhibition is an immersive, full-scale recreation of the Annex where Anne Frank, her family and four other Jewish inhabitants lived in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is the first museum in the Midwest to present this exhibition, and Chicago is only the second U.S. city to host this extraordinary experience, featuring never-before-seen artifacts from Anne Frank’s life. Explore the world that shaped Anne’s story, from her early childhood in Frankfurt through the rise of Nazi Germany and the spread of antisemitism across Europe, to the Frank family’s move to Amsterdam. There, Anne lived for nearly ten years, including the final two, which were spent in hiding. Step inside the meticulously reconstructed Annex and reflect on the daily challenges, risks and courage of those who hid there before their arrest and deportation in 1944. “Anne Frank’s story is a powerful reminder of what happens when fear and hatred are allowed to take root,” said Dr. Chevy Humphrey, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry President and CEO. “At the same time, it reveals the quiet but enduring strength of curiosity, creativity and resilience, values that sit at the heart of our mission. We hope this exhibition offers meaningful moments of reflection for our guests, particularly young people, and encourages them to think critically about their role in the world they are inheriting.”
Exhibition support for Griffin MSI The exhibition is presented at Griffin MSI with support from Lead Benefactors Tony and Laura Davis, Presenting Benefactors Crown Family Philanthropies, Premier Sponsors Zell Family, Contributing Sponsors The Kaplan Foundation, Patron Sponsors Cari and Michael J. Sacks and GCM Grosvenor, the Estate of Judith Marx Golub, Jewish United Fund, IMC, John and Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Foundation and Michael and Tanya Polsky, with supporting gifts from the Urbanovitch Family and Inland Group, Sharon and Neil Book, Chicago Bulls Charities and Rich and Vanessa Copans. Support for the Anne Frank House The exhibition was originally developed — and will travel nationally — through the leadership and support of Leon Levy Foundation, David Berg Foundation, Bank of America, Rebecca and Jared Cohen, Gray Foundation, Stacey and Eric Mindich, The Fuhrman Family Foundation, The Koum Family Foundation, Merryl and James Tisch and UJA-Federation of New York. Major support for the exhibition was also provided by Debbie and Mark Attanasio, Tanya and Ryan Baker, Einstein Astrof Foundation, Jesselson Foundation, Pershing Square Philanthropies, Sara Naison-Tarajano, The Barbra Streisand Foundation, The Krupp Foundation and Anonymous. Pro bono legal services provided by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Learn more about the exhibit and other experiences that bring history and science to life at: www.GriffinMSI.org.
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During back-to-school season, education is naturally at the forefront of most parents’ minds. While a lot of important learning is accomplished in the classroom, there are so many opportunities to continue challenging and developing children’s minds and hearts in family life as well. Learning about history together is a practical way to inspire deep, meaningful conversations about the world, whether from books, documentaries or visits to museums. Now is an opportune time to explore the story of Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager evading Nazi capture during the Holocaust. Families can read her famous diary together then visit “Anne Frank The Exhibition,” presented by the Anne Frank House at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. This comprehensive exhibition immerses visitors in the context that shaped Frank’s life, from her early years in Frankfurt through her tragic death and how her father ensured her legacy. The centerpiece is the first full-scale recreation of the Annex where the Frank family and four other Jews hid during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The exhibition, recommended for visitors ages 10 and older, is open through early 2027. No matter what piece of history families choose to delve into together, they should take the time to discuss with their kids what
they’re thinking and feeling about everything they’re discovering. Then together they can figure out what lessons from the past can be taken into the future.
1,700 Young Jews From Around The World Gather In Tel Aviv For Birthright Israel Summer Event
JEWISHCONNECTION.NEWS • AUGUST 2026 • PAGE 18
Approximately 1,700 young Jewish adults from around the world attended Birthright Israel’s main summer event Tuesday night at the Tel Aviv Amphitheater, attended by Dr. Miriam Adelson, Birthright Israel International CEO Gidi Mark, and Meir Shamir, Chairman of the organization’s Israeli Board of Directors. The event marked the peak of Birthright Israel’s summer season, during which approximately 15,000 young Jews from 34 countries are visiting Israel for educational trips, volunteer opportunities and fellowship programs. Against the backdrop of escalating security threats in recent weeks and a sharp decline in tourism to Israel, thousands of participants chose to travel to Israel with Birthright Israel, experience the country firsthand and see the reality beyond the headlines. The festive evening brought together young Jewish adults from around the world for an immersive Israeli cultural experience, culminating in performances by Itay Galo, Netta Barzilai and Eden Golan. The event also featured Birthright Israel’s “Tip of the Spear” program, which integrates wounded IDF soldiers as Israeli participants on Birthright Israel trips alongside young Jewish adults from around the world. Israeli participants already join Birthright Israel groups on every bus, and wounded soldiers are now also being incorporated into these groups. The initiative gives young Jews from the Diaspora an opportunity to meet firsthand those who were wounded defending the Jewish homeland, while allowing the wounded soldiers themselves to take part in a shared and meaningful experience that contributes to their rehabilitation. Amit Bar, who was wounded during the Iron Swords War and later participated in Birthright Israel, took the stage at the event to share his personal experience and received a standing ovation from the audience. Gidi Mark, International CEO of Birthright Israel, said at the event: “This summer, 15,000 young Jewish adults are coming to Israel with Birthright Israel. Whether you joined us for a 10-day trip, an Onward program, Excel, or a volunteer program, this is your opportunity to celebrate our shared Jewish identity, meet fellow Jews from around the world, and build friendships that will last far beyond this summer. Most importantly, come back to Israel. Israel is your home.” About Birthright Israel: Birthright Israel is the largest educational tourism organization in the world. Founded 25 years ago with the dream to provide all young Jewish adults with opportunities for transformative and immersive shared experiences in Israel and a foundation for ongoing Jewish connection. Birthright offers multiple short- and mid-length programs in Israel for Jewish young adults. More than
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[1] Dr. Miriam Adelson next to Gidi Mark. Photo credit: Erez Uzir, Courtesy of Birthright Israel. [2] The festive evening brought together young Jewish adults from around the world. [3] Thousands of participants chose to travel to Israel with Birthright Israel. [4] Jewish adults from around the world attended Birthright Israel’s main summer at the Tel Aviv Amphitheater. 950,000 young Jewish adults from 70 countries participated in one of the Birthright Israel programs. The gift of a Birthright Israel trips is made possible thanks to an innovative partnership between Jewish philanthropists, Jewish communities and
Federations, the people of Israel through the Government of Israel, tens of thousands of alumni, their families, and individual donors from around the world.
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