Do you know where your grandparents were living and how they raised their children? Someday, when you become a parent and your children ask you about family history, what will you be able to tell them?
The search for one’s roots is a hobby. Most hobbies require one to learn new skills and improve those by practice.A hobby requires the investment of time,and as much money as one could comfortably spend.
What are the returns from these invest mentsDiscovery of people who came before you and others with whom your family lostcon tact.In the old days most people lived and died within a small area where they were born.A child grew up knowing all of their aunts, uncles, cousins and of course, their grandparents.
Discovery is a gradual process.Those whose hobby is Genealogy, often feel victorious and happy each time they find something new and interesting. It is a joyful series of break throughs.
In our time, families are often scattered all over the country or even globally.“America is a nation of immigrants.”Native Americans kept
their stories either through word of mouth, or by recording it through art and other permanent recordings.
Those who are descendants of immigrants, often had lost contact with relatives left behind in a generation or two. Not only the distance becomes a barrier, but the language as well. Good news: with modern tools, such as the internet and various archives much of the his tory of a family can be recovered.
Have you heard of the Television Program: “Finding Your Roots!”Professor Henry Louis Gates of Harvard interviews two or three guests in each episode on public television, and then presents each one with the guest’s family tree along with stories discovered from various sources.
A few examples from past programs:A Cuban born Fashion Designer learned about his centuries old roots from the Canary Islands, the ancestry of an African American celebrity, a football star turned tv host, was traced to Charlemagne (748 814), the first emperor of Western Europe. The hostess of “Fresh Air” on public radio had no idea about her relatives who
research results to connect with distant rela tives.Along with learning about people, most Genealogists also learn a lot of history, geog raphy, politics, etc.One of the joys is to travel to places where one’s ancestors lived and visit their former homes, Schools, Cemeteries, etc.One may get to connect with lost relatives.
Genealogy Is Like A Sport:
The more you search, the better you get at it. Join a group or club. Learn from experienced members.Ask your school to offer a class.It is not only about research, but a social activity, where people with similar interests become your friends and helpers.
Let me introduce my two groups:the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Miamiandthe Genealogy Society of Greater Miami, Inc. The JGSGM Had been meeting monthly at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, North of Downtown Miami, but since the epidemic started, we Zoom.The GSGM had been meeting at the Pinecrest Branch of the Miami Dade Public Library. Visitors are welcome at both groups!
Activities of the JGSGM:At each meeting there is a speaker. The topics range from “How to…?” to “How I found my xyz.”There are interesting presentations about specific national or social groups, their history, traditions, cus toms, etc.There are workshops for beginners and for anyone interested in specific tools. There is an active “cemetery group” Who pho tograph, catalog and map cemeteries.
Activities of the JGSGM:Excellent training sessions about “How to…”Both for beginners and advanced researchers’ talks by visiting speakers about a wide variety of topics.
National And International Meetings
perished in the Holocaust;a well known tele vision news anchor discovered his roots both in Africa and in Western Europe.
How is it done and who can do it?1. Interview your elders, record it, or take lots of notes.2. Ask and search for your family’s records, e.g., Birth, Marriage and Death Documents, Diplomas, Immigration Records, Union Cards, even Criminal Records.3. Ask for photos and search both the albums and the shoeboxes.4. The internet seems to be a bot tomless well of family data.Census Records are free, the Mormon Church Records are acces sible, Public Records of family events Are open to all. 5. Genealogy websites; such as: Myheritage, Ancestry, etc. charge a fee but are often accessible for free at Public Libraries.6. DNA Analysis is a powerful tool and its cost has declined considerably over the years. 7. Newspaper Archives are a rich source of Birth, Marriage, and Death Announcements.
What to do with all the data you find?Some people focus on building a family tree,others collect stories and produce a family log.Some write a history of the family.Others use the
There are many Genealogy groups and sub groups with special interests.For instance, there are groups interested in a country or area of origin, or in a period of history, such as the American Civil War, or the World Wars, etc. These meetings take place at different places and they are very interesting, But quite expen sive considering the cost of travel, accommoda tions, registration and the temptation to buy “stuff,” souvenirs, tools, books and so on…The speakers and group events are very high quality and provide the opportunity to meet and consult with world class experts.
On behalf of both societies, we invite you to test the waters by coming to meet our members who would be happy to discuss any subject in relation to Genealogy research.Thanks for lis tening!Any questions?
Paulette Bronstein - President
Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Miami Member
For more information, view our website at: https://www.jgs-miami.org
ZOA - Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein and ZOA Director of Research and Special Projects Liz Berney, Esq. released the following state ment:
Reports yesterday indicate that President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu reached consensus on several “general fundamental principles.” Some of these principles are highly praiseworthy (see below) but others are deeply concerning.
We need to say “no” to a Palestinian state: ZOA is deeply concerned that one of the principles is Israel declaring her willingness for future Palestinian conflict resolution under a “two states concept, contingent upon the Palestinian Authority reforms.” A “two states concept” really means creating a Palestinian Arab terror state on land to which Israel has the sovereign right under binding international law.
The “fundamental principle” should be saying “no” to a Palestinian state, as Netanyahu (see below), Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, the Israeli people and their elected parliament has repeatedly done up to now!
After so many Israelis suffered on October 7th, and so many fought, died and suffered in the recent and ongoing wars to dramatically set back Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities and its terror proxies’ encirclement of the Jewish homeland, the last thing Israel needs is a Palestinian terror state in the Jewish heartland. After Israel suffered so much damage to stop missiles from Iran, it makes no sense to make any agreements or take any steps toward creating a Palestinian state that can and will use the Judean Hills to fire rockets into Israel’s population centers. A Palestinian state would moreover reward perpetrators of October 7th – including Fatah, the Palestinian Authority’s governing party, which gleefully participated in the October 7th massacres.
ZOA reminds all concerned that last July (2024), the Israeli Knesset overwhelmingly voted (68 to 9) that the Knesset opposes the creation of a Palestinian state. (The only nine votes against this were from the Arab Knesset members.)
accept numerous Gaza inhabitants seeking emigration;” and the Abraham Accords will be expanded.
Another principle reportedly agreed to (“The United States will acknowledge limited Israeli sovereignty implementation in Judea and Samaria”) is helpful, but “limited” sovereignty does not go nearly far enough. Israel has the right to Judea and Samaria under binding international law. This is home to over 600,000 Jews, and is the historic and religious heartland of the Jewish people.
Serious issues items: There are additional serious issues with several general fundamental principles reportedly agreed to:
• Only one contingency is mentioned regarding a Palestinian state (“Palestinian Authority reforms”). It is unclear what this means. There is no mention of even the pre-conditions described in President Trump’s 2019 Peace to Prosperity Vision, such as full, permanent demilitarization; overall Israeli security control;
How can hostilities end in two weeks if the hostages are still not home by then? ZOA urges the U.S. to exert massive pressure on Iran, Qatar and Turkey to obtain the hostages’ release now. There is no mention of this in the agreement.
• The security of Israel’s southern communities requires that Israel retain at least some of Gaza. But this is not mentioned.
Netanyahu’s Warnings Against a Palestinian State: For numerous good reasons, Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly opposed a Palestinian state and recognized that such a state would be an existential threat to Israel.[i] For instance:
• In June 2023, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated during a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting: “We need to eliminate their [Palestinian Authority Arabs’] aspirations for a state.” (See “ZOA Praises Prime Minister Netanyahu for Opposing Creation of Palestinian Arab (Terrorist Dictatorship) State,” June 27th, 2023).
Further, an agreement to create a Palestinian state – even a future or conditioned agreement – will likely be illegal. Under Israel’s Basic Law: Referendum (2014) (Israel’s closest equivalent to a constitution), any agreement that causes Israeli law, jurisdiction or administration to no longer apply to territory in which they currently apply, including an agreement that involves a future undertaking, and a conditioned undertaking, must be approved by either: a majority of the Knesset plus a national referendum, or two thirds (80 members) of the Knesset. Given the Knesset’s and the Israeli public’s strong opposition to a Palestinian Arab terror state, a Knesset vote or referendum agreeing to a “two states concept” is not likely to pass.
Praiseworthy items: The highly praiseworthy general principles that President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly agreed to include: “remaining Hamas leadership will face exile to other countries;” “multiple nations globally will
monitoring to prevent diversion of dual use items for terror purposes; ending the Palestinian Authority’s terror incitement and financial and other incentives to terrorists, etc.
• Egypt is mentioned as one of four Arab nations that will administer the Gaza strip. This is extremely concerning, in light of Egypt’s massive recent buildup of military forces and Infrastructure on its border with Israel, which violates the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty and poses a major threat to Israel. Giving Egypt a role in Gaza would provide Egypt with an expanded springboard for endangering and potentially attacking Israel. This isn’t what Israelis fought and died for in Gaza.
• There is no explanation of how or when the hostages “will gain freedom” – only a statement that this will somehow occur. By contrast, the reported principles call for hostilities in Gaza to end in two weeks.
• In March 2018, Netanyahu stated in The New York Times that a Palestinian state “doesn’t work. . . . When we leave land, Arab terror organizations take over. Immediately.”
• In July 2017, Netanyahu’s Likud Party (Israel’s largest political party) formally voted to oppose forming a Palestinian Arab state.
• In 2015, Netanyahu promised he will not allow a Palestinian Arab state, saying: “Whoever moves to establish a Palestinian state or intends to withdraw from territory is simply yielding territory for radical Islamic terrorist attacks against Israel.”
• Netanyahu correctly explained, in his famous 2002 speech to the Likud Central Committee, that a Palestinian Arab state would never keep a demilitarization agreement; would make alliances with foreign powers; would import weapons; would shoot down Israeli planes; and cause Israel to be blamed and curtailed if Israel attempted to enforce demilitarization and prevent terror. Netanyahu declared that if Israel agreed to a Palestinian Arab state, “We will thus have created with our own hands a threat to our very existence.”
[i] The sole exception was Netanyahu’s Bar Ilan University speech in 2009 suggesting he would accept a demilitarized Palestinian state under a series of conditions which the Palestinian Arabs have never met and will likely never agree to. Netanyahu made the speech under severe pressure from then-President Obama. (Photo Credit: ZOA)
While reflective of the Jewish experience in Florida, JMOF FIU creates understanding of the shared immigrant experience in our mul ticultural society.
The Museum’s core exhibition, MOSAIC: Jewish Life in Florida 1763 to today, originated by Marcia Jo Zerivitz, began as a statewide grassroots collecting effort, which included gathering pho tographs, artifacts and oral histories from descendants of pioneer families, as well as the state’s more recent arrivals. Mosaic traveled to 13 Florida cities from 1990 1994 and generated so much interest that by 1995, it evolved into the Jewish Museum of Florida.
JMOF became part of FIU in 2012, creating a historic partnership that lev erages the resources of the Museum and FIU to ignite a new era of interdiscipli nary education and research. Using the lens of the evolving immigration expe rience of Jews in Florida, JMOF FIU serves as a forum to promote tolerance, further global understanding and create connec tions to Jewish culture, history, arts and con temporary civic life for diverse audiences. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, JMOF FIU has achieved a standard of excellence in its methodology for research, col lecting, conservation, archiving, storing and
JMOF FIU presents a vibrant schedule of thought provoking exhibitions that change peri odically, paired with a dynamic array of pro
munity organizations.
The Museum’s extensive collection of arti facts, documents, photographs and oral his tories focuses on the people who have shaped
scholars and presenters and local movers and shakers. Many of the programs are in collabo ration with FIU departments including the Green School of International and Public Affairs, as well as various cultural and com
contributions and the social, political, eco nomic, cultural and religious aspects of Jewish life in Florida and the relationship of Jews to the dominant non Jewish population. As such, the collection offers a wealth of opportunity for research by students, scholars, historians and
journalists. JMOF FIU is also an extended class room for thousands of Miami Dade County Public School students, inspiring them to explore their own cultural heritage and those of all ethnic groups in our multicultural society.
Miami Beach Jewish History Walking Tour
You are invited to join in a Jewish History Walking Tour of Miami Beach, organized by the Jewish Museum of Florida. The tour includes an overview of the more than 100 years of Jewish history of the city and a look at significant Jewish people and organizations, both present and past, in Miami Beach.
The event is held every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The tours will begin inside the Jewish Museum of Florida, 301 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139. Cost: $12.00 for adults; $10.00 for seniors and students. Includes the tour plus admission to the museum. Pay inside the Museum at the time of the tour.
Join in for a stroll through Miami Beach to learn about the rich Jewish history in this vibrant community, the next dates for the Walking Tour are: July 6th, 13th, 20th,
Miami Beach - Photo Credit: https://jmof.fiu.edu
Jewish Museum of Florida, 301 Washington Avenue,
Addressing a Farbrengn in 770. When I was growing up, there was a Farbrengen at least once a week.
TheMostInfluentialRabbiinHistory...31YearsLater
By
The 3rd of Tamuz, this year on Sunday, June 29th, marked the 31st Hilula of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Known affectionately and simply as The Rebbe, he was probably the most influential rabbi in history. With his Shluchim emissaries dispatched to every corner of the world, his impact is felt everywhere you turn.
After the decimation of the Holocaust, the Rebbe breathed new life and vitality into the Jewish people, urging them (and demonstrating by example) to celebrate Judaism and live life opti mistically, to ‘reclaim’ countless individuals and communities to living a Jewish way of life, and to feel personal responsibility for all others everywhere. In so doing, The Rebbe altered the much prophesied demise of Judaism, forever shifting the course of his tory and transforming the landscape of Jewish life.
The Rebbe took breathtaking responsibility for the material and spiritual welfare of Jews in the Soviet Union (including mas terminding the exodus of thousands), Morocco, Iran, and more, while reaching out to Jews in Curacao, Japan, and Alaska...
Israel’s leaders turned to the Rebbe for counsel on public health policies; military strategy; economy; relations with the U.S., Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia and more; and, above all, its educational system.
Growing up in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, just a few short streets away from The Rebbe, I was fortunate to see The Rebbe all the time. I prayed with him in his Shul, sang by his Farbrengens, stood at his public gatherings and rallies, and watched every glimpse I could. As a child, I would look around at the thousands of people that would constantly come from all over the world to seek his counsel, hear his talks, or just to see his holy face; and I remember thinking how privileged I was to live right there.
Every Sunday for hours,The Rebbe would stand, giving out dollars and blessings to thousands of people from all walks of life. He gave the dollar to be given to a charity of choice. People would of course exchange that dollar for one of their own to give to char ity, and keep the dollar they got from The Rebbe’s holy hand as a sign of blessing.
The Rebbe was remarkably accessible and counseled count less individuals from a wide array of backgrounds, including statesmen and artists as diverse as Ronald Reagan, Robert F. Kennedy, Yitzchak Rabin, Menachem Begin, Elie Wiesel, and Bob Dylan, as well as countless “nameless” individuals who were each showered with his individual attention and love.
He spoke out about and was active in large public issues like public school education, charity for employees’ distribution, large families, moral education, the energy crisis, a universal moral code for all, creating and bolstering the Food Stamp/WIC system for America’s underprivileged, the responsibility of gov ernment, and much more. He believed and taught that the age old ideals and text of Torah is as real and relevant today as it was at Sinai, 3,337 years ago.
Today, thank G d, The Rebbe’s teachings and ideals have already become ingrained in our society and inspire millions of Jews and non Jews. More people than ever are learning his teach ings and acting on his wishes of spreading Judaism to Jews, and moral ethics to all people.
People of all walks of life flock to his Shul as well as his resting place (known as the Ohel) to pray to G d for blessing, guidance and inspiration. In 2013, on the night preceding his election to the Senate, Democratic candidate Cory Booker, an African American Christian, went to pray at the Rebbe’s Ohel. In 2016, preceding his election, President Trump sent his family to pray at the Ohel on his behalf, but this time around he decided to go him
self. Argentina President Javier Milei went to the Ohel before his election and continues to travel there to pray before his most important decisions. Go there any day, any time, and you will see people from all walks of life praying to G d at that holy site.
The Rebbe was a wide ranging Torah personality whose vast knowledge spanned the entire spectrum of the Torah. His teach ings include ideas in Jewish philosophy and theology, commen tary on biblical, talmudical and kabbalistic texts, perspectives on world events, and moral and practical directives. At Chabad Chayil we have a text based group study of The Rebbe’s teachings each Saturday right after Kiddush lunch, which all are welcome to join and thoroughly enjoy. Each week’s class is on a different topic, containing super interesting subjects from all aspects of Torah, filled with surprises and always invigorating.
Although the Rebbe was treated as royalty by all who met him, he personally lived modestly and even frugally. While presiding over a vast world empire of institutions and activity, his own Synagogue was simple and in major need of a face lift. As a child I always felt bad how simple his synagogue was, and made a prom ise to myself that when I can one day afford it, I would rebuild his synagogue in the most beautiful way.
To learn more about this saintly man, visit: www.ChabadChayil.org/Rebbe.
About the Author:
Rabbi Kievman together with his wife are the ambassadors of The Rebbe to Highland Lakes, FL. They are the founders of Gan Chabad Preschool, your local CTeen & CKids chapters, CHAP an afterschool program for Jewish children in Public Schools and direct Chabad Chayil. He’s the rabbi at The Family Shul and can be reached at: (305) 770 1919 Or: rabbi@ChabadChayil.org.
Rabbi Moishe Kievman - Chabad Chayil
AnEveningwithGaryShteyngartandMitchellKaplan
Bestelling Author Gary Shteyngart Shares His “Completely Delightful” New Novel VERA, OR FAITH
The Books & Books Literary Foundation is proud to present an evening with Gary Shteyngart on July 16th, 2025 7:00 8:00 p.m., discussing Vera, or Faith: A Novel (Random House, $28). He will be in conversation with Mitchell Kaplan. A poignant, sharp eyed, and bitterly funny tale of a family struggling to stay together in a country rapidly coming apart, told through the eyes of their wondrous ten year old daughter, by the bestselling author of Super Sad True Love Story and Our Country Friends.
About the Book
A poignant, sharp eyed, and bitterly funny tale of a family struggling to stay together in a country rapidly coming apart, told through the eyes of their wondrous ten year old daughter, by the bestselling author of Super Sad True Love Story and Our Country Friends
“A novel you can read in one sitting that will stay with you for ever.”—Karen Russell
“Very funny, very sad, very sharp, and completely delightful.”—Elif Batuman
A Washington Post and Literary Hub Most Anticipated Book of 2025
The Bradford Shmulkin family is falling apart. A very modern blend of Russian, Jewish, Korean, and New England WASP, they love one another deeply but the pressures of life in an unstable America are fraying their bonds. There’s Daddy, a struggling, cash thirsty editor whose Russian heritage gives him a surprising new currency in the upside down world of twenty first century geopolitics; his wife, Anne Mom, a progressive, underfunded
blue blood from Boston who’s barely holding the household together; their son, Dylan, whose blond hair and Mayflower line age provide him pride of place in the newly forming American political order; and, above all, the young Vera, half Jewish, half Korean, and wholly original.
Observant, sensitive, and always writing down new vocabulary words, Vera wants only three things in life: to make a friend at school; Daddy and Anne Mom to stay together; and to meet her birth mother, Mom Mom, who will at last tell Vera the secret of who she really is and how to ensure love’s survival in this great, mad, imploding world.
Both biting and deeply moving, Vera, or Faith is a boldly imagined story of family and country told through the clear and tender eyes of a child. With a nod to What Maisie Knew, Henry James’s classic story of parents, children, and the dark ironies of a rapidly transforming society, Vera, or Faith demonstrates why Shteyngart is, in the words of The New York Times, “one of his generation’s most exhilarating writers.”
About the Author
Gary Shteyngart was born in Leningrad in 1972 and came to the United States seven years later. His debut novel, The Russian Debutante’s Handbook, won the Stephen Crane Award for First Fiction and the National Jewish Book Award for Fiction. His sec ond novel, Absurdistan, was one of the The New York Times Book Review’s 10 Best Books of the Year. His novel Super Sad True Love Story won the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize and became one of the most iconic novels of the decade. His
memoir, Little Failure, was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. His most recent novel is the New York Times bestseller Our Country Friends. His books have been published in thirty countries. He lives in New York with his wife and son.
About the Moderator
Mitchell Kaplan, a Miami Beach native, founded the inde pendent bookstore chain Books & Books in 1982. Books & Books was named “Publishers’ Weekly Bookstore of the Year” in 2015. He is the co founder of Miami Book Fair, a former presi dent of the American Booksellers Association (ABA), and received the National Book Foundation’s prestigious “Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community” in 2011. He is the host of the podcast, “The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan” and with his partner Paula Mazur, formed the Mazur/Kaplan film production company to bring books to the screen.
Please note: This event will take place at the Books & Books in Coral Gables at 265 Aragon Ave. Tickets are REQUIRED. Each ticket admits one (1) guest into the venue and includes one (1) copy of VERA, OR FAITH ($28 + tax). If you would like to bring a guest, you must add our $5 guest fee. This fee does not include a copy and only accounts for one guest. Books will be handed out upon entry.
You can purchase tickets at: https:// www.booksandbooks.com/event/an-evening-withgary-shteyngart-author-of-our-country-friends/
WineoftheTimes:
AI Now Predicts Your Perfect Pour
By Merilee Kern, MBA
Imagine having a seasoned sommelier at your fingertips—one who understands your personal taste, predicts your preferences, and guides you to the perfect bottle of wine every time. This is no longer a fantasy. BetterAI, the Silicon Valley disruptor in artificial intelligence, has launched VinoVoss, an AI powered sommelier that is not just shaking up the wine industry, but redefining how we discover and enjoy wine.
VinoVoss—available as an app and on the web—represents a paradigm shift in wine selection, leveraging cutting edge AI and natural language processing to deliver highly personalized wine recommendations. From novices to connoisseurs, users can now easily navigate the vast world of wine with a virtual sommelier that adapts to their unique tastes. Whether you’re looking for the per fect pairing for a romantic dinner or simply exploring new varie tals, VinoVoss delivers recommendations that feel tailor made.
This innovation couldn’t come at a better time. As the U.S. wine market is projected to reach $39 Billion in 2024, VinoVoss is poised to capitalize on the growing trend of wine as an everyday indulgence, rather than just a luxury for special occasions. By simplifying the wine selection process, VinoVoss is making wine more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, from the curious beginner to the seasoned expert.
But VinoVoss isn’t just about convenience—it’s about enhanc ing the wine experience. The tool picks the perfect wine for any occasion courtesy of a highly advanced artificial intelligence architecture. It leverages advanced artificial intelligence to act as your personal sommelier, providing tailored wine recommen dations based on your unique taste preferences, occasion, and budget.
VinoVoss understands that the process of selecting wine can be overwhelming. The breadth of viniculture is challenging to navigate without a skilled guide, and the subjective nature of taste has long stumped traditional search engines. The VinoVoss plat form provides a solution, combining the power of AI with the knowledge of sommeliers in a pocket size package. The app’s sig nature feature, Smart Somm, is an AI powered chatbot trained by world renowned sommeliers, ready to answer any wine related questions and guide you to the perfect bottle. The interactive Smart Somm chat intelligently assists in wine exploration, answers questions, and provides educational insight. The data base is continually updated and monitored by the VinoVoss team of wine experts and sommeliers to keep up to date with today’s wine trends. From beginner to seasoned devotee, this search engine is a powerful and streamlined tool to help users build knowledge and shop, sip, and savor.
With an intuitive interface, VinoVoss allows users to search for wines by grape variety, region, or price, and offers detailed tasting notes to enhance your wine appreciation. On iOS, Android, and Desktop, users can browse wines using its advanced natural language search bar, which can understand prompts of any length or complexity. The app also includes innovative fea tures like scanning multiple wine bottles simultaneously, compar ing expert and peer ratings, and creating a personalized wine col lection.
Here Are Ways VinoVoss Differs
From Other Wine Apps:
Ask the AI-powered Smart Somm your questions
Meet Smart Somm, your personal wine expert who lives in your pocket. VinoVoss’ signature Smart Somm takes into account
your unique taste, occasion, and budget to suggest the perfect wines, ensuring every choice is a refined selection. Unlike a search engine, Smart Somm can answer any question about wine (no keywords or specific searches needed) and have a conver sation with you, just like the knowledgeable and friendly som melier and your local wine shop or grocer.
Scan multiple bottles at the same time
Our innovative scanning feature allows you to effortlessly scan multiple wine bottles simultaneously, unlike our competitors. Quickly access reviews, ratings, and pairing suggestions instantly, making your shopping experience both efficient and enjoyable.
Discover the aromas and flavors of each wine
Delve into the intricate profiles of each wine, whether the wine has notes of clove, grapefruit, or even leather. Enhance your pal ate and knowledge with detailed tasting notes that elevate your wine appreciation.
Separate expert and peer ratings
Discover sommeliers’ more nuanced evaluations of each wine and compare that to other people’s personal ratings. Make the best decision for you, your friends or family with this unique dual rat ing system.
Find the perfect match for your occasion
From housewarmings to brunch, VinoVoss helps you find the ideal wine to complement your menu. Use our advanced pairing
options to ensure your selections are perfectly suited to the occa sion, impressing your guests every time.
Curate your unique collection
Create and manage a personalized wine list with ease. VinoVoss lets you track your favorite wines, organize wish lists, and keep a record of your tasting history, ensuring you always have the per fect wine on hand.
Find your new favorites in a store near you
Discover new wines available at local stores. VinoVoss provides you with information on where to purchase your selected wines nearby, making it easy for you to get to uncorking faster.
More Ways To Upgrade Your Wine Experience With VinoVoss:
Learn: Access a wealth of information about wine regions, grape varieties, and winemaking techniques.
Collect and share: Easily track and review your favorite wines, add them to your virtual cellar or wishlist, and share your favorites with friends.
VinoVoss is a blend of tradition and technology that’s reshap ing how we interact with one of the world’s oldest beverages. Whether you’re a novice or a connoisseur, VinoVoss makes find ing the ideal wine for any occasion effortless and enjoyable. VinoVoss greatly simplifies wine discovery, exploration and enjoyment of wines of the world. It is a personalized, interactive experience that empowers users to make wine selections with confidence.
MiamiSpaMonthsReturnsThisSummer
Miami Spa Months, offered Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Sunday, August 31st, 2025 invites locals to pamper themselves and enjoy exclusive treatments at Miami’s most acclaimed spas and wellness centers. With treatments and therapies starting at $109, rejuvenate with a variety of services for a great value.
The following is information on specially priced services from Miami’s top spas. Please note that prices do not include service fees and/or gratuity.
mySPA InterContinental Hotel Miami
Located in the bayfront in the heart of Downtown Miami, at the luxury InterContinental Hotel, mySpa is an oasis of calm on the hotel’s Plaza level, with views of the bay and downtown Miami surrounding it. Adjacent to the SkyLawn and pool deck, spa appointments include fitness center and pool access, as well as complimentary valet parking. Services and prices follow:
Healing Swedish Massage
Enjoy a relaxing Swedish massage targeting the back, neck, shoulders, back of the legs, and feet to ease away tension and stress, with targeted Muscle Therapy Lotion to treat aching muscles leaving you feeling rejuvenated. (25 minutes I $109).
myMassage + Hot Stones, Aromatherapy & Scalp Massage
Enjoy a decadent 50 minute myMassage (Swedish) light pressure, with long fluid strokes with specially selected enhancements – Hot Stones, Aromatherapy and ending with a Scalp Massage (50 minutes I $159).
Vitamin C Dr. Dennis Gross Facial With LED Light Therapy Mask & Warming Paraffin For Hands Treatment
This Vitamin C Brightening Facial focuses on improving skin texture and helps to lighten, brighten and improve fine lines and wrinkles, with the added benefits of the LED Light Therapy Collagen Mask with Red & Blue light and ending with a Guasha face massage, arm, neck and shoulder massage and warming hand Paraffin treatment (75 minutes I $199).
mySpa is located at InterContinental Hotel Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami, Florida 33131. Miami Spa Months treatments are available seven days a week, include valet parking for up to four hours and a free glass of bubbles. To book appointments, please call: (305) 372 4444. Or email: myspa.miami.ihg@gmail.com
âme SPA & WELLNESS COLLECTIVE
JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa
âme Spa & Wellness Collective, located at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, is always one of the most coveted destinations during Miami Spa Months for its serene environment and comprehensive array of signature services on offer including treatments from the onsite Holistic Rejuvenation Center which are designed to reduce inflammation, optimize sleep, boost immunity and defy signs of aging. All spa guests are advised to arrive early to enjoy the Wellness Circuit in preparation for their treatment; the Aroma & Music Therapy Steam Room, which employs the holistic practice of caring for the body via natural scents and essential oils, as well as cleansing and nourishing skin with steam; and a Cold Plunge. The spa also invites guests to enjoy the Himalayan Salt Room. Salt therapy’s benefits include
relief from respiratory health issues, skin conditions and other recovery benefits. Treatments are available every day described below:
Tropical Massage
Improves Circulation | Moisturizing | Light to Medium Pressure
Transport your body to the South Seas with this light to medium pressure tropical massage using your choice of coconut, guava, or mango body butter. This unique massage hydrates the body and calms the mind. (50 minutes I $159)
Restore and Glow
Improves Circulation | Moisturizing | Light to Medium Pressure
Restore your skin to a healthy glow with this uniquely hydrating treatment. A customized exfoliation and hydrating treatment using coconut and natural sugar cane will reveal bright radiant skin. A full body Swedish massage combining traditional techniques to relax and balance the body. (80 minutes I $199)
Ame-azing Facial
Experience a perfect balance between total relaxation, combining unique European massage techniques with customized products for your skin’s individual needs. Skin health is restored leaving a fresh, glowing complexion. (50 minutes I $159)
Non-Surgical Facelift and Jawline Contouring
This Non invasive Radiofrequency Facelift diminishes wrinkles, boosts collagen, lifts, and tightens the skin helping you maintain a youthful, glowing complexion. Visible results with a more defined jawline are seen after only one treatment. (80 minutes I $199)
Detox, Reboot and Rejuvenate
This transformational experience uses Electro sound Lymphatic Drainage Therapy to relax and detox the body and
infrared cocoon with gemstones and red light, and designed to recharge, boost the immune system and circulation, reduce cellulite, and lose inches, so you can calm the mind, reduce pain and inflammation. (80 minutes I $199)
Detox and Glow Experience
Ready to elevate your wellness game and transform your health and beauty from the inside out Start unwinding in our cutting edge Infrared Sauna, designed to melt away stress and detoxify your body like never before. Then, recharge with our Red Light Therapy Pod, boosting your energy, enhancing circulation, and elevating your cellular health. Enjoy full access to our luxurious steam and salt rooms and relax in our serene lounge. ( 50 minutes I $109)
Lymphatic Purification Treatment
This Assisted Lymphatic drainage treatment helps to detoxify the body, boost your immune system, combat sluggish circulation, reduce cellulite and lose inches. Great post surgery treatment to reduce inflammation, swelling and water retention. ( 50 minutes I $159)
Perfect Day
The Perfect Day is exactly just that. An instant gratification treatment that includes a full body customized massage to unwind the body, reboot the mind, and transform stress into balance. Followed by an Express Facial treatment that combines antioxidants and vitamins to work with your facial muscle memory promoting elasticity and improving the look of fine lines for a more youthful appearance instantly. (80 minutes I $199)
âme Spa & Wellness Collective, located at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, 19999 Country Club Drive, Aventura, Florida 33180 offers Miami Spa Month specials seven days a week. For reservations & more info, call: (305) 933-6930. Or visit: www.amewellness.com.
This month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that Harvard University (Harvard) violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) by acting with deliberate indifference towards harassment of Jewish and Israeli students by other students and faculty from October 7th, 2023, through the present. OCR enforces Title VI, which prohibits a recipient of Federal financial assistance from discriminating in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, or national origin, which includes discrimination against individuals that is based on their actual or perceived Israeli or Jewish identity or ancestry. From fiscal years 2023 to 2025, Harvard and its subrecipients have received over $794 Million in Federal Financial Assistance from HHS.
OCR’s Notice of Violation finds that Harvard has been – and is – deliberately indifferent to the severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive harassment of Jewish and Israeli students by its own students and faculty. The findings are based on information and documents obtained during the investigation: Harvard’s policies and procedures; conclusions
from Harvard’s own internal Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti Israeli Bias; findings from a U.S. Congressional task force that investigated antisemitism on college campuses; and reliable media reports that contemporaneously depicted antisemitic episodes of vandalism, harassment, and physical violence over a 19 month period at Harvard.
“Harvard’s public pledges to improve its disciplinary framework for harassment and misconduct are inadequate to meaningfully address these serious findings,” said Paula M. Stannard, Director of the Office for Civil Rights at HHS. “HHS stands ready to re engage in productive discussions with Harvard to reach resolution on the corrective action that Harvard can take to remedy the violations and come into compliance with its Title VI obligations.”
OCR’s findings document that a hostile environment existed, and continues to exist, at Harvard. This hostile environment includes harassing speech, threats, and intimidation targeting Jewish and Israeli students, including calls for genocide and murder. OCR’s findings also extensively detail acts of physical intimidation and violence between students. This hostile environment denied, and continues
to deny, students’ fundamental educational opportunities.
The Notice of Violation explains the ways in which Harvard – which has substantial control over both the students who committed harassment and the property where harassment occurred – acted with deliberate indifference with regard to the hostile environment.
For example, Harvard failed:
To establish clear and consistent policies and practices to report and remediate discrimination;
To discipline violators of its policies with any uniformity, resulting in a patchwork application of sanctions that Harvard inconsistently reduced or reversed, resulting in a disciplinary system that had little to no deterrent effect; and
To enforce its own time, place and manner restrictions in any consistent or meaningful way, resulting in recurring and unsanctioned episodes that deprived Jewish and Israeli students their full access to parts of campus where they studied and socialized.
The Notice of Violation may be found at: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/
harvard title vi notice violation.pdf. This investigation is the second OCR investigation completed in this Administration under Title VI that examines the civil rights liability of a Federal funding recipient for race and national origin discrimination under a deliberate indifference theory. The scope of the findings released today do not address OCR’s ongoing investigation under Title VI into suspected race based discrimination permeating the operations of the Harvard Law Review journal.
The announcement is part of a broader effort by the Administration’s multi agency Joint Task Force to Combat Anti Semitism, which is part of the Administration’s commitment to address “unlawful anti Semitic harassment and violence,” as expressed in President Trump’s Executive Orders, Combating Anti Semitism on December 11th, 2019 and Additional Measures to Combat Anti Semitism on January 29th, 2025.
If you believe that you or someone else has been discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, or religion in programs or activities that HHS directly operates or for which HHS provides Federal financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the HHS Office for Civil Rights at: https://www.hhs.gov/civil rights/filing a complaint/index.html.
Follow HHS OCR on X (formerly Twitter) at @HHSOCR.
The ZOA praises President Donald Trump for issuing two executive orders on June 4th, 2025, to improve national security, including the security of vulnerable, targeted American Jews throughout the United States and at Harvard University: “Proclamation Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” and “Proclamation Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University.”
The first proclamation reiterated President Trump’s Executive Order 14161 of January 20th, 2025 (Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats), that “The United States must ensure that admitted aliens and aliens otherwise already present in the United States do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, and do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists or other threats to our national security.”
Protecting the security of all American citizens is indeed the first duty of an American president. Too many immigrants have hostile attitudes towards U.S. citizens – especially American Jewish citizens – including the Egyptian immigrant who attempted to burn to death American Jews in Boulder, Colorado. It is thus shameful and dangerous to the American Jewish public that the American Jewish Committee (AJC) publicly opposed President Trump’s proclamation protecting our security from hostile immigrants.
The first June 4th proclamation was issued after the U.S.
Administration determined that vetting procedures from specific countries were deficient, and after accounting for national security, counterterrorism and foreign policy objectives. The proclamation fully restricted and limited the entry of nationals from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen; and partially restricted and limited the entry of nationals from: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
The proclamation noted that visa overstays rates from these countries ranged from 6.49% to 70.18%. All these rates are well above the national average overstay rate of 1.45%. Visa overstays are a major portion of illegal immigrants. (See “Visa Overstays Make up Almost 40 Percent of Illegal U.S. Entries,” Statista, by Katharina Buchholz, May 21st, 2025.) The proclamation further noted that the restricted countries included U.S. designated state sponsors of Terrorism (Iran and Cuba); nations that fail to cooperate with the U.S. in identifying security risks; and nations that refuse to accept back, removable nationals.
If anything, ZOA wonders whether the proclamation should be expanded to include nationals from more countries, including: Egypt – the origin of the Boulder, CO arsonist and Molotov cocktail attacker; Egypt also refuses to admit most Gazan refugees; Jordan – which likewise refuses to admit most Gazan refugees and gives safe harbor to Sbarro restaurant killer Ahlam Tamimi; Pakistan – the origin of the poorly vetted San Bernardino, CA Christmas party shooter and terrorist group that tortured and murdered a pregnant Jewish woman and others at
the Mumbai, India Chabad house; and Syria – which is still a designated state sponsor of terrorism. The DHS 2023 Overstay Report reveals that overstay rates from these countries for nonimmigrants admitted for business or pleasure and for students were, respectively: 4.16% and 4.23% for Egyptians; 5.88% and 10.04% for Jordanians; 5.03% and 4.65% for Pakistanis and 9.68% and 12.25% for Syrians. These are all well above national overstay rates.
ZOA also strongly applauds the president’s proclamation that the U.S. must be protected from those who bear hostile attitudes toward U.S. citizens. In order to carry this out, ZOA suggests that vetting procedures should add specific questions about potential entrants’ attitudes toward U.S. citizens. For instance, potential entrants should be asked “do you have any hostility toward Jews”
President Trump’s second proclamation, restricting entry of foreign nationals to study at Harvard, is also an important step for protecting national and students’ safety – especially Jewish students’ safety. The proclamation notes that “Harvard University has refused the recent requests of the DHS for information about foreign students’ ‘known illegal activity,’ ‘known dangerous and violent activity,’ ‘known threats to other students or university personnel,’ ‘known deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnel,’ and whether those activities ‘occurred on campus,’ and other related data. Harvard provided data on misconduct by only three students, and the data it provided was so deficient that the DHS could not evaluate whether it should take further actions. Harvard’s actions show that it either is not fully reporting its disciplinary records for foreign students or is not seriously policing its foreign students.” After decades of Harvard failing to police foreign students’ harassment and attacks on Jewish students, the new restrictions are a much needed breath of fresh air.
The American Jewish Congress applauds the resounding success of Operation Midnight Hammer, a truly historic mission that reshaped the Middle East. Launching 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs deep into Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites, in a mission of historic scale and moral clarity. In an unprecedented feat of stealth and coordination, U.S. B 2 bombers traveled 6,900 miles to destroy Iran’s most fortified nuclear facilities using, for the first time in combat, 30,000 pound Massive Ordnance Penetrators. America’s unmatched capability has redefined the rules of engagement in the Middle East and
the world.
The American Jewish Congress salutes the leadership of President Donald J. Trump in exe cuting Operation Midnight Hammer, a mission of historic scale and moral clarity; and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for unprece dented Israeli military strikes and coordination. It was not an escalation. It was restoration of deterrence, of truth, and of international responsibility. Tehran used diplomacy as cover to accelerate its nuclear program, betting on the world’s hesitation. That illusion ended tonight. The United States has acted to protect its own interests and those of its partners: Israel, the Arab world, and beyond, by degrading the capa
bilities of a regime that thrives on violence and deception.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has waged a campaign of murder against Americans for four decades. Since the 1983 bombing in Beirut that killed 241 U.S. Marines, Tehran’s network of proxies and Revolutionary Guard operatives has been responsible for the deaths of over 1,000 American soldiers in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Iran has plotted assassina tions against U.S. officials and planned the October 7th invasion of Israel in a failed bid to derail historic Arab Israeli reconciliation efforts supported by both Presidents Trump and Biden. Today, President Trump reaffirmed the
unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel and praised Israeli soldiers for help ing advance American goals in the region. This is what principled power looks like: targeted, timely, and grounded in American interests. We call on America’s political elite to set aside partisan reflexes, unite behind strength and clarity, and stand unequivocally with President Trump. There is still work to be done: to verify how the Iranian regime deals with its enriched uranium stockpiles, and to secure a verifiable and permanent end to its pursuit of nuclear weapons. But for now, the world wit nessed something rare: courage, clarity, and consequences. A new era has begun.
Jewish Family Home Care – a not for profit agency – is proud to partner with MedBetterHealth, a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) GUIDE Model participant, to expand access to comprehensive, home based dementia care for patients and caregivers across South Florida.
This collaboration brings together MedBetterHealth’s CMS recognized care coordination model and Jewish Family Home Care’s award winning services, offering enhanced dementia sup port, respite care, and caregiver education. The partnership will allow Jewish Family Home Care to provide high quality dementia care through the GUIDE Model while continuing to serve seniors with the compassion and dignity for which the agency is known.
Jewish Family Home Care provides multi reach, non medical, quality home health care for Broward County, Florida, seniors from all reaches of life and any faith. Jewish Family Home Care is one of the largest providers of home health care, providing assis tance to Holocaust survivors and anyone in Broward County needing in home care. Providing service to more than 400 cli ents, including over 300 Holocaust survivors, Jewish Family Home Care offers services such as home health aides, compan ions, 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 budget.
“Our partnership with MedBetterHealth reflects our commit ment to delivering innovative care solutions that support the well being of patients and their families,” said Robin Miller, CEO of Jewish Family Home Care. “As one of the few not for profit agen cies participating in the GUIDE Model, we are proud to lead the way in dementia focused home care.”
“Jewish Family Home Care brings deep community roots and a trusted reputation to this important work,” said Dr. Erik Ilyayev, CEO of MedBetterHealth. “Together, we are expanding access to dementia services that are proactive, personalized, and grounded in support for both patients and caregivers.”
The CMS GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) Model aims to improve quality of life and care coor dination for people living with dementia, providing services that include care navigation, caregiver training, and respite care.
To find out more about Jewish Family Home Care’s commitment to excellence, please visit: JFCares.org or call: (954) 908-5677.
About Jewish Family Home Care, Inc.:
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 well
ness, 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 indi viduals, strengthening older adults and families, and protecting the vulnerable and frail by providing direct home care and per sonal 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 S. Pine Island Rd, 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 and 2025 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.
Jewish Family Home Care (JFHC) CEO Robin Miller
• Implant Reconstruction
• Porcelain Crowns and Bridges
• Cosmetic Bonding
• Cosmetic Dentures
• Over Dentures
• Extractions
• Root Canal Therapy
• Partial with Clear Invisible Clasp
• Soft Based Dentures
• Repairs & Relines While You Wait • Cosmetic Bleaching • ZOOM
A freshly remodeled bathroom is a welcome addition to any home, from aesthetics that reflect your personal style to the glossy, untouched surfaces and the refreshing scent of a newly finished space. Done right, even more rewards come from the practical touches that enhance your everyday use and how they make
ship matter most. Because it’s a confined space that sees a great deal of moisture and humidity, it’s essential that you use quality materials that stand up to the task and enlist professionals who know how to incorporate effective measures to prevent mold, mildew and other water related damage.
Paying attention to quality throughout your
tile pattern featuring a textured design and a durable, easy to clean surface. Unlike tiles and grout, these walls combine on trend beauty and innovative materials so homeowners can enjoy their bathrooms rather than stress about main tenance. Perfect for minimalist designs and tra ditional bathrooms alike, Ovation is a sleek and stylish skirted tub. The full line of brushed gold
or can even be edge less, making it easy for wheelchairs to roll in and out the shower.
Ease of Installation
Another important consideration is how the installation process will be carried out in your home. Installing a beautiful tub or shower doesn’t have to be complicated. A custom solu tion designed to fit your space and requirements may be more attainable than you expect. For example, with an option like Bath Fitter, you can have a premium quality tub installed right over your exist ing one so there’s no demolition or mess involved in the remodel whatsoever. It’s the perfect blend of beauty and function ality without the stress and disruption of a traditional bath or shower remodel.
you feel.
Bathrooms are among the most common spaces for home renovations, whether you’re updating outdated fixtures and decor or reimag ing features to better suit your lifestyle. In a world where every dollar matters, transforming your bathroom into a personal haven that blends your style with functional purpose makes it a smart investment you’ll appreciate long after the renovation is complete.
For a renovation that not only represents a worthwhile investment for today and tomorrow but also delivers emotional ROI, consider these ideas from the experts at Bath Fitter, a leader in stress free custom bath and shower remodels.
Quality
Of all the rooms in the house, the bathroom may be where quality materials and workman
renovation is also likely to bring you greater functional benefits, as well as increased home value and an overall more pleasing result.
Durability
Especially if you’re planning to be in your home well into the future, it’s a good idea to plan for durable features that can stand the test of time. Be sure to select premium materials and consider their durability and maintenance requirements. Some of the latest design options offered by Bath Fitter deliver the perfect blend of beauty and functionality, ensuring long lasting durability. For example, the Lucca wall, a sophisticated textured and seamless Chevron tile pattern, offers the ideal combination of modern design and classic charm.
Another design forward selection is the Sorrento wall, a large scale 12 by 24 grout free
accessories, from trim kits and shower rods to doors and grab bars, can add a sense of warmth to your space.
Aging in Place
The wet and slippery surfaces in bathrooms can lead to injuries. While the risk can affect anyone at any age, bathroom safety is especially important for older adults with reduced mobil ity.
Planning ahead for your retirement years, or considering the needs of a future buyer, can help create a safe environment and reduce the risk of serious injuries. Some potential prob lems can be fixed with simple adjustments like rearranging the shelving, installing grab bars, adding seating or increasing lighting levels. In addition, a bathtub’s edge can be hard to navi gate, but walk in showers have a narrower edge,
Because a local expert is with you every step of the way from dreaming up the concept and selecting finishes to measuring, manufacturing and instal lation there are no surprises. The result is a tub or shower with a seamless, grout free watertight wall system that’s easy to keep looking great for years to come. All backed by a transferable lifetime warranty to provide peace of mind. “As a reno vator, I’ve seen firsthand how a bath or shower upgrade can completely transform not just a space but the way people feel about their homes,” said Scott McGillivray, HGTV star and home reno vation expert. “That’s why Bath Fitter has been my go to. Their installers provide high quality workmanship while home owners are left with the consistency, reli ability and durability of beautiful products with lifetime warranties.”
Safety
A well placed grab bar can mean the difference between a confident step and a dangerous slip in the bathroom for those aging in place, young children and everyone in between. Knowing where to place grab bars in the shower and around the tub creates a safer, more accessible space for everyone. Proper placement reduces the risk of falls and can bring added peace of mind and confidence to you and your family.
Professionals can guide you through select ing the best grab bars for your bathroom by con sidering the layout, your needs and design pref erences, as well as ensuring your grab bars are installed at the correct height and securely anchored for maximum safety and convenience.
Discover more inspiration and design ideas to boost the long-term value and enjoyment of your bathroom renovation at: www.bathfitter.com.
A comfortable retirement is something most people aspire to, and there are many paths to plan for that phase of life. While many employers offer retirement savings plans as a workplace benefit, small business owners, whose time and resources are already at a premium, often face barriers including hours of administrative work, additional costs and compliance liabilities when setting up these plans for their employees.
Today, many small business owners understand the power of offering a retirement plan, such as a 401(K), to attract and retain top talent and provide additional financial security for their employees. In fact, a retirement plan is the benefit most wanted by workers after health insurance, according to a survey commis sioned by 401(K) provider Human Interest.
Many states have passed or enacted laws requiring most employers to offer retirement plans for employees. Currently, 20 states have passed legislation for state mandated retirement pro grams and 13 states have active programs. Legislation is currently being considered in an additional 28 states.
Employers can opt out of state mandated retirement pro grams by offering a 401(K) plan, simplifying compliance for busi ness owners. Federal regulations, such as SECURE 2.0, intro duced incentives and requirements for business owners who offer 401(K)s, which make it easier for employees to save and access
their funds.
If you’re a small business owner setting up a retirement plan, these considerations can simplify the process while helping employees save for retirement.
Add Auto-Enroll to Your 401(K) Plan
Many people intend to save for retirement, but don’t take the nec essary steps to enroll in a plan. Plans that include an automatic enrollment feature help overcome this inertia by automatically collecting deferrals from employees’ compensation each pay period unless they opt out of participation.
SECURE 2.0 mandates auto enroll for most 401(K) plans established after December 29th, 2022. If your plan is not sub ject to the requirement, consider adding it voluntarily. Ultimately, auto enroll can help contribute to a more financially secure work force by encouraging consistent savings habits.
Take Advantage of Match Contributions Programs
While the primary benefit of a 401(K) plan is to help employ ees save for retirement, offering an employer match encourages employees to participate, as employees may consider the match “free” money. In addition, employers can take a tax deduction for their matching contributions, up to 25% of the total compen sation paid to eligible employees for the year.
SECURE 2.0 also introduced a tax credit for matching contri butions for small employers with new plans. Employers should be aware the tax credit is an alternative to the deduction; the employer can’t claim both in the same year.
Pick a Platform Designed for Small Businesses
The administrative burden of setting up retirement plans can be overwhelming for some business owners. Choosing a tech enabled 401(K) platform like Human Interest which offers a fast online setup in a few clicks; transparent pricing; and attentive, human support can help employers navigate the shifting land scape of state specific regulations and mandates.
When choosing a provider, also consider the upfront fees you’ll pay (both as an employer and for the employees participat ing in the plan), if the platform integrates with your payroll pro vider, customer service response times and how the 401(K) pro vider can help answer questions about compliance from regu latory bodies to set your employees up for long term success.
Find additional information to help provide a more secure financial future for your employees at https://humaninterest.com.
(Photos courtesy of Shutterstock)
More than just a restaurant — it’s a celebration of Mediterranean flavors, sustainability,
and community, all set against the backdrop of Fort Lauderdale’s waterfront.
Nestled along Fort Lauderdale’s picturesque Intracoastal Waterway, Olive & Sea is a rooftop restaurant, atop the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina resort, delivering a dining experience that artfully blends Mediterranean inspired flavors, fresh and sus tainable ingredients and a waterfront ambiance as captivating as its menu. Situated along the famed Intracoastal Waterway, Olive & Sea offers a memorable alfresco atmosphere where you’ll embark upon a culinary journey that celebrates simplicity, sus tainability and bold, vibrant flavors.
The name “Olive & Sea” is more than a moniker; it embodies the restaurant’s ethos. Drawing from the Mediterranean’s culi nary traditions, the name reflects the restaurant’s focus on fresh, sustainable ingredients and a menu that highlights the essence of the sea and the olive tree—both staples of the region’s cuisine.
The interior and exterior design of Olive & Sea further enhance the dining experience. With a stylish modern aesthetic inspired by its marina location, the restaurant features natural sandy tones paired with pops of vibrant colors. The open concept layout and elevated second floor vantage point provide a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere. Outdoor seating incorporates marine grade rope materials and wood look porcelain tile, evok ing the finishes of luxury yachts, while the bar is strategically posi tioned to connect diners with the lovely Intracoastal view.
As the restaurant moves into 2025, Olive & Sea has wel comed Wilfredo Garcia as its new Executive Chef. A Nicaraguan native with over a decade of professional culinary experience, Garcia brings his expertise to a range of new dishes.
“My culinary philosophy is about creating flavorful, simple, and authentic dishes, built around fresh, sustainable ingredients, and presented in ways that balance tradition with modern inno vation,” said Chef Garcia. “This philosophy is reflected in a menu that offers bold, Mediterranean inspired flavors while embracing seasonal, local ingredients, creating an unforgettable dining experience that celebrates both the Mediterranean and Fort Lauderdale’s unique culinary landscape.”
The authenticity of the menu at Olive & Sea shines through, featuring bold ingredients like za’atar, harissa, Aleppo pepper, Urfa pepper, and shawarma spice. These spices lend depth and warmth to standout dishes like the Moroccan Stew and house made falafel, which is served with tangy preserved lemon aioli.
With Chef Garcia at the helm, guests can also enjoy new dishes like pan roasted red snapper with squash purée and arak fennel broth, spice crusted hanger steak with za’atar fries and zhug, smoked eggplant laffa pizzas with mozzarella and Urfa pep per, and beef lahmajun with Antep pepper and garlic cream. Additional highlights include sides such as sautéed spinach with pistachio, feta, and dill, as well as appetizers like fried artichokes
served with preserved lemon aioli, mint, and Urfa pepper.
Other must try menu items include the sustainable octopus, expertly grilled and bursting with Mediterranean flavor, or the smoked eggplant laffa bread pizza, which offers a unique, savory twist on traditional pizza with its combination of roasted eggplant and Mediterranean spices. Guests can opt for a gluten free cau liflower crust or enjoy the traditional house made dough.
“Some of my own personal favorites at Olive & Sea include the Snapper Crudo, which offers a perfect fusion of Mediterranean and Floribbean flavors,” Chef Garcia offered. “I also can’t get enough of the delicious falafel—it’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. And of course, the house made laffa pizzas like the eggplant pizza, truly stand out with bold Mediterranean flavors. The combination of savory ingredients delivers a rich, satisfying taste that transports you straight to the heart of the Mediterranean.”
Olive & Sea places a strong emphasis on using local ingre dients to enhance both the freshness and sustainability of its menu. For example, red snapper is sourced from local fisheries, providing an eco conscious and flavorful choice. Locally grown arugula adds a peppery kick to various dishes, while microgreens from nearby farms deliver a nutrient packed garnish that elevates
presentation and taste.
The restaurant also goes above and beyond to accommodate diners with dietary preferences or restrictions. Vegetarians can savor dishes like the Moroccan Stew, while gluten free guests have the option of substituting cauliflower crust for traditional pizza dough. The house made falafel is another flavorful offering that caters to diverse tastes. Sustainability is a key part of Olive & Sea’s philosophy. The restaurant prioritizes organic and ethically raised ingredients from farms that practice sustainable agriculture and animal welfare. By sourcing fresh, seasonal produce locally, Olive & Sea minimizes its environmental footprint and supports regional farmers. Additional measures, such as reducing food waste through portion control, composting organic materials, and recycling packaging, demonstrate a commitment to environmen tally conscious operations.
For first time visitors, there are a few tips to maximize the experience. Seasonal dishes are a highlight of the menu, showcas ing the freshest flavors of the time. Servers are always ready to recommend pairings or chef’s specials to help guests discover hidden gems. Dessert lovers should indulge in the baklava and
pistachio gelato, which provide a perfectly sweet and creamy end to the meal. Whether seated indoors or outdoors, the serene views of the marina and the sunny Florida weather make Olive & Sea a perfect setting for a leisurely meal.
Beverage pairings at Olive & Sea are equally thoughtful, fea turing a curated selection of Middle Eastern wines alongside clas sic favorites. The cocktail menu highlights refreshing creations inspired by Florida’s lively ambiance, and a variety of zero proof cocktails ensure that every guest can enjoy a handcrafted drink.
When asked about his own favorite aspects of the dining expe rience at large at Olive & Sea, Chef Garcia remarked, “One standout aspect is the combination of atmosphere and food. Whether it’s the stunning view of the marina while enjoying a sunny meal on the patio or the warmth and inviting ambiance indoors, the setting enhances the overall experience. The ability to enjoy fresh, flavorful dishes, like the sustainable octopus or the unique eggplant pizza, while being immersed in such a comfort able and beautiful environment, is truly memorable.”
“Another favorite part would be the Mediterranean flavors that Olive & Sea brings to the table,” Chef Garcia continued.
“The careful use of local ingredients, bold spices like za’atar and harissa, and dishes that honor the essence of Mediterranean cui
sine give diners a unique and satisfying culinary journey. Ultimately, it’s the feeling of indulgence and connection, whether through a relaxing meal with friends or enjoying a quiet, flavorful dish solo, that creates a lasting impression for our guests.”
Engagement with the local community is another hallmark of Olive & Sea. The restaurant collaborates with local nonprofits, chambers, and charitable organizations, including partnerships with Pride and breast cancer charities during June and October. Distributors also work with Olive & Sea to create unique expe riences that further connect the restaurant to Fort Lauderdale’s vibrant community.
Olive & Sea has a number of other delightful attributes, including complimentary valet parking, the ability to host large gatherings with ease, a private dining room for intimate groups of up to 14 people, a lively atmosphere for enjoying sporting events, and fantastic happy hour food and drink deals.
For diners looking to discover hidden gems, Olive & Sea is more than just a restaurant—it’s a celebration of Mediterranean flavors, sustainability, and community, all set against the back drop of Fort Lauderdale’s waterfront. For those seeking a dining experience that combines exceptional food, thoughtful service and an open air atmosphere, Olive & Sea duly delivers.
From Front Page 19
[left] A culinary journey that celebrates simplicity, sustainability and bold, vibrant flavors. [Right] “My culinary philosophy is about creating flavorful, simple, and authentic dishes, built around fresh, sustainable ingredients” said Chef Garcia.
SonestaFortLauderdaleBeachASoulfulSeasideEscape
By Merilee Kern, MBA
Nestled adjacent to the Atlantic shoreline, Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach offers more than just oceanfront accommoda tions—it delivers a full spectrum retreat that merges wellness, coastal sophistication and Caribbean American flavor. With its new branding initiative under Sonesta Hotels, Resorts & Cruises (SHR&C)—centered on self discovery, reflection, and mindful design—this vibrant Fort Lauderdale gem invites luxury travelers to experience the journey within.
Whether you’re a solo traveler seeking restoration, a couple in search of elevated romance, a friend group seeking fun under the SoFlo sun, or a stylish family drawn to coastal adventure, this hotel makes a compelling case for unpacking and unwinding in beach chic style.
Elevated Stays with a Soulful Perspective
One of Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach’s best kept secrets Every guest room features an ocean view. That’s right—every sin gle one.
This design choice creates a sense of instant tranquility and connection to nature. “We’re not just a place to stay—we’re a place to exhale,” says a property spokesperson. “Our guests can wake up to sunrise over the Atlantic and end their day with moon light over the water, all without leaving their room.”
The hotel’s interiors are newly refreshed with warm, natural tones inspired by SHR&C’s updated palette of blush reds, pis tachio and hunter greens, mirroring the natural landscape of the
Florida coast. You’ll also find new touches like self reflection cards, motivational messages in the fitness center, and even digital free zones designed to help guests unplug and truly be present.
The property’s Ocean Corner Preferred Suite option is a stunning sanctuary designed for both comfort and indulgence. With sweeping ocean views framed by floor to ceiling windows, this corner room invites natural light to dance across its plush car pet, sophisticated hardwood finishes and custom furnishings. The luxurious king size bed with a pillow top mattress offers the per fect place to unwind, while thoughtful amenities like a Keurig cof fee maker, mini fridge and rainfall shower elevate the stay. Whether you’re sipping morning coffee by the window while watching the sunrise, lounging on the comfy couch watching the large flat screen TV or catching up on work at the desk, every detail feels intentionally curated. Factor in complimentary WiFi and you have a refined retreat that’s both serene and inviting.
Not Your Average Fort Lauderdale Beach Experience
Unlike hotels situated amid the bustling beach strip, Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach enjoys a more tranquil setting parallel to Laudy’s famed shoreline, providing a peaceful buffer from the crowds without sacrificing access to the action.
And for nature lovers, it borders the verdant oasis of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, a rare gem for jogging, kayaking, pic nicking, or simply getting lost under a canopy of coastal ham
mocks. “It’s our secret escape hatch,” shares the hotel’s spokes person. “Guests love that they can walk to the park right from our doors.”
If you’re planning a celebration or retreat, the spokesperson underscores that Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach is the only prop erty in the area with event space on the Penthouse level, offering 360 degree panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway—ideal for weddings, business events, and milestone moments that deserve a dramatic backdrop.
Hospitality with Heart
One of the most defining features of the property isn’t visible on a map—it’s felt in the energy of the team.
“Our culture is all about care, discovery, and fun,” the spokesperson explains. “We want each guest to feel like they’re part of something—like they’re known and welcomed.”
This philosophy has earned the property recognition as one of USA Today’s Top Workplaces 2025, and it’s reflected in eve rything from the smiling staff who remember your name to little details like pet amenities (yes, it’s pet friendly, with cozy beds, bowls, waterproof mats, and welcome treats at check in).
Savor the Soul of South Florida at Steelpan
At the heart of the Sonesta experience lies Steelpan, the hotel’s onsite Caribbean American fusion kitchen and bar that
celebrates the bold, tropical flavors of the region.
With floor to ceiling windows and a laid back oceanfront atio for al fresco dining from morning well into the evening, Steelpan offers an open air dining experience that perfectly matches its menu: vibrant, soulful and rooted in community.
“Each dish is made with love, Caribbean music fills the air, and you’re greeted with a smile,” the team shares. And the flavors They’re unforgettable. Must try signature dishes and drinks include the Fish Dip – a smoky, creamy indulgence ideal for sharing; Tuna Tartare – bright and citrus kissed with just the right heat; Fried Jerk Chicken Sandwich – a crave worthy crunch with island spices; Whole Snapper – fresh caught and per fectly grilled; and the Vegan Steak – a standout for plant based diners craving bold flavor.
Pair your meal with Steelpan’s flagship cocktails, like the sultry Brown Sugar Old Fashioned, the floral forward Hibiscus Hound Ball, or the zesty and bold Yellow Jacket—each crafted to reflect the rhythm and color of the islands. From sunny breakfasts to romantic starlit dinners, every service at Steelpan feels like a celebration of place and palette.
The Perfect Day, Curated by Sonesta
If you’re wondering how to make the most of a stay here, the team offers this dream itin erary:
“Start with sunrise yoga on the beach, then enjoy breakfast on the Steelpan patio. Walk through Birch State Park, and in the afternoon, hop aboard a Water Taxi to Las Olas Boulevard for boutique shopping, art galleries, and cock tails. It’s the best of Fort Lauderdale—without the stress.”
Recognizing the evolving expectations of luxury travelers, Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach has committed to modern convenience without sacrificing charm. Upgraded high speed Wi Fi, smart TVs with streaming capa bilities, and a robust Social Media presence make this a seamless stay for digital nomads, wellness seekers, and aesthetic travelers alike.
“We understand today’s guest wants con nection—both to the place and to their world— and we deliver on both fronts,” says the prop erty spokesperson.
More Than a Stay, It’s a Reset
For those who see luxury not just as lavish ness but as a space to breathe, reconnect, and be inspired, Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach is a revelation. It’s where beachside bliss meets soulful design, Caribbean culture meets curated calm, and thoughtful hospitality ele vates the everyday escape. And in a city as vibrant as Fort Lauderdale, that’s saying some thing.
ABSOLUT INT’L REALTY
WATERVIEW #1048
Beautiful Unit, Very Nice Water Views, One Of A Kind. $449K. Call For Showing.
ROLLING GREEN #107
Ground Fl, Nice Unit, Rented $1,250/month. $210K
OCEANVIEW #724
Great Views Arcoss The Ocean, Priced $414K
WATERVIEW #646
Gorgeous Views, Needs TLC, $429K.
WATERVIEW #138
First Floor, $369K
REGENT PARK #516
1/1 Downtown Hollywood, Beautiful Unit, $275k. Centrally Located, Covered Parking, W/D In Unit.
MYSTIC POINTE 500 #408
Asking $425K. Very Nice, W/d, Closets.
WATERVIEW #1449
Beautiful Unit, Great Water Views, Unfurnished, Renovated $479,000 Tenant Occupied
MYSTIC POINTE 500-1411
Call For Appointments
For Rent $3300/month For Sale $479K Beautiful Ocean/Bay Views
BENTLEY BEACH #906
Ocean Drive And 1st Street. South Beach Gem, 1/1, Fabulous Views, $9,000/month. Long/short Term.
HOLLYWOOD STATION #835:
2/2 In Heart Of Hollywood, $2,600/month. Start 6/25
Freshly Painted
WATERVIEW #1848
Beautiful Unit, Great Views, $529k
MYSTIC POINTE 500 #3206
Great Corner Unit, 2/2 + Den, Fantastic Views, $731K
