UnexpectedlyKosher,UnapologeticallyFrench
Chef Olivia Ostrow Debuts Maison Ostrow, a French-Mediterranean Kitchen &
Kosher, but make it couture. Paris-born chef Olivia Ostrow, recently named Best Chef in Miami, raises the bar once again with the debut of Maison Ostrow (certified Kosher by the ORB), which opened August 17, 2025, in North Bay Village at 1666 79th Street Causeway, Suite 102.
This French-Mediterranean kitchen blends Parisian elegance with Riviera soul and Olivia’s signature flair for bold flavors and “crazy, conversation-starting” art. Every detail reflects her vision to create a culinary destination with global ambitions. But Maison Ostrow is more than a restaurant. It’s the flagship of what Olivia calls her “Ostrow Global vision,” a lifestyle brand that will expand across continents.
“This is more than a restaurant, it’s a lifestyle brand,” says Ostrow. “I see us expanding into France, London, Vegas, Dubai, Panama—the world is our Kosher oyster. Think chef-driven dining, celebrity tables, art, and design, all under one unapologetic French umbrella.”
Maison, French for “house,” captures what Olivia has built: fine comfort food where everyone feels at home. “This is a place where you can come in more than once a week for a family meal, a night of cocktails and jazz, or a once-in-alifetime culinary experience,” says Ostrow.
The 3,500-square-foot space accommodates 145 guests across indoor dining, a full bar, and a 40-seat terrace offering glimpses of Biscayne Bay. The interiors layer soft stone, deep greens, gourmet burgers,
AnEverydayChampionInspiringTheCommunityThroughHerKosherCaféInHollywood,Florida
At just 18 years old, recent high school graduate Sofia Hagen has already accomplished what many only dream of: opening her own Kosher café in the heart of the Hollywood area. Her story is one of grit, determination, and inspiration serving as a refreshing and shining example of youthful ambition paired with the wisdom and resilience of a seasoned entrepreneur.
Sofia’s journey has not been without challenges. Having faced and overcome learning difficulties throughout her schooling, her determination to succeed has been relentless. Rather than allowing obstacles to define her, Sofia transformed them into stepping stones toward her dreams. Today, she proudly operates Bliss Café, where fresh, delicious, and ORB Kosher-certified homemade pastries are thoughtfully prepared and served daily (except on Shabbat). Her artisanal touch is carefully crafted into the amazing banana bread, mouthwatering blueberry muffins, flaky cheese Danish, sinful vanilla scones and so much more with variations on a regular basis. These blissful bites are paired with delectable drinks including lattes, coffee and matcha, all served hot or on ice with a variety of flavors, milks and foams.
Early every morning, Sofia is the first to arrive at her café, setting the tone for the day ahead. She takes pride in ensuring the kitchen is spotless, the menu is ready, and the customer experience is second to none. Her commitment is evident not only in the quality of the food but also in her warm and friendly presence. Patrons describe her as “all smiles, mostly laughs, and always welcoming” as a genuine spirit that leaves an impression long after the last bite.
“People are often surprised to learn I’m only 18,” Sofia shares with a smile. “But I don’t think age should stop anyone from chasing their dreams. Owning a business is about responsibility, con-
sistency, and caring about people — and that’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Her community agrees. Customers and neighbors alike are inspired by her tenacity and vision, noting her strong business sense and devotion to her kosher values. Sofia recognizes that her responsibility extends beyond serving pastries and drinks. It’s about building trust, community, and inspiration. Popular Kosher and Jewish oriented Social Media influencers have shared their stories through various platforms after experiencing Sofia’s amazing café.
A Launch Pad for Greater Dreams Sofia views the café not as the final destination, but as a starting point. “This café is my launch pad,” she explains. “I want to create a space that brings people together, one delicious bite at a time. And this is just the beginning.”
Her incredible story is a reminder that success is not measured by age or experience, but by perseverance, positivity, and the courage to take bold steps. At 18 years old, Sofia Hagen is not just running a café; she’s proving herself as an everyday champion whose impact will inspire for years to come.
About Bliss Café:
An ORB Kosher Establishment Located at 3523 Griffin Road, Dania Beach (Fort Lauderdale), Florida 33312, ORB Kosher-certified Bliss Café is a community-driven quaint dining spot founded by 18-year-old entrepreneur Sofia Hagen. The café specializes in fresh, baked daily Kosher-certified delicious pastries and delectable drinks served in a friendly, family style and welcoming atmosphere, reflecting Sofia’s dedication to excellence and community connection.
LatestCyberwellResearchHighlightsSurgeInOnlineAntisemitism
Ahead of World Democracy Day, CyberWell — a nonprofit dedicated to monitoring and combating online antisemitism, and a trusted flagger for Meta (Facebook, Instagram, and Threads) and TikTok — has published a new report revealing a sharp rise in election-related antisemitic content. It revealed that enforcement efforts lagged during recent national election cycles in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Australia. This surge comes on the heels of a wider global trend among democratic countries toward authoritarian tendencies (Pew Research Center, 2024), intensifying the stakes for both civic integrity and the spread of targeted hate during elections.
Examining election-related content between 2023 and 2025, the report found that antisemitic narratives accusing Jewish communities of political manipulation or control repeatedly surfaced and were amplified online. These narratives, which align with the second example in the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, were often tied to conspiracies alleging Jews exert disproportionate, secretive influence over electoral processes and governance. Such rhetoric has, throughout history and arguably today, incited violence against the Jewish community while undermining public trust in democratic institutions and governments.
Despite clear prohibitions against hate speech by most major platforms, CyberWell’s research found a notable decline in enforcement during election periods. X (formerly Twitter) hosted the highest volume of election-related antisemitic content while removing the least amount of content, despite regular reporting
by CyberWell. This reflects its broadly permissive stance toward extreme election-related material, including misinformation, hyper-partisan narratives, and hate speech.
Conversely, YouTube recorded the lowest incidence of antisemitic election content, likely due to its explicit policy prohibiting election-related hate speech against protected groups.
Meta and TikTok showed enforcement rates consistent with average removal rates against antisemitic content at 40%, after violations were flagged through trusted reporting channels by CyberWell. TikTok, like YouTube, had a significantly smaller sample size, suggesting either lower prevalence of antisemitic election-related content or more effective proactive moderation.
Across all platforms, the predominant form of antisemitism linked to elections centered on long-standing conspiracies about undue Jewish influence in government. Posts falsely accusing Jews or “Zionists” of covertly controlling governments, financing candidates, or rigging elections appeared consistently in every country surveyed. “While social media companies are dedicating sporadic and reactive resources to detect election misinformation, they continue to underestimate the extent to which hate speech, especially classical antisemitism, is gaining traction during politically sensitive times,” said CyberWell Founder and CEO Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor. “Our report illustrates that narratives blaming Jews for societal and political failures often surge during elections, yet enforcement remains below average.”
“We continue to provide data and enforcement-based insights to develop the tools to effectively identify and address anti-Jewish posts at scale and effectively,” added Cohen Montemayor. “Stereotypical and conspiratorial claims about Jewish control over politics have fueled violence and mass scapegoating against Jewish communities in free countries in the past, before they turned fascist. Today, the same narrative is gaining increasing traction in the online universe, primarily on social media. Taking care to enforce digital policies against hate speech at scale during election time is a crucial part of ensuring safe elections and preventing additional erosion of trust in our democratic institutions.”
CyberWell’s report also offered clear recommendations to social media platforms on more effective enforcement of their own policies. It urged them to refine their election-related hate speech enforcement policies—not just focus on election-related misinformation. The report also called for improved moderator training to better distinguish between legitimate political discourse and targeted attacks on protected groups. CyberWell also called for improved detection technologies capable of identifying visual cues, coded language and emojis which typically accompany antisemitic content.
CyberWell’s World Democracy Day Elections Report is available here: https://cyberwell.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2025/09/Antisemitism-Online-Amid-National-ElectionsReport.pdf.
For more information, visit: https://cyberwell.org/
AventuraArts&CulturalCenter’s15thAnniversarySeason
ForeverYiddish3,GodAndTheHolocaust,AviHoffman’sTooJewish?AndManyMore
The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center (AACC) kicks off its 15th Anniversary Season, celebrating a legacy of enriching the vibrant community of Aventura, known as The City of Excellence. Since opening its doors, the AACC has welcomed more than 375,000 guests and presented 437 sold-out performances, becoming a cultural cornerstone in South Florida. With a commitment to inclusivity and diversity, its programming has included sensory-friendly experiences and multilingual performances in Spanish, French, Arabic, Turkish and Haitian Creole. As it enters this milestone year, the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center continues to elevate Aventura’s cultural, educational, institutional and artistic landscape, promising a season filled with exciting, unforgettable moments in one of the city’s most cherished spaces.
Forever Yiddish 3
Songs and Stories from the Shtetl
Thursday, January 8th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Join an evocative evening of Yiddish classics that transport audiences to a world both distant and ever-present. Forever Yiddish presents Songs and Stories from the Shtetl on Thursday, January 8th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Yitzhak Fried returns with a new program of soul-stirring Yiddish songs and heartfelt interpretations. Born and raised in post-war Austria, Fried absorbed the language and melodies of his heritage from his parents’ home. Accompanied by acclaimed pianist Alan Mason who has performed on stages around the world. Fried guides audiences on an emotional journey through stories and songs that are at times joyful, at times sorrowful, and
always infused with a touch of humor. Proceeds from the performance will benefit Leket Israel, the country’s leading food rescue organization.
God and the Holocaust
Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.
In commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, YI Love Jewish Founder and CEO Avi Hoffman joins Maestro Aaron Kula and the Klezmer Company Jazz Orchestra to present a powerful multimedia musical event examining the relationship between Jews and God as portrayed in Holocaust literature. God and the Holocaust comes to the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. This event draws from the writings of renowned Yiddish playwrights, poets and authors, featuring poignant songs from that era in a moving musical experience.
Avi Hoffman’s Too Jewish?
Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.
As a special 15th Anniversary Season event, the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is thrilled to welcome back the first show to perform on its stage in 2010. The City of Aventura and Yi Love Jewish present Avi Hoffman’s Too Jewish? on Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. In this award-winning solo musical performance, Hoffman explores his Jewish roots and has discovered that all audiences can identify with the humor and music of his upbringing. Jews and non-Jews alike join Hoffman on a journey through his history, relating stories of his family’s immigrant background and the
culture within which he was raised. He has discovered the ‘lost treasures’ of Jewish comedy and music, the songs and comedy routines that entertained hundreds of thousands of people from the Catskills to Miami Beach, from Carnegie Hall to Yiddish Vaudeville. Hoffman serves as a bridge between the old world and the new as he recreates and rediscovers the wonderful music, comedy and pathos of the extraordinary period of creativity that began with the immigrants and continues till today.
Avi Hoffman’s Still Jewish After All These Years
Thursday, March 5th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.
The City of Aventura and Yi Love Jewish present Avi Hoffman’s brand-new production that will take audiences on a nostalgic, fun-filled journey through his extensive and entertaining life and works. It’s another night of laughter and celebration during Avi Hoffman’s Still Jewish After All These Years on Thursday, March 5th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. His humorous and moving encounters with theater luminaries will have audiences laughing through their tears. Hoffman has entertained millions of people with his humor, his pathos and his passionate singing voice. According to the New York Times, “The precious truth about Avi Hoffman is that his shows rest on a solid foundation of scholarship. Mr. Hoffman is a teacher and a dedicated preservationist of culture. But like so many sages, he disguises his lessons as entertainment. He comes to the stage armed with books, songs, dances and jokes...” His extensive resume includes
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Jan. 4 Schmaltz & Pepper
his groundbreaking productions of “Songs of Paradise” with the famous Broadway Impresario, Joe Papp, and the New York productions of “The Golden Land” and “The Rise of David Levinsky.” From New York to Los Angeles, from the stage to the big screen, Hoffman has received numerous awards and great acclaim from critics and audiences alike.
Yakov Smirnoff
Thursday, March 26th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.
After escaping the communist Soviet Union in 1977, Yakov Smirnoff came to the United States with nothing but a dream. He won America’s heart and now brings his signature comedy back to the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center to round up the 2025/2026 Aventura Comedy Series on Thursday, March 26th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. presented by the City of Aventura. Yakov humbly began working as a bartender at the famous Grossinger’s Catskill Resort in New York, where he started telling jokes to customers each night before even learning the language. As his English improved, he quickly grew in popularity. Smirnoff then made a daring move to Hollywood, where he grew his passion for comedy. His lovable view of life through the eyes of a poor immigrant captured the hearts of America. Smirnoff soared to the top of the comedy world, performing on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” and countless other television programs, including as a regular character on “Night Court.” He became a star of his show, named after his famous catchphrase, “What a Country!” VIP tickets are available as an add-on and include a post-show meet and greet/ photo opportunity with Smirnoff.
The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is located at 3385 Northeast 188th Street, Aventura, Florida 33180.
Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Buy tickets online at: www.aventuracenter.org - By phone at: (877) 311-7469. Or: (954) 462-0222. Or in person at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center box office Wednesday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. Noon to 5:00 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance. For Group Sales, please call: (954) 660-6307.
Please note that not all events scheduled for the 2025/2026 Season are currently on sale and additional performances will be added throughout the season.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts manages the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, a 14,864-Square-Foot, 330-Seat Waterfront Complex that hosts performing arts, cultural and educational programming for all ages.
March 5
March 4
March 26
TheHubAtTempleBethAm
It’sAPlaceWhereChildrenLearn,TeensConnect,AdultsEngage,AndFamiliesGrowTogether
Step onto the vibrant campus of Temple Beth Am, and you’ll immediately sense something new, something extraordinary. At the heart of it all is The Hub – a dynamic, state-of-the-art addition that redefines what it means to build Jewish community in the 21st century. Designed with intention, innovation, and inclusivity, The Hub is more than a space – it’s an experience.
From cultural events and social gatherings to recreation and learning, The Hub brings together the essence of Temple Beth Am’s mission: to connect, inspire, and support Jewish life at every stage and age. Walk through The Hub, and you’ll find a seamless blend of functionality and warmth. Inside the Cultural & Activity Center, there’s truly something for everyone.
One of the most exciting aspects of The Hub is the Outdoor Cultural Life Center, home to Temple Beth Am’s own Ben Yehuda Street and Zion Square. This space is purpose-built for festivals, lifecycle events, and cultural programming under the South Florida sky. It’s a place where Jewish culture lives and breathes through music, art, celebration, and community interaction.
The Performing Arts Center and Chapel is a true gem of The Hub. With flexible seating for up to 550 attendees, this space is uniquely designed to support both the spiritual and cultural life of the congregation. It easily converts into a more intimate chapel setting for 300, allowing for a wide range of uses—from concerts and plays to prayer services and life cycle events.
What makes The Hub truly special is not just its facilities, but the spirit it fosters. It’s a place where children learn, teens connect, adults engage, and families grow together. Whether you’re attending a lecture in the reading room, cheering your child on during a basketball game, catching up with a friend over coffee, or celebrating a lifecycle milestone under the stars—it all happens at The Hub.
Located at The Janet z”l and Richard Yulman Campus, The Hub is the new center of gravity for Temple Beth Am. It reflects the synagogue’s deep commitment to providing spaces that serve the present while investing in the future of Jewish communal life. Come experience The Hub for yourself. There’s something here for everyone—and everything here is for you. Check out the What’s Happening at The Hub:
Comedy at the Hub: Matt Friend
Washington, and WGN. In 2019, he won Kenan Thompson’s Ultimate Comedy Experience at Carolines on Broadway. Known for his impressive repertoire of over 250 impressions, from Rami Malek to Timothee Chalamet, Matt recently hosted the 2024 NHL Awards, achieving the highest ratings and viewership in league history. He also surprised President Joe Biden with a performance at the White House Correspondents Dinner alongside SNL Star Colin Jost and headlined the Netflix Is A Joke Festival during his nationwide standup comedy tour. A beloved comedic figure on Social Media, stages, and red carpets worldwide, Matt continues to captivate audiences with his standup shows across the U.S. this summer and in London’s Leicester Square this fall. He has earned praise from notable names like Howard Stern, Jeff Goldblum, Paul Giamatti, Austin Butler, Dr.
and Bestselling Author Lidia Bastianich as we celebrate her newest cookbook, Lidia’s The Art of Pasta, as part of our Chef’s Table Series. Following the conversation, enjoy a multi-course dinner (and wine!) curated by Lidia with recipes from her new book! No one knows pasta like Lidia Bastianich. Through her bestselling cookbooks and award-winning television programs, she has introduced generations of home cooks to the wonders of Italy’s greatest export. Now, for the first time, she has compiled her decades of expertise into one authoritative volume: the definitive book on pasta. An utterly indispensable resource for every kitchen, Lidia’s The Art of Pasta is a one-stop guide to pasta in every form: from fresh to dried, from Old World classics like Gnocchi and Cacio e Pepe to Italian American favorites like Manicotti and Lasagna Napoletana. Through more than a
A night of laughs and impersonation at The Hub that you definitely don’t want to miss with beloved comedian Matt Friend! Matt Friend is an old soul in the body of a 27-year-old comedian, actor, and impressionist. A 2020 graduate of NYU’s Gallatin School, Matthew’s love for comedy and entertainment began at the tender age of four after watching Austin Powers and mimicking the characters’ voices. His passion has since propelled him to great heights, amassing over 1 million followers on TikTok, Snap, Instagram, Facebook, and other Social Media Platforms. Matt has graced major shows like The Howard Stern Show, MSNBC, the Today Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, NBC’s New York Live TV, Good Day LA, Good Day NY, Good Morning
animation world, lending his voice talents to both The Simpsons and Family Guy. Matt’s meteoric rise has made him a “must-stop” on red carpets, with A-list stars seeking him out during Hollywood’s biggest nights, including the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and more. Now, he’s partnering with Bill Maher’s Club Random Studios to present his new show, FRIEND IN HIGH PLACES, launching in Summer 2024. Inspired by the late-night talk show format, Matt will get to know his incredible guests, discuss their rise to prominence, and delve into all things life, maybe even doing a viral comedy bit or two with the people he admires most – famous ones! Impressions aside, Matt is a true intellect, wise beyond his years, and a student of show business, comedy, politics, and culture. He resides in New York.
Chef’s Table at The Hub: Lidia Bastianich
Presented in Partnership with Books & Books
Learn the art of pasta and Italian cooking from Television Icon
hundred simple, perfect recipes, Lidia showcases pastas of all kinds—stuffed, baked, and sauced; in soups and pasta salads; plus, of course, directions for making fresh pasta doughs and sauces at home. The one-stop guide to all things pasta, the book is filled with simple, authentic, flavor-forward Italian dishes that the whole family will love. Tutti a tavola a mangiare! Tickets: $45 includes a copy of Lidia’s The Art of Pasta, $145 includes a copy of Lidia’s The Art of Pasta and a multi-course curated dinner, $110 includes access to the talk and multi-course curated dinner (does not include cookbook).
Chef’s Table at The Hub: Russ & Daughters: 100 Years of Appetizing Presented In Partnership With Books & Books
Gather your brunch crew and prepare for noshing in celebration of Russ & Daughters: 100 Years of Appetizing! From the legendary New York stop for Jewish comfort food, a beautiful
A weekly rotating tasting menu brings haute cuisine to
• Sunday Jazz Nights: Live entertainment from 7:30–10:30 p.m.
and galas
• Holiday Gift Collections curated totes featuring French linens, artisanal butters, truffles, champagne, and gift cards
• Maison Ostrow Catering for private events
Chef Christophe Bibard (Top Chef Europe finalist, 2011) joins as Chef de Cuisine, reuniting with Olivia after their successful Ostrow Brasserie collaboration.
Over the course of Chef Olivia Ostrow’s career, she has cooked for an impressive roster of cultural icons and tastemakers, including Andrea Bocelli, Liev Schreiber, Amar’e Stoudemire, Chef Todd English, Ziggy Marley, Romero Britto, DJ Irie, and Alonzo Mourning. She has appeared on ABC, NBC, Fox and Food Network’s “Grocery Games.” That same spirit
of star-worthy hospitality and elevated cuisine now defines Maison Ostrow, positioning it as a culinary destination with global appeal.
Maison Ostrow is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., happy hour from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. with seasonal winter hours on Saturday evenings. Brunch will be launching in November served on Sundays and holidays. Reservations are available via Resy.
For more information, please visit https://maisonostrow.com/
the Kosher world.
and inspiring cookbook that encompasses history, tradition, and absolutely delicious food. A curated brunch from the Russ & Daughters team will follow the conversation between Niki Russ Federman and Josh Russ Tupper. In 1907, a Jewish immigrant named Joel Russ landed in New York City, where he took a pushcart of Herring and built a legacy that would pass down through fathers and daughters (and sons and husbands and wives) for more than a hundred years. Four generations later, the ancestral heart of Russ & Daughters continues to bustle on the Lower East Side, with three more locations throughout the city. Over the course of a century, Russ & Daughters has fed hundreds of thousands of customers, many considering a visit to the original shop on East Houston a family tradition, weekly ritual, or New York experience. Now, for the first time, Russ & Daughters brings its world-famous institution into readers’ homes. Its rich history is told through insider anecdotes from the family and characters on both sides of the counter; illuminating guides to its most famed offerings— Smoked Salmon, Sable, Sturgeon, Herring, and Caviar; and more than 100 cherished recipes for favorite foods like Latkes, Matzo Ball Soup, Babka, and Bagels, among many others. Nothing can ever replace the experience of taking a number, kibbitzing with a slicer, waiting in line, and ordering your Whitefish or Belly Lox. Yet this book captures some of that infectious Russ & Daughters appetizing spirit, and most importantly, brings families and friends together around the table.
About the Authors:
Niki Russ Federman is the fourth-generation Co-Owner of Russ & Daughters. At the age of 27, Russ Federman chose to return to the shop in which she grew up. Together with her cousin, Josh, she has grown Russ & Daughters into what it is today, while preserving its cultural and culinary legacy. Russ Federman has been featured in The Sturgeon Queens, the awardwinning documentary about Russ & Daughters; television shows such as Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi and Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations; and publications including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Food & Wine, Zagat, Vogue, and W Magazine. She was inducted into the Manhattan Jewish Hall of Fame and has an encyclopedic entry in the Jewish Women’s Archive. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Christopher, and two children.
Josh Russ Tupper is the fourth-generation Co-Owner of Russ & Daughters. Raised in an ashram in upstate New York, Russ Tupper was working as an engineer in Portland, Oregon, when the opportunity arose to join his family business at 26. He has been leading Russ & Daughters with his cousin Niki ever since. He has been featured in media outlets such as NPR,
Food Network, The Travel Channel, Forbes, The Cut, Kinfolk, Lucky Peach, The New Yorker, and Vogue. He is also one of the subjects of documentary The Sturgeon Queens. Called “the Babka Baron” by the New York Times, Josh has been honored by the Museum of Food and Drink for his contributions to NYC food culture. He has taught at the YIVO Center for Jewish Research and Astor Center. Russ Tupper lives with his wife, Denise, and two daughters. Joshua David Stein is a cookbook and children’s book Author, Journalist and
Restaurant Critic. His work includes Notes from a Young Black Chef and My America, with Kwame Onwuachi; Il Buco: Stories & Recipes, with Donna Lennard; The Nom Wah Cookbook, with Wilson Tang; Vino: An Essential Guide to Real Italian Wine, with Joe Campanale; Jang: The Secret to Korean Cooking, with Mingoo Kang and Nadia Cho; Why I Cook? with Tom Colicchio and many more. Among his children’s books are What’s Cooking?; Can I Eat That?; Brick: Who Found Herself in Architecture; Solitary Animals:
Introverts of the Wild and The Catalogue of Hugs. He lives in Brooklyn with his sons, Augustus and Achilles.
The Hub is located at: The Hub at The Janet z”l and Richard Yulman Campus at: 5950 North Kendall Drive, Pinecrest, Florida 33156. For more information and event tickets, visit: www.tbam.org - Or call: (305) 540-0700. (Credit: https:// www.tbam.org/the-hub/)
MiamiNewDramaUnveilsExplosive2025-2026Season
ThreeWorldPremieresAndAPulitzerPrizeFinalistTakeOnToday’sMostUrgentPoliticalFlashpoints
Miami New Drama (MiND), the largest bilingual professional theater company in the United States, announces a 2025 - 2026 season of extraordinary relevance and artistic ambition. Featuring three world premieres and the return of a Pulitzer Prize finalist, the lineup confronts immigration battles, rising antisemitism, and political family fractures, cementing Miami New Drama’s position as one of America’s most vital incubators of urgent new work.
“This season confronts some of the most urgent and combustible issues shaping our world right now,” says Michel Hausmann, Artistic Director and Winner of the 2025 Vinnette Carroll Award for multicultural storytelling.
“These plays don’t just mirror the headlines, they dive beneath them, asking the questions we too often avoid. We believe theater can be a rare space where we wrestle with complexity, challenge each other with empathy, and still find a way to sit together in the same room.”
The season opens with Here There Are Blueberries, the Pulitzer Prize finalist that began its journey in a Miami New Drama workshop in the 2017/2018 Season under the title The Album before becoming one of the most acclaimed productions of 2024. The company then premieres three new works with the urgency of today’s headlines: English Only, the true story of Miami’s 1980 language wars; The Zionists: A Family Storm, a searing look at how the aftermath of October 7th fractures a prominent Jewish family; and Todo Lo Que No Dije, a Spanish-language exploration of identity, belonging, and the unspoken truths that shape us. Here’s the season at a glance:
recently highlighted in The New York Times as one of the top plays to see this spring. Charles McNulty of the LA Times calls it “the greatest detective story ever written.” Described as “riveting... a gripping exposé... compellingly theatrical” (The Washington Post) and “precise & intelligent” (The New York Times), the play continues to resonate with audiences nationwide.
Here There Are Blueberries is written by Moisés Kaufman & Amanda Gronich and conceived and directed by Moisés Kaufman.
Monday, April 9th, 2026 – Friday, May 3rd, 2026 | Part of the Y6K Jewish Play Initiative
A prominent Jewish family, fractured by the politics and aftermath of October 7th, gathers for a fragile reunion at a luxury Caribbean resort. But as a sudden hurricane bears down outside their bungalow, an even fiercer storm erupts within—forcing them to confront old wounds, clashing values, and the ties that may no longer bind them. In this urgent and deeply human world premiere from acclaimed playwright S. Asher Gelman (Afterglow), The Zionists: A Family Storm lays bare how identity, politics, and history can tear families apart—and the struggle to hold them together in an increasingly divided world.
The national tour of Here There Are Blueberries is a coproduction with La Jolla Playhouse, and is produced by Tectonic Theater Project and Brian & Dayna Lee, in association with Bruce Roberts, Sue Vaccaro, and Ricky Stevens.
Here There Are Blueberries
By Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Gronich | Conceived and Directed by Moisés Kaufman Thursday, November 13th, 2025 – Sunday, December 7th, 2025
In 2007, a mysterious album featuring Nazi-era photographs arrived at the desk of a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum archivist. As curators unravel the shocking truth behind the images, the album soon makes headlines and ignites a debate that reverberates far beyond the museum walls. Based on real events, Here There Are Blueberries tells the story of these historical photographs—what they reveal about the perpetrators of the Holocaust, and our own humanity.
A 2024 Pulitzer Prize finalist, 2025 Lucille Lortel Award winner for Outstanding Play, and two-time Helen Hayes Award winner, Here There Are Blueberries has been named one of the “10 Best Plays of 2024” by the Wall Street Journal. It was featured on the May 2024 Season finale of 60 Minutes and was
The Miami New Drama production is made possible with the support of Frank Lowy, Gary Wasserman, Midnight Theatricals, and Michael P.N.A. Hormel.
English Only - World Premiere
By Nicholas Griffin
| Directed by Margo
Bordelon
| Thursday, January 29th, 2025 – Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 | Part of the Miami History Series
A gripping true story about the campaign to outlaw Spanish in 1980’s Miami. At its center is a battle between two passionate immigrants on opposite sides of a cultural firestorm that erupted in the wake of the Mariel Boatlift, when 125,000 new arrivals ignited fierce debate over language, identity, and belonging. This sharp, resonant play explores the politics of power and place—and what it means to call Miami home.
The
By
A Family Storm - World Premiere
Todo Lo Que No Dije - World Premiere
Written by Harley Elias | Created & Directed by Michel Hausmann | Summer 2026 |
Performed in Spanish
A warm, funny, and participatory Spanish-language work that invites audiences to explore identity, belonging, and the unspoken truths that shape us. Memories become props, spectators become scene partners, and a giant paper airplane takes flight as a search for a parent spans multiple continents. Tender and disarmingly interactive, Todo Lo Que No Dije transforms letters, songs, and crowdcrafted moments into a love story about forgiveness.
About Miami New Drama:
Founded by Visionary Playwright and Director Michel Hausmann, Miami New Drama is the largest bilingual professional theater company in the United States, dedicated to producing socially relevant, artistically ambitious new work. Since 2016, MiND has been the resident company at Miami Beach’s historic Colony Theatre, premiering more than 20 groundbreaking plays and musicals.
Notable world premieres include 7 Deadly Sins; Drama League Award, A Wonderful World; Tony Award–nominated, Broadway, The Cuban Vote, Lincoln Road Hustle, Birthright, The Museum Plays, Elian, and the first-ever multilingual adaptation of Our Town. The company has received national recognition with honors including the Thornton Wilder Prize, multiple Knight Arts Challenge Awards and the Silver Palm Award.
For tickets and more information, visit: https://miaminewdrama.org.
Season memberships are available now.
Zionists:
S. Asher Gelman | Directed by Chloe Treat |
AVENTURA ARTS & CULTURE CENTER,
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Doctor My Eyes - A Tribute to Jackson Browne is the world’s most passionate salute to the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer with a lead singer who not only looks like Jackson Browne in the ‘70s, but close your eyes, and he sounds and emotes...just...like him.
Your toes will tap to earthshaking hits including Doctor My Eyes, The Pretender, Running on Empty, Here Come Those Tears Again, Somebody’s Baby, Take It Easy, That Girl Could Sing, Tender is the Night, Stay, and more!
Your heart will melt to beloved ballads like Late for the Sky.
Doctor My Eyes – A Tribute to Jackson Browne includes a full all-star band with a Latin GRAMMY-Winning producer, harmony vocals a la Rosemary Butler and Bonnie Raitt, and the sounds of the lap steel and slide guitar as made famous by David Lindley.
There has NEVER been a tribute concert like this before. This is an absolute must-see for every Jackson Browne fan and For Everyman!
Oct
PlantingSeedsOfTheDivine TorahCommentariesToCultivateYourSpiritualPractice
https://jps.org
Experiencing deep personal fulfillment, happiness, and sustenance comes from feeling connected to our authentic selves, which involves building an ongoing relationship with the Divine Presence within us, says author Yiscah Smith. Quite organically, then, we may begin sensing the Divine in our interactions with other people. This is because, for each of us, “our essence, as a creation by God, is God.”
Planting Seeds of the Divine elucidates how Judaism’s sacred texts can provide the foundation for the “end destination” of experiencing intimate encounters with the Divine Presence within—the God-consciousness that so many of us find elusive. Imagining ourselves as spiritual gardeners, we can cultivate our unique gardens with seeds centered on middot (emotional dispositions, character traits, spiritual sensitivities). Each seed corresponds to an aspirational Torah commentary, consisting of a selected Torah verse linked to one of the middot, a summary of the biblical text preceding the verse, classical commentaries, teachings of Hasidic and Neo-Hasidic masters and the author, and step-by-step experiential practices to help us internalize the
middot and encounter the Divine.
Each seed contributes to the garden’s beauty—the beauty of the self in God-consciousness—which hopefully blossoms into a magnificent garden of the soul.
Praise
“Yiscah Smith has done a remarkable job of painting a wonderfully textured method of reading the Torah as a guide for spiritual development.”—Ariel Evan Mayse, Assistant Professor of religious studies at Stanford University and Co-Editor of A New Hasidism: Roots and A New Hasidism: Branches
“An important contribution to this emerging school of Torah commentary that is smart and intellectually sophisticated while also embodied and psychologically and spiritually informed.”— Rabbi Josh Feigelson, President and CEO of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality
“By offering readers a practical and powerful pathway to cultivate the Divine spark within, Smith creates a rich legacy of her own.” Diane Gottlieb, editor of Awakenings: Stories of Body & Consciousness, for the Jewish Book Council.
Save 50% on orders of 10 or more copies of this title with code 6SEEDS50, visit: https://jps.org/books/planting-seedsof-the-divine/
About The Author
Yiscah Smith is a thought leader and spiritual activist committed to empowering and ennobling others in the spiritual practice of encountering the Divine spark within and beyond. She teaches Jewish contemplative practice and spiritual texts at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem and for the online platform Applied Jewish Spirituality. She is the author of Forty Years in the Wilderness: My Journey to Authentic Living and founder of Conscious Community Nachlaot, an alternative prayer space in Jerusalem. Her Authentic Jewish Living with Yiscah podcast episodes are available on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Visit Yiscah Smith’s website at: https://www.yiscahsmith.com/
Author Yiscah Smith (Credit jps.org)
LocalAuthorReceivesNationalRecognition
The Annual Florida Authors and Publishers Association President’s Book Awards recognized Healing Your Life One Leaf at a Time by Sara Shaw, in the category of Religion/Spirituality, as a Gold medal winner.
Hosted by the Florida Authors and Publishers Association, this prestigious national award was open to books published between 2023 and 2025. The judges for this national competi tion are librarians, educators, and publishing professionals.
The FAPA President’s Book Awards recognize book publish ing excellence and creativity in design, content, and production for authors, illustrators, cover designers, and publishers. This contest isn’t limited to Florida; it is open to anyone worldwide, as long as the book is written in English. We encourage entries from all who share our complex and wonderful language.
Healing Your Life One Leaf at a Time is a non-fiction book which shares personal interviews from people from all walks of life, some of their deepest and darkest days, and their hopes to survive.
“I wish to congratulate all of our winners. Award programs such as ours are vital to the publishing industry because they serve to recognize excellence and creativity not just for authors, but for everyone involved. It also serves as a tremendous boost to the confidence of beginning authors who win. This year, we had the finest quality of books in recent memory. Earning a medal is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to each winner’s skill and talent,” said FAPA’s President, Ginger Marks.
The Florida Authors and Publishers Association is an organization for authors, publishers, illustrators, editors, printers, and other professionals involved in the publishing industry. It focuses on providing the highest quality of information, resources, and professional development to members and others interested in the writing and publishing profession.
Amazon Reviews
5 Stars - Another well written book by Sara Shaw
“Life has many struggles but reading this book you know you are not alone. So many interesting stories of hardship and abuse
emotional and reflective journey through stories of personal trag edy and recovery. As a man reading this book, I found its universal message of healing and hope powerful, even though many of the stories are deeply personal and sometimes focus on issues like abuse, which might seem more directed toward female experiences. That being said, the insights and lessons are relatable to anyone dealing with life’s struggles, regardless of gender.
The book is structured around a series of personal interviews with people who have faced significant hardships—addiction, trauma, and loss are recurring themes. Shaw presents these stories with care, providing not just the details of their darkest moments, but also how they found their way through and what they learned in the process. One of the strengths of the book is its wide range of perspectives, which makes it easy to connect with at least one story, no matter who you are. This inclusivity feels intentional, designed to ensure the book resonates with all readers.”
As a child, Sara Shaw dreamed of becoming a writer someday. Later in her life, after the death of her mother, she connected with her mother’s sister’s children, whom she had been separated from all of her life. This uncovered shocking family secrets. Their experiences inspired her to recount their stories to help them heal and offer hope for others to heal from similar dark situations. Her first book, Two Sisters and the Four Leaf Clover (Trilogy tion, and strong will to survive. By telling their stories, others came forward, which led to Sara’s second book, Healing Your pelling compilation of personal interviews of people from all vived. The importance of recognizing red flags, knowing where
Sara is a member of the South Florida Writers Association, the Florida Author & Publishers Association, the Florida Writers Association, and the Ohio Writers Association. She works with various organizations and businesses, including non-profits, and sponsors events for ALS, Child & Domestic Abuse, Grief Groups, Prison Ministries, Foster Care, Drug & Alcohol Addictions, and Churches. In April 2025, she launched a Podcast called Chapter Chat With Sara, where she cracks the door open with guests to talk about real life and navigating the journey through life’s challenges and difficult times.
Her home is in Highland Beach, where she spends winters and heads back to her roots in Ohio for the summers, where she spends as much time as possible with her family and friends. She has six children and 11 grandchildren and has been married for 45 years.
Find out more about her books and podcast at: www.SaraShaw.org
Sara Shaw, middle, left is the current president, and right is the outgoing president of www.myFAPA.org.
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ZOAPraisesIsrael’sBrilliant/PrecisionStrikeInQatarOnArab/ IslamistHamasLeadersResponsibleForOctober7
12, 2023.
Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein released the following statement:
ZOA strongly praised Israel’s precision strike in Doha, Qatar, on Arab/Islamist terror group Hamas’ leaders who were directly responsible for orchestrating, inciting, financing and facilitating Hamas’ numerous vicious atrocities and massacres against innocent Jews and other innocents – while these Arab Hamas leaders lived in luxury in Doha, Qatar with the approval of the Emir.
Among many other horrors, the targeted terror leaders orchestrated, incited, financed and/or facilitated Arab/Islamist Hamas’ massive massacre, sexual atrocities and hostagetaking on October 7, 2023, and Hamas’ deadly terror attack yesterday in Jerusalem, in which Hamas terrorists murdered six innocent Jews, and wounded another six innocent Jews.
Israel’s courageous action sends an important message that Arab/Islamist terrorists and their leaders responsible for murdering Jews will be brought to justice anywhere they are found, and that no nation should give sanctuary to these murderous terror leaders. ZOA President Morton Klein stated:
AndOtherMassacresOfJews
In 2018, when ZOA National President Morton Klein met with the Qatari Emir and other Qatari leaders, Mr. Klein directly demanded that Qatar must expel Hamas leaders. ZOA’s accompanying report provided to the Qatari officials, demanded on page one:
“Hamas: End Hamas sanctuary, housing and offices in Qatar. Expel all remaining Hamas leaders and operatives from Qatar, including but not limited to, prisoners released during the Shalit
lation.) Unfortunately, Mashal may have survived the attack. Mashal reportedly has or had a personal net worth of $4 Billion.
Khalil al-Hayya: Al-Hayya was appointed the leader of Hamas’ armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades in December 2024; and was a member of Hamas’ ruling five-man leadership. In the summer of 2023, al-Hayya met with IRGC Quds Force senior official Saeed Izadi, in Lebanon, and requested that Iran blow up sensitive sites in Israel at the start of Hamas’ October 7 attack, to make October 7 even more deadly for Israel. The press has been citing al-Hayya’s role as a supposed “negotiator” – while ignoring that he is a terrorist dedicated to Israel’s annihilation.
The Zionist Organization of America is fully supportive and proud of Israel for showing its long arm of justice will reach wherever enemies of Jews reside, whether it’s Gaza, Lebanon, Iran or even Doha. The Doha attack against Arab Hamas terrorists reminds me of Israel searching all over the world and tracking down and killing the Arab terrorists who brutally tortured and murdered eleven innocent Jewish athletes at the Munich Olympics. The world should be applauding Israel for its brilliant and courageous actions protecting all of us from terrorists who are enemies of the Jews, Christians, America and the West.
ZOA learned that President Trump reportedly gave the green light for Israel’s independent operation, and that on Sunday, the President posted a “last warning” to Arab Hamas to release all the hostages or face the consequences.
ZOA has long demanded that Qatar must extradite the Hamas leaders living in luxury in Qatar while orchestrating attacks against innocent Jews, and send them to a jurisdiction where Hamas’ leaders could stand trial for their Nazi-like atrocities. ZOA has also urged that the U.S. must pressure and demand Qatar to extradite these terror leaders. See, e.g., “ZOA Demands and Now Urges Biden to Demand Qatar Deport & Extradite Hamas Officials to Proper Jurisdiction to Stand Trial,” October
exchange who are now directing Hamas operations in Judea/ Samaria/Gaza from Qatar.” (ZOA Report to Qatari Officials Demanding Changes)
As of the time of this press release, there are conflicting reports as to which terror leaders died and which survived. The deaths of any of these monsters will make the world a safer place. The senior Hamas officials reportedly at the Hamas meeting in Doha targeted by Israel, included:
Khaled Mashal (or Meshal): Hamas Politburo Chairman and “Diaspora director” Mashal was or is one of the six Hamas leaders that the U.S. Department of Justice indicted (in Mashal’s case, in absentia, while Hamas luxuriated in Qatar) for being “responsible for planning, supporting, and perpetrating Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel resulting in the brutal murders of more than a thousand innocent civilians, including over 40 American citizens.” Three days after Hamas’ October 7 atrocities, on AlMahriah Television, Mashal called on Muslims throughout the world to join the terror battle against Israel and to take to the streets and city squares throughout the world to perpetrate more terror on Friday, October 13, for “the Al-Aqsa Deluge Friday” (named after Hamas’ name for October 7 atrocities, the “Al-Aqsa Deluge” or “Al-Aqsa Flood”). (See MEMRI video and trans-
Zaher Jabarin: Jabarin directed Hamas terror activities in Judea/ Samaria, and was also a leader of Hamas’ financial operations.
Mousa Abu Marzook: Marzook is or was a U.S.-Specially Designated National and Blocked Person. The U.S. Department of Justice indicted Marzook in absentia for coordinating and financing Hamas activities, and again indicted Marzook in absentia for a 15-year racketeering conspiracy in the United States and abroad to illegally finance terrorist activities, including providing money for weapons purchases. Marzook reportedly had or has a personal net worth of $3 Billion.
Husam Badran: Infamous terror commander and head of Hamas’ terror activities in Samaria. Directed infamous terror attacks, including the deadly attacks on the Sbarro restaurant, Dolphinarium, Nahariya train station, Matza restaurant and a bus in Haifa, a bus near Emmanuel, the village of Hamra, and the Park Hotel Passover Seder filled with Holocaust survivors in Netanya, resulting in over 100 deaths and hundreds wounded. He was released by Israel in the Shalit deal, and fled to Qatar to direct Hamas activities from there. In 2015, the IDF exposed that Badran led the establishment of a sprawling Hamas terror cell and command center in Nablus and transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to it with gold and jewelry smuggled through Jordan.
Nizar Awadallah: Awadallah is a U.S.-Specially Designated Global Terrorist. He has been a member of Hamas’ Politburo since 2009, was a confidant of Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, and was previously Hamas’ leader in Gaza. Awadallah helped negotiate the 2011 deal in which Hamas released captured Israeli Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian terrorists, including Hamas terror leaders Yahya Sinwar, Zaher Jabarin, and Hussam Badran.
2026MiamiMarathonToSupportHolocaustSurvivors
JewishCommunityServicesOfSouthFloridaAndTheBlueCardPartnerToRaiseCriticalFunds
Jewish Community Services of South Florida (JCS) is proud to announce its continued partnership with The Blue Card for the 2026 Life Time Miami Marathon & Half Marathon on Sunday, January 25th, 2026. This inspiring collaboration aims to raise critical funds for Holocaust survivors in need throughout the South Florida community.
Participants who join the JCS Team Blue Card will run either the half marathon (13.1 miles) or the full marathon (26.2 miles) as part of a powerful movement aimed at raising funds for JCS’ 400+ Holocaust survivor clients in order to bring dignity, care, and essential services to them. Runners must commit to raising a minimum of $500 for the half marathon or $1,000 for the full marathon, with 100% of proceeds directly benefiting JCS programs that serve Holocaust survivors.
JCS Team Blue Card invites runners of all backgrounds and abilities to take part in this life-changing experience and make every mile count toward a brighter, more compassionate future.
To join the team or learn more, contact Jake Rider, JCS Community Engagement Specialist at: jrider@JCSFL.org.
assistance to needy Holocaust survivors. Of the nearly 3,000 Holocaust survivor households The Blue Card serves, threequarters are over the age of 78 and nearly 70% live alone. Many of these survivors struggle to afford basic needs, such as adequate food, healthcare and more.
As these men and women age, they are plagued with the consequences of surviving the most devastating conditions imaginable, including poor nutrition and minimal medical care.
Studies have proven that Holocaust survivors have higher rates of chronic conditions and illnesses like Hypertension, Kidney Disease, Cancer and Dementia, than peers in their age group who did not live through the Holocaust. Unfortunately, too many do not have the financial support to afford treatments and medications, and so they will either forgo getting treatment altogether or paying other bills like rent or heat to cover the medical costs.*
Many survivors came to this country after World War II and worked in menial jobs. Tiny pensions from those jobs, social security, and Medicaid simply cannot keep up with the financial needs of this most vulnerable population. They are frequently desperate for uncovered expenses such as dental care, hearing aids, and transportation to doctors.
Dignity was forcibly taken from them during the Holocaust, and now they are vulnerable once again. The Blue Card provides direct financial assistance to ease the financial burdens and ensures that its clients don’t lose their dignity once again, in their last years. (Credit: https://bluecardfund.org/who-we-are/ourmission/)
About Jewish Community Services of South Florida
Since 1920, Jewish Community Services of South Florida, based on Jewish values, has remained true to its mission in providing a resilient safety-net of health and social services through a broad array of programs that promote health, safety, and selfsufficiency. By collaborating with community partners, funders, hundreds of volunteers, sister organizations and local leaders, our team continuously strengthens its engagement and impact. Our professional team continues to provide healing and hope in serving the many layered needs of residents in our diverse and vibrant community.
JCS
FloridaJewish HeritageTrail
By dos.fl.gov
The rich legacy of the Jewish community in Florida can be found in every region of the state. As a people, Jews have contributed dramatically to Florida’s economy, culture, government and by creating institutions that allowed their heritage to flourish and their identity to strengthen.
Although there is a perception that Jews did not arrive in Florida until after World War II, Jewish history in Florida actually can be traced to 1763 with the arrival of Alexander Solomons, Joseph de Palacios and Samuel Israel in Pensacola. In the 1800’s, many Jewish families emigrated to Florida from northern states and foreign countries to settle both inland and along the coast. Today, South Florida is home to the second largest concentration of Jews in the world. Miami-Dade County has the nation’s third largest Jewish community, estimated in 1990 at 800,000.
The Jewish experience in Florida has been rich in achievements and successes. Jews have prospered and left legacies that will forever help to define the character of Florida. However, these outstanding achievements and contributions to Florida have a dark side - one of prejudice and discrimination. In early Spanish Florida, Jews and other non-Catholics were prohibited from legally settling in Florida and practicing their religion. Following England’s acquisition of Florida in 1763, Jews were free to settle legally in Florida. However, persecution and prejudice still made their lives difficult and limited their choices in employment and settlement opportunities. When Florida became an American territory in 1821, more Jews were free to move to Florida. Here, America’s tolerance of religious diversity made the state attractive to those persecuted in other lands.
As Jews settled in Florida, they formed organizations that met the educational, social, health, and recreational needs of their communities from cradle to grave. Some of the early organizations were created to help immigrants become settled. For example, the first chapter of B’nai B’rith, a national organization that works to educate its members and support Jewish causes, was founded in 1874 in Pensacola.
The first organization formed by a Jewish community is often a chevra kadisha, literally a holy society, whose purpose is to prepare bodies for Jewish burial. Until Jewish cemeteries were established in Florida, such organizations shipped remains out of state for ritual burial. It was inevitable that as the Jewish population grew, the local community would create a nearby Jewish cemetery.
Florida Jewish Heritage Trail retraces the steps of Florida’s Jewish pioneers from colonial times through the present. You are invited to visit the historical sites that reflect the Jewish experience in Florida. Good luck on the Trail. Shalom aleichem! Peace be with you!
Read the Florida Jewish Heritage Trail online at: https://archive.org/details/fljewish00flor/mode/ 2up?view=theater - Or download a copy of the Florida Jewish Heritage Trail at: https://files.floridados.gov/media/32345/ jewishheritagetrail.pdf
Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, designed by architect Kenneth Treister and completed in 1990 (Credit www.loc.gov)
MakeItSweetLikeHoney,Honey!HighHolidays101
By Rabbi Moishe Kievman - Chabad Chayi
“Shana Tova Umetuka” - “May you have a good and sweet year” is what we typically wish each other in the month leading up to the Jewish New Year, and I bet you’ve always wondered why we give a double wish, that the year should be both good and sweet. If it’s good, isn’t it sweet? It’s got to be more than just poetic.
The Talmud teaches us that everything that happens in the world is for the good. And although many times it seems far from good, you should know that ultimately it somehow is for the good. We therefore wish each other, that not just should you have a good year, but also a sweet one. A year that is not just ultimately for the good, but rather one where the good is obvious to all. A year that is deliciously sweet!
Many give each other tegalach, honey cookies or honey cakeknown as lekach. In fact the Chassidic custom is to specifically ask someone (usually the rabbi, but not necessarily) for a piece of or a shtickel lekach. We hope and pray that if there’s anything that we must ask or beg anyone for in the coming year, we should fulfill it with that ask.
It is also the custom of eating sweet foods on Rosh Hashanah itself, especially an apple dipped in honey with a special prayer that G-d grant us a good & sweet year. The Challah is dipped in honey. A special dish known as Tzimmes is a European carrot concoction cooked in honey. As well as many other foods we eat with honey. My mother z’ls delicious tzimmes included Chuck fleisch and marrow bones and it was one of the most delicious dishes ever. Ah, good memories!
Of course by now you surely know that the theme of honey throughout this season symbolizes the sweet year we all yearn for. But why specifically honey? Why not sugar, splenda or any other sweetener?
For starters, Israel was blessed to be a land flowing with milk and honey! Eating honey, wherever we may be, reminds us of our ancient homeland and our deep connection to Israel. Have you ever seen an expiration date on honey? Honey can last for a really long time! A quick Google search will tell you that honey can last for centuries, but perhaps it can even last longer than that!
Many times there are people that get blessings. They win the lottery or stumble across a treasure. But the blessings unfortunately don’t always last and all their money can disappear as fast as it appeared or even worse, break families and friends apart. On Rosh Hashanah we pray that we not only get a blessed year, but that the blessing lasts.
Furthermore, honey can be used as a preservative. When Adam and Eve, whose birthdays we celebrate on Rosh Hashanah, were created, they were commanded to work the earth and to guard it. To protect it and all that it contains. To preserve the world and constantly make it a better place.
I wish each and every one of you a Shana Tova Umetuka! May you and your families be blessed with a Happy & Healthy, Good & Sweet New Year! May you be showered with blessings and may they last for a very long time! May you always be there for others! May you be a preservative for this beautiful world and help bring it to the perfection G-d has intended for it! May this year be your best year ever!
This year we will celebrate Rosh Hashana 5786 beginning Monday evening, September 22nd, 2025 at sundown, and concluding Wednesday evening, September 24th, 2025 at nightfall. To learn more about Rosh Hashanah and the many customs associated with it visit: www.ChabadChayil.org/High-Holidays. You can also pick up a free holiday guide at Chabad Chayil’s office or
RSVP in advance at: (305) 770-1919. Or: www.TheFamilyShul.com. The community dinner will of course include Apples Dipped in Honey, Traditional Round Challah, Gefilteh Fish, my mothers Tzimmes recipe, Kugel and all the delicious holiday foods!
This is a good time to order your Lulav & Etrog set or reserve for any of the other holiday meals. We will have lunch and dinners
served at Chabad during both days of Rosh Hashana, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah. We will also have a meal Erev Yom Kippur and a Yom Kippur break-fast. The Chabad Chayil
Rabbi Kievman is the ambassador of The Rebbe to Highland Lakes, FL. He’s founder of CHAP - an afterschool program for Jewish children in Public Schools, Gan Chabad Preschool, Rabbi at The Family Shul & together with his wife directs Chabad Chayil. He can be reached at: (305) 770-1919. Or: Rabbi@ChabadChayil.org.
Children from Gan Chabad Preschool preparing for Rosh Hashana. Credit: ChabadChayil.org/Preschool
ASuspensefulJourney
MiamiJewishFilmFestivalScreeningofTheHolocaust:YouOnlyDieTwice
A riveting blend of mystery and history, this award-winning documentary takes audiences on a suspenseful journey into the aftermath of World War II. When filmmaker Yair Lev’s mother unexpectedly inherits a London home, a startling discovery emerges: two death certificates for her father, Ernst Bechinsky. Who was the real Ernst Bechinsky? And who was the man who stole his name? Unraveling this web of identity, family secrets, and moral reckoning, Lev confronts unsettling truths about his family’s past—while forging an unexpected bond with the grandson of the impostor. The result is a story as moving as it is thrilling, illuminating how the Holocaust continues to shape generations in ways both painful and redemptive. The Screening the Holocaust series is presented in collaboration with the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, the Holocaust Teacher’s Institute, and The University of Miami’s Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies. When: Monday, September 29th, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Venue: O Cinema South Beach 1130 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Tickets: https://miamijewishfilmfestival.org/events/youonly-die-twice
The Screening the Holocaust series is presented in collaboration with the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, the Holocaust Teacher’s Institute, and The University of Miami’s Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies.
History of the MJFF
The Miami Jewish Film Festival (MJFF) was established in 1996 and has grown into a core cultural program for South Florida’s vibrant arts landscape. In 2013, with the hiring of new Executive Director Igor Shteyrenberg, Miami Jewish Film Festival entered an era of expansion and commitment to artistic quality, growing into one of the largest festivals of its kind and being named four times as one of the 50 best film festivals in the world by MovieMaker Magazine (2021, 2022, 2023, 2025).
MJFF’s programming voice, unique among Jewish film festivals, has gained recognition for its numerous discoveries and prize winners. Annual attendance and media impressions have grown exponentially with the Festival’s original audience increasing from 4,000 in 2013 to more than 58,500 in 2025. Official Festival venues also expanded to the historic Miami Beach Bandshell, Regal South Beach Cinemas, Coral Gables Art Cinema, O Cinema, Miami Beach SoundScape, Bill Cosford Cinema, and Miami Theater Center, among others.
The Festival has hosted and introduced a diverse group of filmmakers including renowned stars and directors such as Natalie Portman, Itzhak Perlman, Logan Lerman, Michael Aloni, Nancy Spielberg, Judd Hirsch, Sean Astin, Stephen Lang, Elsie Fisher, Sasson Gabay, Emily Ratajkowski, Whit Stillman, Sarah Gadon, Zubin Mehta, Montel Williams, Richard Trank, Michael Solomonov, Bill Morrison, Michael Gordon, Ronit Elkabetz, Alon Ben-Gurion, Tal Brody, and Leon Vitali. Domestic US theatrical distributors and broadcasters participating in the Festival have included 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures
Classics, A24, Focus Features, Fox Searchlight, Music Box Films, Menemsha Films, Greenwich Films, Cohen Media, Film Movement, Gaumont, IFC, Sundance Selects, Kino Lorber, Gunpowder & Sky, Strand Releasing, Oscilloscope, and HBO Documentary Films, among many others.
The Miami Jewish Film Festival has been named “One of the Best Jewish Film Festival’s in the US” by The Forward, “Best of Miami” by Miami’s Community Newspapers, “The City’s Cultural Gem” by Culture Crusaders, and “One of South Florida’s Best Film Festivals” by The Miami New Times and SunSentinel. MJFF is the largest and most respected Jewish film festival in the world, the fastest-growing film festival in the state of Florida, and one of the largest Jewish cultural events in the Southeast United States. In the last ten years, the Festival has screened films from more than 35 countries, including 1,500 World, International, North American, U.S., and East Coast Premieres. Miami Jewish Film Festival’s special focus on discovering new talent and recognizing established filmmakers has made it a natural gateway and launching pad for the best in Jewish and Israeli cinema from around the world.
The Festival prides its success on its solid foundation of cultural commitment to the community. MJFF aims to create greater cultural understanding, promote tolerance, and encourage artistic development and excellence by strengthening communities through the arts, and by provoking thought through film.
Mark your calendars for the 28th Miami Jewish Film Festival taking place from Wed., January 14th, 2026 -Thursday, January 29th, 2026! (Credit: https://miamijewish filmfestival.org)
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Snoring Is No Laughing Matter!
It may be more than just an annoying habit, it may be a sign of Sleep Apnea
What Exactly is Sleep Apnea?
When the muscles that control the upper airway relax, some people begin to snore. When the airway becomes completely blocked and the person temporarily stops breathing, this is an episode of “Obstructive Apnea.” Each Apnea event may last for a few seconds or up to a couple minutes or more. Events may happen frequently - even several hundred times a night.
Can This Condition Be Treated? How?
There are many effective treatments for snoring. A widely accepted treatment for Sleep Apnea is oral appliance therapy. An oral device custom fit by your dentist is designed to keep your airway open and help prevent Apneas.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Recommends an oral appliance as a first-line treatment option for patients with mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), and for those with severe OSA who either decline CPAP Therapy or are unable to successfully use CPAP Therapy.
This treatment does not involve medications or surgery and helps hundreds of thousands of people all over the world enjoy sleeping safely for a healthier life. Many experience the benefits quickly - often during the first night of use.
Most Of The Health Insurances And Medicare Will Pay For Sleep Apnea Treatment - Call (954) 922-4633 For More Info.
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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.
WATERVIEW #138
First Floor, $369K, Rent $2,800
WATERVIEW #1848
Beautiful Unit, Great Views, $529k Gorgeous Unit
BISCAYNE COVE #2602
Beautiful 1/1.5 Nice View, New Kitchen, Freshly Painted Only $1,900 Monthly
