Celebrating Jewish Life in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Israel and the World FEDERATION NEWS
Serving our community for over 40 Years! Published by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee www.jfedsrq.org
May 2012 - Iyar/Sivan 5772 INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
10A Community Focus 16A Jewish Interest 19A Commentary 22A Israel & the Jewish World 24A Focus on Youth 27A Life Cycle 1B Jewish Happenings 7B Recent Events
4A Women’s Passover Celebration is best ever!
7A Matisyahu visits Sarasota for the first time
Volume 42, Number 5
Jewish Film Festival attracts record attendance
Dani Menkin and Phil Jacobs inspire audiences at post-film discussions By Roz Goldberg, co-Chair, Jewish Film Festival nthusiastic crowds filled the Beatrice FriedInvestigative journalist Phil Jacobs, whose Jewman Theater on the Jewish Federation ish Times series on sexual abuse in some parts of Campus, the Polo Grill at Lakewood Ranch, the Orthodox Jewish Community in Baltimore was and Temple Beth Israel on Longboat Key to view the the inspiration and central theme of Standing Silent, six outstanding films that were premiered at these joined us for the single screening of that provocative venues during the 2012 Jewish Film Festival. film – and received a standing ovation. Phil is now the Starting on Sunday, March Editor of the Washington 11, and running through the Jewish News. Also adding following Sunday, the Jewish great knowledge and depth Film Festival proudly preto the post-film discussion sented six exceptional Jewishof Standing Silent was Dr. content films including two Jacqueline Platenik, Senior documentaries, Dolphin Boy Clinician at Jewish Famand Standing Silent, and four ily & Children’s Service, a feature films, Berlin 36, My Film Festival co-Chair Roz Goldberg, Dolphin Boy Director specialist in the treatment Australia, Remembrance and Dani Menkin, and Mote Marine dolphin expert Randal Wells of sexual abuse. Mabul. By coincidence, a major piece about Standing Enhancing the audience’s viewing experience Silent and the problems it exposed appeared in The were the post-film discussions that took place after Washington Post the next day, March 19. In it, Scott each screening. Especially exciting were the discus- Rosenfelt, the film’s director, says: “I saw a narrasions in which our visiting celebrities participated: tive character, Phil Jacobs, who was in great conflict Dani Menkin, the co-director/producer of Dolphin between protecting his faith and his community and Boy, appeared at both screenings of that film; he was protecting children and humanity… Phil’s journey joined at the second screening by Dr. Randall Wells, is a classic hero’s journey.” The article also pointed dolphin expert from Mote Marine, who added greatly continued on page 3A to the discussion of dolphin behavior.
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20 area young adults attend TribeFest 2012 in Las Vegas
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Eight local students attend AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington
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By Jessi Sheslow and Shayna Teicher
7B Recent event photos: Chabad of Bradenton’s Ribbon Cutting and Open House A publication of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Klingenstein Jewish Center, 580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota, FL 34232 Annual voluntary subscription: $25
ifteen-hundred Jews walked into the desert of Las Vegas and left it with a renewed sense of Jewish identity. TribeFest 2012 was a huge success not only for the Jewish Federations of North America but for all the participants from throughout North America. We all felt the same thing – Hineni! Here we are! We are responsible for ourselves as well as our community, committed to inclusivity, family and the power of synergy. We don’t see the world as something that is only for Jews, but something that is for all human beings. We are a people committed to solving problems together, not only within the Jewish community but throughout the world wherever people may be suffering – whether it be from social injustice, disease, hunger, poverty, lack of access to education...and the list goes on. From the moment we walked into the opening Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANASOTA FL PERMIT 167
main-stage event, there was unmistakable electricity in the air. All the communities raised their signs proudly, trying to gather their constituents. It was such a great feeling sitting in the front of the room with all twenty participants from little SarasotaManatee. We just knew amazing things were about to happen, and we’re not talking about a great run at the blackjack table! Rachel Dratch made us laugh with her anecdotes about being Jew-ish, but how when push came to shove, she insisted on her son being named Eli Benjamin. Jonny Imerman shared how after surviving cancer, he created Imerman’s Angels and grew a network – four-million strong – of cancer survivor mentors for people and families who are currently in the
continued on page 3A
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