The Jewish News - June 2014

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For more information about the Young Adult Division, contact Jessi Sheslow at 941.343.2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org

Celebrating Jewish Life in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Israel and the World FEDERATION NEWS

Serving our community since 1971!

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June 2014 - Iyar/Sivan 5774 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 6 Community Focus 13 Jewish Happenings 20 Jewish Interest 24 Israel & the Jewish World 26 Commentary 28 Focus on Youth 31 Life Cycle

7 An enriching day at Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences

11 Congregation Ner Tamid steps up to the (dinner) plate to serve the homeless

Volume 44, Number 6

Federation strategic plan receives board approval Staff Report

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he Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s Board of Directors passed the plan recommended by the Strategic Planning Committee at its April board meeting. The committee, co-chaired By Dr. Robert Katz and Jack Steenbarger, was assembled in December 2013 and met intensively over a four-month period to produce the plan which will now go into the implementation phase.

The process was guided by paid consultant Brian Hayden, a partner at Collaborative Strategies, Inc., based out of St. Louis, Missouri. Implementation will consist of five sub-committees: Governance, Resource Development, Programming, Granting/ Partnering and Communications/Branding. Committees are being assembled and some are already meeting. The expectation is that recommendations will be ready for board review and approval at the July Federation board meeting.

It has been approximately 10 years since the last strategic plan went into effect. The implications of that plan have had significant positive impact for the Federation and the Jewish community. Some of the outcomes included the redesign of the organizational mission and the development of a vision statement.

Most notable was that the Federation moved away from an unrestricted allocations model of distribution of dollars to agencies and organizations to a granting model which supports specific programs and partnerships that are measureable and therefore accountable.

Marty Haberer, Associate Executive Director, who has co-staffed both plans with Executive Director Howard Tevlowitz, feels that the current strategic planning effort is “a vital road map for our Federation to follow through the end of 2016. The world changes so much faster now and it is critical that our Federation stays ahead of the curve as demographics and other realities change in both our Jewish and general Howard Tevlowitz Marty Haberer community.”

For more information about the strategic plan, please contact Howard Tevlowitz at 941.371.4546 or htevlowitz@jfedsrq.org.

Embracing Our Differences heads to Israel in Spring 2015

By Kim Mullins, Federation Director of Operations

24 18 Israeli inventions that could save your life

he Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee first Embracing Our Differences exhibit! is proud to announce a new partnership with As has been done in our community, the exhibit Embracing Our Differences, The Daniel Cenwill have educational and programmatic components the Jeweler for school-age children,Invoice 14276 ters for Progressive Judaism, and theFamily Municipality teachers the general Name: ________________________________________________ Ref #:and ________________ of Tel Aviv/Jaffa to bring the Embracing Our Difcommunity, as well as visitors to this popular tourist ferences project to the Port of Jaffa in March/ destination. We will continue to provide the commuApril 2015. Federation Executive Director Howard nity with more details as the project evolves.

Tevlowitz and President Nancy Swart recently visFor more information, contact Howard Tevlowited the area to meet with officials from The Daniel itz at 941.371.4546 or htevlowitz@jfedsrq.org.

Centers to begin working out the details of this exciting undertaking.

The Port of Jaffa is the oldest seaport in the world andandisreturned a vibrant This Proof must be signed before multiethnic community – Temple we can proceed with your order. This is your home to many Jews, Proof prior to printing.

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June 2014

Women’s Giving Circle awards first grants

By Ilene Fox Negba-Network of Houses of Hope for Children-at-Risk in Israel: Empowerment seminars for girls and their mothers from at-risk families Orr Shalom for Children and Youth-at-Risk: Overcoming the trauma of rape and sexual abuse for girls in out-of-home care Livnot U’Lehibanot: Lifting single parent mothers out of poverty and stagnation Family Net Ashkelon: Parenting group workshop YEDID The Association for Community Empowerment: Megemaria program to enable Ethiopian women to obtain skills “It is very exciting to be a part of Ma’agal Nashim,” said Karen Bernstein. “It is a great way to be with likeminded women and it is my hope that more women will join. We can make a difference in the lives of women and children.”

To join Ma’agal Nashim or for more information, please contact me at 941.343.2111 or ifox@jfedsrq.org, or Jeremy Lisitza at 941.343.2113 or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org.

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a’agal Nashim (Circle of Women), The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s Women’s Giving Circle, awarded its first grants to five organizations in Israel benefitting women and children.

Co-founded and co-chaired by Ros Mazur and Karen Bernstein, Ma’agal Nashim is made up of passionate women in the Sarasota-Manatee area.

Its mission is “to practice tikkun olam (improving the world) through a circle of caring women in order to enhance the lives of women and children around the world.”

Voting participation in Ma’agal Nashim requires a donation of $500 per year with a commitment of two years.

Overseas not-for-profit projects impacting women and/or children are eligible to submit grant proposals for consideration. After the proposals were received, members of Ma’agal Nashim reviewed them and determined how to distribute the funds for the greatest impact.

The following organizations and programs were awarded grants totaling $18,000:

Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones: “We’ve been slammed and smacked and twittered a lot by the anti-Israeli side; all I can say is: anything worth doing is worth overdoing. So we decided to add a concert.” See page 25.

Program/event ads featured in this issue Embracing Our Differences...........18 Fifty Shades of J............................20 Giving Challenge..........................32 Holocaust Speakers Bureau...........12 Masa Israel Travel Scholarship......28 PJ Library®....................................30 Send-a-Kid-to-Israel Program.......28

Shalom Baby.................................30 Stay Fit Sports Camp.....................28 Women’s Giving Circle.................13 Young Adults Happy Hour.............12 Young Adults Pool Party..................1 Young Adults Tailgate...................12

941.371.4546 TheJewishFederation.org

FEDERATION NEWS

Federation Mini-Series – Israel travel experiences for teens

By Howard Tevlowitz, Federation Executive Director

ÎÎ Among respondents whose spouses were not raised in a Jewish household, participant’s spouses were three times more likely to have formally converted to Judaism than nonparticipants’ spouses Therefore, because our Federation-funded Israel experiences, such as Young Ambassadors and March of the Living, are available to those in high school as opposed to college, the logic follows that having these experiences at an earlier age creates an attachment to Israel and Judaism at a more formative period in the lives of our young Jewish adults when it will have even more impact. High school is when more complex thinking, including political and religious ideology, is seriously examined and when dating habits are formed.

As part of our largest ever March of the Living delegation, eight teens visited Poland and Israel this past April-May. In mid-June, our Young Ambassadors will depart for a two-week educational journey to Israel.

Three more area students have received SKIP grants to 2014 March of the Living delegation: Alex Eiffert, Rochelle Prokupets, Janae Newmark, Jesse Schein, Madison Bryan, participate on Israel trips of Jamie Alexander, Brittney Mintz and Rachel Metzger varying lengths. As well, for “longitudinal” study of Jewish young the first time, our Federation has proadults who participated in the Birthvided scholarships to two high school right Israel program six to eleven years students who will each spend a seafter their trip to Israel. Some of its key mester in Israel through the Alexander findings were: Muss High School program this year. ÎÎ Birthright participants were 42% Through our cadre of committed more likely to feel very much philanthropists, volunteer leadership connected to Israel compared to and staff, we are building a 21st century individuals who did not go on outreach/engagement model for our Birthright Sarasota-Manatee community’s youth ÎÎ Birthright participants were 22% – with a particular focus on the Israel more likely to indicate they were at least “somewhat confident” in explaining the current situation in Israel as compared to those who did not go on Birthright ÎÎ Birthright participants were 45% more likely than nonparticipants to be married to someone Jewish experience. I wish to thank each of you ÎÎ Birthright’s influence extends befor your vision and commitment to our yond participants themselves: 7% teens. Special thanks to Sally and Sam of non-participants are married to Shapiro for their support of these and Birthright alumni, while 25% of many other teen programs through the participants are married to other Shapiro Teen Engagement Program participants (who they did not nec(STEP). essarily meet on the trip)

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elcome to this month’s installment of the Federation Mini-Series. This monthly feature serves to outline the work The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee does as a result of the support of our generous donors. Each component of this series will focus on one aspect of the important role our Federation serves in our local community and worldwide.

This month’s Mini-Series is centered on the Israel experience for our high school students, whether it be Young Ambassadors, March of the Living, Send-a-Kid-to-Israel Program (SKIP), or our newest program, Alexander Muss High School in Israel.

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3 June 2014 FEDERATION NEWS

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2014 Bob Malkin Young Ambassadors prepare for mission to Israel

By Amber Ikeman

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fter six months of team building, Israel education, leadership training and getting to know one another, the 2014 Bob Malkin Young Ambassadors (BMYA) are ready to embark on their mission to Israel. On Wednesday, June 11, this group of eight incredible teenagers will begin the next part of their journey through the program.

The purpose of this educational and spiritual mission is to foster leadership through the lens of Judaism and Israel. As a result of this experience, it is The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s goal that these teen leaders will give back, actively participate, feel a sense of belonging, and effect positive change in the Jewish community, the Sarasota-Manatee community and the worldwide Jewish community.

Each Young Ambassador went through a process that involved applying for the mission, being interviewed by a selection committee chaired by Terry Blumenstein, and participating in an applicant retreat. After being selected, the Young Ambassadors have met regularly since January. They have explored their connection to Israel and Judaism, grappled with issues such as the political and religious conflicts in Israel, learned about Israeli demographics, history and language, and engaged in challenging and stimulating conversations with one another about all of these topics. At the beginning of each session, one of the Young Ambassadors gave an update on an Israeli current event, part of the leadership component.

This year, we had some new additions to the pre-mission training sessions. Each Young Ambassador was paired up with an alumnus of the program, who served as a mentor to the current participant. Mentors attended the applicant retreat and first session to share advice about the trip and lead

activities – a way for the alumni to continue to practice their leadership and commitment as well as to serve as role models for this year’s group. We also brought in several guests, including two from a new partnership with Community Youth Development (CYD).

The facilitators from CYD added a great deal to our program by providing more leadership training and resources than we have been able to offer in the past. We also had Federation Executive Director Howard Tevlowitz and Federation Associate Executive Director Marty Haberer facilitate a discussion about philanthropy and social justice.

Also new this year, we spent a Shabbat evening with Ido Medan David, the Program Director for JCC Maccabi Israel, our tour provider. Ido came to visit us from Israel to get to know the group and their families. He facilitated a discussion with the Young Ambassadors about deciding as their own community what Shabbat customs are most meaningful to them. As a follow up, the Young Ambassadors will be creating their own Shabbat service – or experience – in Israel.

Now that the Young Ambassadors have received a broad education about Israel, Judaism, leadership and the community, they are ready for the mission. The group will spend 15 days exploring Israel’s most beautiful and important sites, including the Western Wall, Golan Heights, Dead Sea, Masada, Tel Aviv, Tzfat and Haifa. The teens will also be visiting and working firsthand with several Israeli organizations that our Federation funds, as well as some other new and exciting projects for leadership opportunities, including Minga at HUB Tel Aviv for a social entrepreneurship workshop and “a taste of the Start-Up Nation.” Historically one of the most impactful parts of the trip, participants will be staying with Israeli host families for two nights

A centenarian lives on

By Andrea Eiffert

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hroughout her 102 years (and ning was well underway. A little later, still going strong), Ursula PearUrsula and her friend, Sam Marcus, beson has accomplished much to gan putting out mimeographed copies be proud of. Married to the same man of The Chronicle, reporting the news of for just shy of 68 years, a graduate the Jewish community much the same of Smith College and then earning a as our publication of The Jewish News graduate degree from Yale in Romance today.

Languages, she has lived an incredibly Next on Ursula’s list was the forrich life. From her early beginnings mation of a local UJA women’s chapteaching Latin and American History ter. Understanding that women were in Mississippi and Connecticut durinfluential in the decision making for ing WWII, to building a life with her their household giving, Ursula adopted husband in Miami, in many ways, Ura refined and soft approach to fundraissula became a real trailblazer after she ing while focusing her attention on the moved to Sarasota in 1967. women. The first funWhen Ursula and her draiser was held in the husband retired to Sarasota foyer of the newly-built from Miami, their friends Van Wezel and drew a thought they were crazy. great deal of attention With infrastructure and culand support. The comture barely in its infancy, mittee grew and conthere wasn’t much to offer tinued to remain active, at the time. But that was with Ursula at the helm okay; they loved it. Imas chair in 1972 and mediately, Ursula became 1973. In 1980, the name acquainted with Ludwig of the organization was Ursula Pearson Engler and Harold Goldgchanged to the Saraerd, who had an interest in establishsota Jewish Federation and, in 1982, ing a local chapter of the United Jewish amended to the Sarasota-Manatee JewAppeal (UJA) in Sarasota. There was ish Federation, giving full recognition no database or Internet to assist them to the constituents in both counties in this endeavor, so with phone books whose contributions and support were in hand, they set up shop at a small growing. office off Main St. and began making Ursula has remained involved in calls to Sarasotans they had a hunch The Jewish Federation of Sarasotamight be Jewish. Slowly they gained Manatee, JFCS and many other Jewsupport and on February 25, 1959, the ish organizations throughout her life.

Articles of Incorporation were signed Nowadays, she devotes much of her and the charter was granted for the time writing and leading a poetry class Sarasota Jewish Community Council. in her building, and stays involved With a central organization now intact, in the community to the extent she is community event and activity planable.

as part of our partnership with JCC’s Maccabi Tzair program.

Upon their arrival back into the U.S., the Young Ambassadors are scheduled to participate in four sessions, including another Shabbat dinner to compare and combine their Jewish experiences in Israel and the U.S. We will debrief on the trip and will begin to create our own social action project addressing a need in Israel and/or Sarasota-Manatee. Even after the program meetings end, the teens will continue to be active in the community as ambassadors, speaking and writing about their experiences, volunteering for the Federation and serving as mentors for

the next Young Ambassadors.

This is truly an inspirational experience, unmatched in this community or anywhere else. We wish our Young Ambassadors a n’siyah tovah – a good trip – and look forward to sharing their experiences with you. You can follow their journey through Israel on our blog at www.FederationBlog.org between June 11 and 26.

For more information about the Bob Malkin Young Ambassadors Teen Leadership Mission, please contact me at 941.343.2106 or aikeman@jfedsrq. org.

2014 Young Ambassadors and their alumni mentors

Mensch of the Month: Maya Danilowitz

By Jessi Sheslow

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young adult conference called Tribeaya Danilowitz is a stellar young adult who has inFest. She was so energized by her time creasingly become involved there, meeting other young Jews and in the Federation over the past year. learning about creating an incredible She moved to Sarasota three years Jewish community, she immediately ago from Richmond, Virginia, where asked to volunteer at one of our events she worked as an athletic when she returned. trainer for Maccabi USA. This event is one reason why Maya is a She is a licensed masmensch. At one of the resage therapist and highly trained in CPR. cent Keyboard ConversaMaya first came to a tions, chaos ensued when Federation event when a man fell ill. She was she stopped by the YAD the first to jump up and use her incredible skills booth at the Israel@65 Shuk. From there the ball to manage the situation started rolling and she and stabilize the man Maya Danilowitz has become a member until emergency services of The Ezra Society – the young adult arrived. She was calm, collected and, most importantly, a selfless mensch. giving society. Her ties to the Jewish community run deep. The daughter of We are forever grateful to have this an Israeli immigrant, she’s never far kind of young adult in our community from anything that has to do with Jewand know that with people like her, our ish community building. Most recently, Jewish community will thrive for years and years to come.

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June 2014

FEDERATION NEWS

Middle-school students moved by talks from Holocaust survivor and Generations After member By sixth-grade students at Goldie Feldman Academy

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he middle-school students of Goldie Feldman Academy at Temple Beth Sholom Schools went on an expedition to The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

They, as well as the students from St. Martha’s middle school, had the honor and privilege of listening to and speaking with Generations After member Betty Silberman and Holocaust survivor Gigi Hirsch. During this experience, they learned a lot from both women.

Ms. Silberman talked about the Holocaust and racism, and said that, “If one person would have stood up for what they thought, some things could have been changed during the times of Adolf Hitler.”

Mrs. Hirsch’s stories really struck the students. Her story began when her mom, dad and her siblings moved to Leone, because a lot of Jews were going missing (mostly men). The police came to her aunt’s store to take the family away, but thankfully, Mrs. Hirsch’s aunt knew one of the policemen, so he

agreed, after her pleading, to take just her instead. Her aunt was sent to a concentration camp, and the family lost connection with her. After her aunt was gone, Gigi’s grandmother paid a man to take Gigi, her cousins and herself to Leone. Instead of guiding them as per their agreement, he took the money and left. They ended up going on their own. On the way they met a boy who took them the rest of the way.

A few months passed and Gigi went to a boarding school to hide for her safety. Then, one Wednesday, Gigi had a bad feeling about her family.

She asked to go to the principal’s office so she could call her mother, but he refused to let her use the phone because it was only for staff use. That Sunday was visiting day. Her mother was always the first in line, and when Gigi saw her, she asked if something

Goldie Feldman Academy students with Gigi Hirsch

had happened on Wednesday. Her mother was very surprised at how she knew.

The Nazis had come into the town to check houses for Jews and to take them to concentration camps. When they had checked a house, they would put an X on the doors using blue chalk to show that the house had already been checked. Luckily, before they came to Gigi’s house, a Christian friend, who used to work at the shop with them,

got blue chalk and made the mark on their door. When the Nazi patrol came to check the house and saw the blue X, they walked past and continued on their patrol. Even though they did not remember checking Gigi’s house, they did not feel like wasting time, so Gigi’s family had survived the check.

On another day, Gigi and her mother were walking and came upon some guards. Gigi forgot her forms so she went to the police station and lied by saying that she left them at school. However, it was summertime, and school was not in session. The policeman did not realize that and let her go.

Toward the end of her story, Gigi shared that she had heard a sound, which her father knew was not the Nazis because their trucks were loud, nor was it the rebels, because they did not come during that time of year.

Gigi’s father sent her up because he knew that it was safe. When she got upstairs, she saw a yellow star on the truck and did not know what it was, so she called to her mother. They saw that it was the Americans. That moment was a very happy one for Gigi and her family because they had survived the Holocaust.

Sixth-grade students contributing to this article: Isabella Evans, Lauren Kazzab, Rebecca Kleinberg, Jenny Marcus, Ethan Schaefer, Michael Shulman and Kayla Silverman.

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he staff and leadership of The Jewish News are proud to welcome Allya Yourish and Jackson Cacioppo as this year’s Mimi and Joseph J. Edlin Journalism Interns.

This paid internship program, generously funded by Sarasota resident Miriam “Mimi” Edlin and her family through the Joseph J. Edlin Endowment Summer Journalism Internship Fund, provides an opportunity for area students, aged 16-22, to get real world experience with a professional publication, as well as learn about the Jewish nonprofit world.

Because of Mrs. Edlin’s generosity, we were able to bring two outstanding young writers onto our team this year. The endowment fund is administered by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis; the St. Louis Jewish Light publication is also a beneficiary of the fund.

Allya Yourish is completing her freshman year at New College as an Art History and Gender Studies major. She serves on the student board of New College Hillel and

recently returned from a study-abroad program in Israel. Allya has written for the college’s newspaper, The Catalyst, and aspires to become a professional writer.

Jackson Cacioppo is completing his senior year at Pine View School and will be attending Northeastern University in Boston in the fall. Jackson has been involved in Federation programs as well as BBYO, for which he served as the North Florida Regional President. He attended BBYO’s International Leadership Training Conference and International Leadership Seminar in Israel in the summer of 2013 and has a strong passion for Jewish life.

Allya Yourish

Jackson Cacioppo

Emotional Yom HaShoah Holocaust observance License # 274871

By Rich Bergman and Flora Oynick

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ore than 300 people attended a moving Yom HaShoah observance on Sunday, April 27. Presented by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and the Sarasota-Manatee Rabbinical Association, and hosted by Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz and Temple Beth Israel on Longboat Key, the service included an emotional candle lighting by Holocaust survivors and their family members.

The candle lighters were Paul Molnar, Jack Brodman, Hilde Mandel, David Grace, Margot Coville and Renate Kirshenbaum.

Rabbis Harold Caminker, Howard Simon, Geoff Hunting, Larry Mahrer, Richard Klein, Michael Eisenstat

and Aaron Koplin, and Cantors Cliff Abramson and Jeff Weber joined Rabbi Katz with poignant readings and stories from the Holocaust.

The observance featured the King Strings Quartet from Pine View High School, and the guest speaker was Dr. Paul Bartrop, who spoke of “Goodness During the Holocaust: Acts of Helping Amidst the Horror.” Dr. Bartrop, Director of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University, reminded attendees of the bravery and kindness of Righteous Gentiles during the Holocaust and asked them not to be bystanders to the growing anti-Semitism and prejudice to others in the world today.

5 June 2014 FEDERATION NEWS

June 2014

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Anti-Semitism alive and well in the U.S.

By Rabbi Howard A. Simon, co-Chair of The Robert and Esther Heller Israel Advocacy Initiative

Established 1971

PUBLISHER The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Road Sarasota, FL 34232-1959 Phone: 941.371.4546 Fax: 941.378.2947 E-mail: jewishnews@jfedsrq.org Website: www.jfedsrq.org Published Monthly Volume 44, Number 6 June 2014 32 pages USPS Permit No. 167 July 2014 Issue Deadlines: Editorial: May 30, 2014 Advertising: May 29, 2014 PRESIDENT Nancy Swart EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Howard Tevlowitz ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Marty Haberer COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR Linda Lipson MANAGING EDITOR Ted Epstein CREATIVE MANAGER Christopher Alexander ADVERTISING SALES Robin Leonardi PROOFREADERS Adeline Silverman, Stacey Edelman, Harold Samtur, Bryna Tevlowitz, Deb Bryan MIMI AND JOSEPH J. EDLIN JOURNALISM INTERNS Allya Yourish, Jackson Cacioppo MISSION STATEMENT: The Jewish News of Sarasota-Manatee strives to be the source of news and features of special interest to the Jewish community of Sarasota-Manatee, to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions in the Jewish community, and to communicate the mission, activities and achievements of the Federation and its Jewish community partners.

OPINIONS printed in The Jewish News of Sarasota-Manatee do not necessarily reflect those of The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee, its Board of Directors or staff.

is name is Frazier Glenn the wrong time.

Miller. It was the day before Jill Schneiderman is a professor Pesach. He wanted to kill of Earth Sciences at Vassar College.

Jews. Sound familiar? Think of the She thought it would be a good idea to history of our people. Think back to organize a class trip to Israel to study the days of the pogroms of water issues. When the Europe. When did they hapVassar College antipen? Before Passover. Why Semitic hate group, then? The haters of Jews Students for Justice in said the Jews would kidnap Palestine, heard of this Christian children, kill them planned Israel trip, they and use their blood to make stood outside her classthe matzah that the Jews ate room and pressured stuon Pesach. Ridiculous, abdents not to go on the surd, impossible, of course, trip. Instead of supportbut if you are an anti-Semite ing their professor, the you will manufacture any administration set up a Rabbi Howard A. Simon excuse to kill Jews. meeting of the school’s So Frazier Glenn Miller, who hates Committee on Inclusion and ExcelJews, drove to the Jewish Community lence. The members of the committee Center in Overland Park, Kansas, and and those in attendance at the meeting opened fire. Then, while enjoying the overwhelmingly supported the actions sport of shooting people, he moved of the Jewish-Israel hate group. They on to a nearby Jewish retirement comdrowned out any voices raised on bemunity and killed again. The irony of half of Israel. this out of control, hateful attack on Anti-Semitism is alive and well the Jewish people is that Mr. Miller in our cities, on college campuses and killed three innocent, loving, caring in the hearts of people who hate, just Christians who, as the expression goes, because they want to hate. Hatred of happened to be in the wrong place at any group, race, ethnicity, religion,

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you name it, should not exist. But it does exist and it must be fought on every level. Be it the BDS movement attacking Israel, swastika-drawing Jew-haters throughout the country or, those, like Mr. Miller, who wish to destroy Jews because they are Jews. We must stand against bigotry. We must join with the majority of our country’s citizens who believe such acts are intolerable. We must urge such deeds to be labeled what they are – hate crimes – and deemed unacceptable.

Anti-Semitism is alive and well in our land. Hatred is alive and well in our country. It should not be, but it is, and we must do whatever we can to stamp it out and guarantee the rights and freedom of each and every American. That is what our country stands for. That is what we must stand for.

For more information about the Heller IAI, visit www.sarasotalovesisrael.com or contact Jessi Sheslow at jsheslow@ jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2109.

Women’s Seder dedicates the Women’s Village at Sanctuary of Sarasota

By Gini C. Hyman

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n Saturday, April 19, about 30 women and a few children gathered at the site of the new Homeless Women and Women with Children’s Shelter and Campus to be known as the Women’s Village at Sanctuary of Sarasota.

Sanctuary of Sarasota, under the management of Trinity Without Borders, Inc., is a 501c3 non-profit, dedicated to providing transitional shelter, education and support services to homeless and at-risk single, senior, LGBT women and women with children, so they can become productive members of our community again.

A Women’s Passover celebration was chosen to dedicate the site because it is such an empowering event for women, and reminds all of us of the bravery of the matriarchs and the hardships the women of the Torah endured throughout the ages to reach The Promised Land.

Some of the attendees at the Seder

The Haggadah used for the Seder was written by Lee Levine and Sue Huntting for the first Women’s Seder in Sarasota and is relevant today. Jennifer Cohen and Gini C. Hyman led the Seder with participation from all present.

Special thanks are given to Orna Nissan, Publix, TooJay’s and, especially, the Federation’s Robert and Esther Heller Israel Advocacy Initiative for underwriting the event. Vallerie Guillory, Executive Director of the Sanctuary, said, “The Jewish community of Sarasota consistently leads us in tikkun olam and bringing a better world into view.”

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6

June 2014

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Jewish Housing Council names Heidi Brown Chief Executive Officer

T

he Sarasota-Manatee Jewish the Jewish Housing Council Operating Housing Council, Inc. has named and Foundation Boards to manage the Heidi Brown as Chief Executive planned expansion of facilities and serOfficer of Kobernick-Anchin-Bendervices on the campus as outlined in the son senior living community organization’s Master Faciin Sarasota, effective April 30, lities Plan. She will also be 2014. As CEO, Ms. Brown is responsible for continuing to responsible for overseeing the build donor relationships. entire campus, including indeMs. Brown brings more pendent living in Kobernick than 17 years of experience House, assisted living, secure in leadership roles with sememory care, skilled nursing nior living communities in and rehabilitation in Anchin the Washington, D.C. area.

Heidi Brown Pavilion and the Benderson Outstanding achievements Family Skilled Nursing and Rehabiliinclude managing the construction of tation Center. She will also work with a new $7-million building for Alzheim-

er’s/Dementia Care (Cohen-Rosen House) and maintaining 100 percent occupancy in both Landow House and Cohen-Rosen House facilities while serving as Administrator.

Ms. Brown earned her Masters of Social Work at University of Maryland at Baltimore, her undergraduate degree in Psychology at State University of New York at Albany, and she is a Certified Assisted Living Manager.

About Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson Established in 1993, Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson is Sarasota’s only rental senior living community offering a full continuum of care. Kobernick

House offers the ultimate in independent living. Anchin Pavilion provides compassionate care in assisted living, secure memory care and the Benderson Family Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The full-service retirement campus on a 27-acre woodland preserve is convenient to cultural and recreational venues in the area. It is a not-for-profit organization developed by the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Housing Council., Inc. All levels of care are available so residents can age in place with dignity and peace of mind.

JFCS North Port office offers Jewish Healing Program services & more

Sponsored by

By Jamie M. Smith, Director of Marketing, JFCS

J

ewish Family & Children’s Service of the Suncoast, Inc.’s North Port office offers an array of services through signature programs, including our Jewish Healing Program.

Located at 19503 S. West Villages Parkway in North Port, the office provides a convenient location for South County residents in need.

Services offered through JFCS’ Building Strong Families, Senior Outreach Services, Adolescent Diversion & Assistance Program, Healthy Families, and Jewish Healing Programs include:

Homelessness intervention and prevention Food and financial assistance Individual and family counseling Family life education Employment and social opportunities Outreach to seniors and caregivers Doula and Holocaust survivor services to the Jewish community Additionally, the North Port office brings the Jewish tradition to, and celebrates holidays with the area’s seniors.

Most recently, Rabbi Dan Krimsky recited blessings and the telling of the

Passover story with munity agencies and The specific foods preJewish Federation of Sarapared by SOS volunsota-Manatee, JFCS is able teers Vicki Solomon to fulfill its mission of providand Sue Aaron. They ing services to the entire Sunprepared a traditional coast,” said Rose Chapman, Seder plate, serving president and CEO of JFCS charoset, vegetables of the Suncoast. dipped in salt water, To learn more or to supCaroline Stephens, LCSW, a roasted egg, horseport the programs of JFCS’ South County Regional radish and parsley. JFCS North Port office, please Program Coordinator (Photo Our volunteers also contact Caroline Stephens, credit: Jamie M. Smith) prepared matzah ball soup, roast chickLCSW, South County regional proen, potato casserole and matzah. gram coordinator, at 941.366.2224 “In partnership with fellow comx165 or cstephens@JFCS-Cares.org.

More Holocaust survivors to benefit from expansion of JFCS Holocaust survivors services Sponsored by

By Suzanne Hurwitz, Jewish Healing Program Coordinator

J

ewish Family & Children’s Service of the Suncoast, Inc. (JFCS) has seen the number of Holocaust clients increase 93.5% over the last three years. During the first week of January 2014, JFCS received seven requests for assistance, and a recent luncheon for Purim provided 45 survivors with the opportunity to socialize and hear the Purim story. Thanks to the additional generous funding provided

by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee to increase Holocaust survivors services, JFCS will be ex-

panding our reach into the Jewish community to serve more survivors under our Jewish Healing Program.

Jan Alston, Holocaust survivor case manager, formerly providing Holocaust survivor services part-time, will provide case management and organize monthly social programs and large-scale holiday gatherings on a full-time basis to a broader region.

Working with each client involves unique tasks, ranging from overcoming language barriers, to distant travel for home visits, to wading through docu-

ments to clarify dates and experiences.

We are proud to say that serving Holocaust survivors is not, and should not be, a cookie-cutter process. Each client is provided with the individualized attention they so deserve. Additionally, Jan can assist survivors in completing paperwork necessary to receive reparations from the German government, and helps distribute funds needed in emergency situations.

Jan enjoys her work immensely,

stating, “While I have enjoyed all aspects of what I do, I am looking forward to focusing solely on our resilient Holocaust survivors. Their stories and their needs are what drive the work I do and love.”

To learn more about JFCS’ Holocaust survivors services or how you can provide support, please contact Jan Alston at 941.366.2224 x172 or jalston@JFCS-Cares.org.

This month’s advertisers This publication is brought to you each month thanks to the support of our advertisers. Please be sure to use their products and services, and mention that you found them in The Jewish News.

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June 2014

7 June 2014 COMMUNITY FOCUS

7

An enriching day at Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences

By Ruth Wheeler

O

n a lovely Sarasota spring afternoon in early April, the middle-school students at the Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences had a rare opportunity. They got to meet and hear a Holocaust survivor’s story of survival, a story that sounds so unlikely it would make an excellent plot for a thriller, except that every word is true.

On Wednesday, April 2, Hilde Mandel (who happens to be my mother) was invited to speak at the longest continually operating charter school in Sarasota. I personally was not aware of this school’s existence, but now know that it is a public charter middle school located in downtown Sarasota’s Rosemary District. The school is multicultural, tuition free, and has only 750 students. Acceptance is by lottery and not necessarily based on grades, geography other than living in Sarasota or Manatee counties, or any other factor barring serious discipline problems and such. Naturally there are always many more applicants than can be accommodated, but what a great opportunity for the lucky lottery winners!

Mom arrived around 2:30 p.m. and was greeted by Ms. Kylie Gannon, the teacher who organized this educational experience for the kids.

Mom tells me she had a group of over 50 boys and girls, all middle-school age. After the usual introductions, Hilde began her story of taking on a Polish Christian young teen’s

identity after her father procured a baptismal certificate for her. Having the unfortunate fate of being picked to be a member of the Judenrat, my grandfather was privy to certain information and had found my mother’s name on a list coming up for “selection.” I can only imagine how difficult it was for him to tell his beloved daughter, his favorite, “When you go on work detail you must not return this evening.

Take this ID and somehow you must get away and save yourself.”

This is not the place to go into much more detail of how Hilde actually did escape, but it is important to mention that she ended up spending the rest of the war in Berlin, of all places, working for a German munitions company. For three or four years, she successfully kept up this charade until being liberated by the Russians, who, at first, would not even believe her story; all the Polish Jews were dead they said.

Hilde Mandel and teacher Kylie Gannon

When Hilde Mandel was finished telling her story, many of the kids gathered around for pictures and hugs

None of this would have been possible had my mother not spoken fluent German and come from a family that was well assimilated into the community, for it was her Christian friend from school that aided her the first night after her escape from the labor detail.

The children listened with rapt attention and, for that matter, so did the teacher and school administrator who also came to listen. When Hilde was finished, many had tears in their eyes, including Ms. Gannon who later sent Hilde a beautiful card, calling her storytelling “a life-changing experience.”

The children were in awe, but not so much that they couldn’t get out their smartphones and crowd around for pictures and hugs – the boys as well as the girls.

My mother always makes it a point

to “generalize” her story beyond the Shoah, to be tolerant of our differences and to speak up when one becomes aware of an injustice; to not be the “silent bystander,” a stance taken by far too many during the war and since.

This connects her past experiences to the here and now.

Someday, I will continue my mother’s work. I won’t be quite the “real thing,” but I believe, in a sense, all of us in the Second Generation are survivors as well.

Any teacher or organization that would like to request a speaker from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota Manatee’s Holocaust Speakers Bureau, should contact Orna Nissan at 941.552.6305 or onissan@jfedsrq.org.

Rescue Adoption Education Resource Center

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2014

8

June 2014

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Care packages for Jewish military

I

t started with a simple passing of a hat at a board meeting and has since evolved into an integral part of Temple Sinai’s Social Action initiative.

Some years ago, a board member casually suggested sending small gift packages to Jewish armed forces serving overseas. The idea struck a chord with the board members and soon the congregation as a whole.

Before too long, the project found a home in the Social Action Committee and it became an ongoing project, done three times a year to send packages to Iraq or Afghanistan. Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah and Passover holidays are acknowledged. Paperback books, magazines, CDs of music and DVDs of movies are always collected. Snacks of hard candy, nuts and gum are added.

Then, items to fit the holiday are included, such as honey for the New Year and dreidels at Hanukkah.

Handmade greeting cards and drawings are tucked in the boxes to

say “thank you for your service” to the recipients. These cards are often made by the students of the schools but also adults during Mitzvah Day. Temple Sinai has received many heartfelt “thank you” notes over the years. One surprise was a certificate of appreciation plaque from Chaos Troop 1st Squadron 112th Cavalry Regiment recognizing Temple Sinai “for leader-

ship and dedication to the Troop.”

Recently a note arrived from Samuel: “Thank you for the generous Passover care package. Always nice to get a reminder of home out here in Afghanistan. I am lucky to be on a large base and I will be able to attend a Passover Seder here. I appreciate your time and effort. My day was made brighter.”

The goal of

Betty Liner and Nita Ettinger proudly display the certificate of appreciation Temple Sinai received from a Squadron in a Cavalry Regiment for the Care Packages sent to them

the Social Action Committee of Temple Sinai is to educate and motivate the congregation and the community to participate in tikkun olam – repairing the world. This care package project exemplifies that goal.

Please call 941.924.1802 if you would like to contribute in any way to this effort.

The Temple Sinai Social Action Committee recently sent Care Packages for Passover to Jewish armed forces serving overseas. Pictured: Dottie Katz, Richard Brown, Sid Rothschild, Jerry Danoff, Zvi Rogovin, Natalie Tate, Howard Katz and Mike Benesch, VP of Programming

Temple Emanu-El president feted at gala celebrating “Michael Richker Day”

T

wo hundred Temple Emanu-El members and community supporters gathered at Michael’s On East on Sunday evening, April 6, for a gala to fete the synagogue’s outgoing president, Michael Richker. In addition to dinner, entertainment, tributes and a spectacular silent auction, attendees enjoyed the presentation of

Gala co-chair Joan Blum and honoree Michael Richker

a formal proclamation from the City of Sarasota declaring April 6 “Michael Richker Day.” In the words of the proclamation: “The City of Sarasota has deemed it proper to honor those persons who have devoted their lives to their family, friends, associates and community; and it is therefore appropriate to recognize Michael Richker, who is worthy of such a recognition…Michael Richker has exemplified the highest ideals of community service, love of fellowman, and demonstrated dedication to all of his undertakings, always willing to give of his time to help others…Michael Richker Day [is] a day of special importance and worthy of the recognition of the citizens of the City of Sarasota.”

Richker served as president of Temple Emanu-El for four years; his previous roles in the congregation included First Vice President, Philanthropy Committee Chair, Ways & Means Chair, Endowment Trustee, and

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Temple Emanu-El Brotherhood officer. Since his involvement in Temple Emanu-El leadership, the congregation has nearly doubled in size and become a leading Jewish congregation in Sarasota-Manatee. Richker is also an active volunteer in the greater community, serving in leadership roles at Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Resurrection House, the Synagogue Council, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

The gala evening was chaired by Joan Blum and Renee Gold.

“These we honor” Your Tributes ANNUAL CAMPAIGN IN HONOR OF Susi Benson-Steenbarger Michael Richker Gerald Levitt – 90th Birthday Nina Levitt and John Hockenberry IN MEMORY OF Charlotte Fox Karen and Tom Bernstein Flora and Guillermo Oynick MAZEL TOV Martha and Sheldon Gensler – Special Birthday & 70th Anniversary Earl Sharff

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IN HONOR OF Rebecca and Rich Bergman Jeremy Lisitza and Michael Shelton IN MEMORY OF Charlotte Fox Bryna and Howard Tevlowitz

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Gala co-chair Renee Gold and Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Brenner Glickman

ISRAEL PROGRAMS IN HONOR OF Esther and Bob Heller Bryna and Howard Tevlowitz Rabbi Howard Simon Bryna and Howard Tevlowitz Nancy Swart – Birthday Bryna and Howard Tevlowitz IN MEMORY OF Charlotte Fox Nadia and Michael Ritter Tzvi Pinchas Glucklick Flora and Guillermo Oynick David Kittner Bryna and Howard Tevlowitz Tosia Schwartzbaum Nadia and Michael Ritter Cynthia and Stanley Wright

MAZEL TOV Nadia and Michael Ritter – New Grandson Flora and Guillermo Oynick Nancy and Ray Swart – Anniversary Bryna and Howard Tevlowitz Howard Tevlowitz – Man of the Year Award Nadia and Michael Ritter

SKIP (Send a Kid to Israel) IN HONOR OF Bea Friedman – 94th Birthday Judy Weinstein IN MEMORY OF Charlotte Fox Barbara and Gary Ackerman Irene and Marty Ross Dee Glendening Joanne Adams MAZEL TOV Julie Elkes and David Kesler – Marriage Ruth and Bruce Fleegler Howard Tevlowitz – Man of the Year Award Irene and Marty Ross

NOTE: To be publicly acknowledged in The Jewish News, Honor Cards require a minimum $10 contribution per listing. You can send Honor Cards directly from www.jfedsrq.org. For more information, please call 941.552.6304.

June 2014

9 June 2014 COMMUNITY FOCUS

9

International theatre festival returns to Venice June 16-21

“aactWorldFest” will feature shows from 17 countries, parties, workshops and more

E

very four years, the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) holds an international festival in the United States.

And every four years the festival has been hosted by a different community theatre – until now. Due to the success of the last festival in 2010, “aactWorldFest” is returning to Sarasota County.

From Monday, June 16 through Saturday, June 21, Venice Theatre will host this gathering of community theatres from around the globe.

Murray Chase, Festival Chair and Venice Theatre Executive/Artistic Director, expects visitors from as many as 40 states, 25 countries and six continents to generate 700 room nights and $1 million in economic impact during a month that is traditionally light for tourism.

Area residents are encouraged to participate in the week-long event.

Theatre aficionados will want to purchase a full registration which includes all 17 performances and access to a large selection of workshops and social events. The theatre is also offering a MainStage-only registration which includes everything but the four shows being presented in the black box theatre. For the more casual theatre-goer, there will be tickets available to blocks of two to three shows, each an hour long. They will be priced at $20 for two shows and $30 for three shows.

Registration fees vary based on whether an individual is currently a member of AACT. For more information and to register, visit www.venicestage.com/ international or call 941.488.1115.

Locals can also get involved by volunteering for the festival, including opening their home to visiting

performers for the week. Those interested in volunteering should contact Volunteer Coordinator Kim Kollar at 941.484.4033 x239.

The experience Chase and his staff and volunteers gained from organizing the 2010 international festival has been used to more easily plan an even bigger and better “aactWorldFest” 2014. The number of performance troupes has grown from 11 in 2010 to 17 in 2014.

Several countries that were represented in 2010 are returning, including Australia, Italy and Israel. To accommodate the increased number of performances, the theatre is using both its auditoriums (the 432-seat MainStage and the 90-seat Pinkerton Theatre).

This year’s schedule will showcase the work of award-winning theatre troupes from Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Italy, Latvia, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, Togo and the United States. Each of the productions will be performed in the country’s native language in styles ranging from comedy to drama, to opera and puppetry. Audiences should have no fear about language barriers.

“The arts are universal,” Chase says.

“The language of theatre transcends words. And as in 2010, the productions we’ve chosen are visually and physically dynamic or tell stories that will be familiar.” “aactWorldFest” will begin with a welcome reception on Monday afternoon, June 16, followed by the opening ceremonies that evening and the first three performances. Educational workshops will be offered throughout each day and are included with festival registration except for the Musical Theatre

Performance Master Class with Tony Award-winner Ben Vereen, which is $50. Each show will be presented two to three times throughout the week so that all attendees – including the actors – can enjoy all 17 performances if they choose. Each evening ends with an after-glow party at Michael Biehl Park adjacent to the theatre. A closing gala reception and awards ceremony will be held in the theatre lobby Saturday evening with one final after-glow to close out the week.

Show from Israel The Black Princess This fantasy play explores the love/ hate relationship between mothers and sisters. Told in a creative physical style, The Black Princess takes us through an angry daughter’s dream in which she makes all mothers disappear. Once she realizes the consequences, our teenager princess must rescue her mother while taking a weird journey. A poignant tale, told in both Hebrew and English. (Wednesday, June 18, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, June 19, 1:30 p.m., MainStage) ~~~ Since the troupe from Israel specifically works with at-risk youth (as does the troupe from South Africa) the directors from those two countries are leading a workshop: Title: Theatre for Social Change Presenters: Professor Jimmie Perry, South Africa; Halil Itzhak, Israel Description: Identifying ways to affect social change directly through theatre programs. Discussion of benefits, method, and obstacles.

Date/time: Friday, June 20, 11 a.m. to noon; Saturday, June 21, 8:30 to 10 a.m.

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By Marcia Polevoi

M

embers of the Sarasota Jewish Chorale were privileged to be among the participating groups in Voices of the Holocaust.

They joined with the Gloria Musicae Singers, Sarasota Young Voices, Booker High School Choir, Sarasota Choral Society, Sarasota-Manatee Dance Alliance and the Chroma Quartet. Voices, a cantata in five parts, is a moving composition written in proud defiance in the face of the adversities found in the concentration camps and ghettos. This multimedia concert was composed by Sheridan Seyfried, who attended the performance. Elizabeth Weil Bergmann was the choreographer and Joe Holt was the Artistic Director and Conductor. It took place on Monday, April 28 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

At the presentation of Music Makes

Community: A Celebration of Jewish Music for Sarasota-Manatee, more than a dozen members of the Chorale joined the Community Chorus. The chorus was formed of 100 singers from church and Jewish choirs from the entire area. Both Martha Kinney Kesler, our former conductor, and Linda Stewart Tucker, our current conductor, sang in this event as well as in Voices. The concert featured noted baritone Jason Stearns as soloist in Ernest Bloch’s Sacred Service, presented in its entirety.

Other cantorial soloists and musicians from the area performed additional music by well-known Jewish composers. Matthew Lazar, celebrated conductor and interpreter of Jewish music, led the chorus and members of the Sarasota Symphony Orchestra. Fred Erman, a member of the Chorale who sang with this chorus, said, “I wasn’t

familiar with the Sacred Service, but now I know why it is one of the most magnificent religious compositions ever written – powerful, beautiful and inspirational. A program with such variety is a first in our community. What a thoroughly entertaining evening it was.” This concert took place at the Van Wezel on Thursday, April 3.

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee had the foresight and resources to bring to the community events of magnificent music with Jewish themes. It sponsored (and underwrote) both events.

The Sarasota Jewish Chorale is currently booking programs for the 2014-15 season. Anyone interested in singing with the Chorale is always welcome. For further information, call Susan Skovronek at 941.355.8011 or Arlene Stolnitz at 941.492.6944.

Standing in the shadows of greatness

By Beverly Newman

brother forced his family to flee the tanding before icons of courage Nazis while the majority of mature is humbling and inspiring. Our adults waited for the threats to evapounsung heroes and diminutive rate, is now speaking in her influential heroines of the Holocaust, honored at the Al Katz Center’s Yom HaShoah voice on behalf of women (including fellow survivors) trapped in guardianobservance, are giants who cast shadships that strip them of their dignity ows far too large to fill. and assets. Her latest article will apCesare Frustaci, living alone on pear in the prominent the streets of Hungary at age seven, is now headed to adShriver Report.

Marie Winkelman, dress dignitaries by invitation in Washington, D.C. His mesas a young girl, braved the streets of Poland sage is starkly simple. The Holocaust never ended for alone, hiding for years its survivors. In fact, his gorwithout family or money, to become a vivageous Jewish mother, an accious author and artist. claimed ballerina, died many Marie’s life rested on decades after the Holocaust amidst her horrifying hallucione horrendous deciSonia Fuentes sion, “Should I try to nations of green gas streamsave my life and leave everybody being from electrical outlets and clouds hind, or stay and go to a concentration spewing the green toxins at her.

Sonia Fuentes, whose teenage camp or wherever – and be killed?”

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NCJW awards non-traditional scholarships

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he Sarasota-Manatee Section of National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), dedicated to improving the quality of life for women, children and families, presented six $1,000 scholarships during the 14th Annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony held on the Federation Campus. The awards recognize and promote the education of the “non-traditional student” and target students who have returned to school after a hiatus or those who wish to further their education and are experiencing unusual circumstances.

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Janina Kozma was hidden in a convent for years and now warms hearts with her affection and infectious smile.

Paul Temmer, separated by the Nazis from his adored grandfather in the Budapest Ghetto, became the founder of a prestigious school and the adoring husband of his wife, who suffered from multiple sclerosis for 15 years, supported by the love of her life until her young death.

Paul now gives his heart and time to students of the Paul Temmer Holocaust.

It is impossible not to love our survivors, who are indeed unmatchable treasures in our midst.

Zarro, former Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Center, Sarasota County, and Bee Volk and Cecile Alexander, both longtime NCJW members.

Sally Yanowitz presented the Yanowitz Family Scholarship to Jason Harris, Richard Weissfeld presented the Carol Weissfeld Memorial Scholarship to Melissa Rainey, Ann Goldstein presented the Publix Supermarket Charities Scholarship to Thelma Upshaw, Bee Volk presented the NCJW Scholarship in memory of Lillian Merriam to Lisette (Lisa) Gadomski, and Debbie Morrison presented the Helen

Schusterman and Albert Samuel Morrison Women’s Scholarship to Sarah Delke and Neshia Leverett The evening was dedicated to the late Lillian Merriam, who spearheaded the non-traditional scholarship program. Kudos to Eve Pokornicky, Chair, and her committee: Cecile Alexander, Alice Cotman, Marcia DuBrin, Ann Goldstein, Marian Moss, Rona Polakoff, Susan Rafalovich and Marge Rome.

For more information about the scholarship program or NCJW, please call 941.342.1855.

June 2014

11 June 2014 COMMUNITY FOCUS

11

Remembering the six million Sarasota native, IDF soldier,

By Joel Servetz receives prestigious award n what has become an annual ritual whose lives were so brutally taken by

I

for the members and supporters of the Men’s Club of Temple Beth Sholom, on Thursday, April 10, fourteen people gathered to package Yom HaShoah yahrzeit candles for mailing to TBS members. The well-coordinated team, led as always by Sheldon Silverstein, assembled boxes, affixed labels and packaged approximately 550 candles.

This is an annual fundraiser that helps the Men’s Club raise much needed funds for the support of various programs at Temple Beth Sholom, while also serving to reinforce the message to all members to take some time out each year to remember the six million

Kasia Wiszowaty assists Barbara Wiszowaty and Felicia Servetz in packaging the candles

an evil regime.

This year the group even benefited from the assistance of two visitors from Poland, one of whom, 4-year-old Kasia, did nearly as much work as the adults. The Men’s Club wishes to thank the following people for their efforts: Sheldon Silverstein, Joel Servetz, Felicia Servetz, Len Berman, Ben Berman, Vincent Minora, Madeleine Minora, Bill Fogel, Dolly Fogel, Steven Phillips, Jerry Shoemaker, Barry Abeshaus, Barbara Wiszowaty and Kasia Wiszowaty.

By Rich Bergman

E

very Israeli Independence Day, 120 exceptional soldiers and officers receive an award for outstanding service from the President of the State of Israel. The President’s Award is given for service to the country, commitment to the military, respect for democracy, and overall excellence.

This year, President Shimon Peres gave the award to Sgt. A (his name is withheld for security reasons). Sgt. A grew up in Sarasota and enlisted in the IDF after receiving his undergraduate degree from Harvard and doing a stint on Wall Street. Currently, he serves in the IDF’s elite Air Force Search and Rescue Unit. “The purpose of our unit is saving lives, whether it be rescuing pilots that crash land, or finding civilians lost in the Negev. All

of the members of our unit are trained medics as well as highly-trained combat soldiers,” said Sgt A. We are so proud of our own Sgt. A and all of the recipients of the President’s Award in Israel.

The Ceremony occurred on Tuesday, May 6 at the home of President Peres and was attended by Prime Minister Netanyahu and many dignitaries from the government and the military.

Sheldon Silverstein and Len Berman help with the annual Yom HaShoah mailing (photos courtesy Joel Servetz, RGB Media Services)

For a continuously updated community calendar, visit www.jfedsrq.org.

Congregation Ner Tamid steps up to the (dinner) plate to serve the homeless in Bradenton

By Rabbi Barbara Aiello

“

I

t tugs at our heartstrings when we see the little ones,” a sentiment expressed by one of Congregation Ner Tamid volunteers who, along with seven others, devoted Easter Sunday to serving holiday dinners to Bradenton’s homeless men, women and children.

The sponsoring organization, Our Daily Bread, has come to depend on “my Jewish group.” That’s how kitchen manager Penny Goethe refers to the hardy band of volunteers that has served both Christmas and Easter dinner for more than ten years.

“The regular volunteers are Christians,” said Ner Tamid board president Elaine Mittler, herself a veteran of 15 years’ service, “so we are not only helping the needy but we are giving the Christian volunteers time to observe their most important religious holidays.”

To Mittler, her board members and congregants, the work they do twice a year at Our Daily Bread has become a double mitzvah. “It’s community service and it’s interfaith based,” said Mittler, who echoes Ner Tamid’s firm belief in mutual religious respect and appreciation.

And appreciation was on the menu as well. As 200 of Bradenton’s neediest received a sumptuous turkey dinner complete with yams, beans and roas-

Looking for a temple? Take virtual tours of local synagogues 24 hours a day at www.jfedsrq.org or check out Connections magazine at www.sarasota connections.org.

ted potatoes, topped off with delicious slices of pie and goodie bags for the children, each plate received was accompanied with a “God bless you,” to the Ner Tamid servers.

For first-time volunteers, the experience was a significant one. “Today I fed the hungry,” said a new CNT member. “The congregation allowed me not only to think about tikkun olam, but to actually do something to repair the world.”

Congregation Ner Tamid has been volunteering at Our Daily Bread for ten years. Pictured: Marvin Shepard, Elaine Mittler, Shari Shepard, Marcia Shepard, Rhonda Mittler and Jaclyn, Stacey & David Jacobson

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June 2014

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Temple Beth El Bradenton’s interfaith Seder brings together Jews & Christians

A

t this year’s interfaith Seder on Tuesday, April 8, about 160 members of Temple Beth El and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church joined together as the Passover story was retold.

Members of both congregations took turns in reading many of the passages from the special interfaith Haggadah, as we celebrated our common biblical roots.

TBE’s members were honored to share with our neighbors Passover’s unique sounds and smells and tastes,

its heartfelt prayers and the retelling of the exodus of our people following 400 years of slavery in Egypt.

Temple Beth El has known the joy of leading interfaith Seders at a number of churches in Manatee County and hopes to continue the practice in the future. Many thanks go to Rabbi Harold Caminker and Father Tom Zalewski and the wonderful volunteers and members from Temple Beth El for making this wonderful evening come to pass.

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Invites You To A

Yo u n g A d u lt s H A p p Y H o u r tuesdAY, june 10tH 5:30-7:30pm

sArAsotA brewing compAnY 6607 Gateway Ave Sarasota, FL

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join oTHER YoUnG jEWiSH ADULTS FoR A DRinK AnD SCHMooZE! For more information about the Young Adult Division, please contact Jessi Sheslow: 941.343.2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org

A powerful EDUcATIONAL OPPORTUNITY holoCausT, genoCIde and ToleranCe eduCaTIon

Many InspIrIng speakers To Choose FroM InCludIng:

The Holocaust Speakers Bureau offers teachers a unique opportunity to expand their students’ classroom experience. A large number of Holocaust survivors who reside in this community are willing to come into your classroom and give their eyewitness accounts of the Holocaust. A group of second generation survivors vividly can recount their parents’ stories of survival. Also, available are speakers who were hidden children, those saved through the “Kindertransport”, resistance fighters, refugees, as well as World War II camp liberators.

HILDE MANDEL PAUL MOLNAR RIFKA GLATZ MARK SOLENT HENRY TENENBAUM

All speakers are authentic to their respective experiences and feel a strong commitment to bring an awareness of the consequences that result when evil is allowed to flourish. They feel privileged and grateful to live in this wonderful country where their voices are being heard.

Proudly SPonSored By

For questions or to book a speaker contact: Orna Nissan, Director, Holocaust Education and Israeli Programs 941.552.6305 • onissan@jfedsrq.org www.TheJewishFederation.org

Dr. Lois Gerber (TBE President), Debra Suta (cantorial soloist), Rabbi Harold Caminker, Father Tom Zalewski, Kellie Potter (St. Joseph’s School Principal)

Temple Beth Israel sponsors service dog

I

n 2013, Michael Jernigan, an to be raised in a private home for a year.

Mazel has now returned to the SouthAmerican soldier who lost his sight when a bomb exploded eastern Guide Dogs facility in Palmetto under his vehicle in Iraq, spoke at Temple Beth Israel about his for formal training war experience and prolonged and will visit Temple Beth Israel at services recovery. He was accompanied by a service dog made possible on Friday, June 6 at 5:30 p.m. through Southeastern Guide Dogs.

The community Inspired by Jernigan’s movis invited to meet Maing story, the temple members zel and his handlers sponsored the adoption and and learn more about the many ways to get training of a dog for a sight-impaired individual. involved with SouthOne-year-old Mazel A little over a year ago, eastern Guide Dogs.

Mazel, an adorable female Labrador The temple is located at 567 Bay Isles Retriever puppy, was picked up in Road, Longboat Key. Florida and driven to North Carolina

Ribbon cutting for new children’s health clinic he Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center announced it will have a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sunday, June 29 at 5:00 p.m. for the Sally & Sam Shapiro Babies & Children’s Medical Center at 1750 17th St., Sarasota.

The new clinic will have four physician pods, an onsite pharmacy and a WIC program. It will include desks for other campus agencies that concentrate on child wellbeing, such as the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County. The Center hopes to eventually add a dental clinic and a family practice specialist, as parents are often in need of medical care for themselves when they bring their sick children to the clinic.

T

​The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center has been recognized nationally as a unique management service organization and a model for other communities. The Center houses 17 agencies, virtually rent free, which offer approximately 97 unique programs that deal with problems from children’s issues, alcohol and substance abuse to mental health, developmental disabilities, health, family and legal issues, and more.

To learn more about the Children’s Health project and contributing, please contact Jay Berman at 941.365.4545 or jberman@gs-humanservices.org. It’s hard to imagine a single gift that could have more impact!

The Federation Invites You To

Tailgate With YA D Sunday, September 14th Tickets: $40 Tailgate: 12:00 pm Kick-Off: 4:05 pm

For young Jewish adults between 21-45 years of age.

Bucs

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For complete information about this event or the Young Adult Division, please contact Jessi Sheslow at 941.343.2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org

The Jewish News is a monthly nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers, committed advertisers and The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

13 June 2014 JEWISH HAPPENINGS

June 2014

13

Jewish Happenings Looking for something “Jewish” to do in June?

Save this 8-page Jewish Happenings section with information on 40 Jewish-related events.

SUNDAY, JUNE 1

TUESDAY, JUNE 3

TBS Men’s Club Breakfast and General Meeting

Temple Emanu-El’s Fifth Annual Tikkun Leil Shavuot

The Temple Beth Sholom Men’s Club is holding a general meeting at 9:30 a.m., hosting a deluxe breakfast at 10:00 a.m., and inducting the new Men’s Club officers afterwards. Everyone is welcome to attend. This free event takes place at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota.

For more information, contact Gerry Ronkin at 941.809.5195 or gronkin@ templebethsholomfl.org.

According to Jewish tradition, God gave us the Torah on the holiday of Shavuot. Since the 16th century, it has been customary to observe the holiday with a Tikkun Leil Shavuot – a special night of Jewish study.

Participate in this tradition with a fascinating, inspiring evening at Temple Emanu-El (151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota) from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Rabbis Brenner and Elaine Glickman will hold interactive study sessions. In between the sessions, we’ll enjoy homemade kugel, ricotta cookies and dairy desserts. All are welcome! Free to Temple Emanu-El members; $18 donation requested for guests. RSVP to Margie Rosenthal at hrosent@aol. com or 941.966.4009.

MONDAY, JUNE 2 Torah Tots

Dessert and Documentary for Shavuot

Join other parents, grandparents and caregivers as we explore the child’s world through story, song, cooking, crafts and circle time. Torah Tots encourages multi-sensory experiences that stimulate emerging language, motor development, socialization and bonding between parents and children. Explore child rearing from a Jewish perspective, participate in group activities and learn Jewish customs that will enhance this unique time in your toddler’s life in these formative years. Torah Tots takes place from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Suggested donation: $6. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 x3 or info@chabadofbradenton.com.

A Dairy Dessert Reception followed by the showing of an engaging film in the sanctuary and discussion with Rabbi Huntting takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. This free event is open to the community. For more information, call 941.924.1802 or visit www.templesinai-sarasota.org.

Shavuot Comfort Foods Judaism and comfort foods are inextricably intertwined from antiquity through the present. Dairy foods are traditionally served on Shavuot. The Al Katz Center is committed to the principle of feeding the body and Jewish soul with healthy kosher foods, in order to enhance Jewish identity and safeguard human health. Vegetarian and vegan options are always available. The comfort food experience can be very relaxing, motivating and healthy. Enjoy good food, good music and good conversation in an aesthetic setting. Join us at 11:30 a.m. at the Al Katz Center, 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student.

To RSVP or for more information, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

Attention Bridge PlAyers The Bridge Group meets Thursday afternoons from 1:00-4:00 pm on the Federation Campus (582 McIntosh Road). Open to intermediate and advanced bridge players.

For more information, call Bob Satnick at 941-538-3739.

TM

How Far can a DoLLar go TowarD making a DiFFerence in THe Lives oF women & cHiLDren?

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. The Women’s Giving Circle, or Ma’agal Nashim, is a group of passionate and caring women in Sarasota-Manatee who are committed to making a difference in the lives of women and children in need or at risk.

Ma’agal Nashim is a place for women to explore how we can make a difference, become role models for our families and discover how leadership and philanthropic passions can build a stronger world for women and children.

a program of the sarasota orchestra robert Levin, Artistic Director

Sarasota in June never sounded so good.

For the 50th year, pre-professional students and faculty artists from around the world converge on sarasota for three weeks of coaching, master classes and performances. Join us to celebrate one of classical music’s finest teaching festivals.

June 2 - 21, 2014 941-953-3434 www.SarasotaOrchestra.org

YOU wILL BE pART Of THE pROCEss. YOUR VOICE wILL BE HEARD. Karissa Zadinsky, 2013 participant

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th

To become a member or for questions: Contact Ilene Fox at 941.343.2111 or ifox@jfedsrq.org TheJewishFederation.org

Ary ivers Ann - 2 0 1 4 65 19

14

June 2014

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4

SUNDAY, JUNE 8

The History of Jewish Humor

Falafel with Yoav & PARveDise ice cream

Join us as we plotz in the aisles while enjoying Jewish humor and Yiddish wit. This course takes place from 1:00 to 2:20 p.m. on Wednesdays, June 4, 11, 18 & 25 at Kobernick House, 1951 North Honore Ave., Sarasota.

It is led by Marden Paru, dean and co-founder of the Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva and ethics instructor at Melton Adult Mini-School sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. Marden earned an M.A. at University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration and was a doctoral fellow and faculty member at Brandeis University. No cost to residents of Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson; $75 for non-residents.

Please call Jana Overstreet, Lifelong Learning Academy, 941.359.4296 or register online at www.LLA-SM.org.

Enjoy a terrific kosher falafel lunch and delicious non-dairy ice cream from our very own soft-serve PARveDise ice cream machine. There will also be a talk by Merrill Oltchik about Jews and sports in the late ’30s and ’40s. The event begins at noon at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Cost: $5 for all-you-can-eat falafel; $2 for ice cream. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 x3 or info@ chabadofbradenton.com.

Shavuot Dairy Dinner All are welcome at 6:00 p.m. to celebrate the Shavuot holiday and hear the Ten Commandments read from the Torah, followed by a dairy dinner which will include Greek salad, mac and cheese, cheese bourekas, Greek potato salad, and cheese cake. This event, which takes place at Chabad of Sarasota (7700 Beneva Road), is free and open to the entire community.

RSVP required by June 2 to 941.925.0770.

Shavuot Ice Cream Party Men, women and children – be there when the Torah is given for the 3,326th time! You don’t have to travel to the desert; it is happening right here! Come hear the Torah reading of the Ten Commandments, followed by a delicious buffet of cheesecake, ice cream and blintzes. This free event begins at 6:00 p.m. at Chabad of Venice, 2169 S. Tamiami Trail. To RSVP or for more information, contact Chaya Rivka Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rivka@chabadofvenice.com.

Shavuot Dairy Fest Join Chabad for a dairy buffet of dinner and desserts at 6:30 p.m. at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Hear the Ten Commandments, decorate your own sundae, and enjoy games and excitement for the whole family. Admission is free. RSVP a must to Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 x3 or info@chabadofbradenton.com.

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Temple Emanu-El’s Summer Film Festival Temple Emanu-El’s popular summer film festival kicks off with Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story. The nation’s most popular game, baseball provided immigrants with an avenue into American culture.

Tracing Jewish involvement in the sport from the game’s earliest days, Jews and Baseball brings to life dramatic moments including Hank Greenberg’s support of Jackie Robinson and how the legendary Sandy Koufax pioneered players’ rights. Jews and Baseball demonstrates how Jews shaped baseball, and baseball shaped them. The screening begins at 2:00 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. $5 at the door. For more information, please contact Temple Emanu-El Chair of Adult Education Beth Ann Salzman at 941.351.8766.

MONDAY, JUNE 9 Elementary School Summer Camp at TBSS Temple Beth Sholom Schools’ Goldie Feldman Academy is offering summer enrichment sessions for incoming Kindergarten - 3rd grade students.

Art camp is offered during Session 1 and Art All Around, Cheerleading and Plant Camp are offered for Session 2. Kindergarten Readiness is also offered during Session 1 for incoming Kindergarteners (5-year-olds).

Session 1: June 9-13 and Session 2: June 16-28, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. Cost is $115-400. Extended care is available until 4:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Cindi Bavry at 941.954.2027 or cbavry@tbsschools.org. The catalog and registration forms are available at www.tbsschools.org.

Preschool Summer Camp at TBSS Summer camp sessions are offered at Temple Beth Sholom Schools for walking campers (12 months to 4 years). The theme for Session 1 is Summer Olympics; for Session 2 it is Wonderful World of Water. Swim lessons are offered for older campers. Session 1: June 9-13 and Session 2: June 1627, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Justin Lee Wiesner Preschool, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. Cost is $115-400. Extended care is available until 4:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Cindi Bavry at 941.954.2027 or cbavry@tbsschools.org. The catalog and registration forms are available at www.tbsschools.org.

Selling Waterfront n Golf Course n & Other Residential Communities

ollier Group THE

Janis Collier, REALTOR® n 941.313.1212 JanisCollier@michaelsaunders.com Mary Collier, REALTOR® n 941.400.7015 MaryCollier@michaelsaunders.com Ron Collier, REALTOR®, JD n 941.321.9045 RonCollier@michaelsaunders.com 1801 Main Street | Sarasota, FL 34236 | 941.951.6660

“One enchanted evening ringing with music, laughter and showmanship” — TalkinBroadway.com

I

NY

September 7-10, 2014

THE MARRIOTT MARQUIS TIMES SQUARE SAVE THE DATE for The Jewish Federations of North America’s 2014 International Lion of Judah Conference! Join the most dedicated, passionate and philanthropic women in the world as we gather for three inspirational days of learning and sharing.

Celebrating the UnCommon Voice of the Common Man Marc Kudisch, Ben Davis and Jeff Mattsey, Boston production., Photo by Paul Marotta, Perfect Bokeh Photography

Conceived by MARC KUDISCH Created by MARC KUDISCH WITH MERWIN FOARD, JEFF MATTSEY & TIMOTHY SPLAIN

JUNE 7-29 PREVIEW JUNE 6

ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE 941.351.8000 ASOLOREP.ORG

We Are. We Can. We Do.

To learn more about being a Lion of judah or attending the 2014 conference, please contact Ilene Fox at 941.343.2111 or ifox@jfedsrq.org.

June 2014

15 June 2014 JEWISH HAPPENINGS

Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

YAD Happy Hour Join other Young Jewish Adults for a drink and schmooze from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Brewing Company, 6607 Gateway Ave. FREE! Just show up. For more information about this event or the Young Adult Division, please contact Jessi Sheslow at 941.343.2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org.

Mitzvah Knitting Group at Temple Emanu-El Are you a knitter or crocheter interested in using your talent to brighten the lives of others while making new friends? If so, please come to the Mitzvah Knitting Group sponsored by Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood. We gather monthly to craft and socialize, and our beautiful handiwork has been donated to local new parents as well as needy families in SarasotaManatee and in Israel. Bring your needles or crochet hook and a favorite pattern – we’ll supply the yarn and great company! The group meets at 10:00 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Free. For more information, please call Judy Sauertieg at 941.349.5260.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 Temple Emanu-El “Lunch with the Rabbi” Are you looking for a great lunch date? Join Rabbi Brenner Glickman and plenty of nice, friendly, interesting companions for lunch, socializing and discussion of current events and subjects of Jewish interest. All are invited to this popular, stimulating and enjoyable program that begins at noon at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Attendees are asked to bring a brown-bag lunch and are also welcome to bring a newspaper article or suggested topic for discussion. Homemade dessert and terrific company are provided! Free. For more information, call the temple office at 941.371.2788.

THURSDAY, JUNE 12 JFCS Bereavement Support Group

CINEMA JUDAICA: The War Years 1939-1949 March 4 - August 24, 2014

Exhibition on loan from Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion Museum and is curated by Laura Kruger.

Pumpernik’s Child’s Menu, Miami Beach, c. 1965

TUESDAY, JUNE 10

15

GROWERS, GROCERS, & GEFILTE FISH:

A Gastronomic Look at Florida Jews & Food On view through October 5, 2014 Sponsored by Congregation Beth Jacob and Morris & Rhoda Levitt & Families.

Additional support includes: Publix Super Markets Charities; Southern Wine & Spirits.

301 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 305.672.5044 • JewishMuseum.com info@jewishmuseum.com Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am - 5pm

The Museum is supported by individual contributions, foundations, memberships and grants from the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners and the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council.

2-for-1 admission with this ad SMJN

Shavuot—Delectable Dairy Desserts, Documentary and Discussion Tuesday, June 3 at 7:30 PM

Summer Shabbat Services Fridays 6:00 PM / Saturdays 10:00 AM

4th Friday Shabbat and Supper on the 27th.

Enjoy a casual dinner and schmoozing. Call to RSVP.

This group meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Thursdays June 12, 19 & 26 at JFCS, 2688 Fruitville Road, Sarasota. For more information and cost, contact Beverly Mishkin at 941.366.2224 x119 or bmishkin@jfcs-cares.org. The Bereavement Support Group is sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

Sponsored by

Sephardic Art The rich Sephardic culture is woven into Israeli life across the board, but is virtually unfamiliar to many American Jews. Join the Al Katz Center for the last of a six-month series on an enlightening journey through centuries of time and multiple continents to learn about and experience the depth and breadth of Sephardic Judaism. After having been scattered to the far corners of the globe, Sephardic Jews have enriched the world with their colorful and vibrant artistic accomplishments. The event begins at 7:00 p.m. at 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher Sephardic food sampling included.

To RSVP or for more information, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

Jewish Women’s Club Enjoy mahjong or challah baking, and whether you’re a novice or an expert, you will have the opportunity to learn and have fun with the activity of your choice. Sample delectable desserts and discover the history of the Jewish heroine, Ruth. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. at Chabad of Venice, 2169 S. Tamiami Trail. Cost: $12 for JWC members; $15 for nonmembers.

To RSVP or for more information, contact Chaya Rivka Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rivka@chabadofvenice.com.

Join us at

TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM

Sarasota-Manatee’s Conservative Synagogue

in june All Are Welcome! Come Join Us! ONGOING PROGRAMS Daily Morning Minyan Sunday-Friday, 8:00am Minyan Breakfast Wednesdays, 9:00am

SHABBAT SERVICES Bar or bat mitzvah? Anniversary?

Birthday? Class reunion?

Want some Disco Inferno on the dance floor all night?

Fridays, 6:30pm Saturdays, 9:00am

Don’t worry our 5,000 square foot ballroom doubles as a time machine.

Chug Ivri, Advanced Hebrew Thursdays, June 12, 19, 26 10:30am - 12:30pm Yiddish Group Mondays, June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 1:30 - 3:30pm Judaica Shop Wednesdays, 10am-3pm, for an appointment, call Randi Brodsky at (941) 924-7682

We can transform any idea into reality. Need help coming up with a fun theme—we do that for a living.

Call us to get the party started!

15% OFF all Fête catering plus FREE Ballroom rental on summer event bookings.

Call today: 941.567.2001

10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch 34202 | caterfete.com

Idelson Adult Library Wednesdays, 10am-3pm

Sunday, June 1, 9:30am, Men’s Club General Meeting followed at 10:00am with breakfast open to everyone Tuesday, June 3, 7:00pm, Tikun Leil Shavuot Wednesday, June 4 & Thursday June 5, TBS office closed for Shavuot Friday, June 6, 6:30pm, Shabbat Services, Amy Kessler Bat Mitzvah Saturday, June 7, 9:00am Shabbat Services, Amy Kessler Bat Mitzvah Friday, June 13, 6:30pm, Shabbat Service, Aaron Prokupets Bar Mitzvah Saturday, June 14, 9:00am, Shabbat Service, Aaron Prokupets Bar Mitzvah Thursday, June 26, 10:30am, Knitting Mitzvah Circle

Temple Beth Sholom

941.955.8121 1050 S. Tuttle Ave. Sarasota, FL 34237

Email: info@templebethsholomfl.org Website: www.templebethsholomfl.org Home of Temple Beth Sholom Schools: • The Martin and Mildred Paver Religious School – 941.552.2780 • Justin L. Wiesner Pre School – 941.954.2027 • Goldie Feldman Academy Grades K-8 – 941.552.2770

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June 2014

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

honorees

GraCi & dEnnis MCGilliCuddy

EsthEr & roBErt hEllEr

patti & david wErthEiMEr

co-chairs EdiE & david ChaifEtz JuliE & dr. Joshua GrEEn Bunny & Morton skirBoll

Maria Wirries & Adam Ratner

Roz Goldberg & Alan Bandler

Esther & Bob Heller and Family

Julie & Dr. Josh Green

Lew

Betty Schoenbaum & Ray Walston

Len & Helen Glaser

Glenn & Lori Greenbaum, Georgia & David Gruber, Sasha & Andrew Rosin

Edie & David Chaifetz, Esther & Bob Heller

Lauren & Dr. Steven Fineman

Patti & David Wertheimer, Bunny & Mort Skirboll

Wendy & Jerry Feinstein

Rachel & Darren Saltzberg

The Jewi

Marty & Lori Haberer, Lorraine & Larry Ziff

Nancy Swart, Bunny Skirboll, Susi Steenbarger & Edie Chaifetz

Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232

941.371.5456 • TheJewishFederation.org

June 2014

17 June 2014 JEWISH HAPPENINGS

Guests wearing masks and black-tie danced the night away at Federation’s Purim Masquerade Ball on March 8, 2014. Adam Ratner served as Purim shpeiler and master of ceremonies for a night filled with fun and humor in the spirit of Purim at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. The gala honored three Sarasota-Manatee couples for their contributions to the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish and general communities and Israel: Esther and Robert Heller, Graci and Dennis McGillicuddy and Patti and David Wertheimer. Gulf Coast Community Foundation was the event sponsor and it was co-chaired by Edie and David Chaifetz, Julie and Dr. Josh Green and Bunny and Mort Skirboll.

Music was provided by Double Vision and guests were treated to a special performance by Maria Wirries who sang Masquerade and Music of the Night. The ballroom was magnificently decorated with centerpieces designed by Susi Steenbarger and Beneva Flowers. The festivities continued at the after-party featuring music by DJ Kuma and special desserts.

Said Bunny and Mort Skirboll, “We were thrilled to co-chair the first ever Federation Purim Ball!

The entire evening was fantastic from start to finish. It was great to see everyone dressed up and truly getting into the masquerade spirit with fabulous masks. The room looked beautiful and captured the Purim theme, including a model Queen Esther in the foyer. We are still receiving rave reviews from friends and guests saying ‘This was the most fun event I have attended’ .”

Thank you To our generous sponsors!

Purim sPonsor

grogger sPonsor

Queen esther sPonsor

GEniE & lEs aBErson BarBara & Gary aCkErMan ruth & alan adEs BEtty-JEan & david Bavar rEBECCa & riChard BErGMan lillian & dr. roBErt BrEnt Marsha & harry EisEnBErG ilEnE & MiChaEl fox roz GoldBErG & alan BandlEr alyson & ruBin hanan sandra & dr. lEwis hanan staCy & BEnJaMin hanan rEBECCa & riChard hopkins ME-ME* & BoB kraMEr Judy & hEsh kulMan Joan & dr. Bart lEvEnson linda & norMan lipson suE & alan lorinG BarBara & wilford lorry sandra a. & nEil MalaMud raChEl Mann thE Mazur faMily foundation Gila & dr. MiChaEl MEriwEthEr nEllE MillEr naiditCh faMily foundation flora & dr. GuillErMo oyniCk riCkiE palEy nadia & MiChaEl rittEr BarBara & Gary rodkin alfrEd rosE shEila & JulEs rosE law offiCE of andrEw w. rosin, p.a. irEnE & Marty ross sylvia & norMan saMEt MaurEEn & stanlEy siEGEl sally & saM shapiro MiChaEl shElton & JErEMy lisitza susan B. & JaCk stEEnBarGEr lois stulBErG adrEa & JaCk sukin naoMi & BruCE wErthEiMEr shEila & MErrill wynnE

EdiE & david ChaifEtz EsthEr & roBErt hEllEr

mordechai sPonsor GErard daniEl EllEn & JoEl fEddEr friEdMan faMily JuliE & dr. Joshua GrEEn susan MilMan Gail & skip saCk BEtty sChoEnBauM Bunny & Mort skirBoll nanCy & rayMond swart hannah & dr. norMan wEinBErG patti & david wErthEiMEr

shushan sPonsor

wis & Sandra Hanan

karEn & toMMy BErnstEin dEBBiE & larry haspEl lisa katEs & riChard laBriE susan & randy Mallitz GraCi & dEnnis MCGilliCuddy drs. allison silvEr & hardy sChwartz

magazine sPonsor Dancing The Night Away

centerPeice sPonsor hElEn & lEn GlasEr

ish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Staff

speCIaL Thanks To BeneVa FLoWers For TheIr supporT.

*of blessed memory

For more information, please contact Ilene Fox, Director of Development at 941.343.2111 or ifox@jfedsrq.org.

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June 2014

JEWISH HAPPENINGS FRIDAY, JUNE 13 Kaplan Preschool celebration Prospective parents are welcome to join the Kaplan Preschool’s end-ofyear celebration at 11:30 a.m. at Chabad of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road.

You can also tour the facility, meet with parents and teachers, and see the marked developmental and academic achievements of our young students.

To RSVP or for further information, call 941.925.0770.

TGIF at Chabad Join Chabad for a fabulous Friday night service followed by a delicious kiddush of kugels, fish, salads, challah and more. Exciting children’s program to take place during services with incentives and prizes.

Everyone is welcome at 7:00 p.m. at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 x3 or info@chabadofbradenton.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 15 Sunday Social: Coffee, Tea and Treats

More exciting shows from: Australia Canada Germany Latvia South Africa

Bangladesh Denmark Italy New Zealand United States

Shows from 17 countries, workshops, parties & more!

Relax with coffee, tea and a variety of tasty light brunch foods to start the day and the week on a happy note. This is an informal time to gather at the Al Katz Center in a warm atmosphere of friendship and sharing.

As always, there are loads of board games, reading materials, music and films available for those who wish to inform or entertain themselves at the Center. Choose your favorite activity, or simply choose to schmooze. The event begins at 10:00 a.m. at 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $5 per adult; $3 per student. To RSVP or for more information, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17 JFCS Transitions Support Group The death of a spouse, significant other or life partner is perhaps the most difficult experience that one can have. Once the initial intense period of grief has subsided, how do you recreate your life and go on? This group is an opportunity to be with others and stay connected socially. The group will meet from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the JFCS Main Campus, 2688 Fruitville Road, Sarasota. No fee, but preregistration is required. Contact Beverly Mishkin at 941.366.2224 x119 or bmishkin@jfcs-cares.org. The Transitions Support Group is sponsored

by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

Sponsored by

TICKETS & INFORMATION 941-488-1115 ● VeniceStage.com/international

Bubble Blowers to Cruising Crawlers Summer Baby Play at Temple Beth Sholom Schools (1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota) for children ages 4-14 months and their caregivers is being offered on Tuesdays in June from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. beginning on June 17. Cost is $15 per day. For more information, please contact Cindi Bavry at 941.954.2027 or cbavry@tbsschools.org. The catalog and registration forms are available at www.tbsschools.org.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19 JFCS Holocaust Survivors Group Sponsored by

All survivors are invited to attend these monthly gatherings of friendship, camaraderie and support. Find out the latest on Claims Conference information, enjoy a light nosh and a lively discussion. The group meets from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at Kobernick House, 1951 N. Honore Ave., Sarasota. This is a multi-agency event sponsored by JFCS of the Suncoast, Inc., Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota Manatee and the Claims Conference of Germany. To RSVP or for more information, contact Jan Alston at 941.366.2224 x172 or jalston@jfcs-cares.org.

Walkers to Talkers Mom’s Morning Out at Temple Beth Sholom Schools (1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota) for children through 24 months and walking independently is being offered on Thursdays in June from 9:00 a.m. to noon beginning June 19. Cost is $30 per day. For more information, please contact Cindi Bavry at 941.954.2027 or cbavry@tbsschools.org. The catalog and registration forms are available at www.tbsschools.org.

Great Musical Jews: Their Lives & Times The stage of musical Jews contains extraordinarily-talented men and women, often from impoverished backgrounds, who rose to the heights of public acclaim by inspiring and entertaining the world. Each one of these accomplished Jews has given immeasurable pleasure to diverse cultures hungry for beauty and melody. The accomplishments of Benny Goodman – the King of Swing – are described in the final class of a six-month course covering the beautiful music of Jews that transcends the bounds of age, race, nationality and religion. Join us at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $5 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments included. To RSVP or for more information, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

For a continuously updated community calendar, visit www.jfedsrq.org.

June 2014

19 June 2014 JEWISH HAPPENINGS

19

SUNDAY, JUNE 22

Service & Integrity Beyond Expectation

Golf Outing The Men’s Club of Temple Sinai invites all golfers to a special outing.

Join us for breakfast, lunch, a clinic and 18 holes of golf in a shotgun scramble at the Serenoa Golf Course. Cost: $45 per non-temple member golfer. Three golf contests will add to the fun. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. For more information and reservations, call Gene at 941.468.6276.

Bloom Realty is a small Concierge brokerage company that ensures the best value for their clients, whether purchasing or selling properties.

“Anti-Semitism: A Discussion” at Temple Emanu-El

In today’s complex real estate market, you need more than a listing or selling agent, you need a consultant like Ira Bloom who understands the many facets of the real estate industry.

Anti-Semitism: Where does it come from, and why does it persist? What are its new forms? Will it ever go away? The oldest hatred is by some accounts alive and well, by others an overused epithet. Learn, discuss, explore and share at this discussion facilitated by Peter Wells and based on a special anti-Semitism issue of Moment magazine. This free event begins at 10:30 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota.

For more information, please contact Peter Wells at chaver39@yahoo.com or 941.359.8235.

With more than 35 years of experience in the real estate brokerage business and development and acquisitions, Ira Bloom has served as both a residential builder and real estate agent specializing in high quality homes as well as consultant to national developers.

TUESDAY, JUNE 24

Organic Jews Schmooze The Al Katz Center is a leader in “Organic Judaism,” so called for its emphasis upon healthy eating for the prevention of health problems. This is not medical advice, but good medicine for the body and soul. Jewish beliefs hold the body as the temple of the soul. For over 40 years, Dr. Beverly Newman has practiced a healthy living style and eaten health foods that she is happy to share with you. Let’s make a date for the beginning of a happy ending for improved health! Join us at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota.

Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments included.

To RSVP or for more information, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

FRIDAY, JUNE 27 Good News Jews: Ecology & Breast Cancer Prevention Come to the Al Katz Center for a kosher brunch and to learn about current Jewish contributions to the world in ecology. Learn how Israel has handled the challenge of balancing its phenomenal growth and development over the last decade with the maintenance of an ecologically-sound environment.

You will be amazed at Israel’s effective breast cancer prevention through ecological intervention! Be informed and inspired by the achievements of the Jewish people in bringing hope and help to mankind. The event begins at 10:00 a.m. at 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota.

Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments included.

To RSVP or for more information, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

4th Friday Shabbat and Supper Temple Sinai continues the delightful tradition of a casual supper following the 4th Friday services during the summer months. Services begin at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner and a chance to relax and schmooze with old friends and new. Temple Sinai is located at 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. The menu and prices are available at www.templesinaisarasota.org. To RSVP, call 941.924.1802.

“Shabbat At Table” Congregation Ner Tamid invites you to be a part of the tremendously successful Bradenton initiative, “Shabbat At Table.” No charge. No chairs in rows. Just a beautiful blend of blessings and songs along with a potluck dairy dinner. Perfect after a long week of school or work. It’s a short, warm service at the family table that you won’t want to miss. Join us at 6:30 p.m. at The Lodge, 4802 B 26th St. W., Bradenton. For reservations, call Elaine at 941.755.1231. For more information or directions, visit www. nertamidflorida.org.

ConneCt with your Jewish Community facebook.com/jfedsrq GIVE YOUR BUSINESS GROWTH POTENTIAL. ADVERTISE WITH

Robin Leonardi • 941.552.6307 • rleonardi@jfedsrq.org www.TheJewishNews.org

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June 2014

JEWISH HAPPENINGS / JEWISH INTEREST

Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle

MONDAY, JUNE 30 Chabad of Sarasota’s Camp Gan Israel For 17 years, Chabad of Sarasota’s Camp Gan Israel summer camp has enriched children’s summer vacations while intertwining fun with lots of Jewish pride. Sports, dance, swimming, challah making, silly dressup days, arts and crafts, and field trips are all integrated into the two special weeks of outstanding programming for Camp Gan Israel campers.

Campers will be enthralled by the activities, trips and ru’ach (Jewish spirit) that will continue to spark Jewish pride way beyond the two weeks of summer camp. The camp takes place June 30 to July 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Chabad of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road. The cost is $175 per week. Scholarships are available on a first-come first-served basis. For further information, call the Chabad office at 941.925.0770.

“The Poetry of Our People” Rabbi Brenner J. Glickman teaches this compelling and inspiring series on Jewish poetry throughout the ages. From the Bible through the medieval period and into modern times, our people have expressed our greatest yearnings, joys, lamentations, faith and creativity through poems. In this three-part course (continues Mondays, July 7 and 14 at 10:30 a.m.), join Rabbi Glickman as he shares some his favorite poetry, facilitates discussion and sharing, and explores how the poetry of our people – both ancient and contemporary – speaks to us today. Classes take place at Temple EmanuEl, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Free to Temple Emanu-El members; $18 donation requested for guests. For more information, please call the temple office at 941.371.2788.

By David Benkof, DavidBenkof@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2 Club Fed/Senior Chavurah Sponsored by

Join us for “Ice Cream Sundae on Wednesday – Red, White and Bingo” from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Zell Room on the Federation Campus, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota.

Free. To RSVP or for more information, please contact Jeremy Lisitza at 941.343.2113 or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org.

Local Knowledge Local Integrity Pamela J. Hagan Broker-Owner 941-387-7777 Serving Longboat Key SInce 1982

Judy D. Smith Realtor 772-971-1434

595 Bay Isles Road Suite 120E Longboat Key, Fl 34228 www.Waterfront7Realty.com

Fifty Shades of

J

Happy Hour

An opportunity for singles and couples to meet new and old friends.

(Ages 50’s - 70’s Welcome)

Wednesday, July 23rd 6:30pm

1289 N Palm Avenue, Sarasota Cash Bar • Light Snacks

RSVP at www.jfedsrq.org/events.aspx For more info contact Jeremy Lisitza 941.343.2113 or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org

TheJewishFederation.org • 941.371.4546

Across 1. Prepare at the last minute for Israel’s bagrut exam 5. “Heritage: Civilization and the Jews” narrator 9. Entrepreneur and House member Polis (D-Colo.)

14. Steak sauce certified by the Orthodox Union as kosher 15. ___ Mare (ancestral home of Satmar Hasidim) 16. Kind of oil used to light the Temple’s Menorah 17. Famous Biblical convert 18. “With its lone floors where reverent feet once ___” (line from an Emma Lazarus poem about The Touro Synagogue) 19. Place name for Jerusalem that can be an abbreviation for the city 20. City founded in 1950 whose name means “House of the Sun” 23. “Chanukah” only has one, but “Hannukah” has two 24. Bar Refaeli, by some men’s evaluations 25. First king 27. LA’s Skirball Museum is a good place to see some 30. ___ kanfot (“four-cornered” garment to which tzitzit are attached) 32. Composer Shemer and author Wolf 36. Rend one’s garment, e.g.

38. Died like Lenny Bruce 40. Old Jewish ___ (kind of role played by Walter Matthau) 41. Islamic caliphate under which Jews mostly flourished 44. Oskar Schindler actor in “Schindler’s List” 45. Comedian Blumenfeld of MTV’s “Pranked” 46. “I’d like to order ___ pastrami sandwich...”

47. Memoirist Eve (“In the Body of the World”) 49. “Ken” in shiluach haken (mitzvah of sending way a mother bird) 51. Tel Aviv-Mecca dir.

52. Jai ___ (sport many Florida Jews enjoy) 54. “Curly” player of Abe Saperstein’s Harlem Globetrotters 56. Coll. for quarterback Aaron Murray 59. He said Holocaust denial was a major achievement of his presidency 64. Mubarak predecessor 66. Kind of transportation used by participants of “Burning Bush Adventures” trips in Maine 67. How jelly might come out of a Chanukah donut 68. Egypt status 69. “Every,” in Yiddish 70. It’s used to affix a mezuzah

Solution on page 22

71. Harold who directed “National Lampoon’s Vacation” 72. Rebecca Rubin, part of the “American Girl” collection 73. Part of a dreidel game Down 1. One of many to be concerned about for dieters eating challah 2. Shylock, perhaps 3. ___-Defamation League 4. Conductor Zubin 5. A whole megillah 6. Pianist Daniel 7. Scientist Lise Meitner helped discover how to split one 8. Kind of Modigliani painting 9. He “fit” the Battle of Jericho 10. “___ recherche du temps perdu” (Proust work) 11. Nudge 12. ___ Ha’ezer (part of the Shulchan Aruch) 13. Sens. Brian Schatz and Ron Wyden 21. Some parts of the former Soviet Union 22. Koufax who famously wouldn’t pitch game one of the 1965 World Series 26. Part of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union 27. “You can’t shoot ___ in the tail like a quail” (“Annie Get Your Gun” lyric) 28. He played “Jakob the Liar” 29. James Levine might conduct them 31. Part of a recipe in “Passover Made Easy” 33. Jewish Enlightenment philosopher Mendelssohn 34. Bissels 35. Jule of “Gypsy” 37. Famous Israeli prison site 39. Former Democratic governor of Pennsylvania 42. Abraham’s wife 43. Second word of the “Dayenu” verse about the Torah 48. Brings nachas to 50. Jerusalem outreach professional Jeff 53. It might be said on Tisha B’av 55. Helmsley about whom Newsweek devoted the headline “Rhymes with Rich” 56. Birthplace for Mila Kunis 57. Type of fundraiser for a Jewish school 58. An apple was named after him 60. It’s used to answer the phone by some Israelis 61. Rivers of comedy 62. “I hope I don’t get ___ on my bar mitzvah...”

63. Order from a Jerusalem Post editor 65. Israeli singer Toledano

140 kosher characters

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21 June 2014 JEWISH INTEREST

Stars of David

By Nate Bloom, Contributing Columnist Editor’s note: Persons in BOLD CAPS are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of the column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in a faith other than Judaism – and don’t identify with a faith other than Judaism as an adult. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish.

A Real Cinderella Story California Chrome, the winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby (held on May 3), is a for-real Cinderella story, as are his owners and trainer. The horse is owned and was bred by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn, who live, respectively, in a small city in far Northern California and in a small Nevada town near Lake Tahoe. Neither earns much money as an engineer and press operator, respectively, but they took a chance and bred two horses, worth $10,500 together, and got a foal (California Chrome) that showed early promise.

When Chrome was two years old, they told ALAN SHERMAN, 45, a trainer based part-time in the San Francisco area, about the horse. He talked to his father and boss, trainer ART SHERMAN, 77, and they agreed to train him. Coburn told a Sacramento newspaper that he chose Art Sherman because, “He’s a regular guy. He doesn’t have a huge barn. He can spend quality time with every horse. You can tell Chrome likes him, and he really loves this horse.”

Like Chrome, Art Sherman had modest beginnings. He was born in Brooklyn, where his father, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, scraped out a living in construction. Sherman told me, in a recent telephone interview, that his father’s brothers were doing a bit better in Los Angeles so they moved there when he was 7 (1945).

His father opened a small Los Angeles barber shop.

The family wasn’t religious, Sherman said, but they sent him to Hebrew School for a while. He left when a rabbi/teacher hit him and never returned.

Meanwhile, Art was only 5’2” when he was 15, so a barber shop customer encouraged him to become a jockey.

Nobody he knew rode horses, but he

found his way to a track and found out he could learn what he needed by working at a nearby ranch that trained jockeys.

Art only had modest success as a jockey. In 1980, he became a full-time, licensed trainer and gradually became pretty successful. But until Chrome, he never had a really big-time thoroughbred. Chrome won five big races in a row before the Derby and entered the race a heavy favorite.

Pundits say that he has a good chance of being the first horse since 1978 to win the Triple Crown – the title accorded to a horse that wins the Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes (NBC, Saturday June 7, 4:30 p.m.). (NOTE: This item was written just before the Preakness Stakes was run on Saturday, May 17.)

Art Sherman was loath to predict about the Triple Crown. He said he is just enjoying the attention that is going to the oldest trainer, ever, of a Kentucky Derby winner. “I have been photographed more times in the last few days than in my whole life.

People on planes are asking for my autograph,” said Sherman. Meanwhile, Art’s other son, STEVE SHERMAN, 47, is having a banner year as a trainer at a Northern California race track.

No, Art Sherman didn’t become a religious Jew with age. His wife of 53 years, Faye, isn’t Jewish. Still he’s a “pretty Jewish guy” – mentioning how much he loves eating lox and eggs with one of the several Jews who own horses he trains. He also fondly recalled that he, his wife and his nieces loved their trip to Israel two years ago.

Dorfman Lookin’ The new season of The Bachelorette, on ABC, began on Monday, May 19.

ANDI DORFMAN, 27, who publicly rejected the titular star of last season’s The Bachelor program, is the first

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Interested in Your Family’s History?

Ten years of doing a Jewish celebrities column has turned Nate Bloom (see column at left) into something of an expert on finding basic family history records and articles mentioning a “searched-for” person.

During these 10 years, he has put together a small team of “mavens” who aid his research. Most professional family history experts charge at least $1,000 for a full family tree. However, many people just want to get “started” by tracing one particular family branch.

So here’s the deal: Send Nate an email at nteibloom@aol.com, tell him you saw this ad in The Jewish News, and include your phone number (area code, too).

Nate will then contact you about doing a “limited” family history for you at a modest cost (no more than $100). No upfront payment.

Jewish woman to be the star of The Bachelorette. Dorfman is usually described as beautiful and very smart.

She is an assistant district attorney in the county that includes Atlanta.

Fields About to Head Ford On May 1, Ford Motor Company confirmed that MARK FIELDS, 53, currently the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Ford, would replace Alan Mulally, 58, as Ford’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The transfer of power is scheduled for July 1. Fields will be the first Jew to hold the top corporate position at one of the ‘big three’ American car companies (Ford, Chrysler, GM).

There is some irony that Ford Motor is first. The company’s founder,

Henry Ford, was a notorious and vocal anti-Semite who bankrolled hate-filled publications. However, his grandson and successor, Henry Ford II, spent a lot of his time and money pursuing sincere efforts to make amends to the Jewish community for his grandfather’s sins.

Fields earned the CEO position via his outstanding performance as head of, successively, Ford Argentina, Mazda Motor, Ford’s luxury car group, and its North American business unit.

In 2012 he was named COO. Fields was born in Brooklyn, and was raised in Paramus, New Jersey. His family belonged to a Conservative synagogue and he had a bar mitzvah.

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June 2014

JEWISH INTEREST

K’zohar Ha-Ivrit Pri ha-a-da-mah – The fruit of the earth

By Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin

O

n the sixth day of this month, the month of Sivan, we celebrate the holiday of Sha-vu-ot.

In biblical times Sha-vu-ot was celebrated as an agricultural holiday. There is no reference in the Bible, which connected Sha-vu-ot with any historical event, including the giving of the Torah.

On the contrary, the three names given to this holiday in the Torah point to the centrality of agriculture in the celebration of this lovely holiday. The first Dr. Rachel Dulin name, Sha-vu-ot, meaning ‘weeks,’ marks the seven weeks of the count from Pesach to the day of the holiday (Dt. 16:9), thereby connecting the holiday with the end of the spring cyclical celebrations. The second name is Chag Ha-ka-tzir ‘the harvest festival’ (Ex 23:16), pointing to the first harvest after Pesach. And the third is Yom Ha-bi-ku-rim, ‘the day of the first fruits’ (Num 28:26), referring to the first crops of the fields after Pesach. Since agriculture is the focus of the celebration of Sha-vu-ot, let us direct our attention to the phrase pri ha-a-da-ma, ‘the fruit of the earth.’

It is a Jewish custom to bless God for the food we eat and drink. For example, before we drink wine, we bless God acknowledging that He is bo-reh pri ha-ga-fen, ‘the Creator of the fruit of the vine.’ And when we eat vegetables, fruits or any kind of greens, we bless God with the words boreh pri ha-a-da-ma, ‘the Creator of the fruit of

the earth.’ The word pri, which means ‘fruit,’ ‘product,’ ‘profit’ and ‘interest,’ is derived from the root p.r.h meaning ‘bear fruit,’ fertilize’ and ‘fecundate.’ In the Bible, pri generally means ‘fruit.’ For example, pri ah-etz means ‘fruit of the tree’ (Gen 1:12), and pri ha-beten means ‘fruit of the womb,’ namely ‘children’ (Gen 30:2). Also, pri means ‘one’s labor’ as in pri yade-ha, literally ‘the fruit of her hands’ (Prov 31:31). Later, in the Mishnah, pri meant also ‘income,’ or ‘interest from investments’ (Tosefta Pe-ah 1:20).

There are many phrases in Modern Hebrew where pri is at the center. We will mention here pri ha-dim-yon, which means ‘fruit of the imagination’ or ‘a fantasy,’ and pri ha-et, ‘the fruit of the pen,’ namely ‘literary contributions.’

As for a-da-mah, in Genesis tradition it meant ‘ground,’ ‘soil,’ ‘earth’ or ‘land,’ A-da-mah is probably derived from adom, meaning ‘red,’ denoting the red color of the arable ground and connected to dahm, meaning ‘blood.’

In the biblical tradition the first human being was created from the a-da-mah, and hence was called Adam. Adam also refers to all humanity (Gen 5:2). Interestingly, in English as well, the word ‘human’ is derived from the Latin humus, meaning ‘ground’ or ‘soil.’

On Sha-vu-ot let us bless pri ha-ada-mah, acknowledging that it is not pri ha-dim-yon, ‘a fantasy’ we celebrate on this lovely holiday, but rather, pri ya-dey-nu, ‘the fruit of our labor.’

Chag sa-me-ach.

Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor of biblical literature at Spertus College in Chicago and an adjunct professor of Hebrew and Bible at New College in Sarasota.

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A lot of history

By Paul R. Bartrop, PhD

I

n 1966, Israeli historian Jacob Robinson observed that “the usual course of any particular community is even and uneventful; ordinarily, little of historical significance takes place,” except in “those rare times when a peak of military, political, intellectual and moral activity is reached.”

The era of Nazi oppression, however, was quite different.

Robinson notes that then, “in the span of only twelve years, Dr. Paul Bartrop every single Jewish community in Europe perforce was faced with the greatest crisis possible to a group – the crisis of existence.” Given that, he concluded that the history of the Holocaust was “as eventful and rich as that of a thousand years.”

The month of June 1944 was most definitely one such month. While this short piece cannot chronicle every event that took place during the Holocaust, some are worthy of general note.

In June 1944, the Holocaust in Hungary continued. Jewish communal leader Rudolf Kasztner had begged Adolf Eichmann that some of the Hungarian Jews remain in Budapest, but on June 3 Eichmann informed Kasztner that “I have to clean up the provincial towns of the Jewish garbage. I must take this Jewish muck out of the provinces. I cannot play the role of the savior of the Jews.” That same day, at Auschwitz, a train arrived from Lyon, France. The world was to learn later from a survivor, Freda Silberberg, that she was arrested by French authorities, not the Germans. At Birkenau, the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele selected Freda for his experiment pool.

On June 4, U.S. forces successfully entered the Italian capital, Rome. By this stage Italy was effectively out of the war, but the German army in Italy continued to fight right up until the Nazis’ final capitulation in May 1945.

June 6 was one of the most momentous days of World War II. Operation Overlord, the code name for the Battle of Normandy, saw the start of the Allied invasion of Germanoccupied Western Europe. This was D-Day: a 1,200-plane airborne assault preceded an amphibious assault across the English Channel, in which thousands of vessels ferried nearly 160,000 American, British and Canadian troops onto the French coastline. By the end of August, more than three million Allied troops were in France, and the long fight to destroy Nazism was now starting its final phase.

On that same day, June 6, 1944, the Germans rounded up 1,795 Jews in Corfu, Greece. Some fifteen hundred of them were gassed at Birkenau.

The month of June also saw the capture of a young Jewish resistance leader, Hannah Szenes (Senesh). In 1943, in Palestine, she had joined the British Army and volunteered to be parachuted into Europe in order to help the Allies make contact with local resistance groups. Sent to Yugoslavia in March, on June 7, 1944, at the height of the deportation of Hungarian Jews,

Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle

she crossed into Hungary. On June 9, she was arrested by Hungarian police, tortured repeatedly over the next several months, and this martyr for the Jewish people was ultimately executed by a firing squad on November 7. At her death, she was only 23 years old.

On June 12, the Nazi Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories, Alfred Rosenberg, ordered what became known as the “Heuaktion,” or “Hay Action,” in which approximately 40,000 Polish children, aged between ten and fourteen, were kidnapped for slave labor in Germany. These were not Jewish children. Their kidnapping led to enormous hardship (sometimes death), the loss of identity, and was a further attempt at destroying a Polish future – even though the war in the east was by this stage clearly lost.

Reinforcing the idea that Jews were by this stage not wanted even as slave labor, on June 16 a call was made in the Lodz Ghetto for volunteers who were prepared to perform labor outside the ghetto. Those who reported were, instead, destined for the death camp at Chelmno.

At this time, with Germany’s war effort in tatters, the Holocaust was still very much in evidence. On June 17, SS General Edmund Veesenmayer notified Berlin that 340,000 Hungarian Jews had been deported to their deaths since April 29. On June 19, a further 500 Jews were transferred from Birkenau to Dachau (with another thousand on June 22), and on June 23 wholesale deportations of the Jews of Lodz began.

On average, 3,000 Jews were deported from Lodz to Chelmno each week in an operation that did not come to an end until July 14.

At Birkenau, on June 24, a young Jewish woman named Mala Zimetbaum escaped from the camp through an airlock in the gas chamber waiting room. She had already spent nearly two years at the camp, where she had been working as an interpreter and courier. She and the man she had come to love, a Polish prisoner named Edward “Edek” Galiński, were soon recaptured, and returned to Auschwitz, where they were tortured prior to their execution. Sentenced to be hanged in public, Mala produced a razor blade and slashed at the veins on her upper arms. While she did not die immediately, by the time she was dead, aged just 22, her defiance was already legendary among prisoners, and has since become an inspiration for young Jews everywhere.

The month ended with a further trainload of Jews sent to Birkenau from Corfu on June 30. Nearly all were murdered.

The month of June 1944 was one which was, as Jacob Robinson would remind us, “as eventful and rich as that of a thousand years.” It is instructive, perhaps, to note that this was repeated, over and over again, with variations as to scale and intensity, across the 149 months of the Third Reich, a period which only included 58 months of total war.

Dr. Paul Bartrop is Professor of History and the Director of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. He can be reached at pbartrop@fgcu.edu.

Solution to puzzle on page 20

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23 June 2014 JEWISH INTEREST

June 2014

23

A contemporary legal thriller set against a Holocaust background of betrayal and denial

By Philip K. Jason, Special to The Jewish News Once We Were Brothers,

by Ronald H. Balson.

St. Martins Griffin.

378 pages. Trade paperback. $15.99.

T

his dazzling debut by a Chicago trial attorney takes chances and manages to survive them. Told largely in the words of an 83-year-old Holocaust survivor who has led a quiet life in Chicago, it follows Ben Solomon’s pursuit of justice. Convinced that he has discovered his boyhood friend, a man who became a Nazi soldier, Ben confronts powerful tycoon and respected philanthropist Elliot Rosenzweig and insists on bringing him to justice for crimes in Poland during WWII. At a posh event at the Civic Opera House, Phil Jason Ben approaches the man he believes to be Otto Piatek, who was raised in the Solomon home for many years. Rosenzweig bares his concentration camp tattoo and insists that Ben is confused and that he, Elliot, is actually a Holocaust survivor.

Ben, who holds an empty Luger pistol to Elliot’s head, is arrested but soon released.

Ben convinces a reluctant lawyer to explore his case. She wants to know what hard evidence he has, but Ben insists that she must hear the long, winding story of his growing up in Poland, the relationship between the Solomon and Piatek families, the effects on their lives of the Nazi rise to power, Otto’s return to his mother and father,

and his re-emergence as an SS officer.

We admire the sympathetic, The lawyer, Catherine Lockhart, once caring nature of Ben’s parents, a fast-track attorney but now rebuildthe glow of Ben’s growing love ing her damaged career, is a hard sell. for Hannah as both of them cross Eventually, she succumbs to Ben’s from childhood to adulthood, the story, his dedication to his mission, and sturdy moral nature of Hannah’s his personality. father, the generous and couraAlthough taking this case leads geous risk-taking of many indiCatherine to lose her job, it also makes viduals who make the survival her come alive. She is doing something of Ben and others possible. that she believes in and that can make We struggle to understand the a difference. strange transition of Otto from a boy One of the many chances the auwho calls the Solomons his true family thor takes is to present so much in one to a Nazi instrument of cruel dehumanvoice within a third-person narration. ization and devastation.

The dialogue would seem to overThe story of the two boys is a miwhelm other story-telling devices, the crocosm for the broader story of all action held inside of Ben’s narration. those times and places when and where Mr. Balson’s skill allows him to get people of different persuasions and traaway with this decision. He finds the ditions lived in harmony...until someright breaks in the story – breaks that thing corrupted their shared world. the reader needs (often formal chapter Balson’s book is divided into three divisions) and breaks occasioned by sections: “The Confrontation,” “Ben Catherine’s need to get Solomon’s Story,” and “The other things done that she Lawsuit.” In the final sechas let slide. tion, Liam, Catherine’s More importantly, the long-time good friend, turns strength of Ben’s story is into a major player as the so compelling that those legal battleground becomes of us vicariously listening one in which he and Cathas Ben speaks to Catherine are pitted against the erine can barely let ourenormous clout of the law selves put the book down. firm representing Otto/ElBalson has fleshed liot. As Catherine’s primary Ronald H. Balson out the Poland in which investigator on this case, his imaginary personalities lived durLiam risks losing the big-firm clients ing the rise of Hitler and the near-dehe has attracted. However, he too is mise of the Nazi regime’s scapegoat population. Within the carefully researched and magnificently rendered historical setting, he has built a group of credible and highly individualized characters whose destiny is intrinsically linked to time and place.

compelled by Ben’s story. Liam’s love for Catherine, slowly acknowledged and returned, becomes an even greater driving force in his decision.

In the closing section, Ronald H. Balson’s legal expertise is put to excellent use. The author develops a fully engaging, meticulous picture of how the case against the celebrity philanthropist is constructed. He gives almost as much detail to the schemes and threats of Rosenzweig’s minions.

Throughout the novel, the possibility of failure is kept dangling. Perhaps Ben is deluded and has identified the wrong man. If he is on target, perhaps his team will fail. How Balson balances these possibilities against the sympathetic reader’s hopes and the progress of the intricate case is a cause for admiration.

Also to be admired is Balson’s portrait of today’s Chicago. But this review must end!

Philip K. Jason is Professor Emeritus of English from the United States Naval Academy. He reviews regularly for Florida Weekly, Jewish Book World, Southern Literary Review, and other publications. Please visit Phil’s website at www.philjason.wordpress.com.

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June 2014

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

18 Israeli inventions that could save your life As Israel marks its 66th year of statehood, ISRAEL21c takes a look at 18 lifesaving innovations from the startup nation.

By ISRAEL21c Staff, www.israel21c.org, May 1, 2014

E

very day, ISRAEL21c reports on Israeli innovations that are making life easier and better across the globe, from medical and agricultural advances to social-action initiatives and high-tech wonders.

To celebrate the 66th Israel Independence Day on May 6, we bring you 18 innovations from Israel specifically designed to save lives – some already on the market and some coming soon.

In Hebrew, the number 18 corresponds to the word “chai” (“life”). We’re sure you will share our pride in Israeli ingenuity benefiting humankind everywhere.

1. The First Care Emergency Bandage (also known as the “Israeli bandage”), invented by an Israeli military medic, is used to stop bleeding from hemorrhagic wounds in trauma situations. Credited for saving the life of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in a 2011 shooting, the bandage is widely used by military medics and civilian first-responders the world over.

2. A fatal car crash can happen in a split second. That’s why Jerusalembased Mobileye technology for identi-

fying and alerting to driving hazards is being built into virtually every new vehicle in the world. Mobileye is the largest private high-tech company in Israel and the world’s largest R&D center

for artificial vision.

3. SensAheart, a product made by Israeli diagnostic technology company Novamed, can be used at home and in the hospital to detect a heart attack coming on.

4. Tel Aviv’s Cheetah Medical invented the NICOM non-invasive cardiac output monitor to prevent sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection that

causes one in four hospital deaths and is one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States. Using a patented technology, the NICOM monitors hemodynamics – the movement of blood from the heart to the body’s organs – via four sensors and enables medical professionals to better diagnose and treat the patient.

5. The adjustable, disposable Lubo Airway Collar by Inovytec is a novel airway management and cervical collar device for cases of severe trauma to the neck and spine. It is the first-ever non-invasive device that can open an airway by imitating a jaw-thrust maneuver while protecting the cervical spine en route to the hospital.

6. The Agilite Instant Harness, the world’s smallest Class II rappelling harness, saved the lives of South African miners trapped underground in 2013. The same Israeli company also makes the Injured Personnel Carrier,

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Izhar Gafni’s cardboard bicycle can support how many pounds? a) 48.5 b) 485 c) 4,850 www.rethinkisrael.org find answer onon next page26.

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a novel hands-free device that allows one rescuer to carry an incapacitated person like a “human backpack.”

7. The Babysense breathing monitor by HiSense alerts parents of respiratory cessation (apnea) in babies. The

Israeli breakthrough technology has helped protect more than 600,000 babies from crib death around the world, and has been copied by numerous other manufacturers.

8. XSight Systems’ award-winning FODetect advanced runway sensors keep runways around the world safe from foreign object debris (FOD), birds and wildlife with a unique hybrid optical-radar remote-sensing technology. Direct damage to aircraft caused

by FOD is estimated to cost the aviation industry some $4 billion each year. FOD-related damage caused the supersonic jetliner Concorde to crash in 2000, killing 113 people.

9. Hyginex makes a smart bracelet to be worn by every staff member in a hospital to make sure that all personnel wash their hands after contact with

patients. Clean hands can practically eliminate most hospital-borne infections. Nurses, doctors and even candystripers know it, but Hyginex enforces it.

10. When the iMayDay iPhone app senses that your car has been in a collision, it sets off an alarm and emails five pre-determined addresses (or generates up to 50 SMS messages) to inform emergency workers and/or loved ones about the accident. It works anywhere in the world.

11. PerSys Medical’s Blizzard Survival line of products, including blankets and jackets, leads the market in hypothermia care. The Blizzard Jacket was pivotal last March in the rescue of a mother and son by the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team in Wales. The lifesaving wraps withstand temperatures as low as -4 F/-20 C. 12. Micromedic Technologies specializes in developing and commercializing novel and innovative cancer diagnostic kits enabling early intervention. The company’s portfolio spans cancer and cancer-related indications including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, and diagnostic tools for personalized treatment.

13. It started out as a rescue “spider” in 2005, and today the Israelimade Skysaver is deployed to help evacuate skyscrapers in emergency situations. The device is worn like a backpack and includes a fire-resistant cord that can rappel rescued people to safety.

14. The NowForce smartphone app uses GPS crowd-sourcing tech to rally first-response teams quickly.

NowForce was developed jointly with United Hatzalah, a Jerusalem-based non-profit that trains thousands of neighborhood volunteers to respond to emergencies on foot or ambucycle before ambulances arrive. United Hatzalah teaches its model of communitypowered call centers throughout the world.

15. Wearable devices are becoming the rage for doing everything from counting calories to counting reps at the gym. The Oxitone watch is a wearable device that could save your life by measuring blood oxygen levels and alerting to a potential heart attack well before it happens. It’s expected on the market within a year.

16. Autotalks – maker of the world’s first automotive-grade chipset for series-production for vehicle-tovehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure

communication – aims to keep drivers and passengers safer by allowing cars to exchange data. The technology analyzes data transmitted by the on-board processing units of nearby vehicles and warns drivers of any imminent danger.

The Israeli company expects all car manufacturers will integrate its systems by 2015.

17. BiondVax has completed trials of its universal flu vaccine first developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Pending commercial agreements with governments around the world to continue development, the vaccine could be in the market within two years. Influenza can be deadly. Between 1976 and 2006, flu-associated deaths in the United States alone were estimated to be in the thousands, possibly as many as 49,000. The 1918 flu pandemic killed three to five percent of the world’s population at the time.

18. Wherever disaster strikes in the world – be it natural or manmade – Israel is always among the first to send medical and search-and-rescue teams and supplies, even when it lacks diplomatic relations with the country in crisis.

Governmental and non-governmental agencies (including Israel Flying Aid, IsraAID, Israeli Humanitarian Aid-Latet, Israel Trauma Coalition, ZAKA, Magen David Adom, Tevel B’Tzedek and many others) have been among those on the scene saving lives after disasters including: The 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka; Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005; the 2007 earthquake in Peru; the 2008 cyclone in Myanmar; Philippines typhoons in 2009 and 2013; the Haiti earthquake in 2010; a 2010 hospital fire in Romania; the Japan earthquake and tsunami and the Turkish earthquakes in 1999 and 2011; and Hurricane Sandy on the U.S. East Coast in 2012.

Israel also set up a field hospital on its border to treat victims of the Syrian civil war, and continues to provide – without charge — lifesaving treatment of wounded Syrian civilians at its northern hospitals.

For daily news stories related to Israel & the Jewish world, visit www.jfedsrq.org.

June 2014

25 2014WORLD ISRAEL & THEJune JEWISH

BRIEFS ON ITS 66TH BIRTHDAY, ISRAEL’S POPULATION NEARS 8.2 MILLION Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics released a report on May 1, estimating the country’s population at 8.18 million.

There are 6.135 million Jewish residents – 75% of the total population – and the Arab Israeli population stands at 1.694 million, or 20.7%. Approximately 345,000 people (4.2%) are non-Arab Christians or people of other religions or no religious affiliation.

178,000 babies were born this past year and 24,000 new immigrants and returning residents arrived. Fourteen cities have populations of more than 100,000 and six have more than 200,000. (Lidar Grave-Laz, Jerusalem Post)

HIGH ISRAELI BIRTHRATE UNIQUE IN DEVELOPED WORLD In the 1990s, Israeli Jewish women were having on average a little over 2.5 children. Today, when other advanced populations in the Mediterranean area have seen fertility rates plummet, the average Israeli Jewish woman has a little over three children. By international comparison, this is astonishing.

It is twice the level of Greece and more than twice the level of Italy, Germany or Spain. In no developed country besides Israel does the level approach three.

Meanwhile, the family sizes of Israel’s neighbors have started to fall, rapidly. Egyptian fertility rates are now about the same as those of Israel and falling. Today, Iranian women have more than one child fewer than Israeli Jewish women. In the 1960s, Israeli Muslim women were still having nine children. Today, Muslim Israeli women have around three and a half children.

Arab Christian and Druze women have a fertility rate of a little above two.

(Paul Morland, Jewish Chronicle-UK)

CHINA HELPING TO BUILD RAILROAD THROUGH ISRAEL LINKING RED SEA WITH MEDITERRANEAN Israel and China are forging ahead with a new freight rail link through Israel that could provide an alternative to the Suez Canal. The project would connect the 300-plus kilometers between Eilat on the Red Sea and Ashdod Port on the Mediterranean. The Israeli cabinet recently decided to fast-track the RedMed project. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “It’s the first time we’d be able to assist the countries in Europe and Asia to make sure they always have an open connection.”

Ilan Maor, a former Israeli consul to Shanghai, says China’s involvement in the project “shows the Chinese government [and] Chinese companies believe that Israel holds a significant potential for business cooperation.”

The EU is China’s number-one trading partner, so easy access to the continent is very important.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Egypt’s political uncertainty has left the Sinai Peninsula a “lawless zone for jihadists and Bedouin militias,” highlighting a rocket-propelled-grenade attack last August on a Chinese-owned container ship in the Suez Canal. Lloyd’s insurance market has even recommended that ships take the 6,000-mile route around South Africa instead. (Deutsche Welle-Germany)

istry director general Amir Halevi told Xinhua.

“We are preparing to receive more Chinese visitors, providing special tour services and recruiting more Chinese guides,” he said. (Xinhua-China)

UKRAINIAN JEWS IMMIGRATE TO ISRAEL AMID GROWING UNREST Nineteen Ukrainian Jews immigrated to Israel on Sunday, May 4. According to the Jewish Agency for Israel, almost 800 people arrived from Ukraine in January-April 2014, and over 200 have signed up for May. (Times of Israel)

RECORD NUMBER OF BIRTHRIGHT PARTICIPANTS COMING TO ISRAEL THIS SUMMER 32,000 young Jews from 42 countries are expected to participate in free ten-day trips to Israel through TaglitBirthright Israel this summer, organizers announced on May 7. (Sam Sokol, Jerusalem Post)

LUTHERAN NUNS END JERUSALEM MISSION TO HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS Beit Avraham (House of Abraham), run by the sisters of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary in Jerusalem’s Talpiot neighborhood, is closing down. Since 1961 it has served as a guesthouse for Holocaust survivors. But with so few survivors still alive, the nuns have decided their work has come to an end.

The sisters had originally come to Israel in 1957 to work as nurses in Israeli hospitals as a way of doing practical repentance for not only what the Nazis had perpetrated, but also for

“the 2,000 years of Jews’ suffering because of Christianity,” as Sister Gratia puts it. “We as Christians had to do something in Israel. We couldn’t continue as though nothing happened.”

Sister Gratia, 71, who arrived in 1975 from Austria and became an Israeli citizen two years ago, has no plans to leave the Holy Land. (Renee Ghert-Zand, Times of Israel)

THE ROCK AND ROLL BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL For the last ten years there has been an ongoing attempt to promote a cultural boycott of Israel. While this campaign has achieved very few actual victories, it has received widespread attention and media coverage disproportionate to its success. Once one scratches the surface of any given concert cancellation, one quickly concludes that ideology, conscience, and support for the Palestinian cause have very little to do with it. The true factors leading to a cancellation are usually online bullying, threats of damaging an artist’s reputation and sales, disrupting concerts, sabotage letters, deceit and explicit death threats.

More often than not, the so-called “success” the boycott movement has enjoyed never happened. Just because a pro-boycott site claims that an artist or band has boycotted Israel, doesn’t necessarily mean that this is true. Overall, the cultural boycott of Israel appears to be losing ground. The biggest names in the world of music continue to frequent Israel. As Mick Jagger of the

Rolling Stones recently said: “We’ve been slammed and smacked and twittered a lot by the anti-Israeli side; all I can say is: anything worth doing is worth overdoing. So we decided to add a concert.” (Adam Shay, Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)

INTEL TO INVEST $6 BILLION TO UPGRADE ISRAELI FACILITY

Intel Corp. will invest $5-6 billion in upgrading its Kiryat Gat computer chip production facility.

Intel Israel currently has four development centers and two production plants in Israel with 9,855 employees.

Intel VP and Intel Israel CEO Maxine Fassberg said, “In 40 years, Intel has exported goods worth $35 billion, mostly from its production centers in Kiryat Gat and Jerusalem.” (Adrian Filut, Globes)

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Within the IDF’s Special intelligence Unit 9900 are a group of highly-qualified autistic soldiers who have remarkable visual and analytic capabilities which they use to interpret aerial and satellite photographs.

They can detect even the smallest details, undetectable to most people.

Col. J, the commander of Unit 9900, said the success of the project exceeded the expectations of its initiators. (Israel Defense Forces)

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COMMENTARY

Angels vs. humans – the inner struggle From the Bimah Rabbi Sholom Schmerling, Chabad of Venice & North Port nner struggles, personal conflicts, obstacles, hurdles. Sound familiar? These, and so many other humps, seem to constantly hinder and stunt our inner growth.

Couldn’t life have been simpler? If G-d is good, couldn’t He have given us an easier ride through life?

The following story might shed some light and insight.

A teenage boy once visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson (1902-1994), expressing anguish that his life contained much struggle and disappointment.

“Why can’t it just be simple and easy?” the boy asked sorrowfully.

“Because human beings are not angels,” the Rebbe replied. “Angels are flawless, always on target. Human beings, on the other hand, are fragmented and dualistic, vacillating between extremes and shaken by conflicts. Because of man’s multi-dimensional and dichotomized personality, he must struggle throughout his entire life in order to come to terms with his soul.”

The teenager continued to probe

I

the heart of the master. “But why did G-d create us in such a complicated fashion?” he asked. “Would G-d not have enjoyed us far more if we were like the angels?”

Apparently, this teenager had a knack for drawing. He loved art and made it his hobby. As a good educator, the Rebbe responded to the pain of the young adult by drawing on a reference from the student’s own world.

“Let me ask you a question about the difference between a photograph and a painting,” the Rebbe began his response. “A photo captures any given scene far more accurately than a painting can ever hope to. Yet while a photo will cost you a few dollars, the inaccurate painting of the identical scene may sometimes sell for millions of dollars.

Why?” The boy explained to the Lubavitcher Rebbe that most photographs were inanimate and lifeless items, capturing the technical properties of a particular scene, yet lacking a soul. A painting, on the other hand, in which a scene is relegated to canvas via the mind and soul of the artist, contains the depth of human emotion and creativity, and the subtleties of human imagination. That is what gives a painting its value.

“Very well said,” came the Rebbe’s reply. “Here you have the answer to your question as well. Angels are photos; human beings are pieces of art,” the Rebbe said with a smile.

Angels are flawless and faultless creatures, perfect shots of the spiritual realities. Yet it is precisely the fluctuating drama of human existence, the perpetual conflict between our inner

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light and darkness, and the human void searching for meaning and truth that can turn our life into a piece of art.

Only in the tormented chambers of the human heart can G-d discover genuine, awe-inspiring artwork. It is the goodness and spirituality that emerge from human doubt and struggle that bestow upon humanity a dignity and

COMMENTARY BRIEFS PITY THE PALESTINIANS? COUNT ME OUT Everyone is so busy weeping over the allegedly incomparable sufferings of the Palestinians that hardly a tear is left for the tribulations of other peoples. This picture of the Palestinian plight is nothing short of grotesquely disproportionate.

In Syria, untold thousands of fellow Arabs are starving, while in South Sudan, 3.7 million people, amounting to one-third of the population, are now facing imminent death by starvation. And the Palestinians? True, when they wish to go from the West Bank into Israel proper, they are forced to stop at checkpoints and subjected to searches for suicide vests or other weapons in the terrorist arsenal. But no Palestinians in the West Bank are dying of starvation. Nor is anyone facing the same fate in Gaza today.

Three times in the past 15 years the Palestinians have refused offers of a state on most of the territory taken by Israel in 1967 and with Jerusalem as its capital. What they truly want is not a state of their own living side by side with Israel, but a state that replaces Israel altogether.

(Norman Podhoretz, editor of Commentary magazine from 1960 to 1995, Wall Street Journal)

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splendor that the highest of angels can never attain.

So the next time you’re in a pickle, at a decisive moment, or feel torn in every direction, remember: It is precisely this inner struggle and conflict that makes our good deeds and acts so valuable and precious.

In 1948 there was no Palestine problem; there was an Israel problem, in that the Arab League wouldn’t tolerate a Jewish state in its midst.

Nor was the 1967 war about Palestine. Egypt’s Nasser, who started it, said the objective was “throwing the Jews into the sea.” At no point was creating a Palestinian state even considered. Nasser failed, and the new status quo favored Israel by widening its security perimeter – with territories taken from Egypt, Jordan and Syria, not from Palestine.

The demand for a return to pre1967 borders is bizarre, to say the least. In 1967 there were no borders, just ceasefire lines drawn in 1948 – lines that symbolized an unstable status quo that led to two wars. Going back to them means returning to

a situation that breeds war, not peace.

The “peace process” also ignores a fact well established in human history: Every war ends with a winner and a loser; the winner dictates the new status quo and the loser grudgingly accepts. Israel is perhaps the only winner to be prevented from even thinking about cashing its chips. Each time it won a war, the UN and other outsiders intervened to put the whole thing on a different trajectory.

All that the various “peace initiatives” have done is to raise Palestinian expectations beyond what any Israeli government could accept. (Amir Taheri, New York Post)

THE REAL PROBLEM WITH KERRY’S “APARTHEID” MYTH

It’s not just the incendiary use of “apartheid” that’s the problem, but the well-worn canard about Israel that Kerry rests his position on. The theory goes like this: Arab birthrates in Israel and the Palestinian territories will continue to be higher than those of the Jews. And at some point, Arabs will become the majority in all the areas that Israel governs and then Jews will be impelled to act like a bunch of Afrikaner Brownshirts to survive.

There are two key problems with this theory: 1. The demography apocalypse isn’t happening. 2. Even if it was, it would have absolutely nothing to do with today’s peace negotiations or the status of the territories administered by Israel.

For decades Israelis have been hearing how they will be outnumbered, yet the population trends haven’t changed much. The demographic time bomb is a dud.

Kerry suggests that a change of Israeli or Palestinian leadership might offer better conditions for an agreement on the future Palestinian state. This is an interesting assertion considering Fatah has been the only entity to negotiate for Palestinians, while Israel has engaged in peace talks with the Labor party, Likud party and Kadima party, and it has made absolutely no difference in the outcome. (David Harsanyi, Federalist)

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June 2014

27 COMMENTARYJune 2014

27

Give Ukraine a chance

By David Harris, Executive Director, AJC, April 24, 2014

T

he Ukraine crisis continues. At this stage, no one can safely predict where the country will be a month from now, let alone a year down the road.

Nonetheless, a few things appear crystal-clear.

First, history will record this as a high-stakes, even defining, crisis. What happens in Ukraine matters – first and foremost, of course, to the Ukrainian people – but it doesn’t stop there.

The reverberations can already be felt across the region and beyond.

No, 2014 is not 1938, and Russia today is not Germany then. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t echoes of the past in the present – Crimea as Sudetenland? Ukraine as Czechoslovakia?

Other Russian-speaking areas, such as Transnistria, to follow, based on assertions they are being persecuted by “neo-Nazi” regimes wielding power in capitals from Kiev to Chisinau to who knows where, and whose residents allegedly clamor for salvation from Moscow?

Second, this is a test of America’s global leadership. From what I learned on my visit to Kiev earlier this week, which overlapped with the arrival of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and a Congressional delegation, it is abundantly clear that Ukraine is looking to Washington for significant help.

This includes direct assistance to bolster the country’s perilous economic condition, reduce its vulnerability to Russian energy dependence, and strengthen its security capabilities.

And it means standing up unflinchingly to Russia, something that only the U.S. has the capacity to do.

Third, this is a critical test for the European Union.

The EU may not have America’s hard power, but it has no shortage of soft power that, in its political, economic and moral weight, is not inconsequential.

Ukraine borders on four EU countries – Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania – which together effectively constitute the regional bloc’s eastern border. Moreover, the Maidan protests, lasting months and costing the lives of over 100 Ukrainians, were triggered by popular anger at the policy u-turn of President Yanukovych, who, at the last minute, spurned an historic deal with the EU that his own government had pursued, and turned instead to Moscow. Will the EU stand by those Ukrainians who aspire to a pro-European future for their nation?

The fourth key point has to do with Ukraine itself.

Here is the chance for the country to prove it can pull itself together, even in the midst of the crises in its southern and eastern districts, and create a “new” Ukraine – anchored in democratic values, tackling endemic corruption and the need for administrative reform, affording equal opportunity and protection to all its citizens within its multi-ethnic society, and winning the battle against the lingering demons of anti-Semitism and xenophobia.

To be sure, Ukraine has a painful history of anti-Semitism that dates back centuries.

But, and this is a big but, since the rebirth of Ukrainian independence in 1991, many have struggled to create a receptive new environment for the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian Jews – and there’s much to show for the effort up the present day.

Anti-Semitism hasn’t totally disappeared, especially among ultra-nationalist, far-right groups (and also, it must be said, among those outside the counOpinions and letters printed in The Jewish News do not necessarily reflect those of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, its Board of Directors or staff, or its advertisers.

try who currently seek to destabilize it by cynically playing the anti-Semitism “card”).

At the same time, Jewish life in Ukraine has been revitalized, Jewish groups abound, relations with Israel are excellent and, currently, a Deputy Prime Minister is Jewish, one of the 450 members of Parliament wears a kippah, and a few governors and mayors are also Jewish.

Many Jews outside Ukraine may find it difficult to acknowledge these changes. Their views of Ukraine are essentially frozen in time, based on their own, or their families’, tragic experiences. While entirely understandable, it would nonetheless be a mistake to fail to recognize the changes that have occurred, the opportunities that have been created, and the potential that exists for still more progress.

Indeed, there are certain similarities here to the positive evolution, or perhaps even revolution, in the relations of Jews with Germany, Poland, the Baltic states and the Catholic Church.

A few in the Jewish world, including AJC, saw the opportunities early on and pursued them relentlessly; others opposed their every move; and still others were, shall we say, asleep at the wheel.

More broadly, there are those who argue that Ukraine isn’t worth a confrontation with Russia. It’s too risky.

It’s the wrong time. It’s much ado about very little.

I beg to differ.

While no one should seek diplomatic confrontation for its own sake, and Russia remains an absolutely key country in many important respects, if we don’t stand up now we almost inevitably risk having to do so later – and at a still higher price. No, it’s never the right time, but such moments are rarely of our choosing. And no, it’s not about very little, but actually about quite a lot.

Like other countries, Ukraine and its people should have the right to choose their own destiny as a sovereign, democratic nation. Their borders should not be violated, their land annexed, and their government intimidated by a saber-rattling neighbor. That’s not the kind of 21st-century world we want to live in, and Moscow needs to understand that it will pay an escalating diplomatic, political and economic cost if it insists on playing by its own rules.

We either make that point now, convincingly, or take our chances. Here’s hoping we make the right choice.

For more information, visit www.ajc. org.

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Robin Leonardi 941.552.6307 rleonardi@jfedsrq.org www.TheJewishNews.org

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June 2014

Shavuot 101 Education Corner

By Flora Oynick

H

ow much do you know about Shavuot?

Let’s begin with a quiz about this spring holiday: 1. What did the Jews standing at Mount Sinai say to signal their acceptance of the Torah?

“We will do and we will listen” “Amen” “Blessed be the maker of creation” 2. Shavuot is also called Hag HaBikkurim, which means: Festival of weeks Festival of first fruits Time of receiving the Torah 3. Shavuot takes place how many days after the first Passover Seder?

49 50 13 The name of this holiday is the Hebrew word for “weeks.” Seven weeks after the Hebrew slaves left Egypt, seven weeks after Passover, they were given the Torah (“teaching” or “guidance”), which transformed them into The Jewish People.

FOCUS ON YOUTH

Since the counting of this period (sefirat ha-omer) begins on the second evening of Pesach, Shavuot takes place exactly 50 days after the (first) Seder. Hence, following the Greek word for “fifty,” Shavuot is also referred to sometimes as Pentecost. Although its origins are to be found in an ancient grain harvest festival, Shavuot has been identified since biblical times with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

Shavuot combines two major religious observances. First is the grain harvest of the early summer. Second is the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai seven weeks after the exodus from Egypt. The first determines the ritual for the holiday, which was one of the three pilgrimage festivals of ancient Israel, when Israelite males were commanded to appear before God in Jerusalem, bringing offerings of the first fruits (Hag HaBikkurim) of their harvest. The second determines the significance of the holiday for Judaism, tying it in with the seminal event of Jewish religious memory, namely the entering into a covenant between God and Israel, exemplified by Israel’s assumption of Divine law.

The true meaning of na’aseh v’nishma (we will do and we will listen) is that Torah observance is the core of one’s life. In Jewish tradition we

learn that it is to observe the Torah that man was created, and to do so while engaged in the practicalities of life.

Life must fit into Torah observance, not Torah observance into life.

Every Shavuot God is willing to suspend the mountain over anyone who is willing to approach the acceptance of the Torah with the attitude of na’aseh v’nishma. God stands ready to regenerate the spiritual perception of Torah as being the core of one’s existence.

Shavuot meals are traditionally dairy, a custom that may date back to our days of shepherds, when the holiday coincided with a spring abundance of milk. The celebration usually begins with a festival meal and starts with the blessing of the candles, Kiddush, Shehechiyanu and HaMotzi.

It is customary to have two loaves of challah on the table. Sometimes these are baked side-by- side so they will look something like the two tablets Moses brought down from Mount Sinai.

For many congregations, Shavuot has become linked to congregational life-cycle milestones. Some synagogues hold a confirmation or graduation from the temple religious school.

And because it is a tradition to read the Book of Ruth on Shavuot, some temples have a special service that

acknowledges or welcomes new converts to Judaism.

In many synagogues, Shavuot evening services are followed by a study session called tikkun. The goal of this session is to be spiritually prepared to hear and accept the Ten Utterances at the Shavuot service in the morning.

There are many ways you can celebrate Shavuot at home with family and friends: Bake your own challahs in the shape of the two “tablets” Make your own blintzes or cheesecake Check the mezuzot on your doorways; open them and show your children the scroll inside, which contains a passage from Deuteronomy Talk about the Ten Commandments – which is the hardest one to follow, and which is the easiest Read Shavuot-related books sent

by PJ Library: The Littlest Mountain, A Mountain of Blintzes, No Rules for Michael, Sammy Spider’s First Shavuot Bring fresh flowers into your home Flora Oynick is the Engagement Ambassador at The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

Sarasota Jewish community proud of its youth

By Lael Hazan

S

o often one hears the refrain, “Where are our youth? Why don’t they participate? Will the next generation keep our traditions?”

Well, the Jewish community of Sarasota has reason to feel very proud.

Sydney Hanan, daughter of Temple Beth Sholom board member Ben and Federation board member Stacy Hanan,

and granddaughter of Federation Past President Lew and Sandra Hanan, was recently elected president of the Mercaz sub-region of USY. An outstanding student at Pine View School, Sydney still finds time to be part of several honor societies and participates on the Speech and Debate Team.

The Mercaz sub-region of USY is

STAY FIT SPORTS CAMP AT THE J

definitely could not have composed of 15 Jewish communities that work together a chapter without one. We to involve Jewish youth in really appreciate all the social, cultural, religious, support that the Federation community service, fundhas provided us and would raising and entertainment not be nearly as successful activities. Sydney’s goal is to without it.” increase membership, build Yasher Koach, Sydney! leadership and strengthen Our community is very the chapters. She will serve proud of you and thrilled Sydney Hanan as a link between the chapthat you are representing ters and the HaNegev Regional execuSarasota. You truly embody the imtive board that serves Florida, Georgia, mortal phrase l’dor v’dor.

Alabama, North Carolina, South CaroLael Hazan is an award-winning collina, Tennessee and Mississippi. umnist, and has written for Edible ComSydney is grateful to have such a munities, Huffington Post and Saveur. supportive Jewish community backing her. This past year, a joint initiaMazel tov to SRQUSY for tive between Temple Beth Sholom and winning the Schmooze The Jewish Federation of SarasotaLips (Sub-Regional Manatee provided assistance with the Spirit Award) at this Sarasota USY chapter (SRQUSY).

Sydney feels that it has been “extremeyear’s Spring Subly beneficial to have a paid profesRegional Convention! sional working with our SRQUSY. We

MASA ISrAel TrAvel ScholArShIp Ages 12 And UP

stay Fit BeginneR OR exPeRienced this summer and train with the best! We offer professional instruction OUR AcAdemies from coaches in their sport of focus all impact Basketball in one location. Training schedule source Volleyball includes combinations of and Game Ready Baseball/Softball exposure to the following: sportseast Performance Kai Haaskivi soccer Basketball • Volleyball cAmP sessiOns celcius Tennis soccer • Tennis June 16 20 Flag Football July 14 - 18 Baseball/Softball Fitness Training August 11 - 15 Swimming And more

The Federation will offer scholarships to applicants who have been accepted to a MASA program! Scholarships are first come, first serve. (Up to $2,000 to cover travel to and from Israel only.) Visit www.TheJewishFederation.org.

Klingenstein Jewish Center, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232 Amber Ikeman, Youth Engagement Coordinator 941.343.2106 • aikeman@jfedsrq.org

S.K.I.P

F O R M O R E I N F O CO N TAC T: AMBER IKEMAN 941.343.2106 O R A I K E M A N @ J F E D S R Q.O R G

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TheJewishFederation.org The SKIP program is funded in large part by the Betty and Herb Schiff Send-a-Kid-to-Israel Fund.

June 2014

29 June 2014 FOCUS ON YOUTH

29

TBS Schools’ “Pioneer Days”

TBSS 7th-grade leadership trip “Into the Woods”

T

emple Beth Sholom Schools’ seventh-graders ventured out on their Leadership Trip, an annual tradition in the middle school.

They had a great time while taking on a variety of challenges, including canoeing and even cooking mac-and-cheese over an open fire!

The students raise funds throughout the year and use the monies earned to purchase their food and sundries as well as their canoe rentals. One of the learning goals is for students to create a full list of necessary items required for the trip. They are cautioned to take great care on the quantity of food and water needed because they will carry it in their canoe for miles down the river to a campsite. This year, students planned well and had enough food and water so that they could then concentrate on enjoying their outdoor surroundings.

One of the highlights of the eve-

emple Beth Sholom Schools’ (TBSS) upper-elementary social studies classes have been studying the life of pioneers in the 1800s.

Rather than simply reading about this era in a textbook, the students created an authentic experience by making use of the large organic Papa Ed and Mimi Rosenthal Kibbutz Sustainability Garden on the school grounds to help recreate a scene from life on the prairie.

With this unique way to learn about the difficulties of daily life, students were to create a meal foraged from land and cooked on an open fire. They were asked to plan and cook one meal that would be common on the western trails of the 1800s. This task was not as simple as first imagined. Luckily, one of the students brought a salmon, that was caught on the Snake River, which

proved delicious when cooked on an open fire. “School lunch” at TBSS was quite the experience – something that couldn’t regularly be accomplished in

TBS Schools volunteers assist students in preparing a fire for the unique lunch experience

the short lunch hour which students are accustomed to.

For information about TBS Schools, please visit www.tbsschools.org.

Sinai school earns national accreditation

T

emple Sinai Religious School is now one of only four congregational schools in Florida that are accredited by the National Association of Temple Educators (NATE). In her letter to the congregation, Marlene Myerson, chair of the NATE accreditation committee, wrote, “Both the lay and professional leadership of Temple Sinai should feel proud of the congregation’s accomplishments. Your synagogue is clearly having a significant impact on your members and their families, and this is no small task in today’s world.”

As part of the multi-year accreditation process, Marilyn Shapo, chair of both a preliminary Task Force and the Accreditation, guided collaborative development of a new mission and vision statement for the school and kept the submission of required documentation on track. Two 100-page binders con-

taining the school’s handbooks, communications, narrative descriptions of risks and challenges, student and parent testimonies and reflections on the process all were submitted prior to a site visit in late March.

Upon being notified, Sue Huntting, RJE, Temple Sinai’s Religious School Director, remarked, “We knew we had a great school.

We’ve built a community that includes folks from all kinds of backgrounds, Jewish or not, that recognizes each person’s unique contribution to the whole. It is great to have NATE, with such high standards, affirm that we have a well-run and effective program. I couldn’t be more proud for our teachers, students, school families and temple.”

NATE is the professional organization of Reform synagogue educators that has been accrediting congregational schools since 1978.

T

ning is sitting around the campfire, late at night, planning the theme for the eighth-grade graduation dinner. When students arrive back on campus, they are sworn to secrecy. For the remaining weeks of school, the eighth-graders

The evening campfire was difficult to light – a required task not learned in a school textbook

try to pry the secret dinner theme from their friends. School is nearly finished, and the dinner theme is still a secret!

For information about TBS Schools, please visit www.tbsschools.org.

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Temple Emanu-El teen organizes family Shabbaton retreat agement skills and confidence, Adam helped create a phenomenally successful event and to blaze the trail for future Temple Emanu-El Shabbatons.

“I thought it was important to do something for my Eagle project that was unique,” Adam stated. “I was able to work with people directly, which was very rewarding. Also, it meant a lot to me to share my love of camping and the outdoors with the kids at the temple and to teach them and their parents how much fun it is.”

A

dam Caldwell – a 16-year-old sophomore at Lakewood Ranch High School, a confirmand at Temple Emanu-El, a Young Ambassador for The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, and a member of Manatee County School District’s Academic Team – will soon add another impressive title to his resume: Eagle Scout.

Adam’s Eagle Scout Project benefited the entire Temple Emanu-El community: On April 4-5, Adam organized an outdoor synagogue retreat for Temple Emanu-El’s Religious School. The first-ever Shabbaton for the temple, the event drew over 100 participants for a Shabbat service under the stars; family education focusing on nature and environmental responsibility; archery, canoeing and crafts; delicious meals;

Adam Caldwell

and camping in tents set up by Adam and his fellow scouts. It was Adam’s responsibility to work with event cochair Steven Leavitt and a committee to plan the retreat; to secure a location for the Shabbaton – Camp Flying Eagle in Bradenton; to recruit adult leaders and scouts from his Troop to assist with the project; and to oversee all logistics, big and small, during the retreat. DemonTemple Emanu-El family Sharon, Max, Noah and Ben Kunkel dressed in Shabbat whites for a Friday night service under the stars strating initiative, man-

FAMILY TheJewishFederation.org

THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.

Temple Emanu-El Religious School students Katie Hurwitz, Carly Mallitz and Mia Schneider at the Shabbaton

30

June 2014

FOCUS ON YOUTH

TBE Religious School JCV students semester ends on high note celebrate Passover

T

emple Beth El Bradenton’s Friday night Shabbat service on April 25 gave attendees a chance to kvell.

The TBE Religious School students performed a wonderful play under the direction of resident director Miriam Ring and Education Chair and Religious School Director Susie Konicov.

The play was a reading about the

holiday of Shavuot. It retold of the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites. From the script, “As you know, the Ten Commandments are not only the foundation of the Jewish religion, but the basis of the moral law of all civilized nations.”

The students brought such joy to their performance and to all who were at services on Erev Shabbat. Kudos to all!

(Back row) Kevin Rosenstein, Kelsey Reynolds, Erik Polin, Spencer Rosenstein, Jacob Hoffman, Mallory Rosenstein, (front row) Religious School Director Susie Konicov, Miriam Ring, playwright and director

“

C

hildren should be active participants in Passover, for this is a festival that has children at the heart of its story,” emphasizes Rabbi Daniel Krimsky of the Jewish Congregation of Venice.

From the baby Moses, to the Four Questions and the final reward of the afikomen, children should be involved

in the Pesach holiday.

The JCV Religious School students baked their own matzah, as they learned about the reason for unleavened bread. They held their own Seder and acted out parts of the Haggadah story. Many children also joined the congregational Seder at JCV in a lively, interactive service. Rabbi Dan noted that the central part of the Haggadah features the questions children ask, and the various ways to respond to each different child.

“Perhaps,” says Rabbi Dan, “the four sons are not examples of four different kinds of people.

JCV students roll out dough to bake their own matzah in the JCV kitchen Perhaps each one of us has gone through various stages of being each type of child as we grew up: too young to understand, too simple for a complex answer, too wicked or rebellious as a teenager to want to listen, and eventually mature and wise enough to fully participate with the adults as we pass on Cantor Marci Vitkus helps students lead the singing at the our tradition generaJCV Congregational Seder, accompanied by Rabbi Dan’s non-Jewish but highly enthusiastic guitar-playing guest tion to generation.”

SHA LOM BA BY Families who are expecting or have recently celebrated the arrival of a baby can receive a Complimentary Gift Basket, which includes special baby items and a helpful resource guide for our Jewish community.

REGISTER YOURSELF REGISTER A FRIEND QUESTIONS? Contact Amber Ikeman P: 941.343.2106 E: aikeman@jfedsrq.org

TheJewishFederation.org

Pharaoh (parent Gabe Wasserman in red shirt) stands firm as the students and teachers shout “Let my people Go!” during the JCV Children’s Seder

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The PJ Library program supports families in their Jewish journey by sending Jewishrelated books and music on a monthly basis to children for free.

Sara Steinmetz, Kaplan Preschool director and Judaica teacher, dressed as Moses, with students dressed as Pharaoh and slaves

Sponsored By:

Karp Family Foundation Follow us at facebook.com/pjlibraryofsarasota Visit the Federation website to sign up!

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Contact Amber Ikeman 941.343.2106 or aikeman@jfedsrq.org

Joshua Braunstein and Ganon Weiner at Chabad of Bradenton Hebrew School’s Model Matzah Bakery

The Jewish News is also available online. Visit The Jewish News page at www.jfedsrq.org and you’ll be just one click away!

31 LIFE CYCLE

ANNIVERSARIES th

June 2014

June 2014

65 Dr. Stanley & Sara Werner Temple Emanu-El 60th Fred & Florence Axelrod Temple Emanu-El 60th Robert & Irene Fritsch Temple Sinai 55th Stuart & Marilyn Goldfarb Temple Sinai 55th Harold & Ruth Kornman Temple Sinai 55th Irwin & Sandy Livon Temple Sinai

th

55 Bernard & Simone Salomon Temple Emanu-El 45th Louis & Janet Gross Temple Sinai 45th Malcolm & Greta Roberts Temple Sinai 35th Neville & Bernice Sugarman Temple Sinai 30th Dr. Arthur & Elaine Sandler Temple Emanu-El 20th Stephen & Renae Lasday Temple Sinai

IN MEMORIAM Rae Ann Zoblotsky Chenet, 80, of Sarasota, April 1 Bernice L. Childs, 93, of Sarasota, April 12 Edward Lawrence Friedman, 91, of Sarasota, formerly of New York, NY, March 30 Cantor Harold Orbach, 83, of Parrish, April 17 Theodore Oxman, 99, of Sarasota, Apr. 1 Dan Paradies, 92, of Atlanta, GA, and Longboat Key, April 29 Irene L. Rieger, 93, of Sarasota, April 5 Liselotte “Lottie” Meyer Seligman, 94, of Sarasota, March 28 Rosalie (Ros) Surrey, 101, of Sarasota, formerly of Albany, NY, March 29 Barbara M. Rosen, 72, of Sarasota, April 12 George Roth, 91, of Sarasota and Rochester, NY, April 7 Sandra Tavill, 82, of Sarasota, April 10

It has been our honor to serve Sarasota’s Jewish Community for over 10 years

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TAHARA admin 941.224.0778 men 941.377.4647 women 941.921.4740 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237

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GOLDEN GATE $500,000+ Anonymous Beatrice Friedman Esther and Robert Heller Gertrude Jais* Jerry Lavin* Beatrice and Arthur* Michaels Robert Michelson* Sally and Sam Shapiro Sylvia G. and Robert M. Zell*

ZION GATE $250,000-499,999 Sylvia and Joseph Bloom* Sylvia and Gershom Cohn* Lois and Willard Cohodas Helen and Len Glaser Rita and Herbert Gold* Edna Rogers* & Jonas Kamlet* Lawrence S. Klotz* Hope Leuchter Daniel Logan* Olga O. Schwartz* Susan Shimelman Marvin Wolf

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Anonymous Marcia Abel Barbara Ackerman Rebecca and Richard Bergman Mandell (Bill) Berman Barbara and Donald Bernstein Jacob Carmen* Edie Chaifetz Ellen and Joel Fedder Jacqueline Siegel Frascella Joshua Green Julie Green Sylvia and Daniel Hamberg Sandra & Lewis Hanan Kates Foundation Renee Irene Katz* Alisa and Ernest Kretzmer Josh Leuchter Audrey Lucow Marjorie E. Meyers* Frank Paul* Flori Roberts Betty and Bert Rosen Irene and Martin Ross

We would like to recognize and thank those who have made the most personal and thoughtful gift of all: a commitment to The Jewish Federation through a will, trust agreement, prepaid life insurance policy or other estate planning vehicle.

Paulette and Martin Samowitz Barbara Saphier Betty and Herbert* Schiff Betty Schoenbaum Claire Sischy Lois and David* Stulberg Naomi and Bruce Wertheimer Geri and Ronald Yonover

LION’S GATE $10,000-99,999

Herbert Angel* Sidney Bernstein* Ruth Bregman* Patricia E. Burnes* Karl Ebner* Seymore Fenichel* Martha and Joseph Forman* Gitta Frankl* Leda Freedman* Roz Goldberg Grace and Sam Gorlitz Ruth and David Gorton Sheila and Erwin Horwitz Ruth and Jerome Kapner* Robert Kaufman* Elizabeth and William Karbell Litt* Herbert Karol* Raena Korenman David Leavitt* Claire M. Levin Edith Becker Lilienfeld* Sandra and Neil Malamud Mehler-Lublin Family Suzanne and David* Lutkoff Harvey Mendelow* Gladys Mittleman* Majorie and Nelson Newmark* Molly Nierenberg* Ethyl C. Ornstein* Marguerite and Joseph Persky* Ernest Rice* Susan Rosin Marjorie* and Earl Sharff Golda Sands Sharon* Rose and Rabbi Albert Shulman* Sondra and Judge Marvin Silverman* Ned F. Sinder* Helen A. Sobin* Salli Struble* Thea Becker* Trust Gertrude Willens*

The Legacy Society includes Bequests, PACE/LOJE Funds, Scholarship Funds, and Restricted Funds. Please contact Martin Haberer at 941.552.6303 if you have made a bequest in your will, insurance policy, or retirement fund OR if we happened to have missed you. *Deceased The Klingenstein Jewish Center, 580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota FL 34232

941.371.4546 TheJewishFederation.org

32

June 2014

WITH YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT $ THE Federation RAISED 49,289!

Our Donors Barbara & Gary Ackerman Joanne Adams Chris & Chris Alexander Donna & Robert Antovel Gisele & Isaac Azerad Xandra & Greg Band Alla & Dan Barwick Ellyn Bender Rebecca & Richard Bergman Bobbi & Don Bernstein Karen & Tom Bernstein June H. Blaustein Eileen & Terry Blumenstein Samuel Blumenstein Fran & Jack Braverman Lynn & Randon Carvel Edie & David Chaifetz Barbara Chertok Neal Colton Cheryl & Dr. Ron Cooper Frances Covalt Gerry Daniel Shelly Dorfman Lori Dorman Andrea & Eric Eiffert Wendy & Jerry Feinstein Christa & Frank Fineshriber Joe Floersheimer Ilene & Michael Fox Janice & Al Frankel Barbara Geldbart Helen & Leonard Glaser Roz Goldberg & Alan Bandler Dori Goldfarb & Jeff Maggard Fern & David Grace Julie & Dr. Joshua Green Lisa & Ron Greenberg Barbara & Merrill Greenberger Barbara & Richard Grossman Georgia & David Gruber Merle Haber Lori & Marty Haberer Sandra & Dr. Lewis Hanan Stacy & Ben Hanan Jay Handelman Joan & Brad Hanley Hannah Honeyman Marty & Rabbi Jonathan Katz Marla & Dr. Robert Katz Simone & Dr. Robert Knego Clara & Sheldon Kopel Florence Korchin Alisa & Ernest Kretzmer Robin Leonardi Claire Levin Leanore Levine Leone Levy Linda & Norman Lipson

Jeremy Lisitza Sharyn & Nigel Lonsdale Barbara Lupoff Susan & Randy Mallitz Ken Marsh & Tanice Knopp Mazur Family Foundation Dr. Cathy & Michael Milam Nelle Miller Kim & Richie Mullins Paul Nattis Lorie Newcomb Lisa & Mitchell Olan Flora & Dr. Bill Oynick Christine Page Joan & Marden Paru Loretta & Paul Rabin Nadia & Michael Ritter Jane & Brad Robbins Susan Robinson Ruth Robinson Sasha & Andrew Rosin Judith & Ira Rosner Luise & Stephen Rosoff Irene & Martin Ross Rachel & Darren Saltzberg Patricia & Barron Schimberg Betty Schoenbaum Sally & Sam Shapiro Jessi & Will Sheslow Inna & Gerry Sideman Hadleigh, Gray & Clementine Schwartz Maureen & Stanley Siegel Rona & Rabbi Howard Simon Jean Simon Shelley & David Simson Jennifer Singer Bunny & Mort Skirboll Fran & Steven Spiegel Eileen & Al Spiewak Marilyn Stamberg Susan & Jack Steenbarger Anne & Dr. Barry Stein Alan Steinberg Len Steinberg Lee & Morton Sternberg Lois Stulberg Nancy & Ray Swart Bryna & Howard Tevlowitz Stephanie Tucker Janet & Bruce Udell Marysue & Leon Wechsler Judy Weinstein Patti & David Wertheimer Cynthia & Stanley Wright Sheila & Merrill Wynne Debbie Yonker Roberta & Harold Zimmerman

Thank you to our generous community for supporting The Jewish Federation during the 2014 Giving Challenge!

Your gifts will help provide a safety net for Jews in need and identity-building programs for youth, both locally and worldwide. We truly appreciate your support. During this 24-hour fundraising initiative, your donation helped us raise $49,289 (before any matching dollars or grant incentives). With nearly 100% participation of our board and a partnership with Fresh Start Cafe, The Federation landed in 6th place for most money raised - out of 400+ organizations. We also received an extra $1,000 grant for being one of the first 30 nonprofits to receive $50 or more from 50 donors!

We would like to thank the Giving Partner and its foundation sponsors for providing this unique and powerful opportunity. The Federation is proud of our Sarasota-Manatee community and the support we and all of our community partners received during the challenge.

Mazel Tov to everyone who participated!

Our Giving Partners

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Klingenstein Jewish Center, 580 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232 | 941.371.4546 | info@jfedsrq.org