L’Shana Tova!
5779
Celebrating Jewish Life in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Israel and the World FEDERATION NEWS PUBLISHED BY
The Jewish Federation OF SARASOTA-MANATEE
THE LARRY GREENSPON FAMILY CAMPUS FOR JEWISH LIFE
September 2018 - Elul 5778 / Tishrei 5779 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 10A Community Focus 18A Jewish Interest 26A Israel & the Jewish World 30A Commentary 33A Focus on Youth 39A Life Cycle 1B Jewish Happenings
9A Bob Malkin Young Ambassadors Teen Leadership Program – participant experiences
13A Temple Sinai moms visit Israel as part of the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project
My CTeen Heritage Quest trip to Poland and Israel
PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT DISCLAIMER
This issue of The Jewish News contains a paid political advertisement. The ad does not reflect the views of, or serve as endorsement by, the staff or leadership of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.
Volume 48, Number 9
A sweet new year ahead: The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life By Federation President Michael Ritter and Chief Executive Officer Howard Tevlowitz
L
’Shana Tova Tikatevu! To a good and sweet year ahead! This is the blessing we say each year as the High Holidays arrive. With the news of our recent cornerstone lead gift to name our 32-acre Federation campus as The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life, that sentiment relating to the future of our Federation and Jewish community is even more profound this year. Definitely sweet and, yes, very good! As we look to the future and the creation of a truly new Campus for Jewish Life, we are presented with an innovative and exciting opportunity that will take our community to a new level of programming and engagement. We all know that our American-Jewish landscape is shifting, with new trends and social developments, as well as important challenges and questions. How do we preserve and increase Jewish engagement? What footprint should our campus have to reach the
largest number of people in Jewish households? How do we continue to provide and underwrite services for our Jewish community and in support of Israel? How will we pay for it all?
Michael Ritter and Howard Tevlowitz
Without a doubt, how we proceed has deep implications for all of us. Over the next 6-12 months, Federation management and leadership will be working through multiple board committees with an architect, a project manager and community members to operationalize our plans for our 32acre campus. Our goal is to create a
framework for individuals and families at every stage of their lives to engage with our Jewish community and create a lasting legacy of communal growth and Jewish connections. We envision: Appealing to families with children, pre-teens and teens to embrace Jewish life, culture and traditions Attracting younger Jews, 30s - 50s, to more actively participate in Jewish communal life Engaging Baby Boomers and older generations in cultural and educational programming, the majority of whom are currently not affiliated with any Jewish organization Working closely with Jewish institutions, as well as local faith, needs-based, arts and minoritybased organizations This unique and exciting approach to the use of the Federation campus positions us to create and develop continued on page 2A
Remembering Betty Schoenbaum, a dear friend to the Jewish community Staff Report
35A
www.jfedsrq.org
T
he Sarasota-Manatee community lost an angel recently. Betty Schoenbaum, just shy of her st 101 birthday, died on Tuesday, July 31. Betty was known to many local non-profits for her deep generosity, the mischievous twinkle in her eye and her famous heart-to-heart hugs. She was a dear friend of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and a lifetime member of our Board of Directors. “On behalf of the board, staff, volunteers and friends of the Jewish Federation, we are so fortunate to have been the recipient of Betty Schoenbaum’s embracing love. She cared deeply about Jews all over the world,” said Board President Michael Ritter.
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Betty learned at an early age the concept of tikkun olam, helping others less fortunate. Federation’s Director of Innovation and Volunteer Engagement, Jeremy Lisitza, recalled, “She would often talk about her grandmother who would put loose change in the tzedakah box every week. She would sternly remind Betty, “that was to go to Israel.” That spirit of tzedakah stayed with Betty her entire life. Betty stepped forward anytime there was an emergency for Jews in need around the world. She generously gave to numerous Israel emergency campaigns, the Ukraine Assistance Fund, Operation Promise and a variety of initiatives that provide life-saving and life-sustaining support for elderly Jews around the world. She ▼
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Betty Schoenbaum with former Federation Board President Nelle Miller
also set up a Lion of Judah endowment and generously sponsored many Federation events each year. In Israel, Betty and her husband, Alex, built a library in the heart of our continued on page 6A ▼
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