Federation Star - January 2018

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18A Federation Star January 2018 Our generation has a job to do Rick Krosnick gives an inspiring presentation at JNF breakfast event in Naples. By Goldie Wetcher Rick Krosnick was the featured speaker at a breakfast sponsored by Jewish National Fund held at Temple Shalom on November 30. Mr. Krosnick, JNF’s Chief Development Officer, gave an inspiring presentation about the job we, the Jewish people, have before us to support Israel and our future generations. Rick, age 51, said that he did not live through the Holocaust, the years that followed with the founding of the Jewish state, and the early struggles Goldie Wetcher, JNF Sarasota Board of Directors member to build that state. He recognized that earlier generations felt that they were insuring the survival of Jewish life by helping to contribute money to the Jewish nation. That was my era and I have vivid memories of those early years. My family sat by our radio, tears streaming as we heard the broadcast from the UN recognizing Israel. We felt the exhilaration of creation, of being a pioneer, and also of fearing a catastrophe for the fledging state through its multiple wars. As a child, I collected money in the memorable Jewish National Fund Blue Box, but my sister fell in love with the romance of being a halutznik and went off to live on a kibbutz near Be’er Sheva. Rick described that presently, when his teenage sons visit Israel, they enjoy the Tel Aviv beaches and nightlife of a prospering country. Many of us have read or know the story of Start-up Nation, and marvel at the advances in technology, science and even “Wonder Woman” developed in Israel. We feel pride in the young men and women of the IDF and are reassured by Israel’s advanced weaponry. These achievements in many cases are shared across borders to benefit all of humanity. So with all of this progress, what is there left to do and why does the Jewish community across the world still need to support Israel? JNF still has this important program of collecting money to buy trees, although the color of the box has changed to a more colorful version. Today, JNF also has a “One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade” with the singular mission to spread the population in Israel, now numbering about half of the 15 million Jews in the world. Currently, that population is clustered in urban areas which are crowded and expensive. A large percentage of the population cannot afford housing in these areas. JNF facilitates building communities in less populated areas. Traveling in Israel last year I saw a new Be’er Sheva, the gateway city to the Negev where JNF initiative and financial support had created David Ben-Gurion’s dream of a flowering of the Negev. The garbage-filled wadi that once bisected the city it is being transformed into the second largest lake in Israel using recycled water. I saw biking and hiking trails, community facilities and high-rise housing all around the lake. Hadassah had also created a forest preserve nearby. By moving away from the major urban areas, families and individuals can afford a better life style. I am astounded that the coins in that little Jewish National Fund Blue Box planted the seeds for a whole crop of JNF projects. For instance, there is the Forestry and Green Innovations project which supports innovation in ecological development and is a pioneer in forest creation. JNF has planted more than 260 million trees in Israel, providing luscious belts of green covering more than 250,000 acres. It has been at the forefront of water management and Rabbi Sack of Temple Judea of Fort Myers and Rabbi Chorny of Beth Tikvah of Naples at the breakfast conservation in Israel for two decades, increasing the water supply by 12% and helping Israel become a world leader in water recycling. JNF’s research and development projects have made it a Joel & Susan Pittelman, JNF Chief Development Officer Rick Krosnick, JNF board members Estelle & Stuart Price world leader in both technological and environmental innovation for over a hundred years. It is the single largest provider of Zionist engagement programs in the U.S. and offers a myriad of ways to connect young American Jews to Israel. One part of this initiative is the Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI-JNF). As a proud Grandmother with two grandchildren who attended AMHSI-JNF, and four more grandchildren awaiting their turn, I am dedicated as a national board member to support this program which means so much to our family. When my grandchildren attended school in Israel, they not only learned about Israel’s history, but thanks to JNF’s preservation of historical sites associated with Israel’s rebirth, they visited them and actually experienced history. Do you think they will ever forget the meaning of Israel in the lives of the Jewish people? Do you think that your children and grandchildren would benefit from a similar experience? There is so much to JNF’s work for Israel as a shining example of Jewish values. For instance, there are the Disabilities and Special Needs projects which ensure that no member of Israeli society is left behind through providing cutting-edge rehabilitation services, special education and medical care for people with special needs. I had tears in my eyes when I saw their equestrian program for special-needs kids and heard the lovely young girl with cerebral palsy speak so glowingly about her confidence. I thought about my aunt who had cerebral palsy and suffered so much humiliation and diminished opportunity. She and our family would have been enriched by a program such as this. It would have lifted all of our spirits. There will be other JNF breakfasts and hopefully even more involvement by the Naples community. Several people added to the success of this program. Naples Co-Board President David Braverman offered a welcome and introductions. Rabbi Marc Sack led the Hatikvah and National Anthem, and Rabbi Ammos Chorny led the Motzi and explained the Jewish tradition for giving thanks after the meal. Skylar Haas, Associate Regional Director of BBYO’s North Florida Region (which includes the Naples BBYO chapter), talked about her memorable experience as a student at AMHSI-JNF and what attending school in Israel was like for her (see sidebar). I think that we all left satiated by a delicious breakfast and uplifted by feelings of confidence that we continue to have a duty helping JNF’s work to benefit Israel. But it does not stop there because these projects benefit all of humanity. Our duty is to continue to build community, because regardless of our religious or political choices, we all sit at the table on behalf of Israel, the beacon of Judaism. Temple Shalom Sisterhood Judaica Shop JUDAICA SHOP SEMI-ANNUAL SALE Sunday, January 21 through Wednesday, January 31 40% off Chanukah merchandise 25% off all other stock items Some items 50% off! Hours Sunday - 9AM to 12PM (only during Religious School) Tuesday through Friday - 10AM to 12:30PM Wednesday afternoon - by appt. Temple Shalom • 4630 Pine Ridge Rd. • Naples, FL 34119 239-455-3030 COMMUNITY FOCUS Skylar Haas’ remarks at the JNF Breakfast St By N Good morning everyone. I am Edit Skylar Haas and I work in Na-foples as the BBYO professional. ish p t I want to share my impactful experi-witence with Jewish National Fund at the also Alexander Muss High School in Israel leadership program this past summer. What I had the opportunity to witness this past summer was like nothing I have ever seen. It brings a whole new meaning to experiential learning. One day we are in the classroom discussing the destruction of the Temple, and the next we are standing in its ruins. I have the pleasure of working with teens on a daily basis in my line of work, and boy do I love to see that light bulb go off – the light bulb we all hope as Jewish educators goes off one day for the teens. It’s the light bulb of connection. The connection to our faith, to our culture and its people. But most importantly, the connection to our history. When teens go to HSI, their light bulbs are constantly lighting up because what they are doing is literally connecting to the land of Israel, in a way that they cannot do in a classroom. Yes, there is classroom learning, but the bulk of where the teens are building their memories and finding their connections is out on the land. You are staring at a by-product of Birthright Israel success. I am sure you all know about the Birthright Israel program. When I went as a 19-yearold freshman in college, my light bulb went off more times than I could count. I grew up in a mixed-religion home and did not fully have the opportunity to embrace my Judaism. On Birthright, I was thrown into the Jewish state. It was incredible. It made me want to know everything, and more about what it meant to be Jewish. If I would have been exposed to the opportunity earlier in my life and traveled to Israel during high school – and not only learn about Israel but live in Israel – I would have started every fundraiser I could, and filled out every scholarship application because what HSI is doing is cool and it’s important. I had such an amazing time traveling to Israel through the program this past summer, meeting the staff and seeing the campus. The best part was being immersed with the teens and hearing about their experiences. I made connections that I will now have forever. And I am proud to be here today to talk on their behalf. BROWNSTEIN JUDAICA GIFT SHOP AT JCMI Looking for the perfect gift? Choose from our many items: Mezuzahs Travel bags Skylar Haas in Israel Menorahs Jewelry Gifts for pets Novelty aprons Designer Hand Bags Silk and Handmade Kippot Mah Jongg Jewelry, Cards & Supplies 991 Winterberry Drive Marco Island (239) 642-0800 Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:30 - 1:30 Friday Evening: Before & After Shabbat Service
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. Five-Star Recommendation The eight-episode premiere season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is now streaming on Amazon. Any Amazon Prime member can watch Amazon original series, like Maisel, for free. Rarely has there been so much Jewish content in a “regular” TV series, so it’s worth binge-watching when you can. The first episode (free for all online) is good, but some Jewish details are confused (like calling the breakthe-fast dinner “Yom Kippur dinner”). Forgive the creator, AMY SHERMAN- PALLADINO, 51 (Gilmore Girls). Her mother wasn’t Jewish and she was raised “Jewish light” and gets some “Jewish stuff” a bit wrong – mostly in the first show. Maisel begins in 1958. The central character is Miriam “Midge” Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan). Midge is a 26-year-old affluent Jewish woman with a nice Jewish husband, two young kids and a great Manhattan apartment. She’s beautiful, funny and smart (Bryn Mawr grad), but its 1958 and she’s genuinely content with being a housewife/mother. Marriage troubles put her on her improbable journey to becoming a stand-up comedian. An NPR reviewer captured why the series works so well: most dramas about a stand-up comedian build them up before they take the stage. A let-down follows when the fictional comedian isn’t as funny or fresh as you’re led to believe they will be. Maisel doesn’t disappoint. She is shocking, smart and very funny on stage. She is, to a large degree, a marvelous fantasy. One wishes that in 1958 there was a Jewish woman comedian who could say – and did say – the things Maisel does. MICHAEL ZEGEN, 38, plays Joel, Midge’s husband. ALEX BOR- STEIN, 46, plays Suzie, Midge’s agent. The famous real-life comedian LENNY BRUCE (1925-1966) is a secondary, but important character. Getting to Know Timothée Chalamet Six months ago, he was a virtual unknown. But, in December, Vanity Fair called TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET, 21, the “breakout” star of the year. In November, he had a big supporting role as a high school student in Lady Bird, an acclaimed comingof-age story (starring Saoirse Ronan, it co-stars BEANIE FELDSTEIN, 24, and ODEYA RUSH, 20). In December, he became a likely Oscar nominee following the limited release of Call Me By Your Name (opens wide this month). Set in Italy, Chalamet plays Elio, the 17-year-old son of an American Jewish professor (MICHAEL STUHLBARG, 49) and an Italian Jewish mother. Armie Hammer plays Oliver, an American Jewish college student who comes to the professor’s home to help him with academic paperwork. Oliver and Elio are drawn to each other, partially because they’re both Jewish. A brief romance ensues. Lady Bird won the New York Critics Association “film of the year” award in December, and the same week, Call Me won the L.A. Critics best 2017 film award. Chalamet, who was raised in Manhattan, is the son of a French journalist January 2018 Federation Star Interested in Your Family’s History? 19A Nate Bloom (see column at left) has become a family history expert in 10 years of doing his celebrity column, and he has expert friends who can help when called on. Most family history experts charge $1,000 or more to do a full family-tree search. However, Bloom knows that most people want to start with a limited search of one family line. So here’s the deal: Write Bloom at nteibloom@aol.com and enclose a phone number. Nate will then contact you about starting a limited search. If that goes well, additional and more extensive searches are possible. The first search fee is no more than $100. No upfront cost. Also, several of this newspaper’s readers have asked Bloom to locate friends and family members from their past, and that’s worked out great for them. So contact him about this as well. father and an American Jewish mother. His mother’s brother, RODMAN FLENDER, 55, is a busy producer/ TV director. His maternal grandfather, HAROLD FLENDER, was a TV writer. Chalamet stars in A Rainy Day in New York, a WOODY ALLEN film to be released sometime this year, and he recently said that Allen, 82, told him he worked with Harold in the ’50s. Chalamet also has a big role in the Western Hostiles, which will be widely released this month. In an interview released in December, Chalamet described himself as Jewish. His mother has posted Instagram photos of the family celebrating Chanukah and of their Seder table. “Clues” point to his father not being Jewish. Sorting Them Out Even The New York Times and USA Today fell for widespread Internet misinformation that Meghan Markle, now the fiancée of Prince Harry, has a Jewish father. The Times corrected itself (November 28) the same day as they made the mistake. Markle’s correct religious background, as related in The Times’ correction, is this: born Protestant (but not baptized), she went to a Catholic girls’ school and intends to be baptized into the Church of England before marrying Harry. Her father is of varied European ancestry, including German and Irish (but not Jewish). Her mother is African-American. I suspect the “Jewish story” originated in the fact that her ex-husband, TREVOR ENGELSON, is Jewish and their wedding, reports said, contained “Jewish elements” (usually means a chuppah and/or stepping on a glass.) Readers wonder, I know, so here’s the background of just a few of the celebs recently fired or suspended for sexual harassment: Charlie Rose isn’t Jewish; New York Times reporter GLENN THRUSH is; and MATT LAUER is the son of a Jewish father/ non-Jewish mother. He wasn’t raised in any faith. FREE SAME DAY DELIVERY AVAILABLE in-stock items only, minimum purchase $ 499, see store for complete details The COMFORT of Today’s SLEEP SOFAS • Space Saving Design • Built for Comfort • Easy to Operate • Available in Sofa, Love Seat and Chair Styles starting at $ 1,499 NAPLES | NORTH NAPLES | ESTERO | FORT MYERS HOURS Saturday 9 am ‐ 6 pm • Sunday 11 am ‐ 5 pm • Monday‐Friday 9 am ‐ 8 pm More locations at CityMattress.com THE CITY MATTRESS PROMISE Free Delivery and Set‐up • Interest‐Free Financing • Guaranteed Lowest Prices • We Ship Anywhere • 90‐Night Comfort Guarantee
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Federation Star - January 2018

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