Federation Star - June 2019

JEWISH FEDERATION
Celebrating Jewish Life in Collier County, Israel and the World
Federation Star
Published by the Jewish Federation of Collier County
serving Naples, Marco Island and the surrounding communities
Published by
2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road,
Suite 2201
Naples, Florida 34109-0613
Phone: (239) 263-4205
Fax: (239) 263-3813
www.jewishnaples.org
Email: info@jewishnaples.org
Officers
Board Chair: Jane Schiff
Vice Chairs: Karen Deutsch,
Marc Saperstein, Phyllis Seaman
Secretary: Rosalee Bogo
Treasurer: Elliot Lerner
Immediate Past Chair: Alvin Becker
Board of Directors
Joshua Bialek
Harvey Cohen
Amanda Dorio
Paula Filler
Merlin Lickhalter
Robin Mintz
Les Nizin
William Petasnick
Jamie Satz
Betty Schwartz
Arlene Sobol
Michael Sobol
Elaine Soffer
Steve Strome
Jay Weiss
Beth Wolff
Edward Wollman
Jeff Zalasky
Past Presidents
Gerald Flagel, Dr. William Ettinger,
Ann Jacobson, Sheldon Starman,
Bobbie Katz, Rosalee Bogo,
Judge Norman Krivosha
Synagogue Representatives
Debra Antzis
Cantor Donna Azu
Ted Bunten
Rabbi Ammos Chorny
Shelley Goodman
Rabbi Mark Gross
Sue Hammerman
Rabbi Howard Herman
Stephen P. McCloskey
Rabbi Adam Miller
Rabbi James Perman
Dr. Arthur Seigel
Rabbi Fishel Zaklos
Federation President/CEO
Jeffrey Feld
Staff
Renee’ Bialek: Community Program
Coordinator
Marcy Friedland: Capital Campaign
Development Director
Julie Hartline: Campaign Associate
Janine Hudak, Receptionist
Nathan Ricklefs: Database Manager
Teresa Zimmerman: Finance and
Operations Manager
Federation is the central Jewish
community-building organization for
Greater Naples, providing a social
service network that helps Jewish
people locally, in Israel and around
the world. As the central fundraising
organization for Jewish communal
life in our area, strength is drawn
from organized committees of dedicated
volunteers.
Programs include:
• Annual Campaign &
Endowment Fund
• Educational & Cultural Programs
• Israel Advocacy Committee
• Israel Fest
• Israel Scouts
• Jewish Book Festival
• Jewish Community Relations
Council
• Jewish Professionals
• Jewish Russian Cultural Alliance
• Men’s Cultural Alliance
• Publication of the Federation
Star, Connections and
Community Directory
• Women’s Cultural Alliance
• Women’s Division
• Youth Activities Committee –
sponsoring youth education and
scholarships for Jewish Summer
Camp and the Israel Experience
June 2019 Federation Star
MCA’s new season set to blast off
By Jeff Margolis
While the summer season is
just beginning for many
members, the Men’s Cultural
Alliance has been busy planning for next
season. Due to popular demand, MCA is
returning to the Kennedy Space Center
on November 11-12. The tour will include
roundtrip bus transportation, a picnic
lunch en route, dinner at the famous
Dixie Crossroads Restaurant, overnight
accommodations, a special behind-thescenes
tour of the Space Center and a
visit to the nearby Warbird Museum.
Thirty spaces are available, and partners
are welcome. For reservations and information,
email MCA president Les Nizin
at mcanaplespresident@gmail.com.
There are a growing number of activities
that will be continuing through
the summer months. They include birding,
biking, bocce, breakfasts, bridge
dinners, genealogy and kayaking. Please
check the MCA eblasts for updated
locations and times for these activities.
Documentary Films Chair Steve
Brazina is excited to announce a change
in venue for next season. Films will be
shown at Temple Shalom. Look for additional
information in future issues of
the Federation Star.
The new MCA 2019-20 Program
Guide will be available to all members
on September 1. There will be several
new groups and activities as well as
those that members have come to enjoy.
If you have not renewed your
membership, please do so now. MCA
membership is $80 a year and includes
membership in the Jewish Federation
of Greater Naples. You can enroll three
ways. See the block below. If you are
new to the community, we welcome you
to become a part of the 700-memberstrong
MCA.
5
MCA is saddened to report the
recent passing of two of our members,
Mel Taub and Jack Gold. May their
memories be for a blessing.
Israel Advocacy Committee update:
Rick Recht rocks the house
By Jeff Margolis
Agathering of approximately
200 enthusiastic community
members joined Jewish Pop
Rock singer Rick Recht to kick off
the Celebrate Israel event at Temple
Shalom on Sunday, April 14. Recht,
the founder of Jewish Rock Radio and
a spokesperson for PJ Library, brought
his own brand of spirituality to the stage
and invited many of the children present
to join in the festivities. Following
the concert, attendees were treated to
Israeli dancing, hot dogs by the Temple
Shalom Men’s Club, Israeli foods, and
booths with information from numerous
Jewish organizations, including Arava
Institute, Israel Tennis Centers, FIDF,
CAMERA, AIPAC, Hand in Hand and
the Alexander Muss High School. Local
organizations participating and offering
free goodies were Collier/Lee Hadassah,
WCA and MCA. The Israel Advocacy
Committee of Greater Naples and the
Jewish Federation of Greater Naples
jointly sponsored the event.
Upcoming events
The entire community is invited to a free
concert performed by the Israel Scouts.
This is their annual visit to Naples. The
Scouts will perform on Tuesday, June 11
at 7:00 p.m. at Temple Shalom. Then,
on Wednesday, June 12 at 7:00 p.m.,
the Scouts will perform at New Hope
Ministries, 7675 Davis Blvd., Naples.
No RSVP is necessary. Please join us
for an enjoyable evening and to support
the Israel Scouts program.
The Israel Advocacy Committee is
already planning events for next season.
The committee is pleased to announce
that our kickoff program will feature Jerusalem
Post columnist Herb Keinon on
Thursday, November 7. Born in Denver,
Keinon holds a BA in political science
from the University of Colorado, and an
MA in journalism from the University of
Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He is the
author of two books: Lone Soldiers: Israel’s
Defenders from Around the World
and French Fries in Pita. This will be
Mr. Keinon’s second visit to Greater
Naples as he was enthusiastically received
during his last visit in 2015.
On Wednesday, December 11, the
IAC program will feature David Lehrer,
director of the ARAVA Institute for Environmental
Studies. More information
about these and other IAC events will
There are 3 Ways to
Join the MCA!
1. Go to our website – WWW.MCANaples.org.
Click on MCA Membership Form and complete the
form (you can pay by credit card or check).
2. Send an email with your name, email address and
phone number to JoinMCA@MCANaples.org.
3. Mail your name, email address and phone number
to Larry Israelite, 8820 Savona Court, Naples, FL.
34119.
Have any questions?
Call our President – Les Nizin – at 516-356-2897
Rick Recht with local children on the Temple Shalom bimah during his concert at the Celebrate Israel event
Religious School
TEACHERS WANTED
be featured in upcoming issues of the
Federation Star.
For more information about the
Israel Advocacy Committee and its
schedule of events, please contact IAC
chair Harvey Cohen at hwcohen@
gmail.com.
Our dynamic and vibrant Religious School at
Temple Shalom is seeking to hire teachers for
elementary/middle school age classes for our
Sunday morning program. We strive to empower
our students to develop the knowledge, skills,
and dispositions to lead successful and engaged
Jewish lives. The ideal candidate is enthusiastic,
collaborative, committed to Jewish values, and
has experience working with Jewish children
and families. Knowledge of Hebrew is a plus.
To apply, please contact Susan Feld
sfeld@naplestemple.org.
4630 Pine Ridge Rd. • Naples, FL 34119 • 239-455-2233 • naplestemple.org