The Jewish News - March 2020

11 TH ANNUAL

PRESENTED BY the MILMAN-KOVER

family

MARCH

11 – 22

2020

FOR TICKETS VISIT JFEDSRQ.ORG/JFF20 OR CALL 888.718.4253, Option 1

See more on page 12B

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

FEDERATION NEWS

Celebrating

March 2020 - Adar/Nissan 5780 www.jfedsrq.org Volume 50, Number 3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

14A Community Focus

21A Jewish Interest

28A Israel & the Jewish World

34A Commentary

40A Focus on Youth

43A Life Cycle

1B Jewish Happenings

Daniel E. Offutt, III Charitable

Trust: An artfully generous gift

Federation’s Newcomers SRQ

event a huge success!

Celebrating our Lion of Judah

and Pomegranate donors

New York City – more than

just fun and games for six

STEP high school students

3A

7A

8A

13A

For more than 60 community

events in March, see the

Jewish Happenings section

beginning on page 1B.

50

Years

Anti-Semitism: How we are

addressing it locally

By Howard Tevlowitz, Chief Executive Officer

Anti-Semitic incidents are increasing

dramatically in the

United States and Europe. We

are becoming numb to the shocking

number of images of Jews being attacked

and murdered where we worship,

where we live and in the places

we frequent.

In 2019-20 alone:

11 Jews were massacred at Sabbath

morning prayers at the Tree

doing:

of Life building in Pittsburgh, the

deadliest anti-Semitic attack in

U.S. history

Five people were brutally attacked

with a machete while celebrating

Chanukah at a rabbi’s home in

Monsey, New York

1,879 (five per day) anti-Semitic

incidents were reported across

the U.S., the third highest number

since the Anti-Defamation League

began recording in 1979

141 hate crimes were reported in

Florida, nearly double from 2015,

according to the FBI

58% of religion-based hate crimes

were committed against Jews and

Jewish institutions in the U.S., according

to the FBI

1,646 anti-Semitic crimes were reported

in Germany, including 62

acts of violence, a rise of almost

70%

1,652 anti-Semitic incidents in the

United Kingdom were recorded,

the highest in a single year

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

takes the issue of

security for our Jewish community extremely

seriously. Here’s what we are

Organizing community programs,

such as the January

Solidarity Rally, to

bring Jewish, interfaith

and minority

communities together

Speaking out – to our

local media and to our

local, state and federal

representatives

Working directly with

our state government

in Tallahassee and our

federal government in

Washington, D.C., regarding security

funding for Jewish institutions

in our two-county area. It is

the government’s responsibility to

protect its citizens in their houses

of worship and at meeting spaces.

As much as we can push on government

to meet its responsibilities, we

Jewish Community Study

Summary Report released

By Kim Mullins, Chief Operating Officer

Over the last few months, you

have likely read about the release

of our 2019 Jewish Community

Study and have seen some of

the highlights of that study reported

here in The Jewish News. A few of you

may have even visited our Federation’s

website and read the full study – over

100 pages of data! We are proud to announce

that a new Jewish Community

Study Summary Report has just been

released. It showcases a variety of data

points to help you better understand

our Jewish community.

Our Federation leadership is delighted

to see the response that the

study results have already generated

in the community. Jewish organizations

are utilizing the data as a basis for

strategic planning; a number of which

have been working

with our Federation

to gain a deeper understanding

what this

data means for our

growing community

as we move forward.

We have also made

presentations to non-

Jewish partners who

are interested in

learning more about

our Jewish community.

Our Federation relies on the study

results to assist us with the re-envisioning

of our Larry & Mary Greenspon

Family Campus for Jewish Life, as

well as future programming.

We encourage you to visit our website

and read either the summary or the

PUBLISHED BY

The Jewish

Federation

OF SARASOTA-MANATEE

THE LARRY & MARY GREENSPON

FAMILY CAMPUS FOR JEWISH LIFE

will not leave the security of the Jewish

community to government alone.

We know we must organize ourselves

effectively to ensure the safety of our

community. To that end, Federation

has:

Created a Jewish Community Security

Committee comprised of all

synagogues, temples and Jewish

agencies with facilities to work together

on security related issues

No Hate No Fear Rally in January

Contracted with the Secure Community

Network (SCN) to hire a

Security Director for our community.

That Director, who will hopefully

be in place this month, will be

responsible for our Jewish community’s

security, coordinating with

continued on page 2A

full study, both of which are located at

jfedsrq.org/communitystudy.

If you would like to receive a printed

copy of the summary report, please

email me at kmullins@jfedsrq.org or

call me at 941.552.6300. I’ll gladly

answer any questions about the study.

A publication of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

The Larry & Mary Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life

Klingenstein Jewish Center, 580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota, FL 34232

Annual voluntary subscription: $25

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2A March 2020 FEDERATION NEWS

oT

o

ES

FORWO

W

WO

WOMEN’S PASSOVER CELEBRATION

Celebrating

100 years of Women’s Suffrage

Co-Chairs: Janis, Mary & Ella Collier

(representing three generations)

THURSDAY

MARCH 26

5PM

Michael’s On East

100 years

Of women's suffrage

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

THE VOICES OF WOMEN WILL BE

RAISED IN CELEBRATION

of the many accomplishments and freedoms achieved

in the 100 years since women won the right to vote.

Join us for this Seder-styled event led by the women

who lead our congregations, community and homes:

rabbis and cantors, mothers and daughters.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

TO REGISTER:

JFEDSRQ.ORG/EVENTS

QUESTIONS? Contact Lisa Feinman,

lfeinman@jfedsrq.org or 941.706.0034

Edie & David Chaifetz

Leon R. & Margaret M. Ellin

Debbie & Larry Haspel

Rosenthal Roots Family Foundation

TICKETS $ 90

TORCH SPONSORS

COPPER SPONSORS

Helen Glaser

Ann & Robert Jackson

Patti & David Wertheimer

Sylvia & Norman Samet

Bunny & Mort Skirboll

Hadassah & Martin Strobel

Lois Stulberg

OMEN

Anti-Semitism...continued from page 1A

local, state and federal law enforcement,

providing assessments

of and critical training to all Jewish

institutions, and working with

our state and federal governments

regarding funding.

Sarasota-Manatee Jewish community,

we cannot do it alone. It will take you By S

as well. Here are some ideas for how

you can help:

Speak out – it all starts with education

and conversation

The Federation also

has several programs

in place to educate our

community about the

horrors of the Holocaust.

As part of our

commitment to help

young people of all

faiths understand what

happens when hate goes

unchecked, our Holocaust

Speakers Bureau

educates 2,000 students

in our local schools

each year. Additionally,

our new Classrooms Without Borders

program sponsors trips for local teachers

to travel to Poland to learn firsthand

the lessons of the Holocaust which can

be incorporated into their school curriculums.

Last year, five local teachers

participated. This coming year, we will

send a cohort of ten teachers from St.

Martha’s Catholic School, Out of Door

Academy, North Port High School,

Sarasota High School and Pineview

School.

Additionally, we support Gulf

Coast Hillel, which operates on college

campuses in Sarasota-Manatee. Its

mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish

students so that they may enrich the

Jewish people and the world. We feel

strongly that a confident Jewish college

student can stand up to anti-Semitism

if and when faced with it.

Although we can provide education

and a security umbrella for our

Congressman Vern Buchanan

202.225.5015

Vern.Buchanan@mail.house.gov

Congressman Greg Steube

202.225.5792

Greg.Steube@mail.house.gov

Senator Marco Rubio

202.224.3041

rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/

contact

Senator Rick Scott

202.224.5274

rickscott.senate.gov/contact_rick

Governor Ron DeSantis

850.717.9337

flgov.com/email-the-governor/

Rally participants stand up to hate

Urge your Representative to join

the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating

anti-Semitism. Visit ajc.org/

take-action

Share your view with all of our

area’s elected officials (see the box

below for contact information)

Go to synagogue

Invite neighbors (including non-

Jewish ones) for Shabbat dinner

Wear your Magen David with pride

Attend Jewish events (visit jfedsrq.

org/events to learn more)

Take the problem seriously

Together, we can fight against hatred

and keep our Jewish community

safe.

Howard Tevlowitz is the Chief Executive

Officer of The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manatee. He can be

reached at htevlowitz@jfedsrq.org or

941.343.2110.

Your elected officials:

Senator Joe Gruters

District: 941.378.6309

Capitol: 850.487.5023

Gruters.Joe@flsenate.gov

Representative Margaret Good

District: 941.955.8077

Capitol: 850.717.5072

Margaret.Good@myfloridahouse.gov

Representative Tommy Gregory

District: 941.708.5660

Capitol: 850.717.5073

Tommy.Gregory@myfloridahouse.gov

Representative James Buchanan

District: 941.429.4560

Capitol: 850.717.5074

James.Buchanan@myfloridahouse.gov

Want to

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community news,

event updates

and more?

Text: JFED

To: 332-22

A

Read the current and previous editions of The Jewish News online at www.jfedsrq.org.

FEDERATION NEWS

March 2020

3A

An artfully generous gift

By Sharon Kunkel

Hershorin Schiff Community

Day School recently received

a gift of $500,000 from the

Daniel E. Offutt, III Charitable Trust.

The funds – which were directed by

the trustee, Richard Orenstein – will be

used to create an endowment fund for

scholarships and to support the building

of the Offutt Art Studio as part of

the school’s new facilities on The Larry

& Mary Greenspon Family Campus

for Jewish Life.

The capital funds for the Offutt Art

Studio are being directed through The

Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee,

which is currently in the midst of

a major fundraising campaign to redevelop

its 32-acre campus on McIntosh

Road. Community Day School, which

serves students in preschool through

eighth grade, will move to the Greenspon

Campus for the 2021-2022 school

year.

Mazer’s and Orenstein’s mutual passion

for educational scholarships,

and Mazer’s suggestion to name the

school’s new art studio, the groundwork

for the major gift was laid.

Orenstein feels that Offutt would

have approved heartily of the contribution

benefiting Community Day School

and the community at large. “Arts and

education were big areas of focus for

Dan,” he said. “And the inclusion of all

faiths at the school is a very positive

thing.”

Community Day School leaders

are grateful for the major gift, particularly

with the move to the new school

facility looming.

“This gift from the Daniel E. Offutt,

III Charitable Trust will provide

invaluable scholarship funding to help

deserving students to benefit from a

Community Day education and to provide

a state-of-the-art studio in which

Goodness emerged

out of evil

By Bette Zaret

During March and April, the exhibit

“Whoever Saves a Single

Life: Rescuers of Jews During

the Holocaust” will be on display at

Selby Library, 1331 1 st St., Sarasota.

Two events will kick off the exhibit

at Selby Library:

Sunday, March 1 at 1:30 p.m.: Docent

training for volunteers

Monday, March 2 from 2:30 to

4:00 p.m.: Opening reception and

talk by Stanlee J. Stahl, Executive

Vice President of The Jewish

Foundation for the Righteous

The exhibit is sponsored by Butterflies

of Hope & Remembrance, The

Jewish Foundation for the Righteous,

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-

Manatee, Sarasota County Libraries &

Historical Resources and Temple Beth

Israel. For more information, contact

Bette Zaret at bettezaret@gmail.com.

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Community Day School Board of Trustees co-chair Rachel Saltzberg (left)

and Head of School Dan Ceaser (right) with Richard Orenstein and Rita Mazer

Daniel E. Offutt was a creative man

who invested in stocks on Wall Street

and was president of his own company,

DEO Enterprises. Although he continued

to dabble in stocks, he was in a

position to retire early and pursue creative

hobbies, including photography,

woodworking and welding sculptures

made of iron. Orenstein was a friend of

Offutt’s. When he was helping Offutt to

write his will, Offutt asked him to be

the executor of his estate and trustee of

the Charitable Trust – most of which

went to charity.

Orenstein learned of the work and

mission of Community Day School

through good friends Rita and Barry

Mazer. Rita introduced Orenstein

to Community Day leaders and arranged

for him to tour the school. With

students will learn and create,” said

Head of School Dan Ceaser. “We are

grateful to Rita Mazer and Richard

Orenstein for helping to direct these

funds for the school’s benefit, and hope

that the outcomes will serve as an appropriate

tribute to Daniel Offutt’s

memory.”

For more about Community Day

School, go to CommunityDay.org or

call 941.552.2770.

For more information on how

you can support the JFED PROUD

& STRONG campaign to expand The

Larry & Mary Greenspon Family

Campus for Jewish Life, contact Ilene

Fox at 941.343.2111 or ifox@jfedsrq.

org, or Rich Bergman at 941.552.6406

or rbergman@jfedsrq.org.

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We Welcome You

Shalom! Welcome to paradise!

We hope you feel at home and become active

members of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish

community. Please stop by and visit us!

Ilene Fox • 941.343.2111 • ifox@jfedsrq.org

Get Newcomer information:

jfedsrq.org/new

The Larry & Mary Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life • Klingenstein Jewish Center

580 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232

.

Notice anything different about The Jewish News? We hope you enjoy our new larger format!

4A March 2020

2019-2020

TORCH

SPONSORS

*

Where your dollars go

This series highlights mission-based programs and projects that are supported by

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. Funding for these initiatives is derived

from the Annual Campaign. The series helps to explain where your generous

dollars are spent and features certain initiatives that enrich the lives of Jews living

in Sarasota-Manatee, local projects with area partners, and overseas programs that

support the social and humanitarian needs of Jews in Israel and around the world.

Chabad Chanukah events

By Gayle Guynup

Each year, The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manatee supports

three separate Chabad

Chanukah events – one in Bradenton,

one in Sarasota and one in Venice. This

year, the Federation donated $12,500

toward the three events.

“We have proudly supported these

important community events for many

years,” said Kim Mullins, Chief Operating

Officer of The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manatee. “Our local

Chabads produce incredible outreach

and holiday events, such as these Chanukah

programs, that draw thousands

of Jewish people each year and provide

a safe space where we can celebrate

together as a community.”

The Chanukah event normally held

on Lakewood Ranch Main Street had

to be moved indoors, to the Chabad

Center, due to the threat of bad weather.

According to Rabbi Mendy Bukiet

of Chabad of Bradenton and Lakewood

Ranch, it was still a festive affair that

included a menorah made from LEGO

blocks and a Chanukah gelt drop,

among other fun activities for the families

and children. Adding to the fun

was a bubble and magic show.

“The event is one of the premier

Chanukah events in our area, and

shows how relevant the Federation is

in supporting the Jewish community,”

Chabad of Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch

celebrated with a menorah made of LEGO blocks

Rabbi Bukiet said. “This event is vital

because Chanukah is so important,

bringing light and warmth into our

community,” he said. “Even in these

days when there is so much anger and

hatred in our headlines, the light of

FEDERATION NEWS

Chanukah could not be dimmed. It was

an all-around wonderful, wonderful

day.”

Inclement weather also did not

dampen the spirits of the hundreds of

guests who came out for “A Taste of

Chanukah 2019,” moved from Phillippi

Creek Mansion to Westfield Sarasota

Square Mall. It was a fun day for

the entire family with a full-color laser

light show, a trackless train ride, magicians,

face painting, live music by DJ

CJ Koenig, and delicious kosher food

prepared by the area’s finest caterers.

Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Chabad

Lubavitch of Sarasota and Manatee

Counties, noted that the Federation

sponsorship is important because

Chabad is seeking to be as inclusive as

possible, teaming up with other local

organizations.

“Despite the bad weather and the

last-minute change of venue, we had

more than 1,000 participants,” Rabbi

Steinmetz said. “There were major

entertainers including The Skyriders!

Trampoline Show. But the real highlight

was the freshly baked giant latkes,

which quickly sold out!”

On December 29, the Chabad of

Venice Chanukah Klezmer Festival,

held at Centennial Park, featured the

lighting of a 10-foot LEGO menorah,

The Freilach Klezmer Band, and a performance

by Chabad’s Hebrew School

of the Arts students. Guests could also

enjoy traditional Chanukah foods, with

latkes, kugel, stuffed cabbage and matzah

ball chicken soup available for

sale. The event was free and open to

the public.

Rabbi Sholom Schmerling of

Chabad of Venice and North Port noted,

“The success of our event could not

have been possible without the partnership

and support of the Federation. The

event is important to the local Jewish

community because it brings them together

and there is a special sense of

Jewish pride that everyone in attendance

feels.” He added that this year

was the most successful event in Venice

to date with close to 1,000 people

attending.

For more information on grants

to our local community, contact Kim

Mullins at kmullins@jfedsrq.org or

941.552.6300.

Edie and David Chaifetz

Leon R. and Margaret M. Ellin

Debbie and Larry Haspel

Rosenthal Roots Family Foundation

Sylvia and Norman Samet

Bunny and Mort Skirboll

Hadassah and Martin Strobel

Lois Stulberg

Sam Schneider lights the Lego Menorah at the “A Taste of Chanukah” festival

We offer our very deep appreciation

to our 2019-20 Season Torch Sponsors!

They support our Federation’s efforts to bring quality

events and programs to our local community and help

fund crucial services for people in need here in

Sarasota-Manatee, in Israel and around the world.

*As of 11/11/19

Chabad of Venice Hebrew School of the Arts students

perform at the Chabad of Venice Chanukah event

Follow us on social media @jfedsrq

FEDERATION NEWS

March 2020

5A

by

deous

Established 1971

ing

that

PUBLISHER

rld.


The Larry & Mary Greenspon

Family Campus for Jewish Life

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 50, Number 3

March 2020

56 pages

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April 2020 Issue Deadlines:

Editorial: February 27, 2020

Advertising: March 2, 2020

CHANGE OF ADDRESS:

Change of address inquiries

can be sent to Bobbi Barger

at bbarger@jfedsrq.org

or call 941.371.4546 x0

PRESIDENT

Randon Carvel

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Howard Tevlowitz

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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 Sarasota-

Manatee, its Board of Directors or staff.

SUBMISSIONS to The Jewish News are subject

to editing for space and content, and

may be withheld from publication without

prior notice. Approval of submissions for

publication in either verbal or written form

shall always be considered tentative, and

does not imply a guarantee of any kind.

Submissions must be sent electronically to

jewishnews@jfedsrq.org.

LETTERS to the editor should not exceed 300

words, must be typed, and include the writer’s

name, mailing address and phone number.

Letters can be submitted via USPS or email

(jewishnews@jfedsrq.org). Not all letters will

be published. Letters may be edited for length

and content.

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to refuse any advertisement and may require

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Publication of advertisements does not constitute

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STAY

CONNECTED

People of the Book: Josh Frank,

Salvador Dali, the Marx Brothers

and the strangest movie never made

By Gayle Guynup

On Sunday, March 8, The Jewish

Federation of Sarasota-

Manatee will host Josh Frank,

author of Giraffes on Horseback Salad,

as part of its People of the Book series.

The lecture will be held at 7:00 p.m.

in the Beatrice Friedman Theater on

The Larry & Mary Greenspon Family

Campus for Jewish Life (582 McIntosh

Road, Sarasota). Tickets are $10

per person.

Giraffes on Horseback Salad was

a screenplay originally written in 1937

by surrealist artist

Salvador Dali for

his friend Harpo

Marx and the Marx

Brothers. It was

rejected by MGM,

and the script was

thought lost forever.

Seventy-some

years later, author

and lost-film buff

Josh Frank unearthed

the original

script, along with

Dali’s notes and

sketches, tucked away in the archives

of a Paris museum.

A lifelong Marx Brothers fan,

Frank said he was poking around on

the internet for a subject for his next

book – based on movies that were never

made – when he first came across

Giraffes on Horseback Salad. Frank

says he became obsessed with the project

and started digging, and digging

some more, when he came across 90

Josh Frank

#ChooseAwesome

pages of scripts, sketches and drawings

by the famous painter. He had it translated

from French to English and then

went to work with Tim Heidecker and

illustrator Manuela Pertega, creating

his graphic novel, Giraffes on Horseback

Salad: The Strangest Movie Never

Made.

“My goal was to finish the movie

without really making the movie,” he

said. That’s why he decided to create

it as a graphic novel. The entire project,

which took about six and a half

years, included creating

a “Cole Porterstyle

soundtrack” for

it, which you can listen

to along with the

book.

He describes it as

“wacky, wild and surreal,”

but says that as

he delved into Dali’s

notes on the project,

he came to understand

that though it was still

way out there, all of

the ideas in the story

were projections of

Dali’s personal life and struggles.

“It is a deep story that I am proud

that I was able to tell. Unlike Dali’s

paintings, this story had words, plots

and characters that had great meaning

for him. This was a piece of Dali’s art

that never got finished.”

Held in partnership with the Jewish

Book Council, the People of the

Book series features programs on a variety

of topics that are sure to delight,

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many thanks to our Silver Sponsor,

the Community Foundation of Sarasota

County, and Bronze Sponsors,

The Ackerman Group, Suncoast Pearl

Wealth Group/RBC Wealth Management,

Jules & Carol B. Green, and Lori

& David Liner.

Future speakers will include Jack

Fairweather (The Volunteer: One Man,

an Underground Army) and Sarah

Rose (D-Day Girls: The Spies Who

Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the

Nazis and Helped Win World War II)

on Tuesday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m. in

the Beatrice Friedman Theater.

Individual tickets are $10. To purchase

tickets, visit jfedsrq.org/books.

For more information, contact Jeremy

Lisitza, Director of Innovation and Volunteer

Engagement, at 941.343.2113

or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org.

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JFED PROUD & STRONG: Join us in our campus re-imagination – jfedsrq.org

6A March 2020

FEDERATION NEWS

Women’s Passover: Celebrating 100 years

of women’s suffrage

By Gayle Guynup


is presenting a

Women’s Passover Celebration

on Thursday, March 26 at 5:00 p.m. at

Michael’s On East.

The event is part of “The Suffragist

Project,” Florida Studio Theatre’s artistic

celebration of the upcoming 100 th

anniversary of the ratification of the

19 th Amendment (August 20, 2020),

granting women the right to vote. The

project is bringing together more than

55 community organizations, and will

feature plays, dance performances, art

exhibits, lectures, panel discussions

and in-school educational offerings,

all in recognition of this monumental

milestone.

The Passover Celebration is chaired

by women representing three generations

of the Collier family – Janis,

daughter-in-law Mary and 13-year-old

daughter Ella.

“Our family is representing the

many generations of families that are

involved in The Jewish Federation of

Sarasota-Manatee,” said Mary.

Guests are invited to join in celebrating

historical moments of liberation

and accomplishment through

song, dance, interactive technology,

traditional texts and, of course, food.

From slavery in Egypt to having our

own voice at the ballot box, women

have come a long way and there is

much to celebrate. Women 10 to 110

will share a unique Jewish-American

experience with lots of meaningful and

inspirational takeaways for their own

family Seders.

“As the event is happening before

Passover, it will include some newer,

modernized elements on the Seder

plate,” Mary said. She hinted that

there will also be interactive elements

throughout the evening, so the women

(through real-time polling on mobile

devices) will be involved in determining

how the evening progresses.

“Our goal is to celebrate both 100

years of women’s suffrage and the

women’s Seder. It is all about honoring

women as role models, and celebrating

the strength of women from Biblical

times to the present,” Mary said.

The Seder-styled event will be led

by the women who lead our congregations,

communities and homes – rabbis,

cantors, mothers and daughters.

One of those women is Rabbi Samantha

Kahn of Temple Sinai. “The

evening will be a celebration of women

using their voice and their vote to make

the world a better place,” she said. “It

will also help modern women to reflect

on the heritage other women have left

us,” she said.

“We are encouraging all generations

to come, and to that end, are offering

special pricing for students,

including grade school students,” Mary

said. “It is a night for all generations to

come together.”

Registration is required at jfedsrq.

org/events. Seating is limited. For more

information, please contact Lisa Feinman

at 941.706.0034 or lfeinman@

jfedsrq.org.

Fe

The Collier family: Mary, Jason, Ella, Janis and Ronald

THE FOURTH ANNUAL FLORENCE KATZ

MEMORIAL CONCERT

’

A choir concert featuring hits from Neil

Diamond, Billy Joel, Leonard Cohen & more!

Tuesday, March 24 th , 2020

In Loving Memory of

Florence Katz

1915-2015

7:00 PM

Concert & Reception $50. VIP Seating $75

Reservations: (941) 383-3428, www.tbi-lbk.org

Special Sponsorships Available:

$1000 Florence Katz Patron Society – 4 complimentary

tickets

$500 Carole Klionsky Memorial – 2 complimentary tickets

$250 Friends of the Choir – 1 complimentary ticket

*All proceeds will directly benefit the TBI Choir*

MEET THE CHOIR & GUEST ARTISTS AT A CHAMPAGNE

RECEPTION FOLLOWING THE CONCERT!

Temple Beth Israel

567 Bay Isles Rd. Longboat Key, FL 34228

(941) 383-3428 | RESERVE ONLINE: www.tbi-lbk.org

PLEASE SUPPORT

OUR ADVERTISERS

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St

srq.

ore

einn@

FEDERATION NEWS

March 2020

7A

Federation’s Newcomers SRQ event a huge success!

Staff Report

It was another successful opportunity

for new members of our Sarasota-Manatee

Jewish community

Sa-to come together. Co-chairs Sheree and

The Larry Zaslavsky, in their second year,

en chaired a beautiful event at the new

ake Embassy Suites hotel in downtown

. “It Sarasota. We thank our lead sponsor,

ect the Community Foundation of Sarasota

County, as well as Stacy Hanan,

left

Realtor, Michael Saunders & Compa-

for their continued support of this

era-nyof-vitants,

Newcomers SRQ is an opportunity

event.

ary for full- and part-time Sarasota resi-

s to

dents to meet Federation board members

and staff and find out more about

the Jewish offerings available to them.

What a turnout we had with well over

100 attendees. Many of them also attended

our January Volunteer Open

House the following week to learn

about volunteer opportunities with the

Federation and partner organizations.

“As host for the evening,” Sheree

Zaslavsky said, “I was so worried that

the room was going to be too big, so we

closed off one section of the ballroom.

Was I surprised when it was standing

room only! It turned out to be fabulous

because you couldn’t help but

make new friends!”

We hold events such as

these to build and bring together

our local Jewish community.

If you are new to the area

and would like to become involved,

please contact Jeremy

Lisitza at 941.343.2113 or

jlisitza@jfedsrq.org. To learn

about ways to support the Federation,

please contact Ilene

Fox at 941.343.2111 or ifox@

jfedsrq.org.

Yvonne Svastal and Bonita & Harvey Ganot

Leslie Eisenberg & Larry Marion and Melvin & Meryl Langbort

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Stay informed throughout the month. Sign up for the Jewish Federation’s Enewsletter at www.jfedsrq.org.

8A March 2020

FEDERATION NEWS

Celebrating our Lion of Judah

and Pomegranate donors

By Gisele Pintchuck, LIFE & LEGACY Director

One hundred and forty Lion of

Judah and Pomegranate donors

gathered in January at

the Sarasota Yacht Club for the annual

luncheon held in their honor. Co-chairs

Barbara Ackerman and Sepi Ackerman

welcomed their guests with the stunning

and picture-perfect Sarasota Bay

as their backdrop.

Guest speaker Alina Spaulding inspired

and delighted the audience with

humor and emotion while sharing her

Guest Speaker Alina Spaulding

personal journey from the former Soviet

Union to the United States and how

the Jewish Federation system made a

critical impact on her and her family’s

lives. Alina also conveyed her gratitude

to Lion of Judah donors, who made a

difference in her life as a young child.

She shared her philanthropic work and

passion in the areas of youth engagement,

housing sustainability, the arts,

overcoming trauma, mental health and

cancer care.

Lions and Pomegranates mingled

and enjoyed a beautiful luncheon and

welcomed a group of new donors as

Marysue Wechsler and Bobbi Bernstein

they received their pins from the event’s Cynthia Wright and Sheree Zaslavsky

co-chairs. New Lions recognized were

Aviva Friedman, Gail Kaplan, Linda

Klein, Sue Ellen Korach, Esther Rose,

Ronna Ruben, Marilyn Shuman and

Renee Singer. New Pomegranates recognized

were Pam Adelstein, Wendy

Born, Stephanie Citron, Julie Wright

Halbert, Rachael Feldman, Lauren

Fineman, Jeanne Marlowe, Sandi Kligman,

Ilene Pakett and Emily Stroud.

For more information about becoming

a Lion of Judah or Pomegranate,

please call Ilene Fox at 941.343.2111

or Gisele Pintchuck at 941.706.0029. Marcy Klein and Suzy Farbman Irene Ross and Faith Goldman

Slivin

this

a ma

chai

can

neve

stage

J

acce

pital

with

trans

the

tire

for t

It is

New Lions: Esther Rose, Sue Ellen Korach, Ronna Ruben, Renee Singer,

Gail Kaplan, Fran Cohen, Aviva Friedman, Linda Klein, Marilyn Shuman

Helen Glaser, Nancy Jacobson, Bunny Skirboll

New Pomegranates: Jeanne Marlowe, Sandi Kligman, Emily Stroud, Cynthia Wright (receiving on behalf of her daughter

Julie Wright Halbert), Wendy Born, Lauren Fineman, Pam Adelstein, Rachael Feldman, Stephanie Citron, Ilene Pakett

Tidewell Hospice

is committed to meeting the spiritual and physical

needs of our patients and families.

As a certified Jewish Hospice, Tidewell offers:

• Mezuzah and Shabbat candles

• Spiritual consultation with Rabbi on request

• Bible and prayer book

Event Co-Chairs Sepi Ackerman and Barbara Ackerman

with Alina Spaulding (center)

www.tidewell.org • 941-552-7500 • 855-Tidewell

Are your grandchildren

being raised in an

interfaith home?

5 Tuesdays

starting

March 3

3:30 - 5:00 pm

Discover and

discuss ways to

nurture the

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of your interfaith

grandchildren

Facilitated by Sue Huntting, MAJE/MAJCS

$18 for temple members/$25 for guests

For more information contact Margo - joshe8@aol.com or 941-923-3636

To register online go to: SinaiSRQ.org

Temple Sinai 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road (off Proctor)

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Published by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee • www.jfedsrq.org

FEDERATION NEWS

March 2020

9A

Jordan River Village – a magical place

for children in Israel

This program is sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

So many of us take for granted campers, volunteers, families and staff

that being young is a time of joy speak both Hebrew and Arabic as the

and wonder. Sadly, for children languages of friendship.

living with serious medical conditions, It took an iconic actor with bright

this is not a reality. In Israel, there is blue eyes to make it happen. Paul Newman

is the man behind the happiness,

a magical place where kids in wheelchairs

can fly, children without sight fun, smiles and joy for thousands of

can ride horses, and children who have children around the world living with

never before spoken can perform on serious illnesses. Before passing away in

stage.

2008, Mr. Newman, along with Sarasota

couple Murray & Marilyn Grant, z”l,

Jordan River Village’s free, fully

accessible campus with its onsite hospital

accepts 1,800 children each year partners and friends around the world,

Israeli actor Chaim Topol, and many

with serious medical conditions for a left this life-changing legacy in Israel.

transformative camp experience. It is Jordan River Village exists outside

the Middle East that is seen on the

the only camp of its kind in the entire

Middle East that provides a haven nightly news. At the Village, children

for these children and their families. of Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths

It is a place where at every session, share unique and powerful experiences

Snowbird appointed

to national women’s

philanthropy role

Staff Report

Deborah Gordon, a Sarasota

snowbird from Rochester,

New York, has

been appointed to the

Board of Directors of

National Women’s Philanthropy

of The Jewish

Federations of North

America (JFNA). This

national volunteer appointment

follows substantial

leadership on

Debbie’s part in Rochester,

where she was chair

of the Lion of Judah Endowment

program among

other roles. Here in Sarasota, Debbie

is a member of the Women’s Giving

Circle.

Debbie joins our

own Federation’s board

member, Anne Spindel,

who also sits on JFNA’s

National Women Philanthropy’s

Board of

Directors. JFNA represents

146 Jewish Federations,

including The

Jewish Federation of

Sarasota-Manatee

and over 300 network

Deborah Gordon communities.

that help them achieve the happiness,

friendship and fun of childhood. It is

also a place that helps parents of these

sick children connect with each other

and create support networks that transcend

differences; these parents learn

to focus on what binds them together,

their desire to help their children be

children.

And the results at the Village are

no less magical! Because of their new

friends, the Village’s campers are forever

changed. More than 12,000 campers

have left the Village more resilient

and better able to live with their diseases,

proving that the healing power

of fun and friendship knows no religious,

ethnic or physical limitations.

The Sarasota community has

scores of supporters of Jordan River

Village and The Jewish Federation of

Sarasota-Manatee is a proud sponsor.

Please join our friends on Sunday,

March 8 from 10:00 a.m. to noon for a

brunch, virtual campus tour and Q&A

with Israeli campers and volunteers at

The Larry & Mary Greenspon Family

Campus for Jewish Life, 580 McIntosh

Road, Sarasota. To RSVP, email kayla

@afjrv.org or call 888.999.3054 *2.

A concierge practice devoted to internal medicine and wellness.

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10A March 2020

FEDERATION NEWS

We shall never forget –

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

By Bette Zaret, Chair, Butterflies of Hope and Remembrance

The United Nations General Assembly

designated January 27

of each year – the anniversary

of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau

– as International Holocaust Remembrance

Day. Auschwitz, where

over 1.1 million Jews were murdered,

was a complex of over 40 concentration

and extermination camps operated

by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland

during World War II and the Holocaust.

On this annual day of commemoration,

the UN urges every member state

to honor the six million Jewish victims

of the Holocaust and millions of other

victims of Nazism and to develop educational

programs to help prevent future

genocides.

On January 26, The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manatee and its

Heller Community Relations Committee

(CRC), in collaboration with the

Butterflies of Hope and Remembrance

project, hosted more than 400 people

who participated in our local International

Holocaust Remembrance Day

event.

The event was introduced by program

co-chairs Dr. Anna Kohen and

Bette Zaret. Rabbi Anne Feibelman

offered the invocation. Federation

member Edie Chaifetz introduced keynote

speaker Dr. Debórah Dwork who

spoke of children refugees during the

Holocaust. Dr. Dwork is an American

historian, specializing in the history of

the Holocaust. She is the Rose Professor

of Holocaust History and Founding

Director of the Strassler Center for Holocaust

and Genocide Studies at Clark

University in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The ceremony also featured poignant

reflections from three Holocaust

survivors – Rifka Glatz, Helga

Melamed and George Schillinger –

who told of their harrowing memories

of being in concentration

camps and then being liberated.

Art Sheridan, a liberator

of the Dachau concentration

camp in Germany, spoke of his

experiences that he and his fellow

American soldiers endured

as they witnessed the ravages

of what the Holocaust caused.

All in the audience felt honored,

privileged and humbled

to hear their personal stories,

and admired their strength,

courage and commitment

to continue to

educate and never forget this most horrific

time in history.

The Sarasota Young Voices choir,

under the leadership of Artistic Director

Genevieve Beauchamp, enchanted

and mesmerized the audience with

their beautiful renditions of “When I

am Silent” and “Inscription of Hope.”

Sarasota Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch

then offered remarks and read a proclamation

from the City of Sarasota in

honor of the event.

Rabbi Feibelman led the audience

in the Kaddish, the Jewish prayer

for the dead, in remembrance of all

those who perished in the Holocaust

and all those we have lost. The audience

joined hands and read the “Hands

Against Hate” pledge, committing to

standing up and resisting hate, bigotry

and bullying, to not stay silent in the

face of intolerance, and to work with

their neighbors to create kinder, safe

and more inclusive communities for

all.

To learn more about Holocaust

education and programming and the

Heller CRC, please contact Director of

Community Relations Jessi Sheslow at

941.343.2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org,

or visit jfedsrq.org/holocaust.

Sarasota Young Voices enchants the audience with beautiful songs

Holocaust survivor Helga Melmed shares her experience

Dr. Debórah Dwork speaks about children refugees after WWII

U.S. Military Veteran Arthur Sheridan

speaks about liberating Nazi death camps

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Please see our event schedule at jfedsrq.org/events

FEDERATION NEWS

March 2020

11A

Volunteer Spotlight

Elliot Ofsowitz: Choosing the “write” fine-tooth comb

By Sandy Chase

Elliot Ofsowitz

As many attest, Elliot Ofsowitz

goes through editorial copy

with a fine-tooth comb – ensuring

that the author looks impeccable.

Marty Katz, The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manatee’s Sr. Director of

Communications & Marketing, says,

“A Jewish News proofreader since

January 2018, Elliot keeps us all on

the ball, often finding typos that no one

else sees. He also goes the extra mile to

check facts and spellings. We’re very

fortunate to have Elliot on our team!”

Elliot’s been a Federation team

player since the early ’70s, when he,

his wife Barbara and three children

relocated from Ohio to Sarasota. He

recalls being a phone volunteer for the

annual fund drive. “But most of my focus

was raising our family and attending

Temple Beth Sholom,” says Elliot.

It wasn’t until Elliot

was “completely

retired” – to use his

words – from his information

technology

(IT) career, a stint as

retail-store owner of

durable medical equipment

(DME), and various

part-time positions

that he chose to volunteer

more permanently

at the Federation as a

proofreader of its monthly newspaper.

Donating money and his time,

Elliot confides that he’s a staunch

supporter of the Federation’s insightful

leadership. “As other Federation

proofreaders, I dedicate one very busy

weekend monthly to catch any errors.

I also follow up with the published

newspaper, ensuring that reported errors

have been addressed. What’s even

more gratifying is understanding why

some haven’t.”

Elliot’s biggest challenge is scrutinizing

copy and reporting any errors

within 96 hours – from Thursday noon

to Monday noon – not accounting for

sleep, meals, travel and everything

else.

Encouraging his endeavors for the

past 55 years, Barbara relates that his

everything else includes:

Supporting the Gulf Gate Library

staff twice a week

Serving on the La Vista Homeowners’

Association’s Board of

Directors

Advising the literary staff of Natural

History magazine and updating

its website

Proofreading the Lincoln Highway

Association’s (LHA) quarterly

magazine, The Forum

Lifetime members since 2013, Elliot

proofread driving instructions for

the LHA September tour

from Washington, D.C.,

to San Francisco, California,

in which Barbara

and he participated.

The Forum Editor

Jay Lawrence says that

as a proofreader, Elliot is

indispensable. “Even the

most dedicated proofreader

seems to have

proofing blind spots, but

apparently not Elliot. I

have consistently found his edits to be

thorough and right on target. His suggestions

for clarity, punctuation and

grammar are always on point.”

Since celebrating his 75 th birthday,

Elliot says, “Now my compensation

comes from volunteering – not from a

paycheck.”

However, like other dedicated volunteers,

Elliot doesn’t realize that his

altruism is timeless – it’s his essence.

Charles E. Harris, President and CEO

of Natural History Magazine, Inc.,

points out that Elliot has been volunteering

for nine years – way before his

75 th birthday. Harris applauds Elliot’s

attention to detail. “He’s been quick

to spot typos – the bane of publishers.

He’s also brought us story ideas, such

as the centenary celebration of the Lincoln

Highway, which he covered for

the magazine.”

Although Elliot’s background isn’t

proofreading per se, one can argue that

his degrees in engineering and business

– focusing on fact – have contributed

to his proofreading finesse. He

points out that an excellent high school

teacher, bolstered by secretaries and

experience, has contributed to his love

of proofreading.

Elliot says it best: “It’s always

bothered me to read a publication containing

glaring errors. How can publishers

not respect their readers enough

to get everything right?!”

When not making others look

good, Elliot enjoys woodworking. In

fact, his mobile potting table designed

for Barbara was highlighted in the

September 2016 issue of Popular Mechanics.

He’s also a fan of motorsports.

Occasionally, he’ll pick up his guitar to

play country music, remembering lessons

from his teens. But what brings

him the most enjoyment is volunteering.

Elliot thrives on improving the

finished product. He’s not interested in

making money – just making a difference.

If you are interested in volunteering,

there are many ways to contribute and

be part of the volunteer life at the Federation.

For more information, please

contact Jeremy Lisitza, Director of Innovation

and Volunteer Engagement,

at 941.343.2113 or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org.

L’Chayim

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Get to know Israel and her people! Visit jfedsrq.org/israel.

12A March 2020

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Event Chair:

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Rabbi Cohen shares his unique blend of

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FEDERATION NEWS

A once-in-a-lifetime role

with Birthright

By Sydney Harlow, Gulf Coast Hillel Program Director

The Hillel International Birthright

trip is an experience unlike

any other. By connecting to

the land of Israel, its people, our fellow

participants and staff, and eating new

foods, it is really a once-in-a-lifetime

trip. Amidst the amazements of this

trip, there is one staff role that gets

little recognition, the Rakaz, who oversees

the staff on multiple buses running

Sydney Harlow at the Sea of Galilee

similar itineraries and to help if and

when there is an issue.

After seven trips to Israel, including

three times when I was a regular

Birthright staffer, I was

fortunate enough to be

one of a small handful

of Hillel professionals

asked to fill the Rakaz

role in the 2019-2020

winter Birthright season.

I was in charge

of four buses from

college campuses including

students from

the University of Virginia, University

of Pittsburgh, University of Denver,

Stanford University and the University

of Southern California.

This role started long before our

feet were on the ground in Israel. Leading

up to our departure, I worked with

my staff to make sure they were prepared

for things the second we landed.

Of the eight staff members I supervised,

three of them were staffing a Birthright

trip for the first time. They needed a little

extra training to get ready for what

would be a fun and hectic experience.

During the trip, I jumped from bus

to bus to make sure that 140+ participants,

eight North American staff, four

tour educators and four medics were

working as a team. There were days

when all of my buses were on the same

schedule, at the same place and at the

same time. Other days, my buses had

the same activity scheduled one after

another, so I would remain at that one

location the entire day. There were also

several days I did not see any of my

buses since I was on the opposite side

of the country.

One day I was able to travel by

jeep, off-roading in the north four times

because all of my buses were having

that experience! Other memorable

times included being present when

participants chose Hebrew names that

were meaningful to them, celebrating

B’nei Mitzvot, and dealing with participants

getting sick and missing the

day’s activities.

My favorite moment on a Hillel

Birthright trip is the Shehecheyanu

ceremony when our participants first

come to Jerusalem. On this trip, however,

all of my buses had already been

up north, down south to Tel Aviv, and

were ending their trip in Jerusalem, so

it was even more meaningful. I was

able to lead the Shehecheyanu on the

Mount Scopus campus of Hebrew University

at the overlook of the city. This

ceremony is a time for us to come together,

say the prayer and let it soak in

that we are finally in Jerusalem.

It is not often that the Rakaz gets to

have many purposeful moments with

participants and staff. For me, I truly

enjoyed being able to take some of

the pressure off the staff and still work

with the students. For example, a bus

will make a stop at the Western Wall,

Sydney leading the Shehecheyanu on Mount Scopus

but the staff member may need to address

an issue, so they are not able to

visit the wall with the participants. It

felt good that I could help the staff have

their own enlightening Israel memories

as well.

I also have to admit that a final plus

was being in Israel during Chanukah. I

saw more sufganiyot (donuts) than any

Sufganiyot in a shuk in Jerusalem

one human can imagine. I hope to fulfill

this role again!

For more information about Birthright

and/or Hillel, please contact me at

sydney@gchillel.org.

ACTIVITY

STATIONS

PROVIDED

BY...

Congregation for Humanistic Judaism • Gulf Coast Hillel

Hershorin Schif Community Day School • JFCS of the Suncoast

Jewish National Fund

Temple Beth Sholom

• Kol HaNeshama • PJ Library • STEP Teens

• Temple Emanu-El • Temple Sinai • World ORT

QUESTIONS? Contact Jessi Sheslow

941.343.2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org

For more information, visit

JFEDSRQ.org/Events

The Jewish News is a monthly nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers,

committed advertisers and The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

FEDERATION NEWS

March 2020

13A

mes

Mount, grade 10 at Lakewood Ranch High School; and Natalie Mount, grade 12

ing

at Lakewood Ranch High School

ble

In January, six Shapiro Teen Engagement

Program (STEP) high school stu-

immigration and how it impacted the

was brought to the Americas through

hen

that

dents, along with STEP Chair Marni city of New York.

ting

Mount and Federation’s Teen and We began our trip with ice skating

parthe

Family Program Coordinator Andrea in Bryant Park and a trip to Rockefeller

Eiffert, set out to discover Jewish New Center. We all thought getting to see

York. Through visits to museums and New York City from the Top of the

Hilanu

synagogues, and tasting traditional Rock was super cool! One of our group

Jewish cuisine, the group had an amazing

adventure, detailed by the students skate at Bryant Park, as he had never

participants actually learned how to ice

first

oween

in the following narrative.

been skating before. We visited Times

Through the Shapiro Teen Engagement

Program, we six by a street performer, but learned a

Square and unfortunately got scammed

and

, so

teenagers from five different valuable lesson.

was

high schools in Sarasota and Manatee The second day was a very “Jewish”

day. We went to see the first syn-

the

counties visited New York City with

nihis

the goal to immerse ourselves in New agogue in the U.S. built by Eastern

York and its Jewish culture. During our European immigrants and toured the

tok

in

visit we learned about how Judaism Tenement Museum on the Lower East

Side. Our tour guide, Darryl,

was one of the highlights of

our trip. He was the funniest,

yet strangest, tour guide

we ever had, but without his

“third person” remarks, our

s to

ith

ruly

of

ork

bus

all,

Staff Report

ad-The to sota-Manatee not only pro-

Jewish Federation of Sara-

. It vides scholarships to college

ave students, it also administers the Jewish

Educational Loan Fund (JELF) to

ries

students in our area. JELF provides

lus interest-free loans to full-time Jewish

h. I students who are enrolled in a U.S. accredited

institution, in good standing

any

academically and a resident in one of

these states: Florida, Georgia, North

Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

In the last year, JELF awarded

loans to two students in the Sarasota-

Manatee area, totaling $9,686. Since

1985, 13 students have received loans

totaling $56,202.

Haley Rosenthal of Sarasota is one

of those students who received a loan

for the 2019-2020 school year. She is

ful-

rth-

e at

New York City – a Jewish view of “The Big Apple”

Written by trip participants Ashton Graber, grade 9 at Florida Virtual School;

Leo Hellawell, grade 11 at Pine View School; Rebecca Kleinberg, grade 12 at

Sarasota High School; Megan Meese, grade 10 at Riverview High School; Abbie

Preparing food packages for NYC homeless: Natalie Mount,

Rebecca Kleinberg, Megan Meese, Abbie Mount

tour would not have been

the same. That evening, we

spent Shabbat at the Stephen

Wise Free Synagogue

with a few local teens.

The third day was our

earliest morning, but the

reason was worth it. We

went back to the synagogue

to prepare and hand

out food for the homeless.

Later that day we went to

the American Museum of

Natural History. Some of

our favorite exhibits were

the Asian People, Mammals

and Dinosaur exhibits,

and we enjoyed the

Oceans: Our Blue Planet

show. That night, we met up with family

and friends at the Meatball Shop for

dinner. After stuffing ourselves with

endless meatballs and pasta, we finished

the evening with ice cream sandwiches.

Day four, the coldest and windiest

day of the trip, was fully committed to

the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

We were able to see Lady Liberty up

close and learn her importance to the

In the balcony at the Eldridge St. Synagogue: Megan Meese, Rebecca Kelinberg,

Natalie Mount, Abbie Mount, Marni Mount, Ashton Graber, Andrea Eiffert, Leo Hellawel

Federation’s impact felt by college students

currently studying at Boston Conservatory

at Berklee. Haley says, “I am

honored and grateful to be a recipient

of the generous JELF loan assisting me

with my junior year. This support alleviated

much financial stress, allowing

me to focus on my coursework as well

as working professionally in my field. I

am forever thankful.”

Andrea Eiffert, Federation’s Teen

and Family Program Coordinator who

oversees the JELF program, says,

“JELF is a great alternative for students

who don’t want to take on high-interest

loans. Plus, the repayment schedule,

which gradually increases over the

eight-year-term, enables graduates to

get on their feet and mitigate debt.”

JELF will be accepting applications

for assistance in the 2020-2021

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school year beginning on March 1,

2020. The deadline for submission is

April 30, 2020. Applications can be

found at JELF.org.

STEPping out in Times Square: (front) Ashton Graber,

(middle) Andrea Eiffert, Rebecca Kelinberg, Natalie Mount,

Abbie Mount, (back) Marni Mount, Megan Meese, Leo Hellawel

VOTED

country. That evening we saw The

Lion King and thought it was interesting

to see young kids performing on

Broadway! After the show, we went to

Junior’s for cheesecake and ice cream

sundaes.

Our final day in New York was

spent at the Museum of Jewish Heritage,

where we learned some interesting

new facts about the Holocaust,

and finished up our visit with lunch at

Aroma Café before heading to the airport.

Being from Florida, and used

to its warm and humid weather, the

cold weather in New York was mindboggling,

yet we dressed appropriately

and powered through. We rode the subway,

we navigated the streets of New

York and met some interesting people

along the way. All in all, it was an

amazing and fun trip.

For more information on the JELF

program, contact Andrea Eiffert at

941.552.6308 or aeiffert@jfedsrq.org.

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14A March 2020 COMMUNITY FOCUS

Diocese of Venice’s annual

“Yom HaShoah Hour of Remembrance”

Each year, the Diocese of Venice

in Florida hosts a service

in commemoration of the Holocaust

as an interreligious gathering

bringing members of the Catholic

and Jewish communities together to

promote peace and solidarity among

all peoples. This year, the Diocese of

Venice’s “Yom HaShoah Hour of Remembrance”

will be held at 2:30 p.m.

on Sunday, April 26 at Epiphany Cathedral,

350 Tampa Ave. W., Venice.

The guest speaker will be Father

Patrick Desbois, a French Roman

Catholic priest, former head of the

Commission for Relations with Judaism

of the French Bishops’ Conference

and consultant to the Vatican. He is

the founder of the “Yahad-In Unum,”

A special Erev Shabbat

service for Temple Beth El

an organization dedicated to locating

the sites of mass graves of Jewish victims

of the Nazi mobile-killing units in

the former Soviet Union. He received

the Legion d’honneur, France’s highest

honor, for his work documenting the

Holocaust.

In 1978, Father Desbois worked

as a math teacher for the French government

in Africa. He later worked

for Mother Theresa in Calcutta, where

he helped set up homes for the dying.

After being ordained in 1986 at the

age of 31, he became the Superior of

the Grand Seminary in Prado, Lyon.

From 1992-1999, he served as Secretary

of Jewish Relations for Cardinals

Decourtray, Jean Balland and Louis-

Marie Billé. In 1999, he requested to

By Sandy Clark, Past President

After many years of being a

Reform congregation, but not

being a member of the Union

for Reform Judaism (URJ), Temple

Beth El Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch’s

dream came true.

Although we practiced Reform Judaism,

used the Reform prayer book,

have a wonderful Rabbi Michael Sternfield

and Cantor Deborah Bard, we

thought we never had a large enough

congregation to join the URJ. All that

has changed for the better.

The URJ now has programs for

smaller congregations and with our

move further east in Manatee County,

our congregation and religious school

are growing. We have become a small

but mighty force in our community

with our joining two wonderful organizations,

Meals on Wheels PLUS and

Habitat for Humanity as our major community

efforts to help our neighbors.

And so, on Friday night, January

24, Greg Miller from the URJ presented

us with our beautiful charter that

will hang proudly in our entrance.

Cantor Deborah Bard, Greg Miller (from

the URJ), Ron Eiseman (Temple Beth El

President), Rabbi Michael Sternfi eld

work with the Jewish community of

France and was appointed Secretary to

the French Conference of Bishops for

Relations with the Jewish community

and an advisor to the Vatican on relations

with Judaism.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane has hosted

this annual prayer service since

becoming Bishop of the Diocese in

2007. “This day is one way, of many,

in which the Catholic Church in Southwest

Florida, in union with Pope

Francis, wishes to show friendship

with our Jewish brothers and sisters,

and to reaffirm our dedication to respect,

dialogue and solidarity with the

Area cantors to sing

together on March 2

By Cantor Riselle Bain

What’s better than one cantor?

Six of them, when they have

the chance to come together

to offer a special concert combining all

their talent. It’s not easy getting cantors

to perform together because of the

distance between them and the obligations

they have to their respective congregations.

But the Bay Area Cantorial

Association (BACA) has been doing

so for 17 years.

This year, cantors serving congregations

in Sarasota, Venice, St. Petersburg,

Tampa and Sebring will present

“B’chol Libi, With All My Heart,”

songs of love sure to gladden and

touch hearts, on Monday, March 2 at

7:00 p.m. at the Jewish Congregation

of Venice, 600 N. Auburn Road.

Formed to bring beautiful traditional

and contemporary Jewish music

to the wider community and assisting

cantorial students with their studies

Jewish community.”

The Hour of Remembrance will

begin with elementary school students

participating in the solemn reading of

the names of concentration camps such

as Auschwitz and Dachau. Then students

from Cardinal Mooney Catholic

School in Sarasota will light 13 candles

in honor of the six million Jews and

seven million others who were systematically

killed during the Holocaust.

The service also recognizes the

survivors of the Holocaust and their

descendants, the living witnesses, ensuring

that remembrance of the Holocaust

never fades away.

through financial donations, BACA By R

usually offers an annual concert only in In

Tampa. But this year, the organization B

has added a second one for the Sarasota- e

Manatee community as well. our

Since its inception, BACA has Syna

awarded more than $50,000 in concert rael.

donations for scholarships to Conser-spevative

and Reform cantorial students. and

It has also sponsored an anthology of

music for High Holy Days commissioned

through Transcontinental Music,

the music publishing arm of the

Union of Reform Judaism.

The Cantors volunteer their time

and musical artistry preparing ensemble

and solo pieces. Though a suggested

donation for the concert is $18, any

amount will be gratefully accepted.

For further information, please call the

Jewish Congregation of Venice office,

weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.,

at 941.484.2022.

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COMMUNITY FOCUS

March 2020

15A

“Marriage and Divorce: From Beginning to End”

By Marden Paru, Dean, Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva | This program is sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

The preeminent Jewish lifecycle

event – the one that seems to

get the most attention in Jewish

life – is that of going under the huppah

(canopy) at a Jewish wedding. The institution

of marriage has thus become

the foundational underpinning of Jewish

existence. From it, flows the ebb

and tide of the ocean of Jewish continuity

with the emphasis on children

and family.

On the contemporary continuum

of “coupling,” Judaism has prescribed

and proscribed behaviors which, as

a goal, are based on the first biblical

imperative in Genesis 1:28 – pru urvu

– be fruitful and multiply. These traditions

are vintage and so ingrained into

the Jewish psyche that woe be onto the

individual whose disdain for formality

denies his/her parents the privilege

of marrying off their children. While

new models of coupling have emerged

in recent times, traditional marriage

rites have evolved into a ritually laced

elaborate lifecycle event that demands

considerable attention and resources to

achieve. Then, after the huppah rituals

have ended, the fun begins: intimacy,

finances, love, children, their education,

the machatanim (in-laws), community

and synagogue.

Various customs have emerged

around the world that are fascinating

to behold. Sephardic weddings may

differ from Ashkenazic rites, celebration

and cuisine, but they all have one

goal in mind: to produce and/or to raise

children in the faith of our fathers and

mothers.

However, not all marriages work

out, so as one might expect, there is an

elaborate remedy to dissolve the marital

bond within the confines of Jewish

law and practice.

A new eight-week course on

“Marriage and Divorce: From Beginning

to End” is being offered by the

Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva commencing

on Friday, April 3 from 10:30 to

11:45 a.m. This course will include

the history of Jewish marriage and its

dissolution, as well as the unique circumstances

of marriage and divorce in

the State of Israel.

NOTE: Classes will be held in the

Activity Room at Brookdale Sarasota

Midtown, 2186 Bahia Vista Street. To

enroll or for more information, contact

me at marden.paru@gmail.com or

941.379.5655. The course fee of $70

includes all materials.

This course is open to everyone regardless

of background or personal orientation.

The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva

is a 501(c)(3) non-denominational

not-for-profit organization, which also

operates, in part, through a grant from


Manatee.

The twinning of Temple Beth Israel, Longboat Key,

and Beit Daniel Synagogue, Tel Aviv

By Rabbi Peter Kasdan | This program is sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

In the spring of 2019, the Temple death in 2006, Gerry had carried on

Beth Israel (TBI) Board of Trustees

adopted the plan of twinning in the special relationship between

that passion for both, immersing us

our congregation with the Beit Daniel our two Jewish communities until his

Synagogue Community in Tel Aviv, Israel.

death in 2018.

Beit Daniel had been the lifelong The twinning creates a unique en-

special project of TBI members Ruth vironment in Sarasota County that embraces

and Gerard Daniel, z”l. Since Ruth’s

both the Beit Daniel family in

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Tel Aviv and the entire Reform Movement

in Israel of which Beit Daniel is

such an integral part.

How fortunate we are to welcome

back to our congregation and community

one of the leaders of Reform Judaism

in Israel, Rabbi Meir Azari, Senior

Rabbi and Executive Director of the

Daniel Centers for Progressive Judaism

in Tel Aviv.

Under Rabbi Azari’s leadership,

and with support from the Daniel family,

Beit Daniel has grown into the Daniel

Centers for Progressive Judaism

with three kehilot throughout Tel Aviv.

Rabbi Azari will bring to the community

the most up-to-the-minute views

of the Reform Movement in Israel.

The Israel Weekend at Temple

Beth Israel will take place on March

6-8. The Israel Weekend is made possible

through a grant by the Daniel Foundation

in loving memory of Ruth and

Gerard Daniel and The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manatee. For more

information, go to www.tbi-lbk.org.

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Application for burial in the Memorial Park may be made

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600 N. Auburn Road, Venice, FL 34292

941.484.2022

Jewishcongregationofvenice.org

Check out our programs for all ages at jfedsrq.org/our-vibrant-community

16A March 2020

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Temple Emanu-El and Federation hold tribute

to Martin Luther King Jr.

By Don Malawsky | This program is sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!”

So sang the won-

Reverend Charles McKenzie pro-

black church in Birmingham.

“

derful choir of the Light of vided a perspective of the civil rights

the World International Church – along movement during the 1960s, a tumultuous

with an array of inspirational spirituals

decade marked by tragic assas-

– at the sixth annual Martin Luther sinations, including that of Dr. King.

King Tribute at Temple Emanu-El on The teachings of Dr. King and

Sunday, January 19, the day before the comparisons to the long arc of Jewish

official MLK holiday.

history and experience were high-

Co-sponsored by the Heller Community

lighted by Temple Emanu-El Associate

Relations Committee of The Rabbi Michael Shefrin. Mentioned

Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee,

repeatedly was Dr. King’s close and

the event also included the beau-

warm association with the Jewish com-

tiful words of peace, love and justice munity during a time of great stress

for all in the community by Reverend and upheaval in our nation. The statements

Kelvin Lumpkin. Through poetry and

of deep commitment expressed

dance, Dr. Lonnetta Gaines also expressed

by Reverends Lumpkin and McKen-

the importance and tragedy of zie that the African-American com-

the loss of life of four African-American

munity will continue the fight against

girls in the 1963 bombing of a anti-Semitism in the strongest

possible

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DALET presents acclaimed author and speaker

A V I J O R I S C H

terms was well received by the capacity

crowd.

Joining in the commitment to fight

all hatreds including racism and anti-

Semitism were Howard Tevlowitz,

CEO of the Federation, and Trevor

Harvey, President of the NAACP in

Sarasota.

The event was sponsored by the

Brotherhood, Sisterhood and Social

New Bereavement Support

Group begins March 10

This program is Sponsored by


play

Many who have lost loved lain Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz, the group com

ones have benefited from is open to people of all faiths and back-stugrounds,

and will meet for six weekly teach

their participation in the Bereavement

Support Groups offered by Tuesday sessions from 1:30 to 3:00 Bloc

JFCS of the Suncoast. To be able to p.m. through April 14. Exploring the 1916

share with others is a source of comfort,

fosters healing, engenders re-

and developing strategies to move for-conewed

possibility and contributes to ward in the wake of loss are some of

impact of loss, providing coping skills 1924

personal growth.

the topics that will be discussed.

Sponsored by The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manatee, JFCS’s six sessions is $36. Pre-registration is

The cost for the entire program of

next Bereavement Support Group will required. For more information and to

begin on Tuesday, March 10 at the register, please contact Rabbi Katz at

agency’s 2688 Fruitville Road location.

Facilitated by Community

941.366.2224 x166.

Chap-

“These we honor”

Your Tributes

ANNUAL CAMPAIGN

IN HONOR OF

Suzanne, Bryant

& Adam Berkowitz

Jack Berkowitz

Jeremy Lisitza

Susan & Michael Albert

IN MEMORY OF

Sandra Hanan

Karen & Thomas Bernstein

ICORR Properties International

Frances Lambert

Bunny & Mort Skirboll

BOB MALKIN YOUNG

AMBASSADORS FUND

IN MEMORY OF

Suzanne Price


Fran Ringlestein


SKIP (Send a Kid

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IN MEMORY OF

Barbara Orkin

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MAZEL TOV

Barbara & Gary Ackerman

Irene & 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, call 941.552.6304.

M

Er

Action Committee of Temple Emanu-

El. Trustee Barry Gerber served as

FBloc

the Master of Ceremonies, and President

Ken Marsh provided a welcom-

tone

ches

ing message to all attendees, and those

conc

who joined the event via livestream.

liber

After the conclusion of the Tribute, the

alize

participants and hundreds of attendees

hono

joined together for a dessert reception

“nev

and continued the dialogue.

on S

First

2050

E

born

traor

evid

Mark your calendar:

Sunday, March 29

2:00 pm

Temple Emanu-El

151 McIntosh Road

Sarasota, FL 34232

Buy your tickets today

and save!

$18 until March 20

$25 at the door

Register at

www.sarasotatemple.org

Presented by the

Community Foundation of Sarasota County

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COMMUNITY FOCUS

March 2020

17A

Musica Sacra of Sarasota presents

Ernest Bloch’s “Avodath Hakodesh”

For the final work of its 2019-

2020 season, Musica Sacra of

nuas

Sarasota will present Ernest

Bloch’s “Avodath Hakodesh” for baritone

soloist (cantor), chorus and or-

esiomoschestra.

Musica Sacra dedicates this

concert to the 75

am.

th anniversary of the

liberation of Auschwitz, to memorialize

those who lost their lives and to

the

ees

honor those who survived. We, too, say

tion

“never forget.” The event takes place

on Sunday, March 29 at 4:00 p.m. at

First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota,

2050 Oak Street.

Ernest Bloch (1880-1959) was

born in Geneva, Switzerland. His extraordinary

talent as a musician was

evident from a very early age. He

played violin at age nine and began

oup composing shortly thereafter. His

ck-studiekly teachers and conservatories in Europe.

included some of the premier

:00 Bloch moved to the United States in

the 1916, became an American citizen in

ills 1924, and played a formidable role as

for-composerof musical director, and teacher

of theory and composition. His impact

on American music can be seen in the

roster of his students. Among them

were Roger Sessions, Quincy Porter,

Bernard Rogers, George Antheil and

Randall Thompson.

While director of the San Francisco

Conservatory of Music (1925-1930),

he became friends with Cantor Reuben

Rinder of Temple Emanu-El, San Francisco’s

prestigious Reform synagogue,

an association that led to a commission

from the congregation to compose

a complete Sabbath morning service

for baritone cantor, chorus and symphony

orchestra. The result, “Avodath

Hakodesh” (Sacred Service), became

perhaps his best known and lasting

work, not only from Jewish and liturgical

perspectives, but also as a universal

and transcendent artistic statement that

remains a work of true genius.

The “Sacred Service” consists

of five main sections – “Meditation,”

“Kedushah” (Sanctification), “Silent

Devotion and Response,” “Returning

the Scroll to the Ark” and “Va’anachnu”

(Adoration) – further divided into a total

of 26 distinct parts. The work also

incorporates a recitation of the Kaddish

(Prayer for the Dead).

Bloch considered the work a “cosmic

poem,” and said the music “had

become a private affair between God

and me.” He intended the message to

go to the entire world, not just the Jewish

community. About “Avodath Hakodesh,”

Bloch said, “This work has

been composed from the text of the

Prayer Book of the Reform Synagogue

of America, and while it is named

Sacred Service, or Sabbath Morning

Service, it embraces the whole of humanity,

rather than a creed or sect. For

50 minutes I hope it will bring to the

souls, minds and hearts of the people,

a little more confidence, make them a

little more kind and indulgent than they

were and bring them peace.”

Musica Sacra is proud to present

this profound work. The Musica Sacra

Chorus will be accompanied by

an orchestral ensemble of the region’s

finest instrumentalists, many of them

members of the Sarasota Orchestra and

Florida Orchestra. Soloist, baritone

Daniel Cartridge, is widely regarded

as one of the Florida Gulf Coast’s most

sought after solo artists. His wideranging

career has seen him perform in

concert halls, operatic stages, church

and temple settings.

Tickets are $30 and are available

online at www.MusicaSacraSarasota.

org or by telephone at 941.405.7322.

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Get off Your

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FEDERATION NEWS

P U B L I S H E D B Y

The Jewish

Federation

OF SARASOTA-MANATEE

August 2019 - Tammuz/Av 5779 www.jfedsrq.org Volume 49, Number 8

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

8 Community Focus

15 Jewish Happenings

19 Jewish Interest

24 Israel & the Jewish World

28 Commentary

31 Focus on Youth

35 Life Cycle

I

An exciting year of community programs

coming in 2019-20


n 2018-2019, The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manatee hosted

numerous thought-provoking, insightful

and fun programs. We heard

from incredible speakers such as

U P C O M I N G

E V E N T S

Women’s Day (December 16) will

See page 14

THE LARRY GREENSPON FAMILY

CAMPUS FOR JEWISH LIFE

2019–2020

Nancy Spielberg and Daniel Gordis,

feature Gail Simmons, culinary ex

pert, cookbook author and TV per

we celebrated Federation’s 60 th anniversary,

we brought young families

together through interactive PJ Library

Contact Adam Kaplan at

akaplan@jfedsrq.org or 941.552.6307.

Download the Media Kit at

JFEDSRQ.org/Advertising

Shonim B’yahad – a program

of our Jewish Federation –

remains relevant today

Birthright trip inspires close

connection to Israel and

each other

7

3

Gail Simmons

(Credit: Guerin Blask)

much more.

The impact of meaningful

camp experiences for our

children

Teens enjoy summer

experiences at Chabad’s

CTeen Sarasota

34

33

“F

New community leader for

will sing the songs together, and


programming, and we had another record-breaking

Jewish Film Festival.

What do we do once the dust has

settled from those events? We start to

plan for the coming season! Our staff

and volunteer leadership have spent

the last couple of months researching

and planning in order to provide our

community with an excellent lineup of

programs for the 2019-20 season…and

here’s a taste of what’s in store:

Shalom SRQ Live (November 3) is

a new event this year – a showcase

of all Jewish organizations in our

Sarasota-Manatee area. The goal

is to have a place where those new

to our community or who may be

unfamiliar with the wealth of Jewish

options available to them can

schmooze while learning about

synagogue life, membership organizations,

children’s programs and

sonality. Gail has

been a judge on

Top Chef

2006 and also

lends her talents

to other Bravo

shows such as

Top Chef Mas

ters and Top Chef

Desserts. Gail recently

took part in “Celebrity Chef

Birthright,” where she toured Israel

with 30 fellow foodies and chefs.

She will talk about her recent

trip to Israel and share

her Jewish story with our

community. Women’s Day

chairs are Rachael Feldman

and Ronna Ruben.

On December 25, we invite

the community to join

us in the Beatrice Friedman

Theater on The Larry

Greenspon Family Campus

for Jewish Life for a screening

of Fiddler on the Roof

18A March 2020

COMMUNITY FOCUS

SpaceIL’s Yonatan Winetraub to speak at Jewish H

National Fund-USA’s Breakfast for Israel in Sarasota

Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF)

will host its annual Sarasota

Breakfast for Israel on Wednesday,

March 18, and will feature guest

speaker Yonatan Winetraub, co-founder

of SpaceIL.

SpaceIL, a $100-million Israeli

nonprofit, is widely known for its monumental

attempt to land Beresheet, the

first private interplanetary robotic mission,

on the moon. Winetraub, whose

keynote is titled “Small Country, Big

Dream: Leading Israel into the Space

Race,” was also part of the International

Space University Program at NASA,

studying the creation of colonies on

Mars utilizing shelter and

water from Martian lava

caves.

“Time and again, Israel,

this tiny 71-yearold

nation, has proven it

can do anything – even

reaching the stars,” said

Breakfast Co-chairs Edie

Chaifetz, Helen Glaser

and Toby Siegel. “Thanks

to Yonatan and SpaceIL,

Israel is now part of the

exclusive club of the few nations to

have achieved a mission of cosmic

proportion. JNF Breakfast for Israel

Yonatan Winetraub

attendees will be delighted

with Yonatan’s

firsthand insights on

this amazing feat.”

JNF is the leading

philanthropic organization

for Israel that

supports critical environmental

and nationbuilding

activities in

Israel’s north and south.

Through its Billion Dollar

Roadmap initiative,

Local entrepreneur and philanthropist

turned author donates book proceeds

By Gail Glickman

Mitchell Epstein, long-time

Temple Sinai congregant,

entrepreneur, philanthropist

and now author of Mr. Lucky: My Unexpected

Journey to Success, plans to

donate 100% of the proceeds

from his first book.

Sarasota local charities

supporting scholarships

and helping less fortunate

families will receive “Mr.

Lucky’s” charitable donations.

Epstein will host a

book signing at Temple

Sinai on Sunday, March

15 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Epstein has a passion

for mentoring young

people to inspire them to

be successful in their careers and happier

in their personal relationships and

life. Two of the youths he mentored

have achieved great heights. One has

Suncoast Pearl Wealth Group

www.suncoastpearlwealthgroup.com

completed his MBA and the other has

just graduated from college, incredible

feats considering both were homeless

shortly before meeting Epstein.

Inspired by his own life stories and

challenges, the book

reveals his unique

viewpoint that led to

the building of a successful

business. Epstein

was faced with

heart-breaking events

in his life, losing his

house to fire, being

held up at gunpoint

and falling off a roof

face-first. Yet he felt

these life-changing

challenges inspired

him to share a perspective that would

help others become more prosperous

and feel more joyful. His book has

been praised for sharing his personal

Suddenly single

Planning today for a future

you, or someone in your life,

did not envision

Discover the seven steps toward financial confidence and learn how you can

be ready, whether you or someone in your life:

• Has an ailing or healthy partner

• Is reconsidering their relationship

• Is single through divorce, death, illness, accident or choice

Choose one of two dates:

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 | 2 p.m.–3:30 p.m


600 North Auburn Road | Venice, FL 34292

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 | 2 p.m.–3:30 p.m

Sarasota City Center

1819 Main Street | Sarasota, FL 34236

RSVP via jfedsrq.org/events or to Brieana Duckett-Graves at

(941) 552-6305 or bdgraves@jfedsrq.org.

Presented by:

Alison Gardner

Senior Vice President – Financial Advisor

Senior Portfolio Manager – Portfolio Focus

Sponsored by:

Mitchell Epstein

Investment and insurance products: • Not insured by the FDIC or any other

federal government agency • Not a deposit of, or guaranteed by, the bank

or an affiliate of the bank • May lose value

© 2020 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.

All rights reserved. 19-QP-0755 (01/20)

development, common sense, practical

advice and humor.

Epstein started working with the

Federal Government and retired when

he sold his banking business in Atlanta

and moved to the Sarasota area with

his wife Dawn and daughter Melanie.

New Member Drive

Open House at JCV

By Cynthia Greene

The Jewish Congregation of Venice

(JCV) is a busy place. Rabbi

Benjamin Shull was formally

installed on January 26, and the annual

Jewish Food Festival took place on

February 16. On Sunday, March 15, the

synagogue will host an Open House for

prospective new members from 1:00 to

4:00 p.m. Anyone who joins on March

15 will receive a JCV membership for

a year at half price.

A trivia challenge planned by Meg

Antine will be one of the highlights

of the afternoon, in addition to a welcome

from Rabbi Shull and information

about the many spiritual, social

and other activities at the JCV. These

include choir, book club, Rabbi Shull’s

Torah study, women’s discussion

group, Sisterhood, Men’s Club, quilting

group, learning breakfasts, Jewish

War Veterans and chavurot. Refreshments

will be served.

The Open House committee under

the chairmanship of David Borans has

been meeting regularly to ensure that

the event will be informative and entertaining.

David hopes that prospective

members interested in joining a small

and active congregation in Venice will

“join us for a casual visit while you

kibbitz, learn more about JCV, enjoy

fantastic food and have fun. You will

quickly discover what our members

already know – JCV feels like home.”

The event is free, but reservations

are required. Respond to David Borans

before Sunday, March 1 at iesinc@

aol.com. The Jewish Congregation of

Venice is located at 600 North Auburn

Road (off East Venice Avenue). We

invite you to attend, learn about our

unique congregation and have a very

special afternoon.

Temple Emanu-El Summer

Diners support JFCS

By Dick Gross

What a joy! Recently, my

wife Ethel and I presented a

check to JFCS of the Suncoast

for $712.78 to Heidi Brown,

President/CEO; Peter Fleischmann,

Chief of Client Services; and Richard

McDaniel, Director of Veterans Services.

This was the money raised by restaurants

in Temple Emanu-El’s 2019

Summer Dining Program, in which

temple members and guests gather

for dinner at local restaurants after

Shabbat services, and a percentage of

diners’ bills are donated to JFCS. Restaurants

include Apollonia, Bangkok,

Beckham’s on the Trail, Demetrios,

Greek Taverna, Miguel’s, Popi’s on the

Ranch, Public House, Salute!, Schnitzel

Kitchen and Yume Sushi. The

money is designated

for JFCS’s OMAP, Operation

Military Assistance

Program.

During our visit

to JFCS, we learned

that OMAP offers the

Suncoast’s low-income

veterans financial and

employment assistance

so that they and their

families can obtain or

maintain stable, permanent

housing. Although JFCS receives

a federal grant, the money is

not enough to serve all those in need.

Through donations such as ours, JFCS

serves an additional 161 households.

Heidi Brown thanked Temple Emanu-

El for this positive impact on our community.

I was proud to share that in the past

six years, the Summer Dining Program

raised $4,329.95. Not only are we doing

a mitzvah for the veterans, the Summer

Dining Program is a wonderful way for

Temple Emanu-El members and guests

to meet new friends and find community

in a warm, friendly setting.

I’m looking forward to Friday,

June 12, when the Summer Dining

Program 2020 begins!

By K

JNF is developing new communities

in the Galilee and Negev, connecting

the next generation to Israel, and creating

infrastructure for ecology, special

needs and heritage preservation.

JNF’s Tu B’Shevat Community

TJewi

Celebration will take place on March 2001

18 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts livin

Hall (777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota) grow

from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., with registra-ntion and a complimentary kosher break-gogfast

opening promptly at 9:00 a.m. tion.

s

Registration for the Breakfast for T

Israel is required by Thursday, March of S

12 via jnf.org/sarasotabfi. For more in-isformation

on attending the Breakfast, estab

please contact Joshua Mellits, Director, as p

Western Florida, at jmellits@jnf.org or the

941.462.1330.

Man

1927

a Co

own

tatio

thou

not J

The beneficiaries of the book are

cial

Forty Carrots Family Center, Children

Bou

First, V Foundation – Dick Vitale Fund

Stree

for Pediatric Cancer, New College

of Florida, Ringling College of Art +

Design and Delta Sigma Pi (business

fraternity).

Richard McDaniel, JFCS Director of Veterans Services;

Dick Gross, Temple Emanu-El Summer Dining Program Chair;

Heidi Brown, JFCS President/CEO; and Ethel Gross

a

19-QP-0755_Suncoast_Single_AD_5x9.25_FINAL.indd 1

1/7/20 11:06 AM

Send your comments and Letters to the Editor to jewishnews@jfedsrq.org

COMMUNITY FOCUS

March 2020

19A

History of synagogues in Sarasota-Manatee

By Kim Sheintal, President, Jewish Genealogical Society of SWFL

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der

has

that

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The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s

2019 Community

Study indicates that the

Jewish community has doubled since

2001. Today, there are 28,800 Jews

living in Sarasota-Manatee. Given the

growth of the Jewish community, it is

no surprise that we can count 15 synagogues

to serve the exploding population.

The Jewish Community Center

of Sarasota, the first organized Jewish

group in Sarasota-Manatee, was

established in 1925 with Phillip Levy

as president. Temple Beth Sholom,

the oldest congregation in Sarasota-

Manatee, was officially formed in

1927, when those interested in forming

a Conservative congregation with its

own building raised money by solicitations,

fundraisers and bond sales. Although

circus owner John Ringling was

not Jewish, he made the biggest financial

contribution. Land on Washington

Boulevard and 12 th Street (today’s 6 th

Street) in Sarasota was donated by the

city. The property had been foreclosed

for non-payment of taxes and thought

to have been of little value.

In 1928, Temple Beth Sholom held

Rosh Hashanah services in its new

building. In 1953, the synagogue was

extensively renovated, and in 1959,

Temple Beth Sholom moved to Tuttle

Avenue in Sarasota with a sanctuary

and education center. As the membership

grew, so did the synagogue

campus, with several renovations and

additions over the years.

In 1956, some Temple Beth Sholom

members left to form a Reform

congregation, which became Temple

Emanu-El. Its sanctuary building on

McIntosh Road was erected in 1961.

As the Temple Emanu-El membership

grew, an education building was added,

and the sanctuary was updated with a

larger social hall.

The Jewish population grew rapidly

in Sarasota-Manatee in the 1970s

and 1980s, and Jewish congregations

first appeared in Bradenton, Longboat

Temple Beth Sholom on Washington Boulevard, circa 1956. Because of limited parking

and the trend to move to the south side of town, the congregation’s 130 families bought land

on Tuttle Avenue in 1958. (photo courtesy of State Archives of Florida)

The Israel Committee

of Temple Beth Israel of Longboat Key, FL

is honored to present

the Inaugural Israel Weekend

with special guest

Rabbi Meir Azari

Key, Venice and North Port. As the

number of Jews increased, so did the

diversity of their religious expression.

Preceded by the year of formation,

Sarasota-Manatee’s 15 synagogues are:

1927 Temple Beth Sholom

(Sarasota, Conservative)

1956 Temple Emanu-El (Sarasota,

Reform)

1974 Temple Beth El Bradenton/

Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton,

Reform)

1976 Temple Beth El North

Port Jewish Center (North Port,

Conservative)

1980 Temple Beth Israel

(Longboat Key, Reform)

1980 Jewish Congregation of

Venice (Independent)

1990 Chabad of Sarasota and

Manatee Counties

1991 Temple Sinai (Sarasota,

Reform)

1996 Congregation for

Humanistic Judaism

2004 Chabad of Bradenton and

Lakewood Ranch

2005 Congregation Ner Tamid

(Bradenton, Pluralistic)

2005 Chabad of Venice and North

Port

2007 Congregation Kol

HaNeshama (Sarasota, Post-

Denominational)

2016 Chabad of West Bradenton

2018 Chabad of Downtown

Sarasota

There are two Jewish groups in

Sarasota-Manatee that meet for services

and/or prayer without a synagogue.

SRQ Jews Without Borders formed

in 2009 and consists of affiliated and

unaffiliated Reform, Conservative and

Orthodox Jews. This group has had

services led by Rabbi Elyssa Joy Auster

and Rabbi Andrew Hahn. Its website

states: “We are a group of Sarasota

Jews who come together each year for

a community-wide, open door, familyfriendly

High Holiday experience.” In

addition, Kehillah of Lakewood Ranch

formed in 2014 as a sacred community

of Conservative Jews who gather

together to explore and live out their

understanding of Jewishness, to share

joys and sorrows, and contemplate the

meaning of life. The Kehillah is more

of a group for socializing and prayer

than a traditional congregation.

There are five synagogues in the

Sarasota-Manatee area that no longer

exist. In the 1950s, an Orthodox congregation

existed for a short time in

Sarasota. From 1980 until 1982, Anshe

Emet (a Conservative congregation)

in Sarasota was led by Rabbi Louis

Dimpson. From 1985 until about 1990,

Congregation B’nai Torah (Chabad

Lubavitch) in Sarasota was led by Rabbi

Alter Bukiet. In 1986, a synagogue

in Port Charlotte described as “Progressive

Liberal Reform” was led by

Rabbi Lewis Bogage. From 2000 until

about 2003, Congregation Shir Shalom,

a Reform congregation in Bradenton,

was led by Rabbi Betsy Torop,

beginning when the congregation was

about 18 months old.

According to the Synagogue

Council of Sarasota-Manatee Counties,

“Whether you are new to the area,

a seasonal visitor or a long-time resident,

we encourage you to find your

Jewish family in a synagogue community.

Congregations range in size, vary

in denominations and the composition

of their membership. You will find a fit

that works for you!” To find a directory

of all synagogues, visit jfedsrq.

org/directory and type in the keyword

“synagogue.”

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee,

Temple Beth Sholom & Temple Beth Israel

Present

RUTH BIELSKI EHRREICH

Daughter of Holocaust survivor

Tuvia Bielski

to speak at Temple Beth Sholom

Tuesday March 10, 2020 - 7:00 PM

Shabbat Evening Celebration, March 6th 5:30 pm

Erev Shabbat Dinner ($30 - Advance Reservations required)

7:30 pm - Erev Shabbat Service - Rabbi Azari will address:

“REFORM JUDAISM IS GROWING IN ISRAEL, BUT….”

Shabbat Morning, March 7th @ 10:00 am

“REFORM JUDAISM’S ROLE IN AN ISRAEL

WITH NEW LEADERSHIP”

(Following Rabbi Azari’s presentation on Saturday Morning everyone

in attendance is invited to partake of the Shabbat Café)

Sunday Morning, March 8th @ 9:30 am

“HOW REFORM JEWS IN SARASOTA COUNTY, WORKING WITH

REFORM JEWS IN TEL AVIV, CAN TOGETHER CREATE A

SAFER AND MORE EGALITARIAN ISRAEL”

Sunday Afternoon, March 8th @ 12 Noon

A PRIVATE TOUR OF SARASOTA’S IMPACTFUL EXHIBIT

“EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCES” LED BY ITS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SARAH WERTHEIMER

Temple Beth Israel

567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key

Temple Beth Israel, The Center of Jewish Living on Longboat Key

Open to The Community - CALL 941-383-3428 TO REGISTER.

Register on website: www.tbi-lbk.org

Ehrreich’s father, Tuvia Bielski, was a humble man who,

with the help of his brothers and the woman who became

his wife, saved 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust.

Bielski’s story became famous in 2008 when actor Daniel

Craig played him in the movie “Defiance.” Come witness

the daughter of a true Jewish Hero.

$15 per person for advance reservations,

$20 at the door.

LIMITED SEATING

For Reservations call

Kelly Nester, Temple Beth Sholom:

941-955-8121

or online at

www.templebethsholomfl.org/events

D A L E T

S A R A S O T A – M A N A T E E


20A March 2020 COMMUNITY FOCUS

2020 SPRING

LUNCH & LEARN SERIES

SPONSORED BY WILLIAMS PARKER

A World in Flux:

Rising Antisemitism and

Global Jewish Affairs in 2020

FEATURING

Cantor Azi Schwartz

wows Sarasota

This program is sponsored by


By Lex Calaguas

On Sunday, January 12, the highly

anticipated “Azi Schwartz:

From Bimah to Broadway”

concert was held at the Sarasota Opera

House. The sold-out Temple Beth

Sholom fundraiser featuring Cantor

Azi Schwartz, senior cantor at Park

Avenue Synagogue New York, did not

disappoint! He was accompanied by

four talented New York-based back-up

singers as well as three musicians.

During the 90-minute performance,

Cantor Schwartz not only graced the

audience with his phenomenal voice

but also brought the community together.

His voice and song selection

captivated the entire audience. From

new arrangements of Jewish liturgical

music to crowd favorites such as

“You’ll Never Walk Alone,” there

was something for everyone. Cantor

Schwartz and his fellow musicians

taught everyone the “Mayim Mayim”

Israeli folk dance. In what was one of

the highlights, many audience members

stood up and danced together. It

was heart-warming to hear the entire

audience singing “Oseh Shalom.”

Roslyn Mazur and her family

generously underwrote the concert in

loving memory of her husband, Len

Mazur, because “Cantor Schwartz and

his magnificent voice represent what

Len loved the most, all things Jewish

and all things beautiful.” There is no

question that this performance highlighted

the beauty in all things Jewish.

Edie Chaifetz, Fran Cohen and Saranee

Newman were honored to chair

this event with Roslyn Mazur, and

worked with David Chaifetz, Temple

Beth Sholom President, during the

planning of this event.

This special event would not have

been possible without the generosity

of the Mazur family, Sarasota Opera

House, The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manatee, the sponsors,

event committee and Temple Beth

Sholom staff.

David Harris

AJC Chief Executive Officer

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2020

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Michael’s on the Bay at Selby Gardens

Lecture only $36 (Includes Lunch!)

Reservations Required—Space is Limited!

EVENT CHAIRS

David & Edie Chaifetz

Jerry & Wendy Feinstein

HONORARY EVENT CHAIRS

Larry & Debbie Haspel

Resurgent antisemitism in the United States

and Europe, elections in the U.S. and Israel,

an American peace initiative, and Iranian

aggression and instability in the Middle East.

What can American Jews expect amidst

all these challenges in 2020? Hear from

American Jewish Committee (AJC)

CEO David Harris, known by many as the

Foreign Minister of the Jewish people, on

these issues and more.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED:

R.S.V.P. to AJC at 941.365.4955

or email sarasota@ajc.org

Saranee Newman, Fran Cohen, Cantor Azi Schwartz, Ros Mazur,

David & Edie Chaifetz, Rabbi Michael Werbow

Voila! A concert is born

By Sharon Greene, Artistic Director of the Sarasota Jewish Chorale

How do I develop my programs?

I get inspiration from

what is going on in the world

and how I wish to share this through

song. That sounds easier than it is! In

2018, we celebrated Israel’s 70 th birthday

and the 70 th anniversary of the

publication of Anne Frank’s diary. Last

year it was 20 th century Jewish composers.

This year, based on the turmoil

in our country and the world, I wanted

to bring levity with happy music to our

audience.

Each summer, I participate in the

North American Jewish Choral Festival

in Stamford, Connecticut, where

there is beautiful, inspirational Jewish

music. We sing together every morning

and attend workshops during the day.

At some point during these four days,

a light bulb goes off in my brain, and I

just know the kind of music the Chorale

will sing for our major concert in

March, sponsored by The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manatee, Temple

Beth Sholom and DALET.

This year, our theme will be “Songs

of Peace and Joy.” Several of the uplifting

songs, “Shehecheyanu” by Marvin

Hamlisch, and “One Light, One

Sun” by Raffi, just had to be included

in our program. Pieces this spring are

in English, Hebrew, Ladino, Yiddish

and Swahili! I meet with Ronnie Riceberg,

our president, for suggestions and

approval. Our singers sometimes bring

a song to me for perusal, and voilà, a

concert is born!

Join us on Sunday, March 29 to be

uplifted and inspired. Join the Chorale

for rehearsals on Thursday nights from

7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Come sing with us!

For more information, please go to

sarasotajewishchorale.org.

Joe Newman celebrates

107 th birthday

By Sonia Pressman Fuentes

My friend Joe Newman celebrated

his 107 th birthday

on Sunday, January 12. Joe

just recently started using a cane and

stopped driving his red convertible. He

had been a CPA and is now the treasurer

of the Congregation for Humanistic

Judaism. He lives at Aviva – A Campus

for Senior Life in Sarasota, as I do,

with his partner Anita Sampson, who

will be 100 this month.

Joe was the first Jew to graduate

Joe Newman

from Notre Dame in the 1930s, and is

its longest-surviving graduate.

Joe and his wife had one daughter

who was intellectually and developmentally

disabled. So he and his wife

started the first school for developmentally

challenged children in South

Bend, Indiana, the Logan School. It is

now the Logan Center, a national organization

for developmentally challenged

children.

Joe ran for the U.S. Congress at

the age of 101. You can read about it

at news.wgcu.org/post/joe-newman-

101-year-old-man-aims-run-congress.

On my refrigerator door, I still have

the million-dollar bill he gave me at

the time to vote for him. He appeared

in newspaper articles around the world

with his campaign.

Anita told me two interesting

things about them. She said when they

got together, they had hoped to have

two years together – and they’ve had

17. She also said they’ve discussed why

they are both living so long and were

unable to come up with any reasons.



JEWISH INTEREST

March 2020

21A

Aging Jewishly – What our traditions teach us about growing old

How grandparents can share their heritage

with secular or interfaith Jewish grandchildren

By Rabbi Barbara Aiello

I’m afraid to interfere,” said Magda,

grandmother to interfaith

“

twin girls whose Jewish son and

Methodist daughter-in-law are raising

their daughters in both faiths. Magda’s

friend “Zayde” Nathan shares her concerns.

Nathan says, “My grandson is

almost 10 and I haven’t brought up the

Jewish thing. His parents are atheists

and refer to themselves

as cultural

Jews, but they

don’t do anything

Jewish. I won’t

be here forever. I

want my grandson

to know

about his Jewish

Rabbi Barbara Aiello

roots.”

With a U.S.

intermarriage rate at nearly 60%, and

with more than 30% of Jews self-identifying

as non-observant or secular,

it seems that Grandma Magda’s and

Zayde Nathan’s concerns are not

unique. For more than one third of

American Jewish families, issues regarding

how and when to share Jewish

traditions are a sensitive part of the

grandparenting experience.

One of the first to describe the joys

and challenges facing interfaith grandparents

was author Sunie Levin. In her

groundbreaking book, Mingled Roots

– A Guide for Jewish Grandparents

of Interfaith Children (UAHC Press,

2003), Levin shares her personal experiences

with the topic.

As a rabbi who supports intermarriage

and the uniquely rich trove of

traditions that characterizes so many

interfaith families, I’ve applied Levin’s

perspective to encourage Jewish grandparents

to share their heritage with the

grandkids.

Where to begin? First, some

ground rules. Ancient Jewish practice

dictates that we Jews do not proselytize,

meaning that we don’t actively try

to convert others to become Jews. This

rule applies to our grandchildren too.

Depending on your family’s Jewish denomination,

you may already consider

that your grandchildren are Jewish, but

modern life demonstrates that Jewishness

is less about bloodline and more

about day-to-day behavior.

Respect is also key. You may not

agree with the religious climate (or lack

of it) in your grandkids’ home, but if

you adopt an attitude that demonstrates

respect for their choices, interfaith and

secular parents may be more open to

grandparents’ sharing family history

with their children.

The grandkids may understand that

mom or dad is Jewish, but it’s possible

that they have had no experience with

the history and traditions of the Jewish

people. That’s where the grandparents

come in. As bearers of the flame,

grandparents are the family members

who give the youngest generation a

sense of their history. Grandparents

can play an important role in helping

their grandkids appreciate who they

are and where they come from.

Here are some things you can do:

The mini-museum

Create a Jewish corner in your own

home. Shine the Chanukah menorah

and buy some Shabbat candles. Find

the family Kiddush cup and greatgrandpa’s

tallit. Select a spot for your

mini-museum, making sure that it is

eye-level for the little ones. Ask your

Jewish son or daughter if he/she would

like to contribute a personal item to the

“museum,” as well. When the grandchildren

visit, show them their family

museum, let them explore, touch and

ask questions. Personalize the items.

“This is my father’s tallit and these

were my mother’s Shabbat candlesticks.”

Or if these items are no longer

accessible, adapt. “This is a tallit like

my father wore and these are candlesticks

just like my mother had for Shabbat.”

Before each visit add an item or

two and ask your grandchild if she can

find what’s new in the mini-museum.

When the kids are familiar with the

items, organize a scavenger hunt to

foster a personal hands-on relationship

with your family’s Jewish treasures.

Nothin’ says lovin’

like Jewish cooking

If you are able to spend time with your

grandchildren, create a cooking school

experience. Use family recipes for brisket,

latkes, kugel or blintzes, and teach

the grandkids how to become chefs

in Bubby’s Jewish Cooking School.

While you’re creating, be sure to share

family memories of how, when and

why these Jewish foods were eaten.

Invite the parents to sample the feast.

Jewish holidays

Passover is the Jewish holiday celebrated

by more Jews than any other.

Regardless of Jewish persuasion, the

Passover Seder (traditional meal with

symbolic foods, prayers and stories)

has brought more Yiddishkeit to interfaith

and secular families than any

other holiday experience. With this in

mind, have your grandchildren help

you organize the Seder by creating individual

Seder plates, matzah covers or

book covers for the Haggadah.

Chanukah ranks as the second

most popular Jewish holiday, even

more special because it has its own

unique interfaith meaning. Kindling

the candles and placing the lighted menorah

in the window demonstrates the

basic tenet of the festival – religious

freedom. An interfaith or secular family

is an example of religious tolerance

and appreciation of differences. Making

or buying individual Chanukah

menorahs for each family member can

add to the enjoyment.

UK’s Rabbi Gideon Sylvester

puts it well when he discusses teaching

about Judaism to anyone, Jewish

or not (Jewish Chronicle 2010). Rabbi

Sylvester references the Torah where it

says, “Keep my commandments which

a person should perform and through

which they will gain eternal life” (Leviticus

18: 5). The verse makes no distinction

between Jews and non-Jews.

Torah is there for everyone, including

our interfaith and secular grandkids.

Rabbi Barbara Aiello is the fi rst non-

Orthodox rabbi and fi rst woman rabbi

in Italy. She is the spiritual leader of

the fi rst active synagogue in southern

Italy since Inquisition times, founder

of Italy’s Pluralistic Jewish movement,

and a mentoring rabbi for Darshan

Yeshiva’s conversion program.

She is a vice president of Kulanu, an

international Jewish organization that

supports Jewish diversity worldwide.

Contact Rabbi Aiello at rabbi@rabbibarbara.com.

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22A March 2020

JEWISH INTEREST

Aided by solid research, an author bears

compassionate witness to unspeakable horror

Book review by Philip K. Jason, Special to The Jewish News

999: The Extraordinary Young

Women of the First Official

Jewish Transport to Auschwitz,

by Heather Dune Macadam. Citadel.

480 pages. Hardcover $28.00.

In recent years, an astonishing number

of new books have provided

insights about the utter darkness of

the Holocaust, as well as the suffering

and courage of its victims and survivors.

Heather Dune Macadam’s 999:

The Extraordinary Young Women of

the First Official

Jewish Transport

to Auschwitz deserves

a prominent

place in this flowering

of books that

reshape our understanding

through

Phil Jason

revelations and

heartbreaking vignettes.

The author’s narrative, set in Slovakia

and other crushed European

countries, focuses on a program

designed to destroy

Jewish womanhood. The

action begins in late March

1942, when a roundup of

Jewish females, announced

in advance, gets underway.

These women – mostly

teenagers and young adults

– were summoned to report

to authorities and board an

overcrowded train in the

town of Poprad.

The screws had already

Heather Dune Macadam

ple the country’s Jewish population.

Their former rights quickly vanished.

Though pre-roundup escape plans

were dangled before some, most of

these tempting arrangements were

hoaxes that did not pan out. Families

were persuaded that the women would

participate in a kind of government service

for the Reich. They would work

in factories and have an opportunity to

be true patriots!

Many of these female “draftees”

came from the towns of Humenné and

Prešov, both of which had sizable Jewish

populations. And just in case they

behaved irresponsibly while being

shipped off, they would be policed by

the Fascist Hlinka Guard, who would

also beat up any interfering brothers

and fathers, if required.

The women’s lives at Auschwitz

do not turn out as expected. Conditions

are terrible, and exhaustion is normal

given that most of those interred are

slaves. Their clothing disintegrates;

with no means to replace garments,

bodies are left fully

exposed. There are

few medical professionals

on hand.

Indeed, as the

women soon discover,

there is no plan

for their lives except

to exploit them, dehumanize

them and

eventually send them

as smoke up a gaschamber

chimney.

Why did this female-specific

policy

come about? One can

speculate that gloating over the pain of

a scapegoat population had become a

begun tightening when the

Slovak government implemented

the Jewish Codex, a series of

laws and regulations designed to cripdisease

in Germany and

across the landscape over

which the Nazis had

taken control. But why

target young women?

Could it have been an

attempt to guarantee the

end of the Jews’ future

by destroying a generation

of potential mothers?

Women who had

managed to gain special

privileges in the concentration camp

found ways to share their good fortune,

temporary as it might have been, with

others. Macadam’s vivid descriptions

of the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex

place readers in the inmates’ midst as

the women endure their imprisonment

before the war’s end.

What’s most remarkable about

this book, aside from the author’s meticulous

archival and other research (as

well as the photos and generous chapter

notes), is her compassionate dedication

to her subjects.

Though the majority

of the roughly 1,000

women from the first

Auschwitz transport eventually

died at the Nazis’

hands, Macadam managed

to locate a significant number

of survivors. In her stirring

book, she allows them

to tell not only their own

stories, but also those of

their friends, relatives and

co-inmates, whose ordeals

would’ve otherwise been lost along

with their lives.

This review fi rst appeared in the

Washington Independent Review of

Books and is reprinted by permission.

Philip K. Jason is Professor Emeritus

of English from the United States Naval

Academy. He reviews regularly for

Florida Weekly, Washington Independent

Review of Books, Southern Literary

Review, other publications and

the Jewish Book Council. Please visit

Phil’s website at www.philjason.word

press.com.

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JEWISH INTEREST

March 2020

23A

K’zohar Ha-Ivrit

Ra-a-shan – Rattle

By Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin

This month we are celebrating

the joyful holiday of Purim.

The celebration is based on the

Book of Esther, known as Megilat Esther.

Scholars believe that the Megillah

was composed no later than the 4 th century

B.C.E. Despite

the fact that

some question the

historicity of the

story, most scholars

agree that Persian

culture, laws

and vocabulary

attest to the novella’s

historical

authenticity.

The story was written to fit the

Dr. Rachel Dulin

carnival spirit and celebratory mood

adopted by Jews of the Persian era. In

a joyous mood, with costumes, noise

and fanfare, Jews celebrated then and

still celebrate today, the overcoming of

good over evil, as anti-Semitism was

fought in the Persian kingdom.

Through the years, a custom developed

to make loud noise by swinging a

rattle in the air when the name of Haman,

the king’s advisor, is mentioned

as the Megillah is read. Haman, who

voiced the anti-Jewish sentiment in the

Megillah, called for the annihilation

of the Jews of Persia. A rattle, called

in Yiddish a grager, is known in Hebrew

as ra-a-shan. Ra-a-shan is derived

from the word ra-ash, meaning

“noise,” “tumult,” “uproar,” “quake”

and “storm.” The ra-a-shan is a wooden

cog attached to a handle with freely

rotating wood slats fitting into the teeth.

We should mention that ra-ash is

at the center of a few Hebrew idioms.

For example, mah ha-ra-ash means

“what is all the fuss about?” A person

in an agitated state is described as nirash,

namely being in a state of tumult.

And to a noisy person, we simply say

al tir-ash, “stop the noise!”

Making noise to castigate evil is a

universal activity which has very ancient

roots, as it was believed to be a

safeguard against evil spirits. Making

noise on New Year’s Eve is but one

manifestation of this belief. Jews incorporated

the custom of noisemaking

into the story of Purim, where Haman

the anti-Semite was vilified. The noise

was the expression of the Jewish fantasy

of revenge. The tradition was based

on the teaching that Haman was a descendant

of Amaleck, the biblical archenemy

of Israel (Est. 3:1). Based on

biblical decree to “blot out the name of

Amaleck” (Det. 25:19), Jews resorted

to noise making to fulfill the command.

Before the use of the ra-a-shan,

people used to write the name of Haman

on the soles of their shoes, and when his

name was mentioned they would stamp

their feet vigorously on the floor. Another

custom was to write Haman’s name

on two stones or sticks and rub them

against each other to blot his name.

In short, a pagan custom, which was

meant to frighten the evil spirits from

entering the human domain and cause

mischief, has become a tool by which

Jews express disdain for anti-Semitism

and the wish for its eradication.

On Purim, during the reading of

the Megillah and in the midst of a carnival

spirit, the ra-a-shan is a reminder

of the evil around us and the vigilance

we must maintain to conquer it. Hag

Purim Sa-me-ach.

Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor

of biblical literature at Spertus College

in Chicago, and a retired adjunct

professor of Hebrew and Bible at New

College in Sarasota.

April 1 - May 15

When School Ends,

Hunger Begins.

Join the

Campaign Against Summer

Hunger Kickoff

Walk to End

Summer Hunger

March 29 at 8 AM

JD Hamel Park, Sarasota

Co-chairs: Tommy Bernstein and Terri Vitale

Register at allfaithsfoodbank.org

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Read the current and previous editions of The Jewish News online at www.jfedsrq.org

24A March 2020

JEWISH INTEREST

The sacrifice of Mila Racine

By Paul R. Bartrop, PhD

Seventy-five years ago this

month, on March 22, 1945, a

Jewish resister in France, Mila

Racine, was killed at Mauthausen concentration

camp in

Austria. Prior to this,

Mila had saved the

lives of dozens of

Jewish children and

others by smuggling

them across the border

from France into

Switzerland.

Born on September 14, 1921,

Dr. Paul Bartrop

in Moscow, she was the daughter of

Georges (Hirsch) Racine and his wife

Berthe (Bassia). One of three children,

she had a brother, Emmanuel, and a

sister, Sacha. Fleeing the Soviet Union

and a climate of pogroms in the aftermath

of the Russian Revolution, the

family relocated to France, settling in

Paris.

With the German invasion and occupation

of France in 1940, the Racine

family moved out of northern France

and into the so-called free zone at Vichy.

Mila joined the Resistance on January

5, 1942. While her parents were in

a safe house in Nice, Mila, Emmanuel

and Sacha worked for Éducation Physique

(Physical Education), a code

name for a scheme producing false

documents and rescuing Jews under

the overall direction of Simon Lévitte

in Grenoble.

Mila, operating under the alias of

Marie Anne Richemond, came from a

Zionist background and had been an

active member of the Women’s International

Zionist Organization (WIZO).

In the summer of 1943, she was given

command of a unit of the Mouvement

de jeunesse sioniste (Zionist Youth

Movement or MJS) in Saint-Gervais-

Le Fayet (Haute-Savoie) in the Italian

zone of occupation – but her field of

operations ranged much wider than

this, covering a region that included

Toulouse, Gurs, Saint-Gervais, Nice

and Annemasse, under the overall

command of Netanel “Tony” Gryn.

Gryn was another young Jewish

resister who was entrusted by Simon

Lévitte with the task of organizing a

means to enable the smuggling of Jews

from France into Switzerland. The

network he created brought together a

team of about a dozen young people,

who collectively managed to rescue

about a hundred children.

After the Italian armistice on

September 3, 1943, and the German

takeover of southern France, Mila undertook

to drive convoys of children

and adults to Annemasse, right on the

Swiss frontier, and arranged to have

them smuggled across. Her activities,

particularly around Annecy, saw

the creation of links with local people

smugglers (passeurs), who functioned

as an “underground railroad” running

Jews across the border. Throughout

September 1943 and beyond, she

helped hundreds of families and children

who fled into her area. From her

PEOPLE O F THE BOOK

base in the French Alps, and often

working close to German patrols, Mila

and the others in her network took in

children from French cities often many

miles distant. To protect them, they organized

the children into small groups

and then accompanied them to the border,

where they would be helped by

Christian rescuers.

On October 21, 1943, she was

conducting a convoy that included 30

children from Nice, accompanied by

another resister, Roland Epstein. This

was a difficult group. It comprised children,

an older couple, a young mother

with a baby, and another couple with

a small child. Without warning, they

were intercepted by Germans with

police dogs. Gunshots rang out; one

woman was killed, and another wounded.

Mila, Roland and the children were

taken to Annemasse and incarcerated

in the Pax Hotel, the prison at Gestapo

headquarters.

Suffering continued under Nazi

torture, Mila divulged nothing as the

Gestapo sought information regarding

the smuggling operations. Through

the underground movement, the mayor

of Annemasse, Jean Deffaugt (later

recognized as one of the Righteous

Among the Nations for his own efforts

in saving Jewish children), managed to

provide Mila with an escape plan. This

was not something she could accept,

however, as she had an instinctive feeling

that the children would be punished

– or worse – if she were to escape.

Mila and Roland were transferred

to the prison at Fort Montluc in Lyon.

From there, Roland was sent to the

transit camp at Drancy, from where

he was deported to Buchenwald as a

member of the Resistance. He lived

to see the end of the war, and ultimate

survival. Mila was deported, via the

Royallieu transit camp at Compiègne,

By A

to the women’s camp at Ravensbrück.

While there, it was observed, her conduct

was exemplary, as she sought to

maintain morale among the other prisoners

and helped them when they were and

IT

too exhausted to go on.

worl

Her stay at Ravensbrück was D

not to be permanent. In 1945, a large chan

group of women, including Mila and

her friends, was transferred from Ravensbrück

to Mauthausen, in Austria,

where they were put to work repairing

railway tracks destroyed by Allied

bombing. On March 22, 1945, on the

eve of liberation, a British air raid targeted

the camp and Mila, then on aussenarbeit

(work outside the camp), was

killed by shrapnel.

The work of Mila Racine did not A

end with her arrest, however. After her sicia

capture, her brother Emmanuel (code-(whnamed

Mola) sent another resister, in th

Marianne Cohn, to replace her in the Doc

smuggling of Jewish children across are

the border. When Marianne, in turn, worl

was captured on the evening of May vers

31, 1944, she was herself replaced. goal

Such importance did the Jewish resis-Itance place on the work of these young U

it

women that it determined nothing pose

should stand in the way of their rescue and

activities, even at the risk of their very how

lives.

writt

After the war, Mila Racine was whic

posthumously awarded the Medaille de tikku

la Resistance and the Croix de Guerre J

by the French government. And it is disti

perhaps fitting as a final testament that temp

the recognition she received in Israel, tions

many years later, was for a kindergar-souten

and nursery in Tel Aviv to be named for c

in her memory.

The

Dr. Paul Bartrop is Professor of His-sitory and the Director of the Center for the p

C

Holocaust and Genocide Research at whic

Florida Gulf Coast University. He can ter p

be reached at pbartrop@fgcu.edu.

Final Lectures in the Series!

JOSH FRANK

March 8, 2020 • 7:00 pm • $10

Giraffes on Horseback Salad, now a graphic novel, relives the Marx

Brothers film first written by Salvador Dali. Recreated by author Josh

Frank in partnership with comedian Tim Heideck and Spanish comics

creator Manuela Pertega, the film comes to life on pages in all its

gorgeous, full-color, cinematic, surreal glory.

JACK FAIRWEATHER / SARAH ROSE

April 21, 2020 • 10:30 am

• $10

SILVER SPONSOR

To order tickets visit:

jfedsrq.org/books

COPPER SPONSORS

MARSHA EISENBERG

IRENE & MARTY ROSS

Jack Fairweather, author of The Volunteer: One Man, an

Underground Army, and Sarah Rose, author of D-Day

Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the

Nazis and Helped Win World War II, will present a panel

discussion on heroes of the resistance during World War II.

FEDERATION TORCH SPONSORS

A Surrealist in

Hollywood

Heroes of

the Resistance

EDIE & DAVID CHAIFETZ | LEON R. & MARGARET M. ELLIN | DEBBIE & LARRY HASPEL

ROSENTHAL ROOTS FAMILY FOUNDATION | SYLVIA & NORMAN SAMET

BUNNY & MORT SKIRBOLL | HADASSAH & MARTIN STROBEL | LOIS STULBERG

BRONZE SPONSORS

JULES & CAROL B. GREEN

LORI AND DAVID LINER

HOSPITALITY SPONSOR

Voices of the

HOLOCAUST

Holocaust, Genocide

and Tolerance Education

1,912 Sarasota-Manatee

students learned about

the Holocaust from

survivors last year

Inspiring Speakers:

GEORGE ERDSTEIN

RIFKA GLATZ

HELGA MELMED

DAVID MILBERG

GINETTE HERSH

#NEVERFORGET

Listening to your heart-wrenching story, I started

to tear up. Your story of survival moved me and

I will remember you for the rest of my life.

–North Port high School StudeNt

History is not just about events,

it is about human lives.

Learn what “Never Forget” means, before it is too late.

Invite a Holocaust survivor to your school, synagogue or library.

To book a speaker contact Anne Stein

Holocaust Speakers Bureau Coordinator • luvhula@gmail.com

MEDIA SPONSORS:

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

jfedsrq.org

941.371.4546


JEWISH INTEREST

March 2020

25A

Tikkun olam: “Music Changes the World”

By Arlene Stolnitz

If we want to change, then we can

“

learn to join our hands and stand

as one;

The simple truth we know is there,

and as we sing, music changes the

world.”

Do you believe that music can

change the world? I have written several

articles that

focus on musicians

who make

a real impact on

our world: Daniel

Barenboim’s

West-Eastern

Divan Orchestra

(composed of Israeli,

Palestinian

Arlene Stolnitz and Arab musicians),

the Israeli Meteor Festival

(which featured 50 international acts

in the Upper Galilee) and the World

Doctor’s Orchestra (musicians who

are also physicians from around the

world). I have shared the efforts of diverse

individuals who share a common

goal of achieving peace through music.

Is it an unlikely goal?

Usually I write about music, composers

and all that pertains to Judaism

and music. This month is different,

however, because I have chosen a song

written by a non-Jewish composer

which really is about a Jewish concept:

tikkun olam.

Jim Papoulis is a composer whose

distinctive musical style combines contemporary

sounds with musical traditions

the world over. His multicultural

sound is the cornerstone of his works

for choirs, orchestras and ensembles.

The words of his powerful song “Music

Changes the World” speak to me of

the profound concept of tikkun olam,

which means to make the world a better

place.

Jim is the founder of Foundation

for Small Voices (FSV), which debuted

in 2000 at Carnegie Hall. His dedication

to children and music is based on

his belief that music helps children in

many ways besides the typical test taking

and performance skills. It promotes

skills of working together, listening,

sensitivity and a sense of humanity.

According to Jim, “I have always believed

in the power of music to change

a person, which in turn can change a

society and eventually the world.” Isn’t

that what tikkun olam is all about?

Through FSV, Jim has conducted

songwriting workshops and choirs

throughout the United States and the

world. In countries such as China,

Japan, Tanzania, Mexico, Kenya, Dominican

Republic, Haiti, England,

Norway, Canada, France, Ireland, Bosnia,

Jordan, Australia, the United Arab

Emirates and Greece, Jim has promoted

his idea of working together using

the power of music. His original song,

“Juntos,” which means “together,” expresses

the strength and power we can

feel when we work together as one.

Written in the style of a Spanish folk

song, it is one of many created by Jim.

I encountered the song “Music

Changes the World” through the Venice

Chorale, where I am a second soprano.

At each rehearsal, as I was learning my

part, the message I received was profound

because it spoke to my dream

that “music creates community.” And

then Artistic Director Peter Madpak invited

the students from Upper Elementary

and Venice Middle School to join

us in rehearsal. As the students’ director,

Donna Ambrose, led the group, I

could barely sing, I was so filled with

emotion. Their voices made the message

real. The song was presented at

the Venice Performing Arts Center in

February in a program entitled “We

Shall Overcome: Songs of Diversity,

Equity and Inclusion.” It is a call for

choirs to connect across the international

choir community to lift up those

with little or no access to music. Jim’s

view is that it is only through a large

number of participants that we will be

able to make a difference. His hope is

that many choirs will be able to be a

part of this global community.

“There must be a way to change

the world, to join our hearts, and find

the hope

There must be a way that we can

see the simple truth

Music changes the world

If we want to change, then we can

learn to join our hands and stand as one

The simple truth we know is there

Richard Berkun, DPM

Philip Baldinger, DPM

Noelis Rosario, DPM

Shawniece Boss, DPM

Robert Katz, DPM

Garrett Harte, DPM

Michelle Emery, DPM

Loyd Tomlinson, DPM

and as we sing

Music changes the world.”

To learn more, go to www.founda

tionforsmallvoices.org/music-chan

ges-the-world/.

Arlene Stolnitz, founder of the Sarasota

Jewish Chorale, is a member of

the Jewish Congregation of Venice. A

retired educator from Rochester, New

York, she has sung in choral groups

for over 25 years and also sings in

The Venice Chorale. Her interest in

the preservation of Jewish music of all

kinds has led to this series of articles

on Jewish Folk Music in the Diaspora.

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SARASOTA JAZZ FESTIVAL

SARASOTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM

MARCH 8 - 14, 2020

T

y.

MUSIC DIRECTOR KEN PEPLOWSKI

FEATURING

THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER

DICK HYMAN, ALEJANDRO ARENAS, CLAIRDEE, MARK

FEINMAN, RUSSELL MALONE, CHARLES MCPHERSON, JOHN

O’LEARY, HOUSTON PERSON and TERELL STAFFORD

Plus afternoon jazz, the ever popular Jazz

Trolley Pub Crawl, Jazz in the Park and

much more....

For tickets and information visit

sarasotajazzfestival.org

The Harold and

Evelyn R. Davis

Memorial Foundation


26A March 2020

JEWISH INTEREST

To discuss creating your Jewish legacy, contact:

Ilene Fox

941.343.2111 | ifox@jfedrsq.org | JFEDSRQ.org/Legacy

Havewe

impacted

YOUR LIFE?

Whatever you cherish most about our Federation…

community building, Israel advocacy, cultural programs,

Holocaust education, caring for those in need or social

justice...by leaving a legacy you ensure that what you

value most is sustained for future generations.

Please consider making a legacy gift in your

will, trust, retirement account or life insurance policy

to The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

S

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UPCOMING

EVENTS

Sunday, March 8, 2020

PEOPLE OF THE BOOK AUTHOR SERIES

featuring Josh Frank (A Surrealist in Hollywood)

Wednesday, March 11 – Sunday, March 22

11 TH ANNUAL JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

Thursday, March 26, 2020

WOMEN’S PASSOVER CELEBRATION

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

PEOPLE OF THE BOOK AUTHOR SERIES

featuring Jack Fairweather and Sarah Rose

(Heroes of the Resistance)

Sunday, April 26, 2020

YOM HA’ATZMAUT

2020

jfedsrq.org/events


JEWISH INTEREST

March 2020

27A

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.

2020 Oscars Roundup

There were more than the usual number

of Jewish nominees for Oscars in

the “marquee” categories (acting, directing).

Prominent among the nominated

“non-winners” were TODD

PHILLIPS, 49 (Joker), and NOAH

BAUMBACH, 50 (Marriage Story).

They were both nominated in the director

and screenwriting categories.

Another big “non-winner” was SCAR-

LETT JOHANSSON, 36, who was

nominated for best actress (Marriage

Story) and best supporting actress

(Jojo Rabbit).

TAIKA WAITITI, 44, won the

best adapted screenplay Oscar for Jojo

Rabbit, a film that he also directed and

co-starred in. Jojo Rabbit is an anti-

Nazi film that I found more poignant

and well-written than some advance

reviews led me to believe. While Waititi

is, in common terms, only 1/8 Jewish,

he identifies as a “Polynesian Jew.”

It’s your choice how you view him –

Jewish or not. At the very least, he is

an influential ally of the Jewish people.

As expected, JOAQUIN PHOE-

NIX, 45 (Joker), won the best actor

Oscar. He was Oscar-nominated twice

before. Here’s the 411 on his ‘odd’

Jewish background: Phoenix, who has

twice played Jewish film characters,

made it clear in an interview just a

year ago that he is a secular Jew who

doesn’t affiliate with any organized religion.

His Jewish-born mother joined

a Christian cult group in 1969 not long

after marrying his non-Jewish father.

Joaquin was just three years old when

his disillusioned parents left the cult in

1977. He said, in part: “My parents believed

in God. I’m Jewish, my mom’s

Jewish, but she believes in Jesus. She

felt a connection to that. But they were

never religious. [After leaving the

cult], we were absolutely encouraged

to have whatever belief we wanted.”

New Broadcast, Cable

and Streaming Offerings

Dispatches from Elsewhere is a 10-episode

anthology series that starts on

AMC cable on Sunday, March 1

(10:00 p.m.). The second episode will

be shown the next night (Monday) at

10:00 p.m. After that, all episodes will

air Mondays at 10:00 p.m. The advance

description is vague: “A group of ordinary

people who stumble onto a puzzle

hiding just behind the veil of everyday

life.” The series co-stars JASON

SEGEL, 40, and the always-good Sally

Field. Segel created the series and

writes it. He long co-starred in the hit

TV series How I Met Your Mother. He

has many film credits, including Forgetting

Sarah Marshall, a hit he starred

in and wrote.

The four-part documentary Hillary,

about the former first lady and

secretary of state, begins streaming on

Hulu on Friday, March 6. Each episode

will be released on successive Fridays.

Hillary, an original Hulu film, was

shown at the Sundance Film Festival

last December and received very good

reviews. The advance publicity notes:

“Hillary is a remarkably intimate portrait

of a woman in the public eye,

[with] unprecedented personal access

to the former First Lady… The series

gives viewers an up-close view of the

Interested in Your

Family’s History?

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.

woman who has permeated American

culture for more than 30 years.”

The film was made by NANETTE

BURSTEIN, 49. Her previous documentaries

include the Oscar-nominated

On the Ropes, about boxing.

Council of Dads is an NBC drama

that starts on Tuesday, March 10

(10:00 p.m.). The lead character, Scott

Perry, is a loving father of four. A serious

health scare moves him to recruit

three of his closest male friends to step

in as “back up dads” for every stage of

his family’s life. These men agree to

devote themselves to supporting and

guiding Scott’s family through thick

and thin, just in case he ever can’t be

there to do so himself.

The series is based on a bestselling

2010 book of the same name by

BRUCE FEILER, now 55. He and his

wife, LINDA ROTTENBERG, 54, a

prominent business consultant, have

identical twin daughters. In 2008, he

was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

Feiler wrote letters asking six men

from all passages of his life to be present

through the passages of his young

daughters’ lives and assist them. They

all responded positively. Feiler is now

cancer-free.

Feiler’s written about many topics,

but he’s best known for Walking the

Bible, a bestselling book (2006) and

very popular PBS series about Feiler’s

10,000-mile journey tracing the events

and places mentioned in the Torah.

Sport Short

QUINN HUGHES, 20, played in this

year’s NHL all-star game. Hughes is

a defenseman who plays for the Vancouver

Canucks. His younger brother,

JACK HUGHES, 18, plays for the

NHL New Jersey Devils. Their father,

Jim Hughes, a former hockey coach,

isn’t Jewish. Their American Jewish

mother, ELLEN WEINBERG-

HUGHES, 51, was a great collegiate

ice hockey player. The brothers had a

bar mitzvah ceremony.

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28A March 2020

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

Why 2019 was a record-breaking year

for Israel’s economy

In technology, digital health, tourism, exports and other verticals,

Israel has seen steady growth through the past decade.

By Brian Blum, ISRAEL21c.org, January 15, 2020

The year 2019 broke records partner or go public on the stock market.

That figure grew, too, in 2019, al-

across Israel’s economy. From

tourism to tech, exports to the though the amount depends on which

illusive “unicorn,” Israel scored higher analytics firm you follow.

in many categories than it ever had. According to Pricewaterhouse-

Below, ISRAEL21c breaks down Coopers (PwC), Israeli exits in 2019

the numbers.

totaled $9.9 billion, twice the number

Unicorns

as in 2018.

Unicorns are a good place to start. IVC-Meitar, on the other hand, put

We’re not talking about mythical onehorned

beasts. Rather, a technology 72% jump over 2018’s $12.6 billion.

the number at $21.7 billion, marking a

unicorn refers to a privately held company

with a valuation of over $1 bil-

numbers differ because the methodol-

IVC-Meitar’s Azran Lahat said the

lion.

ogy and databases used are different.

In 2019, Israel doubled its number

of companies hitting that mark to In the PwC report, 80 deals were

Let’s drill down further.

20. Israel now has more unicorns than cited of which 67 were mergers and

France, Germany and Australia combined.

Only the U.S., UK and China tech sector, the IPOs included Fiverr,

13 were initial public offerings. (In the

have more.

Tufin, InMode and 89bio.) The average

Among the high-profile new companies

Israel welcomed into unicorn increase of 53% over the 2018 figure.

deal size in 2019 was $124 million, an

playground last year: taxi-hailing Twenty-four deals were valued at $100

company Gett, cybersecurity experts million or more, up from 17 last year.

Cybereason, and team management Half of the total value of the deals

systems developer Monday.

was in the area of computing services

Additional companies are on their and software. That includes the largest

way to unicorn status: 3D sensor company

Vayyar Imaging, fraud protecquisition

of Habana Labs.

deal of the year, Intel’s $2 billion action

firm Riskified, software developer In the IVC-Meitar report, there

JFrog, and insure-tech company Lemonade

all had financing rounds of over mergers and acquisitions.

were 138 exit deals, of which 122 were

$100 million in 2019.

The PwC report also looks beyond

According to a list compiled by the tech sector. Including deals such as

TechCrunch, out of some 500 unicorns the Delek Group’s $2 billion acquisition

of Chevron North Sea, merger and

around the world, 30 were founded

by Israelis though not all of them are acquisition activity in Israel surged

based in Israel.

34% in 2019, reaching a total deal

Mergers, acquisitions and IPOs value of $20.4 billion – close (but still

The most common model for valuable not identical) to the IVC-Meitar conclusion.

Israeli startups has been an “exit,” – to

merge, be acquired by an international According to PwC, the number of

deals in the $400 million to $1 billion

range more than doubled (to nine) in

2019, accounting for 42% of all activity.

There were slightly more East Asian

deals – 10 compared to eight in 2018 –

but the average price fell to $75 million

compared with $112 million in 2018.

Over the past 10 years, PwC counts

587 Israeli technology exits worth a total

of $70.8 billion, not counting deals

announced in 2019 but not yet closed.

The most prominent of those 587 deals

was the $6.9 billion acquisition of Israeli

chipmaker Mellanox Technologies

by NVIDIA.

One more number: if we include

companies acquired more than once or

acquired after going public, the number

for the decade would rise to a staggering

$108 billion, according to PwC.

The “deal of the decade,” of

course, was Intel’s 2017 acquisition of

Mobileye for $15.3 billion.

Exports

Israeli exports rose from $109 billion in

2018 to $114 billion in 2019, according

to the Central Bureau of Statistics and

the Economy Ministry.

Most of the increase was in services

exports (things like software,

computing and R&D), which grew

by nearly 12%. That helped to offset

weakness in goods exports, which have

been hurt by a slowing of global trade,

a weak diamond market and a strong

shekel.

Overall, Israeli exports soared by

almost 70% in the last decade (2009

exports totaled just $67 billion), with

high-tech services leading the way.

Exports comprise around 30% of

Israel’s total economic activity. The

majority go to the European Union, a

market that grew 4.8% this year. The

United States, Israel’s largest export

market by country, rose only 2%. India

grew by 9% in the last year, but Japan

and China fell in 2019.

Nevertheless, exports to Japan increased

a total of 73% over the last decade

while exports to China jumped a

whopping 402%. The last decade also

saw an increase in exports of 40% to

Latin America.

Venture capital

Local and international venture capital

firms are the engine that keeps Israeli

startups’ wheels greased.

Israeli companies raised $6.4 billion

in 2019 from venture capitalists

(VC) compared with $4.75 billion in

2018, according to the latest report by

the IVC Research Center and the Israeli

office of law firm Zysman, Aharoni,

Gayer & Co. (ZAG-S&W).

If we look at total deal flow (not

limited to VCs), we reach an even

higher number: $8.3 billion in 2019 in

522 deals, compared with $6.4 billion

in 2018.

Software companies alone raised

$4.4 billion in 2019, almost 50% more

than the year before. Artificial intelligence

companies raised $3.7 billion

in 199 deals in 2018, cyber companies

raised $1.8 billion, fintech companies

raised $1.7 billion, and life-sciences

companies raised $1.38 billion in 2019.

While 2019 was a good year, it

looks positively outstanding compared

with the beginning of the decade, when

VC investment in Israel was a mere

$1.13 billion. Forty-one megadeals

continued on next page

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March 2020

29A

ISRAEL21c...continued from previous page

in 2019 raked in 50% of all funding Israeli startups in the digital health

raised.

space raised 32% more in 2019 than

Over the course of the last decade, the year before. That amounts to $662

128 megadeals of more than $50 million

million across 69 deals, according to

each were concluded, totaling Start-Up Nation Central.

$12 billion.

Israel is in a good position to capitalize

Tourism

on digital health innovation: All

It wasn’t just technology records that Israeli citizens are required to join one

were broken in 2019. Israel welcomed of the country’s four HMOs, and Israel

4.55 million tourists – its largest number

has long been a pioneer in digitizing

yet. The 2019 figure was 11% high-

patient records – almost 98% of them

er than in 2018.

are now online.

Tourism is a huge source of revenue

Moreover, in 2018, the Israeli govproximately

for the country, injecting apernment

launched a five-year $264

23 billion shekels into the million plan to provide startups access

economy, the Tourism Ministry said. to the HMOs’ databases.

Tourism has jumped since the European

Some 580 digital health companies

“Open Skies Agreement” has were operating in Israel in 2019, double

made it much more competitive for the number at the beginning of the decade.

budget airlines to fly into and out of

Twenty-six percent are in the dig-

Israel.

ital therapeutics sector, 20% in remote

Most of the travelers to Israel in monitoring, 17% in decision-making,

2019 came from the U.S. (890,000 visitors),

15% in clinical workflow, 12% in diag-

followed by France (338,200), nostics, 6% in patient engagement and

Russia (296,000), Germany (268,900) 5% in assistive technology. Of those

and Britain (218,700).

companies, 40% claim to use artificial

Another 144,000 visitors came intelligence in their software.

from China – a 51% increase compared Most digital health investments in

with 2018. Italy, Poland and Ukraine Israel were relatively small – an average

were popular sources for tourism to

of $7 million. However, five com-

Israel in 2019, as well.

panies raised over $30 million in a

While the major cities remain the single round: Healthy.io ($60 million),

most popular for tourists, Tiberias Viz.ai ($50 million), EarlySense ($39

along the Sea of Galilee saw a jump million), Theranica ($35 million) and

of 18% in the number of hotel nights DayTwo ($31 million).

booked in 2019 over the previous year. Start-Up Nation Central reports

Tel Aviv hotel nights booked were up that there are more than 6,400 startups

9% and Jerusalem rose by 8%. operating in Israel today, as well as 362

Overall, inbound and outbound multinational corporations in the country.

passenger traffic at Ben-Gurion International

Airport has more than doubled The richest Israelis

in the last decade. And the Ilan and While we’re not sure this is an indicator

Asaf Ramon Airport north of Eilat,

of economic prowess, the number

opened in January 2019, has already of Israelis ranked on the Forbes 2019

seen one million people arrive through World Billionaires list increased from

its gates.

18 in 2018 to 21 in 2019.

Digital health

Technically speaking, Roman

When you’re traveling, you want to Abramovich is Israel’s wealthiest man,

age stay healthy. So, it’s good news that with a fortune of $12.4 billion. Investor

and football fan Abramovich received

Israeli citizenship in May 2019, but

Forbes still lists him as Russian.

Shipping magnate Eyal Ofer

topped Forbes’ official list of richest

Israelis, with $9.4 billion. His brother,

Idan Ofer, who prior to his failed investment

in Israeli electric car company

Better Place held the title of wealthiest

Israeli, is now in fourth place with $4.7

billion.

Industrialist Stef Wertheimer is

worth $5.7 billion, according to Forbes,

businesswoman Shari Arison has $5

billion (she’s also Israel’s wealthiest

Join us in our campus re-imagination...

woman), and Teddy Sagi, founder of

the gambling software company Playtech

and owner of London’s Camden

Market, is worth $3.1 billion.

Brian Blum has been a journalist and

high-tech entrepreneur for over 20

years. He combines this expertise for

ISRAEL21c as he writes about hot new

local startups, pharmaceutical advances,

scientific discoveries, culture,

the arts and daily life in Israel. He

loves hiking the country with his family

(and blogging about it). Originally

from California, he lives in Jerusalem

with his wife and three children.

CONGREGATION FOR HUMANISTIC JUDAISM

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Join us as we celebrate Passover with a warm,

wonderful, humanistic Haggadah

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 6:00 PM

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Members – $75

Non-members – $80

Children under 12 – $30

Reservation deadline: March 30

WWW.CHJ-SARASOTA.ORG

or call 941.929.7771

Congregation for Humanistic Judaism wishes a Happy Passover to all!

C

Howard Tevlowitz

941.343.2110

htevlowitz@jfedsrq.org

Join us as we reimagine our 32 acre campus.

We are JFED Proud & Strong!

THE LARRY AND MARY GREENSPON FAMILY CAMPUS FOR JEWISH LIFE

KLINGENSTEIN JEWISH CENTER | 580 MCINTOSH RD, SARASOTA FL 34232 | 941-371-4546 | JFEDSRQ.org

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kmullins@jfedsrq.org

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ongregation for Humanistic Judaism wishes a Happy Passover to all

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30A March 2020 ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

Quirky design house lets customers also be designers

Bag Bunny was inspired by a customer’s

suggestion (photos courtesy of Peleg Design)

Founded in 2005 and based in Tel

Aviv, Peleg Design’s online store offers

around 100 unique products that

stem from everyday needs, each with

quirks, twists or optical illusions that

Peleg describes as “magical.”

Jumbo, a cutlery holder that drains into the sink

at the bottom of a cutlery drainer. His

answer was Jumbo, an elephant-shaped

cutlery holder that drains water out of

its trunk, directly into the sink.

Peleg says function is key, and design

is secondary to usefulness. But

still, he hopes his customers will fall in

love with his “cute” designs.

Peleg Design’s gravity-defying wine-bottle holder

Quirky Israeli brand Peleg Design offers customers a chance to send ideas online.

But that’s only one source of Shahar Peleg’s inspiration.

By Lauren Izso, ISRAEL21c

From optical illusion flower vases

to playful elephant-shaped seems.

a great example of that. The penguin-

Nothing, he says, is really what it His newest item, the Egguins, is

cutlery drainers, Shahar Peleg The product that kicked off the shaped eggholder makes it easy to

wants his products to bring his customers

joy, but first and foremost to fulfill

a need.

How does he figure out what those

needs are? “In many ways,” the designer

and founder of the brand tells

ISRAEL21c.

One of those ways is from his customers.

“Some of the ideas came to us

while daydreaming, some in the shower,

some we woke up with and some

just came to us by email,” reads Peleg

Design website’s “Suggest an Idea”

section.

People from all over the world

reach out, he says.

“Once in a while we get a great

idea, and we pay royalties to the designers

or inventors. It’s really amazing

because a lot of people have a lot

of ideas,” Peleg says.

For example, the Bag Bunny, a

magnetic bunny-shaped tool for easily

opening plastic packaging, was inspired

by a customer suggestion.

company’s success was a vase Peleg

designed for his own wedding in 2005.

These “floating” vases are anchored by

Peleg Design’s Magnetic Vase is a best seller

magnetic bases hidden underneath the

tablecloth.

To this day, the Magnetic Vase set

is one of Peleg Design’s best sellers. “It

was a huge hit,” he says. “That’s what

really began to generate business.”

Another universal problem Peleg

wanted to solve was grime building up

remove hot hard-boiled eggs from boil-

Egguins, one of Peleg Design’s

cute and functional creations

ing water and store them in the fridge

– and also makes the eggs much cuter.

One comment on Peleg Design’s

Instagram page calls the item “the best

thing since sliced bread.”

Many of Peleg’s products are made

from plastic but they are meant to last.

Sensitive to environmental issues, he

explains that he wants his customers to

develop an emotional connection to the

items and use them for as long as possible

before throwing them away.

Passion and profession

Growing up, Peleg dreamed of being

an astronaut, but he would eventually

find his passion in a different form of

exploration: design.

“It started off as a one man show,”

he says.

Peleg studied interior design at

the Holon Institute of Design. A class

project made him realize he had an eye

for creating quirky but useful knickknacks.

He had made a wine-bottle

holder that seemed to defy gravity.

He was able to sell a few even before

graduating.

“It started from selling one product

in two or three stores in Tel Aviv,”

Peleg tells ISRAEL21c. “It’s now become

both my passion and my profession.”

Peleg Design has expanded to

more than 30 countries including the

United States, Japan, Peru, France and

South Korea. Some designs can even

be found at the gift shop of the Louvre

Museum in Paris and the Museum of

Modern Art’s gift shop in New York

City. The Magnetic Vase is one of its

bestselling items.

Peleg explains that his products

are available in most major economies,

excluding those that have no political

relations with Israel. He hopes one day

that will change, and he says so to the

businessmen he meets from countries

like Iran and Kuwait.

Every now and then, Peleg receives

an email from an Israeli customer, with

a photo of his Magnetic Vase on a shelf

in the MOMA gift shop. They are so

happy to see an Israeli designer’s product

among some of the world’s best.

“That makes me proud,” he says.

For more information, visit https://

peleg-design.com/.

Get to know Israel

and her people!

Visit jfedsrq.org/israel.

Of all the exotic places

you’ve dreamt of visiting,

an out-of-town cancer

center probably isn’t

one of them.

A diagnosis of cancer is bad enough.

Spending hours on a plane to get care

makes it worse. No one should have to

leave home for cancer treatment—and

soon you won’t have to. Comprehensive

cancer care is coming to Sarasota.

So you can stop fighting your way

through strange airports, and start

fighting your cancer here at home.

Please support our Leading with Care campaign.

Through your generosity, we can help Sarasota

Memorial transform cancer care in our community.

Hope comes home. Give today.

941.917.1286 | smhf.org/hope

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CHARITABLE PURPOSE IF THE STATED PURPOSE IS IMPOSSIBLE OR IMPRACTICAL TO ACHIEVE.


38A

11A

8A

3A

By Gayle Guynup

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

MANASOTA FL

PERMIT 167

t Fine

▼ Fine

Jewelry

t Expert

Jewelry

▼ Expert

Repairs

t Jewelry

Repairs

▼ Jewelry

Appraisals

Appraisals

Randon Carvel

▼ Watch

Ba tery

& Bands

▼ Pearl

Manat e area


t Watch

Battery

& Bands

t Pearl

Re-string

Re-string

t Buying Gold

S e more on pages 20–21


March 2020

31A

s

5

EASY

STEPS

How To Stay

Up-To-Date

On Your

Jewish

Community

1

Hourly

STEP ONE

Social Media: While we don’t always

post hourly, we do post often. What do we

post? Time-sensitive news, alerts, items of

interest, and more. Follow us on Facebook,

Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and more!

Find us by searching for “JFEDSRQ.”

ETHIOPIAN ISRAELI

SINGER TO REPRESENT

ISRAEL IN EUROVISION

Israel has chosen Eden Alene, 19, as its

representative for the 2020 Eurovision

Song Contest.

Alene, who won Israel’s X-Factor

reality show in 2018 and recently won

The Next Star, will be the first singer of

Ethiopian origin to represent Israel in

the contest.

Born and raised in Jerusalem,

Alene is currently an IDF soldier. (Michael

Bachner, Times of Israel)

ISRAEL COMES FULL

CIRCLE WITH SUDAN

On September 1, 1967, just after

Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War,

an Arab League Summit convened

in Khartoum, Sudan, and issued

what became known as the Khartoum

Declaration, which stated:

“No peace with Israel, no recognition

of Israel, no negotiations with

Israel.” Today that declaration has

been reversed.

People forget that Sudan actually is

an Arab state and a member of the

Arab League. It decided that the

time had arrived for its new president

to meet openly with the prime

BRIEFS

minister of Israel. Precisely when

the Palestinian Authority was trying

to incite the Arab states against

the U.S. peace plan, one of the

largest Arab countries was thawing

its relationship with Israel.

In the past, the Sudanese had

brought together many of the main

Islamist militant organizations and

supplied them with training camps,

including the Muslim Brotherhood,

the Algerian GIA, Hizbullah

and even the PLO. It was one of

the earliest places that hosted the

Saudi jihadist Osama bin Laden.

Tehran gained access to Port Sudan

on the Red Sea for its naval forces.

Frequently they carried shipments

of Iranian weapons that were transported

northward into Egypt, destined

for Sinai and Gaza. This was

one of the key supply routes for

Hamas as it built up its capacity to

wage war against Israel.

Then Sudan changed its pro-Iranian

orientation and aligned its

foreign policy with Saudi Arabia,

severing Hamas’ Sudanese supply

line.

Sudan was part of the joint front

against Israel in many significant

ways. With Sudan exploring new

ties with Israel, that front has been

split. And the forces that waged

war against the West over the

last two decades have lost one of

their most important bases of operations.

(Dore Gold, president of

the Jerusalem Center for Public

Affairs, who previously served as

director general of the Israel Ministry

of Foreign Affairs, where he

undertook multiple initiatives in

Africa on behalf of the prime minister,

Jerusalem Post)

ISRAELI COUNTER-DRONE

COMPANY TO PROVIDE

SYSTEM TO FBI AND

U.S. MILITARY

Israel’s D-Fend Solutions has been selected

by the U.S. Defense Innovation

Unit from a field of 16 companies to

provide the EnforceAir counter unmanned

aerial system (c-UAS) as the

core radio-frequency system to be integrated

into a U.S. counter-drone system.

EnforceAir c-UAS automatically

and passively detects, locates and identifies

rogue drones, taking control over

them and landing them safely at a predefined

safe zone, applying a non-jamming

and non-kinetic technology that

JELF provides interest-free,

last dollar loans for higher ed.


2 STEP TWO

Daily

Whether you’re on your

desktop, laptop or smartphone, the Federation

website, has everything above and

below (and more) right at your fingertips.

Keep our event calendars in your bookmarks

bar for event information in a click.

3 STEP THREE

Weekly

Federation Eblast: Receive timely

Federation news, topics, and more, in

your email every Friday

by subscribing to the

weekly newsletter, the

Federation eBlast.

4 STEP FOUR

Monthly

The Jewish News:

The publication that brings the

Jewish community right to

your door every month with

news, events, and more. Get

your FREE subscription today!

5

Yearly

ShalomSRQ:

Your resource guide to

everything Jewish in

JFEDSRQ.org

Temple Sinai Religious Sch ol

students enjoy Hawa ian Luau

and Scavenger Hunt

A publication of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manat e

The La ry & Mary Gr enspon Family Campus for Jewish Life


A nual voluntary subscription: $25


FEDERATION NEWS

January 2020 - Tevet/Shevat 5780 www.jfedsrq.org Volume 50, Number 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

16A Community Focus

26A Jewish Interest

32A Commentary

36A Focus on Youth

39A Life Cycle

1B Jewish Happenings

Sarasota’s Blumenthal family:

Building for a be ter tomo row

Save the date for Federation’s

annual Jewish Film Festival

Namesake Israel Center donors

Robert and Esther He ler

honored by Federation

75th Annivesay ofLibeatio

Celebrating

2020: Join us as we TRANSFORM

our Jewish Federation

By Randon Carvel, President; Kim Mullins, Chief Operating Officer;

and Howard Tevlowitz, Chief Executive Officer

I

n 2020, The La ry & Mary Gr enspon

Family Campus for Jewish

Life will begin a tremendous transformation.

Ou recent Jewish community

study, showing that our Jewish

population has doubled in the last 18

years, presents The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manat e wit huge

o portunities for growth in outreach,

cultural arts partnerships, programs

for families and so much more. Our

community members expre sed their

desire for greater co nections t other

Jews, more options for engaging with

like-minded individuals, and thoughtprovoking,

i novative educational programs.

Our centrally located 32-acre

campus on McIntosh Road wi l serve

as the hub for many of these offerings.

However, in order to m e the demand,

a complete renovation is in order.

Space will be flexible, a lowing

Federation to respond quickly to community

n eds. No membership is required.

Federation wi l remai nimble

with a pay-for-service model focused

on the fo lowing areas:

Jewish Federation announces

2020 Board of Directors

T

he Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manat

e’s Board of Directors

a proved its new slate

of officers for 2020 at its December

m eting. Randon Carvel will serve as

the new president of the board.

“My goals as the new president

wi l include continuing to raise valuable

resources in order to provide for

those members of our community who

sti l have real needs in spite of the economic

gains most of our community

has experienced,” Carvel said. “In light

of the amazing growth of our local

Jewish community, now with a proximately

35, 0 people living in Jewish

households, we hope to engage them

in even more meaningful ways both

STEP FIVE

ay

a of

Learning and building community

Offering formal K-8 Jewish education

and engagement for our area’s

youth, with our partner, Hershorin

Schiff Community Day Sch ol

Educating our community about

diversity, the Holocaust and advocacy

against anti-Semitism, in

the Robert and Esther He ler Israel

Center

Continuing to act as a community

convener, building relationships

with the Jewish and non-Jewish

on our incredible re-imagined 32-acre

campus and by bringing Federation to

them throughout our twocounty

area.”

Past President Michael

Ri ter noted, “During the

las two years, through the

hard work of our talented

staff and lay leadership,

we’ve made great progre

s toward realizing our

vision of redeveloping our

32-acre campus, as we l

as succe sfu ly launching our capital

campaign required to fund the project.

We also completed our first community-wide

population study in 18 years,

which wi l provide the Federation and

941.907.3418

941.907.3418

Located in Lakewood Ranch


Sarasota-Manatee. Keep it on hand to quickly

find Jewish goods, services and organizations.

Request to be on the mailing list!

of

i

o L

fL

be


The Jewish

Federation

OF SARASOTA-MANATEE



communities in an inclusive, welcoming

environment

Cultural arts, food and programming

Producing i novative, quality programming

for “babies to bu bies”

Providing affordable communal

meeting space and catering services

Bringing the best Jewish thought

leaders and entertainment from

around the world to the Sarasota-

other Jewish organizations valuable information

about the n eds and wants of

our community members.

“Our new President,

Randon Carvel, has b en

very involved with Federation

for several years

and understands our organization

and its challenges.

I am very confident that

Randon is up to this challenge

and wi l do a great

job.”

Other officers wi l include Michael

Ri ter, Immediate Past President; Ian

Black, Vice-President Campus Utilization;

Me rill Wy ne, Vice-President


Find and Subscribe at

JFEDSRQ.org/Media-Channels

50

Years

Li

ib

be

learn

more at

MAR 1

THROUGH

APR 30

SEPT 1

THROUGH

SEPT 30

jelf.org

Congregation Kol HaNeshama

Jewish Without Labels

At Kol HaNeshama, Rabbi Jennifer Singer

offers uplifting, participatory services.

We sing prayers in Hebrew and English,

combining traditional liturgy with

contemporary alternatives.

Friday evening services are filled with music.

More contemplative Saturday mornings

include Torah, discussion, and a convivial

potluck dairy lunch.

We celebrate holidays together, and we

share activities: Books & Bagels, classes,

social action, Jewish meditation, Jewish

Cinema Club, Shabbat-at-Home, and more.

K.H. is Family – Make it Yours

Congkh.org 941.244.2042

Services at Southgate Community Center, 3145 Southgate Circle

E

S

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @KHSARASOTA


32A March 2020


BRIEFS

continued from previous page

does not require line-of-sight.

The company has been working

for the past two years with the U.S.

Department of Defense to co-develop

the system’s capabilities.

During 2019, EnforceAir was successfully

deployed by more than 20

U.S. agencies including U.S. Special

Operations Forces, U.S. Army, FBI,

Customs and Border Patrol, and the

U.S. Marshal Service. (Anna Ahronheim,

Jerusalem Post)

STUDY: 80 PERCENT

OF U.S. JEWS SAY THEY

ARE PRO-ISRAEL

80% of American Jews describe themselves

as pro-Israel and more than 70%

say their personal attachment to Israel

is as strong or stronger than it was

five years ago, according to a new poll

conducted for the Ruderman Family

Foundation by the Mellman Group on

a sample of 2,500 U.S. Jews.

67% said they were “attached” or

“very attached” to Israel on an emotional

level. At the same time, 57%

identified as “pro-Israel but also critical

of Israeli policy.”

“It appears doomsday talks about

an irreversible chasm between Israel

and the American Jewish community

were mistaken,” said Jay Ruderman,

president of the Ruderman Family

Foundation. (Jeremy Sharon, Jerusalem

Post)

POLL: WHAT AMERICANS

KNOW ABOUT THE

HOLOCAUST

Only 45% of U.S. adults correctly

answered a multiple-choice question

about the number of Jews who were

murdered in the Holocaust (6 million),

according to a new Pew Research

Center survey.

When asked to describe the Holocaust,

84% mentioned the attempted

annihilation of the Jewish people or

concentration-death camps, Hitler or

the Nazis. 63% knew about Nazi-created

ghettos where Jews were forced to

live.

43% knew that Adolf Hitler became

chancellor of Germany through

a democratic political process. (Pew

Research Center)

500 COLLEGE STUDENTS

COME TO ISRAEL FOR

“CHRISTIAN BIRTHRIGHT”

Passages, a “Christian version of Birthright”

for college students, brought

500 participants from the U.S. to Israel

recently where they were welcomed

by U.S. Ambassador to Israel David

Friedman.

Passages plans to bring 10,000

Christian college students to Israel this

year, introducing them to the roots of

their biblical faith and building bridges

between Israel and the U.S. (Jerusalem

Post)

ISRAELI TECHNOLOGY

HELPS WOUNDED

CANADIAN SOLDIER

TO WALK

In 2006, Capt. Trevor Greene was serving

with the Canadian infantry in Afghanistan

when an Afghan plunged an

axe into the back of his head at a meeting

with local tribal elders.

The attack left him unable to walk

until a Canadian neuroscientist connected

him with an Israeli-made wearable

exoskeleton that does the walking

for him.

Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Terry

Hannigan Vereline also uses the device.

In 2019 she successfully completed

the New York City Marathon, though

it took her three days. (Paul Lungen,

Canadian Jewish News)

ISRAELI DELEGATIONS

HAVE BEEN QUIETLY

VISITING SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Minister of State Adel al-Jubeir

insists that “we have no ties of any kind

with Israel.”

The truth is that Israeli delegations

have been quietly visiting Saudi Arabia

for the past two years.

Some were accompanied by senior

members of the security community,

some by businessmen.

Most – although not all – hold

passports from other countries, but it

is clear to their Saudi hosts who they

really are and where they really came

from. (Smadar Perry, Ynet News)

POLL: ISRAELIS RATE

NATIONAL SECURITY

THREATS

31% of the Israeli public believes the

northern sector, including Lebanon and

Syria, poses the greatest threat to national

security; while 26% think Iran’s

nuclear program is the central threat, a

new study by the Institute for National

Security Studies at Tel Aviv University

has found.

14% view the Israeli-Palestinian

conflict as the most serious security

problem, while 14% view Hamas in

Gaza as a primary threat.

82% agree with the statement that

“Israel can rely only on itself” in a war.

(Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom)

STAY CONNECTED

facebook.com/jfedsrq

ISRAEL ELECTRIC

TO HELP SAFEGUARD

TOKYO OLYMPICS

FROM CYBERATTACK

The Israel Electric Corporation (IEC)

has signed an agreement with a leading

energy utility in Japan to help it secure

infrastructure against cyberattacks

during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, IEC

chairman Yiftah Ron-Tal said at the

Cybertech 2020 conference in Tel Aviv.

IEC has similar cooperation agreements

with an electricity producer in

Canada and a European utility.

IEC was subject to an average

11,000 cyber events per second in

2019, and is one of the most targeted

organizations in the world.

This huge exposure to cyberattacks

has led IEC to develop its cybersecurity

tools and market them globally.

(Shoshanna Solomon, Times of Israel)

ISRAELIS WIN GOLD

AT WORLD DEBATE

CHAMPIONSHIP

Israeli students Hadar Goldberg and

Maya Saveliev won a gold medal at the

40 th World Universities Debate Championship

in Thailand on Friday, Janu-iary

3, in the category of debaters who

By N

speak English as a second language.

The two Israeli women, competing

on behalf of the Open University of

Israel, defeated 384 groups, which included

750 speakers. (Jerusalem Post)

STAY CONNECTED

twitter.com/jfedsrq

G

#5

TGoo

was

the u

R

tinat

Nan

lowe

Tel

was

Bang

T

hote

I

shou

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March 2020

33A

Israel’s Eurovision show

voted best of decade

and

the

amnu-iho

2020

By Naama Barak, ISRAEL21c

.

Tel Aviv is a fabulous travel destination,

and certainly one on

pety

of

people’s mind. Internet giant

int)

Google recently shared that Tel Aviv

was the fifth trending destination for

the upcoming year.

Revealing the top 10 trending destinations

in 2020, Google listed Da

Nang in Vietnam in first place, followed

by Sao Paolo, Seoul, Tokyo and

Tel Aviv. The second half of the list

was comprised of Marseille, Vienna,

Bangkok, Dubai and Perth.

The lineup was based on Google

hotel search data in December 2019.

In good news for Israelis, they

should be able to visit all the cities on

EC) By Abigail Klein Leichman, ISRAEL21c

ad-Eurovision fans voted “Dare to

se-

cks Song Contest in Tel Aviv, the

Dream,” the 64 th Eurovision

IEC best Eurovision production of the decade.

the

viv. Israel had won the privilege of

ree-hostinr in by virtue of Netta Barzilai winning the

the 2019 Eurovision contest

2018 contest held in Lisbon.

age An estimated 182 million people

in watched the three-day production last

ted May, produced by Israeli public broadcasting

company Kan. It was broadcast

cks live from Tel Aviv to the 41 participat-

countries and across the rest of the

cu-inlly.

world via YouTube.

el) The European Broadcasting Union,

operator of the contest, asked socialmedia

followers to vote for their favorite

Eurovision show of the 2010s based

on four categories: stage, songs, voting

sequence and overall production value.

The result helps take the sting out

of the fact that Israel’s contestant, Kobi

Marimi, placed a disappointing 23 rd

in the 2019 contest. The winner was

Duncan Laurence of The Netherlands.

Accordingly, the 65 th contest will take

place next May in Rotterdam.

Over 64 years, the Eurovision

Song Contest has grown to become the

world’s biggest live music event. Israel

has participated 41 times, won first

place four times (1978, 1979, 1998,

2018) and hosted the contest three

times (1979, 1999 and 2019).

Google lists Tel Aviv as

#5 top travel destination

the prestigious list, even Dubai in the

United Arab Emirates, with which Israel

doesn’t have formal diplomatic ties.

The Muslim-majority emirate is hosting

this year’s Expo and invited Israel

to participate. This milestone opens up

the gates to further Israeli tourism.

Back in this corner of the Middle

East, meanwhile, it comes as no surprise

that Tel Aviv nabbed such a top

spot. In December, Forbes ranked

it the second-best city to visit in the

world, preceded only by Las Vegas.

In October, Condé Nast Traveler

named Israel in 15 th place in its “Top

20 Countries in the World: Readers’

Choice Awards 2019.”

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34A March 2020

COMMENTARY

How to respond to the anti-Semitic attack in Monsey

By Nita Lowey and David Harris, December 30, 2019

In the wake of the horrific knife attack

on Saturday during a Hanukkah

celebration in Monsey, New

York, and following a recent spate

of other anti-Semitic assaults in New

York City and elsewhere in the United

States, we must ask and answer two key

questions: “Why now?” and “What can

be done to stop such incidents?”

Let’s start with “Why now?”

Why, when American Jews have felt

unmatched levels of inclusion and

equality, and when, unlike in previous

generations, Jews can be found in every

sphere of American society, is anti-

Semitism making a comeback?

It is important to remember that

anti-Semitism has been called the

world’s oldest social disease. It dates

back millenniums. It has taken many

forms – religious and racial, political

and social. Its durability and ability

to reinvent itself should never be underestimated.

Even here in the United

States, it never entirely vanished.

The resurgence of anti-Semitism

could be a result, in part, of the vanishing

legacy of the Holocaust. Recent

surveys reveal abysmal levels of

knowledge among young people about

what happened to the Jewish people in

the Second World War. There is far too

little understanding about the slippery

slope from the Nazi dehumanization of

the Jews in 1933 to the Final Solution

nine years later.

Social media may also be playing

a role. In the past, anti-Semites lived in

small ideological circles with limited

reach. Now the internet amplifies the

voices and influence of these otherwise

marginal groups.

Another factor could be the declining

confidence in liberal democracy

and its core value of pluralism. Our nation

has made considerable progress in

the social inclusion of minority groups.

But that progress also poses a threat to

those who are bewildered or angered

by these social changes and who prefer

mutual rancor to mutual respect.

There’s also the “copycat” phenomenon

– when someone else’s

hateful actions, and the publicity they

engender, spur others who seek notoriety

and attention. This includes offenses

like scrawling swastikas or ugly

slogans on synagogue walls; assaulting

people on the street in Brooklyn and

Manhattan who are “identifiably” Jewish;

and murdering them, as with the

synagogue shootings in Pittsburgh last

year and in Poway, California, in April,

and the kosher supermarket shooting

this month in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Which brings us to the second of

our two questions: How to respond?

First, we need to recognize the

problem for what it is: an epidemic. We

are no longer talking about isolated, occasional

actions – bad enough as those

are – but a regular phenomenon. Like

an epidemic, it must be treated comprehensively,

addressing root causes.

Second, we must acknowledge that

there are multiple ideological sources

feeding this paroxysm of hate; it is not

a result of a single political outlook.

Some critics wish to exploit the issue

to undermine their political opponents.

That is no way to deal with anti-Semitism.

There is no one-size-fits-all

profile for the perpetrators of these

attacks.

Third, we cannot allow this situation

to become the “new normal,” as if

attacks on Americans because of their

religious or ethnic identities are now

an expected part of our everyday lives.

No, they are not. These attacks violate

everything that Americans should hold

dear. An attack on any American group

is a threat to the pluralistic fabric of our

nation.

Fourth, despite the efforts of many

elected officials and law-enforcement

agencies to keep us safe, more needs

to be done – including enhanced information-gathering,

tougher prosecution

and sentencing and increased public

education – to respond to anti-Semitic

attacks in our communities.

One model for community engagement

is what happened in Billings, Montana,

in 1993, after a year of racist and

anti-Semitic incitements that culminated

with the throwing of a brick through

the bedroom window of a young child

in a Jewish home that had a menorah

on display. The reaction of Billings was

swift and decisive. Under the leadership

of the police chief and a newspaper

editor, paper cutouts of a menorah

were made widely available. Thousands

of households in Billings put them in

their windows. The message was clear:

Anti-Semitism and racism had no place

there.

In a survey of American Jews by

the American Jewish Committee, released

in October, 31 percent of respondents

said that they had taken

steps to hide their Jewish identity in

public, while 25 percent said they now

avoided Jewish sites. And this survey

was conducted before the recent attacks

in Jersey City and Monsey.

This is unacceptable. It is not our

America. We call on all Americans of

good will to ask ourselves how each of

us can defend our inclusive vision for

this country.

Nita Lowey is a United States congresswoman

whose district includes Monsey.

David Harris is the chief executive

of American Jewish Committee.

Every woman

matters here.

The Women’s Giving Circle [ “Ma’agal

Nashim”] is a giving circle that empowers

women as funders, decision makers and

agents of change. Each member contributes

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directing our funds. The giving circle model

multiplies individual actions, creating a

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In the last five years, we have distributed

more than $236,632 in grants to

nonprofits in Israel that help women and

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Our Mission

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COMMENTARY

March 2020

35A

How Auschwitz has united Muslims and Jews

By Mohammad Al-Issa and David Harris, January 28, 2020

ear: American Jewish Committee CEO David

Harris and Muslim World League

lace

Secretary General Mohammad Al-Issa

by co-authored this groundbreaking op-

published by the Chicago Tribune,

re-edre-followinken

of Muslims and Jews to Auschwitz they

the unprecedented joint visit

trust and ignorance of the other. When

we met last April, we recognized the

interconnectedness of our missions.

Our organizations, the Muslim World

League and American Jewish Committee,

signed an agreement to “make

the 21 st century an era of harmony and

in led on January 23.

friendship” that unites our communities

against all attempts to divide us by

ow We come from very different

vey backgrounds. One of us is a race, faith, nationality or ethnicity.

atour

Muslim, born and raised in Words are important, but insufficient.

the official religion and the vast major-

Saudi Arabia, a country where Islam is

s of ity of the population shares the same

h of faith. There is no local Jewish community

and no direct connection to World

for

War II.

The ultimate test is action.

That explains why we co-headed

a joint Jewish-Muslim delegation to

Auschwitz to mark the 75 th anniversary

of the Nazi German camp’s liberation.

At a site of unconscionable pain, the

ess-

The other is a Jew, born and raised images of Jews and Muslims praying

on-in tive to few Muslims during his formative

a secular United States, exposed

years, his life shaped by the events of

World War II and the experiences of

his parents, both Holocaust survivors.

Yet on January 23, we stood together

with united resolve in the face

of history’s greatest horror, the Holocaust,

at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death

camp where more than 1 million Jews

perished. Never Again. Not for Jews.

Not for Muslims. Not for any of God’s

children.

We have come together, believing

that the world desperately needs

greater interfaith understanding and

cooperation. The terrible attacks on

Jews in Pittsburgh, San Diego, Jersey

City, Monsey and Halle, Germany; the

genocide against the Rohingya Muslims

in Myanmar and the massacre of

Muslim worshippers in Christchurch,

New Zealand; and the wanton killing

of Christians celebrating Easter in Sri

Lanka demonstrate the global threat

we are all facing.

Within our own communities, we

both have been confronting fear, dis-

in their own manner and to the same

God should give the world hope that

adherents of both faiths are determined

to build a more humane and harmonious

tomorrow.

The visit marked the most senior

Islamic delegation ever to visit

Auschwitz, including Muslim leaders

from more than two dozen countries

in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle

East and North America. But it ought

to represent a seminal moment for

Jews as well, a reminder that both our

faiths compel us to act against injustice.

In Hebrew, we speak of “tikkun

olam.” In Arabic, “islah.” Each demands

of us to repair the world through

education and action, among our own

communities and through partnerships

such as ours.

Our presence at Auschwitz was as

much about the present as the past.

The Holocaust reminds us of the

human capacity for inhumanity, depravity

and bestiality. Two-thirds of

European Jewry was destroyed. But

the Nazis directed their supremacist

Read the current and previous

editions of The Jewish News

online at www.jfedsrq.org.

ideology at Slavs, Roma, people of color,

the handicapped and many others.

Seventy-five years later, it would

be naïve of us to believe we are immune

to the possibility of another

industrialized genocide fueled by ideological

extremism. Left unchecked, the

forces of evil could threaten any minority

community, anywhere.

As the last remaining survivors and

liberators pass on, we have a shared stake

in ensuring the lessons of Auschwitz

do not disappear with them. To forget

would be to invite a new Auschwitz.

We must not forget. We dare not forget.

Visiting Auschwitz is an important

education for anyone who wants

to build a better world. It cannot begin

to fully convey the agony of those

who were imprisoned, tortured and dehumanized

within – the fear, hunger,

disease, loneliness, family separation,

indignities, exhaustion and, ultimately,

death. But it is a start.

Together, we saw the shoes, suitcases,

eyeglasses, prosthetics, hair and

shaving brushes, pots and pans, and

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other belongings of those deported to

this accursed place, led to believe it

was for relocation, not annihilation.

The stark barracks with bare, threetiered

bunk beds, once overflowing

with skeletal, lice-infested, terrorized

women, men and children. The remnants

of the gas chambers and crematoria.

The execution walls and hanging

sites. The train tracks that brought people

packed in suffocating cattle cars.

And where Nazi doctors performed

medical experiments that are an eternal

abomination of science.

These 1.1 million people murdered

in Auschwitz were human beings, each

with his or her own story, their world

brutally cut short.

As Muslim and as Jew, we remember

them. And we honor their memories

by bearing witness, linking arms

and saying “Never Again.”

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PAID

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36A March 2020 COMMENTARY

build.

remember.

advocate.

Bridges

We build bridges between people by visiting synagogues, churches and civic

groups to make presentations about Israel, anti-Semitism and the Boycott,

Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS). In addition, we send clergy

and community members on missions to Israel to experience and learn

about the land while forging friendships that deepen and continue

back home in Sarasota-Manatee.

support.

Robert and Esther Heller

CRC

COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE

^ Builds Bridges

^ Advocates through

Government Affairs

^ Remembers the Holocaust

^ Supports Hillel

Hillel

Hillel is the “Jewish Home Away from Home” for Jewish

students in college. Your CRC and Federation support

Gulf Coast Hillel in its pursuit to create meaningful

and engaging holiday and educational programs

on local college campuses.

HELLER CRC’S MISSION

To build relationships within

the Jewish and non-Jewish

communities and to advance

common interests through

education and advocacy.

QUESTIONS? Contact Jessi Sheslow

941.343.2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org

jfedsrq.org/HellerCRC

Let

add

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FEDERATION NEWS

March 2019 - Adar 5779 www.jfedsrq.org Volume 49, Number 3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

11 Community Focus


28 Jewish Interest


34 Commentary

37 Focus on Youth

39 Life Cycle


Day Schoo leaders power

vision for the future

SARASOTA

• 1217 East Ave Medical Plaza

• 1219 East Ave Medical Plaza

• Atria

• Aviva – A Campus for Senior Life

• Aviva Memory Care

• Bayfront Park

• Bookstore1Sarasota

• Brother Geenen Way (across from Ford)

• Chabad of Downtown Sarasota

• Chabad of Sarasota

• Desoto Beach Club

• Desoto Palms

• Einstein Bagels

• Fruitville Library

• Gulf Gate Library

• Integraclick

• JFCS of the Suncoast

• Lakeridge Falls

• Main Street (across from Hollywood 11)

• Medical Arts Building

• Midtown Plaza

• Morton’s Gourmet Market

• Nellie’s Deli

• Osprey & Hillview

• Palm Aire Clubhouse

• Plymouth Harbor

Building and planning for a

vibrant Jewish future…together!

W

Staff report

The Jewish Federation’s

Lion of Judah & Pomegranate

Luncheon

New Torah dedication

at Congregation Kol

HaNeshama

e know that many of you

ar eager for a ‘behind the

scenes’ look at what we are

planning for our La ry Gr enspon Family

Campus for Jewish Life. Our staff

and leadership are busy m eting with

vendors and potential campus partners

to discover a l our options for creating a

vibrant Jewish campus: sports and we l-

ne s, summer day camp, culinary arts

and so much more. Though this campus

plan i sti l a work in progre s, we are

excited to share some details with you!

We have a we l-established utilization

commi t e, co-chaired by Ian

Black and Randon Carvel, which consists

of members of the community and

Federation board members who have

backgrounds in construction, building,

Meet the dynamic duos behind

Building Our Future…Together!

16

T

By Su Byron

ALL THE JEWISH NEWS

FREE COPIES AVAILABLE AT MORE THAN 80 LOCATIONS!

A fabulous Shabbat in the

strawbe ry fields with Temple

Emanu-El and PJ Library

he La ry Gr enspon Family

Campus for Jewish Life presents

an innovative and exciting

opportunity to take our community to

a new level of programming and en-

38

A publication of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manat e

The La ry Gr enspon Family Campus for Jewish Life


A nual voluntary subscription: $25


theater, security, kitchens and catering,

etc. In order to a complish a l the

work that n eds to be done, the utilization

commi t e has b en broken down

into four sub-commi t es, which report

their findings back to the overa l group.

The Jewish

Federation

OF SARASOTA-MANATEE



Those sub-commi t es are:

Youth and Family Programming

Performing Arts, Event and

M eting Space

Outdoor/Sports Facilities

Israel and Holocaust

These sub-commi t es have b en

m eting regularly to discu s how to

MARCH

best use the space for cu rent and future

programs, and what kind of space

is required; conducting research on

similar spaces in other cities; m eting

16-21

with profe sionals; and conveying their

2015

gagement. To help fund this monumental

initiative, four couples have come

together to launch a capital campaign:

Building Our Future…Together! We

shine a spotlight on them in this piece.

Tom and Karen Bernstein are

enthused about spreading the word

about the project. Tom, who is also a

Federation board member, says he is

positively pa sionate about describing

Building Our Future…Together! to

prospective investors. “It wi l become

the cornerstone of the Jewish community,

especia ly with the Community

Day School on campus.” Karen says

that, as residents of the region for 25

years, they’re thri led to be part of a

projec that wi l enhance the region for

generations to come.

Josh and Julie Gr en say they

were honored to be asked to spearhead

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

MANASOTA FL

PERMIT 167

S e more on page 40

ANNUAL

n eds to the architects who wi l create

drawings and a companying budgets.

In a l, there are over 70 community

member si ting on these commi t es.

The construction work wi l be performed

in phases, with the first thr e

Ben & Stacy Hanan, Tom & Karen Bernstein, Pa ti & David Wertheimer, Julie & Josh Gr en

t Fine

phases taking precedence:

Phase 1 wi l addre s infrastructure

n eds, including a ce s for emergency

such an important project. “The Federation

is the heart of our Jewish community

and we believe in its mi sion,”

says Josh. “The most exciting part of

this campaign is that we are building a

vehicles and additional parking.

Phase 2 wi l be the renovation of

th existing recreation and t en center

center for the future of the Jewish community

that wi l have a generational

Jewelry

Jewelry

▼ Expert

t Expert

buildings (gymnasium and su rounding

areas) for the n eds of Community Day

impact.” Julie, who serves on the Federation’s

board, adds that the initiative,

“wi l bring the mi sion to a higher

level, offering even more to strengthen

Repairs

Repairs

▼ Jewelry

t Jewelry

School, which wi l relocate to our campus

in June 2021.

Phase 3 wi l be the renovation and

expansion of the Flanzer-Weinberg

Jewish life, provide for those i n ed

and promote Israel. In order to k ep

up with changing times and fulfi l our

vision for a vibrant campus for Jewish

life, this campaign is nece sary. We

Appraisals

Appraisals

continued on page 2

hop everyone wi l take ownership in

its future.”

Ben and Stacy Hanan are excited

to leave a legacy for future generations

of Jews in our community. “The idea of

a campus for Jewish life energizes us,”

says Ben. “Stacy grew up in a community

with a very vibrant JCC. Although

this won’t be a JCC, it wi l provide a

place for a l things Jewish. There are

so many exciting opportunities that

come along with this.” Stacy agr es.

“The new campus wi l serve as a consistent

reminder of the importance of

941.907.3418

continued on page 2

▼ Watch

t Watch

Ba tery

& Bands

▼ Pearl

941.907.3418

Re-string


Ba tery

& Bands

t Pearl

Re-string


t Buying Gold

SARASOTA LAKEWOOD RANCH/BRADENTON LAKEWOOD RANCH/BRADENTON

• Poet’s Walk

• The Sheridan at Lakewood Ranch

• Publix at the Landings Plaza

• The Windsor

• Ringling Museum Parking Lot

• Town Center Parkway

• Ringling Post Office

- Bank of America

• Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

- FCCI Insurance

- Northern Trust Bank

• Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Outpatient

• Selby Public Library

• Senior Friendship Centers

• Silverstein Institute, lobby

• Temple Beth Sholom

• Temple Emanu-El

• Temple Sinai

• The Jewish Federation Campus

• The Meadows (Clubhouse)

VENICE

• Chabad of Venice & North Port

• Senior Friendship Centers

• Jacaranda Public Library

• Jewish Congregation of Venice

• North Port Public Library

• Venice Chamber of Commerce

• Venice Community Center

• Venice Public Library

• Venice YMCA

THAT’S FIT TO PRINT!

• Braden River Library

• Bradenton Chamber of Commerce

• Bradenton Library

• Bradenton Library, outside

• Bradenton Post Office

• Chabad of West Bradenton

• Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch

• Cypress Springs Retirement Living

• DeSoto Palms

• Dream Jeweler

• Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch

• Integrative Medicine

• Intercoastal Medical Group

• John Cannon Homes

• Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, lobby

• Lakewood Ranch Pharmacy

• Legacy Golf Club

• Manatee County Bldg, Old Main St.

• Palmetto Library

• Publix at LWR Shopping Center

• Publix University PKWY Plaza

• Realize Bradenton

• San Marco Plaza

• Temple Beth El Bradenton

• The Al Katz Center

• The Family Jeweler

Your community. Your newspaper. Your Jewish News.

Would you rather get your copy by mail?

Contact 941.371.4546 x.0

BEACHES

• Longboat Key

- Library

- Longboat Key Education Center

- Publix

- Temple Beth Israel

• St. Armand’s Circle

- Fillmore Drive

- Madison Drive & Blvd. of the Presidents

• Siesta Key

- Morton’s Siesta Market, 205 Canal Rd.

- Davidson’s Drugs, Siesta Key Village

- Davidson’s Drugs, South Siesta Key


FEDERATION NEWS


The Jewish

Federation

OF SARASOTA-MANATEE



August 2019 - Tammuz/Av 5779 www.jfedsrq.org Volume 49, Number 8

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

8 Community Focus


19 Jewish Interest


28 Commentary

31 Focus on Youth

35 Life Cycle

3

Shonim B’yahad – a program

of our Jewish Federation –

remains relevant today


Birthright trip inspires close

connection to Israel and

U P C O M I N G

E V E N T S

An exciting year of community programs

coming in 2019-20

I


7

n 2018-2019, The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manatee hosted

Inumerous thought-provoking, in-

sightful and fun programs. We heard

from incredible speakers such as

Nancy Spielberg and Daniel Gordis,

we celebrated Federation’s 60 th anniversary,

we brought young families

together through interactive PJ Library

programming, and we had another record-breaking

Jewish Film Festival.

What do we do once the dust has

settled from those events? We start to

plan for the coming season! Our staff

and volunteer leadership have spent

the last couple of months researching

and planning in order to provide our

community with an excellent lineup of

programs for the 2019-20 season…and

here’s a taste of what’s in store:

Shalom SRQ Live (November 3) is

a new event this year – a showcase

of all Jewish organizations in our

Sarasota-Manatee area. The goal

is to have a place where those new

to our community or who may be

unfamiliar with the wealth of Jewish

options available to them can

schmooze while learning about

synagogue life, membership orga-

, children’s programs and

Women’s Day (December 16) will

feature Gail Simmons, culinary expert,

cookbook author and TV personality.

Gail has

been a judge on

Top Chef

since

2006 and also

lends her talents

to other Bravo

shows such as

Top Chef Masters

and Top Chef

Desserts. Gail recently

took part in “Celebrity Chef

Birthright,” where she toured Israel

with 30 fellow foodies and chefs.

She will talk about her recent

trip to Israel and share

her Jewish story with our

community. Women’s Day

chairs are Rachael Feldman

and Ronna Ruben.

On December 25, we invite

the community to join

us in the Beatrice Friedman

Theater on The Larry

Greenspon Family Campus

for Jewish Life for a screening

of Fiddler on the Roof, where we

will sing the songs together, and

enjoy a Chinese meal at intermission!

Gail Simmons

(Credit: Guerin Blask)

See page 14

www.TheJewishNews.org

2019–2020

On February 9, Survivor winner

and two-time cancer survivor

Ethan Zohn will share his story

of survival and strength with our

Sarasota-Manatee audience. Zohn

will discuss how his faith and love

of Israel have impacted his life

Prior to his lecture, he will host

Survivor-style competition for ou

area teens.

The Community Lecture (Febr

ary 25) features Deborah Lipsta

American historian, author,

Dorot Professor of Modern J

ish History and Holocaust S

ies at Emory University. Deb

Deborah Lipstadt

is most well-known for

Holocaust denier David I

libel suit in an English

movie Denial tells her

continued

COMMENTARY

March 2020

37A

Who is honored? The one who extends honor

to all others

From

the

Bimah

Rabbi Michael P. Sternfield

Temple Beth El of Bradenton

& Lakewood Ranch

The word “etiquette” seems

quaint, even old-fashioned in

today’s fast-moving society.

The columnist Judith Martin continues

to write about keeping courtesy alive

with her “Miss Manners” advice column,

but unfortunately it seems to be

an uphill battle.

Judaism has its own version of etiquette.

It can be found throughout the

Torah and Jewish law. We call it derech

eretz, literally “the way of land,” better

understood as common decency. The

most straightforward example comes

from the Pirké Avot in which Ben

Zoma teaches: Who is honored? The

one who gives honor to others. Derech

eretz is the code of proper behavior that

binds us to each other as human beings.

Our society badly needs a refresher

course in common decency in regard

to use of the cell phone including texting.

Despite its convenience, the cell

phone’s pervasive overuse has become

a curse of everyday life. It intrudes on

everyday conversation as it intrudes on

basic human interaction. It has also become

lethal. The vast majority of automobile

crashes are caused by texting.

If you don’t believe me, ask any towtruck

driver. It is illegal to text while

driving, for all the good that does!

An example of cell phone excess

that pervades everyday life: We have

all seen it and some have done it ourselves.

I am referring to talking on the

phone while someone is assisting us,

the most pervasive of which is at the

supermarket checkout counter. When

a customer continues chatting on his/

her phone while the clerk is ringing up

and bagging the groceries, this is profoundly

disrespectful to the checker.

Such discourtesy is worse than rude.

It disregards the essential humanity of

the person who is assisting us.

Do we really think that the grocery

clerk enjoys his/her job? Not likely. It

must be so tedious, without any more

gratification than taking home a paycheck.

To ignore one’s essential humanity,

treating the checker as if he/she

is just an extension of the device that

scans the groceries, must be seen as a

violation of common courtesy, particularly

the Jewish precept articulated by

Ben Zoma.

When I observe this happening, I

am tempted to say, “Don’t you realize

that the checker is also a human being,

What do you think?

The Jewish News wants to know!

Send an email to jewishnews18@gmail.com.

Letters Policy

Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words, must be typed, and include the writer’s name, mailing

address and phone number. Letters can be submitted via USPS or email (jewishnews18@gmail.com).

Not all letters will be published. Letters may be edited for length and content.

that he/she has feelings just like you

do?”

This is a not a trivial matter. It reduces

the checker to being no more

than a thing, not an actual person.

In the philosopher Martin Buber’s

great book I and Thou, he teaches that

when we regard another person as a

functionary, we ignore their essential

The miracles that

surround us

Rabbi Mendy Bukiet

Chabad of Bradenton

& Lakewood Ranch

From

the

Bimah

Have you ever taken a closer

look at the story of Purim?

G-d’s name is not found

throughout the Megillah, the story of

Purim. It reads like a series of coincidences

that thread together to create

a fairy tale-like ending. The manner

in which the story is written gives

room for the cynic to proclaim that

G-d’s hand was not involved at all.

We know that Divine Providence

is always at play behind the scenes. It

seems that G-d for some odd reason

did not want the story to stand out as

a great miracle. Which begs the question,

why? Why would G-d want it to

be that way? Why leave room for the

skeptic to question G-d’s Divine intervention?

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, z”l, explains

that G-d wants us to find His

miracles and His hand even in the

mundane. At a time that looks as if G-d

is completely hidden, G-d wants us to

search and find His Divine presence at

work.

ATTENTION

STUDENTS

humanity. This is so much more than

an esoteric philosophical concept. It

is a much needed lesson for the cell

phone age and should apply to every

human being whether we call it

etiquette, common decency or derech

eretz. Who is honored? The one who

extends honor to all others.

Over the last few years, I have been

hearing a common refrain lamenting

the terrible times we live in. Phrases

such as, “What a terrible time to raise

children” or “I’m so happy I won’t be

around to see what the future will look

like,” have arisen all too often. While

these are certainly real and valid feelings,

I get the sense that we are not

appreciating the greater picture that is

taking place and all of the wonders and

miracles that we have at this time.

How lucky we are that we live in

America, the land of opportunity, with

the freedom to serve G-d and practice

our beliefs as we would like. We live

in a time when we can help people,

not only in our local community, but

anywhere in the world in a moment’s

time. We are able to raise our children

with all the Torah knowledge that they

want from any location. We live in a

time where food is in abundance and

comforts abound. We live in a time that

we can connect with family and friends

with the click of a button. We live in a

time where the advancement of medicine

and technology is saving and helping

humanity at unbelievable rates.

Never has there been a time when

society has advanced so quickly and at

such an unbelievable pace. Is this not

miraculous?

The story of Purim teaches us to

look around and appreciate the seemingly

hidden miracles of our lives. Let

us rejoice in the spirit of Purim and

find the G-dly miracles that surround

us. Happy Purim!

Avodath

Hakodesh

(Sacred Service)

Education

Scholarship

Program

APPLY NOW

NOW!

APPLICATION WINDOW JANUARY 1 - APRIL 6

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee will award more than $90,000

in education scholarships to eligible students for the 2020-2021 school year.

Sunday, March 29, 2020 at 4 PM

First Presbyterian Church

2050 Oak Street - Sarasota, FL 34237

Tickets $30

www.MusicaSacraSarasota.org

or by phone 941.405.7322

UP

TO

$5,000

Jacqueline Siegel-

Frascella Scholarship

$2,000

Michelson Interfaith

Scholarship

$500

B’nai B’rith Gulf Coast Lodge

Scholarship

$4,000

Ned and Janet Sinder

Scholarship

$1,000

Betty Schoenbaum Fund

Renewable

for 4 Years

Melissa Wides Foundation

Education Scholarship

AWARDS VARY

The Jewish

Federation

Scholarship Fund

and

Ronald and Geri Yonover

Scholarship

Get more information

and download the

brochure at the

website below.

APPLY ONLINE AT JFEDSRQ.org/EducationScholarships

For more information contact

Lisa Feinman at lfeinman@jfedsrq.org

or 941.706.0034

The Larry & Mary Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life

580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota, FL 34232


38A March 2020

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COMMENTARY

Anti-Semitism on the rise

in the United States

By Rabbi Howard A. Simon

We all read the account of the

attack in a rabbi’s house on

the seventh night of Chanukah

in Monsey, New York. The perpetrator

wounded five people and, if

it had not been for brave Jews in that

house attacking the individual holding

the weapon, the death toll and the

number of injured would have been

far greater. We read of this attack, saw

the attacker taken into

custody, thought how terrible

this is and how it

should never have happened.

However, did we

realize that in the month of

December alone, 11 anti-

Semitic acts took place in

New York? Did we stop

to consider that according

to FBI crime statistics

data, incidents of attacks

in churches, synagogues, temples and

mosques increased 34.8% between

2014 and 2018, the last year such data

was available?

Take a moment and reflect on the

tragedies that occurred in Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania, in Poway, California,

and in the state of New York. Hatred

aimed at the Jewish community has become

an epidemic. The threat to the religious

communities of our country has

become so real that last June the FBI

invited faith leaders to Washington to

discuss how to protect themselves and

their congregations from biased attackers.

Today, in Sarasota and throughout

the country, new safety measures have

been taken to ensure that congregants

are safe and, that if any attack should

take place, organized steps will be taken

to lessen the threat of death and injury.

This is necessary, but the greater

problem is why now? Why are there so

many attacks on houses of worship?

Why has hate become an accepted way

of life in our country?

It has to stop. We live in America,

where “the land of the free and the

home of the brave,” is the watchword

of our country. Good people of all

faiths need to stand together and proclaim

in the loudest voice possible,

“Enough is enough, we are better, ever

so much better than this.” Hatred will

not hold sway in our land. All people,

you and me and our fellow Americans

Rabbi Howard A. Simon

Letter to the Editor

By H

TI

aske

mun

of all faiths, races and ethnic identi-Truties,

believe in the basic goodness of

humanity. We believe in the right of

every religion to practice its belief in

freedom, without the threat of domestic

terrorists entering their midst prepared

to kill and maim.

Is there a better way?

Yes, there is. Reflect on

the reality that took place

on January 1, 2020, at the

Ha

MetLife Stadium, home of term

the New York Jets and the S

New York Giants football t

teams. On that day, 90,000 d

Orthodox Jews gathered in A

the stadium for a celebration

more than seven years 8

u

in the making. This was Siyum Ha- I

Shas, Hebrew for “completion of the W

Talmud.” It marked the conclusion of a s

program of religious study engaged in B

by tens of thousands of Jews throughout

the world. These dedicated people J

m

had committed to reading a page of o

the Talmud every day for 2,711 days N

until they had completed the entire f

Talmud.

D

The 90,000 attendees represented t

those who had completed the Talmud, s

members of their families who came I

to kvell over their accomplishments, of th

and friends who wanted to be in the base

stadium to cheer, not for touchdowns, supp

but for religious excellence. It was a tions

time of joy for one and all. It was an I

expression of Jewish belief vital to a lease

particular community. The celebration on y

went off without any threat of attack, been

without any harm to anyone. This is will

how life should be experienced in ev-Netery

synagogue, temple, church and Prim

mosque. An expression of faith free of coal

fear, free of dangers, free of attacks. as w

This is what life in America should for a

be. We pray that one day such will be A

the reality experienced by each and will

every faith. Hate will not triumph in yahu

our land.

tions

Rabbi Howard A. Simon is the found-behing

chair of the Robert and Esther

Heller Community Relations Committee,

formerly known as the Heller IAI.

Ienjoy reading your monthly paper

and would like to add to the February

2020 article authored by Kim

Sheintal titled “Sarasota’s Jewish relationship

with food.”

Kim mentions bagels and names a

few outlets which carry bagels in the

Sarasota area.

I moved from New Jersey in 1985

and opened Better Bagels on Tamiami

Trail. We opened a second outlet in the

Landings in 1987. Both were closed as

of 2001. However, I still make handmade

kosher-style bagels at Nellie’s

Deli on Beneva at Fruitville. To my

knowledge, these are the only authentic,

handmade daily on site, bagels currently

in the area. These are available

in over 12 varieties, and we also make

bialys and challah breads. Nellie’s also

carries a wide variety of Jewish delicacies

in its restaurant and marketplace.

I just wanted to update any of your

readers who are in search of the “real

thing.”

– Jonathan “Jay” Kroll, Sarasota

Opinions printed in The Jewish News of Sarasota-Manatee

do not necessarily reflect those of The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manatee, its Board of Directors or staff.

DEADLINE

Don’t wait; the placement window to advertise in SHALOMSRQ

is nearing fast:

CLOSING DATE IS MAY 15, 2020

For more information or to reserve your space, contact

Adam Kaplan at 941.552.6307 or akaplan@jfedsrq.org.

DOWNLOAD THE MEDIA KIT AT

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*Statistics from a survey conducted by the Circulation Verification Council.

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organizations, clubs and service providers online.

JFEDSRQ.org/Directory

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COMMENTARY

March 2020

39A

Peace or politics

By Harold M. Halpern

The following is an e-mail I sent

to my friend Stuart in Jerusalem.

I enjoy our correspondence. You

asked how the American Jewish community

feels about President Donald

Trump’s Peace Plan. There is no one

voice. I’ll tell you

my thoughts.

The Plan has

been rejected by

the Palestinians

and pronounced

“dead on arrival.”

They will not negotiate.

Harold M. Halpern The principal

terms of the Plan include:

Sovereignty of Israel over all settlements

in the West Bank and Jordan

Valley

A demilitarized Palestinian contiguous

state in an area equal to 70-

80% of the West Bank

Israel to control the security of the

West Bank and its borders and air

space

Borders, maps and details of agreement

to be negotiated

Jerusalem is the undivided capital

of Israel

Negotiations to be completed in

four years

During negotiations, Israel is not

to build new or enlarge existing

settlements

I feel that the timing of the release

of the Plan is an effort to solidify the

base of both Trump’s and Netanyahu’s

supporters for their upcoming elections.

In the long run, I don’t think the release

of the Plan will have any impact

on your election. Its terms already had

been leaked and commented on. There

will be an initial burst of discussion.

Netanyahu’s principal opponent to be

Prime Minister, Benny Gantz – and his

coalition – was positive about the Plan

as was Netanyahu. So there is no basis

for an issue there.

After a short period, the campaign

will return to its normal routine. Netanyahu

will claim credit for positive relations

with the U.S. and attack Gantz as

beholden to liberals and Arab Israelis

endangering Israel security.

Gantz will condemn Netanyahu as

unfit to serve by reason of the pending

criminal charges of bribery, corruption

and breach of trust.

And Avigdor Liberman, leader of

Yisrael Beiteinu, will accuse Netanyahu

of being in bed with the Orthodox

parties to preserve the Orthodox control

of marriage, lifecycle events and

Shabbat prohibition of public transportation

as well as exemption for Orthodox

students to serve in military forces

until 35.

The polls indicate that the Israeli

election will wind up in another deadlock.

However, I feel public pressure,

the need for a budget and stability will

force the parties to agree to a unity

government to avoid a fourth election.

If there is a unity government,

or if a Netanyahu coalition of parties

squeaks out 61 votes, will Netanyahu

be selected as Prime Minister to head

the government while at the same

time he is in court defending himself?

Would his selection survive a challenge

in the Supreme Court or would

the Likud party rise up and select a new

leader?

I have no answers but only questions.

I will stay in touch as the campaign

unfolds.

A subsequent email to Stuart:

Netanyahu has promised during

his campaigns to annex the settlements

and the Jordan Valley. The Plan may be

a green light from the U.S. to proceed

– the implications of which will be significant.

Will the two-state solution survive?

Will the West Bank in its entirety

be incorporated into Israel?

What will be the status of the Arab

West Bank inhabitants?

Will Israel remain a Jewish state

and a democracy with equal rights for

all minorities as proclaimed in its Declaration

of Independence?

All these questions are for later

serious discussions.

Harold Halpern is a retired attorney

living in Lakewood Ranch, a board

member of the American Association

of Lawyers and Jurists, and a board

member of AJC West Coast Florida.

Chickpeas, beer

and the philtrum

By Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz, Community Chaplain

Following the birth of an Ashkenazi

baby boy, relatives and

friends traditionally come to the

synagogue or home on Erev Shabbat to

extend congratulations. What refreshments

are served?

Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz

Chickpeas and

beer. Why these

particular foods?

That’s a good

question.

There is no

clear-cut explanation

for the custom

of Shalom

Zachar (welcoming the male). However,

the search for one yields curious

possibilities. While some people don’t

ever require an excuse for a party, Jews

characteristically never need an excuse

for proposing creative meanings for

why they do things.

An early source conveys that

Shalom Zachar simply represented

gratitude for the baby’s survival of

his mother’s labor. Since birth mortality

rates were quite high up until relatively

recently in human history, such

expressions of thanksgiving have long

been found in cultures throughout the

world.

Later, a well-known Talmudic legend

relating that an angel teaches the

child the entire Torah while he is in

the womb, enters the Shalom Zachar

picture. At birth, the angel strikes the

baby’s mouth causing him to forget all

he’d learned and marking him with his

philtrum, the ubiquitous groove found

between our upper lip and nose. Since

the baby makes an oath that he’ll become

a righteous person (tsaddik), he

obligates himself to earn this distinction

by relearning the Torah he was

made to forget.

A wordplay is then utilized to assert

that Shalom Zachar should not be

understood in terms of maleness but

memory (zachor), especially in terms

of the commandment to remember the

Sabbath. The Sabbath association was

subsequently combined with the idea

that visitors come on the Sabbath to

comfort the baby in mourning over the

loss of his Torah learning.

Theoretically, this explains the

presence of chickpeas since, being

round, they symbolize the cycle of life

and are commonly found at the home

of mourners. But how does this square

with the occasion’s exuberant consumption

of beer? Well, an argument is

made that the drink is very appropriate

since it derives from barley, a grain that

is also fairly round. Probably, though,

drinking beer came in vogue because

it was both less formal and less expensive

than wine. So, too, salt and peppered

chickpeas were a popular snack,

and beer would seem to have been an

effective thirst quencher. Seemingly,

the custom was assigned to Shabbat

since that is a time Jews regularly

come together each week.

Consuming chickpeas and beer on

the Sabbath after the birth of a boy certainly

appears to be a convivial way to

welcome a new member to the Jewish

community, even if we may not know

exactly why it is done. But like numerous

other Jewish traditions, scratching

their surfaces can yield fascinating

learning excursions.

I am reminded of a story of a little

girl who inquired why her mother always

cut the end off the roast before

putting it into the oven. Her mother

said she was just following her

mother’s practice and encouraged her

daughter to ask her grandmother why.

Her grandmother told her that she did

it because that’s how her mother used

to do it. Fortunately, the girl’s great

grandmother was still alive, so she presented

the same question to her. “Yes, I

know why I always cut the end off the

roast,” she responded. “Because the

pan wasn’t big enough.”

I bet that little girl continued cutting

off the end of the roast after growing

up and preparing it for her own

family. Can you hear Tevya singing in

the background?

Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz serves as a

Community Chaplain and Director of

JFCS’s Jewish Healing Program. His

position is underwritten by The Jewish

Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.



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40A March 2020

FOCUS ON YOUTH

Purim is a time for play and merriment!

Education

Corner

By Sabrina

Silverberg

“I am Purim; I am Purim, happy and

humorous” – Levin Kipnis

The phrase above comes from a

favorite Purim children’s song

written by one of Israel’s most

beloved lyricists, Levin Kipnis. Even

though this song was written in the

1920s, it is still sung by Jewish children

around the world today. “Ani Purim”

captures the spirit of this joyous

holiday.

Purim is a time when we are commanded

to be intentionally jolly, silly

and loud. For children, it is a time for

play and merriment, and for adults it is

a beautiful expression of our tradition,

a remembrance of when faith won over

tyranny, and freedom emerged out of

oppression.

But what is the origin of this most

anticipated holiday you may ask? Purim,

or Lots in English, is a joyous

tradition that recounts the saving of

the Jews from a threatened massacre

during the Persian period (539-330

BCE). The story of Purim is narrated

in the Scroll of Esther – Megilaht

Esther – a book in the third section

(Ketuvim, “Writings”) of the Bible, the

Tanakh.

In this narrative, Esther plays the

leading role in saving her people. This

is the way the story goes: A young

Jewish woman, Esther, rises to be

Queen of Persia under the guidance of

her guardian Mordecai. All, however,

is not right. The Jews have enemies –

the most influential being Haman, the

grand vizier. Haman plots the Jews’ destruction

and uses lots to determine the

date of their demise – hence the name

Lots or Purim. Even though Esther

has hidden her Jewish identity from

all, Mordecai convinces her to risk

her life by revealing her true identity

to the king. She does this and unravels

the evil Haman’s plot. At the end of

the story, the Jews are able to turn the

tables on their enemies, who are then

punished in place of the intended victims.

This year, Purim begins on Monday,

March 9 at sundown, and there are

many ways to celebrate! Purim is the

quintessential community holiday that

is best celebrated with others. There are

many opportunities around our town

that will engage children and families

with the joy and hilarity of this holiday.

Here are some ideas:

Attend the reading of the Megillah

as a family. Every temple or synagogue

has one and it is an interactive,

boisterous and fun activity!

Take part in a Purim spiel – a hilarious

Purim play; several are performed

around town.

Dress in costumes and attend a Purim

carnival! Most area Religious

Schools have one.

If you decide to celebrate Purim at

home, here are some ideas:

Bake hamentashen, the triangular

STAY CONNECTED

pinterest.com/jfedsrq

filled pastries that are the traditional

food at Purim representing

Haman’s three-cornered hat.

Assemble and deliver Mishloach

Manot, baskets of goodies to family,

friends and people in need.

Have a Seudah – a lavish and festive

meal fit for a kingdom.

Work in a soup kitchen or food

bank as a family to follow the

commandment of tzedakah (helping

the poor).

Sarasota BBYO

Sarasota-Manatee teens getting to know each other

at the parent/teen information session on February 4

In whichever way you decide to

celebrate, please remember that Jewish

celebrations help children establish

firm Jewish identities and create

memories that last a lifetime. Happy

Purim!

Sabrina Silverberg, MARE, is the Director

of Education at Temple Emanu-El

Religious School. For more

information on Purim celebrations

and Jewish education, Sabrina can be

reached at teers@sarasotatemple.org.

This program is sponsored by


By Jessica Zimmerman, Associate Regional Dir., North Florida Region

In January, Sarasota BBYO gathered

with teens from across North

Florida Region at MIT/AIT LTI

(Member in Training/Aleph in Training

Leadership Training

Institute) in

Lake Placid, Florida.

Nine Sarasota

teens joined us for

this exciting weekend-long

convention

where teens

Jessica Zimmerman

learned new leadership

skills, interacted

with Jewish friends and speakers,

and were introduced to their big/little!

Sarasota BBYO hosted a successful

teen-and-parent night at Sub Zero

on February 4. We met and interacted

with interested teens and parents from

Sarasota-Manatee. If you missed the

event and would like to receive more

information about BBYO in this area,

please email me at jesszimmerman@

bbyo.org.

Upcoming for teens in Sarasota-

Manatee is our big event of the spring:

TreeUmph! We will be offering halfprice

admission of $25 for only the first

20 BBYO members who register.

Not yet a BBYO member? Membership

is a one-time fee of $149 and

will last through 12 th grade graduation.

Membership offers you discounts to

exciting programs, the option to attend

regional conventions and member-only

programs, and allows you to take on

leadership roles in your chapter. You

can register for membership at bit.ly/

memberbbyo.

Looking for community service

hours? BBYO is partnering with Temple

Sinai for its annual Mitzvah Day on

Sunday, April 19. Contact me for information

on how to earn

By G

service hours while

getting to know Jewish

teens from throughout

the area.

To be added to our

email list and receive

updates about BBYO

programming, email me

at the address above. I

hope to hear from you

and welcome you to

Sarasota BBYO.

F A M I L Y

E V E N T

Temple Sinai Presents

PASSOVER

PANDEMONIUM

Families with young children are invited to

experience Passover the PJ way!

Enjoy craft station, make and taste a traditional Passover

Seder treat, sing songs and walk through the parted Red Sea!

WHEN

Sunday,

April 5

10 am

WHERE

Temple Sinai

4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Rd.

Sarasota

COST

This Event

is FREE

Register at JFEDSRQ.org/PJ

For more information please contact Bethany Leinweber

at bleinweber@templesinai-sarasota.org.

SPONSORED BY


FOCUS ON YOUTH

March 2020

41A

Community Day School honors Sue Rosin


Day School honored longtime

former preschool teacher,

school parent and grandparent, and allaround

“mensch” Sue Rosin during the

recent Goldie Feldman Award Brunch.

She was recognized for her years of

volunteering with the school’s literacy

program, particularly for her dedicated

service as a featured reader during the

annual Dr. Seuss Day.

The program started with a cocktail

hour before guests sat down to

hear from Community Day’s Head of

School, Dan Ceaser. Then guests enjoyed

a delicious brunch spread, two

songs performed by Rosin’s granddaughter

Ava Rosin, an original song –

written by Dr. Wendy Katz (last year’s

Goldie Feldman Award-winner) and

Community Day’s musical theater director

Michelle Walker – performed by

Community Day’s “Shir Squad,” and

inspirational words from the honoree

herself.

Rosin was raised in Miami and

taught elementary school there before

moving to Sarasota more than 51

years ago. She has been engaged with

the Jewish community for decades,

involved with organizations including

ORT America, Israel Bonds and


Manatee.

At Temple Beth Sholom, Rosin has

served in a variety of positions over the

years. She taught Judaica to youngsters

enrolled at the temple’s religious

school. She was co-president of the

Sisterhood in 1980 and has co-chaired

the Sisterhood’s popular Luncheon &

Fashion Show for the past 10 years.

“We are pleased to recognize ‘our

Sue’ with the Goldie Feldman Award,”

said Ceaser. “She has grown with our

school and our community through

many iterations, and has been a transformative

figure as an educator and

advocate as our program has expanded

and matured. We are grateful for her

many contributions – and our students

just love her!”

on

rea,

n@

otaing:

alffirst

emand

ion.

to

end

nly

on

You

t.ly/

Community Day Head of School Dan Ceaser, honoree Sue Rosin, 2019 Goldie Feldman

Award-winner and 2020 committee member Dr. Wendy Katz, and Community Day

board member Stacey Edelman (photo by Cliff Roles)

“Each One a Life” –

tab counting reaches

a milestone

ice

emon

forarn

hile By Gail Glickman

ish We knew we were getting

out close. One-and-a-half million

Jewish children died in

our the Holocaust, and Temple Sinai’s Tabs

ive for Souls campaign, in which each aluminum

tab represents a Jewish victim

YO

me of the Holocaust, was approaching this

e. I significant milestone.

you As we weighed and counted the

to tabs that day, we worked more slowly

than usual so we would be sure to

pause and mark the moment. When we

reached 1.5 million tabs, we stopped,

talked about what our work to date represented,

and shared an apt poem titled

“Each One a Life” by Fred Rothzeid.

It begins:

Each one precious

Full of promise

Filled with hope

Each one a life…

This campaign, started

by the students in Reb Ari

Shapiro’s 7 th grade Holocaust

class years ago, ultimately

aims to collect six

million aluminum tabs,

the powerful meaning of

which students, families

and adults feel each time

they gather. Recently,

students poignantly discussed

whether a broken

tab should be counted

(the decision was that it

should, since people may

have died with amputated

or broken limbs),

and what it might mean when two tabs

were linked together (perhaps two people

died in each other’s arms).

We now have collected 1.6 million

tabs, and are still counting. The community

is encouraged to help the students

reach their goal of 6,000,000 by

continuing to collect and donate tabs.

All aluminum tabs including those

from cans of beverages, soups, cat

food, fruit, sardines and more, in all

colors and sizes, are accepted. Schools,

businesses, doctors’ offices and many

individuals in our local community

and beyond are participating. There are

collection containers at Temple Sinai

and you even can request one for your

business.

For more information, contact Sue

Huntting at shuntting@aol.com.

Dylan Weitzner and Alix Leinweber

Hershorin Schiff Community Day School

Preschool - 8th grade

Where students learn, lead and laugh together

The Community Day School difference:

A Jewish day school that is committed to diversity

Rigorous, project-based learning

Healthy and active outdoor learning daily

Music and art for every child, every week, all year

Competitive athletics

Variable Tuition Model – affordable for every family

Accredited by FCIS, FKC & PRIZMAH

Hershorin Schiff Community Day School

1050 S. Tuttle Ave. Sarasota

(941) 552-2770 | admissions@communityday.org

www.CommunityDay.org

COMMUNITY

HAVDALAH

Siesta Key Beach

Saturday, April 18,

6-8pm

Sea Turtle Pavilion

at Siesta Beach Park

948 Beach Rd., Siesta Key

Join us for an all-ages, rockin’,

campy community Havdalah

lead by the Sababa Beach

staff. Enjoy music and a festive

traditional Havdalah at the

beach, along with light snacks

(wine and cheese, s’mores,

and more). Make your own

Havdalah candle and spice bag

to use, and then enjoy at home.

Rain or shine. In the event of

inclement weather, an alternate

location will be communicated.

Karen & Micah Lifrak with Reb Ari Shapiro

For more information or to register, go to

JFEDSRQ.org/Events

or contact Trudi Krames at 941.706.0037 or tkrames@jfedsrq.org


42A March 2020

FOCUS ON YOUTH

Temple Emanu-El plans weekend of Purim family fun

The community is warmly invited

to a weekend of Purim family

fun at Temple Emanu-El!

This wonderful weekend begins

with a special Family Shabbat Service

on Friday, March 6 at 7:15 p.m. After

a festive service led by Rabbi Brenner

Glickman and Rabbi Michael Shefrin

featuring a story, prayers led by Temple

F A M I L Y

TOT SHABBAT

at Siesta Beach Park

Emanu-El Religious School students,

lively music with the Family Shabbat

Band, and the opportunity for children

to ascend the bimah and march with

the Torah scrolls, families are invited

to participate in a Purim mask-making

craft and enjoy a deluxe hamentashen

and ice cream sundae bar. Reservations

are not required, and all are

E V E N T

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Presents

Families and their young children are invited to attend this beachy

and musical tot Shabbat, complete with music, story time, snacks

and beach games led by Sababa Beachaway Camp staff. Free

and open to all families (geared for preschool aged children).

warmly welcome.

The family fun continues at Purim

Pandemonium on Sunday, March

8 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Purim

Pandemonium begins with a Megillah

reading, Purim songs, an original Purimshpiel

(Purim play) and a costume

parade with prizes for all, and continues

with a fabulous carnival featuring

bounce houses, obstacle courses,

a dunk tank, games and prizes, lunch

– and delicious home-baked hamentashen.

Admission is free, and game

and food tickets can be purchased in

advance or at the event.

“Purim is a time when we are commanded

to be intentionally jolly, silly

and loud,” said Temple Emanu-El Director

of Education Sabrina Silverberg,

MARE. “For the children, it is a time

for play and merriment. And for the

adults, it is a beautiful expression of

our tradition, a remembrance of when

faith won over tyranny, and freedom

emerged from oppression.”

For more information, please email

teers@sarasotatemple.org.

David, Priy, and Kohav Weiman got in

the Purim spirit with costumes at last year’s

Purim celebration

WHEN

Saturday,

April 18

10 am

WHERE

Siesta Beach Sunset Pavilion

948 Beach Rd., Siesta Key

(meet by the playground)

COST

This Event

is FREE

Rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, an alternate location will be communicated.


For more information please contact Andrea Eiffert at

941.552.6308 or aeiffert@jfedsrq.org.

w

SPONSORED BY

Temple Emanu-El Associate Rabbi Michael Shefrin snapped a selfi e with Abner,

Sammy, Alexandra, Josie, Alex and Zoe at last year’s Purim celebration

F A M I L Y

E V E N T

For a continuously updated community

calendar, visit www.jfedsrq.org.

Looking to

Meet Other

Jewish Families?

POLKA DOT

PURIM PARTY

Enjoy family time and spirit of the Purim holiday with loud and

joyful instruments from around the world, and making your

own polka-dot hamentashen! Hot dog dinner will be served

(vegetarian options available upon request).

WHEN

Wednesday,

March 4

5:00 pm

For more information please contact Sara Steinmetz at

941.925.0770 or Sara@ChabadOfSarasota.com.

SPONSORED BY

Chabad of Sarasota Presents

WHERE

Chabad of Sarasota’s

Weinstein After School

Jewish Enrichment Program

7700 Beneva Road, Sarasota


Sarasota-Manatee

Chabad

COST

This Event

is FREE

We can make you a shidduch (a match)!

Our Community Connectors can’t wait to meet you!

Dori and MG specialize in connecting families raising Jewish

children to each other and to Jewish experiences

in the Sarasota-Manatee community.

SARASOTA COUNTY

Dori Goldfarb

941.677.2184

DoriPJConnector@Gmail.com

MANATEE COUNTY

MG Berman

251.303.3979

MGPJConnector@Gmail.com

Interested?

Know someone else who may be interested?

Please contact us!

SPONSORED BY

JFEDSRQ.ORG/PJ


LIFE CYCLE

March 2020

43A

r’s

ANNIVERSARIES

50 th Richard & Judy Fine

Temple Emanu-El

35 th James & Linda Essenson

Temple Emanu-El

35 th Bruce & Sabrina Silverberg

Temple Emanu-El

30 th Bruce Black &

Rabbi Susan Marks

Temple Emanu-El

10 th Liana & John Bryant

Temple Emanu-El

IN MEMORIAM

Dr. Roland Anthone, 95, of Sarasota, formerly of Buffalo, NY, January 28

Herbert Benatovich, 83, of Sarasota, formerly of Buffalo, NY, December 23

Alfred Cohen, Jr., 93, of Sarasota, December 24

Dr. Frank T. Drake, 80, of Sarasota, formerly of Chicago, IL, January 3

Joseph Erceg, 74, of Sarasota, formerly of Wildwood, NY, December 25

Marvin Feigen, 93, of Woodlands, TX, formerly of Sarasota, January 10

Dr. Bertram Gold, 87, of Sarasota, formerly of Hartford, CT, January 1

Joan Goldschmidt, 84 of Atlanta, GA, formerly of Sarasota, January 4

Michael Grossberg, 75, of Sarasota, formerly of Santa Barbara, CA,

December 20

Barbara Hartman Orkin, 85, of Atlanta, GA, formerly of Sarasota,

November 15

Alvin Hyman, 91, of Sarasota, formerly of St. Louis, MO, January 23

John Isaacs, 89, of Longboat Key, formerly of St. Louis, MO, January 27

Adelle Jacobs-Bernard, 95, of Sarasota, formerly of Chicago, IL, January 21

Stuart Jacobson, 88, of East Grand Rapids, MI, formerly of Sarasota,

January 8

Martin Kabcenell, 93, of Sarasota, formerly of Pontiac MI, December 27

Alexander Paderewski, 69, of Sarasota, December 26

Arlene Pearlman, 86, of Sarasota, formerly of New York, NY, December 28

Frances Ringlestein, 99, of Sarasota, formerly of Elkins Park, PA, December 31

Eleanor H. Rosenblum, 101, of Sarasota, December 2

Please submit your life cycle events

(births, B’nai Mitzvah, anniversaries)

to jewishnews@jfedsrq.org. Photos

welcome; please e-mail as JPGs at 300dpi.

Celebrating

Jewish Lives

For three generations, families of all faiths have

turned to Toale Brothers for support and guidance

at the most difficult of times. As our liaison to the

Jewish community, Rabbi Howard A. Simon provides

guidance and outreach with a focus on keeping

with the traditions and customs of Judaism.

ToaleBrothers.com • 941.955.4171

Proudly serving Sarasota,

Bradenton and Venice since 1912.

Sarasota-Manatee Chevra Kadisha

For more information about the non-profit,

community, Jewish Burial Society, contact:

For men: 941-484-2790

For women: 941-346-6446

1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34237

PALMS

MEMORIAL PARK

170 Honore Avenue

Sarasota, FL 34232

941.371.4962

Fax 941.295.7009

Gerald “Gerry” Ronkin

Jewish Community Liaison

WIEGAND

CHAPEL

7454 South Tamiami Trail

Sarasota, FL 34231

941.921.5755

Fax 941.923.0113

170 Honore Avenue

Sarasota, Florida 34232

Office 941-371-4962

Cell 941-809-5195

Gerry.Ronkin@DignityMemorial.com

MANASOTA

MEMORIAL PARK

1221 53rd Avenue East

Bradenton, FL 34203

941.755.2688

Fax 941.201.1640

For a confidential conversation or tour of our modern facilities

with a member of the Robert Toale family, please reach out

to one of our three locations to schedule an appointment.

Not affiliated with Toale Brothers Funeral Home or Toale Brothers Inc.

MOVING?

Be sure THE JEWISH NEWS follows you to your new home.

Send your new address to Paula at pibishop@jfedsrq.org or 941.371.4546 x0

Read the current and previous editions of The Jewish News online at www.jfedsrq.org.

44A March 2020

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condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Prices, availability, artist’s renderings, dimensions, specifications, and features are subject to change at any time without notice.



FEDERATION NEWS

Celebrating

50

Years

PUBLISHED BY

The Jewish

Federation

OF SARASOTA-MANATEE



March 2020 - Adar/Nissan 5780 www.jfedsrq.org Volume 50, Number 3

Jewish Happenings

SUNDAY, MARCH 1

Temple Beth Sholom Breakfast Program

Dr. Richard Freund will discuss his recent archeological work in Lithuania,

where he and an excavation team uncovered the hidden escape tunnel

dug by heroic prisoners over the course of 76 nights, along with a missing

mass grave. Dr. Freund will recount the dramatic escape attempt during

Passover 1944, when only 11 lived to tell the story. The program, sponsored

by Dr. William Freund, begins at 9:30 a.m. at Temple Beth Sholom,

1050 South Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. The cost of $10 includes breakfast. For

more information, please contact Kelly Nester at 941.955.8121 or info@

templebethsholomfl.org.

Temple Sinai Men’s Club Breakfast and Program

The Men’s Club presentation by Richard and Jeff Stern of the Stern Group

will deal with “What Your Loved Ones Need to Know.” A second title could

have been “The Conversation You’d Rather Never Have.” Dealing with

the reality that we are all going to die, the Sterns will focus on pre-planning

financial, asset and funeral arrangements. This is a must for all men and

women. The event takes place at 9:30 a.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 South

Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota (enter only from Proctor Road between

Beneva and Swift). For more information, contact Malcolm Roberts at

migdalor2@gmail.com or Richard Brown at richards442@gmail.com.

Annual Public Jewish Art & Books Fair

Come to the seventh annual Public Jewish Art & Books Fair hosted by the

Al Katz Center in the Al and Sophia Katz Jewish Art Gallery, the only one

of its kind on Florida’s west coast. The Fair features books and stunning

artwork by local and international Jewish authors and artists in various

mediums, including photography, paintings, jewelry and crafts, for viewing

and purchase. All purchases help benefit the vital programs of the Al

Katz Center, especially Holocaust education. The Fair takes place from

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Donations

greatly appreciated. Kosher refreshments available. For more information,

call Beverly at 941.313.9239.

MONDAY, MARCH 2

The Tefillin Club

Get your week off to a great start with the Monday morning Tefillin Club

at 8:00 a.m. at the Chabad Education Center, 21560 Angela Lane, Venice.

Shacharit will be followed by coffee and bagels, and a 15-minute “Living

Torah” film. Each week, Rabbi Sholom Schmerling will expound on a different

prayer, thus enabling each participant to really learn how to pray.

No prior experience necessary. (If you don’t have a pair of tefillin, we have

one for you.) For more information, contact Rabbi Sholom Schmerling at

941.493.2770 or rabbi@chabadofvenice.com.

Halachah & Coffee

Learn basic Jewish laws and customs of Torah traditions, with a weekly

touch of some of the underlying halachic reasoning and practical applications,

and occasional Chassidic insights. This free class is based on the text

of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (the abridged Code of Jewish Law). Join us

at 9:00 a.m. at the Chabad Education Center, 21560 Angela Lane, Venice.

For more information, contact Rabbi Sholom Schmerling at 941.493.2770

or rabbi@chabadofvenice.com.

Kabbalah & Coffee

Start your week with a spiritual boost! Discuss, explore and journey

through the world of mystical teachings and learn how to apply them to

your daily life. This ongoing Tanya class will probe the esoteric through

a unique program of English text-based study. No prior Kabbalistic experience

required. Free of charge and walk-ins are welcome. Join us at

9:30 a.m. at the Chabad Education Center, 21560 Angela Lane, Venice.

For more information, contact Rabbi Sholom Schmerling at 941.493.2770

or rabbi@chabadofvenice.com.

MONDAY, MARCH 2


Do you play???

Thursdays / 12pm to 4ish


FaMiLy CaMpus For Jewish LiFe

The Jewish FederaTion

oF sarasoTa ManaTee

Please

contact

Seasoned

Marilyn Oslander

941.951.2029

$

5 pie

marasota@yahoo.com

UROLOGY TREATMENT CENTER

• BARZELL • GREEN • CURTIS • AKARY •

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JOSHUA T. GREEN, MD, FACS


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EIHAB AKARY, MD

Board Eligible

CASIE WODZIEN, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC

3325 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 200

Sarasota, FL 34239

PHONE: 941.917.8488

FAX: 941.917.8475

6310 Health Parkway, Suite 210

Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

Urologytreatmentcenter.com

a Division of 21 Century Oncology

KIDS

ADULTS

JEWISH

CALENDAR

OF EVENTS

IN SARASOTA

AND MANATEE

CHARITY

CULTURE

Your Hub

for Jewish Events

Live well. Be happy.

Flourish!

“Best Retirement

Community

in Sarasota”

10 th YEAR IN A ROW

Sarasota Magazine – 2019

FAMILY

LEARN

JFEDSRQ.org/JewishEvents

Copyright © 2020 The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch®.

All rights reserved.

Call today: 941-552-5369 or toll-free: 1-888-999-GLEN (4536).

7333 Scotland Way • Sarasota, Florida 34238 • www.TheGlenridge.com

88171 PRAD 2020 JNSM2

Read the current and previous editions of The Jewish News online at www.jfedsrq.org

2B March 2020 JEWISH HAPPENINGS

Temple Beth Israel


Temple Beth Israel, The Center of Jewish Living on Longboat Key

The Rabbi Michael B. Eisenstat Miniversity of Judaism - 2020

All events are $15 at the door and $10 with advance reservations

CALL 941-383-3428 TO REGISTER. Free to Temple members.

Most events start at 2:00 pm. Check and register online www.tbi-lbk.org

TEMPLE

MEMBERS

ADMISSION

INSIDE HITLER’S HEAD:

THE PSYCHODYNAMICS OF NAZI ANTISEMITISM

Dr. Andre Krauss

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 - 2:00 pm

With more than 128,000 books written about him,

Adolf Hitler is among the most well documented

political leader of all times. Hitler’s brand of evil

was so unique that historians, philosophers, and

psychologists have studied this subject at length

and, to this day, still debate its meaning. In this

lecture, we will review Hitler’s psychological profile, along with those of other

ranking Nazi leaders, as well as review the early sources of Hitler’s antisemitism,

which date back to his days as a destitute vagrant in Vienna.

Date Instructor Title

March 9

Mar. 17

Mar. 23

Dr. Barry Bub “Never Again” - Is it time for Civil Disobedience?

Dr. Andre Krauss Antisemitism, Holocaust Denial

Film (Free to Members and Guests) Shealtiels - 7:00 pm

Ron Shealtiel, a Holocaust child survivor in Holland, after the death of his

mother, found a box of photographs that she had saved. For Ron, it opens

the door to almost 900 years of the Shealtiel family history. He traces the

family’s fascinating history from the alleys of medieval Spain to a 1997

reunion which brought together more than 500 family households from 27

countries. The story of the Shealtiel family is also the saga of the Jewish

diaspora in the last millennium.

Open and free to the community - TBI Sanctuary at 7:00 pm

April 20

Sylvia Pastor In the Kitchen with Sylvia

Programs and schedules are subject to change.

We will make every attempt to notify you of the changes in a timely manner.

Please consult your bulletin, eBlasts and the Temple website for last minute information.

The Miniversity Committee wishes to thank our speakers for their contributions

to the educational vision of Temple Beth Israel.

Your continued participation and support makes it all possible.

MONDAY, MARCH 2

NCJW’s “The Blankee Bee”

The National Council of Jewish Women has an ongoing project called

“The Blankee Bee.” The project has involved its members in making nosew

fleece blankets which have been distributed to various agencies, such

as Manatee Community Action Agency, HIPPY (Home Instruction for

Parents of Preschool Youngsters), residents of Anchin Pavilion, patients at

the Florida Cancer Center, and children at Camp Mariposa as a joint venture

with JFCS of the Suncoast. Join us from 10:00 a.m. to noon at JFCS (2688

Fruitville Road, Sarasota) to make these blankets. For more information,

contact Dale Gruder at lifesabeachbag@gmail.com or 941.554.8592.

Israeli Cooking Demonstration at Temple Emanu-El

Learn about the many cultures of Israel while preparing and sampling

signature dishes in this innovative cooking demonstration with Israeli-

American chef/educator Evie Shen-Tal. We’ll explore Ashkenazic and

Sephardic Judaism as we enjoy numerous dishes. Evie will offer lively,

educational commentary as we prepare these dishes. Join us from 10:00

to 11:30 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Another

Israeli Cooking Demonstration will be held on Wednesday, March 11 from

noon to 1:30 p.m. Paid reservations are required and may be sent to Temple

Emanu-El Israeli Cooking, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232, or

made online at www.sarasotatemple.org. The cost for each session is $18

for Temple Emanu-El members and $20 for guests. For more information,

email Sandy Gladstone and sglad1@verizon.net.

Area Cantors Sing Together

Cantors serving congregations in Sarasota, Venice, St. Petersburg, Tampa

and Sebring will present “B’chol Libi, With All My Heart,” songs of love

sure to gladden and touch hearts, at 7:00 p.m. at the Jewish Congregation

of Venice (JCV), 600 N. Auburn Road. While this Bay Area Cantorial

Association concert is free, the suggested donation is $18. All proceeds go

to providing scholarships for Conservative and Reform cantorial students.

For more information, call the JCV office, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to

1:30 p.m., at 941.484.2022.

TUESDAY, MARCH 3

Just Reel Films

Sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

In Boycott This!, viewers join comedian Brad Stine on a journey in search

of truth that takes him across the U.S. and Israel, learning firsthand how, if

successful, the BDS movement would destroy the livelihoods of thousands

of Palestinian families. Producer Laurie Cardoza-Moore will introduce the

film and hold a Q&A after the screening. This film is free with a suggestion

that attendees bring a non-perishable food item for All Faiths Food Bank.

Join us from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the Beatrice Friedman Theater on The

Larry & Mary Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life, 582 McIntosh

Road, Sarasota. To register, go to jfedsrq.org/justreel, or contact Brieana

Duckett-Graves at bdgraves@jfedsrq.org or 941.552.6305.

The Jewish Women’s Book Club

Join the most popular Jewish Women’s book club in town at “Caffeine for

the Soul.” Get your weekly social and spiritual boost over a roundtable

discussion led by Chaya Rivka Schmerling. Enjoy coffee and homemade

pastries. Walk-ins are welcome to this free event at 10:00 a.m. at the

Chabad Education Center, 21560 Angela Lane, Venice. For more

information, contact Chaya Rivka Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rivka@

chabadofvenice.com.

Chabad of Sarasota’s 25 th Annual Gala

Chabad of Sarasota will honor Robert and Randelle Landman, dedicated

and staunch members, at its 25 th Annual Gala at 6:30 p.m. at Michael’s

On East, 1212 East Ave. S., Sarasota. Robert and Randelle have made

significant and meaningful contributions to Chabad, and it is an honor

to recognize them for their wholehearted dedication to Chabad and the

Jewish community at large. Chairing the Gala are Robert and Sheri Simon.

The entertainment for the evening will be a performance by KlezMania

on the Gulf. Tickets are $180. For more information and tickets, call the

Chabad office at 941.925.0770 or email info@chabadofsarasota.com.

SPONSORED BY

ALSO ON STAGE IN MARCH


JEWISH HAPPENINGS

March 2020

3B

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4

PJ Library Polka Dot Purim Party


PJ Library and Chabad of Sarasota are partnering to present a festive program

to enjoy family time and the spirit of the Purim holiday with loud and

joyful instruments from around the world, and make your own polka-dot

hamentashen! A hot dog dinner will be served (vegetarian options available

upon request). This free event begins at 5:00 p.m. at 7700 Beneva

Road, Sarasota. Space is limited and registration is required at jfedsrq.

org/PJ. For more information, contact Sara Steinmetz at 941.925.0770 or

sara@chabadofsarasota.com.

Temple Emanu-El “Lunch with the Rabbis”

Are you looking for a great lunch date? Join Rabbi Brenner Glickman,

Rabbi Michael Shefrin and friendly, interesting companions for lunch,

socializing, and a discussion of current events and subjects of Jewish

interest. All are invited to this popular, stimulating and enjoyable program

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 for discussion. Homemade dessert and terrific company

are provided! For more information, call the temple office at 941.371.2788.

Idelson Library Book Review Series

In The Catcher Was a Spy: The Mysterious Life of Moe Berg by Nicholas

Davidoff, Moe Berg was a number of things: a very bright Jewish boy who

went to Princeton and did some time at the Sorbonne, a person who spoke

12 languages, an OSS spy during World War II and a third-string catcher

in the Major Leagues. In fact, he is the only baseball player whose name

is on the wall of honor at the CIA in Washington, D.C. The book will be

reviewed by JoAnn Spiegel. Join us at 1:15 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom,

1050 South Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. Refreshments will be served before and

after the review. No charge. For more information, contact Kelly Nester at

941.955.8121 or info@templebethsholomfl.org.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5

For

more

information

NCJW Lunch and Learn

The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) will hold a Lunch and

Learn at noon at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (1012 N. Orange

Avenue, Sarasota) in its new education facility located next to the theater.

The speaker is Julie Leach, Executive Director of the theatre and a past

honoree at NCJW’s Women in Power Luncheon. Julie’s talk will focus on

the theatre’s mission, which is “to continue to help the underserved youth

develop their artistic skills and self-confidence.” Attendees will be given

a tour of the newly renovated theater and the opportunity to meet some of

the alumni. Everyone is welcome. Bring a bag lunch; drinks and dessert

will be provided. To register or for more information, contact Barbara

Aferiat at barbara@aferiat.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6

Temple Sinai Rhythm & Jews Erev Shabbat Service

Join Rabbi Samantha Kahn, Chazzan Cliff Abramson, congregants and

friends at a festive Rhythm & Jews Erev Shabbat Service with the Religious

School Grade 3 participation. A welcome reception begins at 5:15

p.m. followed by the service at 6:00 p.m. Join us and celebrate with the inspirational

sounds of the Bruno Family Musicians. Temple Sinai is located

at 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota (enter only from Proctor

Road between Beneva and Swift).For more information, call temple office

at 941.924.1802 or email office@sinaisrq.org.

First Fridays at Chabad

Enjoy an inspiring Friday night service and a delicious Shabbat Oneg with

a special selection of kosher wines from around the world in an inviting

atmosphere with friends. First Fridays at 5:30 p.m. at Chabad of Venice

(21560 Angela Lane) is a monthly community gathering to pray, schmooze

and enjoy time together. It’s an opportunity to celebrate Shabbat, make

new friends, see familiar faces and be part of the community. For more information,

contact Rabbi Sholom Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rabbi@

chabadofvenice.com.

Bridge...

Anyone?

THE BRIDGE GROUP meets

Thursday afternoons

1:00–4:00 pm

The Hecht School,


Family Campus for Jewish Life

Open to intermediate

and advanced bridge players.

call Bob Satnick at 941.538.3739

SARASOTA CONCERT ASSOCIATION

Musicians from Marlboro

March 30 | Riverview PAC

75

SARASOTA

CONCERT

ASSOCIATION

2020 Great Performers Series

Pacifica Quartet

Orion Weiss, piano

March 12 | Van Wezel

Great seats still available!

941.225.6500

www.scasarasota.org



SATURDAY, MARCH 7

A Purim Spiel

Join the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism (3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota)

at its 10:30 a.m. service for a lighthearted romp through a piece of

Jewish history. “CHJ Sings Broadway” is a congregation sing-along with

the Humanaires led by Diane Schulman, with Lynne Hodalski-Champagne

on piano. Free and open to the public. Donations gladly accepted. For more

information, call 941.929.7771 or email chjsarasota@hotmail.com.

Temple Sinai Purim Ball Gala

The Purim Ball Gala will be a night to remember as we celebrate and

honor Rabbi Samantha Kahn and family, and mark the arrival of the festive

holiday of Purim. The festivities will include an incredible silent auction,

a delicious dinner catered by Temple Sinai’s Chef Adam Woldman, lots of

dancing, and a promise of a special and fun evening for all. Join us at 6:00

p.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota (enter

only from Proctor Road between Beneva and Swift). For more information,

contact Karen Witte at 941.666.8777 or kwwitte@gmail.com.

Purim in Paradise

Hershorin Schiff Community Day School invites the community to

celebrate Purim with an island-style fete. Highlights include live music,

gourmet bites from Apollonia Grill and tropical beverages. Proceeds to

benefit Community Day School’s scholarship programs. The event begins

at 7:00 p.m. at The Finish Tower at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan

Benderson Cir., Sarasota. Tickets are $125. For more information, please

contact Melissa Rivera at 941.552.2770 or mrivera@communityday.org.

Quickly Locate all of your favorite Jewish

organizations, clubs and service providers online.

JFEDSRQ.org/Directory

Keyword Search Filter Options Drop Pin Locator Map

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

People of the Book – Josh Frank


Giraffes on Horseback Salad was a to be a Marx Brothers film, written

by modern art icon Salvador Dali. Rejected by MGM, the script was

thought lost forever. But author Josh Frank found it and, with comedian

Tim Heidecker and Spanish comics creator Manuela Pertega, recreated the

film as a graphic novel in all of its gorgeous, full-color, cinematic, surreal

glory. Frank’s entertaining, interactive presentation includes clips from

your favorite Marx Brothers films, music and more. Join us at 7:00 p.m.

in the Beatrice Friedman Theater on The Larry & Mary Greenspon Family

Campus for Jewish Life, 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. To purchase

tickets ($10), go to www.jfedsrq.org/books or call 888.718.4253, Option 1.

Temple Beth Sholom Breakfast Program

Join us at 9:30 a.m. at Temple Beth Sholom (1050 South Tuttle Ave.,

Sarasota) for “Cantors of the Golden Age.” Cantor Simon has devoted

many years researching and chronicling the lives and careers of some of the

most gifted Hazzans who performed from the pulpit during what is known

as the Golden Age of Cantors. The event is co-sponsored by the Men’s

Club, Sisterhood and Continuing Education. The cost of $10 includes

breakfast. For more information, contact Kelly Nester at 941.955.8121 or

info@templebethsholomfl.org.

CKids: Purim Outta the Box!

Get into teams to break into a mystery box holding all sorts of surprise

treasures. Work together to follow a sequence of clues and challenges to

crack the code. Use what you find inside to create a very special Purim gift

for one of your friends and complete the Purim mitzvot! Meet at 11:00 a.m.

at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Cost: $10; free for

Chabad Hebrew School students and their families. For more information,

please contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at info@chabadofbradenton.com or

941.752.3030.

Temple Sinai’s Religious School Purim Carnival

The community is invited to Temple Sinai’s festive Purim Carnival with

food, games, prizes, face painting and fun for children of all ages. No

charge for entrance. Buy tickets for games and food to support other

Temple Sinai endeavors. The fun begins at noon at Temple Sinai, 4631

South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota (enter only from Proctor Road between

Beneva and Swift). For more information, contact Steve Weintraub

at 941.922.9322 or sweintraub@SinaiSRQ.org.

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JEWISH HAPPENINGS

March 2020

5B

MONDAY, MARCH 9

NCJW Book Club

The National Council of Jewish Women Book Club will discuss the

memoir Educated by Tara Westover from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the Gulf Gate

Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave., Sarasota. The NCJW Sarasota-Manatee section

website (ncjwsarasota-manatee.org) has information about the Book Club,

the title selections and dates for the current season. Click on Community

Services at the top of the page. You will also find Goodreads reviews of the

books. Guests welcome. For more information, contact Barbara Aferiat at

barbara@aferiat.com or 703.338.7112.

Temple Sinai Rhythm & Jews Purim Service

Join Rabbi Samantha Kahn, Chazzan Cliff Abramson, congregants and

friends for our Rhythm & Jews Purim Worship Service and an entertaining

Purim Shpiel. Hear the Bruno Family Trio as they join the rabbi and chazzan

for an uplifting service with a variety of traditional, Israeli, Sephardic

and Chassidic melodies. The service begins at 5:30 p.m. at Temple Sinai,

4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota (enter only from Proctor Road

between Beneva and Swift). For more information, call the temple office

at 941.924.1802 or email office@sinaiSRQ.org.

Megillah Reading and Purim Celebration

Temple Beth Sholom invites you to a Megillah reading and fun Purim

activities for all ages at 6:00 p.m. at 1050 South Tuttle Ave., Sarasota.

Everyone is welcome and costumes are encouraged! No charge. For

more information, please contact Kelly Nester at 941.955.8121 or info@

templebethsholomfl.org.

Purim Masquerade Party

Join Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch for a Purim Masquerade

Party at 8:00 p.m. at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton.

Enjoy Megillah readings, cocktails, music, refreshments and a masquerade.

This is a free event. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at

941.752.3030 or info@chabadofbradenton.com.

Megillah Reading

Megillat Esther, “The Scroll of Esther,” is a firsthand account of the events

of Purim, written by the heroes themselves – Esther and Mordechai. The

Megillah is read twice in the course of the festival: on the eve of Purim

and during Purim day. It is read in the original Hebrew from a parchment

scroll. Join us at 8:00 p.m. at the Chabad Education Center (21560 Angela

Lane, Venice) for a Megillah reading, lechayims and music. For more information,

contact Rabbi Sholom Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rabbi@

chabadofvenice.com.

Love Is in the Air

THE 2020 WINTER OPERA FESTIVAL

Join us for a season you will LOVE!

Puccini’s

La bohème

Feb 8–Mar 21, 2020

Gounod’s

Romeo & Juliet

Feb 15–Mar 20, 2020

Donizetti’s

The Elixir of Love

Feb 22–Mar 21, 2020

Catalani’s

La Wally

Mar 7–22, 2020

Artists Choice Concert

March 15, 2020, 7:30 PM

Enjoy Principal Artists performing their favorite

arias, songs and ensembles with piano accompaniment

at the Sarasota Opera House stage.

All operas performed in the original language

with real-time translations displayed above the stage.

Opera tickets start at just $19

Subscribe today for the best seats!

SARASOTAOPERA.ORG

(941) 328-1300

Sarasota Opera House: 61 N. Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236

Victor DeRenzi, Artistic Director

Richard Russell, Executive Director

Paid in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues. Sponsored in part by the State of

Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

The community study

is finally

here!

SAVE THE DATE

Community Observance

YOM HASHOAH

Holocaust Remembrance Day

Monday, april 20, 2020 • 7:30 pM

TeMple eManu-el

151 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota FL

FEATURING GUEST SPEAKER

Holocaust Survivor Rifka Glatz

Cohen Center Authors:

Matthew Boxer

Matthew A. Brookner

Eliana Chapman

Janet Krasner Aronson

For more information,

contact Kim Mullins

941.552.6300

kmullins@jfedsrq.org

2019

Jewish Community Study

A socio-demographic portrait of the Jewish

community in Sarasota-Manatee

Sponsored in part by

a grant from:

Learn about our Sarasota-

Manatee Jewish community:

jfedsrq.org/CommunityStudy

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

Holocaust Survivors

Generations After


The Sarasota-Manatee Rabbinical Association

Area Synagogues

Sarasota Jewish Chorale

Aviva – A Campus for Senior Life

JFCS of the Suncoast

Butterflies of Hope

FREE & OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY

RSVP at jfedsrq.org/events

For more information, contact

Temple Emanu-El at 941.371.2788



TUESDAY, MARCH 10

“Our monthly Jewish-themed

film series focuses on real slices

of life we can all relate to.”

– ROSANN BLACK

BOYCOTT THIS!

Tuesday, March 3, 2020 • 6:30 pm

Viewers join comedian Brad Stine on a journey in search of truth

that takes him across the US and Israel, learning first-hand how,

if successful, the BDS movement would destroy the livelihoods of

thousands of Palestinian families.

Special guest: Producer Laurie Cardoza-Moore with Q&A

Beatrice Friedman Theater on The Larry & Mary

Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life

582 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, FL

ASK DR. RUTH

Tuesday, April 7, 2020 • 1:00 pm

As her 90th birthday approaches, Dr. Ruth Westheimer reflects on

her painful past. A survivor of the Holocaust, her career path leads

her to the forefront of the sexual revolution, making her America’s

most famous sex therapist.

2019 Critics’ Choice Documentary Award:

Most Compelling Living Subject of a Documentary,

Ruth Westheimer

Beatrice Friedman Theater on The Larry & Mary

Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life

582 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, FL

DEAR FREDY

Tuesday, May 19, 2020 • 1:00 pm

Fredy Hirsch was born in Germany, a proud Jew and openly gay

man. He was 19 years old when the Nuremberg Laws were

published—he fled from Germany to the Czech Republic. When he

arrived in Auschwitz, Fredy did not succumb to despair. This film

combines interviews, archival materials and animation which tell

the story of his amazing life.

Houston Film Critics Society Award Grand Jury Prize,

Houston International LGBTQ Film Festival

Selby Library

1331 1st St, Sarasota, FL

I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN YOU:

THE LIFE & LEGACY OF SIMON WIESENTHAL

Tuesday, June 9, 2020 • 1:00pm

This documentary details his life and his work with the American

War Crimes Unit, which tracked down more than 1,000 Nazi war

criminals with Simon’s help.

Winner Audience Award: Best Documentary,

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

Temple Beth Israel

567 Bay Isles Rd, Longboat Key, FL

LIMIT 2 TICKETS PER FILM. THE SERIES IS FREE but audience members are

encouraged to bring cans of food which will be donated to All Faiths Food Bank.

CHAIR: ROSANN BLACK

For more information, contact Brieana Duckett-Graves at

bdgraves@jfedsrq.org or 941.552.6305.

TO REGISTER:

VISIT:

JFEDSRQ.ORG/JUSTREEL

New Bereavement Support Group


JFCS of the Suncoast will hold its next Bereavement Support Group at

the agency’s 2688 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, location. Facilitated by Community

Chaplain Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz, the group is open to people of

all faiths and backgrounds and will meet for six weekly Tuesday sessions

from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. from March 10 through April 14. The cost for the

entire program of sessions is $36. Pre-registration is required. For more

information and to register, please call Rabbi Katz at 941.366.2224 x166.

New York-Style Purim Party

This year, celebrate Purim New York-style with a fabulous NY deli dinner

with pastrami and rye sandwiches, egg rolls and more. Enjoy a Megillah

reading, graffiti wall, live Jewish music, food booths, pickle making, comedy

and lechayims. Dress up in Purim attire (optional); a winner will get

a prize. All kids in costumes will receive a prize. The event is open to the

public and all are welcome. Join us at 4:30 p.m. at the Chabad Education

Center, 21560 Angela Lane, Venice. Cost: $25 for adults; free for children.

To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.chabadofvenice.

com or call 941.493.2770.

Scroll & Roll Purim Party & Dinner

Celebrate Purim with Chabad of Sarasota and, after hearing the Megillah

scroll read, enjoy a family-friendly dice “roll” party. Join us for a delectable

menu, and an array of fast and fun games that will keep you in smiles

for days after the Purim party. The evening will also feature a magic show

that promises to be lots of fun for all. The Megillah reading begins at 5:00

p.m. followed by a Purim dinner at 5:30 p.m. at Chabad of Sarasota, 7700

Beneva Road. Advance reservations necessary. The cost through Wednesday,

March 4: $18 per adult, $12 per child, $50 per family. After March 4,

the cost increases to $25 per adult, $20 per child, $75 per family. To RSVP

or for more information, call 941.925.0770 or go to sarasotachabad.com/

purim.

Purim in New York City

Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch invites you to Purim in New

York City! Enjoy an interactive Megillah reading and dine at the Lower

East Side Deli. Festivities feature a NY-themed drum circle, candy apple

making, graffiti wall, street performer, NYC masquerade, comedy with

the rabbi and cantor, and much more! The fun begins at 6:00 p.m. at The

Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Cost in advance: $18 for

adults, $12 for children 3-12, free for Chabad Hebrew School students.

Payment at the door: $25 for adults, $18 for children. For more information

and to RSVP, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 or info@

chabadofbradenton.com.

Ruth Bielski: Daughter of Holocaust Hero


Tuvia Bielski and his brothers’ story was portrayed in the 2008 Hollywood

movie Defiance starring Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie

Bell. Many believe that the Bielski partisans’ achievement is on par with

more famous acts of wartime courage such as those performed by Oskar

Schindler and the heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Ultimately

the Bielskis saved the lives of more than 1,200 Jews. Our speaker, Ruth

Bielski, is Tuvia Bielski’s daughter. The event begins at 7:00 p.m. at Temple

Beth Sholom, 1050 South Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. It is co-sponsored by

the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, The Jewish Federation

of Sarasota-Manatee, Butterflies of Hope and Remembrance, and Temple

Beth Sholom. Cost: $15 by Friday, March 6; $20 after March 6 and at

the door. For more information, contact Kelly Nester at 941.955.8121 or

info@templebethsholomfl.org.

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JEWISH HAPPENINGS

March 2020

7B

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11

Jewish Film Festival

Opening Night

For complete details or to order tickets online, visit jfedsrq.org/jff20.

To order by phone, call 888.718.4253, Option 1.

Sarasota Municipal Auditorium

801 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

7:00 p.m. - Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles

THURSDAY, MARCH 12

Jewish Film Festival Screenings

Helping Children Diagnosed With Epilepsy



Regal Hollywood 11

1993 Main St., Sarasota

2:00 p.m. - Leona

2:00 p.m. - The Accountant of Auschwitz

2:30 p.m. - Working Woman

5:00 p.m. - Crescendo

5:00 p.m. - Shoelaces

5:30 p.m. - The Keeper

8:00 p.m. - Prosecuting Evil

8:00 p.m. - The Passengers


“This Month in Jewish History”

Significant Jewish events in March include: the Knesset passed the “Who

is a Jew?” bill in 1970; Vincent Fettmilch, responsible for the massacre

of many Jews in Frankfurt, was hanged in 1616; the Haganah was established

in 1920; Adolf Hitler was granted dictatorial powers by the German

Reichstag in 1933; in 1979, Prime Minister Begin and Egypt’s President

Sadat signed a peace treaty at the White House. Join us for this discussion

at 11:00 a.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton.

Cost: $10 per adult; $5 per student; kosher foods included. To RSVP, call

Beverly at 941.313.9239.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13


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Regal Hollywood 11


Noon - Crescendo

Noon - Papa

Noon - Why the Jews

2:00 p.m. - Murer: Anatomy of a Trial

2:00 p.m. - Unkept Secrets



5:00 p.m. - Rescue Bus 300

5:00 p.m. - The Spy Behind Home Plate

Be Happy! It’s Purim

Calling all Purim Shpielers. Join Temple Beth El Bradenton/Lakewood

Ranch for a Purim celebration and a delicious Persian dinner (presented by

Chef Rabbi Sternfield). Enjoy a wonderful Purim Shpiel with Cantor Bard,

the Shabbat music group and choir, and our Religious School children.

And, of course, a wonderful Oneg with hamentashen. Costumes for young

and not so young encouraged. The dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and services

follow at 7:00 p.m. at 5150 Peridia Blvd. East, Bradenton. The cost for

dinner is $13 for members, and $18 for guests and friends. There is a $5

upcharge for anyone without a paid reservation prior to the service. Your

payment is your reservation for dinner. For more information and to submit

your paid reservation for the dinner, call the temple office at 941.755.4900.

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Send your Jewish Happenings to jewishnews@jfedsrq.org


SUNDAY, MARCH 15

“Celery Fields and Bertha Honoré Palmer”

The Brotherhood of Temple Emanu-El delightedly announces that Barry

Gerber, Florida Master Naturalist and Celery Fields history buff, will be

the guest speaker at this special event. He will offer a fascinating and very

informative history of the local Celery Fields, part of a vast expanse of

land owned by wealthy philanthropist and socialite Bertha Honoré Palmer

over 100 years ago. A deluxe bagel-and-lox breakfast at 9:30 a.m. precedes

the talk at 10:00 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road. Sarasota.

Cost: $10 for the breakfast. For more information, contact Don Malawsky

at 941.359.2890 or dmalawsky@msn.com.

Speak Out, Stand Up Against Anti-Semitism

Each month we meet with community members dedicated to outspoken

opposition to anti-Semitism in the Manasota area. Little-reported or publicized,

virulent anti-Semitic acts have repeatedly been perpetrated locally

with scant protests from the Jewish and general communities. Why are

local crimes against Jews and Jewish property not prosecuted or even investigated?

Everyone needs to learn strategies to prevent and effectively

address proliferating local anti-Semitism, such as the swastikas recently

painted on the entrance to a beautiful Manatee neighborhood. Join us for

this discussion at noon at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West,

Bradenton. Cost: $10 per adult; $5 per student; healthy kosher brunch

included. To RSVP, call Beverly at 941.313.9239.

DNA Tools: A Tour

At the next Jewish Genealogical Society of Southwest Florida event, guest

speaker Peggy Jude will talk about the six different types of tools that can

make your DNA journey easier. Get tips on using the tools at the DNA

testing companies and beyond. Jews share much more DNA with each

other than average, which grossly inflates their relationship predictions.

However, DNA testing is still recommended for people with Jewish roots.

Learn how to keep track of and sort through your matches and determine

how you are related. Attendance is free. Everyone is welcome at 1:00 p.m.

at Aviva – A Campus for Senior Life, 1951 N. Honore Ave., Sarasota. For

more information, contact Kim Sheintal at 941.302.1433 or klapshein@

aol.com.

Mitchell Epstein Presentation and Book Signing

Mitchell Epstein, longtime Temple Sinai congregant, entrepreneur, philanthropist

and now author of Mr. Lucky: My Unexpected Journey to Success,

will have a book signing and talk about his book, which reveals his unique

viewpoint that led to the building of a successful business in spite of heartbreaking

events in his life. Epstein has a passion for mentoring young

people to inspire them to be successful in their careers and happier in their

personal relationships and life. He will donate 100% of the proceeds of his

book. Join us at 1:00 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge

Rd., Sarasota (enter only from Proctor Road between Beneva and Swift).

For more information, please call the temple office at 941.924.1802 or

email office@sinaiSRQ.org.

Great Romantic Piano – Eleonora Lvov

Eleonora Lvov, internationally acclaimed Russian-Israeli virtuosa, plays

a broad spectrum of music – with the artist’s own personal impressions

and historical remarks. This program includes magnificent works from

Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt to the inimitable enchantment and power

of Rachmaninov and Gershwin among others. Experience romance and

poetry with this boldly emotive pianist who emanates ardent passion and

spirituality through music. This free event begins at 4:00 p.m. at Yamaha

Concert Hall, 4223 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For more information, call

941.358.0235 or go to www.eleonoralvov.com.

Wine & Sages

Join the Temple Beth Sholom Men’s Club at this unique wine and cheese

tasting event. There will be several wines to taste, all of which share their

name with a sage. Speakers will discuss the wines as well as their namesake

sages. The event begins at 4:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 South

Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. Cost: $20; you must be at least 21 years old. To register,

send a check to the TBS office addressed to “TBS Men’s Club” with

the memo “Wine & Sages.” For more information, contact Lex Calaguas

at 941.955.8121 or info@templebethsholomfl.org.

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MONDAY, MARCH 16




Regal Hollywood 11


Noon - The Keeper

Noon - Working Woman

2:00 p.m. - Papa



5:00 p.m. - Leona



8:00 p.m. - Love in Suspenders



“Jewish Resistance in the Holocaust”

As the operations in the Nazi death camp of Treblinka neared completion

in 1943, Jewish resistance leaders decided to revolt before they were all

killed. On August 2, prisoners seized weapons from the camp armory

but were discovered before they could take over the camp. Nonetheless,

hundreds of prisoners stormed the main gate to escape. Although many

were killed, more than 300 did escape and about 100 of these brave Jews

evaded the Nazi search squads. Join us for this discussion at 11:00 a.m.

at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $10

per adult; $5 per student; healthy kosher foods included. To RSVP, call

Beverly at 941.313.9239.

sarasota LIBERALYESHIVA

PRESENTS FEBRUARY – MARCH 2020 COURSES

JEWISH DNA, GENETIC DISEASE AND CRYPTO-JEWS

MONDAYS 3:15 PM–4:30 PM Starting February 3 (Eight Weeks)

The never-ending search for authenticity and proof of Jewish descent

is in vogue today as evidenced by the large number of individuals who

undergo DNA testing. Jewish genetic diseases are easily diagnosed (e.g.,

BRCA). Many oral family traditions portend Jewish ancestry as in the

case of anusim (crypto-Jews). Through DNA discovery, many return to

Judaism. Why… and does it matter? How important are Jewish roots

and what does it suggest about the future? Join us in a review of DNA,

Jewish genetic diseases and Jewish identity. Instructor: Marden Paru; $70.

PRESERVING JEWISH CULTURE

TUESDAYS 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM Starting February 4 (Eight Weeks)

What is it about Jewish culture we want preserved? Doomsday literature in recent

years projects the demise of both Jews and Jewish culture. What role does Jewish

literacy play in the preservation of the rich Jewish culture we inherited from

our parents and grandparents? The question we’ll address is “what will become

of Jewish culture” as the diaspora Jewish community continues to assimilate?

Instructor: Marden Paru; fee $70.

JEWS, ANIMALS AND PETS

FRIDAYS 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM Starting February 7 (Eight weeks)

What has been the role and relationship between Jewish people and their

animals? What responsibility do we have for the treatment of the various species?

Scriptures has a lot to say about many living creatures: animals for sacrifice, food,

clothing, farming, and even pets. The Talmud has much to say on this topic. What

rules govern man’s relationship? What place do pets have in Jewish tradition?

Instructor: Marden Paru; fee $70.

HISTORY OF JEWS IN GERMANY

TUESDAYS 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM Starting February 11 (Four Weeks)

Cultural anthropologist David Levinson draws out the expanse of the Jewish

experience in Germany from the fourth century CE to the present. The course relies

on his recent book, Jewish Germany: An Enduring Presence from the Fourth to the

Twenty-first Century and his ongoing research on Jewish German refugees. The

course provides a layered appreciation of the Jewish experience and is meant for those

interested in Jewish history, German Jewish history, and genealogists and family

historians. Topics covered include: origins and spread of Ashkenazi Jewry, Jewish life

in towns and cities, Emancipation, Reform Judaism, immigration to America, The

Shoah, and Jewish Germany today. Lecturer: Dr. David Levinson; fee $40

Inquire about multi-course discounts. Scholarships are also available.

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Classes are held at Brookdale Midtown Sarasota, Activity Room-2nd Floor,

2186 Bahia Vista Street, , Sarasota. To register or seek more information, please contact

Marden Paru, Dean and Rosh Yeshiva at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail.com.

Please make checks payable to the Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva and mail to Marden Paru,

5445 Pamela Wood Way #160, Sarasota, FL 34233.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva admits

students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities

generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis

of race, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.

The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva is a 501(c)3 non-profit

agency. It is funded, in part, by a grant from

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.


JEWISH HAPPENINGS

March 2020

9B

TUESDAY MARCH 17


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18




Regal Hollywood 11


Noon - The Keeper

Noon - Unkept Secrets


2:00 p.m. - Leona

2:30 p.m. - Papa



5:30 p.m. - Why the Jews




Brandeis National Committee “Art in the Afternoon”

Join Brandeis National Committee (BNC) for the third in this year’s series

of “Art in the Afternoon.” Tony Moon spent 55 successful years in the

music business as an artist, agent, songwriter, producer and publisher.

Moving to Nashville, he became guitarist and conductor for Brenda Lee.

Tony brings us Brooklyn songwriters who have composed much of the

music of our lives, and Brooklyn singers from all genres who have been a

staple on the radio. Why has Brooklyn given us this abundance of quality

singers, songwriters and music VIPs? Join us for this fabulous presentation

exploring the artistry of Carole King, Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond

and others. The event will be held at The Meadows Country Club, 3101

Longmeadow, Sarasota. The program begins at 11:00 a.m., followed by

lunch. The cost is $50 for BNC members and $65 for guests. For more

information, contact Maris Margulies (941.757.3012 or grandmakabat@

aol.com) or Janet Tolbert (941.388.9624 or janetrtolbert@gmail.com).

Torah & Tea

Join Chanie Bukiet in her home for a weekly dose of delicious tea and

refreshments spiced with lessons on the “Kabbalah of the Aleph Bet” and

roundtable discussions. Join us from 11:00 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays at

5718 Lorraine Road, Sarasota. No cost. Sponsor a class in someone’s

memory or honor for $25. For more information, call the Chabad of

Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch office at 941.752.3030 or email info@

chabadofbradenton.com.

Sarasota Jewish Singles Dinner Meeting

The Sarasota Jewish Singles is an outreach program at Temple Beth Israel

of Longboat Key to give all Jewish singles in the Sarasota-Manatee area

the opportunity to meet other men and women who are single. The group

meets once a month for dinner, laughter and a time to turn acquaintances

into lifelong friends. Join us at 5:30 p.m. at Cassariano Italian Eatery, 243

N. Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota. To make a reservation or for more information,

call or text Rosalyn Fleischer at 941.915.6631 or email rozfleischer@

gmail.com.



Regal Hollywood 11


Noon - Shoelaces

Noon - The Accountant of Auschwitz




Centerpiece Event

Sarasota Events Center

600 N. Beneva Road, Sarasota

7:00 p.m. - Golda’s Balcony, The Film

Producer Dave Fishelson will lead a Q&A after the screening

“Significant Financial Contributions

of Ancient Jewish Women”

We know of contributions made by modern Jewish women, says Rabbi

Dr. Susan Marks, Klingenstein Chair of Judaic Studies at New College

of Florida, but unless we read the Talmud carefully, we will not be aware

of the contributions made by women of antiquity. Join Dr. Marks for a

fascinating, engaging adult education session as we examine a selection of

this ancient evidence and consider what it reveals. The program begins at

10:30 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. It is free

for Temple Emanu-El members, with a $10 donation requested for guests.

For more information, call the temple office at 941.371.2788.

NCJW General Meeting and Luncheon

Join the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) from 11:30 a.m. to

2:30 p.m. at the Venetian River Club, 502 Veneto Blvd., North Venice.

There will be an informative and educational program on federal policy for

the transition from fossil fuel use to clean energy sources that do not contribute

to climate change. Our speakers are John and Susan Darovec of the

Citizens’ Climate Lobby and Citizens’ Climate Education. The cost is $25.

For more information and to RSVP, email Marion Marshak at marjmar7@

aol.com or Carol Shaw at cins@juno.com.

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JEWISH HAPPENINGS

THURSDAY, MARCH 19




Regal Hollywood 11


Noon - Papa

Noon - Shoelaces



2:30 p.m. - Leona







Temple Beth Israel



Rosh Chodesh Society Course – An Eternal Blueprint

The secret of Jewish survival is the Torah, but of what value is the Torah

in our everyday lives? Based on the assertion of the Zohar that the Torah is

the blueprint of the world, the Lubavitcher Rebbe constantly emphasized

that no element of creation can possibly be in conflict with Torah. The

Torah is not only a guide to living a holy, spiritual life, but also a guide on

how to properly utilize and interact with the world in optimal fashion. Join

us at noon at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Lunch

will be served. The course fee of $75 includes the textbook; or $18 per

class. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030

or info@chabadofbradenton.com.

Women’s Rosh Chodesh Society

All women are invited to join Chabad of Sarasota’s Rosh Chodesh Society

class entitled “The Essence of the Feminine Role.” Refreshments will

be served. For assistance with underwriting this course, appreciation is

extended to Anne Stein. All women are welcome at 7:00 p.m. at Chabad

of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road. Cost: free for Rebbetzin Circle, $10 for

members, $12 for non-members. Anyone joining Chabad Women’s Rosh

Chodesh Society class for the first time is our guest at no charge. For more

information or to RSVP, contact Sara Steinmetz at 941.925.0770 or sara@

chabadofsarasota.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

Pot Luck Dinner and Havdalah

Enjoy a wonderful dairy pot luck dinner (no kugels or desserts) followed

by a wonderful Havdalah service led by Rabbi Sternfield and Cantor Bard

as Temple Beth El Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch says goodbye to Shabbat.

Join us at 6:00 p.m. at 5150 Peridia Blvd. East, Bradenton. No cost. For

more information and to RSVP, call the temple office at 941.755.4900

SUNDAY, MARCH 22

Jewish Film Festival

Closing Event



Sarasota Events Center

600 N. Beneva Road, Sarasota

3:00 p.m. - Never Again is Now

Featured Guests: Evelyn Markus and Rosa Zeegers,

who both star in the film

CTeen Passover Foam Party


Join Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch for a Foam Party and

Passover car wash! Clean cars for Passover and raise money for food for

needy families. Lunch and drinks will be served. The event takes place

from 12:15 to 2:15 p.m. at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road,

Bradenton. Cost: $18; free for CTeen members. CTeen 5780 is sponsored

in part by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. For more

information and to RSVP, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 or

info@chabadofbradenton.com.

MONDAY, MARCH 23

Mah Jongg/Cards/Games Day

The Greater Venice Chapter of Hadassah invites you to its Game Day from

9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Bay Indies Resort (950 Ridgewood Ave., Venice)

in the Indies Hall. Breakfast and a homemade lunch will be served. Bring

your own game or we can get you in a game. The cost is $24. Mail your

check, payable to Hadassah, to 4220 Tennyson Way, Venice, FL 34293.

For more information, call Ruth at 941.492.6025.

FRIDAY, MARCH 20


DINE

LIKE



Explore Spain through

food & wine!

EPICUREAN ADVENTURE:

SPAIN

Available March 2020

Visit BestFood.com for reservations

Regal Hollywood 11


Noon - Golda’s Balcony, The Film

Noon - Love in Suspenders

Noon - Prosecuting Evil

2:00 p.m. - The Keeper




5:00 p.m. - Shoelaces

5:00 p.m. - Leona

SIGN UP TO

GET THE SCOOP WEEKLY!

“Memory Loss and Aging”

Join the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism (3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota)

at its 7:30 p.m. service. The program “Memory Loss and Aging” will be

presented by Dr. Cheryl Brandi, Nurse-Practitioner at Roskamp Institute

Clinic. Free and open to the public. Donations gladly accepted. For more

information, call 941.929.7771 or email chjsarasota@hotmail.com.

STAY CONNECTED

STAY CONNECTED

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DON’T MISS OUT!

Registering for The Jewish Federation’s weekly email newsletter

means you won’t miss out on important community information.

Go to JFEDSRQ.org and Click the

GET UPDATES button at the top of the page.


JEWISH HAPPENINGS

March 2020

11B

TUESDAY, MARCH 24

SUNDAY, MARCH 29

Alpha Epsilon Phi Suncoast Luncheon

Members of Alpha Epsilon Phi Suncoast will gather once again to renew

old friendships and make new ones at their annual luncheon at 11:30 a.m.

at Marina Jack’s (2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota) on the 2nd floor with a scenic

view of the bay. All area AEPhi alumnae are welcome to attend, but reservations

are required. Please contact chair Sora Hecht Yelin at sorayelin@

yahoo.com if you wish to attend or for further information.

Chabad Women’s Circle Walk

All women are welcome to meet up with some friendly women of Chabad

Women’s Circle. Make new friends, visit with old friends and bolster

friendships as we walk and talk our way across the Ringling Bridge. Meet

at 1:00 p.m. at Hart’s Landing to enjoy a social afternoon walk. Hart’s

Landing is the first right when going on the Ringling Bridge. The sign will

read T.J. “Tony” Saprito Fishing Pier. For more information or to RSVP,

email sara@chabadofsarasota.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25

TBS Sisterhood’s Fashion Show and Luncheon

Besides celebrating Temple Beth Sholom Sisterhood’s 10th anniversary,

this event (Honey’s Sophisticated Ladies Catch the Buzz Fashion Show

and Luncheon) celebrates the importance of bees to our environment and

the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Enjoy a glass of wine and a kosher meal

by Michael’s On East while perusing the array of items in a silent auction.

Evelyn & Arthur will again showcase its fashions that focus on lifestyle,

philanthropy and quality. Yellow Strawberry Hair Salons will lend talented

hair and makeup stylists to help the models look their best. The event begins

at noon at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 South Tuttle Ave., Sarasota.

Tickets are $60; registration required. For more information and to RSVP,

call the temple office at 941.955.8121 or email info@templebethsholomfl.

org.

NCJW Angel Patron’s Tea

The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) will hold its Angel

Patron’s Tea at 1:00 p.m. at the home of Geri Drexler, 6823 Dominion

Lane, Lakewood Ranch. The theme is “Glorious Crowns - A History of

Hats.” Many types of hats will be on display courtesy of Dillard’s and

can be purchased at a 10% discount. All attendees are encouraged to wear

a favorite hat. This event has been very successful and last year raised

$6,500 to support NCJW programs such as Hope House, HIPPY (Home

Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), Blankee Bee, Puppets and

all advocacy events. Guests are welcome. Please send your reservation and

$75 donation to Paula Reich, 6927 Honeysuckle Trail, Lakewood Ranch,

FL 34202. For more information, email Paula at lakeminerva@gmail.com.

Esther: The Musical Final Rehearsal

The uplifting original production of Esther: The Musical was written and

composed by musician and director Jim Brenner. The play, in word and

song, recounts the story of Esther, who became Queen of ancient Persia

and saved her Jewish people from death by Haman. The final rehearsal of

the play at 2:00 p.m., with a mixture of romance, humor and pathos, with all

original music and songs, is open to the public at the Al Katz Center, 5710

Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Donations greatly appreciated. Healthy

kosher refreshments provided. To RSVP, call Beverly at 941.313.9239.

Avi Jorisch Comes to Temple Emanu-El


The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, DALET and Temple

Emanu-El proudly welcome bestselling writer and Middle East expert Avi

Jorisch to Sarasota. Jorisch is the renowned author of Thou Shalt Innovate:

How Israeli Ingenuity Repairs the World – describing the motivations,

ingenuity and persistence of Israelis of all faiths compelled by the spirit of

tikkun olam – an inspiring book that has been translated into 30 languages.

This special event commemorates the 75th anniversary of Europe’s

liberation from WWII. It begins at 2:00 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151

McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Tickets are available for $18 in advance at

www.sarasotatemple.org, and will also be available for $25 at the door. For

more information, please call 941.371.2788.

TUESDAY, MARCH 31

Join us in our campus re-imagination...

THURSDAY, MARCH 26

Women’s Passover Celebration

Join us as we reimagine our 32 acre campus.

We are JFED Proud & Strong!

Sponsored THE LARRY by AND The MARY Jewish GREENSPON Federation FAMILY CAMPUS of Sarasota-Manatee

FOR JEWISH LIFE

Contact us to learn more.

jfedsrq.org

KLINGENSTEIN JEWISH CENTER | 580 MCINTOSH RD, SARASOTA FL 34232 | 941-371-4546 | JFEDSRQ.org

The voices of women will be raised in celebration of the many accomplishments

and freedoms achieved in the 100 years since women won the

right to vote. Join us for this Seder-style event led by the women who

lead our congregations, community and homes: rabbis, cantors, mothers

and daughters. Event Co-chairs Janis, Mary & Ella Collier represent three

generations! This event is for women of all ages, and begins at 5:00 p.m.

Howard Tevlowitz

Kim Mullins

Ilene Fox

Rich Bergman

Major Gifts

at Michael’s

941.343.2110On East,

941.552.6300

1212 East Ave.

941.343.2111

S., Sarasota. Pre-registration

941.552.6306

is required

at jfedsrq.org/events. Tickets are $90 for individuals and $45 for

htevlowitz@jfedsrq.org kmullins@jfedsrq.org

ifox@jfedsrq.org rbergman@jfedsrq.org

students. Sponsorships available. For more information, please contact

Lisa Feinman at lfeinman@jfedsrq.org or 941.706.0034.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27

Shabbat Alive! at Temple Emanu-El

Shabbat Alive! is back! Temple Emanu-El members and hundreds of community

guests fill the pews for this quarterly all-musical Shabbat celebration

– and we hope you will be among them. With upbeat, contemporary and

inspiring arrangements of the traditional prayers, led by Rabbi Brenner

Glickman, Rabbi Michael Shefrin, and professional and volunteer

musicians, Shabbat Alive! is stirring, magnificent, exhilarating, jubilant

and altogether unique. Please join us for a very special and spiritual

Shabbat experience at 7:15 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road,

Sarasota. For more information, call the temple office at 941.371.2788.

SATURDAY, MARCH 28

Tot Shabbat at Temple Emanu-El

Join us at 10:30 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El (151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota)

for a relaxed, welcoming and festive Shabbat celebration for young Jewish

and interfaith families. Enjoy playground time, a bagel breakfast, crafts,

and age-appropriate Shabbat prayers, songs and movement with Rabbi

Brenner Glickman and Rabbi Michael Shefrin. It’s a wonderful time with

old and new friends. Although Tot Shabbat is designed for families with

children ages 1-6, all are invited to this free event. For more information,

call Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman at 941.379.1997.

Read the current and previous

editions of The Jewish News

online at www.jfedsrq.org.

AJC’s Spring Lunch & Learn

Described by the late Israeli President Shimon Peres as the “foreign

minister of the Jewish people,” AJC’s Chief Executive Officer, David

Harris, has spoken at some of the world’s most prestigious forums. Join

us from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Michael’s on the Bay at Selby Gardens

(811 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota) to hear Harris speak about “A World in

Flux: Rising Anti-Semitism and Global Jewish Affairs in 2020.” The event

chairs are David & Edie Chaifetz, Jerry & Wendy Feinstein, and Larry &

Debbie Haspel. The event is generously sponsored by Williams Parker.

The cost of $36 includes the lecture and luncheon. Advance registration

is required. To RSVP or for more information, call 941.365.4955 or email

sarasota@ajc.org.

PROMOTING

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subscribers each week for only $75 per

week--that’s less than 1¢ per recipient!

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Guarantee, you’ll be assured weekly

exclusive placement of your ad. *

Want to learn more?

Contact Adam Kaplan

941.552.6307

akaplan@jfedsrq.org

*We limit ads to a maximum of 4 per Eblast, and only one

business per profession.

ONLINE INFORMATION

JFEDSRQ.org/Eblast_Advertising



11 TH ANNUAL

PRESENTED BY the MILMAN-KOVER family

SPONSORED BY THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SARASOTA-MANATEE

March 11 – 22, 2020

As we enter the festival’s second decade, we are especially proud to present

a premiere line-up of 18 remarkable and diverse award-winning films.

CO-CHAIRS

CHERYL SHAPIRO AND BUNNY SKIRBOLL

OPENING NIGHT

Our Opening Night Screening will feature

Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles, Patti Kenner,

Executive Producer, and a SPONSOR DINNER PARTY.

CENTERPIECE event

Our Centerpiece Event will feature a screening of

Golda’s Balcony, The Film. Dave Fishelson, Producer

will lead a Q&A after the screening.

CLOSING EVENT

Our Closing Event will feature the ONLY SCREENING

of Never Again is Now. Special guests are

Evelyn Markus and Rosa Zeegers,

who both star in the film.

FEDERATION TORCH SPONSORS

EDIE AND DAVID CHAIFETZ

LEON R. AND MARGARET M. ELLIN

DEBBIE AND LARRY HASPEL

ROSENTHAL ROOTS FAMILY FOUNDATION

SYLVIA AND NORMAN SAMET

BUNNY AND MORT SKIRBOLL

HADASSAH AND MARTIN STROBEL

LOIS STULBERG

OPENING NIGHT SPONSOR

SHELLY AND SY GOLDBLATT

GOLD SPONSOR

CENTERPIECE

EVENT SPONSOR

BUNNY AND MORT SKIRBOLL

See you at the movies!

n the Accountant of Auschwitz

n Crescendo

n Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles

n Golda’s Balcony, the film

n The Keeper

n Leona

n Love in Suspenders

n Murer: Anatomy of a Trial

n Never Again is Now

n Papa

n The Passengers

n ProsEcuting Evil

n Rescue Bus 300

n Shoelaces

n The Spy Behind Home Plate

n Unkept Secrets

n why the jews?

n working woman

CLOSING EVENT SPONSOR

LOIS STULBERG

SILVER SPONSOR

BRONZE SPONSORS

COPPER SPONSORS

SHARON SEXTER AND HOWARD BERMAN

MARSHA AND HARRY Z”L EISENBERG

DEBBY AND JERRY HAMBURG

ANN AND ROBERT JACKSON

VALERIE JOELS

NESSA AND RICH LEVINE

HARRIET AND JULES SCHAEFFER

LESLYE AND BARRY SEIDEL

CHERI AND DAVID SPECTOR

ADREA AND JACK SUKIN

ANONYMOUS

DR. LOUIS AND

MRS. MILLY CHAYKIN

DR. LEWIS AND SANDRA Z”L HANAN

LORI AND DAVID LINER

CHERYL AND STEVE SHAPIRO

MEDIA SPONSORS

To become a sponsor, contact Jeremy Lisitza at

941.343.2113 or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org

For tickets, film descriptions and screening

times, visit jfedsrq.org/jff20

Or to purchase tickets call

888.718.4253, Option 1



The Jewish News - March 2020

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