Federation Star - July-August 2020

6 th Annual Greater Naples Jewish Book Festival

Sneak Preview Event

Thursday, August 27 at 2:00 p.m. via Zoom ~ To register, look for the link in a future eblast.

Hear about the authors and books to be featured in next season’s Jewish Book Festival!

Facilitated by Jewish Book Festival Co-Chairs

Robin Mintz and Susan Pittelman

Celebrating Jewish Life in Greater Naples, Israel and the World

Federation Star

Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples

Serving Naples, Marco Island and the surrounding communities

www.JewishNaples.org July/August 2020 – Tammuz/Av/Elul 5780 Vol. 29 #10

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

5 Men’s Cultural Alliance

6 Women’s Cultural Alliance

9 Community Focus

10 Tributes

14 Jewish Interest

19 Israel & the Jewish World

20 Commentary

23 Organizations

24 Synagogues

25 Focus on Youth

27 Community Directory

The Sarajevo Haggadah:

Music of the Book

18

Chocolate Challah with a sweet

twist – recipe by Chef Dalia

25

Chabad of Naples meets the

challenge to serve our community

Temple Shalom Preschool

graduation

12

27

See Phil Jason’s latest book

review – Exile: Portraits of the

Jewish Diaspora – on page 14

Zoom

By Federation President/CEO Jeffrey Feld

and Federation Board Chair Jane Schiff

The Jewish Federation of Greater

Naples closed its offices to inperson

meetings and in-person

programs effective March 17 due to

the Coronavirus pandemic. Staff were

instructed to work remotely. Zoom, all

Jane Schiff and Jeffrey Feld

of a sudden, our sense of what was normal

changed. Federation immediately

reached out to all of our local beneficiary

organizations and Jewish congregations

to learn what immediate/emergency

needs they might be experiencing.

Regarding Federation and “normal”

programming, our end-of-year

Power of Community Celebration had

to be canceled. We were not able to

publicly thank all of the donors to the

2020 Annual Community Campaign

and we were not able to thank everyone

who worked on making this our most

successful campaign. We would have

recognized our Human Needs awardees

– Collier Resource Center and Bikes for

Tykes. We would also have recognized

our Stand Up for Justice awardees: First

Place Winner, Vanessa Alvarez from

Lorenzo Walker Technical High School;

Second Place Winner, Danielle Yarusevich

from Pine Ridge Middle School;

Third Place Winner, Katherine Carney

from Mike Davis Elementary School;

and Honorable Mention, Shannon Beauvais

from Golden Gate Elementary. We

would have introduced Jared Bialek as

this year’s recipient of the Patricia J.

Adkins Youth Leadership Award. We

would have thanked Arlene Sobol and

the entire committee for the great job

in planning the Power of Community

Celebration.

All of our agencies and congregations

stopped having in-person meetings,

programs and services. We all

had to learn how to meet the multitude

of needs of our community in a new

way. Zoom and other virtual platforms

became our new norm. From the

Federation perspective, phone calls,

emails and Zoom became our vehicles

of communication, connection and

outreach in order to provide whatever

services were needed by anyone in our

community. Thanks to Larry Israelite

for helping Federation move quickly

into this virtual reality. Federation now

has 10 Zoom licenses so that we can

offer multiple programs and meetings

simultaneously and continuously.

On April 22, the Annual Meeting of

the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples

was held with more than 60 participants.

Th e Men’s Cultural Alliance, the

Women’s Cultural Alliance, Israel Advocacy

Committee, Jewish Community

Relations Committee, Catholic-Jewish

Dialogue, Annual Community Campaign

Solicitors, Finance and Audit

Committee, Allocations Committee,

Executive Committee, Board of Directors

and all of the other Federation

programming have helped to keep us

connected and occupied during these

challenging times. We so appreciate

all the efforts made to create our new

normal.

In fact, based on information provided

by Zoom, Federation, through all

of its arms, has provided approximately

3,000 hours of engagement for our community

members, just through the end

of May. We want to thank EVERYONE

who participated in these programs and

meetings. We want to thank all of those

whose creative genius brought all of

these opportunities to you. We hope and

pray that we will be able to return to a

time when we can be in-person together,

again! In the meantime, Federation will

continue to do everything we are supposed

to do – and more – for you, the

Jewish community of Greater Naples.

Zoom!

Planning for the Sixth Annual

Jewish Book Festival is underway!

By Susan Pittelman and Robin Mintz, Co-Chairs, Greater Naples Jewish Book Festival

COVID-19 has thrown us all for a be a virtual conference held July 14-16. and then being given only two minutes

loop – and has certainly impacted

our planning for the upcom-

speak in the sanctuary of Hebrew Union As each author speaks, the four of

Instead of listening to the authors to talk about it!

ing season’s Jewish Book Festival. By College, we will be watching each of the us will independently rate (from 1 to 10)

this time last year, and the year before, authors talk about their books via Zoom. the author on two criteria:

and the year before that, Ted Epstein We will be “joined by” approximately 1. How engaging is the author as

(Jewish Book Festival Coordinator), 125 other book festival coordinators a speaker? Did the author read from

Reneé Bialek (Program Director for the and lay leaders from JCCs, Federations notes? Did he or she hold our attention?

Jewish Federation of Greater Naples) and synagogues from throughout the 2. How interesting will the topic

and the two of us had already returned country who are looking for authors to be to you, our festival audience. Is it

from New York City, having attended participate in their book festivals. relevant? Educational? Entertaining?

the Authors Networking Conference The “Meet the Author” sessions Our hope is that in addition to the

sponsored by the Jewish Book Council will be presented in seven 1.5-hour two-minute Zoom presentations, we

(JBC). We had even submitted our “wish blocks over three days. We will hear approximately

will have an opportunity to “meet” with

list” of authors for those years to the

225 authors, with about 30 the authors (through Zoom, of course)

JBC. This year, however, things are different.

authors presenting during each session. whom we think might be a good match

Like nearly all conferences that Each author will be given two minutes for our festival. In the past, we have

were to be held in May, the conference to speak about their book. Can you always made an effort to share with the

had to be rescheduled. It is now going to imagine spending years writing a book

continued on page 4

Jewish Federation of Greater Naples

2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Ste. 2201

Naples, FL 34109

Non Profit Org

U.S. Postage

PAID

Naples, FL

Permit No 295

Are you ready to build or remodel the

home of your dreams?

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2 Federation Star July/August 2020

THEATREZONE’S

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JEWISH FEDERATION

Renee’s community

program & events corner

Reneé

Bialek

Program

Director

Ihope everyone is still staying safe

and healthy.

In April, May and June, the Jewish

Federation of Greater Naples has offered

a bunch of virtual programs. We

have had art lessons, book talks, movie

discussions, doctor webinars, a talent

show, speakers from Israel and various

presenters from Naples. I have seen

hundreds of lovely faces joining us in

these programs. It is so nice to catch

up with you as you log in before the

programs start. Thank you to all who

have been following the mute/unmute

Thank you!

Karen

Deutsch

Campaign

Co-Chair

THANK YOU, THANK YOU,

THANK YOU to everyone

for making the 2020 Annual

Community Campaign of the Jewish

Federation of Greater Naples a recordbreaking

campaign! It all starts with

YOU, and YOU make everything we

do possible. The YOU are represented

by the team effort supported by the

wonderful leadership and staff of the

Federation, the Board of Directors, the

Volunteer Campaign Solicitors and our

Community Donors.

President/CEO Jeffrey Feld, Annual

Campaign Director Julie Hartline,

Board Chair Jane Schiff, 2020 Annual

Campaign Co-Chair Jay Weiss, Campaign

Volunteer Solicitors and I were

able to network and meet with donors

throughout the season until the challenge

of the Coronavirus hit our community.

We continued to connect via Zoom,

email or phone to ensure that our donors

were staying safe and not experiencing

any immediate needs. Jeffrey reached

out to beneficiaries to see if there were

emergency requests.

This month’s advertisers

This publication is brought to you each month thanks to the support

of our advertisers. Please be sure to use their products and services,

and mention that you saw their ad in the Federation Star.

Chellie Doepke, Realtor ® .........8

Karyn Conrath.......................14

Margot Escott, LCSW...........16

FGCU....................................10

Fuller Funeral Home..............12

Ginsberg Eye...........................4

Hilton Naples.........................21

Hodges Funeral Home...........15

Holocaust Museum................11

Kaye Lifestyle Homes.............9

Keystone Place......................19

A. Stephen Kotler, Attorney...18

Lorel Martens...................10,26

Mattis Inc...............................10

Men’s Cultural Alliance........12

rules of Zoomland!

Please save the date of Thursday,

August 27 at 2:00 p.m. for the Jewish

Book Festival Preview on Zoom. Look

for the link in a future eblast to reserve

your spot for this exciting event. See the

information at the top of page 1.

As more virtual programs become

available, they will be advertised in the

weekly eblast. These eblasts are sent

out on Monday mornings. If you are not

getting them, please let me know so that

you can stay connected.

Please register for all these programs

via the link that is advertised in

the eblasts.

Do you have a favorite book, TV

show or movie that you want to discuss?

If you have an idea for a program or

want to be a guest speaker or facilitator,

please contact me at rbialek@jewish

naples.org.

Our Volunteer Campaign Solicitors

truly embraced their work through this

Campaign Season, which helped us

exceed our expectations. A very special

THANK YOU goes out to each of them:

Jay Weiss, Major Gifts Chair Rosalee

Bogo, Alvin Becker, David Citrin,

Harvey Cohen, Marcia Cohodes, Jeffrey

Feld, Paula Filler, Julie Hartline, Elliot

Lerner, David Okeon, Pomegranate

Associate Chair Susan Pittelman, Joel

Pittelman, Lisa Ratner, Marc Saperstein,

Jamie Satz, Jane Schiff, Pomegranate

Chair Betty Schwartz, Lion of Judah

Chair Phyllis Seaman, Arlene Sobol,

Michael Sobol, Mike Suffian, Bert

Thompson and Beth Wolff. Thank you

for your time, dedication and efforts

that made our 2020 Annual Community

Campaign a huge success!

As Campaign 2021 begins in July,

we will continue our mission to enhance

and enrich the quality of Jewish life

through the support of educational, humanitarian

and social service programs

locally, nationally, overseas and in the

State of Israel. We will also continue

to provide our local Jewish community

with programming that adds educational,

cultural, social and entertainment

value to so many. God willing, we will

be able to get together later in the year.

Until then, stay well, stay strong and

enjoy your summer!

The Federation Star delivers!

Introduce your business to a POWERFUL

demographic and reach over 5,000 Jewish

residents in the Greater Naples area!

For ad rates and deadlines, contact

Joy Walker at 941.284.0520

or walkerjoy62@yahoo.com.

Naples Envelope & Printing.....8

Eve Scharf, MSW, LCSW.......3

Senior Housing Solutions......15

T-Michaels............................11

Temple Judea.........................16

Temple Judea Rel. School.....26

Temple Shalom........................3

Temple Shalom Sisterhood....14

The Carlisle Naples...............17

TheatreZone...........................2

Truly Nolen............................13

Watercrest Senior Living........7

Women’s Cultural Alliance.....6

Wynn’s.................................18

Debbie Zvibleman, Realtor ® ...15

TZ15_JewishFedHalfVert_May2020.indd 1

6/10/20 2:14 PM

To advertise, contact Joy Walker at 941.284.0520 or walkerjoy62@yahoo.com.

JEWISH FEDERATION

Solidarity Message

May 15, 2020

July/August 2020 Federation Star

3

The Jewish Community of Greater Naples is fortunate to have congregations

that each inspire and teach us. The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples applauds

the leaderships of our congregations in helping our community through

these challenging times due to the Coronavirus. This is a true sign of community

solidarity as we each work to build our community TOGETHER!

Jane Schiff, Board Chair

Jeffrey Feld, President & CEO


Dear Friends,

“Kol Ha-Olam Kulo Gesher Tzar M’od, V’ha-ikar lo l’fachad k’lal.”

“The whole world is a narrow bridge, and the main thing is to not have

fear.”

That teaching from Reb Nachman of Bratzlav resonates with us during

this time. We feel the narrowness of the world, we sense its fragility, yet we

also seek to live by our hope, not our fear. Toward that end, the ordained Jewish

clergy of our community have come together to send you this message in

partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.

We all value the importance of pikuach nefesh, protecting human life.

Motivated by this core Jewish value, we recognized the importance of social

distancing as a response to COVID-19.

Over the last two months, our congregations have gone to new places in

order to care for our community. In lieu of our traditional interactions, they

have engaged with classes and programs over Zoom, worship online, food

access programs and distance pastoral care.

When it is all said and done, we will emerge from this experience stronger,

more appreciative, inspired and better prepared to face the future. We

have learned many times throughout history that simply because we haven’t

physically been together, it in no way infers that the bonds which unite us

and the connections we feel are any less strong in the absence of physical

gathering.

We look forward to being able to be together again. Like you, we miss

having our community and friends gathering together. Each organization will

make its own decisions regarding a timetable for moving forward. Understanding

the importance of safeguarding life, we will wait patiently for our

state and local officials to establish safe protocols for us to come together

again. In the meantime, we urge everyone to continue taking appropriate

precautions, wear masks and maintain social distancing when going out for

essential needs, continue to maintain social distancing when walking and

exercising outside, refrain from communal gatherings and continue to be

vigilant with handwashing.

Our sages tell the story of King Solomon searching for a message that

could inspire hope as well as provide humility. Solomon is given the answer,

“gam zeh ya’avor – this too shall pass.” This plague of COVID-19 will pass

in time. Know that our Jewish community will be here, remaining strong

together. Until that time, stay safe and be healthy.

Shalom re’fuah u’vracha - wishing you peace, health and blessing,

Cantor Donna Azu

Temple Shalom of Naples

Rabbi Ariel Boxman


Rabbi Ammos Chorny

Beth Tikvah

High Holy Days

2020/5781

L’Shanah Tova!

Praying for a Sweeter New Year Ahead!

We invite you to join with our

One Family for the High Holy Days.

For information about how we plan to bring in the year

5781, please check our website at naplestemple.org.

Temple Shalom

4630 Pine Ridge Road

Naples, FL 34119

239-455-3030

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

Learning, Living, Loving Judaism

Rabbi Mark Gross

Jewish Congregation of Marco Island

Rabbi Howard Herman

Naples Jewish Congregation

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Chabad of Naples

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YOUR HOME

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to one’s healing. Her office is located in

downtown Naples.

The Religious School Program begins

Sunday, August 23.

Please contact

Rabbi Ariel Boxman,

aboxman@naplestemple.org,

for more details.

Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples • www.jewishnaples.org


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Jewish Book Festival...continued from page 1

authors that our book festival is held to meet this tight schedule, after hearing

during the winter – in Naples, Florida! the authors’ presentation each day, the

But with the strong possibility that most four of us will talk to compare our ratings

– if not all – of our Book Festival events

of each author and discuss the book

will be virtual, that probably won’t be a reviews from our readers. Immediately

strong selling point this year. But many following the conclusion of the conference,

authors have heard about the very successful

we will have hours and hours of

Jewish Book Festival that we Zoom conversations in order to make

have in Naples, so we will certainly our author selections. We will then meet

work that into our conversations! with the Book Festival committee to get

Another key factor in selecting the their feedback on our proposed lineup,

authors are the book reviews that our after which we will submit our author

wonderful, book-loving committee selections to the Jewish Book Council.

members, including professional book The Book Council staff will record

reviewer and Festival Co-Chair Phil our choices (along with another 1,000+

Jason, will be sending us. A book from from approximately 100 book festival

each participating author arrived at the sites) trying to honor as many of the

Federation office the third week in June, requests as possible. We won’t receive

and our reviewers are already at work! our final list of accepted authors until

Each reader has been asked to read part the second or third week of August. So

of the book (although some readers can’t beginning right after the Jewish Book

put it down and read the entire book!) Council conference, we are going to

and send us a brief review along with a have to hurry up – and then wait.

rating of 1 to10 based on how well the We will once again be offering a

book is written and how interesting the “Sneak Preview” of the upcoming books

topic is for our audience.

and authors included in next season’s

As we begin to plan the Festival, we Jewish Book Festival. Mark your calendar

are struggling with how many events

for 2:00 p.m. on Thursday afternoon,

will be virtual and whether or not, August 27. See the information at the

perhaps later in the season, we will be top of page 1.

able to invite authors to come to Naples. The complete festival schedule

One advantage of having the author will be in the September issue of

presentations through Zoom at the JBC the Federation Star. Also check the

conference is that we will experience Festival website at www.jewishbook

firsthand each author’s ability to give festival.org in late August.

an engaging Zoom presentation.

The entire Greater Naples Jewish

We know that it is going to be quite Book Festival committee is excited

a challenge to match the quality of authors

about next season’s Book Festival.

from this past festival. But it is a Rather than focusing on what we might

challenge we think we can meet! One not be able to do during our 2020-21

thing that is certainly in our favor is Festival, we are instead choosing to

that with virtual presentations, we will consider this as an opportunity to try

not have to be concerned about author new things and to give our community

travel schedules, the weather or airfare. the opportunity to hear an even more

We can even invite authors from Israel! impressive array of authors than in the

We need to submit our proposed past. While the format of the events will

lineup of authors to the Jewish Book be different from prior Festivals, we are

Council by July 23, which is only a week confident that once you see the author

after the conference concludes. In order lineup, you will be excited too!

Security isn’t far away...

Charitable Gift Annuities

A charitable gift annuity is a way to make a gift to support the Jewish

Federation of Greater Naples. You make a gift of cash or property

to JFGN. In return, we will make payments for life to you, you and a

loved one, or another person. Each payment will be fixed and the

amount of each payment will depend on the age of the person who

receives the payments. After all payments have been made, the

remaining value of your gift will support the JFGN.

Please contact us to learn more about

charitable gift annuities, and find out how

high the value of your benefits could be.

There are a number of benefits with a charitable gift annuity. Your

payments are fixed as of the date of your gift. This means your

payments will never change, even if interest rates or the stock market

changes. Tax-advantages can also be significant.

With a charitable gift annuity’s fixed payments, you or a loved one

can find the peace of mind that you are looking for. You also will

have peace of mind knowing after a lifetime of payments to you,

the remainder supports JFGN.

Current Rates for a $20,000 Single-Life Annuity

contact Ellen Weiss at 813-769-4785

email: ellen@topjewishfoundation.org

website: www.topjewishfoundation.org

Annuitant Age at Gift 70 75 80 85 90

Annuity Rate 5.6% 6.2% 7.3% 8.3% 12.0%

Charitable Deduction $5,722 $7,446 $8,606 $10,295 $9,741

Annual Payment $1,120 $1,240 $1,460 $1,660 $2,400

contact Marcy Friedland at 239-263-4205

email: mfriedland@jewishnaples.org

website: www.jewishnaples.org

Your deduction will vary slightly from month to month with changes in the IRS discount

rate (the rate assumed here is 1.2%). These examples are illustrative only and not

intended as legal or tax advice. Consult your own legal and tax advisors prior to making

any decisions. Contact us for two-life rates.

Together, we are ensuring the Jewish future.

What do you think? The Federation Star wants to know! Send your letters and comments to fedstar18@gmail.com.

JEWISH FEDERATION


5

Celebrating Jewish Life in Collier County, Israel and the World

Federation Star

Published by the Jewish Federation of Collier County

serving Naples, Marco Island and the surrounding communities

Published by

2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road,

Suite 2201

Naples, Florida 34109-0613

Phone: (239) 263-4205

Fax: (239) 263-3813

www.jewishnaples.org

Email: info@jewishnaples.org

Officers

Board Chair: Jane Schiff

Vice Chairs: Karen Deutsch,

Marc Saperstein, Phyllis Seaman

Secretary: Rosalee Bogo

Treasurer: Elliot Lerner

Immediate Past Chair: Alvin Becker

Board of Directors

Harvey Cohen

Amanda Dorio

Paula Filler

Merlin Lickhalter

Robin Mintz

Les Nizin

William Petasnick

Joel Pittelman

Stuart Price

Nat Ritter

Michael Rubenstein

Jamie Satz

Betty Schwartz

Arlene Sobol

Michael Sobol

Elaine Soffer

Steve Strome

Jay Weiss

Beth Wolff

Jeff Zalasky

Past Presidents

Gerald Flagel, Dr. William Ettinger,

Ann Jacobson, Sheldon Starman,

Bobbie Katz, Rosalee Bogo,

Judge Norman Krivosha

Synagogue Representatives

Cantor Donna Azu

Sue Baum

Rabbi Ariel Boxman

Rabbi Ammos Chorny

Shelley Goodman

Rabbi Mark Gross

Sue Hammerman

Rabbi Howard Herman

Stephen P. McCloskey

Rabbi Adam Miller

Rabbi James Perman

Dr. Arthur Seigel

Daryl Sissman

Rabbi Fishel Zaklos

Federation President/CEO

Jeffrey Feld

Staff

Renee’ Bialek: Program Director

Marcy Friedland: Capital Campaign

& Planned Giving Director

Julie Hartline: Annual Campaign Dir.

Janine Hudak: Admin. Coordinator

Nathan Ricklefs: Database Manager

Teresa Zimmerman: Finance &

Operations Manager

Federation is the central Jewish

community-building organization for

Greater Naples, providing a social

service network that helps Jewish

people locally, in Israel and around

the world. As the central fundraising

organization for Jewish communal

life in our area, strength is drawn

from organized committees of dedicated

volunteers.

Programs include:

• Annual Campaign &

Endowment Fund

• Celebrate Israel

• Educational & Cultural Programs

• Israel Advocacy Committee

• Israel Scouts

• Jewish Book Festival

• Jewish Community Relations

Council

• Jewish Professionals

• Jewish Russian Cultural Alliance

• Men’s Cultural Alliance

• Publication of the Federation

Star, Connections and

Community Directory

• Women’s Cultural Alliance

• Women’s Division

• Youth Activities Committee –

sponsoring youth education and

scholarships for Jewish Summer

Camp and the Israel Experience

MCA plans for virtual summer programming

By Jeff Margolis

While the Board of Directors

of the Men’s Cultural Alliance

of Greater Naples has

suspended all in-person programming in

compliance with local, state and federal

regulations, many MCA activities have

moved to Zoom and streaming technology,

and will continue to do so during

the summer months.

As of press time, the following activities

are continuing in the new format:

The Wisdom Group, Men’s Canasta,

Science Group, Arthur Sissman’s Health

Group, Larry Israelite’s Movie Group,

Men’s Discussion Group and Book

Discussion Group.

If any member wishes to present a

Zoom program during the summer and

fall months, please email Michael Sobol

at msobol99@gmail.com.

MCA is also partnering with WCA

to present some excellent lectures and

programs. Please check the MCA eblast

for updates and new programs.

MCA is pleased to announce that

we have been able to get Jim Sernovitz,

world traveler, to present several

of his travelogues via Zoom. Jim has

taken photos from trips to over 100

countries from Albania to Zimbabwe.

He is an award-winning and published

photographer who has taught at several

colleges and universities, including the

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,

Florida Gulf Coast University and

Florida SouthWestern State College.

Jim has presented numerous seminars,

workshops and photo travel trips to

clubs and organizations. Please check

the MCA eblast for a current schedule

of Jim’s programs.

Documentary film program coordinator

Steve Brazina is busily working

on films for next season that would be

available for either in-person viewing at

Temple Shalom or in streaming format

similar to the successful presentation of

Golda’s Balcony.

Steve is working on the showing of

the film Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles,

which will be presented on Tuesday,

November 10. Steve has reported that

it has been difficult to arrange for summer

showings as many of the offices of

film distributors are currently closed

and are not answering phone calls or

emails.

Enjoy the benefits of membership.

MCA is striving to provide a broad

and diverse spectrum of activities and

events, and is planning for the resumption

of in-person programming when it

is safe to do so. Members are reminded

that MCA renewals are now due. The

cost for the year is $90 and includes

membership in the Jewish Federation of

Greater Naples. Payment can be made

online by going to the MCA website.

New members are always welcome.

Let us strive to exceed our goal of 800

members.

Until we can get together again

and greet each other in person, stay safe

and have a peaceful summer.

There are 3 Ways to

Join the MCA!

1. Go to our website – WWW.MCANaples.org.

Click on MCA Membership Form and complete the

form (you can pay by credit card or check).

2. Send an email with your name, email address and

phone number to JoinMCA@MCANaples.org.

3. Mail your name, email address and phone number

to Larry Israelite, 8820 Savona Court, Naples, FL.

34119.

Have any questions?

Call our President – Les Nizin – at 516-356-2897

Israel Advocacy Committee

“Zooms” into Summer

By Jeff Margolis

In an effort to continue to provide

meaningful programs that meet its

mission, the Israel Advocacy Committee

of Greater Naples has decided to

offer live streaming and Zoom events

to the greater Naples community. With

thanks to the IAC’s parent organization,

the Jewish Federation of Greater

Naples, the committee has obtained the

use of a shared Zoom account for its

programming.

In June, the IAC presented Israeli

strategist Avi Melamed. He was supposed

to speak at Beth Tikvah in March,

but his program was cancelled due to the

Coronavirus.

On June 24, IAC sponsored a

unique virtual tour of Israeli street art,

led by a local Israeli tour guide.

On Monday, July 13 at 11:00 a.m.,

the IAC will present a Zoom program

with Israel journalist Herb Keinon.

Some of you may remember that Herb

was here this past fall and his presentation

was well received. He is a diplomatic

correspondent for The Jerusalem

Post and has worked there for over 30

years. He is the author of Lone Soldiers:

Israel’s Defenders from Around the

World and French Fries and Pita. Keinon

earned a B.A. in Political Science

from the University of Colorado and a

master’s degree in Journalism from the

University of Illinois. He has written

“Movies That Matter”

back again this fall

By Carole J Greene

Even amidst the restrictions of

the COVID-19 pandemic, and

while rocked by the racial tensions,

protests and regrettable violence

recently shaking our nation, “Movies

That Matter” still do matter.

The series of three outstanding

documentaries will again be coordinated

by members of the Human Rights

Film Coalition of SWFL. This group

includes The Holocaust Museum &

Education Center/GenShoah SWFL,

Jewish Federation of Greater Naples/

Jewish Community Relations Council,

and Temple Shalom.

Mark your calendars for these films

and the discussions to follow:

1) October 14: Sustainable Nation

– focusing on environmental issues

2) October 21: Bedlam –

dealing with mental health

3) October 28: Amy’s Story –

shining a light on domestic abuse

Because no one knows when social

distancing requirements will be lifted,

plan to watch this year’s films online

the day before the virtual presentation

by experts in the fields covered by each

film. Watch for details later on how to

extensively about BDS, and Israel’s

relationship with Ukraine. Keinon is

married and has four children. He lives

outside of Jerusalem. Please register for

this program via the weekly Federation

eblasts.

All of these programs are free to

the community, but donations are requested

to help defray costs of future

programs. A donation link is available

on the homepage of www.jewishnaples.

org and in the weekly eblasts.

Suggestions for future IAC programs

are welcome. Please email Harvey

Cohen, Israel Advocacy Committee

Chair, at hwcohen@gmail.com with

your ideas.

register to participate

in this free viewing. A

donation, however, will

be greatly appreciated.

Look for more about each of the

movies in upcoming issues of the Federation

Star.

For information about sponsorships,

contact ida.margolis2@gmail.com.

What do you think?

The Federation Star wants to know!

Send your letters and comments to fedstar18@gmail.com.

Letters Policy

Include your name, full address and daytime phone. Letters should be no longer than 300 words.

We reserve the right to edit for length and/or accuracy. Letters do not necessarily reflect the

viewpoint of the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, the Federation Star or its advertisers.

It All Starts With You! Donate, volunteer, get involved: 239.263.4205 • jewishnaples.org


JEWISH FEDERATION

WOMEN’S CULTURAL ALLIANCE www.WCANaples.org / 215-820-6697

What a season 2019-2020 has been!

By Elaine Soffer, WCA President

This article is not the look-back

over my seven years as President

of WCA, a glance at the upcoming

2020-2021 season, and announcement

of recent changes to the WCA

board that I had planned. Blame it on

the pandemic changing our lives on all

fronts. So, before I get to my original

article, I first want to address how WCA

is responding to our new challenges.

As you continue to remain in selfisolation,

the WCA board hopes that

everyone is staying well. This new

standard of social distancing and an

integral part of WCA are no longer in

sync, namely, the warmth and comradery

that defines WCA and is part of

every program. It is hard to adjust to a

virtual environment. However, many of

us have been highly creative and have

learned ways to stay connected.

We are fortunate that the Federation

has provided WCA with two Zoom licenses

for holding meetings that enable

us to move forward with this new virtual

format. Kudos to the WCA board, the

liaisons and the entire WCA membership

for embracing these changes. Many

WCA programs are now using virtual

meetings, enabling those members in

Naples and those who return to their

northern homes to participate in WCA

happenings in Florida. Some groups typically

not part of the summer calendar

are now on the schedule. For example,

TED Talks are continuing beyond “season”

and occurring twice a month due

to their popularity. Documentary films

are appearing on the summer calendar

for the first time.

A silver lining to the new normal is

that now many speakers who were not

previously available to WCA are on the

calendar via virtual meetings. We have

had three daughters of WCA members

provide fascinating presentations from

New York City and Los Angeles. Other

members are arranging for friends,

family and colleagues who do not live

in Naples to offer virtual presentations.

Other creative virtual meeting events

have included virtual lunches, Knit

and Stitch, and film discussions. Communications

Director Nancy Kahn has

been busy including

numerous links to public

events in the eblast.

The feedback from the

virtual events and links

has been mostly very

favorable.

Spring is when

WCA leadership usually

works on programming

and the program

guide for next season,

and we continue to do

so. So many things that

we have taken for granted have changed

drastically. Our optimistic plan moving

forward is to develop both a Plan

A and a Plan B to return as vibrantly

as before, yet be flexible as we follow

national and local guidelines that may

affect our plans.

Ultimately, some forced changes

will occur, such as our inability to

gather for our annual Welcome Back

Luncheon in November and other programs.

However, other changes have

been in the works that affect the usual

course of business: changes in WCA

leadership, programs, meeting space and

membership management. Thanks to

WCA

is still here for you!

WCA is continuing to offer a wide variety of programming so we can

still “be together” even while we’re apart. Current offerings include:

Virtual Speaker Series – expanded to include speakers from

across the country.

Virtual Interest Groups – Modern Israeli Authors, Contemporary

Fiction, New Yorker, Knit and Stitch, to name a few.

Virtual Special Programming, some in collaboration with other

organizations – TED Talks twice a month, documentary films, and

more.

Already left SW Florida? Stay connected with WCA by joining a virtual

program. WCA will continue offering a variety of virtual programming

until it is safe to gather together.

Don’t Miss Out!

Membership privileges for the 2020-2021 season,

including receipt of the Eblast and participation

in WCA activities, begin SEPTEMBER 1.

Renew your dues before AUGUST 1 so that you will:

Be included in the printed 2020-21 WCA Membership Directory

Receive the new Program Guide, to be mailed by Labor Day

Continue to receive the WCA Weekly Eblast and all

other WCA communications

Renew your WCA membership today!

Enter: bit.ly/WCADues

Elaine Soffer

our talented membership composed of

women willing to volunteer their talents,

these changes will still become a reality.

So, now I turn to my “original”

article. Remember, the current season

ends on August 31. To continue receiving

updated information, you will need

to have paid your dues by that date.

On September 1, the 2020-2021 Season

officially begins and, after seven

years as your president, I will assume

a new role as President Emerita. Patti

Boochever, currently

Vice President and

Program Coordinator,

will become WCA

President, and I will

be the acting Program

Coordinator. Patti and

I have been working

collaboratively for

several years. I am

sure the transition

will be smooth. Other

board changes include

Harriet Kleinman as

Membership Director; Robin Mintz as

Graphics Coordinator; Ann Cowen as

Event Management Coordinator; Susan

Koeppel as Speaker Series Coordinator;

and Leslie Wasserman and Cathy Lone-

Dawson as WCA South Coordinators.

I am confident that you will embrace

and support their leadership, along with

Patti’s.

Recently I was given a six-page

trifold that listed all of the activities

for WCA: 25 WCA Study Groups,

eight special one-day events, and the

Welcome Back Luncheon invitation

for November 2009. My WCA journey

began in 2008 when I attended my first

Welcome Back Luncheon. Following

the luncheon, I attended a few lectures

and innocently said “yes” when asked

to join a “food-related” planning meeting.

Suddenly, I became the spreadsheet

queen, compiling the names and emails

of this new group. From this meeting,

the Serious Foodies evolved. Although

I may have been the first leader, I am

happy to say each leader who followed

gave the group more pizzazz. Now led

by Lea Bendes, it is a busy, thriving

WCA Original. I soon became involved

in many other activities, such as writing

WOMEN’S

CULTURAL

ALLIANCE

Women’s Cultural Alliance

2020-2021 MEMBERSHIP FORM

The membership year is from September 1 until August 31 of the next year.

Dues received after March 1 will be applied to the next season.

Please check one: NEW RENEWAL (PLEASE fill out the form completely and PRINT CLEARLY!)

Is there a change in your information from last year? YES NO

If you checked NO, just LEGIBLY print your name, fill in payment info, sign Event Waiver below, and mail to WCA/JFGN.

Print Name

Email (very important)

Local Street Address

W CA

Spouse/Partner Name

FL Community

City State Zip

Florida Phone

Northern Address

Cell Phone

No. Phone

City State Zip

In Southwest Florida Full-time Part-time from

NAME BADGES: New Members receive a one-time name badge as a welcome gift from WCA/JFGN.

Returning Members: If you need a new or replacement name badge, please increase your fee by $ 8.

Print your name as you want it to appear on the badge

MEMBERSHIP DUES: $ 90 (US Funds only, Minimum for the year; includes membership to the JFGN):____$ 90.00

I am also including a voluntary donation to the Federation in the amount of: _ $

I am including $8 for a replacement Name Badge: __ $

Total enclosed or authorized: __ $

I will be paying by check. Please make your check payable to JFGN/WCA.

I will be paying by credit card. Card Number

the Federation Star articles. Thankfully,

Susan Pittelman assumed that role andLw

has been producing wonderful piecess

for years.

m

In 2011, I became the Program Di-rector,

and the next three years were anw

excellent opportunity for me to fulfill

both my organizational and creativef

needs. With everyone’s cooperation, t

WCA experienced enormous organiza-tional

growth during those years, fromt

about 600 to 1,000 members. I was i

fortunate to have a great foundationm

on which to build this fantastic, vital

organization that brings so many womenS

together each day.

t

Since I became President in 2013, t

our growth has continued. We now have n

almost 1,700 members! Compared to the t

2009 edition, the 2019-2020 Programd

Guide is a colorful 50-page booklet, n

designed with the help of Robin Mintz, P

our Graphics Coordinator. RegistrationN

is now online, instead of having a vol-unteer

take emails and create a list on ap

page of notebook paper. We are working i

on purchasing a membership manage-ment

system to help us evolve from them

spreadsheet era to a true data-drivenM

model. We have added new positions top

our board to manage new program areas.

These are just some of the changes“

instituted during my presidency. K

I think my greatest accomplishment, w

however, is the network of wonderfulf

women I have met and continue to meett

through WCA, who have become nott

only my friends, but also my extendedg

Florida family. WCA has always beent

a very welcoming organization. It hasC

often been said that when we move too

Naples, we leave our other life behindw

and recreate ourselves. I think that is

true. Our WCA membership is willing

to take chances, try something new and

achieve new personal growth. I know I

have. The past seven years as President

have been incredibly special to me.

As I enter a new phase of my WCA

membership, I am thrilled to have the

opportunity to remain an active board

member and participant of WCA, and

perhaps finally find the time to attend

some of the groups I have missed. Like

many, I will be able to enjoy the full

WCA experience!

Expiration Date Name on Card CVV

Mail this SIGNED form (with your check or credit card number) to:

WCA/Jewish Federation of Greater Naples

2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Ste. 2201, Naples, FL 34109

I would like to VOLUNTEER my services/expertise and would be willing to chair or co-chair an activity on the

following topic or topics.

to

B

You will be glad that you did!

An affinity group of

Jewish Federation

OF GREATER NAPLES

EVENT PARTICIPATION WAIVER. By signing below, I accept the terms of this waiver.

As a participant in a WCA event,* I, acting for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns agree as

follows: That I waive all rights, claims and/or causes of action of any kind whatsoever that I or my heirs, executors, administrators,

successors and assigns may claim to have against either the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, and/or the Women’s Cultural

Alliance, their members, agents, servants, and/or employees, for any loss, injury, or damage sustained by me while participating

in a WCA event. This waiver and release shall be construed broadly under the Laws of the State of Florida.

Signature ________________________________________________Date ____________

*Note: Certain higher risk events such as athletic activities or trips require an enhanced waiver to be signed. Contact your activity’s director for more information.

2020-21

For more information contact Membership Director Harriett Kleinman at hmkleinman@gmail.com

Want to know more about the Women’s Cultural Alliance? Visit www.WCAnaples.org.

JEWISH FEDERATION


7

The Pomegranate Society:

Looking back . . . and looking ahead

By Susan Pittelman, Associate Chair, Pomegranate Society

Last September no one could have

ever anticipated that such a glorious

beginning to our New Year

would be ending in this unprecedented

season of uncertainty. In the last few

months, we have all had to navigate

challenges that we never imagined we

would be facing.

In spite of the obstacles we now

face, there continues to be a common

thread among the members of the Pomegranate

Society that has run throughout

this past year: building community, staying

connected and doing our part to help

make our world a better place.

Pomegranate Society Chair Betty

Schwartz and I are pleased to announce

that during the 2020 Annual Campaign,

the Pomegranate Society welcomed four

new “Poms,” bringing our membership

to 36. (What an appropriate number –

double chai!) We welcome the following

new members: Harriet Berneman from

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who is in

Naples part-time; Phyllis Garon from

Minnetonka, Minnesota, and is here

part-time; Diane Hahn, who now lives

in Naples full-time, but prior to that

lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and

my cousin, Susan E. Pittleman from

McLean, Virginia, who is in Naples

part-time.

This past year began with many

“Poms” participating in the Campaign

Kickoff in November, an exciting time

when we looked ahead at our goals

for this year and had an opportunity

to make a commitment to do our part

to help meet those goals. Among the

goals of the Pomegranate Society were:

to support our Federation through our

Campaign contributions, to strengthen

our connection to each other, and to

work together on a service project that

would benefit women in our community.

The “Seeds of Dignity” service

project, conceived and so ably chaired

by Felicia Anchor, was a huge success,

even though it ended abruptly due

to COVID-19. The project was created

to help ensure that

women get basic products

that they desperately

need but could not buy

with Food Stamps under

the current Supplemental

Nutrition Assistance Program

(SNAP). In tribute

to International Women’s Day and in

fulfilling the Purim mitzvot of Matanot

l’Evyonim (gifts to the poor), Pomegranate

Society members collected bags

and boxes, and even more bags (!) of

products. We had planned to fill 54 large

reusable tote bags with these goods for

distribution through the Food Panty at

the Naples Senior Center at JFCS. We

were to tour the Naples Senior Center

and meet with President/CEO Dr.

Jaclynn Faffer, fill the bags, celebrate

Purim (with hamentashen!) and be

inspired by Dr. Paula Brody’s insights

about “The Legacy of Queen Esther.”

In spite of having to hurriedly cancel

our gathering at the Senior Center, the

products we had collected (enough to

fill three SUVs!) were delivered to the

Center’s Food Pantry and distributed.

This unexpected change in plans was

certainly not going to stop this determined

group of women from making

an impact! We all took great pride in

knowing that we had met our goal of

helping women in our community.

As part of our effort to stay connected,

the members of the Pomegranate

Society and the Lions of Judah enjoyed

a beautiful brunch with noted author and

film critic Elizabeth Weitzman. Elizabeth

wrote Renegade Women, a tribute

to women who broke the glass ceiling

in the film and television industries – all

women who made a difference. Elizabeth

was so impressed with our community,

that upon her return

to New York, she made

a generous contribution

to the Women’s Division

for our 2020 Community

Campaign.

Even though we are

committed to “social distancing,”

we are striving to meet our

goal of ensuring that the members of

the Pomegranate Society stay connected.

Through emails, phone calls

and occasional Zoom gatherings, we

will continue to strengthen the feeling

of camaraderie among this very special

group of women.

As we begin to plan for the coming

year, we anticipate including “hands

on” opportunities to help Pomegranate

Society members get to know each other

better, as together we work toward a

common purpose and sense of accomplishment.

We hope that you will want

to be part of it!

Being a member of the Pomegranate

Society of the Jewish Federation

of Greater Naples is an affirmation of

a woman’s connection to our community

and to Jewish people everywhere.

Women who make a minimum gift of

$1,800 to the Annual Campaign in their

own name are encouraged to become a

member. We hope that you will consider

joining the members of the Pomegranate

Society in carrying on the Jewish

tradition of tzedakah in a personal and

meaningful way.

If you would like more information

about becoming a member of the

Pomegranate Society, please contact

Annual Campaign Director Julie Hartline

at 239.263.4205 or jhartline@

jewishnaples.org.

Please take care, keep safe and stay

healthy.

Correction: In an article appearing in the prior edition, it was incorrectly reported

that an unsigned flyer left on an automobile windshield in Naples accused

Jews of causing the Coronavirus pandemic. The flyer did not make that statement.

Like us on Facebook!

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with your Jewish Community

www.facebook.com/

JewishFederationofGreaterNaples

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It All Starts With You! Donate, volunteer, get involved: 239.263.4205 • jewishnaples.org


JEWISH FEDERATION

Federation responds to hunger crisis

By Joel Pittelman, Chair, Jewish Community Relations Council

When you are asked in the While established food pantries

world to come, “What was are doing their best to meet the needs,

your work?” and you answer,

“I fed the hungry,” you will be resources. As a result, other organiza-

these needs have outstripped the usual

told, “This is the gate of Adonai, enter tions have recruited volunteers who are

into it, you who have fed the hungry.” working long hours to collect, sort and

~ Midrash Psalms 118:17

deliver food while following the safety

As a result of the Coronavirus guidelines imposed by the pandemic.

pandemic, a severe food crisis has developed

in Collier County. This urgent Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federa-

The Jewish Community Relations

hunger problem is impacting the most tion of Greater Naples identified two

vulnerable within our community. organizations that are providing food

Worker illness, lack of access to food assistance to hundreds of low-income

markets, and an array of other reasons families –SWFL Showing Up for Racial

Justice (SURJ) and the Hunger and

are causing tremendous food insecurity

for many Collier County low-income Homeless Coalition of Collier County.

families.

These two organizations are providing

an invaluable service to the most vulnerable

people in our community, feeding

hundreds of people weekly with quality

food delivered in a safe manner. But

they are struggling for funds to meet the

increasing needs.

In Pirke Avot we read, “Hillel

said, do not separate yourself from the

community.” The Jewish Federation of

Greater Naples, recognizing its responsibility

to be part of the effort to meet the

needs of the Greater Naples community,

has made a meaningful grant to each

of these two organizations. While the

Federation recognizes that its donation

cannot meet all the needs of these two

organizations, our contribution will

relieve the hunger of several hundred

families for a month. We encourage

members of our Jewish community to

extend the impact of our support by

making tax-exempt individual contributions

to these two organizations: SWFL

SURJ Mutual Aid Project, https://

actionnetwork.org/fundraising/swflsurj-covid-19-mutual-aid-response,

and the Hunger and Homeless Coalition

of Collier County, collierhomeless

coalition.org. The JCRC is grateful

to the Federation and to our many

caring community members for their

support.

I

Officers

Chair

Jane Schiff

Vice-Chair

Karen Deutsch

Marc Saperstein

Phyllis Seaman

Secretary

Rosalee Bogo

Treasurer

Elliot Lerner

Immediate Past Chair

Alvin Becker

Board of Directors

Joshua Bialek

Harvey Cohen

Amanda Dorio

Paula Filler

Merlin Lickhalter

Robin Mintz

Les Nizin

William Petasnick

Stuart Price

Jamie Satz

Betty Schwartz

Arlene Sobol

Michael Sobol

Elaine Soffer

Steve Strome

Jay Weiss

Beth Wolff

Edward Wollman

Jeff Zalasky

Synagogue Representatives

Debra Antzis

Cantor Donna Azu

Rabbi Ammos Chorny

Shelley Goodman

Rabbi Mark Gross

Sue Hammerman

Rabbi Howard Herman

Steve McCloskey

Rabbi Adam Miller

Rabbi James Perman

Dr. Arthur Seigel

Rabbi Fishel Zaklos

President/CEO

Jeffrey D. Feld

June 5, 2020

Vincent A. Keeys

NAACP Collier County

P. O. Box 990727

Naples, FL 34116

Dear Mr. Keeys,

2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 2201

Naples, Florida 34109-0613

(239) 263-4205 • Fax: (239) 263-3813

The Naples Jewish community stands in solidarity with the Naples Chapter of the NAACP,

SURJ and all fair-minded people throughout the nation in abhorrence of the death of George

Floyd. We recognize the unequal use of police powers that has resulted in Mr. Floyd’s death

and the deaths of many other people of color. We stand with all oppressed minorities in

seeking equal treatment under the law.

The SURJ march on June 10 is a meaningful way to call attention to the urgency of a

situation that demands correction immediately. Some people may characterize a march as a

disruptive and divisive action. We disagree. We join the NAACP in feeling it is a necessary

exercise of our Constitutionally protected right of assembly to call attention to injustice and

to demand that it be addressed and corrected by all community leaders.

Your decision to call for this assembly is entirely appropriate but comes at an unfortunate

time for many in our community. Just as justice in this country does not always treat

everyone equally, so too, the corona virus threat is unequal in its effect on its victims. People

of color can easily see this. Many individuals in our community, due to our age and other

complicating health factors, view the pandemic as a heightened menace. Many of us will

be there with you, but while we all fully support your assembly and the equal justice you

demand, many of us cannot be with you in physical person.

By our signatures on this letter, we want you to know we stand with you. We stand with you

in heart, we stand with you in commitment, we stand with you in the righteousness of your

cause and the knowledge that we shall prevail.

Thank you for your efforts to make our country a better place.

Sincerely,

Members of the Greater Naples Jewish Community:

Jane Schiff

Board Chair, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples

Joel Pittelman

Chair, Jewish Community Relations Council

Jeffrey Feld

President/CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples

Additional signatories:

Cantor Donna Azu


Rabbi Ariel Boxman, Rabbi Educator


Rabbi Ammos Chorny

Beth Tikvah

Rabbi Mark Wm. Gross, D.D.

Jewish Congregation of Marco Island

Rabbi Howard S Herman DD

Naples Jewish Congregation

Rabbi Adam Miller


James H. Perman, D.D.

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Shalom of

Naples

Belle and Ron Agronin

Lea Bendes

JoAnne Burka

Suzanne Cherney

Bob Davidson

Susan Dean

Rene and Sam Geist

Kenneth Goldstein

Lenore Greenstein

Lee and Joe Henson

Carol and Burton Hirsch

Susan and Michael Horowitz

Harriet Kleinman

Ida and Jeff Margolis

Judi Palay

Irene Pomerantz

Beth and Irv Povlow

Mae Riefberg

Betty Schwartz

Linda and Marc Simon

Elaine Soffer

Shellie Specter

Jean Stanley

Joyce Toub

Michelle Levine-Troupp

Linda and Alex Wertheim

Jewish Community Relations Council

Members

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For a continuously updated community calendar, visit the Federation’s website at www.jewishnaples.org.

COMMUNITY FOCUS


9

In the Spotlight: Linda Hyde

By Karyn Conrath

A

few days before our “new abnormal”

began, I met with the

next woman in this series that

spotlights Women’s Cultural Alliance

members. I suggested we meet at the

charming and tranquil Naples Botanical

Garden.

I arrived a few minutes after Linda

Hyde and saw her sitting at a cafe table,

a refined woman, face turned upward

garnering the light from the setting sun.

It was a photographer’s moment: soft

violet and creamy white orchids framed

her contemplative face.

Active in various WCA venues,

Linda has enjoyed so much of what our

women’s organization has to offer. Currently

she is Program Director for WCA

South, a presenter for Women’s Global

Issues and a lifelong learner in Ellaine

Rosen’s lectures. She is also a longtime

member of the Contemporary Fiction

book group. One memory she holds

dear was as initiator and co-leader of the

Contemporary Issues group that grew to

over 100 before disbanding. However,

the Women in Transition group (which

began years ago through WCA but is no

longer a WCA-affiliated group) is what

started it all.

“These women are a dynamic

group. These are friends who do not

come and go,” Linda stated.

When she told the story of how she

met her husband Larry, I realized, once

again, that love at first sight surely does

exist. While Linda was checking out

an apartment building in Boston with a

potential new roommate, her soon-to-be

husband spotted her from the building’s

balcony. Bang! They married six months

later. That was 52 years ago.

Larry, who had his own law firm in

Boston, is now retired. They have two

sons, Bob (50), an ER physician at the

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota,

and Jim (48), who owns a manufacturing

company in New Hampshire. Linda

and Larry have five grandchildren. They

share time between their condo overlooking

Crescent Beach on Marco Island and

their home in Dover, Massachusetts.

As a new graduate of Boston University,

Linda was the lead teacher at a

Head Start preschool program in Cambridge,

Massachusetts, for three years.

While living in Dover, she

held many civic posts including

Board Chair of the

Dover Public Library for

11 years. Linda’s love of

gardening led her to yet

another leadership post as

President of the Chicatobot

Garden Club in Massachusetts.

She served as President

of the Dover League

of Women Voters, then as a

member of the State League

of Massachusetts. It was at that time,

in her role as a board member, that she

participated in the Administration of

Justice study that eventually led her to

the Massachusetts Anti-Crime Council.

So often a chain of events leads us to a

specific and unintended end, and it was

through that fortuitous step that Linda

found her calling.

Always an advocate for women,

Linda was asked to tour the Women’s

State Prison, Massachusetts Corrections

Institute (MCI, Framingham). She

learned that most of the female population

had been imprisoned for forgery,

prostitution and drug addiction. With

eyes wide open and with the opportunity

to make positive changes in the system,

Linda’s vision was to empower the

women through education.

Linda was hired as Program Director

of MCI’s State Prison for Women. In

this capacity, she initiated the “Women’s

Mentoring Program,” which successfully

integrated inmates back into the

Linda Hyde

community to become productive members

of society. Her program became a

blueprint for the State of Massachusetts.

“When I would first meet an inmate,

I’d tell her to look me in the eye and

give me a firm handshake. Then I’d

ask, ‘What do you want to be when you

grow up?’” Their answers helped Linda

structure a program that would change

the women’s lives.

Linda brought in professional

female leaders

from industry as mentors

to pair with each inmate.

Mentors went through

an extensive period of

training for many weeks

before meeting their mentees.

The mentor/mentee

relationships would continue

throughout the time

inmates were in prison

and for at least a year after their release.

For the inmates/mentees, Linda

arranged workshops such as parenting,

anger management, Alcoholics Anonymous,

women in the building trades

and basic life skills. Additionally, her

program provided assistance with journal

and resume writing, money management

as well as dressing for success in

the job market. (They even were taught

how to cover tattoos for job interviews!)

As anyone can see, Linda is a motivator.

An educator. A critical thinker. A

connoisseur of people. Her innate ability

to cut through to the core and practice

creative leadership is an important aspect

of who she is. Always in their corner, Linda

would tell the inmates emphatically,

“Never look back, always forward!”

But sometimes Linda does look

back. She remembers, with great pride

and humility, the impact she was able to

have on these women’s lives. The success

stories are impressive. Linda still

hears from some of them and has many

stories to tell about meeting graduates in

various capacities, women who are now

productive members of society. In fact,

she and Larry danced at the wedding of

one of the program’s graduates!

Currently, Linda is a member of the

Collier County League of Women Voters

and serves on the League’s Justice

Committee. Under that umbrella, she

chaired a two-year study: Young Girls

in Conflict with the Law.

What’s the secret of being Linda?

She relayed her “Golden Rule” to me:

“Everyone deserves dignity. Treat

people with respect.” Add that to her

inclusive leadership style and one can

see why this dynamic woman gravitated

toward public service administration.

Linda Hyde is a humble woman

with a quiet spirit underneath the exuberance

needed to be the force that she

is. People feel comfortable when she is

near. And Linda is a woman who does

not hold her accomplishments up for

glory. I hope you will discover for yourself

the depths of this generous soul.

* * *

Linda was nominated by a WCA

member to be featured in this series.

Luba Rotzstain and Alice Richter have

previously been “In the Spotlight.”

Please send your nomination of a WCA

member whom you think our community

should get to know to me, Karyn,

at startalk38@gmail.com.

Thank you to WCA Publicity Director

Susan Pittelman for her editorial

assistance.

WCA member Karyn Conrath is a

freelance writer and former magazine

managing editor. She is currently working

on a fictional series for young adults.

As a writer, she fancies herself a fly on

the wall to allow for an unobstructed

vantage point for people-watching!

Find out more about Karyn at www.

karynconrath.com.

HOMES FROM $200K TO OVER $4M

Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples • 239.263.4205


COMMUNITY FOCUS

Request for 2gs: We need you to tell your parent’s story

Ida

Margolis

GenShoah

Chair

Earlier this year a number of 2gs

(Second Generation, i.e. children

of Holocaust survivors)

met for an afternoon of “Our Stories,”

sharing stories about being a child of a

Holocaust survivor. “Our Stories” was

suggested a number of years ago by

Rene Geist and Shirley Besikof, and has

been graciously hosted for a number of

years by Rene. Each of the stories were

so unique, yet everyone there could

relate to something that was said. I

received so much positive feedback

about this program and was asked to

not only make sure that another storysharing

program would be held next

season, but to find a way to record these

stories so they could also be preserved

and shared more widely.

After speaking with a number of

2gs throughout the U.S. and Canada,

and with Susan Suarez, President/CEO

of The Holocaust Museum & Cohen

Education Center, all confirmed the

importance of preserving these stories.

Many related the numerous ways that

survivor stories are being preserved,

including interviews, videos, personal

memoirs, books of collected stories and

even holograms. Many survivor stories,

however, have not been recorded, and

with so many survivors having passed

away, who will be telling their stories?

The Cohen Center for Holocaust

and Genocide Studies at Keene State

College in Keene, New Hampshire,

has emphasized the theme of “next

generation responsibilities… receiving

a legacy from those who go before us

and passing on what we have learned

and experienced to those that follow.”

After seeing the gas chambers during

a trip to Birkenau that had been

organized by Keene State College, those

who were visiting were told that they

had the responsibility to “bear witness.”

Sandy Lessig from Holocaust

Museum Houston, wrote that “As Survivors

die, the memory and impact of

what happened to the Jews during the

rise of Nazism and the ensuing war and

Holocaust becomes more distant and

less real to generations of people, particularly

young people. My role as the

daughter of a Survivor and educator of

this most Jewish of experiences has been

to search for the most meaningful way

to teach the lessons of what apathy and

hatred can do.” Sandy has been a docent

at the museum for over 25 years, and

she developed “Through Their Eyes,” a

program for 2gs to effectively tell their

parent’s story. “Through Their Eyes” is

one of many formats that can be used

effectively with students.

We would like to have local 2gs

meet in person to discuss telling their

parent’s story to students. Hopefully this

can happen in the not too distant future.

But in the interim, GenShoah would like

to create a book of stories of survivors

as told by their children, 2gs who live

or spend time in Southwest Florida. I

have sent a letter to 2gs with whom I

am familiar, asking them to email me

their parent’s stories – stories of about

500 words and including a personal

highlight and a photograph if possible.

The stories I have received are moving,

inspirational and so important to preserve.

If you are a 2g, please email your

parent’s story to me to be included in the

book of parent survivors of local 2gs.

The book will remain at the Holocaust

Museum, and we will discuss how we

would like to reproduce copies (printed

or digital) that can be distributed to each

of the 2gs contributing stories.

If you would like to see sample stories

or if you have any questions, please

email me at genshoahswfl@gmail.com

ASAP, and also add if you are interested

in telling your parent’s story to students.

GenShoah SWFL is in the process

of planning programs for the upcoming

season. We will be staying in touch with

updates as soon as we have information.

“Movies That Matter” will be proceeding

with its human rights films, although

in a different format. See page 5 for

dates and descriptions of the films for

this third season of “films that make a

difference.”

Center for Holocaust

and Genocide Research

Dedicated to educating all sectors of society about

Jewish civilization, the Holocaust, and genocide through:

• scholarship

• outreach

• inquiry

• sharing knowledge

• preserving the record

• helping teachers

• encouraging students

Visit www.fgcu.edu/hc/

Dr. Paul Bartrop, Director

Tributes

To:

Tributes to the Jewish

Federation Campaign

To:

From:

To:

From:

To:

From:

Rosalee Bogo

In memory of Dr. Leon Aronson

Goldie & Lou Bertone

Susan Bookbinder

Karen & Stan Deutsch

Eloyse & David Fisher

Rosalind & Morris Herstein

Linda & Larry Hyde

Merrylee Kandel

Nancy Kaplan

Lin & Ron Klein

Deborah Kohler

Delores & Corky Levin

Bobbie & Bernie Lublin

Phyllis & Stanley Magrill

Susan & Joel Pittelman

Bunny Revere

Susan & Nathaniel Ritter

Joan & Marc Saperstein

Jamie & Stephen Satz

Jane Schiff

Pris & Robert Siskin

Gail & Mel Ufberg

Beth & Brian Wolff

Betsy Seligman

In memory of Robert Gorin

Rooter & Jeffrey Davis

Avra Schwab

In memory of Ed Schwab

Nancy & Henry Greenberg

Nancy Kaplan

From:

To:

From:

To:

From:

To:

From:

To:

From:

To:

From:

Judy Sommerfeld

In memory of Robert Sommerfeld

Robert Abels

Lea & Michael Bendes

Paula & Michael Blachman

Gayle & Marty Dorio

Sharon & Larry Fretzin


Harriet Israel

Nancy Kahn

Nancy Kaplan

Natalie & Jerry Lewis

Jane Schiff

Susan Shane

Marcy & Jerry Sobelman

Phyllis & Steve Strome

Debbie Kohler

In honor of your birthday

Peni & Steve Gensler

Barbara & Howard Glicken

In memory of Monte Glicken

Jane Schiff

Sidney Freund

In memory of Fanny Freund

Diane & Jeff Shein

Monica & Alan Goodwin

In memory of Mitza Eleini

Elaine & Joe Paster

Karen Orkin-Altfest

In memory of Dorthy Orkin

Arlene & Mel Feder

Tributes require a minimum donation of $18.

To:

From:

To:

From:

To:

From:

To:

From:

To:

From:

To:

From:

To:

From:

Phyllis Seaman

In memory of Michael Seaman

Gail & Russel Smith

Elisabeth & David Spellberg

Stacy Sokol

In memory of Mike Sokol

Wilma & Sid Rosen

Susan Bookbinder

In memory of Art Bookbinder

Linda & Larry Hyde

Marilyn & Alan Robbins

In memory of Evelyn Altman

Nancy Kahn

Jane Schiff

In memory of Lon Gratz

Merrylee Kandel

Gail & Russel Smith

Dee Dee Harris



Steve Strome



To place a Tribute in the Federation Star in honor or memory of someone,

please contact Nathan Ricklefs at the Federation office at 239.263.4205 or

nricklefs@jewishnaples.org. Tributes require a minimum donation of $18.

A note will be sent to the person you are honoring. Tributes help further

the work of the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.


COMMUNITY FOCUS


11

HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & COHEN EDUCATION CENTER www.HMCEC.org / 239-263-9200

Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center update

Susan

Suarez

President

& CEO

We hope you and your families

are safe and well. Thank you

to all those who continue to

protect us during this crisis and to the essential

businesses that have stayed open.

One of the most important ways to

combat racism and hatred is education.

Our mission is to teach the lessons of

the Holocaust to inspire action against

bigotry, hatred and violence. During the

COVID-19 crisis, we saw countless acts

of kindness, which continue to inspire

us. But, in late May, we witnessed

the exact opposite

behavior exhibited

by four Minneapolis

police officers.

Their action – and

non-action – resulted

in the murder of a man who wasn’t

resisting arrest. As one police officer

knelt on George Floyd’s neck for nearly

nine minutes, three of his colleagues

stood by and did nothing. Despite hearing

his pleas that he couldn’t breathe,

not one intervened to help Mr. Floyd.

Their bigoted thinking and indifference

directly caused his death.

The senseless murders of George

Floyd and others have prompted nationwide

protests. A wide diversity of

people participated, acknowledging

the consequences of treating others

with bigotry, hatred and indifference,

and prompting a long overdue national

conversation on racism.

Since our founding, the Museum’s

Education programs have engaged

Southwest Florida students in the important

conversations about the need for

empathy and the dangers of indifference

to injustice. We teach students about

their power to bring positive change

to themselves, their families and communities.

Our Educators show students

what happened during the Holocaust

as a result of unchallenged hate. This

May in their homes, students saw for

themselves the modern equivalent of

one of the lessons of the Holocaust –

George Floyd died because none of the

other officers stepped up to help him as

a bigoted man made him gasp for air and

lapse into unconsciousness.

In the words of Elie Wiesel: “We

must take sides. Neutrality helps the

oppressor, never the victim. Silence

encourages the tormentor, never the

tormented. Sometimes we must interfere.

When human lives are endangered,

when human dignity is in jeopardy, national

borders and sensitivities become

irrelevant. Wherever men and women

are persecuted because of their race,

religion or political views, that place

must – at that moment – become the

center of the universe.”

I thank you for your continuing

support of our mission and Education

programs, especially while we were

closed for COVID-19. We were able

to transition our Holocaust Education

programs online and serve as a resource

for teachers and

parents when schools

closed. Our recently

completed Matching

Gift Challenge raised

funds to enable local

teachers to participate in a summer

study trip to Holocaust sites in Europe.

Many thanks to Museum board

members Janet G. Cohen, Maureen

Lerner and Rob Nossen for creating this

Challenge Fund, and to all who made

a donation. The inaugural trip, jointly

funded by the Museum and GenShoah

of SWFL, has been rescheduled for

Summer 2021.

We recently re-opened after Governor

DeSantis relaxed the restrictions

on Museums, nearly three months after

closing due to the spreading pandemic.

The safety of our guests, volunteers

and staff is of utmost importance, so

we have implemented new policies and

procedures which comply with CDC

and Florida Department of Health regulations.

Admission procedures and tours

have been restructured as a result. Please

visit www.HMCEC.org to learn more,

including the important information

concerning our new online advance purchase,

timed-entry admission procedure,

as tickets will no longer be sold at the

Museum. You will also find information

on pre-visit preparations and other

safety measures you need to be aware

of before your next visit.

There is a new exhibit in the Estelle

and Stuart Price Gallery. “Through

Their Eyes: The Liberation of Concentration

Camps,” commemorates the 75 th

anniversary of Liberation, highlighting

the experiences of local SWFL residents

who participated in Liberation. The

artifacts, documents and original photographs

shown were donated or loaned

to the Museum by Liberators, Holocaust

Survivors, their families and others.

This Fall’s “Movies That Matter”

series will have a new format. You’ll

receive a link to view the films, and register

to participate in a Zoom presentation

featuring an expert panel discussion

and audience Q&A. The dates/films are

October 14: Sustainable Nation (about

clean water); October 21: Bedlam (about

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GRANT RECIPIENT

mental health); October 28: Amy’s Story

(about domestic violence).

Please also mark your calendars

for The Luncheon event on Thursday,

December 10. We are working on an

alternate method of holding this event,

and more information will be coming

soon.

For more information or if you

have questions about our new procedures,

email info@HMCEC.org or call

239.263.9200. We look forward to seeing

you at the Museum.

WELCOME BACK!

WE HAVE NOW RE-OPENED!

&

Cohen Education Center

Heading North?

If you’re heading north at the end of

the season, we’ll miss you! So let’s stay

in touch. Please help us update our files

by providing us with your northern

address.

Please choose one of the following methods

to provide us with the information below:

• call us at 239.263.4205

• email your information to info@jewishnaples.org

• complete this form and fax it to 239.263.3813

• complete and mail this form to:


2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Ste. 2201, Naples, FL 34109

Thank you!

Name: ____________________________________________________

Northern Address: _________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Northern Phone: __________________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________________

Leaving SW Florida: _______________________________________

Returning to SW Florida: ____________________________________

We hope you and your

families are safe and well.

The Museum is ready to

welcome you back!

Please visit our website or

call for information on:

• Pre-purchase of

timed - entry tickets

• New Museum hours

• New visiting procedures

HMCEC.org • 239-263-9200

975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd.,

Suite 108, Naples, FL 34110

Voted

2019

“Best

Museum-

Collier

County”

Sign up for the Federation’s weekly eNewsletter. Email info@jewishnaples.org.


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offer MCA members the chance to study,

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Men to Play with!

Bocce, pickleball, kayak and biking groups offer

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Arlene Stolnitz

JEWISH INTEREST

The Sarajevo Haggadah:

Music of the Book

By Arlene Stolnitz

Geraldine Brooks’ People of the

Book was the inspiration for a

creative musical work entitled

“The Sarajevo Haggadah: Music of the

Book.” Created by Bosnian composer

and accordion player Merima Kljuco,

the work uses accordion, piano and

video to trace the unique travels of the

Haggadah from

medieval Spain to

20 th century Bosnia.

Hidden and

rescued during

World War II, the

Haggadah was

later restored by

the National Museum

in Sarajevo.

Commissioned

by The Foundation for Jewish Culture,

the music reflects the turmoil of the

times. For Kljuco it’s not about the violence,

it’s about the power of culture in

the face of violence. The music reflects

the turmoil of those times. But for

Kljuclo, the story is not so much about

the violence that threatened

the Haggadah and the Jews

through the centuries. It’s

about people helping one

another, and the power of

culture in the face of violence.

“It’s interesting that

such a story surprises us,”

she says, “when it should

be completely normal.”

As writer of this column,

much of what I write

about comes to me in very

strange and unexpected ways. The result

is that often I come upon musical

stories that few people know of. Such

is the case of this musical composition.

Since I am an inveterate reader, an

article from the online Forward caught

my attention recently. The article invited

interested viewers to join the Forward

Book Club on Zoom. The book

to be discussed was People of the Book

by Geraldine Brooks. I had already

read the book but was willing to participate.

It has been an amazing experience

with readers participating from all

over the United States! One of the most

interesting discussions involved a museum

curator who had worked on the

Haggadah itself, which was an early illuminated

Haggadah from 14 th century

Spain.

However, in doing some research,

as I generally do when working on a

new topic, I came upon the musical

connection that I write of in this article.

Merima Kljuco was studying music

in Sarajevo when the war in Bosnia

broke out. She fled Bosnia in 1993. A

few years later a friend gave her a copy

of People of the Book. After reading it,

she started thinking of how she could

make a musical story, telling how the

Haggadah ended up in Sarajevo. She

brought her project to fruition with a

multimedia composition for piano and

accordion that includes images from

the Sarajevo Haggadah. Many of the

scenes, illuminated in copper and gold,

depict biblical stories from Creation to

the death of Moses.

So just who is Merima Kljuco?

Checking her out, I discovered that she

is a classically trained accordionist specializing

in contemporary music that

draws from many traditions including

Balkan, Sephardic and Klezmer. She

was born in Yugoslavia in 1973, and

fled to the Netherlands as a refugee of

the Bosnian War where she currently is

listed as a Bosnian-Dutch resident. At

present she also resides in Los Angeles.

She speaks of the Sarajevo Haggadah

as “a symbol that inspires respect

and tolerance of different cultures and

traditions.” She remembers a time

growing up in Sarajevo in a culture that

felt a bond with Jewish, Christian and

Muslim communities. In many ways

The Sarajevo Haggadah

the Haggadah reminds her of her own

life and the Exodus she experienced.

All of this led her to this 12-movement

composition starting with God’s

creation of the world in an accordion

sequence that mimics the sound of

breath.

At our final book club session on

People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks

was the guest speaker. During the

question-and-answer session, I offered

the information I had recently discovered.

She responded by saying that in

its Boston area debut in 2014, she had

contributed an introduction and participated

in a post-performance discussion.

She commented on the beauty

of the musical piece, which was very

gratifying to me. You can find it on

YouTube. Enjoy!

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.

Serving the

Jewish community

since 1996

Breakfasts, lunches, happy hours and dinners

give you the opportunity to shmooze with other

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Go to

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Read current and previous issues of the Federation Star online at www.jewishnaples.org.

JEWISH INTEREST


13

Lawn Care: Keep Control No Matter The Weather

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As humans, we love our lawns here in Southwest

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ability with lawn to enjoy care our and patios maintenance during the and summer. the

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we But also as tend much to as take we love them our for lawns granted. and How yards,

often we also do you tend think to take about them the for environmental

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impact often and do you the think technological about the evolution environmental of

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lawns?

Not only do lawns turn an ordinary plot of dirt

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JEWISH INTEREST

Today’s Jewish diaspora communities

at once threatened and resilient

Book review by Philip K. Jason, Special to the Federation Star

Exile: Portraits of the Jewish

Diaspora, by Annika Hernroth-

Rothstein. Edited by Tiffany Gabbay.

Bombardier Books. 208 pages.

Hardcover $27.00.

Sometimes a relatively compact

book has a lot to offer. It’s so

unusual to find a book whose

author has a fascinating and necessary

idea about Jewish culture, digs into the

topic and comes up with a result that

is dazzling in its factual base, its interpretation

of gathered evidence and its

engaging voice.

Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, a

Jewish journalist

from Sweden,

set herself a chal-

Phil Jason

lenging mission

and the results

are illuminating.

The stories she

tells are at once

consoling and a

bit frightening as

well. Where is the

Jewish diaspora today? It’s in places

you might not expect.

Come with Annika on her magical

mystery tour – a tour that took two

years.

After an introduction in which she

describes the sources of motivation for

her project, the author launches her diaspora

guide with a study and reminisce

about the Djerba community. Djerba,

an island in Tunisia, is a good starting

point. She introduces us to guides and

community leaders who shape her introduction

to this unfamiliar place. She

learns about the town of Hara Kbira,

almost exclusively Jewish. It has 12

synagogues. As in other Jewish cen-

ters within Muslim countries, these

people operate discretely and without

calling attention to themselves. The

town has a full range of Jewish institutions

and outlets. They have struggled

against persecution and assimilation,

and found a way to survive and flourish.

The island is home to 1,500 Jews

whose commitment assures, to the extent

possible, a future sprung from an

impenetrable core. These people know

that they must “plant their feet firmly

in the past.”

Modern day Uzbekistan is a place

where people have lived since the “Old

Stone Age.” Annika outlines its remarkable

history through the shifting

of empires. She reminds us that Uzbeks

fought in the Red Army against

Nazi Germany and “500,000 of the soldiers

were Jewish.” This nation gained

independence in 1991. A humorous

scene involves what Annika calls an

“Uzbek Orthodox

flirtation.” She describes

the conflict

between the Ashkenazi

and Bukharian

Sephardi communities.

Throughout its

history, the Jewish

Uzbeks have fought

against assimilation,

and the community

has often “teetered

on the brink of extinction.”

Accusations

of dual loyalties posed serious

problems. Through all of these, Uzbekistan’s

Jews have survived. The

community continues to maintain its

strong presence in “a peaceful, multireligious

melting pot.” These Jewish

citizens are at once “equal,” and yet not

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Annika Hernroth-Rothstein

“truly free” under the USSR

shadow that still darkens today’s

Russia.

A favorite chapter for

many readers is likely to be

the one on Morocco. Arriving

in fabled Marrakesh

the day before Passover,

Annika enjoys the synagogue

service at Lazama

Synagogue, built in 1492 “and now

housed inside of a sixteenth century

Riad Mellah (ghetto).” She toys with

the commonplace, that in Morocco the

lives of Muslims and Jews have been

intertwined, but she also notes that this

is true only in certain restricted areas.

Annika moves gracefully from the old,

historic places of Jewish community

to the more modern ones, noting that

Jews had served in important diplomatic

positions. Jewish life in Morocco

can seem and, perhaps, be one of

subservience to the Muslim

community. It is a life adaptation

that is not uncommon

in the diaspora.

She reminds us that tens

of thousands of Jews arrived

in Israel between 1948 and

1956, shrinking Morocco’s

Jewish community.

Can you imagine that

such a book would contain a

healthy section on Siberia?

Well it does.

Annika relates the fact

that, perhaps not ironically, Siberia

means “The End” in the regional dialect

of Ostyak. Siberia is immense. But

for many Jewish immigrants it offered

a new beginning. It is a place rich in

natural resources that demand a labor

force to take advantage of them. Millions

of people have benefited from

the Trans-Siberian Railway, including

those who helped build this marvel.

Annika finds the towns she visits

somehow familiar. It’s like a homecoming

to this Jew of partial Russian

ancestry. It is no surprise to find

a Chabad-Lubavitch presence whose

leaders are the “headT–

and heart” of the Irkutsk

Jewish commu-

G

nity, which is home to

at least 5,000 Jews. The

synagogue is jammed,

assimilation seems under

control, and Jewish

institutions – educational

and otherwise – are active.

Strangely, Putin is an

ally of Russian Jews, who are deeply

a

patriotic and also open about their Zionism.

t

t

This is only one of the many chapters

filled with surprises.

t

Aside from the four chapters

w

skimmed to give a taste of this valuable

study, there are additional chap-

t

2

ters detailing the past and present

communities of Jews in the following

places: Cuba, Iran, Finland, Sweden,

Palermo, Turkey and Venezuela. Annika’s

adventurous nature, her passion

for Jewish culture and history, and her

openness regarding her personal experiences

exploring these varied communities

is a treasure and a joy.

About the author

Annika Hernroth-Rothstein is a former

political advisor for the conservative

coalition of Sweden, and now a fulltime

journalist and author. She contributes

to such publications as The Wall

Street Journal, Israel Hayom, National

Review, The Washington Examiner and

The Jerusalem Post. When she is not

writing, she travels the world and is a

sought-after public speaker on issues

of religious freedom, European politics

and the Middle East. For even more

about the author, go to annikahernroth.

com.

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


15

he Madagascar Plan: Waiting room for the Final Solution

y Paul R. Bartrop, PhD

he Madagascar Plan was an

outlandish notion which in July

1940 – 80 years ago this month

nevertheless was taken seriously by

ermany’s Nazi regime as a possible

way to rid Europe

of its Jews. The idea

was to expel Europe’s

Jews to the

large French colonial

island of Madagascar,

off the coast

Dr. Paul Bartrop

of Africa. As a plan,

it resonates today as

nother stepping stone on the way to

he “Final Solution” – the exterminaion

of Europe’s Jews.

Expelling the Jews from Europe

o Madagascar was not a new idea. It

as proposed as early as 1885 and coninued

to be discussed during the early

0 th century, though the island was

ardly a wholesome location in which

o send millions of Jews. Situated in the

ndian Ocean about 250 miles from the

oast of southeast Africa, it is subject

o a six-month rainy season, oppressive

eat and cyclones.

The issue had previously been conidered

briefly by the Nazi leadership.

ndeed, senior SS officer Reinhard

eydrich, for instance, ordered and

eceived a report from his Jewish afairs

expert, Adolf Eichmann, as early

s December 1938. The idea of sending

urope’s Jews to Madagascar, howevr,

only became a serious policy proosal

after Franz Rademacher, the head

f the Jewish Department of the Geran

Foreign Office, wrote a memoranum

on July 3, 1940, suggesting this

s a solution to the “Jewish Question.”

An avowed anti-Semite, Rademcher

sought to elevate the role of the

oreign Office in Jewish affairs, paricularly

in finding a way to remove the

ews from Germany. It was against this

ackground that he suggested that all

ews falling into the German sphere –

hich, given the conquest of Poland a

ew months earlier, had increased coniderably

– be expelled and deported to

adagascar.

Throughout the spring and summer

f 1940, Rademacher worked hard to

evelop his Plan, along the way alienting

himself from Eichmann, who was

ttempting to take control of the projct

himself.

The idea spread so quickly within

he Nazi leadership that it was not long

efore Hitler made mention of it, and

einhard Heydrich successfully argued

that it fell within his remit.

The Madagascar Plan envisioned

that the island be transferred from

France to Germany as a Mandated territory.

It would become the site of a

colony of Jews under the administration

of a German Police Governor, in

which the Jews would create their own

administration, including mayors, police

and so on. They would also be responsible

for the economic welfare of

the island. Tapping into longstanding

anti-Semitic views regarding Jewish

wealth, the Plan called for the Jews’

“former European financial assets”

to be transferred to a European bank

that would be specially established for

the Madagascar project. This way, the

Jews would pay Germany for the value

of the land, funded by the sale of their

property in Europe.

In addition, given that Madagascar

would be a Mandated territory, Jews

deported there would not be permitted

to acquire German citizenship, while

at the same time losing the citizenship

of the European countries from which

they had been deported. Their new

status would be as “residents of the

Mandate of Madagascar,” as “our German

sense of responsibility toward the

world forbids us to make the gift of a

sovereign state” to the Jews.

Another element of Rademacher’s

proposal would see that the creation of

a colony in Madagascar would prevent

the possible establishment of a Jewish

state in Palestine, thereby negating

“the opportunity for them to exploit for

their own purposes the symbolic importance

which Jerusalem has for the

Christian and Mohammedan parts of

the world.”

Finally, the conduct of the Jews in

Madagascar would act “as a pledge for

the future good behavior of the members

of their race in America.” The

Plan considered that it would also be

good propaganda, showing “the generosity

shown by Germany in permitting

cultural, economic, administrative and

legal self-administration to the Jews.”

Adolf Eichmann eventually took

over the project, drafting his own plan

for Madagascar on August 15, 1940,

in which he proposed that one million

Jews would be deported to Madagascar

annually over the next four years.

The feasibility of the Madagascar

Plan rested on the outcome of two

military events. The first had already

been achieved when France surrendered

to Germany on June 22, enabling

Madagascar to be transferred to German

control. The second event was the

Battle of Britain between July and October

1940, in which the Germans held

that victory over the Royal Air Force

would be the first step toward the invasion

and surrender of Britain. The outcome

of the battle was relevant to the

Madagascar Plan, as a German victory

would remove Britain’s Royal Navy as

a factor inhibiting the transport of Jews

to Madagascar and would provide the

ships needed to carry out such a massive

operation.

Germany’s loss in the Battle of

Britain brought an abrupt end to the

Madagascar Plan. That it had been

considered very seriously by Nazi

leaders, including Hitler, Heydrich and

Eichmann, provides an insight into

Germany’s thinking in 1940 regarding

Europe’s Jews.

Although it was clear to all that the

Madagascar Plan – had it gone forward

– would have resulted in the death of

hundreds of thousands of Jews trying

to survive in a police state in a difficult

climate, it was also clear that the decision

to exterminate every Jewish man,

woman and child in Europe had not,

in July 1940, yet been made. Nonetheless,

a specific mindset was in train

that would see the start of its realization

within the next 12 months.

Dr. Paul Bartrop is Professor of History

and the Director of the Center for

Holocaust and Genocide Research at

Florida Gulf Coast University. He can

be reached at pbartrop@fgcu.edu.

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Stars of David

By Nate Bloom, Contributing Columnist

Diggs is Everywhere Now

Recent events have led the Jewish media

to report on the fairly large and

growing number of American Jews “of

color.” A 2019 report by Stanford and

the Univ. of San Francisco estimated

12-15% of American Jews are persons

of color. Most are children of intermarriage,

but a considerable number are

converts to Judaism. This past year,

two famous Jews “of color” have been

very prominent. The first is comedian/

actress TIFFANY HADDISH, 40,

who discovered as an adult that her

(now late) father was an Eritrean Jew.

She embraced her father’s faith and

had a “real” bat mitzvah (reading from

the Torah, etc.) last December.

The other is DAVEED DIGGS,

38. He is the son of an African-American

father and a (white) Jewish mother.

He was raised, for lack of a better term,

“Jewish Light.” As I reported in my

last column, he has a leading voice role

in Central Park, an Apple TV+ animated

series (started in May), and he

co-stars in the big-budget TNT thriller

series Snowpiercer, which also began

in May and concludes on July 19. Also,

this coming August, Diggs has an important

role in The Good Lord Bird, a

major Showtime mini-series about the

lead-up to the Civil War.

Diggs won a Tony for his performance

as the Marquis de Lafayette

and Thomas Jefferson in the megahit

Broadway musical Hamilton. The

film version of Hamilton (co-starring

Diggs) will premiere on the Disney

Plus channel on Friday, July 3. Three

stage productions of Hamilton were

filmed, and the “best parts” were combined

to make the film. THOMAS

KAIL, 42, who directed the stage version,

also directed the film.

Of course, Lin-Manuel Miranda,

40, stars in the title role and he wrote

the musical. Many articles have noted

that he really loves everything Jewish.

Check out, or revisit, the “Lin Miranda

wedding video” on YouTube. Called

the best wedding video ever, it features

an amazing (spoiler!) version of “To

Life” from Fiddler on the Roof. I am

enraptured and just plain happy every

time I see it. Those are feelings we all

need now.

Broadcast and Streaming Options

Lenox Hill is a Netflix documentary series

about the famous Manhattan hospital

(released June 9 to great reviews).

Filmed before the pandemic, the series

JEWISH INTEREST

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.

follows four physicians as they balance

their personal lives with their professional

careers. One is DR. DAVID

LANGER, 50ish, the hospital’s head

of neurosurgery. Dr. Langer has often

appeared as a medical expert on shows

like Good Morning America. Sadly,

just a couple of months ago, Lenox Hill

was a “ground zero” hospital in New

York City’s battle to stem our modern

plague.

The HBO documentary I’ll Be Gone

in the Dark premiered on June 28. It is

based on the bestselling book of the

same name written by Michelle Mc-

Namara (1970-2016) and it chronicles

her hunt for the “Golden State Killer”

(a suspect was arrested in April 2018).

The director is Emmy winner and Oscar

nominee LIZ GARBUS, 50.

The new Peacock network premieres

“for everybody” on Wednesday,

July 15. “Everybody” comes with

qualifiers. Certain cable company

customers are already getting it with

their subscription. “Everybody” can

see some of the shows if they have an

internet connection. If you pay $5 per

month, you can see them all.

Peacock series starting on July

15 include The Capture, Brave New

World and Intelligence. Capture is a

six-episode British series that aired in

the U.K. last fall and got great reviews.

It focuses on a British veteran of the

Afghan War who is the suspect in a

horrible domestic crime. RON PERL-

MAN, 70, has a supporting role.

Brave New World stars ALDEN

EHRENREICH, 30. It’s based on the

famous 1932 dystopian novel by Aldous

Huxley. Ehrenreich was discovered

by STEVEN SPIELBERG, 73,

who chanced to see him in a funny bat

mitzvah video. He is talented, but he’s

had the misfortune to star in three bigbudget

films that flopped (Beautiful

Creatures, Rules Don’t Apply and Han

Solo: A Star Wars Story).You can see

him at his best, I think, in Hail, Caesar,

a COEN brothers film that did fine.

Finally, there’s Intelligence, a sixepisode

British sitcom set in the U.K.

DAVID SCHWIMMER, 53, co-stars

as Jerry Bernstein, a National Security

Agency agent who is a liaison to a British

cybercrimes unit. The first season

aired in Britain last February and a second

season has been ordered. Schwimmer’s

ex-wife, ZOE BUCKMAN, 35,

is a Brit and they have a 9-year-old

daughter.

Are you a child of a Holocaust survivor?

Do you know anyone who is a child of a survivor?

GenShoah SWFL wants to connect with you.

Please email genshoahswfl@gmail.com.

Interested in Your

Family’s History?

Nate Bloom (see column above) 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.

A

W

“

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JEWISH INTEREST


17

Aging Jewishly – What our traditions teach us about growing old

When the economy goes south, should we help the kids?

By Rabbi Barbara Aiello

Let’s turn off the computer

“

and go to bed.” Mel pushed

the power button, shook his

head and turned to his wife Liddy.

Mel’s worry was obvious. “I don’t like

what I hear when I talk to the grandkids.

Tyler’s new business is suffering

and Paula’s

hair salon is on

the brink.” Liddy

agreed. “The

kids work hard

but the economy

is for nothing.

They didn’t ask

for money, but

should we offer

to help?”

No one anticipated the profound

Rabbi Barbara Aiello

effect that the Coronavirus health crisis

would have had on friends and family,

and few predicted the economic

devastation that would follow. Nationwide

lockdowns, stay-at-home laws,

and businesses that when they finally

opened, were forced by social distancing

requirements to serve fewer

customers – all these had dire effects.

Savings that took years to accumulate

dried up in weeks. Small businesses

like those operated by Mel and Liddy’s

grandchildren took especially hard hits.

Liddy switched off the bedside

light. “Let’s think about it, Mel. Maybe

we should help the kids out. Give them

some of our savings.” Mel wasn’t so

sure. “They haven’t asked and I don’t

want to embarrass them. Let’s sleep

on,” Mel sighed.

Several days later, after Mel and

Liddy spoke with close friends about

their grandchildren’s financial dilemma,

Mel had an “Aha” moment.

“We’ve consulted our friends. Now

let’s see what the Torah has to say.”

Mel and Liddy turned to their Jewish

traditions, written thousands of

years ago, to see if there were guidelines

that could apply to their modernday

difficulty. Their first stop was the

Psalms, where we read, “It is a blessing

to be able to earn our own way in the

world and thereby enjoy the fruits of

our own labor, You shall eat the fruit of

your effort – you shall be happy and it

shall be well with you.” (128)

Mel and Liddy worked hard all

their lives. Indeed, they had enjoyed

the fruits of their efforts. They had

money in the bank. They could help

their grandchildren, but should they?

Turning to the Torah, Mel found additional

guidance. “Look here, Liddy.

What do you think of this? The Torah

tells us that it is a positive commandment

to give charity and “Open your

hand generously and extend to [your

needy brother] any credit he needs to

take care of his wants.” (Deut. 15:8)

Thanks to an explanation by Rabbi

Aryeh Kaplan (The Handbook of Jewish

Thought; Vol. 2), Mel and Liddy

examined the Jewish approach to charitable

giving. Rabbi Kaplan writes, “A

fifth of one’s income is considered a

generous contribution to charity, and

should not be exceeded. It is forbidden

to impoverish oneself by distributing

all of one’s wealth to charity, and

one who does so is counted among the

foolishly pious…”

“If we give the grandkids money,

sounds to me like we shouldn’t go overboard,”

Liddy said. Mel agreed but he

still wasn’t sure how to approach the

grandkids in what was their time of need.

According to Rabbi David Teutsch

(Reconstructing Judaism), that’s where

covenanted caring – the Jewish concept

of Hesed – comes in. The rabbi

explains that “Lovingkindness (Hesed)

in action is the caring we bring to

members of our communities and our

families. They deserve caring action

when they need it simply because we

share the bonds of interpersonal connection.

Caring for each other is part of

what makes us fully human.”

Mel and Liddy agreed that Jewish

tradition supports the idea of offering

financial help to children or grandchildren,

but just how to do it? What approach

should they take?

Enter Christina Baltz, financial advisor

who was quoted in a recent New

York Times article, “Thinking about

Giving Money to Your Adult Children?

Think Again,” who tackles the questions

of when and how much money

should be given to adult children, especially

if they are able-bodied and

well-educated. How long should any

financial help last? And should it be a

gift, loan or advance on an inheritance?

Susan Covell Alpert, author of

Later Is Too Late: Hard Conversations

That Can’t Wait, offers answers when

she recommends that, “Giving a child

money for certain milestones, like college

graduation, marriage or the birth

of children, may seem like a good idea

on paper. But it can stoke feelings of

anger and resentment in children who

don’t marry or can’t have children.”

This got Mel and Liddy thinking.

Two of their five grandchildren were

suffering economically during the Coronavirus

crisis. The other three worked

in professions that were untouched by

the current economic downturn (news

broadcaster, NASA engineer and sanitation

supervisor). Should they give to

two and not the other three?

Thanks to author Alpert who recommends

“…that parents be open and

fair when giving money to adult children

(or grandchildren). If money is

given to one child, the other children

should be informed and promised similar

monetary gifts either now or at the

time of inheritance.”

Mel and Liddy knew what to do.

Tyler and Paula, the grandchildren in

need, were offered a monetary gift for

which they were grateful. The other

three grandchildren were pleased with

their grandparents’ promise to do the

same for them come inheritance time.

The work of an esteemed rabbinic

sage and halachic expert, Rabbi Joseph

Caro, is summarized by Rabbi Shlomo

Ganzfried in his book, Kitzur Shulchan

Aruch. Rabbi Ganzfried’s volume, first

published in 1864, explains elements

of halakah in clear and understandable

terms, telling us, “If you support

your grown children (or grandchildren)

whom you are not obligated to support

and they need your support, that is tzedakah,

(because) the poor person in

your house takes precedence over the

poor person in your city.”

“We’d like to help everyone,” Liddy

said. “But we did what we could for

our family.” Liddy echoes Rabbi Ganzfried’s

sentiments precisely, so much

so that if those rabbis were here with

us, I’m sure they’d offer a “Kol HaKavod,”

Liddy and Mel. Well done!

Rabbi Barbara Aiello is the first woman

rabbi in Italy. She is 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, a Jewish organization

that supports Jewish diversity

worldwide. Contact her at rabbi@

rabbibarbara.com.

A little help.

A big difference.

The assisted living services at The Carlisle

Senior Living Community are about the whole family

and the whole YOU.

Of course, we can help you with your daily needs.

But did you know you will also have options for fitness,

socializing, healthy fine dining, and more? And services

are tailored to you, so you’ll get just the right amount of

help you need, when you request it.

But the best part? No matter if you need a little help

or a lot, you’ll be amazed by the difference.

To learn more, please call 239.444.6891

or visit our website.

Independent & Assisted Living Residences • ECC Licensed

6945 Carlisle Court • Naples, FL • TheCarlisleNaples.com • 239.444.6891

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY #9408

Located just south of Orange Blossom Drive on the west side of Airport-Pulling Road



JEWISH INTEREST

Chocolate Challah with a sweet twist

– recipe by Chef Dalia

If you love making bread at home,

then get ready for a tremendous

recipe – Chocolate Challah with a

sweet twist – where every bite is filled

with soft crumbs and the inviting taste

of chocolate.

Are you ready for this remarkable

chocolate challah recipe? And do you

know what’s better than chocolate

challah? Chocolate challah filled with

Hashachar H’aole, Israeli special cocoa

spread. And even better than that? Chocolate

challah with halva and cocoa nibs.

Born and raised in Israel (I am sure

everybody already knows that by now),

I remember eating challah bread every

Friday night and Saturday morning. I

love bread (any bread) a lot and I can’t

resist challah bread. My grandma Dalia

(I was named after her), a talented

baker, used to regularly make the softest,

most delicious challah bread for us

grandkids. We ate sliced challah bread

for breakfast with chocolate milk; we

ate it with a jelly spread; we made the

dough with cinnamon, chocolate and

raisins! My mouth is watering already

even just saying these words out loud!

The aroma, the expectation, the golden

crust and all the ways we could use it,

challah was a regular and lovely part of

my childhood.

It’s super easy to make the challah

bread dough using eggs, oil and a few

other ingredients. People always think

that making bread is boring and takes

a long time. It’s a complete mistake.

Making a challah is super easy. It requires

5-10 minutes to make the dough,

and the rest is just some time to let the

dough rise.

I can’t forget the first time I made

challah. It was, in all likelihood, one of

my first experiences making any sort

of yeast bread. I couldn’t have been

older than 7 or 8, and I still remember

kneading the sticky dough and making

a sticky, floury mess all over the kitchen

as my sister and I made the challah for

Kabbalat Shabbat every Friday morning

at school.

I don’t remember how our challah

tasted, or if it even ended up looking like

a challah, but I do remember making it

being so much fun.

When my sister Shuli asked me to

create a chocolate challah, I decided

to be daring. I wanted a challah that

smelled delicious even as it was baking,

and tasted outstanding from the first

bite. The delight of challah is its crust,

and this chocolate version is crusty on

the outside, crumbly on the inside, and

spread with chocolate and halva.

I chose a Hashachar h’aole special

cocoa spread to add an Israeli twist, and

decorated the glazed braids with extra

sesame seeds for an impressive effect

before placing the loaves into the oven.

I couldn’t wait to try the result. It looked

beautiful and was simply heavenly.

With this decadent recipe, take your

challah to the next level (and the next

course) by having it for dessert.

This challah even toasted up well,

and would no doubt make great French

toast if you manage to keep it around

that long. It’s beautiful and will be the

perfect thing to serve on Friday night

Shabbat. It’s just delicious. This recipe

is a well-kept secret in my family, and I

hope it will be in yours! Get your bread

baking on. Let’s make some challah!

Ingredients (for two loaves):

For the dough:

• 1½ tablespoons dry yeast

• 1 cup lukewarm milk (or water)

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour, plus

more if needed

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• ½ tablespoon salt

• 2 large eggs, beaten

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

• Canola oil

For the filling:

• ¾ cup chocolate spread

• ½ cup halva

• 1/3 cup cocoa nibs (or 2 tablespoons

cocoa powder)

For the topping:

• 1 large egg, beaten

• Sesame seeds

In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast

over the milk and add the ½ tablespoon

sugar. Let sit until a frothy

layer develops on top, about 5-10

minutes.

In a large bowl, whisk together

the 3½ cups of flour, ½ cup sugar

and salt. Make a well in the center

and add the eggs and butter. Mix

together with a wooden spoon,

pulling in a little flour at a time

from the sides of the bowl. Stir in

the yeast mixture. Mix to combine

until dough is formed.

Turn out onto a floured surface and

knead well for about 5 minutes. If

the dough is very sticky, work in a

teaspoon of flour at a time until the

dough is smooth and not sticky.

Lightly oil the inside of a very large

bowl. Place dough inside. Cover

with plastic wrap

in a warm place.

Let rise until

doubled in size,

about 1 hour.

Punch down the

dough, re-cover

and let rise for 1

hour.

For the filling,

place the chocolate spread and

halva in a medium bowl. Whisk

until smooth. Stir in the cocoa nibs

Personal Chef Dalia Hemed

can be reached at

daliahemed@msn.com.

or cocoa powder until incorporated

and a spreadable paste is formed.

On a lightly floured surface, punch

down dough and cut in half with a

bench scraper. Using a rolling pin,

roll each half into a 12x16-inch

rectangle.

Spread the chocolate filling on both

rectangles all the way to the edges.

Starting from the long side, tightly

roll each rectangle into a log that’s

about 20-inches long. Cut each in

half lengthwise.

Twist the halves together a few

times, starting from the middle and

pinching the ends together, forming

a rope.

Gently transfer the braids to parchment-lined

backing pans coated

with cooking spray. Cover with a

clean dish towel and allow to rise,

about another 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375F.

Brush all over the challah with

beaten egg, making sure to get in

the cracks and along the sides of

the loaf. Sprinkle with the sesame

seeds.

Bake for about 30-33 minutes until

golden.

Remove from the oven and allow

to cool for a few minutes. Slice

and enjoy!

We may be keeping our distance,

but we are in this together.

Stay Calm.

Stay Connected.

Stay Active.

Food Purveyors in Naples since 1938.

141 Tamiami Trail North • Naples, Florida 34102

239.261.7157 • Fax: 239.261.3986

wynns@wynnsonline.com

Go to AloneTogether.com for ways

to take care of yourself and others.


ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD


19

An FIDF live stream with the FIDF Women’s Brigade

Watch the full event (36 minutes) at https://www.fidf.org/covid19/engage/womens-event

New York, May 28, 2020 – The

Friends of the Israel Defense

Forces (FIDF) Women’s Brigade,

which connects dynamic and

passionate women who are committed

to the soldiers of Israel, hosted a virtual

National Women’s Event on Wednesday,

May 27. The event featured Safra A.

Catz, CEO of Oracle Corporation, and

focused on the topic “The Day After:

How Today’s Thinking Can Lead to

Tomorrow’s Opportunities.” The event

is part of FIDF’s temporary digital

alternative to community events and

galas across the United States, as many

of them have been postponed due to

COVID-19.

Safra A. Catz, a visionary leader

who has changed the face of business,

has served as CEO of Oracle Corporation

since 2014. Catz has been a member

of the company’s Board of Directors

since 2001, previously serving as Oracle’s

President, Chief Financial Officer

and other roles at the company since

joining in 1999. Catz currently serves as

a director of The Walt Disney Company.

Hosting the event was Yasmin

Lukatz, a philanthropist and startup investor

with an MBA from Stanford University

and the founder and Executive

Director of ICON (Israel Collaboration

Network), which helps Israeli entrepreneurs

penetrate the U.S. market.

Also participating in the event was

Lt. (Res.) Noam, a paramedic in the

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Armored

Corps, who attempted to perform

resuscitation on a critically wounded

soldier during the 2014 IDF Operation

Protective Edge, despite his low chances

of survival.

Campus Gamechangers inspire

By Matt Franzblau

Just when I was desperately in need

of a ‘pick me up’ amidst this Coronavirus

crisis, I most definitely received

one as I was fortunate enough

to be on a Jewish National Fund-USA

(JNF-USA) Campus Gamechangers

Zoom call featuring participants, professionals

and lay leaders involved in

both JNF-USA’s Caravan for Democracy

and Faculty Fellowship Program.

JNF-USA’s Caravan for Democracy

Student Leadership Mission to

Israel provides non-Jewish college student

leaders with a 10-day, fully subsidized

mission to Israel with the goal of

facilitating constructive dialogue about

Israel and the Middle East on college

campuses across the U.S. JNF-USA’s

Faculty Fellowship Program in Israel

provides academics in the U.S. with

an opportunity to meet and collaborate

with their academic peers in Israel

while also exploring the beauty and

complexity of the region.

The stories shared were truly inspirational

as these brave men and women

who knew little about Israel before,

came back from their experience both

educated and empowered.

Participants like John Dominguez,

who grew up in a half-Christian, half-

Muslim household, admitted he had

mixed feelings about the Jewish homeland

as a youth, but it was his desire

to see Israel with his own eyes that

eventually led him to go on JNF-USA’s

Caravan for Democracy. Upon returning

to his college campus, he played a

vital role in defeating a BDS resolution

at Cornell, where he is a student government

representative.

It’s not just the students, though,

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces

(FIDF) launched “FIDF Engage,” a free,

virtual event series and online portal, to

provide official information and connection

to IDF soldiers and Israeli officials

amid the Coronavirus outbreak. Go to

https://www.fidf.org/covid19/engage.

This series supports FIDF’s fundraising

efforts that provide a range of assistance

from hygienic necessities to fitness facilities

and equipment, all of which are

important to addressing the well-being

of soldiers. The FIDF Engage series

grants supporters a way to learn more

about how Israel is confronting the virus

and how the IDF is handling the situation

in real time.

Visit often to access the latest FIDF

news, plus exclusive briefings, community

events and webinars, all available

to you on the FIDF website.

who are advocating for Israel, as those

in front of the classroom are getting

out in front of the Israeli narrative on

campus as well. That’s what we heard

from Duke University Professor Xiling

Shen. After going on his Faculty Fellowship

last summer, Professor Shen

helped start an on-campus seminar

series that features apolitical speakers

from Israel who talk about innovation

and entrepreneurship.

These are just two amazing examples

of new Positively Israel spokespeople

who are helping to shift the

dialogue about our homeland on America’s

college campuses, a landscape

once fraught with negativity and derision,

but now are evolving into spaces

of optimism and open mindedness.

These advocates for our homeland

are really some of the unsung heroes

About Friends of the

Israel Defense Forces (FIDF):

FIDF was established in 1981 by a

group of Holocaust survivors as a 501

(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with

the mission of offering educational, cultural,

recreational and social programs

and facilities that provide hope, purpose

and life-changing support for the soldiers

who protect Israel and Jews worldwide.

Today, FIDF has 150,000 loyal

supporters and 24 chapters throughout

the United States and Panama. FIDF

proudly supports IDF soldiers, families

of fallen soldiers, and wounded veterans

through a variety of innovative

programs that reinforce the vital bond

between the communities in the U.S.,

the soldiers of the IDF and Israel. For

more information, visit www.fidf.org.

within JNF-USA’s lay leadership as

they build and strengthen relationships

with others on different ends of

the political and sociological spectrum,

all while spreading a message that’s

Positively Israel. Ultimately, this gives

me hope that one day soon, Israel will

truly be seen by all as a light unto the

nations.

For more information about JNF-

USA’s Faculty Fellowship Program or

the Caravan for Democracy, visit jnf.

org/college.

Matt Franzblau is the President of the

JNFuture Board in Broward County,

Florida. He also serves on the

JNFuture National Board along with

the Marketing and Faculty Fellowship

Committees.

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For a continuously updated community calendar, visit the Federation’s website at www.jewishnaples.org.


COMMENTARY

Will the welfare of Israel play a part in your choice

of a U.S. presidential candidate?

By Jerrold L. Sobel, ZOA of SWFL President, May 31, 2020

Regardless of political affiliation,

there is no doubt the opening of

the American Embassy a year

ago, and the recognition of Jerusalem

as the undivided, ancestral capital of

Israel was an historic moment in Jewish

history.

Only two other events in the past

75 years have come anywhere near the

significance of this seminal event: the

creation of the State itself in 1948, and

the magnificent victory in the Six-Day

War 19 years later. But make no mistake,

without the direction and bipartisan support

of the United States, none of this

could have been accomplished.

In the waning days of the Second

World War, President Roosevelt was

working on a plan to resettle what

remained of European Jewry that survived

the Holocaust. Roosevelt’s motives

were far from altruistic. He was

reviving a secretive 1938 plan called

the M Project, an idea that called for

possible Jewish resettlement in sparse

northwestern Australia, Nigeria, Uganda

and scores of other places as long as it

wasn’t in the United States. Upon his

passing on April 12, 1945, the plan

was immediately scrapped and utterly

discredited by Harry Truman following

his ascendance to the presidency.

President Truman, like Roosevelt,

was a Democrat, but unlike his predecessor

showed much greater compassion

and empathy for the horrors European

Jewry had just suffered. Despite his

plain talk and demeanor, Truman had a

sweeping grasp of geopolitical realities.

At a 1944 rally in Chicago, then Senator

Truman stated, “Today, not tomorrow,”

we must do all that is humanly possible

to provide a haven for all those

who can be grasped from the hands

of Nazi butchers.” Free lands must be

opened to them. He wasn’t alone bucking

the decidedly tepid policies of both

Roosevelt and the British, who also

sought an end to Jewish immigration

to Palestine. There was also discernible,

bilateral support for European Jewry in

Congress.

On January 27, 1944, James Wright,

a Democrat from Texas, and Ranulf

Compton, a Republican from Connecticut,

introduced the Wright Compton

Resolution to the House of Representatives

calling on the United States to

use its good offices in support of free

Jewish immigration to Palestine and

the reconstitution of that country as a

Jewish commonwealth. Five days later,

Senator Robert F. Wagner, a Democrat,

and Senator Robert Taft Jr., a Conservative

Republican from Ohio, introduced

an identical resolution to the Senate.

Although the sniping between both

political parties has gone on for time

immemorial, on this issue, as evidenced

by their respective platforms in 1948,

bipartisan support for the emergent State

of Israel was unshakable.

One month after the Jewish state

was established on May 14, 1948, the

Republicans decreed the following:

“We welcome Israel into the family of

nations and take pride in the fact that

the Republican Party was the first to

call for the establishment of a free and

independent Jewish Commonwealth.”

Not to be outdone, the Democrats

incorporated the following into their

platform: “President Truman, by granting

immediate recognition to Israel, led

the world in extending friendship and

welcome to a people who have long

sought and justly deserve freedom and

independence. We pledge full recognition

to the State of Israel.”

Yet this longstanding Democrat

support has eroded alarmingly. Caroline

Glick described it in an article titled

“Heeding Democrat Warnings,” saying

that “Democrats are abandoning Israel

in droves.”

Don’t believe it? Let’s check a

poll taken by the Pew Research Center

in 2018. According to the research,

since 2001 the share of Republicans

sympathizing more with Israel than the

Palestinians has increased 29 percentage

points, from 50% to 79%. During

this same period of time, Democrat

support has fallen from 38% to 27%.

Interestingly, the poll found that while

Republicans and Democrats are deeply

divided in views of Israel, so, too, do

they markedly differ in opinions about

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Nearly three times as many Republicans

(52%) as Democrats (18%) have favorable

impressions of the Israeli leader.

Today, nearly half of Democrats

(46%) say President Trump favors Israel

too much, while just 21% say he is

striking the right balance. In 2010, more

Republicans said Obama supported the

Palestinians too much (38%) than said

he struck the right balance.

These numbers are easily buttressed

by looking back at the contents of the

three previous presidential platforms.

In 2008, regarding the Holy City,

Democrats resolved that Jerusalem is

and will remain the capital of Israel,

but amended, Jerusalem is a matter for

final status negotiations, leaving a full

measure of ambiguity.

Republicans countered unambiguously

at their convention, stating they

support Jerusalem as the undivided

capital of Israel and moving the American

embassy to that undivided capital.

This is a promise President Trump kept

on December 6, 2017. Looking back to

the conventions of both parties in 2012,

the shift in support away from Israel

by the Democrats becomes glaringly

apparent.

Turmoil once again reigned at

the Democrat National Convention in

Charlotte 2012. Opposition at mention

of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was so

great, it was initially removed from the

platform, clumsily reinstated the next

day for fear of alienating Jewish and

Evangelical donors. Although 2/3 of an

aye vote were needed for reinstatement,

there was a great deal of booing and consternation

amongst the delegates since

nowhere near that amount was heard,

yet the measure was pushed through.

At their convention, the 2012 Republicans

unequivocally stated, “We

support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish

state with secure, defensible borders.”

If there was any doubt regarding

a shift in support for Israel by a huge

segment of the Democrat party, their last

presidential convention in 2016 put it to

rest. The far left under the leadership of

Bernie Sanders demonstrated not only

a greater schism between both political

parties but within the Democrat party

itself. Hillary Clinton found herself to

the right of Bernie Sanders and only by

classic ‘Clintonian’ chicanery’ was able

to eke out the nomination.

Sanders, a devout Socialist, has catered

to the far left of the party for eons.

Both he and his broad following took

on a sizable shift toward the Palestinian

Arab cause in 2016, promoting what he

deemed a more “evenhanded” treatment

of the Palestinians. He wasn’t done. His

radical, Socialist views left an indelible

impression upon the ‘Green Planet,’ pro

BDS crowd that would serve him well

going forward into the 2020 campaign.

Buoyed by newly elected anti-Israel/

anti-Semitic politicians, he took mainstream,

ideas in the not distant past that

would have been repudiated out of hand

by the Democrat party. From the standpoint

of Israel, this nascent group joined

hands with long-term Democrat enemies

of Israel in both the House and Senate

that have extensive records of voting

against every letter, bill or resolution

concerning Israel.

This past week alone, regarding

plans to assert Israeli sovereignty

over parts of Judea and Samaria (West

Bank), 18 Democrat Senators penned

a threatening letter to Prime Minister

Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister

Gantz, warning it would “betray our

shared democratic values by denying

Palestinians’ right to self-determination

in a viable, sovereign, independent and

contiguous state,” and it would likely

have detrimental consequences to the

Jewish state’s “bilateral and bipartisan

relationship” with the United States.

An electorate is comprised of people

with diverse reasons to vote or not

vote for particular candidates. However,

for those interested in the welfare and

well-being of the State of Israel, the

difference between both political parties

and their candidates in this November’s

election could not be more striking.

Opinions and letters printed in the Federation

Star do not necessarily reflect those of the Jewish

Federation of Greater Naples, its Board of Directors

or staff, or its advertisers.

NEW STUDY: 70 PERCENT

OF CORONAVIRUS CASES

IN ISRAEL STARTED IN U.S.

More than 70% of Coronavirus patients

in Israel were infected by a strain

that originated in the U.S., according

to a new study published by Dr. Adi

Stern of the School of Molecular Cell

Biology and Biotechnology at Tel Aviv

Univ.

The remaining 30% of infections

in Israel were imported from Belgium

(8%), France (6%), England (5%),

Spain (3%) and 2% each from Italy, the

Philippines, Australia and Russia.

Stern and his team of researchers

mapped the spread of the virus by decoding

the genomic sequence of the

Coronavirus strain in Israel and comparing

it to 4,700 genomic sequences

taken from patients around the world.

(Maayan Jaffe-Hoffman, Jerusalem

Post)

ON INDEPENDENCE DAY,

ISRAEL’S POPULATION

NEARLY 9.2 MILLION

Israel’s population has reached 9.19

million on the eve of Israel’s 72 nd Independence

Day (April 29), the Central

Bureau of Statistics reports.

Since last Independence Day,

180,000 babies were born, 32,000

people immigrated to Israel and 44,000

BRIEFS

people died.

The Central Bureau of Statistics

projects that Israel’s population will

reach 11 million by 2030, and 15.2 million

by 2048, which will be the country’s

100 th anniversary.

Israel is a young country by Organisation

for Economic Co-operation

and Development standards with 28%

of the population below the age of 14,

while the OECD average is 18%. Israel’s

over 65 population comprises

12% of the country compared with the

OECD average of 17%. (Amiram Barkat,

Globes)

THE CORONAVIRUS

CRISIS IS BRINGING

ISRAEL’S JEWISH AND

ARAB CITIZENS TOGETHER

Israel is facing its first national threat

that has nothing to do with the Arab-

Israeli conflict. In the Coronavirus,

Israel’s Arab and Jewish citizens are

facing a crisis that is bringing us together.

Israeli media regularly feature

stories of Arab-Jewish intimacy in

the quarantine wards. Israel’s Yediot

Aharonot published a four-page photo

essay of Arab and Jewish nurses, featuring

Arabs as Israeli heroes.

Israel’s healthcare system is fully

integrated. Nearly a fifth of Israel’s doctors,

a quarter of its nurses and almost

half its pharmacists are Arabs. Arab

doctors head hospital departments and

emergency rooms; one heads a hospital

in the Galilee. Jews and Arabs encounter

one another in maternity and cancer

wards. (Yossi Klein Halevi, Atlantic)

MILLIONS OF DOCUMENTS

ON NAZI VICTIMS,

SURVIVORS NOW ONLINE

The Arolsen Archives (arolsen-archives.org/en/),

formerly known as the

International Tracing Service, has added

13 million documents to its online

database of documents and information

on the victims of Nazi persecution.

This follows the upload of 13 million

documents with the launch of the online

database in May 2019.

The documents contain information

on 21 million people displaced,

persecuted and murdered by the Nazi

regime. The International Tracing Service

was established by the Western

Allies in 1944. (Jacob Judah, Jewish

Chronicle - UK)

POLL: ONLY 7 PERCENT

OF ISRAELI ARABS

DEFINE THEMSELVES

AS “PALESTINIAN”

The proportion of non-Jewish people

in Israel who define themselves primarily

as “Palestinian” now stands at

7%, down from 18% a year ago, according

to a survey conducted by Prof.

Camille Fuchs of Tel Aviv University

for the Jewish People Policy Institute.

51% self-identify as “Israeli Arab,”

while 23% define themselves primarily

as “Israeli,” a sizable increase from

5% last year.

Asked how much they “feel like

a real Israeli,” 65% of Arabs said they

agree completely and 33% somewhat

agree. (Idan Zonshine, Jerusalem Post)

JERUSALEM’S RESIDENTS

COME TOGETHER DURING

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

As the Coronavirus crisis unfolded in

Jerusalem, the civil society organizations

so active in the city changed their

priorities, programs and activities with

only one aim: to make sure that no Jerusalemite

was left alone.

At the Jerusalem Foundation we

had to change our direction overnight

from major capital projects to supporting

the city’s most vulnerable populations:

children with special needs,

at-risk youth, children in women’s

shelters, people with disabilities, families

who found themselves without

money to buy food, and the elderly, the

population most at risk.

It was amazing to see situations that

we couldn’t have anticipated of strict

Orthodox volunteers packing food baskets

for Arabs so they could break their

fast for Ramadan with a proper meal,

and Arabs from eastern Jerusalem who

volunteered to purchase medication for

the elderly, from all sectors, who could

not leave their homes. (Shai Doron,

President of the Jerusalem Foundation,

Jewish Chronicle - UK)

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COMMENTARY


21

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That’s the fact, Jack

Rabbi

Howard S.

Herman DD

Judaism has always valued and

lauded knowledge and wisdom. I

once read that the difference between

knowledge and wisdom is that

“knowledge is knowing that a tomato

is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put

it in a fruit salad.”

We live our days, these days in a

virtual avalanche of media. There is

nowhere we can go, perhaps excluding

a synagogue or church sanctuary,

where we are not bombarded 360

degrees by the media. Radios, televisions,

billboards, social media, newspapers,

magazines, computer screens,

fitness equipment, smartphones, all

have become media outlets whether by

design or by chance. Have you been

to a ballpark recently, or a concert, or

a movie, or a show in a mega theater?

From up-to-the-second stock market

quotes, to advertisements on the sides

of trailer trucks, we are submerged in

a sea of media. You cannot look left or

right, up or down, forward or backward,

without being confronted with some

kind of media message. We find these

messages coming to us subliminally or

having them confront us head on. Even

in men’s rooms, inside the urinals, you

will now find messages both social and

political. Talk about sensory overload!

So why do I bring this up? I do so

because I was always taught to question

why things happen or why they take

place when they seem like an anomaly.

I also question messages because I am

never really certain how many of these

messages speak the truth. If I don’t

Prescription for gradually

healing our world

Rabbi

Fishel

Zaklos

Healing happens in stages. A

broken heart doesn’t mend

overnight; a city isn’t rebuilt in

a day. As the world enters the first phase

of reopening society, as eager as we are

to return to some sense of normalcy, we

have to take a deep breath and literally

hold on to the reins of our horses!

There is one question on everyone’s

mind: “Will life return to normal?” and

“What if it doesn’t?” We can’t predict

the future with accuracy because we really

don’t know as much as we should

about what we are facing. Perhaps we

have to consider that life will not revert

to exactly as it was before – a balancing

act of family life, social life, work, eat,

sleep. Many of us were content with

life beforehand, finding it predictable

and safe. It didn’t make us question our

purpose or spend extended amounts of

time alone with no one but ourselves

for company.

When the Coronavirus hit, we

were blindsided. We didn’t know how

to approach the sudden change of lifestyle,

the potential danger, the intense

emotional strain. But we are surviving.

We can be adaptable and flexible.

We learned to stretch our capabilities

in ways that never seemed possible.

We learned to spend quality time with

ourselves because we were social distancing.

We learned to get along with

roommates or family because there

was no option to leave. We learned new

hobbies, new languages. We learned the

know the truth, how can I possibly make

any objective decisions or plans for my

future? In confronting so many falsehoods

in the course of a day, I become

weary and disheartened, and sometimes

even disengaged by such blatant patently

made-up ideas.

Facts matter, in every regard. Just

because something is written somewhere,

doesn’t make it so. Just because

something is forcefully expressed,

doesn’t validate it as truth. Just because

we hear talking heads on our cable networks

haranguing us about this or that,

doesn’t make it factual.

One statement I hear constantly

from multitudes of people is, “I read it

on the internet” or “I found it on Facebook,”

the inference being that if it is

there, “of course” it must be true.

In my days as a philosophy professor,

I would teach that there were three

different main theories of truth: the

correspondence theory, the coherence

theory and the pragmatist theory. Each

one explained truth in a different way.

It was not that the truth was different

in each explanation, the truth was the

same. But even though the explanations

were different, the commonality and

link between all three of these diverse

theories was “facts.” Once again, I say

“facts matter.”

From our days at Mount Sinai

onward, we as Jews have universally

attested to truth. We are told in the Ten

Commandments, “You will not bear

false witness against your neighbor.” In

simple terms ,“Don’t lie!” Later, from

our Jewish tradition, we are taught,

“Bear the truth, even if it is bitter.” And

Maimonides, or whom you may know

as the Rambam, taught us, “The only

purpose of truth is that one knows the

truth.” We learn two maxims from the

Talmud: “The truth stands up, a lie does

not,” and “We don’t see things the way

power of the individual, and the power

of community.

Maybe life can return to normal, and

soon we’ll be running on the non-stop

treadmill of hectic reality again. But is

this what we want? Maybe instead of

taking steps backwards to return to the

past, we can direct our steps forward to

a better future.

Imagine if a city were razed to the

ground and you were given all the tools

and resources to rebuild it as you please.

The potential is infinite. Each of us is

now facing a chance to rebuild our lives.

To create a new normal. If we take this

chance, this gift of extra time, to reflect

on our inner worlds and discover what

we truly need to thrive, tomorrow might

be a lot brighter than yesterday.

Let’s let go of the things that always

chained us down. An unhealthy

habit from our old life that we’re happier

without. A job that didn’t fulfill our

potential. A toxic relationship that made

us uncomfortable and unfulfilled, doubting

ourselves. And let’s hold onto the

insights we gained as we lived through

this ordeal. Gratefulness for the small

things in life. Appreciation for simple

human touch. The ability to meditate,

to live deeper.

I hope we will always remember

that it was love that healed humanity, not

division. May we carry this message of

unity and hope for all of our lives. As we

consider the daily prayers that guided us

through this powerful opportunity for

growth, let us add one for the health,

safety, goodness and maintenance of

all that is positive and beautiful about

all who inhabit this America and this

planet Earth.

Rabbi Fishel Zaklos serves at Chabad

Jewish Center of Naples.

they are. We see them the way we are.”

A Yiddish proverb teaches us, “A half

truth is a whole lie.”

Our entire Jewish consciousness is

consistently pushing us to pay attention

to facts. Verifiable, corroborated, irrefutable

facts are about the only things

that do not lead us astray in our quest

for truth. How can we possibly see

the world, or our leaders, or our communities

or our friends, or our faith in

clearsighted truth without the relevant

facts? How can we possibly make critical,

decisions and choices that matter to

us for our existence unless we begin our

thought process from actual, real, definite

facts? If we begin anywhere else, it

Living in a world

of tohu v’vohu

Rabbi

Adam F.

Miller

If one thing is true about 2020, by the

time that you read this, all of what I

have written below will be old news.

This year has proven beyond a shadow

of a doubt the power behind the adage,

“Man plans, and God laughs.” No one

anticipated this year to include a pandemic,

national protests, shutting down

the economy, or even pausing all sports

and entertainment. If they had, one

might have expected the next breath to

include an offer of oceanfront property

in New Mexico and a wry smile. Writing

this article more than a day in advance,

I cannot predict what the summer will

bring, any more than I can provide accurate

lottery numbers.

Humor aside, right now, our world

feels out of control, as our narrative

careens from one major obstacle to

another. Only a couple of months into

2020, we learned about the deadly

potential of COVID-19. Recognizing

the threat to life posed by the illness,

our society rapidly adapted. Over the

course of weeks, we went from an inperson

world filled with handshakes,

hugs and high-fives, to a virtual community

with Zoom, online shopping and

waving bye-byes (from a socially safe

distance). Inspired by the value of pikuah

nefesh, preserving life, the Jewish

community leaned into that transition

– with worship, study, lifecycle events

and community evolving online. Each

organization thought outside the box,

finding creative ways to stay connected,

like the Shavuot Cheesecake Drive-Thru

at Temple Shalom.

Just as we began the process for

transitioning away from pandemic

protocols, the tragic death of George

Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis

police officer brought to light racial tensions

that had been beneath the surface

for some time. While many have been

killed before, the timing of Floyd’s

death combined with the video account

of his last minutes created a fervor for

change. With many of our common

escapes like sports, theater, concerts or

travel not presently available, our nation

was forced to engage in a difficult conversation

about race in America. Across

the country, protests, riots and rallies

COMMENTARY

would be like building a house on sand

and fog. There will be no real foundation

for our decisions to last and matter.

So as we move through the summer

toward the fall and toward our important

High Holidays and, a bit later, our

electoral season, I would urge you no

matter what your political affiliation, to

follow the wisdom of our long-heralded

Jewish tradition: seek the truth and

pursue the facts in all you hear and see.

The truth will never steer you wrong. It

will always abide you a resource and a

foundation to rely on.

Rabbi Howard S. Herman serves at

Naples Jewish Congregation.

echoed from sea to sea. Following the

teaching from Leviticus, “Do not stand

idly by the blood of your neighbor,” we

recognize that our core Jewish values

call us to listen, and support the efforts

of the African-American community to

effect change. We have an opportunity to

and responsibility to love our neighbors,

and care for those who are different than

ourselves.

All this has taken place in less than

six full months! It is a lot to process,

and some are understandably searching

for hope in this time of turmoil. Some

have referred to this period of return

after strict COVID-19 social distancing

as a time to restart and recreate. After

having broken our usual routines, we

find ourselves in the unusual position

of being able to create a new normal.

With that thought in mind, let us look

for inspiration in the original story of

beginning.

The Torah opens with, “In the beginning,

God created the heaven and

earth. The earth being tohu v’vohu…”

(Genesis 1:1-2). That phrase “tohu

v’vohu” is one that translators struggle

to precisely define. One classic English

translation option is to describe it as

“formless and void.” Another choice is

to translate the phrase into English as

“chaos.” Both of these options highlight

that there was something at the beginning,

but it lacked structure or order.

Read this way, the Creation story is not

about creation ex nihilo, making something

out of nothing, but rather, about

bringing understanding to a world that

is out of control.

Our world may feel like tohu v’vohu,

but that does not mean that we should

despair. Rather, this is our opportunity to

construct the world that we would want

to live in. Just as God created the world

stage by stage, transforming chaos into

blessing, we can work in steps to make

our world a place in which there is true

justice and equality. Alone, the work

will be too much. But as we have seen

in recent months, together we are strong,

and can overcome almost any obstacle.

Our task will not be easy and will take

far more than the six days for Creation.

But, when we are finished, we will be

able to look around and experience that

blessing that comes after the work is

done – Shalom – a sense of wholeness,

holiness and peace.

May we know this time of peace and

respite speedily and in our days.

Rabbi Adam Miller serves at Temple

Shalom in Naples.

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ORGANIZATIONS


23

COLLIER/LEE CHAPTER OF HADASSAH www.hadassah.org / 732-539-4011

It’s a new world

Diane

Schwartz

Collier/Lee

Hadassah

President

While we are in the midst of

a horrible pandemic and

trying to do our best to deal

with new rules for living and adjusting

to the many changes in our daily lives,

we often ask or think, “Where do we go

from here?”

What seems to be the most difficult

aspect of all of this is that we can’t

enjoy interacting with our friends and

loved ones. Social distancing and communicating

with others through Zoom

sessions are barely adequate.

Thankfully, many institutions and

organizations around the world are

working hard to come up with an answer.

We include Hadassah Medical Organization

(HMO) in this effort, as it is

dedicated to this global problem. Using

their research skills, HMO hospitals and

medical leaders have developed medical

protocols for treating and caring for CO-

VID-19 patients, setting the standards

for care throughout Israel. Importantly,

Hadassah Medical Organization also is

part of the search for a vaccine to lead

us out of the pandemic.

Hadassah reaches beyond Israel

and our shores in many ways: sharing

its work, its research, protocols and

methods. Of note, Hadassah’s medical

research studies and the scientists carrying

them out work with more than

50 partner universities and medical

institutions around the globe seeking

answers to vital and varied medical

issues through research and testing.

Have you heard of Hadassah International?

It was founded in 1983, has

groups in 14 countries representing five

continents, including both women and

men involved in its work. Members believe

that advancement and cooperation

in medicine transcends politics, religion

and national boundaries. The sole focus

of Hadassah International’s efforts is to

support HMO and the vital work of its

two hospitals in Jerusalem.

The Hadassah International Board

is global and comprised of members

representing groups in Hong Kong,

Switzerland, Italy, Mexico, Israel and

the U.S. The May/June 2020 issue of

Hadassah’s award-winning magazine

offers the opportunity to read more

about Hadassah International’s work.

For example, in response to the

pandemic, Hadassah International has

formed a Global Crisis Response Team

comprised of medical personnel including

Dr. Yoram Weiss, Director of Hadassah

Hospital at Ein Kerem, Jerusalem.

Save the Date:

The Team provides contact and updates

in Argentina, Mexico and Australia.

Recently, in cooperation with the

Australian College for Emergency

Medicine, a webinar was organized

showcasing HMO hospitals’ experience

in dealing with COVID-19. More than

300 doctors and medical students from

Australia, New Zealand and 15 other

countries attended.

Also, locally in our communities,

Collier/Lee Hadassah is busy working

on women’s health issues and domestic

violence impacting women and children

as well providing educational programing

on a variety of interests.

We are also raising funds to continue

the renovation of the Hadassah

iconic Round Building – home to the

Chagall Windows – at Hadassah Hospital,

Ein Kerem in Jerusalem.

Proudly, we joined Hadassah chapters

all across the country to advocate

to our congressional representatives

and senators in support of the Never

Again Education Act. Hadassah helped

write the bill and led the effort to secure

bi-partisan support of this legislation

which provides funding through grants

to teachers and schools throughout the

country to develop programs and activities

for Holocaust Education. The Never

Again Education Act has recently been

signed into law.

Thursday, October 1: League of Women Voters – joint program with

Temple Shalom Sisterhood; Zoom presentation; Contact Elyse Morande at

amorande@aol.com or 239.498.0623

Monday, October 26: Expanding Horizons Series – The Orchid Whisperer

with award-winning orchid grower Gayle Dorio; Zoom presentation; Contact

Elyse Morande at amorande@aol.com or 239.498.0623

Monday, November 16: Fall Meeting; Zoom meeting & presentation;

Contact Elyse Morande at amorande@aol.com or 239.498.0623

Tuesday, December 1: The Hadassah Symposium on Women’s Health &

Wellness; Note: This program is rescheduled to December 1, 2021

Sunday, December 13: Keepers of the Gate Brunch; additional information

to follow; Contact Ellen Harris at ehjh@comcast.net or 508.395.3600

Wednesday, January 20: Installation of Officers & Fashion Show by Casual

Connection; information to follow; Contact Elyse Morande at amorande@

aol.com or 239.498.0623

JEWISH WAR VETERANS https://jwvpost202.wordpress.com/ 239-261-3270

WV Post 202 update

Harve Sturm

Commander

JWV

Post #202

Martin Cohn

Vice

Commander

JWV

Post #202

Established in 1896, the Jewish

War Veterans is the longestrunning

veterans service organization

in the United States.

Our Mission Statement:

Foster and perpetuate true Americanism

Uphold Jewish identity and fight

against bigotry and anti-Semitism

Encourage the doctrine of universal

liberty and equal rights

Preserve comradeship amongst

veterans and their families

Preserve the legacy of Jewish

American military service

Combat whatever tends to impair

the efficiency and permanency of

our free institutions

JWV Post 202, Naples, meets every

3 rd or 4 th Thursday of the month at

Perkins Restaurant off Pine Ridge Road

(3585 Gateway Lane). We welcome

those who have served in the U.S.

Military (combat not required). Nonveterans

who are patriotic and dedicated

to Jewish values are invited to join as

Patron Members. Thank you for your

support.

For more information, please contact

Harvey Sturm, Commander, at

239.261.3270 or jwvpost202@gmail.

com.

JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SWFL www.jhsswf.org / 239-566-1771

Historical chatter

Marina

Berkovich

JHSSWF

President

Five hundred years ago, Southwest

Florida was discovered by a possible

converso, Ponce de Leon.

As much as half of the Jewish population

of Spain converted under the threat

of imminent death at the hands of the

Catholic henchmen. The coerced ones,

the converts, aka conversos or marranos,

as the Inquisition Era Spaniards

called them, played an important though

poorly documented role in the discovery

of American continents, their exploration

and settlements. Ponce first crossed

the Atlantic Ocean with Cristobal Colon

– Christopher Columbus to the Englishspeaking

world. On that first and the

many subsequent voyages, the coerced

ones were escaping the European persecution,

as others would during the centuries

that followed. There are reasons

to believe that conversos were among

Ponce de Leon’s conquistadors. They

certainly were under his command on

Hispaniola and Puerto Rico.

There is plenty of historical chatter,

with layers of sediment covering the

facts, but we dared to connect the dots of

‘what ifs’ by imagining the early Jewish

History of our region through several

traceable facts and many speculative

tidbits of information from the first 250

years of Florida’s history in The Jewish

Historical Society’s online Masterclass

presentation in May, in itself a historic

first.

Historical events, even tragedies,

are much easier understood if one tries

to measure them not against the contemporary

standards, as most people

attempt, but rather through placing them

in the era-appropriate historical context.

Every event, every act of human beings

involved in those events, needs to be

evaluated against the times in which

these events take place.

Similarly, we can philosophize that

the way humans behave and react to the

behaviors of others is inextricable from

the times such behaviors occur. Just look

at our behavior in the context of our altered

needs. Everything is not as it was

before this functioning new normality

was introduced to our civilization a few

weeks ago. COVID-19 fast-forwarded

our online outreach, bringing us, on

demand, to homes and communities of

individuals who in pre-COVID-19 times

did not engage with us. In that respect,

we are very grateful that we were able

to increase our purview.

Sharing experiences and alleviating

concerns of our risks, and quarantine

lockdowns are not unlike the miseries

of the 16 th , 17 th and 18 th centuries that

sea travelers endured, many of whom

were merchants and their families. What

did the Jews traveling to the Americas’

coastlines and barrier islands consider

normal then? What did other groups

consider normal in those days, and how

does that help us cope with our current

problems?

To me personally, air-conditioned

housing and mosquito control are top

positives of our era. Others from my

top 10 list of “SWFL Jewish Living

2020” are uplifting virtual sermons,

relatively good health, electricity, the

internet and multitude of inventive

ways of combating the challenges that

presented themselves during this time

– virtual bat and bar miztvahs, births,

deaths, weddings, holidays. Life goes on

just as it always does. It is up to each of

us to find a historically rewarding and

resilient solution.

Please make time in your busy

schedule to join us for our online Masterclass

presentations (must join email

list):

Sunday, June 28 at 3:00 p.m.

Monday, July 27 at 2:00 p.m.

Friday, August 28 at 11:00 a.m.

Have you joined our mission yet?

Family Membership is $54; Individual

Membership is $36. Please mail checks

to:

The Jewish Historical Society

of Southwest Florida

8805 Tamiami Trail North,

Suite # 255, Naples FL 34108

833.547.7935 (833.JHS.SWFL)

www.jhsswf.org ~ office@jhsswf.org

Virtual Museum of SWFL

Jewish History http://

jewishhistorysouthwestflorida.org/



SYNAGOGUES

Beth Tikvah update

Beth Tikvah Co-Presidents

Shelley Goodman and Sue Hammerman

If any of us had been asked in 2015

where we would be in five years,

whatever answer we gave would

have been wrong. The COVID-19 virus

has placed all of us in the world of the

unknown. None of us could have predicted

what the year 2020 was going

to look like. For many, it caused us to

shorten our time in Naples and has left

BETH TIKVAH www.bethtikvahnaples.org / 239-434-1818

us wondering if and when we will get

back to the life we so much enjoy.

Scientists will confirm that when we

are stressed, the body produces oxytocin,

which motivates the individual to

seek support, reach out and connect with

others. With the need to be physically

distant, the challenge became how to be

socially connected.

At Beth Tikvah, Rabbi Ammos

Chorny has done an amazing job of

providing virtual experiences for prayer

and learning that permit us to socially

connect while being physically distant.

Through Zoom and streaming technology

we have been able to connect with

the Greater Naples community as well

as our Beth Tikvah family.

While our sanctuary and building

are closed, Shabbat services are

streamed, and classes are on Zoom. The

Rabbi’s Class on Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m.

allows us to meet and discuss different

issues each week. Attendees are encouraged

to participate on a topic while

reconnecting with friends on a weekly

basis. Feel free to make lunch and join

us by clicking the link provided in the

Beth Tikvah Weekly Bulletin online

at www.bethtikvahnaples.org or email

any questions to office@bethtikvah.us.

Rabbi Chorny can be reached directly

by cellphone at 239.537.5257.

Please consider joining Rabbi

Chorny every other Saturday at 8:00

p.m. for a special Havdalah service

followed by a fun learning/sharing

opportunity. Check the Beth Tikvah

website for dates and topics throughout

the summer months.

In order to meet the needs of the

community, Beth Tikvah is offering

a virtual minyan for the purpose of

saying Kaddish. To request a minyan,

please contact Rabbi Chorny at rabbi@

bethtikvah.us and indicate the dates and

times you would like to join our Zoom

meeting room. Remember to give us

two weeks’ notice. Morning minyan

has also been added on Thursdays and

Sundays at 9:00 a.m. The link will be in

the weekly Bulletin.

We continue to plan for new events

and the High Holidays. Our office and

building are presently closed and will

be reopened in accordance with best

practices recommended by United

Synagogue for Conservative Judaism

and the Rabbinical Assembly. Check

our website for the latest information.

Religious Services Schedule:

• Friday services streamed

at 6:15 p.m.

• Saturday services streamed

at 9:30 a.m.

• Thursday and Sunday services

via Zoom at 9:00 a.m.

TEMPLE SHALOM www.naplestemple.org / 239-455-3030

emple Shalom update

emple Shalom offers many virtual

opportunities to stay connected

during this time of social

istancing. In addition to the events

isted below, please visit our YouTube

hannel, Temple Shalom Naples, for

eautiful music from Cantor Donna

Azu and uplifting messages from Rabbi

Adam Miller and Rabbi Ariel Boxman,

as well as recordings of many of our

programs and events.

Follow us on Facebook, Temple

ShalomNaplesFL, for informational

links and live content. For Zoom links

to our other programs and events, please

send a request to info@naplestemple.

org.

Shabbat services via our livestream

(found on our website under the Media

tab) and Facebook Live on the Temple

Shalom Facebook page:

• Friday evening at 7:30 p.m.

• Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.

• Havdalah service - Saturday at 8:00

p.m. live on our Facebook page

• Saturday Morning Torah Study at

10:00 a.m.; please email for the

link

JEWISH CONGREGATION OF MARCO ISLAND www.marcojcmi.com / 239-642-0800

Good happenings are still occurring

By Sue Baum, President

Aclose friend enjoyed the birth

of her great grandchild, another

celebrated his 102 nd birthday, a

well-attended memorial service took

place at United Church, another friend

enjoyed his niece’s wedding, and JCMI

congregants are celebrating birthdays,

anniversaries and graduations.

Yes, these are extraordinary times.

Yet it is important to remember that

Americans have resilience and excellent

minds to meet the challenge. The

JCMI Board of Directors is preparing

to hold Sabbath services and the High

Holy Day services at the synagogue

beginning the first Friday in September.

Virtual attendance will be offered for

those who wish to remain at home with

tutorial assistance as needed.

JCMI has organized a task force

consisting of Rabbi Mark Gross; Cantorial

Soloist Hari Jacobsen; 1 st Vice

President Stan Alliker; Mitch Braun, our

technical expert; Dr. Gregory Poland,

American physician and vaccinologist;

Dr. Jonathan Greenfield, medical

advisor; Marty Holtz, House Chair; Dr.

NAPLES JEWISH CONGREGATION www.naplesjewishcongregation.org / 239-431-3858

Opportunity and gratitude abound

during the COVID-19 era

Steve

McCloskey

President

The devastation wrought by the

novel Coronavirus has been

mind boggling. COVID-19 has

decimated the lives of hundreds of millions

around the globe, from death and

life-threatening illness for victims and

their families to economic disaster for

countless others. There is no aspect of

our pre-COVID-19 world that has not

been upended by this global scourge. A

pall of grim resignation has settled upon

us in our self-imposed isolation meant

to keep us safe from the ravages of this

potentially lethal virus.

However, every crisis, particularly

this global pandemic, creates opportunity

for us and for our world. The most

obvious opportunity is for bipartisan,

effective leadership to emerge to forge

a comprehensive strategy designed

to demonstrate to the world that the

United States is ready for this unprecedented

challenge to make a better

post-COVID-19 world. We have seen

many examples of this bipartisan, effective

leadership at the local and state

levels, and even glimpses of it at the

federal level with the passage of the

initial stimulus legislation.

This election cycle will be over in

early November; we forego this opportunity

at our collective peril. In these

parlous times, we crave a “we-centric,”

not a “me-centric” approach from our

leaders. One place to start would be

a desperately needed infrastructure

program, which has always garnered

broad bipartisan support, but has been

shelved due to the political divide. This

legislation would be in keeping with

Judaism’s obligation of Tikkun Olam,

to repair our world.

As many of us shelter in place and

slow down somewhat, this hiatus provides

an opportunity for contemplation

of what we want as our “new normal,”

post-COVID-19. Since we cannot go

back to what was, we must strive for

what we hope will be. This pandemic

has glaringly exposed and exacerbated

the vast economic and societal inequity

in America, from healthcare to income

to available resources to justice, just to

name a few. Can we really be proud of

our country when the American dream

has been foreclosed for a vast swath

of our citizens, while the middle class,

the backbone of the United States, has

virtually disappeared?

In seizing this opportunity to redefine

the “new normal,” let’s be guided

by the heart of the Judaic creed, the

trinity of precepts of justice, mercy and

humility – economic, legal and societal

justice, compassion and empathy – as

essential tools of governance and the

stark recognition that unless we value

inclusion of all strata of society in our

decision making, it is a sure path to what

is old and stale, rather than to what is

new and vibrant. Shouldn’t we aspire to

making this a better world for more of

our citizens, rather than fewer of them?

Paul Krueger, expert in biostatistics and

medical educator; Heather Greenfield

and myself. Our team will be preparing

guidelines for the safety of attendees.

We look forward to “open for us the

uplifting gates!”

Il

t

t

o

i

h

o

f

t

e

a

t

t

a

At Naples Jewish Congregation, w

this crisis has required us to adapt to e

new ways to connect with our mem-bers.

We always had in-person servicesl

and events, something that has beent

impossible in recent months. Zoom s

and YouTube Live have been a godsendl

that have enabled us to provide a moret

robust spiritual, educational and sociala

(through NJC Connects) experience

than usual for our members during thec

summer months. The lull in holdingd

a

fashioned means, such as phone calls. s

These phone calls to our members in thisl

time of safer-at-home have given me ao

chance to connect in ways not possiblel

in a few minutes at an Oneg followingr

time a

strengthening our bonds with lovedw

ones, but not squander our chance for t

d

a

c

gatherings has also created opportu-nity

for personal contact through old-

a Shabbat service.

Let’s be grateful for this

t

of

meaningful societal change. f


SYNAGOGUES / FOCUS ON YOUTH


25

CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF NAPLES www.chabadnaples.com / 239-262-4474

Chabad Jewish Center of Naples update

The world has changed in innumerable

ways over the last few

months, and Chabad of Naples

has met the challenge head on to serve

our community’s needs through this

time of uncertainty. Chabad Naples is

a community built on active members

who are seeking to engage, and our

response to the pandemic has followed

in that same path: community members

coming together to care for one

another with love. Although we have

been unable to gather together in person,

Chabad Naples has continued to

serve our community through modified

programs and innovative initiatives that

offer support to anyone who needs it.

Our goals with COVID-19 were

threefold:

1. To ensure that our community is

socially and emotionally engaged

with one another so that we can get

through this together

2. To ensure that anyone who is suffering

or who needs help, receives

the help they need

3. To continue promoting Jewish

values and experiences in exciting

ways for every demographic of our

community

As the COVID-19 crisis peaked

during the lead up to Passover, Chabad

galvanized a group of devoted volunteers

to distribute 350 packages

of Shmurah Matzah to households

throughout Naples (sponsored by Chuck

& Michele Cohen). We also delivered

75 fully stocked Seder Kits-to-Go, helping

facilitate families and individuals

to partake in as close to a traditional

Seder as possible. Many rely on Chabad

Maurice Tordjman picks up food at Chabad’s

Drive-By Challah and Chicken Soup event

of Naples’ public Seder for their annual

Kosher Seder meal. As the public

Seder was not possible, we arranged

for dozens of families to get them their

much-needed Seder food.

On the spiritual front, we conducted

a Zoom model Seder, educating community

members who may be unfamiliar

with the traditions on how to conduct

their own Seder at home. Rabbi Fishel

Zaklos continues to host weekly Zoom

Torah classes and a weekly Facebook

live pre-Shabbat sermon. Pastoral care

was also tended to, with Zoom shivah

calls and one-on-one counseling and

support for those in need.

On a practical level, Chabad Naples

has been offering financial assistance

to some of the hardest hit in our community.

We have arranged a taskforce of

25 volunteers who help the vulnerable

in our community, from grocery shopping

and errands to referring elderly for

medical guidance and care.

Our Hebrew School and preschool

classes transitioned online with live

Zoom classes. Our talented team came

Sweet Shavuot treats and challah in a bag for community members

up with stimulating ways to keep our

young students engaged – from mailed

art project materials to personalized

one-on-one video chats.

Every Shabbat in quarantine,

Chabad has sent out Shabbat meals and

Shabbat kits to those in need. Our team

organized a large-scale drive-through

event offering challah and chicken

soup for pick-up. The drive-by brought

together 175 community members who

had the chance to reconnect from their

vehicles and enjoy some Shabbat treats.

One week we also organized a special

drive-through at a local hospital to show

our appreciation for healthcare workers:

110 bags of challah and knishes were

distributed to these heroes in a parade

that expressed our community’s love.

On Shavuot eve, we hosted another

drive-through with challah, pastries,

reading material for the holidays and

Yizkor booklets, sponsored in part

by Bruce & Jackie

Barron and Nathan

& Joanie Zuckerman.

Two hundred friends

participated. It was a

busy day at Chabad, as

that morning our Pre-K

students participated in

an exciting drive-by

graduation!

At Chabad, our

door is always open.

Although we wear

masks and observe social distancing

rules, we continue to respond to and

serve our community in every way can.

Our incredible community continues to

show up in ways big and small. If you

are in need, please reach out! Through

it all, we pray for the health of our community

and for the day we can gather

together again as one.

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos with their Shmurah Matzah Project and fully stocked Seder Kits-to-Go

Preschool of the Arts update

By Ettie Zaklos, Founder & Director, Preschool of the Arts

and Kim Jones, Office Administrator

n mid-March, when COVID-19

forced us to close Preschool of the

Arts’ physical doors, we knew that

ife for our young students was about

o be very different. Like everyone,

heir world had turned upside down

vernight. Our staff rose to the occasion

n incredible ways to create a compreensive

virtual preschool program for

ur families – no small feat as face-toace

instruction and hands-on learning

hrough play is a cornerstone of our

ducational philosophy.

At Preschool of the Arts, we hold

longstanding belief that teachers are

he first responders for the children in

heir care. In the throes of the pandemic,

s emergency personnel and essential

orkers claimed center stage, our teachrs

and staff who dedicated their lives to

ducation stood staunchly on the front

ines. They helped young children adjust

o the new social realities, supported

truggling parents through the chalenges

of at-home care, and continued

o love and educate their students from

far.

Our school’s doors may have physially

closed, but our children’s learning

id not. Every week, our teachers preared

packets of materials, work sheets

nd lessons that were mailed to each

tudent’s home. We created an online

earning portal – nearly

vernight – where we upoaded

full video lessons,

esources and support maerials.

From story time to

rt lessons, we connected

ith our students through

he screen. Our three- and

our-year-old classes had

aily live Zoom classes,

llowing children to soially

interact with their

peers and continue to advance in their

pre-academic studies of reading, writing

and early math. After individual

daily lessons, our school came together

as a community for daily live Zoom

specials – gardening, art, music, science

and Shabbat specials that had everyone

laughing, singing and dancing.

Our teachers also made sure to

connect one-on-one with individual

students through scheduled virtual

playdates. Some students took their

teacher on a personal tour of their bedrooms,

others had tea parties, still others

practiced their reading and writing with

personalized attention. Through it all,

our educators continued to inspire and

uplift our young students – a safe and

steady presence during a confusing time.

The unusual school year culminated

in grand fashion with our one-of-a-kind

Pre-K Drive-by Graduation! Our Class

of 2020 drove up to campus in a great

car parade, each graduate decked out

in cap and gown. By turn, each graduate

stepped out of their vehicle to walk

across a specially created set to receive

his or her diploma, posing adorably for

their proud parents. We were thrilled

to be able to celebrate our graduates

in such an exciting way, and the broad

smiles and sparkling eyes told us that

the students felt the same about the

special conclusion to their preschool

educational journey.

After months of closures, and careful

guidance from the CDC and local

health officials, we are thrilled to

be opening for Summer of the Arts

2020! As our number-one priority

is safety first, the program has

been heavily modified to adhere

to strict health guidelines. We also

overhauled our curriculum to “Meet

Our Community Helpers,” with six

weeks of fun activities exploring the

careers of our frontline workers and

healthcare heroes. Daily enriching

A salute procession to NCH healthcare workers

GRANT RECIPIENT

activities such as art, sports and STEM

challenges are supported by the specials

our program is known for – dance, water

slides, golf, martial arts, science, soccer,

tennis, Spanish, Zumbini and more!

We are so excited to be back together

and once again offer our in-person

care and love to our dear children. If

this COVID-19 crisis has taught us

anything, it is that the POTA community

is strong enough to survive challenging

times and, despite everything, allow our

children to thrive.

Preschool of the Arts Drive-By Graduation Ceremony

Follow the Federation at www.facebook.com/JewishFederationofGreaterNaples/


FOCUS ON YOUTH

Temple Shalom Preschool update

By Susan Feld, Ed.S., Director, Temple Shalom Preschool

In preschools you’ll often hear an connect with children and families at a

Israeli song called “Zum Galli time when we cannot connect in person.

Galli.” This folk song was sung by Zoom virtual meetings have become

the pioneers as they worked in the fields the virtual connection to our beloved

in Israel to help them stay coordinated children.

as they made the desert bloom.

This past spring, Temple Shalom

Fast forward to 2020, and Zum, Preschool teachers rose to the challenge

now Zoom, has taken on a whole new of engaging our young learners using

meaning. Now when we refer to zoom, technology that, at first glance, might

we do not mean the delightful children’s not have been age appropriate. But our

tune, but to an indicator of how we creative teachers presented lessons,

both academic and social, continuing to

incorporate our curriculum of hands-on

learning. Children continued learning

math, science, reading, and also enjoyed

virtual scavenger hunts, pajama parties

and yoga.

Zoom delivered a means of providing

learning and social connections. The

Pre-K Graduation was also conducted

via Zoom! An outdoor and socially

distanced Photo Op was a wonderful

GRANT RECIPIENT

opportunity not only for pictures, but

for the Pre-K children to shine in their

caps and gowns.

Although we know the new school

year will look different, we are optimistic

about returning to Temple Shalom

Preschool for 2020-2021!

Temple Shalom Preschool graduation

Candle lighting times:

July 3: 8:06

July 10: 8:05

July 17: 8:03

July 24: 8:00

July 31: 7:56

SIGN UP FOR THE FEDERATION’S

WEEKLY COMMUNITY eNEWSLETTER!

Get the latest information on upcoming community events

and cultural activities, news from Israel and lots more.

Send an email to

info@jewishnaples.org

Candle lighting times:

August 7: 7:51

August 14: 7:46

August 21: 7:39

August 28: 7:32

Federation Star Publication Policy

The Federation Star is a subsidized arm of the Jewish

Federation of Greater Naples (JFGN). Its purpose and

function is to publicize the activities and programs of

the Federation, and to publicize the ongoing activities of

the established and recognized Jewish organizations in

Greater Naples.

The goal of the JFGN is to reach out and unite all Jews

of the Greater Naples area. While differing opinions and

points of view do, and will continue to, exist about many issues

of importance to Jews, the Federation Star will confine

itself to publishing ONLY items that report the facts of actual

events of concern to Jews and will only offer commentary

that clearly intends to unite all Jews in a common purpose or

purposes.

Critical or derogatory comments directed at individuals

or organizations will NOT be published.

(Adopted by the Offi cers and Board of Trustees

of the Jewish Federation of Collier County 1/98)

To avoid misunderstandings, controversies and destructive

divisions among our people, the Officers and Board of

Trustees of the “Federation” have adopted the following

publication policy:

Advertisements: All advertisements, regardless of their

sponsor, shall be paid for in full, at the established rates,

prior to publication. The contents of all advertisements shall

be subject to review and approval of the Federation Board

or its designee. Commercial advertisers may make credit

arrangements with the advertising manager, subject to the

approval of the Federation Board.

Regular Columns: Regular columns shall be accepted only

from leaders (Rabbis, Presidents, Chairs) of established and

recognized Jewish organizations in Greater Naples and the

designated Chairs of the regular committees of the Jewish

Federation of Greater Naples.

Special Announcements: Special announcements shall be

accepted from established Jewish organizations in Greater

Naples and may, at the discretion of the Federation Board,

be subject to the conditions applicable to paid advertisements,

as set forth above.

News Items: Only those news items pertaining to matters of

general interest to the broadest cross-section of the Jewish

Community will be accepted for publication.

Note: Items of controversial opinions and points of view,

about political issues, will not be accepted for publication

without prior approval of a majority of the Federation Officers

and Trustees.

All persons and organizations objecting to the actions

and rulings of the Editor or Publications Committee Chair

shall have the right to appeal those rulings to the Officers

and Board of Trustees of the JFGN.

Changing your address? Keep the Federation Star coming to your home. Email nricklefs@jewishnaples.org.

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY


27

TEMPLE SHALOM

OF NAPLES (Reform)

4630 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, FL 34119

Phone: 455-3030 • Fax: 455-4361

Email: info@naplestemple.org

www.naplestemple.org

Rabbi Adam Miller, MAHL

Cantor Donna Azu, MSM

Rabbi Ariel Boxman, MAHL, MARE,

Rabbi Educator

Rabbi James H. Perman, D.D.,

Rabbi Emeritus

Deborah Rosen Fidel, J.D., MAJPS,

Executive Director

Daryl Sissman, President

Susan Feld, Ed. S., Preschool Director

Jim Cochran, Music Director

Shabbat Services:

Shabbat Eve - Friday 7:30 p.m.

Shabbat - Saturday 10:00 a.m.

JEWISH CONGREGATION

OF MARCO ISLAND (Reform)

991 Winterberry Drive

Marco Island, FL 34145

Phone: 642-0800 • Fax: 642-1031

Email: tboxma@marcojcmi.com

Website: www.marcojcmi.com

Rabbi Mark Gross

Hari Jacobsen, Cantorial Soloist

Sue Baum, President

Shabbat Services

Friday 7:30 p.m.

Seasonal: Saturday Talmud-Torah at

9:30 a.m. and Shachrit at 10:30 a.m.

Rabbi’s Life Long Learning Series

Sidney R. Hoffman Jewish Film Festival

Saul I. Stern Cultural Series

JCMI Book Club

NAPLES JEWISH CONGREGATION

(Reform)

Services are held at:

The Unitarian Congregation

6340 Napa Woods Way

Rabbi Howard Herman

431-3858

Email: rabbi@naplesjewishcongregation.org

www.naplesjewishcongregation.org

Stephen P. McCloskey, President

Jane Galler, Cantorial Soloist

Shabbat Services

Friday evenings at 7:00 p.m.

May - August: services once a month

Sisterhood • Men’s Club

Adult Education • Adult Choir

Social Action • Community Events

BETH TIKVAH

(Conservative)


Naples, FL 34109

(just west of Mission Square Plaza)

Phone: 434-1818

Email: office@bethtikvah.us

Website: www.bethtikvahnaples.org

Rabbi Ammos Chorny

Shelley Goodman, Co-President

Sue Hammerman, Co-President

Roberta Miller, Secretary

Shabbat Services

Friday evenings at 6:15 p.m.

Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m.

Youth Education

Adult Education

Community Events

Sisterhood • Men’s Club • Adult Education

Havurot • Youth Groups • Religious School

Judaic Library • Hebrew School • Preschool

Adult Choir • Social Action • Outreach

Naples’ only Judaica Shop

CHABAD NAPLES JEWISH

COMMUNITY CENTER

serving Naples and Marco Island

1789 Mandarin Road, Naples, FL 34102

Phone: 262-4474

Email: info@chabadnaples.com

Website: www.chabadnaples.com

Rabbi Fishel Zaklos

Dr. Arthur Seigel, President

Ettie Zaklos, Education Director

Shabbat Services

Shabbat - Saturday 10am

• Camp Gan Israel • Hebrew School

• Preschool of the Arts

• Jewish Women’s Circle

• Adult Education • Bat Mitzvah Club

• Friendship Circle • Smile on Seniors

• Flying Challah • Kosher food delivery

The Federation Star is published

monthly, September through July,

by the Jewish Federation

of Greater Naples.

2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road

Suite 2201

Naples, FL 34109-0613

Phone: 239-263-4205

Fax: 239-263-3813

E-mail: info@jewishnaples.org

Website: www.jewishnaples.org

Volume 29, No. 10

July/August 2020

28 pages

USPS Permit No. 419

Publisher:


Editor:

Ted Epstein, 239-249-0699

fedstar18@gmail.com

Design:

Federation Media Group, Inc.

Advertising:

Joy Walker

941-284-0520

September 2020 Issue Deadlines:

Editorial: August 3

Advertising: August 7

Send news stories to:

fedstar18@gmail.com

Yo, Sugar Baby!

No Snickers, please.

We’ve a message for you.

FreshenUp, Smarties.

Give a little Extra is what

we’d like you to do.

There are Good ’n Plenty of

Goobers, Dum Dums and Zeros

But we’re looking for

Sweethearts and Sugar Daddys

Who’ll be our heroes.

Now Gummy Bear down

on what we say

’Cause we know out there

There’s a Milky Way.

Doesn’t take a Millionaire

or 100 Grand

To spread a little Almond Joy

Throughout the land.

Even little Chicklets

Candy

Rapper

Are real Lifesavers.

Giving techniques come in

Many different flavors.

So start today

With a real Icebreaker –

A gift or bequest

for Now & Later.

With a Sweet Escape

from the tax man’s toll

You can be Carefree,

you’re on a Tootsie Roll.

An endowment with the Federation

Is a wonderful spot

To avoid a tax Crunch

When your stocks are Red Hot.

You can be among the stars

Shining brightly, just like Mars.

We’d love to acknowledge your

gift…

To M&Ms (Mr. and Mrs.)

We’ll even send you

Hugs and Kisses

For more information on gift planning,

call Jeffrey Feld, President/CEO,

at 239.263.4205.

Tikkun Olam

www.jewishnaples.org

Jewish

Organizations

to Serve You

in Greater Naples

(All area codes are 239 unless otherwise noted.)


Phone: 263-4205 • Fax: 263-3813

Website: www.jewishnaples.org

Email: info@jewishnaples.org

• Federation Board Chair: Jane Schiff

• Federation President/CEO: Jeffrey Feld

American Jewish Committee

• Regional Dir: Brian Lipton, 941-365-4955

American Technion Society

• Chapter Dir: Kelley Whiter, 561-395-7206

Friends of the IDF

• Exec. Dir.: Dina Ben Ari, 305-354-8233

GenShoah SWFL

• President: Ida Margolis, 963-9347

Collier/Lee Chapter of Hadassah

• President: Diane Schwartz, 732-539-4011

Holocaust Museum &

Cohen Education Center

• President/CEO: Susan Suarez, 263-9200

Israel Bonds

• Monica DiGiovanni, 727-282-1124

Jewish Historical Society

of Southwest Florida

• President: Marina Berkovich, 566-1771

Jewish National Fund

• Joshua Mellits, 941-462-1330 x865

Jewish War Veterans Post 202

• Commander, Harvey Sturm, 261-3270

• Senior Vice Commander,

Marty Rubin, 716-863-5778

Men’s Cultural Alliance

• President: Les Nizin, 653-9259

Naples BBYO

• Jessica Zimmerman, 263-4205

Naples Friends of American Magen

David Adom (MDA)

• SE Reg Dir: Joel Silberman, 954-457-9766

Naples Senior Center at JFCS

Phone: 325-4444

• Chairperson: Alan S. Jaffe

• President/CEO: Dr. Jaclynn Faffer

Women’s Cultural Alliance

• President: Elaine Soffer, 431-7905

Zionist Organization of America

• President: Jerry Sobel, 914-329-1024

Federation Membership

According to the bylaws of the Jewish Federation of Greater

Naples, members are those individuals who make an annual

gift of $36 or more to the Federation’s Annual Community

Campaign. For more information, please call Julie Hartline,

Annual Campaign Director, at 239.263.4205.

The Federation Star is a monthly nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers,

committed advertisers and the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.


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