Jacksonville Jewish News December 2014

The Women’s Division will hold its annual Champagne Brunch on Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Jacksonville Marriott. The Champagne Brunch is open to all women in our Jewish community and is one of several fundraising programs that support the annual campaign.

This year our fea-tured guest is entertainer Andra London. Andra is a singer/songwriter who, through storytelling and song, shares her Jewish journey.

Event co-chairs Dina Fetner and Su-san Zyserman remark, “We are looking forward to the Champagne Brunch as it brings together new and old friends, good food and, this year, the fabulous entertainment of Andra London. The brunch is always a wonderful and inspiring start to the Women’s Division Annual Campaign.”

Dina and Susan are joined by brunch committee: Arlene Adelson, Lauren Block, Karen Gare, Jeanine Rogozinski, Christy Rosen, Marcy Sandler and Rena Schochet.

Andra London is well-known for her 12-year run as a member of the Jewish pop trio Visions. Affectionately nick-named the Jewish Destiny’s Child by the press, Andra and Visions recorded

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CHANUKAHCheck out what the community plans for Chanukah. pgs. 6, 12, 17

CAMPAIGNSisiskys hold Major Gifts event on Jan 24. page 3

TIKKUN OLAMMaking incredible impacts page 19

December 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pages

FEDERATIONJEWISHOF JACKSONVILLE

A publication of the

See JAVA, p. 18

Join us for Jewish Java — Chanukah style

Entertainer sings her Jewish story; inspires us to remember ours

Join us for Jewish Java- Chanukah Style on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 9-10:30 a.m., at Village Bread Café, 10111 San Jose Blvd.

This monthly coffee and schmooz-ing program continually attracts new people. We are delighted that a group of regulars, who are active people of our community, are always there to share the latest happenings in the Jewish com-munity. If you are new to the area, been here awhile and want to reconnect, you are welcome to join us.

The food and service are excel-lent, and we have a private room. As a bonus you will get a free cup of hot coffee with any food purchase. Bring a

Over 130 help kick off campaign

By ISABEL BALOTINShalom Jacksonville Director

Newcomers enjoy Java at last month’s Shalom Jacksonville event. From left: Jay and Susan Holiday, Martin Berger, Jim Kirschner and Helena Gandell.

On Oct. 23 the Jewish community came together for the Jewish Federa-tion of Jacksonville’s annual campaign kickoff.

Hosted by River Garden, over 130 people were inspired and uplifted by the stories shared by Dr. William Recant, di-saster relief expert and assistant executive VP of the American Jewish Joint Distri-

bution Committee. Guests heard countless examples of the extraordinary ways our Federation dollars are making an impact on Jews in need all over the world.

Additionally, the Federation recog-nized three outstanding members of our community with its community service and leadership awards.

Michael DuBow received the Joe P. Safer Community Service Award, and Nancy Davis and Daniel Miller received the Ilene Sari Selevan Young

Leadership Award. We encourage all donors to make their

pledge today to the 2015 annual cam-paign. You can make your pledge in the following ways:

• Visit jewishjacksonville.org and click on the “donate” button

• Call the Federation offi ce at (904) 448-5000

• Send a check to Jewish Federation of Jacksonville, 8505 San Jose Blvd., Jack-sonville, FL 32217

By ERIN COHENWomen’s Division Director

By ERIN COHENWomen’s Division Director

Andra London

See BRUNCH, p. 18


JEWISHJEWISHA publication of the


A publication of the

December 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pagesDecember 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pagesDecember 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pagesDecember 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pagesDecember 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pagesDecember 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pages

EDecember 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pages

EDecember 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pagesDecember 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pagesDecember 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pagesDecember 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pages

EEDecember 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pagesDecember 2014 • Kislev/Tevet 5775 • www.jewishjacksonville.org • www.facebook.com/JaxJewish • Volume 27, Number 6 • 20 pages

Photos by L. Tallis

page 2 Jacksonville Jewish News • December 2014 Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/JaxJewish

COMMUNITY NEWS

Jacksonville Office

Florida Financial Group4190 Belfort Rd., Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32216

[email protected]

Palm Coast Office

Innovative Financial Solutions PC, Inc.50 Leanni Way #C-4 Palm Coast, FL 32137

[email protected]

Mark H. Kraus, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®

Financial Advisor, Registered Representative

Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®)

Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®)

Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL®)

Focusing On:

Wealth Accumulation Strategies

Investments & Annuities

Retirement & Executive Benefit Planning

Estate Conservation & Planning Strategies

Life, Long-Term Care & Disability Insurance

Business Succession Planning

Charitable Giving & Legacy Planning

“I can help you achieve your lifetime and legacy goals.”

Life, Long-Term Care & Disability

Over 250 Jewish National Fund supporters attended the 2014 Bernard Selevan Tree of

Life™ Award Dinner at the Jacksonville Jewish Center on Oct. 21 to honor Lilo and Harry Frisch with JNF’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

By Jewish National Fund David Stein and Gary Chartrand presented the award to the couple in honor of their exceptional senior community leadership, and their commitment to Jewish

and non-Jewish philanthropy and tzedakah through giving back to their community. The keynote speaker for the dinner was Gil Tamary, Washington Bureau chief

for Israel’s Channel 10 News. The evening also included an update on JNF’s important work in Israel from 2000 Tree of Life™ co-honoree, Russell Selevan.

Come join us for a return to one of our favorite locations, Clark’s Fish Camp. Marvel at the many lights and crazy ambi-

ance. It offers a full menu of quality seafood, giant prime rib and chicken in a rustic dining setting. For details, email [email protected] or call 221-8061.

By Jax Jewish Singles

A Jewish meditation/spiritual-ity group is forming in the Jul-ington Creek and Nocatee areas beginning January 2015. The pur-pose of this group is to meditate,

study and grow spiritually within a Jewish framework.

This group will meet weekly and will be facilitated by Rabbi Cohen and Sheila Lieberman. If you are interested please contact Sheila at [email protected].

By Meditation Group

Jewish National Fund hosts successful Tree of Life dinner

Dine with the Jax Jewish Singles

Meditation group forms

Photos by L. TallisHarry Frisch, Leslie Held and Lilo Frisch

Gary and Nancy Chartrand, and Linda and David Stein

Drs. Jeffrey and Dayan Sandler

Jacksonville

Grow your businessIf you want to reach a demographic with a higher-than-

average household income and education, the Jewish News is your connection. To advertise, contact Diane

Rodgers at 904-448-5000 x212

Jewish News

page 3Jacksonville Jewish News • December 2014 www.jewishjacksonville.org

• Athens Café• Beachview & Party

Rentals• Bob Ham Eyewear• Brandon Pest Control• Butensky & Cohen

Financial Security• Carbux Carwash• Erica Jolles - Magnolia

Properties• First Coast Mohs Skin

Cancer & Reconstruc-tion Surgery Center

• Florida Central Region of Hadassah

• Florida Theater• Jacksonville Jewish

Center Schools• Jewish Community Al-

liance• Jewish Museum of

Florida

• Margo’s Catering• Mark Kraus, MetLife• Orange Park Medical

Center• PaigeWajsman-Cold-

well Banker Vanguard Realty

• Publix• Ramada Mandarin &

Comedy Zone Jackson-ville

• River Garden• St. Johns Country Day

School• Stein Mart• The Artist Series• Thrasher-Horne Center

for the Arts• Winn Dixie• Business Directory, p.

18

Thank you At the Jacksonville Jewish News, our advertisers are pre-

cious to us. It is with their support that the Jacksonville Jewish community has a newspaper. Advertising revenue also offsets the cost of production, so Federation dollars can be dedicated to helping Jews locally and overseas. Please continue to live gener-ously and support our advertisers:

Community .................. p. 2Education ...................... p. 6Federation ................... p. 3Jewish Family & Community Services... p. 14 Jewish Community Foundation ................ p. 17

Jewish Community Alliance ....................... p. 15Lifecycles ..................... p. 18Obituaries .................... p. 18River Garden ............... p. 16Synagogues ................ p. 12Women’s page ............ p. 4

For your advertising needs, please contact advertising sales representative Barbara Nykerk at 904.733.4179 or Eta Perras at 904.629.0466.

COMMUNITY/FEDERATION NEWS

What’s inside

The Jewish Community Alliance is looking for Jewish teen athletes, ages 13 to 16, to participate in Maccabi Games 2015. The event, sponsored by the JCC Association of North America, will be hosted in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Aug. 9, through Friday, Aug. 19, 2015.

Participants of the Maccabi Games converge at various sites around the world for a week of sports competition, social activities and Judaic programming. Athletes can try for a number of sporting events including: basketball, soccer, lacrosse, boys’ baseball, girls’ softball, girls’ volleyball, swimming, tennis, golf and table tennis.

The event also includes daily social gatherings, such as

visits to an amusement park, a water park and a movie outing. Additionally, athletes work on a collaborative mitzvah project, such as decorating sweatbands for special-needs athletes and making medals for wounded soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces – a continued Maccabi Games tradition of giving back.

Youth athletes in the Mac-cabi Games enjoy an experi-ence that is invaluable and rewarding. The JCA would like to share this opportunity with Jewish teens in Jacksonville and the surrounding area.

If you are interested in par-ticipating, please contact Rio Robinson with your preferred sport(s) at 730-2100, ext. 250 or email at [email protected] by Nov. 20.

For selected athletes, there will be a non-refundable $300 deposit due by Dec. 1.

By IMAN BYFIELDJewish Community Alliance

2015 Campaign Chair Sandy Zimmerman announced that the Jewish Federation of Jack-sonville’s Annual Major Gifts Event will take place on Satur-day evening, Jan. 24, at the Ep-ping Forest home of Kimberly and Richard Sisisky.

Each year, this fundraising meeting brings together donors with minimum contributions to

the annual campaign of $5,000. The major gifts division brings in over 80 percent of the dollars raised each year.

The special guest speaker at the Jan. 24 dinner will be Michael Siegal, chair of the board of the Jewish Federations of North America.

Invitations for this event will be in the mail in late De-cember.

For more information, please contact executive director, Alan Margolies, at 904-448-5000, ext 207.

By Jewish Federation of Jacksonville “Tell me and I’ll forgetShow me and I’ll rememberInvolve me and I’ll under-

stand.”(Author Unknown)

When I want to remember an aphorism, quotation, a line in a prayer book or other words of wisdom that inspire me, I gener-ally save them in my favorite file folder in the computer called Worth Quoting. Over the years, I’ve compiled hundreds of say-ings and anecdotes that have in-spired me at one time or another. The opening quote is one of my newest additions.

When you re-read the quote, and I apologize for not know-

ing the author, you can see how simple words can say so much and how actions can make the difference. For those of us who are long-time members of the Jewish community, we’ve had many opportunities to greet newcomers, tell them about the community, invite them to events and show off our synagogues and agencies.

However, until they really get involved and volunteer, share their time, talents and even finan-cial commitments, only then will they really begin to understand the missions of the various orga-nizations. It is our responsibility to be their guides and to encour-age their involvement.

If you are a newcomer read-ing this, my advice to you is to accept as many invitations as

possible. Meet as many people as you can and befriend those with whom you are comfortable. See for yourself, in this free Federa-tion newspaper, all the programs the Jewish Federation supports for our community and Israel. Consider joining a synagogue and/or the JCA.

Take the time to volunteer for a committee and I promise you’ll meet very interesting, friendly and dedicated people who are sure to inspire you. We are so glad you moved to Jacksonville; not only are you helping us grow in number, you also bring to our community fresh ideas, new energy and talent, interesting experiences and support of our schools and programs. When you are ready, get involved and you will understand.

We are excited to announce that three local educators will be traveling to Israel this December. Jenn Baker, Naomi Chase and Angela Johnson will represent our community on an Educator Del-egation organized by our Israel Partnership program, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Jack-sonville.

While in Israel, Jenn, Naomi, Angela and 20 other educators from our Southeast Consortium Partnership cities will experience Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Museum, from an educator’s perspective in addition to visit-ing wonderful sites in Jerusalem such as the Western Wall and the Machane Yehuda Market.

These educators will enjoy home hospitality in our Partner-ship region of Hadera-Eiron and make meaningful relationships with other Israeli educators who seek to create strong connections through shared professional goals.

We wish our educators safe travels and look forward to hear-ing about their trip upon their return.

Dr. Scott D. Warren is pleased to announce that DR. JAMES S. TRIMBLE (son of retired Dr. James W. Trimble) has joined our staff at First Coast Mohs. Dr. Trimble is a third generation dermatologic surgeon.

Dr. Trimble attended medical school at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. He completed his residency in Dermatology at The University of South Florida and went on to complete a fellowship in Mohs and Procedural Dermatology at Florida State University.

Dr. Trimble will be available to see patients for skin cancer screenings and surgery at our Belfort Oaks location, with plans for additional locations in the future. This will reduce wait times and provide our patients, both new and established, with more scheduling options. We welcome Dr. Trimble and look forward to continuing to provide our patients at First Coast Mohs the highest level of care.

FIRST COAST MOHSSKIN CANCER AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY CENTER

Scott D. Warren, M.D. • James S. Trimble, M.D.Lanai K.B. Cooksey, PA-C

6890 & 6867 Belfort Oaks Place • Jacksonville, FL 32216

904.296.1313

By ISABEL BALOTINShalom Jacksonville Director

By JILL ABELPartnership Director

Sisiskys host Major Gifts

JCA seeks teen athletes for JCC Maccabi Games

In an address to the St. Augus-tine Jewish Historical Society, Thomas Graham, Ph.D., profes-sor emeritus of his-tory at Flagler College, called for a nationwide search of letters, diaries and other documents in which Jews visiting Florida in the years prior to World War I describe their Florida vacations. “Jews were among the most literate of visitors to our area,” Graham said. “Surely they wrote letters and postcards home to the family up north describing experiences, both good and bad.” Those docu-ments have a great deal to tell us today about how Jews were

received in the final years of the 19th century and the first years of the 20th century.

“No Jew was ever permit-ted to stay as a guest in the [old

Ponce de Leon Hotel],” Graham said. But Jews were welcomed at other Flagler properties. Guests included French banker Baron Alphonse de Rothschild, Chicago shoe magnate Charles Schwab, and Mrs. Henry V. Rothschild of the New York shirt manufactur-ing family who helped

to found the city’s Mount Sinai Hospital.

It wasn’t until 1902 that Oscar Straus – later to become the first Jewish Cabinet member under Pres. Teddy Roosevelt – and his

wife were welcomed as guests at Ponce de Leon Hotel. While the first decade-and-a-half of the 20th century saw guests such as Isador Straus, Nathan and Henry Strauss, August Belmont Jr., Meyer Guggenheimer, Bernard Baruch, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Lewisohn and Jacob Schiff stay-ing in Flagler Hotels; only Mr. and Mrs. A. Straus and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cohn of Baltimore were welcomed into the Ponce de Leon Hotel.

Graham and the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society are searching for old letters, diaries and other documents relating to the visits of Jews to Florida in the years before World War I. Copies of such documents can be shared with the Historical Soci-ety at [email protected].

By Jewish Historical Society

Thomas Graham

Florida professor calls for nationwide search of historic documents of restrictive practices in Florida

Getting involved makes a difference

Jacksonville educators visit Israel

Annual event set for Jan. 24


PERSPECTIVES/WOMEN’S NEWS

Jacksonville

Jewish NewsDiane Rodgers, Communications Director

904.448.5000, ext. 212

Advertising RepresentativesBarbara Nykerk • 904.733.4179

Eta Perras • 904.629.0466

Communications CommitteeJon Israel, ChairShirley Bielski

Helen HillMichele KatzJoan Levin

Andrea MailRachel Morgenthal

Andrew OceanMarsha Pollock

Federation PresidentHal Resnick

Federation Executive DirectorAlan Margolies

8505 San Jose Blvd. • Jacksonville, FL 32217The Jacksonville Jewish News is published monthly. All sub-

mitted content becomes the property of the Jacksonville Jewish News. Announcements and opinions contained in these pages are published as a service to the community and do not neces-sarily represent the views of the Jacksonville Jewish News or its publisher, the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Jewish News is not responsible for the Kashruth of any product advertised.

Copy deadlines: All news, photographs, etc., must be received by the 6th of each month, and sent to [email protected].

Ad deadlines: All ads must be received by the 15th of each month and sent to [email protected] in pdf format.

It has been two years since 27 innocent people – 20 of them elementary school-age

children – were mur-dered in Newtown, Conn. As horri-fi ed as Americans were by this savage slaughter, most of us have moved on in our lives. We are neither callous nor indifferent, but unless intimately connected to the trauma of a particular loss, human beings are wired to get on with the business of life. For the same reason, we probably have not thought much in recent months about other tragic shoot-ing sprees in places like Aurora or Columbine, Colo.; Oak Creek Wisc.; or Blacksburg, Va.

Yet perhaps we also avoid dwelling on such tragedies for too long because they implicitly remind us of our own vulnerabil-ity. Newtown could be any town, including Jacksonville. The tragedy that darkened its homes and families in December 2012 could have occurred anywhere in our country.

The dilemma we face is how to struggle with evil, and how to maintain a sense of balance in our lives and faith in a society where such terrible things hap-pen far too frequently. Are we helpless and impotent? Does life have any intrinsic meaning if it can be snuffed out so easily?

Judaism does not sugar coat the existence of evil. As the biblical book of Ecclesiastes teaches, “Indeed, I have observed under the sun that alongside jus-tice there is wickedness, along-side righteousness there is evil” (Ecclesiastes 3:16). We ignore the blemishes of the world at our own peril.

Nevertheless, to live well we have to distinguish between liv-ing with fear, and living in fear. There are famines and earth-quakes, cancer and car accidents. It is our responsibility to develop for ourselves and offspring a

coping mechanism that acknowledges the world’s uncertainties because they are real. To teach our

children otherwise is not only dishonest, but crippling; pretend-

ing that bad things don’t happen, we send the message that life’s very real anxieties are too terrifying to con-front. As educator and psychologist

Wendy Mogel writes in her book, “The Blessing of a Skinned Knee,” “The world in which we are raising our children chal-lenges them with many straits and narrow places. We want them to have faith that they can make it through and leave the familiarity and safety of home. If we overprotect them, we enslave them with our fears.”

Equally important, the admis-sion that the world can be a harsh place opens the door to the pos-sibility of its transformation. As Vayikra Rabbah, a rabbinic com-mentary to the third of the Five Books of Moses teaches, “That human beings see not from the white of their eyes, but from the black reminds us that God cre-ated light from darkness” (Vayi-kra Rabbah 31:8). Good can and does emerge from evil. Every story and each fairy tale depicts a villain to be vanquished, an evil to be remedied.

But this is hardly news to our children. In religious school or at the kindling of the hanukiyah, they have heard the story of the Maccabees refusal to submit to the wicked decrees of Antiochus; in drowning out the sound of Haman’s name or participat-ing in our annual celebration of redemption from slavery at the seder table of Passover they hear that bad guys are real and can be defeated. From Pharaoh to Osama bin Laden, history affi rms time and again that those who would annihilate others end up destroying themselves. As God’s own witnesses to history, it is incumbent upon us to articulate this message to our children. In

moments of doubt and anxiety, it is our responsibility to reassure them and ourselves regarding the power of good to overcome evil.

Yet Judaism does not teach that the bad guys somehow lose on their own. The path from acknowledging the world’s suf-fering to its redemption passes through the fabric of our lives. Passivity in the face of evil leads to a moral and emotional cul-de-sac in which the only choice is between despair and callousness. In contrast, our tradition empow-ers us to be God’s partners in redeeming the world through acts of loving kindness. Rabbi Eleazar teaches in the Talmud, “One who engages in righteous-ness and justice is considered to have fi lled the entire world with loving kindness” (Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 49b).

Said the Seer of Lublin, a Ha-sidic rebbe who lived at the turn of the 19th century, “The truly pious individual is like a child who can laugh while weeping. Weeping by itself brings despair, while laughing by itself can lead one to forget reverence in God’s presence” (Nifl aot Ha-Hozeh Lublin). To wrestle a world fi lled with darkness and light, we must be the weeping child who laughs, the laughing child who weeps. Scared by life’s uncertainty, yet convinced that the good can and will triumph; pained by human suffering, yet more grateful than ever for the fragile gifts of love that are ours. As laughing weep-ing children, we can soothe the cry of the needy with a reassur-ing smile that we hear and care. As laughing weeping children we pray for the ability to pray for the faith to hope, and the heart to help. As we remember the yahrzeits of Newtown and so many other towns, let us recall the words of the Psalmist, the promise that we will help our-selves and our children discover the light within. “Tears may linger for a night; but joy comes with the dawn” (Psalm 30:6). In the long dark nights of winter, we shall be the watchmen for the dawn.

RABBINICALLYSPEAKING

By RABBI JONATHAN LUBLINERJacksonville Jewish Center

Reflections on the second Yahrzeit for the dead of Newtown

A tradition like no other. While for golf enthusiasts this phrase might call to

mind the Masters and its infamous 12th hole, it also rings true with the customs we, as communities and individuals, each hold dear. Whether it’s the type of food we eat to welcome Rosh Hashanah, the personal Shabbat experience we connect with, or the family customs we have for Thanksgiv-ing, traditions, as we know, are very powerful.

Traditions connect us to some-thing much greater than ourselves. They encourage us to link to the generations before us, to our reli-giosity and to our heritage. They provide a support network when we are feeling lost or lonely. And they heighten our feelings of joy during special occasions, as well as make moments more enriching, meaningful and memorable. While some traditions have been with us for as long as we can remember, others, to be part of our lives, need to be introduced and accepted.

In Jewish communities, there are various ways and traditions used to encourage individuals to make a lifelong commitment to Ju-daism and to ensure the next gen-eration of Jews. Yet, as last year’s Pew Study attests, there continues to be a decrease in the number of Millennial, Generation X and Baby Boomer Jews that affi liate with traditional Jewish institutions and fewer Jews defi ne Jewish identity through the lens of religiosity. These trends showcase that certain Jewish engagement techniques, no matter how traditional, are not working.

Learning from Judaism’s

greatest sages; who reframed the biblical ideals through the Mishnah, Talmud, and Medieval Responsa to respond

to the reality of the times; the University of Florida Hillel is rethinking its model. Starting with people rather than dogma, we are reimagining how to engage stu-dents with Judaism’s treasure box of traditions in order to make them accessible for students to engage in a life-long commitment to Jewish belief, expression and practice.

Sometimes the decisions might seem unconventional and maybe even the opposite of what other Jewish institutions are doing. However, we know that the current model is failing. To continue to do the same thing over and over again expecting different results, not only is the defi nition of insanity, but also limits us from our long-term goal, which is to ensure the Jewish future.

On the heels of the Thanksgiv-ing and in anticipation of Cha-nukah, we are reminded of the on-going balance between Jewish tradition and modernity. We, at UF Hillel, seek to be pioneers in the connection of Jews during their college years and to become the model for others to emulate mov-ing forward. To do this we must be bold. We have to rethink the ways we engage with students in relation to our times. And know, whether its creating unique partnerships, modernizing our web site and our building, or redefi ning how Juda-ism can play a role in students’ lives, everything we do seeks to build Jews on a lifelong Jewish journey of connection, growth and being.

Go GatorsRabbi Adam Grossman, CEO

By RABBI ADAM GROSSMANCEO UF Hillel

Hillel connects Jews during college years

Did you know that Florida ranks third after New York and California in the number of human beings bought and sold in the United States or that the average age of human traffi ck-ing victims is between 11 and14 years old? Although the hand-cuffs are usually not visible, human traffi cking imprisons individuals at home and abroad.

WRJ Temple Sisterhood will present an important and provoc-ative program on Sunday, Feb. 8, 1 - 3 p.m., at Congregation

Ahavath Chesed, The Temple. This program will be co-spon-sored by Jacksonville Hadassah, Beth El The Beaches Synagogue Sisterhood, Jacksonville Jewish Center Sisterhood, Jewish Fam-ily & Community Services, the Jewish Federation of Jackson-ville’s Women’s Division, The Freed Law Firm, and ArtWorks for Freedom. The program is free and open to the community.

Learn what you can do to protect your children, grandchil-dren, friends, neighbors and the community from the real dangers of human traffi cking locally,

nationally and internationally. A distinguished panel of experts in law enforcement, human services and human rights will share their professional experiences. You will be amazed to fi nd out what work is being done with victims and survivors of human traffi ck-ing, what efforts have been made to catch and convict predators, and what you can do individually or through your organization to protect our community from hu-man traffi cking.

For further information con-tact Susan Board 904-744-1256 or [email protected].

By Temple Sisterhood

The Sisterhood of the Jack-sonville Jewish Center will hold its second session in the series of Hot Topics on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Coves at 10:30 a.m.

As we will be celebrating Chanukah, our guest speaker Rabbi Lubliner will put a new spin on the holiday. Everyone is familiar with the dreidel. But how and when did this toy come to be associated with the

holiday? Everyone is invited to join us in a lively and entertain-ing discussion. If you have any, please bring with you a dreidel or dreidels to share with everyone. For more information, please call the Center at 904-292-1000.

By Center Sisterhood

Sisterhood holds Hot topic session

Temple Sisterhood presents human traffi cking program


WOMEN’S NEWS

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Two local Hadassah members were installed to the Florida Central Region Board on Nov. 9.

Aviva Kaplan was rein-stalled as PRAZE vice president (PRAZE being the acronym of Programs, Advocacy, Zionism and Education). And Lin Pomer-antz was installed as organiza-tion vice president. Lin – who has served in many capacities for the Jacksonville Chapter, including group and chapter president for multiple terms, and also as treasurer for the region – will be next in line to be region president.

The Jacksonville Chapter of Hadassah is extremely proud of this achievement as there has never been a Florida Central Region president from Jackson-ville. Lin will hold the position for three years.

The installation; facilitated by Barbara Goldstein, deputy director of Hadassah, Israel

Offi ce; was held during the Region’s General Meeting in Tampa. There are 22 chapters, representing 8,000 members in the Florida Central Region,

consisting of chapters in of Ala-chua, Brevard, Broward, Collier, Duval, Hillsborough, Lee, Pasco, Pinellas, Orange, Sarasota and Volusia counties.

By HELEN HILLJacksonville Hadassah

Temple Sisterhood’s 5th annual Mah Jongg tournament brought 100 women from Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Atlantic and Ponte Vedra Beach and Orlando. The afternoon of competitive fun was also very seri-ous as the proceeds will be used to purchase school supplies for Long Branch Elementary School, a Du-val County public school Temple Sisterhood has adopted and for scholarship dollars to enable chil-dren to attend Camp Coleman this summer.

Estelle Kleinman, Janet Gralin and Margaret Goldstein were the mah jongg winners.

At the end of the day, the children are the real winners. Lon-nie Derby, vice principal at Long Branch Elementary School, said, “I wish I could bring the Temple Sisterhood women to school one day. The children would be delighted to meet these special angels. I am so grateful to Temple Sisterhood, whose generosity

makes a real difference in the lives of our children.”

Temple celebrated Camp Cole-man Shabbat on Nov. 7. Kabbalat Shabbat worship was led by Camp Coleman campers whose interpre-tive readings provided the congre-gation with a peek into the impact of Jewish summer camping on the spiritual lives of the campers.

“Temple Sisterhood may be known for our baking and kugel-making,” explained Ann Stone, tournament co-chair. “I love to play mah jongg and have made many friends across the table. But the children are the most impor-tant. I’ll play mah jongg every day if it means I can help children de-velop into kind and caring citizens. “That is what sisterhood is all about,” explained Sheila Horow-itz, who co-chaired the event with Ann. “Sisterhood is about helping those in need. When we have such a good time doing it, everyone wins.”

If you are interested in learning to play mahj, contact Ann Stone at [email protected].


Temple Sisterhood sent four delegates to the Southeast District Convention held Oct. 23-26 in Parkland. The delegation returned with two awards.

Morleen Berlin, sisterhood president, is proud of the member-ship award granted to those with a minimum 10 percent increase in membership.

“We are not your Bubbe’s Sisterhood, yet we all have fond memories of special time with Bubbe. We are young and young-at-heart. We are working women who earn a paycheck and working women who do that most im-portant task of running a Jewish home and raising the next genera-tion of Jews. We are all women and if you have not yet joined,

there is no time like now.”Temple Sisterhood is equally

proud to have been recognized for the Cookies for First Responders joint project with the Center Sis-terhood completed last December. This award is shared with Wiatt Bowers, Temple’s Tikkun Olam chair; and Rhoda Goldstein, VP of Social Action at the Center, with the TIR students and all the other cookie bakers, packers and delivery teams.

Building on last year’s success, the mitzvah meals December project has expanded this year to include a collection of blankets, hats, gloves and scarves for those living at Sulzbacher. Donations for the project can be sent to the Sandy Miller Social Action Fund at The Temple. And meanwhile, start your cookie baking.


Maggie Anton, the award-winning author of historical fi c-tion series Rashi’s Daughters and Rav Hisda’s Daughter, is coming to Jacksonville on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Anton is a Talmud scholar with expertise in Jewish women’s history. She speaks to Jewish organizations all over the country about the research behind her novels.

Anton was born Margaret

Antonofsky in Los Angeles, where she still resides. Raised in a secular, socialist household, she reached adulthood with little knowledge of her Jewish religion. But over the last 20 years she has devoted her life to Jewish education, synagogue involvement and ritual obser-vance. Since taking a women’s Talmud class, taught by Rachel Adler in 1992, she has been an enthusiastic Talmudic scholar – all this while raising a family and

working full-time as a clinical chemist.

The Jacksonville Jewish Center’s Adult Education com-munity, partnering with Jack-sonville Hadassah, will sponsor a lunch program, as well as an evening program on Wednesday, Jan. 21. For additional infor-mation contact Lois Tompkins, [email protected], 904-268-4200 ext 146; or Liat Walker, [email protected], 904-372-7996.

By Jacksonville Hadassah

From left: Lin Pomerantz, organization vice president for the region; Leah ben Yehuda, Jacksonville Chapter president; Barbara Goldstein, deputy director of Hadassah, Jerusalem; Susan Laefer, president for the region; and Aviva Kaplan, PRAZE vice president for the region

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EDUCATION

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301 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139305.672.5044 • jewishmuseum.com • [email protected] Tuesday-Sunday 10am - 5pm Except Holidays

From a Coin Toss Into Politics: The Life of a SenatorOn view through March 22, 2015Sen. Richard B. Stone served as Florida’s second and most recent Jewish U.S. Senator (1975-1980).This colorful exhibit, including photographs, articles, and artifacts, illustrates the Senator’s fascinating story!

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The Chosen: Selected Works From Florida Jewish Art CollectorsOn view through March 8, 2015Art Basel Brunch: December 7thAnnual Family Day: December 25thCall 786.972.3164 to join today!This groundbreaking exhibition showcases a prominent work chosen from a cadre of Florida’s preeminent Jewish art collectors, featuring works from artists such as George Segal, Louise Nevelson, Alexander Calder, Nick Cave, Julian Opie and Hung Liu.

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The Atlantic Institute of Jacksonville cordially invites you to the Table of Abraham event titled, Mercy and Com-passion in the Abrahamic Traditions, to be held at the Jacksonville Jewish Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 6:30 p.m.

The purpose is to create an environment to allow new encounters and discussion that can enhance mutual under-standing and respect between people of different faith tradi-tions.

This is not a fundraising event.

Moderator Cheryl Tupper, vice president of The Arthur

Vining Davis Foundations, will host a panel of three notable in-dividuals from the Jacksonville religious community including Rabbi Jonathan Lubliner.

In addition to Lubliner, the panel will include the Rev. Kyle Reese, pastor of Hen-dricks Avenue Baptist Church Jacksonville; and Imam Abdul-lah Antepli, chief representa-tive of Muslim Affairs at Duke University.

For more information or to RSVP (required), contact Ka-nybek Ibraev, outreach coordi-nator for The Atlantic Institute at 904-379-2915 or visit http://theatlanticinstitute.org/jackson-ville/mercy-and-compassion-abrahamic-traditions.

By Jacksonville Jewish Center

Chanukah is almost here, and what better way to get in the spirit than by winning the grand prize of the annual Torah Academy Raffl e.

This year Torah Academy has upped the ante with two amazing prizes. Grand Prize is a gorgeous diamond bracelet, and second prize is $1,000 cash.

The annual Chanukah raffl e is a major fundraiser for Torah Academy, and every year it connects the school with its wide range of dedicated sup-porters from around the world.

Supporters from the Jackson-ville community join those from South Florida, New York, New Jersey, Canada and Israel to

make the fundraiser a success.The raffl e will be held in

conjunction with Torah Acad-emy’s Chanukah celebration. Chanukah is the holiday on which we celebrate the mainte-nance and preservation of our religious observance and our heritage.

Thus it is a wonderful time to contribute to Jewish educa-tion.

The raffl e drawing will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 3:30 p.m. at Torah Academy, 10167 San Jose Blvd.

The entire community is invited join Torah Academy at its Chanukah event.

You can purchase raffl e tickets online at www.Torah-Academy.com/raffl e or through the school offi ce by calling 904-268-7719.

On Tuesday, Oct. 28, Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten presented its 6th An-nual Early Childhood Symposium to an eager audience of educators. The symposium, titled Full Steam Ahead, focused on the integration of problem solving, discovery and exploratory learning into the classroom through the use of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Nearly 200 teachers and educators attended this year’s event, the highest attendance yet for the symposium. The keynote address, given by Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski, a nationally recognized science education con-sultant and teacher trainer, offered practices, concepts and hands-on

activities to demonstrate how each concept of STEAM could be incorporated into the classroom.

“Educational success begins with early childhood education,” Wehrell-Grabowski declared to the audience, noting that creativ-ity among children begins to wane going into middle and high

school. She stressed the impor-tance of a child-driven learning environment where children are actively engaged in the learning process, and challenged partici-pants to rethink their methods of teaching to allow for greater cre-ativity and autonomy of learning among students.


By SAM WALDTorah Academy

Torah Academy kicks off annual Chanukah raffl e

Teaching compassion and mercy in Abrahamic traditions

Block Gan draws record attendance


EDUCATION

!!

page 13Jacksonville Jewish News • September 2009 www.jewishjacksonville.org

SYNAGOGUE NEWS

David A. SteinJewish Community Alliance

on the Ed Parker Jewish Community Campus8505 San Jose Blvd. • Jacksonville, FL 32217

The J Institute . . . Something for Everyone!Boot CampJoin us for a six week Boot Camp class that will be fun, motivating, and that will show REAL results.Tues. & Fri., Sept. 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29, Oct. 2, 6, 9 • 6 - 7 a.m.

Buzzing with SweetnessNaturalist George DeMarino, former beekeeper from the New England area, will share the fascinating story of bees and honey making.Wed., Sept. 9 • 10:30 a.m. - noon

The JCA has two book clubs . . . one is just right for you!Well known local author Stacey Goldring is the facilitator for both of these book clubs.

Recreational Readers Tues., Sept. 8 • 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Night Readers Wed., Sept. 9 • 7 - 9 p.m.

Calling All Bridge PlayersPlease join us for a two hour session on “Jacoby Two No Trump” and “Splinter Bids” taught by Bridge maven Jeanne Harlan.Tues., Sept. 15 • 7 - 9 p.m.

M.E.L. (Members Enjoying Life)“Serving Our Country” Ed Mallow is a captain in the Navy Reserve and an attorney in Jacksonville who recently returned from Iraq. Ed will share his pictures and stories of his recent tour of duty, including a video on the last synagogue in western Iraq.Wed., Sept. 16 • 7 - 8 p.m.

Oy, My Aching Back!!Ivelisse Lopez, physical therapist with Brooks Rehab, will teach us how to best care for our backs through nutrition and exercise.Wed., Sept. 16 • 2 - 3 p.m.

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When Beth El The Beach Synagogue sought to hire a new education director it was hard to imagine it would find a profession-al cantorial soloist in the bargain. But that is just what a search com-mittee found.

“When the search commit-tee met Naomi Chase, we were impressed not only with her wide range of experiences and her obvious intellect, but also with her sincere passion to help Beth El to grow and develop,” said Marcy Sandler, Beth El vice president. “She can help develop our reli-gious school, to be sure, but she can also assist with confirmation, adult education, music program-ming and more. Her experience as an administrator of a Jewish day school will make for a smooth transition as she moves into the role of education director. As an added bonus, she will share her gift of song as our cantorial solo-ist.”

Chase’s experience spans Reform and Conservative congre-gations, and she is a member of several professional organizations including the National Association of Temple Educators.

“As I teach you, I will learn from you and, together, we will grow,” she said. “The congregation is very warm. It feels like home.”

Chase began her duties as edu-

cation director and cantorial soloist on Aug. 4.

“The hiring of Naomi Chase represents a turning point in the life of our congregation. Adding a full-time professional position for education director/cantorial soloist indicates that Beth El is alive and growing and that we are respond-ing to the needs of our growing community,” said Judy Poppell, Beth El board of trustees’ presi-dent.

Beth El’s religious school enrollment doubled last year, and it celebrated its first graduat-ing classes of confirmation and consecration students. For more information on registration, visit www.BethelBeaches.org.

Beth El’s new education director, Naomi Chase, visited Beth El in late July as a cantorial soloist.

Beth El education director doubles as cantorial soloist

Plans are in high gear at Beth Shalom for an exciting year. A successful open house and brunch was held recently and the congregation is eagerly welcom-ing all their new members.

The ritual committee is busy with plans to enhance the High Holiday services and to make the services more enjoyable and spiritual as well as more inclu-sive and welcoming to newcom-ers to the synagogue.

Our adult education com-mittee is dedicated to creating new and innovative classes and

programs for the congregants to enjoy and learn.

The membership committee has instituted a new promotion for new members for the com-ing year. Dues for newcomers to Beth Shalom will be $360 for one year of membership, which includes seats for the High Holidays.

Regular worship services are held Friday evenings, followed by an oneg Shabbat, and Satur-day mornings followed by a deli-cious Kiddush luncheon. Minyan services are held Tuesday eve-nings and Sunday mornings.

Sisterhood and Men’s Club are also busy planning for the coming year with exciting pro-gramming.

Beth Shalom Congregation is committed to building a caring, welcoming, synagogue com-munity that provides a range of opportunities for spiritual

development and the preserva-tion of Jewish traditions, values and culture.

For further information about the synagogue please call the

office at 268-0404 or visit our website at bethshalomjax.org.

The synagogue is located at 4072 Sunbeam Road.

Beth Shalom Congregation plans exciting new yearOpen House kicks off new year’s plans

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In addition to the usual courses of algebra, creative writing, and geography, Martin J. Gottlieb Day School’s middle schoolers leave campus weekly to engage in an equally impor-tant piece of their curriculum: the Mitzvah Program. Led by Edith Horovitz, vice principal of middle school, MJGDS students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades participate in a variety of activities around town designed to bring their Jewish studies les-sons to life.

The Mitzvah Program has a sound basis in secular educa-tional theory, as well. In general, middle schoolers benefi t from project-based learning, mean-ing that when they experience what they are learning in class it becomes real for them. The pro-gram also ties into their language arts lessons because students write about their experiences back at school.

“The mission of our Mitzvah

Program is to take our learning to another level. By taking our students out into the world to do worthy deeds, we turn each one into a mensch – a person of integrity and honor,” says Horovitz.

Because the Talmud teaches that we should perform acts of tzedakah for Jews and non-Jews alike, community service proj-

ects include delivering dozens of turkeys and bags of groceries to needy families at Beauclerc Elementary, providing Christmas gifts to disadvantaged children through the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation and Jewish Family & Community Services, and working with disabled stu-dents at Mt. Herman Exceptional Education Center.

By Martin J. Gottlieb Day School

Last month, students at Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten par-ticipated in a unique music perfor-mance and rhythm workshop with the percussion ensemble, Ohm Glocken – a trio of local percus-sionists and music educators.

The concert was part of an ongoing partnership between Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten and Project Listen of the nonprofi t arts organization, Riverside Fine Arts Association.

Since 2004, Project Listen has brought free educational music performances by local musi-cians to students in Jacksonville, seniors in assisted living facili-ties and the greater Jacksonville community. Michele Block Gan Yeladim’s partnership with the outreach program began in 2007 when current Riverside Fine Arts Association Executive Director Stacy Aubrey accepted the posi-

tion. Since then Project Listen has grown to reach more than 24,000 students from over 50 schools across the city of Jacksonville.

“Project Listen draws stu-dents in and presents a culturally unique musical experience that is often overlooked,” says Kyle Enriquez, outreach coordinator for Project Listen. “The program promotes critical thinking, allow-ing students to discover similari-ties between the performance and aspects of everyday life.”

With fi nancial support from corporate and individual grants and fundraising, Project Listen extends free concerts to schools across the community, offering an outlet to the performing arts that is not always readily accessible to the public.

“Our preschool children of all ages, including our youngest 1 year olds, are so lucky to experi-ence diverse musical experiences right here at the JCA,” observes Rochelle Golomb, assistant director of Michele Block Gan Yeladim.

By MOLLY SWEETMichele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool

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December can feel pretty chilly outside – and what better time than a cold evening to curl up with a good book? Torah Academy is giving the com-munity a chance to refresh its bookshelves and help the school at the same time by hosting the Scholastic Book Fair. Fifty per-cent of all sales will go directly to buying books for Torah Academy classrooms.

Torah Academy students and their families can purchase books during the week of Dec. 8. “It sounds real cliché, but it is so true – reading really is fundamental,” says Mrs. Nichole Deese, book fair coordinator, and first and sec-ond grade general studies teacher.

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to host a Scholastic Book Fair for our students and, of course, we are excited to stock our classrooms and our library with

new books, as well. Our kids can use them in their reading corners during the school day or borrow them from the library and enjoy at home with their families.”

Is there something great hap-pening in town for my family?

Of course, is what we tell families who are looking for fun, engaging experiences with their baby, tod-dler and preschool-age children.

So what is going on at the JJC and DuBow Preschool? These programs are open to the Jewish community:

Wednesdays – Family Music & Movement Class, 10 – 11 a.m.

You and your child will enjoy the rhythms in this class. You will have a CD to play during the week and then come together for a musical hour of singing, dancing, playing instruments and make-be-lieve. www.familymusicandmove-ment.com.

Fridays – Shalom Baby Free Playgroup, 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Come join us as we play, talk, sing, make a craft or share a story, and celebrate Shabbat. Moms, dads, grandparents and caregivers come with their babies and tod-dlers to socialize and play. Tell a friend. Upcoming dates: Dec. 19, Jan. 9 and 23

On Dec. 5, Shalom Baby takes to the road. Meet us at the Juling-ton Creek Public Library for a fun, Chanukah-themed Shalom Baby!

Saturdays - Gan Shabbat – This is a special, interactive preschool service especially designed for families with children birth to 5 years of age. All families are welcome to attend every Saturday at 11 a.m.

Sundays at the Park – Back by popular demand, we will meet at the DuBow Preschool playground, one Sunday soon.

Chanukah Parent Workshop – Come to the second Galinsky Academy Holiday Workshop for parents of young children. Rabbi Tilman will share details about this holiday; and Shereen Canady will be sharing songs, recipes and

By SHEREEN CANADYDuBow Preschool

By JEN WISETorah Academy

The Bernard and Alice Selevan Religious School at the Jackson-ville Jewish Center held its first Tot Spot this year in October. Teacher Karen Morse taught the little guests about the holiday of Sukkot through a story, a snack, and an art project. Each student had a chance to hang their own handmade sukkah decorations in the JJC’s Goldman Sukkah. The turnout was great, and the chil-

dren, many of whom are younger siblings of current Religious School students, were delighted to “attend” Sunday School like their big brothers and sisters.

The school plans another Tot Spot from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. on Dec. 14. The theme will be Cha-nukah, of course! This program is free and open to any Jewish child under the age of 5. Please contact Lois Tompkins, principal, for more information at [email protected] or 904.268.4200, ext. 146.

By Center Religious School

Offering family programming at Center and DuBow Preschool

Center religious school holds first Tot Spot

Torah Academy hosts book fair

stories to share with your family. Come join us in the home of

Falyn Shilts on Dec. 2, at 10 a.m.Another wonderful resource

that many moms enjoy is the Jewish Mom’s Playgroup: [email protected].

For more information about all activities, call Shereen Canady at the DuBow Preschool at 904-268-4200, ext. 143, or visit our website www.dubow-preschool.org.


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Most children will likely con-tract an illness at school this year. The fact is that schools intrinsi-cally promote the transmission of infections between students. Within the classroom, students are often in close quarters and share equipment and supplies. With so many risk factors present, keep-ing illness in check can be a futile battle. However, clinical epidemi-ologist Robyn Kay hopes to turn the tides on this fi ght and teach students how to prevent illness through hygiene and awareness.

Kay and colleagues from Baptist Hospital and Nemours Clinic visited Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kinder-garten in October during Interna-

tional Infection Prevention Week to educate students about germs and demonstrate the importance of hand-washing. In the germ buster presentation, students viewed their hands under a UV light before and after washing them, learned proper hand washing techniques.

A shining example of a St. Johns Country Day School student member of the Interact Club is Scott Goldstein. Scott, a senior, has been in the Interact Club for four years. As the Relay for Life chairman for two years, he was a member of the leader-ship committee to plan the event and helped to raise more than $4,000 for the American Cancer Society. He participated in the Relay for Life dodge ball tourna-ment. He competed in the Mr. St. Johns competition for two years and won the title of Mr. St. Johns in 2013. Proceeds from this event benefi ted the American Cancer Society.

Scott also organized a toy drive for pediatric oncology patients at Nemours Children’s Hospital. He helped raise money for the Stop

Hunger Now at the St. Johns Feed Your Talent show and fi lmed a video at the meal packaging event for the organization. Scott deliv-ered cookies to Ronald McDon-ald House for families. He also participated in the National Park Service’s air potato roundup.

Scott is the only male offi cer of the Interact Club out of 14 of-fi cers. Scott Goldstein has shown true commitment to community.

By St. Johns Country Day School

By MOLLY SWEETMichele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool

Block Gan goes germ busting with epidemiologist

Scott Goldstein: committ ing to community service

page 11Jacksonville Jewish News • December 2014 www.jewishjacksonville.orgJa

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LAROMMECHANUKAH COOKIES

With card

AMNON’S KOSHER

PIZZA36 oz.

Regular or whole wheat

With card

$999ea.

$459ea.

$299ea.

$599ea.

NATURAL KOSHER CHEESE

VARIETY PACK

24 oz.

With card

COHEN’S FROZEN

HORS D’OEUVRES

6-9.6 oz. assorted varieties

With card

ALLE’S KOSHER

GROUND BEEF

With card

MA’ADANOT BUREKAS

28.22 oz.

With card

$499ea.

$899ea.

$499ea.

$699lb.

Thursday, Dec. 11 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

1520 W. University Blvd.in Jacksonville

LAROMMELAROMMELAROMME

5

STREIT’S CHANUKAH

CANDLES44 count

With card

99¢ea.

Thursday, Dec. 11 Thursday, Dec. 11 Thursday, Dec. 11 Thursday, Dec. 11 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.5:30 – 7:30 p.m.5:30 – 7:30 p.m.5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

MEET

Jamie Geller

1514-14-Chanukah2014-ROP-WD-JaxJewishNews.indd 1 11/14/14 12:20 PM


SYNAGOGUE NEWS

Located in Orange Park, FL • Pre-K3 to Grade 12 • (904) 579-1042 • openhouseprek.sjcds.net

Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 • Early Learning Center

ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSEFriday, December 12 • 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

REGISTER NOW! Call (904) 579-1042 or visit openhouseprek.sjcds.net

This is the third year that the social action committees of Con-gregation Ahavath Chesed and the Jacksonville Jewish Center are coordinating efforts for all of us to do mitzvot. Volunteer opportunities have increased this year; there is something for everyone to do.

Once again we will cook, package and deliver about 500 meals for the Aging True Meals on Wheels program. We will have about 50 routes that need drivers.

We are asking members of our community to bake or buy cookies that will be packaged and delivered to local fi rst responders and police substations. Another 10 drivers will be needed to deliver these.

We have added many other opportunities for you to help this year. We will be cooking dinner at Ronald McDonald House in the afternoon and will need six

to eight people to prepare these meals.

We will collect gently worn or new coats, hats, gloves, scarves and blankets to be donated to the homeless in our community. If you knit or crochet, this is a great opportunity to share your talents and provide articles that will keep many of our citizens warm this winter. The Temple and The Cen-ter will have areas to collect these items for several weeks prior to Dec. 25. Please call each to get information regarding drop-off times.

For those who may prefer to support this mitzvah project by making a monetary donation, contributions to The Temple’s Sandy Miller Social Action Fund will help cover some of the expenses.

If you are interested in mak-ing any of the above deliveries, please respond to Wiatt Bowers at [email protected] or by calling 813-785-5012. Pick

By Congregation Ahavath Chesed

It is a joyful time of year at the DuBow Preschool. Walk-ing through our halls, you will smell delicious latkes sizzling, see colorful Chanukah costumes and gelt, hear giggles as children play dreidel, and watch little ones squish paint between their fi ngers as they paint a chanukkiah


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up for Meals on Wheels will be at 9 a.m. on the 25th. Cookie pack-ages will be picked up at 11 a.m.

Meals will be prepared and packaged on Dec. 24 at The Temple beginning at 9 a.m. We need about 20 people to cook

and package the meals. If you are interested in volunteering for this, please contact Rhoda Goldstein at [email protected] or 904-268-8124.

All cookies will be collected and packaged on Dec. 24, begin-

ning at 9 a.m. Cookies need to be dropped off at The Temple between Dec. 22 and noon Dec. 24. To volunteer to help with this or for more information, please contact Rhoda London at [email protected] or 904-268-9787.

Volunteering for Dec. 25 mitz vah opportunities

Chanukah comes alive at DuBow Preschool

for their family. The story of the Macabees is retold with puppets and song.

Our entire school from Doo-bonim (1 year olds) to Tzeeporim (4-5 year olds) will be on the Center stage performing favorite Chanukah songs in this year’s DuBow Preschool production, “Latkes, Candles, Macabees, Oh My!” We invite the Jacksonville Jewish community to a special show starring our preschool cuties on Dec. 17 at 5:45 p.m. Our Tzeeporim (VPK) classes will perform a mitzvah by presenting their program to River Garden residents on Dec. 15.

DuBow Preschool’s program for babies and toddlers is partner-ing with PJ Library for a special Chanukah playgroup.

For the fi rst time ever, we are taking our playgroup on the road. All babies and toddlers plus their loved ones are invited to join us at Julington Creek’s Bartram Trail Public Library, 60 Davis Pond Blvd., Fruit Cove, FL 32259. Please join us Dec. 5 at 10:15 a.m. for a special Chanukah story, songs and playtime.

RSVP to 904-268-4200 x143 or [email protected] by Dec. 3.


On the road with Shalom Baby


The situation in Jerusalem is volatile. Recent terror attacks on innocent Israeli citizens are tragic. Our hearts are with the victims and their families, and all the people of Jerusalem. Hadassah Medical Organization, with two extraordinary hospitals in Jerusalem, continues to treat these victims with speed, efficiency and, above all, medical excellence. We are proud of the invaluable role our physicians and nurses play today and every day in saving the lives of the people of Israel.

JOIN US AS WE PRAY FOR PEACE. Florida Central Region of HadassahSusan J. Lafer, President 3118 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33759813.294.8243 • [email protected]

Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.

©2014 Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. Hadassah is a registered trademark of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.

SAVING LIVESEVERY DAY

HADASSAH

Florida ad.indd 1 11/19/14 11:09 AM


JEWISH FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES 2014 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $288,000

448-1933www.jfcsjax.org

JEWISH FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES

JFCS Women’s Event features love languagesLearning your love languages

was the theme for this year’s Women’s Event, and what an evening it was. Held in the courtyard at the Aloft Hotel in Tapestry Park, women of all ages came together to meet, share, and enjoy a special time with one another.

The Women’s Event was chaired by Andrea Mail and Tammy Shumer. Their enthusi-asm and tenacity through social media resulted in an overwhelm-ing response in attendance. Approximately 130 guests shared their love languages by the kinds of love they give and receive. Do you relate to someone by words of affirmation? Giving quality

time? Or possibly by acts of ser-vice, physical touch or receiving gifts?

Ilene Schinasi, volunteer coordinator, asked guests to con-sider using their love languages in a volunteer capacity at JFCS. Opportunities include working in the Food Pantry, holding a baby, visiting a senior, even office sup-port. For more information, call Ilene at 394-5724 or [email protected].

By Jewish Family & Community Services

JFCS Jewish Services is ex-cited to announce the completion of the Holocaust survivor Cook-book, “A spoonful of Memories.” The cookbook contains stories and favorite recipes from survi-vors who live in the Jacksonville community and has been a joint

project of JFCS and the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School.

Just in time to for a Chanukah gift, the cookbook can be pur-chased at all local synagogues and at JFCS.

For more information, please contact Naomi Mirensky at 904- 394-5777 or by email: [email protected].


To recognize Jewish Disabil-ity Month in February, JFCS’s Inclusion Program staff, Cindy Land and Lori Wayne, along with Laura Bailet, Ph.D., Op-erational Vice Pres. of Nemours BrightStart!, have teamed together to bring nationally renowned guest speaker Jona-than Mooney to Jacksonville. Mooney will address the topic of disabilities and its impact on children.

Diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, Mooney did not read until the age of 12. He will share his challenges on what it was like growing up dyslexic and the obstacles he overcame. Mooney graduated from Brown Univer-sity and has written two books, “The Short Bus” and “Learning

Outside the Lines.”JFCS’s Inclusion Program

focuses on promoting accep-tance and inclusion of children with special needs in the Jewish community and provides the opportunities to fully partici-pate in the richness of Jewish education, culture, religion and social life. JFCS’s Coordina-tor Cindy Land works closely with children who are identified with disabilities. Counselor Lori Wayne consults with parents and teachers, provides commu-nity resource support and crisis intervention. She also provides individual and small group counseling to help with friend-ship skills, problem solving, and respect for self and others. Their individual work with students is short-term and solution-focused to help meet students’ social,

emotional and behavioral goals.BrightStart! is dedicated to

preventing reading failure in young children. Begun in 2005 BrightStart! is a manifestation of Nemours’ understanding that child health and learning are inextricably linked, and that reading failure is a major child health issue. To date, over 70,000 young children and families have been reached nationally by BrightStart!.

Join JFCS, Nemours Bright-Start! and Jonathan Mooney for this informative presentation at the Jacksonville Jewish Center. The January issue of Jewish News will have a specific date and time for this event. Mean-while, you may call Cindy Land at 904-394-5760 or email her at [email protected] for information.


JFCS and Martin J. Gottlieb Day School will host a Chanukah gathering at the Marriott South-point Sunday, Dec. 14, 2 – 4 p.m.

Featuring lively music by Kol Train, guests will also enjoy

delicious Chanukah treats along with desserts from the Holocaust survivor cookbook, “A Spoonful of Memories.”

For more information, please contact Naomi Mirensky at 904- 394-5777 or by email: [email protected].


Inclusion Program partners with BrightStart! Holocaust survivors and their families gather for Chanukah

‘Memories’ cookbook completed


For more information or to register for programs at the JCA, call 904-730-2100 or visit www.jcajax.org.

Vandroff Art GalleryThe paintings of Beth Haizlip

will be up until Dec. 3. Born in Charleston, S.C., Beth graduated from Florida Southern College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She is known for her vibrant, col-orful Florida landscapes, flowers and still lifes. Her artwork was chosen for the Jacksonville Jazz Festival poster in 2007.

Vandroff Art Gallery The photographs of Mark

Sablow will be shown from Dec. 5 to Jan. 7. Professor Mark Sablow earned a BFA from Jack-sonville University and an MFA in photography from Savannah College of Art and Design. He has exhibited his photographs throughout the United States as well as in England, Hong Kong and Taiwan. He traveled and pho-tographed Southeast Asia, pri-marily Thailand and Cambodia, for several years. Sablow teaches courses in photography, computer imaging and other digital media courses at Florida State Col-lege of Jacksonville. Two of his former students, Robin Steckler and Scott Blake, will also exhibit their photographs in this show.

JCA Film SeriesBased on a true story, “Es-

cape from Sobibor” tells of the revolt of Sobibor’s 600 prisoners, which led to the biggest, most successful escape of World War II. The film stars Alan Arkin and Rutger Hauer. This event takes place on Dec. 21 at 2p.m. and is free to the community. Reserva-tions requested.

Free workshop: conscious discipline

We are pleased to host parent-ing expert and certified Loving Guidance Associate Katja von Elbe in a special evening presen-tation exclusively for parents. Conscious discipline provides a proven and comprehensive ap-proach that will improve your life and the lives of your children. It empowers you with the self-awareness, brain information, developmental knowledge and usable skills necessary to create safe, connected, problem-solving homes. The date for this event is Dec. 3, 7 – 9 p.m., and is free to the community. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

Great biblical leaders and their relevance

Join Rabbi Avi Feigenbaum as he examines the life of King David and applies his teachings to current day issues. Advance registration appreciated. This event takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 7-8:30 p.m., and is free to the community.

Twinges in the hinges: easing arthritis

Is arthritis slowing you down? Join Lindsey Oliphant, JCA athletic trainer, for this small group training class that will help you decrease pain and increase musculature range of motion around affected arthritic joints. This event takes place on Mon-days, Dec. 1-22, 6:30-7:30 p.m. The fee is $90 and $60 for JCA valued members. Registration required by Nov. 26.

Functional medicine: What is it?

Join Dr. Jon Repole, holistic health practitioner, as he sheds light on this controversial form of medicine and how it can help you live a healthier life. This event takes place on Thursday, Dec. 11, 7-8:30 p.m. The fee is $5, JCA valued members are free. Advance registration appreciated.

JCA annual Chanukah celebration

The JCA’s annual Chanukah celebration is a big event. It will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and will begin at 5:45 p.m. with the lighting of our giant chanuki-yah. The festivities will continue with our famous kosher hotdogs, latkes and Chanukah songs and entertainment. We will conclude the evening with crafts, activities and games for the entire family.

This event is $15 and free for JCA valued members.

Chanukah holiday baking

Get ready for Chanukah. Make and enjoy traditional Israeli jelly doughnuts (sufgani-yot) with Morah Karen. This program is for children ages 3-6 (by 9/1/14) and takes place on Monday, Dec. 15, 1:30-2:15 p.m. The fee is $15 and $10 for JCA valued members.

‘The Wizard of Oz’JCA PAC presents the clas-

sic tale of Dorothy, scarecrow, tin man and the cowardly lion as they make their way to the Em-erald City in search of the wizard in our musical production of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Based on the original 1900 book by L. Frank Baum, this magi-cal tale is loved by children and adults alike. The showings for this event are Dec. 6 and Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 7 and Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7 each at the door.

Sunday morning at the movies

Your favorite classic films are back by popular request. Join us for bagels and eggs followed by “Lillian Russell,” starring Don Ameche, Henry Fonda, Edward Arnold and Alice Faye. This event will take place on Dec. 7 at

10:30 a.m. The fee is $8 and $4 for JCA valued members. Reser-vations appreciated by Dec. 2.

Pajama partyGet ready for some girly fun.

Bring pajamas and slippers to change into after Sit and Get Fit, and we’ll help you reconnect with your inner girl while playing games and enjoying a surprise or two. Pizza and other party treats will be served. Bring a joke or an old picture to share. This event takes place on Dec. 18 at noon. The fee is $15 and $8 for JCA valued members. Reservations required by Dec. 11.

Scrabble for allJoin us for some Scrabble

fun with friends. Hearty treats will be served and prizes will be awarded. This event is on Monday, Dec. 22, at noon. The fee is $8 and $4 for JCA valued members. Reservations required by Dec. 16.

JEWISH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE 2014 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $205,000

904.730.2100wwwjcajax.org

JCA happenings

JEWISH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE

Catch island fever 18th Annual Book Festival a success in JCA’s month of books and music

One could ask, “Ma Nishtanah?” at this year’s JCA fundraiser event. Although that question would be more appropriate for Passover, guests may notice a few differences at the JCA’s annual fundraising event on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. Chairs Pat and Ben Frisch and Mary and Jeff Edwards are working to make this a truly memorable evening.

Guests will enjoy signature cocktails and appetizers followed by dinner and entertainment, and there will also be a few surprises along the way. As Mary Edwards notes, “The JCA’s transformation along with the presentation of food and variety of entertainment will hopefully make our guests feel transported to an elegant evening in the Caribbean.”

This year’s event will feature a big ticket raffle offering the op-portunity to win exclusive vacation packages for two in the Caribbean. The Cove, which is part of the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, has generously donated a four-day, three-night stay.

Airfare and $1,000 spending money is also part of this raffle package.

The Baha Mar, a new premier resort set to open this spring in Nassau, Bahamas, has also do-nated a four-day, three-night stay. Also included is airfare and $1,000 spending money.

Thanks to the generosity of best-bet- Jacksonville & Orange Park, raffle participants can bring the spirit of the Caribbean to Jackson-ville, even after the JCA’s event is over, at a private, Caribbean-themed casino night for a group of friends at the casino.

Raffle tickets cost $50 each, or three for $125, and will be on sale at the JCA from members of the event planning committee and at jcajax.org prior to the event. Pro-ceeds from raffle ticket sales will directly benefit the Jewish Commu-nity Alliance.

Sponsorships, event ticket sales and raffle ticket sales are crucial to the success of this event. For more information regarding tickets or sponsorship opportunities for the event, please contact Lior Spring at 904-730-2100 ext. 318 or [email protected].

By Jewish Community Alliance

The JCA’s 18th Annual Jew-ish Book Festival commenced on Nov. 3 with a fascinating reading by author Kai Bird from his biographical work, “The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames.” The festival opened to a generous crowd with attendees filing in to hear Bird’s riveting account of the 1983 Beirut embassy bombing.

The book festival continued through Nov. 13 with presenta-tions by Ayelet Waldman, Eddie Shapiro, Ari Goldman and Jane Isay, including two special mu-sical performances.

Goldman and Shapiro’s readings incorporated musical accompaniments, an exciting addition to this year’s festival. Goldman, in conjunction with

the discussion of his memoir, “The Late Starters Orchestra,”

performed with members of the Boathouse Cello Choir. Shap-iro’s captivating presentation of “Nothing Like a Dame: Conver-sations with the Great Women of Musical Theatre” was preceded by Amy Allen Farmer perform-ing the songs made famous by the various divas that were inter-viewed by Shapiro in his book.

In addition to the keynote presentations, book festival attendees participated in Q & A sessions with the authors and purchased books for signing. All events at the 18th Annual Jewish Book Festival were free and open to the community. The JCA looks forward to the 19th Annual Jewish Book Festival and the opportunity to bring more great programming to Jacksonville.



RIVER GARDEN 2014 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $192,000

RIVER GARDEN SENIOR SERVICES


SYNAGOGUE NEWS

FOUNDATION 2014 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $50,000

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year, as friends and family gather from near and far to enjoy great food and good company. Recipes from days gone by are prepared with loving care so that those enjoying them will recall the memories of whomever passed them down from one generation to the next. Whether it be grandma’s pumpkin pie recipe or granddad’s seasoning on the roast turkey, nothing is better than hav-ing some of those old favorites.

Each of us has certainly come up with our own family favorites. My wife’s cranberry crunch is one of ours, and Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without it. I’m much more of an eater than a preparer. But we will save that thought for another column.

Here at the Jewish Community Foundation of Northeast Florida, we are always thankful to have so many wonderful donors and friends who have given thanks to the community through the estab-lishment of their personal endow-ment funds. Each fund is like a recipe. It has special ingredients that make it part of the family’s legacy.

Each one is a personal reflec-tion that has meaning to the donors and their families. Each donor, together with the Com-munity Foundation, individually crafts a personal fund that reflects the values, dreams and unique vision for the future. The fund is like a favorite recipe that can be enjoyed now and in future generations.

Endowment funds may sound intimidating to the average per-son. They are really nothing more than a simple document, usually not more than a few pages, that outlines the specifics of the fund and how it will operate. The key to a successful fund is one that addresses needs or programs now and can last into the future. Endowment funds are written to stand the test of time.

Here in our community,

By JEFF KLEINJewish Community Foundation

Jeff Klein

Money Matters: A recipe that lastsCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION

You are never too young to engage in acts of loving kind-ness. Hannah Swota is in the fourth grade, and she learned that one of her responsibilities as a Jew is to partner with God to make the world a better place. Armed with the enthusiasm of youth, Hannah and her mom began calling social service agencies to determine how she could help. Undeterred by the number of times she was told she was too young to help, she persevered.

Jewish Family & Com-munity Services embraced her enthusiasm and invited her to participate in their holiday gift-giving project. This annual event enables JFCS to provide holiday

gifts for their clients, over 1,000 children and seniors.

Last year, the Swota family was new to our Temple com-munity and participated in the project (we had a smaller party last year to see how it would go). This year, they are hosting a larger family fun day. Admission is one or more unwrapped holi-day gifts so the fun they have with their friends and neighbors can be shared with those less fortunate.

Hannah helped to choose the e-vite and the invitation list. She designed the games for the after-noon. She is anxiously waiting for the day to arrive so she can thank all her friends who are helping to bring smiles to JFCS clients throughout the holiday season.


Chanukah doesn’t have to be the December Dilemma, as it is often dubbed, lamenting its proximity on the calendar to the secular celebration of Christmas which outshines and outsells it in America.

On Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. I will be facilitating a Chanukah story hour at the Mandarin Barnes and Noble on San Jose Boulevard, where children ages 4 to 9 can hear a new book titled, “Hon-eyky Hanukah.” Stories, as the program suggests, are integral to Chanukah. I plan to engage the participants in a variety of activities based on this and other books for Jewish and non-Jew-ish guests.

Students are often introduced to an understanding of Jewish holidays through books. There are multiple stories woven into the Chanukah narrative. Some align directly and some less directly with the second century events that inspired them. According to one popular legend, after the Jewish zealots,

the Maccabees, restored their Temple to Jewish practice fol-lowing its desecration by King Antiochus, there was only one vial of oil left to relight the menorah. The oil should not have lasted more than a day and, miraculously, it lasted for eight. This, the authors of this tale tell us, symbolized the triumph of the few over the many, of the power of faith over fear. But Jews struggled in Jerusalem of 167 BCE with foreign rule, prejudice, persecution and internal differences within their own Jewish community. Many Talmudic and folkloric texts reference the events of the time to help us see the Festival of Lights from more angles, reveal-ing additional layers of mean-ing in historical and political context.

This Chanukah, I hope you will join us at Temple and around the community as we explore the many messages and opportunities that Chanukah presents. Together let us em-brace not the dilemmas but the delights of cultural and religious tolerance and pluralism.

By NAOMI CHASECongregation Ahavath Chesed

Do you have special memo-ries of youth group retreats? Temple is hosting the National Federation of Temple Youth Southern Area Region Winter Regional Kallah in Jacksonville during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, Jan. 16-19, 2015.

Our Jacksonville Jewish community will be housing approximately 300 teens for this youth group event. If you can “welcome the stranger” into your home, you can host! The teens bring their own sleep-

ing bags and pillows. You can house as many teens as you can transport safely, but no fewer than three teens in each home. No children of your own, no problem, you can be hosts, too.

All housing is single gender. Sign up at http://www.nfty.org/sar/about/winterhostform or contact Andy Morris at (904) 607-8250 or [email protected] for more informa-tion.

Thank you for making special memories and building Jewish connections with our teens this winter.


The SoShul Network of the Jacksonville Jewish Cen-ter is planning its third an-nual Chanukah celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 23. All 20- and 30-somethings of the Center are invited to join in the festivities

at Intuition Ale Works from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

There will be appetizers, candle lighting, shmoozing and some of the best local beer to enjoy. To RSVP, please email [email protected].

We hope to see you there.

By Jacksonville Jewish Center

In the fall of 1990, our founder, Alan Solomon, had an idea that Jewish people living in the beaches area may want to get to know each other and look for opportunities to get together so-cially. He advertised a meeting to be held at Fletcher High School, and a large number of Jewish people attended.

Social activities turned into holiday celebrations and, from there, a congregation was born. The name and location has changed a couple of times as the beaches area Jewish population grew and word spread.

The ideas of a few people

turned into a huge vision for the future of the first beaches’ Jewish home of worship. Land was donated and purchased; a manufactured building was placed on the property; and Beth El the Beaches Synagogue, located at 288 N. Roscoe Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, had a permanent home for all Jews to enjoy lifecycle events, Sabbaths, holidays, Sunday School, Hebrew training, B’nai Mitzvahs and more. In May 2004 Beth El the Beaches Synagogue cut the ribbon and opened its doors to a new, beautiful, domed cornerstone at the beach. Now we have the opportunity to celebrate that dream come true: a full-service Reform Synagogue, led

by Rabbi Michael Matuson, that welcomes all at our services.

The silver anniversary of our inception will be celebrated on Feb. 7, 2015, with a black tie optional, Putting On the Ritz Ball. Held at Marsh Landing Country Club, the event will feature an open bar and sit-down dinner.

There will be an orchestra for dancing, silent and live auctions of trips, art, and other fine and fun things. Levels of ticket prices start at $100 and table sponsorship levels are available, which offer tickets and gifts.

For questions or invitation information, please call Tammy Shumer at 904-434-2532 or Joy Shultz at 904-534-3926.

By Beth El The Beaches Synagogue

Beth El celebrates 25 years You are never too young

Chanukah comes to Barnes and Noble

Temple hosts winter kallah

Center holds Chanukah celebration

Before the clock strikes 12 on Dec. 31, 2014, be sure to establish your donor advised fund with the Jewish Community Foundation of Northeast Florida. Your “charitable bank account” allows you to transfer cash or stock now while supporting charities now or in the future.

Get your 2014 income tax deduction and take time making contributions to your favorite charities whenever you choose.

Jeff Klein, Executive [email protected]

904-394-0720

Federation and our family of agencies, synagogues and day schools are always in need of dol-lars to help them support current programs and to establish new ones. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if endowment funds were plentiful so that our partners wouldn’t have to worry or count on annual ap-peals to make their budgets whole each year? They could just count on the interest generated from the your fund year after year.

As we each gather at our Thanksgiving tables, surrounded by those for whom we are most thankful, consider starting the conversation about how your family could show its thanks to the community through a family legacy endowment fund.

Maybe your family wants to establish a fund that provides

Thanksgiving dinners for the poor or aged. Or maybe you had a wonderful camp experience and want to provide scholarship as-sistance to financially needy kids. The list of ideas is really endless.

Endowment funds are a result of figuring out what you want to do, what makes you happy and what is meaningful to you. Just like gathering recipes from loved ones before they are lost, endow-ment funds can be the recipe that perpetuates important values from generation to generation. L’dor V’dor.

On behalf of Mark Green, Community Foundation presi-dent; our Community Founda-tion Board of Trustees; and the Community Foundation staff, we wish you and your families a very happy Thanksgiving.

The JCF does not provide legal, tax or compliance advice. Please consult professionals in these fields to address your specific circumstances.


BirthsBria Indigo Blumenthal was

born Oct. 21, 2014, in Atlanta to Todd and Finesse Blumenthal. Grandparents are Sue Ann Blu-menthal and the late Henry Allen Blumenthal, and Lydia Scruggs and Rick Scruggs.

B’nai MitzvahZachary Steven Shainbrown,

son of Mark and Kendall Shain-brown, will be called to the Torah on the occa-sion of his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, at the Jackson-ville Jewish Center.

Sharing in the simcha will be grandpar-ents Arlene Shainbrown and Ina Richter, both of Jacksonville; and Jack Fallas of Houston; and many other friends and family.

Zachary is in the seventh grade at the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School. He enjoys fantasy football, music, video games, following current events and his-tory, attending sporting events, traveling, going to the beach and spending time with friends. He also enjoys swimming, playing on his JCA youth basketball team and participating in weekly mitz-vah projects at school.

Andrew Blake Williamson, son of Sheri and Wayne Williamson, will be called to the Torah on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah on Dec. 6, 2014, at Congrega-tion Ahavath Chesed.

Shar-ing the simcha will be his brother Tyler, grandparents Deanna and Mike Lissner, and many other friends and family.

Drew is in the seventh grade at St. Johns Country Day School, where he is a wide receiver on the football team. He has also been on the cross country and track teams. He enjoys many interests but his favorite is sports, football in par-ticular. He loves camping, hiking, kayaking and all outdoor sports.

For his mitzvah project, Drew collected personal goods for the homeless and participated in preparing, cooking and serving dinner at the Sulzbacher Center for over 500 men, women and children. His passion is to give back to the community.

WeddingSamantha Hecht and Ryan

Halverson were married Oct. 17, 2014, at Studio Square in Long Island City, N.Y. The bride is the daughter of Laurie Hecht of

Jacksonville, and Lou Hecht of Delray Beach. The bride earned a BS from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania and MBA from Fordham University in New York. She is an oncology rep for Eli Lilly. Following a honeymoon in Thailand and Bali, the couple will live in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Sympathy … to the family of Stuart

(Karen) Appelbaum on the passing of his mother, Sylvia Appelbaum, on Nov. 13, 2014. Other family members include her husband, Jerry; two sisters, Zelda Berkowitz and Arlene Mazer; and grandchildren Josh and Michael Appelbaum. Contributions may be made to the Jacksonville Jew-ish Center’s Martin J. Gottlieb Day School.

… to the family of Randi (Sam) Rogozinski on the pass-ing of her father, Harvey Starsky, on Nov. 13, 2013. Other family members include Arlene Starsky; daughter Lori (Larry) Schwartz; and grandchildren Jessica, Dana and Max Rogozinski, and Har-rison, Sara and Mark Schwartz. Contributions may be made to the Jacksonville Jewish Center or to the River Garden Senior Services.

To submit an item for life-cycles, please email it to [email protected]. Deadline is the 6th of the month.

LIFECYCLES/FEDERATION NEWS

BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY

Tax Return Preparation Tax Planning Representation Before The IRS Bookkeeping and Accounting

Gary Rothman Andrew OceanJoan PalmerSaul Schmelzer

(904) 565-1588www.TheTaxmanIRS.com(904) 565-1588(904) 565-1588

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Project CoordinatorThe Jewish Community Foundation North-

east Florida is seeking an experienced, cre-ative and detail-oriented individual to be part of a small team to grow the Foundation in assets under management and in visibility in the community.

This position will be responsible for updat-ing the Foundation website and other social media as well as public relations including news releases, brochures and other marketing pieces. The position will also include gen-eral office administration such as developing reports and updating office databases.

The ideal candidate will have 5 years of progressive experience in marketing, public relations or event planning. Experience in office database management and a financial background are required. For a detailed job descrip-tion or to apply for this position please forward your resume to [email protected].

wrapped grab bag gift that is no more than $3. Let’s get into the

Chanukah spirit.For RSVP or more infor-

mation, please contact Isabel Balotin, 904-448-5000 x206 or [email protected].

JAVAContinued from p. 1

BRUNCHContinued from p. 1four albums that topped the con-temporary Jewish music charts.

During her college career, Andra performed at Walt Disney World in leading stage and sing-ing roles during school breaks. Since her first stage show at age 7, Andra’s performing career has included two of her favorite roles as Hodel in “Fiddler on the Roof” and Anne in “The Diary of Anne Frank.”

She also performed for six years with the Orlando Opera Company Youth Ensemble, appearing in the main-stage performances of “Carmen,” “La Boheme” and the Broadway tour-ing production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream-coat.”

As a seasoned performer, An-dra continues to bring her passion to the stage through My Jewish

Story through Song, an uplifting program filled with traditional and contemporary Hebrew and English songs, a heartwarming and powerful testament to the work of our Jewish Federation. Andra shares stories of her Jew-ish experiences from childhood to young adulthood, paying tribute to the Jewish organizations that influenced her along the way.

Jen Plotkin, Women’s Division campaign chair, invites every-one to participate in this excep-tional program. “The Annual Champagne Brunch is a special opportunity to thank, inspire and connect with those women who have contributed to the Federa-

tion campaign in the past or are interested in contributing in the future. The brunch is a great opportunity to share with donors and potential donors how their generosity has a powerful impact on the lives of Jews in need both locally and globally.”

Cost to attend is $36 for the brunch and program. A $52 minimum pledge to the annual campaign is required. You have until Dec. 31, 2015, to pay your pledge. If you have not yet made your gift to the annual campaign you can do so by: visiting the website at jewishjacksonville.org and clicking on the “donate” but-ton; calling the Federation office at (904) 448-5000; or sending in a check to The Jewish Federation of Jacksonville, 8505 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32217.

For more information about the Women’s Division, please contact Erin Cohen at (904) 448-5000 x205 or [email protected].

Women’sD I V I S I O N

Ravin’ with the Mavens is a smashing successrGEN’s girls only event, Ravin’ with the Mavens, was a huge hit. The high-speed advice-a-thon featured mavens from a cross-section of our commu-nity including Shirley Bielski, Susan Elinoff, Kathy Kanter, Jodie Leach, Joan Levin, Kate Robbins, Kim Robbins, Lois Schlesinger and Judy Silverman. The program was facilitated by Marilyn Feldstein at the lovely home of Marte Wasserman and was chaired by Michelle Parg-man.

Geller celebrates ‘Delicious’ with rGEN and Winn-Dixie

Chef, cookbook author, magazine editor and food blog-ger Jamie Geller will be in town for a free special Chanukah event, Celebrate Delicious, at the Winn-Dixie at University Boulevard on Thursday, Dec. 11, from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Winn-Dixie has teamed with rGEN and the Women’s Division of the

Jewish Federation of Jackson-ville to spread the word about this program, which features a cooking demo, tasting, meet and greet and book signing with Jamie.

Geller is known as the kosher Rachel Ray and has a tremendous following of Jews and non-Jews. She is known for her bubbly personality and delicious recipes. This event is open to all, so please feel free to encourage spouses, loved ones and friends to attend. For more details or to register to attend, please contact Jeanine Hoff at 904-448-5000.

Save the date for rGEN’s family Chanukarnival

Save the date for rGEN’s annual family Chanukah event, Chanukarnival. Our Chanukah event is one of our best-attended and a great way for children in our community to meet each other, have fun and celebrate together. Details will be coming soon, so be sure to check your email or like us on Facebook at rGENJax. Not getting our emails? Text JAXJEWISH to 22828 to subscribe or resub-scribe to our email list.

By JEANINE HOFFrGEN Division Director

rGEN NEWS


FEDERATION NEWS

Informational MeetingSunday, January 11Home of Iris and Mark Kraemer4 p.m.

Come learn more about an amazing summer experience.Open to all rising high school students.

For information contact Jill Abel at [email protected].

Tikkun Olam teen travel

to Israel

Tikkun Olam

FEDERATIONJEWISHOF JACKSONVILLE

Have you ever wondered what kind of impact you could make on the life of an Israeli adult or teen?

Have you ever thought about the impact having an Israeli teen or adult could make on you and your family? It’s incredible, actually.

Through the Israel Partnership program of the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville, dozens of lo-cal families have made lifelong friends with our brothers and sisters from Israel.

Sure, I could tell you about the amazing four teenagers we have hosted over the last four summers whose families have become our family.

But, that is just the impact this program has had on my family.

Joanie Levin has hosted adults in her home for years. She shared, “It has given me the opportunity to develop amazing relationships with Israelis who I now consider to be dear friends. Spending time with them in my home gave me the opportunity to learn so much about our simi-larities as well as our different perspectives on living Jewishly here and in Israel.

“I look forward to seeing these friends when I am in Israel, and I stay in touch via the internet when we are apart. It is especially important to me to be in touch during difficult times such as during Operation Protec-tive Edge. Hearing from them regularly and knowing that they were safe was important for me. Sharing in the difficulties that the war caused for their families, gave me insight into the reality of life in Israel.”

Ilene Schinasi, who hosted for the first time last spring, shared, “What I think was most meaningful to me was the fact that friendships can be cemented so quickly. We spend such a short time together, but we real-ly do create a lasting impression on each other. I totally enjoyed the experience, which was very comfortable and easy. It was also fun to socialize with local members of our community.”

Jacksonville is fortunate enough to be able to host Israeli adults during the year as well as a delegation of teens each summer. Summer hosts open their homes for up to two weeks, and the experiences can be life-changing for the Israelis and the American teens and families.

Rebecca and Brian Schwam and their daughters Rachel and Isabel hosted a teen during the summer of 2013. It was the first time they had participated in a program like this and Rebecca said, “The opportunity to open our home to Inbar and be part of the two-week experience with all the teens from Israel was amazing.

“The program gave all of us a real perspective on the lives of teens and their families in Israel, and helped us forge lasting friendships! We know that there will always be a home wait-ing for us when we visit Israel as there is always a home here should any of the teens venture back to Jacksonville.”

The Jacobs family has housed teens and chaperones for the last four summers.

After hosting Vered Waks from Hadera, their daughter Sarah wrote, “The closest thing

to being in Israel is hosting an Israeli teenager. These past two weeks were full of amazing experiences that I will never forget. When I go back to visit Israel, I know I will have friends

there welcoming me with open arms. It’s an important connec-tion that I am so lucky to be a part of.”

These connections are felt from both sides.

At the end of this past sum-mer, Omer Simchi, who stayed with The Herriff family said, “Thank you for making me feel one of your own; your sister, your daughter and your friend.”

By JILL ABELPartnership Director

Making incredible impacts on the lives of Israeli adults and teens


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Jacksonville Jewish News December 2014