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Memorial For Miami-Dade Mayor’s Mother Held At Chabad Chabad Chayil Feb 18, 2025 Pictured: Barry Snyder with Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. A Shloshim Memorial Service honoring the life of Lois May Jaffin Levine, the mother of Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, was held this week at Chabad Chayil in Miami-Dade North. The program began with a heartfelt performance by children from Chabad’s CHAP Program, a daily after-school program for Jewish public school students. The children sang a song about the neshama, setting a reflective tone for the evening. Rabbi Moishe Kievman of Chabad Chayil then taught 2 Mishnas corresponding to Lois May’s Jewish name, Leah Malka, with a Kabalistic Chassidic explanation based on the teachings of The Rebbe. The Kel Maleh Rachamim prayer was led by Rabbi Zalman Gansburg from Chabad of Palmetto Bay. Mayor Levine Cava read two poignant poems her mother wrote shortly before her passing, offering a glimpse into her mother’s wisdom. Everyone there joined together in singing a chapter of Tehillim, followed by Kaddish and the traditional verses of condolences. The mayor was presented with a plaque representing a dedicated square foot in the new Chabad Chayil center currently under construction in Highland Lakes. Her name will also be on permanent display together with all others that are dedicated square feet or any part of the building. https://BuildChabadChayil.org The event, which drew community members and local leaders, exemplified the values of faith, family, and community that Lois Levine instilled in her loved ones. Mayor Levine Cava, the first Jewish and first female mayor of Miami-Dade County, has been a trailblazer in public service. Overseeing a government with more than 28,000 employees and serving nearly 3 million residents, she manages an annual budget of $13 Billion. Originally from Brooklyn, she was first elected as a Miami-Dade County Commissioner in 2014 and became mayor in 2020, securing re-election in 2024. The Memorial service was organized by Rabbi Moishe & Layah Kievman. Rabbi Kievman who helped the mayor place Mezuzahs in her office when she was first elected, and has made sure she has Shmura Matzah for her Passover Seders said that: “We are lucky to have a mayor who understands the needs of each community and makes it her business to do whatever she can to help. When there was an issue with the Jewish schools throughout the county being faced with a choice of either opening up their schools to everyone, thus losing their identity, or to give up on funding, we turned to Mayor Levine Cava. The mayor called all involved parties to that meeting and made sure all issues were resolved before the meeting finished. Can you imagine the nachas of hundreds of Jewish children being able to attend Jewish schools, given to her late mother?” The memorial ended with the mayor together with everyone there making blessings on different types of food. Giving hundreds of merits to her mother's soul. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava talking with Rabbi and Layah Kievman and Avremel. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava accepts the plaque: https://BuildChabadChayil.org Kievman family with Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Previous Next

Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Presents The Shvesters & More: Transforming classic Yiddish and Jewish melodies into Sophisticated, Contemporary Harmonic Arrangements Photo Credit Broward Center for the Performing Arts Feb 18, 2025 The City of Aventura has an entertaining Lineup in store for you featuring Yiddish and Jewish melodies, a Piano Festival with Ilya Itin and more. This celebration of talent and artistry promises unforgettable experiences for every audience. Timeless, dazzling, and distinctive, The Shvesters, transform classic Yiddish and Jewish melodies into sophisticated, contemporary harmonic arrangements on Thursday, March 20th at 8:00 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Recognized for their tight harmonies, soulful grooves and rich improvisation, The Shvesters (Chava Levi and Polina Fradkin) have gained a reputation for their unique, refreshing interpretations of Yiddish standards and traditional Jewish songs. The duo has garnered widespread attention, with media coverage from The Jewish Journal, Voice of America, and The Grammys and sold-out concert halls in New York, Paris, Tel Avivnand beyond. The Shvesters are finally bringing their music to the stage in Aventura, supported by pianist Moshe Elmakias, with a performance that is sure to transport the audience to another world. Miami International Piano Festival presents Ilya Itin, known for his extraordinary range, power, quality of sound and command of the piano, on Sunday, March 23rd at 5:00 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Since capturing the Gold Medal, BBC Audience Award and Contemporary Music Prize at the 1996 Leeds International Piano Competition, Itin has performed throughout the world bringing his powerful musical imagination and mastery to wide ranging repertoire. Itin’s “Russian Marathon” concerts at the Miami International Piano Festival captured his historic recording of all 24 Preludes of Rachmaninov, and Prokofiev’s 7th and 8th Sonatas performed in one day. He released his newest recording of the complete Debussy Preludes on vinyl and high-definition audio in 2016 and his Princeton recital in July 2015 that featured beloved works by Rachmaninov and Scriabin will also be released as a state-of-the-art high-definition recording of the live performance. London's Daily Telegraph reported, "Itin’s is a rare and exciting artistry indeed … Poised, pure, and ravishing in its range of colour, Itin’s playing is a prime example of a superb technique put at the service of an inquiring and imaginative mind.” Tickets to all shows are on sale now. Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Buy tickets online at: www.aventuracenter.org - By phone at: (877) 311-7469. Or: (954) 462-0222. Or in person at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center box office Wednesday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. Noon to 5:00 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance. For Group Sales, please call: (954) 660-6307. The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is located at 3385 Northeast 188th Street, Aventura, Florida 33180. Join the conversation, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram @aventuracenter or #aventuracenter . The Broward Center for the Performing Arts manages the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, a 14,864-Square-Foot, 330-Seat Waterfront Complex that hosts performing arts, cultural and educational programming for all ages. Previous Next

The New Year For Trees By Rabbi Moishe Kievman - Chabad Chayil Feb 18, 2025 When’s the last time you wished a tree Happy New Year? Coming up this year on Thursday, February 13th, is a great opportunity to do exactly that. The day is known as Tu B’Shevat, and Jewish people throughout the world celebrate it as the New Year of Trees. Well, it’s the trees that will celebrate, but we’ll celebrate together with them! After all, the Torah says, “Man is a tree of the field.” We are nurtured by deep roots, as far back as Abraham and Sarah; we reach upwards to the heavens while standing firmly on the ground; and when we do all this right, we produce delicious fruit that benefits the world—namely, our good deeds. Since Tu B'Shevat is known as the "New Year for Trees," this would naturally be a time for trees to engage in soul-searching — the same way people do on Rosh Hashanah. Here is a tree's New Year Checklist by Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe which we have posted on: www.ChabadChayil.org/tubshvat • Did I shelter the seedlings that live in my shade — so they will grow up to be a next generation like myself? • Did I grow towards the sun as a tree should, reaching up higher and higher towards that which I can never grasp, but which nurtures me all the same the more I strive towards it? • Did I make sure my roots remain firmly planted in the soil that nurtures them, and did I drop my leaves there in the fall to give back life to that which sustains me? • Did I ensure that my fruits were sweet and nourished all that came to enjoy them? Did everyone walk away from me with a smile? • Did I bend gently in the wind, accepting what G‑d sends but never breaking or giving up hope? • Did I grow in strength and wisdom with each new ring this year? Come to think of it, it’s not a bad checklist for us humans either! Traditionally, we make sure to eat fruit on this day. After all, that's what the fruits were created for. And like us, they are happy and feel fulfilled when they serve their purpose. We try to include some of those fruits for which Israel is famous, like olives, dates, grapes, figs and pomegranates. But regardless of which fruit we eat, as with any food, we always precede it with a blessing, thanking G-d for sharing with us his delicious creations. The blessing for fruit in Hebrew is Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam borei pri ha-aitz. If it’s a fruit that we haven’t yet enjoyed this season we make an additional blessing of Ba-ruch A-tah A-do-noi E-loi-hei-nu Me-lech ha-o-lam she-he-chee-ya-nu v'ki-yi-ma-nu vi-hi-gi-ya-nu liz-man ha-zeh. This year we will host a special workshop on growing MicroGreens and Sprouts at home. It will take place on Wednesday, February 12th, 7:00 p.m. at Chabad Chayil in the Highland Lakes section of Miami-Dade North. You can learn more about this holiday at: www.ChabadChayil.org/tubshvat . We wish all of our neighbors and friends a Happy Tu B’Shvat! May all our trees grow forth beautifully, giving off delicious fruit! About the Author : Rabbi Kievman together with his wife are the ambassadors of The Rebbe to Highland Lakes, FL. They are the founders of Gan Chabad Preschool, your local CTeen & CKids chapters, CHAP - an afterschool program for Jewish children in Public Schools and direct Chabad Chayil. He’s the Rabbi at The Family Shul and can be reached at: (305) 770-1919. Or: rabbi@ChabadChayil.org Previous Next

Celebrating Celia Malavsky By Linda Chase - Jewish Connection News Jan 7, 2025 On November 2nd, 2024, Celia Malavsky of Hollywood, Florida turned 100 years old and her family gathered from across the nation and even from Israel to celebrate her. In honor of Bubby’s 100th birthday, her 13 grandchildren (and their spouses) and 38 great-grandchildren, all contributed to Jewish National Fund-USA to plant a garden of 100 trees in Israel in her name. Said her granddaughter, Shira Stein, “A tree represents life, growth, wisdom and prosperity. All of these qualities describe their beautiful Bubby filled with life, wisdom and love. All of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have been nurtured and have grown from the roots that she has provided to each individual in her family tree.” Celia and her husband, Rabbi Morton Malavsky z”l have fostered a love of Israel in all of their children and grandchildren and even facilitated many of their grandchildren’s first trips to Israel together with them. In fact, two of Celia’s great-granddaughters are currently serving in the IDF and sent special birthday messages since they were unable to attend the party. These 100 trees honor not just the many wonderful years of Celia’s life, but also her ongoing commitment to her family and the Jewish homeland. Photo credit her granddaughter, Shira Stein Previous Next

Hadassah Reopens Key Spaces - At Its Youth Villages In Israel Following Extensive Renovations By Linda Chase - Jewish Connection News Jan 7, 2025 Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, has reopened two facilities at its youth villages in Israel, which serve vulnerable teens and pre-teens, following extensive renovations. The psychological therapy center at Hadassah’s Meir Shfeyah youth village, near Haifa, will now be known as the Ellen Hershkin Therapeutic Center in honor of Hadassah’s 26th national president, who led the organization from 2016 to 2019. At the Hadassah Neurim youth village, near Netanya, the spacious, redesigned emergency shelter will serve as a secure space and command center during emergencies and a leisure and activity space year-round. The renovations were made possible by more than $500,000 from Hadassah’s crisis-response fundraising efforts following the October 7 attacks. The youth villages, which are home to almost 700 students and 200 staff members, are supported by Hadassah’s Youth Aliyah program. Ellen Hershkin Therapeutic Center at Meir Shfeyah Youth Village The Ellen Hershkin Therapeutic Center offers Meir Shfeyah’s residents a welcoming environment where they can meet with social workers and therapists. The renovation is especially timely given the increasing number of residents experiencing trauma due to the October 7th invasion and the subsequent war. While the Center is located on the first floor of the Meir Shfeyah administration building, the renovation encompassed the building’s entire exterior and interior. “I’m humbled to see my name on an edifice that exists solely to be a safe haven for our young residents,” said past Hershkin. “Children are a country’s greatest resource and nurturing them, which Hadassah does in partnership with many, many talented and dedicated professionals, donors and volunteers, is more than a mitzvah. It is holy work.” As part of the ceremony, Hershkin and Inessa Shlomov, the mother of Meir Shfeyah graduate Simon Shlomov, who was killed in February while serving with the IDF, affixed a mezuzah to the entrance to the Center. Emergency Shelter at Hadassah Neurim Youth Village The almost 4,000-square-foot shelter on the campus of Hadassah Neurim has been upgraded and outfitted to protect students and faculty from attack while providing a year-round leisure and activity space. The shelter now offers four large rooms – a Yoga-Pilates-dance studio, a movie theater, a student leadership room and a staff room – as well as two kitchens and two bathrooms. A nurse’s station is available for emergencies and the staff room has been set up to function as a command center in a crisis. During the dedication ceremony, which honored Hadassah Neurim graduates and family members killed on or since October 7th, those assembled lit memorial candles and recited a prayer for fallen IDF soldiers. Previous Next

Books & Books Is Proud To Present: On Being Jewish Now An Evening With Talia Carner, Dara Levan, Amy Ephron, Zibby Owens And Debbie Reed Fischer Pictured: Panelists Talia Carner Feb 18, 2025 On Being Jewish Now is an intimate and hopeful collection of meaningful, smart, funny, sad, emotional, and inspiring essays from today’s authors and advocates about what it means to be Jewish, how life has changed since the attacks on October 7th, 2023, and the unique culture that brings this group together. On October 7th, 2023, Jews in Israel were attacked in the largest pogrom since the Holocaust. It was a day felt by Jews everywhere who came together to process and speak out in ways some never had before. In this collection, 75 contributors speak to Jewish joy, celebration, laughter, food, trauma, loss, love, and family, and the common threads that course through the Jewish people: resilience and humor. Contributors include Mark Feuerstein, Jill Zarin, Steve Leder, Joanna Rakoff, Amy Ephron, Lisa Barr, Annabelle Gurwitch, Daphne Merkin, Bradley Tusk, Sharon Brous, Jenny Mollen, Nicola Kraus, Caroline Leavitt, and many others. On Being Jewish Now is edited by Zibby Owens, bestselling author, podcaster, bookstore owner, and CEO of Zibby Media. Books & Books Event Books & Books is proud to present an evening with Talia Carner, Dara Levan, Amy Ephron, Zibby Owens, and Debbie Reed Fischer discussing their contributions in On Being Jewish Now: Reflections from Authors and Advocates (Zibby Books, $12.99). Date and Time Monday, February 24th • 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Location Books & Books 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida 33134 Panelists Talia Carner Novelist Talia Carner is formerly the publisher of Savvy Woman Magazine, a marketing consultant and a lecturer at international women’s economic forums. An award-winning author of six novels and numerous stories, essays and articles, she is also a committed supporter of global human rights. Carner has spearheaded ground-breaking projects centered on female plight and women’s activism. Panelists Amy Ephron Amy Ephron is a bestselling and award-winning novelist of both adult and children’s novels. Amy Ephron has spent some of her life chronicling Los Angeles & New York and places in-between. From her Los Angeles Times’ Magazine column “Palm Latitudes” to New York Times T Magazine column “L.A. POV,” and Contributor and Contributing Editor at Vogue & www.Vogue.com . Some of these pieces appear in her collection, “Loose Diamonds.” Panelists Dara Levan Her desire to impact others through words began as a young girl. When her grandmother lived in a nursing home, she interviewed the residents and wrote their stories. She was 12 years old at the time and living in her hometown, North Miami Beach. Dara devoured books of all genres and still does but her favorites are women's fiction, family sagas, and evocative, life-affirming stories. Communicating and connecting with others continued throughout high school. Dara earned a B.A. in English and a minor in Journalism at Indiana University. Those four years prompted profound transformation. She will never forget those weeks. She didn’t fully pursue her life’s passion and purpose until 2017 when she launched Every Soul Has a Story®. The journey is all about the people she met along the way. What began as a blog has expanded to include a podcast, an inclusive space in which she interviews inspiring guests from around the globe. She's realized that we can write and rewrite our own stories. Panelists Debbie Reed Fischer Debbie Reed Fischer is a best-selling author and speaker, praised by Kirkus Reviews for “balancing weighty issues with a sharp wit.” Debbie’s father was a USAF colonel and diplomat, so she and her brothers grew up in many places, including England, Greece, Florida, New York, and the Washington D.C. area. Before the age of thirteen, Debbie had trekked through Egypt on a camel, floated on a gondola in Venice, played hide and seek in palaces and castles, gotten lost in the underground cisterns of Istanbul, climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa, hiked the Samaria Gorge in Crete, touched the pillars of StoneHenge, and much, much more. Through it all, she dreamed of writing novels and film scripts, and is lucky enough to have done both. She is grateful to have had an upbringing surrounded by many languages and cultures. Best of all, she had a dad who loved books and a mom who loved storytelling, especially tales about her childhood in Guantanamo. A graduate of the University of Miami, Debbie majored in Screenwriting and Judaic Studies with a minor in English. While still a student, she contributed to the critically acclaimed book Tropical Diaspora: The Jewish Experience in Cuba, the very first study on the Cuban-Jewish community, which included interviews with her mother and relatives. After graduation, she went on tour singing and dancing with the U.S.O. during Operation Desert Storm. Debbie worked for many years as a film/TV agent and model booker. Debbie has contributed to numerous anthologies, non-fiction books, and articles. She is a speaker and writing instructor, presenting at literary conferences, universities, schools, and author panels. Her short story This is What I’ll Tell You in Coming of Age: 13 B’nai Mitzvah Stories (Albert Whitman & Company) is semi-autobiographical, with a portion of the proceeds going to organizations fighting Antisemitism. When she’s not writing, Debbie can be found at concerts with her husband Eric, watching her sons Louis and Sam play hockey, or searching for the perfect café con leche. She divides her time between South Florida and North Carolina. Connect with Debbie on Instagram and Facebook. Founding member of: www.theartistsagainstantisemitism.com . Panelists Zibby Owens Zibby Owens is the creator and host of award-winning podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books and has been dubbed "NYC's Most Important Book-fluencer" (Vulture). She is the co-founder and CEO of Zibby Books publishing house, Zibby's Bookshop in Santa Monica, CA, and creator of "the Zibby-verse" community of book lovers. Zibby is the author of the novel Blank, Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature, the children's book Princess Charming, and editor of three anthologies including On Being Jewish Now. Follow her on Instagram where she tells it like it is. www.zibbyowens.com Follow her on Instagram: @zibbyowens and subscribe to her Substack: www.zibbyowens.com . About The Event The event will take place at the Books & Books in Coral Gables at 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida 33134. Tickets are FREE and books will be available for purchase at the event. All profits will be donated to Artists Against Antisemitism. Panelists Dara Levan Panelists Amy Ephron Panelists Zibby Owens Panelists Debbie Reed Fischer On Being Jewish Now - A USA Today Bestseller Previous Next

Many Lessons From A Few Hours In Jenin By Moshe Phillips Jan 7, 2025 Israeli security forces spent a few hours in the Palestinian Authority city of Jenin earlier this month. The incident didn’t make much news, but there’s much to be learned from it. Let’s start with the extent of the terrorist presence in the city. The Israelis managed to eliminate a total of nine armed terrorists, and uncovered four explosives laboratories. The city is literally riddled with bomb-making sites—yet somehow the PA police never noticed them. Some of the terrorists were killed by Israeli air strikes, which then set off “multiple secondary explosions,” according to the Israeli Army spokesman. That indicated “the presence of weapons caches.” Israeli forces also “neutralized dozens of explosives planted along routes intended to target Israeli soldiers.” What a city! Explosives labs. Weapons caches. Terrorists busily planted dozens of bombs on various roads. Yet not a single member of the PA police or security forces ever noticed them. Amazing! The PA has been the sole governing authority in Jenin since 1995. For twenty-nine years, the U.S.-trained PA security forces have been in charge. That security force began as a 12,000-man “strong police force,” according to Article VII of the first Oslo Accord. It grew into a 60,000-man “security force” that has become a de-facto army. What are the PA security forces required to do in cities such as Jenin? The Oslo Agreement says they must “apprehend, investigate and prosecute perpetrators and all other persons directly or indirectly involved in acts of Terrorism, violence and incitement.” (Annex I, Article II, 3-c of Oslo II). The PA has ignored that obligation for three decades now. It doesn’t arrest Terrorists, it doesn’t shut down their explosives labs or confiscate their weapons depots, as the Israeli forces discovered, yet again, in Jenin this week. According to the World Atlas, the PA has the sixth-largest per-capita security force in the world—an astonishing 1,250 “police officers” per 100,000 people. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy has reported that “by late 1998, the PA security services…had in almost every regard violated the letter of the agreements reached with Israel,” turning the Palestinian Authority governed areas into “one of the most heavily policed territories in the world.” Yet somehow those PA security forces can’t find a single bomb-making lab after 29 years in Jenin, while the Israelis found four of them over the space of a few hours. Now let’s take a look at how the PA responded to the latest Israeli operation in Jenin. The Palestinian Authority's leaders should have been celebrating, right? After all, the State Department, the United Nations, and J Street keep telling us that the PA is opposed to terrorism. Peace Now and the Washington Post insist that the PA is “moderate” and is against the “extremists.” So the PA should have been delighted that the Israelis were catching and eliminating terrorists. Not quite. The PA’s official news agency, Wafa, denounced “the Israeli assault on Jenin city.” It accused the Israelis of “killing young men” (not terrorists) and “besieging a house” (not a terrorist hideout). Wafa also claimed Israel was causing “widespread destruction,” and “targeting emergency responders.” In short, what the Palestinian Authority wanted the Palestinian Arab public to believe is that evil Israel is once again massacring innocent young Arabs, destroying their cities, and murdering their emergency medics. In short, the PA wants the Arab public to hate Israel and Jews. Some peace partner! There was one final note of irony in the Wafa report. It concluded by mentioning that following the operation, “the Israeli military has withdrawn” from Jenin. Well, isn’t that odd? Israel’s critics are constantly claiming that Israel “occupies” those territories. If so, why are they withdrawing? Where are they going? Who is left to “occupy” Jenin? The answer, of course, is that the “occupation” claim is a lie. The Wafa report accidentally let the cat out of the bag. There are no Israeli “occupiers.” They went into Jenin for a few hours, hit the terrorists, and left. Which is how it’s been for the last 29 years, since the day the occupation ended. So there you have it in a nutshell: An enormous sized PA security force that refuses to enforce security, a “peaceful” PA that incites the public to war against Israel, and an “occupational” lie that is spread even when the Palestinian Authority itself admits there are no Israeli occupiers. Just another Thursday in the Middle East! (Moshe Phillips is National Chairman of Americans For a Safe Israel (AFSI), a leading pro-Israel advocacy and education organization.) Previous Next

“Where Does YOUR House of Worship Fit in YOUR Home?” Jeff Jacob - jeff@tbehollywood.com Jan 8, 2025 A 2023 Gallup poll found that the percentage of Americans attending weekly religious services fell from 42% to 30% over the past 20 years. The article further broke these numbers down by individual religion. Sixteen percent of Jews responding to the survey expressed that they attend services weekly. And, while there was no deeper dive into the denomination breakdown, it stands to reason that if one were to remove Orthodox Jews from that equation, the percentage of Jews attending weekly services would be far, far lower than 16%. Ouch. In 2025, after piano and ballet lessons, soccer practice, Social Media time, Netflix, family time, friends, chores, school work, and the two of you working three jobs…where does the temple fit in? In other words, where does your house of worship fit in your home? As a Synagogue Executive Director, I’ve seen firsthand how much of a struggle it can be in many Reform and Conservative congregations to put “butts in the seats” for regular Shabbat services…therefore, I can’t say that I’m surprised by the results of this study. Although it is still shocking to see the actual numbers, many churches are also struggling with these questions. In this day and age, if one is not particularly observant, what does it take to garner enough interest in someone to make them desire to be regularly involved, in some shape or form, at the nearest temple? What can get you there? Charismatic, authentic Clergy is certainly a starting point. Gotta have it. Geography is also key. Who wants to drive more than 10-15 minutes to a house of worship when there is so much else vying for your attention? Even growing up in the 80s, I know that I was not the only one in my Hebrew and Sunday school classes who would have preferred being at soccer or basketball practice with my Christian friends. We were already being over-programmed as kids back then, but we didn’t have smart phones or Social Media, Prime, Apple +, Hulu, etc., streaming every single possible thing in the world right to our own personal hand-held movie theater. All of these options right at our fingertips have quelled the desire of more secular-leaning adherents of various religions to attend worship services even more. Kids are glued to their screens, and after an exhausting day, or week at work, so many parents simply want to tune out as well. Time for Netflix seems to be a common mantra after dinner hour for many of us. The aspect of Temple as a possible “3rd place” outside of work and home began decades ago, but with the growing popularity of coffee shops and personal electronics that trend has dramatically reversed itself in many instances. At Temple Beth El of Hollywood, we’ve been asking ourselves hard questions these past few years. Since COVID-19 really, as that period made so many of us reconsider and rethink both how we live, and how we “do business.” Questions such as, “How can we continue to offer the basics of what the older generations expect in a synagogue, while somehow trying to alter our operations, our programs, our long-range vision to adapt and be relevant to a changing world?” In a world where Zoom is a verb, and virtual programs are here to stay, why would someone get off the couch to come to a temple and worship, play, learn? The obvious answer would seem to be that most of us still seek a sense of belonging, community, caring, and continuity. But that drive to commune with one another doesn’t seem quite enough anymore to compete with all of the options and distractions available to us. Like most Jewish houses of worship, we host Shabbat services, Sunday School, Adult Education, celebrations of major holidays, Sisterhood, Brotherhood, Social Action, and Bar/Bat Mitzvah training. We also have a wonderful, Apple-Accredited Preschool. None of this is extraordinary, rather it’s a baseline. For Bar or Bat Mitzvah, we actually have 2 different tracks. And what does this mean? Traditional Track: Through being a member family of our congregation, and attending our Sunday School, a child is eased along the path of a modern, Jewish education that eventually evolves to include learning about what it takes to become an adult in Judaism, and training on how to get there. The benefits of this traditional model are well-documented. A sense of community and relationships that come with being part of a temple or synagogue is a major reason many of us commit to being supporting members of a “House of Worship.” However…. We’ve been hearing for years that there is a significant portion among the less observant who long for their children to have the Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience without committing to supporting a temple community. It may be sad, but that doesn’t make it untrue. Therefore, we created our “APP Program.” In this transactional, fast-food, ADHD, multi-personal-device, person-driven society, many Jewish and interfaith families are disinterested in being a part of a “fixed Religious community.” And yet, they STILL want to provide that one rite of passage that is definitively Jewish for our kids. A Bar/Bat Mitzvah. For families that fit this mold, this program exists. Without any of the commitments that come with joining a congregation, a family can have their son or daughter go through training (on average 9-12 months) with our well-loved and talented Cantor, Manny Silver, who does a wonderful job of “meeting kids where they are” in his mentorship. Truly personalized paths of learning that towards the end of the process are also joined in on by our Rabbi, Aaron Sataloff, so that he can get to know each student and add to their experience before it’s time to stand on the Bimah together. Over the years, many students and their families have benefited from this program, and we feel it’s a necessary component of ensuring the survival of our peoplehood. While it may sound counter-intuitive since those who take advantage of this path are basically unengaged at the temple most of the year, we are still assisting in the continuation of Jewish knowledge and identity…and pride. And even though this may NOT ensure the survival of all temples and synagogues in a new world, it CAN help Judaism survive, thrive, and evolve. We cannot be so enamored of the four walls we inhabit that we disregard the potential to keep a flame of Jewishness lit out in the world. By any means necessary and at our disposal. And to that end, we’ve also created a festive “Alternative Shabbat Experience,” which we call 2nd Saturdays/Shabbatstock. As the name suggests, on the 2nd Saturday of each month October through May, our Worship band, JewGrass Revival, leads a folk-rock-oriented service under the big, beautiful trees on our front lawn. The goal in creating this experience was to make a once-a-month, Shabbat “mini-festival” feel that would be appealing to those who just don’t want to be with us, or can’t be with us on Friday nights. This dog-friendly environment features a coffee truck serving lattes and espressos, etc., a big lawn for the kids to run around on, and often a post-service activity such as yoga, a Ukulele Circle, or story time for the little ones. Neighbors stop by and commune in a VERY casual Shabbat experience. The Neshama in nature is 2nd to none. Outside the walls! We even offer a boutique Yoga & Fitness Studio in our Chapel every Monday through Friday with expert practitioner Sue Elle Strong. We love embarking on “field trips” with our congregants to baseball games with the Marlins, and basketball games with the Heat, as well as museums and member-hosted house parties where we expand beyond the four walls, out into our broader community. If you’ve reached this point in the article and would like to know more about any of the above-mentioned items, or would like to talk regarding anything else temple-related, please reach out and say hello. We’d love to show you around and share a cup of coffee. If you’re interested in signing someone up for our APP program, mention this article and receive a $500.00 credit towards their training! Shalom. Jeff Jacob jeff@tbehollywood.com Previous Next

From Miami’s Jewish Beginning, There Was Isidor Cohen By Sylvia Gurinsky Feb 18, 2025 Recently the City of Miami celebrated Isidor Cohen, a true pioneer of Miami, with the naming of Isidor Cohen Road. The event, held with family and friends present at the Center for Jewish Life at Beth David, 2625 Southwest 3rd Avenue, honored his legacy of community growth, cultural inclusion, and vision for our city’s future. (Pictured: All descendants of Isidor and Ida Cohen.) In June, 1896, Isidor Cohen, a young merchant, was beginning his first summer in Miami and was already experiencing business ups and downs, mosquitos, snakes, rats and hot weather. Nevertheless, he wrote in his diary, “This is going to be a wonderful city.” Greater Miami has had its own ups and downs, but Cohen’s prediction has generally been correct. And he and his family have been among the reasons for that success. Cohen had arrived in February, 1896, two months before the first train. He tried to negotiate with Julia Tuttle for land on the north side of the Miami River. She recommended he take a job clearing land. “I tried to impress this naïve lady that the last labor of this character my race had performed was in the land of Egypt, and that it would be a violation of my religious convictions to resume that condition of servitude,” he later wrote. After starting on the south side of the river, Cohen soon moved to the north side, where most of the business was. He quickly became part of the growing community, joining most of the new organizations except the Tuxedo Club – because he didn’t own a tuxedo. In July, 1896, Cohen voted to officially incorporate the city of Miami. He took note of the Black men who voted and spoke in favor of the new city and wrote favorably about them. His book, “Historical Sketches and Sidelights of Miami, Florida,” was published in 1925 – the first locally published book with a positive look at the Black community. In the beginning, things looked favorable for the growing Jewish community as well, with an 1896 Commemoration of the High Holy Days. But two fires and a Yellow Fever Epidemic before 1900 temporarily reduced the size of that community. Cohen didn’t give up. In 1904, he married Ida Schneiderman, the widow of another early Miami Jewish merchant, and adopted her son, Murray. Isidor and Ida added two more children – daughter Claire and son Eddie, who had the first Bris in Miami in 1908. The growth extended far beyond the family. In 1912, Isidor and Ida were among the founders of Beth David Congregation, the city’s first and oldest Synagogue. In 1941, Ida Cohen was a principal creator of what’s now Miami Jewish Health Systems. After World War 2, the Cohens were among the founders of Mount Sinai Medical Center. During the 1950’s, Claire Cohen Weintraub helped to begin what is now the Frost Science Museum. By the time Isidor Cohen died in 1951, Miami was on its way to becoming a major international center. Today, members of his family continue as community leaders. In January, the City of Miami honored Cohen by naming the street just north of Beth David Congregation for him. Such an honor is long overdue for a primary founding father of Jewish Miami. Isidor Cohen was the father of Greater Miami's Jewish community - Credit: www.museumoffamilyhistory.com In January, the City of Miami honored Cohen in a ceremony by naming the street just north of Beth David Congregation for him. Credit: Miami-Dade Communications Department Isidor and Ida Cohen and family with Claire Weintraub (Right) - Credit: www.floridamemory.com Ida Cohen, wife of Miami's first permanent Jewish settler, Isidor Cohen - Credit: www.museumoffamilyhistory.com Previous Next

Jewish Family Home Care Once Again Awarded With Three 2025 Best Of Home Care® Awards Pictured: JFHC CEO Robin Miller Feb 18, 2025 Jewish Family Home Care (JFHC) – a not-for-profit agency – is honored to announce that it once again received three 2025 Best of Home Care Awards from Activated Insights, formerly Home Care Pulse, the leading firm in experience management for post-acute care. The awards include the Leader in Experience, Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice. JFHC received all three awards in 2024 and both the Best of Home Care® – Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice Awards from Activated Insights in 2023. JFHC provides multi-reach, non-medical home quality home health care for Broward County, Florida seniors from all reaches of life and any faith. JFHC is one of the largest providers of home health care providing assistance to Holocaust survivors and anyone in Broward County needing in-home care. Providing service to more than 400 clients, including over 300 Holocaust survivors, JFHC offers services such as home health aides, companions, housekeepers and certified nursing assistants. It delivers tailor-made home health care plans, with special consideration to patients’ physical and emotional needs, as well as their family’s budget. The Leader in Experience Award is the highest recognition awarded by Activated Insights and is given to select home care businesses that consistently rank among the very highest in 10 or more quality metrics. As a Leader in Experience, JFHC is now recognized among the top 10% of home care providers participating in the nationwide Activated Insights Experience Management program. This accomplishment demonstrates JFHC’s long-term dedication to excellent care and quality improvement. To qualify for this award, 10% of JFHC’s clients and caregivers were interviewed each month by Activated Insights. Over 12 months, JFHC received high client and caregiver satisfaction ratings in areas such as caregiver training, compassion of caregivers, communication, scheduling, client/caregiver compatibility and more. Using feedback from clients and employees, as well as quality benchmarks from Activated Insights, the JFHC management team set goals to reach the highest level of experience possible. The Best of Home Care® – Leader in Experience Award highlights the top-performing home care businesses in the nation. Activated Insights believes that by honoring these providers, families looking for in-home care for a loved one will be able to recognize and choose a trusted home care provider. The Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice Awards are granted only to the top-ranking home care providers, based on client and employee satisfaction scores gathered by Activated Insights. JFHC is now ranked among a small handful of home care providers across the country who have proven their ability to provide an exceptional working experience to employees and the highest quality care to clients. Best of Home Care providers have contracted with Activated Insights to gather feedback from their clients and caregivers via live phone interviews each month. Because Activated Insights is an independent company, it can collect honest and unbiased feedback. “We are proud to once again be honored with the 2025 Best of Home Care® – Leader in Experience, Employer & Provider of Choices awards from Activated Insights,” said JFHC CEO Robin Miller. “Each of these awards is a true testament to our commitment to providing exceptional in-home care to our families, as they are based on testimonials from both our clients and our caregivers. This wouldn’t be possible without my incredible team who shares my passion for excellence and delivering the best results to our clients and their families. Knowing that we’re making a difference in the lives of others fuels our passion and commitment to exceeding expectations every day.” “At Activated Insights, our mission is to help post-acute care businesses create an experience that goes beyond client and caregiver expectations; ultimately improving outcomes for all stakeholders in the care continuum,” says Bud Meadows, Chief Executive Officer of Activated Insights. “When we see agencies like Jewish Family Home Care that have so effectively provided outstanding care and employment experiences, we know we’re on the right track. Jewish Family Home Care has worked extremely hard to prioritize high-quality care and employment, and their work hasn’t gone unnoticed. These awards allow them to show proof of quality to potential clients and caregivers.” To find out more about JFHC’s commitment to excellence, please visit: www.JFCares.org - Or call: (954) 908-5677. Previous Next

Roll With The Punches By Judith Levy Jan 7, 2025 Life offers many ups and downs. Some blows, especially the unexpected ones, bolts out of the blue, are more hurtful than others, but what choice do we have? We must endure. The loss of loved ones, parents, partners, and worst of all a child leaves no option but to reel from the blow, get up, steady yourself and go on. Many times, we wonder what we did to deserve this unspeakable sadness. There are no answers for you, only words of sympathy that are being offered by friends who want to, but don’t really know how to comfort you. You listen, appreciate their kindness but nothing will help other than the passage of time. You look at the pictures of your dear loved ones, even talk to them, but nothing will ease your pain other than some momentary distraction and the ticking of the clock, heralding the passage of time. The calendar betrays your true feelings with each passing birthday or anniversary that shouts at you, remember me and the good times we spent together. Of course you do remember them, and painful as it is, you hold those memories dear and try to comfort yourself with recollections of the heartfelt times and the laughter you shared with these people whose absence leaves a permanent hole in your heart. I know it’s difficult, been there and done that, but do try to look forward. The people you loved would want that for you. Your happiness would be their fondest wish, so embrace that thought and try to face tomorrow with good thoughts and a smile. Rain makes flowers bloom and then to everyone’s joy, the sun comes out. Sometimes reaching out to be with someone who has walked the road you are now traveling on offers a modicum of relief from sorrow. Helping others might help you. Try it. Judith Levy speaks for organizations and is the New York Times best-selling author of GRANDMOTHER REMEMBERS, which has sold over four million copies and the mega best-seller GRANDFATHER REMEMBERS published by HarperCollins. Both books, perfect gifts, are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Previous Next