Page 11 - Jewish News_January 2020

FEDERATION NEWS January 2020 11A

Namesake Israel Center donors

Robert and Esther Heller honored

Staff Report
n November 12, The Jew- Sarasota in new and improved ways,
ish Federation of Sarasota- encouraging the building of relation-
OManatee was proud to honor ships with Israel, Israeli businesses
Robert and Esther Heller at the Asso- and, more importantly, individual
ciation of Fundraising Professionals of Israelis. The Heller Israel Center will
Southwest Florida’s annual National be a crucial educational resource for
Philanthropy Day luncheon. the entire Sarasota-Manatee commu-
The Hellers are long-time support- nity and beyond.
ers and namesakes of the Robert and Federation CEO Howard Tevlow-
Esther Heller Community Relations itz says, “With the Hellers’ generosity,
Committee (CRC), formerly known this dream is now becoming a reality
as the Heller Advocacy Initiative. as we move forward with our capital
Last year, Bob and Esther created The campaign. We are honored to be the
Robert and Esther Heller Israel Cen- recipient of the Hellers’ great big
ter as the flagship Israel program and heart.”
learning center on The Larry & Mary For more information on the Rob-
Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish ert and Esther Heller Community Re-
Life. lations Committee, please contact Jessi
The vision of the Heller Israel Sheslow at jsheslow@jfedsrq.org or
Center is simple: to bring Israel to 941.343.2109. Robert and Esther Heller (seated) with Iris Starr, Jessi Sheslow, Ilene Fox and Richard Bergman

Zerivitz to speak on “The Jews of Florida”

By Gayle Guynup
arcia Jo Zerivitz, Founding images – gives readers an overview was no depth of generations as in many in 1992, when I was designated the
Executive Director of the of the Jewish influence and impact on other states.” It was in the 1980s that founding director,” she said.
MJewish Museum of Florida- Florida’s history. she decided to focus on collecting and Asked why the preservation of
FIU, spent 30-plus years doing un- Zerivitz moved to Orlando in the preserving, for future generations, the these stories is so important today,
precedented grassroots mid-1960s and said story of the Jewish people in Florida. Zerivitz said, “In recent years, with
research on the history she started “asking Zerivitz said she has been conduct- anti-Semitism becoming so virulent, it
of Jews in Florida. a lot of questions – ing research for 35 years, traveling became even more important to docu-
She will be present- Who were the first 250,000 miles around the state, col- ment what Jews have contributed to
ing a lecture and book Jews? What did they lecting photographs, stories and arti- the quality of life for all Floridians and
signing on Thursday, do for a living? Who facts about Jews since they first came beyond.”
January 30 at 10:30 a.m. started the Jew- to Florida in 1763. The collection was The event is free and refresh-
in the Zell room on The ish organizations? originally for the MOSAIC Jewish ments will be served. For informa-
Larry & Mary Green- What contributions Life in Florida exhibit that traveled to tion, visit www.jfedsrq.org/events. To
spon Family Campus for had the Jewish com- 13 cities from 1990 to 1994. “The de- RSVP, call Brieana Duckett-Graves at
Jewish Life (580 McIn- munity made? – and cision to create a museum was made 941.552.6305.
tosh Road, Sarasota). found there were no
“The Jews of Flori- answers.”
da” is the first compre- She soon real-
hensive history of Jews ized that Florida had
in Florida, from colonial Marcia Jo Zerivitz a unique challenge.
times to the present. This rich narra- Though it is home to the third-largest 280 kosher characters twitter.com/jfedsrq
tive – accompanied by 700 rarely seen Jewish population in the nation, “there

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