Page 12 - Jewish News_October-2020

12 October 2020 FEDERATION NEWS

“Jewish on Campus” – Redefining college prep

By Mary Collier, Chair, Heller Community Relations Committee
raditional thoughts on “College what every current or future student antisemitism. She advised: Have your future college students
Prep” are swirling in uncertain- will encounter on their personal col- ‹ Contact the Hillel affiliated with signed up for part two of “Jewish on
Tty as the linchpin of the all-im- lege journey, but we can help them the university immediately, even if Campus” with current college stu-
portant SAT and ACT scores are now prepare. Recently, The Jewish Fed- your child has never been to their dents on Thursday, October 22? Your
coming into question. Scholars and ad- eration of Sarasota-Manatee and its campus Hillel. Hillel is tasked with teens can hear firsthand from a panel
missions faculty are heatedly debating Heller Community Relations Commit- having relationships with school of college students originating from
if they have become a part of systemic tee (CRC) and Shapiro Teen Engage- administration and has community the Sarasota-Manatee area. They will
racism or if they are a great equaliz- ment program (STEP) hosted a series, connections for Jewish students. It speak about what they are experienc-
er. Changes to the admissions process “Jewish on Campus,” to help educate will know the history and climate ing on their campuses and open up a
are yet to be known. Then there is the parents and students on Jewish life on of antisemitism at that particular dialogue for questions. The discussion
new reality of pandemic living. Both college campuses and the hot topics of school. will be moderated by Logan Marr,
of these evolving scenarios are making anti-Zionism, antisemitism and BDS. ‹ If there is not a Hillel at your stu- Florida State University alumnus and
college preparation a bit trickier. According to Stephanie Hausner, dent’s school, look for the closest Federation Communications and Mar-
Jewish families should be adding Interim Director of the Israel Action office of The Jewish Federations of keting Coordinator. To register, visit
one more item to their college prep Network, who led a Zoom discussion North America. jfedsrq.org/events.
checklist. Unfortunately, this item is with Sarasota-Manatee parents in ‹ Contact the Anti-Defamation League. For more information about the
a little more certain. Even if you think part one of the series, there is thriv- ‹ If you are not finding support Heller CRC, contact Jessi Sheslow at
your future college student will not have ing Jewish life and support on many through avenues that are connect- jsheslow@jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2109.
much interest in a Jewish connection, college campuses around the United ed to the location of the campus in For more information about STEP,
there needs to be discussion surround- States. She follows trends of anti-Is- question, contact us. We will help contact Andrea Eiffert at aeiffert@jfed
ing rising antisemitism and the reality rael movements and provides support find resources to address your con- srq.org or 941.552.6308.
that they could encounter this during to campuses experiencing particularly cerns.
their college experience. As teens leave contentious incidents. Stephanie of-
our community bubble, they need to fered parents a view into what is hap- Hunger leaders detail
know there are anti-Israel groups ac- pening on campuses, how they can
tively engaged in purposefully divisive prepare themselves and their teens, and the depth of need
tactics. Sometimes these organizations answered their questions.
blur the line between anti-Israel senti- Stephanie also gave some advice By Rabbi Brenner Glickman
ment and outright antisemitism. on finding help if your student needs n Thursday, September 3 at ican Friends of Leket, described a
Preparation is key. We can’t know support in the wake of experiencing a Zoom webinar, the Jews of similar situation that the national food

Commemorating OSarasota-Manatee were of- bank is facing in Israel. The devastated
economy in Israel caught everyone by
fered an insider’s look at just how
Kristallnacht much the pandemic has affected food surprise. For instance, in the resort city
of Eilat, unemployment rose from 3%
insecurity. Here and in Israel, the story
By Gayle Guynup is the same. COVID-19 froze up tradi- to 70%. This surge in need came just
as the usual food donors were shutter-
tional sources of food donation, just as
t was November 9, 1938, when concert – which will include a piano widespread unemployment drove up ing their businesses. Leket responded
German Nazis torched synagogues, solo, violin solo and pieces on which the need. There is a crisis of hunger by purchasing enormous amounts of
Ivandalized Jewish homes, schools they come together – to their virtual here and in Israel. food to provide for the elderly, children
and businesses, killing nearly 100 Jews audience. Sandra Frank, CEO of All Faiths and vulnerable populations. Leket sent
– changing the nature of Jewish per- “For me, whenever I am playing Food Bank, described how local su- thousands of volunteers to pick fresh
secution from economic, political and these instruments, I try to put myself permarkets were running out of food produce that farmers could not sell to
social to physical. The repressive Nazi aside and let the voice of the instru- themselves, and basically shut down restaurants and hotels. Major corpora-
policies turned suddenly violent, and ment come through,” Ashkenazi said. tions such as McDon-
some 30,000 Jewish men were arrested “It is so important to keep reminding ald’s lent Leket trucks
and taken to concentration camps. The the world about what happened, so that to transport the huge
day – Kristallnacht – is often referred we never forget. Each time we play increase of food distri-
to as the beginning of the Holocaust. these instruments, we are allowing butions.
Every year, The Jewish Federa- those who were silenced to be heard Here and in Israel,
tion of Sarasota-Manatee commemo- again.” the food banks are re-
rates Kristallnacht or “Night of Broken In addition to the concert, this sponding to the need.
Glass.” This year is no exception, year’s Kristallnacht program will be- If you would like to
though the event will be virtual, held gin with words from Rabbi Stephen donate or volunteer,
on Monday, November 9 at 7:00 p.m. Fuchs, the child of a Holocaust sur- please visit www.all-
One highlight of this year’s event will vivor. His late father was arrested on Clockwise from top left: Federation Chief Operating Officer Kim Adler, faithsfoodbank.org and
Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Brenner Glickman, American Friends of
be the return of Violins of Hope, and Kristallnacht and taken to Dachau Leket CEO Lauren Yoked, All Faiths Food Bank CEO Sandra Frank www.leket.org.
a special performance by violinist Niv Concentration Camp. Following the their donations to the food bank. This The well-attended webinar was
Ashkenazi and pianist Matthew Gray- Violins of Hope concert, Cantor Lizzie caused All Faiths to purchase signif- hosted by Rabbi Brenner Glickman and
bil. Weiss from Temple Emanu-El in Bev- icant amounts of food to provide to sponsored by The Jewish Federation
“Niv Ashkenazi and Matthew Gray- erly Hills will perform three songs for those in need, and find new ways to of Sarasota-Manatee, and the Social
bil, both Perlman Music Program/ the virtual audience. reach out and find them. Action Committee and Brotherhood of
Suncoast alumni, performed in Sara- The Jewish Federation of Sarasota- Lauren Yoked, CEO of the Amer- Temple Emanu-El.
sota for the Violins of Hope project in Manatee has partnered with the Perl-
2017,” said PMP Suncoast President man Music Program/Suncoast for over
Fran Lambert. “We are delighted they a decade. “From classical music out-
accepted our invitation to return, virtu- reach programs in schools to “Itzhak
ally, for this special Kristallnacht pre- Perlman - In the Fiddler’s House,” the
sentation.” Federation’s generous contributions al-
Violins of Hope is a collection of low us to continue preserving the heri-
string instruments that survived the tage of the Jewish community through Join us in our campus re-imagination... jfedsrq.org
Holocaust and have been lovingly re- cultural and educational programming,
stored by father and son, Amnon and and inspiring the entire community What do you think?
Avshalom Weinstein. Violins of Hope through the gifted talents of PMP Sun-
takes these instruments around the coast students, alumni and faculty,” The Jewish News wants to know!
world, holding performances, exhibi- Lambert said. Join us as we reimagine our 32 acre campus.

tions and educational programs. To register for this program, go to Send an email to jewishnews18@gmail.com.
We are JFED Proud & Strong!
According to Ashkenazi, the two jfedsrq.org/events. For more informa- THE LARRY AND MAR Y G REENSPON FAMILY CAMPUS FOR JEWISH LIF E
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