Page 46 - Jewish News_October-2020

46 October 2020 FOCUS ON YOUTH

“Why are you Jewish?”

s a member of Temple Ema- I don’t think it was until I began
nu-El’s 2018 Confirmation to attend public school that I realized I
Aclass, Leo Glickman delivered was a minority. Trying to fit in, I found
a speech entitled “Why Are You Jew- myself laughing off the occasional an-
ish?” that was adapted for the congre- tisemitic joke, or simply avoiding the
gation’s “Our Jewish Stories” project, topic of religion. It was a bittersweet
created and curated by Bruce Black. moment when I realized that Judaism
Now 18 and a freshman at University made me different.
of Central Florida, Leo was invited Maybe it wasn’t easy at first, but
to share these words today I wear my Juda-
during Temple Ema- ism proudly. Living in
nu-El’s inaugural Yom a country where my re-
Kippur symposium this ligion is a minority, I re-
year: alize now that Judaism
“Why are you Jew- is truly beautiful. Being
ish?” outnumbered, we fellow
It’s the question we Jews stick together. We
have all heard countless are one big family. I feel
times. Even though the personally connected An intergenerational partnership between
question was so fre- to any Jewish person in STEP and Aviva—A Campus for Senior Life
quent, I was still search- the world. We all feel Jewish high school students from Sarasota and Manatee are invited to
ing for an answer. the joy when a fellow participate in this virtual volunteer opportunity fostering relationships
Why am I Jewish? Jew succeeds, and we with senior living residents. Teens will develop skills in leadership,
Since my birth, Ju- Leo Glickman all feel the pain when responsibility, empathy, communication and more.
daism has been a pillar of my life. I am a fellow Jew, even one we will never Approximately two-hours a week from mid-October through mid-February.
the son of two rabbis, and that’s about meet, fails. I know that if I am ever go-
as Jewish as it gets. I attended a Jewish ing through a hard time, I can look to
preschool and elementary school, and my Jewish family for support. EARN VOLUNTEER RECEIVE A
Temple Emanu-El has always been a Being a Jew has provided so much HOURS CERTIFICATE OF
second home. My friends were Jewish, for me, but I guess it still doesn’t an- COMPLETION
my family was Jewish, and I had a dog swer the question. “Why am I Jew-
named Mazel. Judaism was so deeply ish?” I think the answer is, “I simply
integrated in my life that I never really wouldn’t be Leo Glickman without For more information and to apply go to
thought about it. it.” JFEDSRQ.org/STEP

For a continuously updated community For more information, contact 1

calendar, visit jfedsrq.org/events Andrea Eiffert at: 941.552.6308 or aeiffert@jfedsrq.org

TEEN TRAVEL

ADVENTURES Experience an APRIL 5-18

unforgettable,
2 0 21
life-changing trip
All scholarships are contingent
with other TENTATIVE
upon confirmation that program
will commence.
11th & 12th grade
students from

Where will YOUR adventure take you? around the world!
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and its generous
donors are committed to providing teen travel scholarships • Spend a week in Poland For more information, go online to:
JFEDSRQ.org/MOL
for educational, experiential and exploratory programs. • March from Auschwitz to APPLY BY NOV. 20, 2020
ALERT! Applications are now being accepted for March Birkenau on Yom HaShoah Got Questions? Contact Andrea Eiffert at
with thousands of fellow Jews
of the Living, Send-a-Kid-to-Israel-Program
 Deadline is 4:00 PM on Friday, November 20, 2020. • Spend a week in Israel during 941.552.6308 or aeiffert@jfedsrq.org
and Alexander Muss High School in Israel.
Yom Hazikaron and Yom
NO LATE OR INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Ha’atzmaut
Tuesday, December 15, 2020, via ZOOM.INTERVIEWS • See and hear the incredible sites and
Scholarship interviews will be held on
sounds of our homeland!

To learn more about our teen travel programs and
scholarships, visit the website below.

The Larry & Mary Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life
JFEDSRQ.org/TEEN-TRAVEL Klingenstein Jewish Center

or contact Andrea Eiffert at 580 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232
941.552.6308 or aeiffert@jfedsrq.org 941.371.4546 • JFEDSRQ.org/MOL