Page 11 - Jewish News_June-July-2021

FEDERATION NEWS June/July 2021 11A

With everyone’s help, B’shert – two years later

we can stay safe By Marty Katz, Sr. Director of Communications & Marketing
Wealth Strategist, Northern Trust. All
xactly two years to the day we
By Barbara Mazer, Chief Development Strategist left for Israel, the 2019 Inter- who gathered relished being able to
afety and security are critical for on-site security personnel and sur- Efaith Community Leader Mis- be together outdoors. Friendships that
concerns to all faith-based in- veillance technology at local Jewish sion group came together for a reunion. started during the mission were picked
Sstitutions, especially those with organizations. The goal of the mission, sponsored by up right where they were left. Israeli
spaces where Jews frequently gather. However, our work is not done. The Jewish Federation of Sarasota- food was a hit of the evening.
According to the 2020 Homeland Se- With security a vital necessity for this Manatee, was to bring together lead- Everyone agreed that our trip was
curity Threats Report, Jewish orga- community, we continue to solicit con- ers in the nonprofit, business and faith a life-changing event. As Jennifer said,
nizations are a prime target for white tributions for security-specific needs, communities to learn about each other “Little did we know then how the
supremacy groups. We must remain including training, equipment, techno- and Israel, and become advocates in world would change and our friend-
diligent in protecting ourselves and our logical tools and security staffing. This Sarasota-Manatee. ships would blossom.”
entire Jewish community. need will be ongoing well into the fu- The May 1 event was generous- There were sadly a few trip par-
The Jewish Federation of Sara- ture. ly hosted by Jennifer Vigne, Execu- ticipants missing. We hope to see you
sota-Manatee, in partnership with If security is a concern for you, tive Director, Education Foundation soon!
the Secure Community Network, is at please consider supporting Federa- of Sarasota County, and Dan Vigne,
the center of security-based planning tion’s Keep Us Safe Fund. Contribu-
for faith-based institutions in Saraso- tions of any amount help bolster safety
ta-Manatee, with a special emphasis measures at the Federation and the
on threats to Jewish organizations. Our many Jewish organizations it supports.
re-imagined Larry & Mary Greenspon We hope for a future in which security
Family Campus for Jewish Life will needs are diminished, but until then,
not only be a safe place to visit, but we hope you will help “Keep Us Safe.”
will also centralize security planning To give, please visit jfedsrq.org/
for the community, offering training keepussafe, or contact Ilene Fox at
and resources, and creating a security iflox@jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2111. For
shield to protect our community. more information about Federation’s
As you can imagine, state-of-the- security initiatives, please contact Jew-
art security comes at a price. In 2020, ish Community Security Director Jeff
contributions to the Federation’s Keep Solomon at jsolomon@jfedsrq.org or
Us Safe security fund totaled more 866.284.4933 x0. To report a security
than $170,000. That money was used incident, visit jfedsrq.org/srqsafe.

Sheldon Gensler, (Back row:) Dan Vigne, Pastor John Walker, Captain John Walsh, Julia & Pastor Patrick Miller, Lori &
Jay Solomon, Brenna Wilhm, Pam Ramhofer, (front row:) Marty Katz, Jennifer Vigne, Jessi Sheslow
Federation’s first President 280 kosher characters

Staff Report twitter.com/jfedsrq
e offer our condolences ‹ Encouraging women to play a
to the family of Sheldon significant role, establishing their
WGensler, who passed away own fundraising campaign
on April 22, 2021. Sheldon, who was ‹ Launching The Chronicle, the
101 years old, was the first president of forerunner of The Jewish News
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota- ‹ Assessing community readiness to
Manatee in 1971-1973. build a retirement residence
Sheldon helped lay the cornerstone ‹ Laying the foundation for social
for today’s Federation. As written by services
Sandy Chase in a Jewish News
article in April 2019 about the
Federation’s 60 Anniversary
th
Celebration, his milestones in-
cluded:
‹ Raising money for UJA and
Israel bonds (he was recog-
nized with the Israel Shalom
Award in 1975)
‹ Helping cement an effective
working relationship with
non-Jewish lay and reli-
gious leaders
‹ Working tirelessly to dis-
continue discrimination,
like penalizing Jewish pub-
lic-school students for being Sheldon Gensler (right) with his wife Martha and Robert
absent during the Jewish St. John, noted author and foreign war correspondent,
holidays at the 1975 Israel Bonds dinner honoring Gensler
‹ Working with the Sarasota Coun- We are forever indebted to Shel-
ty School Board to adopt a set of don for his vision and allegiance to the
teacher guidelines endorsed by Jewish community and Israel. May his
Federation’s Community Relations memory be a blessing!
Committee

we are FED

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