Page 12 - Jewish News_June-July-2021

12A June/July 2021 FEDERATION NEWS

Finding my place 2021 MoMENtum Trip to Israel

By Gary Kurnov, 2019 MoMENtum Trip to Israel Participant October 18-24

he first time I heard about the friend of ours was planning to go and eat the heat in person with the
Momentum father’s trip to Is- needed a roommate. What’s the harm Applications Opening Soon! entire Federation community at
Trael was through my wife Lau- in attending an introductory meeting, I Bour two summer Havdalah cel-

ren, who participated in a mother’s figured. So I went. I must admit, that he MoMENtum Men’s Trip is a Jewish community or Jewish ritual ebrations! Havdalah can be a magical
trip, sponsored by The Jewish Fed- first meeting was a bit intimidating. boot camp for living awesome observance. Participants must have experience for so many reasons. Bring-
eration of Sarasota-Manatee. After At the time, I was not well connected Tlives that are guided by Jewish children at home age 18 or younger ing Shabbat to a close while welcom-
she returned from the trip, Lauren felt within the Sarasota Jewish community values. Men enjoy empowering class- OR be the parenting partner of a recent ing the new week can be the transition
a renewed connection to her Jewish and didn’t know a lot of Jewish guys in es led by world-class Jewish educators Momentum alumna. For 2021 ONLY, we need the most in our modern world.
heritage and enhanced commitment town. The meeting was full of doctors and Israeli thought-leaders; explore the age limit for the youngest child is The spiritual “pause” button that Shab-
to Jewish values and traditions for our and surgeons. Who were these guys? I spiritual Tzfat and Masada’s desert 21. bat offers us helps create a more de-
family. We began regularly observing don’t have a single person with a medi- magic; enjoy Shabbat in Jerusalem Participants must be physically fined intention for the week ahead as
Shabbat and having dinner together as cal degree in my entire family. Was this with local families; and discover how and emotionally healthy. we stand together for Havdalah.
a family. It was Lauren’s first trip to Is- for me? to connect more deeply with them- For more information about the
rael. She felt inspired, and it had a pos- Turns out it was the right decision selves, their families and their commu- 2021 MoMENtum Men’s Trip to Isra-
itive impact on our family. after all. As we started preparations for nities. el, please contact Gisele Pintchuck at
Even still, I didn’t feel it was for the trip, I gradually began to get ac- This trip is designed for people 941.706.0029 or gpintchuck@jfedsrq.
me. I had already done a similar trip, quainted with the other men on the trip. who are not highly engaged in the org. ach spring, The Jewish Fed-
sponsored by Birthright, in 2000 when They weren’t all that different from eration of Sarasota-Manatee
me. They were fathers with the guys in casual situations that identity persisted even after immigrat-Eassembles a committee of ded-
with kids of varying were not part of the itinerary. ing to the U.S. in 1990. We lived in a icated volunteers to do their favorite
ages, and most had On the first night in Tel Aviv, after small town in New Jersey where I was thing – give away money. Committee
lived in Sarasota for a tasty sushi dinner at Nini Hachi with typically the only Jewish kid in class. members Lori Greenbaum, Rebec-
a long time. Many of another guy from the trip, we hopped I was also the only Russian kid. Was I ca Schwartz Bergman, Howard Ban-
their wives had partic- on two of the ubiquitous electric scoot- Russian or was I Jewish, or both? Five ner and Andrew Rosin are passionate
ipated in the same Is- ers and zipped down the seaside prom- years later we were granted U.S. citi-about enabling our community’s youth
rael trip with my wife. enade in the cool night air to the central zenship. Now I was American, right? to enjoy and grow in an immersive
We were all there for part of the city. There we met up with You can see how identity can get con-Jewish summer experience. This year
the same reason. The another group of guys from Sarasota fusing. Fast forward to the Momentum they have facilitated memorable and
trip was meant to help who were finishing up dinner at Ab- trip in Israel where we had the oppor-formative Jewish overnight camping
us focus on what’s tru- raxas Bar. The city buzzes with ener- tunity to contemplate our Jewishness experiences for 47

Gary Kurnov, Michael Gordon and Jeremy Schwimmer ly important as fathers gy and excitement. It is hard to believe in the context of our family, without campers attending 16
enjoying their MoMENtum experience in Tel Aviv and as Jewish men: the thin strip of land north of Jaffa had any family around. It was a rare op-different camps with
I was a sophomore in college. My re- family, identity and purpose. But who been desert a mere 100 years ago, but portunity to reflect. Through a series an average schol-
collections of that trip were general- says you can’t have fun while connect- has somehow emerged as the metro- of lectures centered around our roles as arship of $1,570
ly positive, but I do remember being ing with your roots? Although the trip politan center of Israeli life. Later in fathers, husbands and Jewish men, the per camper, awarding
herded around in big groups, hav- was structured around sightseeing and the trip, when we arrived in Jerusalem, trip helped us focus above all on being nearly $74,000 in all.
ing to get on and off buses and being lectures planned by Momentum, there our entire Sarasota group went out for present, for ourselves and for the ones While some of
surrounded by a lot of people I didn’t was ample free time to experience Is- an evening at “The Shuk,” a narrow, we love. our families require
know. Why go through it all again? rael as Israelis do. Some of my favorite bustling food market filled with Israe- It should be easy, but living in the large scholarships in
Then Lauren mentioned that a close memories from the trip are hanging out lis from all walks of life. As we relaxed moment is becoming increasingly dif-order to make attend-
Dermatology by Newman at a bar with our drinks and took in the ficult in our distracted, busy lives. We ing camp possible, the

Dermatology by Newman vibrant scene, I was overwhelmed with have jobs, families, and kids to schlep Federation also offers
the feeling that this was not just a fun
to extracurricular activities. But the Incentive Grants of
night out in a foreign city. This was my biggest roadblock to being present is $500 to campers who
place, it was our place, we belong here. sitting right there, warming our pock-may not require fi-
For clear, healthy skin, visit Dr. Joshua Newman at AMARA, Growing up I had a hard time fig- et all day, every day: our phone. When nancial aid for camp.
an affiliate aesthetic surgery and dermatology practice of
For clear, healthy skin, visit Dr. Joshua Newman at AMARA, uring out where I belonged. I was born our trip leader pointed this out to us, Of these, we would
For clear, healthy skin, visit Dr. Joshua Newman at AMARA, in Moscow, Russia, in the early 1980s it was a shock. On Shabbat in Jerusa-like to recognize the
Center For Sight. Patients who visit AMARA will receive the
an affiliate aesthetic surgery and dermatology practice of
an affiliate aesthetic surgery and dermatology practice of
world-class service for which Center For Sight is known,
Center For Sight. Patients who visit AMARA will receive the as the country was slowly emerging lem, we were asked to turn off and put Collier, Rosenthal,
Center For Sight. Patients who visit AMARA will receive the from communism. However, being away our phones from sundown on Fri-Rosenberg, Rosin and
in a serene, modern setting.
world-class service for which Center For Sight is known,
world-class service for which Center For Sight is known, Jewish in Russia meant you were a day night to sunset the following day. Sakellarios families,
in a serene, modern setting.

Receive expert diagnosis and treatment for: minority. It was stamped on your pass- Retiring my phone for 24 hours was who donated a por-
in a serene, modern setting.
Receive expert diagnosis and treatment for: port and the authorities knew who you
Skin Cancer • Skin Growths • Skin Disease

Receive expert diagnosis and treatment for: were. Although Moscow was a cosmo- excruciating, like parting with a limb, tion of their grants back to the Feder-
Skin Cancer • Skin Growths • Skin Disease
Mohs Micrographic Surgery
but it was also strangely freeing. When ation so the funds could be reallocated
Mohs Micrographic Surgery
Skin Cancer • Skin Growths • Skin Disease politan city compared to other parts of you’re not constantly trying to fill the to families with greater need. Thank
Mohs Micrographic Surgery Russia, there were limitations on Jews empty space in your life, you start to you for your generosity.
Joshua M. Newman, M.D. wherever you looked. One prominent reflect. The grant recipients range in age
Medical/Surgical Dermatologist example was quotas in top academic As I approached the most power-from seven to 18 and attend Reform,
Joshua M. Newman, M.D. departments. There was a limit to how ful and enduring symbol of our people,
Named “Top Doctor” by
Medical/Surgical Dermatologist many Jews could matriculate. It was a The Kotel, I felt a cool draft emanating
Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd.
Named “Top Doctor” by huge blow to my dad who had ambi- from its ancient stones, drawing me
Voted “Best Dermatologist” by
Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd. tions of pursuing a doctorate degree. closer. When I pressed my hand to that
readers of the Sarasota Herald Tribune
Voted “Best Dermatologist” by Worse yet, we couldn’t tell anyone we solemn stone, tears welled in my eyes
readers of the Sarasota Herald Tribune were Jewish for fear of persecution. and at that moment I knew who I was
Privately we were proud of our Jewish and why I was here. I am a proud Jew-
heritage, but publicly we had to hide ish man, and we were a band of Jewish
who we were from friends and neigh- brothers reconnecting with our roots
AmaraMD.com • 941.263.4799 bors. and bringing Jewish values back to our
Ambivalence toward my Jewish community.
AmaraMD.com • 941.263.4799
MOV I N G ?
MOVING?

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Send your new address to Bonnie at bsouther@jfedsrq.org or 941.371.4546 x0