Page 16 - Jewish News_March 2021

16A March 2021 FEDERATION NEWS

Birthright Israel: It’s more than just a free trip

By Sydney Harlow, Gulf Coast Hillel Program Director (Kahn family) Tailgate art.
irthright – a word that means least five days and are fully integrated to get a spot in the next season of trips selves and their religion, using Israel
different things to different into the program as participants. These at birthrightisrael.com. as the laboratory!
Bpeople. Some will talk about soldiers are given a few days of leave But Birthright Israel is simply The most difficult part of signing
stories from the Torah and some will to participate. This is a way for the more than a trip. It is about connect- up is choosing the best Birthright Isra-
discuss things given to them. Ask Jew- North American participants to interact ing the participants to Judaism, to their el trip for you. Under the umbrella of
ish college students and they will tell with peers for an extended amount of Judaism. Some participants have been Birthright Israel there are many trip
you about a trip to Israel! time. It is so exciting to see them be- active in Jewish life since they were organizers who offer different types of
Taglit Birthright Israel, better come fast and long-lasting friends! born, and some are just learning about trips. There are traditional national trips
known as Birthright Israel, is a free Eligibility for the trip is simple: you it. Birthright Israel allows them to dive that bring participants together from
trip to Israel for Jewish young adults must be age 18-32, have earned a high headfirst into learning about them- around the country based on what dates
ages 18-32. It is a 10-day educational school diploma, have work best for them. There are campus The Rabbis got lots of help PJ Library families enjoyed a
trip that shows participants the land of at least one Jewish par- trips that bring together students from from the children. safe, socially distanced event.
Israel and teaches about Israeli histo- ent or have completed the same college or university with
ry. Every day is different as they trav- conversion to Judaism, campus staff. There are also religious Circle
el the whole country, from the Golan and have never visited trips, ones that specialize in cooking
Heights down to the Negev, and from Israel on an organized focusing on the foods of Israel, trips Havdalah
Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. They get to ex- trip after the age of 18. for those who identify as LGBTQ+ and Thank you to the families who
perience different cultures and types of Due to current circum- many more. When looking at potential came out on January 9, 2021,
people throughout the country, most stances of the Covid-19 Birthright Israel trips it is important to and Rabbis Samantha Kahn
notably through their experience with pandemic, we are not keep the participant in mind. The Geffre family. and Michael Shefrin for MG Berman welcomed families.
the Israeli soldiers who join their trip. sure when trips will be For more information about Taglit leading the Havdalah!
Every Birthright Israel trip has a mif- operating again. Re- Birthright Israel or to sign up for your
gash (literally an encounter) where cur- gardless, participants trip, go to birthrightisrael.com or con-
rent Israeli soldiers join the trip for at are still able to sign up tact me at sydney@gchillel.org.

Purim with a twist – STEP teens pay it forward

combining two celebrations on MLK Day

By Sydney Harlow, Gulf Coast Hillel Program Director By Jessi Sheslow, Teen & Family Programs Manager We had a great time seeing you at
the PJ Library Circle Havdalah! Our
ombine Purim and Havdalah to be Federation’s Chief Development our STEP (Shapiro Teen En- chocolate packets, fuzzy socks and friends at Temple Emanu-el and
Temple Sinai let us borrow their amaz-
and what do you get? You get Strategist. She will lead us in song and gagement Program) teens hon- some VSCO stickers of the beach to ing Rabbis, and boy did we have fun!
Ca fun evening of singing and celebration of Havdalah. Yored Martin Luther King Jr. remind them of home. The teens are To learn more about PJ Library visit
celebrating. This year, The Jewish To make the celebration extra spe- Day this year with some Tikkun Olam. so thankful to the donors who helped Kiddush cup The Bunin family decorates JFEDSRQ.org/Youth-Programs Ron & Elaine Berman enjoyed taking part as
Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is cial at home, Zildjian Catering is part- After reflecting on how challenging them create these packages by donat- decorating is fun! their Kiddush cup. or email Jessi Sheslow at PJ Grandparents!
celebrating the little moments and the nering with us once again and will have this last year has been, it was decided ing the items they needed. jsheslow@jfedsrq.org.
more minor holidays that don’t get as a special Purim festive meal available to send care packages to STEP alumni In addition to putting together
much recognition as the major ones. for purchase through its website. This who are off at college. They may not these care packages, we discussed the
This is the second in our series of three will be your one-stop shop for dinner be part of STEP anymore, but they are importance of MLK Day and how they
JFSM
community Havdalah events and will that night as well as for Havdalah can- still part of our community, and our would change the world for the better.
be held Saturday, March 6 at 7:00 p.m. dles and grape juice (or wine for those STEP teens wanted to make sure they These included fixing poverty, wealth
This is a free program for our com- who wish to partake). To purchase a knew how much we miss them. inequality, the environment and food JFSM
2020–2021tualVirtual
Vir

munity to bring us all together for a Purim meal from Zildjian, please visit Tikkun Olam is a Jew- FEDERATION MAJOR EVENTS
post-celebration of Purim as well as zildjiancatering.com. ish concept defined by acts
Havdalah. To register for this event, visit jfed of kindness performed to
We will be joined by music enthu- srq.org/events. For more information, perfect or repair the world.
siast Barbara Mazer who also happens contact me at sydney@gchillel.org. The phrase is found in the FEDERATION EVENTS 2021

Mishnah, a body of classi-
cal rabbinic teachings. The
Want to most modern and broadly MARCH 1 — MARCH 25 (21 Films)

understood notion of Tikkun
12 ANNUAL
TH
Olam is that of “repairing the
Receive world” through human ac- MORT SKIRBOLL JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
tions. Humanity’s responsi-
MARCH 16
bility to change, improve and
Texts fix its earthly surroundings is insecurity. As the saying goes, “the kids WITH CHEF MICHAEL SOLOMONOV
PASSOVER COOKING
Jenelle Bayor and Nolan Krames
powerful. It implies that each
person has a hand in working toward
MARCH 21
tence as well as the lives of future gen-
very proud of our STEP teens!
about Jewish the betterment of his or her own exis- are alright.” Our community should be SARASOTA JEWISH THEATER
erations. Tikkun Olam forces people
To learn more about the Shapiro
FROM DOOR TO DOOR
community news, to take ownership of their world. Our Teen Engagement Program, visit jfed APRIL 6
STEP teens did just that by paying it
srq.org/teens or contact me at jsheslow
event updates forward! @jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2109. AN EVENING OF VIRTUAL AMAZEMENTS
The care packages included LED
WITH SIDNEY FRIEDMAN
and more? Shabbat candles, a mini-mezuzah, hot
APRIL 13 — APRIL 15 (3 Events)
PEOPLE OF THE BOOK: HISTORY
Text: JFED
APRIL 11
To: 332-22 YOM HA’ATZMAUT: ALL STAR COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

To see the full schedule
of events and to register, visit
jfedsrq.org/events

Michela Hazan and Abbie Mount
Teens write “thank you” notes put together boxes