Page 20 - Jewish News_March 2021

5 JCV connects with its members through
20A March 2021 COMMUNITY FOCUS

technology and innovative programs

This program is sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee
allowing members to participate more
he Jewish Congregation of
the Sarasota community. To honor his
extensive work in education, an adult
meaningfully.
Venice (JCV) is a lifeline for
Currently, Shabbat services are
who are deeply feeling the Covid-19
memory.
ting in their cars behind the synagogue
Due to JCV’s enhanced technol-
isolation. In response to their needs,
EASY Tmany of its shut-in members held twice monthly with members sit- education fund was established in his
ogy, Torah Study, an Introduction to
and tuning into an FM station on their
JCV President Harvey Cohen asked for
Judaism/conversion class and a weekly
car radio or sitting outside with appro-
and received a grant from The Jewish
Federation of Sarasota-Manatee to
women’s discussion group are avail-
priate social distancing. On alternate
STEPS upgrade JCV capabilities to generate Friday nights, Rabbi Ben Shull and able on Zoom, as are board meetings,
Cantor Marci Vitkus conduct services
remote programs including Shabbat
ritual and membership meetings, and
from their homes via Zoom.
and festival services. The funds were
Sisterhood gatherings.
When Dr. Steve Derfler, a JCV
The Jewish Congregation of Ven-
utilized for video and sound equipment
Initially, Shabbat services were
vice was held at the synagogue with
tion grant which enabled its leaders
How To Stay and software. member, passed away recently, the ser- ice is deeply grateful for the Federa-
sent via Zoom from the synagogue, but
participants in over 70 cars. More than
to develop innovative and meaningful
Up-To-Date as JCV’s knowledge and capabilities 100 attendees from around the world programs and services to answer the
improved, a five-member technolo-
attended via Zoom. People from coun-
needs of congregants during this long
On Your gy committee expanded its programs. tries including Israel and Egypt and and difficult period. For additional in-
throughout the U.S. honored this be-
formation, please visit JCV’s website
High Holy Days 2020 were held via
Jewish both Zoom and pre-recorded services, loved scholar, speaker and member of at jewishcongregationvenice.com.
Community New Bereavement Support Group
1 FREQUENTLY begins March 17
This program is sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee
post? Time-sensitive news, alerts, items of A us, gain coping strategies and cultivate coast in conjunction with The Jewish

new Bereavement Support
Social Media: While we don’t always
resilience.
Group via Zoom begins on
Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, the
post hourly, we do post often. What do we
Especially during the social isola-
Wednesday, March 17 from
interest, and more. Follow us on Facebook, 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. Facilitated by Com- tion associated with Covid-19, it is im- group will meet on six successive
Wednesdays through April 21. Pre-reg-
Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and more!
Find us by searching for “JFEDSRQ.” munity Chaplain Rabbi Jonathan R. portant for those who have suffered the istration is required. The cost is $36.
Katz, the group offers the opportunity loss of a loved one to share with each For more information, please contact
2 DAILY to learn how others are dealing with other and find support. Rabbi Katz at jkatz@jfcs-cares.org or
Sponsored by JFCS of the Sun-
grief, examine ways loss can impact
941.366.2224 x166.
Website JFEDSRQ.org Temple Emanu-El organizes
Whether you’re on your desk-
top, laptop or smartphone, the
Federation website, has everything above and Covid Vaccine Committee
below (and more) right at your fingertips. Keep
our event calendars in your bookmarks bar for
event information in a click. s Covid vaccines rolled out ges and opportunities as they occur.”
across Sarasota-Manatee, Tem-
Temple Emanu-El has had mem-
3 BI-WEEKLY Aple Emanu-El grew concerned bers seriously afflicted by Covid, with
some hospitalized and even losing their
about seniors struggling to navigate
the vaccine registration process. Sally lives to the disease. Others have lost
and Jay Steele volunteered to organize loved ones to the virus. But even those
Federation Eblast: Temple Emanu-El’s groundbreaking who have been spared illness have suf-
Receive timely Federation Covid Vaccine Committee. fered in the pandemic. “We are restrict-
news, topics, and more, in
your email every Tuesday “The committee unanimously ed from doing much of what we like
and Friday by subscribing to the bi-weekly agreed that our goal is to assist indi- to do,” Jay said. “A difficult aspect of
newsletter, the Federation eBlast. viduals in their efforts to register for Covid is the inability to connect with
4 MONTHLY vaccine shots,” Jay stated. “The reg- family and friends freely.”
istration system can be daunting and
Jay offered guidance for congre-
similar effort, emphasizing the place
keep up-to-date with availability chan-
FEDERATION NEWS L ’Shana Tova! changes often. Another challenge is to gations and groups wishing to start a
FROM THE BOARD AND STAFF OF
The Jewish News: The Celebrating Years The Jewish
50
Celebrating Jewish Life in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Israel and the World
P U B L I S H E D B Y
Federation
OF SARASOTA-MANATEE
publication that brings the 25 Jewish Happenings Staff Report programming for the 2020-21 season Temple Emanu-El Covid Vaccine Committee
THE LARRY & MARY GREENSPON
FAMILY CAMPUS FOR JEWISH LIFE
13 Community Focus
20 Jewish Interest
September 2020 - Elul 5780 / Tishrei 5781 www.jfedsrq.org Volume 50, Number 8
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Federation to offer all virtual
39 Commentary
Jewish community right to your Where your dollars go: 4 cases that continue to climb in Flori- in-person event, what conditions ‹ ‹ event. All answers clearly showed Chairs Sally and Jay Steele
he Jewish Federation of Sara-
43 Focus on Youth
47 Life Cycle
sota-Manatee has made the dif-
38 Israel & the Jewish World Tficult decision that all programs
door event for the coming Fall-Winter
2020-21 season?
As you can see, an overwhelming
Chief Executive Officer Howard Tev-
for the 2020-21 season will be virtual.
munity.
lowitz says, “In an effort to keep the
majority would not feel comfortable
reluctance on the part of the com-
attending or thought it was too soon to
tell.
community safe, we feel we have no
Many of the comments were en-
lightening. Here are a few:
choice but to make this decision. The
important!”
health of our Federation family is too
Other questions included at
I will not be attending in the fore-
what capacity one would attend an
In addition to the Coronavirus
seeable future. Very glad you are
would have to be in effect to feel
asking, but no, no and NO!!!
door every month with news, taken to a new level 12 answered by more than 550 re- event (i.e., masks, sanitizers, etc.) 4.0 % 9 .5 % sider, no indoor events should be of shared leadership. “Important deci-
comfortable to attend an in-person
da, Tevlowitz points to the results of
With an older population to con-
American Friends of
Leket Israel
our recent event survey, which clearly
planned until there is a vaccine.
attend in-person events for the foresee-
and when would you see yourself
showed the community is not ready to
Appreciate the varied programs
and films you’ve provided.
able future. “We have heard you loud
ready to come out to an in-person
and clear,” says Tevlowitz.
The event survey sent out
continued on page 2
via email and social media, was
LEVEL OF COMFORT TO ATTEND INDOOR EVENTS
SURVEY RESULTS
3 .2 %
feedback about our current virtual
Lechlechallah – Challah baking
spondents. They were asked for 57 .2
programming and questioned about
%
.2 Percent Will avoid attending in-
events, and more. Get your FREE Temple Beth Sholom Catering: 16 time to let us know their thoughts. 26.1 26 soon to tell 3 attending indoor events .2 Percent Have no concern about FED sions are made by the committee as a
57door events for the foreseeable future
how comfortable one would feel at-
tending in-person events this com-
ing season. We are so grateful that
so many in our community took the
4 but may still attend indoor events
.0 Percent Would be nervous,
answer to the main question: What is
The pie chart at right shows the
your level of comfort attending an in-
%
9federal/state guidelines are strictly followed
.5 Percent Will attend so long as CDC/
.1 Percent Think that it is too
Keeping connected and
kosher with Shabbat meals
subscription today! reflect the views of, or serve as endorsement 46 gramming, including helping a number was overwhelming. The committee mittee focused its efforts on fulfilling whole and by consensus,” he stated. “It
Federation awards 2 nd phase of COVID-19
assistance to area Jewish organizations
n April of this year, The Jewish
Federation of Sarasota-Manatee
to provide virtual ser-
visual systems in order
Ibegan raising funds to provide
By Kim Adler, Chief Operating Officer, and Stacey Gillman, Stronger Together Granting Chair
COVID-19 relief to Jewish organiza-
vices and programs for
tions in our two-county area. As of
our community mem-
this printing, our generous community
bers, many of whom are
and safe school year
The Gan plans an exciting
has contributed more than $330,000 to
our Stronger Together effort, including
the pandemic.
isolated and alone due to
board-restricted fund.
a $100,000 matching grant from our
PAID POLITICAL
In July, the Stron-
ger Together Granting
ADVERTISEMENT
5 YEARLY Annual voluntary subscription: $25 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE MANASOTA FL PERMIT 167 PAID fall. After much deliberation, the com- See our ad on page 3A ing programs: for $157,660 in grants for the follow- we are is also critical for committees to set a
DISCLAIMER
uted close to $70,000 of those dollars
Committee met to re-
Readers may recall that we distrib-
This issue of The Jewish News contains a paid
view applications for the second phase
to eight Jewish organizations and syna-
gogues in early June to support Food
of the granting process. The response
political advertisement. The ad does not
Security and Health/Wellness pro-
by, the staff or leadership of The Jewish
received requests totaling more than
was available to distribute, which was
Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.
those grants that address Food Secu-
of synagogues make much-needed up-
concerning as the plan was to make a
grades to their technology and audio-
for this phase. The committee recom-
rity and Health/Wellness programming
mended and received Board approval
third phase of grants available in early
A publication of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee
The Larry & Mary Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life
Klingenstein Jewish Center, 580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota, FL 34232
continued on page 2
BUY • SELL • CONSIGN • REPAIR
1484 Main Street | Sarasota FL 34236 | 941.312.5566 | www.zemil.net
clear mission statement and make sure
actly what the vaccine committee is
FREE VOLUME 2 | 2020-2021 those we serve clearly understand ex-
ShalomSRQ: Your resource UPDATED attempting to do.
guide to everything Jewish in DISCOVER ALL THINGS JEWISH Sarasota-Manatee Enriching Jewish Hearts “Ask clergy and organization lead-
INSIDE
Sarasota-Manatee. Keep it on FIND THE LOCATIONS
Synagogues, Food, Culture & More
LEARN ABOUT YOUR FEDERATION
History, Programs & More
On the Detailed Map Locator
hand to quickly find Jewish SHALOMSRQ.org A PUBLICATION OF ers to constantly clarify the commit-
goods, services and organizations. tee’s goal. Keep spreading the word
Request to be on the mailing list! about how you are trying to help,” he
added. “And volunteers need to be
Find and Subscribe at our Federation strives to enrich Jewish hearts in our Sarasota-Manatee constantly updated about current avail-
JFEDSRQ.org/Media-Channels Ycommunity — from life-changing trips to Israel for teens, community ability and potential appointments.
leaders and mothers and fathers to our Shapiro Teen Engagement Program “Our committee is a work in prog-
(STEP) to Gulf Coast Hillel and much more. ress,” he concluded. “However, feel
free to contact us at any time.”
Jay and Sally Steele may be
jfedsrq.org • 941.371.4546 reached at jmsteele20@comcast.net or
steeler1.1@comcast.net.