Page 14 - Jewish News_November-2020

14A November 2020 FEDERATION NEWS

Rabbi Jonathan Katz: Building connections

By Gayle Guynup
abbi Jonathan R. Katz is all Jay Solomon agrees. “We’re very ex- and, socially distanced and wearing The rabbi enjoys the give and take
about building connections be- cited to have Rabbi Katz join the Aviva masks, in his “unofficial office,” Avi- he has with residents. “I enjoy just hav-
Rtween people. The Community team,” he said. “We believe that he will va’s beautiful rotunda. ing a nice back and forth with people,”
Chaplain and Director of the Jewish bring his warmth, caring and comedic “I have noticed how Rabbi Katz he shared. “For example, “I introduced
Healing Program (JHP) for JFCS of sense to Aviva and its residents.” will go up to individuals in the rotunda, myself to a woman in the rotunda and
the Suncoast, he is now also serving as As Director of Spiritual Services, and introduce himself,” Solomon said. asked where she was from. She replied,
Director of Spiritual Services for Aviva he is responsible for the observance of “That is so important to him, that one- ‘I am proudly from Manhattan.’ When
– A Campus for Senior Life. The Jew- Shabbat, the Jewish holidays, pastoral on-one development of relationships. I told her I was from Ohio, she sarcas-
ish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee care and educational programming for We are all craving human interaction tically asked, ‘Where’s that?’ To which
sponsors the JHP, Rabbi Katz’s Com- all of Aviva’s residents. right now, and I think that Rabbi Katz, I replied, ‘Oh, I see, a typical New
munity Chaplain position and his addi- “Rabbi Katz understands that we whether virtually or in person, will be Yorker. Everything ends at the Hudson
tional role at Aviva. are a community made up of people able to bring that to all of us at Aviva,” River.’ We had a good laugh.”
“The Federation is thrilled that from all walks of life and from all re- he said. “I’m a banterer. I like to make peo-
Rabbi Katz will now have the oppor- ligious denominations, and he will be Rabbi Katz’s duties at Aviva in- ple smile and stimulate them,” he em-
tunity to share his warmth and wisdom there to embrace that cultural diversity clude providing services for individ- phasized. “One day I walked into the
with the residents of Aviva,” said Fed- and be able to be the string that pulls us uals of any background or religious rotunda and just blurted out who can
eration Chief Operating Officer Kim all together into a wonderful, harmoni- denomination, as well as for its Jew- tell me the nine body parts that have
Adler. “Both his rabbinic and chaplain- ous community,” Solomon said. ish residents, the same way he does as three letters. It was a fun way to get ac-
cy backgrounds make him the perfect Rabbi Katz began working at Avi- Community Chaplain at JFCS. quainted.” (By the way, the answer is
fit for Aviva’s needs, especially during va on August 1. For now, all worship “At JFCS, I had started some- arm, leg, hip, ear, eye, toe, lip, rib and
this challenging time when the resi- services and educational programming thing called Talk Story, a weekly dis- jaw.)
dents are grappling with issues of iso- are provided via closed-circuit televi- cussion group that goes behind the Jay Solomon remembers Rabbi
lation and fear due to COVID-19.” sion. However, he spends time on site, scenes of what is happening, especial- Katz’s humor and warmth from a time
Aviva’s Chief Executive Officer meeting with residents in their rooms ly in the Jewish world,” Rabbi Katz last year when he was in the hospital
said. “We’ve now opened that up to and the rabbi would come up to his
residents at Aviva. They can also take room just to kibbitz. “And when I was
part in the JFCS Bereavement Support there over Rosh Hashanah, his wife
Groups, which are currently presented Marty came too. That is who they are
on Zoom.” as a couple, and that is who Jonathan
Rabbi Katz created Rosh Hasha- Katz is – one of the warmest, most car-
nah and Yom Kippur service booklets ing people I have ever met,” Solomon
especially for Aviva residents that were said.
easy to follow and contained elements At the heart of everything he does
that enhanced the experience of the is cultivating relationships with people
High Holy Days even with COVID-19 and building communities of people
limitations. “I put a lot of time into who care. “These are the things I live
developing them and was pleased that my life for,” Rabbi Katz notes.
F ederation
residents appreciated how they turned
Rabbi Katz can be reached at
jkatz@jfcs-cares.org.
out.” he said.
Rabbi Jonathan Katz with Ginette Hersh and Cynthia Folit
2020

C
elebration

Sunday, November 8, 2020

3:00pm EST

Via Zoom

CHAIR: MARSHA EISENBERG

Award Recipients

Doris Loevner Memorial Young Leadership Award Yad Chazakah (Strong Hand) Award Morasha (Legacy) Award
Jaime Marco Larry Haspel Bobbi and Don Bernstein
Ahava (Love) Award Ayshet Chayil (Woman of Valor) Award Avodah (Service) Award
Geri and Lenny Drexler Marsha Eisenberg Ed Cohen
Chinuch (Education) Award Atid (Futures) Award Acharai (Follow Me) Award
Dave Oness Merrill Wynne Ellyn Bender & Christine Elliot
The Betty Schoenbaum – Heart to Heart Award Kehila (Community) Award Ish Chayil (Man of Valor) Award
Hadassah and Martin Strobel Sheriff-Elect Kurt Hoffman Michael Ritter
L’Dor V’Dor (Generation to Generation) Award Zachor (Never Forget) Award Kehila Ha’argonit (Corporate Community) Award
David Grace Bette Zaret Sabal Palm Bank
Hatikva (Hope) Award Halutzim (Pioneer) Award
David Weiman Mel Taub

To RSVP, contact Brieana at 941.552.6305 or bdgraves@jfedsrq.org
For information, contact Jeremy Lisitza jfedsrq.org/events
jlisitza@jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2113