Page 13 - Jewish News_March-2020

FEDERATION NEWS March 2020 13A

New York City – a Jewish view of “The Big Apple”

Written by trip participants Ashton Graber, grade 9 at Florida Virtual School; tour would not have been
Leo Hellawell, grade 11 at Pine View School; Rebecca Kleinberg, grade 12 at the same. That evening, we
Sarasota High School; Megan Meese, grade 10 at Riverview High School; Abbie spent Shabbat at the Ste-

jeep, off-roading in the north four times Mount, grade 10 at Lakewood Ranch High School; and Natalie Mount, grade 12 phen Wise Free Synagogue
because all of my buses were having at Lakewood Ranch High School with a few local teens.
that experience! Other memorable In January, six Shapiro Teen Engage- was brought to the Americas through The third day was our
times included being present when ment Program (STEP) high school stu- immigration and how it impacted the earliest morning, but the
participants chose Hebrew names that dents, along with STEP Chair Marni city of New York. reason was worth it. We
were meaningful to them, celebrating Mount and Federation’s Teen and We began our trip with ice skating went back to the syna-
B’nei Mitzvot, and dealing with par- Family Program Coordinator Andrea in Bryant Park and a trip to Rockefeller gogue to prepare and hand

ticipants getting sick and missing the Eiffert, set out to discover Jewish New Center. We all thought getting to see out food for the homeless.
day’s activities. York. Through visits to museums and New York City from the Top of the Later that day we went to
My favorite moment on a Hil- synagogues, and tasting traditional Rock was super cool! One of our group the American Museum of
lel Birthright trip is the Shehecheyanu Jewish cuisine, the group had an amaz- participants actually learned how to ice Natural History. Some of
ceremony when our participants first ing adventure, detailed by the students skate at Bryant Park, as he had never our favorite exhibits were

come to Jerusalem. On this trip, how- in the following narrative. been skating before. We visited Times the Asian People, Mam-
ever, all of my buses had already been hrough the Shapiro Teen En- Square and unfortunately got scammed mals and Dinosaur exhib- STEPping out in Times Square: (front) Ashton Graber,
up north, down south to Tel Aviv, and gagement Program, we six by a street performer, but learned a its, and we enjoyed the (middle) Andrea Eiff ert, Rebecca Kelinberg, Natalie Mount,
were ending their trip in Jerusalem, so Tteenagers from fi ve diff erent valuable lesson. Oceans: Our Blue Planet Abbie Mount, (back) Marni Mount, Megan Meese, Leo Hellawel
it was even more meaningful. I was high schools in Sarasota and Manatee The second day was a very “Jew- show. That night, we met up with fam- country. That evening we saw The

able to lead the Shehecheyanu on the counties visited New York City with ish” day. We went to see the first syn- ily and friends at the Meatball Shop for Lion King and thought it was interest-

Mount Scopus campus of Hebrew Uni- the goal to immerse ourselves in New agogue in the U.S. built by Eastern dinner. After stuffing ourselves with ing to see young kids performing on

versity at the overlook of the city. This York and its Jewish culture. During our European immigrants and toured the endless meatballs and pasta, we fin- Broadway! After the show, we went to
ceremony is a time for us to come to- visit we learned about how Judaism Tenement Museum on the Lower East ished the evening with ice cream sand- Junior’s for cheesecake and ice cream
gether, say the prayer and let it soak in Side. Our tour guide, Darryl, wiches. sundaes.

that we are finally in Jerusalem. was one of the highlights of Day four, the coldest and windiest Our final day in New York was

It is not often that the Rakaz gets to our trip. He was the funni- day of the trip, was fully committed to spent at the Museum of Jewish Heri-
have many purposeful moments with est, yet strangest, tour guide the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. tage, where we learned some interest-

participants and staff. For me, I truly we ever had, but without his We were able to see Lady Liberty up ing new facts about the Holocaust,

enjoyed being able to take some of “third person” remarks, our close and learn her importance to the and finished up our visit with lunch at

the pressure off the staff and still work Aroma Café before heading to the airport.

with the students. For example, a bus Being from Florida, and used
will make a stop at the Western Wall, to its warm and humid weather, the
cold weather in New York was mind-
boggling, yet we dressed appropriately
and powered through. We rode the sub-
way, we navigated the streets of New
York and met some interesting people
along the way. All in all, it was an
Preparing food packages for NYC homeless: Natalie Mount, In the balcony at the Eldridge St. Synagogue: Megan Meese, Rebecca Kelinberg,
Rebecca Kleinberg, Megan Meese, Abbie Mount Natalie Mount, Abbie Mount, Marni Mount, Ashton Graber, Andrea Eiff ert, Leo Hellawel amazing and fun trip.
Federation’s impact felt by college students

Staff Report

but the staff member may need to ad- he Jewish Federation of Sara- currently studying at Boston Conser- school year beginning on March 1, For more information on the JELF

dress an issue, so they are not able to sota-Manatee not only pro- vatory at Berklee. Haley says, “I am 2020. The deadline for submission is program, contact Andrea Eiffert at
visit the wall with the participants. It Tvides scholarships to college honored and grateful to be a recipient April 30, 2020. Applications can be 941.552.6308 or aeiffert@jfedsrq.org.

felt good that I could help the staff have students, it also administers the Jew- of the generous JELF loan assisting me found at JELF.org.

their own enlightening Israel memories ish Educational Loan Fund (JELF) to with my junior year. This support alle-

as well. students in our area. JELF provides viated much financial stress, allowing VOTED
I also have to admit that a final plus interest-free loans to full-time Jewish me to focus on my coursework as well

BEST REUBEN

was being in Israel during Chanukah. I students who are enrolled in a U.S. ac- as working professionally in my field. I BES T REUBEN
saw more sufganiyot (donuts) than any credited institution, in good standing am forever thankful.”
academically and a resident in one of Andrea Eiffert, Federation’s Teen IN FL O RID A
IN FLORIDA

these states: Florida, Georgia, North and Family Program Coordinator who
Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. oversees the JELF program, says,
In the last year, JELF awarded “JELF is a great alternative for students
loans to two students in the Sarasota- who don’t want to take on high-interest
Manatee area, totaling $9,686. Since loans. Plus, the repayment schedule, Matzo Ball Soup
1985, 13 students have received loans which gradually increases over the
totaling $56,202. eight-year-term, enables graduates to Potato Pancakes
Haley Rosenthal of Sarasota is one get on their feet and mitigate debt.”
of those students who received a loan JELF will be accepting applica- Corned Beef
for the 2019-2020 school year. She is tions for assistance in the 2020-2021

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