Page 48 - Jewish News | November 2021

16B November 2021 COMMUNITY FOCUS

Cantor Marci Vitkus celebrates 20 years

at the Jewish Congregation of Venice

By Cynthia Greene
he came, she saw, she conquered. and the ropes of being a cantor from a Notary Public to be able to officiate says that Cantor Marci is “the glue that
Cantor Marci Vitkus has been a her affiliation with the Women Cantors’ at Jewish and interfaith weddings in holds the congregation together. She
Sdriving force at the Jewish Con- Network. She now serves as Executive Florida and has performed over 200 very seldom says no because she is to-
gregation of Venice (JCV) since she ar- Vice President of this amazing orga- weddings. She is sought after by con- tally committed to the JCV.”
rived in October 2001. Although she is nization. She also credits her study in gregants to perform their life cycle When asked to summarize her
descended from 17 generations of can- the Melton program, under the tutelage events. feelings after 20 years at the JCV,
tors, joining their ranks was not in her of Jennifer Singer, Sue Huntting and Kreiss calls her the “most talented this beloved spiritual leader says that
sights when she and her husband Andy five-foot female I know.” He goes on to “when you start a job you have no idea
moved to Sarasota from the Chicago say, “She is the heartbeat of the temple. how long it will last. What has kept me
suburbs 28 years ago. She’s bright, she’s young, she gives us here is simple. I love going to work. I
Armed with a teaching degree, she the vitality we need, she takes some realize what a blessing it is to feel that
landed a job at Beth Israel Day School of the stiffness out of the service, she way. The other reason I stay is because
in Sarasota, where she worked until she makes you want to join in.” the JCV has become my family. They
and Andy decided to open their own These sentiments are echoed by support me, I support them. We have Why a Bereavement
preschool for children ages six months JCV President Harvey Cohen, who created a mutual partnership!”
ARTS
to four and a half years. They worked CULTURE MUSIC CULTURE SHABBAT Support Group?
ELDERLY SERVICES
tirelessly, but after six years, she was BRADENTON FAMILY SOCIAL
EDUCATION
ready to take on a new challenge. YOUTH HADASSAH ltimately, a Bereavement Sup-
She was involved in musical the- VENICE SHABBAT port Group is about personal
SYNAGOGUE
ater and joined the Sarasota Jewish CHEVRA KADISHA CULTURE MOHEL Ugrowth and community. All of
Chorale, which turned out to be a KOSHER CAMP us sustain losses. Sometimes they in-
EDUCATION
life-changing move. Joel Kreiss, a past Cantor Marci Vitkus SENIORS HOLOCAUST CEMETERIES volve loved ones, while at other times
ARTS
president of the JCV, was director of Marden Paru (of blessed memory), as LONGBOAT KEY they deal with the loss of a profession-
BRADENTON
the group, and he was impressed by her a formative experience in her journey. YOUTH GROUP MUSIC CULTURE
al position, marriage, friendship or
FAMILY
L
KI
O
O
YOUTH
personality and voice. The JCV needed The rest is history – a 20-year his- YOUNG ADULTS N G F O R S O M E T H I N G J E W I S H ?
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING JEWISH? physical capacity. The loss of faith and
a cantor and he asked her to try out for tory of love, learning, teaching and VENICE ELDERLY SERVICES
CHEVRA KADISHA
self-confidence may also be encoun-
HADASSAH
the position. singing. JUDAICA FOOD FIND IT IN THE DIRECTORY tered during
SYNAGOGUE
Marci knew very little about Jew- Marci rapidly assumed more tasks JFEDSRQ.org/Directory EDUCATION different chapters of our
lives.
SUMMER CAMP
ish music except for what she heard in her new position, including teach- HILLEL CULTURE Though the passing of a loved one
growing up with a father who was a ing Sunday School and coaching Bar SARASOTA MOHEL
CEMETERIES
SOCIAL
HOLOCAUST
cantor, but she managed to get hired and Bat Mitzvah students. She makes TEEN KOSHER CAMP is in a category of its own, the dynam-
ics associated with all losses are often
for the position. She studied diligently hospital visits, directs the JCV choir, SENIORS NORTH PORT SOCIAL
EDUCATION
quite similar. The ability to negotiate
with her father Joel, Cantor Diane Na- leads a weekly women’s group called SHABBAT YOUTH GROUP ARTS FAMILY
them is a major aspect of human de-
thanson and her mentor, Cantor Phyllis Kol Isha (the woman’s voice) and is in- CHEVRA KADISHA BRADENTON velopment.
CEMETERIES
CAMP
Stoltz. She learned the sacred music volved in the community. She became TEMPLE JUDAICA FOOD EDUCATION SHABBAT A Bereavement Support Group
VENICE
isn’t intended to only consider the loss
SYNAGOGUE
of a loved one, but loss in and of itself.
“These we honor”
SENIORS
SUMMER CAMP
MUSIC CULTURE HILLEL MUSIC MUSIC
In providing the chance to explore loss
in several dimensions, it engenders
Your Tributes
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN HOWARD TEVLOWITZ
IN MEMORY OF ENDOWMENT FUND
Marden Paru IN MEMORY OF
Jeremy Lisitza Marden Paru
Merlyn Steinhart Bryna and Howard Tevlowitz
Ilene and Michael Fox Merlyn Steinhart
Dvora and David Millstone
Bryna and Howard Tevlowitz
CAMP MARCI LYNN SKIP
PROGRAMS (Send-A-Kid-To-Israel)
IN MEMORY OF IN MEMORY OF
Scott Pintchuck Sheila Goldblatt
Patti and David Wertheimer Roberta Berson and Frank Tucciarone
THE GREAT AMERICAN BUY TICKETS CAMP MARCI LYNN STEP (Shapiro Teen
TRAILER PARK OCT 29-NOV 28 IN MEMORY OF Engagement Fund)
SCHOLARSHIPS

MUSICAL The Great American Merlyn Steinhart IN MEMORY OF
Scott Pintchuck
Trailer Park Musical.
Kim and Jon Adler
Kim Adler
Check out our entire 2021-2022
season at VeniceTheatre.org HELLER CRC Merlyn Steinhart
Nancy Wolk and Michael Ritter
IN MEMORY OF
Marden Paru NOTE: To be publicly
Steven Kalt
acknowledged in The Jewish News,
HOLOCAUST Honor Cards require a minimum

PROGRAMS $10 contribution per listing.
IN MEMORY OF You can send Honor Cards directly
VeniceTheatre.org Trude Bennett from jfedsrq.org. For more

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