Page 14 - Jewish News_August-2020

14 August 2020 COMMUNITY FOCUS

Area synagogues...continued from previous page
in attendance, should the need arise. completely.” That way members can CHABAD OF and were happy to help teach Zoom
Congregants are socially distanced, participate in the way that makes them DOWNTOWN SARASOTA and other virtual programs to members.
and they are required to wear a mask,” feel the most comfortable. The Coronavirus led Chabad of Down- “Going virtual has actually en-
he explained. “Many people have been “Based on what it looks like now, town Sarasota to move much of its riched our community by making our
very excited to be together and worship we will probably hold High Holiday programming onto online platforms. programs accessible to everyone, in-
again, while others still have concerns. services at The Grove in Lakewood In addition, Rabbi Levi Steinmetz said cluding those who do not drive, those
The community has differing opin- Ranch, but everything depends on what he has been busy “doing a lot of out- who were ill, and now even snowbirds
ions,” he said. happens with the virus,” he said, add- reach in the community,” helping those going back north who can stay in-
“Chabad is trying to slowly open ing that currently, all plans are tentative. who could not leave their homes, those volved with our programming through
in a responsible way,” Rabbi Mendy “The Jewish Federation of Sarasota- needing food or medicine, or those the summer months,” Rabbi Schmer-
added. “We will probably continue our Manatee deserves big kudos for help- with other special needs. ling said.
Chabad offered a variety of Zoom
virtual programs even when we open ing us all through this time,” he added. lectures and events, including a chance cently, on a limited capacity,” he add-
“We opened our synagogue re-
“These we honor” to see the film The Rabbi Goes West, ed. “After being in contact with health
officials, we opened, but we require
followed by a live question-and-an-
Your Tributes swer session with the film’s producers people to wear masks, they are socially
and the rabbi featured in the film. This
distanced (6- to 8-feet apart) and we
are doing temperature checks. There is
opportunity came to them through the
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN STRONGER TOGETHER Sarasota Film Festival, which was can- no touching the Torah, and there is no
food or reception, just the service,” he
celled this year due to the virus.
IN HONOR OF FUND – CORONAVIRUS There have also been a variety of added. The Hebrew school offered an
Rabbi Jonathan Katz EMERGENCY RELIEF opportunities to hear from fabulous outdoor graduation for its students and
Moshe Matteo Mazzarella speakers using the Zoom platform. Summer Day Camp opened recently.
IN HONOR OF These programs were put together Schmerling added, “If we get a rec-
MORTON SKIRBOLL Jewish Federation Staff, in conjunction with the other area ommendation from the Health Depart-

FUND Ilene Fox, Gisele Pintchuck Chabads. One of the speakers, Rabbi ment to close, we will close.”
and Jeremy Lisitza
Asked about the High Holidays,
Yosef Jacobson from New York, spoke
IN MEMORY OF Judith and Arthur Marks on the importance of the Jewish people Schmerling said, laughing, “Man
Morton Skirboll IN MEMORY OF having a voice in today’s world. “The plans and God laughs.” He added that
Francine Achbar and Stuart Barbara Allison
Mushlin Myra Johnson To find contact information
Judy and Jack Bloch Morton Skirboll
Yvette and Len Fishman Arlene Stolnitz for area synagogues, see page 8 or visit
Ilene and Michael Fox
Shelly and Sy Goldblatt PJ LIBRARY FUND jfedsrq.org/community-directory
Alex Hewit
Marcy and Michael Klein IN HONOR OF
Nancy and Alan Milbauer Jacob Berman response was phenomenal,” Rabbi Chabad will definitely celebrate the
Bryna and Howard Tevlowitz Elaine and Ron Berman Steinmetz said. “We could never have holidays, “but how we will do it is still
Joseliyn Berman afforded to bring him here on our to be determined.”
Elaine and Ron Berman own, but working with the other area “A silver lining of all this,” he said,
Sarah Berman Chabads made it possible.” “is that we are reminded that our per-
Elaine and Ron Berman Rabbi Steinmetz noted that he has sonal relationship with God is not lim-
NOTE: To be publicly acknowledged in also been busy with one-on-one learn- ited to a space or time. It has been very
ing, now offered virtually rather than in
rewarding to have our congregants
The Jewish News, Honor Cards require a minimum person. At this time, there are no ser- make their homes their sanctuary.”
$10 contribution per listing. You can send vices. As Chabad of Downtown Sara- CHABAD OF WEST BRADENTON
Honor Cards directly from www.jfedsrq.org. sota is in the process of purchasing a Rabbi Zev Steinmetz of Chabad of
new space, the hope is by the time the
West Bradenton notes that all Chabad
For more information, please call 941.552.6304. new building is finished in late sum- classes, Bar Mitzvah lessons and spe-
mer, worship, including High Holiday cialty programs went virtual with the PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT
services, will resume, even if masks onset of the Coronavirus pandemic.
THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SARASOTA-MANATEE and social distancing are required. “It’s “We also did personal deliveries with
AND THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER ORLANDO PRESENT a new reality, and we all have to ad- holiday and Shabbat packages for our
just,” he said. community,” he said.
An Evening with Rivkah Slonim CHABAD OF VENICE Congregants responded very posi-
AND NORTH PORT tively to the change in programming.
Rabbi Sholom Schmerling of Chabad “They really appreciated the holiday
of Venice and North Port said Chabad and Shabbat packages, as well as the
went virtual with its programming – virtual programming we offered,” he
UNPACKING STEREOTYPES IN CINEMA’S DEPICTION OF CHASSIDIC services, adult classes and Hebrew said.
LIFE AS TOLD IN THE NETFLIX MINISERIES, UNORTHODOX school – when the virus hit in mid- Today, Chabad of West Bradenton
March. programming remains 100 percent vir-
“It was a challenge for our elderly tual, and future decisions will depend
members dealing with the technology,” upon the course of the virus. As of now,
To register, please visit
To r egister , please visit he said. The father of eight added that no plans have been made for the High
jfedsrq.or g/events his own children are very tech-savvy Holidays. “Combating anti-Semitism should be an issue that unites all of us.
jfedsrq.org/events
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