Page 38 - Jewish News_August-2020

38 August 2020 FOCUS ON YOUTH

Temple Sinai’s Director of Youth Education

expands her role

By Gail Glickman
emple Sinai is pleased to an- understand the value of being part of a Sarasota Jewish community. dor. We will rate the honeys and enjoy
nounce that Bethany Leinwe- synagogue and getting involved in the The first amazing Kickoff Event an evening together.
Tber has expanded her role into Jewish community.” will be a Honey Tasting for All Ages High Holiday Kits will be coming
a full-time position for the temple. Temple Sinai’s goal is to reach on Sunday, September 13 at 4:00 p.m. from Temple Sinai too, free and open
Effective July 1, Bethany became Di- those in the surrounding areas and now Those who register at www.templesi- to all. Enjoy an awesome interactive
rector of Outreach and Engagement beyond (thanks to social media, Zoom, nai-sarasota.org will pick up their holiday experience (for children up to
in addition to her position of Director etc.), and bring them into our amazing free kits that morning. Inside the kits age 8) with Rabbi Kahn, Chazzan Cliff
of Youth Education. Bethany empha- Sinai world in addition to engaging will be four different types of honey Abramson, Director of Early Child-
sized, “We want Jewish families to them in Jewish life at Sinai and in the from the Sarasota Honey Company, hood Education Laura Freedman and
six mini-biscuits from Maple Street Bethany on Saturday, September 19
Biscuit Company, cheese from Dakin from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. on Zoom. On
Dairy Farms, apples from a local farm, Sunday, September 27 at 10:30 a.m.,
prayers, explanations of each item, students through grade 7 can partici-
Jewish educational materials for Rosh pate in “It’s Better to Be Better,” also
Hashanah and more! That evening, ev- on Zoom.
eryone is invited to meet on Zoom for For more information, please email
a “honey tasting” party with Rabbi Sa- Bethany Leinweber at bleinweber@
mantha Kahn, Bethany and each ven- templesinai-sarasota.org.

Bethany Leinweber (2 to left) connecting with Rabbi Samantha Kahn (center)
nd
and Temple Sinai congregants at the 2020 Temple Sinai Gala
Community Day School hires

new development professional

ershorin Schiff Community nonprofit and corporate sectors, in-
Day School – a Jewish day cluding spending the past 12 years in
Hschool serving children of Sarasota specializing in sales and mar-
all faiths in preschool through eighth keting with a private family foundation
grade – has hired Brenna Wilhm to and serving as the director of opera-
serve as its new senior development tions for Sarasota nonprofit Embracing
associate. In this role, Our Differences. Hav-
she will be responsible ing studied violin per-
for overseeing Com- formance at Oberlin Bethany Leinweber on the last day of Sunday School 2020
munity Day School’s College and holding
fundraising efforts, a Bachelor of Science Temple Emanu-El teens
including major gifts, in Elementary Educa-
annual fund, planned tion, Wilhm recog- maintain bonds amid quarantine
giving, special events nizes the importance By Savannah Samberg, STEEMY advisor
and its ongoing capi- of providing a strong ow do we maintain a sense of grams had thought-provoking goals
tal campaign. She will educational founda- community for Jewish teens while others served simply to check in
also oversee grant tion for every child. Hwhile quarantined inside our and joke around with each other. When
seeking for the school. Wilhm has been homes? With virtual school and no faced with the challenge of social dis-
The addition of connected with the extracurriculars, everyone can agree tancing, STEEMY found creative ways
Wilhm comes at an Brenna Wilhm school for many years: there was initial boredom. For teens, to connect, laugh and even meet new
ideal time for the school, as Com- her son is a rising 7 grader attending with their upcoming trips and events people!
th
munity Day School continues to raise since kindergarten, and she has served cancelled, they were disheartened.
money for its new campus, with con- as a co-chair and is an active member However, if anyone was prepared
struction beginning in the 2020-2021 of the Parent Association. to transition an entire group and sched-
school year. For more information about Com- ule of events from in person to online,
Wilhm has two decades of senior munity Day School, go to Community it was the teens of Temple Emanu-El’s
management experience in both the Day.org or call 941.552.2770. youth group, STEEMY (Sarasota Tem-
ple Emanu-El Mitzvah Youth). In our
first Zoom meeting, they figured out
how to institute virtual programming
in under 10 minutes.
Throughout our time in quarantine,
we saw the number of online activities
being offered to teens increase daily. Temple Emanu-El youth group STEEMY advisor
It became difficult to figure out which
F AM I L Y E V E N T to promote, when was best to schedule Savannah Samberg with the STEEMY mascot
F AM I L Y E V E N T
social time, and how to match it to the
specific needs of teens in our area.
I’d love to share some of our suc-
Your PJ Library Community Connectors are hosting a cesses. We had weekly activities that all
Your PJ Library Community Connectors are hosting a
ZOOM PJ Dance Party students in grades 8-12 were welcome
ZOOM PJ Dance Party
to join: Movie Watch Parties, Family
Dance your way into a new school year Feud, Ask Rabbi Anything, Trivia and
more. We collaborated with other Jew-
Dance your way into a new school year
with this back to school “yeladisco!” Yeladim is the Hebrew ish youth organizations and The Jew-
with this back to school “yeladisco!” Yeladim is the Hebrew
word for children, so our yeladisco will include a playlist of
word for children, so our yeladisco will include a playlist of ish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee
your kids’ favorite dance tunes! Crank up the music, have
your kids’ favorite dance tunes! Crank up the music, have to co-host “QuaranTEENs Got Talent”
some family fun and celebrate the year ahead!
some family fun and celebrate the year ahead! and “JEWpardy.”
WHEN WHERE COST I quickly realized that planning and
COST
WHEN
Zoom!
Thursday WHERE This Event participating in these weekly events
Thursday (register below to This Event provided something for me to look for- STEEMY members enjoyed
Zoom!
August 6
is FREE
August 6 (register below to is FREE ward to personally. Some of our pro- Zoom Game Night together
3:30 pm
receive the link)
3:30 pm receive the link)
Register at JFEDSRQ.org/PJ
Register at JFEDSRQ.org/PJ
For more information please contact MG Berman at
For more information please contact MG Berman at
251.303.3979 or mgpjconnector@gmail.com.
251.303.3979 or mgpjconnector@gmail.com.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY

Temple Emanu-El teens joined other Sarasota-Manatee teens for “QuaranTEENS Got Talent”

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