Page 16 - Jewish News_February-2021

16A February 2021 COMMUNITY FOCUS

Earning a degree, interest-free… JELF provides

funds to more students than ever before!

This program is sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee
n 2020, JELF (Jewish Educational dent need for all the students in the costs. By borrowing through JELF, this the next. Every dollar lives on and on.”
Loan Fund) provided 394 inter- JELF region was $2,352,906. Through year’s 394 student loan recipients are About JELF @JELFLoans
Iest-free loans to Jewish college, student repayments, increased fund- estimated to save nearly $1 million in JELF provides interest-free loans for
graduate and vocational students. This raising and the generosity of the Mar- interest payments over the life of their Jewish students in need to meet their
jump in loans came from an increase of cus Foundation, JELF was able to loans. post-high school educational goals.
66% more applications over the previ- allocate $1,553,739 in interest-free, Since JELF first started providing Undergraduate, graduate and vocation-
ous year. last-dollar loans to these students. interest-free loans in 1961, the orga- al school students are eligible to apply.
JELF serves students in the five- JELF’s mission is to help reduce nization has loaned $16 million to The application process is open from
state region of Florida, Georgia, North students’ financial burden so that they 2,400+ Jewish students. JELF is proud March 1 - April 30 for the full academ-
Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia can pursue their higher education full to consistently maintain a 99% student ic year, and September 1-30 for spring
(excluding metro DC) as they pursue time. JELF’s interest-free loans of last repayment rate, even during this diffi- and/or summer semester(s) only. Sign
their higher education. In Sarasota, resort help students pay for crucial liv- cult year. up at jelf.org/app to get a reminder or
JELF helped four local students with ing and medical expenses, books, sup- “What I love about JELF is that visit jelf.org/donate to learn more or to
$21,234 in financial aid. The total stu- plies, transportation and many other your contribution continuously pays it make a contribution.
forward,” said JELF’s Board President, For more information, please con-
Jane Aronoff. “Dollars used for one tact David Cohen at 404.217.3724,
student when paid back, are used for email info@jelf.org or visit jelf.org.

Temple Sinai returns

to campus

By Gail Glickman
emple Sinai is pleased to an- presented a family-friendly Disney
nounce that once again we are movie, Full-Court Miracle. Twenty
Topening our campus on a lim- cars with delighted audiences received
ited basis with Covid-19 restrictions Chanukah gelt and popcorn distributed
including wearing masks and social by Rabbi Samantha Kahn and Chazzan
distancing. Cliff Abramson. For health safety, the
We started with a drive-in mov- service and movie were viewed in in-
ie night Shabbat and Chanukah cel- dividual cars.
ebration on December 11. Everyone Keeping with the theme of wel-
agreed that it was a huge success. We coming the community and staying
connected, we are

      inviting everyone,
young and old, to
an intergenerational,
interfaith fun cele-
bration on Sunday,
February 21 at 10:00
a.m. Decorate your
car, come in cos-
tume (pets welcome)
and drive through a
Purim maze in the
Temple Sinai park-
ing lot. Receive your
gragger at the en-
Rabbi Samantha Kahn and Chazzan Cliff Abramson conduct the service
at the drive-in movie night Shabbat and Chanukah celebration trance and swerve
in and out of gragger cones. Rabbi
Kahn and Chazzan Abramson will
play “Throw the Hamantaschen” in
their cars, distributing individually
pre-wrapped hamantaschen to every-
one. Honk your horn if you see Haman
along the path. If you see Esther along
the path, you have to sing, and if you
see Mordechai, you cheer. At the end
of the Purim maze will be an intergen-
erational Congregational Purim Mitz-
vah: making mishloach manot for local
seniors.
The event is coordinated by Beth-
Max and Victoria Dumbaugh and family at the
drive-in movie night Shabbat and Chanukah any Leinweber, Director of Youth
celebration Education, Outreach & Engagement.
Bethany has emphasized how wonder-
ful it is to be back together.
While a limited number of people
attend our Erev Shabbat services each
Friday evening with masks and social
distancing, we look forward to other
in-person occasions.
Due to Covid-19, onsite plans
are subject to change. Please refer to
Temple Sinai’s calendar for updates
at templesinai-sarasota.org. For more
information, contact Bethany at blein
Jacob and Caleb McCaffrey
at the Chanukah celebration weber@templesinai-sarasota.org.