Page 8 - Jewish News_December-2020

8A December 2020 FEDERATION NEWS

People of the Book...continued from page 7A

may be different than ours, but in the
volunteers to read the traditional Four
Women’ s Questions with Yiddish, French, Span- end, we are all one, just as the Shema
The
ish, Latino and English translations at
teaches us. On a personal note, I never
hand, symbolic languages of some of
expected my book to be published just
Event the countries in which Jews from the as a pandemic was sweeping the land
Holy Land had lived for centuries, if
(and cruise ships with infected passen-
gers were not allowed to disembark).
not thousands of years. Then, all the
While travel to other lands is not yet
“congregants” read the Four Questions
together in Hebrew (transliteration pro-
vided). We came from different lands, possible, I hope my book inspires peo-
ple to enjoy my stories vicariously for
&
An Evening with JAMIE BERNSTEIN & ALEXANDRA SILBER yes, but we shared a common Jewish now – and plan their own explorations

identity: We were all bonded by the of Jewish life in other countries for a
Covenant. For me, Judaism is a global healthy future time.
religion, as my trips to Jewish locales What did you learn about your-
in different countries also evidenced. self by writing this book?
What do you hope people take When you have the freedom to
home from your book? travel to so many less developed parts
Travel is a great way to learn. First of the world, as I have had the oppor-
of all, I hope people who read my book tunity to do in recent years, you also
take home the sense of connection to know how good it is to come home.
our Jewish history that I feel so deeply, We are so lucky to live in this coun-

Photo by Steve Sherman to our connectedness to one another, try, which, despite COVID-19, offers
and the understanding that, as Jews, so many blessings. I learned that I am
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 • 7:00 pm we will always seek each other out no yearning to visit Israel again (I have
matter where we live. While I want been there twice, once for a summer as
Via Zoom • Tickets: $10 my readers to have many moments a tourist, once to lecture), but by land
Co-Chairs: Janis Collier Photo by Michael Kushner of laughter when they read my book, rather than sea. Most of the cruise ships
and Wendy Mann Resnick I want them to understand that, be- that visit Israel stop in Ashdod (from

LEONARD BERNSTEIN’s eldest daughter, Jamie Bernstein, neath my lighthearted approach, there where you can get to Jerusalem) and
shares a rare and intimate look at her father on the centennial of his is a serious purpose. I hope they will Haifa (from where you can get to Tel
birth in her new memoir, Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing feel connected to the different environ- Aviv) for only a day or two. I hope to
Up Bernstein. Jamie is joined by Broadway performer Alexandra ments I describe, to all the glories of visit for a longer time, perhaps paral-
Silber (Fiddler on the Roof) for an endearing and entertaining the past and the realities of the present, lel to when my grandchildren go on a
conversation and a selection of the Maestro’s most famous songs. especially, to all the living creatures, Birthright trip when the current pan-

TO REGISTER, VISIT JFEDSRQ.ORG/EVENTS including the animals, that inhab- demic has passed. My travels strength-
it these lands; to see, along with me, ened my belief that the spirit of the law
QUESTIONS? the awesome vistas of the volcanoes supersedes the letter of the law. And, as
Contact Gisele Pintchuck in the ring of fire and understand that a rabbi, it reinforced my interest in the
at 941.706.0029 or
gpintchuck@jfedsrq.org these mountains also have the power reverent expressions of other religions
to devastate. I hope they will be dis- as well. I learned that there is anoth-
gusted by the desecration of the dis- er book I want to write (some of it is
carded plastics borne to shore by the written), this time about hope from a
sea and piled on public beaches. Bib- Jewish perspective, and that, since I am
lically, remember, we humans were
getting on in age (I will be 85 in Janu-
2020-2021
TORCH
TO R C H designated to be the custodians of the ary), I’d better hop to it soon.
land. In short, I hope my readers will
To register for People of the
Book events, visit jfedsrq.org/books.
have a brief glimpse, along with me,
S P O N S O R S those who have peopled and continue my Lisitza at jlisitza@jfedsrq.org or
SPONSORS
into the ancient and present souls of
For more information, contact Jere-
to people these lands. Their religions
941.343.2113.
E ver y woman
Every woman
matters here.
matters here.

E die and David Chaif e tz The Women’s Giving Circle [ “Ma’agal
Edie and David Chaifetz
Nashim”] is a giving circle that empowers
eon R. and M
L
Leon R. and Margaret M. Ellin women as funders, decision makers and
gar
ar
t M. Ellin
e
Debbie and Larry Haspel
Debbie and L arry H aspel agents of change. Each member contributes
$518, and each has an equal voice in
F
oundation
ts F
osen
amily
oo
R
Rosenthal Roots Family Foundation directing our funds. The giving circle model
thal R
Sylvia and Norman Samet multiplies individual actions, creating a
t
S
orman Same
ylvia and N
Skirboll
ort
and M
y
Bunny and Mort Skirboll tremendous collective impact.
Bunn
z”l)
(z”l)
(
H adassah and M artin S tr obel In the last five years, we have distributed
Hadassah and Martin Strobel
more than $273,006 in grants to
Lois Stulberg
L ois S tulber g nonprofits in Israel that help women and
children of all backgrounds live safer,
healthier and more meaningful lives.
Our Mission
Our Mission
To enhance the lives of Jewish women and children
who are in need of help and live in Israel.
( and help fund crucial services for people in need here (
We offer our very deep appreciation
to our 2020-21 Season Torch Sponsors!
They support our Federation’s efforts to bring
quality events and programs to our local community
in Sarasota-Manatee, in Israel and around the world. Contact Jeremy Lisitza at 941.343.2113
or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org
*As of 10/11/20