Page 5 - Jewish News_04-2021

FEDERATION NEWS April 2021 5A

Join the Yom Ha’Atzmaut

All-Star Community Celebration

By Gayle Guynup
Established 1971 he Jewish Federation of Sara- I had this opportunity to learn and to multi-cultural concerts (thousands
PUBLISHER sota-Manatee, partnering with grow personally, and to help build Jew- of people). I learned a lot about how
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Tarea temples and the Sarasota- ish identity. I really found my gift, and to maximize the power of music as a
The Larry & Mary Greenspon
Family Campus for Jewish Life Manatee Rabbinical Association, will what turned out to be a gift to me. vehicle for connecting communities,”
Klingenstein Jewish Center host a virtual Yom Ha’Atzmaut All- “I found my voice musically, also. Recht explained.
580 McIntosh Road Star Community Celebration on Sun- I wrote a bunch of songs, and that year He decided to launch the first
Sarasota, FL 34232-1959 day, April 11 at 3:00 p.m. I gave my band notice that I would be high-caliber, 24/7, Jewish rock radio
Phone: 941.371.4546 The celebration of Israel’s 73 leaving. I recorded an album of Jewish station called Jewish Rock Radio, “be-
rd
Fax: 941.378.2947 birthday is being produced by popular music and the next summer went out cause there wasn’t anything like that
E-mail: jewishnews@jfedsrq.org Jewish rock artist Rick Recht and his
Website: www.jfedsrq.org and performed at 50 Jewish summer in the Jewish world, and the Chris-
Jewish Rock Radio. Among the guest camps. That was the beginning of my tian world was completely rocking it.”
Published Monthly performers will be Israeli superstar sort of accidental Jewish career. There He was also interested in develop-
Volume 51, Number 4 David Broza, as well as Nefesh Moun- were probably 35,000-40,000 kids in ing Jewish leadership training pro-
April 2021
56 pages tain, Rabbi Josh Warshawsky, Laurie those camps and they were like the grams, so he launched Songleader
USPS Permit No. 167 Akers, Rabbi Lisa Silverstein, teens seeds that I planted,” he said. Boot Camp, and also got very involved
May 2021 Issue Deadlines: and college students singing in Is- with PJ Library. Recht’s company be-
Editorial: March 31, 2021 rael, and special guest leaders in- came its music division and eventually
Advertising: April 2, 2021 cluding Dan Shapiro (Former U.S. launched its radio station, PJ Library
CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Ambassador to Israel) and Rabbi Eric Radio, which recently became JKids
Inquiries can be sent to Bonnie Souther Fingerhut (President and CEO of The Radio.
at bsouther@jfedsrq.org Jewish Federations of North America). “The mission of all of this is to
or call 941.371.4546 x0 Israel’s Independence Day is cel- strengthen Jewish identity and engage-
ebrated on the fifth day of the month ment for Jewish families through the
PRESIDENT
Randon Carvel of Iyar, which is the Hebrew date of power of music,” Recht said.
the formal establishment of the State Today, some 20 years later, Recht
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of Israel, when members of the pro- is still finding opportunities to bring
Howard Tevlowitz visional government signed a Decla- communities together. “Israeli Inde-
ration of Independence in Tel Aviv. pendence Day is incredibly important,
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF Yom Ha’Atzmaut in Israel is always and we saw this wonderful opportunity
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING preceded by Yom HaZikaron, Isra-
Marty Katz to bring together the very best Jewish
el’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers. arts from across North America and
MANAGING EDITOR The message linking these two days is Israel to celebrate Israel, creating a
Ted Epstein clear: Israelis owe their independence high-quality, interactive and engaging
to the soldiers who sacrificed their experience,” Recht said.
ADVERTISING SALES lives for it. “In a year where life has been so
Adam Kaplan – 941.552.6307 Hosting this celebration will be erratic and chaotic, the consistency of
PROOFREADERS Rick Recht, one of the top touring our Judaism, the cycles of life and the
Edward D. Cohen, Pam Ierulli, musicians of Jewish music. celebrations that we share, is a continu-
Rhonda Kaplan, Marianne Mandell, Recht was born and raised in St. Rick Recht ity that has anchored people. It will be
Elliot Ofsowitz, Jeff Sherman, Jill Louis, Missouri, where he lives today “My guitar student, by the way, the really comforting and connecting for
Simons, Linda Stern, Bryna Tevlowitz with his wife Elisa and sons Kobi and director of that Jewish camp, who was communities, especially this year,” he
Tal. my mentor and gave me my initial tool said.
MISSION STATEMENT: The Jewish News of
Sarasota-Manatee strives to be the source of Recht started playing guitar when belt of how to work with Jewish kids “The stage is definitely my home,”
news and features of special interest to the he was around eight years old. “I was and how to make those connections – Recht added. “The energy and voices
Jewish community of Sarasota-Manatee, to writing songs, though none of it was she is now my wife and we continue to of the audiences, whether they’re little
provide a forum for the exchange of ideas Jewish,” he said. “I idolized Elvis Pres- work together today.” kids, teens or adults, are indescribable.
and opinions in the Jewish community, and ley and decided I wanted to be a rock Six or seven years into this, Recht That’s the magic of Jewish music – the
to communicate the mission, activities and star.” He went to college at USC in Los realized he was looking for ways to interaction, the singing, the dancing
achievements of the Federation and its Jew-
ish community partners. Angeles, where he studied business have a broader impact in the Jewish and the powerful community connec-
OPINIONS printed in The Jewish News of Sara- and communications, and played in world. tion. For me it’s a dream come true to
sota-Manatee do not necessarily reflect those his own rock band. Playing Hollywood “I had been doing some work in the create and share in these powerful ex-
of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Mana- and all over California “was a dream interfaith community and the National periences,” Recht said.
tee, its Board of Directors or staff. for a kid from Missouri,” he said. He Civil Rights Museum with an initiative For more information on the Yom
SUBMISSIONS to The Jewish News are sub- ended up back in St. Louis, and he and called Tear Down the Walls to help ed- Ha’Atzmaut All-Star Community Cel-
ject to editing for space and content, and his band hit the road, playing in clubs ucate teens on ways to break down bias ebration, please contact Jessi Sheslow
may be withheld from publication without and colleges across the country. and prejudice in their communities. at 941.343.2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.
prior notice. Approval of submissions for While in St. Louis, he would We would have these large, interfaith, org.
publication in either verbal or written form
shall always be considered tentative, and teach guitar. “One of my students was
does not imply a guarantee of any kind. the director of a Conservative Jewish
Submissions must be sent electronically to day camp, and she was looking for a
jewishnews@jfedsrq.org. song leader,” Recht said. “Music is the L’Chayim
LETTERS to the editor should not exceed 300 soundtrack of Jewish lives. It’s a soul
words, must be typed, and include the writer’s trigger, and an identity builder. And
name, mailing address and phone number. it’s particularly instrumental in a camp
Letters can be submitted via USPS or email setting.”
(jewishnews@jfedsrq.org). Not all letters will
be published. Letters may be edited for length This student tried to get Recht to
and content. be her song leader. “I hadn’t worked Here’s “to Life” on the Gulf Coast
with Jewish kids before, I hadn’t been
ADVERTISING: Publisher reserves the right
to refuse any advertisement and may require to Jewish summer camp, I didn’t know Committed to the Jewish Community for over 20 years,
the words “Paid Advertisement” in any ad. any Jewish songs and I was in a rock Stacy is passionate about real estate and strives
Publication of advertisements does not con- band. Other than that, I was the perfect to build ever-lasting relationships based on exceptional service,
stitute endorsement of products, services or guy for the job,” he said.
ideas promoted therein. uncompromising values and a strong work ethic.
Recht ended up taking the job and
describes playing at the summer Jew-
941.266.0529
ish camp like an explosion of learning, StacyHanan@michaelsaunders.com
growing, understanding, sharing and
contributing. I realized I was now an
educator, and through Jewish music 1605 Main Street • Sarasota, FL 34236 • 941.951.6660