Page 36 - Jewish News_May-June-2020

36 May/June 2020 FOCUS ON YOUTH

Making the world a better place for our children

children. We now have this incredible The Kiyor was a handwashing ves- way we bring light and peace to those
opportunity to expose our children to sel made of copper used by the priests around us in our homes.
important Jewish values on a constant to wash their hands before they per- When we transform our homes
basis. This is a time of total immersion formed services in the Temple. This is into a Temple, we are inviting G-d into
for our children in the values which we symbolized by the handwashing we do our homes. We have now been given
hold dear. before meals, upon rising and after we the time and opportunity to make our
Never has the importance of the go to the restroom. The Torah is time- home G-dlike and to make the world
home been underscored as much as less, instituting handwashing rituals a better place for our children. It all
now when we are all relegated to our thousands of years before it became the begins at home. Will we rise up to the
homes. Our children are watching us. hygienic thing to do! occasion?
They are taking note of everything The Menorah, which was illumi- Chanie Bukiet is the program director
we do, say and feel. They are observ- nated every day in the Temple, is sym- at Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood
Education Corner ing our reactions to stress, our kind- bolized by the Shabbat candles and the Ranch.

By Chanie Bukiet ness to others in times of need, and our News from Temple Sinai
strength in protecting the vulnerable in
uch has been written in the our society. These are powerful lessons
last few months about the that will last with them for a lifetime. By Gail Glickman and Bethany Leinweber
Munprecedented times in Judaism is a home-centric religion. Temple Sinai’s virtual events new people and see familiar beautiful
which we now live. I hope at the time The holiest place in the world is G-d’s Temple Sinai’s Director of Youth Edu- faces!
of this article’s publishing, it will be all home, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. cation, Bethany Leinweber, summa- Temple Sinai’s youth attend
over and just a memory. We pray daily that it will be rebuilt rized how future events are currently L’Taken in D.C.
Parents the world over have been very soon. Now that we do not have being planned. Below is her poignant Temple Sinai teens returned from their
struggling to keep up with the many the Holy Temple, we can create a Tem- statement. travels to the L’Taken Social Justice
demands on them, trying to teach, par- ple for G-d in our own homes. Each In the words of Judy Garland, “It’s Seminar in Washington, D.C., where
ent and work simultaneously. of us has the opportunity to invite G-d a new world I see.” COVID-19 has they focused on Jewish values and
It is exceedingly difficult, and the into our homes by creating a Mikdash surely opened up a “whole new world” public policy. Noah Leinweber, Gryffin
quarantine, while essential, comes at a Ma’at – a microcosmic Temple for G-d for me professionally and for Temple Wilkens-Plumley, Leo Hellawell, Lila
cost to both parents and children alike. in our homes. Sinai. How am I keeping a positive at- Marlowe, Anna Labiner, Maya Gordon
We mourn the loss of social connec- Each of the vessels in the Holy titude? I find this very exciting and see and Katherine Carnes were accom-
tion, of routine and of normal life as Temple are represented in our homes. a lot of worth in learning new skills, panied by Rabbi Samantha Kahn and
we know it. The Shulchan was a golden table as well as offering this new way of Chazzan Cliff Abramson on the Febru-
Historically, in times of turmoil, that held 12 loaves of bread. This is connecting. We live in a hectic world. ary 28 through March 2 trip.
comes change; out of chaos, comes symbolized in our home by the kitchen The option of virtual learning is at- The Temple Sinai teens were de-
order. When G-d created the world, – by eating kosher, sharing meals as a tractive. Imagine not having to battle lighted to meet teens from all over the
we are told that first there was Tohu- family, reciting blessings of gratitude traffic or worry about drop-off/pick-up country. They learned about political
Chaos, and then Tikun-Order. for our food and engaging in uplifting while managing meals, other schedules issues that have an immense impact on
Out of this chaos, and amidst our conversations around our tables. and jobs. This is very enticing. Every our society. They met with senators’
staggering losses, a new world can The Ark, which held the tablets Zoom class I have been in has begun assistants and state representatives,
emerge. It is up to us, the parents, the upon which the Ten Commandments with smiles and excitement, and ended focusing on political issues. The week-
most powerful educators and influenc- were inscribed, is symbolized by the making me feel accomplished or hope- end also included exploring the D.C.
ers of a child’s life, to make that world Torah values upheld in our homes. ful. We have to keep that feeling go- area.
a bright one. This is the call of the hour. The Altar, upon which sacrifices ing. We will bond and, in return, be a L’Taken means to correct or repair.
The coronavirus has been bringing were brought to G-d every day, is sym- stronger community. At Temple Sinai, The L’Taken experience was enlight-
us back to the basics. We are gaining a bolized by the daily sacrifices we make we have gone completely virtual. ening and educating, focusing on how
newfound appreciation for family, for for our family and loved ones, and even All events are open to the public. each individual can make a change.
health, for food, for the basics. more so by the global sacrifice we are To get the Zoom invite/meeting ID, They gained a better understanding of
Parents are now spending an in- all making by staying home to protect email me at bleinweber@templesinai- our legislative system and the impor-
creased amount of time with their the elderly and vulnerable. sarasota.org. We would love to meet tance of voting.

Looking to

Meet Other

Jewish Families?

Temple Sinai leadership and teens at L’Taken in Washington, D.C.
Sarasota BBYO

This program is sponsored by
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee
By Jessica Zimmerman, Associate Regional Dir., North Florida Region
halom Sarasota families! BBYO the world. AZA, BBG and the global
has taken all of its programming Jewish community have never been
Sonline, specifically to our new stronger, and nothing is going to stop
platform, BBYO OnDemand. us now. We can make you a shidduch (a match)!
Some information about BBYO Each week, Sarasota BBYO is
OnDemand: Our worldwide network of programming OnDemand and we in- Our Community Connectors can’t wait to meet you!
teens, volunteers vite all teens in Sarasota in grades 8-12 Dori and MG specialize in connecting families raising Jewish
and professionals to join the fun on Thursdays at 7:00 children to each other and to Jewish experiences
are uniting to pro- p.m. For information on how to join in the Sarasota-Manatee community.
vide the power and the programming, we suggest you visit
impact of BBYO azabbg.bbyo.org/on-demand/home
and our partners and click on Sarasota BBYO’s Chapter
in new, adapt- Programming or email me at jesszim-
able and innova- merman@bbyo.org. I hope to see you
tive ways so that online soon!
Jessica Zimmerman
wherever Jewish
teens and young adults are, we can en-
joy everything our movement has to SARASOTA COUNTY MANATEE COUNTY
MG Berman
Dori Goldfarb
offer, anytime we want, online. Over 941.677.2184 251.303.3979
the coming days, this new online space DoriPJConnector@Gmail.com MGPJConnector@Gmail.com
will continue to evolve with exciting Interested?
opportunities, and we’ll begin to offer Know someone else who may be interested?
programming on a schedule that will Please contact us!
feel a lot like a special ‘TV channel’
that you can tune into and enjoy from SPONSORED BY
whatever time zone you’re in as often
as you’d like. There will even be global
events that we can all share in whether JFEDSRQ.ORG/PJ
we’re across town or halfway around

Due to COVID-19, please check with each organization for event updates. STRONGER TOGETHER: Coronavirus Relief Fund For more information, see page 11.