Maimonides' Eight Levels of Charity Israel Scouts Rock Fort Myers
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L’CHAYIM www.JewishFederationLCC.org Vol. 40, No. 12 August 2018 / 5778 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Thank you, Leni! 5 Our Community Federation by the time you programs thrive and expand – reaching 9 Jewish Interest FROM THE read this. audiences who consistently come back 14 Israel & the Jewish World EXECUTIVE Leni has retired in for more. She has worked closely with the same way that she has volunteers who are dedicated to the 17 Marketplace DIRECTOR served us: with care for collaboration that Leni has nurtured. 18 From the Bimah Alan Isaacs our organization and for And the product has been the best. the community; with cre- I will miss Leni as a partner in our 19 Commentary have been reflecting recently on the ativity and humor; with a continuing work and for her determination to fur- 20 Focus on Youth past five years during which Leni commitment to our Federation and our ther our Federation’s mission. I can 21 Organizations I Sack has served the Jewish Fed- community; and with consideration only hope that her successor will in- eration of Lee and Charlotte Counties concerning a smooth transition. spire in all of us, as Leni did, the com- 22 Temple News and our community. It is on my mind Leni Sack has shaped our pro- mitment and enthusiasm necessary to 22 Community Directory because Leni will have retired from grams into a vital and consistent part continue to build our community. 24 High Holiday Greetings her program director’s position at the of Jewish life in our community. The Maimonides’ eight levels of charity By Brian Simon, Federation President n the 12th century, Maimonides de- ished or no longer needs charity teenagers to high school in Israel. fined a hierarchy of giving charity. I saw this list recently, and it struck Today, Israel is under attack not IHe established eight levels: me that all eight of these are still giv- only from her enemies but also 8. Giving begrudgingly ing. Whether you choose the low- on American college campuses. 3 7. Giving less than one should but do- est level or the highest, you’re doing These are challenging times. Board Federation’s Senior Lunch ing it cheerfully an act of good. All of us can discuss member Sylvia Simko and Zo- Bunch update 6. Giving to the with Maimonides at a later date (hope- har Ben Hamu, the shlichah from poor after being fully much later) where we fall on the Temple Judea, are working to pre- asked scale. I’m not going to judge. pare a course for local teenagers 5. Giving to the If you choose to give to the Federa- to better understand Israel’s con- poor without be- tion, we want you to know how your flicts with its enemies and to pre- ing asked money helps. Earlier this summer, the pare the teens for difficult conver- 4. Giving when new board of directors met to discuss sations that may occur when they the recipient our role in the community. We deter- reach college. Brian 5 knows who the mined three areas where we serve an 3. Jewish cultural events: “People Simon donor is, but the important role in our community. like us do things like this.” (to steal Holocaust Museum & donor doesn’t know the recipient 1. Jewish Family Services: This is Seth Godin’s phrase) – the Jewish Cohen Education Center update 3. Giving when the recipient doesn’t becoming a larger part of our com- Film Festival, Jewish book events, know the donor, but the donor knows mitment. We sponsor a monthly community meetings over meals, the recipient “Lunch Bunch” for seniors. We run etc. 2. Giving when both the recipient and a food pantry. We provide direct On behalf of the board, I want to the donor are unknown to each other. support for people who need assis- thank you for your support in the past, Communal funds, administered by tance through funds like “Marcia and I’d like to ask for your continued responsible organizations (like, say, a Can Help.” support at whatever level on Mai- local Federation) fall in this category. 2. Support and advocacy for Is- monides’ scale you choose. 12 1. Giving in a dignified manner, so that rael: Our Federation was founded Yemenite Mastery: Jachnun the person does not become impover- so local parents could send their – recipe by Dalia Hemed Israel Scouts rock Fort Myers he Israel Scouts rocked the house the men, and two years for the women. Scouts return home from their travels. at Temple Judea on Monday Several Scouts said they wanted The Scouts’ visit to Fort Myers was Tevening, June 18. The nine exu- long-term military careers, but most co-sponsored by The Jewish Federation berant teenagers of Caravan Dekel sang planned on traveling when they com- of Lee and Charlotte Counties, Temple and danced to Israeli and American pleted their military service. Enrollment Judea and Temple Beth El. 14 songs, often including several of the in Israeli universities begins when the Israeli residents go public audience members in their performance. with heartfelt aid to Syrians The Scouts spent Monday morn- ing and afternoon with their local host families before departing for Naples on Tuesday morning. Have an item you’d The mission of the Israel Scouts like to share? is more than entertainment. They also strengthen relationships between Israel Need to reach the and North American Jewry, especially with American youth. editor of L’CHAYIM? After their 12-week summer tour across the Eastern and Midwest United Send an email to States, the Scouts return to Israel and LChayim36@ enter their senior year in high school. Following graduation next spring, they gmail.com. begin their mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces – three years for See page 8 for additional photos from this event 9701 Commerce Center Court POSTMASTER: NONPROFIT ORG Fort Myers, Florida 33908 DATED RELIGIOUS U.S. POSTAGE VISIT THE FEDERATION ONLINE AT: NEWS ITEMS. PAID TIME SENSITIVE– FT. MYERS, FL PLEASE EXPEDITE! PERMIT NO. 175 DELIVER TO CURRENT RESIDENT OR www. JewishFederationLCC.org social service philanthropy culture L'CHAYIM AUGUST 2018 2 Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties OUR FEDERATION Program notes To donate to his summer, the time came for me to retire. As I know I will miss it. By Jodi Cohen, Senior Outreach & Food Pantry Coordinator of July 13, after five years as program director I will also have had a few days to transition with Tof the Jewish Federation of Lee & Charlotte the new program director. I look forward to the new the Federation’s Counties, I became a “woman of leisure.” ideas and programs she will bring to our community. A whole new world has opened up to me. I have Thank you to everyone who has volunteered at, worked fulltime all of my adult life and most of that participated in, attended and supported any of the Annual Campaign, work has been in the Jewish events I have helped to plan. I thank all of you who world. Friends and family are took the time to compliment or thank me for the work asking me what I intend to do I have done. I even want to thank those who com- call 239.481.4449 with my time. And I am excited plained, because it meant you were paying attention to think of all the possibilities. and giving feedback to help improve our programs. I have committed to my I thank the Federation board for giving me this husband that I will exercise opportunity to serve the Jewish community. I espe- or visit more (in all honesty I should cially want to thank Alan Isaacs for his guidance, sup- just say, exercise). I have com- port and encouragement for the past five years. JewishFederationLCC.org Leni Sack mitted to my children and I hope not to miss everyone because I fully ex- grandchildren that I will visit pect to stay involved and see you at future Federa- more. I have committed to my synagogue and the tion events. I will be alongside all of you, looking for Federation that I will be available to help more. those good seats at the Jewish Film Festival! I also intend to look for opportunities outside of When you read this, my husband Marc and I will OUR MISSION my family and the Jewish institutions that I hold dear, be in Wimberly, Texas. In celebration of several spe- To strengthen and enrich the Jewish to make a difference in the wider community. There cial occasions this year, including my retirement, we Community by providing and supporting are an amazing number of worthwhile organizations have rented a house where we are spending a week philanthropic, educational and social and causes to choose from. together with our four children and five grandchildren service programs locally, in Israel and As I write this final column, I am still working. from Los Angeles, Ho Chi Minh City, Tel Aviv and throughout the world. Our columns are due the beginning of each month for Austin. inclusion in the L’CHAYIM issue that comes out at Getting everyone together from around the world OUR VISION the end of the month. It is bittersweet to say this is is not easy. But when it happens…life doesn’t get my last column. As thrilled as I am to not have to much better than that! A Jewish Community that is based on worry about what to write in a column each month, L’hitraot. See you soon. Jewish values such as Tzedakah (benevolence), Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and K’lal Yisrael (taking responsibility for one another).