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The Jewish Press Group 727-530-3223 of Tampa Bay, Inc. www.JewishGulfCoast.org How is your family celebrating and photos and we will Passover this year? Passover publish in future issues. Send us a short account “We’ve Zoomed “We’ve with Olivia PASSOVER continued on PAGE 13 continued on PAGE PASSOVER children. Those vaccinations are making the comfortable couple getting feel with together their kids and grandkids from Chicago and New York at their home in Birmingham, Michigan. a lot. I bereft,” haven’t Debra felt Darvick of totally said her oldest whom the Darvicks had hoped granddaughter, success. Thank you to Ahavat Shalom, Congregaaon Beth Shalom, Congregaaon B’nai Israel, Temple Beth-El, Temple B’nai Israel, & Tampa Bay Internaaonal School for their enormous generosity. Did You Know? PJ Library sponsored community The most recent food drive for the Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services William & Sally Israel Food the shelves, and was a great Pantry restocked Internaaonal School for their enormous generosity. The Darvick family did “We call it Skypanukkah,” But this Passover, the Dar- By the time the holiday be- By SHIRA HANAU news service JTA Jewish holidays by videocon- pandemic a before long ference forced them. Elliot Darvick told The in December 2011, Times New York when the family was featured in an article ing about Hanukkah over Skype. celebrat- So when Zoom Seders suddenly became standard last year, the Darvicks were prepared. vicks will be together again. gins later this Debra Darvick, month, 64, both husband, Martin, and 73, will have her been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as will one of their Vaccinations, tests allow Vaccinations, some families to gather for Passover this year support! for your your for Thank you you Thank BETH SHOLOM continued on PAGE 5 on PAGE BETH SHOLOM continued we have raised $703,501 we The suit, filed by Rabbi Lazer Riwkin “Flabbergasted,” is the word Congrega- As of the end of February, MARCH 12 - 25, 2021 MARCH 12 - 25, and the Chabad House the University Bais of Moshe South at an Florida, emergency injunction sought to stop the sale. However, prior to a court stepping in, the suit was withdrawn eight days which later, allowed the sale to proceed. tion Beth Sholom President Marlene Sim- mons Another chose. board member chose more colorful words to express over the lawsuit. surprise

for our 2021 Annual Campaign! PINELLAS EDITION PINELLAS FILM FEST continued on PAGE 11 FILM FEST continued on PAGE ADVERTISEMENT Covering Gulf Coast Jewish communities including: GulfJewish Covering Coast Largo, Seminole, Clearwater, Petersburg, St. Harbor, Palm Safety Harbor, the Beaches, Spring Hill ... Richey, New Port Springs, Tarpon “Golden Voices” will open the Tampa Bay Tampa the open will Voices” “Golden April 11. on Festival Jewish Film Holocaust, the arts, sports and cur- rent affairs. In most cases, the films will be screened in a virtual cinema from the comfort of home. Closing Night, April 25, will feature the April 25, Closing Night, Both the film “Crescendo.” documentary, events will opening and closing festival’s in-person screenings. outdoor, include . ff www.JewishPressPinellas.com “I feel very much bittersweet,” congre- Board member Bernie Wolfson had the sale would go to Jewish non-profits. the sale would gation board member Matt Rosen said of the sale. “It is incredibly sad that the spiri- but closed, has us of many so for home tual pay it forward.” we are happy we can found homes for two of the synagogue’s four Torahs, the eternal light and other items a inside the few aging structure and to- headed was and buyer a found board the ward closing when they were shocked by a lawsuit filed Feb. 25. In spite of the availability of three Still, for opening night, there will All the films in the festival will vaccines and a race to inoculate the population as fast as possible, pandemic the is still resonating in Bay the area, so planners are most of the film keeping lineup as virtual of- ferings. folks as atmosphere movie drive-in a park at Bryan Glazer Family for JCC in-person viewing, transmitted to the car radios. audio For clos- ing night there will be chairs on the lawn at the JCC for people to sit in and watch the movie, socially dis- tanced, with a champagne celebra- tion to conclude the festival. to limited seating Due and parking, film enthusiasts are encouraged to tickets buy to the in-person opening and closing events early. have a Jewish tradition, love, on touch will Themes element to them. discoveries, family, movements, the managers or program sta program managers or programs may access the pantry through their case their mayprograms access through pantry the JFS clients by appointment and clients of other clients other of and appointment clients by JFS and school supplies for clients Coast.Gulf of for supplies school and non-perishable food, limited clothing, household goods goods clothing, household limited food, non-perishable Meet William & Sally Israel! Pantry provides William & SallyThe Israel Food TAMPA BAY TAMPA OF EST. 1986 EST. Annual Tampa Tampa Annual A th

annual Jewish film fest

VOL. 35, NO. 16 NO. 35, VOL.

th

Jewish Moments Powered by YOU!

After months of discussion over whether After months of discussion Congregation Beth Sholom, a small Con- small a Sholom, Beth Congregation Planners of the 25

Last year, the spread of the CO- (For a complete list of the films, The festival, which will run from

board was in agreement all proceeds from With With the mortgage paid off years ago, the decided this winter to sell the property. and attract new members, the board finally the elderly congregation could keep going – but did not go quietly into the night. – but did not go quietly its property sold March on 10 Wednesday, back to the 1950s, has been disbanded and servative synagogue in Gulfport with roots Jewish Press By BOB FRYER

adds in-person options 25

Lawsuit delays, but doesn’t halt sale of Gulfport shul Gulfport of sale halt doesn’t but delays, Lawsuit postponed from March until June. films online, with the entire event some of the lineup and present the Festival planners had to re-arrange and meet-the-filmmaker sessions. a long list of in-person presentations of the Jewish Press of Tampa Bay.) Tampa of the Jewish Press of VID-19 virus forced cancellation of each film will be in the next edition features just for good measure. see ad on pages 8-9. A synopsis of films, plus two mid-length bonus April 11-25, includes a lineup of 25 audience, outdoors on a huge screen. screen. huge a on outdoors audience, ally for most, but also, for a small ing night films will be shown virtu- all-virtual fare, the opening and clos- and opening the fare, all-virtual ence to date, and unlike last year’s tival’s tival’s most grand cinematic experi- say this year’s event will be the fes- Bay Jewish Film Festival (TBJFF) PAGE 2 A JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21

April 2021

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, April 7, 2021 | 7PM

For Zoom Link Registration Visit: Join us every Friday at 11:00 AM for Torah studies, enlightening JewishGulfcoast.org/Singles-Signup conversations and Jewish thoughts from local Rabbis! Visit JewishGulfCoast.org/PARSHA for more! April Speaker: TBA (Previous speakers include REMINDER: There will not be a Parsha Pathways session on Friday, April 2nd Bruce Hadburg, Valerie Hyman, Our regularly scheduled Friday sessions will resume after the Passover Holiday & Lauren Brown)

Sponsored by Sue Heyman & Mike White Don’t miss the return of our Real to Reel Film Series! WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24TH | 7PM

Visit JewishGulfCoast.org/TRIBE-PASSOVER for tickets & more info

Visit JewishGulfCoast.org/RealtoReel

PUBLICATION & DEADLINE DATES The Jewish Press of Tampa Bay/Pinellas Edition is a privately JIM DAWKINS EST. 1986 Publisher & Co-Owner owned, community newspaper published in cooperation with KAREN DAWKINS MARCH 26 the Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast. The Federation Managing Editor & Co-Owner underwrites home delivery to Jewish household in Pinellas, Press Release.... March 12 West Pasco and Hernando Counties (approx.7,700), to Advertising Sales promote Jewish community cohesiveness and identity. GARY POLIN Advertising ...... March 16 GALE TARNOFSKY-ABERCROMBIE An independent, bi-weekly newspaper owned by THE FEDERATION MAINTAINS Staff Writer & Editor THE JEWISH PRESS GROUP of TAMPA BAY, INC. THE MAILING LIST FOR THE BOB FRYER APRIL 9 Also publisher of Jewish Press of Tampa Bay/Tampa edition JEWISH PRESS. Ad Design & Graphics REY VILLALBA Press Release.... March 26 www.jewishpresspinellas.com To RECEIVE THE PAPER DAVID HERSHMAN Advertising ...... March 30 or for ADDRESS CHANGES, Social Columnist 6416 CENTRAL AVE., ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33707 ■ Call (727) 530-3223 AMY SCHERZER Telephone: (727) 535-4400 ■ Go to [email protected] Editorial Assistant APRIL 23 GAIL WISEBERG The Jewish Press is mailed STANDARD CLASS. Standard Class DOES NOT include a speedy delivery guarantee. The Jewish Press is a Press Release...... April 9 The Jewish Press assumes no responsibility for the opinions of columnists, subscriber to JTA, letter writers, claims of advertisers, nor does the paper guarantee the Date of delivery varies depending on your individual post office. The Global Jewish News Source. Advertising ...... April 13 kashruth of products & services advertised or mentioned otherwise. Standard Class Postage Permit: TAMPA PI #3763 MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21 JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION A PAGE 3

Celebrating family traditions, Scene from “The Keeper,” which tells the story of a freedom on Passover German POW turned English soccer star. “Sunrise, sunset. Swiftly fly the years. One season following another. Laden with happiness and tears.” Film series focusing on These are the words of Tevye, the impoverished real life stories returns milkman, leader in his Jewish community, husband of The popular Real to Reel Film Series, sponsored Goldie, and father of five daughters, inFiddler on the by the Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Roof. is back, after a year hiatus due to the Coronavirus. In 1894, Sholem Alechem began writing about Te- “The series’ switch to a virtual event offers both vye the Dairyman in a collection of short stories. The safety and flexibility, with a potential reach 10 times Broadway musical, conceived by Joseph Stein based past in-person events where attendance capacities on those stories, opened in 1964. It was not until 1971 were maxed out at 100 seats,” said Federation Execu- that the film version of the musical was released. tive Director Maxine Kaufman. Through this poignant story we learn about the The first film selection for the year is “The Keeper,” struggles Tevye the Dairyman is faced with to uphold which showcases the life of professional soccer the traditions of his people. The story, set in 1905 in player Bert Trautmann, a German POW who was the Ukrainian village of Anatevka, provides a com- allowed to play goalkeeper on an English town’s mentary on the essence of humanity, what it means soccer team while still a prisoner and then after the to be a part of a family and the position of tradition war remained in England to play for Manchester City within a world that is changing quickly. from 1949 to 1964. Isn’t it remarkable that some of the same struggles The biopic, directed by Marcus H. Rosenmül- Tevye and his family faced are still relevant today? ler (through special arrangement with Menemsha TAKE OUT AVAILABLE Upholding family traditions and wanting the very best Films), will be screened via Zoom on Wednesday, March 24 at 7 p.m. for our children is paramount to everything we do. Tickets are $10 per household and include a spe- Just as Tevye consults with the matchmaker and G-d cial gift to complement an evening “at the movies.” for suitable spouses for his daughters, I see myself The format of the event will offer attendees the trying to map out my daughter’s future and impending opportunity to engage live with a special guest and happiness. other members of the community, along with a watch My daughter will, G-d willing, be celebrating her party-styled screening of the film. th 28 birthday on the last day of Passover this year. I The program will include a discussion on the remember being in the hospital giving birth (a couple importance of engaging youth through educational weeks earlier than planned) and realizing that we sports programs that promote mental and emotional would not be present at a Seder that year. These were growth as well as physical development. in the days long before Zoom or video-chatting. “It is through art where I have found the most Passover commemorates the exodus of the Jews connection – to my own community, and to the far from slavery in Egypt. It is a celebration of freedom, reaches of the world, past and present. I cannot wait to as told to us in the Haggadah. It is a powerful tale that engage with fellow community members about this we are commanded to remember and relive each year story,” said Kara Goldberg, former Federation board as if we were there personally. member who recently joined the staff as Marketing Perhaps being born on or around the Passover and Communications Associate Best wishes for a Happy, holiday gives a child an innate sense of “free-spirited- The popular Real to Reel series began in 2019, and Healthy Passover! ness;” enables that individual to go through life with premiered to sold out houses. freedom and unabashed self-determination. Thus is Guests can learn more about “The Keeper,” view the case with my daughter, Aimee. From the time she the movie trailer, and purchase tickets for this virtual was born, she has followed her own path, made her event at JewishGulfCoast.org/RealtoReel. own rules, and overcome obstacles and impediments along the way. From her fashion sense to her educa- Spielberg writing a movie tion and career path, she has always done it her way. She graduated high school early and began her studies based on his own life J Person & Company at Palm Beach State College. After receiving her As- (JTA) — Steven Spielberg’s newest project is on Family Business in St. Pete since 1940 sociates Degree, she made aliya and enlisted in the a subject that he’s quite familiar with: He will direct Israel Defense Force, serving for two years at a base and co-write a movie loosely based on his childhood The ANTIQUES Business does still exist. in Hebron. Like many Israelis post-army, she em- in Arizona, Deadline reported. Unlike in the past when almost everyone barked on an adventure. Aimee chose to explore New Tony Kushner, the Jewish playwright who wrote treasured family heirlooms, this is not as true today. Zealand for four months, mostly without an agenda or “Angels in America” and has collaborated with Minimalism is our new existence and plan, just traveling as the wind would take her. Spielberg on “Munich” and “Lincoln,” is working having so many added things is no longer She’s back in the States now and finished her with him on a script. necessary or even wanted! bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2020 as the world Spielberg, 74, was born to Jewish parents in Let us help unburden you of these items. Cincinnati but moved to Arizona at age 11. He has shutdown due to COVID-19. Job searching has not We are buying and handling entire estates been easy during this time, but she was able to secure talked about experiencing antisemitism as a teen. His father, Arnold, an electrical engineer who worked in and collections! a position as the Southeast director of Garin Tzabar, developing early computers, died last year at 103. Please continue to give us an opportunity. which is a program of the Israeli Scouts and aids His mother, Leah Adler, who was known for owning No charge for verbal estimates. young people throughout the diaspora who want to the kosher restaurant The Milky Way in Los Ange- make aliya and serve in the IDF. les, died in 2017 at 97. JEFF PERSON I 727.504.1139 I tell you all this as she has just sprung her latest quest on me. Since her job is basically remote, she’s contemplating buying an RV and traveling around the states finding new adventure and opportunities along the way. Is this the path that I had envisioned? Not exactly. Do I constantly think about her finding her bashert and beginning her own family? Ab- solutely. Do I have the trust and confidence in her and her dreams to allow and embrace this sense of “freedom”? I don’t have a choice. This is her life and I am so very proud of the confident young woman she has become. Aggressive, goal-oriented and results-driven, Englander Fischer has been advocating for clients This year, once again, we will most likely not for over a quarter of a century. From small businesses to large multi-state corporations, we handle physically be with our loved ones and families in person for the Passover Seder. Fortunately, we have a wide variety of litigation matters with your business goals and economic realities in mind. technology that will allow us to share our Seder experiences and be with each other in a safe way. If a business dispute is putting you or your company in jeopardy, call us today. We can rejoice in our freedom as we re-tell the story of our exodus from Egypt and slavery as we have been doing for centuries. All the while, I can’t help but hear Tevye’s words, “Sunrise, sunset. Swiftly fly the years. One season following another. Laden with happiness and tears.”

Please feel free to reach out to me at the Federa- tion office, on social media, or email –mkaufman@ jewishgulfcoast.org. 2” 3” 4” 5” 6” Congregations Congregations Congregations

PAGE 4 A JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION Congregations MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21

Rabbinically Congregations Shabbat & Speaking but RSVPs are required. Send an email to Passover Speaking Temple Beth-El [email protected] to receive a Zoom St. Petersburg link in advance of the program. Candle Passover seder: The community is invit- Mah jongg: The temple’s Sisterhood Lighting Make your voice heard: ed to enjoy a Zoom second night Passover is organizing weekly virtual mah jongg Seder on Sunday, March 28 at 6 p.m. by games via Zoom and Real Mah Jongg. The Times Vote Jewish values connecting to a link at www.templebeth-el. next offerings are on Sundays, March 28 By RABBI EMERITUS GARY KLEIN com/passover. The service will be led by and April 4 at 10 a.m. Those who would like Temple Ahavat Shalom, Palm Harbor Rabbi Michael Torop. to participate should email Nicole Skalka March 19 • 7:23 pm One of the purposes of celebrating the festival at [email protected] of Passover is to remind us of the importance of Temple Ahavat Shalom March 26 • 7:27 pm human freedom and dignity. While our Seders Cong. Beth Shalom March 27 • 8:21 pm help us express our gratitude for the Jewish peo- Palm Harbor Florida-Israel business connector: ple’s freedom and dignity, some of the Seder’s On Clearwater March 28 • 8:22 pm Passover Seder: customs also remind us that all people deserve Thursday, March 25 at 7 p.m. the Sister- A community Seder April 2 • 7:31 pm freedom and dignity, and that we Jews have an hood will hold a spring education event via Zoom is planned on Sunday, March obligation to work to help provide that freedom on Zoom when Pam Miniati and Rakefet 28, beginning at 5:15 p.m. Preregistration bagel at home. and dignity for all who are oppressed. Bachur-Phillips, co-executive directors is required. Seder meals are available to • On Friday, March 26 there will be Bi’ur Unfortunately, in America today, major of the Florida-Israel Business Accelerator purchase from Lynn’s Catering. Contact (burning) Hametz at 10:15 a.m. elements of the political (FIBA), speak about their organization. the synagogue office for more information. More Passover events: • On the first and second day of Passover, establishment on both the Based at the Bryan Glazer Family JCC The synagogue Sunday, March 28, and Monday March 29, right and the left threaten in Tampa, FIBA targets high-tech Israeli has a full schedule of Passover events, all there will be Yom Tov morning services freedom and dignity for companies and assists in developing a livestreamed or via Zoom. at 9 a.m. the oppressed among U.S. market for their products or services. • The Fast of the First Born begins with On the eighth day of Passover on Sunday, America’s populace and FIBA is also positioned to combat anti- a minyan service on Thursday, March April 4, there will be a Yom Tov morning for world Jewry. We see semitism and disinformation, as well as 25 at 8:30 a.m. via Zoom, then a Siyum service at 9 a.m., livestreamed, including the threat from the right misconceptions regarding Israel. All are Bekohorim with Dr. Priscilla Nathanson Yizkor memorial prayers. in the efforts to legitimize welcome to attend this meeting at no cost, at 9:30 a.m. Folks are invited to enjoy a white supremacists and conspiracy theorists, in efforts to deny the validity of votes cast by those Purim pandemic-style who support liberal candidates and, in a few Congregation B’nai Israel in St. Petersburg began cases, to condone violence against the leaders of Purim festivities this year with a drive-through car our government. We see the threat from the left parade, concert and shalach manot pick up. in efforts to falsely portray Israel, the homeland The Banyan Bunch, a local middle school band, of the Jewish people, as a nation that oppresses played instrumental hits while congregants picked its neighbors. up Purim gift bags and pre-ordered hamantaschen. Freedom and dignity for all people will not be Over 900 hamantaschen were distributed and the achieved, and the freedom of dignity achieved to congregation collected four grocery carts full of date will not be maintained, unless we success- donated goods for the Gulf Coast Jewish Family & fully confront these threats from the left and Community Services food pantry. from the right. Several days later, congregants met in the park- So, what are we to do? ing lot for a drive-in style rock concert, courtesy of I think that no matter our political perspec- Doc Rock, and watched a “Mamma Mia”-themed tive, we need to all become activists. If we are Purim spiel on the big screen. The outdoor event conservatives, then we need to work to elect also featured a costume contest for parents and kids and educate leaders who promote conserva- alike. A late-night Megillah reading was broadcast tive values but are not willing to tolerate white over Zoom. supremacists or undermine everyone’s right to Finally, congregants and clergy closed out Purim The local band, vote in order to achieve their objectives. If we on Feb. 26 with a Kabbalat Shabbat service for young Doc Rock, are liberals, then we need to work to elect and families in the synagogue courtyard. Kids made grog- performed educate leaders who promote liberal values here at a drive-in ger crafts with their friends and participated in a spiel. Purim concet at in the US and around the world and reject the Rabbi Philip Weintraub said, “We can find joy even Congregation hypocrites who criticize Israel’s treatment of in the darkest of times and that’s what we are trying B’nai Israel in the Palestinians without finding fault with the to do here today. We are hopeful and found a way to St. Petersburg. treatment of journalists, women, gays and other come together safely to celebrate.” minorities in many Arab and other countries. Promotion of such values around the world re- quires recognition that Israel is a fundamentally democratic state, with values that originate in our Jewish tradition and that Israel shares with the United States. It will take strong values-oriented conserva- tives, and strong values-oriented liberals, to achieve, protect and maintain the freedom and dignity of all peoples. I hope you experience a meaningful and joy- ous Passover.

The Rabbinically Speaking column is pro- vided as a public service by the Jewish Press in cooperation with the Pinellas County Board of Rabbis. Columns are assigned on a rotating basis by the board. The views expressed in the column are those of the rabbi and do not neces- During a drive-thru car parade, congregants dressed in costume passed out sarily reflect the views of the Jewish Press or the Purim gift bags and hamantaschen along with collecting items for the Gulf Coast Board of Rabbis Jewish Family & Community Services Food Bank. Religious Directory Most congregations have canceled or have very limited in-persons Conservative PASCO COUNTY services. Instead, many congregations are offering live-streaming Congregation BETH SHALOM — 1325 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater, 33764 • Conservative of services and some other programs are being offered via the Rabbi David Weizman • Rabbi Danielle Upbin, associate • Telephone: (727) BETH TEFILLAH/JCC OF WEST PASCO — 9841 Scenic Drive, Port Richey, internet. For more information, contact the synagogue or go to 531-1418 • Website: www.cbsclearwater.org • Livestreaming services • Af- 34668 • Ron Becker and Elliot Shapiro, spiritual leaders • Telephone: (727) the synagogue’s website. filiated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 847-3814 • website: www.jccwestpasco.com• Email: jccwestpasco@aim. com• Unaffiliated PINELLAS COUNTY Congregation B’NAI ISRAEL — 300 58th St. N., St. Petersburg, 33710 • Rabbi Reform Philip Weintraub • Cantor Jonathan Schultz • Telephone: (727) 381-4900 Orthodox • Website: CBIStPete.org/VirtualCBI.• Affiliated with United Synagogue of CHABAD OF WEST PASCO — Rabbi Yossi Eber • 10733 Maple Creek Dr., Suite Temple AHAVAT SHALOM — 1575 Curlew Rd., Palm Harbor, 34683 • Rabbi Conservative Judaism 101, Trinity, 34655 • Telephone: (727) 376-3366 • Website: www.Chabad- Matthew Berger • Cantorial soloist, Allison Rosoff • Telephone: (727) 785- WP.org • email: [email protected] 8811 • Website: www. ahavatshalom.org • Affiliated with Union for Reform Orthodox Judaism CHABAD of CLEARWATER — 2280 Belleair Road, Clearwater, 33764 • Rabbi HERNANDO COUNTY Levi Hodakov • Telephone: (727) 265-2770 • Website: www.JewishClear- Reform Temple BETH-EL — 400 S. Pasadena Ave., St. Petersburg, 33707 • Rabbi water.com • email: [email protected] Temple BETH DAVID — 13158 Antelope St., Spring Hill, 34609 • Rabbi Michael Torop • Telephone: (727) 347-6136 • Website: www.templebeth-el. Paul Schreiber • Telephone: (352) 686-7034 • Website: www.tbdfl.org. • com • Affiliated with Union for Reform Judaism CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF GREATER ST. PETERSBURG — 4010 Park St. Livestreaming services Temple B’NAI ISRAEL — 1685 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater, 33764 • Rabbi N., St. Petersburg 33709 • Rabbi Alter Korf • Telephone: (727) 344-4900 • Orthodox Joshua Lobel • Cantor Katie Oringel • Telephone: (727) 531-5829 • Website: Website: www.chabadsp.com CHABAD SPRING HILL www.TBIclearwater.org • Affiliated with Union for Reform Judaism — 13576 Hunters Point St, Spring Hill, 34609 • Rabbi CHABAD of PINELLAS COUNTY — 3696 Fisher Road, Palm Harbor, 34683 • Chaim Lipszyc • Services: Monthly First Friday call for times Telephone: Rabbi Pinchas Adler • Telephone: (727) 789-0408 • Website: Yichabad.com (352) 600-2779 • Website: chabadspringhill.com MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21 JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION A PAGE 5 BETH SHOLOM Dallas kosher grocer flip-flops on • CONTINUED from FRONT PAGE mask requirement after backlash Rabbi Riwkin, who has been (JTA) – When Texas Gov. Greg “We’re trying to be sensitive to known in Tampa by the last name of Abbott announced in early March the people who are ready to tear Rivkin, said he hoped with his help that he would end the state’s off their masks, at the same time and others that the 6,000-square- 9-month-old mask mandate, the try to be sensitive to the people foot building could continue as a proprietors of Kosher Palate in who want to keep their masks on center of Jewish worship, perhaps Dallas decided they would follow forever, and then there’s people in by attracting Jewish students at his direction. the middle who are not quite sure nearby Stetson law school. Customers would no longer be where they’re holding yet.” He pointed out that he had once required to wear masks to shop, For Kosher Palate, the Passover saved another synagogue from they wrote in a Facebook post holiday starting this month added closing. “We did it once, we could March 4, two days after Abbott’s an unusual wrinkle to the mask de- do it again,” the rabbi said. announcement. Staff members, cision: It’s the busiest time of year The prior case that Rabbi Riwkin Jewish Press photos by Bob Fryer however, would continue to wear for the store, when many people referred to was not an entirely Members of Congregation Beth Chavarim in Land O’ Lakes drove to Congrega- masks while working. who are not regular patrons of all friendly process. Not long after tion Beth Sholom last month to take possession of one of its Torahs, as well as Three days later, the proprietors streams of Judaism might come to the synagogue’s founder, Rabbi other items. From left are Beth Chavarim members Alan Stern, holding the Torah; revised their rules. shop for special ingredients. Samuel Mallinger, died in 1997, a Nayda Stern with the Torah finials known as rimonim and Craig Zucker with the “Due to the constructive feed- Rabbi Ari Sunshine of Congre- dispute arose over ownership of the Torah breastplate. At far right, Beth Sholom member Bernie Wolfson. back we have received, Kosher gation Shearith Israel, a Conser- synagogue – Temple David, a Con- chaser, Temple of Gulfport, was St. Petersburg and another sent to Palate has decided to maintain the vative synagogue, was concerned servative congregation in South unknown – one of Rabbi Riwkin’s a congregation in Mexico. Several current policies of mask wearing many members of the community Tampa. In time there were two complaints – but Rosen said Beth Jewish books will be sent to Rikers through the Passover holiday,” would not feel comfortable shop- separate boards making competing Sholom had a contract to sell the Island Prison in New York. the store wrote in a Facebook post ping in the store for Passover if claims to the facility, to the point property and would honor it once Some memorial plaques were March 7. masks were not required. “The where one group changed the locks proper paperwork concerning the returned to families of those me- The episode makes clear the folks who were concerned about to keep others out. The claims purchaser was filed. morialized and other artifacts will high stakes of the latest phase health might not shop there during wound up in court and when the Rabbi Riwkin said his concern be housed by the Jewish Federation of the coronavirus pandemic, as their busiest time of the year,” he dust settled, Chabad worshipers was that Beth Sholom could wind of Florida’s Gulf Coast. individuals and businesses return said. “I thought it would actually led by Rabbi Riwkin took over and up becoming a Messianic or The Tampa Orlando Pinellas to their pre-pandemic behaviors, put their business at risk.” restored the building. It now oper- Church of Scientology center, but (TOP) Jewish Foundation will whether by dint of vaccinations, Goldfeder said the backlash ates under the name Bais (Temple) he said he was satisfied after read- maintain proceeds from the sale fatigue after a year of lockdowns against the decision to lift the David Chabad. ing the articles of incorporation for until board members agree on or, as is the case in Texas, executive mask requirement was painful, Besides Bais David Chabad Temple of Gulfport and based on which Jewish organizations should fiat. In the absence of state regula- especially given the role played by and Chabad House Bais Moshe at information from the new owner, receive funding, Rosen said. tions, people like the owners of the store in providing kosher meals USF, Rabbi Riwkin and his sons that the property will remain a Members have not held services Kosher Palate are left to set their to those who had lost power and Rabbi Uriel Rivkin and Rabbi Levi Jewish worship center. in the sanctuary since last April, own policies – and in a place like running water during last month’s Rivkin are spirtual leaders at Bais That could not be confirmed by largely due to the spread of the Dallas, where political views span devastating winter storm. “It’s Menachem Chabad, Chabad Jew- the Jewish Press. The agent for the COVID-19 virus, but with mem- the full spectrum and masks have hard to be told that all the good ish Center at University of Tampa new owner, Michael Shimshoni, bers dying off and others elderly become a particularly partisan work we have done is meaningless and Young Israel of Tampa. They declined repeated requests to com- and some with health issues, it was issue, all decisions have detractors. because of our original position on are not connected with Chabad ment to the paper. hard even before the pandemic to “There’s three sides to the story,” masks,” she said. Lubavitch of Tampa Bay and its Rabbi Riwkin questioned why get a minyan for services. Miriam Goldfeder, who co-owns She also said Kosher Palate affiliates including the Chabad the Beth Sholom directors would Repeated attempts to involve the store with her husband, told might still end its masks-required Centers of St. Petersburg, Clear- sell the synagogue and the two lots young families and keep the the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. policy after Passover. water and Pinellas County. it sits on in a Gulfport residential synagogue vibrant for a long-term When Rabbi Riwkin filed suit neighborhood for $300,000, point- future had failed. to stop the sale of Beth Sholom, ing out that the county listed an In 1999, the synagogue hired located at 1844 54th St. S., in Gulf- assessed value of $544,833 in 2020. Rabbi Jonathan Mielke from South port, he asserted he had provided Congregation leaders said that Africa. He and his wife had a 5-year- services to the synagogue in the the assessment did not take into ac- old daughter, and there was hope past, prompting Wolfson, a long- count that the building was in need time member, to ask, “Who is this the rabbi would attract other young of a new roof and had evidence of families to the synagogue. But in guy? I have never seen him before rodent activity in the attic. or heard of him.” 2001, when he was only 55, the rabbi Rosen added that the asking died suddenly of a heart attack. Rabbi Riwkin’s suit noted that price of $299,000 was set based on he had been invited by board mem- Following the death, Rabbi the recommendation of Caldwell Israel Dvorkin came out of retire- bers to provide a Purim service at Realty. As the oldest business in Beth Sholom on Feb. 25, though ment for the second time to serve Gulfport, the board believed the as part-time rabbi until 2011, when the rabbi said when he got there company would have the best the building was locked up and he re-retired at age 102. knowledge of local property val- At that time, Rabbi Gabriel Ben- he found a voice mail from board ues. After one day on the market, member Evan Cohn saying the roof Or took over as a full-time spiritual the board accepted a sales contract leader. But he did not remain long had problems and the event was for $300,000. being canceled. and since then there have only been While the sale of the building lay leaders. Rabbi Riwkin said he and six or was moving along, Wolfson was seven others held a worship service tasked with finding new homes for outside the building anyway. the synagogue’s four Torahs. WE ARE YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR: Congregation board member Congregation Beth Chavrim, Matt Rosen, an attorney asked by a small and relatively new unaf- • Oil and Air Filter Changes other board members to take the filiated congregation in Land O’ • Air Conditioning Repair lead in responding to the suit, said Lakes, happily took one of the To- • Alternator or Battery Swap it was Rabbi Riwkin who initiated rahs as well as some prayerbooks • Repair and Diagnostics contact with Cohn and another and other items from the sanctuary. • Tire Installs, Balancing and Rotations member asking them if he could Another Torah was given to north have the Purim service. He also Georgia’s Jewish Congregation of • Wheel Alignments said the rabbi, “has not had any Blue Ridge, also an unaffiliated • Brakes appreciable connection” with the congregation. A member from • Transmission Service synagogue at any time. Blue Ridge drove down to pick • Steering and Suspension And, unlike in the case of Temple up the Torah and Wolfson said he • Preventative Maintenance David, there was no fissure among hopes to make a trip there for Rosh the board members, all agreeing at HaShanah. and More! a meeting held in the wake of the A third Torah has been returned lawsuit’s filing that they wanted to to a member at Congregation proceed with the sale of the build- Beth Shalom in Clearwater and ing as planned. the fourth will be housed at a Rosen acknowledged that when Jewish community day school in the suit was filed, the identity Sarasota, Rosen said. A Megillah of the principal behind the pur- was given to Menorah Manor in FULL SERVICE GAS AT BOB LEE’S Did you know we pump your gas for you at no additional charge? Includes fluid check, inspection of tires, and windshield wash

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Visit Bob Lee’s today for a wide selection of With the congregation deciding to disband, Beth Sholom’s building in Gulfport ® ® sold for $300,000. Proceeds from the sale will go to Jewish organizations. MICHELIN and BFGOODRICH tires Organizations Organizations 2” 3” 4” 5” 6” Bat Mitzvah Organizations PAGE 6 A JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21

presented on Tuesday, March 30 at noon in Bat Mitzvah Organizations partnership with American Bone Health. chair of Hadassah In- Learn to unlock the power to prevent broken Hadassah ternational, Dr. Karen bones that can lead to disability and loss of Sarah Nicole Lenett Book talk: There are now two book groups Sarah Nicole Lenett, daughter of Wendy Ezrine, an oncologist independence. Learn the right and wrong for the St. Petersburg chapter of Hadassah. and Blake Lenett of Clearwater, will be from Naples. She will ways to do everyday activities to protect Bat Mitzvah A morningOrganizations group that includes Congregation called to the Torah be speak on the ways your spine from injury, to stand tall and get B’nai Israel in St. Petersburg, meets the third as a Bat Mitzvah Hadassah hospitals the most out of life. Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, March have been a world Learning Express: A vitural lunchtime with the next meeting set for April 14. A new 20 at Congregation leader in handling CO- presentation about COVID-19 vaccines by Bat Mitzvah evening book group has been formed and will Beth Shalom in VID-19, and the re- Jasmine Cutler, PharmD, CPh, University meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at Clearwater. search, treatment and of South Florida College of Pharmacy, will 7 p.m., beginning on April 27. To join the eve- Dr. Karen Erzine An eighth grade innovations that have be held Thursday, April 8 at noon. She will ning group and receive a Zoom link, contact Principal’s List placed Hadassah at the forefront of medicine. talk about the differences between the avail- Bonnie Halprin at [email protected]. The studentBat atMitzvah Plato Minimum donation to join the Chai Society able vaccines, whether an annual booster book to be discussed for both the morning Academy of donor group is $180 per year. likely will be needed, amd the virus variants. and evening groups in April is “The Golem Largo, Sarah is a member of the National To register for the event or to donate, Ongoing programs: There are a variety of and the Jinni” by Helene Wecker. Junior Honor Society. Active in dance and contact Lauren Salit at hadassahstpete@ other Active Adults activities offered on a Saying thanks: The St. Petersburg Chapter volleyball, Sarah is a board member of her gmail.com. regular basis through Zoom. These include, of Hadassah will hold a virtual “Celebration Kadima chapter. For her mitzvah project, Going green: The St. Petersburg chapter but are not limited to: Yiddish Nostalgia, of Donors” event on Wednesday, April 14 at Sarah collected new and gently used toys and of Hadassah will hold a general meeting Men’s Club, News Talk, and Tuesday 7 p.m. to thank all donors who have saved delivered them to Gulf Coast Jewish Family and dinner on Earth Day, Thursday, April Traditions (examination of issues of faith lives by making a significant contribution and Community Services. 22, at 6 p.m. on Zoom. Joseph Vitale from and spirituality). For more information on to Hadassah over the past year. The chapter Wendy and Blake Lenett will host a dinner St. Petersburg Recycling Center, will give a the schedule, go to jewishtampa.com and will honor Keepers of the Gate, Chai Society dance at the Countryside Country Club. presentation, “It’s Not Easy to be Green.” search for virtual programming for either annual donors and major donors. Special guests will include family and He has many years of experience on material the JCC on the Cohn Campus or the Bryan Guest speaker for the event is the new friends from Connecticut, Texas and Florida. recovery, energy from waste, landfills and re- Glazer Family JCC. cycling. Discussion will include making the recycling system more efficient with waste Parkinson’s Program reduction and strengthening the economic The Tampa JCCs and Federation’s Philip markets for recycled materials. Shayman Parkinson’s program offers the following programs. To RSVP or for more Genealogical Society information, contact Pnina Levermore at Library tour: Take a virtual guided tour of (813) 291-2253 or pnina.levermore@jew- the Isser and Ray Price Library of Judaica ishtampa.com. All registrations should be 727.823.2929 at the University of Florida and learn about completed before events begin. its resources. With over 120,000 volumes, Weekly programs: The Parkinson’s Pro- and digital collections comprising more gram is holding a variety of events by Zoom. Quality Treatment for You and Your Windows. than 250,000 pages of content, the library These include: Rock Steady Boxing, Trem- is considered the foremost Jewish studies ble Clefs singing group, Nia Class, chair • Shades, blinds, draperies • Installation research collection in the southeastern U.S. yoga, brain games, stretch and strengthen, The presentation by Rebecca Jefferson, cu- fine motor skills and handwriting workshop, • Hunter Douglas window fashions • Shade and blind repair services rator of the library and Jewish Studies faculty Tai Chi, and a variety of support groups. member, will be on Sunday, April 11. Zoom For more information on the schedule, go • Complimentary in-home • Window covering motorization sign-in begins at 1:30 p.m. and the program to jewishtampa.com and search for virtual starts at 2 p.m. Go to jgstb-res@jewishvets. programming. design consultation org to receive sign-in instructions. Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. ~ Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more information and to RSVP, con- Job-Links tact Chris Burklund by email at jgstb-res@ Job help: Tampa Bay Job-Links offers 2610 4th Street North, St. Petersburg jewishvets.org. virtual programs to help those in search of www.blindandshuttergallery.com a job or career change. Active Adults Upcoming programs include: The Tampa JCCs and Federation offers • Job search readiness workshops will be Best Wishes for a Happy Passover the following programs. Unless otherwise offered this month. On Thursday, March 25 specified, all programs are open to everyone at 11 a.m., the topic will be “Determine Your and take place on Zoom. To RSVP or for Career Identity” and on Tuesday, March 30 more information, contact Pnina Levermore at 1 p.m. the topic will be “Writing Compel- at (813) 291-2253 or pnina.levermore@ ling Correspondence.” jewishtampa.com. All registrations should There will also be a special program on be completed before events begin. Thursday, April 1 at 11 a.m. for live inter- Travel time: Join James Sokol on a double- view practice, with feedback. VIRTUAL EVENT header virtual trip to Jewish Argentina on To register or for more information and to TO LIFE Sundays, April 11 and 18 from 2-3:30 p.m. get Zoom links, call TampaBay-Job-Links at Sokol will Zoom you to meet a local guide (813) 344-0200 or visit TBJL.org. APRIL 12, 2021 who specializes in the Jewish history of Argentina. The first session focuses on the Support groups AT 7:00 PM immigration and history of Argentinian Caregiver support: Temple B’nai Is- ‘21 Jewry between the 16th century and World rael of Clearwater and Empath Health are War II. Learn about the Inquisition in Latin partnering to bring the Jewish community America, Jewish gauchos (re: cowboys) and a free virtual caregiver support group, led a pogrom in Buenos Aires. Part 2 looks at by Kelly M. Siegel of Empath and Sandi the country during WWII through today, Sunter, LMHC. The group meets via Zoom including the Nazis and Eichmann, terror on the first Thursday of each month from THE attacks, the political and economic crisis, 10-11:30 a.m.To register, contact Siegel at emigration waves, antisemitism and Jewish (727) 735-8743 or KellySiegel@ Empath- life and culture today. The cost is $30 and the Health.org or Sunter at (727) 301- 7884 or program is presented in partnership with the [email protected] Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael, CA). YEAR Good bones: Another program in the free series, “Healthy Bones Tampa Bay” will be

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MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21 Engagements JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION A PAGE 7 Innovation trends in digital health Engagements focus of Florida-Israel conference Tankel-Bare The Florida-Israel Business Ac- Connection to Innovation is a Terri and Robert Tankel of He also earned an MA in security celerator will host its first Connec- quarterly event featuring local and Dunedin and Gina and Douglas and diplomacy from Tel Aviv Uni- tion to Innovation event of 2021, Israeli innovation. The series shift- Bare of York, PA and Marco versity. He is an attorney with the on Thursday, March 25 at noon, ed to a virtual platform last July. Island, announcement the en- Tankel Law Group and a licensed focusing on innovation trends in Prior events featured Matt Lanza, gagement of their children Scott real estate agent. the digital health industry in Israel. operating partner at Ciccio Restau- Tankel and Laura Bare, both of The bride to be received her BS The Zoom event will feature rant Group, who spoke about trends Tampa. and JD degrees from Florida State Lena Rogovin, a senior digital in the restaurant industry; John The future groom is a graduate University. She is associate director University Cooley Law School, health and life sciences analyst with Couris, CEO of Tampa General the University of Florida where he of Careers and Professional De- Tampa Bay Campus. Start-up Nation Central (SNC), an Hospital, who kicked off a discus- received his BA and JD degrees. velopment for Western Michigan A May wedding is planned. Israel based non-profit. Rogovin sion about innovation in organ will give an overview of the digital transplantation; William Walsh, health industry in Israel with newly VP of strategy and development for released statistics on investments, the Tampa Bay Rays, who spoke and mergers and acquisitions from about innovative approaches to the 2020. development of a baseball stadium, SNC offers in-depth insights and Roger Germann, CEO of the about Israel’s innovation sector, Florida Aquarium, who discussed and shares these with clients and innovation in conservation. partners. The SNC team identifies This event is free. To register technological sectors with high- for it, visit: https://c2imarch25. growth potential, helping them to eventbrite.com. mature. The organization currently The event is presented by Cherry focuses on the digital health, agri- Bekaert LLP. foodtech and Industry 4.0 sectors. About FIBA According to Wikipedia, Industry The Florida-Israel Business Ac- 4.0 refers to the fourth industrial celerator is a business development revolution, ongoing automation and community engagement proj- of traditional manufacturing and ect established by the Tampa JCCS industrial practices, using modern and Federation and supported by smart technology. the Florida Department of Eco- SNC exposes all those sectors nomic Opportunity, Hillsborough to global audiences, helping them County and several community develop practical tools, attracting philanthropists. FIBA provides a investors, and establishing and nur- soft landing for Israeli tech com- turing tech communities to increase panies that are ready to expand into collaboration, knowledge-sharing, the US market. and skill expansion. For more information, con- The event will also feature an tact Christina Cohen, marketing Israeli startup in the digital health coordinator at [email protected] or technology sector. (813) 291-2301 Netanyahu: Court ruling endangers Israel being ‘overrun’ by ‘fake’ African converts By BEN SALES allow African asylum seekers to JTA news service take advantage of Israel’s Law of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Return, which grants automatic TOP is the Foundation of The Jewish Federation of Florida's Gulf Coast. Netanyahu offered his take on the citizenship to any Jew who applies. recent Supreme Court decision “The real question we have is Together, we are ensuring a Jewish future. requiring the government to rec- [how] to prevent fake conversions ognize Reform and Conservative that could enter the country,” he conversions performed in Israel: said in the interview. “You know, It could lead to the country being a lot of people want to come into “overrun” with “fake” Jewish con- Israel. In fact, I put up a fence, they verts from Africa. call it a wall, but I prevented the Netanyahu’s statement, made overrunning of Israel, which is the in an interview with Jerusalem only first-world country that you Post reporter Lahav Harkov, came can walk to from Africa. We would about a week after the court deci- have had here already a million il- sion reignited a battle over Jewish legal migrants from Africa, and the conversion between liberal Israelis Jewish state would have collapsed.” and Netanyahu’s haredi, or ultra- Netanyahu was referring to the Orthodox, allies. construction of a fence several years Those allies do not want non- ago along Israel’s southern border, Orthodox leaders to have control which essentially stopped an influx over who is recognized as a Jew of tens of thousands of African in Israel.Liberal Israeli activists, asylum seekers who had arrived in on the other hand, say change is Israel in the preceding years. sorely needed. There is no evidence that any The Supreme Court ruling, while significant number of non-Jewish cheered by non-Orthodox leaders Africans living in Israel have in Israel and around the world, is sought to convert to Judaism or narrow in scope: It applies only to have attempted to gain citizenship Jews who have converted under through conversion. non-Orthodox auspices within Is- Rabbi Gilad Kariv, a Reform rael’s borders, which encompasses leader running for the Knesset with a small number of people. Still, the Labor Party, wrote on Facebook haredi politicians and leaders have that “The Conservative and Reform fulminated against it, with one movements in Israel convert only haredi party implying in a cam- those who have residency status. paign ad that the Reform movement Not labor migrants. Not asylum would convert dogs to Judaism. seekers. Not tourists.” Resistance to the ruling dovetails Netanyahu also said that non- with another hot-button political Orthodox Jews from outside of issue in Israel: the status of African Israel were welcome to immigrate. asylum seekers in Israel, a popula- The asylum seekers, mainly tion of roughly 30,000. from Eritrea and Sudan, say they One haredi party, Shas, pub- were fleeing war and oppressive lished a Facebook post appearing regimes. Netanyahu’s government, to feature African asylum seekers however, has claimed that they are and claiming without evidence economic migrants who came to that “thousands of infiltrators and Israel looking for work. The gov- foreign workers will become Jew- ernment refers to them officially ish through Reform conversion.” as “infiltrators.” It has sought to Netanyahu echoed that claim. He deport them or urge them to leave suggested the court decision could the country voluntarily. PAGE 8 A JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21

Tampa The Jewish Federation JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTERS OF FLORIDA’S GULF COAST & FEDERATION MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21 JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION A PAGE 9

DRIVE-IN VIRTUAL OUTDOORS

Tampa The Jewish Federation JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTERS OF FLORIDA’S GULF COAST & FEDERATION PAGE 10 A JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21 Drake raps ‘I should probably go to yeshiva’ With 41 percent of (JTA) – One of rapper Drake’s he chose to immerse himself in a country vaccinated, kopper kitchen latest tunes gives a nod to his Jew- party culture. ish roots – even as he hints that he The next lines reference fellow Israel starts reopening BREAKFAST SERVED ALL DAY • LUNCH might be finding Jesus. star rapper Kanye West, who of- (JTA) – With millions of Israelis Open Monday - Friday: 7am-3pm • Saturday: 7am-2pm In “Wants and Needs,” one of ten goes by the nickname Yeezy: already vaccinated and infec- three tracks in his new “Scary “Yeah, I probably should go link tion rates in the country steadily We specialize in Salads • Soups • Homemade Desserts Hours 2” EP, Drake meditates on with Yeezy, I need me some Jesus/ dropping, Israel began to reopen his many sins. In one line, he raps: But soon as I started confessin’ my Sunday, March 7, ending its third Family Owned for over 40 Years “Yeah, I probably should go to sins, he wouldn’t believe us.” Then lockdown of the coronavirus pan- 5562 Central Ave. • St. Petersburg yeshiva, we went to Ibiza.” Ibiza later in the chorus, Drake adds: demic. The reopening comes as is an island just off the coast of “Should repent, I need me some 41 percent of the country has been www.kopperkitchenfl.com 345-6339 mainland Spain known as a center Jesus in my life/ Amen.” fully vaccinated and 55 percent of electronic dance music party Born Aubrey Drake Graham in have received a first dose of the tourism. So the insinuation in Toronto to a Black father and Jew- coronavirus vaccine. Drake’s line is that he could have ish mother, Drake attended Jewish The reopening is not complete, used more of the structure and day school as a kid and had a bar discipline of Orthodox Jewish mitzvah, which he parodied on with a mask mandate remaining schooling in his life, but instead “Saturday Night Live.” in place and continued capacity restrictions and distancing require- ments for gathering places like res- taurants and event halls. But fully vaccinated Israelis will benefit from “Green Passports” attesting to their immunity status, which allow them to dine indoors and to gather in greater numbers than those who have not been vaccinated. According to the new rules, res- taurants can reopen at 75 percent capacity indoors for vaccinated Israelis while unvaccinated people can be served at restaurants out- doors. Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, which has been kept largely closed since January, will also allow 1,000 people to enter the country per day, with the number set to increase to 3,000 later in the week, according to the Times of Israel. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean announced it will be offering an excursion in May from the port city of Haifa to Greece and Cyprus for Israelis who are fully vaccinated. Israel has signed agreements with Greece and Cyprus to allow vac- cinated tourists to travel between the countries without quarantine, according to The Associated Press. Israel’s vaccination campaign has already had an impact since it began in December. According to Eran Segal, a computational biolo- gist at the Weizmann Institute in Israel, Israel has seen a 71 percent reduction in deaths and 55 percent fewer cases since the country’s mid-January peak. The country has been vaccinat- ing at the fastest rate of any country in the world, though Palestinians in the West Bank have not been included in the country’s vaccina- tion campaign. Israel’s military announced that it would begin vaccinating Palestinians who live in the West Bank and work in Israel. And as the country reopens, it is unclear if infections will remain low. After the infection rate increased slightly just ahead of the re-opening, Nachman Ash, Israel’s coronavirus czar, said the country could still head into a fourth lockdown if necessary. Ash also noted that the country will need to vaccinate 2 million more Israelis before the country reaches herd immunity, according to the Times of Israel. Meanwhile, the Israeli military declared it has reached herd immu- nity after 80 percent of its personnel had either been vaccinated, had the disease or both. The announcement makes the Israel Defense Forces perhaps the first military in the world to achieve immunity to the disease. Nevertheless, soldiers will still have to wear masks and socially distance for now. The military’s vaccination cam- paign comes amid Israel’s record- setting drive to immunize its population. As of Thursday, more than 4 million Israelis, nearly half EmpathHealth.org the country and the majority of its

EMP-19-0145 adults, have been fully vaccinated. MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21 JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION A PAGE 11

NBA fines Meyers Leonard $50,000 for using anti-Semitic slur “Boiled & Baked (JTA) – The NBA fined Miami Heat player Meyers with a shoulder injury, but has also been placed on an Leonard $50,000 two days after he was caught saying indefinite leave of absence. He is officially suspended the traditional way the word “kike” on a video game stream. for one week of team activities and will also be forced at the same location NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who is Jewish, to participate in a “cultural diversity program.” said Leonard spoke March 10, with Anti-Defamation “We have further communicated to Meyers that for 39 years!” League officials, the Associated Press reported, “to derogatory comments like this will not be tolerated better understand the impact of his words.” and that he will be expected to uphold the core values Tues. – Fri. 6:00 am – Noon Silver added, “We accept that he is genuinely re- of our league – equality, tolerance, inclusion and Sat. & Sun. 6:00 am – 1:00 pm morseful.” respect – at all times moving forward,” Silver said After the video clip circulated widely on social in a statement. 11 varieties of Bagels • 14 varieties of Cream Cheeses media, Leonard apologized to the Jewish community Jewish NFL star Julian Edelman of the New England Smoked Salmon • Home-Made Rugelach and specifically to the Heat’s Jewish owner Micky Patriots posted an open letter to Leonard on social Arison. He said that he was ignorant of what the media on Wednesday, March 10, saying “casual igno- Coffee Fresh Roasted & Brewed on premises daily word meant. rance” can be more dangerous than hate and inviting 1871 Gulf To Bay Blvd. (Clearwater) Leonard is already missing the rest of this season him to a Shabbat dinner. ~ Next to Clearwater High School ~ Ashdod first Israeli city to require defibrillators in new buildings JP (727) 446-7631 Ashdod, Israel – sister city of is part of a life-saving project “As a construction company with Tampa – will be the first city in Is- initiated by Ashdod City Council projects throughout the country, rael to require every new residential member Adv. Hanoh Drach Erlich. we have an obligation to give to building to place a Magen David As of Sunday, March 14, the city is the community,” said Yigal Dimri, Adom smart device (defibrillator) mandating the devices be put in the CEO of the construction firm. “As in it. lobby of each new building as part part of our social responsibility, we The life-saving devices will be of the construction permit process. were happy to join the mission and connected to MDA’s emergency The first defibrillator installed join MDA with the goal of saving dispatch center, allowing full pub- was in a new building built by a lives. We are proud to be the first lic access at any time and with the construction firm, Y.H. Dimri, in residential project in the country ability for members of the public a ceremony attended by Ashdod’s to have installed defibrillators. to operate the device with no prior mayor, deputy mayor and city We hope that this initiative will training. council members and an MDA be spread from Kiryat Shmona to The defibrillator requirement official. Eilat …”

FILM FEST Like all the films in the festival, “Golden Voices” CONTINUED from FRONT PAGE and “Crescendo” also will be available on the film “This year the Tampa JCCs and Federation and the festival’s virtual cinema platform. Once purchased Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast, are proud to and set to “play,’ the movie guest will have 48 hours present a simply outstanding display of the finest film to watch the chosen film. making with a Jewish lens that we have seen yet,” said Movies will upload at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day ex- Brandy Gold, film festival director. cept during Shabbat. Time of film upload will vary for The variety of film genres and entertaining program- Friday and Saturday. Guests may purchase individual ming was developed by an executive committee led by movies for viewing at a cost of $12 plus streaming fee Happy co-chairs Sara Golding Scher and Loni Shelef. Lend- or purchase mini- or all-access passes. ing countless hours of assistance were 20 members of Once tickets or passes are purchased, guests will be Passover the screening committee who watched nearly 80 films able to see the entire festival menu on their streaming remotely, then communicated with others in a virtual device. The box office will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 from the Abelson family conversations to score and select the final lineup of p.m. throughout the festival except during Shabbat Amy, Adam, Arlyn, Alan, Jeanie & David films. to assist guests. Visit tbjff.org for ticket, movie and program information. Opening night * * * The opening night film, “Golden Voices” can be www.JewishPressPinellas.com The festival is made possible with support by viewed drive-in style at the JCC on Sunday, April 11 the following sponsors: Film Tampa Bay, Herman Your 24/7 Source For: at 8 p.m. The STARR Award recipients – two screening Forbes Charitable Trust, Hillsborough County, committee members who went above and beyond in Sara and David Scher, as well as many individual Jewish Advertising National & their work – will be honored opening night, with their donors. Community News Information International News names kept a secret until then. Cost is $25 per car and attendees will be able to purchase concessions from on-site food trucks. The Bryan Glazer Family JCC is located at 505 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa. “Golden Voices” received the Film Selection Com- mittee Choice Award. The movie tells the story of two Soviet film industry voice actors who must rebuild their lives after immigrating to Israel. In this bitter- sweet dramedy, Victor and Raya Frenkel, legends in the Soviet Union, dubbed major international movie stars’ voices for audiences behind the Iron Curtain. But after the USSR’s collapse, they join the wave of Soviet Jews moving to Israel. As strangers in a strange land, an absurd new reality tempers their dreams of a better life. With no need for Russian-speaking voiceover art- ists in Israel, the couple apply their talents in creatively bizarre and unexpected ways. Nominated for four Is- raeli Academy Awards including Best Actress (Maria Belkin), this deadpan delight is a perfect mix of levity and pathos, reflecting hopes and fears of immigrants the world over.

Closing night The closing night movie is “Crescendo,” to be shown on Sunday, April 25. For in person viewing, gates open at 7 p.m. and film starts at 8 p.m. Cost is $25 for a two- chair pod and a champagne split to toast the 25 years of the film festival. Loosely inspired by Daniel Barenboim’s West- Eastern Divan Orchestra, the film follows a re- nowned conductor who assembles an orchestra of Israeli and Palestinian youth, only to be drawn into a tempest of distrust and discord. After maestro Edu- ard Sporck agrees to arrange a symbolic concert for a Middle East peace summit in Italy, corralling the young artists – sworn enemies from the Arab-Israeli divide – is easier said than done. It takes all the conductor’s skills to get his musicians in harmony, building to a tense, emotional finale. An impressive cast of Israeli and Palestinian non-actors, led by veteran Peter Simonischek, lends authenticity to this powerful drama. PAGE 12 A JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21 Former Rays outfielder Sam Fuld now heads Phillies from the front office By ROB CHARRY impressed the way he presented the final four. We definitely felt like it doesn’t exist. JTA news service himself about his responsibilities we had a good amount of support “I have heard from other Jewish Sam Fuld, the new general man- and about how he understood the from Israel, and from the Jewish teammates and friends that that ager of the Philadelphia Phillies, nature of being a big league player.” community in the U.S.,” Fuld said. isn’t the case for them,” he said. says he’s just getting acquainted Fuld said he had an open mind “They appreciated that a number of “I was fortunate enough to never with one of his predecessors in the as he embarked on a post-playing us had taken some time to visit the experience any. I feel lucky in that job, Ruben Amaro Jr., now a broad- career. country and learn more about their way.” caster for the club. Their paths to “I felt like there was a lot on the culture. A number of other team- Fuld, the son of a Jewish father the post are similar: Both have uniform side that was exciting to mates had already been there through and Catholic mother, grew up Jewish roots, attended Stanford me,” he said, “but also on the front Birthright, and we had a couple of in Durham, NH, and celebrated and had an eight-year major league office side. That’s been my mindset native Israelis on our team.” Jewish holidays. His favorite is playing career. to date.” It was a close-knit squad with Hanukkah. “We’ve gotten to know each While it’s not unusual now to a big assist from their mascot: a “It’s extra exciting when those other a little bit,” Fuld said. see Jewish executives in Major stuffed toy known as the Mensch on eight days don’t fall on Christmas. Fuld, who played for Team Israel League Baseball – over half a dozen the Bench. Fuld called it “definitely It felt like an extended holiday pe- in the 2017 World Baseball Classic teams have Jewish GMs, and there the centerpiece of a lot of the team riod as a kid,” he said. “I had fond Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB via Getty Images and is a former Tampa Bay Ray, are several team presidents – it is bonding.” memories of lighting the menorah Sam Fuld poses in a Philadelphia Phillies uniform in 2019. is hoping he can match some of unusual to see ex-players make the “If we ever felt pressure as we with my dad and mom and sister Amaro’s accomplishments with climb into the executive suite. worked our way through the tour- and reading prayers. Just another mind,” Fuld said. “If I had stopped the Phillies. Fuld thinks that could be chang- nament, having a giant stuffed way of spending time with my at first it would’ve looked like a Amaro took over as GM in 2009, ing. mascot staring goofily at you in family and getting to know more pretty selfish move, or like I had had the year after the Phillies beat the “I think we’re actually seeing the dugout, in the clubhouse and about my dad’s side of the family something else in mind other than Rays in the World Series, and his what’s likely to be a trend back even on the plane was a great and their history. playing the game the right way.” aggressiveness in free agency and in the other direction, where you way to lighten the mood and keep “I always looked forward to the That same year, he earned the the trade market had the team back might see some former players everyone loose and having fun,” gelt. The Hanukah gelt was No. 1 nickname “Superman Sam” for his in the Series the next season. It was infiltrate the GM ranks in years to he said. every year for me because I’m a spectacular outfield play. In all, he the first time in their history they come,” the longtime outfielder told With current Jewish stars like chocoholic.” played three seasons with the Rays. had won back-to-back pennants, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Alex Bregman, Max Fried, Joc Living slightly more than an hour As GM – and one who played though they could not repeat as “As players now are being exposed Pederson and Ryan Braun, along outside of Boston, like many New the game with the people skills world champions. to the information side of the game with recently retired standouts such Englanders he was a diehard Red Dombrowski noted – Fuld told The Phillies had the best record in a greater fashion, I think you’re as Ian Kinsler and Kevin Youkilis Sox fan. JTA that he plans to support the in baseball in 2010 and 2011 before going to see the pendulum swing and the plethora of Jewish execu- “I had no choice in the matter,” players if they wish to speak out injuries and age sent them into a back a little bit.” tives, this appears to be a golden age he said. on social justice issues like Black spiral they are hoping Fuld, among Fuld played his last game in the for Jews in baseball (with apologies Coincidentally, his career high- Lives Matter. others, can help them escape. They majors in 2015 with the Oakland to past Jewish stars Hank Green- light occurred at Fenway Park in “I think we have to recognize that haven’t had a winning season since A’s. He spent the 2016 season on berg, Sandy Koufax and Al Rosen, 2011, in his first game at the iconic as athletes you are under a micro- 2011. the disabled list after tearing his among others). ballpark. Playing for the Tampa scope and you do have a platform,” Fuld, 39, joined the Phillies rotator cuff in spring training and Fuld says there is a camaraderie Bay Rays, Fuld had a double, triple he said. “If you have a desire to do organization in 2017 as their officially retired in 2017. among Jewish players, enhanced and home run as he batted in the so, a desire to speak your mind in major league player information That was the year he played for for him at least by playing for Team ninth inning with his team ahead a respectful, professional way, I ab- coordinator, a position intimately Team Israel. Fuld had never been Israel. 16-5. Fuld needed only a single to solutely support that. I think there is involved in analytics, diving inside to the country before. “That was a unique connection hit for the cycle, a feat that hap- a time and place for athletes to take statistics. “In the months leading up to the that we all felt, and it extends to the pens maybe two or three times a advantage of that platform.” How’d he move up so quickly in tournament, they invited eight of U.S as well,” he said. “Everybody year in baseball – about as often as Fuld said his parents instilled the team’s hierarchy? us to go see Israel for four to five feels differently and has different a no-hitter. in him an open-mindedness about “People in the organization days. I went over with my father, levels of ties to Judaism and to Is- “Dan Wheeler was pitching and people. spoke in glowing terms, at all lev- met some of my future teammates rael. There’s certainly a bond there, I hit a ball down the left field line,” “They were never tied to pre- els, about him, with his knowledge, and just had a tremendous experi- there’s no denying it, I’ve felt that. he recalled. “For me it was a no- conceived notions or traditions with his personality, the way he ence there.” I’ve had a few Jewish teammates in doubter double.” that no longer fit in the current gets along with people – I’ve heard Israel, which was ranked 41st my career. You feel an immediate Had he stopped at first base, or environment,” he said. “They ap- about his intellect in the past,” in the world going into the tourna- connection.” perhaps “stumbled,” Fuld could preciated people for their kindness said Dave Dombrowski, the new ment, became its feel-good story, Though Fuld said he has never have settled for a single and hit for and humility, and I am grateful to Phillies president and a longtime finishing in sixth place. encountered antisemitism in base- the cycle. have grown up in a household that baseball executive. “I was also “We just missed out on getting to ball, he’s not naive enough to think “It never even crossed my embraced such values.” CLASSIFIEDS ADS

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the vaccines. ing about what she may hold onto PASSOVER Debra Darvick plans to make from these pandemic Passovers • CONTINUED from FRONT PAGE those themes tangible this year, into future years. While she en- to visit every month or so but with special attention to the fact joyed the big, boisterous Seders she mostly saw over Zoom. “But I that her two grandchildren will be hosted in years past, she’s not sure know what we’ve missed.” part of the Seder. She plans to put she will rush back to that, having While Purim 2020 may have blue paper with fish stickers on the enjoyed the smaller Seder with just been the first Jewish holiday to be walls of her basement stairs, then a few family members. altered by the then-novel corona- lead the family up the stairs – a “Maybe we’ll do one big Seder virus, Passover was likely the one metaphorical Red Sea – to freedom and one really intimate Seder,” in which the most North American and the Seder table. she said. Jews felt the impact. As the most “COVID has been constriction But Goldman, after two Pass- widely observed Jewish holiday and it has been a plague,” Darvick overs alone, is hoping for a trium- ritual in the United States, accord- said. “So yeah, some of the ques- phant return to her pre-pandemic ing to the Pew Research Center’s tions will be what do we hope to do Passover Seders in 2022, with 2013 study of American Jewry, Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images in this coming year? What has this family and friends together at her Passover Seders mark a moment A family holds a Seder with other family members joining via Zoom in 2020. year of constriction meant?” apartment for the big event. where large family get-togethers “I’ll probably have to get an extra double as an opportunity to pass holding the Seders outdoors. thinking about making matzah ball Looking ahead table,” she said. “I’ll make the big- down traditions from one genera- They say it’s worth it for the op- soup,” she said. Avery-Grossman, too, is think- gest brisket in history tion to the next. portunity to see their children again But the cooking project doesn’t For many households last year, after such a long separation. make it any less upsetting that those gatherings were replaced by “Every single mundane task I she’ll be spending another Seder small Seders among members of have to do, maybe normally I’d alone. the same households or conducted say what a pain in the butt,” Fran “When my parents and I talked over Zoom. Grossman said. “Now I’m saying about it last year, we thought we’ll I’m the luckiest person to be able do it again next year,” Arnold said. In-person option with limits to afford a safe ticket, to be able to “I haven’t seen my parents for a But this year, with some 54 mil- have been vaccinated.” year and it’s really sad.” lion Americans having received Lisa Goldman, an editor living Hatching a plan at least a first dose of the vaccine in Montreal, is also spending this She added: “I’m feeling such as of March 4 and with the rate Passover alone, a far cry from the gratitude for being able to be in the of vaccinations ramping up to usual Seders when she would host place and time to be able to do this.” approximately 2 million doses a over a dozen people and spend a For Adina Avery-Grossman, 59, day, some families are considering week cooking in preparation. of Teaneck, NJ, planning the Seders ways to celebrate in person. Goldman celebrated the High is usually a multiweek project re- The Centers for Disease Con- Holidays by hearing the shofar plete with spreadsheets to manage trol’s new guidelines say those who blasts from her Hasidic neighbors’ her menus and grocery lists. This are vaccinated can gather in small outdoor holiday services. But at year, a vestige of those huge spread- Passover, when Montreal is often groups with others who have taken sheets lives on in the color-coded the COVID shot and people who still cold and snowy, outdoor cel- calendar she’s prepared to keep ebrations aren’t a good option. And are at-low risk for severe infection. track of the quarantine and testing “Interactions of people who are the idea of signing onto Zoom for schedule her family will undergo to Seder again makes her sad. fully vaccinated with other people assemble this year. who are fully vaccinated (or im- “You’re going to be sad if you “We had a meeting and we went go and sad if you don’t go, so it’s mune due to previous infection) over this, and first we called the likely come with a very low risk lose-lose,” Goldman said. “I can doctor,” Avery-Grossman said of really see myself lying in bed with for everybody involved,” Florian her plan. Krammer, a vaccinologist at the a book.” The plan requires the guests to But still, after a year of relentless Icahn School of Medicine at Mount limit their activity starting about Sinai in New York City, wrote in tragedies, the themes of the Seder two weeks before Passover, be this year feel especially resonant a recent Twitter thread about how tested about a week before the vaccinated people should think for many, particularly with the light Seder and then stay home while at the end of the tunnel provided by about changing their behaviors. awaiting test results until arriving Many have come up with their at the Seder. Adding to Avery- ✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵ own plans to gather as safely as Grossman’s peace of mind is that possible. For some families, those some of her Seder participants will rent-all city plans include a strict schedule of already be vaccinated. inc. quarantining and testing before “We told everybody, if it’s not gathering. For others, vaccinations really conducive to you, we’ll pick From Simchas to Seders – or recent COVID infections and it up next year,” she said, noting that Your Event Headquarters positive antibody tests mean they the plan requires strict adherence to feel safe getting together. the rules. “But everyone wanted to Visit our showroom For Lesley Herrmann, 74, who be together.” 7171 22nd Ave. N., st. Petersburg lives in Manhattan with her husband, Avery-Grossman usually hosts (just west of Tyrone Square Mall) this year’s Seder may include as some two dozen guests, suggesting Tables, Chairs, Linens, many as 10 people. The Herrmanns this year’s gathering of seven could have already been vaccinated, as seem like a sadly small group. But Chair Covers, China, have many of their relatives with that’s two more than last year, Silver, Stemware, Tents, whom they normally share a Seder. when she spent Passover with Stages, Dance Floors, Others in her family who may her husband, daughter, son and attend have recovered from COVID daughter-in-law. Star of David Candelabras, and still have antibodies. “Adding two more people, it Chuppah and much more! Herrmann, whose favorite holi- feels like we’re beginning to make day is Passover, said this year will that journey from slavery to free- serving Extended tampa Bay Area still be smaller than the usual 15-20 dom. The strictures are opening up (727) 381-3111• www.rentallcity.com person Seder she usually hosts. But again,” she said. it will be a major improvement over Of course, the vaccine rollout Owned and operated by the Pinsker family since 1960 last year, when she and her husband continues to be sluggish in parts From our family to yours Happy Passover stayed home and did the Seder by of the country. While President ✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵✵ themselves with family joining Joe Biden has announced that the over Zoom. United States will have enough “We made charoset and chicken vaccines for all of the country’s soup, but it was sad,” Lesley adults by May, the manufacture and Herrmann said. “I’m thinking this distribution have proven erratic. year will be a lot more cheerful.” Not ready yet Taking flight For many, this Passover will look For Joel and Fran Grossman, 66 much like it did last year: alone but and 70, Passover this year marks a perhaps for the company of faces on few significant milestones. a computer screen. To see their son for the first time Although Rachel Arnold’s par- since the pandemic started and ents, who live in Rhode Island, their daughter for the first time have been vaccinated, she does not since last summer, the couple will want to take any risks by visiting fly from Los Angeles to New York them because she goes into an of- and spend the Seders with their fice regularly for her job. children in Brooklyn. The couple Arnold said she hopes to make wouldn’t have considered making this year feel special by looking the trip before receiving the second at her Seder preparations as a fun dose of the coronavirus vaccine last cooking project. month and are still taking precau- “I’m going to do a roast chicken tions — like buying upgraded seats and tzimmes. I’m also going to to ensure adequate distancing and make the chopped liver, and I’m PAGE 14 A JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21 Obituaries COVID-19 study of Orthodox shows effects of large gatherings By SHIRA HANAU virus through research. Through rounding areas, something the au- NAUM KUNIS, 82, of Clearwater, HAZEL L. SHWER, 60, of St. JTA news service their project, which they called the thors attribute to the highly social died March 2. Born in the Ukraine he Pete Beach, died Feb. 28. Born in One year after COVID-19 first “Multi-InstituTional study analyZ- nature of the Orthodox community. moved to Miami in 1978 from Lvov, East London, South Africa, she was ing anti-CoV-2 Antibodies” – or But while many in certain Ortho- Ukraine. He held a master’s degree a dentist. Survivors include her hus- walloped Jewish communities in in engineering and was the longtime band Steven Shwer. (David C. Gross the U.S, a scientific study has con- MITZVA cohort – they collected dox communities came to believe owner of Santech Inc., a digital LED Funeral Home) firmed something that many in the thousands of blood specimens that their communities had reached scoreboard company. He was an as- communities have long believed: that would go on to be used in 10 herd immunity by late spring and sociate member of Hadassah. Survivors S. RICHARD ZUCKERMAN, 83, gatherings during the week of Pu- research labs for virology studies early summer, with many returning include his wife Dr. Sabina Kunis; his of Pinellas Park, died Feb. 26. related to COVID in addition to to normal life while experiencing brother and sister-in-law Mark and Irina Born in Harrisburg, PA, he was a rim served as superspreader events. Kunis. The family suggests memorials to dentist. Survivors include his son A paper published March 10 in their own paper. few new infections, the data in the the Michael J. Fox Foundation. (Taylor Barry Zuckerman. (David C. Gross the Journal of the American Medi- For the originators of the MITZ- study shows that to be unlikely. Funeral Home) Funeral Home. cal Association Network Open, VA cohort, the findings are an In New Jersey, the community a peer-review journal, concludes embodiment of the good deed they with the highest percentage of posi- that the coronavirus was spreading hoped to bring about last spring and tive antibody tests among the study widely in Orthodox communi- a corrective to some of the negative samples, 32.5 percent of samples ties across the country last spring press that some Orthodox commu- tested positive for antibodies. around that Jewish holiday — be- nities have received for violating of “No value in the paper approach- fore public health warnings were public health guidelines. es herd immunity,” Rosenberg said. given about the dangers of large “The point of this whole effort In fact, the study also helped cor- assemblies. was to make a ‘kiddush Hashem,’ rect misconceptions some people Tampa Bay’s first The paper’s authors – 14 Or- to show we care about our neigh- had about their immunity status last ConservationWhere your Cemetery final resting and Natureplace helps Preserve. to thodox Jewish physicians who bors,” Zyskind said, using the term spring. Rosenberg said the study protect an endangered natural habitat. Tampa Bay’s engineered a study of thousands for sanctification of God’s name. found that people who thought they “And we came out by the thousands had had COVID and were unlikely Check or website for upcoming calendar events of blood samples from Orthodox Jews who contracted COVID-19 to do that.” to contract it again had not actu- 4100 Starkey Blvd. Trinity, FL 34655 • 727.376.5111 • www.heartwoodpreserve.com Wherefirst Conservationyour final resting Cemeteryplace helps to spanning five states – say their The most important finding ally had COVID. The study also protectand an endangeredNature Preserve. natural habitat. study has lessons as public health in their paper, according to the discovered antibodies in people officials steer Americans through authors, is in understanding how who had not had any symptoms, the pandemic’s next phase. the timing of Purim and lack of pointing to asymptomatic cases. “There should be specific rec- public health guidance at that The study first came together 4100 Starkey Blvd., Trinity, FL 34655 ommendations for each religious time allowed the disease to spread in the early days of the pandemic Check our website727.376.5111 for upcoming calendar events. and ethnic community,” said Dr. widely in Orthodox communities. when Rosenberg reconnected with www.heartwoodpreserve.com Israel Zyskind, a pediatrician in The study found that the onset of Zyskind, his former Brooklyn Brooklyn and one of the authors. symptoms in all five states they College classmate. The two were “They should be culturally sensi- studied came within one week answering similar questions from Chocolate-Date-Nut Kisses for Pesach tive, which is not something we’ve of each other, suggesting that the members of their community about To Add Sweetness to your Seder seen with the pandemic, especially interconnectedness of Orthodox COVID and about policies for early on.” communities across states should synagogues and schools. May the festival of Passover bring blessings Dr. Avi Rosenberg, a renal pa- be considered when responding to They soon started thinking about thologist at Johns Hopkins Univer- a pandemic. the possibility of doing research of Good Health, Love, Peace, Prosperity and Joy sity and another author of the paper, The paper’s argument for public related to COVID within the Or- said for Purim in particular, “the health guidance tailored to reli- thodox community and got in touch Chocolate-Date-Nut Kisses guidance all came a week too late.” gious communities is still relevant. with another college classmate, Dr. In a medium mixing bowl with an 2 egg whites “The mask mandate followed “Pesach is about to come and Jonathan Silverberg, a dermatolo- electric mixer, beat egg whites until 1-cup confectioners’ sugar Purim, the national lockdown fol- there’s an urge now that we’re a gist and epidemiologist at George stiff and glossy. 2 /3 cup pitted, coarsely chopped dates lowed Purim, the announcement year into this that we should let Washington University. Add confectioners’ sugar, 1 Tbsp. 1-cup coarsely chopped walnuts things down,” Rosenberg said. With the help of community at a time, beating until stiff after each of COVID as a pandemic followed addition. 1-cup semisweet chocolate morsels Purim,” he said. “Knowing how we celebrate … organizations like New Jersey’s Fold in dates, walnuts and The paper is the first publication the suggestion would be that the Lakewood Bikur Cholim, which chocolate morsels. to come out of a research project numbers are still quite high and, un- provides food and other services Drop mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls onto two baking sheets lined with started by the Orthodox Jewish less you are vaccinated or recently to hospital patients and others deal- ungreased parchment paper, putting 1 dozen cookies on each. doctors who decided early in the convalesced, to continue to temper ing with medical issues, they were Bake on first and third racks of a preheated 300-degree for 15 minutes. celebrations across family units.” able to collect blood samples from Exchange positions of pans on racks. Reduce oven temperature to 275 degrees. pandemic to turn a tragic turn of Bake for 15 minutes. Turn off oven. Leave cookies in oven, undisturbed, for 2 events – the extensive spread of The paper also suggests the 6,665 people in Orthodox commu- hours. the coronavirus in Orthodox com- infection rates in Orthodox com- nities in five states. Store cooled cookies in airtight containers. Makes 2 dozen cookies. munities around Purim – into an munities in the early stages of the Each trial participant filled out opportunity to learn more about the pandemic were higher than in sur- a detailed questionnaire about the onset of their symptoms (the questionnaire provided the Eng- lish calendar dates for Purim and Passover as reference points), the severity of symptoms and how long they lasted. Then each participant provided two vials of blood, with ( ENDERSON"LVD4AMPAs one to be used for antibody testing www.segalfuneralhome.com and for the paper. The other vials, as well as approximately 2,000 saliva samples taken from the same participants, were sent off to 10 research labs for a range of other studies related to COVID. “It’s a credit to the Orthodox community and their efforts in 1750 Curlew Road • Palm Harbor • 727.789.2000 coming out and helping put this all CurlewHills.com • CurlewHillsPetCemetery.com together,” Silverberg said. Freedom Deliverance Redemption Happy Passover!

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24 HOUR INFORMATION AT DAVIDCGROSS.COM MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21 JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION A PAGE 15 From ‘Seinfeld’ to WWII Morocco, new Haggadah options will spice up your Passover Seder By GABE FRIEDMAN above. Nothing,” his goal is to use the True to form, nothing is left out, JTA news service There are “wellness check-ins” series’ characters and storylines as from the core prayers to the Exodus The pandemic has altered the throughout – one, for instance, a foil to show how not to experience story, which is told in a series of experience of the Passover Seder, discusses the “mental slavery” of the holiday. The Seder, he argues, quick blurbs. but one thing hasn’t changed: It’s a loneliness and isolation, and of is supposed to help transform its For the artistically inclined golden age for creative Haggadahs. the drudgery of modern life (think participants, to make them feel Some Haggadahs of centuries Artists, comedy writers, a range cellphones, long work hours, etc.). change in their lives. Part of the past were illustrated manuscripts, of clergy and more have given the There’s a guided meditation ses- humor – and frustration – that sur- artist Emily Marbach points out ancient text a modern spin in re- sion accessible through a QR code. rounds Jerry, Elaine, George and in the introduction to her “Collage cent years and disseminated them Then there are several recipes and Kramer on the show is that they Haggadah,” which features her widely online with the help of food ingredient checklists to help never change, no matter how clear own beautiful pastiche works. self-publishing platforms and ag- the busy crowd with meal prep a moral lesson they are handed. “The Middle Ages were a very gregation hubs such as Haggadot. (including a couple of fun cocktail But the real appeal of “The fruitful time for new Haggadot. com, which also allows users to suggestions, like the Nile Sour, Haggadah About Nothing” is its The Birds Head (I have made one customize their own. which includes cognac and honey). constant specific “Seinfeld” ref- collage in homage to that version), But the sheer number of Hag- erences. Reinstein is creative in The Sarajevo and the Golden Hag- gadahs – and their various topics, finding connections and often cites gadot are just a few of the most this year into English from the local which range from the artistic to multiple episodes at once to make well known,” she writes. “There Judeo-Arabic of the time, it offers a humorous – can make choosing a his points. are the Mocatta, Prato, Barcelona, running commentary of sorts about fresh one a bit overwhelming. Here Perhaps unsurprisingly, this Darmstadt, the Hileq and Bileq – I the war’s events, cracks Nazi jokes are a few new notable examples to is not the first “Seinfeld” Seder could go on.” and infuses the Seder prayers with try if you’re attempting to give your guide to hit the market — Cowen Marbach, a London-based col- hope for a better future for Europe’s Seder a makeover, whether it’s held published a parody “Yada Yada lage artist and printmaker, inter- Jews, all from a rare North African on Zoom or in person. Haggadah” in 2019. sperses the pages of prayer and perspective. storytelling with dozens of stimu- One early passage starts: For those feeling overwhlemed For the mpatient kid in all of us No matter one’s religious obser- lating works, some of them a blend “Wicked Hitler enslaved us Bari Mitzmann, a Jewish blogger of ancient imagery with a pop art And the Allied Forces rescued us with a sizable Instagram following, vance, the Seder can feel a bit long when the smells of matzah ball soup sensibility. With a great and mighty out- for the second year has spearheaded Another artful option that could stretched arm …” a joint Haggadah project she calls and brisket are emanating from the nearby kitchen. double as a coffee table book “HaKol B’Seder” — in Hebrew it year-round is the Asufa Israeli art For the Reform Jew Last year, Rabbi Matt Berkowitz The Reform movement in Amer- can mean either “everything in the collective’s Haggadah, available in and Dr. Ron Moses conceived a ica has published many Haggadahs Seder” or “it’s all good.” Hebrew and English. The group has slim, fold-up seven-page pamphlet over the past 130 years, since it Her thorough Haggadah and produced a new version each year – aptly named “The Express Hag- first brought to print an English- broader guide to the holiday For the “Seinfeld” superfan since 2013. gadah” – not to help families rush language version of a Haggadah weaves in an array of female voices The Seder is definitely not “about through the Seder, but to assist in For the history buff published in Germany decades ear- – ranging from chefs to moms to nothing,” as the iconic ’90s sitcom getting them through the ritual in “Next year may we be free men lier. The movement’s latest offering therapists – who either talk about “Seinfeld” is often described. Be- its entirety. in Palestine,” Nissim Ben Shimon is “Mishkan HaSeder,” which adds how a specific part of the Seder yond a retelling of the Exodus story, “‘What if the game ended at half- wrote in 1943. contemporary poetry and social resonates with them or provide tips which Jews have looked to for in- time?’ ‘What if the movie cut-off in As World War II began to swing justice commentary to the tradi- on how to fruitfully get through spiration for millennia, the holiday the middle?’ Those would be un- in favor of the Allies, Ben Shimon, tional rabbinic text. Among the the Passover season. It’s aimed meal’s guiding text is loaded with finished stories,” a press statement a Moroccan Jew in Rabat, wrote poets are Emma Lazarus, Adrienne at those feeling overwhelmed by symbolism and ways to connect the reads. “‘The Express Haggadah’ what has been deemed “The Hitler Rich and Yehuda Amichai. the COVID pandemic, all of the biblical tale to contemporary times. enables families to ‘get through it’ Haggadah” – a semi-humorous There’s also art by the painter, preparations that a Seder entails, As Rabbi Sam Reinstein writes in before food comas and ‘shpilkes’ Seder text heavily influenced by sculptor and ceremonial artist Tobi the pressure to intellectualize the introduction to his “Seinfeld”- cut the Seder off in the middle.” the events of the war. Translated Kahn. the holiday’s themes or all of the themed “The Haggadah About

In other years, we gather around the seder table with family and friends. This year, we gather around separate seder tables, sharing the holiday virtually. But while last Passover, we faced a year of uncertainty and loss, this Passover we truly know the power and strength of our Jewish community — here on Florida’s Gulf Coast and as a whole.

The challenges we continue to face are huge, but with each of us giving as generously as we can, we will make this year different from all other years, because this year, our impact will be greater than in any year before.

Learn more at JewishGulfCoast.org, or give us a call at 727 530 3223. PAGE 16 A JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA BAY / PINELLAS EDITION MARCH 12 - 25, 2O21 Chag Sameach. Wishing you and yours a healthy and joyous Passover.

Explore kosher for Passover recipes for your celebration at publix.com/passover.

ROP: 10.25" x 16"