St. Petersburg, FL 33707 St. Petersburg, FL Avenue 6416 Central Jewish Press of Pinellas County Inc. Bay, Tampa The Jewish Press Group of www.jewishpresspinellas.com VOL. 33, NO. 3 ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA A AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 24 PAGES Rabbi Daniel Treiser eulogized as ‘life unfinished’ By BOB FRYER been in the prime of his life, with recently as June he led congre- Jewish Press so many more adventures in store, gants on a tour of Israel and a He was a kid in a grown-up’s so much more to teach his con- week later joined in the St. Pete body and a walking trivia resource gregants and his children, Rabbi Pride parade. Earlier in the spring, who loved to wear costumes. He Daniel Treiser died in his sleep on he traveled with youths from his was also a man of God, a loving Friday morning, Aug. 17, leaving congregation to participate in the The Jewish Press Group U.S. POSTAGE PAID U.S. POSTAGE husband and father, a lover of the a void in the hearts of so many anti-gun violence March for Our Inc. Bay, Tampa of PRESORTED Torah, and a rabbi beloved by his who knew him. Lives in Washington, D.C. STANDARD congregation and so many more Since 2008 Rabbi Treiser “It isn’t fair. I miss my best who considered themselves lucky had led Temple B’nai Israel in friend … and my partner in mis- to have known him. Clearwater, and in spite of a chief,” said Rabbi Michael Churgel At age 46, when he should have lengthy battle against cancer, as RABBI continued on PAGE 22 Welcome Here’s why you received this paper For approximately 5,375 households in Pinellas and Pasco counties, this is likely the first time you have received aJewish Press of Pinellas County in the mail as our regular readers do. Instead, you likely picked one up at your synagogue, Menorah Manor, Jo-El’s, Lenny’s or one of the other locations where copies are dropped off. Or perhaps, you didn’t know of the existence of the Jewish Press. An expansion of our mailing list means that more than 10,000 households are now receiving the Jewish Press of Pinellas County. Where did we find all these “new” Jewish community members? A 2017 demographics study of the local Jewish community found that only about 40 percent of the estimated 18,000 Jewish households in Pinellas and Pasco Counties regularly or occasionally read the Jewish Press. That meant there are a lot of you who might be missing out on all our vibrant Jewish community has to offer, from the Jewish Food Festival to the Film Festival to Shabbat services on the beach, and so much more. and vegetables. David and Cynthia Weinstein bought the prop- As part of its examination of the results The pomegranate: erty in 2004 after 25 years of living and working on boats and of the survey and what can be done to better cruising the Caribbean, when St. John in the U.S. Virgin Is- serve the Jewish community, the Jewish From the Promised Land lands was their home port. Federation of Pinellas and Pasco Counties “We were in our 50s and didn’t know anything about land – the organization whose primary goal is to the Sunshine State life, farming, anything,” David said. “We bought a conversion to promote Jewish life in all its forms – has van, lived in that and leased out the property to a farmer for made it a priority to connect all Jews in By BRUCE LOWITT cattle grazing while trying to decide what we could do with it. Pinellas and Pasco in some way to the Jewish Jewish Press Animals? Solar? Windmills? Fruit trees? In 2011 we decided community. ZOLFO SPRINGS – There’s a bit of the Middle East here in on pomegranates.” “Our Jewish newspaper is the backbone the middle of Florida, where pomegranates – one of the seven of our shared community information and Cynthia is 61 and manages the farm. David is 67 and owns fruits named in Deuteronomy as representing the bounty of Is- as soon as we saw that there were so many a mobile marine service business in Punta Gorda, installing rael – grow in abundance. who hadn’t been receiving it, we jumped electronic gear on yachts. She is not Jewish; he is, but he’s not It’s called Green Sea Farms, 31 acres, six devoted to 130 into action,” said Emilie Socash, executive religious. varieties of pomegranates, two more acres to a pomegranate director of the Pinellas/Pasco Federation. nursery, some of the rest open to cattle they breed, chickens POMEGRANATE continued on PAGE 14 To that end, the Federation – which maintains the Jewish Press mailing list – recently acquired a mailing list of local Jewish residents, revealing a significant number of households new to the Jewish Monica Lewinsky to Federation Fridays Press. How are these mailing lists compiled? One keynote Tampa event to cover all bases of the most common is to identify distinctive This September, the Jewish Federation of Pinellas & “Jewish” names. While that might not be true Anti-bullying ambassador, social activist, and writer Pasco Counties will kick off its latest community en- for many Jews today, if your last name is Monica Lewinsky, whose name will forever be linked gagement effort: Federation Fridays. Goldberg or Levy, you can bet you are now to a White House scandal, will be keynote speaker receiving the paper. th Each Friday morning the Federation will host a at the 17 annual Franci Golman Rudolph Schaarai guest presenter – sometimes via video – on inspiring, “It has always been our mission to deliver the Jewish Press to every Jewish household in Zedek Sisterhood Star Event. interesting and exciting topics. The free presentations, Pinellas and Pasco Counties. We are pleased The Monday, Oct. 15 luncheon and presentation which are open to everyone in the community, will be PAPER continued on PAGE XX LEWINSKY continued on PAGE 12 FRIDAYS continued on PAGE 3 DO GOOD EVERYWHERE. FROM ANYWHERE. Join our page @ www.facebook.com/jfed.pinellas Meet Ezra Singer, Did you know? our Federation’s new board president. After two Our 2018-2019 The Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco years on our board and many active years in Counties was founded in 1970. Part of leadership with the Columbus Jewish community, Campaign Begins the mission to this day is to strive for the Ezra brings fresh perspective and a continuity of Jewish life and culture. “tribal” sense of responsibility to the on November 1st! role. Welcome Ezra! The Jewish Federation www.JewishPinellas.org OF PINELLAS & PASCO COUNTIES, FL ADVERTISEMENT PAGE 2 A JEWISH PRESS of PINELLAS COUNTY AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 Check Out These Events! www.JewishPinellas.org 9/7 – Foods of the Holiday • 9/14 – Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, Repairing the Sea Save These Open to All in the Community! Dates! INTRODUCING WHAT: Speakers, videos, presentations, activities, crafts, culture and more! WHERE: Federation Community Room Sep 3 . Labor Day WHEN: Every Friday this fall from 10 am –12 pm Sep 7. First Fed Friday RSVP to Lucé at [email protected]. Sep 9-10. Rosh Hashanah FRIDAYS! 9/21 – Erica Hruby, Center for Israel Education • 9/28 – Jewflicks Video Sep 14. Fed Friday Sep 15. Shabbat Shuva The Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco Counties is proud to to support the educational needs of our community and beyond. Back Robert Schmitz, Jr. is a teacher in the Polk County School District who was in desperate need of new tables and chairs for his classroom this fall. We are honored to have been able to donate our School former conference room furniture to such a great cause. We thank you for all you do and hope you have a great school year! Want More Events? Visit us online at jewishpinellas.org/calendar for all of the Jewish events happening in our community! PUBLICATION & DEADLINE DATES The Jewish Press of Pinellas County is a privately STAFF owned, community newspaper published in JIM DAWKINS cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Publisher & Co-Owner SEPT 7 Pasco Counties. The Federation underwrites home KAREN DAWKINS High Holiday Edition II of PINELLAS COUNTY • Established in 1986 delivery to every identified Jewish household in Managing Editor & Co-Owner Pinellas County (approx.4,500), to promote Jewish Advertising Sales Press Release .......Sept 11 An independent, bi-weekly newspaper owned by community cohesiveness and identity. GARY POLIN THE JEWISH PRESS GROUP of TAMPA BAY, INC. GALE TARNOFSKY-ABERCROMBIE Advertising .............Aug 24 THE FEDERATION MAINTAINS Staff Writer & Editor Also publisher of the Jewish Press of Tampa THE MAILING LIST FOR THE BOB FRYER SEPT 21 www.jewishpresspinellas.com JEWISH PRESS. Ad Design & Graphics REY VILLALBA Press Release .........Sept 7 6416 CENTRAL AVE., ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33707 To RECEIVE THE PAPER DAVID HERSHMAN Advertising ............Sept 11 or for ADDRESS CHANGES, Social Columnist Telephone: (727) 535-4400 • Fax: (727) 440-6037 ■ Call (727) 530-3223 JUDY LUDIN E-mail: [email protected] ■ Go to [email protected] Editorial Assistant OCT 5 GAIL WISEBERG The Jewish Press is mailed STANDARD CLASS. Press Release .......Sept 21 The Jewish Press assumes no responsibility for the opinions of columnists, Standard Class DOES NOT include a speedy delivery The Jewish Press is a letter writers, claims of advertisers, nor does the paper guarantee the guarantee. Date of delivery varies depending on your subscriber to JTA, Advertising ............Sept 25 individual post office. kashruth of products & services advertised or mentioned otherwise. The Global Jewish News Source. Standard Class Postage Permit: TAMPA PI #3763 AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 JEWISH PRESS of PINELLAS COUNTY A PAGE 3 FRIDAYS Sept.