Clearwater, FL 33758-6970 FL Clearwater, O. Box 6970 P. Jewish Press of Pinellas County Inc. Bay, Tampa The Jewish Press Group of www.jewishpresspinellas.com VOL. 32, NO. 10 ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA A DECEMBER 1 - 14, 2017 20 PAGES First Jewish Heritage Night with Bucs is Dec. 18 ■ More Hanukkah Happenings, Page 10 southeast corner of the stadium, will also injury and a Bucs’ spokeswoman said she In celebration of Hanukkah, the Tampa feature special Hanukkah music, potato was not sure if Marpet would be at the Bay Buccaneers will host its first ever latkes, doughnuts and desserts, limited- tailgate. Jewish Heritage Night on Monday, Dec. 18 edition souvenirs and a cash bar. Jewish Heritage Night is a joint project as the team takes on the Atlanta Falcons at Later, during the game, the menorah of Chabad Centers of Tampa Bay and the The Jewish Press Group Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. lighting ceremony will be replayed on the Bucs. PAID U.S. POSTAGE of Tampa Bay, Inc. Bay, Tampa of PRESORTED The event will begin with an exclusive giant Bucs Vision screen in the stadium. The area’s other two professional sports STANDARD tailgate at 7 p.m. as Bryan Glazer, Bucs The only Jewish member of the franchises, the Tampa Bay Lightning co-chairman and a Jewish community Buccaneers is center Ali Marpet, shown in and Tampa Bay Rays, have been holding leader, along with others light a 12-foot advertising for the event with the headline: Jewish Heritage events for several years, tall menorah. “Siege the Night with the Power of Light.” but this will be the first for the Bucs. The tailgate, located at Quad C near the Marpet recently suffered a season-ending HERITAGE NIGHT continued on PAGE 4 Light Love Laughter at Hanukkah It’s always Hanukkah in this picture-perfect Italian town By RUTH ELLEN GRUBER in Casale. The synagogue, which is part of a The JTA news service larger museum complex, is now a major tour- collection CASALE MONFERRATO, Italy – It’s ist attraction – and not only because of its opu- of Hanukkah always Hanukkah in this picturesque town in lent sanctuary with huge chandeliers, colorfully menorahs in the town northern Italy’s Piedmont region. painted walls and lots of gild- of Casale Jews have lived in Casale ing. The former women’s sec- Monferrato Monferrato for more than 500 tion has been transformed into is housed years, with the community a Judaica and Jewish history in the reaching its peak of 850 mem- museum. And the synagogue’s basement bers at about the time Jews basement, formerly a matzah of its here were granted civil rights bakery, is now home to synagogue, in 1848. The town still boasts the Museum of Lights. which one of Italy’s most ornate Hanukkah here is commemorated used to be synagogues, a rococo gem nonstop with a year-round exhibit featuring a public matzah that dates to the 16th century. dozens of menorahs, or hanukkiyot, created bakery. These days, only two Jewish families live TOWN continued on PAGE 19 Photos courtesy of www.casalebraica.org DO GOOD EVERYWHERE. FROM ANYWHERE. Join our page @ www.facebook.com/jfed.pinellas Meet Eileen Hochstadt, Did you know? Since July 1, 2017 The role of synagogue president likely began in president of the Jewish Community Center of West we have raised North America between 1654 (when the first Jews Pasco, the home of Congregation Beth Tefillah. settled) and 1840 (when the first rabbi was called She’s striving to revitalize the Jewish community $833,126 to serve the new land). Prior to World War II, it was across Pasco County and northern Pinellas through not unusual for a president to serve at least 10 monthly events and weekly adult education. toward our goal. years in the role! The Jewish Federation *Campaign officially began October 28, 2017. www.JewishPinellas.org OF PINELLAS & PASCO COUNTIES, FL ADVERTISEMENT PAGE 2 A JEWISH PRESS of PINELLAS COUNTY DECEMBER 1 - 14, 2017 A great story of TRIUMPH, FRIED FOOD, GIFTS, and MUSIC makes CHANUKAH a great Jewish holiday to celebrate! THIS PARTY IS FOR YOU! TWO JEWISH PARENTS ONE JEWISH PARENT JEWISH GRANDPARENTS, LGBTQ , , , join the Jewish Federation and bring your friends for an Be the Light JEWISH-CURIOUS INCLUSIVE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY CHANUKAH PARTY! December 17, 2017 • 12:30pm • $25 per family C HAN UKAH Ruth eckerd hall • Margarete Heye Great Room Latke lunch • sing-a-long & stories • family photo booth Balloon animals • holiday crafts , OBSERVANT tickets at 727-530-3223 or jewishpinellas.org and bring a toy to donate to PartY TOY DRIVE KOSHER LAWS OBSERVED , , , ANYONE WHO LOVES LOVES WHO ANYONE FAMILIES ADOPTED PARENTS SINGLE FAMILIES BLENDED CHOICE BY JEWS , , THE BEAUTY OF THE JEWISH CULTURE For Jewish singles and couples, agesSchool's 20s, 30s & 40s out, fun's in! winter break camp! Let’s spend time on our beautiful campus DEC 26-29 AND JAN 2-5 • 8:30 AM - 5 PM doing all of our favorite camp things: At the home of the Jewish Community Camp singing, dancing, playing sports, getting wet and messy, cooking and eating with 1685 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater Community integrity $40 per day compassion12. courage24.17 registration at: responsibilitySunday &| 9Tenacity. PM – 1AM jewishcommunitycamp.org Franklin Manor 912 North Franklin Street, Tampa JEWISh registration at: COMMUNITY jewishcommunitycamp.orgTickets on sale now: JewishTampa.com/VodkaLatke CAMP Dec 24 . Young Adult Division Vodka Latke Mar 13 . Community Women’s Seder Jan 27-29 . TBE Art Festival Mar 24 . Gulf Coast Golf Like a Rock Star Dec 3 . CBI Chase the Dreidel 5K Feb 8 . Cardozo & Montefiore Societies Event Mar 25 . Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival Dec 8 . Young Adult Shakshuka Shabbat Dinner Feb 10 . Florida Holocaust Museum’s Annual “To Life” Gala Dec 12 . Chabad of Clearwater Chanukah Extravaganza Apr 15 . Jewish Heritage Festival Israel@70 Feb 25 . Tampa Bay Jewish Food Festival & Purim Carnival Dec 17 . Be the Light Chanukah Party & Toy Drive Apr 29 . Sonya Miller Women of Distinction Mar 11 . CBI Chaivana Nights Gala 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 DECEMBER 15 Pasco Counties. The Federation underwrites home KAREN DAWKINS of PINELLAS COUNTY • Established in 1986 delivery to every identified Jewish household in Managing Editor & Co-Owner Press Release ..........Dec 1 Pinellas County (approx.4,500), to promote Jewish Advertising Sales An independent, bi-weekly newspaper owned by community cohesiveness and identity. GARY POLIN Advertising ...............Dec 5 THE JEWISH PRESS GROUP of TAMPA BAY, INC. TORI GEE THE FEDERATION MAINTAINS GALE TARNOFSKY-ABERCROMBIE Also publisher of the Jewish Press of Tampa THE MAILING LIST FOR THE Staff Writer & Editor JANUARY 12 BOB FRYER www.jewishpresspinellas.com JEWISH PRESS. Press Release ........Dec 29 Ad Design & Graphics P.O. 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Standard Class Postage Permit: TAMPA PI #3763 DECEMBER 1 - 14, 2017 JEWISH PRESS of PINELLAS COUNTY A PAGE 3 So. Florida shul Perspective bomb plot lands Emilie Socash Executive Director, Jewish Federation man in hospital, of Pinellas & Pasco Counties then prison (JTA) – A South Florida man Natalie Portman’s tree who pleaded guilty to plotting to bomb a Miami-area synagogue isn’t scary, and other musings and Jewish school will undergo medical treatment and serve time Years ago, I heard the words “December Dilemma” for the first time, in prison. a phrase which describes the seemingly dramatic pull that Jewish kids James Medina, 41, is expected to Member exert on their parents to make Hanukkah more Christmas-like. At first it serve up to 25 years in prison. The made sense: it’s surely a dilemma if only two binary choices are avail- prosecution and defense reached Happy Chanukah able, those being a) a rigid Jewish traditions-based holiday observance American Society an uncommon deal in which Medi- of Travel Agents in which we light candles and fry foods (and give no gifts) or b) a cel- na will likely spend the first part of from your partners ebration that embraces consumerism and offers our whiny wee ones a his sentence in a medical facility, paltry Hanukkah bush. The Sun-Sentinel reported. Medina in travel! Last year, Natalie Portman announced to Jimmy Fallon on the To- has been diagnosed with schizoaf- night Show that she planned to have a Christmas tree for the first time. fective disorder and a brain cyst. DUGGAR Here’s Jewish America’s sweetheart/star/Harvard graduate waging her Eugenia K. Duggar, CTC TRAVEL AGENCY, INC. The FBI arrested Medina in Director of Operations 4300 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg own war on Hanukkah, and yet I find her reasoning to be, well, rather April 2016 while he was approach- pedestrian (and tolerable).