L’CHAYIM www.JewishFederationLCC.org Vol. 41, No. 10 n June 2019 / 5779 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Strength and growth from hate? 6 Our Community By Brian Simon, Federation President 8 Jewish Interest grew up in a golden age for Jew- as they’ve learned, I don’t know that that his attack will motivate others. He ish people in the U.S. I’m sure they have solved the issue. is seeking attention as much as any- 12 Israel & the Jewish World I anti-Semitism existed when I was Historian Yuval Noah Harari, an thing else. 14 Commentary a kid, but I didn’t experience much of Israeli himself, writes that a terrorist is Here is Harari’s advice: “Above it. Henry Winkler was the coolest man like a fly trying to destroy a china shop. all, if we want to fight terrorism ef- 15 Marketplace in America. Most of the top comedians “The fly is so weak it cannot even fectively, we must realise that nothing 16 From the Bimah – Buddy Hackett, Robert Klein, Gary budge a single teacup. So it finds a bull, terrorists do can defeat us. We are the Shandling, Howie Mandel – were Jew- gets inside its ear and starts buzzing. only ones who can defeat ourselves, if 18 Focus on Youth ish. Years later, The bull goes wild with fear and anger, we overreact in a misguided way to ter- 20 Community Directory comedian Adam and destroys the china shop.” rorist provocations.” Sandler (who is In Harari’s view, terrorism is the- So we become more vigilant. We 20 Organizations only three years ater. The attack in Poway killed one hire security guards, and we try to deny 22 Temple News older than me) person and injured three others. If a car the terrorists the terror they seek to cre- would put our accident resulted in one death and three ate. Jewish pride into injuries, it would hardly be considered I don’t have the answers to my words by listing newsworthy. As a hate crime, it regis- children’s question, but here’s what 19 pop culture ters 12 million results on Google and I know: I can’t explain hatred. I just n Brian heroes for his Ha- its own Wikipedia page. know it exists. And we deal with it the Simon nukkah song. The Poway murderer was moti- best we can. As I grew older, I heard the stories vated (or inspired?) by the attacks in Rabbi Ben Sendrow used to tell of the prejudice that the generations Pittsburgh and Christchurch. He hopes continued on page 2 5 before me faced – being physically Federation’s Senior Lunch attacked by other kids, having rocks Bunch update thrown at them, being called a “dirty Jew,” – and that was in America, not Nazi Germany. They wore their expe- Senior Outreach Program riences like badges of honor. But these were people much older than me, my grandparents’ generation. I think about this in the wake of two attacks on synagogues. I’m con- 10 cerned that my children have a differ- ent experience of anti-Semitism than I Israeli cheesecake enshrouded did at their age. I asked them for their by knafeh – recipe by Chef Dalia perspectives on being Jewish today. My son made an interesting point. Come out for lunch, see familiar He saw the attacks in Pittsburgh and faces and meet new friends at San Diego as no different from the at- our free monthly senior lunches tacks on a church in Sri Lanka and a Thursday, June 13th mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. 12:00 PM My daughter was upset that the San Temple Beth Shalom Diego killer had posted a manifesto 702 SE 24th Ave., Cape Coral 12 online just before he attacked the syna- RSVP by Friday, June 7th ISRAEL21c’s 14 must-read gogue in Poway. Why didn’t someone books about Israel see the posting and stop him before he Thursday, July 18th went to kill Jews? 12:30 PM The common concern for both my Amavida Senior Living kids is that they just can’t understand 7650 Gladiolus Dr. Fort Myers the hate. How could someone believe RSVP by Friday, July 12th they’re justified to kill a group of peo- ple based on religion? I don’t have any answers for them. 18 After Pittsburgh, our synagogue elected to hire armed police officers Let us know if you will be PJ Library Passover as guards for every event. Our doors driving or if you would like puppet show and luncheon a volunteer to pick you up. are locked all the time. Someone has to man the door, even during servic- RSVP—Jodi Cohen es, to let the right people in and keep 239-481-4449, ext. 2 or Have an item you’d the wrong people out. Did we have a [email protected] choice? like to share? For a long time, even before Pitts- burgh, I would sit in services and run Need to reach the through scenarios of how I would react if a gunman came into the sanctuary. editor of L’CHAYIM? Could I hide from the initial attack and surprise him from behind? Could I get Send an email to to the emergency exit? I guess I always LChayim36@ knew it was a possibility. So, this is the new normal for Jews gmail.com. in America. Israelis have lived with se- curity concerns for 70 years. As much 9701 Commerce Center Court POSTMASTER: NONPROFIT ORG Fort Myers, Florida 33908 DATED RELIGIOUS U.S. POSTAGE VISIT THE FEDERATION ONLINE AT: NEWS ITEMS. PAID TIME SENSITIVE– FT. MYERS, FL PLEASE EXPEDITE! PERMIT NO. 175 DELIVER TO CURRENT RESIDENT OR www. JewishFederationLCC.org social service philanthropy culture L'CHAYIM JUNE 2019 2 Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties OUR FEDERATION Program notes To donate to By Debbie Sanford, Program Director By Jodi Cohen, Senior Outreach & Food Pantry Coordinator n April, our newest social group, JFED Hits the kugel, stuffed cabbage and Passover chocolate lolli- here are several topics to cover Road, traveled by luxury charter bus to Miami pops I bought. in this month’s JFS update, as the Federation’s IBeach. We had a great lunch at a kosher deli and Everyone had a great time and we are alreadyT there is “amazement in every sushi restaurant on Lincoln Road on our way to the planning our next bus trip during the winter months.corner,” as a former theatre director of Florida Jewish Museum. We Join us as we head to the Dali Museum, Acropolismine used to say. Annual Campaign, had a private docent tour of the Greek Restaurant and the Chihuly Museum. First, I want beautiful museum and spent JFED Hits the Road are fun and engaging road to reiterate that the some time in the gift shop. trips for people who want to see great places and meet Jewish Federa- call 239.481.4449 On our way home we new faces. So, join us on our next trip. For more in- tion provides food stopped at Kosher Kingdom formation, please contact me at 239.481.4449 x4 or and assistance to – a fitting name for this awe- [email protected]. those in need in or visit some place as it was indeed a Photos courtesy Jerry Wadro Lee and Charlotte kingdom and everything was counties regard- n Debbie kosher. We loaded the bus with less of religion or JewishFederationLCC.org Sanford some coolers and numerous background. Not bags of Israeli food products and kosher for Passover everyone understands this, so I think it foods to bring home with us. I personally enjoyed the bears repeating. About one-half of the Federation’s regular food pantry cli- ents are Jewish. OUR MISSION The Federation is getting at least o strengthen and enrich the ewish two new food pantry clients a month. onity y proiding and supporting With new clients, I try to find out a philanthroic, educational and soial little about their situation to see if I service programs loally, in srael and can recommend other resources or in- throghout the world. formation that might be helpful. One family was about to have their electric- OUR VISION ity cut off, so through the Marcia Can Help Fund, the Federation was able to A Jewish omnit that is based on ensure that the lights and air condition- Jewish alues such as zedakah ing stayed on. Two of the new clients (eneolence) ikkn la (repairing are receiving medical treatments near the world) and K’lal Yisrael (taking the Federation. One of these clients, responsibilit or one another). let’s call him Shlomo, wasn’t aware of other food pantries in Fort Myers. We spent time in my office so I could show him how to access the Harry Chapin Food Bank (HCFB) map of pantries as well as the mobile food pantry sched- ule so he could get fresh food when the L’CHAYIM truck would be in his area. Jewish news published monthly by The Federation has several food Jewish Federation of Lee & Charlotte Counties pantry clients who come from Lehigh 9701 Commerce Center Court, Fort Myers, FL 33908 Acres; many with three generations (239) 481-4449 • Fax: (239) 481-0139 Online at www.JewishFederationLCC.org living under one roof. Since Federa- n tion clients can only receive food here June 2019 • Volume 41, Number 10 n once a month, I created flyers with the President: Brian Simon HCFB website along with the address- Board: Paul Bartrop • Karen Fine • Carolyn Gora es and distribution times for five food Jerry Greenfield • Andi Horowitz Linda Idelson • Marsha Kistler • Sara Krivisky pantries in Lehigh.