Florida Jewish History Month January 2013 Celebrating the Florida Jewish Community through Language, Literature, and Philosophy Miami-Dade County Public Schools Division of Social Sciences THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA Ms. Perla Tabares Hantman, Chair Dr. Lawrence S. Feldman, Vice-Chair Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall Mr. Carlos L. Curbelo Mr. Renier Diaz de la Portilla Dr. Wilbert “Tee” Holloway Dr. Martin S. Karp Dr. Marta Pérez Ms. Raquel A. Regalado Mr. Jude Bruno Student Advisor Alberto M. Carvalho Superintendent of Schools 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION In October of 2003, Governor Jeb Bush signed a historic bill into law designating January of each year as Florida Jewish History Month. The legislation for Florida Jewish History Month was initiated at the Jewish Museum of Florida by Marcia Zerivitz, the Museum's Founding Executive Director and Chief Curator. Ms. Zerivitz and State Senator Gwen Margolis worked closely with legislators to translate the Museum's mission into a statewide observance. It seemed appropriate to honor Jewish contributions to the State, as sixteen percent, over 850,000 people of the American Jewish community lives in Florida. Since 1763, when the first Jews settled in Pensacola immediately after the Treaty of Paris ceded Florida to Great Britain from Spain, Jews had come to Florida to escape persecution, for economic opportunity, to join family members already here, for the climate and lifestyle, for their health and to retire. It is a common belief that Florida Jewish history began after World War II, but in actuality, the history of Floridian Jews begins much earlier. The largest number of Jews settled in Florida after World War II, but the Jewish community in Florida reaches much further into the history of this State than simply the last half-century. Jews have actively participated in shaping the destiny of Florida since its inception, but until research of the 1980s, most of the facts were little-known. One such fact is that David Levy Yulee, a Jewish pioneer, brought Florida into statehood in 1845, served as its first U.S. senator and was the first person of Jewish ancestry to serve in the U.S. Congress. Floridian Jews have contributed greatly to the development of the entire state, but in recent history much of the Jewish community’s involvement has been primarily within southeast Florida. The earliest known permanent Jewish settler in Miami was Isidor Cohen, a signatory of the city's charter. He helped found many civic organizations, as well as Jewish organizations. The heartbreak of the Holocaust came close to home for the Jews of Miami Beach, who experienced a feeling of helplessness when the S.S. St. Louis, a ship filled with Jews fleeing Hitler and Nazism, was denied permission to anchor there in June 1939. The American government of the time refused to allow the St. Louis to land its human cargo on the shores of south Florida. The steamer anchored for two hours within sight of Miami Beach. The Jewish populace of Miami has worked hard to help develop their community. Today, Miami is the nation's ninth largest Jewish community and continues to grow in population and cohesive strength. Palm Beach County is host to Florida's largest Jewish population in the state, Broward County the second largest and Miami-Dade is third in number. Throughout the history of the State, and like other groups, Jewish people have actively participated in shaping the destiny and direction of Florida at its roots. In 250 years, the Jewish community of Florida has left their indelible footprints across the entire State. Floridian Jews have served in every U.S. war, and have been prominent in the cattle, citrus, tomato and tobacco industries, to name a few. Diverse cultures have enriched the state of Florida since its earliest days and Florida’s Jewish communities have 3 become an integral part of the state and its history. Jewish History Month is a time to learn about the rich tapestry of Jewish life here. Since 1763, Jews have been involved in enhancing the lives and dreams of all Floridians. Florida Jewish History Month celebrates these accomplishments. Florida Jewish History Month has been so successful since its establishment that it inspired the legislation for Jewish American Heritage Month, which is observed in May with a Proclamation signed by President George W. Bush in April, 2006. The Proclamation states that “The faith and hard work of Jewish Americans have played an integral role in shaping the cultural fabric of America. During Jewish American Heritage Month, we celebrate the vital contributions of Jewish Americans to our Nation. Throughout our history, Jewish Americans have contributed to the strength of our country and the preservation of our values. The talent and imagination of these citizens have helped our Nation prosper.” 4 STUDY GUIDE Florida Jewish History Month 2013: Celebrating the Florida Jewish Community through Language, Literature, and Philosophy Part I: Research Using the Internet and other resources in your classroom and media center, research for Part II activities, writing and discussion: 1. If we are to recognize a group of people, we must first know who they are as a people. In order to celebrate Florida Jewish History Month, research and discuss the following: Who are the Jews and what is Judaism? What beliefs and traditions separate them from other groups? What does it mean to be Jewish? Aside from English, is there a language or languages that many Jews speak? 2. What are the roots of Florida’s Jewish community? Who were the first Jews here? Keeping this year’s theme in mind, Celebrating Florida’s Jewish Community Through Language, Literature and Philosophy, research the early Florida Jewish population. You may want to start your research with the Jewish Museum of Florida, www.jewishmusem.com. Write a 2-3 page essay on your findings. Were there any authors of note among those Jews who settled Florida? Who were they? Note their major literary contributions 3. Why is it important to celebrate the language of a culture? What are some ways that Florida’s Jewish community celebrates its culture through language? How does the written word help to define one’s cultural experience? Using these questions as the basis for your research, learn as much as you can about Yiddish, the language of Eastern European Jews that many Jews in Florida still speak and present your findings to the class. 4. What are some of the literary and philosophical contributions of Florida’s Jewish community? Research to discover some answers. You might begin your research with the South Florida Center for Jewish Ethics, the Institution of Jewish Knowledge and Learning, or one of the many Jewish Book Festivals held in Florida each year using the Resources & Webography on page 11 for websites to begin your research. Choose three notable Florida Jewish writers or philosophers from your research and write a short biography of each one. Read your biography to the class. 5. Research Florida Jewish writers such as Cuban-American poet, Elisa Albo, non- fiction writer Alan Sakowitz, author Rabbi Edwin Goldberg, scholar Dr Alan Berger, or historical authors, Marcia Jo Zerivitz, and Seth Bramson. What specific focus does each author represent about the Jews of Florida and their history? Do these writers express their Jewish heritage in their works? Share your findings in small groups. 5 6. Florida’s unique history is especially diverse because of the number of immigrants who have settled here, among them many Jewish immigrants: including Cuban- American memoir writer, Ruth Behar. Research Jewish writers who have immigrated to Florida. What impact do you think that emigration has had on these writers? Find evidence to support your opinion. 7. How has Florida's rich cultural diversity created opportunities for the Jewish literary, journalistic, and philosophical community to flourish? Research writers such as political columnist Gary Stein, novelist Michelle Hodkin, medical columnist Suzy Cohen, and Holocaust survivor and author, Joe Sachs. How have their works been influenced by their cultural experience as being Jewish and living in Florida? What themes do each focus on that represents one aspect of their culture as a Jew? 8. Research to discover other Florida Jewish poets, playwrights, and novelists. Choose one to focus your research on and write an in-depth biography of that person’s life, to be presented in small groups. 9. Consider some of Florida’s Jewish religious leaders as writers, such as authors, Rabbi Edwin Goldberg, Rabbi Terry Bookman, Rabbi Sol Schiff and Rabbi Irving Lehrman. Research their lives and their works and then answer the following questions in small group discussions. How have these authors and leaders been vital to the landscape of Florida’s Jewish community, as well as in the greater Florida communities? 10. South Florida has one of the largest communities of Holocaust survivors in the world. Research to discover some of the writings of these survivors, such as author Ruth Glasberg Gold, memoir writer Icek Kuperberg, and Leon Shagrin. What do their experiences add to the world of literature? Why is it important for their writings to be read and their voices to be heard? 11. Research the life of Isaac Bashevis Singer. Who was he? What was his work? Who influenced his writing? Why is it important? What other writers can you find that have been influenced by Singer, a major Jewish writer from Miami Beach, Florida? 12. Look up the Dora Teitelboim Center for Yiddish Culture, and research Yiddish Theatre. How is Yiddish Theatre a reflection of Jewish culture? Who were some of the playwright writers and actors in early Yiddish Theatre? And currently, in Florida? Consider starting your research with Bruce Adler and Avi Hoffman.