Clearwater, FL 33758-6970 FL Clearwater, O. Box 6970 P. Jewish Press of Pinellas County Inc. Bay, Tampa The Jewish Press Group of www.jewishpresstampa.com VOL. 30, NO. 10 TAMPA, FLORIDA A DECEMBER 1 - 14, 2017 20 PAGES First Jewish Heritage Night with Bucs is Dec. 18 ■ More Hanukkah Happenings, Page 5 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 Acclaimed playwright Local theater ousts playwright after sex claims Israel Horovitz, far right, with JTA and Jewish Press staff Since 2014, Horovitz has collabo- The women cited in the New York cast members Accusations of sexual misconduct rated with Jobsite Theater, the resident Times article, accused Horovitz of in- of his play, by high profile men have headlined theater company of the Straz Perform- appropriate advances and sexual as- “Lebensraum,” news reports on a near daily basis re- ing Arts Center. Hours after the New sault in incidents dating back at least which was cently, and on Thursday, Nov. 30, they York Times published a story on Nov. four decades. The story did not indi- performed at hit home, rocking the Tampa theater 30 detailing the accusations, the the- cate any of the incidents happened lo- the Jobsite ater group announced it was cutting cally. Many of the women were teen- Theater in community with accusations by nine Tampa in women of sexual misconduct, includ- ties with Horovitz and cancelling the agers at the time of the alleged events. January 2016. ing rape, against award-winning play- scheduled production of his play, Man Jobsite Producing Artistic Director wright Israel Horovitz. in Snow. PLAYWRIGHT continued on PAGE 13 PAGE 2 A JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA DECEMBER 1 - 14, 2017 TJFS adds food Collection box at Glazer JCC Tampa Jew- ish Family Ser- vices’ Commu- nity Food Bank has a new col- lection location in the front lob- by of the Bryan Glazer Fam- ily JCC in west Tampa. This is in addition to the collection box located outside the of- fices of TJFS at the JCC on the Cohn Campus in northwest The new food bank collection Tampa. bin at the Bryan Glazer Family Both wooden JCC bins were con- structed by TJFS board member Lloyd Stern. Michael Barnett, Tampa Jewish Family Ser- vices CEO, noted the convenience of the new food bin at the Glazer JCC. “You can drop off non-perishables on your way in to work out or when attending an event,” said Barnett. Community members are encouraged to do- nate non-perishable goods including canned tuna fish, peanut butter, canned fruits and veg- etables and cereal. “There is a critical need for donated items in the Tampa Bay area. We help feed thousands of families every year and could not do it without these generous donations,” said Barnett. Donations can be dropped off in the TJFS of- fices, located in the Glazer JCC, 522 S. How- ard Ave., and the Cohn campus, 13009 Com- munity Campus Drive. TJFS provides programs and services for those in the Tampa Bay community who are in need of food, counseling and financial as- sistance. For more information on the Com- munity Food Bank and Tampa Jewish Family Services, visit www.tjfs.org. Crist, Bilirakis bill seeks to curb illicit Iranian military buildup Two Bay area congressman, U.S. Rep. Char- lie Crist, Democrat of St. Petersburg, and U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, Republican of Palm Har- bor, introduced bipartisan legislation prohibit- ing U.S. military assistance to any country that FIND YOUR LIGHT sells restricted weapons or technology to Iran. The No Arms Sales to Iran Act aims to dis- And share it with those who need it most. You have the capacity. Just like the candles courage others in the international community you add to the menorah, you can bring light, warmth and comfort to those from arms sales that could undermine ongoing efforts to contain and curb Iran’s agressions. who are struggling without them. Your gift to the Jewish Federation delivers relief “Iran’s aggressive actions remain a threat to * America, Israel, and the rest of the world. As and brightens the lives of thousands of people at home, in Israel and in more than 70 the top state sponsor of terrorism, Iran’s nefari- ous pursuit of restricted weapons further desta- countries worldwide. Find your light. Federation will help it shine. bilizes the region,” said Crist. “Our bill sends * a strong message to countries considering arms deals with Iran that supporting state sponsors of terrorism will not be tolerated.” To make your gift, please visit www.JewishTampa.com/Give. “Despite the Iran Deal, Iran continues to demonstrate its commitment to tyranny through its continued support and spread of ter- ror in an effort to destabilize the Middle East,” said Bilirakis. “As we work with allies to keep the pressure on Iran, we must ensure that our efforts are not being undermined by other na- tions and, if so, that they are exposed and held accountable.” STAFF PUBLICATION & DEADLINE DATES The Jewish Press of Tampa is privately owned, but published in cooperation with the the Tampa JCCs & JIM DAWKINS Publisher & Co-Owner Federation as a community newspaper. The JCCs & Federation underwrites home delivery of the paper to KAREN DAWKINS DECEMBER 15 Managing Editor & Co-Owner of TAMPA • Established in 1988 every identified Jewish household in Hillsborough County, Press Release ..........Dec 1 to promote Jewish community cohesiveness and identity. Advertising Sales An independent, bi-weekly newspaper owned by GARY POLIN Advertising ...............Dec 5 TORI GEE THE JEWISH PRESS GROUP of TAMPA BAY, INC. THE TAMPA JCCS & FEDERATION GALE TARNOFSKY-ABERCROMBIE Also publisher of the Jewish Press of Pinellas County MAINTAINS THE MAILING LIST Staff Writer & Editor JANUARY 12 FOR THE JEWISH PRESS. BOB FRYER www.jewishpresstampa.com To RECEIVE THE PAPER Ad Design & Graphics Press Release ........Dec 29 or for ADDRESS CHANGES, REY VILLALBA P.O. 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Standard Class Postage Permit: TAMPA PI #3763 DECEMBER 1 - 14, 2017 JEWISH PRESS of TAMPA A PAGE 3 Answering some oft-asked Hanukkah questions (My Jewish Learning via JTA) – Here are holiday in America at this time, and the Jew- Young Israel of Tampa the answers to some frequently asked ques- ish custom of gifts on Hanukkah shifted as tions about Hanukkah.