VOLUME 124, NUMBER 7 | FEBRUARY 2020 | SHEVAT - ADAR 5780 SOUTHERN TROPICAL REGION February 28 - March 1, 2020 HOSTED BY SCHZFTY See page 11 for more info! MITZVAH DAY Sunday, February 9, 2020 It’s not too late to register! www.zedek.org/mitzvahday Tu BiShvat Winter Eternal Light Celebrate the Wonderland Society “New Year of the Join us for our Discover how you Trees” with CSZ. annual Snow Day! can include CSZ in Pages 6-7 Page 10 your legacy plan. Page 12 Clergy Visits StaffIntroductions Do you have family members Each month we will feature a different staff member so you can get to know our family! who are in assisted living Meet Lisa Kiev-Chen! experience volunteering with Junior Achievement facilities, nursing homes, or are As the Engagement and Outreach and leading Girl Scout troops. home-bound? We offer special Coordinator, Lisa plans events for our Lisa was born in Binghamton, New York, and is a programming at their facility Nu Frontiers and Seniors groups and University of Georgia graduate (“Go Dawgs!”) with for our congregants or their for other temple programs as needed. her bachelor’s degree in finance. She has a won- families. She also helps prospective members derful husband of 22 years, and together they have Call Ming Brewer, Clergy learn about our community. two daughters and a son, two cats, and the newest Executive Assistant, at “I truly believe that positive expe- addition to the family, a black Lab Greyhound mix (813) 876-2377, ext. 202, with riences with people keep us young, named Luna. the names and telephone happy, and healthy, and I love helping others make In her free time, Lisa loves skiing, biking, trav- numbers of members or the these connections.” eling, learning languages, playing games, baking, family of members who may Lisa has 30 years of experience in marketing, music, and reading. live in one of these facilities. customer service, and public speaking while work- We want to make sure they are ing in large and small corporations. She also has included in our planning. Worship Calendar Saturday, February 1 Congregant 9:00 am Shabbat Yoga or Torah Study Condolence Notices 10:30 am Come as You Are Shabbat Service When congregants pass away, 4:30 pm Chloe Cohen Bat Mitzvah Schaarai Zedek offers the Friday, February 7 family of the deceased the 5:57 pm Shabbat Candle Lighting option of having an email 7:00 pm Shabbat Achshav Service notification of the passing sent Saturday, February 8 to all congregants. 9:00 am Torah Study The sending (or not sending) 10:30 am Ian Villasin Bar Mitzvah of this condolence notice email 3:00 pm Winter Wonderland Tot Shabbat & Havdalah is at the choice of the family Friday, February 14 of the deceased congregant 6:02 pm Shabbat Candle Lighting to protect the privacy for the 7:00 am Shabbat Service family. February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month. Congregants Sarah Busansky and Lynne Please call Ming Brewer, Clergy Merriam will speak. Executive Assistant, at (813) 876-2377, ext. 202. Saturday, February 15 9:00 am Torah Study 10:30 am Isaac Teichman Bar Mitzvah 4:30 pm Lana Thomas Bat Mitzvah Friday, February 21 5:30 pm Friday Night Tot Shabbat 6:07 pm Shabbat Candle Lighting 7:00 pm Family Service Shabbat with Teen Band Sixth-grade students will lead the service, the teen band will lead music, and we’ll have February birthday blessings. A monthly newsletter by Saturday, February 22 Congregation Schaarai Zedek 9:00 am Torah Study Volume: 124 10:30 am Briana Kahn Bat Mitzvah Number: 7 6:30 pm Adults’ Night Out: Havdalah & Happy Hour View the Shofar Online: Friday, February 28 www.zedek.org/shofar 6:12 pm Shabbat Candle Lighting 7:00 pm Shabbat Service 2 February 2020 CSZSisterhood CSZBrotherhood February is a busy month for our Sisterhood members. We We want to thank everyone who came out and joined us for hope to see you soon! our Top Golf event. This event is usually one of our more popu- lar, and this year was no different. For most of us there, this event • Hamantaschen baking and sales have already begun! was a good reminder that we need to practice our golf swings as a Don’t miss out on participating in this great FUN-rais- New Year resolution! er, sign up today. Hamantaschen baking experience not required. All proceeds from our sales go to our Religious In lieu of an event in February, Brotherhood is asking for vol- School. unteers for three upcoming events: Mitzvah Day on February 9, Spring Kallah on February 29, and the Purim Carnival on March Sunday, February 2, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm 8. If you would like to learn more about these events and how Thursday, February 6, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm you can participate with the Brotherhood, please contact Craig Sunday, February 9, 8:30 am - Sales only – Mitzvah Day Federer or Jared Miller. Wednesday, February 12, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Monday, February 17, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Our March event is still in the works, so stay tuned for further Sunday, February 23, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm details. See dates and times online and sign up at www.zedek.org. Besides finding event information in the Shofar and emails, please find event information and links on the Congregation • Monday, February 10, 12:00 pm – Sisterhood Book Club, Schaarai Zedek website and join the Brotherhood Facebook page. “The Guest Book” by Sarah Blake Please save the date for the 11th Annual Brotherhood • Tuesday, February 11, 6:30 pm – Sisterhood Trivia Night Signature Event, our famous Deli Night, on Saturday, April 25. If Join us for a fun evening of trivia. Look for a postcard and you wish to be a key sponsor, call Steve Gersten at (813) 334-9745. emails with location and activity. If any congregant would like the honor of ushering a Friday Positive Parenting Workshops – Part One & Part Two night service, please get in touch with Steve Gersten at (813) 334-9745 or [email protected]. We would also love to • Sunday, February 23, 9:00 am – Positive Parenting Part hear your feedback on your favorite delis as we start that selec- One: Food for Thought tion process for Deli Night. Email Steve Gersten with your • Sunday, March 29, 9:00 am – Positive Parenting Part Two: suggestions! What We’re Doing Right We invite all male adult congregants of Schaarai Zedek to get This two-part parenting program led by Andi Parker, edu- involved in our dynamic and active Brotherhood and to join cator and Sisterhood Co-President, will have you saying, all our festivities and community events during the year. If you “I’ve never thought of it that way!” Andi will share her haven’t joined Brotherhood yet, please call the temple office to insightful suggestions to make life a little bit easier for you participate. and your children and grandchildren through positive Call us anytime to discuss Brotherhood and how you can be communication. If you heard Andi’s presentation last involved. year, you remember that she had great suggestions that are easy to implement, and now she’s offering even more! Craig Federer, Co-President Jared Miller, Co-President Babysitting is available at no charge with reservations. [email protected] [email protected] Mark your calendars for these upcoming events: • Tuesday, March 3, 6:30 pm - Sisterhood Presidents Council Dinner Meeting • March 29, 11:30 am - Sisterhood Social Action Project benefitting Tampa Bay Party Project L’shalom, Andi Parker, Co-President Diane Porat, Co-President [email protected] [email protected] Shevat - Adar 5780 3 WORLD ZIONIST CONGRESS ELECTION WHY VOTE? Your vote is the only democratic opportunity you have to influence Israeli society as we continue our efforts towards equality, pluralism and tolerance. Vote January 21 through March 11, 2020. Learn more about why voting in this election matters on arza.org. #VoteReformWZC World Zionist Elections 2020 VOTE REFORM NOW From the Clergy#VoteReformWZC The World Zionist Congress Elections The upcoming 2020 election marks a pivotal moment for Reform Jews across the world. Rabbi Joel Simon the Reform Movement to have its voice one in starting to move Israel forward heard concerning domestic policies in to being a place in which we, as Reform Israel. Jews, are accepted next to our Orthodox f you were to hear that I was writing According to its mission statement, the brothers and sisters. about the importance of voting in an Association of Reform Zionists in Amer- We are excited to plan a trip to Israel in Ielection, you might think I was talking ica (ARZA) “unconditionally supports the summer of 2022 (more information about our own country’s upcoming Israel and champions activities that coming soon!). My hope is that when elections (and of course, everyone should further Israel as a pluralistic, just, and we visit, we will be visiting a country be registered to vote). But this month, I’m democratic Jewish state.” That means that in which all forms of Judaism are able writing about elections in Israel. While at a time when Israel has, unfortunately, to thrive, a country in which men and we as Americans can’t vote between Labor, become a divisive subject, ARZA aims women are able to find equal opportuni- Likud, the Blue and White Party, or any to show how one can be ardently Zion- ties to have meaningful experiences, and other of Israel’s nine parties represented ist, regardless of politics, supporting the a country that is continuing its mission of in their last election (which is fewer than values of Reform Judaism.