L’CHAYIM www.JewishFederationLCC.org Vol. 41, No. 7 n March 2019 / 5779 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 6 Our Community 11 Jewish Interest 18 Israel & the Jewish World 19 Marketplace 20 Commentary 20 From the Bimah 20 Community Directory 22 Focus on Youth 24 Organizations 26 Temple News Jewishfederationlcc.org/specialevents 2 Jewish Film Festival sponsor reception Suite 500 near Norman Love 5 Federation’s Senior Lunch Bunch update Presented by: The Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties & Federation Friends of the Florida Repertory Theatre 11 Jewish “Odd Couple” dramedy To Dust in theaters March 15 18 Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with Lone Soldiers A play based on the New York Times bestseller by Alan Gratz Have an item you’d Performed by Florida Rep performance interns like to share? Sunday, March 17 Need to reach the Tickets are $5.00 editor of L’CHAYIM? To purchase please visit: 2:00 P.M. Send an email to www.jewishfederationlcc.org/ LChayim36@ Temple Beth El specialevents gmail.com. 16225 Winkler Rd., Fort Myers 33908 For more info call: 239.481.4449 ext.4 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 MARCH 2019 2 Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties OUR FEDERATION Program notes To donate to By Debbie Sanford, Program Director e rolled out the red carpet to thank our Jewish Film Festival sponsors of 2019. the Federation’s WEvent chair Andi Horowitz and Film Fes- tival chair Sara Krivisky welcomed 60 people to the 2019 Jewish Film Festival of Southwest Florida’s Annual Campaign, sponsor reception. On a beau- tiful day atop the roof at Soci- ety Restaurant, sponsors were call 239.481.4449 welcomed with a red carpet, beautiful decorations and lots of balloons leading them to a or visit delicious culinary display and bar. Special guest, author Bev- erly Gray, mingled with attend- Marsha Kistler and Jewish Film Festival Chair Sara Krivisky JewishFederationLCC.org n Debbie ees before heading over to the Sanford theater to introduce the Open- ing Day film, The Graduate. We were so pleased to welcome many new in- dividual and corporate sponsors. With the support OUR MISSION of our sponsors, we are able to bring you the highly To strengthen and enrich the Jewish sought-after films we presented this year. Community by providing and supporting Special thanks to Society Restaurant for its gen- philanthropic, educational and social erosity and amazing service. service programs locally, in Israel and To all of our sponsors: Thank you for your sup- throughout the world. port of the Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties. We hope you had a great time and hope you OUR VISION will join us again next year! A successful matinee on a rainy day! A Jewish Community that is based on On Sunday, January 27, as part of the 23rd annual Jew- Jewish values such as Tzedakah ish Film Festival of Southwest Florida, approximate- Mindi & Brian Simon (benevolence), Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and K’lal Yisrael (taking ly 80 people gathered at Bat Yam Temple responsibility for one another). of the Islands on Sanibel to view a special matinee of The Oslo Diaries. Gathered in a very nice screening room, filmgoers en- joyed the newly released film that brings to light the unsanctioned peace talks be- tween a group of Israelis and Palestinians during the 1990s in order to bring peace to the Middle East. L’CHAYIM Facilitator Sidney Picker opened the Jewish news published monthly by film and then moderated a Q&A session Jewish Federation of Lee & Charlotte Counties immediately following. 9701 Commerce Center Court, Fort Myers, FL 33908 Thank you to all that support the Jew- (239) 481-4449 • Fax: (239) 481-0139 Online at www.JewishFederationLCC.org ish Film Festival and a special thanks to n Bat Yam for your hospitality. Michele Laboda, Howard & Nancy Barrow, Eric Dochinger March 2019 • Volume 41, Number 7 n President: Brian Simon Board: Paul Bartrop • Jack Esformes • Karen Fine Carolyn Gora • Jerry Greenfield • Keith Grossman Andi Horowitz • Linda Idelson • Marsha Kistler Sara Krivisky • Michele Laboda • Rozzi Osterman Barbara Siegel • Sylvia Simko • Sherri Zucker Executive Director: Alan Isaacs Program Director: Debbie Sanford Executive Assistant: Lori Ramos Jewish Family Services: Jodi Cohen n Editor/Designer: Ted Epstein (239) 249-0699 Advertising: Jim Lewin (239) 634-6923 n L’CHAYIM invites correspondence on subjects of interest to Jewish people. Partisan political opinions will not be published, but opinions on subjects affecting the Jewish community are welcome. All inquiries regarding copy for L’CHAYIM should be directed to the editor. All news material must be very clearly printed or typed (not in all-capital letters) and double-spaced. Electronic submissions encouraged. The editor reserves the right to edit for space and content. Photographs should be clear, black-and-white or color prints. If you wish a photograph returned, include a stamped, self-addressed envelope of appropriate size. Steve Zellner, Event Chair Andi Horowitz, Festival Chair Sara Krivisky, Vicki Zellner (photos courtesy Mike Shapiro) The Jewish Federation of Lee & Charlotte Counties disclaims responsibility or endorsement of the views expressed by the writers and claims by advertisers. Jewish Family Services update APRIL ISSUE By Jodi Cohen, Senior Outreach & Food Pantry Coordinator n January, there were several new clients at the care services for seniors, we can guide you toward EDITORIAL DEADLINE: Federation – at the food pantry and also request- the appropriate resources. I cannot stress enough how Tuesday, March 5 Iing various kinds of assistance. We tend to hear important it is to research information about housing from people when push has come to shove. Many and home health care before any major life changes clients who reach out to the Federation are in a finan- or transitions occur. If you have questions or want to cial crisis and often need support to talk about their discuss your situation, call me at 239.481.4449 x2. Grow your business situation as well as request financial assistance. It’s a The food pantry distributed food to 67 people scary, difficult position for clients to be in. in 14 households in January, with 29 of those peo- with L’CHAYIM. I conduct an “intake interview” to gather infor- ple being kids under the age of 18. I’d like to thank mation about the client and their current circumstanc- the following food pantry volunteers for their help es. Throughout the course of that conversation, I am in January: Judith Yevick, Suzanne Orkin, Donna Reach 5,000 local sometimes able to direct people toward resources or Cotler, Barbara Gribin and Laurie McConnville. We organizations they may not have been aware of. could use more volunteers in the food pantry. While Jewish residents One of the resources that the Federation offers it’s physically a small food pantry, there are enough is a chance to meet with Federation members with donations and inventory to move, shelve and orga- through this paper. financial backgrounds who can help clients better un- nize every week. We could use help on Mondays and derstand their financial situation, set up a budget if Tuesdays for either a half hour or an hour. Please be necessary, and think about how to manage their in- in touch if you’d like to become involved. For more information come, whatever it may be. Thank you to the people who see me out some- I’m receiving more calls from seniors’ children where (restaurant, synagogue, meeting, senior lunch) or to place an ad, call Jim who live out-of-state and want to know about senior and ask if they can load their food pantry donations living facilities and getting some help at home for into my trunk, who are so excited to tell me where at 239.634.6923 parents who live locally. While some people have they got the best BOGO (buy one get one) offers to long-term care insurance, others don’t but can afford donate, or who go shopping for themselves and dedi- or send an email to to hire a home health care agency. There are providers cate one bag or a certain amount of dollars to gro- I know and trust that I’m confident in recommending. ceries for the food pantry. Your contributions make [email protected]. Many inquiries are for low-income situations. it possible for the Federation to help fight hunger in While the Federation does not provide home health Lee County. L'CHAYIM MARCH 2019 OUR FEDERATION Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties 3 Program notes Lessons from the past By Brian Simon, Federation President irst, I want to publicly thank “They were farmers and shopkeep- as enemies. And those who seek more “I regret that I am now to die in those of you who have been ers, mechanics and day laborers, flat- power for themselves are happy to fan the belief that the useless sacrifice of Fkind enough to tell me you en- boat men and sawyers, butchers and the flames of passion and animosity. themselves by the generation of ’76, to joy reading this column. Thank you for carpenters. Most had modest educa- Let us not lose sight that we the acquire self government and happiness noticing. tion, at best. Many were only recently people of the United States have com- to their country, is to be thrown away My intention is to use this space to enfranchised.