St. Petersburg, FL 33707 St. Petersburg, FL 6416 Central Avenue Tampa Jewish Press of Inc. Bay, Tampa The Jewish Press Group of www.jewishpresstampa.com VOL. 32, NO. 2 TAMPA, FLORIDA A AUGUST 9 - 22, 2019 12 PAGES Hosts rebut Helping to cre- ate the Con- nect program attacks on for newcom- ers included: from left, Toby new Jewish Goldin, Car- lyn Neuman, The Jewish Press Group Tampa JCCs PAID U.S. POSTAGE of Tampa Bay, Inc. Bay, Tampa of PRESORTED radio show & Federation’s STANDARD Chief Develop- By BOB FRYER ment Officer Jewish Press Alissa Fischel, In its short history on commu- Honor Rodgers, nity radio station WMNF-88.5FM, Phillip Shat- “Third Opinion,” a program with tan and Elena news and opinions about Jews Khaidov. and Israel, has drawn praise from Bay Area Jews, but sharp criticism JustJust Compliedaa fromnosh...nosh... JTA news service from some others, casting a shad- ow over the show. Tampa introducing new, friendly Richard Stone, Florida’s first One upset listener blasted the Jewish senator since Civil War, dies show in an email with a subject approach to rolling out welcome mat Richard Stone, Florida’s first Jewish senator since line that begins: “Shutting off the the Civil War and an adviser on the Camp David Peace Israeli Government Propaganda This fall, the Tampa JCCs & Federation will unteers to build on and redevelop a program the Accords, has died. Machine.” launch Connect, a new program designed to organization offered in years past. The group, Stone died July 28 at the age of 90. He was born in Additionally Rob Lorei, WM- welcome individuals who have recently relo- called Volunteer with Impact, helped design Brooklyn and grew up in Miami Beach. He graduated NF’s director of news and public cated to the Tampa area, as well as those not yet and determine the new elements of the initia- from Harvard College and Columbia Law School and affairs, emailed the show’s hosts connected to the Jewish community. tive, including the name of the program. Vol- worked as a lawyer in Florida prior to entering politics. – Mike Deeson and Laureen Jaffe The Tampa JCCs & Federation’s goal for unteer with Impact was created to provide tan- In 1975, he became the – with copies of emails critical of the Connect program is to create an easy way gible hands-on service-learning and leadership state’s first Jewish senator the show and put the two on notice for people to feel welcome and involved in the experiences, giving the group the opportunity since the Civil War. David Levy Yulee, who was born that they should “treat the callers Tampa Jewish community. to share their skills and expertise while also ex- “Whether you are new to Tampa, new to the ploring their own Jewish values. Jewish but later converted with patience and civility.” to Christianity, served as Both hosts assert that they have Jewish community, or just want to get more “Together, we explored the values of hospi- a senator for the state in been civil and respectful to listen- deeply connected, Tampa JCCs & Federation is tality and welcoming the stranger with the vol- 1855-1861. ers, including those they disagree here to help,” said Alissa Fischel, chief devel- unteers on our team,” said Lisa Robbins, direc- A Democrat and member Richard Stone with, and Deeson shot back in opment officer of Tampa JCCs & Federation. tor of young adult engagement. “Thanks to their of the Foreign Relations an email to Lorei, “Please don’t “We want to make it easier for people to meet efforts, we are bringing those values to life and Committee, Stone led efforts to secure aid for Israel and threaten us with ‘a warning’ … I new people, make friends and get connected to bringing this program to fruition for the entire was an advisor on the 1978 Camp David Accords, which will not bend to threats or intimi- our vibrant Jewish community.” community.” set the stage for the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty. dation.” Connect will create opportunities for people Committee members were: Andrea Cohen, After losing his reelection bid in 1980, he served as ambassador-at-large for Central America under Presi- At the most recent WMNF to forge connections in a variety of ways. Toby Goldin, Lauren Katz, Elena Khaidov, Car- For instance, people attending JCCs & Fed- lyn Neuman, Honor Rodgers, Phillip Shattan, dent Ronald Reagan and as ambassador to Denmark board meeting, four people, in- under President George H.W. Bush. cluding one station staff member, eration events for the first time will have an op- Alina Shub, Stephanie Slawsky, Arlyn Stein, In his successful 1974 campaign for Senate, Stone’s spoke against the show. tion to be paired with an established commu- Tyrette Tebbi and Ashley Zohar. Republican opponent, Jack Eckerd, tried attacking him In response to the criticisms, nity member who will facilitate introductions to Volunteers sought by highlighting his Jewish identity. Eckerd ran ads prior some in the Jewish community other attendees. The Federation is seeking community mem- to and on Election Day itself noting that he was a Prot- are calling on listeners to attend The Federation will also be coordinating bers to participate in Connect. If you would like estant and Stone a Jew. Eckerd later apologized. the next station board meeting on Shabbat or holiday meals hosted in the homes to introduce new community members to other Monday, Aug. 19 at 7:15 p.m. to of community volunteers. event attendees, host a Shabbat or holiday meal Canadian Anglican Church to remove speak in favor of the show. Park- For the community members who have re- in your home, or become involved in other as- prayer for conversion of Jews ing at the station, 1210 Dr. Martin cently moved to the Tampa area, housewarming pects of the program, visit jewishtampa.com/ The Anglican Church of Canada is close to removing Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa, is baskets will be delivered to them as a part of the welcome or contact Rachel Sperber, director of a prayer for the conversion of the Jews from its official very limited. program as well. philanthropic engagement, at (813) 769-4770 or liturgy. The church’s General Synod overwhelmingly OPINION continued on PAGE 12 The Federation worked with a group of vol- [email protected]. approved its deletion during a recent meeting in Vancou- ver, The Canadian Jewish News reported. The Canadian Rabbinic Caucus called the move “a milestone in Anglican-Jewish relations.” ‘We’ve lost a part of ourselves’: El Paso’s diverse If ratified at the 2022 General Synod, the prayer will be replaced with one calling for “reconciliation with the Jews.” In a statement, the Anglican bishop of Quebec Jewish community grapples with mass shooting said the change would help the church “acknowledge By JOSEFIN DOLSTEN and repent” its “participation in anti-Semitism” and “stop JTA news service singling out Jews as a target for our evangelistic efforts, Joseph Charter used to feel safe in El Paso. But after a gunman and to assume a humble and reconciliatory stance with killed 22 people and injured 26 at a Walmart store in the Texas our Jewish elders in the faith,” CJN reported. city, everything changed. Man shot outside of Miami synagogue “I had to go to Target the following day, and for the first time A man was shot outside of a synagogue in North ever I kind of looked around,” he told the Jewish Telegraphic Miami Beach. Agency in a phone interview. “You have to start second guessing The victim was shot several times in the leg on Sun- and be a little more cautious.” day evening, July 28, as he stood outside of the Young His wife, Fabiola, feels especially vulnerable. She is Mexi- Israel of Greater Miami synagogue waiting to go inside can American, and the suspect, Patrick Crusius, is believed to for the daily prayer service. Police told local media that have posted a manifesto prior to the shooting in which he railed a black Chevrolet Impala circled the synagogue serveral against immigrants and Latinos. A relative of Charter’s ex-wife times, before a man stopped the car, got out and was among the victims, and one of his co-workers was there dur- opened fire, striking the victim several times in the leg. ing the attack but managed to escape. Rabbi Dovid Lehrfield identified the man as Yosef Lipshutz, a devoted member of his congregation, ac- His wife feels “a little more self-conscious about ‘I’m Mexican cording to CBS news Miami. The victim was taken to a Photo by Jordyn Rozensky/ Frontera Studio and there are people here who do not welcome me here,’” said local hospital where he underwent surgery. (L-R), Rabbis Ben Zeidman and Scott Rosenberg speak at an interfaith vigil Charter, who is Jewish. Police have not yet categorized ithe shooting as a with Msgr. Arturo Banuelas following the mass shooting in El Paso, Aug. 4. EL PASO continued on PAGE 8 hate crime, according to reports. Tampa Jewish Family Services names board president as interim CEO Beth Ann Gemunder, MD, has with TJFS for seven years in various behalf of TJFS as a full-time staff ger event put on by the synagogue’s turned in her volunteer hat– at least volunteer positions, most recently member is exciting.” religious school. Gemunder went to temporarily - to become the interim serving as its board president. Prior to her service as president for Tulane University where she received CEO of Tampa Jewish Family Ser- “I am extraordinarily passionate the past two years, she also served her undergraduate degree, a master’s vices.