Check out Seven Solos (8) Honor Your Dr. fundraises for med students (17) HGreg.com takes over Delray Nissan (24) Locals Rock the Block (42) DELRAYNEWSPAPER.COM MAY | 2019 Delray synagogue refurbishes, delivers Torah to Jewish Cartagena community By: Marisa Herman Associate Editor Rabbi Jack Engel of Anshei Emuna Congregation in Delray Beach has always been enamored by Conver- sos, Jewish people who were persecuted during the Spanish Inquisition and openly practiced Catholicism for hundreds of years. He said he heard stories of people in those communi- ties in Europe and South America who followed tradi- tions like not mixing meat and dairy, burying the dead immediately and lighting two candles on Friday night, but not because they were Jewish. “It was just a family custom,” Rabbi Engel said is what many families chalked up the strange [CONT. PG 2] Javaro Sims gets sworn in as police chief by City Clerk Katerri Johnson as family stands behind him. Photo courtesy of Delray Beach Police Depart- ment. Delray Beach Police Department makes history as Chief Javaro Sims takes office By: Joanie Cox-Henry Contributing Writer It was a decision that didn’t come lightly for Goldman, who was hired by It was a sea of tears and cheers inside County Firefighters Pipes and Drums the Delray Beach Police Department and a presentation of Colors by DBPD the Atlantic Community High School on May 15, 1989. Auditorium on April 5 as the Delray Honor Guard. Officer Anna Reinhart Beach Police Department bid farewell offered a moving rendition of the na- “I started out as a 20 year old kid, just to Chief Jeff Goldman and welcomed tional anthem which was followed by wanting to make a difference,” Gold- its new chief, Javaro Sims. a prayer by Pastor Jovan Davis. “May man said. “Looking back over the past Chief Sims be committed to making 30 years, I have no regrets. I’m living The transfer of power happened this city a better and safer place for all proof that if you work hard, value peo- through a Change of Command Cer- to live,” Davis said. ple and have passion, you can achieve emony, which was the first of its kind whatever you want.” in Delray Beach. After 30 years of service to the city of Delray Beach, Goldman will transi- During his police career, Goldman The elaborate ceremony opened with tion to his new role as director of se- earned a masters de- Rabbi Jack Engel carries the Sefer Torah to its new home at the a processional led by Palm Beach curity services for American Express. gree and said crime [CONT. PG 2] Sephardic Israelite Center in Cartagena. Submitted photo. Your stay includes private beach club 2 YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER | MAY 2019 Delray Beach Police Department makes history as Chief Javaro Sims takes office [FROM PG 1] dropped by seven percent during his time as chief. He also cleverly introduced “the chel- fie” and was frequently spotted on the streets of Delray Beach snapping selfies with citizens around the city. As part of the Change of Command Ceremony, he reached for his selfie stick one last time to take a “cheflie” with the crowd. Interim City Manger Neal de Jesus said Goldman set the bar in many ways through his leadership. “Jeff leads by example and I’m proud to have served alongside him and to have developed a friendship with him,” De Jesus said. De Jesus then presented Goldman with an honorary fire chief hat and an ax as he quipped, “I thought it was finally time to give you the ax.” Chief Goldman takes his final “chelfie” with the crowd. Photo courtesy of Delray Beach Chief Jeff Goldman and DBPD Detective Paul Pitti during the change of Police Department. command ceremony. Photo courtesy of Delray Beach Police Department. AVDA President and CEO Pam O’Brien sworn in as the Delray Beach Police De- will continue to move forward,” Sims chief of Police for Delray Beach. and Board Chair Beverly Cordner pre- partment’s 16th Chief of Police. said. “The Delray Beach Police Depart- “I was originally hired by the Delray sented Goldman with a plaque for his ment is only as strong as the community decade of service to Aid to Victims of Beach Police Department on Sept. 28, His daughter, who is in the U.S. Navy, we serve. Together we stand: one Delray, Domestic Abuse. 1992,” Sims said. “Back then, Delray pinned his badge on him. Sims was also one community, one police department.” was a ghost town. Now it’s a three time Goldman then had an emotional radio proudly celebrating 27 years of marriage With a masters degree in criminal justice All-American City. Law enforcement sign off as Delray Beach Police Chief for to his wife and the recent milestone of his from Lynn University and nearly 27 years has allowed me to work hand-in-hand the very last time. Air Force veteran father’s 90th birthday. of police experience, Sims is already mak- with people in the community and that’s Sims, who was assistant chief, was then “The Delray Beach Police Department ing history as the first African American something I value deeply.” Delray synagogue refurbishes, delivers Torah to Jewish Cartagena community [FROM PG 1] traditions to be. “They couldn’t relate to to convert. anything Jewish.” She went back to Colombia when her program ended And over the past several decades, many of those families and the couple had a long distance relationship for more began to return to their Jewish roots. Through his travels, than two years. During that period, she worked to con- Rabbi Engel said he visited several communities like this vert to Judaism, a religion she knew nothing about, but in Bogota and Medellin. He said there was a thought to would grow to love. help one of these Jewish communities abroad by sending She said it was challenging in a predominately Catholic them a Torah. country to even find a rabbi to help with the process. That thought came to fruition thanks to members of his Eventually, she converted and the couple married. congregation, Boca residents Himena and Elie Levy. She said she knows how hard it is for this community to Congregation member Himena Levy is from Colombia practice Judaism. and she remembered a friend mentioning a Jewish com- Members of Anshei Emuna join members of the Cartagena commu- “They live their life around the traditions and the coun- munity in Cartagena that was very observant with the lit- nity. Submitted photo. try is mainly Catholic,” she said. “It’s very hard for them.” tle resources they had. The conversation took place about But Levy said her husband Elie suggested they cover the eight years ago, but she remembered it when she wanted expense for the restoration. Rabbi Engel said delivering the Torah was an experience to spend her 50th birthday in Cartagena. In March, the Levy family traveled to the Sephardic Isra- of a lifetime. She mentioned the idea of the trip to Rabbi Engel and elite Center in Cartagena with Rabbi Engel and his wife, “You saw the joy of the people,” he said. “They were danc- suggested finding out about the community. Miriam, to deliver the Torah. ing in the streets. It was spiritually uplifting to them and more so to us.” So, the congregation got to work reaching out to rabbis They were greeted by the congregation with jubilation. The people hugged the Torah and danced around with it. in Colombia to see if the community was in need of a He said the visit and donation of the Torah was an exam- Torah. It took time to get a response, but the answer was “It was absolutely beautiful,” Levy said. “They are a very ple of just doing a good deed. yes, the community existed and was in need. warm and generous community. It was emotional.” “Its one of those things you do and there is no benefit The congregation had a Torah to donate, but it needed to Levy came to America on a fellowship as a physician and other than you feeling you are doing something good,” he be refurbished. The idea was to fundraise throughout the fell in love with her now husband. She grew up Catholic, said. “Sometimes doing good is the biggest pleasure that congregation. but had a feeling if the relationship lasted she would need you can have.” MAY 2019 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 3 Fifth Avenue Grill general manager Val Chobanu The most im- on our above-and-beyond service and bar try our new cocktail list. It’s delicious 1 Tell us a little bit about portant thing in food quality to draw in new customers and memorable such as Key Lime Mar- yourself and your back- a restaurant is the and keep loyal patrons coming back. tini or Godiva Chocolate Martini. Aged ground. customer, we call Prime Ribeye and Baby Back Ribs are 3 them guests.We We heard you recently hired a new some of the best sellers. Seafood lovers I am originally from Estonia. I have been are lucky to have chef. Tell us about your new chef and will certainly fall for Lobster & Shrimp in in Florida for seven years. I have served a strong and sol- any new menu items. garlic cream sauce over Linguine. If you as a restaurant general manager in Delray id group of fol- love dessert then must try our Tiramisu For some, running a restaurant is a busi- Beach, Miami and Palm Beach.