Page 4 - The Jewish Voice - June '23

Page 4, The Jewish Voice

Federation’s Annual Community Meeting from page 1

• The launch of the Palm Beach Center to Combat
Antisemitism & Hatred to expand Federation’s longstanding
leadership role to address antisemitism by strengthening
community security and enhancing the nonprofit’s relationships
with key legislators and leaders to speak out against hatred.
The Center will focus on advocacy, leadership, and educational
outreach programs.
• Federation renamed its Jewish Volunteer Center the
Dorothy & Sidney Kohl Jewish Volunteer Center and JVC
received a $2.5 million gift from the Sidney Kohl Family. This
past year, more than 5,000 JVC volunteers provided 70,000
meals to people in need, contributed 4,300 books and 17,000
backpacks with supplies for students at Palm Beach County Hope Silverman with Earle Halsband, who received
Title 1 Schools, and assembled 4,500 Dignity Grows toiletry Event Co-Chairs Jonathan Juliana Kohl Gendelman with the Hope Silverman Campaigner of the Year Award,
kits for women and girls. Chane and Beth Wayne Michael Hoffman with Susan Shulman Pertnoy.
Several awards were also presented to volunteers and
professional leaders, including:
• Earle Halsband received the Hope Silverman Campaigner
of the Year Award.
• Jason DelGrosso and Amy Terwilleger received the Robert
S. & Ceil N. Levy Young Leadership Award for devoting their
time and energy to strengthen the Jewish community.
• Melissa Hudson, Federation’s Assistant Vice President
of Community & Volunteer Engagement, received the

From the Rabbi from page 3

Our excessive mourning of 24,000 rabbis 2,000 years ago
is so much more than mourning them — it’s about mourning Chris Goldberg, Michael Hoffman, Susan Shulman Pertnoy, Julie Sudenfield, a Melissa Hudson, Assistant Vice
ourselves and the joyous relationships we could have if only and Juliana Kohl Gendelman teacher at Temple Shaarei President of Community &
we could learn the lessons these rabbis failed to understand. Shalom, received the Volunteer Engagement, received
And that takes a full seven weeks to reflect on. Debbi Roshfeld Professional Leadership Award. Commission for Jewish the Debbi Roshfeld Professional
We celebrate the end of the death of the 24,000 students • Julie Sudenfield, a teacher at Temple Shaarei Shalom, Education’s Hiddush Leadership Award, pictured here
on Lag B’Omer. This day is when Rabbi Akiva started all received the Commission for Jewish Education’s Hiddush Teacher Award with Debbi Roshfeld.
over again, with a new prized student — Rabbi Shimon Teacher Award for developing innovative teaching methods.
bar Yochai. Rabbi Shimon corrected the errors of the prior • Kathy Sigall, Federation’s Chief Financial Officer, impacting thousands of lives in the Palm Beaches and around
students — he learned to love in a healthy way. When the celebrated an impressive 25 years with the organization. the world,” shared Michael Hoffman, Jewish Federation of Palm
anti-Semitic Romans were seeking to kill him and his son, • Chani Kolan, the community shlicha (Israel emissary) Beach County President and CEO.
Elazar, they hid in a cave for thirteen years where they and Tom Benisty and Agam Ilovich, shinshiniot (Israeli post- At the conclusion of the meeting, community leader Barry S.
studied Torah and Kaballah uninterrupted. When they high school emissaries) were recognized for enhancing our Berg was named Board Chair-Elect and will serve as Federation
emerged they encountered Jews of lesser spiritual stature community’s cultural bridge to Israel. Board Chair in 2024. The following community leaders were
than themselves and Elazar criticized them sharply. Rabbi In addition to the leadership and professional awards, appointed to Federation’s 2023-2024 Executive Committee:
Shimon reprimanded his son, teaching him to accept others Federation highlighted the success of new educational Susan Shulman Pertnoy, Board Chair; Barry S. Berg, Board
for who they are and not to judge them by what they do. programs aimed at expanding Jewish cultural experiences, Chair-Elect; Steven Ellison, Vice Chair; Arthur S. Loring, Vice
He then proceeded to ask them how he could help them including Sundays Together family programs, OneTable Chair; Ronnie P. Pertnoy, Vice Chair; Lynn Peseckis, Vice Chair;
solve a major problem they faced — never attempting to Shabbat dinners for adults in their 20s and 30s, and the Beryl Simonson, Treasurer; Mark F. Levy, Secretary; Hope
fix someone, just to fix something. IsraelNow trip to Israel for eighth graders. Silverman, Immediate Past Board Chair; Charles Gottesman,
As a rabbi, I have had thousands of intimate conversations “The incredible success of this year’s campaign is awe Development & Campaign Chair; Ronda Starr, Women’s
in private counseling with our members. I can tell you from inspiring. What we achieved through the generosity of many Philanthropy Chair; Vivian Lieberman, Women’s Philanthropy
very personal experience that codependency exists in our dedicated leaders will be evident for years to come and Campaign Chair; Roslyn Leopold, Community Strategy &
society on epidemic levels. I deeply appreciate the wisdom demonstrates that our Jewish values are hard at work every day, Planning Chair; Debbie Shapiro, Human Resources & Leadership
of our sages instituting the seven weeks of mourning for Development Chair; Brian Seymour, Israel & Overseas Chair;
the students of Rabbi Akiva as a profoundly personal Keith Braun, William A. Meyer Jewish Community Foundation
reflective exercise through which we might oust our own Chair; Juliana Gendelman, and Ira M. Gerstein.
most challenging demons. Federation also appointed the following individuals to
And there’s a great light at the end of this tunnel. Because its 2023-2024 Board of Directors: Rick Baer, Jim Baldinger,
once we learn to re-parent ourselves, finding our balance in a Donald Berg, Richard Bernstein, Sandra Bornstein, Jonathan
healthy sense of self-esteem, instead of seeking the validation Chane, Marilyn Comiter, Pamela Comiter, Richard Comiter,
of others we will have made peace with ourselves and then Linda Geller-Schwartz, Stephanie Gitlin, Robert Gordon,
be ready to proceed to Mount Sinai on Shavuos, when we Alan Haspel, Ron Herman, Diane Herzog, Scott Holtz, Adam
meet our Maker in holy matrimony. It’s impossible to love Jackowitz, Herbert Javer, Michael Kohner, Paul Kozloff,
others when we cannot love ourselves. But when we do so, Arthur Lehrhoff, Patti Lehrhoff, Brian Lemelman, Syndie
we’re ready to become the Chosen People. Levien, Stacey K. Levy, Sam Liebovich, Zelda Mason,
Rabbi Dovid Vigler is spiritual leader at Chabad of Palm Robert Naftaly, Caroline Rafferty, Rabbi Moshe Scheiner,
Beach Gardens and host of the Jewish Schmooze Radio Federation employee Kathy Sigall being honored by Michael Cindy Schlossberg, Betsy R. Sheerr, Shayne Silver, Sydelle
Show. Email him at rabbi@jewishgardens.com. Hoffman, president and CEO, for 25 years of outstanding Sonkin, Warren Spector, Amy Terwilleger, Beth Wayne,
service Penni Weinberg, and David Windreich.

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