Page 1 - The Jewish Voice - February '24

VOL. 14 NO. 2 www.seabreezepublications.com FEBRUARY 2024

Community Members Honor

Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

It was an extraordinarily powerful day of service and Highlights included: project to raise awareness about the war in Israel by creating
allyship as nearly 1,000 volunteers of all faiths, races, and • 5,700 meals packed through multiple locations in Palm red flower displays representing Israel’s national flower and
ages joined together to honor the legacy of Martin Luther Beach County an international symbol of hope
King Jr. during MLK Day of Service, spearheaded by Jewish • Nearly 17,000 pounds of vegetables gleaned • One home painted in Rivera Beach
Federation of Palm Beach County. Now in its ninth year, the • 1,000 Dignity Grows hygiene totes packed and distributed • One community park cleaned and beautified in West
county-wide program provided volunteers opportunities to • Dozens of volunteers and seniors connected at Palm Beach
give back at 15 locations throughout Palm Beach County. MorseLife while doing Poppy Project, a community art
Community Members Honor on page 4

Publix Donates

to Jewish Family

Service Food Pantry

Representatives from Publix recently presented a
$20,000 check to Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family
Service to help expand the organization’s Boynton Beach
Judea Invites Interfaith Leaders food pantry.

The food pantry provides non-perishable kosher
to Join in Writing Torah food (canned goods, cereal pasta, etc.), household items
(toilet paper, detergent, etc.), and personal hygiene
products (toothpaste, shampoo, etc.) to vulnerable Jewish
individuals, families, seniors, and Holocaust survivors in
The Torah is the heart of Judaism and the Jewish north Palm Beach County.
community. Writing a Hebrew letter on the parchment can be
a unique spiritual experience. In fact, writing a letter of Torah
allows a person to fulfill the 613th mitzvah, or commandment,
of writing a new Torah.
Temple Judea, a reform congregation based in Palm Beach
Gardens, is currently immersed in fulfilling the 613th mitzvah

Rabbi Feivel Strauss, Pastor George Ray from Calvary
Church in Jupiter, Rabbi Menachem Bialo

Gary Hoffman, president of Alpert JFS, and Marc Hopin, CEO
of Alpert JFS, accept a check from Publix representatives.

Each month, Alpert JFS provides food and household
supplies to almost 400 individuals through the organization’s
two food pantry locations in Boynton Beach and West Palm
Pastor Samuel St. Fleur and Ariel St. Fleur from Christ Beach. Specifically, 90 households are served monthly
Family Worship Assembly in Riviera Beach, Rabbi Tony Romano, Reverend Sanford Groff from Good Shepherd through the Boynton Beach pantry.
Menachem Bialo Church in Tequesta, Rabbi Menachem Bialo According to the United Way of Palm Beach County, 46
percent of Palm Beach County households struggle to make
and is inviting leaders of ends meet. Additionally, according to a Jewish Federation
various faiths to participate of Palm Beach County study, there are about 15,000
in partnership with Sofer Jewish ALICE households in Alpert JFS’ catchment area
on Site. Sofer on Site is a (Boynton Beach north to Jupiter). ALICE, which stands for
father, son, and son-in-law Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, represents
team who has expanded the the growing number of individuals and families who are
definition of a typical Torah working but are unable to afford the basic necessities of
scribe — from just writing, housing, food, childcare, health care, and transportation.
Photo courtesy of Alpert Jewish Family Service
Judea Invites on page 2