Page 1 - The Jewish Voice - August '19

The Jewish Voice, Page 1

VOL. 9 NO. 8 www.seabreezepublications.com AUGUST 2019

Federation, Alpert Jewish Family Service

Meet with Lawmakers

Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), a division
of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, along with
Federation partner agency Alpert Jewish Family Service
(JFS), recently hosted an important session with Florida state
legislators to request action in support of Palm Beach County’s
older adults, families, and individuals with special needs and
praise the recent legislation against antisemitism. The meeting
included legislative aides from the offices of State Sen. Lori
Berman, State Sen. Bobby Powell, and State Reps. Matt
Willhite, Tina Polsky, Joseph Casello, and Mike Caruso.
The group toured the Melvin & Claire Levine Jewish
Residential & Family Service campus to learn about JFS’s
mental health and social services, including its Mental Health
First Aid training initiative, which has trained more than 50
instructors and certified more than 5,200 individuals in Palm
Beach County about how to best respond to a critical range of Tara Laxer, Development Officer; Dr. Elaine Rotenberg, Clinical Director of Alpert JFS; Marc Hopin, CFO and Interim
mental health and addiction issues faced by adults and children. CEO of Alpert JFS; Jo Gon, Vice President JCRC at Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County; Thomas Valeo, State Rep.
With a 25 percent increase of suicide in Palm Beach County, Matt Willhite’s office; Alexis Montalvo, State Rep. Tina Polsky’s office; Tricia Mischler, State Rep. Joe Casello’s office; Naz-
according to a recent report by the Palm Beach County Medical bi Chowdhury, State Sen. Bobby Powell’s office; Shawn Hall, State Sen. Lori Berman’s office; Stacey Lampert, JCRC Chair
Examiner’s Office, the agency advocated for legislative support
and additional funding to expand the vital program. why Alpert JFS’ fundraising goal for this fiscal year is $3 and thanked the representatives for their support on the
Marc Hopin, CFO and Interim CEO of Alpert JFS, million and it will be seeking an additional $500,000 from antisemitism legislation, which was passed unanimously
discussed the growth of the Jewish population that has state appropriations.” by the legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May.
resulted in the need for additional services. “In one of the Dr. Elaine Rotenberg, JFS Clinical Director, added, “We JCRC’s advocacy also extends to community issues such as
most prosperous communities in the country, thousands are were delighted to meet with these dedicated public officials human trafficking and homelessness in the Palm Beaches.
struggling to make ends meet. A recent Jewish community and highlight the work that Alpert JFS is doing to strengthen Stacey Lampert, JCRC Chair, stated, “Antisemitism is on
study revealed that 20 percent of the Jewish community our community. When people are struggling, they often do the rise across our country and around the world, so the time
describe themselves as just getting along, nearly poor, or not know where to turn, so it’s vital to raise awareness for to act is now. We’re encouraged by the opportunity to meet
poor. It is estimated that 5,000 Holocaust survivors who the comprehensive care we provide to those in need.” with the representatives to express our gratitude for the recent
live in Palm Beach County are living in poverty. Alpert JFS Representatives from JCRC, a division of Jewish legislation as well as reiterate the urgent need to address the
depends on the generosity of the community to meet the Federation that focuses its advocacy efforts on issues of most pressing social justice issues that are impacting the
human service needs of those who are struggling. That’s concern to the Jewish community, were also in attendance Jewish community today.”
An Out-of-the Box Bat Mitzvah Project

In preparation for her bat mitzvah, Moussia and Rabbi Adam and Eve in 131 successive generations. It took about acted out by some of the Vigler children and produced
Vigler created their family tree, dating all the way back to six months of research, poring over history and ancient by Rebbetzin Chana.
Torah books to piece together the links in the family tree. The family tree was published and distributed to all the guests
In a very meaningful presentation, Moussia served as a of the bat mitzvah. Each entry in the tree has a brief biography
“butterfly flying between the trees in the family garden,” as and important dates, whenever such information was available.
she introduced the community to her illustrious ancestors.
She highlighted seven women about whom she spoke An Out-of-the Box Bat Mitzvah Project on page 2
and in whose footsteps
she would like to follow.
They included Eve, Sarah,
Ruth, the Persian Princess
Dara, Rebbetzin Menucha
Rochel of Hebron, and
her great-grandmothers.
Each was accompanied by
Debbie Dajka, Moussia Vigler, Joelle Dajka a brief video presentation