Page 8 - The Jewish Voice - October '19

Page 8, The Jewish Voice

Local Happenings from page 7 ask the rabbi

PJ Library Building Russian-

Speaking Jewish Community A Brand New Start a brand new house but took his old house and did a full interior
in South Palm Beach County By Rabbi Leib Ezagui renovation? Is he still sent home?

Maimonides says yes.
Question: What is the meaning The commentaries ask: Why would a renovation give a person
An important of the new year? How does going off from going out to war?
group of South Palm to synagogue and praying affect The Ben Ish Chai says from here we can learn something
Beach County families my day-to-day life? beautiful and profound.
raising Jewish children Answer: There is a story of When the Jews were in Egypt, as long as Joseph was the
now has exciting a fellow who comes to a town second in command the Jews were well taken care of. When
new opportunities to and sees a big commotion by Joseph died, a new king rose who didn’t know Joseph and
participate in Jewish life. the harbor. As he approaches he enslaved the Jews.
Thanks to a competitive sees two ships — one is full of Some say it was really a new king and others say it was the
grant recently awarded people all dressed up, dancing same old king but he changed his feelings toward the Jews. From
to PJ Library in South and singing, and the other has a here we learn, says the Ben Ish Chai, that a person just needs to
Palm Beach County, crowd of serious people hustling and bustling around the ship. change his feeling a little bit and he becomes like a brand new
an array of special Russian-speaking coordinators The fellow asks someone in the crowd: I don’t understand, person. A little paint, new flooring, new lights, and its like new.
activities for Russian- Marina Goldberg (l) and Julia why is one ship full of excitement and dancing and the other is During the High Holidays we are forgiven of all our sins and
speaking Jewish (RSJ) Orel (r), with Elana Ostroff, south more serious? given a brand new start. A brand new journey needs dedication
engagement are in the county PJ Library director The man responds: One ship has just returned from a long and delicate care to ensure that every little detail is thought
works. journey and the people are celebrating its success, while the through and accounted for.
PJ Library in South Palm Beach County is one of only other one is about to start its journey and careful, delicate care Rosh Hashanah reminds us that making a new you is easier
seven RSJ Engagement Grant recipients in the country. The is needed to ensure that every little detail is thought through than you think. We have the power every day and every year to
winning initiatives are designed to build social connections and accounted for. make a few subtle changes and start a brand new life.
among Russian-speaking Jewish families and engage them When the Jews went out to war they would call out: Whoever Rabbi Leib serves as youth director for Chabad House
in Jewish life, friendships, programming, and learning. just built a new house, whoever planted a vineyard, whoever is Lubavitch of Palm Beach and runs the Jewish School of the Arts
Activities might include Jewish holiday celebrations, cultural just married should return home. kids’ program, 624.7004. The advice offered in this column is for
outings, informal gatherings, Shabbat dinners, programs for Because if their minds were occupied on their new wife or informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for
parents, and more. There are even a number of PJ Library home, they wouldn’t be fully able to dedicate themselves to war. professional advice. To ask the rabbi a question, email rabbi@
books available in Russian. Maimonides asks a question: What if someone didn’t build chabadpalmbeach.org.
The RSJ Engagement Grant is a partnership initiative
of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, which operates the “Service is our number one priority”
worldwide PJ Library program that provides free books to
640,000 families raising Jewish children all over the world, 561-743-0070
and Genesis Philanthropy Group, a global foundation focused
primarily, but not exclusively, on developing and enhancing
Jewish identity among Russian-speaking Jews worldwide. A www.palmspoolservices.com
survey of previous RSJ Engagement grant-funded projects
found that nearly all families connected socially, talked about
Jewish traditions and values after programs, and recommended
the programs to friends.
“We are honored to receive this grant and thrilled with
this opportunity to expand our role in the community with
cutting-edge programming to welcome and include our
Russian-speaking Jewish families,” said Elana Ostroff, south
county PJ Library director. “Through PJ Library, nearly 2,000
local families are receiving the wonderful gift of top-quality
Jewish books at home every month. In addition, hundreds of
our tweens are part of PJ Our Way , the next chapter, and
TM
more than 5,000 children, parents, and grandparents enjoy PJ
activities large and small all across the community every year.” Expires 10/31/19.
Two PJ Library moms, Marina Goldberg and Julia Orel,
both from West Boca, have begun to work with Ostroff to State Licensed & Insured
coordinate the Russian-speakers programming. Goldberg Serving Palm Beach County CPC # 1457468 • LPG#30099
moved to the U.S. from Kiev, Ukraine, as a child with her
family. “There was almost no opportunity to learn about
Judaism there, and it was not cool to be a Jew,” she says.
“It’s so important to reach out to Russian-speaking Jewish
families. They are mostly unconnected to Judaism, but once
they connect with great activities, they are drawn to such fun
ways to learn.”
Also, originally from Ukraine, Orel came to the U.S.
five years ago from Crimea. “I love how PJ Library offers
so many ways to understand Jewish life and heritage, and
the Jewish world,” she said. “Without opportunities earlier
in our lives, so many of us want our children and ourselves
to learn everything we can.”