Page 6 - The Jewish Voice - April '20
P. 6
Page 6, The Jewish Voice
LocaL happenings
Alpert JFS Marks 25 Divas Perform at pop numbers. Dr. Steven Horowitz, president of Temple
Years Providing Services to Emanu-El Gala Emanu-El of Palm Beach, said, “We are honored to share
this evening with our members and bring the music of our
Survivors Divas on the Bima recently appeared at Temple Emanu- temple to the community at large.”
El of Palm Beach’s annual gala concert. Underwritten by
A quarter-century ago, with a grant of approximately Palm Beach resident and philanthropist Gilda Block, the
$1 million awarded in Palm Beach County, Ferd & Gladys concert was attended by close to 500 people. The Divas
Alpert Jewish Family Service (Alpert JFS), as lead agency, are four of the top cantors in the Jewish Conservative
and Jewish Family Service organizations in Boca Raton, movement. The artists, Jen Cohen, Magda Fishman,
Broward, and Dade counties began to seek out Holocaust Alisa Pomerantz-Boro, and Elizabeth Shammash,
survivors to address their distinctive social welfare, health represent current and future leadership in the cantorate
care, and emotional needs. To this end, a small article in a and in the Cantors Assembly. The Assembly is the largest
Sunday edition of The Miami Herald announced the grant organization of professional hazzanim, and Hazzan Alisa
award and, by Wednesday more than 300 phone calls had Pomerantz-Boro is its current president. The musical
been received, with Eva Weiss, Alpert JFS Holocaust Care program had a wide variety of styles. The Divas performed
Manager starting to develop relations that would last for in various combinations, singing Israeli, Broadway, and
lifetimes.
Today, the Alpert JFS Holocaust Survivors Assistance
program grant has been extended to $6.1 million from The Local Happenings on page 7
Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany,
and the program has a team of seven committed members,
diligently working to assist survivors to help them live
independently at home for as long as possible, affording
them much-deserved dignity. Approximately 300 clients
are served annually, provided with assistance navigating
the reparations benefit process, case management and care
coordination, counseling and support groups, companionship
and transportation, and respite care.
Eat & Schmooze, an engaging and entertaining
socialization program held twice a month, draws an average
of 50 attendees to each event, while Alpert JFS’ annual Café
Europa, modeled on the informal get-togethers that arose in
Europe during the post-World War II era, typically has more
than 200 attendees, including survivors, staff, and volunteers.
The agency has added a quarterly Russian-centric event to its
calendar, as an increasing number of Russians living under
Stalin have been identified.
At a recent gathering of Russian survivors at Alpert JFS,
more than 35 people enjoyed the harmonization of caregivers
from Amicable Home Health Care, a member of the group
spoke with the support of his peers, and attendees enjoyed
snacks and soft drinks. The event honored Lucy Gorbatova,
the owner and president of Amicable Home Health Care,
and her staff with a Certificate of Recognition for their
volunteerism. The social programs are met with high praise
from those it serves.
As a client wrote Weiss, “All the people were delighted to
meet together and salute you and your colleagues who work
so hard to please us and are there for us whenever we need
to open up to you. Thank you very much from my heart; I do
appreciate your kindness, your smiles, your friendship, and
assistance,” said Fanny S. “The meetings are such a good
idea for all of us!”
Additionally, an educational component of the program
allows survivors to share their story to schoolchildren
at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, and
the HonoringLife program facilitated by Alpert JFS
provides cultural competency training for those whose
professions touch the lives of survivors: health care and legal
professionals, for example.