Page 8 - The Jewish Voice - June '20

Page 8, The Jewish Voice

Local Happenings from page 6 volunteer who organized
this effort, to help feed the
“We are so fortunate to receive these funds for our organization’s poor and
Holocaust survivors,” said Alpert JFS Director of Long-Term elderly.
Care Jennifer Escobar. “Two of our survivors have already “In this time of crisis
accessed assistance with hearing aids and air conditioner some people don’t know
repair.” where their next meal
The Alpert JFS Holocaust Survivors Assistance Program is coming from,” said
has seven full-time employees working to preserve the Hoffman. “We wanted to
dignity of Holocaust survivors, identifying and addressing be able to help get food on
their distinct social welfare, health care, and emotional the table, giving them one
needs with the utmost sensitivity. The team helps them Screenshot from an adult education class conducted via Zoom less thing to worry about.
navigate the Reparations Benefit Process, and provides We reached out within our
monthly, bi-monthly, and annual socialization activities for events like challah baking, weekly activities such as yoga, and community via Facebook
survivors. The HonoringLife program facilitated by Alpert special services (including their annual first night Passover and word of mouth, and are
JFS provides cultural competency training for healthcare Seder and an interfaith service in partnership with St. Peter happy that we were able
and legal professionals, as well as others who may encounter Catholic Church and JupiterFIRST Church) virtually. to help allay some worry,
Holocaust survivors. The temple’s auxiliary groups also switched to virtual fear, and upset among our
meetings in order to connect with each other. Additionally, neighbors in the county.” LeeAnn Hoffman, National
Kabalist Hosts Zoom congregants banded together to continue to help St. George’s Food Pantry provides non- volunteer, Valencia Shores
The Alpert JFS Kosher Council of Jewish Women
Soup Kitchen, which switched from serving hot meals to
Meditation families in need to serving bagged meals of sandwiches, perishables and toiletries to (Boynton Beach)
chips, and juice boxes. those in need throughout our
Adjusting to the new normal, Chabad of Palm Beach HaMakom (the temple’s religious school) and The One community throughout the year, and makes kosher holiday
Gardens launched a program that brings in motivational School went virtual as well, as did The Mishpacha Family food baskets available to the neediest families for Passover,
speakers from around the world to address the community on Center’s Toddler Enrichment Program. Teachers and school Rosh Hashanah, and Thanksgiving. The agency has partnered
Zoom. Last month featured Rabbi Dr. Laibl Wolf, a world- administrators worked quickly and tirelessly to make sure with local caterers to deliver meals throughout its service area.
renowned Australian kabalist. The topic of the presentation the children continued to have a positive learning experience “We are grateful to the volunteers and advocates of the
was aligned with current concerns: “Unleashing the true me: throughout this difficult time. The religious school’s youth NCJW of Valencia Shores for their generous contribution,”
Meditations to train positive attitudes during times of crisis.” groups were not left out — they participated in virtual fun said Alpert CEO Marc Hopin. “We’re proud to be one of the
through weekly games run via Zoom. many worthy causes the organization helps, and to be in the
This was no doubt a new way of life that we all had to get good company of Rales Jewish Family Service to the south,
used to quickly, and Temple Beth Am rose to the challenge. who we’ve partnered with for the past 25 years to care for
the Holocaust survivors in South Florida.”
Local Community Helps Feed sharing their time and talents with children, adults, seniors,
“Our volunteers embrace the spirit of giving back,
Our Most Vulnerable and people with a disability,” said Alpert JFS Director of
Volunteer Leadership Belinda Lasky. “We’re always looking
The Valencia Shores community’s chapter of the National for additional people who want volunteer with our agency,
Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) in Boynton Beach has with a myriad of services and programs offered looking for
raised funds to support the kosher food pantry and meal assistance.”
delivery services of Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Individuals interested in volunteering should visit www.
The virtual event was held on Lag Ba’Omer, a Jewish Service (Alpert JFS) in West Palm Beach, and Ruth & AlpertJFS.org/volunteer/, phone Lasky at 713.1893 or email
holiday that celebrates the conclusion of a devastating Norman Rales Jewish Family Service in Boca Raton. Belinda.Lasky@AlpertJFS.org.
plague that claimed the lives of 24,000 students of Rabbi Forty-four donations from Valencia Shores were hand-
Akiva in Roman times, in just 32 days. This festival marks delivered to Alpert JFS by LeeAnn Hoffman, an NCJW Local Happenings on page 9
the passing of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, the talmudic sage
who committed the Kaballah to writing in the book of the
Zohar. It was therefore most appropriate to mark this special
mystical occasion by learning techniques in Jewish mysticism
with Laibl Wolf.
The hour-long event included a deep meditation on
relaxation through focusing on one’s inner purpose and true
mission in this world that re-trained us away from stress and
anxiety to confidence and purpose. Following the meditation,
live Lag Ba’omer music was played by Israeli flutist Yehuda
Piamenta as well by an Israeli Band that entertained the
community on a recent community trip to Israel. Nearly 100
people attended the event through Zoom.

Beth Am Goes Virtual

As did many other organizations, congregations, and
businesses, Temple Beth Am went completely virtual at the
end of March. Still striving to connect with its members by
offering fulfilling, meaningful activities and events, Beth Am
quickly reconfigured and regrouped in order to engage not
only their congregants but the community at large.
While Beth Am has been livestreaming its Shabbat
Services for some time, they also began to offer adult
education classes led by each member of the clergy, fun