Page 8 - The Jewish Voice - September '20

Page 8, The Jewish Voice

Local Happenings from page 6 Debunking the Myths Temple Beth David was determined to keep connected with
of Orthodox Life — congregants and friends; to be the safe haven that a temple
in 2020 emergency home care and emergency transportation should be during times of crisis. Brainstorming for several
have been added to the list of unmet needs that will be 17,000 Views! hours brought the plans into focus. When they left the room,
addressed. each participant had a list of goals to accomplish to make the
KAVOD SHEF funds will be utilized quickly, with few Local Chabad Rabbi Dovid and Rebbetzin Chana Vigler of plans viable.
restrictions, to address unmet emergency needs of survivors Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens were interviewed this summer During the course of the next few days, Zoom accounts
in partner cities where this special initiative launched in May by Chabad.org, the world’s largest Jewish website, on the topic were established and sessions were practiced. Lay leaders and
2019. As one of the local communities in the KAVOD SHEF of Orthodox Jewish Life. The presentation served as a window clergy discussed how services would be transmitted. Technical
coalition, West Palm Beach launched this special initiative into Hasidic Jewish family life, dating, intimacy, and raising requirements for Zooming services were researched and
in February of 2020. children through the prism of an influential Chabad couple, in procured as needed. Links for the necessary prayer books, so
KAVOD SHEF exponentially multiplies the dollars conversation with Chana Weisberg, senior editor of Chabad.org. that worshipers would be able to read from home during the
(and critical services) directly aiding survivors. Leveraging Viewers learned what it’s really like to raise eight children services, were made available and embedded in the temple’s
the funds raised through a special philanthropic national under the age of 11 and the humorous encounters the family website along with Zoom information.
matching initiative, KAVOD SHEF worked with 18 cities experienced at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. They heard the It was never a question of whether Temple Beth David, the
across the United States in 2019 and more are joining in rebbetzin speak about her powerful role as a leader in the first Conservative synagogue in the northern end of Palm Beach
2020, to bring millions of additional dollars into this space. Jewish community in partnership with her husband and the County, would broadcast Shabbat services and everything else
100 percent of all KAVOD SHEF matching funds raised will reason why you’ll rarely find Orthodox couples expressing — it was only a question of how soon the temple could make
go directly toward survivor services, serving as a secondary public displays of affection. This video has attracted over it happen.
resource to what is already in place. 17,000 viewers on Facebook. Within less than two weeks from that historic meeting,
Marcy Gringlas, president and co-founder of Seed the Temple Beth David went live with Shabbat services, both
Dream Foundation, explains that “the survivors’ unmet Friday night and Saturday morning, joining a small group of
needs far outweigh the resources available to cover these Conservative synagogues around the country that found the
emergency services; it is for this reason that we launched halachic guidance they needed to be comfortable with this
this initiative and are prepared to continue matching every decision.
dollar raised on the national level — even if we exceed our Before the end of March, services were consistently airing
original goals. It is our hope that KAVOD SHEF will be far on Zoom, with time at the end for congregants to connect with
reaching, and allow survivors across the country to have each other virtually, much as they would have at an oneg or
access to these critical services.” kiddush at the temple. Rabbi Arberman’s classes and Cantor
“Seed the Dream Foundation is committed to working Bensimhon’s get-togethers were offered as well, continuing
with our partners across the country to create a collective where they had left off without missing a beat. Daily emails
communal response and bring most-needed attention to with a video of a teaching, a prayer, or a meditation started
address this silent crisis,” shares Talia Kaplan, executive coming to all members and friends on the mailing list.
director of Seed the Dream Foundation. Preschool and religious school teachers began connecting
“Every day, we lose more than 40 Holocaust survivors, with their students by Zoom, providing face-to-face learning
and yet every day we continue to see hundreds of new experiences and keeping the students moving forward with
requests for care. There is no time to waste,” adds Gringlas. their studies. A task force to devise ways to safely open the
“Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service has been temple, schools, and sanctuary, the Safe at Shul Task Force,
serving Holocaust survivors for over 46 years,” said Marc was formed in March and began weekly meetings shortly
Hopin, CEO of Alpert JFS. “It has been our mission to help thereafter.
survivors live out their remaining years with dignity. As By the middle of June, Passover had been observed
survivors have continued to age their emergency needs have virtually, a bar mitzvah had taken place, and virtual preschool
grown substantially. Kavod Shef funding is an invaluable and religious school had concluded for the year. Summer
resource for meeting these needs.” Temple Beth David Pivots brought virtual trivia nights and cooking classes. In July,
“As Jewish people, we are all responsible for one as numbers had not improved and no date could yet be
another — especially the most vulnerable members of our During Pandemic determined to safely reopen the shul, plans started to coalesce
community,” said Michael Hoffman, president and CEO of for the year to come. Adult education was the first group to
Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. “Jewish Federation On what seemed like an otherwise quiet day early in provide new programming. A three-part series by mental
and our partners have a history and expertise of caring for March, Temple Beth David president Len Schwartz convened health professionals who are temple members was presented
people in need. Working together with Alpert Jewish Family a meeting with Rabbi Paul Arberman, Cantor Danielle via Zoom in August under the heading of Healing Through
Service, Kavod, and our vast network of generous donors, we Bensimhon, executive director Bobbi Sadow, administrative Judaism, offering ways to cope with isolation and other issues
can reach and provide vital care for more survivors to enable vice president Barbara Schwartz, and the two immediate the pandemic has brought to all ages.
them to live with dignity and independence.” past-presidents, Larry Kushins and Linda Fayne. Meeting in The doors may not be open physically, but the virtual
To ensure greater access to survivors, marketing of the the newly renovated (but not officially opened) Rosenblatt “doors” to connect with Rabbi Arberman, Cantor Bensimhon,
KAVOD SHEF initiative will include the national phone Center, the leaders of the temple stared the pandemic in the face Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi Eisenman, and members remains
hotline, which allows survivors who are not in contact and made bold plans that would require immediately shifting wide open.
with their local agencies to have a place to call to begin the many gears to make Zooming services and programs not only
process of gaining support. The KAVOD SHEF hotline is possible, but a reality before the end of the following week. Local Happenings on page 10
720-295-8484.
“The issue is not going away and is not dwindling!
Our survivors are getting older and are having bigger
financial stresses. We only have a few years left with these
courageous individuals and we feel it is our responsibility to
take care of them and offer them peace in their final years.
They have been through enough and as a human community,
we are responsible,” says Amy Israel Pregulman, executive
director of KAVOD.

Temple Israel Hosts Carlebach

as Artist-in-Residence

Temple Israel is excited to announce award-winning
composer and performer Neshama Carlebach as artist-
in-residence through the High Holy Days. Ms. Carlebach
is one of today’s best-selling Jewish artists in the world,
having sold over 1 million records. She has been an entrant
in the Grammy Awards multiple times and both a winner
and nominee in the Independent Music Awards. Her most
recent release, Believe, earned her another Independent
Music Award and is especially meaningful in this time of
challenge.

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