Page 1 - The Jewish Voice - December '20

VOL. 10 NO. 12 www.seabreezepublications.com DECEMBER 2020

Federation, JCRC Convene with School Board Leaders

to Address Holocaust, Antisemitism Education

Key members of the Palm Beach County School District former Spanish River High School Principal Dr. William
recently joined more than 50 leaders of the Jewish community Latson made global news. With Holocaust survivors slowly
for a special meeting to address antisemitism and Holocaust dying as well, Federation, JCRC, and community partners
education for the more than 200,000 students throughout
the county. Convened by Jewish Federation of Palm Beach Federation, JCRC Convene on page 2
County, as well as the Jewish Community Relations Council
(JCRC), the meeting discussed current and future school
educational initiatives and how to best continue cultivating Renovation Project
a relationship between the two organizations, and reaffirmed
the shared commitment for the school district to become a
model in Holocaust education. Under Way for
The school district leaders in attendance included Frank
Barbieri, Chair of the School Board; Dr. Donald Fennoy,
Superintendent of Schools; and Keith Oswald, Deputy Jewish Community
Superintendent/Chief of Schools.
The meeting comes on the heels of alarming new statistics Federation and its Jewish Community Relations Council Synagogue
about increasing antisemitism and a lack of knowledge about offer Holocaust education and resources, including Zikaron
the Holocaust. For example, an astounding 63 percent of Ba’Salon, a series of events designed to commemorate Yom
the millennial generation (those aged 22 to 39) are ignorant Hashoah, where community members hear experiences from To cater to the growing needs of the Jewish community
about the Holocaust, and locally, a recent controversy with Holocaust survivors. in North Palm Beach, the Jewish Community Synagogue
(JCS) is undergoing a $5 million renovation project.
It Takes a Village… this renovation project would serve the growing number of
Rabbi Leib Ezagui, one of JCS’s founders, revealed that

people who have moved to North Palm Beach in the last few
Thanks to the partnership of two local organizations, years.
homeless men, women, and youth are able to move toward According to Rabbi Leib, the project will allow members
independence. The National Council of Jewish Women Palm of JCS to enjoy a fully decked-out lounge, ice cream machine
Beach and the South Florida Chapter of 100 Women Who and tea room, and a large arcade room for kids. Adults can
Care joined forces to collect and distribute essential supplies enjoy a drink in the new courtyard featuring a deck and
for needy residents of Palm Beach County. lounge area.
Audrey Ades, president of the local chapter of 100WWC, The renovation will allow for the expansion of their soup
rallied 11 teenagers to solicit donations. These teens kitchen, The Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach. JCS members can
collected 750 towels, hundreds of pairs and socks, and loads also expect newly renovated and modern meeting rooms,
of kitchen utensils. library, and sanctuary.
NCJW will distribute many of these items through its Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui, senior rabbi to JCS, noted that
LIFT (Living in Freedom Today) program, which helps the renovation project will include a large gate to secure the
furnish apartments for foster children who have aged out of beautiful campus.
the system, formerly abused women, and rescued victims of “Of paramount importance is the improvement to
accessibility, safety, and security, enabling more seniors and
human trafficking. The socks were donated to clients of the young families to participate,” he said.
Lewis Center and their Annex, transitional residences for
homeless individuals.
When asked how this experience changed them, several
teenagers replied: “This was so humbling. I will never take
things for granted again”; “I now realize how fortunate I am”;
“It was eye-opening going to the shelter and seeing that some
people have nothing.”
Said Helene Askinazi, NCJW director of communications,
“The teenagers who participated in this effort and the
clients of NCJW who were
recipients of these items
were all winners!”