Page 6 - The Jewish Voice - March '21

Page 6, The Jewish Voice

Local Happenings from page 5 “From the very first day of the lockdown, in March of family services and other
Federation’s Celebrating 2020, I knew that I must pivot and move everything online,” organizations working
with survivors to provide
Vigler says. “I always felt that I needed to have more of a
Philanthropy: social media presence, but never really got around to it. The assistance with whatever
emergency or day-to-day
pandemic forced me to really embrace it, and it has been
A Major Gifts Event absolutely incredible.” needs they have.
In the nascent days of his online streaming, the rabbi “Tu B’Shevat is
Community leaders acknowledges his technology wasn’t all that great. But as celebrated with the
and philanthropists in the time went on, he advanced his capabilities and streaming eating of fruit: grapes,
Jewish community of the options, transforming his small Zoom sessions into a global figs, pomegranates,
Palm Beaches will gather yeshivah with thousands of students. olives, and dates,” said
virtually for a festive “I’m naturally a very active person,” says David Rosen, Chana Ezagui of The
evening during Jewish currently of Lakewood, NJ. “I’m so used to running around. Kind Kitchen of Palm
Federation of Palm Beach So, when the lockdowns got under way, I was looking for Beach. “The significance
County’s Celebrating things to do.” of this food is reflected in
Philanthropy reception on He turned to his Facebook account. He explains, “I the menu. I liken fruit to
March 17. The celebration usually only log on to Facebook to check on my adult good deeds — a way to
will include an exclusive children, but I was looking for things to do and stumbled on nourish the world.”
performance by the this dynamic rabbi from Florida giving classes on Facebook. “On Tu B’Shevat,
renowned Jonah Platt, a I love coffee, and there he was — sipping his coffee so we honor the strength
multi-platform creator comfortably on the Zoom and teaching deep, intellectual and reliability of trees
and performer best known material. How cool is that?” and how they serve
for Wicked, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and NBC’s Emmy- While many prefer the warmth and personability of an in- our community,” said
winning Jesus Christ Superstar: Live, and will also honor the person class, this community of Torah students are demonstrating Belinda Lasky, Alpert
leadership of dedicated philanthropist Samuel D. Liebovich just how hard it is to ignore the virtual experience. JFS’ Di rec tor of
with the Jeanne Levy Community Leadership Award. Chaired Vigler reports how he is regularly in touch with students Volunteer Leadership.
by Marilyn and Bruce Alexander, Sheryl and Dr. Tommy from Oregon to the Netherlands to Indonesia. “I have every “Similarly, our volunteers
Davidoff, and Honorary Chair Robert M. Beren. Gifts from intention of continuing after the pandemic subsides, please demonstrate their
$10,000 to Federation’s Annual Campaign or Ben-Gurion G‑d. In fact, I believe this is the way of the future…when strength and reliability
Society members who pledge $1,000 or more. For more we resume in-person events, we will still incorporate virtual as they deliver meals
information, please contact sarah.rogers@jewishpalmbeach. guests as well. We can Zoom in a lecturer from anywhere in and connect with clients
org or 561.242.6633. the world and Zoom an audience in as well. Why not?” to help them celebrate
While so many wring their hands about Zoom fatigue special occasions.”
Hotaling Joins JFS and pining for those days when they could clamor around a “We are so pleased to
table and kick up a storm of Torah study, for those who have be able to continue to provide meals from Kind Kitchen to
Christopher P. jumped on the bandwagon, there’s no looking back. our Holocaust survivors,” said Jennifer Escobar, Director of
Hotaling, CPA, has As Zweig puts it, “I thought I was coming to Georgia to Long Term Care at Alpert JFS. “They look forward to meal
joined Ferd & Gladys help my parents, but G‑d had other plans. Everything I’m deliveries coordinated with holidays throughout the year,
Alpert Jewish Family learning online is deepening my faith and trust that this is making Shabbat dinners particularly meaningful.”
Service (Alpert JFS) as really what G‑d wants.”
chief financial officer. Zoom with the Stars of Fauda
Most recently, he held Volunteers from JFS,
the same position at Temple Israel presents A Chat with the Stars of Fauda
Goodwill Industries of Kind Kitchen Deliver on April 14 at 8 p.m. Via Zoom and livestreamed to temple-
Monocacy Valley in israel.com, the program will introduce television stars Boaz
Frederick, MD. Hotaling Meals for Tu B’Shevat Konforty and Yaakov Zada Daniel, who will talk about their
previously held the title journeys to become actors, how Jews and Arabs collaborate
at Turk Hospitality Volunteers from Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family in the name of art, and the impact of this show on Arabs,
Group in Highland, NY, Service (Alpert JFS) and The Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach Israelis, and Jews. Sacrifices, devotion, friendship, fear, and
and Skye Hospitality in joined forces to deliver hundreds of meals throughout Palm near-death experiences all will be on the virtual table.
Baltimore, MD. Beach County for the Tu B’Shevat (Jewish New Year of Three diverse congregations are coming together to
“I am happy to Trees) holiday. They donned masks and gloves and practiced celebrate Yom HaAtzma’ut and host this dynamic event:
welcome Christopher Hotaling to the agency,” said Alpert social distancing, safely delivering the food. Temple Israel of West Palm Beach (a Reform congregation),
JFS CEO Marc Hopin. “He brings a wealth of senior financial The menu included challah rolls, gefilte fish, salad, fruit Temple Emunah of Lexington, MA (a Conservative
experience and proficiencies that will be of benefit to the platter, chicken with white rice and rainbow carrots, and a congregation), and Beth Tfiloh Congregation of Pikesville,
organization.” freshly baked cake. The 78 meals that reached clients of Alpert MD (an Orthodox congregation).
Hotaling has been a certified public accountant for 30 JFS’ Holocaust Survivors Assistance program was funded
years. through Kavod, an organization that partners with Jewish Local Happenings on page 8

Online Study Resonates
During Pandemic

By Aharon Loschak
Duties of the Heart (Chovot Halevavot), authored almost
a millennium ago by Rabbi Bahya ibn Paquda in Spain,
is a classic work of Jewish literature. When Terri Zweig,
who moved to Atlanta to help her parents, was forced into
lockdown during the spring of last year, it was one of the
key sections of this ancient text, The Gates of Trust (Shaar
Habitachon), that served to get her through those difficult
months.
How did she find it?
On Facebook, of course. Known as someone always eager
to advance her Jewish literacy, a friend contacted her one
day saying, “There’s a rabbi on Facebook streaming classes
every day in this ancient text about faith. You should check
it out.”
So she did, and almost a year later she counts herself as
one of the growing body of students of Rabbi Dovid Vigler
of Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens.