Page 1 - The Jewish Voice - June '22

VOL. 12 NO. 6 www.seabreezepublications.com JUNE 2022

New Chair, Board Members Appointed

at Jewish Federation’s Annual Meeting

During its 2022 Additional key leadership appointments to
annual meeting, Jewish Federation include:
Federation of Palm • Charles Gottesman, Development & Campaign
Beach County welcomed chair
Susan Shulman Pertnoy • Vivian Lieberman, Women’s Philanthropy
as its new Board chair, Campaign chair
and the follow ing • Ronda Starr, Women’s Philanthropy chair
individuals to its 2022- • Roslyn Leopold: Community Strategy &
2023 Board of Directors: Planning chair
Donald Berg, Richard N. • Sydelle Sonkin: Commission for Jewish
Bernstein, Diane Herzog, Education chair
Michael Kohner, Paul • Adam Jackowitz: Emerging Leadership
Kozloff, Patti Lehrhoff, Program chair
Zelda Mason, Caroline • Jonathan Chane: Jewish Volunteer Center chair
Cummings Rafferty, and Susan Shulman Pertnoy with
Shayne Silver. Alan Shulman New Chair, Board Members on page 2 Shulman/Pertnoy family
Suicide Prevention Chapter

Alan Mednick had the idea that stand-up comedy could America’s Voice network TV show, Real Convo. Khan
work as a successful fundraising event for the American said, “We’re making a difference and saving lives, while
Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Mednick, a giving people a much-needed dose of laughter after what
Boynton Beach resident, speaking of his inspiration for has been a very stressful past two years.” Khan is also a
Stand Up for Hope, said “laughter is sometimes the best board member for the Southeast Florida chapter of AFSP,
medicine, and it feels good knowing we were able to do as well as a survivor of suicide loss following the death of
that and give hope to so many people who needed it, like her sister. The former WPTV channel 5 anchor became open
my family did.” He lost both his teenage daughter as well as about the topic after completing her sister’s book, Blossoms
his niece to suicide and he became an active board member of Floraland.
for the Southeast Florida chapter of the AFSP organization. The event drew close to 200 people and exceeded
Last month, Mednick co-hosted Stand Up for Hope at Mednick’s stated goal of $30,000 in funds raised, thanks
the West Palm Beach Improv with popular stand-up comic largely to about 20 named sponsors, including Joseph Perez,
Sarge as the headliner on a lineup that also included Rick Good Greek Insurance, Umttr, and Forever Frosty, among
Corso and Josh Rosen. Mednick’s co-host for the event Miranda Khan and Alan Mednick host Stand Up for Hope
was Miranda Khan, who is also his co-host on their Real at the West Palm Beach Improv. Suicide Prevention Chapter on page 2
Escape from Odessa

Last month’s Friday Night Live at Chabad of Palm Beach 1,000 students they have spread over 13 buildings across
Gardens was as emotional as it was inspirational, with guest Odessa. And he choked with emotion as he spoke about the
speaker Rabbi Shneior Vigler, Deputy Chabad Rabbi of suffering the community endured in the past several months
Odessa, Ukraine. Rabbi Shneior is the first cousin of Rabbi of the Russian invasion.
Dovid Vigler of Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens. His wife, Rabbi Shneior described the difficult childhood of his
Nechama Vigler, who runs the Jewish girls school in Odessa, paternal grandfather, Sholom Vigler, who grew up in an
and three of their four children joined for Shabbos. orphanage in Jerusalem after the First World War. It is
Rabbi Shneior spoke passionately about the harrowing the stories of hunger and hardship that he heard from his
ordeal with which they managed to bring all the children of grandfather that spur him forward to provide only the very
the Mishpacha orphanage to safety over a 60-hour trip filled best resources for the orphans he cares for. He described the
with anxiety and danger. Even now, when they are located in story of a mother who dropped off her newborn infant son at
Berlin, they face many challenges and are in desperate need the orphanage and left without even bothering to say goodbye.
of finding a more suitable home for the orphans in Hungary. Rabbi Shneior and his staff were left with the awesome
As Rabbi Shneior spoke responsibility of brissing the boy and raising him as their own.
in Hebrew, Rabbi Dovid As he finished speaking, Rabbi Shneior was greeted with
Vigler provided simultaneous a standing ovation from the large crowd that had assembled
translation. He told the to hear his story. When people asked how to donate to the
humorous tale of their arrival Mishpacha orphanage, Rabbi Shneior Vigler requested that,
to Odessa 19 years ago and due to the crisis in Ukraine, all funds be donated to Chabad
the impossible challenges of Palm Beach Gardens to be dispersed directly to the Odessa
they overcame as they grew Orphanage. All funds donated will be used to care for the
their Jewish community. orphans who are now also refugees in Germany.
He proudly described the Donations can be made to the Mishpacha orphanage through
network of 11 rabbis and Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens at JewishGardens.com/Donate.