YALLA ISRAEL

iArtIsrael

HADASSAH CELEBRATES100 YEARS

FIRST EVERFLORIDA LOVES ISRAEL CONFERence

Issue No. 2MARCH 2012

CONTENTS

What’s inside?

3 Editor’s Note5 Knesset Update7 Marcy’s Music

8 Soldier Shabbat10,11 Florida Loves Israel12-17 Campus Corner18 Shabbat 54

34,35 Arts & Krav37-39 Hadassah

40 iFest @ NOVA42 FIU Panel45 Stay Connected!46 Calendar47 Thank you

20 Purim in Israel22,23 Fashion24,25 Beauty

27 Live and Become28,29 Here and There30 Media Bias Today32 Moment with Artist

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MARCH 2012 מרץ

YALLA ISRAEL

Brooke WeinbaumPublisher/Editor-in-Chief______________________

Political ContributorHoward Rudnick

Music ContributorMarcy Morris

Fashion ContributorRayna Rose Exelbierd

Community ReporterRose Morris

Writers

Reba WahrburgJulianne SimsonRachel SartiniJackie KleinWilliam JacksonKatie MorrisJordan RobrishLindsey GoldsteinCorey Hamel

EDITOR’S NOTE: What a whirlwind month it has been. I don’t know about you, but I am certainly more aware of Israel than ever. Colleges across the nation are putting on Israel Awareness Months and Israel Peace Weeks for all to see that we are here, and we love Israel.

The first weekend of the month was kicked off by an incredible group of students at FSU who put on the Florida Loves Israel conference, the first in the state. The conference brought together all types of students to talk about the place they are so passionate about. There was something in the air that whole weekend, and it wasn’t the smell of hummus. It was the spirit of students who love Israel, and are constantly seeking out new ways to share and spread their love.

February 10th marked a month since I have come back from Israel. Without even realizing it, Israel has popped up all over the place. On the way to a party in Miami, a friend and I stopped to take a walk in a park in Kendall. When we got out of the car the first thing I saw was outdoor gym equipment all around the park, just like in Tel-Aviv. My friend didn’t understand why I was so excited about gym equipment, but the idea that a piece of Israel was laying around in South Florida, and I wasn’t aware of it, showed me I have some more exploring to do.

I was honored this month to host two girls from Israel on a delegation through the Jewish Federation. The first time I fell in love with Israel was before I event went; it was when I hosted someone from Israel that I realized there was a special group of people that I just connected with. Hosting the two girls made me understand in a whole new way, how important it is for Americans of all backgrounds to know about Israel, and the people who make it such a vibrant country. I am so lucky to live in a community that is able to bring people half way across the world to teach others about something so special.

I want to thank everyone for making our first issue so successful. In this digital age, it is with a few mouse clicks that people all over the country and world can know in an instant what an incredible place it is to learn about Israel in South Florida.

Yalla,

Brooke Weinbaum

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WHEN:

WHERE: LAKESIDE TERRACE 7880 Glades Road, Boca Raton 33434 (located adjacent to the Hilton Suites across from the Turnpike entrance)

GUEST SPEAKERS: RABBI DAVID GUTTERMAN, Director, Department of Jewish Education, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County

HADAR RAVEH, Director of Israel Programs, Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach

TO RSVP VISIT, For more information, contact davidd@bocafed.org or 561.852.6022.

A MUST ATTEND EVENT FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS & PARENTS!

Jewish Student Union

BBYO – Gold Coast Region

Jerusalemonlineu.com

Young Judaea

Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach

Step Up for Israel is generously sponsored by:

,

with

Knessetkeeping up

the

February brought in 63 years of the Knesset and new

changes for Israel.1 On February 8th more than 4000 people visited the Knesset as part of an “Open House”

ceremony to celebrate the Knesset’s 63rd birthday.

2 The Knesset approved 1.3 billion NIS to build kindergartens all over the state of

implement free education.

3 The President of Croatia spoke in front of Knesset to formally apologize to Holocaust

survivors and vows to restore properties owed to survivors in Croatian law.

4 For the first time ever, the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Knesset will

form a joint committee with the German Parliament.

5 New water regulations are being looked at to ensure that every Israeli citizen will be able

to drink tap water.

6 The Economic Affairs Committee made it perfectly clear that lobbyists do not have any

significant influence in their committee.

7 The Constitution, Law and Justice Committee will be meeting to discuss Amendment #38, the Repossession Bill, regarding the foreclosure of properties.

8 The Defense Service Bill was up for discussion and it was made very clear that the

citizens who are exempt from civil or national service are to remain exempt.

9 The Education Committee has requested PM Netanyahu to continue to fund the Ulpan

program in Israel, due to a 4 million NIS cut made by the Jewish Agency.

10 Knesset Speaker of the House Reuven Rivlin has extended a congratulations and

invitation to the new Egyptian Speaker of Parliament in hopes of continuing with the positive relationship the two nations have.

Howard  is  a  junior  studying  poli2cal  science  at  

Florida  Atlan2c  University.  Howard’s  favorite  

memory  of  Israel  is  watching  everyone  get  their  

errands  done  before  Shabbat  even  during  the  

intense  heat  of  summer. 5

MARCY’S MUSIC OF THE MONTH

Hear the latest hits on and off Israel’s airwaves from Marcy’s mouth!

BY: MARCY MORRIS

ALMAI  recently  discovered  the  Israeli  group  Alma.  They  just  released  their  2012  album  

and  I  believe  it  could  really  be  a  new  era  of  Israeli  music.  They  bring  an  interesting  mix  

of  Israeli  traditional  and  upbeat  rock  

sounds.  They  transform  Jewish  prayer  into  beautifully  written  music  with  natural  

harmonies,  giving  the  music  a  strong,  emotional  quality.  At  first  listen,  the  music  

is  gloomy-­‐-­‐but  the  combination  of  a  closer  

listen  and  understanding  the  words  of  the  prayers  gives  the  listener  an  intense  music  

experience.  Alma's  new  album  Sha'ar,  meaning  "Gates"  opens  us  to  the  future  of  

Israeli  music.  This  is  quickly  becoming  one  

of  my  new  favorite    groups!

SHWEKEYShwekey-­‐-­‐a  name  we  all  know  in  the  world  of  Jewish  music-­‐-­‐is  back  with  yet  another  

album!  His  familiar  voice  is  known  worldwide.  Some  may  be  surprised  to  find  

someone  from  Brooklyn,  New  York  singing  

Israeli  music,  but  Shwekey  does  it!  Yaakov  Shwekey  is  an  Ashkenazi,  Orthodox  Jew,  

making  fantastic  music!  Many  would  put  this  artist  into  a  genre  with  groups  such  as  

the  Miami  Boys  Choir  and  Yeshiva  Boys  

Choir.  It's  upbeat,  it's  a  little  techno,  it's  a  little  pop,  it  makes  you  want  to  get  on  your  

feet  and  dance-­‐-­‐it's  Shwekey!  

Marcy  is  a  junior  studying  health  

administra2on  at  Florida  Atlan2c  University.  

In  her  spare  2me  she  enjoys  playing  Jewish  

music  for  people  of  all  ages.  Marcy’s  favorite  

part  of  Israel  is  hiking  in  the  Negev.

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by Reba Wahrburg• • •

STUDENTS CAME TO CELEBRATE SHABBAT AND LEARN ABOUT LIVING AS A LONE SOLDIER IN THE IDF Imagine going to a place thousands of miles away from where you grew up and from everyone you know. You have to start over completely and learn a brand new language. On top of that, the main reason why you are going to this country is so you can do an honor and fight for their peace. This is why so many young people from American and other countries go to Israel and join the military; so they can honor the country they love so much. On Friday, February 17th Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach hosted “Salute Your Soldiers Shabbat”. Owls for Israel, brought in the guest speaker and lone soldier, Koby Stern to talk to students about life in Israel. Stern grew up in the United States, and when he was old enough, he decided to join the Israeli army. Not only was it difficult for him because he didn't know Hebrew, but also because he had no one there to support him while he was in the service. Things that seem so mundane like having laundry done during the weekend and a home cooked meal are luxuries that lone soldiers were not able to have. Stern talked about helping start the Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin so lone soldiers would be able to have more support and feel like they had a family there to support them.

Over fifty students attended the dinner, and all were interested in what Stern had to say. Many students who attend Hillel events regularly said they liked attending events because they learn so much about Israel that they didn't even know before. Alex Clayman says, “It looked interesting and informative. I didn’t even know what a lone soldier was until now.” Shabbat proved to be not just delicious as usual, but also gave students a new perspective on life as an American serving in a foreign army. Today there are over five thousand lone soldiers in the IDF fighting for Israel’s peace and security. This was a Shabbat that many students will be able to take something away, and even think about becoming a lone soldier themselves. For more information, visit www.lonesoldiercenter.com

Salute Your Soldiers Shabbat

First Lieutenant Koby Stern Company Commander Tank Officer and Executive Officer talking to students at Hillel Shabbat Dinner about his experience as a Lone Soldier in the IDF.

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Reba  is  a  sophomore  at  FAU  studying  English.  She  

can’t  wait  to  visit  Israel  and  finally  see  the  Kotel.

A few weeks ago, the inaugural Florida Loves Israel Conference was held at Florida State University. The conference sponsored by Noles for Israel and FSU Hillel, created a legacy that will be carried on for years to come. Nearly 130 college students from all over Florida created a unified voice in support and love of Israel. My story is a little bit different from the other hundred-something participants, as my campus delegation was just a party of one. In fact, my campus is non-existent as I was the only high school student at this conference. However, I, like most of the other participants, fell in love with Israel when I visited and decided it was my responsibility to keep the Jewish homeland safe and preserved. At this conference, I learned how to just take this support to a new level and become an even stronger Israel advocate than before. The conference was scheduled to be jam-packed, fitting in a ridiculous amount of curriculum over the course of four days and three nights. However, the coordinators made sure that there was a perfect balance between work and play as to not tire out the participants but to still make this experience meaningful. For example, on Friday we advocated at the State Congress and had breakout sessions throughout the day, but on Saturday, we relaxed at the FSU reservation and enjoyed Israeli cultural programs. This equilibrium was brilliant, because it is probably for this reason that I was able to get so much out of the conference. The participants enhanced our advocacy on Friday morning at the State Capitol regarding Florida’s Support of Israel Bill. I met with President Gwen Margolis of Dade County to thank her for her support of the bill. President Margolis voted in favor of the bill, as well as took up the leadership position of a co-sponsor. My group met with her legislative assistant--a former Seminole and actually the founder of the pro-Israel advocacy group on campus during his time-- for one of the longest advocacy sessions we have ever experienced, for almost an hour. It was truly an enriching experience for all of us. I have participated in a plethora of Israel advocacy conferences prior to FLI, but some things that set it apart were the educational and cultural aspects. Over ten pro-Israel organizations sponsored and attended the conference, including StandWithUs, which led an extremely

impactful session on the current-day BDS Movement. The Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions Movement, as I have learned, is an anti-Israel, anti-peace movement that was created to basically destroy Israel and is completely against negotiation. This is a rising problem in America and especially on all types of college campuses. The presentation was not only extremely resourceful but was very interesting and quite to the point. We learned how to counter the movement’s efforts in a positive way, which is important as college (and high school) leaders. While spending some time at the reservation, students were offered a variety of educational and cultural learning opportunities. The participants were fortunate enough to meet with former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Senior Advisor, Raanan Gissin. Students were also shown an Israeli movie about counter-terrorism and spoke with the director about their opinions. One of the more exciting activities of the day was Krav Maga, which is the self-defense taught in the Israeli army. Noles for Israel Vice President Terry Rydz and the Noles for Israel Krav Maga Instructor Harrison Dubosar taught students some of the techniques that soldiers learn while in the army. The history of FLI is probably one of the most interesting aspects. After Danny Ackerman (Noles for Israel President) and Terry Rydz (Noles for Israel Vice President) returned from a Jewish Federation gathering last summer, they really wanted to have a statewide conference on Israel. A lot of people had spoken about it in the past but nobody was actually doing anything about it. In September at the student involvement fair, Danny Ackerman met a student, Ron Krudo who said he really wanted to get involved with the Noles for Israel group. Only one month before the conference planning started, Ron started attending meetings, was appointed as a board member, and decided that he wanted to take initiative with this conference. “Let’s do it!” From then on, after only one month of attending meetings, Danny and Terry appointed Ron as the conference Director, and Noles for Israel took on a conference that would leave a huge mark in Florida pro-Israel history. “You never know what kind of person is going to walk into your life and change your world around. Think big, always, and you never know where you could take your

organization when you’re passionate about something and you have a solid group of people working towards that goal. It’s a very exciting journey,” says Noles for Israel President Danny Ackerman, junior. Director of FLI, Ron Krudo, junior, “never even attended a conference before this, but I did it anyway because I knew it was for a good cause. I was in charge of logistics, Danny had all the connections, and Terry was the backbone- he knew the fundamentals of how to be tactful and how to communicate in a mature way. Every person put in every effort that they could because the whole success of this conference was based on our efforts. I couldn’t have done a thing without them.” Ron is also Noles for Israel’s Head of Liaison, in charge of connecting with all other student groups on campus. The FLI team had found a $500 grant for the university that heads FLI next year, as these ambitious students have now created a legacy. The outcome of this conference, according to Ackerman, was solely a representation of their hard work and dedication--all of the hours that the team had put in for months. “We were not lucky, just passionate and hard working. The conference will be even bigger and better than last year. If we made it this great now, it will only be better next year.” And the results of this conference sure showed that the team’s hard work really did pay off. I’m sure everyone had heard too many times “We’re so excited to be here and come together!” from so many different participants throughout the weekend, then finding afterwards Facebook and Twitter blown up with positive statuses about FLI. (Not to mention the national AND international recognition for the conference, besides articles in the FSU newspaper for weeks on end). “It meant a lot to all of us, showed that all our work wasn’t for show but to make an impact in not just the community, but all of Florida,” says Krudo. But I believe that there is more than just this. I believe that the group of leaders that put this together not only made an impact for Florida, but for all of America and for pro-Israel students worldwide. They have set the bar in terms of pro-Israel advocacy and leadership, and the future looks even brighter.

FLORIDA LOVES ISRAEL:ISRAEL CONFERENCE FLIES TO NEW HEIGHTSBy Julianne Simson

Julianne  is  a  senior  at  Booker  High  

School  in  Sarasota.  

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FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

"The last event Noles for Israel is hosting in the month of Febuary will be the film showing and discussion of Israel Inside at Hillel. This event is sponsored by ZBT, CUFI, Hillel @ FSU, the Tallahassee Sustainability Group, and StandwithUs. Israel Inside has been cheered on as an insightful documentary that sidesteps the usual politics of Israel and focuses on the lives of Israeli people."

"As of Febuary, the most amazing falafel is being sold in front of Hillel on Thursdays from 11:30 to 1:30 pm. The ingredients for the falafel balls are grown locally by Israel, the famous Tallahassee falafel man himself, and they're organic! Falafels are great for a quick lunch during a busy class-filled day."

Students from across the state of Florida expressed their university pride during the third day of FLI held at the FSU Reservation. FLI was held on Febuary 2nd until the 5th in Tallahassee. Wearing their FLI t-shirts, all the students put aside their rivalries and were unified if only for a day!"

"On Febuary 22nd, Noles for Israel was joined by guest speaker and A.I.C.E representative, Jeff Dawson, who spoke on BDS (Boycott Divest Sanction) and how to combat anti-Israel sentiment on campus. It was an honor to have Jeff at FSU and to hear his words of encouragement. Jeff is pictured here with Noles for Israel President, Daniel Ackerman, prior to the start of the general body meeting."

"The Krav Maga bi-monthly events are hosted by NFI at Hillel on Thursdays. Our instructor has been learning the Israeli martial art for over a decade. Krav Maga training includes rape defense, gun defense, and multiple attacker defense, as seen here." 

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Israel Peace Week: 2/29-3/9  2/29 “Human Rights in a Multi-Cultural Democracy”- Lecture by Dr. Nili Cohen, Tel Aviv University3/5 “Teach Kids Peace⋯” Tabling in GC3/7 Peace Week meeting at 2:15 in GC3053/9 “Dolphin Boy”- Film screening and Discussion with Co-Producer Judith Manassen-Ramon.

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Shalom FIU has been up to a busy spring semester. From representing at the Florida Loves Israel conference to hosting Israel Peace Week on campus, our members have been having fun and helping to spread support for Israel along the way.

Shalom FIU at Florida Loves Israel: 6 students from FIU attended the conference. “It was a very interesting and informative event. It was great being able to share this pro-Israel feeling with students from around Florida and have some fun!”- Yonaton Goldstein, Sophmore, FIU.

Jan 31st-Feb1st- Israel Mania: Helping students get to Israel⋯because the best way to learn about Israel  is to see it for yourself. We had a tabling event with information from many organizations with programs in Israel including Study Abroad, birthright, Hasbara, and MASA.

Making the Case for Israel on University campuses: Discussion and Panel bringing  over 90 students and community members together in an effort to end stop delegitimization of Israel on campus.

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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

UF was lucky enough to attend the first ever Florida Loves Israel Conference held by FSU. Jewish students from all throughout the state came together in their support of Israel as well as to learn from a multitude of speakers and organizations that came to participate.

Sandra Ziv, the Marketing Director at University of Haifa’s International School, spent the day at UF. At 7 pm there was a kosher dinner in Hillel’s library, and while students noshed Sandra explained all of the unique opportunities for studying abroad in Haifa. Chelsea, who just got back from a semester abroad at the university, also described her experience there.

UF Hillel joined with JNF and WZO for a delicious Tu B’shvat Seder with an assortment of fruit and even some party hats to celebrate the birthday of the trees. Part of the Seder focused on how Zionism and Tu B’shvat are intertwined and there was a raffle in which Pammie Shapiro and Kari Hochwald got trees planted in Israel in their names. Everyone got to plant something during the Seder, including parsley that will be used for Passover!

We turned Birthright Registration into a social event by having students come to Gator City if they needed help registering or just wanted to hang out with the staff! Many laptops were provided as well as sodas and snacks.

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Islam Awareness Month, UF Hillel, and Jewish Awareness Month team up to present to a night of non-stop, non-political laughter- the critically acclaimed Laugh in Peace Tour, starring Bob Alper and Azhar Usman. A truly unique event that is sure to leave an impact on UF’s campus.

Children Beyond our Borders held a Zumbathon at UF Hillel to raise money for children in Colombia and part of the proceeds also went to Save a Child’s Heart, an Israeli based humanitarian project that helps children all throughout the world suffering from heart disease. Participants Zumba’d hard enough to make the floor shake and all enjoyed some freshly made smoothies

The Israeli Student Organization has its bi-annual paintball event, IDF style! A day of fun, food, and a little paint--but it is washable.

Avner Even-Zohar, a native of Israel, served in the Israeli army for 6 years as an officer and works to build bridges between the Jewish community and the GLBT community. He gave a presentation at UF about the Queer Liberation movement in Israel as well as how to be a successful advocate during and after college. He was brought to campus by the Pride Student Union, Caravan for Democracy, UF Hillel and the World Zionist Organization, and also spoke at two Lunch-and-Learn events with student leaders about coexistence and Zionism.

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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

Every Thursday Students for Israel table and talk about the latest happenings in Israel and on campus from 11-3 in front of the student union.

UCF students attended Florida Loves Israel conference and learned many new ideas to bring back to campus.

President of Students for Israel is being carried “IDF Style” by another student.

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In November of 2011 the University of Miami Israel Team Fellowship, otherwise known as the I-Team, hosted Israel @ HeART. The program was geared towards promoting Freedom of Expression in Israel through the use of Visual Art. We welcomed several Graffiti artists to do live art, as well as some artists from Israel. Partnerships were made with Amnesty International and U-DOODLE in order to further involve the campus in Israel related activities. This month, the group was featured in The Jerusalem Post as a unique example of advocating for Israel.

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

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The  Hillel  at  Nova  Southeastern  has  been  more  exciting  than  ever.  Students  involved  have  become  a  main  contributor  to  the  expansion  of  their  campus  activities.  Along  with  this  expansion,  their  biggest  Shabbat  dinner  ever  was  this  past  month,  titled  “Shabbat  54”  in  an  effort  to  bring  Bifty  four  students  to  dinner.    Dozens  of  students  from  Nova  came  to  celebrate  the  tradition  of  Shabbat.  While  many  students  were  unsure  of  exactly  what  Shabbat  was,  students  still  came  out  and  supported  the  Hillel  and  were  intrigued  by  a  nice  catered  meal.  From  students  who  have  never  been  to  a  

Hillel  event,  to  those  who  were  dedicated  members  and  interns  for  Hillel  sat  together  and  shared  the  night  with  laughs,  stories  reBlecting  the  hectic  week,  and  as  we  like  to  say  “schmoozing”.  

With  an  Israeli  inspired  theme  for  Shabbat  dinner,  Director  of  Israel  Programs,  Hadar  Raveh  explained  what  was  on  the  menu  and  encouraged  us  to  try  all  of  the  different  foods;  ranging  from  Israeli  salad,  schnitzel,  burekas,  and  rich  chocolate  balls.  Some  students  were  hesitant  at  Birst  to  try  it,  however,  but  once  their  eyes  spotted  the  unfamiliar  foods,  they  immediately  were  interested  in  the  authentic  Israeli  cuisine.  Along  with  the  delicious  dinner,  the  Executive  Director  of  Hillel,  Scott  Brockman  shared  the  Torah  

portion  of  that  week  (  Yitro).  Scott  made  it  easy  to  understand  how  the  Torah  portion  could  relate  to  our  daily  lives,  how  Moses  was  the  one  for  the  Jewish  people  to  go  to  for  advice  and  answers;  positive  delegating.  Stephan  Roberts  was  immediately  interested  in  the  Torah  lesson  Scott  explained  and  how  it  could  relate  to  his  life  when  it  wasn’t  a  natural  interest  of  his,  since  he  isn’t  Jewish.  This  was  Stephan’s  Birst  Shabbat  dinner  and  plans  on  attending  many  more  to  further  expand  his  interest  in  Judaism  and  the  different  life  lessons  he  can  

Bind.  Aaron  Hackman  was  touched  by  the  entire  experience.  Aaron  really  felt  like  he  got  an  understanding  of  what  Shabbat  is  from  when  he  Birst  walked  into  Shabbat  54.  Even  though  Aaron  isn’t  Jewish,  he  was  fascinated  by  the  culture  of  the  food  and  religious  prayers  before  meals  which  he  was  never  

previously  exposed  to.  Of  his  experience,  he  was  especially  interested  in  learning  more  about  Hillel  and  looking  forward  to  Israel  Awareness  Month  events  to  help  build  his  great  experience  at  Shabbat  54.  

It  was  easy  to  see  the  different  students  interacting  with  each  other  and  taking  a  breather  from  a  hectic  week,  while  enjoying  their  friends  coming  together.  One  of  the  many  students  at  dinner  was  Johnny  Rubino.  Speaking  to  him,  I  learned  that  he’s  a  Russian  Israeli  that  was  born  in  Miami.  Johnny  was  active  in  Hillel  in  the  early  years  of  NSU,  and  can  easily  see  an  

expansion  of  students  from  the  beginning  of  its  start  up.  Something  that  really  made  sense  when  I  was  

talking  to  Johnny  is  the  reasoning  of  Shabbat-­‐-­‐  from  Orthodox  to  reform—how  it  comes  down  to  getting  together  with  friends  and  family,  being  able  to  unwind  from  the  week,  laugh  just  about  the  “small  things”,  and  being  able  to  celebrate  Shabbat  with  your  friends  is  a  different  experience  than  what  you  are  used  to  at  home.  

Every  month  students  look  forward  to  the  different  Shabbat  dinners  held  by  Hillel.  To  be  able  to  

appreciate  the  week,  and  reBlect  on  it  really  makes  an  impact  on  many  students’  lives.  As  college  students  it  is  hard  to  take  time  out  of  your  day  to  relax,  but  Shabbat  lets  us  do  that.  

President  of  Hillel  at  Nova,  Florencia  Schwarz  was  happy  with  the  Shabbat  dinner.  The  largest  Shabbat  yet,  45  students  came  out  and  celebrated  the  week  with  peers,  ate  Israeli  food,  and  made  new  friends.    

NOVA TAKES ON SHABBAT 54By Noa Nijamkin

18

THEDAVIDPROJECTEDUCATING VOICES FOR ISRAEL

ISRAEL LEADERSHIP

SUMMER

SEMINAR SERIES

For more information, visit www.thedavidproject.org

Israel On Demand June 10th – 13th

Boston University Boston, MA

Israel On Demand will expose you

to everything you need to know to be an effective Israel

activist on campus – from advanced communication and negotiation strategies to the latest intelligence on current events.

Israel Amplified August 6th – 8thArizona Biltmore

Phoenix, AZ

The only event of its kind, Israel Amplified

combines the best of the Greek world with cutting edge

leadership and communication

training from top Israel activists and educators, with a focus on how to

bring Israel into the Greek community

and into your chapter.

Israel On Demand: Advanced Strategy

for Campus August 12th – 15thDowntown Boston

Boston, MA

Students will learn communication, organizational leadership, and

negotiation skills from Boston area university experts, top educators in

the Israel on campus community, and

leaders in the business and social sectors.

Rachel  grew  up  in  

Hollywood,  Florida.  A7er  

high  school  she  moved  to  

Israel  to  study  at  IDC  in  

Herzliya.  Following  her  

studies,  she  made  aliyah  

and  now  lives  in  Tel-­‐Aviv.

ISRAEL CELEBRATES A CHAG PURIM SAMEACH

Tel  Aviv  has  an  unimaginable  nightlife  and  Purim  is  no  excep9on.  Located  in  the  heart  of  Tel  Aviv,  Floren9ne  Street  has  one  of  the  biggest  street  par9es  of  the  year.  The  party  starts  around  10pm  and  goes  un9l  the  last  one  standing.  Thousands  of  people  aBend  this  party  every  year  and  dance  though  the  Bars  and  DJs  set  up  along  the  street.  

This  year  TFN  (Trance  For  Na9ons)  is  hos9ng  their  annual  Purim  nature  party  on  March  8th.  The  party  will  be  at  the  Dead  Sea,  although  the  exact  loca9on  of  these  par9es  is  never  announced  un9l  just  a  few  hours  before.  To  find  this  party,  all  you  have  to  do  is  follow  the  trance  music  (and  get  some  good  direc9ons).  Like  all  nature  par9es,  this  party  will  start  at  about  2am  and  finish  the  following  aPernoon.  

Purim  is  celebrated  according  to  the  Hebrew  calendar  on  the  14th  day  of  Adar,  this  year  falling  on  March  7th.  This  day  is  celebrated  in  honor  of  the  story  of  Purim,  which  is  read  on  Purim  from  the  Book  of  Esther.  Costume  is  the  dress  code  on  this  holiday,  similar  to  Halloween.  Purim  in  Israel  is  an  amazing  experience  that  nobody  would  want  to  miss.  

Jerusalem  is  an  en9rely  different  experience  on  Purim,  and  by  far  the  city  that  really  knows  how  to  celebrate.  The  story  of  Purim  takes  place  in  the  Ancient  Persian  city  of  Shushan,  a  walled  city.  The  14th  day  of  Adar  was  the  day  following  the  triumph  of  the  Jews  over  their  enemies.  Because  of  this,  walled  ci9es  like  Tzfat  and  Jerusalem  will  be  celebra9ng  Purim  for  two  days.    Me’a  She’arim  Street  in  Jerusalem  will  be  partying  all  day  March  7th  and  8th,  making  it  easy  to  celebrate  Purim  in  two  different  ci9es.  As  Purim  gets  closer  more  informa9on  will  be  posted  in  the  Nachlaot  Facebook  group  at  hBp://www.facebook.com/groups/2250576745/.  

This  is  one  night  you  won’t  need  to  worry  about  ge^ng  lost;  there  will  be  a  party  wherever  you  end  up  in  Israel  this  Purim.    

By Rachel Sartini

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Colors, shapes, and prints OH MY!By Rayna Exelbierd

During February I mentioned the new and omnipresent styling technique color blocking; the styling of bold and bright colors together. As we get closer to spring, fashion trends have expanded from color blocking to incorporating pastel colors and funky vibrant prints along with it.

Louis Vuitton recently released ads with models wearing suits that glamorize the cotton candy pastel shades. Light shades of violet, yellow, pink, and green are the popular pastel hues. I am a huge fan of pastel pants matched with a white tee or shorts paired with a black top. I prefer a black top with shorts because I think it makes the wearer look smaller and it provides a nice contrast for not a lot of material.

Joe’s Jeans produces a sharp line of skinny cut pants in 55 different colors. For those of you who are too shy to wear a vibrant shade of bottoms, a colored or patterned belt is a nice way to vamp up an outfit. Belts matched with shoes, bags, nails, or jackets complete a polished soft look.

While I may not be one to change my purse often, I like to have leopard on my

nails with corresponding shoes, or a sweater.

The other day in the mall I saw the displays at Express with mannequins wearing bright clothing assortments head to toe. It’s a brave pallet, but so cool! I love a bright blue mixed with a bubble gum pink. For example, think pink blouse paired with a blue pencil skirt, or a blue dress with a pink sweater. Wearing a dress with a geometric pattern has a similar wow factor attached to it.

Jewelry trends are showing spring is around the corner through floral colors and arrangements. Prada has designed some really exquisite “not your mama’s flower garden” pieces that are stunning. When shopping for jewelry consider some of the flower power inspired jewelry such as the chunky plastic flower pieces, or the strung flower patterns.

WARNING! Israeli fashion trends are invading everywhere! The notorious platform sandal worn by a lot of Israelis is making an appearance this spring and upcoming summer! The shoes are comfortable and successful in making a lady feel fashionable. Although I’m not

a huge fan of the style, the shoes seem to becoming increasingly cuter!

A great pair of sunglasses is essential for the South Florida and Israel sunshine. I suggest finding hidden treasures at discount stores like TJ Maxx or even the junior section of Nordstrom. I only advise buying an expensive pair if you’re sure they’re the Cinderella fit. Inexpensive watches are also great to pick up at places like Target and rotate throughout the warmer days, giving your more expensive pieces a break as you become more active.

Most importantly, loving what you have on looks the best; don’t be afraid to try new things!

FASHIONFORWARDM

AR

CH

201

2

Rayna  Rose  Exelbierd  is  a  sophomore  

studying  Interna7onal  business.  She  

works  as  the  Hillel  of  Broward  and  Palm  

Beach  Israel  advocacy  intern,  aCer  

spending  a  year  in  Israel.  When  shopping  

in  Israel,  Rayna  has  developed  a  knack  

for  hun7ng  out  fashionable  finds  at  low  

costs.  Rayna  does  the  most  damage  in  

Tel-­‐Aviv  and  Central  Jerusalem.

22

SPRING IN SOME COLOR

Print Dress, Target$19.99

Sunglasses, Nordstrom$12

High rise Pants, Forever 21$24.80

Skinny jeans, Joe’s Jeans$158

Dots Dress, Forever 21$22.80

Platform sandals, Chloe$745

23

MASADA SUNRISEWith spring comes flowers, rain, and bright colors. Experiment on your face, lips, and nails with some wild oranges, hot pinks, and radiant reds.By Brooke Weinbaum

With the sun coming out even more than usual, it’s time to splash some color on those cheeks. No time to lay out? Try NARS, Taos $28 with some added shimmer for those fun nights out.

24

BRIGHT LIPS BABY! Time to make those kissable lips come out from the dry winter and bring attention to your smile. Feel make-up free with some light gloss in delicious looking colors.Try Lancome’s juicy tubes in Bolole for $18.

Sunrise nails. If you are afraid of color, your nails are the easiest place to add some fun to your wardrobe. Give yourself a sunrise manicure by painting the bottom half of your nails with Essie’s Meet Me at Sunset and finish the top half with Ole Caliente for some instant sun. Essie, $8

25

Thursday, March 15, 20127:30 p.m.

jewishpalmbeach.orgfacebook.com/jewishpalmbeach

R.S.V.P. Space is limited! 561.242.6643 Mandy.Burkart@JewishPalmBeach.org

Contact Mandy Burkart, visit JewishPalmBeach.org or StepUpforIsrael.com for more information.

FEATURING A DISCUSSION WITH:

Alan Dershowitz – Harvard Professor and Author Robert Wexler – Former Congressman and current President

of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace Wayne L. Firestone – Hillel President and CEO

SPECIAL SCREENING OF:“Israel Inside” – a film which explores the triumph of the Israeli people who have turned a desert into a flourishing and productive society.A dessert buffet, generously sponsored by Temple Emanu-El, will follow the program.

Step Up for Israel is an international grassroots Israel education campaign chaired by Alan Dershowitz and former Ambassador Dore Gold.

The Ewa & Dan Abraham Project, funded by S. Daniel Abraham in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, is designed to broaden the scope of Jewish education and outreach in the greater Palm Beaches by creating programs for all ages and interest levels on Israel, current events, and Jewish traditions, holidays and culture.

Temple Emanu-El190 North County Road in Palm Beach

PRESENTED BY

FEDERATION DEPARTMENTS

CO-SPONSORS

It’s time to...JOIN US FOR A FREE EVENT TO PROMOTE THE STATE OF ISRAEL

Jewish CommunityRelations Council

Live and Become: A Review

By Jackie KleinLive and Become is a portrayal

of a true story that shares a part of a

community in Israel that does not

always receive much focus. Moreover

it focuses in on one of the largest

controversies surrounding the

Ethiopian Jews in Israel- Ethiopian

Christians who pretended to be Jewish

in order move to Israel. The opening

scenes show a Christian Ethiopian

women send her son off with the

Israelis during Operation Solomon

when the Ethiopian Jews were airlifted

to Israel. Her son was not any more

Jewish than she was. A Jewish mother

pretended that he was her own in order

to save his life as well as giving him the

Jewish name Shlomo.

Shortly after the two of them

made it into the Promised Land, she

passed away from a sickness she had

contracted back in Africa. Shlomo soon

started acting out in the Bording

School he attended. Because he could

not be given the individual care that he

so desperately needed, Shlomo was

soon adopted by a French Israeli family.

As we travel through his life we meet

the people he considers family

including the leader of the Ethiopian

Jews who has practically adopted him

as his own son.

We see both the internal and

external struggles that he encounters

throughout his life in Israel. Shlomo is

constantly struggling against himself, as

he tries to decide if he should turn

himself in to the police. Ironically at

one point, he tries but the police man

refuses to believe him and instead

assumes that the boy has given in to the

rest of the communities’ thoughts

about the black Ethiopian community.

This inherently shows the external

struggle he has as an Ethiopian

“Jewish” immigrant. The Ethiopians

were put under blatant racism not

unlike African immigrants to other

countries including the U.S.

The movie is over two hours

long with multiple points where it could

have conceivably ended. However it

ultimately ends at the most appropriate

conclusion. You will have to watch it to

find out for yourself, but I will share

that the protagonist Shlomo finds peace

with both himself and his surroundings

by the end of this soul searching film.

Israeli Cinema Nights will be playing Live and BecomeThursay, March 15 at 8 pm Frank Theatres 3701 NE 163rd Street North Miami Beach Call 305-932-4200

Jackie  is  a  junior  studying  Jewish  Studies  at  

FAU.  A9er  spending  a  semester  at  Tel-­‐Aviv  

University,  Jackie’s  favorite  thing  to  do  in  

Israel  is  walk  along  the  streets  and  take  in  

the  various  sites  and  people.  27

Sweeping the airwaves around the

world are television shows that deal with the effects of war on a national and

individual level. Today’s world is largely reflective of a growing xenophobia in a

time when the cohesions of a nation

rely on the individual. The show in Israel, Hatufim,

revolves around the lives of IDF soldiers who are captured during service in

Lebanon. The fate of each POW is initially unknown, and as the show

progresses they each become fleeting

symbols for their resilient nation.

Seventeen years later, they return and

the once ephemeral symbol turns tangible, and a posing threat on

national safety becomes internally plausible when information on a

switched soldier reaches the

government. After 17 years, the soldiers return home, and the preceding events start to illuminate the effects a previous operative had. War has the ability to

both unify and destroy and ‘Hatufim’

does a wonderful job at conveying that. While Israel has first handedly

dealt with the struggles of POW

recognition, the U.S. populous has played a much less effectual role. In a

society that renders the individual and

recognizes physical beauty over intellectual or somatic heroism, how will such a show favor in the ratings. After its first weekend with a 1.71

million-viewer premiere, the show

continued to gain followers. Through its first season it has cemented itself as one of Showtime’s most favored shows of 2011, bringing in the highest ratings for a finale in Showtime history. The

gripping thriller has not only shed light on U.S. foreign affairs but provided a

source for the populous to gain a better understanding of the effects war has on

whole families not just the individual.

HOMELAND

Here and There:

By William Jackson

28

חטופ’ם

Sometimes it seems that while many people are aware that Israel did indeed create instant messaging, drip irrigation, and cherry tomatoes..Israel is never praised on its remarkable achievement on making a cereal that has now made its way into the American society? Kariot (קריות) is an Israeli cereal that has an American cousin. Kelloggs, has tried to recreate the cereal and make it their own, naming it “Krave”. Although I did not “crave” this cereal as much as I craved Kariot, it still looked very similar to this sweet morning wake up. Kariot

is a bit plumper and when I took a bite of it I could actually taste the chocolate that is delicately sitting inside of the puffed pillow of yumminess. On the other hand Krave was a bit airier, and unfortunately I did not get that burst of chocolate that I got after snacking on my Israeli favorite. I developed a weird taste in my mouth after eating Krave and it wasn’t the most pleasant of tastes yet when I digested my Kariot, it felt like I swallowed a bit of the holy land and everywhere I went that

day I had a little Israel in me. I know a lot of people say that everything is better in Israel and who wouldn’t agree with that? For right now, I am craving Kariot as my morning escape to Israel because I can’t hop on a plane to it at the moment. Either you can Kariot or you can Krave, but really, the choice is yours, so choose wisely.

Here and There:

By Katie Morris

29

KrAVeקריות

Ka7e  is  a  freshman  studying  

poli7cal  science  at  FAU.  Her  favorite  

thing  to  do  in  Israel  is  try  the  

different  falafel  places  on  Ben-­‐

Yehuda  and  find  new  favorite  

places.

On Sunday February 26th

at Temple Dor Dorim in

Weston an organization known

as CAMERA, or the Committee

for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting In America hosted

guest speaker Steven Stotsky.

Stotsky has been a Senior Research Analyst for CAMERA

for the past seven years, as

part of his job he monitors and

researches the media looking

for articles that contain

inaccurate and biased

information concerning the

state of Israel. He has

analyzed and documented

inaccurate reporting on the

state of Israel from such major news networks and

publications as The British

Broadcasting Corporation,

French 2 TV, and The New York

Times. Stotsky’s

presentation to the packed

house of guests at Temple Dor Dorim was an eye opening

first-hand look at the very real threat of biased, exaggerated,

and fabricated media coverage

regarding the state of Israel in

the American media today.

Numerous examples of biased

and fabricated media coverage

were cited including the Al-

Durrah incident back

in 2000. This

international incident was captured on video

tape by French

Journalists filming in

the Gaza Strip. The

controversial video

tape shows a father and his

son pinned down by gun fire.

The video tape goes on to

presumably show the twelve

year old boy being shot to

death. The French media outlet France 2 originally reported

that the boy had been shot to

death by Israeli Defense Force

troops, however; these reports were never verified and the

accounts of the incident sparked international backlash and protests against Israel around the Arab world.

The French television

station France 2 had reported

that the Israeli troops had

killed 12 year old Jamal Al-Durrah in clashes with

Palestinian gunmen. The

Israeli government changed

its position on the incident as

the why she attended the

event Marjorie Rudolph

responded “As a teacher at Dor Dorim I feel that it is very

important to know everything

that is going on in Israel so I can pass the information on to

my students”.

When Steven Stotsky

was asked at the event why he

feels his work is so important and how people can help

responded “The facts are on

Israelis’ side if they are

known, and ultimately you

have to believe that the more

information that gets out there the better Israel’s case to

the world will be. I encourage

citizen to contact us through

our website at www.camera.org we currently

have over 65,000 members, and

CAMERA is always looking for more members to help with

our letter writing campaigns.”

A VIEW THROUGH CAMERADor Dorim hosted Steven Stotsky from CAMERA to discuss media bias about IsraelBy Jordan Robrish

Jordan  is  a  senior  studying  english.  

His  favorite  part  of  visi7ng  Israel  

was  floa7ng  in  the  Dead  sea.

30

For events in Miami email miamoishehouse@gmail.com

Visit www.moishehouse.org today

WUJSImmerse yourself into Israel(five month program, ages 22-30) www.wujsisrael.org

Year CourseSimply the best freshman gap year around (recent high school graduates) www.yearcourse.org

BirthrightThe most mind-blowing ten days of your life (ages 18-26) www.toisraelnow.org

AmirimSpend your summer making Israel a better place (ages 18-27) www.amirimisrael.com

Summer in IsraelYour Israel experience begins here (entering grades 10-12) www.yjsummer.org

Summer CampsThe most fun three weeks of your life, each and every year (grades 3-12) www.yjcamps.org

Year Round ProgramsOur peer-led youth movement, making the world a better place for over 100 yearswww.youngjudaea.orgwww.youngjudaea.org

YOUNG JUDAEA

ALL PROGRAMSALL AGES

When I first met Michael Reiter last semester, he was anticipating his acceptance to go to Israel on Birthright. He told me he is the child of an Israeli and while he knows a lot, he didn’t know nearly a fraction of what he wanted to. While on Birthright, Reiter was inspired by the beautiful land, culture, and most importantly the people of Israel. When the opportunity arose to submit art based on ideas of Israel, Reiter jumped at the chance to submit his work. “The biggest inspiration for me was visiting Israel, meeting my Israeli family, and finally being able to appreciate my background. My grandparents went there as refugees to start life over again. I saw things in a different light when I was there-and it made me proud,” says Reiter of his

life changing experience. “I wanted to show people a new generation of Israelis. The girl came from my head, but the inspiration-that came from the soldiers I met because we just talked about our lives. They just want to live comfortably in peace. The girl is Jewish, living in Jerusalem and it is implied that she is a peace activist.” Reiter mentions the different parts of his art. “Watercolor is my favorite kind of art; I wanted to include lots of color and show a typical Israeli. She has typical middle eastern garb-tattoos, piercings, a headscarf, and she is playing music because she is inspired by Jerusalem. Her tattoo is in hebrew and Arabic and they both say peace.want to live and live comfortably in peace. The hamsas just remind me of the culture. Her poster in the background is also

in Arabic and Hebrew saying ‘We want peace’”. The girl in the picture seems to have a great piece of real estate, looking out at the Dome of the Rock. “Her window is supposed to be a view into Jerusalem; the Dome is identifiable and people know, oh that’s Jerusalem.” Reiter hopes to go back to Israel and continues to explore all types of art. Many people who attended the iArt event were inspired by the artist’s work. Who wouldn’t be-it exudes so many feelings of the spirit of Israel.

By Brooke Weinbaum

A Moment with the Artist

32

Arts & Krav with Shakshuka on the sideThe final week of Israel Awareness Month at Hillel included two krav maga classes, one art gallery inspired by Israel, and four traditional Israeli dishes.By Brooke Weinbaum

  While  some  may  argue  that  the  final  week  of  February  was  the  most  hec8c  with  midterms  and  awai8ng  spring  break,  others  would  say  it  was  the  most  fun.  Hillel  of  Broward  and  Palm  Beach  made  sure  Israel  Awareness  Month  ended  with  a  bang.   On  a  Tuesday  night,  more  than  twenty  students  showed  up  to  learn  techniques  that  soldiers  learn  in  the  IDF.  Krav  Maga,  the  Israeli  self  defense  uses  natural  ins8ncts  to  defend  yourself.  “Self  protec8on  is  

the  number  one  thing  you  can  offer  yourself  for  safety,”  says  Jared  Grunwald,  lead  instructor  at  Grenade  Fitness  in  Boca  Raton.     Grunwald  and  two  other  instructors  taught  students  prac8cal  moves  for  real  life  

situa8ons.  “It  is  not  a  sport  or  a  compe88on,  it’s  how  to  get  home  safe.  In  Israel  everyone  joins  the  army,  but  not  everyone  is  6’4  and  250  pounds.  You  have  to  teach  something  that  

everyone  can  learn.  It’s  about  safety  and  self-­‐awareness.”   One  of  the  students  who  came  out  joined  the  IDF  seven  years  ago.  “I  did  Krav  Maga  in  the  army  and  thought  it’d  be  nice  to  meet  other  random  people  who  were  interested  in  Israel  there.  It  differed  from  the  army  because  this  was  more  about  self  defense.  It  was  a  good,  fun  class  and  even  aYer  being  in  combat,  I  learned  some  new  moves,”  says  Ari  BlaZ,  senior  at  PBSC.   The  following  day,  Krav  Maga  was  taken  down  to  Nova  Southeastern  University  to  show  more  students  a  unique  way  to  defend  themselves.  That  evening  was  the  highly  an8cipated  event,  iArt  Israel.  Students  had  the  opportunity  to  submit  a  piece  of  art  whether  it  was  a  photograph,  drawing,  pain8ng,  or  even  fabric  covered  box.     “We  wanted  to  give  students  a  chance  to  express  their  love  for  Israel  in  visual  form  and  also  show  others  the  feelings  Israel  gives  them.  We  got  so  many  view  points,  lots  of  color,  and  upliYing  pieces,”  says  Isabella  Torres,  sophomore,  who  was  the  student  in  charge  of  the  event.   Students  along  with  community  members  came  to  the  Yaacov  Heller  Gallery  in  Royal  Palm  Plaza  to  see  the  various  pieces  of  art,  enjoy  some  hors  d’oeuvres,  and  hear  from  different  ar8sts.  Yaacov  Heller,  who  lived  in  Israel,  spoke  about  his  career  as  a  sculptor,  and  how  Israel  inspired  him.

34

“Yaacov  understands  that  Israel  deserves  to  be  put  on  a  canvas  or  a  photograph;  it  should  be  expressed  visually.  We  were  so  lucky  to  have  him  support  us  throughout  the  process  and  share  with  other  people  his  story,”  says  Torres.   Following  Heller,  Owls  for  Israel,  brought  in  Ruben  Salvadori,  a  photojournalist  on  tour  through  CAMERA.   “I  think  everyone  was  impressed  with  Ruben.  He  was  so  young  and  has  accomplished  so  much.  He  really  made  me  think  about  how  I  

watch  the  news.  I  wish  I  could  turn  the  camera  180  degrees  and  see  all  of  

the  other  cameramen  there  and  how  they  are  portraying  the  scene.  It  really  makes  you  think  about  why  people  see  Israel  a  certain  way,”  says  Torres.   Students  and  community  members  alike  were  both  inspired  and  impressed  by  the  students’  contribu8ons  to  the  art  world  as  well  as  the  ar8sts’  telling  their  own  story  of  Israel  to  the  world.     One  of  the  final  events  of  the  week  was  a  cooking  class  lead  by  Hadar  Raveh,  the  Director  of  Israel  Programs,  Noffar  Keidar,  and  Liraz  Segal,  two  girls  from  Israel  sent  on  a  delega8on  through  the  Jewish  Federa8on.   The  girls  enjoyed  bringing  the  Israeli  cuisine  to  students,  who  were  excited  to  taste  what  brings  back  great  memories  for  them.   Dishes  included,  Israeli  salad,  burekas  with  feta  cheese,  and  p88m.  Students  were  

impressed  by  how  simple  everything  was  to  

make,  even  the  hard  to  perfect  shakshuka.   “Just  a  dash  of  salt,  pepper,  and  olive  oil  is  how  I  like  to  make  nearly  everything  in  Israel,  but  especially  the  p88m,”  said  Segal.  “I  brought  it  all  the  way  from  Israel  so  it  would  be  authen8c.”   Students  were  excited  to  have  learned  how  to  create  a  few  dishes,  and  leY  with  the  Israeli  treat,  Krembo.  A  cream  filled  chocolate  snack.   The  month  of  February  provided  students  with  many  opportuni8es  to  learn  about  Israel  from  new  perspec8ves.  Through  art,  krav  maga,  and  cooking,  students  learned  that  there  is  always  a  way  to  connect  through  Israel,  even  if  it  is  with  your  stomach!  

 

   

35

There was beautiful Klezmer music playing and we were spinning around in circles. Dozens of Hadassah women were laughing and smiling as we danced the Hora together. They all knew the same exact dance movements. I was uplifted to be with them.

On Sunday February 12, 2012, the Florida Atlantic Region of Hadassah invited me to their beautiful Centennial Celebration at Indian Spring Country Club. The theme of the night was, ‘Carrying the Torch to Tomorrow.’ Throughout the night, I had the opportunity to meet with the Hadassah women, many whom whose Zionist parents and grandparents had been involved with Hadassah in its earlier years. While Hadassah has accomplished many goals and objectives in the past century in the fields of Education, Women’s Rights, and Health Care, I wanted to share with you the personal stories of dedication and involvement of the women that comprise the Florida Atlantic Region.

Anne Lee Weiner has been a member of Hadassah for over 55 years. She was a chair of the Centennial Celebration. For her, Hadassah is a way of life. The establishment of Israel during her lifetime has given her much happiness and she is going to continue giving back to Hadassah, because from her hard work and dedication, people will be educated, have the opportunity to go to Israel, and learn about Zionism.

Judy Greer is a life member of Hadassah, as well as a past President of the Florida Atlantic Region. She is part of the Nassau chapter and has helped start the

Hatikvah chapter in Palm Beach Gardens. She believes it is important to be involved with Israel, and to be aware of what is going on. She believes the ties between the United States and Israel is vital.

Gladys Kleinman has met wonderful people through her experience in Hadassah. She was a past President of the Westchester chapter and helped to start the Valencia Pointe chapter. She is extremely proud of its women. Within two to three years, they grew to 300 members. She said that Hadassah gives you much more than you put into it.

Lydia Krieg was an event chair of the Centennial Celebration. When she was 12 years old, Hadassah gave her a scholarship to a Young Judaea camp. At the time, she had no Jewish identity and has now been involved with Hadassah for over 50 years. She was on the Regional Executive Board and was a founder of the Kol Tikvah chapter in Bellagio, Lake Worth. She was the Programming Vice President of the region and organized major events. She hopes that more young people will have the opportunity to go to Israel and find their roots.

Audrey Weinberg is a five-generation life member, and three generations of her family have been presidents. Throughout her childhood, she was so involved with Hadassah that she thought everyone else was involved as well. It was a way of life for her. She said the phone was always ringing in her house, they were constantly setting up rooms for meetings, and getting refreshments ready. She is extremely proud of the Tivoli Lakes chapter. They started with 40

women six years ago, and they have now reached 200 members. To her, Hadassah is one big family.

Carole Kurtz is especially proud of the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower funded by Hadassah that will open this year. Her message to the young people is that they should learn about Hadassah and realize that the hospital does so much good for society, and for people of all nationalities. Anyone who comes through those doors will be taken care of, and they will never be turned away based on factors such as race or religion.

Ruth Etkin informed me of the program, ‘Keepers of the Gate,’ which was started by Leona Brauser in the Florida Atlantic Region in 1996. Women, who become a ‘Keeper of the Gate,’ donate $1000 every year for five consecutive years, and for as long as they can after that. This initiative was so successful that it became a national program. The contributions support Hadassah College Jerusalem, Hadassah Medical Organization, Young Judaea, and Youth Aliyah/Children at Risk. After the five year commitment has been made, the Keeper’s name is inscribed on the Keepers of the Gate pillar in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem.

The organization and members of Hadassah were inspiring to meet. Each member has a personal story of dedication and passion. At the event, it was stated that, “Hadassah and Israel are so connected that it is inconceivable to think about one without the other.” For more information about the Florida Atlantic Region of Hadassah, the contact number is (561) 498-1012.

37

CELEBRATING 1! YEARS WITH HADASSAHBy Rose Morris

I had the opportunity to speak with Carol Weiss, President of the Florida Atlantic Regional Office of Hadassah. Of the 300,000 members that comprise Hadassah across the globe, the Florida Atlantic Region is home to the largest region with over 23,000 members in 66 chapters from Boca Raton to Vero Beach.

What is Hadassah’s mission?

HADASSAH, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, is a volunteer women's organization whose members are motivated and inspired to strengthen their partnership with Israel, ensure Jewish continuity, and realize their potential as a dynamic force in American society.

Committed to the centrality of Israel based on the renaissance of the Jewish people in its historic homeland, Hadassah promotes the unity of the Jewish people. In Israel, Hadassah initiates and supports pace-setting health care, education and youth institutions, and land development to meet the country's changing needs. 

In the United States, Hadassah enhances the quality of American and Jewish life through its education and Zionist youth programs, promotes health awareness, and provides personal enrichment and growth for its members.

What initially drew you to be involved in this organization?

Weiss: I grew up in New Jersey, and became involved in Young Judaea, which had been sponsored by Hadassah for the past forty years. Even though my household was very Jewish oriented, I got my Zionist spirit from Young Judaea. It was a youth group and I went to camp as well. When I was 17, I went on Young Judaea summer course in Israel. From that day on, I have been very Zionistic, have had a strong love for Israel, and I have done work for Israel ever since.

Are there any specific programs sponsored by Hadassah that you connect with?

Weiss: First of all, we are having our Centennial Celebration in Israel in October of 2012 and we are dedicating the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower, which is a new hospital because our hospital tower is 50 years old, and in the life of a hospital, that is very old. It is also overcrowded. We needed a new facility. It is a wonderful milestone to celebrate the Centennial year of Hadassah. Henrietta Szold, who originally went to Palestine on a trip with her mother, started the organization in 1912 after she saw the great need for medical care. She came back to the United States and had a study

group at Temple Emanu-El in New York City where she stated, “If we are Zionists…what is the good of meeting and talking and drinking tea? Let us do something real and practical-let us organize the Jewish women of America and send nurses and doctors to Palestine.” After getting sponsors for resources to deliver and use in Palestine, two nurses were sent to Palestine. With the high amount of malnutrition in the area, milk was delivered on donkeys in the program, ‘Tipat Chalav.’

We sponsor the camps and youth groups of Young Judaea, as well as Youth Aliyah, a program for children at risk in Israel. The children are able to be a part of live-in programs, as well as outpatient programs where children are able to receive therapy and help. We sponsor a few Youth Aliyah Villages, one Ramat Henrietta Szold and Ramat Ne’arim. In Ne’arim, where the children live, the Education is so strong there that the people in the neighboring areas want their children who are not a part of Youth Aliyah to attend as well.

How many Hadassah regional offices and chapters are there? How many chapters are in this region? How do they support one another?

Weiss: There are over 300,000 Hadassah members nationwide and 35 regions. This is the

By Rose MorrisHADASSAH

Community Spotlight

38

Florida Atlantic Region, and we have over 23,000 members in 66 chapters. We have chapters from Boca Raton to Vero Beach. The chapters are autonomous, but the region helps them by providing leadership workshops, spring conference, and giving them support in whatever they need. The spring conference in May is where we have a workshop with speakers. The Israeli Consul General is coming to speak. We have a ‘Book and Author’ every March, which we have over 600 attendees, with a waitlist, to give education to our members. Chapters meet monthly. At the meetings, they have programs, a speaker, something of Jewish content, and discuss current events. The individual chapters raise funds. The regional office holds various fundraising initiatives throughout the year.

What has been your most memorable moment in your involvement with Hadassah?

Weiss: My most memorable moment was when I went on a President’s mission to Israel and we went in with hard hats to the Sarah Wetsman Davidson tower. We saw how huge the project was, and they explained where everything would be. It was overwhelming to see what our money and hard work has created. It took 330 million dollars just for the building. Now we have to equip the inside.

What have you learned from Hadassah?

Weiss: Hadassah empowers women to do great things. Even though I was a teacher, and was educated, I learned to be a leader, to public speak, to organize, and it made an unbelievable difference in my life. I gave a lot, but I got so much more in return. The friendships that we have in Hadassah, the camaraderie, all the women that we work with, their amazing talent, their amazing passion, it is incredible to be with them. To think that women started this organization 100 years ago, when women couldn’t even vote! Women weren’t out of the house! They were not empowered at all, that to start something like this was truly amazing.

What specific events does your region hold?

Weiss: We hold ‘Book and Author’ in March, we hold a large fundraising event every year, this year we had the Centennial. Many years, we have something called, ‘Woman of Valor’ where we honor one woman from each chapter. Their families will come to honor them and Hadassah will put something in the Tribute book for her and it is lovely. We do leadership training all year round. There are two major workshops a year. A leadership team services the region. The chapters come and we teach them how to delegate and fundraise. We teach them how to engage their members. These events and initiatives are ongoing throughout the year.

How would you recommend involvement of university-age students and women of the community to Hadassah?

Weiss: We have some young groups and they make the chapter their own and they do programs and initiatives that are interesting to them. In Boynton Beach, there is a Hadassah chapter of young women called, ‘Not Your Mother’s Hadassah.’ They have speakers who they like, govern their own chapter and programs, and raise their own money. They do what fits their particular group, with the focal point on Israel and Hadassah. Last year there was a trip to Israel for Young Leaders and we had someone go from this region to cultivate future leaders. We need young people to keep the support for Hadassah and Israel going strong from generation to generation. Rose  Morris  recently  graduated  from  Florida  Atlan6c  University  with  a  degree  in  elementary  educa6on.  Rose  enjoys  exploring  new  places  and  her  favorite  thing  to  do  in  Israel  is  walk  around  Jerusalem  on  Shabbat.  

39

In honor of Israel awareness month, Hillel at Nova Southeastern University hosted iFest which consisted of collaborating with other clubs/organizations on campus to

relate Israel to their various focuses. Some of the clubs and organizations that participated included the Nature Club who presented pictures and facts about animals found in the Negev Desert. Students learned about the hyrax which is a small furry creature about 20 inches long that resembles a rabbit with no ears. Surprisingly, the hyrax is the closest living relative to the elephant. Sophomore Samantha Gonzalez said “I didn’t even know species like this exist, it would be really cool to see them in Israel.” Another club that participated was the Relay for Life Committee who related Israel to their mission of Cancer prevention. They provided facts such as that about 4,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in Israel each year! Freshman Tara Seidman said “The Relay for Life table gave me a new

perspective. Although Israel may be really far away and the people there may have many differences than we have here, we are all human beings and are affected by things like

cancer and are united to find a cure for it.” The winning table belonged to Alpha Phi Omega which is a co-ed service fraternity. They presented information about an organization in Israel called Save a Child’s Heart which they

educated visitors about their mission which is to improve the quality of pediatric cardiac care for children from developing countries who suffer from heart disease and to create centers of competence in these countries. Alpha Phi Omega also turned their table into a fundraiser for the organization by selling handmade key chains that said Save a Child’s Heart, as well as giving out paper hearts to those who donated to decorate and display on a board. As a prize they received $150 from Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach. Alpha Phi Omega member Heather Cohen said “ I am so glad we found out

about Save a Child’s Heart, it is such a great organization, we love that they provide medical treatment regardless of the child's nationality, religion, color, gender or financial situation and we plan to continue to fundraise for them as one of our official philanthropies." Another component of iFest was a Krav Maga class taught by Grenade Fitness. Nova students got to learn firsthand how to defend themselves using this Israeli fighting technique. Student Michael Mateus said “The detailed thought process behind every move and overall method is brilliant and I can see why it really works!” The students of Hillel at

Nova

worked hard to make this event a success. Nova Southeastern Hillel President Florencia Schwarz said “I am very proud of the success because of the internal effort and the support of the other organizations. My fellow Hillel members and I can’t wait to host iFest as an annual event.”

iFest @ NovaBy Lindsey Goldstein

Lindsey  is  a  junior  at  Nova  

Southeastern  University.  Her  

favorite  part  of  Israel  was  riding  

camels  and  looking  at  the  stars  in  

the  Negev  desert.  40

REAL SOLDIERS. REAL LIVES. REAL PEOPLE. Israeli Solders Speak Out is an innovative program featuring a diverse group of reserve duty Israeli college students. Their mission is to educate, inform, and delve into conversation

EAST COAST: MAR. 11-­24, 2012

MIDWEST: FEB. 16 -­ MAR. 1, 2012

SOUTHERN CA/SOUTHWEST: FEB. 21 -­ MAR. 2, 2012

PACIFIC NW/NORTHERN CA: FEB. 20 -­ MAR. 2, 2012

On February 13, Florida International University (FIU) hosted a discourse on the timely issues facing Pro-Israel student advocates on University campuses. With over 90 people in attendance, the event was successful in creating an

intergenerational dialogue between the students on the front lines and supportive community members. The evening began with an introduction by  Shlomi Dinar, the Director of the Middle East Society at FIU addressing the need and purpose of the event as there have been growing “systematic campaigns to isolate Israel” and students in “South Florida and FIU have not been immune to these activities”. The keynote address and panel discussion included experts in the field from various civil rights and Jewish organizations and focused on the many strategies and many resources to support Pro-Israel activists.

Several members within the audience were shocked to see the key tactics used by Israel detractors in a presentation by ADL FL Associate Director Robert Tanen. He gave the audience an introductory look into the rise of Anti-Israel activity at college campuses, featuring photographs of events and evidence of social media campaigns by groups like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and their recent activities within Florida. However, the FIU

students in the audience were already quite familiar with the scene

as much of the presentation included events they had experienced firsthand.

One FIU Student who moderated the panel, gave her personal account as president of Shalom FIU. Rebecca Sterling, a junior at FIU, discussed how she became a pro-Israel activist and how her campus has been directly affected by the rise of SJP.  “In the past few semesters, the Anti-Israel movement at FIU has been increasingly vocal and active”, stated Rebecca. In one instance, SJP organized a lobby to protest the

attendance of student government leaders going to the AIPAC national summit and “stating that AIPAC is a terrorist organization and ultimately intimidating 4 student officials from attending”.  Israel Apartheid Week was also held at FIU and included an FIU professor leading the discussion of BDS on behalf of SJP. 

In order to combat the misinformation spread by groups like SJP, Shalom FIU decided to help their campus understand the complexities of the conflict and the efforts of Israelis to make peace with their neighbors. “We held Israel Peace week so that people see the values of Israeli society and coexistence. We want our peers to know that Israelis are seeking peace, share the values of democracy, and that Israel has a positive humanitarian influence around the world”. Rebeccaʼs concluding message was that “Students are the ones on the front lines and itʼs up to us to engage in this movement, lead positive discussion on Israel and stop delegitimization…so that eventually

both sides can sit down and have an honest conversation on solving the real issues”.

The event ended with a question answer session with a very distinguished panel consisting of the ADL, AJC, Miami JCRC, and the Washington DC Jewish Federation. The panel answered several questions from students including how to encourage student leadership, how to deal with anti-Israel bias from professors, and how to successfully reach out to groups like Students for Justice in Palestine so that they know that pro-Israel groups are pro-peace and

not “anti-Palestinian”.

Events like these are important and open the possibility for dialogue and the doors to education. By increasing understanding and communication, especially between the student and non-student community we can build a more unified movement.Corey  is  a  freshman  at  Florida  

Interna3onal  University.  

Combatting ChallengesFIU, hosts panel to discuss issues relevant to pro-Israel community on and off campusBy Corey Hamel

42

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