Blogs

A Season of Programs with a Purpose–Tikkun Olam

2021-2022 A Season of Programs with a Purpose--Tikkun Olam by Trudi Krames When you hear the Hebrew phrase, Tikkun Olam, what initially comes to mind? Most folks think of this Jewish value as healing, repairing, or rebuilding the world. Their call to action is...

Remembering the Holocaust on Our New Campus

by Shep Englander Never during our lifetimes has it been more urgent to share the lessons of the Holocaust. The American values of moderation and tolerance are straining as weaponized partisanship and social media echo chambers starve American society of broadly...

One Day, One Community, One Mission

by Hermione Gilpin This year marked another tremendous day for The Jewish Federation of Sarasota—Manatee. From April 26 to 27,  we took part in a 24 hour community philanthropy event—The Giving Challenge 2022. Presented by The Community Foundation of Sarasota County,...

From The CEO’s Desk

 

How Hurricane Ian Tested Us

How Hurricane Ian Tested Us by Shep Englander Whether it’s a security threat, antisemitic vandalism or a natural disaster, emergencies are frightening, disorienting and isolating. They test the strength of a community. You may not think of The Jewish Federation of...

Remembering the Holocaust on Our New Campus

by Shep Englander Never during our lifetimes has it been more urgent to share the lessons of the Holocaust. The American values of moderation and tolerance are straining as weaponized partisanship and social media echo chambers starve American society of broadly...

Learn, Reflect, Grow in Memorial Garden

Holocaust Memorial Garden: A Place to Learn, Reflect, Grow by Shep Englander The heavy equipment I can see from my office window is moving us toward the much  anticipated opening of our Larry & Mary Greenspon Campus for Jewish Life. The campus will be an oasis of...

Federation’s Work on the Ground in Israel and Poland

By Shep Englander They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I never felt that more than I did in July, when I joined Jewish Federation leaders from our community and 20 other communities for an up-close look at the impact that the Jewish Federation system is...

Take a Walk With Me Through Our New Campus

by Shep Englander I am delighted to share the below images of The Larry Greenspon Campus for Jewish Life under construction. It is so exciting to see the transformation of our front 16 acres into new interior and exterior spaces for our community to learn, reflect,...

Supporting Israel on Our New Campus

by Shep Englander Our Jewish community has always made our connection with Israel a top priority. So it is fitting that Israel is prominent in the vision for The Larry & Mary Greenspon Campus for Jewish Life. This month we want to tell you more about how the...

Special Campus Update from Shep Englander, CEO

by Shep Englander  While it may be summer here, we at the Federation have been at work finalizing designs, securing critical financing, and starting construction for The Larry & Mary Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life. In 18 months' time, we will be welcoming...

Campus Preview: A Unique Oasis for Learning, Celebration and Reflection

by Shep Englander We are delighted to announce that construction has begun on the next phase of The Larry & Mary Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life.  The campus will open in phases next winter, spring and summer. The seminal act of the first Jews, Abraham and...

Our vision: an island of learning where all ideas are welcome

by Shep Englander During the more than 2,000 years that Jews have lived in Diaspora (outside the Land of Israel), no society has been a better host than America. American democracy--with its emphasis on pluralism, moderation, education, personal responsibility and...

Bringing the Dream of a Community Campus to Life

Bringing the Dream of a Community Campus to Life

by Shep Englander  In April, the Jewish Federation Board and committed donors celebrated that we are starting construction on the next phase of our 21st century campus--the Larry & Mary Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life! Together, we said a shehachianu, the...

Ukraine, Israel and Jewish Freedom

Ukraine, Israel and Jewish Freedom

Ukraine, Israel and Jewish Freedom by Shep Englander Nothing is more central to Jewish identity than Passover--our Festival of Freedom.  For over two thousand years, we were the wandering Jews -- a people with no country, no army.  Every year at Passover, we said,...

Your Gift, Your Impact

Giving Together for Safe, Secure Future

Giving Together for Safe, Secure Future

Giving Together for our Safe and Secure Future by Hermione Gilpin Each of us yearns to be involved with someone, something, outside of ourselves. Philanthropy provides that linchpin to our humanity. We recently announced an exciting matching challenge for security....

The Power of Women’s Philanthropy

The Power of Women’s Philanthropy

Feminism, Finance, and the Power of Women's Philanthropy by Hermione Gilpin When high profile women like Mackenzie Bezos and Melinda Gates make news for their charitable giving, they bring the issue of women and philanthropy into the mainstream. In the Jewish...

Culture & Community

Past, Present, and Future Programming

Past, Present, and Future Programming

Shape the Past, Present, and Future of Federation Programming by Trudi Krames That's a Wrap! The 2021-2022 season is in the books – and once again, our Federation’s program department provided a range of meaningful engagement opportunities to meet our community...

Teen & Family Programming

Back to School with PJ Library

by Jessi  While sending kids back to school is a hectic time for parents, we have a lot to look forward to. Our yeladim (children) are going to learn so much, meet new teachers, reunite with friends and make new ones.  Even though most of our little ones attend...

The New Generation of Israel Advocates

by Jessi June was a spectacular month for the future of the Jewish people as our Bob Malkin Young Ambassador Program (BMYA) teens returned from their life-changing Israel experience. BMYA is a monthslong leadership program that provides opportunities for local teens...

Trip to Israel Leaves Teens with Life-Changing Experience

by Jessi June was a spectacular month for the future of the Jewish people as our Bob Malkin Young Ambassador Program (BMYA) teens returned from their life-changing Israel experience. BMYA is a monthslong leadership program that provides opportunities for local teens...

Spotlight

Lisa Eisen: Opening Doors for Women and Girls

By Gayle Gynup Lisa Eisen, co-President of Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, will be the featured speaker at this year’s Women’s Day event sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. The luncheon will be held on March 8 at 11:30 a.m. at...