By Shep Englander Core to The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’smission is to “promote supportfor Israel.” There is nothing morepowerful than experiencing Israel firsthand. Over the decades, our Federation has led countless trips to Israel for a broad range of...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...