Join Us For Healing Spines, Transforming Lives on September 23 –
Register Free Here!
Join Us For Healing Spines, Transforming Lives on September 23 –
Register Free Here!
The High Holiday season is one of the richest stretches of the Jewish calendar — a month-long journey from the reflection of Rosh Hashanah to the joy of Simchat Torah. For families with young kids, it can also feel like a lot: new foods, longer synagogue services,...
By Anne Middleton, The Ora Athletic Club member When I first joined The Ora Athletic Club, I was just following my favorite Zumba instructor and a group of friends. I knew I would enjoy the dancing, the music, and the chance to spend time with people I already...
July 4, 2026 marked the United States of America’s Semiquincentennial—250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Arnold Kaplan, who started the Kaplan Collection of Early American Judaica with his late wife Deanne, will share with us stories and...
Eleven Jewish teens represented the Florida Gulf Coast delegation at the 2026 JCC Maccabi Games in Kansas City in August. They joined over 900 athletes from across North America and around the world, including Mexico, Israel, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Panama and...
So here we are at one the craziest times of the year for all of us parents and commuters…back to school time! As much as I would love my two 16 year olds to be at the house perpetually reminding me that I know nothing and they “already know that” I’ll be happy to turn...
From a letter by Eugene, Anzhelika & Family Camp Yonnie brought the joy of Shabbat back into our home. Since moving to the United States more than half a year ago, one of the things I have missed most has been celebrating Shabbat as part of a Jewish community. We...
By Lauren Cohen, Outreach Manager Welcome to the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. Whether you have just moved to our community or have lived here for a while and have not yet had the chance to connect, we are so glad you are here. Our Jewish community is...
July 10 ShirLaLa, renowned singer and guitarist, performed for a joyful family Shabbat experience, getting kids (and parents!) clapping, singing, and moving together. Campers and guests enjoyed Kona Ice and a lively interactive show.
By Pat Robinson, Chief Security Officer Strong communities are built on trust, communication, and shared responsibility. One of the most effective ways to strengthen the relationship between residents and law enforcement is through active community engagement...
Shepard Englander, Chief Executive Officer America’s 250th anniversary evokes deep gratitude for American Jews. Jews have never enjoyed greater freedoms than in America, where we have been able to practice our faith proudly and openly, build strong...
July 4, 2026 marks the United States of America’s Semiquincentennial—250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Arnold Kaplan, who started the Kaplan Collection of Early American Judaica with his late wife Deanne will share with us stories and...
Bette Zaret, Holocaust Education Initiative As she nears 99 years old, local Holocaust Survivor Helga Melmed continues to ensure that the lessons of history are neither forgotten nor ignored. Last month, Helga was invited by the city of Hamburg, Germany to address the...
Bette Zaret, Holocaust Education Initiative I have seen “Fiddler on the Roof” more times than I can count. I know the music, the humor, and the heartbreak well. Yet the recent and magnificent production at Asolo Repertory Theatre felt entirely new to me. It...
Pat Robinson, Chief Security Officer Hurricane season is once again upon us here in the sunny State of Florida, which means it is time to review your hurricane preparation and planning! GET READY NOW First and foremost, you need to prepare for these storm...
Laurie Scott, Director of Donor Impact This weekend, I had the privilege of traveling from Sarasota to Toronto to join friends and tens of thousands of others at UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s Walk with Israel. This walk has a 57-year history. I expected the...
By Bette Zaret, Holocaust Education Specialist In the United States, one week each year is dedicated to celebrating teachers and all their hard work. It’s called Teacher Appreciation Week. The most recent one has just ended, but our gratitude for teachers must not be...
By Shepard Englander, Chief Executive Officer This summer, for the first time, Camp Yonnie has the full campgrounds we built for it. Campers will gather in the sunny, flexible Stone Lodge, our camp’s bright, open home. They’ll run, play, learn, and compete on the new...
By Rich Bergman, Retired Federation Team Member There is a hole in our hearts. Last month, we lost Bob Heller, a dear friend to me and to so many in our community. At nearly 98, Bob lived a long, remarkable life that he joked wouldn’t end soon enough. Bob’s absence is...
Submitted by Dylan Osherov, N’Siah (president) Anachnu Tamid BBG, May 2026 In April, the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee kindly hosted Sarasota BBYO in the newly opened Stone Lodge for our inaugural Chapter Convention (chap-con). This event simply wouldn’t have...
CODEPINK's BDS campaign against a beloved grocery chain is still going strong. Here's how you can fight back — one Bamba at a time. May 4, 2026 | Op-Ed | Consumer Affairs & Civil Society By David Millstone For the past year and a half, the radical activist...
Returning families reconnected and new ones were welcomed at Camp Yonnie's open house! It was so heartwarming to watch camp friends, find each other, pick up where the summer left off, and future campers experience the magic of Camp Yonnie. Families explored the new...
By Carly Zenker Marzouk, Development Manager The mission of our Women’s Giving Circle (WGC) has always been to support organizations and initiatives that improve the health and education of women and children in Israel. In the wake of October 7, and amid ongoing...
On April 14 The Ora was the site of Impact Theatre III. This community-wide educational initiative fosters unity, human rights, and peace by shining a light on the common history of oppression of both African-American and Jewish peoples. Students engaged with each...
Tom Baugher, Community Security Director It is estimated that 89 billion spam emails are sent each day. Broken down to the individual, approximately 50% of the emails we receive each day are spam. (Incidentally, the word “spam” as applied to unwanted emails is...
Shepard Englander, CEO At our Jewish Federation of Sarasota–Manatee, protecting the community sits first among the Federation's four mission pillars — Protect, Educate, Engage, and Sustain — because none of the others are possible if people don't feel safe when...
By Deb Kabinoff, JFSM Board Chair As I complete my term as Board Chair of the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee (JFSM), I want to share what an honor it has been to lead our Board during such a transformative period. Growing up in Cleveland, my parents raised me...
Rabbi Jennifer Singer, Rabbi It happened again. And again I felt the familiar combination of being heartbroken and not in the least surprised. Jews have always been a target. And we always will be. It's as simple as that. From simple indignities to outright...
Bethany Leinweber, Camp Yonnie/Youth Engagement Director We know you miss your grandchildren. We know your kids are busy, and maybe hesitant about the cost or logistics of summer camp. We know the distance can make it hard. What if you could have quality time with...
By Carol Dierksen, Program Manager According to Merriam-Webster, a challah is an egg rich yeast leavened bread that is usually braided or twisted before baking. It is traditionally eaten by Jews on the Sabbath or holidays. The name Challah comes from the Hebrew Bible,...
By Bette Zaret, Holocaust Education Initiative As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself pausing to reflect on the deeper meaning of gratitude and the many blessings, both great and small, that shape and enrich my life. This season not only reminds me of what I hold...
By Lisa Feinman, Director of Campus Operations When the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee voted to develop our 32-acre property, a powerful vision took shape. In partnership with the Capital Campaign Committee, the Development Team, and...
By Dr. Liat Alon Ph.D., Chief Learning and Engagement Officer None of us will ever forget that two years ago, on October 7, 2023, during the Jewish holidays of Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, we saw what we never thought would happen. Hamas terrorists charged over...
To serve one of America’s fastest growing Jewish communities, the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee (JFSM) continually innovates new ways to connect. Next month, we are proudly opening the Larry Greenspon Sports Complex, which will be the home of SunCourt Sports,...
By Tom Baugher, Community Security Director Safety must be a component of every organization’s culture, especially a house of worship. With regular services and holidays, organizations have an opportunity to revisit safety and security plans and procedures and...
We are so grateful for your support of our Insights & Inspirations event series this past season. Our programs, which included: films, authors, celebrities, Jewish and Israeli thought leaders, and more attracted just shy of 5,000 unique participants, including...
As students prepare for college this fall, many do so with unease. The events of October 7 and the rise in antisemitism across the United States have shaken our sense of safety, both as individuals and as a community. Some feel physically unsafe, others are...
Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee (JFSM) is proud to announce a new initiative: AdultEd@JFed. The new adult education program is designed for adults who want to know more about their Jewish heritage, Jewish prayer, and all things Jewish. “Our goal is both...
The Ora is even more successful than I anticipated, and I wouldn’t change a thing!” Phil Mancini, Co-Proprietor of Michael’s On East, shared with me recently. “Thanks to The Ora at the Morganroth Event Center, the big groups came back ‘home’ to Michael’s. I had to...
We are proud that the Jewish Federation of Sarasota Manatee quick action and advocacy helped prevent a damaging budget cut to essential local education. In early April, parents and educators from Sarasota and Riverview High Schools raised urgent concerns over a...
By Kim Adler, Chief Operating Officer I am pleased to share that Rabbi Jennifer Singer has re-joined the Federation staff after a two-decade hiatus. She came to Sarasota in February 1998 to serve as a development officer. She is delighted to be returning to the...
I’ve enjoyed leading many community missions to Israel over the years, but our recent Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee (JFSM) leadership mission was very different. With no end to the war, we invited a group of seasoned JFSM leaders, mostly past and present board...
By Hermione Gilpin, Chief Development Officer Dan Murphy of Great Lakes Private Wealth recently sat down with Rod Zeeb of The Heritage Institute® and Genacy Group to ask a few questions about the legacy of wealth. Murphy: Rod, you’ve worked with ultra-high-net-worth...
By Shepard Englander, Chief Executive Officer First 2 Days In the first two days of our community leaders' Israel Mission, we immersed ourselves in this very challenging moment in Israel’s history, to gain real insight into the ongoing ravages of October 7 and the...
By Shepard Englander, Chief Executive Officer and Hermione Gilpin, Chief Development Officer Five years ago, the Brandeis University community study that our Jewish Federation commissioned revealed a huge unserved need and opportunity. The study showed that there are...
By Liat Alon, Chief Learning & Engagement Officer A great delegation of lay leaders travelled to Tallahassee to join members from seven Federations and thirty-one Jewish organizations from across the state. We met with our elected officials, shared the issues at...
By Kim Adler, Chief Operating Officer and Lisa Lurie, Guest Writer On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, Jewish Federation will welcome Emmy Award-winning television host, producer, and author Andy Cohen to the Ora. As part of our outstanding Insights and Inspiration season, Mr....
By Bette Zaret, Holocaust Education Initiative, and Joseph Baker, Educator from Buffalo Creek Middle School Joseph Baker, Survivor Rifka Glatz, and student and poem author, Naythan Dameus. Joseph Baker teaches Pre-Advanced International Certificate Education...
By Jeremy Lisitza, Individual Giving Officer Hut HaMeshulash’s Drop-In Center Hut HaMeshulash’s Open Space Drop-In Center in the heart of Jerusalem attracts over 1,200 young people every year, of whom 600+ are under the age of 18. The center provides three hot meals a...
By Shepard Englander, Chief Executive Officer I was not expecting such an emotional experience when I walked into last months’ Manatee County School Board to accept their proclamation recognizing Holocaust Education Week in Florida. The School Board had asked our...
By Roz Bokoff Venice, often dubbed the “City of Canals,” is renowned for its stunning architecture, winding waterways, and vibrant cultural heritage. Within its winding streets and canals lie a long and rich Jewish history that has experienced both flourishing periods...
By The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee This year, we experienced two of the most powerful storms to hit our area in over a century. We were awed and frightened as Hurricanes Helene and Milton passed through leaving behind destruction and devastation. Yet, at the...
By Shepard Englander The three hurricanes that struck the Sarasota-Manatee region between August and October 2024 caused the most severe damage of any hurricane in over a century. The most recent storm, Hurricane Milton, destroyed the homes of dozens of community...
By Jeremy Lisitza, Individual Giving Officer Neve Michael’s Emergency War Response Program, which is a lifeline for Israel’s children at risk, was awarded $10,000 by the Federation’s Women’s Giving Circle. October 7 will forever remain a day of unimaginable grief for...
By Jeff LaHurd In 1914, when Sarasota was still more of a fishing/agricultural village than a destination for snowbirds, its fortunes were enhanced by the arrival of a gentleman named Philip Levy who came to a very small community to open the New York Store. Phil Levy...
By Bette Zaret The Holocaust began when Hitler came to power in 1933, however, the night of November 9, 1938, marks a major turning point when the growing hostility against Jews and the increasingly repressive anti-Jewish laws in Germany and surrounding countries...
Project Pride SRQ, the area’s largest LGBTQ Pride organization, is incredibly proud to partner with the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee (JFSM) to welcome Hen Mazzig and R. Derek Black as speakers at separate events on November 6, 2024, and February 11, 2025,...
By Tom Baugher As you know, hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. I therefore wanted to take this time to talk about safety during hurricane season. Before we get into hurricane-related specifics though, I think it is important to review a foundational...
By Hermione Gilpin, Chief Development Officer and Liat Alon, Chief Learning and Engagement Officer Photo: Ronan Horesh This month, we mark a year since the horrific attacks on October 7. We have watched from that moment onward as a nation was tossed into a chaotic war...
By Shepard Englander, CEO and Deb Kabinoff, Board Chair The Jewish People have faced endless threats to their existence over thousands of years. A secret to our unlikely survival has been our ability to recognize, but set aside, internal differences and find a path to...
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is pleased to announce that Deb Kabinoff has been elected to succeed Bruce Udell as its next President, effective April 1. As President of the Board since January 2022, Bruce has inspired and presided over comprehensive...
October 3, 2023 -- The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is thrilled to announce a gift from community philanthropists Drs. Joel and Gail Morganroth which brings their total investment to more than $6 million, making it the largest combined gift in the...
On Rosh Hashanah, we remind ourselves of what matters most. What matters most to our Jewish Federation is ensuring we live in a secure, confident, thriving Jewish community. Sadly, today we watch antisemitism and hatred spike senselessly around us. We see...
By Tom Baugher A computer hack can feel like your whole world just stopped. If your device has been compromised, follow these first steps from our Community Security Director Tom to get you safely back online. 1. Disconnect the computer from WiFi and turn it...
Good evening Sarasota! Distinguished guests, dear community, ladies and gentlemen, it's an honor and an immense pleasure to be here today, because this 'Atzmaut celebration is different - both in meaning and in magnitude. Israel's 75th Independence Day! But don't make...
by Gayle Guynup While I generally do not discuss politics in public, today, it seems, almost everything has a political slant to it. So, I am going to skirt the issue by noting that in this world where everything and everyone is so terribly divided, perhaps it is...
by Jessi Each year, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee awards education scholarships to qualified applicants attending College, Community College, Vocational/Technical School or University. Chaired by Laura Briefman, this year the Education Scholarship...
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...
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...
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...
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...
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast are proud to present “Violins and Hope,” a unique event marrying photography, storytelling and the performing arts, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at Michael’s On East, 1212 S. East St.,...
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...
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 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...
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 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...
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...
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...
Last month, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released its annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, which reports that antisemitic incidents throughout the United States grew by 34%. The number of incidents in 2021 – 2,717, more than seven per day – is at the highest...
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...
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,...
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...
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....
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...
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,...
The goal of CRConnect is to bring you information to help understand difficult questions we all face concerning both Israel and antisemitism. This month we address a complex question which distinguishes between an “antisemitic act” and “antisemitism.” As Deborah...
CRConnect provides information to help you understand difficult questions we all face concerning Israel and antisemitism. This post explores something a little different, and talks about the issues facing families with children in the public schools during the month...
Israel as a modern state was founded on the basis of the Zionist dream of the late 19th century, advanced and promoted by Theodor Herzl. For Herzl, Zionism was a nationalist movement for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in the historic land of the Jewish...
by David Millstone PHOTO: Aerial view of the Palestinian Shu’afat Refugee Camp in Anata, north of Jerusalem. QUESTION: Did Israel Create the Palestinian Refugee Issue? ANSWER: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East...
by David Millstone jerusalem-post-headline-june-6-1947 QUESTION: Are Israeli Settlements in the West Bank Illegal Under International Law? We read in the news on a regular basis that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal. In 2019, the Trump administration...
Why does Israel Oppose the U.S. reentering the nuclear agreement with Iran? QUESTION: Why does Israel Oppose the U.S. reentering the nuclear agreement with Iran? ANSWER: President Biden has announced (February 2021) his intent to return to the Nuclear Agreement with...
QUESTION: Isn’t it true that Israel is an apartheid state, just like South Africa was? Doesn’t that justify the same type of boycotts, divestment, sanctions and isolation from the civilized world? ANSWER: Simply stated, NO. “Apartheid” is: “a system of...
By David Millstone QUESTION: The Palestinians were in Israel first, then it was flooded with European Jews from the Holocaust. I have sympathy for someone fleeing the Holocaust, but they shouldn’t be able to just take over someone else’s land, should they? ...
By David Millstone An antisemitic cartoon by Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff. There is a sentiment among some that criticism of Israel will automatically draw the ire of Jews making the claim that such criticism makes one anti-Semitic. Thus, the question posed is...