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Hebrew schools have moved online and rabbis are using email and websites to stay connected with their congregants while their campuses are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But livestreaming isn’t an option for Orthodox Shabbat services. Jewish law prohibits the use of technology during the Sabbath, a 25-hour observance that begins just before sundown on Friday and ends at nightfall on Saturday.

Instead, rabbis are encouraging their congregants to pray at home with their families.

“The concept of prayer is a discussion between you and God, and you can do that from anywhere,” said Rabbi Arele Gopin of Chabad of Boca Raton. “Obviously doing that with the congregation is more powerful, but we’re encouraging people to pray at the same times that we generally pray for our services at the synagogue.”

Source: Sun-Sentinel

The challenge of being legally blind since birth has not stopped Richard Bernstein from becoming a lawyer, a Michigan Supreme Court Justice, run more than 20 marathons and compete in a Ironman triathlon race.

Bernstein recently inspired the local Jewish community when he shared his story at synagogues and day schools in South Florida.

Bernstein hopes his talks with local audiences made a difference and that something good will come out of them.

“I think what it really comes to, and the reason why I work so hard on this, is that people like me with disabilities know what we can accomplish and what we can achieve, we just need people who are not disabled to give us an opportunity to do it and give us a chance.”

Source: Sun-Sentinel

Nuremberg Trials prosector Benjamin Ferencz was met with thunderous applause and a warm reception from approximately 700 people when he recently provided a firsthand account regarding his life experiences at Chabad of Central Boca Raton.

The Nuremberg Trails were a series of military tribunals held by the Allied forces under international law and the laws of war after World War II. Ferencz, 99, of Delray Beach, was responsible for the prosecution of a group of German SS officers accused of committing the largest number of Nazi killings outside of the concentration camps as more than a million men, women and children were shot and killed in towns and villages.

Ferencz, who is the last living Nuremberg prosector, shared several details of his life throughout his presentation at the Chabad center. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1943, Ferencz joined an anti-aircraft artillery battalion for the invasion of France. Under U.S. Army Gen. George S. Patton, he fought in every campaign in Europe. As Nazi atrocities were uncovered, he was transferred to a newly created War Crimes Branch of the Army to gather evidence of Nazi brutality and apprehend the criminals. At 27 years old, he became chief prosecutor for the United States at the Nuremburg trials, his first case. There is also a Netflix documentary about the story of his life called “Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz.”

Ferencz received a thunderous applause by the audience when he said, “Regarding the evidence of the Holocaust happening, nobody in my presence will tell me it didn’t happen.”

Source; Sun-Sentinel

More than a thousand people of different ages and Jewish denominations filled the amphitheater of The Shops at Boca Center with Hanukkah joy for a community celebration on the third night of the festival of lights.

This annual community Hanukkah celebration, presented by PJ Library-South Palm Beach County and PJ Our Way, included a menorah candle lighting that featured participation from Conservative, Orthodox and Reform rabbis from throughout the South Palm Beach area, live music, crafts and story time. The event involved Jewish organizations from the area as well.

Elana Ostroff, director for PJ Library-South Palm Beach County, thought the turnout was “amazing” considering there was approximately 45 minutes of downpour rain. Ostroff called the event a “beautiful community celebration.”

“It’s an amazing event because we bring out the rabbis from all the denominations in our community and everyone comes together.”

Rabbi Robert Silvers of the Reform synagogue Congregation B’nai Israel in Boca Raton who participated in the menorah lighting, said, “I enjoy seeing my Conservative rabbi colleagues and my Orthodox rabbi colleagues.”

“There are only a few times during the year when we really get the chance to be together on happy occasions such as this community Hanukkah celebration, a Purim carnival and a celebration of Israel on Yom Ha’atzmaut [Israel Independence Day]. Otherwise, we usually find ourselves together at a vigil because something terrible has happened and we have to come together to be supportive.”

Silvers continued, “This event is nice because you get to be with everybody in a season of joy and celebration, and we enjoy each other’s company.”

Rabbi David Baum of the Conservative synagogue Congregation Shaarei Kodesh in Boca Raton, said at the event, “This is a tremendous show of unity, and I’m proud that the rabbis of this community can be the model for everyone here.”

The candle lighting also included participation from Rabbis David Englander, Yaakov Gibber, Efrem Goldberg, Arele Gopin, Rony Keller, Ali Cohen and Greg Weisman.

Rabbi Josh Broide, a Modern Orthodox who is the director of the Deborah & Larry D. Silver Center for Jewish Engagement, a division of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, facilitated the candle lighting. Broide noted that while having different denominations come together at an event may be a massive deal for some communities, he continued that it’s something the South Palm Jewish community does all the time.

“That’s the type of community this is,” he noted. “It’s important for us to demonstrate publicly to people who have never seen us assembled together to make sure that not only do they see this and not only do they take a photo of it, but that they also share it on social media, so their friends in other parts of the country can see what we do here in Boca Raton.”

Broide also played drums during the event alongside Lenny Solomon from the band Shlock Rock, which is best known for educating and entertaining through parodies that swap Jewish-themed lyrics into popular secular songs for all ages.

“I’ve been a drummer for more than 30 years, but I don’t get to play that much because as a rabbi in the community, I’m very busy, so having the chance to play on stage with someone I grew up listening to is a dream come true, because he’s such a great musician who has inspired so many children and communities all over the world.”

Solomon enjoyed the energy from the crowd.

“This is a fantastic community as every denomination was here at this event, and it’s the model community for the entire world. We should all get along like this.”

Shira Sharp of Boca Raton, who took her two children, ages 15 and 11, to the celebration, said, “I’ve been a Shlock Rock fan since I was 10 years old, so I was happy to bring my kids out here, and I love that my kids get to see kids from different parts of the community.”

Source; Sun-Sentinel

Thirteen South Florida rabbis — 10 of whom come from synagogues in Boca Raton — recently toured Israel on a five-day trip organized by Jewish National Fund.

The purposes of the trip were to better familiarize the rabbis with the work Jewish National Fund (JNF) is doing in Israel — and to convince the rabbis to encourage their communities to support JNF.

Roni Raab, JNF’s South Florida director, said JNF had recently organized a highly successful trip for four or five rabbis from Northern New Jersey as the pilot group — and he thought the rabbis in South Florida — particularly those in Boca Raton — would be a good group to invite on such a trip.

“The Boca Raton rabbis are such a tight-knit community across the denominations that we started with them as the core group,” Raab said. “Then we invited about seven or eight other rabbis from around South Florida — three of whom were able to join us.”

The group that went on the trip included:

• Boca Raton synagogues: Modern Orthodox: Rabbi Yaakov Gibber (Boca Jewish Center/Shaaray Tefilla); Senior Rabbi Efrem Goldberg and Rabbi Philip Moskowitz (Boca Raton Synagogue); Rabbi Benjamin Yasgur (Congregation Torah Ohr). Chabad: Rabbi Moishe Denburg and Rabbi Arele Gopin (Chabad of Central Boca); Rabbi Ruvi New (Chabad of East Boca); Rabbi Zalman Bukiet (Chabad of West Boca). Conservative: Rabbi David Baum (Congregation Shaarei Kodesh). Other: Rabbi Joshua Broide (Boca Raton Synagogue/Director of Community Engagement for the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County).

Source; Sun-Sentinel

Throughout Palm Beach County, Jewish synagogues, schools and organizations are preparing to celebrate the holiday of Purim on March 23-24.

According to www.chabad.org, “Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from Haman’s plot to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews — young and old, infants and women — in a single day.”

Rabbi Arele Gopin, programming director at the Chabad of Boca Raton, said in a recent email: “If you look closely at the holiday of Purim, there were no miracles at all — just a string of ‘coincidences.’ Purim teaches us that sometime we just have to pay attention to the miracles in life that we would otherwise not notice.”

The Chabad of Boca Raton is organizing a Purim in the Wild West event on Thursday, March 24. The Megillah reading of the Biblical book of Esther detailing the Purim story will start at 5 p.m., followed by a Purim feast and party at 6 p.m.

Cost for adults is $40, and for children under-12 is $15. Payment in advance is necessary. The event will take place at the Chabad of Central Boca Raton at 17950 North Military Trail in Boca Raton. For more information, or to RSVP, visit www.chabadofbocaraton.com or call 561-994-6257.

At Congregation B’nai Israel, a Reform synagogue also in Boca Raton, the temple will celebrate Purim with two events for all ages.

A Purim Carnival will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 13. Advance tickets can be purchased before March 10 and are $18 per child. Day of tickets for children will be $20 at the door. To purchase tickets, visit login.cbiboca.org/purim-carnival.

The congregation’s 26th annual Purim Shpiel (humorous play) will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 18 in B’nai Israel’s Cohen/Friedkin Sanctuary.

CBI is changing things up this year and instead of doing a traditional Purim Shpiel, the synagogue’s clergy, staff, family and friends will rock out karaoke style to the congregation’s greatest Purim Shpiel hits. More than 700 guests are expected to attend the event, which is free and open to the public.

Both events will take place at Congregation B’nai Israel, which is located at 2200 Yamato Road in Boca Raton. For more information about the temple or these events, visit www.cbiboca.org or call 561-241-8118.

“Our Purim events at CBI engage the entire spectrum of our community — from young to old you can find something over the Purim holiday to enliven your spirit, bring a smile to your face and make you proud to be a Jew,” said B’nai Israel Senior Rabbi Robert Silvers in a recent email.”

Temple Shirat Shalom, an egalitarian synagogue based in Boca Raton, is having a unique, free Doggy Purim for humans who want to celebrate Purim with their dogs. Any dog in a costume gets a prize. Humans without dogs are welcome, too.

The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23 at Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park (12551 Glades Road) in Boca Raton. Meet at Sunset Pavilion at the Dog Park.

For more information, or to RSVP, either register at shiratshal@aol.com, or text or call 561-488-8079.

The Neshamah Institute, an unaffiliated synagogue based in Boca Raton, is organizing a Purim Carnival and Family Fun Day where they say they are celebrating Purim — the Jewish holiday of courage and unity — by taking part in a day of giving to their neighbors at the Florence Fuller Child Care Center West.

The event will take place on Saturday, March 12 — with Purim activities and carnival games at 11 a.m. and the Purim Story and a Costume Parade at noon.

The Florence Fuller Child Care Center West is located at 10130 S. 185th St. South in Boca Raton.

Attendees are encouraged to bring retired toys, books, bikes, furniture, clothing, household wares and anything in good condition that needs a new home. Donation drop off begins at 10 a.m. or you can bring your items when you come to the carnival at 11 a.m.

For more information, contact Neshamah’s Rabbi Amy Rader at rabbi@niboca.org or 561-212-3336.

In central Palm Beach County, the Chabad of Delray and the Chabad of West Boynton Beach/West Lake Worth are having a few events commemorating Purim.

The two synagogues are combining to co-sponsor a Pre-Purim Celebration at the Delray Marketplace (14851 Lyons Road) in Delray Beach on Sunday, March 20.

The event will take place from 2 to 5 p.m.

There will be a live concert with Dr. Laz at 3 p.m. and Purim Puppet Theater at 2:15 p.m. The entire community is invited.

Rabbi Sholom Ber Korf of the Chabad of Delray Beach said in a press release: “Purim is a holiday that Jewish children look forward to every year. The holiday that celebrates Queen Esther and the Maccabees’ triumph over the forces of hatred is a message that needs to be shared every year.”

On Wednesday, March 23, the two Chabads will have separate readings of the Megillah at 8 p.m. at their respective synagogues. Hamantashen (fruit pastries) will be served to all attendees.

The Chabad of Delray is located at 7495 W. Atlantic Ave. in Delray Beach and the Chabad of West Boynton Beach/West Lake Worth is located at 9406 W. Boynton Beach Blvd. in Boynton Beach.

Korf explained in a press release that it is “the obligation of every Jew to hear a reading of the Megillah on Purim. Facing extermination, these remarkable Jews overcame overwhelming odds to gain victory for the Jewish people.

“Jewish families are encouraged to attend one of these two events and it is especially important for children to attend this event and learn about this remarkable time in Jewish history.”

These Megillah readings are open to the public and all are welcome to participate.

For more information, visit purim@chabaddelray.com or Info@chabadwestboynton.com

In Northern Palm Beach County, the big celebration is literally called One Big Purim. It is taking place at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 13 at the Mandel Jewish Community Center Palm Beach Gardens, located at 5221 Hood Road.

One Big Purim is free and open to the community.

The Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, the Mandel JCC, Temple Judea in Palm Beach Gardens, Temple Beit Hayam in Stuart and Temple Beth David in Palm Beach Gardens are collaborating for the event.

The morning begins with a special Preschool Preview from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. This is only open to preschool-age children and their parents. Appropriate rides and entertainment will be available.

The full celebration kicks off at 10:30 a.m. for families of all ages.

There will be a Dunk a Rabbi event where members of the community will get to dunk local rabbis in exchange for a donation, which will benefit a local charity.

“We’re so excited to welcome back the community-wide One Big Purim celebration this year and make it even bigger and better,” shared Rachel Fox, program director at the Mandel JCC in Palm Beach Gardens. “We’re building on last year’s great response with even more activities the whole family can enjoy.”

For more information about One Big Purim, visit www.onebigpurim.com.

Source; Sun-Sentinel

For the 25th consecutive year, Chabad-Lubavitch of Boca Raton will put up a public menorah at Town Center Mall (6000 Glades Road) in Boca Raton, to be highlighted by a community-wide candlelighting celebration at 6 p.m. on Dec. 18, which will take place in the mall directly across from the Saks Fifth Avenue store.

The candlelighting ceremony will feature a menorah lighting by Congressman Ted Deutch, followed by a special Hanukkah Puppet Show for children. There also will be traditional Hanukkah foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot (“jelly doughnuts”), as well as dreidels for all.

According to the Chabad sect of Orthodox Judaism, the menorah serves as a universal symbol of religious freedom.

Rabbi Arele Gopin of the Chabad of Boca Raton said the Town Center menorah is one of more than 10,000 large public menorahs being lit worldwide that are sponsored by the Chabad movement to help children and adults of all walks of life discover and enjoy the message of Hanukkah.

Gopin stated: “Our menorah is a symbol of Boca Raton’s dedication to preserve and encourage the right and liberty of all its citizens to worship G-d freely, openly and with pride. Specifically, in America — a nation that was founded upon and vigorously protects the right of every person to practice his or her religion free from restraint and persecution — the menorah takes on profound significance, embodying both religious and Constitutional principles.”

Chabad member Alanna Rubin, of Boca Raton, whose children are eagerly looking forward to the public menorah lighting, commented, “I want my kids to grow up with pride in their Jewish heritage and a feeling of equality and self-confidence as Americans. Chabad-Lubavitch’s Hanukkah menorahs are arguably one of the most important developments to my children’s Jewish pride. I wish they had this where I grew up.”

According to Chabad literature, the requirement to position Hanukkah menorahs at the door or window symbolizes our desire to give the Hanukkah miracle a “high profile.”

As stated on http://www.chabad.org: “There’s only one holiday whose primary mitzvah is PR-oriented, whose message is meant to be advertised and broadcasted, and that is Hanukkah. Originally, the sages who established Hanukkah instituted that the menorah be lit at the entranceway to one’s home. The concept of pirsumei nissa, ‘the publicizing of the miracle,’ is, and always was, part and parcel of Hanukkah.”

Throughout the state of Florida, Chabad will be presenting scores of other Hanukkah events and celebrations, including public menorah lightings at the Miami Heat game, giant menorahs made out of ice and Legos, “Menorah Parades,” “Latkes Parties,” “Giant Dreidel Houses” and “Hanukkah Wonderlands.”

Chabad of Central Boca Raton also will have a Grand Hanukkah Celebration at its center (17950 Military Trail), with the welcoming of a new “Sefer Torah” (Torah scroll), as dedicated by philanthropist Leonardo Farkas, at 6 p.m. on Dec. 17. For the celebration, there will be live music, dancing and a sit-down Hanukkah dinner. Admission is free.

Continuing with the theme of “Sharing the Light of the Holiday,” there will be a “Menorah Car Parade” on Tuesday, Dec. 23, where everyone can have their car fitted with a car-top menorah, and then parade through the streets of Boca Raton sharing the light and joy of the holiday of Hanukkah.

The parade will leave from Chabad of Central Boca Raton at 6 p.m. The menorahs will get picked up at 5:30 p.m. Receive a Hanukkah CD to listen to as you cruise along. Chabad of Central Boca Raton is located at 17950 Military Trail, near the northeast corner of Clint Moore Road, behind the Shops at Addison Court.

For more information about this local schedule of Hanukkah events, visit http://www.chabadofbocaraton/chanukah or call 561-994-6257.

Source; Sun-Sentinel