January 16, 2025

Shalom Chaverim (Dear Friends),

This morning, I had coffee with Sean Haberer, a gentleman who is likely a cousin of mine. Sean’s family, like my own, originates from Offenburg, Germany. Of the Jews from that region who survived World War II, most left prior to Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass), which occurred throughout Germany on November 9–10, 1938. After leaving Offenburg, my family came to New York through Ellis Island. Sean’s family moved to South Africa, then Toronto, where he still resides today. It was fun spending time with Sean and exploring the potential of our familial ties. Haberer is not your typical Jewish name. There are approximately 2,600 Haberers in the world, with 2,400 from Germany. Throw in the fact that the majority of Haberers are not Jewish and it becomes a much smaller universe.

I proudly view the Adolph & Rose Levis JCC as a small universe of connection; everyone who enters our doors feels like family. On Tuesday, the community gathered for a wonderful afternoon of music as the Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center’s Robert Greenberg Performing Arts welcomed award-winning recording and New York cabaret artist Jeff Harnar performing Second Time Around. His two performances brought favorite songs from the Great American Songbook to our stage. This week, our Phyllis & Harvey Sandler presented the fascinating life story of Harriet Cohen, “Albert Einstein’s Beloved Piano Witch,” with noted concert pianist and head of Lynn University Conservatory of Music’s Piano Department Roberta Rust. The fascinating program about Cohen’s life included Rust performing music by composers JS Bach, Chopin, deFalla, and Bartok.

Next week, I hope you consider joining us at the Marisa & Matthew Baker “Jeans Jewels & The J” event which will be held on Saturday, January 25th at 7:00 p.m. at Boca West Country Club. The funds raised at this event will be used for scholarship assistance for our Betty & Marvin Zale Early Childhood Learning Center, Marleen Forkas Camps, Helene & Roy Schwedelson Special Needs Department, the Judy Levis Krug Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival, Health & Wellness programs, Arts, Culture and Learning programming at the Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center, and more. Tickets and information can be found at levisjcc.org/jeans.

This week’s Torah portion is Shemot (Names), the first portion in the book of Exodus, the second in the five books of Moses. In it, we are introduced to the story of Moses, the most acclaimed Jewish figure in Jewish history. With the Jewish people suffering, Moses protests to God and asks “Why have You done evil to this people?” G‑d promises that the redemption is close at hand. Now, thousands of years later, in the promised land of Israel, we await the freeing of our hostages from Gaza after much suffering. The irony is not lost on me.

Light candles Friday night at 5:34 pm
Shabbat ends on Saturday night at 6:34 pm

Shabbat Shalom
Am Yisrael Chai!

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Marty