February 27, 2025

Shalom Chaverim (Dear Friends),

I am thrilled to share that I will be taking Adam Nimoy, son of beloved actor Leonard Nimoy, out to dinner when he visits our Levis JCC Beifield Auditorium on March 6th to promote his new book, The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father Leonard Nimoy. This is a dream come true for me. Growing up in Inwood, Manhattan, I spent countless hours in front of the TV watching Star Trek. Even then, I felt immense pride when I learned that Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner, the two stars of my favorite show, were both Jewish. Now, decades later, I am incredibly fortunate to meet prominent figures like Adam through my lifelong work in Jewish communities. Moments like these remind me of the deep impact of Jewish storytelling.

Here at the Adolph & Rose Levis JCC, we celebrate Jewish culture, history, and storytelling through our incredible programs. Last Saturday, we completed our two-week in theater Judy Levis Krug Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival, which welcomed over 2,000 participants. We screened dozens of award-winning films exploring various Jewish themes, from music (including a live Q&A with Janis Ian) to war, Jewish matchmaking to the Holocaust and–of course–the ongoing impact of October 7 on Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. I personally watched many of these films and feel richer for having seen them. And the excitement is far from over! Click here for more great films as our Festival Continues.

This past Sunday, we welcomed Joy Altman to the Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center for Her Name is Barbra: A Streisand Tribute Show, where a sold out audience enjoyed her performance of Streisand’s powerful and comedic Broadway and concert favorites. Yesterday and today, Levis JCC Sandler Center fan favorite Ari Axelrod returned—back by popular demand—to present his mastery of Fiddler on the Roof while reflecting on his life-changing year following October 7. Tomorrow, award-winning artist and photographer Lew Lautin will lead the first of his two-session workshop, Digital Photography: From Faded to Fabulous with Lew Lautin, where he will share his expertise on restoring vintage photos and transforming them into masterpieces. And finally, next week, our Nina & Martin Rosenzweig West Boca Theatre Company will present its fifth production of the season, ART, a comedic exploration of the subjective nature of art. I hope to see you there. Tickets are available at levisjcc.org/culture/theater.

This week’s Torah portion is Terumah (Offering) in the book of Exodus, the second in the 5 books of Moses. In it, the people of Israel are called upon to contribute materials to building the Tabernacle as a sacred space for God’s presence. Here at your Levis JCC, we are in the midst of a capital campaign to create a modern sanctuary for our community. We hope to build a space where we can continue gathering, celebrating, and growing together. I hope you’ll visit often, and I look forward to greeting you personally when you do.

Light candles Friday night at 5:40 pm
Shabbat ends on Saturday night at 6:35 pm

Shabbat Shalom
Am Yisrael Chai!

If you would like to support the Levis JCC and its programs and services, click below.

Marty