March 20, 2025

Shalom Chaverim (Dear Friends),

This week our community lost Betty Zale, a special leader who, along with her husband Marvin turned their passion for early childhood education into a commitment to ensuring generations of our community’s youngest members will have a warm, welcoming, and nurturing place to begin their educational and Jewish journeys. Betty, beloved mother of Margie Plough and mother-in-law of past Levis JCC President Maurice Plough Jr., made an indelible impact on our community.

Speaking of impact—early Tuesday morning, my brother woke me with a phone call at the crack of dawn. He is in Offenburg, Germany, where our Haberer ancestors resided for hundreds of years until, during the time of Hitler and the Nazis, they were forced to flee for their lives. Those who were able left with virtually nothing, including my grandparents. They were fortunate to have a sponsor in New York City and were able to come to America in December of 1937. There were two particular highlights from Tuesday’s phone call: first, my brother told me he discovered one of my grandfather’s brothers and his family! Next, he gave me an email address for cousins who live in California who I was unaware of previously. They happen to be vacationing in Florida this week! How incredible to be able to forge these connections nearly 90 years after my grandparents fled their home.

Connections are an essential piece of all we do here at the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center. People of all ages come to the Levis JCC for a variety of programs that enrich their lives while connecting them to our community and to each other. This week, our new Family Gym Time program concludes. Over the past eight weeks, parents with children ages 1-2 enjoyed participating with their children in various fun activities led by our Coach Luis. The program was so well-received, we just added a second 4-week session starting in April. Our Marleen Forkas Camp at the J summer camp begins in just under 100 days! Our Camp staff is busy planning another incredible summer for the hundreds of children and teens who will enjoy a great array of activities, field trips, making friends and memories that will last a lifetime. There is still time to register, but bunks are filling up fast. For information visit levisjcc.org/camp. On Sunday, a completely sold out audience enjoyed “A Musical Tribute to Harlem’s Cotton Club” performed by Aaron Kula and the Klezmer Company Jazz Orchestra, presented by our Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center. The Nina & Martin Rosenzweig West Boca Theatre Company’s production of Art concluded, and our Judy Levis Krug Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival screened the fascinating film Letters from Jackie: The Private Thoughts of Jackie Robinson, followed by a Q & A session with historian Joe Dorinson, who was featured in the film. As we move into the spring, our calendar remains full of exciting, entertaining, engaging events and programs. I hope you’ll come connect with our Levis JCC!

This week’s Torah Portion is Vayakhel (And He Gathered) in the book of Exodus, the second in the Five Books Of Moses. In it, Moses conveys G-d’s instructions regarding the making of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The people donate the required materials in abundance, bringing gold, silver and copper; blue, purple and red-dyed wool; goat hair, spun linen, animal skins, wood, olive oil, herbs and precious stones. Moses has to tell them to stop giving! This is the second consecutive Torah portion that emphasizes the importance of communal giving. It has been part of our collective consciousness since the beginning, and our Jewish community has proudly continued to give generously ever since.

Light candles Friday night at 7:14 pm
Shabbat ends on Saturday night at 8:07 pm

Shabbat Shalom
Am Yisrael Chai!

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Marty