December 11, 2025

Shalom Chaverim (Dear Friends),

On Sunday, Jews all over the world will celebrate Chanukah, our eight-day “Festival of Lights,” which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. As the story goes, after their victory, the Jews found only a single day's worth of oil in the Temple. They lit the menorah, and, miraculously, it burned for eight days. At a moment when global news can feel dark and heavy, I feel especially happy to take part in this ancient tradition of celebrating light, perseverance and triumph. As Lori and I light our chanukiah, we pray for peace, and wish family, friends, and our community joy as we all celebrate this holiday season.

Our Adolph & Rose Levis JCC continues to be a light in our community by offering a variety of outstanding programs, meaningful engagement, and connection. Last Saturday, our Nina & Martin Rosenzweig West Boca Theatre Company premiered Joe DiPietro’s The Last Romance, a heart-warming comedy about second chances and the transformative power of love. On Sunday morning, a group of members of Board of Directors and their families gathered at the Rales Jewish Family Services Jacobson Family Food Pantry for our “Kindness in Action Day,” where they assembled bags of food to help support individuals and families in need. The event, organized by our Vice President of Board Engagement Jill Yesner, was a beautiful way to support a partner agency during this season of giving. On Tuesday, December 9, noted author Allegra Goodman discussed her latest novel, Isola, the extraordinary true story of a 16th century noblewoman’s fight for survival. Her appearance was part of our Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center’s A Literary Afternoon Series, which continues with seven more authors joining us throughout the season. More information is here.

I am honored to serve as President & CEO of this organization and to work with an outstanding team. On Tuesday night, our Levis JCC professional staff gathered to celebrate the holiday season. We enjoyed food, drinks, camaraderie, and a lively game of Music Bingo, complete with prizes and a festive raffle. It is always wonderful to pause for a moment and appreciate the joy of working with dedicated and talented professional staff that make ALL of our Levis JCC programs so wonderful!

This week's Torah portion is Vayeshev (And He Dwelt) in the book of Genesis, the first in the Five Books of Moses. In it, we are introduced to Joseph, Jacob’s eleventh and favorite son, whose path takes a painful turn when he is sold into slavery and wrongfully imprisoned. But even in times of hardship, Joseph remains positive in spirit and true to his life’s purpose, using his gifts for interpreting dreams to comfort his fellow prisoners. His story reminds us that we cannot always choose our circumstances, but we can choose how we respond. May we all learn from Joseph and face challenges with hope and a fighting spirit, and continue to shine our own light on the world.

Light Shabbat candles Friday evening at 5:12 pm.
Shabbat ends Saturday evening at 6:07 pm.

Shabbat Shalom
Am Yisrael Chai!

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Marty