Week of April 17, 2022
04/16/2022 08:59:03 AM
Chai Lights - at the JCV
The JCV is committed to bringing people together; we are here to keep you informed and connected through a wide variety of programs. Browse our website to stay up to date on upcoming programs and services. Our top priority is the health and well-being of the JCV community; new policies are now in effect for the use of the JCV building. Zoom and in-person Shabbat services continue to be held at the JCV.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of event data contained in this issue; however, all events are subject to change. All times shown are in the Eastern Time Zone. To see last week (April 10), click HERE.
News at a Glance
(continue scrolling or click on link for details on items listed here)
Shabbat Worship
Events, Programs, and Classes
Looking Ahead
Beyond the JCV
JCV Community Announcements
In Case You Missed It
Support the Jewish Congregation of Venice
Administrative
JCV News Sponsors
Upcoming Services, Events, Programs, and Classes at the JCV
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of event data contained in this issue, however all events are subject to change. Confirm event details prior to attendance.
Shabbat Worship
If any changes to our regularly scheduled services are warranted, we will let you know as soon as possible. We look forward to spending Shabbat together virtually and/or in person.
“Good Scents” - Be considerate of others who may be allergic and refrain from using scented products when coming to services.
Friday
7:30pm: Shabbat Services*
*Beginning May 13: Shabbat Services will start at 5:30pm on the second Friday of each month.
In person and on Zoom.
Weekly: April 22, 29; May 6, 13*, 20, 27; June 3, 10*, 17, 24; July 1, 8*, 15, 22, 29
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86717410874, (867 1741 0874, Passcode: jcv).
The rabbi, cantor, and ritual committee wish to make you aware of the monthly schedule for Friday Shabbat Services.
1st Friday:
Choir and musical accompanist.
2nd Friday:
*Birthdays will be celebrated. Beginning May 13: Shabbat Services will start at 5:30pm on the second Friday of each month.
3rd Friday:
*Anniversaries will be celebrated. Musical accompanist.
4th Friday:
Haftorah and Torah reading.
*Update your member profile (birthday and/or anniversary) in ShulCloud, since this is where we get our information.
New Method of Allocating Aliyot - Beginning April 22
On a trial basis, the Ritual Committee has adopted a new method of assigning honors for Shabbat Services.
Rather than a Ritual Committee member calling or emailing congregants and perhaps disrupting you, we will leave it up to JCV members to step forward to request an honor. Currently, the honors will consist of candle lighting and three Torah Aliyots. If this system works well, we can expand honors to include other English prayers and readings.
So, if you are celebrating an event or have a yahrzeit and want an honor, this is the procedure:
Contact Susan Litwer, 914-670-5746 or susanlitwerpc@gmail.com, and the appropriate arrangements will be made.
Any honor or reading that has not been subscribed to will be available on a first-come, first-served basis the night of the Shabbat Service. A Ritual Committee member will be present at the Membership table to hand out honors or readings and keep the appropriate records. You will be given a card that night providing any details.
Events, Programs, and Classes
Monday and Thursday - recurring classes
10:30am: Indoor T'ai Chi at the JCV
Duration: 1 hour. Recurring classes on Mondays and Thursdays. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Barry Bye by email at barryvbye@gmail.com.
Tuesday (last Tuesday of the month)
10:00am: Cantor Marci’s Kol Isha - women’s discussion group
Our next meeting is Tuesday, April 26, at 10:00am.
We will discuss these questions:
What is the nicest compliment you’ve received?
Did it change anything in your life?
What is something you wish you could say to people but can’t?
-Cantor Marci Vitkus
Wednesday
4:30pm: Basic Judaism with Rabbi Shull
Weekly. Contact Rabbi Shull for details.
Thursday
2:00pm: Torah Study with Rabbi Shull
Weekly. Contact Rabbi Shull for details.
Monthly - Monday
10:30am: Sisterhood Book Club
In person at the JCV.
The JCV Sisterhood Book Club meets once a month on Monday.
10:30am to noon. When the weather is nice, we meet outdoors. Often, we go out for lunch afterwards, or bring a picnic lunch. All women are welcome to attend, including friends or guests. If you have any questions, email Judy Haran at nevertoohot@hotmail.com or Vicki Kaufman at vickauf@juno.com.
Here is the book schedule for most of the year:
May 2 - Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
June 6 - Moonglow by Michael Chabon
July 4 or 11 - No meeting (open for discussion)
August 8 - No meeting (open for discussion)
September 5 or 12 - The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
October 3 - The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
November 7 - The Last Kings of Shanghai by Jonathan Kaufman
December 5 - Book to be announced
Wednesday, April 20
7:00pm: Men’s Club Card Game, JCV Social Hall
Friday, April 22
7:30pm: “Refugees and the Crisis in the Ukraine” (as part of Shabbat Services)
With guest speaker Dr. Richard Vengroff, a political scientist specializing in comparative politics
(North America and Africa) and immigration policy and practice.
Looking Ahead
Wednesday, April 27
11:30am: Men’s Club Snook Haven River Tour: Boat Ride and Music
Information and directions: https://www.snookhaven.com. Payment due by April 20. Sign up by email to Steve Weiss at shaimer1234@yahoo.com.
Thursday, April 28
12:30pm: Yom HaShoah - Holocaust Remembrance 5782
"Cherishing Our Holocaust Torah" with Lois Roman of the Memorial Scrolls Trust. Join us on zoom as well: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85078028859 (850 7802 8859, Passcode: 219980).
Wednesday, May 18
7:00pm: Men’s Club Card Game, JCV Social Hall
Saturday, June 18
7:00pm: Men’s Club Card Game, JCV Social Hall
Sunday, June 26
1:40pm: Men’s Club Rays Baseball Game at Tropicana Field. Payment due by June 15.
Beyond the JCV
The JCV Supports Our Interfaith Community
The JCV is proudly supporting the Blue Lotus Buddhist Meditation Center of Venice in their time of need. In July 2021, their center sustained significant hurricane damage and is still under repair. We will be sharing our facility with them so that they may have their fundraiser “3rd Annual Taste of Sri Lanka” on May 1 at 4:00pm. Call 941-323-8033 for information. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.blbmc.org.
Celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut
Haverim,
Join us as we celebrate Israel's 74th birthday along with the rest of the Sarasota/Manatee Jewish community (see poster below). As we get ready for our own congregational trip to Israel, November 7 through 18, 2022, this year's Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration is especially meaningful. Let's all proudly display our Blue and White and give thanks for the State of Israel.
B'shalom,
Rabbi Ben Shull
JCV Community Announcements
A Message from Rabbi Shull
One People, One Heart
Our 27 year old son just got married last week to a wonderful 27 year old young lady. It was a joyous affair. We danced and ate and gave thanks to God for their good fortune and for ours (and thanks, as well, to all those who offered us congratulations). Weddings in Jewish tradition are always connected with hope; hope for a peace, hope for love, hope for a new household that might bring redemption to the world.
Last week, another 27 year old Jewish man was celebrating his good fortune, the night before the engagement party, in a Tel Aviv pub with his 27 year old childhood friend. His name was Eytam Magini. Eytam and his friend Tomer Morad would not survive the night. A terrorist with a rifle gunned down these two young men, our son’s peers, in cold blood, while taking the life of another, a father of three, and wounding several others. These senseless murders follow a string of recent terror attacks in Israel proper against civilians going about their daily lives. In one of the attacks, the terrorist was taken down by an Israeli Arab policeman, Amir Khoury, who was killed in his battle with the assailant.
A well-known tradition at Jewish weddings is for the groom to step on a glass marking the conclusion of the ceremony (except for kissing the bride). Of course, our son stepped on a glass at his wedding. Stepping on a glass symbolizes several things, but the most common understanding is that, at the time of our greatest personal joy, we are to remember that the world is still filled with broken bodies, broken dreams, and broken hearts. As Jews, we remember our people’s long history of pain and loss, from the days of the destroyed Temples in Jerusalem, long ago, to the horror of the Holocaust in the last century. We also remember the shattered lives of others, like our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.
For me, the shattered glass at our son’s wedding will always bring to mind Eytam and Tomer, our son’s peers. Two 27 year old friends who, like our son, were celebrating the hope found in an upcoming wedding. They were murdered because an evil ideology has poisoned the minds of far too many in our world. Terrorists think that murdering civilians going about their daily lives will break the back of decent people who seek only to live in peace. But they are wrong. Israelis are strong and resilient. The Jewish people are not strangers to the Land of Israel. It is our ancestral home. We have returned for good. Israel is now making peace with its Arab neighbors and I believe that, someday soon, Israelis and Palestinians will find a way to live in peace.
We, the Jews, are one people with one heart. We grieve for the loss of Etyam and Tomer and the other Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel who have fallen. May their families be comforted and may they receive the consolation of the merciful God that we worship.
May this Passover sweeten the bitter and bring redemption to all!
B'shalom,
Rabbi Ben Shull
More New Books in the JCV Library
The books listed below have been recently purchased for the JCV Library. They are displayed on the blue rolling cart in the left front corner of the room, as you enter the library. If you wish to borrow a book, sign it out in the notebook on the desk. There are no due dates, but we ask you to return the book when you have finished so that others can enjoy it.
All books in the library are either by a Jewish author or about a Jewish subject. If you have a suggestion for a book that would be appropriate for the JCV Library, contact Sheila Rosen or Edythe Wolf.
The Cellist by Daniel Silva.
Viktor Orlov had a longstanding appointment with death. Once Russia’s richest man, he now resides in splendid exile in London, where he has waged a tireless crusade against the authoritarian kleptocrats who have seized control of the Kremlin.
The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson.
A compelling, easily readable account of how Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses, and have healthier babies.
Last The Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China by Jonathan Kaufman.
A multigenerational saga of two significant Jewish families who built wildly prosperous financial empires in Shanghai and Hong Kong that lasted for nearly two centuries.
The Order by Daniel Silva.
As the cardinals gather in Rome for the start of the conclave, Gabriel sets out on a desperate search for proof of the Order's conspiracy, and for a long-lost gospel with the power to put an end to two thousand years of murderous hatred.
People Love Dead Jews: Reports From a Haunted Present by Dara Horn.
Reflecting on subjects as far-flung as the international veneration of Anne Frank, the blockbuster traveling exhibition called “Auschwitz,” the Jewish history of the Chinese city of Harbin, and the little known “righteous Gentile” Varian Fry, Dara Horn challenges us to confront the reasons why there might be so much fascination with Jewish deaths, as emblematic of the worst of evils the world has to offer, and so little respect for Jewish lives, as they continue to unfold in the present.
That Summer by Jennifer Weiner.
This is a compelling, nuanced novel about the long, terrible aftermath of sexual assault and the things that can be stolen from women that can never be fully restored. But, because it’s a Jennifer Weiner novel, it’s no polemic. It’s empowering in its own way. Weiner seems to steadfastly believe in the saving grace of humor, the ability of time to open up possibilities, and the strength of female friendship.
Three Sisters by Heather Morris.
Based on a true story by the author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Three Sisters is a tale that will break your heart, but leave you amazed and uplifted by the courage and fierce love of sisters whose promise to each other kept them alive in a place without hope.
X-Troop by Leah Garrett.
The X Troop was a secret Jewish commando unit that fought for the British against the Nazis on the front lines of all the major battles of World War II. The commandos were Holocaust survivors from Austria and Germany who came to the UK on Kindertransport.
Men’s Club
Poker card game, Wednesday, April 20, 7:00pm
Boat Ride at Snook Haven, Wednesday, April 27, send check or cash to the JCV, attention Men's Club. Do not use ShulCloud. Reservations due by April 20. Boat will leave at 12pm; please be at the pier by 11:30 for boarding. Fare is $21.00 which includes music after the boat ride.
In Case You Missed It
JCV Policy as of March 9, 2022
For many months, the issues of the COVID-19 pandemic have been on all of our minds. We have not been able to do many of the things that were always available to us in the past and came to us as second nature. For some, we have missed out on many lifecycle events, while for others we have been socially distant from friends and activities.
Today, we are celebrating with the following announcement. At the March 9, 2022, JCV Board meeting, the Board voted to rescind all of the former protocols/precautionary measures related to COVID-19 that were in place at the JCV. Effective immediately, that means the following:
- For those who are comfortable, masking will now be optional.
- We will resume our tradition of having an Oneg Shabbat after Friday evening services, of course following appropriate hygiene related to food handling.
- Under the guidance of our Religious Committee, our former customary Torah Service will resume with a Torah procession. Honors will resume in a traditional fashion with accommodations for those wishing an honor but not yet comfortable doing so at the bimah. All Shabbat Services will still be offered via Zoom.
- We will no longer have a check-in station outside the JCV for those coming to worship, although as a congregation we highly recommend being fully vaccinated.
- The sanctuary will be reconfigured to our former congregational seating, while still allowing for some socially distanced seating.
- We will continue to have hand hygiene stations around the sanctuary and encourage the use of them as good hygiene practice.
- While these actions seem appropriate today given the Center for Disease Control's recent recommendations for our geographic area, they may be subject to change, and as a congregation we will react accordingly. Moving forward, each of us should evaluate our own health status and make an individual determination about comfort levels with regard to our actions.
We are optimistic about the future and look forward to seeing all of our congregants at upcoming events at the Jewish Congregation of Venice. Let me also offer our sincere thanks for being patient, understanding the COVID-19 protocols, and for your membership.
Next Year (This Year!) in Jerusalem
Every year, we conclude our seder with the words, "Next year in Jerusalem" expressing our hope that we are on the road to better days, to a return home, to a world at peace. So my friends, how about this year, we turn that hope into a reality. This year, 2022, let's go to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and the Galilee (and many other places in Israel) together!
Join us as the JCV journeys to Israel from November 7 to 18, 2022, (that's actually in the upcoming Jewish year, 5783, so we can say "Next Year in Jerusalem" as well). So far, we have 15 folks signed up for the trip which will be led by myself and Cantor Marci! It's going to be an amazing experience, filled with some very special moments and some very special people. This trip is for first timers and for those who have visited Israel before (it's time to come back). We will dine together, sing together, celebrate together in our ancient/modern homeland.
Also, we will act as "shlichim" (emissaries) of the JCV as we share this experience with those who are not able to join us in person. We will bring notes from our JCV family to place in the Kotel and we hope to share (via the wonders of the internet) some special moments with all those back in Venice. This is "This Year in Jerusalem" for our entire congregation and community as well.
If you are interested in more information, contact me at rabbi@thejcv.org or Mardi Skoegard at mardiskoegard@comcast.net. We have a seat for you on our tour bus! Sign up today! See brochure by clicking here.
- Rabbi Ben Shull
April Birthday and Anniversary Listings Now Available on the JCV Website
Click here: https://www.jewishcongregationvenice.com/news.
Support the Jewish Congregation of Venice
Your Support is Relied on!
Join us in making the JCV thrive, and know that we are grateful for all donations. You may use our online donation form or call our office at 941-484-2022 and we will be happy to assist you. We appreciate gifts and donations to support our congregation's mission.
Support the JCV When You Shop on Amazon!
For every purchase made through our Amazon Smile link, Amazon will donate to the Jewish Congregation of Venice. This is at no additional charge to you. Remember, always start at smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the JCV.
Sunshine Fund
For only $5.00, support the JCV and save yourself a trip to the card shop! We have get well, condolence, simchas, and congratulation cards. Call Vicki Solomon at 941-492-5043 or email her at sailingvicki@gmail.com. Then all you have to do is send a check to the JCV or pay on ShulCloud on the Donate page; check Donations>Sunshine in the “Type” drop down box.
Chumash Bookplates
Our new ETZ HAYIM Torah and Commentary chumash creates a lasting way to honor a loved one or commemorate a special event. Opportunities are available to dedicate one or more chumashim with a personalized dedication bookplate affixed.
You can make a meaningful gift to the JCV. When you dedicate a chumash, we will apply a bookplate with your preferred dedication. The cost to dedicate a chumash is $18.00.
Administrative
Rabbi's Day Off and Office Hours
Rabbi Shull’s day off will be Tuesdays. Anyone interested in meeting Rabbi Shull in his office at the JCV, precluding any emergencies, is encouraged to give him a call and make an appointment during his regular office hours.
Sunday: The rabbi will be available to congregants.
Monday: 9:30am to 3:30pm
Tuesday: Off
Wednesday: 9:30am to 3:30pm
Thursday: 9:30am to 12:30pm
Friday: Available by phone 941-441-5713
Saturday: Shabbat, the rabbi will be available in an emergency.
If you would like to meet him in person at the JCV any other time Sunday through Friday, that can also be arranged by calling to make an appointment. Rabbi Shull can be reached at 941-441-5713. We continue to recommend that anyone entering the JCV building be fully vaccinated.
Leadership
Board of Directors
President: Eli Rapaport - president@thejcv.org
1st Vice President: Steven Kleinglass
2nd Vice President: Mardi Skoegard
Secretary: Judy Haran
Treasurer: Meg Antine - treasurer@thejcv.org
Immediate Past President: Harvey Cohen
Parliamentarian: Annette Blum
Member at Large: Deborah Rosen
Member at Large: Barabra Katzenstein
Adult Learning: Open
House and Grounds: Jeff Weisenberg
Membership: Nessa Kleinglass - membership@thejcv.org
Ritual: Susan Litwer
Ways and Means: Judy Rapaport
Sisterhood: Debbie Jefko
Submitting Articles to JCV News and Deadlines
Criteria for publication: JCV News welcomes JCV and member-related news for publication. Only articles or Zoom meeting information will be considered for publication. Articles that will not be considered: commercial, political, or solely promotional in nature; submitted to, accepted by, or published by another medium, printed or online; copyrighted materials without permission.
Submitting articles: Material submitted for publication should be presented as articles or Zoom meeting information in the text of the main body of your email. Pictures must be a separate .png file attachment. Avoid including attachments unless essential. Do not submit an event or article if it has not been confirmed by all parties involved.
Deadline for submissions: 5:00pm on the Wednesday prior to the Sunday of publication. All requests for publication should be sent to JCVNews@thejcv.org. This email address is to be used for submission of articles for consideration of publication only. Final versions of submissions are the only emails that will be accepted.
JCV News Sponsors
