South Florida

Emunah of South Florida, Miami Beach chapter, will present the Emunah Humanitarian Leadership Award to U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen at the organization’s annual gala dinner.

The Lana Ditchek Goldberg Hachnossos Kallah of Greater Miami will mark its 30th anniversary with a benefit tea.

Young Israel of Bal Harbour, 9592 Harding Avenue in Surfside, provides a virtual smorgasbord of classes, lectures, Shabbatons and speakers to satisfy every taste and interest.

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Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Rabbi Steven Weil will be leading an OU community weekend at the Boca Jewish Center/Shaaray Tefilla of Boca Raton from Saturday, January 18 through Sunday, January 19 (Shabbat Parshat Yitro). The synagogue is located at 21065 Powerline Road, Suite C-7.

Several weeks ago a man entered a convenience store in Miami and attempted to make a purchase using an unusual barter. Fernando Aguilera had a hankering for beer. His lack of cash produced a creative solution.

The RASG Hebrew Academy’s 66th Annual Event was held on Sunday night, December 22. The yearly dinner is held to raise scholarship funds that provide tuition assistance to approximately 60 percent of the Hebrew Academy student body.

The Israeli men’s international lacrosse team played an exciting showcase event on December 8 at the Miami Country Day School. The exhibition match pitted Team Israel against Florida International University. Israel defeated FIU 17 to 11.

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Young Israel of Bal Harbour, located at 9295 Harding Avenue, 2nd floor, in Surfside, will be holding a Scholar in Residence Weekend January 17-18 with Rabbi Benjamin Blech. (The Shabbaton is being generously sponsored by Fred and Judy Farbman.)

Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Rabbi Steven Weil will be leading an OU Community Weekend at the Beth Israel Congregation of Miami Beach Friday, January 3-Saturday, January 4 (Shabbat Parshat Bo). The OU member synagogue is located at 770 West 40th Street.

Mandela remained loyal to the rogue leaders and regimes that backed him through the many years he’d been imprisoned: Cuba’s Castro, Libya’s Khaddafi and the PLO’s Arafat.

Hebrew Academy (RASG) has announced that Ron Dermer, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, will be the keynote speaker at the Hebrew Academy Annual Event.

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Chai Lifeline Southeast’s first venture into the art world, “Through the Eyes of Our Children,” an exhibit and sale at Gallery Art in Aventura, was part of the organization’s Chai Crafts program, an innovative art therapy endeavor sponsored by the Root Foundation.

This year was memorable for the energy of all the participants who, along with Avraham Fried and the members of his orchestra and the YBO Band, joyously sang and danced in the rain. Fried performed with chassidishe warmth and humor. The night was so meaningful and so mesmerizing, the audience didn’t want it to end.

The Preserve at Palm-Aire, a local senior living community, recently donated more than 180 eco-friendly, sturdy and reusable tote bags to the Broward County Jewish Family Services (JFS).

Unfortunately, a map of the Middle East with no mention of Israel is nothing new... It is surprising however, that the world’s largest publisher of children’s literature, Scholastic Books, has joined in this trend.

About six months ago my parents and I started discussing ideas for a mitzvah project in honor of my bat mitzvah. I wanted to do something unique that would be meaningful to me and also do something that my friends could participate in. Immediately I thought of an organization called Sharsheret.

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“I’m disappointed that the agreement reached with Iran leaves our unfulfilled our ultimate objective: a complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program and related activities.

Southern NCSY will be holding a leadership training Shabbaton at the Young Israel of Bal Harbour December 6 and December 7. Rabbi Steven Weil, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, will be the special guest speaker.

Is there a beginning and an end to the universe? What role can medical breakthroughs play in conception or genetic engineering? Can science help us pinpoint the end of human life? Does the soul emanate from the brain or vice-versa?

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Due to current circumstances in the Middle East, I am featuring my usual Thanksgiving column. Once again Israel is engaged in a futile round of “peace talks” with an enemy that seeks its demise. The cast may change, but the premise of the misguided script remains the same. When will we ever learn?

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NCSY, the International Youth movement of the Orthodox Union, held its annual Jewish Unity Mentoring Program (JUMP) Conference and Challenge recently at the Hilton Huntington Hotel in Melville, New York.

The Torah Academy of Boca Raton held its 7th annual Golf Tournament and BBQ at Boca Lago Country Club on October 21. More than 80 golfers enjoyed a fabulous day of golf, food and fun.

It is really very hard for me to honestly believe that my oldest grandson, Jack Benveniste-Plitt, is about to become bar mitzvah. How is it possible that the same child whose infant socks slipped from his too-small feet is now almost as tall as me and wearing men’s size sneakers?

The RASG Hebrew Academy has always had much to be proud of. The school offers students the finest of both Judaic and secular curriculum. The faculty, student body, parents and leadership are top notch. The atmosphere is upbeat and inspirational.