GRAND OPENING
of the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center
JAN. 15 AT 1 P.M. Please join us and celebrate our new home!
CELEBRATING JEWISH LIFE IN GREATER NAPLES, ISRAEL AND THE WORLD
THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NAPLES BUILDING
FEDERATI N STAR
PINE RIDGE ROAD VIEW
Published by Jewish Federation of Greater Naples
SERVING NAPLES, MARCO ISLAND AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
www.JewishNaples.org January 2023 – Tevet/Shevat 5783 Vol. 32 #5
16 Men’s Cultural Alliance
Welcome to the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center on the Steve Saks Campus
19 Community Focus
By Jane Schiff, JFGN Board Chair
22 Tributes
F
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 14 Women’s Cultural Alliance
23 Organizations 1A Arts & Entertainment 6A Jewish Interest 9A Israel & The Jewish World 12A Commentary 13A Synagogue News 16A Focus on Youth 19A Community Directory Jewish Book Festival Continues January has three authors at three events, one of which is a brunch!
PAID
Jewish Federation of Greater Naples 4720 Pine Ridge Road Naples, FL 34119
Fort Myers, FL Permit No 1101
Non Profit Org U.S. Postage
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or many years, close to seven years, my dream of a “home” for our Federation has been percolating. In 2016, our Board of Directors engaged Sallie Williams to facilitate a strategic planning process. Based on what we learned, we quickly had a needs assessment/demographic study conducted by Brandeis University. Based on both those endeavors, we had an idea of what we needed to do for our Federation and what we needed to do for our community. Build, rent or lease? All ideas were on the table. Marc Saperstein approached me and asked if he could take on the task of finding us a new home. Little did he know that he would spend the next six years working 40 to 60 hours a week, for free, to make the dream a reality. The next THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NAPLES BUILDING LOBBY two years were spent findingVIEW a location. by its president, Debra Antzis, the idea We needed our team and hired our Saperstein looked at many, many properof leasing the land to Federation for a fabulous architect, James Knafo; our ties. Sometimes he would send me to look building was sent to the membership of amazing building partner, DeAngelis WEGMAN DESIGN GROUP at the properties and I remember thinkTemple Shalom in the spring of 2018. The Diamond; our engineering firm, Grady ing to myself, “What’s a nice Jewish girl membership of Temple Shalom embraced Minor; and our real estate attorney, doing standing in a parking lot counting the idea with 80% to 90% of the memberRich Yovanovich. This core team walked parking spaces?” ship voting in favor of it. us through the permitting process, A group of people, including David The next steps seemed to move in which was delayed due to COVID-19. Braverman, James Knafo, Jeffrey Feld slow motion. The two big issues were The process itself, without COVID, is and myself, previously met and discussed lease negotiations between Federation not easy and a year is not an unusual the possibility of using the land next to and Temple Shalom, which was the easier amount of time. Temple Shalom; however, that thought of the two issues, and receiving approval By the end of 2020, we had our was never conveyed to Saperstein. Rabbi from the County to build. Before getting approval, which meant the project was Miller suggested the unused land to County approval, we needed drawings, a “GO.” Up to that point, we had raised Saperstein over lunch one day. After engineering recommendations, traffic about $200,000, mainly from the Board, multiple discussions with our Board and studies, environmental studies and a to get through the approval stage. With a the Temple Shalom Board, then headed myriad of other required items. continued on page 2
Security at the New Building Have you gotten your security badge yet?
7 Beading for Betterment It’s a great opportunity for fun and giving 8
BUILT FOR LIVING BUILT FOR LIFE
LEARN MORE ON PAGE 3
www.KayeLifestyleHomes.com
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239.434.KAYE