Community celebrates Israel at ballgame




Falafel and Cracker Jacks and Hatikvah and Take Me Out to the Ball Game all came together at Tropicana Field as the Pinellas Jewish community celebrated Israel’s 63rd anniversary with a Yom Ha’Atzmaut party before the Tampa Bay Rays game with the Baltimore Orioles. JCC Suncoast Director Ellen Katzman said 750 people from across the county attended the May 15 […]

Obama to AIPAC: Pre-’67 borders only starting point for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations



WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Obama said his call for Israeli- Palestinian negotiations based on the pre-1967 lines did not mean the future state of Palestine would have those exact borders. “By definition, it means that the parties themselves — Israelis and Palestinians — will negotiate a border that is different than the one that existed on June 4, 1967,” Obama […]

2011 Joint Annual Meeting: Thank yous and recognitions

Israel versus Palestinians: A basic difference


When award-winning investigative journalist and nationally-syndicated columnist Joel Mowbray got up to speak at the Joint Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation of Pinellas and Pasco Counties and its Beneficiary Agencies, he first placed a stark metal and alloy-colored rose on the lectern. The hand-scuplted metal rose, part of a Rockets to Roses display at the meeting, captures the “essence […]

Jonathan Bowman Young Leadership Award winner



The Joint Annual Meeting was “a celebration of our community and its accomplishments over the past year – and all the individuals and agencies who work together to fulfill our collective mission: to provide social services, education, rescue, relief and support to our Jewish neighbors both locally and overseas,” said emcee Brian Rolfe, Federation Vice President, and Chair of Strategic […]

Federation’s Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Award winners

For more on the winners, go to jewishpresspinellas.com, May 6 issue.

Just a nosh…



Circumcision ban put on SF ballot A measure seeking to ban male circumcision will appear on the November ballot in San Francisco. City officials approved more than 7,700 signatures from city residents on a petition in support of the measure as valid. At least 7,168 signatures were required, and more than 12,000 were submitted. The measure, which would apply only […]

U.S. Justice Department may intervene in Chabad-Russia feud over texts



(JTA) — The U.S. Justice Department may weigh in on the ownership of Chasidic texts held in Russia in a case that some experts fear could jeopardize Russia-U.S. cultural ties. The Associated Press reported the U.S. Justice Department asked for time to review the case in court papers filed May 16. Since January, the Russian government has canceled art loans […]

State of the Federation

Your generosity makes Federation a force for good


The following is an edited version of a speech given by Sheldon Scheinert at the Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco Counties and its Beneficiary Agencies. I am proud to have the privilege of serving as president of your Jewish Federation of Pinellas and Pasco Counties. Because of you — our incredible donors, our selfless volunteers, […]

Won ‘Jeopardy!’ (What did the rabbi do on Monday?)




Jews have a reputation for answering a question with a question. That might help explain Rabbi Joyce Newmark’s big news — she is now a Jeopardy! champion. In the episode of the television game show that aired Monday, May 16, Rabbi Newmark had no problem defeating two other contestants and finishing with $29,200. She did not win on the following […]

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon



On Thursday, May 5, Menorah Manor recognized over 300 active volunteers including trustees, Guild members and other members of the Tampa Bay area community with its annual appreciation luncheon, chaired by Joan Redisch. The afternoon began with a heartfelt welcome given by Marshall Seiden, chief executive officer, and Pauline Teckler, resident council president. Immediately following this greeting, lunch was served, […]