2021-08-06 E-Edition

Jewish Press founder Jim Dawkins remembered as a community builder



James Allen Dawkins, founder and guiding light of the Jewish Press of Tampa Bay, died July 27, days after the Pinellas and Tampa editions of the Jewish Press published their 35th anniversary issue. He was 77. To most, he was known as Jim, and was fondly remembered by many as a kind and gentle man who was devoted to the […]

Pro-Palestinian protest targets TGH partnership


A group of about 20 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered last month in front of Tampa General Hospital to air a variety of complaints about the state of Israel and a partnership TGH recently entered into with the Tampa-based Florida-Israel Business Accelerator. In July, TGH and FIBA announced the partnership aimed at helping TGH deliver better health care. TGH CEO and President […]

Teen author who started study buddy website snags Diller grant



Time bending could be the best explanation for Sarah Frank’s practically supernatural ability to accomplish anything she sets out to do. How else could the teen author have written and published two of five planned middle-school fantasy mysteries before she was 17? How else did she maintain straight As while completing eight Advanced Placement classes and a challenging creative writing […]

Just a nosh..

Israel’s rhythmic gymnast wins gold Linoy Ashram won the gold medal in the rhythmic gymnastics contest at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug. 7, narrowly beating out her Russian competitor to become the first Israeli woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Ashram’s winning score, just .15 of a point over that of her Russian competitor, Dina Averina, prompted an appeal […]

Learning to roll with the punches

I’m not much of a boxing fan, but I have begun appreciate the phrase – “roll with the punches.” It seems to embody what everyone has been doing these long 19 months since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Literally, the phrase means to maneuver one’s body away from a blow so as to lessen the force of impact. Figuratively […]

Lions, Pomegranates Societies luncheon planned for Sept. 9

The Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast will hold a Women’s Philanthropy Luncheon for the Lion of Judah and Pomegranate Societies, on Thursday, Sept. 9 at noon. The event will be at Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club on the Pinellas Bayway. A kosher-style lunch with a champagne toast will be provided to all attendees. Federation officials will also […]

Documentary film series back virtually

  The Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast is bringing back its popular Real to Reel Film Series with a virtual screening of “Sustainable Nation” on Thursday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. Due to the pandemic, the showing will be via Zoom. Tickets are $10 and sales will close on Monday, Aug. 23. The event will feature a discussion after […]

Interdependence in marriage




Whenever I met with a couple about to be married, I emphasized the idea of interdependence in marriage. I based my comments on several brief texts within the wedding service, including the verse from the Song of Songs, “My beloved is mine and I am his” (2:16). The Hebrew text, which is more succinct – “ani ledodi vedodi li” – […]

Cong. B’nai Israel St. Petersburg

Religious school opens: Congregation B’nai Israel’s Religious School will open on Sunday, Aug. 22 at 9:30 a.m. The Hebrew and Religious School is for children in grades K-8. For more information, go to: www.cbistpete.org/lifeloong-learning/pauline-rivkind-talmud-torah/ Honors for minyanaires: The congregation will hold a recognition ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 22 at 5 p.m for minyanaires who have attended morning and/or evening minyan […]