SEEDS: LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
“Love thy neighbor as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18) is a central teaching of the Torah. This simply stated requirement has guided Jewish communities around the globe throughout millennia. The Torah includes 613 mitzvot or commandments, including the obligation to perform daily acts of lovingkindness. Since the early days of the Orlando Jewish community, Jewish communal organizations and congregations have sponsored programs to repair and improve the world. Many individuals have assisted those in need of help, including free legal and medical services, job training for the disabled and interfaith programs to unite religious groups and encourage a more caring Orlando community.
Florence “Flossie” Gluckman (center) was known as a generous advocate for Orlando’s poor and the elderly, long before the Bar Association required pro bono service, 1973.
After years of volunteering and raising five children, Flossie Gluckman headed to law school with one of her sons. After graduation, she established the Neighborhood Law Office with funds inherited from her father, and for six years, she and other volunteer lawyers provided free legal advice to needy clients. Each month, they took 1,000 calls and served more than 200 clients, filling a muchneeded gap in providing legal services for the poor. Many young lawyers assisted Gluckman with pro bono cases, including Hal Kantor. Hailed as a trailblazer, Gluckman also served as director of Greater Orlando Legal Services.
Orlando Sentinel Star
WIDER HORIZONS
In 1964, just before school integration, Flossie Gluckman developed the Wider Horizons summer tutoring program that was held at the black Holden Street Elementary School. When the Orange County School Board rejected the proposal, she personally assured its implementation, which was carried on by her sister-in-law Rita Bornstein. Bornstein recruited Paul Albertson, Dan Franklin, and Elaine and Cyril Farb to provide supplies. Barbara Weinreich was among those who taught classes. The program operated for three summers, with support from the Jewish community, the Unitarian Church and black community leaders.
Flossie Gluckman was honored by the Orlando Human Relations Commission for a “lifetime of dedication and service to human relations progress in Central Florida,” 1997.
A tiny woman with a big commitment to social justice, Gluckman, with her African American friend Lylah Hankins, would not accept discrimination in Orlando. Day after day in the early 1960s, the two women requested seats together at restaurants, got rejected, and tried again until they were successful.
Roz Ettinger Fuchs
Rita Peisner Bornstein was an advocate for civil rights, deeply concerned about the impact of racial integration on education in Orlando, c. 1950.
Rita was involved with civil rights issues along with her husband Jerry Bornstein. In 2009, the Jewish Pavilion honored Rita Bornstein for a lifetime of community service.
David Bornstein
Sara Stern taught tolerance to elementary schoolchildren through Green Circle, a collaborative education initiative in Orlando, 1992.
As vice chair of the project, Sara Stern helped train more than 100 volunteers and presented the program in classrooms throughout Orlando. Green Circle focused on second and third graders. Volunteer teachers explained the importance of accepting others regardless of physical and cultural differences. Green Circle was sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Junior League of Greater Orlando, Orange County Public Schools and later, Seminole County Public Schools.
Orlando Sentinel
RAISE program (Recognizing Abilities and Inclusion of Special Employees), 2015.
Loren London realized that many young adults sat home idle all day, due to disabilities that prevented them from meaningful employment. Her nondenominational concept, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, connects job coaches, social-skills facilitators and Jewish communal organizations for the 6–12 months job training program. Since 2014, more than 20 people have gained job skills at the JCC, Central Florida Hillel, JFS, Kinneret and the Jewish Academy of Orlando. Professionals include Carol Miller, Rachel Slavkin and Dr. Ken Schneider. Volunteer job coaches include Barbara Chasnov, Barbara Weinreich, Lois Tannenbaum, Renee Roberts, Amy Weston, Miriam Josephs, Karen Selznick and JoAnne Kane.
L-R: Coordinator Loren London, Nicholas Prewitt, Bobby McNatt, Cameron Rohme, Linda Levin, Director of Employment and Education Rachel Slavkin, Michael Grayson
Loren London
Dr. Jeff Cohen, volunteer medical director of the downtown Shepherd’s Hope, is one of many Jewish medical professionals regularly treating patients at five clinics throughout the Orlando area, 2016.
Shepherd’s Hope, a faith-based volunteer organization, provides healthcare for uninsured and underinsured patients in Central Florida. Sally Izzo is a nurse and member of Congregation Ohev Shalom’s 2008 Social Action Committee. She learned that the downtown clinic’s patient capacity could not be met without additional medical and lay volunteers. Izzo encouraged Jewish physicians to volunteer. This allowed the clinic to remain open another night per week. More than 22,000 patients have received care at Shepherd’s Hope since 1997. Marni Stahlman, a member of Chabad of Greater Orlando, is president/CEO of Shepherd’s Hope.
Teresa Brickman Finer
Elaine Silver, Barbara Weinreich, Tracy Friedman, Tracy Amar and other members of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) carry the Jewish Federation’s banner at Orlando’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. March, 2005.
For many years the Orlando Jewish community has participated in the city’s annual MLK festivities. The JCRC is the Federation’s non-partisan advocacy arm and serves as the convener on issues relevant to the Jewish community. Members serve as school board liaisons in Orange and Seminole Counties. The JCRC impacts city, state and federal policies through interaction with legislative leaders on issues of concern, recently calling on members of congress to reauthorize the Lautenberg Amendment for persecuted religious minorities. Through forums, it educates the community on issues like the Iran nuclear deal, boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) and Homeland Security.
Heritage Florida Jewish News
WMFE 90.7 public radio show Friends Talking Faith with Three Wise Guys, 2015.
Since 2011, Orlando radio listeners have tuned in to the popular weekly program featuring a rabbi, a minister and an imam. On and off the air, these spiritual leaders explore current topics from the perspective of their religions, answer questions about differences, find common ground, and unite the community. The website says, “For each of us it is this understanding of God which binds us together as the best of friends. In some small way, through this endeavor together, we aim to make a difference for good in our community and in the world.”
L-R: Muhammad Musri, senior imam of the Islamic Society of Central Florida; Steven Engel, rabbi at the Congregation of Reform Judaism and the Rev. Bryan Fulwider, senior minister of First Congregational Church of Winter Park
Rabbi Steven Engel
Jewish students from Jewish Academy of Orlando learn with Muslim students from Leadership Preparatory School and Christian students from Geneva School to promote unity, harmony and peace among religions, 2016.
In 2004, Louise Franklin Sheehy helped develop an interfaith program to create understanding between young Orlando students of different religions and to encourage fun and friendship on an individual level. The program grew and today students from the three schools meet several times a year at each of the schools for themed art projects and joint multicultural learning about each other’s faiths.
Heritage Florida Jewish News
Pope Francis awarded philanthropist Alan Ginsburg the Benemerenti medal, August 2015.
Alan Ginsburg donated $7 million to build the first-class UCF Northview dorm, and dedicated the bottom floor for side-by-side Jewish and Catholic student centers. The Jewish center was named the Jeffrey and Diane Ginsburg Center for Jewish Student Life at Central Florida, in memory of Ginsburg’s son and daughter-in-law. The Benemerenti medal is the highest honor a layperson can receive from the Holy See. Ginsburg was surprised to receive this prestigious medal and scroll from Pope Francis. Only 168 people worldwide have been similarly honored by a sitting Pope—and Ginsburg is Jewish!
Alan Ginsburg
Wanda Stanek (center left) and Barbara Abramson (center right) join seven congregations from four different faiths at the Harmony House dedication, November 2012.
Harmony House was a grassroots project to build an affordable home in Altamonte Springs for a needy family. Sponsored by Habitat for Humanity, the home was completely funded and built jointly by volunteers from Congregation Ohev Shalom, Congregation of Reform Judaism, Islamic Society of Central Florida, Church of Latter Day Saints, Northland A Church Distributed, Markham Woods Church and First United Methodist Church. Harmony House united the congregations and provided housing for an appreciative family.
Rabbi David Kay
Funding to support Snax Center at Evans High, 2016.
Fern Lefkowitz is determined to reduce childhood hunger. First she organized volunteers to fund and fill weekend food backpacks for Fern Creek Elementary students. When she learned that ambulances were being called to revive hungry Evans High students after school, Lefkowitz enlisted Susan Arkin to solicit funds for healthy food for hungry students. Sol Schick, Lefkowitz and Arkin have each been honored by Jewish Family Services with the George Wolly Leadership Award for their outstanding community contributions.
Sol Schick (second from left) presents a check to L-R: Evans High Community School’s Jennifer Eubanks, Director Jarvis Wheeler and After-School Director Stephanie Burke
Teresa Brickman Finer
As a thank-you to donors who support the food programs at Fern Creek and Evans High School, Fern Lefkowitz presents gifts of charm necklaces with a child signing “hunger,” 2012. Fern Lefkowitz
Gordon Arkin, chairman of Seniors First, Inc., works with Marsha Lorenz, the organization president and CEO, 2016.
Arkin, a distinguished attorney for 40 years, was the founding local chair of the National Conference of Christians and Jews and served as chairman and trustee of the Central Florida Community Foundation. He founded the Rollins College Philanthropy Center’s Business Lawyers’ Pro Bono Project. A recipient of the Community Leadership Award by the National Points of Light Foundation, his leadership has been recognized by numerous local organizations, as well as the legal profession. Arkin’s work at Seniors First brings meals-onwheels and other vital services to seniors. He is currently a board member of New Hope for Children.
Gordon Arkin
Congregation Beth Am’s Mitzvah Brigade collected needed food for Clarcona Elementary School students, 2015.
The Mitzvah Brigade provides support to its members and the community. An ongoing project is stocking an emergency food pantry for Clarcona Elementary, where more than 80 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced fee lunches. The congregation also stocks the school’s clothing closet and provides mentors and tutors for struggling students. All Orlando area congregations have similar volunteer projects, including collecting and sorting food for the Jewish Family Services food pantry and the Second Harvest Food Bank, preparing meals at the Ronald McDonald House, and cooking and serving dinners at the Coalition for the Homeless.
Heritage Florida Jewish News
Young adults with Our Jewish Orlando clean up Lake Killarney as part of Mitzvah Day, May 1, 2016.
Showing their dedication to serving Orlando, this Jewish Federation group partnered with Dayo Scuba for the first ever cleanup of the Winter Park lake. Our Jewish Orlando was formed to connect young Jewish individuals and families and to sustain a lifetime commitment to Jewish life, community and philanthropy.
Heritage Florida Jewish News
Orlando native Dr. Marc Levy rushed to assist trauma victims of the Pulse massacre, arriving by the truckload at the Orlando Regional Medical Center emergency room, June 12, 2016.
The LGBT targeted mass shooting shocked Orlando, the nation and the world. Forty-nine people were killed and 58 others wounded, the worst mass shooting in modern US history up to that time. Forty-four patients with bullet wounds deluged ORMC’s emergency room, requiring more than 70 bullet wound surgeries over the next month. Pediatric surgeon Levy rushed to assist. The Florida Medical Association honored Levy and seven others for “humanitarian service above and beyond the high standard of conduct normally expected of physicians.” US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy lauded Dr. Levy and four other ORMC physicians on the Dr. Oz show in September 2016.
Loren Elliott, Tampa Bay Times
Dr. Neil Finkler, chief medical officer of Florida Hospital Orlando, comforted Patience Carter, a 20year-old college student shot in the leg during the Pulse massacre, 2016.
National and international media covered the Pulse massacre for weeks, showing the world not only the horror of the event but also the kindness of Orlando in response. Twelve patients were transported to Florida Hospital from the Pulse nightclub. Dr. Finkler came to Orlando with his wife Tina and three children in 1992 to found Florida Hospital Cancer Institute’s Gynecology Oncology Program.
Wall Street Journal June 15, 2016
Rabbi David Kay joined Christian and Muslim religious leaders for the One Orlando vigil, memorializing those lost in the Pulse massacre, June 19, 2016.
Rabbi Kay stood alongside Rev. Bryan Fulwider and Imam Mohammed Musri and spoke about faith and love to a crowd of 50,000 people that reached around Lake Eola. The candlelight vigil honored the victims and allowed the community to mourn collectively. Recognizing the end of the traditional 30-day Jewish period of mourning known as shloshim, Rabbi Kay organized a July 12 Pulse memorial service on behalf of the Jewish Federation’s Community Relations Council. Cantor Jacqueline Rawiszer of the Congregation of Reform Judaism in Orlando and Rabbi Joshua Neely of Temple Israel in Winter Springs also participated in this service.
Ina Porth