It's Happening In Miami

by Rabbi Moishe Kievman

Chabad Chayil

As the community begins to rebound from the pandemic, Purim—a holiday that includes a custom of dressing up and wearing masks—will be celebrated locally with covid-safe versions of the traditional observances.

Billed as the most joyous date on the Jewish calendar, the daylong holiday commemorates the nullification in 356 B.C.E. of a Persian decree calling for the extermination of the Jewish people throughout the Persian Empire as told in the biblical Book of Esther.

In addition to the mitzvot of the holiday, a traditional custom is dressing up in costumes and masks, to recall that the miracle of Purim was disguised in natural events. While mask-wearing is encouraged annually at the celebration, at this year's Purim celebration it will have extra meaning.

The festival of Purim is celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar. It begins this year after sundown of Thursday, Feb 25th and ends at nightfall on Friday, Feb 26th, going right into Shabbat. The holiday commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in Ancient Persia from Haman's plot "to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day."

I encourage you to contact your local Chabad or synagogue to see what they’re doing to celebrate. You’re of course welcome to join us, free of charge, at our annual Purim Party!

Chabad’s original spins on this age-old holiday has helped bring the spirit of Purim to South Florida year after year. Some of their past Purim themes have included Purim in Outer Space, Purim in Candyland, Purim in the Park & Purim at the Stadium. This year, “Purim Outdoors” is Chabad Chayil's creative twist to the community celebration of Purim. The covid-safe festivities will be held outside Chabad Chayil, at 2601 NE 211 Ter, on Thursday evening, Feb 25, starting at 6:44 pm. It will feature live music with Pardes - a Hollywood based Kosher Rock Band, a lavish BBQ dinner and the whole Megillah! It will also feature a Kangoo Shoes professional trainer so that participants can then dance the night away, in a socially distanced, yet fun way!

The celebration will include opportunities to observe the four mitzvot of Purim, including hearing the Megillah—the Purim story as written in the Book of Esther; exchanging gifts of food; giving charity to the needy; and enjoying a festive holiday meal.

In the spirit of Purim, participants are encouraged to come in costume—and required to wear a mask!

The event is a community-wide program, and all are welcome to join, regardless of affiliation or background. Children will enjoy making their own Mishloach Manot and playing music games, while adults party the night on. There is no charge for anyone to join, though donations always help us bring quality programs to the community.

For party details, Megillah reading times or to learn more about the holiday & the complete Purim story, or to help sponsor food for the poor or this community event call (305) 770-1919 or visit ChabadChayil.org/Purim

About the author:

Rabbi Kievman together with his wife are the ambassadors of The Rebbe to Highland Lakes, FL. They are the founders of CHAP - an afterschool program for Jewish children in Public Schools and direct Chabad Chayil. He’s the rabbi at The Family Shul and can be reached at (305) 770-1919 or [email protected]

Hosted By: The Wandering Chew

From the very start of the pandemic, food trends have taken over our newsfeeds. From sourdough starter to shallot pasta to the Tik Tok tortilla hack, we haven’t been able to resist testing out all the quarantine food trends over the past year.

For this workshop, we’re taking inspiration from some of these trends and turned our favorite quarantine recipes into out-of-the-box hamantaschen flavours! Join us as we bake Banana Chocolate Hamantaschen and Dalgona Coffee Hamantaschen. We’ll also share our tips for making the perfect hamantaschen every time!

After we’ve baked our hamantaschen, Jamie Elman and Eli Batalion of YidLife Crisis will join us for a Purim shpiel.

The event is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested amount of $18.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Watch JBS on Comcast X-1 Box Ch 1684, Atlantic Broadband Ch 168, Hotwire Ch 269, DirecTV Ch 388, Blue Stream Ch 110, streamed on Roku under "educational", Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and jbstv.org. For a complete and timely schedule and other television providers, go to www.jbstv.org

Celebrate Purim

Purim with The Hampton Synagogue

The Hampton Synagogue's Founding Senior Rabbi Marc Schneier will speak on the meaning and customs of Purim, followed by a full Megillah reading by Rabbi Avraham Bronstein. Pre-recorded from The Hampton Synagogue with on-screen Hebrew transcription and English translation. Thursday - 6:30pm & 11:30pm; Friday - 3:30am, 8:30am & 12:30pm

Purim with Central Synagogue

Clergy will be in full costume for this 1980's-inspired virtual Purim complete with Megillah reading and musical Purim spiel from New York City's Central Synagogue. Tune in to see Esther, Mordechai and Haman (Boo!) tell their tale set to the tunes of Little Red Corvette, Don’t You Forget about Me, Thriller and other 80s hits! Thursday - 8:00pm & 2:00am; Friday - 9:00am & 2:00pm

A Conversation with Yossi Klein Halevi

Yossi Klein Halevi discusses the prospects for peace in the Middle East under the Biden administration, Israel's détente with the Arab world in 2021, what should the United States do to deter Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and will the strong ties between the U.S. and Israel remain ironclad? Hosted by Robert Walker of Honest Reporting Canada. Monday - 8:00pm & 1:00am; Wednesday - 1:30pm; Saturday - 7:00pm; Sunday - 4:00am

From the Quad to the Keyboard

Student panelists provide the student perspective on bias and hate, illuminating ways in which antisemitism, racism and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments are presenting themselves in a more virtual campus setting. Part of ADL's 2020 "Never is Now" Summit. Tuesday - 8:00pm & 1:00am; Thursday - 2:00pm; Saturday - 8:00pm

In The News: Israel Elections-New Hope

Former Knesset Member and the first female combat soldier to serve in Israel's Parliament Sharren Haskel shares the vision of Gideon Saar's New Hope party, current priorities for Israelis in the upcoming elections and what will the party do if and when it comes to power. With Shahar Azani. Monday - 6:30pm, 11:30pm; Tuesday - 3:30am, 8:30am & 12:30pm

“Thinking Out Loud” with Micah Halpern

JBS journalist Micah Halpern discusses the upcoming holiday of Purim and its meaning with regards to the now-yearlong pandemic; and the upcoming 125th anniversary of the publication of Theodor Herzl's Der Judenstaat in 1896. Wednesday - 6:30pm & 11:30pm; Thursday - 3:30am, 8:30am & 12:30pm

On L’Chayim

Sunday: Miss Israel

“Titi” Aynaw discusses her journey from her hometown in Ethiopia to aliyah to Israel, to serving in the IDF, to becoming the first Ethiopian Miss Israel in 2013.
Sunday - 12 Noon & 6pm; Monday - 3pm

Monday: Lisa Daftari

Lisa Daftari, founding Editor-in-Chief of the news website The Foreign Desk, describes her family upbringing as an Iranian-American Jew and discusses her work as a Middle East expert, investigative journalist and political commentator.
Monday - 9:00pm & 12 Midnight; Tuesday - 3:00pm

Tuesday: Mormon Convert

Comedian & writer H. Alan Scott discusses his personal journey that led him from his Mormon upbringing to a gay Jewish convert; and explains why he always felt he was “Jewish.” Tuesday - 9:00pm & 2:00am; Wednesday - 3:00pm

Wednesday: Shalom Habibi

The Muslim-Jewish duo of Yeganeh Mafaher and Eitan Levine discuss their respective personal journeys that led them to team up to create their stand-up “Shalom Habibi Comedy Tour.”
Wednesday - 9pm & Midnight; Thursday - 3:00pm

Thursday: Jackie Mason

One of America's leading comedians, Jackie Mason, talks seriously about his decision to break with his family's tradition of serving as a rabbi, how his comedy grows out of his understanding of human nature, how he feels about Israeli and American Jewry. Thursday - 9:00pm & 2:00am; Friday - 3:00pm

Saturday: Clarence Jones

Meet Clarence Jones, a personal friend of Martin Luther King, Jr. who helped create the I Have A Dream speech. Saturday - 6:00pm

Jewish Studies

From The Aleph Bet: Lesson 8

Hebrew letters "Pay," "Fay," and "Final Fay" are introduced, along with the correct pronunciation of the Hebrew word for a festive Jewish holiday. Monday - 9:00am & 5:00pm; Tuesday - 7:00pm; Friday - 5:00am; Saturday - 8:00am

Talmud Study: Purim

Rabbi Mordechai Becher, Senior Lecturer at Gateways, shares photos of ancient artifacts, excavations and other images to explore the historical background of the holiday of Purim. Sunday - 9:00am; Tuesday - 9:00am & 4:30pm; Thursday - 7:00pm; Friday - 4:00am

Talmud Study: Was Abraham Observant?

Rabbi Mordechai Becher (Senior Lecturer, Gateways Organization) discusses how the Talmud deals with Abraham’s following Jewish Law before the Torah was given at Mt. Sinai. Dimensions of the Daf. Sunday - 9:30am; Tuesday - 9:30am & 5:00pm; Thursday - 7:30pm; Friday - 4:30am

Jewish 101: Purim Peeves

Rabbi Mark S. Golub shares five of his pet Jewish peeves. Sunday - 10am; Wednesday - 9am & 4:30pm; Friday - 1:00pm

92nd Street Y: 92Y: A Night Of Jewish Humor

Jewish humorists and writers Patricia Marx, Calvin Trillin, Adam Gopnik, and Jeffrey Toobin discuss Jewish humor with Michael Krasny, radio host and author of Let There Be Laughter. From the 92nd Street Y in NYC, a JBS exclusive television presentation. Sunday - 8:00pm & 2:00am; Monday - 10:00pm; Tuesday - 4am; Wednesday - 10:30am; Saturday - 1:00am & 4pm

Friday Evening Shabbat Services

Reform: Central Synagogue 6pm, 11:30pm & 2:00am

Orthodox: Hampton Synagogue With Hebrew, Transliteration and English subtitles 7:30pm & 10:30pm

Saturday Morning Shabbat Services

Reform: Central Synagogue 9:30am & 1pm

Orthodox: Hampton Synagogue With Hebrew, Transliteration and English subtitles 11am & 2:30pm

Edith Samers Vice President 203.536.6914 (cell phone) JBS Jewish Broadcasting Service, a 501c3 fulltime television channel Website: jbstv.org

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation has established an Emergency Relief Fund to assist people affected by the extreme and deadly winter weather conditions in Texas. The historic freeze has left millions of people across the state without power, water and basic supplies.

As always, Federation will absorb all administrative costs so that 100 percent of funds collected will be used to provide emergency grants and loans, food, shelter and essential necessities as people struggle with the current crisis and its aftermath.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION

Are you a young professional who is working remotely? Bring your laptop to the beaches of Tel Aviv!

The Onward Israel Career Passport experience offers a unique experience for digital nomads and for those who are now working remotely. Work and live like a local in Israel alongside a community of other professionals from different backgrounds and industries. Come with your job and a suitcase. We’ll take care of the rest. We provide everything you need to embrace your Israel adventure.

Acceptance into the program is rolling, but applications are due March 29.

Tentative Dates: May 20, 2021 – July 1, 2021

Eligible ages: 22-32 years old

Program Cost:$1,000

You MUST be available to participate for the entire length of the program.

Click here to apply

Click here to sign up to learn more at one of our upcoming virtual info sessions.

Are you or is someone you know interested in spending a Gap Year in Israel?

Unsure of what to expect or which program to choose?

Join Phyllis Folb, founder and director of the American Israel Gap Year Association (AIGYA) for a Q&A session to help answer all of your questions about the Israel Gap Year experience.

For your convenience, TWO times are available:

Sunday, February 28 at 7 p.m. EST

or

Monday, March 1 at 8 p.m. EST

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Watch JBS on Comcast X-1 Box Ch 1684, Atlantic Broadband Ch 168, Hotwire Ch 269, DirecTV Ch 388, Blue Stream Ch 110, streamed on Roku under "educational", Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and jbstv.org. For a complete and timely schedule and other television providers, go to www.jbstv.org

Collaboration in Post Covid World

A panel of leaders from across the Jewish organizational world come together at the JFNA GA 2020 Virtual to discuss the issues brought on, exacerbated and highlighted during COVID-19 and how to collaborate and innovate in the future to create a more inclusive Jewish community. Moderated by Jay Sanderson, President & CEO of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, and features Lisa Eisen, Co-President, Charles & Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation; Paula Pretlow, Independent Board Director, & Trustee, Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation; and Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove, Senior Rabbi, Park Avenue Synagogue in New York. Monday - 8:30pm & 1:00am; Wednesday - 1:30pm; Saturday - 7:00pm; Sunday - 4:00am

Antisemitism Across Borders

A discussion examining the interconnectedness of antisemitic groups and rhetoric around the globe and its impact on the security of local Jewish communities. With Sofia Cohen (Museo Interactivo Judío de Chile), Dr. Dave Rich (Director of Policy, The Community Security Trust in the UK), Marilyn Mayo (Senior Research Fellow at the ADL's Center on Extremism), and Kim Robin Stoller (Chair of the Board of Directors, IIBSA in Germany). Moderated by Sharon Nazarian (ADL Senior Vice President for International Affairs). Part of ADL’s “Never is Now” Summit 2020. Tuesday - 8:00pm & 1:00am; Thursday - 2:00pm; Saturday - 8:00pm

On L’Chayim

Sunday: St Louis Survivor

Survivor of the SS St. Louis Hans Fisher recounts the events surrounding his remarkable journey as an 11-year-old boy aboard the German refugee ship bound for Cuba in 1939. Sunday - 12 Noon & 6pm; Monday - 3pm

Monday: JFK and Israel

On the Anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Texas (November 22, 1963), Prof. Jerome Chanes of the Center for Jewish Studies at CUNY's Gradate Center discusses the profound positive impact President Kennedy had on U.S.-Israeli relations. Monday - 9:00pm & 12 Midnight; Tuesday - 3:00pm

Tuesday: The Second Sun

Film Director Jennifer Gelfer and male star John Buffalo Mailer discuss their feature film “The Second Sun”, the poignant story of a “b'shert" romance between a survivor and a lost soul in post-World War II New York City. Tuesday - 9:00pm & 2:00am; Wednesday - 3:00pm

L'Chayim: Miss Israel

“Titi” Aynaw discusses her journey from her hometown in Ethiopia to aliyah to Israel, to serving in the IDF, to becoming the first Ethiopian Miss Israel in 2013.
Wednesday - 9pm & Midnight; Thursday - 3:00pm

Thursday: Jewish Historians

Three of American Jewry’s leading historians reflect on their chosen field which they write about in “Conversations With Colleagues.” The book’s editor Jeffrey Gurock (YU), Jonathan Sarna (Brandeis) and Shuly Rubin Schwartz (JTS).
Thursday - 9:00pm & 2:00am; Friday - 3:00pm

Saturday: Rachel Robinson

Jackie Robinson’s widow Rachel Robinson discusses the challenges she and her husband had to face as he broke the Major League color barrier in 1947-- - and recalls the Jews who helped them. Saturday - 6:00pm

From The Aleph Bet: Lesson 7

Learn three new Hebrew letters, "Gimmel," "Daled," and "Yud Monday - 9:00am & 5:00pm; Tuesday - 7:00pm; Saturday - 8:00am

Talmud Study: Change and Grow

Drawing from a series of traditional commentaries, Rabbi Mordechai Becher explores the Talmudic notion of a person's ability to change and grow through one's actions and prayers Sunday - 9:00am; Tuesday - 9:00am & 4:30pm; Thursday - 7:00pm; Friday - 4:00am

Talmud Study: Marriage

"Eight Blessings One Wedding," on the theme of marriage as found in Talmud tractates Kesuvos 7 and 8, is presented by Rabbi Mordechai Becher. Sunday - 9:30am; Tuesday - 9:30am & 5:00pm; Thursday - 7:30pm; Friday - 4:30am

Jewish 101: Not Good To Be Alone What is the first evil of human existence and what is at the heart of being a complete human being? These are questions addressed in the Jewish reading of Genesis Chapter 2 in an ongoing study of Jewish values. "Jewish 101" with Rabbi Mark S. Golub. Sunday - 10am; Wednesday - 9am & 4:30pm; Friday - 1:00pm

92nd Street Y: Levy & Schama on America

Bernard-Henri Lévy, one of the West’s leading intellectuals, discusses the changing role of America on the global political scene with historian Simon Schama, author of The Empire & the Five Kings: America's Abdication and the Fate of the World.
Sunday - 8:00pm & 2:00am; Monday - 10:00pm; Tuesday - 4am; Wednesday - 10:30am; Saturday - 1:00am & 4pm

From Date To Mate: Episode 7

In this season 1 finale, Brett, Justin and Paige find themselves in a love triangle while the issue of "trust" looms large for Daniel and Zoe Today (Sunday) - 10:30pm & 1:30am; Monday - 10:00am; Friday - 10:00pm; Saturday - 10:30pm & 1:30am

Friday Evening Shabbat Services

Reform: Central Synagogue 6pm, 11:30pm & 2:00am

Orthodox: Hampton Synagogue With Hebrew, Transliteration and English subtitles 7:30pm & 10:30pm

Saturday Morning Shabbat Services

Reform: Central Synagogue 9:30am & 1pm

Orthodox: Hampton Synagogue With Hebrew, Transliteration and English subtitles 11am & 2:30pm

Edith Samers Vice President 203.536.6914 (cell phone) JBS Jewish Broadcasting Service, a 501c3 fulltime television channel Website: jbstv.org

Click here to RSVP

For questions, please call Jenine Simon at 305.271.9000 x251 or email [email protected].

Thursday, February 18 9-11 a.m.

First come, first served while supplies last Please do not arrive before 9 a.m.

Dave and Mary Alper JCC 11155 SW 112th Avenue, Miami

To ensure the health and safety of volunteers and community members, we must adhere to the COVID-19 CDC guidelines. Masks are required. Please remain in your car and open the trunk when it’s your turn in line. Volunteers will place food in your trunk. (If you are able, please print and place this on your dashboard.)

This Kosher Food Distribution Event has been generously underwritten by the Katz/Squires Family-Valerie, Michael, Danielle and Scott.

Farm Share, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider.

Join us for a variety of virtual events offered by The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) in the month of February. Diverse communities across North America will come together to harness our collective power to break down barriers to opportunity and inclusion. Help us advance policy that empowers individuals with disabilities to achieve maximum independence.

Hear from thought leaders and experts about the current state of disability rights and what can be done to promote the best inclusion and supportive care practices. Learn new advocacy strategies and how to put the needs and rights of people with disabilities squarely on the policy agenda of the new Biden Administration and the 117th Congress. Closed captioning available throughout.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EVENTS AND TO RSVP