Last issue of the season - Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community ...

18900 NE 25th Ave.
North Miami Beach, FL 33180
305-932-4200
www.marjcc.org
Our state registration number is CH-1998.
A copy of the official registration and
financial information may be obtained
from the Division of Consumer Services
by calling toll-free, within the state
1-800-HELP-FLA. Registration does not imply
endorsement, approval or recommendation.
We utilize 100% of each contribution
to further our agency’s mission
Printed on recycled paper
Edited by:
Alan Silverberg - alans@marjcc.org
David Surowitz - marjccdavid@aol.com
Iris Kohn - irisk@marjcc.org
MAR-JCC
Pre-Camp
When School is Out,
the JCC is In!
Mon-Fri, June 11-15 • 9am – 4pm
-Field Trip (Grades K-5)
•Monday: Ice Skating
•Tuesday: Laser Quest
•Wednesday: Kabooms
•Thursday: Funderdome
•Friday: Goldcoast Train Museum
Mini-
Camp
Please Join Us...
Sunday, June 10, 10:30am
for the Michael-Ann Russell
Jewish Community Center’s
Annual Meeting
Includes a Year in Review &
a vision for the future.
Light brunch will be served
Open to MAR-JCC Members at
no charge
Please RSVP to Helga Gorin
at 305-932-4200 x163
helgag@marjcc.org
Just before
Camp Sol Taplin
begins!
Are your kids
registered
for the Summer?
-Tennis (Grades K-5)
Includes swimming, basketball, kickball,
and more!
-Early Childhood (Ages 3-4)
9am-6pm • Friday: 8am-5pm
Children not enrolled in MAR-JCC preschool
must be age 4
Optional Extended Care:
•Mon-Thurs: 8-9 am & 4-6 pm (Friday, 4-5pm)
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Miami, Fla.
PERMIT No. 1210
For fees and to
register, call the
Membership
Services Office at:
305-932-4200,
x145/146
The Time Has Come!
The final step to initiate our new
Access System has arrived...
Beginning June 1, we ask all Members to stop
by the Membership Office to obtain their
NEW MEMBERSHIP CARD
which will facilitate entry onto the
MAR-JCC’s Sanford L. Ziff Campus and access
to its facilities
Membership Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8:15am-6pm
Friday: 8:15am-5pm
Extended hours: Sundays, June 3,10,& 17: 10am-2pm
Spring/Summer/5772
In this issue:
•
Swim Gym
comes to the MAR-JCC
•
Israel 64 Re-cap
•
Camp Sol Taplin
reminders
•
Hebraica’s new Young
Adult Division
•
MAR-JCC
Photo Flashback
•
16th Annual
Festival Yachad
•
J-CAT Casting Call
•
Pre-camp Mini-camp
•
Annual Meeting
•
New Access System
•
Israel Cinema Nights
Find us on
Facebook!
Check out the latest
updates and
photos. click the
button and
spread the word!
Edited by:
Alan Silverberg - alans@marjcc.org
David Surowitz - marjccdavid@aol.com
Iris Kohn - irisk@marjcc.org
CC
The official newsletter of the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center
Your Center of Excellence!
Things are going Swimmingly at
the MAR-JCC!
“The MAR-JCC is very excited that beginning July 1st, a
new swimming program for our MAR-JCC, called Swim
Gym, will be partnering with us to provide state-of-the-art
aquatics programming here at our Edith and Sol Schmidt
Aquatics Complex,” announced Gary Bomzer, MAR-JCC
President and CEO. Swim Gym is a local, family-owned
and operated Aquatics company which has many strong
connections in the Miami-Dade County community.
Swim Gym has direct experience working in a local JCC
environment, having run programming at the Dave &
Mary Alper JCC in Kendall for the past 16 years. In
addition to providing private and group swimming
lessons, Swim Gym will offer competitive swim teams,
adult fitness, masters programming, triathalon training,
adapted aquatics, and more. “We are looking forward to
Swim Gym coming on board, as it emphasizes the JCC’s
dedication to only bring the highest caliber of aquatics
programming to our Center,” says MAR-JCC Aquatics
Director, Dale Hughes.
Since its inception in 1984, Swim Gym has been recognized,
as a leader in the field of aquatic education. Coach
Robert Strauss, director and 1972 Olympian, has taught in
Miami, Florida since 1973. He participated in the World
Maccabi Games in Israel in 1969 and 1973, where he won
gold, silver and bronze medals. He has dedicated his life
to the enrichment of early childhood development
through aquatic play -- where most educators teach in a
classroom, Coach Strauss chose a swimming pool to raise
children, teach them to pay attention, to listen, and to find
a life-time activity. “We are looking forward to sharing
our passion and excitement with the MAR-JCC membership,”
Coach Strauss stated, adding that he hopes “and
maybe one or more of our sons & daughters can also live
the dream wearing the red, white and blue at the Maccabi
Games in Israel.
By 2011, more than 45,000 students, 80% non-swimmers
when they first started their lessons, have become safer
and competent in the pool and in the ocean. “Coach
Strauss’ experience is clearly reflected by every teacher
trained with Swim Gym’s innovative cutting edge
techniques; everyone has the passion and excitement
required in a program in which the progress of every
participant is measurable,” mentions Nancy Carroll,
MAR-JCC Health and Wellness Director.
Classes will include:
Parent & Child (Beg-Int),
Parent & Child (Int-Adv),
3-4’s GROUP (3 to 5 students
per instructor), 5-6’s GROUP
(5 to 6 students per instructor), 6 & OLDER GROUP (6
to 8 students per instructor), STROKE SCHOOL
(10-12 students per instructor). All classes will run
approximately 40-minutes.
Swim Gym will also be providing Swim Team training
courses, as well as Adult Fitness and Triathlete
Training.“Every staff member will create a friendly
environment for their students, using pedagogical
sound teaching practices that result in a successful
swimming experience. Regardless of age, from infants
to senior citizens, everyone walks away with safety,
fitness, friends and fun,” noted Paul Frishman, Chief
Operating Officer for the MAR-JCC. For more information
about Swim Gym, and its program offerings
that begin July 1, call 305-932-4200 x145, or email
marjcc@swimgym.net.
Coach Robert Strauss

CC inks
Published 4 times per year
Board of Directors
Chairman of the Board
Ariel Bentata
•
Immediate Past Chairman of
the Board, Chairman of the
Advisory Board
Jeffrey Scheck
•
Immediate Past Chair of the
Advisory Board,
Co-Chair of the
Capital Campaign
Fanny Hanono
•
Vice Chair-
Membership/Marketing
Rochelle Parrino
•
Vice Chair-
Development
David Waxman
•
Vice Chair-Programs
Helen Beda
•
Vice Chairs-
Long Range Planning
Sami Shiro
Paul Kruss
•
Vice Chair-
Finance & Operations
Jeffrey Levinson
•
Vice Chair-
Facilities Operations
Danny Halberstein
•
Secretary
Mike Segal
•
Assistant Secretary
Norman Leopold
•
Gabriela Berenstein
Amy Chafetz
Samy Feld
Denise Fiske
Stephen Fiske
Mindy Hardoon
Seth Kaplan
Michael Klinger
Dr. Rick Mars
Ari Odzer
Nicole Papu
Alberto Perlman
Eva Rub
Marty Scheck
Robert Singer
Phil Solomon
Yael Sultan
Josh Weingard
Alex Zylberglait
•
President & CEO
Gary J. Bomzer, MSW
Memorable Moments
The Little Pink Dress...
Daughter of Holocaust Survivor gets Unexpected Surprise!
During the week of April 23-27, the MAR-JCC showcased
an unprecedented museum exhibit, Israel – From
Biblical Times to the Present, as part of its Israel 64
Community Celebration. The exhibit was a collaborative
effort of the MAR-JCC and WIZO, made possible by
the Falic Family, in memory of the family patriarch, Fima
Chaim Falic, z”l. It was during that week that an unexpected
surprise occurred - a woman attending the exhibit
came accross an exact replica of a dress worn by a relative
the night she perished in the Holocaust.
The exhibit was comprised of more than 500 works of art
by students of The Word of Faith Christian School that
focused on important events in Jewish history, the Jewish
People’s connection to the Land of Israel, scenes from
contemporary Israel, and the atrocities of the Holocaust.
The exhibit featured paintings, sculptures, drawings, and
other medium.
As former part-time MAR-JCC staff member, Lea Shani,
walked through the exhibit on Wednesday evening, April
25, gazing at a section of the exhibit that displayed
replicas of clothing worn by children who died in the
Holocaust, when she stopped suddenly. There in front of
her was a small pink linen dress with a white Peter Pan
collar and hand stitched embroidery. It was a copy of a
dress made by her grandmother and worn by her father’s
sister who died at age 3 during the Nazi invasion of Yugoslavia.
The Nazi invasion of Yugoslavia occurred during the
holiday of Passover. Lea’s relatives, the Altarac family,
were celebrating in their home when Sarajevo was
bombed. In the house were her father – a child at the time,
his 3 year-old sister Lela, their grandmother, mother and
father. The house, a four-story building was demolished.
Lea’s aunt, Lela, was found in the arms of her grandmother,
both fatally wounded.
Israel 64 I-Factor Winner Chosen!
T H E
F A C T O R
The rest of the family survived, but
before fleeing to neighboring Albania
where they hid for two years, Lela’s mother took the little
pink dress her daughter was wearing as a reminder and
keepsake.
Years later, the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. was
conducting a historical study of the Albanian response to the
Holocaust because of the protection they provided to their
Jewish population during the Nazi invasion of Albania
between 1942-43. According to their information, not a single
Jew was given up or exposed to the Nazis. It was because of
this that Lea’s father was contacted and decided to donate the
little pink dress to the Museum. “My father wanted to show
others the tragedy of all the innocents lost during that terrible
time,” expressed Lea. The dress, while on display for a special
exhibition about kids in the Holocaust, was photographed and
published many times over. It was during this time that the
Word of Faith Christian School students came across the dress
and decided to replicate it for their exhibit. The dress was
re-created by two students down to the last detail, including
the fabric that took months to find. “I couldn’t believe what I
was looking at,” Lea continued. “Amongst the hundreds of
artifacts on display, there in front of me was a dress worn by
my aunt, the little girl who I am named after.”
Lea Shani (left) shows one of the students who re-created the
dress, the photograph of the original dress worn by her aunt the
night she was fatally injured by the Nazis. (Far left corner is the
replica of the dress, which was presented to Lea at the conclusion
of the exhibit.)
On Wednesday, April 25, the MAR-JCC celebrated Israel’s 64th Birthday that included a singing
competition called I-Factor! A spin-off combo of the “X-FACTOR” and the ever-popular “American
Idol,” the competition, created for youth grades 6-12, featured 8 finalists who performed songs with
an “Israel theme.”
The contests sang in front of a panel of judges comprised of Ashley Blake Fisher,Vivian Fulop,
Shalva Berti, and an audience of nearly 500 for the coveted “I-FACTOR” Title, and a chance to win
I
a round-trip ticket to Israel, sponsored by El Al Airlines and Jerry Allen Travel. Votes came in via
text messaging which counted for 30%, and the remaining 70% of the decision came from three
judges. “It was definitely difficult to pick just one winner, but Melissa Biblowicz not only had an
incredible voice, she had a very mature stage presence,” mentioned Ashley Blake Fisher, J-CAT’s
Outreach Director, and one of the I-Factor judges, echoing the views of the two other judges, Shalva
Berti and Vivian Furlof. After all was “sang” and done, the winner of the competition was Melissa
Biblowicz, a Cooper City High School senior who performed her rendition of “Shma Yisrael Elochai.”
I-Factor Winner,
Melissa Biblowicz
Overcome with emotion, the teary-eyed Melissa was presented with the grand prize by Israel 64 Committee Chair, Mindy
Hardoon, and Rusty Silverio from El Al Airlines. “This was one of the most exciting and thrilling things that has ever happened
to me,” explained Melissa. “I’ve never won anything like this before, and I’m so happy I was a part of this competition and
celebration,” she continued.
Celebrating the Arts
Hebraica’s Bamachol Dance Academy presents...
16th Annual FESTIVAL YACHAD
The largest Israeli Dance Festival in the U.S., Festival Yachad, sponsored by Safra
National Bank of New York, will celebrate the Land of Israel with more than 800
dancers. The Festival, comprised of three different performances, in three different
venues, will begin on Sunday, June 3, with a Children’s Performance sponsored by
Amalia-Children’s Fine Jewelry, at the Julius Littman Performing Arts Theater in
North Miami Beach. Later in the week, on Friday, June 8, at 10am, a special
Showcase Performance in the Scheck Family Gymnasium, will feature presentations
by visiting Israeli dance groups from abroad. This show is free to students and
seniors. The grand finale of Festival Yachad will be a Gala Performance, sponsored
by Waste Management Inc. of Florida, on Sunday, June 10, at 7pm, at the Broward
Center for the Performing Arts.
This year's theme for Festival Yachad will be "Shir" (in Hebrew-"Music"). The
Festival will celebrate, through dance, all the different rhythms and songs made
famous in Israel during the course of the past six decades, using colorful costumes, unique musical arrangements and choreography, dramatic
sound and light effects, and beautiful scenery. Continuing to add an international dimension to the Festival, is the participation of invited Israeli
Dance troupes from Mexico, Panama & Israel, who will join 600 dancers from the MAR-JCC. Visiting performing groups include; Zazz, from
Panama; Macabi Panama; Proyect Dalet A and Proyect Dalet B, from Mexico; Ryver Dance Studio, from Mexico; and Givatayim Dance Group,
from Israel.
Tickets for the Children’s Performance may be obtained through the Bamachol Dance Academy’s office.
For the Gala Performance, call the Broward Center for the Performing Arts or online at www.browardcenter.org.
For group tickets, please contact the Bamachol Office at (305) 932-4200 x152.
Casting Call for J-CAT’s October Show
Auditions for Adults & Teens for HARVEY
Try-out for the first show of the 2012-13
season - Harvey, by Mary Chase. Seeking
comedic actors and actresses for two separate
casts - One comprised of adults; the other
featuring teens.
Performance Run: October 17-28.
Rehearsals begin mid-August.
Auditions, by appointment only, on the evenings of Tuesday, May 29;
Thursday, May 31; and Sunday, June 3. Please be prepared to read
from the script. To audition, call Lillian Andron at 305-308-8055.
To learn more about our theatre, visit www.jcctheatre.com.

T H E
I
F A C T O R
Israel 64 I-Factor
MAR-JCC Photo Flashback!
Israel 64 Special Exhibit
and Yom Ha’atzma’ut Program
Finalist,
Donna Alima
Finalist,
David Ben Arie
Finalist,
Maia Cattan
Finalist,
Danel Dadon
I-Factor finalists pictured with El-Al Airlines representative...
(far left) Mindy Hardoon, Israel Programs & Hebraica Chair,
and Evelyn Faigenblat (far right), Israel 64 Chair
Israel 64 Museum Exhibit - Israel: From Biblical Times to the Present, sponsored by the Falic Family in memory of Fima, Chaim Falic z”l
Tila Falic, surrounded by family
members, cuts ribbon to open
the exhibit
Portrait of Fima Chaim Falic, z”l,
and his wife, Nily, presented to
Simon & Jerome Falic by
Word of Faith Christian School
Jana Falic (center) with
exhibit presenters
Tuli Wultz, raises flag from
half-staff, transitioning from Yom
Hazikaron to Yom Ha’atzma’ut
Finalist,
Akiva Schechter
Finalist,
Jessica Schlaen
Finalist,
Ariela Zebede
Senior Celebration
I-Factor Winner, Melissa Biblowicz happily
accepts the grand prize - a round-trip ticket to
Israel donated by El Al Airlines-Rusty Silverio,
and Jerry Allen Travel-Mindy Hardoon
The Honorable Chaim Shacham,
Consul General of Israel, introduces
8 Torch Lighters
The Falic Family represented by Torch
Lighters, Simon and Jerome Falic
Alan & Diane Lieberman
Children’s Cultural Arts Series
Pastor Sam and Jane Whaley Judit Groisman David Cohen Oren Kattan
Dr. Steven Silvers
Denise Tamir
Learn To Swim
Gary Mars
Care Plus Health Plans Rep., Stacy Van Over 250 Senior Adults attended
Buren, MAR-JCC’s Galit Shemesh, & Chen the annual event
Med Patient Support Specialist, Kenia Munoz
Jewish Book Series
Latin line dancing was a popular
activity during the celebration!
The Alan & Diane Lieberman Children’s Cultural Arts Series finished out its season with
“The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and the Hare” presented by New Orleans based
Light Wire Theatre, before an audience of 900 children
Lag B’Omer
New York Times best selling author,
Iris Krasnow, presented a humorous and
poignant presentation about two of her
latest books - “The Secret Lives of Wives”
and “I Am My Mother’s Daughter
Iris Krasnow and David Surowitz,
flanked by committee members,
Diani Azout (left) and Beth Albert (right)
The presentation attracted many people
from the MAR-JCC, Temple Sinai, and
general community
The holiday of Lag b’Omer was celebrated
with a traditional bonfire and lots of games
and activities for kids
Bamachol in
Yerucham
The MAR-JCC’s Bamachol Dance
Academy- Kulanu Group, presented
at a special Israel Independence
Day performance in Yerucham,
Israel, coinciding with the Miami
Mega Mission visit to our Partnership
City
Paul Warren (President) and Milton Fisher of North
Miami Beach/Sunny Isles Beach Kiwanis Club show
support of our Learn to Swim Program

Summer Fun is Just Around The Corner
at the MAR-JCC's Camp Sol Taplin
The sounds of 1,000 campers will soon resonate throughout our 17
acre Sanford L. Ziff Campus and adjacent Hillel, as Camp Sol
Taplin kicks-off another summer of fun, learning, sharing, and
celebrating our rich cultural heritage. Summer programs are available
for ages 2 1/2 years old through age 16 - with wait lists established
(as of May 20) for SESSION I - Tiny T'nua, J-CAT Summer
Stock, Sports Academy, and Extreme Adventure. Families not yet
registered, and looking to provide their children with a great
summer experience are encouraged to call the Membership Office,
so they may be accommodated in a camp of their choice.
Parent Orientation: Wednesday, May 30
Swim/Sports Academy - 5:30pm
Nitzanim & Kitanim - 6:30pm
All other camps - 7:30pm
Summer Camp Shlichim Arrive from Israel: Monday, June 11
(Needed: Host families for these post-army age, specially trained
cultural ambassadors from Israel). Contact Dror Gershoni,
Community Shaliach, at 305-932-4200, ext. 128
camp sol taplin
Meet the Counselor Day: Sunday, June 17, 11am
Camp Begins: Monday, June 18
For summer camp information, contact the Membership Services
office, call 305-932-4200, x-145/146.
Coming Up Next....
“Israel 64” Photo Flashback!
YAD
Hebraica’s Young Adult Division
Reaches Out To Collegiates
The MAR-JCC through its Hebraica Department will be partnering
with Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, to
bring together two institutions that foster the development and
growth of our Jewish young adults.
The purpose of this new program for young Jewish adults, ages
18-26, living in North Miami-Dade County will be to enable
them to engage in a fun and educational social environment with
their peers to promote Jewish life and values. Organized activities
such as social events, shabbat dinners, soccer tournaments,
Israeli advocacy, cultural arts, community action, and much more
are planned for the upcoming year.
The MAR-JCC’s Maccabi Tzair
Coordinator, Romina Naparstek, in
her new capacity as Director of this
project, will be providing the
professional leadership towards its
development and implementation.
“I am very excited about this new
venture, and I’m happy to be a part
of something that will bring young
Jewish adults together towards a common goal, through socialization
and Jewish cultural activity,” mentions Romina. Hillel
Young Adult committee chair, Alex Halberstein, added “I view
the partnership achieved between the MAR-JCC and H2G (Hillel
Second Generation) with great satisfaction, as it will allow the
continuity of serving the young women and men in the North
Dade area, in their pursuit of Jewish identity, as they attend 7
different universities/colleges in this area. It is and has been a
labor of love for the past 6 years, and will certainly continue and
be enhanced by this merger.”
According to Gary Bomzer, MAR-JCC President and CEO,
“This is a most welcome opportunity to work in collaboration
with Hillel to serve Jewish young adults after their high school
years. For us, it’s a perfectly natural progression to have this
program added under the umbrella of our Hebraica Department,
which is committed to serving this age group within a Jewish
cultural context.”
For more information, please contact Romina at
305-932-4200 x148, or email:
rominan@marjcc.org.
The MAR-JCC welcomes
its newest
Corporate Partner!
Contact Stacy Van Buren,
at 305-441-2199, or
305-215-0109