JACKSONVILLE TEENS REPRESENT

COMMUNITY

JACKSONVILLE TEENS REPRESENT AT INTERNATIONAL SHABBATON

By Dini Sharfstein, Chabad at St. Johns County

Teens traveled to New York for the annual CTeen Shabbaton, an international gathering of close to 3,000 Jewish teens. Led by Dini Sharfstein of Chabad at St. Johns County, teens were treated to a thrilling, non-stop program with tours of NYC and the Jewish community, inspiring Shabbat meals, talks by renowned speakers, and a highly anticipated closing ceremony.

Last year, the pandemic forced CTeeners online for a virtual Shabbaton. Auri from Creekside High School was glad to join in person this year. “It was amazing to meet so many teens from all over the world,” she says, “and that we have one thing in common, we are all Jewish!”

The highlight of CTeen’s INTL Shabbaton is always Saturday Night’s concert and havdalah ceremony in Times Square. This year featured a live CTeen Tanya-printing along with a guest performance by Jewish music sensation Berri Weber.

Times Square came alive with Jewish messages, as the billboards of American Eagle, Express, Clear Channel and Nasdaq were overtaken by CTeen’s customized videos. In the spirit of this year’s “Whenever, Wherever” theme, images of teens doing mitzvot were broadcasted across Time Square.

With over 600 chapters around the world, teens traveled from as far as Morocco and Argentina for last week’s international experience. With immersive Jewish experiences focused on social, educational, and humanitarian elements, CTeen is also a way for local Jews to stay connected to each other and their heritage yearround.

“With very few Jewish friends, Cteen really brought the Jewish community to me,” says Gabby, from St. Johns. “It gives me a boost of Jewish pride.”

Rabbi Mendel Sharfstein and his wife Dini run a local chapter of Cteen bringing new life to the area’s programming for Jewish teens.

For more info, contact Dini@JewishSJohnsCounty.com or call (904) 701-4422 12 Jax teens enjoy the Cteen International Shabbaton.

SOCCER UNITES!

By Emily Rosenbaumn, Torah Academy of Jacksonville

This past December, parents from the Torah Academy of Jacksonville (TA) and the Martin J Gottlieb Day School (MJGDS) joined forces to create an after-school middle school boys’ soccer league. The group consists of six, 5th-8th grade boys from TA and seven, 5th-8th grade boys from MJGDS. Originally from El Salvador, the league is led by head coach Yosef Rocca-Marquez, father of a 7th-grade student at TA, Aaron Rocca-Marquez. Yosef’s assistant, Daniel Smith, husband of Jennifer Smith (director of the Jacksonville Jewish Center), is a math Response to Intervention (RTI) specialist at MJGDS, and often plays in the games with Yosef and the boys. The league plays on Thursdays after school at the Jacksonville Jewish Center soccer fi eld.

The league, which started as a four-week experiment, was so successful that it is likely continuing until the end of the school year. It is not only special because the coaches are both volunteers, but because each week the teams change. This allows the boys to work together as teammates regardless of which school they attend. It is inspiring to see the two Jewish schools collaborating to provide their students with a healthy and fun after-school activity!

Torah Academy of Jacksonville and the Martin J Gottlieb Day School are benefi ciaries of the Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida. Their funding helps support the programs and opportunities we provide for the Jewish community.

COMMUNITY

JFCS TO ROLLOUT TRIBUTE PROGRAM

By Donna O'Steen,Jewish Family & Community Services

Want to thank someone special in a meaningful way? Make a tribute in memory of a loved one to a cause they were passionate about? Celebrate a wedding or Bar/Bat Mitzvah? Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS) has just the opportunity for you to do all of those things and more.

JFCS announces a new tribute program, scheduled to roll out just in time for Mother’s Day – because what better way to honor your mother than a tribute in her name?

The JFCS Tribute cards can be purchased for a donation of $18 or more to support the JFCS program of your choice – and can be personalized with a message you create and mailed to the person you designate.

For more information and to view all of the available cards, visit: www.JFCSJax.org/tribute. JFCS is a beneficiary of the Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida. Their funding helps support several of the programs and opportunities we provide for the Jewish Community.

CHILDREN’S LIVES IMPROVED BY LOCAL ORTHODONTIST

By Donna O'Steen, Jewish Family & Community Services

Since 2016, Dr. Jason Rice, DDS has been providing orthodontic care to Jewish Family & Community Service’s (JFCS) foster kids.

Jason first got involved with JFCS through the Holiday Gift Giving program. Although the program allowed him and his Rice Orthodontics staff to help a number of children, he wanted to do more. He contacted JFCS CEO, Colleen Rodriguez and offered his services as an orthodontist to help improve the lives of children in the foster care system. Dr. Jason Rice, DDS. When asked why he decided to do this, Jason responded with, “My office staff and I wanted to give back to a community of children whose lives had been turned upside down. Doing this has been life-changing for us and the children. We help transform them both dentally and emotionally.”

Jason added, “Our office is beyond fortunate to be able to have the resources and staff that consistently commit to serving those in need in partnership with JFCS. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences in all of our lives and we look forward to helping many more children in the years to come.”

Jason is grateful for the many blessings in his professional and personal life where his successes are many. He has a wonderful wife and two sons, with whom he lives in Jacksonville, and he was recently able to open up a second office in the Nocatee area.

JFCS is thankful for Jason and his staff’s commitment to JFCS and our children.