incredible women proudly - orlandojewishfed.org

Thank you to all the incredible women proudly

serving our whole community! We love, respect, admire and

appreciate you!

Love,

The Ginsburg's

Dear Brave Women of Orlando, Over the past year, COVID-19 altered numerous aspects of our lives in ways that were previously unforeseen. We learned new ways to live, to work, and to interact with one another. Throughout these challenges, the BRAVE women of our community persevered; each day finding innovative ways to help their loved ones and others. Each year, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando’s Choices event is dedicated to highlighting women’s impact on our community. This year, a year unlike any other, it is only appropriate to showcase those many BRAVE women who put their health and safety on the line to help our Jewish community. The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando is extraordinarily proud of their compassion, strength, and resiliency. Tonight, we recognize their achievements with stories that we hope will resonate with each and every one of you.

T'anjuiming "Ming" A. Marx, Esq. President of the Board, JFGO

The past year has truly been challenging in every

way possible. It is part of what makes tonight so

special. The opportunity to recognize 28 amazing

women who have truly made Brave Choices this year

is special.

Each of these women have taken risks to help

others. Each of these women have gone far beyond

the norm to make our local community and our

world a better place. As we honor them tonight, I

hope you are both awed and inspired by their Brave

Choices and how they have had such an incredible

impact on our Orlando Community.

Keith Dvorcik Executive Director, JFGO

Keith Dvorchik Executive Director, JFGO

Carol Feuerman Development Director, JFGO

Welcome everyone to The Jewish Federation’s 27th Annual

Choices event. This year was unlike any other and because of

that, we decided there was no better time to change things

up a bit.

Tonight’s event showcases the power, strength, and impact

women have on our Orlando Community. We chose the name

“Brave Choices” as there are many powerful stories of our

Orlando Jewish women who put their own safety and

comfort on the line over the past year to ensure our

community was cared for. We heard their stories and knew

they needed to be shared beyond the walls of our building on

our Jewish campus.

Tonight, we HONOR, COMMEND AND APPLAUD 28 Brave

women. The Federation is proud of the strength and

resiliency of our community. Together, we shifted everything.

The ways we connect. How we work. Did anyone ever think

we would chant the Rosh Hashanah blessings over Zoom? This

past year has taught us that together, we can accomplish

anything. Together, we are better and together we will move

forward. We will continue to reach out and ensure that our

mission to nurture a unified Jewish community is HONORED.

Thank you for showing up, chai-fiving and celebrating these

amazing women with us tonight!

Jewish Community Relations Council The JCRC is organized to serve as the community relations arm of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. They advocate for issues concerning the Jewish community, to strengthen the bonds within our community and to foster ties with the broader community, to advocate for Israel, and to combat anti-Semitism here in Central Florida and throughout the United States. Melton Orlando The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish learning is an international program offering classes throughout the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Australia. It provides a welcoming place to bring Jews from all backgrounds together to grow intellectually and personally -- in doing so, we engender a greater connection to community. Most Melton courses run for 6 or 10 weeks and are highly interactive. Topics range from Torah Study to Jewish history to Jewish ritual and tradition. Knowledgeable instructors help students engage in discussions based on traditional and contemporary Jewish texts. PJ Library PJ Library sends high-quality, age-appropriate Jewish books filled with Jewish traditions, values, customs, and cultures directly to the homes of 1,100+ Orlando families each month. Beyond the books, PJ Library serves as an on-ramp for families to choose their own path of their Jewish journey. Many times, PJ Library is the “first Jewish thing” families attend after having a baby as the program is low-barrier and meets people where they are at various stages in their life. Families are encouraged to attend our offered family meetups, special holiday events and give-back opportunities offered throughout Orlando. JTEN Through JTEN, grants are offered to synagogues and community agencies to support Jewish educational programming. JTEN creates space for community-wide teen education days and provides resources and networking opportunities for Jewish educators. Grants are also available for organized teen Israel trips through the Ronald Colman Israel Travel Scholarship Fund. Women Together Women Together is the new name for the collective power of Jewish women that together will accomplish wonderful things for our community. Through programming, education, volunteering and financially supporting the Federation's mission, we will be able to evoke positive change and realize the potential and strength of women. We are Women Together; involved, inspired, inclusive!

Who is JFGO?

RAISE

RAISing awareness and promoting inclusion as we impact individuals, families, and our community

RAISE recognizes the challenge of facing obstacles and salutes all of the remarkable women in our community who have made a difference!

Now in its 8th year, RAISE is an in-person, work and social skills training program for adults with special needs. RAISE provides paid employment at 6 partnering Jewish agencies along with guidance to help participants transition to jobs in the community. We are proud to be recognized as one of the first 2021 Recipients by Great NonProfits as we continue to build confidence in our employees, promote their independence and empower and educate families. Thanks to our dedicated volunteer job coaches, each RAISE employee has the support of one-on-one coaching each week. Would you consider volunteering as a job coach? Do you have a business that would be willing to hire a RAISE graduate part-time? Please let us know! We would love for you to join our RAISE family. As our world shut down last year, the Leadership Team transformed the RAISE curriculum in order to offer pre-employment and social skills training classes online...and RAISE Your Skills was created. Intended as a short-term filler until we could safely resume in-person programming, this learning experience instead has continued to thrive for over a year and has met with resounding success. Recognizing the stress and isolation that our participants were facing, RAISE continues to offer a professionally led Parent Support Group to fulfill the needs of our families and alumni during these uncertain times. Thank you to our RAISE Volunteers: Rose Ellen Fenster, Fernandah Velastegui, Eliane Norman, Renee Roberts, Amy VanWestering, Lori Beim, Helaine Rosenfeld, Lois Alpert, Barbara Weinreich, Pam Pores, Bill Yahner, Ken Schneider, Carol Miller, Rachel Slavkin, Loren London, Amy Weston, Sandy Grider, Tali Shir, Sami Ronik, Samantha Rich, and Jenny Magram

We are your Jewish Community Resource

Medical Professional Honorees

Dr. Marcia Katz Dr. Lucille Belnick

Dr. Suzanne Bryskin Adele Portnoy

Fried, RN

Dr. Nancy Brown Abrudescu

Dr. Maxine Silverman Rosenthal

Dr. Robyn Cohen Lagina

Community Honorees

Alaina Andino Wilder Joanne Berman

Eve Homburger

Jenny Rossman Carol Stein Ghena Wasserman Luker

Education Honorees

Stacy Gotlib Amy Geboff

Amy Polacek Melissa Youngblood Dr. Ilene Wilkins

Mental Health/Special Needs Honorees

Michal Osteen

Danielle Glover Carol Miller

Susan Shapiro, LCSW

Jewish Agency Honorees

Sarah Gittleson Elizabeth Kalef

Nancy Ludin Rachel Slavkin Sharon Weil

Audrey Cohen

Thank You

The Choices Committee

Leigh Norber (Chairperson)

Danielle Barak

Barbara Chasnov

Betsy Cohen

Rhonda Forest

Renee Friedman

Natalia Goldenberg

Bari Hoffman

Eve Homberger Caryn Israel

Danielle Krise

Loren London

Karen Moreno

Meril Salzberg

Laurie Shader Smith

Production Team

Ashley Bundis

Brandon Kari Productions

Carol Feuerman

Danny Gendzier

Julbilation Events, Julie Begani

Beth Rose

Danielle Sobel

Marisa West

Thank you to everyone who

participated in the making of

Brave Choices 2021

Meira Altman

Julia Bedrin

Lauren Benghiat

Devorah Leah Dubov

Keith Dvorchik Cantor Fine

Sarah Gittelson

Amanda Gordon

Kayla Israel

Rebecca Jacques

Sheila Kramer

Jessica Levine

Julie Levitt

Idit Lotringer

Hillary Marx

Jacqui Drazen McGrail

Cantor Megdal

Debbie Meitin

Itana Pinansky

Ethel Portnoy

Emily Raij Beth Rose

Stephanie Rubins

Sheryl Sacharoff

Rachel Selber Kropp

Aileen Shaked

Cantor Singer

Megan Steinmetz

Samantha Taylor

Sam Taylor

Aaron Weil

Barbara Weinrich

Sharon White

Shaina White Williams

Thank you to our sponsors

Diamond

The Ginsburg Family

Platinum

Krise Wealth Management Group

of Raymond James

Gold

Abby Nelson's Great Homes

Group of RE/Max

Andy Pargh Foundation

Mardi and Ron Shader

Providence Senior Living

Silver

Bounds Law Group

Cohen Law Group

Ethel Portnoy

Susie and Ed Kleiman

Bronze

Burt and Barbara Chasnov

Caryn and Brian Albertson

Cheryl and Greg Finkelstein

Elaine Silver Attorney At Law

Eve Homburger and Brad Jacobs

Halo Building Services, LLC

Laura and Jonathan Waldbaum

Renee Friedman / FASTSIGNS

The Schwartz Family

Stacey and Michael Soll

Sharon and Marty White

Slone Brothers Furniture

Brave Women of

Choices

To the Brave Women

of Choices, you are an

inspiration to us all.

An honor well deserved

Congratulations to the 2021 Brave Women of Choices.

We Salute You!

Mazel Tov Brave Women of Choices!

Adele,

Your passion for helping

others truly makes you a

Brave Women of

Orlando.

Thank you for all you do

to keep us all healthy.

- Mom

Mazel Tov the

Brave Women of

Choices.

We are grateful for

all you do!

Barbara & Burt Chasnov

Our very best wishes and

thanks to the Brave Women of

Choices. Your commitment and

dedications is an inspiration.

Susie and Ed Kleiman

In honor of

The Brave Women

of Choices

The world much

brighter because of

individuals like you!

Caryn and Brian

Albertson

Mazel Tov to all of the amazing

women who are being honored

tonight. I am very proud to call many of you my friends!!!

Cheryl Finkelstein

Mazel Tov the Brave Women of Choices!

We honor all the caring

women in our

community.

In memory of Selma

Jacobs and Lore Marck

Homburger, loving

mothers and wives.

Eve Homburger Brad Jacobs,

Marc Homburger Jacobs Mazel Tov to all the

Brave Women of

Choices on this well

deserved honor.

And thank you to the

Federation for all you

do for the community.

Laura and Jonathan

Waldbaum

BRAVO TO ALL OF THE BRAVE WOMEN THAT MADE THE CHOICE TO

MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS PAST YEAR

WHEN BRAVE CHOICES WERE NOT

THE EASIEST. THIS IS YOUR TIME TO

BE RECOGNIZED AND COMMENDED.

BRAVO TO THE WOMEN'S DIVISION

OF JFGO FOR MAKING THE CHOICE

TO BE INNOVATIVE, INCLUSIVE AND

INSPIRING.

WITH WARMEST RESPECT AND

REGARD,

Sharon Aronoff White

Shaina White Williams

Jamie White Norden

The Schwartz

family is

thankful for

JFGO!

Todah Raba

Mazel Tov to my brave

sister-in-law Alaina Andino Wilder

and all of the Brave women of

Orlando we honor tonight! May you

go from Strength to Strength.

Rachel Gebaide

On behalf of the Board of Directors

of KCOA and the residents of

Kinneret, we join the Orlando

community in saluting this year's

CHOICE Award recipients, including

our own Executive Director,

Sharon Weil. Your tireless and

passionate leadership meant so

much to so many during

this Covid crisis.

Mazal Tov!

Congratulations to

Sarah, Stacy, Rachel and Eve

on being recognized as

Brave Women!

Kol HaKavod,

Your JWRP/Momentum

2016 Orrrrrlando! Sisters

Dear Michal,

Mazel Tov!

We are so very proud of you and all the many

many contributions you have given to the Orlando Jewish community over the years! Enjoy

this well deserved award.

Love,

The Geartners, Mary, Hilton, Abby, Callie and Hilton Ethan

Congratulations to our daughter Sharon Weil

We’re so very proud of you Of what you have

contributed And all the good you do.

Elaine and Frank Farbenbloom

Mazel Tov to all the

women being honored

by Choices this year.

Each one’s bravery is

both a moment for

inspiration, as well as a

spark towards igniting

that same bravery in

each of us.

Sharon & Aaron Weil

Congratulations and much love

from the CF Chicks in

Houston!!

Sissy Boyd

Mazel Tov to all the brave

women honored with this

recognition. We are stronger as

a community by the challenges

we have faced this past year.

Let us continue to pursue

Tikkun Olam, repairing the

world for all humanity.

Thank you for this honor,

Marcia Katz MD & Asher Aremband

May we go from strength

Jenny Rossman

Brave Women of Orlando

May we go from strength to strength!

Barbara Wenreich

To all the Brave

Women of

Central Florida,

"Thank you"

Vicki Peisner

Boston University Law School is proud to

recognize

Jenny Rossman Class of 2010

as a Brave Women of Orlando

Mazel Tov to all

of our amazing

Brave Women!

May your strength and

resilience be an

inspiration to us all.

Thank you for

all you do...

Rhonda Forest

Mazel Tov & Best Wishes to all the Honorees

May you continue to be an

inspiration to the entire community

Melissa Masin

Michal,

The bravest thing you can

be is yourself.

Congratulations on the

impact you are making in

your community!

Love,

Lauren, Larry, Matthew and Brian

Kurzweil

Michal,

Congratulations for being one of the Brave Women nominees! You truly have

done so much for our community and have showed all of us your

strength and resiliency!

With love,

Jill and Mel Nehleber

To our dear friend, colleague

and mentor,

SARAH GITTLESON,

Mazel tov on this well

deserved honor! You truly are

an example of someone who

sees a need in the community

and then goes ahead and fills

it. We are so blessed to work

with you and learn from you.

Wishing you continued

success in all you do.

Aliza, Leora

and Shifra

Mazel Tov to the COS Brave

Choices Honorees!

Our very own, Education Director, Amy Geboff

Dr. Suzanne Bryskin

Stacy Gotlib

Eve Homburger

Dr. Marcia Katz

Dr. Robin Cohen Lagina

Nancy Ludin

Michal Osteen

Dr. Maxine Silverman Rosenthal

Susan Shapiro, LCSW

Rachel Slavkin

Sharon Weil

Alaina Andino Wilder

Dr. Ilene Wilkins

Barbara Wenreich

Congratulations to all the Brave Women being celebrated

tonight!

You are all truly making a difference for our community and we

absolutely appreciate you!!

Carol and Marc Feuerman

The Pearlman, Bolton and

Minkow Family

Congratulate

Audrey Cohen of Jewish Family Services

and

Sharon Weil

of Kinneret Council

on Aging

and

The Brave Women

of Choices

2021

Congratulations Michal, Rachel, Carol

and All of the Incredible Women

being honored today for supporting our

community and helping us get through

these tough times.

-felt thanks for being

there for us and sharing your strength with so many!

Lauren

Mazel Tov to the 2021 honorees of Brave Choices!

- Jo Staffin

Alaina, we are so proud of the brave, loving,

compassionate, funny woman you are.

Love you, Mom and Harv

Congratulations to all my friends who were selected for

this great honor.

Love, Marci Gaeser

Very honored to be recognized among such amazing

Jewish women!

- Dr. Nancy Brown Abrudescu

Mazel tov to all the brave women

- Sheryl Meitin

Marsha, we are always so very proud of you!

With much love, Debbie, Mikey, and Sammy

Michal, no one embodies a Woman of Valor more than

you. Much love and support.

- Pat and David Bornstein

Liz, Mazel tov on this well deserved honor! Central Florida

Hillel is so lucky to have you!

- Lauren Koblick

Mazal tov Liz on your accomplishments and gifts to the

community! Your Kleinman family,

-Marlon and Leonora, Shelley, Ella, Tani and Lily

Special

Liz, With the amount of love and passion you show

towards your work, it’s no wonder why you’ve been

chosen. You are the epitome of power, strength, and

impact, and you are an inspiration to your whole family.

Mazel tov!

In honor of all the wonderful brave ladies, I salute you.

With admiration, Renee Roberts

Congrats Nancy , you are a ROCK STAR!

For all that you do to honor our seniors,

we honor you today.

- Marjorie Lekach

Congratulations to all the

Courageous and Brave Women of Orlando!

- Lynn and Harvey Berger

Greetings

2020-2021 Board of directors

Officers Ming Marx, President

Danielle Krise, Vice President Diane Jacobs, Treasurer

Rhonda Forest, Secretary Brad Jacobs, Immediate Past President

Board Members (at large)

Yeosh Bendayan Matt Broffman

Dr. Edward Bromberg Seth Hyman

Debbie Gendzier Danielle Krise Leigh Norber

Natalia Goldberg Michael Soll

Barbara Weinreich Rachel Slavkin

Board Members (agency representatives)

Hank Katzen, Central Florida Hillel Scott Miller,

Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center Geanne Share, The Jewish Pavilion

Olivia Share, Kinneret Council on Aging Marc Katzen, Jewish Academy of Orlando

Follow us @jewishfederationorlando

407-645-5933 www.orlandojewishfed.org

851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland, FL 32751

incredible women proudly - orlandojewishfed.org

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