June 17, 2024

The events of October 7th have left an indelible mark on the Jewish community, locally and globally. The Federation staff and lay leaders are here to guide the community through these turbulent times. By fostering solidarity, providing education and advocacy, addressing antisemitism, and promoting healing, we strive to help the community navigate these challenges with strength and compassion. In doing so we honor the values and traditions that have sustained the Jewish people through years and years of adversity.

If you’ve read my column before, you know that I am enamored with meaningful (to me) song lyrics and often link my ponderings to a particular phrase or chorus in a song. This is a tool I use to convey my “perspective.”

The song, “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive,” – music written by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Johnny Mercer – was first published in 1944. The lyrics encourage focusing on the good, minimizing the bad, and avoiding negative thinking. This positive mindset can serve as a powerful motto to live by, reminding us to:

Emphasize the Positive – Concentrate on the good aspects of life and celebrate them.

Minimize the Negative – Acknowledge difficulties but don’t let them dominate your thoughts or actions.

Stay Optimistic – Maintain hope and confidence about the future, even in challenging times.

Spread Positivity – Share your positive outlook with others, influencing their lives positively.

Living by these principles can promote resilience, improve mental well-being, and enhance relationships, making it a timeless and valuable motto.

As we wrap up our 2023-2024 programming and fiscal year, I want to share the good, positive moments that we have had this year with all of you. By no means am I putting my head in the sand and ignoring the evil and hatred aimed at the Jewish community. Rather, I am optimistically spreading positivity.

In July of 2023, our third cohort of Momentum women traveled to Israel for a 10-day journey. We’re proud of our collaborative partnership with Momentum and look forward to future events with this organization. To date we have had over 25 individuals participate in this impactful program from our community.

August and September were the kickoff months for PJ Library. The back-to-school skating party for young families boasted fun for everyone; even a local rabbi showed his roller-blading prowess. The Honey Factory program for the High Holidays, in partnership with Chabad of Greater St. Petersburg, had everyone “buzzing.” Complete with a demonstration from a local bee keeper, story time, honey tasting, and crafts, this event was a sweet start to the Jewish New Year.

In response to the horrific events in Israel on October 7th, more than 300 members of the community gathered together for a prayer vigil led by the Pinellas County Board of Rabbis and Federation. Held at Temple B’nai Israel in Clearwater, the display of solidarity and emotion was remarkable.

The Federation Campaign Kick-off in November, honoring Joan and Jerry Benstock, z’l, attracted nearly 200 people for a record-breaking start to the 2024 Campaign, including funds raised for The Israel Emergency Fund – Operation Swords of Iron, and the LiveSecure Security initiative.

Together with the Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties and The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples we are employing a Regional Security Director who will oversee the safety and security needs of our communities.

Our JCRC, Jewish Community Relations Council, worked diligently to get both the City of St. Petersburg and the City of Clearwater to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism. The committee is actively engaging in meaningful, and sometimes difficult conversations, and developing relationships with differing communities throughout Pinellas County decrying antisemitism in all its forms.

We’ve had opportunities to travel to Israel post 10/7 to witness first-hand the devastation to our Holy Land, so that we can continue to educate and inform. We are volunteering of both time and treasure to help our brothers and sisters in this dark time. We will continue these efforts.

The Scholarship Committee was able to award scholarship dollars for Jewish overnight camp or Israel educational experiences to more than 20 children for programs this summer – which will instill the love for Jewish life and culture in the next generation.

Because of the generosity of our community, the 2024 Campaign is robust. We will continue our relationships with beneficiary agencies locally and abroad.

The power of our community is strong. We will endure as we have for thousands of years.

Just remember the words to the song: You’ve got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative, and don’t mess with Mr. In-between.

You can reach me at the Federation office, on social media, or email mkaufman@jewishgulfcoast.org.