ALPERT JFS’ “NEVER AGAIN” BENEFIT HONORING PALM BEACH FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS & JEWS
LEADERSHIP RAISES MORE THAN $85,000 TO SUPPORT HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
WEST PALM BEACH, FL – December 4, 2020 – Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service (Alpert JFS) presented the 2nd Annual “Never Again” Holocaust Survivors Benefit, chaired by Sheila Engelstein, Vivienne Ivry, and Zelda Mason last night, with approximately 135 households tuning in from the comfort of their homes. More than $85,000 in donations will provide home care, food, medicine, medical care, emergency funds, dental care, transportation, and socialization to Holocaust survivors, helping them remain living in their homes for as long as possible.
The event honored John C. “Skip” Randolph and Margaret “Maggie” Zeidman, chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians & Jews. They were recognized for their work in providing guidance felt throughout the community by promoting – and living – the concepts of respectful dialogue and civil interaction among people of all ages, faiths and backgrounds, who want to make a community a better place.
As Alpert JFS President & Board Chair Zelda Mason said, “Skip and Maggie lead the efforts of the grassroots organization dedicated to promoting fellowship, understanding, and respect among all religions and cultures, to build bridges and open doors to better communication and mutual respect. Because they care, our community is a better place for people of all ages, faiths, and backgrounds. Their actions of living the concepts of respectful and civil dialogue are inspiring and enlightening.”
Event sponsors were Gayle & Paul Gross, Amicable Home Health Care, Sheila Engelstein, NEXT GENERATIONS, and Plastridge Insurance. Members of the Host Committee included Socki and Bruce Berg, Judy Bergman and Dr. Richard D. Budson, Traci and Keith Braun, Alan Goldberg, Colleen Haggerty and Irv Seldin, Vivienne Ivry, Stacey H. and Michael A. Lampert, Jennifer and Gary S. Lesser, Claire Levine, Diann and Tom Mann, Zelda Mason, Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians & Jews, and Joan and Jerry Serchuck. Program Ambassadors were Don Abrams, Michael Ainslie, Chaykin Law Group, Louis Gottlieb, Ed Katz, Marjorie and Sheldon Konigsberg, Liggio Law, and Hope and Gene Silverman.
At the event, featured guest speaker Matthew Orton, who wrote and co-produced the cinematic thriller “Operation Finale” was interviewed by Alpert CEO Marc Hopin; Alpert JFS Care Manager Eva Weiss had a conversation with Holocaust survivor Fannie Slonim, a client of the agency’s Holocaust Survivor’s Assistance Program for the past 10 years, about her wartime experiences, and the support she has received; and Ash Soular’s music video of her original song, “Never Again,” was shown.
“It was my pleasure to introduce Screenwriter Matthew Orton, who donated his time to be with us,” said Hopin. “’Operation Finale’ the 2018 cinematic thriller that features a gripping account of Adolf Eichmann’s capture and interrogation, gives voice to Holocaust survivors’ stories and provides an education on the cruelties of the Shoah. We are privileged to have had Matthew speak, echoing our sentiments of ‘Never Again!’”
The virtual community-wide event was free of charge, with a $360,000 Challenge fundraising goal for this event and the upcoming “No Excuse for Abuse” (NEFA) online experience, to be held on February 16, 2021, to provide much-needed assistance to the most vulnerable in Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie counties.
Randolph joined the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews 27 years ago, becoming chair of the organization a year later. His motivation was the intolerance, anti-Semitism and unjust discrimination he witnessed within the local community and elsewhere, which was the total opposite of the organization’s mission of promoting “fellowship, understanding, and respect among all religions and cultures through education, dialogue and interaction.” A practicing attorney, specializing in governmental law, land use and zoning in Palm Beach County, Skip is the attorney for the towns of Palm Beach, Jupiter Island, and Gulfstream, Florida. He has served as president of the Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adults in Palm Beach, and is a past president of the Royal Poinciana board of directors, the Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches, and the Florida Municipal Attorneys’ Association, which awarded him the Paul S. Buchman Attorney of the Year Award in 2006. Skip has been listed in “Best Lawyers in America,” the South Florida Legal Guide Top Lawyers, Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, and Palm Beach Illustrated’s Top Lawyers.
Zeidman was elected Council President of the Palm Beach Town Council in 2016. A resident of Palm Beach for 18 years, she was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians & Jews and subsequently elected Vice Chair. Maggie has participated in numerous other civic and charitable efforts, including but not limited to Catholic Charities Health and Wellness, St. Edward Guild, the Palm Beach Civic Association and the Preservation Foundation. Well-known for her expertise in the field of cardiovascular nursing, Maggie was previously the Director of Nursing at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau and has been published in nursing textbooks and professional journals. Maggie also held the position of Clinical Director at Barnum and Souza, a New York-based marketing firm. She has been recognized by the American Heart Association, the Critical Care Nurses Association and the University of Miami as a leader in health care.
The event is available for viewing at https://vimeo.com/486527004/cb479d1848.
The Alpert JFS Holocaust Survivors Assistance Program has seven full-time employees working to preserve the dignity of Holocaust survivors, identifying and addressing their distinct social welfare, health care, and emotional needs with the utmost sensitivity. The team helps them navigate the Reparations Benefit Process, and provides monthly, bi-monthly, and annual socialization activities for survivors. The HonoringLifeTM program facilitated by Alpert JFS provides cultural competency training for healthcare and legal professionals, as well as others who may encounter Holocaust survivors.
For more information about Alpert JFS’ Holocaust Survivors Assistance Program, visit www.AlpertJFS.org/for-seniors-holocaust-survivors-assistance/.
Established in 1974, Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service (Alpert JFS) is a nationally accredited service provider for children, adults, seniors, and Holocaust survivors. The non-profit, non-sectarian organization is a trusted leader, with a team of nearly 200 highly skilled professionals delivering high-quality care to community members. Alpert JFS works to ensure the well-being of children and families, independence of older adults, and quality of life for individuals with disabilities. For more information, visit www.AlpertJFS.org/ or phone 561-684-1991.