The Miami Beach Chanukah Festival, which took place on December 11th, 2011, was a big success.  The event was co-sponsored by JCS and featured a booth staffed by the kids from our Kids for Kosher Food Bank program.  Everyone was asked to bring one  can of kosher fruit or vegetables to donate to the JCS Kosher Food Bank.and they did — helping to fill bare cupboards and empty stomachs for those in need.

The Miami Beach Senior Center has a very talented Russian Choir called “Young at Heart” that performs in public venues throughout the community.  Please enjoy these video performances:

The Miami Herald published the following article about the Lapciuc Reception held in December.

Couple Holds Dinner to Thank Donors to Food Drive

By Christina Mayo  Special to The Miami Herald  January 5, 2012

For nine years in a row, Tania and Israel Lapciuc have opened their home and their hearts to thank donors for contributing to help seniors and others in need through the Milk and Honey Campaign organized by Jewish Community Services.

“From Generation to Generation” was the theme of the most recent reception dinner hosted by the Lapciucs at their Miami Beach home to honor those who donated to this fall’s campaign. More than 130 guests gathered for the evening, which also was a celebration of the 50th wedding anniversary of the generous hosts.

The Milk & Honey campaign is held each year during the Jewish New Year when volunteers deliver 500 holiday food baskets to elderly and frail older adults in Miami-Dade County. It is just one of the organization’s food distribution programs which include the JCS Kosher Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, five congregate meal sites and the similar Matzah Mitzvah & More food distribution campaign held in the spring. For more information, visit www.jcsfl.org.

Read more here:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/05/2575477/couple-holds-dinner-to-thank-donors.html#storylink=cpy

‘From Generation to Generation’ was the theme of Jewish Community Services’ Milk & Honey Reception Dinner hosted by Tania and Israel Lapciuc on December 6^th at their elegant Miami Beach home.  Over 130 guests gathered for an evening filled with good food, great company and a special program celebrating some of JCS’ most generous supporters.

This was the ninth consecutive year the Lapciuc Family graciously opened their home and their hearts to thank donors for contributing to JCS’ food distribution programs which help seniors and others in need throughout Miami-Dade County.  The evening included keynote remarks from Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools Alberto Carvalho and musical entertainment from a children’s choir.

The Milk & Honey campaign takes place each year during Rosh Hashanah when volunteers deliver 500 food baskets to frail older adults  It is just one of JCS’ critical food distribution programs, which include the JCS Kosher Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, five congregate meal sites and the Matzah Mitzvah & More campaign.

Click here to enjoy photos from this special evening. 

Israel and Tania Lapciuc with Alberto Carvalho

Steven Schwartzbaum and Sara Jove setting up for the party

Sara Jove recently hosted her annual Ladies Night Chanukah celebration to benefit the JCS Kosher Food Bank with the theme ‘Martinis, Massage, Music & Mitzvahs.’ Three professional message therapists were on hand with massage chairs to put guests at ease and get them in the holiday spirit.  Once again Jacquie Packar of Pink Catering graciously sponsored the amazing refreshments, which included latkes, salmon sliders, pasta, cheese platters and grasshoppers.

This year’s toy drive focused on teens, because the JCS KFB has over 100 adolescents  among the families receiving services there.  Sara collected basketballs, tennis rackets, yoga mats, makeup sets and other gifts for the teens.  She also received over $1,000 in checks and gift cards to Macy’s, Best Buy and Nordstrom’s.  Many more pledges of checks are to follow.

This Third Annual Chanukah Party was a great success and we can’t thank Sara enough for sponsoring this fabulous event.  Martinis, latkes, massages, a great crowd of women and a super hostess — what a winning combination!  We appreciate everyone who attended and did their part to ensure that every child and teen served by the JCS Kosher Food Bank will have new gifts for the holidays.

Sara surrounded by some of the donations

More gifts for the kids of the KFB

About a dozen members of the Social Action Committee at Temple Judea ‘Brightened Up’ the JCS Kosher Food Bank on Sunday, December 11th, just in time for Chanukah. Led by Gary Simon, the members painted the offices, collected donations and stocked the shelves with food to serve clients for the holidays.

“We had a great time and are glad we were able to do some good. We really support the work of the JCS Kosher Food Bank,” said Gary Simon, member of Temple Judea.

A special thank you to the following:

Lance Turner with Stein Paint Co., for donating the painting supplies

Ephraim Pinkhasov with Gold Kosher Catering, for donating the bagels and refreshments

JVC of the GMJF, for the referral

Gary Simon, for organizing the entire activity

And to the kids who participated and charmed us with their hard work

Please enjoy these photos from the event.

You likely may have heard the sad news of the loss of Vicki Hammersmith, who passed away on Nov. 28. Out of respect for those who loved Vicki, we are postponing our “Shop for Shalom” event that was scheduled for December 1.

Vicki was the Caring Community Coordinator at Temple Judea in Coral Gables and had previously worked for and been involved with The Jewish Federation of Greater Miami as well as Hadassah. Vicki dedicated her life to the Jewish Community and to helping others. We are deeply sorry for this loss.

A lavish Thanksgiving event was held at the South Shore Community Center on Thanksgiving Day 2011, thanks to the hard work of JCS’ Senior Adult Services division.  Dozens of JCS’ older adult clients were invited for an afternoon filled with delicious holiday food, live music and dancing, all organized and staffed by JCS volunteers.
A good time was certainly had by all, as you can see by these videos.

We thank the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Michael-Ann Russell JCC and Hebraica’s Maccabi Games for collecting an abundance of Chanukah gifts for youngsters in need served by JCS.

A wrapping project took place on Thursday, Nov. 24th and Sunday, Nov. 27th from noon – 3 pm at the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center, 18900 NE 25th Avenue in North Miami Beach.  Community service hours were available for teens who helped wrap gifts. Thanks to everyone who participated.

JCS congratulates one of our greatest supporters, advocates and dear friends, Tania Lapciuc, on receiving the prestigious Guardian of Israel Award from Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. Tania was feted at a recent luncheon sponsored by the American Committee for the organization, a 575-bed facility located in the center of the city which has been known as the ‘Hospital with a Heart’ for over 100 years.

Tania and Israel Lapciuc are two of the most prominent benefactors of JCS and care deeply about issues of hunger, food insufficiency, and the well-being of the Jewish people. A woman of valor who serves as a role model to us all, we wish Tania a hearty Mazel Tov!