Executive Director’s Message: 
 

L'Shana Tova 5780 – B’Shana Habeah Yerushaliam 
 

On the eve of September 29, we will celebrate our Jewish New Year with family and friends. My family and I wish all the members of our Jewish community a happy and healthy New Year! It continues to be my honor and privilege to serve as the executive director of our Jewish Federation. The work accomplished, the services provided by our local and overseas agencies, local synagogues and Jewish schools, is significant. The volunteer and professional leadership and our clergy work in partnership to make Jacksonville a great community.
 

While it is customary at Passover to say, “Next year in Jerusalem,” I want to take the poetic license to express this at the time of our High Holidays, because we have two wonderful opportunities next year to journey together to Israel.
 

Federation is sponsoring two journeys, two missions to Israel in 2020:
 

On April 21-28, we will have our second Women’s Mission, and from July 19-29 we are having our second Interfaith Mission. Each of these trips is designed to showcase Israel today and offer participants the chance to delve deeply into the history, sights, sounds, flavors and energy of our Jewish homeland.  
 

During both trips, participants will enjoy 5-star hotels, veteran guides, the culinary excellence throughout the country -- Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, our Partnership community of Hadera -- with programming to bring the past, present and a glimpse of the future to life.  
 

The Women’s Mission includes the wonders of the Negev, and will showcase programming specific to life in Israel today for Jewish women. The Interfaith Mission includes the beauty of the North, and will showcase Christian and Jewish historical sights.
 

We are so fortunate that Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar of Congregation Ahavath Chesed and Pastor Kyle Reese, deputy director of OneJax Institute, will be joining as scholars in residence on this trip.
 

We have earned a reputation for doing a super job in bringing members of the community to Israel! The itineraries are terrific, and what is provided is nearly all inclusive.
 

I invite everyone to join with us and take advantage of these opportunities to experience Israel in 2020.
 

To learn more about the Women’s Mission, please contact Lauren Rickoff at (number and email). And to learn more about the Interfaith Mission, please contact Alan Margolies at 904-448-5000 ext. 207 or at alanm@jewishjacksonville.org.

Thank you and again. Happy New Year!