Page 2 The Jewish Floridian of Pinellas County/Friday, May 30, 1986
Memo from the President
TOP Endowment Committee
When a Jew in Budapest weeps,
a Jew in Boston dries his tears. At
one time, this aphorism illustrated
the emotional ties connecting one
Jew to another. Geography, mere-
ly an accident of birth, did not
divide Jews. Although their
lifestyles may have been different
and their ritual observances
somewhat varied, Jews acted as
members of one brotherhood in
times of need.
If nothing else, they shared a
common language. Hebrew was
their language of correspondence
among rabbis and scholars. A Jew
from Syracuse could enter a
synagogue in Istanbul and feel
comfortable because he could
follow the service.
But times changed. And where
geography failed, history succeed-
ed. By the end of the Napoleonic
Wars, differences in the way Jews
practiced their religion were ap-
pearing. New schools of religious
thought challenged the prevalence
of Orthodox Judaism. In addition,
professions previously closed to
Jews were now accessible to
them. They became more mobile,
often moving away from the ghet-
tos and shtetls. Some degree of
assimilation naturally occurred.
Still, Jews continued to identify as
Jews, but the relationship was not
so strong.
"Today, a high percentage of
Jews around the world does not
observe the mitzvot, but yet they
are Jews," noted Moshe Yegar,
Israel's Consul General in New
York. "The bonds between Jews
have weakened and loosened to an
extent unknown before in Jewish
history. The bonds within the
Jewish community are being
eroded."
As a student of history, Dr.
Yegar suggested a solution rooted
in Jewish tradition, but with a
modern-day twist. "I would like to
see Hebrew become the second
language of every American Jew.
If we would spread the knowledge
and the study of Hebrew to all
Jews who identify as Jews, we
would recreate the bonds of
solidarity and unity. If Jews want
to maintain the links among
themselves and with Israel, where
Hebrew is a living language, they
should adopt Hebrew as their se
Stanley Newmark
cond language."
The Consul General admitted
that learning a second language is
not always easy, but he pointed
out that the average educated
European knows two or more
languages. Dr. Yegar, whose posi-
tion in New York City follows a
13-year absence from the United
States, commented on the in-
crease he has observed in the
number of people in this country
who can speak Hebrew.
He attributed the upsurge in
part to the increased number of
American students who spend a
year or more studying at Israeli
universities that "offer excellent
programs for foreign students."
These students return home hav-
ing gained a command of Hebrew.
In addition, he noted a change in
the focus of U.S. Hebrew day
schools and afternoon religious
schools. Moreover, today's stu-
dent rabbis in all three major
religious movements must spend a
year in Israel before receiving
ordination.
"The increase in the numbers
speaking Hebrew is a positive step
toward unification," the Consul
General explained. "I simply want
to accelerate the process."
When Tallahassee Talks
Continued from Page 1
statewide child advocacy
organization, "Children's Action
Network." He holds a master of
science degree in child develop-
ment from Purdue University and
a bachelor of arts from Hunter
College.
He is a former secondary school
teacher of English and has been
with the FCCY for seven years.
He has been appointed to
numerous child-related statewide
councils and received the Public
Citizen of the Year Award for
1985 from the Big Bend Chapter
of the National Association of
Social Workers.
In addition to the public, the
seminar is expected to include
Community Relations Committee
members from Pinellas, Sarasota,
Tampa; all Federation and
beneficiary agency board
members, representatives of
Jewish organizations, legislative
representatives, legislators and
their aides and prospective
legislative candidates.
Also the directors and
presidents of the human service
agencies. Sisterhoods and
Brotherhoods, temple/synagogue
presidents and the boards of
Menorah Manor and Golda Meir
Center are encouraged to attend.
Registration information for the
seminar will appear in the next
issue of the Jewish Floridian. For
more information, call the Federa-
tion office (446-1033).
Mail To:
----------------------(Oi f>o\----------------------.
1986 Combined Jewish Appeal
Campaign Contribution
or Contribution Increase
C0
I
V
s
I.
I
1986 CAMPAIGN
Jewish Federation of Pinellas County
301 S. Jupiter Avenue
Clearwater, Fla. 33515
1986 Campaign contribution________
Check enclosed (Amt)______________
Name _______________________-
Address
.(ZIP).
Can Help You Obtain Tax Benefits
Pledges are the most frequent
way that Pinellas County Jews
contribute to the annual
CJA/Federation campaigns, but
some are also taking advantage of
an arm of the Federation called
TOP Jewish Foundation.
The Foundation is dedicated to
realizing the maximum tax benefit
for the donor while accomplishing
the most benefit for the agencies
and causes the Jewish community
supports through the Federation.
As the endowment and planned
gift arm of the Federation, TOP
encourages individuals to endow
or perpetuate their annual
Federation pledge and other com-
munity support through bequests,
life insurance and special trusts or
to help build an endowment for
special projects.
The endowments don't have to
be mammoth, but can be suited to
a donor's individual case.
Federation Vice President
Bruce Bokor is chairman of the
TOP Endowment Committee.
In explaining TOP, Bokor said,
for example, that donors can con-
tribute money or certain assets,
such as real estate or stock. These
assets can then be placed in a fund
to either benefit an area of special
interest to the donor, such as
Jewish education or the Hebrew
Bruce Bokor
University, for example. Or, the
donor can set up the fund to be us-
ed as necessary.
"We work with the donors on an
ongoing basis to get their recom-
mendations," Bokor said.
Young Leadership Meets
With Community Leaders
Recently, members of Federa-
tions Young Leadership Develop-
ment Program met with com-
munity leaders in the home of Dr.
Mandel and Karen Sher of Largo.
The open dialogue between
these leadership groups was
centered arund the structure of
Federation and what it does, what
our agencies do (why the need for
funds), how funds are distributed,
who is making the decisions about
the distribution of funds, and the
work of the community task force
in investing plans for a central
campus facility to huse several of
the agencies as well as the
feasability of a united fundraising
drive.
The community leaders par-
ticipating in this program were
Federation President Stanley
Newmark; Campaign Coor-
dinators Newmark, Reva Kent,
and Charles Rutenberg, Gulf
Coast Jewish Family Services
President James Soble and wife.
Ann, and Pinellas County Jewish
Day School Co-President Lois
Pardoll and husband Peter.
The members of Young Leader
ship are truly committed to the
future of the Jewish Community
of Pinellas County. Currently
plans are being made for a late
summer retreat where members
of Federations Young Leadership
program can spend an entire day
laughing and learning together.
Attending this most recent pro-
gram were: Gary and Sandra
Brown. Jonathon and Shari Fuss,
Dr. Fred and Emily Gurtman.
Terry and Elissa Hirsch. Paul and
Arline Levine, Dr. Steven and
N'adine LeVine. Eric and Judy
Ludin. Irwin and Patti Novak.
Bruce and Stacey Orloff. Jon and
Sue Rosenbluth. Craig and Jan
Sher, Dr. Mandel and Karen Sher,
Joseph and Barbara Sterensis. Dr.
Stuart and Stefanie Strikowsky.
Sidney and Phyllis Werner, and
Rabbi Ira and Susan Youdovin.
For more information about
Young Leadership please contact
the Federation office at 446-KM?.
No 'Green' Bonds, Please
Signature
----------------------------_- conpon-

The Jewish Federation ol
Pinellas County, in cooperation
with the United Jewish Appeal,
has adopted a new policy regar-
ding the use of Israel bonds in-
payment of pledges io the Coin
bined Jewish Appeal campaigns.
Earlier this year, the UJA
Board of Trustees adopted a
resolution reaffirming a 1981
resolution stating that UJA can
no longer accept "green" bonds 
Israel bonds less than two years
old.
The resolution prohibits UJA
from accepting Israel bonds
issued from May 1, 1985 onward
(Seventh Development Issue) until
at least three years after their
issuance.
According to Federation and
UJA officials, the action was
taken because acceptance of such
bonds as pledge payments means
no actual cash can be realized until
the bond matures. Consequently,
the steady flow of funds necessary
for the support of Israel and UJA
beneficiary agencies is inter-
rupted, officials explained.
The Jewish Federation of
Pinellas County has concurred
with the UJA, resolution and
unanimously agreed it will
not accept "green'
likewise
bonds.
"'There are main other ways
people can donate, other than
'green bonds' or cash." Federa-
tion executive director Paul
Levine said. "All they have to do
is call the Federation office
i 1-16-1033) and we will work with
them."
Bokor said this year should be
one of special interest to potential
donors. Not only has it been a
record stock year, but with the
federal tax benefit possibly being
reduced from 50 to 27 percent,
now is the time.
"If they wish, people can donate
this year and get the bigger tax
benefit," Bokor said. "Then we
can bank or park it in TOP until
they decide how they want it
used."
So far, TOP has about 25
Pinellas County donors who have
taken advantage of the program
and its increased tax benefits,
Bokor said.
More information about TOP is
available by writing TOP, 112
Magnolia Ave., No. 7, Tampa
33606 or by calling (813) 253-3569
or the Federation office
(446-1033).
One Possibility
In a situation where a man and
his wife have founded a business,
nutured it and seen it grow
through the years, there may
come a time when they would like
to plan to phase out the business.
Perhaps they want to pass it on
their children.
With endowment organizations
such as TOP and good estate plan-
ning, it is possible to transfer the
business with minimal taxes.
One possibility, often overlook-
ed, is a Charitable Lead Trust.
Charitable Lead Trusts are so
named because the charity's in-
terest comes first. For example,
assume a donor puts $1-million
(cash or stock) in a Charitable
Lead Trust and says the Federa-
tion or the Federation/CJA cam-
paign is to get $100,000 for 15
years.
At the end of the 15 years, the
assets revert back to the donor or
his/her heirs. The transaction has,
some tax specialists say, preserv-
ed the assets but created a large
(some estimate up to $760,000)
tax benefit.
And the Federation and the
various Jewish agencies, the
charity and the people they serve,
all benefit.
0ROWARD
QAPER &
[PACKAGING
FREE DELIVERY FLORIDA
1 800 432 3708
0ROWARD
QAPER *
Packaging
CARLS
JcwishStylc
DELICATESSEN & RESTAURANT
Let Us Cater Your Next Affair!!
Bartender Set-Up, Clean-Up Now Available
Let CARL S Spoil You In Your Home,
We'll Take The Worry Out Of It!
Serving Breakfast
 SMOKED FISH
 PARTY TRAYS
 BEER & WINE
m
Cail, Heleen, &
Rachel Cecile Eichen,
Owners
(813)530-3586
Juat Eaat of Belcher
Meranatha Village
2305 Eaat Bay Drive
Claarwa t er. FL 33546