Latest news with #Lipskar
Miami Herald
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
U.S. government is loaded with Floridians. Great. How about they stop Trump?
Florida's failures Mary Anna Mancuso, in her May 7 Miami Herald column, 'Trump puts Florida at the heart of U.S. leadership,' seems to take pride in that the most crooked and incompetent presidential administration in U.S. history is loaded with Floridians. We have not seen any Florida Republican in the federal government do anything to try to stop President Trump's destruction of our Constitution and our democracy. America's all time hypocrite, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has disgraced himself by suddenly backing autocrats. We have seen U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi flagrantly upend the rule of law. Not one Florida Republican has shown a spine. In normal times, it might be fine to write a column about congressional Floridians using their influence to get money for Tri-Rail, for example. Today, however, it is far more appropriate to write about the failure of Florida's federal politicians to protect us from autocratic rule. Martin Kleinbart, Aventura Man of wisdom Our community lost a leader, a true trailblazer. Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar, of blessed memory, laid the foundation for what would become the revolution of Jewish life in Bal Harbour, Surfside and Bay Harbor. He built The Shul (of Bal Harbour) and he built it big. Rabbi Lipskar founded the Aleph Institute — an organization that provides material spiritual support and advocacy for Jews who are incarcerated and later expanded to provide for Jewish military personnel. Rabbi Lipskar was a giant and well known throughout the Jewish and secular world. He was a leader with never-ending wisdom, a muse for all and trusted advisor. Above all, he was a friend to all and you knew that when he was speaking with you, you were the center of attention, always with a twinkle in his eyes. As Rebbetzin Chani Lipskar told me, 'he loved all people.' Rabbi Lipskar was the Chaplain of the Bal Harbour Police Department, a role he took very seriously. He was always present and will be missed. It is with deep sorrow that I am writing this. At the same time, I know that his legacy lives on through the institutions he founded, all the lives he touched and all the righteous work he did. His impact goes well beyond the Surf-Bal-Bay area. All of us are better for him. Our hearts go out to Rebbetzin Chani Lipskar, his children, grandchildren, siblings and family. May his memory be for a blessing. Jeffrey P. Freimark, mayor, Bal Harbour Village History will judge Gov. Ron DeSantis has instructed maintenance crews to shut off the flow of fluoride in our public water supplies, even though thoughtful people appreciate the dental benefits of fluoride in drinking water, which no doubt also protects the health of our 'confused' (to be generous) governor. Given that DeSantis graduated from Yale and Harvard, to issue such an order implies either illness or deeply nefarious intent. We, the people, have allowed bullies to cause too much damage to America recently. We are all responsible for this mess. Bullies will go as far as we let them, as they attempt to satisfy their psychopathic need to rule over others. Those who control the flow of fluoride must take a stand and just say 'No' and keep the fluoride flowing to protect the children. Winston Churchill, statesman and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, had a message for DeSantis: 'Let all of us who are here remember that we are on the stage of history, and that whatever our station may be, whatever part we play, great or small, our conduct is liable to be scrutinized, not only by history, but by our descendants.' Rick Soskis, Havana Mother, daughter grads The captured moment, photographed between a mother and daughter graduating college together from Barry University, in the May 6 Miami Herald, was touching and inspiring. How their shared support, achievement and joy brought them closer than the years that separate them. Congratulations to Maratha Irene Ternier and Hilary Pierre, who demonstrate that reaching milestones and achievements don't have an expiration date. Wishing each of them the best in their chosen career paths! Enid Garber, Palmetto Bay Next step If President Trump has forgotten that he swore to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, it is time to invoke the 25th Amendment. Charles Sanders, South Miami No vacation spot I regret not visiting El Salvador in the past decade, especially when it seemed that, after years of hardship, the country was finally becoming a destination to enjoy, offering opportunities for surfing, beautiful beaches and hiking. Today, sadly, I have little desire to visit. I'm reminded of a political cartoon I saw from 1980. The image depicted then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan handing a soldier of El Salvador's National Guard an armful of assault weapons, with the caption, 'No more priests and nuns, okay?' That cartoon could be re-imagined today, but with a disturbing twist: El Salvador President Bukele would be shown handing President Trump an armful of cash, with the caption, 'No more breastfeeding mothers, bakers, hairdressers, makeup artists, or union members, okay?' Jacqueline Gross, Key Biscayne Government waste As President Trump eliminates essential agencies and lays off more than 275,000 federal workers, including those who keep his powers in check, he's throwing millions at shameful projects, such as a $90 million military parade for himself and spending $6 million to send refugees to an El Salvadoran prison. His golf games at Mar-a-Lago have cost taxpayers $30 million, while his Oval Office/West Wing decorations amount to nearly $2 million. This is not our democracy; it's DOGE: Destruction of Government for Ego. Ossie Hanauer, Miami Interesting thoughts I was moved by the Miami Herald's May 11 special section, 'Remembering our Triumph,' a commemoration of the end of World War II and the heart-breaking sacrifices made in defeating Adolf Hitler who, of course, accomplished his monstrous crimes with the willing help of those citizens who elected him Chancellor. I wonder what the 141,000 U.S. soldiers who died in Europe during that war would have thought about a future president of the United States instructing American neo-Nazis to 'stand-by,' or of that president's unelected right-hand man twice giving an enthusiastic Nazi salute during a world-wide speech. I wonder, too, what's next from that president who has now threatened to forcefully annex countries beyond our borders and has disappeared people from our streets and placed them in faraway detentions because they are, in his words, 'poisoning the blood' of our country. Steve Kronen, South Miami May again The merry-go-round at the old Crandon Park Zoo in Key Biscayne played Juventino Rosa's 'Over the Waves' on spring days in the 1950s. My sisters and I wore sundresses with ruffles at the hem that caught the breezes off Biscayne Bay. Fifth grade, third grade and kindergarten were winding down as we rode our favorite painted horses on the carousel — the white one, the palomino and Big Chocolate. Our parents, taking a rare day off from the mango grove in Kendall, waved and smiled in the crowd of grown-ups. Then, the world turned on and on. The century changed and Miami rearranged itself, but some spring afternoons go on forever. Miriam Rosen, Miami Refugee status Because Elon Musk is a Donald Trump confidant and a native South African, I wonder if the South African White Refugee program is a means for Musk to immigrate his relatives into the USA, much as Melania Trump's status expedited the immigration of her parents from Slovenia? Don Deresz, Miami
CBS News
11-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Reflections on the rise of a new, American pope and the passing of a local, influential rabbi
Reflections on the rise of a new, American pope and the passing of a local, influential rabbi Reflections on the rise of a new, American pope and the passing of a local, influential rabbi Reflections on the rise of a new, American pope and the passing of a local, influential rabbi Last words Jim takes a moment to share his personal and professional connections to the new American Pope Leo XIV and the late Rabbi Sholom Dovber Lipskar. About Pope Leo XIV Pope Leo XIV was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago in 1955. He is the first U.S. pope in the church's history, and is also a citizen of Peru, where he worked for many years. CBS News Chicago reports he grew up in south suburban Dolton and has two brothers. A woman who knew him in childhood says the Prevost family was very active in their church. "His family was very, very devout Catholics. I will say that. The mom and dad both were," Linda Jorsch told the station. "They never missed church, and they were very active within our parish. His mom was like a member of the Altar & Rosary Society. They were lectors in their church — very active, very devout family." But the pontiff also has deep roots in Louisiana, and has Haitian and Creole ancestry. About Rabbi Sholom Dovber Lipskar Lipskar, one of Florida's most influential Orthodox leaders and a powerhouse rabbi who helped transform Surfside and Bal Harbour into thriving Jewish communities, died last weekend. He was 78. (CBS4)
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Miami Herald
05-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Influential Orthodox rabbi, who reshaped Jewish Miami and helped heal, has died
Rabbi Sholom Dovber Lipskar spent most of his life bringing positive change and spreading kindness to the Jewish community and beyond — especially to those who found themselves in crisis. That was evident in Lipskar's lifelong mission of Jewish leadership and passion for humanitarian work. It was evident when he founded the Shul of Bal Harbour, a hub for Jewish life known for being an 'unorthodox, Orthodox synagogue,' welcoming Jews across the religious spectrum. And it was evident in 2021, after the tragic Surfside condo collapse when he opened the doors of the synagogue to grieving families and first responders. Lipskar, one of Florida's most influential Orthodox leaders and a powerhouse rabbi who helped transform Surfside and Bal Harbour into thriving Jewish communities, died over the weekend. He was 78. 'He lived a pure life of unadulterated love, of unconditional kindness,' said Lipskar's nephew, Rabbi Aaron Lipskar, who is also the CEO of Aleph Institute. The head of the Shul of Bal Harbor for more than four decades, Lipskar became a central figure in Jewish life in Miami and beyond. The rabbi, according to Aaron Lipskar, was someone who brought out 'the best in every person that he encountered and every person that reached out to him ... to inspire them to be better, to be the best version of who they could be.' In 1981, Lipskar founded the Shul of Bal Harbour, which grew to be one of the largest Orthodox synagogues in Miami-Dade County. Before its success, Lipskar hosted services out of hotel basements and would stand on Collins Avenue for hours asking pedestrians if they would like to join his small worship group, according to the Shul's website. Over 40 years later, the Shul has evolved into a multi million-dollar property, and has served thousands of people, including a significant Sephardic and Latin American population. When Lipskar arrived from New York with his wife, Rebbetzin Chani Lipskar, in the early 1980s, Jewish life in the Bal Harbour area was basically invisible. Because of a history of housing restrictions that barred homes from being sold to Jewish and Black people, Lipskar didn't show his face while searching for his home and didn't see his property until after it was purchased, according to his nephew. Today, Bal Harbour and Surfside are seen as havens for Jewish communities. 'He literally changed the landscape of Miami as we know it in terms of becoming a very vibrant Jewish environment,' Aaron Lipskar said. An advocate for people of all faiths and backgrounds, Lipskar also founded the Aleph Institute, which works with people who are incarcerated, their families and those who are in the military. The organization provides financial, emotional and spiritual resources to thousands of men and women, advocates for the religious freedoms of those who are isolated from society. 'Rabbi Lipskar understood the chasidic idea role of each Jew — and each human being — is to be a lamplighter, a bringer of light to the dark spaces in our world,' Rabbi Frederick L Klein, executive director of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami and director of Mishkan Miami of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, wrote in an email. 'Rabbi Lipskar's entire life was to reach out to others and to constantly build a world in which God and our holy traditions helped thousands upon thousands,' Klein wrote. After his passing, tributes to Lipskar came pouring out on social media. Many recalled special moments and shared personal memories of the rabbi. Scott Kaufman, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, wrote on social media that Lipskar was 'one of the true giants of Jewish Miami and global Jewry.' Kaufman recalled a meaningful moment with Lipskar before he died, where the rabbi conversed and prayed with Kaufman after giving him new tefillin, small boxes with scrolls with verses from the Torah. 'He spoke to me about not letting what is done to the Jewish people define us, as there is so much positive and beautiful knowledge and tradition in our collective story,' Kaufman wrote. When tragedy struck Surfside in 2021, after a condo building collapsed, killing 98 people, including several members of Liskar's synagogue, the beloved rabbi became a beacon of hope for those experiencing unimaginable loss. 'While people were crumbling around him, he was a giant in terms of sharing what people needed to know, needed to hear, what would console them, what would heal them, what would carry them through the darkest moment,' said Aaron Lipskar, his nephew. 'That was his magnificent ability.' Lipskar's impact was felt by many in Miami, even outside of Jewish circles. The religious leader forged friendships with many local elected leaders and philanthropists. In a social media post, Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said the rabbi was 'a source of spiritual strength and moral leadership for countless people...' 'I am grateful for the friendship we shared,' she wrote. 'His wisdom, guidance, and dedication to others will be remembered for generations.' Gabriel Groisman, the former mayor of Bal Harbour, also lamented the loss of Lipskar in his own post. 'The giant who literally built our community in Bal Harbour. It is very hard, almost impossible, to process,' Groisman wrote. 'My teacher. My confidante. My friend. He married me. He named my 5 daughters. He swore me in as Mayor. He prayed with me when I needed it most. .... He taught me and our whole community what it is to be a proud Jew.' State Sen. Jason Pizzo also shared his condolences on social media. 'There have been so few people as significant, and yet so warm and accessible, as Rabbi Lipskar. He was both giant, and humble. His faith and strength guided many of us through very tough times,' Pizzo wrote. Lipskar is survived by his wife, Chani; their children, Rabbi Zalman Lipskar and Devorah Leah Andrusier; several grandchildren; and his siblings, Rabbi Mendel Lipskar of Johannesburg, Rabbi Yossi Lipskar of Miami Beach, and Sheva Schochet of South Beach. This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
Miami Herald
17-03-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
‘Kosher in combat.' A Surfside group works to help Jews in the military keep the faith
For the roughly 15,000 Jews serving in U.S. armed forces, observing religious laws and maintaining a vital religious identity can often be difficult. Basic challenges can range from eating Kosher in far-off places to keeping Shabbat — the 24-hour period of rest where Jews refrain from all labor — to observing important holidays and rituals. There also can be feelings of estrangement or isolation among the most observant Jews in the military. Some rabbis who served, for example, recall getting funny looks from other soldiers for their beards — a symbol of Jewish identity for rabbis but once forbidden for soldiers. Jewish soldiers, military chaplains, service members and their families met earlier this month in Surfside to discuss those issues and others in the largest conference of its kind in the U.S. The gathering was organized by the Aleph Institute, a nonprofit group headquartered in Surfside that has focused on the needs of Jewish military personnel since 1981 with a host of programs and services. 'Whether it's spiritual in nature through the chaplaincy, whether it's religious in nature, whether it's just practical, emotional or financial assistance, we are there to support them through complete gamut of whatever might be going on in their lives,' said Aleph CEO Rabbi Aaron Lipskar. 'Certainly during trying times, such as having a loved one going down range.' The conference helps military chaplains and others in the service understand what soldiers go through, he said. Discussion panel titles some of the challenges: 'Kosher in Combat,' 'Keys to a Successful Military Marriage,' 'Judaism and Post Traumatic Growth.' 'You imagine that a person who goes through multiple deployments, away from a family ... from young kids, from a young wife for months at a time, the emotional toll that it takes of them,' Lipskar said. Aleph, through its military programming, says it reaches over 3,500 Jewish military personnel yearly in more than 30 countries and territories worldwide. One key hurdle Aleph often deals with is 'getting people to understand the importance and the perimeters of Jewish holidays,' said Rabbi Elie Estrin, the military personal liaison for Aleph. 'Jewish holidays are very specific, there's a lot of rules and religious paraphernalia that go along with certain religious holidays.' For example, during Passover, when the Jewish kosher food laws become a lot more challenging, Aleph might help coordinate food shipments with the U.S. Department of Defense, arrangements that have to happen four to five months before the actual holiday. The group has even delivered overnight shipments for emergency deployments. The institute once arranged for a Purim care package to be airdropped to a Jewish Coast Guard member 700 miles off the coast of Alaska, for example. Aleph also helps service members, those with the proper educational background, to become military chaplains. The institute has endorsed 47 Jewish military chaplains and contract rabbis to provide guidance to members of all religious backgrounds. Jews in the military, like all other denominations, are permitted to observe their religious beliefs while serving. But it isn't always an easy process. According to the Department of Defense Instruction, an individual's 'expressions of sincerely held beliefs (conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs)' must be accommodated so long as they don't have an 'adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, good order and discipline, or health and safety..' Aleph's guidance is to contact a unit chaplain to describe the exact religious needs. Then, soldiers can also submit a religious accommodation request. Different branches have different attitudes towards accommodating religious requests, according to Aleph. For example, the Air Force and Army have more streamlined systems making the process easier. But given the limitations of ships, the Navy and Coast Guard have much less room for allowances. As for the Marine Corps, a more intense branch of service, Aleph says religious accommodations are granted more rarely. Challenges of chaplaincy Speaking to the Miami Herald on his way home from delivering Purim services to soldiers at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Estrin said that Jewish chaplains are well equipped to counsel people of all faiths. There are 'basic elements of morality that Judaism says are applicable to all cultures and all backgrounds...,' Estrin said. 'Part of the chaplaincy is all about conversation, to have conversations to see what you can do for them ... how you can help them.' Estrin, who has been a military chaplain for over ten years, has counseled people going through the worst times of their life. He's counseled people dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and delivered the devastating news of the death of a loved one to families. Outside of the military, he was on site during the Surfside building collapse in 2021 that killed 98 people. He was there during the Parkland mass school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. It's the chaplains who show up during devastating times, even if it's just to sit with people in silence. 'In many cases, you're just joining them in silence, and there's a connection to God in that silence itself,' he said. But other experiences, he said, have been more spiritually uplifting. 'I'm lucky enough to see people in their absolute best ... in other words, to help people when they're trying to serve God and country at the same time. There's some really beautiful experiences when you see someone fighting for what they care about.' On one panel called 'Warfighters Roundtable,' military veterans, chaplains and service members discussed the role of faith for combat soldiers. The goal, according to organizers, was to better understand how soldiers think in order to get ahead of problems like post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide. The military members discussed knowing when to seek help, whether from a therapist or chaplain, the mental hardship of PTSD and the jarring return to family life after coming home from deployment. Some soldiers admit they avoid seeking help, fearing how their superiors may perceive them. 'Some of them said it straight up, like, Okay, I'm not going to go to the chaplain, because that sounds like weakness,' said Estrin. That's why its vital for chaplains to learn how to build trust and develop relationships, he said. When people are forced to forego or ignore their religion or cultural beliefs, it can affect their performance as soldiers, he said. 'When people are spiritually fit, they're capable of fighting better.' This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
