News from our Jewish community.

Every act of generosity has the power to spark something greater. This fall, TOP Jewish Foundation is helping donors turn their generosity into even greater impact. Through TOP’s new Catalyst for Giving program, donors who establish a qualifying donor-advised fund of $10,000 or more between September 1 and December 31, 2026, will receive a $1,000 incentive bonus that must be granted to Jewish nonprofit organizations.

“It’s a simple way to strengthen Jewish life while beginning a lasting tradition of charitable giving,” says Ellen Lipman, TOP’s executive director.

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a tax-smart charitable investment account that makes giving simple. Donors may contribute cash or appreciated assets, such as stock, and recommend grants over time to qualified public charities. TOP manages the investments, recordkeeping, and administration, while providing a secure online portal to access your fund and recommend grants with ease.

A DAF also makes it easier to involve family members, honor loved ones, support meaningful causes, and pass on Jewish values. Grants of $100 or more may be recommended to qualified Jewish or secular charities, while invested assets have the potential to grow tax-free for future charitable use.

TOP Jewish Foundation serves as the Jewish community foundation and endowment department for Shalom Orlando and communities throughout West Coast and Central Florida. For more than 45 years, TOP has helped individuals and families turn their generosity into lasting community impact. As a trusted philanthropic partner, TOP manages more than $130 million in charitable assets on behalf of donors and organizations across the region.

Donors choose TOP for personalized philanthropic guidance, concierge-level service, and investment options professionally managed by Goldman Sachs. TOP is also proud to offer a pro-Israel and anti-terror investment strategy, reflecting its Jewish values and commitment to helping secure the future of our community.

This year-end, make your giving go further. Open a donor-advised fund, support the causes you care about, and help strengthen Jewish life throughout our community. To learn more, visit TopJewishFoundation.org/catalyst-for-giving-program or contact TOP Jewish Foundation at 813-961-9090.

Rollins College Hillel is where Judaism and community come together. This fall, our student board is planning a meaningful semester for everyone. We will start by welcoming the High Holidays with spirit and reflection and then roll up our sleeves to build the campus sukkah for Sukkot.

Our community will also hold a dedicated, supportive gathering to mark the anniversary of October 7 with solemn remembrance. Beyond the holidays, our calendar is packed with weekly creative Shabbat dinners, hands-on mitzvah projects, and plenty of fun social events. Rollins Hillel is a warm home on campus where students take the lead, find where they belong, and make friendships that last forever.

We look forward to celebrating the High Holidays together with returning guest Cantor Teron Cohen. Tickets can be purchased at Zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/high-holiday-ticket. If we receive a completed membership application from you before December 1, 2026, the cost of your ticket will be applied to your 2027 dues.

Join Temple Israel throughout the year for Shabbat services, Tot Shabbat, Sunday minyan, Sisterhood and Men’s Club activities, adult education, youth groups, and Rabbi Joshua Neely’s many classes. The Meitin Alliance for Growth and Learning (MAGAL) Religious School welcomes students in kindergarten through seventh grade on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kids also enjoyed a week of fun at our inaugural Camp Temple Israel in June.

Our volunteers are the backbone of Temple Israel, and all are welcome to get involved in a way that is personally meaningful, from MAGAL to committees to special events such as our annual book fair. Temple Israel is a place for all. Our diversity and dedication are our greatest blessings.

Visit TempleIsraelOrlando.org to learn more.

Congregation Ohev Shalom is thrilled to welcome Yael Weinstein as our new director of youth and family education. On Sunday, August 16, we launched a new year at The Samra Shamash Gotlib Religious School of Congregation Ohev Shalom with more than 150 students and an incredible team of 8th- through 12th-grade madrichim ready to learn, lead, and connect.

Yael brings more than 25 years of experience in Jewish education, leadership, curriculum development, and relationship building. She has taught learners of all ages, developed programs used in Jewish communities around the world, and previously taught right here at Ohev Shalom.

Most importantly, Yael is passionate about creating joyful, meaningful Jewish experiences where children and families feel connected, inspired, and at home. We invite families throughout our community to learn more about Ohev Shalom’s youth, family, and educational opportunities.

To connect with Yael, email educator@ohevshalom.org.

At Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando (JFS Orlando), we believe that every Holocaust survivor deserves to age with the dignity and support they need. As survivors grow older, health concerns, financial hardship, and the lasting effects of trauma can make it increasingly difficult for them to maintain their quality of life.

To help meet these growing needs, JFS Orlando created the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program (HSAP). Through HSAP, our qualified social worker provides individualized case management, connecting survivors with home health and visitation, food assistance, wellness visits, and other essential services at no cost to them.

Since the program began, the State of Florida has provided JFS Orlando with financial support for HSAP. This year, however, that allocation was eliminated from the state’s budget. The funding represented the vast majority of the program’s cost, leaving a tremendous gap at a time when the challenges facing our survivors are becoming increasingly complex and urgent.

JFS Orlando is asking the community to help sustain HSAP by making a gift that will directly benefit local Holocaust survivors and support the essential services they require.

Remembering the Holocaust is about caring for the people who lived through it. For our Jewish community, caring for Holocaust survivors is not simply an act of generosity, it is a shared responsibility and a meaningful way to let them know they are not forgotten.

Please help support this vital program by visiting JFSOrlando.org/services/hsap or contacting Director of Development Noreen Levitt at 407-644-7593, extension 234.