Episode 70 is my opportunity to have another conversation with Rabbi Ruvi New. As regular listeners of our podcast know, conversations with the Rabbi have offered thoughtful perspectives on how religion can impact our lives. Today, Rabbi New and I began a discussion on Life, Death and the Rest in Peace. In our 30 minute conversation, we only scratched the surface on Jewish values and ritual as we face the end of life. The Jewish view on respecting the remains of the departed and how one might address the manner of internment are issues I ask the Rabbi to discuss. We also cover such issues as organ donations. We've asked Rabbi New to come back in the coming months to continue our conversation. Views on the afterlife, heaven and hell and reincarnation will be examined. As always, I hope you will enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed our conversation.

Episode 69 is my opportunity to have a conversation about nothing in particular (sounds a lot like the premise behind Seinfeld, doesn't it ... "a show about nothing", often focusing on the minutiae of daily life). My guest today is Carlos Romero. We are neighbors, friends and members of many of the same organizations. Today we're just going to have a conversation about what comes to mind and you are eavesdropping. But don't be embarrassed - we know you're listening and we hope you find something of interest. Unfortunately, you cannot join in to offer your two cents - but I hope you will enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed just catching up.

Episode 68 is my opportunity to talk about ways to teach people not to hate thy neighbor. Jennifer Romanoff and I met last year as she was facilitating the "Hate Ends Now" tour which brought a freight car with a message to various venues in South Florida. The tour brought a World War II-era cattle car replica to our community. providing a 360-degree multimedia exhibit teaching about the method of transportation used to ship Jewish people and other marginalized groups to concentration camps during the Holocaust. The exhibit also aimed to inspire people to end hate crimes. Jennifer is a passionate and dedicated individual who currently serves as an NCSY advisor in Boca Raton. NCSY is an international youth movement aimed at insoring Jewish teens to connect with their heritage. I hope you will enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed this discussion.

Episode 67 is my opportunity to visit with Shana Ostrovitz, Shana is the Executive Director of a private members-only club called "1909." The club is a group of "community of leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and philanthropists who share a passion for excellence, a desire to connect with like-minded individuals, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world." As Shana explains, the club offers a variety of amenities and services, including a co-working space, private offices, event space, a restaurant, a bar, a fitness center, and more. Memberships are available by invitation or referral only, but the membership process is selective and based on factors such as character, values, and accomplishments. Ultimately, the club provides a high-end, exclusive environment for its members to network, socialize, and collaborate with one another. Listen to Shana explain how this Club is helping our entrepreneurs succeed.

Episode 66 is the start of what I am hoping will be a continuing dialogue on religion and how it's embraced by our residents. My guest today is Australian-born Rabbi Ruvi New. Rabbi New and his wife, Ahuva, founded the Boca Beaches Chabad in 1999. He is the publisher and editor of Inside Out Magazine, a national publication dedicated to contemporary Jewish thought and is also currently working on producing a musical tribute to the life of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The Chabad movement traces its roots to the 18th century in Eastern Europe. It is known for its distinctive outreach efforts to promote Jewish education, community service, and religious observance. The word "Chabad" is an acronym of three Hebrew words that represent the movement's central teachings: Chochmah (wisdom), Binah (understanding), and Da'at (knowledge). These teachings emphasize the intellectual and mystical dimensions of Judaism, and the movement places a strong emphasis on the study of Torah (Jewish scripture) and the teachings of Jewish mysticism, known as Kabbalah. Rabbi New is a dynamic and respected spiritual leader who serves the Jewish community in Boca Raton. He is known for his engaging and thought-provoking sermons that are relevant to modern-day challenges and issues. He is committed to helping individuals develop a meaningful and authentic relationship with Judaism, regardless of their background or level of observance. He is highly respected for his compassion, wisdom, and ability to inspire others to live meaningful and purposeful lives. I hope this will be the first of a series of conversations with members of our religious community in South Palm Beach County.

Episode 65 circles back to a subject we have addressed before, the scarcity of decent, affordable housing and our need to care for the homeless within our community. As we have discussed, we are blessed to have multiple nonprofit agencies reaching out to the most vulnerable within our community. Be it Boca Helping Hands, Salvation Army, the Homeless Coalition of PBC or the organization we are spotlighting today, Changing Lives. Our guests today are Lelsy Morales, Director of Operations and Jerry Pagan, Spiritual Director. They are helping the homeless, people seeking employment and job training, those in need of healthy meals, those in need of emotional support or seeking hospital and preventative healthcare information, those in need of clothing, in need of religious resources and, most importantly, those ready to change their lives and become self-sufficient. Listen to these dedicated individuals as they explain how they're making a difference and learn how you can make an impact by attending their upcoming 3rd Annual Celebration on April 21st! You too could help change a life!

Episode 64 introduces us to the Marine Education Initiative. The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface and is home to a diverse range of species that have yet to be fully explored and understood. However, the health of the ocean is in peril due to a range of human activities such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change. It is crucial that we equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills to become responsible stewards of the ocean. That is where the Marine Education Initiative comes in. The Marine Education Initiative is a global effort to promote marine education and awareness among young people. It aims to inspire and empower the next generation of ocean stewards by providing them with opportunities to learn about the ocean, its inhabitants, and the threats that it faces. The initiative brings together educators, scientists, conservationists, and policymakers to create innovative and engaging educational resources for students of all ages. These resources include lesson plans, interactive online tools, and hands-on activities that promote scientific inquiry and critical thinking. My guest, Nocolas Metropulos, is Executive Director of MEI and I know you'll find our conversation on the ocean and agraponics very interesting.

Episode 63 is our opportunity to meet Dr Jaimee Sabato, newly appointed Executive Director of Unicorn Children’s Foundation. Her enthusiasm for the Foundation and its programs shines through and she knows what it means to the participants, families, and community to make their Unicorn Connection Center a rewarding and comfortable place to work, grow, and learn. 

Unicorn Children's Foundation, founded in 1994, is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating cradle to career pathways for kids and young adults with developmental differences and helping their families navigate the complex journey.  I hope you will find our conversation interesting as we discover the resources available to exceptional children, adults and their families.

Episode 62 is an opportunity to spotlight the situation being faced by many children in our community .. caring for a family member while trying to focus on their studies. It's a situation more common than you might think. There are more than 3.4 million caregiving youth nationwide. The American Association of Caregiving Youth was established by Dr Connie Siskowski whose dream is for all family caregivers to be honored and respected (especially youth) for their contribution to family and society. Debralyn Belletieri is the board chair for AACY. She and her husband, Ronnie, discuss the reason they support AACY and go onto explain how they'll be holding a family fun event, "BINGO on the Bightline" on May 7th.   This will be an opportunity for residents to support AACY and have fun doing it!

Episode 61 is an opportunity to spotlight the efforts of our community to act humanely to our pets. Jeri Caprio and Sharon DiPietro are committed to the abandoned pets (both dogs and cats) who are re-homed by the compassionate staff and volunteers at Tri-County Animal Rescue (TCAR). Jeri has established a non-profit to raise funds for this cause, Horses and Hounds Charitable Foundation. Originally focused on the humane treatment of "retired" greyhounds from our racetracks, her focus has been redirected to abandoned pets with the elimination of greyhound racing in Florida. TCAR has assumed the task of offering abandoned pets an opportunity to find a fur-ever homes, This "no-kill" shelter is offering veterinary services and adoption opportunities for thousands of pets. TCAR is proud to have saved over 88,000 pets since their establishment in 1996. The 18th Annual Doggie and Kittie Ball (to be held on March 18th at the Boca West Country Club) will be an opportunity for residents to support TCAR and have a great evening!