The Sephardi Federation of Palm Beach County (FL) started its season right after the Yamim Noraim, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simhat Tora with a whirlwind trip to Miami Beach. This year we partnered with the Adolph and Rose Levis Jewish Community Center in Boca Raton (JCC), and The Adult Jewish Learning Collaboration (ADJLC) which is a group of four local synagogues and the Sephardi Federation, sharing teaching/learning opportunities. More than 45 members from the various institutions embarked on a full day of joint learning.
Our first stop was the Holocaust Memorial of Miami Beach. We were greeted by a docent who gave us a brief explanation of how the City of Miami Beach donated the land, when the memorial was built, and highlights of the memorial. The names of victims who were exterminated in the various concentration camps are engraved on black granite panels throughout the memorial.
Our second stop was Temple Moses—The Sephardic Congregation of Florida, where Rabbi Daniel Hadar greeted us. First we visited the adjacent La Cocina Nelly C. Egozi, one of the kitchens at the synagogue, where synagogue members bake borekas, bulemas, biskochos for Shabbat kiddushes, and also for sale to the entire community through their website. Ida Bejar explained the entire operation to our group. We then returned to the main building where we had a desayuno of borekas, bulemas, biskochos, vegetarian kibbeh and rice - a delicious sampling of foods we are all accustomed to eating, baked by members of the congregation. After finishing our delicious meal, Rabbi Hadar took us on a tour of the “Kal Chica” (small sanctuary), the main sanctuary, and the technologically advanced social hall, where weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and other events are held.
Our third stop for the day was at the Jewish Museum of Miami/FIU (Florida International University) where we took a tour of the museum and attended a prearranged lecture by Hélène Jawhara Piñer, PhD, chef/author/Jewish food historian. Hélène received a Broome & Allen Fellowship from the American Sephardi Federation in 2018, dedicated to recognizing academic accomplishments and service on behalf of the Sephardic community, as well as encouraging continued excellence in the field of Sephardi Studies. She just published her third book, Matza and Flour. Her lecture included an explanation of the ingredients used and the foods eaten by Jews fleeing the inquisition. The book is a celebration of tradition, history, and the enduring legacy of Sephardic Jewish cuisine.
Since inception, the mission of the SFPBC has been to preserve and advance Sephardi culture and the Ladino language with quality educational and social programming. While our activities primarily serve South Florida, we maintain cooperative relationships with Sephardic communities and leaders across the globe. In 2025 we will be proudly celebrating our 33rd anniversary. Our programs include weekly Viva Ladino language classes; monthly Vijitas de Alhad get togethers held at various private homes; the annual International Ladino Day in South Florida; and the Fascinating Sephardim: A Film Series, in conjunction with our partners at the Adolph and Rose Levis JCC in Boca Raton. If you ever visit South Florida, look us up! We invite you to experience a “Vijita de Alhad” and dunk a biskocho in your cup of coffee. And if you’re lucky, Rose Pappo Allen, our president, will read your fortune from your coffee grounds!
For more details on our 2024-2025 Season visit sephardifederationpbc.org.
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