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Artwork by Chavurah Shalom member Leon Skolnick

Chavurat Shalom is a welcoming community in Southwest Florida
committed to the study and celebration of our Jewish cultural heritage and religious traditions in order to enlighten and enrich our lives.

chavuratshalom@gmail.com

Many Chavurat Shalom members living in Southwest Florida - along with thousands of others - were seriously affected by Hurricane Ian. Some lost homes, automobiles, and belongings. Some are relocating to other parts of the country, perhaps to build new lives there. It has been very difficult, but thankfully we are all safe.
 
It is an added blessing that no matter where we are, we can keep in touch with each other via Zoom to rejoice in our precious fellowship. A R’fuah Sh’layma to all.

Chavurat Shalom (Fellowship of Peace) is an informal group from every Jewish religious tradition that meets to worship and learn together. We welcome people of all faiths from Sanibel, Fort Myers, other Southwest Florida locations, and from all over the country. We are not affiliated with any Jewish organized movement. Our group is community-led. Each person has an equal voice in it and may participate to whatever extent desired.

Presently we worship and meet via Zoom. When health and hurricane recovery conditions permit, we will plan in-person events.

Photograph by Chavurat Shalom member Dr. Marge Peppecorn from her book Golfing Safari

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Our current activities include (please note: all listed times are Eastern [Florida] time):

• Weekly Shabbat Eve services on Fridays throughout the year at 7:30 p.m. led by members, with readings, singing, and Torah reading and commentary - coordinated by Drs. Ellen Feingold and Kathy Zoss, with other volunteer participants
• Weekly Len Minsky Current Events discussions on Saturday mornings at 11:00 a.m. -  coordinated by Dr. Donald Bachman with other volunteer discussion leaders
• Classes and discussions led by Chavurat Shalom members and outside experts on Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. - coordinated by Irene Skolnick
• Torah Talk, on the third Thursday of each month – coordinated by Drs. Ellen Feingold and Kathy Zoss, with open discussion led by volunteer participants
• A bi-monthly informal “schmooze” session via Zoom throughout the year on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 p.m.

 
The Thursday class and discussion schedule for March and April 2023 includes:

• March 2, 11 a.m. – Rabbi Dr. Michael J. Schorin, Jewish Community Chaplain, Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties, Ft. Myers,  – “Aging and Stress”
• March 9, 11 a.m. – Dr. Stanley Fish, Davidson-Kahn Distinguished University Professor and Professor of Law at Florida International University – “Why Hate Speech Cannot be Defined”
• March 16, 11 a.m. – Torah Talk, led by Dr. Ellen Feingold with all participating.  Parshat Ki Tisa in Exodus 30:11-24:35 will be discussed.
• March 23, 11 a.m. – Rabbi Rachel Isaacs, Executive Director, Center for Small Town Jewish Life, Colby College – “Reflections from Campus: What Jewish Student Life on Campus Today Might Teach Us about Jewish Life Tomorrow”
•  March 30, 11 a.m. – Part II: Father Eamon Kelly, Vice-Director, Magdala Center, Archeological Park on the Sea of Galilee – “Magdala, Crossroads of Jewish and Christian History: A Story of Discovery, Creativity, and Encounter” ‘’
•  April 20, 11 a.m. - Torah Talk, led by Dr. Ellen Feingold with all participating. Parashat Shemini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47) will be discussed
•  April 27, 11 a.m. – Rabbi James Rudin – “The Importance of Israel’s Yom Ha’Atsmaut Celebrating 75 Years of Independence

 
The schedule for the Tuesday “Schmooze” sessions for March and April. is:

• Tuesday, March 7 - Purim “schmooze” – 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 11 – 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 25 - 730 p.m.

 
All above activities will be held over Zoom until further notice.
​All times are Eastern (Florida) Time.
 
To join these events, send an email request to chavuratshalom@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link.
For more information, visit this website or email chavuratshalom@gmail.com
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Chavurat Shalom has embarked on a new project, Community Partnerships. Our first partner is the Florida Gulf Coast University Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. An additional special project is the collection of donations from members by our Tzedakah committee. The committee made a special Purim-Passover appeal in March.  A large donation was made in honor of the first Yahrzeit of past Chavurat Shalom president Leonard Minsky.

In order to provide emergency aid to local victims of Hurricane Ian, the committee several times donated funds to FISH on Sanibel and Gladiolus Food Pantry and Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties in Fort Myers and to St. Matthews House in Naples and Ft. Myers.. Last year, following the theme of health and welfare of women and children, the Tzedakah Committee donated funds to Planned Parenthood of Southwest Florida, Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, The Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Naples, FL, Cycle Forward in Lee County, and Quality of Life Center (Ft. Myers). The committee also granted funds to the JOINT Distribution Committee, designated for Ukraine. 

If you wish to donate to the Tzedakah Fund, send your check made out to Chavurat Shalom with Tzedakah Fund in the memo line to 20031 Sanibel View Circle, Unit 202, Fort Myers, Florida 33908.
(Temporary address due to Hurricane Ian)

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Outstanding past Thursday lecture and discussion topics led by both Chavurat Shalom participants and prominent outside speakers include:
 
Kabbalah 
Spinoza
The Jews of China: Keifung, Harbin and Shanghai
The Other Peace Process: Interreligious Dialogue in Israel and Palestine in the Service of Peace
What Tisha B’Av Means to Us Today
A Rabbi’s Work with the Vatican
 IsraAID: Israeli Humanitarian Aid Around the World
 Kristallnacht was the "End of the Beginning" of German Nazi terror
​and "The Beginning of the End” for Jews in Europe
 The Journey to Preserve the History of Small-Town Jewish Communities
King Solomon and Why He Was Israel's Best King
Israel: A State of the Nation Report
Purim Explained
Across the Square: A Grandchild’s Quest to Find his Grandmother’s Holocaust Survival Story
​Tracking the Elusive Box Turtles of Sanibel
The Great Florida Invasion: From Pepper to Pythons
The Challenge and Promise of Catholic-Jewish Relations Today
Why the Maccabees Would be Horrified by Chanukkah
​Water Quality in South Florida: Challenges and Opportunities
​Anti-Asian Discrimination and Attitudes in the United States
My Journey As a Convert to Judaism
​The Challenge and Promise of Catholic-Jewish Relations Today
Aging and Stress
Magdala, Crossroads of Jewish and Christian History: A Story of Discovery, Creativity, and Encounter

For a complete listing of all past Chavurat Shalom Thursday programs, CLICK HERE
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For more details about our group or upcoming events, or to join us for any or all of these events,
contact us at chavuratshalom@gmail.com or write to
 20031 Sanibel View Circle, Unit 202, Ft. Myers, FL 33908.
(Temporary address due to Hurricane Ian)

Chavurat Shalom is a 501(c) 3 non-profit tax-exempt organization. Your tax-deductible contributions to Chavurat Shalom may be directed to the Tzedakah Fund,  Speaker’s Fund, or General Fund. Please make your contributions payable to Chavurat Shalom of Southwest Florida and mail to:
​
Chavurat Shalom of Southwest Florida
20031 Sanibel View Circle
Unit 202
Fort Myers, FL 33908
​(Temporary address due to Hurricane Ian)

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Photograph by Chavurat Shalom member Dr. Marge Peppecorn from her book Golfing Safari

Always Searching

A poem by Chavurat Shalom member Myra Klahr

Searching for happiness
We forget to
Search within
 
Searching for peace
We forget to
Search our hearts
 
Searching for light
To illuminate the darkness
We forget our own
Brilliant light
 
Let’s celebrate
The light of renewal
This Shabbat
 
As our love
For ourselves
And for each other
Lights the world


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Peace for Our World

A poem by Chavurat Shalom member Myra Klahr

On these days when Torah was revealed
We pray that the light
It brings to the world
Penetrates the darkness of evil deeds
 
We pray that children can go to school
Without fear of being murdered
That shoppers can buy groceries
Without fear of being murdered
That we can attend concerts
Without fear of being murdered
 
We pray that military soldiers
and citizen soldiers
Who give their lives
For our freedom
Do not die in vain
 
We pray for the safety and security of those in the Ukraine
and those in Israel
May those fighting to protect their homes and lives
have the resources and the courage to move forward
 
We pray for the dead and the wounded
For the refugees fleeing their homes
We pray that the scorched earth can be revitalized
We pray that world leaders unite to act decisively and wisely to restore these damaged communities
We pray that the aggressors abandon their destructive actions and learn the blessings of peace
We pray for our broken world
God. Please help our Torah
Provide a compass for our world
 
Grant us peace
Amen​

Bylaws

OFFICERS

President: Cheryl Fulmer
First Vice - President: Ellen Feingold
Second Vice - President: Kathy Zoss
Secretary: Irene Skolnick
Treasurer: TBD

NON-OFFICER BOARD MEMBERS

Don Bachman
Evelyn Clark
Myra Klahr
Marcia Rudin
​

Contact our officers or non-officer board members using the email link below.

COMMITTEES

Public Relations & Website
Shabbat Service Coordination
Speaker Series
Special Events
Fundraising
​Tzedakah
Membership
​Membership Engagement

To join a committee please email us below