The Orlando Jewish community lost one of its most influential matriarchs

With the passing of Sunny Mandell z’l the Orlando Jewish community has lost one of its most significant matriarchs.

I would guess that the vast majority of Jews living in Orlando today did not know Sunny. For sure, most never met her. I wish that they had the experience of knowing and working with this unique and wonderful person.

Sunny was the first woman to chair the Major Gifts Committee of the Federation’s campaign. She was the first woman overall Campaign chair, and she was Federation president from 1981 to 1983.

Sunny’s commitment to the Jewish Community (locally and in Israel) was a model for all to follow. If you read the eulogies given by Marni and Andrea (posted on Facebook) you will learn much about this quiet yet driven Jewish activist.

Let me share just five ‘Sunny’ stories.

Back in the day, the national UJA (now JFNA) ran an annual ‘Prime Ministers Mission’ to Israel, inviting all donors who would commit at least $25,000 to the annual campaign. If three local donors made this commitment the chair and the executive director were also invited to participate. We were lucky in Orlando to have four such donors (all whom are no longer with us): Hy Lake, Norman Rossman, Bill Goodman and Lester Mandell. So, the four donors, Sunny, and I travelled to New York to meet others from throughout the country to fly to Israel. We ended up arriving at JFK late in the morning and the flight to Israel did not depart until late evening, so we rented a ‘day-room mini-suite’ at a nearby hotel. The four guys passed the time by smoking cigars and playing cards while Sunny took a nap in the adjacent bedroom. Travelling with these five was a treat — and an experience. During the visit in Israel, we met many of Israel’s leaders and learned first-hand the needs for which we were raising funds (in those days over 2/3rds of the funds raised were designated for overseas programs). Sunny returned to Orlando ready to chair a campaign to new heights. Which, of course, she did.

In planning a new and exciting way to begin the campaign, we developed a program, featuring the late Theodore Bikel and Hershel Bernardi, to be presented at the Bob Carr auditorium. We sold out. Sunny, who had never spoken publicly before, now faced the task of speaking to over 2,500 people. She took on this task, and as with everything she did, the end result was a very impressive and motivating speech.

As the Federation president and the exec, we were very close and spent much time together. There was only one time that she asked me to do something that I could not and did not do. Sunny’s granddaughter, Marni, had decided to make Aliyah. Sunny, as much as she supported Israel, was not thrilled (to say the least). Sunny asked if I could talk to Marni and try to get her to change her mind. This was something that I could not do. And, in the many times I spoke with Sunny after Marni made Aliyah, Sunny told me how wrong she was, and how proud she was of what Marni has accomplished in Israel.

A few years ago, Faye and I travelled to Orlando to participate in the opening of the wonderful Kehillah exhibit detailing the history of the Orlando Jewish Community. I had not seen Sunny in years (although we did speak every year on her birthday). We sat together and shared stories as if there had been no years of separation. She remembered the ‘good old days’ and we talked about the too many people who were no longer alive. It was a bittersweet reunion seeing that age was taking its toll on someone with whom I worked so closely and who I respected and loved.

Story five is more ‘personal.’ As many of you know, Faye and I lost our youngest son, Michael z’l (age 45) last July. The Heritage was kind enough to carry his obituary. We received many condolence calls — one from Sunny. We talked as if we were still working together. Her words were very appreciated and comforting.

As I started this piece, the Orlando Jewish Community lost a matriarch. Sunny’s influence on the community will be felt for decades. She will be missed and her memory will forever be a blessing.

May her children, Robert, Richard, Alison, Amiee, and the entire Mandell family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and of Israel.

Paul Jeser was the executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando from 1976-84.