Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

When the Roth Family JCC and the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando joined together earlier this year to create Shalom Orlando, we did so with the knowledge that our community demanded better engagement opportunities, a stronger commitment to Jewish values, and for Shalom Orlando to step up and lead the future of Jewish life in Central Florida. That mandate requires us to take a step back, look at the white board and decide what we keep, what we sunset, and what we adapt. And by now we hope you realize that it is fun to build the future.

If you have joined us at any of the events of the past several months — our Pride Shabbat in October, our Lion of Judah event in November, our Family Hanukkah Festival in December (with over 500 families) — you know that everything we do comes from a place of kavanah (intentionality). That is why when we looked at our annual golf tournament, we realized we needed to shift the focus towards impact.

At Shalom Orlando, we are proud that we are the location of choice in Central Florida for those seeking water safety and lifeguard instruction. In our Olympic-sized, 12-foot deep, heated pool, countless individuals and families have enjoyed splashing, playing, and exercising. We are also painfully aware that the State of Florida loses more children to accidental drowning than any other state (bit.ly/3I3byiC). The statistics of accidental drownings are scary, sad, and there is something that we can do about them. At times it may feel overwhelming, but we are reminded in Pikei Avot that we are not required to complete the task, but nor are we free to desist from it. This year, we are committing to working on the task of stopping drownings here in Central Florida.

That is why we are proud to share that the annual Shalom Orlando Golf Tournament will be raising money to provide free swimming lessons for those children who are underprivileged or who otherwise would not be able to learn this life-saving skill. Our golf tournament is not about golf — it is about saving lives. The Talmud teaches us that when you save a life it is as if you have saved the whole world (Sanhedrin 37a) and the Talmud further teaches that parents have an obligation to teach their children how to swim (Kiddushin 29a). This is a Jewish cause, a Jewish value, and an opportunity for Shalom Orlando to help save the world.

We are excited and hope you will join us either at the tournament or as a sponsor. The 2023 Shalom Orlando Golf Tournament will take place on Sunday, Jan. 22, at historic Dubsdread Golf Course in Orlando. There will be breakfast and lunch provided, prizes, raffles, and a celebration at the end.

To register for the Shalom Orlando Golf Tournament or support our efforts to save children from drowning, visit http://www.ShalomOrlando.org. For more information contact Sam Friedman, Chief Development Officer, at Sam.Friedman@ShalomOrlando.org or 407-621-4005.