Archive for November, 2008

“I really love shabbos,” admits Bernie Friedman, Florida’s Super Lawyer. “There is nothing more relaxing or enjoyable, being with my family, turning the world off, and recharging for the week ahead.” It might not seem like Bernie Friedman ever slows down for anything; he was recognized as a “Power Broker of Broward County” by the Sun-Sentinel, and “King of the City Hall” by The Miami Herald. His success in the professional legal arena is matched by his success in the Jewish Leadership community. Serving as the president of the David Posnack Jewish Community Center during the building campaign to bring the Jewish Federation of Broward County to the Davie campus is an accomplishment that gives him extreme satisfaction. “My colleagues and my family would joke that I was working full time for the Federation, but they knew it was a labor of love.”

“Israel is the land of ‘CAN DO’ people. They take it to the next step, in the face of wars, terrorism, bad public relations, no matter what….nothing stops these people from doing what needs to be done.” David Garfinkle, current Board Chair of the Jewish Federation of Broward County loves everything about Israel and the Jewish people worldwide. “The land of Israel is a continuing miracle and I have been there seven times. The land and the people are full of endless possibilities.”

A leader on the fast track, David has taken his commitment to the Jewish Federation of Broward County full steam ahead, taking on four distinct leadershop roles in the past six years, including the current Board chairmanship. “My Uncle, Sandy Garfinkle, was a great leader, and, after he passed away, I committed myself to honor his memory by continuing his legacy,” he explains.

Son of Holocaust survivors and a Canadian native, this South Florida attorney grew up with a strong background and knowledge of challenges facing the Jewish people. Gerry Greenspoon found that he loved the South Florida area after he graduated from Nova Law School and has made Hollywood his home for the past 35 years.

Growing up in Canada

Gerald (Gerry) Greenspoon grew up with the knowledge of the challenges facing Jews all over the world. His parents, Holocaust survivors from Poland settled in Canada after the war and made sure they gave both of their children strong Jewish educations. Gerry and his sister attended Jewish day school and were part of the Conservative Jewish community in Montreal. They learned English, French, Yiddish and Hebrew and were active in the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization.

“It all started with a trip to Israel 24 years ago. We were on a Federation Young Leadership mission from Broward County. We had never been to Israel, and, once we decided to go, everything began to make sense,” Carrie Schulman reminisces and describes how she and her husband, David, became committed to the Jewish Federation of Broward County. The couple has made many visits to Israel since, and even brought their young family on a mission years ago. The children “saw snow for the first time” on the Golan Heights. Carrie still believes that a trip to Israel can make all the difference in the world when it comes to caring about the Jewish people in the Broward community and worldwide.

South Florida’s powerhouse in the United States House of Representatives, she’s young, female and Jewish. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the pride of her community, as she emerges as one of the most dynamic leaders of the nation. The Congresswoman from Weston, Florida has a proven record, shining the light on issues that are pro-choice, pro-gun control, and pro-gay rights. The first piece of legislation Debbie sponsored was the creation of Jewish Heritage Month, a major triumph for a freshman Congresswoman.