On December 13th and 14th thousands of South Florida residents flocked to the campus of the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center to be part of the second "South Florida Shops Israel". Initiated by the center to encourage the purchase of Israeli-made items during a period when travel to Israel has been curtailed, dozens of vendors participated and tens of thousands of dollars worth of goods were purchased. It was an opportunity for the South Florida community to both support and identify with Israel during one of its most difficult periods.

Since Miami's Partnership 2000 community, Or Akiva, is never far from the hearts of the Jewish community, a special booth was set up to enable friends and well wishers to purchase a gift box to be sent to a child in Or Akiva. These special Chanukah presents were the way the Jewish community of Miami was able to reach out and bring some additional light to the children of Or Akiva for Chanukah, the Festival of Lights.

And how did the children of Or Akiva feel about the project? Who wouldn't love a basket full of Elite candy? Distributed at the many Chanukah parties held at the Matnass (Community Center), the gift packages were an enormous hit.

Kislev 5764 - December 2003