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On Sunday, June 2, 2019 Beth Israel honored our members who are nonagenarians. (90 this year or older.) 

Beth Israel Jewish Congregation of Sun City Center 

Original Painting by Congregant Harvey Berman

Beth Israel Jewish Congregation of Sun City Center has a unique role as a lively and energetic community for seniors in South Hillsborough County, Florida.  The congregation is dedicated to promoting the fundamental and enduring principles of Judaism and ensuring the continuity of the Jewish people.  Our mission is to enable our members to develop a relationship with God through communal worship, study of Torah, and educational opportunities.

All of our members have come here from somewhere else, and we all know what it is like to be new in the area. We extend audacious hospitality to welcome newcomers and help them feel at home in our congregation. We are an extended family to our members and provide support in both happy and sad times.

Our legacy donors are individuals just like you who want to ensure that there is always a place for members of our community to explore their Judaism and nourish their souls.  Join us in guaranteeing that our congregation survives for the next generation and beyond.

Wealth lasts a lifetime, legacy lasts forever.

  Sandy Zians is our special volunteer. Sandy and husband Sam were members of Beth Israel for four months when they stepped up and took on the responsibilities of Ritual Co-Directors. Sam retired after 2 years and Sandy continued with all of the duties of the Director.

It comes as no surprise if you “know” Sandy Zians that she jumped right into volunteering. She has always been a volunteer even when she was teaching special needs children in the Youngstown schools for 32 years and typical children for 8. She continues to share her love of education and children by substituting in our local schools. She volunteered in her congregation in Youngstown, Ohio and became the President. She and Sam gave their time to the American Cancer Society by working on the Relay for Life and chairing the Annual Cattle Barons Ball, a major fundraiser for ACS.

Sandy has always said that Beth Israel is her home. She has made homentaschen for our Purim celebration since she arrived. Her kugels are well known at the pot luck meals as are her pastries. Sandy does not know how to say NO. When we needed someone to handle the Yahrzeit lists she said “I will”. Little did she know it was a yeoman’s job to update the files, but she doesn’t quit easily. William Shakespeare wrote: “although she be but little she is fierce”; he must have had a premonition as to the character of Sandy Zians.

Congratulations Sandy for being Beth Israel’s Special Volunteer.

Sandy has been active in Jewish life for over 50 years. She was involved in many organizations in various capacities in Youngstown, Ohio prior to her family’s relocation to Tampa three years ago. She served as President of the local and district Hadassah chapter, was a board member of the Jewish Community Center, Jewish society, serving as Chairman of the Relay for Life and Co-chair of the American Cancer Center Cattle Barron’s Ball.

At the age of 60, Sandy became a Bat Mitzvah and within her synagogue, El Emeth Temple, served as President from 2012-2014 and Funds Vice President of the Sisterhood.

After moving to Tampa, she immediately assumed the position of Ritual Co-chair alongside her husband Sam. She organizes religious activities with grace and charm and is an asset to the Sisterhood and synagogue. Sandra and her husband have four children and six grandchildren.

Thank you for being a member of our Congregation

Thank you for your donation

Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the donate now button that when clicked will take you off site to the secure bank site to enter your credit card information.

Paul Spiegal, our Beth Israel’s special volunteer, has given so much to our congregation. Not only does Paul join the rummage sale crew in making things happen, but he shleps in his jewelry and sets up tables outside or inside and sells his jewelry giving Beth Israel most of the proceeds. Not only did he chair the fund-raising committee for many years shortly after he and Marlene arrived here, but he still continues to help with that committee when he is in town. Not only does he attend services on a regular basis, but you can usually find him schlepping the garbage out to the curb. You might call Paul a consummate shlepper!

Paul and Marlene moved to the SCC area in 2006. He was raised in the Boston area (check out the accent) and began his career there. Paul has been involved in Jewish community nonprofit work his entire life. He doesn’t know what it means not to volunteer. He has been the CEO of Federations and JCCs in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Lancaster, PA, Binghamton, NY, and Canton, OH. His heroes are the volunteers of each of the organizations he has been involved in; he knows and appreciates the work each volunteer gives to the organization.

Paul firmly believes that being a volunteer for Beth Israel is more crucial than most organizations because many of our congregants are physically unable to help out. He encourages everyone who can, to “step up to the plate and help out.”

Congratulations Paul for being Beth Israel’s Special Volunteer.

Say hello to our special volunteer, Sharon Privitera. Sharon moved to Florida with Petrie, her 25-year-old Senegal parrot, from Columbia, Maryland in July 2011. She is the proud mother of three sons who still live up North. In her earlier life she worked for a mortgage company and filled her free time with volunteering for her local schools and church.

When attending a Singles dance in Apollo Beach she met Gil Daniels and they became life partners. She started attending services at Beth Israel with Gil and then met Rabbi Carla. Sharon fell in love with the teachings of the Torah and the warm welcome she received from the members of Beth Israel. She continues to study and learn about the Jewish Lifestyle and her love of God.

She decided to become a Jew and studied with Rabbi Carla for about a year followed by a wonderful conversion ceremony in July 2014 with many of the congregants attending.

In her spare time Sharon cares for her numerous pets and the people around her. She loves being helpful to others and volunteers as much as possible. Sharon can be found almost anywhere there is a need for extra help; sisterhood functions, rummage sale, emergency kitchen help for Shabbat onegs. She even cooks fabulous lasagna for the Men’s Club luncheons! Sharon is the kind of volunteer who says, “What can I do now to help”; she doesn’t wait to be asked. Sharon was very clear about her feelings about Beth Israel, “Temple is my home, my family”. Beth Israel is blessed to have Sharon as one of our special volunteers.