Chamber – Breakfast in Deerfield

Thursday, April 5, 7:30 a.m.

Deerfield Chamber

1601 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Catered by Olympia Flame Diner.

 

MammoVan

Thursday, April 5

NE Focal Point Senior Center

227 NW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

No prescription needed for screening mammograms over the age of 40. Results in two business days. No insurance Komen Grant available. To schedule an appointment or for information, call 561-955-4700.

 

“Art on the Boulevard”

Friday, April 6, 6 to 9 p.m.

2611 E. Atlantic Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL  33062

Free event. Local Artists exhibit work for sale (commission FREE). Featured Artists: Pat Ward, Sheryl Hughes, Bent Anderson, Voughn Tucker. Hosted by Greight Spaces Interior Design. 954-788-9044.

 

Tito Puente Jr. plays

Friday, April 6, 6:30 (festivities begin)

Count de Hoernle Amphitheater

590 Plaza Real

Boca Raton, FL, 33432

Before listening to the Latin and tropical jazzy beats free (at 7:30 p.m.), grab a bite from gourmet food trucks (at 6:30 p.m.). Then, learn some moves from a Zumba performance at 7 p.m. 561-367-7070.

 

Learn about Sea Turtles

Friday, April 6, 10:30 a.m.

North Beach Pavilion (north of pier)

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

City of Deerfield Beach is hosting an approx. hour-long Environmental Education Workshop focused on sea turtles—their nesting habits, species that nest here, and how to minimize impact on them. Coffee and donuts served. 954-480-4407

 

Volunteer Day

Saturday, April 7, 9 a.m.

Deerfield Beach Arboretum

Constitution Park

2841 W. Hillsboro Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Bring gloves. Water/ lunch supplied. 954-480-4494 or Jerry@ treezoo.com.

 

Flower Show – “A Celebration of Love”

Saturday, April 7

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Emma Lou Olson Civic Center

1801 NE 6 St.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Presented by Pompano Beach Garden Club. Public invited to see creative floral designs, horticulture, educational exhibits. Free.  954-943-2699.

 

Yard Sale

Saturday, April 7, 7 a.m. to noon

Palms of Deerfield Yard and Community Room

425 NW 1 Terr.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Palms of Deerfield and F.A.C.T. 1st Annual Yard Sale. 954-548-8958.

 

Deerfield Beach Democratic Club meets

Monday, April 9, noon

Century Village, Le Club

3501 W. Dr., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

In attendance: State Senator Jeremy Ring, State Rep. Jim Waldman, State Rep. Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed, State Rep. Irv. Slosberg and former State Rep. Kelly Skidmore (as moderator) for a Tallahassee Session update. Anyone who wishes to have lunch will have to pay dues. Passover and Non-Passover will be served.

 

Gold Coast Toastmasters Club

Monday, April 9, 7 to 9 p.m.

Denny’s

3151 NW 9 Ave.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309

Members from both Broward & Palm Beach Counties. Visitors welcome. Have fun improving speaking and
listening skills. Fight the fear and further your career.
954-895-3555.

 

Pompano Beach Garden Club meets

Monday, April 9, 12:30 p.m.

Emma Lou Olson Civic Center

1801 NE 6 St.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Theme: “Every Thing’s Coming Up Roses,” presented by Geoff Coolidge, owner of Cool Roses. Refreshments served. 954-943-2699

A man went to his father to tell him that he had just become a millionaire. His father did not seem very impressed. The young man screamed, “Pop, I’m not even 30 yet and I’ve already made my first million …” To which the father responded, “My son, you’ve counted your money. What I want to know is, what you are going to do with it?”

I was never very good at math and, to this day, I still have trouble adding things up. I just can’t count. Don’t get me wrong, my friends know they can count on me, but they also know that I am not a whiz when it comes to numbers.

In the Torah, we find the commandment of giving a half shekel. Our Sages taught that G-d showed Moses a “coin of fire.” What do money and fire have in common?

We know that a fire can destroy a forest and, if you’ve ever seen someone who has been burned, you know what harm it can cause a human being. Yet, a fire can also cook our food so it is safe to eat. A fire can warm the cockles of our heart. A fire can bond metals together, molding two things into one. (Perhaps that is why the word “welding” sounds so much like “wedding.”)

Wealth … Wealth can keep a roof over our heads. It can provide food and sustenance. It can help build houses of worship and academies of higher learning. Wealth can be used to support charities and foundations.

Fire can burn one beyond recognition, making someone appear unpleasant and ugly on the outside. But money … Money can make someone unpleasant and ugly on the inside. So here we are following G-d’s commandment to take a census, each giving half a shekel, but why a half a shekel?

I have a friend who has worn a necklace for many years now. The necklace is a half a heart. Can you guess who has the other half? That’s right, her husband. That half a heart reminds her that she can use her heart to lift her husband up or to drag him down, to weld herself to him, making them one, or to burn a hole right through his heart. Such is the power of love. Fortunately, she has chosen, for the most part, to lift him up … to remember that he counts.

If you take the Hebrew word used for “counting,” you will find a better translation would be to “lift” or to “elevate.”

When we use the gifts G-d has blessed us with to elevate others, we have used our gifts wisely. We have merged our lives together. But, if we fail to use our gifts to help, we have not only failed others, we have failed ourselves and we have failed G-d.

Let the upcoming Passover holiday remind us. It is not our bread that needs to rise to the occasion. It is we who need to rise, whatever the occasion might be. Remember, each of us counts far more than we know. Now go and do the math … and make sure that others can count on you.

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

 

Rabbi Ezring is a Hospice Chaplain and Member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. He also provides Professional Pastoral Care Services to a number of health centers in Broward County.