Michelle Kaplan

COUPLES SCHMOOZE JEWISH GROUP HELPS ADULTS MOVING TO AREA FIND FRIENDS AND SOCIAL LIFE.

When Irene Berkey moved to Boca Raton 25 years ago, she left behind a lifetime’s worth of close-knit friends and family for a place where she knew virtually no one.

Missing the Jewish culture she left behind, Berkey went looking for that same connection, but there weren’t as many Jewish people living in the area then.

“It was difficult finding other people to be with,” Berkey said.

Her synagogue provided a taste of what she was looking for, but Berkey and her husband, Seymour, soon found the Jewish Couples Club of the Palm Beaches, which has been offering friendship, support and the chance to learn a thing or two for 15 years.

The club was born out of necessity as Jewish people from the North moved to South Florida, leaving behind friends and family.

“In Florida, it’s mostly acquaintances; it’s not truly friends,” said Burt Manevitch, 68, who lives west of Boca Raton with his wife, Fern. “But I’ve made what I consider to be lifelong friends.

“My career was in Israel. I felt a definite need to join with a Jewish group. … I didn’t want to join a synagogue to fulfill that need,” he said.

Manevitch, a member since 1994, is considered the club’s historian, keeping 15 years of archived newsletters organized, most of which he wrote the past 12 years. Those newsletters are evidence of the solid activities for the 50 couples, from ages 50s to late 80s.

“All our group are young at heart and very active,” said Sidney Klein, 80, of Delray Beach. ” It’s nice to get to be with your own people, and that’s the purpose of the club.”

Berkey is in charge of setting the social agenda, booking speakers while sticking to a strict budget that has kept the one- year membership fee at $25 a couple.

Berkey has been a member for 14 years. “Being away from old friends, we miss our kids,” said Berkey. ” … I belonged to a synagogue, but you need something more, that’s frivolous, that’s fun.”

Berkey has booked quite a variety of events. The club has hosted speakers whose topics run the gamut from art and entertainment to health issues, travel and politics. They’ve had speakers from the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, professors from Florida Atlantic University and local writers. They’ve viewed an exhibit of French Impressionist art at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. This month was “Sexuality for Golden Years” with health educator Marilyn Brand.

Although the club tries to feature speakers and activities with a Jewish theme, it’s really more about the social aspect of meeting and enjoying the company of like-minded people.

“It wasn’t that I was looking to meet Jewish people,” said Maxine Cohen of Boynton Beach. “If you want to find a Jewish organization, of course it’s there, but I wasn’t looking only for a Jewish organization. The club offers things that have nothing to do with religion or any cultural event.”

Couples often get together in smaller groups outside of the club. As the members are seniors, it also provides additional support when someone loses a spouse.

“It gives me a wonderful feeling,” Berkey said. “They know me. I know them. We lose some and get some every year. People are thrilled with it.”

Having a little something for everyone is what makes the Couples Club of the Palm Beaches so inviting. “There isn’t any fund raising involved, so it’s much easier and friendlier,” Cohen said.

IF YOU GO

What: The Jewish Couples Club of the Palm Beaches

When: Meets second Tuesday of each month, except July and August

Where: Patch Reef Park, 2000 Yamato Road, in James A. Rutherford Community Center, Boca Raton

Contact: Call 561-482-2484.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
Abstract (Document Summary)

PHOTO 2; TIME TO CHAT: [Irene Berkey], left, of Boca Raton, talks with Louise and Irving Dublin, of Boca Raton, at a Purim Picnic held at Sugar Sand Park. The event was sponsored by the Jewish Couples Club. Photos/Gina Fontana WHAT’S COOKIN’? Bernie Mollach looks over the shoulder of cook [Burt Manevitch] during a Purim picnic at Sugar Sand Park sponsored by the Jewish Couples Club of the Palm Beaches.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
————————-
[Boca Raton Edition]
South Florida Sun - Sentinel - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Author:     Michelle Kaplan Special Correspondent
Date:     Apr 23, 2006
Start Page:     1
Section:     COMMUNITY NEWS
Text Word Count:     702

Boynton Beach Edition
JEWISH COUPLES SCHMOOZE, FORGE FRIENDSHIPS VIA CLUB

When Bernie and Maxine Cohen moved to Boynton Beach seven years ago, they left behind a lifetime’s worth of close-knit friends and family for a place where they knew virtually no one.

After settling in, they recognized the community they lived in offered little of the social life they once knew, so they went searching to forge new friendships.

“A neighbor of mine was a board member of the club, and she invited myself and my husband to go to a meeting. We enjoyed it very much. The people were warm and giving and took us in, and we’ve been there ever since,” she said.

Cohen is referring to the Jewish Couples Club of the Palm Beaches, which has been offering friendship, support and the chance to learn a thing or two for 15 years.

The club was born out of necessity as Jewish people from the North moved to South Florida, leaving behind friends and family.

“In Florida, it’s mostly acquaintances; it’s not truly friends,” said Burt Manevitch, 68, who lives west of Boca Raton with his wife, Fern. “But I’ve made what I consider to be lifelong friends.

“My career was in Israel. I felt a definite need to join with a Jewish group … I didn’t want to join a synagogue to fulfill that need,” he said.

Manevitch, a member since 1994, is considered the club’s historian, keeping 15 years of archived newsletters organized, most of which he wrote the past 12 years. Those newsletters are evidence of the solid activities for the 50 couples, from ages 50s to late 80s.

“All our group are young at heart and very active,” said Sidney Klein, 80, of Delray Beach. ” It’s nice to get to be with your own people, and that’s the purpose of the club.”

Irene Berkey is in charge of setting the social agenda, booking speakers while sticking to a strict budget that has kept the one- year membership fee at $25 a couple.

Berkey has been a member for 14 years. “Being away from old friends, we miss our kids,” said Berkey, who lives west of Boca Raton and has lived here for 25 years. ” … I belonged to a synagogue, but you need something more, that’s frivolous, that’s fun.”

Berkey has booked quite a variety of events. The club has hosted speakers whose topics run the gamut from art and entertainment to health issues, travel and politics. They’ve had speakers from the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, professors from Florida Atlantic University and local writers. They’ve viewed an exhibit of French Impressionist art at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. This month was “Sexuality for Golden Years” with health educator Marilyn Brand.

Although the club tries to feature speakers and activities with a Jewish theme, it’s really more about the social aspect of meeting and enjoying the company of like-minded people.

“It wasn’t that I was looking to meet Jewish people,” said Cohen . “If you want to find a Jewish organization, of course it’s there, but I wasn’t looking only for a Jewish organization. The club offers things that have nothing to do with religion or any cultural event.”

Couples often get together in smaller groups outside of the club. As the members are seniors, it also provides additional support when someone loses a spouse.

“It gives me a wonderful feeling,” Berkey said. “They know me. I know them. We lose some and get some every year. People are thrilled with it.”

Having a little something for everyone is what makes the Couples Club of the Palm Beaches so inviting. “There isn’t any fund raising involved, so it’s much easier and friendlier,” Cohen said.

IF YOU GO

What: The Jewish Couples Club of the Palm Beaches

When: Meets second Tuesday of each month, except July and August

Where: Patch Reef Park, 2000 Yamato Road, in James A. Rutherford Community Center, Boca Raton

Contact: Call 561-482-2484.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
Abstract (Document Summary)

PHOTO; WHAT’S COOKIN’? Bernie Mollach looks over the shoulder of cook [Burt Manevitch] during a Purim picnic at Sugar Sand Park sponsored by the Jewish Couples Club of the Palm Beaches. Photo/ Gina Fontana
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
——————————
[Boynton Beach Edition]
South Florida Sun - Sentinel - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Author:     Michelle Kaplan Special Correspondent
Date:     Apr 21, 2006
Start Page:     1
Section:     COMMUNITY NEWS
Text Word Count:     700