Temple Israel of Greater Miami will mark its 90th anniversary by hosting several programs on Feb. 24-26.
On Friday, the temple at 137 NE 19th St. will hold a special Disabilities Awareness Shabbat service at 7:30 p.m. The service’s focus was the idea of teen and third generation temple member Macenna Cowen. She will be a part of the interactive worship, led by Rabbi Jody Cohen. Elly du Pre a temple member and executive director of Lighthouse of Broward County will be the guest speaker. An oneg will follow the service, sponsored by the Dorothy Serotta Social Justice Forum.
Prior to the disabilities Shabbat, a Sababa (which means great in Hebrew) Shabbat will be at 5:45 p.m. , followed at 6:30 p.m. by a family dinner. The cost is $15 for adults and $5 for children. Persons who wish to participate must make reservations today by calling Phyllis Littman at 305-573-5900, ext. 405.
At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, the temple’s Ru’ach LGBT havurah will join with Nehirim, a national LGBT Jewish organization to host writer, scholar and activist Jay Michaelson, author of the recently published book, God vs. Gay?: The Religious Case for Equaity. The book addresses the intersections of religion, sexuality, spirituality and law. The program begins with a short service and will be followed by dinner and an hour-long "Jewish speed-learning" session at 7:30 p.m. At 9 p.m. the group will join Next@19th’s CHAIKU program that highlights Michaelson’s and participants’ LGBT Jewish poetry. The cost of the evening is $25 (on a sliding scale; no one will be turned away for lack of funds). Make your reservations to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
The weekend will conclude on Sunday with a program titled "An Ever-Changing Tapestry: Temple Israel and Miami Amid 90 Years of Dynamism." The program will be from 3 to 5 p.m., and will explore how Miami and its oldest Reform congregation evolved over the past century.
The event will feature Dr. Paul George, a history professor at Miami Dade College, who serves as historian for HistoryMiami, and Marcia Zerivitz, founding executive director and chief curator of the Jewish Museum of Florida.
George will discuss Miami’s development and the influence the city and temple had on each other for nearly a century.
Zerivit, who has collected more than 100,000 images during her 26-year tenure at the museum and its "Mosaic: Jewish Life in Florida" traveling exhibit, will give an illustrated presentation of Miami’s Jewish community and the congregation, many of whose families have been temple members for generations.
Norma Orovitz, a 48-year temple member, will moderate the program that is sponsored by Henry E. Wolf Jr. In 1989, Orovitz was elected Temple Israel’s first female president.
The program will be in the temple’s Wolfson Auditorium, 137 NE 19th St. Because space is limited, reservations are required. Please RSVP to Phyllis Littman at 305-573-5900, ext. 405. or email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Prodigal son
The Rev. Richard P. Dunn II and his wife Daphne said they can’t "thank God enough," for the way He has blessed their son Richard III, 23, to acknowledge his calling to preach the Gospel. The younger Dunn will preach his first sermon at 10:30 a.m. Sunday during the worship service at Faith Community Baptist Church, 10401 NW Eighth Ave.
The elder Dunn said his son was 15, when he told me that God had called him to preach. I didn’t encourage him too much at the time. ... I wanted him to be sure. I knew he had to go through the rest of his teenage years and that he would have to stand up to his peers."
Sure enough, the young Dunn became rebellious, during his later teenage years. His saving grace, was that he continued to attend church and was fed the Word of God, his dad said. "Still, I had resigned myself to the fact that he would not accept the call. I did not see him going that deep in the Lord. But once he got through his rebellious years, I could see him grow spiritually."
The Rev. Dunn said several weeks ago his son shared his testimony with the church congregation. "He said God had saved him and that he was there [at church] because of the grace of God. He said he had committed his life to God and had told all his worldly friends that he’d accepted the Lord."
The young Dunn is employed as a program coordinator for a medical center. He also attends Miami Dade College and is in the Interdenominational Theological Center’s Certificate Program.
"This is a joyous moment for us," the elder Dunn said. "What could be more gratifying and fulfilling than to know that my son wants to follow me as I follow the Lord? There is nothing greater."
The younger Dunn comes from "good stock," so to speak; he is the grandson of the late Richard P. and Cecelia S. Dunn, both active in the Presbyterian church, where Cecelia was choir director, and the great-grandson of the late Rev. Jarius W. and Pauline G. Dunn. The Rev. Jarius was the founder of Drake Memorial Baptist Church. His wife Pauline, was a beloved music teacher in Miami-Dade County Public Schools as well as a choir director in churches that include St. John Institutional Baptist Church in Overtown.
The community is invited to the worship service.
Camp-A-Rama
Wayside Baptist Church, 7701 SW 98th St. in Kendall, will have a Summer Camp-A-Rama to introduce you and your child/children to the types of camp experiences that are available at Wayside this summer.
The Camp-A-Rama will be from noon to 4 p.m. on March 3, and will feature free snow cones, popcorn, hot dogs, cotton candy, and a bounce house.
This year’s summer camp will feature seven camp experiences to include IncrediWorld, a free Vacation Bible school program; Wayside Kidz Camp’s (kindergarten to 8th grade) and Wayside Child Development Preschool Camp (infants to 4 K); South Florida Youth Symphony’s Music Camp; Kidshine Performing Arts Camp; Vision2Hear’s George Camp, and Benny Fragela’s Basketball Camp.
In addition, free child I.D. cards will be made for anyone interested.
Call the church at 305-595-6550, ext. 119, for more information. Or, go to www.waysidemiami.org/camp.
Flea market
Cutler Ridge United Methodist Church at 20740 Old Cutler Rd. will have an indoor Flea Market from 8 a.m. to noon Friday and from 8
a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, in the Fellowship Center at the church.
Early morning coffee and a hot dog lunch will be available both days.
Call 305-235-6651 or 305-235-0561 for more information.
Concert
Soprano Ester Brewda will perform a concert of "Songs through the Centuries," at 3 p.m. Sunday at Arts at St. Johns at St. John’s on the Lake , 4760 Pine Tree Dr. in Miami Beach. Brewda will be accompanied by pianist Junko Kainosho.
Tickets are $20 at the door, $15 for seniors and $5 for students with I.D. For more information call the church at 786-309-1275.