At the March 3 topping-off ceremony of Sinai Residences, U.S. and Israeli flags
were hoisted (along with a palm tree) to the roof by crane.
Photo provided
By Tim Pallesen
Sinai Residences, touted as “the most luxurious continuing care community in the country,” has already sold out before its opening late this year on the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County campus in Boca Raton.
Seniors who average 82 years old have paid between $410,000 and $1 million for 237 luxury apartments. Their heirs will receive up to 95 percent of their home’s value.
They also pay $4,000 a month for a lifetime of care. In addition to the 237 units for independent living, the $250 million complex will have 48 assisted-living units, 60 skilled nursing suites and 24 suites for Alzheimer’s patients.
The 450 residents will experience what the Jewish Federation calls “the highest standard of engaged senior living and a wealth of luxury services.” The complex includes a fitness center, swimming pool, four restaurants and a chapel.
Rabbi David Englander of B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton gave the blessing at a March 3 topping-off ceremony for construction, which began last year.
“The creation of Sinai Residences not only serves the need of the growing senior population of South Florida seeking out a safe, luxury and educational environment to live, but it also helps the federation generate revenue to enhance the vital human services we support,” Jewish Federation chief operating officer Melvyn Lowell said.
Sinai Residences will occupy half of a 50-acre parcel that has been vacant since the Jewish Federation opened its campus in 1991.
***
Earth Festival has become a major annual community event, presented by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Boca Raton on April 18-19.
“We want people to have fun and be hopeful,” co-chair Jan Booher says of the event to teach good stewardship of the planet.
More than 2,500 attended Earth Festival’s inaugural year. Organizers hope to double the attendance this year.
The event at 2601 St. Andrews Blvd. features live music, food and information about all the little ways to save the planet.
“We really feel that we must adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. It’s a threat to human beings if we don’t,” Booher said.
Children’s activities include solar cooking, gardening and recycled crafts. Babies who switch to cloth diapers are counted for the Guinness Book of World Records.
Workshops cover subjects such as composting with worms, Everglades restoration and sustainable buildings. Cars using alternative fuels will be displayed along with other vendors of green products.
Florida Atlantic University professors Keren Bolter and Sandra Norman also will give the science and history to rising sea levels and talk about three Delray Beach neighborhoods at risk for flooding. Those workshops prepare participants to draw the rising high water line with chalk in two of the Delray neighborhoods on Earth Day on April 25.
Call 482-2001 or go to FloridaEarthFestival.org.
***
Local food caterers have joined Christians Reaching Out to Society Ministries for an exciting Raise Your Glass to End Hunger event at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old School Square on April 23.
The food pairings with wine and beer will be provided by Benvenuto, Caesar’s Famous Ribs, Whisked Away Catering, Marianne Gourmet Food and Ellie’s 50’s Diner.
Wines are from San Sebastian Winery of St. Augustine and Lakeridge Winery of Clermont. Beer is donated by Concrete Beach Brewery of Miami.
CROS Ministries operates the Caring Kitchen and a food pantry in Delray Beach.
Tickets for the 6-9 p.m. event are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Call 233-9009 or go tocrosministries.org/events.
***
More than 300 members of Congregation B’nai Israel celebrated Mitzvah Day by acts of human kindness to benefit 20 local charities.
Congregants made blankets to be distributed to local hospitals and cancer treatment by Blanket Buddies, baked cookies and made 500 sandwiches for the Caring Kitchen, wrote thank-you cards to Boca Raton firefighters, cleaned shoes for In Jacob’s Shoes, donated blood to One Blood and held a car wash to benefit Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.
The ambitious effort included gleaning 6,000 peppers and sorting food donations for the Palm Beach County Food Bank. More than 100 bags of clothing were sorted and donated to Jewish Family Services, and 100 Shabbat kits were made for Menorah House.
To top off Mitzvah Day, 75 congregation members ran or walked in the Stand Among Friends race at Florida Atlantic University, winning the award for the largest group participation.
***
Children prepared 20,000 meals for the poor this year on Super Sunday, the annual phone-a-thon where adult volunteers raise money for the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.
The nonperishable kosher meals were given to the Jacobson Family Food Pantry at Jewish Family Services to observe Good Deeds Day, an annual international event.
Tim Pallesen writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Reach him at tcpallesen@aol.com.
Comments