Highlights

THE VOLEN CENTER IS PROUD TO COLLABORATE WITH ITS PARTNERS ALPERT JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICES, RUTH RALES JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE, AND NEXT GENERATIONS.
Lunch is available, at no-cost, for seniors 60 and over. Reservations are required for lunch. Please call Jared Policano at 561-395-8920, ext. 272 or 283 any day before noon , but no later than 1 day in advance by noon. A Kosher lunch will be served at 12:00 p.m.
All programs are being held at
The Volen Center
1515 W Palmetto Park Road
Boca Raton, Florida 33486

For no-cost transportation to The Volen Center,
please call 561-395-8920, ext. 228, 229, 283, or 272

For program information, please contact:
Jared Policano, The Volen Center,
561-395-8920, ext. 272
Eva Weiss, Alpert Jewish Family & Children’s Service,
561-684-1991
Laurie Intondi, Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service,
561-852-3333

Some programs extend beyond the regular time of Eat and Schmooze. If you want to stay for these programs and need transportation, please inform us of that when you reserve transportation.

On Thursday, August 20, 2009, the Center in collaboration with Ruth Rales Jewish Family Services and Alpert Jewish Family and Children’s Service debuted “Eat & Schmooze -- A Holocaust Survivors Program.“ The kick-off event attracted over 240 survivors from the Palm Beach and Broward County area to spend the day meeting others who shared their war-time experiences and even reuniting with friends from their hometowns in Europe, from the camps they were held in during the war, and from immediate post-war processing locations.

Throughout the day, survivors strolled through the auditorium talking to other survivors and in some cases reuniting with old friends that they have not seen in years, sometimes over 60 years since before they were taken from their homes. Photographs, maps, and the names of villages throughout Europe covered one wall of the Center’s auditorium. Participants shared their feelings about the scenes shown and even met people from their home towns or regions as they located their former homes on the maps.

One of the survivors told staff members that she had reunited with an old school friend that she had not seen in over 60 years. She mentioned that for years, she had gone to events that have been held commemorating the Holocaust and had never found anyone who was from the same village. She expressed her gratitude to the Center having such a program, but mostly she was grateful because she felt that she had finally experienced some closure. This story, others like it, and the gratitude expressed by participants for the opportunity to reconnect with those who shared the unique and troubling experience of being a Holocaust survivor touched the hearts of many staff members, volunteers, and survivors.

Although there is no actual count of the number of Holocaust survivors who live in South Florida, local service agencies estimate approximately 12,000 call South Florida home. Anniversary events and limited programs touching on the shared experiences of survivors have been held in the area in the past, but such events have often been held in locations that were not readily accessible to survivors, many of whom no longer drive, and most events have been one-time-only efforts. The Eat & Schmooze program offers an exceptional opportunity to bring together Holocaust survivors and their families for several reasons.

First, it is being held in a central location easily accessible to people from all over South Florida – the Volen Center in Boca Raton, which is readily accessible from I-95. Parking is free and individuals in Palm Beach County will have access to transportation through the Volen Community Coach bus services.

Second, the program is a groundbreaking effort because it will be an ongoing program, meeting the first and third Thursdays of every month. Programs start at 10:00 am and continue to 2:30 pm.

Third, each day’s programming will include special lectures, live music, group discussions, and the opportunity to simply schmooze and dine with friends.

Fourth, the program is dynamic because it is based on the concept of offering a drop-In center. People can virtually come to the program at any time of the day and find friends to schmooze or play cards with, have group discussions, or simply relax.

Most participants in the first program mentioned they will come for the whole day. That means that they can enjoy a free continental breakfast, call ahead to reserve a no-cost delicious kosher lunch, and enjoy an afternoon of pure pleasure.

Highlights

Eat and Schomooze - "A Program for Holocaust Survivors"

Holocaust Survivors Program Launches at Center

New Classes and Programs

New Evening Programs

Support Groups