THE LEGACY OF SAUL STERN
Memorial Tribute to Saul Stern
Isabel B. Price Ph.D
On March 30th of this year our Jewish community of Naples/Marco
Island lost a “mentsch,” our beloved Saul Stern, philanthropist, and staunch supporter of Israel and social justice.
Saul had learned firsthand about politics and social justice from childhood in a small New England town where his immigrant
father Ben was elected to the Maine legislature, pioneering old age pension and child labor laws, even before the New Deal.
Saul carried that heritage with him throughout his life and in Florida enriched our synagogue and community life by bringing
in outstanding scholars, educators, historians and public servants to educate us about government and politics.
Saul also generously served and supported
our Jewish Federation of Collier County and Israel Bonds and worked behind the scenes to advise and mentor upcoming community
leaders. With Rabbi Howard Greenstein, JCMI’s first Rabbi, and Ann Jacobson, Naples community leader, Saul helped establish
a Holocaust and Jewish Studies program at the Florida Gulf Coast University.
On January 21 and January 22, 2011, the Jewish
Congregation of Marco Island will pay tribute to Saul Stern with 2 programs. On Friday evening, January 21st at 8 PM, Erev Shabbat services will
honor Saul Stern’s memory with Stephen Stern, Saul’s son, delivering the sermon.
Saturday evening, January 22ND, 7 PM JCMI will host a panel/symposium
on issues that were of major importance to Saul, peace and security for Israel and the role of American Jews.
Title: The Legacy Of Saul Stern: Israel, Politics
and The American Jewish Community. PANEL PATICIPANTS: Jeffrey Colman, Deputy Legislative Director, American Israel Public
Affairs Committee (AIPAC); Ira Foreman, Chief Executive Officer of the National Jewish Democratic Council, and Stephen Stern,
Wana Initiative on Conflict and Cultural Dialogue. The public is cordially invited to attend and participate. There is NO
CHARGE for this event. Refreshments will be served.
