Naples and Collier County
NAPLES AND COLLIER COUNTY
NAPLES AND COLLIER COUNTY , county in Florida, U.S. At the beginning of the 21st century, Naples and Collier County hosted perhaps the newest and fastest-growing Jewish community in Florida. This area on the southwest coast of Florida did not welcome Jews and there are none recorded there until the late 1950s. When Joseph and Helen Weinfeld drove into Naples, interested in purchasing real estate, they were told, "If you are Jewish, just keep going." Through persistence, by 1956, Joe Weinfeld was selling lots in Naples. The earliest known families to settle were the Freschels, Gilmans, Dinaburgs, and Luffs. These families with young children ventured to Naples and established businesses. The Freschels and Gilmans opened the Anchor Bar; the Dinaburgs made cement blocks; and Gabriel Luff was the first Jewish real estate person in town. There were no streetlights and no doctors and mosquitoes were a major challenge. A few years later the developer of Golden Gate and Golden Gate Estates employed some Jewish salesmen who added to the tiny community and there were enough Jews to have High Holiday services. In 1962 the Jewish Community Center of Collier County was founded with Garson Dinaburg as the lay leader and Leo Spiegel as the volunteer cantor. Three years later a board of directors was established. Services were held in various venues around town and the family of builder Sam Chudnow donated a Torah in 1965 when he had to say kaddish. In 1966 the State of Florida issued a charter, signed by president Garson Dinaburg, secretary Gabriel Luff and vice president/treasurer William Freschel. By 1970 retirees helped increase their numbers along with younger professionals and retailers with families. Judy Dinaburg married Charles Wallowitz in the first Jewish wedding and their daughter, Jennifer Relkin, was the community's first baby naming. Joseph Weinfeld started a religious school in 1972 with eight children. By 1973 there was a bar mitzvah and congregation president Joseph Weinfeld and lay leader Garson Dinaburg led efforts to secure from Collier Development Corporation about two acres of land on Pine Ridge Road for $15,000. Led by Rabbi Simon Friedman of Cape Coral, 57 member families participated in the dedication of the new synagogue on April 31, 1975. The first paid rabbi was Abraham Shusterman of Baltimore, who came in 1977. An educational and social wing was added in 1980 and the name of the reform congregation was changed to Temple Shalom that year. Rabbis Mark Golub, Alan Tuffs, and Seth Philips each served the congregation for three years. Recognizing the need for expanded space in 1988, young congregation members purchased another piece of property on Pine Ridge Road, close to State Road 951. A new synagogue was dedicated in 1991 with a membership of 375 families. In 2005 there were 713 member families of this pioneer congregation. Rabbi James Perman became spiritual leader in 1993 and Rabbi Daniel Sherman joined him as assistant in 1999.
As of 2005 the Jewish population of about 6,000 (not including snowbirds), mostly from the Midwest and lately also from the New England area, was distributed all over the county from Marco Island north through Naples and into Bonita Springs and Estero. With an annual growth rate of about 15%, there are many young families, a gap in the 50-somethings and then early retirees. A high percentage of the Jews are affiliated; about 50% belong to a congregation. There are three Reform congregations (Temple Shalom of Naples, Jewish Congregation of Marco Island, and Naples Jewish Center), a Conservative (Ma'ayan Congregation), and a Chabad with their various havurot, Sisterhoods, and Men's Clubs. Jewish organizations are vibrant and diverse: Jewish Family Services, Naples Friends of armdi (Magen David Adom); Hadassah, National Council of Jewish Women; Brandeis; ort, Israel Bonds, Jewish War Veterans, Southern Florida Holocaust Museum, and even a Yiddish Club. Monies have been raised for the United Jewish Appeal since about 1980. The Jewish Federation of Collier County raised $660,000 in 2004. The Federation, which counts 30% of the households as contributors, publishes Federation Star monthly with community news.
[Marcia Jo Zerivitz (2nd ed.)]