Honoring
Mr. Mark Baranek
Mark Baranek was born in Toronto, Canada and attended the Associated Hebrew Day School of Toronto followed by the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto. He completed his undergraduate work in International Relations at York University in Toronto. Later, he achieved his Master’s Degree in the Horenstein Program from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.
In 1983, Mark launched his career as Assistant Director of Education at Temple Emanu-El. He then spent eight years as Director of Education at Temple Samu-El or Olom in Kendall. In 1997, Mark came to Temple Beth Sholom as the Director of Education and Youth; encompassing education programs from “birth to college.”
Mark has been active in the community for many years. He is currently the Chair of JPRO , the Jewish Professionals of Miami. He has been a member of the Coalition on Advancement of Jewish Education since 1988 and was on the national board for two years as the Southern Regional Representative. He is a member of the National Association of Temple Educators, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Council of Education Directors and Hebrew Educators Alliance. Mark holds a permanent principal’s license from JESNA and a continuing Hebrew teacher’s license from the Miami Board of License. He continues to grow professionally by attending conferences both locally and nationally.
Mark has visited Israel 41 times and has chaperoned numerous teen and adult groups. He lived in Israel in Jerusalem and on Kibbutz Tel-Yitzchak. Mark served 20 times as a bus captain on the March of the Living, a two-week journey to Poland and Israel.
Mark has been a volunteer basketball coach at Miami Senior High School since 1988. His teams have won eight state championships during that time. Numerous players have gone on to play at the college level and even the NBA including Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat.
Dr. Gershon & Mrs. Miriam Fink
Gershon and Miriam Fink are the proud recipients of the Rofeh Award. They founded Mellow Kids IV Sedation for Pediatric Dentistry with the mission to provide “safe, calm, and comfortable” sedation for pediatric dentistry. They are passionate about creating a calm and comfortable experience for kids and their caregivers, and are leaders in providing office based anesthesia services to children.
In addition to his considerable professional and family obligations, Gershon volunteers to arrange community medical education programs, strongly believing that this education saves lives. He works with the Miami Beach Emergency Medical Services and the Emergency Operations Center to provide the community with disaster management classes. Gershon teaches the life saving American College of Surgery “Stop The Bleed” program to physicians, dentists and non-medical community members, educating and coordinated training for over 80 individuals from institutions including Shaarei Bina, Yeshiva Elementary School, Mechina, Scheck Hillel Community School, Lubavich Educational Center, Beth Israel Synagogue, Temple Moses, Miami Beach Kollel, Hebrew Academy and the Jewish Learning Center. Gershon organized an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) program at the JLC for community members who want to learn how to help during emergency situations. Gershon set up a pre-hospital trauma life support class for community medical professionals and the EOC staff. He works with the Miami Beach Emergency Operations Center to provide the community with life-saving classes such as CPR/Defibrillator training and the FEMA CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program. He has trained medical professionals, educators, security, administration, and parents, with many of these courses open to the entire Miami Beach community.
Gershon and Miriam grew up in Toronto, surrounded by positive role models in community leadership, activism, and philanthropy. Gershon’s mother and step-father Ester and Marty Collins are life long givers and doers in their community. Ester received the Rofeh Award from Bikur Cholim in Toronto. Gershon’s father, Rav Menachem Fink, A”H, was the Rabbi of The Hague. He was a very kind and giving person. Miriam’s parents, Harry and Shirley Marder, are pillars of their community in Toronto, taking on active leadership roles in their service and philanthropy.
Inspired by the generations before them, Gershon and Miriam's wonderful children are already engaged in the family passion for community chessed. Atara, 23, is the Director of Concierge Services at The Encore Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Atara explains that her “parents give to the community in so many ways, but always quietly and with a smile,” and that while her parents are dedicated to serving the community, their first priority is always family. “They make us feel like we are the only ones in the world and whatever we do is golden.” Sara, 21, is a university student pursuing a dual degree in liberal arts and Judaics. Sara lovingly describes her parents as “heroes of the community” whose “lives revolve around helping everyone around them.” Menachem, 18, is a student in an EMT program that was actually set up by his parents, and he is proud to continue the family interest in medicine. He is committed to sharing his knowledge and recently taught a class with staff from the Emergency Operations Center. Yehudit, 17, is a high school student at Shaarei Bina, where she runs the student government as head of student activities. Eitan, 13, is a middle school student at Scheck Hillel, where he pursues his love of Judaism and opportunities for creativity. Talia, 8, is a lower school student at Scheck Hillel and Oryah, 5, attends Temple Moses Montessori. And finally, Rori, a Goldendoodle, is the family’s loving and loved pet. Quite a household!
The Fink children have already taken on leadership roles in Chai Lifeline and other volunteer programs. Inspired to follow in their parents’ considerable footsteps, they hope to continue the tradition of their parents and grandparents whose lives are steeped in community service.
Mr. Harold W. Foster
Harold W. Foster is one of the most respected community activists in Miami Beach & Miami Dade County. Thanks to Harold many individuals and organizations have been able to understand and navigate our political communities. Harold is responsible for bringing together citizens and public servants from across all ethnic, racial & religious spectrums.
Indeed, Harold has proven to be an advocates for the Greater Miami Dade Jewish community. In 2015 Harold ensured funding for the Jewish elderly community and other minorities He also has assisted students thru the Step Up funding, allowing those parents to choose parochial education. Harold also supports individuals with special needs to have better funding options for their programs.
Indeed, Harold has proven to be an advocates for the Greater Miami Dade Jewish community. In 2015 Harold ensured funding for the Jewish elderly community and other minorities He also has assisted students thru the Step Up funding, allowing those parents to choose parochial education. Harold also supports individuals with special needs to have better funding options for their programs.
Harold has assisted interested and qualified individuals in navigating the process to apply for appointments to some important community boards and committees.
Harold is involved and devoted to issues and concerns of those including but not limited to children, minorities, the elderly, handicapped and those with chronic illness. Always humble, over the past decade Harold has been honored with awards from Yehudi, a Jewish outreach program, Yeshiva of Miami where, as Board Chair, he played an instrumental role in assisting to found a new all boys’ school. In 2006 Rofeh International, founded in Boston by Rabbi Levi Horrowitzt honored Harold for his work in matching patients with Doctors, and helping to secure funding. Despite Harold's busy schedule he always has time and passion to serve as a board member & guidance counselor for Talmudic University. In 2005, he initiated introductions that lead to the purchase and move to the Universities current location.
A native of Miami Beach, Harold is a passionate follower of all South Florida's Professional and College Sports teams. Harold completed his double bachelor degree, Political Science & History at Curry College in Milton Massachusetts. Shortly after, Harold earned a Masters of Fine Arts Degree in Film Producing & Marketing from University of Miami School of communications. Harold currently works as a senior staff member to the Honorable Judge Vivianne Del Rio.
Harold is involved and devoted to issues and concerns of those including but not limited to children, minorities, the elderly, handicapped and those with chronic illness. Always humble, over the past decade Harold has been honored with awards from Yehudi, a Jewish outreach program, Yeshiva of Miami where, as Board Chair, he played an instrumental role in assisting to found a new all boys’ school. In 2006 Rofeh International, founded in Boston by Rabbi Levi Horrowitzt honored Harold for his work in matching patients with Doctors, and helping to secure funding. Despite Harold's busy schedule he always has time and passion to serve as a board member & guidance counselor for Talmudic University. In 2005, he initiated introductions that lead to the purchase and move to the Universities current location.
A native of Miami Beach, Harold is a passionate follower of all South Florida's Professional and College Sports teams. Harold completed his double bachelor degree, Political Science & History at Curry College in Milton Massachusetts. Shortly after, Harold earned a Masters of Fine Arts Degree in Film Producing & Marketing from University of Miami School of communications. Harold currently works as a senior staff member to the Honorable Judge Vivianne Del Rio.
State Senator Rene Garcia
State Senator Rene Garcia is the son of Cuban exiles, who was born and raised in the City of Hialeah. Senator Garcia is a Florida International University alumnus, obtaining his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and completed a master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Health Policy and Management
from the University of Miami.
He was first elected to the City of Hialeah Council in 1997. In 2000, Senator Garcia was elected to the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate in 2010. Throughout his years of public service, he has been a relentless advocate for children, elderly, the disabled and veterans, working tirelessly to ensure all Floridians have access to quality healthcare. As former Chair of the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee in the Florida Senate and Chair of Health Policy in the Florida House of Representatives, he’s gained a unique perspective and understanding of the interrelationship
of policy and appropriations.
He started his professional career working for CAC Care Plus (A Medicare HMO) as Director of Community Affairs, where he served as patient advocate for the health plans. Subsequently, after obtaining his MBA, he completed an Administrative Fellowship at Cedars Hospital. During his fellowship program, he gained the knowledge and experience about the management of the day-to-day operations of a major hospital with over four-hundred beds in South Florida. In his role, he worked collaboratively with Cedars’ medical staff and administrative personnel to ensure patients were receiving the highest quality of care and services. After completing his Fellowship at Cedars, he went on to work at Mercy Hospital as Senior Vice President of External Affairs, overseeing the hospital’s marketing and public relations department. Currently, he works as Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations at New Century Partnership, a firm he co-founded,
that specializes in healthcare services management, business development and compliance.
Senator Garcia has come full circle in his political and professional career, ending his tenure in the Florida Legislature, serving as Chair of the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee. Throughout his career, he’s been consistent with the same message, government should be the voice for the voiceless.
Mrs. Beth Landesman
Beth Landesman was born and raised in Miami Beach, Florida. Her parents, Artie and Sandy Spolter, have been pillars in the Miami Beach community for approximately 40 years. Beth and her husband, Mordy Landesman, met at Hebrew Academy of Miami and were married in 2011. Both of their daughters, Ashley and Hailey, currently attend their alma mater. Beth studied at Stern College and earned a bachelor’s degree in education. She then went on to attend Barry University and graduated with a master’s degree in special education.
In her childhood home, Beth witnessed ongoing chessed as a staple of life. Both her mother, Sandy, and grandfather, Arnold Meyer, were heavily involved in various chessed organizations within the Miami Beach community. Following in her family's footsteps, Beth has been active in Bikur Cholim of Miami Beach for the past three years. She also started MBShuls; an online email group sharing information, simchot, and events throughout the Jewish community. In addition, involved in many community organizations and is frequently requested to participate and assist in many of their endeavors. Her hope is that her children will emulate the same values of chessed that she embodies and will continue the family tradition of serving one's community.
Mrs. Pearl Shapiro
In 1969, we came to Miami Beach as emissaries of The Lubavitcher Rebbe to work with Rabbi Korf in The Lubavitch Yeshiva. In 1973, with the Rebbes blessings, I started my Nursing Education. In 1976, I started working as an RN at St.Francis Hospital. In the 1980's I took off a year from nursing and worked as Administrator for Rabbi Korf at Landau Yeshiva. I worked 19 years ICU and 2 days a week relief Supervisor.
43 years as a nurse of the Wound Care Center at Miami Heart and Mt Sinai. I retired from Mt Sinai in 2017. We are B"H blessed with six children, many grandchildren and one great grandson.