Palm Beach Society: Nature smiles on al fresco celebration of Fellowship's new season
Postcard-perfect Palm Beach skies sheltered the guests at the 'Welcome Back' reception of the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
The 2023-2024 season kickoff took place Nov. 1 in the gardens of the Society of the Four Arts.
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In addition to cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, the afternoon included remarks from Fellowship chairman John C. “Skip” Randolph, who thanked attendees for their presence.
"Each of you are here because you care," he said. "You care about the Fellowship and what it stands for … you care about our fellow humankind … you care not only about what is going on in this country, but in countries throughout the world.”
He added that “particularly, at this particular time, you care, and we all care deeply about” the terrorist attacks in the Middle East. “Hamas stands for hate, and hate cannot be tolerated.”
Randolph urged everyone to stand up and speak out against extremism, violence, and the alarming rise in antisemitism. “This is no time to remain silent,” he said.
In what has become a tradition the past few years, the event included the singing of "Let There Be Peace On Earth."
Suzanne Guinane, cantorial soloist at Temple Israel in West Palm Beach, led the group sing this year, accompanied by her guitar.
More than 100 people attended, including town of Palm Beach officials Danielle Moore, Maggie Zeidman, Ted Cooney, Lew Crampton, and Bobbie Lindsay; Fellowship board members David Thomas, Michael Ainslie, Chuck Hagy, Sylvia James, Richard Kleid, Bill Metzger, Jim Murphy, Heath Randolph, Ron Schram, Michael Small, and Debora Weinstein; as well as Linda and Skip Aldridge, Lou Ann Alsip, Estelle Blatt, Bill Bone, Traci and Keith Braun, Diane Buhler, Vera Chapman, Salvatore Cosentino, Maureen Conte, Alvin Fertel, Leslie and Stan Godoff, Arlette Gordon, Catherine and Robert Holt, Bobbi Horwich, Cynthia Kanai, Gail and Alan Levine, Patsy and Donald Mintmire, Sally O’Connor, Giselle Anna Parry, Carole and Dan Pichney, Percy Pyne, Cater Randolph, Roberta Rosenthal, Mary Lou Schwab, Jean Sharf, Sylvia and Donald Singer, Carmel Spamer, Sandra Thompson, Phyllis Verducci, Linda Wartow, and Tami Watkins.
Founded in 1993, the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews is dedicated to promoting fellowship, understanding, and respect among all religions and cultures; to bringing the community together through education, dialogue, and interaction; and to addressing issues rooted in intolerance, antisemitism, and unjust discrimination.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews hosts 'Welcome Back' event
