A Garden Grows

When she couldn’t find a nearby Hebrew school in Winter Garden, one local grandmother sprang into action.

Don’t underestimate the power of a Jewish grandma. Deborah Silberstein was committed to giving her grandchildren a Jewish education. Living in Winter Garden, though, she couldn’t find any convenient classes or schools.

“I asked around to my friends with Jewish children or grandchildren,” says Deborah, “and they all told me they made a long drive to different Jewish centers. I did not want that. I wanted Judaism right here in Winter Garden.”

Deborah contacted everyone and anyone she could think of in an effort to bring some Jewish life to the Winter Garden area, specifically in the form of Sunday school Hebrew classes. She placed ads in local newspapers and posted online searching for a location and teachers to establish a Hebrew school. Finally, one person responded. She had seen the ad online and wanted to help Deborah.

The young lady explained that she and her mother were Jewish and had previously taught Hebrew classes in a church. The pastor, they said, would be willing to allow Deborah’s new Hebrew classes to take place there, as well.

With a location secured, Deborah’s Winter Garden Hebrew School was ready to be born. All she needed now was a teacher.

She reached out to Rabbi Robert Lefkowitz of Congregation Beth Emeth, who got the school off the ground. But after a while, he was unable to continue. Fortunately, though, Rabbi Lefkowitz had a plan.

“Contact Chabad,” he said. “They’ll help.”

Deborah did just that and connected with Rabbi Yosef Konikov of Chabad in South Orlando.

“Right from the start, I was so comfortable with Rabbi Konikov,” says Deborah. “He was so warm, so kind. It was clear he had a love for every Jew, regardless of background or affiliation.”

Deborah explained the situation and asked if Rabbi Konikov would be able to help.

“I remember Deborah reaching out,” the rabbi says. “We already had a Hebrew school running on our side of town, but I knew we had to take this on.”

As the classes grew, Deborah and Rabbi Konikov knew they would eventually need a new and more permanent home for the school. That’s when Deborah had an idea: the clubhouse at her Winter Garden community, Stoneybrook West, would be perfect. Deborah worked with the clubhouse managers to book the space for a full year at a time.

Rabbi Konikov and his wife, Chani, initially taught the classes themselves. For our Jewish grandma, it was a dream come true. Deborah began with a small group of four students and now, three years later, she welcomes nearly two-dozen kids every Sunday and is so gratified to have the help of two new, dedicated teachers, Nechama Benjamin and Devorah Leah Hellinger.

The Judaism that Deborah brought to Winter Garden didn’t just stop with children’s lessons. For years, she had tried to convince Winter Garden leaders to feature Chanukah decorations in the city’s downtown holiday display. Thanks to the momentum of the Hebrew school, and with the help of Rabbi Konikov, she finally made it a reality.

In 2018, for the first time, Winter Garden hosted its own menorah lighting. The ceremony took place right in front of the Sheriff’s Office with more than 100 residents and supporters in attendance. Families munched on traditional potato latkes and sang the traditional Chanukah songs while watching the lighting of their very own menorah. The event was even bigger in 2019, and the Hebrew school helped establish another Jewish tradition in Winter Garden. Every year, before the class parts for the summer, they gather at the city’s historic Oakland Manor House for a special Shabbat dinner. Thirty-five students, parents, and teachers came last year to sing Shabbat songs; dine on challah, fish, and other delicious Shabbat foods; and enjoy the evening together.

It is clear to see, thanks to one dedicated Jewish grandmother, the Jewish community in Winter Garden will continue to grow and flourish for generations to come.

For more information about the Winter Garden Hebrew School, visit 

JewishOrlando.com/HebrewSchool or call 321-948-6921