Book Review: Invisible Monuments: Tribute, Memory, and the Summoning of the Past
By Nils A. Shapiro It would be evident to anyone who browsed through the approximately 500 books in my home office library, or is a regular reader of the more than 200 review columns that have been published in this newspaper over the past 20 years, that history—and American history in particular—is of special interest […]
Film Review: The Sheep Detectives
By Nils A. Shapiro When my wife, Linda, and I decided to watch a new streaming on Amazon Prime, The Sheep Detectives, I had already decided that—despite the positive reception it had received from many critics—this was not the kind of film I would consider appropriate for my review column. A bunch of sheep getting […]
What Does a Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeon Do?
Whether you’re a competitive athlete, an active adult or someone who wants to stay active without pain, injuries and orthopedic conditions can affect your quality of life. That’s where sports medicine orthopedic surgeons play an important role. Dr. Gary Ackerman and Dr. John Randazzo, sports medicine orthopedic surgeons at Palm Beach Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic […]
Belonging Is the Difference
A year ago, on October 1, everything changed. We were told that The Pet Cottage would have to leave the property we had called home for five years. Suddenly, the future of our Sanctuary was uncertain. Then, in November, everything changed again. Our landlord reconsidered, and we were given an opportunity we hadn’t expected: we […]
Tampa General Offers Rare POPE Procedure, Relieving Patient’s Decades-long Swallowing Disorder
After nearly 60 years battling severe acid reflux and a rare swallowing disorder, Palm Beach County resident Phillip Epps is finally feeling relief, thanks to a breakthrough surgery at Tampa General Hospital. The per-oral plication of the esophagus, or POPE procedure, is a minimally invasive surgery that reshapes a stretched and sagging esophagus. “The POPE […]
Palm Beach County Leaders to Chair Major North American Jewish Leadership Conference
Susan Shulman Pertnoy and Ronnie Pertnoy, two prominent leaders of Palm Beach’s Jewish community, have been selected as co-chairs of the 2026 Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly, one of the largest and most influential gatherings of Jewish leadership in North America. Held November 8-10 in Washington, DC, the General Assembly (GA) brings […]
Turning Loss into Purpose
When a member of National Council of Jewish Women approached their executive board with an idea to promote bicycle safety, the board wanted to know more about the reason behind it. By the time Marsha Rickles finished her story, a community service project was born. “I am a mother first. Everything else in my […]
Temple Israel Welcomes Two New Hires
Iryssa Jackowitz Temple Israel, West Palm Beach’s only Reform synagogue and the first Jewish organization established in Palm Beach County, has named Iryssa Jackowitz as its new Director of Experiences & Engagement and Becky Saka as its Marketing Director. The appointments come during an exciting period of growth for Temple Israel, following its recent […]
The Safari that Found Us
A few weeks ago, my family and I spent some unforgettable time in Kruger National Park in South Africa. Like everyone else who visits, we were hoping to spot the Big Five. We certainly didn’t expect the safari to come to us. One morning we opened the curtains, and for a few magical hours […]
Rabbis Gather for 36th Annual Israel Bonds Seminar
Jewish community leaders from across Palm Beach County gathered last month at Temple Torat Emet in Boynton Beach for the 36th annual Israel Bonds Sermon Seminar, a longstanding tradition that helps local rabbis prepare for the High Holy Days and engage their congregations in conversations about Israel. Hosted in partnership with the Palm Beach […]