The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples broke ground Friday on a $10.5 million cultural center on the Temple Shalom campus at 4630 Pine Ridge Road in Naples. The 20,000-square-foot Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center is expected to open in January 2023 and serve children, families and seniors while supporting educational social, leisure, recreation and philanthropic programs of the federation.
An increase in the area’s Jewish population prompted the need for a central place to connect. The greater Naples Jewish community is estimated at more than 10,000. “The growth of the federation since incorporation in 1992 has brought us here,” said Jeffrey D. Feld, president and CEO of the federation. “We are seeing the culmination of five years of planning and dreaming and are moving to the exciting moment where the Jewish community and the rest of Southwest Florida will be able to experience and see our impact. We would not be here without the support of our donors and community.”
The fundraising effort supported by nearly 500 families reached $12.5 million of its $15 million goal. Part of the money raised is expected to fund a $4.5 endowment for operational expenses for the cultural center named in honor longtime Jewish community member Nina Iser, who died last year. A state-of-the-art security system endorsed by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office will be installed with incidents of antisemitism of the rise in the country over the last two years.
