Michael Scheck
Michael Scheck Presented by The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
I like to begin each day by playing “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” on the piano. I am so thankful for the life that my wife, Raqui, and I have built together, based on a love of family and strong Jewish values. My parents, Henrietta and Samuel
Scheck, were my first role models. My mother was active in our synagogue and founded the Hadassah chapter in Woodmere, Long Island, where I grew up. My father, a strong Zionist, raised funds for the State of Israel and met with many of its top dignitaries. When I was about seven, I asked him why I didn’t get to meet anyone important. He answered my question by bringing Abba Eban, the great Israeli Statesman, to our house prior to one of their meetings. Fifty years later, Eban spoke at a North Dade Federation brunch and I had the honor of introducing him. My involvement with the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
has provided me with so many unique experiences and I am honored to be a past Chair of the Board. I had the privilege of being one of 10 Jewish leaders accompanying 10 of Miami’s top business and political leaders to Israel, which included former Florida Governor and US Senator Bob Graham. It was also through Federation, that I became involved in the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) as a Board member for 10 years.
These experiences were even more meaningful when sharing them with my children. I experienced Israel through the eyes of my sons, Jeffrey and Marty, on their first trip in 1978. My daughter Elise
and I brought 97 olim to Israel from the Republics of Georgia and Azerbaijan, including one passenger who was deathly ill. The poignancy and humanity was not lost on us; any Jew can come home to Israel, regardless of physical condition, under the Israeli Law of Return. My son Steven and I accompanied 160 Ethiopians from Addis Ababa to Israel. Like Moses leading his people to the promised land, it was a powerful moment watching him lead the group off the plane into Eretz Yisrael, as they kissed the ground and fulfilled a life long dream. Our family is extremely close. We worked together in our family business, Sweet Paper, which my parents built from the ground up. My children and their families live on the same cul-de-sac that we jokingly refer to as “Cul-de-Scheck.”
I am so proud that that my kids are putting their Jewish values into action by assuming leadership positions at a number of organizations including Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus, Federation, Michael-Ann Russell JCC and Scheck Hillel Community School (originally named Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day School, in memory of my father). Raqui and I were one of the founding families of Scheck Hillel and I served as President for 16 years. It is for this reason that we decided to leave a lasting legacy to these four organizations, to ensure future generations have the same opportunities we had, enjoying all the benefits of living in a vibrant Jewish community.
Temple Beth Am AND Rambam Day School
Presented by The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
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