The Dayton Jewish Observer, April 2018

Israeli chef to prepare community 70 celebration David Moss designsdinner Gracefor After Meals inIsrael comic@book form p. 22p. 3 April 2018 Nisan/Iyar 5778 Vol. 22, No. 8

Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton

The Miami Valley’s Jewish Monthly • Online at daytonjewishobserver.org Marshall Weiss

Israel @ 70

Dayton’s young

Olim

Day schools join walkouts

9

Startup generation talks opportunities and obstacles of life in the Jewish state NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID DELPHOS, OHIO PERMIT NO. 21

Students at Golda Och Academy in West Orange, N.J. lead memorial service and walkout March 14

Celebrate with Israeli Limonana cake

Address Service Requested

Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton 525 Versailles Drive Dayton, OH 45459

28

Lazer Mangel, 24, of Tel Aviv, works at a ‘startup for startups’ in Herzliya

DAYTON

Saluting Israel at 70 Members of Dayton’s Jewish community who attended the 2018 American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference, March 4-6 at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center were (L to R): Dr. David Novick, Devorah Schwartz, Jordan Vandersluis and Dr. Joel Vandersluis, and Julie and Dr. Rob Bloom. At the end of the conference, Julie Bloom and Dr. David Novick lobbied U.S. Rep. Mike Turner on continued financial assistance to Israel, opposition to Iranian aggression and nuclear ambitions, and to oppose boycotts of Israel.

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar of Events.......................21

Lifecycles.............................22

Family Education............................29

O p i n i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 3

Food...............................................28

Obituaries.............................30

Kvelling Corner............................22

Re l i g i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

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(Deuteronomy 8:8)

Celebrating Israel at 70

The Pavlofsky Families THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

DAYTON

Israeli chef to prepare dinner for Israel @ 70 celebration Chef Morris Zrihen, owner of The Breakfast Club restaurant at Moshav Shavei Zion in Israel, returns to Dayton to prepare dinner for the Jewish community’s Israel @ 70 celebration on Sunday, April 15 at the Boonshoft Center for Jewish Culture and Education in Centerville.

Zrihen last visited Dayton in 2015 to oversee the menu for the JCC’s first Women’s Seder; his visits are projects of Partnership2Gether, a program of Jewish Federations and the Jewish Agency for Israel to promote people-topeople relationships among Chef Morris Zrihen American Jews and Israelis. pita bread; Dayton and 11 other com• Special Pancakes with Fruit munities in the central United States are in Partnership2Geth- for dessert.

Helping Zrihen prepare the er with the Western Galilee.

Israeli dinner will be his kitchen Moshav Shavei Zion, the director and pastry chef at The site of Zrihen’s restaurant, is a Breakfast Club, Hadas Hay. cooperative community on the The JCC will also provide Mediterranean between Acco pita pizzas for children’s meals. and Nahariya in Israel’s north.

The Israel @ 70 celebration Zrihen’s menu for the dinruns from 4 to 6 p.m. and will ner, which begins at 5 p.m., feature a DJ and dance floor includes: • Shakshuka with pita bread; with Israeli pop music, Israeli dancing and singing, and a per• A “Bonfire Plate,” baked potatoes with crème fraîche, ar- formance by the Dayton Jewish Chorale. tichoke, whitefish, and capers; PJ Library will offer concur• Sania, cooked potatoes, cauliflower, eggplant, artichoke, rent activities for children as part of the celebration. and peppers with tahini and A highlight of the program herbs; will be an exhibit of the photog• Eggplant Carpaccio with raphy of Rudi Weissenstein, the avocado salsa, tomatoes, and The Adventures of

Bark Mitzvah Boy

Basel, Switzerland, 1897

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BMB c O 2018 Menachem

celebrated documentary photographer who captured the history of Israel and its people, primarily from the mid-1930s through the early 1970s.

Weissenstein was the official photographer of Israel’s Declaration of Independence ceremony on May 14, 1948, led

by Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. The Weissenstein photos will be on exhibit at area synagogues and Jewish community organizations following the Israel @ 70 celebration, and will then be available for purchase.

During the Israel @ 70 celebration, participants will be able to help synagogues and Jewish community organizations work on Israeli-themed mosaic art for display at their facilities, overseen by local mosaic artist Jessica McMillan.

Community organizations partnering on the Israel @ 70 event along with the JCC are Beth Abraham Synagogue, Beth Jacob Congregation, Chabad, the Dayton Jewish Chorale, Hadassah, Hillel Academy, Jewish War Veterans Post #587, Temple Beth Or, and Temple Israel.

Admission, which includes dinner, is $10 in advance, $15 at the door, free for those 18 and under. R.S.V.P. at jewishdayton. org or call 610-1555.

— Marshall Weiss

From the editor’s desk

After Dayton’s Fred Scheuer shared stories with me of his intelligence work for the Jewish Agency before and during Israel’s War of Independence (Page 27), I thought he might enjoy hearing about how Dayton helped in ‘48. “Did Marshall you know that Golda was in Dayton Weiss during the War of Independence?” I asked him. “Collecting money?” he replied. She was. Golda Meir, who would become Israel’s prime minister two decades later, raced across America to raise $100 million in cash for Israel by Aug. 1, 1948.

On June 8 at Dayton’s Biltmore Hotel, she received a $300,000 check from United Jewish Campaign Chair A.B. Saeks for the weeks-old Jewish state, fighting for its life against five Arab armies. Around that time, Scheuer was transmitting and receiving messages in Israel for the Jewish Agency. “We got a message from the United States, a transmission that Golda Meir collected, I think it was $4 million,” Scheuer said of one of her stops. “We had to transmit that to Jerusalem. Ben-Gurion of the Sachnut (Jewish Agency) wrote back, ‘Mistake. Have this confirmed.’ And the message was correct. The Sachnut in Jerusalem didn’t believe it.”

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Beth Abraham honors Women of Valor May 9 Editor and Publisher Marshall Weiss MWeiss@jfgd.net 937-853-0372

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Beth Abraham Synagogue will honor seven women for their efforts on behalf of the Jewish and general communities when it holds its annual Women of Valor luncheon, on Wednesday, May 9 at 11:30 a.m.

This year’s Women of Valor Melissa Sweeny honorees are Elaine Arnovitz, Stacy Emoff, Charlotte F. Golden, Carol Graff, Cherie Rosenstein, Patricia Saphire, and Melissa Sweeny.

The luncheon, a fundraiser for the Beth Abraham Synagogue Sisterhood, is open to the community. For reservations to the luncheon, call the synagogue office at 293-9520.

Arab-Israeli couple to discuss Middle East at Main Library Dalia and Dr. Jamal Assadi will lead a brown bag discussion, Perspectives on the Middle East, from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3 at the Main Library, 215 E. Third St., Dayton.

Jamal Assadi, a professor of English at The Teachers’ College of Sakhnin in northern Israel, and his wife, Dalia, a preschool teacher and mother of six, will talk about their lives in Israel, their views on the Middle East, their impressions of Dayton and America, and their lives as observant Muslims.

For a decade, Jamal Assadi has partnered with Dayton physician and author Dr. Martha Moody Jacobs and volunteers from across Ohio to coordinate an English summer Dr. Martha Moody Jacobs camp for students in (L) with Arab-Israeli and around the Arab- students from Deir alIsraeli village of Deir Assad visit Dayton in 2017 al-Assad. For seven years, the volunteers have brought students from the summer camp for a 12-day visit to Dayton, to learn about the region and life in America.

The brown bag lunch discussion is free and open to the public. For more information, go to daytonmetrolibrary.org or call 463-2665.

Observer Advisor Martin Gottlieb Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton David Pierce President Judy Abromowitz Immediate Past Pres.

Bruce Feldman President Elect Todd Bettman Officer Dr. Heath Gilbert Officer Beverly Louis Officer Mary Rita Weissman Officer Cathy Gardner CEO The Dayton Jewish Observer, Vol. 22, No. 8. The Dayton Jewish Observer is published monthly by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, a nonprofit corporation, 525 Versailles Dr., Dayton, OH 45459.

Views expressed by guest columnists, in readers’ letters and in reprinted opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Dayton Jewish Observer, The Dayton Jewish Observer Policy Committee, the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton or the underwriters of any columns. Acceptance of advertising neither endorses advertisers nor guarantees kashrut.

The Dayton Jewish Observer Mission Statement To support, strengthen and champion the Dayton Jewish community by providing a forum and resource for Jewish community interests.

Goals • To encourage affiliation, involvement and communication.

• To provide announcements, news, opinions and analysis of local, national and international activities and issues affecting Jews and the Jewish community.

• To build community across institutional, organizational and denominational lines.

• To advance causes important to the strength of our Jewish community including support of Federation agencies, its annual campaign, synagogue affiliation, Jewish education and participation in Jewish and general community affairs.

• To provide an historic record of Dayton Jewish life.

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

DAYTON Yom Hashoah Observance The Dayton Area Yom Hashoah Observance: A Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust, will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 8 at Beth Jacob Congregation, 7020 N. Main St., Harrison Township.

Dayton’s Dr. Felix Garfunkel will talk about his family’s turmoil when Dr. Felix Garfunkel the Soviets and then the Nazis occupied Romania beginning in 1940, and how he survived ghettos and concentration camps as a boy.

The observance will also honor the student winners of the annual Max May and Lydia May Memorial Holocaust Art and Writing Contest. Works from the contests will be on display beginning at 3 p.m.

The observance is sponsored by the Yom Hashoah Committee, a project of the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council and the Holocaust Committee. For more information, call Jodi Phares at the Jewish Federation, at 610-1555.

Israel Day of Learning at Temple Israel With the theme of Israel: Then and Now, Temple Israel will present its Israel Day of Learning on Sunday, April 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Programming for children and adults will explore historical and modern Israel with themes including interfaith work, integrity, wholeness, and striving for a better future.

Family sessions will feature hands-on learning, singing and dancing, and art. The program, which includes a light lunch, is free and open to the public.

Temple Israel is located at 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. R.S.V.P. to 496-0050.

Proud to join the community in celebrating Israel at 70

47

We join the community in celebration of the 70th year of a modern miracle -

Am Yisrael Chai.

The State of Israel.

Proud to stand with Israel at 70.

Temple Beth Or Jeans & Jewels fundraiser

Temple Beth Or will hold its Jeans & Jewels dinner dance at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 14.

The fundraiser will include live music, a silent auction, and a 50/50 raffle. Giving levels begin at $55. R.S.V.P. to 435-3400.

937-222-4625 Are you reading this? So is the entire Jewish community.

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

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THE WORLD

Celebrating Israel at 70!

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Why some Jews in Russia don’t think Putin’s comment about them was antisemitic

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By Cnaan Liphshiz, JTA When Boruch Gorin, a well-known rabbi in Moscow, traveled for the first time from Russia to the United States, a U.S. Customs officer asked him whether he was Russian.

“I said, ‘No, I’m not Russian — I’m Jewish,’” Gorin recalled 27 years after the exchange at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

The semantics behind the exchange, Gorin said, are the reason that local Jewish groups remained largely indifferent to a remark about Jews aired March 11 by Russian President Vladimir Putin that to foreign ears sounded antisemitic.

In the interview with NBC News, Putin said that Russians who allegedly interfered with the 2016 U.S. presidential election perhaps are “not even Russians,” adding “Maybe they’re Ukrainians, Tatars, Jews, just

Congratulations on 70 years.

PAGE 6

With his words, Putin is ”givwith Russian citizenship. Even that needs to be checked. May- ing new life to classic antisemitic stereotypes,” said Greenblatt, be they have dual citizenship. who also referenced the ProtoOr maybe a green card. Maybe it was the Americans who paid cols – an antisemitic forgery that was created in Russia in 1903. them for this work. How do Putin was slammed as well you know? I don’t know.” for allegedly The American suggesting that Jewish Commit- Russian Jews by Russian Jews tee on Twitter are not really said his remark and large do not Russians at all. was “eerily self-identify as Why single out reminiscent of ethnic Russians, ethnic minorithe Protocols ties, some asked of the Elders of traditionally on Twitter, unZion,” calling on less to suggest Putin to “clarify followers of his comments Eastern Orthodox that minorities, just like Ukraiat the earliest Christianity. nians, aren't opportunity.”

Russian?

Anti-Defamation The Russian Jewish Congress League CEO Jonathan Greenand the Euro-AsJewish Conblatt said that Putin “bizarrely has resorted to the blame game gress did not immediately reply to JTA’s request for comment on by pointing the finger at Jews Putin’s remark. Neither group and other minorities in his has criticized the Russian leader country.” for what he said.

According to Gorin, “What Putin said seems to have been lost in translation — twice.”

Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton is The first time, Gorin sugproud to be accredited by the gested, was when the NBC National Institute for Jewish Hospice interpreter used the term Russki in posing NBC’s question to Putin about Russians whom special counsel Robert Mueller has accused of manipulating the election.

That’s significant because in Russian, Russki does not mean a citizen of Russia (the word for that is Rossianin) but a person of Russian ethnicity.

And since Jewishness is widely recognized in Russia as an ethnicity as opposed to just 324 Wilmington Ave. Dayton a religion, Russian Jews are not 937.256.4490 really considered as ethnic Rus1.800.653.4490 sians, though they are certainly accepted as Russian citizens. www.hospiceofdayton.org Russian Jews by and large do THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

THE WORLD And Putin himself urged against expressions of antiseminot self-identify as ethnic Rustism, including by Putin’s party support for Moscow’s $50 sians, traditionally followers million Jewish Museum and of Eastern Orthodox Christian- and officials.

Tolerance Center, which opened Gorin recently called the ity. Indeed, doing so for many ousting of a Chabad rabbi from in 2012. And in April, Chabad Russian Jews would be akin Russia on vague security-relat- will open Russia's first Jewish to American Jews declaring university in Moscow. themselves White Anglo-Saxon ed allegations a “dark day in Many observers have linked the history of the Jews in RusProtestants.

Putin’s favorable policy to the sia.” And he likened a Russian But the adjective Russian deep impact that Jews have had court’s blacklisting of a rabbi’s in English does not have this book to Holocaust distortion in on Putin from his early childdistinction — that's why Gorin Lithuania. Gorin also criticized hood in St. Petersburg. had to be asked three of four In the building where he as “patently false” Putin’s astimes about his connection to sertion that Jews dominated the grew up, he was cared for as a Russia before he understood first communist government — boy by an elderly Jewish couple the subject was not about his a statement with serious conse- who lived next door from the ethnicity (a perfectly common and politically correct question quences in a country with bitter future KGB agent and Rusmemories of Soviet oppression. sian president's hard-working in Russia) but his citizenship. parents.

Gorin’s benign view of “Putin was asked about the After his mentor and judo Russian ethnicity, so he replied Putin’s remark is shared by the coach, Anatoly Rakhlin, died chief rabbi of Moscow, Pinchas about that,” Gorin said. “I in 2013, a visibly grief-stricken understand it can appear shock- Goldschmidt. He does not Putin attended the funeral and belong to Chabad and in the ing. I think what he meant to past has clashed with represen- ditched his security detail to say also is that the people who tatives of the Chasidic group in pensively walk a lonely mile interfered in the elections were around the corRussia. Goldmaybe part of the diaspora of Ultimately, ner. Putin even schmidt, too, former Russian citizens. That’s his late said the outcry why he named a few of the Putin was trying bought German teacher, largest groups, including Jews.” abroad over to distance Mina YuditskaPutin’s remark Ultimately, Putin was trying came down to to distance Russia from the Russia from the ya, an apartment in Tel Aviv. linguistics. intervention in U.S. elections But Gorin isn't "The question intervention in — not blame Jews for it, Gorin buying it, he posed to Putin suggested.

U.S. elections said. was most probAcross Eastern Europe, — not blame “A lot has ably whether this linguistic distinction has Russians (mean- Jews for it, Gorin been said of the plagued how officials’ statespecial love that ing Russian naments are perceived abroad — Putin suppostionals) meddled suggested. not least in Poland. edly has toward in the elections Amid rising diplomatic tenJews. I never believed it,” the and it was translated as Russsions with Israel over rhetoric rabbi said. “Putin is a politician, kis (ethnic Russians) meddled on the Holocaust, the Polish and the Jewish ethnic minority attorney general, Zbigniew Zio- in the elections,” Goldschmidt is just that.” said. “To which he answered, bro, said in January that “after Russia’s long history of anti‘It could have been ethnic Jews, Nazi Germany attacked, milsemitism is evidently behind Ukrainians, Tatars with Ruslions of people were murdered the indignation by some Jewish in occupied Poland, including 3 sian nationality.’ I think this is Americans over Putin’s remark. exactly what happened.” million Poles.”

Whereas other minorities, in- But some insist the current realThat seemed to be in reference to the 3 million non-Jewish cluding homosexuals and some ity is more complicated.

“Russia’s history of antiMuslims, have seen their rights Poles killed during World War semitism goes back centuries,” II, suggesting he didn’t consider significantly curtailed under the Washington, D.C.-based Putin, Jewish spiritual life is the 3 million Polish Jews who National Coalition Supporting experiencing a renaissance. were exterminated as Poles.

Eurasian Jewry said in its meaThe Russian judiciary But in reality, the word Jews sured statement about Putin’s cracked down on antisemitic in Polish is used to reference words. “It is unfortunate that intimidation that had gone primarily ethnicity, not nationPresident Putin, who has gone unchallenged under his predeality. out of his way to support the cessors.

Putin’s answer in the NBC Russian Jewish community, Local authorities have given interview was translated into back dozens of synagogues and resorted in this interview to English without the nuance buildings that have been confis- promoting old and offensive crucial to understanding it, said Gorin, who is a senior aide cated from Jewish communities. stereotypes.” to Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, the head of the Chabad movement in Russia.

Lazar and his Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia are often accused of supporting Putin unconditionally in Robert Abrams exchange for his regime’s seal of approval for Chabad, which • ODD JOBS • HANDYMAN has helped the group become • BASIC LANDSCAPING the dominant Jewish force in Russia.

• HAUL AWAY DEBRIS In reality, Lazar’s group • PAINTING • SNOW REMOVAL speaks out in harsh terms

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THE WORLD

Celebrating Israel at 70!

Jews agree Farrakhan is antisemitic.

After that, it gets complicated.

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By Ben Sales, JTA Both have unequivocally condemned Louis Farrakhan's antisemitism. Both say that fighting antisemitism is a necessary part of the broader struggle against bigotry and oppression.

Both seek to build alliances with other minority groups in that fight.

So an alliance would seem natural between the Anti-Defamation League, a legacy organization fighting antisemitism and bigotry, and IfNotNow, a relatively new grassroots group organizing young left-wing Jews.

But in its statement criticizing Farrakhan's bigotry, IfNotNow also slammed the ADL. The group rejected Farrakhan's bigotry and called on leaders of the Women's March, some of whom support Farrakhan, to do more to combat antisemitism. And it criticized the ADL at length for not focusing enough on farright antisemitism.

“It is unsettling to see how often the ADL and others criticize Black and Muslim activists and politicians for any association with Farrakhan,” the statement read. “That the ADL and other Jewish leaders undermining the Women’s March fail to understand that the true threat to our community today is the rise of white nationalism is a galling moral failure.”

The fire from IfNotNow toward the ADL is emblematic of a split in how Jewish groups across the spectrum are responding to antisemitism.

Left-wing activists say focusing on antisemitism in their camp is a distraction from rightwing antisemites who they say have received succor from President Donald Trump.

Jews on the right, meanwhile, say the biggest threat to Jewish interests is antisemitism and anti-Israelism on the left. They are using the renewed focus on Farrakhan to demand retribu-

tion for his former allies. low” because the group also Centrist groups are caught in spends significant time criticizthe middle. ing antisemitism on the left and In this case, all sides agree the movement to boycott Israel. that Farrakhan — who has Among other things, the ADL called Hitler “a very great man” offers resources on combating and Judaism a “gutter reli“anti-Jewish animus, anti-Ziongion” — is a repugnant bigot. ism and anti-Israel rhetoric” on But they disagree on what his campus. Activists in IfNotNow, antisemitism means and how to which identifies as progressive respond. and allies itself with the WomNonpartisan groups like the en's March, feel that right-wing ADL see Farrakhan’s discrimination is comments as a reamore dangerous beson to pay attention cause its purveyors to discrimination on see an ally in Trump, all sides. while focusing on “At a time when left-wing antisemiantisemitism indistism works to divide putably is on the minority groups. rise and our society IfNotNow was seems more difounded in 2014 vided, the inability to oppose Israel's of public figures to military operation in Louis Farrakhan denounce the words Gaza, and it puband leadership of Farrakhan is licly protests American Jewish a problem ,” ADL CEO Jonathan organizations for what it says is Greenblatt wrote in an essay complicity in Israel’s occupation condemning Farrakhan and of the West Bank. It has repeatleft-wing leaders who have edly protested the ADL on that praised him. “Not only for Jews, issue, including by staging a many of whom are and want to sit-in in the lobby of the ADL's continue to be active partners building. in the fight against hate in this “They’re blaming both sides country, but also for all those of the political spectrum for who believe in equal justice and antisemitism even though dignity for all.” they have different amounts of The ADL, despite IfNotNow’s power in this country,” Liebercharges, has focused its energy man told JTA. “One has both recently on fighting far-right chambers of Congress and the antisemitism, particularly in Oval Office, and the other is a the “alt-right” (and has been series of grassroots organizacriticized by some right-wing tions and individuals.” groups, like the Zionist OrganiIn a statement to JTA rezation of America, for doing so). sponding to the criticism, the It has released reports on the ADL said it “has exposed all “alt-right” and white suprematypes of hate and all forms of cists; opened a center in Silicon extremism. In these times, we Valley to combat cyberhate, and will continue to fight relentgathered a consortium of U.S. lessly against antisemitism mayors to fight hate. and bigotry regardless of the And Greenblatt has not been source.” shy about criticizing Trump for Yehuda Kurtzer, president of being too slow to criticize his The Shalom Hartman Institute antisemitic supporters. of North America, urged Jews to But Yonah Lieberman, a keep partisanship out of it when spokesman for IfNotNow, said identifying and condemning the ADL’s actions “ring holantisemitism.

“There is a different way forward, and it is the most difficult. It requires us to articulate as clearly as we can what constitutes antisemitic behavior and to be vigilant about naming it — and not just when it is Commercial HVAC & Refrigeration opportunistically convenient for advancing our own partisan Dayton, Ohio 45424 • (937) 604-2049 agendas,” he wrote in an essay Tim Crafton, Owner • storchvacr@gmail.com for The Times of Israel critical of progressives reluctant to call out Celebrating Israel at 70 Farrakhan.

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THE WORLD

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Golda Och Academy

powerful, and really moving,

By Josefin Dolsten, JTA especially at the end when Students at Jewish day people were singing together, schools offered prayers, lit I thought that was a really candles and demanded change great moment,” said eighth as part of a nationwide student grader Sarah Farbiarz, another walkout calling for gun reorganizer. form in the wake of February’s The school was supportive school shooting in Parkland, of the students, said the head Fla. of the school, Adam Shapiro.

Students around the coun“From a school perspective try walked out of class for 17 we supported the desire of the minutes at 10 a.m. March 14 to students to carry out this pro- At the Golda Och Academy in West pressure Congress to approve gram and make their powerful Orange, N.J., students organized a gun control legislation and to memorial service and walkout honor the lives of the 17 victims voices heard,” he told JTA in an email.

Brooklyn also held a prayer of the Feb. 14 shooting at MarEarlier this in March, Shapmemorial service. The service jorie Stoneman Douglas High iro led a group of 139 heads of honored all victims of gun vioSchool. The national walkouts Jewish day schools who signed lence in schools. Students gave came a week before the March an open letter voicing their sup- out note cards with the names for Our Lives, a protest orgaport for students organizing for of gun violence victims, lit a nized by Parkland students in gun reform after the Parkland yahrzeit candle, and prayed for which their peers from around the families of victims. the country planned to descend shooting.

Students at Hannah Senesh After the service, students on Washington D.C. to call for Community Day School in had the choice to stay inside, stricter gun control.

At Golda Och Academy, a Hannah Senesh Community Day School walk outside the school or walk together with teachers to Conservative Jewish day school Brooklyn Borough Hall, where in West Orange, N.J., students students from other schools organized a prayer memorial gathered. The majority of stuservice ahead of the walkout. dents took part, said Annette At the service, students Powers, the school’s director of and teachers spoke about the communications and marketParkland victims and lit a yahing. rzeit (memorial) candle. Each Powers said supporting the speaker was picked so that he walkout was “very much in or she shared some characline with our values.” teristics with the victim being “We’re a school that really talked about, such as being in promotes the idea of social acthe same grade or teaching the tion and not just talking about same subject. issues but taking action to make Afterward, the overwhelm- Students at the Hannah Senesh a difference,” she said. ing majority of students chose Community Day School in Brooklyn made signs for the walkout Continued on Page 30 to participate in a walkout, where they carried signs, made speeches and sang songs.

Theo Deitz-Green, an 11th grader and student council president, said he and other student organizers planned the event after learning about the Parkland shooting.

“There was a sense that yes it happened at a different school, but it could have just as easily happened at our school, we could have been the school experiencing that tragedy,” Deitz-Green said.

“As we saw the Parkland kids start to speak out, there was a sense that something about the aftermath of this shooting had to be different. It DAYTON CHAPTER OF HADASSAH was time not just for the coun937-275-0227 • P.O.Box 292815 try to change but for students to lead that change,” he added.

Dayton, OH 45429 “We worked really hard, Hadassahdayton@gmail.com so most of it seemed really

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THE WORLD

Bipartisanship returns to AIPAC conference

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

(L to R) U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon, and Israeli Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked applaud Vice President Mike Pence as he addresses the AIPAC policy conference in Washington, D.C., March 5

edly praised Trump’s recognition of

By Ben Sales, JTA WASHINGTON — A poll last year by Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and his the American Jewish Committee showed plans to move the U.S. Embassy there in May. They thanked him for standing that 77 percent of American Jews disapup to Iran and vowing to amend — or proved of President Donald Trump’s withdraw from — the Iran nuclear deal. job performance. American Jews had They applauded the administration’s voted 70 percent to 25 percent in favor standing up for Israel at the U.N. of Hillary Clinton over Trump. With the “Thanks to the president’s leadership, exception of the Orthodox, majorities the alliance between America and Israel of all the major Jewish denominations has never been stronger,” Pence said voted for Clinton.

So how did it feel for anti-Trump Jews to cheers. “America stands with Israel today, tomorrow and always.” to hear the president cheered again and Several conference participants again at this year’s annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Com- suggested that it was possible to compartmentalize — appreciating the mittee? president's actions on Israel while not “Difficult,” multiple conference parendorsing him in general. AIPAC is, ticipants told JTA. after all, a single“I think there's a Several conference issue lobby that does lot of tension,” said participants suggested not purport to speak Sherie Silverman of for the Jews or their Maryland. “People that it was possible broader agenda like myself who are to compartmentalize items, including civil ardent Zionists are rights, immigration, confused because — appreciating the women's rights, we love what Nikki president’s actions religious freedom Haley is doing, and and fighting antimoving the embassy on Israel while not semitism. Many who we love...but we were endorsing him in attend the conference disappointed with say the mere act of (Trump’s) character general. showing up is a stateand with many of his ment of support for Israel and partisan policies in general.” politics are for other settings.

The president did not appear at the “If I can make myself not look at AIPAC event here March 4-6, but his adanything else about him, then I think ministration was well represented and what he’s done for Israel is amazing,” his name was cheered often. Vice Presisaid Risa Kipnis, a conference delegate dent Mike Pence called him the most from Maryland. “I'm not quite there yet. pro-Israel president ever, to applause.

He’s just, he's crazy. I just think the way U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, got 12 standing ovations. Israeli Prime Minister he behaves and some of the things he Benjamin Netanyahu, in a well-received tweets and his past with women — I just don't have anything nice to say about speech, lauded Trump.

Speakers from both parties repeatContinued on Page 12 THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

J E W I S H

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Lior Raz is the lead actor and co-creator of the critically acclaimed Netflix drama series, FAUDA (Arabic for “chaos”). The series was created by Raz and Avi Issacharoff and is based on their real-life experiences serving in the Israeli Defense Force’s special forces unit.

The Israeli drama, which Netflix picked up in 2016, stars Raz as the commander of a mista’arvim, a commando unit trained to operate undercover in the Palestinian territories. FAUDA became one of Israeli television’s biggest hits when its first season premiered in 2015. The show won six Ophir Awards — the Israeli equivalent of the Emmys — including best drama in June.

JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

PAGE 11

THE WORLD

AIPAC

Continued from Page Ten him.”

Republican conference participants, meanwhile, were pleased with the reception for the president’s name. For some it was a confirmation that their party was the best home for pro-Israel Americans.

And even though a few had reservations about some of Trump’s conduct, they saw that as a small price to pay for a proIsrael administration.

“To me, he's a neighbor and New Yorker like I am,” said Stan Monsowitz, who lives in New York and winters in Boca Raton. “He's crazy like a lot of New Yorkers are, but he’s so pro-Israel and pro-U.S., I love what he's doing. If he kept his mouth shut and kept off Twitter, it would be a lot better.”

The participants also said they believed the applause was for policy, not the person. Jeremy Burton, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, also thought that those who were perceived as closer to Trump, like Pence, were given less applause.

“Some of it was for specific policies,” Burton said. “There are specific things this administration will do that are things we will appreciate. Look at the differing levels of applause. Nikki Haley got resounding and overwhelming ap-

plause, and maybe other people who are perceived as closer to him on a personal level got a little less.”

Throughout the conference, AIPAC emphasized the importance of both bipartisanship and attracting progressives to the pro-Israel movement. Left-wing speakers talked about Israel’s unions and diverse civil society.

Two years ago, the lobby’s policy conference spurred controversy when then-candidate Trump received heavy applause for cheering the end of Obama's term; AIPAC officials apologized the next day. This year, Democratic officials nearly abstained from criticizing Trump from the podium. And as usual, both Republican and Democratic officials talked about how partisanship should end when it comes to supporting Israel.

In that vein, some liberal participants said they had no problem with an event applauding high-ranking officials who take time to address the conference, regardless of party. Cole Bloomfield, a college student from Oakland, Calif., said he had perceived AIPAC as right wing.

But he felt the conference did a good job respecting Trump while still appealing to people across the political spectrum.

“I wouldn't have voted for Trump, but I still respect that he’s the president,” Bloomfield said. “I respect that Mike Pence is the vice president. It’s important to be respectful and cordial if you want any sort of bipartisanship to work.”

New study for cancer risk in Ashkenazi Jews aims to be model for genetic testing

By Josefin Dolsten, JTA A new study will provide free testing for three mutations that substantially increase the risk for developing breast, ovarian and prostate cancer among people with Eastern European Jewish ancestry. The BRCA Founder Outreach Study (BFOR), launched in March, will test 4,000 men and women in four U.S. cities — New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Boston — for mutations in the BRCA gene that are more common among those with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. Those who test positive for one of the mutations will receive genetic counseling to figure out next steps.

“We think it’s important because it will save lives,” said Dr. Kenneth Offit, who is serving on the study’s executive committee.

The BRCA gene is found in all humans, but mutations can cause it to function improperly and increase the risk of developing certain cancers: breast and ovarian in women, breast and prostate in men. Those with Ashkenazi Jewish roots are 10 times more likely to have a BRCA mutation than the general popula-

tion, with one in 40 carrying a mutation in the gene. But the study’s goal extends beyond cancer or Ashkenazi Jews, said Offit, who serves as chief of the clinical genetics service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

“We think it’s a model for the future of genetic testing in health care,” he said.

What’s new about the way testing is conducted in the BFOR study, Offit said, is that patients sign up online and can choose to receive their results from their primary care provider. The testing will be free for participants, and the study is open to anyone over 25 years old who has health insurance and at least one grandparent with Ashkenazi heritage.

“This study is different because we’re making an effort to ensure that the testing is not done at a distance from your doctor. We’re really reaching out to have doctors involved,” Offit said.

In 1996, Offit discovered the most common BRCA gene mutation for Ashkenazi Jews, but he said the vast majority of people have not been tested for the mutation or the two others that are prevalent in the group.

A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

Sunday, April 15 @ 4–6PM Boonshoft CJCE (525 Versailles Dr., 45459)

Happy 70th birthday Israel!

Join in on the fun as we celebrate all things Israeli:

› DJ & dancing with Israeli pop music › Israeli dancing & singing › Authentic Israeli Cuisine catered by Chef Morris › A special performance by the Dayton Jewish from the Western Galilee Region Chorale › Community Mosaic Project › Activities for all ages! $10 in advance | $15 at the door. 18 and under are free. RSVP at jewishdayton.org or at 937-610-1555.

Have you been to Israel? Help us create a community slideshow by sending us your photos from your trip! Email your photos to jewishdayton@gmail.com by April 9.

In association with Beth Abraham Synagogue, Beth Jacob Congregation, Dayton Jewish Chorale, Hadassah, Hillel Academy of Greater Dayton, Jewish War Veterans, Temple Beth Or, and Temple Israel.

PAGE 12

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

OPINION

Why I led my Orthodox Jewish classmates on the national gun control walkout

affects law-abiding citizens. I respect memorializing victims, but I didn’t want to push for gun control.” achieving something positive shooting.

March 14 was organized by

By Jacob Miller The walkout inspired many At 9:50 a.m., the entire school out of this horrific tragedy,” said high school students and the I’m a sophomore at Ida English teacher Sheri Goldstein. students to continue their activWomen’s March Youth Empow- assembled in the gym, where Crown Jewish Academy, the er in response to the shooting at Bayli and I spoke for a few min- “The handouts with prayers on ism. Bayli Alter said, “I’m not largest Modern Orthodox high Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, utes about the Parkland tragedy one side and phone numbers on the kind of person who will sit school in the Chicagoland the other side represented what down and let other people do and gun control proposals.

Fla., in February. The 17-minarea. When I heard about the things for me: I like to stand up We hoped to provide context Ida Crown is about.” ute (to commemorate the 17 #ENOUGH national school for what I believe in. After havRabbi Matanky told me, “I victims) walkout was designed for the walkout by educating walkout, I immediately wonstudents about the national con- think one of the most important ing organized the walkout, I feel to demonstrate against gun dered how my school could things we can teach our students more empowered to do more.” versation about gun legislation violence and show support for participate.

Tova Oliff, a student who volis how to respond to injustice without forcing any political stricter gun legislation.

Our school motto is “Inspirunteered to help lead the proand how to channel their enerbeliefs.

As an Orthodox Jewish ing Bnei and Bnot (sons and gram, said that she and many We also stressed the memori- gies to make the world a better daughters of) Torah to thrive in school, our needs were a little al component of place. We are very proud of our of her friends had heard about different. We the modern world.” Here was the walkout, but had thought the demonstra- students who took the initianeeded to a chance to put that dictum — We tried hard to the school would be opposed to tive and used the opportunity tion. We then ensure the emphasizing that we students design programming invited students to remember those who were such programming. program was are meant to bring Jewish val“The walkout was a wake-up to join us in our murdered via traditional Jewish Jewish in char- that emphasized ues into the wider world — to call for the school to get inresponses and prayer.” walkout. acter, and we the test. bipartisan political volved,” she said. “I think many Olivia Friedman, a Bible Outside, we My friends and I followed the didn’t want to teacher at Ida Crown, added, “I people in the future at ICJA will handed out align ourselves activism and news reports about the Marthink it’s essential that students become more active.” sheets with Tewith the wider memorialized the jory Stoneman Douglas High Tova is intent on starting a hillim (Psalms), recognize that their religious Women’s March victims of the School shooting in horror, read political activism group in the identity and modern identity on one side movement, the biographies of victims with school next year to continue stushould be one and the same... and the names distress and discussed the event which has been shooting. dent involvement in activism.

The fact that students in our and contact criticized for, at length.

In the aftermath of the Parkschool feel strongly about the information for our local and among other things, its feeble We felt a burning rage about land shooting, student voices preservation of life, and are response to one of its co-chair’s national representatives on lax gun laws in the country. I are being heard and taken seriable to participate in a national the other. We read out names approached my classmate Bayli embrace of the Nation of Islam ously by politicians. It’s imporwalkout while integrating their of the Parkland victims, releader Louis Farrakhan, an Alter and together we decided tant for us as Jewish high school Jewish beliefs, is a testament to cited Tehillim and read short avowed antisemite. to speak with our school dean, students to stand with our peers this principle.” biographies of four of the Our student body also runs Rabbi Leonard Matanky, about and to advocate against hate Some students chose to sit people killed. Afterward, we the gamut of political opinion, how our school could get inand violence to ensure atrociin during the walkout. Junior from right to left, and we need- encouraged students to phone volved in the walkout. ties like Parkland never happen Ben Krohn explained, “I think Congress and urge their politied to ensure our walkout did Word about the walkout again. the left is using this tragedy cal representatives to support not offend or alienate anyone. spread quickly, and many as a platform to push for gun reasonable gun legislation.

We tried hard to design students approached me and “It was emotionally uplifting control, which I am not in favor Jacob Miller is a sophomore at Ida programming that emphasized volunteered to help plan the Crown Jewish Academy in Skokie, of. Criminals will get guns no bipartisan political activism and that students could gather for event.

Ill. matter what; gun control only memorialized the victims of the a common cause in the hope of The nationwide walkout on

The secrets of happiness (or unhappiness) revealed Israel ranks No. 11 out of 156 nations rated on the annual World Happiness Report, a testament to its internal spirit.

By Ben Cohen What makes us happy — or unhappy?

The 2018 edition of the World Happiness Report, published annually by a group of United Nations-linked development experts, asserts that a country’s happiness can be quantified based upon six variables.

These are: “levels of GDP, life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom and corruption.”

To determine how happy a nation is, data from the Gallup World Poll — in which respondents evaluate their life quality on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best) — are combined with these six variables to produce

a happiness ranking of the 156 countries where enough overall data is available.

This year’s report was released on March 14 at a launch event at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in the Vatican.

A subsequent event occurred on March 20, celebrating the International Day of Happiness at the United Nations.

Other than perhaps proving that the coldness of country’s climate does not determine its happiness level — in order, the happiness list is led by Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland — there is very little in these rankings that could not have been guessed with simple common sense.

The world’s happiest countries are almost exclusively democracies where the rule of law prevails, with free markets, a free press, and freedom of worship and conscience.

Among the generally happy countries above No. 30, those that spend more on social welfare are, by the measures used here, arguably a little happier than those that spend less.

Most significantly, the overwhelming majority of countries ranked below 100 in terms of their happiness levels overlap with those classified as either “not free” or “partly free” in the annual Freedom House global survey.

Israel is, according to the report, a deeply contented country, ranked at No. 11 in the world.

It ranks higher than fellow democracies, including the United States (No. 18), the United Kingdom (No. 19) and France (No. 23), and well above brash, self-satisfied Qatar (No. 32) and dangerously aggressive Russia (No. 59).

When Israel is compared with those countries facing broadly similar existential risks from rogue state neighbors and similar actors, it is striking that they — Japan (No. 54), South Korea (No. 57), Jordan (No. 90) — are considerably less happy.

So, what do you think?

Send your letters (350 words max., thanks) to The Dayton Jewish Observer • 525 Versailles Drive Dayton, OH 45459 • MWeiss@jfgd.net

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

That, in itself, is an extraordinary testament to Israel’s internal spirit.

Meanwhile, the Palestinians living under the rule of the Palestinian Authority rank at No. 104 — confirmation that while Palestinian life is generally unhappy, it’s not as miserable as some Palestinian advocates willfully make it out to be, even if you place the entire responsibility for the current Palestinian predicament on the shoulders of Israel.

For example, in terms of life expectancy at 73 years, residents of the Palestinian territories live eight years less than the average Israeli, but three to four years more than the average Syrian, Egyptian or Sudanese.

On the other hand, Palestinian GDP at $3,000 per capita Continued on next page

PAGE 13

OPINION

The modern plague of plastic pollution

By Masha Kisel Tikun olam, the notion that we have been tasked by God to repair the world, has rarely been associated with garbage.

Yet, from an environmental perspective, wastefulness is a destructive act. If we are to repair the world, we would do well to not destroy it in the first place.

The things we discard do not simply disappear. The 2008 Pixar film WALL-E speculates what the world will look like if we don’t change our modern habits — an Earth transformed into a desolate wasteland, barren of life, where one robot faces the impossible task of removing humanity’s mountains of trash.

If WALL-E were a Jewish human being, and his obsession with Barbra Streisand can suspend our disbelief, we would say that his daily work of fixing a hopelessly broken world follows in the tradition of tikun olam.

Our current situation is not yet the fictional dystopia of WALL-E. But considering the rate at which we throw things away, it may become a reality.

According to John Woodman, community program specialist with Montgomery County Environmental Services, “The average resident of Montgomery County produces an average of five pounds of waste each day, (and) 17.8 percent of that waste is plastic.”

The landfill will continue to grow and sprawl, as it is designed to prevent all trash (even food waste) from biodegrading.

Plastic, however, poses an additional threat, as it leaches chemicals into the soil. When a discarded piece of plastic is not contained in a landfill, it contaminates rivers, lakes, and oceans — and kills marine life.

When exposed to UV rays, plastic takes hundreds of years to break down into smaller pieces, but it never completely disappears.

Happiness Continued from previous page is at the lower end of the scale for the Middle East, though things aren’t much better on that score in Egypt, Algeria, Jordan and Iran, all of which are fullyfledged sovereign states.

Most notably, there are 52 other fully-fledged sovereign states whose populations are more unhappy than the Palestinians (data is not available for other stateless nations, like the Kurds, Tibetans and Sahrawis).

One of those countries happens to be South Africa, which comes in one place below the Palestinian territories, at No. 105. Anyone who has tracked the campaign to boycott the world’s 11thhappiest nation will notice the bitter irony here.

PAGE 14

Most plastic is not recycled How long does it take you to drink a Frappuccino? After a few minutes, you toss out the cup, the lid, and the straw in Starbucks’ reassuring recycling bin.

The problem, however, is that none of those plastics are actually recyclable in the state of Ohio or many other parts of the country. The paper cup for your hot coffee is lined with plastic too, so it cannot be recycled either.

Plastic markets are finicky and depend on the cost of fossil fuels, which have recently plummeted. It’s very cheap to make new plastic, and it’s very expensive to recycle it.

Currently, local haulers like Rumpke and Waste Management only accept plastics with a neck (bottles, jugs and jars), which means that all other items will go into the landfill.

Recycling is not the answer. Only about 9 percent of all plastics are actually recycled. China, the biggest importer of our plastic waste, will no longer accept our plastic recycling, which means that even more plastic will go to the landfill.

Who benefits from plastic production and who is harmed by it?

We are constructing mountains of trash, spewing tons of carbon into the atmosphere, and poisoning our food and water supply for throwaway items we don’t need.

During the last 10 years, we have produced more plastic than during the entire last century, and the amount of plastic produced will increase exponentially, according to EcoWatch.

Fossil fuel companies have invested $180 billion in plastic manufacturing to increase plastic production by 40 percent, even though it is detrimental to animal and human health.

Plastic pollution poses an existential

cerning about green-washed products like “compostable plastics,” which will only break down in an industrial composting facility that does not exist in our county.

Disposables hold a special attraction in Jewish life because they make it easier to observe kashrut, especially during Passover.

Recently, there has emerged an ecokashrut movement that asks Jews to consider the environmental impact of dietary practices.

If the laws of kashrut are intended to bring us closer to God by making our consumption of Divine creation more intentional, we should remain mindful of how new technologies might obstruct the sacred bond between humanity and Finding solutions by challenging the Earth. the culture of convenience Rabbi Arthur O. Waskow, a key leader Plastic pollution is a design choice. As we try to become better stewards of our of the Jewish Renewal movement, asks, fragile world, we are faced with the Go- “Is it eco-kosher to drink Kiddush wine from non-biodegradable cups?” liath of consumer convenience culture It is worthwhile to explore alternative that floods restaurants and supermarket materials that will be better for the earth shelves. and represent our Jewish values.

To reduce disposables requires a Tikun Olam requires us to think of cultural shift. Plastic manufacturers advertise their wares as the social norm solutions to new problems in a rapidly changing world. It is up to us to take and we are buying it, figuratively and reparative action as individuals and as literally. a community by refusing, reducing, and Changing social norms and habits require intentionality, patience, and a bit reusing even when it isn’t easy.

Let’s make bold and confident resisof courage to challenge the status quo. tance to mindless convenience integral But if our people feared non-conforto our Jewish practice, to our Jewish legmity, Judaism and Jewishness would acy. Let’s leave our children and grandhave long ago disappeared. children with a better world, where their As Jews, we have faced Goliaths before, and won. Even if we cannot change reparative efforts can be directed toward loftier goals than cleaning up the trash things overnight, we can repair our we left behind. world one choice at a time.

As individuals and as a community, we can choose reusable plates, cups, and Masha Kisel has founded two grass-roots cutlery for our daily meals and celebra- groups, Green Oakwood and Sustainable Dayton, to promote awareness, take action, tory gatherings. and connect people who want to make our We can compost rather than throw little corner of Ohio greener. food away. We can become more disthreat to marine life and to creatures on the coasts. If the thought of a dying sea turtle doesn’t move you, the thought of plastic fragments floating around your own intestines just might. A recent report from The Guardian found that human beings ingest plastic through seafood consumption.

Other studies have shown that we are drinking our plastic as microfibers, which are present in both tap and bottled water.

Plastics contain harmful chemicals that have been shown to disrupt endocrine functioning, and these particles can attract other toxins, posing additional threats to human health.

under $6,000, corruption among the Many of South Africa’s leaders and police and in many areas of the public key influencers have fronted the charge sector runs rampant, and more than half that Israel should be shunned as the reincarnation of apartheid, yet their own of the country has been denied the basic education that is essenpeople, almost 25 years tial for the maintenance after the end of white There are 52 of a free and flourishing minority rule, remain other fullysociety. more unhappy than the Despite, or maybe Palestinians with whom fledged sovereign because of, all this, South they proclaim solidarity. states whose Africa’s ruling party, the And yet, when you African National Conexamine the variables populations are gress, still trumpets the used by the happiness remore unhappy boycott of Israel as an port in the South African than the essential element of the context, it’s not hard to “politics of resistance” see why this is.

Palestinians. that has similarly blightAccording to the ed other countries sitting World Health Organization, the country’s AIDS crisis is one key well beneath the top 50, such as Lebanon (No. 88), Venezuela (No. 102), Iran reason why life expectancy is a shock(No. 106), and Zimbabwe (No. 144). ingly low 62 years.

The report also demonstrates that At the same time, GDP per capita is

those nations in which happiness is on the rise are places where life expectancy is increasing and a growing range of support (medical, psychological, financial) is available to the public.

For the Palestinians, it is instructive to see that the dial has barely moved on these fronts since the last global happiness survey was released.

Given that talks with Israel are not expected soon, the P.A., its key donor countries, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and other institutions purportedly involved with Palestinian welfare have plenty of time on their hands to ask themselves why that is and how their own policies are reinforcing the problem.

Ben Cohen writes a weekly column for JNS on Jewish affairs and Middle Eastern politics.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

Mazel Tov to Israel at 70.

3100 Far Hills Avenue x 937-298-0171 www.JAMESFREE.com THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

PAGE 15

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A Scottish man who taught his girlfriend’s dog to do the Nazi salute was found guilty of a hate crime.

Mark Meechan, 29, was convicted on March 20 in Airdrie Sheriff’s Court in Scotland and is out on bail until his sentencing in April, the London-based Jewish Chronicle reported.

He taught the pug, named Buddha, to respond with the Nazi salute when prompted by statements such as “Heil Hitler” and “gas This pug, Buddha, was trained to do a Nazi salute as a joke, his owner’s boyfriend said the Jews.” gize,” he said.

Meechan posted viding and raving about how cute Sheriff Derek O’Carroll said eos of the dog performing the and adorable her wee dog is, so trick on YouTube.

I thought I would turn him into March 20 that Meechan “knew The original video, posted in the least cute thing I could think that the material was offensive and knew why it was offensive.

September 2016 on his YouTube of, which is a Nazi,” he said. channel, Count Dankula, was Meechan later posted a video He would have known it was grossly offensive to many Jewviewed more than 2.8 million in which he apologized for the times before it was removed for original dog clips, saying it was ish people.”

O’Carroll said he took violating YouTube’s policy on a joke and that he has no such freedom of expression into hate speech. political leanings. consideration, “but the right Meechan said on the video “I am so sorry to the Jewish to freedom of expression also that he trained the dog to annoy community for any offense I comes with responsibility.” his girlfriend. have caused them. This was — JTA “My girlfriend is always rant- never my intention and I apolo-

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Highlights JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

At the JCC's annual fundraiser, A Night in Vegas, Celebrity Dealer Larry Hansgen celebrates Neil Kahn's Blackjack while David and Deb Char and Gina Kahn cheer him on.

PHOTO CREDIT: Peter Wine

Cantor Raizen leads residents of Friendship Village in song at one of two Purim celebrations put on

by Jewish Family Services.

PHOTO CREDIT: Shay Shenefelt

The inaugural Men’s Event was held at Top Golf in West Chester on Sunday, March 11.

Event co-chairs, Larry Klaben and Dan Sweeny kicked off the program attended by 50 men. The men enjoyed golfing after the program.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mendy Fedotowsky

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

PAGE 17

April events JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES SUN MON TUE WED THU 1 2 3 4 5

APRIL

FRI SAT 6 7

EVENTS & PROGRAMS

SUNDAY 8 JFGD Yom Hashoah Remembrance 4PM @ Beth Jacob Congregation (7020 N. Main St, 45415) We remember and honor the victims of the Holocaust as a community. The art and writing from the Max and Lydia May Memorial Holocaust Art and Writing Contest will be on display beginning at 3PM and following the program.

MONDAY 9 JFGD Peace by Piece: Art as a Catalyst for Social Justice 7–9PM @ The Dayton Art Institute (456 Belmonte Park North, 45405) Miri Golan, featured in The DAI's current special exhibit Above the Fold: New Expressions in Origami, takes part in a panel discussion about uniting through art. Ticket includes panel discussion, dessert reception, and admission to Above the Fold. $20/per person. RSVP by April 2.

SATURDAY 14

FRIDAY 20 JCC Book Club 10:30AM @ Temple Israel (130 Riverside Dr., 45402) A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra.

RSVP to Judy Schwartzman at 937-293-3348.

TUESDAY 24 ACTIVE ADULTS Dine Around 5:15PM @ Thai 9 (11 Brown St., 45402) Nosh on Thai 9 before enjoying the JCC Film Festival's showing of Bagels over Berlin at The Neon at 7:15PM. Cost is on your own.

RSVPs due at least 1 week before event.

Events with no price listed are free.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO RSVP (unless noted): 937-610-1555 www.jewishdayton.org

PAGE 18

WEDNESDAY 11

FRIDAY 13

WED 18

TUESDAY 17 JCC Film Festival Opening Night: Bye Bye Germany 7PM @ Cinemark at the Greene (4489 Glengarry Dr., 45440) See page 24 for the complete lineup and ticket information.

SATURDAY 21

WEDNESDAY 25

THURSDAY 12

MONDAY 16

SUNDAY 15 JCC Yom Ha'Atzmaut: A Community Celebration 4–6PM @ Boonshoft CJCE Happy 70th birthday Israel! Celebrate all things Israeli including a DJ & dancing with Israeli pop music, authentic Israeli cuisine catered by Chef Morris from the Western Galilee, a community mosaic project, and much more! $10 in advance/ $15 at the door; 18 and under free.

TUESDAY 17 YAD (AGES 21–35) Dinner and a Movie at the Greene 5:30PM @ EO Burgers (4482 Glengarry Drive @ The Greene) Dinner at EO Burgers at the Greene (dinner cost on your own) before Bye Bye Germany, the opening film of the JCC Jewish Film Festival at 7PM.

THURSDAY 19

TUESDAY 10

SUNDAY 22 JFS Lynda A. Cohen Yiddish Club 1:30PM @ Oakwood Starbucks (2424 Far Hills Ave, 45419) Topic: Yiddishe Mayses. Members will read and discuss some short tales and sing some songs.

THURSDAY 26

FRIDAY 27

CLASSES

SATURDAY 28

SUNDAY 29

MONDAY 23

MONDAY 30

SEE YOU IN MAY!

Zumba Tuesdays @ 6:15–7:15PM

$20/4 week session beginning April 10. $10/drop ins.

Instructor Shelly Joiner.

Krav Maga

Tuesdays @ 6:30–7:30PM

$50/4 week session beginning April 3. Become safer and more confident by learning real world survival tactics. Register directly with instructor Tim Tharp at www.israelisurvivaltraining.com/survival-classes.html THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

Announcements JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

Announcing Keynote Speaker LIOR RAZ LEAD ACTOR AND CO-CREATOR OF THE CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED NETFLIX DRAMA SERIES FAUDA

Lior Raz is the lead actor and co-creator of the critically acclaimed Netflix drama series, FAUDA (Arabic for “chaos”). The series was created by Raz and Avi Issacharoff and is based on their real-life experiences serving in the Israeli Defense Force’s special forces unit. The Israeli drama, which Netflix picked up in 2016, stars Raz as the commander of a mista’arvim, a commando unit trained to operate undercover in the Palestinian territories. FAUDA became one of Israeli television’s biggest hits when its first season premiered in 2015. The show won six Ophir Awards — the Israeli equivalent of the Emmys — including best drama in June.

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Legacies, Tributes, & Memorials FEDERATION

ANNUAL CAMPAIGN IN MEMORY OF › Gerald Caruso › Arthur Carne Donna and Marshall Weiss › Marlene Carne Elaine and Joe Bettman HOLOCAUST PROGRAMMING FUND IN HONOR OF › Speedy recovery of Gert Kahn Donna and Marshall Weiss › Renate Frydman receiving the Houk Award from The Dayton Art Institute Helene Gordon Elaine and Joe Bettman IN MEMORY OF › Marlene Carne Helene Gordon LINDA RUCHMAN MEMORIAL FUND IN MEMORY OF › Dr. Melvin Mayerson Judy and Marshall Ruchman

PJ LIBRARY FUND IN MEMORY OF › Marlene Carne Marcia and Ed Kress

THE TALA ARNOVITZ FUND IN MEMORY OF › Harold Raizen Cathy Gardner › David Katz Beverly Saeks and Family › Irma Wu Beverly Saeks DOROTHY B. MOYER YOUNG LEADERSHIP FUND IN MEMORY OF › Betty Jane Stone Marcia and Dick Moyer JFS

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES IN HONOR OF › New granddaughter of Marla and Dr. Stephen Harlan Bobbie and Jerry Kantor IN MEMORY OF › Arthur Carne › Marlene Carne Claire and Oscar Soifer

FOUNDATION

JCC

JEREMY BETTMAN B’NAI TZEDEK FUND IN HONOR OF › New twin grandchildren of Mary Rita and Norman Weissman Jean and Todd Bettman IN MEMORY OF › Steve Wargo › Dr. Melvin Mayerson › Marlene Carne Jean and Todd Bettman › Dr. Melvin Mayerson Elaine and Joe Bettman

JOAN & PETER WELLS AND REBECCA LINVILLE FAMILY, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH FUND IN MEMORY OF › Arthur Carne Joan and Peter Wells BBYO LEADERSHIP FUND IN MEMORY OF › Gerald Caruso Cathy Gardner CAROLE RABINOWITZ YOUTH JEWISH EXPERIENCE FUND IN HONOR OF › Bar Mitzvah of Ethan Watson Bernard Rabinowitz IN MEMORY OF › Steve Wargo › Fran Timmons › Melvin Mayerson Bernard Rabinowitz

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

SAMMY’S RAINBOW BRIDGE FUND IN MEMORY OF › “Hope Shane” Jean and Todd Bettman › “Lucy Feldman” Melissa and Tim Sweeny THE TEMPLE BETH OR ENDOWMENT FUND IN HONOR OF › Birth of Gracie Rose Hernandez, granddaughter of Mimi and Stuart Rose Cathy Gardner

PAGE 19

Upcoming events JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

Peace by Piece:

Art as a Catalyst for Social Justice

Monday, April 9, 7–9PM @ The Dayton Art Institute (456 Belmonte Park North, 45405) Miri Golan, featured in The Dayton Art Institute's newest exhibit Above the Fold: New Expressions in Origami, takes part in a panel discussion about the benefits and challenges of using art as a catalyst

HEROES OF THE HOLOCAUST

to unite people of different religious and cultural backgrounds. After the panel

discussion, enjoy a dessert reception and the Above the Fold exhibit. Peace by Piece is in partnership with The Dayton Art Institute.

With Keynote Speaker DR. FELIX GARFUNKEL, Holocaust Survivor

$20 per person. RSVP by April 2 at jewishdayton.org or by calling 937-610-1555.

This event is made possible through a grant from the World Religion Foundation.

JEWISH COMMUNITY Miri Golan, The Twisted Holy Scroll, 2014, vellum, silicone paper, paper, wood. Photo by Leonid Padrul-Kwitkowski, Eretz Israel Museum. Miri Golan. Photos courtesy of the artist.

Relations Council of Greater Dayton

JEWISH COMMUNITY

Relations Council

of Greater Dayton COMMUNITY PARTNERS:

JEWISH COMMUNITY

Relations Council of Greater Dayton

&

Active Adults SUNDAY, APRIL 8, @ 4PM BETH JACOB CONGREGATION 7020 N Main St, 45415

Sponsored by the Yom Hashoah Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton's Jewish Community Relations Council

The 2018 Max & Lydia May Memorial Holocaust Art & Writing Contest submissions will be on display 3–4PM and following the program in the social hall Sponsored by the Holocaust Education Committee.

PAGE 20

dine around

Tuesday, April 24 5:15PM @ Thai 9 (11 Brown St., 45402)

Eat dinner with friends before enjoying the JCC Film Festival's showing of Bagels over Berlin at The Neon at 7:15PM. RSVP by April 17 at jewishdayton.org or 937-610-1555. Cost is on your own.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Classes

Chabad Classes: Sundays, 8:15 a.m.: Deep Chassidus.

10:15 a.m.: Maimonides’ Mishnah Torah. Mondays & Wednesdays, 8 a.m.: Talmud Class. 8 p.m.: Torah Study (Call for location). Saturdays, 8 a.m.: Prepare for Prayer Class.

2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood.

643-0770.

Temple Israel Classes: Sun., April 8, 22, 29, noon: Jewish Literacy w. Rabbi BodneyHalasz. Tues., April 10, 17, 24, 5:30 p.m.: Musar. Wed., April 11, 18, 25, noon: Talmud w. Rabbi Sobo. Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.: Torah Study. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 4960050.

Tuesdays @ The J: 6:15-7:15 p.m.: Zumba. $20/4-week session beginning April 10. $10 to drop in. Instructor: Shelly Joiner. 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Krav Maga. $50/4-week session beginning April 3. Register w. instructor Tim Tharp at israelisurvivaltraining.com/ survival-classes.html.

Discussions

Perspectives on the Middle East: w. Dalia & Dr. Jamal Assadi. Tues., April 3, noon.

Main Library, 215 E. Third St., Dayton. For info., call 463-2665.

Temple Israel Ryterband Brunch Series: Sundays, 9:45 a.m. $7. April 8: Lela Klein, The Gem City Market. April 22: Franklin Lewis, The Jewish Comedians. April 29: Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz, From My Side of the Bima. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 496-0050.

Peace By Piece, Art As A Catalyst for Social Justice: w.

Israeli origami artist Miri Golan.

Mon., April 9, 7 p.m. Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N. $20 includes admission to exhibit & dessert reception. In partnership with JCRC. R.S.V.P. to Karen Steiger, 610-1555.

U.S. and Israel with Dr. Donna M. Schlagheck: prof. of poli sci, WSU. Sun., April 15, 10 a.m. At Temple Beth Or, 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 435-3400.

Young Adults

YAD Dinner & Movie: Tues., April 17, 5:30 p.m. Meet at EO Burgers at The Greene, then opening night of JCC Film Fest, Bye Bye Germany at Cinemark at The Greene, 7 p.m. Pay your own way. R.S.V.P. to Cheryl Carne at ccarne@jfgd.net.

Seniors

The Challenge of Meaningful Aging: w. Rabbi Richard Address, founder/dir. of Jewish

Sacred Aging. Tues., April 17, 7 p.m.: Who Is That Person in the Mirror? Spiritual Approaches to Sacred Aging. Wed., April 18, 7 p.m.: To Everything a Season: The Religious Challenge of End-of-Life Issues. Both talks at Temple Sholom, 2424 N. Limestone St., Springfield. For more info., call 937-399-1231 JCC Book Club: Fri., April 20, 10:30 a.m. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra. At Temple Israel, 130 Riverside, Dr., Dayton. R.S.V.P. to Judy Schwartzman, 2933348.

JFS Lynda A. Cohen Yiddish Club: Sun., April 22, 1:30 p.m. Starbucks, 2424 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. Topic, Yiddishe Meises. For info., call 610-1555.

JFS Active Adults Dine Around: Tues., April 24, 5:15 p.m. Thai 9, 11 Brown St., Dayton. Then JCC Film Fest screening of Bagels over Berlin at The Neon, 130 E. 5th St., Dayton. Pay your own way.

R.S.V.P. to 610-1555.

Performances

Anat Cohen Tenet: Wed., April 11, 7:30 p.m. Univ. of Dayton Kennedy Union Ballroom. $18.

229-2545 or go.udayton.edu/ artslive.

Human Race presents Brighton Beach Memoirs: April 5-22. Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St., Dayton. ticketcenterstage.com or 2283630.

Israel Then and Now Temple Israel Day of Learning: Sun., April 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. For children & adults. Includes light lunch. Free & open to public.

130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.

R.S.V.P. to 496-0050.

JCC Film Fest

For complete listings, see Page 24.

Israel at 70 Community Celebration: Sun., April 15, 4-6 p.m. Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville.

Dinner at 5 p.m. prepared by Israeli chef Morris Zhrihen. $10 in advance, $15 at door, 18 & under free. 610-1555.

Community Events

Dayton Area Yom Hashoah Observance: Sun., April 8. 3 p.m.: Student art & writing exhibit opens. 4 p.m.: Observance w. speaker Dr. Felix Garfunkel. Beth Jacob Congregation, 7020 N. Main St., Harrison Twp. For info., call Jodi Phares, 610-1555.

Beth Jacob Congregation Rabbi-In-Residence Weekend: Fri., April 20, 6:30 p.m. dinner ($18 in advance) followed by service at 7:45 p.m. Sat., April 21, 9:30 a.m. services & Kiddush honoring past leaders of rummage sale. 7020 N. Main St., Wash. Twp. 274-2149.

Temple Beth Or Jeans & Jewels: Sat., April 14, 7 p.m.

5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 435-3400.

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PAGE 21

KVELLING CORNER The Miami Valley School hosted a special breakfast on March 15 to honor Lois Unger, one of the school’s first teachers and administrators.

The League of Women Voters of the Greater Dayton Area honored Dayton Children’s Hospital President and CEO Debbie Feldman as one of

Rachel Haug Gilbert its 2018 Dangerous Dames of Dayton, at NCR Country Club.

Rick Fishman was named

Spring

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resident of the month for March at the Garden Court Nursing Center.

LIFECYCLES The Greenfields’ grandson, Alex Greenfield of Far Rockaway, N.Y., is showing his paintings at the Coconut Grove (Florida) Art Festival. He was interviewed by The Travel Channel for a show to be aired later this year. Alex and wife, Tammy, are the parents of the Greenfields’ first great-granddaughter, Esther. Chloe and Alex are the children of Dr. Dwynn Greenfield and Aimee Greenfield.

Hillel at Miami University in Oxford has hired Kathryn Friedman as its new director of Jewish student life.

The Rochester, N.Y. native received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from State University of New York and her master’s Kathryn Friedman Marc Lubitz, a student degree in school with the Boonshoft School counseling from of Medicine Class of 2018, Roberts Wesleyan College. had an article published in Last summer, she spent three the February issue of JAMA months as a social justice and Otolaryngology–Head & Neck diversity intern with a social Surgery, a peer-reviewed service agency in Haifa. academic journal for ENT surgeons. In the article, Marc Joan and Art Greenfield’s urges physicians to adopt granddaughter, Chloe the official 2011 name change Greenfield, is attending of a rare disease — from Victoria University in Wegener granulomatosis Melbourne, Australia this to granulomatosis with semester. She is a junior at polyangiitis — to avoid using Eastern Carolina University the name of the Nazi scientist and is an active supporter who discovered it. of Israel on campus. This semester overseas follows one Send your Kvelling items to month in Israel on Birthright and ZOA-sponsored trips. kvellingcorner@gmail.com.

Menachem Simon Menachem Simon will become a Bar Mitzvah on the seventh day of Pesach, Friday morning, April 6, at Chabad of Greater Dayton. Menachem is the oldest son of Rabbi Levi and Rochel Simon, and the brother of Chaya, Yoel, Shmuel, Moshe and Yisroel.

Proud grandparents are Rabbi Nachman and Clara Simon of Delmar, N.Y., and Rabbi Aharon and Esther Goldstein of Ann Arbor, Mich. Menachem is a Hillel Academy alumnus and currently attends Maimonides Hebrew Day School in Albany, N.Y. He enjoys baseball, golf, science, and technology.

Jeans & Jewels Encore!

Saturday, April 14, 2018 Seven in the Evening Temple Beth Or 5275 Marshall Road Dayton, Ohio 45429 Dinner & Dancing with Live Music Silent Auction & 50/50 Raffle Several Giving Levels Admission Includes One Free Drink

Visit templebethor.com for details.

Temple Beth Or 5275 Marshall Road Dayton, Ohio 45429 www.templebethor.com 937-435-3400 PAGE 22

Today...and for Generations THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

RELIGION

CONGREGATIONS Beth Abraham Synagogue Conservative Rabbi Joshua Ginsberg Cantor/Dir. of Ed. & Programming Andrea Raizen Monday through Friday 6:50 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Fri., 5:30 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m.

Sundays at 8:30 a.m. 305 Sugar Camp Circle, Oakwood. 293-9520.

BethAbrahamDayton.org Beth Jacob Congregation Traditional Rabbi In Residence Adam Rosenthal Saturdays 9:30 a.m., Sundays 8 a.m., Sunday through Friday, 7 p.m.

7020 N. Main St., Dayton. 274-2149.

BethJacobCong.org Temple Anshe Emeth Reform Rabbinic Intern Taylor Poslosky Friday, April 20, 7:30 p.m.

320 Caldwell St., Piqua.

Call Eileen Litchfield, 937-5470092, elitchfield@woh.rr.com.

Correspondence address: 3808 Beanblossom Rd., Greenville, OH 45331. ansheemeth.org Temple Beth Or Reform Rabbi Judy Chessin Educator/Rabbi Ari Ballaban Fridays 7 p.m.

Saturdays 10 a.m.

5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 435-3400. templebethor.com Temple Beth Sholom Reform Rabbi Haviva Horvitz See Web site for schedule.

610 Gladys Dr., Middletown.

513-422-8313. thetemplebethsholom.com Temple Israel Reform Senior Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz Rabbi/Educator Tina Sobo First Friday each month 6 p.m.

All other Fridays, 6:30 p.m.

Saturdays 10:30 a.m.

130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.

496-0050. tidayton.org Temple Sholom Reform Rabbi Cary Kozberg Fridays 6 p.m.

2424 N. Limestone St., Springfield. 399-1231. templesholomoh.com

ADDITIONAL SERVICES Chabad of Greater Dayton Rabbi Nochum Mangel Associate Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Youth & Prog. Dir. Rabbi Levi Simon. Beginner educational service Saturdays 9 a.m. adults, 10 a.m children. Sundays 9 a.m.

2001 Far Hills Ave. 643-0770. www.chabaddayton.com Yellow Springs Havurah Independent Services 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 10-noon. Antioch College Rockford Chapel. Contact Cheryl Levine, 937-767-9293.

Israel at 70: a nation of miracles and challenges not to be ignored

By Rabbi Yuval Cherlow It would be beyond exaggeration to say the founders of the state of Israel could never have foreseen the success that this nation has achieved in such a relatively short amount of time.

When David Ben-Gurion stood beneath the picture of Herzl and declared the modern day creation of a Jewish state in our ancient homeland, there were many who were skeptical of how long such a country could even last. While the modern Zionist movement had been

Perspectives in formation for decades and was built upon the desire to return to what has been at the heart of our spiritual existence for millennia, the pioneers of Israel faced incredible challenges.

We were a people composed primarily of immigrants, many of whom had just survived the fiercest campaign of evil seen by humanity in decades. Even more troubling, Israel was born into war. From the very moment we declared our independence, we were looking down the gun barrels of numerous enemies intent on our immediate destruction.

And yet, not only did we survive. We have thrived to become one of the world’s most accomplished economies, a land of military might, and agricultural and natural wonder.

And we have returned glory to Zion. Israel is once again the heart of Torah Judaism. A place where Talmudic scholarship and Jewish academic excellence spread from here to the four corners of the world.

For all this and so much more, our first response in celebrating this tremendous anniversary is to rise up in song

and praise of gratitude to the Sadly, as proud as we are Almighty. to be able to have Israel as Ben-Gurion, who was never our spiritual home, issues of described — nor would he have religiosity and observance described himself — as a relialso serve as a major source of gious man in any classical sense friction. Different perspectives was quoted as saying, on how Judaism keneskipa should be practiced “In Israel in order to be a realist you must and what models believe in miracles.” should govern that There is no divorcpractice within our ing our nation’s success state serve as evfrom our connection to eryday challenges. spirituality and thanks And we would be to the One Above. Both blind to ignore the our independence fact that many Jews and that remarkable have been alienscope of growth defy ated from tradition nature and are sources Rabbi Yuval Cherlow and halacha (Jewish of constant inspiration law) because of a and motivation to give thanks national unwillingness to presthrough prayer and strengthen- ent an open and welcoming ing of our commitment to God. approach to Jews of differing But as Jews, our second reac- levels of observance. tion must always be to recogWe must also recognize a nize that as great as things are, sense of missed opportunities there are many aspects of this when witnessing a noticeably nation that require very signifiexpanding schism between cant improvement and change.

Israel and the Diaspora. This Certainly we are not at peace is a particularly frustrating from a security standpoint and development because in many while admittedly the strucways we are dependent upon ture of what peace with our one another. The Diaspora benneighbors might be remains efits from the pride in Jewish elusive, we must recognize that values, strength, and innovathe inability for Jews to feel tion that come from Israel. And completely secure in our own we are similarly inspired by land is a failing that must be the solidarity that emanates remedied. from our Jewish brothers and Indeed, the social structure sisters all across the globe. We of our nation is also far from know the divisions derive from ideal. While Judaism is defined a multitude of sources — some by concepts of mutual respect practical and others ideological between all peoples, the reality — but overcoming them must is that we have not yet achieved be a primary focus of activity in social equality. In many walks the period ahead. of public and private life, lines Indeed, despite these many are drawn based on ethnicity challenges, we must continue and country of origin. Like all to believe that they are not too much of the Western world, insurmountable. we are also failing to address While we cannot be dethe gender gap in ways that pendent on miracles, we also ensure women an appropriate cannot ignore the fact that this voice in issues of cultural, pois the nation where they have litical, and religious concern. occurred in abundance.

GPO And as we celebrate this remarkable occasion of 70 years of independence of a Jewish state in our Jewish home, we must resolve to continue to strive toward continued accomplishment, all while expressing our constant praise and thanks to God for allowing it to happen.

Ben-Gurion reads Israel’s Declaration of Independence, May 14, 1948

Rabbi Yuval Cherlow is a founder of the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization and director of the Tzohar Center for Jewish Ethics in Lod, Israel.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

April

Nisan/Iyar

Candle Lightings Seventh Eve Pesach April 5: 7:47 p.m.

Shabbat, Eighth Eve Pesach April 6: 7:48 p.m.

Shabbat, April 13 7:55 p.m.

Shabbat, April 20 8:02 p.m.

Shabbat, April 27 8:09 p.m.

Pesach

Passover March 31-April 7 • 15-22 Nisan Eight-day festival celebrating the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Leavened bread products are not eaten.

Yom Hashoah

Holocaust Remembrance Day April 12/27 Nisan Marked by memorials for those who perished in the Holocaust.

Yom Hazikaron

Israel Memorial Day April 18/3 Iyar Memorial Day for all who died serving Israel. Concludes with a siren blast as stars appear and Independence Day begins.

Yom Ha’atzmaut

Israel Independence Day April 19/4 Iyar Celebrated by Jews around the world. Israel celebrates with parades, singing, dancing and fireworks.

Torah Portions April 14, Shemini (Lev. 9:1-11:47) April 21, Tazria-Metzora (Lev. 12:1-15:33) April 28: Acharei-Kedoshim (Lev. 16:1-20:27)

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Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz joined Temple Israel’s staff in 2003 and currently serves as the congregation’s first female Senior Rabbi. Rabbi Bodney-Halasz's grandmother knew Sonia personally, and she has fond memories of the furniture shop that she will share with us.

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ALAN FEINBERG

Born in Buffalo, New York in 1946, Alan Feinberg is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

His documentary Bagels Over Berlin is the result of a three year project from planning to completion wherein he focuses a spotlight on the Jewish Army Air Corps veterans who became American war heroes fighting for their county in World War II.

JIM LEVINSON

Jim Levinson is a native Daytonian who married Meredith Moss at Temple Israel.

After graduating from Brandeis University, he traveled to Africa and later served as a regional director of the Ohio Civil Rights commission. Jim later spent 26 years as a criminal prosecutor as well as 7 ½ years in private practice, which included the defense of civil rights complaints.

MARSHALL WEISS

Marshall Weiss is the founding editor and publisher of The Dayton Jewish Observer, which he began publishing for The Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton more than two decades ago. Marshall is the recipient of numerous first-place awards from AJPA and the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists. Marshall’s book, Jewish Community of Dayton, will be published this fall.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

Dayton’s young Olim With entrepreneurial energy, young adults talk about opportunities and obstacles of life in the Jewish state Story and Photos By Marshall Weiss The Observer

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person’s Unit as part of a team that managed the IDF’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blog, and YouTube.

“It gave me the opportunity to really travel,” Lazer says. “I think I slept on 17 different army bases. I’ve seen almost every part of the army. It was one of the few jobs in the army where as opposed to being dictated to, I’d say, ‘I want to do an article on this, and I think it’s going to be valuable because of X, Y, and Z,’ and then make a couple of phone calls and I was doing it.”

azer Mangel says Israel is the land of paradoxes.

“It’s both one of the happiest places in the world, it’s also one of the most tense. And it’s where people will have no issue yelling at you if they take issue with your behavior,” says the 24-year-old, who moved to Israel at age 19. “It’s the land of high tech and startups and business, and it’s also the place where people spend all day at coffee shops and strolling around the beach. It’s this land of peace and this land of war.”

Lazer, the son of Devorah and Rabbi Nochum Mangel of Chabad of Greater Dayton, is one of three didn’t have a really close relationship Tel Aviv-based Sara Klaben Avrahami, 30, freelances for a startup and is young Daytonians who have made Aliyah — immiwith Israel growing up,” Sara launching one of her own. She often works from cafés in her neighborhood.

Klaben Avrahami, 30, says at a café she grated to Israel — in recent years and have navigated friends. frequents in the center of Tel Aviv. “I had these paradoxes to ride Israel’s startup wave.

After a period of time to consider whether to live in a really strong connection to the Jewish community For these Olim (those who the United States or Israel, Sara decided to pursue a and being a Jewish American, I had come a few have made Aliyah), overcoming master’s degree in organizational development at the times as a kid. I came when I was 16 for a five-week obstacles and attaining success Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya college, an English program through NFTY. But I didn’t have a really have required them to build up language program. “I’ve been here ever since,” she strong connection.” their chutzpah (audacity) resays.

The daughter of Marilyn and Larry Klaben, Sara atserves to match that of Israelis: Sara chose to make Aliyah while she was in grad tended Vandalia-Butler High School. After she graduthe legendary quality that built school. Today, she freelances for a startup that proated from the University of Miami in Florida, Sara and defends the Jewish state to vides on-demand business services for clients around considered volunteering for six months in India or this day. the world. She’s also developing her own startup: an Israel. She chose Israel.

“I wasn’t intending to make Aliyah,” Lazer says. “I all-inclusive rent model that allows the client to pay “I did a volunteer program through Masa,” she was intending to go into the army and I came with rent on a monthly basis, with access to apartments in says. “I lived in South Tel Aviv. It was a very liberal $400 in my pocket, which is just not enough.” different cities. program. I taught English at a high school, I worked When Lazer ran out of money, that’s when he “We’re working on a pilot right now that’s going to decided to make Aliyah, since he was going to join the at a kindergarten with migrant workers’ children, and start in June with 20 members in five different cities: I worked with African refugees, helping them in variarmy anyway. As an Oleh (one who made Aliyah), he London, Tel Aviv, New York, Barcelona, and Berlin.” ous situations when they just arrived. was given a year until his draft. He needed a job.

It’s a project based on her own experiences; Sara “The whole concept was that you live not in the “I walked all the way down Jaffa Road in Jerusalem and her husband both work remotely and travel excenter of Tel Aviv where we are now, but you live in and walked into every restaurant and shop and I said, tensively. the epicenter of these situations, for example, where ‘Hey, do you need anyone to work?’”

“It wasn’t an easy decision for me,” she says of the migrant workers’ kids and the African refugees After working in a restaurant kitchen for about a Aliyah. “I felt really torn. Those first two years are the are.” year, he met the marketing director of Mayanot, an hardest. You don’t know anything, you don’t know the During that time, Sara says, she began to find operator of Birthright Israel’s free 10-day trips for language, you don’t know how to get anything done, herself.

American Jews ages 18-26. you don’t know the system.”

“I really appreciated the way of life, the pace.”

“I annoyed him for about four months, five months, With her Masa program completed, she did go to he gave me a job,” Lazer says. “I talked my way into India for a few months with a friend from Ohio. That’s can’t believe I’m getting interviewed by the a job with him, first just handling the social media, where she met her future husband, Amit Avrahami, Jewish paper,” says Sam Schubert, 30, sitting at the organic, the regular posts. And I had absolutely an Israeli from Jerusalem, who was traveling with his the café where he worked early on, in Jerusalem’s no idea what I was doing. I had no formal training. bohemian Nachlaot neighborhood, where he lives.

I barely graduated Oakwood High School. I “It’s the last thing I would ever imagine in my entire never went to college.” life. I was not interested in any Jewish connections or He learned as he went. Over the year he anything Jewish.” worked for Mayanot, Lazer convinced them Sam, the son of Patti and Lee Schear, graduated that he could do a better job than the ad from Oakwood High School and Clemson University in agency they were paying, so he took over South Carolina.

Mayanot’s paid social media.

“After college, I didn’t really know what I was supThrough that, he ultimately managed to posed to do, so my parents said, ‘Go to Birthright.’ I get drafted into the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, really didn’t want to. I came on Birthright and that a process he described as “classic Israel.” experience was really powerful. You get changed. It Because he was healthy, Lazer was told he changes a lot of things as far as feeling Jewish. It’s would have to draft to a combat unit. hard to put into words.”

“I went to the military psychologist and From then on, Sam says he missed that feeling.

I told him I wanted to be in the SpokesperFor six months he worked for two production compason’s Unit, and I got myself an exemption for nies in Hollywood’s film industry and then moved to combat based on mental health,” Lazer says.

Chicago to work for Morgan Stanley financial services “In Israel we call it combina. You have this firm, where he previously had an internship. goal, so you do anything possible to make it “And while I was in Chicago, Rabbi Mangel wanted happen. So the psychologist told me, ‘Hey, me to meet the Chabad rabbi in downtown Chicago,” will it help you if I give you an exemption Sam says. “So I met the rabbi there and he pulled me based on this? Will it get you where you into Shabbat, and I just kind of fell in love with Shabwant?’ I said yes. He said, ‘perfect, I’ll mark bat, fell in love with what we were talking about.” this paper, and go for it.’”

After a year, Sam left Morgan Stanley. On the adFor 22 months, Lazer coordinated English language social media for the IDF SpokesLazer Mangel, 24, of Tel Aviv, works at a ‘startup for startups’ in Herzliya Continued on next page

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Israel @ 70

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

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Dayton’s young Olim

dicts and prevents threats to children via their smartphones; it’s intended for parents with children ages 8 to 15.

“We use AI to identify the warning signs, whether it’s pedophilia grooming or cyberbullying or the kid just had a bad day. We can use AI to monitor the data ourselves and then notify parents, hey, something is up. We give parents the information they need to be parents.”

The service, which is still offered for free during its beta testing, has 50,000 subscribers in Israel, the United States, the U.K., and Indonesia.

“I’m given the chance to wake up every morning here and keep children safe,” Lazer says. “I don’t know if there’s anything better out there.”

changed a lot. I’m more assertive. I’ve really molded to fit what I need to be to get things done in Israel.”

To Lazer, the biggest challenge is integrating into Continued from previous page the culture. On the weekends, his friend group plays vice of the Chicago Chabad rabbi’s son, Sam showed board games and, except for the winter, plays beach up at the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies in volleyball a few hours each week followed by drinks.

Jerusalem.

“Israeli friendships and bonds are a lot tighter than “People would call it a yeshiva for guys that didn’t Americans’ are, in my opinion. Israel’s small. Everyone grow up religious, that want to learn more about God knows each other. You don’t know the jokes, you don’t through Chabad Chasidus,” Sam says. “I had no idea know the culture and it’s just so hard to break in. And what a yeshiva was or what I was getting into. I was then the language just compounds on top of that.” shell shocked for a couple of months. I’ve never been There’s a strong English-speaking community in around religious people in my life, and all of a sudden, each city, Lazer says, but it can serve as a crutch so I’m living among the most ultra-Orthodox community that an Oleh doesn’t have to make as much of an efin the world.” fort to jump in and immerse.

He toughed it out and gradually began sitting in on Sara sees that too. “Having my husband and his some classes. For the next year and a half, he went family always speaking Hebrew to me made it back and forth between Chicago and the yeshieasier,” she says, “but I still have friends who to va, sorting out his life. And then he made Aliyah. this day don’t know Hebrew that have been here as “I decided that I needed a place to kind of long as me. I believe that it’s really important that balance out and figure out what’s up and what’s Jews in Israel and the Diaspora learn to understand down. So I moved to Israel at 25, and I was in each other better — we are one people.” ulpan, in which I studied Hebrew, and then I She adds that for her first few years, Israelis’ was in the army.” chutzpah (audacity) on a daily basis wore her down.

Sam says he knew he would get more posi“It was tiring: speaking a language that’s not tives than negatives from his IDF service, beyour own and also trying to get by with everything cause he didn’t know Hebrew, and didn’t know you’re doing, and when people are used to pushing the country at all. around people that are not necessarily from here,” “I didn’t know how Israelis worked or who Sara says. “You build up your chutzpah.” they really were,” he says. “Since I was 26 and Sam says one of his greatest challenges was going into the army of 18-year-olds and 19-yearkeeping his own identity, “as opposed to putting myolds, for people who can’t speak Hebrew that self in a box, like whether religious or not religious.” well, they send you to a base where all the im“There are so many different identities around migrants for about two months are supposed to here. When you move, everyone wants to influence be in basic training. You’re living with everyone you,” Sam says. ”Everyone wants to sell you on from all over the world. The officers were the their lifestyle in order to confirm their lifestyle. That age of my sisters. They were 19 and they ruled took a long time for that not to bother me.” my life. You could say it was a humbling experiAs far as the startup scene goes, the three agree ence.” that the opportunities are limitless.

Those who make Aliyah at age 25 can only “Whatever you want to do, just go out and ask serve in the IDF for six months. After basic trainpeople to help you do it,” Sam says. “People here ing, Sam was stationed at the IDF recruitment are so willing to help one another, especially with office in Jerusalem. There, he guarded Ammunition Hill and managed the office’s entrance gate. Sam Schubert, 30, at his favorite café in the Nachlaot neighborhood of the business scene.”

Jerusalem. He’s launched a startup and owns a Facebook ad business, “It’s very common for people to work on their “I was the first face the Haredim (ultra-Oras well as a dog-walking business. own ideas, a startup or to be a freelancer,” Sara thodox) would see,” Sam says. “ There’s a very says. “You see tons of people working in all the cafés large internal war between the ultra-religious going ince 2002, the nonprofit organization Nefesh around Tel Aviv. They have an interesting relationship into the army or not going into the army. I was put B’Nefesh has been helping North American Jews to work. The army is the only time you really have in the center of it. I had to deal with the moms and I make Aliyah, in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of to follow the rules and after that, you’re free to start could barely speak Hebrew and Yiddish. They didn’t Aliyah and Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel, your own thing. They have a less strict relationship speak any English.

Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, and JNF-USA. Nefesh with their career path, and that, I think, has been “The majority don’t go to the army. Most of them B’Nefesh also has a “guided Aliyah” program that beneficial to me. There’s a culture of being able to will be coming to the induction center pissing themassists those seeking to make Aliyah from within relax. On Shabbat, people actually relax. I appreciate selves, doing crazy stuff to make sure they get out of Israel. that.” it.”

“I went to their office here and it was the easi“Yeah, I’m going surfing this afternoon,” Sam says After the army, Sam started his Facebook ad est process in the world,” Lazer says. “I was a citizen on this Monday. “I surf, we make videos with my agency, which he still runs, and developed an app within 45 minutes. Funnily enough, they asked me friends, I have a lot of friends who are in bands, so with a partner that allows people to exchange currenif I wanted to change my name. I said, ‘What does we make a lot of shows around the neighborhood, cies with each other at no cost. it take?’ They said, ‘You just have to write the name and a lot of hiking. Every Friday we go on hikes. And “I left the company because I had a disagreement you want and sign on this piece of paper.’ All I did then on the weekends it’s mostly just Shabbat. That’s about how it should be run,” Sam says. He also owns was shorten it from Eliezer to Lazer officially. Mangel why I love Shabbat so. This is the city of Shabbat and a dog-walking company. is spelled Mem-Nun-Gimmel-Lamed, which in Israel Friday night’s a meal, and Saturday’s a meal, and just means barbecue. Not a bad name. I did put an extra chilling.” hen Lazer completed his army service, he was Aleph in there, so that it wouldn’t necessarily be the Sam credits his new life in Israel to Lazer’s father, hired as the marketing and PR specialist for a same thing.”

Dayton’s Rabbi Nochum Mangel. company called sFBI — Small Factory, Big Ideas — “They helped out a lot,” Sam says of Nefesh “He was the one who got me to Birthright and to which he calls a “startup’s startup,” based in Herzliyah. B’Nefesh. “There are stipends, a financial boost to Chabad House,” Sam says. “My soul was attracted to it He commutes there by bus; Lazer lives in Kerem get from Chicago to here. It really helps. They’re the basically. That’s about as honest as it gets.”

Hateimanim, the old Yemenite area of Tel Aviv beagent between me and the Israeli government. They “Growing up Chabad,” Lazer says, “and growing up tween the Carmel Market and the beach. interpret what the Israeli government needs from me, in the Dayton community with my Dad as clergy and “It’s absolutely incredible there and is exploding and then I do what Nefesh B’Nefesh tells me to do. with character,” he says of his neighborhood. “It’s a You need someone who can speak English. It’s almost my Dad as a community leader was the greatest gift I could have ever asked for. I didn’t understand that foodie heaven and is one of the most wonderfully like the Wikipedia for making Aliyah.” until a couple of years ago. But it gave me life skills weird places I’ve ever been in.”

Sam, Sara, and Lazer stress the importance of conthat are invaluable: the ability to understand politics SFBI’s team builds and launches products. “Instead sidering Aliyah with a clearheaded, realistic approach. of the entire team just continuing on with that prod“If you come here with this dream of making Aliyah and dynamics and to understand leadership. I grew uct, the second the product becomes viable, you start on what you see in the books and what you see in the up with this mentality of public service, of not livhiring in a CEO, you hire the staff that are needed, marketing, you’re going to be gone very quickly,” Sam ing life simply for yourself. Coming to Israel gave me purpose.” and then it spins off,” Lazer says. says. “Because it’s not like that. It’s real life.”

Right now, his attention is focused on boscoapp.

“In order to eventually make Aliyah, you have to Travel and accommodations for this story were underwritten by Nefesh B’Nefesh. com, an artificial intelligence parenting app that prebe open to change in a very big way,” Sara says. “I’ve

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

Present at the birth of the Jewish state Daytonian Fred Scheuer provided intelligence to the Jewish Agency before & during War of Independence

By Marshall Weiss, The Observer Marshall Weiss in the history of the Jewish state.

“I was outside the museum, on Rothschild Bou“Yitzhak Rabin doesn’t get the credit due to him. levard,” Fred Scheuer recalls of May 14, 1948, the He was a man of peace even though he was a day when Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurifighter. He was always fighting for peace.” on announced Israel’s Declaration of Independence Scheuer was primarily involved in intelligence to the Jewish state’s provisional government inside work during the War of Independence; he says Isthe Tel Aviv Museum of Art. rael had three secret weapons that helped it survive.

“Only dignitaries were inside,” Scheuer con“One is our back was against the Mediterranean tinues. “Actually it was a very small hall in the Sea. We were surrounded by Arabs, by enemies,” he museum. We were outside listening through the says. “The second major secret was the Arabs didn’t loudspeaker, which was set up at the last minute. know what we didn’t have. That was the biggest It was a very small crowd because we did not want secret. Because we had practically nothing, I mean to advertise it. It wasn’t announced because they as far as weapons were concerned for our defense.” were afraid the Arabs would start interrupting it.”

The third secret, Scheuer says, was Israel’s miliScheuer, who turns 93 in May, conducted inteltary intelligence. ligence work for the Jewish Agency in the lead-up “And that, we learned from the British, how to to and during Israel’s War of feed false information to the enemy,” he says.

Independence.

One night, Scheuer even carried supplies to JeThis is the first time he rusalem on the makeshift “Burma Road” built under shares recollections of his Gen. Mickey Marcus during the 1948 Arab siege of life in pre-state Palestine and Jerusalem.

Israel with anyone outside of “I was young. I really didn’t recognize the danhis family. ger, what could be. The Egyptian Army was only 40 “I was already in intelto 50 miles from Tel Aviv. If they had penetrated, ligence with the British Army ‘Then, in ‘48, ‘47, the yishuv — the population — was united,’ Fred Israel wouldn’t be Israel today. It would have been a Scheuer, 92, says. ‘Today, the danger is that the people of Israel are during the war (World War II),” he says. “I got in second Holocaust.” ideologically divided.’ there because of my knowledge of languages.”

Scheuer came to the United States in 1952 to After World War II — in the aftermath of the HoSeated in his home in Centerville, Scheuer holds study engineering at The University of California, locaust and with Europe’s surviving Jews languishing his memoirs, which he says are “strictly for family.”

Berkeley. But on his arrival in New York, he first visited The NCR retiree was born in 1925 in Saarbrücken in in displaced person camps there — Scheuer joined NCR’s International Office at Rockefeller Center for a a Jewish Agency task force in 1946 to sneak Jewish the state of Saarland when it was French territory, as tour. refugee ships past the British blockade of Palestine. reparations against Germany in World War I through NCR staffers then arranged for him to visit DayIn early 1948, a few months after the United Nathe Treaty of Versailles. A decade later, when Saar ton. Over a meal at the Moraine Country Club, NCR’s tions voted to partition Palestine into a Jewish state residents supported a referendum for the territory to international vice president offered Scheuer a job be returned to Germany — and with Hitler in power — and an Arab state, Scheuer became a “desert rat” in with NCR’s international education division. Scheuer the Sinai at a relay station near the Egyptian border; the family moved to Luxembourg. accepted, becoming only the second Jew to work for he kept in contact with Jewish agents in Egypt.

“It was obvious that there was no future there NCR at that time, and established its Latin American Scheuer recalls working with Yitzhak Rabin as part for Jews,” Scheuer says of Saarland. “In fact, quite technical school in Puerto Rico in 1953-54. In 1955, of his intelligence operations. early, my father was told by associates that he was he transferred to Dayton with his young bride, Ruth, “The first time, I remember was shortly before the not to associate with them any longer. Because of my a friend of his family back in Israel. Scheuer worked father’s credentials with the International Court, it was Declaration of Independence,” he says. “He came in for NCR for 43 years. He and Ruth enjoyed 61 years to our group and said one thing that at that time I did together until her passing in 2016. very easy for us to move to Luxembourg.” not understand. He said, ‘Chaverim (friends), young With war on the horizon in 1939, the family left When asked if he thinks Israel will ever have peace people, go out, enjoy yourself. Celebrate. Because Luxembourg for Palestine. Scheuer was 14. with its neighbors, Scheuer says, “I doubt it. That will tough times will come.’”

“We had a choice to go to Canada or to Palestine,” be difficult because Israel today, ideologically, is more In Scheuer’s opinion, Rabin was the greatest leader he says. “My father was more of a Zionist than a Jew.” divided than ever.”

GPO An uncle who had moved to Palestine earlier Scheuer Family arranged for them to live in Tel Aviv.

“Of course we didn’t know the language. I didn’t know the Hebrew.”

With the German Army led by Gen. Erwin Rommel advancing across North Africa, Scheuer was recruited by British Military Intelligence for communications training at age 16 in 1941; in Europe, he had attended school where German and French were taught. He also became fluent in English, Hebrew, and Arabic.

“We were sitting in the Judaean Mountains, we were supposed to observe troop movements of the Germans and pass on that information to the British, in of all places, Iraq,” Scheuer says.

“We were a small group of 40, 30 people. A British sergeant major was, so to speak, our father.”

But after the British stopped the German and Italian armies at El Alamein, Egypt in 1942 and the threat of a German invasion of Palestine ended, Scheuer was able to return home to Tel Aviv, where he briefly joined the Haganah (precursor to the Israel Defense Forces) in 1943 and graduated from technical high school in 1945. A Scheuer was in this crowd outside the Tel Aviv Museum of Art on May 14, Fred Scheuer’s intelligence experience with month after his graduation, he began working for Fred 1948 listening by loudspeaker to Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion the British in World War II proved invaluable Mittwoch & Sons, the agency of NCR in Palestine. read Israel’s Declaration of Independence to members of Israel’s provisional when he provided intelligence to the Jewish Ultimately, this would lead him to Dayton. government inside the building Agency in the War of Independence

Israel @ 70

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

PAGE 27

Tami Ganeles-Weiser

Celebrate Israel’s 70th birthday with Limonana cake

By Tami Ganeles-Weiser thenosher.com This cake is inspired by the uber-popular Israeli sweet lemonade that’s always punched up with fresh mint called limonana. Light and delicate, this lemony chiffon cake is lovely paired with a minted whipped cream and candied mint.

A few tips: Superfine sugar, also called caster sugar, is granulated sugar that has been ground into very fine crystals. It dissolves quickly and is excellent for use in drinks, meringues, puddings, candies and lighter baked goods such as angel food cakes.

If a recipe specifies superfine sugar, do use it; it makes a difference. If you don’t have any, just grind your granulated

sugar in a food processor for two minutes until it is very, very fine.

To make your own mint oil, heat one cup of canola oil in a small saucepan set over medium-low heat, add the mint and cook for about five minutes until the oil is very warm (if you have a candy thermometer, it will read about 180 degrees).

It should not boil or sputter; it is, essentially, poaching.

Set up a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth over a medium-sized mixing bowl. Remove the pan from the heat and let stand until the oil reaches room temperature.

Then, using an immersion blender, blend until smooth (you can also do this in a regular blender). Pour the blended

mixture through the sieve and let it slowly drip through. The oil can be used immediately, or kept refrigerated in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

When beating egg whites, an impeccably clean bowl is a must; even a bit of grease can keep them from firming up to form soft or stiff peaks.

Lemon Chiffon Bundt Cake inspired by Israeli Limonana

Lemon Chiffon Bundt Cake inspired by Israeli Limonana For the cake: 1 cup unbleached allPour the batter into the pre½ cup superfine (caster) purpose flour, plus more for pared pan. Using an offset sugar dusting spatula, smooth the top. Bang 1¼ tsp. baking soda the pan on the kitchen counter For the mint whipped cream: ¼ tsp. fine salt once. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, ½ cup heavy cream or ¾ cup plus 1 Tbsp. superfine until a cake tester inserted in whipping cream (caster) sugar the middle comes out clean and 2 Tbsp superfine (caster) 4 large eggs, room the cake is golden. sugar, sifted temperature, separated While the cake is baking, ½ tsp pure vanilla extract or ¼ cup good quality olive oil make the candied mint leaves. vanilla bean paste Zest of 4 lemons (about 2 ¾ tsp mint oil, store-bought Line a baking sheet with parchTbsp. ) ment paper and place the leaves or homemade Juice of 4 lemons (¼ cup) “No One Sells Beer and Wine for Less” on it in a single layer. With a ¼ cup lemon vodka or water • Extensive Selection of Kosher & Israeli Wines pastry brush, brush the leaves Preheat the oven to 325 Seeds scraped from 1 vanilla very lightly with the egg white. degrees. Spray a 7-inch Bundt bean pod • 10% Discount on Cases (12 bottles Mix & Match)) pan with nonstick vegetable oil Sprinkle with half the sugar, ½ tsp cream of tartar 2950 Far Hills Ave 615 Lyons Rd allow to dry for five minutes. spray and dust it lightly with Kettering Centerville Turn the leaves over, brush with flour.

For the candied mint leaves: the egg white, sprinkle with the In a large mixing bowl, sift 2 bunches fresh mint leaves (937) 298-1456 (937) 433-6778 together the flour, baking soda, remaining sugar and allow to 1 egg white A Toast To Israel at 70! salt, and three-quarters of a cup fully dry.

Remove the cake from the of the sugar and set aside. oven and gently invert it, still in In another bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, vegetable the pan, onto a cooling rack and oil, lemon juice, vodka or water, let stand until fully cooled and the pan is cool enough to touch. lemon zest and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and whisk for Turn the pan right-side up. Run about a minute and a half, until a knife between the cake and the side of the pan. Place a servsmooth and thick. ing platter that is slightly wider In the bowl of a stand mixer long as the Jewish spirit is than the pan over the cooled fitted with a whisk attachment (or if you are using a handheld cake, so that the bottom of the yearning deep in the heart, electric mixer, in a large mixing platter faces up.

With eyes turned toward the Holding the pan with one bowl), beat the egg whites at hand and pressing the plate medium speed until foamy.

East, looking toward Zion, firmly onto the pan with the Add the cream of tartar and other, invert them so that the beat for about one minute, Then our hope — plate is on the bottom. Lift up gradually increasing the speed the 2,000-year-old hope — the cake pan to reveal the cake. to high, until soft peaks form Just before you are ready (see tips). will not be lost: to serve, make the whipped Gradually add the remainTo be a free people in our land, cream. Using a stand mixer, ing tablespoon of sugar and electric mixer or whisk, pour beat for about two and a half The land of Zion and Jerusalem. minutes at high speed until stiff the cream into a mixing chilled bowl. Whip the cream until soft peaks form and the eggs are peaks form. If using an electric stiff and almost dry. or stand mixer, beat the mixture Fold one-third of the egg Bernstein’s Fine Catering on high for about 60 seconds. whites into the batter and genAdd the sugar, vanilla, and tly stir to lighten the mixture. is proud to stand mint oil to the cream, and whip Add the next third, folding just to combine. carefully, leaving some white with Israel at 70 Serve slices of cake garnished streaks. Add the last third and with whipped cream and canfold gently until the last white 898-2761 • info@bernsteinscatering.com • bernsteinscatering.com died mint leaves. streaks just barely disappear.

As

PAGE 28

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

JEWISH FAMILY EDUCATION Palmach Photo Gallery

Inspiring Israel

Israel.

There was pride in independence. Jews could be masters of their own destiny, no longer slaves to a pharaoh or subjects So, you’re an ardent Zionist tourist attractions, Israel itself is to a foreign monarch.

Although many nations and dating someone you think really the attraction. just might be The One. How According to the biblical nar- did eventually conquer do you make sure they’ll share rative, Israel began as a national and rule it, the land of Israel was never the your love of Israel? Easy. Just Jewish homeland 4,000 years independent state of send them to a kibbutz for a ago with the Divine promise to another nation. summer! At least that’s what Abraham of a land for himself The rebirth of Israel my boyfriend did. and his descendants. in 1948 meant Jews were Jews arrive in pre-state Palestine, July 1947 I like to tease that guy — who After the Exodus, the Israonce again a sovereign did become my husband — that elites finally settled in Israel cational opportunity, economic people, a nation like all others, under Joshua, inaugurating a development, women’s and gay and able to decide their own continuous 3,000-year Jewish rights, freedom of speech and destiny. presence there, from the Golan assembly, legislative representaTwo thousand years in the Candace R. Heights to the Negev Desert. tion — Israel’s minorities fare making, this miracle meant The identity of the land Kwiatek far better than in any other Jews had a haven and a homewith the Jewish people is also land once again. It meant Israel country in the Middle East.” reflected in its name. In the Israel protects citizens’ rights early centuries, it was variously wasn’t just a symbol, but a reality. It meant the Jew- and provides a haven for refuknown as Judah, YeI loved Israel so much I almost ish legacy had come gees. hud, and Judea from didn’t come back.

Israel actively responds to the name of Jacob’s While Israel back to life.

My son-in-law just took worldwide disasters and offers For many Jews, fourth son, Judah his first trip there and had the certainly technology and agricultural Jewish sovereignty same reaction, evidenced by the (Yehudah), and his training to developing counin the land is a descendants’ tribe. has tourist ear-to-ear grin on his face that source of pride and Modern Israel didn’t stop for the entire three attractions, spiritual connected- tries.

Israel’s military policy weeks. He’s not a religious Jew, takes its name from demands that soldiers maintain the biblical Jacob, but there’s no doubt that his Israel itself ness. their humanity, recognized by News headlines Israel experience was a spiritual also known as Israel, a former commander of British the patriarch of the is really the in recent years anone. forces in Afghanistan in 2014: nounce Israeli hospi12 tribes.

Israel has no spotlighted attraction. tals treat terrorists and “…the Israeli Defense Forces Because the land Eiffel Tower or stone-stepped victims alike and Gaza did more to safeguard the rights and the people are Incan peaks or sail-capped Patients Find Help From a Surpris- of civilians in a combat zone opera houses, no such magnets so closely linked, terms for than any other army in the hising Source: Israeli Hospitals. living outside of Israel express of world fame. tory of warfare.”

Israel’s first Bedouin diploRather, Israel’s attractions go melancholy and calamity — For many Jews, Israel is a mat, Ishmael Khalidi writes: Diaspora (scattering) and Galut much deeper, into the hearts showcase of the biblical instruc“I am a proud Israeli…By any (exile). and spirits of those who visit tions for building an ethical yardstick you choose — eduOn the other hand, this the land or treasure it from afar. linkage is positively reflected Modern Israel’s Declarain Israel’s 1950 Law of Return, tion of Independence offers a granting Jews from around the tantalizing glimpse of these attractions: “Eretz Israel (the Land world the right to settle in Israel and gain automatic citizenship. of Israel) was the birthplace of For many Jews, spirituality is the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political found in the biblical and historiidentity was shaped. Here they cal connections to Israel and a sense of a personal heritage first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national there.

Under the kings and later the and universal significance, and Hasmoneans of Maccabee fame, gave to the world the eternal the Jewish people established Book of Books.” independent political states in While Israel certainly has

Turning to Spirituality Series

Literature to share The Bible on Location: Off the Beaten Path in Ancient and Modern Israel by Julie Baretz. This is an Israel guide book of a different kind. Focusing on locations that appear in the Bible after the Israelites have reached the Promised Land, this guide brings some lesser-known biblical characters and events to life. What makes this book particularly notable is its focus on various dilemmas the Israelites faced in different eras. Highly readable and extremely interesting.

A Different Kind of Passover by Linda Strauss. This Passover is different from all others because grandpa is sick in bed and can’t lead the Seder or hide the afikomen. Is there a solution? Written from the granddaughter’s perspective, this loving tale is about family, honor, tradition, and adapting to change. Great for elementary ages.

society and an inspiring model for earthbound spirituality.

Known as the “startup nation,” Israel is at the forefront in science and technological innovation, water technology and research, stem cell research, medical trauma innovation, environmental sustainability, military innovation, and even television programming.

It’s a land of varied and striking physical beauty, protected in part by nature conservancy, water reclamation and recycling, and solar power.

It boasts the only revival of a sacred language into a modern language spoken by millions. It offers a thriving economy, vibrant cities, and all the modern conveniences of any first-world country. And it was all accomplished in fewer than 70 years. For many Jews, Israel is a modern nation where the spiritual and social are seamlessly interwoven.

Rabbi Susan Silverman, who lives in Jerusalem, describes Israel as, “The land where kings and prophets walked. The place where Jewish history lives and is being made. The place where Jewish teachings and values are tested.”

The land where the Jewish people flourishes. What place offers more spiritual inspiration than Israel?

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Celebrating Israel at 70

PAGE 29

OBITUARIES Marlene Sandra (Shapero) Carne, age 86 of Dayton, passed away Feb. 23 at Hospice of Dayton. She was a resident of Friendship Village. Mrs. Carne was a graduate of Fairview High School, Wright State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work, and the University of Cincinnati with a master’s of science degree in social work. She worked for the Montgomery County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, and retired from Miami Valley Hospital where she managed the Adult Senior Care Program.

She was a member of Temple Israel and Beth Abraham Synagogue. Mrs. Carne was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur “Arky” of 66 years, and her parents, David and Leah (Adler) Shapero.

She is survived by her brother, Rabbi Sanford Shapero (Linda); sons, Steven (Judith) of Dayton, Richard (Cheryl)

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of Dayton, Edward (Anita) of Long Grove, Ill., and Daniel of New York; granddaughters, Meagan Schwartz (Adam), Christina O’Connell-Carne, Abra Adrabi (Jon), Natalie Holger (Gregory), Eve Carne, Sarah Carne, Rebecca Carne; great-granddaughters, Maya and Dora Adrabi; and many friends. Interment was at Riverview Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Israel, Beth Abraham Synagogue or Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton.

William S. Friedman, age 76, passed away at his home in Columbus surrounded by his loving family on March 4. He was born on March 19, 1941 in Springfield, Ohio to the late Norman and Dorothy Friedman.

Until the day he died, Mr. Friedman touched the lives of virtually everyone he met. He was a gifted family law attorney, recognized in The Best Lawyers In America each year since its inception.

He also was one of the original fellows of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. During his early career, Mr. Friedman worked with Gov. James A. Rhodes, then later founded the William S. Friedman Company, which became Friedman & Mirman Co., L.P.A. In his practice, he was most proud of his accomplishments at mentoring young attorneys, including his son Scott, with whom he then worked for more than 20 years. One of Mr. Friedman’s most remarkable talents was his humor. Outside of the law, he was an amateur

Saluting The State Of Israel at Seventy

G

Edward Norman Meadow, DPM of Oakwood, passed away March 17. Dr. Meadow was born Feb. 15, 1928 to the late Esther and Sydney Meadow in Cleveland. He was a graduate of Shaker Heights High School and was educated at The Ohio State University and the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (Kent State University). Dr. Meadow was a member of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and a member and past president of the Riverdale Optimist Club. He practiced podiatry in Dayton for 50 years. While at Ohio State, Dr. Meadow was a four-year letterman on the varsity track and field team.

During this time, he set the freshman record in the mile, and this record remained unsurpassed for 15 years. In addition to being a two-time winner of the Drake Relays, Dr. Meadow took part in the 1948 men’s outdoor Big Ten Track and Field Championship team. Throughout his life, he

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actor on stage and television.

His larger-than-life personality brightened any stage — or room — he entered. Mr. Friedman loved his music, cowboy movies, and dogs. He loved and adored his wife, Cindy, the rest of his family, and his many dear friends, who all stood strong by his side during his courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by wife, Cindy Friedman; children, Scott (Kerstin) Friedman, Ariane Friedman, Jason (Jill) Monus and Brett Monus; grandchildren, Davis, Lena, Miles, and Alex Friedman, Jackson and Juliette Monus, Will and Riley Mathews; his dog, Daisy; as well as numerous cousins and other relatives.

A private burial was held in Dayton. Contributions may be made in Mr. Friedman’s honor to the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research institute, the Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital or other charity of choice.

remained a lifelong Ohio State athletics fan, taking every opportunity to instill this passion for his alma mater into his family! He continued his zeal for athletics by running with blind companions, and on the tennis court, which he enjoyed throughout his life.

He continued a life of service and kindness, learned as a podiatrist, in his retirement which were perhaps his happiest years. His constant companion through these endeavors was his wife, Ruth Lee of almost 67 years.

He volunteered at WrightPatterson Air Force Base, the Suicide Prevention Center and The Hospice of Dayton. In addition, he mentored young men as well as participated in The SBA SCORE program.

Dr. Meadow was a lifelong learner and one of his greatest pleasures was attending classes at University of Dayton OLLI in his retirement. In addition to his loving wife, Ruth Lee, he is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Scott and Brenda of Chicago, Michael and Teri of Grand Rapids, Mich., Andrew and Elissa of Providence, R.I.; grandchildren, Dana (James) Faello of New York, Jack (Anna Marie) Meadow of Brooklyn, N.Y., Sydney Meadow of Los Angeles, Maxim and Micah Meadow of Grand Rapids, Mich.; great-granddaughter, Natalie Jane Faello; other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Alan Barrar.

Interment was at Riverview Cemetery. The family requests donations be made to the Holocaust Learning Center at the Temple Israel Library in Dr. Meadow’s memory.

Barbara Rosenbaum, age 84 of Delray Beach, Fla., formerly of Dayton, passed away peacefully on March 9. Mrs. Rosenbaum was preceded in death by her parents, Phillip and Gladys (Norvick) Atkins; her husband, Arthur; and

Continued from Page Nine At the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, a pluralistic school in Bryn Mawr, Pa., students gathered in a school parking lot, read about the lives of the Parkland victims, and heard speeches from students and teachers.

“It was really an incredible sense of togetherness that all these people I’ve talked to about other issues where we might not agree, or just people that I don’t know very well, we all came together and stood together for this issue that we all feel so passionately about,” said Sophia Sha-

daughter, Peggy Eisenberg. She is survived by her sons, Gary, Andy and his wife, Kate; and five grandchildren, Alexander, Michael, Aidan, Alex and Ava. Mrs. Rosenbaum will be remembered most fondly for her classy character, stylish fashion, vibrant personality and loyal devotion to her many friends and family. Interment was at Beth Abraham Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation, 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407 or to another hospice organization of your choice.

Edward Zawatsky, age 81 of Brookville, passed away March 9. Mr. Zawatsky was a graduate of Fairview High School. He was a resident of Trotwood, where he served for many years as the chairman of the planning and zoning board. He was a member of the Dayton Jewish Community Center Board and a member of the Trotwood Masonic Lodge #755. Mr. Zawatsky was an active member of Beth Abraham Synagogue, and he donated more than 100 pints of blood throughout his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Simon and Theresa Zawatsky, and sisterin-law Harriet Zawatsky. He is survived by his wife, Roberta (Brown) Zawatsky; children, Richard (Erika) Zawatsky, Sheryl Zawatsky, Michael (Jodi) Zawatsky, and Linda Zawatsky; five grandchildren, Maxwell, Samantha, Jordyn, Brett and Stella Zawatsky; brother, Ivan Zawatsky; brother-in-law Alfred (Beverly) Brown and many nieces and nephews.

Interment was at Beth Abraham Cemetery. Mr. Zawatsky was a loving husband, father and papa. He lived a wonderful life full of love. We will miss him deeply. Memorial contributions may be made to Beth Abraham Synagogue or the charity of your choice.

piro, a 10th grader who organized the walkout together with 11th grader Ruthie Cohen.

Shapiro and Cohen plan to keep fellow students engaged on the issue, including by organizing students to contact their local representatives. “Our message doesn’t end with this news cycle,” Shapiro said. “When this news cycle ends, our message will continue, and we will continue to fight for what we believe in.”

NFTY, the Reform movement’s youth group, urged members in public schools and day schools to march and share their participation on social media using the hashtag #JewsDemandAction.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

Arts&Culture

Human Race’s Brighton Beach Memoirs at Loft

Israeli jazz musician brings fun times 10 to UD Shervin Lainez

By Masada Siegel Special To The Observer It’s no shock that clarinetist/ saxophonist Anat Cohen — nominated for two Grammy Awards, one of which is for a piece called Happy Song — bubbles over with passion for her profession.

Cohen was born and raised in Tel Aviv in a musical family. The love her parents have for music was imparted to all three of their children.

“Music kept us going at home,” she says.

“Our entire childhood revolved around music.

I participated in youth orchestras and I have two brothers that are amazing musicians. I followed in my their footsteps — they played before I did — so I just followed them. I fell in love with jazz, and it definitely has to do with who your teachers are.”

Cohen will bring her New York-based tentet (an ensemble with 10 musicians) to the University of Dayton for a performance on the evening of April 11.

Named the Jazz Journalists Association’s Clarinetist of the Year for nine consecutive

Anat Cohen

years, Cohen has ranked first in DownBeat magazine’s critics and readers polls for clarinetist annually since 2011. She has also been named DownBeat’s Jazz Artist of the Year, and is an ASCAP Wall of Fame prize recipient for her compositions and musicianship.

She attended the Tel Aviv School for the Arts, the Thelma Yellin High School for the Arts, and the Jaffa Music Conservatory. While she learned classical music at first, jazz quickly captured her heart and freed her imagination allowing it to take flight.

“I grew up in the bubble of Tel Aviv in the ‘80s, when everything was optimistic,” Cohen says. “There were lots of opportunities and a great deal of music education. When I was in primary school, music used to be part of the class. But just like in the USA, budgets have gone down and music programs has been cut in many schools.”

This, she says, is a disservice to children.

“Music is so important to young kids.

These days, social media is eating up so much time, and kids today are losing commu-

University of Dayton presents the Anat Cohen Tentet at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11 at Kennedy Union Ballroom.

Tickets are $18. Call 229-2545 or go to go.udayton.edu/artslive.

nication skills. With music, you have to look up and discover the person in front of you. You have to discover the notes, and it is the most amazing way to communicate. For some people, communication with words is challenging, yet music can be an outlet that gives them the tools to do so. Music also is a world where people can make friends, learn body coordination, and learn about a whole new inspiring world where they can create.”

Cohen says jazz gives her the unique ability to interact with her fellow performers and to absorb the reactions from the crowd; the positivity and energy fills her with an immense amount of joy.

“It’s so expressive and interactive, standing up, soloing, hearing people cheer,” she says.

“There is a great deal of passion. In a jazz concert, you need to incorporate anything thrown at you. It is a way to prepare us for society: such as how to think in real time. Music is a tool for teaching life skills, how to keep moving forward.”

Aline Muller

Immobulus Photography

Richard Buchanan (L) and Eric Deiboldt in Human Race Theatre Company’s production of Brighton Beach Memoirs

The Human Race Theatre Company will present Neil Simon’s 1982 comedy, Brighton Beach Memoirs, at The Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St. in Downtown Dayton, April 5 to 22.

The semi-autobiographical coming-of-age comedy is set in the Brooklyn household of Jewish teenager Eugene Jerome in 1937.

Tickets are available through ticketcenterstage.com or by calling 228-3630.

Are you reading this?

So is the entire Jewish community.

Contact Patty Caruso at plhc69@gmail.com to advertise in The Observer.

The Anat Cohen Tentet

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PAGE 31

Legal eagle Bram Fischer’s Act of Defiance

By Michael Fox, Special To The Observer Bram Fischer is one of the great Jewish heroes of the 20th century, yet he is not widely remembered outside his native South Africa. A documentary aired on South African television in 2007, Love, Communism, Revolution & Rivonia: Bram Fischer’s Story, didn’t reach our shores.

If you’re drawing a blank on Fischer’s name, you’re in luck: Dutch director Jean van de Velde has filled the gap and then some with his crackling political thriller An Act of Defiance.

Screening as part of Dayton’s JCC Film Fest, it’s a gripping, inspiring introduction to a remarkable historical figure.

For those looking for an evening’s passive entertainment, this isn’t it. An Act of Defiance goes for the jugular in its proclamation of idealistic philosophies Giacomo Belletti and moral imperatives, while maneuvering us into the Brandon Polansky and Samantha Elisofon as David and Sarah in Keep The Change heart of a seemingly ordinary family.

The movie recreates Fischer’s gutsy early-1960s exploits as lead attorney for the defendants in the Ripossibly sexual experience, is a defining part of his

By Michael Fox, Special To The Observer vonia Trial. It’s not necessary to remember (or forget) personality,” Israel says.

Like Crossing Delancey, one of her favorite romantic the verdicts in this now-famous case, or to be steeped “When I met him I didn’t know he was on the comedies, Rachel Israel’s narrative feature debut, Keep in revolutionary ideology, for that matter. spectrum, and even for a while I didn’t know until he the Change, is a New York love story with a tangible From the outset, the film defines Fischer (played told me. When he told me he had autism, it was an Jewish undercurrent. with verve and intelligence by Peter Paul Muller) less awakening, because I thought of someone like Dustin The romantic duo readily self-identifies as Jewish, by his considerable legal skills and reputation than Hoffman in Rain Man, someone who shies away from but shares another quality that for most people pricontact. And that was very much not the way Brandon by the company he keeps: He’s a strategist and ally of marily defines them: David (Brandon Polansky) and Nelson Mandela and the other leaders (several of them Sarah (Samantha Elisofon) are on the autism spectrum. was.”

His character’s Jewishness is front and center, which Jewish) covertly plotting against the apartheid regime.

Refreshingly honest and sexually straightforward In fact, Fischer was supposed to be at the meeting in its portrayal of the way people with autism interact may feed into some viewers’ judgement of his ostentawhere the police — who had been tipped off — busted tiously wealthy parents (played by Jessica Walter and with each other, with their famiin and arrested the activists.

Tibor Feldman). Sarah’s Jewish identity is much less lies, and with strangers, Keep the Free and available to represent the accused against pronounced but it could be a plus — in theory — in Change received two prizes when charges of sabotage, Fischer is more than their dewinning David’s parents’ acceptance. it premiered at the Tribeca Film fender and advocate: He’s an active member of the “He is quietly desperate to have a girl, so it Festival last April.

Keep the Change will be screened wouldn’t have stopped him at all (if Sarah wasn’t Jew- resistance whose actions — epitomized by a lengthy, tense sequence that involves smuggling documents ish),” Israel says. “But it’s a big thing for many Jewish as part of Dayton’s JCC Film Fest. parents for your kids to stay in the tribe. He thinks that out of a government building and extends beyond the “A few of the characters are point where Fischer inadvertently places his family in it will please his parents. naturally unfiltered in the way danger — express his commitment and courage even “But more than that, for himself he wants some they talk about sex, and I thought it was a beautiful and fun aspect of traditional things for his life. He wants a permanent Menemsha Films loving relationship. I think he thinks that should be the characters,” Israel explained in a phone interview marriage. He very much wants the things that he’s last summer shortly before her film opened the San seen his peers from childhood acquire, and he doesn’t Francisco Jewish Film Festival. understand why he shouldn’t have them.”

“A lot of depictions of people with autism shy Audiences will probably conflate Brandon and away from sex, and I think it’s important to show that Samantha with David and Sarah even more than they people on the spectrum have sex lives,” she says. “To typically do with actors and the characters they play. shy away from it is in some way demeaning or infanIn reality, David and Sarah are fictional versions of the tilizing.” real people.

Israel spent her childhood in the Princeton, N.J. “We wrote it in collaboration with the cast, but they area and her adolescence and teenage years in Boca are playing fictional characters,” Israel emphasizes.

Raton before pursuing her undergraduate degree at the Rhode Island School of Design. She moved to New “They are not playing themselves. We’ve created characters that had some of their tendencies, while other York for her graduate studies in film at Columbia, where she refocused her first screenplay from a drama things were different. They could definitely draw upon who they were to inform their characters.” about David’s family to an endearing, awkward and After Tribeca, Israel screened Keep the Change at the rocky love story between him and Sarah.

Los Angeles Film Festival and at Karlovy Vary in the Israel set about making a short film and discovered Czech Republic, where it won two more prizes. Her a community of people with autism at the Manhattan grandfather, a financial supporter of the film who esJCC on the Upper West Side. She cast Brandon and Peter Paul Muller as Bram Fischer in An Act of Defiance caped Czechoslovakia at 14 on one of the kindertransSamantha, and some five years later asked them to ports organized by Sir Nicholas Winton, attended the reprise their roles for a feature.

The JCC Film Fest presents An Act Of Defiance at “Brandon’s search for love and companionship, and festival with Israel and the film.

7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25 at the Little Art All in all, Israel devoted six years to Keep the Change, Theatre, 247 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs; and at 10 from screenplay to the short film to the feature-length a.m. on Tuesday, May 8 at The Neon, 130 E. 5th St., The JCC Film Fest presents Keep The Change at version. She’s eager to embark on a new feature, and Dayton followed by a discussion with retired attorney 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 19 at The Neon, 130 E. primed to explore new territory.

Jim Levinson. Tickets are available at the door, at 5th St., Dayton. Tickets are available at the door, at “The simple answer is there’s not a sequel right jewishdayton.org, at the Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles jewishdayton.org, at the Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles now,” she says. “I don’t think the next chapter is a Dr., Centerville, or by calling Karen Steiger at 610-1555.

Dr., Centerville, or by calling Karen Steiger at 610-1555. simple one for these characters.”

Romantic comedy heralds Change with autistic lovers

PAGE 32

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

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An Act of Defiance recreates Bram Fischer’s exploits as lead defense attorney for the Rivonia Trial.

more than his legal challenges and parries.

Fischer’s extracurricular activities have the effect of pushing An Act of Defiance out of the realm of cerebral courtroom duel and into a full-bore thriller.

However, the film never loses sight of the plight of the Rivonia defendants, who face death sentences if they are convicted.

It’s helpful to know that Fischer was part of the Afri-

kaner elite. His grandfather and father were high-ranking officials, and he was expected to follow their path. So the enmity of various bureaucrats, functionaries and cops toward him throughout the film, which might be taken for generalized antisemitism, is actually the special loathing reserved for traitors to the class (and race).

Van de Velde fills the cast with South African actors such as Antoinette Louw, who imbues Molly Fischer with

backbone, wit and warmth to match her husband. At every turn, An Act of Defiance succeeds as a love story as well as a political intrigue, a courtroom drama and a high-stakes morality play.

Bram Fischer had a comfortable life, and yet he chose to risk everything for a cause he deemed right.

More than half a century later, in our present troubled state, we can find encouragement in his clarity and bravery.

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

PAGE 33

010

erson

Beth Abraham, Dayton’s only Conservative synagogue, is enthusiastically egalitarian and is affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

For a complete schedule of our events and times, go to bethabrahamdayton.org.

Beth Abraham is Dayton’s only Conservative synagogue, affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

We are an enthusiastically egalitarian synagogue.

We also have an energetic Keruv program that reaches out to intermarried couples and families in our synagogue and in the Dayton Jewish community.

For a complete schedule of our events, go to bethabrahamdayton.org.

Living as one of The Invisibles in Nazi-era Berlin A scene from the docudrama The Invisibles

Peter Hartwig

And the viewer is well aware of how

By Michael Fox many Jews died in the Holocaust. Death Special To The Observer is neither an abstraction nor a plot point What did it take to survive the Hoin The Invisibles. It is the inarguable, locaust as a Jew in supposedly Jew-free underlying horror upon which the film Berlin? Spur-of-the-moment decisions. is erected.

A sixth sense for imminent danger.

That said, The Invisibles doesn’t imPracticed bravado. A blonde dye job. merse us in an atmosphere of unceasing Razor-sharp instincts. Fake papers. A uncertainty, dread and fear. The amount lucky break. of time the characters — all of them Seven thousand Jews dodged deporteenagers compelled to grow up quickly tation and tried to hide in the German — spend indoors in rooms doing nothcapital by any means necessary. The ing is quite small. The movie isn’t called remarkable sagas of four of those men and women are interwoven to outstand- Hidden Figures for a reason, and it’s not because the title was already taken. ing effect in GerRather, the characters are depicted as man director Claus actively engaged in their fates.

Rafle’s excellent Cioma Israel Schonhaus is a talented new docudrama, forger of passports who gets steady The Invisibles, work doctoring documents for a Third which screens as Reich bureaucrat opposed to the regime. part of Dayton’s Ruth Arndt and another young Jewish JCC Film Fest. woman land steady work as maids and Rafle and his kitchen staffPlease in the house of a savvy team pull off one join Nazi colonel who, for reasons never of the toughest Elaine Arnovitz • Stacy Emoff Beth Abraham Sisterhoo stated, protectsSynagogue them. tricks in narraHanni as Levy is compelled forage for tive movie making: meshing recent we honortoan Charlotte F. Golden • Carol Graff • Cherie Rosenstein Community Volunteerdocumentary interviews of the subjects places to stay, her fake blonde locks givextraordinary group of women ing her cover in cafés and in public, but with top-notch reenactments. Their Patricia Saphire • Melissa Sweeny risky approach is so well-conceived and she often spends the night on the street. for their commitment and dedication “I behave like everyone else,” she says. executed that The Invisibles proves more Please join Beth Abraham Synagogue Sisterhood as we honor Advocate for Individuals with Disabilities, Community Volunteer “But I watch carefully to see if anyone effective than a straightforward dramato the Jewish and general communitie an extraordinary group of women for their commitment recognizes me.” tization. and dedication to the Jewish and general communities.

Levy discovers that the cinema is a Any time we’re in danger of sucdark, warm, safe place to pass the hours, cumbing to the spell of the drama and Community Volunteer Wednesday, May 9 and those regular visits ultimately pay of “the story” overtaking history, one of 11:00 a.m. Registration • 11:30 a.m. Program & Luncheon May 7, 2014 anWednesday, unexpected dividend. the four protagonists returns in an onEugen Friede shuttles from the house camera interview to remind us that they 11:00 a.m.

Registration Community Volunteercould have been caught at any moment. of one Communist to another, forming a 11:30 a.m. Program and Luncheon These repeated interruptions reestablish bond with a flirtatious daughter during his stay. the stakes every time and are welcome.

Stella Goldschlag, a Jew who tipped Of course, seeing the four men and Attorney off the Gestapo to several Jews hiding women in later life, we know they Beth makes Abraham Synagogue in Berlin, a poignant cameo apsurvive the war. A bit of tension is pearance in The Invisibles.

So does the necessarily sacrificed, but not as much 305 Sugar Camp Circle • Dayton, Ohio 45409 fearless Werner Scharff, one of very few Intervention Specialistas you’d expect. For one thing, we (937) 293-9520 people to escape from Theresienstadt know that everyone in the protagonists’ and a fervid resister of the Nazis. circles—relatives and friends, of course, Seven thousand Jews attempted to and also the strangers who hide or Community Leader otherwise help them — will be tortured weather the post-deportation years in Service Schedule: Mon.-Fri., 6:50 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Sunday, 8:30 a.m.

Women Valor are survived. women Nonewho CARE: Berlin,of and just 1,500 and killed if they’re caught.

Kabbalat Shabbat, Fri., 5:30 p.m. theless, The Invisibles leaves us inspired Sat. Morning Service, 9 a.m.; Youth Service, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush lunch following. individually-wrapped healthy The JCC Film Fest presents The We are collecting by the cleverness, resourcefulness, and snacks In Memorium: Carol Pavlofsky Invisibles at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday,100% real-juice boxes (no red coloring) to defiance of young people, and by thebe donated April 26 at The Neon, 130 E. 5th St., CARE House, center forwho abused Community Leader, Mentor couragean of advocacy the many non-Jews hid children Dayton. Tickets are available at the door, and assisted them. at jewishdayton.org, at the Boonshoft A portrait of human beings at their CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville, or best, The Invisibles is a first-rate movie by calling Karen Steiger at 610-1555. experience.

2014

2014

Celebrating Israel at Seventy

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

Spies seek elusive Shelter

By Michael Fox Special To The Observer Eran Riklis has enjoyed one of the most successful international careers of any Israeli director, partly because so many of his films express a tempered optimism that common ground exists between Israelis and Palestinians.

From the bonding of an Israeli hostage and his PLO captors over their mutual love of soccer in Cup Final (1991) through the various empathetic relationships that propel The Syrian Bride, Lemon Tree, Zaytoun, and Dancing Arabs (based on Sayed Kashua’s autobiographical novel), Riklis’ movies advance the possibility that individuals can transcend seemingly intractable political differences if they just get to know each other personally.

Riklis’ new film, Shelter, corrals two young women — a Lebanese informant and the Mossad agent assigned to protect her — in a spacious Hamburg apartment while, unbeknownst to them, powerful geopolitical forces conspire to thwart their escape.

The movie doesn’t guide Mona and Naomi’s developing relationship in such a way to suggest that women have a better chance of forging peace in the Middle East than men. Instead, because one woman has a son and the other is trying to conceive, they represent the spring of life, and their children — the next generation — symbolize the perennial hope that peace will come one day.

Shelter screens as part of the Dayton JCC Film Fest.

The idealistic viewer is never allowed to forget, however, that Shelter is a story of spies, governments and shadowy ulterior motives. Every moviegoer versed in the thriller genre knows that dreams of a better future are usually outgunned by the base impulses of betrayal and The JCC Film Fest presents Shelter at 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, April 29 at The Neon, 130 E. 5th St., Dayton. Tickets are available at the door, at jewishdayton.org, at the Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville, or by calling Karen Steiger at 610-1555.

Eran Riklis Productions

Golshifteh Farahani in Shelter

revenge. The twist here is that although the act of revenge is necessitated by a betrayal, it fulfills a promise.

While Shelter aims to satisfy commercial expectations with the requisite tension, paranoia, and cloak-and-dagger shenanigans, Riklis is more interested in the connection that develops thanks to the close proximity of Naomi (played

by Neta Riskin) and Mona (Golshifteh Farahani). Adapted from a short story by the late Israeli author Shulamith Hareven, the film graphs points of overlap, intersection and outright transference between the characters.

Mona, the informant, is recovering from plastic surgery and going through a painful adjustment to her bandaged face and freshly shorn hair. She loses herself in an assortment of wigs, but it becomes apparent that her modeling isn’t about trying on new identities so much as the filmmaker erasing the gap between her and Naomi.

The characters’ mutual identification is the movie’s emotional linchpin and, unfortunately, it doesn’t click satisfyingly into place. Shelter is only successful to the degree that the viewer is persuaded by the actresses, and willing to forgive dialogue awkwardly translated into English.

The satisfactions of Shelter lie in the production design and photography, which contrast the domesticity of the apartment — a would-be feminine oasis, despite the encroaching dangers — with the metallic, male outside world.

The title, alas, is an illusion. There are no safe spaces, and no places where Mona and Naomi can block out their losses, regrets, and impossible choices.

Israel Day of Learning

Pasha Grill

ISRAEL: Then and Now Sunday, April 15 9:00am - 1:00pm Take a journey to Israel without leaving town!

We will explore historical and modern Israel through themes of interfaith work, integrity, wholeness, and striving for a better future. All ages are welcome and a light lunch is provided. Family sessions include hands-on learning, song, dance, art, and more.

authentic turkish cuisine

FREE of charge and open to the public RSVP to Temple

Catering & Online Delivery Available

Temple Israel • www.tidayton.org • 937.496.0050 130 Riverside Drive, Dayton, OH 45405 A Reform Synagogue open to all who are interested in Judaism.

Childcare provided during Friday services and Sunday school.

Mazel Tov to Israel at 70

$11.95 Lunch Special

Greene Town Center • 72 Plum Street, Beavercreek, Ohio 937-429 9000 • www.pashagrill.com

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2018

PAGE 35

A World of Opportunity at

Hillel Academy.

Registration is now open for the 2018-19 school year.

Students new to Hillel for 2018-19 are eligible to apply for renewable scholarships funded by the Sinai Foundation.

Proud to stand with Israel at 70

• Exemplary secular and Judaic education • Art and science professional residencies • Project-based learning and critical thinking • Students become “life-long learners.”

This has a positive impact in all of their future academic and personal endeavors • Hebrew language immersion via Tal-Am Hebrew Curriculum

Nurturing confident and successful learners daytonhillel.org 937.277.8966 • dkmecoli@daytonhillel.org