The Dayton Jewish Observer, January 2022

White supremacist flyersAfter posted on, in near Shroyer David Moss designs Grace Meals comic book Road form p. p. 222

THE DAYTON Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton

January 2022 Tevet/Shevat 5782 Vol. 26, No. 5

OBSERVER

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Joe Bettman remembered

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Joe Bettman, 1929-2021

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Coming-Of-Age

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DAYTON

White supremacist flyers posted on, near Shroyer Road

Angie Griesinger Stroud

By Marshall Weiss The Observer Oakwood residents have reported seeing White supremacist flyers affixed to posts at Shroyer Road on the OakwoodKettering line, in Oakwood at the intersection of Shroyer and Forrer Boulevard, and along the jogging path to the west of Shroyer on the OakwoodDayton line.

Sightings of nine “White Lives Matter” hate flyers on or near this main route through Oakwood have been documented at the Citizens for a Better Oakwood Facebook group since Dec. 3.

Nicole Rahter told The Observer her fifth-grade daughter spotted one on her way home from school Dec. 3, on the lamppost in their front yard, at Shroyer and Forrer.

“Before I could say, ‘Let me call the Oakwood police to look at it,’ she ripped it down,” Rahter said. “Then I just took a picture and sent it to the Oakwood police and posted it to the Citizens of Oakwood page.

I know this crap is out there and it happens. I’ve never been faced with it this brutally.”

Rahter said she posted an image of the hate flyer — which includes a website and QR code to the URL — at the Citizens for a Better Oakwood Facebook group in the hopes that her neighbors would check lampposts nearby their homes.

Oakwood resident Bradley Seligmann posted at the Facebook group that he had found Nicole Rahter

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Photo of the hate flyer Nicole Rahter’s daughter found affixed to the lamppost in the front yard of their home in Oakwood, Dec. 3.

Hate flyers found affixed to the back of a sign just west of Shroyer Road at the start of the bike/jogging path on the Oakwood-Dayton Line

three White supremacist flyers ers affixed to posts on the bike/ on a lamppost on the Kettering- jogging path west of Shroyer on Oakwood line at Shroyer Road the Oakwood-Dayton line on on Dec. 3.

Dec. 1 or 2 that were “exactly One was identical to the flyer the same” as the one Rahter Rahter shared at the Citizens for saw. Stroud said her husband a Better Oakwood group page; also ripped them down. Her the other two were smaller and husband subsequently spotted included shorter versions of the three more on the back of a sign same message, with the website on the trail a few days later and and QR code. The reported them website, White to the Oakwood ‘When you see Lives Matter Public Safety Official, includes something, as Department. a 12-page “activ- difficult as it Marcy L. Paul, ist’s manual.” senior director of may be, don’t Seligmann the Jewish Comwas walking to touch it. Take a munity Relations the Speedway said photo of it. Mark Council, at Shroyer and it’s important Dorothy Lane down where it’s for community when he saw the to have located and call members three flyers at eye a process in the police.’ level. place when they “What I did encounter hate was I actually immediately materials or hate vandalism. ripped all three down off the “When you see something, pole and ripped them up,” as difficult as it may be, don’t Seligmann said. “The stuff that touch it. Take a photo of it. was still stuck to the pole, I Mark down where it’s located ended up taking out one of my and call the police,” Paul said. keys and just sort of scraping as “This is important because we much as I could to cut the QR want to help the police do their code and the URL. I just wanted job, so they can understand the to make sure it ended with me context in which you found seeing it.” something. And please let the He added that he wasn’t JCRC know (937-610-1555), and planning to say or do anything we can help you navigate law about the hate flyers until he enforcement if you’d like our saw the post about it at the help.”

Citizens for a Better Oakwood group page. Seligmann said he Arts & Culture.......................21 initially didn’t want to draw atCalendar.............................16 tention to the racist message.

Family Education.................20 A third member of the OakObituaries.......................22 wood citizens Facebook group, O p i n i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 5 Angie Griesinger Stroud, posted Religion..........................18 that her husband found two fly-

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

DAYTON

International exhibit with Tel Aviv premiere launched via Dayton

Marcy L. Paul

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A portion of the Coming-Of-Age exhibit on display in November at the Daniel Rowing Centre in Tel Aviv, as part of Photo Is:rael’s 2021 International Photography Festival. Coming-Of-Age was curated in Dayton by Jewish Community Relations Council Senior Director Marcy L. Paul.

dozen cities across the central United States.

By Marshall Weiss, The Observer Using the PhotoVoice technique — a social The photography and written narratives of 31 justice methodology to create community change Jews, Christians, and Muslims from the United States, Hungary, and Israel ranging in ages from that incorporates photography and written narratives — Paul asked participants to high school students to lifelong answer the question, “What was your learners were featured on exhibit coming-of-age experience?” as part of Photo Is:rael’s 2021 In“They engage in it individually and ternational Photography Festival they engage in discussing as a group, in Tel Aviv, Nov. 17-27. why did you take that picture, what’s in Entitled Coming-Of-Age: Phoyour picture and what is your story?” tographs and stories from teens to Paul says. “It flows easier when you ask lifelong learners, this international a question that engages everybody in exhibit was curated by Marcy L. their own world experiences.”

Paul, senior director of Dayton’s The JCRC received a grant from the Jewish Community Relations World Religion Foundation in Dayton Council.

JCRC Senior Director for the project, as a way for teenagers Those whose works were on Marcy L. Paul and young adults to find similarities in exhibit hail from locales linked their lives and to learn about and disthrough Partnership2Gether, a program of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Dayton cuss their differences.

High school-age students met virtually for is in Partnership with Israel’s Western Galilee along with Budapest, Hungary, and more than a Continued on Page Four

Bark Mitzvah Boy

From the editor’s desk

Tu B’ or not Tu B’.

Shevat.

Kosher Ham-let c O Menachem

Now that we’ve passed the winter solstice, we can truly say each day gets brighter. Yes, spring seems a long way off in Ohio, but in January we celebrate the first signs of spring in Israel, the holiday of Tu B’Shevat. To really be Marshall alive, we must continue to grow. We Weiss can learn much from our stewardship of the earth’s harvests. We could all use more time in the sun. We could all drink more water. This year, Tu B’Shevat falls on Monday, Jan. 17, also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Is there a connection?

There’s always a connection. King once said, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” This is the counterpoint to a quote from first-century sage Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai: “If you are holding a sapling in your hand and someone tells you, ‘Come quickly, the Messiah is here,’ first finish planting the tree and then go to greet the Messiah.” Whether life appears hopeless or our hopes have been fulfilled, we must continue to do our part for our world.

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DAYTON

THE DAYTON

International exhibit Continued from Page Three University of Jewish sessions with other high school Studies. students around the world.

“When I went into So did young adults. Along this, I usually don’t the way, Paul found that older have any hypothesis, adults in Dayton wanted to but I certainly had participate too. assumptions,” she “We had three groups,” Paul says of Coming-Ofsays. “We had teens that came Age. from Dayton, San Antonio, She anticipated Budapest, and Western Galilee; participants would we had college students from share their religious Omaha, Dayton, Budapest, and coming-of-age expethe Western Galilee. And while riences. the Interfaith Forum of Dayton “Some people did was helping me recruit, they that, most people did thought it was very interestnot. And so, I found ing and started to talk about that to be fascinating, their experiences looking back. to hear the differComing-Of-Age photo by Eszter Krauth, Budapest These were older people, and ences and to have they wanted to have a group. them talk about it and share, student Ben Biton selected a Israel to visits there.

I said great. Let’s have lifelong especially amongst the people photo of himself behind barbed “Montgomery County Comlearners.” in the different countries to talk wire at the former prison in missioner Carolyn Rice is a Paul, who Akko, now a museum, where member of the Dayton Sister Marcy L. Paul about their received experiences.” the British held members of the City Committee and is co-chair her Ph.D. in One particiunderground resistance in the of Holon, just south of Tel multicultural pant who did period that led to the establish- Aviv,” she notes. “Rice has rewomen’s and focus on reliment of the state of Israel (see energized our relationship with gender studies, gion was high cover).

Holon. We meet monthly to was an asschool senior “My picture captures the discuss topics of interest such as sistant profesHaley Cole of moment in life when you feel economic development, cultural sor with the Miamisburg, like you are barely holding your arts, and educational initiatives University of who converted head above the water, when with a goal of creating connecNorth Texas to Judaism you are about to tions between Health Science when she was give up,” Biton Each community us.”

Center in Fort 16. writes. “This moPaul says she Worth, Texas “The moment, just before that participated first fell in love before her arment I decided you give up, can in Coming-Ofwith Partnershiprival in Dayton to live a Jewish light up a spark 2Gether in 2015 The Daniel Rowing Centre, Tel Aviv two years ago. life is the mothat can be seen Age will receive when she lived in She recruited the college ment I began to grow and heal,” in your eyes, the a complete Fort Worth. students for Coming-Of-Age she writes in the narrative that will to keep the “I was part while co-teaching a Partnership accompanies her photo (below). fight and be the version of the of a leadership academic class earlier this year “Judaism saved my life and will person you want exhibit. group for the with the University of Neforever be my coming-of-age to be.”

Jewish Federabraska, Omaha, Western Galilee story.”

PhotoVoice is the same techtion there and the last piece of College in Akko, and Budapest Western Galilee College nique Paul has used to facilitate that leadership program was Partnership2Gether’s a trip to Israel,” she recalls. “I SlidingDors: Voices of had not been to Israel since the Second Generation 1977. Because Fort Worth is in project, which brings our Partnership, we went up adult children of Holointo our Partnership area and caust survivors together were hosted in small, intimate to help them share their gatherings with Partnership stories. folks up there. I felt like I was While in Israel in No- back at camp. Some of the kids vember for the Coming- call me Doda (aunt). I feel like I Of-Age exhibit at Tel have family there.”

Aviv’s Daniel Rowing The Jewish Federation of Centre, Paul met with Greater Dayton’s graphic dethe Israeli SlidingDors signer, Jordan Moyer, collaboparticipants. rated with Paul on the program She also presented a book to accompany Coming-Oftalk on Coming-Of-Age Age. for Photo Is:rael, and at Paul says that each comWestern Galilee Colmunity that participated in lege taught two classes: Coming-Of-Age will receive a Cultural Identity and complete version of the exhibit.

Criminology and Multicultural Therapies.

To view the complete ComingSince Holon, Israel is Of-Age exhibit online, go to one of Dayton’s sister jewishdayton.org/program/ cities, Paul dedicated jewish-community-relationsmuch of her time in council-jcrc.

OBSERVER daytonjewishobserver.org Editor and Publisher Marshall Weiss MWeiss@jfgd.net 937-610-1555 Contributors Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Candace R. Kwiatek Advertising Sales Executive Patty Caruso, plhc69@gmail.com Proofreader Rachel Haug Gilbert Billing Sheila Myers, SMyers@jfgd.net 937-610-1555 Observer Advisor Martin Gottlieb Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton Dr. Heath Gilbert President Bruce Feldman Immediate Past Pres.

Mary Rita Weissman Pres. Elect/VP, Personnel/Foundation Chair Beverly Louis Secretary Neil Friedman Treasurer Dan Sweeny VP, Resource Development Cathy Gardner CEO The Dayton Jewish Observer, Vol. 26, No. 5. 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 columnists, in readers’ letters, and in opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinion of staff or layleaders of The Dayton Jewish Observer or the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton. 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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Please recycle this newspaper.

Coming-Of-Age photo by Haley Cole, Dayton

PAGE 4

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

DAYTON

A Jewish community patriarch, Joe Bettman dies at 92 Longtime pharmacist Joe Bettman — a social justice activist and leader of numerous key Jewish community organizations and initiatives over more than five decades — died Dec. 17 at the age of 92.

Bettman, who along with his wife, Elaine, and Sister Dorothy Kammerer founded the House of Bread community kitchen in 1983, served as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton from 1997 to 1999.

He also chaired Covenant House, the Federation’s nursing home; the Jewish Community Center; the Federation’s annual campaign, soliciting its major gifts; and Federation’s Operation Exodus campaign in 1990-91, which raised close to $2 million and resettled nearly 200 Jews here from the former Soviet Union.

He and his wife also played key roles helping those new arrivals acclimate to life in America.

Two decades before, the couple was active in the campaign to desegregate Dayton Public Schools.

Bettman’s leadership of the Federation was the culmination of his hands-on volunteer work stretching back to the 1950s and his hometown of Cincinnati.

“My folks were both immigrants,” he once told The Observer. “My dad was from the Ukraine. He came over when he was 17 or 18. My mother was from Lithuania. She was brought over as a 2-year-old child.”

Bettman loved to sing. As a young man, he joined the choir at Cincinnati’s Lexington Avenue Synagogue, now Adath Israel Congregation. A 1947 graduate of Walnut Hills High School, he received his degree from the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy (now the UC James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy) in 1951 and then went into the army for two years.

He met his future wife at Cincinnati’s JCC. “We corresponded all the time I was in the service, we got engaged, and off we went. We came to Dayton from Cincinnati to buy a small drug store.”

For 56 years — until he was 83 in 2012 — Joe Bettman was behind the counter of Bettman’s Pharmacy, most of those years at its location on Miracle Lane, near Salem Avenue.

When he and Elaine lived in Cincinnati’s Avondale neighborhood before their move to Dayton, they would go door to door for United Jewish Appeal, collecting 50 cents or a dollar from Holocaust survivors who had recently arrived from Europe.

In the 1960s, the couple joined the Dayton Jewish Federation’s young leadership training program. By 1968, Joe and Elaine received the Federation’s young leadership awards, the first time a husband and wife won those awards in the same year in any Jewish community in the United States and Canada.

Joe Bettman often shared the story of how the Jewish Federation’s annual campaign operated when he was first starting out in Dayton. It was a gathering of all the men in the Jewish community. The campaign chair had a stack of cards with the men’s names in alphabetical order. He would call out each name and ask each man at the gathering how much he was going to give that year.

Joe said that his name came right after that of philanthropist Arthur Beerman, one of the most successful real estate developers and department store owners in Dayton at that time.

Jewish Federation retired Executive Vice President Peter Wells, who knew Bettman since 1973, remembered him as a salt-of-the-earth leader and donor.

“People felt very comfortable with his leadership style,” Wells said. “He

‘Joe was the type of person who thought about others first before he ever thought about himself.’

JFGD

Elaine and Joe Bettman receive the Jewish Community Council (now Jewish Federation) 1968 young leadership awards from Harris S. Abrahams (Center).

This was the first time a husband and wife won these awards in the same year in any Jewish community in the United States and Canada.

JFGD

thought about himself. was a hands-on person.

He would give you the He went out across the shirt off of his back,” country doing fundraisMel Caplan, retired JCC ing for UJA. I remember director, recalled. “And Joe and members of he was always available. his family going to the Even with his long hours Dayton airport to pick working in the pharup Russian Jews and macy.” then bringing them back Through every chapter to their fully furnished of his life, Joe Bettman apartments. The Betcontinued singing. His tmans had already made rich bass resonated on all the arrangements.” the bimas (stages) at all The refrigerators were of Dayton’s synagogues fully stocked with food and at Covenant House, and there were flowers with cantorial solos at on the table.

Joe Bettman, 1929-2021 community events, with “We needed to raise congregational choirs, and with the Daymoney immediately for the families ton Jewish Chorale. who were moving to Dayton,” Bettman “I’ll never forget our trip to Poland told The Observer in an interview about and Israel in the early 1980s,” Wells Operation Exodus. “We did not have months, we had weeks, between Pesach said. “Under the Communists, during the Lech Walesa Solidarity period, we and Shavuot. For so many of us, our davened (prayed) at the Great Synagogue roots were in Eastern Europe. We felt a in Warsaw. Hearing him daven there, kinship to the people who were movseeing him daven there, with everything ing into Dayton because our parents that was in him — that’s how I rememand grandparents had made the same ber Joe Bettman. As a tzadik (a righteous move.” person), as a mensch (a humane per“Joe was the type of person who — Marshall Weiss thought about others first before he ever son).”

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

PAGE 5

DAYTON

THE REGION Peter Wine

Former Columbus man sentenced to prison for antisemitic hate crime

By Stephen Langel, Columbus Jewish News A man charged with a hate crime for making antisemitic threats and comments to his nextdoor neighbors in Columbus, and who broke their window last year, was sentenced to six months in prison, Nov. 23.

Douglas G. Schifer, 66, was accused of using force and threatening his neighbors, Tiffany and Nick Kinney of the Columbus neighborhood of Olde Towne East, because they are Jewish. Schifer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge June 28 in the U.S. District Court of Southern Ohio in Columbus as part of a plea arrangement.

In addition to six months in prison, Schifer Among the local social justice leaders called on to illuminate the will be under supervised release for one year menorah at the JCC’s Chanukah On Ice at RiverScape Dec. 5 was after leaving prison, said the Kinneys’ lawyer, YWCA CEO Shannon Isom. The lighting was sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council as part of a grant received through the Carole S. Rendon. He must also pay a $50,000 National Shine A Light on Antisemitism initiative. ‘We stand united in our fine along with nearly $700 in restitution for support of our Jewish community to say that hate has no home here, damages to the Kinneys’ home. and together, we will build a brighter world filled with peace, justice, Under the terms of his plea agreement, Schifer freedom, and dignity for all,’ Isom said at the ceremony. was facing a maximum of one year in prison and up to $100,000 in fines.

Court documents state that on Nov. 7, 2020, Schifer broke one of the windows of the Kinneys’ home and spat at one of them. He allegedly said he would shoot the Kinneys, poison their dog, Hillel Academy, the Dayton area’s Jewish day school for grades and burn down a garage they were remodelK through six, has launched a matching-gift campaign for its new ing into an apartment. An FBI investigator said alumni scholarship fund. Through Dec. 31, all contributions to the Schifer made references to gassing Jewish people scholarship fund will be matched dollar for dollar by an anonyand burning them in ovens, according to the mous donor. complaint.

According to the school, the scholarship will provide funds to The Kinneys were celebrating the presidential any family who wants to send its Jewish children to Hillel, while election victory of Joe Biden in their backyard also honoring Hillel alumni. with two other couples when they allegedly “The alumni scholarship fund provides an opportunity for hun- became the victims of antisemitic threats and dreds of Hillel alumni to give back to their school and help our vandalism by a neighbor. Schifer was arrested community’s children form strong Jewish identities and lifelong March 18, 2021. connections with Israel,” Hillel’s president, Andy Schwartz said.

In letters submitted to the court on Sept. 10 ”We are excited to see some of our alumni stepping up to keep as part of the sentencing, the Kinneys sought school affordable and help us meet our match. Supporting Hillel prison time for Schifer, recounting not only his is an investment in the future of our Dayton Jewish community.” alleged behavior on Nov. 7, but what they said Hillel will continue its fundraising for the alumni scholarship in is a pattern of antisemitism and racism that he 2022, the school’s 60th anniversary year. For more information, go displayed over the years, including using racial to daytonhillel.org or call 937-277-8966. slurs and threats against other neighbors.

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Chief Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Preston Deavers presided over the case. Nick Kinney wrote that Schifer “has yet to be held accountable for his violent offenses against our neighbors or the verbal abuse of his tenants. Doug deserves no less than the full penalty of his actions and my family and my community will not feel justice has been served until he has left our neighborhood for good. Any punishment which would allow Doug to remain in this neighborhood as a neighbor to Tiffany, our son, Isaac, and me is an immediate threat to my family and our community as a whole and will be a gross injustice to the Olde Towne East community.”

Schifer, residing in Bucyrus, Ohio, relocated out of Franklin County while the case was ongoing.

In her letter, Tiffany Kinney said, “Doug needs therapy. He needs rehabilitation. He needs imprisonment to learn from his mistakes. No one should be able to threaten people’s lives and torment individuals for the color of their skin or the religion they choose to practice and get away with it. I ask of you Judge Deavers, to please consider a decent length of time for Doug’s prison sentencing, a monitored path to sobriety, a requirement to no longer live in our neighborhood, and a restriction from owning any weapons.”

Rendon said that while she believes this was a fair sentence, it still cannot make up for Schifer’s actions.

“While I agree that this is a fair and appropriate sentence, I also recognize that no sentence can undo the fear my clients endured or the impact this kind of abhorrent criminal conduct will continue to have on the Kinneys and others far into the future,” she said.

Schifer’s attorney, Samuel H. Shamansky, disagreed with the severity of the sentence.

“I believe Douglas Schifer deserved to be placed on probation,” Shamansky told the CJN. “He accepted complete responsibility for his crime, remains remorseful, and is unlikely to reoffend.”

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

THE WORLD Y.U.

‘Is this really Y.U.?’

At Yeshiva U., students get used to their basketball team winning again and again

By Ben Sales, New York Jewish Week In early 2019, before his college’s men’s basketball team began a historic and unlikely winning streak, Jonathan Malek and three friends decided to catch a game.

Back then, it was easy to get a seat at a Yeshiva University basketball game.

Their team, the Maccabees, which plays in Division III of the NCAA, wasn’t known as a powerhouse. But Malek and his friends were nonetheless taken by the idea of a Jewish team giving it their all on the court while wearing kipas.

They began a group text where they would chat about the Macs.

The only problem was they didn’t know many of the players’ names. As an homage to their ignorance, they named the group text This Kid, the anonymous moniker they would give to team members they didn’t recognize.

Two seasons and 50 wins in a row later, all that has changed. Yeshiva University’s team is 14-0 this season.

They’re ranked number one in Division III, and getting attention not just from campus but from the likes of ESPN. The school’s athletic center is at capacity, at least in Covid terms, for every home

game. The names of the stars — Ryan Turell, Gabe Liefer, Ofek Reef — have become known across New York Orthodox Jewish households and beyond.

Malek and his friends still faithfully attend the games. “I remember before the win streak, and honestly they didn’t get a crowd until the playoffs started,” he said. “Games were pretty much empty. Now, with the win streak, if you’re Ofek Reef regularly scores in double-figures for the Yeshiva University men’s basketball team, currently enjoying the longest streak in men’s college basketball not there a half hour before gametime, you’re not getting a seat.” roughly 2,000 undergraduates, split less finding energy to follow the team.

Like Malek’s quartet of superfans, between a men’s-only college in WashProfessors are letting students out of Jews in New York and beyond are payington Heights and a women’s-only col- class early to head to the athletic center. ing increasing attention to the Orthodox lege in midtown. At the men’s campus, Thousands more viewers are tuning in college in upper Manhattan that hasn’t where the team plays, students study online to games broadcast by students. lost a game since 2019 and just might Talmud in the morning and their secular The administration, which did not win a national championship. curriculum in the afternoon, with classes respond to requests for comment, It’s a surprising turn for Y.U., which often stretching into the night. name-checked the team in its year-end has historically been famous for rabbinIt’s a demanding schedule that fundraising drive, below notes about ics, not athletics. The flagship institution doesn’t leave lots of time for pep rallies its Jewish educational centers and other of Modern Orthodox Judaism, Y.U. has Continued on Page Eight and the like, but students are nonethe-

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Temple Beth Or

THE WORLD Courtesy of Malek

Adult Learning

Opportunities Temple Beth Or’s Active and Engaging Adult Education Committee Offers many enriching programs including:

An Exploration of the Jewish Short Story

Read a Jewish short story (and we mean short), and come to a follow-up discussion, held on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. You will make new friends, renew your current friendships, and deepen your understanding of Jewish life through the ages in a welcoming, engaging forum. Meets January 12. Learn More & register:

templebethor.com/an-exploration-of-the-jewish-short-story

Chai Mitzvah

Chai Mitzvah is a personal Jewish journey to share with friends, with groups in 39 states and 6 countries. Chai Mitzvah meets on Zoom.

Meets January 6. For more upcoming dates & to register:

templebethor.com/chai-mitzvah/

Join our Apocryphal Study group: What is the Apocrypha?

The Tanach (Hebrew Bible) is comprised of scripture canonized by the Talmudic Sages around the end of the first century CE, after the destruction of the Second Temple. However, there were many controversial books that were excluded from the scriptures, and these books are known as the Apocrypha (Greek for ‘hidden books’).

What made the books controversial and why were they excluded from our Hebrew bible? What new truths do they reflect about Jewish practice in the biblical period? How do they help us understand Judaism today? These are the questions we explore on Shabbat mornings twice a month.

Join us on Zoom as Rabbi Judy Chessin leads us in an exploration of the text. Conversations are always fascinating and provocative.

January 8, and 22, 10:00 a.m. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89557418327

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

To d a y . . . a n d f o r G e n e r a t i o n s PAGE 8

Yeshiva students Jonathan Malek, Sammy Lekowsky, Justin Goldman and Charles Schaechter pose at a Macs basketball game

Y.U.

Continued from Page Seven academic programs.

“People can’t really imagine Jews dunking that much on an NCAA level,” said Charles Schaechter, another member of Malek’s group. “Seeing that happen on a regular basis and being able to blow out other teams is incredible. People are still shocked: Is this really Y.U.? Are we really watching our team play?”

The school’s small size contributes to the Macs’ appeal, students say, because in many cases they’re rooting for their friends and classmates. Malek has two classes with the team’s star, Ryan Turell — their morning Talmud lesson and a class on Jewish law in the workplace, where they sit next to each other.

Turell’s parents, Laurel and Brad, are also fixtures at the games.

“Everyone in the school is in at least one class with one person” on the team, says Akiva Poppers, executive producer of MacsLive, a student-run platform that broadcasts home games on YouTube.

“It’s not like a school where the players walk around and they are celebrities,” Poppers said. “It’s not like a larger school where everyone knows the player, and the player doesn’t know anyone.”

Despite that intimate feel, MacsLive has seen its audience skyrocket, from a few hundred viewers a few years ago to 8,500 for a recent game this year. It has also received $35,000 in donations and $12,000 in funding from departments of Y.U., allowing Poppers to run a crew of four cameras at games and show instant replays.

He has 50 students on his team, including a rotating crew of announcers who call every game, and a reporter on the sidelines. The broadcasts include a short pregame show, a halftime show, postgame analysis, network-grade graphics and ads from sponsors, including Better Image Contracting, a rehab center and an Israeli nonprofit.

Yet the game experience at Y.U.

differs from the rest of college basketball. The crowd sings Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem, along with The Star-Spangled Banner. Before a recent livestream, a MacsLive announcer referred to the game as taking place on motzei Shabbat, the Hebrew term for Saturday night after dark.

Malik and other fans readily admit that they need to put more effort into making up crowd chants. Then again, when March comes around, they’ll burst out into Mishenichnas Adar, an upbeat song celebrating the Hebrew month, which usually coincides with the annual NCAA tournament. (The Division III tournament, cancelled last year due to Covid, culminates March 18 and 19, in Fort Wayne, Ind.) “Within these two or three blocks of the Heights, I think it’s very special,” said Elazar Abrahams, Y.U.’s student council president. “Jews all over the country feel represented.”

One place where the Macs’ pull is not as strong is at Stern College, Y.U.’s women’s school, which is located in Murray Hill. While fans say that there are always women students in the crowd, they’re significantly outnumbered by their male peers. A women’s student council official declined an interview because she wrote that she is “not a huge follower of sports at YU.” “Some people also just maybe don’t feel comfortable being in the guys’ building, so they won’t go and watch for that reason,” said Nina Yurovsky, who plays for Y.U.’s women’s team, about her classmates at Stern. “Some people also just don’t know enough about basketball or have interest in sports.”

Allegations of sexual misconduct Yurovsky also said that some women students may be disinclined to watch because, in August, a female student published an essay in The Commentator, the student newspaper, accusing an unidentified basketball player of raping her. In the piece, the anonymous writer wrote that after a lengthy investigation by the school, during which the administration asked her to sign a non-disclo-

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

THE WORLD sure agreement, “I have been University Observer, the student told to just deal with it and that paper of the women’s college. nothing can be done by Y.U. — Additionally, some women not one thing.” at Stern have complained that She specifically said the women’s sports receive far less school has done nothing to enattention than the male teams. sure her safety on campus, and That is a common complaint that she was called derogatory across all of collegiate sports, names in the presence of others but Y.U.’s Orthodox affiliation by another team member after and gender separation add a reporting the incident. layer to that disparity.

Y.U. did not respond to a Because of traditional Jewish New York Jewish Week request modesty laws, the school profor comment regarding the hibits the women’s team from rape allegations. Soon after playing in the athletic center on the essay was published, the the men’s campus, where men school told the Forward that would be able to watch women it addressed the allegation playing in shorts in a Yeshiva “in a caring, sensitive, and facility, according to The Comcompassionate manner fully mentator. There is no restriction consistent with our compliance on women watching the men’s policies,” and that it “immeteam. diately retained independent Because of that, the women’s investigators to conduct a team plays its “home” games comprehensive inquiry into the in other facilities, such that, allegations.”

Yurovsky said, “basically all The school told the Forward our home games are away that it was “legally limited in games.” what we are able to share” and Yurovsky added that though that “a final determination was there isn’t much communicamade based on a full evaluation between the women’s and tion of all available informamen’s teams, it is “thrilling” to tion.” The statement did not watch the men’s success, and elaborate on what that determi- that she sees ways to improve nation was. her own play ‘The fans have A subsewhile watching quent letter to extremely high their games. students from Another expectations of the sports Karen Bacon, maven team. People can’t who apprecidean of the undergraduate imagine Y.U. losing ates watchfaculty of arts ing the Macs’ a game anymore.’ gameplay is and sciences, said that the Aaron Kaplowadministration had started itz, who used to write about meeting with groups of stubasketball for publications dents to discuss their concerns. including The New York Times.

She wrote that the school He has been to all but one Macs would update its website to game this season — home and better display processes for away — and calls them “the reporting allegations of sexual most selfless college basketball misconduct as well as resources team you’ll see.” He recalled a available to students. particularly exciting and nerveThe letter added that the wracking game came on Nov. school supports “reporting any 28, against Manhattanville Colincident to the police.” Under lege, when the Macs were trailthe federal civil rights law ing at halftime. The game was known as Title IX, reporting to saved by Turell, who scored 51 the police is considered a perpoints, a school record. sonal choice of the accuser.

“There was a point in the Several students declined to second half where he just put comment on the record regardhis head down and took over,” ing the rape allegation, and Kaplowitz said.

Yurovsky said student protest Moments like that are still regarding the university’s exciting, but they’re also beresponse has “toned down” coming less of a surprise as the recently. team wins again and again (alA private student Facebook though followers note that its group created in response to next game, on Dec. 30 against the school’s handling of the Illinois Wesleyan University, allegation, We Stand with Surthe number-four team in the vivors, had 221 members as of country, will be a test).

Dec. 20.

“The fans have extremely There was also a walkout high expectations of the team,” planned to protest the school’s Schaechter said. “People can’t response, but it was later canimagine Y.U. losing a game celled, according to the Yeshiva anymore.”

A Christmas tree, a massive menorah, and a lawsuit J. The Jewish News of Northern California

Inside the latest fight over holidays in public schools

By Gabe Stutman J. The Jewish News of Northern California For some time, Shel Lyons has scrutinized her children’s public elementary school for what she describes as a pattern of favoring Christianity over other religions.

This year, the Jewish parent found what she thought Shel Lyons, a parent at Carmel River School in northern California, sued was clear evidence when an the school Dec. 7, 2021 after it refused to allow an inflatable menorah (L) outdoor tree lighting was at an event centered around the school's ‘holiday tree’ (R) planned at the school, located in Carmel, Calif. required the school to allow the — which is unconstitutional by a public school, according to She asked to bring a giant inflatable menorah. the Establishment Clause of the inflatable menorah to display Three days after that, Lyons First Amendment. alongside the tree, but the — who has a third-grader at Officials at the Carmel River school’s administration and the K-5 school and is the parent School contend that the tree parent-teacher organization of two of its graduates — vollighting was nonreligious in denied the request. untarily withdrew the suit, Three days before the after a judge found she had not nature and intended only to celebrate the holiday season. planned Dec. 10 tree lighting, met the “high standard” reLyons took them to court over quired for the restraining order. But Lyons saw the Dec. 10 event as not a religion-neutral it. An attorney, Lyons filed a The dispute has raised deaffair but a Christian one. lawsuit in the Northern District cades-old questions about how The allegations of “systemic of California against the school to properly include students endorsement of Christian bedistrict, Superintendent Ted of different faiths at a public liefs” were “very serious,” and Knight and Carmel River elementary school, and has “the feelings of exclusion expeSchool Principal Jay Marden, also revived a national debate rienced by the minor children seeking a temporary restrainover what it means to show ing order that would have Continued on Page 10 preference to a specific religion

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THE WORLD

Lawsuit

were made earlier she would have considered it.

To many Jews, the idea of decorating Continued from Page Nine a tree in December with a Jewish object are particularly troubling,” Judge Beth feels odd, if not unseemly. Rabbi Bruce Labson Freeman wrote in the ruling Greenbaum of Carmel’s Reform synaagainst a restraining order. gogue, Congregation Beth Israel, said But she did not rule on a larger queshe would in general advise congregants tion posed in Lyons’ lawsuit: whether against it. the school had shown a pattern of Greenbaum sent his children to the favoring Christianity.

Carmel River School and said he called The Dec. 10 gathering was hosted by to voice his displeasure when he heard Carmel River School’s PTA, which reabout the recent controversy. quired the permission of administrators “Don’t turn your chanukiah into a to hold the event on school property.

Christmas decoration,” he said. “That’s Though described as a tree lighting, desecrating the chanukiah.” the festivities also involved He didn’t buy the notion decorating the tree, planted on that the tree lighting ceremony school grounds, with ornawas unrelated to Christmas, ments. despite the tree being an existLyons saw the event plainly ing one on school grounds. as a Christmas tree ceremony “I told them there’s no such and said that while Christmasthing as a tree lighting, which themed celebrations and is what they’re calling it,” he symbols are everywhere at said. “You can call it a tree the school, symbols of other lighting, but it’s just a ChristUniv. of Dayton holidays, such as Chanukah mas tree lighting.” law Prof. Charles and Kwanzaa, are not.

Russo The Carmel Unified School The school does make atDistrict did not respond to a tempts to include Chanukah around the request for comment, citing ongoing holidays. But when a Chanukah song litigation. was sung at her child’s kindergarten Legally, Lyons — who had asked holiday music show several years ago, the judge to declare the Carmel River Lyons said, it was introduced as an School’s practices unconstitutional, “Israeli” song, implying to her that the and to order school administrators to Christmas songs were simply “Americhange course — faced an uphill climb can” songs. from the beginning.

“I had to explain to them we are That’s according to Charles Russo, not Israeli, my daughter doesn’t speak a law professor at the University of Hebrew,” she said.

Dayton who specializes in education Prior to the tree lighting event, the law and in 2014 coauthored a paper on PTA invited school families to bring an legal issues surrounding the celebration item to decorate the of Christmas in public tree “that reflects their schools. family, heritage, and/ Russo pointed to or faith.” the fact that, in the Lyons said she and 1989 Supreme Court her husband “were case County of Alleghshocked by the ignoeny v. American Civil rance and offensiveLiberties Union, in ness of that suggeswhich the ACLU sued tion.” They didn’t the Pittsburgh county want to hang anything over displays of a related to their family’s menorah, Christmas Judaism on a tree that’s tree and nativity scene a symbol of a Christian on city property, the court held that the holiday.

Christmas tree “is not itself a religious Instead, she asked to bring a Chasymbol.” nukah object — a 6-foot tall inflatable “If the school officials did not have chanukiah, or Chanukah menorah — to some explicit Christian symbol,” like a display alongside the tree. baby Jesus or a nativity scene, he said, The PTA and the school refused, say“I don’t think (the lawsuit) is going to ing it did not meet the qualifications for go too far.” an ornament: that the object be able to Lyons said she has not ruled out filfit into a paper lunch bag. ing a new lawsuit. She also said she had “Large inflatables have never been looked into finding a new school for her used on the School campus as part third-grader, but the other elementary of December holiday celebrations,” school in her district was full.

Marden wrote in a declaration filed She said ultimately she was diswith the court. mayed by the school’s response to her The school said it offered Lyons the complaints, whether administrators are opportunity to display her inflatable legally protected or not. menorah elsewhere “when the use If the law allows the school’s apwould not conflict with the scheduled proach, “it doesn’t matter if it’s right or event.” Lyons said the offer was made wrong,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if after Chanukah had ended, but if it kids get hurt.”

The PTA invited school families to bring an item to decorate the tree ‘that reflects their family, heritage, and/or faith.’

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UPCOMING EVENT Connect with us! Check out our events. For more information, check out our calendar at jewishdayton.org.

Saturday, January 15 @ 7-9PM — JYG at Scene 75 Monday, January 17 — Camp Shalom School Days Out (MLK Jr. Day)

Questions? Contact Meryl Hattenbach at mhattenbach@jfgd.net or by calling 937-610-1555 for more information about these programs.

Coming Soon!

2022

The Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton is excited to announce the 2022 Leadership Institute! This program gives emerging leaders in the Dayton Jewish community the opportunity to: • Learn, network, and grow their leadership skills • Make a positive impact on their community • Attend a national conference with provided stipend Applications will be available at jewishdayton.org on January 3, 2022.

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PAGE 11

January JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

Legacies, Tributes, & Memorials

398

FEDERATION

Letters of intent received to benefit our community with an estimated value of

$10,314,845 in the first four years of the LIFE & LEGACY™ program.

THANK YOU to our donors!

UNITED JEWISH CAMPAIGN IN MEMORY OF › Howard Faust Donna and Marshall Weiss PJ LIBRARY IN HONOR OF › The birth of Sarah and Toss Schild’s granddaughter, Hannah Marcia and Ed Kress DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER ENDOWMENT FUND IN MEMORY OF › Gertrude Kahn Harriet and Don Klass HOLOCAUST PROGRAMMING FUND IN MEMORY OF › Gertrude Kahn. A loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandma, great-grandma and Holocaust survivor Aliza Lambert › Gertrude Kahn Peggy and Bob Schram Marie and Michael McManus Sally and Mark Bram Helene Gordon Elaine and Joe Bettman ROBERT L. AND RITA Z. CLINE BIKER HAVERIM ENDOWMENT IN MEMORY OF › Milton A. Marks and Richard Marks Meredith A. Cline JCC

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CAROLE RABINOWITZ CAMP FUND IN MEMORY OF › Eleanor Weiser Bernie Rabinowitz › Ken Schriber Bernie Rabinowitz

JEWISH FOUNDATION of GREATER DAYTON

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER of GREATER DAYTON

IN HONOR OF › Recovery of Jeff Froelich Bernie Rabinowitz Beverly Louis › The marriage of Ellie and Bob Bernstein and Judy Bailey’s grandson Bernie Rabinowitz › Recovery of Jeff Froelich Beverly Louis

ROBERT AND MOLLIE FITTERMAN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND IN MEMORY OF › Mollie and Robert Fitterman Susan and Alan Witte JOAN AND PETER WELLS AND REBECCA LINVILLE FAMILY, CHILDREN AND YOUTH FUND IN MEMORY OF › Ken Schriber Joan and Peter Wells IN HONOR OF › The birth of twin granddaughters to Marla and Steve Harlan Joan and Peter Wells BEN AND DOROTHY HARLAN CHILDREN’S FUND IN MEMORY OF › Ken Schriber Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Harlan IN HONOR OF › The recovery of Jeff Froelich Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Harlan JFS

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES IN HONOR OF › The birth of twin granddaughters to Marla and Steve Harlan Beverly and Jeff Kantor FOUNDATION

JEREMY BETTMAN B’NAI TZEDEK YOUTH PHILANTHROPY FUND IN MEMORY OF › Gertrude Kahn Jean and Todd Bettman IN HONOR OF › The retirement of Alan Brown Jean and Todd Bettman

A Biss'l Mamaloshen Firn

| FIR-en | Verb

1. To lead, guide, conduct, run, manage, preside over (a meeting), wage (a war).

2. To carry, convey. 3. To walk, take (by vehicle), wheel, ferry, drive (a car), fly (a plane).

Expressions using firn: 1. Hostu chasene blind, vet dayn vayb dich firn bay der noz.

Marry blindly and your wife will lead you by the nose.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES of GREATER DAYTON

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JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON

TEMPLE BETH OR

2. Kol zman di beheyme lozt zich melkn, firt men zi nisht tzum shoychet.

As long as the cow lets herself be milked, she will not be taken to the slaughterer.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

January JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

School Days Out Monday, January 17 (MLK DAY)

Monday, February 21 (PRESIDENTS’ DAY)

8AM–5:30PM @ Temple Beth Or (5275 Marshall Rd., Dayton, 45429) Enjoy fun, friends, and field trips Camp Shalom style!

Register online at jewishdayton.org!

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For more information, visit

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

PAGE 13

January JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

Thank you for joining us for

Jewish Community Center OF GREATER DAYTON

The JCC Early Chilhood Care & Education is now enrolling!

Select spots available.

Please contact Audrey MacKenzie, JCC Early Childhood Director at amackenzie@jfgd.net.

PAGE 14

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

OPINION

My teenage son wasn’t surprised when antisemites attacked him on TikTok. That makes me angry.

By Jessica Russak-Hoffman “Why does everybody hate us?” My son Izzy asked me this question after a man with a machete attacked Jews at a Chanukah party in Monsey, N.Y. in 2019. Izzy was 12 years old when he flopped onto the couch, kicked up his feet and asked the question no Jewish parent wants to hear.

I spoke to him about the history of antisemitism, how it’s always irrational, and how when we’re hurt for being Jewish, we need to be even more outspoken in our Judaism. That to really be a “Bear Jew” — like the Nazi-hunting character in the revenge fantasy Inglourious Basterds — we stand up and fight back with pride. As Elsa says to Jojo in Jojo Rabbit, “There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen

by God.” So when the antisemitic comments started to pour in after a TikTok video of Izzy laying tefillin went viral in November, he was somewhat prepared and, sadly, unsurprised.

A few weeks ago, we went to New York for a wedding and stayed with my sister Melinda Strauss, who shares videos about Jewish life and kosher food with over 420,000 followers on her account My Orthodox Jewish Life.

Some of her followers had asked to see a video of someone putting on tefillin, the black box and leather straps used by Jews in their weekday morning prayers.

When she saw Izzy about to daven, she asked if she could film him as he wrapped the tefillin around his head and arm.

Izzy and his aunt joked all the time about her TikTok and how if he ever stayed at her house, he’d want to be featured, so he gladly obliged.

At first the comments were a combination of sweet and curious. Some people thanked her for sharing the beauty of her faith, and some wanted to learn more about tefillin. A week or two went by.

And then Izzy wandered into the living room with a half-smile on his face.

“Mom, I’m famous,” he quipped. He told me there were over 3 million views and he’d scrolled through over 2,000 comments and found...lots of antisemitism.

He sat down next to me. I opened the app and looked through it with him,

So, what do you think?

Image via TikTok/Montage by Grace Yagel

The comment section of Melinda Strauss' TikTok account filled up with antisemitic remarks after she posted a video of her son, Izzy, above, putting on a set of tefillin

mocking the really dark comments that included: “That’s it! To the gas chamber.” “Should of died in the gas chamber.” “Gas them allllllll.” “Yo! Hitler is behind you.” “I snitched on u to the Germans.” “Zey are in ze attic.”

We also made jokes about the Jesusspecific comments that included: “Does he have to wear that to apologize for killing Jesus?”

“Repent and believe in Jesus Christ!”

“When do y’all crucify Jesus? Ah. Wait. Y’all already did that.”

Izzy’s sense of humor is perfectly suited to this classic Jewish coping mechanism of mocking antisemitic accusations.

I recently read Sholom Aleichem’s The Bloody Hoax, and laughed with recognition at the description of Jews coping with a blood libel accusation by having faux-Talmudic debates about the halacha, or Jewish law, of slaughtering Christian children to use their blood for matzah. (Halacha does not deal with this issue because it is not part of Juda-

ism, despite what antisemites throughout history have said.)

It is almost a rite of passage to be welcomed into this centuries-old tradition of using humor to respond to the irrational accusations the world throws our way.

The comments included plenty of judgmental cracks accusing Izzy of being brainwashed, and those were the ones that bothered him the most.

Because while he’s used to hatred against Jews, he can’t understand why anyone would think it’s wrong for a Jewish kid to be brought up keeping Jewish practices.

“I’m not indoctrinated. I’m Jewish,” he said with frustration.

I’m kvelling with pride. But I’m also angry. Izzy doesn’t feel unsafe or shaken in his Jewish identity. He knows his parents have his back, that we keep him physically safe and protected. And he isn’t surprised that there is antisemitism, not even at 14.

While he’s used to hatred against Jews, he can’t understand why anyone would think it’s wrong for a Jewish kid to be brought up keeping Jewish practices.

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

And that is why I am angry: As a mother and as a Jew, I am angry that Izzy was not surprised, and I am angry that this is the norm.

I am angry that TikTok allows antisemitism to thrive in videos and comments, and rarely takes down reported videos — with notable exceptions being videos created by Jews that were bombarded with false reporting from antisemites.

Melinda’s account has been suspended on multiple occasions for videos about Shabbat and keeping kosher.

I am angry that I have to help my children develop their coping mechanisms. I am angry that even though we managed to report and successfully remove a couple of the most vile comments, more have replaced them.

The TikTok of Izzy laying tefillin now has more than 8 million views and over 13,000 comments.

And yet I cling to a tiny glimmer of hope, thanks to the non-Jews in the replies defending Jews and defending Izzy. And to Bear Jews everywhere, laying tefillin every morning and refusing to cower.

Jessica Russak-Hoffman is an author based in Seattle.

Views expressed by columnists, in readers’ letters, and in opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinion of staff or layleaders of The Dayton Jewish Observer or the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.

PAGE 15

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Register at templebethor. com/chai-mitzvah. Sat., Jan. 8 & 22, 10 a.m.: Apocryphal Study Group w. Rabbi Chessin.

Contact Temple Beth Or for details, 937-435-3400.

Wed., Jan. 12, 6:30 p.m.: An Exploration of the Jewish Short Story. Register at templebethor. com/an-exploration-of-thejewish-short-story.

Temple Israel Virtual Classes: Tues., Jan. 4 & 11, 6 p.m.: Beginner Hebrew Boot Camp.

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JCC Winter Camp Shalom School Day Out: Mon., Jan. 17, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. At Temple Beth Or, 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. Register at jewishdayton.org/events.

Temple Israel Ryterband Lecture Series: Sundays, 9:45 a.m. Jan. 9: Michal Avera Samuel, senior community shlicha, Israel & overseas director, Jewish Columbus. Jan. 30: Rabbi Jonathan Hecht, dean & interim rabbinical program director, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 937-496-0050.

72 Plum Street Beavercreek, Ohio 937-429 9000 www.pashagrill.com

Children & Youths

JYG @ Scene75: Sat., Jan 15, 7-9 p.m. 6196 Poe Ave, Dayton. jewishdayton.org/events.

Family

Temple Israel Prayer & Play: Sat., Jan 22, 10:30 a.m. At home of Rabbi Sobo. Call Temple Israel for info., 937-4960050.

JCC Virtual Book Club: Fri., Jan. 21, 10:30 a.m. The World We Knew by Alice Hoffman, hosted by Meredith Moss Levinson. R.S.V.P. to Levinson at 937-277-8328.

Tu B’Shevat

Women

Chabad Women’s Circle Tu B’Shevat: Sun., Jan 16, 7 p.m. Design your own terrarium. With light dinner, at Now & Zen DIY Studio, 37 S. St. Clair St., Dayton. $46.

R.S.V.P. to chabaddayton.com.

Raise Your Brush w. Temple Beth Or Women: Sat., Jan 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 169 N. Main St., Centerville. $37 includes supplies, instruction, hors d’oeuvres. Register at raiseyourbrush.com/product/ temple-beth-or-women-1-8-227pm.

Greene Town Center

Chabad Bagels, Lox & Tefillin: Sun., Jan 2, 9:30 a.m.

2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood.

937-643-0770.

Chabad Kids Fruit at the Shuk: Sun., Jan 16, 4-5 p.m.

Ages 5-12. Free, with optional dinner to follow. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. 937-643-0770.

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

MAZEL TOV!

CARRYOUT and DINE-IN!

Abigail Zied, a sophomore at Kent State University from Springboro, has received the Marion C. and William B. Risman Family Scholarship in Jewish Studies. Abigail majors in psychology with a concentration in child psychology and minors in Jewish studies and human development and family studies. She’s active with Kent State’s Hillel and is a member of the Kent State Marching Golden Flashes Color Guard.

Abigail is the daughter of Dr. Dena Mason-Zied and Eric Zied.

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Bark Mitzvah Boy Jeremy Rosen has joined the U.S. Air Force and is stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. He is the son of Suzanne Rosen.

Mark Feuer has been elected president of Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton, a non-profit organization established in 2018 to combine the cemeteries of Beth Abraham Synagogue, Beth Jacob Congregation, and Temple Israel into a single entity, separate from the congregations’ operating budgets. JCGD is in the process of raising funds for an endowment to operate the entity in perpetuity. Mark takes over from Dr. Bob Goldenberg, who has served as president of JCGD since its inception. Bob will continue on the board. Also continuing on as officers are Vice President/ Treasurer Jeff Stoller and Secretary Helen Halcomb.

Renate Frydman will be among the eight honorees at the YWCA Dayton’s 2022 Women of Influence awards luncheon scheduled for Thursday, March 10 at the Dayton Convention Center.

DELIVERIES VIA DOORDASH & GRUBHUB Mark Feuer (L) takes over as president of Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton from Dr. Bob Goldenberg

Tamar Fishbein received her Master of Science in Education degree at University of Dayton’s fall commencement Dec. 18. Tamar teaches English at the Ponitz Career Technology Center. She is the daughter of Irene and Dr. Gary Fishbein.

Levi Weiss also received his Master of Science in Education degree at University of Dayton’s fall commencement.

Levi is an intervention specialist at Ruskin Elementary School in Dayton. His sister, Adina Weiss, has been elected co-president of the Hillel at Denison University, where she is a sophomore English major with a philosophy minor. She’s also the Hillel’s Shabbat chef.

Levi and Adina’s parents are Donna and Marshall Weiss.

Steven Wasserman, son of the late Renate “Ronnie” Wasserman Harlan and Dr. Allan Wasserman, has written a book about his mother’s escape from Nazi Germany in 1938 and how she came to live in Dayton. Grasping at Straws traces the history of Ronnie’s family — the Ichenhäusers — in Cologne, Germany over

2022 mah jongg cards from Hadassah Through Jan. 28, Dayton Hadassah is selling 2022 mah jongg cards as one of its fundraisers. Standard cards are $9 per set; $10 per large print set. Provide orders along with your name, address, phone number, email address, and a check payable to Hadassah to: Dayton Hadassah, c/o Maryann Bernstein, 4500 Fairlawn Ct., Englewood, OH 45322-3702.

For more information or assistance, contact Bernstein at maryannbernstein@yahoo.com or 937-269-5097.

generations, leading up to the advent of Germany’s National Socialist regime, World War II, and the Holocaust. Their story is told mainly through letters written by family members before and during the war, as well as letters family friends wrote about their efforts to escape, and through more than 100 photos and documents the family somehow preserved.

Grasping at Straws is available in hardback, paperback, and ebook from Amazon.

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Send your Mazel Tov! & lifecycle announcements to jewishobserver@jfgd.net.

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

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PAGE 17

RELIGION

CONGREGATIONS Beth Abraham Synagogue Conservative Interim Rabbi Melissa Crespy Cantor/Dir. of Ed. & Programming Andrea Raizen Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.

305 Sugar Camp Circle, Oakwood. 937-293-9520.

BethAbrahamDayton.org Beth Jacob Congregation Traditional Rabbi Leibel Agar Sundays & Wednesdays, 7:15 p.m. Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.

7020 N. Main St., Dayton.

937-274-2149. BethJacobCong. org Temple Anshe Emeth Reform 320 Caldwell St., Piqua.

Contact Steve Shuchat, 937-7262116, AnsheEmeth@gmail.com. ansheemeth.org Temple Beth Or Reform Rabbi Judy Chessin Asst. Rabbi/Educator Ben Azriel 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 937-435-3400. templebethor.com Temple Beth Sholom Reform Rabbi Haviva Horvitz 610 Gladys Dr., Middletown.

513-422-8313. templebethsholom.net Temple Israel Reform Senior Rabbi Karen BodneyHalasz. Rabbi/Educator Tina Sobo Fridays, 6:30 p.m. in person & streaming.

130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.

937-496-0050. tidayton.org Temple Sholom Reform Rabbi Cary Kozberg 2424 N. Limestone St., Springfield. 937-399-1231. templesholomoh.com

ADDITIONAL SERVICES Chabad of Greater Dayton Rabbi Nochum Mangel Associate Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Youth & Prog. Dir. Rabbi Levi Simon, Teen & Young Adult Prog.

Dir. Rabbi Elchonon Chaikin.

Beginner educational service Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. 2001 Far Hills Ave. 937-643-0770. chabaddayton.com Yellow Springs Havurah Independent Antioch College Rockford Chapel.

Contact Len Kramer, 937-5724840 or len2654@gmail.com.

PAGE 18

The necessity of community

By Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Chabad of Greater Dayton Kentucky native Wendell Berry writes of the genius of the life of the community. He grounded his novels, poems, and essays in the values of the farming community into which he was born.

In an essay written more than three decades ago, he reflected on the ever-deepening divide in American life between those who seek a larger and more powerful government and those who seek with equal fervor the freedom of individuals to pursue their own

Perspectives happiness. Berry writes: “The indispensable form that can intervene between public and private interests is that of community. The concerns of public and private, republic and citizen, necessary as they are, are not adequate for the shaping of human life.

Community alone, as principle and as fact, can raise the standards of local health (ecological, economic, social, and spiritual) without which the other two interests will destroy each other.”

The conflict between the public and the private is not new. We Jews have reflected on it since Genesis. Our Torah begins by telling us of how the entirety of the universe is called into being by Elokim — a name that means judge. The magnificent orderliness of the cosmos that unfolds in Genesis suggests that we model our own authority similarly in top-down fashion, the king on earth like the King On High.

Yet in this very story, the

January

Tevet/Shevat Shabbat Candle Lightings January 7, 5:10 p.m.

January 14, 5:18 p.m.

January 21, 5:26 p.m.

January 28, 5:34 p.m.

Torah tells us that the single human being was created betselem Elokim, in the image of that very Judge who created all. This one sentence reinvests a single individual with an importance that is divine and beyond the right of others to dismiss. Since Adam is the parent of us all, our dignity is based in truth, and is not borrowed from other humans.

When in the Book of Exodus, God gives us the Torah at Sinai, we are addressed individually.

“I am the Lord thy God” uses the singular form, thy, rather than the plural your God. This tells us that the Torah was given to us as individuals.

Yet when we look into our prayer book, the siddur whose basic form has been with us for over two millennia, we find that our prayers are voiced almost entirely in the plural. We know that we stand together as a people before God. This stark polarity was addressed directly by the sage Hillel in his famous teaching: “If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? But if I am for myself only, then what am I?” Each question grasps a necessary truth. To be entirely public leaves a hole where a person should be. We are put in this world because our private and individual knowledge is indispensable. No one else can advocate for what I have come to know personally and immediately, the truth of my life. I must be for myself, and cherish my liberty.

Yet if the result of my liberty love needs privacy. Love canis not my offering, my unique not result either from a merely and irreplaceable contribution, public life, in which power then what have I made of myis attained by breaking away self? Personal liberty detached from the private cares and oblifrom a larger accountability gations that by nature set limits is devoid of context on the accumulation and absent of meanof power. ing. Why should Love is at the core anyone care about of our community. anything without It is what keeps our care?

Jewish life alive in Hillel was iman age when we are mensely humane in no longer held by his approach. He was a coercive communot rubbing our faces nity from within or in an impossible difrom without. It has lemma, but showing ever been what kept rather how the life Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin us from taking the of the community easier course of simthat he lived for and taught ply relenting to the demands of points out a middle path that power or of selfishness. requires both our liberty and Our community with love at our responsibility to each the center models what actuother. In the light of our life as ally works. Though we quarrel a community, both and we kvetch, we realize we become necessary. need both our freedom and They are compleour dedication to each other ments, engagement to make things work. We can in balancing and differ with each other without enhancing each losing the bonds of affection other. that enable us each to benefit Hillel is perhaps from each other’s intelligence, most famous for love, and dedication. his patient answer When the foundations of to a prospective democracy tremble, when it convert who rather seems that we have lost any disrespectfully sense of citizenship beyond asked for the quick version of narrow partisan interest, we Judaism. Hillel was not put have something at work in our off, but summed things up by Jewish life that sheds light on saying, “Don’t do to others the great issues of the day and what you hate having done to shows a way forward. It is the you.” That is a rephrasing of path of sane hope, a model the mitzvah (commandment) to tested by the worst the world love, which is enough work for can throw up against it. a whole lifetime (as Hillel imDeepen each day your complies in the continuation of his mitment to our Jewish commuanswer to the convert, “Now nity. You’ll be a living example go and learn”). to the world of the kind of Love cannot be the result of community that everyone a merely private life, though needs.

Our community with love at the center models what actually works.

Torah Portions January 1 Vaera (Ex. 6:2-9:35) January 8 Bo (Ex. 10:1-13:16) January 15 Beshalach (Ex. 13:17-17:16) January 22 Yitro (Ex. 18:1-20:23) January 29 Mishpatim (Ex. 21:1-24:18)

Tu B’Shevat

New Year for Trees January 17/15 Shevat Marks springtime in Israel.

Celebrated with picnics, fruit and planting trees.

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

Georgian Chicken Tabaka & Garlic Sauce Staffing Needs? Call The Professionals!

Golden and crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside.

By Sonya Sanford The Nosher Chicken tabaka is a western Georgian dish where a whole chicken is flattened and panfried while being weighed down by another pan or heavy object.

The chicken ends up golden brown and crispy on the outside while staying juicy inside.

It is so delicious and simple that it has become wildly popular in homes and restaurants across the Caucasus, Central Asia, and former Soviet countries.

Tabaka (or taphaka) comes from the name for a Georgian frying pan called a tapa, which is traditionally used to make this recipe. You can make chicken tabaka with any heavy-bottomed skillet or cast iron pan, along with something you can weigh the chicken down with, such as a second heavy skillet, a heavy pot or bricks wrapped in foil.

You can also make this recipe on a grill by cooking the chicken directly on the grates while weighing it down. This dish is similar to spatchcocked chicken (where the backbone is removed from the chicken), but for chicken tabaka it is common to flatten the chicken by simply cutting down the center of the breastbone. Flattening and pressing the chicken allows it to cook quickly and evenly while creating the perfect texture and taste.

This rustic and simple dish is often served with garlic

sauce or tkemali, a Georgian wild plum sauce.

Chicken tabaka pairs perfectly with fried potatoes or rice, and with a big, simple salad of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers.

I like to serve mine with a Georgian garlic cilantro sauce made in the same pan you cook the chicken in, along with lemon wedges to squeeze on top for an extra pop of flavor.

Note: Make sure to cook the chicken over medium-low heat.

If the temperature is too high, the chicken will burn on the outside. This recipe works best with a smaller chicken that is between three to four pounds; if you’re using a larger bird, the cooking time will take longer.

For the chicken: 1 3-4 lb. chicken 2-3 tsp. paprika salt, to taste oil, as needed lemon wedges, for garnish For the garlic sauce: 1 head of garlic, about 10-12 cloves, peeled and minced fine ¾ cup water ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional) salt and pepper, to taste Slice the chicken down the center of the breastbone using a sharp knife or kitchen shears.

Open the chicken and press it down flat, skin-side up. (Note: you can also flatten the chicken using the spatchcock method of cutting out the backbone.)

Cover the chicken with a piece of parchment or plastic wrap, and using a meat mallet or rolling pin, lightly pound on

the chicken to flatten it. Season the chicken generously with salt, add the paprika, and rub the salt and spice all over both sides.

Over medium-low heat, add a generous drizzle of oil to a large cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet. Once the pan is hot, add the chicken, skin-side up. Place a clean, heavy object on top of the chicken to weigh it down, such as a second cast iron skillet, a sheet pan topped with a large pot, or bricks wrapped in foil.

Let the chicken cook for 25 minutes, maintain a mediumlow heat, and occasionally rotate the pan if your burner cooks unevenly. After 25 minutes, flip the chicken so that it is now skin-side down, and cook for an additional 25-30 minutes, or until the juices run clear when pierced, or it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees when tested with a meat thermometer.

Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a serving dish and allow it to rest for 15 minutes.

While it rests, prepare the garlic sauce.

Over medium heat, add a drizzle of oil to the same pan you cooked the chicken in. Add the minced garlic to the pan, and sauté for two to three minutes, or until the garlic is aromatic but not browned. Add ¾ cup of water, scrape off all the delicious bits in the pan, and allow the mixture to simmer and reduce for another three to four minutes. Turn off the heat, and add the chopped cilantro.

Taste and season with salt and pepper. Spoon the sauce over the chicken just before serving, or serve the sauce on the side.

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PAGE 19

JEWISH FAMILY EDUCATION

Becoming, not overcoming The Power of Stories Meir Zlotowitz grew up on the Lower East Side, a crowded, chaotic, poor immigrant neighborhood in the 1940s.

There, he excelled in his yeshiva and rabbinic studies, although plagued by stuttering that made it difficult to communicate. So Meir used his natural artistic

mentaries of traditional texts, siddurim (prayer books), popular works, and more, transforming English-speakers’ access to text and tradition.

Today his studio, ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, is the largest and most influential publisher of Jewish books in the United States.

Resilience, or hosen in Hebrew, is “the ability to withCandace R. stand difficulties, bounce back after troubles, and continue Kwiatek on,” explain ISResilience authors Michael Dickson and Dr. Naomi Baum. abilities to launch a high-end The term was borrowed from graphics studio specializing in the science of metallurgy in illuminated scrolls, invitations, the 1940s, where it measures and ketubot (Jewish marriage the ability to withstand prescontracts). sure or stress without breaking, But the business struggled, suggesting elasticity or antifinancial worries were constant, fragility. and meeting payroll often When applied to people, meant borrowing funds. Nevhowever, resilience might betertheless, when a close friend ter be described as “bouncing died, Meir turned his talents to forward,” since overcoming crafting a single edition English challenges or trauma changes translation and commentary the individual, resetting one’s on the Book of Esther in his starting point for moving on. memory.

Others describe resilience not It was such a success, Meir’s as a single event but as ongostudio turned to publishing ing adaptation to adversity and original translations and comstress. The most unexpected

revelation about human resilience is that it is not an inborn trait but only the capacity to adapt; resilience is a choice.

You won’t find resilience on lists of Jewish beliefs, principles, or values, and yet it is woven into the very fabric of Judaism.

“Throughout our history, Jews have ultimately transcended catastrophe after catastrophe,” writes Rabbi Deborah Waxman. “We have had to recover and re-vision, regenerate and re-seed vital Jewish life… and we have survived — as a people and as a civilization.”

One source of this resilience is Judaism’s relentless focus on life. “Choose life, so that you and your offspring will live,” Moses urges.

“By prizing life and the living,” Rabbi Levi Brackman explains, “our main concern becomes how to best live life here and now.”

Another source of Jewish resilience is storytelling. “When we remember our personal and collective histories, we learn from the past in order to inform the present,” writes Israeli American author Sherri Mandell. “In fact, research has found that children who know their family stories are more resilient than other children. Our knowl-

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edge of the Jewish national story may in fact contribute to the national resilience of the Jewish people.”

Three stories of resilience from tradition, history, and family experience serve as illustrations.

Rabbi Akiva was walking along the road and came to a city where he sought lodging, but they refused to host him.

Rabbi Akiva said: “Everything that God does, He does for the best.” He went and slept in a field. He had with him a rooster, a donkey, and a candle.

A wind came and extinguished the candle, a wild cat came and devoured the rooster, and a lion attacked and consumed the donkey.

Once again, Rabbi Akiva said: “Everything God does, He does for the best!” That night, an army came and took the city into captivity (but Rabbi Akiva, with nothing to give away his location, evaded capture). Rabbi Akiva said to them: “Didn’t I tell you? Everything that God does, He does for the best!”

In New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is an oil portrait titled Fuller Brush Man, a door-to-door salesman with an open, expectant face, sparkling eyes, and friendly smile.

His name was Dewald Strauss, and though his job was tough, he was always upbeat since it helped him raise a family and

pursue the American Dream. He had been a salesman in Germany where he lived the high life with a chauffeured MercedesBenz and parties at upscale resorts. Then came Kristallnacht, internment at Dachau, and forced labor. When Hitler briefly allowed Jews to leave Germany, Strauss escaped to America with just two trunks of belongings.

He became a Fuller Brush man, and for the next 25 years, he knocked on doors in snow and rain and never complained.

When teenager Koby Mandell was brutally murdered by Palestinian terrorists in 2001, his mother, Sherri, was shattered. Weeks later, as Koby’s 14th birthday approached, Sherri’s friend encouraged her to do something meaningful to mark the occasion. That year, the family gave tzedakah to 14 beggars in Jerusalem, since that was something Koby loved to do. Every year thereafter, they would add another recipient to the list. Sherri and her husband, Seth, went on to establish the Koby Mandell Foundation to offer multi-faceted support, therapeutic and recreational programs for those who had lost a family member to terror.

“Judaism teaches us that we always need to become greater, bigger, better,” Sherri Mandell observes. After each challenge, each crisis, you can’t return to who you were. Instead you have to expand in order to contain the new you.

In Judaism, resilience isn’t about bouncing back, nor is it about overcoming. Resilience is about becoming.

Literature to share ISResilience: What Israelis Can Teach the World by Michael Dickson and Naomi L. Baum. Despite the challenges of living with rockets, terrorism, and war just over the horizon as well as heightened vigilance, bomb shelters, and army service in times of peace, Israelis not only survive but thrive in their daily lives. In fact, they rank among the top 12 countries in the world in happiness. What is their secret? Resilience, as individuals and as a country. In this book, 15 Israelis from all walks of life share their stories of resilience, offering life lessons on how to recognize and strengthen one’s own powers of resilience. A fascinating read.

The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron. This book for middle grade readers is magical from the very beginning. It’s a tale of an unexpected friendship, intertwined families, teen aspirations, immigration, and so much more. Part of its appeal is that it’s written in inviting verse divided into short chapters: Earthquake Drill, Speak, Dog Ears. Bits of wisdom are also woven into the storyline, such as the importance of listening in friendship. Fast paced, The Magical Imperfect gives voice to the quiet thoughts of the pre-teen set in an engaging, multi-faceted tale.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

Arts&Culture

Larry David has never been more Jewish than in this season’s Curb John P. Johnson/HBO

character is sacrilegious and

By Andrew Silow-Carroll, JTA heretical, and Curb is no friend Curb Your Enthusiasm has alof the religious mindset. But to ways been a Jewy show, but this dismiss him as “self-hating” is season it is downright Jewish. to miss out on the unmistakably On the HBO sitcom, now in Jewish conversation at the heart its 11th season, Larry David has of the show. never been shy about lampoonDavid’s character is a deeply ing Judaism and Jewishness. principled person: Most of the He has contemplated the nonsense he gets himself into dilemmas of Holocaust survival, is the result of his enforcing waded into the Israeli-Palestinunspoken social rules that others ian conflict (via a local chicken appear to be flouting, whether it restaurant) and gotten stranded is taking too many samples at the on a ski lift with an Orthodox ice cream counter or dominating Jew on Shabbat. the conversation (poorly) at the This season, it’s not just the dinner table. occasional matzah ball joke or Larry is rude and inconsiderthe Yiddish lesson he gave Jon ate, but he is seldom wrong. He Hamm in the season premiere. is what Rabbi Joseph SoloveitDavid is plunging into queschik might have called a “Halations of Jewish pride and belief, chic man” — an actualizer of “the and if he isn’t exactly Abraideals of justice and righteousham Joshua Heschel, he could provide a Jewish educator with In an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm’s 11th season, Larry David feels obligated to clean a Klansman's robe ness,” even when the rest of the world resents it. a semester of lively classroom row’s character puts it, “what goes If you think I am overdoing it, redebate. balcony, literally raising the alarm on around comes around.” Morrow warns member that there is an actual discusIn one episode, for example, a Jew antisemitism and waking his neighbors Larry that his actions will have consion in Talmud about the right and for Jesus joins the cast of the show that to the threat of White supremacy. sequences, which actually gives Larry wrong way of putting on a pair of Larry’s character is developing for The episode suggests the failure of pause. shoes.

Hulu. Although neither Larry nor his good intentions. Larry spills coffee on If anything, the entire Curb enterprise the Klansman’s robe and offers to have And just as in the Talmud, there are Jewish friends are remotely religious, is an exercise in Jewish karma. Larry no easy answers in David’s moral unithey seem genuinely upset by the acit dry-cleaned. is constantly being punished in ways verse: If a friend lends you his favorite, tor’s apostasy, and Larry gives him a Good liberal Jew that he is, Larry large and small for his actions, inacone-of-a-kind shirt, and you ruin it, rather sober warning that he shouldn’t appears genuine in his belief that emtions, meddling and slights. As the old what are your obligations to him? See proselytize on set. pathy is a better response to hate than theatre expression has it, if Larry opens Bava Metzia 96b. If a thief breaks into A week earlier, a member of his golf confrontation, and that if he turns the a donut shop to your house and then drowns in your club (played by Rob Morrow) asks other cheek it might drive a rival out of swimming pool, which wasn’t protectLarry to pray for his ailing father. Larry lower the temperabusiness in act one, declines, saying prayer is useless. He ture in a post-Trump ed by the required fence, who is owed his own shop will damages and how much? See Ibn Ezra also wonders why God would need or America. on Exodus 22:1-2. heed the prayer of a random atheist like burn to the ground Of course, it in act three.

In a recent episode, Larry even himself instead of the distressed son doesn’t work out A prior episode touched on — consciously or not — a who wants his father to live. that way, and the was even more selfFor anyone who has gone to Hebrew last word goes to his classic debate in the Talmud: If you and consciously Jewish: a friend are stranded in the desert, and school, it’s a familiar challenge, usually friend Susie Green, Larry attends High your canteen has only enough water for aired by the wiseacre in the back row who performs a Holy Days services one of you to survive, must you share it who the teacher suspects is perhaps the pointed act of Jewonly because he lost or save your own life? most engaged student in the classroom. ish sabotage that a golf bet to the rabbi, and he literally Yes, Larry was talking about sharing And it is not just atheists posing the gets the Klansman pummeled by his bumps into a Klansman coming out of a phone charger, but if the sages of the question, “Why pray?” The Israeli fellow racists. a coffee shop. The latter sets off a string Talmud had cell phones, what do you philosopher Yeshayahu Leibowitz, a Give David credit for embedding of plot twists, as he and the KKK guy think they’d be talking about? devout Orthodox Jew, believed that within a preposterous half-hour of tele“worship of God must be totally devoid trade a series of favors and obligations vision a debate about vengeance and that will have disastrous consequences of instrumental considerations.” resistance that engaged the followers of for both.

Andrew Silow-Carroll is the editor in chief In addition to a Jewish funeral, the Jews as different as Jesus and JabotinLarry’s salvation comes at the end, of The New York Jewish Week and senior episode has a bonus theological theme: sky. when he blares a shofar from his editor of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

“Middah k’neged middah,” or as MorMake no mistake: The Larry David

To dismiss him as ‘self-hating’ is to miss out on the unmistakably Jewish conversation at the heart of the show.

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

PAGE 21

OBITUARIES

‘The past influences your decisions for the future.’

— Myron Stayman

A

lthough he has spent most of his adult life outside of the Dayton area, Myron Stayman still has a strong, emotional connection to Beth Abraham Synagogue and the Jewish community in which he grew up.

“My family moved to Troy when I was 6 months old,” explained Myron. “And then to Dayton because of its larger Jewish community when I was 5. The synagogue was always important to us,” he said. “I can close my eyes and still visualize the yahrzeit plaques, social hall, and beautiful stained-glass windows. The rabbis and cantors all went out of their way to be nice to me.”

Those memories were a catalyst in deciding to purchase a burial plot in Beth Abraham’s cemetery. “It’s a gorgeous cemetery,” Myron commented. Knowing that his eternal home would be alongside multiple generations of family and friends, he also chose to support the Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton campaign.

“It’s an additional insurance policy,” Myron continued. “My future home will be cared for and so will the home of my extended family. I’ve had a blessed life. How could I not participate?”

Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton is an endowment organization created to maintain our three Jewish cemeteries in perpetuity.

Please join us as we strive to maintain the sanctity, care, and integrity of these sacred burial grounds.

Preserving our Past Ensuring Our Future

daytonjewishcemeteries.org 525 Versailles Drive • Centerville, OH 45459 PAGE 22

Joseph S. Bettman, 92 of Dayton, devoted husband of 67 years to Elaine, passed away on Dec. 17 after a brief illness. Joe, as he was known to everyone — unless they knew him as “Mr. B,” “Doc Bettman,” “Dad,” “Grandpa,” “Zeyde” or “Papa Joe” (anything but “late for dinner”) — was born in Cincinnati on June 14, 1929 to the late Jacob and Pasha Bettman on the cusp of the Great Depression. This informed so much of his modesty and mindset throughout his life, always reading dinner menus “from right to left” (so that he could order the lesser expensive meal, rather than splurging), and always considering the less fortunate.

Joe graduated from Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, before graduating from the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy (now the UC James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy) in 1951. He served his country in the Army during the Korean War, serving as the pharmacist-incharge of the military hospital in Heidelberg, Germany.

After returning from service, he married Elaine and moved to Dayton, where Joe bought his first pharmacy, on Cincinnati Street, which was eventually closed to make way as the interstate highway system (I-75) came through. The next store was in the Miracle Lane Shopping Center, where it remained for the next 30plus years, before another final move to Catalpa Drive.

He finally retired and sold the business at the tender young age of 83 after serving the community for over 56 years, and through the third and fourth generations of many families. Throughout his retirement, he and Elaine were still often recognized and stopped throughout the community with gracious memories and thank yous from the generations of customers they served.

Joe’s passion for serving went well beyond the professional capacity. Joe was an inspirational leader, volunteer, and donor to countless organizations, charities and causes — a true giant and icon of philanthropy and leadership in both the Jewish and general community, in Dayton and beyond. He served as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton; chairman of the United Jewish Campaign, Covenant House, Jewish Community Center, Operation Exodus (the campaign to resettle Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union), and headed up countless other committees and boards within the Jewish community.

But serving the Jewish community was not enough.

In exemplary demonstration of the Jewish concept of tikun olam, or repair of the world, organizations throughout the area have benefited from Joe’s involvement. Along with dear friend Sister Dorothy Kammerer, Joe co-founded and then served as the first board president of The House of Bread, with the belief that “no one deserves to go hungry,” and now serving hot, nutritious meals seven days a week to those in need.

The name House of Bread itself was suggested by Joe, a direct translation of the Hebrew Beit Lechem, which itself is the root of the name of the city of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus — what better inspiration for an organization founded by a Catholic nun and a Jewish businessman, appropriately melding two great religious traditions to serve the entire community!!

With Joe’s financial support, Sister Dorothy went on to found The Other Place — now named Homefull — serving Dayton’s homeless population.

Joe and Elaine’s involvement with and chairing of the boards of Building Bridges, The George Foster Home, Artemis Center, and involvement with Children’s Hospital, Care House, NCCJ and many more have likewise contributed to the success of so many other organizations. They have both been involved their entire lives with the cause of social justice, from the civil rights movement in the ‘60s to the desegregation of schools in the ‘70s to financial support for numerous causes to this day. Throughout his life, he received numerous honors and rewards from myriad organizations he served, including United Jewish Communities Young Leadership Awards, the Jewish

Federation of Greater Dayton’s Presidents Award, and the Humanitarian Award from the National Council of Community and Justice.

In 2016, in recognition of his exemplary professional and philanthropic service to the community, Reach Out Clinic of Dayton, which works to expand healthcare availability to the underserved, dedicated the Bettman Charitable Pharmacy in his honor. The mission of Bettman’s Charitable is to provide pharmaceutical assistance to the uninsured/underinsured population of Montgomery County.

But beyond any professional or philanthropic endeavor, Joe’s greatest joy and pride lay in his family, which includes Elaine, his wife of 67 years; five children, Melissa (Tim) Sweeny of Dayton; Randi (David) Fuchsman, formerly of Dayton and now Houston; Marc (Patti) Bettman of Dayton; Jay (Mary) Bettman of Cincinnati; and Todd (Jean) Bettman of Dayton. Two foster children, Michael (Michelle) Strapko and Pam Strapko Ashwall. Twelve grandchildren, Dan (Janese) Sweeny, Brian (Stacey) Sweeny, Lauren Sweeny and fiancé Kyle; Alex Fuchsman, Jessica Fuchsman and Jack Fuchsman; Jacob Bettman and Amanda (Nick) Yount; Jonah (Isa) Bettman and Kelsey Bettman; Michael Bettman and Jeremy Bettman. And six great-grandchildren, Leyton, Parker and Lily; Warren and Jasper; and the newest addition, Sophie, who was able to meet her great-grandfather before he passed.

And no memorial for Joe would be complete without mentioning his love of singing. As a young man, he joined the choir at Cincinnati’s Lexington Avenue Synagogue, now Adath Israel Congregation. Through every chapter of his life, Joe continued singing. His venue-encompassing bass was heard on the bimas (stages) at all of Dayton’s synagogues and at Covenant House, with cantorial solos at community events, with congregational choirs, and with the Dayton Jewish Chorale.

Many words have been used to describe Joe Bettman. Kind. Caring. Compassionate. Generous. Gentle Soul. Giant. Icon. But none describes him better than the Yiddish word mensch, meaning a person of integrity and honor, and the Hebrew word tzadik, meaning righteous one. He truly represented the very best aspects of both words.

Interment was at the Temple Beth Or section of David’s Cemetery. The family kindly requests donations to any of Joe’s favorite charities, including Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, House of Bread, Care House, Artemis, Reach Out Clinic or a deserving charity of your choosing.

His memory will be a blessing and his soul never forgotten.

Roger Barry Himmell, 90 of Dayton, died on Dec. 5. The son of Julia and Benjamin Himmell, he was born on May 6, 1931 in New York and grew up in Mount Vernon, N.Y. A graduate of the Cheshire Academy and the University of Pennsylvania, he was a CPA in private practice until 2019.

An avid bridge player throughout his life, he attained the rank of Bronze Life Master and was very active in the Bridge Club of Dayton.

A piano player since the age of 5, he played the piano daily and performed with and supported the Dayton Chamber Music Society. He was preceded in death by daughter Michelle (died 2016) and is loved and will be missed by his surviving family: wife Vivienne, daughters Amy, Catherine (Michael), as well as grandchildren Ian, Aidan, Max and Emily, and his brother Lewis (Rhoda) Himmell. Donations can be made to autismnj.org in his name.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

OBITUARIES The brightest star in the universe, my darling wife, has ceased to shine. Gertrude Wolff Kahn, age 96, left her large loving family on Nov. 20 after a marriage made in heaven to Robert Kahn for 75 years. Out of their love affair, Gertrude bore three lovely children who as adults and through marriage presented us with seven grandchildren and now five lovely great-grandchildren.

Children: Ronald Kahn (Mary), Susan Rapoport, Karen Weiss (Ira); grandchildren: Brennan Kahn, Cameron Kahn (fiancée Andrea), Sam Rapoport (Lisa), Jenna Halperin (Eden), Aliza Lambert (Ben), Adam, Weiss (Gillian) and Emily Rapoport; and great-grandchildren: Jonah, Max, Lily, Noa, and Jack. Born April 29, 1925 in Neustadt, Germany, she cheated Hitler's murderous designs by being rescued via a children’s transport to England with her older sister Ilse. They were reunited with her parents Frederick and Hedwig Loeb Wolff, and during World War II emigrated to America, settling in Lawrence, Mass.

She supported her parents by babysitting and other odd jobs and graduated high school in nearby Andover. After working at a factory retail store and as nanny for a family in Richmond, Va., she met U.S. Army Private Robert Kahn at a USO dance, which led to their marriage Sept. 7, 1947. They lived in Dayton, where Bob worked for the T-2 Intelligence of the War Department. Gert worked at downtown Elder and Johnston and next at Thal’s ladies clothing store.

They joined Temple Israel and made many friends. Gertrude liked working at ElderBeerman stores, while having a wonderful social life with

T

dinner parties at their home on Castano Drive. Now and then, Gert and Bob took many wonderful trips, not only to National Parks, but also across Europe, and many cruises to the Caribbean. Finally, they went on an extended safari to Kenya, Tanzania, and Morocco.

Gertrude made friends easily and had a charming personality, which acted like a magnet to everyone she came in contact with. She was a passionate tennis and mah jongg player.

She had a heart of gold when it came to charitable causes and good deeds. This included befriending and settling Russian immigrants in Dayton. She knitted and crocheted countless scarves, mittens, and gloves for the needy at local shelters on behalf of Temple Israel of which she was a member for 74 years.

Additionally, she loved the outdoors and created beautiful gardens with a variety of flowers to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. With all her exemplary attributes, she always had time for her wonderful family for whom she baked her much-loved and fought-over Chanukah cookies.

She will be remembered by her extended family for the unselfish dedication, love, and kindness, which is emulated by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to make this a better world. The family would like to acknowledge the incredible care from Lincoln Park, Home Instead caregivers, and ProMedica Hospice nurses.

Interment was at Riverview Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Temple Israel (130 Riverside Drive, Dayton, OH 45405) or the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton Holocaust Remembrance Fund (525 Versailles Drive, Dayton, OH 45459).

he overwhelming outpouring by friends and acquaintances at the peaceful passing of Gertrude Kahn has given us the opportunity to thank all of you for attending the funeral services at Temple Israel, the burial thereafter, as well as the memorial luncheon. Your personal condolences, letters, cards, contributions, phone calls, and floral arrangements in memory of Gertrude have been much appreciated in our sorrow. Instead of individual thank-you notes, the bereaved family of Bob Kahn is making a contribution to the Jewish Cemeteries Maintenance Fund in memory of Gertrude Kahn.

Nov. 5, 1955 in Cleveland to parents, Dr. Elizabeth Baker Wolf Corman and Arien Wolf and raised in Huntington, W.Va. She was a person of immense resilience, having lost both her father and sister in a car accident as a pre-teen.

She graduated as valedictorian from Huntington High School and went on to graduate from Duke University, after which she obtained her Ph.D. in psychology from Kent State University. She was a beloved professor on the faculty of Wright State University School of Professional Psychology, where she eventually rose to the role of associate dean for academic affairs before her retirement in 2013. Eve lived her life with a profound sense of contentment. She liked to start each day with a run. She took comfort in her faith and was an active member of the Dayton Jewish community.

Never an unkind word to say about anyone, she cared deeply for those around her, especially her devoted husband of 33 years, Randy, her two children, and her ever loyal cats: Mae, Tom, Maya, Oscar and Wiener.

After a decade-long decline as the result of fronto-temporal dementia, Eve succumbed to Dr. Eve Monica Wolf, the unsympathetic disease, “Evie,” beloved mother and which she faced each moment psychologist, died on Nov. 20 with impossible grace and at the age of 66 in her room at candor, without ever ceasing Brookdale Oakwood, where to instill light in each person she was affectionately cared she encountered along the way. for in the final years of her life.

Memorial donations can be Eve was preceded in death by her parents, Arien Wolf and Dr. made to The Association for Fronto-Temporal Dementia Elizabeth Baker Wolf Corman, online at https://www.theaftd. her sister Winifred “Wendy” Wolf, and her husband, Randal org/support-aftds-mission/ or mailed to AFTD, 2700 Horizon Knight. She will be dearly Drive, Suite 120, King of missed and is survived by her two beloved children, Arien and Prussia, PA 19406.

Sarah Wolf-Knight, and siblings, Dr. Douglas Wolf and Christina Wolf Dobbs. Eve was born on Alaine “Sis” Office passed away Dec. 17 at 91 years young.

Sis was an unforgettable woman who imprinted on the many relationships she cherished with family and friends her caring ways, good humor, curiosity of people, and love of life.

She was an avid enthusiast of gardening and the arts. She left this world a better place.

Sis was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She and her husband, Phil, were married for 70 (shy six days) happy years. She will be missed by her family: sister Judy Cohn, daughter Judy, sons Jim (Jan Tremaine) and Peter (Allyson Haut); grandchildren Lauren (Robert Tykoski), Kate (Michael McCorry), John Scheineson, Emma and Charlotte Office, and greatgrandchildren Liam and Carly Tykoski, Maxwell and Willa McCorry; numerous cousins, and other dear relatives.

Interment at Riverview Cemetery. Please remember Sis through contributions to Dayton Children’s Hospital or the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton. A memorial will take place at a later date.

Hannah E. Goldwasser Zappin, affectionately known as “Sugar” to her grandchildren and friends, passed away Nov. 25 at Brookdale of Oakwood assisted living at the age of 97. She was born in Atlanta to Mary and Joseph Goldwasser.

She met her husband, Raymond Zappin, while he was in the Army and stationed in Atlanta.

They were married on May 23, 1945. Hannah volunteered at Good Samaritan Hospital for 40 years and served on the board of The Samaritan Health Foundation. She was also a lifelong member of Hadassah and was active with the Beth Abraham Sisterhood. She was a wonderful wife and mother. She loved her children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren with all of her heart. Sugar will be missed by her children, Joanne (Guy) and Richard; grandchildren, Hillary, Katie (Steven), Stephanie (Marc), Joe (Nikki) and Andrew; great-grandchildren, Ethan, Elijah, Addison, Hallie and Colston. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond, and son Denny. She will always be remembered and loved. Interment was at Beth Abraham Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton or the charity of your choice.

L’dor V’dor.

From Generation To Generation.

GLICKLER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE Larry S. Glickler, Director Dayton’s ONLY Jewish Funeral Director 1849 Salem Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45406-4927 (937) 278-4287 lgfuneralhome@gmail.com

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2022

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