The Dayton Jewish Observer, March 2022

InMoss a firstdesigns for an Israeli PM, Bennett p. 15 David Grace After Meals in visits comicBahrain book form p. 22

THE DAYTON Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton

March 2022 Adar I/Adar II 5782 Vol. 26, No. 7

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Are Jews White?

Parsing The View Holocaust controversy.

Ritual scribe returns for programs

2

Shel Bassel

Podcaster explores her Black & Jewish identities

8

Collier Meyerson, creator of Love Thy Neighbor

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DAYTON

Ritual scribe returns for programs

The Disputation staged play reading

Former Daytonian Shel BasThrough a grant from the Association for Jewish Studies, Unisel, a sofer (ritual scribe) who versity of Dayton English Prof. Miriamne Krummel will present lives in Jerusalem, will lead a staged reading of Hyam Maccoby’s The Disputation at 3 p.m., programs for local Jewish orThursday, March 10 at the Downtown Dayton Metro Library. ganizations when he returns to Maccoby, a Jewish British scholar and playwright, wrote the the Miami Valley in March. play as an outgrowth of his 1984 scholarly publication, Judaism on Bassel, who made aliyah (im- Trial: Jewish Christian Disputations in the Middle Ages. It dramatizes migrated to the Disputation of Barcelona, Munich Digitization Center Israel) in 1983, July 20 to 24, 1263 in which has written Rabbi Moshe Ben Nachman more than was forced by King James I two dozen of Aragon to debate DominiTorah scrolls, can Friar Pablo Christiani numerous (who had converted from megillahs, Judaism to Christianity) on tefillin, and the subject of whether or not mezuzahs. He Shel Bassel Jesus was the Messiah. also refurThe Disputation is the bishes old Torah scrolls and is a second of two staged play calligrapher of ketubahs (marreadings about medieval an- A woodcut depicting a disputation between Jewish and Christian scholars riage contracts). tisemitism that comprise the by Johann von Armssheim, 1483 His programs here are pre2022 University of Dayton sented in partnership with the AJS Series. David A. Crespy — professor of playwriting, acting, Jewish Federation. and dramatic literature at the University of Missouri — will direct Bassel will lead a JCC Zoom The Disputation. Crespy is the brother of Rabbi Melissa Crespy, program, Introduction to Torah Beth Abraham’s interim rabbi through this summer.

Writing, at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Wind in the Woods early music ensemble will perform prior March 15. to The Disputation, and University of Dayton History Lecturer He’ll demonstrate quill cutMiguel Gomez will discuss the intricacies of the 1263 Barcelona ting, writing, and will explain Disputation. The staged reading will conclude with a Q&A. laws of Torah writing. RegistraBeth Abraham Synagogue, the Dayton Metro Library, and the tion for the free session is at Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton are co-sponsors of the UniJewishDayton.org/events. versity of Dayton AJS Series. The program is free and open to the At Beth Jacob Congregation community. Masks are required. The Downtown Dayton Metro following the 7 p.m. Minchah Library is located at 215 E. Third St. For more information, call the (afternoon) service on Wedneslibrary at 937-463-2665. day, March 16, he’ll complete the last letters of a new megillah which will then be read by Rabbi Leibel Agar after the 8:15 p.m. Ma’ariv (evening) service for the start of Purim.

The rabbi and his wife, Anita, The JCC, in partnership with the Wolf are donating the megillah to Holocaust & Humanity Center in Cincinnati, Beth Jacob in honor of their sevwill co-host a virtual program with Steven enth wedding anniversary.

Wasserman, son of the late Ronnie Wasserman Bassel will present a talk at Harlan, at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 16 via Beth Jacob after 9:30 a.m. ShabZoom and Facebook Live as part of the Cincinbat services on Sat., March 19. nati center’s weekly Holocaust Speaker Series.

The community is also Wasserman has written a book about his welcome to join Beth Jacob’s mother’s escape from Nazi Germany in 1938 program to celebrate the new and how she came to live in Dayton. Grasping megillah, at 3 p.m., Sunday, at Straws traces the history of the Ichenhäuser Steven Wasserman March 20. Beth Jacob is located family in Cologne, Germany over generations, at 7020 N. Main St., Harrison leading up to Germany’s Nazi regime, World Township. For more informaWar II, and the Holocaust. Much of Grasping at tion, call Beth Jacob at 937-274Straws is drawn from letters written by family 2149. members before and during the war, letters While here, Bassel will family friends wrote about their efforts to demonstrate the art of the sofer escape, and through more than 100 photos and for students at Hillel Academy documents the family preserved.

Jewish day school and with the To view the free program via Facebook Live, religious schools of Beth Abrago to the Holocaust and Humanity Center ham Synagogue, Temple Beth Facebook page, facebook.com/CincyHHC. To Or, and Temple Israel. watch via Zoom, go to holocaustandhumanity.

Ronnie He’ll also be available for Wasserman Harlan org/speaker-series. tefillin and mezuzah checking.

For information about prices and to schedule an appointArts & Culture.......................18 Obituaries.......................23 ment, contact him at shelCalendar.............................17 O p i n i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 6 scribe@gmail.com or 240-945Family Education.................21 Religion..........................19 9765.

JCC partners with Cincy Holocaust Speaker Series

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

Are Jews White?

Parsing The View Holocaust controversy.

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Whoopi Goldberg spoke with Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt on The View, Feb. 1

By Gabe Friedman, JTA She may not have meant to, but Whoopi Goldberg waded into a charged discourse that has polarized the Jewish community — and those who seek to discriminate against them — for centuries.

The controversy began brewing on The View, the daytime talk show she co-hosts, during a discussion Jan. 31 about the recent controversy over a Tennessee school board’s decision to ban Maus, the iconic graphic memoir about the Holocaust.

The Holocaust was “not about race,” she said, it was instead about “man’s inhumanity to man.”

And it involved “two White groups of people.”

The comments immediately went viral and struck a nerve, leading to what Goldberg described as a deluge of accusations of antisemitism and Holocaust denial, and criticism from groups like the Anti-Defamation League.

Despite multiple apologies, the storm reached

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a climax on Feb. 1 when ABC decided to suspend Goldberg from The View for two weeks “to take time to reflect and learn about the impact of her comments,” in the words of ABC News President Kim Godwin. Jews across the political spectrum, including many who objected to her original remarks, criticized the decision to suspend her.

Why did the comments create such a firestorm? The answer extends well beyond the Holocaust.

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After her initial comments circulated, Goldberg went on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and attempted to clarify the situation. In doing so, she dug deeper into the race issue.

In her experience as a Black person, she said, race is something “I can see.”

“If the (Ku Klux) Klan is coming down the Continued on next page

From the editor’s desk Our cover question is one that’s come in from the margins over the past few years. In our community, I’ve heard from Ashkenazi Jews exasperated that anyone would suggest they’re Marshall not White. I’ve heard from Ashkenazi Jews exasperated that anyone would Weiss suggest they are White. “I’m not White,” they tell me, “I’m a Jew.” One leader in Dayton’s African American community told me last year that “if you didn’t tell me you were Jewish, I would think you were any other White person.” Though the majority of Jews in America are descended from ancestors who lived in Central and Eastern Europe for centuries, the Jewish people are of every skin color. It doesn’t appear that white was one of them at the start.

Tractate Negaim in the Mishnah, which scholars date to between about 190 and 230 C.E., informs us that “Rabbi Ishmael says the children of Israel...are like boxwood, neither black nor white but of an intermediate shade (Negaim 2:1).”

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Are Jews White?

‘It’s our responsibility to protect and preserve the cemetery.’

— Terry & Marlene Pinsky with Ida Mendelson (L), Ida & Don Pinsky (R)

M

ore than 125 years ago, Terry Pinsky’s greatgrandfather signed the original charter establishing the K.K. House of Abraham. Almost 55 years ago, Terry married Marlene at Beth Abraham’s Salem Avenue building. For decades, the Pinskys’ commitment to the congregation has been deep and everlasting.

As Beth Abraham board members, they heard the presentation about the need to create and fund Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton. For both of them, they knew it would be important to help maintain the cemetery for future generations.

“Our forefathers established the synagogue, the cemetery, and saw the need for a Jewish community in Dayton,” said Terry. “Our family history is now in this cemetery. We’re native Daytonians. It’s where we’ve chosen to be buried.”

Thinking of the generations of relatives from both their families who found their eternal home at Beth Abraham’s cemetery, Marlene added, “we joke that we need to pack a picnic lunch when we are visiting everyone.”

With a family plot near the road, Terry chuckled, “every time we drive by, we wave and say hi.”

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 4

Continued from previous page Hitler and the Nazis considered Jews to be an inferior race.” street with a Jewish friend…I’m gonna run. But if my friend decides not to run, they’ll get passed by most Are Jews White?

Goldberg also stumbled into an ontimes, because you can’t tell who’s Jewish,” she said. “It’s not something going debate within and beyond the Jewish community: Are Jews “White that people say, ‘Oh, that person is people”?

Jewish.’”

Behind the question is another ste“Race” is notoriously difficult to reotype — that a Jew is a person with define. Is it, like Goldberg claimed, a group of people with shared physical white skin, descended from European characteristics? Can other social, eco- ancestors. In other words, an average nomic and anthropological classifica- Ashkenazi Jew. In reality, the Jewish community tions factor in? is considerably more diverse than Jews have long debated whether that. The majority of Jews in North they are a “race” or something else.

America may be Ashkenazi Jews with Judaism is a religion, practiced by roots in Eastern Europe, but Jews also people of all varieties across the descend from ancient communities in globe. But Jews do not have to be Ethiopia, India, China and beyond. practitioners to regard themselves or Sephardic Jews come from commube accepted by other Jews as Jews. nities in Northern Africa and what The Jewish tradition of “matrilinealis now Spain and Portugal, while ity” — defining as Jewish a child Mizrahi Jews come from the Middle born of a Jewish mother — points to a biological definition of JewIlya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Accessories Council ish identity. But Judaism also accepts converts.

Taken all together, these various understandings have led Jews to regard themselves (and others to regard Jews) variously as a people, a nation, a tribe, a family, and a faith — sometimes in various combinations, sometimes all at the same time.

But Hitler, like many antisemites before him, specifically — and repeatedly, in writings and laws and speeches — labeled Jews as a physically impure Slavicdescended race, in contrast to what he termed the blonde, blue-eyed genetically pure German Aryan race. Nazi propaganda promoted pseudoscientific ways to supposedly identify Jews — by the Whoopi Goldberg attends the 25th Annual ACE size of their nose and lips, Awards in New York City, Nov. 2 or the shape of their heads, East, including once vital communiamong other things. ties in Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Syria and Hitler was obsessed by what he other countries. considered the biological fact of JewConsciousness of that diversity has ish identity, and wrote that the “Final grown in part thanks to the advocacy Solution” was inspired in part by his of Jews of color in this country and drive to create a more “pure” and Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews in Israel. singular human race, rid of “Jewish” Even many Jews with Ashkenazi and other impurities. roots are not White. Estimates of the The Nazis drew on a tradition proportion of U.S. Jews who are Jews of “racially” stereotyping Jews that of color range from 6 to 15 percent, scholars have traced at least to 1000 depending on the study and definiC.E. The long, hooked nosed trope, tion, and the Jews of Color Initiative for example, appeared in everything argued in 2019 that the community from medieval paintings to fictional has been chronically undercounted characters, like the villain Shylock because of poor study designs. Last from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. So the Jews were persecuted as year’s Pew Research Center report a “race” by their neighbors in Europe about U.S. Jews concluded that 92 percent of Jews identify as White. and elsewhere for centuries before Add on people from all types of Hitler outlined many of his ideas in ethnic backgrounds who convert to Mein Kampf in a jail cell in 1925.

Judaism, those who practice Jewish In her next-day apology on The View on Feb. 1, Goldberg said the Ho- traditions without having underlocaust “is indeed about race because gone formal conversions, and people

THE DAYTON

OBSERVER daytonjewishobserver.org Editor and Publisher Marshall Weiss MWeiss@jfgd.net 937-610-1555 Contributors Rabbi Leibel Agar 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. 7. The Dayton Jewish Observer is published monthly by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, a nonprofit corporation, 525 Versailles Dr., Dayton, OH 45459.

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around the world who strongly identify with some aspects of Jewish culture, and “Jew” quickly becomes an extremely hard-to-define term.

The Atlantic’s Yair Rosenberg argued that “family” is a more accurate way than “race” to encapsulate the community” “In my experience, mistakes like (Goldberg’s) often happen because wellmeaning people have trouble fitting Jews into their usual boxes. They don’t know how to define Jews, and so they resort to their own frames of reference, like ‘race’ or ‘religion,’ and project them onto the Jewish experience. But Jewish identity doesn’t conform to Western categories, despite centuries of attempts by society to shoehorn it in. This makes sense, because Judaism predates Western categories. It’s not quite a religion, because one can be Jewish regardless of observance or specific belief. (Einstein, for example, was proudly Jewish but not religiously observant.) But it’s also not quite a race, because people can convert in! It’s not merely a culture or an ethnicity, because that leaves out all the religious components.”

Still, even as more recognize Jewish diversity, stereotypes persist. White supremacist, hypernationalist and other far right streams, stemming from the post-2016 rise of the “alt-right,” see Jews as toxic “others,” regardless of what Jews believe or practice. And on the other end of the political spectrum, some leftwing progressives lump all Jews in with a largely White oppressor class.

the whoopee cushion).

But DNA tests and family trees constructed by the likes of Henry Louis Gates Jr. trace her lineage back to nonJewish roots in West Africa.

Nevertheless, in her words, she “feels” Jewish. She told the London Jewish Chronicle in 2016 that she “remembers” Jewish holidays, even if she is not regularly observant in any way.

When people would ask if she is Jewish, Goldberg said she had a standard reply: “I always say ‘Would you ask me that if I was White? I bet not,’” Goldberg told the Chronicle. “The name is wonderful for starting conversations.”

Why does any of this matter?

The Holocaust has stamped its legacy on nearly every Jew who has lived and been born in the 77 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. Because so many antisemites and European ultranationalists are intent on denying that the genocide happened, or insist that it has been exaggerated, Jewish groups are adamant that the facts of history not be distorted, intentionally or not. Such “accidental” distortion, many argue, can be antisemitic in effect, even if not in intent.

Others suggest that Goldberg’s comments reflect an emerging ideology that is trying to downplay the historic persecution of the Jews.

As Daniella Greenbaum, a former producer at The View, wrote in The Washington Post, “It’s an ideology that tries to turn Jews into White people, that tries to erase Jewish vulnerability and oppression, to squeeze Jews who have light skin into modern American categories of race and ethnicity, and which also myopically categorizes the hatred against them into American considerations of what racism looks like.”

And yet many prominent Jews were willing to give Goldberg, if not a pass, then a second or third chance, especially in the name of using the controversy as a teachable moment.

As Rabbi Sharon Brous of the Ikar community in Los Angeles tweeted, “If what you want is to change someone’s mind, I have to think education is more effective than public shaming and punishment. Particularly when that person shows a sincere willingness to learn and apologize.”

Even as more recognize Jewish diversity, stereotypes persist.

Why the last name Goldberg?

The extra thick layer of irony underlining this controversy is that it involves a celebrity who was not born Jewish, but who adopted a Jewish stage name because of what she has described as her positive feelings toward Jews and Jewish culture, not for religious reasons.

The EGOT winner — one of very few performers to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in New York City to a Baptist clergyman father and a nurse mother. In 1994, her publicist told the Orlando Sentinel that her stage name Goldberg came from her mother’s side of the family (her first name is a nod to

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PAGE 5

THE WORLD Rachel Tepper

Reform movement’s longtime youth director named in report on sexual misconduct in youth programs

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By Asaf Shalev, JTA The last of three investigations into sexual misconduct in the Reform movement concluded Feb. 17 with the release of a report focused on failures in programs serving youths. Four leaders or former leaders in the movement were named, including its longtime youth director.

Investigators hired by the Union for Reform Judaism, which represents 831 congregations belonging to the largest denomination of American Jews, learned of dozens of incidents of sexual misconduct, including 17 involving inappropriate behavior of adults toward minors, that took place over the past 50 years.

Over this period more than 500,000 minors participated in Reform programs such as overnight summer camps, conferences, Israel trips, and NFTY, the Reform youth movement.

Allegations shared with investigators ranged from verbal sexual harassment and unwelcome sexual advances to sexual touching and sexual assault.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, the law firm hired by the URJ to carry out the investigation, found that past misconduct was enabled by various cultural factors, including “an old boys club” atmosphere among the prior generations of camp directors; fear that officials would retaliate against those who complained; and a “hook-up” culture within the NFTY youth movement and at some camps.

The report also found that the movement had knowingly hired clergy who had been fired from congregations for sexual misconduct, but not out of a desire to shield rabbis from

movement’s seminary, rabbiniaccountability. “Rather, these employment decisions resulted cal association, and synagogue network each initiated last year. from sincerely held beliefs in The investigators, from three redemption and the process of teshuvah,” the report says, re- different firms, were charged ferring to a Jewish concept akin with scrutinizing allegations of cases of harassment and abuse to restorative justice. with a focus on policies and Regardless of the intent of practices that have failed to enleaders, a lack of transparency sure accountability. Advocates about the handling of allegations has helped foster mistrust for change within the movement called the investigations in Reform institutions, the “historic.” report adds.

The first investigation, about The report credits the moveHebrew Union College-Jewish ment for having improved, Institute of Religion, identiupdating its policies and practices over time and displaying a fied patterns of abuse in the strong commitment to account- seminary’s history when it was released in November. It found ability by current leaders.

“That this investigation hap- that the rabbinical school’s presidents from 1971 to 2000 both pened at all reflects a positive and profound cultural change,” harassed and assaulted women at the school; the report says, Advocates for one of them, noting that the URJ cooperated change within the Rabbi Alfred Gottschalk, was with investigamovement called publicly named tors and has committed to the investigations in an abuse allegation for the implement its ‘historic.’ first time. recommendaThe second, tions in full. examining the Central Confer“We are heartbroken and ence of American Rabbis or distressed by these accounts CCAR, landed in late December. and we profoundly apologize It pointed to loopholes that alfor the enduring pain caused lowed rabbis accused of abuse to so many,” URJ President to continue working in the Rabbi Rick Jacobs and Jennifer Reform movement if they left Brodkey Kaufman, chair of the URJ Board of Trustees, said in a synagogue positions — loopholes that the rabbinical associastatement. tion said have since been closed.

Calling the abuses described In this third and final report, in the report “antithetical to investigators scrutinized the Reform Jewish values,” they added, “Going forward, we are practices of the camps, youth programs, and other non-syncommitted to creating environagogue experiences operated ments that better protect the by the Reform movement. They safety and well-being of everyspoke with 168 people who reone in our community.” ported allegations of abuse and The report marks the conattempted to corroborate each clusion of a trio of third-party investigations that the Reform Continued on Page 10

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

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PAGE 8

Podcaster explores her Black & Jewish identities in series about ut Crown Heights riots Collier Meyerson, creator of Love Thy Neighbor, grew up in Manhattan but spent eight years living in Crown Heights as an adult

By Adam Dickter context and the political implications New York Jewish Week of its fallout,” said Meyerson, who The Crown Heights riots, which has contributed to The Nation, Wired, roiled the Brooklyn neighborhood over MSNBC (where she won an Emmy), The four days in 1991, were some of the New Yorker and other media outlets. most thoroughly documented events She grew up in Manhattan but spent in New York City history: Covered in eight years living in Crown Heights as real time by local, national, and global an adult. Born to a Jewish mother and media, the violence was recounted by Black father —and later adopted by a witnesses in numerous civil and crimiBlack mom and Jewish dad — Meyernal trials. The riots were also the subject son, like many Jews of color, sees the of countless books, essays, documentaevents as a painful clash between the ries, and a one-person play. two central parts of her identity.

Add to that canon now, six months Episode 1 starts with a retirement after the 30th anniversary of the events, party in 2020 for the local police prean exploration in that most modern cinct’s community affairs officer, with form of media: a podcast. each of the tributes putting a positive Love Thy Neighbor, a five-episode spin on how the community has healed series, was created, written and narits wounds. But on the streets, says Meyrated by journalist Collier Meyerson erson, “if you pay close attention, you and debuted in Februare aware of the animosity Meyerson, like ary as part of Audacy’s just below the surface.”

Pineapple Street Studios. many Jews of Flareups between ChaIt is a personal account of sidic community patrols color, sees the the riots by a Jew of color, and Black residents in the depicting the unrest as “a events as a years since are noted, and flashpoint that shaped a Meyerson says there is no painful clash dark new era of politics, denying the persistence of between the two Jewish racism and Black policing, antisemitism, and anti-Black racism in central parts of antisemitism, sometimes New York City.” palpable but often more Meyerson was just 6 on her identity. subtle.

Aug. 19, 1991 when a car Meyerson also exdriven by a Chasidic man accidentally plores the hot-button, widely disputed killed 7-year old Gavin Cato, a Black question of whether the 1991 violence child. A perfect storm of bad decisions, was a two-sided clash, rather than an weak leadership, and pent-up rage antisemitic campaign — what some sparked widespread violence. Orthodox even called a pogrom — against Jews.

Jews were targeted by Black protesters, The podcast cites eyewitness and media and a yeshiva student, Yankel Rosenreports that Chasidim returned fire, baum, was stabbed to death. throwing rocks and bottles and ocMeyerson views the events through casionally scuffling with the rioters. the lens of her father’s work as a civil (Journalist Ari Goldman, who covered rights lawyer, which included defending the events for The New York Times, later people swept up in the events. wrote an essay for The New York Jewish The podcast came from a desire to Week saying he never saw any violence properly explore the events for her

by Jews against Blacks, and criticized generation, and those to come. “I was The Times for suggesting both sides were talking to a friend who had only heard culpable.) of the Crown Heights riot by name “I have a really hard time telling anyand was curious about the history, the one from Crown Heights that their view

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

THE WORLD or experience of August 1991 is wrong,” Meyerson said in an email interview. “My intention was never to be an arbiter of some universal truth, but to pull back the layers of two vastly different experiences, and hopefully add a context that wasn’t there before.”

Some bristle at such “context.” Chabad-Lubavitch spokesman Motti Seligson is featured in the podcast taking offense to the notion that the events were less a riot than an “uprising” stemming from Black residents’ resentment of what they considered the Chabad community’s oversized political power. That narrative, he says, borders on justification for the violence.

“There are some in the Chasidic community who have told me that to even try and give it context is wrong and I certainly respect that point of view,” Meyerson said. “But I really do believe it was a worthwhile endeavor and hopefully one that would get people from both sides to view what happened before, during and after the riot just a little differently.”

Episode 2 takes a close look at Mayor David Dinkins’ handling of the riot — or perhaps lack thereof, which cost the city’s first Black mayor reelection. Hesitant decisions and missed opportunities are explored, as well as the pervasive allegation that he held the police back in order to allow the rioters to vent their rage. That notion was never proven in court proceedings, nor asserted in the state’s exhaustive review of the events, known as the Girgenti Report. Dinkins took great exception to that notion until his death in 2020.

“I thought he got a fairly bad rap during the Crown Heights riot and that it was unfortunate because he really was a champion of so many Jewish causes and believed so much in the possibility of Jewish and Black alliance,” Meyerson said. “I do think that he stumbled a bit during the course of those four days with the Lubavitch community and that it caused him to lose

their Caribbean American neighbors, who never felt support in that community.” life as a minority in their birthplaces. We also hear Episodes delve into the early years of Crown from Jews who reject being labeled as White, such as Heights as it became home to two waves of immian Iranian-born Chabad member who rejects being grants, Jews from Europe and other parts of America, “caught up in a binary.” and Black immigrants from the Caribbean. A tale During her time living in Crown Heights, Meyerson of two neighborhoods emerges, as the City Council says she was never approached by Chabad, which is district in 1976 was split in two in an apparent effort well known for outreach to less-observant Jews. “I to give Jews a solid contiguous voting block. The city had a joke with a friend, who is Irish Catholic, that she treated the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, as a world dignitary, complete with NYPD was approached more than I was,” Meyerson says. guards. “They have certain rights that we don’t have,” “Outreach has changed a lot since I was living there, I a Black resident tells Meyerson.

Pineapple Street Studios can say that from personal experience. But at the time, because I The riots were preceded by was secular and because I wasn’t the tense 1989 mayoral election perceived as Jewish, I really didn’t between Dinkins — propelled have a lot of interaction with the into the Democratic nomination Chasidic community in Crown by racial strife surrounding the Heights. However, the West murder of Black teenager Yusef Indian community really emHawkins by a White mob — and braced me, ironically, because they Republican candidate Rudolph thought that I was from one of the Giuliani, who worked unsuccessislands.” fully to paint Dinkins as weak on In her personal reflections, crime. (His strategy would prevail Love Thy Neighbor asks if the clashes in Crown Heights in Aug. 1991 were two-sided, Meyerson cites the sociologist in their 1993 rematch.) or if Black rioters targeted Jews and writer W.E.B. Dubois’ words Meyerson sees those camabout “double consciousness,” or the ability of Black paigns, as well as the policing strategies of Giuliani people to see themselves as White people see them. As and his successors, as infused with racism. It was in a Black Jew, she has long been mindful of attempts to that atmosphere that a false rumor spread that police “strip me of my Judaism” by asking questions about and medics left young Cato to die, while rushing the her lineage no White Jew would face.

Chasidic driver and his passengers to the hospital. We Perhaps that’s why in Crown Heights she seems to hear from the police officer who ordered the Chasidim to leave the scene, for their own safety, a reminder that see a metaphor of two parts of a whole that want to unite, but can’t quite find a way to do so. the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Love Thy Neighbor is available on the Audacy But Love Thy Neighbor is as much an exploration of platform (audacyinc.com) and wherever podcasts are identity and perception as it is of history. We see the available. cultural differences between African Americans and

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one, concluding that instances of abuse, including against children, had taken place across movement activities over the past five decades.

“It’s a very hard report to read. To see that we failed children is tragic, and is the antithesis of our Jewish values,” said Rabbi Mary Zamore, executive director of the Women’s Rabbinic Network, which has long advocated for changes to the Reform movement’s handling of abuse allegations. “And at the same time, we find hope in the commitment to do teshuvah and repair and to continue to build the processes and systems for accountability that need to be in place.”

The investigators found that awareness, supervision, and training in the movement has improved considerably in recent years, even before the recent reckoning. While they found five rabbis who continued to work in the movement after being accused of abuse prior to 1996, they did not become aware of any after that time.

Four people are named in the report because investigators found their misconduct especially egregious, widespread or long-lasting, and corroborated by several sources. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency has reached out to the rabbis who are still living for comment.

Rabbi Jon Adland was accused of misconduct related to a young child when he was a rabbinical student counselor at a Reform camp in 1977. A camp employee to whom his behavior was reported told the investigators that she did not escalate the concern. Adland worked in multiple synagogues over the following decades and, in 2018, was the subject of a complaint over his behavior with a child sometime between 2005 and 2010.

Adland told investigators he did not remember engaging in sexual activity with campers but apologized if he had hurt anyone.

The CCAR told investigators that Adland, who retired in 2019, is barred from working with children. He does not appear on a list that the rabbinical association first published last year of rabbis it has expelled, suspended, and censured. He participated in a ceremony installing his successor at Temple Israel of Canton, Ohio in November, according to the synagogue’s website.

Adland declined to comment to JTA about the allegations against him.

Jerry Kaye, who directed OSRUI, a flagship Reform movement camp, for nearly five decades until 2017, was found to have sexually harassed six women, often by making unwanted sexual advances. Kaye denied behaving inappropriately to investigators and said he had heard about only one allegation made against him. But the investigators found that he had been explicitly directed by the human relations chief at movement in 2003 to review the employee handbook section on harassment “as a result of your conduct in the elevator at the recent Biennial,” the movement’s

every-other-year convention.

Kaye also did not always terminate camp employees found to have assaulted young women at the camp, the investigators found.

Rabbi Allan Smith, the movement’s longtime youth director, was the subject of multiple credible complaints of sexual misconduct, the report concludes. The complaints included unwanted touching, inappropriate conversation and encouraging young women on staff at Kutz Camp, a movement camp he led, to pursue sexual relationships with older rabbis.

Smith was the director of OSRUI directly before Kaye and for four decades was the director of NFTY, the Reform youth movement. Investigators heard about a “points system” that encouraged sexualized behavior among campers and were told that the system, which reportedly exists across Jewish denominations’ youth movements, became ingrained at Reform movement camps under Smith’s leadership.

When Smith, known by many as “Smitty,” died in 2019, Jacobs called him “the Reform Movement’s greatest champion of kids and the driving force of our youth programs.”

Rabbi Jay Davis was hired by the Reform movement despite being denied ordination by Hebrew Union College over “numerous, credible reports” that he had sexually abused children at a New York City-area synagogue where he worked. He later worked in a Reform synagogue in Florida and continues to cite his Reform movement credentials in his professional biography. Davis, who now goes by the name Bahir Davis and did not respond to investigators’ request for an interview, does not have any affiliation with the Reform movement, but investigators said they chose to name him because he still works as a rabbi in Colorado.

While the individual cases were egregious, the report concludes, they did not necessarily represent major patterns within the Reform movement. Even so, the movement should continue to shore up its practices for reporting, tracking and responding to abuse allegations, the report recommends.

In a statement responding to the new report, leaders of the CCAR, the rabbinical association, said they are in the process of improving their organization’s ethics systems and will seek to coordinate with the movement’s other branches to make further changes.

Zamore said the Reform movement is not alone in struggling to think about how to balance concern for survivors of abuse and the idea that people can work hard to change.

“Repair, teshuvah, does not mean the restoration of the perpetrator status,” she said. “We have to be completely survivor centric. When we talk about repair, we have to take instruction from the survivors in terms of what they need and want and not have an overwhelming concern for those who’ve perpetrated.

The formula has to be flipped.”

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

March JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

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

Sunday, March 6 @ 1:30PM-8:30PM — JCC Dayton Junior Youth Group Ski Trip Sunday, March 20 @ 10AM — JFS Drive Thru Mitzvah Mission Thursday, March 24 @ 6:30PM — JCC Virtual Women’s Seder Thursday, March 31 @ 7PM — JCRC Racial Justice Alliance Virtual Town Hall Meeting

SAVE THE DATE : SUNDAY, APRIL 24 @ 4PM

A Women’s Seder

C H I L D R E N of the

L'DOR V'DOR

H O LO C A U S T 2022 YOM HASHOAH REMEMBRANCE Thursday, March 24 6:30PM via Zoom

Temple Israel

The event is free. Optional $10 Seder sampler box available for purchase. For more information, contact Helen Jones at hjones@jfgd.net or 937-401-1553.

This year’s charity is Shoes 4 The Shoeless.

130 Riverside Drive, Dayton 45405 Sponsored by the Yom Hashoah Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton's Jewish Community Relations Council » jewishdayton.org

SNAP THE CODE TO REGISTER or visit jewishdayton.org

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

PAGE 11

March JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

Legacies, Tributes, & Memorials FEDERATION

ANNUAL CAMPAIGN

IN MEMORY OF › Sis Office

Alice and Burt Saidel Lynn Levin Dawn, Paul and Ethan Haut Ellen and Mark Knue Marlene Kantor Bob Betagole Catherine Williams Marcia Burick Judy Lipton IN MEMORY OF › Evelyn Ostreicher

Debby and Bob Goldenberg IN MEMORY OF › Joe Bettman

Lois and Syd Gross Sara and David Shuster IN MEMORY OF › Ron Gilbert

Sara and David Shuster Judy Lipton Mary and Gary Youra Melinda and Bill Doner IN HONOR OF THE BIRTH OF

› The granddaughters of Dr. and Mrs. Steve Harlan

Nathaniel Ritter

JEWISH CEMETERIES FUND OF DAYTON

IN MEMORY OF › Gert Kahn

Robert Kahn

PJ LIBRARY

IN MEMORY OF › Sis Office

IN MEMORY OF

› Evelyn Ostreicher

IN MEMORY OF › Ron Gilbert

Marcia and Ed Kress

LINDA RUCHMAN MEMORIAL FUND

IN MEMORY OF › Don Fisher

IN HONOR OF

› The 65th anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Warshauer

Judy and Marshall Ruchman

PAST PRESIDENTS FUND

IN MEMORY OF

› Evelyn Ostreicher

IN MEMORY OF

› Dorothy Engelhardt

Sylvia and Ralph Heyman IN MEMORY OF › Ron Gilbert

Joan and Peter Wells

RESILIENCE SCHOLARSHIP FUND

IN MEMORY OF › Dan Weckstein

Sherry McKenney

DOROTHY B. MOYER YOUNG LEADERSHIP FUND

IN MEMORY OF

› Mrs. Lynn Rutstein

Marcia and Dick Moyer and family

PAGE 12

HOLOCAUST PROGRAMMING FUND

IN MEMORY OF › Gert Kahn

Lynn Levin Felice Shane Kathleen and Dennis Turner IN MEMORY OF › Evelyn Ostreicher

Melinda and Bill Doner IN MEMORY OF › Ron Gilbert

Cherie Rosenstein Johnny Rosenstein IN MEMORY OF

› All Those Who Perished in the Holocaust. May Their Memory be a Blessing.

Michael Roediger IN MEMORY OF › Ron Gilbert

Kathy and Mark Gordon

DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER

IN MEMORY OF › Dennis Rich

Wendy and Philip Korenman

JOE BETTMAN MEMORIAL TZADIK AWARD

IN MEMORY OF › Joe Bettman

Alice and Burt Saidel Beth and Louis Guttman Renee and Frank Handel Rita Solko Margo and Alan Zeff Joan and Jim Jacobson Gayle and Irv Moscowitz Nina Judah Segal Joan and Charlie Knoll Marilyn Stayman Nathaniel Ritter Renee and Frank Handel Dotty and Al Fuchsman Rachel and Heath Gilbert Natalie and Larry Katz Margie (Wasserman) Kessel and Chuck Kessel Joanne Cohen Irene and Gary Fishbein Andrea and Gary Abrams Judy Lipton Susan and Joe Gruenberg

› To Cathy Gardner and Tara Feiner, thank you for your support and love during our Shivah time at the CJCE

Elaine and the entire Bettman family IN MEMORY OF

JFS

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES

Thursday, March 31 @ 7 PM

Felice Shane IN MEMORY OF

Did you know?

› Joe Bettman › Sis Office

Susan and Joe Gruenberg

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES ENDOWMENT

IN MEMORY OF

› Evelyn Ostreicher

Cathy Gardner

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES FRIENDS DRIVE

IN MEMORY OF › Shep Rosen

Amy and Ed Boyle

KULBACK FAMILY SENIOR SERVICES FUND

IN MEMORY OF

› Evelyn Ostreicher

Pat Jones

JCC

CHILDREN’S CULTURAL FUND

Thirty out of the 50 U.S. States charge tax on these necessary products. Governor DeWine made it official in November 2019 and repealed Ohio’s tampon tax.

SNAP THE CODE TO REGISTER

Period Poverty is real – lack of access to menstrual products, education, and healthcare.

The Town Hall will feature speakers who work and advocate in this space and together, we will plan for advocacy and action.

Brenda and Scott Meadow

CAROLE RABINOWITZ CAMP FUND

IN MEMORY OF › Sis Office

Beverly Louis Arlene Keil Erin Rabinowitz Bernard Rabinowitz IN MEMORY OF Joe Bettman IN MEMORY OF

› The mother of Marc Katz

Bernard Rabinowitz

JOAN AND PETER WELLS AND REBECCA LINVILLE FAMILY, CHILDREN AND YOUTH FUND

IN MEMORY OF › Sis Office

IN MEMORY OF

› Evelyn Ostreicher

Joan and Peter Wells

› Sis Office

Jean and Todd Bettman

Food Stamps (SNAP) do not cover the costs of menstrual products.

› Sis Office

IN MEMORY OF › Ron Gilbert

Twenty-five million women live in poverty in the U.S.

IN MEMORY OF

EARLY CHILDHOOD FUND

› Dottie Engelhardt

Virtual Town Hall Meeting

IN MEMORY OF

IN MEMORY OF

› Evelyn Ostreicher

PERIOD POVERTY: WORKING TOWARD MENSTRUAL JUSTICE

IN MEMORY OF

HEUMAN SCHOLARSHIP & INTEREST-FREE STUDENT LOANS Are you a member of the Dayton Jewish community who plans on attending a two- or four-year college, technical program, or graduate school in the academic year 2022-2023? If so, you may be eligible to apply for a college scholarship and/or interest-free student loan through the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.

Applications available now! Completed applications due March 31, 2022. Contact Alisa Thomas at athomas@jfgd.net or 937-610-1796 to request an application packet.

For more information visit jewishdayton.org

Sarah Anne Patz

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

March JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

LET’S EXPLORE! SUMMER 2022 : JUNE 7th - JULY 22nd Traditional camp experience offered for 7 weeks. We are also offering a variety of specialty camps this summer! For more information and to register, visit JewishDayton.org

New for summer 2022 - Specialty Camps!

DATES

SPECIALTY

GRADES

June 13-17 June 13-17 June 20-24 June 20 - July 15 June 27 - July 1 July 5-8

Woodworking Lego Biking Theater Tennis Art

4th - 7th 1st - 3rd 3rd - 7th 1st - 7th 1st - 7th 1st - 7th

®

JCC MACCABI GAMES JULY 31–AUGUST 5 San Diego, CA

Join 2,000 Jewish teens from across the globe for an Olympic-style sports experience.Be part of the magic!

For Jewish athletes ages 13-16 (as of July 31, 2022)

SPORTS SPECIALTIES Baseball

Golf

Basketball

Ice Hockey

Dance

Soccer

Esports

Swimming

Flag Football

Table Tennis

Girl’s Volleyball

Tennis

For more information please contact Meryl Hattenbach at 937-401-1550 or mhattenbach@jfgd.net

April 3, 2022, 3 - 5 PM Humane Society of Greater Dayton 1661 Nicholas Road, Dayton, Ohio 45417 Meet up with PJ Our Way at the Humane Society of Greater Dayton for an afternoon volunteering with the dogs and cats!

Fill Kongs, make dog toys, socialize with the dogs, and take a tour of the shelter. No cost to attend! Ages 8+ (younger siblings welcome)

RSVP online at jewishdayton.org

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

PAGE 13

March JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

Share your joy at Passover! Do you have a favorite photo of nature that brings you joy?

Share that joy with others! You can submit your photos to Jewish Family Services and we will use them to create Passover cards as part of our holiday outreach. Email photos to Jacquelyn Archie at jarchie@jfgd.net by March 15.

Sunday, March 20, 10 AM Back by popular demand, JFS is hosting another Drive Thru Mitzvah Mission! Help us feed guests at St. Vincent de Paul’s shelters and provide donations of books for Project READ. Prepare frozen, unbaked macaroni and cheese casseroles following the required recipe and directions below.

Gather and bring gently used books of all genres to donate to Project READ. Drive thru the Boonshoft Center for Jewish Culture and Education (CJCE). JFS will take your donations of frozen casseroles and book donations and provide you with a sweet treat in return.

If you have any questions, please call Jacquelyn Archie, 937-610-1555. No cost.

RECIPE: 1 1/2 lbs (24 oz) elbow macaroni 2 lbs cheese melted 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of celery soup 2 1/2 cups milk

Cook macaroni and drain. Melt cheese separately and add to macaroni. Add milk and soup. Mix well. Pour into sprayed pan. Cover loosely and place in refrigerator until completely cooled. Then cover tightly with sturdy foil lid and freeze. Casserole should be frozen for 36 hours.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES of GREATER DAYTON

PAGE 14

The JCC Youth Theatre performed The Wizard of Oz at Dayton Playhouse, February 5 and 6. They performed three shows in front of a total audience of 300. Cast members ranged in age from 3rd through 10th grade.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

THE WORLD

In a first for an Israeli prime minister, Naftali Bennett visits Bahrain

Haim Zach, Israeli Government Press Office

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (R) meets with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Manama, Feb. 14

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett landed in Bahrain for meetings with its rulers, the second such trip to a Gulf Arab country since the launch of the Abraham Accords.

Speaking Feb. 14 before his departure, Bennett framed his visit as a bulwark against increasing uncertainty worldwide, alluding to heightened tensions in the region with Iran and in Europe, with anticipations of a Russian strike against Ukraine.

“I think especially in these tumultuous times it’s important that from this region we send a message of goodwill,

of cooperation of standing together against common challenges and of building bridges to the future,” he said.

The visit is Bennett’s second to the region since the launch in 2020 of the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between Israel and four Arab countries: Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Sudan. He visited the UAE in December. Bahrain and Israel have formalized commercial ties and have launched defense cooperation. As part of Bennett’s visit, Israel said it would station a defense official in Manama.

— Ron Kampeas, JTA

Israel allows unvaccinated tourists to enter beginning March 1 Flash90

Travelers at Ben Gurion Airport, Dec. 22, 2021

Israel will allow unvaccinated tourists to enter the country beginning March 1 as the county’s Covid case numbers continue to decline, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz announced Feb. 20.

Tourists will still need to produce negative PCR tests before and after their flights, while Israelis will only need to take a test upon landing.

The more lax rules mean that children under the age of five who are ineligible to be vaccinated can now enter the

country. Only fully vaccinated tourists have been allowed in since January.

The changes came as Israel’s government also ended its Green Pass program, which allowed only those who have been vaccinated or recovered from Covid to enter public venues. The government decided not to renew the program when it expires March 1 due to the country’s declining Covid rate.

“This wave is breaking,” Bennett said, according to The Times of Israel.

“We are seeing a decline in the number of severely ill.”

— Shira Hanau, JTA

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

PAGE 15

THE WORLD

OPINION

After Jewish lawmaker’s impassioned speech, Wyoming’s legislature rejects ‘critical race theory’ ban

The Jewish commitment in a people of color majority America

By Justin Feldman American Jews demand a future that is inclusive of their voices, aspirations, and needs. What does the future demand from American Jews? To It seemed a slam dunk: The answer this question, we must understand what ing.” The bill stipulates that popular conservative cause of America will look like in the coming decades. “the discussion of otherwise banning “critical race theory” Right now, the United States is in the midst of controversial aspects of history” in schools, being taken up for an era that appears divided along connected rais allowed, Gray said. a vote in one of the country’s cial, political, class and generational lines. Demo“It can be taught in a commost lopsidedly conservative plete and accurate perspective,” graphic experts generally agree that the country legislatures. will look much different by 2045. People of color he said of the Holocaust. “So Then a Democrat, one of will comprise a majority in the population for the clearly, the Holocaust is somejust seven in the thing that we totally first time in the history of the United States. Parti60-member Wyosan divides across races may be exacerbated even disapprove of and ming legislature, more so than in the current polarized climate. condemn totally.” stood up Feb. 17 and The implications of this demographic shift are The bill garnered said he could not more than what meets the eye. The mainstream a majority of the support the bill belegacy of the Jewish story in America has been chamber’s votes, cause he was Jewish. one of remarkably successful assimilation into the 35, but not the “In this bill, page “White,” enfranchised majority, especially after two-thirds needed 9, line 19 states, the post-World War II era. However, with the to advance the bill.

‘The teaching of impending demographic shift in the country and The 24 lawmakers history must be the socioeconomic mobility of more Americans of who voted against neutral, without color, the effort to shed our particular differences advancing the bill judgment,’” state seems increasingly irrelevant and pointless. included a sigRep. Andy Schwartz Wyoming Rep. Andy In fact, despite the distinct history of most of nificant number of said during debate. Schwartz Western Jewry (Ashkenazi-predominant), fraught the chamber’s 51 “Now, how can that with exclusion and racialized discrimination Republicans. be possible? If I were a Native through the 1960s, the yearning to minimize our One of Schwartz’s DemoAmerican, I doubt I could acconspicuous physical, cultural, and religious feacratic colleagues suggested on cept the neutral, judgment-free Twitter that his speech moved tures seems counterintuitive when diversity and approach about the relocation, ethnic pride are values gaining tremendous social votes against the bill. the decimation of the Indigcapital today.

“The House just defeated a enous population. If I were a When the waters of social justice turn toxic and bill that would have banned Black American, I doubt I could ‘critical race theory’ in schools demonize American Jews for broadly achieving accept a neutral, judgment-free after a powerful speech by Rep- White acceptance through assimilation to benapproach on the enslavement of resentative Schwartz, a Jewish efit equally from “the American Dream,” while millions of Americans. man who refuses to learn about most others couldn’t (despite Jewish allyship for “But I’m Jewish, civil rights), Jews, not European-Americans, face the Holocaust in and I cannot accept unique alienation. a neutral mana neutral judgmentJust as various Jewish thinkers like to point out ner,” Rep. Karlee free approach on that assimilation and conformity had their limits Provenza said. the murder of six in Europe, evidenced by the Dreyfus Affair or the Conservamillion Jews in Holocaust, so, too, are there limits in the “exceptives nationwide World War Two.” tional” United States. As American Jews become are seeking to Schwartz, whose the object of envy by much more diverse forces, ban “critical race Teton County while remaining the targets of White suprematheory,” once a district includes the term legal scholars cists, the respectable choice — if not the only city of Jackson, said logical one — is to look within and outwardly used to define the that to understand structural effects of embrace our Jewishness. the depth of deThis is as much an authentic goal as it is a racism, and now an praved actions, one sustainable one, particularly when the sociopolitiill-defined cudgel must be discomcal and moral orthodoxies of our generation force aimed at what its fited by them. us into boxes where we lose our rights. As the opponents say are “Going to page far-left alleges, if we’re solely “White” or nationthe corrosive ef8, lines 19 and 20, it says ‘no less co-religionists at the top who feign minority fects of teaching racial equity. one should feel discomfort or The contradiction between its status, we have neither culture of our own dedistress,’” he said. serving representation or solidarity, nor the right banning and advancing Holo“But in learning about the to self-determine. As the far-right alleges, if we’re caust education — something Holocaust, I have suffered a merely phony European-Americans who cloak many Republicans and conserlifetime of discomfort and disvatives favor — has played out our Levantine heritage to rule at the top, we have tress, and it’s essential that as no belonging as well. in multiple state legislatures. students learn about this dark The Jewish relationship with identity politics Additionally, educators in time in our history, they to feel is thus more charged, arguably, than that of any multiple places have been told discomfort in distress.” other group. The ever-increasing diversity of that the Holocaust, like other The bill’s author, Republican topics, must be presented in a American Jewry, today consisting of Jews of all Chuck Gray, said Schwartz’s colors and diasporic journeys, is another reason neutral manner. interpretation was “disappoint— Ron Kampeas, JTA why fostering and mobilizing a unified Jewish

Schwartz said that to understand the depth of depraved actions, one must be discomfited by them.

So, what do you think?

PAGE 16

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identity, inclusive of its subsets, is essential for the vitality of the American-Jewish future.

Embracing our diversity and particularity builds credibility, where otherwise it has been subdued in the past. Manifesting our Jewishness more visibly with pride, however one relates to it, strengthens our own community and also the understanding of non-Jewish people of color for Jewish nationhood, inclusion, and Zionism.

We learn from this that Jewish classifications are not just a matter of non-Jewish projections, but also a fact of the self-identification and actions of Jews themselves. When President Donald Trump was in office, many (if not a majority of) American Jews decried the de facto “policy wedge” that the administration advanced in favor of Israel, while undermining the concerns of various domestic communities: women, the undocumented, Latinos, Muslims, the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.

Many Jews were also able to welcome positive initiatives, such as the Abraham Accords, Title VI protections and the support of HBCU’s, while not stopping short of condemning hateful — including antisemitic — remarks by Trump and his flirtatious assent to far-right movements. That’s a good thing.

Simultaneously, there was a visible contingent in the American-Jewish community that fell short of recognizing the divisive and hyper-partisan plot that accompanied these policies, thus contributing to anti-Jewish bias in other marginalized communities. The quake in our relations with other minorities was felt from the societal level all the way to the halls of Congress, alerting attentive Israelis who saw the “cozying up” to the ephemeral administration prioritized shortsightedly by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his base.

Due to the risks of partisan isolation from these recent tempestuous tides, moving forward with Jewish pride, self-awareness, and relationship-building with other communities of color is imperative for a vibrant and secure future. This is just as true despite radical attempts to exclude Jews in movements by some civic leaders of color.

We would be utterly mistaken to dismiss relationship-building with the future U.S. majority and sacrifice the long-term benefit of American Jewry and Israel. And the time to plant those seeds is now.

While a new generation is more eager for ethnic revival and a departure from “Whiteness,” some may claim that this is just another kind of pressure for Jews to fit in to new majority ideals. I say that Jews are finally poised not with a promise, but an opportunity to be themselves.

Rather than being subject to the tug-and-pull of any stream of assimilation and asking, “How can I be more like all of them,” we can and should ask ourselves now, “How can I be more like me”— and proudly share that with our fellow Americans.

Justin Feldman is national activism manager of the Israeli American Council’s Mishelanu pro-Israel leadership network on U.S. college campuses.

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.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

CALENDAR Note:

Because of Covid, in-person programs listed here may be cancelled or switched to virtual programs after press time. For the latest information, check with the organizations via their websites, Facebook pages, and by calling them directly.

Classes

Beth Jacob Virtual Classes: Sundays, 2 p.m.: Conversions w. Rabbi Agar. Tuesdays, 7 p.m.: Weekly Parsha w. Rabbi Agar. Thursdays, 7 p.m.: Jewish Law w. Rabbi Agar.

Email Tammy at bethjacob1@ aol.com.

Temple Beth Or Virtual Adult Education: Sun., March 6, noon: Andre Aciman, author of Call Me By Your Name. Register at templebethor.com/event/callme-by-your-name. Wed., March 9, 6:30 p.m.: An Exploration of the Jewish Short Story.

Register at templebethor.com/ an-exploration-of-the-jewishshort-story.

Temple Israel Classes: Tuesdays, noon: Talmud Study In Person & Virtual. Saturdays, 9:15 a.m.: Virtual Torah Study.

Register at 937-496-0050.

Discussions

Temple Israel Ryterband Lecture Series: Sundays, 9:45 a.m. March 6 & 20: Illinois Community College Poli. Sci. Instructor Barb Katz, Facts

& Fictions in the AmericanJewish-Black Relationship, Parts 1 & 2. $7 includes light breakfast. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 937-496-0050.

Men

Children & Youths

Community

Junior Youth Group Skiing/ Boarding @ Perfect North Slopes: Sun., March 6, 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m. Drop-off & pickup at Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. $80 includes transportation, equipment rental, all-day pass.

Food & drink on own. R.S.V.P. at jewishdayton.org/events or with Meryl Hattenbach, mhattenbach@jfgd.net by Feb. 14.

Young Adults

Chabad First Friday Young Jewish Professionals Shabbat Dinner: Fri., March 4, 7 p.m. For info., contact elchonon@chabaddayton.com.

Chabad Young Jewish Professionals ‘90s Purim Party: Wed., March 16, 7:30 p.m. Reservations via chabaddayton.com.

Women

JCC Virtual Women’s Seder: Thurs., March 24, 6:30 p.m.

Optional $10 Seder sampler box available. Register at jewishdayton.org/events.

Chabad’s Bagels, Lox & Tefillin: Sun., March 6, 9:30 a.m. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. 937-643-0770.

Staged Reading of The Disputation: Thurs., March 10, 3 p.m. Downtown Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third St. Presented by Univ. of Dayton, the Association for Jewish Studies, Beth Abraham & Jewish Federation. Free. 937463-2665.

Temple Israel Presents Social Justice Torah Commentary Author Rabbi Barry H. Block: Via Zoom. Sun., March 13, 11 a.m. Call Temple Israel to register, 937-496-0050.

Temple Beth Or Corned Beef Sale: Tues., March 15, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Boxed lunches & corned beef by the pound for pickup or delivery (10 or more orders). $18 per meal, $20 per pound, $5 per slice of cheesecake. Preorder at templebethor.com/cornedbeef. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash.

Twp. JCC Presents Introduction to Torah Writing: w. Scribe Shel Bassel. Tues., March 15, 7:30 p.m. Via Zoom. Free. R.S.V.P. at jewishdayton.org/events.

Holocaust Speaker Series w. Steven Wasserman: Presented by Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center & Dayton’s JCC. Wed., March 16, 11 a.m.

At Facebook Live, facebook. com/CincyHHC. At Zoom, holocaustandhumanity.org/ speaker-series.

JFS Drive Thru Mitzvah Mission: Sun., March 20, 10 a.m. Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. For info., call Jacquelyn Archie, 937-610-1555.

Beth Jacob Congregation Dedication Of New Megillah: Sun., March 20, 3 p.m. 7020 N. Main St., Harrison Twp. 937274-2149.

Beth Abraham Synagogue Men’s Club Annual Kosher Deli Dinner, Movie & Raffle: Sun., March 27, 6 p.m. Boxed dinners for eat in or takeout. $20. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. R.S.V.P. by March 21 to 937-293-9520.

JCRC Racial Justice Alliance Virtual Town Hall, Period Poverty - Working Toward Menstrual Justice: Thurs., March 31, 7 p.m. Register at jewishdayton.org/events.

Purim

Beth Abraham Synagogue’s Shushan Night Fever: Wed., March 16, 6 p.m.: Carnival w. bounce house, games, crafts, costume parade. 6:30 p.m.: Megillah reading & Purim shpiel. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. 937-293-9520.

Megillah Readings at Beth Jacob Congregation: Wed., March 16 after 8:15 p.m.

Ma’ariv service; Thurs., March 17, 7:30 a.m. 7020 N. Main St., Harrison Twp. 937-274-2149.

Chabad Purim at the Stadium: Thurs., March 17, 5:30 p.m. Location TBD. $15 adult, $5 child. Reservations via chabaddayton.com.

Beth Jacob Gift Shop One-stop shop for your Judaic & Holiday needs.

New merchandise arriving weekly.

Please call the synagogue office to schedule your appointment to visit our beautiful shop.

7020 N. Main Street, Dayton, OH — 937-274-2149

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By Stephen Silver, JTA When she was cast as Midge Maisel’s mother-in-law in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, veteran actress Caroline Aaron had no idea that a series about a very particular slice of mid-20th century Jewish life would strike a chord around the world.

But its popularity has gone far beyond Jews and the Jewish-adjacent. Much like Fiddler on the Roof, the show has found an audience even in countries where Jewish culture is all but nonexistent.

“After the second season, we went to Milan, to do international press, and there were journalists from all over the world — from China, and India, and all of the European countries, and I was like, what could possibly be of interest?”

Aaron said during a recent Zoom talk hosted by The Braid, a Southern California Jewish women’s theatre. “But in this show, for people all over the world — and even though they were interviewing us — I had to interview them, just to find out what it was about this

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show that had enchanted audiences that had no cultural references.”

And what did she learn?

“I think first and foremost, family is a universal.

I think no matter how it manifests itself, that deeply resonates with everyone,” said Aaron.

She added that one journalist in Sweden told that her that “‘we’ve never seen a show with a young woman who is confident’...

Here is a young woman who is in possession of her Caroline Aaron Jewish comedian Lenny Bruce. ambition, and her dreams, and None of them is Jewish. has a direction.’”

“I’m very concerned that we Aaron’s talk at The Braid are confining the art of acting served in part as a preview to ‘you have to be it to play of the fourth season of Mrs. Maisel, which began airing Feb. it,’” Aaron said. “When all of this sort of started to dust up, I 18 after a nearly three-year wanted to write to every parent hiatus. In a career spanning in the country who’s writ40 years, Aaron has appeared ing a check for a performing in multiple films from major arts program, to rip up their Jewish directors such as Mike check…I think that acting in its Nichols (Heartburn, Working purest form is taking a walk in Girl, Primary Colors and What someone else’s shoes. And ultiPlanet Are You From?), Nora mately, isn’t that the definition Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle and Lucky Numbers) and Woody Al- of empathy?”

When people ask Aaron if len (Crimes and Misdemeanors, Alice and Deconstructing Harry). Brosnahan is Jewish, Aaron’s retort is that “if you’re asking, On television, Aaron has appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm then she’s doing her job and and Transparent, and since 2017 she’s doing it well.” She added it goes the other way, too. has been portraying Shirley “I don’t want to be confined Maisel. Along with the rest of to only playing Jewish womthe Maisel cast, Aaron won the en,” Aaron said. “I want to Screen Actors Guild Award play all kinds of women. And I for Outstanding Ensemble in think that acting is an art form a Comedy Series, in both 2018 like any other art form.” and 2019.

She also praised the show’s She has also done notably writing, and was clear that Jewish-oriented work in the while the scenes of Jewish theatre. She starred in a onecharacters “living at the top woman, two-character play of their lungs” often appear imabout a Holocaust survivor provised, the show is scripted called Call Waiting, later star“down to the comma.” She ring in the movie version as contrasted that with her turn well. early in the run of Curb Your In 2016, she appeared in Enthusiasm, in which “not a Stories from the Fringe, a play word is written down.” assembled from the voices of Aaron comes from Richmore than a dozen woman rabbis and presented at The Braid, mond, Va., and as she made clear, her Southern Jewish then known as the Jewish heritage is important to her. “I Women’s Theatre. didn’t even know, when I was In the Zoom talk, Aaron growing up, of (the stereodefended the casting of Mrs. type of the) New York Jewish Maisel, which includes Rachel mother, or a Jewish girl. I had Brosnahan as Midge Maisel, no idea of where that was Tony Shalhoub and Marin coming from, because it wasn’t Hinkle as her parents, and around me.

Luke Kirby as the legendary

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

RELIGION

Purim’s Torah

By Rabbi Leibel Agar Beth Jacob Congregation As we enter the month of March, our thoughts begin to turn to Purim. Even though the Jewish leap year’s extra month of Adar pushes Purim into mid-March this year, schools and synagogues all over the Jewish world are making plans for Purim activities.

In our homes, costumes are

Perspectives being purchased and themes for shalach manos (Purim gift baskets of food and drink) are being dreamed up. Despite the need to incorporate extra safety measures into our celebrations, we are avidly awaiting a joyous Purim holiday.

When it comes to “shtick” on Purim, Purim Torah is one of my favorite aspects of the holiday.

As someone who is known for having an extensive store of weak puns and dad jokes,

CONGREGATIONS

to intervene, she tells him to Purim Torah riddles like declare a fast for all the Jews in “Where does it talk about Shushan. After our victory, all baseball in the Torah? In the the Jews celebrated Haman’s Big Inning (beginning),” “Why couldn’t Noah play cards while downfall.

At its core, the story of he was on the Ark? Everyone Purim is about how we came was standing on the deck,” together as a comand “Why didn’t munity in a time Cain lift big rocks? of trouble and how Because he was we overcame great not Abel!” are an odds together. integral part of I believe this how I celebrate the often-overlooked holiday. aspect of the However, it is Megillah speaks not Purim Torah directly to today’s that I wish to speak Jewish world. of here; rather, it is We have seen the Torah of Purim. great difficulties While Purim is over the past coua holiday of fun ple of years. The and celebration, it Rabbi Leibel Agar Covid pandemic, is also chock full of unrest in Israel, a dramatic rise valuable Torah insights. in antisemitism in America and Specifically, I would like to all over the world…all of these share with you an aspect of things can bring us together as Purim which I believe speaks a community and as a people. to the very heart of our people: Now is not the time to fight the need for community. amongst ourselves. Like our In the original Purim story, ancestors in Ahashverus’ the Megillah describes how kingdom, we need to unite and Haman decided to kill off all realize that we are all in this the Jewish people because one together.

Jew (Mordechai) would not As I look around at the Daybow down to him. When Morton Jewish community, I am dechai entreats Queen Esther

heartened by what I see. We are not merely Jews who live in the same community; we are a community of Jews. We are there for one another, celebrating the good times and supporting one another in times of difficulty. As it happens, I recently saw an example of this communal bond which the Jews in Dayton share. There was a member of our shul who lost a parent. During the days of shiva, we reached out to the community in order to get a minyan.

Not only did members of our shul answer the call, but Jews from all over the Dayton community responded.

Thanks to people from all over the community — members of Beth Jacob, Beth Abraham, Temple Beth Or, and Temple Israel — we were able to make minyanim each night of the shiva. It is this sense of community that will see us through the difficulties which we have been facing.

As our community continues its wonderful traditions of unity, support and brotherhood, may our Father in Heaven bring us all manner of blessing and success in all which we do!

MAZEL TOV! Carol Graff is one of the League of Women Voters’ three 2022 Dangerous Dames of Dayton to be honored March 8 at NCR Country Club. A

Bark Mitzvah Boy two-time mayor of Beavercreek, Carol has served on the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, Greene County Water-Wastewater Advisory Committee, Greene County

March

Adar I/Adar II Shabbat Candle Lightings March 4, 6:14 p.m.

March 11, 6:21 p.m.

March 18, 7:29 p.m.

March 25, 7:36 p.m.

Health District Advisory Committee, and has been president of the Greene County Library Board since 2017. A longtime adjunct instructor at Wright State, Carol has taught in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

Dayton Children’s CEO Debbie Feldman has received the Dayton Development Coalition’s 2022 Maureen Patterson Regional Leader Award, honoring “an extraordinary leader in our community who, like Patterson, advocates for the community’s

economic health and growth.”

Also honored at DDC’s annual meeting was Economy Linen and Towel Service with the Project of the Year, for its new 78,000-square-foot laundry facility in West Dayton. The environmentally-friendly plant, slated to open soon, is estimated to create 70 new jobs. Debbie’s husband, Bruce Feldman, is president and CEO of Economy, which was founded in 1931 by Bruce’s grandfather, Harry Feldman.

Wake Forest University sophomore Julia Freeman was recently featured as Chabad@ Wake Forest’s Jewish Deac

March 12: Vayikra (Lev. 1:1-5:26; Deut. 25:17-19) March 19: Tzav (Lev. 6:1-8:36) March 26: Shemini (Lev. 9:1-11:47; Num. 19:1-22)

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

Purim

Feast of Lots March 17/14 Adar II Commemorates the rescue of the Jews in ancient Persia.

The reading of the Book of Esther, costumes, grogers (noisemakers), and eating hamantashen are part of this festival.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

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.

Rabbinic Intern Caitlin Brazner Fri., March 18, 7:30 p.m. in person and via Zoom.

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 In person Shabbat services Friday, March 4, 6 p.m.; Fridays, March 11, 18, 25, 6:30 p.m.

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

Wake Forest sophomore Julia Freeman with George (L) & Henry

A Jewish leap year

Torah Portions March 5: Pekudei (Ex. 38:21-40:38)

of the Week. Julia majors in biochemistry and molecular biology. She is the daughter of Heidi and Jon Freeman.

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

On the Jewish calendar, months follow the cycle of the moon. However, there are approximately 12.4 lunar months in a solar year. The solution is a 19-year Jewish calendar cycle with a second month of Adar — Adar II — added in the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th and 19th years.

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 19

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

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

Shushan Night A Disco Fever Purim Costumes encouraged, masks required

Wed., March 16 • In Person 6 p.m. Carnival w. Bounce House, Games & Crafts Costume Parade 6:30 p.m. Megillah Reading & Purim Shpiel

Bring Mac n’ Cheese boxes for groggers to be donated to the Foodbank

Men’s Club Annual

Kosher Deli Dinner

Boxed dinners for eat in or takeout

Movie & Raffle

Dulce de Leche Hamantashen Rethinking the South American alfajores cookie for Purim.

By Leanne Shor, The Nosher Alfajores are a decadent sandwich cookie filled with dulce de leche, a caramel-like spread made from condensed milk. Most people associate alfajores with Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru; they were brought to the New World by the Spanish in the 16th century. Before that, it’s said that the cookies were actually an Arab import when Spain was largely under Arab control in the 14th and 15th centuries.

I was first introduced to the famous South American cookie at the wellknown Israeli café chain Aroma in New York City. Alfajores are actually extremely popular in Israel today, much more so than in the States.

Making your own dulce de leche filling is actually incredibly easy, but if you can find it at your grocery store, feel free to use it here.

For the dough: 2/3 cup butter, room temperature 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs, room temperature 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 tsp. freshly grated lemon zest (zest from 1 lemon) 2.5 cups unbleached all purpose flour 1/2 cup cornstarch 11/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp kosher salt For the dulce de leche filling: 2 14 oz. cans sweetened condensed milk 1/4 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Sunday, March 27, 6 p.m. In Person.

To serve: 1 cup unsweetened large flaked coconut (Preferable to the heavily sweetened macaroon coconut) 1/4 cup powdered sugar

305 Sugar Camp Circle Dayton, Ohio 45409 937•293•9520 www.bethabrahamdayton.org

Remove the labels from both cans of sweetened condensed milk. Place the cans on their sides in the bottom of large pot. Fill the pot with water. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for at least three and a half

Kosher deli boxed dinner, $20. Followed by a nostalgic Jewish film. R.S.V.P. by March 21.

PAGE 20

hours. Add water if necessary, so that the cans are completely submerged in water. Use tongs to remove the cans from the hot water, and allow the cans to cool for least one hour.

Open the cans and scoop out the caramelized dulce de leche. Add the salt and vanilla extract, and whisk to combine thoroughly. Set aside.

In a medium-size bowl, whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the butter and sugar. Cream on medium speed until lighter in color and fluffy. Add the eggs and lemon zest and thoroughly combine. Add the flour mixture to the bowl of the mixer, and beat on low speed until the dough comes together in a ball, about one minute.

Dump the dough out onto a large piece of plastic wrap, bringing it together into a ball, then flatten with your hands.

Wrap the dough tightly, and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place the coconut flakes on the baking sheet, and toast until lightly golden brown, about eight to 10 minutes. Pour the coconut into a bowl, and set aside.

Cut the dough in half. Dust your work surface with flour. Working with one half, roll the chilled dough out to quarter-inch thickness. Use a 3-inch round cutter to cut out as many circles as possible. Re-roll the scrapes and repeat with the second half of dough.

Place a teaspoon of filling in the center of each circle. Fill a small bowl with water, and dip your finger in and run it around the perimeter of each cookie.

This is the glue that will hold the dough together.

Pinch the top of circle together, then bring up the bottom of the circle, creating three distinct points. Pinch the corners tightly, and up the sides very tightly, enclosing the filling, so it doesn’t spill out. Dulce de leche is a softer filling, so a tight seal is important.

Place the shaped cookies two to three inches apart on the prepared baking sheet and place the cookies in the freezer for 15 minutes to help maintain their shape.

Bake the cold cookies for 12-15 minutes until the edges are slightly golden brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle with toasted coconut and powdered sugar.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

JEWISH FAMILY EDUCATION

Before the Torah The Power of Stories

When growing up, Rabbi Eliyahu Safran writes, a friend often came to his home after school. They would do their homework, entertain themselves for a bit, and then have supper. Before leaving the table Eliyahu would always thank

Candace R. Kwiatek his mother for preparing and serving the meal. Mystified, his friend once asked, “Eliyahu, why do you always thank your mother after supper, every single time? Isn’t it her job to prepare supper for you?”

Four thousand years ago, Sumerian and Babylonian law codes were recorded in clay and stone. Although now fragmented and outdated, these ancient artifacts attest to the timeless need for some legislative guidelines on human behavior so that society can function.

The Law given to Moses at Sinai offered a new code built upon a similar premise, that a good society can only be built by people guided by divine law.

But is law enough? Some of the earliest stories in the Torah

provide the answer. Abraham welcomed three strangers into his tent and provided shelter, food, and drink. When they left, Abraham accompanied them for some distance to see them off. Such conduct was guided not by law but by customs of hospitality.

The Philistines in Gerar where Isaac settled became envious of him, threatened by his success: a growing household, flocks and herds, and many enterprises. The local king, Abimelech, told Isaac to leave because “you are too mighty for us.” Isaac relocated nearby, opened old wells and dug new freshwater wells, but the Philistine herdsmen claimed, “The water is ours!”

Realizing he jeopardized both their dignity and their local resources, Isaac ultimately left the region. Not law, but respect for the people and their land guided Isaac’s choice.

Before leaving Midian for Egypt to lead the people out of slavery, Moses asked permission from his father-in-law, Jethro. After all, he had welcomed Moses, made him part of the family, and treated him with kindness. And if for no other reason, as head of the household, Jethro was due the respect of a formal request.

the transcendent aspiration of Common decency, not law, Sinai. Look for this sublime guided Moses’ actions. quality in the following stories.

These and countless adThe Wedding. It was a beauditional biblical vignettes tiful wedding between the two illustrate the principle of derech distinguished families of Rav eretz, the unofficial expectation of right or appropriate behavior Auerbach and Rav Zalman in Tiberias, a primitive city in the described as “the way of the 1950s. A now-famous local fish world.” The Talmud, Midrash, was served at the celebratory and modern commentators meal. Unfortunately the refrigadd hundreds of teachings that eration had been inadequate, so address derech eretz as comwhen the fish was served it was mon decency, consideration spoiled. The entire meal had to for others, or simply civilized be thrown out, and the guests behavior. were served some challah and In everyday speech, derech dips. Nevertheless, the wederetz suggests courtesy, considding was festive and joyous, eration, manners, and respect. filled with dancing, speeches, In reality, however, it encomand much joy. passes how we During the dress, behave, Only when we celebrations, and speak; ethiRav Auerbach cal and respon- act with derech sible living in eretz are we able slipped away to find the relation to the to truly fulfill the caterer, whom earth; earning a living; and even mitzvot and realize he thanked for his efforts intimacy bethe transcendent and assured tween partners.

“It’s the way aspiration of Sinai. there was no ill will. “I will, life works,” of course, pay for the meal,” writes Rabbi Peretz Rodman. said Rav Auerbach. “Although “You do what is right because that’s what you do, not because my mechutan (in-law) and I had originally agreed to share the there’s a law or a commandcosts, I wanted to let you know ment that obligates it. It’s the that in case he does not want to right way of being human.” pay for the spoiled food, I will Jewish tradition teaches, cover his share.” The caterer “Derech eretz kadma l’Torah, smiled gratefully. “That’s very derech eretz precedes the interesting,” he said. “Because Torah.” Only when we act with derech eretz are we able to truly just a few moments ago, your mechutan was here, and he told fulfill the mitzvot and realize

me the very same thing.”

The Blessing. A man once went to the great Rabbi Israel Abuhatzeira, the Baba Sali, to request a blessing for his son. In an effort to impress the rabbi, the man shared a story about his son’s clever answer to a difficult question in the Rambam.

When the man had finished, the Baba Sali nodded and smiled in approval. The father beamed with pride, and the rabbi offered a heartfelt blessing for the son. When the man left, the Baba Sali’s son-in-law pointed out an error in the son’s interpretation, asking, “Why didn’t you say anything?” The Baba Sali responded, “This man was so happy and proud of his son.

I should take away his happiness?”

The Law. En route to bake matzah before Passover, students of the renowned Rabbi Salanter contemplated the extensive Jewish legal requirements necessary to ensure the food would be kosher for the festival. When they asked their teacher which law they should most carefully observe, Rabbi Salanter responded: “An elderly widow works at the bakery. Be careful not to hurt her feelings.”

Before we can truly live a life guided by Torah, we must first become people of derech eretz.

Maybe we could begin with a thank you for supper…and go from there.

Literature to share Unstoppable: Siggi B. Wilzig’s Astonishing Journey from Auschwitz Survivor and Penniless Immigrant to Wall Street Legend by Joshua M. Greene. This astonishing story can be read as a character study, a Holocaust history, and a novel all wrapped up in a biography. Fast-paced vignettes offer glimpses of Siggi Wilzig’s early life during the Holocaust and eventual liberation. Earning a visa to America by helping the Americans in war-torn Europe, he started out in the U.S. by shoveling snow and working in sweatshops. Over the years he became prominent in the oil and banking industries, a founding member of a Holocaust museum, and the recipient of two honorary medals. A biography not to be missed by teens or adults.

Tia Fortuna’s New Home: A Jewish Cuban Journey by Ruth Behar. When Tia Fortuna decides to leave her seaside home in Miami to move into assisted living, she once again takes along the few treasures from her home in Cuba long ago.

When her young niece visits, Tia Fortuna shares the story of the Jewish people who, always moving from place to place, “found hope wherever they went,” making homes filled with “family, tradition, and joy.” A special feature of this delightful tale is the inclusion of Spanish phrases and Sephardi (Spanish-Jewish) expressions. A wonderful introduction to Jewish history and Spanish culture along with a timeless message, this book is highly recommended for primary ages.

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Return with payment by March 8 to: The Dayton Jewish Observer, 525 Versailles Drive, Dayton, OH 45459 THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2022

OBITUARIES Patricia “Pat” Frankel Bloom died peacefully in Atlanta on Feb. 10 at the age of 88 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Pat was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Irving. She is survived by their children Jonathan (Aurora) Bloom of Columbus, Ohio, and Judy (Jonathan Minnen) of Atlanta; and grandchildren, Michael Minnen, Molly Minnen, and Ariel Bloom. She is also survived by her brother David Frankel, nephews Michael J. Bloom and Adam Frankel, and niece Nadine A. Bloom.

Pat was born on Sept. 10, 1933, in Cleveland and was adopted as an infant having been successfully treated for rickets. She shared a birthday with her younger brother David, three years apart. Pat grew up in Cincinnati attending Rockdale Temple, absorbing lessons in morality, justice, mercy, and caring for others from her Classical Reform rabbi, Victor Reichert.

In the summers of 1949 and 1950 she attended NFTY Leadership Institutes further nurturing her passion for a meaningful Jewish life.

In November 1950 she attended a Shabbat morning service at the Hebrew Union College with three Rockdale classmates and stayed for a luncheon with HUC students where she met Irving.

Pat graduated from Walnut Hills High School in 1951. She always treasured and valued the wonderful education she received at Walnut Hills. She attended Bryn Mawr College for one year before transferring to University of Miami from which she graduated in 1955.

Meanwhile she and Irving wrote letters and saw one another on school holidays. She visited Irving in Anniston, Ala. in 1954 and 1955 while he served as a student rabbi, and he bought her engagement ring there. They married in August 1955 and remained in Cincinnati while he completed his studies at HUC. Later they moved to Charleroi, Pa., where Irving served briefly as rabbi while he completed his thesis. After ordination, Irving served as a chaplain in the United States Air Force from 1956 to 1958 and they were stationed in Germany at Ramstein Air Base. Pat had many fond memories of their time in Europe.

A lifelong adventurer and optimist, Pat found meaningful ways to participate in congregational and community life while living in New Orleans from 1958 to 1960, in Mobile, Ala. from 1960 to 1973, in Dayton from 1973 to 1997, in Fairhope, Ala. from 1997 to 2007, and in Atlanta from 2007 until her death. She supported civil rights in the 1960s and studied music theory at the University of Dayton in the 1970s. Pat wove together her interests in music and Judaism by working with the Temple Israel choir, at first assisting its founding

director, Paul Katz, in the 1980s and eventually succeeding as the choir director. She became scuba certified at age 50, attended the Berkshire Choral Institute (music camp) every summer for more than 25 years, and visited Antarctica in her 80s.

Pat was warm, gracious, fiercely independent, and smart. She loved studying and living Judaism, was devoted to her husband, children and grandchildren and extended family members and always enjoyed a good conversation, a beautiful piece of music and an adventure. She will be greatly missed.

Interment was at Springhill Avenue Temple Cemetery in Mobile, Ala. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on March 11 at Lenbrook in Atlanta. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Pat’s life within the limits of Covid protocols. Please sign online guestbook at dresslerjewishfunerals.com. Please send donations to any of “her synagogues,” to your synagogue, or to another charity of your choosing.

Miller David Dial Jr., age 77 of Dayton, previously of Lufkin and Dallas, Texas and Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, passed away Jan. 24 at Miami Valley Hospital.

David retired after a successful career within the career placement and counseling industry and provided marketing services to emerging businesses within the retail and service segments. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in the 27th Infantry Regiment — Wolfhounds.

David is survived by his wife, Linda M. Brotkin; brother, Dr. Jack Grady Dial (Catherine L.) of Dallas; sisters-in-law, Rona B. Goodman (Edward L.) and Reesa B. Schachter; and other relatives and many friends. Interment was at Beth Abraham Cemetery.

Dr. Ronald Myron Gilbert, O.D., F.A.A.O. passed away on Jan. 26 with his three sons by his side and his wife, Shirlee, in his heart. Ron was born 91 years ago in Cleveland to the late Rose and Elmer Gilbert.

He graduated from Glenville High School in 1948 where he played varsity football and was a National Honor Society member. He went on to study optometry at The Ohio State University where he met his life partner, Shirlee Cooper.

They married in her hometown of Canton, he graduated from The Ohio State College of Optometry, and then enlisted as a captain/ optometry officer in the U.S. Air Force Medical Services Corps. Ron and Shirlee moved to San Antonio, Texas, where Ron was stationed for three years. Their first son, Marc, was born during that time.

In 1959 Ron joined a private practice in Dayton, with the late Dr.

Charles Thomas. Ron was drawn to Dayton because it wasn’t “too big” like Cleveland, but it wasn’t “too small” like Canton. He loved helping people, and patients stayed loyal to him up until his retirement 53 years later. He worked with Good Neighbor House to examine and treat people without housing on a weekly basis.

Ron participated in many optometric organizations for the betterment of the profession such as the American Optometric Association, the American Academy of Optometry, Vision USA, the Ohio Optometric Association where he was named Optometrist of the Year in 1967 and served as president in 1977-78, and the Miami Valley Society of Optometrists serving as president in 1964-1965. He was a Key O.D. for several Ohio and national legislators receiving the Ohio Key O.D. award from the OOA in 2004. He was joined in practice by two of his sons, Marc and Heath, and later by his grandson, Travis.

Ron was a big supporter of the Jewish community, especially Temple Israel and the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, but also joined his grandkids at Hillel Academy, Chabad, and Temple Beth Or. He enjoyed his time teaching Sunday School, was a member of the board of the Dayton Interfaith Forum, and an active participant in the Jewish Federation, serving on many of its committees including the Jewish Film Festival, Tzedakah Sunday annual campaign fund raising, and as chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council.

Ron truly was a family man. He loved his wife, Shirlee, of 67 years.

He encouraged her involvement in the Dayton Jewish Community Center and championed her as president of Temple Israel. Later in life the two of them could be seen at every Jewish event in Dayton for years — they never missed a one.

He was always supportive of his three sons, Marc Gilbert (Annette Nathan), Jeff (Cathy) Gilbert, and

Heath (Rachel) Gilbert; 12 grandchildren, Travis (Penina) Gilbert, Erica (Nate) Bachman, Sarah (Nate) Hulse; Michael Gilbert, Zach Gilbert, Avi Gilbert, Chava Gilbert, Zeke Gilbert, Livy Gilbert, Alexis Becker, Brianna Becker, and Cate Becker; and four great-grandchildren, Efrayim, Esther, Yehudah, and Daniel.

Interment was at Riverview Cemetery. The family kindly requests donations to any of Ron's favorite charities, including Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, Ohio Optometric Foundation, or Temple Israel of Dayton or a deserving charity of your choosing.

Dr. Richard M. “Ric” Lieberman.

An extraordinarily simple, loving, uncomplicated man, Ric Lieberman passed away Feb. 2 at home with his wife, Catherine, by his side.

His memory lives on through his children and grandchildren, Philip Shannon being the newest addition as great-grandson.

Surviving him are his wife, Catherine; his eldest daughter, Penny Brenner, children Robert (Lyndsay) Brenner, Melanie (Ryan); son Philip Shannon; son Dr. Randy Lieberman (Rimona) Ortal, Leedor (Dan) and Oran Lieberman; son Terry (Beth) Lieberman, Ariel, Jordan, Spencer Lieberman, Jordan following in his grandfather’s footsteps, now practicing dentistry for four years in Vermont.

Richard was preceded in death

by Rita Lieberman, mother to his three children. Ric was born on Jan. 6, 1928 in Cleveland. If you would ask him what was the one single aspect of his life that attributed to his success, he would unequivocally say simply the GI bill that after World War II enabled him to go to Kent State University and receive a teaching degree, then choosing dentistry as a profession, graduating from Case Western in Cleveland.

He chose to begin his career by serving in the public health sector as a dentist on a Native Ameri-

can reservation in Chinle, Ariz.

Eventually he moved to Dayton, worked for Dr. Burt Saidel, and later formed a practice with Tom Kernan, which successfully lasted till he retired in 1993.

Richard retired briefly, moved to Florida, met Dr. Don Lackey in Venice, and began what he would often say was “the most enjoyable five years of practicing dentistry.”

Moving back to Dayton in 1998, he helped assist in an office of a dentist who was diagnosed with leukemia, then worked with a mobile dental service of which he was most likely older than most of the patients he saw in skilled nursing facilities. Ric was a kind, unassuming man. You never knew just how complicated his own medical challenges were. He rarely spoke about himself, and was always encouraging just about everyone he met, to be the best they could be. To believe in your own God-given talents, even if you did not realize that you possessed them! He cherished his beloved canine companions, Emma and Hershey. We are exceptionally grateful for all of his caregivers, his Hospice care team. But especially thankful for Carissa who enabled the promise made to him that he would be home as long as his Creator allowed. Also the two Angelas who by no coincidence were sent to us in the last month of his life. Lastly, there are no words to describe the love conveyed to him by dear friends, neighbors and family who have loved him for many years. A simply, wonderful man who will never be forgotten.

Interment was at David’s Cemetery.

In his memory our only request is to...Speak kindly to one another.

Make a stranger feel welcomed.

We all are carrying burdens and are connected in ways one could never imagine. May his memory always be a blessing.

L’dor V’dor.

From Generation To Generation.

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