Tel Aviv U: antisemitic incidents drop 12% worldwide p. 8 May 2017 Iyar/Sivan 5777 Vol. 21, No. 8
Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton
The Miami Valley’s Jewish Monthly • Online at daytonjewishobserver.org
When a racist politician finds out he’s Jewish
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AJH Films
Csanád Szegedi
Ohio invests record $61 mil in Israel Bonds
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Yes, there
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Friendship Village Retirement Community
DAYTON Eric F. Spina
Cottage Open House May 25, 2017 2:00-6:00 p.m.
University of Dayton President Eric F. Spina and his wife, Karen, hosted an early Passover Seder on April 9 at their home for the Jewish Student Union and faculty members. Shown here (clockwise from L): Mary Wlodarski, Colleen Brown, Tammy Winkler, Josie Buchanan, Jonathan Duberstein, Melissa Layman-Guadalupe, Pamela, Josh, Scott and Caryl Segalewitz.
Now is a great time to consider
Prof. Eduard Yakubov (L) of the Holon Institute of Technology in Israel and Deb Norris, senior vice president of Sinclair Community College Workforce Development, signed a partnership agreement at HIT in March to advance Unmanned Aircraft System capabilities for both institutions, including technical, academic, certificate, and degree programs. The Dayton Region Israel Trade Alliance initiated and facilitated the agreement. Shown here with Yabukov and Norris are DRITA Representative Hadas Bar-Or (R) and Dr. Andrew Shepherd, UAS Program Director for Sinclair.
Come see our newly remodeled cottage homes and take advantage of our “spring special” pricing.
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Join Diabetic Group 5 Signs that it our is time to look Support for a Continuum of Care Retirement Community:
Meryl Hattenbach
Tuesday, May 9, 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. (2nd Tuesday each mo.) with Gem City Home Care Certified Diabetes Educator Mara Lamb. If you are For reading ad morethis information call Pam Hall, 837-5581 ext. 1269.
1. 2. If you think it is time to downsize 3. If you ever feel lonely and would like to socialize and join in activities 4. If you have concerns for the future and looking for stability both
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In The Atrium DiningEnter Roomour door prize Friday Night Shabbat is $10 per person. Friendship R.S.V.P. to 837-5581 ext.drawing! 1274. Village 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Located directly inside the Atrium 5790 Denlinger Rd., Dayton, OH 45426 entrance. Stop in & join us for a cup of www.fvdayton.com coffee & Friendship Village Hospitality.
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The coffee shop is open for area Seniors to come enjoy FREE coffee, conversation, socialization, and the Friendship hospitality!
5790 Denlinger Road, Dayton, OH 45426 • www.fvdayton.com PAGE 2
Area teens collected and sorted school supplies for No Longer Strangers, which aids immigrants in the Dayton area, on April 2 at the Boonshoft CJCE. The project was part of the global J-Serve initiative, in conjunction with Good Deeds Day, Repair The World, Global Youth Service Day, and BBYO. Shown here (L to R): Dalia and Isaac Einstein, Daniel Kahn, Oscar Waldman, Charlotte Eninger, Benjamin Char, and Grant Eninger.
Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 Monday thru Friday The Coffee House is located just inside the Atrium entrance at Door 18. Watch
Calendar of Events.......................11
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Family Education............................22
Obituaries.............................21
Food...............................................17
Re l i g i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Kvelling Corner............................12
Wo r l d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
DAYTON
are
Yes, there young Jewish adults here in Dayton By Marshall Weiss The Observer When Hannah Schwartz moved from Knoxville, Tenn. to work for the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management, she hoped to find a social group for young Jewish adults. “There wasn’t anything,” Hannah, 26, says. “And so, I approached the Federation and said, ‘Hey, let’s do this.’ And they gave the best possible answer: ‘Sure. How can we help?’” A year later, the Young Adult Division of the Jewish Federation brings about 15 to 20 young Jewish adults together each month Mystery solved...young Jewish adults come together for activities each month to build connections, make — such as The Great Escape Game in Beavercreek — coordinated by YAD, friends, and have fun. the Jewish Federation’s Young Adult Division “For me, I think it’s “Besides Jews, the only group about having a sense of commu- torney with the county prosecunity wherever you move,” says tor’s office. Originally from Ak- of people I know in Dayton is ron, Joe, 34, says it’s the sense of medical students,” Ben Wainattorney Ben Mazer, 30, who blat, 25, says. “So it’s good to Jewish community that brings came here from Blue Ash last branch out. It’s great to meet him out to YAD events. year to work in the Montgom“I definitely haven’t had that people who are not medical ery County Prosecutor’s Office. oriented.” every place that I’ve lived,” Joe “I really enjoyed the Friday Even so, he encourages Jnight when we had an informal says. “So it’s nice to have that Shoft medical students to come here.” Shabbat dinner at The Greene, Another Ben — Ben Wainblat out to YAD events. and Shumsky’s sponsored it. “And sometimes I get people. — arrived here from Cleveland The set-up was very comfortThey were at the Friday night two years ago to attend the able: we made it into a circle Shabbat.” Boonshoft School of Medicine and I met a number of new “Taking a bunch of medical at Wright State. He’s also active people. It was inclusive and with J-Shoft, the Jewish medical students into a zombie outbreak welcoming.” at The Great Escape is hilaristudent organization at Wright Ben heard about YAD from State. his friend, Joe Saks, also an atContinued on Page Five
The Adventures of
Bark Mitzvah Boy
This month, we remember
The 11th Commandment.
ALWAYS remember Mother’s Day.
BMB
c O 2017 Menachem
Yiddishe Llama
From the editor’s desk A few weeks ago, Philadelphia’s Jewish Exponent interviewed me about the role of Jewish publications in 2017 for an article to celebrate the Marshall Exponent’s 130th anniversary. Weiss In the age of social media, one key role of local Jewish journalism, I said, is “to provide a forum for public discourse on how people think the community should be better, what’s not right in the community, in a forum that’s civil and troll-free.” Although we receive the occasional letter, we rarely receive local opinion pieces here at The Observer. To that end, please consider submitting letters and commentary pieces for our opinion page. Topics should be connected to Jewish life and/or Israel. Letters should be 350 words at most. Ideally, opinion pieces should be 750 words; best is to call me to discuss so that I can guide you through the process, especially if you’re new at this.
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
PAGE 3
THE REGION
Ohio invests record $61 million in Israel bonds
with a
ized eat! Featuring the Beth Abraham Band and the Dayton Jewish Chorale
Friday, May 12, 6:15 p.m. Service followed by catered Shabbat dinner. Dinner $28 adults, $15 children 4-12. All welcome! R.S.V.P. for dinner by May 5.
Beth Abraham is Dayton’s only Conservative synagogue, affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. We are an enthusiastically egalitarian synagogue. Beth Abraham, Dayton’s only Conservative We also haveisan enersynagogue, getic Keruv program that enthusiastically egalitarian and is affiliated with reaches out to intermarried the United couples andSynagogue families in of our Conservative Judaism. synagogue and in the Dayton Jewish community. Daily Minyan Schedule
aham is Dayton’s servative ue, affiliated with d Synagogue of tive Judaism.
Mon.-Fri., 6:50 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. For a complete schedule of
n enthusiastically an synagogue.
ave an eneruv program that ut to intermarried nd families in our ue and in the Dayton mmunity.
our events, goa.m. to Sunday, 8:30 bethabrahamdayton.org. For a complete schedule of our events and times, go to bethabrahamdayton.org.
mplete schedule of s, go to hamdayton.org.
Tikkun Leyl Shavuot Tuesday, May 30 6:30 p.m. Dairy Dinner 7:30 p.m. Tikkun Leyl Shavuot Study Session, and Ma’ariv Service Dinner $10 adults, $5 children 4-12. R.S.V.P. for dinner by May 24.
PAGE 4
By Amanda Koehn, Cleveland Jewish News The Ohio Treasurer’s office bought a record $61 million in Israel bonds on April 3, which Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel said is in response to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. The purchase is the largest single U.S. government purchase of Israel bonds in history, and Ohio has the largest holding of Israel bonds by a single U.S. government entity, at $165 million. “First and foremost, we are making this investment because it’s a good investment for the taxpayers of Ohio,” Mandel said. “Second, we are making this investment in an effort to combat the bigotry of the BDS movement. Third, we are making this investment to stand with the only country in the Middle East that shares American values.” The purchase was made possible by enacting Ohio House Bill 476, which passed in December 2016 and allowed the treasury to increase debt interests in foreign countries from 1 percent to 2 percent of the state’s portfolio, according to the treasurer’s office. Every Ohio treasurer since 1993 has invested in Israel bonds, as have more than 80 state and municipal public employee pension and treasury funds, according to the treasurer’s office. Since 1993, the Ohio Treasury has bought $351 million in Israel bonds. The bonds are an attractive investment because they maintain a high credit rating, are dependable, and yield a competitive interest rate, Mandel said. Mandel announced in December 2016 that he will run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland, in 2018. On April 3, Mandel also sent a letter addressed to Nihad Awad, executive director and co-founder of the Council on American Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C., which said CAIR allegedly supported BDS and the Israel Bonds investment was to combat such divestment initiatives. CAIR has opposed anti-BDS legislation in Ohio, in the form of House Bill 476, and in other states, saying on its website that such laws violate free speech rights of businesses and institutions that support BDS. CAIR chapters in Cleveland and Columbus did not return telephone calls for comment. Michael Siegal of Gates Mills, a member of the national board of directors of Israel Bonds, said it’s important to view the issues of fighting BDS and investing in Israel separately to some degree, although both are relevant. “They are both important and probably, collectively, it’s very important, but each one kind of stands on its own,” Siegal said. “The investment itself has to be a responsible investment, which it is, and standing up to organizations that, you know, are supporting the destruction of the established state of a Jewish nation, I think that’s also critically important.” The April 3 purchase will surpass Mandel’s previous record of $50 million invested in Israel bonds in April 2016. The treasurer’s office also bought $47.8 million in Israel Bonds in 2014 and $42 million in 2013.
Editor and Publisher Marshall Weiss MWeiss@jfgd.net 937-853-0372 Contributors Rachel Haug Gilbert Rabbi Haviva Horvitz Candace R. Kwiatek Advertising Sales Executive Patty Caruso, plhc69@gmail.com Proofreaders Karen Bressler, Rachel Haug Gilbert, Joan Knoll, Pamela Schwartz Billing Jeri Kay Eldeen, JEldeen@jfgd.net 937-853-0372 Observer Advisor Martin Gottlieb Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton David Pierce President Judy Abromowitz Immediate Past Pres. Bruce Feldman President Elect Todd Bettman Officer Dr. Heath Gilbert Officer Beverly Louis Officer Mary Rita Weissman Officer Cathy Gardner CEO The Dayton Jewish Observer, Vol. 21, No. 8. The Dayton Jewish Observer is published monthly by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, a nonprofit corporation, 525 Versailles Dr., Dayton, OH 45459. Views expressed by guest columnists, in readers’ letters and in reprinted opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Dayton Jewish Observer, The Dayton Jewish Observer Policy Committee, the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton or the underwriters of any columns. Acceptance of advertising neither endorses advertisers nor guarantees kashrut. The Dayton Jewish Observer Mission Statement To support, strengthen and champion the Dayton Jewish community by providing a forum and resource for Jewish community interests. Goals • To encourage affiliation, involvement and communication. • To provide announcements, news, opinions and analysis of local, national and international activities and issues affecting Jews and the Jewish community. • To build community across institutional, organizational and denominational lines. • To advance causes important to the strength of our Jewish community including support of Federation departments, United Jewish Campaign, synagogue affiliation, Jewish education and participation in Jewish and general community affairs. • To provide an historic record of Dayton Jewish life.
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
DAYTON
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Continued from Page Three ous,” Hannah adds. “I totally recommend it.” 937-299-1600 Behind the scenes, Cheryl www.familybridges.com Carne, the Jewish Federation’s director of external relations, helps Hannah identify and KEVIN A. BRESSLER, CFP®, MBA connect young Jewish adults to Financial Advisor YAD. CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner When Cheryl learns about 10050 Innovation Drive, Ste 310 newcomers to the area’s Jewish Miamisburg, OH 45342-4933 community, she invites them to 937.312.8008 kevin.a.bressler@ampf.com have lunch with her. YAD members who help organize programming (L to R): Joe Saks, Ben ameripriseadvisors.com/ “So many of the new people Mazer, Hannah Schwartz, and Ben Wainblat kevin.a.bressler happen to be young adults and CA Insurance #0823959 we’re going to take it over at Hannah says she decided young families,” Cheryl says. some point,” Hannah says of “My goal is to try and reach out to take the lead now “because Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. to the ones who don’t attend the it’s important to make our own leadership down the road in the organized Jewish community. place for people who want to events.” “It’s incredibly important for stay engaged.” She’s taken on the role of the Some participants are single, us to stay in the pipeline so that cool aunt to the YAD squad. Staffing Needs? Call The Professionals! we can start learning and start others are married, some have “I bring them together and networking with each other, and they’re starting to make friends children. Most are in their late deciding how we want to shape and get together on their own,” 20s to early 30s. our generation of this.” “We haven’t done as much Cheryl says. “I know they’ve “We just had two guys move of a good job as I would like gone to dinner, they also have Noble Staffing here from California and they’re interacting with some people some Shabbat dinners on their Solutions only here for nine months and who have kids,” own. That makes me 228-0060 228-8271 so one of the guys reached out Hannah says. Future really happy.” events she hopes will to me,” Cheryl says. “He asked, One of the most Jeff Noble ‘Where should I live?’ I condraw young families well-attended events, www.mridayton.com • email: info@mridayton.com nected him to three people on include a summer Cheryl recalls, was a the YAD committee, they helped session to learn how session about entreto cook for a Shabbat him find an apartment, and preneurship and Jewdinner with Chabad’s they became fast friends. I think ish values with Zach Rochel Simon, a hike the guy from California was so Weprin, a founder impressed with that friendliness in Yellow Springs, and co-owner of and openness.” and a mitzvah projFusian. To Cheryl, it doesn’t matter ect. “We’re going to if they’re only in the area for a “I find this age opening night of the Jewish Federation Dir. of External Relations group to be inspiring, short time, as long as they can JCC Film Fest and Cheryl Carne because they’re full of build friendships here. we’re going to see “And ultimately, it would energy and excitement,” Cheryl the dress rehearsal of be great if we can make some says. “And the other thing is, the opera Carmen, because two matches and people will stay of our young Jewish adults — a most of them don’t have any here!” she says, laughing. ballerina and an opera singer — family here. And that’s why I try to connect them.” are in the production,” Cheryl Along with connecting them adds. Purchase a share in a local farm and enjoy a box of seasonal, to each other, Cheryl has begun The two didn’t know each other, so Cheryl made sure they connecting them to the Jewish freshly harvested produce every week! community. met. “I’ve got a few of them in“It’s fun to make connections volved on committees beyond and relationships, and that’s YAD,” she says. “I would what I love about it,” Cheryl love for some of them to have says. “There’s a fairly new atmentors and meet established torney who moved here, and members of the community in I know attorneys in the YAD their fields.” group, so I took them all to Hannah and Joe are on the lunch to meet.” Federation Innovation Grants Young adult groups in the Looking for fresh, local produce? Interested in schmoozing with other Jewish Committee, and Ben Mazer is Jewish community — whether foodies? Would you like to know your farmer? Join Shulchan Yarok, a CSA for on the Federation’s Visioning with the Federation, JCC or the Jewish community! CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, congregations — wax and wane Committee. and connects local communities to local farmers. “To sound incredibly cheesy, regularly over the decades.
Call
Shu chan Yar k
Green Table: A Jewish CSA
Pick up on Thursdays, 4–5:30PM June 8–October 19
YAD will host an evening at the dress rehearsal for Dayton Opera’s production of Carmen, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17 at the Schuster Center, 1 West 2nd St., Dayton. Two YAD participants perform in Carmen: Dayton Ballet dancer Jocelyn Green, and Dayton Opera Artist-In-Residence Chelsea Friedlander. There is no charge, but reservations are required with Cheryl Carne, 6101778. YAD participants will also meet for dinner before the dress rehearsal, between 5:45 and 6 p.m. at Flying Pizza, 223 N. Main St.
Share: (5–6 vegetables/week) $375 for season (approx $18/week)
Deposit: 50% ($187.50) due by May 19. Balance due by July 21.
Add a dozen locally raised eggs to your CSA box for an additional $3.50/ week. Kosher challah and other baked goods also for sale at each pickup. Contact Juliet Glaser at jglaser@jfgd.net or 937-401-1541 or for more information.
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
PAGE 5
THE WORLD
A futuristic Israeli peace plan — minus the peace By Andrew Tobin, JTA TEL AVIV — Gaza is rebuilt. The West Bank is flourishing. And the trains run from Tel Aviv to Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital. This is the peaceful future being pitched by Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz. In recent months, he has been shopping around a pair of ambitious economic initiatives that he says could reshape the Middle East to Israel's advantage: a regional railway system and an artificial island off the coast of Gaza. “These big initiatives, as opposed to the proposed shortterm stopgap solutions, can be game changers,” Katz, who is also the transportation minister, told JTA.”(They) are part of a regional concept or vision which includes three layers: regional security, regional economic initiatives and in the future, based on these first two layers, peace.” Katz, a leading member of the ruling Likud party who wants to be the next prime minister, is among many right-wing politicians who have argued it is high time for Israel to look past the two-state solution toward other possible futures. But he has distinguished himself with a detailed vision of what could be on the other side — illustrated by maps, graphs and PowerPoint presentations.
Katz has won supporters in tiatives. The Palestinians have high places, including the ponot been consulted. litical right, who praise him for Katz unveiled plans for the fresh thinking. Some, though, railway to journalists April 5 at have doubted the initiatives the Transportation Ministry in are feasible, and Palestinians Jerusalem. The initiative would and other critics to his left have link to Israel's growing network accused him of putting the cart of tracks eastward to the border before the donkey. The regional with Jordan, which already has and international support that railway links to Saudi Arabia. such projects would need, they The West Bank would also have said, will never be forthbe included via train tracks coming unless through the northMiriam Alster/Flash90 Israel makes ern Palestinian city progress toward of Jenin, he said. peace. Katz said the Katz presented railway would the railway and bolster economic island initiaand strategic ties tives, versions of between Israel and which have been its Sunni neighfloating around bors. Also, he said, for decades, to it would give West President Donald Bank Palestinians Trump's special greater access to envoy, Jason regional trading Greenblatt. He partners other than Israeli Cabinet Minister said Greenblatt Israel, and Jordan expressed open- Yisrael Katz and Saudi Arabia ness to the initiatives. would earn more secure over“Advancing economic land trade routes and access to initiatives in cooperation with the Mediterranean Sea. Ideally, countries in the region, with the United States would step American tailwind and leaderin to sweeten the deal with poship and assistance from other litical, logistical and economic international and regional actors backing. in planning financing and exAs for the island initiative, ecution, is the best way forward which Katz has advocated now,” Katz said. before, unspecified foreign The White House has said it powers would pay for it to be as yet has no position on the ini- built off the Gaza coast from
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sand dredged from the bottom of the Red Sea. The island would span four square miles and house a commercial seaport along with electricity and desalination facilities. A three-mile bridge would connect it to the Gaza coast, allowing international authorities to provide security, he A rendering of Yisrael Katz's proposed island off the Gaza Strip said. After a decade of be opened for business. trade and travel restrictions, he “If you developed a plan said, the island would answer now to build it and finance it, Gazans’ needs for infrastructure you could even start the world and a portal into the world. It knowing to complete it you would provide economic and would need some change of humanitarian relief to the engovernance in Gaza,” Shapiro clave and help prevent another told JTA. “The fact that it’s unIsraeli war in Gaza — there der way would actually become have been three in the past 81/2 kind of incentive to achieve that change.” years. By contrast, Shapiro said, According to Israeli media connecting Israel’s railway to reports, senior Israeli defense Jordan’s would require Arab officials have backed Katz’s states to normalize relations island plan. Defense Minister Avidgor Liberman and the Shin with the Jewish state in a way Bet security service have report- that would only be likely after edly opposed it for security rea- progress was made on the Palestinian issue. sons, and other ministers have “While Israel is seen as opdoubted its feasibility. Benjamin posing a two-state solution and Netanyahu has not embraced an independent Palestinian either initiative and may not welcome Katz's growing public state, and there’s no progress in that direction, I think politicians profile as the prime minister will discover there are limits to faces two corruption probes. how much they can advance Gabi Siboni, a retired army their country’s integration in colonel who provides consulting on military technology, said the region,” he said. “Those two processes have to move initiatives like Katz's are the together in parallel, and not in only realistic way to improve Israel’s relations with the Pales- sequence.” Shlomo Brom, a retired tinians. brigadier general and now head “There is no chance to move of Israeli-Palestinian research at in one step to a final peace the Institute for National Securiagreement,” Siboni, a former commander for the elite Golani ty Studies, said that while there is some merit to both initiatives, Brigade, told JTA. “Only this they are at this point distrackind of bottom-up economic tions from Israel's unwillingness development will relax a little to make tough compromises. the Palestinian economic situHe said there are more realisation and gain some stability. tic ways Israel could help the Maybe one day they will allow for the next generations to move Palestinians, like using Cyprus as a port or easing freedom of somewhere else.” movement in the West Bank. Former U.S. Ambassador to To take Katz's initiatives from Israel Dan Shapiro said he was fantasy to reality, Brom sugbriefed on the artificial island initiative before leaving his post gested, Israel would have to pay a price. in January. He described it as a “The benchmark for serious“creative and very promising solution” that could potentially ness is what you're willing to pay for it, and the coin we're get off the ground even withexpected to pay is flexibility out buy-in from Arab states or in talks with the Palestinians,” Hamas. But he said the Gazan Brom told JTA. “The current government, be it Hamas or government is clearly not willanother entity, would have to ing to use this coin.” consent before the island could
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
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THE WORLD Palestinian sisters crossing into Israel for cancer treatment caught smuggling explosives JERUSALEM — Two Palestinian sisters attempting to cross into Israel from the Gaza Strip so that one could receive cancer treatment were caught smuggling explosives. The explosives, used in the production of homemade bombs, were hidden in tubes carried by the women labeled “medical materials,” the Shin Bet security service said in a statement issued April 19 evening, hours after the women were stopped at the Erez Crossing. The sisters were approved for entry into Israel so that one could receive potentially lifesaving treatment for her illness. According to the Shin Bet statement, a preliminary investigation showed that the explosives were sent by Hamas be used in a terrorist attack on Israeli targets in the “near future.” The incident “attests to the ongoing efforts by terrorist organizations based in the Gaza Strip, especially Hamas, to exploit Israel’s humanitarian initiatives and the medical assistance that it provides to residents of the Gaza Strip, in order to perpetrate attacks in Israel,” the Shin Bet said. The women are being held for questioning. Defense Ministry Crossings Authority Director Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Kamil Abu Rokon praised the Erez Crossing security inspectors for thwarting the smuggling bid. “To our regret, it has been proven again that Gaza Stripbased terrorists are continuing their efforts to exploit the humanitarian channel in order to carry out attacks in Israel,” he said in a statement. “The security inspectors acted exactly as expected, with exemplary professionalism.” — JTA
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Israel denies US request to extradite teen arrested for JCC bomb threats JERUSALEM — Israel’s Justice Ministry reportedly denied a U.S. Justice Department request to extradite the IsraeliAmerican teen charged with making threats against Jewish community centers throughout the United States. The State Attorney’s Office in Israel told its American counterpart that although the 18-yearold computer hacker has is suspected of committing crimes in 10 countries, he will be tried in Israel, Israel’s Channel 2 first reported April 23. The report added that the United States has not backed off its request and that Israel’s denial has not caused a rift in the relationship. The teen from Ashkelon in southern Israel, who was arrested in Israel last month for making more than 100 threats against Jewish sites in the United States, has been named in the United States. But he cannot be named in reports originating from Israel. Israel’s State Prosecutor’s Office is expected to file a serious indictment against the teen Channel 2 reported, including charges of extortion with threats, causing panic and money laundering. Channel 2 News reported April 22 night that the teen said during interrogations in Israel that he had offered his “threat services” for payment. The Justice Department said
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A teenager suspected of being behind more than 100 bomb threats to JCC in the U.S. at the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court in Israel, March 23
April 21 it was charging the teen with 28 counts of making threatening calls to JCCs in Florida, conveying false information to the police and cyberstalking. “Today’s charges into these violent threats to Jewish community centers and others represent this department’s commitment to fighting all forms of violent crime,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. The teen’s parents and attorney have said he has a benign brain tumor that affects his behavior. Israel has complied with requests to extradite Israelis since the 1990s, given that those sentenced to serve in prison can do so in Israel, according to Haaretz. — JTA
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
PAGE 7
THE WORLD
Antisemitic incidents drop 12% worldwide despite UK surge A series of open dialogues focusing on revealing the reality of Israel today.
@ the Jewish Cultural Festival
A D N A S S O R C A L E A R S I N I R A T S
Sunday, June 11 @ Temple Israel
(130 Riverside Drive, 45402) NOON | Informal Lunch & Learn 2PM | Keynote The Jewish Community Relations Council and Temple Israel’s Jewish Cultural Festival Education Committee are pleased to host Israelity guest speaker Hana Bendcowsky, Program Director of Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations, who will be speaking about “A Star and a Cross in Israel”. For the first time in history, after two thousand years of Jewish minorities living in Christian lands, Israel creates the unique situation of a Christian minority in a Jewish country. What are the challenges facing both the Christian minorities and the Jewish majority in the everyday realities? Who are the Christians in Israel and what does it mean to be a Jew in Israel? What kind of relationship do we expect to create? And in what way is it different from Jewish-Christian relations in other places? There is no cost for this event.
JEWISH COMMUNITY
Relations Council of Greater Dayton PAGE 8
&
It was a reference to a study conductThe number of antisemitic incidents ed by the antisemitism watchdog group worldwide has decreased by 12 percent AMCHA Initiative, which reviewed acts in 2016 despite a spike in cases in the of antisemitism at 113 public and private United Kingdom and the United States, colleges and universities with the largTel Aviv University’s watchdog on antiest Jewish undergraduate populations. Jewish racism said. Last year, 433 antisemitic incidents were The data were published April 23, on the eve of Israel’s national day of remem- reported, compared to 309 in 2015. However, the report’s findings and methodolbrance of the Holocaust, in the annual ogy were challenged by the AmericanAntisemitism Worldwide report by the Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, among Kantor Center for the Study of Conother critics. temporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv In Austria, where approximately 8,000 University. Jews live, the number of antisemitic inThe report is a global overview comcidents rose slightly in 2016 to 477 from bining surveys from recognized watch465 the previous year — when the figure dogs from dozens of countries, includhad jumped by roughly 200, the couning nearly all European Union member try’s Forum Against Antisemitism said. states. The decrease in the overall numIn France, authorities recorded a 58 ber of incidents mirrored a decline in the percent drop last year in antisemitic number of violent assaults, from 410 in incidents in a report that 2015 to 361 the previous In the United identified only far-right year, the report said. perpetrators and quesBucking the overall States, there was tioned the existence of decrease in incidents an alarming rise a new antisemitism by from 2015 was the Muslims over Israel’s recording in 2016 of of 45 percent actions. The report at1,309 incidents in the tributed the decrease United Kingdom alone, in antisemitic to the deployment of constituting a 36 percent incidents on troops around Jewish increase over the 2015 institutions. In 2001, the tally. university SPCJ security group of The Community campuses the Jewish community Security Trust, the documented a 71 percent British-Jewish chardecrease to 219 cases. In 2004, SPCJ ity that compiles the report in Britain, recorded 974 incidents. said in February it could not attribute In addition to the French governthe increase to any single trigger, citing instead a “combination of events and fac- ment’s explanation for the decrease, tors,” including an unprecedented public there is “the fact that more Jews avoid appearing in public spaces with identidebate about antisemitism within the Labour Party, terrorist attacks in Western fying attributes such as Yarmulke and a Star of David,” the Kantor Center said in countries and the June referendum in a statement about its report. which a majority of voters supported a In addition to incidents perpetrated British exit from the European Union. by culprits associated with far-right In the United States, “there was an alarming rise of 45 percent in antisemitic causes, many cases feature radical leftincidents on university campuses, where wing characteristics, Kantor said. “We are now witnessing that the Jewish students are facing increasing targeting of Jews is no longer the sole hate and intolerance,” Moshe Kandomain of the far right. The far-left are tor, president of the European Jewish now using the same messages, tactics Congress, said in a statement about the and agenda,” he said. — JTA report.
Is your son or daughter graduating from high school this year? The Observer is happy to offer you a FREE announcement, including a photo, in our June graduation issue. To receive a form for this free announcement, contact Karen Steiger at 610-1555 or KSteiger@jfgd.net. All forms must be received by May 5. THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
JEWISH COMMUNITY
THE WORLD
OPINION
Jewish woman sues Daily Ohio State Hillel is anti-BDS, Stormer founder for invasion not anti-LGBT of privacy, emotional distress By Ron Kampeas, JTA A Montana Jewish woman, backed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, is suing a neo-Nazi white supremacist for launching a harassment campaign against her and her family. Tanya Gersh, announcing her lawsuit April 18 against Andrew Anglin, the founder of the Daily Stormer website, said in a conference call that she has lost income and has suffered because of the attacks unleashed on her after Anglin posted her personal information on his neo-Nazi website in December. “We got terrorized,” she said, describing multiple death threats, including Photoshopped pictures of her and her 12-year old son being murdered by Nazis, and phone calls that included gun shots. “I’m no longer working, I’m in trauma therapy twice a week, I’m losing my hair,” she said. “I’m having anxieties I never had before. Most importantly, I’m never feeling safe.” At times during the call organized by the SPLC, a hate groups watchdog, she broke down. The federal lawsuit seeks compensation for Gersh’s losses and punitive damages and cites Montana state and federal laws protecting individuals from the invasion of privacy and from “intentionally inflicting emotional distress,” according to an SPLC release. It does not list damages, but in the conference call, Richard Cohen, the SPLC president, said: “We’re going to also seek a very, very substantial monetary damage award to punish Anglin.” Anglin launched the campaign against Gersh after Sherry Spencer, the Whitefish, Montanabased mother of another white supremacist, Richard Spencer, posted an article on Medium accusing Gersh of threatening her with harassment if she did not sell the commercial building she owns in the town. Richard Spencer spends time in Whitefish, and there was talk at the time of staging protests outside the building. Gersh, a realtor, contends that Sherry Spencer initiated contact, seeking to sell her building to head off the protests and to calm the town roiled by the rising profile of her son, who garnered media attention for his support of the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump. Nothing in the email exchanges Sherry Spencer attached to her Medium post suggests Gersh was trying to
Wikimedia Commons
Andrew Anglin runs the antisemitic Daily Stormer website
coerce Spencer; instead, Gersh’s tone is deferential and sympathetic, and she says she is cutting her commission to the lowest percentage possible in order to facilitate the sale. Anglin, on Dec. 16, a day after Sherry Spencer’s claims appeared on Medium, posted a screed titled “Jews Targeting Richard Spencer’s Mother for Harassment and Extortion — TAKE ACTION!” He included Gersh’s home address and phone, her husband’s business contact information, and the Twitter handle of her 12-year old son, whom he referred to in abusive terms. “Please call her and tell her what you think,” Anglin said. “And hey — if you’re in the area, maybe you should stop by and tell her in person what you think of her actions.” Referring to Gersh’s son, Anglin advised his readers to “hit up” the boy’s Twitter account. “Tell them (sic) what you think of his whore mother’s vicious attack on the community of Whitefish,” Anglin wrote. Anglin, in a subsequent post three days later, accused the “lying Jew media” of distorting his original post, citing liberal news websites that reported that he had called on his followers to harass Gersh and had posted her home address. He said he “purposefully” left out home addresses, although the address he included is listed as the Gersh residence, and insisted, “I called for people to express their feelings about these threats and this harassment and extortion to the people responsible — and somehow I’m the threatener and harasser!” JTA asked Daily Stormer over Twitter if it had any comment. There was no reply.
‘I’m having anxieties I never had before. Most importantly, I’m never feeling safe.’
movement against Israel. Frankly, the drag show itself sounds like a great event, and nobody disputes that supporting LGBT refugees is a wonderful cause. OSU Hillel’s decision was made because Hillel International has made it a matter of universal policy that it cannot give financial support to any campus groups that use their funds to push for BDS. This is not to say students from these groups are excluded from Hillel. Hillel’s facilities and programs are open to students of all political opinions. Hillel staff repeatedly met with B’nai Keshet and advised it not to cosponsor the event because Hillel would have no alternative but to distance itself from the group. B’nai Keshet ignored the caution and carried on with JVP. Hillel has a clearly stated policy, Hillel warned B’nai Keshet, B’nai Keshet ignored the caution and Hillel followed through with its policy. And now B’nai Keshet is politicizing this move as anti-LGBT, despite the decision having nothing to do with the group’s mission or membership. Hillel would withdraw funding and affiliation from any group that uses its funds to support BDS. By making this decision, Hillel is not condemning Jews who support BDS or excluding students based on their views on Israel, it is simply saying you cannot use Hillel money for pro-BDS programming. B’nai Keshet was created to be a place for LGBT Jews to come together and express shared values on being Jewish and LGBT, regardless of personal politics surrounding BDS. By aligning the group with JVP programming, B’nai Keshet’s current leaders, who are also founders of JVP on campus, politicized its membership for an issue outside of its mission. At a time when many other LGBT groups are incorporating pro-BDS language into their rallies and events, B’nai Keshet forced LGBT Jews to identify by its politics, even if it meant ultimately hurting its own membership by intentionally acting in a way that would cut ties with Hillel. It’s insulting not only to me but to the entire OSU Hillel community for Hillel to be called anti-LGBT. When I sat down recently with members of the Hillel staff that are openly LGBT or strong allies, the pain in their voices about being vilified as homophobes was palpable. My friends at Hillel were some of the first people I came out to, and it hurts to see these individuals and this organization slandered for political gain. Regardless, I know that the Ohio State Hillel will continue to do programming to support its LGBT community, and I’m excited to be a part of it.
By Kyle Gersman In March, Ohio State University Hillel was accused of being anti-LGBT because it was forced to disassociate with a Jewish LGBT campus group, B’nai Keshet, after the group decided to co-sponsor a fundraiser for queer refugees with Jewish Voice for Peace. I was shocked to hear this accusation and wanted to understand where it came from and why. Being gay and Jewish, I’m fortunate to have a supportive community in my life at Ohio State University, which has allowed me to be active throughout campus as a university ambassador, a brother of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and a Morrill scholar for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, to name a few. My engagement with OSU Hillel has made me feel more comfortable as a Jewish college student, especially amid rising antisemitic incidents across the country, and I have found an inclusive, welcoming community for LGBT Jews. But recently, this support has been under attack. I sat down with both friends supporting Hillel’s recent actions and with friends who feel Hillel has an anti-LGBT impact. After hearing about the issue from both perspectives, I feel it’s essential to correct some misconceptions. First, Hillel’s facilities and programs are open to everyone, and that includes individuals of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Hillel has had programming for the LGBT community for more than 20 years, including an annual Rainbow Seder for Passover. They have created a 160-plus page LGBT resource guide to specifically to help staff welcome LGBT Jews and “celebrate their identity with love, affirmation, and joy.” Students notice these efforts. If you’ve ever spent any time in Hillel, you quickly realize the volume of LGBT students who frequent the building, the staff members who feel comfortable openly belonging to the LGBT community, the number of LGBT programs hosted there, and the giant pride flag hanging in the front office. Hillel’s support for our community is on display every day for all to see. B’nai Keshet funding wasn’t cut because it is a group that aims to provide a community to Jewish LGBT students. It was disqualified from receiving funding after going against national Hillel policy regarding use of Hillel funds for antiIsrael activity. In this case, B’nai Keshet was among the co-sponsors of a drag show fundraiser for LGBT refugees coorganized by Jewish Voice for Peace, a group that the Anti-Defamation League calls “the leading anti-Zionist organization in the U.S. that seeks to steer public support away from Israel.” Both on campus and nationally, JVP is a major proponent of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, or BDS,
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
Kyle Gersman, a third-year student at The Ohio State University from Akron, is studying chemical engineering with a minor in studio art. A version of this essay appeared at Scribe, the Forward’s contributor network.
PAGE 9
OPINION
JWV welcomes non-vets, non-Jews as members By Steve Markman You don’t have to be Jewish to join Jewish War Veterans. For that matter, you don’t have to be a veteran, either. JWV is America’s oldest veterans’ organization, and anyone can join as a patron donor. This type of membership is open to any supporter of the organization who upholds, reflects and pursues the values of JWV. Patrons are encouraged to participate in all activities with their local post and to support JWV programs. They have all the privileges of a regular member, except they are not eligible to hold elected JWV office or act as a delegate at JWV conventions. JWV is our country’s oldest continuously operating veterans’ organization, and currently has nearly 250 posts in the United States, and one in Israel. JWV was formed by Jewish veterans of the Civil War to counter claims that Jews did not serve when their country needed them and were being denied the benefits they’d earned. The truth is that Jews served and distinguished themselves during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War, and since have continued to serve in all branches of the service, during all of our wars and military actions, right up through today. While the discrimination of the post-Civil War era largely is gone, JWV has moved on to being a strong advocate for all veterans and others associated with our military, regardless of religion, race, or creed. At the national level, with its headquarters in Washington, D.C., JWV works with the Congress and federal agencies to promote veterans issues and to be a strong advocate for Israel. In addition, JWV offers a variety of youth scholarships, and supports Jewish military academy and ROTC cadets and Scouting. JWV also maintains the National Museum of American Jewish Military History in Washington, which displays and archives the stories and artifacts of Jewish military service. At the local level, the Dayton/Cincinnati Post 587 is commanded by Jeff Thau. Under his leadership, the post volunteers at the Dayton VA Medical Center, participates in naturalization ceremonies to welcome new citizens, places flags on the graves of Jewish veterans for Memorial Day, maintains liaison with Jewish military personnel at Wright-Patterson AFB, and assists Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. The post conducts two brunch meetings each year, each with a speaker, and participates in the community Chanukah lunch with Hadassah, JFS Active Adults, and the JCC Yiddish Club. In Ohio, JWV also has posts in Cleveland, Sandusky/Lorain, Akron, Canton, and Columbus. Active duty Jewish military members are eligible for in-service membership. Annual membership is free while on active duty and for the first year out of the service. Your participation matters. Besides being part of an active post here in the Dayton area, the size of our national membership is important. When JWV advocates for veterans, numbers matter and often are as important as the significance of the issue. Your membership can help make JWV’s voice stronger as we continue to help all veterans across the country. Steve Markman is past commander of Jewish War Veterans Post 587 and current JWV commander for the state of Ohio. PAGE 10
Yatar Israel volunteers help combat terrorism them and that martyrdom gives greatness. By Goldye Kopmar The most lasting impression for me occurred at I have been to Israel many times, but I have never Kibbutz Nahal Oz, a five-minute drive from Sderot. It had my life changed in the way it was by the 10-day is only a half mile from the Gaza border, about three Zionist Of America Purim Mission to Israel. Our fields away. These are the fields under which Hamas is main goal was to bring the joy of Purim to the Magav, digging its tunnels to attack Israel. I could easily hear Israeli soldiers on the borders between Israel and Samaria (the West Bank). They serve in very tense places and see a truck moving on the Gaza Road as I stood at the wire fence separating the kibbutz from the fields. and aren’t allowed to leave their posts to go home for Who protects these brave kibbutz families? A group the holiday. We loaded our bulletproof bus with big plastic bags of commando-trained volunteers called Yatar Israel, a counterterror Mobile ATV unit, who patrol and act of shelach manot (all kinds of candy and goodies for Purim) and personal letters written by school children quickly to capture terrorists in areas where security vehicles cannot reach: narrow alleyways of the Old from Dayton’s Hillel Academy and Beth Abraham City of Jerusalem or rough dirt roads in the hills and Synagogue. I was so delighted and proud when Dr. Kathy Mecoli, principal of Hillel Academy, and Cantor fields. Many of them work their day jobs from 8 to 5, Andrea Raizen of Beth Abraham Synagogue Religious and then patrol and protect during the night — the School readily agreed to have their students write time when most of the terror activity occurs — until letters. the morning. Maybe these men and Our first stop was at Tzomet women get two hours of sleep. When Pituach in Samaria. Each day, Israeli we asked one of the commandos why soldiers face four to five incidents: he does it, he answered, “My wife and shootings, stabbings, and car ramchildren live here; of course, I am gomings. One soldier was stabbed four ing to be a Yatar volunteer to protect days before we arrived. They were so them. Why do we live here? Because thrilled to see us; even the commander this is our home and Israel needs us.” of the unit came over to talk with us. There is a misconception about the We sang with them, we danced with fence built to protect Israel citizens them. from terrorists. We spoke to ColoWe found out it was the birthday nel Danny Tirza, the architect of the of a soldier up in the watch tower; 440-mile fence. Only five percent of we formed a semicircle and sang the fence is a wall. The rest comprises Happy Birthday to him in English and wires with 24-hour monitored cameras Hebrew. When one of our group ran and touch sensors. The slightest moveup the stairs to hand him a letter and ment or touch is sensed, without causa bag of goodies, the soldier put his ing electrocution. Within five minutes, hand on his heart, read the letter, and A Yatar counter-terrorism Yatar and Magav soldiers respond. then wiped tears from his eyes. volunteer on the Gaza border How did he decide where to put the You see, no one comes to these fence? He said it was one of the hardest responsibilibrave border police to show how much we care about ties he ever had. He went out of his way to keep Arab them, how much we appreciate them protecting our homes and their vineyards unified, causing him to people with their lives, how we much we pray for zig-zag the fence around hills and valleys to accomthem even in the United States. modate their needs. When I asked him if the Arabs We learned that the commander of this elite Israel appreciated his efforts, he said no. border patrol is an Arab Muslim. At border bases in We spoke with Mieria Pons, a Yatar volunteer with Tulkarm and Kalkiya, I was talking to an Israeli sola 3-year-old, now pregnant with another child. When dier and noticed his first name on his tag was Christian. He told me his elite unit is made up of Christians, we asked if there is anything we can do to help Yatar, she answered right away: they need special bullet/ Druze, Jews, and Muslims — all fluent in Arabic and stab-proof vests. Hebrew. Because they are funded solely through donations, Noting my surprise, he continued, “Do you think they must pay for everything on their own. They can’t we want to live under the oppressive PLO or Hamas afford the $600 vests, even though it would save their or Sharia law? In Israel, we are a free people!” lives. Her words rang in my mind the next day, when On Shabbos afternoon, Khaled Abu Toameh, an we learned that two of the border police soldiers we Israeli-Arab journalist, talked with us about the facts had just been with were stabbed at the Lion’s Gate in on the ground, without holding back. Jerusalem. Both were injured, one very badly. If they “There will never be a two-state solution,” Toameh had been wearing these special vests, they would not said. “There will never be political peace between have been hurt. Israel and the PLO. Even if you gave them 99 percent After seeing the facts on the ground, I realize the of all they want, they will not take it. Why? Because deep bias of the media, and the naiveté of Western their goal is the complete destruction of Israel and the thinking. After witnessing the unbelievable bravery complete dominance of the entire Mideast.” of our people living in Israel — risking their lives and Toameh also told us the Palestinians teach the their children’s lives to keep Israel safe and strong — I children in their schools to hate anyone different from realize that those of us who don’t live in Israel must do more to help, support, and show them we care. So, what do you think? I will raise money for those bullet/stab proof vests. Our Magav soldiers and Yatar volunteers are saving Send your letters (350 words max., thanks) to: us; now we need to save them. The Dayton Jewish Observer, 525 Versailles Drive Dayton, OH 45459 • MWeiss@jfgd.net Goldye Kopmar lives in Dayton. THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Classes
Family
Centerville. 610-1555.
JCC Camp Shalom Family Hillel Academy Musical: Thurs., Night: Wed., May 10, 5:30-7 p.m. May 4, 6 p.m. 305 Sugar Camp Picnic dinner, plant garden. Free. Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Cir., Oakwood. 277-8966. Centerville. R.S.V.P. to 610-1555. Temple Israel Bike & Brunch: Dayton Junior Youth Group Picnic Sun., May 7, 10 a.m. Meet at temple. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. & Games: Grades 6-8 & families. Sun., May 21, 5-7 p.m. Shafor Park, R.S.V.P. by May 3 to Courtney Cummings, 496-0050. Collingwood Ave. & Shafor Blvd., Oakwood $5. R.S.V.P. to 610-1555. Beth Abraham Shabbat With A Temple Israel Classes: Saturdays, Super-Sized Beat: Fri., May 12, Seniors 9:30 a.m.: Torah Study. Wed., May 6:15 p.m. Service w. Beth Abraham JFS Active Adults Helix 3, 10, 17, 24, noon: Talmud Study Band & Dayton Jewish Chorale w. Rabbi Sobo. Sun., May 7, noon: Innovation Ctr. Tour & Dine followed by dinner. $28 adults, $15 Around: Mon., May 8, 11 a.m. Jewish Literacy w. Rabbi Bodneyages 4-12. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Emerson Bldg., 40 W. Stewart St., Halasz. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. Dayton. Followed by lunch at Butter Oakwood. R.S.V.P. by May 5 to 496-0050. 293-9520. Café, 1106 Brown St., Dayton. R.S.V.P. to 610-1555. Discussions Temple Beth Or Men’s Circle Temple Israel Ryterband Mother’s Day Brunch: Sun., May JFS Active Adults Dine Around Lectures: Sun., May 7, 9:45 a.m. 14, 10:30 a.m. $10. 5275 Marshall @ Dublin Pub: Thurs., May 11, Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz, 5:15 p.m. 300 Wayne Ave., Dayton. Rd., Wash. Twp. R.S.V.P. to 435From My Side of the Bima. $7. 130 3400. R.S.V.P. by May 4 to 610-1555. Riverside Dr., Dayton. 496-0050. Temple Beth Or Classes: Sundays, 1 p.m.: Advanced Hebrew w. Rabbi Chessin. Sun., May 7, 14, 21, 1 p.m.: Beginning Hebrew w. Renee Peery. Wed., May 10, 1 p.m.: Chai Mitzvah, Gratitude. Sat., May 13, 10 a.m. & Sun., May 21, 11 a.m.: Tanach w. Rabbi Chessin. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 435-3400.
Young Adults
YAD @ Carmen: Wed., May 17, 7 p.m. Schuster Center, 1 W. 2nd St. 5:45 p.m. dinner at Flying Pizza, 223 N. Main St. R.S.V.P. to Cheryl Carne, 610-1778.
Women
Chabad Women’s Circle End of Year Brunch: Sun., May 21, 11:30 a.m. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. R.S.V.P. to Devorah Mangel, 6431899.
Shavuot
Beth Abraham Tikun Leyl Chabad Children’s Torah Factory: Shavuot: Tues., May 30. 6:30 Sun., May 21, 2 p.m. 2001 Far Hills p.m. dairy dinner, 7:30 p.m. study session. $10 adults, $5 ages 4-12. Ave., Oakwood. Free. 643-0770. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. PJ Library @ Graeter’s: Sun., May R.S.V.P. by May 24, 293-9520. 28, 10 a.m. Story, free ice cream Chabad Shavuot Dinner: Wed., serving. 2 N. Main St., Centerville. May 31, 5:30 p.m. Free. 2001 Far R.S.V.P. to 610-1555. Hills Ave., Oakwood. 643-0770.
Garden Court Garden Garden Court Court ANHEALTHCARE EMBASSY COMMUNITY AN EMBASSY AN HEALTHCARE EMBASSY COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY
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Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation. 43 private suites suites 43 private suites 43 private Largeprivate semi rooms rooms Large semi Largeprivate rooms semi private Renovations ongoing Renovations ongoing Renovations ongoing Shortrehab term rehab Short term Short stays term stays rehab stays Longcare term Long term Longcare term care settingsetting Serene Serene settingSerene
Cedar Village Trip Lunch & Learn: Thurs., May 18, 11 a.m.1:30 p.m. Transportation from Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. Free kosher lunch at Cedar Village & program, Fraud & Safety. R.S.V.P. to 610-1555.
Chabad Lag B’Omer BBQ: Sun., May 14, 5 p.m. In advance: $12 adults, $5 ages 3-13. At door: $18 adults, $10 ages 3-13. $6 for mothers, free for enrolled Chabad campers. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. 643-0770.
Community Events
Hillel Academy Graduation: Wed.,please contact please contact Shannon Ryan, Director of Admissions and Marketing at Shannon please contact Ryan, Shannon Director of Ryan, Admissions Director and of Admissions Marketing at and Marketing at May 24, 2:45 p.m. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. 277-8966.
Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration: Tues., May 2, 5:30 p.m. Kosher dinner for purchase. Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr.,
4911 Covenant House Dr. Dayton, Ohio 45426 4911 Covenant 4911 House Covenant Dr. Dayton, House Ohio Dr.45426 Dayton, Ohio 45426
Located Unitedthe Theological Seminary on Denlinger Road. Road. Located behind thebehind Located Unitedthe Theological behind Seminary United Theological on Denlinger Seminary Road. on Denlinger
more information or to schedule a tour, a tour, For moreFor information For more or to information schedule aor tour, to schedule
937-837-2651 937-837-2651 937-837-2651
JCC Film Fest
For schedule, see page 24.
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
PAGE 11
KVELLING CORNER For the sixth time since 2011, Dr. Marti Moody Jacobs has facilitated a spring visit to Dayton for Arab-Israeli middle school students from
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Rachel Haug Gilbert the village of Deir al-Assad in the Lower Galilee. Along with visiting local sites, the students participated in Temple Beth Or’s Passover Seder and met with the temple’s high school class. The visit is the culmination for honor students who participate in a summer
Sarah Adams (L), Dr. Marti Moody Jacobs (2nd from L), and Arab-Israeli students from Deir al-Assad visit Huffman Prairie
English-language camp in Deir al-Assad with volunteers from Ohio, coordinated by Marti and Dr. Jamal Assadi. Hillel Academy will present Tales Told ‘Round the World,
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What: Leading experts discuss topics, issues and innovations affecting your life. Bring a friend and enjoy lunch on us! When: Third Thursdays in May, June and July, from 11:30 am–1 pm Where: Cedar Village, 5467 Cedar Village Drive, Mason, OH. Transportation from the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton leaves for Cedar Village at 11 am. RSVPs required: Please call the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton at 937-610-1555.
Join us on Third Thursdays
Don’t Fall for It! How to Spot Scams and Fraud Thursday, May 18 FBI Special Agent Ben Egan will share advice on the latest scams and how to avoid being victimized. Learn about tricks criminals use to steal your assets, how to detect a scam, and what victims should do. Learn more at CedarVillage.org/ThirdThursdays 5467 Cedar Village Drive Mason, OH 45040 513.754.3100 cedarvillage.org
Transportation from Dayton now provided by Cedar Village with JFS taking RSVPs. Contact Karen at 610-1555 for more details. PAGE 12
Tamar Fishbein, Avi Gilbert, and Jamie Pavlofsky are in the cast of the musical Ragtime at the Dayton Playhouse, May 5-21. Avi is the son of yours truly and Dr. Heath Gilbert.
Customer Appreciation Sale, May 19 & 20
The Fraud and Safety Series
an evening of music and entertainment at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 4 at the school. Hillel will also hold its graduation exercises at 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24. Graduates are Antonio Fuenzalida, son of Fran and Hernan Fuenzalida; Lucie Jacobs, daughter of Drs. Cassie and Brad Jacobs; Yetta Krummel-Adkins, daughter of Dr. Miriamne Krummel and Dr. Matt Adkins; Schneur Mangel, son of Devorah and Rabbi Nochum Mangel; and Benji Ray, son of Dr. Keren Ray and Dr. Patrick Ray.
Families looking for service projects, take note: Steve Markman — past commander of Jewish War Veterans Post 587 and current JWV commander for the state of Ohio — is looking for volunteers to help members of Post 587 place U.S. flags at the graves of Jewish veterans for Memorial Day weekend. JWV will place flags at Beth Jacob Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 26; and at Beth Abraham Cemetery, Temple Beth Or’s section at David’s Cemetery, and Riverview Cemetery (Temple Israel) at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 28. JWV maintains a list of Jewish veterans buried at those cemeteries and places a metal flag holder beside each veteran’s grave. The holders help JWV to quickly find veterans’ graves. To have a flag holder placed at the grave of a Jewish veteran in time for Memorial Day, or to help place flags at graves, call Steve at 886-9566. Send your Kvelling items to: kvellingcorner@gmail.com or to Rachel Haug Gilbert The Dayton Jewish Observer 525 Versailles Drive Centerville, OH 45459
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
The Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton begins community-wide visioning, encouraging the Jewish community to voice their thoughts:
What should Jewish Dayton look like in 20 years?
Jewish Federation of GREATER DAYTON › YAD: Opera Anyone? Wednesday, May 17 7PM @ Schuster Center
(1 West Second Street) Join young adults (ages 2135) to see the opera Carmen. No charge to see the dress rehearsal. Reservations are a must, as tickets are limited. Contact Cheryl Carne 937-6101778 or ccarne@jfgd.net to reserve your ticket. Before the opera, meet at Flying Pizza, downtown (223 N Main Street) between 5:45 and 6PM for a slice of pizza (on your own) before walking over to the Schuster Center to see the opera.
› PJ Library: We All Scream for Mountains of Ice Cream Sunday, May 28 10AM @ Graeter’s Ice Cream (2 N. Main Street, 45459) Come join us for a tour of everyone’s favorite ice cream shop and enjoy some free ice cream while you listen to a Shavuot story from PJ Library! PJ Library and PJ Our Way kids and families are invited, free serving of ice cream for kids and adults!
RSVPs are due at least 1 week before event. Events with no price listed are free. PLEASE CONTACT KAREN STEIGER REGARDING ALL EVENTS UNLESS NOTED: 610-1555, ksteiger@jfgd.net
Creating a BRIGHT FUTURE for the Jewish communities of the Miami Valley
in
2017 Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton is excited to launch our new community-wide visioning project Jewish Dayton Dreams Big beginning spring of 2017. This project will help shape and direct our Jewish community over the next 20 years. By “Dreaming Big”, the Federation will help the Jewish community identify the challenges, opportunities, goals, and strategies to maintain and grow a vibrant Jewish community within the Dayton region. Beginning in May and continuing through July 2017, many opportunities and invitations for input from the Jewish
community will be made available by way of mailed surveys, web surveys, parlor meetings, and personal interviews. Through the end of 2017, the Leadership Team will synthesize the quantitative and qualitative data gleaned from community input into trends, challenges, and tangible opportunities for the longterm growth and success of the Dayton Jewish community. The critical impact of Jewish Dayton Dreams Big hinges on Jewish community input from the very beginning. Opportunities for community involvement will begin in May.
—Gloria Steinem
YA D @ T H E O P E R A
YAD members appearing in local production of Carmen
Not only does the Young Adult Division (YAD) get a sneak peek at the Dayton Opera & the Dayton Ballet's debut of Carmen this month, we've also got YAD members as part of the stunning performance! Chelsea Friedlander, soprano, a New Jersey native, recently made her Dayton Opera debut as Blonde in The Abduction from the Seraglio in February 2017. Ms. Friedlander will also appear in Carmen singing the role of Frasquita. Ms. Friedlander received a Bachelor of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music. This summer Ms. Friedlander will debut as an Apprentice Artist at Chautauqua Opera. Performance highlights include appearances with The Ohio Light Opera Company, Opera Saratoga, Opera in the Ozarks, New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (current company member), Light Opera of New York, Martina Arroyo Prelude to Performance, Light Opera of New Jersey, Women’s Theater Project, and Victor Herbert Renaissance Project Live! Jocelyn Green is currently finishing her 3rd season with the Dayton Ballet. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, she trained under Andrea Patzius and Donna Patzius-Hill for thirteen wonderful years. Jocelyn spent several summers studying on scholarship at Atlanta Ballet, among others. Following high school, she attended SUNY Purchase College, Conservatory of Dance, where she performed classical and contemporary works by world renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine, Jessica Lang, and Nicolo Fonte. Prior to joining Dayton Ballet Jocelyn danced with Nashville Ballet’s second company where she performed in outreach ballets for children across Tennessee, including the title character in Gina Patterson's Anne Frank. While dancing here in Dayton Jocelyn has had the pleasure to dance principal roles such as Juliet in Septime Webre’s Romeo and Juliet, Lilith in Karen Russo-Burke’s Dracula: Bloodlines, and Sugarplum Fairy in Burke’s The Nutcracker. Jocelyn also enjoys teaching at several local studios including the Dayton Ballet School. She has spent the past two Summers teaching master classes through Arts in the Parks, a program which brings arts education to students with limited access throughout southeastern Indiana and Ohio.
Chelsea Friedlander
Jocelyn Green
JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON AGENCY NEWSLETTER | MAY 2017
Shu chan Yar k
Jewish Community Center of GREATER DAYTON › Film Fest: In Search of Israeli Cuisine Monday, May 1 7:15PM @ The Neon (130 E. Fifth St., 45402) Guest Speaker: Michelle Korin. Sponsored by Square One Salon & Spa
FOR MORE FILM LISTINGS, SEE PAGE 24. › Community Yom Ha'Atzmaut Celebration Tuesday, May 2 5:30PM @ Boonshoft CJCE
Celebrate Israel's 69th birthday with the Dayton Jewish community! Delicious dinner for purchase. Hosted by the JCC & PJ Library. Partnering with Beth Abraham Synagogue, Beth Jacob Synagogue, Chabad, Hillel Academy of Dayton, Temple Beth Or, and Temple Israel.
› Camp Shalom Family Night Wednesday, May 10 5:30–7PM @ Boonshoft CJCE
Families are invited to join us for a picnic-style dinner. We will plant the Camp Shalom vegetable garden for our first mitzvah of the summer! Please wear clothes that can get dirty. No cost. RSVP required.
› Dayton Junior Youth Group Sunday, May 21 5–7PM @ Shafor Park
(Collingwood Ave. and Shafor Blvd., 45419) Kids in grades 6–8 and their families are invited to a picnic and games in the park. Bring your favorite outdoor games, balls, and Frisbees. This is our last event of the year! $5/person, RSVP required.
RSVPs are due at least 1 week before event. Events with no price listed are free.
Green Table: A Jewish CSA
The Dayton Jewish community will be hosting Shulchan Yarok again this summer! Shuchan Yarok translates to “Green Table", and yarok can also be translated as “vegetables”. You may be wondering, what's a CSA? CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. A CSA is a cooperative partnership between a farmer and a group of people who agree to pre-purchase a share of the farmer's produce for an entire season. The CSA guarantees the farmer a secure market and gives members access to fresh, local, sustainably-grown produce at competitive prices, all while helping preserve farmland and building community. Members purchase a share, and then pick up their produce weekly at a local pick up site. Joining Shulchan Yarok will give you a chance to schmooze with other CSA members,
and enjoy great food, all while supporting a local farmer. Weekly pick ups will take place Thursdays at the JCC from 4-5:30PM, starting June 8. Our 2017 Season Membership is $375 ($18 per week for 20 weeks) and includes 5-6 items each week. Half of the membership fee ($187.50) is due by Friday, May 19. You may add a dozen locally raised eggs to your CSA box for an additional $3.50/a week. Kosher challah and other baked goods will also be for sale at each pickup. For more information, please contact Juliet Glaser at jglaser@jfgd.net or 937-401-1541. All produce comes from Grim Farm in Arcanum, Ohio. Produce will include vegetables such as lettuces, kale, chard, peas, onions, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, summer squash, garlic, leeks, potatoes, peppers, sweet corn and so much more!
ABOVE: Matzah makers Lena
Elder and Adina Baumgarten know concentration makes the best matzah! Matzah Factory is an annual event for the Brachot, Mitzvah and Mishpacha classes in Early Childhood Care & Education. PHOTO CREDIT: KATIE LAGASSE BELOW: Grant and Charlotte Eninger
show off their cooking skills at Dayton
Camp Shalom Gadol Family Night: Junior Youth Group Gets Cooking, Kicking off 100 Mitzvot of Summer! All families with kids entering grades 1-7 are invited to join us for a camp-style evening including dinner. This summer, Camp Shalom will be emphasizing the Jewish and universal value of chesed (kindness). Our camp bunks will perform acts of kindness throughout the summer as we attempt to achieve 100 mitzvot. Camp Shalom will provide campers with plenty of opportunities to perform acts of kindness among each other and in the greater community.
with Rochel Simon. Participants made an entire dinner from appetizers to dessert. PHOTO CREDIT: MERYL HATTENBACH
We will be kicking off 100 Mitzvot of Summer on Wednesday, May 10 at 5:30pm by planting the Camp Shalom vegetable garden. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get dirty and bring your gardening gloves! For more information, please contact Camp Shalom Director, Meryl Hattenbach at 401-1550 or CampShalom@jfgd.net. C A M P S TA R T S J U N E 5 . A R E YO U R C H I L D R E N R E G I S T E R E D ?
LOST in T I M E
18 months–entering kindergarten
PLEASE CONTACT KAREN STEIGER REGARDING ALL EVENTS UNLESS NOTED: 610-1555, ksteiger@jfgd.net JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON AGENCY NEWSLETTER | MAY 2017
Contact Audrey at amackenzie@jfgd.net or 853-0373
&
entering grades 1–7
CIT positions available for 8–10 graders Contact Meryl at campshalom@jfgd.net or 401-1550
PASSOVER AT DAYTON CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION Reflections by Tara Feiner
Again, this April 2017, Ohio Jewish
set the Passover table with the
and enriching experience for all of
Communities (OJC) reached out
women in the DCI Chapel Office
us.
to Jewish Federations and agencies
and we sat down and enjoyed an
Before leaving the Chapel at DCI,
across Ohio, asking for assistance
hour together, leading the seder
I noticed that there were numerous
with seder plates for prisons.
and sharing Passover stories and
Shortly after the request for seder
memories. On Tuesday afternoon,
periodicals on display, but none
plates came, I received another
April 11, wanting the women to
email from OJC notifying me that
have a different, but still meaningful
assistance was no longer needed; the experience, I brought with me
of them were Jewish. I asked the chaplain if she and the women at DCI would like to receive the Dayton Jewish Observer. The
Aleph Institute sent seder plates to
copies of the Jewish Community
DCI. However, as I did last year, I
Center of Greater Dayton’s A
worked with the chaplain at DCI to
Women’s Freedom Seder: Teaching
coordinate my visit to DCI to lead
Our Way to Freedom. The women
a first and second seder for three
at DCI enjoyed and appreciated
Jewish Observer on a monthly basis.
Jewish female prisoners.
the seder and there were personal
It is a privilege to be able to help
On Monday afternoon, April 10,
and meaningful stories shared, tied
keep these women connected to the
I brought ritual items and fresh
to the modern plagues contained
Jewish community.
ingredients to DCI. Together, I
within the seder. It was a rewarding
chaplain thought this was a great idea and DCI will now receive multiple copies of the Dayton
LEFT & BELOW: What
do you do
20, the Active Adults decorated and enjoyed delicious cupcakes at Elé Cake Co. and savored the flavors of lunch at El Meson! PHOTO CREDITS: PETER
PARTNERING WITH CEDAR VILLAGE On May 18, Cedar Village will be hosting its first 3rd Thursday program, Don’t Fall for It: How to Spot Scams and Fraud and lunch is included! Cedar Village, located in Mason, Ohio has funds to transport people from outside the facility to Cedar Village programs. Jewish Family Services will be the point for those from the Dayton area to RSVP for Cedar Village’s programs and will then work with Cedar Village to coordinate the transportation. Please see the ad on page 12 for information. We also look forward to residents at Cedar Village participating in programs hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton and its agencies, too!
› Helix Innovation Center Tour and Dine Around Monday, May 8 11AM @ Emerson Building (40 West Stewart Street, 45479) No Cost. RSVP by May 1. Lunch at Butter Café. (Cost on your own).
› Active Adults Dine Around Thursday, May 11 5:15PM @ The Dublin Pub (300 Wayne Avenue, 45410)
Cost on your own. RSVP by May 4.
after Passover ends? On April
WINE, JUDITH DEA
Jewish Family Services Jewish Foundation ofof GREATER DAYTON GREATER DAYTON
› Welcome to Medicare Seminar Monday, May 22 6PM @ Boonshoft CJCE
No Cost. Given by OSHIIP, the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program.
› Need Assistance Finding a Food Pantry Near You? Call the United Way Information & Referral Line, 225-3000 or Dial 2-1-1. › Are you caring for a loved one who is not in the Greater Dayton area? Visit http:// www.ajfca.org/senior-resourceconnect/ to find supports and services provided by Jewish agencies nationwide. › Don’t know what to donate in the Food Barrels? How about non-perishable, nonexpired protein sources? CANNED MEATS CANNED FISH NUTS AND SEEDS RICE BEANS are greatly appreciated!
PLEASE CONTACT KAREN STEIGER REGARDING ALL EVENTS: 610-1555 JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON AGENCY NEWSLETTER | MAY 2017
Corner
We All Scream for Mountains of Ice Cream!
Sunday, May 28
›Mamaloshen
10AM @ Graeter’s Ice Cream, Centerville (2 N. Main Street, 45459) Come join us for a tour of everyone’s favorite ice cream shop and enjoy some free ice cream while you listen to a Shavuot story from PJ Library! PJ Library and PJ Our Way kids and families are invited, free serving of ice cream for kids and adults!
A little bit of Yiddish to share with friends, courtesy of the JFS Yiddish Club, in memory of Lynda A. Cohen.
Yogn \YOG-en\ Verb 1. To hunt, chase. 2. Yogn, followed by the reflexive zich: To speed, hurry, race. Expression with yogn : › uf mich "Ber," nor yog mich nisht in vald arayn. Call me names, but don't harm me (lit., Call me Ber, but don't drive me into
PJ L I B R A R Y
the forest - like you would
G R A N D PA R E N T S
a real bear).
WATCH FOR OUR NEXT
› Far umkoved antloyf, ober yog zich nisht noch koved.
EVENT, COMING IN JUNE!
Run away from insult, but
PJ Library grandparents are invited
do not chase after honor.
to join us for a special tour of the new Dayton Library Main Branch, and an in depth discussion of PJ Library books available to grandparents, as well as a closer look at the PJ Library book selection process and new parent and grandparent book choices from PJ Library. Dessert and coffee served. No cost.
Legacies, Tributes, & Memorials FAMILY SERVICES
FEDERATION
THE TALA ARNOVITZ FUND IN MEMORY OF › Marilyn Liebowitz Beverly Saeks and Family PJ LIBRARY FUND IN HONOR OF › Bat Mitzvah of Ellen and Michael Leffak’s granddaughter Marcia and Ed Kress LINDA RUCHMAN MEMORIAL FUND IN MEMORY OF › Shirley Levitt Norma Caplan
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES IN HONOR OF › Birth of a granddaughter to Ralph and Fran Schwartz › Birth of twin grandsons to Arlene and David Stine Beverly and Jeffrey Kantor IN MEMORY OF › Betty Goldberger Esther and DeNeal Feldman › Sylvia Slovin Marilyn and Larry Klaben
JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON AGENCY NEWSLETTER | MAY 2017
JCC
CULTURAL ARTS/BOOK FAIR IN HONOR OF › New home of Jane and Dr. Gary Hochstein Helene Gordon EARLY CHILDHOOD FUND IN MEMORY OF › Larry Jenks Pat Jones
FOUNDATION
JEREMY BETTMAN B’NAI TZEDEK FUND IN HONOR OF › The marriage of Sara Klaben Jean and Todd Bettman IN MEMORY OF › Betty Goldberger Jean and Todd Bettman SAMMY’S RAINBOW BRIDGE FUND IN MEMORY OF › “Magic” Plaskar Jean and Todd Bettman › “Sammy” Bettman (on what would have been his 10th birthday) Jean, Todd, Jeremy and Michael Bettman
Sweet Ricotta & Strawberry Bourekas for Shavuot By Danielle Oron, JTA I’m a cheese and dairy fanatic. So for obvious reasons, my favorite holiday is Shavuot. This is when spring has sprung and my family makes a whole spread of cheese and dairy-filled foods and desserts. There are always a ton of different cheeses, spreads, breads, fluffy cheesecake, kugel, blintzes and my absolute favorite, bourekas — puff pastry or a simple butter pie dough filled with cheese and either potato, mushrooms or spinach. When you manage to get one hot out of the oven, they are heavenly. So why not have sweet bourekas on the table too? I’ll take care of that this year. They’ll be filled with a sweetened ricotta cheese and macerated strawberries,
since they are in season. No fresh strawberries around? Try using jam in whatever flavor you like. You can also make these ahead and freeze them, and then bake them one by one for a midnight snack if you really want. The beauty of bourekas is that you can bake them even if they are frozen. I love a good makeahead recipe when I know I’m making a slew of things during the holidays. Sweet Ricotta & Strawberry Bourekas Yields 12 1 sheet of puff pastry, cut into 31/2 to 4-inch squares 3/4 cup finely diced strawberries 1/2 tsp. sugar 3/4 cup ricotta 11/2 Tbsp. sugar 1/2 tsp. vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract 1 egg coarse sugar
gles. Use a fork to press down along the edges. Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with lots of coarse sugar. Transfer the bourekas to the prepared sheet pan Mix the diced strawberries and sugar (1/2 teaspoon) and place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. At this in a small bowl and allow to sit for five minutes. In a point, you can transfer them to storage bags and keep separate bowl, combine the ricotta with the sugar (11/2 frozen until you’re ready to bake them. tablespoons) and the vanilla bean paste. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and bake until Prepare an egg wash by whisking the egg with a golden brown and flaky, about 18 to 20 minutes. splash of water. Line a sheet pan with tin foil and coat with a bit of cooking spray. Danielle Oron is a chef, photographer and blogger (I Will Fill each square with about two teaspoons of ricotta Not Eat Oysters), the owner of a milk and cookies bakery filling and about a teaspoon of strawberries, leaving in Toronto, and now a cookbook author. She is Israeli, at least a 1/4-inch border. Brush some egg wash along Moroccan, Canadian and American and was classically the edges of the puff pastry and seal them into triantrained at the French Culinary Institute.
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Whether you choose one of our many apartment options, spacious cottages or villa homes, we’re certain you’ll enjoy life at Bethany Village.
Contact us today to take a tour. (937) 701-0603 BethanyLutheranVillage.org
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
PAGE 17
How to make perfect cheesecake 5 ways By Ronnie Fein, JTA Cheesecake is the iconic Shavuot dessert. But it requires some tips and techniques to get it right. And not everyone agrees on what makes a cheesecake perfect. Some like it dense; others, fluffier. Purists say it should be simple, but lots of people prefer it fancy, with flavors and toppings. Long ago, I created a basic batter that works for almost any type of cheesecake you can imagine. In our family, we
prefer a dense, rich, creamy version, so I use all cream cheese. But sometimes I make a slight change to lighten it up (I use one cup of ricotta cheese to replace eight ounces of the cream cheese in my recipe). We like it slightly tangy too, so I usually include sour cream or unflavored Greek yogurt. But if I don’t have either of those in my fridge, I substitute it with an additional half cup of cream and add a tablespoon of flour to better bind the batter together.
This basic batter is amazingly versatile. You can use it to concoct all sorts of fabulous variations — strawberry-topped or chocolate or pumpkin and even elaborate versions such as turtle cheesecake. Here are some of my favorite adaptations: Chocolate Cheesecake: add 10 ounces melted, cooled semisweet chocolate to the batter. Half-and-Half Cheesecake: add five ounces melted chocolate to half the batter, spoon the chocolate batter into the pan, then carefully spoon the vanilla batter on top.
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Pumpkin Cheesecake: replace white sugar with brown sugar; omit the sour cream and replace with 3/4 cup mashed pumpkin (canned is fine); stir in 11/2 teaspoon Turtle Cheesecake ground cinnamon, a teaspoon of grated nutmeg, a teaspoon of ground ginger and a teaspoon of grated orange peel to the batter. Berry-Topped Cheesecake: place whole berries on top of cooled cake, brush with melted apricot preserves or currant jam. Turtle Cheesecake: omit the graham cracker coating for the pan. Instead, make a bottom crust by combining one cup crushed graham crackers with a quarter cup of brown sugar, then work in four tablespoons of butter until crumbly. Press into the pan and bake (no need for the second pan yet) for 10 to 12 minutes. Spoon in the basic batter and bake as in the basic recipe. Let the cake cool. For the top: heat a quarter cup of cream until hot, add three ounces of chopped chocolate and stir until melted. Let cool slightly and spread over cool cake. Scatter tablespoons of chopped nuts on top. Optional: pour caramel sauce on top of cut slices of cake. Basic Cheesecake Recipe 11/2 tsp. butter or margarine 1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs (approximately)
ce Brethren
11/2 lbs. cream cheese (3 8-oz. packages) 1 cup sugar 11/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 cup dairy sour cream or unflavored yogurt 1/3 cup cream (whipping cream or half and half) 4 large eggs Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the butter on the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Sprinkle the inside of the pan with the graham cracker crumbs. Shake the pan to coat the bottom and sides of the pan completely. Beat the cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer set at medium speed for one to two minutes or until the cheese has softened and is smooth. Gradually add the sugar and beat for two to three minutes or until the mixture is smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally with a rubber spatula. Add the vanilla extract, sour cream and whipping cream and beat for one minute or until the batter is smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition to incorporate them. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Place the springform pan inside a larger pan. Fill the larger pan with enough hot water to come at least one inch up the sides of the baking dish. Bake the cake for 65 to 75 minutes or until the top of the cake is tanning lightly. Remove the springform pan from the water and let the cake cool in the pan. When the cake has reached room temperature, refrigerate it at least four hours or until it is thoroughly chilled. Remove the sides of the pan to serve. Ronnie Fein is the author of four cookbooks: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Cooking Basics, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to American Cooking, Hip Kosher, and The Modern Kosher Kitchen.
PAGE 18
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
LOST in T I M E
2017 CAMP BAG & WATER BOTTLE SPONSOR
2017 CAMP SHIRT SPONSOR
18 months–entering Kindergarten
Download the brochure at
JUNE 5–JULY 28
jewishdayton.org
Entering Grades 1–10
JUNE 5–JULY 21 Contact Audrey at amackenzie@jfgd.net or 853-0373 WEEK
1
WEEK
JUNE 5–9 TIME TO GROW
2
WEEK
JUNE 12–16 BONES AND BEASTS
3
JUNE 19–23 ROCKETS AND ROBOTS
WEEK
4
JUNE 26–30 ICE AGE
WEEK
5
WEEK
JULY 3–7* AMERICA NOW AND THEN
6
WEEK
JULY 10–14 TIME TRAVELERS
7
JULY 17–21 TEMPLE TREASURES
WEEK
8
JULY 24–28 ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS
Contact Meryl at campshalom@jfgd.net or 401-1550 WEEK
1
JUNE 5–9 TIME TO GROW
WEEK
2
JUNE 12–16 BONES AND BEASTS
WEEK
3
JUNE 19–23 ROCKETS AND ROBOTS
WEEK
4
JUNE 26–30 ICE AGE
WEEK
5
JULY 3–7* AMERICA NOW AND THEN
WEEK
6
JULY 10–14 TRANSPORTATION
WEEK
7
JULY 17–21 ART THROUGH THE AGES
*CAMP SHALOM WILL BE CLOSED ON JULY 4 FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY. THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
PAGE 19
May
Iyar/Sivan Candle Lightings Shabbat, May 5: 8:17 Shabbat, May 12: 8:24 Shabbat, May 19: 8:30 Shabbat, May 26: 8:36 Erev Shavuot, May 30: 8:39 First Eve Shavuot, May 31: 9:46
Torah Portions May 6: Acharei-Kedoshim (Lev. 16:1-20:27) May 13: Emor (Lev. 21:1-24:23) May 20: Behar-Bechukotai (Lev. 25:1-27:34) May 27: Bamidbar (Num. 1:1-4:20)
Yom Hazikaron
Israel Memorial Day May 1/5 Iyar Memorial Day for all who died serving Israel. Concludes with a siren blast as stars appear and Independence Day begins.
Yom Ha’atzmaut
Israel Independence Day May 2/6 Iyar Celebrated by Jews around the world. Israel celebrates with parades, singing, dancing and fireworks.
Lag B’Omer
33rd Day of Omer May 14/18 Iyar The 33rd day of the Omer breaks up the seven weeks of semi-mourning between Passover and Shavuot. It marks the end of a plague among Rabbi Akiva’s students and a victory of Bar-Kokhba’s soldiers over the Romans 2,000 years ago. Celebrated with picnics and sports.
Shavuot
Festival of Weeks, Giving of the Torah May 31-June 1/6-7 Sivan Marks the end of the counting of the Omer, a 49-day period that begins on the second night of Passover, and recalls the giving of the Torah at Sinai. In Israel, it falls at the end of the spring harvest. An all-night study session called a tikun, originally a mystical practice, is held at some synagogues. PAGE 20
RELIGION
What is Israel?
CONGREGATIONS
might hear: “Israel is the Jewish homeland, given to us by the Almighty.” As a matter of fact, the very first rabbinic commentary on By Rabbi Haviva Horvitz by the Jewish Agency for the Bible discusses the reason Temple Beth Sholom Palestine, and rejected by Arab the book of Genesis begins Middletown leaders. (The) Next year, the with the story of creation. Stop anyone on the street Jewish Agency declared ‘the Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchak) and ask the question, “What is establishment of a Jewish state explains that although the Israel?” The answer in Eretz Israel, to be main purpose of the Torah is to you will get might known as the State teach the Commandments, the be: “Israel is a Middle of Israel.’ It is the Torah begins with the story of Eastern country on world’s only Jewishcreation to stress that the world the Mediterranean majority state. In its Sea.” Basic Laws, Israel de- belongs to God. For if the nations of the Perhaps someone fines itself as a Jewish with a little more and democratic state. world should say to Israel, “You are robbers, for you knowledge would Israel is a represenconquered by force the lands of include that Israel tative democracy the seven nations (of Canaan),” is regarded by Jews, Rabbi Haviva Horvitz with a parliamentary they will reply, “The entire Christians, and Mussystem, proportional earth belongs to the Holy One, lims as the biblical Holy Land. representation and universal blessed be He; He created it One could also add that its suffrage. The prime minister (this we learn from the story most sacred sites are in Jeruis head of government and of the Creation) and gave it to salem, referencing specifically the Knesset is the legislature. whomever He deemed proper. Israel is a developed country When He wished, He gave it and an OECD member, with to them, and when He wished, the 35th largest economy in He took it away from them and the Temple Mount complex the world by nominal gross gave it to us.” — which includes the Dome domestic product as of 2016. Israel has given of the Rock shrine, the historic The country benefits the world a wide Western Wall, and Al-Aqsa from a highly skilled array of inventions Mosque — and the Church of workforce and is and innovations. the Holy Sepulcher. among the most One top 10 list I Someone else, perhaps, educated countries found includes the would focus on Israel’s fiin the world with PillCam, the USB nancial hub, Tel Aviv, which one of the highest flash drive, Waze (a is known for its beaches and percentage of its GPS-based travel Bauhaus architecture. citizens holding a app), the epilator, If you look up the questertiary education the technology to produce tion on Wikipedia, you will degree. The country has the drinking water out of thin air, find that: “officially the state highest standard of living in “super cows,” which produce of Israel is a country in the the Middle East and the high10 percent more milk than Middle East, on the southeastest in Asia, and has one of the North American cows and alern shore of the Mediterranean highest life expectancies in the most 50 percent more than GerSea and the northern shore of world.” many’s cows, drip irrigation, the Red Sea. It has land borders For a good web site with a the cherry tomato, BabySense with Lebanon to the north, detailed, easy to understand to help prevent crib death, and Syria to the northeast, Jordan history of Israel and what the Viber (a smartphone app for on the east, the Palestinian fight in Israel is all about, I territories of the West Bank would recommend Simpletore- free phone calls using Wi-Fi). But as we look at the and Gaza Strip to the east and member.com. month of May this year, and west, respectively, and Egypt On the other hand, if you to the southwest. The country ask a Jew, “What is Israel?” you all the Jewish holidays: Yom contains geographiYehoshua Maltz/Volcani Center Hazikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day), Yom cally diverse features Ha’atzmaut (Indepenwithin its relatively dence Day), Lag B’ small area. Israel’s Omer, Yom Yerushaeconomy and techlayim (Jerusalem Day) nology center is Tel and even Shavuot Aviv, while its seat (The Feast of Weeks), of government and we realize that Israel proclaimed capital is is important to us for Jerusalem, although a variety of reasons. the state’s sovereignty There are biblical over Jerusalem is and historic signifiinternationally unreccances and modognized. In 1947, the ern needs fulfilled United Nations adoptthrough Israel. ed a Partition Plan for It is a place where Mandatory Palestine we are free to be recommending the ourselves, a small creation of indepencountry (about the dent Arab and Jewish size of Rhode Island), states and an internaand yet a place to call tionalized Jerusalem. ‘Super cows’ at the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture’s home. The plan was accepted research arm in Beit Dagan, near Tel Aviv
Perspectives
Israel is important to us for a variety of reasons.
Beth Abraham Synagogue Conservative Rabbi Joshua Ginsberg Cantor/Dir. of Ed. & Programming Andrea Raizen Monday through Friday 6:50 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Fri., 5:30 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m. Sundays at 8:30 a.m. 305 Sugar Camp Circle, Oakwood. 293-9520. BethAbrahamDayton.org Beth Jacob Congregation Traditional Rabbi In Residence Adam Rosenthal Saturdays 9:30 a.m., Sundays 8 a.m., Sunday through Friday, 7 p.m. 7020 N. Main St., Dayton. 274-2149. BethJacobCong.org Temple Anshe Emeth Reform Rabbinic Intern Sara Otero Fri., May 12, 7:30 p.m. 320 Caldwell St., Piqua. Call Eileen Litchfield, 937-5470092, elitchfield@woh.rr.com. Correspondence address: 3808 Beanblossom Rd., Greenville, OH 45331. ansheemeth.org Temple Beth Or Reform Rabbi Judy Chessin Educator/Rabbi Ari Ballaban Fridays 7 p.m. Saturdays 10 a.m. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 435-3400. templebethor.com Temple Beth Sholom Reform Rabbi Haviva Horvitz See Web site for schedule. 610 Gladys Dr., Middletown. 513-422-8313. thetemplebethsholom.com Temple Israel Reform Senior Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz Rabbi/Educator Tina Sobo First Friday each month 6 p.m. followed by Share Shabbat meal. All other Fridays, 6:30 p.m. Saturdays 10:30 a.m. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 496-0050. tidayton.org Temple Sholom Reform Rabbi Cary Kozberg Fridays 6 p.m. 2424 N. Limestone St., Springfield. 399-1231. templesholomoh.com
ADDITIONAL SERVICES Chabad of Greater Dayton Rabbi Nochum Mangel Associate Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Youth & Prog. Dir. Rabbi Levi Simon. Beginner educational service Saturdays 9 a.m. adults, 10 a.m children. Sundays 9 a.m. 2001 Far Hills Ave. 643-0770. www.chabaddayton.com Yellow Springs Havurah Independent Services 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 10-noon. Antioch College Rockford Chapel. Contact Cheryl Levine, 937-767-9293.
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
OBITUARIES Jesse Lurie, longtime Hadassah Magazine editor, dies at 103 Jesse Lurie, the longtime executive editor of Hadassah Magazine and a peace activist, died April 10 at 103. Lurie, an Israeli American, was the magazine’s founding executive editor in 1947 and held the post for 33 years. He professionalized a publication that had been run by volunteers since its launch in 1914. Lurie also served as a correspondent for The Jerusalem Post covering the United States. He traveled extensively in the Jewish world, including Soviet Russia, writing about people he met, the political situations in those countries and how they affected the Jewish population. He was an ardent campaigner for peaceful coexistence between Jews and Arabs in Israel, and was among those who supported the founding of Neve Shalom, the cooperative village cohabitated by Jews and Arabs. As one who also supported and encouraged media diversity in Israel among Jews and Arabs, he created the EliavSartawi Award for journalism in Israel through Common Ground, an organization with which he was closely associated in his efforts to encourage conflict resolution in the country. Lurie was keen for Israel to establish more integrated schools in which Arabs and Jews study together. — JTA
Barbara B. Flagel, 78 years old, passed away on April 12 after more than seven years of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Mrs. Flagel was born in, and was a long-term resident of Dayton before moving to Naples, Fla. more than 25 years ago. Mrs. Flagel was a wonderful, devoted wife to Jerry for more than 59 years. She is also survived by her four children: Scott (Mary), Stephanie (Andrew), John (Lisa), and Debi. Also surviving are seven grandchildren: Stacey, Marc, Zack, Connor, Abery, Chase, and Davida. Mrs. Flagel is also survived by her brother Jim (Amy), and many nephews and nieces. Her parents, Constance and Morton Block, and brother Blaine predeceased her. Mrs. Flagel attended Northwestern University and was a proud graduate of The Ohio State University School of Education. She was a preschool teacher at the JCC in Dayton for many years and took great pride in following her students’ progress through college, etc. Besides teaching, she volunteered for several organizations including Jewish Family Services, Jewish Federation, Temple Shalom in Naples, and Hospice. In addition to spending time with her grandchildren, Mrs. Flagel’s active life included tennis, golf, biking, swimming, dancing, and especially long walks on the beach. Perhaps swimming aerobics at the Strand where she lived the last 16 years was her favorite. Mrs. Flagel also loved to read books and rarely missed a
day without completing the crossword puzzle. Traveling frequently throughout the world with her husband was one of her passions, but clearly her favorite was being with family. Her children and grandchildren were her “jewels.” Mrs. Flagel will be missed by both her family and friends. Donations may be made in Mrs. Flagel’s memory to the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton to benefit the JCC Early Childhood Program. Gail Steinberg Mayerson, 82, a Dayton resident for more than 40 years before moving to Boca Raton, passed away on March 15. Her husband of 60 years, Jerry Mayerson, passed away two years ago. Born in Cincinnati in 1934, Mrs. Mayerson was the youngest daughter of Fannie and Harry Steinberg. Mrs. Mayerson attended the University of Cincinnati and Ohio State before marrying her husband in 1955 and settling in Dayton. While her three sons (Mickey, Rick and Marc) were in elementary school, Mrs. Mayerson returned to college to finish her degrees in sociology and history at Wright State, where she was a member of its second graduating class, and later pursued her master’s in social work there. In the late 1960s, she began working for the state-run mental hospital, working with psychiatric
patients; a decade later she became director of public relations and community outreach at the Dayton Mental Health Center, from which she eventually retired. She was active in Hadassah and devoted to many Jewish causes. She is survived by her son Mickey, from Los Angeles, and his son, Jordan, and his daughter, Madeline and their mother, Jessica; by her son Rick, from the San Francisco area, and his two sons, Eli and Jared, and their mother, Joy; and by her son Marc, from Washington, D.C., and his three sons, Aaron, Asher, and Noah, and their mother, Anne. Mrs. Mayerson’s family includes nieces and nephews across the U.S. and in Israel. Donations in Mrs. Mayerson’s memory may be made to Hadassah or The National Parkinson’s Foundation.
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The Dayton Jewish Observer New & Renewing Voluntary Subscribers • March 8 - April 3 Renewing Angels Hy & Sylvia Blum Betty & Don Chernick Dr. & Mrs. Scot Denmark Dr. Eric Friedland Art & Joan Greenfield Dennis Kahn & Linda Ohlmann Kahn New Angels Drs. Felix & Erika Garfunkel Rabbi Joshua Ginsberg & Hazzan Jenna Greenberg Double Chai Linda Blum Steve & Bari Blumhof Rachel Booth Kevin & Karen Bressler Dale Goldberg & Mark Dlott Marni Flagel Mrs. Jack Goldberg Lynn & David Goldenberg Martin Holzinger Michael Jaffe Robert Klaben Mr. & Mrs. Paul Kulback
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JEWISH FAMILY EDUCATION
What you value Back to Basics Series Two equally accomplished young women left their abusive marriages. One took her grandmother’s recipes and her Shabbat candlesticks while the other took an assortment of
Candace R. Kwiatek empty Gucci purses. If you had only hours to pack up your life, what would you take? What would your choices say about what you value? An online search of “things you value” more often than not emphasizes values themselves. “Your values are the things that you believe are important in the way you live and work. They (should) determine
your priorities…” MindTools explains, offering a list of 100 common values including community, faith, and curiosity. Commentary in a Success magazine article on the same topic includes courage, reputation, and happiness as values. At the core of Judaism and Jewish living are myriad moral, ethical, and cultural values. Whatever your individual values, they are formed by a combination of family, religion, culture, and social environments. “Every human being lives according to their highest values,” writes motivational speaker Chaney Weiner. Yet, like most people, sometimes what you claim as a value doesn’t show up in your life. Why? “This may sound shocking,” Weiner responds, “but the answer is because it
Is your son or daughter graduating from high school this year? The Observer is happy to offer you a FREE announcement, including a photo, in our June graduation issue.To receive a form for this free announcement, contact Karen Steiger at 610-1555 or KSteiger@jfgd.net. All forms must be received by May 5.
isn’t something you value.” Knowing theoretical values like kindness, humility, and gratitude doesn’t automatically translate into determining priorities, choosing “value-able” behaviors, making decisions, or identifying what things are important to you. “Our true values are clearly shown by what we do,” South African motivational speaker Andrew Horton echoes. Take a look: Do you see the values you think you hold dear reflected in your choices and behaviors? What do the things you value say about your values? When a woman said her three babies were inside a fiercely burning house, Arizona firefighters risked their lives to search for the children. It turned out she was referring to her pet cats. The fire chief commented: “We (consider) the importance of people’s pets... but we also take into consideration the value of people’s lives, and we wouldn’t have committed firefighters (to a search had we known).” The growing popularity of the small-and-tiny house movement offers another perspective on things of value. Homeowners explain that the financial freedom and limited space encourages them to pursue experiences rather than material possessions, increasing happiness.
What counts is whether or not your values are reflected in your choices and behaviors.
Active Adults
Helix Innovation Center Tour & Dine Around Monday, May 8 @ 11AM Meet at the Emerson Building (40 W. Stewart St., 45479) Tour Emerson’s Helix Innovation Center on the University of Dayton campus. No cost. Lunch @ Butter Café (1106 Brown St., 45409) Cost on your own. RSVP by May 1 to Karen at 610-1555 or at jewishdayton.org
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Researcher Thomas Gilovich concurs, noting that unlike material possessions, “experiences connect us to one another, evolve into the stories we share, and become an ingrained part of our identity.” What we value mirrors our values. What do your behaviors say about your values? At meetings with Jewish educators and program coordinators, the topic of late R.S.V.P.s for events invariably comes up. Nothing — from bribes to no-excuse deadlines — seems to resolve the issue, despite the problems such behavior causes. It’s disconcerting that a related widespread behavior, Jewish standard time (15 minutes late to everything), appears in the Urban Dictionary. Do we no longer consider derech eretz — civility and consideration of others in action and speech — to be a key Jewish value? And what about time itself? Its value is expressed by the design of the universe, by the pattern of Shabbat, festivals, and holidays, and by Ecclesiastes’ “To every season.” Time cannot be earned, multiplied, or recovered — only spent. How does your use of time express your values? How do you choose when values collide? The Talmud offers an example. What do we do when pikuach nefesh – saving a life — might require breaking Sabbath laws? After all, Shabbat appears in the Ten Commandments. On the other hand, we regard human life, made in the image of God, as sacrosanct.
The sages of the Talmud concluded that almost any mitzvah might be suspended in order to save a life because we are to live by the law, not die by it (Lev. 18:5). Less clear-cut is the following scenario: The chemical pesticide DDT, the only effective means of killing malaria-causing mosquitoes, nearly eradicated the disease and dramatically accelerated economic progress in developing countries. However, claims of environmental dangers initiated by DDT led to a U.S. ban and global censure. According to an article in Scientific American, these decisions condemned more than 50 million people to death, most in sub-Saharan Africa, while millions more were doomed to perpetual poverty caused by disease and debilitation. Save the people or protect the environment? Both are Torah obligations. Which you choose expresses what you value. Have you looked lately? Knowledge, study, even the conviction that you hold a core set of personal values isn’t enough. What counts is whether or not your values are reflected in your choices and behaviors. If there’s a disconnect, what values are actually guiding your life? Are they just unexpected or are they disconcerting? No one is born a mensch, a person of moral integrity; it requires learning about values. It requires putting those values into practice. Most importantly, it requires constant self-reflection about one’s choices and behaviors and the values they actually reflect. Integrity isn’t just the values you affirm, but what you visibly value.
Literature to share King David and Akavish the Spider by Sylvia Rouss. This delightful picture book for preschool and elementary ages retells the midrash of a tiny spider who saves David’s life before he becomes king. Without being preachy, Sylvia Rouss (of Sammy Spider fame) highlights the values of kindness, gratitude, and the ability of everyone to make a difference. The movie-like illustrations are mesmerizing. Reclaiming Israel’s History: Roots, Rights, and the Struggle for Peace by David Brog. Hot off the press, Brog’s book tackles the myths and realities of modern Israel’s roots, events, and challenges. Unapologetically pro-Israel, Brog does not overlook Israel’s shortcomings throughout the Arab-Israeli conflict, but seeks to present them in a fair-minded, realistic, and historically accurate manner. Easy to read while thorough and thought provoking, this work is highly recommended.
Jewish Family Services
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
When a racist politician in Hungary finds out he’s Jewish By Talya Zax, Forward “It almost reads like a gag,” Sam Blair said. “Have you heard about the fascist politician who found out he was a Jew?” Blair was talking about Csanád Szegedi, a former leader of Hungary’s extremist rightwing Jobbik party. Jobbik is widely but not officially associated with antisemitism; as an example, in the run-up to the 2015 election he eventually won, Jobbik member Lajos Rig posted an article to his Facebook page that accused Jews of using Gypsies as biological weapons against Hungarians. Blair is one of the directors of Keep Quiet, a 2016 documentary about Szegedi. Dayton’s JCC Film Fest will screen Keep Quiet on May 9 at The Neon. As a member of Jobbik, Szegedi openly expressed antisemitic sentiment. He rose rapidly through Jobbik, becoming a founding member of its short-lived paramilitary wing, the Hungarian Guard, and in 2009 was one of its two representatives to the European Parliament. But in 2012, he revealed that he had learned he was Jewish. He was expelled from Jobbik, sought out Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Boruch Oberlander, and became a practicing Jew. “He’s a product of a time and a place,” Blair said, “and I think that was what I focused on, trying to look at those themes and those layers and understand how he came to be.” Up close, Szegedi looks powerful: He’s tall and broad-chested, with a meaty face and sharp, guarded hazel eyes. Meeting him and Oberlander, I was impressed by his deliberateness. We spoke through a translator, but even with that barrier, I understood why he’d made such an effective politician. No matter what I asked, he seamlessly, almost expressionlessly, pivoted back to his message: Right-wing extremism is wrong; Judaism is full, rich and rewarding, and his transformation is real. “Basically I am a normal person,” Szegedi, now 34, said. “I have a family. I have work.” When he was a teenager, Szegedi picked up Hungarian Forum, an antisemitic newspaper that spoke of a Jewish global conspiracy. That, combined with the simmering spirit of nationalism in Hungary, set him on a path toward developing “a perfectly crystallized, right-wing, nationalist worldview.” He said that for people of his age and in his country, that path was fairly normal. Szegedi’s maternal grandmother was an Auschwitz survivor. When she got out of the camp and returned to Hungary, which had been home to strong antisemitic sentiment long before the Nazi occupation, she decided to hide her background. Szegedi’s mother, at some point, learned the truth. She also kept it hidden. That was also normal. “I felt it was more important to experience the feeling of being Hungarian,” she says in the film, telling Szegedi, “I thought that you’d rather experience that, too.” Of the first screening, in Hungary, Blair told me, “there were quite a few who said, ‘We don’t really know who we are.’ There was one who said, ‘I think my grandmother was Jewish, but she died and I don’t know.’” The question of why so many Hungarian Jews feel
AJH Films
Csanád Szegedi (L), learning with Rabbi Boruch Oberlander, is the subject of the documentary, Keep Quiet
he’s a saint,’ but they should give him some benefit of the need to keep quiet or uninformed about parts of the doubt.” their personal history is one that Blair and his co-diThat Szegedi’s story has been turned into a movie rector, Joseph Martin, made central to Keep Quiet. — and especially one gaining attention on the film The documentary includes footage of Szegedi festival circuit — raises a number of questions. There speaking at the Jewish Youth Congress in Berlin, are many like the woman who confronted him at where an impassioned young Hungarian woman the Jewish Youth Congress who see Szegedi’s public accuses him of faking his transformation and helping turn to Judaism as an act, a way to regain power and create an environment of hatred in Hungary so perniattention after the political setbacks that followed the cious that she felt compelled to leave the country. revelation of his heritage. Later, he travels to Canada to meet with the Jewish The creation and distribution of this movie — community in Montréal; he’s stopped by authorities in which takes a hard look at Szegedi and his choices, the airport and compelled to return to Budapest. but treats him sympathetically — could be seen as Within Jobbik, Szegedi was seen as an effective validating that very belief. mover for the party’s future. For those the party Szegedi and Oberlander equivocated when I asked subjugated, his prominence means that many still view him as an object of not only suspicion, but also of them what they thought of that possible critique. “As to how people receive the film, as a politician I outright danger. am used to the fact that there are always people who That legacy has colored his entry into Jewish comagree with me and people who don’t agree with me,” munities, starting with Budapest’s Chabad SynaSzegedi said. gogue. “Right after the whole story started, for months, “When the news came out that Csanád is Jewish,” different media reporters approached Oberlander said, “I announced that I’m going to give a lecture on the question, Is Szegedi’s story Csanád about giving interviews,” added. “I insisted, when an antisemitic Jew Jewish? I said, listen, acknowledges Oberlander he asked my opinion, that he should the president of our community has just resigned. Do you people think that if that collective not give any interviews yet, because if expected to say something and he Csanád walks in tomorrow and would Jewish identity he’s didn’t internalize it, then it’s wrong. like to be the president of the Jewish When the idea of this film came up, I community, can we accept him? And has been said as long as it’s sincere, not saying what if we only have nine people, can he changed what it’s expected to say, then it could be number 10?” along.” Since Szegedi first made contact in radically by the go“At the end of the day,” Blair told 2012, Oberlander said, “we’ve been sitHolocaust. me, “entertainment’s a strange word ting almost every week for a two-hour for a movie like this. I really believe in lesson. In the beginning it was very documentary as a force for good, beintense discussions; it took for Csanád, I cause if nothing else it’s a mirror to look at ourselves believe, half a year until I saw his first smile.” through.” At first, Szegedi was solemn about the spiritual What matters to Blair is that as many people as relationship they cultivated. possible look in the mirror the film provides, one that “I would very much like to feel that there is a master-and-disciple relationship between us,” Szegedi challenges them to think with greater honesty about their prejudices, the unresolved complications atsaid, “but unfortunately it is only true that he is the tached to their own identities, and the ways in which master, and I should learn much more to be able to favoring the prejudices of those in power imposes call myself a disciple.” costs on those without power. He warmed up as he kept speaking. “He didn’t Szegedi’s story acknowledges that collective Jewish have prejudice towards me,” he said. “If there is such identity has been changed radically by the Holocaust, a thing that you can have a rabbi as a friend, then I and that finding a place in that wounded, confused would like to believe that Rabbi Oberlander is my world can be a gritty, messy, uncomfortable process. friend.” “Being the senior Orthodox rabbi in Budapest, senior Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi in Budapest,” OberThe JCC Film Fest presents the documentary Keep lander said, “it is my fault, quote-unquote, it was my Quiet at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9 at The Neon, 130 decision to accept Csanád into the Jewish community. E. 5th St., Dayton. Tickets are available at the door, at I hope people are going to give him at least some benjewishdayton.org, at the Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles efit of the doubt. I can’t expect everyone to say, ‘Well, Dr., Centerville, or by calling Karen Steiger at 610-1555.
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
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SPEAKERS LARRY BURICK
A recently retired partner at Thompson Hine Law Firm, Larry Burick has been a renowned local lawyer over his 44 year professional career. Nominated as Dayton’s best bankruptcy and banking lawyer, Larry brings his extensive knowledge of law to an after-film discussion of the legal and historical intricacies of bringing Adolph Eichmann to trial. PAGE 24
DON DONOHER
The most winningest coach in the history of University of Dayton basketball, Don Donoher joins us to discuss the amazing story behind On the Map. Starting in the tail end of 1964, Donoher was the UD basketball men’s head coach for 25 years. During his first full season, he led UD against Illinois star point guard, Tal Brody, who also is the hero of the On the Map documentary.
MICHELLE KORIN DAVE LONDON Michelle hails from Indianapolis, Indiana where she is their current Partnership2Gether volunteer chair. After a 2010 Federation leadership mission to Israel, she fell in love and kept going back for more. She resides in Indianapolis with her Israeli husband and three children.
AT THEATRE: Day of Event
Having returned from a recent mission trip to Hungary, local Partnership2Gether chair Dave London shares his insights on the complexities and controversies of the situation surrounding Szegedi and Hungary’s Jewish population.
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
Balcony avows a woman’s place is in the shul Review By Michael Fox Special To The Observer Set within a congregation of observant Jews in a quiet neighborhood in Jerusalem’s Old City, The Women’s Balcony begins with a Bar Mitzvah and ends with a wedding. But there’s plenty of trouble between the celebrations, triggered by a structural collapse just before the Haftorah reading that shutters the shul and threatens the foundation of the affable community. Things fall apart and, happily, fall back together stronger than ever in this skillfully constructed, crowd-pleasing saga of reasonableness fending off extremism, and humanism triumphing over ideology. Emil Ben Shimon’s spirited film, from Shlomit Nehama’s warm, wise screenplay, pays unusual homage to the autonomy and power of women in Jewish religious patriarchies. The Women’s Balcony both honors and pokes fun at traditional roles and relationships, but it is unambiguous in its critique of an adherence to scripture that overrules fundamental values of compassion and understanding. The Women’s Balcony screens May 16 and 18 with the Dayton JCC Film Fest.
Menemsha Films
With their aged spiritual leader sideit allows us to observe the lined by shock and grief — the rabbi’s lives of religious women wife was injured when the balcony gave when the men aren’t way and the rabbi remains riveted to around. her bedside — the small congregation The prevailing dynamic struggles to navigate the way forward. between husbands and The status quo is further disrupted by wives is also challenged by a haredi man who chances to walk by Rabbi David’s teachings, one morning when the men are strugof course. Zion (Igal Naor) gling to make a minyan (prayer quoand Ettie (Evelin Hagoel), rum). In a calculated twist of fate, this middle-aged and deeply in helpful fellow turns out to be a rabbi, love, are the main couple notes the congregation’s leadership we get to know in The void, and shrewdWomen’s Balcony, ly moves to fill it. It delivers witty, and the accretion Smartly, The of details depictintelligent and Women’s Balcony ing their steady, A scene from The Women’s Balcony doesn’t position solid relationship emotionally Rabbi David (Aviv individuals on an everyday level. imbues the film with texture satisfying Alush) as a total Meanwhile, the community is grateand heart. opportunist and ful for Rabbi David’s energy and plans The movie’s attention to Etentertainment. villain. Sure, his to repair and renovate the synagogue. tie and Zion (and their fellow sermons are more congregants, to a lesser degree) Every successive pronouncement and conservative than his adopted flock is act, however, excludes the women from subtly reminds us that the real problem used to hearing, and his attitude that a the decision process and pushes them to with authoritarian philosophies and women’s place is in the home is condogmatic policies is the way they impact the margins of their own shul. trary to the ethos that defines and binds Rabbi David is indifferent to the The JCC Film Fest presents The Women’s this congregation. But everyone interidea that he has planted the seeds of a Balcony at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16 at prets the Torah a little differently, don’t resistance, and he underestimates the Little Art Theatre, 247 Xenia Ave., Yellow they? women’s resolve — and their ability to Springs; and at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, Rabbi David issues instructions for strategize. May 18 at The Neon, 130 E. 5th St., dressing modestly in public, an affront The Women’s Balcony deepens as it Dayton. Tickets are available at the door, at to some of the women, while others are goes, smoothly combining a humanistic fine with the new discipline. This fissure jewishdayton.org, at the Boonshoft CJCE, worldview with a timely political under525 Versailles Dr., Centerville, or by between longtime friends adds a dracurrent. It delivers witty, intelligent and calling Karen Steiger at 610-1555. matic subplot; its strongest aspect is that emotionally satisfying entertainment.
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How my grandmother’s chutzpah helped Sugihara rescue thousands of Jews
MeMber
Recognition Shabbat
Friday, May 19 at 6:30pM
L ’dor Vador....
With strength and selfless participation of our congregants, Temple Israel has endured and thrives. We invite all families who have been members for 36 years or more to join us for a special blessing on the bimah. All are invited to attend and celebrate.
Temple Israel • www.tidayton.org • 937.496.0050 130 Riverside Drive, Dayton, OH 45405
A Reform Synagogue open to all who are interested in Judaism. Childcare provided during Friday services and Sunday school. PAGE 26
My grandmother again wrote de By Alyza D. Lewin, JTA Decker, asking if he could note the The story of Chiune Sugihara — the Curaçao or Surinam exception in her Japanese consul in Kovno, Lithuania, who disobeyed his government’s orders still-valid Polish passport. She asked the envoy to omit the additional note that in 1940 and issued transit visas through permission of the governor of Curaçao Japan to thousands of Jews seeking to was required, pointing out that she flee war-torn Europe — wasn’t widely didn’t plan to go to Curaçao or Surinam. known until 1985, when Yad Vashem, “Send me your passport,”de Decker Israel’s Holocaust memorial authority, replied. So she did. honored him as one of the Righteous On July 11, 1940, de Decker wrote in Among the Nations. her passport in French, “The ConsulBut I grew up hearing Sugihara’s ate of the Netherlands, Riga, hereby story. He saved my father’s life. declares that for the admission into SuI also have a family connection to rinam, Curaçao, and other possessions the answer to a long unsolved mystery of the Netherlands in the Americas, no surrounding Sugihara’s rescue of an entry visa is required.” estimated 6,000 Jews. My grandmother showed ZwartWhy did the Dutch endijk what the Dutch ambassador consul in Kovno, Jan wrote in her passport and asked him Zwartendijk, begin isto copy it onto my grandparents’ suing “Curaçao visas” temporary travel documents issued — the Dutch endorseby the Latvian government (the ments that appeared existence of Poland was officially to permit travel to the nullified by the Nazi invasion). On island of Curaçao, July 22, 1940, Zwartendijk agreed, Holland’s territory off and wrote de Decker’s notation on South America — upon Toshiaki Karasawa as my grandparents’ travel papers. which Sugihara relied Chiune Sugihara in Relying on Zwartendijk’s notawhen issuing visas? Persona Non Grata tion, Sugihara agreed to give my Why did Zwartendijk grandparents (and my grandmother’s begin writing in Jewish passports that a visa wasn’t needed to travel to Curaçao? mother and brother, who were still Dutch citizens) transit visas through JaThe answer is my late grandmother, pan on their purported trip to Curaçao. Peppy Sternheim Lewin, who received On July 29, 1940, hundreds of Jews the first Curaçao visa. She was a Dutch who had escaped to Vilna — and had citizen, raised and educated in Amsterlearned of my grandmother’s successful dam. After she married my grandfather, effort — crowded outside the Japanese Dr. Isaac Lewin, she moved to his home consulate in Kovno hoping Sugihara country, Poland. would issue them a visa. He worked When the Nazis invaded Poland in around the clock for a month, issuing September 1939, my grandmother’s 2,139 visas, including to whole families. parents and her brother were visiting These enabled the refugees to take the her in Lodz, my father’s birthplace. My great-grandfather promptly flew back to Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok, and then travel by boat Amsterdam to take care of his business. from Russia to Japan, supposedly en He later perished at Auschwitz. route to Curaçao. My grandmother’s mother and her Sugihara’s story is told in the feature brother were smuggled with my grandfilm Persona Non Grata, now making the parents and my father, then 3 years old, rounds at Jewish film festivals across the over the border into Lithuania. country, including Dayton’s. There, my grandmother sought help There are perhaps 100,000 descenfrom Dutch diplomats because her mother and brother were Dutch citizens, dants of Sugihara survivors alive today. It’s humbling to think that my grandand because she had been a Dutch citimother’s initiative and perseverance zen before marrying my grandfather. opened this route to safety for so many. She initially asked Zwartendijk in Kovno, if he could issue her a visa to the Alyza D. Lewin is a partner at the Dutch East Indies, which included Java Washington, D.C., firm of Lewin & Lewin, and Sumatra. He refused. So she wrote LLP, where she practices law together with to the Dutch ambassador in Riga, L.P.J. her father, Nathan Lewin. de Decker, who also turned down her request. My grandmother wrote to de Decker The JCC Film Fest presents Persona Non again and asked if he could help her Grata at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, May 15 at family because it included Dutch citiThe Neon, 130 E. 5th St., Dayton. A prezens. The ambassador replied that the screening reception will be held at 6 p.m. Dutch West Indies, including Curaçao at K12 & Tejas Gallery, 341 S. Jefferson and Surinam, were available destinaSt., Dayton. Tickets are available at the tions where no visa was needed. The door, at jewishdayton.org, at the Boonshoft governor of Curaçao could authorize CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville, or entry to anyone arriving there. by calling Karen Steiger at 610-1555. THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
Fritz Bauer depicts German prosecutor’s role in Eichmann arrest into gear, until Bauer receives a letter Review By Michael Fox from a Buenos Aires man convinced Special To The Observer that his daughter is dating Eichmann’s Fritz Bauer is hardly your protoson. The prosecutor doesn’t tarry for typical action hero. As portrayed by a moment, though his toughest call is Burghart Klaussner in the minor-key deciding whom to trust. historical thriller The Martin Valentin Menke/Cohen Media Group He settles on a junior People vs. Fritz Bauer, prosecutor who has his the late-middle-aged own secret. lawyer resembles DaBauer wants more vid Ben-Gurion withthan anything to put out the charisma. Eichmann on trial in Like Ben-Gurion, Germany and compel though, he is a force to him to name countless be reckoned with. The other Nazis. He believes rare Jew in a position Germans are ready of power in late-1950s to confront both the Germany, the FrankHolocaust itself and the furt prosecutor general degree to which former is flinty, unyielding, Nazis have penetrated suspicious and fiercely the new Federal Reprivate. public of Germany’s All those charactercorridors of power and istics prove essential in Burghart Klaussner in The People integrated into mainseeking high-ranking vs. Fritz Bauer stream society. Nazis, such as Josef One of the key points of the film is Mengele and Adolf Eichmann, who that Germans were not eager to publicly evaded arrest and trial after World revisit the Third Reich’s “accomplishWar II and vanished behind aliases in ments” — and probably never would faraway lands. have been without brave, unpopular As the film’s title indicates, the individuals pushing their faces in it. German people are uniformly arrayed This is a good time to mention the feaagainst Bauer’s efforts. From the mole ture drama Labyrinth of Lies, Germany’s in his office who reports his tactics and submission for 2015’s Foreign Language Oscar, which depicted the gutsy invesprogress to German tigations by Bauer and a few trusted intelligence officers associates that led to the Frankfurt Aus(themselves exchwitz trials of 1963-65 that punctured Nazis), to the anonyGermany’s conspiracy of silence. mous cowards who Think of The People Vs. Fritz Bauer as slide death threats a prequel, albeit with less entertainment under his apartment value and more interest in geopolitics. door, to the silent Bauer’s idea for an Eichmann trial majority who simply want to bury and is rebuffed by the governor (a trusted, forget Germany’s recent past, almost longtime friend) on the grounds that nobody wants Bauer to succeed. it would jeopardize the government of This material is seemingly perfect for Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, whose a gripping, thinking person’s thriller secretary of state was a former Nazi, and in the vein of All The President’s Men or reparations and arms deals in the works The Lives of Others. But there are no car chases, no fistfights, no shadowy figures between Israel and West Germany. Bauer passes the Buenos Aires letter on nocturnal side streets. and other information to the Mossad, In fact, director Lars Kraume resists and with characteristic bluntness pushes almost every opportunity to heighten the Israelis to arrest Eichmann. Legally, the suspense, perhaps respecting Fritz Bauer is committing treason, and would Bauer’s character and legacy too much be in deep trouble if his enemies find to make him an action hero. out. The People Vs. Fritz Bauer screens They don’t, and his contributions to with Dayton’s JCC Film Fest on May Eichmann’s capture weren’t publicly 16. It won several major German Film known until a decade after his death in Awards, including best picture, direc1968. tor, screenplay and supporting actor The film makes much of the fact that (Ronald Zehrfeld). Bauer and his junior associate, Karl AnThe movie takes a while to kick germann (Zehrfeld, from Phoenix), were The JCC Film Fest in partnership with both gay. Given the ruthlessness of their Hadassah present The People vs. Fritz covert enemies, they were risking their Bauer at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16 at freedom along with their reputations. The Neon, 130 E. 5th St., Dayton (coffee Yet Bauer and Angermann refused at 9:30 a.m). Tickets are available at the to give torturers and murderers a pass, door, at jewishdayton.org, at the Boonshoft regardless of the price they themselves CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville, or paid. Now those are real action heroes. by calling Karen Steiger at 610-1555.
todah rabbah! Temple Beth Or thanks and honors the women and men who teach our young people. Join us for a Teacher Appreciation Dinner and Erev Shabbat, Friday May 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Rabbi Ari Ballaban Scott Beckerman Ehud Borovoy Leslie Buerki Deb Char Rabbi Judy Chessin H.R. Downey Lisa Marie Ewing Heath Gilbert Grant Halasz Teri Halasz
Scott Hochstein Barb Mendoza Annette Nathan Renee Peery Jessica Simpson Jonah Simpson Esther Weiss Jay Weiss Rachael Weiss-Dillon Sarah Wolf-Knight Mary Wyke
Teach a child according to his way; even when he grows old he will not stray from it. Proverbs 22
Temple Beth Or 5275 Marshall Road Kettering, Ohio www.templebethor.com 937-435-3400
Today...and for Generations
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017
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ing e r r te ingth ea s i g terfor thel y ar e r gists r oo ye w een s sfoch ol o r N w ud nt8 ho Nostud7e-18 sc s2t017-1 1 20
Picture your child at Hillel Picture your child at Hillel Nurturing confident Nurturing confident and successful learners and successful learners • Exemplary secular and Judaic education
• • • • • • •
Exemplary secular and Judaicresidency education Art and science professional programs Art and sciencelearning professional residency programs Project-based and critical thinking Project-based learning and critical thinking Students become “life-long learners”. This has a positive impact in all of Students become “life-long learners”. This has a positive impact in all of their future academic and personal endeavors future academic and personal endeavors • their Hebrew language immersion via Tal-Am Hebrew Curriculum • Hebrew language immersion via Tal-Am Hebrew Curriculum Nurturing confident and successful learners www.daytonhillel.org Nurturing confident and successful learners 937.277.8966 • dkmecoli@daytonhillel.org www.daytonhillel.org 937.277.8966 • dkmecoli@daytonhillel.org