Cleveland Jewish News, Nov. 2, 2018

from the Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood pay their respects as the funeral procession for Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz passes their school Oct. 30. | AP photo / Gene J. Puskar

Remembering with Honor: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax, Irving Younger

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STRONGER THAN HATE

Our responsibility at a time of crisis

The distance between Jewish communities is difficult to measure. It is equivalent to the gap between siblings, between best friends, between one Jew and another.

The attack at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh hits at the core of the Jewish community worldwide. Such rampant anti-Semitism rips at the fabric of America. Yet hate cannot tear us asunder.

In times such as the attack in Squirrel Hill, the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company has a particularly important job. As the major media outlet serving Ohio’s two largest Jewish

communities, it is our role – our solemn duty – to provide information quickly and accurately, to report with context and sensitivity.

We seek to communicate the news reliably and convey how it affects our community on a number of levels. In the hours and days since this attack, we have:

• Reported the breaking news, based on national and regional sources, as well as local sources of our own.

• Covered the numerous local connections that are directly and indirectly impacted.

• Offered an outlet and a conduit for people to express themselves as a caring community.

• Helped our communities examine how events such as this impact American Jews.

After news broke of the attack on Tree of Life, the CJPC staff launched into action. Our policy is to avoid sending out news bulletins or updating our website on Shabbat unless extraordinary circumstances warrant it.

Blame the Jews again?

Enough is enough

REGINA BRETT

columnists@cjn.org

| @ReginaBrett

The shooting has been called the deadliest attack on Jews in the history of the United States.

The total body count at Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh: 11 dead; six wounded.

The first words that President Donald Trump said were, “If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better. If they had some kind of protection within the temple, it could have been a much better situation. They didn’t.”

Whoa. Do not blame the Jews for someone gunning them down, especially when four armed police officers were shot during the attack.

I’m tired of people blaming the Jews.

Tired of people blaming the Jews all through history.

Tired of people blaming the Jews for killing Jesus.

Tired of people blaming the Jews for the economy in nearly every nation on earth.

Tired of people blaming the Jews for not resisting more during the Holocaust when 6 million of them were murdered.

Tired of people blaming the Jews for the ir own personal bad day or bad life or bad luck.

Enough.

The attack in Pittsburgh wasn’t just a nut with an arsenal of guns. It was a nut with an arsenal of hate and guns aimed at Jews. Not just anyone. Jews.

Someone needs to say it loud and bluntly, so I will.

This wasn’t a random school shooting. This wasn’t a random shooting at a concert or a bar or a shopping mall. This was a targeted, pre-meditated attack on Jews at a synagogue on Shabbat.

The shooter posted anti-Semitic statements on social media, angry that a nonprofit Jewish organization was helping refugees settle in the United States. His last post read: “I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.”

When he went in the synagogue, he

In this case, it was a moot point that the attack occurred in another city and another state. This was a terror attack against Jews praying in shul. This was an attack on America’s most fundamental freedoms. The path forward was disturbingly clear. We sent bulletins to our readers Cleveland and Columbus, providing links to breaking news coverage and live video streams from the crime scene, which included as many verifiable details as we had available.

Several departments of the CJPC became involved, offering suggestions on how to cover the numerous impacts on our communities. We contacted federation and foundation leadership, rabbis and other local leaders.

We sent an updated news bulletin later Saturday as agonizing word of this attack spread across Ohio. We deployed reporters in Cleveland and Columbus and sent contributor Jane Kaufman to Squirrel Hill.

We wanted to provide our communities as complete a report

as possible. So, in addition to news coverage, Regina Brett wrote a column, expressing her anger and anguish at the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. As hours turned into days, we captured images of a community in shock and mourning. Residents in Pittsburgh and across Ohio gathered to find comfort in one another. We talked with clergy and lay leaders, Jew and non-Jew, all Americans in sorrow. We watched and reported as anger and determination led to statements and protests against anti-Semitism and other forms of hate. Overnight following the attack, the #StrongerThanHate hashtag took hold.

Tragically, through our reporting, social media and numerous local sources, we identified numerous Ohio residents directly impacted. Some in our community lost relatives. We are telling their stories to the best of our ability. As the voice of Northeast and Central Ohio’s Jewish communities, we’ve

Adelstein

HATE

SOME VICTIMS HAVE NORTHEAST OHIO CONNECTIONS

Akron women remember Mallinger as devoted mother, Jew

ALYSSA SCHMITT | STAFF REPORTER aschmitt@cjn.org |

@AlyssaSchmitCJN

Gail Schlossberg of Akron remembers Rose Mallinger as a loving and giving mother, mother-inlaw, grandmother and great-grandmother who adored her family and regularly attended services with her daughter at Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh.

Mallinger, 97, was among the 11 who died when a gunman opened fire in the synagogue Oct. 27. Her daughter was injured in the shooting.

Schlossberg, a cousin of Mallinger’s by marriage, declined to give the name of the daughter.

Despite Mallinger’s age, Schlossberg said she stayed active, getting her hair done every week, and was devoted to her Jewish faith.

“Jewish life was her life,” Schlossberg said. “The synagogue was a very important part of her life as well as family.”

Another cousin, Marilyn Lapides of Akron, said Mallinger was like a “little ball of energy.”

“At 97, she could carry on a conversation about all kinds of stuff, that’s who she was,” Lapides said. “She was a cheerful, friendly, warm and very energetic.”

Schlossberg last saw Mallinger in the spring when Schlossberg and Lapides traveled to Pittsburgh for a basketball game. They stayed with their cousin, Lauren Mallinger, who lived next door to Rose Mallinger. Family was always going back and forth from both of the houses, said Lapides, through what they referred to as “the booth,” which was a sectioned off area between the front doors.

During that visit, the family shared a Shabbat dinner. Lapides remembers talking and laughing and

complimenting Rose Mallinger’s sweater, which Mallinger found funny since it was an old sweater and she received compliments on it often.

“We had a wonderful time talking about family, her grandchildren, (she was) just happy to see us,” Schlossberg said. “We were so honored to be there.”

Schlossberg and Lapides, along with other Akron cousins, including Cathy Baer, plan to rent a van to travel to the Nov. 2 funeral in Pittsburgh.

Baer has been aware of other mass shootings but was shocked when a family member was one of the victims.

“There’s been so many mass shootings,” she said, listing other recent shootings. “And then all of a sudden, it’s a family member, it’s somebody you know. It hits home.”

Lapides echoes Baer’s comment, adding an event like this “should be impossible.”

Shear family recalls memories of Rosenthal brothers

ED CARROLL | STAFF REPORTER ecarroll@cjn.org | @EdCarrollCJN

The tragedy in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27 hit hard for Solon resident Howard Shear, son of Helen and Leon Shear of Beachwood. He was related to two of the victims, Cecil Rosenthal and David Rosenthal.

Their father is Helen Shear’s second cousin, and Howard Shear said his parents are close to Eli and Joy Rosenthal,

the parents of Cecil and David.

“As a young kid, we knew each other well,” Howard Shear told the Cleveland Jewish News via text message from Israel. “Cecil used to call me ‘Cousin Howard.’ He would go up to my mother (and) give her a huge hug and always ask about my sisters. The parents have been to all (of) our simchas. My mother grew up with Eli (Rosenthal).”

Howard Shear said he hadn’t seen the brothers in more than 20 years, but his mother especially was “heartbroken.”

He cited a quote by his father Leon, a Holocaust survivor: “Evil things can happen. Innocents can be destroyed. We need to learn from these atrocities. Don’t hate – hate kills.”

Howard Shear said he works hard to live by his father’s words.

“Unfortunately, it happens, we post it on Facebook and it fades away,” he said. “We need to constantly remember Pittsburgh, Charlottesville, (Va.), and (Parkland), Fla.”

CJN photo / Alyssa Schmitt

A look at the victims

JOYCE FIENBERG, 75

Joyce Fienberg was a native of Toronto and lived in several American cities before settling in Pittsburgh, where her husband, Stephen, was professor emeritus at Carnegie Mellon University before his death in December 2016, Toronto City News reported.

She retired in 2008 as a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh’s Learning Research and Development Center, which looks at learning in the classroom and in museums. Her daughter-in-law, Marney Fienberg, is co-president of Hadassah North Virginia.

RICHARD GOTTFRIED, 65

A popular local dentist, Richard Gottfried was active in New Light Congregation. The Tribune-Review reported that Gottfried and his wife, Margaret Durachko, volunteered with the Catholic Charities Free Dental Clinic. The couple had recently celebrated their 38th anniversary and were planning to retire soon, according to The Washington Post.

Gottfried’s nephew honored his uncle in a tweet.

“Today I lost an important person in my life,” Jacob Gottfried wrote. “My uncle was murdered doing what he loved, praying to G-D. I don’t want to live in a world where I must fear to live as a Jew. I thank everyone in BBYO for being so supportive and I hope this never happens again! #PittsburghStrong.”

ROSE MALLINGER, 97

Though many news reports circulated that Rose Mallinger was a Holocaust survivor, a family friend tweeted that she was not. Mallinger’s great-niece told her friend that her aunt was “the most caring gentle loving woman.” The retired school secretary had children and three grandchildren. Her daughter, Andrea Wedner, 61, was among those wounded in the attack and is expected to recover, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

“She was a synagogue-goer, and not everybody is,” former Tree of Life Rabbi Chuck Diamond, told The Washington Post about Mallinger. “She’s gone to the synagogue for a lifetime, no matter how many people are there. I feel a part of me died in that building.”

JERRY RABINOWITZ, 66

Jerry Rabinowitz was a physician and was involved in the Reconstructionist congregation, Dor Hadash, that met in the building, at one time serving as its president.

“Jerry was one of the backbones of the congregation,” Laura Horowitz, a congregant, who wept when she read his name, told JTA. “He blows – he blew – the shofar on Yom Kippur.”

A former patient recalled that in the early days of the AIDS crisis, Rabinowitz was among a handful of doctors treating patients with dignity and respect.

“Basically, before there was effective treatment for fighting HIV itself, he was known in the community for keeping us alive the longest,” Michael Kerr recalled on Facebook. “He often held our hands (without rubber gloves) and always, always hugged us as we left his office.”

DAVID ROSENTHAL, 54, AND CECIL ROSENTHAL, 59

The two brothers were very involved in the local Jewish community.

“Neither man had one ounce of hate in their hearts,” read a tweet by a synagogue member. “I grieve for these men. They will be missed.”

The brothers lived in a community home run by ACHIEVA, which provides

residential and employment services for adults with intellectual disabilities. They often were the first faces that congregants saw as they arrived for services.

“They loved life. They loved their community,” said Chris Schopf, vice president of Residential Supports at ACHIEVA. “They spent a lot of time at the Tree of Life, never missing a Saturday. If they were here, they would tell you that is where they were supposed to be.”

BERNICE, 84, AND SYLVAN SIMON, 86

The Simons were married at the Tree of Life Congregation in 1956 in a candlelight ceremony, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

“They held hands and they always smiled and he would open the door for her, all those things that you want from another person,” neighbor Heather Graham told the newspaper. “They were really generous and nice to everybody. It’s just horrific.” Sylvan Simon was a retired accountant. Bernice Simon was a nurse.

DANIEL STEIN, 71

Daniel Stein once served as president of New Light Congregation, one of the three congregations that were housed in the synagogue building, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported. He recently became a grandfather for the first time, according to local reports. In a post on Facebook, his son Joel posted a photo of Stein and his grandson. “My dad was a simple man and did not require much. In the picture below he was having a great day doing the two things he loved very much. He had just finished coming from synagogue, which he loved, amd then got to play with his grandson, which he loved even more!”

“He was always willing to help anybody,” said his nephew, Steven Halle. “He was somebody that everybody liked, very dry sense of humor and recently had a grandson who loved him.”

His wife, Sharyn, is the vice chair of membership of the local chapter of Hadassah.

MELVIN WAX, 88

Melvin Wax, a retired accountant and a grandfather, was described by fellow congregants as a “pillar” of the congregation, The Associated Press reported. He was a leader of Dor Chadash, or New Light Congregation, which moved into the Tree of Life building a year ago after his congregation, made up mostly older members, could no longer afford its own synagogue building. He reportedly was leading his congregation’s services at the time of the attack.

Myron Snider, chairman of the congregation’s cemetery committee, described his friend as generous and kind. Snider said he and Wax shared mostly clean jokes at the end of each service.

Dennis Fishman, whose parents were friends with Wax, described him as empathetic and attentive.

“He was a quiet man, not very assertive but always there, often smiling,” Fishman said. “He had a real light-up-the-room kind of smile, with an eye that let you know he was paying attention to what made you happy and made you sad.”

IRVING YOUNGER, 69

Irving Younger was a father and grandfather who had recently undergone surgery, his neighbor told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“He was a really nice guy,” Jonathan Voye told the newspaper. The Tribune-Review reported that Younger once owned a small business and was a youth baseball coach.

Among the injured, Daniel Leger, 70, a retired nurse and local hospital chaplain, suffered critical injuries in his chest, his brother, Paul, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Leger had two surgeries on Oct. 27, according to reports. Leger, who has a wife and two sons, was scheduled to lead a service Shabbat morning at the Tree of Life Congregation.

shouted, “All Jews must die!” then made sure they did. He later told the FBI, “I just want to kill Jews.”

Who is to blame? He is.

But those who allow anti-Semitism to go unchecked loaded his guns.

Those who tell anti-Semitic jokes, who don’t speak up against them, who post or share anti-Semitic words or images on Facebook, Gab or Twitter or see them and don’t speak up, those who excuse politicians and look past their hate speech to vote for them, you feed the fuel of hate.

We have a U.S. president who is known for promoting violence as a solution. During his campaign, when security guards removed a protester, he said, “I’d like to punch him in the face.”

He also said: “Any guy who can do a body slam, he is my type. … If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously, OK? Just knock the hell … I promise you I will pay for the legal fees … Part of the problem is no one wants to hurt each other anymore.”

Sadly, I’m not making these up.

When 100 white nationalists and neo-Nazis marched with torches on the campus of the University of Virginia in

RESPONSIBILITY | 3

STRONGER THAN HATE

Charlottesville, Va., last year, they gave Nazi salutes and shouted, “Sieg heil!” The president’s response?

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides.”

No, no, no, no, no. There is only one side.

We can never take the side of hate. Hate does not get a place at the table.

“You had some very bad people in that group, but you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides,” Trump said.

Fine people don’t chant “Sieg heil” and give Nazi salutes.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic incidents were up more than 50 percent in 2017. Trump became president in 2017, a president whose first response to the massacre of Jews in Pittsburgh was to blame them for not having an armed guard.

Trump has done far too much to normalize hate speech. Unchecked, hate speech leads to hate crimes. We cannot allow ourselves to become a nation of bigots, racists and anti-Semites.

Politicians are already sending their thoughts and prayers to Pittsburgh, but

collaborated with other media outlets who have sought our input and support, to help them tell their stories to their readers and viewers.

Because it is important for communities of all colors and beliefs to come together in the face of terrorism, we asked clergy from a variety of faiths to write to us with their thoughts and prayers to be shared with our readers.

This week, in our print edition as well as online, you will find a package of stories and images that reflects our efforts to be true to our community.

At times of tragedy, media outlets shift into overdrive. They set aside their communal grief and do their jobs, realizing how critical it is to be a reliable source of information for a community under attack.

We are proud to serve such an important role for the Jewish communities of Northeast and Central Ohio.

We welcome your thoughts on our coverage of this terrible event. You can view all of our coverage at columbusjewishnews.com/ strongerthanhate. Feel free to click the “submit a message of solidarity” button to share your thoughts or messages on this tragic event.

As the Rev. Otis Moss Jr. said at a recent Cleveland vigil, “Words matter.”

We hope the words we have offered this week have helped you through these past few days and will be helpful in the days to come.

we voted for them to do more than think and pray. We voted for them to act.

It’s time for us to act, too.

Take your thoughts and prayers to the ballot box. Do your research first. Who promotes hate? Who promotes violence? Who spews anti-Semitism? Who allows racism to continue by preventing black people and Native Americans from voting? By not calling out neo-Nazis and white supremacists?

On Election Day, cast your vote for those who will never vote again, for Rose Mallinger, brothers Cecil and David Rosenthal; Bernice and her husband Sylvan Simon, Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Jerry Rabinowitz, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger.

Cast a vote for integrity, compassion, decency.

Stand up to the National Rife Association. Take a risk for these 11 who died. Get AR-15s off the market for good. No one needs to own an assault weapon or an entire arsenal of weapons.

Make America no place for hate, starting with the oval office and working your way down through the Senate, House, all the way down to the lowliest township trustee.

Trump almost got it right when he

About our coverage

finally said, “This evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us. It’s an assault on humanity. It will require all of us working together to extract the hateful poison of anti-Semitism from the world,”

I hope by all of us, he means himself, too.

But let’s not forget that, first and foremost, this was an attack on Jews, Jews who died on Shabbat, a holy day of rest.

May they rest in peace, but not us. We can’t rest. Not now.

Not on your life.

And not on anyone else’s.

Read Regina Brett online at cjn. org/regina. Connect with her on Facebook at ReginaBrettFans. 2018 Best Columnist, AJPA Louis Rapoport Award for Excellence in Commentary.

DISCLAIMER

Letters, commentaries and opinions appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff.

Staff Reporter Jane Kaufman reporting from Pittsburgh, Staff Reporters Ed Carroll, Becky Raspe and Alyssa Schmitt, Violet Spevack Editorial Intern Sean McDonnell, Yoda Newton Editorial Intern David Gostomelsky, Columbus Bureau Chief Amanda Koehn, Managing Editor Bob Jacob, Publisher and CEO Kevin S. Adelstein and Digital Content Producer Abbie Murphy reporting from Cleveland and Tami Kamin Meyer reporting from Columbus contributed to coverage of the tragedy at Tree of Life Congregation.

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Jewish Cleveland shows support for Squirrel Hill

JANE KAUFMAN | STAFF REPORTER jkaufman@cjn.org | @jkaufmancjn

PITTSBURGH – In a demonstration of love, solidarity and compassion, throngs of people from near and far gathered Oct. 28 to mourn the loss of 11 Jews who were killed by a gunman during Shabbat services Oct. 27 at the Tree of Life Congregation.

Among them were Jewish Clevelanders offering support and seeking solace from the event, which they said felt quite close to home. Many from Northeast Ohio have close connections to Pittsburgh. Others felt the loss as neighbors and fellow Jews.

The vigil was held at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, which holds 2,500. The standing-roomonly crowd filled the doorways, lined walls, and spilled out into the lobby and onto the front steps of the building, which is about 2 miles from Tree of Life.

The rabbis whose congregations meet in the building spoke of the hope they have for their congregations, even while mourning the brutal losses.

Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, who leads New Light Congregation, spoke of his chaimish congregation and of his decision to move to the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, which he considered to be a safe and welcoming community.

Rabbi Jeff Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation spoke of wrestling with the psalms.

NORTHEAST OHIO CONNECTION

Clevelanders attending the vigil included rabbis Stephen Weiss, Hal Rudin-Luria and Josh Foster from B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike. Rudin-Luria called Cleveland and Pittsburgh neighbors.

“I was extremely moved by the community outpouring of love and unity,” he said. “And in the face of incredible tragedy that they didn’t lean on us that they lifted each other up.”

His wife, Erika Rudin-Luria, who on Jan. 1 will become the next president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, said she spent part of her day at the vigil and the other part going over security details for a vigil Oct. 29 in Cleveland.

“We are very lucky where we live,” she said. “We have incredible partners in the municipalities and the police departments.”

She also said the way Pittsburgh has pulled together is “inspiring.”

“I thought they sent a very strong message,” she said. “I thought the clergy was exceptionally moving.”

Weiss confirmed that there is a member of B’nai Jeshurun whose relative died in the shootings. He declined to name the member, citing a privacy request from the family.

“We have lots of members who have family in Pittsburgh,” he said, adding there are multiple connections, including United Synagogue Youth.”

Kari Semel is a social work graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh.

“I’m doing all right,” she said. “I’ve been with a lot of people who were born and raised in Squirrel Hill. I feel kind of like an outsider.”

Semel’s parents, Jessica and Alan Semel, members of Cleveland’s Jewish community, also attended the vigil in part to support her. Alan Semel is immediate past president of the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood.

“I’ve got a lot of friends here in Pittsburgh – very, very dear friends that are like family,” said Pepper Pike resident Gil Rubanenko, vice president of operations at the Mandel JCC. “When terrible things happen to Jewish people, we come out to support one another.”

Lindsay Migdal, who is from Akron, is the regional director of BBYO in Pittsburgh and attended the event with a BBYO group. She met with the teens prior to the event to make sure all 117 teens she sees were safe, she said.

“A lot of them live near the synagogue,” she said. “We’re looking to do a teen-led Havdalah next week.”

She said the teens were also looking for ways to be useful and had already made cookies for the first responders at Pittsburgh police station Zone 4, about four blocks from Tree of Life.

Drew Barkley, who grew up in Shaker Heights and is the executive director of Temple Sinai in Pittsburgh, said religious school seemed to go well Oct. 28.

“We hired two armed security guards, and fortunately, they had nothing to do,” he said.

He said the atmosphere was peaceful at the religious school.

“My dad was born and raised in Pittsburgh,” said Jeremy Pappas, regional director of Anti-Defamation League in Cleveland. “Not only did I have the professional reason (to attend), but this hit close to home as well.

“It’s hard to fathom the largest attack on the Jewish people in the history of our country.”

‘THEY WERE PILLARS’

Perlman described the three men lost from his congregation as pillars.

“They remind me of the character that is described in this week’s Torah portion,” he said, referring to Rebekah’s kindness to Eliezar. “Rebekah was the first volunteer in history.”

He said the three congregants worked with “the poor, the hungry and the needy.” His voice broke with emotion.

“These three men, they cannot be replaced. But we will not be broken. We will not be broken by this event.”

Rabbi Cheryl Klein of Dor Hadash Congregation spoke of the warmth of her congregation and promised it would continue to thrive, to worship and to sing, even in light of the tragedy. She spoke of the kindness of Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz.

“Usually, at times like this, I turn to Psalms,” said Myers, whose Tree of Life Congregation lost seven members.

He said he started services at 9:45 a.m. on Oct. 27. There were 12 people in the sanctuary. The shooting started a few minutes later. Seven were shot dead. One was wounded.

“I thought of the 23rd Psalm,” he said. “‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.’ Well God, I want. What I want, you can’t give me. You can’t return these 11 beautiful souls. You can’t rewind the clock. So, how do I rectify my dilemma with this psalm? What I want you can’t give me, but it says I shall not want. If you turn later in the psalm, you read you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.

“My texts, my emails, my Facebook overflow with love, from strangers, people I’ve never met, people who are not from the United States but from all

Rabbi Jonathan Perlman describes three congregants his synagogue lost during the Oct. 27 shooting as “pillars of his community” during an Oct. 28 vigil at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in Pittsburgh. | CJN photos / Jane Kaufman

A shrine near the Tree of Life Congregation became a point of reflection and grief for many.

around the world – Jewish, Christian, Muslim. All the same message: We are here for you. My cup overflows with love. That’s how you defeat hate.

“You, in this community, have shown that to me,” he said. “I’m an immigrant. I’m from New York.”

‘WORDS OF HATE UNWELCOME’

“It starts with speech,” Myers continued. “Words of hate are unwelcome in Pittsburgh.

“I want to address some of our leaders who are here,” he said. “Ladies and gentlemen, it has to start with you.”

He went further, saying he was talking to everyone in the room.

“My mother once told me, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it.”

He closed his remarks by chanting El Malei Rachamim, the memorial prayer for all the dead, inviting the audience to stand.

Naftali Bennett, Israel’s minister of Diaspora Affairs, flew in from Israel to be at the vigil. He also visited the Tree of Life Congregation.

“I did not see death. I saw life. I did not see darkness. I saw light,” he said. “I saw a warm, diverse community of love and unity. I saw Etz Chaim, the tree of life, which will never be uprooted by hate. Together we stand, Americans, Israelis, people who are together saying no to hatred.

“A murder’s bullet does not stop to ask, are you Conservative? Reform? Are you Orthodox? Are you right-wing? Left-wing?

“Yes, I come from Israel, on behalf of the state of Israel, on behalf of the government of Israel and on behalf of the people of Israel. I come to offer comfort, but what words of comfort can I give?”

He read the names of each of the deceased: Joyce Fienberg, Rich Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil and David Rosenthal, Bernice and Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax, Irving Younger.

“Eleven souls, 11 innocent lives brutally cut short, he said.”

“During the 80 years since Kristallnacht, when the

Jews of Europe perished in the flames of their houses of worship, one thing is clear: anti-Semitism, Jew hatred, is not a distant memory,” Bennett continued. “It is not a thing of the past, nor a chapter in history books. It is a very real threat. Anti-Semitism is a clear and present danger.”

He vowed to fight anti-Semitism, “and we will prevail.”

“Unity will defeat division. Love will defeat hatred. Light will defeat darkness,” he said.

He ended with the prayer for peace in Hebrew and the words, “Am Yisrael Chai.”

“I feel your pain today,” Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said in a videotaped address. “At this time, we cannot offer you consolation. ... We are with you. This was an act of anti-Semitism. We must not and will not ignore or tolerate anti-Semitism.”

Wasi Mohamed, executive director of the Muslim Center of Pittsburgh, spoke of the many contributions of the Jewish community in Pittsburgh. He said he immediately took up a collection for funerals upon learning of the shootings and had raised $70,000 overnight.

“We just want to know what you need,” he said, promising to do whatever asked, whether it’s preparing food, going grocery shopping or raising money.

The Rev. John Welch, who is a police chaplain, addressed the group as well. He mentioned the name of another member of the clergy who also serves as a chaplain: Rabbi Alvin Berkun, Tree of Life’s Rabbi Emeritus.

“I also stand here as a member of the AfricanAmerican community, a community that has a common global history with our Jewish brothers and sisters, whether it be slavery or the Holocaust” Welch said.

“Our common experience in this country and in this city, both of us (have been) subjects of the same marginalization, yet together we are advocates of civil rights and social justice. And while the pain of our histories are similar, and while tragedy does seem to bring us together, it will only be the mutual love and respect we have one for another that will sustain our relationship.”

Welch remarks drew applause. He also paid tribute to the officers who ran toward gunfire.

“Yesterday, four of our officers were wounded while

displaying the incomparable courage that only our first responders and our armed service members can display,” he said. “Unfortunately, we also lost 11 friends and family members at Tree of Life Synagogue. But because of the bravery of the officers, it is believed that other lives were saved.”

He called Pittsburgh a city of steel and of champions.

“Champions know how to work together to achieve one goal,” he said. “Our goal is to work together to make this city a model city ... where everyone feels welcome.”

Jeffrey Finkelstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, hosted the vigil, named “Stronger Than Hate.”

Other speakers included the Rev. Liddy Farlow; Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto; Richard Fitzgerald, Allegheny County executive; Rabbi Danny Schiff of the United Jewish Fund; and Rabbi Ron Symons of the Pittsburgh Jewish Community Center.

The program opened with gospel renditions by the Rodman Street Baptist Church. The choir also backed a soloist in “L’Chi Lach” by Debbie Friedman. Members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra closed the program with two songs written during the Holocaust.

Earlier Oct. 28, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh was closed, with yellow tape in front of the building and flags flying at half-staff. A patrolman stood guard.

The area around the Tree of Life Congregation was cordoned off over several blocks.

People from all walks of life made their way to the edges of the blockade to lay flowers in makeshift shrines.

Families with small children made their way to Zone 4, the closest police station to the synagogue, to deliver food and cards.

International media staked out the corner where the synagogue was visible holding interviews under tents on the corner of Shady and Wilkins avenues.

Gil Rubanenko of Pepper Pike, left, and Alan Semel of Beachwood speak with a friend in the lobby of the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in Pittsburgh prior to an interfaith vigil Oct. 28.

The Beck family was one of many to bring notes, food and thanks to the police at Zone 4, a few blocks from the Tree of Life Congregation.

Rabbi Hal Rudin-Luria, left, and Rabbi Stephen Weiss are two of the about 20 people who represented B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike at the vigil.

Cleveland community stands united with Pittsburgh community

ALYSSA SCHMITT | STAFF REPORTER aschmitt@cjn.org | @AlyssaSchmitCJN

The shock that followed the Oct. 27 attack on the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood was felt in that city’s Jewish community as well as those across the country and around the world. That day’s horrible events also resonated with non-Jews.

That’s why nearly 800 people of various religions, races and backgrounds, including many Cleveland-area Jews, gathered to honor the 11 killed and show solidarity with Pittsburgh’s Jewish community during an Oct. 29 vigil at the Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland’s Stonehill Auditorium in Beachwood.

When the auditorium reached capacity, an additional 700 people were transported to The Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beachwood to watch a live broadcast of the vigil, which was filled with sentiments from community leaders and lasted about an hour and 15 minutes. Jewish leaders from synagogues and agencies spoke out against anti-Semitism and called for unification as people stand up against hate.

Renee Chelm, vice chair of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s board of trustees, said Jewish Cleveland stands together and stands strong with Pittsburgh In the wake of the shooting. Chelm spoke in place for Federation President Stephen H. Hoffman and board of trustees’ board chair Gary L. Gross, both of whom were out of town.

“Today, only two days after the deadliest attack on a Jewish community in America’s history we stand here together, united in our shared humanity and united against any and all forms of hate,” she said. “You don’t have to be Jewish to feel the pain and the horror of peaceful worshipers being gunned down in their own sanctuary of God.”

Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish said the attack in Pittsburgh was in a neighborhood similar to Beachwood and the victims were like many in the audience. He encouraged those in attendance to speak out against hate, to report instances of hate to proper authorities and not to remain silent.

“As fellow Jews and as Americans, we feel the pain with their families,” he said. “We live in dangerous times. The hatred that has released terror in Charlottesville, Orlando and now in Pittsburgh is horrific. The murder of innocent people in their house of God on the Jewish sabbath was a tragedy that cannot be rationalized.

“We cannot stand silently by as hatred and bigotry grow daily. This weekend’s murders, fueled by hatred against Jews, should raise the alarm for every minority — every person in America. This weekend, the hate crime was aimed at Jews. Next, it could be African-Americans or Hispanics or Muslims or gays and lesbians. We must speak out against hate and bigotry.”

Beachwood is home to many Jewish agencies, like the Mandel JCC and the Federation, as well as many synagogues. As such, Beachwood Mayor Martin S. Horwitz sees safety as a crucial aspect of his responsibility to the city.

“I don’t have the ability to stop the sale of assault weapons, to stop hateful speech on the internet or to curb our leaders from using divisive language,” he said.

“But what I can do is make sure the city of Beachwood is committed to providing our residents, visitors and institutions the highest level of safety education and safety service as possible.”

Horwitz added Beachwood is home to all.

“No matter who you are, no matter your faith, no matter if your family arrived here a century ago or a month ago, you are part of the fabric of the community and you are valued,” he said.

In attendance were representatives from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security as well as police chiefs from Beachwood, Cleveland Heights, Orange, Lyndhurst, Pepper Pike and Solon.

Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood said now is a critical time for Jews to come together. Wherever injustice occurs, Jews belong “standing up to speak up against it.”

“The attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, it appears, was designed to destroy Judaism and Jewish

life,” he said. “It’s critical for Jews to gather together and be sure that that attack is not successful. There will be times ahead where we truly need to speak with clarity and determination against anti-Semitism, hatred and violence against all kinds. Judaism is not indifferent to such hatred no matter who it is against so that’s why I’m here.”

Nosanchuk led the lighting of the 11 yahrzeit candles as representation from all Jewish denominations stood behind him. After the candles were lit, Rabbi Noah Leavitt of Oheb Zedek-Cedar Sinai Synagogue in Lyndhurst asked that the memories of the victims serve as an inspiration for all.

“We light these candles as a time of great darkness,” he said. “May the love that now surrounds us brings us back to the light.”

Rabbi Joshua Skoff of Park Synagogue in Pepper Pike and Cleveland Heights offered a prayer to those involved and asked for an end to anti-Semitism, hatred and gun violence.

“We are devastated, oh God. Our hearts are breaking in this time of shock and mourning,” he said. “Heal us from the spear, oh God, heal us from the pain. Let our fears give way to hope. Lead us to join together as a nation, to put an end to anti-Semitism, an end to hatred, and end to gun violence.”

Rev. Otis Moss Jr., pastor emeritus at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland, focused on the power of words

“The attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, it appears, was designed to destroy Judaism and Jewish life.”

Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple

Laurel Hoffman shows her solidarity while receiving a hug from Nina McCollum. | CJN photo / Bob Jacob

when he addressed the audiences. He said words matter at times like these because they create a reality. Words can establish a person’s existence, and one must be careful how they are established in each other’s life and the world, he said.

“In the struggle, we have found common ground,” he said. “Someone has said when a word must be spoken to further a good cause and those whom it behooves to speak remain silent, anybody ought to speak and break the silence which is often fraught with evil because sometimes one word spoken at the right time can further the welfare of a nation. ... We must never forget that a temple bombing, (or) a church bombing, is a bombing of your house and my house.”

Bishop Nelson J. Perez, the leader of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, was unable to make the vigil due to his father entering hospice care in Florida, but the diocese was represented by Bishop Roger W. Gries. It was an easy decision to go to the vigil in the wake of a tragedy like this, he said, as everyone should come together to support each other.

“When something happens to anyone in any faith, we have to come together to support one another because there is only one God and we all worship the same God and we all suffer the same way,” he said. “When things like this happen, we’re all guilty, in a way, unless we love one another and we care for one another and reach out to one another. We’re all guilty in some way when things like this happen.”

Rabbi Allison Vann of Suburban Temple-Kol Ami in Beachwood thanked the non-Jewish clergy for inspirational words of support and to show the Jewish community is not alone.

“It’s a sad honor for all of us to be here this afternoon,” said Vann, who is also the

president of the Greater Cleveland Board of Rabbis. “This afternoon, our Jewish clergy is all here together. ... We are all here to represent us, to support each other, to know that as one Jewish community we stand strong. We stand strong always.”

As an alumna of the University of Pittsburgh, Vann said the city played a large role in her life. It was there that she discovered what a Jewish community should be like and where she learned about diverse Jewish expression.

“It was by spending time in Squirrel Hill that I learned better how to gracefully, lovingly, joyfully live a diverse and vibrant Jewish life,” she said. “I know because of Pitt, because of the Jewish community of Pittsburgh, my love, learning and passion for Judaism led me forward on my path and I know I am not alone.”

Pepper Pike Mayor Richard Bain said the shooting didn’t just affect Squirrel Hill, it affected synagogues across the nation.

“It’s important people come out to bear witness to tragedies such as this,” said Bain, who is also co-chairman of the civil rights committee of the Anti-Defamation League. “We have to show that this affects all of our lives personally. Whether the victims are friends, families or strangers, they’re all part of the Jewish community. This affects us all and will continue to affect us all into an indefinite future. This is unfortunately a world in which we now live. These people who have always been there somehow now feel entitled to be out and about, and as a society, we need to push them back under the rock from which they crawled.”

Solon Mayor Edward H. Kraus said he feels vulnerable as the city’s first Jewish mayor but still manages issues of security for Solon’s Jewish community as well as its Muslim and minority communities.

“We think about it all the time,” he said.

“We have a police officer at the front door of Chabad (Jewish Center of Solon) and we do tactical training at the Chabad there, and we will continue to be very vigilant. ... When it happens to one synagogue, it happens to all of us. We’re all sort of in it together.”

Mayors from Mayfield Village, Orange, Shaker Heights and University Heights also were in attendance, as were U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and U.S. Reps. Marcia Fudge, D-Warrensville Heights, and David Joyce, R-Russell Township.

Jody Katzner, a Solon resident, came to the vigil to show solidarity with those in Squirrel Hill. His cousin is Sam Schachner, president of the Tree of Life Congregation. The day of the shooting, messages were flying between family members until Katzner received the message, “We’re safe.”

“It’s important for us to stand up against the hate and not just represent the Jewish faith but Christians, Muslims and everybody else who just want to get along and have peace among all of us,” he said.

Beachwood resident Laurel Hoffman was in disbelief that the shooting happened. Her husband grew up in the community around Squirrel Hill and still has connections to the area. Her reason for coming out was politically charged and she called for others to make a change by voting.

“I believe that this kind of hatred needs to be stopped and the right policies aren’t in place to do that. We need to gather as a community to commit to voting those right people in,” she said. “I think I’m still in disbelief that this is happening in 2018, that the people of the Jewish faith are once again targets of those who decide that hatred is the better choice than acceptance.”

Fuchs Mizrachi School Head of School Rabbi Avery Joel lights one of the 11 candles representing the victims. | CJN photos / Alyssa Schmitt

Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Michael Siegal, Reneé Chelm, Erika Rudin-Luria listen attentively to a speaker.

“When it happens to one synaogue, it happens to all of us. We’re all sort of in it together.”

Edward H. Kraus, Mayor Solon

“We must never forget that a temple bombing, (or) a church bombing, is a bombing of your house and my house.”

The Rev. Otis Moss, Pastor emeritus Olivet Institutional Baptist Church

Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk of Anshe Chesed Fairmout Temple in Beachwood lights a candle.

The Cleveland vigil | Mandel JCC | Oct. 29

CJN photos / Bob Jacob and Alyssa Schmitt

Students, community mourn Pittsburgh killings at CWRU vigil

ED CARROLL | STAFF REPORTER ecarroll@cjn.org | @EdCarrollCJN

About 100 people, mostly students, showed their support for the Pittsburgh Jewish community and those killed at the Tree of Life Congregation at a vigil Oct. 29 at Case Western Reserve University’s Freiberger Field in Cleveland.

On Oct. 27, a gunman killed 11 people at the Squirrel Hill neighborhood synagogue. The vigil was presented as a combined effort by the Chabad Jewish Student Center at CWRU and Hillel at CWRU.

Sydney Fox, a freshman from New Jersey, and Ariel Bernhard, a freshman from Rochester, N.Y., read the names of the 11 killed as candles were lit.

“This past weekend, three men, eight women ... were killed,” Fox said during the vigil. “They had congregated to celebrate the bris of a newborn baby when a hateful man opened fire.

“In the face of darkness, we must bring light and acknowledge light. The anger that we all feel is a gift that will allow for change. The living should take it to heart and carry on in the names of those who were lost. We can go forward where they cannot and carry on doing good in their names.”

Freshman Lev Pearlman, of Portland, Ore., spoke during the vigil, as did CWRU Chabad Director Rabbi Mendy Alevsky, who led the crowd in the Mi Shebeirach, the prayer for healing. Students were asked to fill out mitzvah cards, pledging a good deed to push back against the hate shown in Pittsburgh.

“This was a tragic loss of life,” Alevsky said after the vigil. “Our response must not be to hide in fear. It must be to promote life and light and perpetuate their memories with our mitzvahs and good deeds. It was inspiring to see the turnout tonight, which confirmed that our community holds these ideals, pledging goodness and kindness in the face of such darkness.”

Pearlman said he was reassured by the

“This was a tragic loss of life. Our response must not be to hide in fear. It must be to promote life and light and perpetuate their memories with our mitzvahs and good deeds. It was inspiring to see the turnout tonight, which confirmed that our community holds these ideals, pledging goodness and kindness in the face of such darkness.”

Rabbi Mendy Alevsky, Director CWRU Chabad

strong turnout for the vigil.

“It was very amazing,” he said. “From what I had heard, though, coming up (to the vigil), it was what I expected. I had a lot of friends that felt very strongly about attending and they were all here.”

Jared Isaacson, executive director of Hillel at CWRU, said a vigil was important to show solidarity for the community.

“Not just the Jewish community on campus, but the community at large,” he said. “When something like this happens in the world, it affects all of us and reminds us all that we need to be together to show unity no matter what faith or background you are.

“That we have unity together as people, first on Case, studying together and living together and experiencing life together on campus, but I think also in the general bigger sense of the world, that we really need to come together to show that we support each other.”

The community sends its message

The Cleveland Jewish News asked the community to submit messages of solidarity at cjn.org. To submit a mesage, visit clevelandjewishnews.com/stronger_than_hate.

With sympathy for the entire Jewish community. God bless you and the entire African-American community. Worldwide

Darlene Ronney Cleveland

“What a horrible, horrendous tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Jewish Community of Pittsburgh and the entire city of Pittsburgh. We must put an end to the hatred and anti-Semitism. If their is or will be a time to come together, that time is now.

Ben Peerless Beachwood

You are in our thoughts and prayers. May the victims be blessed. Stay Strong Pittsburgh.

Nelson Silverstein

North

Port, Fla.

Standing with your community an standing up for all of our Jewish communities.

Karen Tindel Beachwood

Students and community members of Case Western Reserve University hold candles during a vigil service Oct. 29 honoring those killed Oct. 27 at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh.

Rabbi Mendy Alevsky, director of the Chabad Jewish Student Center at Case Western Reserve University, leads the crowd in the prayer for healing during an Oct. 29 vigil at Freiberger Field at CWRU, honoring the 11 killed Oct. 27 at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh. | CJN photos / Ed Carroll

for the Future

We ensure the long-term health and vibrancy of our diverse community. We provide the critical strategic planning and oversight needed to make life better today and for generations to come. We provide a wide-range of educational programming for all ages that celebrates Jewish values and traditions. We also develop the next generation of leaders through mentoring, teaching, and hands-on experiences.

STRONGER THAN HATE

KSU vigil evokes feelings of compassion

JANE KAUFMAN | STAFF REPORTER jkaufman@cjn.org | @jkaufmancjn

Kent State University students, faculty, staff, administration and clergy gathered Oct. 29 to share their sadness over the loss of 11 lives in a Pittsburgh synagogue on Shabbat morning, Oct. 27.

The nearly hourlong vigil at Risman Plaza drew about 200 people. It started quietly, with the lighting of candles in memory of the losses at the Tree of Life Congregation and with students signing condolence notes in magic markers on a poster-sized banner.

Rabbi Moshe Sasonkin, who leads Chabad at Kent, opened the service with the song, “Kol Ha’Olam Kulo,” the words of Reb Nachman of Bratslav, in both Hebrew and English: “The world is a narrow bridge, and the main thing to recall is to have no fear at all.”

Sasonkin said Jews always arise stronger after they are attacked.

“We will shine stronger,” he said. “People can try to cut down all of the flowers in the world, but they can’t cut down the spring. We are the spring.

“Acts of goodness, acts of kindness,” he said. “That will be viral.”

He chanted the Me Shebeirach, the prayer for healing, calling to mind both the two civilians and the four police officers wounded in the shootings. He sang the 23rd Psalm in Hebrew, with a student reading the translation.

“I am and always will be an unapologetic Jew,” said Lauren Novick, a junior and Hillel student board president, who also helped organize the event. “Darkness has always been – and sadly, will always be – part of our world. We are its only antidote, we are the helpers Mr. Rogers taught us about.”

“Upon hearing of the tragedy at (the)

Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill on Saturday, my own heart was fractured,” said Shay Little, KSU’s vice president of student affairs, quoted from the Book of Joshua. “These events remind us of our greater vision to be change agents that spark epic thinking and meaningful voice to better our society.

“This event reminds us of the commonalities we all share and propel us forward to show our communities how we respect our neighbors, gather together peacefully, and show kindness to one another,” Little said.

Kent student Leah Popkin, who is from Pittsburgh, quoted the Talmudic expression often translated as, “You are not obliged to complete the task, but you must not desist from it.”

Ezra Katz read a poem by a rabbi that included the words, “Teach us to believe that we can rise up against tragedy.”

Rabbi Michael Ross, who is the rabbi for KSU’s Hillel and Temple Beth Shalom in Hudson, closed the service.

“When I found out the news Saturday morning, I was devastated and something in me died,” he said. “My ease about public discourse, civil discourse was gone. So, we are devastated by the loss and the

vulnerability.”

He said clergy of other faiths reached out with emails and telephone calls that helped him. Flowers left on the temple steps Oct. 28 did as well.

He said he hopes to move beyond debate and toward dialogue, toward listening, “to allow the story of the person in.”

Ross read Psalm 121 responsively; chanted the memorial prayer, El Malei Rachamim; and recited the Mourner’s Kaddish. He invited those in attendance to follow their own tradition as to whether to join him for the full recitation or to respond.

“We can now begin to peek at the future and begin to think about hope,” he said. “One source of hope is how we are studying here together.”

To end the service, the group sang Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me,” with freshman Max Tuber playing guitar.

Tuber, of Columbus, learned the song from his Camp Wise songbook. He said he felt it was important to stand with the

Jewish people.

“I just want to offer my support to the Jewish people,” Tuber said. “And I think that as a community, we need to really be strong and comfort each other, and I think the key thing is just to be together.”

Among those attending the service were KSU President Beverly Warren and Todd A. Diacon, executive vice president and provost.

“I want to be vocal and show my support so this never happens again,” said Lily Richman, president of Chabad and a fifthyear student in psychology who lives in Solon. She read translations for Sasonkin during the service.

Adam Hirsh, executive director of KSU Hillel, said Jewish students needed the vigil, but so did the campus as a whole.

“We needed to give students an opportunity to be together,” he said. “It was never a question of if, it was a question of when we were going to do it.”

About 200 members of the Kent State University community gather for a vigil Oct. 29 at Risman Plaza. | CJN photos / Jane Kaufman

People of different faiths are represented at a vigil in response to the shootings in a Pittsburgh synagogue that took the lives of 11 people and wounded six more, including four police officers, on Oct. 27. A student adds her condolences to a banner created at the vigil.

“We will shine stronger. People can try to cut down all of the flowers in the world, but they can’t cut down the spring. We are the spring.”

Rabbi Moshe Sasonkin Chabad at Kent

BEACHWOOD PLACE / GREAT NORTHERN - WESTFIELD / CROCKER PARK / SOUTHPARK CENTER / GREAT LAKES MALL

STRONGER THAN HATE

Security quickly increased at area synagogues

CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS STAFF

Jewish institutions in Greater Cleveland received increased attention Oct. 27 from the Jewish Federation of Cleveland security team and law enforcement officials in the wake of a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue left 11 dead and six injured earlier that day.

Stephen H. Hoffman, the president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland who was reached in Jerusalem after Shabbat, told the CJN, “This is a horrible tragedy. Our hearts are going out to the victims’ families, the families of the first responders.

“And of course, all of us in Cleveland could imagine ourselves in that situation. And so, we have tremendous sympathy for everyone.”

Hoffman said he received a call from Oren Baratz, senior vice president/external affairs, informing him of the situation.

“I was in my room in the King David Hotel and I got a call from Oren to turn on the television,” Hoffman said. “It was about 6 o’clock here (11 a.m. in Cleveland). And that’s when I saw everything that was going on.”

His immediate reaction?

“I wanted to cry,” Hoffman said.

He said he’s been through similar situations, but it’s a “nightmare we have anticipated. That’s one of the reasons that you often see police in our buildings during services. … We have anticipated the active-shooter scenario and we’ve been trying to put measures into place to help people deal with it when the time comes. And now, of course, we’re going to have this example to spur everyone on to address these things more forthrightly than ever.”

A heavier presence of Federation security and police was evident at synagogues the days after the shooting.

“Our security team has been in touch with all the police departments to provide extra coverage at all the synagogues,” Hoffman said. “And our security people have been over to (the) Green Road (area), where communication is not normal on Shabbat. And we’ll be making plans for the next few days after Shabbat ends with local institutions and we’ve authorized whatever expenditures are necessary to give the community assurance that we’re all going to be safe tomorrow.”

Hoffman was referring to the prohibition of electronic devices on Shabbat in the Orthodox community.

Jim Hartnett, director of community-wide security at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and a former FBI agent, and Jeff Robertson, a member of the Federation security team and a former Cleveland Heights police chief, were “on the ground” once they learned of the incident, Hoffman said.

“Our communications system is working according to plan,” Hoffman said. “There was an email message to key people and a voice mail.”

Beachwood Police Chief Gary Haba told the CJN they normally have extra patrols near the synagogues because of Shabbat and didn’t need to bring in additional personnel.

“We immediately just alerted our officers and

increased patrols until we know what’s going on,” he said Oct. 27. “At this point, unless we get other intelligence, that’s where we’re at.”

He said patrols will be increased for the next several days.

Drew Barkley, who is executive director of Temple Sinai in Pittsburgh, grew up in Shaker Heights and attended Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood, said, “This would be as if it happened at Fairmount Temple or at Silver’s (The Temple-Tifereth Israel) or at Park (Synagogue).”

In direct response to the shootings, Barkley said he was working Oct. 27 to obtain armed security for Oct. 28 in order to safeguard both the temple’s religious school of 140 children and a board retreat.

“Tree of Life is a mile-and-a-half from where I live and a mile-and-a-half from where I work,” he said, describing Squirrel Hill as a neighborhood similar to suburbs like Cleveland Heights or Shaker Heights. He said Squirrel Hill is home to seven or eight synagogues.

“The Jewish community is very close-knit and collaborative,” Barkley said. “Chances are, most people will know someone here who was killed.

“The Pittsburgh Jewish Federation has on staff a former FBI agent as a precaution, he said. “It’s devastating here, in particular. There was no lead-up to this, there were no warnings from Homeland Security.”

Barkley said his wife asked him earlier today, “‘What happened to our Pittsburgh?’” he said. “But the community is rallying, both the Jewish community and the interfaith community at large.”

Barkley expected there to be broad and diverse attendance at a vigil.

“It’s just a place where people get along, just like what Mr. Rogers says.”

Michael Eisenberg, the past president of the Conservative synagogue, told Pittsburgh television station KDKA, “At 9:45, there were three simultaneous

congregations’ services that were being held. In the main part of the building, the Tree of Life has a service that has about 40 people in it. Just below that there is a basement area where New Life congregation would have been having their Shabbat service. There would have been 30 to 40 people. Just adjacent to Tree of Light’s service area, a congregation was in the rabbi study room and they would have had approximately 15 people in there.”

Authorities said the gunman opened fire during a baby naming and bris.

“On a day like today, the door is open,” Eisenberg told the station. “It’s a religious service. You could walk in and out. Only on the High Holidays is there a police presence at the entrance.”

Rabbi Jeremy Pappas, who on Aug. 29 became regional director of the ADL in Cleveland, learned of the shooting in the afternoon. His office handles western Pennsylvania, where Tree of Life is located.

“I received a knock on my door late this afternoon as my family was just returning from Shabbat lunch,” Pappas told the CJN. “Obviously, we had not heard the news, and a knock on the door definitely altered the course of today, just to become aware a tragedy like this.

“Our hearts break for the families of those killed and all those injured at the synagogue and the entire Jewish community of Pittsburgh and the entire country.”

Pappas was in Pittsburgh Oct. 28 and attended a vigil at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum.

“I will be on the ground in Pittsburgh as soon as possible to assist in any way possible, locally and to be there just to offer our support and our help and our guidance,” he said Oct. 27, adding his initial response was one of “terrible sadness and grief.”

“It’s just an unthinkable tragedy, the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of our country. It’s unbelievable sadness.”

Beachwood police car sits outside of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood after an Oct. 27 shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue left 11 dead and several injured. | Photo / Bob Jacob

Tragedy hits home for Northeast Ohioans, others

CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS STAFF

STEVE DETTELBACH

Steve Dettelbach, a Solon resident who attends Park Synagogue in Cleveland Heights and Pepper Pike, who has extended family in the Squirrel Hill area of Pittsburgh, said he has a cousin who attends services almost every week there, but didn’t go Oct. 27.

“He did tell me that ironically the Cleveland Browns saved his life (because he is an avid Steelers fan),” Dettelbach told the CJN. “He has tickets for the game (Oct. 28) in Pittsburgh and asked his boss to let him off on Sunday to go to the game. His boss said OK, but he had to work Saturday. So, he did not take his mother-in-law to Shabbat services like he does every week. All the people who sit in his row, including a woman in her late 90’s, were shot. Horrible.”

Dettelbach was at a political event in a gym in Martins Ferry, Ohio, when he heard the news. He is a candidate for Ohio attorney general.

“Somebody handed me a phone and they just showed me one of those alerts and I was literally speaking at the time,” he told the CJN. “It really took me a second. I couldn’t process it. I just couldn’t believe it and sadly, of course, because there’s so much anti-Semitism, but maybe not at this level, anti-Semitic violence I saw as a U.S. Attorney and I see it as a Jew, you see what’s going on, when something of this scale happens, your natural reaction is it’s hard to understand it. Then I just felt overwhelmingly sad, I felt like I wanted to cry. Throughout the day, just like everybody else, I vacillated between anger and disbelief.”

Dettelbach said he has attended family functions and religious events in the Pittsburgh area and couldn’t recall if he was inside the Tree of Life Congregation.

He said he received a call or text message from a cousin that said, “Call me immediately.”

“Of course, my heart just stopped when I got the call,” Dettelbach said.

Dettelbach said when he spoke to his cousin, he said, “They’re very concerned and scared. When one of these things happen, there’s a lot of raw emotions, more than anything else. There’s also confusion. People don’t know who’s hurt, who’s not, everybody’s just trying to understand how something like this could happen.”

ANNE HEISS AND TIM LITMAN

Anne Heiss of Orange, who belongs to B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike, said her husband’s grandmother, who is in her 90’s, was heading with another couple to Tree of Life for services.

“They drove up Wilkins Avenue and the street was already blocked off,” Heiss told the CJN.

Heiss said her husband’s grandmother is a regular Shabbat shul-goer.

“When I talked to her, she was very shaken, crying,” Heiss said. “She just couldn’t believe it happened.”

Tim Litman was serving as an usher at Rodef Shalom Congregation, a historic synagogue on Fifth Avenue, in Pittsburgh about 3 miles from Tree of Life.

“We could hear the sirens going by, but didn’t know what it was about,” he said.

Once he learned of the shootings, through reports from CNN on his telephone, he and the other usher told the senior rabbi of the shootings. The executive director came to the synagogue and immediately locked down Rodef Shalom until about 12:30 p.m., when it was understood that the gunman had been apprehended.

Two police officers were stationed at Rodef Shalom, one in the building and one outside.

Litman said he was familiar with the emergency protocol for the synagogue after having been briefed by the Pittsburgh Jewish Federation.

Litman’s daughter, Marcy Lackritz, lives in Twinsburg. She said she was able to reach her mother to ascertain her father’s safety fairly quickly.

“I’m terrified to hear the names,” she said. “And if it’s not necessarily people that I know, I’m pretty sure it’ll be people my parents know or acquaintances. If you don’t know someone personally, somebody that you do, does.”

JEFF AND ARLENE BERG

Jeff and Arlene Berg are members of Grace Baptist Church in Monroeville, Pa., which has donated funds to causes in Israel. The Bergs met in Cleveland, where Jeff Berg grew up, and now live in Wilkins Township outside Pittsburgh.

They were in church Oct. 27 when news of the shootings reached them.

“The people that were speaking stopped and prayed for the whole situation,” Jeff Berg said. Organizers of the service immediately flashed the name and address of Tree of Life on the screen and encouraged congregants to send cards.

The Bergs feel a strong connection to Israel, where Jeff worked on a kibbutz when he was in his 20’s. And they have been to Tree of Life “several times,” Arlene Berg said, including once to hear a Holocaust survivor speak.

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STRONGER THAN HATE

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United Hatzalah arrives to treat survivors

JANE KAUFMAN | STAFF REPORTER jkaufman@cjn.org | @jkaufmancjn

PITTSBURGH – Four Israelis specially trained in handling the immediate after-effects of psychological trauma have arrived and will work for at least four days and possibly as long as a week.

Miriam Ballin, a psychotherapist and founder and director of the psychotrauma and crisis response unit of United Hatzalah, said she had returned home to Israel from a speaking tour in the United States when she learned about the Pittsburgh shootings on Oct. 27. She said she tries not to leave the country often because she has five children under the age of 9.

She credited Naftali Bennett, Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs, with deploying the team of four to Pittsburgh.

They arrived at 10 p.m. Oct. 28, one day after a gunman shot and killed 11 people worshipping at the Tree of Life Congregation in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh. Six people were injured, including four police officers.

United Hatzalah is an Israeli organization that deploys volunteer emergency medical technicians wherever there is trauma.

Ballin said a motorcycle accident sensitized her to the needs of those who suffer from trauma.

“It’s a normal reaction to an abnormal situation,” she said.

The team, trained by the World Health Organization and in the methods of Israeli Dr. Moshe Farchi, employs several outcome-based strategies to help people reset their systems after witnessing a trauma, depending on the needs of the person.

Among them are bilateral stimulation, using touch, a gentle and soothing modality rather than modalities such as visual or audio tones that might trigger traumatic

memory. In addition, they offer ideas to help people who may feel helpless ways to spring into action.

“You get somebody to do rather than just be,” she said. “Helplessness is the killer for people who are experiencing trauma.”

In addition to Ballin, the team includes Rabbi Avi Tenenbaum of Jerusalem, who grew up in Chicago prior to going to Israel; Einat Kaufman, a psychologist who lives in Rishon Lezion; and Hadas Rubim, who lives in Kedumim and is a hospital social worker. Ballin said this week the entire team of volunteers will expand from about 400 to nearly 500 due to graduations of 90 people who will have completed a two-month training. The corps of medics numbers 5,000. Kaufman was studying for her finals to be a medic when she learned of the Pittsburgh shootings. Rubim was bathing her children. Tenenbaum, a psychotherapist who is in charge of the treatment protocols for the group and is a dispatcher for it, learned about the shootings through a text network that includes on-the-ground troops of the Israel Defense Forces.

They all rearranged their lives to go to Pittsburgh.

Cari Immerman, regional development director of United Hatzalah, who lives in Shaker Heights and belongs to Congregation Shaarey Tikvah in Beachwood, accompanied the team to its first deployment at Shady Side Elementary School to meet with children.

“We help with grief, we help with trauma, we help with bereavement,” Immerman said. “Most importantly, we help people think about what it is they’ll need to be able to deal with the situation.”

The team said they felt the impact of the shootings upon learning the news.

“Even in Israel, this would be surprising,” Tenenbaum said.

Miriam Ballin, founder and director of the psychotrauma and crisis response unit of United Hatzalah, pauses at one of the many makeshift shrines in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh following shootings at the Tree of Life Congregation. | CJN photo / Jane Kaufman

Items of love left at Temple Israel’s front doorstep

SEAN MCDONNELL

Rabbi Josh Brown was the first person to show up Oct. 28 at Temple Israel in Bath Township the morning after the events in Pittsburgh. When he arrived, he was surprised to see the words, ‘You are loved’ written in chalk on the doorstep. When he went to open the door, a card fell out, with words of support from the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent.

“This didn’t happen at our congregation and yet our friends knew how deeply it would affect us,” Brown said. “I think that’s incredible that we have our friends in our community close enough to know what it feels like when our heart is breaking.”

While the card was signed by ISAK, the organization said they do not know who left the words written in chalk.

“They are not taking credit for the chalk,” said Jim Levin, president of Temple Israel. “We don’t know who did it. They don’t know who did it.”

Levin said the temple and ISAK have developed a strong relationship over the last four years. It started with a friendship between former president Ron Winer and Dr. Gulam Mir, the outreach coordinator at ISAK. He said the two have been friends for a long time and they used that friendship to build a bond between the communities.

“Rather than breaking bread with each other as individuals or with their wives, they made it into something for our congregation and it has been lovely,” Levin said.

Levin said whether the support comes from their friends at ISAK or from people they don’t know, the message is the same.

“It’s just love thy neighbor and support thy neighbor,” Levin said. “We’re assuming now that it is somebody else and we love that person, even though we don’t know their name.”

The two kind gestures, the card and the words written in chalk, reminded the rabbi and the congregation they had the support of the community.

“That’s where our hope comes from now,” Brown said. “We are not alone in this and we have people who we don’t even know who are feeling the pain as we’re feeling it. I think it also reminds us that we need to do the same.”

Sean McDonnell is the Violet Spevack Editorial Intern at the Cleveland Jewish News.

Rabbi Josh Brown was greeted by this message when he arrived at Temple Israel in Bath Township Oct. 28. | Submitted photo

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STRONGER THAN HATE

Pittsburgh shows its heart of gold

JANE KAUFMAN jkaufman@cjn.org | @jkaufmancjn

PITTSBURGH – Twenty-four hours after the shooting, the feeling on the street here was sadness, not rage.

People had flowers in hand and tears in their eyes as they made their way to the edges of the cordoned-off blocks to add their bouquets to spontaneous shrines.

The largest shrine was at one corner of the Tree of Life Congregation that also served as the media center, where the roar of television vans was constant and the treelawns were turning to mud.

On the afternoon of Oct. 28, a parade of people from several Catholic churches, each bearing a single flower, walked through Squirrel Hill toward the synagogue.

On Oct. 29, when the Jewish Community Center reopened after the horrific events of the weekend, both flowers and votive candles were left on the steps.

The many shrines appeared to serve

of the Jewish Community Center.

When I got there, a police officer guarding the building told me in the politest tone possible that if I wished to take pictures of that building, I needed to cross the street. And when I forgot and began to lift my camera to focus, he patiently reminded me again.

The hotel staff was gracious, from the clerks who gave me extra keys after I left mine in my room, to the housekeeping staff who cleaned the room after me. With my press pass hanging from my neck, and as I told strangers I worked for the Cleveland Jewish News, they responded, “I’m sorry,” their shorthand for offering condolences.

That included the reporter from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette as he prepared to launch a drone over the synagogue to take photos from the sky.

I stopped at a falafel shop as I prepared to leave town. The owner and his wife were Syrian. They asked me if I was new to Squirrel Hill. When I told them I was there to cover the vigil for the Cleveland Jewish News, they too offered condolences.

Then the woman showed me the screen of her phone, pointing to her daughter’s latest post on Facebook. She, like so many others near and far from Squirrel Hill, proudly displayed a “Stronger Than Hate” logo.

“I’m so proud of her,” she said with a smile.

At vigils this week, there’s been a lot of talk of kindness and chesed, as a way to tikkun olam, repairing the world. It offers the only hope for healing.

Pittsburgh may be the city of steel, but during this deeply tragic moment, it’s shown its heart of gold.

One man walked me to the end of the block on his way to his work at an auto parts shop, ushering me in the direction

Jane Kaufman is a staff reporter for the Cleveland Jewish News.

As a reporter for the Jewish press, I experienced Pittsburgh’s kindness time and again in the 24 hours I was there.

STRONGER THAN HATE

Jewish day schools pay tribute to victims

JANE KAUFMAN | STAFF REPORTER jkaufman@cjn.org | @jkaufmancjn

Jewish day schools in Northeast Ohio responded immediately to the Pittsburgh shootings by informing students, with prayers and study, and by encouraging students to act positively.

In addition, security was tightened at the schools and they made counselors and social workers available to students.

Seniors at Fuchs Mizrachi’s Stark High School in Beachwood were planning to pay a shiva call on Nov. 1 to the family of Devorah Kurin, a science teacher, whose aunt, Joyce Fienberg, was a victim of the shootings at the Tree of Life Congregation on Oct. 27.

“We’re going to do it because it’s the right thing to do,” Rabbi Jeremy Bruce, the head of the high school, said Oct. 31.

He said he didn’t know where the school would find the funds to hire a bus for the pilgrimage, but hoped Head of School Rabbi Avery Joel would find the funds.

On Oct. 29, the upper school gathered for words from Bruce about the victims. The students then split into groups and engaged in a staff-led reading of the 139 mishnayot in Tractate Shabbat, finishing with a prayer for

those who were wounded.

Middle school students asked to hold a bake sale to raise funds for the families, said Rabbi Ben Fried, principal of Fuchs Mizrachi’s junior high school.

“On Monday, our middle school developed a very specific tefillah for the whole school,” said Jerry Isaak-Shapiro, head of school at the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School in Beachwood. He said the program included lighting of candles and specific prayers.

Some students wrote letters to Pittsburgh students and the community, he said.

“Our middle school students had conversations about anti-Semitism and about the freedoms we enjoy in this country,” he said. He added that he sent a note to the school community with the assurance that the day school continually assesses its security.

At the Hebrew Academy in Cleveland Heights and Beachwood, most of the clases were addressed, said Rabbi Simcha Dessler, educational director.

“We recited psalms together. Some classes wrote letters to the families and friends of the victims,” he said. “It was actually gratifying to see that those letters truly

portayed a sense of unity as our students conveyed a sense of empathy by sharing stories of personal loss and comfort.”

Dessler said counseling was made available to students.

Sam Chestnut, head of school of The Lippman School in Akron, said staff considered how to respond for each age group appropriately. He said staff listened closely and responded with facilitated conversation. Students and parents were also encouraged to attend a Nov. 1 vigil in response to the shootings.

“Younger students than expected were talking about it,” he said.

In addition, he said the Akron Jewish Community Board of Akron and the Akron Police Department have been helpful.

At Chaviva High School in Cleveland Heights, girls have started United for Pittsburgh on the Whatsapp Chat that will run for 11 days from Nov. 4 to Nov. 14, said Chaviva founder and principal Rochie Berkowitz. Berkowitz said the effort is designed for women and girls to commit to increasing love and sensitivity in their lives, with each day dedicated to a different victim of the shootings. As of Oct. 31, 400 women and girls had signed up, including some in

Pittsburgh.

Rabbi Yitzchok Magareten, dean of Yeshiva Derech Hatorah in Cleveland Heights, said staff spoke to the older students and that students were reciting psalms and studying in memory of the victims.

He said the Jewish Federation of Cleveland increased security at the building.

“We’re very appreciative of the support the federation has given us,” he said, echoing sentiments of other day school principals. “Kids are not looking out worried because they know security’s been beefed up. It’s frightening. It really is frightening. I don’t know if adults have an easier time dealing with it or if kids do.”

Randy Boroff, head of school at Gross Schechter Day School in Pepper Pike, said the school sent a letter to parents and focused on the tragedy in the school’s daily service on Monday.

“We used the service as a teaching opportunity,” Boroff said, adding that the school’s student council is working to craft a positive response. He said the school addressed the shootings in social studies classes as well.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Pittsburgh,” Boroff said.

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WHAT THEY SAID

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU

Israeli Prime Minister

“I was heartbroken and appalled by the murderous attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue today. The entire people of Israel grieve with the families of the dead. We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. We stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality. And we all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded.”

DONALD TRUMP President

“This evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity. It will take all of us working together to extract the poison of anti-Semitism from our world. We must unite to conquer hate.”

BILL PEDUTO Mayor Pittsburgh

He called the slayings the “darkest day of Pittsburgh’s history.”

JOSH SHAPIRO

Pennsylvania Attorney General

“We find strength in one another. This gunman went in to try and kill as many Jews as possible. ... We will come through this. And hopefully this feeling of community that we all share today can be channeled into each of us doing our part of rooting out hate.”

JEFF SESSIONS

U.S. Attorney General

“This was not just an attack on the Jewish faith. It was an attack on all people of faith. It was an attack on America’s values of protecting those of faith.”

BARACK OBAMA

Former President

“We grieve for the Americans murdered in Pittsburgh. All of us have to fight the rise of anti-Semitism and hateful rhetoric against those who look, love, or pray differently. And we have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun.”

SCOTT BRADY

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania

“The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity.”

JONATHAN GREENBLATT CEO

Anti-Defamation League

“We are devastated. Jews targeted on Shabbat morning at synagogue, a holy place of worship, is unconscionable. Our hearts break for the victims, their families, and the entire Jewish community.”

CHUCK DIAMOND

Former Rabbi Tree of Life Synagogue

“This has always been a thought in the back of my mind, scenarios just like this. During the week the building is locked. We have a security camera to see who comes. But on Sabbath it’s an open door. And there are people right there where he would have walked in.”

NAFTALI BENNETT

Minister of Education and Minister of Diaspora Affairs in Israel

“When Jews are murdered in Pittsburgh, the people of Israel feel pain. All Israel are responsible for one another.”

REUVEN RIVLIN

President Israel

“We are thinking of ‘our brothers and sisters, the whole house of Israel, in this time of trouble,’ as we say in the morning prayers. We are thinking of the families of those who were murdered and praying for the quick recovery of those who were injured. I am sure that the law enforcement agencies and the legal authorities in the U.S. will investigate this horrific event thoroughly and that justice will be served on the despicable murderer.”

ART ROONEY II

Owner Pittsburgh Steelers

“Our hearts are heavy, but we must stand against anti-Semitism and hate crimes of any nature and come together to preserve our values and our community.”

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

“We are incredibly saddened to hear of this morning’s tragedy at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. We send our thoughts and prayers to all those affected.”

From the Twitter world

To see more tweets visit cjn.org/stronger_than_hate

Sen. Sherrod Brown Jewish Democrats endorse

STRONGER THAN HATE

ONLINE CHATTER

What our readers are saying about our stories online. Read the full comments and more at cjn.org and Facebook.com/ClevelandJewishNews.

Re: Cleveland community vigil photo

album

Many thanks to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland for organizing tonight’s important event, allowing us to come together to grieve as a community, and to hear expressions of love and support from a diverse group of local clergy.

— Char Rapoport Nance

Very well done and moving vigil to remember those lost, and gain strength to fight hated from a wide and diverse group of religious leaders and community officials and law enforcement officials across agencies

— Harriet Mann

Re: CJN live stream of the Cleveland community vigil

Very proud to be a member of our amazing Cleveland Jewish community. Glad we were there.

— Wendy Schwarz

A truly incredible Jewish community. Wish I could have been there.

— Erika Brunwasser

I am saddened to read a piece published in a Jewish newspaper that wraps a tragedy for the Jewish community around a political and agenda driven piece the day after the tragedy occurred.... Admittedly, my main thought as I watched the news coverage on Saturday morning was if security had been present. Who was doing the shooting was an afterthought. This is probably why I can hear the President’s comment without thinking he is blaming the Jews....

— Jordan Smith

Thank you Regina! It is awful that in this age and time we are still fighting this fight. It hurts me to the core. We are all made in the likeness of GOD. He is all things for all people with different NAMES. Hatred is ugly.

— Katherine Weaver

Get rid of every single gun and this will stop.

— Sandra Estelle Larson

It’s not about any group of people It’s about people with problems and access to guns. Stop the guns and the problems of mass shootings will end. This can happen anywhere. It is disgusting!

— Sally Messinger

Re: Security increased at area synagogues in wake of deadly Pittsburgh shooting

I was prepared this morning when I went to synagogue, and always will be

— Steven Carp

Station IDF soldiers at every Jewish institution. Enough is enough

— Mark Liner

Time to get off your ass and fight back by votingl

— Al Levine

Re: Breaking News: 8 dead, several others injured in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting

This is so tragic, so stupid, and will it ever stop. People just love to hate: Jews, blacks, Mexicans, etc. etc. Prayers for the deceased and their families. Prayers that these cowardly killings stop.

— Sandra Estelle Larson

My heart goes out to all there and everyone who is suffering from this. When something like this happens, it isn’t just the families who mourn and grieve, but those who love the Jewish people too. May HaShem comfort all of you at this most saddest time.

—

Peggy Grandel Muraco

Awful. So close to home. The hatred in this country is growing faster than ever.

— Brian Rosenfelt

Stand together!!

— Brian Lackritz

Re: Brett: ‘Blame the Jews again: Enough is enough’

As a WW2 VET I am upset and angry that this is happpening in the USA, and I hope my vote makes a difference. GET OUT AND VOTE.

— Merv Singer

The criminals and terrorists will always find guns or anything else to destroy. I’ll keep my guns to protect my family.

— Julie Hoffman

I stand with you on this, Julie. I agree wholeheartedly about keeping my guns and self-protection.

— Michelle Herchick

As a non-Jew but Jewish in soul, I abhor this tragedy, on all its levels. May God comfort the grieving with his tears.

— Pat Maskow Firem

This is the repetitive tragedy that needs EVERYONE’s attention and working together to eliminate totally and permanently in support of our law enforcement officers to keep ALL safe and free...

— Dolores Hughes Wolfe

Wexner speaks at Columbus vigil

TAMI KAMIN MEYER | CONTRIBUTOR contributor@cjn.org

Leslie H. Wexner, chairman and CEO of L Brands, was among the speakers Oct. 28 at a vigil at the Schottenstein Auditorium in the Jewish Community Center of Columbus. He spoke of the randomness of the gunman’s murderous actions noting, “It could have been us and any of our congregations.”

He reminded attendees of the various acts of attempted and successful acts of violence in just the past week, namely the mailing of pipe bombs to several politicians and others, and the murder of two black shoppers at a Kroger supermarket in Kentucky after the gunman unsuccessfully attempted to infiltrate a black church to kill worshipers there.

“The foundation of leadership is morality,” said

Wexner, one of the richest people in Ohio and who recently abandoned the Republican Party to be an independent. “The question of morality is at stake. The leadership we have makes me worry.”

Despite never mentioning his name, Wexner’s comments made clear he was referring to President Donald Trump.

“There is no question in my mind the leadership of our country is flawed,” he said.

Wexner described how, in Judaism, shomrim not only guard the body of the deceased, but their souls as well.

“We must guard the soul of our country,” he said. “We have to be embarrassed and take action. Not just for ourselves, but for our country.”

Tami Kamin Meyer is a freelance writer from Bexley, Ohio.

When will all this horrific tragedies will stop. My heart is broken for all that lost a love one. May their memory be a blessing and bring peace.we need to be united instead of playing the blaming game.

— Isabel Hagerman

Please focus on the victims and not politics!

— Steven Seiler

Comments appearing in Online Chatter originate from cjn.org and Facebook.com/ ClevelandJewishNews. You can post comments to any story at any time. We will edit in print for brevity and obvious typos.

L Brands chairman and CEO Leslie H. Wexner speaks at the vigil. | CJN photo / Tami Kamin Meyer

Trumps pay tribute at Pittsburgh synagogue where 11 were killed

ZEKE

MILLER AND JONATHAN LEMIRE | ASSOCIATED PRESS

PITTSBURGH – One stone and one white rosebud for each victim.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump paid homage Oct. 30 to each of the 11 people slain in the worst instance of anti-Semitic violence in American history. As the Trumps placed their tributes outside the Tree of Life synagogue, protesters nearby shouted that the president was not welcome.

The emotional, dissonant scene reflected the increasingly divided nation that Trump leads, one gripped by a week of political violence and hate and hurtling toward contentious midterm elections that could alter the path of a presidency.

On their arrival in Pittsburgh, the Trumps entered the vestibule of the synagogue, where they lit candles for each victim before stepping outside. Shouts of “Words matter!” and “Trump, go home!” could be heard from demonstrators gathered not far from where a gunman had opened fire Oct. 27.

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who was conducting services when the shots rang out, gestured at the white Star of David posted for each victim. At each, the president placed a stone, a Jewish burial tradition, while the first lady added a flower. They were trailed by first daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, who are Jewish.

Near the synagogue, flowers, candles and chalk drawings filled the corner, including

a small rock painted with the number “6,000,011,” adding the victims this week to the estimated number of Jews killed in the Holocaust.

The Trumps later spent more than an hour at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where some of the victims are recovering. The couple’s motorcade passed several hundred protesters on the street and a sign that said “It’s your fault.” Inside, Trump visited with wounded police officers and spent an hour with the widow of victim Dr. Richard Gottfried, according to White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Trump stepped into the role of national consoler, a title he wears uncomfortably, with his visit to the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. More at home waging partisan warfare than assuaging America’s grief, Trump has shied away from public displays of unity in the wake of other tragedies.

Sanders said Trump did not speak publicly Oct. 29 to denounce anti-Semitism because he has spoken about it before.

“He wanted today to be about showing respect for the families and the friends of the victims as well as for Jewish Americans,” Sanders said.

Questions have long swirled about the president’s credibility as a unifier. Since his 2016 Republican campaign for the White

During a visit to Pittsburgh Oct. 30, President Donald Trump, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, and Tree of Life Congregation Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, places a stone from the White House at a memorial for those killed. | AP Photo / Andrew Harnik

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House, Trump has at times been slow to denounce white nationalists, neo-Nazis and other hate-filled individuals and groups that found common cause with his nationalistic political rhetoric.

Trump traveled to the historic hub of the city’s Jewish community as the first funerals were held for the victims, who range in age from 54 to 97. The dead include a set of brothers, a husband and wife, professors, dentists and a physician.

Hundreds of protesters assembled to show their displeasure with Trump’s presence, some carrying signs that said “Hate has No Home in Squirrel Hill” and “Trump Loves Nazis.”

Squirrel Hill resident Paul Carberry said Trump should not have visited until the dead were buried.

“He didn’t pull the trigger, but his verbiage and actions don’t help,” Carberry said.

But Shayna Marcus, a nurse who rushed to the synagogue on Saturday to help with the wounded, said she felt that the president was taking an unfair portion of the blame.

“I don’t think focusing on Trump is the answer – or on politics,” said Marcus, whose four yarmulke-wearing boys carried signs in support of the president.

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, back in Washington, told reporters: “If people are there to protest, that’s their right. For the president, it was not a moment for politics.”

When Air Force One touched down at the airport outside Pittsburgh, the Trumps were not greeted by the usual phalanx of local officials that typically welcomes a visiting president, a reflection of controversy surrounding the visit.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, a Democrat, told reporters before the visit was announced that the White House ought to consult with the families of the victims about their preferences and asked that the president not come during a funeral. Neither he nor Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf appeared with Trump.

President’s team seeks Rabbi Skoff’s input before visiting Pittsburgh

ALYSSA SCHMITT | STAFF REPORTER aschmitt@cjn.org | @AlyssaSchmitCJN

Before President Donald J. Trump paid a solemn visit to those grieving in Pittsburgh in the wake of a shooting at Tree of Life Congregation, an advance team for the president planning the visit called a Cleveland rabbi for advice.

Rabbi Joshua Skoff, senior rabbi at Park Synagogue in Cleveland Heights and Pepper Pike, received the call Oct. 29. The team wanted to know if the plans they had to honor the victims were appropriate.

The team talked with Skoff about laying down 11

flowers, one for each of the victims. Skoff said that was OK, but also suggested they lay down 11 pebbles.

“I said it might be nice to lay 11 stones down there,” Skoff said. “Clearly, you don’t do that until the (headstone) is laid down, but it shows he’s aware that now there will be 11 funerals because of these 11 deaths.”

CNN reported Oct. 30 Trump placed small stones taken from the White House grounds on 11 Star of David markers planted outside Tree of Life Congregation in Squirrel Hill, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

Why exactly Skoff was called for advice, he couldn’t answer.

“It’s one of the mysteries of the White House,” he said.

Synagogue suspect indicted on 44 counts

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The suspect in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre was indicted by a federal grand jury Oct. 31.

It charges Robert Bowers with 44 counts, including hate crimes. Federal prosecutors previously indicated they plan to seek the death penalty.

U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said, “Today begins the process of seeking justice for the victims of these hateful acts.”

Authorities said Bowers opened fire in Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh Oct. 27, killing 11 and wounding six, including four police officers.

Bowers is jailed without bail.

The funerals for the victims began Oct. 30. Bowers

Mourners walk behind the hearse carrying the casket of Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz to Homewood Cemetery following a funeral service at the Jewish Community Center in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh Oct. 30. | AP photo / Gene J. Puskar

Clevercover

YONATAN LEVI | columnists@cjn.org

Rock groups cover originals, reporters cover stories, grizzly bears cover their tracks, cornerbacks cover wide receivers, dust jackets cover books, dusters cover crops and Jews cover challahs. On shabbos, the challahs are hidden under a beautiful blanket until kiddush is made, hands are washed and hamotzi is recited. Challah covers are often colorful and eye-pleasing, adding extra panache and flair to the shabbos table.

To be clear, Jews do not cover their challahs to keep them warm, safe or a surprise. Jews do not cover their challahs to play peekaboo or hide-and-goseek. Jews do not cover their challahs to avoid the press, paparazzi or door-to-door salespeople. Jews also do not cover their challahs for a Houdini-inspired magic trick (“Ta-Da!”) or to protect them from the elements.

According to most scholars, Jews cover their challahs for at least three thoughtful reasons.

Reason No. 1: Jews cover their challahs in recognition that the shabbos meal itself does not come about because of the challahs. Rather, it arrives by virtue of making kiddush over the wine. In this connection, the Talmud states that one actually should not even roll out the shabbos table until after kiddush in order to highlight that the kiddush is the essential driver: “And the Sages agree that one may bring the table only if he has already recited kiddush.” (Pesachim 100b) The Talmud further states that “if one (already) brought out the table before kiddush, one should (instead) spread a cloth over the food and recite kiddush.” (Pesachim 100b) Based on this provision, Jews cover the challahs as an alternative symbolic gesture of deference to the kiddush, a wink to the wine and give to the grape. How do I know this? I heard it through the grapevine.

Reason No. 2: Jews also cover their challahs to avoid embarrassment. No, not like a curtain in a changing room. And no, challahs are not covered to hide their unpleasant burnt edges, cracked crusts or other baking defects. The potential embarrassment at issue stems from a perceived slight that the challahs might feel. Ordinarily, a meal would begin with a bracha over bread (hamotzi lechem min haaretz) before the bracha

over wine (borei pri hagafen) is recited. On shabbos, however, the tables are turned (and possibly folded) so that the hagafen bracha takes precedence over and thus precedes the hamotzi. Once again, the kiddush is the star of the show and thus the challah arguably has a legitimate reason to feel snubbed. In this situation, however, there is little that can be said to console an angry challah and you certainly should not attempt do so. If people see you talking to a loaf, they will think you are half-baked.

Reason No. 3: Jews also cover their challahs to commemorate the manna that rained down from heaven during the forty years in the desert. The Talmud states that the manna that fell in the desert was encased on both sides by a layer of dew: “Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi anina, said, ‘There was dew above and dew below, with the manna in between, and the manna appeared as if it were placed in a box of dew.’” (Yoma 75b) So, challah covers are a nod to the dewy desert experience. And yes, back in the desert, Jewish librarians used the “Dewy” Decimal System. The books were a little damp but easy to track.

Final thought: Jews actually cover things other than challahs. Heads are covered with kippot, a sukkah is covered with s’chach and the chazzan is covered with cantorial insurance.

Yonatan Levi writes humor columns for the Cleveland Jewish News.

DISCLAIMER

Letters, commentaries and opinions appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff.

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Challah bake brings out 1,000 women to launch Shabbos Project

JANE KAUFMAN | STAFF REPORTER jkaufman@cjn.org | @jkaufmancjn

About 1,000 women gathered to bake challah together Oct. 25 at the fifth annual Challah in the CLE at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights.

The color of the evening was hot pink. The three emcees donned pink capes. About 100 volunteers also donned pink T-shirts and, in some cases, pink tutus. Even Landerhaven’s chandelier threw pink light.

Esther Tova Geller, 16, of Cleveland Heights said she learned about the opportunity to volunteer for the challah bake at the Friendship Circle in Pepper Pike, where she volunteers.

“I get to run around and act crazy,” she said. “Who wouldn’t love it?”

She was at the event with her friend Adena Hoen, 17, of Cleveland Heights who said she doesn’t bake challah.

“My grandfather does,” she said. “He bakes challah for my synagogue and for us every Shabbos.”

Shawn Fink, one of the few men in the room, was the DJ for the event, pumping high-energy dance tunes into an eclectic mix that included Israeli songs.

As the emcees Dahlia Fisher, Judge Francine Goldberg and Dina Rock took the stage, he spun Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration Time,” which the emcees made into Challah-bration time.

“Each one of us in this room tonight is a superwoman,” Rock told the group. “We are strong, beautiful, powerful Jewish women. Look at this room, look around you, turn to someone right now and tell them, ‘You’re amazing|’ There is love in this room tonight.”

Women and girls from Jewish day schools and synagogues in Greater Cleveland, Akron and Canton reserved tables of 10, set with clear plastic bowls, gloves, hand sanitizer, plastic placemats with the recipe, and all the ingredients, along with foil pans, aluminum foil, plastic measuring spoons and measuring cups. A blue apron was on

INGREDIENTS

every chair.

Adding to the party atmosphere, there were glow sticks, lollipops and chocolate sprinkles on the tables. The Challah Brators, a group of girls, spent time dancing in front of the stage.

“I’m happy you’re all here and want to talk to each other,” said Cheryl Fox, Cleveland Shabbos Project chairperson. “Welcome, and thank you, Landerhaven, for being able to get us all into one room.”

“It’s getting bigger and better,” Fox said. “This is the biggest, most diverse, Jewish women’s event in Northeast Ohio.”

“We have the power to bring this energy back to our homes, to our families, to our communities, and make connections that change the world,” Fisher said.

The challah bake provided a social opportunity for many.

“I needed to hear the noise of 999 other meshugenah women,” said Dr. Linda Schoenberg of Cleveland Heights who attends B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike. “I like to be among friends.”

Schoenberg said she had never baked challah before. “I try not to eat carbs.”

Four generations of women were working side by side at table 74, with Olga Simon, 96 as the matriarch of the group. Her daughter, Sharon Ungar, was working with her. Next to her was Ungar’s daughter, Jordana Thal, whose daughter, Maya, 2, was also along.

Simon said she last baked challah “many years ago.”

Alex Fleksher, who teaches at Chaviva High School in Cleveland Heights, took the stage with Sheri Gross, director of creative programs at Gross Schechter Day School in Pepper

CHALLAH BY THE

NUMBERS FLOUR 2,280 POUNDS SUGAR 304 YEAST 23 POUNDS SALT 19 39 GALLONS OIL

CHALLAH | 29

Sammy Horowitz works the dough. She was at a table with her school, the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School. | CJN photos / Jane Kaufman

About 1,000 women and girls gather at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights to make challah dough together.

Pike, to lead the group in the prayer for the separation of the challah dough. Students at Gross Schechter Day School took the stage to sing as well.

“Everyone, please close your eyes,” Fleksher said, asking the group to hold hands with their neighbors and first pray for themselves and then for all Jewish people.

The event was the first in a series that continues through Oct. 28 highlighting Shabbat as part of the International Shabbos Project, which was launched in South Africa six years ago and went international the following year. For the first time this year, a parallel event for men took place at the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood.

Fink had a bird’s-eye view of the event from the back of the stage where he announced the emcees and worked from his playlist.

“It’s really cool to feed off a thousand people, especially with the girls down in front there,” Fink said. “Their energy is

rather contagious. The feeling of unity is really palpable in the room.”

“If one person left inspired, then we’ve accomplished our mission,” Goldberg said. “If one woman lights Shabbos candles or has a family over for Shabbos dinner, then we’ve accomplished our mission.”

Women from Anshe Sfard-Rever Road Synagogue in Akron fill two tables.

Cheryl Fox, Shabbos Project chairperson, tells the group that the 2018 challah bake is the largest, most diverse event in Northeast Ohio for Jewish women.

Esther Tova Geller, 16, left, and Adena Hoen, 17, both of Cleveland Heights, take a peek in the mirror as they prepare to volunteer at Challah in the CLE.

CHALLAH | 28

Women and girls hold hands before saying the prayer over the separation of the challah dough.

High school volunteers known as the Challah-Brators whip up the energy level of the crowd.

Emcees Dina Rock, from left, Dahlia Fisher and Judge Francine Goldberg admitted in a video made for the event that none has baked challah.

Men’s Night Out focuses on mini-topics

ALYSSA SCHMITT | STAFF REPORTER aschmitt@cjn.org | @AlyssaSchmitCJN

While women and girls filled Landerhaven’s halls in Mayfield Heights to make challah, a group of men gathered at the Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland in Beachwood as part of the Cleveland Shabbos Project for its first Men’s Night Out Oct. 25.

The night was organized by Ari Jaffe, a member of Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood, who felt it was important to have community expressions of education and preparation for Shabbat. Because the challah bake is only open to women, Jaffe said he wanted an event that would appeal to men. He said the night wasn’t designed for boys because beer was being served.

About 20 men attended to hear six rabbis who each gave a 10-minute presentation focused on different aspects of Shabbos. Topics ranged from preparing for Shabbat and the essence of Shabbos to examining what is work and the significance behind shalom aleichem. The six rabbis who spoke were Rabbi Binyamin Blau of Green Road Synagogue, Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum of Jewish Learning

Connection in University Heights, Rabbi Avery Joel, head of school at Fuchs Mizrachi School in Beachwood, Rabbi Pinchas Landis of Partners in Torah of Cleveland, Rabbi Hal Rudin-Luria of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike and Rabbi Arieh Friedner of Cleveland NCSY.

“There are many different ways in celebrating and recognizing shabbat and each of the rabbis who presented offered a different perspective,” Jaffe said. “I hope it was a quality educational event

and a good experience and a really nice way on Thursday evening to begin their own preparation for Shabbat.”

Brian Fox, whose wife Cheryl is Cleveland Shabbos Project chairperson, came to support the event and wanted to hear the different perspectives the rabbis brought. He said he enjoyed the format of brief 10-minute talks and compared it to a TED talk, which can be brief educational talks published online.

“It’s 10-minute talks, they’re short and to the point,” said Fox, a member of Green Road Synagogue. “I thought they were meaningful and it forces the speaker to really get to the meat of the subject quickly.”

While not as many men attended as expected, Jaffe sees a benefit for hosting it and plans to continue the event next year. After the talks concluded, the men could play basketball or volleyball.

“We

Schwalberg receives Fogel Community Service Award

SEAN MCDONNELL

Menorah Park COO Richard Schwalberg was awarded the Jerry Fogel Community Service Award by the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association.

Schwalberg accepted the award on behalf of the FBI Cleveland Citizens Academy Alumni Association, of which he is the chairman. The award is given each year to one of 60 chapters that provides their community with the most outstanding community service project of the year.

Schwalberg said what he likes about the award is it highlights the city and

makes his chapter an example for others to model.

“What I love about it is it shows Cleveland is the best,” Schwalberg said. The community service event the chapter was recognized for was the Light Northern Ohio Blue collaborative project. In mid-May, the chapter along with many other law enforcement organizations, worked to light up places in the city with blue light in support of law enforcement.

Schwalberg and the chapter worked with local hardware stores to have them donate blue lights, which they used to light up the George V. Voinovich bridges in Cleveland. They also donated lights for people to use at their homes.

Sean McDonnel is the Violet Spevack Editorial Intern at the Cleveland Jewish News.

Schwalberg

Rabbi Binyamin Blau of Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood speaks about preparing for Shabbat to men who attended the first Cleveland Shabbos Project’s Men’s Night Out event at the Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland in Beachwood. | CJN photos / Alyssa Schmitt

Ari Jaffe, a Green Road Synagogue member, speaks at Men’s Night Out.

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Cleveland Port’s Friedman elected national board chair

ED CARROLL | STAFF REPORTER ecarroll@cjn.org | @EdCarrollCJN

The American Association of Port Authorities is turning to Cleveland for its chair of the board for next year. Port of Cleveland president and CEO William D. Friedman was elected as chair of the board of the AAPA on March 20, and the Shaker Heights resident assumed the position for his one-year term on Oct. 10.

Friedman, who has been at the Port of Cleveland since the summer of 2010, said being elected to the chair position of the AAPA, which represents seaports in the U.S., Canada, Central America and the Caribbeans, was an honor.

“I’ve been in this industry for a long time, going back to late 1980s, and I really enjoy the work I do,” Friedman said. “I feel strongly and have a lot of passion about the importance of port authorities both locally to their communities and nationally in their importance to our economy ... I also get gratification working with colleges in Canada and Latin America.”

Friedman, who attends The

Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beachwood, said a goal of his term is to continue to carry on some of the AAPA’s strategic initiatives that are already underway, and he hopes to be able to advocate on behalf of the nations’ ports if the president decides to put forth an infrastructure bill, as he considers the ports important connectors of the economy and doesn’t want them to be overlooked. He will also head a search committee to find a replacement for AAPA’s longtime president and CEO, Kurt J. Nagle, who plans to retire next fall. Nagle said the other members of the board recognized Friedman is well-respected in the industry and able to build a consensus among the organization’s members.

“(Friedman) has been actively involved in the industry and association for many years and that leadership and respect has resulted in him being elected as chair,” Nagle said. “The association is over 100 years old, I’ve worked here for 30 years and known Will for 20 (years). We don’t come to these decisions lightly.”

Clergy learn what they can do to help addicted

JANE KAUFMAN | STAFF REPORTER jkaufman@cjn.org | @jkaufmancjn

Rabbis, cantors and Jewish educators gathered to hear about steps they can take to make synagogues places of refuge rather than places of shunning for those who are addicted.

In the five-hour conference Oct. 25 at the Laura & Alvin Siegal Lifelong Learning Program of Case Western Reserve University, “It Happens Here: Addiction and Mental Health Issues in the Jewish Community,” Marla Kaufman, founder and executive director of the Jewish Addiction and Awareness Network, told of her family’s alienation from their synagogue in 2006 as her son struggled with addiction.

“We felt very judged when we were out in the community,” Kaufman, of Orange County, Calif., told the Cleveland Jewish News. “It was the first time in my darkest moments when I couldn’t access my Jewish community,”

She said times have changed and so has awareness of addiction.

However, when she asked for a show of hands of the 26 people in the room who had attended an open Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, fewer than half raised their hands.

Rabbis can draw connections between Judaism and the language of recovery, said Jory Hanselman, director of BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy and also presented at the conference. Also presenting was Dr.

Paul Manning of MetroHealth.

Cantor Kathryn Wolfe Sebo pointed out there are Alcoholics Anonymous meetings four days a week at the Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beachwood. Suburban Temple Kol-Ami in Beachwood also has Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

“We need to open our arms to individuals and families who are suffering from substance addiction,” Sebo said. “While this is a global problem, it’s also a Jewish problem.”

When Kaufman recommended not making alcohol the focus, someone noted Rabbi Matthew Eisenberg holds a sober second night seder at Temple Ner Tamid in Mayfield Heights.

“Kiddush should be grape juice,” said Rabbi Nissim Abrin of Bais Avrohom in Beachwood. “The kids line up. They love that stuff.”

Kaufman also suggested inviting speakers on addiction, developing libraries, including addiction in healing prayers and opening synagogues for recovery meetings.

Sheryl Hirsh, assistant director of the Case Western Reserve University’s Laura and Alvin Siegal Jewish Lifelong Learning, hosted the event, and told of her daughter, Melissa Rae Koppel, who died of a heroin overdose in 2013 at age 23.

“I think rabbis can do a lot to help make this issue not so unusual, to bring it in and say, hey, we need to support these families, just like we need to support families of

cancer patients,” said Rabbi Michael Ross. He leads Temple Beth Shalom in Hudson and is the senior student educator at Kent State University.

“Just as we all have a defibrillator, we should all have Narcan.” said Rabbi Sharon Marcus of Park Synagogue, who gave a High Holy Day sermon about mental health, suicide and addiction. “I got a lot of calls, but not about the addiction piece.”

Abrin said he was struck by the what he heard.

“When I encounter these issues,” he said, “I will be as sympathetic, as empathetic, and as compassionate as possible to meet people where they are and understand what they’re going through as if they were my own children.”

William D. Friedman, right, accepts the American Association of Port Authorities chairman’s gavel from AAPA’s 2017-18 chair, Steve Cernak, chief executive and port director for Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. | Photo / Tom Hranac / American Association of Port Authorities

Rabbis listen at a conference on addiction at the Laura & Alvin Siegal Lifelong Learning Program of Case Western Reserve University Oct. 25. | CJN photos / Jane Kaufman

Marla Kaufman, founder and executive director of the Jewish Addiction and Awareness Network, speaks about changing synagogue culture to make it more welcoming to those struggling with addiction.

Shaarey Tikvah, B’nai Jeshurun to commemorate Kristallnacht

JANE KAUFMAN | STAFF REPORTER jkaufman@cjn.org |

@jkaufmancjn

In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht, a scholar of German studies will detail the lives of three mothers who emigrated to Shanghai, China, as a direct result of the “Night of Shattered Glass.”

Two of the women, Auguste Sternberg and Ida Abraham., eventually lived in Cleveland. Grete Gabler, the third, settled in Australia, but her son, Eric Kisch also came to Cleveland.

Kevin Ostoyich, associate professor and chair of the department of history at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Ind., will speak at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Congregation Shaarey Tikvah in Beachwood in a joint program with B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike.

The night of Nov. 9, 1938, became a turning point for thousands of Jews in Germany. Tens of thousands of Jews were sent to concentration camps that night. Nearly 200 synagogues were destroyed, and more than 8,000 shops owned by Jews were looted and ransacked.

“This changed everything,” Ostoyich said of Kristallnacht. “Their lives were literally changed overnight. You have fathers being transported to concentration camps where they’re treated horribly.”

Ostoyich said it is estimated that between 16,000 and 18,000 Jews made their way to Shanghai to escape persecution. Shanghai became a refuge because it did not require visas, but it was not the first choice among the refugees. Most would have preferred to go to the United States, where there was a “paper wall,” he said.

“It was the place of last resort,” he said of Shanghai.

Ostoyich interviewed the sons of all three women: Gary Sternberg, Eric Kisch and Harry Abraham.

He found common themes among the three women he studied.

Many of the women were used to being taken care of both by their

The Women of Kristallnacht

WHERE: Congregation Shaarey Tikvah, 26811 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood

WHEN: 2:30 p.m. Nov. 4

TICKETS: Free INFO: 216-765-8300

husbands and by their servants.

“A lot of them have been, I guess we would say, kind of pampered up to that point in that they sometimes had servants and even chauffeurs.”

The reality of their plight forced women, many living without their husbands, to do things they had never done before in order to take care of their families, including finding their husbands and arranging for emigration.

“Women are really forced to take on roles in the families that were often taken on by their husbands,” Ostoyich said. “They find that they’re very resourceful, and they find that they’re capable of doing this.”

Ostoyich said the changes in the roles of women were permanent.

“It’s just a complete change in the whole dynamic of the household,” Ostoyich. “Once that happens, you find you never really can go back to what the household had been.”

He chose to focus on the stories of women as a way of thinking about the Holocaust in a different way.

”I think this story is often forgotten as people focus on the men in the concentration camps,” Ostoyich said.

The event also will feature a dramatic reading from the book by Andrea von Treuenfeld, “Going Back: 16 Jewish Women Tell Their Life Stories, and Why They Returned to Germany – The Country that Once Wanted to Kill Them.”

Rabbi Stephen Weiss of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation, said, “With less and less survivors alive who can tell their stories, it becomes urgent that we all stand together and make sure the memory of the horrors of the Holocaust and its many lessons never fade away. By paying tribute to these heroic women, we honor both victims and survivors and take a vital stand against those who seek to promote hatred still in our day.”

Rabbi Scott Roland of Shaarey Tikvah said, “Kristallnacht still haunts the memories of many in our community. Because it indelibly marks what may have been the tragic spark that led to the spreading firestorm of oppression of Jews in Europe. Hopefully this reading helps future generations to never forget.”

Federation’s Hoffman to be honored for 35 years of dedication

ALYSSA SCHMITT | STAFF REPORTER aschmitt@cjn.org | @AlyssaSchmitCJN

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland will celebrate Stephen H. Hoffman’s 35 years of leadership as president of the Federation with a tribute dinner Nov. 12 at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland.

Various U.S. and Israeli dignitaries along with local community leaders and members will honor Hoffman’s commitment to Jewish Clevelanders and Jews around the world, said Gary L. Gross, board chair of the Federation’s board of trustees. Several musicians from the Cleveland Orchestra, where Hoffman is a board member, will provide a musical backdrop during the event.

Gross said he hopes having the event at the museum, where Federation events are typically not held, provides a unique and meaningful night for Hoffman. He said he expects 600 to 800 people to attend.

“There are so many things that Steve has done from a leadership perspective that make him important to Cleveland and important to Jews around the world,” said Gross, a Shaker Heights resident.

He highlighted Hoffman’s dedication to Jewish education and his ability to raise funds through the Federation’s campaign, which benefits Jews in Cleveland, Israel and areas in the world, among other achievements.

“These are some of the things Steve can be very proud of,” Gross said. “He wants to welcome everyone into the community no matter where they sit in the tent, he wants them all in the community. I think it’s one of the reasons why people have so much respect for Steve because they know there’s nothing in it for him except for he wants what’s best for the Jews of Cleveland, in America and around the world.”

Celebrating Stephen H. Hoffman

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. pre-event sponsor reception, 6:30 dinner and main event, Nov. 12

WHERE: Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland INFO: Featuring tributes to Hoffman and music by members of the Cleveland Orchestra. RSVP to Jayme Honigman at 216-593-2823 or jhonigman@jcfcleve.org

Gross

Stephen H. Hoffman

Roland Weiss

Lewinsky discusses cyber bullying; Cohen receives Bass Award

ALYSSA

SCHMITT | STAFF REPORTER

aschmitt@cjn.org | @AlyssaSchmitCJN

After nearly a decade of staying silent, Monica Lewinsky said she is once again in the public eye to take back control of her narrative and advocate against bullying during the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s women’s philanthropy Signature Event Oct. 29 at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights.

That night, Nan Cohen was honored with the Ruby Bass Award for her dedication to the Cleveland Jewish community and the women’s philanthropy campaign.

Lewinsky has a particular focus on cyber bullying as she said she was among the first to experience online harassment. Until news of her relationship with then-President Bill Clinton broke in 1998, she explained people had only gotten their news through radio, TV or print. In 1998, that changed with the addition of the internet. In addition, a report based on the investigation between her and Clinton was one of the first of its kind to be made public online by Congress, which anyone could read.

“In 1998, after having been swept up into this improbable romance, I was then swept up into the eye of the political, legal and media storm that we had never seen before,” she said. “Now, if the investigation had unfolded only a few years earlier, it would have been against a backdrop of a much lower, much less crowded media landscape.”

Lewinsky said when she walks into a room, people tend to know a lot about her, so to open her talk discussion, “The Price of Shame,” she told the audience

of about 230 women some “Monica Lewinsky Jewish trivia.”

“First, I can bake a mean challah despite the fact that I am a terrible cook,” she said. “Second, is that the first of me wearing berets did not begin in Washington D.C. It actually started at my younger brother’s bar mitzvah. ... I grew up in a Conservative Jewish family, we had shabbat on many Friday nights.”

She joked that she didn’t have a bat mitzvah because when her father asked if the party or the ceremony was more important, 12-year-old Lewinsky answered party.

“Over the course of my life, my relationship to my heritage and my religion has actually been jagged,” she said. “My strong sense of family is rooted in the cultural traditions of Judaism but there have been periods in my life where my faith has been challenged and 1998 was one of those times, particularly in the aftermath.”

In that time, she said she was fat shamed, humiliated, ridiculed, objectified and gradually came to realize there were two Monica Lewinskys, a public one and a private one. The public version was constructed by various “political factions in the media” and branded with a “little fact and a lot of fiction.”

“My friends didn’t know that Monica, my family didn’t know that Monica,” she said. “This Monica, the real Monica standing here today, I didn’t recognize that Monica either. I was seen by many but truly known by few. And I get it, it was easy to forget I was dimensional, have a soul and was once unbroken.”

She brought up the story of an 18-year-old male college student who

jumped to his death in 2010 after a recording of him being intimate with another man was made public online and he was ridiculed for it. His death became a turning point for Lewinsky.

“It contextualized my own experiences and I then began to look at the world around me in a different way, a world that was now full of public humiliation and bullying,” she said. Her return to the public eye started with a 2014 essay in Vanity Fair. Since then, she has done multiple speaking engagements and marketing campaigns to fight cyber bulling.

The Oct. 27 shooting that took the life of 11 people at Tree of Life Congregation in Squirrel Hill, a neighborhood of Pittsburgh, was also noted at the event.

When Sandy Wuliger went to light memorial candles for Lion of Judah members who have died, an extra candle was lit for the victims of the shooting.

“We must remain vigilante about our own security. This has been and will continue to be a high priority of our Jewish community,” said Erika Rudin-Luria, Federation incoming president. “The terrorist did not stop to ask, ‘What type of Jew are you? What are your political beliefs? How did you vote in the last election?’ All of us are seen as one and the same, equal targets to people filled with hate. There will be many people who will try to lay blame for why this happened. Let’s commit ourselves to not let those different views divide us.”

Ratner urges shareholders to vote against acquisition

ED CARROLL | STAFF REPORTER

ecarroll@cjn.org | @EdCarrollCJN

Forest City Realty Trust

co-chairman emeritus and former CEO Albert Ratner wrote an open letter to Forest City shareholders announcing his intention to vote all of the company shares he controls against Forest City’s pending acquisition by Brookfield Property Partners, according to an Oct. 25 news release. In the letter, Ratner urged his fellow shareholders to vote to reject the acquisition at a special meeting

scheduled for Nov. 15.

“Forest City shareholders have only one question to decide: is it better to accept an effective $24.99 price per share from Brookfield now, or maintain the ability to potentially receive an estimated $46.03 per share (minus potential transaction costs) on an undiscounted basis – which is 84 (percent) more than the $24.99 effective price – over the coming roughly 26 months?” Ratner wrote in his letter.

Ratner also wrote that “it defies reason that the six new members of the board agreed to such a hasty, significantly undervalued transaction” and cited Forest City’s “high quality portfolio” of assets and a low recourse debt, among other reasons for why he feels the stock is undervalued.

“My review of the proxy statement

and other publicly-available information disclosed by Forest City leads to the clear conclusion that the split board agreed to the pending acquisition at the wrong price, at the wrong time, through a flawed process; and that Forest City’s high quality structure means that the $70 million that the split board agreed that the company pay Brookfield if shareholders reject the acquisition could, in effect, be a bargain investment that can yield an enormous return for Forest City shareholders in both the near-term and long-term by enabling the company to pursue strategic alternatives that can generate far greater value than that provided by the Brookfield transaction,” Ratner wrote. Ratner’s announcement relates only to the shares he and his wife control; his letter does not intend to speak for

the intentions of other members of the Ratner family, according to the news release.

When contacted by the Cleveland Jewish News for comment, Ratner referred the request to Saratoga Proxy Consulting, an information agent engaged by Ratner for shareholders with questions about the transactions. Joe Mills, partner at Saratoga Proxy Consulting, said Ratner had been opposed to the transaction for some time but became public about it with this letter. He said the Nov. 15 vote requires a majority of outstanding shares to vote in favor of the deal.

“The math is very compelling here and we expect the shareholders to feel the same way,” Mills said.

Ratner

Monica Lewinsky at the Cannes Lions 2015 International Advertising Festival in Cannes, France, where she teamed up with celebrities for an anti-bullying campaign. | AP Photo / Lionel Cironneau / File

Liffman, Gurney honored at ORT Brunch

AMANDA KOEHN | COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF akoehn@cjn.org | @AmandaKoehnCJN

Kenneth B. Liffman of Orange received the 2018 Maimonides Award for Outstanding Community Service and Todd Gurney of Shaker Heights received the first annual Robert Sill Leadership Award at the 47th annual ORT Ohio Region brunch Oct. 28 at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights.

Ohio Region president Greg Marcus welcomed guests on a somber note, asking them to stand and observe a moment of silence for the 11 people who were killed at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh the day before.

While accepting the award, Liffman thanked those who helped him make a difference.

“Maimonides was among the first to recognize the importance of helping people achieve independence through education, and ORT has been training and educating children and adults for over 138 years,” he said. “I’m proud to raise funds and awareness for ORT so that they can continue this important mission.”

Scott Sill presented the first annual Robert Sill Leadership Award to Gurney. The award was created by the Sill family this year, in memory of longtime ORT leader Robert Sill, who died this summer. The award provides support to an ORT leader so they can experience what Sill called his father’s great passion: visiting an ORT school.

ORT America CEO Jeffrey Cooper also discussed the new brand identity of ORT America.

Cleveland designer and photographer Mariana Edelman, an alumna of ORT Argentina, spoke about her alma mater and introduced a video of an ORT Argentina student who talked about the education she is receiving at an ORT school. ORT Argentina was one of two programs that benefited from the proceeds of the event.

Also, the science building at Kfar Silver Youth Village in Israel has been the focus of the Ohio Region’s fundraising for the past two years. After sharing his experience visiting Kfar Silver this year and meeting the students who benefit from this program, ORT Ohio vice president Mark Adler encouraged

the audience to help the region meet its fundraising goal by the end of the year to complete the renovations of the 60-yearold building.

“The students we met and observed were quite impressive,” Adler said. “Kfar Silver feels like a melting pot, including Bedouins, Russian Jews, Ukrainian Jews, Ethiopian Jews and native Israelis all interacting with one another. Yet the students of Kfar Silver are among the most disadvantaged in Israel. And they are counting on us.”

Publisher’s note: Kevin S. Adelstein, publisher and CEO of the Cleveland Jewish News and president of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, was a co-chair of the event.

The Liffman family includes, David and Danielle Garson, honoree Ken and Gail Liffman, Allison Liffman and Brian Innenberg. | Photos / McKinley Wiley / ORT Ohio Region

Todd Gurney, recipient of the first annual Robert Sill Leadership Award, with Scott Sill, who made the presentation.

ORT America CEO Jeffrey Cooper introduces the organization’s new brand identity.

ORT America national board member Bart Bookatz presents the Maimonides Award to the 2018 honoree, Kenneth B. Liffman.

ORT America Ohio Region vice president Mark Adler tells the audience about his recent visit to Kfar Silver Youth Village, a school the region has been supporting for the past two years.

Cleveland designer and photographer Mariana Edelman introduces a video about her alma mater, ORT Argentina, one of the schools that benefit from the proceeds of the event. Greg Marcus, Ohio Region president, is seated.

6111

LANDERHAVEN

Kosher

PURCHASE TICKETS AT CJN.ORG/18DM

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

ROE GREEN

Philanthropist

CIVIC LEADERSHIP AWARD

JUDGE DAN AARON POLSTER

U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio

DEVORAH ALEVSKY

Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry Director

IRV BERLINER

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Partner

STANLEY BERNATH Retired

DR. SUSAN BICHSEL

Jewish Family Service of Cleveland President and CEO

ART ELK & DAVID ELK Elk & Elk

Managing Member / Senior Partner

ROMAN FRAYMAN

Retired

Co-presenting sponsors

HONOREES

GENERATION AWARD

THE STEIN FAMILY

Carmie and Todd Stein, Abby Diamond, Michelle Hirsch, Jodi Meridieth, Rachel Weinberg, Geraldine and the late Morton Stein

MICHAEL HORVITZ Jones Day Retired Partner

ADAM R. JACOBS

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

Financial Advisor

NOREEN KOPPELMAN-GOLDSTEIN

MidWest Materials

President and General Counsel

MANDY KWAIT

Bellefaire JCB

Director of Care Coordination

RABBI ENID LADER

Beth Israel-The West Temple Rabbi

FERN RUTH LEVY

Anne Frank Moral Courage Project Director / Holocaust Educator

DEENA NYER MENDLOWITZ

Mandel Jewish Community Center Preschool Teacher

DEBORAH PICKER

Fare-Cle Community Fund

Executive Director

MARK J. SACK

Cleveland Heights High School Teacher

DONALD S. SCHERZER

Roetzel & Andress Partner

LEE C. SHAPIRO

American Jewish Committee Regional Director

ERICA G. STARRFIELD

Nestle Marketing Manager

Gift bag sponsor

Friedman, Borden honored at U.S. Supreme Court ceremony

Two law professors from Cleveland State University were honored Oct. 20 in a U.S. Supreme Court ceremony in the Great Room of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

CNN legal analyst Avery Friedman, a CSU alumnus and adjunct law professor, and Michael Borden, associate dean of CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, were honored for their positions as presidents emeritus of the Willam K. Thomas American Inn of Court. The organization has been selected as one of the top inns in the nation by The American Inns of Court.

The event, The American Inns of Court Celebration of Excellence, was presided over by Clarence Thomas, associate justice of the Supreme Court.

Brennan appointed to county planning commission

University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan was appointed to the Cuyahoga County planning commission and will represent the Heights region, which includes Cleveland Heights, East Cleveland, Shaker Heights and University Heights.

Brennan was appointed by Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish. The appointment was approved by county council at its Oct. 10 meeting and Brennan attended his first meeting as a member Oct. 11.

Northeast Factory Direct opens in Macedonia

Northeast Factory Direct opened its newest store at 9009 Freeway Drive in Macedonia. The company also has locations in Euclid and Cleveland.

The new location includes furniture and mattress displays, hot tubs, kitchen and bathroom cabinet displays and kitchen designers.

Pisces Puppy opens in South Euclid

Small dog day care The Pisces Puppy will open at 1449 Messenger Court in South Euclid.

The locally owned-and-operated business caters to small breeds of dogs and also offers grooming services for all breeds.

School safety talk Nov. 4

A program about “School Safety: Looking Back-Looking Forward” will be held from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Nov. 4 at First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, 21600 Shaker Blvd. in Shaker Heights.

Talisa Dixon, superintendent of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District, and Jeffrey DiMuth, Shaker Heights police chief, will speak.

For more information, visit firstunitarian.org or call 216-751-2320.

Maltz Museum to host Jungle Terry Nov. 4

Continuing its Taste of Israel Family Fun Series, the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage will host “Animals of Israel featuring Jungle Terry” from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Nov. 4 at 2929 Richmond Road in Beachwood.

The family-oriented series draws themes from the museum’s new exhibit, “Israel: Then & Now.”

Tickets are $5 for general admission with registration and free for children ages 5 and under and museum members.

For more information, call 216-593-0575 or visit bit.ly/2Jvr4U0.

Katz to discuss cooking Nov. 6

Park Synagogue sisterhood will have “Fun With Yiddish” with Annabelle Weiss at 10 a.m. Nov. 6 Park Synagogue East, 27500 Shaker Blvd. in Pepper Pike.

Rabbi Sharon Marcus will give a women’s Torah study at 10:45 and Rabbi Joshua Skoff will speak about “Contemporary Views in the News” at 11:30. A luncheon will follow at 12:15 p.m. Doug Katz, owner and chef at fire food & drink, will present “Cooking with Fire.”

‘Right Sizing ... Let’s Talk About It’ Nov. 8

For those thinking about downsizing or moving, The Weils will present “Right Sizing ... Let’s Talk About it” from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Nov. 8 at The Weils, 16695 Chillicothe Road in Bainbridge Township.

Topics to be discussed include senior living options, real estate updates, moving and transitioning solutions and estate liquidations.

Panelists are Ivy Kopit, manager of senior living admissions and community relations at The Weils, owner of Smooth Transitions Laura Armbruster, and Realtors Inna Muravin and Anastasiya Strugatsky of the IM Realty Group and Keller Williams. To register, contact Kopit at 440-996-0504 or ikopit@theweils.org.

Hard Rock Rocksino to hold event for veterans

Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park will have events to honor and thank veterans, active duty military personnel and first responders.

Through Nov. 8, proceeds from two “Rocksino Riches” machines will be donated to the Foundation of Ohio Guard and Reserve, which helps provide assistance to families of deployed reservists.

The Rocksino will hold a job fair from 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 8. The event is open to the public, however, all military personnel and their spouses will receive special consideration. Applicants must apply online prior to attending by visiting hrrnp.com.

The Veterans of Comedy Tour will offer a 50 percent ticket discount at the box office. The show is from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 9 and Nov. 10.

On Veterans Day, Nov. 12, the Rocksino will offer a free buffet meal for all military personnel and first responders from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. From 10 to 11 a.m., there will be a Veterans Day ceremony and from noon to 5 p.m. the first 500 guests will receive free T-shirts.

Menorah Park to host Scafuro, Van Doren talk

Menorah Park’s Aging Resource Center will hold its “Happy and Safe at Home” winter dinner conversation at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at the facility’s Saltzman Auditorium, 27100 Cedar Road in Beachwood.

Ryan Scafuro, physical therapist assistant at Menorah Park’s Peter B. Lewis Aquatic & Therapy Center, and Jamie R. Van Doren of North Coast Accessible Homes, will speak about the risks of falls in the home and how to reduce them.

RSVPs are required to Beth Silver at 216-839-6678 or bsilver@menorahpark.org.

IN THE COMMUNITY

In this feature, the Cleveland Jewish News will highlight tribute honorees and other significant community events In The Community. Send event and honoree details with color photos at least six weeks in advance of the event to be considered for inclusion In The Community, to editorial@cjn.org and include “In the Community” in the subject line.

To read more about the events, visit cjn.org/inthecommunity

Nov. 12 / Celebrating Stephen H. Hoffman

Stephen H. Hoffman has served as president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland since 1983. According to an invitation, through his commitment and passion, he has elevated all areas of the work of the Federation.

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 12

WHERE: Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland

TICKETS: $80 per person. Kosher dietary laws observed. RSVP by Oct. 29.

INFO: bit.ly/2Oxctxu

WHO BENEFITS: The Stephen H. Hoffman Endowed Professorship of Hebrew Language and The Stephen H. Hoffman Hebrew Fund

Nov. 10 / Campus Gala to honor Minsters, Wolls

The Schultz Campus for Jewish Life will host its annual Campus Gala, themed “Celebrating Our Community,” Nov. 10 when honorees Rob and Andrea Minster and Tikkun Olam award recipients

Alan and Janice Woll will be recognized.

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10

WHERE: Schultz Campus for Jewish Life, 750 White Pond Drive, Akron

TICKETS: $150

INFO: jewishakron.org/campus-gala or 330-835-0025

WHO BENEFITS: Shaw Jewish Community Center of Akron, The Lippman School and Jewish Family Service of Akron

Nov. 10 / HFLA’s Party114 honors Saint Luke’s Foundation

The Saint Luke’s Foundation will be the recipient of the Hebrew Free Loan Association Planting Seeds Award.

Featured speaker Albert Ratner, co-chairman emeritus of Forest City Realty Trust, will speak about empowering others to find their own success. Party114 will include music and a foodie-themed silent auction that will feature culinary adventures from a cross-section of Northeast Ohio restaurants.

WHEN: 6:30 to 11 p.m., Nov. 10.

WHERE: Silver Grille, Higbee Building, 200 W. Prospect St., Cleveland COST: $180

INFO: hflaclev.ejoinme.org/tickets

WHO BENEFITS: Hebrew Free Loan Association

Borden Friedman

JON MILLER STEIGER columnists@cjn.org

With Chanukah coming, let’s talk about online shopping tips. I don’t mean don’t buy your coworkers matching Chanukah underwear.

I mean make sure the websites you use are trustworthy; be careful about online deals or coupons; protect yourself from store mistakes; know your rights for timely delivery; and have a credit card dedicated to online purchases.

Shopping is risky. Most of those risks are small: the department store clerk probably isn’t going to grab your cash and run. But there is a chance that there will be a data breach at a brick-and-mortar store. And there is a bigger chance that thieves will get their grubby hands on payment information you give through a website. So it’s all about minimizing that risk.

Start by only shopping at trustworthy websites. Sites that reflect an established brick-and-mortar store are not likely to be scams, though they can still suffer data breaches. If you’re buying from a store that only exists online, do some research first. Look them up on bbb.org.

Do an internet search for the name of the company and “complaint” or “scam.” Make sure your internet browser shows a lock symbol or “https” for the website, showing the site is using encryption protections. Consider customer reviews carefully. By law, reviewers must disclose any connection to a company, but not all of them do. Compare reviews from a variety of websites.

We all get online offers for coupons and discounts. They come by email from a store or a friend, on Facebook, or as ads on websites. Don’t click on a link or attachment unless you know it’s legitimate. Scammers make deals look irresistible, but that one click could open up your computer to thieves, scammers, or even foreign agents. The chance of saving 30 percent on a new pair of shoes is not worth giving a hacker access to your computer and everything connected to it.

Any store can make a mistake. When you shop in person, you get a receipt. When you’re shopping online, keep copies of your order number, the refund and return policies, shipping costs and any warranties. Even a legitimate online store may be skeptical of a return or refund request that doesn’t have proof of purchase.

A seller must ship your order within the time it promises. If it doesn’t promise a time, it should ship your order within 30 days. If the seller can’t ship in the promised time, it must notify you, give a revised shipping date and give you the chance to cancel for a

full refund. For more tips, check out bit.ly/2q5wBI8.

There’s no way to completely remove risk from online sales, so one last tip is for you to have a credit card that you never use online. That way, if there’s a data breach or your payment information is stolen from a website, you’ll still have a credit card that you can use after you shut down the compromised card.

Lech L’Cha: making the move

JULIE JASLOW AUERBACH

In parasha Lech L’Cha, Abraham is told “Go forth,” or as it sometimes translated, “Go for yourself”– from his native land, from his family, to go to a land that he will be shown. To leave all that was familiar and comfortable. As Irv and I turn our attention to our return to Israel at the beginning of December, I think about the choices people make to move to Israel – or not –and what considerations affect that decision to leave a comfortable home.

For us, it was simple. None of our adult children live in Cleveland. We were retired from our jobs. We had met each other on a 1971 trip to Israel and had in our youth dreamed of making a home in Israel. What was keeping us in Cleveland? What would we do with ourselves during the harsh Cleveland winters when travel and visits to our children and grandchildren, on opposite coasts, can be difficult?

Most of the friends we made in Jerusalem immigrated to Israel in the 1970s, around the time we were first contemplating it, when all of us were young, energetic and passionate about building and living in a Jewish homeland and when leaving the comfort zone of our native America and parents was challenging in exciting ways. Today, some

of these friends have at least one child in Israel, married and with a growing family. Other friends moved later in life, following a child to Israel and perhaps leaving additional children back in the United States.

A few Cleveland-Israelis we know go back and forth between locations. As in ancient times when Jews came to Jerusalem for the three pilgrimage festivals – Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot –they come to Israel for the holidays, enhancing their celebrations in magnificent ways, recognizing Jewish holidays in Israel are truly special. Others seek avenues to enhance their Jewish knowledge at one of Israel’s many esteemed educational institutions.

One Cleveland-Israeli friend recently

reminded me that while she can do five errands in one day in Cleveland, in Jerusalem, it takes five days to do one errand. Cleveland, to her, is such an easy place to live, traveling by car from place to place, without concerns about traffic or parking. But in Jerusalem, and even more so in Tel Aviv, parking is hard to find and city traffic adds travel time. Filled with the ease of familiarity and many good friends, why would one want to leave Cleveland for more than a short period of time?

And this is the dilemma that faces a Cleveland friend who is looking at retirement and a move to Jerusalem. Her children and grandchildren are all living in Israel, but her roots are here. Her friends are here, family graves are here, she grew up here. Will she be able to leave her home, her past, her native land comfort zone and take on a different lifestyle?

Irv and I understand her dilemma, especially as we begin the mental exercises to prepare us for our months in Israel. What do we need to pack? What are the must-have items that we can’t get in Jerusalem? We are reminding ourselves that there will most likely be problems to address during the first week of our return to our Jerusalem apartment, and they will take time to resolve. I will need to again get used to drying laundry on the courtyard clotheslines and adjust how I shop for groceries.

But we also are reminding ourselves of the sense of adventure we have with each preparatory thought. Leaving comfort zones behind is not such a bad thing. Abraham and Sarah did it.

Julie Jaslow Auerbach, a Jewish educator who lives part of the year in Jerusalem and part of the year in Shaker Heights, writes regularly about life in Israel for the Cleveland Jewish News.

LION JUDAH ENDOWMENT

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland recognizes and thanks the following women for perpetuating their annual campaign gifts by creating a legacy to benefit future generations.

Terry Adelman

Karen B. Altschul

Nancy Wilko Bell

Loretta Borstein* in Memory of Jerome Borstein

Beth Wain Brandon

Marilyn B. Cagin

Florence Chelm

Reneé Chelm

Nan Cohen

Bernice Sapirstein Davis

Lois J. Davis

Carol Franklin Feig*

Margaret Richards Frankel

Beatrice Franklin

Jane L. Friedman

Mady Friedman

Beverly Gans

Peggy Garson

Norma C. Geller

Eleanor Gerson*

Holly B. Gertman*

Adrienne Goldberg

Toby Goldfinger

Francine M. Gordon

Tamra F. Gould

Roe Green

Penny Greenberger

Erica Hartman-Horvitz

Anita Heller

Michelle Hirsch

Ann Nickman Jacobson*

Suellen Kadis

Andrea Katz

Carol Lader

Fran Lasky

Sharon E ron Lebovitz

Sandra Lipman*

The Marianna Luxenberg*

Lion of Judah Endowment in Memory of Herbert Luxenberg

Tamar Maltz

Cookie Marcus

Lois Marcus

Shelley Milin Marcus

Barbara J. Meckler

Anne Miller*

Shari S. Perlmuter

Cathy Randall

Enid Baum Rosenberg

Barbara Rosskamm

Susan Rubin

Evie Safran

Eleanor Schwartz

Eileen W. Sill

Karen Lipman Steiger

Peggy Gries Wager

Amy L. Wain

Nina Wain*

Penni Mandel Weinberg

Betty Weintraub*

Judith Weiss

Trudy Wiesenberger

Danielle Wild

Judy Klein Willensky

Elissa Wuliger

Sandra Wuliger

Dara G. Yanowitz

Donna Yanowitz

Paula Zeisler

Ellen Potiker Zelman

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

*of blessed memory

For more information about perpetuating an annual gift, please contact Lisa Hacker at 216-593-2792 or lhacker@jcfcleve.org. All inquiries are confidential.

Irv and Julie Auerbach arrive in Israel in January 2016 with essentials that included blankets and an air mattress. | Submitted photo

Where’s Jeff?

Kol Israel Foundation ‘Rock to Remember’

The Kol Israel Foundation held its second annual “Rock To Remember” benefit Oct. 18 at The Greenville Inn in the Village of Chagrin Falls. The foundation, comprised of grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, helps to combat intolerance and hatred through educational programming. Through the aid of family videos, the group educates students at the junior high, high school and college level, and other groups and organizations as well. Guests mixed, mingled and enjoyed food and a live band.

NEOFAN Halloween Boo-tique

Eton Chagrin Boulevard and the NorthEast Ohio Food Allergy Network partnered Oct. 25 to host lots of little ghosts, goblins and Ninja Turtles at their Halloween Boo-tique at the Woodmere shopping center. Hundreds of children attended and received candy, snacks and special treats for those with food allergies. The treats were symbolized by a teal color pumpkin. NEOFAN’s mission is to minimize the impact of food allergies on families. It provides tools to the newly diagnosed, promotes education and builds public awareness.

Kol Israel Foundation Executive Director Hallie Duchon

Co-chairs Allison Newman and Deb Hurwitz Richard Uria, Marc Newman and Eric Hurwitz

Steve Jones and Kol Israel Foundation past president Anne Lucas

Dr. Abigail Wald Glick, NEOFAN founder and event chair Eric Wald

Staci Pollack Divita

“As a person with food allergies, I know how important it is to educate people”

- Staci Pollack Divita

Carly Levin Henry, Michael Henry, and Noa and Lilah Danielle Garson with Benjamin and Olivia

“No One Sells for Less”

“Lowest Prices Guarenteed”

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2

Jewish Secular Community talk with Dr. Jeremy Genovese “The Background of American Spiritualism,” 8 p.m., First Unitarian Church’s fellowship hall, 21600 Shaker Blvd., Shaker Hts. RSVP to Peg Fishman at 440-3491330 or pegfishman@gmail.com.

Hard Rock Rocksino’s Play for Charity event, all day, Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield. For more info, visit hrrnp.com.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3

Recovery Resources’ Rockin’ to Recovery Broze

Key Gala honoring Cleveland Cavaliers player Kevin Love, 7-10 p.m., Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 1100 E. 9th, Cleve. For tickets, visit bit.ly/2OI39Ta.

Hard Rock Rocksino’s Play for Charity event, all day, Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield. For more info, visit hrrnp.com.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4

The Women of Temple Emanu El’s Holiday Boutique and Craft Show, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 4545 Brainard Rd., Orange. To register as a vendor, contact Sandy Levine at sandle706@yahoo.com. Attendance is free and open to the public.

Temple Israel Sisterhood’s Art and Jewish Food Festival, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 91 Springside Dr., Bath Twp. Eat in, carry out and preorder at foodfestival.org. For more info, visit artfoodfest.com.

RAC Ohio State Issue 1 Forum, 5 p.m., Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, 23737 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/2PNVsvg.

Hard Rock Rocksino’s Play for Charity event, all day, Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield. For more info, visit hrrnp.com.

“School Safety: Looking Back-Looking Forward” talk with Talisa Dixon and Jeffrey DiMuth, 9:30-10:45 a.m., First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, 21600 Shaker Blvd., Shaker Hts. For more info, call 216-751-2320.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5

“Mini Menches” Mommy and Me class, 4-5 p.m., Mandel JDS, 26500 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood. Free. RSVP to Laura Simon at lsimon@mandeljds.org or 216-464-4055 x106.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Calendar listings appearing in The City should be submitted at least 14 days prior to publication date. Send to calendar@cjn.org. Questions? Contact Bob Jacob, managing editor, at 216-342-5207 or bjacob@cjn.org.

Cuyahoga Community College’s eastern campus transformation groundbreaking, 11:30 a.m., Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center @ Tri-C East, 4250 Richmond Rd., Highland Hills. RSVP to Jenneffer Lopez at 216-987-0492 or jenneffer.lopez@tri-c.edu.

Hard Rock Rocksino’s Play for Charity event, all day, Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield. For more info, visit hrrnp.com.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6

Hard Rock Rocksino’s Play for Charity event, all day, Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield. For more info, visit hrrnp.com.

Park Synagogue Sisterhood programming, 10 a.m., Park Synagogue East, 27500 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pike. Other programming follows. Lunch at 12:15 p.m. For lunch RSVPs, call Rita Weintraub at 440-498-9712 or Beverly Bedol at 216-464-0395. Cost is $10 for lunch.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7

“Reset for Retirees: 5 Steps to a Strong and Passionate New Life Direction” class, 7-8 p.m., CCPL Beachwood branch, 25501 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood. Free. For more info, visit cuyahogalibrary.org.

Hebrew Storytime, 4-5 p.m., CCPL Beachwood branch, 25501 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood. Free. For more info, visit cuyahogalibrary.org.

Kesher: Connecting the “Mom” and “Me” class, 9:30 a.m., Gross Schechter, 27601 Fairmount Blvd., Pepper Pike. RSVP at bit.ly/2DaKKxf.

Shalom Baby class, 7 p.m., Gross Schechter, 27601 Fairmount Blvd., Pepper Pike. RSVP at bit.ly/2DaSQGd.

Cleveland Jewish News 18 Difference Makers

Class of 2018 Celebration

WHAT: CJN’s fourth annual event to recognize those making a difference in Jewish Cleveland

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Nov. 18

WHERE: Landerhaven, 6111 Landerhaven Drive, Mayfield Heights

COST: $95 per person and can be purchased at cjn.org/18dm

SPONSORS: Co-presenting: Classic Lexus, Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management and HW Financial Advisors. Video sponsor –Greater Cleveland Partnership. Lifetime Achievement Award sponsor – ERC. Generation Award Sponsor – Ganley Bedford Imports. Lanyard sponsor –University Hospitals. Cocktail sponsor – ohio.net. Gift bag sponsor – Kottler Metal Products, Inc. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Events Manager Gina Lloyd at 216-342-5196.

INFO: Honorees will be featured in a special pull-out commemorative section in the Nov. 16 issue of the CJN as well as on cjn.org and facebook.com/ clevelandjewishnews. To purchase a tribute ad to honor a Difference Maker, contact Adam Mandell at 216-342-5191 or amandell@cjn.org. Visit cjn.org/differencemakers for honorees, including Lifetime Achievement honoree, Roe Green; Civic Leadership honoree, Judge Dan Aaron Polster; and Generation honorees, the Stein Family.

SINGLES’ SCENE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10

Dinner with Crossroads for Jewish Singles of Cleveland, 7 p.m., The Cabin of Willowick, 28810 Lake Shore Blvd., Willowick. RSVP to June at 440-944-2757.

NCJW Cleveland’s “Civility in UnCivil Times” talk with Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor at Slate, 7 p.m., Park Synagogue East, 27500 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pike. Free and open to the public. For more info and to RSVP, visit ncjwcleveland.org or call 216-378-2204 x100.

JLI “Wrestling with my Faith” course, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., JLI Cleveland Chapter, 25400 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood. $89 at bit.ly/2yqDcR5.

National Geographic Live “On the Trail of Big Cats” with Steve Winter, 7:30 p.m., Ohio Theatre, 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleve. $25-$45 at bit.ly/2QIjO9W.

Hard Rock Rocksino’s Play for Charity event, all day, Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield. For more info, visit hrrnp.com.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8

“Global Cleveland: Immigration Series” speaker series, 7-8 p.m., CCPL Beachwood branch, 25501 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood. Free. For more information, visit cuyahogalibrary.org.

Jewish National Fund’s Breakfast for Israel feat. Ethan Zohn, inspirational speaker and winner of “Survivor: Africa,” 8-9 a.m., Landerhaven, 6111 Landerhaven Dr., Mayfield Hts. No cost to attend. RSVP at jnf.org/nohbreakfast. For more info, contact Mindy Feigenbaum at 216-292-8733 or mfeigenbaum@jnf.org.

Menorah Park’s Aging Resources Center presents: “Happy and Safe at Home” with Ryan Scafuro, physical therapist assistant at the Peter B. Lewis Aquatic & Therapy Center, and Jamie Van Doren of North Coast Accessible Homes, 5:30 p.m., Menorah Park Saltzman Auditorium, 27100 Cedar Rd., Beachwood. Free. RSVP to Beth Silver at 216-839-6678 or bsilver@menorahpark.org.

Montefiore’s The Weils’ “Right Sizing...Let’s Talk About It” talk with Ivy Kopit, Laura Armbruster, Inna Muravin and Anastasiya Strugatsky, 5-6:30 p.m., 16695 Chillicothe Rd., Chagrin Falls. Free and open to the community.

Hard Rock Rocksino’s Play for Charity event, all day, Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield. For more info, visit hrrnp.com.

Hard Rock Rocksino job fair, 3-7 p.m., Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield. For more info, visit hrrnp.com.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9

University Hospital’s Miracles Happen Celebration, 6:30 p.m., Shaker Heights Country Club, 3300 Courtland Blvd., Shaker Hts. For more info, visit uhgiving.org/ miracleshappen.

Hard Rock Rocksino’s Veterans of Comedy Tour, 7 and 9:30 p.m., Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield. For more info, visit hrrnp.com.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10

HFLA of Northeast Ohio Party114 gala,

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Temple Israel Sisterhood will hold its Art and Jewish Food Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 4 at the temple, 91 Springside Drive in Bath Township. Food is available for eat-in, carryout and pre-order. For more information, visit artfoodfest.com.

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6:30 p.m., Silver Grille, 230 W. Huron Rd., Cleve. For more info, call 216-378-9042 or angela@interestfree.org.

Community Partnership on Aging 40th anniversary Five Star Celebration, 4:30 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 700 Beta Dr., Mayfield Village. $40 at 216-291-3902.

Heights Golden Tigers Reunion, 11:30 a.m.2:30 p.m., Landerhaven, 6111 Landerhaven Dr., Mayfield Hts. $29 at betsy@ heightsschoolsfoundation.org.

Beck Center for the Arts’ annual Spotlight gala, 6 p.m., Grays Armory Museum, 1234 Bolivar Rd., Cleve. For ticket information, contact 216-521-2540 x43 or visit beckcenter.org.

Hard Rock Rocksino’s Veterans of Comedy Tour, 7 and 9:30 p.m., Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield. For more info, visit hrrnp.com.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11

Community Partnership on Aging’s 40th anniversary celebration, 4:30-10 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 700 Beta Dr., Mayfield Village. $40 at bit.ly/2POWzv2.

Beck Center for the Arts’ Spotlight Gala, 7-11 p.m., Grays Armory, 1234 Bolivar Rd., Cleve. RSVP to Dena Adler at 216-521-2540 x18 or beckcenter.org/events/spotlight-2018.

Sundays @ Mandel JDS Literacy event, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Mandel JDS, 26500 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood. Free and open to community. RSVP to Kelli Pastor at 216-464-4055 or kpastor@mandeljds.org.

Stan Hywet complimentary admission to all veterans, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 714 N. Portage Path, Akron.

JGS and Siegal Lifelong Learning host

“DNA 101” with Lara Diamond, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Landmark Centre, 27500 Science Park Dr., Beachwood. $5 for nonmembers, free for members of either program. For more info, visit bit.ly/2QKueWp.

JGS and Siegal Lifelong Learning host

“Sorting Out Distant Cousins from Close Family; Genetic Testing in Cases of Endogamy” with Lara Diamond, 3-4 p.m., Landmark Centre, 27500 Science Park Dr., Beachwood. $5 for nonmembers, free for members of either program. For more info, visit bit.ly/2QKueWp.

NA’AMAT members special tour of Maltz Museum’s “Israel: Then and Now” exhibit, 1:30 p.m., Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Rd., Beachwood. $8/person. RSVP to naamatclev@gmail.com or 216-321-2002.

Haunting memories of November 1963 return

LES LEVINE

llevine@cjn.org | @LesLevine

The last time I felt strange, or guilty, about watching the Cleveland Browns play was Nov. 24, 1963, when the Browns hosted and defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 27-17. That game was played two days after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated – in Dallas.

I don’t remember much about the game, except for the strange silence throughout most of it. I wondered why the NFL allowed games to be played that day, and as it turned out, Pete Rozelle said it was the worst mistake he made in almost 30 years as commissioner.

I do remember being at my uncle’s house, getting ready to make the drive downtown to the game, when I saw Lee Harvey Oswald emerge as he was about to be transferred to a jail, I assumed. We never got to learn whether Oswald was a “patsy,” as he proclaimed, or whether he acted alone – or virtually anything else about what happened two days earlier. To this day, the events surrounding that dark, dreary day are still questioned.

Jack Ruby, well known in Dallas police circles, took care of that when he shot Oswald at point-blank range, adding another notch to the conspiracy theories with which most of us are familiar. I know it was a simpler time, but supposedly

Bobby Kennedy, the president’s brother and attorney general, got word to Rozelle that the president would have wanted the games to be played that Sunday.

Fast forward to Oct. 27, 2018.

There was never any doubt regarding whether the Browns game against the Pittsburgh Steelers would be canceled in deference to the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Squirrel Hill, just 6 miles from Heinz Field, a place where the Browns hadn’t won since 2003.

Isn’t it strange? Since the opening-day tie between the two teams in Cleveland, things have changed quickly. Three players scored touchdowns for the Browns that day. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor ran one in, as did Carlos Hyde, while Josh Gordon caught a touchdown pass. A half-season later, Taylor has lost his job to Baker Mayfield, Hyde was traded to Jacksonville for a fifth-round pick and Gordon could end up in the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots.

ABOUT ETHAN

Favorite subject: Math

Hobbies outside of soccer: Plays golf and volunteers with the Arthritis Foundation

Siblings: Older sister Jordan, 19

Favorite athlete: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal FC

Parents: Joanne and David Berkovitz

Synagogue: The Shul in Pepper Pike

To nominate a player of the week, email Staff Reporter Ed Carroll at ecarroll@cjn.org.

I’m not saying the NFL should have canceled the game (or any games). I’m just saying I had similar feelings while watching the game as I did almost 55 years earlier.

BYE, BYE HUE AND LUE

You think you’ve seen it all as far as covering sports in Cleveland is concerned. I expected Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson to get fired, with the only question being when it was going to happen. It could have been after another loss to Pittsburgh, or perhaps during the bye week, or, as I expected, at the end of the season.

And then, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert beat Browns owner Jimmy Haslam to the punch, firing his coach, Tyronn Lue, after six winless games and before the Browns played the Steelers. When that happened, many people asked if two franchises in the same city had ever fired their coaches on the same day. As it turned out, Haslam waited until the next day.

It was a foregone conclusion that if Jackson wouldn’t survive, his replacement would be offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

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Instead it was Gregg Williams. He is given the task of taking on the Kansas City Chiefs in his first game, general manager John Dorsey’s former team and a team I expect to go to the Super Bowl. It’s a team capable of putting up 45 points against the Browns, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes putting up monster numbers.

And Larry Drew has the job of taking over the Cavs, the day it was learned that the face of the franchise, Kevin Love, could miss a month or so due to a toe injury. The Cavs are a team that will struggle to win 25 games.

It never stops.

Supposedly, there was a difference of opinion between Lue and general manager Koby Altman as to how much playing time the veterans would get. Altman wanted the younger players to get more playing time, while Lue tried to squeeze out some wins with veterans.

And now it’s up to Williams and Drew. What they do? It’s anyone’s guess.

Read Les Levine online at cjn.org/Levine. Follow Les at Facebook.com/Cleveland JewishNews.

Ethan Berkovitz | Solon High School | Junior | Soccer

ED CARROLL | STAFF REPORTER ecarroll@cjn.org | @EdCarrollCJN

Solon High School soccer player Ethan Berkovitz is the Cleveland Jewish News-Buffalo Wild Wings Warrensville Heights Player of the Week.

Berkovitz, 17, just finished his junior season, helping the Comets to an 11-4-3 record, mainly playing as a centermidfielder. The three-year letter earner called the season his best year of the three.

“I think I provided a lot of support to the younger kids on the team because we had a lot of seniors, but I think I helped bridge the gap between the seniors on our team and also the younger players on the team that are improving each and every day,” he said.

Berkovitz said one of the team’s goals for the season was to earn double-digit wins, and with 11 victories on the season, the Comets accomplished that goal.

“We won our Greater Cleveland Conference, which is the first time in 21 years Solon has ever won a conference championship in soccer, and this is the first time ever that Solon has won the Greater Cleveland Conference,” he said.

Berkovitz expects his game to remain the same next season, but going into his senior year, he plans to be more of a leader, both on and off the field.

“(I’ll) help mentor the younger kids to continue the expectations of the program as I graduate and my fellow seniors graduate. I think I have a lot of experience throughout my time playing for Solon that I can definitely pass down to the younger players,” he said.

Berkovitz also plays soccer for a club team, the Cleveland Soccer Academy, and said that team is currently ranked second in the state.

Solon High School boys’ soccer head coach Ryan Greenhill said Berkovitz loves the game of soccer, and his passion for the sport rubs off on his teammates.

“He works really hard,” Greenhill said. “That work rate kind of bleeds through (to) our team. He took a tremendous step forward this season from his sophomore to junior year where he started every game this season. Definitely, at times, he was our playmaker on offense, pulling the string, so certainly an instrumental part of our success.”

Greenhill said Berkovitz is a guy all the other players on the team like and he expects Berkovitz to continue to be a leader.

“The team created a bunch of nicknames for him throughout the season,” Greenhill said. “He’s someone I think the guys enjoy being around, but more importantly, (he) loves the game of soccer and that passion radiates through the team.”

Solon High School junior Ethan Berkovitz | Submitted photo

WORLD Read more world news at cjn.org/world

Votes are in for municipal elections, Jerusalem readies for a Nov. 13 showdown

JNS.ORG

Israelis woke on Oct. 31 to the tallies of municipal elections conducted across the country Oct. 30, which showed that Jerusalem would face a runoff for mayor between secular candidate Ofer Berkovitch and haredi-backed candidate Moshe Lion, and that Haifa’s mayor of 15 years was upset by the city’s first female mayor-elect.

Moshe Lion, who was supported by Israeli ministers Avigdor Lieberman and Aryeh Deri, got 33 percent of the vote while head of the secular faction “Hitorerut,” Offer Berkovitch, received 29 percent.

Because the two received the highest number of votes, but neither reached the 40 percent threshold, the two will face off in a second election to take place on Nov. 13. Jerusalem Affairs Minister Ze’ev Elkin, who received just 19 percent of the votes and haredi candidate Yossi Daitch, who got 17 percent, were knocked out of the running.

Three-term Haifa mayor Yona Yahav lost to architect Einat Kalisch Rotem, who scored 55 percent of the vote, while Tel Aviv incumbent Ron Huldai was re-elected to his fifth term with 46 percent of the vote.

Rishon Letzion Mayor Dov Tzur, who was arrested last year on suspicion of corruption, got 31.8 percent of the vote in his city, while rival Raz Kinstlich, who called on Tzur to quit the race, got 21.7 percent, which means the two will also vie for the seat until Nov. 13.

Another runoff will occur in Ramat Gan, where incumbent Yisrael Zinger will oppose former MK and former Israeli ambassador to UNESCO and the OECD Carmel Shama-Hacohen.

In yet another runoff, Ra’anana incumbent Eitan Ginzburg, the first openly homosexual mayor in Israel, received fewer votes than opponent Chaim Broyde in the first round.

In Kfar Saba, incumbent Rai Sa’ar will run against former police deputy commissioner Yossi Sedbon.

Additional run-offs will occur in Hod

Headstones toppled at small Jewish cemetery in Texas

Headstones were pushed over at a small Jewish cemetery in the Texas port city of Orange. The vandalism at the Hebrew Rest Cemetery, which is more than 100 years old, was discovered in the morning of Oct. 29 by the groundskeeper, who had arrived to mow the lawn, the local CBS affiliate KFDM reported. Permanent vases also were ripped from their bases. Orange police are investigating the incident as criminal mischief, according to the report. Orange Mayor Larry Spears Jr. praised the city’s diversity and said that bigotry and hate will not be tolerated within its borders.

Jewish shop owner stabbed in botched Paris robbery

A Jewish shop owner in Paris was stabbed and seriously wounded in what police are saying was a botched robbery. The incident, which the victim is expected to survive, happened Oct. 28 on Voltaire Boulevard, near the Bataclan night club that terrorists attacked in 2015, Le Parisien reported Oct. 29. Nathan Chalom Mimoun, who is in his 40s, lost a significant amount of blood from stab wounds to his arms caused by two men wearing helmets that attempted to rob his phone shop. But immediate medical intervention stabilized his condition and his injuries are no longer considered life threatening. Mimoun’s wife, who was present during the robbery, said the robbers did not indicate that they had singled him out for violence because he is Jewish, according to Sammy Ghozlan, president of National Bureau for Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism.

Ky. man dresses son, 5, as Hitler for Halloween party

A Kentucky man dressed his 5-year-old son as Adolf Hitler and himself as a Nazi soldier for a Halloween event. Bryant Goldbach eventually admitted it was in “bad taste” but said he did not realize the costumes would cause so much controversy. Prior to the acknowledgement, he wrote in a Facebook post how upset he was that his son was threatened over his costume and lashed out at liberalism and the “so called ‘Tolerant Left.’” In the post, Goldbach said he and his family love history and often dress as historical figures.

Hasharon, Ma’alot-Tarshiha and Rosh Ha’ayin.

Landslide victories were declared for

Beersheva mayoral incumbent Ruvik Danilovich and Netivot Mayor Yehiel Zohar.

President-elect of Brazil plans to close Palestinian embassy

In addition to moving his country’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Brazilian president-elect Jair Bolsonaro plans to shut down the Palestinian embassy in Brasilia. “Is Palestine a country? Palestine is not a country, so there should be no embassy here,” said Bolsonaro recently. “You do not negotiate with terrorists.”

Abbas: ‘Will continue to pay families of martyrs, prisoners’

Speaking at a PLO Central Council meeting, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian government will continue to pay salaries to the families of martyrs, prisoners, and wounded Palestinians, even if salaries are subtracted from Palestinian money held by Israel. He said that the families are sacred, and stated: “Even if we only have one cent left, it should go to them and not to the living.” Abbas also denied the claim that there are only 40,000 Palestinian refugees left, and said that today there are [5 million] Palestinian refugees. Abbas’s remarks aired on Palestine TV on Oct. 28.

– Compiled from JTA

University of Michigan hosts ‘pro-BDS’ event, despite recent anti-Israel incidents

Despite the recent wave of anti-Israel incidents at the University of Michigan – and following the deadliest attack on Jews in history of the United States – the school’s Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies held a town-hall program fostering BDS Oct. 29, featuring advocates of the anti-Israel movement. The event was held 48 hours after a gunman shot and killed 11 Jews in Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, leaving six others injured.

Supporters celebrate as Jerusalem mayoral candidate Moshe Lion arrives at his campaign headquarters as he leads the early counting in the municipal elections for Jerusalem on Oct. 30.

| Photo / JNS.org

Faurisson: The liar and his legacy

BEN COHEN bencohenonline@gmail.com

“He will lie, sir, with such volubility, that you would think truth were a fool,” opines one character about another in William Shakespeare’s “All’s Well That Ends Well.” It is an observation that the bard would no doubt apply to others of a similarly slippery character, and certainly those who have built their reputations by purveying outrageous lies that masquerade as sacred truths.

The French Holocaust-denier Robert Faurisson, who died last week at age 89, consistently regarded the truth as if it “were a fool.” Faurisson’s entire career was built upon two layers of lies: firstly, that the Nazi genocide of 6 million Jews was a hoax and a swindle, rather than a historical fact; secondly, that he was one of the courageous few willing to expose this wicked conspiracy engineered, of course, by “Zionists.”

As several of Faurisson’s obituaries observed, he failed spectacularly in his quest to turn the denial of the Holocaust into a mainstream movement. Previously an unremarkable professor of literature at the University of Lyon, after 1990, when the French parliament voted to make the denial of the Holocaust illegal, Faurisson essentially became a criminal, losing his academic tenure and spending much of his time fighting (and not winning) court cases.

Indeed, his most recent defeat was last April, when Faurisson lost a 40-year-old legal battle with the French newspaper Le Monde, finding himself denounced by the Paris Court of Appeal as a “professional liar,” a “falsifier” and a “fabricator of history.”

This deserved reputation aside, Faurisson remains an important figure to understand in terms of the broader fight against anti-Semitism. In particular, we should look at the unique contribution of the Holocaust-denial movement to what the late Jewish historian Robert Wistrich called “the arsenal of millennial anti-Semitism.” Holocaust denial, Wistrich argued, transformed the victims of the Holocaust and those who survived the slaughter “into superlatively cunning, fraudulent and despicable perpetrators” in keeping with pre-modern anti-Semitic tropes about deceitful, duplicitous Jews with horns charging interest on loans.

Wistrich’s presentation of Holocaust denial as a mutation of anti-Semitism was, not surprisingly, very far from the deniers’ own depiction of their work. Faurisson grandiosely insisted that his claims were grounded on the “scientific” proof that the gas chambers were a figment of the Zionist imagination, and that the vast majority of Jews had died

because the Allied onslaught on Nazi Germany in the latter stages of the war had brought with it diseases like typhus. For evidence, he pointed his readers to the “research” of crackpot deniers like Ernest Zundel, a German-Canadian publisher; Arthur Butz, an American engineering professor; and Richard Verrall, a British admirer of Adolf Hitler whose own scurrilous pamphlet asked on its cover page, “Did Six Million Really Die?”

For Faurisson and his followers, the laughable cracks in this assertion of scientific respectability were of far less importance than the irresistible conclusion that was pointed to. As Faurisson explained it during a 1980 radio interview, the “lie” of the Holocaust “opened the way to a gigantic political and financial fraud of which the principal beneficiaries are the state of Israel and International Zionism, and the principal victims the German and the entire Palestinian people.” This defining statement of Holocaust-denial’s purpose still prevails in much of the Arab and Muslim world, and is, of course, state doctrine in the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose leaders honored Faurisson at a ceremony in Tehran in 2012.

Demonizing Zionism and Israel, then, was a key goal of Holocaust-deniers from the very beginning – a point that should be borne in mind the next time you hear someone say that anti-Semitism might be bad, but anti-Zionism is something noble. As Robert Wistrich noted, France was the “main intellectual laboratory” for Holocaust denial after 1945, and opposition to Zionism was a key ideological motive for its purveyors. As early as the 1950s, Maurice Bardeche, a professor at the Sorbonne with Nazi sympathies, joined with other wartime collaborators, including members of the SS, in attacking Israel as the “illegitimate daughter of America” built on stolen Arab land with funds extorted through the “Holocaust myth.” This line was continued by Bardeche’s successor, Paul Rassinier, who identified as a left-wing socialist, and then by Faurisson himself.

Now that Faurisson is dead, who is left to continue his legacy?

There is, of course, the extreme right in America and Europe – fanatics who revere Hitler and national socialism. But we also have to remember that Faurisson – a neo-fascist who supported the terrorist OAS campaign in the 1960s against French withdrawal from Algeria – enjoyed an audience on the left as well. Even without embracing his Holocaust-denial thesis in totality, his conclusions about Zionism and Israel chimed with the far left’s portrayal of the Jewish state as an illegitimate, colonial outpost.

In France, there was an additional twist in this sorry tale, with some leftists seduced by Faurisson arguing that the Holocaust was fabricated to divert attention from the contemporary crimes of modern capitalism.

In the ideologically febrile environment we live in today, it’s easy to see how an idea that comes from one extreme can be adapted and refined by its opposite. Such promiscuity is, and has always been, the greatest danger

posed by Holocaust-deniers. Their politically calculated support for the Palestinians grants them access to an audience on the left that is already susceptible to outlandish anti-Semitic assertions, as long as these come in the form of attacks upon Israel. For that reason, we should not assume that Faurisson’s ideas will be buried with him.

Ben Cohen, senior editor of TheTower.org & The Tower Magazine, writes a weekly column for JNS.org on Jewish affairs and Middle Eastern politics from New York. To read more of Cohen’s columns, visit cjn.org/cohen.

DISCLAIMER

Letters, commentaries and opinions appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff.

Proshchay to Russian-language newspaper Vesti’s

CLIFF SAVREN columnists@cjn.org

The news of Vesti’s demise was tucked away as a business brief in Haaretz, the Israeli daily I work for. Vesti wasn’t a person, but rather an Israeli Russian-language print newspaper. Although it will still exist as a news website, the print publication, which had been a daily and was more recently published as a weekly, is shutting down, resulting in the layoff of its small remaining eight-person staff.

Vesti’s closure says a lot about the challenges that all print newspapers are facing in the internet age, but in the Israeli context, ironically, it also says a lot about Israel’s success in integrating nearly a million Russian-speaking immigrants. Vesti’s slow death may be partly a function of the decline in popularity of print newspapers in general, but I would image it had more to do with the fact that former Vesti customers are now reading the Hebrew-language press, either in print or online.

In 1989, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev lifted tough emigration restrictions on Soviet Jews. That was followed two years later by the collapse of the Soviet Union. The two events set the stage for the immigration to Israel of more than a million Russian-speaking

immigrants since 1989. The immigrants were transformed in the process, but they also transformed Israel.

“Within a few years, Israel had to absorb about 20 percent of its population,” Natan Sharansky, the best known of the Soviet Jewish aliyah activists, noted in comments published in Haaretz to mark the 25th anniversary of the wave of Soviet aliyah. “There is no other example in the world of such a successful integration.”

That integration has meant the demise of publications such as Vesti. It may also spell the ultimate disappearance of Yisrael Beiteinu, the political party headed by Israel’s defense minister, Soviet-born Avigdor Lieberman, which appeals to Russian-speaking voters. His party has sunk from 15 seats in the Knesset a decade ago to five today. There may be other

things at play here, but my hunch is that Russian-speaking immigrants, most of whom have been here for quite some time, see themselves as Israeli for all intents and purposes and simply don’t feel the need to vote “Russian.”

I have my personal connection to the Soviet immigration story. In 1985, I was one of a group of six people from Northeast Ohio who went on a mission to the Soviet Union, sponsored by the then-Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland.

Cynthia Dettelbach, the editor of the Cleveland Jewish News at the time, was one of the other participants.

We went to reach out to Jews who had been denied exit visas to go to Israel, at a time when almost no Jews were being allowed out and when those who applied risked losing their jobs. We came back to raise awareness over an issue that was a clear case of good against evil, of Jews who were persecuted in the Soviet Union and deprived of the right to live their lives as Jews, and who simply wanted to leave.

The trip had a major impact on me. I

recall sitting in the apartment of a Jewish activist in what is now St. Petersburg, the home of a man who was teaching Hebrew clandestinely and who had been harassed by Soviet authorities. How ironic, I thought, that he and his associates were risking so much for the dream of living in Israel when I could make aliyah too, but hadn’t. It took me another 14 years to make the move. And thanks in large part to the worldwide effort to free Soviet Jewry, among my fellow Israelis, there are 1 million former residents of the Soviet Union.

Cliff Savren is a former Clevelander who covers the Middle East for the Cleveland Jewish News from Ra’anana, Israel. To read more of Savren’s columns, visit cjn.org/savren.

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Letters, commentaries and opinions appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff.

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Memories abound in ‘small world’

Vivian Witt (nee Stager) was posthumously inducted into the Cleveland Press Club Hall of Fame. Why didn’t that happen when she was still alive?

I’ve never gotten the request my mother asked of me in her final days: “I don’t want flowers on my coffin because it’s too late to smell them.” We need to express our feelings about one another while they can appreciate them. I’ve made the same request to my daughter and son.

Sol Sherwin passed away. My father was in the butter-and-egg business and Sherwin’s Bakery on East 105th Street was one of his customers. My brother knew the older Sherwin brothers and I knew Sol. When we first began coming to Florida, I bumped into Sol in the Boynton Beach community, where we first spent the winter season. Small world.

David Brown Boynton Beach, Fla.

‘Marvelous’ Brett column

I read Regina Brett’s article about the Jews are always to blame (cjn.org). Enough. Marvelous article.

My feelings and so many of my friends and family. I commend your newspaper for publishing this.

Diane Hochman Sarasota, Fla.

How to submit letters

WRITE US: The Cleveland Jewish News welcomes letters from readers. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and may be edited.Send letters to CJN, 23880 Commerce Park, Suite 1, Beachwood, OH 44122, or by emailing letters@cjn.org. Please include your complete name and your place of residence, and a telephone number for fact-checking purposes. Readers can post comments to any online story or feature at cjn.org.

DISCLAIMER

Letters, commentaries and opinions appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff.

Stand up for democracy

Martin Niemoller, German Lutheran pastor and outspoken foe of Adolf Hitler, is most noted for his poem, “First they came ...”

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.

Targeting group after group for persecution was a tactic used by the Nazis. If you think this isn’t relevant in today’s caustic political climate, think again. For two years, America has been barraged by a series of increasingly hostile attacks from our president, pitting one group against the other.

Muslims, Mexicans, immigrants, liberals, African-Americans, women and the list goes on. This week, he targeted the transgender community and Kaitlin Jenner, who previously supported the GOP and hasn’t been heard from, suddenly releases her indignation. Where was her voice, her morality, her humanity before?

Now more than ever, it is the responsibility of all Americans to share the guilt of passivity. We must make our voices heard, take responsibility and stand up for one another. Vote on Nov. 6. When we say “never again,” we must demonstrate our commitment to democracy.

Ellen Jacob Bainbridge Township

Presidential tone inciteful

This morning, I dashed off several letters to Jewish leaders in the Cleveland community urging them to formally link the inflammatory rhetoric of President Donald Trump with the rise of antiSemitism and the deaths of innocents in Pittsburgh and Charlottesville, Va.

And I would like to ask Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu to send the American embassy back to Tel Aviv until Trump tones down his rhetoric.

Since the 2016 election, the demonization of the other has become commonplace in American politics, but surely people on both sides of the political spectrum must come to realize that failure to communicate civilly will lead to the deaths of innocents everywhere.

Steve Wolotsky Lakewood

CORRECTIONS

Former Cleveland Jewish News Editor Cynthia Dettelbach’s name was misspelled. (“CJN’s Witt to be inducted into Press Club Hall of Fame,” Oct. 26)

Media ignores other murders

I am disheartened by the limited television media coverage of the murders of Maurice Stallard and Vicki Jones Oct. 24 on the property of a Kroger’s store in Jeffersontown, Ky.

To date, I have perceived this horrible event as being overlooked by the media. Whether deemed a federal hate crime or not, I believe people should provide homage to these two human beings who were slaughtered as innocent bystanders.

Let’s not forget all those kind souls who were tragically killed in both Squirrel Hill, Pa., and Jeffersontown this past week. May their memories be for a blessing.

Lola Farron

Mayfield Heights

ORT offers thanks

Kayed no longer at Howard

As a Beachwood resident and Howard University student, I would just like to make you aware of an email sent to the student body by our provost and chief academic officer. In this email, it states: “It has been erroneously reported by media that Abeer Kayed is currently affiliated with Howard University as a professor of political science. Kayed is not currently a faculty member at Howard University and has not been since January 2017. Kayed has made several comments regarding the recent tragedy in Pittsburgh that are not consistent with our values as an institution. The university does not condone her remarks, nor is she a spokesperson representing Howard University”.

Katelyn Perryman Beachwood

Thank you to everyone who attended the 47th Annual ORT Brunch Oct. 28, honoring Ken Liffman and Todd Gurney, especially our dedicated sponsors, donors and event co-chairs for making this event possible.

Coming just one day after the tragic and senseless murders at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, we want to express our sincerest appreciation to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland for providing extra security during this event. We are proud to be a part of this blessed community, one in which we are always there for one another.

Char Rapoport Nance, Director ORT America – Ohio Region

ONLINE CHATTER

What our readers are saying about our stories online. Read the full comments and more at cjn.org and Facebook.com/ClevelandJewishNews.

Re: Federal authorities arrest man in Florida in connection with mail bombs Florida!!! Shocking!!!

— Scott Gansl

He’s like “Ohio Man” but with a nice tan

— Robert Mastnardo

I’m sure he was a paid bomber — Chuck Fordosi

now they need to check and see if he’s registered democrat or republican — Jim Hicks

It’s not rocket science. He sent them all to Democrats.

— Ben Taylor

Re: Former ‘Today’ show producer sees WKYC as mini-30 Rock

This is a wonderful story about the homecoming of a great TV talent to WKYC.

-Barbara Plant Malkoff Flowerman

Re: CJN’s Witt to be inducted into Press Club Hall of Fame

Talented writer.. would be a great honor to see her inducted

— Bonnie Chisling

Re: Bomb found at philanthropist George Soros’ suburban home Lie.cheat.steal — Jim Portune

Philanthropist? Terrorist — Joy Simms

A very fine man.

— Art Holmes

Comments appearing in Online Chatter originate from cjn.org and Facebook.com/ClevelandJewishNews. You can post comments to any story at any time. We will edit in print for brevity and obvious typos.

Drake gives away Chanel bags at his birthday party

He celebrated his birhtday with a 2,000s-themed bash | Source: Page Six

Lenny Kravitz never wanted to be famous

He just wanted to be a musician for the art of music | Source: Page Six

Adam Sandler has a new Netflix special “Bar Mitzvah Boy” is being called his funniest work yet | Source: JTA

David Schwimmer posts alibi after lookalike robs store

He was in New York and the robbery was in the UK | Source: Times of Israel

EDITORIAL

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Staff Reporters

Ed Carroll, Jane Kaufman, Becky Raspe, Alyssa Schmitt

Columnists

Bob Abelman, Hal Becker, Regina Brett, Ben Cohen, Ruchi Koval, Les Levine, Jeff Mendes, Marcy Oster, Clifford Savren

Israel Correspondent

Judith Sudilovsky

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Sean McDonnell

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David Gostomelsky

COLUMBUS BUREAU

Bureau Chief

Amanda Koehn

CJPC MAGAZINES

Lifestyles Editor Michael C. Butz

ADVERTISING

Vice President of Sales

Adam Mandell

Custom Publishing Manager

Paul Bram

Events Manager

Gina Lloyd

Sales & Marketing Manager

Andy Isaacs

Senior Account Executives

Ron Greenbaum, Nell V. Kirman

Account Executives

Marcia Bakst, Adam Jacob

Custom Publishing Coordinator

Marilyn Evans

Office Coordinator & Sales Assistant

Sherry Tilson

.org Reader Poll LAST WEEK’S POLL QUESTION Have you started your Chanukah shopping yet? PARTICIPATE IN THE NEXT POLL: Will you attend services this Shabbat? Vote online at CJN.org and look for results in next week’s paper.

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Stephen Valentine

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Vice Chairs: Rabbi Rosette Barron Haim, Dennis A. Linden, Paul Singerman

Treasurer: Susan D. Krantz

Assistant Treasurer: Lawrence M. Hirsh

Secretary: Loren S. Chylla

Assistant Secretary: Rabbi Eli Dessler

Directors: Cathleen Bolek, Gena Cohen, Jay Geller, Shari Loveman Goldberg, Dr. Elad Granot, Jessa Hochman, Kate Hubben, David Kaufman, Dustin S. Klein, Emily Lebowitz, Gregg A. Levine, Greg Marcus, Wendy Lefko Messeloff, Aaron Minc, David Minc, David Posner, Lauren B. Rock,

CLEVELAND

President: David Kaufman

Vice Presidents: Debbie Hoffmann, Eric Rubin, Ron Teplitzky

Secretary: David Kroh

Assistant Secretary: Alan Yanowitz

Treasurer: Bruce Friedman

Assistant Treasurer: Larry Friedman

Board Chair: David R. Hertz II

President: Kevin S. Adelstein

Vice President of Sales: Adam Mandell

Jerry Schmelzer, Barbara A. Schwartz, Harvey Siegel, Stacy Singerman, Chaya Slain, Andrew Spott, David Toth, Becky Watts, Arthur A. Weisman, Susan Paley Zak

Past Chairs: Max Axelrod*, Barry R. Chesler, Donald K. Freedheim, Marc W. Freimuth, Peggy Garson, victor gelb*, Bruce M. Hennes, Martin Marcus, Michael A. Ritter, Lloyd Schwenger*, Gary Shamis, Wilton S. Sogg*, Harold S. Stern*, Norman Wain, James M. Yasinow*, Ben D. Zevin*

Honorary Life Director: Barry R. Chesler

Directors: Mark Bogomolny, Fran Doris, Barry Feldman, Meredith Glazer, Joel Herman, David R. Hertz II, Kerry Kertesz, Chuck Whitehill

Emeritus Directors: Barry R. Chesler, Susan C. Levine, Martin H. Marcus, Paul Singerman, Norman Wain

BECKY RASPE

braspe@cjn.org

In this feature, No Reservations Needed, CJN Special Sections Staff Reporter

Becky Raspe will keep you updated on the dining scene in Northeast Ohio. Have a news tip about a restaurant opening or closing, restaurant staff changes or new menu items? Email Becky at braspe@cjn.org and @BeckyRaspeCJN.

Kosherfest returns to New Jersey

The 30th annual Kosherfest will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 13 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 14 at Meadowlands

Exposition Center, 355 Plaza Drive in Secaucus, N.J.

The trade event will feature various speakers, brands, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of kosher certified products.

More than 235 brands will be represented at the event.

The event will include a new product gallery, showcasing the best new kosher products from various brands.

For a full list of participating brands, visit bit.ly/2PKqrbH.

Kosherfest is a business-to-business event only and is not open to the public. All attendees must be qualified professionals in the food service and retail industries.

To register, visit bit.ly/2PVwMRu. Tickets start at $95.

Crocker Park Food Truck Challenge winners announced

Crocker Park held its fourth annual Food Truck Challenge Oct. 6 at its Main Street in Westlake.

Attendees were able to cast votes for various categories.

Each food truck was sampled by guest judges, WKYC-TV’s Austin Love; WJW’s Todd Meany; WOIO’s Nichole Vrsansky and Chris Tanaka; Cleveland Magazine’s Kim Schneider; WDOK radio’s Glenn Anderson and Matt Hribar; CLE Seats’ Lauren Kluth; writer Lisa Sands; and Stark Enterprises’ Tina Roberts.

The winners of each category are as follows: Proper Pig, “best on a bun;” Betty’s Bomb Burgers, “best on a plate;” Smooth Rider Smoothies, “best veggy;” Smash Time, “best in a wrap;” Donut Lab, “best thru a straw;” Sweet Mobile Cupcakery, “happiest ending;” Hatfield’s Goode Grub, “best overall judges choice;” Wild Spork, “best/friendliest staff;” Fire Truck Pizza, “best looking truck;” and Hatfield’s Good Grub, “fan favorite/best overall.”

Flats East Bank opens new restaurant, club

Flats East Bank opened its newest restaurant and club, TRUE Cocktails & Bites, Oct. 4 at 1051 W. 10th St. in Cleveland.

TRUE is marketed as an exciting, new nightlife experience. The venue will host local and regional DJs and social events, along with its menu.

A grand opening event was held from 6 to 11 p.m. Oct. 4 at the restaurant.

Flats East Bank, at 1055 Old River Road in Cleveland, is managed in partnership between Scott Wolstein and his mother, Iris Wolstein, The Wolstein Group and Fairmount Properties.

Cleveland holds annual restaurant week Nov. 5-16

Cleveland Independents’ Cleveland Restaurant Week will return to the city Nov. 5-16.

The two-week promotion aims to bring diners into locally-owned restaurants and features three-course, $33 prix fixe menus at 40 restaurants throughout the city.

Participating restaurants are: Alley Cat Oyster Bar; Astoria Cafe & Market; Ballantine; Batuqui The Flavor of Brasil; Blue Canyon Kitchen Tavern; Bruno’s Ristorante; Chinato; Cowell & Hubbard; Creekside Restaurant; Der Braumeister; Don’s Lighthouse; Don’s Pomeroy House; Edwin’s Restaurant; Fahrenheit; fire food & drink; Flying Fig; Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse; L’Albatros Brasserie; Lago East Bank; Lopez on Lee; Marottas; Moxie, the Restaurant; Nighttown; Nou•veau Bistro and Lounge; Nuevo Mod Mexican and Tequila Bar; One Eleven Bistro; Paladar Latin Kitchen; Parallax Restaurant and Lounge; Pier W; Provenance at The Cleveland Museum of Art; Red, the Steakhouse; Sarita a Restaurant; Spice Kitchen & Bar; Table 45; Takis Greek Kitchen; Tartine Bistro; Taste; The Cabin of Willowick; The Woods; Thyme2; Trio and Umami Asian Kitchen. Menus and online reservations and phone numbers are available at bit.ly/2CZ9qaY.

Seeing Is Believing

Columbus-based eatery opens third Northeast Ohio location

Columbus-based chain BIBIBOP Asian Grille opened its third Northeast Ohio location Oct. 16 at 13934 Cedar Road in University Heights. It joins the Uptown in Cleveland and Pinecrest in Orange locations that opened in the last year.

BIBIBOP is a fast-casual Korean-inspired restaurant where customers move down a line and create their own meals, similar to Chipotle Mexican Grill.

For more information, visit bibibop.com.

Beachwood, Solon to hold ‘taste’ events

The 11th annual Taste of Beachwood will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at Embassy Suites by Hilton, 3775 Park East Drive in Beachwood.

More than 20 area restaurants and caterers will exhibit. The vendors include: Beachwood Bistro, Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop, Culinary Appeal, Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland East, Noce Gourmet Pizza, Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar, Pinstripes, Rascal House, Taza Lebanese Grill and Vegan Sweet Tooth.

The adult-only event will enjoy live music by the Beachwood High School Orchestra Ensemble. A silent auction also will be held.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2CZto5C.

Solon Chamber of Commerce will then hold its “DESSERT FIRST ... TASTE!” event from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at Signature of Solon, 39000 Signature Drive in Solon.

The city’s annual Taste of Solon event opens its doors at 5 p.m.

“DESSERT FIRST ... TASTE!” features selections of desserts to appetizers. Restaurants from Solon and the region include: Brandt’s Candies, South East Gears & Cheers, Zoup!, D + R Bagels, Chicago Deli, Signature of Solon Country Club, Jamie’s Cake Pops, White Flower, Sugar Me Desserterie, RollHouse Entertainment, Gionino’s Pizzeria and HoneyBaked Ham & Cafè.

Reservations are accepted online at tasteofsolon.com or at 440-248-5080.

Chick-fil-A opening in Solon, Mayfield Heights

Chick-fil-A, a fast-food chicken restaurant, is coming to Solon and Mayfield Heights.

The Solon location, which will be next to Rose Italian Kitchen and across the street from Burntwood Tavern, will be housed on a 1.55-acre site at 6150 Solon Road.

The Mayfield Heights location, which will be on Mayfield Road in the Golden Gate Shopping Plaza, will occupy a 5,000-square-foot space.

Both locations are set to open in 2019, with the Mayfield Heights location slated for the first quarter of the year.

Mitchell’s opens Van Aken location

Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, operated by brothers Pete and Mike Mitchell, opened its Van Aken District location Oct. 18. The shop is at 3400 Tuttle Road in Shaker Heights.

Customers can enjoy flavors like vanilla bean, chocolate, butter pecan, caramel fudge brownie, caramel sea salt, cookies and cream, key lime pie, rocky road, blue cosmo, fresh mint chocolate chunk and mango sorbet among others. Mitchell’s brand ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurts, brownies, sauces and toppings, cakes, pies, smoothies, shakes, sodas, nuts and ice cream cones are kosher under Rabbi Aryeh Spero of Quality Kosher Supervision in Canton. The brand’s kosher paperwork is available on their site.

Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream also has locations in Beachwood, Solon, Cleveland, Rocky River, Westlake, Avon and Strongsville.

Bloom Bakery unveils new menu, adds staff and partners

Bloom Bakery, a social venture of Towards Employment, has launched its new menu and added staff and partners.

The new head baker, Jason Cannon, brings 30 years of baking experience to Bloom. He will lead baking training and production for all products in retail, catering and wholesale.

The new menu items include pepperoni rolls, biscuits and gravy and soft pretzels.

Along new staff and menu items, the bakery has entered partnerships with Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark lead to Bloom products at events in Denver, Houston and Chicago. Bloom products were also featured at the 2018 Autism Speaks and James Beard Foundation Cleveland Rocks events in New York.

“We are very excited about all that’s new at Bloom Bakery this fall,” Jill Rizika, executive director of Towards Employment, said in a press release. “In our third year of operation, we are expanding Bloom’s menu with new fresh products and broadening our reach in the community with new partnerships. We remain committed to Bloom’s mission of producing delicious food while providing fellow Clevelanders with an opportunity for meaningful employment and connections to a career – and all of Cleveland prospers when Bloom employees succeed.”

Bloom Bakery was launched in 2016 and can now be found at Chef Jose Andres’ Beefsteak at the Crile Food Emporium at the Cleveland Clinic, DigitalC’s MidTown Tech Hive, Lot 15 Brewery in Akron and University Hospitals’ cafeteria.

Bloom Bakery is at 200 Public Square and 1938 Euclid Ave., both in Cleveland.

Beachwood Bistro announces November days

Beachwood Bistro, a restaurant that features dishes prepared by Beachwood High School hospitality management students, will be open Nov. 7, Nov. 9, Nov. 14-16 and Nov. 28-30. Hours are 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Walk-ins are welcome. Reservations can be made to Pat Stoltz at 216-831-2080, ext. 129 or ext. 131.

Beachwood Bistro is at Beachwood High School, 25100 Fairmount Blvd. in Beachwood.

Condado Tacos to open Nov. 15 at Pinecrest

Columbus-based Condado Tacos will open its first Cleveland location Nov. 15 at Pinecrest in Orange.

Condado Tacos offers a build-your-own taco experience using a Scantron-style menu. Some offerings include ghost pepper steak, and BBQ pulled jackfruit on corn and flour tortillas or double-decker shells stuffed with options like queso. The menu will will feature customized items unique to the Pinecrest location.

The location, at 10 Park East Drive, will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Condado Tacos opened its first location in Columbus’ Short North neighborhood in 2014 and also has locations in Pennsylvania and Indiana.

Cooper’s Hawk to open Nov. 19

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants, a restaurant, winery and tasting room concept, will open Nov. 19 in the Chagrin Highlands south property at 27200 Harvard Road in Orange. It is located across from the Pinecrest development.

The restaurant has a capacity of 367 guests, with both indoor and outdoor seating options. There also will be two private rooms that seat 28 guests each.

“We are thrilled to be a part of the Northeast Ohio community and one of the country’s leading culinary hubs,” said Tim McEnery, CEO and founder of Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants, in a news release. “Our philosophy is that food and wine bring people together and build lasting connections. We are proud to provide a unique destination and experience for our customers each time they visit Cooper’s Hawk.”

Some of the menu items include pan roasted barramundi, wild mushroom-crusted chicken and soy ginger steak. Each menu item is listed with a bin number, which directs customers to its wine pairing.

The restaurant also offers a gluten-free and children’s menu, as well as carryout and catering.

The Pinecrest location is the brand’s 34th restaurant. An additional seven locations are slated to open by the end of 2019, according to the release.

Cooper’s Hawk has locations in Columbus, Cincinnati and Liberty Township, as well as in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Nosh Listings

FISHER’S AMERICAN TAVERN

28020 Miles Road, Solon

440-349-3736

BULL & BIRD STEAKHOUSE

87 West Street, Chagrin Falls

440-528-3180 or reserve online through RESO bullandbirdsteakhouse.com

Monday to Thursday: 5 to 9:30 p.m., Friday: 5 to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday: 4 to 10:30 p.m. Bar opens at 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and happy hour 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Monday to Friday.

As a historically based American steakhouse, we take our inspiration from classic European dishes and reinvent them. We also include our favorites from the sea, pasta dishes from Italy and ever-changing seasonal chef’s features. The décor highlights comfortable leather seating, plaid booths, wood paneling and three fireplaces. Private rooms for up to 80.

Kitchen hours: Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, open at noon; bar hours, Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. or later and closed on Sunday

Fisher’s American Tavern, previously “The American Tavern,” on the corner of Brainard and Miles roads, is a fantastic local eatery with a fresh new look. Fisher’s has been brought back to life with a new comprehensive menu, hands-on owners, delicious food, friendly staff and a completely remodeled interior. Open daily for lunch and dinner, happy hour (Monday to Friday) and daily specials. Stop in, you won’t be disappointed. Like us on Facebook for more information. Gift certificates available.

DON RAMON MEXICAN GRILL & CANTINA

5708 Mayfield Road, Lyndhurst

440-461-9077

4866 Richmond Road, Warrensville Heights

216-831-3100

donramon-granfiestamex.com

Monday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday: noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday: noon to 9 p.m.

Serving authentic Mexican food all made from scratch. This is the Magana family’s fifth area location. Menu specialties include burrito loco, fajitas, combos from the grill and vegetarian meals. For dessert, try the homemade flan or chimi cheese cake. Full bar serving margaritas, wine, beer, tequila and mixed drinks.

HYDE PARK PRIME STEAKHOUSE

Beachwood: 216-464-0688

Downtown: 216-344-2244

Westlake: 440-892-4933

Akron: 330-670-6303

hydeparkrestaurants.com

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse has been voted “Best Steakhouse” in Cleveland for more than 25 years. The award-winning steakhouse offers aged and dry-aged, prime and American Wagyu steaks in addition to fresh grilled fish, and unparalleled service in an atmosphere of posh modern elegance. Zagat Rated, Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Private rooms available for groups up to 350. Valet parking is available.

JACK’S DELI AND RESTAURANT

14990 Cedar Road (at Green Road), University Heights

216-382-5350

jacksdeliandrestaurant.com

Monday to Saturday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wish you could curl up at home with some delicious food from Jack’s Deli? You can. Just visit orderjacksonline.com to place your order and we’ll have it ready for pickup. Also, take $2 off our soup and sandwich combo this month. Choose between any of our delicious deli sandwiches and homemade soups. See our ad or visit our Facebook page for more details.

CateringService Available!

JEKYLL’S KITCHEN

17 River Street, Chagrin Falls

440-893-0797

jekyllskitchen.com

Monday to Thursday: 5 to 9:30 p.m., Friday: 4 to 10:30 p.m., Saturday: 3 to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday: 3 to 8 p.m.. Bar opens at 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 4 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

PICCOLO ITALIAN RESTAURANT

1261 SOM Center Road, Mayfield Heights 440-646-1383 piccolomayfield.com

Monday-Thursday 11-10 pm Friday-Saturday 11-11pm Sunday 4-9pm

New kosher Chinese restaurant opens in South Euclid

With breathtaking views of the Chagrin River waterfalls and an exhibition kitchen, this American grill features a variety of grilled fish, aged steaks, ribs, roasted chicken, and burgers. Jekyll’s offers a relaxed, yet sophisticated atmosphere, a large bar, five fireplaces and private rooms for up to 100. Valet parking available.

Monday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday: 4 to 9 p.m. We offer authentic Italian homemade recipes, showcased in all our dishes. Chef Chris Licht puts his signature contemporary twist on classic Italian Old World cuisine. Piccolo offers a full bar, extensive wine list and amazing happy hour specials. In-house private party rental available on Sunday afternoons. Don’t forget, Piccolo caters. Pick-up, delivery or full-service catering and event coordination available for your next special occasion. Now booking holiday parties! For more information on our catering services, contact catering coordinator Kristin Augusta.

BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER braspe@cjn.org | @BeckyRaspeCJN

Jade Chinese Kitchen, a kosher Chinese restaurant in South Euclid, held its soft-opening event Oct. 30, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

Located in the former location of Jerusalem Grill, owner Yoni Amar said the restaurant is phasing into being regularly open. Daily hours will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but Amar said the hours vary during the soft-opening period. A grand-opening date hasn’t been set.

Amar, who also operates Bar Sushi in University Heights, signed the lease for the space Aug. 3. Bringing the idea from concept to open “wasn’t easy” in three months, but Amar said it’s been enjoyable.

SLYMAN’S TAVERN

4009 Orange Place, Orange 216-292-9610

ML TAVERN

34105 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills

216-591-0340

mltav.com

Monday to Thursday: 5 to 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday: 5 to 10 p.m. Bar opens at 4:30 p.m. and Happy Hour is Monday to Friday from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

ML Tavern offers the best of seafood and steaks. In addition to our seafood based menu, we offer weekly seasonal specials of fish and shellfish. Our USDA prime steaks are aged for 21 days and broiled at more 1600 degrees. Tavern specialties include chicken Milanese and Parmesan and classic burgers. Valet parking available.

The

THE PEARL ASIAN KITCHEN

20060 Van Aken Blvd. (Shaker Plaza), Shaker Heights

216-751-8181

Monday to Friday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 5 to 10 p.m.; Happy Hour is Monday to Friday: 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday: 7 to 10 p.m.

Need a reprieve from a busy workday? Come relax at our sleek new bar during happy hour or pick up dinner to go in less than 15 minutes before you head home. Customized menus for large groups, from banquet-style dinners to family-style sharing, to be enjoyed in house or at your home or office. We offer deliveries, setup or full-service catering for corporate events, department meetings, celebrations, or simply gathering with family and friends. Call today and ask for Rose or Justin. Let us help you plan your next gathering.

Slymanstavern.com

Monday to Thursday: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. to midnight and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Home of Cleveland’s biggest and best corned beef sandwich. For more than 50 years, Slyman’s has been Cleveland’s favorite deli for corned beef. Now Slyman’s Tavern features an outstanding menu of deli and tavern favorites in a comfortable dining atmosphere. Featuring happy hour, Monday to Friday, 3 to 6 p.m. $1 off all drinks, beer and wine. Sunday breakfast buffet 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nosh listings provided by advertisers

“We know what the people want and we’re trying to give it to them,” he said. “We hope everyone enjoys it as much as we do. It was a fun process and had a big learning curve, but it was awesome.”

Under kosher supervision by Rabbi Shimon Gutman at Cleveland Kosher, Amar said customers will feel a “modern vibe” when dining at the restaurant.

“It’s clean, nice and new,” he explained. “We completely redid the whole place. Our chefs are amazing and they’re the real deal. We already have rave reviews from a lot of people already and it’s going to be a big (success).”

Though both offer Asian-style cuisine, Amar said the two restaurants are very different.

“It’s the same region, but it’s different concepts,” he noted. “One is meat and one is fish. They’re two separate concepts, but they actually feed off each other. (These restaurants) push everyone in the community to do better and give better service. I also strive to give that option and I think Jade is the answer.”

Amar plans to apply what he learned in opening Bar Sushi in University Heights to the new concept.

“The community wants this,” he said. “But, with restaurants like Jade, Cleveland has had bad luck with (kosher) Chinese restaurants. We’re focusing on the authenticity of the food. It’s something special. For it to be kosher and in Cleveland, it’s a huge step for us.”

As for the future of the two concepts, Amar said things are on the horizon but couldn’t say much more.

“We’re not doing anything but this right now,” he said. “But will we go into anything else? Who knows. This is the second wave of many more waves to come. This is not it for the Bar Sushi and Jade teams.”

Jade Chinese Kitchen is at 14421 Cedar Road.

Hebrew Academy’s Vision 2020 campaign on schedule

BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER braspe@cjn.org | @BeckyRaspeCJN

Hebrew Academy of Cleveland’s Vision 20/20 capital campaign, which calls for a new early childhood and elementary school on the former Oakwood Country Club property in Cleveland Heights, is developing as planned.

With a 2020 goal of completion, Rabbi Simcha Dessler, educational director of Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, said the project is moving according to plan. Phase one included repurposing the former Oakwood Country Club’s clubhouse.

“Much effort and energy has been expended to successfully maintain the architectural grandeur of the historic building while simultaneously making the clubhouse adaptable to the growing needs of the school,” Dessler explained. “The clubhouse, which is

a gift that keeps on giving because of its potential, was transformed into magnificent kindergarten, junior high and high school wings, an auditorium, science and technology labs, sports facilities and business offices. We’re absolutely delighted with the results of phase one of the academy’s Vision 20/20 campaign.”

The state-of-the-art project also includes a 130,000-square-foot building, two multipurpose fields, a baseball field, playgrounds and a parking lot.

“This is an exciting time at the academy,” Dessler said. “With the incredible growth of the school, we are completely out of space and thus we are currently in design and fundraising mode. Although it is a tight schedule, the target date for the completion of the elementary school and early childhood facilities is still the fall of 2020. The success of the project, as always, will require the support of the broader community.”

Hebrew Academy of Cleveland

purchased the 90-acre Cleveland Heights portion of the former Oakwood Country Club, which closed in 2010, from First Interstate Properties of Lyndhurst in

March 2014.

Hebrew Academy has schools in Cleveland Heights and Beachwood.

Gross Schechter offers art electives for middle school students

BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER braspe@cjn.org | @BeckyRaspeCJN

For the first time, Gross Schechter Day School in Pepper Pike is offering an arts elective program for its middle school students.

Sheri Gross, director of creative programming, said though the middle school had arts opportunities before, the electives are the first of its kind.

Gross

“This is my third year here, but when I first came under my title, I also started teaching drama to the elementary school,” Gross said. “The middle school students saw that, and they wanted that opportunity too. So, I met with Randy

‘To Kill A Mockingbird’

WHO: Gross Schechter

Day School’s eighth-grade drama students

WHERE: Gross Schechter

Day School’s Merkaz, 27601 Fairmount Blvd., Pepper Pike

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19

TICKETS: $5

MORE INFO: 216-763-1400 or grossschechter.org

Boroff (Gross Schechter’s head of school) to see how we could add these programs to the day. So, we created our academy program. That seemed to go well, but we relooked over the process and thought about how we could use the

program for different things. We came to the choice of offering our art specials to the middle school and gave them a bit more choice.”

For the first trimester of the electives program, students had a choice between bucket drumming in music, 2D design in art or a production of “To Kill A Mockingbird” in drama.

“We’re trying to branch out and get children to know that art is important,” she explained.

Specifically for the production of “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Gross said students can use their artistic experiences to make sense of their role in the community and world.

“I thought it would be a big challenge for the kids and the school, and the students opened up to it,” she said. “We performed ‘The Miracle Worker’ last year and the buzz was that we wanted to do another important show after that.

We wanted the kids to be able to learn about prejudice and social injustice in a different way.

“It’s about what we have in common regarding racial discrimination and social injustice and the whole process has been amazing. The students have taken the material and have been so mature about it. It’s important for kids to understand, especially in our world today, the social injustice that we’re experiencing.”

Gross said the school has a positive outlook on the future of the electives program.

“It’s what everyone says about arts in schools, it can open up a child’s mind to look at things in a new way,” she said. “The arts program is just a bridge to the rest of their education.”

A rendering shows what Hebrew Academy of Cleveland’s new early childhood and elementary school on the former Oakwood Country Club property in Cleveland Heights could look like. | Rendering / Ronald Kluchin Architects

Dessler

Scholarships, financial aid can help students reach potential

BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER braspe@cjn.org | @BeckyRaspeCJN

Education can be expensive, but many schools make scholarships and financial aid available.

According to Jenni Biehn, director of enrollment management at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, and Susan Newman, director of flexible tuition and associate director of admission at Hawken School in Chester Township, families have a couple of options.

At Western Reserve Academy, families can apply for two different kinds of scholarships, one being need-based and the other merit-based. The need-based scholarship assists families in closing the tuition gap. The merit-based scholarships are awarded to “outstanding students,” Biehn said.

“The merit award can be very helpful for a family that may not technically qualify for need-based financial aid, but might not necessarily know how to fit the tuition in their budget,” she added.

Newman noted Hawken School has similar opportunities in need-based and merit awards.

“The need-based assistance is called flexible tuition and that is for any student from kindergarten to 12th grade,” Newman explained. “It is based on the demonstrated need of the family, but we’re also making a concerted effort to include middle-income families because we know school has gotten much more expensive over the years.”

The merit-based awards are for students entering high school.

“These are based on their application, so there is nothing else a family has to do to be considered for a merit-based award,” Newman noted. “We look at the entire picture of who a student is as a learner and a leader. We look at students who will make an impact in the classroom.”

Newman noted the availability of scholarships can

be life changing for families.

“(Financial assistance) puts the cost of tuition within reach for families,” she said. “For a lot of families, (the awards) make a huge difference for them. Everyone should have that opportunity regardless of a parent’s ability to afford it.”

Both noted financial aid allows their schools to be diverse.

“These awards allow students to attend school and 40 percent of our students here get some kind of aid,” Biehn said. “It is a transformational opportunity to get that education. We also try to make sure that students from all backgrounds are represented in our student body.”

Newman added, “We have an amazing community that is dramatically diverse and we like that because we want to mirror the real world. Scholarships allow us to do that. A community that is only full of high-income earning parents is not the world that students will enter after college.”

When it comes to applying for scholarships, parents should start early.

“Families who think they can afford independent schools, they notice it takes a lot of advance planning,” Biehn said. “It requires putting education as the top priority. Look at your budgets and set education as the top priority and make lifestyle choices accordingly.”

But families should never give up on a school due to price.

“Don’t cross schools off of your lists because of tuition,” Biehn said. “Many schools have it in their

mission that student bodies need to be diverse. Have a conversation with (the school) and most admissions offices are happy to engage in that conversation, be it scholarships, grants or even payment plans. Don’t be afraid to engage with schools and see what your options are.”

Newman concluded, “Don’t let the initial tuition deter you from looking into the process. There are a variety of ways that (school) can be affordable for families. They just have to engage in the process.”

Chabad leader accuses Sweden of ‘persecuting’ couple who home-school their kids

JTA

One of Chabad movement’s top rabbis accused Sweden of “persecution” against a Chasidic couple who sought to home-school their children in Gothenburg.

Berel Lazar, one of Russia’s two chief rabbis, made the allegation in an open letter dated Oct. 10 that he addressed to the Swedish government. He complained about heavy fines imposed on the family of Rabbi Alexander Namdar and his wife, Leah, amid a decades-

long legal dispute with Swedish authorities over his family’s desire to school their children at home.

The Namdars, who serve as Chabad emissaries in Gothenburg, have lived in Sweden for 27 years. In their request to home-school their children they cited their religious sensibilities and the vulnerability of Jewish institutions, including schools, to anti-Semitic attacks.

“This persecution is a great source of concern,” Lazar wrote, noting the government has fined the Namdars to the tune of $84,000.

In 2012, a three-judge panel of the city’s

Administrative Courts of Appeal said that Leah Namdar, who is a teacher, and her husband may continue to provide education at home for their children.

Swedish law allows home schooling under “special circumstances,” but religion is not considered among them.

The education ministry appealed but lost its case in the lower and middle courts. The ministry is now awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court.

“These awards allow students to attend school, and 40 percent of our students here get some kind of aid. It is a transformational opportunity to get that education. We also try to make sure that students from all backgrounds are represented in our student body.”

Jenni Biehn, Director of Enrollment Management Western Reserve Academy

Biehn

Newman

“(Financial assistance) puts the cost of tuition within reach for families. For a lot of families, (the awards) make a huge difference for them. Everyone should have that opportunity regardless of a parent’s ability to afford it.”

Susan Newman, Director of Flexible Tuition and Associate Director of Admission Hawken School

Extracurricular programs offer unique learning environment

BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER

braspe@cjn.org | @BeckyRaspeCJN

Students at any age can enjoy extracurricular activities.

According to Stefanie Albrecht, pre-kindergarten teacher at Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, and Roberta Brown, middle school science teacher at University School in Shaker Heights, unique experiences allow students to tap into their interests.

Brown detailed a program offered to University School’s seventh- and eighthgrade students called Young Surgeons’ Course. The program, which the school has offered for nine years, first offered “comparative and evolutionary anatomy.” It now focuses generally on the field.

“We have moved to a more handson component with several clinics where extraordinary physicians have come in and offer clinics to the boys,” she said.

Some of the participating hospitals include Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth and University Hospitals.

“The students have various opportunities to work with different hospitals and clinics to learn handson about surgery,” Brown added.

In Hathaway Brown’s early childhood program, Albrecht said students go to Case Western Reserve University’s Squire Vallevue Farm in Hunting Valley once a week.

“It about exploring nature spaces and we go during all seasons,” she explained. “We found that nature play is super important for young kids. It encourages a lot of independence, risk taking and resilience. They can try things there that they might not have the opportunity to do at school. They need to find things to do in less-directed play like that.”

Albrecht added academics can come easy for many students, so extracurricular activities pose a new learning challenge.

“Having them play in nature and the like presents a new challenge for these students,” she noted. “They have to figure out what to do and it’s not directed learning. They are using their imaginations and learning to be independent.”

For older students, Brown said exposure to different career opportunities is important.

“This is the time where they should explore and the medical field is huge not only in Cleveland, but all over the world,” she stated. “And if it is something they end up doing as a career, great. But if not, it’s good for students to know what exists.”

Students can apply what they learn in extracurricular activities to their school subjects.

“In regards to the social settings of the world, medicine and access to medical care is a huge social issue, so it certainly hits the social studies content and the economics of medicine are certainly challenging,” Brown mentioned. “The community engagement of extracurriculars is a huge piece because they will be communicating with that community their whole lives.”

Albrecht added, “These are different opportunities for learning. We teach science through nature when we’re out. So, you could learn through a book but learning in nature speaks conversations that wouldn’t typically happen in the classroom. (Extracurricular activities) lend a different learning environment in that space.”

Brown said finding the right activity should start with taking risks.

“It is a matter of allowing oneself to take chances and have new experiences,” Brown recommended.

“So, take a chance with performance on stage or with a sport you’ve never played before. It’s about exploring, taking chances and trying out something new. And what a great time to do that than at a young age.”

For younger students, parents should talk with the school and their child about activities.

“At the beginning of the year and throughout the year, we have conversations with parents and have them ask their children what they enjoyed doing and what challenged them,” she noted. “It’s seeing what the child enjoys, what they need to thrive and working together to point them in the right direction.”

Albrecht Brown

Preschoolers enjoy new playground

Preschoolers at Park Synagogue in Pepper Pike check out their new sandbox. | Submitted photo

Hebrew Academy receives preservation award

The Hebrew Academy of Cleveland was awarded the Historic Preservation Award from the city of Cleveland Heights at the city’s 2018 Community Improvement Award Ceremony. The award was for achievements in preserving and maintaining the original grandeur of the former Oakwood Country Club’s clubhouse while adapting it for creative usage at the growing school. The academy acquired the former Oakwood Country Club, renovated the existing building and has launched a capital campaign for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art facility on the grounds to complete the school’s early childhood and boys’ campus. Accepting the award were, educational director Simcha Dessler, immediate past board chair of the academy Ivan Soclof, and financial director Rabbi Eli Dessler, who is a member of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company board of directors. | Submitted photo

Park Synagogue at JNF Conference

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Park Synagogue students attend the 2018 Jewish National Fund Conference in Phoenix and are seen with Izzy Ezagui, center, who may be the world’s only one armed special forces sharpshooter. | Submitted photo

Harvard once capped number of Jews, now doing same to Asian-Americans?

BEN SALES | JTA

In 1922, Harvard University President Abbott Lawrence Lowell had a problem: His school had too many Jews. At least that’s what he thought.

As the country’s Jewish population ballooned in the early 20th century, the Jewish proportion of Harvard students increased exponentially, too. In 1900, just 7 percent of the Ivy League school’s students were Jewish. By 1922, the figure was 21.5 percent.

Lowell felt that some were of deficient character. And even if they weren’t, he feared they would drive away potential White Anglo-Saxon Protestant students who would go on to be America’s political and economic elite — as well as future donors to schools like Harvard.

“The summer hotel that is ruined by admitting Jews meets its fate, not because the Jews it admits are of bad character, but because they drive away the Gentiles, and then after the Gentiles have left, they leave also,” he wrote in a letter to a philosophy professor, as quoted in the book “The Chosen: The Hidden History of Admission and Exclusion at Harvard, Yale and Princeton,” by Jerome Karabel.

In response to a letter from an alumnus bemoaning that Harvard was no longer a “white man’s” college, Lowell wrote that he “had foreseen the peril of having too large a number of an alien race, and had tried to prevent it.”

Lowell eventually succeeded in changing the admissions standards at his Boston-area university to limit the number of Jews. According to Karabel, instead of admitting

students solely based on academic achievement, the school began judging their surnames and photographs to determine if they were Jewish. It began classifying students as “J1,” “J2” or “J3” – conclusively Jewish, probably Jewish or maybe Jewish, respectively. It evaluated their “character” as well – a new standard that allowed Harvard to cap the proportion of Jewish students at 15 percent. The quota lasted until the 1960s.

Except that some people say it’s still happening – only this time the target is Asian-Americans.

That’s the contention of a lawsuit that began Oct. 15 at a federal court in Boston arguing that Harvard discriminates against Asian-American applicants. The lawsuit, brought by a group called Students for Fair Admissions, makes accusations that, if true, would recall Lowell’s prejudices of nearly a century ago: It says Harvard rejects Asian-Americans because it sees them as academically gifted but unexceptional in character.

“Harvard evaluators consistently rank Asian-American candidates below white candidates in ‘personal qualities,’” the lawsuit reads. “In comments written in applicants’ files, Harvard admissions staff repeatedly have described Asian Americans as ‘being quiet/shy, science/math oriented and hard workers.’”

And the lawsuit makes an explicit connection to Harvard’s history of discrimination against Jews.

“Harvard is using racial classifications to engage in the same brand of invidious discrimination against Asian-Americans that it formerly used to limit the number

of Jewish students in its student body,” it says. “Statistical evidence reveals that Harvard uses ‘holistic’ admissions to disguise the fact that it holds Asian-Americans to a far higher standard than other students and essentially forces them to compete against each other for admission.”

In a 2012 article in the American Conservative, the magazine’s publisher, Ron Unz, cited National Center for Education Statistics data to charge that Harvard imposed a quota of 16.5 percent on Asian-American students starting in 1995 – following the example of the Jewish quota.

“Even more surprising has been the sheer constancy of these percentages, with almost every year from 1995-2011 showing an Asian enrollment within a single point of the 16.5 percent average,” he wrote. “It is interesting to note that this exactly replicates the historical pattern observed by Karabel, in which Jewish enrollment rose very rapidly, leading to imposition of an informal quota system, after which the number of Jews fell substantially.”

But some people – including, notably, Karabel himself – dispute that Asian-Americans face the same bigotry as Jews did in the 1920s. Karabel, a sociology professor at the University of California, Berkeley, sees the lawsuit as an attempt to outlaw affirmative action – a longstanding desire of American conservatives.

Indeed, the lawsuit disparages Regents of Univ. of Cal. v. Bakke, a 1978 Supreme Court decision that serves as a basis for allowing race to serve as a factor in college admission policy.

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And Karabel says that unlike Jews, Asian Americans have seen their numbers at Harvard increase under a system that takes character into account – at least in recent years. Harvard’s incoming class of 2000 was 16.4 percent Asian. But the incoming class of 2022 is nearly 23 percent Asian.

“(The) analogy between Jews and Asians that frames the current case against Harvard obscures more than it illuminates,” Karabel wrote in a column in the Huffington Post. “Unlike quotas, which substantially reduced Jewish enrollments, affirmative action has proved compatible with both an increase in Asian-American enrollments and expanded opportunities for African-Americans and Latinos.”

In other words, character was used as a means of depressing Jewish enrollment in the 1920s. But Karabel and others say that today, considering factors outside academic achievement – like extracurricular activities and life story –is meant to lead to a more diverse student body.

“The ideas being explored today are not so different from the ideas being explored then,” said Jonathan Sarna, the Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University. “Diversity and other elements come into play, and that’s an interesting argument. And one might argue that there should be different kinds of universities, some of which would make decisions based purely on the basis of merit.”

The lawsuit has divided Asian-Americans as well.

Tri-C Foundation luncheon raises $1.3 million

Tri-C Foundation, with the help of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, raised at least $1.3 million for scholarships at the university’s Presidential Scholarship Luncheon Nov. 1 at Renaissance Cleveland Hotel in Cleveland’s Tower City Center.

Gates also served as the keynote speaker of the

luncheon.

Dollars generated at the event will crate scholarships for students pursuing careers in health care, information technology and manufacturing.

Since its inception in 1992, the Foundation’s Presidential Scholarship Luncheon has raised more than $19 million for Tri-C students.

“Every dollar represents an investment in the people of Northeast Ohio,” Trina Evans, chairperson of the Tri-C Foundation, said in a news release. “This is about providing the opportunity to achieve. Lives change from these scholarships and the generosity of foundation donors.”

Hebrew College installs its first female president

JTA | PENNY SCHWARTZ

NEWTON, Mass.– The first woman to lead the near-century-old Hebrew College was formally installed in a ceremony that paid tribute to her legacy as a humble and influential rabbinic teacher, and as a transformative leader on the role of women in Jewish life.

Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld on Oct. 15 was affirmed as the suburban Boston school’s ninth president by its rector, Rabbi Arthur Green, before a crowd of some 600 people including religious and educational leaders from across the country who filled the Temple Emanuel sanctuary not far from the Hebrew College campus.

“We’re living in a time when so much conspires to make us feel alone and untethered,” Anisfeld said. “In a world that is fractured and frayed, we are — we must be — witnesses to a deeper truth. One of connection and compassion. One of humility and hope. This is our sacred mission at Hebrew College. And never has it been more vitally important.”

Ordained in 1990 as a Reconstructionist rabbi, Anisfeld was appointed to the position in November and began serving as acting president in January, succeeding Rabbi Daniel Lehmann, who stepped down after nearly a decade. She had served as the dean of the school’s pluralistic rabbinical school for a dozen years. In her last year in the position, the school admitted the largest single incoming class of any single-campus rabbinical school in the country, according to the college.

Shortly after Anisfeld took the helm in July, the college announced it had sold its landmark campus in a bold move to shed a lingering $7.4 million debt that had drained its budget for a decade.

The eclectic crowd was a testament to Anisfeld’s array of colleagues and ability to bring unique qualities to the table, according to Jonathan Sarna, a noted scholar of American Jewish history at Brandeis University and a Hebrew College graduate.

“There are only a small number of leaders … who everybody likes and respects and seem to have ties across the spectrum. Sharon is one of those people,” Sarna said.

Sarna said that by the 1990s, while similar Jewish institutions were shuttered or merged, Hebrew College stayed ahead of the curve by creating innovative adult education programs such as Me’ah, and launching the pluralistic rabbinical program. He said the challenge for Anisfeld is to maintain and grow those programs.

Anisfeld is expected to bolster its online technology, including for its Prozdor secondary school program that has declined in recent years.

A current female rabbinical student said it was exciting for the college to have its first female president.

“It’s a way the college can stand by its feminist values,” Giulia Fleishman said.

Noting the wall of portraits of the school’s all-male past presidents, Fleishman said “It’s great to have the leadership now reflect the student body that may be half women.”

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MBA GUIDE A Cleveland Jewish News Special Section

Online MBA perfect option for working students

BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER braspe@cjn.org | @BeckyRaspeCJN

Having a full-time job makes it difficult to return to school for a higher degree.

Frank Braun, dean of the school of business at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, and Ray Henry, director of graduate programs at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, said post-grad students have an option in online MBA programs.

“The online MBA is designed for working professionals who want the flexibility to complete their degree without the time constraints that come with traditional lecture classes,” Henry noted. Braun said online MBA programs offer unique

opportunities.

“The environment offers a great networking opportunity,” he mentioned. “Even though you’re online, that opportunity is still there. It’s not really about what you know, but whom you know and that is still available in online MBA courses.”

Both agreed online MBA courses work best for working professionals.

“It’s for those that have work or personal demands, like maybe they can’t commit to being in the classroom at 6 or 7 p.m. every night or they’re traveling,” Braun explained. “But, these students want to feel like they’re part of the learning community. This is about truly engaging and getting a sense of their fellow students and faculty. We believe that an MBA is an educational

More than a degree A CAREER CATALYST

journey, online or not.”

Henry added, “These are students that are looking to hone their skills and prepare themselves for advancement. Those are the ones that are typically going to get the most out of an online program. They take the experience they already have and then refine it with the graduate experience that comes with an MBA.”

Henry noted the online MBA experience doesn’t work for everyone.

“The online environment is very different from the in-person environment,” he stated. “It does take a little more discipline to really get out of it what you want to get out of it, which is the ability to acquire those skills to help them advance in their careers.”

Online MBA programs have become popular because individuals have more demanding personal and professional lives.

“In general across the United States, individuals have more demands than they used to,” Henry said. “If they are a working professional, they are much more engaged across global timelines. We need to offer this same quality of education that we have offered for decades but meet the students where they are. Even if the delivery vehicle has changed a little.”

Braun added, “Historically, you went off to college and stayed four years before grad school. That isn’t the case anymore. People are balancing work and home life but they still want to have the opportunity to invest in their education. One of the reasons we do that is to provide that flexibility for the right students.”

If a student isn’t sure where to start their online MBA journey, the experts offered advice.

“You’re going to get out of it what you’re going to put into it,” Braun imparted. “It’s not a credential to achieve. It’s a way to put on a different set of glasses and see the same phenomena in a broader spectrum. It’s about understanding what is on the horizon and what the strength, skills and abilities of those you work with are.”

Henry added, “Students should understand why they are doing it. They should also think about their career goals and how the coursework plays into that.”

Braun

Henry

MBAs boost careers, marketability

BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER braspe@cjn.org | @BeckyRaspeCJN

Going back to school for an MBA degree can help boost a career.

According to Anne Balazs, dean of the College of Business and Innovation at the University of Toledo in Toledo, and Terry Daugherty, assistant dean and director of graduate programs in the College of Business Administration at the University of Akron in Akron, there are various reasons to pursue an MBA.

“People from different backgrounds pursue an MBA and some students who have an undergraduate degree in business continue into their masters,” Balazs said. “(MBAs) have been popular for a while now because it adds a skillset and value to one’s career.”

Daugherty added, “There are a lot of reasons why students would want to pursue an MBA. Everything we do is business, whether you think about it or not. When you think about it from that perspective, often times the motivation for an MBA is career advancement. An MBA gives them that well-rounded

business knowledge to understand a variety of units within any company organization.”

Daugherty listed career changes, skill upgrading and financial gain as other reasons.

“Through career advancement and everything else, having this degree helps many students increase their market value,” he noted.

But professionals with a business background aren’t the only ones who can benefit from an MBA.

“If you have a degree in another area, (an MBA) gives you a whole new

way of thinking,” Balazs explained. “It’s value added for those who don’t have a business background. Depending on what you might have majored in, it’s an orientation to the world. MBAs give you a strategic skill set to manage the business side in every kind of industry.”

When professionals without a business background peruse an MBA, Daugherty said that gets into the “philosophical reason the MBA was created.”

“You don’t have to have a business undergraduate degree to get an MBA,” he noted. “It’s about adding skills to complement their undergraduate degree. Not only do they have their undergraduate degree, but now they can add that business degree and abilities to that. The MBA is a strong complementary asset to a lot of people.”

Both professionals said an MBA would boost one’s post graduate experience.

“It’s true that many people are attracted to MBAs as an option after they start working,” Balazs said. “They may realize it’s very competitive and they don’t have that advanced business knowledge.

A lot of international opportunities are born from MBA programs as well. It expands your horizons and it sets you up to be able to manage an enterprise from anywhere in the world.”

Daugherty added, “The degree itself often times has professional development and experiential learning built into the program. This is you gaining knowledge and experience in building your resume while you’re a student. Not only do they have their classroom knowledge, but they also have the hands-on experiences that will add to their career.”

The best advice for an MBA hopeful is to know what they want.

“The first thing is to jump right into the information,” Daugherty noted. “Ask questions and start researching those programs. Visit colleges and talk to people you know with business graduate degrees. A lot of times, people who are thinking about it are already there but they need to take the leap.”

Balazs added, “Recognize what you’re capable of handling physically and financially. It is a pretty demanding curriculum.”

At Cleveland State University we have an MBA to fit your schedule, lifestyle and experience level.

Our dedicated graduate advisors will work with you to choose the program that best helps YOU achieve your career aspirations.

Balazs Daugherty

International aspect to MBA programs offer added experiences

BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER braspe@cjn.org | @BeckyRaspeCJN

An MBA program with an international aspect can help students raise their marketability in the workforce.

According to Roger Bailey, co-director of the full-time MBA program and Joyce Steffan, director of the office of global business and the director of the center for international business, education and research at The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business in Columbus, and Elad Granot, dean at the Dauch College of Business and Economics at Ashland University in Ashland, MBA programs with abroad trips offer unique opportunities.

“Before becoming an academic, I spent many years as an executive in a variety of companies and organizations all over the globe,” Granot started. “During my experiences, I realized the importance of gaining an international perspective to be competitive in today’s business world.”

Granot explained international MBA programs provide students with opportunities to learn from experienced businesses.

“By giving our students real-world

experience in global markets, we give them the confidence and competitive edge needed to make an impact in their professional endeavors,” he noted.

At Ohio State, students have the opportunity to go on trips abroad with their program.

“With how interconnected the world is, students need to be able to interact with that lens,” Bailey said.

Bailey and Steffan explained students can go on shorter global business expedition trips or a longer global applied projects trip.

“These programs are very popular and they interact with students from other universities,” Steffan added.

The global applied projects trip begins at Ohio State, where students work on a project for an international firm for seven weeks. At the end of the semester, students go overseas for three weeks to work on site.

“We find projects for every student that wants to travel because that is important,” Bailey said. “Every student has the opportunity to gain more experience and learn how to work in a global setting.”

Granot said international study tours, like the two that are offered in Ashland’s MBA program, help students grow on a professional and personal scale.

“In the past, our students have gained a global perspective as they’ve discovered the magical ‘city of a hundred spires,’ seen thousands of years of history in Israel, explored Tallinn’s food scene and toured major landmarks,” Granot recalled.

“During these visits, students are provided with abundant opportunities to immerse themselves in cultural events.”

Granot explained these cultural events offer professionals a new point of view.

“These events not only offer an expanded point of view on cultural practices of the world but also provide students with a sought-after skill set that allows them to understand and analyze situations through a different lens,” Granot said.

Bailey said international experiences help MBA students see businesses on a global stage.

“The decisions that managers make tend to be myopic as they sometimes don’t look for things in the long run,

sometimes ignoring how their firm interacts on a global stage,” he stated. “In order for students to interact on that broader stage, they need to get out of their comfort one and gain that perspective about how they can understand and interact with others in different countries.”

Steffan said students interested in international opportunities should consider the benefits of participating.

“Business is global indeed, so we want them to understand how to work in multi-locational teams,” she said. “They are learning how to build relationships and skill sets. And when traveling abroad, that’s the real world. We want to emulate what the real world is like.”

Bailey added, “When you move to this global level, they may be going to a country they could eventually work within their career. These are things they will take with them, learning to be comfortable with discomfort. That alone is worth the trip.”

Granot said it’s important to know what one wants to do.

“Outline the aspects you’re seeking to gain from an MBA program and begin the process with a clear and driven mind,” he said. “Our most successful applicants are individuals who are eager to learn from our facility with real-world experience, who are seeking to expand their academic knowledge and professional network and can demonstrate why this program is essential for personal growth.”

Publisher’s note: Elad Granot is a member of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company Board of Directors.

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Bailey

Granot Steffan

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Job opportunities increase for MBA graduates

BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER braspe@cjn.org | @BeckyRaspeCJN

Returning to school for an MBA degree can be a career boost. According to Tom Siebenaler, director of the Business Career Accelerator at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, and Meenakshi Sharma, assistant dean of career and student affairs at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management in Cleveland, graduate programs equip students with in-demand skills.

“MBAs are such versatile degrees,” Sharma said. “So many students come and change their careers (with an MBA). If you’re an engineer, you can come and get an MBA in finance and become a banker.”

Both professionals stated MBAs teach students a variety of skills, both soft or technical.

Knowledge

is you’re building your network as well.”

Both professionals expressed the importance of internships. Sharma specifically said individuals should have internships lined up before starting their degree.

Earn your master’s degree in Business Administration.

Ursuline’s MBA program will prepare you to be a socially responsible manager, empowered to make a difference in your world.

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PROGRAMS INCLUDE:

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“One of the major components of an MBA is the economic and international perspective it provides,” Siebenaler said. “The economic perspective permeates so many different levels of the business world. Full-time MBAs also have travel as part of the degree. Employers love that. When an employer is seeing a candidate that has that knowledge, it goes so deep. That exposure is so valuable.”

Sharma put weight on the soft skills employees learn in an MBA program.

“The skills (employers) are looking for are soft skills as they are already expected to have the core skills,” she said. “(Employers) want people who can work with different groups of people and who can problem solve. Also, they want people who have the ability to lead others and have good communication skills. You want someone who can tell a story around numbers, it’s not enough to be good with math. Employers want to know how things will affect their companies.”

Siebenaler said employers look for graduates with community involvement.

“(Employers) look to see if (candidates) are linked to community organizations. It tells an employer that they are doing more than going to work or school,” he explained. “Another equally important skill is networking. In the community involvement, the added benefit to that

“This is figuring out what they want in their career,” she said. “You’re late if you wait for internships on your first day. Students have to be ready from day one for internship opportunities. Cleveland has big employers, which figure out their needs early and start hiring in the summer. Fall is the best time to start looking into spring internships.”

Siebenaler said many BGSU MBA students are already employed, so internships aren’t a priority for them. But for full-time MBA students, internships are essential.

“If you’re getting an MBA, you want to make yourself more marketable,” he noted. “The internship can help you find what you like and what you don’t like.”

After graduation, MBA students should keep a few things in mind.

“Get to know your industry as much as possible,” Siebenaler suggested. “The MBA is going to expose them to a lot. But, they need to dig deeper on a more personal level. The more they personalize it with community involvement, research and reading to an in-depth level, the more you’ll learn about your industry. In that, you’ll be absolutely happy and successful in what you’re doing.”

Sharma added, “You learn and adjust. Don’t jump on a job that you won’t like because of the salary. You have to know what you want. It’s not always possible to get the three P’s: pay, position and place. It’s hard to get all three for the first job. But don’t take just any job, make sure it fits in your grand scheme.”

Sharma Siebenaler

Matthew Eisenberg, Rabbi

Edna Akrish, Education Director Richard Freedman, President

Marcie Oelbracht, Temple Administrator

ASHLAND UNIVERSITY

6393 Oak Tree Blvd.

Cleveland, OH 44131

(216) 208-5214

ashland1yearmba.com

mba@ashland.edu

Our one-year international MBA program allows students to travel the world on two separate international study tours and still earn their MBA in just oneyear. Tuition is all-inclusive, covering the study tours, materials and meals. Students can continue working full-time with Saturday-only classes in Cleveland.

BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY

School of Business

275 Eastland Road

Berea, OH 44017 440-826-2191

bw.edu/mba

Baldwin Wallace University offers graduate business degrees including the MBA, MBA in health care management, master of accountancy and master of arts in management. Students can attend on a part time, full time or online basis. More that 6,500 BW master’s graduates work in and lead businesses and organizations in Northeast Ohio.

URSULINE COLLEGE

2550 Lander Road Pepper Pike, OH 44124

1-888-URSULINE or 440-646-8119 ursuline.edu/mba

graduateadmissions@ursuline.edu

Building on Ursuline’s foundational heritage of providing a holistic, values-based education, our MBA program prepares tomorrow’s leaders for the challenges and opportunities of the marketplace and emerging global economy. This is accomplished through educational experiences that emphasize communication skills, independent thinking, creative problem solving, and professional integrity from a business operating perspective.

December 11 • 6 p.m. Market Hall at Van Aken District Purchase

CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY’S MONTE AHUJA COLLEGE

OF BUSINESS

2121 Euclid Ave., Room 219

Cleveland, OH 44115

Phone: 216-687-3730

Fax: 216-687-5311

cbacsu@csuohio.edu

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AACSB-accredited, accessible and affordable, our world-class MBA options are designed to accommodate your work schedule and lifestyle. Options include: executive MBA (19 months), online accelerated MBA (12 months), health care MBA, juris doctor/MBA, full- and part-time MBAs as well as specialized business degrees in accounting, human resources and information systems.

THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON College of

Business Administration

330-972-7043

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The College of Business Administration at University of Akron offers a fully accredited MBA that you can earn by attending class in the evenings or every other Saturday for two years at UA’s main campus. The program is the highest-ranked part-time MBA program at a public university in Northeast Ohio, according to the 2019 U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of part-time MBA programs.

MBA-Graduate Studies listings provided by advertisers

19th annual JCC Jewish Book Festival features eclectic lineup of 19 authors

BOB ABELMAN | COLUMNIST columnists@cjn.org

The 19th annual Mandel Jewish Community Center Cleveland Jewish Book Festival, one of the premiere Jewish book festivals in the country, will feature a wide-ranging lineup of 11 nationally acclaimed authors and eight authors with local ties.

“And this year, we’re offering seven free events at a variety of locations, including the Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Public Libraries, to make it easier and more convenient for attendees,” said Leah Avner, Mandel JCC Arts & Cultural Program Associate. However, due to demand, the event at the Beachwood library has been moved to the Mandel JCC, where most of the events take place.

The festival runs from Nov. 4-19.

Each year, the festival attempts to represent a variety of genres as well as recognizable headliners and upcoming authors.

“We also look for good speakers,” said Laura Simon who, along with Eliana LeVine and Shelly Lewis, serve as book festival co-chairs.

The bookfest kicks off with a free event Nov. 4, featuring Sally Kohn, a CNN political commentator and former Fox News contributor. In her book, “The Opposite of Hate,” she talks to leading scientists and researchers about the evolutionary and cultural roots of that emotion.

The keynote event Nov. 10 features Grammy-nominated international actress and singer, Alexandra Silber, author of “After Anatevka,” which picks up where “Fiddler on the Roof” left off. She will offer a unique hybrid of reading and musical performance.

This year’s national authors include Steven Hartov, whose “The Soul of a Thief” captures the turbulent emotional rush of those caught behind the lines of occupied France, where one false step could spell death and every day brings a new struggle to survive. He will present Nov. 6.

On Nov. 7, geriatric psychiatrist Marc Agronin will discuss his new book, “The End of Old Age,” which presents a hopeful view of the aging process, casting it as a developmental force that brings unique strengths that includes wisdom, purpose and creativity.

The award-winning author Rachel

Kadish’s “The Weight of Ink” is the interwoven tale of a 17th-century migrant who works as a scribe for a blind rabbi and an ailing historian in the 21st century with a love of Jewish history. She will present Nov. 11.

Millennials are the largest living generation in the United States. Their size and influence have disrupted every status quo impacting the world around us. Jeremy Balkin, author of “The Millennialization of Everything,” delves into this new phenomenon Nov. 13.

Rabbi John Rosove offers a commonsense guide for a new generation of young men and women who find Jewish orthodoxy, tradition, issues and beliefs impenetrable in 21st-century society in his book “Why Judaism Matters.” He will present Nov. 14.

On Nov. 15, author Stuart Eizenstat will discuss his book, “President Carter: The White House Years,” which delves into the details of the Middle East peace process with interviews of participants from the U.S., Israel and Egypt.

A community read discussion will take place Nov. 19, featuring Rebecca Erbelding’s “Rescue Board,” which reveals the untold story of America’s efforts to save the Jews in Europe in 1944.

On Nov. 18, eight Cleveland-area authors will be featured on a panel at the JCC and do a book signing. One is J.D. Blackrose, whose “The Soul Wars” is an attempt to answer the age-old question, “Why are some vampires evil

Mandel JCC Cleveland Jewish Book Festival

WHERE: Mandel JCC, 26001 S. Woodland Road, Beachwood; Suburban Temple-Kol Ami, 22401 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood; The Temple-Tifereth Israel, 26000 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood; Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, 23737 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood; B’nai Jeshurun Congregation, 275012 Fairmount Blvd., Pepper Pike; Park Synagogue East, 27500 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pike; and Cleveland Public Library Rice Branch, 11535 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland.

WHEN: Nov. 4-19

TICKETS & INFO: Tickets from $12-$20 (members) and $15-$25 (community). Call 216-831-0700 or visit mandeljcc.org/bookfestival

and others sparkle?”

“Participating in book festivals like the one at the JCC is critical to the success of local authors,” said Blackrose, which is the pen name used for Shaker Heights resident Joelle Reizes. “The festival provides an enormous public service by exposing our community to nationally known authors and authors who live right next door. I’m really honored to be a part of it.”

“Each year our goal is simply to bring the most interesting, acclaimed and fascinating authors to Cleveland audiences,” Avner said.

Bob Abelman covers professional theater and cultural arts for the Cleveland Jewish News. Follow Bob at Facebook.com/BobAbelman3 or visit cjn.org/Abelman. 2018 Ohio Media Editors best columnist.

‘Unorthodox’ podcast

A live taping of “Unorthodox,” an edgy, contemporary weekly podcast produced by Jewish e-zine Tablet Magazine, will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood.

“Unorthodox” is hosted by Tablet senior writer Liel Leibovitz and deputy editor Stephanie Butnick, as well as The New York Times religion writer Mark Oppenheimer.

Guests will include David Gilbert, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Destination Cleveland, and Terry Stewart, former CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Eliana LeVine, from left, Shelly Lewis, Laura Simon and Leah Avner are ready for the 19th annual Mandel Jewish Community Center Cleveland Jewish Book Festival from Nov. 4-19. LeVine, Lewis and Simon are co-chairs, while Avner is Mandel JCC Arts & Cultural Program Associate. | Submitted photo

Mandel Jewish Community Center Jewish Book Festival schedule

SALLY KOHN

“The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing Our Humanity’

7 p.m. Nov. 4

Park Synagogue East, 27500 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pike Free and open to the community

UNORTHODOX PODCAST, LIVE PODCAST

7 p.m. Nov. 5

Mandel JCC, 26001 S. Woodland Road, Beachwood

$25 Mandel JCC Members

$30 community

$150 VIP Dinner & Meet and Greet with the Podcast hosts

STEVEN HARTOV

“The Soul of a Thief”

Noon Nov. 6

CPL Rice Branch, 11535 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland Free and open to the community

MARK AGRONIN

“The End of Old Age: Living a Longer, More Purposeful Life”

7 p.m. Nov. 7

The Temple-Tifereth Israel, 26000 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood Free and open to the community

ALEXANDRA SILBER

“After Anatevka”

7 p.m. Nov 10

Mandel JCC, 26001 S. Woodland Road, Beachwood

$20 Mandel JCC members

$25 community

RACHEL KADISH

“The Weight of Ink”

2 p.m. Nov. 11

Mandel JCC, 26001 S. Woodland Road, Beachwood Free and open to the community

JEREMY BALKIN

“The Millennialization of Everything: How to Win When Millennials Rule the World”

7:45 a.m. Nov. 13

Mandel JCC, 26001 S. Woodland Road, Beachwood

$12 Mandel JCC members

$15 community

JOHN ROSOVE

“Why Judaism Matters: Letters of a Liberal Rabbi to His Children and the Millennial Generation”

7 p.m. Nov. 14

Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, 23737 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood Free and open to the community

STUART EIZENSTAT

“President Carter: The White House Years”

7 p.m. Nov. 15

Mandel JCC, 26001 S. Woodland Road, Beachwood Free and open to the community

KIDS DAY CHARACTER BREAKFAST WITH PETE THE CAT

9:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 18

Mandel JCC, 26001 S. Woodland Road, Beachwood

$20 Family pass, parents and children

$25 Extended family pass, parents, chilren and grandparents

LOCAL AUTHOR DAY

2-4 p.m. Nov. 18

Mandel JCC, 26001 S. Woodland Road, Beachwood Free and open to the public

REBECCA ERBELDING

“Rescue Board: The Untold Story of America’s Efforts to Save the Jews of Europe”

11 a.m. Nov. 19

Mandel JCC, 26001 S. Woodland Road, Beachwood

$12 Mandel JCC members

$15 community

Great Lakes Theater treats Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ with austerity

BOB ABELMAN columnists@cjn.org

“In an innovative, tradition-defying rethinking of one of the greatest comedies in the English language,” begins a satirical article in a recent posting on theonion.com, “Morristown Community Players director Kevin Hiles announced Monday his bold intention to set his theater’s production of Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’ in 16th century Venice.”

“I know when most people hear ‘The Merchant Of Venice,’ they think 1960s Las Vegas, a high-powered Manhattan stock brokerage or an 18th century Georgia slave plantation, but I think it’s high time to shake things up a bit,” Hiles said.

Despite Great Lakes Theater’s propensity for re-envisioning classic works, it too has gone the risky route of staging the theater version of Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice” in the time, place and spirit in which it was penned and published more than 200 years ago.

The play, like the novel, tells the story of the five British Bennet sisters, whose mother is driven to marry them off to affluent suitors in the hope of assuring their financial security. This is a scenario dutifully accepted by each of the girls save Elizabeth, the second eldest. When the headstrong Lizzy meets the wealthy and handsome Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, she finds him arrogant and unattractive, and he is equally unimpressed with her. They bicker, they throw elegant barbs at one another, and of course, they fall in love by the end of the final act.

In the playbill, director/co-adapter Joseph Hanreddy calls “Pride and Prejudice” a “perfectly written novel” and treats it as a sacred text for this production. His and J.R. Sullivan’s script works hard at maintaining the work’s narrative voice and calls for fairly bare-

‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Great Lakes Theater

WHERE: The Hanna Theatre, East 14th St. and Euclid Ave., Cleveland

WHEN: Through Nov. 4

TICKETS & INFO: $13 to $80, call 216-241-6000 or visit greatlakestheater.org

boned staging so as not to detract from Austen’s precise prose.

Designers Linda Buchanan (scenic) and Paul Miller (lighting) have created one stationary set for all the play’s action, from which Laura Welsh Berg, as Lizzy, rarely leaves and never for long.

The set consists of a gorgeous half-circle of floor-to-ceiling wood panels divided by pillars across the rear of the thrust stage. Only a few period chairs and tables are brought in and out by servants to represent halls in luxurious estates while simple costume changes – many a matter of removing a frock designed by Martha Hally or putting on a shawl – occur onstage. Scenes change as effortlessly as the turning of pages.

Such economic staging keeps Austen’s words the focus of our attention but offers rather understated theatricality. Hanreddy’s quick pacing helps keep things lively, as do stellar performances turned in by this cast that have been

refined during the show’s summer engagement at sister theater The Idaho Shakespeare Festival.

Stand-out performances include Andrew May as the ever-anguished patriarch of the Bennet clan, whose comic timing is impeccable. He is nicely matched by the over-the-top histrionics of Carole Healey’s Mrs. Bennet.

Daniel Millhouse as the carefree playboy Charles Bingley, Jodi Dominick as his snobbish sister Caroline and Eric Damon Smith as the ridiculously self-centered Mr. Collins give particularly impressive performances as well. While Berg as Lizzy and Nick Steen as Mr. Darcy are saddled with Austen’s

unambiguous depictions, they do a wonderful job of letting the characters’ romantic arc take its course.

The show’s austerity may not be to everyone’s liking and, as Morristown Community Players director Kevin Hiles learned, “audiences may be taken aback initially by the lack of Creole accents.” But Jane Austen fans will likely be delighted by this production.

Bob Abelman covers professional theater and cultural arts for the Cleveland Jewish News. Follow Bob at Facebook.com/BobAbelman3 or visit cjn.org/Abelman. 2018 Ohio Media Editors best columnist.

Producer Mayo to discuss ‘Heading Home’ Nov. 18

Producer Jonathan Mayo will speak at a special screening of “Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel” at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Temple Israel Ner Tamid, 1732 Lander Road in Mayfield Heights.

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Mayo has been an mlb.com reporter and draft and prospect expert since 1999. The event, “For Israeli Baseball to Get This Far, Dayenu,” will include a screening, post-film discussion and dessert reception. A paid meet and greet will be held prior at 5:30.

Tickets are $36 and include the screening, discussion and reception. Tickets for the meet and greet are $90.

For more information and to RSVP, visit bit.ly/2EHMf6C or call 440-473-5120.

Jillian Kates (from left), Laura Welsh Berg, Courtney Hausman, Amy Keum and Kailey Boyle as the Bennet sisters, and Eric Damon Smith as Mr. Collins. | Photo / Roger Mastroianni

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Listen to CJN Managing Editor Bob Jacob every Sunday morning discuss stories featured in the CJN and on cjn.org. Phil Fink

Local actor Gabe Brown returns in touring ‘Les Misérables’

BOB ABELMAN | COLUMNIST columnists@cjn.org

It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally a small sliver of paper falls out of the playbill you’ve just been handed as you take your seat at the theater. On it is the announcement that a character normally played by a particular performer will be played by someone else.

In the national tour of “Les Misérables,” which is in Cleveland through Nov. 18, that someone could very well be Gabe Brown.

Brown, who was raised in University Heights and celebrated a bar mitzvah at Temple Israel Ner Tamid in Mayfield Heights, graduated in 2016 from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea. He is an ensemble member and principal understudy by profession.

The principal understudy is a member of the on-stage ensemble and replaces one of the marquee actors in the case of illness, injury or a much-needed day off.

Brown, who has been in the touring

Touring ‘Les Misérables’

WHERE: Connor Palace Theatre, 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

WHEN: Through Nov. 18

TICKETS & INFO: $10-$125, call 216-241-6000 or visit playhousesquare.com

company’s ensemble since its first performance in September 2017, plays Joly – one of the ill-fated revolutionary schoolboys known in Victor Hugo’s novel as Les Amis de l’ABC – and is one of three understudies for Marius, the show’s romantic lead.

“I was auditioning for ‘Miss Saigon’ and apparently impressed the production team, who was also producing ‘Les Mis,’” said Brown by telephone during the show’s five-day engagement in North Charleston, S.C. “They pretty much fasttracked me through the audition process and then the tour began. It’s been an incredible ride.”

Brown has performed as Marius a dozen times across the tour’s 400-plus performances and only after three

rehearsals of his scenes and one full rehearsal run of the show with the entire cast.

“I didn’t get to actually play the role until 3½ months later,” he said. “Such is life on the road.”

Unlike most “drop-ins,” the actor playing Marius gave Brown a heads-up

of a day off so he could invite his parents to Seattle to see his debut in the role.

Bob Abelman covers professional theater and cultural arts for the Cleveland Jewish News. Follow Bob at Facebook.com/BobAbelman3 or visit cjn.org/Abelman. 2018 Ohio Media Editors best columnist.

FORGET BAGHDAD

The cast of the touring “Les Misérables.” | Photos / Playhouse Square

Brown

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2

JMiller Band concert, 8 p.m., Music Box, 1148 Main Ave., Cleve. $10 adv, $12 day of show. For more info, visit bit.ly/2NQ00jP.

convergence-continuum’s “THIS MUCH (or An Act of Violence Towards the Institution of Marriage), 8 p.m., Liminis Theater, 2438 Scranton Rd., Cleve. $8-$15 at convergence-continuum.org or 216-687-0074. Thru Nov. 3.

WHY? “Alopecia” 10-year anniversary show, 7:30 p.m., Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Rd., Cleve. $16-$18 at bit.ly/2OYfOlf.

Twin-bill performances of “Above and Beyond” by Faye Sholiton and “The Silence of Dr. and Mrs. Caligari” by Robert Hawkes, 7:30 p.m., Creative Space at Waterloo Arts, 397 E. 156th St., Cleve. $12-$18 at playwrightslocal.org or call 216-302-8856. Thru Nov. 18.

Horns & Things concert, 8:30 p.m., Nighttown, 12383 Cedar Rd., Cleve. Hts. $20 at nighttowncleveland.com.

“A View From the Bridge” performance, 7:30 p.m., Ohio Theatre, 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleve. $20, $5 for students at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000.

“Les Miserables” theatrical performance, 7:30 p.m., Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Tickets at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000. Thru Nov. 18.

River Side Valley Players Improv “RSVP Comes Clean,” 7 p.m., CVLT, 40 River St., Chagrin Falls. $10 at cvlt.org or 440-247-8955.

River Side Valley Players Improv “RSVP Gets Dirty,” 9:30 p.m., CVLT, 40 River St., Chagrin Falls. $10 at cvlt.org or 440-247-8955.

Valley Art Center’s 47th Juried Art Show open house, 6-8 p.m., VAC, 155 Bell St., Chagrin Falls. Show runs thru Dec. 12. Free and open to the public. For more info, visit valleyartcenter.org.

“Made of Clay” art exhibition, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., The Gallery at Lakeland Community College, 7700 Clocktower Dr., Kirtland. Free. For more info, contact Mary Urbas at 440-525-7029.

“The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy” performance, 8 p.m., Aurora Community Theatre, 115 E. Pioneer Trail, Aurora. Tickets at 330-562-1818 or auroracommunitytheatre.com. Thru Nov. 17.

“Grand Gestures” large paintings by Christine Ries and Doreen Grasso exhibition, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 200 Public Square, Cleve.

CWRU University Chorale and Case Men’s Glee Club performance, 8 p.m., Church of the Covenant, 11205 Euclid Ave., Cleve. For more info, visit music.cwru.edu.

“A Day of Absence” performance, 7:30 p.m., Arena Theatre, 2355 E. 89 St., Cleve. $25-$40 at 216-795-7077 or karamuhouse.org. Thru Nov. 18.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3

convergence-continuum’s “THIS MUCH (or An Act of Violence Towards the Institution of Marriage), 8 p.m., Liminis Theater, 2438 Scranton Rd., Cleve. $8-$15 at convergence-continuum.org or 216-687-0074. Thru Nov. 3.

Twin-bill performances of “Above and Beyond” by Faye Sholiton and “The Silence of Dr. and Mrs. Caligari” by Robert Hawkes,

7:30 p.m., Creative Space at Waterloo Arts, 397 E. 156th St., Cleve. $12-$18 at playwrightslocal.org or call 216-302-8856.

Thru Nov. 18.

Sammy DeLeon Latin Jazz Sextet concert, 8:30 p.m., Nighttown, 12383 Cedar Rd., Cleve. $15 at nighttowncleveland.com.

“A View From the Bridge” performance, 7:30 p.m., Ohio Theatre, 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleve. $20, $5 for students at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000.

“Les Miserables” theatrical performance, 1:30-7:30 p.m., Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Tickets at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000. Thru Nov. 18.

“The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy” performance, 8 p.m., Aurora Community Theatre, 115 E. Pioneer Trail, Aurora. Tickets at auroracommunitytheatre. com or 330-562-1818. Thru Nov. 17.

“A Day of Absence” performance, 7:30 p.m., Arena Theatre, 2355 E. 89 St., Cleve. $25-$40 at 216-795-7077 or karamuhouse.org. Thru Nov. 18.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4

“OUR VOICES: DEMOCRACY RE:visited” performance, 7 p.m., Maltz Performing Arts Center, 1855 Ansel Rd., Cleve. Free, RSVPs required at 216-368-6062 or case.edu/maltzcenter.

Twin-bill performances of “Above and Beyond” by Faye Sholiton and “The Silence of Dr. and Mrs. Caligari” by Robert Hawkes, 2:30 p.m., Creative Space at Waterloo Arts, 397 E. 156th St., Cleve. $12-$18 at playwrightslocal.org or call 216-302-8856.

Thru Nov. 18.

“Paris Underground-Sunday Jazz Series” concert, 5 p.m., Paris Room, 7 N. Franklin St., Chagrin Falls. $55 at chagrinarts.org or 440-247-9700.

“Les Miserables” theatrical performance, 1 and 6:30 p.m., Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Tickets at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000. Thru Nov. 18.

“The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy” performance, 3 p.m., Aurora Community Theatre, 115 E. Pioneer Trail, Aurora. Tickets at auroracommunitytheatre. com or 330-562-1818. Thru Nov. 17.

Artsyism Speaks benefiting Northeast Ohio Autism Speaks event, noon-4 p.m., 3620 Perkins Ave., Cleve. Free.

“A Day of Absence” performance, 3 p.m., Arena Theatre, 2355 E. 89 St., Cleve. $25-$40 at 216-795-7077 or karamuhouse.org. Thru Nov. 18.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5

“Grand Gestures” large paintings by Christine Ries and Doreen Grasso exhibition, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 200 Public Square, Cleve.

CWRU Collegium Musicum performance, 7:30 p.m., Harkness Chapel, 11200 Bellflower Rd., Cleve. For more info, visit music.cwru.edu.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6

“Les Miserables” theatrical performance, 7:30 p.m., Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Tickets at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000. Thru Nov. 18.

“Grand Gestures” large paintings by Christine Ries and Doreen Grasso exhibition, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 200 Public Square, Cleve.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Calendar listings appearing in The Arts should be submitted at least 14 days prior to publication date. Send to calendar@cjn.org. Questions? Contact Bob Jacob, managing editor, at 216-342-5207 or bjacob@cjn.org.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7

“Les Miserables” theatrical performance, 7:30 p.m., Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Tickets at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000. Thru Nov. 18.

“Grand Gestures” large paintings by Christine Ries and Doreen Grasso exhibition, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 200 Public Square, Cleve.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8

2018-2019 Cleveland Orchestra Music Study Group series, 1:15-2:45 p.m., CCPL Orange branch, 31975 Chagrin Blvd., Pepper Pike. For more info, visit the library, call the Orchestra’s Education & Community Programs office at 216-231-7355 or visit clevelandorchestra.com. Prices vary on series length, $50-$100.

Saucy Brew Works BluesTime Concert Series presents Toronzo Cannon, 8 p.m., Music Box, 1148 Main Ave., Cleve. For more info, visit musicboxcle.com/bluestime.

Jeff Lorber Fusion concert, 7 and 9 p.m., Nighttown, 12383 Cedar Rd., Cleve. $40 at nighttowncleveland.com.

“Les Miserables” theatrical performance, 7:30 p.m., Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Tickets at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000. Thru Nov. 18.

“Grand Gestures” large paintings by Christine Ries and Doreen Grasso exhibition, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 200 Public Square, Cleve.

“A Day of Absence” performance, 7:30 p.m., Arena Theatre, 2355 E. 89 St., Cleve. $25-$40 at 216-795-7077 or karamuhouse.org. Thru Nov. 18.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9

Tri-C Jazzfest “Flying Home” series: Phillip Jones concert, 8:30 p.m., Nighttown, 12383 Cedar Rd., Cleve. $10 at nighttowncleveland.com.

Twin-bill performances of “Above and Beyond” by Faye Sholiton and “The Silence of Dr. and Mrs. Caligari” by Robert Hawkes, 7:30 p.m., Creative Space at Waterloo Arts, 397 E. 156th St., Cleve. $12-$18 at

BESTBET

As part of the Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, trumpeter Terrence Blanchard will hold a performance of “OUR VOICES: DEMOCRACY RE:visited” 7 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Maltz Performing Arts Center, 1855 Ansel Road in Cleveland. Admission is free but RSVPs are required at 216-368-6062 or case.edu/maltzcenter.

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playwrightslocal.org or call 216-302-8856. Thru Nov. 18.

“Les Miserables” theatrical performance, 7:30 p.m., Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Tickets at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000. Thru Nov. 18.

“The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy” performance, 8 p.m., Aurora Community Theatre, 115 E. Pioneer Trail, Aurora. Tickets at auroracommunitytheatre.com or 330-562-1818. Thru Nov. 17.

Cleveland Pops Orchestra’s 2018-2019 season “A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim & Andrew Lloyd Webber” concert, 8 p.m., Severance Hall, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleve. As part of a subscription series. For more info and tickets, visit clevelandpops.com.

“Grand Gestures” large paintings by Christine Ries and Doreen Grasso exhibition opening reception, 4:30-6 p.m., 200 Public Square, Cleve.

“Mosaics” dance performance, 8 p.m., Mather Dance Center, 11040 Bellflower Rd., Cleve. $15, $10 adults 60+ and CWRU faculty/staff, $7 students with ID. For more info, visit dance.cwru.edu/reservations.

“The Drowsy Chaperone” theatrical performance, 7:30 p.m., Eldred Theatre, 2070 Adelbert Rd., Cleve. $10, $7 adults 60+ and CWRU faculty/staff, $5 students with ID. For more info, visit theatre.case.edu.

CWRU Concert Choir and Church of the Covenant Sanctuary Choir performance, 8 p.m., Church of the Covenant, 11205 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Free parking available. For more info, visit music.cwru.edu.

Apollo’s Fire to hold religious performance series

Apollo’s Fire will hold performances of “O Jerusalem! A Crossroads of Three Faiths” on Nov. 10, 12, 16, 17 and 18.

The performance gives a musical tour of Old Jerusalem and intersects Jewish, Arabic and Christian themes.

• At 8 p.m. Nov. 10, the band will perform at The Temple-Tifereth Israel, 26000 Shaker Blvd. in Beachwood.

• At 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12, the band will perform at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Blvd. in Cleveland Heights.

• At 8 p.m. Nov. 16, the band will perform at Fairlawn Lutheran Church, 3415 W. Market St. in Fairlawn.

• At 8 p.m. Nov. 17, the band will perform at Cleveland Institute of Music’s Kulas Hall, 11021 East Blvd. in Cleveland.

• At 4 p.m. Nov. 18, the band will perform at Avon Lake United Church of Christ, 32801 Electric Blvd. in Avon Lake.

A pre-concert talk with Dapha Mor and Ronnie Malley will occur one hour before each show. Unique to the Nov. 10 performance at The Temple-Tifereth Israel, Rabbi Roger C. Klein will speak at the pre-concert talk.

For more information and tickets, visit apollosfire.org or call 216-320-0012.

LIFECYCLES Read more lifecycles news at cjn.org/lifecycles

B’nai Mitzvah

Corinna Becca Arnopolin

Corinna Becca Arnopolin will become a bat mitzvah Saturday afternoon, Nov. 3, at The Temple-Tifereth Israel. Corinna is the daughter of Rachel and Scott Arnopolin and the sister of Raleigh. She is the granddaughter of Janice and Alan Woll of Akron and Judy and Alan Arnopolin of Northbrook, Ill. Corinna attends Solon Middle School. She enjoys theater and cartooning. For her mitzvah project, Corinna is collecting blankets, books and stuffed animals for Project Night Night, an organization that provides “night night” packages to children in homeless shelters. She also volunteers at the Kosher Food Bank.

Caydan Hope Berry

Caydan Hope Berry will become a bat mitzvah Saturday morning, Nov. 3, at The Temple-Tifereth Israel. Caydan is the daughter of Melissa Cramer of Mayfield Heights and John Berry of North Ridgeville and the sister of Andrew. She is the granddaughter of Barbara Cramer of Mayfield Heights, Sanford and Susan Cramer of Phoenix and Romie and Margaret Berry (both of blessed memory). Caydan attends the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School. She enjoys gaming, reading, drawing and YouTubing. For her mitzvah project, Caydan is collecting items for local animal shelters.

Elizabeth Reid Ettinger

Elizabeth Reid Ettinger will become a bat mitzvah Saturday morning, Nov. 3, at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation. Libby is the daughter of Stacie and Brian Ettinger and the sister of Cole and Ben. She is the granddaughter of Ricki Dandrea, Rob and Barbara Dandrea and Marilyn and Merle Ettinger. Libby attends Chagrin Falls Middle School. She enjoys soccer, art, violin and cross-country. For her mitzvah project, Libby is working to get a mobile medical unit into a school in Guatemala.

Emerson Sara Greene

Emerson Sara Greene will become a bat mitzvah on Saturday morning, Nov. 3, at Park Synagogue. Emerson is the daughter of Lauren and Brian Greene and the sister of Jori and Braden. She is the granddaughter of Cheryl Siegel, Jerry and Ferne Greene (of blessed memory) and Richard Siegel (of blessed memory). Emerson attends Kenston Middle School and Park Synagogue’s Wolf Religious School. She enjoys tennis, cross-country and being with family and friends.

Weddings

Solomon-Nocero

Daniel J. Solomon and Sara L. Nocero were married May 12, 2018, at Crowne Plaza Hotel. Mr. Bepo Zuzic officiated the ceremony.

The groom is the son of Lanny and Kathy Solomon of Estero, Fla., formerly of Pepper Pike. He is the grandson of Fred Solomon of Beachwood and Eva Solomon, of blessed memory, and Frank and Helen Kovalcik, both of blessed memory.

Daniel received his bachelor’s degree from Kent State University. He is the director of membership and sales at the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood.

The bride is the daughter of John and Awilda Nocero of Kirtland. She is the granddaughter of John and Catherine Nocero, both of blessed memory, and Carmen and Jose, of blessed memory, Serrano of Orlando, Fla. Sara received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and a Master’s of Science degree in nutrition from Case Western Reserve University. She is a nutritionist at the VA Hospital in Cleveland.

They met while Sara was volunteering at a special needs activity at the JCC where Daniel works.

The couple honeymooned in Costa Rica and resides in Lyndhurst.

‘Counter-narratives’ can explain much

RABBI STEVE SEGAR

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, in his recent and highly acclaimed book, “Not in God’s Name,” makes a powerful argument for how to understand the origins of religious violence in our world.

In the same volume, he suggests one of the best tools we have at our disposal to combat such violence and hatred can actually be found within the same texts that are sometimes seen as undergirding inter-religious tension, the texts that we in the Jewish community know as the Torah.

A central thesis of Sacks in this work is because the Torah text is multi-layered and supports many interpretations, it’s possible to generate different messages, depending on the perspective of the reader and the textual subtleties that one is drawn to exploring. He explains we can look at biblical narratives that are very familiar to us, and if we look carefully, we can find hints and nuances that support a very different reading than those that are most familiar to us. He calls these below the surface interpretations, “counter-narratives.”

Over the next several weeks, my intention with this column is to explore examples of such counter-narratives in the corresponding weekly portions. I will not necessarily be focusing exclusively on the theme of the religious violence as Sacks has done, but will aspire to support his claim more generally, by pointing to linguistic subtleties that significantly shift or expand our most common understandings of these stories.

This week’s parasha, Chayei Sarah, the life of Sarah, leads off, ironically, with Sarah’s death. The early rabbis in their midrashic commentaries already pick up on a potential counter-narrative in this portion, when they explore the idea that Sarah’s death is causally related to the content at the conclusion of last week’s portion, in which Abraham is commanded by God to offer Isaac as a sacrifice.

One midrashic tradition argues that when Sarah found out what almost happened to her son, Isaac, at the hands of his father, the emotional toll was so

Yiddish Vinkl

Onheyb (OHN-habe)

Meaning: beginning

• “In 1980, Bette Midler’s movie career went from a spectacular ‘onheyb’ (beginning) to a seemingly disastrous end. Her movie, ‘Jinxed,’ was exactly that.”

(From “A Yiddish Guide to Bette Midler,” marjoriegottliebwolfe.com)

• A song title, “Ich Onheyb Tsu Zayn Dos

Chayei Sarah Genesis 23:1-25:28

1 Kings 1:1-31

great that it killed her. To me, this midrash provides a beginning to a counter-narrative related to the entire binding of Isaac saga. The more common surface narrative is that God’s command to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac was a test of where Abraham’s ultimate loyalty lay, and according to that reading, Abraham did indeed pass God’s test, demonstrating his spiritual heroism along the way.

However, the rabbis, in the midrash about Sarah’s death, focus not on the heroism of Abraham, but on the destructive fallout his actions had on the members of his own family. I propose that there are other elements in this week’s parasha, in last week’s parasha, and in upcoming parashiot, that can build on the midrashic narrative of destruction that grows out of Isaac’s near sacrifice.

The most stunning example of this is a phrase that suggests not only deep pain on Sarah’s part, but an actual rift in her marital relationship with Abraham as a result of it. In Genesis 23:2, the Torah says that when Sarah died in Kiryat Arba, Abraham came to mourn for her. The presence of that verb, he came, indicates that Abraham and Sarah were not living in the same location when she passed away. This text, along with others, supports a counter-narrative of multi-generational trauma, all of which can be traced back to the moment when Abraham heard, and acted on, God’s command to sacrifice the younger of his first two sons.

Rabbi Steve Segar is spiritual leader of Kol HaLev, Cleveland’s Reconstructionist Community, in Pepper Pike.

Licht/ I’m Beginning To See The Light.”

• “Un Vo Iz Der Onheyb Fun Foterland” / “Where is the Beginning of the Fatherland” (A song performed by Psoy Korolenko, described as ‘charismatic Russian /Jewish multilingual poet-singer and performance artist’”

• Yeder onheyb iz shver / all beginnings are hard (from Yiddish song, “Oyfn Pripetchik)

Shaker Heights resident Harold Ticktin prepares “Yiddish Vinkl” for the Cleveland Jewish News.

CONSERVATIVE

AGUDATH B’NAI ISRAEL: Meister Road at Pole Ave., Lorain. Mark Jaffee, Ritual Director. SAT. 10 A.M. 440-282-3307. abitemplelorain.com

BETH EL CONGREGATION: 750 White Pond Dr., Akron. Rabbi Elyssa Austerklein, Hazzan Matthew Austerklein. SAT. 9:15 A.M.; SUN. 8:30 A.M.; WED./FRI. 7:30 A.M. 330-864-2105. bethelakron. com.

B’NAI JESHURUN-Temple on the Heights: 27501 Fairmount Blvd., Pepper Pike. Rabbis Stephen Weiss and Hal Rudin-Luria; Stanley J. Schachter, Rabbi Emeritus; Cantor Aaron Shifman. FRI. Shabbat Service featuring Zamir Children’s Choir 7 P.M.; SAT. 9 A.M., 6 P.M.; SUN. 8 A.M., 6 P.M.; MON.-THURS. 7/7:30 A.M., 6 P.M.; FRI. 7/7:30 A.M. 216831-6555. bnaijeshurun.org.

MONTEFIORE: One David N. Myers Parkway., Beachwood. Services in Montefiore Maltz Chapel. Rabbi Akiva Feinstein; Cantor Gary Paller. FRI. 3:30 P.M.; SAT. Service 10:30 A.M. 216-3609080.

PARK SYNAGOGUE-Anshe Emeth Beth Tefilo Cong.: Park MAIN 3300 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights; Park EAST 27500 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pike. Rabbi Joshua Hoffer Skoff, Rabbi Sharon Y. Marcus, Milton B. Rube, Rabbi-in-Residence, Cantor Misha Pisman. FRI. 6 P.M. (Park East); SAT. 9 A.M. (Park East), 6 P.M. (Park Main); SUN. 8:30 A.M., 5:30 P.M. (both Park East); MON.-FRI. 7:30 A.M., 6 P.M. (both Park East). 216-3712244; TDD# 216-371-8579. parksynagogue.org.

SHAAREY TIKVAH: 26811 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood. Rabbi Scott B. Roland; Gary Paller, Cantor Emeritus. FRI. Kabbalat Shabbat 6 P.M.; SAT. 9 A.M.; SUN. Minyan 9 A.M. 216-765-8300. shaareytikvah.org.

EGALITARIAN/TRADITIONAL

BETH EL-The Heights Synagogue, an Independent Minyan: 3246 Desota Ave., Cleveland Heights. Rabbi Michael Ungar; Rabbi Moshe Adler, Rabbi Emeritus. SAT. Morning Service 9:15 A.M. 216-320-9667. bethelheights.org.

INDEPENDENT

THE SHUL-An Innovative Center for Jewish Outreach: 30799 Pinetree Road, #401, Pepper Pike. Rabbi Eddie Sukol. THURS. Toast & Torah at Corky & Lenny’s 7:30 A.M. See website or call for Shabbat and holiday service dates, times and details. 216-509-9969. rabbieddie@theshul.us. theshul.us.

ORTHODOX

AHAVAS YISROEL: 1700 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights. Rabbi Boruch Hirschfeld. 216-932-6064.

BEACHWOOD KEHILLA: 25400 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood. Rabbi Ari Spiegler, Rabbi Emeritus David S. Zlatin. FRI. Kabbalat Shabbat 6:01 P.M.; SAT. Shacharit 9 A.M., Study Group 5:05 P.M., Minchah/Ma’ariv 5:50 P.M., Havdalah 7:02 P.M.; SUN. 7:30 A.M., Minchah/ Ma’ariv 5 P.M.; MON.-THURS. Shacharit

6:30 A.M., Minchah/Ma’ariv 7:45 P.M.; FRI. Shacharit 6:30 A.M. 216-556-0010.

GREEN ROAD SYNAGOGUE: 2437 S. Green Road, Beachwood. Rabbi Binyamin Blau; Melvin Granatstein, Rabbi Emeritus. FRI. Kabbalat Shabbat 6:10

P.M.; SAT. Hashkama Minyan 7:45 A.M., Shacharit 9 A.M., Minchah 5:40 P.M., Havdalah 7:01 P.M.; SUN. Shacharit 8 A.M., Minchah/Ma’ariv 5:10 P.M.; MON.WED. Shacharit 6:40 A.M., Minchah/ Ma’ariv 5:05 P.M.; THURS. Shacharit

6:30 A.M., Minchah/Ma’ariv 5:05 P.M.; FRI. Shacharit 6:40 A.M. 216-381-4757. GreenRoadSynagogue.org.

HEIGHTS JEWISH CENTER SYNAGOGUE: 14270 Cedar Road, University Heights. Rabbi Raphael Davidovich. FRI. 7:15 P.M.; SAT Morning Parsha Class 8:30 A.M., Morning Services 9 A.M., Minchah 30 minutes before sunset; SUN. 8 A.M., 15 minutes before sunset; MON.-THURS. 6:45 A.M., 15 minutes before sunset; FRI. 6:45 A.M. 216-3821958, hjcs.org.

K’HAL YEREIM: 1771 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights. Rabbi Yehuda Blum. 216-321-5855.

MENORAH PARK: 27100 Cedar Road, Beachwood. Rabbi Howard Kutner. SAT. 9 A.M., 4:15 P.M.; DAILY Minyan & Breakfast 8 A.M., 4:15 P.M. 216-8316500.

OHEB ZEDEK-CEDAR SINAI SYNAGOGUE: 23749 Cedar Road, Lyndhurst. Rabbi Noah Leavitt. FRI. Minchah 6 P.M.; SAT. 9 A.M., Minchah/Seudah Shlishit 5:45 P.M., Ma’ariv/Havdalah 7:02 P.M.; SUN. 8 A.M.; MON.-FRI. Shacharit 7 A.M., Minchah/Ma’ariv 6 P.M. 216382-6566. office@oz-cedarsinai.org. oz-cedarsinai.org.

SEMACH SEDEK: 2004 S. Green Road, South Euclid. Rabbi Yossi Marozov. FRI. Kabbalat Shabbat at candlelighting; SAT. 9:30 A.M., Minchah at candlelighting. 216-235-6498.

SOLON CHABAD: 5570 Harper Road, Solon. Rabbi Zushe Greenberg. FRI. Kabbalat Shabbat 6 P.M.; SAT. Torah Study 9 A.M., Service 10 A.M., Minchah 1:30 P.M.; SUN. 8 A.M.; MON-FRI. 7 A.M. 440-498-9533. office@solonchabad. com. solonchabad.com.

TAYLOR ROAD SYNAGOGUE-OHEB

ZEDEK: 1970 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights. Contact the synagogue for service times. 216-321-4875.

WAXMAN CHABAD CENTER: 2479 S. Green Road, Beachwood. Rabbis Shalom Ber Chaikin and Moshe Gancz. Minchah 6:10 P.M., SAT. Shacharit 10 A.M., Minchah 6 P.M.; WEEKDAYS Shacharit 7/8 P.M., Minchah 5:10 P.M. 216-381-1770. waxmanchabadcenter@ gmail.com.

YOUNG ISRAEL OF GREATER CLEVELAND: Hebrew Academy (HAC), 1860 S. Taylor Road; Beachwood (Stone), 2463 Green Road. Rabbis Naphtali Burnstein and Aharon Dovid Lebovics. FRI. Minchah 6:05 P.M.; SAT. Shacharit

(Stone) 8/9 A.M., (HAC) 9 A.M., Minchah

5:45 P.M., Ma’ariv 7 P.M.; Shacharit: (Stone) SUN. 7:15/8/8:30 A.M., MON./

THURS. 6:40/7:50 A.M., TUES./WED./FRI.

6:45/7:50 A.M., (HAC) SUN. 7:20 A.M., MON./THURS. 6:40 A.M., TUES./WED./ FRI. 6:45 A.M. WEEKDAYS Minchah 5 P.M. 216-382-5740. office@yigc.org.

ZICHRON CHAIM: 2203 S. Green Road, Beachwood. Rabbi Moshe Garfunkel. DAILY 6 A.M., 6:45 A.M. 216-291-5000.

RECONSTRUCTIONIST

KOL HALEV (Cleveland’s Reconstructionist Community): The Ratner School. 27575 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pike. Rabbi Steve Segar. SAT. Shabbat Morning Service 10:30 A.M. 216-320-1498. kolhalev.net.

REFORM

AM SHALOM of Lake County: 7599 Center St., Mentor. Spiritual Director Renee Blau; Assistant Spiritual Director Elise Aitken. 440-255-1544.

ANSHE CHESED Fairmount Temple: 23737 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood. Rabbis Robert Nosanchuk and Joshua

Candlelighting time 6:02 Sabbath ends 7:01

Caruso; Cantor Sarah Sager; Jordana Chernow-Reader, Rabbi-Educator. FRI. Simchat Shabbat for Preschoolers 5:30 P.M., Shabbat Evening Service with guest speaker 6:15 P.M.; SAT. Torah Study 9:15 A.M., Shabbat Minyan 10:30 A.M., Shabbat Morning Service 11 A.M. 216-464-1330. fairmounttemple.org.

BETH ISRAEL-The West Temple: 14308 Triskett Road, Cleveland. Rabbi Enid Lader. Alan Lettofsky, Rabbi Emeritus. FRI. Family Service 7:30 P.M.; SAT. Torah Study 9:30 A.M., Service 11 A.M. 216941-8882. thewesttemple.com.

BETH SHALOM: 50 Division St., Hudson. Rabbi Jim Egolf. SAT. Torah Study 9 A.M. 330-656-1800. tbshudson.org

B’NAI ABRAHAM-The Elyria Temple: 530 Gulf Road, Elyria. Rabbi Lauren Werber. FRI. Shabbat Service 7 P.M. 440-366-1171. tbaelyria.org

SUBURBAN TEMPLE-KOL AMI: 22401 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood. Rabbi Allison Bergman Vann; Michael Oppenheimer, D.D., Rabbi Emeritus. FRI. Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Torah Reading and Vintage and 5th Grader Participation 6 P.M.; SAT. Torah Study 9:15 A.M. 216-991-0700. suburbantemple.org.

TEMPLE EMANU EL: 4545 Brainard Road, Orange. Rabbi Steven L. Denker; Daniel A. Roberts, Rabbi Emeritus; Cantor Richard Lawrence. FRI. Shabbat Service (First Friday Shabbat) 6:15 P.M.; SAT. Parshat HaShavuah 9 A.M., Service 10:30 A.M. 216-454-1300. teecleve.org.

TEMPLE ISRAEL: 91 Springside Drive, Akron. Rabbi Josh Brown. Cantor Kathy Fromson. FRI. Service 6:15 P.M.; SAT. Torah Study 9 A.M., Morning Service 10 A.M. 330-665-2000 templeisraelakron. org.

TEMPLE ISRAEL NER TAMID: 1732 Lander Road, Mayfield Heights. Rabbi Matthew J. Eisenberg, D.D.; Frederick A. Eisenberg, D.D., Founding Rabbi Emeritus; Cantorial Soloist Rachel Eisenberg. FRI. 7:30 P.M. 440-473-5120. tintcleveland.org.

THE TEMPLE-Tifereth Israel: 26000 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood. Senior Rabbi Jonathan Cohen; Rabbi Roger C. Klein; Associate Rabbi Stacy Schlein; Cantor Kathryn Wolfe Sebo. FRI. Tot Shabbat 10 A.M., Kabbalat Shabbat 6 P.M.; SAT. Torah Study 9:15 A.M., Shabbat Service 11 A.M., Shabbat Service 4:30 P.M.; FRI. Tot Shabbat 10 A.M. 216-831-3233. ttti.org.

SECULAR/HUMANIST

JEWISH SECULAR COMMUNITY: First Unitarian Church, 21600 Shaker Blvd., Shaker Heights. jewishsecularcommunity.org.

MIKVAOT

THE CHARLOTTE GOLDBERG COMMUNITY MIKVAH: Park Synagogue, 3300 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights. By appointment only: 216-371-2244, ext. 135.

THE STANLEY AND ESTHER WAXMAN COMMUNITY MIKVEH: Waxman Chabad House, 2479 South Green Road, Beachwood. 216-381-3170.

This is a paid listing with information provided by congregations.

Obituaries

BROCK, MARJORIE

Marjorie Brock (nee Wise), 95 of Mayfield Heights, passed away Oct. 24, 2018.

Born in Cleveland to Irene and Victor Wise on Nov. 25, 1922, she graduated from Shaker Heights High School and attended the University of Southern California.

She volunteered at Hillcrest Hospital for 36 years, including the weeks leading up to her death. Marjorie also worked in children’s retail for over 30 years.

An active, lifetime member of The Temple-Tifereth Israel, Marjorie was a member of the National Council of Jewish Women’s Cleveland chapter and her temple’s sisterhood.

Marjorie loved playing bridge, reading and spending time with her grandchildren. She loved making friends. You couldn’t go into a restaurant or store without her knowing half the people in the room.

She is survived by her children, Thomas Wise (Susan) Brock of New York and Robert Alfred (Belinda) of Highland Park, Ill; grandchildren, Sam (Gaby) Brock, Laura (Zeke) Fraint, Annie (Adam) Turek and Max (Alison) Brock; great-grandchild, Sophie Fraint; and her special friend, Allen Abel. She was predeceased by her husband of 41 years, Alfred M. Brock; parents, Irene and Victor; and her sister, Elizabeth Wise Jarrett (Everett).

Friends who wish may contribute to the Hillcrest Hospital Volunteer Services, 6780 Mayfield Road, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124.

FENTON, SHIRLEY DELORES

Shirley Delores Fenton (nee Zirulnik) beloved wife of the late Milton Fenton, passed away peacefully on Oct. 27, 2018 in Boca Raton, Fla.

She was one day shy of celebrating her 93rd birthday.

Shirley was born in Detroit to the late Bessie and Benjamin Zane (Zirulnik).

A graduate of Wayne State University in elementary education, Shirley taught for many years in the Beachwood School District.

Shirley was a world traveler, avid reader, and classical and Broadway music lover with many hobbies including needlepoint, bowling, knitting and crocheting.

She is survived by her beloved family: brother, Dr. Alan Zane of Houston; and her children, Stuart (Marilyn) of Pepper Pike and Estero Fla., Richard (Mary Beth Hance) of Ellicott City, Md. and Marcy Hines (Jack) of Boca Raton, Fla; her loving grandchildren, Brad Fenton (Susy Cywiak), Raleigh (Yony) Arad, Dr. Andrew Hines (Dr. Keegan Finberg), Benjamin and Emily and Steven Fenton; great-grandson, Maxwell Fenton; and

many cherished nephews and nieces. Services were held Oct. 30 in Hollywood, Fla.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to make donations may contribute to the American Heart Association, or Trustbridge Hospice by the Sea, 1531 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, FL 33486. She will be missed by all that knew her.

LANDIS, JEFFRY

Jeffry Steven Landis, 64, beloved son of Marion and the late Jacob; husband of Marilyn (nee Goodman); father of Sarah (Jason) Zielsdorf; brother of Cindy (Larry Kitzman); and grandfather of Eva Rose and Jacob Terry Zielsdorf, died Sept. 30, 2018.

He will be remembered for his passionate belief in caring for his family and for those in need in his role as a mental health social worker and for his wonderful sense of humor.

He would often go the extra mile to take a client to lunch on his time. His beautiful, sincere heart touched so many lives.

He will be missed.

Memorial donations suggested to a charity of your choice. Private interment was in New York.

RASSLER, H. STANLEY

H. Stanley Rassler, 88, passed away peacefully at his home in Boca Raton, Fla., on Oct. 19, 2018.

Stan grew up in Middletown, N.Y. and earned his bachelor’s degree in business at Miami University in Oxford,

and the sweetest smile and always offered an encouraging word. Stan was adored by friends and extended family and we thank the many of you who came from around the country to share in our celebration of his life.

Papa Stan especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and taking us all on family vacations.

His favorite color was purple. He loved the Yankees and the Miami Heat. His favorite songs included “My Way” and “Memory,” and Stan certainly did things “his way” in creating the wonderful memories we will treasure forever.

His longevity is a testament to the miracles of modern medicine and the unparalleled love and devotion of his wife, Ellie.

Stan was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Arthur Weitzner of Shaker Heights. In addition to his loving wife of 64 years, Stan is survived by his sons, Scott (Karen) of Weston, Fla. and Michael (Ruth) of Santa Barbara, Calif.; grandchildren, Brielle, Shelbie, Ari and Jared; brothers-inlaw, Robert (Cookie) Weitzner of Beachwood and Ronald (Carolyn) Weitzner of Aurora; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Unveilings

KAHN, GERALDINE “GERRY”

In loving memory of Gerry Kahn (nee Goldman), a monument will be dedicated at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at Bet Olam Cemetery in the Park Synagogue section. Rabbi Joshua Skoff will officiate. Gerry was the loving wife of Marvin (deceased); devoted mother of Sherry (Mark) Tilson, Jeff (Linda) and Richard (Michelle) Kahn; the best Grammy to Cory (Laureen) Tilson, Brad, Jason, Mitchell Kahn, Matthew Kahn and Steven, Cory and Brittany

reer as a sales agent in the Prudential Cleveland Shore Life Insurance Agency.

Stan went on to earn advanced degrees as a chartered life underwriter (CLU) and chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and served for 30 years as manager of the Prudential Insurance Co.’s office in Rochester, N.Y.

Stan served as president of the Rochester Life Underwriters Association and on the board of the National General Agents and Managers Association. He was also a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table.

Stan grew up in a time when a man’s word was his bond and you only made a promise you knew you would keep. He was a “self-made man” who lived his life with the utmost integrity and an uncanny knack for distinguishing what’s right from all the other options.

When Stan retired in 1989, he and his wife, Ellie, moved to Boca Raton, Fla., where he was the founding president of their homeowners’ association for 10 years. He also launched and chaired the Jewish Federation’s campaign at The Polo Club.

Everyone loved “Stan the Man.” He had the kindest soul

Obituaries

SINGERMAN, GILBERT “GIBBY”

Gilbert “Gibby” Singerman passed away peacefully on Oct. 28, 2018, after a long illness. He was 82. Born and raised in Cleveland to William and Sarah on Jan. 27, 1936, Gibby was the older brother of Larry and Burt. As a teenager, Gibby drove the delivery truck for Myer’s Meats, his father’s business and played football at Shaker Heights High School. Soon after high school, Gibby met Gayle, and they were married June 16, 1957.

Gibby attended Kent State University and graduated from Cleveland State University. He was an entrepreneur with a long career as an electrical contractor, founder of Progressive Electric and Midwest Air Charter, as well as an owner and CEO of Wright Airlines. Gibby was president of the Cleveland National Air Show and chairman of the board at Cuyahoga Community College.

Gibby was an avid handball player at the Central YMCA and was always ranked a top player in the United States. He was an aviation enthusiast, with a passion for flying.

Gibby spent his life surrounded by people he loved and who loved him. His loyalty and enthusiasm for life are made evident by the dozens of family members and lifelong friends who will live to carry on his spirit.

Gibby is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Gayle; children, Paul (Kim) Singerman, Michael (Jill) Singerman, Egon (Suzanne) Singerman and Suzy Holzer; and brothers, Dr. Lawrence (Margaret) and Dr. Burton (Ellen) Singerman. He was also the adored grandfather of Annie Singerman, Shari (Zachary) Hiudt, Scott (Roshni) Singerman, Alec and Jordyn Singerman, Zach, Kyle and Justin Singerman and Emory, AJ and Will Holzer; and great-grandfather of Reece Singerman and Noah and Emerson Hiudt.

Gibby will be greatly missed by all who knew him. The family is grateful to Lisa Williams, compassionate caregiver for Gibby over the last year and a half.

Contributions in Gibby’s name may be made to Hospice of The Western Reserve or Temple Israel Ner Tamid.

WEINSTEIN, ELAINE RITA

Elaine Rita Weinstein, 81 of Beachwood died Oct. 19, 2018, following a two-month heroic medical battle.

Elaine valiantly fought to get better and was a true inspiration to everyone she came in contact with. Beloved wife for 57 years to Milton; devoted and loving mother of Marci (Brent) Garson of Orange and David

Zion Memorial Park

Bedford Heights,Ohio 44146

ZionMemorialPark.com

• Burial plots in Zion Section 3, a beautiful location (near sections D, 6, 4 and The Kol Israel Monument) available to all Jewish Families.

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(Aliya) Weinstein of Newport Beach, Calif.; dear sister of Joseph (Marilyn) Smith of Chicago; known as “Grandma E” to her six grandchildren, Danielle, Arielle and Andrew Garson, Rachael (Koby) Altman, Asher and Aden Weinstein; and great-grandmother of Sophie Altman and many other relatives and friends.

Elaine was kind, caring and a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Elaine was known to everyone she met as being a warm, outgoing and a genuine person.

People liked being around her even though occasionally they needed to wait for her – but to her friends and family she was always worth the wait.

Elaine’s greatest joy was spending time with her family, never missing an opportunity to be with her kids, grandkids, and great-granddaughter.

After family, she enjoyed scheduling dinners and events with her friends, traveling, especially visiting her grandkids wherever they were, in the states or abroad, playing golf and making her famous raspberry and lemon Jello molds.

Her favorite highlight was cruising with her entire family this past April.

Elaine passed away exactly four weeks after her husband, Milton, we pray they are both at peace together. Services were held Oct. 21 at Berkowitz-KuminBookatz in Cleveland Heights.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the National Kidney Foundation, attn: Team Kidney – Milton Jay and Elaine Rita Weinstein Memorial, 30 E. 33rd St. New York, N.Y. 10016, or go to team.kidney.org, click on honor someone and search for Milton Weinstein to electronically donate.

WEISS, LOIS G.

Lois G. Weiss (nee Goodman), 94 of Shaker Heights, passed away Oct. 19, 2018.

Born in Cleveland to Martin and Rose Goodman on Aug. 10, 1924, Lois graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in the class of 1942. She later attended Ohio University for two years.

Lois worked as a bookkeeper at Mid-Land Electric in the 1940s and the early 1950s. She was involved with Mount Sinai Hospital women’s auxiliary, Lutheran Hospitals women’s auxiliary, Better Gardens Club of Cleveland, National Council of Jewish Women’s Cleveland chapter and the Cleveland Print Club. She was a board member of the Mount Sinai and Lutheran Hospitals’ auxiliaries.

Lois loved art, ballet, reading and traveling in Europe. She tutored students taking Spanish at Shaker Heights High School and helped recent immigrants to the United States learn English.

Her true passion was English tea parties; there was nothing she enjoyed more than a cup of tea and a scone.

She is survived by her children, Nancy (Dr. Louis)

Klein and Kevin Weiss, both of Shaker Heights; and grandchildren, Cantor Audrey Klein (Dr. Joshua Albert) of Toronto, Canada and Nicholas and Peter Weiss of Cleveland. She was predeceased by her parents, Martin and Rose; and her husband of 50 years, Dr. Herbert Weiss.

The family held private services. Interment was at LakeView Cemetery. The family requests no visitation. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Contributions in Lois’ memory can be made to the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Department of Prints and Drawings, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106-1797.

WEISS, SHIRLEY

Shirley Weiss (nee Cohn) passed away peacefully Oct. 29 at the age of 96.

Shirley, the daughter of the late Ben Cohn and Lillian Wolf Cohn, was a lifelong Clevelander. She devoted much of her life to her family having taken care of her mother, her husband, her children and grandchildren.

Once her children were grown, she worked as a bookkeeper for Seitz-Agin Hardware and Weisman Furniture.

Shirley was also an active volunteer, serving the Girl Scouts, Council of Jewish Women, Jewish Childrens Group Homes, Jewish War Veterans and PTA.

With her husband, she served as president of the couples club of Beth Am (Community Temple).

When her husband was installed as president of HBSU, she was also installed as president of the ladies auxillary.

Following the passing of her beloved husband, Joe, she became an active volunteer at Montifiore, as well as the de facto social director for friends who were also widowed.

Shirley was well known for her cooking skills. She could make a meal out of any food she found in the refrigerator or cupboard, always making room for extra people to join the table. Friends and family always looked forward to her split pea soup and mushroom-barley soup. No holiday was complete without her matzah ball soup.

Shirley’s gift to her family included her modeling of strength at times of challenge and crisis, her resourcefulness in reaching out to others and her continued inclusiveness of family on all occasions.

She was an extremely loyal friend, having maintained friendships with the members of her high school club throughout her life.

Shirley was predeceased by her parents and her beloved husband of almost 60 years, Joseph A. Weiss. She was the devoted mother of Pamela Goss (Matthew) and Robert Weiss (Diane) of Boston; very proud grandmother of Beth Lauren Goss (Greg Michelson) of Los Angeles, Geoffrey (Kristin) Goss and Nora and Aaron Weiss, both of Boston. Dearest sister of William “Bill” Mack (Rita, deceased).

In her later years her greatest pleasure had been in spending time with and constant bragging of her great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Louisa, Koren and Truman. Services were held Nov.1 at Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel. Interment was at Mount Olive Cemetery.

Contributions in Shirley’s name are suggested to Montefiore’s Maltz Hospice House.

Shirley’s life was a blessing to us all. May her memory also be for a blessing.

Unveilings

POLLAK, ETA

In loving memory of Eta Pollak, a monument will be dedicated at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Zion Memorial Park in

CLASSIFIEDS

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

Ihave spent my entire career involved in “R” and “D” as a sales consultant or strategist. This term has been used for decades and most industries understand this as “research and development.”

As defined: research and development

Noun: research and development

1. (In industry) work directed toward the innovation, introduction and improvement of products and processes.

This is the backbone for growth in so many business models. Without it, how can they stay competitive or keep up with current trends? In addition, what will a company’s future look like and what new areas can it explore to stay ahead of what is offered to its customers?

I see this as a whole different concept. My fellow trainers will notice the same analogy and have used the process in similar ways. A contemporary of mine who is a corporate trainer introduced me to their definition of “R” and “D.”

They call it: rip off and duplicate.

Perfect description with a few words that says it all.

Let’s explain this as simply as I can. This is nothing new. There is nothing new in sales, sales management, customer service or leadership, if you want to even count that one.

All the books were written in the early and mid-1900s by some of the greatest thinkers in history. Forget Plato, Aristotle, Socretes, Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi or even Confucius. More current ones are Dale Carnegie, Napoleon Hill, Og Mandino, Norman Vincent Peale, Stephen Covey or Zig Zigler.

The above people have said it all. Nothing is new, but technology. Everything has already been said, and if not, it is just ripped off or duplicated.

Almost every sales book tells salespeople to ask questions and not to talk. Customer service books explain why being nice is so important. Books on negotiating tell you how to listen, come prepared and try to keep your emotions out of a meeting. The critical thinkers in leadership all have taught more about being the leader than doing.

To keep it real, there is no magic bullet or one book for you to read or model after. It is always a journey to be the best at anything and constant improvement with discipline and focus. As I wrote this column, I made a list of books to reread.

The key is to become a student. Always keep learning, and not just by reading one book, going to one class or a single seminar. The more you do, the more you learn, remember and hopefully improve.

If it has all been said and “R” and “D” is just rip off and duplication, you might see

how so many authors, trainers or seminar leaders package their thought process and deliver similar information in their style.

We all learn from people we like, the way the material is presented and the time frame and mood we are in to finally absorb the information, to become ready for implementation.

Now, go find your favorites in history and prepare to be amazed.

Hal Becker is a nationally known speaker on sales and customer service. He is the author of numerous business books including two national best sellers “Can I Have 5 Minutes Of Your Time?” and “Lip Service.” Hal’s newest book on sales is titled “Ultimate Sales Book.”

and ‘D’ not what you think

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

Elder Care Elder Care

Plumbing Handyman

GEM PLUMBING

Specializing in residential plumbing repairs. Faucet, toilet & lavatory replacement. Drain & Sewer cleaning. Gas Lines & Water Heaters. On-time appts. Quality guaranteed. Father & son operated. Angie's List.

License #18968 440-461-0546

Repair

Elder Care

I CAN HELP HOME CARE

Quality care, compassion, integrity & respect are our NUMBER 1 PRIORITY www.ICanHelpHomeHealth.com 216-691-9768

VISITING ANGELS SENIOR HOMECARE Personal care, meals, laundry, lt. housework, shopping, companionship Refs. & Bkgd. checks. 216-231-6400

Elder Care

Disc Jockey Elder Care

Handyman

Painting & Decorating

TED STONE & SON

Int/Ext Painting, Water Damage, Repair, Plastering, Powerwashing. Very reasonable! 216-299-5560

VALLEY COLORS ESTABLISHED RELIABLE PROFESSIONAL Small Jobs OK References 440-543-6958

Furniture Repair Landscaping

"THE CHAIR DOCTOR" First Aid for loose or broken chairs and small furniture. Call Don for quick service 216-403-3798

General Cleaning

HOUSE CLEANING EAST SIDE GREAT PRICES

Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or one-time cleaning. 20 years exp. References. 440-915-5653

Party Help

COMPLETE PARTY HELP

ProView Landscaping

Residential/Commercial Snow Plowing & Landscaping Service 440-520-9664

Liquidators

ADDRESS YOUR MESS! Moving? Downsizing? Need a sale, buyout or help dismantling your home? Call Andrea Backer for a free consult References 216-509-3422

Elder Care

BEST OF ALL HOMECARE Available 24/7 We help with transition from REHAB to HOME 440-494-1940

Maria 440-537-9784

Handyman

HANDYMAN HOME REPAIR

Painting, Plumbing, Remodeling, Electrical, Violations Corrected, Masonry Repair. Member Angie's List Insured Call Marty 216-408-8988

P & W Home Improvement Interior & Exterior painting, drywall, plaster, tuckpointing. Violation corrections.

216-978-0494

440-646-1890

From Bris to B'nai Mitzvahs & all your special occasions. Let us help you Setup, Serve and Cleanup at your next event! Michelle Ryb 216-288-8062

Pest Control

PATTON

PEST CONTROL

Family owned and operated, serving Northeast Ohio since 1964.

440-338-3101

"Protecting Health & Property"

Big enough to serve, small enough to care. Ask your neighbors about us!

Plumbing

EMERGENCY SERVICE

Plumbing, heating, sewers. We solve all your plumbing problems.

Dano 216-410-8410

440-449-5871

216-752-7060 state id 19636

Trask Home Services drywall * painting * tile insulation * deck repair & refinishing * gutter & window cleaning violations * insured Call Bryan 440-785-1543 TraskBryan@gmail.com

Roofing/Gutters

A. BLECHER ROOF SPECIALIST 440-729-2192

Ice Backup Problems Solved Slate & Tile Hot Asphalt & Asphalt Shingles Woodshakes treated & repaired Gutter work of all kinds Vinyl Siding All work GUARANTEED Full insurance coverage FREE ESTIMATES 3rd Generation Deal Direct

H & K INC. EXPERT ROOFERS Seamless Gutters Siding Windows Skylights Reasonable rates Bonded Insured 440-729-4615

Transportation

WESLEY'S AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION CUSTOMER APPRECIATION SPECIAL CALL for your Jewish News Discount OFFER EXPIRES 11/30/2018 216-355-6293 440-944-5308

JAX $35 AIRPORT LIMO $35 one way CLE Lincoln Town Car Service at an Uber

SANDY'S SERVICE

Since 1994 Weekly Hourly Work Shopping Appointments References 440-461-7234

Transportation

Real Estate

Want to Buy Window Cleaning

Furnished Apartment Rent House

WE PAY MORE for your Gold, Platinum, Diamonds, and Watches

EVERYBODY KNOWS TONY

SHORT TERM

Dewitt's Jewelers

Colonial Arcade #24 Call Evan 216-621-6244

Waterproofing

IMPERIAL WATERPROOFING

Transportation

All sewers & foundation repair. All types of concrete & masonry

Licensed Bonded Insured Free Estimates

PHONE: 216-382-6665

CELL: 216-276-3963

Window Cleaning

Gutter Cleaning Since 1947

Tony Musachio 440-237-5991

Condo for Rent

CHELSEA CONDOMINIUMS

3330 Warrensville Ctr. in Shaker Hts. Beautiful 2BR 2BA luxury condos 2 year lease 1700-1890 sq. ft. plus balcony. For further information or to view suites, contact Howard Chapman at howard@ transconbuilders.com 440-552-4795

Luxury Apartments

Transportation House for Rent

Furnished & Unfurnished

All amenities.

Short term or regular. Competitive rates.

KAY BROKERS 440-646-8400

Office Space

Your 1-column classified ad appears in print & online.

Discount increases the more you run your ad: $40/wk for 1X $32/wk for 4X $29/wk for 13X $27/wk for 26X $25/wk for 52X

Marcia 216-342-5203 or mbakst@cjn.org

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Walking distance to Shul, restaurants and Legacy Village. 2 bedroom, 1 bath unit with sizable den that can be 3rd bedroom, open concept living, laundry on premise. Garage space included. $1000 per month. Call 216-536-2765 for showings or questions.

SOURCE

2019/5779

ANNUAL GUIDE TO JEWISH LIVING IN NORTHEAST OHIO

SOURCE

Back

SOURCE 2019 will again be larger in format – 10.5 inches high by 7.5 inches wide – than previous years so readers will more easily see your ads!

SOURCE is the go-to resource for Northeast Ohio’s Jewish community. In addition to extensive listings for businesses and community resources, this annual publication provides at-a-glance information regarding Jewish holidays, synagogues, weekly candlelighting times and more.

•

a full-page ad and receive a complimentary second full-page advertorial and 50-word listing ($1,390 value)

• With the purchase of any size ad, receive one complimentary 50-word listing ($190 value)

• Submit your completed listing online at cjn.org/source_listing

• Bonus circulation: SOURCE is sent to all CJN subscribers and distributed at various community and Jewish events throughout the region.

•

Snow Plowing

JUST FOR LAUGHS COMEDY SONGS FROM MUSICALS

Bill RudmanNancy Maier Douglas F. Bailey II Ursula CataanSheri Gross

A WORLD PREMIERE SPECIAL EXHIBITION ON VIEW NOW

REGISTER NOW FOR DYNAMIC ISRAEL PROGRAMS IN NOVEMBER

ANIMALS OF ISRAEL FAMILY FUN

SUN, NOV 4, 1:30 – 3PM

Join Jungle Terry and his traveling zoo during an interactive presentation with animals that you can touch. Learn the Hebrew names for the animals, decorate your own animal masks, and make animal crafts to take home. It will be a ROAR-ing good time!

DANCING IN JAFFA FILM SCREENING & TALK-BACK

WED, NOV 7, 6:30PM

Famous ballroom dancer Pierre Dulaine returns to his birthplace in Jaffa to confront issues of identity, segregation, and racism by teaching JewishIsraeli and Palestinian-Israeli children to dance together through Dancing Classrooms, a social development program for fifth graders that uses ballroom dancing “as a vehicle to change the lives of the children and their families.”

IN THE GALLERY ON THE KIBBUTZ DAYTIME COFFEE TALK

TUES, NOV 13, 11:30AM

Join Peter J. Haas, Abba Hillel Silver Professor Emeritus, for a look at the creation and impact of the kibbutz, the early Zionist agricultural communities. These collectives were the most successful of all utopian socialist societies and laid the foundation for the government, leadership, and economy of the early State of Israel. We will also look at the movement today, which has all but disappeared.

LIVING IN ENGLISH, WRITING IN HEBREW: WITH RUBY NAMDAR *

LECTURE WITH Q&A & BOOK SIGNING

FRI, NOV 16, 10AM

Join Ruby Namdar, winner of Israel’s Sapir Prize for Literature for a discussion on what it means to be an “Israeli author” and how his work re-defines this term as he lives in one language and writes in another. A book signing of The Ruined House follows.

* Programs created in partnership with CWRU - Siegal Lifelong Learning Program

HUMMUS WARS: FOOD, IDENTITY & THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT * LECTURE WITH Q&A & HUMMUS TASTING

WED, NOV 28, 7PM

Food is for eating. But it also provides a vehicle for expressing ethnic pride and national identity. Join Ari Ariel from University of Iowa’s History of Modern Middle East to learn how these dynamics play out in “Hummus Wars.” A kosher humus sampling by Chef Yuval will follow the talk.