Foundation gives camping program a major grant The trustees of the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati have voted to give the Jewish Overnight Camping Program a grant of $50,000 for summer 2011. Gary Heiman, president of the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, said, “The Foundation Trustees are proud to support a program that, in just a few short years, has already accomplished so much for so many families in our community. Thanks to the vision and generosity of Sylvia Shor and Shelly Shor Gerson, the dedicated stewardship of Professor Getzel Cohen, and the able administration of the Jewish Federation, more than 330 Jewish kids in Cincinnati have been able to attend a Jewish overnight camp. This is especially important, as we are well aware of the impact Jewish camping has on Jewish identity-building in children, and the likelihood that those campers will become more engaged and involved in Jewish life as they grow older.”
Share your event Remembering a Cincinnati photos online, in community leader print with The American Israelite Want to share your photos of Jewish Cincinnati events with the community? Remember that the online version of The American Israelite has the available space and memory for your photos of community and social events that are happening (and have occurred) in the Cincinnati area. The American Israelite is already a print community bulletin showing local social life with our Cincinnati Jewish Life section, and welcomes continued participation from the public. Now, we want to be the premier Cincinnati community conduit through which it can communicate and view itself online. All The American Israelite needs to make that a reality is your assistance, participation and a few good snapshots. You can upload your photos to americanisraelite.com.
GRANT on page 19
Harold “Pat” Goldberg
PHOTOS on page 19
Everyone knew him as Pat Goldberg. Even some of his closest colleagues did not know his real name was Harold. Harold “Pat” Goldberg, age 91, a longtime leader and representative of the Cincinnati Jewish community, passed away on February 6, 2011 — the 7th of Adar I, 5771. Born in 1919, Mr. Goldberg was the son of the late Lewis and Annie Goldberg. Growing up in the Bronx, N.Y., he attended and GOLDBERG on page 21
Mubarak’s fall heralds new power Why is patrilineal descent not catching on in Reform worldwide? player in the Mideast: the Arab street By Sue Fishkoff Jewish Telegraphic Agency SAN FRANCISCO (JTA) — For three decades now, the American Jewish Reform movement has considered as Jewish the child of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother who is raised as a Jew. But most Reform Jews in the rest of the world still do not accept “patrilineal descent.” That makes the debate about “Who is a Jew” not just between the Orthodox-dominated Israeli Rabbinate and American Jewish liberal movements, but also between American Reform Judaism and most of the Diaspora. That debate was on display last week at the biennial conference of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, the worldwide
version of the Reform movement, in San Francisco. “The challenge of being one people yet expressing our Reform identity is at the heart of what we’re discussing here,” said Rabbi Andrew Goldstein, chairman of the World Union’s European region and moderator of the Feb. 9 panel discussion. Goldstein is a member of the British Liberal movement, which accepts patrilineal descent. But a second Jewish Reform movement in Britain does not. Except for one Liberal congregation each in Ireland and Holland, no other Reform movements in the Diaspora or Israel accept patrilineal descent. Patrilineal Jews are accepted as full members of Progressive congregations in the former Soviet Union but must convert for marriage. PATRILINEAL on page 22
By Uriel Heilman Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Israel or the United States. When massive street protests greeted the dubious re-election in June 2009 of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the government’s deadly security tactics repressed popular will, and the Persian street eventually was rendered irrelevant. But the success of the Arab street in Egypt and Tunisia raises the prospect that Arabs elsewhere in the autocratic Middle East will feel emboldened to rise up and seek to overthrow their unelected leaders. Protesters in Yemen and Jordan already have staged massive demonstrations against their governments, and smaller protests have taken place in Algeria and Syria. In Iran, the government is trying to keep a budding protest movement in check for fear it will redirect its rage toward the regime in Tehran.
NEW YORK (JTA) — Hosni Mubarak’s resignation Friday from Egypt’s presidency following three weeks of intense street demonstrations raises a host of questions not just for the future of Egypt and its peace treaty with Israel, but for the entire Middle East. The most remarkable feature of the developments in Egypt — and several weeks before it, the ouster of the longtime dictator of Tunisia amid similar protests — is the introduction of a major new power player in the Middle East: the Arab street. Until recently the Arab street — essentially, popular will — was viewed typically as little more than an irritant by autocratic regimes from Cairo to Tehran that sought to repress its power or, occasionally, redirect its anger against some outside foe such as
MUBARAK on page 19
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Amid heavy snowfall, Jewish cemeteries struggle to bury dead
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Beloved musical fiddles its way into Cincinnati’s heart
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Concert on Clifton ‘The Day After Anatevka’ held at HUC By Nicole Simon Assistant Editor On Feb. 13 at Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion, “The Day After Anatevka” singalong concert and lecture program was performed by the HUCinci Theater Ensemble. The ensemble was made up of Rabbi Kenneth
Kanter, director of the HUC Rabbinical School, five rabbinical students, Dr. Dana Herman of the American Jewish Archives, and cantor Yvon Shore, with Claire Lee on piano. The audience gathered in Scheuer Chapel and heard stories and songs sung in both English and Yiddish, telling a tale of Jewish immigration and early- to mid-20th
century American Jewish life. Rabbi Kanter, who specializes in the Jewish Contributions to American popular music from the 1840s – 1940s, noted in his lecture how some of the songs pulled from the archives had not been sung in 80 years or more. The audience joined in with the singers for some of the more known pieces by Irving Berlin, Dorothy Fields and
CJS Super Bowl Party a success Twenty members of the newly formed Cincinnati Jewish Singles (CJS) had a great time at their recent Super Bowl Party held at Willie’s Sports Cafe. Participants enjoyed dinner and drinks while they got to know each other and watched the game. Considering that this was only the second major gathering for the group, which was formed in December,
the turnout was great. Part of the evening was spent discussing future Meetup events such as Shabbat dinners, attending shows and more. The next event was announced, a gathering at The Redmoor jazz club on Thursday, Feb. 24. For more information about this exciting new group, or to RSVP for upcoming events visit Meetup
online. Membership is free and open to single Jewish adults of all ages. CJS’s focus is devoted to the needs of Jewish singles. The group gives Jewish singles a way to socialize in a casual setting. Potential events include dinners, wine tastings, night clubs, movie events, game nights, parties and sporting events. Suggestions are always welcome.
Wise Temple’s excellent youth group Homework, tests, sports, acting, extra-curricular activities, SAT and ACT prep, and family drama — life can feel like a neverending series of pressures on high school students. Sometimes a person just needs a place to relax, spend some time around friends to recharge, and a safe place to process life. Recognizing this, (e)YGOW, (Excellent Youth Group of Wise Temple), the high school youth group at Wise,
strives to create a safe and fun place to be a Jewish teen. Several times each month, the high school students of Wise Temple join together for social, social action oriented, and informal educational programming. Designed to empower young adults to live Reform Judaism through challenging, fun, relevant and meaningful Jewish experiences, these programs connect our teens to Jewish community, leadership
experience and personal reflection. From overnight programs to teenled services, social action events to planning the Religious School Purim carnival, the range and diversity of programming insures that there is something for everyone. The (e)YGOW group is open to all high school students at Wise Temple. For more information about youth programs or to obtain a schedule of events, please contact Wise Temple’s office.
The Hilb Scholarship Fund helping college students since 1955 As a top student at Loveland High School, it was clear to Dana Grinshpan that she should pursue a college degree. But it wasn’t clear how to pay for it. Then, she heard about the Hilb scholarships, administered by Jewish Vocational Service. She qualified and received Hilb scholarship money each year she attended Ohio State University. Grinshpan, who graduated in May 2010, still faces more than a decade of paying off her student loans. But the Hilb money eased her financial hardships. “It just gave me much more freedom to pursue important goals in college,” she said. Instead of constantly having to hold down a job, she completed unpaid internships and wrote a thesis that included traveling to Israel for research. As a result, she graduated with honors with a degree in international relations. She wrote a thesis about Palestinian suicide bombers, which was published in a
Dana Grinshpan while on a research trip in Jerusalem.
Dartmouth College journal. The Hilb Scholarship Fund, administered in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, has helped students since 1955. Gus Hilb created the fund to honor his parents, Mannis and Yetta Hilb. Total annual grants have exceeded $180,000 to more than 100 students. Eligibility is based on financial need and academic standing. The trustees of the fund define need as
family income that does not exceed $120,000. Grinshpan, 23, says having the support of the Hilb Scholarship Fund boosted her confidence. And she calls scholarship administrator Pamela Smith “amazing” and “phenomenal.” Smith not only worked with Grinshpan to help her apply, but also pointed out other college aid. Now, Grinshpan is a graduate student at the University of Chicago, receiving a full scholarship from the university. She expects to graduate in spring 2011 with a Masters of Arts in international security and political economy. Afterward, she hopes to pursue her Ph.D. or work for a nonprofit that focuses on human rights. Currently, JVS is accepting applications for the 2011-2012 school year. Deadline for summer term 2011 is March 15. Deadline for fall term 2011 is May 1. For more information contact scholarship administrator, Pamela Smith.
others. The event, which was sponsored by HUC-JIR as part of the Concert on Clifton series, was followed by a reception. “I got the music two weeks ago, we had rehearsal Thursday, and came early today,” said Ariel Boxman, one of the rabbinical students in the concert, noting how short the preparation time was for the concert.
“It was excellent, fun and bouncy,” said Ari Naveh, second year rabbinical student. Others also expressed positive emotions about the concert and HUCinci series in general. More HUCinci concerts are coming in the spring, but it will not be until November that the student rabbis will be singing again with HUCinci.
Don’t miss Purim at Adath Israel Join Adath Israel on Saturday, March 19, 2011 for Purim services and fun. Minhah and Seudah Shelishit begin at 6 p.m. in the Marcus Chapel. Maariv service, followed by the Megillah reading
starts at 7:15 p.m. in the sanctuary. Then celebrate with food, fun and dancing in the Lerner Fisher Hall. In addition, there will be a special appearance by the Cincinnati Klezmer Project.
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Northern Hills to hold Chavurat Shabbat Special educational programming focusing on Shabbat as the central concept in Jewish life will be featured as part of Shabbat morning services at Northern Hills Synagogue - Congregation B’nai Avraham on Saturday, Feb. 26. Services will begin at 9:15 a.m., 15 minutes earlier than normal. The synagogue will conduct services that morning using what it calls the “Chavurat Shabbat” format, providing choices to congregants as to the type of programming they wish to experience. Following completion of the main morning (Shahrit) service, congre-
gants will have three choices. They can participate in a traditional Torah reading of Parashat Vayakhel. Or, they can join Rabbi Gershom Barnard, who will build on two Torah verses which, together with their Talmudic interpretation, have become the basis of many of the traditional laws of Shabbat. His presentation, “Tabernacle and Cosmos,” sheds light on some surprising parallelisms in the Torah which, in turn, will help us understand the place of work and Shabbat in our lives. Simultaneously,Tracy Weisberger, Northern Hills’ director of educa-
tion and programming, will present Parasha for Kids, focusing on the main Torah portion. Following that segment, in place of a sermon, two parallel programming sessions will be conducted. In one, two families from the congregation will speak about their own Shabbat traditions, and in the other, Tracy Weisberger will tell Shabbat stories. The Chavurat Shabbat program and service will conclude with lunch. There is no charge and no reservations are required. Rabbi Barnard commented, “The word company comes from
Latin words meaning to break bread together, and Northern Hills Synagogue tries to be good company in that sense. Our congregational Shabbat dinners and lunches are highpoints of congregational life, and the Feb. 26 Chavurat Shabbat will be no exception. The spirit of the day will continue through lunch, when we will follow with the singing of traditional Shabbat songs. This is an occasion not to be missed.” Northern Hills Synagogue is located in Deerfield Township. For more information, please contact Northern Hills Synagogue.
B’nai Mitzvah class for Wise seventh graders How do you talk to children about G-d? This is one of the most perplexing questions rabbis and educators grapple with year in and year out. Talking about G-d is one of the most challenging subjects to teach, but also one of the most important subjects. To help, there are many books written on the subject as well as countless opinions regarding style, approach and what is appropriate for a particular age. Every year, as part of the B’nai Mitzvah class for seventh graders, Wise Temple students explore their own beliefs and the role G-d plays in their lives through an innovative program. The students start off together viewing clips from movies and listening to popular music about G-d. This is really to get their brains
working, and thinking about G-d. Once everyone is focused on the subject at hand, they are ready for the main activity of the day— shopping in the G-d Mall. The entire lower level of Wise Center is transformed into a shopping mall for students so they can explore their own personal theologies. Each classroom becomes a store that sells belief statements representing a particular theology. In order to purchase an item from the store, a student must explain to the cashier why he or she is choosing this statement and how it fits into his or her life. Some of the stores include: • The Game Keeper, where G-d is the Ruler of the universe • The Discovery Store, where G-d is the Force in nature
• The Nature Company, where G-d is our Partner in creation • Borders Books, where G-d is the Author of life and death • The Rabbinic Republic, where G-d is Protector, Parent and Judge • The Watch Maker, where G-d makes the clocks and winds them The students can take a break from shopping by stopping at a kiosk where they can try three different object lessons about G-d; one involving jelly beans, another involving a connect-the-dot puzzle and a third involving lost and found clothing. By visiting every store, students build their own G-d concept and engage in a subject they rarely have the opportunity to think about. They can feel a great sense of accomplishment as they identify
and develop a personal theology in a fun and interactive way. Students are thoughtful, respectful and jump into the experience. They wrestle with key questions and find answers for themselves. Perhaps most importantly, the seventh graders have the opportunities to make connections between their life experiences and their religious views and faith. Students are challenged by questions that we, as adults, still struggle with: If G-d created the world, then how does evolution fit in? Do humans really have free will? Does G-d hear and answer our prayers? Can I argue with G-d? Did G-d give the Torah at Mount Sinai? For more information on the B’nai Mitzvah class for seventh graders, contact the Temple office.
Dr. Ernest Prentice reveals ethical consequences of Nazi medical experiments Sixty-five years after the Holocaust, its implications continue to impact the lives of millions of people, the path of numerous countries, and the relevance and reach of many professions. An upcoming lecture will shed light on the Holocaust’s significance on the medical profession. On Wednesday, Feb. 23, Dr. Ernest Prentice, professor of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, will explore the implications of the unethical medical experiments performed in concentration camps during the Holocaust. “The Nazi Doctor’s Crimes Against Humanity: To Remember is to Honor the Victims” begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Auditorium. The lecture will explore the history and importance of the Nuremberg Code which originated in the aftermath of the Holocaust. John Isidor, senior director and co-founder, Schulman Associates IRB, noted, “Dr. Prentice is a nationally recognized speaker
Dr. Ernest Prentice
regarding past abuses of humans in research and specifically about how the lessons learned from the Nazi doctors’ experiments apply to current medical research.” Dr. Prentice’s presentation will examine select experiments conducted by Nazi doctors in the concentration camps, and the development of the Nuremberg Code as a result of the experiments. The Nuremberg
Nazi doctors’trial, defense strategies, and ultimate outcome will be discussed as well. Dr. Prentice will conclude with the discussion of the ethics of using data originated from the experiments, and the impact the code has had on the United States since the end of World War II. The Nuremberg Code is said to be one of the most important documents in the history of ethics of medical research. Dr. Prentice feels it is important that present-day generations understand the code. “Bioethics had its origin at Nuremberg, and it is important for the medical community to understand this history,” says Dr. Prentice. Dr. Prentice became interested in the Nuremberg Code in 1980 when he was asked to oversee the integration of revised federal regulation for human subjects at the University of Nebraska. With this daunting task, he went to the Omaha Jewish Community Center library to research the creation of bioethics, which dates back to the Nuremberg trials.
When presenting in St. Louis in the 1990s, a gentleman in the front row approached Dr. Prentice at the conclusion of his speech. He said, “I was there, I served as one of the prosecutors of the doctors’ trials, your presentation covered exactly how it was.” Dr. Prentice has received many awards throughout the years. He currently serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Professor of Preventative and Societal Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Prentice operated as Chair of the Health and Human Services Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Human Research Protection from 2003-2007. The program is presented by the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education, in partnership with the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Schulman Associates IRB, the Maimonides Society of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and the University of Cincinnati.
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VOL. 157 • NO. 30 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2010 13 ADAR I 5771 SHABBAT BEGINS FRIDAY 5:58 PM SHABBAT ENDS SATURDAY 6:57 PM THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE CO., PUBLISHERS 18 WEST NINTH STREET, SUITE 2 CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202-2037 PHONE: (513) 621-3145 FAX: (513) 621-3744 publisher@americanisraelite.com editor@americanisraelite.com articles@americanisraelite.com production@americanisraelite.com RABBI ISSAC M. WISE Editor & Publisher, 1854-1900 LEO WISE Editor & Publisher, 1900-1928 RABBI JONAH B. WISE Editor & Publisher, 1928-1930 HENRY C. SEGAL Editor & Publisher, 1930-1985 PHYLLIS R. SINGER Editor & General Manager, 1985-1999 MILLARD H. MACK Publisher Emeritus NETANEL (TED) DEUTSCH Editor & Publisher BARBARA L. MORGENSTERN Senior Writer LEEANNE GALIOTO NICOLE SIMON Assistant Editors ALEXIA KADISH Copy Editor JANET STEINBERG Travel Editor STEPHANIE DAVIS-NOVAK Fashion Editor MARILYN GALE Dining Editor MARIANNA BETTMAN NATE BLOOM IRIS PASTOR RABBI A. JAMES RUDIN ZELL SCHULMAN RABBI AVI SHAFRAN PHYLLIS R. SINGER Contributing Columnists LEV LOKSHIN JANE KARLSBERG Staff Photographers JOSEPH D. STANGE Production Manager ALLISON CHANDLER Office Manager
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Partnership educates Jewish youth about the Holocaust When The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education moved to Rockwern Academy in Sycamore Township last year, the staff and board hoped there would be opportunities for collaboration, however, no on expected just how well they would fare. During the installation of CHHE’s permanent exhibit, “Mapping Our Tears,” the eighth grade students received a behindthe-scenes tour of the exhibit with executive director, Sarah Weiss. The students were filled with excitement as they witnessed their music room transformed into a Holocaust exhibit that would draw thousands of visitors each year. Immediately after the students discovered what would take shape in the space, one of the students burst out, “How can we be involved? Can we speak to the visitors?” A light bulb went off and thus began an exploration to create “Remembrance in Action,” an educational leadership program for Jewish youth based on the lessons of the Holocaust. The two organizations quickly decided to collaborate and capture the students’ passion. CHHE exec-
utive director, Sarah Weiss and director of education, Barbara Christensen met with Rockwern teachers Rabbi Oshrat Morag and Dana Gehri to develop the program for the middle school students. Although CHHE works with Rockwern students in grades three and up on more general themes of discrimination, Remembrance in Action begins in the sixth grade, when students learn about the Holocaust through in-depth lessons on topics such as anti-Semitism, resistance and life in the ghettos and death camps. In the spring, the sixth graders will embark on a trip to Washington D.C. and visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. As the years progress, the seventh and eighth grade classes will participate in the program, building on the knowledge they cultivate in the earlier years. In the seventh grade, each student will learn about the life and experiences of a Holocaust survivor in the Cincinnati community in order to become the voice of that survivor. Students in the class with survivor relatives will learn about the stories of their own
(Clockwise) Sarah Weiss demonstrates an activity with a group of children; Rockwern Academy’s sixth grade class learns about the Holocaust from Sara Weiss of CHHE; Director of Education at CHHE, Barbara Christensen, instructs Rockwern’s sixth grade class.
grandparents or great-grandparents. They will begin gaining skills in leadership, advocacy, mediation, teaching, researching and public speaking to be able to act on the lessons of the Holocaust. By eighth grade, students will actually take action and become agents of change. They will have the opportunity to become youth docents and teach other students and visitors about the Holocaust and its lessons via the interactive exhibit, Mapping Our Tears. The program culmination will be a student led project relating their learning of the Holocaust. “The Holocaust has implications for every member of our society, but it has a special place in the hearts of the Jewish people. We must educate Jewish students about this period in history, we are preparing the next generation to serve as keepers of this history when survivors are no longer with us,” said Weiss. “In addition to the horrific reality of the Shoah, we emphasize, the stories of Jewish resistance and resiliency to maintain their humanity and identity.”
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‘Mind in Control’ — calm under fire The Chabad Jewish Center’s Goldstein Family Learning Academy invites you to special presentations with Gill Heart, Ph.D. If you are impacted by work, family or life stress, this seminar of Kabbalah-based, Israel Defense Force tested techniques may provide you with the tools to put your mind in control, and to remain calm under fire. Dr. Heart will teach “Mind-inControl” techniques developed by the IDF Special Forces to improve performance under stress. Dr. Heart learned these techniques during his army service, and had to apply them under extreme duress. “Special operations require dealing with stressful circumstances. Being physically fit helps, but falls
Gill Heart, Ph.D.
short of being the solution,” Dr. Heart explained. “Ironically, it is all in your mind.” Combining ancient Kabbalistic teachings with his bio-medical knowledge and specialized military training, Dr. Heart organized the IDF method into a format applicable to our day-to-day stress, which has its own set of circumstances. Dr. Heart was born and raised in Israel, and served for over six years in an elite, Special Forces unit in the IDF. He received his Ph.D. in Bio-Medical Engineering from London University, and moved to the U.S. where he became an entrepreneur. Over the past 10 years, Dr. Heart has successfully founded and led venturebacked, medical device startups. Dr. Heart has taught these skills
at numerous seminars across the country and around the world. Participants master a technique that gives them a “Mind in Control,” a method for remaining calm and in control, a way to function effectively under the stressful circumstances of everyday life. The revolutionary three-step process follows what was developed by the IDF for use by its Special Forces. The first event is Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 7:30 p.m., at the Chabad Jewish Center in Blue Ash. Dr. Heart has also developed a presentation geared for the business environment. The stress professionals are exposed to is constant and different than what they had to deal with even a few years ago. Being successful in such a
volatile environment requires special tools, tools that enable one to operate differently than the competitors. MindMatrix™ is based on elite commando, Special Forces, Israeli Defense Force (IDF) training coupled with recent clinical and scientific findings in Neuroplasticity. MindMatrix™ teaches and trains Corporate America executives in techniques and tools used by Special Forces to operate “behind enemy lines.” Join us for Lunch and Learn: “Behind Enemy Lines” on Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 12 – 1 p.m., at the Ulmer & Berne LLP law firm in downtown Cincinnati. Reservations are requested. For more information about either event, please contact the Chabad Jewish Center.
March adult education classes held at Wise Temple Wise Temple is excited to announce its upcoming offerings for adult education sponsored by their Eitz Chayim, adult education committee. The film, “The First Basket” will be shown on Sunday, March 6 at 9:30 a.m. as part of Wise Temple’s Sunday morning series. On Nov. 1, 1946, in the first game of the fledgling Basketball Association of America (BAA), Ossie Schectman scored the opening basket for the New York Knickerbockers against the Toronto Huskies. Schectman and his teammates Sonny Hertzberg, Stan Stutz, Hank Rosenstein, Ralph Kaplowitz, Jake Weber, and Leo “Ace” Gottlieb went on to win the opening game 68 – 66 and finish the season with a 33 – 27 record. In 1949, the BAA became the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Schectman’s shot is considered the first basket in the NBA. Several of the BAA and NBA teams had evolved out of the semi-pro teams, settlement houses, playgrounds, schoolyard and community center leagues, and college teams that sprung from the Jewish inner-city neighborhoods of the early 20th century. “The First Basket” follows these Jewish basketball experiences, from ash cans placed on brownstone stoops, to Madison Square Garden. On Tuesdays, March 8 and 15, from 12 – 1 p.m., Rabbi Lewis Kamrass will be teaching a class — “What Reform Judaism Really Demands of Us.” Too many people mistakenly see Reform Judaism as the “easy choice” or the “whatever you want to do” approach to Jewish
life. Such a misperception fails to consider the philosophical, spiritual and intellectual rigors inherent in any Reform Jewish approach.
Wise Temple’s ongoing Rabbinic Literature Class will meet on Monday, March 26, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. In these sessions, Rabbi Kamrass will discuss what makes Reform Judaism a distinctive, demanding and an exciting approach to Jewish life: from the demands of personal autonomy, responsiveness to change, insistence that ritual observance gives voice to something in us, and not empty practices, to the intellectual and personal discipline involved in making individual choices. “After Iraq – Conclusions and Consequences” with Fareed Zakaria is the next topic of the 92nd Street Y program, live via satellite, on Thursday, March 10 at 8 p.m., with Eliot Spitzer moderating. Fareed Zakaria is host of Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN, editor at large at Time, and a regular columnist for The Washington Post. In naming him “one of the 21 most important people of the 21st century,” Esquire magazine described him as “the most influ-
ential foreign policy adviser of his generation.” Before joining Time, Dr. Zakaria was editor of Newsweek International, overseeing all the magazine’s editions abroad from 2000 to 2011. Eliot Spitzer is the former New York attorney general and governor of New York. He is currently a contributor to Slate and host of the new show Parker/Spitzer on CNN. “Engaging in Torah: A Workshop” will be offered with Rabbi Michael Shulman on Tuesdays, March 22, 29 and April 5 from 12 – 1 p.m. In Pirke Avot we learn from Rabbi Hananya ben Teradion “when two people sit and words of Torah pass between them, the Divine Presence rests between them.” This course will explore the various techniques, approaches and skills our people have used to interpret and understand the Torah over the centuries. Rabbi Shulman will investigate and connect these approaches to the most sacred and central book of Judaism. Wise Temple’s ongoing Rabbinic Literature Class will meet on Monday, March 26, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. This monthly class takes a more in-depth investigation into rabbinic literature, from Talmud to Midrash. This class is for those who want to engage in serious study, debate and discussion of Jewish texts. Texts chosen illuminate theological and ethical issues as they relate not only to the age in which they were written, but also to today. For more information about these and other classes at Wise Temple, contact the temple.
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Who is in the military junta ruling Egypt? More unknowns than knowns
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By Ron Kampeas Jewish Telegraphic Agency WASHINGTON (JTA) — One guy we know, and we’re pretty sure he’s not in charge. The other guy we don’t know so well, and it looks like he might be in charge. The other three guys — who knows? The five figures comprising Egypt’s Supreme Military Council are commanding the rapt attention of a world already transfixed by the unrest that last week unseated President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s autocratic leader for 30 years. They appeared on state television in a pose typical of the region’s leaders: sitting along a table, ramrod straight and inscrutable. They are now running the Egyptian show, although they have promised speedy elections to replace Mubarak and the parliament they dissolved. The Sphinx-like TV pose accrued a Sphinx-like riddle in the wake of the sudden transfer of power: Who exactly are they? Extraordinarily, the Egyptian sources routinely tapped by Westerners for inside information were responding to queries this week with a shrug emblematic of the degree of how much has changed in Egypt. They don’t seem to know much either. Ehud Ya’ari, an Arab affairs expert with Israel’s Channel 2, said it was because Mubarak for years had played his cards close to his vest. He and a small circle of advisers were the only interlocutors with Israel and the West. “We have a big problem here: We don’t know the Egyptian army,” Ya’ari told a conference call convened by the Jewish Federations of North America. “The Egyptian army was kept by Mubarak outside all dealing with Israel except for liaison officers in the Sinai. Israelis do not know the Egyptian generals who now form what I would describe as a military junta.” For the record they are Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the defense minister; Lt. Gen. Sami Hafez Enan, the military chief of staff; Vice Adm. Mohab Mamish, commander of the Navy; Air Marshal Rada Mahmoud Hafez Mohamed, commander of the Air Force; and Lt. Gen. Abd El Aziz Seif-Eideen, commander of the Air Defense. The two figures emerging as the ones to watch are Tantawi and Enan. They both are known to have served in wars against Israel, in 1967 and 1973. What they did, however, is hardly known, much less the stuff of legend. Mubarak, by contrast, made his name between those two wars
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- Editor -Staff Writers - Book Review columnist - Financial Advice columnist - Health & Fitness columnist - Tongue-in-Cheek columnist Department of Defense — Chad J. McNeeley
Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, right, the Egyptian defense minister, greets Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, in Cairo, Feb. 14, 2010.
Knowledge of AP Style preferred, but not required.
when he resisted Soviet pressure, as Air Force commander, to run raids over the Sinai. That made his reputation as a man wise enough to pick his battles — one that served him well until his fruitless effort to resist calls to resign. Tantawi, who is in his mid70s, already has been dubbed “Mubarak’s poodle,” although this might derive simply from his having served in the outgoing government. He is, in any case, a known quantity. “We know a lot more about Tantawi than Enan in terms of roles they played in the former regime and this regime,” said J. Scott Carpenter, the deputy assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs from 2004 to 2007 and now a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. What is known about Tantawi suggests that he is not in control, although he is nominally the most senior officer on the council. “The officers, from a number of generals and colonels on down, don’t hold him in high regard,” Carpenter said. Tantawi, trained by the Soviets, is seen as the old guard by a younger generation of officers trained by the United States to be forward thinking, according to Joel Rubin, an analyst with the National Security Network who during the last Bush administration headed the State Department’s Egypt desk. “He’s perceived as a yes man to Mubarak — not charismatic, not someone perceived as leading a rebellion,” Rubin said. Tantawi was visible but did not make himself known, Carpenter said. “I’ve only met him a couple of times,” he said, “and both times I have been struck how he’s not dynamic, hard to converse with, not forthcoming — he doesn’t seem to get it.” Worse, he apparently had a tin ear
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when it came to cultivating loyalty. “He’s mishandled some of the relations he’s had with senior military officers, being late with salary payments, holiday bonuses,” Carpenter said. Rubin said Enan, believed to be between 64 and 68, had better relations with U.S. officials. He was the point man for military relations with the United States, meaning he handled the requests for equipment through the $1.3 billion in U.S. defense assistance Egypt gets annually — that is believed to comprise as much as 80 percent of the country’s materiel.
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Battle over Mideast transit ads heating up across U.S By Ben Harris Jewish Telegraphic Agency NEWYORK (JTA) — With public bickering over the IsraeliPalestinian conflict already having spilled over into university student senates, corporate pension boards and even local farmers markets, the latest battlefield in the debate over the conflict is municipal transit systems. In several major U.S. cities, advertisements on public buses and municipal rail stations are designed to galvanize public opinion to end U.S. military aid to Israel or to pressure Palestinians to end anti-Jewish incitement. In some cases, the ads have been deemed so inflammatory that local authorities have tried to restrict or ban them outright, leading to frustration on both sides and, in one
case, a federal lawsuit. A group calling itself the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign, with the help of the local American Civil Liberties Union chapter, filed a lawsuit in Seattle last month charging that the group’s First Amendment rights were violated when the local transit system reneged on an agreement to carry its ad opposing aid to Israel. The ad, which featured a group of children looking at a demolished building under the heading “Israeli war crimes: Your tax dollars at work,” was slated to start running on Seattle buses in late December. But after local officials were besieged with complaints and at least two counter groups proposed ads of their own, the officials suspended all noncommercial bus advertisements. One of those ads, sponsored by
the American Freedom Defense Initiative, featured a digitally altered image of Hitler and a man in Arab headdress under the headline, “In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man.” A judge is due to rule on a temporary injunction that would restore the initial ad next week. “Israel’s accountability for the ongoing conflict is a part of the story that gets silenced more in this country,” Ed Mast, a member of the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign, told JTA. “So our purpose is education.” Across the country, public advertising is emerging as a new front in the public debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine launched a campaign on trains and platforms
in Chicago in October in which Israeli and Palestinian faces were depicted under the banner, “Be on our side. We are on the side of peace and justice.” Below the smiling faces, the tagline urged an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. The campaign already has run in San Francisco and is slated for expansion to other U.S. cities. Caren Levy-Van Slyke, a member of the steering committee of the Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine, said the campaign was “inclusive” of both Israelis and Palestinians and was intended to draw taxpayer attention to the 2007 deal providing $30 billion in U.S. aid to Israel over 10 years. “We are the side of peace and justice,” Levy-Van Slyke said, echoing the Chicago ads.
Pro-Israel activists contest that assertion. In San Francisco, the Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine ad triggered a response from the Los Angeles-based pro-Israel group Stand With Us, which is sponsoring ads beginning this week urging the Palestinian leadership to stop teaching hatred and to “Say Yes to Peace.” An earlier version of the ad, which Stand With Us attempted to place in Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations, showed a masked terrorist under the headline, “Stop Palestinian Terrorism.” Transit officials reportedly rejected the ad after people complained. The new ad features only text. “Right now, we’re watching and we’re asking our members to let us know when these kinds of things come up, and we will directly respond,” said Roz Rothstein, national director of Stand With Us.
Jews take 5 of top 6 spots in annual list of top U.S. givers By Jacob Berkman Jewish Telegraphic Agency NEW YORK (JTA) — America’s most generous citizens gave less in 2010 than they have over the past decade, but Jews remained among the top givers, according to an annual survey by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. In 2010, the top philanthropists in the United States contributed approximately $3.3 billion to charity, according to the Chronicle’s Philanthropy 50, a list that tracks the largest gifts made by individuals each year. That number is some $800 million below 2009 and less than half of the total made up by the top 50 donors when the Chronicle first started keeping tabs a decade ago. At least 19 of the 53 individuals and couples named on the list are
Jewish, including five of the list’s top six (the list included three ties). George Soros ranked No. 1 with $332 million donated in 2010, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was second at $279.2 million. Irwin and Joan Jacobs, Eli and Edythe Broad, and Leonard Blavatnik took spots 4 through 6, respectively, with $117 million to $119 million in donations. Jews traditionally rank high on such lists and figure prominently among the country’s elite philanthropists. Jews also make up more than half of the first 57 billionaires to join the Bill Gates and Warren Buffet Giving Pledge — a group of ultra-wealthy Americans who have pledged to give away more than half of their assets during their lifetime. The Chronicle’s list, however, also offers more cause for concern
for those in the Jewish nonprofit world who wring their hands about the lack of giving by Jews to Jewish causes. The Institute for Jewish and Communal Research has collected data showing that less than a quarter of all philanthropic dollars given by Jews go to overtly Jewish causes. For instance, while Soros gave $1 million to World ORT in September, and Bloomberg gave a smaller gift to the Jewish Association for Services for the Aged, their gifts to overtly Jewish causes comprise only a small proportion of their overall giving. This year’s Philanthropy 50 had one major exception: Stephen and Nancy Grand, who ranked 39th, gave more than $20 million of their $28 million in 2010 charitable donations to the American Technion Society, which supports the Technion: Israel
Institute for Technology. In June, the Grands helped the Technion finish off a 14-year, $1 billion fundraising campaign with their mammoth gift to the school, to which they also had given $10 million to create the Stephen and Nancy Grand Water Research Institute. The Grands are very involved in the Jewish world and launched their philanthropy through the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. Stephen Grand is a board member of Birthright Israel, while Nancy Grand soon will be the president of the Jewish Federation in San Francisco and serves on the executive committees of the city’s JCC as well as the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Among the other Jews on the list to watch are hedge fund manager William Ackman, who with
his wife, Karen, gave away $59.3 million last year. At 44, Ackman already is one of Wall Street’s most significant players and a regular on the dais of the UJA-Federation of New York’s annual Wall Street dinner. He made his most significant Jewish contribution in the past year, leading an effort to bail out the Center for Jewish History in New York from its $30 million debt with a $6.8 million gift. Qualcomm’s founder, Irwin Jacobs, is one of San Diego’s most generous men. Aside from propping up the San Diego Symphony with a $100 million-plus gift last decade, he and his wife, Joan, have decided to give away most of their money through a donor-advised fund at the Jewish Community GIVERS on page 22
Amid heavy snowfall, Jewish cemeteries struggle to bury dead By Ben Harris Jewish Telegraphic Agency NEW YORK (JTA) — When Rabbi Edward Shapiro got the call on a recent Thursday night that a Jewish man had died in Minturn, Colo., he knew he was in for a challenge. Digging a grave 30 miles away in Leadville, which at above 10,000 feet is home to what may be the highest altitude Jewish cemetery in North America, was not going to be easy amid heavy snowfall. And with the death having occurred less than 24 hours before Shabbat, Shapiro doubted the body could be prepared for burial and a grave readied in time. “Both cases were right,” said Shapiro, also known as Alter Shmuel. It would take 18 hours from the time of notification to prepare the grave in Leadville’s 120-year-
Barry Ostrow/Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts
Heavy snows, like these at Chevra Chai Odom, a cemetery in Boston photographed on Feb. 3, 2011, are disrupting Jewish burials in some parts of the United States.
old Jewish cemetery, with several feet of snow on the ground and several more feet of frozen ground underneath. The burial took place early Sunday afternoon. But in parts of the United States less accustomed to heavy snowfalls, the record accumulations this season are causing serious challenges for Jewish funeral directors accustomed to the speedy interment required by traditional Jewish practice. “It’s a huge challenge with 70 inches of snow on the ground,” said Stan Kaplan, the executive director of the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts. “You have to clear out the area for a funeral. You have to be careful not to damage monuments you can’t even see because of the height of the snow. It’s a very delicate period right now in Boston.” So delicate, in fact, that visitation
at the 105 cemeteries managed by the association has been suspended indefinitely both to prevent injuries and ensure what limited access is available is preserved for funeral processions. Kaplan said there have been no serious delays yet due to the weather, but the need for specialized equipment to dig graves and remove snowfall has pushed his budget to the breaking point. “The bottom line is just finding the financial resources to buy the necessary services that we need to keep the gates open,” Kaplan said. In New York City, the heavy snows have caused repeated delays in burials — most dramatically following a massive storm on Dec. 26 that caught the city’s administration unprepared and prevented the Hebrew Free Burial Association from conducting internments for three days.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Bandage that helped save lives in Giffords shooting has Israeli backstory By Ron Kampeas Jewish Telegraphic Agency WASHINGTON (JTA) — Israel changed Gabrielle Giffords’ life when the budding politician first visited the country in 2001 and it drew her close to Judaism. After the Arizona congresswoman was shot in the head a month ago, an Israeli innovation invented by an American immigrant to Israel may have helped save her life. First responders credited the emergency bandage colloquially known as “the Israeli bandage” with saving lives in the aftermath of the shooting in Tucson, Ariz., that left six dead and 13 wounded. Pima County officials displayed the kit at a Jan. 21 news conference in Tucscon, along with other military-grade gear used in ministering to the wounded in the Jan. 8 shooting. The county had switched last June to the upgraded gear, and the shooting was its major first field test. “Without this care it would have definitely been a different situation,” Dr. Katherine Hiller, who had attended the wounded at University Medical Center, told The Los Angeles Times. It is not clear if the Israeli bandage was applied to Giffords — the details of the day were lost in the chaos — but the bandage is known for, among other things, its utility in
International Briefs Alleged Palestinian terrorist arrested in Athens ATHENS, Greece (JTA) — Athens police arrested an alleged Palestinian terrorist accused of being in Greece to plan a major attack in Europe. Ghaleb Taleb, who was arrested Feb. 12, is said to be a member of the Fatah-Al-Islam terror group based in Lebanon. He holds a Lebanese passport and citizenship. Taleb will be deported for illegal entry into the country after being questioned by police. It is unclear whether he will be sent to Lebanon or the Palestinian Authority, according to reports. Ghaleb was under the surveillance of the Greek Central Intelligence agency after reportedly secretly entering Greece several months ago, the Greek police said. The police were forced to arrest Ghaleb over the weekend to avoid his fleeing the country following a story in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera reporting his presence in Greece and
stanching head wounds, one of the greatest challenges with conventional bandages. One model covers both entry and exit wounds, which Giffords is known to have sustained. The bandage, like others, applies a sterile pad to the wound to stop the blood. What distinguishes it is that a built-in applicator applies the equivalent of up to 30 pounds of pressure over the pad by wrapping it in the opposite direction of the initial wrap. Head wounds require multiple standard bandages to keep a pad in place. One Israeli bandage, with its elasticized cloth, is enough for a head wound, and the very act of wrapping it around the head applies pressure to the wound. That saves precious time, and the applied pressure applicator, because it is built-in, is more stable than the external pressures used with conventional bandages. Since its 1993 invention, the Israeli bandage has become standard issue in militaries throughout the world. The U.S. military made it standard issue in 2003, in time for the Iraq War. The inventor of the pad, Bernard Bar-Natan, is a self-described Brooklyn boy, a son of Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Israel in 1979 and was drafted into the military in 1983, serving an abbreviated service as an adult. When he was going into the military, friends advised him to get
his alleged mission. The paper said that Ghaleb had attempted to facilitate the entrance into Greece of other terrorists, to whom he supplied money and false passports. A Palestinian was last arrested in Greece on terrorism charges in 1991, according to reports. U.S. Jewish leaders assured on Greece-Israel ties ATHENS, Greece (JTA) — Greek officials assured a visiting delegation of American Jewish leaders that relations between Israel and Greece are serious and have nothing to do with the cooling of Israel’s ties with Turkey. About 60 representatives from the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations were in Greece as part of Greek efforts to improve relations with Israel. They visited major Greek cities Athens and Thessaloniki for talks with Greek state and Jewish community officials. The delegation met Feb. 8 with Greek government ministers, including the foreign minister and his deputy, and later with Prime Minister George Papandreou, who announced that the Israeli and Greek Cabinets would hold a joint session in Israel in April.
a “job” or a specialty to alleviate the boredom of grunt-level service. Immigrants drafted as adults serve only a few months rather than three or more years, so they rarely serve in the military’s upper reaches. One of the few specialties available at that level is medic. As the years wore on through monthlong stints in the Israeli reserves, Bar-Natan became annoyed by an anomaly: The bandages available might have manufacture dates as early as 1942 or as late as the previous month, yet they remained essentially unchanged. Medics in the field were required to improvise pressure applicators — magazines, rocks, canteens, whatever was handy. “The guns we used had improved, the planes flying above us had improved, but the bandages were the same,” Bar-Natan told JTA. In the early 1990s, the Israeli government was encouraging start-ups through “incubators,” providing them with low-interest loans. That encouraged Bar-Natan to jump in the waters with his idea for a newfangled bandage. In 2000, he took the bandage to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, where the U.S. military trains medics. Soon his company, First Care, was selling the bandage for use by elite units, including the 75th BANDAGE on page 20
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Israel under the radar
Unrest in Egypt reverberates at Israel’s top security confab
By Marcy Oster Jewish Telegraphic Agency
By Dina Kraft Jewish Telegraphic Agency HERZLIYA, Israel (JTA) — In the sleek, blue auditorium filled with spotlights and large video screens at Israel’s premier annual national security policy conference, all eyes were fixed on the revolution next door, in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. From the Israelis among the experts, diplomats and security officials assembled for the 11th annual Herzliya Conference near Tel Aviv, there were dark assessments and discussion of preparing for worst-case scenarios. “Like all Israelis, we’d like to see democracy in Egypt,” Shlomo Avineri, a leading political scientist at Hebrew University and a former director of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, said in a speech Wednesday. “However, that’s probably not going to happen.” Comparing events in Egypt to the days when the Soviet Union collapsed and the world was awash with hopes for political freedom, Avineri noted that “we got Putin instead, a neo-absolutist system.” “Something similar might transpire in Egypt because you need a civil society, a belief in tolerance and individualism. Those elements were lacking in Russia and they are lacking in Egypt,” he said. “We should be realistic even with all our support for the people of Egypt and democracy.”
Israel Briefs Israeli embassies threatened, may close JERUSALEM (JTA) — Four Israeli embassies may be closed after receiving serious threats. Israel’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that security at the embassies, which it did not identify, had increased to the maximum level. Security at all Israeli embassies has been increased as well, according to reports. The ministry said in Tuesday’s statement that “a number of irregular incidents targeting Israeli destinations were recorded in the past few days.” “At this point we estimate that a threat exists against the locations and it is being dealt with,” said the statement. The relevant Israeli authorities are in contact with the relevant authorities in the countries in question.” The threats coincide with the
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Here are some recent stories out of Israel that you may have missed:
Ori Porat
The unrest in Egypt was the major topic of discussion among security experts and diplomats at Israel’s annual Herzliya Conference, February 2011.
The Herzliya Conference has become the annual setting for assessing the current focus and outlook of Israel’s political and security elite. As Israel watches and waits to see how things in Cairo will shake out, the conference served as an opportunity to speculate about the future and mourn the possible passing of an era of stability along Israel’s southern border with Egypt. The changes in Egypt and the possible ripple effect they pose for the rest of the Arab world prompted many to argue for Israel to redouble its efforts on securing a peace deal with the Palestinians. “Our region is moving very fast to the next war, and the only
way to stabilize events in Tunisia and Egypt is to find stability by having an interim peace agreement,” said Shaul Mofaz, a former defense minister and chief of staff who is now part of the opposition. “We need to rebuild trust between both sides.” Israeli President Shimon Peres made a similar plea in his opening remarks at the conference. “The recent dramatic events raise the need to rid the IsraeliPalestinian conflict from the agenda,” he said. “The conflict is being used by all sides for the worse. The peace process is crucial for our neighbors, not just for us.”
third anniversary of the death of Hezbollah senior official Imad Mughniyeh, who was killed in Damascus by a car bomb that the terrorist organization blames on Israel. Hezbollah has vowed to avenge his death. Also out of concern following threats of revenge kidnappings, Israel’s Counter Terrorism Bureau issued a warning late last week to Israeli travelers urging them to avoid certain destinations, including Egypt, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritania and Venezuela.
Iranian officials banned rallies in support of Egypt. Opposition leaders reportedly had planned such rallies after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in public remarks that the Egyptian reformists had taken a page from Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979 in toppling a monarchy supported by the West. Also Monday, anti-government protesters demonstrated in the streets of Yemen and Bahrain. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton backed the Iranian protestors, telling reporters Monday in Washington that they "deserve to have the same rights that they saw being played out in Egypt and are part of their own birthright." The European Jewish Congress called on European leaders to press unequivocally for democracy and freedom for the Iranian people and express concern about the situation in Iran. EJC President Dr. Moshe Kantor called on European leaders to issue similar responses that were released during the recent demonstrations in the Arab world.
Iranians demonstrate in support of Egypt (JTA) — One protester was killed and dozens were injured as thousands of Iranians demonstrated in support of uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. Dozens of opposition protesters were arrested in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, and Iranian security forces fired tear gas at protesters marching in central Tehran toward Freedom Square on Monday, Reuters reported.
UNREST on page 20
‘Pilgrimage of Thanks’ for Chilean miners The rescued Chilean miners are following a visit to Mickey with one to Masada. All but two of the 33 miners rescued after spending 68 days trapped underground are coming to Israel with their spouses on what is being billed as a “Pilgrimage of Thanks,” Feb. 23-March 2. Israel’s Ministry of Tourism is underwriting the trip. The Chileans are now visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., following visits in recent weeks to Hollywood and Beverly Hills, Calif., and to a Premier League soccer match in England. In Israel they will tour many of Jerusalem’s holy sites, including the Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Garden of Gethsemane and Room of the Last Supper, as well as the Western Wall and King David’s Tomb. In Jerusalem they will be welcomed by President Shimon Peres in an official reception at his residence. They also will visit the Dead Sea and Masada before traveling north to visit the Church of the Annunciation, the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, the Mount of Beatitudes, Caesarea and Tel AvivJaffa. The pilgrimage also will include a visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The Chileans, who will be accompanied by journalists from their country and the regional governor of Atacama, are scheduled to plant trees for peace and coexistence, according to reports. Due to the trauma of spending more than two months underground, the miners will not visit sites that include tunnels or caves, according to reports. The visit is going ahead despite Chile’s official recognition last month of the potential unilateral declaration of a state of Palestine. In his invitation issued in October, in the days after the men were rescued, Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov wrote that “Your bravery and strength of spirit, your great faith that helped you survive so long in the bowels of the earth, was an inspiration to us all. It would be a great honor for us to welcome you as our guests in the Holy Land.” Chai baby A Jerusalem woman has given birth to her 18th baby — her ninth son to go with nine daughters. The newborn already is an uncle of two, according to Ynet.
Rivkah, 44, a member of the Belz Chasidic sect, told Ynet that the family has two washing machines that run 24 hours a day. She also said that, after the birth of her eighth child, her husband began helping out: He now makes the kids’ sandwiches for school each morning — a chore that takes nearly an hour. The family does not have a car. “I believe that you need to get up every morning and thank God for each and every soul he has given us,” Rivkah told Ynet. “They are all healthy and whole, and that only gives me strength, it doesn’t take it away.” Rivkah has a special bracelet stamped with the names of her children. It has room for three more names. Bibi the biggest loser? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is down 22 pounds, but it looks like Trade and Labor Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer has him beat in the quest to be known as the biggest loser in the Knesset. Ben Eliezer’s loss — 66 pounds Both have been on a diet for six months. Netanyahu has been running six miles every morning and working out twice a week in the Knesset gym, according to Ynet. The prime minister has been eating plenty of breakfasts of lowfat cheese and lunches of skinless chicken or fish. Ben Eliezer has a similar diet and walks 40 minutes daily, plus drinks lots of water, according to Ynet. Netanyahu last summer banned pastry and bourekas from government meetings and replaced them with fruit and vegetables. Several other government ministers also took up Netanyahu’s charge to exercise and, coupled with the change in government snack food, has led to even more shedding of pounds in the Cabinet. Israeli parents want to use dead son’s sperm The parents of an Israeli man who died in an accident have asked Israel’s attorney general for permission to use his sperm to father a grandchild. The sperm were taken from Ohad Ben-Yaakov following a work accident in September, according to Haaretz. Ohad, 27, reportedly did not leave either a written or verbal request indicating that he wanted his sperm used to bring a child into the world. He was not married or dating anyone at the time of his death. Parents Mali and Dudi BenYaakov agreed to donate their son’s organs after he was declared brain dead following two weeks in a coma after the accident. They also requested that his sperm be collected.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011
SOCIAL LIFE
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Rockwern third grade Havdalah service held On Jan. 24, Rockwern Academy’s third graders presented their Havdalah program. The students taught the audience the meaning of Havdalah — how it separates Shabbat from the other days of the week — and they led a Havdalah ceremony. The program opened with a sunset scene on a Friday evening and the welcoming of the Sabbath Queen; it continued with a favorite Herschel story, then a search for the right candle and ended when three stars were sighted marking the end of Shabbat and the time for Havdalah. The students smelled the spices in the spice boxes that they had molded, glazed and baked with Diane Woloshin in art class. The families joined the students at the individually set tables and said the Havdalah blessings together. The audience was wished a happy week and “many joyful Shabbats.”
R E F UA H SHLEMAH Frieda Berger Fraida bat Raizel Daniel Eliyahu Daniel ben Tikvah Edith Kaffeman Yehudit bat B’racha Roma Kaltman Ruchama bat Perl Pepa Kaufman Perel Tova bat Sima Sora Murray Kirschner Chaim Meir ben Basha Ravid Sulam Ravid Chaya bat Ayelet Edward Ziv Raphael Eliezer Aharon ben Esther Enya
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(Clockwise) Quinn Davidson, Gal Rocabado, Shaul Francus, Gabriel Kaufman perform at Rockwern Academy’s third grade Havdalah program; Rockwern Academy third graders present at their Havdalah program; Rockwern Academy third graders perform a dance for their Havdalah program; Tiffany Salzberg and Noah Wise address the audience during Rockwern Academy’s Havdalah program.
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On Sunday, Feb. 27, the Mayerson JCC will host a job fair, from 1 – 3 p.m., for 2011 summer Camp at the J positions including camp counselors, camp specialists, Red Cross certified lifeguards and swim instructors. The recent announcement of Camp at the J’s accreditation by the American Camp Association® (ACA) has already prompted many local teens and adults to download camp employment applications from the JCC website to prepare for the job fair next Sunday. At the Feb. 27 Camp at the J summer job fair, teens entering grades 11 or 12 can apply for junior counselor positions, and applicants ages 16 and older can apply to be a certified lifeguard or certified swim instructor. Senior counselor positions are available for ages 18 and older. Applicants ages 21 and older can apply to be a unit head, camp office administrator or a camp specialist for arts and crafts, nature, song leading or sports. Resumes are helpful but not required, as attendees will be asked to submit job applications at the fair. All Camp at the J positions require a seven-week commitment (June 13 – July 29). This includes a
week of staff orientation and six weeks of actual camp. Camp employees can achieve additional earning opportunities through the 1-week specialty “S’More” camps, which run August 1 – 19. The 1week staff orientation (starting June 13) covers the “must know” items for camp staff, such as first aid and CPR training, leadership and child development training, skill demonstrations, team building activities and activity planning. Teens entering grades 9 or 10 may register for the new 6-week counselor-in-training (C.I.T.) program at Camp at the J. All interviewed and accepted C.I.T.s will receive benefits like usage of the JCC facilities, Red Cross CPR/First Aid training, American Red Cross Guard Start, and time management/camp leadership training. C.I.T.s may attend weekly camp trips, overnights and late stays at the JCC, as well as traditional camp activities. Interested candidates should complete the counselor-intraining section of the 2011 Camp at the J registration form which can be found on the JCC website on the “Camp” page. “As a working parent, I was very happy to hear that my son could join
the C.I.T. program at the JCC this summer,” said Karen Lazarus. “It’s a fun and safe environment where he’ll learn how to be more responsible and organized while serving as a role model for kids.” Camp at the J offers high-quality programs and facilities with a broad range of camps for ages 18 months through grade 10. The 6-week camp session (for ages 18 months – grade 3) and two, 3-week camp sessions (for grades 4 - 8) run June 20 – July 29. There are also two new summer sessions offered in early June. To accommodate working families, the new JCC Summerstart Camp (for grades K – 6) will be available by the day on June 6, 7 and 10. Laffalot Summer Camp (for grades 1 – 6) will host a high-energy sports camp at the JCC, June 13 – 17. Parents seeking information about Summer Camp at the J should stop by the JCC on Thursday, Feb. 24, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. (during Free Guest Day at the J) or on Wednesday, March 2, at 7 p.m. for Camp at the J Parent Information Night. For information or to download a copy of the Summer 2011 Camp at the J brochure and registration form, contact the JCC or visit the website.
Camp Directory 2011 Camp at the J Listings Camp at the J: 8485 Ridge Road (at Ronald Reagan Highway), Amberley Village, OH 45236 For more information about Camp at the J, e-mail daycamp@ mayersonjcc.org, or visit the J’s website. All JCC camps for preschoolers through grade 8 offer before care from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and after care from 3:30 to 6 p.m., except that there are different hours for Laffalot Summer Camp and 6-week camp for ages 18 mos. – PreK (see below for details). C.I.T. camp does not have before/after care. Camp at the J 6-week camp for ages 18 mos. – Pre-K
Dates: June 20 - July 29 (3 or 5 days/week) Time: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Camp at the J 6-week camp for grades K - 3 Dates: June 20 - July 29 Time: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Camp at the J 3 or 6-week camp for grades 4 - 6 Dates: Two 3 week camp sessions: June 20 – July 8; July 11 – 29 Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm Sports Camp at the J for grades 4 – 8 (3 or 6 weeks) Dates: Two 3 week camp sessions: June 20 – July 8; July 11 – 29
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Trips Camp at the J for grades 5 – 8 (3 or 6 weeks) Dates: Two 3 week camp sessions: June 20 – July 8; July 11 – 29 Time: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. NEW Counselor-in-Training 6week camp for grades 9 & 10 Dates: 6 weeks: June 20 – July 29 Time: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Summerstart Camp for grades K – 6 (1 – 3 days) Dates: June 6, 7 & 10 (register by the day) DIRECTORY on page 21
WE ARE BACK! Andy Brown and Dan Grabel, longtime Cincinnati-based camp directors, invite all our old friends to come visit us at the Cincinnati Summer Camp Adventure Fair on Sunday, February 27th from 11am–3pm at the Cincinnati Museum Center.
LEARN ALL ABOUT OUR EXCITING NEW SLEEP AWAY CAMP IN REND LAKE, ILLINOIS! Please contact us at (314) 375-6766 to arrange an individual meeting as we will be in town all weekend! Contact dan@campmanitowa.com or andy@campmanitowa.com for more info.
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DINING OUT
THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE ONLINE - MAKOR - THE SOURCE/CINCINNATI @ WWW.AMERICANISRAELITE.COM
Andy’s Mediterranean Grille — love at first bite revised menu, although I suspect that a passionate chef like Andy often revises his menu. The staples still remain, the creamy hummus with tahini and baba ghannouj, as well as tabouli. As I write these words, I chuckle, aware that until the last 20 years, these healthy appetizers were relatively unknown. Now I don’t even have to describe them, so familiar are they in our daily diet. Andy is particularly proud of his new dishes. Kibbeh, chopped lamb with onion and bulgur wheat is a regular on the menu. David’s burger, two ground lamb sliders, marinated in Andy’s secret marinade, garnished with labneh, a Lebanese yogurt spread with garlic, onion, olive oil and mint, served with crunchy specialty potatoes, is a new item. I can vouch for its delicious taste as Andy insisted I try it. Sliders are an upcoming food item in the culinary world. They are petite sandwiches delicately prepared, bursting with interesting spreads and herbs, and a satisfying combination of savory elements. Lamb ribs, 16 ounces of lamb seasoned with Andy’s marinade and topped with special barbecue sauce and served with rice, promises to be tender morsels of meat that will satisfy the cravings of the carnivore inside us. But I would be remiss not to mention the extensive wine selection with emphasis on international wines — red, white and sparkling. Andy’s Mediterranean Grille is brimming with festivity, belly dancing for customers on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights and hookah smoking pipe for those looking for that after meal puff. And the specials, oy vey, such a deal. Starting with lunch, Monday through Saturday, choose three items for $8. Then comes the Happy Hour, Monday through Friday, from 4 to 7, half-off selected appetizers and drinks. For dinner, Monday through Saturday, Andy’s offers a three course meal for two for $25;, toss in a bottle of house wine and the price is $40. Then there are discounts. For senior citizens , 10 percent off everything, every day. U.S. military and veterans receive 20 percent off everything, too, with a valid military I.D. Andy’s provides catering. Check out the website for specific prices and menus. Join the fun in the city. Healthy dining throughout the year at Andy’s Mediterranean Grille.
By Marilyn Gale Dining Editor Okay, I’ll admit the first line of this review is corny. Yet applicable for those of us who have succumbed to the pleasure of Andy’s, whether it is in the dipping of those cute, puffy, homemade light-as-air pitas into creamy, smooth hummus or crunching on the magnificent baklava where cinnamon-flavored honey oozes down the corners of your mouth. Regardless of your menu choice, Andy’s Mediterranean Grille delivers a powerful dining experience. Did you know that Andy’s was once a tiny carry-out specializing in bologna sandwiches? Did you know that Andy’s was the first Mediterranean restaurant in the Queen City? Did you know that Andy’s has a new menu once again? I met with Andy Haijar on a Sunday night where I sat at the bar. The Chicago Bears were losing to Green Bay, and I was making a few unladylike remarks to the overhead television in between my usual questions as to what was new in the restaurant. To cheer me up, Andy began the taste session with a friendly mango daiquiri. “Yum,” I said, my voice now lowered as I sipped the citrus drink. “Award winning,” said Haijar, gesturing toward my drink. Andy Haijar is a bighearted fellow. He is a man with a passion to create rich, savory meals and, like a generous Jewish mother, to feed his customers well. His brother, Majed, is his partner. His mother is known as the joint chief of staff and the catalyst for many of the recipes. Andy’s has a loyal following, customers who come again and again, year after year. The golden oak interior still remains and glistens in the winter light, as the clouds turn pink in the darkening sky. The outdoor patio, dormant in the chilly seasons, promises a fun urban evening in warmer weather, when one can sip one of Andy’s special cocktails and enjoy the city life in an area surrounded by turn of the century homes. Eden Park is nearby. The sound of downtown life is evident, a subtle humming, giving one a sense of vibrancy in the Queen City. With the life expectancy of a restaurant only three years, Andy’s, at 10, shows a lovely sense of hospitality coupled with satisfied dining. Andy directed me to his website to check out the new menu. The website is sophisticated, a source of knowledge about this family, their values, and their culinary attributes. Slides on the site show people of all ages having fun. More choices are now on the
(Top-bottom) Satisfied, long time customer, Spencer Konicov (left), says Andy (right) has the best hummus in town; Andy’s offers spacious city dining for all seasons; Beef tips simmered in red wine are nestled in a ring of hummus.
Andy’s Mediterranean Grille At Gilbert & Nassau 2 blocks North of Eden Park Cincinnati, Ohio 513-281-9791
DINING OUT
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011
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DINING OUT
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OPINION
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Thank you, Dr. Murray By Rabbi Avi Shafran Contributing Columnist Writer and educator Dr. Erica Brown penned a thoughtful piece for the New York Jewish Week on Jan. 25, in which she addressed the concept of Jewish peoplehood. “The niggling tension of Judaism as a nationality, ethnicity and faith,” she writes, “continues to stump many who have tried in vain to capture what it means to be Jewish.”
“To be a Jew is to be a Jew. It is its own thing. Its own category; its own autonomous way of moving through the world…” Leon Wieseltier
She recalls Leon Wieseltier’s charmingly nebulous take on the matter: “To be a Jew is to be a Jew. It is its own thing. Its own category; its own autonomous way of moving through the world…” And the late Tony Judt’s: “I participate in no Jewish community life, nor do I practice Jewish rituals… I am not a ‘lapsed’ Jew, having never conformed to requirements in the first place. I don’t ‘love Israel’… But whenever anyone asks me whether or not I am Jewish, I unhesitatingly respond in the affirmative and would be ashamed to do otherwise.” In the end, alas, Dr. Brown likewise offers no solution to the question of what Jewishness means. Someone who did, though, at least tentatively, was political scientist and writer Charles Murray—who, as it happens, is not himself Jewish. Several years ago, in Commentary, he dared to raise one of the few issues still considered impolite these days for public discussion: Jewish intelligence. Dr. Murray reports that “the average Jew is at the 75th percentile” of the IQ scale and that “the proportion of Jews with IQs of 140 or higher is somewhere around six times the proportion of everyone else.” Others, moreover, have noticed that a number of world-changing ideas, both reli-
gious ones like monotheism and scientific ones like relativity, have their roots in a certain ethnicity. After exploring a number of theories addressing the anomaly, Dr. Murray asks why “one particular tribe at the time of Moses, living in the same environment as other nomadic and agricultural peoples of the Middle East, have already evolved elevated intelligence when the others did not?” His conclusion, perhaps tongue somewhat in cheek: “At this point, I take sanctuary in my remaining hypothesis, uniquely parsimonious and happily irrefutable. The Jews are G-d’s chosen people.” [The hyphen is mine.] I don’t know, or much care, whether or not intelligence plays any role in Klal Yisrael’s chosenness. In any event, anyone who has been around the block knows many members of the tribe who are far from brilliant, even some who might be a few tractates short of a Talmud, so to speak. But even if smarts are in fact evident in the Jewish aggregate, they are peripheral to the essence of our chosenness. Because what we Jews are chosen for is, in the end, to serve the Creator—with our intellects, yes, but also with our hearts and our bodies—and, by doing so, to be examples for all humanity. And that is the secret that puzzles and discomfits those who wonder at their inexplicable feelings of Jewishness. It’s easy for those of us who well recognize that secret to lament the dearth of its recognition in the wider Jewish world. Easy to bemoan the obliviousness of so many Jews to the fact that the Jewish essence is the Jewish mandate to serve the Divine. But the lamentation deserves to be tempered with some exultation, too, over the fact that Jews whose lives are so distant from our own, who live estranged from much, even all, of Jewish observance still feel the inchoate pull of their Jewish identity, even as they admit to having no understanding of it at all. The fact that a Tony Judt, despite consciously shunning Judaism, when asked about his Jewishness “unhesitatingly respond[s] in the affirmative and would be ashamed to do otherwise” should fill us with awe. And with determination, to do all we can to fan the tiny flame that is the Jewish soul, flickering defiantly deep in the hearts of fellow Jews who may not look or live like us but who are parts of us all the same. (Rabbi Shafran is an editor at large and columnist for Ami)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Do you have something to say? E-mail your letter to editor@americanisraelite.com
Dear Editor, First, we should pray for a refuah shlemah, a quick and speedy recovery, to Congresswoman Gabriella Giffords, through our prayers and giving of charity, and pray for comfort toward the families of the other victims. In his book, “The Tipping Point,” Malcolm Gladwell describes actions that occur after some “threshold event” has occurred. He cites examples from the bestselling book, “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” in which virtually all book publishers rejected the manuscript, but by simple word of mouth (and the power of the internet and bloggers) book sales steadily grew until some threshold event (enough publicity), that sales exponentially took off. Another example is the “Broken Window” theory of crime that was embraced by former Mayor Rudi Giuliani and his police commissioner William Bratton. The idea is that when enough broken windows are not repaired in a vacant building it becomes a threshold signal to criminals that this site is acceptably ripe for “picking” and extensive crime in the area. The analogy was adapted to petty crime arrests in NYC. If turnstile jumping at a subway station (not paying for subway fares) was not stopped, it quickly degenerated into most people not paying and these petty criminals would now graduate to more heinous criminal behavior. When turnstile jumpers or even jaywalkers were arrested, all crime dropped. Indeed, this enforcement of petty criminal behavior has contributed to the tourism renaissance in New York. The question is why? To be clear if someone is dead set to commit a crime, there is little to stop the person. But, if we can somehow calibrate the threshold for certain behaviors, the risk should be reduced. Might there be an analogy for how we communicate? The last several years has witnessed a communications explosion coupled with vitriolic language of hatred and alienation (e.g., cross-hair targets on congressional districts, or if they use knives we will use guns, etc.). To be clear, hate speech is not new, but what used to be extraordinary and isolated speech has become the ordinary. And, there have always been people on the psychological “edge” who may use similar language and have a streak of violent behavior. These individuals were traditionally out of the mainstream. But what happens when the acceptable language of
the day starts to intersect with those on the psychological edge? When that threshold is crossed, violent behavior might now be viewed by those on the edge as acceptable behavior. After all, it is a simple stretch and no longer represents a behavioral leap. Has the tipping point for violent civil discourse been breached? If so, it’s time we recalibrate our language. Words have meaning and consequences. How do we regulate “free speech?” By controlling our “mainstream” behavior it makes Nazi and related political Islamic behavior further beyond the pale of reason. Raphael Warren Amberley Village Dear Editor, The political upheaval experienced in Egypt over the last two weeks have left many in Israel wondering, what will be the status of the peace agreement between the two nations in a new, nonMubarak government? Now that some degree of calm has returned to the Egyptian capital, fears have been assuaged, as statements have come out from various opposition groups that the Israel-Egypt peace agreement will be continued, regardless of who heads the new government. Yet as democratic progress is being made outside of Israel’s borders, there has been a recurring disregard of minority rights within. A small battle is waging between the Israeli government and the Bedouin, a 10 minute drive from Beer Sheva. The unrecognized village of alArakib has, for the 13th time yesterday, been demolished by Israeli contracted bulldozers. Over the past few years the small village of al-Arakib, with a population of around 300, has been repeatedly razed, crops sprayed with herbicide, and trees uprooted, only to make room for more trees, courtesy of the JNF. Despite ongoing courtroom litigation on the Bedouin’s land claims to alArakib, the Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemeth LeYisrael) has continued to plow over the cinder block residences of the town’s inhabitants. Thanks to a complex web of Israeli law and JNF policy (which has quasi-governmental authority in Israel) the Bedouin are left with the non-choice of moving to the Israeli established reservation like townships around the northern Negev, for example Rahat, which boasts the lowest marks for every socio-economic indicator within the state. With
high rates of crime and even higher rates of unemployment, it is clear why the Bedouin in the unrecognized villages are reticent to move from their ancestral lands. While this debate certainly is not news, there is another facet which has recently been introduced, which is funding from one of the world’s largest ultra-evangelical broadcasting networks, G-D-TV. The introduction of Christian end-times dispensationalist theology has been a dangerous one, and is serving to add much more of a “clash of civilizations” timbre and tone to what has primarily been a dispute of state versus indigenous population (akin to America’s own sordid past). And though the money from G-D-TV is heartily welcomed by the JNF and various other Jewish Zionist organizations, there ought to be an added degree of caution by our own organizations when it comes to accepting money for “preparing the Holy Land for the return of the King of Kings.” Many of the evangelical speakers broadcasted are not simply waiting for the end of times—they are doing all they can to make it come sooner—a departure from traditional dispensationalist theology. Working with groups such as this make it much harder for Israel and Jewish organizations, such as the JNF, to sincerely say they are working toward a functioning peace, with equal rights and dignity for all citizens in line with traditional Jewish values, when they seek to claim as much of historic Palestine for Jewish ownership only. Once land has been acquired by the JNF, it can never be owned or sold to a non-Jew, and at best can be leased. But where is the justice in making the Bedouin, who have lived on these lands for centuries, lease their own land from the State and in doing so relinquishing their claims to ownership? (Land in Israel can only be leased for periods of 49 or 98 years, it cannot be owned in perpetuity by anyone else other than the “Jewish People” ie the JNF and the State of Israel.) The history of how the Bedouin, who are full Israeli citizens and have had a legacy of volunteering to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces, have become ensnared and suspended in this limbo of legal jargon and JNF policy, is a full thesis which needs to be (and is being) written. Rather than focus on the hypocritical Israel legal system when it comes to land claimants (a Jewish LETTERS on page 22
JEWISH LIFE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011
MODERN ORTHODOX SERVICE
17
Daily Minyan for Shacharit, Mincha, Maariv, Shabbat Morning Service and Shalosh Seudas.
Sedra of the Week
Kiddush follows Shabbat Morning Services
By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin
RABBI HANAN BALK & ASSISTANT RABBI STUART LAVENDA
SHABBAT SHALOM: PARSHAT KI TISA • EXODUS 30:11–34:35
Efrat, Israel — Hew out for yourself [from yourself] two tablets of stone (Exodus 34:1) This week’s biblical portion of Ki Tisa gives us a most profound insight into the real purpose of both the Sanctuary and the Torah, as well as the true meaning of God’s presence in the world. These deep theological truths can best be explained by contrasting the two verbs of re’iya (seeing) and shemiya (listening, or more correctly, internalizing). The portion Yitro (Exodus 18:1) opens with the words, “And Yitro / Jethro internalized (Vayishma Yitro) all that God had done for Moses and for Israel…” until he could declare, “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods…” (Ex. 18:11), and, according to a major view in the Midrash, he even converted to Judaism. We have already shown (in our commentary on Mishpatim) how the Israelites, in contrast, seem to be inured by the more superficial experience of “seeing” rather than “internalizing.” Even after they say, “we shall internalize” and enter into the Covenant, the nation quickly reverts to only “seeing the Lord of Israel,” with Nadab, Abihu and the elders even degenerating to “gazing upon the Lord, and eating and drinking” (Ex. 24:10-11). God wants His words to be ingested within the hearts and minds of the Israelites, rather than for His “Persona” (as it were) to be “perceived” – or thought to be perceived – by their eyes alone. Indeed, even before the
Revelation at Sinai, God told Moses: “Behold, I am coming to you in the thickness of a cloud in order that the nation may internalize that which I speak with you” (Ex. 19:9). Similarly, “...and Moses drew near to the nebulous mist, where only there is God” (Ex. 20:18). This is why, throughout the Bible, the Sanctuary is identified with a cloud and a mist. And alas, it is the obsessive desire of the nation to “see” God, to objectify and limit Him to some external, finite and physical entity that leads directly to the sin of the Golden Calf. Unfortunately, the Israelites still don’t understand. They seek an icon; an entity called God which will visually and physically be in the midst of rather than merely within the hearts and minds of the nation. God explains that what they want is impossible; God will send human leaders, messenger-angels, informed by His spirit, who will lead them (Ex. 33:1-11). And Moses then makes a logical and important request: “Teach me (and through me, the nation) that I (we) may know – may cleave to, internalize and become united with (Your ways/Your attributes/ Your inner character traits) so that we may become informed by Your spirit, so that You may truly dwell within us.” God agrees to do this, explaining that in the unique morality, compassion and loving-kindness of the nation, it will become clear that God is specifically within Israel (Ex. 33:14-17). Moses then asks (perhaps as a concession to the nation), “Can I not see (with my eyes) your glory?” to which God responds, “No mortal can see
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Me and live”; but God will reveal His inner spiritual traits, and these must lead the Jews in their quest for God, in their desire to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priestteachers to the world. This revelation will constitute the second Sinaitic epiphany. What follows seems a bit misplaced, but it is essential, precisely at this point in the text. God now commands Moses, “Hew out for yourself two tablets of stone like the first” (Ex. 34:1), as a sign of Divine forgiveness for the Golden Calf; a “tikkun” (repair) for the broken fragments of the Ten Commandments which Moses smashed when he saw the people dancing around the Calf. This time, however, there is one major and crucial difference: These tablets will be the work of Moses, not of God. Religious leaders and the Jewish nation will be God’s partners in the development of the Torah in the form of the Oral Law. The Jewish nation will become the tablets of stone, with the words showing through on both sides (Ex. 30:15). Moses must hew out these stones “for himself and from himself,” from the God within him. And the Hebrew word for stone — even is a contraction of av and ben, father and son, Knesset Yisrael, the historic House of Israel. God is in words, not objects or “houses,” God is in ideas and ideals, not in any specific individual. And these Divine messages must be expressed by Israel and then the world. Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Chancellor Ohr Torah Stone Chief Rabbi - Efrat Israel
T EST Y OUR T ORAH KNOWLEDGE THIS WEEK’S PORTION: KI TISA (SHMOT 30:11—34:35) 1. What is a “gera”? a.) Coin b.) Animal c.) Stone
a.) Only priests b.) Priests and Levites c.) All of the Children of Israel
2. What was the wash basin made out of? a.) Gold b.) Copper c.) Stone
4. Which item had “galbanum”? a.) Olive oil b.) Anointing oil c.) Incense
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5. Which item was crushed other than incense?
3. Who used the wash basin?
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1-Year Subscription: $44 In-town, $49 Out-of-town ANSWERS 1. A 30:13. There were 20 “gera” in a shekel. A half shekel was 10 gera 2. B 30:18 The wash basin was mentioned separately from the other vessels in Parshat Terumah because it prepared the priests for their service in the Mishkan and the other vessels were part of the service. Sforno
3. A 30:20 4. C 30:34 To teach that we should include even wicked people in our prayer services. Rashi 5. 32:20 After Moshe broke the tablets, he crushed the golden calf into in a fine powder.
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JEWZ IN THE NEWZ
THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE ONLINE - MAKOR - THE SOURCE/CINCINNATI @ WWW.AMERICANISRAELITE.COM
Jewz in the Newz By Nate Bloom Contributing Columnist OSCARS, PART I — FOR THE TINSEL TOWN TRIBE WATCHERS The Academy Awards ceremony takes place on Sunday, Feb. 27 (ABC, 8PM EST). Many of the nominees, below, were profiled in this column before — some were not. There are an especially large number of Jewish nominees this year, so I can’t provide much bio color here and I’m not covering technical categories, like sound, etc. Consider this a “scorecard” for the “marquee” Oscars. This week I cover the categories below—and next week nominated actors and feature film directors (other than the directors of the best foreign and best animated film). KAREN GOODMAN, 60, and her husband, Kirk Simon, also 60, are nominated for best documentary short subject, “Strangers No More.” The film is about a school in Tel Aviv that has students from 48 countries, many of whom are refugees from war. Goodman and Simon have been making acclaimed documentaries for 25 years, including quite a few for PBS. RANDY NEWMAN, 67, has been nominated 20 times for best song or best score (winning once). This year he is up for the best song Oscar for “We Belong Together” (from “Toy Story 3”). He competes with ALAN MENKEN, 61, who’s been nominated 19 times for a “music” Oscar; winning six times. This year, Menken is nominated for “If I See the Light,” from “Tangled.” Nominated for best adapted screenplay are: AARON SORKIN, 49 (“The Social Network”); LEE UNKRICH, 43, (co-writer, “Toy Story 3.” He also directed the film); JOEL and ETHAN COEN (“True Grit.” The Coen brothers also directed “Grit”); and DEBRA GRANIK, 48 (co-writer, “Winter’s Bone.” Granik also directed the film). Up for best original screenplay honors are: MIKE LEIGH, 67 (“Another Year.” Leigh also directed the film); (Ohio native) STUART BLUMBERG, 41, and LISA CHOLODENKO, 46 (“The Kids are Alright.” Cholodenko also directed “Kids”); DAVID SEIDLER, 73, (“The King’s Speech”); and SCOTT SILVER 46, (co-writer, “The Fighter”). “The Fighter,” a gritty, documentary-like film about a Boston boxer was a good fit for Silver, a Boston-area native who began his film career making a documentary that included gritty scenes about street hustlers. SUSANNE BIER, 50, a Danish Jew, directed and co-wrote
“In a Better Place,” a best foreign language film nominee. If her film wins the Oscar, like it won the Golden Globe, Bier will be the one accepting the award. Likewise, if “Toy Story 3” wins the Oscar for best animated film, like it won the Globe, the award will be presented to Lee Unkrich (an Ohio native). The best picture Oscar goes to the film’s principal producers. Ten films are nominated for best picture. Here are the producers I’ve been able to confirm as Jewish: MIKE MEDAVOY, 70 (“Black Swan”); (former Ohioan) TODD LIEBERMAN, 38, (“The Fighter”); JEFFREY HINTELEVY, 43, (“The Kids are Alright”); SCOTT RUDIN, 52, and JOEL COEN, 56, and ETHAN COEN, 53 (“True Grit”); Scott Rudin (“The Social Network”); and EMILE SHERMAN, 38 (“The King’s Speech”). Sherman is an Australian Jew and the “Oscar-pride” this year of our landsmen in the land down under. His father, BRIAN, is a self-made wealthy businessman whose philanthropy has made him quite famous in Australia. In 2009, Emile produced “$9.99”, a stop-action animated comedy film co-written by acclaimed Israeli writer ETGAR KERET. It was made in Australia and Israel. PIONEERS OF TV The PBS series, “Pioneers of Television,” began its second season in January. The next episode, entitled “Pioneers of the SitCom,” airs on most PBS stations on Tuesday, Feb 22, at 8PM. Highlighted are “The Honeymooners”; “The Andy Griffith Show,” which was created and largely written by the late AARON RUBEN; “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” created and written by CARL REINER, now 88. Reiner, who played Dick Van Dyke’s boss in the series, is interviewed for the PBS show. Jewish “Van Dyke” co-stars MOREY AMSTERDAM (“Buddy”), and JERRY PARIS (“Jerry Helper”), both now deceased, are seen in clips. Reiner originally cast himself as the star of the series that became the “Van Dyke” show and filmed a pilot (1959) with himself in the lead. The network didn’t like it and Reiner re-made the pilot a couple of years later with Van Dyke. The network more than hinted that they didn’t think that a show with a pretty obviously New York Jewish lead character would appeal to the “heartland.” So, a very talented Midwestern WASP (Van Dyke) was subbed-in. “Buddy,” however, was clearly identified as Jewish in a few episodes and was one of the few openly Jewish characters on TV in the early ‘60s.
FROM THE PAGES 100 Years Ago Mrs. Moses Buttenweiser will speak on “The Obstinate Child” at the Mothers’ Club meeting of the Sixteenth District Kindergarten, Thursday Feb. 16th. Mrs. Rudolph Jacobs, who has been visiting her children, Mr. and Mrs. Louis L. Levy, of Kansas City, Mo., has returned to her home in the Renaissance Apartments. Mrs. E. Klein of Glenwood Avenue, Avondale, left Wednesday for Sioux City, Iowa to be the guest of her sister.
Mrs. Jack LeMontree (nee Ida Auer) has left for a three months’ trip to the coast to join her husband, and takes this means of bidding her friends good-bye. A son born to Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Hyman, 1650 Jonathan Avenue, Evanston on Feb. 4, was initiated into the covenant by Rev. Joseph Mandelberg. Cincinnati has been called upon to raise $36,500 for the $2,000,000 American Red Cross Endowment Fund, the head of which is President William
H. Taft. The amount asked of this city is ten cents per capita, according to the last census. The object for creating this fund is to have at hand, at a moment’s notice, funds to meet any national calamity, disaster or other catastrophe that may occur and for which immediate and ample relief is demanded. There should be no trouble in getting Cincinnati’s share. Contributions should be sent to “American Red Cross,” Harry M. Levy, secretary, 409 Traction Bldg.— February 16, 1911
75 Years Ago Dr. Gilbert Mombach was elected president of the Cincinnati Obstetric Society Thursday, Feb. 13th, after two years as vice-president. Mrs. Bessie Laibson, 29, wife of Joseph Laibson, Detroit, clothing merchant, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Max Becker, 3563 Bogart Avenue, Avondale, passed away suddenly at her home in Detroit, Sunday, Feb. 16th. Besides her husband and parents, Mrs. Laibson leaves a son, Max, a daughter, Sarah, three brothers, Samuel, Joseph, and Benjamin Becker, all of the Cincinnati clothing firm of
that name, and four sisters, Mrs. J.J. Wiser, Mrs. Ike Rosalsky, Mrs. Harry Koshover and Miss Yetta Becker. Services were held from the Weil Funeral Home, with interment in Love Brothers Congregation Cemetery. In a pianoforte recital Sunday, March 1st at 2 p.m. in St. Bernard High School Auditorium, Miss Cecile Cohen will present her following pupils: Ellin Jane Reichart, Natalie Bloom, Rita Harkavy, Donald Tritschler, Sylvia Solomin, Marjorie Plaut, Jerry Greenwald, Marjorie
Klein, Lois Litwin, Cherielee Davios, Beatrice Koodish, Gordon Loewenstein, Janet Loewenstein, Irma Ruth Kraus, Janice Bloom, Paul Parker, Natalie Cohen, Carolynn Cohen, Shirley Brook, Melvin Nadler, Charlotte Litwin, Beverly Litwin, Bobby Litwin, Ruth Kaplan, Betty Ann Koodish Carol Liebeshtutz, Garnet Schmdit, Annetee Solomon, Anyce Getzug, Irving Getzug, Gerald Nadler, Melvin Nadler, Sarah Fogel, Morris Fogel, Charles Denning, Jr., Jean Mildred Silverstein. — February 20, 1936
50 Years Ago Dr. and Mrs. Milton Orchin announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son, Michael David, Saturday, Feb. 25. at 10:45 a.m., at Wise Center. A kiddush will follow. Dr. and Mrs. Orchin will have an open house in honor of Michael at their home, 1858 Northcut Avenue, on Sunday, Feb. 28, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Friends are invited. No cards. Abraham S. Braude has been named vice president in charge of mar-
keting for Jerks Socks, Inc, it was announced by Melville J. Dunkelman, Jerks Socks president. Mr. Braude has been vice president of Hartmann Luggage Co., Racine. Wis. six years. He had been affiliated for 10 years with the Gruen Watch Co., Cincinnati, where he was vice president of marketing, and a member of the board. Mrs. Bella Eichel, 3903 Wess Park Drive, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 7. Survivors include: her husband,
Julius; a son, Lawrence; a daughter, Mrs. Aaron B. Weider; a sister, Miss Hilda Glas, and four grandchildren. Mrs. Jeanne G. Wides passed away in Santa Monica, Calif., Friday, Feb. 3. Survivors include: her husband, Julius Wides; two sons, Theodore Wides, of Cleveland and Robert Wides, of Los Angeles; a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Horwitz; and three brothers, Al, Sam and Morris Wides of Cincinnati. — February 16, 1961
25 Years Ago Dewey C. Fuller, executive director of the Urban League, Harold “Pat” Goldberg, endowment director of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, and Harriet Janszen, assistant to the president, Good Samaritan Hospital, will be the 1987 recipients of the National Conference of Christians and Jews’ Community Service Award. The announcement was made by NCCJ co-chairmen Dr. Lawrence C.
Hawkins, Joyce J. Salinger and Thomas E. Westerfield. The NCCJ award has been presented annually since 1970 to individuals of the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faiths who have made outstanding contributions to the improvement of human relations in the community. Mrs. Fannie R. Gruad of Glen Manor Home for the Jewish Aged passed away Feb. 14.
She is survived by: a son Edwin D. Gruad; two daughters, Mrs. Jerry (Bernice) Mark and Mrs. Albert (Elizabeth) Becker; three sisters, Rebecca Fleck, Zelda Toby and Esther Rifkind; and three brothers, Sydney and Ben Rifkind of Cincinnati and Alan Rifkind of Dallas; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Mrs. Gruad was the wife of the late Julius L. Gruad. — February 20, 1986
10 Years Ago Jean Stangel Stewart, 97, passed away February 3, 2001. Mrs. Stewart was born in New York City. She was the daughter of the late Oscar and Yetta (Kurman) Stangel. Mrs. Stewart was the wife of the late Louis Stewart and later of the late Victor Eskenas. She is survived by her children: Stanley and Sophie Stewart of Charleston, S.C., and George and Anita Stewart of Cincinnati. Surviving grandchildren are: David and Kathy Stewart; Steven, Paul, Liane, and
Martin Stewart; Merri and John Stillpass; Charles and Deena Stewart; Jeff and Diana Stewart; Ed and Debbie Stewart; Ellen and Dennis Oratowski; and Richard Stewart. Mrs. Stewart is also survived by eight great-grandchildren. She was the sister of Rose Keusch of Florida., Doris Brickner of Long Island, NY, and Regina Fegelson of Florida, who survive her. Rabbi Hanan Balk of Congregation Agudas Israel will be
honored at the Orthodox Union’s (OU) Rabbinic Medallion Awards Dinner on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. The OU will honor Balk, as well as 11 other rabbis and their congregations who have made unique contributions to Orthodox Jewish life in America. “Rabbi Balk is an impressive community and spiritual leader who has made an enormous contribution to Jewish Life,” said Harvey Blitz, OU president. — February 15, 2001
CLASSIFIEDS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011
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COMMUNITY DIRECTORY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS Access (513) 373-0300 • www.jypaccess.org Big Brothers/Big Sisters Assoc. (513) 761-3200 • bigbrobigsis.org Beth Tevilah Mikveh Society (513) 821-6679 Camp Ashreinu (513) 702-1513 Camp at the J (513) 722-7226 • mayersonjcc.org Camp Livingston (513) 793-5554 • camplivingston.com Cedar Village (513) 754-3100 • cedarvillage.org Chevra Kadisha (513) 396-6426 Fusion Family (53) 703-3343 • www.fusionnati.org Halom House (513) 791-2912 • halomhouse.com Hillel Jewish Student Center (513) 221-6728 • hillelcincinnati.org Jewish Community Center (513) 761-7500 • mayersonjcc.org Jewish Community Relations Council (513) 985-1501 Jewish Family Service (513) 469-1188 • jfscinti.org Jewish Federation of Cincinnati (513) 985-1500 • shalomcincy.org Jewish Foundation (513) 792-2715 Jewish Information Network (513) 985-1514 Jewish Vocational Service (513) 985-0515 • jvscinti.org Kesher (513) 766-3348 Plum Street Temple Historic Preservation Fund (513) 793-2556 Shalom Family (513) 703-3343 • www.myshalomfamily.org The Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education (513) 487-3055 • holocaustandhumanity.org Vaad Hoier (513) 731-4671 Workum Fund (513) 899-1836 • workum.org
CONGREGATIONS Adath Israel Congregation (513) 793-1800 • adath-israel.org Beit Chaverim (513) 984-3393 Beth Israel Congregation (513) 868-2049 • bethisraelcongregation.net Congregation Beth Adam (513) 985-0400 • bethadam.org Congregation B’nai Tikvah (513) 759-5356 • bnai-tikvah.org
Congregation B’nai Tzedek (513) 984-3393 • bnaitzedek.us Congregation Ohav Shalom (513) 489-3399 • ohavshalom.org Golf Manor Synagogue (513) 531-6654 • golfmanorsynagogue.org Isaac M. Wise Temple (513) 793-2556 • wisetemple.org Kehilas B’nai Israel (513) 761-0769 Northern Hills Synagogue (513) 931-6038 • nhs-cba.org Rockdale Temple (513) 891-9900 • rockdaletemple.org Temple Beth Shalom (513) 422-8313 • tbsohio.org Temple Sholom (513) 791-1330 • templesholom.net The Valley Temple (513) 761-3555 • valleytemple.com
EDUCATION Cincinnati Hebrew Day School (513) 351-7777 • chds.shul.net Chabad Blue Ash (513) 793-5200 • chabadba.com HUC-JIR (513) 221-1875 • huc.edu JCC Early Childhood School (513) 793-2122 • mayersonjcc.org Kehilla - School for Creative Jewish Education (513) 489-3399 • kehilla-cincy.com Mercaz High School (513) 792-5082 x104 • mercazhs.org Reform Jewish High School (513) 469-6406 • crjhs.org Regional Institute Torah & Secular Studies (513) 631-0083 Rockwern Academy (513) 984-3770 • rockwernacademy.org
ORGANIZATIONS American Jewish Committee (513) 621-4020 • ajc.org American Friends of Magen David Adom (513) 521-1197 • afmda.org B’nai B’rith (513) 984-1999 Hadassah (513) 821-6157 • cincinnati-hadassah.org Jewish National Fund (513) 794-1300 • jnf.org Jewish War Veterans (513) 204-5594 • jwv.org NA’AMAT (513) 984-3805 • naamat.org National Council of Jewish Women (513) 891-9583 • ncjw.org State of Israel Bonds (513) 793-4440 • israelbonds.com Women’s American ORT (513) 985-1512 • ortamerica.org.org
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GRANT from page 1 Getzel Cohen, the director of the program said, “The Cincinnati community is extremely fortunate in having many generous individuals and foundations. Without the initial and continuing support of Shelly Shor Gerson and Sylvia Shor the camping program could not have become a reality. And for this, every Jewish child and parent in Cincinnati is most grateful. The grant from the Jewish Foundation further enhances this support. This is very important. This contribution will make it possible for even more Jewish boys and girls in Cincinnati to attend a Jewish overnight camp of their choice. I am immensely grateful to the PHOTOS from page 1 Simply go into Cincinnati Jewish Life and click on Submit Content and follow the directions, or submit the photos to editor@americanisraelite.com. Have your pictures join the galleries of past events already online. Events involving Cincinnatians outside of the city are welcome as well. Your MUBARAK from page 1 For Israel and its allies, the ascendancy of the Arab street could be a game changer. While Israel has cultivated relationships with the leaders of many of these countries — in some cases, as in Saudi Arabia, with Washington as an intermediary — the Arab street still largely reviles Israel. In Egypt and Jordan, the only two Arab countries that have full diplomatic ties with the Jewish state, professional unions still maintain a boycott against any interaction with Israeli colleagues. A 2009 Pew Research Center survey conducted in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon showed unfavorable views of Jews at 95 percent, 97 percent and 98 percent, respectively. So if the Arab street becomes more powerful, Israel’s relationships in the Middle East will be at risk. For example, while the governments of Israel and Saudi Arabia see eye to eye on such issues as the Iranian nuclear threat and the rising danger of Shiite power, including Hezbollah’s ascendancy in Lebanon, the Saudi
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(513) 531-9600 trustees of the Jewish Foundation. More importantly, the Jewish children and their parents are very grateful.” The Jewish Overnight Camping Program provides grants of up to $1,000 for camp sessions of three weeks or more and up to $500 for camp sessions of two weeks to Jewish children from Cincinnati who have never attended a Jewish overnight camp. The grants are gifts and are not need-based or contingent on other scholarship or financial aid dollars. The camp must be sponsored by a non-profit Jewish organization to qualify. Applications can be found on the Jewish Federation website on the Resources page. The application deadline is May 15, 2011. photo galleries may also be shown on our Facebook and Flickr pages. In addition, galleries have the chance to be shown in the Cincinnati Jewish Life section of our printed edition. Lastly, remember to “like” the Israelite on Facebook for the chance to win a gift certificate to Marx Hot Bagels or Embers restaurant. people — like the people in Egypt and Jordan — are more inclined to view Israel as a hated foe rather than a country with which they share common cause. On the other hand, if countries such as Egypt or Tunisia were to become true democracies, they could become inherently more stable and less belligerent toward Israel. In this respect, Turkey could be the model: a democracy in a Muslim country whose relationship with Israel persists even at times when its government and people engage in harsh, anti-Israel rhetoric. Until the situations in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East sort themselves out, it seems there is little Israel can do but wait, watch and pray for the best. That’s not the case for the United States, which wields influence in Arab capitals through a combination of aid, trade and diplomacy. With future control over the reins of power uncertain, however, the United States is trying to keep all its options open. The balancing act the Obama administration has tried to practice throughout the Egyptian crisis offers a prime example.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT/BOOK REVIEW
THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE ONLINE - MAKOR - THE SOURCE/CINCINNATI @ WWW.AMERICANISRAELITE.COM
Beloved musical fiddles its way into Cincinnati’s heart By Barbara L. Morgenstern Senior writer The award-winning musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” a story about the enduring bonds of a Jewish family in Czarist Russia, is playing in Cincinnati Feb. 15-27 at the Aronoff Center. “This is a musical for all families,” said veteran actor John Preece, who plays the lead character Tevye, a poor milkman from the Russian village of Anatevka with five daughters. “You know people are touched by this show,” he said in a telephone interview from Toledo, where Fiddler is on its ninth national tour. Preece has acted in 1,700 performances to date as Tevye, a role he described as “incredibly well-written” which involves the concepts of change and transformation. The actor said the universality of the themes—man’s inhumanity to man in conflicts over religion; the importance of family; and faith in G-d—has attracted diverse audiences throughout the world. For example, he said he is aware that groups of nuns and priests have been deeply touched by Tevye’s faith, as have audiences in Japan, where the script resonated so much
© 2010, Carol Rosegg
Actor John Preece as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof
Wise Temple’s book reviewer praises new David Grossman novel By Sue Ransohoff Guest Book Reviewer An Israeli mother, Ora, learning that her beloved son, Ofer, is about to go for yet another tour in the Army, and fearfully anticipating the arrival of “them,” those who will give her the dreaded news of his death, picks up and leaves home. On her way, she gathers up Avram, her former lover and Ofer’s biological father. Her terrified reasoning: If she isn’t home, she can’t get the dreaded news, and if she doesn’t get it – it won’t be true. The two embark upon a journey “to the end of the land,” and during that time, she tells him in enthralling detail of the life of their son, of which he knows practically nothing. During the past years, Avram has been imprisoned in Egypt and tortured so dreadfully that he wishes they had killed him. During this journey the realities of life – they eat, but how do they acquire food – are suppressed and elusive, lending a dreamlike, sometimes nightmare-like quality to their wanderings. Ora goes back in time to recount to him details of the baby and boyhood lives of her sons, Ofer and his half-brother Adam.
The pictures of family life are beautifully etched, and while Ora is detailing them, she is creating for Avram the existence of their son, the son he has never known. She describes a dinner with her husband Ilan and the half-brother sons, in which Ofer says casually that his task in the Army is to have terrorists set off their bombs on him, “so they don’t do it in Tel Aviv.” Her reaction is a vision so horrific that it does not bear recounting here – made even more powerful because she goes on smiling, as do the three men at the meal. While this episode is horrifying
there are others that are lovely: especially the details of the half-brothers’ relationship— their love, their interaction. The pictures of family life are beautifully etched, and while Ora is detailing them, she is creating for Avram the existence of their son, the son he has never known. It is well known that Grossman’s son was killed in battle when he had nearly completed writing this book, and it is also known that he chose to live, and to finish the book. It is impossible to know this, and to read the book without entering into the grief of the writer. But even without this tragic circumstance, this is a book of tremendous originality and power. How does one live in Israel, under these conditions? And how could one not live there, once one has become an established citizen? Do I recommend the novel? Yes, but it is not for the faint-hearted, or, to put it differently, the reader should gather his or her strength before reading; it’s intensely disturbing, and at the same time contains writing of dazzling brilliance. Yes, it is worth reading. David Grossman’s “To the End of the Land” was this year’s National Jewish Book Awards’Fiction Winner.
that some believed Fiddler was based on a Japanese family. Preece, who is not Jewish, said he is moved by the fact that Fiddler describes an important part of history. “It’s not Legally Blonde,” he joked, noting that his character, Tevye, agonizes over changes that collide with tradition and his religious convictions in turn of the century Russia. “Tevye has great strength and hope,” Preece said. “He gives in with time on some, but faced with other questions, he can’t give in.”’ The creators of the musical meant for the fiddler precariously perched on a roof to represent survival through tradition and joyfulness. “Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as…a fiddler on the roof,” the character Tevye says in an opening line. “…[E]very one of us is a fiddler on the roof, trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck.” A hit since it opened on Broadway in 1964, the production features the haunting strains of “Sunrise, Sunset;” the rousing “If I Were a Rich Man;” the exuberant “Matchmaker, Matchmaker;” and triumphant “Tradition.” Preece said that the production includes its own musicians who travel with
the cast and greatly enhance the show. The production also is described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Jerome Robbins’ original Broadway direction and choreography. Joseph Stein of New York City, who developed the play, reportedly was inspired by the Jewish folk tales of Sholom Aleichem, the pseudonym of Sholom Yakov Rabinovitz. Press materials note that Stein’s father, a Polish immigrant, read his son the stories when the family lived in the Bronx. Preece has been involved in theater for the past 40 years and is best known throughout the United States and Canada for his portrayal of Tevye in Fiddler. However, he also has played Ben Franklin in the play 1776 and the devil in Damn Yankees. In addition to acting, Preece has produced or directed more than 35 shows including Jesus Christ Superstar, The Sound of Music, 42nd Street and Norman, Is That You? starring Don Knotts. He and his wife Susie live in Springfield, Ill., having spent most of his life in the Baltimore area. Tickets to Fiddler are available from Broadway Across America, downtown Mercantile Center at 120 East 4th St. and online.
BANDAGE from page 9
— shortly after she was first elected to the Arizona state Legislature — had connected with her father’s faith and decided to become a practicing Jew. Bar-Natan’s success is not going unnoticed. Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to Washington, told the conservative Daily Caller website recently that learning of the bandage’s role in saving lives in Tucson has been a highlight of his stint as ambassador.
Rangers and the 101st Airborne. Three years later the bandage was certified for standard use. The Giffords shooting shined unexpected — and unwanted — publicity on his invention. “The real story is about her,” Bar-Natan said. He had heard about how Giffords, on an American Jewish Committee trip to Israel in 2001 — UNREST from page 10 Yet in an indication of the deteriorating relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, none of the Palestinians who were invited to the conference agreed to come. PA President Mahmoud Abbas was among the speakers last year. Israel’s prime minister usually speaks at the conference, along with other top Israeli officials and diplomats and security experts from around the world. But this year, neither the prime minister nor any senior Cabinet ministers delivered speeches — perhaps a reflection of the radio silence Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at first demanded after news of the budding revolution in Egypt broke last month. The conference at times felt like something of an unofficial shiva for President Hosni
Mubarak’s Egypt — not a warm and fuzzy ally, but most important for the Israeli security community, a reliably stable one. The lingering standoff in Egypt between anti-government protesters and Mubarak is a source of added concern for the Israelis. Security experts said that the longer the uncertainty lasted, the more likely it would be followed by radicalism. “The longer President Mubarak stays, the more it endangers an orderly transition and the more Vice President Omar Suleiman and the army are tainted by the street, and the more this goes on the more Egypt is in free fall,” said Salman Shaikh, director of the Brookings Doha Center in Qatar. Shaikh was joined by Egyptian and Jordanian colleagues during a session on the Arab street and its effects on regional stability.
FIRST PERSON
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011
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Incidentally, Iris is back Incidentally Iris
By Iris Ruth Pastor Contributing Columnist If there is one thing we can count on continuing unabated in the new year, it’s our well entrenched Jewish habit of being a wandering tribe of people. We send our children to Israel on Birthright. We pack up our college-bound kids for places of learning located all across the country. We send them on semesters of study abroad. Our young adult children think little of accepting job-related cross-country career moves. We make aliyah GOLDBERG from page 1 graduated from the City College of New York (CCNY) in 1939. While at CCNY, he played basketball and would often referee games. One time an angry fan demanded, “Who do you think you are? Pat Kennedy (Matthew “Pat” Kennedy was a famous referee at the time)?” The nickname “Pat” stuck and remained with him throughout his life. Mr. Goldberg began graduate school to study social work in 1941, but then World War II intervened. From 1942 – 1945, he served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, where he was a celestial navigation trainer. In 1947 he completed his masters in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. Recruited to Cincinnati in 1952, Mr. Goldberg began a more than 30 year career with the Jewish community of Cincinnati. When he arrived, he took on the position as assistant executive director of the Jewish Community Center. He played a prominent role in developing total family-oriented social services from DIRECTORY from page 12 Description: Kids play in the outdoor and indoor pools, play games outside and in the gym, and create art projects. Time: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Laffalot 1-week Summer Camp for grades 1 - 6 Dates: June 13 - 17 Description: High energy sports camp run by Laffalot Summer Camp at the JCC. To register, call Laffalot Summer Camp at 513.313.2076. Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Camp at the J 1-week camp for
— leaving our extended families without our physically accessible presence. (Thank goodness for Skype.) Aging parents put down roots where their children have settled, and the newly retired move closer to their grandchildren. And because of our wide dispersal across the Diaspora, very few things seem to survive the test of time. We pare down. And pare down. And pare down some more. We uproot. We change residences, zip codes, times zones and area codes. In the 35 years we have been married, my husband and I have lived in nine different homes — three apartments, five single family homes and one condominium — in three different cities. And though we never could have envisioned leaving our hometown of Cincinnati, we did just that in 2006 and are now living 1,000 miles away in Tampa, Fla. “The Keeping Quilt” by Patricia Polacco is a children’s book that helps counter this growing trend of being not only uproot-
ed, but unmindful of our pasts and disconnected to our ancestors. Awarded the Sydney Taylor Award for Jewish literature, this tale is about helping us remember home, even when we no longer live there. A Russian immigrant mother and family arrive in the United States. The mother plans to make a quilt from a basket of old clothes, telling her daughter, “It will be like having the family in backhome Russia dance around us at night.” The story centers around a babushka, a shirt, a nightdress and an apron all becoming revitalized, restored and renewed by being used as part of this quilt — a quilt that will be passed down from mother to daughter for over a century. It will serve as a Sabbath cloth, a wedding canopy and a blanket to carry a new baby home from the hospital. And it will honor the importance of both making and keeping memories intact, especially those surrounding milestone events. And it will ultimately be a testament to a fam-
ily’s story of love, faith and endurance. I have my own way of keeping my roots alive. In the front foyer of our Spanish-style house in Tampa, an entire wall is devoted to Cincinnati — large black and white photos of downtown around the turn of the 20th century adorn the wall. Below that sits an authentic street sign of Elland Circle — the first street I ever lived on. The entire street was later bulldozed down to rubble to make room for an expansion of Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital. Books on Cincinnati, both past and present, line the free-standing bookshelf made by my husband in woodshop at Woodward High School. And a calendar from 1957, pasted onto a piece of cardboard and crudely decorated with figures playing in the snow, is a relic of an art project I did at Bond Hill Elementary School sometime in the 1950s. It too is in the front foyer. Besides the physical manifestations of our hometown, we still
root for the Bengals, the Reds, UC’s teams, Ohio State’s teams and Miami of Ohio’s teams. Our oversized pantry is well stocked with Montgomery Inn Barbeque Sauce. We buy UDF ice cream at the local Fresh Market. And occasionally we indulge and order Graeters packed in dry ice. And we’ve been known to drive an hour to the closest Skyline Chili in nearby Tarpon Springs. We joyously welcome company from home. We joyously embrace those Cincinnatians living within driving distance. And we come home as often as possible. So though we are on most days physically far from the Queen City, thoughts of home and the people and places we still love passionately are never far from our thoughts. Home is home. Roots are roots. And that is why it gives me such great pleasure to once again be writing for my hometown audience. Keep Coping, Iris Ruth Pastor
preschool to older adults at the center and was instrumental in planning the new facility on Summit Road, which opened in November 1960. He continued his tenure at the JCC as director from 1965-1968. During this time Camp Livingston was redeveloped and moved to a new location in Indiana. Beyond his work in the Jewish community, Mr. Goldberg played a key role in the development of a liberal concept for the Jewish Forum during the stormy Civil Rights era of the late ‘50s and ‘60s. He was remembered for quietly, yet forcefully bringing black authors to speak at the Jewish Forum. His son, Seth, commenting on the turbulent 1960s at Woodward High, said, “I knew if dad’s car was in the parking circle, the school wouldn’t burn down that day.” Throughout his career, Mr. Goldberg was also on the board and worked for the Cincinnati Community Chest. Mr. Goldberg moved from the JCC to the Federation in 1968 as its first Director of Social Planning.
He went on, a year later, to become the executive vice president of the Federation in 1969, where he remained for the next 13 years. A few of the many noteworthy contributions during his time as executive vice president were: an increase in Federation fundraising; private foundation and government funding of social services for older adults; a 1973 Yom Kippur War emergency campaign which ranked among the top in the U.S.; and a capital funds drive to develop the new Hillel House at U.C. Rabbi Abie Ingber was hired in 1977 to serve as the Hillel Rabbi at U.C. Rabbi Ingber remembered Pat Goldberg, whom he viewed as a mentor, and the tireless work he did to establish the JCC in its modern fashion, as well as for the wisdom and direction he gave the community through his work at the Federation. “His strength, passion for Israel, for community and doing what’s right never left him,” commented Rabbi Ingber. “He was relentless in knowing the Jewish community of Cincinnati could be
greater, more compassionate.” Following 13 years as executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, Mr. Goldberg assumed his new position as the director of the Endowment Fund Division. He served as a member on the board of the American Jewish Committee and was active with the Soviet Jewry and the Mid-East committees of the Jewish Community Relations Council. He was among the founding members of Temple Sholom in Amberley Village. In a tribute to Mr. Goldberg included in the 1986 annual report from the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, it was remarked: “Pat has never forgotten that he is a proud Jew. He is a shining example for us to follow. He has never been remiss in his service to our community and under his leadership our community reached new heights.” Also in 1986, Mr. Goldberg received the Community Service Award from the Cincinnati Chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ).
He was honored for “spreading the doctrine of brotherhood and good human relations” throughout his lengthy career in Cincinnati. Mr. Goldberg was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Friedman Goldberg. Surviving relatives include his wife, Inge Robens Ehrlich Goldberg; his children, Jonathan (Marian Rosen) Goldberg, of St. Louis, Mo., Seth Goldberg, and Debby (David Jernigan) Goldberg, of Silver Spring, Md.; his step-children, Randall Ehrlich, of Los Angeles, Calif., and Barbara (Mitch) Charney, of Louisville, Ky.; his sisters, Grace Cohen, of New Haven, Conn., and Estelle Handelman, of Panama City, Fla.; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Graveside services were held at United Jewish Cemetery in Clifton, on February 9, 2011, with Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp of Temple Sholom officiating. The family would appreciate memorial contributions to the charity of one’s choice.
ages 18 mos. – Pre-K Dates: Two 1 week camp sessions: Aug. 1 – 5; Aug. 8 – 12 Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
for grades 4 - 8 Dates: August 1 – 5 Description: JCC campers enjoy outdoor activities at a different Hamilton County Park each day. Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Israel ; 37 day Europe, Israel, and Greece ; *New 22 day 2nd Timers Community Service and Hebrew Trip
Basketball 1-week camp for grades K - 8 Dates: August 15 - 19 Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Cooking 1-week camp for grades K–2&3-6 Dates: Grades K – 2: August 8 12; Grades 3 - 6: August 15 – 19 Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Golf 1-week camp, grades 4 - 8 Dates: August 15 - 19
Horseback Riding 1-week camp for grades 1 – 3 & 4 - 8 Dates: Grades 1 – 3: August 1 – 5; Grades 4 – 8: August 8 – 12 Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Oranim Educational Initiatives Soccer 1-week camp for grades K - 8 Dates: August 1 - 5 Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Sports Adventure 1-week camp for grades K - 8 Dates: August 8 - 12 Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. NEW Park-a-Day 1-week camp
Oranim has many summer camp and touring options available: For 14-18 yr olds- 23 day Israel Discovery, our amazing flagship tour! (2 departures) 27 day Israel and Greece (2 departures); 12 day European Capital Tour; 33 day European Capitals and
For 8-18 yr. olds- eCamp Israel three, 2 week sessions of Israeli high tech summer camp with inter session touring options available; fantastic camp environment! For 12-18 yr olds- Fashion Tel Aviv camp, Clothing and Jewelry design, makeup and more Check out the website for more details and offerings.
22
OBITUARIES
DEATH NOTICES MITZ, Michael, age 89, died on February 8, 2011; 4 Adar I, 5771. WEYANT, William S., age 90, died on February 9, 2011; 6 Adar I, 5771. NELSON, Howard Lee, age 90, died on February 11, 2011; (after sun down), 8 Adar I, 5771. BURGIN, Dr. Leonard A., age 84, died on February 12, 2011; 8 Adar I, 5771. FREID, Isadore Alan, age 82, died on February 14, 2011; 10 Adar I, 5771. LEVINE, Michael, age 65, died on February 14, 2011; 11 Adar I, 5771. PATRILINEAL from page 1 According to traditional halachah, or Jewish law, only those born of a Jewish mother or having formally converted to Judaism are considered Jewish. Why has the doctrine of patrilineal descent not spread farther, particularly in countries with high rates of intermarriage? There is the need to “get along” with other Jewish movements in LETTERS from page 16 deed to land from before 1948 will almost always be honored, whereas Arab claims, even those
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Foundation of San Diego, where Joan Jacobs is a board member. Last year, according to the Chronicle, they gave the fund $39.1 million, which will be distributed to Jewish and nonsectarian causes. Cleveland car dealers Lee and Jane Seidman gave $42 million in 2010 to land them at No. 24 on the list. Most of their giving went to University Hospitals, but Jewish charities played heavily among their contributions to more than 40 charities, including the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Some money came from a surprise bequeathing. Charles Kaufman, an executive at Merck, was something of an unknown to this annual megadonor list. When he died last September at age 97, he left $53 million to charity, according to the Chronicle. Of that, $50 million
went to a fund he and his late sister established at the Pittsburgh Foundation. Jewish health care is listed among the primary concerns of the fund. He also left $3.34 million to a variety of other charities, including those that deal with Jewish life and culture, among them $300,000 to Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Pittsburgh and $50,000 to the Jewish National Fund. Others on the Chronicle’s list have established track records with certain Jewish charities. Blavatnik, who came in at No. 6, sits on the board of Tel Aviv University, the Center for Jewish History and the 92nd Street Y. Richard Friedman, the head of Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division who ranked No. 49 with $20 million in donations, is a board member of the Central Synagogue in New York. The biggest question may be
whether the youngest person ever to appear on the list, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, will become a giver to Jewish causes. Zuckerberg came in at a tie for No. 10 with Ackman, having made his first significant charitable donation in 2010 with a $100 million gift to his Startup: Education foundation, which will go to help the struggling school system in Newark, N.J., a nonJewish cause. The following is the list of Jews who appear on the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Philanthropy 50 top givers of 2010, along with their rank on the list and their total philanthropic contributions in 2010. • 1. George Soros, $332 million • 2. Michael R. Bloomberg, $279.2 million • 4. Irwin M. and Joan K. Jacobs, $119.5 million • 5. Eli and Edythe L. Broad, $118.3 million
• 6. Leonard Blavatnik, $117.2 million • 9. Meyer and Renee Luskin, $100.5 million • 10. Marc R. and Lynne Benioff, $100 million • 10. Mark Zuckerberg, $100 million • 17. William A. and Karen Ackman, $59.3 million • 18. Charles E. Kaufman, $53.3 million • 24. Lawrence J. Ellison, $45.1 million • 25. Lee G. and Jane H. Seidman, $42 million • 28. Lin Arison, $39 million • 29. Herman Ostrow, $35 million • 39: Stephen and Nancy Grand, $28.1 million • 40. David M. Rubenstein, $26.6 million • 41. Paul and Daisy M. Soros, $25 million • 49. Iris Cantor, $20 million • 49. Richard A. and Susan P. Friedman, $20 million
their countries, concerns about Jews from other denominations not being able to marry a “patrilineal Jew” and the desire to avoid the problems a patrilineal Jew might face if he or she immigrates to Israel, according to Reform leaders who were interviewed at the San Francisco conference. Rabbi Robert Jacobs is one of six Reform rabbis in South Africa, where none of the country’s 10 congregations accepts patrilineal
descent as sufficient for Jewish status even though the community there is in rapid decline. “South African Jews live with a particular angst,” Jacobs said, noting the dwindling numbers. Most have moved to Israel, where the Chief Rabbinate demands proof of maternal Jewish ancestry for weddings and burials. If the country’s Reform Jews count the child of a non-Jewish mother in their ranks, that could jeopard-
ize any community member’s ability to make aliyah, Jacobs said. “The ability to acquire a passport for Israel resounds,” he said. Finances can be a factor. In Germany, the Reform community only recently began to receive funding from the country’s “religious tax,” which is doled out to Jewish communities by the Central Council of Jews in Germany. If German Reform congregations accepted patrilineal descent, Goldstein says, that would
jeopardize the arrangement. In France, the Liberal Jewish Movement of France, the Reform umbrella there, represents a fraction of the country’s 600,000 Jews. Most French people, Jewish or not, don’t really understand what Reform is, according to Jean-Francois Levy, a former president of that organization. Though the movement recently reopened the question of patrilineality, Levy says he doubts it will endorse the position.
well documented, will almost never be respected) and the case of the Negev Bedouin, I wish to provide a more sympathetic and less academic appeal to not only
raise awareness, but to care for Israel’s indigenous peoples. The Bedouin are Israelis first off. Many rebelled against the invading Arab armies in 1948 and helped defend Jewish settlements in the South. Yet there is some unknown, more intimate connection that can be elucidated with a bit more inspection. The Bedouin people are intimately tied to the land, it is said that the ancestral land of a Bedouin takes on his characteristics and vice-versa. The myth that, as the Bedouin were historically nomadic, they have no land of their own—this is not true, as
all tribes have what is essentially a home base, where forebears are buried and the tribe is based. Grazing land may be transient for these pastoral nomads, but there is a strong connection to ancestral lands. This is reminiscent of Zionist and Jewish attachment to the land, the Land which was promised to the Jewish people in the Torah. The intimate connection of the Bedouin to the land echoes that of the Jewish connection in the manner in which the land of Israel takes on the characteristic of its nation and viceversa. I do not believe it to be coinci-
dence that nearly every Birthright and similar Jewish youth expeditions to Israel include a night in a mock-up traditional Bedouin tent. There is some intangible connection between Jews and Bedouin way of life which evokes a historical memory. Young Jews are not brought to these tents to get a glimpse of “authentic” life for Israel’s marginalized indigenous community, if that were the case it would be more apt to bring them to Al-Arakib or the overcrowded impoverished alleyways of Rahat. Rather it is to remind the disconnected Jewish youth of the Diaspora to our ancestral roots. Experiencing traditional Bedouin life is to remind them of how our own ancestors once lived in this land, before a time of exile, when being a Jew was intimately tied to their land and a similar pastoral way of life. Bedouin culture is the last vestige of the Jews’ biblical existence, and in annihilating it we are denouncing our own roots. In negligence and in discrimination we have distanced a group so close to ourselves— and it is imperative, as Jews and as proponents of free and fair society to do our best to raise awareness of this wrong and to do our best to right it.
GIVERS from page 8
Elijah Plymesser Beer Sheva, Israel
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