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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 13 ADAR, 5774

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CINCINNATI, OH Candle Lighting Times Shabbat begins Fri 5:55p Shabbat ends Sat 6:56p

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Rockdale Temple’s 190th anniversary continues with Rabbi Zola service

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Journalist Matthew Kalman to speak on the Middle East at American Jewish Committee

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‘Monuments Men’ recalls Allied effort to save Europe’s heritage

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For Israel’s skaters, Olympic training is a New Jersey state of mind

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For some West Bank CEOs, no lost sleep over boycott threat

Andrew R. Berger elected as chairman of the Board of Governors of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Andrew R. Berger, a prominent civic and communal leader of Cincinnati, Ohio, was elected the Chairman of the Board of Governors of Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), at its meeting in Los Angeles on February 10, 2014.

Berger begins his tenure on July 1, 2014, succeeding Irwin Engelman as the head of HUC-JIR’s Board.

A member of HUC-JIR’s Board of Governors since 2008, he serves as a member of its Executive Committee, Governance Committee, and Presidential Search Committee, and as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee and New Way Forward Task Force.

“The College-Institute is blessed to have the leadership of Andrew Berger, a passionate advocate for Reform Judaism and staunch supporter of our sacred mission to prepare exceptional professional Jewish leaders for communities, congregations, organizations, and institutions throughout North America, Israel, and around the world,” stated Rabbi Aaron D. Panken, Ph.D., HUC-JIR President. “We look forward to his wisdom and guidance, as we chart the next chapter in HUC-JIR’s history as a preeminent center of advanced Jewish studies and Jewish leadership development in the world today.”

“It is a great honor and a privilege to serve as the next Chair of HUC-JIR,” stated Berger. “I truly believe HUC-JIR is one of the most important institutions in the Jewish world. Reform and Liberal Judaism

and Jewish communities cannot thrive in North America, Israel and throughout the world without inspiring, knowledgeable and capable leaders. I am deeply committed to our mission, to create these leaders and to bring them to the Jewish world; what could be more important?”

As Chairman, Berger leads the

Board of the four-campus international university and seminary for Reform Judaism. HUC-JIR’s campuses in Cincinnati, Jerusalem, Los Angeles and New York provide the academic and professional training programs for the Reform Movement’s rabbis, cantors, educators, and nonprofit management professionals, and offer graduate

programs for scholars of all faiths.

HUC-JIR’s 4,000 active alumni serve the Reform Movement’s 1.5 million members and nearly 900 congregations, representing the largest Jewish denomination in North America, and the growing Progressive Movement in Israel and around the world.

Berger is a partner of the law firm Katz Teller in Cincinnati.

A prominent leader of the Cincinnati Jewish community, Berger is currently the President of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, and will serve in that capacity until his regular term ends in May 2014.

He joined the Board of Trustees of the Federation in 2007 and became President in 2012.

He formerly chaired its Cincinnati 2020 Strategic Planning Team, Campaign Team, and Lawyers Division. He also served as President of Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati from 2005 to 2007, having joined its Board of Trustees in 1997.

He continues to play guitar and sing with Shir Chadash, the Wise Temple Band. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the Hillel Jewish Student Center in Cincinnati from 1996-1997.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Nebraska in 1975 with a B.A. in Economics and earned his J.D., cum laude, from Cornell University School of Law in 1978. He and his wife, Linda, are the parents of Laura, Daniel, Timothy, Julia and Hannah.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

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Journalist Matthew Kalman to speak on the Middle East at American Jewish Committee Noted British journalist Matthew Kalman will analyze the challenges of making peace between Israel and Palestinians when he speaks at an American Jewish Committee meeting on Monday, February 24, at 7:30 p.m., at the Mayerson JCC. He titles his talk “The Murder of Yasser Arafat and the Middle East Peace Process: Impossible with him, impossible without him.” The program is open to the public at no charge. AJC rec-

ommends advance registration by Feb. 21, as space is limited.

Based in Jerusalem since 1998, Matthew Kalman is a former editorin-chief of The Jerusalem Report, a regular columnist at Haaretz, and co-author of The Murder of Yasser Arafat and Psychobibi. He has reported on the Middle East for Time, Newsweek, USA Today, the Boston Globe, and other major newspapers and television networks in the US, UK, Canada, and China.

He is a graduate of Cambridge University with an M.A. in History.

AJC Cincinnati President Rick Michelman explains, “AJC is a global advocacy organization which is happy to bring Matthew Kalman here to share his insights into the complex forces which have slowed the path to peace. Thanks to Cheryl Schriber for chairing the AJC international affairs committee which planned this program.”

Doo Wop Project to perform at JCC on March 8 With soulful pop music, The Doo Wop Project will delight with goosebump-inducing harmonies and finger-snapping choreography when they perform at the Mayerson JCC on March 8 at 8pm. The Doo Wop Project stars leading cast members from the Tony Award-Winning Broadway smash Jersey Boys. They will perform a night of songs mixed with individual stories about their upbringings and experiences in the business, particularly backstage at The August Wilson Theatre, home of Jersey Boys, where the idea for the group was conceived.

This one night event is an homage to classic doo wop and the music it inspired. During this cabaret performance, the vocalists will sing doo wop arrangements of hits and classic contemporary songs by Randy & The Rainbows ("Denise"), Thurston Harris ("Little Bitty Pretty One"), The Skyliners ("Since I Don't Have You"), and many more classics. In addition, the show will include such classic contemporary songs by Michael Jackson (“The Way You Make Me Feel”) and ”Valerie” best recognized from Amy Winehouse performances.

“Taking such contemporary songs and giving them the doo wop spin brings a whole new generation to the wonderful music of doo wop.

This night will offers songs that will appeal to every generation. Whether you are a new fan of the Jersey Boys’ soundtrack or grew up with doo wop music, this one night event will be one you won’t forget,” said Betsy Singer-Lefton, JCC Event Coordinator.

Tickets are also available to the private meet-and-greet with the cast of The Doo Wop Project. Dessert and drinks will be served.

YPs at the JCC and Access present a romantic Night to Remember for couples and singles Get swept away just in time for Valentine’s Day! Whether you’re in a committed relationship, or still searching for Mr. or Ms. Right, Access is sure to win the hearts of Jewish young professionals on Thursday, February 13th with a free evening of culture and cuisine.

Starting at 6pm, couples can enjoy a date night out at a popular Italian restaurant, while those who are unattached will mix it up at a trendy winery with other single YPs. Afterwards, the two groups will head over to Kenwood Theater to catch a flick as part of the JCC’s Jewish and Israeli Film Festival!

For singles, their “date with fate” will start at Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant in Kenwood, where they can meet other eligible Jewish young professionals between the ages of 21-35. Guests can enjoy hors d’oeuvres, unlimited wine and flowing conversation in a casual and relaxed environment.

“This is the sixth year in a row that Access has hosted a party specifically for singles,” explains Briana Landesberg, Access Event Coordinator. “Many have ended up meeting their match at this event and some have even gone on to get married!” she adds.

“With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to take part in this fun, no-pressure program designed to help participants make connections that we hope will end in ‘hap-

WONDERFUL WEDDINGS pily ever after!’”

Those in committed relationships are invited to start their night off with Access’ Schmooze for Twos gang at Ferrari’s in Madeira.

There they’ll have a chance to mix and mingle with other couples in the Jewish community over a traditional Italian dinner with all the trimmings!

“Schmooze for Twos events offer a great way for couples to meet others just like themselves,” explains Pam Saeks, Director of Innovation and Engagement.

“Finding friends who are share similar interests isn’t always easy when you’re in a relationship. But Access makes it simple by giving guests a great way to meet lots of paired-up participants all in one

place!”

The evening will culminate at Kenwood Theatre for the JCC’s special Jewish and Israeli film festival YP Night. Moviegoers will see Kaddish for a Friend, a powerful story about friendship and trust that won the Audience Award at the Boston and Washington D.C. Jewish Film Festivals!

The singles event at Cooper’s Hawk is open to Jewish young professionals 21-35, while the Schmooze for Twos dinner at Ferrari’s is open to couples in which at least one partner is Jewish and one partner is between the ages of 21-35. Both groups are invited to the Kenwood Theatre after dinner, and all portions of the evening are free with advanced RSVP.

2014 S PECIAL S ECTION If your business/organization wants to reach the greater Cincinnati Jewish community regarding weddings, this is the issue to do it!

• Bands/DJs • Banquet Halls • Bridal Shops • Caterers • Event Rentals • Florists • Photographers To advertise, contact Ted Deutsch or Barbara Rothstein at 621-3145 or publisher@americanisraelite.com Deadline is February 27 th Publishes on March 6 th

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graphs and exclusive video accompanying the music will sweep you into this once in a lifetime experience. Hear the story, hear the songs and feel the hope. This concert, presented as part of the Concerts on Clifton series, is free and open to the public with a reception to follow.

Rockdale Temple’s 190th anniversary continues with Rabbi Zola service on February 21 K. K. Bene Israel/Rockdale Temple is pleased to present Dr. Gary P. Zola as the guest speaker for Shabbat Services on Friday, February 21 in honor of the congregation’s 190th anniversary. Dr. Zola is no stranger to the Rockdale pulpit as a member of the faculty of Hebrew Union College and a frequent guest speaker at Rockdale for Adult Education programs.

Dr. Zola’s topic for the evening service is Profiles in American Jewish Courage: Reflections on the 190th Anniversary of Rockdale’s Founding.

The unfolding legacy of any North American congregation, organization, or association, consistently offers us an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of historical milestones and significant anniversaries.

Dr. Zola, Professor of the American Jewish Experience at Hebrew Union College-Jewish

Institute of Religion and Executive Director of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, will illustrate how profiles from Rockdale’s past invariably and inevitably chart a future course. Dr. Zola will cite simple case studies that

shed light not only on significance of local Jewish history but also on the lofty meaning of the American Jewish experience itself.

Professor Zola is an historian of American Jewry who specializes in the development of American Reform Judaism. Dr. Zola is currently the Norman and Gerry Sue Arnold Distinguished Visiting Chair in Jewish Studies at the College of Charleston, Charleston, SC for the spring semester.

The February 21 service is free and open to the public. It will be held in Rockdale Temple’s chapel on the campus Rockdale shares with the Mayerson JCC, beginning at 6:15 p.m. and preceded by a “Shabbat Nosh” at 5:45 p.m. For those unable to attend, the service will be streamed live through the Temple’s webiste.

The service is part of K. K. Bene Israel/Rockdale Temple’s year-long

celebration of its 190th anniversary, having been founded in Cincinnati in 1824 (the oldest congregation west of the Allegheny Mountains). Other events in the year have included a Sukkot service featuring a sermon renowned poet Robert Frost gave at Rockdale in 1946, the installation of Assistant Rabbi Meredith Kahan, and the recent concert, “The Gates of Justice”, written by Dave Brubeck, which had its first performance in 1969 to honor Martin Luther King and commemorate the opening of Rockdale’s current facility. The evening after the February 21 service, the Rockdale congregation will be celebrating together at a gala dinnerdance featuring an historical video produced by congregants Karen and Stuart Zanger.

For additional information on this and other 190th Anniversary events please contact Rockdale Temple.

JNF takes Father Michael Graham, President of Xavier University, on whirlwind trip to Israel me weak in the knees, courtesy of our terrific tour guide Issy, who was an expert in misdirection - pointing out sites on your right to prevent you from looking on your left until he had the view he wanted you to see. The first was on the Mount of Olives where he asked me to turn around and there was the Old City and the Temple Mount, right at my feet. The second was when we came out on one of the many balconies in the Old City itself, and there in front of us was the Western Wall! Both are such emotional views that it took me a moment to catch my breath,” said Father Graham.

The trip was organized by Nina Paul, JNF National Vice President of Women for Israel and Eddie Paul, JNF National Vice President of the Committee on the Environment, who have been wanting to bring Father Graham to Israel ever since he was honored with the Tree of Life award in 2009.

“Nina did a great job in putting together an itinerary that mixed old and new. It was wonderful, for example, to see Ammunition Hill, site of an important 1967 battle for Jerusalem and the clandestine bullet factory, located below a bakery and laundry, which played a key role in the War of Independence.

Going to Sderot near Gaza and visiting the indoor playground was a great expe-

rience too. But a highlight for me was visiting Aleh Negev, a state of the art rehabilitation village in the Negev that offers unparalleled care for people with the most severe disabilities. The group was given a tour by the founder, General Doron Almog and the experience left a lasting impression on me. I’ll never forget that,” said Father Graham.

"I can still see the expression on Father Graham's face as he witnessed for the first time the brand-new hydrotherapy pool at Aleh Negev that was built with proceeds from the 2009 Cincinnati Tree of Life(tm) Dinner at which he was honored," said Chesley. "I felt blessed to be a part of it."

The last day began with a tour of Caesarea. “To be in a country where history is all around you, just waiting to be dug up, was exhilarating. Walking through the hippodrome and tracing the history of the temple that became a church that became a mosque that became a church again and then rubble as the Crusaders were defeated was totally awesome. And how many more sites like that are there?” said Father Graham.

“It was unbelievable that we could fit everything into just 100 hours in Israel. I have been there so many times, but never has Israel been as brilliantly presented. To see Jerusalem and

Nazareth through the eyes of my teacher, Father Graham, was to experience Israel anew,” said Rabbi Abie Ingber.

“We wanted to show Father Graham what JNF has actually been doing for over 102 years, and most importantly, over the last 15 years. “For myself, after living 2 years in Israel, visiting since 1970 and multiple trips throughout the years, it was inspiring and illuminating to see it through Father Graham’s eyes. Rabbi Ingber was an amazing asset, interjecting the Jewish perspective relative to the Christian one wherever possible. Realizing that we all have the same beginning in history really brought to light our commonalities verses our differences. It all came together at Domas Gallilea. a monestary built for the Pope in 2000 overlooking the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). In the center of their library, encased under a starlit ceiling was a SEFER TORAH! If this doesn't epitomize our connection, what does?” said Nina.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever eaten so much food in a four day span in my lifeand it was all wonderful!,“ said Graham.

“My first lunch back in the states, I found myself looking around the table, asking myself, “Where’s the hummus?”

The American Israelite “LET THERE BE LIGHT” THE OLDEST ENGLISH-JEWISH WEEKLY IN AMERICA - EST. JULY 15, 1854

VOL. 160 • NO. 30 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 13 ADAR 5774 SHABBAT BEGINS FRIDAY 5:55 PM SHABBAT ENDS SATURDAY 6:56 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 production@americanisraelite.com RABBI ISAAC M. WISE Founder, 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 JORY EDLIN BETH KOTZIN Assistant Editors YOSEFF FRANCUS Copy Editor JANET STEINBERG Travel Editor ROBERT WILHELMY Dining Editor MARIANNA BETTMAN NATE BLOOM IRIS PASTOR ZELL SCHULMAN PHYLLIS R. SINGER Contributing Columnists JENNIFER CARROLL Production Manager BARBARA ROTHSTEIN Advertising Sales ERIN WYENANDT Office Manager e Oldest Eng Th

ewish N h-J ew lis

As a child, Father Graham, President of Xavier University, dreamed of becoming an archaeologist, studying and exploring the ancient civilizations of the Middle East. Earlier this month, he had the opportunity to fulfill those dreams and more on a whirlwind 100 hour trip to Israel.

“As a Catholic priest, I was of course deeply touched to be able to connect with places at the heart of the scriptural tradition-from the various sites in Jerusalem to those up in the Galilee.

Beyond being able to see, for example, the house where Peter lived in Capernaum or the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, I was moved to gaze out over the Sea of Galilee and think that my eyes were seeing what their eyes saw: this sky, this water, this light, these clouds and hills. My tradition gained a kind of immediacy for me it has never had before,” said Father Graham.

Father Graham was joined on his trip by JNF Ambassador to KKL and Israel, Stanley M. Chesley, Ginger Warner of the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees and Rabbi Abie Ingber, Executive Director of the Center for Interfaith Community Engagement at Xavier University.

“The first day in Jerusalem had two terrific surprises, sudden views that left

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for an intimate evening of song and conversation as they retrace their steps through the security checkpoints between Israel and the West Bank, across the Middle East – eventually finding themselves performing together at the United Nations. The personal stories, stunning photo-

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certainly do. The two will perform on Sunday, March 2, at 4 p.m., at the Scheuer Chapel on the campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, for the third annual Wendy Kanter Memorial Concert.

Join these two unlikely friends

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Can a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip and a Jewish American from New York find a common bond through music? Celebrated Jewish American songwriter and producer Michael Hunter Ochs and noted Palestinian songwriter, recording artist and political activist Alaa Ali

r in Am ape er sp i

Third annual Wendy Kanter Memorial concert ‘The Pursuit of Harmony: Beyond Borders’ to be held on March 2

THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE (USPS 019-320) is published weekly for $44 per year and $2.00 per single copy in Cincinnati and $49 per year and $3.00 per single copy elsewhere in U.S. by The American Israelite Co. 18 West Ninth Street, Suite 2, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-2037. Periodicals postage paid at Cincinnati, OH. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE, 18 West Ninth Street, Suite 2, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-2037.

The views and opinions expressed by the columnists of The American Israelite do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the newspaper.

LOCAL • 5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Northern Hills HaZaK to focus on Jews of Iran "Growing Up in Iran: A Jewish Perspective" will be the topic when the HaZaK group of Northern Hills Synagogue Congregation B'nai Avraham holds its monthly program on Wednesday, February 19th.

Following a delicious lunch, Fouad Ezra, who grew up in Iran, will be the featured speaker. The

program will take place at the Synagogue, which begins at 12 Noon.

Fouad Ezra was born in Hamadan, Iran, and lived in Iran until he came to the United States in 1962, at the age of 17, to pursue university studies. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemical engineering,

nuclear engineering, and biophysics. The 1979 Islamic revolution changed his plan to return to Iran. After working at the Argonne National Laboratories and serving on the faculty of Rutgers University, he joined the Corporate Research Division of Procter & Gamble in 1979, and retired in 2006 from P&G's

Pharmaceutical Division.

"HaZaK" is an acronym, with the letters standing for the Hebrew words "Hakhma" (wisdom), "Ziknah" (maturity), and "Kadima" (forward). The HaZaK programs are for adults 55 and older, and are open to the entire community. In addition to members of Northern Hills, many

attendees have come from the Jewish Community Center, Cedar Village, Brookwood Retirement Community, and throughout Greater Cincinnati.

There is no charge for the program and lunch, but donations are greatly appreciated.

Please RSVP to the Synagogue office by Monday, February 17th.

Rockdale Temple changes name of annual Menorah Award K. K. Bene Israel/Rockdale Temple, in its 190th year as a congregation, announces that its annual Menorah Award will heretofore be named “The Gary Heldman Menorah Award” in honor of longtime member, volunteer and past president Gary Heldman. “Gary approached us with this idea last fall,” said Rockdale President Steven Ackermann. Gary's desire to further enhance the recognition of members receiving this coveted award is to allow each recipient to designate a Rockdale Temple fund or activity to which a generous donation will be made in their name," added

Ackermann. Rockdale initiated the Menorah Award more than 30 years ago to recognize individual members for exceptional volunteer service. For many of the 100+ recipients, the Menorah Award represents among their most cherished honors.

Last month Rockdale Temple marked 190 years since the first meeting of the Jewish community here in Cincinnati. Joseph Jonas led the meeting held in the home of Morris Moses. It would be twelve years before Congregation K. K. Bene Israel would dedicate a synagogue and three decades before K.K. Bene

Israel would select its first Rabbi.

This indicates that the congregation has always understood the value and importance of volunteer contributions. Certainly K. K. Bene Israel would never have been formed nor had its early success without the energy and vision of those early members.

Throughout the history of the congregation, as professional leadership developed and was woven into the fabric and structure of the organization, volunteer leadership remained at the core of the temple’s success.

Over the years many people worked

tirelessly to ensure the future and K.K. Bene Israel’s place in forming and shaping the Reform Judaism movement across America.

Since 1906 when K. K. Bene Israel moved to Rockdale Avenue, the congregation has been known informally as “Rockdale Temple” even as the congregation moved in 1969 to its current home on Ridge Road in Amberley Village. As times have changed, professional leadership including rabbis, cantors, educators, administrators and support staff, have been employed to meet the everchanging needs of the community. At

the core, however, was the lay leadership that served in a variety of capacities including as Board members and committee members overseeing so many facets of congregational life.

Heldman, a life-long member of Rockdale and the President at a critical juncture of the congregation, has perpetually endowed this new element of the award as a way of recognizing the Rockdale legacy of member engagement. We look forward to honoring the men and women of the future who will uphold the traditions of the past.

Rethink your definition of reality in Israel, started February 11 From February through June this year, six social innovators from Israel will give first-hand accounts of their lives in a previously unknown and “unshown” Israel, through the ISRAELITY speaker series. All ISRAELITY programs are free and open to all.

Community Shaliach Yair Cohen said, “Our goal with this series is to highlight aspects of Israel that don’t usually make the headlines in the U.S. We spend a lot of time discussing Israel’s relationship with the Palestinians, its place in the Middle East and even its role as a ‘start-up nation,’ but we often forget that Israel is more than that.” He continued, “ISRAELITY aims to give Cincinnatians a fuller picture of the complexity and diversity of Israeli society.”

The series started with a handson workshop with mixed-media artist and illustrator Hanoch Piven, on February 11, at 7 p.m., at the Mayerson JCC. For more than 20 years, Piven has been creating art using a specialized collage technique. He is best known for his colorful and witty portraits created with “upcycled” everyday objects.

Next is Dov Lipman, an American-born member of Knesset (Israel’s parliament) and Orthodox rabbi who lived in Cincinnati for three years in the mid-1990s.

Lipman has been at the forefront of combating religious segregation in Israel and is a leader in efforts to create Jewish unity. He will share his vision for the Jewish State on February 20, at 7 p.m., also at the Mayerson JCC. On March 6, Ethiopian-Israeli

relief in countries that lack diplomatic relations with Israel or whose governments prevent the entry of formal humanitarian organizations.

ISRAELITY wraps up in June with Yaniv Weizman, a founder of Israeli’s Gay Youth and a council member in Tel Aviv, which was named the Best Gay City in 2011.

Weizman is also the mayor's spe-

Rabbi Lipman holds up the rock that hit him during a protest in Beit Shemesh.

Member of Knesset Shimon Solomon will tell the story of his life-threatening pilgrimage from Ethiopia to Israel at age 10. He will explain how that journey has fueled his work advocating for Ethiopian-Israelis, many of whom have not been able to integrate into society, often facing racism and mistrust.

April 6 brings Sayed Kashua, an Arab citizen of Israel, who straddles the line between worlds.

He uses that perspective—along with his deadpan humor—to write a weekly column in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz and a wildly popular and award-winning primetime comedy on Israeli television, Arab Labor. Episodes of the show, which has been compared to All in the Family, were shown at the 2012 JCC Summer Cinema Series.

Also in April, on the 30th, is Gal Lusky, who founded Israeli Flying Aid, a non-governmental organization that aims to provide

cial advisor on LGBTQ affairs in the city.

ISRAELITY is presented by the Israel Center and the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, and the Mayerson JCC. Partners include Adath Israel Congregation, Congregation Beth Adam, Northern Hills Synagogue, Rockdale Temple, Sha’arei Torah

and Wise Temple.

The series is offered in collaboration with American Jewish Committee (AJC), Beth Israel Congregation, Cincinnati Hillel, Hebrew Union College, Jewish National Fund (JNF), Na’amat, Rockwern Academy, Temple Sholom and the University of Cincinnati Judaic Studies Department.

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Collaborative partnership of museums and houses of worship explore spiritual pilgrimage in art A partnership that began in 1995 and continues to this day as The Search for the Spiritual through Art will present “Spiritual Pilgrimage in Art,” a five-part series designed to explore how Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Hindu pilgrimage traditions are manifested through artistic expression, beginning Wednesday, February 19, at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

“Whether to Graceland or the Holy Land, pilgrimage captures the imagination of people of all faiths,” comments Abby Schwartz, interim director of the Skirball Museum. “We are delighted to offer this series with talented speakers who will shed light on a fascinating religious tradition.”

Featuring lectures by acclaimed scholars, along with an opportunity to view related collections in three museums and two houses of worship, the Spiritual Pilgrimage series includes: February 19, Cincinnati Art Museum, Pilgrimage: Art and the Journeys of the Spirit with James Buchanan.

February 26, Skirball Museum Cincinnati, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, Jewish Pilgrims? Jewish Shrines? Jewish Saints? with

National Briefs Virginia Beach students to make up school on Saturdays (JTA) – Virginia Beach City public schools will have classes on three Saturdays to make up for days lost from a major snowstorm last month.

“We hope our community could be reassured that our religious needs can be met,” Rabbi Israel Zoberman of Beth Chaverim, a Reform congregation in Virginia Beach, told the local media. “We don’t want anyone to pay a price for the snow that came upon us.”

Pittsburgh Jewish day school employee, sister found shot at home (JTA) – An employee of a Jewish day school in the Pittsburgh area and her sister apparently were shot inside their home.

The bodies of Susan Wolfe and her sister, pediatrician, Dr. Sarah Wolfe were found last Friday afternoon in the basement of their twostory home in East Liberty, Pa. “This is a very active investiga-

David Gitlitz.

March 5, Hindu Temple of Cincinnati, The Search for Spirituality in the Art of Hindu Pilgrimage with Swami Ishatmandanda.

March 12, Taft Museum of Art, Art and the Experience of the Medieval Pilgrim with Caroline Hillard.

March 19, Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, Depicting the Hajj in Images and Words with Michael Wolfe.

The series is presented by the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Taft Museum of Art, the Cincinnati Skirball Museum at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Hindu Temple of Greater Cincinnati, the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, the Center for Interfaith Community Engagement and the Brueggeman Center for Dialogue, both at Xavier University. The partners offer the series of presentations every two years, drawing upon their own rich collections of art that demonstrates various aspects of spirituality. The common thread throughout all the programs is the intersection of the visual arts with expression of faith.

Tickets are required to attend the programs. tion with numerous investigative details to be conducted,” Pittsburgh Police Major Crimes Lt. Daniel Herrmann told the newspaper.

The women have six other siblings, including an Iowa state lawmaker, Mary Wolfe.

Senate urges State Dept. to renegotiate terms for return of Iraqi Jewish archive WASHINGTON (JTA) – The Senate unanimously urged the State Department to renegotiate the terms for the return to Iraq of an archive of Iraqi Jewish texts.

The resolution passed Feb. 6 “strongly urges” the department to renegotiate the agreement with the Iraqi government “in order to ensure that the Iraqi Jewish Archive be kept in a place where its long-term preservation and care can be guaranteed.”

Rabbi Michael Broyde resigns from RCA NEW YORK (JTA) – Rabbi Michael Broyde, a prominent Modern Orthodox figure, resigned from the Rabbinical Council of America as a result of the scandal over his use of an online pseudonym.

Broyde’s resignation was first reported Feb. 6 by The Jewish Channel, which also uncovered

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Zakary Kadish is his brother’s keeper

By Suzanne Kurtz Sloan WASHINGTON (JTA) – When Zakary Kadish was overseas last summer on a teen tour with the North American Federation of Temple Youth, his younger brother, Ethan, was struck by lightning while playing Frisbee at the Goldman Union Camp Institute, a Reform Jewish overnight camp in Indiana.

The strike left Ethan with a devastating brain injury and a long, unknown road to recovery. It has not only changed the family but cast Kadish, 16, into the role of passionate advocate for his brother.

“I felt I needed to help, to spread [Ethan’s] story, to motivate people to see the kind of person he is,” said Kadish, a junior at Loveland High School in Ohio, near Cincinnati.

A volunteer organization dubbed “Team Ethan” was set up to assist the family, from preparing meals and looking after their dog to refurbishing the home. Multiple fundraising events have been organized to help offset the costs of Ethan’s medical bills and related expenses.

Kadish actively promotes the events, has sold tickets and even went on local radio to talk about his brother. When his parents were at the hospital with Ethan and could not attend the events, Kadish Broyde’s online activities last year.

ADL honors George W. Bush (JTA) – The Anti-Defamation League awarded its highest honor to former President George W. Bush.

The ADL presented its America’s Democratic Legacy Award to Bush during a Feb. 6 gala that opened its national executive committee meeting in Palm Beach, Fla. N.Y. yeshiva student admits to writing anti-Semitic graffiti NEW YORK (JTA) – A Long Island yeshiva student was charged with repeatedly scrawling antiSemitic graffiti inside a commuter train station.

Jonathan Schuster, 18, a senior at Priority-1: Torah Academy of Lawrence-Cedarhurst in Cedarhurst, N.Y.,was charged with the crimes on Thursday.

RCA, O.U. condemn ‘venom’ of Israeli anti-Kerry rabbis WASHINGTON (JTA) – Two leading American Orthodox bodies rebuked a group of Israeli rabbis who warned of divine retribution against Secretary of State John Kerry.

“While the people of Israel and Jews around the world may properly possess serious concerns about

served as family spokesman, updating and thanking the hundreds of supportive volunteers.

“The show of solidarity [for Ethan] from across the world is really touching and inspiring,” he said.

Kadish remains positive for his brother and their family.

“There’s a speck of light, a silver lining somewhere, so grab on to it,” he said. “It will make it seem like it’s the brightest day.”

Recently, Kadish shared with JTA his advice for other teens dealing with family crises, his revelation in the Israeli desert and his surefire way to blow off steam.

JTA: What advice would you give other teens dealing with a family crisis?

Zakary Kadish: Hopefully it’ll make you all stronger and rally around a single cause. But have someone to talk to. You need an outlet.

JTA: If you could have lunch or coffee with anyone and tell him or her about Team Ethan, who would it be?

JTA: Can you share with us a meaningful Jewish experience that you’ve had?

ZK: In Israel, in the desert, hiking and camping in the Negev, it was the first time I saw God. I felt at peace, a stillness, a oneness.

JTA: Who or what have been the biggest influences in your life?

ZK: Outside of my parents, I’ve been blessed to have teachers who I really connect with on an emotional level.

JTA: What do you think you want to be doing when “you grow up” or think you’d like to be doing professionally in perhaps five or 10 years?

ZK: I’m very interested in politics and the political system in America. Law and politics is where I think I’m going to end up.

I hope to go to George Washington University, but I’m looking at all D.C.-area schools equally.

JTA: What kind of things do you like to do for fun?

ZK: In the interest of spreading the word, Wolf Blitzer or Anderson Cooper. I can’t think of a better outlet than CNN and MSNBC... or JTA.

ZK: I play tennis. There’s no better way to let out tension than hitting a ball. I’m also the co-founder and president of the debate club at my high school.

proposals Secretary Kerry is putting forth, such concerns must only be expressed with civility and on the substance of the issues, not degenerating into personal venom and threats,” said a statement posted Feb. 5 by the Rabbinical Council of America and the Orthodox Union.

speech under the First Amendment.

White House briefs students on Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts WASHINGTON (JTA) – Obama administration officials briefed Jewish and Arab-American student leaders on the peace process.

Among the participants in the three-hour White House briefing on Feb. 6 were students affiliated with Hillel, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the American Jewish Committee, J Street and Americans for Peace Now. Pro-Israel groups divided on support of anti-boycott bill (JNS) – Pro-Israel organizations are divided over a new bill in the U.S. Congress that would pull federal funding from universities that boycott Israel.

The bill, titled Protect Academic Freedom Act, proposed by U.S. Reps. Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL), has garnered polarizing reactions over whether or not it is constitutional by limiting free

Former CIA chief: AntiSemitism possibly a factor in Jonathan Pollard case (JNS) – Anti-Semitism could be a factor in America’s refusal to release jailed Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, who is in his 29th year in prison, former Central Intelligence Agency director James Woolsey told Israel’s Channel 10 network on Saturday night.

Maryland lawmakers, Holocaust survivors target French rail company over Nazi ties (JNS) – A group of Holocaust survivors and Maryland state lawmakers are attempting to prohibit French rail company SNCF, through its U.S. subsidiary Keolis, from bidding on $6 billion commuter rail project due to the company’s role in the Holocaust.

Maryland Senate Bill 754, introduced by State Senator Joan Carter Conway (D-Baltimore) and Delegate Kirill Reznik (DMontgomery County), seeks to deny the contract to Keolis and SNCF due to their Nazi collaboration and refusal to pay compensation to Holocaust survivors.

NATIONAL • 7

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

‘Monuments Men’ recalls Allied effort to save Europe’s heritage

By Penny Schwartz BOSTON (JTA) – There’s nothing like a star-studded Hollywood movie to shine a light on a littleknown piece of history.

That’s the hope of Robert Edsel, who wrote the book that inspired “The Monuments Men,” the George Clooney-Matt Damon film that opened Friday in theaters across the country.

The all-star cast also includes Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and Cate Blanchett.

Clooney, who directed the film, teamed to write and produce it with Grant Heslov, bringing together the duo who produced last year’s Oscar winner for best picture, “Argo.”

The action-packed World War II adventure film is a fictionalized version of Edsel’s book of the same name. The book tells the compelling and surprising story of a special Allied military unit known as the Monuments Men sent into battle zones to protect historic buildings, churches and monuments across Europe.

Later, the unit of 345 members from 13 countries – many were art historians, archivists and architects – rescued more than 5 million pieces of Nazi-looted paintings, sculptures and rare manuscripts.

Among them were some of the

world’s most treasured cultural objects, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Vincent Van Gogh.

In a phone conversation with JTA, Edsel says the visibility of a major feature film offers a chance to honor the legacy of the long-forgotten heroism of the Monuments Men, provide a path to reclaim art that is still missing, and galvanize the public’s concern to prevent cultural destruction in war zones today and in the future.

Edsel suggests that while he is not Jewish, he sees in the Monuments Men a story that will resonate with young Jews, a different entry point to teach about Jewish culture and the Holocaust.

The movie provides historical context to events that reverberate in headlines today, from the discovery of a trove of Nazi-looted art in Germany to the destruction of ancient artifacts in Egypt and wartorn Syria.

Clooney says that making a film about saving art isn’t just about paintings hanging on a museum wall.

“It’s about the fabric of our culture,” he said at a recent news conference in Hollywood.

In the film, Clooney plays Frank Stokes, based on the real-life figure of George Stout, an art historian at Harvard’s Fogg Museum whose

proposal to protect cultural property during the war led President Franklin Roosevelt to establish the unit. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower is credited with empowering the unit to carry out its mission.

It was a watershed moment in the preservation of cultural history, Edsel and others say.

Through the Monuments Men Foundation he established in 2007, Edsel is backing a bill in Congress that would award the Monuments Men the Congressional Gold Medal.

“It’s a race against time,” said Edsel, who would like to see the bill adopted while there are living members of the Monuments Men. Harry Ettlinger, whose Jewish family fled Germany in 1938 when he was young, is among the only five Monuments Men still alive.

Ettlinger was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944 at age 18, and eventually was assigned to the Monuments Men unit for his fluency in German.

“It makes me feel good that I did something of value for the rest of he world,” Ettlinger, 87, told JTA in phone conversation from his home in Rockaway, N.J. In the movie, the British actor Dimitri Leonidas plays Sam Epstein, a character based on Ettlinger. Following a recent private screening, Ettlinger gave the film a

Global disability rights expert wins Jewish group’s inaugural $100K award in inclusion

By Jacob Kamaras (JNS) – The Ruderman Family Foundation on Monday announced that Dr. Michael Ashley Stein, a visiting professor at Harvard Law School and an internationally recognized expert on disability rights, will receive the inaugural $100,000 Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion.

Stein is the co-founder and executive director of the Harvard Law School Project on Disability (HPOD), whose central mission is to support the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), a human rights treaty adopted by the U.N. in December 2006 which mandates that people with disabilities enjoy the same rights as all other people. Stein participated in the drafting of CRPD, which became binding international law in May 2008, and actively consults with governments around the world on their disability laws and policies.

“HPOD initially began as an outgrowth of my participation in the CRPD negotiations and the very apparent realization that achieving a human rights treaty was a great vic-

tory, but that the real work really would begin afterwards in implementing that treaty at individual country levels,” Stein told JNS. “We’ve worked in some 40 countries, and each one raises its own challenges and rewards. The same [holds true] for high-profile litigation. I personally enjoy most working with people with intellectual disabilities on claiming their rights and find it most rewarding when parents tell me their children with disabilities are now in school and flourishing.”

The Ruderman Family Foundation, an organization based in Israel and Boston that prioritizes the inclusion of people with disabilities in the Jewish community, said the new award – named after Mort Ruderman, a founder of the foundation and the father of its current president – “recognizes an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the inclusion of people with disabilities in the Jewish world and the greater public.” The primary consideration for the award is whether the recipient’s work has made life more equitable for people with disabilities, according to the foundation.

“Our foundation decided to

establish an award in my father’s name to remember his values and work which has touched so many lives,” Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation, said in a statement. “Those who knew my father agree that what drove his interest in disability inclusion was a bedrock commitment to fairness: he fervently believed that people with disabilities were not getting a fair shake in the Jewish community or in society at large. It was his belief that everyone deserves to be treated fairly that has inspired our mission to work toward the full inclusion of people with disabilities in our community.”

Stein, who has served as president of the National Disabled Bar Association, told JNS that the $100,000 award’s establishment “raises the profile of work on disability inclusion, and in particular its importance within the Jewish world.”

Asked if he believes disability law receives the attention it deserves within the American legal community, Stein said it has “proven a popular topic among academics and law students, but it has not yet claimed its equal standing with other civil rights among the public.”

Courtesy of Claudette Barius/Columbia Pictures

From left to right: John Goodman, Matt Damon, George Clooney, Bob Balaban and Bill Murray star in “The Monuments Men”

thumbs up.

In November 2012, Ettlinger accepted an award from the American Jewish Historical Society on behalf of all the Monuments Men. The society also awarded its legacy award in memory of Col. Seymour Pomrenze, an archivist who served 34 years of active and reserve service in the Army, for his unique leadership role in the Monuments Men recovering and restituting millions of Jewish books and artifacts and nearly 1,000 Torah scrolls confiscated by the Nazis.

Pomrenze died in 2011.

In many ways, Pomrenze’s work is a parallel story to the saving of looted art, says Lisa Leff, an associ-

ate professor of history at American University in Washington, D.C., and a specialist on the fate of Jewish archives in France during and after World War II. But while the Monuments Men’s mission was to return the art to its original countries, much of what Pomrenze rescued became “heirless,” as the original Jewish owners and entire Jewish communities perished in the war.

An organization of Jewish scholars was established to deal with the books and manuscripts and other property, which was disbursed to Jewish institutions in Israel and the United States.

8 • INTERNATIONAL

WWW.AMERICANISRAELITE.COM

What would an El-Sisi presidency in Egypt mean for Israel?

By Alex Traiman

Courtesy of State Department

Egyptian Minister of Defense General Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi (left) bids farewell to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry after a meeting in Cairo, Egypt, on November 3, 2013.

(JNS) – Egyptian Defense Minister and Field Marshal General Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Jan. 27 was cleared by the country’s army to run for president, one day after an interim government announced that presidential elections would be advanced to take place within 30-90 days. Now, just three years after a revolution that toppled longtime secular Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak, himself a military commander, Egypt’s current top-ranked army officer has become the country’s most popular political figure.

Many expect El-Sisi to win the presidential election overwhelmingly.

What would his rise to power mean for neighboring Israel?

“Abdul Fattah El-Sisi is Egypt’s

strong man right now and has been fighting against radical Islam and against the Muslim Brothers (members of the Muslim Brotherhood). This is very positive both for Egypt, but also for Israel and the entire Middle East,” former Israeli Ambassador to Egypt Zvi Mazel told JNS. Member of Knesset Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor), Israel’s former defense minister, stated on Israeli radio that the Jewish state is supportive of El-Sisi, but cautioned that El-Sisi’s current popularity is no guarantee that he would be an effective president.

“If he fails as a president, then the current regime that ousted the Muslim Brotherhood would be dissolved,” Ben-Eliezer said. Such a scenario could once again pave the way for the Muslim Brotherhood to return to power “stronger and more determined

than before,” he said, a situation that would ultimately be “bad news for Israel and the West.”

“We shouldn’t go out on the roofs and cry out in favor of El-Sisi. But what is going on in Egypt is positive for Israel, and you cannot deny it,” Mazel told JNS. The announcement to advance presidential elections came just days after Egyptian courts opened the trial of ousted Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi. In less than two years, Morsi had attempted to monopolize legislative and judicial power and advanced an agenda to turn Egypt into an Islamic religious state.

Following weeks of imprisonment, Morsi was quoted as shouting at the opening of the trial, “I am the president of the republic, how can I be kept in a dump for weeks?”

According to Mazel, Morsi pushed his religious agenda too quickly, while failing to solve Egypt’s pressing economic and social problems.

His failed agenda and restrictions on religious freedoms led Egyptians to take to the streets en masse for the second time in just more than two years.

Egypt’s military, led by El-Sisi, brought about Morsi’s sudden overthrow.

In addition to pushing forward a religious domestic agenda, Morsi’s regime threatened the longstanding peace treaty between Israel and Egypt on several occasions, and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula was quickly turning into a terror haven – leading Israel to reconsider security along what had been a relatively stable border for three decades.

After Polish ritual slaughter ban, competitors carve up a lucrative market

By JTA Staff Contributing Columnist POZNAN, Poland (JTA) – His designer suits and expensive car project an image of success, but Salah Messikh has been on the brink of bankruptcy for more than a year.

Messikh, the founder of one of Poland’s oldest halal slaughterhouses, saw his revenues halved because of a 2012 court ruling that rescinded a government regulation exempting Jews and Muslims from a requirement that animals be stunned prior to

slaughter.

The ruling shut down Poland’s $500 million kosher and halal meat industry last year.

For the activists who petitioned the court, the ruling was an important victory in their fight for animal rights. But for the Algeria-born Messikh, it paralyzed a production line he has spent 10 years and a fortune building.

Messikh now struggles to resell meat imported from Romania, where ritual slaughter is permitted. The high costs and low quality, coupled

with Messikh’s insistence on continuing to pay 20 staff members whose services he no longer really requires, have pushed his business to the brink.

“They’re like family,” Messikh says of his workers. “I can’t fire them, but I don’t know how much longer we can all stay afloat.”

When Poland joined the European Union in 2004, it had a minuscule industry of ritually slaughtered meat. Nine years later the country had emerged as one of the EU’s leading exporters, with

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Beginner class from 7-8 p.m.

Intermediate/Advanced class from 8-9 p.m.

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273,000 tons produced annually, of which approximately 20 percent was kosher and 80 percent was halal – nearly all of it for export.

Before the ban, ritually slaughtered meat accounted for approximately 30 percent of all Polish beef, lamb and poultry exports, according to the Polish Meat Association.

With the industry now in ruins, Poland’s share of the kosher and halal meat market is being carved up by competitors, leading to frustration and conspiracy theories among some local producers and politicians.

One major propagator of the theories is Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, a former Polish prime minister who in October told the radio station ZET that a German-based consortium had collected “about 1 million euros to liquidate ritual slaughter in Poland.”

Marcinkiewicz said the consortium, based in a country that many Poles have historical reasons to distrust, had given itself two years to achieve the liquidation, but managed to reach the goal in just six months while spending only a fifth of its budget.

At Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda, Anne Heyman’s legacy lives on

By Ben Sales AGAHOZO-SHALOM YOUTH VILLAGE, Rwanda (JTA) – Anne Heyman’s death during a horse-riding competition in Palm Beach, Fla., on Jan. 31 shocked and devastated many in the Jewish world.

But it was Heyman’s work in Rwanda that so many of her admirers will remember most.

A former assistant district attorney in Manhattan who made a career shift to philanthropy around the time she began having children, Heyman learned during a visit to the Tufts University Hillel in 2005 about children who were left without parents by the Rwandan genocide.

Inspired to do something to help, Heyman set about establishing a youth village for the orphans modeled on Yemin Orde, the Israeli youth village set up for children who survived the Holocaust.

The idea behind the Agahozo-

Shalom Youth Village, located in a rural area about an hour from the Rwandan capital of Kigali, was to provide the orphans of the genocide with an enclosed, nurturing environment where they could grow up while recovering from their trauma.

The word “agahozo” comes from the local expression for drying tears.

Heyman, who had three children of her own, didn’t just raise millions of dollars in funding for the village.

She spent as much time as she could at Agahozo-Shalom, visiting several times a year.

“Every day she thought of those kids, every time I talked to her,” Laurie Franz, a friend and youth village board member, told JTA on Monday before Heyman’s funeral at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York. “She believed in helping people. She had the biggest heart of anybody I know, and she did it continually, honestly and with so much passion. She was intelligent and beautiful and wise and kind.”

RWANDA on page 22

INTERNATIONAL • 9

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

For Israel’s skaters, Olympic training is a New Jersey state of mind

By Hillel Kuttler HACKENSACK, N.J. (JTA) – Evgeni Krasnapolsky and Andrea Davidovich glide around the ice, shadowing one another to the accompaniment of Nino Rota’s “Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet.”

At a rink in this New York City suburb, the figure-skating pair refined their long program a few weeks before the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, that opened Friday.

Krasnapolsky, 25, and Davidovich, 16, practiced their choreographed hand holding, lifts and throws at the indoor Ice House complex, which became the epicenter of Israel’s Winter Olympics team, or at least its figure-skating component.

The pair, who began working together less than a year ago, is representing Israel at the Sochi games

International Briefs Netanyahu and Obama to meet in U.S. in March (JNS) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House and deliver a speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual conference in Washington, DC, during his five-day U.S. visit in the first week of March.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the date of the meeting with Obama has yet to be set, but the details are expected to be finalized soon.

Spanish law to allow Sephardic Jews to claim Spanish dual citizenship (JNS) – Spain’s Justice Ministry has announced a new law that will allow descendants of Sephardic Jews who were expelled during the Inquisition to pursue Spanish citizenship without giving up their current nationality.

Iranian TV airs simulated strike on Israel (JNS) – Iranian TV recently aired a video depicting a simulated drone and missile attack on Israel.

The video was meant to show what a counter-strike on Israel would look like following an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Among the targets attacked in the Iranian video are the Israel Defense Forces headquarters in Tel Aviv, the Azrieli shopping and business complex, the nuclear reactor in Dimona, Ben-Gurion International Airport, and the oil refineries in Haifa.

At his cabinet meeting on

along with fellow figure skater Alexei Bychenko, 25, who also trains here year-round. The figure skating competition was held Feb. 11-12.

Rounding out the Israeli contingent are alpine skier Virgile Vandeput, 24, based in Belgium, and short-track speed skater Vladislav Bykanov, 19, based in the Netherlands. All are first-time Olympians.

Krasnapolsky and Davidovich are coached by Galit Chait, a threetime Israeli Olympian in ice dancing, and Gennadi Krasnitski.

Overseeing the New Jersey operations is Chait’s Moldova-born father, Boris Chait, the president of the Israel Ice Skating Federation despite living in the United States since 1975.

He’s not the only American playing a major role on the Israeli Winter

Olympics scene. New York native Stanley Rubinstein, who immigrated to Israel in 1971 and resides in Caesarea, founded the Israel Ski Federation and serves on its board.

Chait, the owner of a computer consultancy, is cultivating a crop of skaters he predicts will represent Israel at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and beyond.

The Chaits offered some names to keep an eye on: Artem Tsoglin, Netta Schreiber, Polina Shlepen, Daniel Samohin, Kimberly Berkovich, Ronald Zilberberg, Allison Reed and Vasili Rogov.

“I hope that we continue to grow and produce athletes who … are at the top of the world in international competitions,” says Galit Chait, who is coaching seven 2014 Olympians.

A nonprofit organization founded by Boris Chait, the International

Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said regarding the video, “The international easing of the sanctions against Iran has not led Iran to moderate its international aggression; the complete opposite has occurred,” according to Israel Hayom.

since 2005. The Community Security Trust (CST) reported that 529 anti-Semitic incidents were recorded in 2013, down 18 percent from the previous year. The number of violent assaults – 69 – remained the same as 2012, marking the lowest level since 2003.

Thomas Friedman: ‘Third Intifada’ is boycott movement fueled by settlements (JNS) – The movement to boycott Israel is a “Third Intifada” whose roots are Israeli construction beyond the 1967 lines, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote Feb. 4.

This intifada isn’t led by the Palestinians, but “by the European Union in Brussels and other opponents of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank across the globe,” according to Friedman, whose column came on the heels of Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent warning at a security conference in Munich that Israel would face more boycotts and isolation if the U.S.-brokered Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiations fail.

U.S., Palestinians condemn approval of new Israeli construction in Jerusalem (JNS) – The U.S. and the Palestinians last week condemned the Jerusalem municipality local planning committee’s approval of construction permits for 768 new residential units, including some units in neighborhoods located beyond the 1967 lines.

“Our position on Jerusalem is clear,” U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. “We oppose any unilateral actions by either party that attempt to prejudge final status issues, including the status of Jerusalem.”

Egyptian Christians support El-Sisi presidential candidacy, says Catholic bishop (JNS) – A prominent Egyptian Catholic leader believes that Field Marshal General Abdel-Fattah ElSisi’s expected candidacy for Egyptian president is a positive development for Egypt’s Christians.

An El-Sisi candidacy “is an important fact for the whole country, not just for Christians,” Coptic Catholic leader Boutros Fahim Awad Hanna, Bishop of Minya, told the Fides News Agency.

British anti-Semitic incidents reach lowest level since 2005 (JNS) – British anti-Semitic incidents have reached their lowest level

John Kerry, Susan Rice blast Israeli criticism of boycott remarks (JNS) – Secretary of State John Kerry said his comments at a recent security conference in Munich, which warned that Israel would face more boycotts and isolation if the U.S.-brokered Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiations fail, have been “distorted.”

“My comments need to be properly remitted, not distorted,” Kerry told CNN. “I did not do anything except cite what other people are talking about as a problem. But I also have always opposed boycotts.

I have a 100 percent voting record in support of Israel for 29 years in the United States Senate. Unfortunately, there are some people in Israel and in Palestine and in the Arab world and around the world who don’t support the peace process.”

Courtesy of Hillel Kuttler

Israel’s Sochi-bound figure skaters who train in New Jersey: from left, Alexei Bychenko, Andrea Davidovich and Evgeni Krasnapolsky.

Sports Program, houses and trains the 11 skaters here who are Israeli citizens, along with nine others based in California, New York, Russia and Ukraine. The athletes

train abroad because of Israel’s paucity of ice rinks and high-quality coaching.

SKATERS on page 22

10 • ISRAEL

WWW.AMERICANISRAELITE.COM

Jerusalem conference seeks self-empowerment of people with disabilities

By Josh Hasten

Courtesy of the Ruderman Family Foundation

Standing from left to right, at the 2nd annual Israel Self-Advocacy Conference in Jerusalem, are Asaf Buzaglo, Avital Ohayun, Simona Idan, Shai Asuline, and Dudu Cheftzadi. Sitting is Yoav Kreim, a well-known leader and spokesperson for people with disabilities in Israel for more than 20 years.

(JNS) – Wheelchair-bound Yoav Kreim – a well-known leader and spokesperson for people with disabilities in Israel for more than 20 years – has led demonstrations, lobbied members of Knesset to pass legislation, and helped shape public opinion. Therefore, it was no surprise that Kreim was one of the lead participants and facilitators at the recent 2nd annual Israel Self-Advocacy Conference in Jerusalem.

“There is a great need to allow weaker voices in the population to be heard,” Kreim said. “People have a lot to say; they just need to be given the chance.”

Israel Elwyn and Beit Issie Shapiro, two leading organizations in Israel for providing disability services

For some West Bank CEOs, no lost sleep over boycott threat

By Ben Sales TEL AVIV (JTA) – Of the 200,000 wine bottles Yakov Burg produced last year, 16,000 went to Europe.

The possibility of a boycott and repeated rumblings that Europe is planning to label goods produced in the settlements could decrease that number, but Burg isn’t worried.

The CEO of Psagot Winery, which is located in a settlement of the same name in the hills of the central West Bank, Burg prides himself on running a Jewish-owned business in

Israel Briefs Arab man stabs Jew near Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate (JNS) – A haredi man was stabbed several times in the upper torso by an Arab assailant near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem on Sunday afternoon, Israel Hayom reported.

The man was walking near the Old City walls when he was approached by an Arab man, who grabbed him and stabbed him before fleeing the scene.

IAF strikes Gaza terrorist to thwart ‘imminent threat’ (JNS) – The Israeli Air Force on Sunday morning targeted a terrorist in the Gaza Strip who was involved in multiple attacks against Israel, critically wounding him.

The terrorist was identified as Abdallah Kharti, a Popular Resistance Committee operative affiliated with global jihad.

the West Bank, even welcoming groups of Christian Zionists who want to volunteer during the harvest.

The winery’s location, though, also makes it a prime target for boycotts aimed at goods produced in the settlements.

“There are a lot of places that won’t buy the wine, so of course there’s damage,” Burg told JTA. “It doesn’t scare me. We need to fight the boycott, not just do what they want.”

The effort to boycotts goods produced in the West Bank, long an objective of anti-Israel activists and some Jewish critics of the Israeli

Poll: 1 in 3 Israelis suffers from cyberbullying (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS) – One in three Israelis has faced cyberbullying either on Facebook or other social networking sites, revealed a survey conducted by the Israel Internet Association ahead of Safer Internet Day on Feb. 11.

The figures show that 81 percent of those questioned feel the Internet is unsafe for children and teens, and 61 percent of the survey’s participants – comprising parents of children under age 18-said they are exposed to online dangers themselves.

The parents said the primary risk posed by surfing the Web was pornographic material, followed by sexual harassment on social networking sites, ostracization, verbal abuse, and being exposed to violence.

Israeli police attacked with stones on Temple Mount (JNS) – Following the arrest of seven Arab residents of eastern Jerusalem for causing a public disturbance at the Temple Mount after

occupation, has achieved some notable victories in recent weeks.

Last month, PGGM, the largest Dutch pension fund, announced it was divesting from five Israeli banks because of their involvement in financing Israeli settlements. That was followed by an announcement that Denmark’s Danske Bank was blacklisting Israel’s Bank Hapoalim over its settlement activity. Sweden’s Nordea Bank has asked two other Israeli banks for more information about their activities in the settlements.

BOYCOTT on page 19 Friday prayers, hundreds of Muslim youths threw stones at Israeli security forces dispatched along the alleyways and roads surrounding the Old City site.

Subsequently, several police officers raided the Temple Mount to disperse the crowds using stun grenades, Israel Hayom reported.

Arab MKs attack plan to build new Jewish communities in Galilee (JNS) – The Knesset’s Interior Committee was the scene of heated emotions on Thursday as Arab MKs attacked the Israeli government initiative to build new Jewish communities in northern Israel’s Galilee region.

MK Hanna Swaid (Hadash) spoke of the “obsession of the housing and construction minister [Uri Ariel] to build new settlements,” according to Israel Hayom.

MK Jamal Zahalka (National Democratic Assembly) said, “The Galilee is ours and the land is ours.”

Gaza terrorists fire 3 rockets at southern Israel (JNS) – Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired rockets into

and advocating for disability rights, were behind the late-January conference for people with developmental and physical disabilities. But the trademark of the event – which is also made possible by the support of the Ruderman Family Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles – is that it is planned, organized, and led by the participants themselves, allowing those present to learn how to most effectively advocate for their own needs.

“This joint project is based on our worldview that people with disabilities are able to and need to advocate for themselves,” Shira Ruderman, Israel director of the Ruderman Family Foundation, told JNS. “We must help provide them with the best and most professional tools available. Our foundation believes in

full inclusion and this partnership realizes our joint values in improving the status of people with disabilities,” she said.

The topic of this year's gathering, attended by more than 80 people with disabilities from across Israel, centered on employment issues including conditions in the workplace, salary concerns, interoffice relationships, inclusion, and more. After opening remarks by representatives of the various sponsor organizations, participants broke off into smaller discussion groups facilitated by people with disabilities, in order to delve into various employment issues and to discuss strategies towards improving their respective work environments.

DISABILITIES on page 19

Israeli breast cancer survivor filling a niche with nipples

By Ben Sales KFAR SABA, Israel (JTA) – Michelle Kolath-Arbel squeezes a nipple, rolling it in her fingers with a look of mild disgust.

This model, which Kolath-Arbel ordered from China two years ago for $50, is thick and crude and took three months to arrive in the mail.

“It was hard, rubbery,” she said.

“It looked like a doll’s. My husband said, ‘Don’t put that on your body.’”

Kolath-Arbel, 37, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. A year later she underwent a mastectomy and breast reconstruction.

While fighting the disease, Kolath-Arbel says she remained relatively calm, keeping a tight schedule of treatments while holding down a full-time job as production director for an advertising firm. But finding out that her nipple would be removed during breast reconstruction, she broke down.

“When the doctor told me I’d have to lose the nipple, I cried more than when they told me I had cancer,” she said. “It’s so small, but every day I’d get dressed, I’d see the scar. I’d get undressed, I’d see the CANCER on page 22

southern Israel in two separate incidents on Thursday, Israel Hayom reported.

A Qassam rocket exploded in an open area in the Eshkol region on Thursday night, causing no injuries or damage. Earlier on Thursday, two Grad rockets exploded in open areas in the Ashkelon region, also causing no injuries or damage.

negotiations fail, a new Israel Hayom-New Wave Research poll found.

Kerry was widely criticized in Israel for his statements. In the poll, about 21 percent of respondents said Kerry’s comments were made out of concern for Israel, and about 18 percent said they did not know what Kerry’s intentions were.

Ancient well discovered in Tel Aviv (JNS) – Archaeologists recently discovered an ancient well, used during the Byzantine and Islamic eras, during an antique preservation dig in Tel Aviv.

The well, located in Tel Aviv’s Ramat Hahayal neighborhood, is believed to be between 1,110 and 1,400 years old.

Israel to export flexible endoscope for treatment of acid reflux (JNS) – Israeli medical devicemaker Medigus will begin selling its flexible endoscope for the treatment of acid reflux this year. The medical product is expected to garner several million dollars in revenue in 2014 alone.

The Medigus device allows for outpatient treatment without surgical intervention. The endoscope is inserted through the mouth and staples the stomach to the wall of the esophagus to close a gap that allows acid to rise up. Physicians can see the procedure as they perform it through a small video camera on the tip of the device as well as an ultrasound machine.

Poll: 61% of Israelis say Kerry threatened Israel with boycott remarks (JNS) – Sixty-one percent of Jewish Israelis believe that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry threatened Israel last weekend when he said that Israel might face boycotts and further delegitimization if the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict

SOCIAL LIFE / KIDS & SUMMER CAMPS • 11

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

2014 Camp Directory 2014 CAMPAT THE J Listings 8485 Ridge Road (at Ronald Reagan Highway) Cincinnati, OH 45236 This is your child’s only summer of 2014… Make it count! At Camp at the J we make memories that matter by providing great social and cultural opportunities that foster friendships and features all the good old-fashioned fun that has made camp a summertime staple for kids throughout the generations! In addition to traditional activities such as swimming and archery, Camp at the J also offers programs such as recycled art, silly science, social action projects and more! Camp at the J is for children entering grades K-8, with a pre-K option through our Early Childhood School and a Counselor-in-Training Program for teens entering grades 910. Regular camp hours runs from 9:30am-3:30pm, but parents may drop off children as early as 7am and pick up as late as 6pm. Programs are listed by age.

NEW! Camp at the J: Kick-Start Camp – grades K-8 Dates: June 9 – June 13 (one week session) School’s out… and even though the regular camp season won’t start for another week, kids won’t have to miss a beat with this five-day foray into fun! Kick-Start Camp is a great way to transition into summer, meet new friends and get a head start on all the excitement that Camp at the J will have in store! Includes two field trips and a different theme each day.

Camp at the J: Pioneers – grades K-1 Dates: June 16 – July 3; July 7 – July 25; July 28 – Aug. 15 (three week sessions) Our littlest school-age campers get to experience everything that big kid camp has to offer in a caring environment that caters just to them! Campers will enjoy a diverse range of age-appropriate activities, including arts and crafts, music, sports, drama, and more. Campers will also learn valuable social skills, develop friendships and make new discoveries all summer long.

Camp at the J: Trailblazers – grades 2-3 Dates: June 16 – July 3; July 7 – July 25; July 28 – Aug. 15 (three week sessions) Campers build strong bonds and lifelong friendships as they learn teamwork and sportsmanship and enjoy a summer filled with fastpaced fun! Campers will build selfconfidence through safe and fun adventures as they learn new skills, games, songs, and more! Special activities include Red Cross Certified swim instruction, archery, gaga, and much more!

Camp at the J: Raiders – grades 46 Dates: June 16 – July 3; July 7 – July 25; July 28 – Aug. 15 (three

week sessions) Raiders takes the camping experience to the next level with a variety of activities just for these older campers. From archery and awesome field trips to the gaga pit and waterpark, nonstop action is the name of the game for active kids who want to build skills and bring on the fun!

Camp at the J: Quest – grades 7-8 Dates: June 16 – July 3; July 7 – July 25; July 28 – Aug. 15 (three week sessions) Campers can make meaningful connections with other kids from all over the community while turning up the fun for a summer filled with endless possibilities!

Exciting activities and trips, combined with the freedom of more choice makes Quest perfect for our oldest campers who want something new and exciting.

Camp at the J: Counselor-inTraining Program – grades 9 &10 Dates: June 16 – July 25 (six week session) CITs get great on the job training while experiencing all the fun of camp with their peers! This specialized program fosters important leadership, teamwork and communication skills and offers opportunities to mentor younger campers and form lasting friendships. Please contact Freddie Wolf at 766.3398 to register or learn more.

Camp at the J: Horseback Riding Camp – grades 1-4 & 5-8 Dates: July 28 – Aug. 1 for grades 1-4; Aug. 4 – Aug. 8 for grades 5-8 (one week sessions)Aspiring equestrians will travel each day from the JCC to East Fork Stables, where they will learn important skills and have fun horseback riding! Space is limited and will fill up quickly.

Camp at the J: Early Childhood Camp – pre-K (ages 3-4) Dates: June 16 – July 25 (six week session) Pre-K campers will enjoy busy days filled with lots of indoor and outdoor adventures that make summertime extra special. This camp is administered by the JCC Early Childhood School! Limited space is available. Please contact Denise Schnur at 513-722-7247 to register or learn more.

Camp Livingston 8485 Ridge Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236 For over 90 years, Camp Livingston has provided a safe, inclusive and nuturing environment where campers gain self-esteem, build confidence, and form lasting

frienships, all while having the summer of their lives!

Campers enjoy sports, visual and performing arts, aqautics, horseback riding, ropes courses, rock climbing, nature activities and more. We offer 1, 2, 4, 6 & 8 week sessions for children in grades 3-12.

Great Parks of Hamilton County Day Camps Various locations Sign up your adventurer, ages 217, for a half or full-day summer camp experience. Camps include: Habitat Explorers; Awesome Animals; Barnyard Friends; Growing Up a Farm Kid; Archery; Kayaking; Fishing; and Horseback Riding, just to name a few.

Early-bird registration ends March 31.

12 • KIDS & SUMMER CAMPS

Registration for Great Parks of Hamilton County day camps begins in February The Great Parks of Hamilton County have great opportunities for kids to stay active this summer!

Keep kids active, healthy and focused with Great Parks Summer Day Camps! Children ages 2–17 will have opportunities to explore nature through hands-on activities, hikes, games, crafts and much more.

Some of the exciting camps being offered this year include: Great Outdoors Camp at Winton Woods, Ultimate Challenge Camp at Adventure Outpost, Ex-stream Explorations! at Sharon Woods, Farm Adventures at Parky’s Farm, Fishing Camp at Lake Isabella, and more.

Online registration begins February 10, 2014. Those who register online between February 10 and March 31, 2014, will receive an early bird discount of $20 off!

For a full list of summer day camps, including dates, locations, age ranges, costs and registration deadlines, please visit the Great Parks website or call for for details.

A valid Great Parks of Hamilton County Motor Vehicle Permit ($10 annual; $3 daily) is required to enter the parks.

Armleder and Fernbank Parks are cooperative ventures with the Cincinnati Park Board; a Motor Vehicle Permit is not required.

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Camp Livingston welcomes new executive director, Brett Schwartz, back to Cincinnati Camp Livingston is delighted to introduce Brett Schwartz as its new Executive Director!

Brett has been Executive Director of Washington & Lee University Hillel in Virginia for the last three years. While there he significantly increased student and community participation, oversaw an active calendar of activities, and worked to attract more Jewish students to the university.

Brett has previously spent time in Cincinnati as the Youth Director at Adath Israel. During this time, Brett brought USY, BBYO and

“Brett's strong leadership and innovative programming will be a great compliment to the many skills of our current staff.”

NFTY together for their first ever joint program, resulting in June 5, 2009 being named "Brett Schwartz Day" by the Mayor of Amberley Village.

Rabbi Irvin Wise of Adath Israel echoes the excitement of many in the community, "I am thrilled that Brett Schwartz will be returning to Cincinnati to head up Camp Livingston. Brett is a talented Jewish professional who brings experience, creativity and passion to his work. In the three years that he served as the Youth Director at Adath Israel, our kids, parents and staff came to love him.

Brett's return will strengthen our community."

Brett earned his Masters in Organizational Development and Leadership and Undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and Outdoor Recreation.

Brett's camp experience dates back over a decade. He served in a variety of positions across four camps: Camp Harlam, Camp JRF, Camp ArthuReeta and Camp Westmont.

“We are very excited to welcome Brett to the Camp Livingston team”, Camp Livingston’s President, Gretchen Myers, said.

“Brett's strong leadership and innovative programming will be a great compliment to the many skills of our current staff.”

Camp Livingston is thrilled to welcome Brett, whose first day is February 24th, to its new office space at the Mayerson JCC. Brett is anxiously awaiting meeting with parents and campers of the region throughout the spring and into the summer.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Your JeWISH granted: generous grants available for overnight Jewish camping and Israel travel Give your children or grandchildren a gift that will last longer than the newest video game, even longer than an iPad—one that will last a lifetime and that they’ll be proud to pass down to their own children. Give them a strong Jewish identity, pride in their heritage and a personal connection to Israel.

The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, can help, with non-need based grants for overnight Jewish camping and Israel travel for each Jewish child in the greater Cincinnati area.

Overnight Jewish camping strengthens Jewish identity Overnight Jewish campers come home changed, say their parents. They are more grown up, more independent and more interested in participating in Jewish life—lighting Shabbat candles, singing Israeli songs, giving to charity and doing social action work. Both Jewish camping and Israel travel experiences instill an appreciation of Jewish heritage and develop future community leaders.

Overnight camps in general allow kids to live as part of a community.

Removed from outside influences— cell phones, internet and television— while surrounded by nature, campers of all ages form lasting friendships and connections unlike any they have experienced.

When children attend Jewish camps, they also develop their Jewish identities within a safe and inclusive environment. For many, overnight Jewish camp is their first exposure to Israel; they interact with Israeli campers and counselors, sing Israeli songs and eat Israeli food. The connections they make to Israel and their Jewish peers encourage them to then travel to Israel during high school and after, cementing their relationships with the Jewish homeland and deepening their understanding of what it means to be Jewish.

Jewish Foundation grants are an investment in our community’s future Since the start of this hallmark program in 2000, the Jewish Foundation’s Trustees have shown their deep com-

mitment to our young people, with the ultimate goal of creating strong, devoted Jewish leaders. They understand that these are the best investments a community can make in its future.

“Numerous studies confirm that overnight Jewish camping and educational experiences in Israel powerfully contribute to life-long Jewish identity, Jewish education, leadership development and connection to Israel,” said Jewish Foundation President Michael R. Oestreicher. “This year’s incentive grants put Cincinnati at the forefront of American Jewish communities encouraging these experiences.”

Generous grants are available, regardless of income First-year camping grants of up to $1,800 are available for a session of at least three weeks (or $900 for a twoweek session). Second-year grants are also available: up to $1,000 for a session of at least three weeks (or $500 for a two-week session).

Jewish high school students (ages 16–18) from Cincinnati are eligible for a one-time grant of up to $6,500 for travel to Israel on an approved peer educational program. Post-high school students (ages 18-26) can receive an additional grant of up to $5,000.

Barb Miller, Director of Community Building at the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, said, “Think about it—every single Jewish child in Cincinnati can take advantage of all that Jewish camping and Israel travel have to offer. I don’t believe there is another city in the world offering such amazing opportunities.” She continued, “Thanks to the generosity of the Foundation, we are advancing the goals of Cincinnati 2020 by providing this unique benefit to our young people. We are allowing them to discover their Jewish identities while connecting them to our community in meaningful ways. More and more, our families are realizing just how affordable and enriching Jewish life in Cincinnati can be!”

Many Jewish camps and Israel trips fill up quickly, so registering early is recommended. Learn more—contact us today!

KIDS & SUMMER CAMPS • 13

14 • KIDS & SUMMER CAMPS

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Camp at the J offers something for every child This is your child’s only summer of 2014…make it count! There are all kinds of one-week specialty camps offered across Greater Cincinnati that focus on one specific skill or interest, such as computers, art or soccer.

However, for kids looking for a camp with lots of different things to do, as well as a chance to form lasting friendships and make memories they’ll cherish for a lifetime… there’s Camp at the J! Camp at the J features a well-rounded lineup of activities every day and fosters the kinds of friendships that a oneweek camp experience simply doesn’t allow.

Activities range from good old-fashioned favorites such as funny theme days, fossil hunting, swimming and archery, to trendier offerings such as recycled art, composting, silly science, social action projects and more.

From an outdoor pool and playground, to the indoor water park and full-sized gymnasium, Camp at the J features the best facilities in town for rain or shine fun. Campers receive Red Cross swim lessons, have access to an art studio, enjoy sports, games and other activities, participate in cultural programming, celebrate Shabbat and learn firsthand about life in Israel from Israeli counselors.

They also get to choose weekly activities that appeal to their interests, go on field trips, cool off with free swim in the water park and so much more!

Camp at the J is fully accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), which requires the highest possible standards of quality and safety. Expert staff and specialists are highly trained, and lifeguards undergo a rigorous

Red Cross certification process.

And whenever inclement weather strikes, the whole camp can come indoors and enjoy full access to the JCC’s air conditioned facilities.

Registration is now open to all campers entering grades K8, as well as teens entering grades 9-10 who are interested in being part of the CIT (Counselor in Training) pro-

gram. Discounts are available to JCC members and families who sign up more than one child.

Campers may be enrolled in one or all of the three, three week sessions that run from June 9th through August 15th. Kick Start Camp is the J’s special one-week program for working parents, and others looking for a high quality program for their kids before camp officially begins from June 9th through June 16th.

Extended care options are also available all summer long, with drop off as early as 7am and pick up as late as 6pm.

“While fun and safety are our top priorities, we are equally committed to helping our campers build special bonds with one another and make memories they can carry with them throughout their lives!” explains Camp Director, Matt Steinberg. “Our caring and compassionate staff are dedicated to creating a welcoming environment that helps campers flourish by engaging them in confidence boosting activities, and teaching them new skills that help express their individuality,” he adds.

“Our goal is to give our campers the absolute best summer of their lives! Period.”

Units are split by grade level to ensure age-appropriate activities that are engaging for all campers. They include, Pioneers, for children entering grades K-1, Trailblazers, for grades 2-3, Raiders for grades 4-6, and Quest for grades 7-8.

In addition to these four units, there is a Counselor-inTraining (CIT) Program for teens entering grades 9-10.

Some spots are still open for children ages 3-4 in the JCC’s Early Childhood School.

Each Unit is divided into different bunks to help campers build close-knit ties through a summer’s worth of shared experiences. Campers also have ample opportunities to form friendships outside their bunks and connect with other counselors.

The Maccabi Color Wars, a highly-anticipated annual competition, Fire Truck Spray Day, as well as other special events throughout the summer, present perfect opportunities for camp-wide bonding as well.

“We’ve added lots of new programs, specialty areas and other surprises to our camp lineup this year,” says Abby Solomon, Program Director.

“Whether they’re Camp at the J regulars who are returning again this summer, or first time campers, they’re sure to love all the great things we’ve got in store!” she adds. “For example, one of the additions to camp this year is our new indoor Gaga arena which will allow us to double the amount of campers who will get to play this popular Israeli-style dodge ball game!”

Also new this year are “Campy Meals”, freshly prepared lunches in the J’s own supervised kosher kitchen that come complete with healthy, kid-friendly favorites and a fun surprise in every bag. Campy Meals are delivered to the bunks each day and are a convenient option for busy parents, and cost effective at just $3.75 a day.

“From those with serious allergies, to campers on the spectrum of Autism and everything in between, Camp at the J offers a welcoming and inclusive environment that provides many added support services and one-on-one advocates at no extra cost for children who qualify,” says Ari Mann, the JCC’s Schloss Special Needs and Services Coordinator.

“We want to ensure that every camper has a meaningful experience which is why we work with parents and any professionals on their child’s team to address concerns, special goals and other issues to help our campers reach their highest potential over the summer.”

Camp at the J is open to all.

To register, or for more information, please consult the Camp Directory in this issue for contact information.

DINING OUT • 15

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Walt’s Hitching Post a friendly place for dining out

By Bob Wilhelmy Here are a couple questions for you: do you feel a welcoming connection to your restaurant host when you go out for a fine-dine evening? Or do you feel a phony, canned approach to the overall experience?

“At Walt’s, we want our guests to feel like they’re dining with friends, dining at a friend’s house,” said Donny Arnsperger, managing partner and GM of Walt’s Hitching Post. “We take pride in the fact that Walt’s is a friendly place where you find a sincere interest in your whole experience. The food has to be excellent. But that’s not all. We work to make sure that every aspect of your dining experience with us meets your expectations for excellence.”

Having had hundreds of finedine restaurant experiences over time, allow me to echo what Arnsperger said. Walt’s is a friendly place. And it’s not fake friendly, either, as is the case in many eateries, fine or not. What I sense, simply, is a collection of people who enjoy what they do, take pride in their product, and have fun delivering a fine-dining experience to every guest who chooses Walt’s.

We enjoyed the prime rib and the bone-in rib-eye steak. Both cuts of beef were done to perfection— rare in both cases, and prepared exactly as ordered. Walt’s features prime rib on Friday evenings. Chef Ryan Terry and his staff do an excellent job with the slow-roasted prime rib, bringing to table a slab of beef that is juicy, tender, tasty, and delectable. Even the small portion is a hefty slice, but we ate and savored every morsel.

The bone-in rib-eye, as all steaks at Walt’s, features Donny’s Dust. That dust is a combination of herbs and spices that give every steak a great flavor. My sense is that the rib-eye is even more flavorful because the bone is attached.

Steak can be a bit bland if not prepared with care. And Terry’s crew does an excellent job in bringing out natural flavors through effective grilling, and complementing them with Donny’s Dust. The rib-eye is delicious!

One point to consider in finedining is what comes with an entrée

The rib-eye steak with mashed potatoes, and creamed corn brought to table in a cast iron skillet Pictured, from left are: Donny Arnsperger, managing partner/GM; Bronson Trebbi, owner/proprietor; and David “Sanchez” Wilson, manager.

selection. At Walt’s, you’ll enjoy a house salad or hot slaw, and your choice of baked, mashed or homefried potatoes. That’s value you will not find at most fine-dine restaurants. My salad was cold, fresh, crisp, dressed just right, and prepared when I placed my order.

Detail and care of that nature is what I am looking for in a quality dining experience. Walt’s delivered.

BTW, if you are wondering which side, or sides, to order, you may want to consider the creamed corn. Walt’s does one of the best I’ve ever tasted, and there is more than enough for two. The sweetness is a good complement to the beef.

We enjoyed wine with the meal, and here again, value is the word.

Wine prices at Walt’s are reasonable and the pours are generous.

Arnsperger showed me the wine list, and pointed to several selections. He showed me what other places charge for a given bottle, and the lower prices you’ll experience at Walt’s. There was a significant savings to be had. We ordered wines by the glass, and there too were, very good wines, generously poured, and moderately priced.

In addition, I noticed how wellversed our server was in explaining the different wine choices we considered. There is a reason for the expertise, since Walt’s features training sessions for its staff on wines and bourbons, along with

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training on the meats, seafood and other items on the menu. “We train constantly, because we want our guests to have confidence in our servers, knowing that they have solid answers to guest questions,” Arnsperger said. “Wine, port, meats, fish—we train on everything, so everybody here is better at helping guests with anything we offer.”

If you are looking for a bar scene with good value, Walt’s has introduced a new bar menu and promotions to go with it, called Waterin’ Hole Nights. For instance, Mondays, from 4-7 p.m., there are $4 premium drinks and wines by the glass, along with bar menu items. There are similar promotions for other nights of the week including Saturday. The menu features items such as: a fondue-style beer cheese with Walt’s salted rye (the rye is served at table also, and is delicious); home-made potato pancake, latke-like, topped with smoked salmon, scallions and crème fraîche; country-style mini sandwiches of brisket, topped with BBQ slaw and served with shoestring potatoes; and over-sized beef franks, served with homemade mustard and soft pretzels.

See you at Walt’s!

Walt’s Hitching Post 3300 Madison Pike Fort Wright, KY 41017 (859) 360-2222

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16 • OPINION

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Mahmoud Abbas flunks history

By Rafael Medoff (JNS) – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has reiterated that he won’t recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and he’s claiming support for that position from an unlikely quarter: former U.S. president Harry Truman. But a closer look reveals that Truman’s words are being misrepresented.

In a Feb. 3 interview with the New York Times, Abbas was asked about recognizing Israel as a Jewish state – something both the Israeli government and President Barack Obama have said the Palestinian Authority needs to do. “This is out of the question,” Abbas said. To justify that position, Abbas handed the Times interviewer a packet of documents, the first of which was a statement by Truman from 1948 in which the words “Jewish state” were crossed out and replaced by “State of Israel.”

Someone who didn’t know better might think Abbas had scored a point. But in fact, the document in question does not provide evidence of American opposition to a Jewish state.

Here’s how that cross-out came about: On May 15, 1948, just before David Ben-Gurion announced the establishment of the State of Israel, Truman decided he would extend U.S. recognition to the state as soon as it was proclaimed. A senior aide to the president, Clark Clifford, telephoned Eliahu Epstein (Elath), who was the state-to-be’s chief representative in Washington.

Clifford told Elath to submit a formal request for recognition as soon as possible.

Elath wrote up the request during the minutes before the state was proclaimed. He did not yet know what its name would be. So he typed “the Jewish State.” He gave the document to his assistant, Zvi Zinder, who ran outside to get a taxi to the White House.

Moments after Zinder left, Elath’s secretary rushed in to say she had just heard on their shortwave radio that the state had been declared, and it would be called the State of Israel.

Elath sent his secretary after Zinder, and she caught up to him at the gates to the White House.

Elath didn’t want to delay recognition by having Zinder return and re-type the letter. So he had instructed his secretary

to make the correction by hand.

Hence the famous cross-out to which Abbas referred. It was not a political or ideological statement; it was the equivalent of a typographical correction.

But none of this is a secret.

Ambassador Elath described it in his book, “The Struggle for Statehood: Washington 19451948,” which was published back in 1979, and it has appeared in other books since then. It’s required reading for scholars and diplomats who have a serious interest in America-Israel relations. It’s difficult to believe that Abbas, and the PA aides who helped assemble his packet of clippings, are unfamiliar with these well-known facts.

On the other hand, history has never been Mr. Abbas’s strong suit.

Last year, he told a Lebanese television station that David Ben-Gurion and the Zionist movement collaborated with the Nazis. “I challenge anyone to deny the relationship between Zionism and Nazism before World War II.” He claimed to have authored “70 books” on the topic.

So far, only one of those 70 books has been published. That 1983 book, based on Abbas’s Ph.D. dissertation at Moscow’s Oriental College, argued that fewer than one million Jews were killed by the Nazis – and that those Jews were the victims of a secret partnership that BenGurion and other Zionist leaders formed with the Nazis in order to have a basis for demanding a state.

“Since Zionism was not a fighting partner, it had no escape but to offer up human beings, under any name, to raise the number of victims, which they could then boast of at the moment of accounting,” Abbas wrote. “Having more victims meant greater rights and stronger privilege to join the negotiation table for dividing the spoils of war once it was over.”

The historical record can play an important role in addressing the conflicting claims by Arabs and Israelis about territories, refugees, and other issues. But that record is ill-served when Holocaust history and American history are twisted into political cannon fodder by those who are less interested in the facts than in scoring points against Israel.

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Boycotting settlements is not anti-Israel

By Naomi Paiss NEW YORK (JTA) – On her way out the door to defend the SodaStream company, the suddenly political Scarlett Johannson threw a grenade at her erstwhile cause, the international aid organization Oxfam.

According to her spokesperson, “she and Oxfam have a fundamental difference of opinion in regards to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.”

Full stop. The global boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, which harbors more than a few people who want to put the entire project of a Jewish homeland out of business, is not the issue between Ms. Johannson and Oxfam. SodaStream has its main factory in the occupied territories. The company is contributing to the health and prosperity of the occupation while providing income for the settlement enterprise – an enterprise that is corroding Israeli democracy, deemed “illegitimate” by the American government and considered illegal under international law.

Boycotting goods and services coming from the settlements, although sometimes difficult to implement in practice, means putting one’s money where one’s mouth is, if one has been saying that the settlements are an impediment to the two-state solution and to peace.

What’s so hard to understand about that?

My organization, the New Israel Fund, which supports more than 100 progressive civil society organizations in Israel at any given time, made a clear distinction some years ago in our funding guidelines. We don’t fund

organizations with global BDS programs. We will not disqualify organizations for funding if they support the boycott of settlement goods because we see it as entirely consistent with our opposition to the occupation, our defense of Israeli democracy and our support for a two-state solution.

So let’s take a look at those who are profiting from blurring the lines – the Green Line, to be precise. The current Israeli government and its well-funded organizational allies have popularized the word “delegitimization” to describe opposition to Israel. But in making no distinction between calls to boycott Israel itself and calls to boycott the settlement enterprise, they are deliberately conflating two very different things while erasing the distinction between Israel inside the Green Line – the pre-1967 border with the West Bank – and military control of settlements in the territories. Defunding the settlements equals delegitimization equals anti-Semitism equals destruction of Israel as a Jewish state, or so goes their formula.

Those for whom any progress toward ending the occupation is their worst nightmare have been somewhat successful at making this false equivalence stick.

The truth is, Israel has real adversaries who equate Zionism with racism. But it is also true that criticizing Israeli government policy, especially support for the settlement enterprise, is not delegitimizing Israel.

According to last year’s Pew study, only 17 percent of American Jews believe the settlements help Israeli security. Do the other 83 percent not think that Israel is legitimate?

By some accounts, the

Palestinians who work at SodaStream are well treated by the standards of occupation enterprises. But suggesting that those Palestinians don’t have much choice about their employment because the West Bank is entirely aid dependent, and because it’s hard to have a vibrant economy under foreign military control – that’s not delegitimizing Israel either. That’s the truth as proIsrael progressives worldwide see it.

But let’s leave the Palestinians aside for a moment.

What blurring the lines between Israel and its military occupation accomplishes is not just the perpetuation of the occupation.

Israel’s existence as a democratic state is grounded in the values and institutions it shares with other democracies, including freedom of speech and conscience, an independent judiciary and an untrammeled civil society.

It is no accident that in the past five years, those values and institutions have come under attack from those whose defend the settlement enterprise at virtually any cost. The harassment and punitive legislation aimed at human rights groups, which inconveniently document the abuses inherent in occupation, is a deliberate strategy as well.

Anyone who has spent 10 minutes watching Palestinians queue up at a checkpoint to get to work or a hospital in Israel knows that Israeli democracy comes to a halt at that checkpoint. Anyone who drives on a road forbidden to Palestinians and guarded by barbed wire and watchtowers, or reads the graffiti left at the scene by settler vigilantes during their BOYCOTTING on page 19

JEWISH LIFE • 17

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

splendor which emanated from his face.

Allow me to add to this Midrash on the basis of the teaching of Rabbi Soloveitchik. The essence of the Second Tablets included Torah Shebe’al Peh, the Oral Law, the human input of the great Torah Sages throughout the generations which had been absent from the first tablets. Hence chapter 34 of our Biblical portion opens with God’s command to Moses, “Hew for yourself two stone tablets.”You, Moses, are to do the engraving, not Me, God; the first tablets were hewn by God and the commandments were engraved by God, whereas the Second Tablets were hewn by the human being Moses and the commands were engraved by him. The chapter concludes: “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Write for yourself these words for on the basis of these words [the Oral Law, the hermeneutic principles and the interpretations of the rabbis of each generation] have I established an [eternal] covenant with Israel” (Ex. 34:27).

Rabbi Soloveitchik maintains that during the 40 days from Rosh Hodesh Elul to Yom Kippur, Moses re-learned the 613 commandments with the many possibilities of the Oral Law; Moses’ active intellect became the “receiver” for the active intellect of the Divine, having received all of the manifold potential possibilities of the future developments of Torah throughout the generations. This is the meaning of the Talmudic adage that “Every authentic scholar (“talmid vatik”) who presents a novel teaching is merely recycling Torah from Sinai” (Midrash Vayikra Rabba 22). In this manner, Moses’ personality became totally identified and intertwined with Torah, a sacred combination of the Divine words and the interpretations of Moses. Moses became a living Sefer Torah, a “ministering vessel” (kli sharet) which can never lose its sanctity.

The Beit Halevi (Rav Yosef Dov Baer Halevi Soloveitchik, the great grand-father of my teacher) maintains that the special radiance which emanated from Moses’ countenance originated from the concentrated sanctity of Moses’ identity with the many aspects of the Oral Torah which his own generation was not yet ready to hear, but which Moses kept within himself, for later generations. Whenever the inner world of

the individual is more than it appears to be on the surface, that inner radiance becomes increasingly pronounced and externally manifest.

Moses’ radiant glow was Oral Torah, something not at all germane to the First Tablets containing only the Written Law. Why did Moses break the First Tablets? Moses understood that there was a desperate need for a second set of tablets, born of God’s consummate love and unconditional forgiveness, with an Oral Law which would empower the nation to be God’s partners in the developing Torah. But God had threatened to destroy the nation! Moses breaks the first tablets as a message to God: just as the tablets are considered to be “ministering vessels” which never lose their sanctity, even if broken, so are the Jewish people, Knesset Yisrael, teachers and students of Torah, “ministering vessels,” which will never lose their sanctity, even if God attempts to break them! The Jewish nation, repositories of the oral teachings, are heirs to the eternal sanctity of Moses their Rebbe.

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T EST Y OUR T ORAH KNOWLEDGE THIS WEEK’S PORTION: KI TISA (SHMOT 30:11—34:35) 1. What was the anointing oil used for? a.) The vessels of the Mishkan b.) Moshe c.) Priests d.) All of the above 2. Which was a spice in the incense? a.) Myrrh b.) Balsam c.) Galbanum 3. Who oversaw the making of the priestly garments? a.) Moshe Hashem gave Moshe the tablets after he taught the civil laws in Parshat Mishpatim. Rashi 5. C 34:29 Moshe received the shine when Hashem told to go into the cleft of the rock by the Golden Calf. 33:22 Rashi

EFRAT, Israel – “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord” (Ex. 34:29).

What is the significance of the dazzling radiance of Moses’ face and why did it not attain this shining glow until he received the Second Tablets on Yom Kippur? And, perhaps the most difficult question of all, why did Moses break the First Tablets? Yes, he was bitterly disappointed, perhaps even angry, at the Israelites’ worship of the Golden Calf only forty days after God’s first Revelation on Shavuot; however, these tablets were “the work of God and they were the writing of God” (Ex. 32:16). How could the holiest human being take the holiest object on earth and smash it to smithereens? Was he not adding to Israel’s sin, pouring salt on the wounds of the Almighty (as it were)?

My revered teacher, Rabbi Joseph B Soloveitchik ztz”l, taught that Moses emerges from our Biblical portion of Ki Tisa not only as the greatest prophet of the generations but also as the exalted rebbe of Klal Israel, as Moshe Rabbeinu: Moses the teacher and master of all the generations. This unique transformation of his personality took place on Yom Kippur; it is the sobriquet of Rebbe that occasions the rays of splendor which shone forth from his countenance. (See Rabbi Avishai David, Darosh Darash Yosef, p. 188 ff).

The Midrash on the first verse of the Book of Leviticus, “And (God) called out to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting” provokes a remarkable insight. The Biblical word for “called out” in this text is vayiker, a word which suggests a mere chance encounter rather than an actual summoning or calling out of the Divine (vayikra); indeed, our Masoretic text places a small aleph at the end of the word. The Midrash explains that it was Moses’ modesty which insisted upon an almost accidental meeting rather than a direct summons. However, when God completed the writing down of the Five Books, there was a small amount of ink left over from that small letter aleph; the Almighty lovingly placed the overage of sacred ink on Moses’ forehead, which accounts for the glorious

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Write for yourself these words for on the basis of these words...have I established an [eternal] covenant with Israel” (Ex. 34:27).

b.) Aaron c.) Betzalel 4. How many were the tablets of the covenant? a.) One b.) Two c.) Three 5. What shined? a.) The two tablets b.) The ark c.) Moshe's face

3. C 31:2 Betzaelel never learned the skills needed to make the Mishkan in Egypt, yet Hashem gave him the wisdom to know all the skills. Ramban 4. B 31:18 The tablets were equal. Also,

by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin

SHABBAT SHALOM: PARSHAT KI TISA EXODUS 30:11 – 34:35

Written by Rabbi Dov Aaron Wise

ANSWERS 1. A,C 30:26-30 2. C 30:34 Galbanum does not smell good, still it was mixed in the Ketoret to teach that even sinners should be included in prayer groups. Rashi

Sedra of the Week

18 • JEWZ IN THE NEWZ

JEWZ

IN THE

By Nate Bloom Contributing Columnist Olympic Update In my last column, I noted that American SIMON SHNAPIR, 26, was competing in pairs’ figure skating and that Canadian DYLAN MOSKOVITCH, 29, was also competing in the same event. One I missed: American JASON BROWN, 19. He earned a spot on the United States men’s figure skating team with an upset performance at the Olympic trials, where he finished second. He’ll skate in individual events. Brown celebrated his bar mitzvah in 2007 and grew up in Highland Park, a Chicago suburb.

At the Movies: “Winter’s Tale” “Winter’s Tale,” a 1983 novel

by MARK HELPRIN, 67, has often been listed among the best American novels of the 20th century. It may be the crown jewel in Helprin’s literary career – which includes other novels, short stories, twenty years of “New Yorker” columns, and, sometimes, proIsrael polemics. Helprin, an American, is a veteran of the Israeli air force and infantry.

The film version of Helprin’s novel, also called “Winter’s Tale,” opens on Friday, Feb. 14. The official publicity description of the film is short and pretty vague: “Set in a mythic New York City and spanning more than a century, ‘Winter’s Tale’ is a story of miracles, crossed destinies, and the ageold battle between good and evil.”

This is as good a short description as any. The novel is a 700 page opus, with scores of characters, and even reviewers who loved the book were unable to write a concise plot summary. Still, almost all reviews agreed that Helperin had pulled off a rare trick: writing a sprawling fantasy novel that went beyond just being coherent – it was literary art.

Now critics will judge if AKIVA GOLDSMAN, 51, who adapted the novel for the screen, and directed the film, has been able to turn literary art into film art.

Two positive omens: Goldsman did manage to turn the life of a Princeton mathematician into a highly dramatic film (“A Beautiful Mind”) and win an Oscar for his script – and he coaxed an all-star cast to appear in “Tale” for less than their usual star salaries (Colin Farrell, William Hurt, Eva Marie Saint, and “Beautiful Mind” costars Russell Crowe and JENNIFER CONNELLY, 43.)

Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014) No, he wasn’t Jewish. Not even “a little.”

Almost all longer biographies

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of Hoffman note that a critical moment in his career came in 1984. Hoffman, then 17, met two ‘arty’ teenage Jews from a New York City suburb while attending a Saratoga, NY arts camp. They became his life-long friends and sometime professional collaborators. One was DAN FUTTERMAN, now 46, an actor (“Judging Amy,” DANIEL PEARL in “A Mighty Heart”) and screenwriter (his scripts include “Capote”, for which he received an Oscar screenplay nomination). The other was director BENNETT MILLER, now 47 (“Capote”, “Moneyball”).

Just before the 2005 Oscars ceremony, I interviewed Miller, who was nominated for best director for “Capote.” Miller didn’t win the director Oscar, but Hoffman went on to win the best actor Oscar for playing the film’s title role.

One comment that Miller made about Hoffman always stuck with me. He said that Phil, as he called Hoffman, wasn’t a comic impressionist who could “turn into” Truman Capote at a moment’s notice. He required a long period of solo concentration to put on that persona. I got the strong sense from Miller that Hoffman had expended himself, both mentally and physically, to “reach inside” and “pull out” his amazing transformation into Capote. Later, whenever I saw Hoffman in another screen role – I wondered what inner resources had he used up to bring us another bravura performance.

Knowing this, I was less surprised than some about his emotional turmoil and drug addiction.

Bob’s Front and Back Pages BOB DYLAN, 72, is still pretty firmly in the public eye. The recent Super Bowl featured Dylan in a long Chrysler commercial pushing the virtue of buying American-made cars. The ad was a bit weird and edgy in text and cinematic style – but somehow that fit Dylan. No doubt, Dylan also picked up a big paycheck from the use of his 1965 song, “I Want You,” in another Super Bowl ad featuring a grizzly bear crazed for Chobani yogurt.

Meanwhile, the on-going celebration of the Beatles’ 50th anniversary arrival in America prompted Rolling Stone magazine (Jan. 16th issue) to recount the Beatles first meeting with Dylan, in Aug, 1964. It isn’t ‘new’ news – but many are still unaware that, as the article says, Dylan introduced the Beatles to pot at their very first meeting. There’s also this nice quote from Paul McCartney: “We were kind of proud to have been introduced to pot by Dylan.”

FROM THE PAGES 150 Y EARS A GO Wanted: a situation by a young man, about 18 months in this country, who can already speak English tolerably well, as a clerk somewhere in the country. Salary not so much an object as a permanent situation, and a chance to improve. Best of city reference given. Address M. G. of this office.

The undersigned is authroized to receive orders for Matzohs, for K. K. Adath Israel. Persons ordering, who live on Express routes, where the money can be collected on delivery, need not send the cash.

All orders should be addressed to L. Levy, Box 214, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Betrothed, Miss Fanny Stromberg to Mr. Nathan Drucker, both of this city. – March 11, 1864

125 Y EARS A GO Mr. Julius Reis was surprised last Saturday evening, at his home on Gilbert Avenue, by his relatives and friends, who came to celebrate his fiftieth birthday, and a very enjoyable evening was the result.

An occurence of exceptional sadness was the death of Mrs. Abe Bloch, which occurred after a brief illness on Sunday evening, January 10th, resulting from perperal fever. Mrs. Bloch was formerly a Miss Friedenwald, of Baltimore, and was but thirty years of age at the time of her death.

The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, from the home on Hackberry Street and was largely attended. The doubly bereaved husband has the sympathy of a very large circle of relatives and friends in this community.

The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Max Koch, of West Seventh street, will be pleased to learn that their son, Irwin Max Koch, is convalescing from his recent severe illness. – February 14, 1889

100 Y EARS A GO Miss Therese Peyser of this city and Mr. Milton Newman of Baltimore, MD, were married last Sunday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sol D. Peyser in the Sommerfield apartments., Avondale. Mr Peyser is a brother of the bride. On the day preceding the wedding, the bride was taken ill and her illness proved to be scarlet fever. The wedding was therefore a very quiet one.

Immediately after the ceremony Mrs. Newman was taken to the hospital, where, at latest reports, she is progressing very favorably.

The monument of the late Moritz Loth, the first president of the Union of the American Hebrew Congregations and one of

the most ardent workers for its creation, will be dedicated on Wednesday, February 18 at 3pm.

The exercises will take place in the chapel of the United Jewish Cemetary in Walnut Hills.

Lucian L. Kahn and Miss Clara A. Maltman were married last Tuesday evening by Rabbi Louis Grossmann at the Kahn hom on Beechwood Ave., Rosehill,Avondale. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lazard Kahn and the bride is a daughter of A. Maltman, a mining engineer of Los Angeles, CA. After a bridal trip to New York, the young couple will live in Camden Avenue, Avondale. – February 12, 1914

75 Y EARS A GO The Kadimah boys have hit upon a quite new and different theme for their coming dance Sunday evening, February 19th, a the Jewish Center.

It’s to be a Sweetheart Dance, and promises to be a gala affair, with everyone bringing his one and only.

The Club has worked diligently to assure everyone attending a grand time. To that end, the boys have arranged an excellent program.

The star attraction is to be an orchestra, which will provide music for the dancers. A Jam session will be included in the course of the evening, with all the jitterbugs holding sway. To please equally the advocates of sweet music, a group of sweetheart dances will be played.

Not content with having an orchestra, the boys are augmenting that feature with a stellar floor show and refreshments.

Bring your sweetheart and if you don’t have one, come anyhow.

Maybe you’ll meet your affinity.

The tariff for stags will be 15c; with sweetheart, 25c; for nonmembers, 20c with and 30c without. – February 16, 1939

50 Y EARS A GO Mr. and Mrs. David Frieder (Sue Bronster), 6305 Engelwood Avenue, announce the birth of a daughter, Julie Beth, Saturday, February 1. The infant has a sister, Deborah Lynn. The grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Bronster and the late Mr. and Mrs. Morris Frieder. The great grandmother is Mrs. Henry Sweet.

Mr. and Mrs. Julian Moskowitz, 7201 Willowbrook Lane, announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son, Jeffrey, Saturday Feb. 15, at 10:45am, at Wise Center.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush following

the service.

A reception in Jeff’s honor will be given Sunday, February 16, from 5 to 9pm, at the residence.

No cards.

Jeff is the great grandson of Mrs. Nathan Schaen and the grandson of Mrs. Ruby Lucas and the late Mr. Morris Lucas, and also the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Moskowitz.

Henry Fishman, 3960 Parker Place, passed away Monday, February 3. He was a member of Adath Israel Synagogue, Hirsch Hoffert Lodge, and Miami Lodge 45, F & AM. Mr. Fishman is survived by his wife, Mrs. Eva Rafalo Fishman; two sons, Dr. Melvin Bl Fishman of Cincinnati and Dr. Stanley L. Fishman of Brooklyn; and five grandchildren. – February 13, 1964

25 Y EARS A GO Rabbi Lewis and Renee Kamrass announce the birth of a son, Micah Evan, Feb. 5. Micah has a sister, Jenna Marlene.

Grandparents are Vivian and Alvin Slotkin of Augusta, GA, and Anna Lee and David Kamrass of Atlanta. Great-grandparents are Regena Goldman and Dorothy and Ben Zimmerman, all of Atlanta.

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Lahm of Cincinnati announce the marriage of their daughter, Devorah Sue, to Jay Steven Sien, son of Elaine Gardner and the late Jules Sien.

The wedding touch took place Jan. 21 at Rockdale Temple. Rabbi Mark Goldman officiated.

Maid of Honor was Mary Weiss of Cincinnati; Dan Glasser, brother of the groom, was best man. After a honeymoon in the Western Caribbean, the couple resides in Cincinnati. – February 23, 1989

10 Y EARS A GO Jonah Levi Guttman, son of Harold and Cynthia Guttman, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah Sat. Feb 21, 2004 at Adath Israel.

Sarah and Rebecca Perlman, daughters of Scot and Amy Perlman, will celebrate becoming Bat Mitzvahs Sat. Feb 21, 2004 at Northern Hills SynagogueCongregation B’nai Avraham.

The service will take place at Temple Sholom; the new building at Fields Ertel will not be complete.

Irina Simon, died Jan. 2, 2004 (8 Tevet, 5764). She is predeceased by her husband, Louis Simon. She is survived by her children, Carenjean and Rabbi Gerry Walter and June Stoelzel of Escondido, CA and her 7 grandchildren. – February 19, 2004

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY / CLASSIFIEDS • 19

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIZATIONS Access (513) 373-0300 • jypaccess.org Big Brothers/Big Sisters Assoc.

(513) 761-3200 • bigbrobigsis.org Camp Ashreinu (513) 702-1513 Camp at the J (513) 722-7258 • mayersonjcc.org Camp Chabad (513) 731-5111 • campchabad.org Camp Livingston (513) 793-5554 •camplivingston.com Cedar Village (513) 754-3100 • cedarvillage.org Chevra Kadisha (513) 396-6426 Cincinnati Community Kollel (513) 631-1118 • kollel.shul.net Cincinnati Community Mikveh (513) 351-0609 •cincinnatimikveh.org Eruv Hotline (513) 351-3788 Fusion Family (513) 703-3343 • fusionnati.org Halom House (513) 791-2912 • halomhouse.com Hillel Jewish Student Center (Miami) (513) 523-5190 • muhillel.org Hillel Jewish Student Center (UC) (513) 221-6728 • hillelcincinnati.org Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati 513-961-0178 • jcemcin.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) 214-1200 Jewish Information Network (513) 985-1514 JVS Career Services (513) 936-WORK (9675) • www.jvscinti.org Plum Street Temple Historic Preservation Fund (513) 793-2556 Shalom Family (513) 703-3343 • myshalomfamily.org

BOYCOTT from page 10 In the United States, settlement goods were in the news recently after actress Scarlett Johansson came under fire for representing SodaStream, an Israeli company that produces home soda machines at a factory in the West Bank.

And in Europe, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands already label goods made in the settlements, and the European Union has threatened repeatedly to take the labeling continent-wide. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned last week that Israel could face even greater boycott pressure if peace talks with the Palestinians collapse.

But several CEOs of companies that operate factories in the settlements acknowledged that while boycotts could hurt sales, they don’t yet represent a serious threat to business.

Yehuda Cohen, CEO of the plastics company Lipski, which has a factory in the northern West Bank Barkan industrial park, says sales dropped 17 percent in 2010 when local Palestinians started boycotting his products. His company has since recovered, growing by 18 percent last

The Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education (513) 487-3055 • holocaustandhumanity.org Vaad Hoier (513) 731-4671 Workum Fund (513) 899-1836 • workum.org YPs at the JCC (513) 761-7500 • mayersonjcc.org CONGREGATIONS CONGREGATIONS Adath Israel Congregation (513) 793-1800 • adath-israel.org Beit Chaverim (513) 984-3393 • btzbc.com Beth Israel Congregation (513) 868-2049 • bethisraelcongregation.net B’nai Tikvah Chavurah (513) 284-5845 • rabbibruce.com Congregation Beth Adam (513) 985-0400 • bethadam.org Congregation B’nai Tzedek (513) 984-3393 • btzbc.com Congregation Ohav Shalom (513) 489-3399 • ohavshalom.org Congregation Ohr Chadash (513) 252-7267 • ohrchadashcincinnati.com Congregation Sha’arei Torah (513) 620-8080 • shaareitorahcincy.org Congregation Shevet Achim (513) 426-8613 • shevetachimohio.com Congregation Zichron Eliezer 513-631-4900 • czecincinnati.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 Shevet Achim, (513) 602-7801 • shevetachimohio.com Temple Beth Shalom (513) 422-8313 • tbsohio.org Temple Sholom (513) 791-1330 • templesholom.net The Valley Temple (513) 761-3555 • valleytemple.com

year.

Though only a fraction of Lipski’s products are shipped abroad – 18 percent of total sales are for export, of which a majority goes to Europe – Cohen acknowledges that the EU move to label settlement products is a real threat. Labeling settlement products, Cohen says, could hamper relations with retailers.

“I don’t think we’ve come to the level of a boycott, but labeling is half a boycott,” Cohen said. “The retailer will say, ‘I don’t want problems. Israel is not acting well.’”

A European boycott could have a much larger impact on SodaStream, which according to a 2012 Bloomberg News report looks to Europe for a majority of sales. The company’s CEO, Daniel Birnbaum, subsequently told the Forward recently that having a factory in a settlement was a “pain in the ass.”

The impact of a boycott, though hardly irrelevant, would be more limited for Psagot and Lipski, neither of which are as reliant on European business.

But neither Burg nor Cohen share Birnbaum’s sentiments about the virtues of operating a business in the

EDUCA EDUCATION Chai Tots Early Childhood Center (513) 234.0600 • chaitots.com Chabad Blue Ash (513) 793-5200 • chabadba.com Cincinnati Hebrew Day School (513) 351-7777 • chds.shul.net 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 Kulanu (Reform Jewish High School) (513) 262-8849 • kulanucincy.org Regional Institute Torah & Secular Studies (513) 631-0083 Rockwern Academy (513) 984-3770 • rockwernacademy.org Sarah’s Place (513) 531-3151 • sarahsplacecincy.com Yeshivas Lubavitch High School of Cincinnati (513) 631-2452 • ylcincinnati.com ORGANIZATIONS 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 BBYO (513) 722-7244 • mayersonjcc.org Hadassah (513) 821-6157 • cincinnati.hadassah.org Jewish Discovery Center (513) 234.0777 • jdiscovery.com 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

West Bank. Nor does Rami Levy, the head of the budget supermarket chain Rami Levy Hashikma Market, which operates three locations in the West Bank.

For Burg, his vineyard’s location is in part an ideological statement of opposition to a Palestinian state.

Cohen said he supports IsraeliPalestinian peace talks and the goal of a two-state solution. Like other CEOs of companies with West Bank operations, he believes his company furthers the cause of peace by giving jobs to Palestinians.

“Not only does it not do damage, it provides an example of how to live together, how we can do business together,” Levy said. “When you open businesses, you create more jobs. Just don’t discriminate based on religion, race and nationality.”

Levy, whose chain employs about 2,000 Palestinians, was part of a delegation of 100 Israeli businessmen to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last month aimed at encouraging a peace agreement. More than half the 90 employees of Lipski’s West Bank factory are Palestinians.

Cohen employs four Palestinians out of 20 total employees.

DO YOU WANT TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED? Send an e-mail including what you would like in your classified & your contact information to

business@ americanisraelite.com or call 513-621-3145 DISABILITIES from page 10 Some of the group conversations included whether or not employees with disabilities felt they were being compensated appropriately for their work, whether or not they felt respected by their employers and coworkers, and if they were allotted the number of vacation days they are entitled to, among other topics.

Facilitators then discussed options and strategies for those who felt their needs were not being met.

David Marcu, the CEO of Israel Elwyn, told JNS that for the past several years, the leaders of the various organizations who sponsored the conference have been working together in order to “allow the members of the intellectually disabled community to learn self-empowerment, and find their own voice, so they can influence their own lives.”

Marcu said the aim of the conference was to show people with disabilities that they have the right to fair employment. “We are trying to help teach them their rights in the labor market,” he said.

Marcu added, “Whether it's in the office, or going to the doctor, this population has the right to understand and to respond [to issues concerning their own lives], and not to be kept out of the loop with matters only discussed through their aides.”

Jean Judes, the executive director of Beit Issie Shapiro, agrees with Marcu. She told JNS her organization believes that “every human being has

BOYCOTTING from page 16 “price-tag” attacks, cannot help but understand why the occupation is compared to other historical examples of oppression and injustice.

Abraham Lincoln said of our own country that “this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free.”

Although the occupation is not slavery, he would have recognized that a pernicious institution poisons the entire body politic, and that there can be no such thing as freedom for one group and subjugation for another in a functioning democracy.

The blurring of lines between Israel and the territory it occupies

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(513) 531-9600 a right to decide what is important for him or her, to be respectively heard, and to be taken seriously.”

Judes said, “While [people with disabilities] are the least listened to, today [at the conference] they are practicing and gaining confidence to let their voices be heard.”

“What amazes me is how much intelligence there is in these people, how much they truly understand,” Judes added. “It is hard for them sometimes to put it into words, but we are giving them the tools to express themselves. It is a long but essential process, since every human being should have the basic right in making decisions about their own lives.”

Aaron Goldberg – senior vice president, Israel, and director of the Israel Office of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles – says people with disabilities make up a group “that is often invisible.”

“We need to be able to give them a voice and the tools to advocate for themselves,” he said. “Allowing them to live lives of dignity is better for their community and for society as a whole.”

Dudu Cheftzadi, who along with Yoav Kreim was tasked with leading one of the conference's group discussions on employment, said people with disabilities “are not that different” from the general population.

“It is important that we are able to stand up for our rights,” Cheftzadi said

and administers militarily serves the short-term purposes of the settlers and their apologists. In the long term, however, if and when those lines really disappear, when Israel becomes identical to the occupation and its democracy is sacrificed to those with a messianic vision of the Jewish state, then the Zionist enterprise will have failed. And those of us who love Israel, and believe in the promise that a state founded by Jews would reflect the love of freedom and equality that is part of the Jewish heritage – we will have failed, as well.

Naomi Paiss is vice president of public affairs for the New Israel Fund

20 • TRAVEL / FOOD

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Silver Spirit: a 24-karat gilt trip Wandering Jew

by Janet Steinberg Yes, it was guiltless!

My recent 24-karat Silversea Caribbean cruise on the luxurious Silver Spirit was pure pleasure… pure pampering… pure rest… and pure relaxation. Yet I felt not an ounce of guilt on this golden gilt trip.

As our ship glided away from the pier, headed for the Florida Straits and the Caribbean Sea, I knew that the 476 passengers (from 17 countries) and I were in for a special eight days.

Having sailed many times on Silversea ships, and long a devotee of Silversea’s dedication to providing an extraordinary level of excellence on its fleet of remarkable ships, this cruise was to be a new experience for me. This was to be my first time sailing on the 540-passenger, all-inclusive… all ocean-view… all-suite Silver Spirit, the newest vessel in the Silversea fleet.

And, true to Silversea form, Silver Spirit didn’t disappoint. From the moment I stepped aboard, time seemed to stand still. All the stress… all the hustle bustle of the real world… instantly vanished from my eyes and my mind.

From the moment of embarkation, when that first flute of champagne was thrust upon me, I was pampered by a crew of 378 people from 36 countries that catered to my every whim. For eight glorious days, Silver Spirit offered the distinctive luxuries and celebrated lifestyle that one could easily become accustomed to.

Yet, on Silver Spirit, there was a new level of luxury that began with the dining experience, and was carried on throughout the nightlife, the spa, and the shore excursions.

The Restaurant, Silversea’s main dining room, sparkled with silver, crystal and candlelight.

Contemporary Mediterranean and regional cuisine was served with sophisticated elegance and impeccable service. It was here that we definitely chose to dine for the Captain’s Welcome and Farewell dinners.

We enjoyed a divine selection of Italy’s best cuisine, served à la carte, in La Terrazza. Authentic recipes and the freshest ingredients came together with flair and passion – a flavourful expression of Silversea’s distinctive Italian heritage.

The pool grill was great both day and night. At lunchtime, we enjoyed burgers or fresh-from-the-oven pizza

and lighter fare. Come nighttime, and the venue was transformed into The Grill featuring “hot rock” dining under the stars. This fun, interactive cooking concept allows guests to grill their own seafood and prime meats directly at their table on a heated volcanic rock plate.

And, of course, I shouldn’t forget to mention The Bar where we socialized throughout the day over specialty coffees, tapas and complimentary cocktails.

But aaaaah, the two alternative restaurants (with minimal reservation charges) were also not to be missed.

At Le Champagne, the only Wine Restaurant by Relais & Châteaux at sea, we indulged ourselves in an evening where fine wines complemented a set tasting menu of regionally inspired dishes. In an intimate elegant setting, we were privy to an enriching, flavorful, and memorable dining experience.

Dinner began with hot and cold entrees such as Carpaccio de Thon Rouge (Red Tuna Carpaccio), Caviar & Condiments, and Foie de CanardCompote de Fruits des Bois (Panfried Foie Gras with Forest Berry Compote).

Entre-Deux (the second course) was a choice of exotic soups. My choice was the divine Farandole de Cepes-Essence de Truffes (Porcini Mushrooms with truffle essence).

The third course was Terre et Mer (Land and Sea). The choices included Dover sole, New Zealand Lamb, Breast of Forest Pigeon, New England Venison and several other seafoods.

All of this was topped off with a Grand Marnier Soufflé, a Crepe Suzette or a Trilogy of Chocolate Lava Cakes.

Seishin, an innovative Asianfusion restaurant where Kobe beef and a variety of seafoods vied for the attention of our tastebuds, featured a large round chef’s table as its centerpiece. From our table at lunchtime, we watched the chef at work sculpting fresh sushi and sashimi. It tasted as good as it looked.

At dinner, we opted for Seishin’s 9-course degustation menu. This began with the Amuse Bouche of Seishin’s Signature Caviar Sorbet… a piece of cucumber topped with lime sorbet and red caviar. This was followed by courses of sushi, sashimi,

Courtesy of Janet Steinberg

Silver spirit anchored in Belize

seafood, meat, and dessert.

The old Rainbow Room in New York City, where my husband and I had our first dance together some 25years ago, was the inspiration for the stunning Art Deco design of the Stars Supper Club. The velvety sound of the cabaret singer conjured up thoughts of what the Gatsby era must have been like some years before my time.

Silver Spirit’s Spa at Silversea is an 8,300-square-foot spa that is a sanctuary of pure bliss. With floor-toceiling windows, it features a resortstyle pool and a ceramic-tiled Thermal Suite furnished with heated lounge chairs.

A connecting private Hammam (Turkish bath) Chamber, serves as the setting for the Private Hammam Experience, one of several unique Silver Spirit treatments. An outdoor relaxation area offers bar service so you can enjoy a complimentary fruit smoothie, champagne or cocktail while soaking in the expansive spa whirlpool.

Standard Silver Spirit suites… the largest suites in the Silversea fleet… all feature butler service, refrigerator and bar setup stocked with our preferences, European bath amenities, down duvets, fine bed linens, premium mattresses, our choice of down pillows, spa robes and slippers, personalized stationery, binoculars, and umbrellas. Optional WiFi Internet access was available in all suites, 95% of which have private verandas.

But the 24-karat gold of my gilt trip went beyond my stunning veranda suite. The piece de resistance was my butler Rodolfo Nerez from the Philippines and my suite attendant Adesh Gawale from India. (All silver Spirit suites have butler service.)

Returning to my suite after a hot day touring Cozumel, I found the following note on my bed: “Welcome back from your tour. We have prepared your bath for your indulgence.

Enjoy this muscle-aching reliever bubble bath. Relax and enjoy the spa in you own suite.” Lo and behold I found a candlelit bathtub brimming with bubbles.

When we returned from a day in Costa Maya I was once again greeted by a note on the bed that read: “Have a wonderful birthday and anniversary cruise with us. Best wishes and congratulations.” Along with the note were five pink and purple “Happy Birthday” balloons and lovely white orchids. At dinner came a birthday cake Rodolfo had ordered for me.

All too soon it was approaching the time to disembark. Suitcases packed, we left for our final dinner.

Once again, upon our return, there a was a note from Rodofo and Adesh.

This one, placed atop our suitcase, read: Your bags were cleaned with an Eco friendly cleaning solvent. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.”

Tell me, how can you top that?

Cooking Jewish Zell’s Bites

by Zell Schulman Last week, I received a phone call from my friend Judy Kancigor, telling me Workman Publishers had just published her latest cookbook, COOKING JEWISH: 532 Great Recipes from the Rabinowitz Family. She asked me if I would review it, and immediately I answered “yes”. It’s been a long time since I received a cookbook from a publisher and of course, “What are friends for?”

Judy and I became friends after meeting more than 15 years ago, at a regional convention of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. We have remained in contact ever since.

Let me tell you, it was a great read and, I believe, COOKING JEWISH: 532 Great Recipes from the Rabinowitz Family is the JEWISH "JOY of COOKING." Every cook or lover of food needs this one in their cookbook collection. It's not only a cookbook you can cook with, but is a Jewish family’s history, a cooking lesson and more.

It is filled with more than 160 family stories and 500 photographs of her funny, loving and interesting family, whose identities are clearly identified, so much so it makes you wish you were a member of her family. Even if you don't like to cook, “Cooking Jewish" is worth your time, just to read, and is a great gift to share with your family and to give to your cooking friends. It is home cooking at its best, and I had a difficult time deciding which recipes to share with you. Would it be Aunt Shirley’s Chicken Stupid, or Aunt Sally’s Red, White and Blue Cake, which got its name for her uncle Harold, who took one look at the cake and said, “Do I eat it or salute it?” “Cooking Jewish” blends the old with the new, the sweet with the savory, and you can’t help laughing from many of the stories she shares in her book.

It’s Jewish life and laughter, all rolled into one, including the ageold matzah ball debate: matzah ball floater-lovers versus the sinker-lovers. The book also features The Litvaks versus the Galitzianers, which is the the Jewish versaion of the Hatfields and McCoys.

Judy told me she really had a difficult time whittling down to a mere dozen the myriad kugel recipes submitted to her. “Take mine!” ‘ they all pleaded. Rita’s Special Kugel, layered with pears and peaches won out, so I decided to share this one with you.There is always an occasion for kugel.

Enjoy, and again I will tell you to add “Cooking Jewish: 532 Great Recipes from the Rabinowitz Family” to your cookbook collection.

Rita’s Special Kugel Serves about 24 Judy calls this the “King of Kugels. It orginally belonged to her counsin Vicki’s mother-in-law, Rita.

I would say it is a Generational Kugel, handed down from one generation to another.

It’s a keeper!

Ingredients Use butter or solid vegetable shortening for greasing the baking pan Kosher (coarse) salt 12 ounces of wide egg noodles One dozen large eggs , beaten 3 cups of heavy (whipping cream) 1 -1/2 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup (packed) light brown sugar 1 can (29-ounces) sliced pears or halves in heavy syrup drained ad thinly sliced 1 can (29-ounces)sliced peaches in heavy syrup, drained and thinly sliced.

2 cans (11-ounces each) mandarin oranges, drained 2/3 cup golden raisins Method 1. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Grease a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.

2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook until al dente, 5 to 7 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, combine the eggs, cream, vanilla, both sugars, and 1 teaspoon salt in a very large bowl. Stir well. Stir in the drained pears, peaches, mandarin oranges and the raisins.

4. When the noodles are done, drain them well and stir them into the fruit mixture. Transfer it to the prepared baking pan and bake for 1 hour. Cover the Kugel with aluminum foil and continue baking until golden and set, about 20 minutes more. (Test by inserting a butter knife in the center. It should come out clean.)

5. Cut into squares, and serve hot or at room temperature.

Zell’s Tips: This recipe is definitely one for special holidays or when you’re having a party!

AUTOS • 21

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

The 2015 Audi A3/S3 features sedan models, ready to burst out of the showroom and onto the streets Audi’s A3 model was never meant to make a splash on the automotive scene; it was just a nice little hatchback, looking to attract younger people to the brand while testing the waters in the U.S. for premium-badged small cars.

But when the 2015 A3/S3’s hit the market, be ready for more - much more.

Designed specifically to please American and Chinese car shoppers, the third-generation model adds a sedan bodystyle to the former hatchbackonly A3 lineup. The five-door Sportback will still be available, if it’s a hatchback you crave, but only the etron plugin hybrird version has been confirmed for America.

T h e sedans, though, are w h e r e Audi is focusing its efforts.

A base model will use a 1.8liter turb o c h a rg e d four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and more than 180 lb-ft of torque, a new unit unrelated to the old 1.8T wedged into Audis of the last decade. A slightly larger 2.0liter version of the engine will serve up about 200 horses in the all-wheel-drive A3 Quattro. Diesel makes a return appearance in the American A3, too. The new 2015 A3 will carry the latest Volkswagen-family 2.0-liter diesel four, delivering about 150 horsepower. Torque from the diesel will probably come in at around 250 lb-ft.

Regardless of the engine or driven wheels, the only transmission on offer is a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. A sixspeed stick, available on the base trim of the outgoing A3, is off the books for the new sedan.

The available A3 technology includes: the latest MMI infotainment system; fullLED headlamps; LED interior lighting; 4G LTE connectivity for Google Maps integration and other internet-type functions; and a 705-watt, 14-

speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Leather upholstery will be standard, as will rainsensing wipers and a big sunroof. The car also will offer what Audi calls a “phone box.” Basically, you can drop your phone into the center bin under the armrest, and the car will boost your cell signal using an antenna embedded in the rear glass.

Audi Drive Select can be fitted for the first time to an A3, and allows the driver to shuttle through Auto, Dynamic, Comfort, and Individual settings to alter steering effort, throttle response, and the transmission shift schedule.

S a f e t y stuff that is e x t r a includes blind-spot monitoring and active cruise control that can brake the car to a complete stop.

As for the S3, in Europe, high-po S3s have been offered for both of the first two A3 generations, but there has never been one in the U.S. That changes now.

Roughly 300 horsepower will flow from a tuned and tweaked version of Audi’s (and VW’s) latest 2.0-liter turbocharged four. It teams only with a six-speed dualclutch transmission and allwheel drive.

For now, Audi is announcing the S3 only in sedan form, but the S3 hatchback and convertible might land in local dealerships, too. A 400-hp RS3 is still a remote possibility for U.S. sales.

Whether an A3 shopper wants the responsible hybrid, the Euro-fetishist diesel, or one of the conventionally powered versions, there is something for every driver.

The 2015 A3 starts at 29,900.

...the third-generation model adds a sedan body-style to the former

hatchback-only A3 lineup.

2015 Audi A3

22 • OBITUARIES

WWW.AMERICANISRAELITE.COM

D EATH N OTICES

RWANDA from page 8

HYAMS,. Shirley, age 89, died February 1, 2014; 1 Adar 1, 5774.

When news of her sudden death at age 52 reached the village, Rwandan Youth Minister Jean P. Nsengimana wrote on Twitter that the village “just lost a mother.”

Many of the kids at AgahozoShalom can hardly remember their biological mothers.

Twenty years ago, their mothers and fathers were demonized in a racist campaign, their siblings rounded up, their families and friends killed by machetes, clubs and guns as their country was torn apart in genocidal brutality.

GREENBLATT, Edith, age 84 , died February 6, 2014; 7 Adar I, 5774.

SKOLNICK, Jack M., age 91, died February 8, 2014; 8 Adar 1, 5774.

O BITUARIES

In many cases they grew up with one parent or no parents, in the care of an older brother, sister, cousin or guardian. Some have been abused, some abandoned, many too poor to afford basic necessities.

Now the 500 students at Agahozo-Shalom, 15 to 21-yearolds who in some way were hurt by Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, live in a carefully planned refuge amid a stunning landscape in the country’s center. They study biology, math, history, economics, language and literature in a full-service high school.

In the afternoons they paint or play soccer, record gospel music or do

electrical work.

At night they sit with more than a dozen peers they call “brother” and “sister” and talk about their lives.

The surrogate families, comprised of groups of 16 boys or girls in the same grade, each in care of a house “mama” and staff member who act as a big sibling or cousin, are named after inspirational figures such as Mother Teresa, Benazir Bhutto and George Washington.

The goal of Agahozo-Shalom – where the children live in modern homes with running water, electricity and plumbing, have access to a large staff of teachers to social work-

ers, and can spend their leisure time in green fields, a farm or a grove of banana trees -- is to take high schoolers far from their trauma so that they may begin to confront it and help their country heal.

“They find themselves, they learn to know about themselves, they learn that they have passions,” Jean-Claude Nkulikiyimfura, the village director, told JTA during an interview in the village two weeks ago. “They realize, ‘I’m not the only one with problems. Someone else has a problem and I could be a solution to that problem.’ “

The achievements come at a cost: The upkeep for each athlete training here runs about $100,000 annually, covering room and board, ice time, coaches, costumes, choreographers, travel to competitions – “including, including, including,” Chait adds, gesturing with a rolling hand.

The arrangement means that “athletes don’t have to worry about their next meal,” Chait says. “All they have to do is train hard on and off the ice and do their schoolwork,” if they are that age. Davidovich and Tsoglin are enrolled in an online high school.

Ten of the 11 Hackensack skaters live in a tidy, refurbished white house less than a mile from the Ice House, overseen by a den mother named Nadia. Davidovich who lives with her family a 40minute drive away.

Absent the New Jersey infrastructure, “we would not be able to get to the Olympics,” Bychenko says in one of the home’s two kitchens while gulping a mid-after-

noon yogurt.

“It was a hard decision because my family is there,” adds Bychenko, who arrived from Kiev three years ago. “If I were skating in Ukraine, I would not have gotten to the level I am at now.”

Krasnapolsky, also from Kiev, was raised in Kiryat Shemona – near Metulla, home of the Canada Center ice rink – and has known Chait “since I started skating.” He calls Chait’s wife, Irene, “my second mom.”

Sitting beside Krasnapolsky, Davidovich nods. She and her partner believe they are progressing nicely, tweaking their routines along the way. Earlier in the week they added a more difficult triple-throw to their short program (to Joshua Bell’s “Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra”).

On the ice an hour earlier, Galit Chait had held up her iPad as she consulted with the pair, slowing down a video clip to point out errors she had observed with the naked eye.

“We were a little bit off in the parallel spin,” Davidovich explains.

Before their on-ice session, Davidovich and Krasnapolsky had spent 40 minutes in the Ice House workout room practicing lifts, throws and twists in their stockinged feet, each landing occurring inside a marked white box. They rehearse this way twice daily, plus do crosstraining and ballet each twice weekly.

Soon after the pair settled on their long program’s music last June, Davidovich’s mother, Marina, took them to Manhattan to attend the American Ballet Theatre’s performance of “Romeo and Juliet.” The show yielded ideas to incorporate in their performance.

Soon they won’t have many more leisure opportunities. A month after Sochi, they’ll be off to Japan for the World Figure Skating Championships.

That means lots more training at Israel’s home away from home in the Garden State, where the next Olympic yield is being tended.

be for me?” she said, quoting the Talmudic sage Hillel. She decided to design a nipple herself.

After a year studying with a silicone artist who specializes in prosthetics, Kolath-Arbel made her first nipple. Now she’s doing the same for hundreds of breast cancer survivors in Israel and abroad through the company she founded, Pink Perfect, which she runs from her home in Kfar Saba, a central Israeli city not far from Tel Aviv.

Some 4,500 women a year are diagnosed with breast cancer in Israel, according to the Israel Cancer Association.

“For the first pair I made, I found friends who had also been sick,” she said, sitting next to a binder bulging with nipple types she crafted. “One put it on and started crying. All the doctors said, ‘We were waiting for someone to do this.’”

Delicate and realistically textured, Kolath-Arbel’s nipples are surrounded by a semitransparent circle that blends with the skin on which it sits. For women who have undergone single mastectomies, she creates custom prosthetics from a silicone mold of the remaining nipple, matching its shade and that of

the surrounding skin by mixing pigments with silicone gel.

To get the texture right, she uses a hard plastic tool she invented attached to a wooden stick. The finished nipple is attached to the breast with a medical adhesive.

Kolath-Arbel says her nipples have become progressively more accurate. She now anticipates the shade changing as the mold dries and knows to make the prosthetic a touch shallower than the real nipple to compensate for the stiffness of the fake.

“She essentially completes our breast reconstruction operation,” said plastic surgeon Yoav Barnea, who directs breast reconstruction at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.

“What Michelle is doing is she provided a solution to build a nipple that looks like the other one in shape and color, and avoids surgery.”

For double mastectomies, Kolath-Arbel offers nipple models made from plastic molds. The models, which are named, vary in size, shade and texture. The most popular is Bold, a light option with a medium, shallow protrusion. Other offerings include Peach, Caramel and Sandy Brown.

Kolath-Arbel says women often seek what they consider an upgrade from their natural nipples, for example choosing a shade they always wished they had.

“I chose something nicer,” said Ayelet Itiel, 49, who underwent a double mastectomy in 2012. “I might as well, as long as you can choose what you want. You have identical, beautiful nipples. People don’t believe they’re not mine when I show my friends.”

Kolath-Arbel has expanded her services beyond mastectomy patients. Her most challenging client, she says, was a 5-year-old girl born without a nipple who likely will be a repeat customer as she grows.

Kolath-Arbel also has provided her services to three men who survived breast cancer. As men are bare-chested at the pool or beach, Kolath-Arbel says, a prosthetic nipple is especially important. But she says they are also less particular about how the nipple looks.

“They’re much more easygoing,” she said. “They don’t care if its the right shade or height. It just matters if there’s something. In any case, the hair hides it.”

GREENBLATT, Edith Edith Greenblatt (nee Tutt), 84, beloved wife of Jacob Greenblatt for 63 years, passed away on February 6, 2014, at her home in Cincinnati, OH, under hospice care with her husband at her side.

Loving mother of David (Sheila) Greenblatt of Cincinnati, OH, Wendy (Tommy) Ackerman of Gainesville, FL, Michael (Bonnie) Greenblatt of Oakland Township, MI, and Susan Menenberg of Bothell, WA. Dear grandmother to Daniel and Debi, Samuel, Danielle, Louis and Max. Born in Toronto, Canada, she lived in the Detroit area and Delray Beach, FL, until moving to Cincinnati, OH. She graduated high school at an early age, worked as a legal secretary, then later in sales and as a realtor.

She was an avid reader, loved being with her family and grandchildren and taking trips to Northern Michigan with her husband.

Rabbi Irvin Wise of Adath Israel Congregation officiated at a private graveside service.

Interment took place at United Jewish Cemetey in Montgomery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Hospice of Cincinnati.

SKATERS from page 9 Funding for the program comes from private donations along with the Israel Ice Skating Federation, the Olympic Committee of Israel and the International Skating Union, he says.

Greater funding for training, regardless of locale, would serve Israel’s interests beyond sport because every athlete “is an ambassador” for the country, Chait says from a gallery while observing Bychenko and Tsoglin, a 15-yearold from Kiryat Shemona in northern Israel.

The New Jersey operation has provided some encouraging achievements. At the European Championships last month in Budapest, the KrasnapolskyDavidovich duo finished seventh and Bychenko was 10th. In December, in Croatia, the pair placed first and Bychenko was fourth at the Golden Spin of Zagreb.

Israel has yet to medal in a Winter Olympics.

CANCER from page 10 scar. I’d shower, I’d see the scar. It’s in your face.”

Searching for solutions, KolathArbel came up empty.

Reconstructive surgery would have rendered an unrealistic lump whose color would fade, she says, and the prosthetic nipples she ordered from the United States and China looked fake and rough.

“If I am not for myself, who will