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Torah Scroll Exhibit at B’nai Tzedek
CINCINNATI, OH Candle Lighting Times Shabbat begins Fri 8:20p Shabbat ends Sat 9:21p
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Wandering Jew: Synagogues around the world
New Director of Community Security Mark Dowd believes firmly in “Open Community, Open Eyes” By Beth Kotzin Assistant Editor
Stories on Pages 4 & 6.
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Community-wide Yom Hashoah commemoration held at Mayerson JCC
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When the Jewish Foundation and Jewish Federation of Cincinnati decided it was time to hire a dedicated Director of Community Security, Mark Dowd fit the bill perfectly. A Virginia native, Dowd went to William and Mary Law School with the express purpose of joining the FBI – and he spent 27 years on the job, fighting terrorism for the last 15 years of his service. He retired from the FBI shortly before taking on this position Cincinnati. With Dowd’s level of experience, the Foundation and Federation knew they found the right man for the job. As Director of Community Security, it is Dowd’s goal to work with every Jewish facility in Cincinnati to help them review and upgrade their existing security plans. He’s essentially a consultant to the Jewish Community, forming partnerships with all our agencies to be sure that they are all on the same page in terms of security, while adhering to the specific plans that are most effective to their respective facilities. While Dowd won’t directly install or implement a security upgrade or change, it is his job to encourage each facility to either implement or update appropriate response and resiliency plans. On April 20, 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month. The announcement was the crowning achievement in an effort by the Jewish Museum of Florida and South Florida Jewish community leaders that resulted in resolutions introduced by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania
There are many variables when it comes to safety and security measures: there are hardware requirements (cameras, turnstiles, or card-swiping pads, for example), which are different at each facility; some places need outdoor guards on patrol, while others may need both indoor and outdoor patrols; one building may lend itself to escape drills, another building may need to create measures to keep people safe without moving them from the rooms they are in. For example, lockdown drills have been run at some locations, and others are working on getting those on the schedule. Those drills are at the discretion of the facility, Dowd does not
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necessarily coordinate the drills for each facility; however, law enforcement is always aware when the drills are happening so no inadvertent 911 calls are made. Dowd is working hard to establish the best answer for each place, and everything is on the table. What’s not on the table is discussing specifics of the plans in place. “You can’t give up sources and methods,” says Dowd. That’s for both our safety, and the safety of the individuals implementing the plans. While you’ll see some outward security measures, from cameras to security guards, the many important security measures remain less visible – and urging the president to proclaim a month that would recognize the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture. The resolutions passed unanimously, first in the House of Representatives in December 2005 and later in the Senate in February 2006. The month of May was chosen due to the highly successful celebration of the 350th Anniversary of
together all of these security measures help to keep us safe Dowd has been impressed with the response from the community. “There has been overwhelming positive feedback,” he says, “and the more people I meet, the more involved I see them become.” Dowd’s shortterm goal is to make everyone in the community more aware, and to be our own front line. With the Cincinnati 2020 initiative moving forward, Security will be woven into this initiative by working diligently to harden targets as well as create a response system that will better coordinate community leaders should an incident occur. The better our awareness, the faster we can contain and halt a situation. Dowd pointed out that in light of Kansas City, there are lessons to be learned. There is always a way to improve security measures. Reviewing that type of occurrence for best practices can only help us in Cincinnati with our safety. The Cincinnati Jewish community can only be safer by working together. “Working with the community, and watching the community become more aware and involved in its own security is a true force multiplier,” says Dowd. The American Israelite will bring more on safety and security in the future. American Jewish History in May 2004, which was organized by the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History. This coalition was composed of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, the American Jewish Historical Society, the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.
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Community-wide Yom Hashoah commemoration held at Mayerson JCC On Sunday, April 27, The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education in partnership with The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, Jewish Family Service, and Mayerson JCC, held the annual community-wide Yom Hashoah commemoration at the Mayerson JCC. Every year, this commemoration seeks to remember the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and honor local survivors. The program included a moving candle-lighting ceremony by six Holocaust survivors and descendants including Elizabeth & Matvey Chudnovsky, Harold Blatt, Lilly Kurtz & Carol Kabel (daughters of Holocaust survivors), Sam Potter along with daughter Rabbi Shena Jaffee and grandchildren, Lisa MacVittie, and Joe Polaniecki. During the candle lighting, a special video tribute including Holocaust educators, students, CHHE board members, and Holocaust survivors was shown to represent a mosaic of Holocaust memory, remembrance and reflections; representing CHHE’s 2013-2014 theme, Mosaic of Memory: Perspectives, Narratives & Approaches. The Kaddish and El Molei Rachamim was led by Dr. Albert Weisbrot who is himself a second generation survivor. At the conclusion of this program, all descendants of survivors were invited to light candles in memory of their loved ones during the singing of “Hatikvah.” Musical performances included Winton Woods High School String Quartet and a moving piece by Cincinnati Chamber Opera co-founder and artistic director, Shawn Mlynek, who sang “Unter Dayn Vayse Shter’n” a song originally written and performed in the Vilna ghetto. Providing the invocation was Rabbi George Barnard of Northern Hills Synagogue, while Rabbi
Holocaust survivors Elizabeth and Matvey Chudnovsky light a candle in remembrance.
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Survivors and descendants of survivors were invited to light candles in memory of loved ones who perished during the Holocaust.
Goldschmiedt of Congregation Sha'arei Torah, provided the benediction. Along with keynote presenter, Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit Halachmi, rabbis from each of the three major streams worked together to make this a memorable and moving event for all in attendance. Reflecting on the importance of Holocaust education and memory in our community, Rabbi Sabbath pre-
sented ideas from several luminaries of modern Jewish philosophy including Yitz Greenberg, David Hartman, and Emil Fackenheim. These perspectives suggested models for practicing one’s Jewish faith in a Post-Holocaust reality filled with personal and national tragedies on an unprecedented scale in Jewish history.
Award-winning actor to portray Groucho at JCC Award-winning actor, director and playwright Frank Ferrante recreates his acclaimed portrayal of legendary comedian Groucho Marx in a fast-paced 90 minutes of hilarity at Mayerson JCC on Thursday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. Accompanied by his onstage pianist, Jim Furmston, Ferrante portrays the young Groucho of stage and film and reacquaints us with the likes of brothers Harpo, Chico, Zeppo and Gummo, Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, Greta Garbo, and MGM's Louis B. Mayer. The two-act comedy consists of the best Groucho one-liners, anecdotes and songs including "Hooray for Captain Spalding," and "Lydia, the Tattooed Lady." The audience becomes part of the show as
Ferrante ad-libs his way throughout the performance in grand Groucho style. The New York Times said that Ferrante is "the greatest living interpreter of Groucho Marx's material." Ferrante was discovered by Groucho's son, Arthur Marx, when Frank was a drama student at the University of Southern California. Arthur Marx cast him to star in the off-Broadway title role in "Groucho: A Life in Revue" portraying the comedian from age 15 to 85. For this role, Ferrante won New York's Theatre World Award in 1987 and was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award. He reprised the role in London's West End and was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for 'Comedy Performance of
the Year.' Frank played the Groucho role in the off-Broadway revival of The Cocoanuts and has played Captain Spalding in several productions of Animal Crackers winning a Connecticut Critics Circle Award for his portrayal at Goodspeed Opera House. In 2001, Frank starred in, directed and produced the national PBS television program Groucho: A Life in Revue. Ferrante currently stars as the comic lead in the European cirque Teatro Zinzanni in San Francisco and Seattle. The one-night show at the JCC on May 15 is not to be missed! For more information or to buy tickets, please contact the JCC.
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May is Jewish American Heritage Month; Cincinnati celebrates with several events By Beth Kotzin Assistant Editor In 2006, when President George W. Bush proclaimed that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), he had no idea what amazing programs, activities, and community endeavors would arise from that momentous decision. Having a month that would recognize the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture gave Jewish communities around the country a chance to truly celebrate their rich heritage. In Cincinnati, Jewish American Heritage Month will be celebrated in a variety of way. On Friday, May 9th, Rabbi Laura Baum will be livestreaming Shabbat services at 6pm via the internet, where she’ll be discussing JAHM 2014 with
Cincinnati’s Abby Schwartz, JAHM National Coordinator. On Thursday, May 29, Cedar Village will be honoring their Eight over Eighty and have made this an official JAHM event. It is particularly fitting, as the people being honored have made significant contributions to the community, and the JAHM theme this year is American Jews and Tikkun Olam: Healing the World.
There will also be events running throughout the month of May: For example, The Skirball Museum on the Cincinnati campus of HUC-JIR is featuring works by an important American Jewish sculptor, Moses Jacob Ezekiel, in a spotlight exhibition which will be open through the beginning of June. Open hours are Tuesday and Thursday, 11 am to 4 pm and Sunday 1 to 5 pm. Guided tours by appointment. The Skirball Museum website also features its Object of the Month, a Rookwood Tile that was commissioned by Procter & Gamble for the cornerstone of its 5th street headquarters in 1955. The month of May was chosen due to the highly successful celebration of the 350th Anniversary of American Jewish History in May 2004, which was organized by the
Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History. This coalition was composed of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, the American Jewish Historical Society, the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration. Leading the way in implementation of the annual celebration is the Jewish American Heritage Month Coalition, formed in March 2007 and convened by United Jewish Communities, the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives and the American Jewish Historical Society. The American Israelite will be featuring JAHM events and activities in our May issues, so readers can look forward to hearing about what’s going on in Cincinnati.
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VOL. 160 • NO. 42 THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014 8 IYYAR 5774 SHABBAT BEGINS FRIDAY 8:20 PM SHABBAT ENDS SATURDAY 9:21 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
Rabbi Gershom Barnard looking forward to new chapter in his life
LEO WISE Editor & Publisher, 1900-1928
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RABBI JONAH B. WISE Editor & Publisher, 1928-1930
graduating from there in 1974. She spent the next 11 years working from home before emigrating to the United States with her husband and two small children in 1986. After taking a break for a few years, she picked it up again while living in Virginia and had a very busy spa for approximately 16 years. She is still passionate about her work and taking care of clients to help them feel special, at the same time improving their skin and reducing stress in their lives. She is an active and vital member of the Hadassah Cincinnati Chapter Board and has served as Donor Chair for the past five years.
Coffee Talk is a monthly casual get-together, usually held in a Hadassah member’s home, to discuss topics of interest. Meetings are held the second Monday of the month, alternating between evening and morning times. Refreshments will be served. Coffee Talk is open to the public, and there is no charge to attend, but RSVPs are requested. Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, was born from the vision of one woman, Henrietta Szold, who saw a great need and wanted to help. Hadassah enhances the health of people worldwide through its support of medical
care and research at the Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem. Contributions to Hadassah support two Hadassah Hospitals, Hadassah College, Youth Aliyah and other medical and educational programs. Hadassah empowers its members and supporters, as well as youth in Israel and America through opportunities for personal growth, education, advocacy and Jewish continuity. Cincinnati Chapter is full of vibrant and dedicated women who look forward to continuing Henrietta Szold's vision of making a difference and saving lives.
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
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Cincinnati Chapter of Hadassah will hold its final Coffee Talk program of the season on Monday, May 12, 2014, at 9:30 am. Ghita Sarembock, Hadassah member and professional esthetician, will speak about “Can You Face the Summer?” at her Amberley Village home. The community is invited to join us for an educational experience that will include some tips about ways to improve and protect your skin from the sun and environment. Tobe Snow is Hadassah Coffee Talk chair. Ghita Sarembock was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and trained at a skin care spa for a year,
PHYLLIS R. SINGER Editor & General Manager, 1985-1999
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Hadassah’s final Coffee Talk program to be held on May 12
HENRY C. SEGAL Editor & Publisher, 1930-1985
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University. Barnard also hopes to visit Israel soon and may consider leading a group. When asked what he will miss the most about his time at Northern Hills, Barnard replied, “I like being a Rabbi. I don’t like going to committee meetings but I like services. I get to see people at different stages in their lives.” Barnard continued to share the joy he felt when he officiated at the Bat Mitzvahs of several generations of women in the same family. In a few cases, Rabbi Barnard has had the unique experience of leading four generations of families in prayer and spirit. “Synagogue life should be about Jewish life. It should be a community of people living Jewish lives together. Some of the things that synagogues’ get obsessed with are the least important things.” It is clear that Rabbi Barnard will be leaving a legacy of love, warmth, and respect. Members of Northern Hills will continue to celebrate and honor Rabbi Barnard at a celebration on May 11, 2014 at Northern Hills.
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as quickly. When they were without a building, the Congregation met at Yavneh Day School (now Rockwern Academy). Weekly services were held at Jewish Vocational Services as well as Barnard’s home. Sunday school was at JVS and Religious school was at the old Jewish Family Services building on Cornell Road. As everyone knows, there are challenges moving to a new city. Barnard was raised just outside of Boston, where he had strong Jewish roots. However, it was not until he went to study in Israel that Barnard really felt the pull to grow even stronger in his Jewish identity. Despite the fact that Cincinnati doesn’t really have “Jewish neighborhoods”, Barnard expressed his thankfulness for the kosher products that we now have available in town. When asked how he feels about moving on to a new chapter in his life, Rabbi Barnard said that although it is time for him to move on, he is very excited about next steps, which include teaching Modern Religion at Xavier
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After serving for 39 years as the spiritual leader at Northern Hills Synagogue in Cincinnati, Rabbi Gershom Barnard is retiring. Rabbi Barnard was raised in Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard University with a degree in philosophy. Barnard then went on to study at the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, where he earned his Master of Hebrew Letters and his Rabbinical diploma. In 1971, Rabbi Barnard moved to Israel to further his studies and it was there where he met his wife, Sarah. Rabbi Barnard and Sarah have three adult children who live in Cincinnati, London, and Portland. When asked about highlights of his tenure with Northern Hills, Rabbi Barnard took a deep breath and then shared how the first ten years were dominated by the issue of allowing women to participate in services. Northern Hills had histori-
cally been an egalitarian congregation in spirit, yet women had not been allowed on the bimah. This transition, from a more conservative approach to truly following the egalitarian model, was polarizing for some , yet the congregation remained strong and grew in the years to come. When Barnard started at Northern Hills, it was located in Springfield Township on Flemming Rd. When members of the Jewish community began to move to the northern suburbs, Northern Hills followed suit and moved to their current location on Fields-Ertel Rd. Barnard explained that in the 1980’s, the Finneytown/Wyoming areas were the “hub” of Jewish activity but by the mid 90’s Jews were moving to the NE suburbs. When there simply were not enough people to sustain the congregation, they made the important decision to relocate. Barnard described the move as “an interesting experience”. The original building sold quickly and the congregation needed to move on just
THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE (USPS 019-320) is published weekly for $44 per year and $1.00 per single copy in Cincinnati and $49 per year and $2.00 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.
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AJC announces winners and finalists for Lazarus awards On April 29, energetic and devoted volunteers from 31 high schools received recognition at American Jewish Committee’s 49th annual Simon Lazarus Jr. Human Relations Awards. In addition, AJC presented books, checks, and Reds tickets to ten junior and senior finalists who are devoted to good causes and organize their classmates in compassionate service. Junior class winner is Sydney Armstrong of Mt. Notre Dame High School, known as a “natural motivator,” who has advanced on-going projects at her school, taking them to a higher level. Through her leadership, participation increased in a student-run organization devoted to supporting school children in Uganda. She recognizes that one person can “make an impact in the world.” Senior class winner is Meredith Bailey of Walnut Hills High School, who collected over 8,000 pairs of shoes and delivered them to six different charities, including one in Africa. She started with the goal of reducing landfills, arranging to have old shoes shredded and made into outdoor playground mats. She later donated shoes to local school children of all ages, ranging from snow boots to prom footwear. Her guid-
From left: Lazarus Awards Chair Julie Buckner, junior winner Sydney Armstrong of Mt. Notre Dame H.S., senior winner Meredith Bailey of Walnut Hills H.S., and AJC Cincinnati President Rick Michelman.
ance counselor calls her “the epitome of dedication, compassion, intelligence and kindness.” Junior finalists are: Julia Engel of Wyoming H.S., who volunteered at a clinic for heroin abusers, developing human connections to the patients; Allison Flanigan of Glen Este H.S., who is devoted to raising money for a charity which aids children in hospitals and homeless shelters; Nancy Nzobigeza of Mother of Mercy H.S., who tutors immigrant
students from Africa and prepares their parents for the citizenship test; and Kila Tripp of Ursuline Academy, bringing comfort and care to children with cancer, while using media to tell their stories to the public. Senior finalists are: Catherine Corbin of St. Ursula Academy, who encouraged students from several schools to purchase fair trade goods; Allison Hogan of Ursuline Academy, responsible for supervising student project leaders and moti-
vating students to connect with a variety of agencies; Madeline Martini of Villa Madonna Academy, a leader, organizer, and fund-raiser for the Student Advisory Council at Children’s Hospital; and Sydney Schultz of Seton H.S., who not only built awareness of human trafficking, but developed a student group willing to reach out and help victims of trafficking. The judges for the 2014 awards who presented the finalists were: David Armstrong, President, Thomas More College; Gwen Robinson-Benning, CEO; Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency; Bleuzette Marshall, Chief Diversity Officer, University of Cincinnati; Fanon Rucker, Judge, Hamilton County Municipal Court; and Homa Yavar, Co-founder, Muslim Mothers Against Violence. Julie Buckner, chair of the AJC Lazarus Awards Committee, praises the nominees: “These students have big hearts and helping hands. Their unselfishness, caring and leadership enrich our community. Jewish tradition teaches that it is according to our deeds that God’s presence descends. The students’ actions show they value deeds of
loving-kindness, one of Judaism’s guiding principles. They represent the best of our youth, exemplify the promise of a better world, and assure a great future for our community.” Among the 47 nominees was Talia Bailes of Sycamore High School, daughter of Michael and Amy Bailes. She used her ballet background to begin a class for inner city children which gives them a new outlet for personal expression. She helps at Ronald McDonald House, engaging children to help her with her efforts to clean the play room. Tali is also a leader in a school organization recruiting other students to take part in community service. Julie Buckner’s committee includes Marcie Bachrach, Gavi Begtrup, Aaron Bernay, Mark Bloom, Richard Cantor, Max Cobey, Judi Cohen, Sandy Deters, Toby Ganz, Louis Goldner, Adam Greenberg, Miriam Hodesh, Brad Hoicowitz, Rabbi Shena Jaffee, Jeremy Klotz, Lori Kozlove, Suzy Marcus Goldberg, Andrea Newman, Judy Orent, Lev Orlov, Stacy Roth, Sandy Rubin, Marc Simons, Louis Stillpass, Alexis Storch, Stacey Victor, Amy Weiskopf, and Max Yamson.
Hands-on model seders at Adath Israel Congregation brought the story of the Exodus to life Do you recall the Model Seder at your Sunday School? It probably included sitting impatiently, waiting for all of the reading and plays to be over with so you could get to the food ! Maybe you were the kid who stuck the whole wad of horseradish in your mouth and set in on fire! Maybe you looked forward to the sweet charoset. Things sure looked different for the kindergarten students at Adath Israel’s Jarson Education Center. Passover was a hands-on time to learn about the Passover story, sing, interact with a giant seder plate, and of course, taste the special foods. It all began on a Sunday morning in April, when the students came in, ready to learn. They donned their imaginary time-travel suits, complete with oxygen infused helmets. Together with their teacher they set the dial back in time and arrived in Egypt at the time of Joseph. After applying imaginary sunscreen, they met Joseph and his coat of many colors. The students learned about the Pharoah who knew Joseph, and then met the one who didn’t remember him. They took turns dressing up like a character from the story and helped tell it. Mean Pharoah Jonah made his Hebrew slave classmates build a pyramid of cardboard boxes and sing about how Pharoah made the Jews work hard. Next Ethan, who played Baby Moses, curled up in a laundry basket and pretended to float down the Nile River, where
eventually Pharoah’s daughter, played by Katie, drew him out of the water. Luckily his mother, Yocheved, played by Ethan’s real sister, came to the palace to raise him. After singing about Baby Moses, our Moses grew up and learned that he was Jewish. He ran to escape punishment and became the shepherd of a stuffed lamb puppet! A burning bush named Sloane burned as God spoke, telling Moses to go back to Egypt and confront Pharoah. Moses, along with his brother Aaron, played by Levi, approached Mean Pharaoh, who wouldn’t let the class go free. The Hebrew slave students threw plagues at Pharaoh, who still refused. After the tenth plague, Pharaoh finally let the students go. They quickly rushed to the door and used red paint to swipe the door frames with pretend lamb’s blood so the Angel of Death would “Pass Over” their houses. Next the Hebrew student slaves gathered heavy bags that simulated their belongings and escaped into the hallways and nearby classrooms. When they finally managed to make it back to the classroom, schlepping their heavy bags, they came to the Sea of Reeds, silky blue material that blocked their entrance to freedom. Luckily Moses still had his staff and raised it up high. The Hebrew Slave students crossed the sea, the waters closing in on the Egyptians who followed them. The slaves were so happy they sang and
danced , with tambourines and shakers. But they also took a moment to remember the Egyptian soldiers who drowned in the sea. Finally, it was time to return home. The students put on their time machine suits and set the dial
for 2014. They were happy to return! But that wasn’t the end of their adventure! The Kindergarteners, along with the preschool, first and second grade students also had the opportunity to interact with the spe-
cial foods and items on a large, interactive seder plate, thanks to the creativity of Kathy Wise. The students learned the four names of Passover and sang songs about them. Next EXODUS on page 22
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Alzheimer’s experts: the disease is daunting for families and other caregivers; Cedar Village and Miami University present forum A Miami University gerontologist revealed at a forum about Alzheimer’s disease that she and many of her colleagues in the field have agonized about how to care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease. Suzanne Kunkel, director of the Scripps Gerontology Center, said that if professional gerontologists find caregiving decisions so challenging, she understands the pressure other people might face in providing the right care for their relatives. “Having a background in gerontology makes a difference,” she said, “but it doesn’t help with the emotional, personal challenges of it all.” Kunkel and other Alzheimer’s experts spoke April 29 to about 150 people who packed a lecture hall at the Miami University VOA Learning Center in West Chester. Nearly all of those in attendance indicated they had cared for a loved with Alzheimer’s. The Scripps Gerontology Center, the VOA Learning Center and Cedar Village Retirement Community in Mason presented the panel discussion. The discussion followed a screening of a groundbreaking documentary about Alzheimer’s, You’re Looking at Me Like I Live Here and I Don’t. It was the first documentary filmed entirely in an Alzheimer’s care unit and told from the perspective of an Alzheimer’s patient. Scripps and Cedar Village -- close
From left, Scott Kirschenbaum, Jennifer Kinney, Kate de Medeiros and Suzanne Kunkel.
collaborators – are pioneers in creating effective programming for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The movie focused on the dayto-day life of Lee Gorewitz in the San Francisco area nursing home where she lived. Although her mind had deteriorated, her spirit and resilience remained strong as she wandered the secure dementia unit for much of the movie. The crowd laughed and occasionally gasped as they watched Gorewitz schmooze with the unit’s staff and residents and sometimes chastise them. At times, Gorewitz cried; other times, she danced with joy. Filmmaker Scott Kirschenbaum, one of the panelists, said the documentary was difficult to make
Janet Steinberg, The American Israelite’s “Wandering Jew,” wins travel writing awards At the Spring 2014 Midwest Travel Writers Association meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, Janet Steinberg received 2 Mark Twain awards for her travel columns that appeared in The American Israelite, and on the American Israelite Website. Steinberg’s “Wandering Jew” columns continue to appear monthy. Steinberg won the Mark Twain First Place Award, in the Best Series in a Magazine or Newspaper category, for her series on a cruise aboard Silversea's Silver Whisper. The series included: Silver Whisper: A Captivating, Diverse Itinerary; Beware: Fado Fever is Catching… I Know Because I Caught It; Bilbao Reigns in Spain; and The Flavor of Bordeaux. In the same Mark Twain Award Contest, also in the Best Series in a Magazine or Newspaper category, Janet won Honorable Mention for her series that included: Key West: 'Conch-ed' Out in the Conch Republic; and Isle Smile: The Keys to My Heart. Steinberg's latest 2 awards bring
Courtesy of Janet Steinberg
Janet Steinberg received 2 Mark Twain awards for American Israelite articles
her total number of travel writing awards to 40... including: 3 Lowell Thomas Awards; Cipriani Award for Best Overall Writer of the Year; Henry E. Bradshaw Award for Best of Show in All Categories; Ohio Buckeye Travel Award; and numerous SATW (Society of American Travel Writers) and MTWA (Midwest Travel Writers Association) Awards.
because, unlike a movie that involves actors and scripts, Gorewitz’s days were unpredictable because of her disease. Kate de Medeiros, a Scripps research fellow and Miami assistant professor of gerontology, described Gorewitz as someone who showed typical signs of Alzheimer’s, with a moderate level of the disease. Gorewitz communicated with “empty speech,” partly characterized by her failure to use specific names to identify the people, places and events she was talking about. According to Jennifer Kinney, also a Scripps researcher and Miami professor of gerontology, family caregivers could learn a lot from the movie, partly by observing how little Gorewitz remembers from her past. She even failed to recognize herself
in family photographs. By acknowledging those memory problems, Kinney explained, caregivers can learn they might be putting too much pressure on a relative by trying to talk to them about the past. Relatives want to interact with the person they remember, but that’s not always realistic, Kunkel said. “They’re not the same person they once were.” The key is to honor and respect the qualities the person retains and to embrace the present with that person. That’s where a Scripps program called Opening Minds through Art becomes important because it helps people with dementia to express themselves through art and to build meaningful relationships with the OMA volunteers who work with them. In the program, people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia create artwork, often surprising themselves with their artistic ability. “Did I do that? I must be an artist,” they often say after looking at their artwork, according to Kunkel. “Wow! That’s a masterpiece.” The crowd could judge for themselves. Dozens of pieces of stunning artwork from Cedar Village residents who have participated in the OMA program hung in the hallway outside the Miami lecture hall. Kinney said that decisions about how to care for a person with dementia are unique for each family. “We can’t presume that what works with one family will work with
another family.” She also said that the region has great resources to help families, including Cedar Village, Area Agencies on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association. Kunkel emphasized that families can bring a special quality to care provided at home. But they do not need to bear the entire burden themselves. Professional expertise should be considered. “It’s OK to say, ‘we need help,’ ” Kunkel said. Kunkel and Kinney also replied to a question from a woman who said a geriatric assessment test was “humiliating” for her mother because she realized she was losing her cognitive abilities. Both experts said that even though such tests can be stressful, they also can be valuable. The tests might lead to a doctor prescribing effective medication for dementia, if the disease is detected early. The tests also can lead to a doctor detecting that something other than dementia is causing symptoms, such as poor nutrition, poor hydration and a medication interaction. Another woman in the crowd, whose husband had Alzheimer’s, said she used laughter to help her and her husband cope. They listened to comedy tapes and she read funny books to him. Days later, he would repeat back to her details from the tapes and books. “It helped me get through the day,” said Judy Jennings of Fairfield. “That and ice cream.”
May 7 Baccalaureate service at The Citadel will be “historically significant” for American Jewry History is about to be made at the Citadel in South Carolina. On Wednesday, May 7, 2014, Cadet Sarah Katchen—who served as the first Jewish Regimental Religious Officer at the Citadel in South Carolina for the past year—will take her seat at the Baccalaureate Service for the Class of 2014. Then, early in the ceremony, Rabbi Stephanie Alexander of Charleston’s Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (the the birthplace of American Reform Judaism), will become the first female and the first Jewish member of clergy to offer the prayer at the historic service. As the College’s Regimental Religious Officer, the choice of clergy to lead the gathering in prayer at the service was Sarah’s. Ten years ago, when Rabbi Alexander was pursuing her rabbinical studies at Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, she held a student pulpit at Temple Shalom in Galesburg, Illinois—where Sarah and her family were congregants. When Sarah arrived at the Citadel as a freshman four years ago, she came to Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, where her path crossed once
more with Rabbi Alexander, who had just become the congregation’s new rabbi. “I was so humbled to have received Sarah’s invitation,” said Rabbi Alexander. “Her achievement at being named the Regimental Religious Officer at the Citadel enabled her to extend the invitation to the clergy of her choice. I am looking forward to focusing on the significance of the moment for these young people and to bless all of their endeavors.” Thinking back on her senior year as the Regimental Religious Officer, Sarah says she is grateful for the experience and for all she learned along the way. “My job was to oversee all religious activities for 2,000 cadets and to advocate for people of all faiths. I worked with the five battalion religion officers,
each of whom oversaw four companies. Together, we helped students to go offcampus for services, coordinate activities, and we made sure that people were able to easily practice their faith with no repercussions.” Sarah says that being a woman in a school with very few women made it somewhat more difficult to be in a high leadership position. She wanted to do the best job possible as a Jewish person in a predominantly Christian school. “I went to different faith’s group services as much as possible,” she says. “You do not have to compromise your own faith in order to respect someone else’s.” Dr. Gary P. Zola, Executive Director of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives says “It is particularly fitting that this ‘first’ in the religious history of the Citadel takes place when we commemorate Jewish American Heritage Month. American Jews have played a unique role in challenging the nation to live up to the lofty ideals enshrined in the country's founding documents. Sarah Katchen and Rabbi Stephanie Alexander will become the most recent examples of this historic and heroic impulse.”
NATIONAL • 7
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014
After J Street rejection, critics target diversity of Conference of Presidents By Jacob Kamaras with reporting by Sean Savage (JNS) – Since the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations voted April 30 to reject the membership application of the self-labeled “proIsrael, pro-peace” lobby J Street, the umbrella group has come under siege with accusations of not being adequately representative of U.S. Jewry’s views and for being controlled by a faction of small rightwing members. Yet a closer look at the Conference’s makeup reveals the prevalence of politically centrist or apolitical organizations – particularly among its largest members – such as the Jewish National Fund, Hadassah, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the American Jewish Committee, B’nai B’rith International, the Jewish Federations of North America, and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Also included in the Conference are openly liberal groups such as Ameinu and Americans for Peace Now. “A majority of the groups voting against J Street were secular, centrist groups, not religious or right-wing,” Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein told JNS, noting that by his count there are no more than 11 religious or right-wing groups among the Conference’s 50 members. “To say it’s not inclusive when you have Peace Now, Ameniu, [American Friends of] Likud, and ZOA in the Conference, is an absurd statement,” Klein added. J Street responded to the vote with a letter on its website addressed to Conference of Presidents Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Malcolm Hoenlein, stating, “Dear Malcolm: Thank you for finally making it clear that the Conference of Presidents is not representative of the voice of the Jewish community. We recognize the need for an open and honest conversation on Israel in the United States. We appreciate you being honest. Now we’ll work on the openness.” To gain membership in the Conference, J Street needed the support of two-thirds of the body’s members. Forty-two members showed up for the vote, whose final tally was 22 against J Street, 17 in favor, and three abstentions. “If they would have won, it would have been a ‘democratic decision,’ and now that they didn’t win, J Street and their supporters complain,” Rabbi Pesach Lerner – executive vice president emeritus of the National Council of Young Israel, a Conference member – told JNS. “They use a system when it’s an advantage to them, but when it’s
not to their advantage the system’s not good anymore. They knew the rules walking in.” Yet after the vote, J Street supporters questioned the Conference’s rules, structure, and inclusivity. Some said they would consider further action in response to the vote. Kenneth Bob, national president of Ameinu, told JNS that the vote “demonstrates that there is something wrong with the structure [of the Conference] when even though member organizations that represent the majority of the organized American Jewish community publicly supported the membership application, as well as leading communal organizations like the JCPA (Jewish Council for Public Affairs) and the ADL, the measure failed.” Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, executive vice president of the Conservative movement’s Rabbinical Assembly, said the “large gaps between the ‘popular vote’ – the size and grassroots membership of organizations that announced their vote for admission of J Street to the Conference – and the final tally of the organizational vote make the need for some kind of evaluation self-evident.” “Under the circumstances, such reexamination ought to be something that all members of the Conference view as a necessity if we are to retain credibility as an organization that speaks for the Jewish community,” she told JNS. National Council of Jewish Women CEO Nancy K. Kaufman said, “The Conference of Presidents has been seized by a group of organizations who represent but a tiny fraction of the American Jewish community. … We will be discussing options for further action with our colleagues in the Conference who share our point of view.” Americans for Peace Now said the vote “points out the inadequacy of the Conference of Presidents’ procedures, rules and regulations,” and that its board of directors would “weigh its options in regards to our organization’s relationship” with the Conference. Perhaps garnering the most attention for his comments was Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) President Rabbi Rick Jacobs, a former member of J Street’s Rabbinic Cabinet. “We may choose to advocate for a significant overhaul of the Conference of Presidents’ processes,” Jacobs said in a statement. “We may choose to simply leave the Conference of Presidents. But this much is certain: We will no longer acquiesce to simply maintaining the facade that the Conference of Presidents represents or reflects the views of all of American Jewry.”
ZOA’s Klein told JNS, “Any group which threatens to leave the Conference because of J Street’s rejection despite J Street’s promotion of boycotting Israel, falsely accusing Israel of war crimes, fighting against Iran sanctions, and supporting both a Hamas-aligned state and [Secretary of State John] Kerry’s ridiculous and odious ‘apartheid’ statement should probably leave.” “It is saddening to see decent people like the head of one of the Reform organizations distorting the diversity of the Conference, which if anything leans left or apolitical, but not right, not to mention that it was J Street’s failure to win over centrists and non-political groups that delivered it so few votes overall,” said Josh Block, CEO and president of The Israel Project. Block told JNS, “The Reform movement is diverse, and rather than stoking conflict inside the movement and the Jewish community over support for Israel, the URJ would be well-served, as would the Jewish people, if the congregational branch would focus on strengthening Jewish continuity and religious practice.” Ameinu’s Bob and the Rabbinical Assembly’s Schonfeld both told JNS that their groups were not currently considering leaving the Conference. “The Jewish community benefits by having a maximally diverse group such as the Conference – that is why the Conservative movement voted to include J Street,” Schonfeld said. “We do not want to leave, we want to see the Conference revitalized. But if the Conference doesn’t undergo some serious reforms it won’t matter who stays or who goes – the organization will lose its credibility and become irrelevant.” Bob said, “In terms of leaving the Conference, anything said along those lines could be construed as a threat and that is not how I operate. I prefer to engage in serious conversation about how the Conference can be reformed to better serve the community.” URJ’s Jacobs explained in his statement, “The [Conference] member organizations of the Reform and Conservative movements, which encompass the overwhelming majority of American Jews, all voted to support J Street’s admission. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs, which represents 14 national and 125 local communityrelations agencies, voted ‘yes,’ as did the Anti-Defamation League. Still this group was primarily ‘outvoted’ by those that constitute the right wing of the North American Jewish community.” But Young Israel’s Lerner noted that the Conservative and Reform movements each have four affiliate
groups who are members of the Conference, and given that those eight groups make up nearly half of the 17 groups that voted in favor of J Street, support within the Conference for J Street was not as widespread as perceived. “If you cared about Israel, and you cared about the Israeli people, how would you vote into the Conference an organization [like J Street] that wants to talk to Hamas, whose stated mission is the murder of all Jews and the destruction of Israel?” Lerner told JNS. “And when you tell me it’s an open discussion, that you have to ‘open the tent,’ the point is that every tent has to have four walls. The tent may be large, but it has to have four walls to protect the people that are inside.” The leader of another Conference member group that
voted against J Street, who asked to remain anonymous, told JNS that the group takes issue with J Street’s tactics – not with its views. In particular, the leader pointed to the lobby’s portrayal of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on college campuses. “AIPAC is not left, AIPAC is not right, AIPAC is representing whatever the Israeli population votes, democratically in their government,” the leader said. “They’re trying to create a relationship between that government – whether it is a left government, a center government, or a right government-and the United States of America. We think it’s very sinister, dishonest, and disingenuous, the way that the J Street professionals portray AIPAC on campus.”
8 • NATIONAL
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In Presidents Conference loss, did J Street win its fight for mainstream acceptance? By Ron Kampeas WASHINGTON (JTA) – J Street wasn’t welcomed under the umbrella, but it hasn’t been left out alone in the rain. J Street’s failed effort to join the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations showed that many in the Jewish community still regard the dovish Israel policy group as beyond the pale. In a secret ballot Wednesday, 22 member groups of the Jewish community’s foreign policy umbrella body voted against admitting J Street, with 17 in favor, three abstentions and eight not present. At the same time, the membership bid elicited an unprecedented show of support from leading Jewish groups, some of which had previously clashed with J Street or kept it at arm’s length. The Presidents Conference’s rejection of J Street elicited loud protests from prominent Jewish groups and calls for reform of the conference. “J Street kind of won the popular vote,” said Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, executive vice chairman of the Conservative movement’s Rabbinical Assembly. “The folks who represent actually millions of Jews voted to say we believe the tent is big enough and the table wide enough to continue to grow and to have dialogue.” Groups that had called for J Street’s admission to the Presidents Conference included the Anti-Defamation League, arms of the Reform and Conservative movements, and the Jewish
National Briefs Holocaust-questioning assignment to be revised by California school district (JNS) – The Rialto Unified School District in southern California said it would alter an assignment that asked eighth-grade students to write an essay about whether they believe the Holocaust actually occurred or was “merely a political scheme created to influence public emotion and gain.” District spokeswoman Syeda Jafri said Monday that the assignment “was an error” and will be revised by a team of teachers, The Associated Press reported. Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, in a statement suggested that the school district visit the center’s Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles to “learn about Anne Frank and the 1.5 million other Jewish children who were murdered during the Nazi
Courtesy of J Street
A sign welcomes attendees at J Street’s 2013 national conference in Washington.
Council for Public Affairs, the community’s domestic policy umbrella, among others. J Street has had a complicated relationship with the rest of the organized Jewish community, simultaneously seeking acceptance while also dishing out criticism of other groups. J Street, which describes itself as “pro-Israel, pro-peace,” has criticized Israeli government policies and called for U.S. pressure on Jerusalem, as well as the Palestinians. J Street has also backed the Obama administration’s opposition to additional sanctions on Iran while negotiations are taking place. Some of the groups supporting J Street’s membership bid said that they did necessarily agree with its policy positions but felt that it represented a segment of the community and should therefore be included. Groups voting against J Street said that its actions did not merit Holocaust for the crime of being born Jewish.” Anti-Semitic graffiti leads to arrest of former NY police officer (JNS) – A former New York Police Department (NYPD) police officer who left the force in 2007 was arrested for the spray-painting of anti-Semitic graffiti in Borough Park, a largely Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn. Michael Setiawan, 36, allegedly had a mental breakdown when he sprayed swastikas and hateful language on 15 cars and the walls of several buildings, including a Jewish school. Setiawan was charged with 19 counts of criminal mischief as a hate crime and 19 counts of aggravated harassment as a hate crime. U.S. report: Several Mideast countries top list of violators of religious freedom (JNS) – Several Middle East countries have been identified as among the worst violators of religious freedom, according to an annual report issued by the U.S.
admission. Farley Weiss, the president of National Council of Young Israel, said that bringing in J Street would render meaningless the Presidents Conference’s mission of presenting a unified Jewish voice to the government. He noted that J Street lobbies Congress and that its positions often were opposed to those of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the pro-Israel lobbying powerhouse. “They would go to Congress and say, ‘We’re critical of Israel and we’re members of the Conference of Presidents,’” Weiss said of J Street. According to participants, the debate at the Presidents Conference boardroom on Wednesday evening was civil, with contributions by past chairmen of the conference, both for and against admitting J Street. Participants said that no one’s mind appeared changed by the debate. The rejection prompted calls from some Presidents Conference constituent groups for an overhaul of the body. “In the days ahead, Reform Movement leaders will be consulting with our partners within the Conference of Presidents to decide what our next steps will be,” Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, said in a statement. “We may choose to advocate for a significant overhaul of the Conference of Presidents’ processes. We may choose to simply leave the Conference of Presidents. But this much is certain: We will no longer acquiesce
to simply maintaining the facade that the Conference of Presidents represents or reflects the views of all of American Jewry.” Before ascending to the URJ’s helm, Jacobs was a member of J Street’s Rabbinic Cabinet. Other major groups, including the Conservative movement’s Rabbinical Assembly and the AntiDefamation League, also were calling for an overhaul. “The Conference of Presidents has 50 or so organizations, each one has one vote, the majority of those organizations are quite tiny,” Schonfeld said. “The fact that J Street did not pass today’s vote is reflective of structural anomalies of the conference.” Smaller members of the conference with similar outlooks to J Street, including Ameinu and Americans for Peace Now, also called for reforms. APN said it would “weigh its options” regarding its relationship with the conference. A source close to the Presidents Conference said that given the secret ballot it was not clear that J Street’s rejection was driven by the smaller groups and noted that many of the membership bid’s backers were also small. The source said that previous attempts to change the voting system to take into consideration the various sizes of the constituent groups failed in part because there was disagreement on what criteria should determine the proportional weight of a member organization. The expressions of support for J Street’s bid contrast with the cool reception the group often received
in its early years. Most major Jewish groups kept away from its first national conference in 2009. Rabbi Eric Yoffie, Jacobs’ predecessor at the URJ, agreed to speak, but much of his speech criticized J Street for not backing Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza earlier that year. Since then, more major groups have participated in J Street conferences as attendees and speakers. The growing warmth is in part the result of J Street advocating for Israel to other liberals. JCPA officials have said that J Street proved critical in defeating divestment motions targeting Israel that were being considered by left-leaning mainline Protestant churches. Opponents of J Street’s bid said they were influenced by the group’s willingness to invite to its events supporters of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, though J Street opposes BDS. J Street’s founder and president, Jeremy Ben-Ami, told JTA that his group would continue to engage with those with opposing views. “The whole point of debate is to actively engage with the people who disagree with you,” he said. “We wanted to be in this tent, we belong in this tent, we’d be an important asset to this tent,” BenAmi said. But after it was rejected by the Presidents Conference, J Street quickly went on the offensive against the conference and its vicepresident, Malcolm Hoenlein.
Commission on International Religious Freedom. According to the 209-page report, Iran and Saudi Arabia are identified as “Tier 1” and “Countries of Particular Concern (CPC).” Egypt, Syria, and Iraq are listed as “Tier 1” countries that are not yet on the U.S. State Department’s CPC list but should be added. Turkey is listed as a “Tier 2,” which are countries that do not fully meet the criteria of being a CPC but still have serious violations of religious freedom.
to be planted around the world were created from the collapsed tree.
owner Donald Sterling will put up a “protracted fight” before he sells the team. Eric Garcetti told the CBS program “Face the Nation” on Sunday that he would continue to press Sterling, who also is Jewish, to sell the Clippers in light of his lifetime ban from the team and the NBAinstituted last week by the league’s commissioner, Adam Silver, for making racist comments in a taped telephone conversation.
Sapling from Anne Frank’s tree planted on U.S. Capitol (JNS) – Asapling grown from the tree that stood outside the hiding place of Holocaust teenage diarist Anne Frank was planted on the U.S. Capitol’s west front lawn. Frank wrote about the original tree in her diary. “Our chestnut tree is in full blossom,” Frank wrote on May 13, 1944. “It is covered with leaves and is even more beautiful than last year.” The tree became diseased over the years, eventually being blown over from high winds in 2010. Eleven saplings
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters tells Rolling Stones not to perform in Israel (JNS) – Pink Floyd frontman and anti-Israel activist Roger Waters, continuing his campaign to encourage artists to boycott Israel, urged the Rolling Stones to cancel a planned performance in Tel Aviv this summer. Waters and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason wrote in a recently published article in the online arts and culture magazine Salon, “With the recent news that the Rolling Stones will be playing their first-ever concert in Israel, and at what is a critical time in the global struggle for Palestinian freedom and equal rights, we, the two surviving founders of Pink Floyd, have united in support of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS)… To the bands that intend to play Israel in 2014, we urge you to reconsider.” L.A. mayor expects Sterling will put up long fight before selling Clippers (JTA) – The Jewish mayor of Los Angeles predicted that L.A. Clippers
J STREET on page 19
Gary Becker, Nobel Prize-winning economist, dies (JTA) – Gary Becker, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, has died. Becker, who won the Nobel in economic sciences in 1992, died Saturday in Chicago. He was 83. A professor of economics and sociology at the University of Chicago, Becker also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was known for applying economic analysis to human behavior and daily life. Becker, who was Jewish, was best known for his work in labor economics.
INTERNATIONAL • 9
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014
‘Butterfly’ journeys back to its source By Jan Richter PRAGUE (Jewish Exponent) – When the applause faded, the 32 young actors remained on stage in silence. Some of them hugged. They looked at each other, their faces filled with amazement and disbelief – the circle was complete. The Philadelphia-based troupe had brought the words of Terezín’s children back to where they came from. They had just given the first performance of “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” at the former concentration camp where the characters they portrayed had been held captive during the Holocaust. “This is where the kids that we are commemorating performed. People were suddenly hit by the meaning of what was happening, and it resulted in an amazing breakdown,” 13-year-old actor Maya Schmeidler said after the April 18 show. “I was watching people up there that I know, believing they were being exterminated,” said Gary Weissbrot, 64, whose nephew was in the cast. “I’m not a spiritual person, but I think they did the memory of these children proud so that they will live on.” The cast of mostly teenage actors from Philadelphia’s Wolf Performing Arts Center spent the day in Terezín, an 18th-century garrison town of around 3,000 inhabitants located northwest of Prague,
International Briefs Pakistan reportedly planned to bomb Israeli consulate in India (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS) – Pakistani intelligence services planned to carry out terrorist attacks against Israeli and U.S. consulates in India, the Times of India reported Sunday. The report, citing Indian intelligence sources, said Indian security agencies foiled the plot, and on April 29 arrested Sri Lankan Sakir Hussain. Hussain reportedly told interrogators he had been hired by senior Pakistani officials in Colombo as part of a plot to bomb the Israeli consulate in Bangaluru and the U.S. consulate in Chennai. Pakistan reportedly sought Sri Lankan accomplices to establish deniability. Ukrainian Jewish mayor recovering in Israeli hospital (JNS) – The Jewish mayor of Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, is slowly recovering in an Israeli hospital, officials say. Gennady Kernes, 54, was flown
the Czech Republic’s capital. In 1941, the Nazis turned the town into a ghetto-camp for Jews from occupied Czechoslovakia and other European countries. Around 150,000 Jews passed through the town’s gates during World War II; most were later killed in Auschwitz and other extermination camps. “The first thing I felt when I stood there was an incredible heaviness and fear,” remarked Jessica Calderon, 15, after visiting the town’s Ghetto Museum. “There is a line in the play that says, ‘I have known fear,’ and now, I have truly known fear, too. Walking through that gate was unbelievable. I could imagine much more clearly what the children of Terezín felt.” The play, “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” by Celeste Raspanti, is based on a collection of poems and drawings of the same name produced by the children who lived there during the war. Also known by its German name Theresienstadt, the camp was heralded by Nazi propaganda as a “model settlement” in an effort to deceive the world into believing that Jews were being treated humanely. Inmates were encouraged to be creative and even gave concerts. Children drew and painted, wrote stories and poems. But all learning activities were strictly prohibited and only took place in utmost secrecy. Only about 10 percent of the estimated 15,000 children who lived
there survived. The Philadelphia actors staged their production in the Attic Theater under the roof of the Magdeburg Barracks, one of the ghetto’s largest buildings. It served as the seat of the Nazi-appointed self-government of the camp, and also included a venue for lectures, concerts and other cultural events. It was there where the children’s opera Brundibár premiered in September 1943. “It’s hard to imagine that this was where all those things happened and we are here now. A lot of us here are Jewish, so it could have been us. It’s crazy,” said 16-year-old Julia Govberg. About 60 percent of the cast members are Jewish. The Holocaust affected the family of at least one actor, Schmeidler, whose grandfather perished in Auschwitz. She said this family history might have given her a special insight into what the play was about – until the group chose to go on this trip. “After Terezín, any advantage that I might have had acting-wise and knowledge-wise was gone because everybody was so keen learning everything there was to know,” the 13-year-old said. “The Butterfly Project” began two- and-a-half years ago when Wolf Performing Arts Center founder and director Bobbi Wolf first thought of staging the play. The actors went on to give more than 50 performances of “I Never Saw
Another Butterfly” at various venues around the Delaware Valley, including the city’s prestigious Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, before bringing the play to the Czech Republic. But they first had to raise some $50,000 to pay for the trip. About half of the cast came on scholarships. Wolf said a local foundation donated a large amount but the majority came from individual donors who gave anywhere from $10 to $4,000. The children did their share, too. “They pledged a certain amount of money and earned it, whether it was shoveling snow, which we had plenty of this year, or babysitting or dog-walking,” Wolf said. “Every child raised money towards the fund.” They arrived in Prague on April
14, spending much of the week rehearsing and discovering the charms of the historic Czech capital. A highlight was sharing a Passover seder with Raja Engländerová, a vivacious 85-yearold who survived three-and-a-half years in the Terezín camp and is the play’s protagonist. “She is now a real person to us, which is really cool,” said 19-yearold Emma Franzel, one of the actors portraying Engländerová. Franzel noted that the survivor also told them “little tidbits about her life” that they didn’t know before. The actors had many questions for Engländerová, from her views on Holocaust denial to her life in Prague after the war. “I was surprised by how much these young people knew about the Holocaust,” Engländerová said.
to Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center last week after being shot in the back by an unidentified gunman.
deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said.
United States, our allies, and our interests.”
Jay Leno to award prize in Israel (JNS) – Former “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno will be in Israel in May to host the Genesis Prize ceremony. The Genesis Prize, a new initiative, will be awarded annually by the prime minister of Israel to a single individual in recognition of achievements and values that will inspire the future generation of Jews. This year’s ceremony takes place May 22. This year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will present the inaugural award to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Israeli tax office to notify IRS of American incomes in Israel (JNS) – The Israel Tax Authority will be notifying the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about bank accounts owned by Americans living in Israel. The agreement between the Israeli Ministry of Finance and the U.S. Department of the Treasury is meant to implement the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
Intel, which began operating in Israel in 1974, has four development centers and two production plants in the Jewish state that employ 9,855 people and produce $1 billion annually.
Dutch Muslim rapper rants against Jews and homosexuals in hate-filled music video (JNS) – Dutch authorities are investigating a Dutch Muslim rapper named Ismo, who recently released a hate-filled music video called “Oneman,” which rants against Jews and homosexuals. In the music video, which has garnered more than 148,000 views on YouTube, Ismo, whose real name is Ismael Houllich, raps that he hates “the fucking Jews more than the Nazis” and that he “does not shake hands with faggots,” all while affirming his faith in the Quran. Jewish-American prisoner Alan Gross spends birthday in Cuban jail (JNS) – The U.S. State Department on Friday called on the Cuban government to release Jewish-American prisoner Alan Gross, who spent his 65th birthday in prison. “Today is Alan Gross’s 65th birthday. Instead of celebrating it with his family where he belongs, Mr. Gross remains in a Cuban prison – where he has been held for more than four years,” State Department
State Dept. report praises Israel as ‘committed counterterrorism partner’ (JNS) – The U.S. State Department on Wednesday praised Israel for being committed to fighting terrorism, while also slamming Iran for its continued “state sponsorship of terrorism,” in its latest “Country Reports on Terrorism in 2013.” The report, issued every year as mandated by Congress, said that terrorist threats continued to “evolve rapidly” in 2013, specifically mentioning the growth of al-Qaeda and its affiliates as posing a “threat to the
Courtesy of Londa Salamon Photography
Members of the Philadelphia-based “Butterfly Project” perform in Terezín, the very place where the characters they portrayed had been imprisoned during the Holocaust.
Israel, U.S., Canada to hold joint aerial anti-terror drill (JNS) – Israel, the United States, and Canada will hold a joint aerial exercise this summer to improve coordination in preventing terror attacks on civilian aircrafts. The exercise will be the first of its kind. Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz said the drill would allow the three countries to “react more effectively” to threats of terrorism against civilian planes. Intel to invest $6 billion to upgrade production facility in Israel (JNS) – U.S. chipmaker Intel last week announced that it plans to invest $6 billion to upgrade its facility in southern Israel.
Police disperse crowd gathered for anti-Semitic event in Brussels (JTA) – Belgian police used a water cannon to disperse a crowd who had gathered for an event that Jewish groups called a “summit meeting for anti-Semites.” Some 500 people gathered in front of a bookstore in the Anderlecht municipality of Brussels on Sunday for the event. A top Belgian court did not rule on an appeal to hold the event and police moved in to disperse the crowd, the German news agency DPA reported. South African Zionists give top rating to minor Christian party (JTA) – A South African Zionist organization issued a voter guide in which it gave its highest score to a tiny fundamentalist Christian party. The South African Zionist Federation rated the African Christian Democratic Party as the strongest supporter of Israel among the political parties.
10 • ISRAEL
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After ‘apartheid’ stir, experts question perceived demographic threat to Israel By Alex Traiman (JNS) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent controversial remark that Israel risks becoming “an apartheid state” in the absence of a two-state solution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict shined a spotlight on the perceived demographic threat to Israel – a threat that some experts say is not based on current reality. The term “apartheid” refers to the former policy of segregation and discrimination in South Africa, in which a minority white elite held a monopoly on leadership over the black majority. Using the term with reference to Israel implies that Israeli Arabs do not have equal rights with Jews, and that Jewish Israelis are on the verge of becoming a ruling Jewish minority. “It is outrageous that U.S. policymakers would find it opportune to irresponsibly and recklessly accuse Israel of apartheid while Arabs in Israel are the only Arab community in the Middle East that benefits from Western democracy, civil liberties, and freedom of speech,” former Israeli ambassador Yoram Ettinger, a member of the American-Israel Demographic Research Group, told JNS. “The root of [Kerry’s] unfortunate and erroneous statement has to do with a devastating ignorance of the demographic balance of Jews and Arabs west of the Jordan River,” he said.
Israel Briefs U.S. negotiators blame Israel for collapse of talks JERUSALEM (JTA) – U.S. negotiators said Israel’s settlement policy was the primary reason the peace talks failed. At least two officials speaking anonymously to Yediot Acharonot in a report May 2 by longtime senior correspondent Nahum Barnea said multiple factors were at play in last month’s collapse of the U.S.-backed talks, but Israel’s settlement policy was preeminent. Later in the interview, one of the officials told Yediot, “The Palestinians are tired of the status quo. They will get their state in the end, whether through violence or by turning to international organizations.” Netanyahu heckled at ceremony for terror victims JERUSALEM (JTA) – Bereaved families heckled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Israel’s official Memorial Day cere-
Courtesy of State Department
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry addresses reporters before a series of meetings at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem on January 2, 2014. Kerry recently came under fire for saying Israel could become an "apartheid state" in a two-state solution is not reached soon.
While Jews currently make up a solid majority of Israeli residents, many have argued that once-high Arab birthrates combined with modest Jewish birthrates could mean the end of the Jewish population edge, and thereby create a situation in which Jews would be forced to rule over a majority of Palestinians or cede power. Yet a relatively recent two-way shift in birthrates is altering this paradigm of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “Maybe the demographic threat was real 10-20 years ago, but not anymore,” said Dr. Guy Bechor, an Israeli historian, lawyer, and professor who currently runs the blog
Gplanet.co.il. “There is a rise of Jewish fertility rate in Israel, and a decline of Arab fertility rate in Israel and in the Palestinian Authority,” Bechor told JNS. Bechor noted that in the 1970s and ‘80s, the fertility rate per Muslim mother in Israel was more than 8 children, and today the rate is 3.2. “In the Jewish community, 20 or 15 years ago, fertility rates were 2.5, and now it is more than 3 children per mother,” he said. “The numbers today are virtually the same between Arab and Jewish families.” A dramatic decline in Arab fer-
mony on Mount Herzl for terror victims. Some families waved red flags and yelled at Netanyahu, preventing him from beginning his speech at the Monday afternoon ceremony. Many then walked out. “You are freeing the murderers of our children,” one protester shouted, according to Israeli media reports.
disabled. On May 7, the Palestinians are expected to join two more treaties on children’s rights, and additional human rights treaties on July 2.
Hamas sticks to its guns despite deal with Fatah (JNS) – Despite the recent Palestinian truce between Fatah and the Hamas terror group, the latter stated Saturday that it will not disarm its military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades. A Hamas official also negated any possibility that the Qassam Brigades would merge with the Palestinian Authority’s security forces, Army Radio reported Sunday. Palestinians adopt five U.N. human rights treaties, U.N. says (JNS) – The Palestinians officially adopted five global treaties on human rights on Friday, according to a United Nations official. The five treaties ban torture and racial discrimination, and protect the rights of women, children, and the
Netanyahu, Peres offer video welcomes for Independence Day JERUSALEM (JTA) – Israel’s prime minister and president released video greetings in English on the country’s Independence Day to Diaspora Jewish communities. “On this 66th Independence Day, I want to thank Israel’s many friends around the globe for their steadfast support for the one and only Jewish state,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. President Shimon Peres in his video had a message for Jews around the world: “Be proud of our heritage, continue to stand united in a spirit of solidarity and partnership, and continue to build a future for our country and people with the hope for peace in your hearts. Israel’s ‘Air Force One’ approved by government (JNS) – The Israeli government on Sunday approved a committee’s recommendation to purchase a plane that will serve as Israel’s “Air
tility rates can also be seen in virtually every Middle East country, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkey, Bechor observes. Israel, meanwhile, is the only first-world nation in the world currently experiencing an increase in fertility – more than a full child above the replacement rate of 2.1 children per family. “Four is the new three,” Bechor said. “There is a renaissance of the Jewish fertility rate in Israel. Today, there is a clear Jewish majority in Israel, and this majority will continue to grow in the next few years.” There are two other major factors affecting Israel’s population balance: immigration and the misrepresentation of census statistics by the Palestinian Authority. Since before its creation, Israel has had an aggressive Jewish immigration program, with millions of Jews arriving from Europe, Arab countries, and the former Soviet Union. Today, Jews from around the world continue to immigrate to Israel, most noticeably from France and Ukraine. “Jews have benefitted since 1882 from an annual net Jewish immigration, and the next few years are very promising for a potential wave of aliyah [the Hebrew term for Jewish immigration, meaning ascending],” Ettinger said. “Therefore, not only don’t we have an Arab demographic timeb omb in Israel, but there is major demographic Jewish momentum.”
The “demographic time bomb” has been the prevailing theory asserted by historians and demographers for a small Jewish nation in a predominantly Muslim region since before the foundation of the state. Yet, according to Ettinger, these theories have been repeatedly proven false. “In 1898, Jewish historian Shimon Dubnow chastised [Theodor] Herzl’s ideology about Zionism, and published a projection that under the best-case Jewish scenario, no more than 500,000 Jews would live west of the Jordan River by 2000. He was off by five and a half million Jews,” Ettinger said. Later, Professor Roberto Backi similarly attempted to dissuade Israeli Prime Minister David BenGurion from declaring independence in 1948, claiming that Jews could not sustain a majority, “He projected there would be 2.3 million Jews in Israel by 2001, a 33-percent minority between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean,” Ettinger said. “He was wrong by roughly 4 million Jews.” Today’s demographers, according to Ettinger, are making the same mistakes – and worse – by adhering to intentionally inaccurate and misleading data provided by the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics on the number of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza.
Force One,” Israel Hayom reported. The approval was based on a report from a committee headed by retired State Comptroller Justice Eliezer Goldberg. The report cited two issues in its recommendation to acquire the plane: the need to maintain constant contact with Israel en route, which is not always possible on chartered transatlantic flights, as well as security, which at times prevents travel to certain states. Acquiring and outfitting the new plane is expected to cost about $70 million. Netanyahu seeks to add ‘Jewish state’ to Israel’s Basic Law (JNS) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to codify Israel as the “nation-state of the Jewish people” in the country’s foundational legislation. “It is my intention to submit a Basic Law to the Knesset that would provide a constitutional anchor for Israel’s status as the national state of the Jewish people,” Netanyahu said during a Tel Aviv ceremony marking Israel’s Declaration of Independence. Unlike the U.S., Israel does not have a formal written constitution, but instead operates on a series of “Basic Laws” passed since the country’s foundation in 1948, which
form the basis of Israeli constitutional law. New fatwa permits millions of Muslims to pray at Temple Mount (JNS) – A new Islamic fatwa permits millions of Muslims from around the world to visit the AlAqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount. The fatwa was issued during a two-day conference in Amman called the “Road to Jerusalem,” attended by more than 150 Islamic scholars as a way of to discuss “defending Islamic and Christian holy sites,” the Jordanian daily AdDustour reported. Previous fatwas prohibited Muslims from around the world from visiting the Temple Mount. Israeli invention obviates divers’ need for periscopes (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS) – Researchers from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology have developed a new apparatus that enables divers and submarines to see above the surface of the water without a periscope. The camera, named Stella Maris (Latin for “Star of the Sea”), was displayed last weekend at a leading electronic imaging conference in California.
SOCIAL LIFE • 11
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014
ANNOUNCEMENTS COMMISSIONED n 1993, at the age of one, Anna Zmood moved with her family from Kazakhstan, Russia to Cincinnati. On Sunday, April 27, 2014, she became the first member of Cincinnati’s Russian Jewish community to be commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force. Anna always enjoyed studying languages. She spoke Russian at home, and English and Hebrew at Yavneh Day School. At Kings High School, she studied Spanish and while at the University of CIncinnati, she added Arabic to her growing list of linguistic studies. Realizing that she could build a career on her love of languages through service in the military, Anna joined ROTC when she started her studies at UC. On Saturday, April 26, 2014, Anna graduated from UC with a dual major in International Affairs and Political Science. The next day, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. She will be starting Intelligence School at Goodfellow Air Force base in San Angelo, Texas in May, followed by further studies in Russian. When she finishes
I
Second Lieutenant, USAF, Anna Zmood
Adam Miller (center)
her training, Anna will start her career in the Air Force as an Intelligence Officer. Anna is the daughter of Michael and Zina Zmood, and the sister of Tamara Zmood, all of Mason.
medal in the European PONY League Championship. He pitched a complete game in the semi-final win over the London Mets (6-4) to get Israel to the Championship game. Adam is the son of Charles and Judi Miller of both Cincinnati and Rishon Lezion, Israel.
ACCOMPLISHMENT dam Miller of Cincinnati, OH and Tel Aviv, Israel is an Israel U16 baseball player who recently won a silver
A
Ambulance donated by the Friedman family
GIFT ernice Friedman and family recently purchased an ambulance to benefit American Friends of Magen David Adom in Israel. The ambulance was presented at a gala event at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, and was donated in loving memory of Arthur H. Friedman and Albert and Sadye Harris.
B
12 • CINCINNATI JEWISH LIFE
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TORAH SCROLL EXHIBIT AT B’NAI TZEDEK The weekend of February 7-9, 2014, marked the 50th anniversary of the discovery and rescue of 1,564 Torahs, collected from abandoned synagogues during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia in WWII. The Torah scrolls from Bohemia and Moravia, originally discovered in a Prague warehouse by an American-British art dealer, were eventually acquired by the London Westminster Synagogue. Known as the “Czech Torahs”, the scrolls arrived in England in 1964, after which they were inspected and classified as usable, restorable, or commemorative. A scrolls commission was established, whose intent was to distribute these Torahs, all on permanent loan, to synagogues around the world as a memorial to those Jewish communities that perished during the Nazi occupation. Congregation B’Nai Tzedek arranged an exhibit of 7 rescued Torahs that reside in Cincinnati. They were the first synagogue in Cincinnati to receive a Czech Torah.
This views the exhibit as a whole with each of the tri-folds depicting some historical data of each Torah. For the 50th Anniversary program of the rescued Czech scrolls in London, all of the congregations that had received a scroll were invited to attend and bring their Torah with them. The latter was to set the stage for a procession of all such Torahs that was to be a program highlight. As arrayed in our exhibit, the Cincinnati Torahs were similarly lined up to join in that procession, albeit in a symbolic way.
This Czech Torah was brought to Rockdale Temple in 1974. It is from the town of Bzenec. The plaque on the display case acknowledges the rescue of the Czech Torahs. Temple members who arranged for its acquisition are listed as are those involved in the design of its display.
Congregation Beth Adam received their rescued Torah in 1984. This Torah is referred to as an "orphan" Torah because the Czech community of its origin is unknown. In that light, the Torah is regarded as a memorial to those Czech communities that have no other representation. The photo shows it dressed in one of its 4 mantles - each designed to represent one of the 4 seasons of the year.
The Holocaust Torah on display in the front entrance of Temple Sholom, originates from the town of Roudnice. It arrived in Cincinnati in 1990. Valley Temple received its Czech Torah in 1974. It is originally from the town of Brno. The Torah use is for certain holy days and special occasions (B’nai Mitzvot).
This Torah, located at Congregation Ohav Shalom, was rescued prior to the Shoah. Although not from the Czech Torah rescue project, it was nonetheless a Holocaust survivor. While its original home is not known, the reference to 1938 and escaping Kristallnacht, in the plaque attached to the display, suggests a German or Austrian congregation. The text of that plaque offers reassurance that the words of Torah cannot be extinguished even by a Holocaust. That the living will carry forth the message of Torah both now and for future generations.
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014
The plaque attached to the display at B’nai Tzedek, highlights the chapters in the life of this Czech Torah, beginning with its writing (1860), its original home (Triesch), its rescue from an abandoned synagogue and rebirth in a Cincinnati Congregation (1972), followed by its retirement (2012). This Czech Torah from Triesch is housed as a permanent exhibit in the B’nai Tzedek sanctuary where its “presence adds one to every Service minyan” .
This Czech Torah originates from the town Neveklov and is currently on display at the Skirball Museum on the campus of the Hebrew Union College. It was written in 1900 and acquired by the HUC in 1993.
CINCINNATI JEWISH LIFE • 13
14 • DINING OUT
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Tandoor buffet a hit with lunch crowd By Bob Wilhelmy Arriving at 12:30 p.m. at Tandoor, the restaurant is nearly full of diners wanting to take advantage of the luncheon buffet. Their response to “How is the buffet?” is one we have heard before, many times. “Really good! And boy, are we full.” These particular patrons claimed to have gone back for seconds and thirds of some items. Seems the buffet is the way to go in ethnic restaurants these days. At Tandoor, owner Naren Patel has been ahead of the recent curve for many years. His buffet has been a centerpiece of luncheon dining for more than a decade. His restaurant has been around for nearly three decades (opening in 1985)—in other words, staying power in an industry where eateries come and go seemingly as often as we change our socks. So, why the long run as a popular eatery? One reason has to be the offering. Tandoor’s menu is more manageable than menus in some ethnic restaurants, yet you’ll find plenty of entrees from which to choose. If one happens to be a novice in eating Indian food, perhaps the lunch buffet is an ideal option. You’ll find variety and the food is mildly seasoned, instead of having the spiciness to cause teary eyes and gasps for water. But there are ways to ratchet up the spiciness if that is wanted; simply ask a server. Ordering from the menu, which you can do even when the lunch buffet is available, the variety includes many vegetarian dishes. Among them are palak paneer, featuring fresh spinach and cheese cooked with onions, tomatoes, herbs and spices; and paneer jalfrazie, a dish of homemade cheese, tomatoes, green peppers and onions, seasoned with fresh spices. All vegetarian dishes include saffron rice. Other vegetarian dishes are: malai kofta, paneer makhni, mushroom matter, aloo Gobi masala, channa masala and bayngan bharta,. Tandoor’s chef will prepare items that do not appear on the menu, giving diners even more choices. “A lot of our guests will ask us to fix something special for them, and we are happy to do that,” said Patel. “Other times, the chef will make something special and offer it to one of our regular customers. They try it and before you know it another guest comes in a week or so later and asks us to prepare what we made for so-
The lunch buffet table.
A plate of vegetarian items with naan (Indian bread).
and-so the other day. We enjoy doing that, and we believe it sets us apart from the other restaurants around.” While this advantage is used mostly by ethnic Indians who know the subtleties of the cuisine, anyone is invited to ask for
specialties not on the menu. Tandoor oven specialties include traditional tandoori chicken, boti kabab of lamb, which is skewered and ovenroasted; murgh tikki chicken barbecued on a skewer after seasoning; and sheekh kabab of
lamb seasoned and cooked with onions and herbs. All these dishes are prepared in the clay oven styled after those found in India. Also on the menu are traditional dishes such as saag chicken, cooked with freshly spiced spinach. In the “more water please, and hurry” department is chicken madras. For the “Some Like It Hot” crowd, this item will do the trick, featuring a really hot curry. Of the 20 or so Indian restaurants in the Greater Cincinnati area, almost all of them are heavily Punjabi in style of cuisine. Tandoor is an exception, according to Patel. His restaurant offers Punjabi, Gujarati and Jain, along with the cuisine of Northern India, heavily influenced by Afghanistan and points north and east of that bordering country. The Punjab area of India is more westerly, and historically, was less affected by the push of Afghani and European influences that shaped the culinary habits of the north region. These influences came into the North of India and never really went beyond that area of the country,
“That area” of land primarily is farmland that produces a cornucopia of fresh vegetables, including baby eggplant, squash, spinach, potatoes, okra, and a wide variety of other less-wellknown vegetables indigenous to India. The food (of the north) is richer in content, with more cream and butter used in its preparation. In the south, there is more fish and the food is coconut based. There is more rice and wheat breads in the north and the flavors of this region of India are more subtle. Tandoor is open for lunch Monday through Saturday, featuring an all-you-can-eat buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and for dinner (menu only) beginning at 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and to 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant is closed Sundays. Tandoor 8702 Market Place Ln. Montgomery 793-7484
DINING OUT • 15
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014
RESTAURANT DIRECTORY 20 Brix
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115 Reading Rd.
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The Shops at Harper’s Point Tandoor
489-2388 • 489-3616 (fx)
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3120 Madison Rd Cincinnati
Kanak India Restaurant
Montgomery
321-1600
10040B Montgomery Rd
793-7484
The Cream of Caffeine Coffee Co. Join us for our Second Sunday Brunch Buffet Quiche, breakfast meats, potatoes and more plus free coffee 4081 E. Galbraith Rd Across from the Dillonvale Shopping Center See us on facebook.com/thecreamofcaffeine
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Marx Hot Bagels
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Blue Ash Breadsmith
Tony’s
891-5542
12110 Montgomery Rd
3500 Michigan Ave. Cincinnati
Mecklenburg Gardens
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302 E. University Ave
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Clifton Cafe Mediterranean
Walt’s Hitching Post
221-5353
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9525 Kenwood Rd Cincinnati
Padrino
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111 Main St
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Milford Carlo & Johnny
Wertheim’s Restaurant
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16 • OPINION
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The pulpit isn’t the place for Israel criticism By Richard A. Block NEWYORK (JTA) – Freedom of the pulpit is a cherished Jewish value, yet some rabbis hesitate to share their “true views” about Israeli policy from the pulpit, as a study last year from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs found. There is virtue in such reticence. Israel needs many things, but one thing it does not need is more public criticism, which is ubiquitous. Some is legitimate but lacks context. Much of it is exaggerated, unfair, uninformed or plainly wrong. Increasingly, it lurches from offensive to anti-Semitic, rationalizing the shortcomings of Israel’s adversaries and ignoring the worst abuses of others, focusing exclusively and obsessively on the Jewish state. This willful blindness finds expression in such things as the blatantly anti-Semitic “study guide” on Zionism circulated by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the immoral, hypocritical and pernicious boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, which denies the legitimacy of a democratic Jewish state, even alongside a Palestinian one. Some organizations on the left define themselves as pro-Israel but welcome, defend and provide a forum to BDS supporters, engage in public criticism of Israel heedless of how it is exploited by its adversaries, prescribe policies its government should follow and urge the United States to pressure Israel to adopt them. Others, on the right, profess to love Israel but oppose compromises its government is prepared to make for peace and agitate against such measures. All such entities exhibit implicit disrespect for Israel as a democracy. They believe they understand Israel’s best interests better than Israel does, that Israel cannot be trusted to do the right thing absent outside influence, and that they know best what risks Israel should take and sacrifices it must make, even though they will not have to face or bear them. I prefer, instead, to heed the approach outlined by the Central Conference of American Rabbis in its Centenary Platform on Reform Judaism and Zionism. This document lists “political support” as the first of “our obligations to Israel.” Indeed, Israel’s security depends on broad bipartisan political support for the U.S.-Israel alliance, regardless which party controls Congress, the White House or the Knesset. This is especially urgent when the leaders of Iran, the foremost state sponsor of terrorism, deny the Holocaust and quite evidently seek the capacity to threaten or perpetrate another. And when the latest round of U.S.-sponsored Israeli-Palestinian peace talks teeters on the brink in the face of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ updated
version of Khartoum’s three No’s: no recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, no compromise on the claimed “right of return,” no commitment that a peace agreement would end the conflict. I am not suggesting that we pretend Israel is perfect, ignore the complex moral challenges it faces, disregard its occasional failures or excesses in the exercise of power, or encourage unquestioning approval of whatever its government does. Ardent support for Israel does not permit us to deny that Palestinians, too, have rights that deserve acknowledgment and suffer hardships no one would willingly bear. But, for example, when Israel’s security barrier is described with preposterous obscenities like “apartheid wall,” we are morally obliged to make it clear that Palestinian terrorism preceded the security barrier and not the other way around. Whatever one’s view of settlements and “the occupation,” they are not the conflict’s origins but its manifestations, and they will not be resolved by boycotts, denunciations or unilateral measures, but only by a permanent peace agreement that the parties alone can achieve. Ecclesiastes notes, “There is … a time for silence and a time for speaking.” The challenge for rabbis, individually and collectively, is determining which time it is, and when the time comes for words, to choose them with utmost care. Where Israel is concerned, rabbis have a primary duty: to nurture ahavat yisrael – love for, identification with and attachment, loyalty and commitment to the Jewish state, its imperfections notwithstanding. The highest and best use of our pulpits and voices is not to focus on Israel’s flaws but its virtues, to rebut distortions, oversimplifications and falsehoods, to provide context and perspective. Our job as rabbis is to acquaint people with the vibrant democracy that guarantees freedom of speech, press, religion and assembly, and where women, Arabs, religious minorities and gay and lesbian persons enjoy rights, protections and opportunities unknown elsewhere in the region. It is to highlight the Israel that has sent humanitarian aid and emergency relief missions to more than 140 countries, rescued tens of thousands of Ethiopian Jews and recently provided medical care to more than 700 wounded Syrians. It is to showcase the Israel whose myriad innovations in science, medicine and technology are contributing so much to humanity. As rabbis, we should be reminding the world that Israel is infinitely more than the sum of its conflicts. Rabbi Richard A. Block is president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Do you have something to say? E-mail your letter to editor@americanisraelite.com
Dear Editor, In the spirit of Bibi, Shalom all! We are now past the milestone of the world-premiere performance of BIBI, but the journey continues forward. I want to thank this community for its long support of my writing and I thank all those who came to see the opening despite the wet, gloomy weather. BIBI is a one-man show, but many have contributed. My gratitude goes to ALL, regardless the size of “bolts” one has inserted to support this project. I anticipated some rough times, but maybe not as rough as they turned out to be, namely, antiSemitism, and the hatred of Israel. Nazi Swastikas were painted on at least two large BIBI posters in front of the Aronoff Center. Again, thank you for your support. Kalman Kivkovich Cincinnati, OH Dear Editor, Not all that we learn comes from a tall lectern, delivered by teachers with impressive academic credentials. Some of the knowledge does not even come from leather bound textbooks. In every field, at least some of the knowledge does not come from intensive studies, but from pertinent facts on which researchers literally stumble upon, or they trip over while heading in some other direction. Last Sunday, 4-27-14, I attended a Holocaust Memorial Service and listened to well meaning people who, as always, told us what “they” did and forgot to tell us what "we"
did not do. These memorial services always remind me how I learned some very interesting facts of history, under the most unusual and unpleasant circumstances, during my service in the army. It was near the end of the Korean War and through some computer glitch or a stroke of good luck, I wound up assigned to the Panama Canal Zone where I spent the 1956 Passover. Thanks to the extensive contacts with the Jewish/Panamanian community and his organizational skills, Rabbi Witkin, who was the Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Welfare Board in the Zone, some of our servicemen received invitations to spend the holidays with Panamanian Jews. It was organized like some lottery. I was among four or five soldiers invited to be guests of a prominent family of few brothers and their families. I think that their name was Kordunsky. Invitation included Seder and the necessary transportation from our bases to their home. It was the most opulent home that I have ever seen and I think that the servants outnumbered the hosts and guests. Before we were invited to the palatial dining room, one of the Kordunsky brothers asked me how I can walk the streets without hiding my face in shame. He was very upset by the fact that most of the small Central and South American countries let in more Jewish refugees during the war, than The United States did. I later found out that even if he was not a well mannered person, he was pretty well informed and very emotionally involved. After my encounter with him, I read up on the subject and learned that the only group of about one thousand people who were let in from Italy to the
United States was locked up in a specially built camp, Oswego. There, they were safe, well fed, but enclosed in a fenced in area with barbed wire on top of the fence. Many, who wound up there did not see Camp Oswego as a utopian heaven. Mr. Kordunsky’s encounter with me was not personal. He knew nothing about me. All he saw in me was an American in uniform. After somebody, somehow told him that I am a new immigrant who survived the war under most adverse conditions, he made a valiant, even if clumsy attempt to make amends for his rude and misdirected outburst. The evening never became a pleasant event for either of us or anyone who understood the situation. I did not enjoy this Seder, but it was an evening where I learned a lot of history. Not all of it to be proud of. Some interesting events come in pairs. In the evening of the Holocaust Memorial Service at the JCC, my wife told me that a segment of Sixty Minutes on CBS will be discussing the story of Sir Nicholas Winton. He is an Englishman who saved 669 Chechoslovak children during WW2. His story is most fascinating and it includes details of his many heroic achievements and the help that he received from many governments and individuals. Among others, he requested help from the American Government. His letters were not lost or ignored, but all that he received were “regrets”. This was not a negative report or criticism, just a statement of a fact and the program did not dwell on it. Sincerely, Bernard R. Jungerwirth Cincinnati, OH
Misplaced optimism over Iran By Ben Cohen (JNS) – When Hassan Rouhani was elected as Iran’s president in June 2013, you could hear the sighs of relief in Washington, in Brussels, at U.N. Headquarters, and across key European capitals. Finally, we were told, the terrorism-supporting, human rights-abusing, Holocaustdenying Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had left the political stage. Finally, a moderate, rational leader with whom we could conduct business was in power. Finally, there was a real chance of securing an enduring deal to thwart Iran’s dangerous nuclear ambitions. Almost a year later, we’re still hearing that refrain, thanks to the
optimism that the new round of talks on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, inaugurated by the Joint Plan of Action agreed by the Tehran regime and world powers last November, continues to generate. Iran’s own foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has spoken warmly of the “unexpectedly fast pace of progress in the negotiations so far,” even offering the reassurance that his government is keen to avoid the perception that it is seeking to weaponize the nuclear program. From May 5-9, talks resume in New York on outstanding issues, to be followed by a move to Vienna on May 13 to begin the work of drafting a comprehensive agreement. The clock is ticking towards July 20 – the
target date for that agreement, and the expectation among Iran’s interlocutors is that the deadline will be met successfully. A senior U.S. official told the Wall Street Journal in early April, “I’m absolutely convinced that we can meet the deadline,” while the Russian Foreign Ministry has claimed that an agreement is within reach before July 20. Among the indicators contributing to this feel-good atmosphere is Iran’s decision to suspend the production of uranium enriched to 20 percent, as well as its receipt of $4.2 billion of sanctions relief, which enabled Rouhani to assert that his domestic critics objected to the IRAN on page 22
JEWISH LIFE • 17
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014
loaves… leavened; first offerings to the Lord…. And you shall convoke on this self-same day (the fiftieth day) a Holy Convocation for yourselves; you shall do no laborious work… throughout all your habitations” (Lev. 23:15-21). When you compare this passage of the days leading up to Shavuot with the passage of years leading up to the Jubilee (in the introduction to this commentary), you see that in both instances, you must count seven times seven units, leading up to the fiftieth which is holy and on which work is forbidden. The Jubilee is clearly a year of redemption, in which the fundamental freedom of every human being is honored and all inhabitants return to their ancestral homes. I would therefore submit that the fiftieth day – Shavuot; paralleling the fiftieth year – the Jubilee – must likewise signal freedom and redemption. Although we were freed from Egyptian slavery on Passover, we were not yet truly free and certainly not yet redeemed; we had merely been thrust out into an alien and arid desert without a homeland with our own agriculture to sustain ourselves and without borders to protect us. This is symbolized by matzah – incomplete bread (the staff of life) and by the Omer barley offering, the first of the grains to ripen in Israel and a food considered fit only for animals. We also had not yet received our constitution of responsible freedom, God’s Revelation of the Torah at Sinai. True freedom had to wait seven weeks, for the wheat grain to ripen and for the bread offering to be brought at the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, Israel. Only then could we be considered free, redeemed and holy. History shows that for freedom to be properly exercised and administered it must be deserved, and won with hard work. Man, the complex animal, must turn himself into human, created in the image of the Divine. This requires time and intensive preparation. To move from the barley grain fit for animals to the bread meant for those but “little lower than God, crowned with glory and honor” (Psalms 8: 5) requires the hard work of repentance, the return to the spark of the Divine within each of us. Hence these seven weeks of
counting (sefirah) must be used for self-improvement to bring each of us closer to the sefirot-emanations (characteristics of the Divine). The preparation must be complete – because without it, freedom could lead to lawlessness and mass destruction (witness the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution, the Iranian Revolution!). Omer is a minimum amount of grain, a “sheaf”, barley or wheat grain. By counting using the word “la’Omer” (towards the Omer), we express our goal of proper and deserved freedom. By contrast, using the expression; “ba’Omer” (within the Omer), we emphasize the process of the period of preparation. One must understand the importance of the goal (“la’Omer”) and properly utilize every single day of the period of preparation (“ba’Omer”). Ultimately, making each day count is crucial, this is the preparation which will define the quality of the goal and which gives the festival its name, Shavuot.
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T EST Y OUR T ORAH KNOWLEDGE THIS WEEK’S PORTION: BEHAR (VAYIKRA 25:1—26:2) 1. What prohibitions are in effect during the Sabbatical year? a.) Planting b.) Harvesting c.) Traveling outside of Israel d.) Building 2. Does the Jubilee year have the same restrictions as a Sabbatical year? a.) Yes b.) No 3. Is a Jewish slave freed in the Jubilee year? a.) Yes year anyway. It is forbidden to force the gentile to free his slaves, even if it could be done. Rashi 5. C 26:2 “to fear the Temple” Fear means to treat the Bait Hamikdash with the proper reverence.
EFRAT, Israel – “You shall count for yourselves seven cycles of Sabbatical years, seven years, seven times; shall be for forty nine years…You shall sanctify the fiftieth year and proclaim freedom throughout the land for all of its inhabitants; it shall be the Jubilee year for you, you shall return each human being to his ancestral heritage… You shall not sow, you shall not reap its aftergrowth and you shall not gather even what was already set aside – the year shall be holy to you” (Leviticus 25: 8-13). We are now in the period between the Festival of Matzot and the Festival of Weeks (Shavuot). It may be viewed as one long festival connected by the count of the Omer. The majority of our decisors are strict about the counting of the days. One may only recite the blessing for making the count, if they keep a complete and accurate counting for all 49 days. Why? Ought not each day stand on its own, independent of whether or not we remembered the correct count on previous days? Secondly, why does the Bible (Deut 16:10) and our liturgy refer to the concluding festival of this period as the Festival of Weeks (Shavuot)? Other festivals like the Festival of Matzot or the Festival of Sukkot, are named for a ritual which defines the festival, and not for the period leading up to the festival. And thirdly, my teacher and mentor, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik ztz”l would always repeat the count of the Omer in two versions: (for example), “today is the first day within the Omer (ba’Omer) followed by, “today is the first day towards the Omer (la’Omer). Why the repetition and what is the difference between the two versions? In order to respond, we must note the striking parallel between the Torah’s description of the days leading up to the Festival of Shavuot and the years leading up to the Jubilee year. “You shall count for yourselves – from the morrow of the Rest Day, from the day that you brought the Omer of the waving – seven Sabbath weeks, they shall be complete. On the morrow of the seventh week, you shall count fifty days, and you shall offer (on that fiftieth day) a new meal offering to the Lord… From your dwelling places shall you bring bread that shall be waved, two
History shows that for freedom to be properly exercised and administered it must be deserved, and won with hard work.
b.) No 4. How is a Jewish slave redeemed from a non Jewish owner? a.) Force the non Jew to free him b.) Work overtime c.) Subtracting the years of service from his original price 5. What is the last mitzvah in the Parsha? a.) To annul unpaid debts at the end of the Sabbatical year b.) Not to make idols c.) To have the proper reverence and respect for the Bait Hamikdash
freeing slaves and returning land (verse 9-13) 3. A 25:40. He is released even if he did not served six years. Rashi 4. C 25:47-54 the relatives can negotiate a price based on the price the slave was bought for minus time of service. He would go free at the Jubilee
by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Behar Leviticus: 25:1-26:2
Written by Rabbi Dov Aaron Wise
ANSWERS 1. A,B 4,5 Normally, a field would remain fallow every other year. Here, one can plant six years in a row then let the field rest during the seventh. Sforno 2. A 25:11 The Jubilee has additional mitzvoth, like
Sedra of the Week
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JEWZ
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By Nate Bloom Contributing Columnist ‘Neighbors’ – Funny and Real Kosher “Neighbors” comes to theaters with two things going for it. It has got great advance reviews from respected media outlets. Also, it is an incredibly “tribe heavy” Hollywood comedy. The plot: SETH ROGEN, 32, and Rose Byrne play a nice couple with a young baby who try to be friendly when a wild fraternity takes over a house next to their home. But the couple quickly loses their patience with the frat’s all-night “rages” and a war-of-sorts ensues. Zac Efron, who has a Jewish grandparent, plays the head of the frat. During one party scene, Efron lays a kiss on a coed played by HALSTON SAGE, 20 (Efron is now dating Sage in real life). Meanwhile, DAVE FRANCO, 28, and CHRISTOPHER MINTZ-PLASSE, 24, play the other big frat boy parts (both these actors have Jewish mothers). LISA KUDROW, 50, plays the film’s one really adult role – a college dean who tries to tame the fraternity. As you might have guessed, the director, NICHOLAS STOLLER, 38, is Jewish, too. “Neighbors” looks like a hit for Stoller, who scored as the director of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek,” but stumbled with the “too-long”/”too sad” comedy, “A Five Year Engagement.” Franco, 28, as most of you know, is the younger brother of film star JAMES FRANCO, 36. Dave’s career is really getting hotter – aided by nice supporting roles in recent box office hits (“21 Jump Street” and “Now You See Me”). It’s always cool to learn that a hot actor strongly identifies as Jewish. So, I was pleased to see Dave’s response to a nosy reporter who asked him, a couple of weeks ago, if he was circumcised. Franco said: “Yes. I am Jewish as I can be.” (For the record, he didn’t use the words “I can be” – he used a vulgar word that means the same thing in this context.) Fields About to Head Ford On May 1, Ford Motor Company confirmed what had long been expected: that MARK FIELDS, 53, currently the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Ford, would replace Alan Mullay, 58, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ford. The transfer of power is scheduled for July 1, 2014. When he takes the CEO post, Fields will be the first Jew to hold the top corporate position at one of the ‘big three’ American
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car companies (Ford, Chrysler, GM). There is some irony that Ford Motor is first in this respect. The company’s founder, Henry Ford, was a notorious and vocal antiSemite who bankrolled hate-filled publications. However, his grandson and successor, Henry Ford II, spent a lot of his time and money pursuing sincere efforts to make amends to the Jewish community for his grandfather’s sins. Fields earned the CEO position via his outstanding performance as head of, successively, Ford Argentina, Mazda Motor, Ford’s luxury car group, and its North American business unit. In 2012 he was named COO. Fields was born in Brooklyn, and was raised in Paramus, New Jersey. His family belonged to a Paramus Conservative synagogue and he celebrated his bar mitzvah. A few years back, he told the Detroit Jewish News that his family’s name was once “Finkelman.” Rosemary’s Baby, Redux I would call it a bit creepy that NBC has chosen Mother’s Day to begin a two-part mini-series production of “Rosemary’s Baby,” the classic horror tale about a young woman (Rosemary) who may be carrying the devil’s child or the anti-Christ. The mini-series makers say that their version will be truer to IRA LEVIN’s 1967 novel than the 1968 film version was. I know that most of you who have seen the 1968 film version, masterfully directed by ROMAN POLANSKI, now 80, think it is highly unlikely that the TV version will come close to matching it. But its just possible – NBC has done a clever thing – moving the story’s setting from New York City to Paris and gathering up an international cast of very good actors. A new setting and fresh faces may bring out interesting aspects of the story. Also, the director is AGNIESKA HOLLAND, 66, who, like Polanski, was born in Poland and, again like Polanski, has made award winning dramatic films (like “Europa, Europa”) about the Holocaust. Both directors have the gift of turning potentially too graphic material into comprehensible art. Zoe Saldana plays Rosemary in the TV version, with handsome British Jewish actor JASON ISAACS, 50, playing Roman Castevert, a leader of a Satanic coven. In the 1968 film, Castevert was depicted as elderly and fairly reserved. The producer of the TV film says “our version of Castevert is much more seductive – and oozing sex appeal and class.”
FROM THE PAGES 150 Y EARS A GO Dr. I.M. Wise, having left Cincinnati on Sunday last, is to dedicate today the new synagogue of the congregation “Ahavoth Chesed” of New York. The building is at the corner of Fourth Street and Avenue C, and was formerly occupied as a church but has been altered and adapted to the wants of the congregation. The lecture prepared for the occasion, we publish in the Deborah of this week. New Music: we have just received from John Church Jr., No. 66 West Fourth St., two fine pieces of music. “Jerusalem, the Golden,” a sacred song, and “I Bring Thee a Garland,” a ballad by Sautelle. Mr. Church is truly a prolific publisher of music, as there hardly elapses a single day in which he does not enrich his stock with new melodies. Our friends should remember that we have unusually fine facilities for doing job printing. Cards, billheads, bills of lading, and every variety of blanks we are doing in the best style and on the shortest notice. – June 3, 1864
125 Y EARS A GO Invitations are out for the wedding of Miss Rose Mielziner, daughter of Dr. Mielziner, and Mr. David Reinberg, to take place on the 14th of this month. Miss Madeline A. Newburgh, of Moorman Avenue, accompanied by Mr. Alfred Mack, has returned from a week’s visit to New York City, where she witnessed the centennial parades, and visited the many sites of the Metropolis. Among the new enterprises of Cincinnati which may be mentioned is the bottling department which has been added to the immense brewery of the Windisch-Muhlhauser Brewing Co. They propose to put only a pure, old lager on the market, one especially adapted to medicinal and family uses. – May 9, 1889
100 Y EARS A GO Mrs. Bertha Stein of 830 Oak Street, Walnut Hills, announces the betrothal of her daughter, Florence B., to Herman Semmons. They will be at home on Sunday, June 14. Miss Edith Katzenberger, daugther of I. Katzenberger of New York City was married last Thursday evening to Mr. J. Albert Goldman, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis J. Goldman of this city. The wedding took place at Hotel Sinton, and the ceremony was performed by Dr. Grossmann. Mr. L.J. Goldman was for several
years the president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregation and has been otherwise very prominent in Jewish communal affairs. Among the out-of-town guests was Rabbi Louis Bernstein of St. Louis, MO. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Somerfield of 2515 Ohio Avenue, Clifton Heights, O., will be at home on Sunday May 10th in honor of their son Max’s Bar Mitzvah. No cards. – April 30, 1914
75 Y EARS A GO Edgar Menderson, Jr., has been chosen editor-in-chief of The New Record, University of Cincinnati’s semi-weekly newspaper, by the Board of Control. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Menderson, 14 Burton Woods Lane. A junior engineering student, the new editor is known through his contributions to The Cincinnati Enquirer and The News Record. He is a member of the business staff of The Cincinnatian, U.C. annual, and member of Y.M.C.A. Sophomore Council He was chosen recently to Omicron Delta Kappa, national honorary activities fraternity. Herbert Stern is one of the newly chosen associate editors. Formerly of Berlin, he came to Cincinnati less than two years ago and resides with his cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Steiner, 710 N. Crescent Avenue. After 30 years at 7th and Race Streets, H.E. Bassler, furrier, has moved to 29 W. 4th Street, opposite Pogues, into larger quarters and is opening formally Saturday, May 13th, displaying new models in furs. The storage department is equipped scientifically and an added feature is the reduction of the storage rate. – May 11, 1939
50 Y EARS A GO Yavneh Day School will hold graduation exercises Tuesday, June 9, at 8 p.m., at Roselawn School for 11 students who have completed six years there. Those members of Yavneh’s second graduating class are: Iris Fieldman, Linda Gerstle, Judy Grad, Benjamin Kamin, Kim Kwiatek, Debbie Lerman, Benjamin Lichtin, Barbara Liebowitz, Paul Newman, Sharon Perry, and Mark Ukelson. The graduation class was taught by Abraham Imber of the Hebrew Department and Mrs. Al Bilik and Saul Agrari in general subjects. Miss Sue Clayton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Clayton, 8657 Lynnehaven Drive, Amberley
Village, was elected freshman queen at Walnut Hills High School. The Orthodox Jewish Home for thd Aged will hold open house for Jewish members of the medical and dental professions, Tuesday, May 28. Dr. Harry Lepsky is chairman of the medical advisory committee. Hosts will be members of the committee: Drs. Irvin Warth, Joel Essig, Leo Wayne, Jerome Berman, Nathan Silver, Sidney Peerless, Irwin Warm, and Isaac Levine, medical director of the Home. Mr. and Mrs. Maurice H. Kaplan, 7354 Scottwood Avenue, announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son Ira Charles, on Saturday, May 23, at 9 a.m., at Adath Israel (Feinberg) Synagogue, Lexington Avenue and Reading Road. Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and attend the Kiddsuh following the service. – May 14, 1964
25 Y EARS A GO Genia Zalesky, 76, died April 21 in Rockville, Maryland. She was a former Cincinnatian. Mrs. Zalesky was instrumental in the resettlement of Soviet Jews in Cincinnati. She was a member of Hadassah and helped to establish Yavneh Day School. She was also a member of Adath Israel Congregation. Mrs. Zalesky is survived by two daughters, Malka Altman of Daytona Beach, FL, and Hanita Schreiber of Bethesda, MD; and five grandchildren, Joel, Rachel, and Marla Schreiber, and Matthew and Joshua Altman. She was the wife of the late Dr. Moses Zalesky, former director of the Cincinnati Bureau of Jewish Education. Services were held April 23 at the Revitz Home in Rockville, MD, Rabbis Mordechai Schreiber and Barry M. Altman officiating. Interment was in King David Cemetery in Falls Church, VA. – May 11, 1989
10 Y EARS A GO Noa Belillti, daughter of Shelli Fettner-Belillti, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah Saturday, May 1, 2004 at Adath Israel. Temple Beth Sholom will celebrate three confirmands: Ben Rubin, and Stas and Luba Futoransky, as they affirm the importance of Judaism in their lives, Friday, May 21,. 2004. – May 13, 2004
JEWISH LIFE / COMMUNITY DIRECTORY / CLASSIFIEDS • 19
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014
This Year in Jerusalem This Year in Jerusalem
by Phyllis Singer As you read this week’s column, Israel has already transitioned from its solemn days of remembrance to its day of celebration back to regular daily life. But as I write this column, we are still in the period of remembrance and celebration that began April 27-28 with Yom HaShoah v’ laGevurah – Holocaust and Heroes Remembrance Day, commonly known in Israel and around the world as Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day. (Some rabbis maintain that the period of remembrance actually began two weeks earlier with the Passover holiday, when we commemorate Am Yisrael’s freedom from slavery in Egypt.) Yom HaShoah remembrance began Sunday night, April 27, with the annual memorial ceremony at Yad Vashem, highlighted by the lighting of six torches by six survivors of the Holocaust and addresses by Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The solemn Remembrance Day features a oneminute siren at 10 a.m. the next day, closure of places of entertainment, and Israeli TV broadcasting only movies and programs related to the Holocaust. One week later, the period continues with Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, in remembrance of Israel’s fallen – those who fell in Israel’s battles and terror attacks. This year, the nation mourned 23,169 victims of war and terrorism who have perished since 1860. At 8 p.m. Sunday, a minute-long J STREET from page 8 “Dear Malcolm,” J Street said in a letter posted on its website for which it is seeking signatories. “Thank you for finally making it clear that the Conference of Presidents is not representative of the voice of the Jewish community. We recognize the need for an open and honest conversation on Israel in the United States. We appreciate you being honest. Now we’ll work on the openness.” Representatives of various conference members said that Hoenlein appeared to keep out of the process.
siren rang out, marking the beginning of the commemoration. While the main memorial service took place at Jerusalem’s Western Wall, memorial services were held throughout the country, as municipalities, kibbutzim, moshavim and settlements paid tribute to their fallen. In Jerusalem, I attended a memorial service at Ohel Nechama Synagogue, sponsored by the shul and the OU Israel Center, that featured guest speakers Rabbi Stewart and Susie Weiss, parents of 21-yearold Staff Sgt. Ari Weiss, z”l, a member of an elite IDF anti-terrorist unit, who was killed in September 2002 during a raid in Shechem (Nablus). At 11 a.m. Monday, a twominute siren rang out throughout the country, in remembrance of the fallen. As on Holocaust Remembrance Day, the country comes to a standstill when the siren blares. People stop what they are doing – walking down the street, driving, studying or sitting at home – and stand at attention to pay tribute to the fallen. The 11 a.m. siren marked the start of official memorial ceremonies at military cemeteries throughout the country. The following excerpt from a column several years ago by Naomi Ragen, well-known IsraeliAmerican novelist and Jerusalem Post columnist, sums up the feelings in the country: Memorial Day in Israel is like nothing else…anywhere in the world. The country simply shuts down all distractions. Restaurants, bars, discos close down. Radio and television channels spend the day showing old pictures and new videos of soldiers who died five months or thirty years ago. And the programs all emphasize the same thing: The [soldier’s] c h i l d h o o d … h o m e … p a re n t s , [spouse]. The silly pictures from…high school parties.…The smiling face of the [child] dressed up for Purim. The words of the friends, who never stop mourning, who never forget. And for one day, every single person in Israel who identifies with the Jewish state, and the lives of the people who live there,
feel these men and women are part of their own past, their own family. We weep because we've lost them, weep as we would for the death of a beloved family member, who left this earth too young, too full of life. Weep for the loving family and friends [the soldier] left behind. Remembrance ceremonies continued throughout Monday. All day, Israeli TV recites the names and stories of the victims and shows their photos. Late afternoon, following Mincha services, my synagogue, Hazvi Yisrael, held a memorial service, as it does every year, for residents of the neighborhood who fell in Israel’s battles and as victims of terror. Their names and descriptions of how they fell are read by members of the congregation. And then – as only Israel can do – the country transitions from sadness of remembrance to the joy of celebration – this year celebrating the country’s 66th anniversary. The flags that had been lowered to halfmast for Yom Hazikaron are raised again, and the joyous celebration begins – officially at Mt. Herzl – but also throughout the country. It seems to me – and to other olim – that the transition is very difficult, especially for the families who have lost beloved members in Israel’s battles. I don’t know the history of the decision – why the Knesset decided years ago to pair Yom Hazikaron with Yom Ha’atzmaut – but this is the way it is, and somehow, Israelis accept it. And the celebration goes on – barbecues and all! (One of the main features of the day is the country-wide custom of going to a city park and having a barbecue. Perhaps that’s more fitting than the Memorial Day sales that take place throughout the United States!) But before the barbecues begin, synagogues throughout the country hold their morning services adding the recitation of the “Hallel” prayer, thanking God for His mercy and beneficence. And, as I said in the beginning of this article, by Wednesday, the country was back to its normal routine.
The ADL’s national director, Abraham Foxman, advocated for admitting J Street despite his disagreements with the group. “They infuriate me,” he said. Foxman said that J Street had undermined its own cause by criticizing other Israel supporters and emphasizing its differences from the communal consensus. He pointed to a defense posted on the J Street website of Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent warning that absent a peace deal, Israel could become an apartheid state. Kerry was strongly criticized by Jewish groups for the comment, and he later said that his use of the
word “apartheid” was inappropriate. “Look what they did, right before the election, defending Kerry when Kerry would not defend himself,” Foxman said. But whether he liked J Street was beside the point, Foxman said. “We’re checking the tzitzis of those who want to celebrate Israel,” he said, using an expression that describes overly intrusive inspections of Jewish devotion. “We’re doing tzitzis checks of how deep is their love. That’s a troubling development.”
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(513) 793-2556 Shalom Family (513) 703-3343 • myshalomfamily.org The Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education (513) 487-3055 • holocaustandhumanity.org Vaad Hoier (513) 731-4671 Workum Fund (513) 899-1836 • workum.org YPs at the JCC (513) 761-7500 • mayersonjcc.org CONGREGATIONS CONGREGATIONS Adath Israel Congregation (513) 793-1800 • adathisrael.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 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 • nhscba.org Rockdale Temple (513) 891-9900 • rockdaletemple.org Temple Beth Shalom (513) 422-8313 • tbsohio.org Temple Sholom (513) 791-1330 • templesholom.net The Valley Temple (513) 761-3555 • valleytemple.com 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 • kehillacincy.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 (937) 886-9566 • jwv.org NA’AMAT (513) 984-3805 • naamat.org National Council of Jewish Women (513) 891-9583 • ncjw.org ORT America (216) 464-3022 • ortamerica.org State of Israel Bonds (513) 793-4440 • israelbonds.com
20 • FOOD / WANDERNG JEW
Lag Ba’Omer, a time of celebration and reflection Zell’s Bites
by Zell Schulman May is a month when our emotions are put to the test. This past week, we remembered the Holocaust. In the coming week we will be observing Yom Hazikaron,a day of remembering Israel’s fallen soldiers, and Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. A few days later we celebrate an American obervance called “ Mother’s Day.“ followed by one of our minor Jewish holidays called “Lag Ba’Omer.” What does Lag Ba’Omer have to do with food? Thanks to the telephone and my computer, I found the answer. First I called my daughter, Karen who didn’t answer. Then I called her husband, my Israeli sonin-law, Avi. Then Karen called me back and thanks to both of them and my computer I came upon the answer I was looking for. I cannot take credit for the following explanation of this minor Jewish holiday, but I did learn that yes, Lag Ba’Omer has a lot to do with barley and wheat, the grains which we use in baking breads, cookies, and other foods, and decided it’s never too late to learn something new about the food we purchase, prepare and enjoy. After checking on the internet, the material I found was overwhelming, but my readers may enjoy learning about this agricultural holiday and its celebration. Lag Ba’Omer is a festive minor holiday that falls during the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot which is usually in May or June on the Gregorian calendar. An omer is an ancient Hebrew measure of grain, amounting to about 3.6 liters. Biblical law forbade any use of the new barley crop until after an omer was brought as an offering to the Temple in Jerusalem. There is an interesting connection between Passover and Shavuot when we count the Omer, starting the second night of Passover until Shavuot, which marks the time from the barley to the wheat harvest. As in all agrarian societies, if the weather pattern deviates, it can be disastrous for the community. This is a precarious time, when everyone prays for positive results. It was also during this period that thousands of students of Rabbi Akiva died in a
plague. Therefore, during this time there is a ban on parties, weddings, live music, and haircuts similar to the time of mourning for a loved one. The one exception during this solemn period is Lag Ba’Omer-the 33rd day of counting the Omer. "Lag" is from the Hebrew letters lamed and gimel. Lamed has a numerical equivalent to 30, and gimel has the numerical equivalent of 3-thus the 33rd day. Among those who observe the restrictions during the Omer, Lag Ba’Omer is a day of wedding celebrations. For those who wish to marry in the spring, this is the only day on which one can celebrate. Boys, at the age of 3, often have their first haircut on Lag Ba’Omer, with much festivity surrounding the event. Lag Ba’Omer celebrations are generally outdoor adventures, including bonfires, fun and frolic with teaching. Especially in Israel, people young and old will be outside sharing a picnic and enjoying the beautiful day; school children celebrate with a "field day." The bonfires lit in celebration are supposed to symbolize the light of Torah. How can we honor and rejoice on Lag Ba’Omer in today’s modern world ?, You may wish to find a new idea that brings meaning to your life. Have a picnic with family and friends, and take time to appreciate all that surrounds you in the world. This holiday allows us to take the time and celebrate all that Judaism brings to enrich our lives. Aunt Ruth’s Butter Cookies Makes about 3 dozen This butter cookie recipe has been in my father's family for years. The dough freezes well and the cookies can be baked at a later date. If you need a large amount for a special occasion, double the recipe. Ingredients Dough 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 stick unsalted butter 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 large egg 3/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla
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Synagogues around the world Wandering Jew
by Janet Steinberg “A city without a Jew is like a bowl of soup without salt. There would be no flavor to our city if it weren't for our Jewish residents.” So said my gentile tour guide Paula Pohli as she escorted me through historic Jewish Dublin. With that being said, Shalom! Let's go synagogue-hopping in Dublin and around the world...one synagogue (and one adjacent Jewish cemetery) at a time! Dublin, Ireland: The original Walworth Road Synagogue (Beth Hamedrash Hagodel) has been restored and now houses the Irish Jewish Museum that was officially opened in 1985 by the Irishborn, former Israeli President Chaim Herzog. Displays detail two centuries of Jewish history in Dublin. In 1999, the old Adelaide Road Synagogue was sold. Following a de-consecration ceremony, it is now being restored for a commercial venture. The Progressive Congregation is housed in a contemporary building at 7 Leicester Avenue in the upscale Jewish neighborhood of Rathgar. Prague, Czech Republic: Prague is a treasure trove of Jewish synagogues and an adjacent Jewish cemetery. The Maisel Synagogue was built in 1590-92 and considerably rebuilt from 1893-1905. Named after a 16th century mayor of the ghetto, it is currently used by the Jewish Museum as exhibition space for liturgical silver and
other religious objects. Ironically the Nazis, who intended to build a museum of a vanished people, brought most of those Jewish treasures to Prague from Bohemia and Moravia. The Spanish Synagogue, built in the second half of the 19th century on the site of Prague's first (11th century) synagogue, got its name from the pseudo-Moorish style in which it was built. The Pinkas Synagogue, founded in 1479, is the second oldest synagogue in Prague. The interior of this touching memorial to the Holocaust is inscribed with the names of the 77,297 Czech Jews who were murdered by the Nazis. The Old-New Synagogue, not under the auspices of the Jewish Museum, is the oldest surviving synagogue in Europe (1270) and one of the earliest Gothic buildings in Prague. Within its ancient walls, a Star of David marks the high-backed chair where the distinguished Rabbi Low sat. The synagogue is tucked beneath the Baroque Clock Tower of the Jewish Town Hall. The Clock Tower has two clocks. The first has traditional numbers; the second has Hebrew figures. As Hebrew reads from right to left, so the hands on the second clock turn in an anti-clockwise direction. The Klausen Synagogue, a Baroque structure completed in 1694, houses many exhibits including those relating to the 16th century Rabbi Low who created the legendary robot called “Golem” out of clay. Legend has it that Golem was brought to life by Rabbi Low who read prayers and wrote God's name on a piece of paper that he put in Golem's mouth. During the day, Golem helped the rabbi. At night, he walked the street protecting Jews from their enemies, which he intimidated with his size and strength. When Rabbi Low decided to end Golem's life because he was no longer needed, he carried Golem to the attic of the Old-New Synagogue and said the same prayers as before, only back-
Method l. Place flour, baking powder, and sugar in the large bowl of your electric mixer or in your processor bowl. Beat well or process 5 seconds. 2. Cut the butter into 8 pieces and add to the bowl or the processor and beat on medium high speed for one to two minutes or process l0 seconds. Add the egg, and vanilla to the bowl or with the process running, pour the egg and vanilla through the feed tube. Beat until the dough BITES on page 22
Courtesy of Janet Steinberg
Singapore's Maghain Aboth Synagogue.
wards. In the end, only a pile of clay remained. Today, images of the Golem are seen throughout the Jewish Quarter on everything from postcards, to tee shirts, to works of art. The Old Jewish Cemetery, founded in 1478, is the burial site of Rabbi Low. Over 12,000 gravestones are crammed into this area where some 100,000 people are said to be buried on top of one another in stacks that are 10-12 bodies deep. New York, New York: Temple Emanuel is the world's largest Jewish house of worship with approximately 3,000 member families. This Reform synagogue is housed in an impressive Romanesque Revival building on Fifth Avenue. Construction on the huge limestone structure began in 1927 and was completed in 1929. Prominent features include the massive bronze doors and the ornate carved facade with symbols representing the twelve tribes of Israel, a Star of David and two deco-influenced lions. Singapore, Singapore Island: Although Singapore only has a population of approximately 200 Jewish people, they (prominent Jewish merchants and professionals) manage to support two beautiful synagogues. The eclectic, Victorian-style Maghain Aboth Synagogue was the first place of worship built by Singapore's small but significant community. San Francisco, California: The Sherith Israel Synagogue, with its imposing Romanesque structure and Eastern overtones, is the only synagogue that survived the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906 with no damage. The sanctuary's stained glass windows are one of its most outstanding features. Mount Sinai, as depicted in a window with Moses, is said to be modeled after Yosemite's HalfDome, a peak that was more familiar to the artist than Mount Sinai. Venice, Italy: Don't leave Venice without visiting the synagogues in the Ghetto Nuovo.. Amid Renaissance buildings, medieval houses, and shops brimming with Judaica, you will find a Jewish Home for the Aged, Chabad, and five synagogues. From the small museum (Museo della Comunita Ebrico) located on the floor below the German Synagogue, visitors can take a synagogue tour. The beautiful German Synagogue was restored at the turn of the 20th century and The Spanish Synagogue is the oldest continuously functioning synagogue in Europe. The Canton, Italian, and Levantine Synagogues are also in the ghetto.
AUTOS • 21
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014
The Audi Allroad: A rugged wagon that’s perfect for families If you took a crossover, and then zapped it with the energetic, on-the-road attitude of a sport sedan, what would you get? The brawny Audi Allroad, a versatile, rugged wagon that’s a heck of a lot more useful and perfect for families. Audi essentially skipped that first wave of the SUV craze, but did concede a bit to their popularity with the original 2001-2006 Allroad, which was essentially an A6 Avant wagon with slightly higher ride height and a touch of rugged trim. They’ve kept to the same formula with the current Allroad, introduced last year, but this time the Allroad is a bit tidier and it’s now based on the Audi A4. In form and function, it's still a station wagon (aka the sport wagon). Not only does it offer some of the talents of a comparably sized utility vehicle, it also carries forward with more carlike performance and a lower, sportier look than Audi's own excellent Q5 crossover. Audi’s Allroad got the Outbacked treatment, which works very well, with its raised ride height, distinctive lower-body look, and aluminum exterior trim. The Allroad has a stronger stance from the side, while at the front there's a little more presence, due to the vertically ribbed grille. Trim LED headlamps are chambered at the top corners for a subdued, sophisticated appearance across the nose, while wide fog lamps add substance down below. Most models get a matte-finish cladding for the lower body and around the wheel wells, but a higher-gloss look is available. Once you’re inside, you'll appreciate that the analog, cockpit-like gauge cluster isn't any more complicated than it needs to be, while Audi's controller-andscreen-based MMI system is over at the top and middle of the dash. The look is livened up with aluminum trim, and you can choose between several wood trims if that's not your style. Overall, the A4's dash and controls have a high-quality look and feel that extends Audi's streak of excellent interiors. There’s no choice in powertrains, but you’ll have absolutely no issue with the excellent one that Audi installs in all U.S.-bound Allroads. The 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes nine extra horsepower for 2014—220 hp—but it keeps its 258 lb-ft rating. It's teamed to a responsive eight-speed automatic transmission, with a sport mode, and the latest Quattro all-wheel drive system is standard. This year's bump in power has knocked a tenth of a second off the dash to
60 mph—now 6.4 seconds, officially. From the driver's seat, the 3,900-pound Allroad responds well with any prod from the right foot, and the transmission doesn't hesitate to shift early when you don't need the revs. Gas mileage is officially 20 mpg city, 27 highway according to the EPA, but in an extended test it was noted 24 mpg in a nearly 1,000-mile mix of driving and, quite consistently, more than 30 mpg in relaxed highway driving at legal speeds. Despite its stockier stance, ithe Allroad seems to handle a bit better than the A4 sedan. Big 18-inch wheels and taller-profile tires give it better stability than the standard A4 can offer. Though it rides about 1.5 inches higher, the Allroad's suspension loads up more predictably, and the Quattro system can send up to 85 percent of torque to the rear wheels (60 percent in normal driving). Like the four-door, the Allroad can be fitted with dynamic variable-ratio steering and Drive Select, which tailors its electric power steering, transmission, throttle and shock settings for sporty or soft driving. The Allroad pushes the rugged look on the outside, but you probably don’t need an off-road permit for it. It's not intended for more than casual off-pavement driving—a gravel road sounds about right—but the Allroad's stability control includes a special mode which allows for more wheelspin, in case it's stuck in muck and needs to extract itself. Ground clearance is 7.1 inches—less than the Subaru Outback, but about the same as some 'soft' crossovers— and the Allroad has some modest skid-plate and underbody protection for light trailblazing. Seating in the Allroad is excellent. In front, even the base seats provide great support for longer highway trips, with just enough side support, too. With 27.6 cubic feet behind the rear bench, and an easy-folding seat arrangement, the Allroad is great for making room for weekend projects and other cargo needs. Flip everything forward and you have up to 50 cubic feet. The 2014 Allroad is based on the A4 architecture, and while it hasn't yet been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), it's earned five-star frontal and side impact ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Noteworthy safety options include adaptive cruise control that can stop the car completely from speeds up to 19 mph; blind-spot monitors and a rearview camera are also available, as are rear-seat airbags. At the base level, for just over $40k, the Allroad's standard
The Audi Allroad.
equipment set includes leather upholstery; aluminum interior trim; power front seats; a panoramic sunroof; satellite radio; and MMI, Audi's multi-media interface. Options include iPod/USB connectivity; a power tailgate; 19-inch wheels and tires; adaptive headlights; Bluetooth; wood interior trim; 505-watt Bang & Olufsen audio; sport seats and shift paddles; and a navigation
system. The Convenience Package, with its Audi music interface, HomeLink universal garage-door opener, the so-called driver information system, and Bluetooth connectivity, has been packed in as part of the Allroad's standard equipment for 2014. Audi Connect is another noteworthy extra; the feature allows customers can tap into a built-in 3G connection that turns the
Allroad into a rolling wireless hotspot for up to 8 devices, and to enable Google local searches via MMI. The connection also feeds input to the navigation system (with traffic and weather information) to render maps from Google Earth and Google Street View in stunning, crisp detail. The Audi Allroad starts at $41,595.
22 • OBITUARIES D EATH N OTICES COHEN, Sol, age 87, died April 29, 2014; 29 Nissan, 5774. BACKMAN, David J., age 59, died May 1, 2014; 2 Iyar, 5774. ZEIDENSTEIN, George, age 82, died May 4, 2014; 4 Iyar, 5774. PILDER, FREDA, age 91, died May 4, 2014; 4 Iyar, 5774. KAUFMAN, Dorothy, age 93, died May 5, 2014; 5 Iyar 5774.
BITES from page 20 begins to pull aways from the sides of the bowl, or process until dough begins to form a ball on the blades. Remove the dough onto a lightly floured board, cut into 3 pieces, and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough one hour before rolling out the dough and cutting it with your cookie cutters, or freeze the dough at this point and bake it later. 3. If baking the cookies, preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roll the dough on a lightly floured board approximately 1/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters, place on un-greased cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes until the edges of the cookies begin to brown. Cool completely. Store in tins or freeze.
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Chief interrogator at Nuremberg Trials and Miami University Vice President Emeritus John E. Dolibois passes away John E. Dolibois, former U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg and last American survivor of a team that interrogated top-ranking Nazis for the Nuremberg Trials, died Friday, May 2, at his home in Cincinnati. He was 95. In addition to volunteering at the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education and speaking to groups around Cincinnati, Dolibois was fortunate to have a close relationship with Josh Rothstein, Wyoming, and his family. Josh used to work at Evergreen Retirement Home his senior year in high school, which is where he met Dolibois and his wife. After mentioning he was wait-listed at Miami University, Dolibois mentioned that he would speak to a few people. The next thing Josh knew, he was accepted to the school. “Who ARE you?, “ Josh remembers asking Dolibois. Unaware that Dolibois was Miami University’s vice president emeritus for university relations, or that he had helped establish a study abroad program in Luxembourg in 1968 (The Luxembourg center was renamed the Miami University John E. Dolibois European Center in 1987), Josh didn’t realize what a special and unique relationship he had started. After high school, Josh contin-
Zell’s Tips: Colored sugar may be sprinkled on top before baking them, to highlight or add sparkle to the cookies.
EXODUS from page 5
IRAN from page 16
diplomatic breakthrough, remains substantial – and littered with obstacles. To begin with, there is Iran’s history of duplicity and concealment, practices which only the most naive would think have been eliminated. As Olli Heinonen, a former deputy director-general of the International
November interim deal only because they were personally profiting from sanctions-busting activities. Yet the distance between where we currently are, and what some are billing as this century’s first major
they learned how the Karpas (parsley), Beitzah (egg), and Zaroah (shank bone)are related to springtime and the Passover story, with the help of a stuffed chicken inside an egg, and our old friend, the lamb puppet.
ued his visits with Dolibois, and encouraged friends who were history-buffs to visit as well, since Dolibois loved talking to people and telling stories. When Dolibois’ wife passed away, Josh made sure to take him out of the retirement home and keep him busy, including having him over to his family seders for Passover. Josh even invited Dolibois to his graduation from Miami University - and he came, sitting with the Rothstein family instead of on the podium with the other MU administration and important guests. “We had a special relationship” says Josh. Dolibois was born Dec. 4, 1918, in Luxembourg. In 1931 at the age of 12, he immigrated with his father to the United States on July 4, joining John’s sister, Marie, who was living in Akron. He graduated from Akron North High School as president and valedictorian of his senior class and earned a four-year scholarship to Miami University. He majored in psychology at Miami, graduating with honors in 1942. He became a U.S. citizen his junior year in 1941 and married Winifred “Winnie” Englehart (Miami ’42) during their senior year at Miami. He took a job at Procter & Gamble as an industrial engineer.
When drafted later in 1942, he pointed out that he was fluent in German. He was eventually commissioned a lieutenant in the cavalry and transferred to a military intelligence center in Camp Ritchie, Maryland. In March 1945 Dolibois became a member of the fivemember Army Intelligence team that interrogated the highest-ranking Nazi war criminals after the fall of the Third Reich, leading up to the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials. This included Hermann Goering, credited as the architect of the Nazi industrial machine and second in command under Adolf Hitler. After six months of interaction, he knew some of Hitler’s most trusted and senior-deputies well. When the defendants went to Nuremberg, Dolibois followed, interpreting their responses to Rorschach inkblot tests given by an Army psychiatrist. After the war, Dolibois, who left the Army as a captain, returned to his job at Procter & Gamble until May 1, 1947, when he became Miami University’s first full-time alumni secretary. He later became the first director of alumni affairs and development and, in 1966, first vice president for development and alumni affairs. In July 1981 he was named vice president for university relations, overseeing the news and
publication offices as well as public relations, development and alumni programs. After 34 years at his alma mater, he retired so that he could represent the United States as ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 1981-1985. In June 1981 he told the Associated Press that his nomination was the capstone of his career. During his ambassadorial tenure, the 999-square-mile country of 365,000 was visited by Vice President George Bush, Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, Secretary of State George Schulz and Gen. Alexander Haig. He and his wife Winnie returned to Oxford in 1985 to retire. Until his death, Dolibois was a frequent speaker to students and other groups about his experiences surrounding the Nuremberg Trials. John was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Winifred “Winnie” Englehart Dolibois (Miami ’42), in 2009 and by their son, Brian Charles Dolibois (Miami ’80). Survivors include sons who are also Miami graduates, John Michael Dolibois ’66 (Alison) of Oconto Fall, Wis., and Robert Joseph Dolibois ’69 (Susan) of Arlington, Va., eight grandchildren and other family members.
Then the students connected the Charoset and Maror (horseradish) to slavery. Some students got to hold paper chains to symbolize slavery and then break them to show freedom. Finally, the students learned the importance of matzah to the seder, even though it isn’t on the seder plate.
Cookie Monster made an appearance and did not want to taste the matzahhe only likes cookies. But with some coaxing, he tried the matzah and loved it! He changed his name to the Matzah Monster. After more songs, it was finally time to taste the real foods on the individual plates. As expect-
ed, many students loved the charoset and macaroons. Suprisingly, many students liked the horseradish and asked for seconds! We are instructed at the seder to not just read about the Exodus from Egypt but to relive it. The Kindergarten students have in fact fulfilled this mitzvah!
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told me back in January, “There is no assurance that there isn’t another enrichment plant under construction somewhere else.” Heinonen, who spent more than a decade negotiating with the Iranians, also warned that Rouhani is not the final authority when it comes to Iran’s internal divide over the nuclear issue. Given that one of the tasks negotiators face is persuading the Iranians to reduce the number of centrifuges from 20,000 to 6,000, there is good cause for concern that Rouhani would not be able to deliver on this demand even if he wanted to. Then there’s Iran’s ongoing belligerence in the Middle East – the kind of behavior that casts major doubt over the apparent good intentions of the Tehran regime. Uppermost in mind here is the Israeli Navy’s interception, in March, of a Panamanian-flagged ship carrying a cargo of missiles and other weapons intended for Palestinian terrorists in Gaza. In the same vein, it’s worth paying attention to the State
Department’s report on terrorism during 2013, which states, “Iran continued its terrorist-related activity, including support for Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza, and for Hezbollah. It has also increased its presence in Africa and attempted to smuggle arms to Houthi separatists in Yemen and Shia oppositionists in Bahrain. Iran used the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and its regional proxy groups to implement foreign policy goals, provide cover for intelligence operations, and create instability in the Middle East.” The same report also reveals that Iran “allowed Al-Qaeda facilitators Muhsin al-Fadhli and Adel Radi Saqr al-Wahabi al-Harbi to operate a core facilitation pipeline through Iran, enabling AQ to move funds and fighters to South Asia and also to Syria.” Finally, the regime is undergoing yet another crisis of legitimacy in the eyes of its own people. Visitors to Tehran report seeing large numbers of young people with their heads shaved in a gesture of solidarity with political
dissidents incarcerated in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, many of whom were viciously beaten by members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps at the beginning of April. At the same time, the economy is suffering: the price of gas has increased by a colossal 75 percent, while the value of Iran’s currency, the rial, has dropped 9 percent against the U.S. dollar. When you recall that 25 percent of Iran’s workforce is unemployed, the prospect of social unrest – culminating in a typically brutal response on the part of the authorities – cannot be discounted. Critically, we are no closer to answering the questions that have hovered over the nuclear crisis from the beginning: Can Iran’s leaders deliver a political solution that satisfies all parties? Are they willing to submit to an inspection regime that will prevent them from weaponizing? On both counts, the answer remains negative, which is why all the optimism over Rouhani’s election is better understood as wishful thinking.
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