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THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014 11 AV, 5774
Back to School Special Section
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Amid uncertainty of an open-ended war, U.S.-Israel tensions rise
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In Ramle, a Holocaust survivor worries about her family in Gaza
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In U.S., Gaza conflict reverberates on air and in the streets
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From Dutch situation room, pro-Israel volunteers defend Jewish state on social media
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Heroin addicition infiltrates Cincinnati’s Jewish community By Beth Kotzin, Assistant Editor Julie Torem, Contributing Writer
UC and Miami University Hillels welcome new Israel fellow
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To a heroin addict, nothing is as important as getting the next fix. Heroin, once considered a drug used only by urban poor, is now a huge problem locally, especially in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, and it’s having an effect on the Jewish community. Because of strict government regulations on opiates (i.e. percocet, oxycodone, vicodin), more and more people are turning to heroin. It is cheap, easy to obtain, highly addictive, and deadly. People who were formerly addicted to prescription opiates are becoming today’s heroin addicts. What does a heroin hit feel like? The initial effects of heroin include a surge of sensation or “rush”. This is often accompanied by a warm feeling of the skin and a dry mouth. Sometimes, the initial reaction can include vomiting or severe itching. After these initial effects fade, the user becomes drowsy for several hours. The basic bodily functions, such as breathing and heartbeat, slow down. Within hours after the drug effects have decreased, the addict’s body begins to crave more. If addicts don’t get another fix, they will begin to experience withdrawal, which includes extreme physical and mental symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, aches and pains in the bones, diarrhea, vomiting and severe discomfort. The fastest way to avoid withdrawal is the next dose of heroin. The intense high a user seeks lasts only a few minutes. With continued use, they need increasing amounts of the drug just to feel “normal”. (Foundation for a Drug-Free World) Cincinnati is unique in that it is a hub for heroin. In the past, heroin arrived in the USA mainly through Mexico, after being produced in the Middle East. More recently, the drug has made its entrance to the USA via Michigan, with key distribution hubs in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Heroin has infiltrated our homes, our schools, and our families. This is not a “poor man’s drug” any longer. Heroin use has reached epidemic pro-
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portions and it is wreaking havoc on our community, and our children - the Jewish community is not exempt. In Amberley, for example, heroin is readily accessible and addicts don’t even need to drive to get it. One parent of an addict stated that in his opinion, the police are doing nothing to combat the issue. He continued to say that most parents are completely
unaware that their children are using “heavy” drugs. Another important factor is that most heroin is injected, thus creating additional risks for the user, who faces the danger of AIDS or other infection on top of the pain of addiction. Opiates, mainly heroin, account for 18% of the admissions for drug and alcohol treatment in the US.
According to an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer in April 2014, 680 people died of heroin overdoses in 2012, up from 426 deaths in 2011, a 37 percent increase. The heroin increase also drove the overall number of fatal drug overdoses to a record of 1,272 deaths in 2012, up from 1,154 the previous year. For 2012, overdose deaths rose 6.7 percent to 159 in Hamilton County; 15 percent in Butler County to 92; 14.3 percent in Clermont County to 56; and 18.5 percent in Warren County to 32. “Chris” is a recovering alcoholic who runs an inpatient facility for female addicts in Northern Kentucky. This facility has 110 beds and has a constant waiting list, because there are not nearly enough treatment facilities to handle the needs of those with serious addictions. Chris currently has his MSW and has received specialized training in working with people with both alcohol and drug addictions. Additionally, Chris has testified about issues pertaining to addiction, recovery, and the challenges associated with both on several occasions. According to Chris, heroin abuse has skyrocketed in recent years. He attributes this to a number of factors the main factor being trauma (i.e. sexual abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, etc.). The other main factor is that at around $10-$25 per/hit, heroin is cheap. A person with a hardcore heroin addiction, however, can spend hundreds of dollars per day to support their habit. Additionally, the price of addiction is associated with increased absenteeism from work, greater risk of unemployment, and dropping out of school. Most of the women Chris deals with started off using other opiates like oxycontin, vicodin, or percocet. When these drugs became highly regulated, and doctors began to prescribe them less frequently, people turned to heroin because it provided similar results. Although most people inject heroin (“shooting up”) into their veins, heroin can also be smoked or snorted. The issue of injecting heroin carries with it a multitude of additional health risks including HIV/AIDS HEROIN on page 21
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Local moms continuing plans for Israel trip It has been described as “A Birthright for Moms” and its going forward despite of, or for some, because of, the current difficult situation in Israel. In conjunction with the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project (JWRP), Sarah’s Place invites local Jewish moms to register for a trip in early fall. Participants only pay for flights to Israel. Hotels, tours, and ground transportation (with security) are all free. Most meals are covered by the subsidy as well. An incredible Shabbat in the Old City of Jerusalem is also fully covered in the package. Among JWRP’s impressive list of partners is the Israel’s Ministry of Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs, which has awarded JWRP unique status among trip providers. JWRP trips always include security personnel, and safety of participants is a top priority. This trip will provide a safe, enjoyable and meaningful way to show vivid support for Israel. JWRP has brought thousands of moms to Israel and side form many "classic"
Past Cincinnati JWRP contingency
tour sites, JWRP provides unique access to some of Israel's most fascinating personalities and their homes. Jewish mothers of children eighteen or under are invited to apply for the October trip. Having been to Israel before does not pre-
clude participation in this trip but it is most appropriate for those who have not been there recently. Information is available through Sarah’s Place Cincinnati or JWRP websites.
UC and Miami University Hillels welcome new Israel fellow Cincinnati Hillel and Hillel at Miami University are looking forward to a great year with their new Jewish Agency for Israel Fellow, Rotem Ben-Lulu, who is arriving in Cincinnati on August 10th. She will immediately begin her work on the two campuses. “I’m excited for Rotem to join our community and bring a fresh perspective about Israel to share with us,” said Ryan Fuldauer, Religious/Cultural VP at Miami. “Especially with the current events in Israel, I think she is going to be a valuable resource for the Miami and Cincinnati communities.” Rotem served for three years in the Office of Northern Command, Logistics Command for the Israeli
Rotem Ben-Lulu
Army. She has a BA in Education and Political Science from Tel Aviv University, and has just completed three years of substitute teaching and studying for a teaching certificate. Rotem said “Coming from an educa-
tional background, I believe that education … has the power to shape the character of students by instilling in them the values they will need to formulate their own personal Jewish identity and a sense of belonging to the greater Jewish community.” While still in Israel, Rotem met with students participating in Onward Cincinnati and with Bearcats for Israel Chair Harley Schoen, who was in Israel with Onward Cleveland. Cincinnati Hillel president Ronna Schneider observed that “Rotem has already contacted the two Hillels to learn how our college campuses are responding to what is happening in Israel. She is coming to our campuses at a very critical time.”
Wise Temple prepares for the upcoming religious school year Wise Temple religious school begins Sunday, September 14 and teachers are busily preparing for this upcoming year. What is a typical day of learning and fun at Wise Temple religious school like? A glimpse into a typical day starts with our youngest students, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children, who talk about mezuzot and embark on a wide-eyed scavenger hunt, looking for mezuzot on doorposts throughout Wise Temple while the first grade students learn about the value of ometz lev (courage) by interviewing people throughout the Temple about times they showed courage. Second
graders make a “promise of hands” rainbow to illustrate their brit, their commitment to one another as a class and third graders learn about the value of hachnasat orchim (hospitality) in a lesson on Sukkot and then role play being a host in their sukkah. Fourth grade students enjoy the “Ask the Rabbi” session and ask questions like, “Are all the stories in the Torah true?” and “How does God keep track of everyone?” and fifth graders carefully prepare a Torah lesson to present to a younger class. The sixth graders lead services and teach all of us about the meaning of the prayers while the junior high school students study Moses, and
discuss leadership. In the Wise Temple library, volunteer storytellers make Jewish tales come alive for all ages and in the chapel, students pray and sometimes dance, clap and sing to their favorite Hebrew songs. Our madrichim (high school teaching assistants) help teach a lesson, make children laugh and become role models. A typical day of learning and fun at Wise Temple religious school encourages children to be proud of their Jewish identity, embrace Judaism with joy and curiosity, experience the strength of living in community, and understand their responsibility to live an ethical life.
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JCC Fall kids programs promote fitness and hands-on learning It’s back-to-school season at the J, ushering in a new batch of enrichment programs that emphasize childhood growth and development. From kids’ classes to After Crew, the Mayerson JCC is offering multiple ways to keep children active and engaged this autumn. Registration is now open for Fall Session 1 children’s classes, which run from August 24 to October 25. This fresh, dynamic lineup promises a fall filled with energy and discovery that will keep kids moving all season long. “We’ve put together an exciting roster that caters to the lifestyle of today’s busy families,” explains Julie Robenson, Children and Family Program Manager at the JCC. “Classes are
held throughout the week to accommodate even the most hectic of schedules and include a well-rounded range of sports and other enrichment activities.” From swimming to soccer, there’s a class to suit every child this session. In Blue Jays Instructional TBall, pee wee players will learn the fun-damentals of America’s favorite pastime while they build confidence and have a “ball”. Kids who are more rhythmically inclined will enjoy Beginning Tap Dance, where participants will explore musicality and balance in each engaging session. Junior foodies can stir up some fun in Top Chef Tots with Ms. Teeny, a hands-on culinary class that focuses on special holiday food.
The JCC also offers After Crew, a convenient, comprehensive afterschool program perfect for working parents. This creative, caring afterschool community features flexible options and exciting offerings sure to make the whole family jump for joy. After Crew keeps kids active and engaged long after the last bell rings with a variety of enrichment activities from swimming and sports to art and dance. Open to children in grades K – 6, the program includes a free shuttle service from many neighboring schools and provides part and full-time options. “After Crew at the J is one of the most unique afterschool programs in Cincinnati,” says Christina Zaffiro, Manager of Child Enrichment
Programs at the JCC. “No other program is held within such a vibrant community gathering place. After Crew participants have access to all of the JCC’s amazing amenities, including our indoor waterpark and full gymnasium. Each day after school, children enjoy an afternoon of group activities, healthy snacks and cool art projects.” In addition, After Crew incorporates a new theme into each month and often features special guests to keep things fresh and fun. Activities include homework helpers, puppet theater, weird science, reading rock stars, private piano lessons and more.
Cedar Village starts unique program to make homes safer and simpler for older adults
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The American Israelite “LET THERE BE LIGHT” THE OLDEST ENGLISH-JEWISH WEEKLY IN AMERICA - EST. JULY 15, 1854
VOL. 161 • NO. 3 THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014 11 AV 5774 SHABBAT BEGINS FRIDAY 8:25 PM SHABBAT ENDS SATURDAY 9:26 PM THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE CO., PUBLISHERS 18 WEST NINTH STREET, SUITE 2 CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202-2037 Phone: (513) 621-3145 Fax: (513) 621-3744 publisher@americanisraelite.com editor@americanisraelite.com production@americanisraelite.com RABBI ISAAC M. WISE Founder, Editor, Publisher, 1854-1900 LEO WISE Editor & Publisher, 1900-1928 RABBI JONAH B. WISE Editor & Publisher, 1928-1930 HENRY C. SEGAL Editor & Publisher, 1930-1985 PHYLLIS R. SINGER Editor & General Manager, 1985-1999 MILLARD H. MACK Publisher Emeritus NETANEL (TED) DEUTSCH Editor & Publisher JORY EDLIN BETH KOTZIN Assistant Editors YOSEFF FRANCUS Copy Editor JANET STEINBERG Travel Editor
JENNIFER CARROLL Production Manager BARBARA ROTHSTEIN Advertising Sales JULIE BROOK Office Manager e Oldest Eng Th
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healthy aging wherever older adults might live in the Cincinnati or Dayton areas. The first phase, which was launched in late 2013, involves comprehensive health and wellness examinations. The Geriatric Assessment Program is designed to detect health issues and provide treatment to keep older adults as healthy, active and safe for as long as possible. The Geriatric Assessment Program also is designed to help families determine how to provide care for seniors. The experts who are conducting the examinations include a University of Cincinnati physician who specializes in geriatric medicine, a registered nurse, occupational therapist and physical therapist. Appointments for either the home assessments or medical examinations can be scheduled by contacting Cedar Village.
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partly because they might forget where they’ve stored food. Wooden cabinet doors can be replaced with glass doors. Lights can be installed on floor or ceiling tracks, making it easier for people to see their way to the bathroom at night. Detectors with alarms can be installed that are triggered when there’s a lack of motion because someone is sick or injured. The Cedar Village program is the only one of its kind in the region, pairing occupational therapists who are trained and experienced in home assessments with contractors who meet Cedar Village’s standards. Until now, homeowners had to separately hire contractors and occupational therapists. The Home Assessment and Modification Program is the second phase of VillageCare, a Cedar Village program that supports
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entrances and more. Modifications can range from simple items such as grab bars in bathrooms and handrails on steps to ramps and widened doorways that can accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. Many of the upgrades can be made for less than the cost of a month’s stay in assisted living. Falls are a major reason older adults need to be hospitalized or move to assisted living facilities or nursing homes. About one third of senior adults fall each year, and many of those falls could be prevented if homes were made safer. Examples of other challenges that can be resolved with home upgrades: As people age, climbing stairs can become exhausting. A bathroom and bedroom can be built on the first floor or a stair-lift can be installed. Preparing meals can be difficult for people with memory problems,
MARIANNA BETTMAN NATE BLOOM IRIS PASTOR ZELL SCHULMAN PHYLLIS R. SINGER Contributing Columnists
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Cedar Village Retirement Community has launched a program to upgrade the homes of older adults, helping them to stay safe and independent longer. More than 80 percent of older Americans would prefer to remain in their homes, surveys show. The Cedar Village program will help them do so by making activities such as bathing, cooking and walking easier while minimizing accidents. In the next phase of a new program called VillageCare, Cedar Village will work with its network of pre-screened contractors to make the home modifications. First, to develop a plan for the upgrades, an occupational therapist will assess how the residents function in their homes. Then, the occupational therapist will act as an advocate for the older adults, working with a contractor to make upgrades to kitchens, bedrooms,
Britton and Goldberg
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Laura Britton, Cedar Village occupational therapist with Morris Goldberg.
ROBERT WILHELMY Dining Editor
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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European anti-Semitism is focus as Jewish leaders, Democratic senators meet ByRon Kampeas WASHINGTON (JTA) –Talk at the annual meeting between Democratic senators and Jewish groups kept coming back to antiSemitism in Europe. The recurring theme, which the 24 senators who attended and the Jewish leaders both raised, was a measure of the anxiety aroused by recent reports of attacks on European Jews, according to participants at the meeting, held on July 23. “There was almost more energy around anti-Semitism than around Gaza,” said a participant who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting in the Capitol’ s stately Mansfield Room was off the record. JTA spoke to eight meeting participants from Jewish groups. Some spoke on the record to describe their own statements, which was allowed under the meeting’ s rules. The dialogue, which went 15 minutes over its allotted time of an hour, touched on the range of issues typical to these discussions, which have taken place every year since early in the administration of President George W. Bush: Israel, with a focus on the Gaza war; Iran; women’ s rights; immigration and religious freedoms. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the majority leader who convened the meeting, set the tone with his opening remarks, which referred to a return to “old-fashioned anti-Semitism” on the continent. He specifically mentioned anxieties in Hungary. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) also spoke at length about the topic, with Cardin noting that he had this week convened a hearing on the issue as the chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission. Participants said such awareness was important because of the influence that senators have both within the United States and overseas. “We spoke about doing public messaging on it,” said Nathan Diament, the Washington director of the Orthodox Union. The O.U. delegation attending the meeting with Democratic senators also met that day with GOP lawmakers, including Sen. Ted Cruz (RTexas), as well as administration officials. In all the meetings, the outbreak of anti-Semitism was a lead issue, Diament said. “There are things that senators can do to shine a light on how unacceptable it is,” in meetings with constituents, diplomats and when they travel abroad, he said.”We talked about how disturbing it is and how the anti-Semitic feature seems to be getting obscured by virtue of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.” Leaders from another Orthodox group, Agudath Israel of America, also attended the meeting. Additionally, a delegation of 30 Agudath Israel activists held meetings
the same day with lawmakers of both parties. “There is obviously reason for concern that a vicious storm is brewing for acheinu bnei Yisroel, one that poses more than just an imminent physical threat – but a threat to the long term stability of Jewish communities across the globe,” said a statement from the Agudah, using the Hebrew for our Jewish brethren. At the session with the senators, Daniel Mariaschin, the executive vice president of B’ nai B’ rith International, outlined a litany of recent events including the firebombing of a synagogue in Sarcelles in France, German and Dutch pro-Palestinian demonstrations where protesters shouted threats against Jews and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s likening of Israel to the Nazis. “We asked them to use diplomatic and parliamentary contacts to raise the issue and urge European officials to crack down on anti-Semitic incidents,” he said. Jewish leaders who had other agenda items departed from prepared remarks to refer to the phenomenon. “I raised the issue of antiSemitism in Europe, as well as religious freedom issues for Christians in the Middle East who have been under attack,” said Rabbi David Saperstein, the director of the Reform movement’ s Religious Action Center, whose focus otherwise was RAC’ s support for legislative efforts to counteract a recent Supreme Court ruling that watered down a contraceptives coverage mandate. “There was a good deal of discussion; a couple of senators came back on that issue who were deeply concerned about the anti-Semitism,” Saperstein said. Other topics addressed included Israel’ s war with Hamas, with Bob Cohen, the president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street, each beginning their remarks with expressions of regret for the casualties on both sides. Cohen squarely blamed Hamas for the conflict, while Ben-Ami backed U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’ s bid for an immediate ceasefire. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) asked the Jewish leaders whether the views of Israel’ s newly inaugurated president, Reuven Rivlin, an opponent of a twostate solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, would adversely affect U.S. efforts to advance the peace process. The National Jewish Democratic Council’s chairman, Greg Rosenbaum, said Rivlin, like other politicians, would likely moderate his views in office. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), a former comedian and “Saturday Night Live” regular, noted his continuing popularity as a campus speaker and said he would use that platform to
push back against the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, which he called “pernicious.” Cohen of AIPAC said the lobbying group did not oppose the extension of nuclear talks between Iran and major world powers, although earlier in the week AIPAC had said it was “deeply disappointed” in the agreement governing the four-month extension to Nov. 24. He said the group would oppose any deal that would allow Iran to advance to a nuclear weapon. Cohen said AIPAC would back new Iran sanctions at the appropriate time, “according to sources.” The previous effort foundered earlier this year when Democrats in the Senate quashed the legislation, heeding protests from President Obama, who said the new sanctions could scuttle the talks. AIPAC, while maintaining its support for such legislation, has backed away from pressing for a vote on the issue. Other topics raised at the meeting included the immigration crisis. Mark Hetfield, the president of HIAS, the Jewish immigrant advocacy and aid group, called for funds to assist the tens of thousands of undocumented Central American children who have arrived at the border and to hire more judges to hear their cases. Other speakers at the meeting backed passage of bills that would enhance law enforcement capabilities in combating violence against women and that would reverse a recent Supreme Court decision that struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act.
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In U.S., Gaza conflict reverberates on air and in the streets By Uriel Heilman NEW YORK (JTA) – In Europe, the fight over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza has prompted violent street battles, firebombs thrown at synagogues and even a midgame attack against a visiting Israeli soccer team by protesters in Austria. In America, it has been more a battle of commentary, slogans and demonstrations. There were 134 anti-Israel demonstrations in U.S. cities during the first 15 days of the conflict that began July 8, according to the AntiDefamation League. Californians led the nation in anti-Israel agitation, followed by New York, Ohio, Washington State and Texas, the ADL said. At many pro-Palestinian demonstrations, the ADL has documented comparisons of Israel to Nazi Germany, such as a placard at a protest in New York that read, “Jerusalem 2014 smells like Berlin 1939… #Zionazism.” Paul Goldenberg, national director of Secure Community Network, the American Jewish communal security initiative, said that at first he was concerned that anti-Israel protests in the United States might turn violent, but that hasn’t happened. “I would say at this juncture we are cautiously optimistic that we will not see the type of violence we have seen in Europe,” he told JTA.
“People are afraid to go to synagogues and Jewish community centers abroad. I don’t want that to happen here. That’s not what we have here in this country,” Goldenberg said. “People need to continue going to synagogue, going to federations, going to their community centers. At this point there’s no imminent or specific threat that we are aware of.” There have been a few cases of anti-Semitic vandalism. On Monday morning, an Orthodox synagogue in North Miami Beach, Fla., Congregation Torah V’Emunah, found a swastika and the word Hamas scrawled on the outside of the building. A day earlier,
cars owned by a Jewish family in Miami Beach were egged, smeared with cream cheese, and defaced with graffiti reading “Jew” and “Hamas.” In Malibu, Calif., graffiti reading “Jews=Killers” and “Jews are Killing Innocent Children” appeared near the entrance to a Jewish summer camp. Pro-Palestinian graffiti was sprayed on a Chabad center in Las Vegas and on an Orthodox synagogue in Lowell, Mass. ? In Chicago, leaflets threatening the Jewish community were left on car windshields on July 19, a day after hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters held a rally in downtown Chicago. That rally included a “die-
National Briefs
Senate initially blocked the funding on Thursday amid disputes between Republicans and Democrats over the federal budget deficit.
includes portions of Hamas’s covenant that call on Muslims to fight Jews and “obliterate” Israel, ran Thursday in major American newspapers-including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times-and ran Friday in several other dailies.
Florida Atlantic University students indefinitely table anti-Israel resolution (JNS) – The student government of Florida Atlantic University (FAU) on Aug. 1 indefinitely tabled a resolution to divest from Israel. The measure was introduced by the FAU chapter of the anti-Israel group Students for Justice in Palestine. “As students we may not be able to control the situation around the world, but it’s our duty to maintain a peaceful campus environment,” said Nadav Alkoby, Jewish programming chair for FAU’s Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity chapter. “By combating Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), we took a stand against hate.” Senate approves initially blocked Iron Dome funding (JNS) – The United States Senate on Friday passed $225 million in emergency funding for Israel’s highly successful Iron Dome missile defense system. The
Courtesy of Scott Olson/Getty Images
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest across the street from a pro-Israel rally in Chicago, Ill., July 28, 2014.
Obama administration blasts Israel for U.N. facility strike (JNS) – A White House spokesperson blasted Israel for not doing enough to protect innocent civilians in Gaza after a shell hit a U.N. facility on July 30, resulting in 19 Palestinian deaths. The comments mark another possible sign of growing tension between Israel and President Barack Obama. Hamas terrorists have been repeatedly found operating in or near U.N. facilities and schools. Last week saw the third discovery of Hamas rockets in a U.N. building since the current conflict began. CUFI runs ads in major daily papers to set record straight on Hamas terrorism (JNS) – Christians United For Israel (CUFI), which at 1.75 million members calls itself the largest pro-Israel organization in the U.S., has launched an advertising campaign seeking to set the record straight to the American public on Israel’s struggle against the terrorist group Hamas. The full-page ad, which
National Jewish security arm calls for enhanced security WASHINGTON (JTA) – The security arm of national U.S. Jewish groups called on Jewish institutions to enhance security because of a spate of attacks on Jewish targets in Europe in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip. Among its recommendations: Requesting additional patrols from local law enforcement, limit access to a minimum, perhaps to a single entryway, monitoring social media and reviewing security measures, including cyber security. Leonard Bernstein sculpture unveiled at Tanglewood LENOX, Mass. (JTA) – A bronze sculpture of Leonard Bernstein, one of the 20th century’s towering musical figures, was unveiled at Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
in” where 400 people lay supine to represent the Palestinians said to be killed in the conflict up to that point. Last week, Jewish Voice for Peace, an organization focused on criticizing Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians, organized a “die-in” outside the New York office of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. The demonstration resulted in nine arrests of protesters who entered the office and refused to leave, including Rebecca Vilkomerson, JVP’s executive director. Meanwhile, pro-Israel supporters took to the streets in a variety of U.S. cities to voice their support of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Pro-Israel rallies in New York and Chicago on Monday drew thousands of Israel supporters, including U.S. senators and congressmen. “We are here today to say we cannot have any cease-fire before Israel gets rid of Hamas’ weapons,” Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said at the New York demonstration, held in midtown Manhattan outside the United Nations. Many of the battles in the United States over Israel have taken place in cyberspace. Use of the Twitter hashtag #Hitlerwasright has soared since the launch of Israel’s operation in Gaza, according to the ADL. The website of Cong. Beth Am Israel, a synagogue in Penn Valley, Pa., was hacked, with the homepage replaced with images of Mohammed Abu Khdeir, the Palestinian teenager
killed in Jerusalem in early July by Jewish extremists. On a JetBlue flight from Florida to New York on July 7, just before the IDF launched its Operation Protective Edge, an argument over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict broke out between two passengers that got one of them, a Jewish doctor from Queens named Lisa Rosenberg, kicked off the flight before takeoff. Later it emerged that the passenger with whom Rosenberg argued, who on the plane had identified herself as a Palestinian, was in fact Jewish. In a much talked-about July 14 “Daily Show” episode, host Jon Stewart aroused the ire of many Israel supporters with a segment in which he lamented the “asymmetrical nature of this conflict.” Noting the Israeli military’s practice of warning Gaza residents to leave before their building or neighborhood is bombarded, Stewart said, “At that point what are Gazans supposed to do? “Evacuate to where? Have you [bleeping] seen Gaza?” Stewart said. “What – are they supposed to swim for it?” David Horovitz, editor of the Times of Israel, slammed the segment as unfair and misleading. “Jon Stewart — so funny, so wrong on Israel-Gaza,” he wrote. Stewart responded to critics with a follow-up bit caricaturing the
The sculpture, by artist Penelope Jencks, is the second in a series planned depicting Tanglewood’s most iconic music figures, according to a statement issued by the BSO. The first sculpture, also by Jencks, is of Aaron Copland, Bernstein’s teacher and mentor, who in 1940 recommended the young Bernstein for Serge Koussevitzky’s conducting class at Tanglewood. Bernstein, who taught at Brandeis University from 1951 through 1956, launched the school’s Festival of Creative Arts in 1951 and served on the university’s board of trustees from 1976 to 1981. He performed frequently in Israel, notably during the country’s founding years and the 1967 SixDay War. At age 70, Bernstein was named conductor laureate of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
last Friday to reporters that originally appeared in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Cantor’s final speech as majority leader on the House floor on July 31 earned him a standing ovation from both sides of the chamber. “My grandparents fled religious persecution in Europe in order to find a better life,” Cantor said in his speech. “My grandmother, a young Jewish widow, was soon raising my dad above a grocery store in Richmond, just trying to make ends meet,” he said. “And so it goes, two generations later, her grandson would represent part of what was James Madison’s seat in the House and then go on to serve as its majority leader. I have truly lived the American Dream.”
Cantor to quit Congress on Aug. 18 WASHINGTON (JTA) – Rep. Eric Cantor announced his resignation from Congress the day his term as majority leader came to an end. “It is with tremendous gratitude and a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from Congress, effective Aug. 18,” Cantor (R-Va.) said in a statement emailed by his staff
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N.Y. man accused of hiding mother’s death to collect Holocaust benefits NEW YORK (JTA) — A New York man was charged with hiding his Holocaust survivor mother’s death in order to collect her reparations benefits. Gary Jacoby, 61, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court last week on grand larceny and forgery charges, the Daily News reported. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
INTERNATIONAL • 7
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014
Amid uncertainty of an open-ended war, U.S.-Israel tensions rise By Ron Kampeas WASHINGTON (JTA) – The dramatic developments in the war between Hamas and Israel have been accompanied by sharp ups and downs in U.S.-Israel relations. On Monday, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, made nice with the U.S. national security adviser, Susan Rice, before an audience of anxious U.S. Jewish leaders. But right before, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bluntly vowed to continue Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, notwithstanding President Obama’s unequivocal demand for a cease-fire. And within a day of Israeli and American pledges not to afflict one another with damaging leaks, Israeli television was running the transcript of what it said was a fraught ObamaNetanyahu telephone conversation. The tumult in U.S.-Israel ties reflects the confusing and open-ended nature of the current war between Israel and Hamas, insiders and experts suggest. “The [Israeli] government is confused, the [Israeli] public is confused, and I’m not sure the [Obama] administration is giving absolutely clear signals,” said Peter Medding, a political science professor emeritus at the
Hebrew University of Jerusalem whose specialty is Israel-U.S. relations. “That’s not a good situation.” In the first weeks of the war, Netanyahu and Obama seemed to be on the same page, with both leaders angling for cease-fires and putting the blame squarely on Hamas. But as the war has dragged on, the leaders have been pulled in opposite directions. Obama has been concerned with the rapid growth of civilian casualties while Netanyahu has been concerned with the vast network of Hamas-built tunnels running under the Gaza-Israel border. “We will not complete the mission, we will not complete the operation, without neutralizing the tunnels, the sole purpose of which is the destruction of our civilians and the killing of our children,” Netanyahu said at a news conference Monday, a day after Obama had called for an “immediate, unconditional humanitarian ceasefire.” Within an hour of Netanyahu’s news conference, the national Jewish groups held a pro-Israel rally at the National Press Club. The star guests were Rice, who is one of Obama’s closest confidantes, and Dermer, the Israeli ambassador. They seemed to be on the same page.
“Israel will continue to destroy the tunnels we have found, regardless of whether there is a cease-fire or not, and I know the Obama administration understands and supports that,” Dermer said. “Israel has the same, unequivocal right to self-defense as every other nation,” Rice said. “No nation can accept terrorists tunneling into its territory or rockets crashing down on its people.” It was a change from only a few days earlier, when Israel’s Security Cabinet rejected what was being widely referred to as a cease-fire proposal from Secretary of State John Kerry (the Americans denied that it was a formal proposal). The document’s details were leaked, and Kerry was maligned in Israeli press accounts. U.S. officials responded publicly with anger at the treatment of Kerry. During his appearance on Monday, Dermer agreed that Kerry had been unfairly maligned. Officials in both governments have expressed dismay with how the other side seems to misunderstand its postures so deeply. A U.S. official told JTA that the Israeli Cabinet misunderstood the document Kerry had forwarded. It was an update of an existing Egyptian ceasefire proposal with notes from Turkey
Courtesy of Ron Sachs
National Security Advisor Susan Rice addressing Jewish leaders at the National Press Club in Washington, July 28, 2014.
and Qatar, serving as Hamas’ interlocutors, and it was not a final version, the official said. “The reaction was overwrought considering it was procedural,” the official said of the proposal Kerry had sent. Israel’s Security Cabinet, understanding the document to be final, put it to a vote, and it was defeated 8-0. Then the document was leaked to Israeli news outlets. Israeli officials, quoted anonymously, said it amounted to a “terrorist attack” and said Kerry was acting on behalf of Hamas.
The Israelis were appalled by a proposal to funnel funds to employees affiliated with Hamas. By Tuesday morning, although it was clear from Netanyahu’s remarks the day before that there still were differences over a cease-fire, the mutual recriminations seemed to have been laid to rest by the joint Rice-Dermer appearance. Then, Tuesday evening, Israel’s Channel One quoted a “senior American source” who painted a very negative portrait of Obama. The source said that the phone conversation between Obama and Netanyahu on Sunday was “tense” and that Obama was “condescending” and “hostile” to Netanyahu, and that the president behaved like the “law professor he once was,” showing “impatience and a lack of understanding of Israel’s problems.” The source provided a purported transcript of the Obama-Netanyahu conversation. The transcript has Obama demanding that Israel adhere to a cease-fire and arguing with Netanyahu over the role of Qatar and Turkey as interlocutors. According to the transcript, Netanyahu says he does not trust those countries because of their closeness to Hamas, but Obama UNCERTAINTY on page 19
8 • INTERNATIONAL
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From Dutch situation room, pro-Israel volunteers defend Jewish state on social media By Cnaan Liphshiz (JTA) – Israeli Ambassador to the Netherlands Haim Divon nodded approvingly as he surveyed the small army of 50 men and women fighting for Israel. Around a conference table in an office in the Amsterdam suburb of Buitenveldert, 30 volunteers were writing and collecting pro-Israel materials and transferring them to an editor who posted them on social networks. Nearby, the graphics department churned out glossy logos and catchy memes that compared weather forecasts from London – partly cloudy with a chance of light showers – to that of Tel Aviv: Rocket volley with a chance of death. This was not Divon’s operation. In fact, he and other embassy staff were making only their first visit to the situation room set up by Jewish and Christian volunteers to counter anti-Israel rhetoric online. Community leaders say the effort is unparalleled in Europe and a testament to the vibrancy of Dutch Jewry. “What you have done here is amazing,” Divon told the group. “I think this is unique in Europe and this is exactly what we need to give us enough time to accomplish what we need in order to ensure the safety of the people of Israel.” The volunteers at the Buitenveldert situation room began
International Briefs U.K. National Union of Students adopts pro-BDS resolution (JNS) – The U.K.’s National Union of Students’ national executive committee (NUS NEC) has voted to adopt an anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) policy. The adoption of the BDS policy allows student unions throughout the U.K. to impose sanctions on Israel and support campaigns to boycott Israel on their campuses, the Jewish Chronicle of London reported. Radical Muslims call for killing of Jews in Italy, Netherlands (JNS) – A Muslim cleric in northern Italy was recorded on video giving a sermon in which he prays that all Jews be killed. “Oh Allah, count them one by one, and kill them to the very last one,” said Muslim cleric Sheikh Abd Al-Barr al-Rawdhi in the city of San Donà di Piave, according to a video released by the Middle East Media Research Institute.
Courtesy of Cnaan Liphshiz
Rabbi Yanki Jacobs, right, with Christian volunteers Timo Erkelens and Eveline Hagoort in the pro-Israel situation room near Amsterdam, July 24, 2014.
working last week out of the the cafeteria of the local Jewish Cultural Center, which they converted into a space where 80 people can work in two 14-hour shifts each day. The volunteers have created hundreds of posts and articles on Israel, which they disseminate through the Holland4Israel Facebook group and on Twitter, among other social media. “The idea is to empower proIsrael advocates who used to work out of their student apartments by giving them a community framework, interaction and facilities,” said Ron Eisenmann, a former community leader from Amsterdam who spearheaded the project with Rabbi Yanki Jacobs, director of the Dutch branch of the Chabad on Campus
network, and Christians for Israel, an international network of Christian Zionists. For some participants, the situation room is the only place outside their homes where they can express support of Israel without rebuke. After one of her classmates posted on Facebook that “f-----g Zionists are something that every Jew should be ashamed of,” one Jewish student decided she needed to be more discreet about her views. Most of my friends are left-wing non-Jews, so I knew they were no big fans of Israel,” said Naomi, a student in her 20s from an eastern Holland city with few Jews, who asked to be identified only by her first name. “But I was shocked by their attacks on me because of my
Hungarian mayor holds mock public execution of Israeli leaders (JNS) – A mayor of a rural town in eastern Hungary held a mock medieval-style public execution of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former president Shimon Peres in order to protest Israel’s military operation against Hamas in Gaza.
abandonment of the Egypt-Saudi Arabia alliance. “Hamas must cease firing rockets at Israel and accept the Egyptian cease-fire proposal, accept the Saudi leadership and abandon Qatar,” Khalfan wrote on Twitter.
Turkish PM Erdogan: Israelis ‘will drown in the blood they shed’ (JNS) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued his verbal offensive against Israel on Sunday, telling a rally in Istanbul that Israelis “will drown in the blood they shed.” “Just like Hitler, who sought to establish a race free of all faults, Israel is chasing after the same target,” said Erdogan, who is up for reelection Aug. 10. Dubai security chief slams Hamas leader’s lavish lifestyle in Qatar (JNS) – Dubai police commander Dhahi Khalfan, who gained fame for alleging Israeli Mossad involvement in the assassination of Hamas official Mohammed al-Mabhouh at a Dubai hotel in 2010, has strongly criticized Hamas’s close ties with Turkey and Qatar, in addition to its
Saudi king condemns Gaza conflict, but not Israel (JNS) – Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah on Friday broke his silence on the Gaza conflict, which started in early July, by condemning the conflict and the inaction of the international community. “This [international] community, which has observed silently what is happening in the whole region, was indifferent to what is happening as if what is happening is not its concern,” Abdullah said in a statement on Saudi state-run television. Belgian doctor refuses to treat elderly Jewish patient, tells her to ‘go to Gaza’ (JNS) – A Belgian doctor manning an emergency phone system refused to treat a 90-year-old Jewish woman who had suffered a rib fracture and was in need of urgent medical help, telling her to “go to Gaza” instead. “I will not! Send her to Gaza for a few hours, then she will not feel pain anymore,” the doctor told the woman’s son, who had called the
comments online about Israel’s right to defend itself.” Support for the Palestinian cause is strong in the Netherlands, which has seen a string of efforts to divest from Israel over its policies in the West Bank and Gaza. Earlier this month, Muslim demonstrators twice chanted menacing calls about Jews at rallies in The Hague. Separately, unidentified individuals smashed the windows of the home of a chief rabbi, the fifth attack on his residence in recent years. But the kingdom is also home to one of Europe’s most active proIsrael communities, led by the Center for Information and Documentation on Israel, or CIDI. The 40-year-old organization with 10 professional staffers, an online television channel and two research departments has given the Netherlands’ small Jewish community of 40,000 an outsized voice on Israel affairs unequaled by similarly sized communities elsewhere in Europe. But it is the support of Christian Zionists that gives Holland’s wellorganized Jewish community an extra push in its public diplomacy efforts, according to Binyomin Jacobs, Yanki’s father and the rabbi whose home was attacked. “The supporters of Israel from Christians for Israel are an enormous help and an important element to the Jewish story here,” said Jacobs. emergency hotline, the Belgian daily Joods Actueel reported. Bolivia calls Israel ‘terrorist state,’ toughens entry for Israelis (JNS) – Bolivian President Evo Morales called Israel a “terrorist state” on July 30 over the country’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Additionally, Israelis will not be able to enter Bolivia without a visa, the South American nation announced. Since 1972, Israelis had been able to travel freely to Bolivia. Now, visa applicants will be considered citizens of a “group 3” country, meaning their applications will be reviewed by the Bolivian National Migration Administration. 32 countries ask U.N. to make Yom Kippur an official holiday (JNS) – Thirty-two countries signed a letter circulated July 30 in the United Nations General Assembly that requests the recognition of Yom Kippur as an official U.N. holiday. The letter follows an Israeli government campaign on the issue that was launched in May. The U.N. “recognizes the major festivals of many of the world’s main religions, yet Judaism is not represented,” states the letter to the U.N. General Assembly’s Committee on Conferences, The Associated Press reported.
Representing hundreds of thousands of people in dozens of countries, Christians for Israel was founded in the Netherlands in 1979. Its international headquarters is still located in the town of Nijkerk, near Amsterdam. Recently, the group launched several campaigns against PGGM, a major pension firm that divested from Israeli companies, and against several supermarket chains that reportedly agreed to boycott settlement goods. The markets denied they had made such a decision amid protests led predominantly by Christians. Christians for Israel’s contribution to the pro-Israel effort during the current Gaza crisis was evident at a July 19 demonstration, where approximately 1,000 people – many draped in Israeli flags – packed Amsterdam’s Dam Square. “I was surprised at how many Jews showed up,” said Sergiusz Licpyz, an Israeli living in Amsterdam. “They sang Hebrew songs and completely dwarfed the counter-demonstration of 30 proPalestinians, who ended up looking quite pathetic. I think they were also surprised.” About 75 percent of the participants were Christians, according to David Serphos, a former Jewish community leader who helped set up the situation room with Eisenmann.
Suspect in Brussels Jewish museum shooting charged with murder (JNS) – Mehdi Nemmouche, the suspect in the shooting deaths of four people at the Brussels-based Jewish Museum of Belgium in May, among them an Israeli couple, was charged with murder July 30 after being extradited back to Belgium by French authorities. “He has been charged with murder in a terrorist context and an arrest warrant has been delivered on his behalf,” the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office said. Irish parliament to debate Israel-Hamas conflict, calls for expulsion of Israeli envoy grow (JNS) – The upper house of the Irish parliament, known as the Seanad or Senate, is set to be recalled from summer recess to debate the Israel-Hamas conflict amid growing calls to expel the Israeli ambassador to the country. A number of politicians from the minority left-wing Irish Labor party have called for the government to consider expelling the Israeli ambassador to Ireland, Boaz Mondai, over the growing number of Palestinian civilian casualties, the Irish Examiner reported.
ISRAEL • 9
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014
In Ramle, a Holocaust survivor worries about her daughter and grandchildren living in Gaza By Ben Sales RAMLE, Israel (JTA) – In her living room in the Israeli town of Ramle, Sarah says she wants a peaceful life. At 79, she deserves one. A Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor, Sarah was sent to a Nazi concentration camp in Serbia as a child, arriving in Israel at age 17. Her entire family perished in the Holocaust. Now she watches from her armchair as her family is threatened once again. Sarah – not her real name – is now a Muslim, and her daughter lives in Gaza City. The whole city is in ruins,” Sarah says. “Everyone is just trying to find a piece of bread.” Sarah arrived in Israel in 1950, one of the tens of thousands of Jewish survivors who found refuge in the young Jewish state. From there, her story departs from the conventional narrative. In 1962, she married an Arab
Israel Briefs Hamas executing suspected Israeli collaborators (JNS) – Hamas has been summarily executing suspected Israeli collaborators, Palestinian media reports say. Over the past week, Hamas has executed more than 30 civilians in different parts of Gaza for collaborating with Israel, anonymous Palestinian security sources in Gaza told the Palestine News Agency. Hamas leader calls on Hezbollah to open up second front against Israel (JNS) – AHamas leader is calling on the Lebanese terror Hezbollah to open up a second front against Israel in the north. “We hope the Lebanese front will open and together we will fight against this formation [Israel],” Hamas deputy political chief Mousa Abu Marzouk told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. “There’s no arguing that Lebanese resistance could mean a lot,” Marzouk added. Prime minister, defense minister vow to protect residents of southern Israel (JNS) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, and several senior Israel Defense Forces officials met with the mayors of Israel’s southern cities on Monday night in an effort to put to rest concerns about the region’s security following the decision to withdraw Israeli forces from Gaza.
Israeli and, with no surviving family of her own, converted to Islam to join his. Neither of them were particularly religious. “In my time it wasn’t Arab or Jew,” said Sarah, who speaks Hebrew with a slight European accent. “We knew there was no problem between Jews and Israeli Arabs. I’m very liberal; my husband was the same. We felt no discrimination.” Light-haired and soft-spoken, Sarah has lived for decades in the same Ramle apartment, which she now shares with her daughter, Nora. Both women leave their hair uncovered, and Nora said not to worry as she set out tea and cookies on the last day of Ramadan. She wasn’t fasting. Sarah’s other daughter, also an Israeli citizen, moved to Gaza in 1984 after she married. On Sunday, Sarah and Nora waited by the phone as the Arabic news network Al Jazeera played on the telIsrael pulls troops out of Gaza, begins 72-hour cease-fire (JNS) – The Israel Defense Forces pulled its ground troops out of Gaza on Tuesday after the completion of its work to neutralize terror tunnels, while Israel began a 72-hour cease-fire with Hamas at 8 a.m. “This was a complicated operation carried out by heroic soldiers under difficult combat conditions,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who praised the “very impressive results” of Operation Protective Edge. Israel destroyed 32 cross-border tunnels in its operation, the IDF said. IDF soldier shot, pedestrian run over by tractor in Jerusalem attacks (JNS) – An Israel Defense Forces soldier was fatally shot in the stomach at Jerusalem’s Mount Scopus on Monday, just hours after a tractor driven by a Palestinian man ran over and killed a pedestrian in an apparent terrorist attack that also came in Jerusalem. Asuspected terrorist killed the soldier in a drive-by shooting on a motorcycle before fleeing the scene, according to reports. Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which has a campus on Mount Scopus, issued a statement that the shooting “had nothing to do with the university.” Temple Mount, Jerusalem faced with Palestinian riots over Gaza conflict (JNS) – Masked Arab youths attacked police with stones and fireworks at the Temple Mount on Monday in a continuation of violence at the site that began over the weekend and has led to more than 12 arrests. Five Israel police officers were lightly wounded as the rioters set up blockades around the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
evision. In the first days of Israel’s Operation Protective Edge, Sarah’s daughter took her six children and one grandchild and fled their home in the Zeitoun district of Gaza City for a calmer area in the southern Gaza Strip. The day they left, their four-story home was destroyed, most likely by an Israeli airstrike. Since then, the family has survived on dry goods and whatever they can scrounge up during brief cease-fires. Along with food, electricity is scarce in Gaza, so Sarah has a hard time getting in touch with her daughter. She learned the house was destroyed only when another relative posted on Facebook a picture of the rubble. She hopes for
the rare phone call when her daughter manages to charge her phone. But sometimes, no call at all is better. With every phone call, we pray that she’s charged so we can reach them, talk to them, see how they are,” said Nora. “Every call jolts us, that we won’t hear bad news.”
Neither women would agree to be photographed or give many personal details out of fear of retribution from Israeli authorities or Hamas, the reigning power in Gaza. Only Nora would give her first name. RAMLE on page 19
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Palestinian men seen in front of a fire raging at the Gaza's main power plant following an overnight Israeli airstrike, south of Gaza City, July 29, 2014
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HEBREW CLASSES 1st Hour 7-8 p.m., Beginner & Intermediate Class 2nd Hour 8-9 p.m., Hebrew conversation hour Every Tuesday night, classes begin September 2. Taught in 3 sessions, Fall, Winter, Spring Any level welcome from beginner to fluent. This is the class that will help you master reading, writing and speaking. Taught by Mrs. Zahava Rendler Rockwern Academy 8401 Montgomery Rd. • Cincinnati, Ohio 45236 Please register by August 28, 2014 For more information contact Mrs. Zahava Rendler at zrendler@fuse.net or publisher@americanisraelite.com or call 513-721-2220
10 • BACK TO SCHOOL
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2014-2015 Back to School Listings Listed are the various programs, Hebrew schools, early-childhood schools etc. offered by the Jewish community of Cincinnati this year. The groupings are broken down into Day Schools, Congregational Schools, Preschools and a few listings of additional programing. PRESCHOOLS Bagel Babies: Mommy and Me at the Chabad Jewish Center 3977 Hunt Rd, Blue Ash Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Chana Mangel Phone: 513-793-5200 Ages: 12 - 24 Months Hours: 5 week sessions on consecutive Tuesday mornings, 9:45 10:45 a.m.
Bagel Babies is an hour-long program for mothers (or caregivers) and their little ones to explore their children’s world through play, song, crafts and circle time. Share Jewish parenting tips. Chai Tots Early Childhood Center 7587 Central Parke Blvd. Mason, OH 45040 Contact: Rochel Kalmanson, Education Director Phone: 513.234.0600 Ages: 6 weeks - 6 years Hours: Flexible hours from 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Classes begin: Monday, Aug. 18 Affiliation: Entire Jewish community The Chai Tots Early Childhood
Center is a Jewish community school, serving the entire Jewish community in the Mason/Deerfield/West Chester area. Chai Tots students range from ages 6 weeks- 6 years and reflect the diversity of the Jewish community coming from a variety of Jewish affiliations and backgrounds. It is the first Jewish Montessori school in Ohio and offers infant care, toddler and preschool programs, and Kindergarten. Chai Tots provides a blend of Jewish and Montessori education offering strong academics stressing life skills, interpersonal relationship skills, and nurturing a love for lifelong learning. Benefits include individualized curriculum customized for each student, expansive naturally lit rooms, with low studentteacher ratio. Also offering a flexible "design-your-own-schedule", childcare, web cams, yoga, music, Hebrew, Spanish, Art, Tae Kwon Do, afterschool enrichment and a “drop off” sitting service. Separate Discovery Hebrew School. Limited space. Now enrolling. Cincinnati Hebrew Day School Early Childhood School 2222 Losantiville Road Cincinnati, OH 45237 Contact: Rabbi Zev Pam, Principal Contact: Mrs. Chana Rabinowitz, Early Childhood Coordinator crabinowitz@chdsonline.org Phone: 513-351-7777 Fax: 513-351-7794 Ages: 18 month to 6 years (Daycare through Kindergarten, including
Jewish Montessori track for Nursery through Kindergarten age) Hours: Daycare age: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m, with options for drop-off and pick-up times within those hours; Nursery age: 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. (extended care options until 2:30 or 4 p.m); Pre-K age and Kindergarten age: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. or extended care option until 4:00 pm Classes begin: Monday, Aug. 27 Affiliation: Torah Umesorah CHDS Early Childhood Program is licensed by the State of Ohio and ODJFS. CHDS provides a quality educational program in general and Judaic studies for young children. A dual curriculum is provided in both tracks that nurtures the social, cognitive, spiritual, physical, and emotional development of each child by experienced and motivated educators. JCC Early Childhood School At the Mayerson JCC in Amberley Village 8485 Ridge Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Denise Schnur, JCC Early Childhood School Director Phone: 513-793-2122 Ages: 6 weeks – 5 years (full day program); 18 months – age 5 (half day program) Hours: M – F. Full Day: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Half Day: 9:15 – 11:45 a.m. Innovative academic curriculum includes fitness, swimming (fullday), music, cooking, art, and pre-K school skills. Jewish holidays and Shabbat are celebrated with songs, stories, art, special foods, and traditions. Kids love the extensive onsite facilities and play areas. Kehilla (Combined school of Northern Hills Synagogue and Ohav Shalom Gan Mishpacha Preschool Program) 5714 Fields Ertel Road Cincinnati, OH 45249 8100 Cornell Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45249 Contact: Maksim Shilkrot, Director of Education and Programming Phone: 513-931-6040 Classes Begin: Sunday, Sept. 7 The Gan Mishpacha Preschool Program is a once a month parent and child hands-on approach to Jewish education. This award-winning program is family oriented and content is based on holiday themes. Judaism is introduced on multiple levels using a wide variety of media. Enrollment is open to non-affiliated students, and children with special needs are accommodated. Rockwern Academy ECEC (Early Childhood Education Center) 8401 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Nancy Mendelson, ECEC Director
Phone: 513-984-3770 rockwernacademy.org Facebook.com/rockwernacademy Ages: 18 months — Pre-K Hours: Half Day and Full Day options, including Extended Care program to 6pm. Classes begin: Aug. 25 Affiliation: Jewish Community Day School Serving children from age 18 months to 4 years, Rockwern Academy’s ECEC provides a warm, nurturing Jewish environment. Our curriculum recognizes that a child’s primary method of learning is through play. The foundation for learning Jewish values and traditions begins at this earliest level. Our developmentally appropriate curriculum emphasizes academic, social and personal growth, including Jewish identity and Hebrew language. Additional curricular features include academic orientation through math, literacy, reading readiness, and fine motor skill activities. Newly designed, well equipped, safe indoor and outdoor play areas are used exclusively for our preschool children to develop gross motor skills. In addition, the children receive physical education, music and Hebrew enrichment. Torah Tots 3977 Hunt Rd., Blue Ash Cincinnati, OH 45236 Phone: 513-793-5200 Ages: 2 - 3 years Hours: 5 week sessions on consecutive Monday mornings, 9:45 10:45 a.m. Torah Tots encourages multisensory experiences that stimulate emerging language, motor development, socializing and bonding between parent and child. DAY SCHOOLS Atara Girls High School 6701 Elbrook Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45237 Contact: Penina Teitelbaum, Principal Grades: (Girls) 9 - 12 Classes begin: Monday, August 25 Affiliation: Orthodox Atara Girls High School is focused on providing a high quality education in conjunction with a Torah value system that can be shared by girls heading toward seminary, university, the professional world, community leadership, motherhood or the many combinations thereof. The school’s vision is to provide a wholesome environment founded upon excellence, where Jewish high school girls from diverse backgrounds will feel welcome and embraced; a place where girls will grow both academically and spiritually to be well-rounded individuals who are passionate about their faith and community.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014
CONTINUED from previous page Cincinnati Hebrew Day School (CHDS) 2222 Losantiville Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45237 Contact: Rabbi Zev Pam, Principal Phone: 513-351-7777 Fax: 513-351-7794 Grades: Preschool-Grade 8 Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Classes begin: Wednesday, Aug. 27 Affiliation: Torah Umesorah At CHDS, students are raised with ancient values as tools for the modern world. In our Judaic Studies program, students study Torah and Talmud from the original Hebrew and Aramaic texts used by scholars for thousands of years. Students explore an intensive Secular Studies program using research-based best-practices and cutting-edge technology from statecertified instructors. This unique, rigorous combination produces students with the tools for whatever the future holds. Our state-of-the art facilities include a fully equipped science lab; art rooms; a computer lab; and a full-court gym. CHDS's new Learning Center provides remedial and enrichment support for general studies, as well as providing Judaic programs to assist students with limited Judaic exposure. Rockwern Academy 8401 Montgomery Road
BACK TO SCHOOL • 11 Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Dr. David Finell, Head of School; Renee DeBorde, Registrar Phone: 513-984-3770 www.rockwernacademy.org facebook.com/rockwernacademy Fax: 513-984-3787 Grades: Preschool (age 18 months) – Grade 8 Hours: 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. with flexible options for preschool Classes begin: Grades 1 – 8: Tuesday, Aug. 20; Kindergarten: Thursday, Aug. 22; Preschool: Monday, Aug. 26 Affiliation: Jewish Community Day School Founded in 1952, Rockwern Academy (formerly Yavneh Day School) is an independent, Jewish community day school in the Cincinnati/Kenwood area serving over 200 students in preschool through Grade 8. Rockwern offers an academically rigorous and integrated general and Jewish studies program, enriched by a nurturing environment. Students learn in a safe, supportive community that reinforces their Jewish identity and values and builds self- esteem. A Rockwern education ensures that every student achieves high academic standards, knowledge, skills and qualities required to become a confident, productive citizen in a changing, diverse world, as well as a knowledgeable and committed Jew. Students may enter at any
grade. Flexible tuition is available. CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOLS Adath Israel Congregation – Jarson Education Center 3201 E. Galbraith Road Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Dara Wood, Director of Education Phone: 513-792-5082 ext. 104 Fax: 513-792-5085 Grades: Pre-Kindergarten-Grade 7; Grades 8-12 encouraged to attend Mercaz High School Hours: Sunday, 9 a.m.-12:30p.m. Grades K-7 & Wednesday, 4:156:15 p.m. for Grades 2-7; Grades 8 12 Sunday, 6:30-8:30 p.m.at Mercaz Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 7 Affiliation: Conservative Adath Israel offers an innovative curriculum that incorporates the study of Hebrew, Bible, prayer, Jewish values, traditions, history, music and bar/bat mitzvah preparations. Bat Mitzvah Club 3977 Hunt Rd, Blue Ash Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Chana Mangel Phone: 513-793-5200 Grades: Grade 6 Hours: Tuesdays, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Your daughter’s Bat Mitzvah is approaching—a highlight of her life.
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12 • BACK TO SCHOOL CONTINUED from previous page No matter where your daughter plans to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah, the club is a great way to study, meet other Bat Mitzvah girls, have fun and prepare this great milestone in the life of a Jewish woman. Open to all girls from age 11-12. Beth Adam Religious School 10001 Loveland-Madeira Road, Loveland, OH 45140 Contact: Roberta Veleta Phone: 513-985-0400 Grades: Preschool to Teen Program Hours: Sunday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.; Mid-week Bar/Bat Mitzvah classes for 6th and 7th graders, Wednesday, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 7 Affiliation: Humanistic Beth Adam’s Religious School is a vibrant and welcoming community. Our experienced teachers use dynamic and age-appropriate methods to expose our students to a range of topics. Our curriculum includes Jewish history, life cycle events, holidays, texts, values and ethics, and theology. We encourage questioning. Most important to us is that students enjoy their Jewish experiences so that they continue to feel connected to the Jewish community for years. Our approach is contemporary and promotes personal responsibility and critical thinking. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah program is a twoyear course of study during which students learn to read Hebrew and complete a research paper related to the theme of their Torah portion. We are more than a school—we build Jewish connections and community.
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Beth Israel Synagogue Anne E Strauss Religious School 50 N. Sixth Street Hamilton, OH 45011 Contact: Phyllis Binik-Thomas, Director of Education Phone: 513-868-2049 Fax: 513-868-2069 Grades: K - 7 Hours: Sunday mornings: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Midweek Hebrew: Monday Afternoons in West Chester and by appointment Affiliation: Conservative Our mission is to inspire and nurture in every child a love of Jewish life and learning. With this love, our children will integrate into their lives a knowledge of Jewish history, language, ritual and text, the values of community, cultural Jewish identity, ethics, prayer, spirituality, tikkun olam (repairing the world) and an understanding of our people's connection to Israel. Beth Israel Religious School welcomes and supports non-Jewish parents raising Jewish children. Chabad Hebrew School 3977 Hunt Rd, Blue Ash Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Chana Mangel Phone: 513-793-5200 Grades: Pre School – grade 7 Hours: Sundays, 9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Chabad Hebrew School offers a stimulating yet friendly environment where children embrace their Jewish roots and gain a true sense of Jewish pride, no matter their level of observance or affiliation.
Discovery Hebrew School 7587 Central Parke Blvd. Mason, OH 45040 Contact: Rochel Kalmanson, Education Director Phone: 513-234-0777 Ages: 6-12 Hours: Wednesdays, 4:15 - 6 p.m. Affiliation: Entire Jewish community Promoting Jewish awareness and education, Discovery Hebrew School offers a stimulating, friendly environment where students embrace their Jewish roots and gain a sense of Jewish pride. The school provides an academic and enjoyable environment where children of all levels of observance and affiliation acquire a broad knowledge of Judaism. Through Hebrew reading, writing, Jewish history, holidays and more, students gain an appreciation for the joys, values and traditions of the heritage as it is brought to life by teachers whose creativity make every lesson a unique and dynamic learning experience. The hands-on learning style encourages students to be active, rather than passive, learners. The school’s goal is for students to enjoy time spent at Hebrew School so that they are left with positive experiences and a greater appreciation for ongoing Jewish education. The program is carefully blended with games, incentives, crafts, dramatics, family celebrations, and other extracurricular activities. J-Teens: The ultimate Jewish teen experience 3977 Hunt Rd, Blue Ash
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BACK TO SCHOOL • 13
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014
CONTINUED from previous page Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Chana Mangel Phone: 513-793-5200 Grades: Grade 7 & 8 Hours: Tuesdays, 7 – 8:30 p.m. J-Teens is a club for Jewish teens grades 7 & 8 that meets Tuesday evenings during the school year. JTeens is more than just a social spot — it equips teens for a lifetime of Jewish experience. Trips, Shabbatons, BBQs, holiday parties, a brand-new and fully equipped lounge/game room, and most of all, captivating lessons, all combine to make J-Teens a unique program. JLI Teens 3977 Hunt Rd, Blue Ash Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Rabbi Yisroel Mangel Phone: 513-793-5200 Grades: High School Hours: Thursday, 7:30 – 9 p.m. Geared to Jewish high school students, JLI Teens offers a fresh and
engaging curriculum that challenges teens to think for themselves. The program mixes discussion, debate and a variety of learning activities. They’ve also planned trips and outings. JLI Teens is a great place to socialize and meet other Jewish teens in the community. Pizza dinner included. Kehal Kodesh School of Rockdale Temple: Our Sacred Community 8501 Ridge Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Rabbi Meredith Kahan, Assistant Rabbi & Educator Phone: 513-891-9900 Grades: Preschool-Grade 8 Hours: Sunday, 9:30 a.m. - noon; Hebrew School, Tuesday, 4:30 - 6 p.m. Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 7 Grades 9-12 participate in Kulanu: The Cincinnati Reform Jewish High School on Sunday evenings, 7 - 8:45 p.m. Kehal Kodesh offers a Judaic curriculum for students in preschool
through eighth grade, and a Hebrew program for students in third through seventh grades. Special programs throughout the year include Family Education, class Shabbat services, holiday programs, music, art, and library enrichment programs. The theme for this year is Middot: Jewish Values and will be the vehicle from which we will explore the way we live our lives as individuals and community members, as people and as Jews. Students will take an active role in T’filah (worship services) and social action projects that center on being part of a community as we pray, learn, worship and serve together. Students in grades 4 - 12 participate in age-appropriate youth groups. Club 456 is for students in 4th, 5th and 6th grades; Rak Noar is for students in 7th and 8th grades; and students in 9th-12th grade are encouraged to participate in Rockdale’s Senior Youth Group — YGOR, The Youth Group of Rockdale.
As a Reform congregation we embrace every family, every child, and every learner. Children in interfaith families who are being raised in the Jewish faith and their nonJewish parent are encouraged to actively participate in the life of the congregation. For more information, please contact us at Rockdale Temple. Kehilla School for Creative Jewish Education — Joint School of Northern Hills and Ohav Shalom 5714 Fields Ertel Road Cincinnati, OH 45249 8100 Cornell Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45249 Contact: Maksim Shilkrot, Director of Education and Programming Phone: 513-931-6040 Fax: 513-530-2002 Grades: Preschool - Grade 7 Hours: Sunday, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 4:30-6:15 p.m. Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 7 Affiliation: Conservative
The Joint School of Northern Hills and Ohav Shalom is a creative, family-oriented and individualized program that provides a full array of innovative educational, religious and social opportunities from preschool through grade 7. It offers the study of the Bible, history, prophets, Israel, prayer, Hebrew and current events. Enrollment is open to unaffiliated students. The school also offers an award-winning preschool family education program once a month. Kids in Action– After-school Enrichment Program 3977 Hunt Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Rabbi Yisroel Mangel Phone: 513-793-5200 Ages: 5 - 7 Dates: Wednesdays 4:15 - 5:30 p.m. “Kids ‘N Action” is a new and exciting Jewish kids after school enrichment program, for ages 5-7. BACK TO SCHOOL on page 22
14 • DINING OUT
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Asian Paradise wows with sushi, sumptuous entree dishes By Bob Wilhelmy To me, sushi can be a double treat in restaurants where the delicacies are made well and presented as food works of art. You’ll find that combination at Asian Paradise, along with wonderful flavors to close the deal in emphatically positive fashion. Let’s begin with high praise for the sushi chefs (plural, and what does that say to you about the amount of sushi ordered by patrons?) at this upscale restaurant featuring Asian fusion cuisine. The two men are devoted to their craft and on the Tuesday night I dined there, they were very busy as well. They presented two sushi treats, a Russian roll and a second roll that was off menu but also delicious. The Russian roll features yellowtail, salmon, tuna, kani and asparagus, all banded together with a razor-thin cucumber wrap. Mix a dab of wasabi in the soy, dip and voila— excellent, tasty, fresh and delicious. If you have not tried sushi and are reluctant to do so, Asian Paradise would be an ideal place to get your feet wet. On other trips we have enjoyed the mango roll, with fresh, thin, succulent slices of South Pacific mango fruit over a fresh tuna and avocado combination. This roll features flavors that are on the sweet side, and the roll allows the skeptical to ease into an appreciation of what sushi dining offers. Also one of our favorites is the spicy girl roll, which features some crunch around tuna, yellowtail and salmon, all spicy, all delicious. The creations turned out by the sushi chefs are in themselves works of art, and the flavors are exquisitely balanced, giving the diner an appreciation of this wonderful Asian specialty food. In addition, the chefs brought us several off-menu items that were tasty and delicious, including one item that showcased filet mignon and asparagus, and a spicy dipping sauce that was outstanding. Prior to the sushi, we were treated to the kani/cucumber salad in a “spicy” sauce. The salad is light and fresh, having the character of a slaw, but with a bit of a tang to it. Again, the combination provides a subtle balance of flavors very pleasant to the palate. These courses were followed by a pan-fried noodle dish that featured chicken, sugar-snap peas, yellow and red peppers, onions, mushrooms, asparagus and jicama, all in a mild sauce. The finish to this magnificent meal was the coffee mousse cake, topped with whipped cream—a perfect complement to the array of foods that preceded it. Proprietor Ben Wang says fusion cuisine is a mix and match of the best of Chinese, Thai and Japanese food styles. It’s cross-cultural. It is a combination of the food, the season-
Ben Wang, proprietor of Asian Paradise restaurant.
The exterior of the restaurant, at the corner of Fields-Ertel and Montgomery Roads.
A sushi Russian roll, plated and ready to eat.
ings, the service and the elegant ambiance of the place. In addition to all that, he says the cooking process and ingredient approach at Asian Paradise are different from most “Chinese” or ethnically “Asian” restaurants in this area. We concur. So what’s different? Part of the difference can be found in the ingredients used, as you may have noticed in some of the dishes I’ve described earlier in the article. Asian Paradise uses items that are not commonly found in local Pacific Rim restaurants, such as taro root, Vietnamese basil, shitake mushrooms, lemon grass, lo bok (Chinese white radish),
and more. In fact, many “Chinese” restaurants take just the opposite tack, trying to use commonly available, inexpensive ingredients and covering them with flavorful sauces. Please realize that I am not implying there is anything wrong with that approach either, but the fact is the food quality and the special flavors derived from that quality is not the same as you’ll find at Asian Paradise. While we dined, Wang mentioned another difference; he offers a meeting room (seating up to 30) with no charge for use of the room or the A/V equipment. “That makes
the idea of a group gathering, like a wedding dinner or anniversary (or bar or bat mitzvah) a lot more affordable,” he said. The room is separate from the main dining area, and can be closed off entirely for greater privacy. The A/V includes: stereo system, TV, projector and karaoke synthesizer. While Wang stopped by our table for the obvious reason—to assure everything was to our liking—he did the same at every table in the restaurant that we could see. The crowd was a healthy one for a Tuesday, with almost every table in use. Wang’s mission was to see that
every diner was happy with the food and the service. Judging from the smiles and body language of his patrons, the answer was an emphatic “yes.” I recommend a trip to Asian Paradise, and when you go there, be ready to change your thinking about foods from that part of the world. You’ll taste the difference. Asian Paradise 9521 Fields Ertel Rd. Loveland 239-8881
DINING OUT • 15
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014
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Izzy’s Ambar India Restaurant
800 Elm St • 721-4241
Spicy Olive
350 Ludlow Ave
612 Main St • 241-6246
7671 Cox Lane
Cincinnati
1198 Smiley Ave • 825-3888
West Chester • 847-4397
281-7000
7625 Beechmont Ave • 231-5550
2736 Erie Ave.
4766 Red Bank Expy • 376-6008
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281-9791
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Asian Paradise
Johnny Chan 2
9521 Fields Ertel Rd
11296 Montgomery Rd
Loveland
The Shops at Harper’s Point
Tandoor
239-8881
489-2388 • 489-3616 (fx)
8702 Market Place Ln
Baba India Restaurant
Kanak India Restaurant
3120 Madison Rd
10040B Montgomery Rd
Cincinnati
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321-1600
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9701 Kenwood Rd
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3500 Michigan Ave.
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16 • OPINION
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The New York Times’s erroneous and shameful defense of Hamas By Debra Feuer (JNS) What a sad day when the New York Times, the U.S. “newspaper of record,” defends the way Hamas deliberately endangers its own citizens. According to the paper, Hamas intentionally embeds its weapons and fighters in and around houses, mosques, schools, and hospitals thereby drawing fire to them. It discourages civilians from heeding warnings to leave those areas. But for the NY Times, if Hamas doesn’t quite force those civilians to stay, it isn’t technically using “human shields.” Actually, utilizing the presence of a civilian or other protected person to render certain points, areas, or military forces immune from military operations constitutes a war crime – whether or not civilians are forced to stay. In some cases, after Israel warns civilians to evacuate, Hamas may discourage them from fleeing without physically pinning them down. That is malevolent enough. But Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization that rules over Gaza. When it directs civilians to stay, disobeying that directive is a difficult and dangerous choice for a Gazan family. According to Nathan Thrall, the NY Times’s latest human rights expert, when Hamas deliberately embeds its weapons and fighters among civilians, it is just trying to level the playing field. And it may be acting out of desperation, not as part of a political strategy. This line of reasoning constitutes profound legal and moral obfuscation. International law does not condone terrorists deliberately embedding their military apparatus among civilians if the terrorists are “desperate.” Besides, desperate to do what – shoot rockets and otherwise attack Israelis? That hardly seems like desperation cognizable under international law. Hamas had a clear and legal way out of its desperation. It could have used its resources to build up Gaza, instead of turning it into a launching pad for rockets and
incursions into Israel aimed at eradicating the Jewish state. Hamas and Gaza’s civilians alike would have been safe and infinitely better off. In the meantime, although Hamas has provided no shelter for its civilians, it has built a network of underground bunkers to shelter its own leaders and fighters. Every civilized person must pity the people of Gaza, whose so-called leaders exploit them that way. Israel can, and must, continue to defend its citizens from rocket fire and terrorist incursions. Israel does everything it can to limit civilian casualties in these terrible circumstances. Israel’s multiple warnings to civilians, the field hospital it built for the Palestinian wounded, the count-less times the Israel Defense Forces has declined to fire because civilians were in harm’s way, and the poignant photos of Israeli soldiers escorting Gazan children and elderly out of harm’s way – these are powerful reminders that no country on earth has done more to protect the enemy’s civilians. The NY Times’s attempt to defend Hamas’s abhorrent behavior demonstrates how thoroughly it has lost its moral compass. Hamas started this conflict by firing rockets at Israeli population centers – by now it has fired well over 2,500. The Palestinian terror group embeds its machinery of war among its citizens, including in hospitals and schools. Hamas knows that it scores points every time it kills an Israeli, and it scores public relations points every time Israel hits a Palestinian civilian. Shame on the NY Times for falling right into Hamas’s trap – and even whitewashing it. The NY Times, and other like-minded media, would serve the Palestinian people far better by roundly condemning Hamas’s depraved tactics, and thereby undermining its diabolical calculation. Debra Feuer is an attorney based in Bethesda, Md.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Do you have something to say? E-mail your letter to editor@americanisraelite.com
Dear Editor, President Barack Obama is pressuring Israel to stop the offensive against Gaza by sending Secretary of State John Kerry to pressure Israel. Obama also stopped flights to Israel’s airport as a sanction threat. Now, Obama called Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu to strong-arm him into letting Hamas off the hook. The Obama regime is the most hostile to Israel, even more hostile than Carter, Clinton and Bush Sr. ever were. Secretary of State John Kerry is doing all he can to get Qatar and Turkey involved against Israel for a ‘humanitarian’ cease fire, which gives the Hamas terrorists time to fire more rockets into Israel and gives them a one-sided break. What about humanitarian breaks for the Jews of Sderot, who have over ten thousand rockets fall on them? What about the Jewish victims of this Arab terror? Where is the outcry from the Democrats on this, especially the “Jews In Name Only” ones in the Senate and House? Where is their outrage? Where is the outrage when Nancy Pelosi said that Hamas was a humanitarian organization? Or towards Hillary Clinton, who excuses Hamas rockets because Gaza is ‘crowded’? The silence from so-called Jewish organizations is deafening. The ADL, AJC and the rest have been silent on this hostility from the White House on Israel as has AIPAC, which is another Democrat supporter. Benjamin Netanyahu needs to win decisively against Gaza. Had Netanyahu cut the water off to Gaza, they would not be making any war and our priceless soldiers would still be alive. It’s time to stop the foolishness of warning the enemy before an air raid or artillery bombarding. They deserve no mercy, which Rambam called “the mercy of fools.” Leave no enemy to wage war again, the way our Holy Torah commands us to do in war. Uzi ben Reuven Cincinnati, OH Dear Editor, As a Cincinnatian, I know the meaning of a siren…a tornado siren, that is. Instead, imagine that siren is telling you that a rocket is coming toward you and you have minimal time to find a shelter. Now, imagine this happening daily, sometimes
even multiple times a day. How can someone experience the feeling of violence, frustration, and fear, and simply become accustomed to it? This is the reality of what Israelis, as well as 25 college students from Cincinnati are experiencing. The situation is tense, information is complex, and emotions are running high; however, we have an opportunity to enrich our Jewish identity, indulge in the culture, and engage with various Israeli and Arab perspectives. This is something that will help to shape us into greater human beings. On June 8, I, along with 24 other college students from Cincinnati, left home for the summer. We were all excited to be a part of the Onward Israel program and begin the internships waiting for us in Tel Aviv. When we arrived in Israel, we had a meeting to discuss the rules and regulations of our program. We also discussed safety and security. We were told what to do in the event of a rocket attack and how the warning siren would sound. At that time, we obviously had no reason to think we would ever hear it, but on July 8, rockets were fired from Gaza to Tel Aviv, and we heard the siren for the first time. We have heard it at least once almost every day since then. When this situation began, we had already been in Israel for four weeks. During the first half of our trip we had no worries. The most stressful thing we had to deal with was trying to figure out what we were purchasing at the supermarket. We experienced what it is like to live and work in Tel Aviv. We spent our days working, our nights having fun together, and our weekends relaxing on the beach. We had no idea that after July 8 our lives would be turned upside-down. To be honest though, our daily routine has not changed much. We have all continued to go to work, and we still explore the city in our free time. I still go to Shuk HaCarmel (street market) for my produce once a week. I am just more aware of my surroundings than I was before. I pay attention to the people around me, and I’m more alert if someone makes me feel uncomfortable or nervous. When I hear a loud noise, my ears perk up to make sure it is not a siren. As I walk around the city, I take note of bomb shelters and buildings I could enter in case of a siren. There is an
obvious tension and the concern is always in the back of my mind. But I really do feel safe. In Tel Aviv, we have 90 seconds to get to a shelter when we hear the siren. There are very few places in the city where that is an impossible task, which is good. When the siren sounds, you go to a shelter. Seconds after the siren stops, we hear the booms of rockets being intercepted. After waiting a few more minutes to make sure the shrapnel has fallen, we exit to resume whatever we had been doing. Life must go on. We are lucky to be in Tel Aviv. There are many other places in Israel where people have only 15 seconds to get to a shelter, and rockets are so frequent that some people cannot leave their homes. It is frustrating to see some of the ways Israel is portrayed in the media. It was hard seeing it when I was home in America, but being here makes it more personal. Each time a rocket is fired into Israel, I see it as an attempt to kill me, and it truly is. That is the purpose of these rockets: to kill Israelis and Jews, specifically. It is difficult to deal with, but our group is very supportive, as are our family and friends. I have learned so much about Israel, and also about myself. I have grown so much in the last few weeks, and I never realized how strong I am. It is also sad to see all of the death, on both sides. So many innocent people have lost their lives, and it is heartbreaking. Each day the IDF posts the names of the soldiers who have been lost, and most of them are younger than I am. They died fighting for Israel, its citizens, and for all Jews to be able to come here and have a home. I hope that this all ends soon so that life can once again be cherished, and Israel can experience some kind of peace. People have asked if I am going back to Cincinnati before the end of the internship program, but it feels right to be here. I don’t know when I will be able to visit Israel again, and I want to show my support here while I can. I have so much more to experience during the last two weeks of my visit. I have come a long way from home to create my own Israeli journey, and I look forward to sharing it upon my return. Abby Liebowitz Cincinnati, OH
JEWISH LIFE • 17
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014
the Lord, to do compassionate righteousness and moral justice (tzedakah u’mishpat) (Gen. 18:1819) What does tzedakah mean? The Bible itself explains this when it commands us not to oppress the stranger, not to afflict the widow or the orphan, because God hears their cries and will punish us by making our wives widows and our children orphans. (Ex. 22:21-26) God in fact describes Himself as One who is gracious, who gives and loves even without cause and never expecting anything in return. (Ex. 34: 6-7) Moreover, God repeats that when we make a loan to the poor and receive a pledge in return, we must return the pledge to the borrower if he needs it – even though the creditor actually owns the pledge until the borrower pays up his debt. The return of the pledge beyond the requirement of the law is called by the Bible an act of tzedakah: righteousness together with compassion. (Ex 22: 26) In the first chapter of the Prophet Isaiah (the prophetic reading for the portion of Devarim, which always falls out towards the beginning of the Three Weeks of mourning), the prophet cries out that God is sated with our sacrificial animals, that He hates our monthly celebrations and festivals; it is God’s will for us to rather judge the orphan and plead the cause of the widow. “Zion shall be redeemed through justice and we will return to her by means of our tzedakah, our acts of compassionate righteousness.” (Isa. 1:27) Hence you see the straight line from Abraham’s election to Isaiah’s warning regarding the Temple: our worthiness depends not on our ritual piety, but rather upon our compassionate righteousness and moral justice. After the destruction, the Prophet Jeremiah makes a ringing declaration which we read on Tisha B’Av itself: “So says God, let the wise not be praised for their wisdom, let the strong not be praised for their strength, let the wealthy not be praised for their wealth. Only for this is one to be praised: understand and know Me because I am the Lord who does loving kindness, moral
justice and compassionate righteousness on earth. It is these things that I wish”. (Jer. 9:23-24) How do we match up to these ideals? Let me tell you a true incident which for me is a metaphor of our times. A young man attended a yeshiva in Tzfat. The first morning he arrived a bit late for breakfast and there was no milk left for his coffee. He went to the grocery, purchased a container of milk and placed the container in the Yeshiva refrigerator with a sign “private property”. The next morning, the container was gone. He bought another container, on which he added to the previous sign “do not steal”. The next morning, that container too was missing. He purchased a new container, adding to the sign “questionable gentile milk” (halav akum). This time no one took his container; he left the Yeshiva. Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Chancellor Ohr Torah Stone Chief Rabbi – Efrat Israel
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T EST Y OUR T ORAH KNOWLEDGE THIS WEEK’S PORTION: DEVARIM (VAESCHANAN 3:23—7:11) 1. How did Moshe start his prayer to Hashem to allow him to enter Canaan? a.) He admitted he made a mistake striking the rock b.) Hashem is merciful c.) Hashem began showing his power and might 2. Where did Moshe see Canaan? a.) Top of the mountain (Pisgah) b.) Banks of the Jordan River c.) From the camp 3. How many tablets were the Ten Commandments written on? a.) One
to the daughters of Moav, even still later they worshiped Baal Peor. Sforno. 5. B 4:25
EFRAT, Israel - “Comfort you comfort you my nation, says the Lord your God.” (Isaiah 40: 1) This Shabbat takes its name from our prophetic reading (Shabbat Nachamu, the Sabbath of comfort.) Indeed, the entire month is known as Menachem Av, the comforting month of Av. And in the prophetic reading of Isaiah, the prophet adjures us to speak to the heart of Jerusalem, to do penance for our sins, to make a pathway for our Lord, to straighten out our crooked roads. In his magnificent lyric style, he is telling us to repent, for in repentance, we will find our comfort and our redemption. The list of curses and punishments which came in the wake of the destruction of our Second Temple is catalogued in chapter 28 of the Book of Deuteronomy, and followed by the call to repentance in chapter 30. But repentance and return to what? First of all, to the Land of Israel. The nation has done that of its own volition since the rise of the modern Zionist movement in the 19th century, when we stopped waiting for the Messiah and beat our own path to our historic homeland. But this certainly also includes return to God’s Torah. Which commandments should we concentrate on? Should it be the ritual, should it be the ethical, and if both, then with which must we begin our repentance? Furthermore, since we are hopeful that this time our redemption will be not only national, but universal, what is to be our message to the world? If we could only isolate the reason why we lost our Temples, we would then understand how to become worthy of the third and final Temple (remember that the Bible only speaks of two destructions and of two exiles, the first in Leviticus 26 and the second in Deuteronomy 28). And if we could discover why God elected Abraham in the first place, it would certainly be salutary to check our actions against God’s design; then at least we could ascertain where we stand in God’s eyes. At the dawn of our history, the Almighty explains that “Abraham will become a great and mighty nation, that through him shall be blessed all the families of the earth, and that God has chosen, loved, and elected him because he has commanded his children and his household after him to guard the way of
“Zion shall be redeemed through justice and we will return to her by means of our tzedakah, our acts of compassionate righteousness.”
b.) Two c.) Three 4. Moshe brought which event, which showed Hashem punishes? a.) Slavery in Egypt b.) Korach c.) Plague at Baal Peor 5. Which prophecy is in the Parsha? a.) The building of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem b.) Prophecy of exile c.) The Torah would always be with the Children of Israel
prayer. Moshe prayed to see Canaan. This was its fulfillment. Rashi 3. B 4:13 4. C 4:3 Baal Peor started with people attracted
by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin
SHABBAT SHALOM: PARSHAT VAETCHANAN DEUTERONOMY 3:23-7:11
Written by Rabbi Dov Aaron Wise
ANSWERS 1. C 3:24 Moshe saw Hashem's might in the wars against Sichon and Og. Rashi 2. A 3:27 Hashem partially answered Moshe's
Sedra of the Week
18 • JEWZ IN THE NEWZ
JEWZ
IN THE
By Nate Bloom Contributing Columnist TV and Related Doings I hope it works out, in some cosmic sense, for ANDI DORFMAN, 29, the titular star of the 10h season of “The Bachelorette.” She and contestant Josh Murray, 30, announced their engagement during the season finale. As I see it, the couple faces two possible big problems: although his mother is Jewish, Murray and his siblings were raised in their father’s Catholic faith and Josh Murray is reportedly a devout Catholic. Also, Dorfman has reportedly given up her job as an Atlanta-area assistant district attorney – in favor of seeing where her celebrity will take her. This is a risky strategy. The producers of “The Bachelorette” didn’t think she was a very hot TV ratings commodity. She was reportedly paid “only” $50,000 for her time on the show. Some past “Bachelorette” stars have got as much as $200,000. Still, they are a very good looking and charming couple and I think they have a reasonable shot of landing lucrative TV jobs on one or more of the 500 plus cable TV channels. In any event, the couple’s short-term marketability got a shot in the arm when, during the last show, the runner-up bachelor contestant (Nick Viall), told Andi that he was hurt that she was intimate with him only days before she selected Josh. Last week, Viall was on all the big-time talk shows saying that since the last show was filmed (about 7 weeks ago) that he’s recovered and wishes he hadn’t been so candid. Well, call me an old cynic but I think Viall couldn’t have found a better way to get another 15 minutes of fame and boost Andi and Josh’s fame, too. Most reality shows are so scripted and manipulated today, that I wouldn’t be surprised if this whole “wewere-intimate-and-I-was-hurt thing” was fiction. Also, I wonder if there is a psychic and spiritual price to be paid for living your life in a glass bowl and chasing more “glass bowl” fame. It’s possible that in ten years or so, almost-forgotten reality TV stars will replace faded career childactors as cliché “mess-ups.” The upcoming season of the hit HBO series, “Girls,” will include guest appearances by MAUDE APATOW, 15, and NATASHA LYONNE, 35.
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Apatow is the daughter of producer/director JUDD APATOW, 47, and she got very good reviews for her performance as PAUL RUDD’s older daughter in her father’s film, “This is 40” (2012). Lyonne has made a great career and health comeback from the mental and drug problems that almost killed her a decade ago. Her sobriety led to being cast in a lot of TV guest shots and she hit gold in 2013 as a guest star (Nicky Nichols) in the first season of the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black.” She was promoted to a series regular for the second season. (She earned an Emmy nomination for a first season guest shot. Later this month, we’ll find out if she’s a winner.) Meanwhile, rock musician JACK ANTONOFF, 30, the “live-in” boyfriend of “Girls” star LENA DUNHAM, 28, is having a hot summer. He had a big hit single (“We are Young”) and CD hit (“Some Nights”) with his band “Fun” in 2012 (single sold 7 million copies; CD sold 5.1 million). His solo project, under the band name “Bleachers,” is a critical and building sales smash (CD called “Strange Desire”). A New Jersey Jewish day school grad, Antonoff recently told the website “Vulture” that he can pull off “the vaguely Nazi look” that his haircut gives him because his face is “so Jewish.” His bar mitzvah, he mentioned, had a “Star Wars” theme. A Funny Way to Put It “Boyhood,” which opened in theaters late last month, and early in August, is being hailed as a modern classic. As I wrote before, it was filmed over a 12-year period and we follow a boy, called Mason, from age six to 18. The director/writer Richard Linklater, a native Texan, responded to a question about a birthday gift Mason gets in the film – a Bible with his name printed on it, and a shotgun. Linklater told the Philadelphia Inquirer: “That happened to me, age 13. I call it my redneck bar mitzvah year... When it’s your culture, you don't think twice about it, but getting older and farther away from it, you think, that was pretty weird.” Trust me, Mr. Linklater, Texas rednecks would find a “Star Wars” bar mitzvah likewise weird.
FROM THE PAGES 150 Y EARS A GO Married, Sunday August 28, by Rev. Dr. I.M. Wise, Miss Fanny Joseph of Cincinnati, O., to Mr. Max Joseph of Terre Haute, Ind. We have just received from Europe a small consignment of Roedelheimer Machsorim and Chamoshim with translation; also the same with English translation published by H.L. Frank, N.Y., which we offer to the community at the lowest market prices. Send your orders as soon as possible to Bloch & Co., Publishers. We take particular pleasure in informing our friends that we shall, at last, have a good German theater, and not a beer theater, in our city. Mr. Wetzler, long and favorably known among our German population, has succeeded in leasing Mozart Hall, which hasa been lately refitted and which accommodates an audience as large as Pike’s Opera House. A splendid company of actors has been engaged, which will consecrate this temple to the German Muse between now and the 15th inst. We wish the enterprising manager success to his long-wished-for undertaking. – September 2, 1864
125 Y EARS A GO Mrs. Henry Mack, on Tuesday last, celebrated her seventy-eighth birthday surrounded by most of her children and grandchildren. Mrs. Mack, who is one of the pioneers in our Jewish community, enjoys rare vitality and good health, and her large circle of friends wish her many happy recurrences of the day. Simon Klein, a well-known resident of Cincinnati for the last 35 years, died last Wednesday afernoon at the age of 58 years, at his home on South Crescent Avenue, Avondale. The funeral took place on Friday morning. Rev. Dr. Loius Grossmann preached the funeral sermon. Interment was in the Walnut Hills Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. J. Clarence Workum have returned from their wedding trip, and at home at the Eden Flats, Walnut Hills. Mr. and Mrs. Leopold Rosin have removed to 2610 May Street, Walnut Hills, where they will be pleased to see their friends. – August 17, 1889
100 Y EARS A GO Mr. and Mrs. Morris Isaac of 2856 May Street, Cincinnati, O., announce the engagement of their daughter, Stella Miriam, to Mr. Isaac Bear of Lafayette, Ind. At home September 6, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Eppstein announce the engagement of their daugther, Miss Florence, to Mr. Abe Reitman, all of Cincinnati, O. Many Cincinnatians are in European countries, unable to secure
return passage at once. There is no cause for alarm in the situation, unpleasant as it may be, because the Federal Government has taken prompt steps to not only assist travelers abroad with advice and money, but to look after their safety and provide means of transportation to this country from all European ports. This will take a little time, but we must be patient and consider that the task is so great that it will requrie the assistance of all those who have relatives and friends abroad by remaining cool and not hampering the Government’s efforts. The flag of the United States protects its citizens in every city on the Continent and in Great Britain and is the absolute guaranatee of the safety of every American abroad. – August 6, 1914
75 Y EARS A GO Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Simon announce the coming marriage of their daughter, Miss Charlotte Simon, to Mr. Max Rafalo, Sunday Aug. 20, at Wise Center. Dr. James G. Heller will officiate. Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Wise and son Joseph, of Blair Avenue, have returned from the World’s Fair in New York City. En route from a vacation in the Catskills, they visited their son and brother Rabbi Aaron B. Wise, in Schenectady, N.Y. Edwin L. Franken, 71, passed away Monday, Aug. 14th at Jewish Hospital, after a brief illness. He was with the Potter Shoe Co. 40 years. Last month he became vice president and a director of that firm. He is survived by a sister, Miss Bertha Franken, and two brothers, Sam and Milton Franken. Services were held from the Fred G. Dethlefs Funeral Home. Mrs. William Rosenthal, who has been ill for the past two months, still is confined to her apartment in Vernon Manor. – August 17, 1939
50 Y EARS A GO Friends of Robert Zeff honored him Saturday, Aug. 8, on his 70th birthday. The 50 couples who helped him celebrate with a dinner dance at the Netherland chose to combine their birthday gifts in the form of a donation of nearly $500 to the Orthodox Jewish Home for the Aged in his name. Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Goldberg (Davalie Sattler), 1840 Larchmont Place announce the birth of a daughter, Brooke Hillary, born Friday, July 31. The infant has a sister, Blayne Michele. The grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Sattler and Mrs. Rose Goldberg and the late Ben Goldberg. The great-grandmothers are Mrs. Anna Miller and Mrs. Sarah Sattler. Mr. and Mrs. John M. Henderson of Tallmadge, Ohio, announce the engagement of their daughter, Kaye,
to Mr. Daniel A. Freiberg, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert M. Freiberg of this city. Miss Henderson is a junior at Miami University at Oxford, Ohio. Mr. Freiberg attended UC and is a student at the Cincinnati Art Academy. The wedding will take place Sept. 1st in Tallmadge. – August 13, 1964
25 Y EARS A GO The wedding of Julia Sternberg and Michael Samet took place recently at the Omni Netherland Hotel. Rabbi Sidney Zimmelman officiated. Julia is the daughter of Miriam Sternberg of Chappaqua, N.Y. and Hartley Sternberg of Healdsburg, C.A. Mike is the son of Toby and Sam Samet. Best man was Stuart Kirschner of Cincinnati. Following a honeymoon in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, the couple resides in Cincinnati. Paul Heldman and Deborah Kirshner announce the birth of a daughter, Madeleine Rose Heldman, July 24. Madeleine has a sister, Liana Mariel, and a brother, Alexander Warren. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. George Heldman of Cincinnati and Mrs. Lewis Kirshner of Toledo. Ruth Leftwich, 89, died Aug. 8. Mrs. Leftwich is survived by a son, Dr. Howard M. Leftwich and two grandchildren, Jeff and Julie. She was the wife of the late Dr. Ben Leftwich. Graveside services were held Aug. 9 at Resthaven Memorial Park, Rabbi Alec Friedmann officiating. Weil Funeral Home handled the arrangements. – August 17, 1989
10 Y EARS A GO With nearly 30 years of expertise as a makeup artist an desthetician, Ginny Fisher is no newcower to the skin care business. Last month, Fisher and her daughter, Brooke Guigui, opened Studio G, located on Montgomery Road in Olde Montgomery. Fisher stressed there is a distinct difference between Studio G and day spas. “We call ourselves a skin fitness studio...because (skin care) is an ongoing processs,” she said. “Your skin is constantly changing and you have to be consistent with it, if you want to see optimal results.” Studio G carries a full line of skin care products called Sonya Dakar, named for the famous Hollywood skin care specialist. Dakar, who is Israeli, developed a line of “result oriented” botantical skin care products that target people with problem skin. Studio G also carries a private label skin care line named after the store. Products includes cleansers, treatment creams, toners, serums, eye cream, gels and the like. – August 26, 2004
COMMUNITY DIRECTORY / CLASSIFIEDS • 19
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014
COMMUNITY DIRECTORY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIZATIONS Access (513) 373-0300 • jypaccess.org Big Brothers/Big Sisters Assoc. (513) 761-3200 • bigbrobigsis.org Camp Ashreinu (513) 702-1513 Camp at the J (513) 722-7258 • mayersonjcc.org Camp Chabad (513) 731-5111 • campchabad.org Camp Livingston (513) 793-5554 •camplivingston.com Cedar Village (513) 754-3100 • cedarvillage.org Chevra Kadisha (513) 396-6426 Cincinnati Community Kollel (513) 631-1118 • kollel.shul.net Cincinnati Community Mikveh (513) 351-0609 •cincinnatimikveh.org Eruv Hotline (513) 351-3788 Fusion Family (513) 703-3343 • fusionnati.org Halom House (513) 791-2912 • halomhouse.com Hillel Jewish Student Center (Miami) (513) 523-5190 • muhillel.org Hillel Jewish Student Center (UC) (513) 221-6728 • hillelcincinnati.org Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati 513-961-0178 • jcemcin.org Jewish Community Center (513) 761-7500 • mayersonjcc.org Jewish Community Relations Council (513) 985-1501 Jewish Family Service (513) 469-1188 • jfscinti.org Jewish Federation of Cincinnati (513) 985-1500 • jewishcincinnati.org Jewish Foundation (513) 214-1200 Jewish Information Network (513) 985-1514 JVS Career Services (513) 936-WORK (9675) • www.jvscinti.org Plum Street Temple Historic Preservation Fund (513) 793-2556 Shalom Family (513) 703-3343 • myshalomfamily.org
RAMLE from page 9 Though they have lived through such conflicts before – Protective Edge is the third such campaign in Gaza in six years – Sarah says this round has been harder than previous ones. AntiMuslim discrimination flared up during previous conflicts, but Sarah said the antagonism seems stronger this time. I go to day centers [for the elderly], and they don’t talk to me,” Sarah said. “Behind my back, they curse me. I hear it. I hear ‘Their name should be erased. They should die.’” rah and Nora used to enjoy driving to Gaza City to visit Sarah’s daughter. But Nora hasn’t been allowed to visit since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993. Sarah was allowed only once, for a five-day visit several years ago. Will the family return to Zeitoun to rebuild its home? When will Sarah’s daughter be allowed to visit the family in Ramle? Will Sarah ever be able
The Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education (513) 487-3055 • holocaustandhumanity.org Vaad Hoier (513) 731-4671 Workum Fund (513) 899-1836 • workum.org YPs at the JCC (513) 761-7500 • mayersonjcc.org CONGREGATIONS CONGREGATIONS Adath Israel Congregation (513) 793-1800 • adath-israel.org Beit Chaverim (513) 984-3393 • btzbc.com Beth Israel Congregation (513) 868-2049 • bethisraelcongregation.net B’nai Tikvah Chavurah (513) 284-5845 • rabbibruce.com Congregation Beth Adam (513) 985-0400 • bethadam.org Congregation B’nai Tzedek (513) 984-3393 • btzbc.com Congregation Ohav Shalom (513) 489-3399 • ohavshalom.org Congregation Sha’arei Torah (513) 620-8080 • shaareitorahcincy.org Congregation Shevet Achim (513) 426-8613 • shevetachimohio.com Congregation Zichron Eliezer (513) 631-4900 • czecincinnati.org Golf Manor Synagogue (513) 531-6654 • golfmanorsynagogue.org Isaac M. Wise Temple (513) 793-2556 • wisetemple.org Kehilas B’nai Israel (513) 761-0769 Northern Hills Synagogue (513) 931-6038 • nhs-cba.org Rockdale Temple (513) 891-9900 • rockdaletemple.org Temple Beth Shalom (513) 422-8313 • tbsohio.org Temple Sholom (513) 791-1330 • templesholom.net The Valley Temple (513) 761-3555 • valleytemple.com
to visit her grandchildren and great-grandchild in Gaza? They don’t know. Is there still hope for peace? At that question, Nora shakes her head. “Honestly, no. I don’t think the situation will get better after this war,” Nora said. “There’s tension between me and my Jewish friends. They want to justify themselves and this war. I never encounter a person that says, ‘Enough spilled blood’ or ‘Poor civilians.’ I haven’t heard that.” Like most Israelis, Nora has coped with the sirens that warn of incoming missiles for a month now. She opposes Hamas, she says, and understands that Israel needs to protect its citizens, though she wishes the government would scale back its operation and pursue diplomacy more aggressively. Her family in Gaza, she said, is not affiliated with any movement – not Hamas, not Fatah, not any other. “Israel has the full right to self-defense,” Nora said. “The
EDUCA EDUCATION Chai Tots Early Childhood Center (513) 234.0600 • chaitots.com Chabad Blue Ash (513) 793-5200 • chabadba.com Cincinnati Hebrew Day School (513) 351-7777 • chds.shul.net HUC-JIR (513) 221-1875 • huc.edu JCC Early Childhood School (513) 793-2122 • mayersonjcc.org Kehilla - School for Creative Jewish Education (513) 489-3399 • kehilla-cincy.com Mercaz High School (513) 792-5082 x104 • mercazhs.org Kulanu (Reform Jewish High School) (513) 262-8849 • kulanucincy.org Regional Institute Torah & Secular Studies (513) 631-0083 Rockwern Academy (513) 984-3770 • rockwernacademy.org Sarah’s Place (513) 531-3151 • sarahsplacecincy.com Yeshivas Lubavitch High School of Cincinnati (513) 631-2452 • ylcincinnati.com ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIZATIONS American Jewish Committee (513) 621-4020 • ajc.org American Friends of Magen David Adom (513) 521-1197 • afmda.org B’nai B’rith (513) 984-1999 BBYO (513) 722-7244 • mayersonjcc.org Hadassah (513) 821-6157 • cincinnati.hadassah.org Jewish Discovery Center (513) 234-0777 • jdiscovery.com Jewish National Fund (513) 794-1300 • jnf.org Jewish War Veterans (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
missiles don’t differentiate between Jew and Arab. We don’t need to see houses destroyed, women crying, dead soldiers. A soldier is the son of a mother. Anywhere in the world, the pain of a mother is the same pain.” Both Sarah and Nora say they support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both wish their Gaza family could visit Israel to eat Bamba and Bissli, the classic Israeli snack foods they love. Both wish they could hop into a cab and drive to Gaza City to eat fish on the coast. But Sarah says that because of Hamas, because of the war, because of the antagonism born of decades of separation between Israelis and Palestinians, a hopeful future seems less likely than ever. She scoffed at the occasional peace negotiations. “It’s all nonsense,” she said, then in Yiddish: “Bubbe meises.”
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U.S. from page 6 pitfalls of wading into commentary about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the segment, a gaggle of critics popped up around Stewart’s chair and yelled at him every time he tried to open his mouth to talk about the conflict. The segment was called “We need to talk about Israel.” Days after the segments aired, a Gallup poll conducted July 22-23 showed that younger Americans – Stewart’s core audience – are much less likely than older Americans to view Israel’s actions against Hamas as justified. Fifty-five percent of those over age 65 said Israel’s actions were justified, compared to 53 percent of those between 50 and 64; 36 percent of those 30-49, and 25 percent of those 18-29. While celebrities who took stances on the war were alternately hailed and criticized for their comments, two pro-Israel outbursts drew special plaudits in pro-Israel circles: radio shock jock Howard Stern’s on-air tirade ripping fellow celebrities who opposed Israel’s campaign against Hamas, and Joan Rivers’ rant to TMZ about how the Palestinians are to blame for the conflict. “They started it!” she yelled in the impromptu interview with TMZ outside an airport terminal. “You’re all insane! They started it!” Morton Williams, a New York supermarket retailer with a history of pro-Israel marketing efforts, went a different way to demonstrate its supUNCERTAINTY from page 7 counters that Israel is not in a position to pick and choose mediators. Within minutes of the broadcast, Dan Shapiro, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Caitlin Hayden, the spokeswoman for Rice, and Ben Rhodes, the deputy national security adviser, were expressing alarm. “We have seen reports of an alleged POTUS-Netanyahu transcript; neither reports nor alleged transcript bear any resemblance to reality, “ Hayden on the NSC’s official Twitter account, using the acronym for the President Of The United States. “Shocking and disappointing someone would sink to misrepresenting a private conversation between POTUS and PM in fabrications to Israeli
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(513) 531-9600 port for the Jewish state. The company pulled all Turkish products from the shelves of its 12 New York-area stores in response to a boycott in Turkey of Israeli products. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been an ardent critic of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, branding Israel a terrorist state and saying its actions in Gaza “surpassed what Hitler did to” the Jews. “Israel is the one true democracy in the Middle East trying to survive against hostile neighbors seeking its destruction,” CEO Morton Sloan said in a statement cited by CBS News. “Turkey, by siding with those who would destroy Israel, deserves our condemnation. We will lift our own boycott of Turkish products when Erdogan changes his antiSemitic course.” With the Gaza conflict now in its fourth week and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to press on until all of Hamas’ tunnels into Israel are destroyed, Goldenberg says the greatest security concern for American Jews should be the prospect of so-called lone wolf attacks. “My concern is as this goes on it’s that lone wolf – the individuals that are being inspired by the Internet or media as the media attention continues on the casualties in Gaza – that may become inspired to act much more violently,” he said. “If you see something, say something.” JTA’s Miriam Moster contributed to this report press.” Rhodes and Netanyahu’s office both echoed Hayden’s insistence that the transcript was false. Experts on U.S.-Israel relations said the fast-changing pace of the war inevitably was going to lead to misunderstandings and mischaracterizations, exacerbated by the parlous relationship between Obama and Netanyahu. “Seeing the United States negotiating” with Hamas’ allies “while the war is going on and suffering casualties – once you see this it brings out very harsh reactions,” said Dan Arbell, a former second in command at the Israeli Embassy in Washington who is now a fellow at the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.
20 • LEGALLY SPEAKING
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Sentencing Military Veterans Legally Speaking
by Marianna Bettman Jeffrey Belew had a difficult childhood. He moved in with his grandparents when he was about three, because both parents were in prison for drug offenses. He began using alcohol and drugs at an early age. After high school, he joined the Marine Corps. He was deployed to Iraq during the “surge” and as a member of the Quick Reaction Force his duties included witnessing the gruesome tragedies of war. Throughout his duty he experienced alcohol and drug binges and withdrawals. When he returned to the United States his abuse of alcohol worsened. Belew was given a Bad Conduct Discharge for wrongfully appropriating government property when he drunkenly attempted to steal a HumVee. Belew experienced severe post-traumatic stress upon his return. He would wake up in the middle of the night hiding beneath a table. He couldn’t let go of his gun. He slept with it, and would point it at people in his sleep. He was terrified when he heard a foreign language. He couldn’t cope with daily life. He had trouble keeping a job. One way he dealt with this was to self medicate with alcohol. He drank until he passed out. Belew has never received any kind of therapy for his problems. On April 10, 2011, police officers drove their squad cars through a parking lot in response to a domestic disturbance call. Belew, a party to the disturbance, charged towards the officers and fired his 9mm, semi-automatic pistol at the police cars four times, two of which stuck the cars. Belew disobeyed the officers’ commands to stand down and continued to advance. The officers fired shots in an attempt to subdue Belew; he was hit in the chest and taken to the hospital. No police officer was injured and Belew recovered from his injury. Belew was charged with two counts of attempted aggravated murder and two counts of felonious assault. Each count included a firearms specification,
which automatically increases the punishment. Belew initially pled not guilty by reason of insanity. After evaluation, two psychologists found that Belew did not qualify for an insanity defense. Belew then withdrew his insanity plea and entered a guilty plea to the felonious assault charges and corresponding firearms specifications. The trial judge sentenced Belew to twenty seven years in prison. Belew appealed his sentence, arguing that trial judge failed properly to consider his servicerelated severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe depression in mitigation of his sentence. The court of appeals where he lived affirmed the sentence, and Belew appealed his case to the Supreme Court of Ohio. Sentencing in Ohio is governed by statutes. In this case, a key statute was R.C. 2929.12(C)(4), which states that a defendant’s crime is less serious when “[t]here are substantial grounds to mitigate the offender’s conduct, although the grounds are not enough to constitute a defense.” Belew has never denied that he committed a very serious crime; he has fully accepted responsibility for his actions. But he argued that the trial judge did not understand PTSD, nor give it the proper consideration in mitigation. Belew does not argue he should get off scot-free. But he does argue he should have gotten the minimum rather than close to the maximum sentence. The prosecution argued that the trial judge in this case carefully considered the reports of both psychologists, considered letters from Belew’s mother, listened both to Belew’s lawyer and to Belew, and specifically stated at sentencing that she had balanced the seriousness of the offense and recidivist factors and principles and purposes of sentencing in imposing this sentence. The judge made it clear that she did consider Belew’s PTSD. The prosecution argued the sentence should be upheld. What happened next dismays all lawyers who argue before the high court. After receiving the briefs and hearing the arguments, the Court decided, by a vote of 43, that it should never have agreed to hear the case, and dismissed the appeal. This is called “dismissed as improvidently accepted”, or improv’d, in the vernacular. Why did this happen? Trial judges have tremendous discretion in sentencing, within a statutory range. Two different judges weighing the same factors in sentencing could come to
completely different conclusions (much like the dissenters in this case) and neither be wrong on an appeal. A hint of a possible dismissal came from Justice Pfeifer, who said during oral argument, “Isn’t the tricky part for us to be second guessing judges on sentencing when choosing within ranges they are given? Isn’t that quicksand for us?” But three of the seven justices did not think this appeal should be dismissed. Not that the three are in agreement with each other, though. Justice Judy Lanzinger, writing for herself and Chief Justice O’Connor, would uphold the sentence. They believed the record clearly showed that the trial judge did consider all the appropriate factors in this case, including Belew’s PTSD. Justice O’Neill, a Vietnam veteran, also dissented, but would reverse the case and send it back for re-sentencing. He chided his colleagues and the lower courts for their lack of understanding of PTSD, noting that the disorder is not an excuse, but an explanation. “It is without question, and well supported in the record, that this troubled throwaway from society wanted to commit suicide by cop,” wrote O’Neill. “There is no other explanation for why an individual would open fire on two approaching, well-trained, well-armed police officers… He has been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of his time in the Marine Corps – a condition that remains untreated. It is inexcusable that he cannot access federal benefits for his PTSD. We can and should do better.” Two final thoughts. What does a dismissal like this mean? It means the court of appeals decision stands, which in this case means the sentence imposed on Belew stands. But since Belew was sentenced, the legislature has enacted a new sentencing provision, which did not apply in this case, but should help veterans in the future. R.C. 2929.12(F), which went into effect March 22, 2013, requires a sentencing court “to consider the offender’s military service record and whether the offender has an emotional, mental, or physical condition that is traceable to the offender’s service in the armed forces of the United States and that was a contributing factor in the offender’s commission of the offense or offenses.” In this case, though, a majority of the justices wanted to stay out of the quicksand.
You can’t drive without insurance in Ohio A LEGAL LOOK
by Michael Ganson In Ohio, it is illegal to drive any motor vehicle without insurance or other financial responsibility (FR) coverage. It is also illegal for any motor vehicle owner to allow anyone else to drive the owner’s vehicle without FR coverage. You are required by law to show FR coverage whenever a police officer issues a traffic ticket, at all vehicle inspection stops, upon traffic court appearances, and upon random checks by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). You need liability insurance or FR coverage to pay for damage caused by you and suffered by another for personal injury, death, or property damage. Ohio just recently increased the minimum limits it has required for the last 30 or so years from $12,500 for one claimant and $25,000 for all claimants to $25,000 for one claimant and $50,000 for all claimants in December 2013. Therefore, everyone who drives in Ohio must now have at least $25,000 for one claimant and $50,000 for all claimants or be subject to the consequences provided by Ohio law. The required FR coverage may be shown by a copy of the insurance policy, the insurance identification card issued by the insurance company, a surety bond issued by any authorized surety company, a BMV bond secured by real estate having equity that will meet the required amount specified by law, or a BVM certificate for money or government bonds deposited with the Ohio Treasurer of State that will meet the required amount specified by law (both usually in an amount significantly greater than the $50,000 for all claimants limit). The penalties imposed on any driver or owner who fails to show FR coverage are rather severe. For the first offense, they will lose their driver’s license for 90 days and one
year on additional offenses. They will lose their license plates and vehicle registration. It will have to pay reinstatement fees of $75 for a first offense, $250 for a second offense, and $500 for any additional offense. They will have to pay a $50 penalty for any failure to surrender their driver license, license plates, or registration. They will be required to maintain special FR coverage (“high risk” coverage) on file with the BMV for five years. This high risk coverage is usually very expensive in comparison to what would normally be paid for FR coverage. In addition, once the suspension is in effect, any driver or owner who violates the suspension will have their vehicle immobilized and the license plates confiscated for at least 30 days for the first offense and 60 days for the second offense. For the third or subsequent offenses, the vehicle will be forfeited to the state and sold. Additionally, the vehicle owner will not be permitted to register any motor vehicle in Ohio for 5 years. All of these penalties are in addition to any fines or penalties imposed by the judge. If you are involved in a crash without insurance or other FR coverage, additional penalties may apply. You may have a security suspension for two years or more and a judgment the court suspension for seven years. If you are involved in a crash resulting in injury or the death of another, or property damage exceeding $400, a separate Motor Vehicle Crash Report form in addition to the one completed by the investigating police officer must be filed within six months after the accident if it is determined that the other driver was uninsured; even if the other driver was not responsible for the crash. Upon filing this different form with the BMV, it will determine if the other party in fact does not have insurance. If the other party is not insured, a letter of suspension may be sent to the uninsured even if they did not cause the crash. And if the other party was the responsible driver who caused the damage, they may have their license suspended until they pay or have made arrangements to pay for the damage they caused.
FIRST PERSON • 21
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014
This Year in Jerusalem This Year in Jerusalem
by Phyllis Singer Unfortunately, this year in Israel we have been experiencing another matzav – another “situation” – not exactly a war, although it seems like one – but a conflict. I’m writing this article as I’m visiting family in New York, so I’m somewhat removed from Jerusalem. But since I left Israel only a few days ago, I did experience much of the “situation.” In actuality, the conflict has been ongoing for a long time as Hamas continually rained down rockets from Gaza onto southern Israel, and Israel did not do much to retaliate. But the situation escalated in July as Israel hit Gaza with air strikes following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens. At times, Jerusalem seems far HEROIN from page 1 and Hepatitis C, mainly contracted from unprotected sexual acts in exchange for heroin or money to buy heroin. Sharing contaminated needles is also a health risk. One parent interviewed stated, “I have nothing metal left in my house” because his heroin-addicted son stole from him and sold the metal items in exchange for money to buy more drugs. When he had cleaned out his parent’s home, he then reportedly went door to door asking neighbors for money. Heroin is used by people in every different socio-economic level. It is the drug of choice for many young people and unlike “gateway” drugs that are not necessarily as addictive initially (alcohol, marijuana), heroin is almost immediately addictive. Heroin is being used by children, adults, soccer moms, and professionals. Heroin does not discriminate. Unfortunately, it appears that the DEA and elected officials who make the laws relating to drugs do not necessarily know, or care to learn, how to best deal with the issue of addiction. According to one person interviewed, the government officials dealing with the issue of heroin addiction “can’t stay focused long enough to see what REALLY works.” “Bill”, a local high school principal in a middle/upper-middle class area stated that the number of students who have been affected by
removed from conflicts in the South. But at other times we can be within the firing zone. And that’s what happened this year. As the conflict began, Israeli citizens learned just how much Hamas had increased its weaponry and arsenal of destruction with rockets that could reach almost anywhere in Israel and tunnels that could invade communities in the South. In the beginning of the conflict, alert sirens went off in Jerusalem as well as in most parts of the country. Residents everywhere were instructed to run to their safe rooms or to bomb shelters. The Home Front Command, a division of the Israel Defense Forces, published a list of times residents in various communities had to run to safety: in the South, 15 seconds; in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other places in the center of the country, 90 seconds. In many instances, the protective Iron Dome system has been able to shoot down the rockets in mid-air. I believe the IDF said the system has had an 80 percent success rate. Very impressive – although we would prefer 100 percent success! Readers of The Israelite often tell me they are interested in reading about my life in Israel, how I cope with developments. How did I
cope with the matzav, with the sirens in Jerusalem and the need to hurry to a protected space? When the conflict began, the Home Front Command put instructions on TV about accessing your protected space. By law, most new buildings have to have a sealed room. But older buildings – such as the one I live in – don’t have sealed rooms in the apartments, but many, including mine, have bomb shelters. And if your building does not have a shelter, then you are supposed to take coverage in the stairwells. Although my building has a bomb shelter, it is in need of cleaning and repair and is, therefore, not usable. So we have to use the stairwell. Sirens went off in Jerusalem four times. The first was Wednesday, July 9, about 9 or 9:30 p.m. Friends and I were at a concert at the Jerusalem Theater and did not hear the sirens, and no one in the theater made an announcement. When we exited the concert, we heard that there had been sirens. The Jerusalem Theater is a large concrete and brick building; hopefully, it is well fortified. The second time was about 6 p.m. the next day. I was walking through the shuk (the Jerusalem marketplace) when the siren sounded. What do you do when you are in
an open public area? The Home Front Command says to run to a public shelter or lie on the ground and cover your head. I had no idea where the shelters are, and I had no intention of lying on the not-soclean ground in the shuk. But then I got lucky. A young man ran out of a nearby restaurant and told me and some other people to come inside. That became our safe place. But many people just stood on the street and sidewalk and watched the sky. Then we heard a loud boom – the Iron Dome had intercepted the rocket, and Jerusalem was safe. The next two rockets approached Jerusalem on Shabbat – one allegedly at 4 a.m. while most people were sleeping and the second at 7 p.m. If there was a siren at 4 a.m., I did not hear it, but I did hear the one at 7 p.m. I was at a lecture at the OU Israel Center. When the siren went off, we left the classroom and gathered in the hallway where there are no windows. The instructions are either to wait for an all-clear sound or to exit the safe place after 10 minutes. And that was the end of rockets targeting Jerusalem. Nobody knows exactly why, but some speculate that the terrorists decided there are too many Muslims and too many Muslim holy places in
Jerusalem that could be hit since often the rockets lack accuracy. As I am writing this article, Israel had declared a seven-hour humanitarian ceasefire and had begun to withdraw ground troops from Gaza. But according to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the space of less than three hours, there were two terrorist attacks in Jerusalem on Monday. In the first attack, an extremely large tractor/digger deliberately struck a pedestrian and then overturned a passenger bus at approximately 1:30 p.m. (Israel time). A 25-year-old pedestrian was critically injured and died from his wounds. Six others, including the bus driver, were lightly injured. The attack took place in the Shmuel Hanavi neighborhood of Jerusalem. The driver of the tractor was shot and killed before he could continue his attack. The second attack took place a short distance away, at a hitchhiking station near the entrance to the Mt. Scopus tunnel (outside the Hebrew University of Jerusalem campus), at approximately 4 p.m. A 20-year-old soldier was shot in the stomach and seriously wounded by a gunman who escaped on a motorcycle or moped. Will the matzav be over soon? I hope so, but who knows?
heroin has increased tremendously over the past few years, mostly because heroin is so addictive and easy to obtain. Families are being literally torn apart as more and more addicts are incarcerated. In Bill’s school alone, he has dealt with the deaths of students and parents alike all due to overdosing. “We have seen devastation…(the children of addicts) experience complete disruption and have no sense of security...some children of addicts withdraw but ALL kids affected by heroin lash out...All sense of safety and security are gone...It is not a socioeconomic disease.” “Phil” is the father of an adult addict. His son’s addiction started when he was a student at a private school in Cincinnati. He reportedly began by taking opiates from his mother’s medicine cabinet, which is very common. Phil stated that he knows of at least four or five Jewish families in Cincinnati whose children have died from drug overdoses and in Phil’s opinion, the Jewish community is neither doing enough prevention nor meeting the needs of our addiction community. He continued to discuss the need for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation that caters specifically to Jews. There are some Jewish rehab facilities around the United States (Los Angeles, Chicago, Boca Raton), including one in New York called JACS (Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent, Persons, and Significant Others),
which serves thousands of Jews from across the spectrum of observance levels. However, Cincinnati does not have a dedicated Jewish rehab facility. JEEP (Jewish Education for Every Person) does a great job working with alcoholism, and Jewish Family Service (JFS) does good work getting people referred to the right programs, but neither organization is trained to handle heroin addiction. It is time for the community to invest in training and certification for heroin abuse treatment to address the burgeoning heroin epidemic that is infiltrating our city and our Jewish community. JFS Vital Service Director Fran Gafvert says "From our work with clients struggling with issues of mental health, poverty, drug addiction, and any number of of disabling life issues, we recognize that Jews are impacted by substance abuse and the resulting devastation to their lives and those of their families, no differently than any other demographic group. We can say anecdotally, that shame plays a big part in how we as Jews manage these symptoms. However, that could be very similar to other religious groups as well. We do not have counselors on staff licensed in this particular specialty.” Getting clean is just the beginning of the life of a recovering addict. In some respects, rehab is the easiest step - it usually takes place in a safe, monitored environment where there is plenty of support. It is when the
recovering addict returns to “reality” that their lives get extraordinarily difficult. A sober person has to wake up every morning and face the demons that drove them to their addiction in the first place. A person with a history of severe abuse doesn’t forget the abuse just because they are sober. On the contrary, sobriety means that raw, painful, horrible feelings and memories are always alive and coping mechanisms are crucial to successful recovery. There is no doubt that drug use, specifically heroin use, is deadly. Because of this, prevention is key. Warning signs that someone may be using heroin include: Sudden behavior changes (i.e. a once cheerful person is now sullen or angry) Change in peer groups Discovering drug paraphernalia (i,e, needles, syringes, small scales, coffee grinders, etc.) Money troubles (i.e. people will begin asking loved ones and friends for money and stealing money) Missing possessions - selling possessions in order to get money for more heroin is a very common practice Body mutilation (i.e. track marks) Isolating from family events on a regular basis Extreme changes in appearance and attitude Angry, morose or depressed behavior
Breaking rules at home and at school Belligerence toward authority (including parents) Dropping out of activities including sports, hobbies, and school-related organizations Poor academic/work performance and a lack of interest in academic opportunities Flushed skin Dry mouth Difficulty following a conversation Education and prevention are key but if you suspect that someone you know is using drugs, early intervention is key to increasing their chance of a successful recovery. Be aware of the changes in your child’s behavior; notice if your co-worker is acting out of character; be alert to a friend’s sudden lack of interest in being social or loss of possessions - ask questions, get in their face...don’t wait until it is too late. Better to risk a relationship than to risk someone’s life. It’s also time to get the police more involved. Don’t be shy about contacting your local precinct to ask them what they are doing to prevent heroin appearing on our streets. If you don’t like the answer, contact your councilman, congressman, or the Governor of Ohio. Get law enforcement involved anyway you can; if we can get heroin off our streets, we can be one step closer to helping the city’s addicts
22 • OBITUARIES
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D EATH N OTICES
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TUMEN, Aaron Charles, age 86, died July 28, 2014; 1 Av 5774
Children learn Jewish Pride through fun games, crafts and stories. At each meeting, the children explore a Mitzvah and receive exclusive Mitzvah cards to put into their Kids ‘N Action albums. At the end of the class, children are charged with Mitzvah Missions for the following week; successful completion of Mitzvah Missions are rewarded with points in a special ranking system.
BANES, Lois Ungar, died July 29, 2014; 2 Av, 5774. BORDEN, Ruth, age 81, died July 30, 2014; 3 Av, 5774 LEVINSON, Dr. Joseph E., age 94, died July 31, 2014; 4 Av, 5774. GREENBERG, Betty, age 80, died August 1, 2014; 5 Av, 5774. YOUNGERMAN, Ethel Lee, age 96, died August 3, 2014; 7 Av, 5774.
Temple Beth Sholom Religious School 610 Gladys Drive Middletown, OH 45044 Contact: Rabbi Kari Hofmaister Phone: 513-422-8313 Grades: Preschool-High School Hours: Sunday, 9:30-noon. Affiliation: Reform Temple Beth Sholom takes pride in their small student-teacher ratio and individualized attention to each child’s learning capacities and desires. Their desire to provide their students with a strong foundation in Judaism reflects their congregational mission. Founded in 1903,
Temple Beth Sholom is a Reform congregation committed to prayer, worship and study of G-d and Torah within the framework of liberal Judaism. They have the expressed purpose of helping their membership apply the principles of Judaism to personal conduct, family life and communal living. They value the role of women and men as equal participants in community leadership and worship. As a smaller congregation, Temple Beth Sholom cherishes the opportunity to create and nurture their “Temple family” of Jews in Middletown and the surrounding community. Temple Sholom, K K Beit Shalom 3100 Longmeadow Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45236 Grades/Hours: 3 Core class groupings, preK – 8th grade, 9:15 – 11:45; Hebrew on Sundays after lunch Break, 2nd – 6th grade, 12:15 – 1:30; Madrichim (teen teaching guides, 9th-12th grade), lead weekly Jewish Arts electives Our school is held up by four pillars of learning: (1) create a sacred community of learners across generations, (2) Learn by doing, experiencing, and then understanding, (3) Learn with our community justice partners and neighbors, and (4) Encourage theological questions and critical inquiry. The school-wide instructional theme in Hebrew Year 5775 is “Shalem: Jewish Spirituality through Wholeness and Healing.” Our working definition of ‘Spiritual’ is Having the potential to shift one’s perspective from ‘What’s in it for Me?’ to ‘How am I part of this World and You?’ We plan to heal body, mind and soul during Sholom’s year of Shalem. Topics in weekly instruction on Shalem include Jewish Holidays, Mitzvot and Tzedakah, Stories and Guidelines from the Hebrew Bible, meditation, gardening, food awareness, justice partnerships, and in older grades, Jewish History. Valley Temple Religious School 145 Springfield Pike Wyoming, OH 45215 Contact: Alison Weikel, Director Phone: 513-761-3555 Grades: Preschool-Grade 12 Hours: (Preschool-Grade 8) Sunday, 9:45 a.m.-noon; (Grades 46 - Hebrew) Tuesday 6:30-7:30 p.m.; (Grades 9-12) Sunday 7-8:45 p.m. at Kulanu. Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 7 Affiliation: Reform Valley Temple’s classes have a strong emphasis on Torah, Israel, holidays, traditions and values. Highly skilled and experienced faculty nurture the students and help them develop their Jewish identities. Valley Temple also offers family education for all grades and a Hebrew program for grades 4, 5, 6. Families must be temple members to enroll students.
Isaac M. Wise Temple Religious School 8329 Ridge Road Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Barbara Dragul, Director of Education and Lifelong Learning Phone: 513-793-2997 Grades: Pre-K - Grade 8 (Sunday School); Grades 4-6 (Midweek Hebrew School) Hours: (Sunday School), 9:15-11:45 a.m.; (Midweek Hebrew School) Wednesday, 4:306 p.m. Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 22 and Wednesday, Oct. 2 Affiliation: Reform Wise Temple Religious school is the place for community, where kids are learning and laughing and praying alongside other Jewish kids, bonding in a special way. It is the place for learning, with a creative and caring teaching staff, the school offers many special programs such as Gesher (a family engagement program); after school youth activities, grade level day trips; an innovative prayer lab, a creative jr. high program and a thriving Madrichim (teenage teaching assistants) program. Wise Temple Religious school is the place for character - a Jewish values curriculum gives kids the foundation for becoming the best people they can be. Classes are conducted in a beautifully renovated facility. Each grade follows a unique curriculum. The Open Room (PreKindergarten and Kindergarten) has a curriculum built around the senses, where students explore Jewish themes through art, music, stories, play, food and movement. Students in grades 7 and 8 choose from a variety of elective. Library reading programs, music mitzvah projects and special programs supplement the curriculum in all grades. The Wise Temple Religious School is fully accredited by the National Association of Temple Educators. Students may attend for one year as a non-member.. Kulanu — Cincinnati Reform Jewish High School c/o Sheri Kroscher 6626 Hollow Tree Court Mason, OH 45040 Contact: Sheri Kroscher, Administrator Rabbi David Burstein, Director Phone: 513-262-8849 Grades: 9-12 Hours: Sunday, 7-8:45 p.m. Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 8 Affiliation: Reform In 1982, 184 Jewish teenagers entered one of Cincinnati’s Reform congregations to attend what was the first session of the Cincinnati Reform Jewish High School (CRJHS). These students would be the first of hundreds to receive a Jewish education due to the cooperation of the four Reform synagogues in Cincinnati: Isaac M. Wise Temple, Valley Temple, Rockdale Temple and Temple Sholom.The CRJHS has continued
to grow throughout the past 25 years. Today called Kulanu, the school has close to 200 Jewish high school students. They represent over 35 area high schools. Kulanu will continue to provide a safe place for Jewish teens from all over the city to learn, to socialize, and to share a part of their Jewish experience with each other. Mercaz Conservative Hebrew High School 3201 E. Galbraith Road Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Phyllis Binik-Thomas, Director Phone: 513-792-5082 ext. 123 Grades: 8-12 Hours: Sunday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 7 Affiliation: Conservative, however open to all students regardless of affiliation Mercaz offers hands-on, innovative and discussion-based classes designed to entice a variety of Jewish teens. Classes at Mercaz aim to teach Jewish texts, ethics and history in a way that appeals to today’s Jewish teens. We offer Experiential Jewish Education through the Arts courses including filmmaking, painting and photography. We also offer beginner and advanced Conversational Hebrew courses. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS After Crew - After School at the J At the Mayerson JCC in Amberley Village 8485 Ridge Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Christina Zaffiro, JCC Afterschool Director Phone: 513-761-7500 Ages: Open to the public, grades K –6 Hours: M – F, after school until 6 p.m. After Crew at the J offers FREE shuttle service from many nearby schools. Kids will enjoy plenty of activities in the gym and waterpark, healthy snacks, homework help and many classes such as Taekwondo, dance, sports, swimming and private piano lessons. Membership is not required. First come, first served; limited spaces remain. CTeens 3977 Hunt Rd, Blue Ash Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Rabbi Yossi Greenberg Phone: 513-793-5200 Ages: 12- to 15-year-old boys and girls. Hours: Sunday's bi-monthly, 6:308:00 pm. CTeens offers our children the unique opportunity to join an international youth organization focused on building core values and stresses positive character development. The meetings will focus on funfilled social opportunities and giving back to the community, all within the context of Jewish learning.