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Inside Empire’s slaughterhouse: The life of a kosher chicken
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With $52M investment, German city banks future on unearthing Jewish past
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Oriental Wok— Intimate, beautiful and delicious
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Silver Whisper turns winter into summer
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Teri Junker installed as new president of Hadassah Central States Region Cincinnati native Teri Junker was installed as the new president of Hadassah Central States Region at the Region Spring Forum on April 9 -10, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio. Carol Ann Schwartz, also a native Cincinnatian, was honored for her exemplary service as region president for the past three years. The theme of this year’s Spring Forum was “Embracing Hadassah — Planting the Seeds for our Future Together.” The national conference advisor was Carol Rosenthal, national marketing chair of Member & Community Development and past region president of the Upper Midwest Region. Some of the other featured speakers were Joyce Garver Keller, Dr. Lenny Horowitz, Jackie Jacobs, Gail Cohen, Renee Resnik, Helena Schlam, Judy Saxe and Susan Wilkof. During the current economic climate, Hadassah has been undergoing an organizational restructuring or in essence, a downsizing of both staff and offices throughout the country. In fact, within Central States Region, the Cincinnati and Cleveland Chapter offices have closed, coinciding with both of their administrative staff’s retirement. However, the Columbus office remains open both for the chapter and to service the region. “This is no different than what we are doing in our businesses and homes,” noted Junker. “We are tightening our belts to maximize our resources. We also are going back to our grassroots of utilizing more volunteers than ever. Our mis-
Susan Wilkof and Teri Junker, the new Central States Region President
sion meanwhile remains the same, our commitment to Zionism and Tikkun Olam.” “We are looking forward to celebrating Hadassah’s Centennial
anniversary next year in Jerusalem as we dedicate the new Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem.” Junker is a graduate of Walnut
Hills High School and the University of Colorado School of Journalism. She has served Hadassah Central States Region in the past as executive vice president, organization vice president and region service coordinator. She has also been active in Cincinnati Chapter of Hadassah as past chapter president, donor chair, fundraising vice president and Training Wheels chair. Teri has also been an Educational Evaluation Committee member for Yavneh Day School and a board member of Wise Temple Sisterhood. She lives in Amberley Village with her husband, Kevin, a Hadassah Associate, and children Justin, an Associate, and Gabrielle, a Life Member. The Hadassah Central States Region has over 10,000 members, associates and supporters in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and West Virginia. The mission of the region is to organize, develop and strengthen Hadassah units by providing services that respond to the unit’s goals and needs, and to act as a liaison between the unit and National Hadassah. The region assists chapters with fundraising, education, membership, programming and leadership needs by supplying training, motivation and networking. The new officers were installed at a deluxe luncheon on Sunday, April 10. Susan Wilkof, a past Central States Region president, was the installing officer. Other Cincinnatians taking region posts were Renee Sandler, the new region executive vice president, and Amy Perlman, the new region treasurer.
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LOCAL • 3
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Wise Temple’s YoFI to host end-of-summer family picnic On Saturday, Aug. 20, YoFI, which is Wise Temple’s Young Family Involvement Group, will enjoy its fourth annual End-ofSummer Picnic event. Since August 2007, Wise Temple families with young children have been gathering on a regular basis for holiday and social events. Programs have included dinners, craft opportunities and family-friendly worship opportunities. YoFI enjoys special support from the Wise Temple Sisterhood, which has graciously underwritten this initiative. This year’s picnic will feature the talent of “Joel the Librarian.”
Joel Caithamer has been a children’s librarian for more than a decade, and is currently Children’s Services Coordinator for the William E. Durr branch of the Kenton County Public Library. When he is not at the library, Joel delights audiences with his music and storytelling. His CD has earned a Parent’s Choice Recommended Award. Joel is also a regular on Cincinnati CET Channel 48 with Joel’s Library Jam, which promotes literacy through stories and songs. In addition to the entertainment, there will be plenty of delicious food. YoFI will provide the main dish, but is asking families to bring
either a side dish or dessert to supplement the meal. Toward the end of the program, Rabbi Ilana Baden will lead an age-appropriate Havdallah ceremony, which will mark the end of Shabbat and welcome the beginning of the week. The YoFI End-of-Summer Picnic is being chaired by Debbie Horewitz and Caroline Wells. The event will take place at Wise Center’s back patio at 5 p.m. If the weather is not pleasant, the program will move indoors. Guests are welcome, and there is no charge for this event. However, you must RSVP in order to attend. Please contact the Wise Temple office for more information.
Young Professionals fire up taste buds with JGourmet Cooking Series Access has cooked up a way for Jewish young professionals to spice things up in the kitchen and get to know others just like themselves. Introducing JGourmet, a series of private, interactive cooking classes offered throughout the year and designed to take traditional Jewish fare and other favorites to a new level of handson fun. The next series will take place once a month for the next three months, beginning on Monday, Aug. 29 with Grillin’ ‘n Chillin’ at 7 p.m. at A Forkable Feast in Oakley. The cost of the event is deeply subsidized and includes hors d’oeuvres, hands-on instruction by a seasoned chef, and a full tasting at the conclusion of each class. However, space is limited to just 25 participants and classes fill up quickly. “JGourmet is one of Access’ most popular signature programs and is often the very first thing newcomers sign up for,” explains Rachel Plowden, Access event coordinator. “Many friendships, and even some serious relationships, have resulted from participating in these classes which offer the perfect opportunity to meet others in a fun environment where everyone is working together. It’s almost impossible not to strike up a conversation with someone while you’re chopping veggies, stirring batter, or rolling out rugelach dough!” she adds. “Whether you’re a social butterfly or a little bit shy, JGourmet is a great way to meet other Jewish young professionals from all over Greater Cincinnati!” All classes take place on Monday evenings. The schedule for the upcoming series is: Grillin’ ‘n Chillin’ on August 29, High Holiday Hits on September 26 and Fall’s Freshest Fare on October 24. Participants must pre-register
Join the Young Professionals for fall’s freshest fare with Access’ JGourmet Cooking Series.
online or call Rachel Plowden at Access and can sign up for one, two or all three classes. Classes always fill to capacity so early registration is suggested. JGourmet was started as a result of findings from a focus group report prepared in conjunction with the 2008 Jewish Community Study, commissioned in partnership by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati and The Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation. “As I was reading through the report, I was struck by how many times people of all ages referred to memories and positive experiences related to Jewish food, Jewish cooking and holiday meals with family and friends,” explains Pam Saeks, director of Jewish Giving for The Mayerson Foundation. “I knew there had to be something we could take away from that for our Access participants. That’s how JGourmet was born. We got together our own focus group of young professionals and learned that many in this age group had never made, or
helped to make, basic Jewish staples such as challah, chicken soup, matzo balls, brisket, kugel and other traditional foods,” she continues. “It made me realize that teaching them how to make these things would help insure that they would be able to pass down this critical piece of Jewish culture and tradition to a whole new generation. Plus, it offered another great way for them to make connections to each other and to Jewish life. With a win/win like that we knew we couldn’t go wrong!” JGourmet classes take place at A Forkable Feast, a commercial kitchen and retail store owned and operated by Jewish community members, Randy Bloch and Stu Schloss, who open their doors after hours to provide these private classes which are offered for Jewish young professionals, 2135. Non-Jewish significant others are always welcome. To RSVP or for more information please consult the Community Directory listing in this issue for Access contact information.
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The American Israelite website’s summer hits increasing Beginning in May 2011, The American Israelite website has gained three straight months of 3,300 or more unique visits from its new and now loyal readers. Unique visitors are counted only once no matter how many times they have
visited a site. This method is measured by a computer’s IP address (Internet Protocol Standard), which act like online fingerprints. In addition, The American Israelite website has gained 145 Facebook fans since launching the
new website’s Facebook page. The fans span across The American Israelite website’s wide audience — from young professionals, baby boomers, senior adults, former Cincinnati residents and even to those now living outside the United States.
Remember to stick with the oldest for what’s new. Also, congratulations to Walter C Frank, this week’s new Facebook Fan of the Week. Don’t forget to “like” us for your chance to be the Fan of the Week!
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Northern Hills holds summer picnic Miniature golf will be featured when Northern Hills Synagogue Congregation B’nai Avraham holds it summer picnic on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011. Sponsored by the congregation’s Men’s Club, the fun will kick off with the 1st Annual Men’s Club Putting Championships, to
be held at the Etters Golf Center on Reading Road, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Trophies will be awarded in three divisions: under 13, 13 and over, and “Bubbe.” There will also be a one shot “Putt-Off.” Following miniature golf, the picnic will begin at 1 p.m. at the
UAW Local 863 Picnic Area on Reading Road, featuring grilled hot dogs and veggie burgers, watermelon and other treats. The entire community is invited to join in the festivities. Ron Richards, Men’s Club copresident, commented, “Come join us in the unique fun of the
family Miniature Golf Tournament, then stay for the picnic for good food, fun and friendship.” There is no charge for the picnic, and only a small entry fee for miniature golf. For more information, please contact Northern Hills Synagogue.
Jewish education for adults starts soon at the J Adults interested in Jewish learning can go back to school this Fall with courses from The Florence Melton Adult MiniSchool. Core classes for adults begin the week of Sept. 12 at the J, and Year 1 programs are open to everyone. Several free “Taste of Melton” classes are available in late August, and all adults are encouraged to check out the program at these free samplers. Melton is a university-quality, two-year program of Jewish study that was developed at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It challenges adult learners to engage in Jewish learning in a meaningful and comprehensive way. There are no exams, no homework, and no pre-requisites – other than com-
pleting Year 1 before enrolling in Year 2. The dynamic faculty of educators and rabbis create an engaging classroom environment of high level thinking and discussion that encourages dialogue between people of different backgrounds and affiliations. Anyone interested in Melton classes should plan to attend one of the “Taste of Melton” short programs at the JCC. “Taste of Melton” is a sample class of this interactive and engaging classroom environment. Year 1 Core Curriculum is open to everyone. The focus of Year 1 is on the Jewish calendar, essential Jewish ideas and sacred text. Participants can choose Tuesday mornings or Wednesday evenings.
“Taste of Melton” will sample the “Purposes of Jewish Living” class on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. and the “Rhythms of Jewish Living” class on Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 9:30 a.m. “Melton helped me evolve my theology and learn about things I hadn’t thought about in years,” said Miriam Parker, a recent Year 1 student. “A huge benefit that enhances the learning is the mix of students and instructors. It’s so intriguing to hear other’s opinions and viewpoints.” For adults who have already taken the Year 1 Melton class, the JCC is offering a Year 2 program (also on Tuesday mornings or Wednesday evenings). The Year 2 class is “Dramas and Ethics of
Jewish Living.” Graduates of the Year 1 and 2 core classes can further their education with the Scholars curriculum. Free “Taste of Melton” samplers are available for three different Scholars’ classes, including: *Wednesday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m., History of Jews and Muslims in the Mediterranean *Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 10 a.m., Navigating the Sea of the Talmud *Thursday, Aug. 25 at 10 a.m., Exodus: From Slavery to the Sinai More information about Melton classes starting in September and the free “Taste of Melton” sessions in August, is available on the JCC website. To register for “Taste of Melton” or to ask questions, call Elizabeth Woosley at the J.
coaches, chaperones, family members and JCC staff and board members, traveled to Israel to take part in the combination athletic and arts event held July 24 – Aug. 4 in the northern part of the country. “Our first day in Jerusalem was awesome,” said Matt Miller, JCC Youth & Family coordinator and a JCC Maccabi coach. “The JCC Maccabi Games is one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced in my life.” Two of Cincinnati’s ArtsFest delegates, Elise Spiegel and Daniel Seibert, received a special invitation to participate in the JCC Maccabi Experience’s Closing Ceremonies. The Cincinnati delegation spent a week at the Games/ArtsFest and a week touring historical sites, holy places and national parks. The
Cincinnati JCC Maccabi delegates stayed on the campus of Jerusalem University. They visited an Armored Tank Museum, Mini Israel and participated in an archaeological dig. The delegation was also able to travel throughout Israel and experience a weekend Shabbat in an Israeli home. The teen participants enjoyed two nights of home hospitality with Israeli families in Cincinnati’s sister city, Netanya. “Having the opportunity to visit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Netanya and meet interesting people from all over the world was amazing,” said Ben Hammer, ArtsFest participant. The JCC Maccabi Games have been offering a life- and personality-shaping experience to Jewish teenagers since 1982. More than 120,000 Jewish teens have participated since the games began. JCC
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 ISSAC 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 BARBARA L. MORGENSTERN Senior Writer NICOLE SIMON RITA TONGPITUK Assistant Editors ALEXIA KADISH Copy Editor JANET STEINBERG Travel Editor STEPHANIE DAVIS-NOVAK Fashion Editor SONDRA KATKIN Dining Editor MARIANNA BETTMAN NATE BLOOM IRIS PASTOR RABBI A. JAMES RUDIN ZELL SCHULMAN RABBI AVI SHAFRAN PHYLLIS R. SINGER Contributing Columnists
Locals take part in JCC Maccabi Games/ArtsFest in Israel The Mayerson JCC is proud to have sent a Cincinnati delegation to the first-ever JCC Maccabi Experience in Israel. The eight teen athletes participating in the JCC Maccabi Games competed in basketball and soccer, and the eight artists performed in dance, rock, vocals and acting at JCC Maccabi ArtsFest. The JCC Maccabi Games are often called the Olympics for Jewish teens, where the athletes participate in sporting events and create memories that last a lifetime. The games also promote community involvement, teamwork and a sense of Jewish identity. Teams from all over North America and the world attended this summer in Israel. Approximately 1,500 people, including the teen participants,
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011 11 AV 5771 SHABBAT BEGINS FRIDAY 8:20 PM SHABBAT ENDS SATURDAY 9:21 PM
Maccabi ArtsFest began in 2006 as an opportunity for Jewish teens interested in the arts to develop their talents and skills in a workshop setting while forging relationships with other young Jews. The Cincinnati delegation included: Zoe Bochner, Michael Craig, Benjamin Hammer, Sam Harkavy, Charlie Heldman, Jackson Hughes, Gil Kaplan, Rachel Kravitz, Carly Levick, Jonathan Moskovitz, Daniel Seibert, Elise Spiegel, Dylan Stern, Jonathan Sussman, Sarah Wolf and Noah Zelkind. Delegation heads included Mike Creemer, JCC sports and recreation director, and Courtney Cummings, JCC cultural arts coordinator, as well as Coach Matt Miller. For more information about the JCC Maccabi experience, contact Mike Creemer at the J.
LEV LOKSHIN JANE KARLSBERG Staff Photographers JOSEPH D. STANGE Production Manager MICHAEL MAZER Sales ERIN WYENANDT Office Manager
THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE (USPS 019-320) is published weekly for $44 per year and $2.00 per single copy in Cincinnati and $49 per year and $3.00 per single copy elsewhere in U.S. by The American Israelite Co. 18 West Ninth Street, Suite 2, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-2037. Periodicals postage paid at Cincinnati, OH. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE, 18 West Ninth Street, Suite 2, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-2037. The views and opinions expressed by the columnists of The American Israelite do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the newspaper.
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The Valley Temple hosts open house The only synagogue west of I75 in Hamilton County—The Valley Temple—will host an open house on Friday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m. The Reform Jewish house of worship is celebrating Rabbi Sandford Kopnick’s 10th anniversary with the congregation.
Originally founded as a religious school, the congregation emerged as a warm and intimate place for a diverse Jewish population. Rabbi Kopnick has served as spiritual leader of The Valley Temple for the last decade, succeeding Rabbi Solomon Greenberg, who was only
the third rabbi, and serving for 32 years as senior rabbi. The Valley Temple will also celebrate Shabbat at 7:30 with the Friday Night Live format — including a contemporary music ensemble. All are welcome. During the open house, members
will be available to discuss the Temple’s creative and happy supplemental education program, complete with Hebrew instruction, family education and a creative middle school program. In addition, information will be available about upcoming adult education opportu-
nities, social action programs, social events, holiday celebrations, the varied Shabbat service music and more. Anyone interested in hearing more about the congregation is encouraged to attend the open house on Aug. 19 or contact the synagogue.
Kehilla School for creative education Once again, Northern Hills Synagogue and Congregation Ohav Shalom are pleased to announce that fall enrollment has begun for their joint religious school — the Kehilla School for Creative Jewish Education. “We are thrilled to be able to combine the resources of both congregations in order to provide the
most dynamic and innovative education for our future Jewish generations,” noted Tracy Weisberger, the school’s education director. Kehilla is open to the entire community. Students and their families do not need to be members of either congregation to attend. The school and its teachers are committed to preparing stu-
dents to fully understand, enjoy and participate in all aspects of Jewish life. Kehilla aspires to provide its students with the skills, values and ethics of our Jewish subjects. Kehilla serves the needs of students in Kindergarten through the seventh grade. The school also provides a once a month preschool
and parent program designed to introduce young students to Jewish learning. The hands-on, interactive curriculum focuses on holidays and provides preschoolers and their parents a way to celebrate holidays together in a meaningful way. Classes this year will begin on Sept. 11. The school year will start
off with an opening program for students and parents in the morning. As to the first semester, Sunday classes will be held at Northern Hills Synagogue, from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Wednesday classes will be conducted at Congregation Ohav Shalom on. For more information, please contact Tracy Weisberger.
The secret to Chabad Hebrew School’s success Chabad Hebrew School has made a name for itself in Cincinnati in the past 20 years. With a curriculum that is fun and diverse, covering a wide range of Jewish traditions, heritage and history, the dynamic program excites children while offering practical relevance to today’s day and age. The teachers bring Jewish traditions to life and
share their own love and passion for Judaism, so that students don’t just love to learn about Judaism – they learn to love Judaism. This is precisely what makes Chabad Hebrew School unique. It is a program that instills Jewish pride and creates spiritual connections that last a lifetime, where children don’t want to miss a day.
Where students enter with a smile and leave humming a Hebrew song. A school where the halls are filled with the sounds of lively discussion, singing, prayer and laughter. A place where one can tangibly feel the warmth and spirit of Judaism. At Chabad Hebrew School, Hebrew reading is the most antici-
pated part of the day. The Hebrew reading curriculum is based on the internationally acclaimed Aleph Champ™ Reading Program, a motivational system that been proven to be the most effective method of teaching Hebrew reading and writing to children. Says one parent, “The Aleph Champ program is fabulous! Its ability to let
my daughter learn at her own pace – however fast or slow that may be in a given week – is exactly the type of learning environment she needs. Her experience at Chabad Hebrew School has been invaluable, and she will carry those benefits with her for the rest of her life.” CHABAD on page 19
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Philip Bump via Creative Commons
A screen shot of C-Span counting votes in the U.S. House of Representatives for a debt ceiling deal on Aug. 1, 2011, just as Rep. Gabrielle Giffords enters the chamber to cast her first vote since she was shot in January; Giffords voted for the deal.
With debt deal, Jews’ fight and worries shift to new ‘super committee’ By Ron Kampeas Jewish Telegraphic Agency WASHINGTON (JTA) — Even before the debt deal was signed last Tuesday in Washington, U.S. Jewish groups and recipients of government largesse were asking the same question: Who’s going to get cut? It’s still too early to say. But the new “super committee” created to hash out the details of $1.2 trillion to $1.5 trillion in spending cuts by the end of the year, and the arguments that surely will arise from the committee’s work, will provide the clearest sign yet of which government grants or programs are on the chopping block. In the Jewish community, the areas of concern range from funding for elderly care to environmental issues to democracy promotion overseas. Federal funding makes up a significant chunk of the budgets of many of the groups that operate in those fields. Joyce Garver Keller, the executive director of Ohio Jewish Communities, which lobbies state lawmakers for Ohio’s Jewish federations, said Ohio Jewish service providers already are reeling from cuts mandated last month in the state budget. That included up to 14 percent in cuts for nursing homes and 3 percent cuts for home- and community-based providers. The largest Jewish facility for the elderly in the state, in the Cleveland area, already is dealing with $2 million in cuts on the state level even without any cuts at the federal level. Keller said the homes for the elderly were examining solutions including freezing salaries and retirement benefits for staff, and cutting back on utilities such as
electricity. Others are considering opening up in-house medical practices to outsiders to create revenue. “You can maybe make up 1, 2 or if you’re really savvy 3 percent, but we can’t make up 14 percent,” Keller said. “You can’t make up something that large.” The National Council for Jewish Women expressed concern particularly about cuts that could affect women and children. “The deal does require deep cuts in government spending, cuts that will likely affect Head Start, K-12 education, Title X family planning, job training, domestic violence prevention, meals on wheels and other services for vulnerable people,” NCJW said in a statement. Mark Olshan, the associate executive vice president for B’nai B’rith International, which runs 38 homes for the elderly across the country, said federal cuts would burden a system coping with a growing number of retirement-age baby boomers. “The reality is we’re probably not going to be building a lot more buildings, but there will be more people who need these kinds of programs,” he said. Jewish groups are also closely watching cuts in areas where they do not receive direct assistance. Jason Isaacson, the director of governmental and international affairs for the American Jewish Committee, anticipated cuts in programs promoting energy alternatives and democracy overseas. Isaacson said cuts in democracy promotion would be especially unfortunate just as reform was sweeping the Arab world, noting the upcoming elections in Tunisia in October as an example. DEBT on page 22
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Inside Empire’s slaughterhouse: The life of a kosher chicken By Uriel Heilman Jewish Telegraphic Agency MIFFLINTOWN, PA. (JTA) – The end came swiftly for the chicken I’ll call Bob. Propelled into a trough of sorts by a machine that tips a crate’s worth of birds onto the assembly line — “They’re like children, sliding down,” the head kosher supervisor said — chicken Bob was seized by a worker’s practiced hands and guided toward the shochet, or ritual slaughterer, along a stainless steel panel meant for calming the birds. While a second worker held down his legs and body, the shochet gently grasped Bob’s head and, in what seemed like a split second, made his cut before the lifeless chicken was deposited into a funnel for the blood to drip out. Every six seconds or so, another chicken followed. The shochet, clad in a bloodstained yellow rain slicker and with a transparent plastic cap covering his hair and beard, swayed rhythmically as he worked, almost as if he were davening. Alongside him, 11 other teams of three, each led by its own shochet, labored methodically. In all, 60,000 chickens would be killed by late afternoon. It’s all in a day’s work at Empire Kosher Poultry, the largest kosher chicken company in the United States. Empire churns out 240,000 chickens and 27,000 turkeys a week, from quartered broilers to turkey salami. With a staff of 750, a fleet of two dozen trucks and a vertically integrated operation in central Pennsylvania where hatcheries, feed mills, farms and processing all come together, Empire says it produces a healthier, cleaner, more reliably kosher chicken than available anywhere else in America — and in a socially and environmentally responsible way. To back up its claims, Empire agreed to give JTA a first-ever camera tour of its facilities, providing unfettered access to everything from the kill room to the farms to the assembly line where chickens and turkey are sliced, processed and packaged into all manner of raw poultry, nuggets, cold cuts and hot dogs. The only restriction was that JTA was not permitted to photograph the kill room or certain proprietary methods. The recent tour had two ostensible purposes. One was to draw an implicit contrast with other kosher food companies in the news. While managers declined to get specific, the most infamous industry example is Agriprocessers, the Iowa-based kosher meat giant that was felled in 2008 amid a host of financial crimes and labor and safety viola-
Uriel Heilman
The assembly line at Empire Kosher Poultry’s plant in central Pennsylvania is the largest kosher one of its kind in America, with 240,000 chickens and 27,000 turkeys passing through every week.
tions following years of negative media reports. Agriprocessors’ former CEO, Sholom Rubashkin, is serving a 27-year prison sentence for financial fraud and money laundering. (He has appealed for a new trial, arguing that the judge was biased.) Second, and perhaps not unrelated, Empire officials say they are considering expanding into the kosher meat market — something the company once did, albeit without great success. With plans on the drawing board to go back into beef within a year — Empire would buy already slaughtered cuts of meat and build a business around processing — the company is launching a public relations campaign to tout its approach to chicken production, including advertisements in the Jewish media. A private company with annual revenues over $100 million, Empire says the ways it raises its chickens and treats its workers are the keys to the company’s success. Since 2008, Empire’s chickens have been antibiotic free, and the company now has an organic line available at retailers such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. Empire’s workers are unionized — a rarity in the kosher business — with salaries ranging from $8 to $11.40 per hour, and health, vision and dental plans. Empire is a graduate of the U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA Challenge program — the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s initiative to improve workplace safety and health management — and the company employs an on-site nurse. Over the past 10 years, the company has invested more than $2.5 million in a wastewater treatment facility that recycles its effluents. “There is a better standard in that plant in terms of the conditions of the workers and the way they’re treated — not just physical conditions — compared to other chicken
poultry processors,” said Wendell Young, president of UFCW Local 1776, the union that represents Empire’s employees. In an interview with JTA, Rabbi Morris Allen, the program director of the Conservative-backed seal of ethical kosher food production that will be rolled out this fall, said that Empire’s practices appear to make it a good fit for the Magen Tzedek seal, which guarantees certain standards for treatment of workers, animals and the environment. Allen visited the Empire plant several months ago. What has enabled Empire to be profitable, company officials say, is its vertically integrated operation. From conception to supermarket, Empire approaches its chicken operation with scientific precision. “We hatch our own eggs, feed them with our own blend of feed from our feed mill and keep close watch as they grow. We have control from conception until packaging — no third parties,” said Greg Rosenbaum, the company’s CEO. “We can say to the world that humane standards had been applied at every stage.” It all starts with breeding. While companies like Purdue may breed chickens for large breasts because breast meat is in highest demand, Empire’s chickens are bred for kashrut. That means large breasts could add weight that damages the chicken’s tendons, rendering the chickens treif, or unkosher, when slaughtered. No growth hormones are administered; hormone use for poultry is illegal in the United States. “We worked over the years to get the breed just right,” said Jeff Brown, Empire’s chief operating officer, told JTA over a chicken lunch. “It was developed specifically for kosher processing.” EMPIRE on page 19
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With $52M investment, German city banks future on unearthing Jewish past By Alex Weisler Jewish Telegraphic Agency COLOGNE, Germany (JTA) — This city in western Germany is banking its future on its Jewish past. But at present, the investment is exacting a heavy price: $52 million, to be exact. Following a divisive decadeslong battle, Cologne’s municipal government voted recently to allocate that sum toward the construction of a new museum focused on the city’s medieval Jewish quarter. Its centerpiece will be the product of a massive excavation project that began in 2007 in the middle of the city, on the square in front of City Hall. For years the project had been dogged by opponents who said the country didn’t need another monument dedicated to the Jewish past or complained about the disruption that the project would create in Cologne, Germany’s fourthlargest city. But with Cologne’s decision to fund the museum, adding to the $18 million already allocated by the state government of North Rhine Westphalia, the city has made a decisive choice: to embrace its Jewish past to attract future tourists. “A city like Cologne, you always have to think about what you can present to bring new tourists,” said Cologne City Councilman Ralph Sterck, who voted in favor of the project, which
Alex Weisler
Onlookers peer at the archeological dig and planned museum site on the Rathaus square in downtown Cologne.
passed by a two-thirds majority in the 90-member council. “We are proud of what we have for history, so we want to show the world.” The museum’s projected revenue was among the factors that prompted City Council members to support the allocation, he said, but there was also the element of embracing Cologne’s Jewish heritage. All over Europe, from Girona, Spain, to Vilnius, Lithuania, cities and countries are making similar decisions in the hopes that becoming a Jewish travel destination will bring in tourism dollars. In Germany, much of the effort at memorializing Jewish history
has focused on the Holocaust era, and Cologne has three other museums concentrating at least partly on World War II-era history. The new project is spotlighting a period when Jewish life thrived in the city — the 1400s. The museum, which plans to open in 2015, will offer a new way of looking at German Jewish history, said Georg Quander, Cologne’s deputy mayor for cultural affairs. It was Quander who lobbied the City Council to provide the funding for the planned museum. “History is always an exchange between several cultures,” he said. “I think it’s very important to understand this. Maybe it’s more
important than to separate them.” Sven Schutte, the leader of the Cologne excavation and museum project, concurred. “If you concentrate just on the Jews in the Nazi times, you put the Jews in a corner that they never have been in,” he told JTA. “To show all this rich history is something which should be done.” Schutte, who is not Jewish, said he is glad the museum will focus on how Jews have been integrated into Cologne city life for centuries rather than excluded from it. “If you look at Jewish museums, even Berlin, you see a separate history and you can think that the Jews come from the moon, that they were not an integral part,” he said. “This is a site where you can learn how to live together with other people.” The massive project to unearth Cologne’s medieval Jewish quarter began four years ago. The city had begun excavating its past decades ago, but until recently the focus was on its Roman quarter. Archeologists working on the Roman quarter actually threw away Jewish material that they had unearthed. But in the late 1980s the calls began for excavating the Jewish quarter, and in the 1990s some archeological work was done. For a long time, pedestrians could peer down through a glass pyramid on a city square and see the medieval mikvah, or ritual bath, that Cologne’s Jews had used hundreds of years ago.
French Jewry rethinks its JCCs, with a focus on culture over ‘community’ By Alex Weisler Jewish Telegraphic Agency PARIS (JTA) — It’s hard to think of a more innocuous word for most American Jews than “community.” But in France, things aren’t so simple. France’s national ethos frowns upon displays of ethnic difference. So for many French Jews, the word “community” conveys a sense of separatism and insularity that clashes with the way they see their lives: French first, Jewish second. That, in turn, causes headaches for France’s Jewish community centers — or “centres communautaires,” as they are known. “When you say ‘Jewish community,’ it’s considered segregation and then it’s not French enough,” said Smadar Bar-Akiva, executive director of the World Confederation of Jewish Community Centers. “It’s interesting because in other countries, community is the most important thing.” The issue is distracting enough
that the Fonds Social Juif Unifie, or FSJU — the umbrella group that coordinates most aspects of communal French Jewish life — is considering changing the name of the centers, removing the emphasis on community and stressing something that better reflects the facilities’ commitment to culture and identity. “We’re working now on improving the image of the JCC,” said Jo Amar, the FSJU’s director of cultural action. “We feel for a long time that we have a problem.” Though plans for change are far from set in stone, representatives of some French community centers said that a shift could be welcome. “The spirit is to find a balance between community center and cultural center,” said Sharon Mohar, an Israeli transplant who coordinates cultural efforts for a center serving the 2,000-family Jewish community in Bordeaux. The question is also tied to how the centers relate to non-Jews. Mohar recalled an instance in
which some older members of his community cautioned against allowing non-Jews to attend a community-run preschool, fearing that they would scare away Bordeaux Jews. Instead, she found that a policy of openness ended up appealing to Jews. “In 2011, most people are just people, and it’s not that it’s less important for them to keep Jewish ... but I think they are truly trying to find a balance between this part and the rest,” she said. “The balance is critical — [otherwise], we’re talking about a ghetto, and that’s not the reality people want.” Ilan Levy, who coordinates cultural programs for the 3-year-old Hillel building serving the Jewish community in Lyon, France’s second-largest city, said Jews tend to be more apt to attend events that target non-Jews, too. “If we make events for all the people, then the others come and the Jews say, ‘Oh, if the others come, then we can go,’” Levy said. At France’s largest Jewish com-
munity center in Paris — catering to the country’s largest Jewish community — there is a renewed focus on bringing in new audiences and interacting with them virtually, said Jean-Francois Strouf, the center’s communications coordinator. The center is developing an online university teaching Jewish and non-Jewish topics. The first of its kind in France, the project recently received funding from the Paris regional government and should be operational by 2013. The facility prides itself on providing the Paris community with a well-rounded slate of programming — not discriminating on the basis of religion or, within Judaism, by denomination. “It appears that a community center in the United States is a kind of private club,” said the facility’s director, Rafy Marceanu, citing sometimes high membership fees and perks such as pools and fitness centers. “In France it is the place of all Jews, and everybody finds his place.”
International Briefs Victorian government to probe legality of Israel boycott SYDNEY, Australia (JTA) — Australian Jewry’s head lauded the “moral fiber” of the Victorian government for seeking a probe into whether proponents of an Israel boycott are breaching Australian law. In a statement issued Monday, Executive Council of Australian Jewry President Dr. Danny Lamm welcomed the recent decision by the Liberal state government to ask the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to investigate supporters of the “immoral and illegal” Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign. The landmark move comes in the wake of a July 1 protest in which 19 pro-BDS protesters were arrested during a clash with police outside a Max Brenner chocolate store in downtown Melbourne. Three policemen were injured in the fracas. Consumer Affairs Minister Michael O’Brien said Monday that he believes BDS supporters may be in contravention of section 45D of the Commonwealth Competition and Consumer Act. “To think you are going to influence the policies of the government of Israel by attacking a business running in this state is just appalling,” O’Brien told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. “There are certainly very ugly undertones to these protests, and it’s not a path we want to go down in Victoria.” The Victorian government believes the protests may constitute a “secondary boycott” which is in breach of Australian law. Lamm blasted the protesters for being “highly selective” about the Israeli products they target. “The BDS organizers will call for a boycott of certain Israeli cosmetics and chocolate products, but they wouldn’t dream of telling you not to use Windows operating systems developed by Microsoft Israel,” he said. “The real agenda is to defame Israel, as their slogans reveal.” A spokeswoman for the BDS in Australia said she was “outraged” by the government’s decision to “criminalize” any protests against corporations that support Israel. Another protest is being planned against a Max Brenner store in Brisbane on Aug. 27.
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In accepting ‘67 lines for talks, Netanyahu tries some political maneuvering By Jessica Steinberg Jewish Telegraphic Agency JERUSALEM (JTA) — In the never-ending game of diplomatic chess played by Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week made a new move to try to outflank the Palestinians. On Aug. 2, he said that Israel is ready to use the pre-1967 lines as a rough starting point for discussion of a Palestinian state — if the Palestinians recognize Israel as the Jewish state and back down from their plan to petition the United Nations for statehood recognition in September. Analysts are divided over whether this constitutes a real shift for Netanyahu or whether he’s merely trying to call the Palestinians’ bluff and gain the upper hand in the international arena — and at home. On the one hand, merely articulating this new position appears to be a significant shift for the prime minister, who initially described those borders as “indefensible” when President Obama suggested in May that the pre1967 lines — with agreed land swaps — should serve as the starting point for talks.
Israel Briefs Second Temple artifacts uncovered in Jerusalem JERUSALEM (JTA) — Artifacts from the Second Temple period were found in Jerusalem. A sword in a scabbard that belonged to a Roman soldier and an engraving of the Temple’s menorah on a stone object were discovered in recent days during excavation work in the 2,000-yearold drainage channel discovered between the City of David and the Jerusalem Archeological Garden near the Western Wall. The findings were announced on the eve of Tisha b’Av, which commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem. The channel served as a hiding place for residents of Jerusalem from the Romans during the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. The excavations are being conducted on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority in coopera-
Courtesy of Haim Zach / Flash 90
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu articulating a new position on the pre-1967 lines was called a “very serious move” by one expert. Netanyahu is shown speaking at the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Aug. 7, 2011.
“It’s a very serious move,” said Bar-Ilan University political scientist Eytan Gilboa, a senior researcher at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. “For him it’s quite a concession to make because after Obama proposed his platform for renewing negotiations, Bibi rejected it. So he has changed his tune.” tion with the Nature and Parks Authority, and are underwritten by the City of David Foundation. The 2,000-year-old iron sword was discovered still in its leather scabbard, along with parts of the belt that carried the sword. The engraving of the menorah shows that its base was tripod shaped. Researchers believe that someone who saw the menorah was impressed by its beauty and etched his impressions on the stone before tossing it away. Israeli court approves harvesting of dead woman’s eggs JERUSALEM (JTA) — In a landmark decision, an Israeli court has ruled that the eggs of a deceased woman can be harvested and donated. The Kfar Saba Family Court on Sunday ruled in favor of the family of a 17-year-old accident victim, allowing the family to remove the eggs of their daughter and freeze them for donation to her aunt, who is infertile, Israel Hayom reported. It is the first time that a court has allowed egg extraction from a body. The girl’s organs were transplanted into four other people, saving their lives, Haaretz reported.
Another, domestic element may be propelling Netanyahu toward peace talks with the Palestinians: the growing social movement that has seen massive demonstrations over the high cost of living in Israel, particularly housing prices. In the past few days, some 300,000 Israelis have turned out to protest across the country, and many are camped out in tents on Tel Aviv’s leafy Rothschild Boulevard. A few weeks ago, a Facebook-driven protest against the high prices of cottage cheese, an Israeli staple, also drew mass popular support, and the price subsequently dropped. If Netanyahu wants to deal with the protests that have grown with each week, he “has to draw the one card that no one is expecting, the card that can outflank his opponents on every segment of the political spectrum,” Haaretz columnist Bradley Burston wrote last week: an immediate return to peace negotiations. “This is the time,” Burston wrote. “His party and his government are laying back, uncharacteristically silent, waiting for him to take charge, make a move that is bold enough to meet the challenge of the nation’s broadest social movement in memory.”
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10 • BACK TO SCHOOL
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2011-2012 Back to School Listing Listed are the various programs, Hebrew schools, earlychildhood 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: Ziporah Cohen, Phone: 513-793-5200 Ages: 1 -2 years, Hours: Mondays, 9:45- 10:45 a.m. Ages: 2-3 Years, Hours: Tuesdays, 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. Bond with your child as we explore Jewish themes intertwined with activities, crafts,
music and movement that foster discovery and growth.
preschool programs, and Kindergarten.
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: Thursday, 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 is the only Jewish Montessori school in Ohio and offers infant care, toddler and
Cincinnati Hebrew Day School Early Childhood School 2222 Losantiville Road Cincinnati, OH 45237 Contact: Rabbi Yuval Kernerman, Principal; Susan Shapiro, Assistant Principal Phone: 513-351-7777 Fax: 513-351-7794 Ages: 3-5 years Hours: 3-year-olds, 8:30 a.m.12:45 p.m. (extended care options until 2:30 or 4 p.m); 4- and 5year-olds, 8:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m. or 8:45 - 4 p.m. Classes begin: Monday, Aug. 29 Affiliation: Torah Umesorah CHDS Early Childhood School is licensed by the State of Ohio. CHDS provides a quality educational program for young children in a newly renovated, state-of-theart facility. A curriculum is provided that enhances the social, cognitive, physical and emotional development of each child. JCC Early Childhood School At the Mayerson JCC 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. (Optional Extended Day: 11:45 a.m. – 1p.m. or 11:45 am – 3 p.m.) Classes begin: Full Day program runs year-round; Half Day program starts Monday, Aug. 29. Few spaces remain; call for availability. Affiliation: Not affiliated, but follows the Jewish calendar. The Mayerson JCC offers a full day and half day preschool that has achieved recognition by the state of Ohio for excellence. Optional extended day enrichment available. Innovative academic curriculum includes fitness, swimming (full-day), 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 on-site facilities and play areas. Jewish Early Learning Cooperative (JELC) 3101 Clifton Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45220 Contact: Janella Johnson Phone: 513-221-1979 Ages: 3 months-3 years Hours: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Classes begin: Year-round classes Affiliation: Unaffiliated The Jewish Early Learning
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Cooperative’s (JELC) mission is to provide high quality, cooperative childcare and stimulating activities for infants and toddlers in a Jewish environment. The goal of JELC is to maintain excellent child-to-adult ratios in a developmentally appropriate, nurturing atmosphere. JELC’s ratios are 3 to 1 for infants and 4 to 1 for toddlers. Licensing capacity allows for 10 infants and 15 toddlers. All Jewish holidays are celebrated through activities, art, cooking projects, parades and prayers. Every Friday, Shabbat activities take place which include lighting the candles, singing, saying the prayers and eating challah. JELC is located in the back of Hebrew Union College. Immediate openings are available. 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: Tracy Weisberger, Director of Education and Programming Phone: 513-931-6040 Classes Begin: Sept. 11 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 Preschool Program 8401 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Laura Berger, Admissions and Outreach Coordinator Fax: 513-984-3787 Phone: 513-984-3770 Ages: 18 months — pre-K Hours: Vary by program Classes begin: Aug. 23 Affiliation: Community Day School Serving children from age 18 months to 4, our preschol provides a warm, nurturing 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. DAY SCHOOLS Bnos Rochel Pesia Fruma High School (Regional Institute for Torah and Secular Studies – RITSS) 2209 Losantiville Ave Cincinnati, OH 45237 Contact: Rabbi Ezriel Dzialoszynski, Dean Phone: 513-631-0083 Grades: (Girls) 9 -12 Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Classes begin: Aug. 23 Affiliation: Unaffiliated RITSS has a college preparatory program of both Jewish and secular studies with a wide range of extracurricular activities. Boarding facilities are available, and there is a low teacher-student ratio. All Jewish girls are welcome, regardless of affiliation. Cincinnati Hebrew Day School (CHDS) 2222 Losantiville Road Cincinnati, OH 45237 Contact: Rabbi Yuval Kernerman, Principal; Susan Shapiro, Assistant Principal Phone: 513-351-7777 Fax: 513-351-7794 Grades: Preschool-Grade 8 Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Classes begin: Monday, Aug. 29 Affiliation: Torah Umesorah CHDS provides both Judaic and secular studies; CHDS has an intensive Judaic studies program with an emphasis on textual learning and religious practice. Other features include a rigorous general studies program; state certified personnel; proficiency testing; a fully equipped science lab; art and music rooms; a new computer lab with Internet facilities; and a new state-of-the-art gym for physical education classes. Remedial Judaica programs are provided to assist students with limited Judaic exposure. Rockwern Academy 8401 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Dr. Susan Moore, Interim Head of School; Laura Berger, Admissions and Outreach Coordinator Phone: 513-984-3770 Fax: 513-984-3787 Grades: Preschool (age 18 months) - Grade 6 Hours: 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. with flexible options for preschool Classes begin: Aug. 22 Affiliation: Community Day School Founded in 1952, Rockwern Academy is an independent, community Jewish Day School in the Cincinnati/Kenwood area for more than 200 students in pre-
school-Grade 6. Rockwern offers an academically rigorous program, enriched by a nurturing environment. Students learn in a safe, supportive community that reinforces their Jewish identity and values and builds selfesteem. 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. 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, Interim Director of Education Phone: 513-792-5082 Fax: 513-792-5085 Grades: Kindergarten-Grade 7; Grades 8-12 encouraged to attend Mercaz High School Hours: Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-noon; (Grades K-7) Monday, 4:15-6 p.m.; (Grades 3-7) Wednesday, 4:15-6 p.m.; (Grades 2-7); (Grades 8 - 12) Sunday, 6:308:30 p.m.at Mercaz Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 11 Affiliation: Conservative Adath Israel incorporates the study of Hebrew, Bible, prayer, Jewish values, traditions, history, music and bar/bat mitzvah preparations into its interactive curriculum. SCHOOLS on page 12
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS The Regional Institute for Torah and Secular Studies (RITSS) admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
12 • BACK TO SCHOOL
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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. 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. 11 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 two-year 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.
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: Wednesday Afternoons in Montgomery and Hamilton Classes begin: Sept. 11, 2011 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. B’nai Tikvah Religious School 8596 Lake Chetac Cincinnati, Ohio 45241 Contact: Rabbi Donna G. Adler, Educational Director Phone: 513-336-6233 Grades: preschool-bar/bat mitzvah Hours: Sundays Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 18 Affiliation: Reconstructionist Congregation B’nai Tikvah’s Religious School’s curriculum reflects its philosophy of “Living Judaism.” Learned age appropriately, Torah, prayers, Hebrew, Israel, Jewish History and Ethics are taught in advancing levels of sophistication. Throughout the year there are numerous opportunities for tikkun olam (to repair the world). A weekly student-led worship service helps to prepare students for their bar/bat mitzvah. Creative and innovative experiential programs not only augment the students’ studies, but offer occasions for family and community education. Through “G-d Talk” students are offered a spiritual faith consistent with a belief in the goodness of the universe
and which motivates ethical living. Built into the curriculum is ongoing family involvement through shared projects, field trips and community service. Chabad Hebrew School 3977 Hunt Rd, Blue Ash Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Rabbi Berel Cohen 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: 6-11 Hours: Wednesdays, 4:15-6 p.m. Affiliation: The entire community Promoting Jewish awareness and education, Discovery Hebrew School offers a stimulating, yet friendly, environment where students embrace their Jewish roots and gain a sense of Jewish pride, no matter their level of observance or affiliation. The school provides an academic and enjoyable environment where children acquire a broad knowledge of Judaism. Through Hebrew reading, writing, Jewish history, holidays and more, the students gain an appreciation for the joys, values and traditions of the heritage as it is brought to life by the teachers whose creativity makes every lesson a unique 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
Sam Rose
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011
celebrations and other extra-curricular activities. J-Teens: The ultimate Jewish teen experience 3977 Hunt Rd, Blue Ash Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Rabbi Berel Cohen Phone: 513-793-5200 Grades: Grade 7 & 8 Hours: Sundays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. J-Teens is a club for Jewish teens grades 7 & 8 that meets Sunday Mornings during the school year. J-Teens is more than just a Sunday morning 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 Berel Cohen Phone: 513-793-5200 Grades: High School Hours: Thursday, 7:30 – 9 p.m. Geared to Jewish high school students, offers a fresh and engaging curriculum that challenges teens to think for themselves. The program mixes discussion, debate and a variety of learning activities. We’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. Kehilla — Joint School of Northern Hills and Ohav Shalom 5714 Fields Ertel Road Cincinnati, OH 45249 8100 Cornell Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45249 Contact: Tracy Weisberger, 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. 11 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, Blue Ash Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Rabbi Berel Cohen Phone: 513-793-5200
BACK TO SCHOOL • 13 Ages: 5 - 7 “Kids ‘N Action” is a new and exciting Jewish kid’s after school enrichment program, for ages 5-7. 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. Dates: Wednesdays 4:15 5:30 p.m. Temple Beth Sholom Religious School 610 Gladys Drive Middletown, OH 45044 Contact: Rabbi Haviva Horvitz Phone: 513-422-8313 Grades: Preschool-High School Hours: Sunday, 9:30-noon. Affiliation: Reform Temple Beth Sholom takes pride in their small studentteacher 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. Tzur Shalom – A Combined Religious School for the Children of Rockdale Temple and Temple Sholom 3100 Longmeadow Lane Cincinnati, OH 45236 8501 Ridge Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact (Rockdale Temple): Margaret Friedman-Vaughan, Director of Education Phone: 513-891-9900 Contact (Temple Sholom): Chris Kraus, Director of Life Long Learning Phone: 513-791-1330 Grades: Preschool-Grade 8; Grades 9-12 participate in Kulanu: The Cincinnati Reform Jewish High School Hours: Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-noon; Tuesday, 4:30-6 p.m. (Rockdale Temple Hebrew School – 8501 Ridge Rd); Wednesday, 4:30-6 p.m. (Temple Sholom Hebrew School – 3100 Longmeadow Ln) Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 11; Open House Sunday, Aug. 28, 11
a.m. at Rockdale Temple. Tzur Shalom offers a Hebrew and Judaic curriculum for students in preschool through 8th grade. Special programs throughout the year include family education, holiday programs, music, art, Israeli dance, and library visits. The theme for this year is: Communicating with G-d—How we pray, How we love, How we serve. Students will take an active role in Tefillah (worship) services that will center around using our five senses to pray and explore how to pray through music, visual arts, writing, movement, nature and dance. Students in grades 4-12 from both congregations participate in age-appropriate youth groups. Club 456 is for students in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades; Yeshivat Noar is for students in 7th and 8th grades; and students from both congregations are welcome to participate in Rockdale’s Senior Youth Group — YGOR, The Youth Group of Rockdale. 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 4-6 - Hebrew) Tuesday 6:30-7:30 p.m.; (Grades 9-12) Sunday 78:45 p.m. at KULANU. Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 11 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) Sunday, 9:15-11:45 a.m.; (Midweek Hebrew School) Wednesday, 4:30-6 p.m. Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 11 and Wednesday, Sept. 14 Affiliation: Reform Wise Temple offers many special programs such as Gesher (a family education program); after school youth activities, grade level retreats; an innovative prayer lab, and a thriving Madrichim (teenage teaching assistants) program. The Wise SCHOOLS on page 22
KEHILLA SCHOOL
FOR
CREATIVE JEWISH EDUCATION A community where learning is contagious and there is never a dull moment! BERS MEM NON- COME! L WE
Class Schedule: Sunday 9:00-12:30 Wednesday 4:30-6:15
Kehilla is the combined school of Northern Hills Synagogue and Congregation Ohav Shalom. For grades pre-K–7th
For more information: Call Tracy Weisberger at 513-931-6040 Or visit our website: www.kehilla-cincy.org
14 • DINING OUT
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Oriental Wok—Intimate, beautiful and delicious By Sondra Katkin Dining Editor A love story, a family tradition, serendipity; perhaps you need to be a rocket scientist to figure out how this relates to the Oriental Wok at the Regency in Hyde Park. Let’s begin with serendipity. As a surprise, some friends treated me to a birthday lunch at the Oriental Wok. I enjoyed royal treatment with a special hat, a large brass gong to impress upon all the other diners the importance of the occasion and a wonderful dessert of blueberry cobbler ice cream, fighting for its life with the whipped cream threatening to overwhelm it. While we were sampling each other’s delicious meals, I realized that I was scheduled to write about this restaurant. How convenient. I love it when work is so much fun. And now for the love story. Fourteen years ago, while visiting Cincinnati, Guy Burgess, a physicist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was dining at the Oriental Wok in Kentucky. He fell in love with his server, Susanna Wong, daughter of owners Mike and Helen Wong. Eventually he moved here, they married and he became their apprentice chef. Now the chief chef, he also offers classes at the restaurant and trains students at Cincinnati State Culinary Institute. When I asked him about this unusual career change, he said Oak Ridge had closed and he wasn’t enjoying his new job. “If you don’t do something with passion, you shouldn’t do it at all,” he added. Susanna Wong Burgess, the general manager, has a Masters in Business Administration from Xavier University and is getting an accounting degree. She told me that all her brothers and sisters have advanced degrees. Can they hide their brilliance under a chef’s hat and hostess ensemble? She asked if I thought I could write a different kind of column since Guy was teaching a cooking class at the restaurant. She assured me it would be wonderful and I could pass on so many tips to my readers. Susanna spoke of the class with such enthusiasm, noting that there would be children there who could talk about what they learned on their summer vacation and not bore all the other students with the usual stories. Not wanting to appear inflexible, I said yes. The first thing the class tackled North/South Indians Indo Chinese
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(Clockwise) Susanna Wong Burgess holding a Chinese steamer; Chef Guy Burgess demonstrating won ton wrapping skills; Emperor’s room for private dining; Your intrepid dining editor keeping company with a salmon; General “Mike’s” chicken.
was “crab” (white fish from Alaska) Rangoon. He made it look easy. Guy emphasized that the won ton wrappers needed to be pressed together on their flat sides and frozen for two hours. They were so crunchy, creamy and full of flavor, they climbed very high on my personal pleasure scale. After another appetizer demonstration, we were served a chicken broth with such a good chicken taste, it brought back memories of my grandmother’s original recipe with an Asian twist. Our next demonstration was how to fillet a 20 pound salmon from the North Sea of Ireland. Guy explained that because the head was not removed you could see that the eyes were clear, indicating a fresh fish. “Actually, if you can’t hack off the head, where’s the fun?” he asked. He also suggested checking that the gills were clean too. Using a Chinese cleaver, a versatile knife where every part has a function, he made short work of the filleting process, removing some stray bones with a type of pliers. We learned that the cleaver is so essential that the
Chinese character for knife looks like a cleaver. He cut the salmon into eight ounce pieces, placed ginger and onion on top, steamed them for about eight minutes, then added more ginger and onion and drizzled soy sauce over the pieces. The trick, he said, was finishing them off with very hot oil right before serving. Suddenly the ginger and onion became very fragrant and the flavors were sealed into the salmon. It tasted moist and “gingery.” Chef Guy said, “Keep the fillets on the bone as long as possible for freshness. Why pay someone else to cut your fish? Do it yourself and insure the best quality.” There were other recipe demonstrations and practical tips presented with charm and knowledge. It doesn’t hurt to have an outstanding academic background when facing hungry minds and bellies. As an added bonus, a speaker from the Rock Bottom Brewery located on Fountain Square, discussed beer production. Of course there were samples for everyone including white beers with infused fruit flavors and a delicious
root beer, much in demand. The restaurant has so many returning guests that they have a “wok of fame,” a hall of plaques honoring their regulars and many celebrities. They are famous for crispy chicken, traditionally served on Chinese New Year and wedding parties, an authentic Chinese preparation available most weekends. A whole spring chicken is brined and the skin is crisped with salt and pepper. Susanna says it is similar to Peking duck. The menu is full of enticing appetizers, soups, entrees and desserts. They have a gluten free menu and many vegetarian choices. My friends and I sampled their coconut bread pudding and the mango custard. We all had smiles on our faces as we left. Susanna said, “The restaurant is like a hidden gem.” You pass through a dim hall and it opens to spacious, beautifully lit rooms full of reds and blacks, striking furniture, wall art, swirls on rugs, a baby grand piano and separate intimate dining areas; all blending to create a supremely comfortable, artistic
ambiance. Mike Wong and his wife Helen started the Oriental Wok restaurants over 30 years ago and have imported many beautiful pieces of furniture from Hong Kong. I was particularly impressed with one of their private rooms that features a long black Asian table with mother of pearl inlays, surrounded by gracefully carved black wood backed chairs with silk embroidered pillows, a feast for the eyes. Even the booths we sat at had lovely pillows, a real gift for someone who needs lumbar support. I would recommend the Oriental Wok for the beauty of its design in addition to its tasty food, a true feast for all the senses. Reservations are taken. They are open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., dinner Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday 4 – 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4 – 9:30 p.m. Oriental Wok 2444 Madison Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45208 513-871-6888
DINING OUT • 15
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011
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16 • OPINION
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A burning issue
A decade ago, just over 20 percent of Americans who died were cremated. In 2005, the rate had risen to 32 percent. The Cremation Association of North America forecasts that by 2025 more than half of Americans will choose to have their remains burned rather than interred. While no one knows what percentage of American cremationchoosers are Jews, there is little doubt that, at least among Jews with limited or no Jewish education, cremation has become acceptable, even chic. Several years ago, a crematorium even opened in Israel. Jews bereft of Jewish knowledge can hardly be faulted for not appreciating the concept of “kovod hameis,” the mandate to show “honor for the deceased,” a concept that underlies the Torah’s opposition to cremation, the very opposite of honor. They do not understand that the fact that human beings are created “in the image of G-d” entails, among much else, that human bodies whose souls have departed be consigned to the earth in as undisturbed a state as possible. Many contemporary Jews, sadly, cannot even be expected to be familiar with the Jewish belief in the resurrection of the dead — even
Rabbi Shafran is an editor at large and columnist for Ami Magazine. This column is reproduced with permission from Ami Magazine.
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Dear Editor, Your August 4 edition containing the article on “A Pennsylvania Coal Mining Town...” much to my amazement turned out to be about Barnesboro, Pa., and had particular significance for me. I was born in Barnesboro, Pa. (1914), the tiny coal-mining town where my father, who tired of traveling the back roads of the mining communities with his horse and
wagon selling housewares, set up a small store in the hope of luring customers. I know of two prominent Americans who lived in Barnesboro: Duffy Daugherty, the legendary Michigan State football coach; and Professor Charles G. Overberger, a distinguished polymer chemist, also born there, who was Chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Michigan, neither of whom were Jewish. I made a trip to Barnesboro in the early
1950s to try to discover connections but had no luck. Our family did not live there very long before moving to Youngstown, Ohio. Barnesboro was merged with Spangler, an adjoining little town, and the merged towns were renamed Northern Cambria. Milton Orchin Clifton, Ohio
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T EST Y OUR T ORAH KNOWLEDGE THIS WEEK’S PORTION: VAETCHANAN (DEVARIM 3:23—7:30) 1. What did Moshe pray for? a.) Long life b.) His children would inherit his position c.) To enter the land of Israel 2. Was his prayer answered? a.) Yes b.) No c.) Partially 3. Where should we place the Torah's words? a.) In the Holy Ark 4. C 6:16 The Children of Israel wanted to see if Hashem was with them and would provide water. A person should follow Hashem even in difficult times. Ramban Shmot 17:7 5. B 5:49
The Cremation Association of North America forecasts that by 2025 more than half of Americans will choose to have their remains burned rather than interred.
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b.) In our hearts c.) In our heads 4. Where did The Children of Israel test Hashem? a.) By the Red Sea b.) With the Golden Calf c.) Masa, by the water 5. Where is Mount Sion? a.) In the Sinai Desert b.) Golan, Mount Hermon c.) Near Jerusalem
2. B 3:26 Also, C could be an answer, because Moshe prayed to see Canaan and Hashem enabled him to see all of Canaan. Rashi (Devarim 34) 3. B 6:6
Sybil Sage, a Jewish writer and artist living in New York, asked her son if he minded her plans to have her and his father cremated. “How about I make urns for Dad and me?” she asked. “I can cover them with fun photos — family vacations, birthday parties, graduations.” When her son eventually acquiesced, Ms. Sage designed an urn to hold her and her husband’s ashes and, she wrote recently in the Forward, friends subsequently commissioned her “to create personalized urns for family members or for pets.”
though it is one of Judaism’s most basic teachings, subtly evident in the Written Torah’s text and prominent in its Oral Tradition. The Mishna assigns so much gravity to the concept that it places its deniers first among those who “forfeit their share in the world to come” (Sanhedrin, 11:1). What shouldn’t be surprising, though, to any Jew — or non-Jew, for that matter — is that our bodies are invaluable. After all, they are the means by which we accomplish what we do on earth; if our lives are meaningful, then the flesh-and-blood vehicles that harbor our souls and wills in this life are the indispensable means of creating that meaning — most importantly, by performing G-d’s will. It is through employing our bodies to do good deeds and opposing their gravitations to sin that we achieve our very purposes. And so, Jewish tradition teaches, even though we are to consign our bodies to the earth after death, there is a small “bone” (Hebrew: “etzem”) that is not destroyed when a body decays and from which a person, if he or she so merits, will be rejuvenated at some point in the future. The idea that a person might be recreated from something tiny — something, even, that can survive for millennia — should not shock anyone familiar with contemporary science. Each of our cells contains a large and complex molecule, DNA, that is essentially a blueprint of our bodies; theoretically, one of those molecules from even our long-buried remains holds the code needed to reproduce our physical selves. (Intriguingly, the Hebrew word “etzem” can mean not only “bone” but “essence.”) To be sure, the Creator is capable of bringing even ashes to life again (as the ashes of the Nazis’ crematoria victims will demonstrate one day, may it come soon). But in Judaism, consciously reducing something to ashes is a declaration of utter abandon and nullification. Jews burn leaven and bread before Pesach, when the Torah insists no vestige of such material may be in their possession. The proper means of disposing of an idol is to pulverize or burn it. And so, to actually choose to have one’s body incinerated is an act that, whether so intended or not, expresses denial of the fact that the body is a holy vessel, that it deserves respect, that it retains worth—indeed that it contains the seeds of future life. All of us who understand those things need, today more than ever, to share them with those who, tragically, may not.
Written by Rabbi Dov Aaron Wise
ANSWERS 1. C 3:23-25 Moshe thought that after the Children of Israel conquered the lands of Sichon and Og (TransJordan) Hashem would allow him to enter Israel. Rashi
By Rabbi Avi Shafran Contributing Columnist
JEWISH LIFE • 17
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011
Sedra of the Week
SHABBAT SHALOM: PARSHAT VAETCHANAN DEUTERONOMY 3:23-7:11
by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel — “And we dwelt in the valley, opposite the Temple of Peor” (Deuteronomy 3:29). The contents of the final book of the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy, are almost sandwiched between two curious references to a detestable idol: Baal Peor. At the conclusion of the first part of Moses’ farewell speech to the Israelites, the text informs us that when Moses relinquished the baton of Jewish leadership to Joshua, “the Israelites had settled in the valley, opposite the Temple of Peor” (Deuteronomy 3:29). Then at the closing of the book, in a poignant passage summarizing Moses’s life, the text reads: “And He [God] buried [Moses] in the valley in the Land of Moab opposite the Temple of Peor; no human being knows his burial place until this day” (Deut. 34:6). Is it not strange that the only real landmark by which to identify Moses’s grave is “opposite the Temple of Peor”? What makes these references especially startling is the disgusting manner in which this idol was served; by defecating in front of it! What kind of idolatry is this? And what type of repulsive individuals would it be likely to attract? Furthermore, the Sages of the Talmud (B.T. Sanhedrin 106a) suggest that when Balaam advised the Moabites on how to vanquish the Israelites, he suggested that they bring Moabite women to entice the Israelites and then assimilate them into their culture. In effect, Balaam was explaining that, although no external soothsayer or prophet could get the Almighty to curse Israel, the Israelites could in fact curse themselves out of existence through sexual licentiousness with gentile women. And so, “the Israelites dwelt in Shittim, and began to engage in harlotry with the daughters of Moab” – but God was not angry at them. It was only when “they became attached to Baal Peor that the wrath of God flared up against them” (Numbers 25:1-3). Sexual immorality led to idolatrous worship of Peor – and it was this idolatry that would ultimately ruin Israel. What is it about Peor that is not only abominable but also so dangerous? Balaam’s advice causes the Israelites to degenerate to lower and lower depths and the sexual debauchery becomes interchanged and intermingled with the worship
Sexual immorality led to idolatrous worship of Peor – and it was this idolatry that would ultimately ruin Israel. What is it about Peor that is not only abominable but also so dangerous? and joining “together” with Peor. At this point, God tells Moses to take all the leaders of the nation and to slay them under the rays of the sun; but no sooner does Moses give this command than an Israelite (Zimri ben Salou, a prince of the tribe of Simeon) cohabits (joins together with) the Midianite princess Cosbi bat Zur – a flagrant and disgustingly public act of rebellion against Moses, his teaching and his authority. It appears as though Jewish history was about to conclude even before it had a chance to begin – when Phinehas steps in and saves the day. Phinehas seems to have been the antidote to Balaam, who, as we know from our text, was the son of Beor, strikingly similar to Peor (and in Semitic languages “b” and “p” can be interchangeable). It clearly emerges from the Talmudic discussion (B.T. Sanhedrin 64a) that Peor is the nadir – the lowest depth – of idolatrous practice. Is defecating before an idol the worst expression of idolatrous behavior? The first two chapters of the Book of Genesis begin with two stories of the creation of the human being. Rav Soloveitchik describes these as two ways of looking at human personality: the first he calls homo natura, natural man, the human being as an inextricable part of the physical and animal world. This is mechanistic man, scientifically predetermined and pre-programmed, devoid of freedom and so (ironically) freed from responsibility. The second aspect of the human personality is introduced in the second chapter of Genesis with God’s breathing the breath of life, a portion of His very essential self (as it were), His soul, into the clay body He has just formed. This results in homo persona, a vitalistic and free human being, responsible for his actions and charged with the obligation to perfect, or complete, God’s imperfect and incomplete world. And God created homo persona! Homo persona is given the command to refrain from eating the forbidden fruit, to control his physical drives and impulses, to recreate himself as well as the world around him. Peor says that man must give back to God his animal and physical excretions, that man cannot be expected to rise
above his nature and become God’s partner. Moses taught, on the other hand, that man can and must enable, uplift and sanctify his material being until he can truly see himself as “only a little lower than God, crowned with honor and glory.” Moses and Phinehas are the antithesis of Balaam and Peor, and so Moses is buried opposite Peor. Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Chancellor Ohr Torah Stone Chief Rabbi — Efrat Israel
18 • JEWZ IN THE NEWZ
JEWZ
IN THE
By Nate Bloom Contributing Columnist A BAD DAY FOR THE PIZZA GUY “30 Minutes or Less,” which opens in theaters on Friday, Aug. 12, is a black comedy inspired by a true-life horrific event. You may recall that back in 2003 a pizza delivery guy, Brian Wells, was caught robbing an Erie, Penn., bank. He told police that criminals had kidnapped him, put an explosive device around his neck, and told him he had to rob the bank within a certain time period before the bomb went off. Not long after being caught by the police, Wells was killed when the device blew up. Subsequently, it came out that Wells was involved in the planning of the robbery. He thought, however, that the device was a fake bomb. His criminal buddies betrayed him. (They were subsequently caught and convicted.) The film stars Oscar-nominee JESSE EISENBERG, 27, (“The Social Network”), as Nick, a young pizza delivery boy. Nick isn’t in on “any scheme.” Unlike the Wells case, Nick’s kidnapping, by a couple of goofball criminals, is genuine. The goofballs are played by DANNY MCBRIDE, 34, and Nick Swardson. These two guys force Nick to rob a bank while wearing a bomb vest attached to a 10-hour timer. McBride is the secular son of a Jewish mother and a non-Jewish father. He is perhaps best known as the star of the HBO series, “Eastbound and Down,” which begins its third and final season in September. The film’s director is RUBEN FLEISCHER, 36, who showed he had a very deft hand with black comedy as the director of “Zombieland” (2009), a hilarious and sometimes poignant send-up of Zombie movies. A surprise critical and box-office hit, “Zombieland” also starred Jesse Eisenberg. GLEE-MANIA IN 3D! In the words of the film’s publicity release: “The smash television sensation ‘Glee’ became a record-breaking summer concert phenomenon, selling out instantly. Beginning Aug. 12 – and for two weeks only – Gleeks everywhere will be able to experience the unique concert experience in the immersive magic of a 3-D theatrical movie event.” Most of the cast of the hit TV show will appear in the film. Recurring “Glee” guest star GWYNETH PALTROW, 38, will also appear in the film.
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NEWZ
FROM THE PAGES
Among the regular cast of “Glee,” and appearing in the film, are (real-life) Jewish actresses DIANNA AGRON, 25, (“Quinn Fabray”) and LEA MICHELE, 24 (“Rachel Berry”). So far as I can tell, the only theater playing the “Glee” movie in the greater Cincinnati area is the AMC theater in Newport, Ky. But check local listings for any changes or additions. By the way, I get asked a lot about actress Jenna Ushkowitz, who plays the “Glee” character Tina Cohen-Chang, the daughter of a gay male couple (a ChineseAmerican guy and a JewishAmerican-guy). It took me some time to sort it out — but via public records — I was able to ferret-out Ushkowitz’s “only in America” ethnic and religious background. She was born in Korea. When she was three months old, she was adopted by a white American married couple from New York City. The name “Ushkowitz” comes from her adoptive paternal Jewish grandfather, who died before Jenna was born. This adoptive grandfather married a Catholic woman and Jenna’s (adoptive) American father was raised Catholic (his last name is Uskowitz, like his Jewish father). Jenna’s adoptive American mother is also Catholic. Jenna went to Catholic Church affiliated schools all her life (elementary, high school and college).
On Wednesday, the second of August, Mr. Emanual Strauss and Miss Amber Hahn Feder, were married. Mrs. Otto V. Loth and her daughter, Fanny Victoria, returned from a two weeks’ stay at Old Point Comfort, Va. Mr. and Mrs. Simon Drukker, of Avondale, are enjoying a visit from their cousin, Mrs. Max Wigrand, of Bessemer, Ala. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Haas and daughter, Edna of Madisonville, left Tuesday evening for an extended trip through the East, during the month of August. Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Heidingsfeld celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Sunday, August 5, being surrounded by a small circle of nearest relatives, at their home, 3597 Bogart Avenue, Avondale. Miss Alice Bernheim, 2241 Kemper Lane, has returned from Powers Lake, Wis. She was accompanied by Mrs. B. B. Schaar, of Chicago, formerly of this city, who will be her guest for several days. Among the candidates to be voted for at the primary election next month are Simon Bettman, for city solicitor, and Dr. G. Deutsch, for member of school board at large, on the Democratic ticket. Edgar M. Johnson is on the Republican ticket for city solicitor. — August 10, 1911
CARLTON TRIES A COMEBACK Remember singer/songwriter VANESSA CARLTON? Back in 2002, she had a huge hit with the song, “A Thousand Miles” from her CD, “Be Not Nobody.” The song and CD were nominated for a slew of Grammys and the song sold over two million copies. Since then, Carlton’s career has been on a slow decline as she has not been able to produce a CD that has really clicked with the public. On July 26, she released a new CD, “Rabbits on the Run,” that has gotten good reviews. Whether it will sell remains to be seen. Carlton, now 30, is the daughter of a non-Jewish father and a Jewish mother. While secular, Carlton does have ties to the organized Jewish community. Last January, famous Russian Jewish singer/songwriter REGINA SPEKTOR, 31, fell ill just before she was supposed to perform for a benefit for San Francisco’s Jewish Community and Family Services organization. Carlton stepped-in at the last minute for Spektor and saved the day.
Louis Wartik, 52, president of the Wartik Furniture Co., passed away at his home, 3314 Perkins Avenue, Monday, August 10th. He had been ill since he suffered a stroke at Taft Auditorium when attending graduation ceremony exercises for his son, Herman, in June. He was a brother of Abraham Wartik, slain by a robber in a Wartik store in January. The brothers were associated in business. Dr. Albert L. Brown has returned from Charlesvoix, Mich. Mrs. Brown and the children will remain at the resort until the end of August. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Weiland and daughter, Marilyn, and son, Dickie, have returned from a three-week sojourn at Elkhart Lake, Wis., and Chicago. En route, they visited their daughter, Miss Janet, a camper at Burr Oaks Camp, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Huttenbauer are enjoying their vacation at Quisisana Camps Center, Lovell, Maine. Mr. Julian A. Pollak and Mrs. Ralph G. Irvine were married Saturday, Aug. 8th. Only the bride’s parents Mr. and Mrs. John Fesker,
100 Y EARS A GO
75 Y EARS A GO
and their sons, John and Ralph Irvine, were present, since Miss Betty Pollak is abroad, Mr. David Pollak is at Cornell University, and Mr. Julian, Jr. in the West. — August 13, 1936
50 Y EARS A GO Mrs. Gertrude Rosenfelder Schwartz of the Belvedere Apartments passed away Thursday, July 27. Survivors include a son, Ted L. Schwartz, a daughter, Mrs. Sidney Warm; a sister, Mrs. Dan Keilson, and two grandsons. Mrs. Libbye Miller, 974 Debbe Lane, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 1. Survivors include her husband, George; two daughters, Mrs. Albert Lane and Mrs. Arthur Kaplan; a son, Frederich Miller; a sister, Mrs. Dena Reiter; two brothers, Louis Leitz, of Cincinnati and Martin Leitz of Canton, Ohio, and eight grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Sol M. Wide, 1739 Avonlea Avenue, wish to invite their relatives and friends to worship with them at Sabbath morning services, Aug. 12, at Ohav Shalom Synagogue, Section Road, when their son, Irvin Manuel, will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. The guest speaker will be Rabbi Aaron M. Wise, of Valley Jewish Center, North Hollywood, Calif., an uncle of the Bar Mitzvah. A reception in Irvin’s honor will be held at the Ohav Shalom Synagogue Center, Saturday, Aug. 12, from 9 p.m. to 12. No cards. Irvin is a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Wise and of the late Mr. and Mrs. Isadore Zemsky. — August 10, 1961
25 Y EARS A GO Dr. Martin Scharf was re-elected president of Halom House and Richard Weiland was re-elected chairman of the advisory board at the agency’s recent annual meeting. Halom House, located at 1514 Section Road, is a group home for mentally retarded adults providing an atmosphere of Jewish tradition. The home, which opened in the summer of 1985, has six residents at present, and has capacity for eight to nine. Other officers elected at the annual meeting include: Dr. Enrique Kaufman, vice president; Milton Bergman, vice president; Bette Gillman, vice president; Ann Zeff, secretary; Michael Kahn, treasurer. David Block, son of Dr. and Mrs. Stanley L. Block of Amberley Village, was recently elected to membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The academy, home of the Oscar, meets twice each year to review
potential members who have had three or more major theatrical screen credits. Jay Lambert Ralston of 6735 West Beachlands Drive passed away Aug. 5. He is survived by his wife, Sophia (Mansbach) Ralston; a daughter, Fran Ralston of San Francisco; a son, Alan Ralston of New York City; three stepsons, Mark Pockros of New York City, Dr. Paul Pockros of La Jolla, Calif., and Perry J. Pockros of Chicago. Mr. Ralston had been vice president of Playtex Corp., national Silver Corp. and Kaminstein Corp., all of New York. In Cincinnati he was on the boards of the Hillel Foundation and Jewish Vocational Service. Through JVS, he did extensive work helping place the unemployed. — August 14, 1986
10 Y EARS A GO Esther Kellar, 88, passed away July 29, 2001. Mrs. Kellar was born in the Ukraine, which at that time was part of Czarist Russia. She was born in the town of Ekatenislav. Mrs. Kellar was the daughter of the late Michael and Sylvia (Farber) Tenenholtz. Mrs. Kellar was the spouse of the late Maurice Applebaum and Theodore Kellar. She is survived by her children: Leo and Roberta Applebaum of Chicago; Arnold and Joyce Applebaum and Phyllis Fine. Mrs. Kellar was the mother-in-law of Stu Fine, who predeceased her. Surviving grandchildren are Eugene and Michael Fine; Larry and Steven Applebaum; and Michelle Carbone. Also surviving Mrs. Kellar are five great-grandchildren. Mrs. Kellar is also survived by her siblings: Lili Ostand of Arlingoton, Texas; Ethel Fink of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; Eva Vilensky; and Allen and Phyllis Tenenholtz. Richard A. Weiland will be honored at the Jewish Community Center’s seventh annual Golf Classic on Wednesday, Sept. 12, at the Shaker Run Golf Club. The day begins with a buffet lunch at noon. The golf will begin with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Afterward, cocktails will be served at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. “Dick is being honored for his many civic contributions and longstanding support of the Jewish community, and the Jewish Community Center in particular,” said Michael Moskowitz, general chair of the Golf Classic. “He has helped raise the funds needed to sustain several key programs, including the JCC Maccabi Games, JCC Day Camp and scholarships for children in need, and the Center’s Special Needs program.” The Golf Classic will benefit each of these programs. — August 9, 2001
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011
CLASSIFIEDS • 19
SENIOR SERVICES
COMMUNITY DIRECTORY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS Access (513) 373-0300 • www.jypaccess.org Big Brothers/Big Sisters Assoc. (513) 761-3200 • bigbrobigsis.org Beth Tevilah Mikveh Society (513) 821-6679 Camp Ashreinu (513) 702-1513 Camp at the J (513) 722-7226 • mayersonjcc.org Camp Livingston (513) 793-5554 • camplivingston.com Cedar Village (513) 754-3100 • cedarvillage.org Chevra Kadisha (513) 396-6426 Fusion Family (513) 703-3343 • www.fusionnati.org Halom House (513) 791-2912 • halomhouse.com Hillel Jewish Student Center (513) 221-6728 • hillelcincinnati.org Jewish Community Center (513) 761-7500 • mayersonjcc.org Jewish Community Relations Council (513) 985-1501 Jewish Family Service (513) 469-1188 • jfscinti.org Jewish Federation of Cincinnati (513) 985-1500 • shalomcincy.org Jewish Foundation (513) 792-2715 Jewish Information Network (513) 985-1514 Jewish Vocational Service (513) 985-0515 • jvscinti.org Kesher (513) 766-3348 Plum Street Temple Historic Preservation Fund (513) 793-2556 Shalom Family (513) 703-3343 • www.myshalomfamily.org The Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education (513) 487-3055 • holocaustandhumanity.org Vaad Hoier (513) 731-4671 Workum Fund (513) 899-1836 • workum.org YPs at the JCC (513) 761-7500 • mayersonjcc.org
CONGREGATIONS Adath Israel Congregation (513) 793-1800 • adath-israel.org Beit Chaverim (513) 984-3393 Beth Israel Congregation (513) 868-2049 • bethisraelcongregation.net Congregation Beth Adam (513) 985-0400 • bethadam.org Congregation B’nai Tikvah (513) 759-5356 • bnai-tikvah.org Congregation B’nai Tzedek (513) 984-3393 • bnaitzedek.us Congregation Ohav Shalom (513) 489-3399 • ohavshalom.org
Congregation Ohr Chadash (513) 252-7267 • ohrchadashcincinnati.com Congregation Sha’arei Torah shaareitorahcincy.org Golf Manor Synagogue (513) 531-6654 • golfmanorsynagogue.org Isaac M. Wise Temple (513) 793-2556 • wisetemple.org Kehilas B’nai Israel (513) 761-0769 Northern Hills Synagogue (513) 931-6038 • nhs-cba.org Rockdale Temple (513) 891-9900 • rockdaletemple.org Temple Beth Shalom (513) 422-8313 • tbsohio.org Temple Sholom (513) 791-1330 • templesholom.net The Valley Temple (513) 761-3555 • valleytemple.com
EDUCATION 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 Reform Jewish High School (513) 469-6406 • crjhs.org Regional Institute Torah & Secular Studies (513) 631-0083 Rockwern Academy (513) 984-3770 • rockwernacademy.org
ORGANIZATIONS American Jewish Committee (513) 621-4020 • ajc.org American Friends of Magen David Adom (513) 521-1197 • afmda.org B’nai B’rith (513) 984-1999 Hadassah (513) 821-6157 • cincinnati-hadassah.org Jewish Discovery Center (513) 234.0777 • jdiscovery.com Jewish National Fund (513) 794-1300 • jnf.org Jewish War Veterans (513) 204-5594 • jwv.org NA’AMAT (513) 984-3805 • naamat.org National Council of Jewish Women (513) 891-9583 • ncjw.org State of Israel Bonds (513) 793-4440 • israelbonds.com Women’s American ORT (513) 985-1512 • ortamerica.org.org
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Up to 24 hour care Meal Preparation Errands/Shopping Hygiene Assistance Light Housekeeping
(513) 531-9600 CHABAD from page 5 “Our goal extends beyond the basic skills and knowledge students need in preparation for their Bar or Bat Mitzvahs,” says Rabbi Berel Cohen, principal, “We create a solid foundation of love for Jewish living and learning that will serve our students for the rest of their lives. And not only is it affordable, it’s one of the safest investments you can make in today’s economy.” EMPIRE from page 7 At Empire’s hatchery, the temperature, humidity and duration of incubation is strictly calibrated to ensure maximum yield. Eggs are turned every hour on the hour to keep the chicks inside from sticking to the eggshells. Once the eggs hatch — 82 percent will — the chicks are inoculated against avian sicknesses such as Marek’s disease and coccidian before being trucked to farms spread out over five Pennsylvania counties, all within 90 miles of the Mifflintown plant. Area farmers raise the chickens, but Empire dictates and remotely monitors how the chickens are housed and provides all the feed. It takes approximately 1.8 pounds of feed — mostly corn, but also some soy meal and other ingredients — to grow a pound of chicken. The birds’ diet is strictly vegetarian and kosher for Passover all year round. When the chickens are 38 to 48 days old, they are loaded onto crates and trucked to the plant for slaughter. The workforce at Empire’s plant is full of incongruities. More than a third of the farmers who raise the kosher chickens are Mennonites. Rosenbaum, the CEO, is a Reform Jew who does not keep kosher. Rabbi Israel Weiss, the head mashgiach, or kosher inspector, writes Hebrew science fiction novels in his spare time under a pen name. The staff is filled with Methodists, Presbyterians and Episcopalians whose familiarity with kashrut — and the Yiddish terminology that surrounds it — exceeds that of some religious Jews. “For the first year-and-a-half it was a total learning experience,” said Neenah Glenn Lauver, a Mifflintown native who works as Empire’s director of product marketing. “Even still, I’m learning things about the culture we serve.” A phalanx of rabbis works at the
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ELDERLY CARE I can help in your home. Serious calls only.
513-791-3810 Leave message. Excellent references.
Chabad Hebrew School requires no membership fees or synagogue dues, only an affordable tuition for the year. The inclusive policy means every Jewish child is welcome, regardless of affiliation, religious observance, prior knowledge or current financial capability. There are several discount opportunities, such as additional children or refer a friend discounts. For more information or to schedule a visit, please contact Rabbi Cohen. plant, living on-site in dormitories during the week and spending weekends at home with their families in New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia or Lakewood, N.J. The plant has its own mikvah, or ritual bath, where the shochets immerse before beginning their workday, and a shul with multiple morning minyans and evening classes. The father of Leiby Kletzky, the 8-yearold Chasidic boy from Borough Park, Brooklyn, who was abducted and murdered last month, used to work at the plant as a mashgiach. In deference to the shochets and mashgiachs, the assembly line does not run on Fridays so they can get home for Shabbat. In deference to the assembly floor workers, the plant also closes on the first day of buck hunting season. A typical day starts in the kill room at 4 a.m., but it involves frequent breaks for the shochets so they can stay fresh; no shochet works more than five hours in a given day. “Shechitah is a very complex job, you have to be rested,” said Rabbi Aron Taub, a shochet from Baltimore who has worked at the plant since 1989. “It’s not like doing any other physical job. You have to have a lot of concentration.” Approximately every five minutes, a light goes on signaling the shochets to stop their work and check their knives for nicks. If a shochet finds an imperfection, all the chickens from the last few minutes are discarded. That goes not just for his work but for all the hundreds of chickens killed by the shochets during that period because the birds are mixed in together. The reason is kashrut: If a single shochet’s work could be singled out, he theoretically could come under pressure to compromise his standards to achieve a better pass rate. That’s a conflict of interest. In the contest between efficiency and kashrut, kashrut always wins.
20 • TRAVEL
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Silver Whisper turns winter into summer Wandering Jew
by Janet Steinberg
Carpe Diem: ‘Seas the Day’ PART 1 OF A SERIES Over the past decade, my travel group (known as Doc Irv’s Mermaids) has formed a strong bond with each other. So strong a bond that we felt we would go to the end of the earth FOR each other. However, this time we went to the end of the earth WITH each other! When the temperature began to fall, the Mermaids’ spirits began to rise. We were headed south—way south—to the southern tip of South America. Embarking on Silversea’s elegant, yet casually sophisticated Silver Whisper in Buenos Aires, our group of 11 Mermaids (plus 4 MerMates) from various backgrounds, religions, marital status, and ages ranging from the 50s to the 80s, was about to cruise 3,902 nautical miles from Buenos Aires, Argentina, through the Strait of Magellan, to Valparaiso, Chile (after which we spent two glorious days in Santiago). Joined by some 325 fellow passengers from 19 countries, the Mermaids were ready to forget about time and trouble. And Silver Whisper’s crew of 289 people from 36 countries was about to help us do just that. With a crew-to-passenger ratio of almost one-to-one, how could they fail? Once aboard Silver Whisper, we experienced the luxuries of a private yacht, the amenities of a country club, and the fine services of an exclusive hotel. We basked in the sumptuous surroundings of our ocean-view suites where we indulged ourselves with lavish Bulgari amenities and bedding of our choice. We were pampered by butlers who polished our shoes while we were out exploring the world, we sipped champagne as the sea caressed the ship, dined en-suite if we so desired, and were wrapped in a warm feeling of home upon the sea. Silver Whisper, as well as her equally elite and intimate Silversea sister ships, was specifically designed for fewer guests and the highest level of personalized service.
Dining was a memorable affair on our Silver Whisper sojourn. With open-seating options we dined when, where and with whom we desired. And to top that off, all beverages, wines and spirits throughout the ship were always included (as were all gratuities). Although she is an intimate ship, Silver Whisper incorporates amenities usually found only on larger ships, such as a show lounge featuring nightly entertainment, a lively casino, and a stateof-the-art spa and fitness facility. Friday night Shabbat services are always topped off with an Oneg, and Passover finds a traditional Seder on all Silversea ships. Silver Whisper also provided us with two special events, the likes of which I have never experienced on any of my 135-plus cruises. First, there was the Boatbuilding Contest. All guests were invited to form teams to build a boat from scratch. The construction materials were to be gathered from aboard the Silver Whisper without damaging or purchasing anything. Thus a lot of plastic water bottles, duct tape, string, aluminum foil, wine corks and a plethora of other items were put to use. Each team was very careful to keep their boatbuilding plans under lock and key. All eyes were on deck to look out for spies who might want to steal their ideas. The Boatbuilding Sea Trials took place the final week of the cruise. The ship’s Captain and several officers served as the judges who picked the winning vessel based upon appearance, creativity and the ability to race across the swimming pool carrying a large cargo of unopened soft drink cans. Proudly, Doc Irv’s Mermaid team (21st century Noahs, clad in their purple and white Mermaid t-shirts) came in second place. It was by far the tackiest ship afloat, but it was also the most creative. But the piece de resistance, that brought tears to the eyes of even the most sophisticated travelers, was the surprise Wedding Vow Renewal Ceremony of our Floridian Mermaid Susan and her husband of 35 years, MerMate Barry who initiated the ceremony. An invitation was sent to all the staterooms of Doc Irv’s Mermaids. They were instructed to dress up to the nines and to appear promptly in the Observation Lounge at a designated date and time. For days, the Mermaids speculated about the occasion for the invitation. None came even close to guessing correctly. Only MerMate Barry and I knew the facts. When guests arrived, they were greeted by a waiter serving flutes of champagne. They mingled with each other as well as the with the ship’s Master Cataldo Destefano, Social Director Susan Wood, and Hotel Director Franco Rienzo. Still not a clue as to what was
Doc Irv’s Mermaids welcome new Mermaids Roz Harkavy, Jody Lazarow, Susan Somerstein and Peninah Frankel with Mermaid cake; Doc Irv’s Mermaids in their Doc Irv’s Mermaids shirts on pool deck of the Silver Whisper, (L-R) 1st Row: Vicky Aronoff, Susan Somerstein, 2nd Row: Peninah Frankel, Judy Lucas, Dr. Irv Silverstein, Joe Johnson, Mermaid Mom Janet Steinberg, Margaret Whiting, Roz Harkavy, Anne Heldman, Arlene Boyne, 3rd Row: Jody Lazarow, Gigi Johnson, Jeffrey Lazarow, Barry Somerstein; Boat building captain Barry Somerstein launches the S.S. Mermaid.
about to happen. After a bit of socializing, Social Director Susan Wood asked everyone to take a seat. She proceeded to call Barry and a surprised Mermaid Susan to the ersatz bimah. “We are gathered here,” Susan Wood began, “to witness the renewal of the Wedding Vows of Susan and Barry who stand before us. They, nor we, are not the same people they were years ago. Time has brought experience, growth and maturity, so it is fitting from time to time husbands and wives renew the promises of loyalty and love that began their married life and which, today, take on an even deeper meaning . . .” Mermaid Susan looked at Barry and began to cry; I began to cry; everyone else began to cry! Captain Destefano then began: “Barry, please look at your wife and repeat after me: You are my wife and I promise before these witnesses to be your loving husband in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live.” Mermaid Susan looked at Barry and began to smile; I began to smile; everyone else began to smile! Then Mermaid Susan repeated her vows. Next, Social Director Susan expressed best wishes on beginning the newest chapter in their life together. Then the kiss. Corks popped from bottles of Dom Perignon, bubbly flowed, and luscious hors d’oeuvres were served. Then it was off to dinner in The Restaurant where we were always served sumptuous culinary fare complemented by La Collection du Monde signature dishes by Relais & Chateaux in partnership with Silver Whisper’s own Master Chef. In spite of all the drinking, dining, and fun and games on board, the award-winning Silver Whisper was also taking us on an exotic odyssey that would sail us from Buenos Aires down the east coast of South America. From there it was on through the Strait of Magellan, up the west coast of South America to the Port of Valparaiso from which we were transferred to the Chilean capital of Santiago. What awaited us between these fabulous big cities was a world of beauty and excitement that few people dream about, yet alone see or do. From sandy beaches to glacial icescapes…fjords to desertlike plains…from sheep shearing to zip-lining. Doc Irv’s Mermaids did it all, thanks to Silver Whisper’s 16-day Buenos Aires to Santiago Cruise. But more about our fascinating port stops in coming attractions. Hasta luego!! Janet Steinberg is an award-winning travel writer, international travel consultant, and winner of 38 national travel writing awards.
FOOD / AUTOS • 21
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011
Everything’s zucchini Zell’s Bites
by Zell Schulman This past Sunday, I went crazy at the Hyde Park Farmer’s Market. The temperature felt like 100 and I wasn’t sure I could make it back to my car, but a kind gentleman and his grandson carried my two heavy shoppers filled with fresh vegetables, cooking oil, fruits and pastries to my car for me. The young man was delighted that I asked them to help. He was a first year Boy Scout, and was working on his badges. We each helped each other. That’s the wonderful thing about sharing food — everyone wins. After putting everything away, I realized I had purchased more zucchini, tomatoes and eggplant than I needed. What to do? Cook them into a wonderful casserole and make my friend Carole’s Zucchini Bread, the best I had ever tasted. Farmer’s markets are a summer gift. They give me the opportunity to make favorite entrées, sides, cobblers and recipes I hadn’t made in a long time. It is especially great to share the fresh bounty with family and friends. Both of these recipes freeze well and can be cut in half without losing their flavors. Carole’s Zucchini Bread Makes 2 loaves Summer means zucchini and what better way to use them than in this deliciously moist and flavorful bread given to me by my daughter-in-law. Ingredients 3 large eggs 1 1/2 teaspoon cardamom 1- 1/2 cups sugar 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 2 cups grated zucchini 1 cup golden raisins (optional) 2 cups flour 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (Optional) 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Method 1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease two loaf pans, then line the bottoms with wax paper and grease the paper. In a large bowl, beat the eggs until frothy. Add the sugar, oil and vanilla and beat until thick. 2. Stir in the zucchini, flour, cinnamon, cardamom, baking soda, salt and baking powder. Mix well. Fold in the raisins and walnuts, if you’re using them. 3. Pour into the prepared loaf pans. Bake 1 hour or until the tip of a sharp knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 to 15 minutes, in the pan, then transfer the breads to a rack and let them cool completely before releasing them from their pans. Zucchini au Gratin Makes 6 servings This year it seems more of my cooking magazines have featured gratin dishes than ever before. Maybe it’s because their easy, quick, and lovely looking appearance is the perfect answer when last minute guests appear. Ingredients 1 tablespoon butter 1 cup mushrooms, sliced 2 shallots, peeled and sliced 1-1/2 pounds zucchini, thinly sliced 3/4 cup light cream 3 large egg yolks Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste Pinch of curry powder 1/4 cup grated, sharp cheese Method 1. In a small frying pan, melt the butter and sauté the mushrooms and shallots, releasing their juices, about 5 minutes. Set aside. 2. Place the zucchini in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and blanch them no more than 5 minutes. Drain and mix with the sautéed vegetables. Spread in a shallow baking dish. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk the cream, and egg yolks together. Add the salt, pepper and curry powder. Mix well until well blended. Pour over vegetables. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top. You may prepare the recipe to this point one day ahead, cover and refrigerate. 4. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake the zucchini 30 to 45 minutes or until golden brown on top.
Sport coupe offers luxury, style The 2011 Audi TT comes to consumers with more power, a restyled front grille and standard leather seating. The Audi TT is available in coupe and roadster body styles, and both come with Audi’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Every TT also features all-wheel drive. The coupe has a sleek fastback roof line, while the roadster boasts nicely balanced proportions. The 2011 Audi TT is available as a 2+2 hatchback coupe or a two-seat roadster, both of which come in one trim level known as Premium Plus. Standard equipment on both models includes: 19-inch wheels, an automatic rear spoiler, foglights, rain-sensing wipers, heated six-way power front seats a tiltand-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth and a nine-speaker CD/MP3 stereo with satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack. The roadster includes a power soft top. With the “Prestige Package,” the buyer gets: parking sensors, a dash-mounted MMI electronics controller, an interior ambient lighting package, a navigation system, heated front seats, an upgraded 12-speaker Bose stereo and a six-CD changer. Available options include: adaptive suspension dampers, different wheels and leather upholstery with baseball-glove-style stitching. The “S line” package
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2011 Audi TTS Coupe
adds: S line bumpers, sport seats, a sport steering wheel and headlight washers. An iPod interface can be added to Prestige-equipped cars in place of the six-CD changer. The standard power train for the 2011 Audi TT is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 211 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is also standard. The only transmission available is a six-speed dualclutch automated manual transmission. Estimated fuel economy is 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined. All models of the TT come standard with antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, side airbags and front knee airbags. In the beautiful interior, the controls are straightforward and easy to reach. The flat-bottom
wheel and supportive front seats give the interior a sporty feel. The two-seat roadster has a lightweight fabric-trimmed power top that folds down flush with the rear bodywork. Also, the top’s multilayer headliner and glass rear window help keep the car quiet and well insulated. The 2011 Audi TT comes with the turbocharged four-cylinder, a version of the Audi 2.0T. This year’s engine is more powerful, and with a noticeable boost in torque. The S tronic transmission delivers smooth gearchanges. With all-wheel drive not available in many luxury sport coupes, the TT’s all-weather traction is a positive for those living in snowy areas. The 2011 Audi TT comes with 4 year/50,000 mile basic warranty and free maintenance for 1 year or 5,000 miles. Pricing on the 2011 Audi TT begins at $38,300.
22 • OBITUARIES D EATH N OTICES ZEMSKY, Morton, age 82, died on August 4, 2011; 4 Av, 5771. KATHMAN, Deborah A., age 50, died on August 7, 2011; daughter of John (Danielle) Marx and Dorothy Hardin.
O BITUARIES MAZER, Ralph F. Ralph F. Mazer—known to most of us as Mr. Sims of Cincinnati and Uncle Sims— always told everyone that he was their uncle. Uncle Sims, age 80, passed away May 25, 2011, in DEBT from page 6 “We need to lower the deficit, but we have big opportunities and responsibilities around the world,” Isaacson said. The key to preserving funding is to intensify lobbying between now and when the new super committee votes in November on proposed cuts, said William Daroff, the Washington director of the Jewish Federations for North America. “We will be lobbying heavily to ensure that the $550 billion in immediate discretionary domestic cuts do not come from the programs that fund key Jewish federation services to the vulnerable,” SCHOOLS from page 13 Temple Religious School is fully accredited by the National Association of Temple Educators. Classes are conducted in a beautiful newly renovated facility. Each grade follows a unique curriculum. The open room (PreKindergarten and Kindergarten) has a curriculum built around the senses, where students rotate through four different stations. Students in grades 7 and 8 may choose from a number of elective offerings including The Holocaust, Jews Around the World, Comparative Religion, Jewish Artists and Art, American Jewish History and Jewish Film. Art room visits, music (including the youth choir), mitzvah projects and special programs supplement the curriculum in all grades. 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. 11 Affiliation: Reform
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Delray Beach, Fla., after a long illness. For 54 years, Ralph was the loving husband of Ellen, dear father of Margie Golub, of Cleveland, Ohio, Lauren and Elliott Silbar, of Mequon, Wis., dearest grandfather of Drew and Samantha Golub, Rachel, Sydney and Lyndsey Silbar, and the only son of the late Morris and Jene Mazer. Ralph was the owner of Sims Furniture Company and could be seen regularly on TV in his own produced commercials. People always stopped and asked him if he was the one that they had seen on TV and he would kid around and reply that it was his twin
brother that they had seen. Wherever he went in Cincinnati everyone knew and recognized him. According to Ellen, “He was my celebrity husband and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.” Sims Furniture was Ralph’s baby. He always looked forward to each day going to work. When his friends asked when he was going to retire he would shrug his shoulders and change the subject. From his hospital bed, just three days before he passed away, he called the store to see if they had had any business. That’s true love. Mr. Sims loved life and lived life to the fullest. He played ten-
Ralph Mazer
nis and golf, enjoyed dancing, traveling and was an avid sports enthusiast. He was also active in Rotary International, CLCC, Shriners and the Masons. He was a Korean Air Force veteran, a Kentucky colonel and also a member of the Isaac M. Wise Temple. Services were held at Weil Funeral Home and burial was in the United Jewish Cemetery in Montgomery, Ohio. Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Ave., W. Palm Beach, Fla., 33407 or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Ave., Ste. 310, White Plains, N.Y., 10605.
Daroff said. “No decisions have been made yet on the Hill as to where those cuts will come from.” Under the deal struck over the weekend and passed by both houses of Congress — in the House of Representatives on Monday and the Senate the next day — about half the cuts are to come from the defense sector and the other half from domestic programs, with some cuts designated for foreign assistance. Funding for Israel is one of the few exemptions; it remains at $3 billion a year. If the committee cannot reach an agreement — or if the Congress rejects its recommendations — it will trigger automatic across-the-
board cuts of at least $1.2 trillion. The first thing to watch for, said Rachel Goldberg, the director of advocacy for B’nai B’rith International, is whom congressional leaders name to the super committee. That will happen over the next two weeks. “The composition of the committee will give an indication of what the leadership is expecting and the likelihood of getting a deal or using the trigger,” she said. Goldberg and other observers say their choices will reveal two things: First, whether the leaders are serious about reaching a deal by the end of the year, and then their priorities. If the lawmakers appointed to the committee are
chosen from among the stalwarts in each party who opposed a deal to raise the debt ceiling, it would indicate a lack of seriousness, analysts say. A top Democratic aide on Capitol Hill who deals with budget matters said the party was watching closely to see if Republicans would name those who opposed any tax hikes at all. Republicans are watching to see whether appointments include Democrats who opposed any deal or voted against the plan because it did not involve tax increases to help meet a revenue gap. In comments after the deal was approved, congressional leaders suggested that they were seeking
problem solvers, not ideologues. “Both parties got us in this mess, both parties are going to have to work together to get us out,” Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the chairman of the House Budget Committee and an architect of the deal, was quoted as saying by Bloomberg News. The next characteristic to watch for is expertise, Goldberg said. Congress members with a known expertise in an area — health care, housing, foreign assistance and transportation, among others — are likelier to advocate for more nuanced cuts. Special interests without representation on the committee can expect the cuts to be more brutal.
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.
es 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.
tion is required by Sept. 8. Affiliation: All denominations. The Florence Melton Adult MiniSchool at the JCC offers a formal, written curriculum of Jewish literacy developed by a team of scholars and educators at the Melton Centre for Jewish Education of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
game room, indoor waterpark and outdoor play areas. Kids enjoy arts and crafts; eat a yummy snack; and splash in the indoor waterpark (Wednesdays & Fridays). The JCC staff supervises homework, too, and there is access to computers and the Internet. Parents pick up their kids at the JCC Early Childhood School, as late as 6 p.m.
Mercaz Conservative Hebrew High School 3201 E. Galbraith Road Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Dara Wood, Director Phone: 513-792-5082 ext. 104 Grades: 8-12 Hours: Sunday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Classes begin: Sunday, Sept. 11 Affiliation: Conservative, however open to all students regardless of affiliation Mercaz offers hands-on, innovative and discussion-based class-
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS Florence Melton Adult MiniSchool at the JCC 8485 Ridge Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Elizabeth Woosley, JCC Community Educator Phone: 513-985-1539 Ages: Open to the public, ages 18 and older Hours: All classes begin the week of Sept. 11: Year 1 classes, “Rhythms & Purposes of Jewish Living” (open to everyone) and “Dramas & Ethics of Jewish Living” (open to students who have completed Year 1) are held 2 hours/week for 30 weeks. Scholars classes (for Melton alumni and students who participated in 2010-2011), “Navigating the Sea of the Talmud,” and/or “Jews & Muslims in the Mediterranean” and/or “Exodus, from Slavery to Sinai” are held 90 mins./week for 10 weeks. Classes begin: Advance registra-
After School at the J At the Mayerson JCC 8485 Ridge Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Denise Schnur, JCC Early Childhood School Director Phone: 513-793-2122 Ages: Open to the public, grades K–6 Hours: M – F, after school until 6 p.m. After School at the J includes transportation from some schools to the J, based on the number of students registered from each school. Schools may include: Maple Dale Elementary, Montgomery Elementary, Nativity School, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Pleasant Ridge Montessori, Reading Hilltop Elementary and Rockwern Academy. Classes begin: JCC membership is not required. First come, first served; limited spaces remain. Affiliation: Not affiliated. Kids love this unique program that utilizes the fantastic JCC facilities! Caring JCC professional staff supervise activities in the gym,
JCC School Break Camps At the Mayerson JCC 8485 Ridge Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236 Contact: Matt Miller, JCC Youth & Family Coordinator Phone: 513-761-7500 Ages: Open to the public, grades K – 6. Hours: JCC Veteran’s Day Camp: Friday, Nov. 11. JCC Thanksgiving Break Camp: Wednesday, Nov. 23. JCC Winter Break Camps: Monday – Friday, Dec. 19 - 30. All JCC School Break Camps run 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; drop-off/pick-up at the JCC, optional before/after camp programs are available. Classes begin: JCC School Break Camps are offered on days when many area schools are not in session. This includes Summer Day Camp, Winter and Spring Break Camps, as well as camps on some school holidays. Register in advance, by the day. Affiliation: Not affiliated.
2011 SPECIAL ISSUE
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