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Hadassah Coffee Talk holds meeting on women’s heart health Cincinnati Chapter of Hadassah will hold its monthly Coffee Talk program on Monday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m., at the home of Meryl Juran. Guest speaker Dr. Laura Wexler will talk about “Women’s Heart Health.” Tobe Snow is Coffee Talk Chair. Light refreshments will be served. Dr. Wexler is a professor of medicine and cardiology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical center in Cincinnati. A graduate of Barnard College, she attended medical school at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. After an internship and residency on the Harvard Medical Service of Boston City Hospital, she completed a clinical and research fellowship in Cardiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She joined the faculty of Boston University School of Medicine and served as Co-Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at University Hospital, and as Director of the Coronary Care Unit at Boston City Hospital. She was also an investigator in the Cardiac Muscle Research Laboratory at Boston University. In 1987 she joined the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, serving as Chief of Cardiology at their affiliated VA Medical Center, a position she held for 11 years. After serving two years as Interim Director of the Division of Cardiology at University Hospital, she was appointed as Associate Dean and then Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions. She retired from that position in 2010. She remains active clinically as an Attending Cardiologist at the VA Hospital in Cincinnati, where she is also Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Training Program, and she teaches medical students during all four years of the medical school curricu-
Cincinnati Chapter of Hadassah will hold its monthly Coffee Talk program on Monday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m., at the home of Meryl Juran. Guest speaker Dr. Laura Wexler will talk about “Women’s Heart Health.”
Courtesy of the University of Cincinnati
Dr. Laura Wexler
lum. Her clinical research activities in recent years have focused on sleep apnea in patients with congestive heart failure. She recently completed a fouryear term as chairman of the Cardiovascular Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine and now serves on their executive committee. She is also a site visitor for the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and a member of the Leadership
Committee of the American Heart Association. Dr. Wexler is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the American College of Physicians. Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, was born from the vision of one woman, Henrietta Szold, who saw a great need and wanted to help. She knew what a powerful force women can be and created Hadassah to heal the
world through the education and empowerment of women. In 1912, Hadassah women laid down the foundation of the Hadassah Medical Organization and other vital projects in Israel and around the world. Hadassah members meet, make new friends, have fun, discuss and learn. Cincinnati Chapter is full of vibrant, intelligent women who look forward to continuing Henrietta Szold’s vision of making a difference. Coffee Talk is a monthly casual get-together, usually held in a Hadassah member’s home, to discuss topics of Jewish interest. Meetings are held the second Monday of the month, alternating between evening and morning times. Upcoming Coffee Talk programs will feature Judge Heather Stein Russell and Rabbi Judy Chessin.
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Storyteller, author Peninnah Schram joins Rockwern Academy’s ‘Celebration of the Book’ festival Nationally renowned Jewish author and storyteller, Peninnah Schram, will visit Rockwern Academy for the school’s “Celebration of the Book” storytelling festival on Jan. 13, from 3 – 5 p.m. The festival is a highlight of Rockwern Academy’s annual
All-School Read program, which has featured Schram’s book, The Hungry Clothes and Other Jewish Folktales. During the festival, Peninnah Schram will share an hour-long performance for all generations in Rockwern’s Synagogue, followed
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by a book-signing and discussion. There will also be other storytellers performing and reading to children in the school library. In the activity room, next to the library, Kathy Wise will help children make puppets, props and scenery for their own storytelling in the future.
NHS considers Dreyfus trial As part of Friday night services on Jan. 18, Northern Hills Synagogue – Congregation B’nai Avraham will hold a special program looking at the infamous French trial of Captain Alfred Dreyfus in 1894, a critical event in modern Jewish history. Dr. Alan Cohen, a member of the congregation and an amateur historian, will be the featured speaker. Dr. Cohen has previously spoken to the con-
gregation about Harry Truman and the State of Israel and Jews in Latin America. During the trial, Captain Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, was convicted of treason on the basis of fabricated evidence, stripped of his rank, and sentenced to imprisonment on Devil’s Island, off the coast of South America. The controversy over the guilt or innocence of Alfred Dreyfus
divided France for decades. Theodore Herzl, covering the trial for a Viennese newspaper, was shocked by the displays of antiSemitism which accompanied it, and that experience contributed to his writing The Jewish State and convening the First Zionist Congress. Services on Jan. 18 will begin at 8 pm. The program is part of the congregation’s “Eat, Pray, Explore” series.
See award-winning Broadway, TV star Bebe Neuwirth, March 9 The Mayerson JCC’s Wolf Center for Arts & Ideas presents Bebe Neuwirth, Tony-winning Broadway star and Emmy-winning television actress), performing live on stage, Saturday evening, March 9 at 8 p.m. The show is at the School for Creative & Performing Arts (SCPA) in the beautiful Corbett Theatre. This March 9 show offers a one-night opportunity for Cincinnati audiences to see this versatile actress, singer and dancer perform an evening of favorite songs from her popular cabaret show, “Bebe Neuwirth: Songs with Piano.” Past celebrity performances like this have sold out very quickly, so the JCC has partnered with the SCPA to provide guests with more seat selection in a larger theater. Accompanied by pianist Scott Cady, the talented Bebe Neuwirth brings the stage to life with songs written by some of the greatest songwriters of all time, including Kander and Ebb, Kurt Weill and Stephen Sondheim. Neuwirth is no stranger to the composers whose songs she performs. She won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Velma Kelly in a revival of Kander and Ebb’s “Chicago.” Neuwirth won critical acclaim for her show “Here Lies Jenny,” featuring Weill’s songs. She’s also played Nickie in “Sweet Charity” and Anita in “West Side Story.” Most recently, she originated the role of Morticia in “The Addams Family.” And, of
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Bible through the present day. This class will include drafting your own ethical will. On Feb. 26 and March 5, Rabbi Linzer will explore Jewish law as it relates to making end-of-life decisions for us and our loved ones. She will prepare, challenge and push the class to think about these difficult decisions by applying traditional Jewish texts to modern scenarios.
Young families refresh, renew at Wise Temple’s YoFI Shabbat service After a hectic week at work, the demands of parenthood and the household chores that await you, your couch and the latest Netflix movie may sound like the best Friday night activity. But before you settle in, consider starting your weekend with the renewed spirit, the fresh perspective and the calm that’s gained from Shabbat services with your children and Wise Temple friends. On Friday, Jan. 18, YoFI, Wise Temple’s Young Family Involvement group, is hosting a fun and engaging
Shabbat Service with a craft or story, music and an age-appropriate prayerbook (geared for prereaders and early readers). “There are many times that I want to go straight home after work, but I go to YoFI services because I feel so much better after I do. It’s a special tradition with my family and it puts the craziness of the week into perspective,” says Susan Zimmerman. Caroline Wells, YoFI co-chair adds, “Because our lives can be so hectic, it’s important for our family to make time to cele-
brate Shabbat even when we’re exhausted. YoFI Shabbat allows us to do this in a way that’s engaging for everyone in our family, even our young children.” A regular Shabbat Service can be too long for the attention span of many young children and the liturgy is often not age appropriate. At Wise Temple’s YoFI Shabbat, which is offered at least once a month, all family members, including older siblings and grandparents, can engage in a meaningful way. There is an opportunity to
join in a Torah parade, listen to a Shabbat story, and sing. The service concludes with the traditional Shabbat blessings over the candles, juice and challah, and the evening is often extended with a special craft. With YoFI Shabbat services beginning at 6:15 p.m., there will still be time for Netflix, dinner with friends or a nap on the couch. And you’ll be able to enjoy these activities with a sense of renewal and connection to your family and friends.
Wise Temple Gesher program: uniting families For over a decade, Wise Temple has been running an innovative program to help support parents in their roles as teachers to their children. Gesher, Wise Temple’s family education program, helps bridge the gap between temple and home, offering families opportunities to learn together and participate in a wide range of Jewish experiences. Each Gesher class, divided by grade, meets with their families on Sunday mornings five times a year. For the first hour parents learn with the rabbis about the same topic their kids are studying in their classrooms. The second
part brings students and parents together working, studying, interacting and having fun around the same topic. Each and every Gesher session is filled with creative activities, active learning, meaningful family engagement, community building and lots of resources and ideas to bring home and try out. At its best, Wise Temple’s family education program helps families to bring the meaning and joy of Jewish learning and celebration into their homes as well as helps them to broaden their conversations about Jewish ideas and values as well as deepen their
commitment to Jewish life. The Gesher program involves families from second to fifth grade and each session connects to a particular theme and subject tied to the classroom curriculum. Starting in second grade, our families explore what it means to be a mensch and what it means to be part of a community, beginning with their family, synagogue and extending to Am Yisrael. Third grade is all about holidays, how to celebrate them and derive new meaning from them and how to bring new life and new activities into our observances. Fourth
grade is a yearlong study of Israel, its people, places, past and future. Fifth grade has three big topics, God, Torah and lifecycle events. Each curriculum is tied to specific goals and big overreaching ideas, as well as framed in ways that invite exploration and sharing by both kids and adults. Through Gesher our families get to know one another as well as strengthen their relationships with Wise Temple’s rabbis. Most importantly, parents are given tools, inspiration and partnership for their most sacred task, v’shinantam l’vanecha, teaching their children!
The season of giving lasts all year long for Wise Temple Sisterhood on trauma counseling, safety planning and tutoring. Women who reside in the shelter have little economic means to provide basic necessities for their children, much less Christmas presents. In 2002, the Wise Temple Sisterhood created the Bedtime Bundles project to reach out to these women and offer a special Christmas gift for their children. Strategically launched to coincide with Hanukkah and the “season of giving,” the Sisterhood asked congregants to fill a pillowcase with new socks, underwear, pajamas, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a small toy, book or stuffed animal for a child of any age. The bundles
were tied together with a new set of shoelaces and collected in the Temple lobby for a period of 3-4 weeks. The Congregation embraced this concept of charitable giving, and Bedtime Bundles continues its success 10 years later. In fact, the project is so successful that Bedtime Bundles are handed out well beyond the “season of giving.” Wise Temple Sisterhood collects enough bundles so the YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter can welcome children all year long with this small bundle of love. In addition to the 100 bundles collected for 2012, monetary donations allowed Wise Temple Sisterhood to pur-
chase items from the Shelter’s holiday wish list, including diapers, baby wipes, pillows, bed sheets, blankets and maternity clothing. Congregants donate a bundle for many different reasons. Some families use Bedtime Bundles to teach their children lessons in giving back to the community; some families use Bedtime Bundles to honor the birth of a grandchild; some families donate a bundle in memory of a loved one; and some families just embrace charitable giving in any form. No matter the reason, Bedtime Bundles continues its momentum and remains one of Wise Temple Sisterhood’s most meaningful contributions to the women in our community.
The American Israelite “LET THERE BE LIGHT” THE OLDEST ENGLISH-JEWISH WEEKLY IN AMERICA - EST. JULY 15, 1854
VOL. 159 • NO. 25 THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013 28 TEVET 5773 SHABBAT BEGINS FRIDAY 5:17 PM SHABBAT ENDS SATURDAY 6:18 PM THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE CO., PUBLISHERS 18 WEST NINTH STREET, SUITE 2 CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202-2037 Phone: (513) 621-3145 Fax: (513) 621-3744 publisher@americanisraelite.com editor@americanisraelite.com production@americanisraelite.com RABBI ISAAC M. WISE Founder, Editor, Publisher, 1854-1900 LEO WISE Editor & Publisher, 1900-1928 RABBI JONAH B. WISE Editor & Publisher, 1928-1930 HENRY C. SEGAL Editor & Publisher, 1930-1985 PHYLLIS R. SINGER Editor & General Manager, 1985-1999 MILLARD H. MACK Publisher Emeritus NETANEL (TED) DEUTSCH Editor & Publisher JORY EDLIN MICHAEL SAWAN Assistant Editors ALEXIA KADISH Copy Editor JANET STEINBERG Travel Editor MARIANNA BETTMAN NATE BLOOM IRIS PASTOR RABBI A. JAMES RUDIN ZELL SCHULMAN RABBI AVI SHAFRAN PHYLLIS R. SINGER Contributing Columnists JOSEPH D. STANGE Production Manager ERIN WYENANDT Office Manager e Oldest Eng Th
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For an entire decade, the Wise Temple Sisterhood has spread holiday cheer to the residents of the YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter. This year was no exception. Through its Bedtime Bundles project, the Sisterhood donated nearly 100 specialized care packages, along with many other needed supplies this holiday season. The YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter offers a safe haven for women and their children who seek refuge from domestic violence. The Shelter provides education, advocacy, support groups, therapy and economic outreach programs for those experiencing abuse. The children’s programming is focused
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world. Attendance is limited and there is a cost for this program. The weekday series, Tuesday with Torah, continues in February with two multi-session courses taught by Rabbi Maura Linzer. Each Tuesday from noon until 1 p.m. the community is invited to bring lunch and to learn together. On Feb. 12 and 19, Rabbi Linzer will study ethical wills from the
Est. 1854
Dead Sea Scrolls at the Cincinnati Museum Center. Dr. Nili S. Fox, Director of the School of Graduate Studies at HUC-JIR and Director of the Archaeology Center of the Skirball Museum, will be the guide for this private tour of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Bible and the ancient handwritten texts of the words that shaped the future of the Western
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In the ongoing array of adult lifelong opportunities at Wise Temple, Eitz Chayim (The Tree of Life) Lifelong learning presents several options, including an exciting private, guided tour of the Dead Sea Scroll and weekday noontime series of Tuesday with Torah. On Sunday, Feb. 17, Wise Temple’s Sunday Series continues with a private guided tour of the
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Wise Temple offers adult learning sessions
THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE (USPS 019-320) is published weekly for $44 per year and $1.00 per single copy in Cincinnati and $49 per year and $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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Adath hosts MLK, Jr. event On Monday, Jan. 21, Adath Israel Congregation, in partnership with The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education, will host a multi-faceted Martin Luther King Day event. The values of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement are important to our commu-
nity. On this day we celebrate freedom and equal rights for all people. This annual, free event is open to all ages, but an RSVP is required. This year, we will start off with breakfast, then to commemorate the civil rights work of Martin Luther King, Jr., we will board a bus to take people down-
town to participate in the city-wide march from Fountain Square to Music Hall. After the march, we will head to the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education for a special, interactive program on the participation of Holocaust survivors in the American Civil Rights Movement.
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Adath hosts Israel at 65 Shabbaton The community is invited to attend a very special Shabbaton, honoring Israel at 65, on Friday evening, Feb. 1 and Shabbat morning, Feb. 2, with guest speakers Michael A. Meyer, Adolph S. Ochs Professor of Jewish History, Emeritus, and Yair Cohen, community Shaliach (emissary). The Shabbaton will begin with a Friday Night Live service at 5 p.m., followed by dinner. USY teens will participate in services and the Shabbat dinner festivities, and Dr. Meyer will speak about “Zionism: Its Origins, Its Vision, Its Future.” A special treat on Shabbat morning will be the Adath Israel
Youth Choir singing Israeli songs. At the luncheon following services, Yair Cohen will discuss “Two Weeks After the Israeli Elections: What Should We Expect Now, and How Does the Israeli Political System Work?” Dr. Meyer received his doctorate from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. Since 1991 he has served as the international president of the Leo Baeck Institute, a scholarly organization devoted to the historical study of German Jewry. He also chairs the Publications Committee of the Hebrew Union College Press, and is a fellow of the American Academy for Jewish Research.
Cohen received his master’s degree in political science from Tel Aviv University, and his bachelor’s degree in Jewish philosophy from Hebrew University. He arrived in Cincinnati in September 2011, after being trained by the Jewish Agency for Israel, and is primarily responsible for strengthening the unique and multi-faceted significance of Israel in the local Cincinnati Jewish community by connecting the next generation of Jewish people to Israel’s people and homeland through education and advocacy. He serves as a resource and official representative of Israel on behalf of the Jewish Agency for Israel.
NHS HaZaK considers ‘upstanders,’ bystanders to Holocaust The response by both “upstanders” and bystanders to the Holocaust will be the topic when the HaZaK group of Northern Hills Synagogue – Congregation B’nai Avraham holds its monthly program on Wednesday, Jan. 16. Following a delicious lunch, Sarah Weiss, executive eirector of the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education will present a program titled “From Bystander to Upstander.” The talk will take place at the Synagogue. Weiss’ presentation will shed light on little known moments of positive action taken by upstanders in defiance of the Nazis, while examining the critical role of bystanders during the Holocaust, whose inaction enabled genocide. Among the questions to be considered: How could individuals ignore the stench of the camps? How did individuals stay silent as their Jewish neighbors were rounded up and deported? In what ways did churches, media and other nations
turn their heads at the atrocities carried out by the Nazis and their collaborators? On the other hand, what gave someone the courage to take action and thus become an upstander? Ms. Weiss is a graduate of the esteemed Yad Vashem International School for Holocaust Studies in Israel. She became a Lerner Fellow through an advanced course sponsored by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous at Columbia University. She is the 2007 recipient of Public Allies Changemaker Award. The granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Ms. Weiss has been elected to the Ohio Holocaust Council and serves as a Commissioner for the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission. “HaZaK” is an acronym, with the letters standing for the Hebrew words “Hakhma” (wisdom), “Ziknah” (maturity), and “Kadima” (forward). The HaZaK programs are for adults 55 and
older and are open to the entire community. In addition to members of Northern Hills, many attendees have come from the Jewish Community Center, Cedar Village, Brookwood Retirement Community and throughout Greater Cincinnati.
Sherri Goren Slovin Named 2013 Family Mediator of the Year Sherri Goren Slovin has been named 2013 Cincinnati Best Family Mediator by Best Lawyers in the United States. This honor follows her 2011 selection as Cincinnati Best Family Lawyer of the Year. Best Lawyers has been called “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.” It compiles a list of outstanding attorneys by conducting peer-review surveys in which leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their peers. Each year, only a single lawyer is honored with the “best of the best” distinction in each community and practice area. Ms. Slovin’s practice is limited exclusively to family issues. Although her primary focus in on mediation and Collaborative Divorce, she continues to litigate on a limited basis. She is only one of thirteen Ohio Supreme Court Board Certified Family Relations Specialists in Cincinnati. “I have focused my professional life on conflict resolution and believe that, with skilled assistance, most family matters can be resolved outside of court, either in the context of mediation, Collaborative Divorce or skillful negotiation. I find my mediation
Sherri Goren Slovin
practice especially gratifying. As a mediator, I work as a neutral to help couples reach solutions to child-related, property, business and support issues. These issues are often complex and emotionally charged.” Ms. Slovin is a past president of the 4,500 member International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and has been named to the 2013 Cincinnati Top 25 Women Lawyers by Superlawyers. In addition to her law and mediation practice, Ms. Slovin provides workshops and trainings on Collaborative Practice internationally. Sherri Goren Slovin and Associates, LPA is located at 30 Garfield Place, Suite 750, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. More information is available at www.slovinlaw.com.
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Jewish Federation’s YAD announces new director The Young Adult Division (YAD) of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati is proud to announce the hiring of new director, Jeff Blumental. Blumental comes to Cincinnati from Detroit, where he worked in the healthcare industry. His wife, Melanie, is originally from Cincinnati, and they had already decided they would end up back in her hometown at some point. So when this opportunity presented itself, Jeff knew it was time to change not just cities but also careers. “At the end of the day, the healthcare job was so far removed from the ground-level work that I wasn’t seeing the positive impact,” explained Blumental. “I wasn’t getting the joy out of it that I wanted to.” He began thinking about the non-profit sector, where he could make a difference. “I thought about what had impacted my life and made me passionate, and when I heard about this position, it made a lot of sense to me.” Blumental originally hails from Youngstown, Ohio, where he was an active part of the city’s
Jeff Blumental
small Jewish population, planning events through B’nai B’rith. He then joined the Sigma Alpha Mu (Sammy) fraternity while attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. “While Sammy is nationally a Jewish fraternity, at Miami, it was very mixed,” said Blumental. “Still, a lot of the traditions of the fraternity were based on Jewish tradition, so that helped strengthen my own sense of identity.”
Another defining part of Blumental’s experience was his relocation after college to Cleveland, followed by Detroit. “While I know that both Cleveland and Detroit have important Jewish communities, what affected and motivated me was the lack of involvement I had there,” Blumental stated. “For whatever reason, I didn’t feel a warm welcome in those cities,
despite making attempts to reach out to the community.” But he has already had a much different experience in Cincinnati. “Since accepting this position, I’ve received a ton of feedback from professionals in Youngstown and Detroit, with nothing but the best things to say about the Cincinnati Jewish community, and I have to say that thus far, the word on the street is exactly how I’ve experienced it.” Not taking for granted the vast outpouring of support he has received since moving to Cincinnati, Blumental hopes to build on the experience and pay it forward to others. “I want to continue that tradition of being a warm and welcoming city and community and making this place an ideal location for Jewish young adults.” In that way, Blumental’s values and goals are a perfect match for where the Cincinnati Jewish community is headed. “In particular, Cincinnati 2020 (the longrange, community-wide strategic plan to transform Cincinnati into a model community and a Jewish
Community invited to learn about Israel travel, Jewish camping options Do you need to jump start your Jewish journey? Let the Jewish Federation give you a lift at the Israel Travel and Jewish Overnight Camping Fair, Sunday, Jan. 13, from 5–7 p.m., at Adath Israel Congregation. The Fair is free and open to all. Children, young adults and their parents can learn about their options for Jewish overnight camps and travel to Israel. Representatives from all the major trip providers and regional overnight camps will be on hand to offer information, answer questions and take applications. While there, find out if you’re eligible for a travel or camping grant funded by The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati. Jewish children can apply for two separate annual grants for overnight camps. Additionally, two separate travel
Past participants who took a trip to Israel.
grants are available to young adults, one during high school and one post-high school, through age 26.
These grants are not need based. Both travel to Israel and Jewish overnight camping have been
shown to build Jewish identity in young people, helping them develop and cement bonds to Israel and to their local Jewish communities. “Through the years I have watched a lot of children and young adults participate in these opportunities, and so many of them have gained the knowledge and drive to become leaders in their local Jewish communities. The experiences gave them the jump start they needed to form a life-long connection,” said Sharon Spiegel, Director of Youth Israel Experiences at the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. Also at the Fair, enjoy a taste of Israeli food, music and culture and meet Community Shaliach (Emissary from Israel) Yair Cohen and the new Chaverim M’Israel (Friends from Israel), Mor Ninio and Tomer Flischer.
Jewish groups softening resistance on Hagel nomination By Ron Kampeas Jewish Telegraph Agency WASHINGTON – Now that Chuck Hagel is officially President Obama’s nominee to be secretary of defense, Jewish groups concerned about Hagel’s record on Israel and Iran are faced with a choice. Do they fight hard to derail his nomination, joining common cause with Republican opponents? Or do they temper their fire for a Vietnam War hero who insists that
opponents have distorted his views on Israel and has a good chance of securing one of the most sensitive posts in the U.S.-Israel relationship? So far, it appears to be the latter. Jewish opponents appear to be toning down the criticism that greeted the news last month that Hagel, a Republican who served as a U.S. senator from Nebraska from 1997 to 2009, likely would be Obama’s defense choice. The Anti-Defamation League, one of the most outspoken critics
of Hagel’s potential candidacy, issued a statement reiterating some of its concerns after Obama made the announcement Monday – but deferred to the president. “Sen. Hagel would not have been my first choice, but I respect the president’s prerogative,” Abraham Foxman, the ADL’s national director, said in the statement. In his statement, Foxman alluded to past proposals by Hagel to engage with Iran and with terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah; the nominee’s skepti-
cism of sanctions and the efficacy of a military strike on Iran; and his criticism of Israel in how it deals with the Palestinians. Foxman called on Hagel to address positions that the ADL chief said seem “so out of sync with President Obama’s clear commitment on issues like Iran sanctions, isolating Hamas and Hezbollah and the president’s strong support for a deepening of U.S.-Israel strategic cooperation.” NOMINATION on page 22
destination) resonated with me,” he said. “Making Cincinnati a city people want to move to, can network and get career advice, can affordably raise children Jewishly and can live amongst a supportive community is exactly what I want to help with.” Although he only joined the Jewish Federation staff in December, Jeff has already traveled to Israel on the Cincinnati Young Leaders Journey, chaperoning 38 college and post-college Jewish Cincinnatians for a lifechanging experience in Israel. “We are delighted to have Jeff join our team and bring his experience and talents to engaging our community’s young professionals—showing them the value of staying in Cincinnati to build their careers and families,” said Danielle Minson, the federation’s Director of Development. “He has already shown his dedication to the job by—less than a month after moving from Detroit—taking a two-week trip to Israel to connect with some of our city’s young adults, and I can’t wait to see what he’ll take on next!”
National Briefs Sen. Paul on Israel visit: Jewish state would benefit from U.S. aid decrease (JNS) – U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), known for his opposition to foreign aid, on Monday reiterated that stance during his visit to Israel. The senator, son of Texas congressman and 2012 presidential candidate Ron Paul, said Israel would actually benefit from a decrease in U.S. aid because the country would not need to approach the U.S. about its security-related decisions. “I don’t think you need to call me on the phone to ask permission for what you want to do to stop missiles from raining down on you from Gaza,” Rand Paul told reporters at the Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies, according to the Associated Press. Paul, who on Jan. 4 was appointed to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said it “will be harder to be a friend of Israel” if the U.S. is out of money. “It will be harder to defend Israel if we destroy our country in the process,” he said. “I think there will be significant repercussions to running massive deficits... you destroy your currency by spending money you don’t have.”
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013
Hagel, amid controversial After Newtown, some gun owners record on Israel, nominated ready to consider control measures for defense secretary By Chavie Lieber Jewish Telegraph Agency
By Jacob Kamaras JointMedia News Service President Barack Obama on Monday nominated former Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel, who has been criticized by Democrats and Republicans alike for his record on Israel, for Secretary of Defense. Hagel chairs the Atlantic Council think tank, which last month published a column titled “Israel’s Apartheid Policy.” In 2008, he infamously took a direct shot at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), telling former Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller in a quote that appeared in Miller’s book, The Much Too Promised Land, that “the Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people” in Washington. Reacting to the Hagel nomination on Monday, the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) said that although there have been concerns about Hagel, “setting policy starts and stops” with Obama. “While we have expressed concerns in the past, we trust that when confirmed, former Senator Chuck Hagel will follow the President’s lead of providing unrivaled support for Israel – on strategic cooperation, missile defense programs, and leading the world against Iran’s nuclear program,” NJDC said in a statement. When Hagel was being considered for the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board appointment in 2009, Ira Forman – then the director of NJDC, and in 2012 the Obama campaign’s Jewish Outreach Director – opposed the move. “If [Hagel] was taking a policy role, we’d have real concerns,” Forman said at the time. NJDC also doubted Hagel’s credentials in 2007, when the senator was considering a run for president, saying he “has a lot of questions to answer about his commitment to Israel.” The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) on Monday called the Hagel nomination “a blow to U.S.-Israel relations, to the President’s relationship with the American Jewish community, and to U.S. security in the Middle East.” “It signals that the President, having been re-elected, will now distance himself from Israel,” RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said in a statement. “We hope that when Senator Hagel’s weak record is laid on the table, Senators will rightly decline to support his nomination.” American Jewish Committee (AJC) Executive Director David Harris on Monday said “there are
Courtesy of U.S. Senate
Former Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel.
serious concerns about Hagel’s commitments to the efficacy of sanctions and a credible military option against Iran, on pressing the European Union to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, on sustaining the U.S. policy on the terrorist Hamas regime in Gaza, on the special nature of the U.S.-Israel relationship and Israel’s quest for peace and security, and on gay rights.” Harris said in a statement that while the president “has the prerogative to select members of his Cabinet,” the Senate “is obligated to probe the record and vision of every nominee.” “While AJC honors Senator Hagel’s record of service to our country and the people of Nebraska, his statements and actions on a range of core U.S. national security priorities raise questions that require clarification,” Harris said. Anti-Defamation League (ADL) National Director Abe Foxman said Monday that Hagel “would not have been my first choice,” but added that he respects “the President’s prerogative.” Like AJC’s Harris, Foxman looked forward to the Senate confirmation process as a chance to address concerns about Hagel. “I particularly hope Senator Hagel will clarify and explain his comments about the ‘Jewish Lobby’ that were hurtful to many in the Jewish Community,” Foxman said in a statement. A number of senators last month had already vowed to press Hagel on his “Jewish lobby” comment during the confirmation process. U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that he knows of no “Jewish lobby” and hopes Hagel “would identify who that is.” U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said Hagel will “have to answer” for his Jewish lobby comment if nominated for defense secretary.
NEW YORK – The day Eric Schaefer learned that a .233 caliber semiautomatic Bushmaster rifle – a type of weapon he owned – was used to kill 26 people in Newtown, Conn., he sold his rifle to local law enforcement near his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. Schaefer, a 40-year-old commercial real estate agent, says he has been hit by an unshakable feeling of shame, and he no longer wants his two children exposed to the many weapons he owns for sporting purposes – guns he keeps locked up and away from the house. “There’s a sense of embarrassment now to being a gun owner, I don’t feel proud of it,” Schaefer told JTA. “I have my guns as a personal enthusiast, but I can’t say I support all the language and laws associated with guns. It’s far too easy to come across them in this country.” The mass shooting at a suburban elementary school that left 20 children and six adults dead last month has reignited the country’s longstanding debate over gun control, pitting supporters of tighter restrictions against those who fear any infringement on their Second Amendment rights. But while the gun-rights lobby has made clear that it opposes any measures to further limit the availability of deadly weapons, some
Courtesy of Josh Lopez/Creative Commons
Gun control supporters protesting outside the National Rifle Association office on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Dec. 17, 2012.
Jewish gun owners acknowledge that they are uncomfortable with the current regulations on firearms sales. Schaefer says authorities should constantly check the mental state of gun owners and he would like to see the wait time for gun purchases extended – a measure that could buy time for those acting on instinct to reconsider their actions. “I feel like it ought to be excruciatingly difficult to own a gun, and those who really want one should be able to tough through a more rigorous, difficult process to get one,” Schaefer told JTA. “Law-abiding citizens that want guns for safe reasons like myself should want to tether gun restrictions, so the country can use weapons properly.”
Rabbi Jonathan Siger, a law enforcement chaplain and former NRA shooting instructor from Spring, Texas, says bearing weapons is a God-given right – especially for Jews. But Siger says he would support tighter controls, like requiring two character witnesses to acquire a carry permit and closing the socalled gun show loophole that enables buyers to circumvent a federal background check. “I don’t understand how some people get their hands on guns,” Siger said. “It seems to me the glaring problem is there is not enough control over who is selling what to whom.” MEASURES on page 22
8 • NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL
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‘Hava Nagila (The Movie)’ Adviser to Egyptian president: ‘Israel film chronicles song’s will be destroyed within a decade’ Amir Mizroch journey from shtetl to cliche ByJointMedia News Service By Chavie Lieber Jewish Telegraph Agency NEW YORK – You’re at a wedding or bar mitzvah, mingling at the bar or catching up with a distant relative, when you hear it – the opening notes of a familiar tune that as if by some invisible force carries you and other guests to the dance floor for the rousing dance circle ritual. Does “Hava Nagila” work this kind of magic because it was handed down at Sinai and thus encoded in the Jewish DNA? Or is it a tale from the European shtetl, albeit one with a timeless message and an irrepressible melody? It is these questions that Roberta Grossman addresses in her new film, “Hava Nagila (The Movie),” which will screen at the upcoming New York Jewish Film Festival before hitting theaters nationwide in March. The film, three years in the making, explores the phenomenon behind the iconic folk song and seeks to explain why the melody has been so beloved over the years. “When I first started doing research for the film, people thought I was crazy and I was worried I wouldn’t find anything substantial enough,” Grossman told JTA. “But what I really found was that this song is a porthole into 200 years of Judaism’s culture and spirituality.” Grossman’s inspiration for the film came from memories of dancing to the song at family affairs. A product of what she calls a “religiously assimilated but culturally affiliated” background, Grossman said twirling with family members while “Hava Nagila” blared in the background was a tribal moment with spiritual resonance. Part of a generation raised on the 1971 film adaption of “Fiddler on the Roof,” she knew the song cold but understood little about its origins. Turns out, it doesn’t go back nearly as far as Sinai. The song was first sung as a Chasidic niggun, or wordless melody, in the court of the the Ruzhiner rebbe, Israel Friedman, who lived in the Ukrainian town of Sadagora in the 18th century. A Jewish shtetl in the Pale of Settlement, Sadagora often was subjected to pogroms, and Chasidic leaders encouraged music as a way to combat the tragedies of everyday life. When a wave of European immigrants moved to Israel in the early 1900s, they took their niggun with them, where it later became representative of Zionist culture. In 1915, the prominent musicologist Abraham Zevi Idelsohn adapted the song with Hebrew lyrics. Three years later he unveiled his new variation at a Jerusalem concert. “Hava Nagila,” literally “let us rejoice,” went on to hit its peak popularity in the 1950s
Courtesy of “Hava Nagila (The Movie)”
“Hava Nagila (The Movie)” portrays the classic Jewish tune as a porthole into 200 years of Judaism’s culture and spirituality.
and ‘60s, and became a favorite pop tune for American Jews. “It’s unclear if Idelsohn really knew the extent of how far his song would go, but after that concert celebrating the British victory in Palestine, the streets of Jerusalem erupted and the song took off,” said Mark Kligman, a professor of Jewish musicology at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. “Israel was a vacuum at that point, with immigrants from all over who had very little in common. They were dealing with their identity, and the need for music, and this song unified them,” he said. Decades later, the same is true. The song is widely covered – Bob Dylan, Ben Folds and Regina Spektor have performed it. Last summer it was the soundtrack for U.S. Olympian Ally Raisman’s gold medal-winning performance in the floor exercise at the London Games. And though The Wall Street Journal noted recently that some see it as cliche and avoid having it played it at their affairs – Grossman refers to these folks as “Hava haters” – it may be the most popular Jewish song on the planet. In the film, which includes a hora dancing tutorial, Grossman journeys to Sadagora as well as other obscure places where the song hit. The film notes how popular “Hava Nagila” became with non-Jewish music lovers and features musicians such as Lena Horne, the Cuban-American salsa performer Celia Cruz and the pop singer Connie Francis. Grossman skillfully portrays “Hava Nagila” as a symbol of American Jewish identity and postulates that future generations will continue to see the song as iconic – with or without the eye rolls. Through the film, she seeks to give the song some depth beyond the overplayed ditty at bar mitzvahs. Viewers must decide if the song can still be redeemed. “I believe that Hava has actually accrued a great deal of meaning and depth on its long journey from Ukraine to YouTube,” Grossman said. “Hava’s journey is our journey. By understanding where Hava has come from, we understand where we have come from and more.”
Dr. Essam el-Erian, a senior Muslim Brotherhood official and adviser to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, has called on Jews who left Egypt to return, as “Israel will be destroyed within a decade.” Speaking to the pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat from Cairo, ElErian called on Egypt’s Jews “to leave historic Palestine and return to the country from which they came,” and predicted “the demise of the State of Israel within 10 years,” the paper reported. “The Jews are occupying the historic Land of Palestine and are an obstacle to the right of return of the Palestinians,” El-Erian said. “I have said that for the Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland, the occupiers of the land... these occupiers have previous homelands, and I pray for the return of the Palestinians and for those who occupied their land to be deported,” El-Erian said. El-Erian was quoted at length about the alleged motivations behind the “Zionist project.” “I do not speak on behalf of Egypt, I am speaking on my own behalf,” he said. “The Jewish occupiers of the territory of historic Palestine are an obstacle to the right of return of the Palestinians. There are an estimated 14 million Jews in the world and
Courtesy of Jonathan Rashad
Mohamed Morsi
only about 6 million in the land of Palestine. They can go out to other places they consider the best for them. The Zionist ideology ended in failure and this project [Israel] fated to collapse in coming years.” “The Zionist project in Palestine came to prevent the existence of democracy in the Arab countries, and to prevent the presence of Arab unity and development in the Arab region. It came to deplete the wealth of the Arabs by making them stockpile weapons in countries that do not fight at all but spend billions on buying aircraft. We [Egypt] are the only ones who have a strong and equipped army. I say clearly, those who can read the future see that this project [Israel] will fall within one decade. This is our faith, that the people of Palestine will return to Palestine. There will be no such thing as
Israel, it will be called Palestine, where Jews, Muslims, Christians and Druze and all the people who live there will remain Palestinian citizens. This is our faith and this is what we live and strive for. We tell all those who came and occupied Palestine to return to their countries,” El-Erian said. El-Erian linked his work in the Constituent Assembly drafting a new constitution for Egypt, and its provisions for religious freedoms for Christians and Jews, with his prediction of Israel’s demise. “We have a Jewish minority. And while it’s true that it is only in the dozens now but we have [Egyptian] Jews [in Israel] and when the Palestinian issue is resolved and the Jews will have a right of return to Egypt, this is one of the options open to them, either return to Egypt or leave to other places.”
Czech ‘Joe Lieberman’ could be Europe’s first Jewish president By Dinah Spritzer Jewish Telegraph Agency PRAGUE – If the pundits are correct, the Czech Republic may become the first country other than Israel to elect a Jewish president. Jan Fischer, 62, an understated former prime minister who led a caretaker government following a coalition collapse in 2009, is neck and neck in the polls with another former government head as the nation holds its first round of presidential elections on Friday and Saturday. The two front-runners advance to a runoff, and political prognosticators are predicting that Fischer will reach the second round. “He’s like our Joe Lieberman,” said Tomas Kraus, chairman of the Czech Federation of Jewish Communities, referring to the failed U.S. vice presidential candidate. “Whether or not you support him, you can’t help but be proud he has come this far.” Fischer, whose career highlights include running the Czech
Statistical Office and serving as vice president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, slipped from first to second in the polls following a lackluster performance last week in a televised debate. His ascent from skilled technocrat to high-echelon politics – and possibly to Prague Castle – sheds light on the region’s nuanced relationship with Judaism and Israel. Running on a platform promoting economic growth and political transparency, Fischer also is known for his pride in what he calls the Czech Republic’s “very friendly relations with Israel.” He noted that the Czech Republic was consistently one of Europe’s most ardent supporters of Israel in times of crisis, a tradition dating back to the 1920s when the first Czechoslovak president, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, endorsed the creation of the Jewish state. More recently, the Czech Republic was among only a handful of countries in the world to vote against upgrading the Palestinians’ status at the United Nations.
Fischer thus finds it unnecessary to bluster in the same way as his chief presidential rival, Milos Zeman, who has declared his support for a preemptive strike against Iran. “I have no need to demonstrate my friendly attitude towards Israel because everyone is familiar with it, so I don’t need to say something very strong,” he told JTA in a wideranging interview, adding that he is well aware that “Iran is the dark force in the region.” Fischer’s professions of devotion to Israel weren’t always so robust. Before the Communist regime collapsed in 1989, it was dangerous for anyone – especially a government employee – to sympathize with Israel because the authorities toed the Soviet anti-Zionist line. His upbringing is a case study of post-World War II Jewish life in Central Europe. His father survived Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps, and his mother was Catholic. He celebrated Czech Christmas and attended synagogue. LIEBERMAN on page 19
INTERNATIONAL / ISRAEL • 9
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013
In likely shuttering of ‘Beethoven Was a Zionist’: A memoir Dutch Jewish broadcaster, from Israel on the eve of its creation fears of a cultural loss By Rafael Medoff JointMedia News Service
By Cnaan Liphshiz Jewish Telegraph Agency AMSTERDAM – The Birthright Israel phenomenon arrived only last year in the small Jewish community of the Netherlands. With only 250 Dutch Jewish alumni, few here knew much about the program, which has brought 300,000 young Diaspora Jews on free 10-day group trips to the Jewish state. And that’s the way it might have remained if not for a documentary, “Make Jewish Babies,” that aired in early 2012 by the Dutch Jewish Broadcasting Company. The film, which follows the Birthright experience of three sisters from Amsterdam, sparked a fierce debate in the Netherlands. Some said the program inspired participants to be proud Jews; others decried it as a nationalist propaganda exercise. But the same year, two local groups and a philanthropist started planning the first all-Dutch Birthright delegation. The documentary demonstrates not only the Dutch Jewish Broadcasting Company’s importance to Holland’s Jews – but also what could be lost when the Dutch government implements its plan to withdraw the $1.2 million it provides annually to the broadcaster, known locally as Joodse Omroep, or JO. “The threat of excluding us from public broadcasting is terrible and shakes the community’s internal feeling of safety in their identity, which is necessary for openness toward other identities,” said Awraham Soetendorp, the country’s chief Reform rabbi. “It will banish the community’s soul.” Dutch Jewry received its own broadcasting company 40 years ago with the establishment of NIK Media. In 2005, the outfit became JO, currently the only publicly funded Jewish broadcaster of its size in Europe, offering 70 hours of radio and 23 hours of television annually along with a website containing news and archived programs. JO’s five staffers run the operation out of a humble studio in Hilversum, Holland’s media capital, with an annual budget of just $1.2 million, provided entirely by the Dutch government. Local Jews say JO provides a vital platform for community members to talk to one another and to Dutch society at large, while also providing an avenue for Jews outside Holland’s major cities to stay connected to the community. On Dec. 6, the Dutch government announced it would cut the annual $18 million that it gives to
Courtesy of Jewish Broadcasting Company
A scene from Make Jewish Babies, a film about Birthright Israel produced and aired on the Dutch Jewish Broadcasting Company in 2012.
nine religious broadcasters, including JO, as part of a wider effort to reduce the government’s culture expenditures. Broadcasters that wish to continue to receive public funds must sign up 50,000 subscribers each by 2016 and reapply. For other religious communities, this probably won’t be hard. There are over 1 million Muslims in the Netherlands, 170,000 Buddhists and at least 90,000 Hindus – and each of those groups has their own broadcasting service, two in the case of Dutch Muslims. But Holland’s Jewish community of 40,000 stands little chance. “The government’s decision therefore spells certain demise only for JO,” said Bart Wallet, a historian at the University of Amsterdam and an expert on Dutch Jewish history. The singular impact of the government’s decision on the Jewish community has led, perhaps inevitably, to public discussion of the Holocaust, in which 100,000 Dutch Jews were killed. Even among critics of subsidized media, the argument that special dispensation should be provided to Holland’s Jews has resonated. “Generally speaking, our taxes shouldn’t go to spreading religion, but I would make one exception here, and that is in the case of the Jews,” Prem Radhakishun, a Surinam-born Hindustani television personality said recently in a prime-time television appearance. In relative terms, he said, “more Jews were murdered here than elsewhere in Europe, and we have a moral debt to Jews.” But for some Jewish leaders, such appeals to Holocaust guilt are discomforting. “I don’t want to immediately go all the way back to the Shoah,” said Alfred Edelstein, director of the JO. “The JO is important for Jewish life here and now, for the community and especially for people who live in small towns, for whom it is a way to stay connected.”
“Today I saw The Land for the first time, and it was beautiful.” With those simple but moving words, veteran American Zionist activist Harold Manson began his remarkable diary of the visit he made to the Holy Land 65 years ago this month, shortly before the establishment of the State of Israel. It was a journey filled with surprises for Manson – but much of what he found could have been taken from our own headlines today. Manson served as public relations director for the American Zionist Emergency Council, the umbrella for the major U.S. Zionist organizations. He landed in what was still British Mandatory Palestine on Jan. 13, 1948, as the advance man for a forthcoming visit by Zionist leader Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver. The “undeclared war” of Palestinian Arab violence against the Jews was in evidence from the moment of Manson’s arrival. “I can thank the Arabs for that first thrilling glimpse of Tel-Aviv and its environs from the air,” he noted. “Because they have made motor travel on the roads unsafe, I was prevailed upon to fly into TelAviv via ‘Aviron’ – a two-seater cub, efficiently piloted by a stalwart member of the future Jewish Air Force.”
By his third day in the country, Manson had a close brush with the war. “On my way back to the hotel, I came ‘under fire’ for the first time,” he wrote on Jan. 14, 1948. “Suddenly bullets began to fly... and the few people on the street took cover.” The gunfire was coming from the adjoining Arab area of Jaffa. “It seems that the sons of Allah are using the minaret of a mosque for sniping purposes,” he wrote. “They seldom hit anybody, but it’s damned irritating to know that Haganah retaliation would be denounced as an attack on a holy place and could precipitate ‘holy warfare’ [jihad].” Indeed, in the years since, the Israeli army has often faced international condemnation for striking at Arab terrorists who were using civilians or religious sites as shields. A diary entry several days later gave additional glimpses of the battlefront: “There was a great deal of shooting last night, and two big explosions,” Manson recorded. “This morning we learned that the British had blown up two houses in the Jaffa-Tel Aviv area, one Arab and one Jewish, which had been used by snipers. How terribly fair and ‘neutral’ to punish both the attackers and the attacked.” But there was also good news from the war: “While I was getting a breath of morning air on my
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terrace, there was a terrific explosion to the left and I saw fragments of a house go up in the air and a cloud of dust and smoke. Later I learned that our boys had destroyed another Arab snipers’ hangout.” But Eretz Yisrael in the spring of 1948 was not just a land of strife. Far from it. Manson’s memoir brims with hopeful descriptions of the vibrant everyday life and culture of the Jewish community. Despite the occasional bursts of violence, he found Tel Aviv to be “a superbly normal city, going about its business with both efficiency and charm, and bursting with creative energy.” It was a “lovely, almost idyllic, seaside community,” with “gleaming white buildings, thoroughfares, boulevards and promenades teeming with pleasant, relaxed faces... crowded cafes and shops... strong children running about in the bright Mediterranean sun.” The American Zionist activist was deeply impressed by the locals’ hospitality. “This is one of the friendliest spots on earth,” he wrote in his journal. “Invitations to dinner, tea and just plain visits come bewilderingly fast, and one is hard put to organize one’s daily schedule in such a way as to avoid converting one’s stay here to a prolonged social occasion.” BEETHOVEN on page 22
10 • ISRAEL
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Top Netanyahu aide could continue strategic shift in Israel’s relations with U.S.
Courtesy of Miriam Alster/Flash90
Ron Dermer, the senior advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks about how to defend Israel online at a convention for Jewish bloggers held in Jerusalem on Sept. 13, 2009.
By Alex Traiman JointMedia News Service Rumors recently began to circulate that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may appoint his senior advisor, Ron Dermer, as Israel’s next ambassador to the United States. Dermer’s appointment is currently being denied by Israel’s embassy, and the Prime Minister’s office has refused comment, but insiders suggest that the appointment – while not definite – is a serious possibility. If Dermer is eventually appoint-
ed, he would be Israel’s second consecutive American-born ambassador to the U.S. Prior to becoming an Israeli citizen, Dermer was born in Miami, and both his father and brother served as mayors of Miami Beach. Michael Oren, the current ambassador and the first in Israeli history who was born in the U.S., is set to conclude his four-year stint in the spring, shortly after Israel’s Jan. 22 national elections. Oren is generally considered to be a wellrespected ambassador who has had to navigate an often-bumpy relationship between Israel and the
U.S., and he has represented the State of Israel both on American television and in top American newspapers’ op-ed pages. The selection of another native English speaker to one of Israel’s top diplomatic posts would indicate a continued strategic shift in the way the country conducts relations with the U.S. government, the broader Jewish community, and the general public. To that end, Lenny Ben-David – who served as deputy chief of mission at Israel’s embassy in Washington, D.C., from 1997 to 2000 – said the Jewish state’s criteria for selecting an ambassador has changed over the years. “For years, the ambassador was picked for his or her diplomatic skills, or even as political payoff,” Ben-David told JNS. “Today, it is important for the ambassador to look good on television, and to navigate the political waters of Washington, D.C.,” he added. Prior to his appointment as Netanyahu’s top advisor, Dermer served as Israel’s economic attaché in Washington – a post for which he had to forfeit his American citizenship. Many political commentators have noted that rumors of Dermer’s new appointment may be a trial balloon, to test the viability of such an appointment both within Israeli and American political circles.
Can Natan Sharansky fix the Western Wall? By Ben Sales Jewish Telegraph Agency TEL AVIV – He brought unprecedented attention to the plight of Soviet Jewry. He stood up to the KGB. He survived nine years in Siberia. He served in Israel’s fractious government. Now, Natan Sharansky is facing his next challenge: finding a solution to the growing battle over women’s prayer restrictions at the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site. In recent months, Diaspora Jewish activists have grown increasingly incensed by the arrests and detention of women seeking to pray publicly at the site in keeping with their religious practices – but in violation of the rules of the wall under which women may not sing aloud, wear tallit prayer shawls or read from the Torah. The controversy threatens to drive a wedge between Diaspora
Jewry, where egalitarian prayer is common, and Israel, which has upheld Orthodox rules at the wall, also known as the Kotel. American Jewish leaders in the United States say the rules alienate Reform and Conservative Jews. Within Israel, too, the wall has become a flashpoint for non-Orthodox religious activists and the Kotel’s haredi Orthodox leadership. Two weeks ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Sharansky, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, to look into the controversy and propose solutions. The question is whether the former refusenik leader and human rights advocate can resolve a dispute that pits Jew against Jew. “Will it happen through Sharansky?” asked Anat Hoffman, chairwoman of Women of the Wall, a group that organizes monthly women’s services at the Kotel. “That I doubt, but I’m willing to give him a chance. Sharansky will understand how
much traction this issue has.” Hoffman was arrested in October for wearing a tallit at the site, and several more of the group’s members have been detained at subsequent services. Sharansky declined to comment on the issue until he gives his recommendations, but activists on both sides of the issue say the gaps between the site’s leadership and pluralism advocates may be too wide for Sharansky to bridge. Shmuel Rabinowitz, the wall’s chief rabbi, would like to maintain the status quo, where men and women are separated by a partition and only men may wear tallit and tefillin and convene a minyan prayer quorum with Torah reading. Hoffman and her allies have proposed alternatives that involve the religious streams sharing time and space in the Kotel Plaza, with each praying according to its own precepts. SHARANSKY on page 22
Courtesy of Nalaga'at Center
The Israeli Nalaga’at theater troupe, which consists of all blind and deaf actors, on stage.
For Israeli theater troupe, believing requires neither seeing nor hearing By Deborah Fineblum Raub JointMedia News Service Try to imagine what it’s like to live your life not hearing or seeing. Imagine the difficulties of communicating with the other inhabitants of your world, who all seem to be chattering away and interacting in ways that make little sense to you. Then, increase your challenge exponentially by landing yourself onstage. As an actor, it’s now your job to communicate with others and inspire in them a deeper understanding of your life and the fundamental human condition that, after all is said (or communicated in some other way) and done, unites us all. Now you have the makings of high drama. American audiences will be able to bear witness to what happens next. The Nalaga’at Theater, the only troupe in the world whose actors are deaf and blind, is leaving its comfortable home in the Israeli port of Jaffa to perform Not by Bread Alone at the Skirball Center in Manhattan from Jan. 16 to Feb. 3. The Nalaga’at Deaf-Blind Acting Ensemble was founded in 2002 by Adina Tal to integrate deaf-blind people into the community, promote their needs and aspirations, and provide them with the opportunity to express themselves in a creative way. A key component of Tal’s vision is giving audiences a wholly unique and powerful theater experience, one that will linger in their consciousness long after the curtain falls. Described as “a magical journey that spans various stories, dreams and locations,” Not By Bread Alone features 11 deaf and blind actors. It has been performed not only in Israel, but also in South Korea and London, where one reviewer called it “a test of theater itself, the way good work can communicate across the boundaries of darkness and
silence” (Lyn Gardner, The Guardian). This will also be the troupe’s third visit to New York, the last one coming in 2005. During the course of the show, audiences should not be surprised to occasionally hear the beat of a drum on stage. Through its vibration, this cue announces the start of a new scene to actors who can neither see nor hear the drum. This kind of deepening awareness about the creative force of sensory adaptation will also go well beyond what transpires onstage. On tap for the public will be replicas of Nalaga’at’s two Jaffa eateries, which will be open both before and after the show. At Kapish Café, all waiters are deaf and communicate with the guests in sign language, teaching them a different form of communication. At the BlackOut, guests dine in absolute darkness, and blind waiters serve as their guides. The object of both the play and the dining experiences is to create a powerful and visceral understanding of what it’s like to live one’s entire life without two of our most important senses, says Tal, who continues to guide the troupe as the Nalaga’at Center’s Artistic Director and its CEO. “And what excites me most about the upcoming production in New York is, each time another person sees the amazing things our actors accomplish onstage, our dream becomes more of a reality,” Tal says. “As we reach new audiences, and as they open their minds and hearts to another way of living, more and more people from all over the world are making it their dream as well.” In addition, the Skirball will host a festive Gala Night as an awareness- and fund-raiser for the not-for-profit Nalaga’at Center on Jan. 23. During that evening, the performance will be followed by a cocktail reception.
SOCIAL LIFE • 11
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013
BBYO @ MAYERSON JCC Over Labor Day Weekend this past September nearly 200 Jewish teenagers packed the Mayerson JCC for the first BBYO regional event of the 2012-2013 school year. They came from Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Indy and Louisville (the Kentucky-Indiana-Ohio – KIO – region) to participate in the largest single event that KIO has had in more than a decade. It all kicked off with a Shabbat dinner on Friday night and continued through the holiday weekend with a series of leadership development seminars, a community service project, a program focused on Israel, a basketball tournament for the guys and a supersized zumba class for the girls. The convention culminated with a dance and a “lock-in” on Sunday night, the perfect way to top off a fun and meaningful weekend. In the nine months since the KIO Regional Headquarters moved to Cincinnati, the number of participants in programs of this kind have nearly doubled and overall membership has increased by 30%. BBYO is the world’s largest pluralistic Jewish youth movement. It is open to students in 8th-12th grade, in which at least one parent is Jewish. Congregational affiliation is not required. For more information please call Matt Steinberg at the Mayerson JCC, whose contact information can be found in the Community Directory listing in this issue. Photos continued on page 12.
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14 • DINING OUT
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Johnny Chan 2—for when hunger has you By Michael Sawan Assistant Editor No one will argue with a happy accident. I went in to Johnny Chan 2 unaware of the lunch buffet that was soon to greet me, and the feeling of accidental perfection, the release that accompanies a stroke of good luck, was something I would pay money for. The only thing better is when this very same feeling is planed. When an individual (or group) has the foresight to put the right pieces into place, to craft the scenario necessary to make for the emotions of a happy accident with the planning of an operation. Johnny Chan 2 is in possession of this most excellent strategic skill. It is a restaurant that, from the ambiance up, knows how to craft the right experience one item at a time. The setting is casual but nice, with a pleasing color scheme and exceptionally friendly staff. The menu is all that you would expect from a traditional AmericanizedChinese restaurant, but prepared fresh to order: nothing freeze dried, no microwave entrees, no illcooked food. Everything is prepared by hand according to the methods that Johnny Chan 2’s kitchen has cultivated since 1998. This is all encapsulated in Johnny Chan 2’s take on that most basic of chinese restaurant dishes, Fried Rice. The rice was smooth, reminiscent of the evenness of cream, and had the ability to mesh seamlessly with any other item at the buffet. Was it a happy accident that the egg roll and fried rice have a terrific texture together? Or maybe it was all apart of Johnny Chan 2’s master plan, to put compatible tastes all in a neat, convenient row. The Sweet and Sour Chicken used pure white meat as its base, generous chunks fried until a delicately crispy shell encapsulated the still juicy chicken. This served as a jumping off point for the sweet and sour sauce, which added an extra layer of juiciness to the pot. When combined with the fried rice things very nearly got out of hand, the textures and flavors all melding into a tight package of savory sweetness. I turned my attention to the Egg Roll, which was unique in that it was strictly vegetarian. This meant that the veggies, by necessity, took center stage. The cabbage led the way, giving a slight bite that guided the warm, giving texture of the other veggies well. This combined with the crispy outer shell meant a double whammy of texture, and yet again begged the question: Happy accident? It is safe to assume this one was not. Additionally, lest we forget, sweet and sour sauce plus an egg roll is always a good idea. The Teriyaki Chicken strip was my first surprising encounter of the afternoon. If I had to guess, I
Courtesy of Michael Sawan
(Clockwise) A serving of Johnny Chan 2's Veggie Egg Roll, Teriyaki Chicken strip, Sweet and Sour Chicken and Fried Rice; Mushroom Beef in brown sauce, more fried rice, Chinese Doughnuts, Lo Mein and Moo Goo Gai Pan; A Cream Puff, slice of Vanilla Cake and an Almond Cookie; Three employees of Johnny Chan 2; The front room entry way, giving a first impression of the restaurant.
would say it was either cooked over an open fire or smoked. It had a solid, full bodied taste dense with warm earthy tones. The teriyaki accompanied this taste terrifically, creating a mature, pointed taste that allowed the chicken to supplement the flavors. Things really shone once I began combining yet again, with the texture of the chicken being a new voice in the buffet style conversation. My second plate of food presented various other hallmarks of the Americanized Chinese restaurant, all with the same flair that Johnny Chan 2 was starting to establish in my taste buds. I tried the Moo Goo Gai Pan, a savory dish of all white meat chicken, carrots, zucchini, and baby corn. One can judge a Chinese restaurant by the quality of their baby corn: too hard and you know the restaurant lacks confi-
dence, or the time to cook the veggie properly. Too soft and the restaurant comes across as careless, unperturbed by gooey vegetables. Johnny Chan 2 is neither of these, instead occupying the perfect comfort zone of baby corn: crisp in the center, tender on the outside, a slightly limp string of vegetable that is emblematic of Chinese food. The rest of the dish followed suit, particularly the chicken. It had just the right texture, tender but with a slight amount of give. The Mushroom Beef was similarly good, but in this case it was the sauce that stood out. It shared the smokey characteristic of the Teriyaki Chicken, that savory, mature flavor that begs to be eaten. This flavor combined terrifically with the crispiness of the veggies. As you might imagine, it all mixed to even greater effect with a little
bit of fried rice, the whole combination having a smooth, smokey, savory eat-ability that could have easily stood in as my main entree of the night. The restaurant’s Lo Mein was the sort of dish that made me wonder, “why don’t I eat more of this?” Because it’s true! Every time I go to a Chinese restaurant I automatically order fried rice, if I’m feeling saucy I get General Tso’s. But Lo Mein has its own power, a dish that has all of the appeal of fried rice, but with a little extra soy, a touch more umami, making it sparkle in the right situations. As it happens, one of these is when combined with Mushroom Beef and Moo Goo Gai Pan. Dessert time proved to be a great success, with the stand out being the slice of Vanilla Cake. It reminded me of the birthday cakes
I would enjoy in my childhood years, a no nonsense confection with a focus on vanilla, sugar and butter, all to great effect. Only a birthday candle could have made it more perfect. The Dessert Tray Honorable Mention goes to the Almond Cookie, a surprise sweet that combined vanilla wafer, sugar cookie and fortune cookie all into one deliciously crispy package. It’s combinations like this, the familiar with the unexpected, that makes Johnny Chan 2 a stand out. Their hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Johnny Chan 2 11296 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 489-2388
DINING OUT • 15
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013
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16 • OPINION
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The ‘War of the Wall’ secret weapon By Rabbi Avi Shafran Contributing Columnist It’s easy to dismiss the antics of Warrior of the Wall Anat Hoffman. Her guerrilla gatherings of women in vocal prayer services at the Kosel Maaravi, or Western Wall, in defiance of an Israeli Supreme Court decision and in affront to the traditional Jewish men and women who most frequent the prayer site, are legend. That’s largely because Ms. Hoffman, head of “Women of the Wall” and executive director of the Reform movement’s Israel Religious Action Center, makes sure the media are summoned and present to record her activities and detainments, which number eight at last count. She can bank, too, on the support – although some of it is uneasy – from the non-Orthodox American Jewish community. Even those of us, however, who see danger and disunity in Ms. Hoffman’s goal of “liberating” the Wall from Jewish religious tradition – halacha forbids Jewish men from hearing the voices of women singing or chanting – would do well to realize that not all the women who flock to the activist’s side are political agitators. Some are surely sincere, and deserve our own sincere consideration. Imagine a woman raised in a Reform or Conservative environment, who read from the Torah at her bat mitzvah and for whom services led by women in the presence of men are the norm. When she visits Israel and is drawn to the Kosel she may well feel that something is somehow “wrong,” that while many women are present and praying, only men are conducting group services and reading from the Torah. Can we not empathize with her? If we can’t, we are lacking. Even misguided feelings are feelings. There are powerful arguments for maintaining the status quo at the Kosel: Halacha is the historical heritage of all Jews. The Kosel is a remnant of the courtyard wall of the Second Holy Temple, where “Orthodox” services were the only ones there were. And permitting non-traditional group services at the Kosel main plaza will invite proponents of atheistic “Humanistic Judaism” to claim their fair share of the area, not to mention “Hebrew Christian” groups seeking their own timeshare. Making the case for halachic standards at the Kosel with reason, though, is one thing. More important than arguments in the end is empathy – on all sides.
For tradition-revering Jews, empathy means not confusing rabble-rousers with heartfelt Jews, not dismissing the feelings of differently-raised fellow Jews of good will. And for those latter Jews, empathy means trying to feel what traditional Jews at the Kosel will feel if they are compelled by their commitment to halacha to leave the plaza during vocal women’s services. I once queried a young granddaughter of mine about what she brought to school for lunch. She listed an assortment of sandwiches but an iconic one was missing. “What about peanut butter?” I asked. Her eyes widened and she said, “Oh, no. We don’t bring peanut butter into the school. Some kids are ‘lergic to it!” The following week I was interviewed on a Jewish television program about the “Women of the Wall.” I had not planned to recount my conversation with my grandchild but it unexpectedly sprung to mind and I did. It surely inconveniences children with a fondness for peanut butter, I mused to the interviewer, to be unable to enjoy it for lunch. But concern for the sensitivities of others trumps our personal preferences, as it should. I suggested that sensitivities come in different colors. A halacha-abiding man may not be literally ‘lergic to women’s chanting. But in a way he is. No doubt, Ms. Hoffman and others would proclaim that they are equally hurt by being unable to hold services “their way” at the Kosel, that their own tradition is insulted by halachic restrictions. But I think that a sincere, agendaless non-Orthodox Jew will find the claim unpersuasive. For more than 40 years, the Kosel has been a place – perhaps the only one in the world – where Jews of all affiliations and persuasions have regularly prayed side by side. That has been possible because of the good will of nonOrthodox Jews – Israelis and Westerners alike – who, although they may opt for very different services in their own homes, synagogues or temples, have considered the feelings of those who embrace the entirety of the Jewish religious tradition. Recapturing that good will amid a manufactured and mediaseductive “War of the Wall” will not be easy. We Orthodox, though, might begin with empathy for fellow Jews who were raised very differently from us. And perhaps, in turn, that will merit us their empathy as well.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Do you have something to say? E-mail your letter to editor@americanisraelite.com
Dear Editor, Thanks again for the heads up on the question out there in the community. As I explained to you on the phone, when the relationship with Ohr Chadash and Ohav was starting to dissolve, I began looking into all my options, both Jewish and secular. I knew that without Ohav things would be financially very difficult for Ohr Chadash, and I had to figure out something by the end of the year. I also explored some online business opportunities for a short time, which were educational for me but never got to the point where I was ready to market anything. Thank G-d, the opportunity with Golf Manor came my way, and all those explorations were put to rest. I am very happy in my new position, and look forward to many great years of serving the Cincinnati Jewish Community. Thanks again for
your friendship, and for contacting me for more details on this. Sincerely, Rabbi Pinchas Landis Cincinnati, OH Dear Editor, While browsing through the Israelite I came across an article detailing the Jewish point of view on guns and gun control. It appears that Jewishly our gun control laws and history are looser than those of Texas. In the wake of Newtown it is increasingly hard to defend the right to bear arms. Any mention of being “pro-gun” is responded with an “it’s about the children, not your guns” type of answer. The tragedy in Newtown was just that, a tragedy. It did however show us one thing, that our children are not defended. According to the recent article,
those who would deny one the weapons to defend themselves are responsible for their deaths as well. While this sounds a little harsh, it does hold true. Lets replace the word “weapons” with “food” and “defend” with “feed” – certainly that would have no argument against it. The moment we give up our weapons is the moment we surrender our security, just as the moment we give up our Bible is the moment we surrender our faith. I encourage everyone to call their congressmen and women and ask them to not pass any more gun control laws. Say no to gun-free zones – a disarmed populace is defenseless against an armed criminal. I, for one, take pride that everywhere I go my family is protected. Sincerely, Aaron Binik-Thomas Cincinnati, OH
Reclaiming the values of the kibbutz movement By Dr. Erica Brown JointMedia News Service On Oct. 29, 1910, a group of 10 men and two women founded the first kibbutz in Israel: Kibbutz Degania, not far from the Kinneret. Joseph Baratz, who had the first child to ever be born on kibbutz, was one of the 10 men, and in 1960, he wrote his memoirs of half a century of kibbutz life. Eleanor Roosevelt, who visited Degania, wrote an introduction to the book. The social experiment fascinated her, and she observed that the “desire to live in common and share in common” represents “high thinking and unselfishness of action.” I recently saw the kibbutz and found an English translation of Baratz’s book, and could not put it down. Looking around the green fields and early kibbutz stone buildings, it is hard to imagine what it was like to come to a desolate expanse of swampland, unprotected and rife with malaria. Baratz left his family in the Ukraine with the passion of a young Zionist at age 16 to become a peasant of the soil of British Palestine. He writes of reacting against his upbringing and the surrounding culture, believing that “in order to construct our country we had to first reconstruct ourselves.” He was afraid to tell his par-
ents. When he finally confessed his desire to go to Palestine, his father went straight to the rabbi who offered an emphatic “no.” A boy of 16 should not undertake such a journey; he might “fall among free-thinkers” and drift into irreligious ways. But his parents eventually broke down and gave him the money for the journey. His mother called out as the train left the station: “Joseph, my child, be a good Jew,” and Joseph was off to a new life. Joseph found a group of likeminded new friends who wanted to work the land. All the theory that they had discussed about nature and human nature was then put to the test. Growing food was not about supporting people, as necessary as this was to a country that was not yet a country. It was a philosophical statement for these fledgling Zionists about “the wholeness” they lacked in exile. The group was totally committed to its goal of living collectively and tending the land and had a heated discussion about putting off marriage and children for at least five years until the kibbutz had initial success. One of the chief debaters against marriage at the time fell in love a month later, married and had the second child born on the kibbutz: Moshe Dayan. The idea, radical as it was at the time, was that people would
lack nothing because they possessed nothing; strength would come from the community and go back into the community. “Nobody would have to be ambitious or to worry for himself.” Degania, which means cornflower in Hebrew, would, over the next decades, attract some of the most famous Zionists and politicians, including A.D. Gordon, Joseph Trumpeldor, and the poet Rachel. It became a flagship kibbutz, spawning other kibbutzim and collective projects. In Baratz’s words, it fulfilled a dream of what the Jewish nation could become on its own terms: “The land had lost its fertility, and it seemed to us that we ourselves, divorced from it, had become barren in spirit. Now we must give it our strength, and it would give us back our creativeness.” The heyday of the kibbutz movement is long past. Much of the social experiment failed, but we also failed it. We have traded group laundry for the iPod, shared dining for Facebook networking. But we cannot forget Baratz’s youthful enthusiasm, which turned into a mature philosophy of obligation to land and country. In its largely secular flavor, the kibbutz movement imprinted Israel with values that twinned the deepest biblical connection to the earth with the Talmudic sensibilities of collective responsibility.
JEWISH LIFE • 17
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013
EFRAT, Israel – Take thy rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it become a serpent (Exodus 7:9). This is one of the most difficult texts to understand in all of the Pentateuch. Perhaps God is attempting to compel the reluctant Moses to command Pharaoh (in God’s name) to release the Israelites from Egyptian servitude; Pharaoh probably will not listen, just as he has not listened before, but eventually God will triumph – herein lies the significance of God’s command. But is it not strange for God to command Moses to command the Israelites to leave Egypt? There are two major responses to this question. The first is provided by the midrash and cited by Rashi: “[God] said to them [Moses and Aaron], ‘You must know that they [the Israelites] are given to refusing and complaining. [You will only succeed in leading them] if you accept that they will curse you and pelt you with stones.’” Hence, the Lord is telling them that they must learn to be most patient with the Hebrews. If this is the intent of the command, it is certainly prophetic; Moses enjoyed little satisfaction and even less honor from his position of leadership. To cite but two examples: when Korah arrogantly challenged Moses after the latter miraculously succeeded in liberating the Hebrew slaves, not one Israelite stood up in his defense. Dathan and Abiram remain hell-bent on returning to Egypt even after the Exodus. They become the ringleaders of a significant number of like-minded Hebrews in the desert after the hapless report of the scouts, brazenly refusing to discuss the matter with the greatest prophet who ever lived (Numbers 16:4,5,12). Accepting this interpretation would necessitate taking verse 13 to mean “He commanded them about the children of Israel,” rather than “to the children of Israel” which is a leap since the conjunction in question is el (to) rather than al (about). There is a second interpretation that suggests Moses was commanded to give a precept to the children of Israel: the command to free their own slaves (Jerusalem Talmud, Rosh Hashana 3, 5). The Israelites could not expect Pharaoh to free them if they were keeping slaves
Many people desire to flee the challenges of freedom and responsibility, even though the alternative may be subjugation. This is not what our God wants for humanity. themselves. This fascinating idea, which emanates from Jeremiah 34:12-17, posits that there were some Israelites who were close enough to Pharaoh to have been allowed to maintain slaves even during the Egyptian enslavement. Despite these interesting suggestions, I would prefer to return to the simplest meaning of the verse: that God spoke to Moses and Aaron and “commanded them to command the children of Israel and Pharaoh to take the children of Israel out of Egypt.” In order to understand how such a command could apply to the Israelite slaves, I would like to refer to Erich Fromm’s Escape from Freedom. This book maintains that the majority of the world has consistently rejected freedom and the responsibilities that come with it; the difficult and even fateful choices that a free person must often make. It is far easier for people to subject themselves to a totalitarian political or religious regime that will make all the choices – economic, social and even existential – for them. Virtually all the revolutionary uprisings, from the French Revolution to the Communist Revolution to the Iranian Revolution, have failed. Once the revolutionaries seize power, they become more tyrannical than those against whom they rebelled. Tragically, the Arab Spring revolutions have not yet proven to be exceptions to this rule. Many people desire to flee the challenges of freedom and responsibility, even though the alternative may be subjugation. This is not what our God wants for humanity. Hence Va’era opens with a new name for God: not “El Shaddai,” the Almighty and All-Powerful God who created and sets limits upon nature and people, but rather Y-H-V-H, the God of redemption and love who leaves room for, and thereby empowers, us to be His partners in redeeming and perfecting the imperfect world. He will effectuate the redemption – but the people must want to be redeemed, must be willing subjects, yearning to be free. Moses and Aaron must lead them as full
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partners with God and they will be expected to take risks for freedom by sacrificing the Egyptian pagan god (the lamb). They will be expected to put their lives on the line by fighting for their homeland, Israel, and settling it. The God of redemption must even wean Moses from his desire that God dominate every thing and direct the historical process without human input. The shortness of spirit (kotzer ruah) and hard labor of the Israelites under Pharaoh make it difficult for them to even imagine the possibility of freedom and human potential. It will be a long process, one that will not even be completed by the end of the biblical story. But God is preparing the way by instructing Moses to command the Israelites to want to be free, to cooperate as partners with God in their march to redemption.
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T EST Y OUR T ORAH KNOWLEDGE THIS WEEK’S PORTION: VA'ERA (SHMOT 6:2—9:35) 1. Why did Moshe not want to go to Pharaoh? a.) He felt he was not an effective speaker b.) He was afraid of Pharaoh c.) He was afraid of The Children of Israel 2. What was Hashem's answer to Moshe? a.) He must go to Pharaoh b.) Made Aaron go with him c.) Told Moshe he had nothing to be concerned about 3. How old was Kehas (Moshe's grandfather) when he died? years. Their lives overlapped. One can see that The Children of Israel did not spend 400 years in Egypt, but 400 years was counted from the birth of Isaac. 4. A 7:4 5. C 6:16
By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Contributing Columnist
WHAT’S
a.) 120 years b.) 127 years c.) 137 years 4. Did Hashem tell Moshe that Pharaoh would not let The Children of Israel leave Egypt easily? a.) Yes b.) No 5. How is Hashem referred to in the Parsha? a.) G-d of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob b.) G-d of the world c.) G-d of the Hebrews
2. B 6:13 Hashem told Moshe to take Aaron as his voice. Rashi 3. C 6:18 Kehas lived 137 years some of them before moving to Egypt. Amram lived 137 years, and Moshe was 80 when they left Egypt, a total of 354
by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin
SHABBAT SHALOM: PARSHAT VAERA EXODUS 6:2-9:35
Written by Rabbi Dov Aaron Wise
ANSWERS 1. A 6:12 The Torah says Moshe had a cover over his lips. Rashi Moshe was complaining that he should not go to Pharaoh but never meant he would not go. Or Hachaim
Sedra of the Week
18 • JEWZ IN THE NEWZ
JEWZ
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By Nate Bloom Contributing Columnist NEW FLICKS Two violent movies, “Zero Dark Thirty” and “Gangster Squad” open wide on Friday, January 11. “Zero” purports to tell the story of how an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working in secret, found and eliminated Osama Bin Laden. The director, Kathryn Bigelow, and the writer-producer, MARK BOAL, 39, previously made the critically-acclaimed “Hurt Locker” about the Iraq war and that film earned Boal an Oscar in 2010 for best screenplay. “Zero” has created a storm of controversy – while all agree it is an exciting, well-made film; most believe it endorses the view that torture was critical to obtaining information that led to Bin Laden’s location. Senators DIANNE FEINSTEIN (CA) and CARL LEVIN (MI) have weighedin, saying the classified info they’ve seen shows that torture was actually counter-productive in finding Bin Laden. Boal’s response is that critics are misinterpreting his script regarding the value and morality of info obtained via torture. “Gangster Squad” stars SEAN PENN, 52, as (real-life) gangster MICKEY COHEN (1913-76). BENJAMIN ‘Bugsy’ SIEGEL came to Los Angeles in the late ‘30s to make money (mostly gambling) for the East Coast mob. Cohen was his chief enforcer. When Siegel was murdered in 1947, Cohen took over his rackets. In the late ‘40s, the LAPD assembled a small group of officers into the “Gangster Squad” to try and stop Cohen and others. The movie is “loosely” based on a 2008 series of articles in the LA Times about the squad that can be read, online, for free. The film centers on two Squad members, played by Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling, who try and get Cohen “by any means necessary.” In real-life, they never got Cohen. The feds got him: in 1961, he was sent to Alcatraz prison for tax evasion. “Squad” is directed by RUBEN FLEISCHER, 38 (“Zombieland”). Emma Stone, who co-starred in “Zombieland,” plays Cohen’s “moll.” GOLDEN GLOBES, 2013 The Globes ceremony will be broadcast on NBC on Sunday, January 13, at 8PM. Here are the Jewish nominees and a few others of “Jewish interest.” Film nominees: Best actor (drama film): JOAQUIN PHOENIX, 38, “The Master”; and, with an asterisk, Daniel DayLewis, 55, “Lincoln.” (While secular now, he was baptized and sung in a church choir. His late mother was Jewish.) Best actress (drama): RACHEL WEISZ, 42, “The Deep Blue Sea.” Best actor (comedy/musical film): JACK BLACK, 43, “Bernie”: Best sup-
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porting actor (any film): ALAN ARKIN, 78, “Argo.” Best supporting actress (any film): Helen Hunt, whose paternal grandmother was Jewish, for playing therapist CHERYL COHEN-GREENE in “The Sessions”; Best director (film); STEVEN SPIELBERG, 66, “Lincoln”; Best film screenplay: TONY KUSHNER, 56, “Lincoln”; DAVID O. RUSSELL, 54, “Silver Linings Playbook,” and MARK BOAL, “Zero Dark Thirty”; Best original song “Suddenly,” a new song for Les Misérables (CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHONBERG, ALAIN BOUBIL and HERBERT KRETZMER); Best animated film: “Hotel Transylvania”—cowritten by ROBERT SMIGEL, 52, and directed by GENNDY TARTAKOVSKY, 42. TV nominees: Best lead actress (TV drama): JULIANNA MARGULIES, 46, “The Good Wife”; Best lead actress (TV comedy): LENA DUNHAM, 26, “Girls”; Supporting actor—TV series or TV movie: MAX GREENFIELD, 32, “New Girl” and MANDY PATINKIN, 60, “Homeland.” Separate awards are made for best drama film and best comedy or musical film. The award goes to producers. I’m sure these films have a Jewish producer – Drama: “Lincoln” (SPIELBERG); “Argo” (GRANT HESLOV); “Zero Dark Thirty” (Boal); Comedy/Musical: “Les Misérables” (ERIC FELLNER); “Moonrise Kingdom” (SCOTT RUDIN). Best TV drama: “Homeland” (HOWARD GORDON); “The Newsroom” (AARON SORKIN and S. Rudin); Best musical or comedy: “Big Bang Theory” (CHUCK LORRE); “Episodes” (DAVID CRANE); “Girls” (L. Dunham, JUDD APATOW, JENNIFER KONNER; “Modern Family” (STEVE LEVITAN). Sorkin, Lorre, Crane, Dunham, and Levitan are also credited with being the creator or co-creators of the above series and have written for these shows. GLOBE FOOTNOTES Ewan McGregor, best actor/film comedy (“Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”) has a Jewish wife and his children are being raised Jewish. Likewise, best supporting film actor Christoph Walz (“Django Unchained”) has a Jewish ex-wife and their son, at last report, was studying to be a rabbi. The newcomer star of “Moonrise Kingdom,” JARED GILMAN, recently had his bar mitzvah and Alka Seltzer, in an effort to raise flagging sales, has just brought back “Speedy Alka-Seltzer” singing the famous “plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is” jingle. The jingle, a huge ad hit from 19751980, was written by PAUL MARGULIES, a retired ad man who is Julianne Margulies’ father.
FROM THE PAGES 150 Y EARS A GO Our city was enlivened, Monday night, Jan. 11, with one of the most pleasant events that has occurred to our co-religionitsts for some time; the event transpired upon the presentation of a handome set of silver plate to our worthy and much esteemed president, Raphael Kyler, Esq. The plate was presented by members of the United Hebrew Congregation, as a testimonial for the liberal actions and financial abilities of the President, who has undoubtedly saved our synagogue from being sacrificed, at a considerable cost, both to his purse and mind. The plate consisted of a massive silver service, appropriately engraved; the articles were presented with a very neat address which was responded to by the recipient in a manner that did credit both to the head and heart, and invited the spectators, some 300 in all, to as handsome a supper as could possibly have been spread in this “neck of the woods;” the supper was enlivened by music, speeches and any quantity of the juice of the grape. The whole wound up with a ball in which every one vied with the other in enjoying themselves and doing honor to our generous host. – January, 23, 1863
125 Y EARS A GO Among the many who attended the inauguration of Governor Foraker at Columbus on Monday last were Col. Sam W. Trost, wife and sword, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Loewenstein, Miss Bob Loewenstein and Mrs. Emma Wolf. The party was a lively one. Senator Henry Mack acted as chaperone. Tomorrow evening Mr. Isaac Rypins will lecture before the Grace Aguilar Literary Society, on “Home Influence.” Mr. Rypins is a student of the Hebrew Union College, and a man of unusual promise. The lecture will be given at the Y. M. H. A. Hall. After the lecture a select literary and musical programme will be rendered. Mr. Joseph Bloch, Past Chief Councellor of the Order of Chosen Friends, Cincinnati Council, was presented with an elegant goldheaded cane and a gold badge on Tuesday evening last. Both tokens were appropriately engraved and were presented in recognition of the many years of faithful services rendered the Order. Mr. Bloch is a charter member of the Order, and since its inception has been a most devoted and successful worker for the cause. The tokens are well bestowed. – January 13, 1888.
100 Y EARS A GO It has been announced that Bernhard Bettman will hand in his
resignation on March 1 as United States Internal Revenue Collector for this district, a post which he has filled for sixteen years. Mr. Bettman was president of the Board of Governors of the Hebrew Union College from the time of its foundation until two years ago when he resigned that position, although he still remains a member of the Board of Governors. Mr. Bettman, in spite of his advanced age, is still hale and hearty and enjoys both mental and physical health. He has been a leading figure in both Jewish and civic affairs for over half a century. The Cincinnati Zionist Society held its first meeting of the year on Sunday, January 5, at the Palace Hotel. The new year brought with it a succession of new ideas and plans, the discussion of which brought forth many satisfactory results. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Mr. Abraham Friedman; vice president, Miss Sadie Broooks; recording secretary, Miss Belle Kluber; financial secretary, Miss Mildred Frankel; treasurer, Mr. Louis Fraid. The next meeting will be held at the Sinton Hotel. – January 9, 1913
75 Y EARS A GO Last Wednesday, Jan. 5th, the Jewish Center Five rebuffed the strong Midwest Radio quintet, 3631. Aided by the addition of lanky Gene Neal at center, our lads showed class and power. The Centerites, showing their strongest first half scoring punch of the year, led 19-15 at the midway mark. Continuing in the second half and with Neal and Kleiman sharing offensive honors, the Center team withstood a last-minute drive to chalk up their second league victory of the season. Dr. Harold Vinacke, professor of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati, Member of the Foreign Policy Association and widely known authority on International Relations, will deliver the second lecture in the series, “Changing Forms in Governments,” Tuesday, Jan. 18th, at 8 p.m. His topic, “Facism in Japan and the Present Sino-Japanese Conflict,” is of extreme pertinence in the present international situation. Dr. Vinacke is exceptionally well-equipped to discuss the matter and to shed light on the future of Japanese imperialism and the possible repercussions in world politics. – January 13, 1938
50 Y EARS A GO Mr. and Mrs. David Bremen, of Dayton, OH, announce the marriage of their daughter, Patricia Lorene, to
Mr. Gerald Mallin, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Mallin of this city. The ceremony was performed by Rabbi Samuel Fox at Beth Jacob Synagogue in Dayton, Sunday, Dec. 20. Mrs. Leonard Fram was the matron of honor. Other attendants were Mrs. Arthur Steinberg, Miss Donna Mallin, sister of the bridegroom and Miss Bari Fink. Mr. Gary Mallin, brother of the bridegroom, was the best man. Ushers were the Messrs. Don Miller, Terry Karp and Marc Fialco. A dinner reception followed. Mrs. Mallin attended Ohio State University and will continue to teach in Cincinnati. Mr. Mallin attended UC and is with the Leader Furniture Co. here. After a honeymoon in Miami Beach, the young couple will make their home at 7853 Sunfield Drive. January 10, 1963
25 Y EARS A GO Jason Milgram, son of Joel Milgram, a junior at Withrow High School, in the International Baccalaureate Program, is attending the current session of the Alexander Muss High School in Israel. When asked why he wanted to attend high school in Israel, Jason responded, “After reading various brochures and speaking with the director of admission I knew that this program was right for me. Not only will I be studying the region in which three major religions were founded, but I expect to gain a better understanding of my own historical roots. Through this program I will also be able to meet students from all over the United States who share some of the same beliefs as me. We will, by studying this history of Israel, also be able to view its contemporary problems with a better understanding. I look forward to this great experience and wonder how it might change my outlook on life.” This unique academic experience is open to all junior and senior high school students. It is sponsored by the Israel Programs Cabinet of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati in conjunction with the Ministry of Education in Israel. It is offered four times during the school year and during the summer. - January 14, 1988
10 Y EARS A GO About 40 people gathered Jan. 7 at Stan and Susan Chesley’s home in Amberley Village to honor Bob Levinson, the man who found the land for Camp Livingston in Switzerland County, Ind., and to hear about and raise money for another round of renovations at the campsite.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013
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COMMUNITY DIRECTORY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS Access (513) 373-0300 • jypaccess.org Big Brothers/Big Sisters Assoc. (513) 761-3200 • bigbrobigsis.org Camp Ashreinu (513) 702-1513 Camp at the J (513) 722-7258 • mayersonjcc.org Camp Chabad (513) 731-5111 • campchabad.org Camp Livingston (513) 793-5554 • camplivingston.com Cedar Village (513) 754-3100 • cedarvillage.org Chevra Kadisha (513) 396-6426 Cincinnati Community Kollel (513) 631-1118 • kollel.shul.net Cincinnati Community Mikveh (513) 351-0609 • cincinnatimikveh.org Eruv Hotline (513) 351-3788 Fusion Family (513) 703-3343 • fusionnati.org Halom House (513) 791-2912 • halomhouse.com Hillel Jewish Student Center (Miami) (513) 523-5190 • muhillel.org Hillel Jewish Student Center (UC) (513) 221-6728 • hillelcincinnati.org Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati 513-961-0178 • jcemcin.org Jewish Community Center (513) 761-7500 • mayersonjcc.org Jewish Community Relations Council (513) 985-1501 Jewish Family Service (513) 469-1188 • jfscinti.org Jewish Federation of Cincinnati (513) 985-1500 • shalomcincy.org Jewish Foundation (513) 214-1200 Jewish Information Network (513) 985-1514 JVS Career Services (513) 985-0515 • jvscinti.org Kesher (513) 766-3348 Plum Street Temple Historic Preservation Fund (513) 793-2556 Shalom Family (513) 703-3343 • myshalomfamily.org The Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education (513) 487-3055 • holocaustandhumanity.org Vaad Hoier (513) 731-4671 Workum Fund (513) 899-1836 • workum.org YPs at the JCC (513) 761-7500 • mayersonjcc.org
CONGREGATIONS Adath Israel Congregation (513) 793-1800 • adath-israel.org Beit Chaverim (513) 984-3393 • btzbc.com 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 • btzbc.com
Congregation Ohav Shalom (513) 489-3399 • ohavshalom.org Congregation Ohr Chadash (513) 252-7267 • ohrchadashcincinnati.com Congregation Sha’arei Torah shaareitorahcincy.org Congregation Zichron Eliezer 513-631-4900 • czecincinnati.org Golf Manor Synagogue (513) 531-6654 • golfmanorsynagogue.org Isaac M. Wise Temple (513) 793-2556 • wisetemple.org Kehilas B’nai Israel (513) 761-0769 Northern Hills Synagogue (513) 931-6038 • nhs-cba.org Rockdale Temple (513) 891-9900 • rockdaletemple.org Temple Beth Shalom (513) 422-8313 • tbsohio.org Temple Sholom (513) 791-1330 • templesholom.net The Valley Temple (513) 761-3555 • valleytemple.com
EDUCATION Chai Tots Early Childhood Center (513) 234.0600 • chaitots.com Chabad Blue Ash (513) 793-5200 • chabadba.com HUC-JIR (513) 221-1875 • huc.edu JCC Early Childhood School (513) 793-2122 • mayersonjcc.org Kehilla - School for Creative Jewish Education (513) 489-3399 • kehilla-cincy.com Mercaz High School (513) 792-5082 x104 • mercazhs.org Kulanu (Reform Jewish High School) 513-262-8849 • kulanucincy.org Regional Institute Torah & Secular Studies (513) 631-0083 Rockwern Academy (513) 984-3770 • rockwernacademy.org Sarah’s Place (513) 531-3151 • sarahsplacecincy.com
ORGANIZATIONS American Jewish Committee (513) 621-4020 • ajc.org American Friends of Magen David Adom (513) 521-1197 • afmda.org B’nai B’rith (513) 984-1999 BBYO (513) 722-7244 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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LIEBERMAN from page 8 “My father brought me to the synagogue for Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah and Purim,” Fischer recalled. “During Pesach we didn’t organize a seder, but we did have matzah. Father was a member of the Jewish community until the end of the 1950s.” That changed once Czechoslovak Communist leaders became more virulently anti-religious; Judaism was no longer high on his family’s list of priorities. It changed again – as it did for many of Fischer’s generation – when his son began to discover his Jewish roots. Also named Jan, Fischer’s son was born in 1989, the same year the Velvet Revolution swept communism from the country. “He was very interested in the story of the Holocaust and he liked to talk about my father despite [the fact] that he died in 1975,” Fischer said. “Through his discoveries he developed a strong bond with Judaism, and he brought me back.” Fischer credited the Lauder Jewish School, which his son attended, for educating the whole family. Fischer’s father, also a Prague statistician, was forced to collect numerical data on Jewish families for the Nazis. “When he arrived in Auschwitz he didn’t expect to live, but Mengele found out he was a mathematician and thought he could be of use,” Fischer said. Although some may not deem Fischer as Jewish by halachah, or Jewish law, he invokes the Holocaust experience as a defining characteristic of those who view themselves as Jews. “It is a common tragedy,” he said, “and based on it I feel part of this community.” Even in the relatively liberalminded Czech Republic, however, being Jewish can be a political disadvantage. When Fischer took over as prime minister, a smattering of comments on blogs referred negatively to his Jewish origins. There were hints, too, that Fischer was part of a secret brotherhood, as one of his advisers also was Jewish. But Czechs mostly were just curious about their new leader’s religious background. His ethnicity again became a focus of public fixation when his predecessor, thinking he was off the record during a taped magazine interview,
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(513) 531-9600 slurred a gay minister and Fischer, linking a penchant for compromise to his Jewishness. During his tenure as prime minister, Fischer was admired for aggressively pursuing extremist groups that were terrorizing the country’s largest minority, the Roma. As a result of these activities, and partly on account of his religion, Fischer’s son was put under police protection. Still, asked about antiSemitism in the Czech Republic, he responds, “This country has so many political problems, but antiSemitism is not one of them.” Although Fischer’s influence as president would be limited in a parliamentary democracy and his powers largely ceremonial, the head of state does occasionally remark on foreign policy issues. And that is where Israel comes up again in conversation. Fischer is bluntly critical of the European Union’s sometimes muddy statements with regard to Israel. Asked if he agreed with the EU’s repeated condemnation of Israeli settlements, he said, “The voice of the European Union is sometimes strong [on this topic]. It is not the opinion of every country. The reality is that the EU hasn’t got any foreign policy. I don’t think the settlements are the greatest issue in the region. Iran is the greatest issue.” If there is a shadow hanging over Fischer in the eyes of Czech voters, it is not his religion but his former membership in the Communist Party. Fischer says he joined under pressure to keep his job as a public employee and has publicly apologized for the decision. “I gave in and it is nothing I am proud of,” he said. Compared to his two largerthan-life predecessors – human rights luminary Vaclav Havel and Euroskeptic Vaclav Klaus – Fischer is distinguished largely by the fact that he is so reserved. Critics have noted his lack of charisma. Jiri Pehe, a former adviser to Havel and now a well-known political commentator, doesn’t think that’s such a bad thing. Fischer, he says, appeals to the average citizen. “Czechs are fed up with a presidency where a president has to be highly visible and interfere with party politics, and make speeches on issues like global warming,” Pehe said. “Maybe they want someone ordinary, someone to act as the chief notary, putting a seal on international documents.”
20 • TRAVEL
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(Clockwise) Silver Whisper in St. Malo, France; Douro River boat ride; Irv Silverstein recites the Kaddish while Vicky Aaronoff prays silently; The romantic UNESCO village of Sintra, Portugal; Carolina Hotel at Pinehurst Resort; Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.
The Year in retrospect: twelve in twelve Wandering Jew
by Janet Steinberg “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” Susan Sontag said it first, but I have to agree with Susan, I haven’t been everywhere, but everywhere is certainly on my list. As a young widow some 39 years ago, I learned that a single journey could change the course of a life. I have since come to realize that my first trip alone truly changed my life. I fell in love with travel and that love affair has continued for four decades. Come along with me and share some of my favorite 2012 memories that will remain with me forever. 1. CRUISE: Silversea’s Silver Whisper is elegant, yet casually sophisticated. She lavishes her guests with the luxuries of a private yacht, the amenities of a country club, and the fine services of an exclusive hotel. Silver Whisper sailed me some 1418 nautical miles from Lisbon, Portugal to Southampton, UK with five fascinating ports in-between. Highlights included shore excur-
sions to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; the sobering beaches of Normandy, France; and the fascinating Mont St. Michel in Saint-Malo, France. 2. BOAT RIDE: When Silver Whisper docked in Oporto, Portugal, I opted for Silversea’s Douro River Shore Excursion that headed down to the Ribeira quarter where we boarded the boat. The boat ride, passing under numerous bridges, provided a totally different panorama of Oporto’s skyline and gave a serene river view of the beauty of the historical area 3. UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE: Silversea Silver Whisper’s shore excursion to the Normandy Beaches brought to life one of the most historic events of World War II. Via the D-Day landing beaches of Sword, Juno, and Gold, we visited the Arromanches Invasion Museum, dedicated to the largest landing operation in history…the June 6, 1944 storming of the beaches of Normandy by the Allied forces. Following a typically French lunch at Chateau La Cheneviere, a 17th century manor house, we visited the American Cemetery where a majority of the American soldiers killed at Omaha Beach are buried. Here, 9,386 marble crosses and Stars of David are aligned on a plateau above the somber beach. 4. LAND TOUR: Gray Line’s Cityrama Tours in Lisbon, Portugal made my two days of touring informative as well as pleasurable. On day one, I rode their Hop-On Hop-Off double-decker buses to
reacquaint me with the city. Hopping on and off at destinations of my choice, was a grand open-top experience. On day two, I chose Gray Line’s all day tour to Sintra, a romantic UNESCO village that enchanted kings and inspired poets. 5. INN: From the time I entered the lobby of Old Edwards Inn located in Highlands, N.C., I was totally enveloped by the warm ambience of the huge stone fireplace and the wood and stone interior that surrounded me. Authenticity prevailed. Little wonder that Old Edwards Inn, the meandering mountain resort that graces the scenic Southwestern Plateau of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, has consistently been voted a top travel destination for its world-class spa, for relaxation, and for romance. 6. LODGE: The Lodge at Buckberry Creek, high above the hustle and bustle of Gatlinburg, Tenn., is a handsome hideaway that opened in 2005. This jewel in the crown of Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains recaptures that rustic elegance of upstate New York’s famous Adirondack lodges and combines it with the unspoiled beauty of the Smoky Mountains. Each suite in this all-suite lodge is exquisitely decorated in rustic elegance. Gargantuan fireplaces and balconies overlooking the mountains make for a perfect blend of atmosphere and accommodation. It is rugged but luxurious, casual but chic. 7. RESORT: Pinehurst Resort is a legend. The grande dame of
North Carolina, who is well into her 12th decade, has undergone many facelifts. Yet she is still as lovely and charming as she was in her flaming youth. As in any successful transformation, her changes have been skillfully executed without altering the overall appearance of the patient. The majestic Carolina Hotel, with its signature copper cupola and sweeping verandas, has been dubbed the “Queen of the South.” The historic Holly Inn, Pinehurst’s first building, is a Four-Diamond hotel where time seems to stop as you walk in the door. 8. FOREIGN HOTEL: Located right in the heart of the city, Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon has long been considered one of Lisbon’s premier hotels. The hotel provides a glorious bird’s-eye view of the city’s stunning historic sites – and makes the perfect starting point for exploring its unique architecture. Varanda, the hotel’s restaurant, features a drop-dead view of Eduardo VII Park. With its proximity to the ocean, Varanda features explosive seafood as well as fresh grills and Mediterranean vegetables. 9. HISTORIC HOTEL: Grove Park Inn, tucked in the breathtaking landscape between the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountain range, is a return to the elegance of a bygone era. It is yesterday, today and tomorrow. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Grove Park Inn has preserved the integrity and charm of its turn-of-the-century atmosphere.
10. HOTEL MANAGER: Donald Friedman, the manager of Embassy Suites Ft. Lauderdale, is a Jack-of-all-trades and, contrary to the old saying, he is also the master of ALL. Donald can be found running the business office, overseeing the front desk, and even cleaning tables at the hotel’s daily complimentary breakfasts. If you give a suggestion to Don, you can count on it being adopted if it has merit. 11. RESTAURATEUR: The ebullient Nicholas Figel, chef/owner of Highland, North Carolina’s Cyprus Restaurant, works culinary magic from his open kitchen. His Cognac Toasted Marrow-bone and Parmegiano Reggiano Eggplant leaves little wonder why this dimpled darling has packed in the crowds every night for the past decade. If you hope to garner a prime seat by the open kitchen in Cyprus Restaurant, it is suggested you call a week in advance. 12. MUSEUM: From a distance, Frank Gehry’s titanium-clad, architectural masterpiece Museo Guggenheim, in Bilbao, Spain, looks like a massive steel sculpture. Philip Johnson, the dean of American architects, called the splendid bizarrely shaped $100million museum “the most important building of our time.” The museum’s “starchitect” describes his building (that opened on the banks of the Nervion River in 1997) as a ship that has run aground. Others have likened the silhouette of Bilbao’s Guggenheim to a roller coaster, a mermaid, a
FOOD / AUTOS • 21
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013
A Bubbie’s myseh — a The 2013 Lexus LS 600h L—you Grandmother’s story won’t believe it’s a hybrid Zell’s Bites
by Zell Schulman Being a Jewish grandmother in today’s busy, modern world is a learning experience. Some grandmothers like to be called “Nanna,” others “Gram” and still others, “Grandmother.” As a modern Jewish woman, living in today’s busy world, I wanted my grandchildren to call me “Bubbie.” With intermarriage in the family, being called “Bubbie” was important to me. It has a good, old fashioned, traditional, Jewish ring to it. Most people think of a “Bubbie” as elderly, with white hair and a small frame who talks with an accent. The only thing close to this image is this modern “Bubbie’s” gray hair. Taking my grandchildren shopping is one of the pleasures I look forward to. When I was little, before the new school year began, my grandmother always took me shopping and bought me something new to wear for school. The fact that Rosh Hashana and the beginning of school usually came around the same time “killed two birds with one stone.” I’ve tried to continue this tradition, but distance turned shopping into mail-ordering on the internet. Remember plaid skirts, saddle shoes, corduroy pants and knee socks? I’m afraid these wonderful stand-bys have been replaced by coveralls, jeans and gym shoes. It’s not the price or quality of the garment that’s important today, it’s the label. You’d better buy the right labels or the kids won’t want to start classes. Both sexes wear pierced earrings and everyone seems to own a Swatch watch. I remember my mother telling me pierced ears were old fashioned and a swatch was something you needed when you wanted to buy material for new drapes. “Bubbie,” my grandchild said, “Don’t you love these jeans? They’re really cool. They’re called ‘stone or acid washed.’” I thought to myself: “Do I love those blue jeans?” To me they looked like they’d been through a wringer and somebody put too much bleach in the water. Pencils are “out;” computers are “in.” Thank G-d an old fashioned peanut butter and jelly sandwich is still popular, but the decorated lunchbox is out. Today, stu-
dents carry everything in backpacks. I thought backpacks were for camping. Some children attend alternative schools. I wasn’t given an alternative. I had to attend the district school in my neighborhood. My grandchildren don’t walk to school, they ride the school bus or are taken in those wonderful (?) things called “carpools.” As I see it, getting ready for school isn’t what you wear but who, nor what you carry but how. Being a “Bubbie” in today’s busy, modern world may be different, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. MY GRANDCHILDREN’S FAVORITE MACARONI & CHEESE Serves 6 Be sure and use Kraft sharp Cheddar Grated Cheese for the best flavor. I almost always double or triple this recipe because it is so easy to prepare and freezes well. Ingredients 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/4 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2-1/2 cups milk, room temperature Two 10-ounce packages Kraft sharp Cheddar Grated Cheese Plus extra for topping 8 ounces elbow macaroni (I prefer Mueller’s Ready Cut Macaroni because of the size) cooked in boiling water, drained Freshly ground white pepper to taste (optional) Hot sauce (optional) Method In a medium-size, heavy saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Stir in the flour and salt until smooth, about 2 minutes, until the flour is cooked. Remove from the heat and gradually stir in the milk until smooth. Return the pan to the heat and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened; five to six minutes. Remove from the heat and pour into another bowl. Gradually stir in the cheese. This is very important! If the cheese is added too quickly, it will get too hot and may separate from the sauce. At this point, taste for seasoning. You may wish to add more salt, pepper and a few dashes of hot sauce. Turn the cooked macaroni into a buttered 2-quart casserole. Pour the cheese sauce over the macaroni and mix well. Sprinkle with some of the reserved grated cheese. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly. NOTE: If you’r e planning on freezing this casserole, do not bake it. Freeze it first and bake it later , covered for the first 15 minutes, then uncovered for 30 more minutes.
The new look of the 2013 LS 600h L makes a bold statement, and what’s under the hood truly backs it up. The direct-injected 5liter, 438-hp V8 engine, plus electric motor, combines with an eightspeed automatic transmission on a more agile platform to deliver an invigorating blend of acceleration, seamless shifting, control and fuel efficiency. Whether you’re looking for added exhilaration or taking a relaxing drive through the neighborhood, Drive Mode Select enables you to make your LS 600h L more responsive or efficient with the simple turn of the switch. To help provide even more traction and command, all-wheel drive is available on every vehicle, even when you opt for the 19-inch wheels. The system distributes power to the wheels with the best grip, helping to improve traction and control while delivering greater command during acceleration and cornering. With 438 total system horsepower and a 0-to-60 time of 5.6 seconds, it’s no wonder the LS 600h L is a leader among luxury hybrids. After all, from launch it was the world’s first prestige luxury and AWD V8 hybrid, and it hasn’t slowed since. Plus the LS 600h L pairs a powerful 5.0-liter V8 gasoline engine with cuttingedge hybrid technology to deliver smooth, seamless power you wouldn’t expect from any hybrid.
To aid with handling and to make the ride even more comfortable, the platform of the LS was strengthened in a number of ways. And aerodynamic fins were added to the body to help reduce drag and enhance stability. The result? More control and confidence on the road.
2013 LS 600h L
For climate comfort unlike any other, at the push of the start button the available Climate Concierge automatically monitors the temperature of four separate climate zones and adjusts not just the fans, but also the temperature of the seats and steering wheel individually so that each zone achieves its preset level of comfort as quickly as possible. Exhilaration isn’t solely delivered by what’s under the hood. And on the LS 600h L, every detail has to contribute. The bolstered front seats have been exclusively enhanced, but that’s just one of the many ways the LS 600h L goes above and beyond to deliver an intense driving experience. Each of
the textures of the interior was thoughtfully put into place in order to bring out an authentic expression of the material. For example, the shape of the leather trim evokes the tension of leather being stretched. Likewise, the aluminum trim design is inspired by metal being carved and polished. Unlike anything else in the world, the stunning design of the available Shimamoku espresso steering wheel and matching trim combines the organic feel of natural wood with a layered look that evokes modern art. Sustainable bamboo in the new interior trim available in the LS Hybrid has been handpicked for the perfect age and color, resulting in a stimulating contrast in the interior design. The new LS is the first Lexus to feature noise-reduction wheels, which force resonant noise into an opening where the sympathetic vibrations cancel each other out and significantly reduce road noise. Engineers and technicians spent over 2,000 hours tuning the available 19-speaker, 450-watt Premium Surround Sound Audio System so that the sound quality in the LS would rival the finest concert halls. And to audiophiles around the world, it will come as no surprise that the name on the system is Mark Levinson, whose dedication to quality extends even to the smallest screw in an amplifier. MSRP starts at $119,910.
2012 CT 200h $299/MONTH
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22 • OBITUARIES D EATH N OTICES DATES, Beverly Spiegel, age 78, died December 23, 2012; 11 Tevet 5773. GOLDMAN, Christine C., age 88, died December 31, 2012; 18 Tevet 5773. KORELITZ, Melvin N., age 93, died December 31, 2012; 18 Tevet 5773. MEISS, Nancy, age 90, died January 1, 2013; 19 Tevet 5773. BERG, Jane, age 92, died January 4, 2013; 23 Tevet, 5773. SCHAPERA, Aidan Jos, age 26, died January 4, 2013; 23 Tevet, 5773. SCHNECK, Melvin, age 88, died January 8, 2013; 23 Tevet, 5773. MEASURES from page 7 Such measures, widely touted in the wake of Newtown, were opposed by the National Rifle Association, the country’s premier gun-rights lobby. Wayne LaPierre, the group’s executive vice president, responded to the Newtown shooting by proposing a number of new measures, such as placing armed guards in each of the nation’s public schools and focusing on mental health issues. The NRA’s response was widely criticized – even by some noteworthy conservatives such as the columnist Ann Coulter and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. But some Jewish gun owners said LaPierre didn’t go far enough. “The NRA is way too soft on the issue,” said Charles Heller, the executive director of the Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, an advocacy group. “We should be increasing the layers of security in our school by training teachers and administrators who want to work also as security.” Heller, whose organization has linked gun control to genocide, recommended offering tax breaks to veteran special-forces soldiers and retired policemen in exchange for protecting schools. A society with fewer guns, he said, would be more violent. After the Newtown shooting, a broad range of Jewish groups – the Religious Action Center, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, B’nai Brith International and the National Council of Jewish Women, among others – threw their support behind measures to limit the availability of guns. To many Jewish gun enthusiasts, however, history provides ample justification for arming civilians and refusing to rely solely on police protection. They routinely invoke the powerlessness of Jews during the Holocaust and the current security threats to Jewish institutions, and are dumbfounded by Jews who favor gun control.
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NOMINATION from page 6 The National Jewish Democratic Council drew back from the tough criticism it leveled against Hagel in 2007 when he was considering a run as a Republican presidential candidate. NJDC said Monday that it is now “confident” Hagel would follow Obama’s lead on Israel. Former Rep. Barney Frank (DMass.), who has asked to be appointed interim senator should Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) become secretary of state, on Monday softened his opposition to Hagel for his comments on Jews and gays. The shift on Hagel in some Jewish corners may be enough to give the 11 Jewish senators room to support Hagel, or at least to not oppose him – a significant gain in a body in which senators tend to take their cues on special interests from colleagues who belong to the group in question. The dimming of the prospect of an all-out lobbying effort by some pro-Israel groups against Hagel’s candidacy appears to be the product of White House outreach to Jewish groups in recent weeks, pushback by Hagel’s supporters and Obama’s own record on Israel. The American Israel Public
Affairs Committee was silent on the nomination – and not just as a matter of its traditional reticence to comment on nominations. Capitol Hill and pro-Israel insiders told JTA that AIPAC has not taken a stand in this battle. Steve Rosen, a former foreign policy director for AIPAC who now consults for a number of proIsrael groups, said it would not help Israel’s interests to undercut a candidate for this key security post. “It’s about making friends, not getting into fights with people,” Rosen said. Rabbi Steve Gutow, who directs the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, said his public policy umbrella group would not take a position on Hagel but that he looked forward to a thorough vetting process. In an interview with the Lincoln Journal Star in his home state of Nebraska, Hagel said his record of support for Israel was “unequivocal” and had been subject to “falsehoods and distortions.” “I have said many times that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism,” he said. “I have also questioned some very cavalier attitudes taken about very complicated issues in the Middle East.” Hagel suggested that differences on policy were a matter of
nuance and tactics, not of goals. “I have not supported unilateral sanctions” on Iran “because when it is us alone they don’t work and they just isolate the United States,” he said. “United Nations sanctions are working. When we just decree something, that doesn’t work.” In the interview, Hagel did not refer to the controversy over his use in 2006 of the term “Jewish lobby” and his assertion when he was a senator that his loyalty was to the United States, not Israel. Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul general in New York and a contributing fellow at the Israel Policy Forum, said Israeli leaders naturally would have concerns about past Hagel statements. But Pinkas said they would deal with Hagel not as the loquacious onetime senator who often was critical of Israeli policy, but as the defense secretary hewing to a policy set by Obama of a close U.S.-Israel security relationship. “What a senator says at a threemartini lunch and what a secretary of defense says are two different things,” Pinkas said. Obama made clear the White House would aggressively tout Hagel’s bona fides as a wounded Vietnam War veteran, twice calling him a “patriot.” There also was a veiled reassurance to Israel in
Obama’s remarks. “Chuck recognizes that American leadership is indispensable in a dangerous world,” Obama said. “I saw this in our travels together across the Middle East. He understands that America stands strongest when we stand with allies and with friends.” Peter Medding, a political scientist at Hebrew University, said Israel’s leaders understand that the White House shapes the defense relationship and it would be counterproductive to create distance with the U.S. president at a time of increased regional tensions. “Making policy is a matter for Obama, and the Israelis are not interested in taking on Obama at this time,” Medding said. Hagel is by no means out of the woods. A number of Republican senators already have pledged to vote against him. His apostasy on President George W. Bush’s Iraq policies – in 2007, Hagel supported Democratic legislation requiring a troop withdrawal from Iraq – is still an open wound in the party. A lone Republican senator could hold the nomination unless the Obama administration is able to muster 60 votes, which could be daunting in a chamber in which Democrats control 55 of the 100 seats.
A portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven.
And Beethoven was a Zionist, singing out his message of hope – this time for the Jewish people. He sang of the glory of our cause and he assured us of its triumph. It was definitely not an ordinary musical evening.” But even at that moment, Manson could not help but notice “that the male section of the chorus was smaller than usual” – because so many young men had been compelled to take up arms. It was a vivid reminder of what was ultimately at stake. Amidst the wonder and excitement of the emerging new country and culture, “one sud-
denly remembers that the charming couple discussing modern art in Palestine have an 18-year-old boy who is, in all likelihood, roaming the hills somewhere to guarantee his peoples security,” he wrote. “And boys like that die every day in Palestine.” Manson understood: the nation’s security would have to come first. The young Jewish soldiers would have to fend off Palestinian Arab attacks and defeat the five Arab armies that were preparing to invade. Only then would the State of Israel be free to blossom. And it would.
one for egalitarian groups. Hess also told JTA that he would like to see the rear section of the plaza opened to cultural activities such as concerts and dancing, which are prohibited now. “There are many egalitarian groups who come to the wall and view it as the peak of their emotional and spiritual experience in Israel,” said Uri Regev, a Reform rabbi who runs Hiddush, an Israeli religious pluralism nonprofit. “The fact that they can’t express that spiritual experience in a spiritual way is a missed opportunity.” According to a 2003 Israeli Supreme Court ruling, nonOrthodox and women’s prayer groups can pray at Robinson’s Arch, an archaeological park adjacent to the Kotel Plaza where an admission fee is required. Regev suggested that Sharansky may recommend improvements to Robinson’s Arch, including an
expanded prayer area and free admission for prayer groups. That may be the maximum compromise that Rabinowitz would make. “I think what’s happening today at the Kotel is the best for all viewpoints of the world,” Rabinowitz told JTA. “No one gets exactly what they want – not haredim and not Women of the Wall. If someone thinks they can bring something better, I’d love to hear it.” Rabinowitz declined to comment on time- or space-sharing proposals. Meanwhile, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which controls the Kotel, announced recently that women are no longer allowed to bring tallit or tefillin into the Kotel Plaza. The Prime Minister’s Office, one official there told JTA, hopes Sharansky will bring his “unique
experience and abilities in serving as a bridge for all streams within the Jewish people” as he approaches the problem.
BEETHOVEN from page 9 Shortly after Rabbi Silver’s arrival, their hosts pressed Silver and Manson to attend a performance by the Palestine Orchestra. With “very heavy hearts” over reports of new Jewish casualties, they reluctantly assented. “As it turned out, all of us were glad that we went,” he noted afterwards. The orchestra played Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, based on Schiller’s exuberantly hopeful “Ode to Joy,” and it “had a deep personal meaning for every person” in the audience. “There was electricity in the air. SHARANSKY from page 10 Hoffman says her minimum demand is for women to receive one hour at the beginning of every Jewish month – excluding Rosh Hashanah – when they can pray as a group with tallit and tefillin, and read the Torah. Ideally, Hoffman says she would want the Kotel’s partition between men and women to be removed for several hours each day so that women and egalitarian groups can pray there undisturbed, but she acknowledges that such a scenario has virtually no chance of being approved by Rabinowitz. Other activists say the solution lies in adding a partition rather than removing one. Yizhar Hess, the CEO and executive director of the Israeli Conservative movement, Masorti, advocates dividing the Kotel Plaza into three sections: one for men, one for women and
Courtesy of Joseph Karl Stieler/Wikimedia Commons
Courtesy of Miriam Alster/Flash90/JTA
Jewish Agency head Natan Sharansky, shown at a Jerusalem conference in June 2011, is tasked with finding a solution to the growing battle over women’s prayer restrictions at the Western Wall.
AI
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