Jewish Journal, Vol. 35, Issue 9, Dec. 16, 2010 by The Jewish Journal, MA

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Vol 35, No 9

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Rabbis Offer Free Torah Study Starting in January Amy Forman Special to the Journal

MARBLEHEAD — When he arrived at Marblehead’s Temple Sinai a little more than a year ago, Rabbi Aaron Fine had a dream to bring more adult Jewish education to the North Shore. With the backing of the Jewish Federation of the North Shore and other local rabbis and Jewish leaders, his dream will become a reality in January. Fine, along with Rabbis Baruch HaLevi of Congregation Shirat Hayam, Yossi Lipsker of Chabad of the North Shore and David Meyer of Temple Emanu-El, are launching Torah Hub: The North Shore Adult Jewish Education Collaborative. The Torah study classes will take place on Thursday evenings, from 7:30 to 9 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center in Marblehead. The rabbis will rotate leading studies each month. Funded by the JFNS through its new community

JFNS

Local rabbis get their daily torah workout. Standing (l-r) are Rabbi Aaron Fine, Rabbi Yossi Lipsker, Rabbi Baruch HaLevi and sitting, Rabbi David Meyer.

innovation grant program, the program is free and open to the

community. The idea for local rabbis to join

together and teach in a communal location (a beit midrash, or house of study) occurred to Fine after he taught “Radical Judaism” at the JCCNS, and listened to community input at last spring’s JFNS forums. “In order for North American Judaism to have legs, Jews need to be literate about our tradition and engaged in learning. In Judaism, learning is a life-long spiritual endeavor, and I believe we need to reclaim this core aspect of our religious inheritance if we want to discover the wisdom that will help us grow as individuals and as a Jewish community,” Fine said. Torah Hub will feature guest teachers and speakers, as well as a community day of learning. The goal is to create a multi-faceted program that will foster a culture of valuing Jewish learning on the North Shore. Fine envisions Torah Hub continued on page 2

Volunteers Needed to Serve Christmas Dinner

8 editorial

9 opinion

#ish winners had unique ways of expressing their 5 Judaism

BOSTON NORTH

Chanukah Cheer

The North Shore joyously celebrated the Festival 6 of Lights

ARTS & CULTURE

Craig Taubman Live!

SENIORS

Annual Tradition Unites Jews of Melrose

LYNN — For many years, Barry Silverman of Peabody has helped organize the preparation and serving of meals at My Brother’s Table on Christmas Day. This mitzvah allows the many Christians who regularly volunteer at the soup kitchen to enjoy the day off with their families. Silverman is actively seeking volunteers for two shifts on December 25. The first shift runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m., and focuses on food preparation. The secBarry Silverman ond shift runs from 1:45 to approximately 5 Sophie Silverman of Peabody volunteered p.m., and incorporates at My Brother’s Table in Lynn last Christmas food service, singing Day. and clean-up. My Brother’s Table is located at 98 Willow Street in Lynn. The phone number of the facility is 781-595-3224. Interested volunteers are asked to contact Kim Silverman at kasilverman@verizon.net or 978-532-5465.

Victorious Videos

Jewish musician headlines Malden Temple 7 birthday bash

Helping the Less Fortunate Over the Holidays

2 federation

inside

The Nell Factor

A friend honors women she knows who have 15 battled cancer

travel

Cape Town

Writer encounters Jewish culture and penguins 19 in South Africa Nancy Kukura

Members of Temple Beth Shalom helped serve Christmas Dinner last year.

Nancy Kukura Special to the Journal

MELROSE — For more than two decades, Temple Beth Shalom in Melrose has helped host and serve a free Christmas Day dinner at the First Baptist Church at 561 Main Street in Melrose. The idea to help those less fortunate in the community came

16 calendar

about during an economic downturn in the late 1980s. According to Temple member and event organizer Jackie Kugell Yezerski, “It occurred to people in Temple leadership that our congregation was uniquely positioned to offer this dinner. Now, we can’t imagine the holiday season without this event.” continued on page 4

18 russian chronicle

21 obituaries

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2 The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Federation Announces Six Community Innovation Grant Awards Amy Forman Special to the Journal

In the first round of its new grant initiative, Jewish Federation of the North Shore has awarded $23,000 for six programs involving 16 North Shore organizations. To be eligible, programs were required to demonstrate collaborative effort between at least two North Shore Jewish 501(c)3 organizations, be open to the entire community, and focus on one of the four strategic priorities identified through last spring’s community forums: engaging the next generation in Jewish life; inspiring adult Jewish education; caring for the most vulnerable; and connecting with Jewish culture. “The grant committee was excited about the number and variety of requests received in our first round,” said Chair Cory Schauer of Marblehead. “It is a great first step for Federation in financing ideas that our constituent organizations have to address our community’s priorities, and we were able to fund programs benefiting diverse populations and communities.” The following grant awards

Torah Study from page 1

as expandable and replicable. While the initial phase is a collaboration of Chabad of the North Shore, Cohen Hillel Academy, Congregation Shirat Hayam, JCCNS, JFNS, Temple Emanu-El and Temple Sinai, and involves the participation of rabbis from Swampscott and Marblehead, the program can easily be expanded to other North Shore areas. A component geared to teens is also planned in collaboration with the North Shore Teen Initiative. Rabbi Fine is thrilled to see Torah Hub come to fruition. “I have dreamed of creating learning opportunities like this for adults and young adults for a long time,” he said. “There is always more to learn. Jewish study is not just

Torah Hub at a Glance January — Souls on Fire Rabbi Yossi Lipsker will use stories and song as tools for a spiritual journey to remind us what is important in life. February — Torah at the Edge Rabbi Baruch HaLevi will explore radical, controversial and revolutionary texts, ideas and practices in Judaism concerning sex, afterlife, food, life, love and more. March — Intro to Talmud, the Matzah Burrito and Other Deep Matters Rabbi Aaron Fine will lead an experiential learning opportunity about Passover rituals and seder. April — Making your Life as a Work of Art Rabbi David Meyer will consider Mussar, the sources of Jewish ethical literature, and the teachings of Rabbi Judah Loew while examining issues of ethics, morality and the highest ideals of human conduct.

were made: Mitzvah Day, sponsored by Cohen Hillel Academy, Jewish Community Center of the North Shore and the North Shore Teen Initiative: $5,000 Purim Baskets for the Jewish Family Service Food Bank and Woodbridge/Aviv, sponsored by JFS, North Suburban Jewish Community Center and Temple Ner Tamid: $2,500 J-Serve Volunteer Day, sponsored by NSTI, CHA, United Synagogue Youth, SMARTY/ YaiSH (youth groups of Temple Emanu-El and Cong. Shirat Hayam) and Temple Ahavat Achim: $3,000 Torah Hub, sponsored by Temples Sinai and Emanu-El, Cong. Shirat Hayam, Chabad of the North Shore, JCCNS, CHA, NSTI and the JFNS: $6,500 Israel Rocks, Hebrew immersion and Jewish identity program, sponsored by Temples B’nai Abraham and Shalom: $3,000 Family History Interview Program, sponsored by the Jewish Historical Society of the North Shore and Temple B’nai Abraham Religious School: $3,000 As president of the Jewish about gaining knowledge. It’s about personally engaging with the real questions in our lives in conversation with one another, and with the wisdom of our ancestors. Torah Hub is about giving Jews of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to do that,” Fine added. Register for Torah Hub online at.jccns.org or call 781-6318330.

Historical Society and Temple B’nai Abraham, Alan Pierce of Beverly was involved in procuring two of the grants, and is deeply appreciative of the new source of funding. “This newly established grant program is a marvelous way to achieve very important goals, delivering much needed funds for interesting and worthwhile projects, while at the same time stimulating a much needed spirit of collaboration as we learn and work together,” Pierce said. The grant review committee is overseen by Kimberlee

Schumacher and is made up of diverse members of the community. For the second round of applications, which has a deadline of May 1, 2011, the committee is looking to fund additional creative programming, especially those that are collaborative efforts spanning the cities and towns that JFNS serves. “We hope that the organizations in our community continue to request grant money as they develop innovative programming ideas with meaningful Jewish impact,” said Schauer.

Israel Bonds also salutes the heroic rescue forces who risked their lives to extinguish the blaze, exhibiting the exemplary courage that has enabled Israel to persevere through every challenge. Joshua Matza President & CEO Richard Hirsch Chairman of the Board

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The leadership and staff of DCI--State of Israel Bonds offer heartfelt condolences to the families whose loved ones perished in the deadly Carmel fire, and join in solidarity with the entire nation in mourning this tragic loss.

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The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Temples to Collaborate on ‘Israel Rocks’

Rachel Jacobson

Rachel Jacobson dons a colorful hat and uses stuffed animals to teach colors and animals in the class Israel Rocks.

Amy Sessler Powell Jewish Journal Staff

BEVERLY — Temples B’nai Abraham and Shalom will collaborate on an educational program, Israel Rocks, ushering what many in both communities predict will be an era of increased cooperation. “Every time we collaborate with other temples, we are doing the right thing financially and for our membership. I believe we really need to be working much better together and should be sharing a lot more,” Temple Shalom President Tom Cheatham said. Deborah Vozella, executive director of Temple B’nai Abraham, described the collaboration as “just one more effect of the synagogues taking a look at the way we have done business, realizing that we cannot continue the same way for a lot of reasons.” Israel Rocks is a Jewish identity and Hebrew immersion program taught by Rachel Jacobson

and Hazzan Idan Irelander, spiritual leader of Temple Shalom. The program is open to children ages six to 13, and offered for one hour a week. Irelander described it as an extracurricular activity not meant to replace traditional religious school, but to supplement it with a campstyle program.

“I hope this is the first of many steps of ever-increasing collaboration between the temples.” In order to foster the collaboration, the two temples successfully applied for an innovation grant from the Jewish Federation of the North Shore, and received $3,000. The program, which ran this year at Temple Shalom, will be moved to Temple B’nai Abraham, where there is more

MARBLEHEAD — The JCCNS has programs for children of all ages during the winter vacation break, December 24-31. Preschoolers can take advantage of themed activities from 9 a.m. to noon, with extended care also available. For the full schedule or to sign up, call Amy at 781-631-8330 x107. For older kids, Adventure on

the Hill runs daily and will feature swimming and gym time, cooking, art projects and more. Kids must bring a dairy lunch. Contact Ellen at 781-639-2880 or pelzo@cohenhillel.org. A beginner’s lacrosse clinic for boys runs from December 27-30, from 9 a.m. to noon. Call Athletics Director Andrew Dalton at 781-631-8330 x144.

Don’t

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Israel Rocks is open to the public and costs $100 for classes starting Monday, January 3, from 4 to 5 p.m., and running weekly until June 6. For more information, contact Deb Vozella at deb.vozella@tbabeverly.org or 978-927-3211 x14.

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space and where they hope to attract more children. The program had approximately eight children, but they are planning for up to 20 in the new location. No temple membership is necessary, and Israel Rocks is open to the community. “When we teach, it is all through acting, music and games. We are bringing real Jewish identity to children because they are learning the same as the children in Israel,” Jacobson said. “The move will help us attract a bigger class. Ultimately, we hope to take the program on the road and offer it in many locations,” she added. Linda Goodspeed of Beverly brought her two children to Salem for the program last year. “They started to bring some of their friends and they love it. There are so many kids at the Beverly temple, so maybe more will come,” Goodspeed said. Liz Donnenfeld, executive director of the Jewish Federation, said they are thrilled to be supporting programming from synagogues, “especially programs that focus on our Israel strategic priority.” Cheatham is looking at the shared resources, and what that brings to both communities. “I hope this is the first of many steps of ever-increasing collaboration between the temples,” he said.

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4 The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Israeli Consul General Thanks Teens

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Israeli Consul General Shai Bazak presented the teens who completed the Israel 3D class with certificates.

Amy Sessler Powell Jewish Journal Staff

SWAMPSCOTT — Using the Hebrew word, “aharai,” which means “follow me,” Israeli Con sul General Shai Bazak lauded the 36 teens who have stud ied Israel for the last six weeks through an Israel 3D class offered at Chabad of the North Shore. “You guys came out from your free time to study Israel, and Israel appreciates you. You are leaders. Be proud to be con nected to Israel and lead the way so others will follow you,” Bazak said. Bazak, new to his position as Israeli Consul General to the New England region, made his first official visit to the North Shore on December 12 to honor the teens at this community cel ebration. “You are the future leaders

of the Jewish people and the future leaders of your commu nity. If you will go, people will follow you,” he said. Bazak spoke of the many accomplishments of Israeli technology, including the man ufacture of components for cell phones, medical equipment and the development of clean energy and agricultural tech niques. “You are part of a proud peo ple, and I feel obligated to come here and tell you this. Thank you,” Bazak said.

The afternoon, which was also the final class of Israel 3D, culminated with an Israeli lun cheon of hummus and falafel and a demonstration of Krav Maga, an Israeli self-defense technique, presented by Krav Maga USA of North Reading. The community celebration was sponsored by the Jewish Journal, Cohen Hillel Academy, JCCNS, Jew Crew and Jewish Federation of the North Shore, and made possible in part by a grant from the North Shore Israel Fund of the JFNS.

Tradition Unites Jews of Melrose from page 1

Temple Beth Shalom works in cooperation with the First Baptist Church, the Melrose Council on Aging and local businesses in presenting the meal. The gala feast features turkey and all the trimmings. Citizens from Melrose and any neighbor ing communities are welcome to come. The Temple strives to create an island of festivity for people who might otherwise be isolated during this season of joy. “We cordially invite anyone who would like to share in our celebration on Christmas Day,” Yezerski said. “Because we do not celebrate Christmas, we are the perfect group to reach out to the community at this time of year. One crew arrives at the church early in the day to start the turkeys, and lots of other Temple members show up to help cook, carve, serve, enter tain — and then clean up. “This event inspires gen erosity in so many people,” Yezerski added. “Many busi nesses and individuals come forward to offer assistance. For example, for many years, Sweet Spot Bakery has donated baked goods, which we serve during

dinner. This year, a new bakery, Busy Bee, will donate holiday treats as well. If there are extras — which there always are — we pack them for our guests to take home.” Yezerski noted that musi cians from Temple Beth Shalom lend their talents to the festivi ties, as well. Oftentimes several of the Temple’s professional jazz musicians accompany the rousing Christmas carol singalongs. “As in past years, monetary contributions for this year’s din ner will be cheerfully accepted,” Yezerski said. Checks should be made payable to the Temple Beth Shalom Christmas Dinner Fund, 21 East Foster St., Melrose 02176. All donations will be used exclusively for the dinner, and any surplus food or money will be donated to other com munity causes. Reservations for the Christmas dinner are not required, but are encouraged. To reserve a spot or arrange for transportation, please call the Melrose Council on Aging at 781-665-4304. Doors will open at noon on December 25, and serving will begin at 1 p.m.

Nancy Kukura

Singing is led by Linda Becker, Erna Hooten-Koester, Potomac Rubbins, Taylor Rubbins, Karen Rumelt and Doreen Rosenzweig.

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The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

#Ish Winners Find Original Ways to Express their Judaism Barbara Wolf Special to the Journal

Rabbi Aaron Fine, spiritual leader of Temple Sinai, has been voted winner of the “What’s Your #ish” contest sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the North Shore, in conjunction nationally with the Jewish Federations of North America. More than 500 members of the community voted for eight videos produced locally and posted on Federation’s Facebook page, describing what it feels like to be Jewish. The top three winners won prizes generously donated by Lowell Gray. Rabbi Fine’s first place video chronicled the moving story of the conversion of an entire family to Judaism: a Russian-born father, Roman Catholic mother and their engaging son, a first grader at Cohen Hillel Academy. Rabbi Fine gave his prize, an Apple iPad, to the family in celebration of the joyous event. Second prize was captured by Ruby Jacobs of Swampscott, whose video demonstrated her mother’s prowess at mak-

ing chicken soup, and faith in the age-old remedy for an ailing child. The clip culminated in a hilarious finish. The 10-year-old won an iPod Touch. The third prize winner, Scott Powell of Swampscott, produced a Rocky-style video backed by rap Jewish musician Nossan Zand. Defiantly dressed in a Warrior sweatshirt, Scott exhibited the similarities between Judaism and lacrosse: strength, determination, bravery and the ability to overcome adversity. Powell, a Swampscott High Courtesy photos School sophomore, won an iPod L-r Rabbi Aaron Fine, Ruby Jacobs and Scott Powell, winners of the Federation’s “What’s Your #ish” contest. Shuffle. Liz Donnenfeld, JFNS executive director, noted, “We’re inspired by the community’s response to the ‘What’s Your #ish’ contest. Every submission showed effort and origihen Stephanie nality, and expressed a different (Linsky) Katz brought aspect of life through a Jewish her parents and grandparents lens. Our thanks go out to every to Camp Tel Noar on participant and everyone who voted and left a comment on our Visiting Day two summers Facebook page.” ago, George Marcus greeted The three winning videos may all four generations with be viewed on Federation’s webhis trademark warmth. He site, jfns.org, along with comknew Katz’s grandparents, ments from the community.

Camp Tel Noar Takes a Leap of Faith

Honoring a Community Sports Hero

JCCNS

Youths play basketball at the JCCNS.

MARBLEHEAD — More than 100 people will lace up and hit the court December 19 in memory of a North Shore sports hero who taught thousands of kids about basketball and good sportsmanship. Jimmy Myers spent more than 25 years coaching and mentoring at the Jewish Community Center of the North Shore. “He had a huge impact on the lives of so many families,” said David Pliner, who played and coached with Myers for years. After Myers died unexpectedly in 2006, his friends and colleagues raised $100,000 to rebuild the JCCNS gymnasium floor in his honor. His name is written in center court. Four years ago, friends launched the annual Jimmy Myers 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. It will take place on Sunday, December 19, from 1-8 p.m. “We want everyone to have a good time, to have a day of basketball that’s competitive and fair,” Pliner said. Myers always wanted kids to feel good about themselves, Pliner said. If a game became a blowout, he would shut off the scoreboard so no one felt humiliated.

Jeremy Meyer, a sophomore at Marblehead High School, started playing with Jimmy at age seven. Now he’s helping to organize the tourney. “One of the greatest lessons he taught us was to be good sports, and to treat our opponents with respect,” Meyer said. Sydney Pliner, 16, also played with Myers and is helping by handing out brochures, recruiting players on Facebook, designing tournament t-shirts, and more. The JCCNS invites everyone in third grade and older to participate in the tournament. The schedule is: Grades 3-5, 1-2:30 p.m. Grades 6-8, 2:30-4 p.m. Grades 9-12, 4-5:30 p.m. Adults, 6-8 p.m. For more information, visit jccns.org or call Andrew Dalton at 781-631-8330 x144.

Sylvia and Norman Revman from his days of living on the North Shore; he knew her mother Audrey Linsky from her days as a student at Temple Israel Hebrew School where he was director for 21 years and he knew Stephanie and her daughter, Madison, from Camp Tel Noar. “I loved that he made the connections to my parents, my grandparents and my daughter. It was such a warm loving feeling, like he and Norma were my extended family,” Stephanie Katz said. Tel Noar and the Cohen Camps have many three generation families. As an alumna and camp parent, Katz is thrilled to see

the progress on the George Marcus Aquatic Center, a proud legacy for a great leader so proud of Camp Tel Noar. The Cohen Camps inaugurated the pool project as part of the Capital Campaign for Camp Tel Noar on the 65th anniversary of the camp this past summer to honor George’s memory and to advance the camp’s rich legacy linking generations of campers. With half the money to complete the project still to be raised,

the camp decided to start the project this fall so the pool will be ready for the upcoming summer. Gifts of $1,800 and above will be matched by the Cohen Foundation on a 1:2 basis. Gifts for the Marcus Center can be sent to: ‘Camp Tel Noar – Marcus Center’, 30 Main St., Ashland, MA 01721 or contact Jonathan Cohen, Executive Vice President of the Cohen Foundation at MarcusCtr@ cohencamps.org or 781-4494001 with any questions.

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6 The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Chanukah, Oh Chanukah ! The North Shore celebrated the joyous festival of Chanukah with a wide variety of events. Here are some highlights:

ody Chabad Peab

kahmerous Chanu ody hosted nu menorah lighting ab Pe of d ba blic Cha , Anita , including a pu related events ee Mall in Peabody. Above t with Tr af y cr rt h be ka Li nu e ha th at aC vers works on Rudin of Dan n. de Ja , her grandson

Ner Tamid

Thanks to te Marla M chno bers far away logy, those with family indel memco ul d still celebrat Laura Minde e together. l of Marbleh ea Dean College d in Franklin, M is a freshman at the Mindel fa mily was able ass. Using Skype, to light cand say the blessi les ng above are La s together as a family. Pi and ctured ura on Skyp e, brother Robb ie, a sophom and her younger ore at Marbl High School. ehead

On December 5, the NSJCC, Temple Ner Tamid and the Lappin Foundation hosted a community Chanukah celebration at the Temple featuring lunch, games, arts and crafts and a DJ.

Hunt Nursing Home

Susan Berg, activity director at Hunt Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Danvers, instructs Richard Dunn on how to spin the adapted dreidel she made so he and other residents could win some Chanukah gelt.

Joe Barnett

On December 2, Rabbi Asher Bronstein from the Andover Chabad led the community in a candle lighting in Middleton with Joe Barnett, who is the donor of the town menorah. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed refreshments and activities at the Middleton Library.

Cohen Hillel Academy

Cohen Hillel Academy students built a giant menorah out of cans, which were donated to the Kosher Food Pantry after the holiday. Pictured above, l-r, are Nina Torstensson (1st grade), Sofia Vatnik (1st grade), Jacob Fridman (2nd grade) and Jake Cohen (8th grade).

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Children at Temple Emanu-El Hebrew School in Marblehead made incredible edible menorahs out of pretzels, gummy candy, marshmallow fluff and graham crackers. Pictured above with the treats, l-r, are Dwight, Will (age 7), Lena and Mitchell (age 8) Robson of Marblehead.

arts & culture

The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Intriguing Winter Reads Jessica Chmara Jewish Journal Staff

his fearless and intensely introspective memoir describes the painful journey of Darin Strauss trying Half A Life to heal from one tragic day Darin Strauss McSweeney’s, in his life, half 2010 a lifetime ago. In May of 1988 at just 18 years old, the carefree senior, just one month shy of graduating from high school, was on his way to play golf with friends when his Book Oldsmobile colBytes lided with a bicyclist. The victim, Celine Zilke, was a 16-year-old classmate and acquaintance who died as a result of the accident. Even though it was ruled a no fault fatality, this book details the emotional turmoil and aftermath suffered. The self-hatred and guilt were a tremendous burden. This staggering memoir is beautifully and eloquently written. This talented author does not waste a word in his prose, sharing his emotions openly as if he were speaking with a close friend. V V V

aybe “I Remember Nothing” is the wrong title for this candid and witty glimpse inside the life of this famous, 69-year-old I Remember writer/screenNothing The Nora Ephron writer. Alfred A. Knopf, 135-page book is filled with 2010 intimate and sometimes shocking details. Now into her third marriage, Nora Ephron shares sage reflections on everything from her love of journalism to growing up in Beverly Hills with alcoholic parents; her breakups and betrayal by her second husband, her forgetfulness and even her relationship with the in-box of her computer.

Ephron has lived life to the fullest, and is not shy about dispensing the intimate details (none of which she seems to have forgotten). She says the “most ironic part about getting older is that while you’re at your wisest, you are also at your dumbest, since you can’t even remember the name of the last book you just read.” She decided to write the book while she still remembers the details. Ephron fans will not be disappointed. V V V

o w a r d Jacobson, a gifted British s t o r y t e l l e r, weaves the tale of male friendship in modern day London. The novel is centered on the The Finkler lives of Julian Question Treslove, Sam Howard Finkler and Jacobson Libor Sevcik. Bloomsbury, Julian and 2010 Sam are lifelong friends, and polar opposites. Julian is a BBC producer who has faced a lifetime of disappointments and failed relationships. He has a fascination with Jews, whom he perceives as smarter and more successful. He even has a nickname for Jews — Finklers — after his good friend, Sam. Sam is a Jewish anti-Zionist who openly supports the Palestinian cause. He is a popular and successful radio and TV personality and author. Libor, a Czech refugee, is a rich and successful writer, and a Jewish Zionist. The three men spend most of their time engaging in discussions about Israel and Palestine, and the change of Jewish life in London. “The Finkler Question” examines being Jewish in the 21st century, and delves into the relationship of three men bonded by friendship, loss, exclusion and belonging. It is a brilliant masterpiece, exquisitely crafted by one of the great writers of our generation. Jacobson’s attention to detail, and the nuances of his characters is expert. His British humor and wit resonates from beginning to end.

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After Laughless Night With Martin, JCCNS Gets Next Program Free Amy Sessler Powell Jewish Journal Staff

MARBLEHEAD — What started as a conversation with Steve Martin broadcast live from the 92nd Street Y in New York City on November 29 to the JCC and 37 other sites nationally, erupted into a national controversy on audience input into cultural programming. The 92nd Street Y, sponsor of the program, offered $50 credits for future programs to the 900 ticket holders in their live audience, and credits for a free future program to their simulcast customers — a savings the JCCNS will pass on to their customers, Leigh Blander, JCCNS spokeswoman, said. As the conversation between Martin and his interviewer, Deborah Solomon of the New York Times, focused entirely on Martin’s latest novel, “An Object of Beauty,” audiences in simulcast sights emailed that they wanted more about Martin’s film career. The complaints that have been covered in the national press criticized the interviewer for focusing on minutiae in the new book. Ultimately, a representative from the Y walked onto the stage with

Steve Martin

Courtesy photo

a note asking Solomon to refocus the discussion. The aftermath has raised the question: Should an audience have a say in a live program? Lajla LeBlanc of Marblehead was pleased when Martin chose to answer her question before the live audience and she enjoyed the show, but acknowledged its shortcomings. In terms of the larger question: should the audience have input?, LeBlanc said in this case they should because the event was a live simulcast where the audience had the ability to email questions.

“That is the whole point of a simulcast,” she said. A few days later in an op-ed in the New York Times, Martin wrote, “I have no doubt that in time, and with some cooperation from the audience, we would have achieved ignition. I have been performing a long time, and I can tell when the audience’s attention is straying. I do not need a note.” For the JCCNS, the kick-off program with Martin was free, but subsequent programs were to cost $10 for members and $12 for non-members. Now, the next one will be free as well. “We are bemused by the controversy, but not upset,” Blander said. The next program will be “Michael Lewis in Conversation with Ira Glass,” on Feb. 3, 2011. Lewis is the author of “The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine,” “Liar’s Poker,” “Moneyball,” “The Blind Side” and other best sellers. Glass is a well-known public radio personality. The entire program is underwritten by generous grant from the Paul Taylor and Adeline Gertrude Magrane Rothwell Philanthropic Fund.

Malden Temple Birthday Bash to Feature Craig Taubman MALDEN — For the last several of its 80 years, Temple Tifereth Israel of Malden has been singing the songs and melodies of Craig Taubman’s “Friday Night Live” CD at its worship services, so it made perfect sense to bring the musician to Malden for the congregation’s 80th birthday celebration on December 18. “We could not think of a more joyful way to celebrate our 80th anniversary than by sharing this music with the wider community in our beautiful sanctuCourtesy photo ary,” said Susan Lawrence, one Jewish musician Craig Taubman will of the event organizers. Temple Tifereth Israel is headline Temple Tifereth Israel’s Malden’s only Reform syna- birthday bash on December 18. gogue. It has a rich tradition of musical liturgical programming performs Taubman’s songs. under the direction of longTaubman’s dynamic music time musical director Bryna has been an inspiration to the Tabasky. The temple choir often Jewish community for more

than two decades. Based in California, the artist has created contemporary liturgical versions of such classics as “Romemu,” “Adonai S’fatai” and “Shalom Rav.” Combining traditional themes and ancient teachings with the sounds and experiences of contemporary Jewish life, his music brings the joy and spirit of Jewish heritage to life. The concert is also a fundraiser for the synagogue, with a limited number of VIP seats available that include a special post-concert reception with the performer. Tickets range from $18-$100. The concert will take place December 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Tifereth Israel, 539 Salem St., Malden. 781-3222794 or templetiferethisrael.org.

editorial

8 The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

A Statement of Civility

here is the old story of the Jewish Robinson Crusoe, found after many years stranded on an uncharted isle. When he was found, he showed his rescuers the two synagogues he built while he was there. Why does one man stranded on an island need two shuls? His reply: one he attends daily, and the other he’d never step into.

We are, and have always been, a people of strong opinions and beliefs. Our tradition is established upon a foundation of disagreements and debates; for thousands of years it has been augmented by arguments, and our tradition is richer for it. Some might say that we live for the argument; after all, when you have two Jews, you’ll find at least three opinions.

Jewish tradition encourages healthy debate, but it cannot countenance causticity or rancor. Name calling, labeling, libeling and public humiliation are all contrary to the best that we stand for as Jews.

The Jewish Journal serves as a forum for debate, and we welcome healthy and

robust discussion of anything relevant to our Jewish community. The Journal also serves as a means of bringing our Jewish community together, despite its many differences. When we publish articles or letters that attack individuals or organizations, whether by name calling or exaggerated accusations, we fail on both counts. Debate should stand on the merits of the arguments, without the peppering of unseemly language or character assassination. As a matter of policy, the Jewish Journal will henceforth reject all articles and letters that step beyond the boundaries of respectful discourse. Our tradition tells us “every person is precious, because he is created in the image of God.” That tradition reminds us that we are responsible to treat every person, regardless of station or opinion, with dignity and respect. Let us make this something for us to live by, starting with our own pages.

letters to the editor Eyewitness in Haifa Describes Fire

Manhattan/Marblehead Connection We were so excited to be part of the “Live from the 92nd Street Y” event at our JCC in Marblehead on November 29. This innovative, new media series allowed us to feel as though we were in New York with incredible luminaries and performers — in this case, Steve Martin. The JCC was absolutely bursting with energy as over 200 attendees came to witness the launch of this new educational and cultural programming outlet that linked us to communities across the United States and Canada. When we were announced from N.Y. as new participants in the 92 Street Y family, the crowd erupted in cheers.

Steve Martin’s intelligence and wit really came across as he spoke about his new novel dealing with the art world. We’re thrilled that as a community, we will be able to take advantage of upcoming fabulous speakers throughout the year. The lineup for winter/spring should be announced shortly by the JCC, and we urge everyone to find a speaker that interests them and give this new cultural option a try. We are proud to be part of an agency that is working proactively to bring programs to us that expand our horizons, and we invite your energy and ideas as we move forward in strength. Ginny Dodge, Diane Knopf, Sara Winer Marblehead

Being Jewish But Giving Wisely The Journal on 12/2/10 published an editorial about the necessity of continuing to support all things Jewish for furtherance of our culture and heritage. It makes a wise case for its argument, but it left out a very significant point central to its argument. Over the past few years, a number of my writings, viewed as cynical, pessimistic and in many cases praised for candor and frankness, attacked local Jewish philanthropy for slipshod, anachronistic, wasteful and unclear practice of management and disclosure. Those writings were penned with justifiable cause. The facts divulged by the JFNS and JCCNS warranted this. To be fair, however, a number of those verbal assaults were addressed by the organizations themselves quite well. Better grant opportunities through JFNS are available communally. Significant waste and duplication was addressed. Cooperation between synagogues and social service agen-

cies seems abundant. The JCCNS itself, presumably, made good on all payments to vendors, restored its fiscal credibility and is addressing the future direction of the entity. All optimistic and positiveseemingly so. However, I am reminded of the words of the late actor John Houseman, as paid spokesperson for the now defunct Smith Barney, when he said that “Smith Barney makes money the old fashioned way, they EARN it.” Jewish charities at all levels, synagogues and social service agencies, should use the lessons learned so pervasively during the prior years. It is not enough to feel entitled to respect — one must earn respect, both at an individual or corporate level. If our local charities govern and behave with lack of candor and transparency, it will hurt their own bottom line. Happy Holidays. Russell S. Grand Salem

Around eleven o’clock, Mount Carmel started to go up in flames. In the beginning, we didn’t afford too much importance to this. Fires in this area are quite common. However many hours later, I started to understand the extent of the disaster.    Dozens of police cars, firefighting trucks and ambulances filled the streets of Haifa and “flew” in the direction of the fire. At the same time, the evacuation of Damon Prison was taking place, and trucks full of prisoners were traveling through the city. The heavy smoke and red sun that hid within it filled the city with an atmosphere of tension and pressure. A big black cloud loomed over my neighborhood that left no room for imagining the extent of the disaster.    I turned on the television and watched the updates for hours. The reports on the 41 cadets who perished saddened me greatly, and it was frightening to hear about the police person-

nel and firefighters who were injured while fighting the fire.     Very quickly, other fire locations broke out. Panic spread among the city’s residents. Many started evacuating their homes voluntarily, and quickly many nearby settlements were evacuated. A friend of my family was forced to evacuate her home on her kibbutz in Beit Oren. She said in the news that she had to evacuate her home, but her 13-year-old daughter was not with her. I was very alarmed after hearing this.   The reports continued, the fear rose, the thoughts and imagination raced through the minds of each and every person in the area. The question arose: “What should I take with me if I have to evacuate?” I personally put on better shoes and put a picture of my late grandfather into my pocket. I called my grandmothers to tell them to prepare a suitcase in case they would need them.  When I went to sleep, I couldn’t

really sleep soundly and was very afraid.    On December 3, many of my schoolmates did not come to school — they were evacuated from their homes in the middle of the night. My teacher talked about the events and told us also about another terrible incident — a Grade 11 student from Beit Biram was missing! The brave boy had volunteered with the firefighting team in the area and apparently did not survive … thinking about this shook us all! The only “positive” side of this disaster is the high morale exhibited by the residents and the feeling of unity and willingness to help out throughout the country and by other countries all over the world! We all hope that the fires will stop quickly and not cause further damage. Thank you for caring and for your love. Noya Israely Haifa, Israel

Make Elected Officials’ Voting Records Public I learned this past election how important it is for our Jewish community to see, in black and white, the voting record of our Congress people. Yes, it is public information, but it isn’t easy to find. I believe that how our representatives vote on issues that deal with Jewish life and Israeli issues must be front and center. This transparency will be beneficial for all involved — our reps will benefit from real time feedback on a vote, and our community will be empowered to act on the issues that are important to us. In addition, it is important for us to know on which committees our Congress people serve. For instance, Senator

John Kerry is head of Foreign Relations. We MUST know his voting record on all things Middle East, at the very least. Rep. John Tierney serves on a sub-committee that oversees UNWRA in Gaza. We MUST know how he votes on issues that involve Gaza. Two Massachusetts congressmen have enormous influence over issues that affect Israel. Yet during this past election, most of the community had no idea how Senator Kerry or Congressman Tierney voted on Israeli issues, until it became an issue late in Tierney’s campaign. It would be terrific for our community to have easy access to that information. The Journal can be enormously helpful

providing this non-partisan information. The vote is the vote — people can decide how they want to use the information. This will also make our Congress people accountable. No longer can they say they are a friend of Israel, and vote just the opposite. No longer will they be able to say that Jewish issues are on their radar screen, and be absent from important votes. We will know the truth.    I ask that the Journal seriously consider this request. Thank you for your hard work and providing a newspaper whose relevance continues to grow! Myranne Janoff Marblehead

opinion

The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Swindle of the Year Charles Krauthammer

arack Obama won the great tax-cut showdown of 2010 — and House Democrats don’t have a clue that he did. In the deal struck last week, the president negotiated the biggest stimulus in American history, larger than his $814 billion 2009 stimulus package. It will pump a trillion borrowed Chinese dollars into the U.S. economy over the next two years — which just happen to be the two years of the run-up to the next presidential election. This is a defeat? If Obama had asked for a second stimulus directly, he would have been laughed out of town. Stimulus I was so reviled that the Democrats banished the word from their lexicon throughout the 2010 campaign.НYet, despite a very weak post-election hand, Obama got the Republicans to offer to increase spending and cut taxes by $990 billion over two years. Two-thirds of that is above and beyond extension of the Bush tax cuts, but includes such urgent national necessities as windmill subsidies. No mean achievement. After all, these are the same Republicans who spent 2010 running on limited government and reducing debt. And this budget busting occurs shortly after the president’s deficit commission had supposedly signaled a new national consensus of austerity and frugality. Some Republicans are crowing that Stimulus II is the Republican way — mostly tax cuts — rather than the Democrats’ spending orgy of Stimulus I. That’s consolation? This just means that Republicans are two years too

late. Stimulus II will still blow another near-$1 trillion hole in the budget. At great cost that will have to be paid after this newest free lunch, the package will add as much as one percent to GDP and lower the unemployment rate by about 1.5 percentage points. That could easily be the difference between victory and defeat in 2012. Obama is no fool. While getting Republicans to boost his own reelection chances, he gets them to make a mockery of their newfound, second-chance, post-Bush, Tea-Party, this-time-we’re-serious persona of debt-averse fiscal responsibility. And he gets all this in return for what? For a mere twoyear postponement of a 4.6-point increase in marginal tax rates for upper incomes. And an estate tax rate of 35 percent — it jumps insanely from zero to 55 percent on Jan. 1 — that is somewhat lower than what the Democrats wanted. No, cries the left: Obama violated a sacred principle. A 39.6 percent tax rate versus 35 percent is a principle? “This is the public option debate all over again,” said Obama at his news conference last week. He is right. The left never understood that to nationalize health care, there is no need for a public option because Obamacare turns the private insurers into public utilities, thus setting us inexorably on the road to the left’s Promised Land: a Canadian-style single-payer system. The left is similarly clueless on the tax-cut deal: In exchange for temporarily forgoing a small rise in upperincome rates, Obama pulled out of a hat a massive new stimulus — what the left has been begging for since the failure of Stimulus I, but was heretofore politically unattainable.

Obama’s public exasperation with this infantile leftism is both perfectly understandable and politically adept. It is his way back to at least the appearance of centrist moderation. The only way he will get a second look from the independents who elected him in 2008 — and abandoned the Democrats in 2010 — is by changing the prevailing (and correct) perception that he is a man of the left. Hence that news-conference attack on what the administration calls the “professional left” for its combination of sanctimony and myopia. It was Obama’s Sister Souljah moment. It had a prickly, irritated sincerity — their ideological stupidity and inability to see the “long game” really do get under Obama’s skin — but a decidedly calculated quality, too. Where, after all, does the left go? Stay home on Election Day 2012? Vote Republican? No, says the current buzz, the left will instead challenge Obama for the Democratic nomination. Really now? For decades, African Americans have been this party’s most loyal constituency. They vote 9 to 1 Democratic through hell and high water, through impeachment and recession, through everything. After four centuries of enduring much, African Americans finally see one of their own achieve the presidency. And their own party is going to deny him a shot at his own reelection? Not even Democrats are that stupid. The remaining question is whether they are just stupid enough to not understand — and therefore vote down — the swindle of the year just pulled off by their own president. Contact Charles Krauthammer at letters@charleskrauthammer.com.

Obama the Quarterback Richard Frenkel

e knew Obama was a basketball player, but it turns out he’s a great quarterback, too. He keeps moving the ball down field, no matter what. If we think of presidents as quarterbacks, “W” fumbled the ball so often it would have been funny, if lives and our future hadn’t been at stake. He took a 10-year, $4.6 trillion projected surplus, and through a massive tax cut, spending cuts, two debt-funded and unbudgeted wars and a major recession, turned it into a projected $5+ trillion deficit. The war in Afghanistan was justified and internationally supported, but mismanaged. The war in Iraq was not internationally supported and was justified by engineered “intelligence” that turned out to be completely wrong. Even so, our military won the battle for Iraq in a couple of weeks, but Bush’s civilian appointees, mostly inexperienced Republican ideologues, nearly snatched defeat from the

jaws of victory. Hurricane Katrina exposed yet more politically connected incompetence. Bush appointed a Big Pharma lobbyist to design the Medicare prescription drug plan, and Republicans fought hard and successfully against all Democratic proposals to address costs such as reimportation and allowing the government to negotiate bulk rates. An estimated $800 billion (over 10 years) unfunded “borrow and spend” entitlement was thus created. Finally of course, the simplistic and/ or self serving faith in the free market to “self regulate” resulted in an orgy of unchecked speculation and greed that resulted in a massive crash and hangover. But the “haves and have mores” did very well under Bush, even if the rest of us didn’t. Bush’s legacy is assured. He was a really lousy quarterback. So in 2008 the fans demanded a team shakeup, and Obama became the new quarterback. He immediately started driving down field. Given the financial mess the new team inherited, the first item of business was an economic stimulus. The $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included over $288 billion in tax cuts, along with stimulus funding. The Congressional Budget Office

A Talmud Ace Tackles Net Neutrality Joy Resmovits The Forward

ow should the United States regulate the Internet? The answer to this question rests largely in the hands of Julius Genachowski, a 48-year-old Jew from Long Island with knowledge of Talmud, and an appointment to one of the most critical policy posts in Washington. If his December 1 proposal is any indication, Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission since June 2009, is seeking a solution in a very Jewish way: He issued a compromise in the pitched debate over the Internet’s openness, a concept often referred to as net neutrality. The information and communication technology sector comprises about onesixth of America’s economy. With more business, paperwork and personal connections moving online, the matter of who can access which website, through which service, and how fast, is becoming increas-

ingly important throughout the country. Genachowski spends his days threading the needle between the interests of global media concerns and grassroots activists, telecommunications corporations and think tanks, Congress and the White House. Those are tensions he may be comfortable mediating in part because he once was a Talmud ace. “The education I was lucky enough to receive is a very important part of my background,” said Genachowski, whose schooling has run the gamut from Orthodox day school to Harvard Law School. “We’re all the products of our background, and I’m sure it informs what I do in many ways.” He said the FCC’s most immediate goals are to employ underused parts of the broadcast spectrum for innovation and increased wireless capacity, and to make the country more economically competitive through technology. Because of broadband Internet’s current classification within the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC cannot regulate broadband communications. continued on page 17

credits the bill with saving 3.3 million jobs. Three Republican Senators voted for it. Needed doing, done, touchdown. Next, Obama turned to reforming health insurance. Republican intransigence required that the bill get support from every single Democrat in the Senate. The bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, got watered down, and many of the Democrats who voted for it did so at their peril, but Obama eventually got another touchdown. That was a bill that Teddy Roosevelt couldn’t get. That Franklin Roosevelt and Truman couldn’t get. That President Kennedy and his brother, Ted, couldn’t get. That Nixon tried and couldn’t get. It was an all-private first step in reforming our incredibly expensive and ineffective healthcare system, insuring 32 million more Americans and saving money on the deficit. It needed doing, and Obama got it done — one first down at a time. Obama is not letting the swing of the House in the recent election stop him. His bi-partisan committee to address the deficit has received bi-partisan kudos for its recommendations. These include radically simplifying our tax code and applying a lower rate more broadly across income, including capital gains and divi-

dends. Tax breaks are estimated to cost the treasury more than a $1 trillion a year, so there would be plenty of room to lower taxes while making the tax code simpler. It is a tempting goal. Obama’s latest deal with the Republicans on the Bush tax cuts is a great example of the wily quarterback in action. In exchange for temporarily continuing tax breaks on income over $250,000 per year (or over $1 million per year, in some proposals), Obama secures continued unemployment benefits and several other stimulatory tax breaks for the middle class and poor. Sure, there is a bribe of at least $130 billion over two years that will go straight to the bank accounts of the wealthy and do nothing for the economy, but that was the only way he could get the ball past the Republicans and down field. Good politics, too. The Republicans can explain why they support this borrow-and-spend deal after all their deficit cutting rhetoric. So let’s just move the ball. Obama is a great quarterback and already an historic president. It’ll be fun to watch the rest of the game. Richard Frenkel writes from Swampscott.

TSA Pat-Downs Jonathan Rosenblum

s a frequent traveler in the United States, I have long been amazed by the passivity with which Americans have submitted to the post-9/11 airport security regime — removing of belts and shoes, and endless lines that necessitate ever longer amounts of time spent in the airport. On a recent trip, I was subjected to a special wand-waving with my arms and legs spread apart on successive flights. The second time it happened, I asked what had triggered the higher level of scrutiny. I was told it was my baggy pants. “Give me back my belt, and I assure you my pants will not be baggy,” I replied. About the best that can be said for the labor intensive airport security is that it has provided jobs for thousands of otherwise unemployable people. Perhaps my irritability with American airports has something to do with the fact that I have a basis of comparison because I live

in Israel. Flights to and from Israel are the most likely to be targeted of any flights in the world, and yet I can leave Israel without removing either my shoes or belt, and usually with a much shorter wait than in America. And I do so with a far higher degree of confidence that no one with malevolent intent is on my flight. The surveillance in Israel starts long before one even reaches the airport, and entails multiple levels prior to even reaching the personal security check. The large number of people congregated in airports makes them inviting targets long before anyone boards a plane. The Israeli approach takes that into account; the North American approach does not. At each level in Israel — as one’s car approaches the airport, as one enters the airport, and, most intensively, prior to entering the ticketing lines — one is subjected to personal scrutiny and in the latter, to a series of questions. That personal scrutiny — profiling, if you will — acknowledges that there is little conceivable incentive that would induce an octogenarian grandmother from Iowa to blow herself up. Thus the danger comes almost continued on page 17

holiday gifts & food

10 The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Last-Minute Shopping Tips Leaving holiday shopping to the last minute is not uncommon. One-fifth of those polled in a recent Bing.com survey expect to shop at the last minute this holiday season. Here are some gift ideas for those who still have shopping to do:

For

mothers

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fathers

If Dad is a gadget lover, a new smartphone will make it easy for him to navigate the web, enjoy entertainment, social network and use a wide variety of apps.

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kids

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A smartphone is a smart idea for technophiles.

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teens

Personalized charm bracelets for girls, or ID bracelets for boys. Here are some other tips, especially for those shopping online: • Read product reviews, especially when shopping for electronics and home appliances. You don’t want to spend good money for a product that doesn’t perform well or breaks down after just a few uses. • Compare prices. When shopping online, factor in additional costs, such as shipping and taxes. They can turn a great bargain into a bust. — Family Features

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The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

De-Clutter During the Holiday Season Clutter can make what should be a happy time of the year less than enjoyable. DeAnna Radaj, owner of Milwaukee-based Bante Design, LLC, is a nationally recognized speaker on healthy home design, color therapy/theory, and the psychology of clutter for adults and children. She has launched The Clutter Counselor to help people put more order in their lives and homes. The Clutter Counselor philosophy is that “clutter is the physical manifestation of emotional baggage.” Radaj offers tips to help people “take control of their stuff, instead of their stuff taking control of them.” According to Radaj, there are six benefits to getting rid of clutter. 1. You’ll feel more in control of your life. 2. You’ll feel less stressed and anxious. 3. You’ll become proactive. 4. You’ll surround yourself with items that have a positive meaning. 5. You’ll spend less time cleaning, maintaining and stressing about your stuff. 6. You’ll have more room for items that are dear to you. “Now is the perfect time to deal with all your ‘stuff,’” Radaj said. “Your ‘stuff’ says a lot about you and where you are in your life.” On her website (thecluttercounselor.com), she offers tips and suggestions to start the New Year with a clean slate. Radaj adds that this is the perfect time

of year to de-clutter because individuals can: • Get a tax deduction for the donation of items. • Have less to pack up after the holidays. • Make room for newly received gifts.

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12 The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

A Chanukah Menorah at Brandenburg Gate Toby Axelrod Jewish Telegraphic Agency

BERLIN — Icicles formed on Rabbi Yehudah Teichtal’s beard as he helped set up the towering menorah in the center of Berlin. It wasn’t just any menorah

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power. By nightfall on the first night of Chanukah, the gate through which the Nazis marched and which for 28 years marked the dividing line between East and West Berlin, had been transformed into a Jewish symbol. In what was “the cold, dark center” of Nazi Germany, “we are here to say Am Yisrael Chai” — the Jewish people live, said Teichtal, his voice booming across Unter den Linden Boulevard. A few hundred revelers answered in kind. The menorah, lit December 1, stayed up for the full eight days, with a public candle-lighting ceremony held each night of the holiday. It marks the seventh year that Chabad of Berlin, with the support of numerous Jewish organizations, has hosted a Chanukah first-night celebration at the Brandenburg Gate. In 2004, Teichtal won permission from the German govern-

ment, arguing that this would be an event of national importance worthy of such a location. The message is clear: In Germany, the Jews live again. More than 200,000 Jews are living now in Germany, the majority of them immigrants from the former Soviet Union who came after 1990. “Twenty or 30 years ago, nobody would believe that this would happen here,” said Arkady Schwarz, deputy chair of Konigs Wusterhausen, a Jewish congregation in Brandenburg. “I like what this light represents,” U.S. Ambassador to Germany Philip Murphy told the crowd gathered on Chanukah’s first night. Murphy also hosted a small Chanukah reception at the embassy. The ceremony on Chanukah’s first night was the culmination of a day filled with holiday activities ranging from a parade through Berlin of cars with menorahs strapped on top, to visits to Jews in hospitals, prisons and senior centers. “We give out Chanukah gifts to all children in the hospitals, including non-Jewish children,” Teichtal told JTA. “In Berlin, which was the essence of darkness, we go to the source and bring light,” he said.

“To all our enemies who have tried to destroy us, we answer not with sticks and stones, but with light and good deeds and acts of kindness.” After the first candle was lit at the gate, organizers passed around jelly doughnuts — a traditional Chanukah treat known in German as a “Berliner.” Music blasted from speakers, hot drinks and sparklers were passed around, and celebrants danced or huddled together to stay warm. “Why are we here? Because we are Jews, why else?” laughed Schwarz, who emigrated with his family from Ukraine in 1999. “In Ukraine it was not only forbidden to practice religion, it was forbidden to think about religion, he said, recalling the communist days. “So we feel free here.” Elijahu Borodin, 20, who came to Berlin from Odessa 13 years ago, set aside his math studies to don a Maccabee costume and stand on the ceremonial platform, torch in hand. Christa Kant, 54, who is not Jewish, said she had “been seeking a way to learn more about Judaism.” Under her arm she held a Chabad Chanukah kit containing a tin menorah and box of candles.

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The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

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14 The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

The Cab Ride I’ll Never Forget Kent Nerburn

arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes, I walked to the door and knocked. “Just a minute,” answered a frail, elderly voice.

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I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her nineties stood before me. She was wearing a  print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned  on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls; no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.    “Would you carry my bag out to the car?” she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.” “Oh, you’re such a good  boy,” she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?’”   “It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly. “Oh, I don’t mind,” she said. “I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.”    I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. “I don’t have any family left,” she continued in a soft  voice. “The doctor says I don’t have very long.” I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. “What route would you like

me to take?” I asked.  For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”    We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. “How much do I owe you?” she asked, reaching into her purse.

“Nothing,” I said. “You have to make a living,” she answered.  “There are other passengers,” I responded.   Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,” she said. “Thank you.”   I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly, lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?   On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life. We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware — beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.    People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel. Help make the world a little kinder and more compassionate. Remember that often it is the random acts of  kindness that most benefit all of  us. Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we  are here, we might as well dance. Kent Nerburn is the author of several books on spiritual values and Native American themes. This story originally appeared in Kent’s book, “Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace.”

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The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Israeli Leader David Ben Gurion’s Dilemma in 1939 Herbert Belkin Special to the Journal

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series about Jewish heroes. David Ben Gurion’s leadership was tested many times, but in 1939 he faced one of his severest challenges. That year, Ben Gurion and the Jews in Palestine (the Yishuv) experienced mounting fear and rage. Their fear was based on Hitler’s growing intent to make Europe Judenrein — free of Jews. The Final Solution had not been enacted, but the cries from their families in Europe forecast a bloody future. That same year, the British infuriated the Yishuv when the British Foreign Office issued a new policy in a White Paper on Palestine. This policy, in effect, revoked the Balfour Declaration that promised Jews a homeland in Palestine. It went further when it restricted total Jewish immi-

gration to Palestine to 75,000 for the five war years, tantamount to a death sentence for thousands of Jews. Ben Gurion faced a dilemma. Should he fight with or against the British? The British were fighting the Germans who were murdering his people; but how could he be an ally to Britain when it refused to allow thousands of desperate Jews safe refuge in Palestine? Ben Gurion resolved this dilemma with this cryptic statement, “We will fight the war as if there were no White Paper, and we will fight the White Paper as if there were no war.” To fight the war as if there were no White Paper, Ben Gurion repeatedly asked Winston Churchill to form a Jewish military unit to fight the Germans. Churchill refused because he knew that any Jews trained and equipped would eventually fight British troops in Palestine. But as the horrors of the Holocaust became known,

Courtesy image

David Ben Gurion

Churchill relented and agreed to a Jewish battalion that would fight in the Italian campaign at the end of the war. The soldiers of the Jewish battalion distinguished themselves in battle and dispelled the notion that Jews could not fight. To fight the White Paper as if there were no war was more difficult. How does one attack

The Nell Factor: An Appreciation Carol Ann Spiller Paresky Special to the Journal

Editor’s note: “Nell” is Nell Zaitchik, who died of cancer about 20 years ago. The Marblehead selectwoman is Judy Jacobi, a cancer survivor. Drew Gilpin Faust, president of Harvard University, is also a cancer survivor.

he came from Waco, Texas, and she was all charm. Me, being a pure Bostonian, her accent really tweaked my imagination. She was stately, with a genershort ous personality, story when we met at the doctor’s office. Her doctor was my son, and she was our Orthodox rabbi’s wife. Immediately I felt at ease in her company, but then, I’d always been so moved by a lady’s smile — like it was the soul of the world. Well, actually, I’ve put it in words and wrote a book, “The Curious Secret Art of Woman.” We did become pals. Funjewelry shopping; with husbands playing Rummikub and thanking me for my thoughtful-

Courtesy photo

Nell Zaitchik

ness serving dessert and tea on glassware; teaching me where she stowed her Pesach dishes; and searching for a white suit for her to wear on Yom Kippur, she’d never found one. We did! A few years later in a very dignified, thoughtful manner she relented to cancer, yet her presence keeps returning. I felt I found her again with a newly elected local selectwoman, a former teacher from New Jersey, this time. Same demeanor. Same smile. A different accent. Wholly involved when she shared personal or public matters with you. Why did it not surprise me when she told me all about being a mirac-

ulous cancer survivor? Since everything comes in threes, when my first greatgrandchild was born, Harvard got a new president. I saw her in the newspapers and on television, and there was once again the Nell Factor. Then I remembered. I had actually met her some years before at a poetry symposium. And she was Southern. I wrote her congratulations on her coup, marveled at our simultaneous good fortune, hers and mine, and she answered me. I sent her my work-in-progress manuscript, and she put it in the archives. She was always appreciative as our “blessed event” reminder, communication continued these past three years. What inspired me to write this very heartfelt tribute is that yesterday I found out that she is a cancer survivor, also. I ask myself, is female cancer the Nell Factor, the secret artful gift that makes our world go round? It softens the heart, and I feel it is the listening heart that will find another route. Carol Ann Spiller Paresky lives in Marblehead. Her book, “Grandmother’s Secrets,” will be published next year.

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a country that is fighting a common enemy? Ben Gurion’s answer was to keep the Haganah, the Jewish fighting force, under his command from attacking the British. After the war, the British blockade preventing Holocaust survivors from reaching Palestine enraged Ben Gurion and ended whatever restraints he had about attacking the British. When the war ended, the combined forces of the Haganah, the Irgun and Stern Gang (two Jewish underground militant organizations) attacked British railroads, military installations and bridges. But when the Irgun bombed the King David Hotel without Ben Gurion’s knowledge, the resulting public uproar made him realize that keeping strong international support for a refuge for Holocaust survivors was more important than attacking the British. Responding to world opinion, Ben Gurion stopped attacking the British and continued

to send survivors against their blockade. The world recoiled from this outrage against the long-suffering Jews. A near bankrupt Britain was subjected to worldwide condemnation of its cold-blooded rejection of survivors. Struggling over the cost of maintaining 80,000 troops to put down the Jewish insurrection, Britain realized the futility of the situation, and turned its mandate over Palestine to the United Nations. The U.N. appointed a committee to study the conflicting claims of Arabs and Jews. The committee’s recommendation to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states was submitted to the Security Council for a vote. On November 29, 1947, one of the most memorable dates in modern Jewish history, the Security Council of the U.N. voted to accept the partition plan. Israel was reborn. Ben Gurion’s perceptive leadership made the Zionist dream of a Jewish homeland come true.

calendar

16 The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Songs for a Winter’s Night

For more extensive calendar listings and daily updates, visitjewishjournal.org.

hbubbe@yahoo.com or 978-5365115.

Book Group

7:30 p.m. Read and discuss “Little Bee” by Chris Cleave. Cong. Shirat Hayam, 55 Atlantic Ave., Swampscott. csh@shirathayam.org or 781-599-8005.

n Thur, Dec. 16 A Night of Fun & Fashion

6-9 p.m. Create a dazzling holiday look at a Girls Night Out event. Wardrobe consultations, makeup demos, refreshments, 10% discount and free gift wrap. $10. Infinity Boutique, 427 Paradise Rd., Swampscott. 781-631-8330.

Bob Lobel

7 p.m. Local sportscaster discusses his career in Boston. $10. Temple B’nai Abraham, 200 E. Lothrop St., Beverly. 978-927-3211 x14.

n Sat, Dec. 18

7:30 p.m. Enjoy a beautiful blend of voices, piano, flute, guitar and percussion with the Musical Mavens, who will perform a mix of Yiddish, Israeli, Ladino and traditional Jewish folk songs. $10/adults; $5/students. Temple Emmanuel, 120 Chestnut St., Wakefield. wakefieldtemple.org or 781-245-1886.

n Sun, Dec. 19 Basketball Tourney

best bet Craig Taubman Live

7:30 p.m. Temple Tifereth Israel celebrates its 80th anniversary with a family-friendly concert featuring Jewish musician Craig Taubman. 539 Salem St., Malden. tickets@templetiferethisrael.org or 781-322-2794.

Fourth annual 3-on-3 tournament takes place from 1-8 p.m. For third graders to adults. JCCNS, 4 Community Rd., Marblehead. Contact Andrew at 781-631-8330 x144.

Coffee and Bagels Singles Schmooze

Israel Chavurah

10 a.m. to noon. $5. Temple Emanuel, 7 Haggetts Pond Rd., Andover. myron.mann@hanscom.af.mil or 781-396-7165.

Music Clinic

9 a.m. Free Ikkarim program presented by JFNS. Temple EmanuEl, 393 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead. acooper@jfns.org.

Noon. Lunch followed by discussion about the Middle East. Also Saturday, January 15. Free. Temple Emanu-El, 514 Main St., Haverhill. 978-373-3861 or Nancy@TempleEmanu-El.org. 3-5 p.m. Danny Harrington, a Berklee School of Music professor, offers a free clinic for North Shore high school students. Chianti’s Jazz Lounge, 285 Cabot St., Beverly. northshorejazzproject.org. Musicalmavens.jpg

Parental Authority vs. Childhood Autonomy

n Mon, Dec. 20

‘Caring For Your Family, Caring For the World’

9:15 a.m. Free Ikkarim program presented by JFNS. JCCNS, 4 Community Rd., Marblehead. acooper@jfns.org.

n Tues, Dec. 21 Book Discussion

10 a.m. Read and discuss ‘Remarkable Creature’ by Tracy Chevalier. Abbot Public Library, 235 Pleasant St., Marblehead. abbotlibrary.org or 781-631-1481.

n Fri, Dec. 24 Chinese Dinner and Shabbat Service

Dinner at 7 p.m.; service at 8 p.m. Reserve by Dec. 21. $18. Temple Ner Tamid, 368 Lowell St., Peabody. 978-532-1293.

JBall 2010: 20s & 30s Rock Star Party

8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Hosted by the J Connection for young Jewish professionals, ages 21-39. $25/advance; $30/at the door. The Estate Boston, 1 Boylston Place, Boston. tjcboston. com or 781-444-7771.

n Sat, Dec. 25 Family Fun Day

‘Praying With Lior’

7:45 p.m. Touching film about a boy with Down Syndrome preparing for his bar mitzvah. $2. Temple Ner Tamid, 368 Lowell St., Peabody.

7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Family swim, movies, gym games, crafts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chinese food luncheon. $20/family. JCCNS, 4 Community Rd., Marblehead. 781-631-8330 or jccns.org.

n Sun, Dec. 26

Sylvia Loman at 978-535-5211.

Jewish War Veterans

10 a.m. Members of JWV North Shore Post 220 and Ladies Auxiliary conduct their monthly meeting. New members welcome. Cong. Sons of Israel, Park and Spring Sts., Peabody. 978-236-8435.

n Tues, Dec. 28 Caregivers’ Support Group

1-2:30 p.m. New group will meet the fourth Tuesday of every month. Share challenges and success stories in a supportive environment. Aviv’s Shapiro-Rudolph Adult Day Center, 330 Paradise Rd., Swampscott. jguest@avivliving.org or 781-973-1582

n Sat, Jan. 1 ‘The Understudy’

Delightful comedy runs through Jan. 29. $25-$52. The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, 140 Clarendon St., Boston. lyricstage.com or 617585-5678.

n Sun, Jan. 2 Book Club

8 p.m. Read and discuss ‘To the End of the Land’ by Israeli author David Grossman. Temple Ner Tamid, 368 Lowell St., Peabody. templenertamid.org.

W.A.G. Visits Forbidden City

The North Shore’s Jewish Widows and Widowers Activity Group depart at 1 p.m. from Temple Ner Tamid in Peabody for the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. Take a guided tour of ‘The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City,’ followed by dinner at Victoria Station. $16/musuem, dinner cost determined by what you order. Reserve by Dec. 20. Contact

n Mon, Jan. 3 Israel Rocks

4-5 pm. Jewish identity and Hebrew immersion program for children aged 6-13 features music, dance, games. Taught by Cantor Idan Irelander and Rachel Jacobson. Class runs through June 6. Temple B’nai Abraham, 200 E. Lothrop St., Beverly. deb.vozella@tbabeverly.org or 978-927-3211 x 14.

n Tues, Jan. 4 ‘Zionism and Modern Jewish History’

7:30 p.m. Taught by historian Herb Belkin. Cong. Shirat Hayam, 55 Atlantic Ave., Swampscott. csh@shirathayam.org or 781-599-8005.

n Thur, Jan. 6 Tamir Hendelman Trio

8 p.m. Israeli pianist Tamir Hendelman performs with his trio. Scullers, 400 Soldiers Field Road, Boston. scullersjazz.com or 617562-4111.

n Fri, Jan. 7 ‘Ruined’

The Huntington Theatre Company presents this 2009 Pulitzer Prize winning drama, through Feb. 6. $2589. Boston University Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave., Boston. 617-2660800.

n Sat, Jan. 8 Jewish Film Festival

7 p.m. ‘Un Secret’ by French Director Claude Miller will be screened. Light refreshments served. Donations appreciated. Temple Emanuel, 101 West Forest St., Lowell. 978-4541372.

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opinion

The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

TSA Pat-Downs from page 9

entirely from those who fit into a group with an ideological/theological incentive to blow themselves up, or those dumb enough to have accepted something from such a person. Such people fall into fairly narrow parameters. It certainly includes someone whose own father had warned the American embassy in Nigeria that he might have been brainwashed by radical Islamists, like last Christmas’ underwear bomber responsible for the latest ratcheting up of invasive searches by the Transportation Security Administration. He, however, was not placed on a “no-fly” list. That did not stop Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano from proclaiming, “The system worked,” after an alert fellow passenger prevented the terrorist from igniting himself. Outside of Israel, airline security operates on the absurd premise that every passenger — from the elderly grandmother to the six-year-old with a teddy bear — is equally likely to be a terrorist threat. Apparently however, the concept “he who grabs too much ends up with nothing” applies to stupidity as well. The TSA’s latest imposition of full-body scanners that peer through clothes, and highly invasive “pat-downs” for those reticent about being so viewed, appears to be one-step too far. (Technology to completely distort the body image, while still pinpointing anything suspicious, has not been

deployed.) Most air passengers have long suspected that there is something foolish about the mechanistic intensification of searches in response to every new technique employed by terrorists, while refusing to attempt to identify the terrorists themselves. After the underwear bomber, the TSA banned bathroom visits in the last hour of flights. Had there been a few more such attempts spaced throughout the flights, the TSA’s might have banned all use of toilets on international flights. What would the TSA do if a terrorist succeeded in secreting explosives inside his body? Order MRI’s for each passenger? TSA’s latest moves have provided grist for comedians and cartoonists. They have also generated stories of humiliation and trauma: cancer survivors told to remove prosthetic devices; a bladder cancer survivor whose urostomy bag was broken during a rough patdown, despite his pleas that the security checker be careful. Against such a spate of public ridicule and bitterness, the current approach cannot remain in place. And the result is that someone in the TSA may have to think about how to develop effective airport security, instead of engaging in expensive pretense. Jonathan Rosenblum is a columnist for the Jerusalem Post and Israeli director of Am Echad. This article is reprinted with permission from Jewish Media Resources and originally appeared in Mishpacha Magazine.

A Talmud Ace from page 9

Calls for increased regulation stem from consumer groups who say that the lack of competition between Internet service providers is detrimental to Internet users — especially when service providers can freely block or slow down content that competes with their own offerings, or offer different speeds and access levels based on price. Genachowski came to his job in an interesting way. While attending Harvard Law School, he worked at the Harvard Law Review — under Barack Obama. The two became and remain friends, even attending each other’s weddings. The Obama campaign tapped Genachowski in 2008 to chair its Technology, Media & Telecommunications Policy Working Group. He advised the campaign’s use of technology and articulated a clear plan for achieving net neutrality. Last January, Obama sent Genachowski and his family as part of America’s delegation to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. “To be on the ground of Auschwitz as a representative of President Obama… it was a proud moment for me,” Genachowski said. His parents were Lithuanians who fled the Nazis. Genachowski’s Talmudic streak was evident in his recent proposal on regulating the Internet. On December 1, he outlined what

he called the “rules of the road” for regulation. They included an obligation of transparency for ISPs, the prohibition of ISPs from blocking content, gutting “unreasonable discrimination” on the flow of Internet traffic, and allowing providers to charge different prices for different amounts of broadband use and speeds. The proposal would have the FCC regulate telecommunications corporations more than the companies would have liked, but less than consumer groups felt was necessary. As soon as he announced the plan, the FCC’s Republican commissioners criticized it for

★

exceeding the FCC’s mandate. Telecommunications companies stayed neutral. Over the next few weeks, Genachowski will discuss the plan with associates and adversaries. He needs at least two votes from the four other commissioners at a meeting set for December 21. He may have to tweak his proposal, and his training in Talmudic reasoning could come in handy during the process. This article originally appeared in The Forward and is reprinted with permission. To read the unabridged version, visit jewishjournal.org.

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18 The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

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Деловые Вести

Памяти Геллы Бромберг После тяжелой, продолжительной болезни 14 ноября 2010 скончалась Гeлла Бромберг. Ей было 78. Многие знали этого благородного, лишенного мелочности и самомнения человека, умницу и труженицу. Родилась в Москве, но с пеленок скиталась с матерью по местам ссылок своего отца Льва Бромберга, члена ЦК партии сионистов-социалистов, разгромленной еще в 1925 г. После смерти (в ссылке) отца в 1946 г. вернулась из Якутии в Москву, окончила школу (1950), мечтала о филологическом (прекрасные стихи, любовь и знание литературы), увы — не без трудностей, поступила в Финансовый институт (скрыв, что она дочь “врага народа”, за что впоследствии была исключена из комсомола). Отработав на периферии, позже, в Москве, занимала ряд ведущих должностей в экономической сфере. Окончила аспирантуру, защитила диссертацию, написала по специальности 10 книг, 65 статей, была известна и уважаема среди экономистов высокого уровня. В эмиграции (с 1992), несмотря на инвалидность, всегда была социально активной, окончила колледж, выучила английский, много читала на двух языках. Была любящей матерью и бабушкой двух внуков, всегда была полна сочувствия к проблемам других людей. Это была свободная и маштабная Личность. Получив доступ к архивам “Института Истории Сионистского движения” (Тель-Авив), написала историко-биографическую

книгу “Бромберги. Право переписки без права на жизнь” — уникальную историю трех поколений семьи еврейской интеллигенции-народовольцев, узников ГУЛАГа, строителeй Израиля — биографии отца и его братьев (издана в Москве в серии “Народный Архив. Век XX. Противостояние ЧеловекСистема”). Тяжело болея, Гeлла последний год жизни провела в реабилитационном центре. Она никогда не жаловалась. В последний путь ее проводили сын Лев и его жена Марина, муж Евгений, внуки Даниил и Илья, родственники и многочисленные друзья. Геллу любили и уважали. Именно о таких людях сказано в Писании: “Доброе имя лучше дорогой масти, и день смерти — дня рождения”(Екклесиаст, 7:01) — семья Бромберг

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Уже почти полгода в Свампскотте на Vinnin Sq. открыт многопрофильный глазной офис Advanced Vision Center, предлагающий своим пациентам широкий спектр услуг по полной диагностике зрения, а также подбору оправ, линз и изготовлению очков. В офисе принимает Татьяна Кац, врач окулист, Doctor of Optometry, имеющая богатый опыт работы как в России, так и в Америке, оптометрист Майкл Николас. Татьяна, которая работала офтальмологом в России, подтвердила в Америке свою высокую квалификацию, закончив New England College of Optometry, далее она работала в TUFTS New England Medical Center, Lasik Eye Center. В 2007 году Татьяна открыла свою частную практику в Марблхеде, но вскоре количество посетителей превзошло возможности небольшого офиса на Humphrey Street, и этим летом состоялось торжественное открытие Advanced Vision Center. Офис оснащен уникальным диагностическим оборудованием последнего поколения, современными оптико-электронными и компьютерными средствами для обследования, диагностики и лечения различных заболеваний глаза. Сотрудники центра знают, что иногда даже за самыми небольшими изменениями зрения могут скрываться симптомы весьма серьезного заболевания. Своевременное диагностирование может предотвратить или, по крайней мере, замедлить развитие таких глазных болезней, как ретинопатия, катаракта, глаукома и другие. Поэтому в Advanced Vision Center применяется научно обоснованный набор базовых тестов для всех обращающихся сюда пациентов, что позволяет выявить практически все заболевания глаза: нарушения рефракции (близорукость, дальнозоркость, астигматизм); сухой глаз; блефарит; коньюктевит; глаукома; катаракта (старческая и осложненная); воспалительные и инфекционные процессы в глазах; заболевания сетчатки (в том числе при системных заболеваниях организма, таких как диабет);

Что, Где, Когда В эту субботу, 18 декабря, в Кэмбридже (350 Kendall st.) состоится ежегодный ледовый праздник, The Annual Kendall Square Holiday on Ice Show. В течение целого дня выступления профессиональных фигуристов, танцоров на льду чередуются с бесплатным доступом публики на лед. Каток открывается в 11 ч. утра, затем, в 2 часа начинается ледовое представление, катание возобновится в 2:45, а затем, в 6 ч. вечера профессионалы-фигуристы снова выйдут на лед для повторного представления. Дополнительная информация о расписании мероприятий на этот день на сайте: kendallsquare. org. Диснеевский Балет на Льду, Disney on Ice, в настоящее время дает представления Princess Wishes в TD Garden (Fleet Center) в Бостоне. Представления продлятся до 29 декабря. Дополнительная информация и заказ белетов на сайте: tdbanknorth-garden.com или по тел. 877-686-5366.

болезни зрительного нерва и т.д. Ранняя диагностика и консервативные методы лечения этих заболеваний являются основным способом предупреждения частичной потери зрения, а иногда и слепоты. Подбор очков или контактных линз в соответствии с нуждами клиента и их изготовление — это уже заключительный этап, говорит доктор Кац. Сначала необходимо определить максимальные возможности зрения клиента, его остроту, а уже потом подобрать очки, в которых ему комфортно – и по оптике, и по дизайну. В Центре также можно привести детей на офтальмологическую консультацию, для осмотра и подборки очков. В салоне Центра посетителям предложат большой выбор модных и дизайнерских оправ, солнцезащитных очков различных стилей, материалов, покрытий по ценам на любой бюджет. Изготовление большинства очков по рецептам происходит в офисной лаборатории в один день по высшим стандартам качества.

В Центре можно пройти примерку и подбор контактных линз, включая бифокальные, а людям, страдающим ограниченным зрением (low vision) в Центре предложат различные увеличительные приспособления и стекла. “Если мы находим, что терапевтические и консервативные методы лечения не эффективны для некоторых пациентов и необходимо хирургическое вмешательство, то мы направляем их к ведущим специалистам по глазным заболеваниям. Мы сотрудничаем с Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hostital, Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, Micro Eye Surgical Center и др.,” — сказала Татьяна Кац в интервью Русской Хронике. У Центра удобные часы работы, он открыт 7 дней в неделю, есть вечерние часы приема, а также прием без предварительной записи. Адрес: 423 Paradise Rd., Swampscott, тел. 339-440-5105, инфо на интернете: www.avcma. com. В офисе принимаются все виды страховок.

Наши дети Маша Гительман, ученица 4 класса Marblehead Charter School была приглашена танцевать Ангела в ежегодной постановке балета “Щелкунчик,” которая в настоящее время идет на сцене Boston Opera House. Маша с пяти лет занимается балетом в Boston Ballet School. Юная балерина также берет уроки фортепиано в Swampscott Piano School под руководством Валерии Хенкиной. В свободное время Маша любит читать, рисовать и ходить в походы со своими родителями и младшим братом.

English Summary In today’s issue of the Russian Chronicle we have an obituary for a well-known and respected member of the Russian-speaking community, Gella Bromberg, who recently passed away at 78. In our business column we write about Advanced Vision Center, which recently reopened at Vinnin Square in Swampscott.

It offers comprehensive eye care and wide selection of frames and lenses. We also have a photo of Mirima Gitelman, who dances the role of an angel in Boston Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker. We have a list of local cultural events.

travel

The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Cape Town, South Africa

Baseball Mission to Israel

Exquisite Scenery, Vibrant Jewish Culture and … Penguins Masada Siegel Special to the Journal

ape Town is the second largest city in South Africa. Its tightly knit Jewish community dates back to the 15th century; however, the first congregation was founded there in November 1841. The scenic backdrop of Cape Town is Table Mountain; it has a perfect view of all the different areas of the city. If you face north from the top of the mountain, you will find the city center where the docks are filled with ships. On the west side there is a magnificent mountain range known as the “Twelve Apostles.” It borders a beautiful beach called Camps Bay, which like a mini-South Beach, is filled with bustling bars and restaurants. On the south side are historic vineyards and the gorgeous, must-see Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Beyond that is False Bay, which curves towards Cape Point. Outdoor adventures such as windsurfing and paragliding are just waiting to be had, and there are paths for mountain biking and hiking all over the city. The Jewish community is extremely welcoming, and the people I met had a wonderful sense of humor. Late one Friday afternoon at Camps Bay, I knocked on the door of a store that was closing because I wanted to buy the beach towel hanging in the window. The shop owner smiled, unlocked the door and let me in. While I was paying, he noticed my name. He told me he had been to Masada. With a wicked grin he asked, “Shouldn’t you be going to shul?” I smiled and agreed with him. I found out he was a close friend of my father’s first cousin, who had passed away over 10 years ago. Talk about Jewish geography! I stayed in the Sea Point area of the city, and it felt like a miniIsrael. On Shabbat, lots of families walked back and forth from shul. There were several kosher

The author frolics with penguins in South Africa.

restaurants and synagogues. There are breathtaking day trips one can take from Cape Town. Take a tour or drive yourself (if you feel confident driving on the other side of the road!). Around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek, dozens of wineries offering wine tasting. One winery called Spier is lovely, but extremely touristy. It has a beautiful outdoor garden filled with couches where one can relax and have lunch. Women will paint your face with traditional African symbols. I had a fallen star painted on me, symbolic of the word, “Lady.” Spier also has a gift shop filled with interesting African items, as well as a cheetah sanctuary where, for a nominal fee, you can pet the animals. Another lovely day trip is to visit Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic. The winding roads are filled with glorious views of the green mountains with steep drops into the blue ocean. The scenery is stunning. On the way you will pass Muizenberg, a town with long, white sandy beaches where Agatha Christie went surfing 80 years ago. On this side of the peninsula, the sea is warmer and one will find some of the best whale watching spots. Vendors at little markets on

Masada Siegel

Pack up and batter up! If you love the game of baseball and feel the same way about Israel, join Jewish National Fund’s Field of Dreams Baseball Mission to Israel from May 29 to June 4, 2011. Bring cleats because, in addition to touring the land, the trip includes daily games and clinics with the Israel Association of Baseball. The mission supports JNF’s Project: Baseball campaign to foster the growth of baseball in Israel, where the number of fans and players is on the rise, but adequate baseball fields are scarce. The campaign is focused on building professional-caliber fields for baseball and softball. The cost for six nights in

Play ball in Israel!

Courtesy JNF

Tel Aviv ranges from $1,000 to $1,455 based on double occupancy, plus a $325 participation fee. Air fare is extra. For further information, visit jnf.org/field-of-dreams or contact Hannah Schwartz at hschwartz@jnf.org or 212-8799305 x 254.

the side of the roads sell gorgeous soap stone statues from Zimbabwe, as well as jewelry and wood carvings. One of my favorite stops on this day trip was Boulders Beach, which has a nature preserve set aside for a penguin colony. A small fee allows you in. You can get a wonderful view of penguins marching out of the ocean and hanging out on the beach. The penguins rest on the rocks and swim alongside people in the water. I sat with the penguins for a bit, and was so close to them, I could touch them — truly a remarkable and fun experience. Masada Siegel lives in Arizona and can be reached at fungirlcorrespondent@gmail. com.

The mission of the Jewish Journal is to educate, inform, engage and connect the Jewish and interfaith communities. For further information, email subscription@jewishjournal.org or call 978-745-4111. This is a free paper funded by advertisers, donors and the Jewish Federation of the North Shore.

WE’VE CONNECTED WITH JETBLUE, SO MORE OF YOU CAN CONNECT TO EL AL. Our new partnership with JetBlue offers passengers from 35 U.S. cities an easy connection and automatic luggage transfer to a nonstop EL AL flight to Israel. For more details, call EL AL at 800-223-6700 or any travel agent.

Globetrotting with the Journal

Burton Tankel

The Jewish Journal has introduced Globetrotting With The Journal. Bring an issue of the Jewish Journal with you on your next journey, and have someone snap a picture of you holding the paper in that destination. Email it with a caption to editor@jewishjournal.org, and your photo may be picked to appear in a future issue! Burton and Liceria Tankel of Lynn recently went to Tampa, Fla. to celebrate the fifth birthday of their grandson, Joey. While there, the family visited Busch Gardens. Pictured above are the Tankels with Joey. Show us your Journal!

Roundtrip Boston to Tel Aviv Travel before March 31, 2011.

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Above fare not available Dec 17-24, 2010 and is subject to availability on select flights. JetBlue flights connect to a nonstop EL AL flight. Tickets valid for 6-30 day stay and must be purchased within 72 hours of confirmed reservation. Up to $104.69 applicable taxes not included (these include the September 11 security fee of $2.50 per U.S. enplanement, up to $5 one way, and $10 roundtrip). EL AL reserves the right to cancel promotion at any time. Cancellation/change penalties and other restrictions apply. ©2010 EL AL Israel Airlines.

business

20 The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Cape Ann ‘Rental Agent to the Stars’ Wears Many Hats Don Stradley Special to the Journal

GLOUCESTER — Carole Sharoff has worn many hats over the years, including a stint on the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, a turn as co-president of Temple Ahavat Achim, and her ongoing roles as wife,

mother and step-grandmother. But most recently, she has become known as “The Rental Agent to the Stars.” The title is tongue in cheek, but there is some truth in it. With Cape Ann providing locations for such recent films as “Grown Ups” and “The Proposal,” Sharoff’s Gloucester

rental agency, Atlantic Vacation Homes, has become the go-to source for actors seeking temporary homes. Sharoff’s list of clients includes Adam Sandler, Sandra Bullock, Salma Hayek, Kevin James, Mariel Hemingway, Linda Gray, Mary Steenbergen, Maya Rudolph, Rob Schneider and others. “It’s energizing,” Sharoff told the Jewish Journal. “Ryan Reynolds even announced his engagement to Scarlett Johansson while he was staying at one of our properties.” Fortunately, Sharoff deals with actors and not rock stars; there have been no wild parties, and no trashing of Atlantic property to report. “They were wonderful,” Sharoff said. “I can’t even think of anyone who wasn’t appreciative. They just wanted to know where their children could play, and where the good restaurants were.” The enticement for filmmakers is a 2007 tax law granting several tax perks to production companies shooting in Massachusetts. As other states create their own tax incentives for filming, Massachusetts may soon have competition. But if the Hollywood connections dry up, Sharoff has plenty of other pursuits to keep her busy, such as her work with the Gloucester Rotary, and the upcoming unveiling of a brand

Courtesy Atlantic Vacation Homes

Carole Sharoff of Atlantic Vacation Homes poses in front of the Manor Inn, a magnificent property she has listed in Gloucester.

new Temple Ahavat Achim. As co-president, Sharoff was integral to the temple’s rebuilding process after it was destroyed by a fire in 2007. Sharoff served on the building committee of what turned out to be a nearly $10-million project. The new temple, described by Sharoff as “nice and open and bright,” may be ready as soon as March 2011. Sharoff, who has been a longtime leader in the North Shore’s Jewish community, looks back on the whole experience of the fire and the recovery as “an extraordinary time.” Meanwhile, Sharoff’s focus is on the growth of her company, which began as an idea and has blossomed into a successful

business venture. “Cape Ann has become a year-round destination, which wasn’t the case when I moved here in 1973,” Sharoff said. “I filled a need that no one realized existed, which was that there were no real estate companies on Cape Ann that specialized in vacation rentals. That is my proudest accomplishment. Back in the early 80’s, I had an antique store in Lanesville, and people would come in and ask me about rentals. That was the start!” Not only did Sharoff create the largest rental company on the North Shore, but if we happen to see Adam Sandler driving around in a mini golf-cart, we’ll know whom to thank.

ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW ENGLAND REGION HONORS

Boston Private Bank & Trust Company The Anti-Defamation League New England Region honored Boston Private Bank & Trust Company at the 2010 Leadership Award Dinner at Kernwood Country Club in Salem on November 4. ADL’s National Director of Civil Rights, Deborah Lauter, was the keynote speaker. The co-chairs of the event were Carole Cohen, Rhonda Gilberg, Brian Gregory, Matthew Remis, James Rudolph, Flori Schwartz, Bonnie Shelkrot and Howard Tarlow, with Mark Thompson and Jay Henderson serving as Honorary Co-Chairs. Boston Private Bank & Trust Company was honored by ADL for their long-time support on behalf of ADL and its many programs. During the program held at Kernwood Country Club, longtime ADL supporter Phyllis Sagan received the Rudolph Volunteer award. The award is named to honor Past ADL Regional Board Chair James L. Rudolph and his generosity and leadership of ADL both on the North Shore and for the New England Region.

Photo 1: Mark Thompson, CEO and President of Boston Private Bank & Trust Company receiving the 2010 Leadership Award from James L. Rudolph, former ADL Regional Board Chair and current chair of ADL’s Board of Overseers Photo 2: Leslie Ogan and Helaine R. Hazlett Photo 3: Mark Thompson, Jay Henderson, Executive Vice President of Boston Private Bank & Trust Company, and James L. Rudolph Photo 4: Arthur Goldberg, Gail Gerson, and Jerry Gerson Photo 5: Andrew Caplan, North Shore Advisory Chair, Derrek L. Shulman, New England Regional Director, Michael N. Sheetz, New England Regional Board Chair, Phyllis Sagan, recipient of the 2010 Rudolph North Shore Volunteer Award, and James L. Rudolph ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW ENGLAND REGION Michael N. Sheetz, Regional Board Chair | Derrek L. Shulman, Regional Director 40 Court Street Boston, MA 02108 | 617.406.6300 | www.adl.org/new-england

obituaries

The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Melvin Brecher, 72, of Hamilton Melvin Brecher of Hamilton, formerly of Boston and Milton, entered into rest on December 4, 2010 at his daughter Meredith’s home. He was 72. Born in Dorchester on August 14, 1938, he was the dear son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Schneider) Brecher. He was a graduate of Boston Latin High School. Melvin was the proprietor and owner of Eastern Mass. Industrial Cleaning in Hamilton. His business served all of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Melvin was a mason and an avid boater. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Melvin’s passion

was raising his shepherd dogs. He was the beloved husband of Ann (Roberts) Brecher. He is also survived by two devoted children, Meredith Burnett and her husband Robert, and Amy McMahon; his loving brother, Jordan Brecher; and four cherished grandchildren, Jacob, Ethan, Chris and Chelsey. He was also a brother of the late Gerald Brecher. Services were held at Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel in Salem on December 7. Interment followed at Klevaner Cemetery in Everett. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Melvin’s memory to Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Ste. B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.

Lesley (Fox) Denny, 45, of Peabody, formerly of Marblehead Lesley (Fox) Denny, age 45, of Peabody, formerly of Marblehead, entered into rest on November 28, 2010 at Beverly Hospital. Lesley was born in Albuquer que, N.M., on September 1, 1965, the dear daughter of Ronald and Joan (Lipton) Fox. Lesley was raised in Marblehead and graduated from Marblehead High School. She went on to graduate with a B.A. from Brandeis Univ ersity and received her M.B.A. from Boston College. Mrs. Denny was the founder and president of L. Denny Con sulting of Peabody. She was an ACT certified consultant with fifteen years’ experience in sales, marketing management and information systems consulting. Previously, she worked for Barry Controls, Iris Associates, Groove Network and Sea Change Sys tems. Lesley was an active member of BNI, the North Shore Women in Business and the North Shore Chamber of Commerce. She was an avid scrap-booker, book club

member and photographer. She loved to travel and really enjoyed attending and photographing her son Jared’s sporting events. Lesley was an enthusiastic participant and chronicler of all family events, not only with her presence, but through her many photographs and scrapbooks. She was the beloved wife of Charles Denny. In addition to her husband and parents, Lesley is survived by her devoted son, Jared Denny; her loving brother, Steve Fox and his wife Lisa; two cherished nieces, Jadyn and Nyomi Fox; her brother-in-law, William Denny, and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles and Pat Denny. Services were held at StanetskyHymanson Memorial Chapel in Salem on December 1. Interment followed at Congregation Shirat Hayam Cemetery in Peabody. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Lesley’s memory to Beverly Hospital, c/o Northeast Health Foundation, 55 Tozer Road, Beverly, MA 01915.

Taube (Freedman) Goodman, 73, of Salem Taube (Freedman) Goodman of Salem died on December 1, 2010 after a brief illness in the Spaulding Hospital in Salem. She was 73. Born in Malden, she was a graduate of Malden High School and Salem State Teachers College. She had resided in Salem for the past nine years, formerly living in Marblehead for 40 years. Mrs. Goodman was the administrator at Temple Sinai in Marblehead and formerly held the same position at the Gann Academy in Waltham and the former Temple Israel in Swampscott. She was a past president of the Temple Sinai Sisterhood, a life member of Hadassah, a member of B’nai B’rith, Eastern Star, Auxiliary of the Jewish Rehabilitation Center in Swampscott, Temple Sinai, Women’s League for Conservative Judaism and the Sisterhood of

Temple Ezrath Israel in Malden. She was the beloved wife of Albert Goodman, the devoted mother of Lainie GoodmanOkon and her husband Jay Okon of Marblehead, and Lisa and her husband Scott Rubins of White Plains, N.Y. She was the loving sister of Dvora Zimmerman of Malden and David Freedman of Malden. She was the cherished grandmother of Joshua Okon, Rafi Okon and Jack Rubins. Services were held at Temple Sinai in Marblehead on December 2. Interment followed in the Temple Israel Section of Congregation Shirat Hayam Cemetery in Peabody. Expressions of sympathy in Taube’s memory may be donated to Temple Sinai or the Camp Young JudaeaSprout Lake, Verbank, NY 12585. Arrangements were handled by Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapels in Salem.

Obituary Policy The Jewish Journal prints brief obituaries for free. Biographical sketches up to 250 words, “In Memoriam,” cost $50; longer submissions will be charged accordingly. Photographs may be added for $25 each. Due to space limitations, obituaries may be edited; complete obituaries appear on our website, www.jewishjournal.org.

Submissions are subject to editing for style. Obituaries can be mailed, faxed, emailed or hand-delivered to our office. Emailed photos should be sent in jpg or tiff file format. For further information, contact your local funeral home; call Andrew at the Jewish Journal at 978-7454111 x174; or email andrew@jewishjournal.org.

Harriet Gogel, 96, of Salem Harriet Gogel, born July 5, 1914, entered into rest November 24, 2010. Mrs. Gogel was predeceased by her husband, Attorney Arthur Gogel in 1968, by her son, Professor Robert Gogel, and also by her son, Dr. Edward Gogel, a much beloved physician who served the communities north of Boston. She is survived by her wonderful grandchildren, Hannah and Benjamin Gogel. The family thanks Nancy Escalada, her daughter Nikki, and the staff of Grosvenor Park in Salem for the patient and compassionate care given to Mrs. Gogel in her final years. Mrs. Gogel was a social activist, a student of Esperanto, a vegetarian and an advocate for world peace. She was tireless in pursuing what she thought was right, no matter the cost. She voted in every election for the candidates of the Communist party. Donations in her memory may be made to the Spotlight Program of the North Shore Arc, care of Ms. Rebecca Girard.

Marilyn (Shneider) Rubenstein, 80, of Boca Raton, Fla., formerly of Chelsea and Medford Marilyn (Shneider) Ruben stein, of Boca Raton, Fla., formerly of Chelsea and Medford, passed away on December 7, 2010 at Winchester Hospital. She was 80. Marilyn was born and raised in Chelsea. She attended Chelsea schools and was a graduate of Chelsea High School. A home maker, Marilyn was a resident of Medford for 50 years. She was a life member of Hadassah, N’Amat and a member of Temple Shalom of Medford for many years. Marilyn was the beloved wife of the late Herbert Rubenstein. She was the devoted mother of Donna Rubenstein, Philip Rubenstein and his wife Nancy, Michael Rubenstein and Paula Rigoli. She was the dear sister of Melvin Shneider and his wife Lucille. Marilyn was the loving grandmother of Jason and Adam Rigoli and Caitlin Rubenstein. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and other extended family. Services were held at Temple Shalom of Medford on December 9. Rabbi Braham David officiated services. Interment followed in Peabody. Donations in Marilyn’s memory may be made to the Founders Affiliate of the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005 Boston, MA 02241-7005, or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements were handled by Torf Funeral Service in Chelsea. For an online guestbook visit the funeral home website, www. torffuneralservice.com.

Due to space limitations we may be unable to print all obituaries received. Please visit our website jewishjournal.org for complete obituaries.

Jean E. Edelstein, 94, of Chelsea Jean E. Edelstein passed away peacefully on December 13, 2010, under the loving care of the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home. She was 94. Jean was born in Boston and was a resident of Chelsea for most of her life. She was very charitable and volunteered at many organizations, including St. Luke’s Church in Chelsea, Walnut Street Shul, Elm Street Shul, the Salvation Army and the Senior Citizens of Chelsea. Jean was the loving wife of the late Nathan Edelstein, who passed away in 2003. She was the loving mother of Jackie L. Edelstein and his wife Mary Anne, Candy Winam of Chelsea, and the late

Larry A. Edelstein of Chelsea. She was the dear sister of Louis Dubie and his wife Geraldine of Chelsea. Jean was the beloved grandmother of Chad and Jeremy Winam of Chelsea. Honoring Jean’s wishes, funeral and graveside services were private. Interment was held at the Mishna Cemetery in Everett. Contributions in Jean’s memory may be made to the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home Foundation, 17 Lafayette Ave., Chelsea, MA 02150. Arrangements were handled by Torf Funeral Service in Chelsea. For an online guestbook, visit the funeral home website, www.torffuneralservice.com.

Alfond, Ruth G. (Klaiman), 89 — formerly of Lawrence and Bradford. Died December 2, 2010 at the Leonard Florence Center for Living in Chelsea. Daughter of the late Morris and Annie (Zacks) Klaiman. Wife of the late Herbert Hy Alfond. Mother of Barbara J. Alfond of Anaheim, Calif., and Sandy R. Alfond of Peabody. Sister of Selma Freedman of Portsmouth, N.H. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. (H.L. Farmer & Sons)

Jacob, Sophie, Talia, Alexander, Bruce and Daniel. Sister of the late Edna Swartzberg, Selma Hoff and Bernard Copans. (Stanetsky-Hymanson)

BLOOM, Ethel G. (Copans), 95 — late of Swampscott. Died December 7, 2010. Wife of the late Samuel Bloom. Mother of Nancy Ostrovitz of Swampscott, Joel Bloom and his wife Susan of Wellesley, and the late Judith R. Bloom. Grandmother of Steven Ostrovitz and his wife Judy, David Ostrovitz, Seth Bloom and his wife Elizabeth, and Jonathan Bloom and his wife Emily. Great-grandmother of Marissa,

Bornstein, Edward, 81 — late of Danvers. Died November 28, 2010. Husband of Sandra (Stahl) Bornstein. Son of the late Oscar and Anna (Cohen) Bornstein. Father of Lawrence Bornstein, Meryl Garber and her husband Victor, Gerald Bornstein and his wife Margaret, Bruce Bornstein and his wife Judith, Esther Peralta and her husband Rafael, Joel Bornstein and his wife Doreen, William Bornstein and his companion Dawn Stowers, and Rachael Palmacci and her husband Bruce. Brother of Kenneth Bornstein. Grandfather of 16 and great-grandfather of five. Brother of the late Lois Stone and brother-in-law of the late Herbert Stone. (Stanetsky-Hymanson) continued on page 23

Maple Hill Cemetery Sabino Farm Road (P.O. Box 2104) Peabody, MA 01960 (978) 531-0606 info@maplehillpeabody.org www.maplehillpeabody.org

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People

22 The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Engagement: Leffler — Rosenshein Jason and Nancy Leffler of Swampscott and Steven and Miriam Rosenshein of Bergen County, N.J., announce the engagement of their children, Emily Nicole Leffler and Daniel Craig Rosenshein. Emily and Daniel both received their undergraduate degrees from the University of Rhode Island, where they met in 2002. Emily works in Resource Management at Ernst & Young LLP. Daniel will be graduating in May 2011 from NYU Stern School of Business with his MBA. He has accepted a position at Goldman Sachs upon graduation. The couple resides in Manhattan and will be wed in September 2011 in Marblehead.

NSMC Physicians Earn Top Honors Three physicians at the North Shore Medical Center were honored for their professional excellence and deep commitment to serving our community. Maurice Greenbaum, M.D., (top) and Peter Sheckman, M.D., (center) both of Swampscott, received the Dr. E. Augustus Holyoke Memorial Award, and Albert Namias, M.D., (bottom) of Marblehead, was honored with the Award for Excellence in Medicine. Dr. Greenbaum has been a member of the medical staff since 1979. An adult primary care physician at North Shore Physicians Group in Salem, he has been chief of patient care services at Spaulding Hospital for Continuing Medical Care, North Shore (formerly Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital) since 1979, and served as medical director for more than 30 years. Dr. Sheckman has been a member of the medical staff since 1977. He specializes in infectious disease and adult primary care at the NSPG practice in Lynn. He is on the board of directors for Project COPE and All Care Hospice in Lynn. In addition to his work in medicine, he is an accomplished cellist and a member of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. Dr. Namias was recognized for his many years of service to NSMC. He joined the medical staff in 1978. Over the years he and his colleagues have built a GI service that is highly regarded by physicians and patients.

Josephs’ Book Accepted by Universities Barry D. Josephs of Lynn, an engineer and attorney in private practice as a patent counsel in the Boston area, wrote a book that was accepted for publication by the libraries at Tufts, Suffolk and Northeastern Universities. The book, “Gaseous Chemical Reaction Equilibrium,” deals with the application of the

Gibbs free energy to closed batch or steady state gaseous reaction systems. Josephs was recently invited to lecture before the graduate school Biochemical Engineering Department at Tufts University. He holds a B.S. from Tufts University, an M.S. from Northeastern University and degrees in chemical engineering and a J.D. degree from Suffolk University. He is admitted as an attorney in Massachusetts and Minnesota, and is a registered patent attorney.

Commander

of the

Year

Barry Lischinsky, retired Lt. Col. in the Mass. National Guard, was honored as “Post Commander of the Year” in recognition of his dedication and service to the veterans of the Commonwealth. David Westerman presented the award at a convention of Jewish war veterans in Plymouth. Lischinsky is active with programs at the Edith Nourse Rogers Veterans Administration Medical Center in Bedford, the Chelsea Soldiers Home and the Peabody Veterans Council. Since becoming Commander in 2009, he has increased his post membership and is committed to advocating for Jewish war veterans.

Salesman

of the

Year

Nutcracker Angel Miriam Gitelman of Marble head is performing in the Boston Ballet’s 2010 production of “The Nutcracker” at the Opera House in Boston. The fourth grader at Marblehead Charter School has been a student at the Boston Ballet School for five years. She plays the role of an angel. Boston Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” runs through December 31, 2010.

ADL Installs New Board Vice-Chair The Anti-Defamation League New England installed Dr. Steven D. Targum as the new Board ViceChair for the New England Region. Dr. Targum, of Boston, a noted leader in biomedical sciences and psychiatry, has served ADL in various capacities, proving to be a forward-thinking leader with a vision for enhancing ADL programs and its ability to combat hate and bigotry around the world. During his time as co-chair of ADL New England’s International Affairs Committee, Targum built important relationships with foreign diplomats based in New England to ensure that critical issues of concern to ADL, as well as to the entire Jewish community, were conveyed to various consuls general. He also has been an active member of ADL’s Latino-Jewish Roundtable.

Special Birthday

Stan Goldberg (right) of Peabody, who manages Hunt’s Photo and Video sales in law enforcement, medical and audio-visual integration, was recently named “Sales Rep of the Year” by the National Association of Educational Buyers (NAEB) of New England. The 350-member organization represents procurement professionals at colleges, universities and independent schools throughout New England. NAEB New England President Michael Durkin (left) says Goldberg was chosen to receive the award because of his unflagging focus on meeting and exceeding his customers’ needs. At Hunt’s, Goldberg has managed audio-visual installations for some of the region’s most renowned educational institutions, including Dartmouth College, Boston University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Mass. Eye & Ear Infirmary, Bentley University and Yale Medical School. In addition, he supplies photo labs at dozens of New England colleges and universities with photo chemicals, papers and materials.

Send Us Your Simchas

Otto Wolf celebrated his 98th birthday recently with several parties. First, his entire family, including grandchildren from Baltimore, California and N.Y. flew in for a special family Shabbat birthday dinner at Brooksby Village, where Wolf resides with his wife, Irene. The morning of his birthday, the Jewish War Veterans surprised Wolf with a special cake. Wolf served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Carole Skowronski, his daughter, said, “It was such a nice gesture. It is so important for people who are that old, but in good shape, to have some contact with people who have a shared perspective on life. How many war vets are there from WWII?”

Rubbing Elbows With

the

Governor

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Jewish Journal Russian Chronicle Editor Yulia Zhorov, Jewish Journal Editor Susan Jacobs, and other members of ethnic media outlets attended a roundtable discussion with Governor Deval Patrick at UMass Boston on December 8. Issues addressed included immigration, unemployment, wage disparity and education. Zhorov is pictured, above, with Patrick.

jewish world from page 21

Cooperstein, Sandra, 89 — late of Swampscott. Died November 20, 2010. Wife of the late Saul Cooperstein. Mother of Roslyn Eschelbacher and her husband Michael, Nancy Carlinsky and her husband Dan, and Peter Cooperstein and his wife May Lin. Grandmother of Jeremy Eschelbacher and his wife Betsy, Liza Greenwald and her husband Aaron, Andrew Eschelbacher, Marc Cooperstein, Lexi Cooperstein and Katy Cooperstein. Great-grandmother of six. (Stanetsky-Hymanson)

CORDETTE, Ronald A. — late of Marblehead. Died December 5, 2010. Husband of Andrea Cordette. Father of Robyn and her husband Gregory Stone of Swampscott, and Steven and his wife Ela Cordette of Wakefield. Brother of Carole Scialdone of Salem and Dennis Cordette of Salem. Grandfather of Courtney Stone. (StanetskyHymanson) Cutler, Louis H. — late of Revere. Died November 22, 2010. Son of the late Samuel and Rebecca (Banker) Cutler. Brother of the late Sophie Cutler and Gertrude Cutler. (StanetskyHymanson) Cutter, Edith — late of Peabody, formerly of Wilmington. Died November 23, 2010. Wife of the late Atty. Simon Cutter. Mother of Judith N. and her husband George Isaac of Waltham, Nancy L. Weiner of Sunrise, Fla., and Atty. Richard A. and his wife Roxanne M. Cutter of Wakefield. Grandmother of Marilyn Hornstein, Scott Weiner, Erica Weiner, Howard E. Cutter, Marja Barr and Hillary Cutter, and great-grandmother of Jacob Hornstein, Rachael Hornstein and Jenna Barr. Sister of the late Jennie Gessman and Mary Hornstein. (Stanetsky-Hymanson) Davis, Marjorie F., 82 — late of Marblehead. Died November 20, 2010. Wife of Robert P. Davis. Mother of Diana Davis (Arthur) Nielsen and Nancy Davis. Grandmother of Benjamin Nielsen, Daniel Nielsen and Laura Borash. Sister of Florence Zahn. (Stanetsky-Hymanson) GLASS, Henrietta — late of Lynn. Died December 7, 2010. Wife of the late Howard B. Glass. Mother of Diane Glass and her fiancé John Gallagher of Glendale, N.Y. (Stanetsky-Hymanson) Glick, Shirley (Mezikofsky), 87 — late of Malden. Died November 28, 2010. Wife of the late I. Sidney Glick. Mother of Murray and Marsha Glick, Steven and Melanie Glick, Bruce and Sheryl Glick and Norine Glick. Sister of Merrill Mezikofsky and the late Martha Glassman. Grandmother of Amy Glick and Simenka Woudamki, Samuel, Rachel, Matthew and Allison Glick and Alexander Bagley. Great-grandmother of Lily and Saraya Simenka-Glick. (Goldman) Gorenstein, Freda (Levin), 94 — formerly of Winthrop. Died November 29, 2010. Wife of the late Max Gorenstein. Mother of Marvin Gorenstein and Tessa Lebinger. Sister of the late Arnold Levin. Grandmother of Tzipporah and Batya Lebinger. (Goldman) MILHENDLER, Betty, 87 — late of Cambridge, formerly of New York and Lynn. Died December 7, 2010. Daughter of the late Jacob and Rose (Simons) Milhendler. Sister of Adele Borouchoff of Milwaukee, Wisc., the late Bernard Milhendler and the late Charles Milhendler. Aunt of Jeremy Borouchoff and his wife Julie, and Rachel Raven. Great-aunt of Brianna and Avi Borouchoff. Friend of Lois Diesing. (Stanetsky-Hymanson) TOOMEY, Dorothy J. (Tattle), 71 — late of Lynn. Died December 9, 2010. Wife of the late Neil F. Toomey. Sister of Alan Tattle and his wife Donna of Lynn. Sister-in-law of Carole Sullivan and her husband Martin of Lynn. Aunt of David S. Tattle of Lynn and several nieces and nephews. (StanetskyHymanson)

The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

Deadliest Fire in Israel’s History

Annie P. Waldman

The library at Yemin Orde Youth Village was reduced to ashes in the massive fire.

Marcy Oster Jewish Telegraphic Agency

JERUSALEM — In the aftermath of the deadliest fire in Israel’s history, Israelis set to the task of burying the dead, cleaning up and figuring out what exactly went wrong — and who is to blame. Even before the blaze in the Carmel Mountains near Haifa came under control December 5, Israelis were asking why the country wasn’t better prepared for a wildfire of this magnitude. In all, 42 people were killed, about 250 homes were destroyed or severely damaged, 17,000 people were forced to evacuate, more than 12,000 acres were burned and an estimated five million trees were lost. “The Carmel disaster highlights the outrageous gaps in Israel’s strategic and day-to-day readiness,” the editorialists at Haaretz wrote, while echoing a call for a state commission of inquiry to examine who bears responsibility for the failures of the Israeli fire service. The damage to the area of the Carmel Forest in northern Israel was estimated at about $75 million, including damage to towns and kibbutzim, destroyed forests and damaged roads. Yemin Orde, an aliyah youth village founded in 1953 that has served as a home and school to thousands of immigrant youths, most recently Ethiopians and Russians, was severely burned. In the artists’ village of Ein Hod, 10 houses and an art gallery were destroyed. The Israeli Cabinet approved a $16.5 million aid package to assist damaged communities, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered that each person whose home suffered severe fire damage be given an immediate aid disbursement of about $700. Calls came from many quarters for the resignation of Interior Minister Eli Yishai, whose ministry is responsible for the state’s firefighting forces. Yishai also is accused of refusing fire truck donations from the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Israel has 16 firefighters per 100,000 residents. By contrast, the United States, Japan and Greece have five to seven times that number per capita, The Associated Press reported. In total, Israel has 1,400 firefighters. A 14-year-old resident of the Druze village of Ussfiya was arrested, December 6, after

admitting to starting the fire. The teen reportedly said he was smoking a nargila water pipe and threw a live coal into an open area before returning to school. High winds and dry conditions prompted by Israel’s parched winter thus far provided fuel for the blaze, which began tearing through northern Israel on December 2. Northern Israel is covered by fields and trees, some natural forests and others planted over the last several decades — many of them by pioneers during the British Mandate period. Others were planted with donations from Diaspora Jews through the Jewish National Fund. With its green hills, the country’s north has a Mediterranean flavor distinct from its more Middle Eastern south, which is covered by desert. After the fire, the Israeli government said it would invest the resources to make the north green again. The fire’s rapid spread revealed a strategic weakness that could be exploited by its enemies, Israeli commentators wrote. Meanwhile, numerous figures in the Arab world cited the fire as punishment from God for Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and its occupation of Arab lands. The Palestinian prime minister in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniyeh, said the fire was a “strike from Allah.” The spiritual leader of the Israeli Orthodox Shas Party, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, also said the fire was divine punishment,

How

attributing the blaze to the sin of lack of observance of the Sabbath. For its part, the Israeli government issued a rare call for international assistance. Among the countries that responded were Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Germany, Russia, France, Switzerland, Britain, Spain and the United States. The Palestinian Authority also sent 21 firefighters and four fire trucks to help battle the blaze; Israeli media reported that the trucks were a gift to the Palestinians from the European Union. Thirty-five firefighting airplanes came to Israel. New York sent a 747 loaded with Fire Troll 931, a fire retardant chemical, in a shipment organized by the Fire Department of New York City and the office of the city’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg. Israel also rented the American Evergreen Boeing 747 Super Tanker, one of the most advanced firefighting planes in the world, loaded with 80,000 liters of water and fire retardant. The deadliest incident came in the fire’s early hours when a bus carrying about three dozen cadets from the Israeli prisons service on their way to evacuate a prison threatened by the blaze became trapped between burning trees. Nearly all those aboard perished, and the bus was left a scorched shell. Two firefighters who rushed to rescue the guards and a 16-yearold volunteer, Elad Riven, also were killed. All of the bodies were identified, some using DNA technology, and funerals began being held while the blaze was still raging. “No one sent you, no one called for you, no one but your wonderful and brave conscience,” Israeli President Shimon Peres said during a eulogy at the funeral for Riven. The “disaster taught us that all of us — Jews, Arabs, Druze and other peoples — share the same fate.” A day after the blaze was brought under control, the fire’s death toll rose by one with the death of Haifa Police Chief Ahuva Tomer, who was burned over most of her body while trying to assist the prison guard cadets.

The Jewish Federations of North America is leading the Jewish Federation mobilization response to support victims of the fire and to plan for longer-term recovery efforts. To donate, go to jfns.org or send a check to The Jewish Federations of North America, Wall Street Station, P.O. Box 14, New York, N.Y. 10268, Attention: Israel Forest Fire Relief. Mobile donations: Text ISRAELFIRE to 69866. Yemin Orde Youth Village was hit hard by the recent wildfire. Forty percent of the community’s buildings were torched. Home to more than 500 children from 16 countries around the world, they need emergency funds to meet the children’s immediate needs, and to fund rapid reconstruction. To donate, go to yeminorde.org.

Help: American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is aiding fire victims and working with local authorities and the Israeli government to protect the most vulnerable. To donate, go to jdc.org or make a check payable to JDC, Fires in Israel, P.O. Box 530, 132 East 43rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10017. To support the replanting effort, contact Jewish National Fund, Operation Carmel Renewal: From Black to Green, at jnf.org or send checks to Jewish National Fund, Operation Carmel Renewal, 42 East 69th Street, New York, N.Y. 10021. Jewish Agency for Israel continues to aid operations to victims of the Carmel fire, providing essential support to populations affected by the devastation. To donate, visit jafi.org.

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24 The Jewish Journal – jewishjournal.org – december 16, 2010

A Letter from the Publisher December 16, 2010 Dear Jewish Journal Readers, If you are reading this letter, you are a shareholder in our Jewish community and care about its history and its continuity. We ask you to take ownership and have a voice in what belongs to you. In 2010, the Journal Board of Overseers and staff worked hard to offer our readers a refreshing new voice. We changed our look and broadened our readership base. We reached out to under served communities and opened our editorial pages to a wider range of opinion. And, we are forever evolving and striving to deliver the best newspaper we can. It is critical for our Jewish community to have a resource that helps us live our lives as Jews. The Jewish Journal educates interfaith readers about what it means to be Jewish; informs readers about what is going on at home, in Israel and in the Jewish world; and most importantly, provides a forum for conversation, discussion and debate about issues most critical to our local Jewish communities and to Israel. Twenty-nine times a year, in rain, snow or sleet the Jewish Journal is delivered to your doorstep – free of charge – with the sole purpose of keeping you connected, engaged and informed about what is happening in our Jewish community. We are the only Jewish paper in Massachusetts providing this free service to all Jewish and interfaith households in the region. Please help us remain this way. This appeal is our last, yet most critical, of the year and we hope that you will help the Jewish Journal continue to be a core part of our Jewish community. We wish our readers a Happy and Healthy New Year. We look forward to your continued support so that we can continue bringing you what you deserve – a voice in our community. With appreciation,

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