Jewish Life Now-Winter 2023

DECEMBER 2023

NOW WANDER NO MORE

Aleeza Ben Shalom Netflix Matchmaker Spreads Light in the Darkness COLONEL RICHARD KEMP A Man of Valor

POINT OF VIEW

Jews Speak Out About the War

ADELE RAEMER

Kibbutz Nirim Survivor

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S DECEMBER 2023

14 O N T H E C OV E R

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POV - Speaking out About the War Colonel Richard Kemp - A Man of Valor, on and off the battlefield Aleeza Ben Shalom - Spreading Light in the Darkness Adele Raemer - Where Have All the Good Gazans Gone?

L I F E S TY L E

30

C RAV E A B L E

52 70

Ilana Muhlstein - The Non-deprivation Diet Lehrhaus - Hungry for More Than Great Food?

A R T S a n d E N T E R TA I N M E N T

10 26 50

40

60 66

Celebrities Speak out for Israel Jews in the News Schmoozing & Cruising - ChaiFlix Explores Kosher Restaurants Across the US Mood of the Moment – Gaby Aghion and the House of Chloé No Accident - HBO Documentary Exposes the Truth About Charlotsville

J U S T I C E /T I K KU N O LA M

40 74

60

M E N TA L H E A LT H

46 62

70 4 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

Lisa Bloom - Super Hero/Justice Warrior Empathy in Action - Charitable Giving to Israel

Trauma is real - Pay Attention to the Warning Signs Rabbi Vered Harris - Ambiguous Loss

Peace for Israel means security, and we must stand with all of our might to protect its right to exist, its territorial integrity and the right to use whatever sea lanes it needs. I see Israel, and never mind saying it, as one of the great outposts of democracy in the world, and a marvelous example of what can be done, how desert land can be transformed into an oasis of brotherhood and democracy. Peace for Israel means security and that security must be a reality.

LIORA REZ

Rev. Martin Luther King, address to the Rabbinical Assembly March 26, 1968

“Antisemitism isn’t just a Jewish problemit’s an American problem.”

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 5

MASTHEAD DECEMBER 2023

PUBLISHER Cindy Saltzman ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Cindy Saltzman CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Debra Rich Gettleman ART DIRECTOR Tamara Kopper CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joanne Greene Rabbi Bill Berk Piri Lanes Rich Brownstein Myron Tanzer Tara Dublin Debra Rich Gettleman

CONTACT US: JEWISH LIFE NOW® Publisher@Jewishlifenow.com Editor@Jewishlifenow.com Advertise@Jewishlifenow.com

Publisher Mediaport LLC Additional M e diaport LLC publications: AZJewishlife.com ORJewishlife.com Jewish Life Now® is published by Mediaport LLC A Division of Prince Hal Production (TGMR18) 2022-2023 The content and opinions in JewishLife Now ® do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers, staf f or contractors. Articles and columns are for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Although every ef fort is made to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, Jewish Life Now ®, and its agents, publishers, employees and contractors will not be held responsible for the misuse of any information contained herein. The publishers reserve the right to ref use any advertisement. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement of products or services.

6 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

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8 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

LETTER FROM THE

PUBLISHER

DECEMBER 2023

ONE THING FOR SURE It’s been over two months since October 7, and the shock has not worn off; not for me, not for Jews worldwide, hopefully not for the majority of non-Jews, and certainly not for Israelis.

To say that this has been an existential crisis for all of us would be an understatement. I wish I had words of wisdom or comfort, but I don’t. I wish I could wash away the pain and terror, but I can’t.

I’m sure like many of you, I could not fathom witnessing a literal “open hunting season” on Jews in the Jewish homeland.

Israel, after all, is our safety net against antisemitism, a sturdy ship in the storm, our refuge. And like many, I didn’t want to believe that “antisemitism would become a top international export in the year 2023, a kind of global zeitgeist.” (Mathias Dopfner, Free Press, Dec. 12, 2023).

And the hostages...where are they? How did this happen? Many expected a kind of “Raid on Entebbe” scenario response, where our brave and bold IDF soldiers would swoop into Gaza and bring them home quickly and safely. But unfortunately, the world is a different place today. It is a seemingly far darker and more complicated place than anyone can remember post-Holocaust. And now for the children being held as hostages, Anne Frank is no longer a historical figure, but a contemporary. That should sicken any person with an ounce of humanity.

But here we are, the lines between friends and foes, good and bad...no make that “evil”, have become blurred. Our equilibrium is off, and we aren’t sure if we are safe anywhere in the world. Our ears ring with the shouts of protestors calling for the death of Jews and the destruction of Israel. The only thing that rings louder is the deafening sounds of silence from humanitarian organizations and social action groups that have lost their voices when it comes to speaking up against the mass atrocities of October 7th, and the rampant antisemitism on our college campuses and in our cities days after. Will we ever feel safe again? I don’t know.

But here is what I do know. The Jewish people will not be extinguished, nor hardened to the good in the world. We have survived thousands of years and will continue to do so. We come together to fight a common enemy, not just for the Jewish people, but for all who cherish life over death, humanity over inhumanity, and light over darkness. Am Yisrael Chai.

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 9

Celebrities Speak Out for Israel

MARK FEUERSTEIN

ACTOR

“I feel terrible for the Palestinians, whose lives don’t matter at all to Hamas. But these terrorists are not freedom fighters. They are just terrorists. And I am so proud of the IDF and those bad ass, Israeli soldiers who were stopping them before they reach the “infidels”, the rest of the western world. Am Yisrael Chai.”

DEBRA MESSING

ACTOR

“We will pray for the success of

the IDF for a war Israel did not start, did not want, but a war Israel will win. Because we must.”

“The world has failed the women of October 7th.

On October 7th, the world witnessed Hamas carrying out its violent plans in real time. Two months later, women are still hostage to these {Hamas} rapists and the world has failed to call this situation what it is: an urgent emergency that demands a decisive response.”

Gal Godot, actress

10 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

JULIAN EDELMAN

FOOTBALL WIDE RECEIVER

“Hanukkah is a holiday that

embodies the idea that tough times don't last, tough people do.

This Hanukkah is particularly tough, but so are the Jewish people.

Happy Hanukkah from my family to yours.”

MADONNA

SINGER SONGWRITER ACTRESS

DWAYNE JOHNSON "THE ROCK"

ACTOR FILM PRODUCER RETIRED PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER

“I'm heartbroken, angry, and sickened by

the brutal murders and kidnapping of Jewish people through the horrific acts of the Hamas terrorist group. I condemn and denounce terrorism, and in this devastating moment, my heart goes out to all the victims and families grieving for their lost loved ones. ”

BAR REFAELI

MODEL TELEVISION HOST BUSINESSWOMAN ACTRESS

“I got a little tired of having to explain to

the world, why I have to fight someone who raped kidnapped and murdered my friends.”

“What is happening in Israel is devastating...

Watching all of these families and especially children being herded, assaulted and murdered in the streets is heartbreaking.

Imagine if this was happening to you??

It's un-fathomable.

Conflicts can never be resolved with violence.

Unfortunately humanity does not understand this universal truth. Has never understood it. We live in a world ravaged by hate.

My heart goes out to Israel. To families and homes that have been destroyed. To children that are lost.

To innocent victims who have been killed.

To all who are suffering or who will suffer from this conflict. I'm praying for you. I am aware that this is the work of Hamas and there are many innocent people in Palestine who do not support this terrorist organization. This tragic attack will only cause more suffering for everyone.

Let us all pray. For Israel. For Peace. ♥ For the world.”

DOUGLAS EMHOFF

HOWARD STERN

BROADCASTER ACTOR MEDIA PERSONALITY

“I don't want to listen to any antisemitism

today... Jews are the indigenous people of that area. If you're anti-Israel, then your anti-America. It's the only friend we have who's willing to fight and stand up for what's right.”

SECOND GENTLEMAN LAWYER

“Let me be clear, when Jews are targeted

because of their beliefs or identity, and when Israel is singled out because of anti-Jewish hatred, that is antisemitism and it must be condemned and condemned unequivocally and without context.

The common denominator of these conversations is that we're feeling alone, we feel hatred, we're in pain.”

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 11

Celebrities Speak Out for Israel AMY SCHUMER

COMEDIAN WRITER ACTRESS

“What I want is EVERY HOSTAGE BACK. I want safety and freedom from Hamas for Palestinians and Israelis. I want safety for Jewish people and Muslims as well.

Everyone. Just like you. I want peace.”

JOHN F. KENNEDY

35TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

“Israel was not created in order to disappear ‑ Israel will endure and flourish. It is the child of hope and the home of the brave. it can neither be broken by adversity nor demoralized by success. It carries the shield of democracy and it honors the sword of freedom.”

TOM BRADY

FORMER QUARTERBACK

“There should be no gray area about

condemning Hamas' terrorist attacks on Israeli citizens. No human deserves this. I am heartbroken for all of the innocent lives lost in Israel and Gaza...heartbroken for the losses that are sure to follow.”

PINK

SINGER SONGWRITER ACTRESS

“Hamas is a terrorist organization that

seeks to destroy Jews. They also murder and oppress women, the LGBTQIA+ community and political opponets.”

DAVID SCHWIMMER

ACTOR DIRECTOR PRODUCER

“These morally bankrupt Presidents of @ BROOKE SHIELDS

MODEL ACTRESS

“I am disgusted and horrified by antisemitism and the barbaric acts of Hamas. I stand with Israel and the Jewish people.”

12 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

Harvard, @uofpenn and @mit testify before congress.

Incapable of answering even the most direct "yes" or "no" questions, watch them duck and smirk at the unbridled antiSemitism and calls for genocide on their campuses.

Where is the outrage among students, faculty and alumni demanding their resignations, an official apology and enforcement of the codes of conduct?

Silence is complicity.”

If someone is walking on a campus saying, "Kill the Jews", all I say to my fellow civil rights leaders is "If they said ' kill the blacks.'" we would be marching. This is not hard, this is not difficult. It is not you reacting to the noise of the crowd. It's that you have no inner guts to stand up for everyone that you want to stand up for us.

You can't have it both ways."

The Rev. Al Sharpton Civil Right leader

RONA-LEE SHIMON

ACTRESS DANCER MODEL

“To all of the people around the

world supporting Israel at this time.

Thank you for being vocal with your voices, thank you for being vocal with your support.

This is the best thing that you can do for us. I have been getting messages from all over the world of support. Thank you so much.

October 7th will go down in the history books as one of the most horrific massacres ever done in the history of the world. Thank you for not being silent.”

SHARPTON PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL FROST

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 13

POINT OF VIEW

Shema: Listen It’s been said that Judaism is a religion of listening. We are asked to believe in a God we cannot see, to hear the cries of the weak and oppressed, to awaken our spirit at the sound the shofar. As Jews around the globe witness violence, hatred, and antisemitism, we honor the voices of those directly and indirectly impacted by the war in Israel.

Speak out loud, even if it’s a whisper!

By Debra Rich Gettleman EVERYDAY

I wear a very tasteful, and very noticeable Jewish star around my neck. It falls just above the necklace that reads my Hebrew name, Devorah.

I also wear a blue ribbon when I go out to show my support for Israel and my hope that the hostages will be returned to safety. I’m not screaming or shouting from rooftops. I’m quietly asserting who I am and speaking up about what I believe.

While friends of mine are taking down their mizuzot, removing kippot and affirming not to put their hanukiahs in their windows this year, I am asking you to honor your Jewishness by displaying meaningful Jewish

14 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

symbols in your homes and on your person.

It’s not enough to support Israel silently right now. It’s about standing proudly for the Jews and the Jewish state.

Because back in 1938, when the Nazi regime was gaining power, most Jews preferred to tamp down their identities and try to wait out the antisemitism creeping into their lives.

In pre-World War II Germany, it was incomprehensible to imagine that Jews, successful members of a cultured society, could ever be targeted in one of the deadliest genocides the world had ever seen.

Jews were barred from certain professions. Their businesses were shut down. Jewish children were no longer able to go to school. Jews were defined as biologically inferior through their blood lines. And as all that happened, no one believed that it would lead to the systematic destruction of 6 million Jewish men,

women, and children.

Look around right now.

Jews are being targeted.

Jewish businesses are being boycott. Jewish students on campuses all over the world are not safe. And yet, most Jews I know continue to assert that something like the Holocaust could never happen today. We say, “never again” and yet, we are watching history repeat itself.

Look at the Cooper Union Jewish students who hid in a library while pro-Palestinian rioters banged on the glass doors threatening violence.

Or the Jewish people in Rashida Tlaib’s 12th district who lost family during the October 7th massacre and have to grapple with the reality that their congresswoman sponsors terrorism and hate. Or, think about Aaron Dahan, Upper East Side owner of Caffe Aronne, whose half a dozen baristas walked off the job due to his support of Israel.

This is history repeating itself. And it is up to all of us to say something, do something, stand for something, and not pretend it isn’t happening. Let’s applaud business icons like Bill Ackman and Idan Ofer who spoke out against Ivy league alma maters that support anti-

Jewish student groups.

Let’s support the 234 Democrat and Republican Representatives who voted to censor Tlaib’s insensitive pro-Hamas rhetoric. Let’s cheer loudly for Pro-Israel community members in New York who showed up to volunteer to work at Café Aronne. Doctors, lawyers, Rabbis, Jews from all walks of life came to help and encourage people to buy gift cards to bolster the business. Customers now line up around the block to support the store and the business continues to see a significant bump in customers after news of the barista walk-off spread.

Elie Wiesel said, “Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

Speak your truth and speak it now. ♦ Debra Rich Gettleman is the Contributing Editor for Jewish Life Now. She is also a professional actor, producer, playwright, and awardwinning journalist.

I’m taking this personally

By Joanne Greene MY grandparents lived through pogroms – organized massacres where bands of men, seething with hatred of Jews, rode into Jewish villages on horseback, looting, raping, killing, and burning down their homes. I’ve known this the same way I’ve known about the killing fields in Cambodia and the Armenian genociade.

Unimaginable evil that happened to someone else, people who didn’t speak my language, who didn’t live like I did, safe and with boundless opportunity in late 20th and early 21st century America.

In Hebrew school they showed us newsreels from the war, the Holocaust, the Shoah.

So many names for something that happened far away at another time. I and my friends had nightmares from seeing the grainy, black-and-white images of emaciated naked dead bodies piled high.

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 15

POINT OF VIEW

But that was history, I told myself…like the slaughter

by Syrian-Greeks, the annihilation decreed

by Egyptian Pharoahs.

Except that the murder of 6 million Jews had taken place only twenty years earlier. Twenty years, I now know, is an instant. I’ve read countless books, seen innumerable films, been privileged to hear many first-person testimonies, but these atrocities were things that happened to other Jews, at other times, in other places.

Until now. “Never again is now.” It’s what we chant at rallies, our minds filled with images of kids who look like our children, brutally murdered at a music festival, parents, and grandparents, just like us, mowed down in their homes. “Bring them home,” we chant of the still missing hostages perhaps held in tunnels filled with weapons, being used as human shields as Israel fights for its very existence against an enemy that doesn’t protect its people, that is known to use relief money to buy weapons, that teaches its children that judgement day will only come when every Jew is killed.

For the first time in my life, I fear for Jewish American college students enduring vicious threats that scare them into

remaining inside their dorm rooms, that cause the closure of kosher dining halls because they’re no longer safe. Yes, I’m taking this personally because reason seems absent from much of the discourse. The left with which I’ve marched and identified over so many issues for decades – reproductive rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, human rights – seems not to care about Israeli hostages from more than twenty-five different nations held by a group of people that celebrate the beheadings of Jewish infants.

I am sad and confused and feel the need to be counted among those who stand up for Israel’s right to exist. I support the Israel that has continued to try to negotiate a Palestinian state, that, while imperfect, is still the closest thing to a democracy in the middle east. I take great pride in knowing that hundreds of thousands of Israelis turned out every Saturday after the Sabbath to protest judicial reforms that would have changed the makeup of the Jewish state. I, like so many around the world, yearn for a free and independent place for Palestinians to live peacefully, to cultivate land, to build infrastructure and to

16 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

educate their children, not just about Jihad but about science and mathematics, art, and economics. This isn’t a fight against the Palestinian people; it’s a fight against the Islamic Resistance movement that is committed to killing Jews until Israel is wiped off the map.

Anti-Semitism pre-dates the printing press and, at this point, it may even be inevitable. And perhaps I should have been feeling it’s ugliness more deeply, more personally, all along.

Instead, I’ve acted by upholding Jewish values and traditions, learning and teaching about our people’s history and struggles, visiting sites where Judaism thrived and Jews were murdered throughout the world, celebrating our rituals, telling our jokes, eating our foods.

Today’s geopolitical issues in the Middle East are complex and nuanced and the more I read and listen to experts, the more complicated I understand the path to peace to be.

What galls me is that most people, with little to no appreciation for history, reduce this and all conflict to good and evil, us and them, the haves and the have nots. In this terrifying, quickly moving scenario in which we find ourselves, the narrative has shifted in mere moments

from Israel as victim to Israel as all-powerful master of brutality.

I have no answers, only pain punctuated by moments of joy and guilt that, still, even now, I and my immediate family have it so good. ♦ Joanne Greene is a news anchor, host of the podcast “In This Story… with Joanne Greene,” and the author of a new memoir, By Accident: A Memoir of Letting Go. She lives in Marin County with her husband.

We see it everyday

By Piri Lanes THESE are the things to understand about what is happening here in Israel.

Unfortunately, this is not something new that Israel is experiencing. We have had atrocities like this happen throughout the years, just not on this scale, so the world didn’t pay attention. Events such as the Fogel family being brutally murdered in their home and the Dee family when the mother and daughter were killed in a car with the father watching in the car behind. What is happening right now is that the world is seeing

what we see every day.

It’s important to understand that these atrocities are not limited to just Israel or the Jews, these terrorists, their goal is to have their radical version of Islam be the ruling for the whole world. This is no longer just Israel’s war. We’ve seen this when they call for death to America. Right now, Israel is fighting not only for her life, but for the entire western world.

What is happening now is a mind-blowing scenario. We see terrorists being celebrated around the world. The photos from these Pro Palestinian protests are praising the slaughter of babies, families, the raping of women, the burning of bodies, and people are proud of this. While here in Israel we run to bomb shelters on a daily basis because Hamas is indiscriminately launching rockets to kill as many people as they can. A hospital in the southern city of Ashkelon was hit and the media outlets haven’t spoken about it.

They’ve shown that they don’t care when Israelis are being terrorized.

The hypocrisy is unbelievable. You see masses of people flooding the streets in Europe, Australia and the United States, chanting to gas the Jews and annihilate

the Jewish State while security stands by and does nothing. Yet peaceful Pro-Israel rallies are being shut down and people are escorted away, ostensibly for security reasons.

In Israel we have a saying, tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are. When you see the countries that support Hamas what does it tell you? When you see terrorist countries like Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea supporting Hamas it makes it obvious who is on the side of good. Hamas and their allies celebrate death while we celebrate life. Good will always beat evil.

For our friends in Arizona, we want to thank them for their ongoing support, there are many places like Magen David Adom and the IDF that people can donate to.

There are organizations that are also helping people that have been displaced. ♦ From Piri Lanes, formerly of Scottsdale, AZ. She made Aliyah 5 years ago. And despite the current darkness, Piri was recently married and continues to bring joy and light into the world.

The Simchat Torah Massacre

By Rabbi Bill Berk IN September 2005 Israel pulled out of Gaza with the hope that the Palestinians there would build a healthy prosperous country. Two years later Hamas took over Gaza and began focusing not on building a good country but on destroying Israel. We found out, to our shock and horror, that Hamas had zero interest in peace and was viciously opposed to pluralism. Since then Hamas has made it clear that Israel will never be welcomed in the MIddle East. They believe in creating an Islamic Empire–no Jews and no Israel. Most of the modern world is making peace with the idea of pluralism–but not Hamas.

Now it is one thing to be opposed to pluralism.

It is quite another thing to commit the atrocities they have unleashed with this war which began on October 7th. These

atrocities have crossed a red line that changes how we look at our situation. We now look at it like this–we have no choice. If we don’t stop Hamas they will kill us.

Many others around the world, including many in the U.S., look at the situation differently and either equate the two sides or simply support Hamas. Part of our enormous stress right now is exactly this issue– especially the way the world got tired of Israel’s suffering after two days of empathy. For us a line has been crossed.

The joyous laughter of Hamas fighters as they murdered parents in front of their children and children in front of their parents–crossed a line. The kidnapping of little children and babies and elders–crossed a line. Raping teenage girls before killing them– crossed a line. Chopping babies heads off and burning babies alive–it is too much, it crossed a line. Shooting rockets at us–12 shot at us in the last few minutes (October 31)–crosses a line. So the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is going to do what it needs to do whether students at Harvard like it or not. Jewish suffering is no longer making headlines.

Here’s a secret about

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 17

POINT OF VIEW

Israeli society. If there had been ten people murdered and four people kidnapped we would be as horrified and stressed out as we are with 1400 murdered and 245 kidnapped. Why? Two reasons: 1) We take seriously that every human is created b’tzelem, in God’s image, which to us means that every single person has infinite worth. 2) Israel is one big family. We are a gregarious group of people who love life. We feel connected to each other. So the numbers don’t matter–each and every person is a world, precious beyond words.

Speaking of numbers– if we took what is happening here in Israel and Gaza and on a per capita basis extrapolate what the numbers would be in the U.S.—it would look like this: on one day (9/11) 90,000 people murdered and 7,000 kidnapped–you get an idea of the extent of the tragedy on October 7, 2023.

We feel terrible for the people trapped in Gaza, held captive by Hamas. We pray for their liberation from Hamas. For those whose sympathies lie more in the direction of Hamas please keep in mind that sometimes in order to stop evil from spreading

it is necessary to hurt innocent civilians. In Germany five million civilians were killed by the Allies desperate to stop Hitler. They didn’t want to hurt these people–but that is war.

One last word–in the Bible the word hamas means wild, destructive, violent behavior. ♦ Rabbi Berk currently lives in Jerusalem. He served for 23 years as the senior Rabbi at Temple Chai in Phoenix, Arizona.

Seeing through Hamas deception

By Mylan Tanzer SINCE October 7, I have heard from many friends and colleagues who have expressed concern and support. Thank you. We are fine, physically at least, but psychologically, how can anyone be fine after 7 October when thousands of your fellow citizens have been tortured, raped, kidnapped and slaughtered by Hamas.

18 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

I ask all of you to understand the following: We all know Hamas must be destroyed. We all know that Hamas not only uses millions of civilians as human shields but also rejoices in their deaths and cynically exploits this to portray Israel as barbaric and to exploit Western decency to pressure Israel to desist, thereby sentencing our civilians to a continual Isis threat on our borders.

These civilians in Gaza were alive before 7 October. These civilians would be alive had the world not prevented us in the past from eliminating Hamas. Civilians in Gaza are warned by Israel to evacuate to designated safe areas(Hamas tries to prevent this). Where was the warning for Israeli civilians? Civilians in Gaza are not killed intentionally by Israel.

They are killed by Hamas hiding behind them as shields. Conversely You all know by now that Israeli civilians were and are intentionally targeted

by Hamas.

Hamas is part of the Muslim Brotherhood who sanctify death and murder in the name of Holy war.

Iran has incorporated them into its Axis of proxies surrounding us on all of our borders.

Along with Russia and China, Iran and its

proxies constitute an axis of evil threatening the entire free and democratic world.

The world will be a better place without Hamas. It will be an important win in this fight against darkness that threatens us all.

Please don’t be deceived by the chants for “Free Palestine and End Occupation” and all the other lies and deceptions.

That results in providing cover for Isis ideology and savagery, just as civilians in Gaza are cover for Hamas.

Support us this time to get this done. See through the lies. Hamas are not fighters, gunmen, militants or any of the laundered words used to describe them. This is sadistic and barbaric terrorism and needs to be destroyed.

We need you to understand this!!! ♦ Mylan brings expertise through almost 30 years of experience in sports television, and digital media.

He launched, managed, and consults for sports channels in different territories.

My son

By Rich Brownstein TODAY I took my 25-year-old son, Yehuda, my only son, to the Gaza border.

As my subdued anguish seeped out, Yehuda asked rhetorically, “why did we move to Israel if you didn’t want me to fight?”

I explained that when we moved to Israel from Los Angeles when he was four years old, I thought that there would no longer be a reason to fight when he became an adult.

Obviously, I was wrong.

For the three summers before Yehuda went into the Army, we would work out in the weight room and swim laps at the local Jerusalem pool.

He was drafted into the renowned Seventh Brigade, one of three Israeli tank brigades. He distinguished himself as a loader: the person who handles ammunition, especially tank shells in a four-person crew.

When he became a first sergeant, Yehuda was asked to be the loader for the unit’s commander, a lieutenant in charge of a group of tanks. Not long after, he was moved to the captain’s tank, which oversaw several

units. Yehuda finished his military service with an extra six months, which culminated in his crew winning the annual wargames against other tanks, deeming them the finest tank crew in Israel.

After the Army, Yehuda eventually moved back to Southern California, where he got an apartment and started to work. On October 7, at 6:30 AM my time, he called me to ask if I had heard the news. Like everyone else, I dismissed it as just another outburst

by Hamas. He assured me that this was entirely different. Yehuda contacted his reserve unit, but they were so overwhelmed by the number of volunteers that they scarcely needed my boy. Nonetheless Yehuda persisted, booking one of the few flights home, which was largely comprised of returning soldiers, including the flight attendants.

When he landed, Yehuda called the reserve officer who asked when he had last been in a tank.

Because it had been three years, they told him to sit tight, so he went to his mother’s home on a kibbutz in Gush Etzion (the West Bank) and made himself useful.

On October 10th he was quoted in the Washington Post: “'It was

probably the best flight I was ever on in the worst possible circumstances,' said Yehuda Brownstein, a 24-year-old Israeli American living in Los Angeles, who had not been called up for reserve duty but bought the first ticket he could find to Tel Aviv after hearing the news on Saturday anyway. The emotions on the flight were mixed, he said. At one point before they landed, everyone on the plane stood up and sang the national anthem in memory of those who had died. 'There really was this connectedness between everyone in that cabin on that flight — everyone there for the same cause,' he said."

Between working in the kibbutz kitchen, harvesting in the greenhouses and an uneventful 25th birthday, Yehuda checked in with the reserve coordinator and his previous commanders. Meanwhile, many of our friends and family were already serving, and some are hostages. Last week the Army coordinator informed my son that he would probably be needed. After a few days of frustration, Yehuda told me that he was going back to Los Angeles if they did not call him up.

Two days ago, his former lieutenant called him,

asking if Yehuda would be interested in joining his command tank.

We drove down there this morning, through a myriad of intensifying checkpoints, to the staging area, just outside a kibbutz where 130 Jews had been slaughtered exactly a month earlier. I waited with Yehuda until the commander arrived with his chosen driver and gunner, who were also friends of my son. After my introduction to each member of the old team, the commander – who had been promoted to captain – shook my hand and looked into my eyes.

The captain didn’t have to annunciate what he knew I wanted to hear. As for the greater question, perhaps someday people will be able to move here without the fear that the five of us shared in that muddy parking lot filled with otherwise useless war machines. ♦ Lecturer/Author of "Holocaust Cinema Complete: A History and Analysis of 400 Films, with a Teaching Guide", 2021. Has lectured for Yad Vashem since 2014.

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 19

Colonel Richard Kemp

A Man of Valor, on and off the battlefield

By Cindy Saltzman

C

olonel Richard Kemp has spent the majority of his adult life commanding British troops on the front line of many of the world’s most dangerous battles including Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan to name a few.

Currently, he consults on intelligence, counter-terrorism, and defense. In addition, he is an author, journalist, and media commentator.

Though not Jewish, he has always been a strong advocate for Israel. While the world watched in horror as Hamas brutally attacked Israel, Col. Kemp has been a witness.

Despite the constant barrage of missiles, Colonel Kemp generously took the time to speak with me by phone as missiles continued to fly above him.

[Comments have been edited for clarity]

20 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

Kemp met with Israeli soldiers on October 2023.

Anyone who wants to provide support for Israel at the moment, needs to do everything in their power to counter the anti-Israel narrative. ~Col. Richard Kemp (Ret.)

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 21

KEMP JEWISH LIFE NOW: I came across an old broadcast of yours from 2016, and you were talking about the Arab/Israeli conflict at the time. You said, “We are fighting an existential threat with fundamental Islam and Western civilization, and Israel’s on the front line.” Do you ever think about how far we’ve come or not come at this stage?

COL. RICHARD KEMP: I think everything that’s happening now was predictable for a long time, and if you look at Hamas, their whole objective has been to annihilate Israel, that’s what they exist for.

And they’ve never deviated from that path, they’ve tried attacking from the sea, and they’ve tried using hang-gliders in the past as well, and everything that they’ve tried to do has largely failed, because they’ve been prevented from doing severe damage.

But unfortunately, they got very lucky on this occasion, because there were various failures in intelligence and security that led to, for them, spectacular success. For Israel, an absolute disaster.

But to me, it’s not a surprise that they kept trying until they succeeded in this way.

Most Israelis recognize this threat and what the consequences would be. The inhumanity of the mass, the murderous focus of Hamas, most of the rest of the world didn’t. And the failure to understand what Hamas was really about, led the rest of the world-the US in particular and Europe--to pressure Israel into not taking decisive action against Hamas.

And it was a massive propaganda campaign against Israel over the years that pressured Israel into effectively trying to contain the threat from Hamas rather than defeating it. And now we’re seeing the consequences of that.

JLN: Do you foresee this becoming a bigger problem that incites even more terrorism abroad?

RK: Yes, I do, and we’ve already seen the beginning of it and we’ve seen attacks in Belgium and France, which are almost certainly motivated by the massive violence over here and Israel’s response to it. I think that is going to grow and is probably going to increase as Israel works to defeat Hamas.

22 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

You can draw comparisons with the Islamic State, when the Islamic State was at its height and they inspired jihadists around the world, including in Europe and the U.S., to try and attack and in some cases succeed in attacking. So, when you have a rise in violence of this sort, it inspires jihadists everywhere, so I think yes, the answer is we will see this rising.

We also saw when the Islamic State was not destroyed, but when the Islamic State was extremely battered by Western and Arab countries’ actions against them. We saw the level of jihadism around the world fall off a bit, as I hope [will happen] once Israel has dealt effectively with Hamas and they are defeated.

But of course, then the next concern is what Hezbollah does and whether actions by Hezbollah are going to extend this conflict beyond what’s happening in Gaza now.

JLN: It does feel like there’s a lot of disbelief, and a lot of people are accusing Israel of all kinds of things that aren’t true. It’s like the barbaric actions are too much for a lot of people to accept, so they’ve turned it on its head. It’s very scary.

You’ve been in a lot of dangerous places including Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently, do you think this is the most volatile area around the world or is there anywhere worse?

RK: Well, I was in Ukraine several weeks ago, and I would say that’s a pretty dangerous place to be as well. Obviously, this is an extremely dangerous situation, but it doesn’t really compare with the war that’s going on in Ukraine in terms of sheer violence and huge death rates on both sides.

The progress of that war is much more predictable than what’s happening here because there’s a danger in Israel of this war, as I mentioned, expanding to embrace Lebanon and also Syria and of course Iran.

It’s Iran that is behind all of this, all of it.

I think it’s probably worth making the connection between Ukraine and Israel in terms of Iranian influence. Iran has funded, armed, supplied, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, the proxies in Syria, as well as the Russians in Ukraine. Not directed them, but Iran has supplied them with drones. I was in Ukraine under drone attack from Iranian drones and I was in

Kemp in 1991 with the 7th Armoured Brigade before assult into Iraq with US 3rd Army.

Israel under rocket attack from Iranian rockets. So, there is that common factor.

Maybe going off on a tangent slightly, but I think Russia also has a hand in what’s going on here, maybe encouraging Iran to attack because it diverts attention from Ukraine. I’m talking about U.S. attention, it diverts attention. It also diverts U.S. resources from Ukraine to here, and it’s another way of striking back against the United States by hitting one of its closest allies in Israel, so, it certainly suits Russia’s purposes. I would not be at all surprised if Russia didn’t have a hand in encouraging Iran to push this conflict out.

JLN: Well, that’s terrifying. Do you feel now that other countries in the world are more directly supporting Israel because this is a very black and white situation? Do you feel that the United States and Europe understand what the Hamas really is and that’s why they’re being more supportive?

RK: I think they understand it. And they are very strong, particularly the U.S. and the UK. I would

say they are being particularly strong in their support for Israel now, but I’m concerned about how long that lasts. Because a lot of it a lot of the support is motivated by the horrors of October 7th, but as that memory fades--and memories do tend to fade very quickly--we’re already seeing greater anti-Israel sentiments because one, memory’s fading, two, we’re now seeing Israel hit back, and that invokes the opposite sentiment among many people. So, I don’t think that strong support is going to last forever.

JLN: Are you ever concerned about your own safety, or is that not something that even enters your mind.

RK: No, it doesn’t enter my mind at all. I’ve been in a lot of dangerous situations. And it’s something I suppose you become immune to. If a rocket’s got my name on it, it’s going to hit me. If it hasn’t, it won’t.

I don’t spend my life worrying about all that sort of things. I have no desire to be safe. I just have a desire to do what I need to do.

My name was found on an Al Qaeda death list.

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 23

KEMP Oh, my God. Years ago. And I took that as a badge of honor. I’ve been doing and saying things that they didn’t like. And I like things that people don’t like.

JLN: I think you’re a very brave man. Before I let you go, I wanted to just ask you a couple of more personal things about you, specifically your motivation. What keeps you motivated to do what you’re doing, both in your career and your life?

RK: Well, when I was a child, I was taught right from wrong. And I was also taught that if you can influence any situation for the better, then you have a duty to do so. And that’s whether it’s fighting in an army in the defense of your country and in the defense of other people, or if you can do it, in media and political circles, as I try to do now.

I have abilities and experience that many people don’t, and those can be directed towards influencing people’s decisions and opinions for the good. I feel I have an obligation to do so, whether that’s over Israel or Ukraine or any other situation. It’s not for me, it isn’t something that I choose to do or choose not to 24 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

do. It’s something that I believe I have an obligation to do if I can assist and be beneficial. In relation to Israel, firstly, Israel is a very good friend of the UK and they’ve helped us in so many different ways in intelligence, in technology, and in various other ways. They’re our friends and I want to do what I can to support them.

And secondly, the fight that Israel is fighting is a fight against those people who want to destroy our civilization and our way of life. And so maybe it’s directly helping Israel, but I hope it’s also directly and indirectly helping my own country and other European countries as well as the U.S. JLN: What can people do to help Israel, besides giving money to various charities? Is there anything you would recommend?

RK: I would say there are two issues here really.

One is the defense of Israel, sticking up for Israel.

I think that’s so important for Jews and non-Jews alike. But anyone who wants to provide support for Israel at the moment, needs to do everything in their power to counter the anti-Israel narrative. I think that’s extremely important. And will get even more important given what I believe is going to happen in

world opinion against Israel.

And I think organizations like StandWithUs are invaluable for organizing people and informing people and rallying people to the aid of Israel.

There are other pro-Israel organizations out there as well, but StandWithUs is a great example of an organization that people should join and support.

Jewish university students are also under fire all the time and they’re going to be under even more fire with what is happening now and what’s going to happen. So, anything anyone can do to support Jewish university students and to give them strength in what’s often a very, very hostile environment, I think that is extremely important because this whole business is not just a war in Israel. It’s what I mentioned. It’s also a war on civilization. But, it’s focused a great deal on Jews around the world.

One of the things that the narrative and those people like the BDS movement and other anti-Israel movements, one of their primary goals, if not their primary goal, is to undermine foreign support for Israel and in the US. That means undermining the support of Jews for Israel primarily. And that’s why they target Jewish students at universities, to try and deter them from standing up for Israel.

So, they need all of our help. And I think again,

Opposite page: Delegation from Friends of Israel Initiative meet with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu (fourth from left) and Minister of Startegic Affairs, Ron Dermer (second from left). Kemp is sixth from left.

Above left: Discussing current situation and future plans with the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eli Cohen, in Jerusalem.

Avove: Kemp meets Major General Itai Veruv, Assistant Commander of IDF Southern Command, fighting inside Gaza.

StandWithUs is an organization that provides phenomenal support to Jewish students in the US, in the UK, and elsewhere.

JLN: My last question: do you ever feel like you just need to give up? Do your friends ask why are you supporting the Jews all the time? Do you ever feel like it’s kind of a hopeless mess? Or do you still feel you can make a make a difference?

RK: Well, I try to make a difference and make a small contribution, and I certainly have no intention of giving up on it. Nor will I while I’ve got breath in my body. I will continue to support Israel and support any causes I can.

JLN: We appreciate you so much, please stay safe! ♦ JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 25

JEWS IN THE

NEWS

DECEMBER 2023

VYZER Vyzer, an Israeli fintech startup that has developed a digital wealth management platform and has raised $6.3 million in a seed round of funding. Vyzer is a digital-first, holistic platform designed to “simplify and optimize your wealth journey.” The company boasts that it provides comprehensive tracking for traditional and alternative investments, advanced financial planning tools, datadriven insights, document analysis, and more.

Co-founders of Vyzer: left to right: Tomer Salvi, Litan Yahav, Guy Gamzu

DAPHNA HEFFETZ VYZER

A FISH CALLED WANDA

Daphna Heffetz, company co-founder and CEO Wanda Fish Technologies, an Israeli food tech startup, secured $7 million in seed funding to accelerate the initial production of cultivated bluefin tuna.

Cultivated, or cell-cultivated, technology involves creating animal proteins from cells without the need to slaughter the animal. The cells are grown in a bioreactor, most often using fermentation techniques in the similar way beer is made. The process starts by using fat and muscle cells from bluefin tuna to replicate the texture, flavor and nutritional value of wild-caught fish.

BILL ACKMAN DAPHNA HEFFETZ

SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE

Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, is tired of careless University students making outrageous claims and hiding behind prestigious learning institutions. After 30+ Harvard student groups put out a signed statement blaming Israel solely for the vicious inhuman Simchat Torah Hamas terrorist attacks in Gaza, Ackman and a host of other high profile business leaders went on the offensive by asking Harvard for a list of member names from every group, so they can be sure to NEVER hire any of them.

TEDDY KHAFIF OMIKASE – LEAVING IT UP TO THE CHEF

Teddy Khafif, the chef, founder, and co-owner of Akimori in NYC, spent nearly a decade working under some of the most BILL ACKMAN 26 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

ACKMAN: AXEL DUPEUX FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

famous chefs, including three-time Michelin-starred chef Masa Takayama. When Khafif saw the need for good kosher sushi in the big apple, he took his Yeshiva background and opened Akimori. His goal: For diners to enjoy the best sushi ever, while resting assured they can go “omakase” and know they are observing the laws of kashrut.

Akami Bites! Made with Lean Bluefin Tuna and topped with a Mango Salsa; inset: Teddy Khafif

ROSS STEVENS

TEDDY KHAFIF

TAKE IT AWAY

Stone Ridge Asset Management CEO, Ross Stevens, threatened to withdraw a $100 million donation to the Wharton School's Stevens Center for Innovation in Finance to protest Penn President Liz Magill’s response to antisemitism on campus at a recent congressional hearing. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, (RNY) asked Magill to clarify comments about the call for Jewish genocide on campus and Magill responded,"It is a contextdependent decision.”

Magill resigned as Penn President amidst mounting criticism.

IDAN AND BATIA OFER

ROSS STEVENS

HOLDING HARVARD ACCOUNTABLE

Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer and his wife Batia resigned from the board of Harvard’s Kennedy School in protest of the school’s failure to do anything about the numerous student groups that came out in support of the terrorist organization Hamas after its barbaric murder of more than a thousand innocent civilians on October 7th. Battia Ofer was quoted in The Marker as saying, “We resigned as a protest against the shocking and insensitive response of the university president, who did not condemn the letter of the student organizations that held Israel solely responsible for the massacres.”

DAVE PORTNOY

BATIA AND IDAN OFER

GREEN WITH ENVY?

Dave Portnoy just spent what was reported to be $42 Million on an estate in Nantucket, a record amount paid for a home on the island. Meanwhile, the Barstool Sports founder continues to mock the budding relationship between singer Taylor Swift and the NFL football player for the Kansas City chiefs, Travis Kelce, tweeting he does not like the match saying, “Just such a bizarre couple to me. Seems like zero chemistry.” Do I detect a bit of macho jealousy?

DAVE PORTNOY OFER:EPS • PORTNOY: GETTY

JEWS IN THE

NEWS

DECEMBER 2023

PEPPER SEGAL CHALLAH FOR THE TROOPS

Pepper Segal, a Jewish small business owner in Greensboro, North Carolina is raising money for Israel by making Challah.

"There's something in the Torah that talks about how all this bread and mana came down from the sky, and so that's why we do a blessing over the Challah every Friday," Segal said.

Segal said it's also a Mitzvah, "When we make this, we pray, we take a piece off, we do a prayer, and we pray for people who are sick and need all these things," Segal said.

INNA VERNIKOV PEPPER SEGAL

INNA VERNIKOV

DEFINITELY CARRYING

Republican Brooklyn Councilwoman Inna Vernikov was arrested after she was spotted toting a firearm at a pro-Palestinian rally— resulting in calls for her to be removed from office. The councilwoman, who is Jewish and has spoken out against proPalestinian supporters, was in attendance as protesters convened on the campus of CUNY’s Brooklyn College. She was booked on a Class E felony which can carry up to two to five years behind bars.

Vernikov wrote in a social media post, “If you’re standing w/ the protestors, yelling ‘GLOBALIZE THE INTIFADA’ & ‘FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, PALESTINE WILL BE FREE’ while innocent women and babies are being raped, massacred and beheaded, you’re a HAMAS supporter & apologist who would like to bring the terror here to rid the world of the Jewish people.”

LEAH MOSS LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD

LEAH MOSS 28 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

Level UP chair, Attorney Leigh Moss, 54 of Bloomfield Hills, says there’s something to gain by attending the first ever business accelerator four part program exclusively for Jewish women sponsored by the Jewish Working Women’s Network (JWWN) Regardless of where a woman is in her business journey, the fourpart series was designed to inspire women to build their business from all angles — not just the financial aspect — and learn how to ultimately drive success.

“Women supporting women,” Moss, explains, “That’s what Jewish Working Women’s Network is all about.”

MEG ADLER

2023 P O M E G RA N AT E P R I Z E

FIVE RISING JEW ISH EDUCATORS HONORED IN NEW YORK CITY AT 2023 POMEGRANATE PRIZE EVENT

F

ANDREW DAVIES

ELIANA LIGHT

ive emerging Jewish educators received the 2023 Pomegranate Prize this November at a ceremony held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage- A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, in New York. The Pomegranate Prize is designed to honor emerging leaders who have been in the field of Jewish education for up to 10 years.

The 2023 recipients are: Meg Adler, Associate Director of Bay Area Programs at Camp Tawonga, San Francisco, CA; Andrew Davies, Co-founder and Chief Improvising Officer of The Bible Players, Philadelphia, PA; Eliana Light, Founder and Head T’fillahsopher of The Light Lab, Durham, NC; Jory Hanselman Mayschak, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BaMidbar, Albuquerque, NM; and Yehudah Webster, Program Director and Faculty Member of The Inside Out Wisdom and Action (IOWA) Project at The Kirva Institute, Los Angeles, CA.

JORY HANSELMANMAYSCHAK

YEHUDAH WEBSTER

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 29

Dating is not an easy process, not in this world today. We help figure it out so it’s easier, faster, and more fun. ~ Aleeza Ben Shalom

ALEEZA BEN SHALOM 30 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

I

FROM DATING TO MATING:

haven’t had a crush since I was 12 and I first saw Leif Garrett on the cover of Tiger Beat magazine. Now, at the ripe old age of…older, I have fallen once again. After interviewing iconic Israeli matchmaker, Aleeza Ben Shalom, I am completely infatuated.

To say that Aleeza Ben Shalom is effortlessly engaging, delightfully effervescent, and

By Debra Rich Gettleman outrageously entertaining, doesn’t come close to describing the woman. She is truly resplendent.

It’s no wonder she hosts the successful Netflix series, Jewish Matchmaking, and is bringing a new light across the United States in her whirlwind Unity tour.

We started our conversation by exchanging stories about Israel and the war. I asked how she was doing? “How are we doing? We are…holding it together,” she tells me. “In Israel, you can’t just sit on your phone and be depressed. You can’t sit and cry because food has to be delivered, supplies need to be packed up, someone has to do carpool because someone’s husband is going to Gaza. It’s just a team effort. In Israel, anything to help anybody is a part of the greater picture.”

As we move into the dating discussion, I find it a bit challenging to veer into what seems like a lighter topic. I relate that I’m having trouble not being consumed by the bad news, the bad press, and the mounting hatred of the Jews worldwide. I share that I’m struggling to write a story about donuts in Israel for our Chanukah issue and how it feels so insignificant during these dark times.

Aleeza Ben Shalom is Netflix’s irresistable Matchmaker

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 31

ALEEZA BEN SHALOM

Above: Aleeza with husband, Gershon and youngest son Avraham.

Opposite: Aleeza with her dog, Koda.

“First of all,” Aleeza corrected, “You are not just writing about donuts. You’re writing about the Jews being a light unto the world…In this time of darkness, we cannot wait to spread light until Chanukah when we have the brightest light.

We have to start now.”

It’s the same with dating, she exclaims. Looking at our current crisis, “It’s the single most important thing we can do as a Jewish people. Look, we have a past.

We know our history. We have a present. We know what’s going on right now. If we are not dating and helping Jews marry other Jews, we won’t have a future.”

Aleeza passionately shares that we are fighting a physical war on the ground as well as a spiritual war for our own people. She reports numerous stories of soldiers on the front-line receiving food and supplies with names and phone numbers of the single women who packed them. “And the soldiers are calling!” she beams. One story involved a soldier who called a potential mate only to learn that she was half his age. At first disappointed, he recovered and told her that there were lots of single men her age around and offered to set her up if

32 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

she would find someone for him.

Aleeza saw the video and wants him to know that after the war, she has a job for him!

“It is not every man for himself,” Aleeza insists. “It’s every man for every man.” She forcefully declares that it is “dachuf,” the Hebrew word for “urgent.” “There is no greater work in the world today,” she affirms. “There won’t be future for the Jewish people unless we’re building it today.”

I inquire about business these days and she tells me that unfortunately both war and covid are great for matchmaking.

When people contemplate the end of the world, they get very motivated to find their soulmates.

Ben Shalom is living proof of the “do what you love, and the money will follow,” tenet.

She started matchmaking as a volunteer after her son was born in search of some much-needed adult connection. She loved it and realized she was great at it.

When she and her family moved to Israel 2 and a half years ago, it didn’t take much to convince her husband, Gershon, that she should matchmake full time, and take over the role of breadwinner while he stayed home with their 5 children.

She jokes about “inadvertently retiring him,” but she doesn’t regret a moment. “He’s doing the most important job in the world.

I’ll take the responsibility for our income.”

Her live matchmaking show is traveling around the country while she continues to train coaches and matchmakers

through her website , marriagemindedmentor.com. “I want to train other people so they can start their own businesses.”

My expression gives away my concern about how that business model might not be the best choice for her continued success. She picks up on it immediately and tells me, “I don’t believe in competition. I believe in collaboration.” She adds, “Dating is not an easy process, not in this world today. We help figure it out so it’s easier, faster, and more fun.”

For everyone in search of their soulmate, Ben Shalom reminds, “There is already a match in somebody’s world. They just don’t see it or know it yet.” ♦ For more information about Aleeza Ben Shalom: Read Aleeza’s books : Get Real Get Married & Virtual Dating

Listen to her podcast: Matchmaker Matchmaker and The Yentas

If we are not dating and helping Jews marry other Jews, we won’t have a future. ~ Aleeza Ben Shalom

JEWISH LIFE NOW | NOV/DEC 2023 33

T KIBBUTZ NIRIM SURVIVOR

ADELE RAEMER:

My DNA changed on October 7th

By Cindy Saltzman

he first time I met Adele Raemer was on a zoom interview. She wore a T-shirt with Hebrew letters on it that I couldn’t quite make out.

When asked what it said, she replied, “Oh, I had the other one on before. I’m bilingual.”

She pulled up a matching t-shirt with English letters that read, “Bring them home now.”

Between zoom interviews, vigils, and live talks, Adele Raemer is so busy speaking out about her experience at Kibbutz Nirim on October 7th, that she can’t always keep track of which language t-shirt to wear for which audience.

She also dons a new piece of jewelry which is actually a dog tag. “It says in Hebrew to bring them home now,” she explains. “And on the bottom, it says, ‘My heart is being held hostage in Gaza, 7/10/23.’ She has her close friend’s name from the neighboring kibbutz Kfar Aza next door engraved on the bottom. Her friend, out on a regular sunrise walk in the field with her husband, called the kibbutz nurse at 7:04am on October 7th reporting that both she and her husband had been shot. Unfortunately, by that time the kibbutz ambulance had already been blown up. That was the last they heard of the couple.

We spoke with Adele Raemer in her temporary housing in a hotel in Eilat. (comments are edited for brevity.)

JEWISH LIFE NOW: Is it difficult to always go back and describe the horrors of that day?

ADELE RAEMER: I survived and I see it as a responsibility as a survivor to talk about it because the world needs to know and understand what actually went on that day.

Because I’m watching the news and seeing all these different groups saying that there’s an expiration date on this and that Israel is not going to be able to continue the fight much longer. That just infuriates me.

I don’t think anybody put a timestamp on the Americans when they went into

34 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

A switch in my DNA tells me that before we can get to the diplomacy, before we can make peace, we have to make war. ~Adele Raemer

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 35

ADELE RAEMER Germany to win, to be victorious over the Nazis. They did what they did for as long as it took.

JLN: Tell us about kibbutz Nirim.

AR: Well, October 6th was our Kibbutz’s anniversary. We’re 77 years old. We are one of the 11 communities that were sent out into the Negev Desert in 1946.

Before I went to bed on October 6th, I told my son, who was visiting that if he doesn’t see me in the morning, it’s because I am going to get up early to take pictures of a field of wildflowers that are in bloom. I wanted to catch it at sunrise. Thank G-d I was too lazy to get up at six the next morning because at 7:30 we started getting incoming rocket warnings…a massive barrage which was really very unusual.

In retrospect, we learned that this heavy barrage was sort of camouflaging, taking the attention, the army’s attention, everybody’s attention, away from what was the main event.

Which was what was going on along the border in at least 40 spots where Hamas, who had been planning this for a year or more, broke through the border, this supposedly impenetrable border with an underground barrier and an overground electronic fence with the highest technology.

About 20 minutes later, we got notification that there were terrorists infiltrating Israel.

We were told to go out of our safe rooms, to close the doors and the windows, and to lock ourselves back in the safe room.

JLN: To go out of the safe room?

AR: Yes. So, I ran to the safe room where my son was sleeping. And it’s a “safe” room because it’s built to protect us from rockets. It has reinforced walls and ceiling.

It has a very heavy iron sleeve over the window which you close and click down to lock.

And it has a door, an iron door, which you close, and you click the handle down, and when you click the handle down, metal prongs stick into the ceiling and the floor, which prevents, if a rocket impacts your house anyplace else, it prevents an implosion from blowing the door open.

The problem with the safe room is that it wasn’t built for infiltration and you cannot lock yourself in.

36 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

In fact, it’s illegal to lock yourself in because if you have a medical emergency and you’re inside there, the first responders won’t be able to come and rescue you.

We often hear rocket explosions. But we’ve never heard gunfire, automatic machine gun fire inside the kibbutz. Grenades and RPGs and things were exploding all around and people were saying that they could hear people shouting in Arabic. Then all of a sudden, we started getting messages calling for help, that terrorists were at their doors. They were in their houses, and they were trying to open up the safe room doors. So, if you’re strong enough you can keep that closed, but if they’re stronger, then somebody from the outside can open it. We also started hearing messages about houses being set on

Happier times as Adele poses in her kitchen at Kibbutz Nirim.

The destruction in Kibbutz Nirim.

Adele en route to look at safe temporary housing.

fire. So we’re sort of following the progression of this nightmare as it was going on and wondering, “When are we going to be next?”

JLN: So, you were just waiting for the IDF to arrive?

AR: We have a team of first responders who are trained and armed.

My son-in-law is one of them. They’re trained for all sorts of scenarios.

But they’re trained for infiltration by one terrorist, five terrorists, not the quantity that we got.

We got 50 to 60 terrorists flooding into our community.

Adele tells us about a young couple and their eight-day-old baby who were being suffocated by smoke before first responders could reach them.

I saw over 3000 terrorists and just regular Gazans flooding through our borders, wreaking havoc in our communities, murdering in the most barbaric ways. I’m thinking, where were the good Gazans? ~Adele Raemer JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 37

Kibbutz Nimir before the destruction.

ADELE RAEMER She describes the terrorists as more than Hamas militants. There were terrorists and everyday people.

AR: They were just your average everyday Joes, everyday Mohammed in Gaza.

Apparently, they sent out a message saying, “Come on, guys, we’re going to conquer the Jews. Come in and help us and have fun and, you know, do what you can to get your frustrations out, whatever.

38 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

There were so many regular people, just people; unarmed people and you see internal TV showing them coming through the gate. Like there was an old man with a stick and young teenagers just coming in. They set cars afire and slashed windows and broke windows and went into houses and started taking stuff out of the refrigerators and sitting down and eating.

I did not think I was going to see another sunrise.

I was sure this was the end.

Adele remembers hearing Arabic voices right outside her home. Then she heard someone calling them away.

Once she was able to leave her house, she found broken slats on her window and realized they were on the verge of breaking into her home when other terrorists called them away.

Once the IDF finally reached the kibbutz about 7 hours later, they systematically went from house to house to make sure there were no more terrorists. When she and a group of survivors were finally walked back to the community center, where they could be protected, she wondered why the soldiers had taken such a long route around the outskirts of the kibbutz. She later learned that they were trying to spare the group even more trauma from viewing all the exposed bodies strewn across the road on the short way around.

AR: I was finally liberated at 5:15pm. From 6:30am, that’s almost 11 hours. My son-in-law and granddaughters had to be evacuated through their window because a terrorist body was right in front of the door. And as they were evacuating them, there was terrorist fire and they had to duck into a shelter nearby.

JLN: How are your granddaughters doing?

AR: They’re very traumatized and it’s very difficult for them now even to be in the hotel.

So, we were evacuated under fire through an active war zone. We passed smoking vehicles on the side of the road, vehicles that were still burning, charred bodies on the side of the road.

It was an active war zone.

JLN: How has this changed you? You said earlier that your DNA was changed.

Can you explain that a little?

AR: You know, I’ve been giving people tours through my kibbutz for years and telling our story to people that come to Nirim. I’ve always said, “I’m

in touch with people in Gaza and the people that I’m in touch with believe in different things. They believe that we can live as good neighbors and we should live as good neighbors, and they believe that children should not be educated to hate.

I’ve always said that I truly believe that most Gazans are like that, that most Gazans just want the same thing that I do, to put food on their table and to have safety for their children.

But after I saw Over 3000 terrorists and just regular Gazans flooding through our borders, wreaking havoc in our communities, murdering in the most barbaric ways. I’m thinking, where were the good Gazans? Where were they?

They cut babies out of their mother’s womb. They chopped children’s fingers off. They dismembered people while they were alive and they were so proud of it that they took video footage of it, which I have not seen and I will not see, but it is out there and people need to see it, to understand what it is that we’re up against.

These are monsters.

Adele sadly discusses how Gazan children are educated to hate Jews.

AR: Gazan children have an end of the year play and they dress up as Gazan fighters and IDF fighters and the Gazans kill the IDF soldiers and take them hostage. These are the kids that grew up to be the monsters that came into our community on October 7th.

They’ve been trained for this. They have textbooks in Gaza that teach you math.

Saying if you had 10 Jews and you kill seven, how many are left? And it’s been going on for decades.

Adele describes herself as a pacifist who has always advocated for a non-violent solution to the region’s conflict. But now, there’s been a shift.

AR: A switch in my DNA tells me that before we can get to the diplomacy, before we can make peace, we have to make war. it’s not going to be pretty and it’s not going to be short. It’s not going to be easy.

And we can’t have a timeline imposed. We can’t have a time limit on this. The IDF has to be allowed to do what they know how to do best. ♦ JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 39

I wanted to do civil rights law. I wanted to represent victims of discrimination, harassment, and abuse. ~Lisa Bloom

40 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

LISA BLOOM:

Justice Warrior/Super Hero

By Cindy Saltzman LISA BLOOM IS LIKE A CLASSIC COMIC BOOK HEROINE. Strong, smart, and committed to standing up to injustice, Bloom’s work speaks for itself.

Raised by one of the most outspoken freedom fighters in the US, Bloom accompanied her mom, Gloria Allred, as she marched on picket lines, protested abuse and discrimination, fought for the Equal Rights Amendment, and stood up for gay rights, human rights, and all injustice against women and people of color.

Her law firm, The Bloom Firm, focuses on fighting for victims of discrimination, harassment, and abuse.

As a best-selling author, court tv judge, and news analyst, she has spent decades defending underdogs and prosecuting bullies.

Jewish Life Now sat down with Lisa Bloom to hear about her background and the path that led her to

her fearless justice warrior status.

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 41

Newborn Lisa, with her soon-tobe famous mom, Gloria Allred .

Lisa, her powerhouse mom, Gloria Allred and daughter, Sarah, at her graduation Lisa after accomplishing her goal of hiking 15 days straight on 265 Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon.

Favorite Jewish holiday, Passover. Favorite Jewish food, latkes. I make really delicious latkes.

But Passover, I love the whole experience. I love the Seder. We do a vegan Seder, of course. We always invite some non-Jews as well and explain to them what it is, what it’s all about, and they always find it really interesting and enjoyable. ~Lisa Bloom

42 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

LISA BLOOM JEWISH LIFE NOW (JLN): Tell me about growing up.

LISA BLOOM (LB): I grew up in the valley, which was like a middle-class community in Burbank. I went to public schools. I really enjoyed speech and debate when I was in high school and then in college. That was my thing. I also ran track.

I’m still a runner.

JLN: Obviously, you were a great student, you went to some pretty good schools. So. tell me, were you always planning on becoming an attorney, or had you had other ideas before that?

LB: So, I was actually not planning to become an attorney. I saw my mother go through law school when I was in middle school, and it looked like a miserable experience, and I didn’t want any part of it. And I thought, I don’t know what I’m going to do, but it’s not going to be that. I’ve discovered in life all the things that I say I’m never going to do, I end up doing.

I wanted to work with abused children as a social worker. When I was in college, I volunteered at a battered women’s shelter, and I worked with the children, and I was very moved working with them, and I felt that being a social worker would be good. I was then persuaded that I would be able to help them also as an attorney representing abused children.

But I think the main thing that led me to law school is that when I was in college, I was on the debate team and it was a very competitive experience. We ended up winning the national championship out of 300 or 400 schools. And I realized I was a pretty good debater. I was also the top debater in the country that year.

JLN: Wow. LB: So, I applied to law schools, and I think because of my debate championship I got into all the top law schools and decided to go to Yale. For me, law just makes sense. There are rules, you have to follow them, you have to meet the elements, you have your burden of proof, there’s the defenses, it's just really logical.

JLN: And were you ever interested in doing corporate law?

LB: As you know, corporate America has no problem getting attorneys. I would say the vast majority of people who graduate from law schools, especially the top law schools, go work for corporate America. They make a lot of money, and they help the fat cats get even fatter. And I had zero interest in that. I wanted to do civil rights law. I wanted to represent victims of discrimination, harassment, and abuse. When I got out of law school, there really were very few jobs where I could do that. So, I ended up taking a job at a small law firm where they said 25% of my work would be that kind of work.

And the other 75% would be whatever business litigation came in the door.

I got a lot of good training and learned a lot.

My mom, however, always wanted me to go work with her and her civil rights law firm. And about five years out of law school, I said, OK, I think I’m ready. Let’s do this.

I worked in her firm for about nine years. And I went to Court TV because they offered me my own show. I did that for about eight years. And then I came back to Los Angeles, and I started my own firm, the Bloom firm, which is where I have been for the last, whatever, 14 years, I think. And that’s where I’m staying.

I like having my own law firm. I like running the show. I like training my team. We have about 10 lawyers now and a half a dozen non-lawyer staff. I think we are really very good at what we do, fighting for our clients, very successful. It’s a good feeling of satisfaction at the end of the day that we’re fighting for people who really deserve it.

JLN: Is there a specific case that has always stayed with you or any big regret in a case? Whether you’ve won it or lost it?

LB: I mean, I could never say like the one that was the most important or anything, but it’s generally whatever I’m working on is what’s in the forefront of my mind. So today, I happen to meet with a client, Chastity Jones. She had a sexual harassment and sexual assault case against a really obnoxious billionaire named Alkey David.

We went to trial again in her case in 2017. We went to trial in her case again in 2019. This man stood up and screamed and yelled at me during the trial, all kinds of nasty, ugly things. The judge let him get away with it, but the jury did not.We fought JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 43

LISA BLOOM her case really hard, and we won, and the jury awarded her one of the biggest jury verdicts of the year in California, which was $11 million.

This client is such an inspiration to me. She’s a very, very brave woman who the jury found was sexually assaulted by this man and then fired because she opposed him. And she has hung in there year after year after year in what’s been a really excruciating fight. And so, she is my hero, and my team has just been tremendous. We just do not give up.

JLN: It seems like you’re part psychologist, social worker, and attorney. You have to take on all these roles.

LB: Well, we do have to be very sensitive to our clients. And I hope that we always are and that we always recognize that they did not sign up for this. We did. I signed up to be a civil rights lawyer. I went into this with my eyes open. But the clients, something happens to them, and all of a sudden, it’s like, oh my God, I’ve been sexually harassed. I’ve been sexually assaulted. Do I say something or not? Do I stand up against it or not? Do I contact a lawyer? Do I file a lawsuit? Most victims do not. And I understand why they don’t because the process is terrible.

JLN: Is it always the clients who reach out to you or do you sometimes reach out to them and say maybe we can help?

LB: They always reach out to me. We have hundreds of people who reach out every week.

And unfortunately, we only take maybe one new case a week. We have a pretty rigorous vetting process.

And that’s because we only get paid if we win. We take everything on a contingency, which means we take a percentage if we win. Of course, if we lose, we get zero. I have to pay a pretty significant payroll every week for 10 attorneys and six other professionals.

Whether we win or lose, people have to get paid.

JLN: So, the vetting process is very important.

LB: Yes. Unfortunately, we turn away a lot of people every week.

I think a lot of lawyers want to do the kind of work that I do. Their heart is in this kind of work, but they can’t make it work financially.

So, they’ll do it for a year or two, and they go out 44 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

of business, or they go work for a big law firm. I have to be mindful of keeping the ship afloat week after week.

JLN: So, I wanted to ask you something. It’s something I’ve noticed as I’ve been researching you.

The Weinstein case. You worked for him. When the first woman went on record accusing him of sexual assault, you resigned. You owned your mistake. You apologized. Since then, you won cases against Bill Cosby, Jeffrey Epstein, Bill O’Reilly, and Alki David, the list goes on and on. Why do I still see journalists focusing on the Weinstein case?

LB: Yeah. It’s been what, six years or something.

Listen, I know other people who are in the public eye, and everybody has something where they’ve stumbled. That’s always what takes the lead. It doesn’t matter how many good things, if you’ve done a thousand good things, the one thing where you stumbled that’s going to be the lead. It’s just I think humans have a negativity bias which means we are more interested in something negative than something positive, right?

Most journalists are not writing articles about the cases that I do every day, the things I win, you know, that’s just not interesting. I also think that I’ve always been a target because I do controversial work. I mean, I’ve probably sued every media outlet.

I haven’t sued Jewish Life Now. JLN: Thank you.

LB: But I have sued every, or made legal claims against ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News, a lot against Fox News.

I knew every time I made claims against these media outlets, I was gonna be on their bad list. But I decided I wanted to do it anyway because my clients were wronged. So, I took those cases knowing, well, I’m going to be alienating another media outlet, and that means they’re gonna continue to write bad things about me. I went into that with my eyes open.

JLN: Yeah, you seem to be very true to yourself about everything.

I’m curious about something. What kinds of things are you seeing as far as antisemitism. One, have you yourself experienced it in any form? And two, have you been in any battles with someone that has experienced it?

LB: "I've represented victims of antisemitism in employment, victims of harassing comments about

Jews being cheap, you know, "jew me down," or calling them "Jew boy," that kind of thing. And when they complain, they get fired. It's just a problem that never goes away.

JLN: Have you felt threatened, not just being Jewish, but just in the nature of what you do, have you ever been seriously at risk or concerned for your safety?

LB: Yes, I have. I’ve had to call the police. I had somebody making very serious threats against me who indicated he was going to come to my office and shoot me. And he was getting ready to do so. And also, he was naming my children by name, and at the time, I never said their names publicly. Once you get my children involved, I’m like, yeah, forget it.

JLN: That’s terrifying.

LB: But after I represented four women accusing Donald Trump of sexual assault in 2016 when he ran the first time, the haters really came out of the woodwork. So, you know, I have security measures at my home, and I have two barking dogs. Nobody’s sneaking up on me.

I know self defense too. I’ve trained in Krav Maga [Israeli self-defense] for years and feel pretty confident in my self-defense skills.

JLN: Have you ever been to Israel?

LB: Yes. I’ve been, I think five times. Once as a kid, and then four times in the last ten years. I am a big pro-Israel person.

JLN: I’d like to switch gears for a moment and ask you about your mom. I’m assuming she’s been an inspiration. Were you ever concerned when you joined her firm that you had something to live up to or that she would kind of overshadow any of your accomplishments?

LB: Not so much that, I was concerned when I joined her firm about how it would be working together, you know? She’s got a strong personality; I have a strong personality. I tend to think that I’m doing everything the right way and if somebody’s doing it differently, they’re doing it the wrong way, right? But that was quickly put to rest because she was very busy with her cases. I was very busy with my cases, and you know, she wasn’t micromanaging me or telling me what to do.

JLN: How often do you see your mom?

LB: I see my mom generally once a week on Sundays for lunch. And, you know, we talk about the law, we talk about our cases, we always have a lot to

talk about. We both find this area of the law really interesting, and we find politics very interesting. So, we have a lot to talk about and yes, of course she’s my number one role model. She’s 82 and she’s still going strong.

JLN: She’s amazing. She does so much.

LB: Yes, she is a very young 82. And I think the fight for her clients and for justice keeps her very young. She has a purpose that keeps her going. She’s very good at it. She enjoys it. And she always says, I’m going to do this as long as I can. So, God willing…

JLN: And the last really like crucial question is, favorite Jewish holiday and favorite Jewish food and anything else that you would like to tell me that we haven’t discussed.

LB: Favorite Jewish holiday, Passover. Favorite ~Lisa Bloom Jewish food, latkes. I make really delicious latkes.

But Passover, I love the whole experience. I love the Seder. We do a vegan Seder, of course. We always invite some non-Jews as well and explain to them what it is, what it’s all about, and they always find it really interesting and enjoyable.

JLN: Okay, this really is the final question. I mean, I might email you a few. This is totally like a Jewish goodbye. So, what do you think people would be most surprised to learn about you?

LB: Hmmm…That I really like sleeping in a tent in the middle of the wilderness all by myself with nobody around. I do that for many weeks of the year.

That’s what I do when I go out.

JLN: And you’re not worried about security?

LB: Nobody knows where I am. And, you know, some criminal would have to hike like 20 miles up a mountain to find me. They’re pretty lazy. Plus, they wouldn’t be able to do it. ♦

For me, law just makes sense. Like there are rules, you have to follow them, you have to meet the elements, you have your burden of proof, there’s the defenses, it's just really logical.

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 45

TRAUMA IS REAL: Pay attention to the signs

By Debra Rich Gettleman

46 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

D

r. Melanie Rich, (no relation), doesn’t necessarily look like a first responder as she sits in her tastefully appointed Scottsdale, AZ office. But she’s been on the ground helping victims cope with trauma for decades.

At Ben Taub hospital in Houston in 1975, she was part of the team that developed the first rape kit. She was one of several therapists on-call to help victims deal with the trauma of rape. From evidence collection to physical wound triage to the emotional overwhelm that affects victims of rape, Dr. Rich was there to help heal.

In 1995, while living in Oklahoma, she was at the Federal building after the bombing to walk injured victims and family members of those killed in the blast, through the desecrated remains prior to it being imploded.

Then came 911 and she was a regular on morning television news programs trying to help people deal with the grief, rage, and loss we experienced at the hands of brutal ISIS terrorists.

She tried to get to Israel to provide trauma counseling shortly after the October 7th Hamas massacre. But in the midst of the chaos and turmoil, only military personnel were allowed to fly into the country.

We sat down to talk about the direct and indirect trauma that Jews in America and all across the globe are experiencing.

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 47

TRAUMA

DR. MELANIE RICH

BE ON THE LOOKOUT

While the signs of trauma vary by individual, here are some red flags to watch for: Irritability Anger Depression Tearfulness Overwhelm Nightmares Sleep disturbances eing unusually quiet, B withdrawn, or distant

48 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

“People respond to trauma very differently,” she tells me, “More sensitive ‘feelers’ take things really hard. Whether they know someone who was personally involved or not doesn’t matter. They are highly empathic people who have an immediate response and a hard time coming out of it. Other people might take longer to process the stress and trauma. It may look different. But they are still empathic.”

I confess to being an empath and ask what we are supposed to do to protect our psyches as we witness this kind of brutality. Dr. Rich recommends unplugging. She jokes about the sidelong glances she used to get from the program director at the news station where she appeared post 911. She told viewers, “Folks, turn off your televisions. You can only watch those horrific images so many times before it starts to make your soul sick.”

While that might have been the end of Rich’s tv news career, she still adheres to that same principal and tells me, “It’s about balance. You can be informed without watching hours of traumatizing footage.”

“I feel guilty turning it off,” I say. “What gives me the right to walk away and go to the gym or have my hair done? People in Israel, can’t just ‘turn it off.’” “Survivor guilt is real,” she responds.

“But your self-care might enable you to better reach out and help where you are able. Taking care of your own psyche prevents you from being incapacitated with sadness and depression.”

Dr. Rich recommends engaging in stress management techniques like exercise and spending time with people to lift yourself up. Attending community gatherings that encourage unity is also a great way to destress.

I ask about how to help young kids and teens cope with all the negative energy and dissent. While she admits she’s not a social media expert, Dr. Rich recognizes, “Social media is really angry and confrontational right now, and not very empathic. The rhetoric is so angry and accusing. Young adults are getting the brunt of it. It’s painful trying to figure out who’s with you and who’s against you.”

“Listen to your kids,” Dr. Rich advises. “Ask them what questions they have and reassure them that they are safe and will continue to be safe.

That is the primary job for adults in their lives. Listen more than talk. Ask questions and really listen to what kids are saying.”

She also encourages anyone who is struggling to unplug and reach out to clergy, temple personnel, and counseling organizations for referrals to mental health practitioners.

Overall, Dr. Rich suggests, “Go to rallies or smaller town halls. Put yourself in a room with people who share your feelings and emotions.

And most importantly, talk to people. Let them share in whatever you’re thinking and feeling.”

She acknowledges that many people feel they should suffer in silence, hide their emotions, and not make waves. She disagrees profoundly with that. “Now is the time to make waves, big waves,” she adds, “In peaceful, thoughtful, and ethical ways.” ♦

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jewishlifenow.com JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 49

CW (Chaim) Silverberg

CHAIFLIX NEW SERIES FEEDS YOUR KOSHER CRA

50 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

SILVERBERG PHOTOGRAPHY BY VINCENT LUPO

AVINGS

C

haiFlix, the world’s leading streaming platform for Jewish storytelling, is set to launch its first original series, Schmoozing and Cruising, on November 16.

The half-hour unscripted series explores innovative Kosher restaurants and food establishments (including food trucks and delivery services) across the U.S. and features a different theme with each episode, including Kosher BBQ, pizza, donuts and even Chinese food.

ChaiFlicks has ordered an initial six episodes of Schmoozing and Cruising, which includes stops in Brooklyn, Cleveland, Chicago, Los Angeles and numerous other American cities. Schmoozing and Cruising is hosted

by CW (Chaim) Silverberg (Tripping Kosher) and produced

by Kosher Style Media. Tsvika Tal is the show’s executive producer.

ChaiFlicks, which launched in August 2020, is the world’s largest streaming platform dedicated to Jewish content. ChaiFlicks has over 1,800 hours of acclaimed films, television series, documentaries, and short films. Available on every major streaming device, ChaiFlicks is now streaming in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Schmoozing and Cruising is based on Kosher Style Media’s successful YouTube series Tripping Kosher, which is also hosted by Silverberg. Before putting his face in front of the camera, Silverberg spent more than a decade working behind the scenes in the Kosher food business, establishing his know-how and understanding of the industry.

Last month, ChaiFlicks launched Normal, the semiautographical series from Lior Dayan (son of renowned Israeli actor and writer Assi Dayan (In Treatment) and grandson of legendary Israeli military leader and politician Moshe Dayan.

On December 20, ChaiFlicks will premiere the fourth season of hit series Wartime Girls, which follows three young Polish women as they fight Nazi occupation of their country during World War II. The first three seasons are currently available on ChaiFlicks.♦ Left to right: Poh Poh's Dumplings from Kosher Chinglish in Las Vegas, NV; Corn Ribs from Lenny's Casita in Los Angeles, CA; Beef Samosas with Mushrooms from Grill Point Queens, NY; Soy Sauce Noodles from Bambu Pan Asian Kitchen, Miami, FL; and NEW Wild Nashville Salad from Avo in Nashville, TN. JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 51

52 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

A

s far back as Ilana Muhlstein can remember she struggled mightily with her weight. As a morbidly obese child whose weight was the center of her family’s focus, she took comfort in sitting on a stool in front of the tv mindlessly eating to stuff down feelings about her chaotic family life and her parents’ multiple break-ups and reunions. “My stability,” Ilana tells me, “Became my stool in front of the television inside the kitchen with the pantry to go through. There were no family meals. It was just me and a bunch of snacks or takeout food.”

When she turned 8, her family doctor sent her to weight loss camp where she had to get weighed and measured, take before and after photos, and participate in 12 hours of cardio a day. With smallportioned meals, she always lost weight. But as soon as the school year restarted, she was back on her stool in the kitchen and gained it all back.

As is the case with yo-yo dieting, Ilana explains, “I could rely on losing some weight each summer. But I kept gaining the weight back, and more, which is what most people do with yo-yo Diets.” She adds, “By the time I was 13-years-old, I weighed over 200 pounds, and I was a size 20.”

Going into high school, Ilana was determined to “get it together.” Without parental support, Ilana was on her own. Her parents also struggled with their weight and Ilana decided to change her life, her lifestyle, and her mindset.

She knew that limiting portions didn’t work well for her.

She confesses to being a “volume eater.” “I like to eat a lot,” she shares, “So, I just have to focus on water first and veggies. I also tried to keep my mindset towards something positive; what can I eat, versus, what can’t I eat.”

ILANA MUHLSTEIN

Creator of 2B Mindset The non-deprivation diet that really works

By Debra Rich Gettleman

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 53

Chef Dean's Pistachio Crusted Tuna Cakes with Spinach Fennel Salad.

Ilana Muhlstein's menu is full of flavorful and fresh meals that are high in fiber, quality protein, and nonstarchy vegetables.

54 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

2B MINDSET That positive mindset, along with other tools, is what Ilana used to formulate her wildly successful 2B Mindset program. She’s got a book, an upcoming cookbook, a line of table and house wears, and a healthy meal delivery service. And she’s currently piloting a healthy Kosher meal delivery service. She proudly announces, “The meal delivery service is all throughout the country. We’re in 43 states and growing.” Unfortunately for this Kosher journalist, the Kosher service is only in Los Angeles at this point.

I ask her about the quality of the Kosher meals, having suffered through years of Kosher airline meals and wedding entrees. She honestly reports “The flavor is unbelievable. They taste incredible. It’s by far the best Kosher takeout in Los Angeles.” However, she does admit that they need a bit of tweaking. “They need a bit more veggies,” she notes. “I always want to add in more veggies. It’s the dietician in me.”

Yes, in addition to being an author, internet influencer, and successful entrepreneur, Ilana Muhlstein is a registered dietician. When she decided to turn her passion for healthy eating into a career, she knew she needed to boost her credibility and decided to enroll in a master’s program in nutrition.

THE 2B MINDSET PROGRAM As a devout calorie counter, I mention that there are no caloric values on any of her recipes. “We don’t count calories,” she asserts, and she questions my “devout” status, “I’m surprised that you can say ‘devout.’ Calorie counting is one of those things that I find not to be sustainable.” I sheepishly admit to not always being as diligent as I think I am.

Her straight-forward philosophy strikes me as brilliant. “I decided early on if I didn’t want to do it forever, I don’t want to do it,” she adds, “I didn’t even know calorie counting existed when I was a teenager and started to lose my weight. There were Weight Watcher points, but you had to have a textbook and a chart to look stuff up. Okay bread is 80 calories.

You had to use pen and paper so that was something I didn’t ever try as a kid.”

Her way of self-monitoring is getting on the scale.

“I do love the scale,” she smiles, “If I focused on filling up my plate with half veggies at lunch and tried to transform my carbs from being silly ones, like banana bread, to a fiber filled one, like a banana, and had protein at all my meals, I went on a scale and saw what was happening.”

Ilana lost her first 75 pounds without ever counting calories. She taught weight loss classes at UCLA prior to creating the 2B Mindset program and actually tried recommending calorie counting apps like “My Fitness Pal” to her students. But she discovered that monitoring the calories didn’t help people keep the weight off. In fact, it kept people’s mindsets on deprivation. “They were always feeling deprived.”

Ilana reasoned, “They felt lost at events and parties.

They couldn’t track their calories at a restaurant. So, they just wouldn’t track at all.” She also brings up the calorie counters who munched on three Oreos, calling it dinner, and justifying that it was under 400 calories. (Okay, I admit it. I’ve done it.)

TRACK TRACK TRACK No counting calories. But Ilana is a firm proponent of food tracking. Her program includes food tracking forms, and she highly recommends keeping a food journal. “Just writing down your food every day, despite calories or macros or points, you’re going to lose weight, because you become more mindful of your eating choices.

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 55

2B MINDSET

I like to eat a lot.

So, I just have to focus on water first and veggies. I also tried to keep my mindset towards something positive; what can I eat, versus, what can’t I eat. ~Ilana Muhlstein

“I have so much trouble tracking my food,” I tell her. “I know it works. But I just can’t seem to make myself do it.”

“It’s funny,” she laughs, “People will do anything but that. They’ll do super hard workouts or really intense fitness classes, and they’ll throw out their backs, and it’s really expensive. They do all these things before they’ll just write down what they eat in a day. It’s almost like a sense of honesty that people have to come to.”

I fess up to having a rough time with the honesty in this case and share that if I eat something bad, I just give up and don’t want to write down anything for the rest of the day.

“That’s so unproductive,” she gently advises, “Because it’s in those moments that you have to write it down, so it doesn’t reoccur. If you don’t write it down, it’s gonna keep happening.”

THERE ARE NO BAD FOODS And once we err, the negative self-talk tends to take over. Ilana recommends taking the blame off yourself and putting it on those triggering overly addictive over processed foods. We discuss a binge on chocolate covered M&Ms and she stops me cold. “You’re not the problem. They are. They’re the problem. They’re made with so much sugar, salt, and fat, and millions of dollars of marketing and research to make them so addictive. So, once you pop, you can’t stop.”

She urges dieters to recognize that foods aren’t “bad.” But keeping certain foods in the house in an open bowl, may not be good for them.

DELICIOUS & SIMPLE She’s super excited about her new cookbook, Love The Foods That Love You Back. “It’s like every page is going to unlock the next mindset step,” she asserts.

The recipes are simple (and I can attest to that, because I am a devout non-chef and I’ve been loving these easy to prepare dishes.)

“People need to realize, okay, portobello mushroom caps, tomato sauce, and cheese. It’s easy, simple. Then you make it. You eat it. And you’re like, wow, that was actually quite satisfying and filling.” She lays out her mindset process, “Then you

56 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

Ground beef and herb stuffed bell peppers, topped with a house-made marinara sauce.

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 57

2B MINDSET:

THE BASIC PRINCIPLES WATER FIRST Water helps keep you full so you can make better food choices throughout the day. You should drink half your weight in ounces at a minimum each day.

VEGGIES MOST They help keep you full and satisfied so you can make better food choices throughout the day!

OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND (OOSOOM) Put tempting foods away where you can’t see them.

So, you can stay focused on your goals!

KEEP TWO HANDS ON THE WHEEL Keeping your hands busy holding a cup of tea or water at a party helps keeps you safe from overeating.

DINNER AND DONE. FIND OTHER FUN Nighttime eating can be challenging. Find a post dinner activity that is productive, not destructive, so, you can stay focused on your goals!

TRACK TRACK TRACK It only takes a few minutes each day and the more information you input, the more insight you’ll have into what works for you—and what will empower you to stay on track.

58 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

2B MINDSET go on the scale the next day or later and you realize you actually lost weight. And that gives you confidence, like, I don’t have to restrict to lose weight. I have to eat more of the right things to lose weight which is actually more sustainable.”

DESSERTS I inquire about my personal passion, desserts. Ilana declares, “I always say treat, not cheat. Don’t focus on cheating because it puts you in that negative selftalk place. I recommend you give your body what it needs before you give your body what your feelings or cravings want.

So, desserts work. But I’m a big believer of eating your meal first and getting full and satisfied. Then you’ll be in a better place in terms of self-control to have one piece of something and move on. If you go in hungry and the first thing you eat is sugar, you’re down a vicious highway of addictive eating patterns. And no one goes from a brownie back to a cucumber.”

NUTRITION AS A PARENTING TOOL Ilana grew up modern orthodox on the upper west side in Manhattan with family members who always struggled with weight. One of her oldest memories is sitting at a Shabbat table with her dad who took a big slab of challah slathered in mayonnaise and chrain (horseradish), topped it with gefilte fish and basically consumed a 400-calorie appetizer. When he looked across the table at his 9-year-old obese daughter making the exact same thing, something clicked in him. Modelling good eating habits is everything. She’s committed to doing that with her three kids who are 9, 5, and 2.

In fact, Ilana is currently working on a kids’ nutrition program. “I’ve always wanted to do this,” she earnestly explains, “Based on my background, my mission is to curb the child obesity crisis in America.”

“Nutrition,” Ilana insists, “Is a key parenting tool. A lot of parents get so distracted with piano lessons and chess lessons and a million other things. And that’s all great. But if your kid doesn’t eat well, then you’re not really setting them up for long-term success. Having a healthy relationship with food and learning healthy habits and seeing parents model healthy eating habits can really set a kid up for the rest of their lives.” ♦

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• You can also bake the brownies just after adding chocolate chips, then spread frosting on top once they have cooled.

Recipes containing the

icon are designed to be high in fiber. These recipes contain at least 20% of the daily value for fiber.

Recipes containing the GF icon are designed to be Gluten-Free and contain no gluten. If you are following a gluten-free diet, remember to check all labels to confirm your ingredients are 100% gluten-free, since foods are often processed at facilities that also process wheat and other grains.

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icon are designed to be high in protein. These recipes contain at least 20% of the daily value for protein.

Recipes containing the

icon are designed to be Lacto-Ovo vegetarian and contain no poultry, meat, or fish. Please read product labels for each ingredient to ensure this to be the case.

share your creations #2B Mindset

© 2020 Beachbody, LLC. All rights reserved.

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 59

MOOD OF THE MOMENT: Gaby Aghion and the house of Chloé

By Debra Rich Gettleman

Installation view of “Mood of the Moment: Gaby Aghion and the House of Chloé” at the Jewish Museum, on view from October 13, 2023 through February 18, 2024.

60 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

I

n 1952, a 31-year-old Egyptian Jewish woman, Gabriella Hanoka, rejected the stiff formal fashion trends of the day and launched Chloé, a free spirited, soft, feminine, comfortable line of clothing that took Paris by surprise.

Born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1921 and married to her upper crust wealthy elementary school chum, Raymond Aghion, at the age of 19, Gaby was living a life of luxury. Until she woke up one morning and announced to her husband that she no longer wanted to live off his money.

She started her own designer line with six sample summer dresses sewn by local seamstresses in the maid’s room of her Parisian flat and sold them out of a suitcase door to door at local boutiques. The relaxed feminine, “ready-to-wear” fashions were a hit and the house of Chloé was born.

Perhaps more than any designer, Aghion defied the male-dominated look of stuffy propriety that kept women enslaved to buttoned up conservative suiting.

She believed in combining strength and femininity, grace and vivacity, flirtation and freedom.

Her new exhibition, Mood of the moment: Gaby Aghion and the house of Chloé runs through February 18th, 2024 at the Jewish Museum in NYC, reminding the world of the fearless flirtatious spirit Gaby Aghion brought to the House of Chloé. ♦

PHOTO: DARIO LASAGNI/COURTESY THE JEWISH MUSEUM, NY

GABY AGHION In 1973, The Rachmaninoff dress, with its graphic black and white motifs and its matching scarf tied around the head, is a perfect example of the romantic, bohemian and nomatic ethos of the 1970s.

The Tertulia dress, designed by Karl Lagerfeld, for Spring-Summer 1966. The hand-painted art nouveau-inspired motifs set the tone for Chloé's elegant take on bohemian chic.

PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF CHLOÉ

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 61

AMBIGUOUS LOSS

By Debra Rich Gettleman

H

ave you ever felt an internal longing for something you used to have? Maybe it’s a job or a relationship. Maybe it’s that empty nest pain that pops up after each Sunday night phone call from your kid in college.

The pain of losing someone or something that isn’t actually gone, can be as, if not more, brutal as losing a loved one who has passed.

When the war broke out in Israel, my son, Levi, was in Jerusalem, and he did not want to come back to the US. I felt so distant and removed from his life. I didn’t understand why he was reluctant to come home. I knew intellectually that he wanted to stay and help the war effort in whatever way he could. But I couldn’t get through to him how frightened I was and how desperately I was praying for his safe return and the safe return of all hostages. That is when I started talking about this indescribable grief I was experiencing. Grief for the innocent Israeli hostages, grief for the soldiers who were ambushed, grief for the unknown horrors I couldn’t even imagine. I called my beloved Rabbi and friend from Temple B’nai Israel in Oklahoma City, Vered Harris, to ask her if what I was experiencing had a name.

She shared with me the concept of ambiguous loss. Ambiguous loss is loss without closure or conclusion. “I think that we have to start with the

62 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

idea of non-ambiguous loss, to understand ambiguous loss.” She proferred. “When someone we love dies, we know what that means. It means, I don't get to speak with them anymore. I don't get to hold their hand anymore. They won't be at the Thanksgiving dinner table. And as much as we grieve and mourn those losses, we know that there is

“Ambiguous loss is grieving what is lost while still recognizing what is present." ~ Rabbi Vered Harris

Rabbi Vered Harris

a finality to them. We don't drive ourselves mad with wondering if they're going to walk through the door this time. Are they going to surprise me?”

Full disclosure, I’m the worst surprise anticipator on the planet.

I imagine these heartfelt reunions

with far away friends and family at every imaginable turn. “Oh, I’m sure my husband who is working in a different city, will surprise me and show up at my birthday dinner.” Or, “Levi is just saying he’s not coming home from Israel. But surely, he’s on that last commercial flight out of Ben Gurion.” I can’t seem to not do this. Like I’m wanting something so badly that I mistakenly think I can create the impossible.

And the disappointment each and every time grows exponentially.

There are two types of ambiguous loss; physical and psychological. Physical ambiguous loss refers to people who may be missing or whose bodies are gone due to war, terrorism, or natural disasters.

Psychological loss focuses on loss of emotional connection with someone who remains physically present. Having a relative who is lost to substance abuse, addiction, or Dementia, all represent a loss of cognitive connection. Psychological loss can also occur when one loses dreams due to financial setbacks or industry overhauls. In short, ambiguous loss refers to any kind of loss that doesn’t include death.

The term was coined back in the 70s by family therapist, Dr. Pauline Boss. She was working with families of lost soldiers and began to hone in on what she called the “myth of closure.” Her universally acclaimed book, Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief is considered by many to be the foremost authority on which much of today’s research is based.

As parents, we grieve losses daily. While most of us don’t actually want our children to move back into the house in their mid-twenties and early thirties, there is still a huge emptiness that they aren’t at the dinner table every night or holed up in their bedrooms playing video games. But, learning to tolerate the ambiguity of certain losses is crucial in developing resilience and moving on with one’s life.

Knowing my own sense of empty nest loss, I asked JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 63

AMBIGUOUS LOSS Rabbi Harris if that was a universal parental feeling.

She told me, “I can only speak for myself. But I always wanted to be a mom and I always thought about what it was going to be like to have children, you know, raise children. But I never thought about what it was going to be like when they were raised.”

“What about the missing hostages,” ask, “Does that constitute ambiguous loss?”

Rabbi believes it’s still too early to know, “Right now,” she shares, “There is real reason to hope and pray that the hostages are going to be back into the fold of their families. I’m choosing to keep that as my focus.”

We talk about the physical losses of homes and communities. Rabbi Harris tells me, “The areas, the kibbutz that was completely destroyed, that’s not ambiguous.” She insists that there is no one way to grieve, that each individual must find their own path to healing.

“Going back and rebuilding on that same land is still not going to be the same kibbutz, because of everything that's transpired. However, rebuilding on that same land could very well bring healing to some of the people who have experienced what I wish was unimaginable and in many ways is unimaginable. Other people are going to grieve by never going back to that land again.

For me, the ambiguous piece is where we are right now. Part of ambiguous loss is not knowing how things are going to end up.”

I sum it all up by pronouncing that maybe ambiguous loss is simply a loss of hope. Rabbi Harris pauses for a moment before answering. “I think that giving up hope is one of the options you can choose in responding to ambiguous loss. For example, once you sit Shiva, you're no longer in ambiguous loss. You have brought closure.

Ambiguous loss is more the debate of whether to give up hope or hold on to it.

And if I hold on to the hope, what is it that I’m hoping for? Because I might have to accept that my hope, that what I hoped for last week or last month, might not be what I hope for now.

The bottom line for Rabbi Harris? “I think that for me, the way that I sort of think about ambiguous loss is grieving what is lost while still recognizing what is present.” ♦ 64 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

Learning to tolerate the ambiguity of certain losses is crucial in developing resilience and moving on with one’s life. ~ Rabbi Vered Harris

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 65

NO ACCID White nationalists use tiki torches to light up Charlottesville. August 11, 2017.

66 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

K DENT

aren Dunn, one of the attorneys at the center of the new HBO MAX documentary “No Accident,” which chronicled the groundbreaking civil rights trial following the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The documentary released just three days after the Hamas attacks has taken on a new relevance following this recent surge in antisemitism.

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 67

NO ACCIDENT

NO ACCIDENT DOCUMENTARY | 1 HR 38 MIN | TV-MA WATCH NOW

I

n the aftermath of the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, a civil lawsuit was filed against white nationalist leaders and organizations on behalf of plaintiffs who suffered injuries while peacefully counterprotesting. No Accident chronicles this seminal civil rights trial, exposing a broad network of conspirators and detailing the challenges of holding those leaders and organizations liable for their actions.

HBO Documentaries presents No Accident, a McGee Media production in association with Just Films/The Ford Foundation and Topic Studios.

Director, Kristi Jacobson; producers, Michelle R. Carney and Alexandra Moss; executive producers, Dyllan McGee and Jihan Robinson. For HBO: executive producers, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Tina Nguyen.

68 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

Based on her experience immersed in evidence of racial hatred, Dunn has noticed that some of the same white nationalist groups active in Charlottesville are seeking to exploit the current rise in antisemitism.

In a recent op-ed piece, Dunn describes how white supremacist groups see an opportunity to further mainstream antisemitic tropes and create new opportunities for extremist violence.

In a recent opinion piece, Dunn wrote: As one of the lawyers who sued the white supremacists responsible for the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, I checked in on those defendants to see what they have said about recent events. Jason Kessler, the lead organizer, wrote that Palestinians have a right to declare that “Jews will not replace us.” Richard Spencer, a longtime leader of the alt-right (an expression he coined), posted that lighting the Roman Arch of Titus in blue and white in solidarity with Israel was “a reversal and subversion of Titus’ achievement” (the arch commemorated the Roman Empire’s defeat of a Jewish rebellion in A.D. 81). Nathan Damigo, founder of the white supremacist organization Identity Europa, posted on Oct. 7: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” The next day, white supremacist Matthew Parrott, a co-founder of the Traditionalist Worker Party, praised Hamas’ attack, stating that “every military act by the Palestinian forces is an act of freedom fighters” and comparing the massacre of families to “breaking out of a concentration camp to attack your guards.”

And the National Justice Party, founded by white supremacists involved in Charlottesville, responded to the Oct. 7 attacks by marching in front of the White House with signs that said “No White Lives for Israel” and “Zionism=Terrorism,” expressly calling for the “destruction of Israel.” NJP’s website now encourages people to “begin to imagine a world where Israel no longer exists” in an article titled “Four Ways

American neo-Nazi, white supremacist, and antisemitic conspiracy theorists Jason Kessler, Richard Spencer, Nathan Damingo and Matthew Parrott.

The Destruction of Israel Can Benefit The West.”

It is important that our college campuses, cities and town squares be places for speech, debate and protest — all rightfully protected under our Constitution. But we should not tolerate antisemitism anywhere, not only because it is morally wrong, but also because for a growing white supremacist movement, it is a mechanism to rally the troops against all nonwhite groups and usher in what Spencer once called “a new world of political violence.” The leaders of that movement are reveling in this moment, hoping that antisemitism becomes normalized, is allowed to flourish and creates a more acceptable gateway to racial hatred and violence.

If Charlottesville taught us anything, it is that accepting the normalization of antisemitism carries with it tremendous

costs for Jews and non-Jews alike.

We allow antisemitism to surge at our own peril. And make no mistake, the violence that ensues will affect all of us.

Karen Dunn is a co-chair of the litigation department at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison LLP. She was co-lead counsel in Sines v. Kessler; a documentary about the case, “No Accident,” was released on HBO Max on Oct. 10. ♦

If Charlottesville taught us anything, it is that accepting the normalization of antisemitism carries with it tremendous costs for Jews and non-Jews alike. We allow antisemitism to surge at our own peril. And make no mistake, the violence that ensues will affect all of us. ~ Karen Dunn

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 69

HUNGRY FOR MORE THAN GREAT FOOD?

By Debra Rich Gettleman

70 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

W

hat do you get when you combine a Beit Midrash with a totally hip cool bar and restaurant? You get Lerhaus: A Jewish tavern and house of learning in Somerville, MA. It’s not unusual to associate Jews with food. But this unique venue infuses fabulous flavors of Talmud, Torah, and Kabbalah with certified KVH pescatarian Kosher noshes like Haus herring tartine served with cultured butter, labneh, and pickled peppers, or mac + cheese kugel with shaved zucchini “kashkarikas,” or a simple sunflower seed seder salad that includes greens, haroset croutons, fried beets, and cured yolk.

Clearly, Lehrhaus is not your grandparents’ deli. But the brilliantly creative fare links traditional Jewish dishes with current foodie combinations that fill the belly and delight the ayin (eyes). Led by Chef Noah Clickstein from Boston’s acclaimed restaurant, “Juliet” alongside 8 time James Beard award-nominee veteran chef Michael Leviton (as culinary consultant), the Lehrhaus menu attempts to define what Jewish food looks like in today’s modern society. According to Clickstein in a recent Bostom Magazine interview, “We’re really trying to nail what Jewish food is – an intersection of time, constraints, and tradition.”

Lehrhaus’s beet “pastrami” Reuben (featuring beets spiced and cooked like pastrami) is topped with melted Swiss, Russian dressing, and sauerkraut, shown here with the All Ears cocktail (gin, poppy, apricot, lemon, cardamom, and egg white).

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 71

Left: Chef Noah Clickstein. Above: Lehrhaus’s bar where inventive cocktails defy the imagination.

We’re really trying to nail what Jewish food is – an intersection of time, constraints, and tradition. ~Chef Noah Clickstein

Lehrhaus’s smoked salmon pâté comes with everything-bagel chips.

72 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

HUNGRY FOR MORE Lehrhaus was originally founded by Rabbi Charlie Schwartz and journalist and best-selling author Joshua Foer as an attempt to meet Jewish people where they are.

With synagogue affiliation dwindling and the opportunity for Jewish learning less and less available, Lehrhaus aims to be a space where people want to spend time, enjoy great food and drink, celebrate connection, and share deep conversations about Jewish text and philosophy.

Schwartz notes in that same Boston Magazine piece, “We’re a text-based people, and the partnered learning of text— chavruta—is an ancient Jewish spiritual practice that’s one of the best Jewish ideas that has yet to become popular.

We want to create the space to celebrate it in a space where people want to spend time. Food and drink nourish you in one way, and the text will challenge and nourish you in others.”

The drink menu, created by Naomi Levy (Boston-based award-winning bartender) of the Jewish winter popup bar, “Maccabee Bar,” includes specialties like a Yemenite espresso martini with the spice blend hawaij, a spicy schug margarita and a “Summer in Krakow” cocktail made with strawberry, Sorel liqueur and gin.

Then there’s the menu of Jewish learning which includes classes like “Midrashic Insights Into Weekly Torah Portions,” taught by Rabbi Elie Lehmann, “Gay Jews: A Debate Across Two Talmuds,” led by Acclaimed Jewish rapper, activist, and artist, Y-Love, and “The Heebie-Jeebies at CBGBs” with Steven Lee Beeber, author of The HeebieJeebies at CBGBs, exploring the Jewish artists who forged the New York’s punk scene on the Lower East Side of the 1970s.

There’s plenty of room for small Chavruta learning as well as a study with room for classes of anywhere from 15-20 people. Plus Lehrhaus hosts a slew of bookshelves with over 3000 books covering a wide range of Jewish areas of study.

“The goal,” Rabbi Schwarts points out in a prelaunch JTA article last year, “Isn’t to make people more religious, but rather for people to engage deeply in Jewish learning and chevruta, We want to be able to say, ‘if you are observant, this could be a spot for you. If you’re not observant, there’s still amazing things about Jewish texts that can help ground us and guide us and create community.’”

In that same piece Foer adds,“Quite a few people will come for the food and drink and some of them will stay for the Torah. And that would be this thing working.” ♦ PHOTOGRAPHY BY RACHEL LEAH BLUMENTHAL BOSTONMAGAZINE.COM

Lehrhaus’s Dafina So Fine is made with raisin rum, sweet potato, ras el hanout, and bitters.

Lehrhaus is full of bookshelves packed with over 3,000 volumes, spanning a variety of genres.

Co-founders Joshua Foer and Rabbi Charlie Schwartz.

JEWISH LIFE NOW | DECEMBER 2023 73

Empathy in Action: How to best support Israel now As Israel and America stand strong against Hamas, Hezbollah, and anyone who supports the massacre of innocent civilians, the desire to help is palpable. But how do you know where and how to give? How do you determine a charity is credible and fiscally responsible? How can you be sure that the money you donate is getting to those in danger and most in need?

Jewish Life Now has done some research and through a careful analysis of philanthropic, economic, and human service non-profit organizations and charitable organizations, we have put together a list of some of the most reputable and effective charities. In addition to the short list below, your Jewish Federations, Combined Jewish Philanthropies and Jewish Community Foundations are equipped to help as well. (As always, please do your own research):

74 DECEMBER 2023 | JEWISH LIFE NOW

AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM https://afmda.org Help is desperately needed to put more ambulances on the road and to replenish supplies for EMTs and paramedics and for MDA’s blood services division.

AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MEIR PANIM https://meirpanim.org/ Food insecurity in Israel https://donate.meirpanim.org/nachal-oz/ Adopt the families of Nachal Oz AMERICAN FRIENDS OF NATAL afnatal.org NATAL - the Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center is an apolitical non-profit organization which provides a unique, multidisciplinary model of psychological support to victims of trauma due to terror and war, regardless of religion or political affiliation.

CITRUS & SALT COOKING/CITIZEN’S KITCHEN www.citrusandsaltcooking.com https://www.gofundme.com/f/citizens-kitchen Tel Aviv cooking studio turned meal operation for soldiers and families in Isarel.

DOGS ARE US ISRAEL www.Dogsrus.co.il A dog rescue for the last 7 years, the need to rescue and house dogs since October 7 has increased substantially due to the chaos that ensued including displaced families, deaths and fear.

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND (JNF) Jnf.org They work to ensure a strong, secure, and prosperous future for the land and people of Israel from planting trees, building houses and parks, source water solutions, buy fire trucks, and improve the lives of people with special needs and run volunteer programs in Israel. To volunteer on farms across Israel - register to their mission: https://bit.ly/3ucxy5D ONE ISRAEL FUND https://oneisraelfund.org Primarily focused on enabling Jewish life to flourish in all areas of our Biblical Heartland, as well as other areas throughout Israel.

SOLDIERS SAVE LIVES www.soldierssavelives.org A grass roots organization that saw the need on October 8 and jumped into action.They send equipment to the IDF via their US- to- Israel supply chain.

IN MEMORY OF DAVID NEWMAN. UNITED HATZALAH https://israelrescue.org/ The largest community-based volunteer emergency medical services (EMS) organization that provides the fastest response to medical emergencies across Israel free of charge. You can donate for emergency equipment as well.

VOLUNTEERS FOR ISRAEL https://vfi-usa.org/ Opportunities for civilians to volunteer on IDF bases

FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES https://www.fidf.org A non-political, non-military organization that provides for wellbeing of the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), veterans and family members.

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