The Jewish Light Home Guide 2019 by The Jewish Light

Volume 9, Number 5 Home Guide 2019

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Serving the Local New Orleans, Northshore, and Baton Rouge Jewish Communities

A Jewish Guide to the 2020 Presidential Challengers By Josefin Dolsten

The junior senator from New John Hickenlooper Jersey has long cultivated support in the Jewish community.

Pete Buttigieg

From left to right, Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris and John Hickenlooper (JTA Collage; Booker Photo: Alex Edelman/Getty Images; Gillibrand Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Klobuchar Photo: Theo Wargo/ Getty Images for DGA; Harris Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Hickenlooper Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

(JTA) — The field of 2020 presidential contenders is a crowded one, to say the least. We have put together a series of articles that explore the candidates’ (and potential candidates’) Jewish connections — from those who identify as Jews, or are married to one, to candidates who are not Jewish but have ties to the community in different ways. We also explore their views on Israel. Below are links to articles, sorted alphabetically, that our staff has written about some of the political contenders, mostly those seeking the Democratic nomination. This list will be updated as additional candidates join the fray.

Bernie Sanders

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

As governor of Colorado, the self-described “extreme Mayor Pete Buttigieg,South Bend, Indiana. moderate” took part in an (City of South Bend) emotional trip to Israel and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). (Chip The mayor of South Bend, counts a Jewish Republican Somodevilla/Getty Images) Indiana, worries that support businessman as a close assoThe Vermont Independent for Israel will be seen as a par- ciate. and the first Jewish candidate tisan issue. Amy Klobuchar to win major-party nominating contests is trying again. Kirsten Gillibrand

Howard Schultz

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for DGA) Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). The senator and former prosecu(Chip Somodevilla/Getty tor, said to be “ubiquitous” in the Images) Minnesota Jewish community, is She’s tight with her Jewish seen as an alternative to more leftcolleagues but made some wing candidates from the coasts.

enemies when she pushed for Beto O’Rourke Al Franken to step down.

Kamala Harris

Cory Booker Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ. (Alex Edelman/Getty Images)

according to one report he claimed he has some Jewish ancestry.

Beto O’Rourke attends the “Running with Beto” premiere at the SXSW Conference and Festivals at Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas, March 9, 2019. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SXSW)

The California senator has a The Democrat from Texas Jewish husband and a centrist angered pro-Israel activists approach to Israel. with a 2014 vote against funding for the Iron Dome and

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) The Jewish Democrat and former Starbucks CEO has said he would run as an Independent.

Elizabeth Warren

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). (Zach Gibson/Getty Images) The J Street endorsee has defended Israel to her liberal base, while criticizing Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Community News

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Hanukkah In July Families In Need For Holiday Gifts Must Contact JCRS At Once For Maximum Consideration For over twenty years, the Jew- J. Tolmas Hanukkah Gift Proish Children’s Regional Service gram. Parents, who submit an (JCRS) has been providing Hanuk- electronic application after July kah gifts to Jewish children and 15, should not assume that their youth from the Mid-south, whose children will be receiving gift families have been struggling eco- cards from JCRS. nomically. The program has develEach child in the program oped into one that annually assists receives at least 8 small gifts, one over 300 Jewish youth and institu- for each night of Hanukkah. Parents tionalized Jewish adults. Thou- who register can easily indicate a sands of small gifts are shipped to child’s interests on the application families with children. Children form. Since thousands of gifts must from the neediest Jewish families be secured, sorted, wrapped and also receive Hanukkah department shipped, it is imperative that famistore gift cards from JCRS each lies register early for maximum year, if they apply by July 15. consideration. For Hanukkah 2019, JCRS If you have trouble filling out the must receive the electronically application or would like to learn submitted application by July, in more about the program, as either a order for any children to receive potential applicant or donor , you maximum gift consideration, can contact the Jewish Children’s including gift cards. Parents must Regional Service by calling 1-800 go the JCRS website: www.jcrs. -729-5277 , or writing JCRS, PO org, and under the headline of Box 7368 , Metairie LA 70010 programs they can find the Oscar -7368 The email address is info@ jcrs.org. Call Our Trained Experts & Experience the Difference The Jewish Children’s Regional Service is the oldest Jewish children’s agency in the United States, begun in 1855. In 2018, over 1700 •Monthly Payment Plans Jewish youth from the states of Ala• Drywood Termite Fumigation bama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas were served in various programs. Ned Goldberg, ACSW/LCSW Executive Director Jewish Children's Regional Service 3500 North Causeway Blvd, #1120 Metairie, LA 70002 P.O. Box 7368 Metairie, LA 70010-7368 ned@jcrs.org

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Moishe House Awarded The Jerusalem Unity Prize Global network of Jewish young adult communities was honored at Israeli president's residence June 5 mutual respect for others amongst the Jewish people, during crises and in daily life. The prizes were awarded in a special ceremony at the Israeli president's residence on June 5, Global Jewish Unity Day, at 3 p.m. local time. A special public committee selected the winners. The commitJerusalem, May 30 - Moishe tee included former Jerusalem House has been awarded the Jeru- Mayor Nir Barkat; the chairman of salem Unity Prize in the interna- the award committee, Kobi Oz; tional category. Moishe House Brig. Gen. (res.) Amal Assad; received the prize for its worldwide Ruth Calderon, Noam Lautman, success in engaging Jewish young David Menachem, Michal adults in meaningful ways and Shalem, Shay Doron, Rabbi Lord empowering them to create their Jonathan Sacks, Isaac “Bougie” own vibrant communities. Herzog, Natan Sharansky and the Through a global ecosystem of families of Yifrah, Shaer, and interconnected programs, the Fraenkel. The prize was created to Moishe House model ensures that memorialize Eyal Yifrah, Gilad Jewish young adults are equipped Shaer and Naftali Fraenkel, after and inspired to create Jewish homes they were murdered by Palestinian and access Jewish events every day terrorists in 2014. of the week. “I welcome this year’s winners, “We are deeply honored to be who constitute a diverse and unifyrecognized alongside leading Israe- ing mix of Israeli society and Diasli and global Jewish initiatives,” pora Jewry,” said Barkat, who initisaid Moishe House Founder and ated the Unity Prize. ”The spirit of CEO David Cygielman. “This the three boys and their families award will serve to inspire us to inspires us and sets before us the continue to expand the opportuni- importance of finding the common ties to empower even more Jewish denominator of the Jewish people, young adults to build meaningful even when there are disagreecommunities around the world.” ments.” Moishe House is a global netAbout Moishe House: work connecting more than 65,000 Founded in 2006, Moishe House Jewish young adults in over 25 (MH) has built out an innovative countries with 11,000-plus pro- model that is transforming how grams through Moishe Houses, Jewish young adults across the Moishe House Without Walls, world connect and stay involved in Immersive Jewish Learning the Jewish community. MH’s misRetreats, Camp Nai Nai Nai and the sion is to provide vibrant Jewish Open Dor Project. community for young adults by The Jerusalem Unity Prize is supporting leaders in their 20s as given to individuals, organizations, they create meaningful home-based and initiatives in Israel and through- Jewish experiences for themselves out the Jewish world whose actions and their peers. To learn more, visit are instrumental in advancing www.moishehouse.org 

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June 19, 2019 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm New Orleans JCC- Uptown An Evening With Josh Levin

Linda Taylor was one of the most infamous figures of the 20th century. She's now a forgotten woman, having faded from public view four decades ago. But while the real Taylor vanished from our collective memory, her nickname, the "welfare queen" persisted. In THE QUEEN: The Forgotten Life Behind an American Myth, Slate national editor, Josh Levin, unveils the full story of the misunderstood, demonized, and mythologized woman behind a vicious and enduring American stereotype. Praise For "The Queen" New York Times "Levin first wrote about Taylor in a long article for Slate in 2013. In “The Queen,” he tracks her from her birth in 1926 in the wonderfully named Golddust, Tenn., to arrests in Seattle and Oakland, a possible murder in Chicago in 1975 and a nursing home in Tampa. And there’s much, much more. Part of the fun of Levin’s book is burrowing inside his obsessive quest. He tracks down vintage court transcripts, old property deeds, marriage licenses, handwriting tests, yellowed police records, ex-husbands of former roommates. What emerges is a quite unsettling picture of a woman who in Levin’s telling seems to

have no conscience and no morals, no loyalty to her own children or to any of her many, many husbands. Her crimes are so sprawling and confusing that at times she seems almost like a Keyser Söze master villain. There are hints of buying and selling children on the black market. There’s a sickly woman who winds up dead shortly after Taylor befriends her." Free and open to the community New Orleans JCC - Uptown 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm New Orleans JCC - Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 Contact: Judy Yaillen Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: judy@nojcc.org June 27, 2019 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM New Orleans JCC Uptown Movie Day: The Man Who Knew Infinity This absorbing biopic recounts the life of self-taught Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan (played by Dev Patel), who made his way to Trinity College at Cambridge in 1913 and rose to prominence under the tutelage of renowned math professor G.H. Hardy. Movie snacks will be served. RSVP by Monday, June 24 to Rachel Ruth at 897-0143 x161 or rachel@nojcc.org. No charge members and nonNew Orleans JCC - Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 Contact: Rachel Ruth Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: rachel@nojcc.org 

Table of Contents Community News

Chai Lights

Education

Bookshelf

The Nosher

Focus on Issues

Israel Under Radar

Kveller

Home Improvement Guide

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If your group has an event that you would like for us to include on the Community Calendar please e-mail the information to jewishnews@bellsouth.net. All submissions are subject to acceptance by the Editor. ì June 30, 2019 New Orleans JCC Uptown TRX Group Training Course Continue your TRX Education Journey- Expand your marketability and master group coaching techniques in this hands-on eighthour course. Building on the foundational suspension training knowledge from prior courses, you will continue to advance your coaching skills to effectively lead group training programs. You will learn how to lead and modify two group suspension training workouts that can be used in any personal training, and small or large group training sessions; TRX Fit & TRX Strong. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to: • Apply your TRX coaching knowledge to deliver quality group suspension training workouts. • Manage the complexity of coaching multiple people, while creating a fun and personalized training experience for all fitness levels. • Lead and build “drop-in” style suspension training workouts in two different formats: • TRX Strong: a strength-based workout • TRX Fit: a high-intensity interval workout • Course Materials: All participants will receive a link to download digital copy of the Group Training Course in their confirmation email. *Printed copy of the course ships within 5-7 business days & are considered a final sale. No refunds will be provided, even if the course is cancelled for any unforeseen reason. These course manuals are permanently excluded from site-wide sales. You will receive a digital manual of Group Training Course via email prior to the course. For this course only, you will also receive a pre-read document which should be read prior to your GTC course. Pre-Requisites: The Group Training Course (GTC) is farther along the TRX Education Journey, and prior knowledge of the TRX Sus-

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pension Trainer is assumed. We strongly recommended having taken either the TRX Suspension Training Course (STC) and/or TRX Suspension Training Basics Digital Course prior to attending this course. You will receive a GTC Pre-Read document along with your manual. Please read prior to your GTC course. Continuing Education Credits (CECS) AND Course Qualification: Upon completion of a TRX Group Training Course, you will receive an electronic version of your TRX Qualification, which can be printed for your records and redeemed for CECs. The provider number and number of credits can be found on your Qualification and redeemed on the provider’s website. Course Education Graduates will receive CECs from the following organizations: ACE 0.8, NASM 0.8, AFAA 8.0, canfitpro 6.0, PTA Global 8.0, SkillsActive REPS 12, (ACSM accepts ACE CECs) 9:00 am - 5:00 pm New Orleans JCC - Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 Contact: Katie Tillery Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: katie@nojcc.org July 8, 2019 Location Morris Bart Lecture Series: Dame Zombi Meets Jim Crow: Voodoo And Race In New Orleans Kodi Roberts, Professor of History at LSU, will give a brief overview of the racial politics of practicing Voodoo in New Orleans. He will look at the identity politics of practitioners and clients and how both were influenced by the notions of race prevalent in early twentieth century Louisiana. Lunch will be served. RSVP by Wednesday, July 3. No charge members / $10 nonmembers New Orleans JCC – Uptown 11:45 am - 1:30 pm 5342 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans, LA 70115 Contact: Rachel Ruth 504-897-0143 rachel@nojcc.org Home Guide 2019

Chai Lights Life CYCLE

(CONDOLENCES)

If you have a condolence that you would like for us to include in Life Cycle please e-mail the information to jewishnews@bellsouth.net. All submissions are subject to acceptance of the Editor. ì

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ChaiLights features announcements of births, B'nai Mitzvahs, engagements, weddings, and honors. To request your special event be published in The Jewish Light send your material to United Media Corp., P.O. Box 3270, Covington, LA 70435 or e-mail jewishnews@bellsouth.net. Events are published on a first come, first served basis, as space permits. Photographs are welcom; professional ones preferred. The must be clear and in focus. ì

Beth Israel Mazel Tov!

IN MEMORIAM Rosalyn “Roz” Allison Frances “Fran” Regenbogen Leonard Washofsky

To Baruch Fogel for graduating with an Undergrad Degree in Computer/Information Sciences from Rhodes University, South Africa. 

Gates of Prayer

Mazel Tov!

To Judy & David Stiebel on the birth of their granddaughter, Jezra Esther Stiebel. Parents are Clea & Adam Stiebel To Katie & Ben Elliot on the birth of their son, Benjamin David Elliot, Jr. To Becky & Mel Ziegler on their son, Blake, being named a National Merit Finalist To Sherri & Matt Tarr on the engagement of their son, Josh, to Katelyn Hebel

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Social Network is Secret to Success of This Surprisingly Popular College Torah Study Course

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The Jewish Learning Fellowship was a program at NYU Hillel until Hillel International’s Office of Innovation decided to try scaling it. It’s now at 141 college campuses. (Jackson Krule)

(JTA) When Sophie Tannenbaum, a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, found herself wondering if she’d ever meet her soulmate – and if there even is such a thing – she knew she could discuss it with her friends. But she also turned to another source: the Babylonian Talmud. Tannenbaum was a member of an unusual 10-week class on sex, love and romance in Jewish sources. The class wasn’t for credit, but part of a Jewish Learning Fellowship developed by Hillel International’s Office of Innovation and aimed at Jewish college students who might not otherwise encounter Jewish texts. Meeting for two hours each week, the students explored such issues as whether love is an emotion or an action, how to cope with being queer and Jewish, and does “the one” exist. Their sources ranged from the Torah to the poetry of Yehuda Amichai. “We had a very diverse group of students in the room,” Tannebaum said, from the very religious to those who hadn’t ever really gone to Hillel programs. “It gave us an opportunity to explore taboo subjects which you can’t always talk about in every Jewish space.” The fellowship, now in its 11th year, stands out for its relatively unique approach for engaging moderately affiliated and unaffiliated Jewish college students: with serious Torah study requiring considerable time commitment. The idea is to introduce young Jews to Jewish communal life and Torah study in a group setting. It’s been surprisingly popular, organizers say. “We literally have a waiting list of students who would like to be THE

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studying Torah at Hillel,” said Erica Frankel, director of the Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Experience at Hillel International. “If you had asked us 10 years ago if that would be the case, we might have laughed at you.” The program has nearly tripled in the past year alone, from 51 to 141 campuses, and more than 3,300 students participated this year. Several hundred more are on a waitlist to participate. The secret to the program’s success is the group approach, which acts as a social network for the students, said Dan Smokler, Hillel’s chief innovation officer. The students also receive small stipends to participate, which Hillel implemented to allow students to participate who might otherwise have to work. “We found that what they were most getting out of it was a group of a friends, a mentor and a sense of community,” Smokler said. Smokler was a graduate student when he and Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, the executive director of New York University’s Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life, built on the content of the basic program that Sarna had launched in 2007. It remained an NYU project for seven years until Smokler decided to try scaling it. Frankel, whose job has been to grow the program, said at first she thought she would spend a lot of time convincing Hillel directors to try it. But after the first five campuses came on board, Hillel was bombarded with emails by other eager campuses. Students at New York University participate in a Hillel-run course designed to introduce young Jews to Jewish communal life and Torah study in a group setting. (Jackson Krule) Danielle Kranjec, the senior Jewish educator at the Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh, said she never could have anticipated just how important the fellowship would be after the deadly See SOCIAL NETWORK on Page

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shooting in October at the city’s Tree of Life synagogue, which killed 11 congregants. “Having the fellowship as a Jewish identity-focused group when the shooting happened was a real source of strength and comfort to the students during that time,” Kranjec said. “We ended up opening our group to anyone who wanted to come that week to process, and many who came that night ended up joining the next cohort. It really ended up being part of the heartbeat of Hillel this year.” The course has multiple curricula. The introductory one used at most campuses is called “Life’s Big Questions,” but there are three other introductory courses: on romance, on justice and on Judaism as art. Hillel’s Office of Innovation writes the curricula, and Hillel educators on each campus adapt it as appropriate. The introductory curriculum exposes the students to classic Jewish texts like the Mishna Pirkei Avot (the Ethics of the Fathers), the Torah and the Passover Haggadah, as well as contemporary writings like “A Letter in the Scroll” by erstwhile U.K. Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The classes range from 15 to 25 students. Leah Kahn, senior Jewish educator at the University of California, Berkeley, Hillel, said students often finish the 10-week course asking for more. To satisfy that demand, she developed her own advanced course curriculum on “Life’s Bigger Questions” and was hired by Hillel International to standardize it for use by other campuses. The classes include “#Blessed: The Inner Life vs. the Public Persona” and “I’m Not Religious, I’m Spiritual: Toward a Vibrant Jewish Lifestyle.” A few more curricula are in development, including one on Mussar, or Jewish spiritual practices, created in partnership with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. “Students come away with a clearer sense of how Jewish tradition can impact their contemporary lives,” Kahn said. “They realize as emerging adults that the tradition has something to say to them. We use the Torah to answer universal human questions, and they feel more connected to their tradition.” Hillel educator Daniel Levine, who works with students at the University of California, Irvine,

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Chapman University and Cal State Fullerton, ran the program this year for students from those three schools. The community that formed among the cohort was remarkable, he said. “We don’t have a building,” Levine said. “We’d meet at the student center at Chapman from 7 to 9 p.m., and for those two hours and afterwards it really felt transformed into a Hillel or JCC. There were nights where, after class, other students from past sessions would come and join us to hang out. Without a building, this was something that really has helped us out in building a community.” First-year Chapman student Itai Janai was among the participants. “Even though I identify as an agnostic Jew, I liked learning what the Talmud had to say about certain things, from a historical and cultural perspective — like getting more insight into the Passover story,” Janai said. “Our teacher was great at playing devil’s advocate and getting us to look at the different sides of an issue.” Frankel said the curriculum is a great way to introduce Jewish students with little formal Jewish education to their own tradition. “Students come to college and want to engage in the great conversation of ideas,” Frankel said. “They are looking for a place to ground and root themselves during a period of their lives marked with uncertainty. Torah is one way to engage with those questions.” Emma Dorn, a junior at Cal Irvine who grew up in a “very secular” home, said the program “came at the perfect time, when I’m thinking about what I want to do with my life and getting more in touch with my Jewish side of myself.” Now Dorn is considering becoming a Hillel professional after graduation. She credits the Jewish Learning Fellowship. “I’ve learned so much about what Jewish culture is, as well as the many different ways Jewish culture is in my life without my realizing it,” she said. “I love learning about the different perspectives in Judaism, as well as the fact that we’re supposed to ask questions.” The Jewish Learning Fellowship, operated by Hillel's Office of Innovation, is the largest Jewish educational program on North American college campuses  THE

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Bookshelf

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‘Sophie’s Choice’ is the Perfect Summer Read. Hear Me Out.

(Book photo by Getty Images; collage by Alma)

This story originally appeared on Alma. Contrary to popular belief, summer is not only for the lighter things in life. It can be the best time for luxurious nostalgia and dark rumination. Like Lana Del Rey, I’ve often got that Summertime Sadness. This may be the reason why, without fail, as soon as the weather turns properly muggy, I turn my office upside down looking for my tattered copy of William Styron’s “Sophie’s Choice.” In fact I’d venture to say it’s the perfect summer read. But whenever I bring this up to others, they think I am making an insensitive joke. I am not. Yes, the novel’s title has become a kind of catchphrase, culturally synonymous with an impossible choice between two terrible outcomes — and also with Jewish genocide. But it may surprise you to know that less than a third of the book’s hefty 562 pages concerns the Holocaust, and we don’t arrive at the death camps until page 235. The central character of “Sophie’s Choice” is actually a 22-year-old man-boy from Virginia named Stingo who is “struggling to become some kind of writer.” The novel concerns “that summer” of 1947, told in an ominous first person retrospective point of view that promises essential self-revelation a la Plath’s “The Bell Jar” or Julie Buntin’s “Marlena” (both of which, perhaps not coincidentally, also take place largely in summer). There is something about summer, it seems, that makes us want to confess. “In those days cheap apartments were almost impossible to find in Manhattan,” the book’s opening line reads, “so I had to move to Brooklyn.” We follow Stingo through his days at a thankless job at a secondrate publisher, where he has been tasked with writing a detailed summary of every unsolicited manuscript sent there. Before long he becomes disillusioned, quits and THE

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moves from Manhattan to a boarding house in Flatbush run by a Jewish woman named Yetta Zimmerman that is painted entirely pink (Yetta’s ex-husband got a good deal on some pink Army surplus paint). Becoming Yetta has long been my personal dream, so please forgive me for quoting the description of her Pink Palace at length: “I also was greatly taken by Mrs. Zimmerman’s overview of her establishment, which she expounded as she led me around the premises. ‘I call this Yetta’s Liberty Hall,’ she said, every now and then giving me a nudge. ‘What I like to see is my tenants enjoy life … Not that I don’t gotta have rules.’ She lifted the pudgy nub of a forefinger and began to tick them off. ‘Rule number one: no playing the radio after eleven o’clock. Rule number two: you gotta turn off all the lights when you leave the room, I got no need to pay extra to Con Edison. Rule three: positively no smoking in bed, you get caught smoking in bed — out … Rule number four: full week’s payment due every Friday. End of the rules! Everything else is Yetta’s Liberty Hall. Like what I mean is, this place is for grownups. Understand, I’m running no brothel, but you wanna have a girl in your room once in a while, have a girl in your room … And the same thing goes for the young ladies in my house, if they want to entertain a boyfriend now and then. What’s good for the gander is good for the goose, I say, and if there’s one thing I hate, its hypocrisy.” Six others live in Yetta’s boarding house — five Jews and a blonde Catholic Polish Holocaust survivor named Sophie. Sophie is engaged in a passionate sexual affair with Nathan, one of the other residents, and before long Stingo gets roped into an exciting costume-wearing, picnic-having tricycle friendship with the couple. “The weather was generally fine that summer,” Styron writes, “but sometimes the evenings got hot and steamy, and when this happened Nathan and Sophie and I often went around the corner on Church Avenue to an air-conditioned ‘cocktail lounge’ called the Maple Court.” It is at the Maple Court that Sophie ultimately tells Stingo about working (somewhat reluctantly) as

part of the Polish resistance during World War II and then being deported to a Nazi death camp. Other things are discussed there, too, most of them having to do with race and the American South and the legacy of slavery. It turns out that Stingo’s increasingly dilettante-ish life is being partially funded by the sale of a black person his ancestors kept in bondage, a pill that Stingo (and Styron too, perhaps) at turns denies and struggles to swallow. The novel is also so soaked in sex — having it, trying to have it, thinking about having it — that I’d say, in some ways, the book is deeply about sexuality and the ways it gets wrapped around trauma, obsession, darkness and history. Stingo marvels at the uninhibited sex of Sophie and Nathan, which he can hear in great detail happening in the room above him, and a solid 75 pages are taken up by his own quest to get laid by a cool Jewish girl named Leslie whom he meets on the beach at Coney Island. “Leslie and I are in the bar of a restaurant called Victor’s and I am getting a little drunk,” Stingo writes in his journal. “I have never felt

such sexual electricity in my life. This Jewish dryad has far more sensuality in one of her expressive thumbs than all the locked-up virgins I ever knew in Va. & N.C. put together.” (It comes as no surprise that “Sophie’s Choice” was banned in several countries as well as in high schools across America when it first came out. I’m pretty sure I only picked up this novel in the first place because I was roaming the big bookshelf in the back of my childhood apartment looking to get off.) In short: Even though Sophie’s plot line gets the titular spotlight, I’m here to say that “Sophie’s Choice” is decidedly not a Holocaust book no matter the reputation it’s gained. Sophie’s revelations serve not so much to highlight the evil of the Nazis as to illuminate what it means to be an American, both touched and untouched by the horrors of the past. Sophie is a survivor, but also a complicit witness, and by listening to her story, Stingo and the reader are, too. So I’ll be there this summer, in the sand, feeling turned on and sad and epically lost in the mindfields of trauma and history. Join me. 

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Bookshelf

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How Aaron Sorkin Ignored His Own Doubts to Write a New ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

Aaron Sorkin speaks at the AFI Fest in Hollywood, Calif., Nov. 16, 2017. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for AFI)

(JTA) — Aaron Sorkin gets that the question is a joke and, no, he responds, he didn’t tackle a stage version of “To Kill A Mockingbird” because “Gone With the Wind” wasn’t available. “Scott Rudin called me about three years ago and said ‘I got something exciting I want to talk to you about,'” Sorkin said in a telephone interview. “Every time Scott starts a conversation with ‘I got something exciting,’ I end up being excited, too.” And with good reason. Sorkin, an award-winning screenwriter, and Rudin, an awardwinning producer (he’s the first producer with an EGOT — an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) have been successful in several collaborations — the films “The Social Network” and “Steve Jobs,” and the TV series “Newsroom.” Rudin was excited because “after years of trying, he’d acquired stage rights to “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and he wanted Sorkin to write it. “I said yes right away. I didn’t hesitate, even though I thought at the time it was a suicide mission,” the writer recalled. “What could I

do but make it less?” Sorkin’s fears were understandable. During PBS’s recent search for “The Great American Read,” Harper Lee’s classic about racism and justice in the Deep South topped the list ahead of the Harry Potter books, which finished third; “The Lord of the Rings” (5); and yes, “Gone With the Wind” (6). The 1962 movie version starring Gregory Peck is nearly as iconic as the book, which still sells more than a million copies a year. But Sorkin needn’t have worried: Since opening on Dec. 13, the show has been the highest performing non-musical play on Broadway. The result, which stars Jeff Daniels, is one of the great dramas of the season, one greeted with rapturous reviews. It’s a sure bet to be nominated for Tony Awards, including for best play. Daniels plays Atticus Finch, the white lawyer assigned to defend a black man accused of raping a white teen in rural 1930s Alabama. From start to finish, Atticus is a paragon. “He sees the goodness in every-

one,” Sorkin says, even the racists. “All you have to do is crawl around in someone else’s skin and see things from their point of view. From the beginning of the play, he believes these are his friends and neighbors. They may be stuck in their old ways, but none are so far gone that they would send an obviously innocent man to the electric chair. Over the the course of the play, he discovers that they are too far gone and even he can’t find their goodness.” Sorkin believed that at least parts of the play felt dated, including what he called “one of my favorite scenes, but probably not the favorite of anyone who isn’t white.” It comes at the end of the trial, when the courtroom has emptied except for the segregated balcony — where the town’s black people stand silently as a sign of their respect for Atticus. “It always puts a lump in my throat, and I was thinking about why and I became comfortable with the answer,” he said. “It’s because these people upstairs are not burning the courthouse down. There is no ‘no justice no peace’ rally. They are

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standing in quiet gratitude to this white man, and that seemed to me to be this white liberal fantasy that marginalized people will point to us and say you are one of the good ones. Thank you. So I did the opposite.” No spoiler will be revealed here, except to say the change is subtle and involves giving black characters — the accused Tom Robinson and the Finch family’s maid Calpurnia — additional dialogue. It was these changes in part that prompted the author’s estate to sue to stop the production, alleging it deviated too much from Lee’s novel. “And by estate,” Sorkin said, “we’re talking about one person, one woman who is in charge. … We were able to settle all that.” Harper Lee died in 2016 after authorizing a new adaptation but before reading Sorkin’s draft. Jeff Daniels stars in Sorkin’s adaptation of “To Kill A Mockingbird.” (Julieta Cervantes) If there is such a thing, “Mockingbird” is in some ways a typical Sorkin script in that it is anchored by a person with a strong moral center. You saw it in “West Wing” (Martin Sheen’s Jeb Bartlet) and “Newsroom” (Daniels’ Will McAvoy). You even saw it in the drug-addicted title character of his last film, “Molly Bloom” (Jessica Chastain). Another similarity to Sorkin’s past work is the sparkling dialogue. When I suggest that Daniels gave one of the greatest monologues of all time in “Newsroom,” Sorkin deflects the compliment. “The secret there was Jeff Daniels. He really clobbered that speech, as he does with his speeches in ‘Mockingbird,'” he said. “I’m not sure there’s a secret to it. My parents took me to see plays at a very young age, often to see a play I was too young to understand, like ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ The sound of the dialogue, it sounded like music for me. That was sort of my entrance to writing.” Sorkin set out to be an actor, participating in the school plays and studying theater in college. But one weekend he was left alone in an apartment with a friend’s electric typewriter. “I wasn’t going out. The televi-

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Moroccan Couscous and Chicken: a Hearty Dinner Easy Enough for Busy Weeknights By Leanne Shor

I always considered couscous to be just a simple side dish until I met a dear friend whose IsraeliYemenite-Moroccan family introduced me to couscous in all its glory: a big, hearty, super comforting main dish. I quickly understood that couscous has a rich place in the North African kitchen and is so much more than just tiny pasta you buy from a box at the supermarket. Preparing my version of weeknight couscous involves stewing

bone-in chicken, hearty root vegetables, squash and a rich chicken broth spiced with cinnamon, turmeric and cumin. What makes this couscous dish perfect for weeknights is that all the ingredients come together in one pot, which means there’s a lot less cleanup. By taking a few short cuts, we can make a big pot of this couscous in under an hour, with plenty of leftovers to take for lunch the next day — the flavors will be even better!

NOSHER Ingredients:

For the stew: • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 5-6 bone-in chicken thighs • 1 large onion, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, chopped finely • 1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/2-inch rounds • 3 carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch chunks • 2 zucchini, cut into 1-inch chunks • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika • 4-5 cups low-sodium chicken broth For the couscous: 1 cup couscous 1 cup boiling water 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 cup chopped parsley

Directions:

1. Heat a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Season the chicken lightly with salt and pepper on both sides. Add olive oil to the pot. 2. Carefully place the chicken in the pot in a single layer, and cook

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for 3-4 minutes per side until chicken has become golden and fragrant. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside on a large plate. 3. Add the onion and garlic to the pot, cooking in the rendered chicken fat. Scrape up all the brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion is soft. Add the turmeric, cinnamon, paprika and cumin to the pot. By adding the spices now, you are basically toasting them in the hot oil. This releases their aromas and flavors more intensely than if you added them to the simmering liquid. 4. Return the chicken to the pot, along with all of the largely cut veggies and the chicken broth. 5. Bring the stew to a simmer, then place the lid on top (ajar) and continue to cook for about 35 minutes. Add additional salt to taste. 6. Meanwhile, make the couscous according to the package directions, and set aside until the stew is ready, when the sweet potatoes are fork tender and the chicken is very soft. 7. Serve in large shallow bowls, with plenty of broth. Sprinkle the chopped parsley on top. Serves 6. 

The History of Kosher Hot Dogs By Aly Miller In celebration of National Hot Dog month, we thought it would be the perfect time to dig into history to find out more about everyone’s ballpark and summer BBQ favorite–the kosher hot dog. The origin story of the first hot dog–which was definitely not kosher– is disputed. The two dominant narratives are that hot dogs came from Frankfurt, Germany (the frank) or from Vienna (Wien), from which we get the word “wiener wurst.” Whether it was Austrian or German, this u-shaped sausage link was an affordable street food for the working class, usually eaten on its own. They soon became known as “daschund sausages” after the dog that they resemble. (Perhaps this is where the American term “hot dog” came from.) The hot dog as we know it today– sausage with mustard and ketchup and bun–is undeniably an American innovation. By the mid 1800s, some THE

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enterprising food cart salesperson in New York, or possibly St. Louis, discovered the ease at which these sausages could be eaten with a bun around it. Jewish butchers in the Lower East Side caught on to this emerging 19th century food trend and developed their own kosher beef hot dogs. Soon thereafter, Theodore Krainin, a Russian-born Jewish butcher, founded the Hebrew National Kosher Sausage Factory in the Lower East Side in 1905. Ted Merwin’s Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli illustrates this moment in history with a quote from a Sholem Aleichem novel, written in Yiddish in 1916: “Maybe you’ve heard of Hibru Neshnel Delikatesn. It’s a company that sells kosher salami, frankfurters, pickled tongues, and corned beef…If you’re hungry, you step

into one and order a haht dawg, with mustard or horseradish.” Kosher hot dogs were popular among Americans of all backgrounds not only for their quality and taste, but also for their association with higher food safety standards. Upon its first inspection, the Hebrew National Kosher Sausage Factory was described as having a higher standard than required by food safety laws at the time, and therefore gained attention from consumers growing more and more wary of the meatpacking industry (thank you, Upton Sinclair). Kosher certification at that time was one of the only ways that consumers could be certain that their hot dogs were not only pork-free, but also humanely-slaughtered. Today, Hebrew National isn’t the only game in town–there are dozens of kosher hot dogs to choose from. (The Forward did a taste test if you find your eyes glazing over

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while pondering which brand to choose at the supermarket.) Barbeque Grill filled with hot dogs How do you like your hot dog? Plain and simple with ketchup or mustard? How about something kind of crazy? Here are some unique ways you can celebrate National Hot Dog month this summer: • Challah Hot Dogs • 5 Homemade Hotdog Condiments from TheKitchn.com • Tahini Dogs, from Real Simple • Pretzel Dogs, from CatchMyParty.com • Breakfast Hotdogs (without cheese) from That’s So Michelle • Corndogs (use soymilk instead of milk) from ChefSteps

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Focus Issues

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What is Anti-semitism? The Question Divides a Jewish Coalition. By Ben Sales The Focus Project was launched in 2017 to provide â&#x20AC;&#x153;weekly talking points on timely issues regarding anti-Semitism and de-legitimization of Israel.â&#x20AC;? (Getty Images/JTA Montage) NEW YORK (JTA) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Launched in 2017, a weekly newsletter from a coalition of establishment Jewish and pro-Israel groups has been providing talking points on anti-Semitism and the delegitimization of Israel to a select list of Jewish influentials. The Focus Project, according to its director of strategic communications, Scott Piro, provides â&#x20AC;&#x153;collective, nonpartisan guidance to members of the community who choose to subscribe to our list,â&#x20AC;? and that all partner groups have an â&#x20AC;&#x153;equal voiceâ&#x20AC;? in shaping the messaging. Those partner groups are the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Anti-Defamation

League â&#x20AC;&#x201D; along with StandWithUs and The Israel Project, two groups known for their sharp-elbowed defense of Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government and pushback against Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s critics. Dovid Efune, the editor in chief of The Algemeiner, a Jewish newspaper with an editorial stance generally seen as right of center, has advised the effort in a personal capacity, according to Piro. But the newsletterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s language recently led the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, or JCPA, an umbrella group of local Jewish public policy organizations, to remove its name from the newsletterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s masthead, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency has learned from sources familiar with the matter. JTA also learned from multiple sources that the decision, made in April, followed an internal conversation among JCPA leadership and a number of Jewish community relations professionals under the JCPA umbrella.

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The decision reflected the discomfort of professionals who felt that the newsletter focused more on pro-Israel advocacy than anti-Semitism, and was too quick to call anti-Israel activity anti-Semitic. The trigger for that conversation was a Focus newsletter on April 16 that called Airbnbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scrapped boycott of Israeli settlements â&#x20AC;&#x153;antisemitic.â&#x20AC;? Professionals also felt that the newsletter was speaking in JCPAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name, but not with its preferred tone or phrasing. The JCPA, which advocates a two-state solution and mostly liberal positions on a range of domestic issues, seeks to build broadbased political and religious coalitions against efforts to boycott Israel. Ben Friedman, the director of the Jewish Community Relations Council in Orlando, Florida, is one of multiple directors of JCRCs who feel the newsletter is focused on the left. He said he inquired about the newsletter independently of other directors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Focus Project tends to focus on, really almost exclusively, antiIsrael and anti-Semitic incidents that are of left-leaning origin,â&#x20AC;? said Friedman, speaking for himself. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fair criticism.â&#x20AC;? A JTA examination of all 63 newsletters that have gone out since mid-March 2018 found that about two-thirds focused on anti-Israel activity. The newsletters focused on anti-Semitism cited examples from both ends of the political spectrum, but significantly more often focused on left-wing examples, even at a time when one of its partners, the ADL, has been noting the rise of the kind of white nationalist extremism that led to deadly shootings at synagogues in Pittsburgh and near San Diego. None of the Focus Projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partner organizations agreed to speak on the record with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency for this article. A few did not respond to multiple requests for comment made over the course of a week, including the ADL and Malcolm Hoenlein, the Presidents Conferenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive vice chairman. Piro, the initiativeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lead employ-

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ee, provided brief responses to questions sent by email, and wrote that they were in the name of all of the initiativeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partner organizations. The initiative has no website or social media presence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Focus Project develops and distributes weekly talking points on timely issues regarding anti-Semitism and de-legitimization of Israel,â&#x20AC;? Piro wrote to JTA in an email last year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You should consider them a consensus view across an extensive spectrum of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jewish community. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve covered Farrakhan â&#x20AC;Ś and the alt-Right.â&#x20AC;? (The ellipsis was in the original.) Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, has often promoted anti-Semitism. Although he also holds anti-feminist and homophobic views, his most prominent supporters are largely on the left. The alt-right emerged in 2016 as purveyors of white nationalism and frequent anti-Semitism. This week Piro wrote that â&#x20AC;&#x153;[w]e do not aim to reach any one audience, or pursue any one agenda,â&#x20AC;? and that the newsletter addresses â&#x20AC;&#x153;topical issues that affect us all.â&#x20AC;? As examples of such issues, Piro cited â&#x20AC;&#x153;the rockets coming from Hamas into Israel, the riots along the Gaza border, antisemitic incidents, etc.â&#x20AC;? The newsletter comes as Jewish organizations have been tracking the rise of anti-Semitism on the left and the right. Several Jewish groups, including the Reform movementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Religious Action Center, the National Council of Jewish Women and the ADL have testified or lobbied for stricter monitoring and enforcement of white nationalism. Other groups, like the Zionist Organization of America, and commentators, like the conservative Dennis Prager, insist that the biggest threat is from the â&#x20AC;&#x153;new antiSemitism,â&#x20AC;? which they describe as anti-Semitism disguised as antiIsrael activity. They regard the boycott Israel movement and pro-Palestinian activists on college campuses as the vanguard of the new anti-Semitism. The Focus Project newsletter has used the See ANTI-SEMITISM on Page THE

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ANTI-SEMITISM Continued from Page 10 phrase “new anti-Semitism” at least five times. While Jewish groups tend to say that all forms of anti-Semitism need to be addressed, the national political climate is more polarized. Republicans are eager to call out Democrats on anti-Israel activity, and Democrats are just as eager to point out Republican tolerance for white nationalism. Background conversations with people familiar with the Focus Project and its documents paint a picture of a project largely focused on tracking anti-Israel activity and offering pro-Israel talking points. When it does track anti-Semitism, most of the subjects are on the left, although its analysis also strives for bipartisanship. Three emails since March 2018 focus on U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, and one focuses on Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat — freshman Muslim-American lawmakers and supporters of an Israel boycott who have been accused of trafficking in anti-Semitic tropes. A March 13 newsletter in the wake of widely condemned remarks by Omar urges praise for the Democratic-led House of Representatives for a resolution condemning all forms of hate, but also warns that some elected officials “are making excuses for Rep. Omar or say she didn’t intend her remarks to be antisemitic – a troubling whitewash.” It urged readers to share an “impassioned speech against antisemitism” by Rep. Ted Deutch, a Democrat from Florida. The Focus email from March 27, 2018, was headlined “America’s Growing Anti-Semitism.” The two examples it gave: a smear about the Rothschilds by Trayon White, a Democratic city councilman in Washington, D.C., and a joke about how Jews are awkward dancers from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, also a Democrat. Two additional links in the email sent readers to articles about antiSemitism in the Women’s March, and praise of Hitler from R&B singer Erykah Badu. That same week, and unmentioned in the newsletter, anti-Semitic fliers were found at the University of Minnesota that blamed Sens. Bernie Sanders and Chuck Schumer, both Democrats, for promoting gun control. One topic the newsletter has not flagged since its launch are the subTHE

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set of attacks on liberal Jewish financier George Soros by Republican candidates or right-wing activists that critics say end up fueling anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. For example, the newsletter made no mention of when Fox Business Network pulled a broadcast of “Lou Dobbs Tonight” in Oct. 2018 after a guest, Chris Farrell of the conservative group Judicial Watch, referred to the “Soros-occupied State Department.” Nor did the newsletter mention in the same month that an explosive device was placed in a mailbox outside of Soros’ New York home by a Florida man who targeted liberals and Democrats. While the newsletter has not mentioned any of the anti-Soros examples, one of its backers — the ADL — has spoken out on the issue several times in the past year. Last October, the ADL issued a position paper warning that “politicians and pundits repeating these unsubstantiated conspiracies [about Soros] essentially validate the same hateful myths propagated by anti-Semites.” The ADL declined repeated requests for comment this month on the Focus Project. Last year it sent a short statement to JTA saying that it had been “invited to help the Focus Project to frame up weekly talking points on issues affecting Israel and the American Jewish community,” and that ADL is “one of a number of organizations contributing to this effort, which is in a pilot phase.” The ADL itself has been one of the strongest proponents of attacking anti-Semitism on all fronts. In January, ADL released a report showing that “extremist-related murders in 2018 were overwhelmingly linked to right-wing extremists.” In 2018, nearly half the incidents of harassment targeting Jewish institutions “were the work of known white supremacists or extremists,” according to the ADL. The ADL also has criticized Tlaib and Omar and closely tracks antiIsrael activity and boycott Israel movements. In March, the ADL called on congressional leaders in both parties “to use your positions of leadership to call out and reject any efforts to politicize the fight against anti-Semitism and unite in a bipartisan way to combat anti-Semitism.” JTA was told by people familiar with the Focus Project that the intended audience for the Focus Project newsletter’s talking points is principally center-left Americans,

who may be sympathetic to criticism of Israel, especially from the left. As of March, the newsletter had more than 1,000 recipients, the majority of whom were Jewish or pro-Israel professionals, or rabbis. They range from employees of Jewish federations to campus Hillels to staff at the Jewish fraternity AEPi. A style guide sent to the initiative’s member groups this year draws on the language of uncritical pro-Israel advocacy. It recommends a range of terms deemed “pro-Jewish, pro-Israel” and that portray Israeli government policy in a favorable light. Instead of “Israeli settlement,” it says, try to use “Israeli community.” Instead of “occupied territories,” use “jointly-administered territories.” Instead of “Gaza blockade,” use “Gaza security restrictions.” An earlier version suggested using the term “anti-Semitism” instead of “criticism of Israel,” though that was ultimately deleted. Piro is technically employed by StandWithUs and at times has worked a few days a week from ADL’s Manhattan office. “We are a very small group that uses borrowed space as available,” Piro wrote in an email to JTA. Friedman of the Orlando JCRC

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sees bias in the newsletter, but notes that the partner organizations themselves highlight anti-Semitism across the spectrum. Several Jewish leaders who receive the newsletter told JTA it does not inform their thinking on these issues. “As long as JCPA and other organizations are speaking out against all forms of anti-Semitism, then what the Focus Project does or doesn’t might not matter as much,” Friedman said. “As opposed to if everyone was only speaking out against left-wing anti-Semitism, then we might say, ‘Hey, this is unbalanced.’ But on the whole, I don’t know that I feel that way.”

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Israel Under Radar

Why Israel Will Hold a Second National Election in 2019 By Ben Sales

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a conference of his Likud party in Ramat Gan, March 4, 2019. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

(JTA) — Israel held a national election seven weeks ago. It will hold another one in September. If that sounds weird to you, you’re right: Israel has a famously raucous political system, but it’s never held national elections twice in one year. Until now. Just to be clear, no one really wanted this to happen, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; his main rival, Benny Gantz; or the president, Reuven Rivlin. Nor do Israeli political journalists, who just finished covering a vicious campaign. So why is it happening? It’s a result of Israel’s fractious parliamentary system, strong egos and lingering resentments. Here is the Jewish state’s unprec-

edented political quagmire, explained in plain English. Israelis voted on April 9. But the election isn’t really over yet. Remember when Netanyahu won re-election last month? Turns out he didn’t really. Netanyahu’s Likud party did win the most votes, but not an outright majority in the 120-seat parliament, the Knesset. In order to govern in Israel’s parliamentary system, Netanyahu needed to persuade other parties to form a coalition with him. He needed to reach 61 members, or a majority of the Knesset. After Election Day, that seemed simple. Right-wing parties had won a clear 65-seat majority in Knesset, and they all agreed that Netanyahu should continue serving as prime minister. But seven weeks later, Netanyahu has failed to form a coalition. Some would-be partners have refused to compromise. He needed to form a coalition by midnight Wednesday. Why can’t Netanyahu’s partners get along? The Israeli right is split among a few factions. Two of the biggest are

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secular right-wingers who support a hawkish military posture and religious right-wingers who want to preserve Orthodox Judaism’s power in government. Usually those two groups make it work. Religious parties, especially haredi Orthodox ones, will go along with the government’s decisions on defense, security and West Bank settlement. In return, secular parties agree to maintain haredi control of Jewish marriage and conversion. Also — crucially — secular parties have allowed haredi youth to avoid military conscription, which is mandatory for other Israeli Jews. This time, however, one of the secular parties is refusing to play that game. Yisrael Beiteinu, headed by former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, wouldn’t join Netanyahu’s coalition unless the govern-

ment passed a bill drafting some haredi men. Haredi parties, in turn, wouldn’t sign on unless the bill was softened. Yisrael Beiteinu wouldn’t agree to the softened version. And here we are. It’s the first time in Israeli history that a party failed to form a coalition after winning an election. So what happens now? April’s election didn’t work, so they’re going to try again. It’s unclear whether that will make any difference. Unsurprisingly, polls show a second 2019 election yielding basically the same result as the first one. But changes within the parties could lead to a different result. There’s talk of the Arab-Israeli parties uniting or different right-wing parties merging. Or Israel could be stuck with the same problem four months from now. And yet, here we are. 

AARON SORKIN Continued from Page 8

me the Torah. He said he couldn’t do that in two weeks.” So Sorkin made a counteroffer: Just teach me what I need to know. “I have a good ear and I can learn it phonetically,” he said. The rabbi responded that wasn’t in the spirit of the occasion. “I feel I missed something because friends of mine who did go to Hebrew school, who are observant and keep kosher and some who keep the Sabbath, they have something I want,” Sorkin said. “I can’t describe it. I wish I could describe it. I just know that I envy it.” Sorkin is divorced from his wife, Julia Bingham, and they have a daughter, Roxy, who is being raised Jewish. “She can say the Sabbath prayers on Friday night and is Jewish for the same reason I am,” he said. “We understand that we come from a long line of people who always got their butts kicked for being Jewish — and we stand with them.” 

sion wasn’t working. So to entertain myself I started writing dialogue. I stayed up all night,” he recalled. Another change Sorkin made in the play: He has the villain, Bob Ewell, insult Atticus with antiSemitic slurs. “I suppose it has something to do with my cultural background,” Sorkin said, “but also Ewell was a Klansman and I wanted to express more of the Klan ideology.” Sorkin did attend Hebrew school and was not a bar mitzvah. But growing up in Scarsdale, New York, “in the seventh grade I’d be going to someone’s bar or bat mitzvah every week. In my family the boys, we had a big party on our 13th birthday. But I loved [bar mitzvahs]. They appealed to my sense of theatricality. The singing and oratory and they were also inspirational. Six weeks before I was 13 I contacted a rabbi and told him I’d like you to teach

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I Found an Unanswered Love Letter to My Teenage Self. 20 Years Later, I Wrote Back. By Jodie Fishman This story originally appeared on Kveller.

Dear Sam, You wrote me a love letter 20-some years ago. Forgive me, but I don’t think I ever responded. What’s worse: I’m not entirely sure I remember you. You see, my dad recently decided that he needed more space in my childhood home — er, his house. I can’t imagine why. I rolled my eyes at his request, just like I did when I last lived there 20 years ago. But then I found myself sitting crosslegged on the floor of my old bedroom, surrounded by piles of remnants from my youth. Towers of yellowing school papers, heaps of ribbons from sporting events long past (how did I ever run a mile in less than seven minutes?), and stacks of pictures, some containing faces I could barely place and others whose grins I still relish in person. The memories swirled in my mind, mirroring the chaos of the room. They created a claustrophobic feeling — not entirely unpleasant — that was equal parts amusing and awkward. It felt like I was sifting through fragments of someone else’s life. Then something caught my eye. I know this is going to sound weird, but I have had the biggest crush on you since the first day. Well, this just got juicy. First day of what? The letter wasn’t dated. I didn’t recognize the handwriting. I must say though, Sam, your cursive was impressive. I read on: Apparently we worked together at a JCC summer camp. You were 16 and I was a year or two younger; you appreciated that I laughed at your jokes. I flipped the page to reveal your name. I’m ashamed to say it, but I still only had a hazy-at-best idea who you were. That’s the thing about memory THE

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though, Sam: It can be a first-class jerk. These days I can hardly remember if we have that raisin bread my kindergartner likes for sandwiches or whether I washed the dinosaur T-shirt that my 4-year-old wears every other day, or if I scheduled my 2-year-old’s next checkup. I can barely remember — and this one really hurts — what it felt like to snuggle my children as newborns. All the sharp, mental pictures I’ve taken over the years — even more recent ones, like my wedding day or when my youngest finally took his first steps — are all, to my huge dismay, becoming blurry. So, it’s not a big shock that I don’t remember how I felt when adolescent me first read your letter — was I uninterested? scared? — or that I don’t recall my response. Unrequited love is a bitch, Sam, but I really hope I wasn’t one. For some reason, though, maybe because your words dropped some coins in my confidence bank, I stuffed your letter in a drawer instead of the trash can. And that feeling — the while-I wasn’t-looking-someone-actually-noticed-me boost — is what stopped the mom of three in my tracks on the floor of my childhood bedroom. You had me hooked, Sam. As I kept reading, I started really thinking about your words — and my children. Here’s another punch to the gut: My young kids are closer to the age I was when I received your note than I am now. By a lot. I’m sure that by now you’ve noticed that I am kind of shy. I hope that doesn’t bother you. Do you know who else is shy, Sam? My 6-year-old daughter. I’m slowly understanding that I can’t be her voice, that she’ll learn to speak up when she wants, or needs, to be heard. You reminded me that shy doesn’t mean weak. After all, it took serious guts to write and deliver this letter. That boldness is something I strive to help my daughter realize, something that took me decades to accomplish (and, even now, I don’t know if I’ve actually mastered it). I would not be writing to you if I

Kveller did not see something special in you. I try, I really do, to teach my kids to see the good in everyone. You saw it in me, even though I was just a fellow bumbling teen. My 4-yearold son talks to everyone. Everywhere. The cashier at the grocery store, the neighbor I only smile and wave at. At times I’ve been too reserved or focused on myself to stop and let others in. Your words are another poignant reminder, Sam, to help everyone in my family (myself included) harness my son’s inherent intrigue in others. Please, please, please give me a chance. OK, you got a little bit stalkerish here, but I appreciate your manners and persistence. That little word, please — repeatedly, determinedly — is the reason my minivan currently blasts the Trolls soundtrack wherever it goes. Between you and me, I might scream if I have to play Justin Timberlake one more time,

but what can I do? I’m trying to teach, even to my 2-year-old, exactly what you exemplified (albeit a bit creepily) here: a blend of politeness and tenacity. Sam, wherever (and whoever) you are, I bet you didn’t think your 16-year-old thoughts would speak to a 38-year-old woman so profoundly, but here we are. Please accept my apologies, my long-overdue response and my gratitude. And please, please, please teach your children — the ones I hope you have, anyways — the long-lost art of letter writing. Admiringly, Jodie 

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(JTA) — The American Hebrew Academy, a Jewish pluralistic boarding school in Greensboro, North Carolina, has closed effective immediately due to financial issues. The homepage of the high school’s website on Tuesday showed the school’s logo and the words “The American Hebrew Academy is closed.” “The American Hebrew Academy began as a dream. It has been a dream fulfilled for 18 years, and it is a dream that must, unfortunately, come to an end,” according to a letter sent to alumni, the Greensboro News & Record reported. The school opened in 2001 on a 100-acre campus far from a Jewish population center. It graduated its final class of 34 seniors last month out of a total enrollment of 134. It was the first and only pluralist boarding high school. An email to faculty and staff from Glenn Drew, the school’s CEO, and Leeor Sabbah, its board chairman and the oldest daughter of its founder, Maurice “Chico” Sabbah, announced the closing Tuesday morning, the Forward first reported. The closing is due to “insuffi-

cient growth in enrollment and our inability to secure adequate funding to cover future school expenses,” the email reportedly said. “The Academy simply lacks the financial resources to continue as a viable concern given rising school costs and low enrollment growth.” One student on Tuesday set up a GoFundMe page titled “Save AHA!” The page’s fundraising goal is $6 million. The academy, which costs $42,000 a school year for tuition and boarding, according to Boarding School Review, lost money every year that it operated, the News & Record reported, citing tax reports. That includes $13 million in the 2016-17 school year and $9.7 million the previous term. In 2009, the Jewish billionaire philanthropist Michael Steinhardt, a member of the academy’s board, gave the school $5 million, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported. Also according to tax reports cited by the Forward, the school received nearly $3 million in donations and grants in the 2015 fiscal year. In 2016 that figure was about $400,000. Chico Sabbah, a commercial aviation reinsurance mogul who died in 2006, donated more than $100 million to the school and paid the tuition of its initial 77 students. The school’s social media accounts were deleted as well. 

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2019 Home Improvement Guide 5 Tips to Make an Older Home More Energy Efficient (MS) - While new homes are being built to be more energy efficient than ever before, thanks to a growing green building movement and increasingly strict building codes, the age of existing dwellings continues to present challenges. More than 40 percent of the housing stock in the United States was built before 1969 and simply wouldn't stand up to today's standards. Yet, much can be done to help homeowners improve their building envelope to reduce energy use and increase efficiency. Improving your home's energy efficiency can help save money, keep you more comfortable, reduce pollution, and prevent global warming. Try these five simple measures to maximize the energy efficiency of your home: 1. Seal cracks and gaps around your home's windows, doors, and vents. These can be a considerable source of energy loss, allowing conditioned air to escape and unconditioned air to infiltrate your home, placing stress on your furnace and air conditioner in the process. An THE

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4. Switch to LED light bulbs. Some LED light bulbs have a lifespan of up to 10 years, and are 80 to 90 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs. They are generally more environmentally friendly than CFLs and safer, too, since they produce less heat. The return on 2. Top up or replace old insula- investment is excellent, as LED tion in your attic. A poorly insu- bulbs often pay for themselves lated attic is a primary source of through energy savings within the energy loss. Also, over time, some types of insulation can settle and compact, allowing heat to escape through gaps. Experts recommend installing dimensionally stable batt insulation like a Roxul product called Comfortbatt. Aim for an r-value of at least R-50, or a depth of roughly 16 inches. easy DIY solution is to caulk around windows, doors, and vents, and install or replace worn weatherstripping. An average home loses up to 30 percent of its energy through air leaks, so sealing your home is a worthwhile exercise.

3. Insulate basement headers. Uninsulated basement headers are common, especially in older homes. They can act as a gateway for heated air to escape. Fixing the problem is fast and easy. Simply cut Comfortbatt stone wool insulation to fit the cavity and compress into place. Doing this throughout your basement will prevent heat loss and can potentially save hundreds of dollars each year.

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The Benefits of Adding an Aluminum Patio Cover, Carport, or Enclosure to Your Home Many homeowners are eager to step outdoors upon the return of warm weather. Outdoor living spaces have grown in popularity as more and more homeowners embrace opportunities to entertain and lounge around in their yards, but such spaces may go unused when the summer sun and Louisiana heat makes it uncomfortable to spend time outdoors. However, adding a permanent covered area, whether it is opened or closed, extends an outdoor living space to your home. By adding an aluminum cover, a homeowner does not have to worry about peeling or chipping paint, warping or rotting wood, fading, rusting, or termites, either. An open patio cover adds beauty as well as value to a home while providing a shady area for relaxing and a great place for entertaining. It also creates a covered storage area and provides protection for your outdoor furniture and accessories from the elements and the sun. An aluminum patio cover installed in an area that will shade windows or doors from the sun’s direct UV rays provides an added energy savings benefit and may help with the air conditioning efficiency inside the home. A maintained open patio cover also adds curb appeal and selling value to a home. Besides providing all the benefits of an open patio cover, a screen enclosure offers a closedin screened area to relax, entertain, work, or store things. The screen room offers that outdoor living area where you can enjoy your backyard without being pestered with bugs and mosquitoes as you sit and relax to drink your morning coffee or cool drink in the evening or enjoy that family barbeque or gathering. A screen room also offers an area for your children to play outdoors even if it is lightly raining. Have to evacuate for a hurricane? No problem! With a screen room you have an area to store

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all your outdoor yard things and potted plants to keep them protected. Eze-Breeze and glass enclosures are aluminum enclosures with vinyl or glass window systems added that offer more living area to a home for multiple uses. These enclosures still offer a feel of outdoor but are insulated areas where heating and cooling units can be added to control room temperatures. Aluminum carports provide protection for your vehicles, boats, recreational vehicles or a covered area that can be used to work under, store items under, or offers protection from the elements when getting from your vehicle into your home. Carports as well as patio covers can be installed either attached to the home or freestanding. When looking to install an aluminum patio cover or enclosure look for a contractor that is StateLicensed, insured, and an established business that is reliable and has a great reputation. Also verify that the aluminum products used will be installed to meet the wind/load force specs for the area you live in. Professional Patios & Screenrooms, Inc. builds custom aluminum patio covers, carports, and enclosures that meet the High Wind Zone (wind/load specs) for Louisiana. Locally owned and operated and servicing the Metro New Orleans area and surrounding parishes since 1999, Professional Patios & Screenrooms, Inc. is an established business you can trust when looking to add outdoor curb appeal to your home. Besides covers and enclosures, Professional Patios & Screenrooms, Inc. also installs gutters, windows, siding, soffit & fascia, and hurricane protections. When you are ready to schedule an appointment to receive a free estimate for your custom-built patio cover, carport, or enclosure, call Professional Patios & Screenrooms, Inc. at 504-3615000.  THE

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3 Tips to Prepare to Sell Your Home

Eliminating pet odors, can help homeowners prepare their homes for prospective buyers. According to Realtor.com, spring is the busiest and best season to sell a home. While a good home can find a buyer any time of year, homeowners might find the buyers' pool is strongest in spring and into summer. The reasons for that are many, ranging from parents wanting to move when their children are not in school to buyers wanting to move when the weather is most accommodating. Because spring is such a popular time to sell a home, homeowners who want to put their homes on the market should use winter as an opportunity to prepare their homes for the prying eyes of prospective buyers. The following tips can help homeowners during the pre-selling preparation process. 1. Address the exterior of the home. Winter can be harsh on a home's exterior, so as winter winds down, homeowners who want to sell their homes should make an effort to address anything that might negatively affect their homes' curb appeal. A study of homes in Greenville, S.C., from researchers at Clemson University found that the value of homes with landscapes that were upgraded from "good" to "excellent" increased by 6 to 7 percent. If it's in the budget, hire professional landscapers to fix any problematic landscaping or address any issues that arose during the winter. Homeowners with green thumbs can tackle such projects on their own, but hiring professionals is akin to staging inside the home.

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2. Conquer interior clutter. Clutter has a way of accumulating over the winter, when people tend to spend more time indoors than they do throughout the rest of the year. Homeowners who want to put their homes on the market in spring won't have the luxury of waiting until spring to do their "spring" cleaning, so start clearing any clutter out in winter, even resolving to make an effort to prevent its accumulation throughout winter. Just like buyers are impressed by curb appeal, they are turned off by clutter. The Appraisal Institute suggests homeowners’ clear clutter out of their homes before appraisers visit, and the same approach can be applied to open houses. Buyers, like appraisers, see cluttered homes as less valuable. In addition, a home full of clutter might give buyers the impression, true or not, that the home was not well maintained. 3. Eliminate odors. A home's inhabitants grow accustomed to odors that might be circulating throughout the house. Pet odor, for instance, might not be as strong to a home's residents as it is to guests and prospective buyers. Because windows tend to stay closed throughout the winter, interior odors can be even stronger come late-winter than they are during the rest of the year. A thorough cleaning of the house, including vacuuming and removal of any pet hair that accumulated over the winter can help to remove odor. In the weeks leading up to the open house, bathe pets more frequently, using a shampoo that promotes healthy skin so pet dander is not as prevalent. Open windows when the weather allows so more fresh air comes into the home. Spring is a popular and potentially lucrative time to sell a home, and homeowners who spend winter preparing their homes for the market may reap even greater rewards. Sponsored by: The Nugent Freeland Team 

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homes. According to Green Tech Media, American solar companies are now installing one solar system every four minutes. If the market continues to grow at this pace, through 2016 there will be a system installed every 20 seconds. These gains in the solar industry may have been spurred on by the Solar Investment Tax Credit, which the SEIA says has helped to lower the cost of solar energy by more than 73 percent.

electricity is generated. Solar panel needs Although it is ideal to have a south-facing location for panels, this is not an absolute necessity. According to SolarEnergy.net, positioning solar panels to face west or south will work, and even southeast-, eastand north-northwestfacing panels can produce adequate energy savings. The type of roof may affect costs. Solar panels will not harm the roof when installed correctly, but ornate Spanish tiles or other How does solar roofing material may energy work? increase solar panel Solar energy is installation costs. turned into electric Many homeowners power through the pho- find that the solar pantovoltaic (PV) cells els protect the roof located in the solar pan- from extreme weather, els. The PV cells trans- heat and cold, providform sunlight into direct ing an extra bonus to electric current. An solar energy. inverter built into the Solar panel costs system converts the DC The "soft costs" electricity into the alternating current (AC) that associated with solar powers homes. The AC energy can be substanis sent to the home's tial. Such costs include electrical panel and permits, installation used to power lights and labor. Energy Informative indicates and other devices. that the solar panels What happens at themselves are relanight? tively affordable, at an Unless a home is average cost of $6,500. self-contained and off However, the entire the grid, the average process of installing homeowner will not residental solar syshave to worry about tems can end up costnight usage or batteries ing anywhere between to store energy. He or $15,000 and $40,000. she will continue to Homeowners may be use energy off of the able to lease solar traditional electrical panel systems to make system at night. Many solar energy a more electrical costs will be affordable option. offset by the amount of Solar energy conextra solar energy put tinues to be a hot back into the grid. topic and a growing There are a variety of trend in home energy programs, and some solutions. We recomhomeowners may even mend calling SOLAR reverse bills further Alternatives at 504based on how much 267-1660  THE

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How to Find the Right Replacement Windows Replacement windows can be a smart investment in comfort and design to increase the appeal of a home. Replacing old windows is often a worthwhile investment for homeowners. Energy-efficient windows can prevent heating and cooling loss and keep homes more comfortable throughout the year. Such windows also can improve a home's resale value, proving a good return on investment for homeowners who want to upgrade their homes before putting them on the market. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners might find it more cost-effective to replace very old and/or inefficient windows to improve their energy efficiency. Such an upgrade can save homeowners substantial amounts of money on heating and cooling costs. Window replacement projects can be costly, so it pays to get the job right the first time. Before beginning a window replacement project, homeowners should research which windows will meet their specific needs, learning the subtleties between finishes and features, as well as comparing prices for the windows and installation.

dows may still exist even when new windows are installed. When replacing windows, consider energy performance ratings based on the locations of the windows in the house. To make sure they make the most educated decision, homeowners can investigate the solar heat gain coefficient, U-factor, visible transmittance and light-to-solar gain. Explanations of these ratings are available at Energy.gov. Don't ignore maintenance needs Maintenance costs involved with cleaning, repairs and painting can add up. When shopping for windows, consider the amount of maintenance they will need. Woodframed windows may require more upkeep than aluminum, fiberglass or vinyl. Also, consider if certain window types, such as double-hung windows, casement windows, awning windows, or slider windows, would be practical. Keep home style in mind A poor match between windows and the style of the home can produce unwanted changes in the appearance of the home. Replacement windows should match the style and appearance desired.

Choose the right time of year The best time of year to plan window replacement is when the weather will be warm, ideally in the spring or early summer. However, homeowners do not want conditions to be too warm, as each room where new windows will be installed will temporarily be exposed to the elements. Furthermore, caulk adheres better in warmer weather and will dispense easily.

Expect minimal disruption When homeowners hire professionals who are good at their craft, window replacement projects should not be a terrible inconvenience. According to American Window Products, Inc., seasoned professionals will be able to complete a replacement window upgrade in a short amount of time depending on the size of the home and the number of windows being replaced. Consider available features We recommend speaking to When replacing windows, homeowners may want to install Renewal By Andersen regarding the same style windows they cur- your window replacement projrently have. But the problems that ect. They can be reached at 504led to the need to replace win- 500-1773. 

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simply getting ready to buy a new home - your investment will likely deliver greater environmental conservation, lower occupant costs and increased property value. Building code revisions worldwide are ushering a whole new generation of structures that are between 35 and 40 percent more environmentally responsible. The improved practices in construction are showcasing advancements in wall building, windows, insulation and air-infiltration. "Switching from wood-framing to concrete walls, for example, has so many spin-off benefits," explains Natalie Rodgers of Nudura, the manufacturer of an advanced building method called the insulated concrete form (ICF). "Solid, airtight concrete walls would initially lower your energy bills. You'll live in a stronger, more comfortable home while the investment grows in resale value. As importantly, your home would create far lower demand on natural resources." Designed like Lego, the interlocking Nudura forms are designed with monolithic concrete sandwiched between two continuous

layers of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. "The foam material isolates the concrete and significantly reduces the flow of heat through the wall," says Rodgers. "It stabilizes the internal temperature from day to night fluctuations and provides a largely self-regulating environment. This faster method of construction creates one solid concrete wall." As a result, you will need less energy for mechanical heating and cooling, delivering cost savings throughout the year. A home built with this concrete system is stronger, provides greater safety, offers greater sound and fire resistance, and would be far less prone to mold, cold spots and drafts. "Benefits are plentiful to builders, too," says Rodgers. "The patented hinged web allows the forms to fold flat, requiring smaller shipping space and less manpower than other methods." If you want your builder to use insulated concrete forms, be sure to make the request well before construction gets underway. Sponsored By: Mighty Services

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Home Improvements That Increase Home Value Before remodeling, determine which projects will provide the greatest return on investment. When granite countertops or shiny, stainless steel appliances beckon homeowners from the display areas of home improvement stores, it's tempting to gear remodeling thoughts toward the items that will add flair and decorative appeal to a home. Even though most improvements add some measure of value, deciding which the best investments are can be difficult. Return on investment, often referred to as "ROI," varies depending on the project. Frequently, the projects that seem like the best investments don't bring the greatest rate of return, while those that seem like smaller projects bring substantial returns. Real estate professionals routinely weigh in with their expert advice, and homeowners can couple that advice with Remodeling magazine's annual "Cost vs. Value Index" to reap the greatest financial impact from their renovations. The following were some of the projects that garnered the greatest ROI in 2015. • Open the door to improvement. Region by region across the United States, installation of a new steel door on the front of a home can have a large impact on the resale value of a property. The ROI ranges from 123 percent at the highest, to 86 percent at the lowest - which is still a considerable investment return for such a simple project. Match the door's style with the style of the house for the best value. • Turn up the kitchen heat. An

attractive kitchen can encourage buyers to overlook some of a home's less attractive components. In the kitchen, replacement countertops, wall color changes, new cabinetry and flooring offer the biggest ROI. • Dreaming of a new bedroom. Remodeling magazine also points to creating an attic bedroom to increase home value. The ROI of an attic remodel that adheres to code can garner an 83 percent ROI. • Home maintenance projects. There's little good to improving the aesthetic appeal and functionality of a home if there are existing structural or maintenance issues, warn experts. Siding replacement, HVAC system repair or replacement, a new roof, and basement dampness prevention solutions can be smarter investments before other flashy remodels. Many buyers have a strict budget for a house, and those buyers may be more likely to buy a house with little or no maintenance issues. Such buyers will then upgrade the kitchen or baths themselves, according to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies. • Worthy window replacement. Angie's List, a home services review and referral resource, has found that the average ROI of new windows is 77 percent. The cost of installation and energy savings tend to offset at around the 10-year point. If remodeling is on the horizon, homeowners should give strong consideration to ROI before choosing a project Sponsored by: Greg Arceneaux Cabinets and FloorCrafters

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Steps to Take Before an Appraiser's Visit While certain variables involved in the appraisal process, such as location of the home and the value of surrounding homes, are beyond homeowners' control, the Appraisal Institute recommends homeowners take the following steps before an appraiser visits their home. Homeowners unfamiliar with the appraisal process might not know if there is anything they can do to make the process go more smoothly. While certain variables involved in the appraisal process, such as location of the home and the value of surrounding homes, are beyond homeowners' control, the Appraisal Institute recom-

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mends homeowners take the following steps before an appraiser visits their home. · Clean the house. A dirty home that is full of clutter will not make the best impression on appraisers. Dirty homes may be vulnerable to insect infestations that can lead to structural problems with the home. While a dirty home is not necessarily an indicator of infestations or a reflection of a home's value, a clean home will create a stronger first impression with the appraiser. · Make any necessary repairs ahead of the appointment. Homeowners who have been putting off repairs should make them before the appraiser arrives. Homes with repairs that still need to be made will likely be valued less than similar homes with no such repair issues. Though repairs can be costly, investing in home repairs will likely increase both the appraisal and resale value of the home. · Obtain all necessary documents before the appraiser arrives. Homeowners who have certain documentation at the ready can speed up the appraisal process. Such documentation may include a survey of the house and property; a deed or title report; a recent tax bill; if applicable, a list of items to be sold with the house; purchase history of the home; and the original plans and specifications of the home. · Inform the appraiser about recent improvements. Homeowners can inform appraisers about any recent improvements to the home and the cost of those improvements. The value of home improvements with regard to a home's appraisal value vary depending on a host of variables, but having such information at the ready can help appraisers make the most informed appraisal possible. Sponsored by: Max Home 

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How to Choose the Right Window Treatments for Your Home Plantation shutters? Mini-blinds? Cafe curtains? Formal draperies? Homeowners' options in regard to window treatments for their homes are extensive, which can make outfitting home interiors challenging for novice decorators. Some people do not pay a lot of attention to window treatments, failing to realize just how great an impact the right window treatments can have on a space. According to the design experts at Hunter Douglas, window treatments are often an afterthought because residents may not consider them necessities. As a result, homeowners may install whatever is on hand or accept window treatments that came with a house or apartment. But ignoring window treatments, especially when they can fulfill certain needs, is a missed design opportunity. One of the first steps to choosing window treatments is determining your end goal. Is privacy your main goal? Are you seeking more natural light in a room? Is there too much light and you need to darken the room? Window treatments can serve multiple functions, and some treatments may make better fits depending on homeowners' ultimate goals. Semi-sheer window treatments Semi-sheer window treatments are often fabric and can help brighten rooms with natural light but offer little privacy. They're usually appropriate for spaces where people gather, such as living rooms, dens or dining rooms. Semi-sheer curtains may be paired with another complementary window treatment so privacy can be customized as

needed. For example, sheer curtains let light into a bedroom, but shades can be drawn at night. Maximum privacy Bedrooms, work spaces or bathrooms can benefit from extra privacy. While some people may think that privacy comes at the cost of light, that's not always the case. Functional curtain panels can be drawn closed when privacy is desired and then opened to let in light. The thickness of the fabric will also dictate the amount of privacy the panels create. Tiers are hung on a short rodpocket panel and usually cover the lower one-third of a window. They're popular choices to let light in from the top, but obscure views from the bottom portion of the window. Cellular shades are another option that provide privacy but still let light in. Cellular shades come in hard and fabric varieties and their use depends on the room. Many cellular shades are constructed with a honeycomb design, offers the design resource Houzz, so they can insulate as well as decorate windows. Blackout shades/shutters Perfect for rooms where babies nap, shift workers rest during daylight hours or external lights, such as that from a street lamp, need to be blocked out, blackout shades do just what their name implies. A dense fabric lining helps keep light out entirely. Shutters also can block out light but add to the character of the room. They can be painted a bright color to make a statement or match wall colors to blend in seamlessly. When selecting window treat-

ments, shoppers can choose retail options or custom treatments. Many designers recommend custom window treatments because they are measured, manufactured and installed specifically for homeowners' windows. However, there are

many DIY options available at budget-friendly retailers. When you are looking for the right window treatments for your windows, we recommend calling Patricia at Fairfax Fabric Co. at 504-309-9503. ď&#x192;Ź

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How Color Can Affect Your Garden Flower gardens can add color and awe-inspiring appeal to a property. The National Gardening Association notes that gardeners can find nearly every color of the spectrum in flowering perennials. So whether you prefer soft pink, are partial to bright red or want to relax in a garden and gaze at something deep blue, chances are you'll find a perennial to tickle your fancy. The NGA offers the following breakdown of colors to help gardeners learn how their gardens can set the mood they're looking for.

OCT 2012 OCT 2012 Bright Colors OCT 2012 A garden full of bright colors like

red, orange, magenta, and yellow can provide a landscape with vigor and energy. The NGA notes that brightly colored flowers can withstand especially bright sunshine, PLEASE CHECK YOUR meaning gardeners can marvel at AD CAREFULLY FOR PLEASE CHECK YOUR their appearance even when the sun SPELLING & GRAMMAR, ASbe adversely affecting other might PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD CAREFULLY FOR WELL ASCAREFULLY ACCURACY OF ADplants AD FOR SPELLING & GRAMMAR, ASand flowers.

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DRESSES, NUMBERS SPELLING & GRAMMAR, AS& Colors WELL ASPHONE ACCURACY OFPastel ADOTHER VITAL INFORMATION. WELL AS ACCURACY OFPastels, AD-& which include soft pink, DRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS powder blue, lavender, and peach, DRESSES, PHONE & OTHER VITAL Your ad INFORMATION. willNUMBERS run create a tranquil feeling in a garden. OTHER INFORMATION. This makes pastel perfect for those AS-ISVITAL unless changes

Your ad will run who want their gardens to be a are made and Your ad willchanges run AS-IS unless relaxing, peaceful respite from the approved with your AS-IS unless changes are made and hustle and bustle of everyday life. Account Executive ThebyNGA notes that pastels may are made approved withand your approved with looked yourby washed out in the midday Account Executive sun, so they might be best enjoyed by early in the morning or late in the Quality Nursing Care · Hospice Account Care Executive

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Medicare Skilled Nursing Unit NOON 9/7 Complementary Colors Intermediate and Respite Care NOON Complementary colors are NOON 9/7 those that are opposite one anothShort and Long Term Rehabilitation 9/7 er on the color wheel. Orange and After this deadline, blue are examples of complemenVentilator Dependent Unit After the only thischanges deadline, tary colors. According to the that made After thisbe deadline, On-Site Dialysis the may only changes NGA, complementary colors can afternoon.

add creative energy and vitality to areonly to correct the changes that may be made a garden. Positions available for RN · LPN · CNA PUBLISHER’S that beERRORS. made aremay to correct Harmonious Colors to correct ERRORS. ThisPUBLISHER’S isare a low-resolution These colors are those that are 14500 Hayne Blvd. PUBLISHER’S ERRORS. PDF proof of your next This is a low-resolutionto each other on the color Between Paris Rd. and Bullard Ave. advertisementwheel, such as orange and red. The

ThisPDF is aproof low-resolution of your NGA (may PDF not beproof true to of actual size). recommends harmonious your advertisement colors for gardeners looking to isbeproperty of advertisement (mayItnot true to actual size). a unifying feel in their garcreate www.ferncrest.com Renaissance (may It notisbeproperty true Publishing to actual . of size)without dens resorting to a monochromatic color scheme. Harmoni(orRenaissance the Itoriginal creator) is property of and Publishing cannotcreator) be ous colors Owned by Wayne J. Landry and managed Publishing (orRenaissance the original and give off a gentle feeling that can make for a relaxing garoriginal and cannotcreator) be den atmosphere. by Lexis Landry Nunez, NFA. (or the reproduced, duplicated or used cannot be in any reproduced, www.thejewishlight.org other format. Home Guide 2019 reproduced, duplicated or used in any Copyright 2009, in any duplicated used otherorformat. Renaissance Publishing. other format. Copyright 2009,

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Monochromatic Colors Monochromatic gardens can be awe-inspiring even though they stick to a single color and don't provide an array of awe-inspiring colors. The NGA notes that gardeners with monochromatic gardens make them interesting by using plants of various sizes and shapes. When planting a garden, gardeners can choose whichever color scheme they prefer. To learn more about the effects of color on a garden, visit the National Gardening Association website at www.garden.org. When you’re ready to begin your gardening project, we recommend speaking with Exterior Designs at 504-866-0276. 

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Outdoor Improvements That Boost Home Value Whether home improvement projects are design to improve the interior or exterior of a house, focusing on renovations that make the most financial sense can benefit homeowners in the long run. The right renovations can be assets if and when homeowners decide to sell their homes. So how does one get started? First and foremost, speak to a local real estate agent who is knowledgeable about trends in the community. While a swimming pool may be something coveted in one area, it may impede sales in another. It also helps to study generalized trends and data from various home improvement industry analysts to guide upcoming projects. The following outdoor projects are just a few renovations that tend to add value. · Fire pit: A fire pit is a great place to gather most months of the year. Bob Vila and CBS news report that a fire pit realizes a 78 percent return on investment, or ROI. · Outdoor kitchen: Many buyers are looking to utilize their yards

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as an extension of interior living areas. Cooking, dining and even watching TV outdoors is increasingly popular. Outdoor living areas can be custom designed and built. In addition, prefabricated modular units that require a much smaller commitment of time and money are available. · Patio: Homeowners who do not already have a patio will find that adding one can increase a home's value. Patios help a home look neat, add useable space and may help a home to sell quickly. The experts at Space Wise, a division of Extra Space Storage, say that refinishing, repairing and building a new patio offers strong ROI. · Deck: Deck can be as valuable as patios. A deck is another outdoor space that can be used for entertaining, dining and more. Remodeling magazine's 2018 "Cost vs. Value" report indicates that an $11,000 deck can add about $9,000 in resale value to the home, recouping around 82 percent of the project's costs. · Door update: Improve curb

appeal with a new, high-end front door and garage doors. If that's too expensive, a good cleaning and new coat of paint can make an old door look brand new. These easy fixes can improve a home's look instantly. · New landscaping: The National Association of Realtors says an outdoor makeover that includes well-thought out landscaping can net 105 percent ROI. Installing a walkway made of pavers, adding stone planters, mulching, and planting shrubs are ideas to consider. We recommend speaking to JimStone Co. at 985-882-5907 about your backyard plans! 

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Antique furnishings, decor, coins, and toys remain popular among consumers. Unlike the mass-produced merchandise of today, antiques have history, and their endurance through decades, if not centuries, is a testament to the quality craftsmanship and materials used to create these often timeless pieces. Antiques also might be more affordable than many shoppers think. Savvy shoppers may find mid-range "brown furniture," which constitutes some antique wood pieces, more affordable than reproductions. Homeowners and apartment dwellers who want their rooms to stand apart often rely on antiques to provide a unique ambiance. Antique shopping also is a "green" endeavor. Antiquing is an ecofriendly practice, putting to use items

that have been recycled and reused. Antiques also can be a good investment, as they generally retain their value while adding texture, contrast and personality to any room of the house. Understanding antiques can take time, but even the novice can develop an eye for pieces that strike their fancy. And thanks to the wealth of information about collectibles and antiques available online, shoppers have constant access to information about antiques at their fingertips. Shoppers may even be able to comparison shop on their mobile phones. Mid-range antiques can be particularly easy to buy thanks to the available inventory. Novices may want to begin by exploring midrange antiques. As they gain more knowledge and expertise, shoppers who covet antiques can move on to high-end pieces that are more expensive. Some antiques are put in the same category as fine artwork and are considered just as valuable. Another reason to browse and shop antiques is to learn about the value of similar items homeowners may already own. For those looking to downsize a collection or simply liquidate an estate, antiquing is a great way to get hands-on experience. Rummaging through antique stores or markets can be a relaxing experience as well. And many antique enthusiasts find shopping for antiques is like a treasure hunt to find that coveted piece and unearth a bit of history in the process. When you are ready to learn more about antiques, we recommend speaking with Naghi’s at 504-586-8373. 

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Pioneer Gutters Gutters may not seem like an all important feature of your home, but just like a load-bearing wall or the roofing system, they serve a very important purpose: to protect the foundation, delicate plants, and other areas surrounding your home from water damage and erosion. In rainy climates, gutters protect concrete areas from eroding away and wooden doors and windows from rotting due to splash-back of the water off the concrete. In addition, gutters protect your air conditioning system from being clogged with shingle grit from the roof. Without a properly cleaned and maintained gutter system, the foundation and other areas of your home are exposed to all sorts of potential damage. Homeowners know that gutter cleaning is an important part of home maintenance, but they may not completely understand why. Gutter cleaning can be a messy and time-consuming project, making it a project many homeowners are apt to put off. Waiting to clean gutters can lead to considerable problems, so it’s best to tackle the job on a regular schedule – typically four times a year. Gutters guide rainwater and runoff from the roof so it drains properly away from homes. When

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gutters are clogged with leaves, a number of problems can occur. Water will take the path of least resistance. When clogged gutters do not allow the water to drain away properly, water will find other ways to the ground. It may work itself right into the walls and ceilings of the home. In addition to damaging walls and ceilings, moisture inside the home can promote mold growth. It also makes interior spaces more appealing to pests such as termites. Gutters are meant to hold the weight of traveling water. Gutters filled with leaves and other debris can quickly become heavy. This stresses the entire gutter system and can cause the gutters to pull away from the fascia, causing wood rot, or they may fall off of the home entirely. Clogged gutters can serve as nesting areas for insects and birds. Gutters can quickly become breeding spots for harmful pests such as mosquitoes & termites. Mosquitoes and other insects lay eggs in pooling water. Furthermore, birds & squirrels may nest in gutters, creating clogged gutters and downspouts, and potential damage. Seeds that sprout in clogged gutters can grow unchecked. Clogged gutters also may con-

tribute to cracked foundations. Leaking water will wash away the area around the foundation. It also can cause driveways and other cement areas around the home to sag and crack. Gutter cleaning should be scheduled four times a year for proper maintenance and optimal life span of gutters. Homeowners can hire affordable guttercleaning services such as Pioneer Gutters to handle the job rather than doing the job themselves. Pioneer Gutters can also take the time to seal any leaks or do other necessary repairs as well. This routine maintenance can save homeowners many headaches and prevent thousands of dollars in repairs to the home. Randall and Leslie Keating have been in the construction business for more than three decades. Since the start of Pioneer Gutters in 1994, the owners have always tried to provide the highest quality level of service to both residential and commercial clientele, and their experience has only grown along with the relationships they sustain with their customers. As a result, Pioneer Gutters has continued to grow in size, types of services offered, & coverage area, and they are the largest gutter cleaning com-

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pany in the State. Pioneer Gutters raised the standard for gutter cleaning giving “that little something extra”, which sets them apart from their competitors. They install k-style & half-round seamless aluminum and copper gutters. Along with installing, cleaning, repairing, and maintaining gutters, Pioneer installs siding, patio covers & rain barrels; but perhaps the crowning jewel of Pioneer Gutters’ services is their state of the art gutter cover – Leaf Solution. Made of aluminum and marine grade stainless steel, it is a filter system that will keep your gutters from ever clogging. Once installed, it is a permanent solution and the gutters will never need to be cleaned again! It even comes with a money back guarantee from the manufacturer. The owners of Pioneer Gutters consider it to be the best gutter protection in the industry. So, when you want your property to look exceptional all year long, and for the most trustworthy services in gutter maintenance and installation, who better to trust than a family-owned, familyoperated company that is licensed and insured, with a mission to provide superior service to their customers. Your gutters are your home’s first line of defense. So, keep your house safe from water damage and erosion for the impending hurricane season and all year long; combat wood rot, termites, mosquitoes, and neglect before it gets a foothold, and enjoy that sunny Saturday afternoon with your family. Just leave the gutter installation, cleaning, and maintenance to the experts. Home Guide 2019

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