The Jewish Light Rosh Hashanah Holiday Guide by The Jewish Light

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Volume 9 Number 8 Rosh Hashanah 2019

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

Community News Call Our Trained Experts & Experience the Difference

•Monthly Payment Plans • Drywood Termite Fumigation

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Jacqueline F. Maloney Attorney at Law Notary Public SUCCESSIONS • WILLS CRIMINAL DEFENSE • DWI BUSINESS FORMATION & LITIGATION

3445 N. Causeway Blvd Suite 210 Metairie, LA 70002

(504) 333-6934 Licensed to practice law in Louisiana since 1998

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Catch-A-Cab Transportation Program Catch-A-Cab is a discount transportation program for independent Jewish seniors (65 or older) and those with disabilities who cannot drive in the Greater New Orleans area. Participants purchase a $20 book of taxi coupons for $5. Each participant may purchase a maximum of seven books per quarter, or $140 in taxi coupons, for $35. The coupons are non-transferable and are only valid for the Catch-A-Cab subscriber.

There is no charge for additional passengers traveling with Catch-ACab subscribers. Participating cab companies include Metry Cab Company, Incognito Transportation Services, White Fleet Cab Company, and Yellow Checker Cab Company. Catch-A-Cab is brought to you by Jewish Family Services, the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana, and private donors. For more information, call JFS at (504) 831-8475. 

J-FLEx is a new way to envision what Religious School can be. Adopting a camp-style format, J-FLEx or Jewish Fun Learning Experiences, will offer students many paths to connect to Judaism in a way that is meaningful to them. With three 30 minute Experiences, including Technology, Art, Jewish Culture, Hebrew and more, plus cabin time to socialize

and make connections with other “J-FLExers” and counselors, J-FLEx will expose our children to the variety of Jewish life. We believe that with diversity in programming, our children will discover a stronger personal connection to Judaism. J-FLEx starts on September 15th. You can register your child(ren) for J-FLEx on our web page or in the Temple or Religious School office. 

New JewCCY Director We are pleased to announce that Sarah Bate will be taking over the role of Community Director of Youth Engagement for the three Reform Synagogues of the Greater New Orleans area. Sarah will serve as a role model, youth leadership mentor, program director and facilitator, and logistical coordinator for the three divisions of youth programming in the Reform Jewish Com-

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munity: •JewCCY (9th-12th grades) •Junior JewCCY (6th-8th grades) •JewCCY Jewce (3rd-5th grades) Sarah is currently serving as a Unit Head at Henry S. Jacobs Camp and will begin her duties as Community Director of Youth Engagement once camp is over in August. Sarah’s office will be located at Congregation Gates of Prayer where she can be reached at 504885-2600 as well as the JewCCY E-mail address: jewccy@gmail.com 

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Community News

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September 15th 2019 Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Goldring-Woldenberg JCCMetairie 3747 W. Esplanade Avenue Metairie, LA 70002 Journey Of The Soul Join Rabbi Mendel Ceitlin for a two-week introduction of Journey Of The Soul: An Exploration Of Life, Death And What Lies Beyond. Free and open to the community Contact: Judy Yaillen Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: judy@nojcc.org 

it comes to how to use it? Then join us for a workshop all about Facebook. Paige Hoffmeister from People's Health will teach you how to set up a profile, add your friends and family, like and share posts, and connect with community events and activities. Please bring your smart phone, tablet or laptop so you can follow along. Bring your lunch. Dessert and coffee will be provided. RSVP by Monday, September 16 to Rachel Ruth at 897-0143 x161 or rachel@nojcc.org. No charge members and nonmembers Contact: Rachel Ruth Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: rachel@nojcc.org 

September 19th 2019 Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm New Orleans JCC - Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 Facebook 101 Social media is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family. But do you feel lost when

September 23, 2019 Time: 6:30 pm New Orleans JCC - Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 The Game Behind the Game Join us for pizza, beer, and a panel discussion about the NBA and player negotiations. Panelists

New Orleans JCC

Table of Contents Community News

Chai Lights

Holiday Features

Education

Alma

Bookshelf

Sports

Arts & Culture

Entertainment

Financial

Health

Southern & Jewish

The Nosher

Focus on Issues

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

will include insiders Gabe Feldman, Director of the Tulane Sports Law Program, Scott Kushner, NBA Columnist, and Shane Kupperman, Director of Basketball Operations for the New Orleans Pelicans. Presented by Richard Cahn, this event is free and open to the public. Pizza and beer will be served as insiders discuss "The Game Behind the Game." To attend, Please RSVP to events@nojcc.org. 

Cathy And Morris Bart Jewish Cultural Arts Series

The Cathy and Morris Bart Jewish Cultural Arts Series celebrates Jewish authors, music, and films. The spring season included film screenings of "Sammy Davis, Jr. I've Got to Be Me" and "The Cakemaker." The series also brought authors Rachel Kadish and Jamie Bernstein.

All events take place at the New Orleans Uptown JCC and are free and open to the community unless otherwise noted. For questions, contact Judy Yaillen. judynojcc.org 2019-2020 Schedule Of Events September 16 - King Bibi [documentary; 1h 27min] October 23 - The Chosen Wars: How Judaism Became an American Religion, Steven R. Weisman in conversation with Walter Isaacson November 19-Shuk, Einat Admony in conversation with Alon Shaya December 22 - Community Chanukah Celebration featuring music by The LeeVees January 21 - Tel Aviv on Fire [comedy, drama, romance; 1h 40min] February 11 - Shoelaces [drama; 1h 38min] March 31 - A Field Guide to the Jewish People, Dave Barry, Adam Mansbach, and Alan Zweibel May 6 - Golda’s Balcony, The Film [biography; 1h 26min] 

• Currently City Court Judge in Division C Rouge City Court CurrentlyServing Serving asas City Court Judge in Division C of the Baton of the Baton Rouge City Court Former Public Defender for the City of Baker, Louisiana • Former Public Defender for the City of Baker Louisiana Former Prosecutor for the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Oﬃce &

the Louisiana State Attorney General’s Oﬃce • Former Prosecutor for the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Practiced Law as a private for 20 years and Office Criminal Defense for 13 Office & theCivil Louisiana Stateattorney Attorney General’s years before becoming a judge

• Practiced Civil Law as a Private Attorney for 20 years and Criminal Graduate: Southern University Defense for 13 years before becoming a Judge Southern University Law Center Managing Editor of the Southern University Law Review

• Graduate: • Southern University Former Member of the East Baton Rouge School Board 2004-2015 • Southern University Law Center Vice President 2010- 2014 • Managing Editor of the Southern University Law Review DAY ISRouge OCTOBER 12TH • Former Member ofELECTION the East Baton School Board 2004-2015 EARLY VOTING IS SEPTEMBER 28TH - OCTOBER 5TH • Vice President East Baton Rouge School Board 2010-2014 tasmith4judge@gmail.com | 225-246-2087

P.O. Box 1414 LA 70821 12th Election DayBatonisRouge, October f @JudgeTarvaldSmithCampaignCommittee

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Early Voting is September 28th – October 5th

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tasmith4judge@gmail.com • 225-246-2087 P.O. Box 1414 Baton Rouge, La 70821 @JudgeTarvaldSmithCampaignCommittee

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Community Happenings

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September 14, 2019 7:15 – 9:15 pm Beth Israel 4004 West Esplanade Ave, South Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 454-5080 Beth Israel-Rabbi's Installation Contact: Rabbi David Posternock - 504-454-5080 Please join us as we install Beth Israel's next Rabbi, Joshua Pernick. RSVP's are required, so please let us know that you are coming by emailing rsvp@bethisraelnola.com 

Medicare • Medicaid • Private insurance

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September 15, 2019 7:00PM - 9:00PM Slater Torah Academy 5210 West Esplanade Ave. Metairie, LA 70006 Torah Academy-Gala Contact: Rivka Chesney 347.356.4714 rchesney@torahacademynola. com

~FREE DELIVERY~

889-7070

or call our Refill line at 504-454-9395

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED to

NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM of ART LOVE IN THE GARDEN 2019 presented by

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | 6:30 PM UNTIL MIDNIGHT Patron Party | 6:30 – 8 p.m. Garden Party | 8 p.m.

Enjoy cuisine from over 60 top New Orleans restaurants and food trucks, as well as libations featured in the Sixth Annual LOVE Cocktail Challenge presented by Sazerac Company.

SYDNEY AND WALDA BESTHOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM of ART honoring

SYDNEY AND WALDA BESTHOFF

September 16, 2019 7:00PM - 9:00PM Jewish Community Center 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 Jewish Community Center-Cultural Series Showing the movie, "King Bibi." "King Bibi" explores Benjamin Netanyahu's rise to power, relying solely on archival footage of his media performances over the years. From his days as a popular guest on American TV, through his public confession of adultery and his mastery of the art of social media. From one studio to another Bibi evolved from Israel's great political hope to a controversial figure whom some perceive as Israel's savior, and others as a cynical politician who will stop at nothing to retain his power. Contact: Judy Yaillen 504.897.0143• judy@nojcc.org 

entertainment by

#LOVEINTHEGARDEN2019 | #HancockWhitneyLOVE Rain or Shine Event | Garden Chic | Jackets Discouraged

TICKETS AND INFORMATION: www.noma.org/LOVE2019 33-0719 LOVE 2019 Jewish Light Ad.indd 1

Rosh Hashanah 2019

September 19, 2019 7:30PM - 9:30PM Chabad of Louisiana 7037 Freret St New Orleans, LA 70118 Chabad-Women's Event "Rejuvenating yourself before the new year" Featuring: Alex Cazabat: The uses of Essential Oils Malkie Rivkin: Rosh Hashana inspiration and discussion Special interactive activity Refreshments - No cost Contact: Malkie Rivkin: malkie@chabadneworleans.com September 22, 2019 8:30AM - 4:00PM Goldring/Woldenberg Community campus 3747 West Esplanade Ave. Metairie, LA 70002 504-887-5158 Jewish Children's Regional Service-Hanukkah Gift Wrapathon Thousands of small Hanukkah gifts for hundreds of young and older individuals will be wrapped on this day for distribution as gifts for those in need. Refreshments will be served all day. This program is over 20 years old and is sponsored by the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust. Gifts and wrapping materials are supplied, but you are welcome to bring any leftover Hanukkah-style gift wrap you have lying around the house. For those who stay until the midafternoon, the Saints Game will be televised. There is no cost to participate and signed forms are available those who need community service hours Sponsor: Jewish Childrens Regionals Service and the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust. Contact:NedGoldberg•504.828.6334 (Phone) 504.828.5255 (Fax)ned@ jcrs.org http://www.jcrs.org 

NOTICE

NOCCA Trio 610 STOMPERS | Presented by Sazerac Company Randi and the Nola Dukes Band

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Chai Lights

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Gates of Prayer

MAZEL TOV TO... Cathy & Buddy Bart and Jerome & Sandra Kanter on the ChaiLights features announcements of births, B'nai Mitzvahs, engagements, birth of their grandson and great weddings, and honors. To request your special event be published in The Jewish grandson, Ari Kanter Marks. ParLight send your material to United Media Corp., P.O. Box 3270, Covington, LA ents are Carrie & Austin Marks. 70435 or e-mail jewishnews@bellsouth.net. Events are published on a first come, Dana & Billy Tune on the birth first served basis, as space permits. Photographs are welcom; professional ones of their son, Colt Alvin Tune. preferred. The must be clear and in focus. ì Grandparents are Dori & Jack Schulman.

Debra & Mike Fein on the birth of their granddaughter, Isla Rae Galvan. Parents are Meryl & Ryan Galvan José & Frida Orrego on the birth of their granddaughter, Reagan Faith Rose Sumner. Parents are Nathalie & Thomas Sumner Avrom & Cindy Denn on the recent marriage of their son, Aaron to Sandra Jordan 

Anderson. Emma is the daughter of Julie & Elizabeth Anderson. Susan Kierr on co-chairing the National Council of Jewish Women of Greater New Orleans spring gala, “Be the Change, The Future is Ours.” Elly Patron on being recognized as Most Outstanding Novice in Speech and Debate at Isidore Newman School. Emily Shaya on winning Bean Madness, an annual tournamentstyle red beans and rice competition that supports local nonprofits. Sue Singer on co-chairing the Jewish Children’s Regional Service’s Jewish Roots of Fashion fundraising gala.

Tyler Smith and Betsy Uschkrat on the birth of their daughter Amelia Margaret Smith. Manfred Max Sternberg for being named a Paul M. Hebert Scholar for the Fall 2018 Semester at LSU School of Law. Manfred is the grandson of Audrey Sternberg Raphael. Rachel Van Voorhees, a professional harpist, on providing entertainment for the Goldring-Woldenberg Major Donor Dinner. Luz Molina officially converted to Judaism in late May, Mazel Tov! Luz has worked very hard in her conversion coming to services and studying text. We welcome Luz! 

Temple Sinai

MAZEL TOV TO... Darryl & Louellen Berger on co-hosting and underwriting the ninth annual Goldring-Woldenberg Major Donor Dinner. David Bernard & Charlie Urstadt on their marriage. Melanie Bronfin for being one of three honorees at Avodah New Orleans’ 2019 Partners in Justice event, which celebrated extraordinary social justice leaders in our community. Jonathan Epstein and his team Team Fleur de Que on winning the Top Fundraiser Award for the eighth year in a row at Hogs for the Cause. Amy Gainsburgh-Haspel &

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John Haspel for chairing Avodah New Orleans’ 2019 Partners in Justice event Barbara Greenberg on receiving National Council of Jewish Women Greater New Orleans’ Harold Salmon Award. Susan Hess on becoming President of the National Council of Jewish Women Greater New Orleans. Stephanie Kaston Gutierrez on co-chairing the Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans’ annual Dvash: a Celebration of Modern Israeli Cuisine fundraiser. Keith & Evie Katz on the birth of their granddaughter Emma Kate

 Increase voter participation Louisiana has almost 3 million registered voters with low voter turnout rates that leave about 450,000 people making decisions for 4.6 million Louisianans. Gwen wants to increase voter participation through voter education, community outreach, and social media.

Gwen Collins

GREENUP SECRETARY OF STATE

Election Day October 12 Early Voting Sept 28-Oct 5

 Protect voting rights and elections

A Secretary of State for a Better Louisiana

We can't afford to leave our voting rights and elections unprotected because of outdated technology and policies that make it easier to attack our elections, but harder for people to vote. Gwen wants to protect voting rights and elections with better cyber security, voter protection, and uniform election training.

For more information visit WWW.GWENSOS.COM  Empower the next generation

 Support small businesses

Success begins with a vision but turning a vision into reality requires leaders like you working together to move Louisiana forward. Gwen wants to empower the next generation to lead, vote, start businesses, and make a difference.

Businesses provide the jobs that fuel our economies, the paychecks that help us feed our families, the tax dollars that fund our schools, and the resources our communities need to thrive. Gwen wants to support small businesses and entrepreneurs with resources that make it easier for people to start businesses and stay compliant.

Paid for by Gwen Collins-Greenup Campaign Fund, LLC

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Gates of Prayer IN MEMORIAM Zalmon “Harry” Kovner

Temple Sinai IN MEMORIAM John Corenswet, son of Sam Corenswet, Jr. and brother of Jay Corenswet William M. Lucas, Jr., husband of late Jane Levy Lucas and by second marriage to the late Miriam Weill Lucas, father of William Lucas & Fay Lucas Oringel, grandfather of four grandchildren and six great grandchildren Louis Rippner, husband of Carol Rippner, father of Billy Rippner, Laurie Milani, and

Cindy Kurtz, and grandfather of many grandchildren and a greatgrandchild Simon “Skippy” Shlenker, III, husband of Ann Blitz “Mimi” Shlenker, father of Leesa Shlenker Samuels and Michael Shlenker, grandfather of Kelsey Samuels and Haley Samuels, father-in-law of Keith Samuels, and stepfather of Michael Schwartz Janette M. Kornman, mother of Sheree Dierdorff, Kathy Kornman, Larry Kornman, and Richard Kornman, grandmother of seven and great grandmother of six Morris Krucoff, father of Phyllis Krucoff Shnaider, grandfather of Adam Michael Shnaider and Catherine Shnaider Frank, and great grandfather of four 

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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

Gates of Prayer CONDOLENCES TO... Cynthia Greenwald on the death of her sister, Dr. Edith GrossTHE

man Mayers Lazelle Alexander on the death of her sister, Leatrice Adams Gerald Levin on the death of his mother, Adelaide Levin Glinky 

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Send editorial to us via e-mail at jewishnews@bellsouth.net or reach us by phone at (504) 455-8822. Our mailing address is United Media Corp. P.O. Box 3270, Covington, LA 70434 • To place advertising in THE JEWISH LIGHT, call United Media Corp. at: New Orleans (504) 455-8822 Northshore (985) 871-0221 Baton Rouge (225) 925-8774 JEWISH LIGHT carries Jewish Community related news about the Louisiana Jewish community and for the Louisiana Jewish community. Its commitment is to be a “True Community” newspaper, reaching out EQUALLY TO ALL Jewish Agencies, Jewish Organizations and Synagogues. THE JEWISH LIGHT is published monthly by United Media Corporation. We are Louisiana owned, Louisiana published, and Louisiana distributed. United Media Corporation has been proudly serving the Louisiana Jewish Community since 1995. Together, we can help rebuild Louisiana. We thank you for the last 24 years and we look forward to an even brighter tomorrow. THE

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY ROSH HASHANAH & AN EASY FAST FOR YOM KIPPUR!

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Independent Experienced Impartial I’m the only independent candidate running for judge because I don’t believe partisan politics or political parties have any place in our court system. I’m an impartial independent with more than a decade of both civil and criminal law experience in both state and federal court, routinely recognized as one of the top attorneys in my fields. I’m not part of the establishment. I promise to give every person who appears in my court the respect and dignity they deserve, regardless of their connections.

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Happy New Year to all of my friends in the Jewish Community! Thank you for your continued support! Paid for by Franklin J. Foil for Senate

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Holiday Features

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5 Hacks For The Best Rosh Hashanah Ever By Beata Abraham

(JTA via Kveller) -- I can’t help but wonder why Hallmark and the retail world at large haven’t coopted the Jewish New Year. True, while there may “only” be some 5 million to 7 million Jews in the U.S. (depending on who’s counting), Rosh Hashanah is a particularly important holiday on the Jewish calendar. Many Jews spend Rosh Hashanah at synagogue immersed in prayer, self-reflection, repentance, kicking off 10 days of “awe.” But it’s a family holiday, too, usually celebrated at home with a big family dinner. So why aren’t there any light-up shofars or tasteful Happy New Year banners to be found leading up to the big day? Of course, depending on where you live, you may come across a dusty box of matzah on the shelf of your local grocery store in a wellintentioned, if misguided, attempt to acknowledge Rosh Hashanah (along with every other Jewish holiday). But fear not. In lieu of tacky, ready-made accoutrements, you can design your own Instagramworthy Rosh Hashanah celebration. Keeping in mind that the goal is to create joy and lasting memories, I have tried and tested a few ideas to make your Rosh Hashanah celebration personal and memorable. Conduct An Apples And Honey Taste Test Not all apples — nor honey — are created equal. So here’s a fun way to see which varieties your family really prefers. Procure as many types of honey as you can (but remember, this is not a reality cooking show, so don’t go crazy). Put out a variety of sliced apples to dip and create your own voting method, too. For a bit of extra flair, add a blindfold. The honey with the most votes will receive the honor of the blessing for a sweet new year. Create a Rosh Hashanah craft THE

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museum Remember all those New Year’s crafts your kids brought home over the years from Sunday school or day school? It’s time to unearth those boxes filled with clay honey pots, handcrafted Happy New Year cards and paper apple mobiles. Bonus if you can excavate the childhood Rosh Hashanah relics from your own youth. And if kids never made them — or you tossed them years ago — you can always make new Rosh Hashanah crafts, likea honey jar or shofar. Cluster these items in a special museumstyle display for all to enjoy. Heart strings will be tugged, guaranteed. Throw A Birthday Party For The World Rosh Hashanah is not just a Jewish holiday — according to the Talmud, it is the birthday of humankind and the world. Considering that the universe is a pretty significant creation, some special treats to commemorate this day hardly seem like too much effort. Whether you celebrate with a spherical cake frosted to look like planet Earth or a candle on a single cupcake, or even just a Happy Birthday banner, let it spark a conversation about what each individual’s part can be in making the world a better place — the ultimate birthday gift. Make A Rosh Hashanah Tablescape If you are overwhelmed just thinking about setting an elaborate table for the holiday, just remember that you are going to want to eat at some point, so it might as well be at a striking and impactfully set table. But that doesn’t mean an overwrought one. Small touches can go a long way, like an apple-print tablecloth; a few carefully placed honey or bee-themed items; a decorative tray filled with apples and pomegranates; a shofar as centerpiece. Tip: Use your imagination, not Google. Spark Meaningful Conversation With Reflection Cards Rosh Hashanah is a mini workout for the soul, so you should probably break an existential sweat self-reflecting, soul-searching and resolution-making. Like any good workout, it will transform, strengthen and fortify you for navigating your daily life in the year to come.

Write some open-ended questions on cardstock, and arrange them on your table for your family or friends to select and answer aloud. Some examples: What were your biggest mistakes over the last year? Greatest achievements? What brought you the most joy? Which moments felt deeply meaningful? What have you resolved to do differently next year? What you write is up to you — just make sure that each question can be answered by a responder of any age, and keep in mind that Rosh Hashanah is not just about

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looking backward but is an opportunity to look forward as well. I hope you will use one or all these ideas to set the stage for a sweet and meaningful New Year. And, full disclosure: While they are undoubtedly fun, none of these ideas will absolutely guarantee that you will be written in the Book of Life — but they may get you featured in Martha Stewart Living. (Beata Abraham, a lifelong writer and a Jewish educator, is currently the director of education at a Reform temple in Columbus, Ohio.)

OCTOBER

2019

Come explore our holdings representing family history, slave sales, weather patterns, architecture, and the rich history of New Orleans.

Chelsey Richard Napoleon Clerk of Civil District Court and Ex-Officio Recorder

Let us know you are coming, please contact the Notarial Archives Research Center at 504.407.0106 or civilclerkresearchctr@orleanscdc.com. OPENING RECEPTION Tuesday, October 1 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM DAYTIME TOURS Thursday, October 3 Tuesday, October 15 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Tuesday, October 23 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EVENING TOURS Wednesday, October 16 Tuesday, October 22 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM TRANSLATING COLONIAL DOCUMENTS WORKSHOP Thursday, October 10 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM COLONIAL ACT TYPE SEMINAR Thursday, October 17 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM TITLE CHAIN SEMINAR Thursday, October 24 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

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ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. SEATING IS LIMITED.

Clerk of Civil District Court 1340 Poydras Street, Suite 360 • NOLA 70112 Rosh Hashanah 2019

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Not Going To Synagogue Or Fasting? You Can Still Observe Yom Kippur. By Arielle Kaplan (Alma via JTA) -- Much to my mother’s dismay, I’m not fasting on Yom Kippur and I’m not going to synagogue. Why? Because I don’t believe in God. But despite my lack of faith in a higher being, I take the High Holidays very seriously. For those who need a refresher, here’s a crash course. On Rosh Hashanah, as the story goes, Jews are inscribed in one of three books: the Book of Life for heavenly saints, the Book of Death for toxic people; and a temporary “in between” book for the rest of us who have nine days to repent for our sins before our fate is sealed on Yom Kippur. As much as I want to believe that these books are real, I don’t (for the record, I’d totally be in the in-between one). But that doesn’t stop me from taking advantage of the holiday and making amends with those I wronged. Apologizing to someone, whether it’s a guy I ghosted or a friend I hurt, is uncomfortable and easy to avoid. That’s why I love Yom Kippur; it nudges me to reflect on my behavior and confront issues I’ve pushed away. Skipping Kol Nidre and eating

on Yom Kippur doesn’t make you a bad Jew, and there are plenty of other ways to make the holiday more meaningful to you. I asked a handful of people how they plan on observing the Day of Atonement without fasting or praying, and here’s what they said. “Growing up, I felt really out of place at synagogue. I wanted to do the kids’ services, or I’d try to hide in the bathroom. Yom Kippur was always a tough one to sit through, so I found other ways to celebrate. I find that reflecting and reaching out to people is very rewarding. I think that’s the main point of the holidays. I also make new goals for the start of the year and figure out how I can be a better person to others.” “Since finding my current spiritual community, I attend services. However, before that I would try to volunteer, or write letters to everyone I’d fallen out of touch with, or write a list of ways I was going to forgive myself and a vision board for what I hoped the next year would look like.” “I definitely like to write down my intentions on Yom Kippur.

LOUISIANA STATE SENATE

Rosh Hashanah 2019

They’re more spiritual than my ‘resolutions’ for the regular new year. Those are more goal-oriented. It really has to do with the time of year for me rather than the holiday itself, since this time is arguably the beginning of the rebirth of the natural world and there’s something very renewing about the energy, and I like to tap into that. For the new year, my intentions are more powered by self-motivation and looking to get out of the ‘winter blues.'” “I’ve made my own little tradition of using the day of Yom Kippur to take a walk to my favorite park with a journal and write down some intentions for the new year. I’ve also been sending out a mass email to all my friends sort of announcing my intentions and updating them on the past year (it’s a lot funnier than it sounds) and I’ve found it’s really helpful in holding myself accountable.” “Since I don’t belong to a temple anymore, I use Yom Kippur as a day to reflect and think about how I’m going to act differently over the coming year. On the regular New Year, my resolutions tend to be focused on diet, exercise and my career, but for

the Jewish one they’re more serious. I think about being more mindful, taking care of my mental health and treating people with respect.” “I don’t feel a spiritual connection at synagogue unless I’m with my family in my hometown. On Rosh Hashanah I went to a beautiful synagogue with my aunt, but it just wasn’t meaningful In the past, I haven’t fasted on Yom Kippur because it always fell on a big tailgate weekend in college, so I’m not accustomed to doing it. Instead of partying this year, I’m still not going to fast, but I’m taking a day off from work to reflect on the past year and repent for my sins by reaching out to people.” “One time I apologized to a friend on Yom Kippur for bullying her in middle school, but I haven’t reached out to anyone since then. I make resolutions for the year, and while my January resolutions are about living a better life, I like to focus my Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur intentions on being a better person. Like gossiping less and being more considerate than judgmental.” (Arielle Kaplan is an editorial assistant at Alma.) 

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This Rosh Hashanah, We Need To Listen To This Biblical Feminist Story By Rishe Groner (JTA via Alma) -- Rosh Hashanah is almost upon us, and with it brings the age-old Jewish tradition of not feeling good enough, wondering what we’ve done wrong and judging ourselves more harshly than God ever could. Not my favorite tradition, let’s be honest, because isn’t it time we all learned to live freely and lovingly in our female bodies with an optimistic perspective on the world we are here to transform? Along with honey and self-examination, Rosh Hashanah brings some other traditions less known. One of them, which you might know about if you pay extra careful attention at services, is the story of Hannah. In our Alma tradition of presenting badass women of the Bible, I present to you the lady who wouldn’t be silenced by patriarchy, a woman whose emotional outburst was the catalyst for national transformation through subsequent historic events. Hannah was the mother of the prophet Samuel, but her introduction in the first chapter of the book of Samuel, famously read on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, is an important story not only of the power of prayer but the dynamics of privilege when the one crying out is a woman. Hannah, the text tells us, traveled each year with her husband, Elkanah, and her sister-wife Peninah to the sanctuary in Shiloh (a sort of miniTemple before the formal Jerusalem structure was built) for the annual pilgrimage holidays. While Peninah, her rival, had a posse of kids to share the barbecue that ensued after the ritual sacrifices, Hannah was childless and sat out of the party feeling some epic FOMO, even though, being the favorite wife, she got the pick of the spareribs and her husband’s sweet talk. When Elkanah’s “Come on honey, aren’t I better than 10 sons?” wheedling got too much for her, Hannah stormed out into the sanctuary, where she fell apart in tears and prayer. She cried, she trembled, she poured her heart out, and she did it in that terrible silence of a woman so broken she can’t even find her voice. Her whispered prayer was deep and real. The text

tells us how she begged for a child, even cutting a deal with God in that way we all try when searching for a parking space, but this one involved offering to dedicate her future child to a life of service in the Temple, if only she could give birth to him. Feminist critiques on the centrality of the motherhood theme aside (and I would argue it is just as feminist to pray for a child as it is to ask for any other awesome achievement in life — to each their own), Hannah’s prayer was unique because, back then, nobody prayed silently, nobody prayed emotionally and nobody prayed alone. You showed up at the sanctuary with your family, said some blessings over the cow or sheep you intended to sacrifice on the altar and went on your way. Hannah’s agency in setting her own prayer was groundbreaking — and totally against the norms of the time, as the old patriarch Eli the Priest made clear when he came upon her. While Hannah’s prayer is a benchmark throughout the Jewish tradition for a real live heartfelt cry, it wasn’t good enough for Eli, who demanded she remove her drunken self from the place until she sobered up. “How much longer are you planning on this spectacle?” he asked her, kinda like that dude at work who wants to know why you can’t just get on with the presentation instead of taking a minute to cry it out in the ladies room. “Go home,

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lady, you’re drunk.” Hannah wasn’t having it, and in a dialogue that would pass the biblical version of the Bechdel test — a woman talking back to a man about her fate rather than submitting (see also: Tamar, Esther, Sarah, daughters of Tzelophchad) — she let Eli know. “I’m a woman of broken spirit, and I’m just here to pray. I haven’t had a drop to drink … I’m just in touch with my emotions in that healthy way that means when my heart is breaking and all I want is one thing, I’m going to damn well show up and pray my guts out to God, ‘cause isn’t that what this place is for, after all?” Hannah said. “Don’t take me for a crazy fool, a Godless woman — I’m here to pray, and you can help here by blessing me that my prayers are answered, actually.” I may be paraphrasing. Eli does bless her, and (spoiler alert) she does indeed conceive,

birthing the prophet Samuel, who is key in restructuring the biblical Israelites from tribal into a monarchy. Hannah is remembered as one See FEMINIST STORY on Page

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The Etrog Is Judaism’s Best Kept Wellness Secret By Rachel Myerson (Alma via JTA) – For most Jews, the etrog, a thick-rinded citrus, is relegated to a fleeting, supporting role. Held beside the lulav (palm frond) once a year during the upcoming festival of Sukkot, the etrog (citron) is then left to dry out or, if it’s lucky, turned into jelly. We have massively underestimated this super citrus. The etrog is far more than a prop, it’s a wellness goldmine that’s been lauded throughout history — from Alexander the Great’s troops who may very well have (but probably didn’t) discover it when passing through Persia, to Buddhist monks in ancient China – for its wideranging healing properties. It also has great genes! As one of the oldest citrus varieties, the etrog is basically the great-great- grand-

father of oranges and lemons, which were developed through hybridization with it. Luckily the Yemenite Jewish community stayed woke and quietly enjoyed the etrog’s numerous benefits for centuries until, 15 years ago, a shrewd entrepreneur named Uzi Eli set about introducing Israelis to the generations-old etrogcentric remedies passed down in his family. Known as the “Etrog Man,” Uzi opened a stall in Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda market and Tel Aviv’s Carmel market over a decade later. He’s a colorful character who once told me that his secret to looking far younger than his 70-plus years was etrog juice and breast milk — his sole form of nourishment until the age of 10.

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I spent a lot of time with Uzi and his daughter Maayan, who mans the Tel Aviv stall with impossibly dewy skin while working as a culinary tour guide in Israel. For months I watched from afar, bemused, as they shpritzed and massaged various oils and creams on unsuspecting tourists on the promise that they would cure acne, fade wrinkles and increase libido. I stopped being a bystander when Maayan insisted on rubbing their etrog-infused vitalium lotion, a “multi-use herbal concentrate [that] functions as a comprehensive local analgesic,” on a nasty-looking burn I’d acquired while wrestling my oven that morning. Two days later, with no trace of a scar, the burn was gone — and I was hooked. Like Uzi Eli, Ayurvedic medicine, a holistic healing system developed in India over 3,000 years ago, uses etrog juice to curb nausea and excessive thirst. References in Ayurvedic literature from 800 B.C. have led many to believe that the citron is native to India. Others argue that it originated in China, where until today, a variety known as the Fingered Citron (also known as Fo Shou or, my personal favorite, Buddha’s Hand), is used to treat nausea, bloating and chronic coughs. Perplexingly, the Greek philosopher Theophrastus, sometimes referred to as the “Father of Botany,” praised the vomit-inducing properties of the etrog, which he prescribed when “one has drunk a deadly poison.” This seems to be a Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans situation, best played only by the sturdy-stomached. For the more cautious, I’d suggest brewing a simple tea from the

etrog’s leaves, or mixing etrog jelly with sugar and honey a la yuja-cha, a popular Korean cold remedy made with yuzu. Modern medicine advises avoiding the etrog’s seeds, contrary to the advice of Pliny the Elder – a Roman Empire-era commander, naturalist and etrog enthusiast who endorsed chewing the seeds to reduce morning sickness. Despite his dodgy advice, Pliny wasn’t alone in connecting the etrog to pregnancy. Due to its breastlike appearance, the citron is a feminine symbol in Jewish spiritualism and has long been linked to childbirthrelated segulot (Jewish superstitious charms or rituals). One segula dictates biting off the pitom (stigma) to guarantee a son, or placing it under your pillow for an easy labor. To the cynics among you, I can only relay my sister-in-law’s story with a shrug: Force-fed etrog jam by my mother-in-law when her contractions began on the promise that it would ensure the birth was as painless as possible, my niece basically fell out. After pestering my mom friends for intricate play-byplays of their birthing experience, I take the view that anything that could potentially reduce the torment of childbirth is worth a try. When it comes to wellness, we need not look much further than Jewish healing and spiritual tradition. The etrog, which combines both, is an excellent place to start. Now who’s up for a cuppa? (Rachel Myerson is a freelance journalist from the United Kingdom now based in New York after a fiveyear stint in Tel Aviv. She writes about all things cultural, with a focus on food, and has been published in Time Out, Vice and the Forward, among others.) 

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6 Tips On Eating Before The Yom Kippur Fast

Happy New Year to all my many Friends in the Jewish Community! Thank You for your Continued Support!

By Shannon Sarna (The Nosher via JTA) -- Yom Kippur is one of the most, if not the most, important day on the Jewish calendar. For many Jews, fasting and being in synagogue is the focus of the day. Fasting is not easy, nor is it for everyone — some people cannot fast because they are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a medical condition. Or they simple do not function well abstaining from water and food for a 25-hour period. But for those who choose to fast as a meaningful way to engage in Yom Kippur, there are actually foods that can set you up for a more successful, less onerous fast. As I researched for this post, I found that most people stick to a menu that is classic and delicious but not too crazy or spicy: chicken soup, chicken, rice or pasta, a vegetable, some challah and water. Here are more tips on eating before the fast. 1. Avoid foods that are hard to digest. Now this might be different for everyone, but in general stay away from heavy meat dishes, fried foods or lots of dairy. Because you know, Jewish stomachs. 2. Eat foods that have fiber and water. Foods with lots of fiber will keep you fuller longer, and foods with

water (like fruits and vegetables) will keep you hydrated. Chickpeas or lentils are a great vegetarian protein source to eat, especially a dish like mujaderra. A hearty chicken soup with noodles or rice and lots of veggies is another safe bet. 3. Avoid salt. Salty foods like olives, pickles, chips, canned soup or dishes made with those bouillon cubes will bloat you and make you even more thirsty. So stick to something a little blander for that pre-fast meal. 4. Avoid sugar. Too much dessert before fasting may cause your blood sugar to spike and then come crashing down, which can be unpleasant at its least and cause a headache or moodiness at its worst. Too much sugar also makes you thirsty, like salt, and have you craving more sweets during your fast. 5. Drink water. This is pretty obvious, but make sure to drink plenty of water, not only at the meal right before the fast begins but the days preceding as well. 6. Avoid eating too much. Eat a moderate-sized meal that leaves you satisfied but not unbuttoning your pants. You will feel uncomfortable and it will be more difficult to digest a monstrous-sized meal. 

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FEMINIST STORY Continued from Page 9 of the seven prophetesses (there must’ve been more, but alas, male scribes …) and as a benchmark for true emotional expression, prayer that transcends social norms to get to the heart of the matter. Hannah’s story is a lesson for silenced women — and the men who need to listen harder without judgment. How often are men standing up claiming allyship, yet smearing their judgments and honking their own voices above the sound of the silent, broken-spirited, deeply prayerful woman? When women rise into their power, how often are even the wokest of woke dudes standing up to shut her up under the guise of accolades because heaven forbid the room be filled with the sound of women for more than a few minutes? Peoples of all genders, it’s time. THE

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It’s time to listen and make space. It’s time to step up and be heard. It’s time for the silenced ones to be honored, and the old paradigms that have chastised them to be put in their place. For Hannah’s sake, inspired by her prayer, let’s call that in this new year. Around the Rosh Hashanah table, listen for the silenced voices. Invite them to share, to speak, without judgment. Advocate for those who don’t speak. Listen when they struggle to formulate the words. And remember that the silence can be just as telling as prayers that scream and shout. This Rosh Hashanah, it’s time. (Rishe Groner is the creator of The Gene-Sis, a post-Hasidic movement toward embodied experience and personal growth through Jewish mystical texts. Groner is a writer, strategist, marketer and teacher, and her work has appeared in Lilith, Tablet, The Wisdom Daily and on www.thegene-sis.com.) 

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The Working Parents’ Collective Apology On Yom Kippur By Shira Zemel (Kveller via JTA) – Like so many of you, I’m a working mom trying to juggle it all — my kid, my job and, you know, my life. For the High Holidays, I was inspired to write a working parents’ version of the Ashamnu, an alphabetic acrostic of our collective transgressions, which is part of the public confession we recite during Yom Kippur. This year, 5780, I strive to acknowledge my wrongdoings, to do better by my little guy and my family, and to forgive myself and others more. For the sin of not acknowledging mistakes, and not asking when we need help, and not meaningfully apologizing as much as we should. For the sin of talking about how busy we are. For the sin of trying to control everything, even when we know that’s totally impossible and frustrating. For the sin of being distracted and not giving our children our full attention. For the sin of having no energy at

the end of a long work day to truly connect or play with our kids. For the sin of forgiving in others for what we can’t find a way to forgive in ourselves. For the sin of giving more attention to our professional work than to our kids. For the sin of not doing everything we can to help: for not using every extra ounce of energy, every extra penny, every extra waking moment to do what we can for children separated from their families at the border. For the sin of Instagram: spending too much time on it, and for only showing all that is beautiful and fun instead of the hard, everyday truths For the sin of judging other parents and the decisions they make for their kids and families. (I’m still so upset with myself for judging that mom who had her toddler with her at Target at 11 p.m. — more likely she had no other time to run those critical errands, and no one to watch her child.)

For the sin of thinking we know best. For the sin of lamenting the easier days before we had kids. For the sin of making excuses. For the sin of saying “no” so often. For the sin of overprogramming, overscheduling, and overindulging our children. For the sin of prescribing our children’s interests by allowing capitalism to dictate what toys and clothes we purchase for them. (Really, why is the doll aisle so pink? And why are dinosaurs a boy thing?) For the sin of questioning the intentions of others instead of assuming everyone is doing the best they can. For the sin of resisting when sometimes it’s easier to just say yes. (But also: ¡vive la resistance!) For the sin of keeping our heads down looking at our screens. For the sin of too much television and not enough conversation. For the sin of undermining how

hard we work when we obsess over how we can do better. For the sin of not voting and not vaccinating. (#sorrynotsorry — I have strong opinions that neither of these are OK choices.) For the sin of wanting more instead of being content with what we have For the sin of xenophobia — something that I abhor in others but fear I may practice in small and unknowing ways. For the sin of yelling. For the sin of thinking about parenting in terms of zero days (losing) or 100 days (winning) — when we know many days are just going to be a 40 degree day, and that’s OK. May the gates of repentance be open to us all. G’mar Chatima Tova! (Shira Zemel is a working mom in Washington, D.C., where she directs youth leadership development at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. She and her husband have a 2-year-old son.) 

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With Day School Costs High, More Jewish Families Opt For Home Schooling By Sara Ivry

Modern Orthodox mother Carmiya Weinraub, who has five children, decided she didn’t want her kids in public school or day school. She discovered that Rockville, Md., has a thriving Jewish homeschooling community. (Courtesy of Carmiya Weinraub)

Joey Weisberg and Molly Weingrod have four children, live in a city with a vibrant Jewish community and believe strongly in the importance of a Jewish education. But when their kids reached school age, the couple decided against enrolling their children in a Jewish day school — or public school, for that matter. They’re a homeschooling family. “We just wanted to be with our kids when they were young because we knew it wasn’t going to last forever, and we both have had flexible work lives,” said Weingrod, a former day school teacher and administrator who now teaches “mindfulness-based” parenting classes to expectant parents. She and her family live in Philadelphia and describe their Jewish affiliation as “non/ post-denominational.” We wanted our kids “to have space and time to be bored, and to follow their own interests and self-direct a much as possible, rather than being directed.” To make sure their kids have a strong Jewish background, they build it into their day alongside secular studies. Every morning begins with Jewish prayer. The kids study Torah

two or three times a week, often using workbooks from Chabad called “Children’s Torah” and online resources like videos from AlephBeta.org. The two older children study Mishnah via Facetime with a cousin who’s a rabbi. One child participates in a virtual beit midrash class with other homeschooled kids in Maryland and Pennsylvania and led by a hired teacher. “There is embedded in our tradition a sense of that it is our responsibility to teach our children Torah,” Weingrod said, explaining her preference for homeschooling. “We teach them to swim. We teach them Torah. We teach them the Pesach story. There’s this clear commandment that we’re responsible for their education.” Molly Weingrod’s four children, including her son, are homeschooled. She and her husband wanted their kids “to have space and time to be bored, and to follow their own interests and self-direct a much as possible, rather than being directed.” With the homeschooling movement in America expanding rapidly, a growing number of Jewish education-minded families are keeping their kids home. They include parents wary of formal classroom settings, families who live far from Jewish day schools or schools that comport with their religious orientation or values, and parents seeking to give their kids a Jewish education without paying parochial school tuition. “People are very frustrated with the system,” said Chaya Margolin, director of Jewish Online School, a Chabad project that offers distance-

Happy New Year to all my friends and supporters in the Jewish Community!

learning classes. “Costs are getting higher and higher. Nothing has changed in 100 years between the stress of finances and learning that’s up to par, so we do it ourselves.” Over the last five years, the Chabad program has grown from 40 to 200 students. Many students are the children of Chabad “shluchim” — Jewish outreach emissaries who live in far-flung places around the globe, which

often have no local Jewish schools. But the program also fields many inquiries from non-Orthodox families seeking alternatives to traditional day schools or Hebrew schools. An estimated four to eight million American children are being homeschooled, according to J. See DAY SCHOOL on Page

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open Want Your Kid To Excel In breakfast 7a-7p College? After High School, lunch Try A Break In Israel. everyday bagels By Ben Harris into themselves,” said Liran Avisar muffins Ben Horin, the CEO of Masa Israel Journey, which annually brings local coffee some 12,000 young Jews from around the world to Israel for a chai wide variety of gap year expericafe ences. “You’re going to grow up

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Tech whiz Asher Dale, second from right, hikes with friends in the Negev Desert during his gap year in Israel. (Courtesy of Dale)

Within months of graduating from a Jewish high school near Boston in 2017, Asher Dale had an internship that he “absolutely loved” at Forter, an Israeli technology startup that sells online fraud protection services. The company, which processes more than $50 billion in transactions annually for a global network of retailers, was growing rapidly and the 18-year-old Dale was in the thick of it. He regularly put in 10-hour days during his four months at the company’s Tel Aviv offices and worked on two major software products. For the aspiring computer scientist who had decided to put off college for a year to spend a “gap year” in Israel, it was a dream job. But that was hardly the highlight of Dale’s time in Israel. Rather, he says, the highlight was the personal transformation he saw in himself over the course of a year spent living abroad. “I’ve always been so ambitious and so focused on my future,” said Dale, now 19 and a computer science major at the University of Illinois. “But over my gap year I realized that’s not all that life is about. Life is so much more about living in the present, as cliche as it sounds. It was kind of big for me.” That kind of personal development is one of the major selling points of gap years, defined as a semester or more of experiential learning usually taken between high school and college. Proponents of gap years point to data suggesting that gap year students perform better in college and exhibit greater academic motivation and higher reported levels of job satisfaction. But it’s the potential for personal growth and enhanced self-knowledge that is often touted above all else. “It’s a unique opportunity to look

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and mature significantly, understand what you care about and what you want to do, and come back home with skills that you’re not going to get in college.” Founded in 2004 as a joint venture by the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Masa is the leading provider of gap year experiences in Israel. Since its founding, Masa has brought more than 150,000 Jews to Israel from over 60 countries. The organization helps match young Jews with an array of programs run by a large network of providers and provides $40 million in scholarships each year to help subsidize the costs. Gap years in Israel long have been a rite of passage among Orthodox Jews, with some religious high schools sending upward of 90 percent of their graduates to study in Israel for a year, typically at religious seminaries. But the trend is also catching fire beyond the Orthodox world. “It’s a growing phenomenon in America,” said Shalom Elcott, Masa’s North American CEO. “More and more parents are realizing that our children today, they’re graduating college, they’re getting degrees and they’re not exactly sure where to go. Or they’re finishing high school, they have the pressure of applying to colleges, but they’re not really sure about what they want to study or exactly what their path is.” In fact, academic burnout is the principal reason cited for taking a gap year, according to Ethan Knight, the founder of the American Gap Year Association, an Oregon-based nonprofit that promotes gap years. About 40,000 Americans take gap years annually, and the average yearly growth rate clocks in at 23 percent over the past 10 years, according to the association. “In our country, the running joke See COLLEGE on Page THE

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Just Because I Don’t Want Kids Doesn’t Make Me A Bad Jew By Elena Gormley

(Lalocracio/Getty Images)

This story originally appeared on Alma. When most people ask me if I’ll ever have children, I’m usually pretty blunt. Nope, kids are absolutely not happening. Ever! The only thing occupying my womb will be my IUD. But when it comes to people at my synagogue, I’m typically a little more evasive. I’ll talk about how I’m focused on moving and going to graduate school before getting married and having children. I’m up front and open about almost everything else in my life with members of the local Jewish community, including more controversial topics like politics. Why am

I so reticent to be honest about not wanting to have children? There’s a tremendous amount of pressure on Jewish women to have children, both from a liturgical and societal perspective. Every week we recite a prayer for the congregation asking to be blessed with “healthy children devoted to Torah.” Some of the most important rituals in our culture, including the brit milah (bris), simchat bat (baby naming ceremony), and bar and bat mitzvahs center around children. Then there’s the concern that nonOrthodox Jews in the U.S. aren’t having “enough” children, that the Jewish population will decline and even racist conspiracies around a Palestinian “demographic threat” that endangers Israeli sovereignty. There are many legitimate concerns about ensuring future generations remain connected to Judaism. But why are we blaming nonOrthodox women for not having “enough” children instead of low wages, the high cost of childcare, workplace hostility to mothers,

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high synagogue dues, lack of relevant and accessible programming for working families, insufficient Jewish education programs or lack of support for Jewish people of color and LGBTQ families? It’s easy to blame women for the community’s demographic worries. It’s much harder to work on fixing the many obstacles that make having children untenable, or make it hard for families to participate in Jewish life. But even if we had a supportive and functioning system for families, there are still going to be people like me who don’t have children because we just don’t want kids. In preparation for my beit din, or rabbinical court, I had to write about my commitment to keeping a Jewish household, and in the future raising my children to be Jewish. Writing about this was even more challenging than writing about how I had challenges relating to the State

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of Israel. I chose my words carefully, stating that having children wasn’t a priority, but that I’d absolutely raise any hypothetical children to be Jewish. I also cited some health concerns that would make pregnancy and birth extremely challenging. I had in-depth conversations with my partner to make sure we were on the same page. I was afraid that the beit din would consider my answers insufficient and spike my entire conversion. Fortunately it wasn’t even brought up. Misogynistic concern-trolling in Jewish communities takes many forms. Non-Orthodox women face scrutiny for not having enough children, and Orthodox women face scrutiny for having too many. In the game of patriarchy, all women lose. Instead of pointing fingers at each other, why can’t we support all Jew-

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10 Authors Who Capture What It’s Like To Grow Up In An Interfaith Family By Julia Metraux

This article originally appeared on Alma.

Growing up, I struggled to find my place in the Jewish community as an interfaith Jew. By some people’s standards, I am not Jewish enough, despite having an American Jewish mother, because I have a Swiss Calvinist father. Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas growing up was my norm, but discussing my holidays and family interfaith traditions sometimes made me feel isolated. I didn’t know other interfaith Jews growing up, so the first ones I met were through books. Specifically, Margaret in “Are You There

God? It’s Me, Margaret” was the first modernish Jewish interfaith girl I encountered. What I’ve found is that many of these characters, like myself, merge traditions from different faiths and have trouble navigating their blended identity. Today, I continue to enjoy reading books and other pieces of work that capture what it’s like to grow up in an interfaith family. Here are 10 authors, including interfaith Jews, parents of interfaith Jews and authors who write characters from interfaith families, who nail what it’s like to come from a mixed religion family. 1. Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume I first came across this book when I was in fifth grade while binge-reading Judy Blume’s young adult novels. The main protagonist of this story is Margaret, an 11-year-

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old who has a Christian mother and Jewish father. Margaret, who was raised without a religious affiliation, chooses to study people’s religious beliefs in an effort to figure out her own religious identity. It’s wild to think that this book came out more than 50 years ago. From a subplot about girls wondering when they’re going to get their periods to navigating one’s religious identity, this book is still incredibly relevant and worth a reread as an adult. 2. Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacobs When I was younger, I asked my parents a lot of questions about my religious identity and identity in general, much like Mira Jacob’s son Z, who has an Indian-American mother (Jacob) and a Jewish father. In this graphic novel, Jacobs showcases the dialogue that she and her son have had, from his questions about race to her in-laws (and Z’s grandparents) being avid Trump supporters. 3. Forest with Castanets by Diane Mehta Born to a Jewish-American mother and an Indian Jain father, Diane Mehta’s debut book of poetry explores her cultural identity. Mehta, who was born in Germany

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and moved to her father’s home country of India shortly thereafter, revealed that she didn’t know that she was Jewish until moving to the United States, when her mother signed her up for “school at the local synagogue in New Jersey.” In “Forest with Castanets,” Mehta writes beautifully about a complicated subject — religious interfaith identity. 4. Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden If you haven’t heard of “Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls,” you may have been living under a rock. T Kira Madden, whose late father was Jewish and whose mother is Chinese and Hawaiian, said her parents allowed her to learn about “every different religion, every culture.” Madden, who also chronicles her experience growing up with parents who struggled with addictions in her book, says she hopes that people who feel like outsiders can “recognize some version of themselves, or some element of themselves” in her book. 5. The Whole Story of Half a See AUTHORS on Page

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Here Are 6 New Children's Books For The Jewish New Year

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By Penny Schwartz (JTA) -- A Rosh Hashanah apple cake bake-off fit for reality television and another installment in the Scarlet and Sam series from the award-winning author Eric A. Kimmel are among the highlights in the crop of new High Holiday books for children. Six engaging and fun reads for kids of all ages seize the spirit of the Jewish holidays and the excitement and anticipation of beginning anew, reflecting on the past, and celebrating the warmth and joy of Jewish traditions with family and friends. Kimmel’s “Whale of a Tale” provides a modern-day riff on the biblical Book of Jonah read aloud in synagogues on Yom Kippur, preaching forgiveness over revenge. The master storyteller adds his laughout-loud wit to this ancient and intriguing story. In “Once Upon an Apple Cake,” the children’s book debut for author Elana Rubinstein, you get a zany, charming story of the meaning of family and the strength of Jewish tradition. Not to mention a terrific recipe, too. Other offerings bring the Sesame Street characters led by Grover and a brilliantly colorful biblical story of Creation by another award-winning author, Ann Koffsky. Not to mention for Sukkot, an elephant making his way into a sukkah. The Jewish New Year begins on the night of Sept. 29. Once Upon an Apple Cake: A Rosh Hashanah Story Elana Rubinstein; illustrated by Jennifer Naalchigar Apples & Honey Press; ages 7-10 In this humorfilled, heartwarming chapter book, readers meet Saralee, an endearing 10-year-old Jewish girl whose cute-looking nose possesses the unusual superpower to sniff out scents and flavors. As Rosh Hashanah approaches, Saralee, whose family owns a restaurant, is excited to bake her zayde's (grandfather in Yiddish) popular apple cake with a THE

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mystery ingredient that even Saralee can't figure out. Trouble lay ahead when a new family opens a restaurant and threatens to take over the apple cake business. When zayde bumps his head, he temporarily forgets the secret to the cake. Will Saralee rise to the occasion, bake the perfect cakes and win a contest judged by a famous food critic? More than anything, Saralee wishes that her grandfather returns home from the hospital for Rosh Hashanah. The cartoon illustrations by Jennifer Naalchigar add zest to Rubinstein’s efforts. The recipe is included at the end of the book. Whale of a Tale Eric A. Kimmel; illustrations by Ivica Stevanovic Kar-Ben; ages 6-10 Travel back in time in the third installment of the Scarlett and Sam Jewishthemed chapter book series for older readers by Kimmel ("Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins"). The lighthearted adventure begins when the brother and sister twins offer to take their Grandma Mina's centuries-old carpet to be cleaned at the local rug shop. Engrossed in conversation with their mysterious ride-hailing service driver, Jonah, they forget to take the prized carpet with its aura of magic that their proudly Iran-born grandmother brought with her as she fled tyranny in her country. Suddenly they find themselves transported to Jaffa in ancient Israel amid carpet sellers in the shouk (market). They stow away on a ship, where they reunite with Jonah, who they learn is the biblical prophet. The stormy caper shines with references to the biblical tale, as the kids and Jonah go overboard and are swallowed up in the slimy belly of a big fish (is it really a prehistoric shark, they fear?). With fierce determination, the clever kids prod the reluctant Jonah to travel to See BOOKS on Page

A lifelong resident of New Orleans and practicing attorney of 34 years, Allen is tired of the status quo in Louisiana’s Senate and wants to lead a strong delegation of New Orleanian representatives to accomplish change we can see in District 5. Allen’s policy plans include: • Addressing road repair as well as flooding and drainage in New Orleans and throughout the state

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BOOKS Continued from Page 17 Nineveh, to be faithful to God and justice, and to speak out to the ruthless Assyrian king. Ivica Stevanovic's animated illustrations embellish the drama.

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Shanah Tovah, Grover! Joni Kibort Sussman; illustrated by Tom Leigh Kar-Ben; ages 1-4 Join Grover, Big Bird and other beloved Sesame Street characters as they welcome Rosh Hashanah with honey and apples, a shofar, and a festive meal with songs and blessings. Joni Sussman's simple verse is perfect for reading aloud to little ones and for preschoolers eager to read on their own, paired with veteran Sesame Street artist Tom Leigh's delightful, colorful illustrations. Creation Colors Ann D. Koffsky Apples & Honey Press; ages 2-5 In this gloriously illustrated picture book of papercut art, Koffsky ("Judah Maccabee Goes to the Doctor") presents young kids with the biblical story of Creation through the prism of color: from separating light from dark to the bubbling blues of the water, to the yellows of the sun, and the stripes and spots of the animals. After God created the first two people, a world full of people of all shades and hues followed. And then, on the seventh day, God rested. This simple, lyrically told story is perfect for Simchat Torah, the joyful festival at the end of the High Holidays that anticipates the start of the new cycle of the weekly Torah reading that unfolds with Genesis.

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during Rosh Hashanah of tossing crumbs or other small objects into moving water to symbolically cast away mistakes from the past year. Kids will relate as the friends recall misdeeds, like when Jae shared Jackie's secret. Chris Barash's lovely rhyming verse comes to life in Christine Battuz's cartoon-like drawings in warm autumn tones of browns, orange and green. On the closing page, the friends are seen from behind, walking home, again hand in hand -- a palpable reminder of the power of asking for and extending forgiveness, a theme central to the High Holidays. The Elephant in the Sukkah Sherri Mandell; illustrated by Ivana Kuman Kar-Ben; ages 3-8 Nothing will get between a young boy named Ori and Henry, a lively elephant who once was a circus star but now is sent to a farm for old elephants where no one sings or has fun. When Henry wanders out one evening, he is enchanted by the joyful music and singing he hears from the Brenner's family sukkah. After a few nights, he even learns the Hebrew words. Young Ori hears Henry singing along outside the sukkah and is determined to find a way to bring the animal inside to fulfill the mitzvah of welcoming guests. The boy’s surprising solution shines with kidfriendly inventive thinking. Kids will chuckle at illustrator Ivana Kuman's double-page spread as Henry, in his red-checkered shirt and small black cap, tries every which way to squeeze into the sukkah. On an author's page, readers discover that the out-of-the-ordinary idea of elephants in a sukkah crossed the legalistic minds of the Talmud's rabbis. 

Jackie and Jesse and Joni and Jae Chris Barash; illustrations by Christine Battuz Apples & Honey Press; ages 3-8 On a crisp fall day, four good friends stroll hand in hand toward the river clutching small bags of sliced bread. The diverse group is following their rabbi and neighbors to tashlich, the custom

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Kevin Pillar Settles Into A New Team And The Jewish Baseball Spotlight By Gabe Stutman

Kevin Pillar hits for the San Francisco Giants in a game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Aug. 11, 2019. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO (J. The Jewish Weekly of Northern California via JTA) — For a professional athlete, Kevin Pillar is disarmingly open. Pillar, one of about a dozen Jewish players in the major leagues, spoke to the J. weekly from the San Francisco Giants clubhouse recently amid the team’s seven-game winning streak, just hours before a game against the New York Mets. Half-dressed, in compression shorts, a Superman T-shirt and horn-rimmed glasses, the Giants’ starting center fielder talked can-

didly about his move to a new city (and a new country) in April and his embrace of being identified in a select group fairly considered heroes to a segment of American Jews: Jewish major leaguers. “I try to take that responsibility for letting people know that there are people like myself, like [AllStar shortstop Alex] Bregman, like [veteran infielder and World Series winner] Ian Kinsler, that come from a Jewish background and have been able to be successful major leaguers,” he said. Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011, Pillar spent all or parts of six seasons with the team, where he formed close relationships with teammates, coaches and other members of the organization. He was embraced by the local Jewish community (“They make sure I have somewhere to go for the holidays,” he told the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent in 2016). But less than a week into the

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2019 season, he was abruptly traded to the Giants. In an interview with a Canadian news organization the morning of the deal, he held back tears explaining what was going through his head. “I spend more time with people here than I do with my own family,” he said. “It’s all I’ve ever known.” Some fans in Toronto lamented the deal — Pillar was beloved, known for his durability and defensive ability (which often led to remarkable diving catches). When he returned there as an opposing player on April 23, he received a standing ovation. Pillar, 30, grew up in the tidy, affluent San Fernando Valley neighborhood of West Hills, California. He was a three-sport standout in football, baseball and basketball at Chaminade College Prep, a Catholic high school, but his parents weren’t sports-obsessed. He said he put competitive sports aside during the summer and liked to ride motorcycles with his older brother, Michael. Growing up, he identified as a “half Jew” — his mother, Wendy, is Jewish. His father, Mike, is Christian. Both Kevin and his brother had bar mitzvah ceremonies, encouraged by their maternal grandparents. “We were extremely close with my grandparents growing up,” Pillar said. “My grandma, more so than grandpa, really wanted all of her grandchildren to have bar mitzvahs or bat mitzvahs. It was kind of a way of honoring my grandparents at a young age.”

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Pillar said religion did not “carry a whole lot of weight” when he was a kid. Back in 2002, preparing for his bar mitzvah “seemed like a pain in the butt,” he said a few years ago. But when he took a religious studies course in high school, he came to value what he had achieved. “That’s where I learned what my portion at my bar mitzvah was really about,” he said. “I was able to fully understand what I was able to accomplish at such a young age. I enjoyed that.” Once Pillar became a public figure, and realized how few Jewish players were represented in the major leagues, it became more apparent “that it’s something I need to embrace a little bit more.” He welcomed the Exponent interview in 2016, spoke in front of hundreds at a Maccabi Canada event that same year and said he was open to playing for Team Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. According to the Jewish Baseball News, a website updated daily by Jewish sports enthusiast Scott Barancik, Pillar is one of 11 current Jewish major leaguers, along with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson, 27; Bregman, 25, a twotime All-Star who was a big part of the Houston Astros’ 2017 World Series title; and Kinsler, 37, a fourtime All-Star second baseman now with the San Diego Padres. Pillar’s teammates know he’s Jewish because he told them. Religion typically doesn’t get much public attention, he said, “I guess See KEVIN PILLAR on Page

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unless you’re Jewish. Because there’s just so few of us in the game, so you kind of stand out.” Introspective and thoughtful, Pillar sometimes wears his emotions on his sleeve. Three days after the interview, in the eighth inning of a tie game against the Mets, he took issue with a strike call by home plate umpire Mark Ripperger and was ejected after some choice words. Teammate Pablo Sandoval helped guide the heated outfielder back to the dugout. For Pillar and his family, the transition after the trade wasn’t easy. He and Amanda, who married in 2014, and their young daughter Kobie had just moved into a new house. The Blue Jays play in the American League and hold spring training in Florida, so he had little exposure to the National League Giants, who train in Arizona. “[I was] trying to make new friends with guys that I haven’t interacted with a whole lot,” he said. Ultimately it was baseball that helped Pillar get grounded. “Obviously there are some challenges changing leagues, facing new pitchers, positioning yourself against different hitters,” he said. “But baseball is baseball. Baseball was always my escape from everything that was going on. And I think once I was able to move my family out of the hotel and find a place, we began to settle in here.” The Pillars are renting a house in the East Bay, marking a return to California for both of them. Amanda is from El Dorado Hills, east of Sacramento, and she and Kevin were college sweethearts at Cal State Dominguez Hills, where she played on the women’s soccer team. “Having both of our families a lot closer, it gave us a little bit more comfort,” he said. Now that he’s settling in, Pillar is posting some of the best numbers of his career. Since arriving in San Francisco, he’s batting slightly below his career average of .258, but has hit 15 home runs and driven in 63 runs — near career highs — with 40 games left to play. He’s also made a flurry of highlight reel-caliber plays in the outfield, catching the attention even of opposing managers. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that after the Giants swept a four-game series in Denver in July, Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black told him that

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“the play of Pillar out in the outfield changed a couple of those games.” “For me, I think it’s potentially being in a new place and really wanting to make my impact be felt,” Pillar said of his performance, “in some way impress your new teammates.” He added, “I’ve been doing this for a while now. Sometimes it’s just a matter of time before things fully click.” Pillar was always a talented athlete, but his rise to the major leagues was no certainty. He wasn’t far and away the best player on his Little League team, he said, nor was he recruited by a Division I baseball school. Cal State Dominguez Hills is a Division II school. While most major leaguers are drafted out of high school or after one or two years of college, Pillar graduated with a degree in math and business after four years. Right after he was picked in the 32nd round — 979th overall — by the Blue Jays. He was offered a paltry $1,000 signing bonus. “Pillar’s rise to the majors defies all odds,” said one headline on a Canadian sports website during his 2013 rookie season in Toronto. Once he got his chance in the minor leagues, he didn’t waste it. In 2011, with a short-season rookie league team in West Virginia, Pillar batted .347 with 27 extra-base hits in only 60 games. In 2012, a level higher in Class A, he batted .323 with 91 RBIs and 51 stolen bases. In 2013, he stayed hot, earning himself the promotion to the big leagues in August. It’s fair to say that Pillar, who came to the Giants with a recently signed $5.8 million one-year contract, has cemented his place in the major leagues. But his identity as an underdog is still a part of him. The first sentence of his bio on Instagram reads “From 32nd Round to the Show.” “Similar to being Jewish,” he said, “there aren’t a lot of people that have taken my path to the big leagues … it’s something that I will always identify with. Because I know the challenge and struggle it took in order for me to get here. I know how much hard work behind the scenes it took. For the youth, for the people in a similar position to mine 10 years ago, 15 years ago, even 20 years ago. I will always share my story. I will always try to be the poster child for that story.”  THE

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Emmys 2019: All The Jewish Nominees By Josefin Dolsten

Natasha Lyonne at the Women in Film Annual Gala in Beverly Hills, Calif., June 12, 2019. She’s nominated for best comedy actress for her role in “Russian Doll.” (Emma McIntyre/FilmMagic,)

(JTA) — It’s Emmy season again and Jews in the TV industry have plenty of reason to celebrate. Out of all the nominees announced Tuesday, here’s a roundup of the Jewish picks on the list. Winners will be announced on Sept. 22 at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater. “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” which follows the life of feisty comedian Midge Maisel from the very Jewish 1950s Upper West Side, was nominated for outstanding comedy series. Rachel Brosnahan was nominated for best comedy actress for her role as the titular role, while Tony Shalhoub also got a nod for

playing her father. Marin Hinkle and Alex Borstein both were nominated for best supporting actress in a comedy series. Luke Kirby, Rufus Sewell and Jane Lynch were all nominated for best guest actor and actresses for their roles. The series won eight Emmys last year. “Russian Doll” — about a Jewish New Yorker named Nadia Vulvokov who finds herself in a pickle, a la “Groundhog Day” — was also nominated for best comedy series. Natasha Lyonne got a nod for best comedy actress for the lead role. “Schitt’s Creek,” which had a notable episode about celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah, also got a nomination for best comedy series. Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara both got nominated for their roles as married couple Johnny and Moira Rose. Patricia Arquette, whose mother is Jewish, was nominated for best actress in a limited series or movie for her role in “Escape at Dannemora.” Jewish comedian Sarah Silver-

man‘s show “I Love You, America With Sarah Silverman“ was nominated for best variety sketch series. Maya Rudolph, whose father is Jewish, was nominated for best guest actress in a comedy series for her role in “The Good Place.” Canadian-Jewish actress Sarah Goldberg got a nod for best supporting actress in a comedy series for her role in as Sally Reed in “Barry.” Adam Sandler was nominated for best guest actor in a comedy series for hosting “Saturday Night Live.” He also was nominated for best writing for a variety special for his standup special “100% Fresh.” Amy Schumer was nominated for best writing for a variety special for her standup show “Amy Schumer Growing.” Sacha Baron Cohen and three of his co-directors were nominated for outstanding directing for a variety series for the Showtime series “Who Is America?” Filmmamkers Julie Cohen and Betsy West were nominated for out-

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standing documentary directing for “RBG,” their documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Tim Wardle also got a nod for directing “Three Identical Strangers,” a documentary about a pair of Jewish triplets who were split up at birth without their knowledge. Both films also got nominated for exceptional merit in documentary filmmaking. “Love, Gilda,” a film about the late Jewish comedian Gilda Radner, was nominated for best documentary program. The production team behind Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee” was nominated for outstanding informational series. Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson both were nominated for outstanding actress in a short for comedy or drama series for their web videos titled “Hack Into Broad City.” Michael Douglas was nominated for best lead comedy actor his role in “The Kominsky Method,” while Alan Arkin got the nod for supporting actor. 

Best Wishes to my many Jewish Friends and constituents for a Happy New Year!

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Documentary Shows How ‘Fiddler On The Roof’ Made It To The Stage

From left: Maria-Karnilova, Tanya Everett, Zero Mostel, Julia-Migenes and Joanna Merlin backstage at opening night of "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Imperial Theater in New York City, Sept. 22, 1964. (AP/Courtesy of Roadside Attractions and Samuel Goldwyn Films)

pants from over the years to weave a story that is at once heart-warming, entertaining, informative and in some ways eye opening. Ironically, considering its subsequent success, “Fiddler” had a rocky start. A friend gave lyricist Sheldon Harnick a copy of the book “Wandering Stars” by Sholem Aleichem. Harnick thought it would make a great musical, and forwarded the book to his writing partner Jerry Bock who agreed and in turn sent it to playwright Joseph Stein. Stein, however, didn’t believe it would work as a musical. Instead, he suggested another Aleichem work, “Tevye the Dairyman,” a book of stories that his father had read to him in the original Yiddish. Though it had the backing of the three award-winning Broadway pros, it was still far from a sure thing. Producers were wary, afraid it was too Jewish. “What do I do once we run out of Hadassah benefits?” is what one allegedly said. It wasn’t until the late Harold Prince signed on to produce that the play achieved any momentum.

Even then, success was not assured. Reviews following an outof-town opening in Detroit were uniformly negative. Even after substantial changes, The New York Times’ influential critic at the time, Walter Kerr, offered a tepid review after its Broadway debut. But the next day, there were lines around the block. The film is replete with fascinating anecdotes about the process: how star Zero Mostel and Robbins feuded because the latter named names before the House Un-American Activities Committee; how Robbins attending a Hasidic wedding provided the inspiration for a fun dance scene; how the play was initially intended to be called “Tevye” until someone saw Marc Chagall’s painting “The Fiddler” and renamed the play as a tribute to him. There have been at least two books written about “Fiddler” — but while both share many of these anecdotes, neither can satisfactorily describe the gleam in the eyes, the smiles on the faces and the

pride in the voices of the dozens of actors interviewed here who have played a part in the “Fiddler” phenomenon. Lin Manuel-Miranda, who is interviewed in the film, first performed in a “Fiddler” production in 6th grade. He was so enchanted by the experience he and his entire wedding party rehearsed and choreographed the song “L’Chaim” as a surprise his bride, Vanessa. The performance went viral. Harnick remembers attending an early Tokyo performance and being asked: “Do they understand it in America? It’s so Japanese.” Although there are no overt political references, ties to the current spike in anti-Semitism and hate seem obvious. As Danny Burstein, who played Tevye in the last Broadway revival, notes: “As long as human beings exist and continue to have troubles, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ will be there.” “Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles” opened Aug. 23 in Los Angeles and New York with additional venues to be announced. 

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(JTA) — Instinctively, directorchoreographer Jerome Robbins (née Rabinowitz) knew the musical that he was preparing for Broadway was something far greater than just the story of a Jewish family facing persecution in Czarist Russia. So at one of his early meetings with the creatives behind the project, he made clear the route he intended to take them on: “Fiddler on the Roof” touched on many themes, he said, but at its core it was about tradition. And thus was born one of the great opening numbers in the history of musical theater and the Happy New Year to groundwork for one of the most my many friends in the important and popular plays ever. It Jewish Community. opened in September of 1964 and became the longest-running BroadWISDOM way musical of the time. It ran for a It is a pleasure to 146 Proven and Effective Leadership A former city mayor and an effective parish decade, spawned five Broadway HIM A continue to serve! 7KH 2I´FLDO &DQGLGDWHV RI WKH 'HPRFUDWLF 3DUW\ councilman, Paul TRU Johnston is often STED LEAconsidered DERSHIP revivals and has been performed QUE the dean of the council. His historical insight, everywhere from Vienna to Mexico He is among the most affable, approachable E. City to Reykjavík, Iceland. institutional wisdom and community-first discipline public servants holding office today. HIS HISTORICAL INSIGHT, INSTITUTIONAL WISDOM A new documentary, “Fiddler: make him a valued statesman who offers a unique AND COMMUNITY-FIRST DISCIPLINE MAKE HIM A VALUED STATESMAN WHO OFFERS on A UNIQUE Miracle of Miracles,” digs into the nearly every issue. #perspective 146 OM Y: OCTOBER 12 PERSPECTIVE ON NEARLY EVERY ISSUE. A former city mayor and an effective parish councilman, show’s origin story and much more. A Paul Johnston is often considered the dean of the council. Filmmaker Max Lewkowicz Online Registration Deadline: TRU SEPTEMBER 21 STED LE ADE RSHI P Early Voting: SEPTEMBER 28 - OCTOBER 5 | ELECTION DAY: OCTOBER 12 His historical insight, institutional wisdom and communityexpertly combines archival footage He is among the most affable, approachable first discipline him a valued statesman who offers a He is among the mostmake affable, approachable with interviews of show partici-

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The Guys Behind The Movie ‘Good Boys’ Are Ready For Their Close-Up By Gabe Friedman

From left: Keith L. Williams, Jacob Tremblay and Brady Noon in "Good Boys." (Ed Araquel/Universal Pictures)

(JTA) — Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky have careers that many people in Hollywood dream of. Not long after graduating from college and moving to Los Angeles, the duo joined the writing staff of “The Office” on the strength of a TV script they wrote together. After contributing to the show for several seasons, they co-created the HBO comedy series “Hello Ladies” with Stephen Merchant (the co-creator of the original British “The Office”). The pair also worked with Harold Ramis on the prehistoric comedy “Year One” and wrote the movie “Bad Teacher,” which starred Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake. Despite all of that, they’ve mostly flown under the mainstream radar. That might change after Friday, when their latest brainchild, “Good Boys,” hits theaters. It’s a raunchy R-rated comedy about three rising sixth-graders who find themselves embroiled in shenanigans over the course of a day on the way to a “kissing party,” where one

of their crushes will be hanging out. If it sounds reminiscent of “Superbad,” there’s one possible reason: “Good Boys” is produced by none other than Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the Jewish duo who wrote the 2007 coming-of-age comedy. Eisenberg and Stupnitsky wrote the screenplay for “Good Boys,” and Stupnitsky directed. The movie has already received pretty positive reviews, which say that the script has heart, in addition to the usual slew of curse words and sex jokes. Ads for the film harp on the fact that its own stars are too young for the mature comedy in it. In the trailer, Rogen spells this out for the three lead actors. “That’s f***ed up!” Brady Noon, who plays Thor (yes, that’s his name, not a nickname), says to Rogen. “That is f***ed up!” Rogen responds. “You can say that. But you can’t watch yourself say that.” In Variety, Dave McNary wonders if “Good Boys” could be the hit that rejuvenates the comedy blockbuster, which has declined, saleswise, since the release of “Superbad” 12 years ago this summer. But Eisenberg and Stupnitsky said while they are fans of Rogen and Goldberg, they didn’t specifically have “Superbad” on their minds while writing “Good Boys.” “We were thinking about ‘South

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Park’ and ‘The Hangover,’ but with kids. A lot of movies, but with kids,” Stupnitsky said. Eisenberg added that 1980s kids’ classics like “Stand By Me” and “The Goonies” were inspirations, too. While some of the funny details in “Good Boys” are based on real episodes from the writers’ lives — like the scene in which the preteens find sex toys in a parent’s bedroom, just as Eisenberg did at a friend’s house in third grade — the pair aimed more broadly to capture the anxieties of growing up. “Lee and I weren’t drinking beers in sixth grade. That was probably more Seth and Evan,” Stupnitsky quipped. “It’s not so much about what happened as how it felt. Everything is confusing at that age. … It’s a weird time in your life and we were trying to recap that feeling.” On the phone from Los Angeles, they interrupt each other with a friendly ease they have cultivated over nearly two decades. Stupnitsky, 41, was born in Kiev, Ukraine, but moved with his parents to the Chicago suburbs when he was 9 months old. Eisenberg, also 41, grew up in a suburb near Boston and attended a Solomon Schechter day school from kindergarten through eighth grade. Gene Stupnitsky, in Cubs hat, and Lee Eisenberg on the set of “Good Boys.” (Ed Araquel/Universal Pictures) Stupnitsky’s grandparents were observant Jews, his parents less so. Still, he grew up with a sense of Jewish identity and had a bar mitzvah. “Communism was the religion of the state,” he said of the former

Soviet Union. Eisenberg, on the other hand, remembers sneaking off from his class on a school field trip to eat a non-kosher hot dog, and subsequently worrying that his life might then be over. “I can’t think of anything more Jewish than that,” he said. They met in Los Angeles and became each other’s “first and only friend” in the city. After spending some time as roommates in the early 2000s, they wrote a script for a TV pilot. It involved two friends living together, but instead of aiming to make it in Hollywood, the characters strove to become successful magicians. The show was never produced, but the script helped them land jobs on “The Office.” During their time on the show, they notably co-directed the episode in which lead character Michael Scott founds his own paper company (The Michael Scott Paper Company) and acted in bit roles. They’ve carried their Jewish comic sensibilities with them ever since. “I like Chris Hemsworth fine, but when I see Seth Rogen in ‘Knocked Up’ or Harold Ramis in ‘Ghostbusters’ — there was very rarely a guy that looked like George Clooney in the movies we found funny,” Eisenberg said of Jews in comedy. “I think [Jews] have always felt a little bit like outsiders, and that resonates.” “Jews are probably the funniest people,” Stupnitsky adds. “But I think there’s a reason for it, and it’s kind of a sad reason — if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.” 

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‘The Lion King’ Is Totally Inspired by These Jewish Biblical Figures By Lior Zaltzman

Best Wishes to my many Jewish Friends and Constituents for a Happy New Year!

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(JTA) Did you know that the plot was inspired by two iconic biblical figures? The “circle of life” is nearly complete! After much anticipation, the new Lion King premieres Thursday, July 18. The 3D CGI remake of the 1994 classic stars some of our favorite Jews — Billy Eichner as Timon and and Seth Rogen as Pumbaa — who are quite possibly the best parts of the movie. That’s cool and all, but it turns out that the movie has some seriously deep Jewish roots — as in Old Testament deep. Did you know that the story of the The Lion King was inspired by two great biblical figures? That’s right! The Lion King — which, in 1994, was Disney’s first animated feature that was an original story, and not a retelling of a folk or fairy tale — was inspired by two iconic heroes from the Torah: Joseph and Moses. As O.G. Lion King producer Don Hahn told BluRay.com, both of these biblical underdog stories served as inspiration for Simba’s tale. Like Simba — who exiled himself from the animal kingdom, which he is destined to rule, after his evil uncle Scar makes him believe he killed his own father — both Joseph and Moses were exiled from their families as young kids. Moses was a just baby when he was put in a basket in the river, which is how his mother saved him from a decree to kill all Jewish firstborns

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in Egypt. Joseph was a kid when his brothers, who were jealous that Joseph was their father Jacob’s favorite son, sold him to traders who take him to Egypt. And just like Simba — who makes his home in the jungle with new pals Timon and Pumbaa — both Joseph and Moses find their homes in exile. Joseph becomes a dream interpreter for the pharaoh, and Moses as the adoptive son of the pharaoh’s daughter. Most significant of all: When when destiny calls, all three characters answer. Simba (albeit reluctantly) helps save his father’s kingdom and rescue its people from an evil dictator. That’s kind of like Moses, who reclaims his place among the Jewish people and leads them out of Egypt — and a bit like Joseph, who brings his brothers to Egypt to save them from a famine he predicted. Of course, there’s so much more to the stories of these two fascinating biblical characters — and they have inspired some amazing popculture creations, too. Joseph inspired the delightfully camp Andrew Loyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (the songs are THE BEST!), while Moses was the subject of the wonderfully nostalgic The Ten Commandments which, in turn, inspired the Jewiest fully animated feature in history: The Prince of Egypt. And FYI: There’s yet another amazing link between The Prince of Egypt and The Lion King (aside from the fact that the both have a royal title in their names). Jeffrey Katzenberg, who spearheaded the production of The Prince of Egypt at DreamWorks, helped come up with the idea for The Lion King way back in 1988! Pretty cool! 

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Jewish Comedians Aim To Deflate Modern AntiSemitism With Laughs

Comedian Elon Gold talks at John Jay College in New York, Feb. 26, 2017. He has incorporated Jew-hatred into his comedy sets for years. (Shahar Azran/ Getty Images)

MONTREAL (JTA) — As long as there have been Jews, there have been two unwavering constants: anti-Semitism and Jewish jokes about anti-Semitism. Like the one told about the assassination of Czar Alexander of Russia in 1881, when a government official approaches a rabbi and growls, “I assume you know who was behind it.” The rabbi replies, “I have no idea, but I’m sure the government will blame the Jews and the chimney sweeps.” Confused, the official asks, “Why the chimney sweeps?” “Why the Jews?” the rabbi responds. While philosophers and historians have long debated the persistence of anti-Jewish stereotypes, Jewish comedians have been trying to undermine their peddlers with laughs. One hilarious and revealing example comes courtesy of Elon Gold, an in-demand comic with a Netflix special and regular gigs on the late night talk shows. “We Jews are just like everyone else,” Gold said last year on “The Late Late Show With James Corden.” “We all have the three basic human needs: sex, money and food. We just want them in a different order.” As the audience laughed knowingly, Gold continued, “For the rest of the world, it’s sex, money and food, in that order. But for us, what’s No. 1?” — at which point the entire crowd yelled “Money!” Without missing a beat, Gold exclaimed, “How DARE you?!” in mock horror, adding sarcastically, “I like how that was in unison,

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without any reservation or hesitation.” “Comedians talk about what bothers them, and this [anti-Semitism] really bothers me,” Gold told me ahead of his four shows at this year’s Just for Laughs festival here, which started on July 22. “It’s like what Mel Brooks said about his ‘Springtime for Hitler’: Humor is my greatest weapon. Our revenge is with jokes, and not just against the Nazis of old, but sadly current-day neo-Nazis. The only way Modi and I can fight them is by mocking them and exposing the ignorance of their bigotry.” “Modi” is the Israeli-born comedian and actor Mordechai Rosenfeld, who will be Gold’s first-ever comedy partner in Montreal. “We’ve never been a team before; we’re not the Jewish Abbott and Costello,” Gold said, “but when we get together, something magical happens.” The show, titled “Elon Gold and Modi: Two for One,” is “the epitome of everything I’ve done in the past in Montreal, but it’s now ‘Jew squared.’ It’s so much fun.” This will be Gold’s 13th time at the prestigious event. So what can audiences expect from his bar mitzvah appearance? “A lot of leyning (Torah reading),” he said with a smile. Gold, a graduate of Modern Orthodox day schools and Yeshiva University high school, has been taking on Jew-hatred for years, most notably in a 2017 set he called “Pro-Semite.” In these days of synagogue massacres and growing global anti-Semitism, he said, “we talk about it even more.” Modi agrees, noting that in his routine, “I ask, why does the world hate us? We’re the only religion not looking to recruit people. Every other religion’s main goal is that you join. We’re the opposite: Our main goal is, just leave us alone!” Born in Israel, as were both his parents, Modi was 7 when the family moved to New York’s Long Island. Aside from his native Hebrew, the 49-year-old speaks perfect Yiddish, a consequence of conversing in “mamaloshen” with See COMEDIANS on Page

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Jewish Groups Provide Emergency Help To The Bahamas In The Wake Of Hurricane Dorian By Marcy Oster

An aerial view of houses in the Bahamas from a Coast Guard Elizabeth City C-130 aircraft after Hurricane Dorian shifts north, Sept. 3, 2019. (U.S. Coast Guard by Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam Stanton via Getty Images)

(JTA) — The Israel-based humanitarian group IsraAID, B’nai B’rith International and Chabad are among those pitching in to help the Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian’s devastation, which has killed at least seven people. “We are in the midst of a historic tragedy in parts of the northern Bahamas,” Prime Minister Hubert

Minnis said at a news conference Tuesday, adding the “devastation is unprecedented and extensive.” The hurricane stalled over Grand Bahama Island for nearly two days, leaving whole neighborhoods, as well as airports and hospitals, submerged. At least 13,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed on Abaco and Grand Bahama islands. IsraAID, a humanitarian aid agency that responds to emergency crises and engages in international development around the world, said Tuesday that it would send emergency support to the Bahamas. Its emergency response team will distribute relief supplies, offer psychological first aid and deploy water filters to restore access to drinking water while conducting further needs assessments in affect-

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ed communities, the NGO said in a statement. In 2018, IsraAID said its emergency response teams reached 26,300 people with safe water, psychological and community support, and relief following nine disasters in seven countries. The group has opened an Emergency Response Fund to pay for its work. B’nai B’rith is accepting donations to its Disaster Relief Fund to assist those affected by Dorian. Donations will go to assist local recovery and rebuilding teams, the group said in a statement. Rabbi Sholom and Sheera Bluming, directors of Chabad of the Bahamas in Nassau, have been in touch with the Jewish community in Nassau, which was relatively unscathed by the hurricane, but have not been able to reach some of those living on Abaco, who still remain unaccounted for, according to Chabad.org. The rabbi said that about 1,000 Jewish expats have made their home in the Bahamas, and that more than 100,000 Jews visit the islands each year. The Blumings have joined in the official government relief effort,

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calling on the Jewish community to help, and is coordinating a shipment of supplies from South Florida that will include food, drinking water and mosquito nets for Abaco. The JDC, or American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee said in a statement that it would provide emergency medical supplies through its partner the Afya Foundation, and is raising funds for the supplies as well as for recovery and reconstruction initiatives. To tailor its response to the evolving situation on the ground, JDC said it has activated its network of partners and is assessing the situation in consultation with these local and international agencies. JDC’s disaster relief programs are funded by special appeals of the Jewish Federations of North America and tens of thousands of individual donors to JDC. Relief efforts of JDC are coordinated with the U.S. Department of State, USAID, the Israeli government and the United Nations, as well as local and international partners.

Taking care of each other is what

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Here Are 6 Favorite Jewish Foods You Should Stop Eating By Alix Wall

A bagel with lox and cream cheese is supremely unhealthy. The bagel alone has the nutritional equivalent of five slices of white bread. (Fudio/Getty Images)

With barbecue season, Americans everywhere will be firing up their grills and feasting on their favorite foods. But many of our culinary indulgences come with a cost. We’re not just talking about foods that are overly salty, fatty and sugary. There are foods that actually raise your risk for developing cancer — including some much-loved American Jewish classics. “You want to have a diet of mostly healthy whole foods, and you want to proceed with caution

and have a smaller portion of these Jewish delicacies that do not promote health,” says nutritionist and author Lisa R. Young. It may be hard to avoid such foods entirely, Young says, but exercising portion control is essential. Here are some classic favorites you might want to think twice about due to their potential to increase the risk of cancer. Charred Barbecue It doesn’t matter what kind of meat you’re barbecuing, or whether you’re doing it over wood, charcoal or gas. Overly blackened or burn marks on most foods cause heterocylic amines, or HCAs, which have been proven to cause cancer in studies on animals. HCAs form when amino acids and creatine, a chemical found in animal muscles, react at high cooking temperatures. Fire from wood, charcoal or gas also emits polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, known as PAHs.

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According to the National Cancer Institute, both HCAs and PAHs can be mutagenic, which means they cause changes in DNA that may increase one’s cancer risk. Marinating foods bound for the grill can alleviate this somewhat, but the best remedy is to keep careful watch to make sure your food cooks evenly but doesn’t burn. Processed meats Pastrami, salami, hot dogs — there’s so much unhealthy stuff here it’s hard to know where to start. These foods all contain nitrates or nitrites, preservatives used to cure meats that prevent them from spoiling and give them that rosy color. But nitrates and nitrites are known carcinogens, occurring both naturally in some foods and as an additive in others. Nitrites can damage cells and react with other molecules found in food to create an enhanced cancer risk. For this reason, these Jewish delicacies top the list of foods to avoid when thinking about optimizing one’s diet. Organ Meats Jews have a long tradition of consuming organ meats, from the

Ashkenazi Jewish favorites chopped liver and kishke (cow intestine stuffed with gizzards, shmaltz and vegetables) to the Sephardic dish known as Jerusalem mixed grill, which consists of spicy sautéed chicken hearts, spleens and liver, often served with warm hummus or in a pita. Organ meats are a mixed bag: On one hand, they are packed with nutrients like vitamin A and folic acid, both of which are good for the heart. On the other hand, they are extremely high in saturated fat and cholesterol. While a highfat, high-cholesterol diet is bad for the heart, studies show such diets are also associated with colorectal, breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. Liver and other organ meats, sautéed or chopped, are extremely high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which are associated with a variety of cancers. Fried Foods Sadly, it’s best if latkes and other fried foods are kept to a minimum. When food is cooked at very high heat, an amino acid called asparaSee 6 JEWISH FOODS on Page

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6 JEWISH FOODS Continued from Page 27 gine can react with sugars to produce acrylamide. This happens especially with latkes, since potatoes are high in sugar content. The chemical acrylamide is used in all kinds of industries to make dyes and plastics. When consumed by the human body, acrylamide is converted into a compound called glycidamide, which can cause DNA mutations that may lead to cancer. Farmed Salmon This one is a real heartbreaker, because what Jewish occasion

doesn’t call for a nice salmon, fresh, smoked or poached? Unfortunately, experts say, farmed salmon has on occasion been contaminated with chemicals that could be carcinogenic. Don’t let fish labeled “Atlantic salmon” fool you — there are large salmon farming operations in the Atlantic Ocean, where most salmon is farmed in this country. When buying fresh fish; always try to go with wild. Bagels, Lox And Cream Cheese Lox, that Jewish favorite, is not as healthy as we would hope. If it’s farmed, it could have those danger-

Happy New Year to all my friends in the Jewish Community! Thank you for your continued support! Maureen “MO” O’Brien St. Tammany Parish Council, District 10

ous chemicals that sometimes are associated with farm-raised fish. Even if it’s wild, smoking the lox often leads to the presence of nitrates, and the smoking process itself can add additional carcinogens. With bagels, lox and cream cheese, the whole package is unhealthy, according to Young. “A bagel is the equivalent of about five pieces of white bread,” Young says, and cream cheese is essentially a combination of cream and milk that gives it a high fat content. Young spoke about nutrition at a recent Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) event where she stressed that moderation is the key to healthy eating. Young advocates for a diet low in calories that include a variety of foods focusing on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and vegetable oils. Hold the pastrami and knishes. “While most causes of cancer are unknown, reducing environmental factors like unhealthy diets is important,” according to Dr. Mark Israel, the former director of Dartmouth College’s National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and now the

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national executive director of the Israel Cancer Research Fund, the largest nonprofit organization dedicated solely to funding cancer research in Israel. “Environmental exposures that impact on cancer risk, such as known carcinogens that are present in trace amounts in certain foodstuffs, can provide opportunities for individuals to decrease their risk of cancer by modifying their exposure to known hazards,” Israel comments. ICRF funds scientific research that helps us understand cancer risks. “Further understanding of how such exposures contribute to the development of cancer can provide opportunities to interrupt those processes,” Israel says. “That’s another key area in which we are focused.” This article was sponsored by and produced in partnership with the Israel Cancer Research Fund, whose ongoing support of these and other Israeli scientists’ work goes a long way toward ensuring that their efforts will have important and lasting impact in the global fight against cancer. This article was produced by JTA’s native content team. 

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For couples, a happy sex life has long been known to strengthen the bond and the longevity of a relationship. But are there other benefits of sex? Let's leave off the two most common answers for this discussion (Those being pleasure and procreation.) So, what benefit is it? Why bother? A healthy sex life is good for both body and brain. But how? It is a stress reliever, releasing pent-up tensions and relaxing. It can help ward off colds and flu and is known to raise immunoglobulin A as well as benefiting the overall immune system. It reduces inflammation, which is considered to be the most probable model of aging. Tied in with these immune benefits is the fact that sex helps prepare a woman's body for pregnancy and enhances fertility. It reduces anxiety possibly through the release of the hormone oxytocin. Sex improves sleep quality combating insomnia and deepening the stages of sleep. Sex boosts mood. Sex helps your heart and overall fitness: it is and should be an aero-

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bic exercise with all the benefits thereof. Conversely even short bursts of exercise have been shown to improve sexual desire. It lowers blood pressure. Sex in men can ward off prostate carcinoma. The more instances of sex per month, the less risk of prostate cancer; this is particularly true and beneficial in aging men. Sex acts as a natural pain reliever. Sex is calming for many people. It makes one feel calmer, happier and more at ease. All human touch naturally quiets down the signaling of pain within nerve circuits. Orgasms cause a great release of natural endorphins which can lower perception of pain. For women who are comfortable with it, having sex during their period can seriously alleviate menstrual cramps. Sex help strengthen the pelvic muscles and reduce incontinence with advancing age. Then again…there is always pleasure! Contact Dr. Alan Arrington to discuss your questions regarding sexual health at 504-662-9584.  THE

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A Museum On Southern Jews Moves Its Eclectic 4,000-Item Collection Across State Lines By Josefin Dolsten

Postcards show Jewish-owned department stores throughout the South. (Courtesy of the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience)

(JTA) — A prosthetic leg that belonged to a Russian Jewish immigrant to Lake Providence, Louisiana. An 8-foot neon sign from a hotel that advertised itself as the only establishment with an “up to date kosher kitchen” in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Two synagogue organs from the now shuttered Temple B’nai Israel in Canton, Mississippi. These items made the trip from Mississippi to Louisiana last month — along with the rest of the more than 4,000 artifacts that make up the collection of the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience. Movers had to build custom crates and transport the items in climatecontrolled trucks due to the size and number of unusual artifacts.

The museum is the only one in the world wholly dedicated to telling the history of Jews in the American South. And when it reopens next year in New Orleans, it will be easily accessible to the general public for the first time. A sign for the Knickerbocker Hotel, which advertised itself as the only establishment with an “up to date kosher kitchen” in Hot Springs, Ark. (Courtesy of the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience) Founded in 1986, the museum was located previously at the Union for Reform Judaism’s Jacobs Camp in the remote town of Utica, Mississippi. It did not always have a full-time staff and there were times visitors had to make an appointment. The museum closed in 2012 and put its collection in storage in Jackson, Mississippi, as leadership contemplated a move. New Orleans was chosen as the new location because of its vibrant Jewish population, tourism industry and the fact that it didn’t already have a Jewish-themed attraction. Museum officials predict that some

Happy New Year to all my friends in the Jewish Community!

40,000 people will visit every year. With the reopening, the museum will shift its focus, according to its executive director, Kenneth Hoffman. “The [original] idea was to collect artifacts from congregations and families that were quickly disappearing from these small towns and put them on display and preserve the artifacts, which is a great mission to have,” Hoffman, a Houston native who grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in a phone interview from New Orleans. “But now what we’re doing in New Orleans is we are going beyond that and we are really attempting to tell a larger story about Jewish life in the South.” In 2017, the museum launched a $10 million fundraising campaign for the move and redesign. It has raised $6 million through donations from individuals and family foundations. Jews have lived in the South since before the Revolutionary War,

but the bulk arrived as immigrants during the 19th century. Many settled in small towns, where they worked as merchants. However, by the 20th century, young Jews were leaving those towns to study and work in larger cities in the South. Though some Jews remain in small towns today, many synagogues have closed or are on the verge of shutting down. The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience is the only physical space wholly dedicated to the study of the experience of Jews in the region. Atlanta’s Breman Museum has a gallery dedicated to Southern Jewish history and exhibits about other topics, but it focuses on Atlanta. The exhibit at The Jewish Museum of Florida is local, too. Dallas and Houston have Holocaust museums. Other organizations — including the Southern Jewish Historical Society and the Institute for Southern Jewish Life, to which the See MUSEUM on Page

Best Wishes to My Many Supporters for a Happy New Year

Judge Paulette Irons

Civil District Court, Division M

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Instant Pot Georgian Pomegranate Chicken: The Easiest Chicken For The Holidays Or Any Time By Sonya Sanford

(JTA via The Nosher) -- I was initially an Instant Pot doubter. I love both my Dutch oven and my stock pot, and I love letting the kitchen slowly fill with warmth as things simmer and cook for hours while I putz around the house. Then I got married and an Instant Pot (real talk: Instapot) literally showed up on my doorstep. At the risk of sounding ungrateful, I put it in the closet and forgot about it for at least six months. And then I heard about making

rice in the Instant Pot. My first pot of sushi rice instantly made me a convert. My first vegetable stock changed my feelings about how stock can best be made. My first batch of chickpeas led me to making hummus on a more regular basis. Rice, stock and beans are all great in the Instant Pot, but I still carried some skepticism about cooking other things. Chicken? What’s wrong with cooking it in the oven? Turns out, chicken in the pressure cooker is delicious. The chicken ends up deeply infused with any added aromatic or spice, it becomes fall-off-the-bone tender and requires much less attention than cooking it on the stove. As documented by the queen of Jewish cooking, Joan Nathan, and

by Georgian food guru Carla Capalbo, the Georgian Jewish community traditionally makes chicken cooked in pomegranate juice for Rosh Hashanah. It’s a perfect recipe for the High Holidays: sweet, tart, flavorful and eye-catching. This recipe is an adaptation from multiple recipes for this dish, but in any variation the chicken is braised in a generously spiced, fruity pomegranate juice-based broth and then topped with fresh red jewel-like pomegranate kernels. The pomegranate juice adds expected sweetness, but there’s also an assertive and awakening tang that comes through, especially with the addition of tamarind and pomegranate molasses. The copious amounts of onion and garlic add deep levels of sweet savoriness to the dish. The coriander, hot pepper (not too hot) and thyme play off each other with their respective aromas, heat and mintiness. It is Rosh Hashanah, so a hint of honey makes its way into the pot to remind you of sweetness without being at the forefront of the show. After 15 minutes at high pressure, the chicken barely clings to its bones and the sauce becomes rich with and fortified by the golden schmaltz left over from browning

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the chicken. Take out the chicken and let that liquid simmer (still in the Instant Pot), and the mahoganycolored sauce will thicken and become silky and as decadent as a festive meal demands. Once the chicken and sauce are plated, you shower them with the bright green fresh herbs and the glistening ruby red pomegranate seeds. Dark meat works best for this, but you can certainly make it with white meat as well. And like all great holiday dishes, you can make this several days in advance and it only gets better when reheated. It also freezes well, just leave off the fresh garnish until right before serving. And yes, if you really don’t want to cave to culinary social pressure, you can make this recipe the old-fashioned way. Note: This recipe can easily be doubled. You can find tamarind paste and pomegranate molasses at Middle Eastern stores, Whole Foods, or online. Ingredients: • 12 whole chicken legs, or 6 bone-in thighs plus 6 legs (about 4 pounds) See CHICKEN on Page

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CHICKEN Continued from Page 30 • Sunflower or avocado oil, as needed • 3 medium red onions, halved and sliced thin • 4-5 cloves garlic, finely minced • 2 teaspoons ground coriander • 1 1/2 teaspoons aleppo pepper, or 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika • 2 tablespoons tomato paste • 1 cup pomegranate juice • 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses • 2 tablespoons tamarind paste • 1 tablespoon honey • 3 sprigs fresh thyme • 1 bay leaf • Arils/seeds of 1 whole pomegranate • 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish • Salt and pepper, as needed Directions: 1. Start by generously seasoning your chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. 2. Turn your Instant Pot or pressure cooker to the sauté setting, which should produce high heat for

browning. If needed increase the heat to More or according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once the pot is hot, add a drizzle of oil. Brown each piece of chicken until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes on each side. Cook the chicken in batches so as not to crowd the pot and cause the chicken to steam instead of brown. On the stovetop, brown the chicken in a large pot or Dutch oven on medium high heat. Once all the chicken is browned, transfer it from the pot and reserve. 3. Next, add the onions to the same pot so that they can cook in the remaining chicken fat. If your chicken did not release very much oil, and another tablespoon or 2 of oil to the pot. Season the onions with salt and sauté for 5-6 minutes or until softened and starting to slightly brown. Add the garlic, coriander and paprika to the pot and sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant. Add the tomato paste and stir everything until the onion mixture is well coated in the tomato paste Nestle the reserved browned chicken back into the pot. Press Cancel to turn off the sauté function on the pot. Follow the same steps on a stovetop. 4. Add the pomegranate juice, CHANGE is needed in the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry! CHANGE can only happen with experienced proactive leaders.

CHANGE is HERE!

pomegranate molasses, tamarind paste, honey, thyme and bay leaf to the pot. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, close the pot and seal it. Press the Poultry or Manual setting and set the time to 15 minutes. Let the steam naturally release for 10-15 minutes; shift the valve to venting if more air needs to be released. On the stovetop, cover the pot and simmer for 30 minutes on medium-low or until the chicken is tender and cooked through. 5. Press Cancel, open the lid and transfer the chicken to a platter and lightly cover with foil to keep the chicken warm. Remove the bay leaf and thyme stems. Turn on the Saute function again. Allow the sauce to

I greatly appreciate the support of the Jewish Community for my years in public service. I wish all of you a Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year!

Jack Donahue

Louisiana State Senator for District 11

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simmer and reduce by half, or until it has reached your desired thickness. On the stovetop, turn the heat to medium-high and simmer. 6. Once the sauce has reduced and thickened, pour the sauce over the chicken. At this point you can keep dish warm in a low oven, or you can cool it and freeze if making in advance. 7. Just before serving, garnish the chicken with the fresh pomegranate and roughly chopped cilantro or parsley. Serves 6-8. (Sonya Sanford is a chef, food stylist, and writer based out of Los Angeles.) 

Malinda B. White

Vote #23

OCTOBER 12, 2019

District 75 Louisiana House of Representatives

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This Apple Cake Recipe is a Perfect Dessert for Rosh Hashanah if You're Gluten-free By Rachel Pattison

(JTA via The Nosher) -- In recent years, it seems that more and more of my family members and friends have developed food allergies and food intolerances. This can make it difficult to determine what to serve at holidays and family events. So a gluten-free, dairy-free apple cake

for Rosh Hashanah is a delicious way to celebrate the holiday while also suiting everyone at my table. Nut allergy? You can absolutely leave out the walnuts here. My preferred gluten-free flour to use is Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour, which can be used as a direct substitution for allpurpose flour and doesn’t require additional thickeners such as xanthan gum. Ingredients: • 1/4 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar

Best Wishes for a Happy New Year! Lambert Boissiere

Public Service Commissioner, District 3

DEDICATED SERVANT. PROVEN LEADERSHIP. COMMUNITY FOCUSED.

• 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 2 large eggs, room temperature • 2/3 cup honey • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 2 1/2 cups gluten-free baking flour • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1 teaspoon salt • 1/8 teaspoon allspice • 3 apples, peeled, cored and chopped into 1/4-inch pieces (I recommend using a mixture of green and red apples) • 2/3 cup walnuts, finely chopped (optional) • Unsweetened plain almond milk (optional) Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 325 F. Grease and lightly flour a 9-inch bundt pan (nonstick, if you have one). 2. In a stand mixer, beat together the sugar and olive oil. Beat in the eggs, then the honey and vanilla. Turn off the stand mixer. 3. In a separate large bowl, stir together the gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and allspice. 4. Turn the stand mixer back on,

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and very slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl, ensuring that all the ingredients become well incorporated. 5. Fold in the diced apples and walnuts. If you find that the mixture is too thick, you can add some almond milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, not to surpass 1/4 cup. 6. Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan and bake in the oven for 1 hour. Check the cake at the 50-minute mark. It is done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Once done, allow the cake to cool in the bundt pan for 15 minutes. Then place a cake plate on top of the bundt pan, and while holding the pan and the plate together, very carefully flip the bundt pan so the cake lands directly onto the cake plate. 7. Allow the cake to cool completely and then dust lightly with confectioners’ sugar. Serves 6-8. (Rachel Pattison is a healthy food blogger living in Los Angeles. She loves taking traditional recipes (including Jewish family recipes!) and finding ways to make them healthier. You can find more of her recipes on her blog, www.littlechefbigappetite.com.) 

Happy New Year to all of my friends in the Jewish Community.

Thank You for your continued support.

My faith is what drives me. I know faith without works is dead. So for more than 20 years, I have worked to improve life outcomes for children and youth. I stand on the foundation of results. My work has resulted in the reduction of inappropriate or unnecessary incarceration of youth, increase in communitybased programs for youth and more equitable service delivery. Your vote for me on October 12th is a vote to elect a Judge who will get results for the next generation and increase community safety.

Judge Sidney H. Cates, IV

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False Accusations Of AntiSemitism Hurt The Jews More Than You Realize

By Rabbi Hershel D. Lutch

Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, shown in 2018, was recently accused by his state’s Jewish leaders of peddling antiSemitic tropes when he sent out a letter accusing George Soros and Michael Bloomberg of having “bought” the media. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

BALTIMORE (JTA) — As Americans of conscience, many of us are deeply troubled by the hyperpartisan tone that seems to color almost every news story and cycle. The sensationalism that is so often present within our nation’s discourse undermines our collective ability to assimilate information and reach well-reasoned conclusions. At times, the only voices that we hear are the loudest and most outrageous. If this were not challenging enough, we also live in times in which mass shootings are becom-

ing more common, race relations are growing more fraught and bold displays of xenophobic hatred are increasing in communities across our great country. It is against this backdrop that any new allegation of bigotry, prejudice and hatred is cast. Therefore it was with frustration and deep upset that I learned a letter sent by Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., has been characterized as antiSemitic by some local Jewish leaders in Minnesota, whose charges were amplified by an item in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The fundraising letter states in part that “news of impactful, real progress on turning our nation around was undercut by biased media … funded by deep-pocketed far-left billionaires George Soros, Tom Steyer and Michael Bloomberg. These left-wing radicals essentially BOUGHT control of Congress for the Democrats.” Because two of the three people named in the letter are Jewish — and, presumably, because Steyer’s

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father is Jewish and at times he has identified as such — Carin Mrotz, the executive director of St. Paulbased Jewish Community Action, told American Jewish World News that the letter contains “pretty classic anti-Semitism.” As someone who knows Emmer well, I feel that nothing could be further from the truth. In the spring of 2016, I led a weeklong mission to Israel with Emmer and a delegation of Jewish community leaders from his home state of Minnesota. As a then-freshman congressman, Emmer made travel to Israel a top priority for his first term in office. Throughout our trip, Emmer demonstrated a nuanced understanding of the geopolitical tensions that contour Israel’s relations with her neighbors. When we met with the director-general of the Foreign Ministry, mayors of towns and members of Knesset, he showed a genuine concern for Israel’s security. At Yad Vashem, he shed tears with us over the wholesale murder of the majority of European Jewry. Emmer also demonstrated a deep respect for the Jewish people’s ances-

tral ties to the Land of Israel and to the Torah. When we met with Rabbi David Lau, Emmer and the Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel shared a warm dialogue about the critical importance of protecting the right of American Jewish children to a strong, robust and affordable Jewish education. These are not the actions of an anti-Semite. Emmer has shown himself to be a true friend of the Jewish community and of the U.S.Israel relationship. This cannot be said about every member of Congress and, sadly, not even about every member of Minnesota’s congressional delegation. Indeed, Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, is encouraging the boycott, divestment and sanctioning of the State of Israel. Rather than a wouldbe implied anti-Semitism, this is the very definition of modern antiSemitism. In the words of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the former chief rabbi of Britain, “In the middle ages, Jews were hated because of their religion. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century, they were See ACCUSATIONS on Page

MY PLAN FOR LOUISIANA I will bring diversity, bold new leadership and a fresh New Vision to the Lt. Governor’s Office Promote Tourism, Culture, Recreation and Parks within as well as outside the State of Louisiana Bring new ideas to promote our seafood industry and offer solutions to environmental problems facing the industry Create better tax incentives for the film and TV industry that benefit our state and the film industry These are just a few of my plans to improve our great state.

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ADL Speaks Out Against Jewish Publication Over Articles Attacking LGBTQ Community By Josefin Dolsten between man and animal is that man can curb his desires while animals cannot,” Irwin Benjamin wrote. Bernstein wrote a letter to the newspaper on July 18, a week after the op-ed appeared. “[W]e are especially concerned about the impact that The Jewish Press’s use of editorial discretion will have on LGBTQ Jewish youth, in particular, who may already be questioning their place in the Jewish community,” the letter said. The ADL said it sent the letter in response to more than 25 complaints submitted through its webDid you know that your property taxes cannot site about the paper’s articles. AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM Three days before the letter was increase UNLESS the assessment and the ORLEANS ASSESSOR ERROLL increases G. WILLIAMS sent, the Jewish Telegraphic AgenTAX RATE (millage) increases? cy had reported on accusations that Did you know that your property taxes cannot the editor of the paper, Elliot ResnThis year, the propertythe tax assessment rate MUST BE REDUCED by the amount increase UNLESS increases and the of the ick, repeatedly made racist and increase of the propertyincreases? assessment so that the taxing agencies do not TAX RATE (millage) homophobic remarks on his Twitter get any more revenues due to inflation. account. Resnick in social media This year, the property tax rate MUST BE REDUCED by the amount of posts over the last year has called the the property so that is the do Theincrease only wayofyour property assessment taxes will increase if taxing any of agencies the taxing African religions “primitive” and not get any which more revenues due totaxes inflation. authorities levy property (millages) raise their tax rates the gay rights movement “evil.” He before end of this calendar taxing CANNOT The onlythe way your property taxesyear. will The increase is ifauthorities any of the taxing also questioned the existence of raise your property unless they hold a public hearing and pass an white supremacists and white authorities which levytaxes property taxes (millages) raise their tax rates before thewith endaof2/3 thismajority calendarvote. year.Some The taxing authorities CANNOT have nationalists and asked how an adult increase of these taxing authorities raise your property taxes unless they hold a public hearing and pass already scheduled public meetings to consider this increase but have not having sexual relations with a teenan increase with a 2/3 majority vote. Some of these taxing authorities ager constitutes assault. specified how they will use these additional funds. have already scheduled public meetings to consider this increase but At the time, Resnick defended Be aware: ALL these agencies must lawadditional advertise funds. the dates, times have not specified how they will use by these his comments to JTA. Mauer, the and places of meetings to consider a proposed property tax increase publisher, said she told Resnick that Be aware: ALL these agencies must by law advertise the dates, times (or millage roll forward). the tweets were “unacceptable” but and places of meetings to consider a proposed property tax increase (or that the paper was not taking any millage roll forward). Once scheduled, you will find these meetings listed at further action. Once scheduled, you will find these meetings at www. www.nolaassessor.com. Participate in their listed publicized process. I have The Jewish Press describes itself nolaassessor.com. in their publicized process. have voices heard too. as “the largest independent weekly heard your voices.Participate Now, let these taxing agencies hearIyour your voices. Now, let these taxing agencies hear your voices too. Jewish newspaper in the United States,” and has a print and online HERE ARE THE AGENCIES YOU SHOULD circulation of 95,000, according to CONTACT IF YOU WANT TO PROTEST ANY CONSIDERED TAX INCREASES: its publisher. The publication says it champions “Torah values and ideTheir Share of 2019 Taxing Authority als from a centrist or Modern OrthoProperty Tax/Mills dox perspective.” It was a JTA cliCity of New Orleans 48.65 ent before ending its subscription in School Board 45.31 December 2014. Sheriff 2.80 EAST BANK: ADL said it made multiple Board of Liquidation 22.50 City Hall attempts over the span of a month 1300 Perdido Street, Sewerage & Water Board 16.23 EAST BANK: to secure an off-the-record meeting Hall RoomCity 4E01 but was unable to do so. Mauer told Audubon Park Zoo 0.32 1300 Perdido Street, Room 4E01 (504) 658-1300 JTA that the paper had agreed to a Aquarium 2.99 (504) 658-1300 WEST BANK: meeting, but the ADL canceled WEST BANK: Levee Board West 12.28 Algiers Courthouse when The Jewish Press insisted that Algiers Courthouse Levee Board East 12.56 225 Morgan Street 225 Morgan Street it be recorded. 368-7642 Special Taxing Districts 31.26 (504)(504) 368-7642 “How recording the meeting would defeat their stated purposes

organization’s New York-New Jersey region sent a letter to the publisher of The Jewish Press expressing concerns about articles denigrating LGBTQ people. The Brooklyn-based paper largely serves the Orthodox Jewish comIsraelis take part in the Jerusalem Pride munity. Parade, June 25, 2009. (Nati Shohat/ Flash90) The letter from Evan Bernstein to Naomi Mauer specifically menNEW YORK (JTA) — The AntiDefamation League is speaking out tions a July op-ed, titled “The Pride against a Jewish newspaper for Parade: What Are They Proud Of,” publishing articles containing that likens gay people marching in Parade to animals, adulAN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM inflammatory rhetoric about the the Pride terers and thieves. ORLEANS ASSESSOR ERROLL G. WILLIAMS LGBTQ community. “One of the obvious differences Last month, the director of the

34 Rosh Hashanah 2019

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eludes me,” Mauer wrote in an email. “Frankly though, I think that their attempted spin underscores the wisdom of recording the proceedings.” Asked about ADL’s criticism of the articles, Mauer said the paper was open to hearing its concerns but that as an Orthodox paper, it aims “to reflect the teachings of the Torah in all of our work.” “We are mindful, however, those teachings are sharply inconsistent with the fundamental views of [t]he LGBTQ community,” Mauer wrote. “But we are also not in the business of trying to hurt people. A meeting with the ADL, given their recent focus on LGBTQ issues, we thought, would help us to better determine whether we were within proper journalistic guidelines in our treatment of those issues — or whether our language can easily be misconstrued.” Meanwhile, Bernstein told JTA that having off-the-record meetings with publications is standard protocol for ADL. “We wanted to have a discussion, not something that was going to potentially be used in print,” he said. “We wanted to be able to have a private discussion, and we were not able to have a private discussion, and that’s a shame.” While Orthodox interpretations of Jewish law prohibit homosexual acts or same-sex physical relationships, a number of Orthodox authorities have called for sensitivity to observant Jews who are gay. Last month, a young Orthodox man from South Africa committed suicide in Israel, reportedly because he was struggling with his sexual orientation. “The story here is about the teenagers within the LGBTQ community and the struggles they are facing within the Orthodox communities in which they live,” Bernstein said. “Many of these teenagers are shunned from the only lives they know after they come out, and these same communities have access to and could likely read these Jewish Press articles.”  THE

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Americans Don’t Know Much About Judaism But Love The Jews, Survey Says By Ben Sales

From left, the symbols of Islam, Christianity and Judaism. U.S. Jews know more about religion in general than their non-Jewish neighbors, Pew found. (Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

(JTA) — U.S. Jews know more about religion in general than their non-Jewish neighbors, a new survey shows. Americans who are not Jewish, meanwhile, don’t know a lot about Judaism. But they like Jews more than any other religious group. And they think there are more Jews in the country than there actually are. The more non-Jews know about Jews, the more they like them. The data comes out of a new survey on what Americans know about religion published Tuesday by the Pew Research Center. The survey asked a group of diverse Americans a set of 32 questions about religion, ranging from knowledge of the Bible and Christianity to knowledge of Judaism and other religions. Ten of the questions related to Judaism in some way: four asked directly about Jewish history, practice and texts; five were about the Hebrew Bible; and one was about the size of America’s Jewish population. The survey was conducted Feb. 4-19 and included a total of nearly 11,000 respondents. The margin of error for the whole group was 1.5 percent. The margin of error for the Jewish sample was 8.6 percent. Here are three takeaways from the survey. Americans don’t know a lot about Judaism. Out of four questions on Judaism, non-Jewish Americans got a dismal score: They averaged less than one out of four correct. Besides Jews themselves, atheists did the best on the Jewish questions, averaging 1.3 correct answers. None of the questions on Judaism received a majority of correct answers: THE

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Judaism

thought Jews were more than 5 percent of Americans, and the rest of the respondents didn’t know. But Jews know a lot about religion. Jews didn’t only outscore their non-Jewish counterparts when it came to Jewish knowledge. They outscored everyone when it came to general religious knowledge, too. Besides the questions on Jewish practice, history and text, seven questions were about Christianity, nine were about the Bible, including the New Testament, nine were about “world religions,” two were about atheism and agnosticism, and two were about religion in the United States. Jews were the only religiously affiliated group to get a majority of the questions right. On average, Jews got 18.7 questions right out of 32, as opposed to a national average of 14.2. Atheists and agnostics also got a majority of questions right, but the closest religiously affiliated group was evangelical Christians, who got an average of 15.5 correct.

29 percent of respondents knew that the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat) begins on Friday night. 27 percent knew Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) was associated with Judaism. 24 percent knew that Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. 13 percent knew Maimonides was a Jewish scholar. Older Americans did better on all of these questions than the youth. Forty percent of those 65 and older, for example, knew that the Jewish Sabbath begins on Friday night, compared to 18 percent of respondents aged 18 to 29. Jews did much better on these questions than non-Jews, averaging 3.1 correct out of four. Nearly 90 percent knew that Shabbat begins on Friday night, almost 80 percent knew Kabbalah is Jewish, 82 percent knew Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Wishing Year and 58 percent knew that Maimonides was Jewish. Americans as a whole also didn’t know how many Jews live in the country. Fewer than one in five knew that Jews are less than 5 percent of Americans. A quarter

Jews scored highest, the survey said, “even after controlling for levels of education and other key demographic characteristics such as race, age and gender.” Jews also scored high on world religions and on knowledge of atheism and agnosticism. Ninety percent, for example, knew that atheists don’t believe in God. More than 85 percent knew that Ramadan is an Islamic holy month and that Mecca is an Islamic holy city. They were above average when it came to knowledge of the Bible (including the New Testament) and knowledge of Christianity. On the question of who saved the Jews from murder by appealing to the king (an occasion marked by the Jewish holiday of Purim), 66 percent of Jews correctly responded “Esther,” as opposed to 28 percent of Americans as a whole. The more Americans know Jews, the more they like them. See SURVEY on Page

You A Very Healthy & Happy New Year!

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Kveller My Rosh Hashanah Resolution: Accepting My Child With ADD By Bryan Schwartzman (JTA via Kveller) -- Why did I get the child who doesn’t work right? What did I do to deserve the child who doesn’t eat when she’s supposed to — if she eats at all — who doesn’t sleep when she’s supposed to sleep, who doesn’t learn what she’s supposed to learn and often doesn’t do what she’s supposed to do? I really hate to admit it, but in some of my most trying moments of parenthood, the word “unlucky” plays in my mind like a background song trying to be heard. “I’m unlucky,” I’ll find myself thinking — even though, intellectually, I know that of the 7.4 billion people on the planet, I’m in the top 1 percent when it comes to luck. I’ve got two healthy children who shower

Happy New Year

36 Rosh Hashanah 2019

me with affection; a loving spouse; parents who are actively involved in my children’s lives; a fine house in a desirable, safe neighborhood; a rewarding career. I could go on and on. Yet I can’t shake the sense that within my greatest joy I’ve experienced misfortune. Sometimes I’ll remember that I’m far from alone: My partner is with me in raising a child one could call “challenging,” and there are clearly millions of other parents in similar situations. Undoubtedly, when the word “unlucky” resurfaces in my mind, I’ll feel guilt or shame. But the word remains, ready to reveal itself at the exact moment when I need positive, life-affirming thoughts. You see, my older daughter has been “diagnosed” with Attention Deficit Disorder. Whether you’d

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call it a diagnosis — and whether or not this is something to lament — is a question that can fill many books and blog posts. But now that she has this label, it’s all too easy to overlook my daughter’s many wondrous qualities, like her creativity and curiosity. But you take her ADD, throw in some anxiety and a litany of food allergies and eating issues, and you’ve got a combustible cocktail. Being a parent of a child with ADD can be so much more demanding than I ever realized. And while I truly believe being a parent is my most important mission in life, there’s so much I want to do: I want to write, be fit, be active in my community, maintain a romantic relationship with my partner, advance my career. Yes, I can practically hear you say, “being pulled in multiple directions is the essence of modern parenthood.” But so often, attending to my child’s unique needs seems to require skipping a workout, putting off the latest essay or surrendering any semblance of down time. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but when you look forward to small things, missing them feels like a big sacrifice. With the High Holidays upon us, I take solace in the fact that Judaism places a much higher value on what people do and how we act — and not what we think. I also know that so many parents lose patience or have selfish thoughts. That doesn’t mean we don’t love our children or that we’re ineffective parents. At the same time, however, everything from the Rosh Hashanah liturgy to modern psychology reinforces the notion that what and how we think influences how we behave. So as I prepare to sit for hours in shul, I’m pledging to work on my thinking, to reframe the narrative from one of burden to one of gratitude, to focus on nourishing my child’s gifts rather than lamenting her faults. I hope to use this time to focus on what I’m gaining through the joys and challenges of raising both my daughters rather than what I am losing. I don’t think I’ll make it all the way to my destination, but I’m optimistic I can cover a lot of ground. I’m being aided by a wonderful book, “Super-

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parenting for ADD: An Innovative Approach to Raising Your Distracted Child.” Both authors — Edward M. Hallowell and Peter S. Jensen — are leading psychiatrists who have lived with ADD in their families. They offer a range of parenting techniques and medical advice, but more than anything, they remind us that at its heart, parenting is about love and empathy. The book provides real hope that with love, expert advice, passionate teachers and possibly medication, my daughter can fulfill her potential in school and in life. She can lead a life of joy, meaning and achievement. Over the years, I’ve worked to cultivate empathy for others — those with stark differences in life situations, socio-economic backgrounds or political views. But I’ve recently realized that on some level, I’ve failed to empathize with my own child. But my book got me thinking about what it is like to be a 7-year-old with ADD, to have a brain that works too fasts, to want to please but to be unable to refrain from “bad” behavior — and to therefore face criticism from wellmeaning adults and, at times, cruelty from other children. Our fractured society suffers from a lack of empathy. But maybe a first step toward a broader societal healing might entail parents taking a closer look at their own children. What if we encourage our kids rather than find fault with them? What if we comfort them rather than chasten them? This is my assignment for the Jewish New Year. I know it’s a tough one. As I confront the liturgy and life’s frailty and impermanence, I’ll try to focus the mind and spirit on how lucky I am. I’m sure I’ll falter — I’m only human. I’m just a dad, trying to do the best he can. Here’s hoping my best gets better. (Bryan Schwartzman is an award-winning writer living in Ambler, Pennsylvania. He and his partner, Amy, are the parents of two daughters.)  THE

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Israelis And Arabs Say One Thing In Public And Another Behind Closed Doors. Politicians And Pundits Need To Understand The Difference. By Eric R. Mandel

travels in the Middle East will have brought me through Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan and Kurdistan, as well as many visits to Capitol Hill. What I’ve learned from security, defense and intelligence officials is this: When Israelis and Arabs talk Abbas Araghchi (Center R), political deputy at the Ministry of Foreign off the record, what they say differs Affairs of Iran, and Helga Schmid markedly from their public state(Center L), Secretary General of the ments. America policymakers are European Union’s External Action too often unaware of what Israeli Service (EEAS), take part in a meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint and Arab experts and official say Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) behind closed doors, even to one attended by the E3+2 (China, France, another. Germany, Russia, United Kingdom) and Iran on July 28, 2019 at the Palais This may not come as much of a Coburg in Vienna, Austria. (Alex surprise, given the global diploHalada / AFP / Getty Images) matic crisis that resulted from the NEW YORK (JTA) — By the 2010 Wikileak of diplomatic cables. end of this year, my research and But it does mean that the American public, not to mention elected offi-

Israel Under Radar

cials, are often ignorant of the full breadth of information needed to understand the most important issues going on in the Middle East. As Jonathan Spyer, a leading Middle East analyst, told me after his most recent travels, “It’s very important for Western policymakers to be aware that leaderships and elites throughout the Arab world today find a great deal of common ground with Israel on the issues of the Iranian and Sunni Islamist threats.” “To an increasing extent,” he continued, “they are also weary of Palestinian intransigence and see Israel as a model for successful development. Much of that, however, cannot be said openly by these leaders because this does not reflect the views of parts of the societies of the leaders in question, where Islamist and/or Arab nationalist sentiments continue to hold sway.” Today, despite some public lip service to the Palestinian cause, the Sunni Arab world knows that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at most a “side issue.” Incitement and scapegoating may have political advantages for

authoritarian regimes, but it undermines forging people-to-people relationships and the acceptance of Israel as a permanent part of the Middle East. I recently interviewed an Israeli military intelligence expert who had just returned from private meetings in Europe with Arab and EU officials. He told me that behind closed doors, their analysis of the Middle East, including Iran, is often light years away from the public rhetoric offered by European — and to a lesser extent, Arab Sunni government officials — to their citizens and the world at large. When politicians or pundits make foreign policy critiques, unaware of what is discussed privately between insiders in the Middle East, the public is misinformed. Most Americans don’t realize that the conflicts of the Middle East are primarily tribal and religious in nature, and that the primary allegiance is not to modern states artificially constructed by the West 100 years ago, something Arabs and Israelis know all too well.

See ISRAELIS AND ARABS on Page

Happy New Year to my many friends in the Jewish Community! I appreciate your continued support! THE

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Rosh Hashanah 2019

Israel Under Radar

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Hamas And Isis Hate Israel — And Each Other By Marcy Oster

Hamas militants at a funeral in the southern Gaza Strip, Aug. 17, 2017. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Explosions earlier this week at two Hamas police checkpoints in Gaza City left three policemen dead. But it wasn’t Israel that planted the explosives, as many might have suspected. Hamas says it was Islamic State suicide bombers. A day after the deadly attacks, Hamas began mass arrests of supporters of Islamic State and other Salafist organizations in the Gaza Strip. It’s not the first time that Hamas and members of the Islamic State, or ISIS, have clashed in recent years. Israel and the United States consider both Hamas and ISIS to be terrorist organizations. As Israeli

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared at the United Nations in 2014, “Hamas is ISIS and ISIS is Hamas.” So why do the two Islamist groups consider each other enemies? Here’s a primer: Islamist philosophies, different goals The short answer is that Hamas, which is considered a part of the Muslim Brotherhood, is a national liberation movement, albeit with an Islamist bent, intent on forming an Islamic state in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. ISIS, which stands for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, belongs to the Salafist branch within Islam that wants to re-create the Islamic caliphate and impose Sharia law throughout the region. ISIS views Hamas and its supporters as “apostates.” That is, in part, because Hamas participated in Palestinian democratic elections in the West Bank and Gaza, and worked to improve relations with Egypt, with which

ISIS has been at war since at least 2013. In January 2018, a video filmed by the Sinai branch of the Islamic State and released by ISIS called for attacks on Hamas members and institutions, and accused Hamas of betraying the Palestinians by imprisoning ISIS fighters and other extremists in Gaza, by not stopping the United States from recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and by accepting support from Iran. The video led many to say that ISIS was “declaring war” on Hamas, upping the enmity that had already been in place for many years. The end of the video showed an Islamic State member originally from Gaza shooting execution-style a man who had been caught smuggling arms to Hamas. The Sinai connection The Islamic State’s branch in Sinai, the sparsely inhabited Egyptian desert region on Israel and Gaza’s southern borders, is considered one of the most effective local branches of ISIS and is the one that comes most into contact with

Hamas next door in the Gaza Strip. Among its achievements are shooting down a Russian jetliner in 2015, killing 224 people, and an attack on a Sufi mosque in the northern Sinai in November 2017, killing 311 in Egypt’s worst terrorist attack. The enemy of my enemy … It would appear that Israel and Hamas have a common enemy in the Islamic State. As recently as 2017, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for firing long-range rockets at southern Israel. In February 2018, The New York Times reported that over the course of two years, the Israeli military had carried out more than 100 airstrikes in Egypt’s northern Sinai against jihadist groups allied with the Islamic State with the approval of then-President Abdel Fattah alSisi of Egypt. Israel’s intervention in Sinai helped the Egyptian military take a decisive lead in its years-long battle See HAMAS and ISIS on Page

Wishing you a Very Healthy and Sweet New Year!

Happy New Year!

Our Senator. Our Champion. www.karencarterpeterson.com

38 Rosh Hashanah 2019

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What Israel Still Needs To Learn From Ariel Sharon By: Dennis Ross And David Makovsky

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gives a speech on the opening day of the new school year in the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, Sept. 1, 2004. (Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — With Israelis heading to the polls on Sept. 17, it is worth reflecting on the last Likud leader, Ariel Sharon, and the decisions he made on the Palestinian issue. Sharon, the 11th prime minister of Israel, was a large man who did not think small. As Nir Hefez and Gadi Bloom noted in “Ariel Sharon: A Life,” Sharon in the early 1950s commanded Israel Defense Forces Unit 101, which sought to deter terror in Israel by carrying out controversial attacks into Arab states. Shimon Kananer, who served in the 101, said, “When I first came to the unit and met Arik, I couldn’t sense anything special about him. But after a

week in his presence, it was clear to me and to anyone in the 101st that he would change the course of history.” Sharon saw himself as a man of destiny. During the War of Independence, somehow he was saved during the battle for Latrun when he easily could have died. Sharon would say later that he was marked by Latrun and saved for a larger purpose. He was a brilliant warrior who played a leading role in the Six-Day War and was more responsible than anyone else for changing the course of the 1973 war. Sharon would help to forge the Likud party when he chose to enter politics, but would be forced out of the Defense Ministry in 1983 when the Lebanese Christian militia carried out the killings of women and children in the Palestinian refugee camps of Shaba and Shatilla. The IDF let the militia into the camps, and the Kahan Commission held Sharon responsible for this act of omission. He would say later that only in Israel could the Jewish defense minister be forced from office because of what Chris-

tians did to Muslims. True, he was forced out as defense minister, but he would remain a minister in the governments through the 1980s and early ’90s. After the failure of the Camp David summit and the beginning of the second intifada, Sharon would be elected prime minister in February 2001. He declared, as prime minister, that he would end the intifada and produce peace. He would send the IDF into the West Bank cities to destroy the terrorist infrastructure, but he would also make the decision to withdraw unilaterally from the Gaza Strip in 2005. Sharon’s decisions were driven in part by some of the same factors that will confront Israel’s next government, so it is important to understand who he was and what drove him. Sharon was a man of contrasts: Throughout his career, his superiors could not count on his loyalty, but he was unfailingly loyal to those who served under him — and they revered him. As Sharon wrote in his 1990 autobiography, he did not “trust” Arabs, yet he always

employed Arab workers on his ranch, with whom he typically shared meals in his home. He was merciless in criticizing Israeli leaders for not being tough enough on Palestinian terror, yet in response to the suicide bombing of the Dolphinarium nightclub in Tel Aviv, an attack that killed many teenagers, then-Prime Minister Sharon declared that “restraint is also strength,” as David Landau wrote in “Arik: The Life of Ariel Sharon.” At the Wye River negotiations in 1998, he would not shake Yasser Arafat’s hand. Yet shortly after becoming prime minister, Sharon sent his son discreetly to meet the Palestinian leader and instructed him to be respectful and treat him with dignity. As we note in our book, Sharon was the driving force behind building settlements in the territories seized in the 1967 war, and would declare that giving up any territory taken from the Arabs would signal See ARIEL SHARON on Page

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Happy New Year to all my friends in the Jewish Community.

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Israel Under Radar

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ARIEL SHARON Continued from Page 39

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Israeli weakness. Yet later he would be the Israeli leader who actually dismantled settlements in the Sinai and Gaza, and the first Israeli leader to publicly embrace Palestinian statehood there and in the West Bank. Sharon, too, would ensure a Jewish state even if it meant breaking with Likud, the party he founded. He would do what had to be done, no matter the political cost. All the factors that led to his belief that he must act to preserve what was important to Israel also reinforced his view that he was the only one who could do it. Making a decision and acting on it reflected what he believed was required of leaders: Leaders assume responsibility. Leaders had to be prepared to go it alone. In many ways, Sharon saw leadership as his calling. He spent a career striving to get to the point where he would make the fateful choices for Israel. He played rough; he bulldozed opposition and former supporters. But he would never fail the test of being up to the challenge and getting the job done. Others might not have it in them to make big decisions, but for him that simply meant they were not cut out to be leaders. Several factors led Sharon to make the decision to withdraw from Gaza. First, he was a firm believer that Israel must always take the initiative and not be acted upon or forced to react. For him, it was essential to prevent Israel from ever being cornered. Dov Weisglass, a special adviser to Sharon, recalled that Sharon became convinced based on conversations with then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the international community, including the United States, would not accept a deteriorating stalemate, and that if Israel did not act, it would have an initiative imposed on it. Second, the impact of Israeli soldiers having to conduct police actions against the Palestinians weighed heavily on him, especially when reservists from elite commando units and the Air Force voiced their unwillingness to conduct operations in the West Bank and Gaza. Third, demographic trends made him worry that if Israel did not withdraw, it would risk losing its Jewish majority or its democratic

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character. But Sharon was intent on ensuring a Jewish state, even if it meant breaking with Likud, the party he had founded. Sharon was not an ideologue but a pragmatist. As circumstances changed, he adjusted. Settlements, in his eyes, were driven by security and topographical needs so long as Israel faced conventional military threats from its neighbors. Once those threats became supplanted by asymmetrical threats from terrorist groups, Israel’s political needs internationally became more important. He dealt with what he believed was necessary for the state, and nothing would stop him from achieving it. Today, Israel faces a looming, fateful choice. A little over threequarters of all Israeli settlers live in about 5 percent of the West Bank that is closest to the June 4, 1967 lines. If Israel keeps building outside of the settlement blocs, Israel is on a path where it may soon lose the ability to separate from Palestinians. To face this challenge, Israel needs a leader who will rise to the occasion — and who recognizes the stakes and not just the cost of action, but also of inaction. Because the Palestinians are divided now between Fatah and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza, two states are impossible at this stage, and the issue of building outside of the settlement blocs is not an issue in the Israeli election. But whoever wins that election and forms a government will face the reality that separation may soon be lost as an option unless a decision — a courageous political decision given the weight of the settler movement in Israel — is taken. Ross and Makovsky are the coauthors of “Be Strong and of Good Courage,” (PublicAffairs/ Hachette), which was released this week. DENNIS ROSS is counselor and the William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He served as special assistant to President Obama, as Special Middle East Coordinator under President Clinton, and as director of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff in the first Bush administration. DAVID MAKOVSKY is the Ziegler Distinguished Fellow and director of the Project on ArabIsrael Relations at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.  THE

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ISRAELIS AND ARABS Continued from Page 37 Too many Americans fail to realize this, but insiders know that if there were no Israel, the Shiites would still hate the Sunnis, Iran would still aspire to hegemony, Turkey would still be an unreliable NATO ally and Libya and Yemen would still be chaotic. It is this American blind spot that attempts to recreate nation-states like Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, and undermines America’s ability to foster stability in nations where rule of law and the primacy of clan don’t follow a Western path. Some European officials, who vociferously defend the Iran nuclear agreement publicly, privately acknowledge the dangers of the Iranian revolutionary theocracy that acts against their values, from the hanging of gays to the Iranian complicity in the Syrian genocide, the ethnic cleansing of Sunnis in Iraq and Syria and the population transfer of Shiite families from Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan into Syria. Europeans have long tried to have it both ways, appeasing illiberal Middle Eastern states and

ELECT

to work on shared interests in the Middle East, and more times than not, politics wins over policy. We are reluctant to upset the simplistic echo chambers we have created. It would be illuminating for American policymakers if they could hear what is said privately about the Middle East among intelligence, security and defense officials. Not making an attempt to understand the Middle East beyond the talking points of like-minded sources is a prescription for America to get dragged into another Middle East war in the not-too-distant future. When the gap between public policy statements and a fully informed politician is wide, the chances for miscalculation leading to dangerous policy recommendations greatly increases. The pieces of the Middle East puzzle do not fit into a Western frame, and we ignore this at our peril. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

tions, afraid to express contrary points of view if they don’t reflect our party’s talking points. In our conversations, whether in Washington or on social media, you are defined as evil, if you challenge a politically correct narrative that undermines the alleged victims of Western perfidy. It is common today to unfriend people whose viewpoints do not corroborate one’s own world view. Removing oneself from the opportunity to engage in dialogue that conflicts with one’s own perspective makes it easy to delegitimize any differing viewpoints and creates an increasingly more insular social media community. In Washington, I was in a closeddoor meeting in Congress when a legislative aide told me that the member agreed with my analysis regarding Palestinian intransigence, corruption and funding of terrorists, but he had advised the member not to publicly express that opinion — it would endanger the member’s chances of moving up to a leadership position because it challenged the party’s current narrative. On both sides of the aisle, I have often tried to bring offices together

actors in the hope that terrorism won’t land on its shores, while rhetorically taking a value-based foreign policy position that ignores the worst players in the region while saving all of their criticism for the only democracy that shares their values. My own work in Congress over the years has consisted of private, off-the-record briefings. In private meetings, when you are trusted by members and their foreign policy aides, conversations of substance can take place. Ideas and observations that normally wouldn’t see the light of day is discussed, which hopefully translates into a betterinformed and nuanced policy proposals. Quantifying the success of private meetings is sometimes hard to judge. But when a leading member of the Senate uses my notes to prepare himself before going on “Meet the Press,” or I am asked for ideas for new legislation or for my opinion regarding pending legislation, I consider that a measure of success. Unfortunately, we Americans are in our own echo chambers, not challenging ourselves to see the merits of other uncomfortable posi-

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Rosh Hashanah 2019

Education

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DAY SCHOOL Continued from Page 13 Allen Weston, executive director of the National Homeschool Association. Recent years have seen “very explosive growth,” he said. Weston attributes the increase to rising dissatisfaction with public schools’ emphasis on test prep, curricula and traditional educational models. Modern Orthodox mother Carmiya Weinraub has five children, the eldest of whom is approaching bat mitzvah. Weinraub decided early on she didn’t want her kids in public school, where kosher and Sabbath restrictions would inhibit their social life. But she wasn’t excited about day school either, due to cost and what she described as their racial and socioeconomic homogeneity. She also was skeptical about day schools’ ability to endow her kids with a spiritual sense of God. Weinraub soon discovered that Rockville, Maryland, has a thriving Jewish homeschooling community, and she and her husband relocated there from New York City. In Rockville, she says, her kids are not quite the fish out of water they’d be in another Orthodox community. Call Our Trained Experts & Experience the Difference

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A former Hebrew teacher and synagogue youth director, Weinraub handles Jewish studies instruction herself. After her kids master reading English, she starts them on Hebrew with the help of a workbook. Weinraub and her husband model Jewish prayer daily, use the holidays to introduce lessons on Jewish history and tradition and for one of their children use the same online beit midrash program as Weingrod’s child uses. Of course, they spearhead the kids’ secular studies, too. “It’s a little bit fly-by-the-seatof-my-pants, a little bit hit-or-miss, and a little bit calculated,” Weinraub said. “We write thank-you notes, and that’s how they learn to write letters. We have a typewriter and they write stories. We have games available; Scrabble is how one kid learned how to spell. Our elevator is how one kid learned how to count.” There are a variety of curricula for Jewish homeschoolers who crave more formality. The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education at Bar-Ilan University offers nearly 500 lesson plans and resources used both by school educators and homeschoolers. Mindful of the growing homeschool population, the center also runs the Lookstein Virtual Academy, a project-based accredited online program for middle- and high-school students. Parents also use iTal Am—a computer-based Hebrew and Jewish heritage program, the correspondence project from the NSW Board of Jewish Education, materials from Jewish educational websites like Chinuch.org and even PJ Library, which mails free Jewishthemed books to homes. Brooklyn mom Kate Fridkis, a lay cantor who identifies as Conservative and works at a Reconstructionist synagogue, hadn’t really

planned on home schooling her 5-year-old. Last fall, she and her husband enrolled their daughter in kindergarten at a local pluralist Jewish day school. But the child became increasingly anxious and unhappy, and complained about the smallish classroom with a small number of female classmates. Fridkis, who was herself homeschooled until college and recalls her childhood as “amazing,” found a local group of homeschoolers who encouraged her to take the leap. They spanned the gamut from freeform, “unschooling” parents to families with home-based classrooms featuring chalkboards on the walls. Their kids appeared happy and thriving. While she loves the flexibility of homeschooling, Fridkis says she’s intimidated about shouldering all the responsibilities for her daughter’s Jewish education. “As a parent, I wonder: How do I give my child the foundation I want her to have to go out into the world? How do I give her the tools?” Though Fridkis knows Jewish liturgy and studied Hebrew in college, she’s not fluent. For now, she incorporates elements of Jewish life into her daughter’s new daily

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routine, from singing morning prayers to talking about the Jewish holidays. Down the road, she said, she may hire a Hebrew tutor or an Israeli babysitter. “I try to in general talk to her about what it means to be a Jew in the world,” Fridkis said. “We’re not having deep philosophical conversations, but I’ll talk about tikkun olam, that as Jews we want to take care of other people.” Meanwhile, both Fridkis and her daughter are adjusting to the new normal. “There’s something really gratifying and cool about being able to step out of the childhood rat race and say: Okay, we’re doing math and also it’s a beautiful day — let’s go outside and look at some flowers,” Fridkis said. This article was sponsored by and produced in partnership with the Avi Chai Foundation, which is committed to the perpetuation of the Jewish people, Judaism and the centrality of the State of Israel to the Jewish people. In North America, the foundation works to advance the Jewish day school and overnight summer camp fields. This article was produced by JTA’s native content team. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

District 78 42 Rosh Hashanah 2019

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ACCUSATIONS Continued from Page 33 hated because of their race. In the twenty-first century, they are hated because of their nation state. AntiZionism is the new anti-Semitism.” Falsely accusing someone of antiSemitism is just as dangerous as not calling out anti-Semitism when, in fact, it is present. By falsely flagging conduct as anti-Semitic, we lose our ability to stay focused on combating the very numerous and extant threats of anti-Semitism — and, importantly, we lose our credibility to define and identify them. If all conduct critical of any Jew is anti-Semitic, then the term “antiSemite” loses its teeth and becomes just another meaningless expression. Watering down the definition of anti-Semitism is done at great risk to our community. While I personally may have preferred a different syntax within the fundraising letter, I find any sugges-

HAMAS and ISIS Continued from Page 38 against the jihadists, while for Israel it brought more security to its borders. The article called Israel and Egypt “secret allies in a covert war against a common foe.” … is hardly my friend In 2014, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs published an article titled “Similarities between Hamas and ISIS.” It said both terrorist organizations view jihad and suicide attacks as primary tools; persecute and oppress non-Muslim minorities; execute people who are suspected of supporting their opponents; plan to establish a state ruled by Muslim law; have seized territory by force; educate children to sanctify death

tion that Emmer harbors attitudes of anti-Semitism to be profoundly offensive. His record of pro-Israel and pro-Jewish legislation and his deep personal friendship with members across the full spectrum of the Jewish community simply do not support that contention. By raising the specter of antiSemitism against our community’s friends, we inadvertently alienate our closest allies. Especially in the dangerous times in which we live, our community can ill afford to take its friends for granted. RABBI HERSHEL D. LUTCH is the COO of Bender Strategies, LLC. He has served in multiple leadership capacities within the American and International Jewish community, including COO (North America) of Aish HaTorah. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media. 

and to die as martyrs in jihad; and strive to commit “genocide” against their opponents. So much for “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Hamas regularly lobs missiles into Israel, and Israel has launched military operations and imposed economic sanctions on Hamas-run territory for years. Yet both sides often need each other, in part to keep matters from getting even worse. “Destroying Hamas,” wrote Aaron David Miller, the veteran Middle East analyst at the Woodrow Wilson Center, “would create a vacuum that could be filled by even more dangerous jihadist groups, including affiliates of the Islamic State.” 

Wishing my many friends & supporters in the Jewish Community a happy New Year.

985-445-1270

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 83 A MAN OF INTEGRITY WITH

A NEW VISION AND A NEW DIRECTION:

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Bookshelf AUTHORS Continued from Page 16 Girl by Vira Hirandandi Born to a Jewish-American mother and a Hindu Indian father, Vira Hirandandi said she “grew up feeling not quite enough of one or the other” in an interview with Publisher’s Weekly. In “The Whole Story of Half a Girl,” the protagonist, Sonia Nadhamuni — who also has a Jewish-American mom and an Indian dad — faces pressures from her peers to define her identity, which is a pressure that I felt from my peers, too. Like Blume’s “Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret,” this young adult novel captures what it’s like to navigate one’s interfaith identity as a young girl. 6. I Wanna Be Your Shoebox by Cristina Garcia In “I Wanna Be Your Shoebox,” the main character, Yumi RuízHirsch, has a Jewish-Japanese father and a Cuban mother. I don’t have fond memories of eighth grade, and Yumi’s experience is going similarly poorly: Her family is losing its house, her school is cutting her beloved orchestra program and her grandfather Saul is dying. This novel is refreshingly realistic. One of my favorite parts is when

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Yumi’s mother calls her a poster child for the 21st century because of her mixed heritage. 7. Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas by Pamela Ehrenberg In this children’s picture book, little Sadie and her multicultural family — her mom is Indian and her dad is Jewish — celebrate Hanukkah while mixing in some of her mother’s Indian traditions, like eating dosas. While I do enjoy reading novels that tackle the complexity which can often arise from being in an interfaith family, it’s nice to read simple stories of how different religions and cultures can complement each other. 8. Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes by Laurel Synder Born to an Irish Catholic mother and a Jewish father, Laurel Snyder has written a plethora of young adult novels and children’s picture books. This is my favorite of hers; it’s an anthology she edited. “Half/ Life” contains a series of essays that showcase various experiences of Jews growing up in Jew-ish homes. It’s a great read if you want glimpses into just how different interfaith Jewish families can be. 9. Sonora by Hannah Lillith Assadi

Novelist Hannah Lillith Assadi, who is Jewish and Palestinian, published her debut novel “Sonora” in 2017. In an interview with Jewish Boston, Assadi said that she identifies “with both identities” and “grew up celebrating the High Holidays as well as acknowledging major Islamic holidays.” Like Assadi herself, Ahlam, the main character here, is the daughter of a Palestinian father and a Jewish mother who was raised in Arizona. The novel is told from the point of view of Ahlam and follows her and her friend Laura’s journey to New York City. “Sonora” is captivating — but don’t just take my word for it. The book was a 2018 National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 Honoree and a recipient of the American Academy of Arts and Letters Rosenthal Family Foundation Award in Literature. 10. Poetry and books by Phil Kaye Born to a Jewish father and a Japanese mother, Phil Kaye, in an interview with The Knockturnal, said he “felt like this odd duck” growing up, as he didn’t know any other Japanese-Jewish kids. Kaye is also the co-director of Project VOICE with Sarah Kay, a fellow

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Japanese-Jewish poet. In his 2018 book “Date & Time,” which is a full-length poetry collection, Kaye touches on everything from being a mixed race and interfaith kid to millennial stereotypes.  SURVEY Continued from Page 35 As other surveys have shown, Americans tend to have warm feelings toward Jews. Asked to rate religious groups on a thermometer scale, from 1 to 100, Jews got an average rating of 63, the highest of any group. Forty-one percent rated Jews at 67 or higher, while 8 percent rated Jews 33 or lower. Atheists and Muslims scored lowest, both with an average thermometer score of 49. The more Americans knew about religion in general, and Judaism in particular, the more they liked Jews. Those who answered 25 or more questions correctly, for example, gave Jews an average rating of 70. And those who know Jews personally also rated them higher. The respondents who know Jews gave Jews an average rating of 66, versus 56 from those who do not know any Jews. 

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MUSEUM Continued from Page 29 museum belonged until it separated in 2017 as part of the relaunch — hold events but do not have permanent exhibits. Few people associate the American Jewish experience with the South, despite the region’s rich history, said Gary Zola, the executive director of the Jacob Rader Center of the American Jewish Archives and a professor at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. But its story includes slaveholders and civil rights activists, high-ranking Confederate politicians like Judah Benjamin and society women like the Atlanta memoirist Helen Jacobus Apte. “The Southern Jewish experience constitutes the most distinctive and arguably the most significant regional saga because the South envisioned itself as a separate, independent nation during the Civil War,” Zola wrote to JTA in an email. “Thankfully, this new Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience will soon provide the American public with an opportunity to learn more about this vitally important facet of our collective past.” Postcards show Jewish-owned department stores throughout the South. (Courtesy of the Museum of

the Southern Jewish Experience) The museum has been working with Gallagher & Associates, a firm that has designed exhibits for the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia and the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C. Interactive exhibits will address topics such as anti-Semitism in the South, how Jews reacted to the civil rights movement, Southern Jews in popular culture and the religious customs of the region’s Jews. “If we wanted to get Jews and non-Jews to get through the door to experience the museum, then we had to be relevant,” Hoffman said. “So we had to talk not just to the relatives or the ancestors or descendants of small-town Southern Jews, we had to expand our mission and talk about how Jews across the South made an impact or were impacted by their communities.” Ultimately, Hoffman wants the museum to challenge the way visitors think about their own identities. “One of our goals is to expand people’s understanding of what it means to be a Southerner,’ he said, “and what it means to be a Jew.”. 

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COLLEGE Continued from Page 14 is that most students take a gap year: It’s called their freshman year of college,” Knight said. “Most people laugh when they hear that, but the reality is there’s at least as

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achievement gaps between native Israelis and recent immigrants, or pursue college credit from more academically oriented programs. Others work in hospitals, volunteer with Israel’s emergency medical services, such as Magen David Adom, or teach English. The participants live independently, typically in apartments with others in the programs. They are exposed to Israel generally through tours of the country and other educational opportunities. Several hundred of the 12,000 annual participants are selected to participate in a special leadership training track that grooms them to assume positions of Jewish leadership in their home communities. But for many Americans, career development opportunities in Israel’s fabled startup culture is the biggest draw of a gap year in Israel. “Israeli culture allows you to be a talent regardless of your title or experience,” Avisar Ben Horin said. “It’s just about what you can do. If you’re good at what you’re doing, you find yourself more and more in the center of things. It’s a sink-or-

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swim experience. You’re not going to find yourself making copies.” One of Masa’s offerings is a gap year run by Big Idea, a 12-year-old Israel company that began as a technology summer camp for teens. Big Idea’s program begins with a fourmonth training course in computer coding or graphic design in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, followed by a month of applying that knowledge to build a technology solution for an Israeli nonprofit. For participants who choose Big Idea’s full nine-month program, this is followed by an internship with an Israeli technology company. “A lot of them come with no experience of living away from home, with no real vision of what can they do with this kind of knowledge or tools, and you see at the end of the program how they become confident,” said Dotan Tamir, Big Idea’s founder and CEO. “They stand on the stage presenting their app that they developed and speak with so much confidence on things that they had no clue about just five months ago.” For Dale, the experience effected a significant shift in his career goals. A self-described “ambitious kid,” Dale as a high school student aspired to found a company and become a billionaire “like Steve Jobs.” He even released a mobile app on Apple’s app store while still a senior in high school. By the end of his time in Israel, Dale had come to realize that success in the technology world wasn’t the only thing he cared about. “I want to start a company that would actually do good for the world,” he said. “I’m much more focused on relationships, my family, friends, having a really positive experience in college, and kind of more living where I am and not always being stuck in the future.” This article was sponsored by and produced in partnership with Masa Israel Journey, a leader in immersive international experiences in Israel for adults ages 18-30. This article was produced by JTA’s native content team. 

Happy New Year to my many friends and colleagues from...

Judge Ethel Simms Julien Civil District Court Division N

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COMEDIANS Continued from Page 25 his Russian-Polish grandparents. “Also, in yeshiva, I used to love to read the Lubavitcher rebbe’s ‘sichos,’ his teachings in Yiddish, and that helped me learn the language,” Modi said. Modi, who studied at Yeshiva University’s Belz School of Music, became a cantor at Manhattan’s Community Synagogue, where he still conducts Kol Nidre services and davens on the occasional Shabbat. “I never thought I could be outJewed,” Gold said, “but Modi’s the ultimate Jew! We have so much fun rehearsing; he shpritzes jokes like one of the old Catskills comedians.” Modi also had a career as a Merrill Lynch investment banker on Wall Street. That is until one open mic experience at a comedy club convinced him to put challah on the table by doing shtick rather than stocks. Both men skillfully deal with the challenge of being funny in an often unfunny time. “We see the Jew-hatred because we’re Jewish,” Modi said, “but there’s growing hatred and racism against blacks and immigrants; everyone’s feeling it. We focus on ours because it’s against us. I talk about how the whole world has always wanted to kill us. I reference the Holocaust, and survivors often come up to me afterwards and say, ‘it’s so good that you talk about it.'” Can addressing anti-Semitism with humor, this age-old Hebraic coping mechanism, actually change

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Entertainment

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attitudes? Gold is skeptical that finding the funny in Jew-hatred will alter anyone’s beliefs. “But I think it can change awareness and perspectives,” he said, hopefully. In his appearance on the Corden show, Gold cleverly followed up the audience’s clichéd response about Jews and money by both confirming and dispelling the stereotype. “You’re wrong, it’s not money, it’s food,” he insisted. “You ask any Jew if they would rather have a hot brisket sandwich or the cash value of a hot brisket sandwich” — a pause; the audience laughs — “and they would take the cash. And then buy a hot brisket sandwich at a cheaper place and keep the profits!” That kind of humor, Modi points out, consists of “having fun with Jews, not making fun of them. When you leave my shows, you feel proud to be Jewish. Other comedians will talk about how Jews don’t play sports or whatever. That’s not my type of humor.” As for getting laughs in an era when American Jews have been shot in shul, Modi concludes, “I know I’m doing the right thing. I have to keep making audiences happy and raise money for Jewish organizations that help.” He said that Pittsburgh’s synagogue complex, where 11 worshippers were fatally shot in October, wants to do a gala fundraiser. “They’re already asking for comedy,” Modi said. “You have to be able to get back on your feet and laugh.” 

KIDS Continued from Page 15 ish women and their families, no matter what their families look like? In the aftermath of multiple states passing extreme restrictions on abortion, Jewish women have been pointing out that Jewish law allows for considerably more gray area on abortion than current Republican policy. In fact, whether or not women are exempt from the mitzvah to have children has historically been a subject of rigorous rabbinical debate, with a spectrum of opinions on the issue. Let’s also not forget that historically it’s been a bunch of men, who could not get pregnant and did not shoulder the many burdens of parenting making decisions about how Jewish laws regarding pregnancy and parenting applied to women. In fact, it was due to the tireless advocacy of many Jewish women, including Emma Goldman, Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan and

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Shulamith Firestone, who were active in the movements that gave women greater reproductive autonomy today. I just wish people could recognize that there are many ways to do “l’dor v’dor,” from generation to generation, that don’t involve having children, and that Jewish women who don’t want to have children aren’t any less dedicated to making sure our Jewish communities thrive for future generations to come. I have taught children, hosted Shabbat dinners, helped friends celebrate holidays, written about ways to create a meaningful Jewish life, and given advice and support to people during their conversion journeys. One of the greatest strengths of the Jewish community is our creativity and resilience, and child-free Jews like myself are showing that there are many ways to address the challenges our community faces without compromising our own values and desires. 

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