THE JEWISH VOICE AND OPINION Promoting Classical Judaism
January 2012
Vol. 25 • No. 4
Tevet 5772
In the Newly Redrawn 9th District, the Democratic Primary Pits Pro-Israel Rothman against J Street’s Pascrell This June, because of the
recent redistricting in New Jersey, two incumbent Democratic Congressmen with very different views on Israel and the Middle East will face off against one another in the Democratic primary to decide which of them will be the candidate for Congress from the newly reconfigured District 9. Democrats in the redrawn 9th, which includes the heavily Jewish communities of Passaic, Clifton, Englewood, and part of Teaneck, will have to decide between Rep Bill Pascrell, who supports and is supported by the far-left J Street, and Rep Steve Rothman, who has been
Rep. Bill Pascrell
Rep. Steve Rothman
recognized as one of the Jewish state’s staunchest friends in Congress and has, in fact, been publicly condemned by J Street for his strong pro-Israel positions. Mr. Pascrell, 74, won applause from J Street in 2010 when he
became part of the so-called “Gang of 54” Congressmen who signed a resolution attacking Israel for defending itself against Hamas terrorists in Gaza. Mr. Rothman, 59, won J Street’s scorn last April when, in
the wake of the terrorist murder of an entire family in Itamar, Israel, he penned a letter to President Barack Obama requesting his administration to insist that PA President Mahmoud Abbas “fully renounce any and all Palestinian incitement against Israel and the Jewish people.” In his letter to Mr. Obama, Mr. Rothman and his co-signators said, “Television programs run by the Palestinian Authority and textbooks in government schools continue to praise martyrdom and terrorists and call for an armed struggle against the Israelis. Incitement, especially by official institutions, damages the prospects of reaching a peace continued on page 40
Willing to Talk without Preconditions, Israel Is Blamed for Thwarting the Peace Process No one argues that, despite a few feeble efforts by the so-called Quartet for Middle East Peace (the US, Russia, the European Union, and the UN), the peace process is in disarray. An attempt at talks in Amman, Jordan at the beginning of January ended with the parties – Israel’s Yitzchok Molcho
and PA chief negotiator Saeb Erekat – agreeing to meet again in a few weeks. Some observers believe the talks have more to do with bolstering Jordanian King Abdullah’s position than they do with peace between Israel and the PA. Nevertheless, when Israel announced in mid-December
Offering Hope........................................ 5 Kol Ami: Women Singing?................. 6 The Current Crisis............................... 7 Orthodox Women Artists ................... 9 Mishneh Torah App...........................20 AllChesed.com...................................21 Ohel’s Chanukah Video..................22
that it would be building homes in Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem, four European members of the UN Security Council said the Jewish state was sending a “devastating message” for peace efforts. Initially, the Netanyahu government’s announcement that it had published tenders
Inside the Voice
Too Much Stuff .................................22 Pesach with the Smolows .............26 Leisure Time Pesach........................27 The Log................................................28 New Classes This Month................36 Mazal Tov.............................................36 Chesed Ops.........................................39
to build 40 more housing units in Efrat, a Judean community just outside Bethlehem, raised more noise from Israelis than it did from the Quartet. Efrat Mayor Oded Revivi said the number was “not enough.” “We need hundreds more,” he said, explaining that, during continued on page 13
Changing Party Registration........45 Ess Gezint: Alsace-Lorraine............46 The Form You Need.........................48 Index of Advertisers ........................49 Honor the Professional ..................51 Letters to the Editor ........................52 “Nora’s Will”.........................................54
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RCA Takes Issue with Torah Declaration on Homosexuality; Is It Kinder to Offer Hope or Better to Offer Nothing? of the Rabbinical Council of America. Several members of a Declaration on the Torah of the large Modern OrthoApproach to Homosexuality, dox rabbinic group signed which endorsed reparative the Declaration. However, therapy as the only course Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, the of action “consistent with the new president of the RCA, in Torah,” has prompted gayan article published by the agenda activists to begin an Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Internet and telephone lobtook a position which not only bying campaign to persuade seemed to put him at odds some of the more than 150 with some of the Torah world’s Orthodox rabbis, community most influential authorities, leaders, respected physiit generated praise from the cians, and mental-health leader of a group that calls professionals who signed itself “Jewish Queer Youth.” the declaration to have their The Torah Declaration names removed. itself takes the position that Among those who may jewish voice oct 2011:Layout 1 10/3/2011 18:08 Page unwanted same-sex attractions have been lobbied are leaders
The publication in December
can, with a combination of therapy and teshuva, or repentance, be modified and healed. That message has put the committee that wrote the Declaration and its signers at odds with homosexual activists and their supporters, who – even in the absence of scientific proof – assert that sexual orientation is immutable. No Harassment The 25-member committee that wrote the Declaration see themselves as evidence that the homosexual activists are wrong, and, they say, 1 to deny therapy to those who
desperately want to change their same-sex attraction (SSA) is cruel and unjust. “No one is harassing those who are happy homosexuals. They don’t need us. We wrote the Declaration for those who are unhappy and want to change in order to live lives in consonance with the Torah. We’re proof that it can be done. It isn’t easy, but it’s possible,” said one of the committee members. At least half of the committee are either “strugglers” (those still undergoing therapy) or “success stories” (those
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THE JEWISH VOICE AND OPINION, Inc. © 2012; Publisher and Editor-in-Chief: Susan L. Rosenbluth Phone (201)569-2845 Managing Editor: Sharon Beck, Advertising: Rivkie Lichstein-Stall The Jewish Voice & Opinion (ISSN # 1527-3814), POB 8097, Englewood, NJ 07631, is published monthly in coordination with The Central Committee for Israel. A one-year subscription is $18. Periodicals postage is paid at Englewood, NJ and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Jewish Voice and Opinion, POB 8097, Englewood, NJ 07631. All advertising in the Jewish Voice and Opinion must conform to the standards of the Orthodox Rabbinic kashruth. Editorial content reflects the views of the writer and not necessarily any other group. The Jewish Voice is not responsible for typographical errors.
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Kol Ami: Ordered to Hear a Woman Sing? In Israeli last month, some journalists and politicians—and also a few rabbis—seemed to equate the behavior of observant
IDF soldiers who quietly absented themselves from an event which involved women singing, with the behavior of a few hareidi extremists who have been physically abusive to women. At the beginning of January, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Ganz issued a ruling requiring all soldiers to attend every official military ceremony, even those that include female vocalist performances, regardless of religious prohibitions. Exemptions can be sought only for private unit events. Our question is: What should observant soldiers do? Y
This is question with which the IDF Chief Rabbi should be dealing. The IDF Chief of Staff is wrong and should not force any religious soldiers to violate any tenet of Judaism. A soldier’s resolve is strengthened by knowing that he is standing up for the kedusha (holiness) of Eretz Yisrael and Klal continued on page 19 Rabbi Chaim Komendant Passaic, NJ
Israeli soldiers who follow the issur of not listening to women sing should not be forced to do so. In Israel, they should understand that these men respect the Torah. Observant soldiers should be allowed to attend events and leave when women sing. No continued on page 19 Sherry Schwartz Clifton, NJ
This is a problem observant young men were not supposed to face. The IDF is breaking its agreement, made when they recruited religious soldiers, to ensure and protect their religious observance. These young men must politely, but forcefully, refuse to compromise continued on page 19 Shoshana Walker New York, NY
If possible, they should withdraw from the army. If that is impossible, they should wear earplugs. Shimmy Weiss Wesley Hills, NY
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The Current Crisis: “Even in Laughter, the Heart Can Ache”
A Sha’aila for Beit Shemesher Rav: Is it OK to leave lady
fingers with Mr. Clean in the house alone together? Or is it a problem with yichud? The esteemed Rav wrote back that he had a similar sha’aila with Betty Crocker Cake Mix and Uncle Ben’s Converted Rice. “My dayan wisely paskened that if the rice converted al-pi halacha to Judaism, it’s better to keep them in separate closets, but if not, it’s OK, as long they’re on different shelves and facing away from each other. Also, it’s better to photoshop Betty’s face off the box. “In your case, it’s OK for the lady fingers and Mr. Clean to be in the house together, just keep them out of the breadbox.” *** So a group of IDF commanders really had their hands full with their units’ rabbis. The commanders thought the rabbis were faking a call to the gents’ room just to avoid kol isha. So they followed them and found, get this, that the rabbis used the time away from the concert to distribute some booklets with a photo of the Temple Mount minus the presence of the mosques, which were completely erased. The Western Wall and its plaza were in the photo, but not the mosques. Well, if you thought excluding singing women was a problem, you can’t imagine what excluding mosques can do? Ha’aretz got hold of the story and screamed Gevalt! It was racism. It was incitement. It was racist incitement. Well, not exactly, it was a history lesson. The incident took place during Chanukah, and the booklet in question was about the Hasmonean Temple Mount and how it looked during the period of the battles between the Maccabees and the Syrian Greeks.
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Our friend Prof Steve Plaut of Haifa University realizes it’s Islamophobic of him to say so, but, back then, there were no mosques on the Temple Mount. *** Yonatan Sredni, who lives in Israel and has a Master’s in Creative Writing from Bar-Ilan University is well aware that the “real” New Year is Rosh Hashana, but, what can you do, he likes making New Year’s predictions. He predicted, for example, that a female friend from abroad will travel to Jerusalem with the specific intent of protesting the second-class treatment of women on public transportation. She’ll proudly sit in the front of the bus, and although her feet will be stepped on from those on the right and left, she will not budge, even as male passengers, hareidi and chiloni, get on and off. Her triumph, however, will be short-lived when she realized she is on a “regular” bus where no one cares where anyone sits or stands. *** Remember all those “You Might Be a Hillbilly” or “a Liberal” lists? Well Prof Plaut channeled them and tried to figure out how to know if “You might be a Wall Street Occupier.” You might be one if: You moved to a tent in Zuccotti Park because you always wanted a nicer place to live. You quit your “job” to attend the protests, but your mother continues your allowance and now does the dishes herself. You are enraged that the taxpayers had to bail out Wall Street even though you’ve never paid taxes or know anyone who has. You despise the rich even though they pay your share of taxes and support you. You think Capitalism has something to do with Washington and Socialism has something to do with Facebook. S.L.R.
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Offering Hope who have had therapy and today are living heterosexual lives, many with spouses and children). The balance of the committee includes therapists and other mental-health professionals; members of the Orthodox community, including some with smicha; and a few parents of children who are involved. Denied and Ridiculed In late 2010, several of these individuals began commiserating with one another, sharing their upset over the fact that their personal experiences and very existence continue to be “denied, ridiculed, and disparaged.” “Many of us have successfully gone through therapy for SSA and are now happily living kosher and Torah-sanctioned lifestyles. The constant bombardment of untruths regarding reparative therapy and the lie that people cannot change
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continued from page 5 sexual orientation, galvanized us to organize and speak up about our experiences, which include the very real possibility of healing from childhood wounds and same-sex attraction,” said one member of the committee. Now married to a woman who knows his background, this committee member considers himself a therapy “success story.” “I’m not alone,” he said. “There are others on the committee and in the community who, like me, now have wives and children and are living family-oriented lives in the mainstream Orthodox community.” Anonymity Because so many members of the committee have either dealt with the issue or are still undergoing therapy, the entire committee decided to keep its membership anonymous.
Rabbi Dr. Leonard Matanky “Our identity isn’t important; our message is,” said the member. That message became the essence of the Torah Declaration, which insists that “behaviors are changeable” and that “the Torah does not forbid something which is impossible to avoid.” Helping Jews According to the member of the committee, the purpose of the Torah Declaration is to help Jews who “have become confused on this issue and have become accepting of some false notions,” including the concept “that a person cannot control his ‘nature’ and, therefore, should accept his prohibited inclination as something natural and normal that does not need to be worked on and healed.” “The concept that G-d created a human being who
“We did nothing for which we should be applauded. For those who are hurting, therapy should always be recommended by a caring spiritual leader. For some, reparative therapy may well be the answer. For others, a different modality would work better. Everyone is different.” is unable to find happiness in a loving relationship unless he violates a biblical prohibition is neither plausible nor acceptable,” says the Declaration, which views same-sex attractions as being similar to any other behavior that can be controlled and altered, such as addictions or weight control. The member of the committee said propaganda spread by those who support the “homosexual agenda” that sexual orientation cannot be changed, “interferes with our fundamental rights as people in distress combatting unwanted SSA, and also offends our dignity and humanity.” No Castigation The treatment recommended in the Declaration is gender-affirming therapy,
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Offering Hope
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which is defined as “reinforcing the natural gender-identity of the individual by helping him or her understand and repair the emotional wounds that led to its disorientation and weakening, thus enabling the resumption and completion of the individual’s emotional development.” Teshuva, which the Declaration sees as a necessary component, is the Torahmandated “self-motivated process of turning away from any transgression or sin and returning to G-d and one’s spiritual essence.” “These processes are typically facilitated
and coordinated with the help of a specially trained counselor or therapist working in conjunction with a qualified spiritual teacher or guide. There is no other practical, Torah-sanctioned solution for this issue,” says the Declaration. The Declaration goes out of its way to caution against castigation of individuals suffering from unwanted SSA, seeing them as “primarily innocent victims of childhood emotional wounds.” “They deserve our full love, support, and encouragement in their striving towards healing,” says the Declaration.
Impressive List The signers of the Declaration represent the broad spectrum of the Torahobservant world, including Modern Orthodox rabbis, ultra-Orthodox roshei yeshivas as well as some from Yeshiva University, pulpit rabbis, yeshivish and chassidish rabbis, organizational rabbis, Sephardic rabbis, rebbetzins, community organizers, and mental-health professionals. The full list of signers is available on the Declaration’s website, www.torahdec.org, and it is impressive. They include Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia; Rabbi Avrohom Nelkenbaum of the Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn; Rabbi Yisroel Reisman of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath and Agudath Israel of Madison; Rabbi Steven Pruzansky of Cong Bnai Yeshurun in Teaneck; Rabbi Michel Twerski of Milwaukee; Rabbi Bentzion Shafier of the Monsey-based Shmuz; Rabbi Pinchas Stolper, former executive vice-president of the Orthodox Union and founder of NCSY; Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Hershel Schachter, Rabbi Moshe Dovid Tendler, and Rabbi Mayer Schiller; Rebbetzins Tziporah Heller and Feige Twerski; and Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski. It is this group that the RCA seems to oppose with a new statement on its website and the demand that JONAH, an organization that encourages reparative therapy for those facing unwanted SSA, stop promoting a blurb dating back to 2004 in which the RCA seemed to endorse them. JONAH In December, just as the Torah Declaration was introduced, Rabbi Goldin, in his new position as president of the RCA, demanded that Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing, or JONAH, remove a blurb, taken from a 2004 RCA newsletter, in which JONAH, then an acronym for Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality, was discussed. While Rabbi Goldin now insists the blurb was merely “an informational statement” that JONAH took “as an endorsement,” a careful reading of the blurb seems to indicate that, at the time, the RCA was indeed recommending JONAH as a resource for rabbis to suggest to
http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com congregants who needed it. The RCA’s blurb begins by accurately defining JONAH as “the only Jewishbased organization dedicated to assisting individuals with unwanted same-sex attractions move from ‘gay’ to ‘straight.’ “Rabbis may refer any individuals within their congregations who are dealing with unwanted same-sex attractions or any families who have a member thereof facing such an issue. Please contact them if you need referrals for therapists who specialize in working with this population or for programs that may be of assistance. JONAH’s numerous support groups may be of value to congregants, either for those struggling with the issue and/or for their families,” says the RCA’s blurb. The RCA’s blurb goes on to discuss JONAH’s speaker’s bureau, which, the blurb says, includes “many individuals who have recovered from same-sex attraction.” According to the blurb, the speakers help “educate the Orthodox world that change of sexual orientation is achievable (contrary to popular mythology that people are born that way and that such condition is unchangeable). Such change of sexual orientation can occur, whether such orientation involves arousals, fantasies, identity, or behavior.” The blurb informs the reader that JONAH’s speakers are available to synagogues anywhere in the US, Canada, and other countries, and it gives JONAH’s contact information. No Change But, in December, Rabbi Goldin told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the RCA is taking no position on whether homosexuals, even those whose samesex attraction is making them miserable, should try reparative therapy. Seemingly contradicting the RCA’s own statement that remains on JONAH’s website, Rabbi Goldin insisted to the JTA that this does not represent a shift in his group’s position. According to a new statement on the RCA’s website, the rabbinic organization still clearly prohibits the practice of homosexuality, forbids same-sex unions, and says any rabbi who performs or celebrates one “cannot claim the mantle of Orthodox Judaism.” Like the Torah Declaration, the RCA’s statement insists that those with “homosexual inclinations” be treated “with the care and concern appropriate to all human
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beings.” The RCA’s statement urges “Orthodox Jews with homosexual tendencies to seek counsel from their rabbis,” and it urges all rabbis “to show compassion to all those who approach them.” No Suggestions But on the matter of what those compassionate rabbis should suggest to a suffering or confused individual, the RCA is silent. Ignoring the growing body of anecdotal as well as peer-reviewed scientific evidence on gender-affirming therapy, the RCA remains non-committal. Its statement says that “as rabbis, we can neither endorse nor reject any therapy or method that is intended to assist those who are struggling with same-sex
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attractions.” The Torah Declaration and the committee which wrote it sees that as a denial of care, bordering on punishment. “By not even considering therapy, the RCA is condemning those suffering from SSA to live either as celibates or as Torah violators,” said the member of the committee. “Would he similarly refuse to offer help to an alcoholic? The recidivism rate for that problem is sky high, and no one really knows what ‘works’ and what doesn’t. But because alcohol doesn’t have a PC lobby, no one suggests that ‘as rabbis, we can neither endorse nor reject therapy’,” said the member.
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Offering Hope
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The Torah Declaration says, “Abandoning people to lifelong loneliness and despair by denying all hope of overcoming and healing their same-sex attraction is heartlessly cruel.” No Coercion On one point the RCA and the Torah Declaration committee agree. The RCA’s statement maintains that “no individual should be coerced to participate in a therapeutic course with which he or she is acutely uncomfortable.” The committee member said coercion would not only be wrong, it would also be useless. “Change requires real effort based on a real desire. If a person wants to retain his same-sex attraction, why would
he come to us and why would he care what the Torah says?” said the member. Seeing Support That message seemed to be lost when, according to JTA, Mordechai Levovitz, co-executive director of Jewish Queer Youth, was delighted by the RCA’s new statement and Rabbi Goldin’s efforts to have the 2004 RCA blurb removed from JONAH’s website. Despite Rabbi Goldin’s insistence that his statement did not mean there had been a change in RCA policies, Mr. Levovitz said it was “indicative of a shift in consciousness, sensitivity, and understanding that Orthodox rabbis have about gay people growing up in their communities.”
“People are going to be comforted by the RCA dealing with this community in a welcoming way; that’s what was missing,” said Mr. Levovitz. He saw the RCA’s refusal to force individuals into therapy as praiseworthy, telling the JTA, “I applaud the RCA and Rabbi Goldin for their courage in standing up against pressuring gay youth into these kinds of therapies.” Applause? Asked how he felt at being applauded by Mr. Levovitz, RCA vice-president Rabbi Leonard Matanky of Chicago, said it left him “perplexed.” “We did nothing for which we should be applauded,” he said, adding that his only complaint with reparative therapy was the boast by some people that it was “a quick cure-all for all people.” In fact, while recommending reparative therapy, members of the Torah Declaration Committee said they do not believe it is a “quick fix.” Some members of the committee said they had spent a few years in therapy; others said living a Torah-consistent lifestyle required “a worthwhile and necessary commitment of a much longer period.” “This is true for all people engaged in any therapy dealing with behavioral change,” said the member of the committee. Everyone is Different Agreeing with the committee that wrote the Declaration, Rabbi Matanky said that for people who are in pain, “therapy should always be recommended by a caring spiritual leader.” “For some, reparative therapy may well be the answer. For others, a different modality would work better. Everyone is different,” he said. While Rabbi Matanky noted that the RCA, on its website, recommended that therapy of any type “be performed only by licensed, trained practitioners,” he acknowledged that, for some behavioral problems, such as alcoholism, peer-to-peer support is the recommended therapy. Rabbi Matanky said he also had no idea why Mr. Levovitz thought either the RCA or the Torah Declaration committee or its signers were trying to “pressure gay youth” or anyone, for that matter, into any kind of therapy, especially since all groups specified that their immediate concerns were only for those who come seeking help. S.L.R.
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Blaming Israel
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the past few years, the low supply of units in Efrat has sent the cost of housing in the large and desirable Gush Etzion community skyrocketing. Renters pay rates similar to those in Jerusalem. Welcome News Nevertheless, even limited building was welcome news to residents across the so-called Green Line, showing that, finally, the de facto building freeze on Jewish homes is over. A few days later, Israel’s Housing and Construction Ministry announced that there would be 500 new homes in the Har Homa neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem; 180 in Givat Ze’ev, north of Jerusalem; and 350 in the hareidi-religious city of Betar Ilit, south of the capital, all part of a package of nearly 6,000 new housing units to be built across Israel. The PA, which has made a complete cessation of Israeli building anywhere over the so-called Green Line one of its preconditions before agreeing to sit down again for negotiations, was outraged. Other PA preconditions include an Israeli agreement beforehand to recognize that it will have to cede 100 percent of the territory won from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War, with possible equivalent land swaps; and an agreement to accept, as a “right of return,” millions of Palestinian Arabs— and their descendants—who left Israel during the 1948 War of Independence. This would mean flooding Israel with Arabs, thus demographically destroying the Jewish State. Israeli Conditions Although Israel has some demands of its own—recognition as the Jewish state, demilitarization of any Palestinian state, and an agreement that the final borders between it and a Palestinian state be secure and recognized, signaling an end to the conflict—it has not made acceptance of them a precondition to negotiations. But because Israel will not grant the Palestinian preconditions, there have been no negotiations for 15 months. Many Israelis say that if the Palestinians refuse to talk, there might as well be Jewish building. “We can’t have no negotiations with the Palestinians and also no construction,” said Israeli Housing Minister Ariel Attias.
Condemnation Four European nations begged to differ, and on Dec 20, Britain, France, Germany, and Portugal issued a statement condemning the Jewish State not just for the proposed building, but also for some as-yet unsolved criminal cases of vandalism of Muslim mosques in Judea and Samaria. Condemnations of the Jewish state were also issued by South Africa, India, and Brazil; while Russia’s UN envoy questioned whether a two-state solution was even possible anymore.
Those who issued the condemnations seemed somewhat appeased by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assurances that Israel intended to bring the perpetrators to justice. In response to the condemnations, Karean Peretz, a spokeswoman for Israel’s UN Mission, suggested the Security Council pay equal attention to the killing of civilians in Syria, terror attacks against Israelis from Gaza, and Iran’s nuclear program. “Instead of focusing on the pressing
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Blaming Israel
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issues before it, the Security Council nations chose to focus on settlements,” said Ms. Peretz. “The main obstacle to peace has been and remains the Palestinians’ claim to the so-called right of return and its refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.” PA Retaliation The PA made clear it wanted more than just a condemnation from its friends in the UN. It wanted intervention. When that was not forthcoming, the PA announced it had some punitive ideas of its own, namely, to downgrade ties with Israel, halt security cooperation, and end economic and judiciary ties. Statements from top Palestinian officials indicate that the PA also has plans for a unified Fatah-Hamas strategy based on “popular resistance” (regarded by some as code words for “terrorism”), which they hope will spread into PA enclaves throughout Judea and Samaria. “The popular resistance will reshape the Palestinian relationship with Israel, to reach total disengagement with Israel,” said PLO Executive Committee member Tayseer Khalid. Gaining Nothing It is not clear what PA officials believe they will gain by cutting ties with Israel, which currently provides all critical infrastructure to Ramallah’s enclaves, including electricity, water, telecommunications, and Internet. A recent and short-lived Israeli decision to halt tax-revenue transfers to the
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PA sent Ramallah into a fiscal tailspin. Israel undertook that measure as a sign of its displeasure with the PA’s decision to seek unilateral statehood at the UN, a clear violation of the Oslo Accords. Many Israeli leaders have made it clear that PA attempts to realize territorial claims by force, whether alone or in coordination with Hamas, would result in Israel’s moving to secure its own communities in Judea and Samaria. Some say it could trigger Israel’s decision to annex unilaterally the areas it knows it will retain in any future negotiations. Nevertheless, PA officials seem determined to confront Israel while fomenting “popular resistance” alongside Hamas against the Jewish state. No More Gazas In response, Mr. Netanyahu issued a statement making clear that, while Israel is “prepared to meet the Palestinians [for peace negotiations] any time and place,” this offer does not include Hamas, and if the terror group joins the Fatah-led PA government, Israel will no longer negotiate with it. Further, he said, if a PA state in Judea and Samaria is ever established, he is not prepared to allow “what happened in Gaza and Lebanon” to transpire in the West Bank. In both Lebanon and Gaza, Israeli pullouts in 2000 and 2005, respectively, created a vacuum that was filled by Islamist terrorist groups Hezbollah and Hamas. Blaming Israel
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Despite PA intransigence on the issue of negotiations, Palestinian negotiators tried to claim that Israel is obstructing the indirect talks which the Palestinians prefer to direct ones. Mr. Erekat accused Israel of refusing to submit proposals for borders and security arrangements which the Palestinians would like the Quartet to mediate. In Israel, Mr. Erekat’s accusation was seen as “a spin on a spin on a spin.” According to one Israeli official close to the negotiations, the last time the Quartet was in Israel the Palestinians gave one of the representatives a document to pass to the Israelis, but the Quartet refused. “The Quartet told the PA: ‘If you’ve got something to say to the Israelis, you should give it directly to them.’ The Quartet’s position is that there should be immediate negotiations without preconditions,” said the official. Holding Firm Nevertheless, Mr. Erekat maintained his position. “We’ve presented our vision to the Quartet on security and borders, and we are waiting for the Israeli government’s response and its vision for a solution,” he said. According to the Israeli official, the PA’s plan is to maintain its maximalist demands, even though it knows that will render moot all attempts to revive the peace process. “Ramallah is seeking to avoid talks so as not to have to make painful concessions for which they have not properly prepared their public,” said the Israeli official. When, in the middle of December, Israel once again renewed its offer to hold unconditional direct talks with the PA, Mr. Erekat refused. No “Economic Peace” A few days later, the PA announced it had also rejected Mr. Netanyahu’s “economic peace” proposal, which envisaged Israeli efforts to build economic prosperity in PA areas in Judea and Samaria in exchange for security and non-violence in Israel’s Biblical heartland. “Israel will have no room to impose economic peace on Palestinians,” said Mr. Khalid. “We refuse to be security agents for Israel.” He claimed Israel is “the only impediment to bilateral negotiations” and that the Palestinian leadership “will not even consider the economic peace argument.”
http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com Losing Millions Some say it is a foolhardy move by the PA, which lost $200 million in US economic aid after pushing for statehood at the UN and being recognized by UN’s Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Last month, the Obama administration said it would try to persuade Congress to relent if the PA relinquished its attempts to gain admission to the UN or any of its agencies as a state. The PA refused that offer from the US as well, telling reporters Palestinian officials had decided on “a strategy based on continuous efforts along with the international community to secure full recognition and full UN membership, pursuing internal reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, and maintaining the popular resistance.” Hamas has steadfastly refused any diplomatic process with Israel, continuing to call for the murder of Jews and destruction of the state. Threats With very little left in its arsenal, the PA then launched a series of threats, including a warning that if Israel did not concede on all Palestinians demands, it would seek redress in international courts. “We are currently studying total termination of all kind of dealings with the Israeli courts which basically belong to the occupier and never delivered fair verdicts to the Palestinians,” said Palestinian Legislative Council member Walid Assaf. After telling reporters that “all Palestinian complaints related to Israeli colonies and the segregation barrier [security fence] should be reviewed by fair and unbiased international courts, not Israel,” he undermined his own argument by boasting that he had won cases against the Israeli Light Train in Jerusalem as well as against an Israeli company that manufactures barbed wire. In fact, Israel’s Supreme Court has often ruled in favor of PA Arabs. It has ordered the route of Israel’s security fence altered numerous times, and has ruled that the IDF must make security exceptions for PA farmers whose lands are separated from their homes by the security fence. Legal observers note that Israel withdrew from the International Criminal Court whose jurisdiction in contentious cases is limited by consent of the parties
January 2012/Tevet 5772
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to the dispute. Israel would be under no obligation to agree to ICJ jurisdiction, effectively limiting the court to issuing an advisory opinion. What Table? Perhaps the most blatant threat of all came from PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas at the beginning of January, on the eve of the talks in Jordan. Before sending Mr. Erekat to Amman, Mr. Abbas declared that if the talks in Jordan do not succeed, “all options are on the table” for the PA. On the official PA website, WAFA, Mr. Abbas warned, “From now until January 26, if the Quartet is unable to bring the
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two parties to the negotiating table on clear bases, then it has failed, [and] we have options. There are people who say a third intifada, and I say this is not going to happen.” However, reports indicate that already the number of terrorist incidents in Judea and Samaria are increasing. There are daily attacks on Jewish motorists in which rock-throwing terrorists, often armed with Molotov cocktails, try to cause fatal accidents. Several weeks ago, a father and his infant son were murdered in a rock-throwing attack on the main highway between Kiryat Arba-Hebron and Jerusalem. S.L.R.
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Orthodox Women Front and Center in the Arts, Performance Weekend Planned for Feb 10-12 in Manhattan No one is surprised these
days when observant Jewish women play principal roles in the boardroom or the operating room, but recently they have also taken their place as directors and producers of programs involving the performing and visual arts. Sheryl Intrator Urman, a member of the EnglewoodOrthodox community, has just been named Vice-President of Exhibitions for the artists’ organization Salute to Women in the Arts, which has supported the arts in Bergen County for the past 40 years and is now affiliated with the Art Center of Northern New Jersey in New Milford. A member of Salute for six years, Ms. Intrator-Urman, a teacher of art history as well as an artist in her own right, said
she will use her new position to direct Salute’s exhibitions not only to highlight women’s issues, but also to “give a portion of the proceeds to tzedakah.” “Salute is not a Jewish artists’ group and as a nonprofit itself, it does not take any portion of the sale of any work from the artists, but I hope to bring the mitzvah of charity to the organization,” she said. Art Shows On Sunday, January 15, at 1:30pm, Salute will open its juried Art Winterfest Exhibition on the theme “Women’s Issues: Controversy and Challenge” at the Art Center of Northern NJ. Located at 250 Center Street in New Milford, it will be open to the public through January 30th. On February 1, another
Salute show, entitled “The Power of Squares,” will open at the Waltuch Gallery of the JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly. The opening reception will be held on February 5, from 1-3pm, and the exhibit will be on display until February 26th. The Waltuch Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the JCC on the Palisades, at 411 East Clinton Avenue in Tenafly, New Jersey. “Art is a way to communicate with viewers; visuals created through art are powerful tools which can help achieve recognition and awareness for women’s issues,” said Ms. Intrator-Urman. For more information on these exhibits, she can be reached at 201-503-9796 or 201-615-7758. Creating a Venue In New York, a group of
observant-Jewish women are taking an even more audacious step. Calling themselves ATARA, the Association for Torah and the Arts, these women, most of them trained performing artists who became Shomer Shabbos after gaining professional experience, have rented an Off-Broadway theater to showcase their talent. This marks the fifth year that ATARA has provided an umbrella for artistically talented religious women. “These women, as well as some particularly gifted artists who were always religious, have difficulty finding work that will accommodate their religious choices,” said Miriam Droz, spokeswoman and founder of ATARA. Not only are they all Shomer Shabbat, they also insist on material that does
http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com not contradict their religious beliefs. According to Ms. Droz, this means they must “create their own work.” Because they abide by Jewish law, they take seriously the prohibition of “Kol Isha,” not allowing men to hear them sing, and must therefore create performances for womenonly audiences. “Before ATARA, some of these artists—composers, choreographers, theater directors, filmmakers, actors, dancers, and vocalists—had abandoned their art completely to pursue a religious lifestyle. Now, that is no longer necessary, because ATARA seeks to promote and increase skills development, as well as create new works and performance opportunities to these gifted women who simply need a special setting for their work,” said Ms. Droz. Performance Shabbaton The weekend of February 10-12 will offer participating women the opportunity to spend Shabbat together at
January 2012/Tevet 5772
Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, Long Island, where they will perform in Shabbatappropriate improv theater and “harmonious zmirot.” Motzei Shabbat (of February 11) there will be a “Night of Women’s Music” with emcee Elana Greenspan, at the Jewish Music Café in Park Slope, Brooklyn. On Sunday, February 12, the women will gather during the day at the well-regarded Shetler Studios on West 54th Street in Manhattan for womenonly master-class workshops in modern dance, vocal techniques, and theater skills. In the evening, at 8 o’clock, they will give an open-to-women-only public Off-Broadway performance at the Actors Temple on West 47th Street. Wide Representation Performers will include opera singers from Washington State, Chicago, and, of course, the New York metropolitan area; a former cantor and songwriter from Boston; and several women who have
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recently released CD music albums and videos and need a platform on which to showcase these achievements, attained despite the challenges of being female performers in the Orthodox community. Two of ATARA’s directors will perform together in a duet, singing the roles of Yocheved and Bitia in Patrick Leonard’s rock musical The Ten Commandments. Mr. Leonard is best known for composing music sung by Madonna. The accompaniment will be provided by ATARA participants on violin, cello, flute, electric guitar, and drums. Other performances include original rock music by Esther Freeman, a Chabad musician from Florida; Shaindel Antelis, a singer and songwriter who, after graduating from Bruriah in Elizabeth, recorded two albums, “Heart and Soul” and the newly-released “Change;” and several all-women’s bands which formed just this year. Young people will be well represented during the weekend.
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There are some students from the Tzohar Seminary, a new women’s post-high school program designed to integrate Torah and the arts, as well as a Junior ATARA troupe made up of songwriters and dancers under the age of 14. G-d-Given Talent While at one time, the thought of a post-high school seminary combining Torah and the arts (especially the performing arts) was unheard of, the Tzohar Seminary is now attracting many young women. Based in Pittsburgh, where it operates under the auspices of Chabad of Western PA, the Tzohar Seminary, according to its founder, Amy Guterson, is intended to be “a kosher place for Jewish post-high school girls to develop their G-d-given talents in writing, the visual arts, music, dance, theater, and filmmaking.” “If we have these G-dgiven talents, obviously, they need to be developed. They are coming from a Higher
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Source. Shouldn’t they be used, rather than restricted? And if we have this struggle between creating art and Torah observance, it’s meant to be dealt with and not ignored. The art we create needs to embrace both creativity and our boundaries. Within the boundaries, we have the freedom to create something new,” said Ms. Guterson. To that end, Tzohar students use their talents to express their studies of Jewish texts and offer arts classes in Pittsburgh’s Jewish day schools and after-school Hebrew programs. Their Judaism-throughthe-arts approach offers a new slant for teaching Jewish history, ritual, and culture. Copied by the Boys? The challenge has the full support of Rabbi Aaron Herman, the seminary’s principal, who sees leading the school as “a unique opportunity to integrate Judaic content with artistic expression.” “Integrating Jewish themes into the arts is one of the areas that has been underrepresented,” he said, adding that he believes Tzohar will make “a huge impact on the Jewish world in general.” “I think it will be replicated in the boys’ world eventually,” he said.
Teaching During the ATARA weekend, Ms. Guterson will participate in a panel discussion on “Arts Education in the Orthodox Community” along with filmmaker Robin Garbose, artistic director and founder of Kol Neshama, a Los Angeles-based program dedicated to providing professional artistic training and performance opportunities for girls and women in a Torahobservant setting and to developing an emerging artistic voice through the creation of distinctly Jewish film and stage productions; and Rivka Nahari, director of the Brooklyn Jewish Dance Institute, which bills itself as a studio “providing quality dance training, technique, musicality, and artistry in a tzniusdik way.” For the past 12 years, Kol Neshama has run intensive summer camp and schoolyear programs, which have reached more than 400 girls from throughout the US and as far away as Israel, South Africa, Argentina, and Europe. “Our observant-Jewish community is teeming with talent yearning to be expressed, yet opportunities for serious artistic exploration are few,” said Ms. Garbose, who made history four years
Robin Garbose ago with her movie musical “A Light for Greytowers.” Second Film This past December, her second film, “The Heart That Sings” had its premiere at the Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival. Only women were invited to the screening, and the film was then shown throughout Israel to audiences consisting only of religious and secular women. Based on a short story, “Miriam’s Lullaby” by Gershon Kranzler, the film is about a young Holocaust survivor in New York who spends a summer as a drama director at a girls’ camp in the Catskills.
http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com Most of the performers in the film are graduates of Kol Neshama, described by Ms. Garbose as “Orthodox actresses who by heritage and choice do not sing or dance in the presence of men.” Before becoming observant 21 years ago, Ms. Garbose was a theatrical director who worked with actors such as Ricki Lake and Jason Alexander, taught at Juilliard and NYU, directed 35 plays in Los Angeles and Off-Broadway, and worked in television on shows such as “Head of the Class” and “America’s Most Wanted.” Music and Dance Like Ms. Garbose, Ms. Nahari came to the Orthodox community with a wealth of training and performing experience. A musician and ballet dancer, she performed with the Academy of Nevada Dance Theater through high school and then went onto the University of Nevada. She began playing the harp professionally at the age of 13 and, she said, has performed with “almost every orchestra in Las Vegas.” She played the harp and celeste for the “Nutcracker” ballet with the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra. But when she attended the Mannes College of Music in Manhattan, she did so as a voice major. Eventually, she sang back-up with singers Barry Manilow and the late-Michael Jackson. When she was 14, a Chabad House
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Yisrael, based upon our mesorah (tradition) and halacha (law). Under no circumstances should the IDF attempt to force social mores on religious soldiers who are imbued with the understanding of what a Jewish state means, especially when compared to our not-as-yet-observant brethren. Rabbi Chaim Komendant Passaic, NJ one ever said following the laws of kol isha is easy. Many times, men who do so must leave the room. Sherry Schwartz Clifton, NJ
their religious standards. They should first ask the IDF rabbis to obtain exemptions for them. But if the army plays hardball and refuses, the soldiers should refuse to attend the events despite the consequences. Shoshana Walker New York, NY
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opened in Las Vegas, and, although raised in a totally secular home, she began to explore her Jewish roots. “It took me many years to find a way to combine the two passions in my life—the arts and Judaism. Now, I have finally found a path to provide performing outlets for myself and others, as well as sharing my professional knowledge with the frum world,” she said. Making Us Proud For more information about any of the ATARA programs or the February weekend, including tickets, go to www. atarawinter2012.eventbrite.com and www. artsandtorah.org. For Shabbat hospitality, contact devorahmenorah2004ah@
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yahoo.com, and women and girls who wish to perform, can contact conference@artsandtorah.org. Ms. Droz said that she takes great comfort from the feedback of past ATARA program participants who keep returning year after year. “They thank me for giving them the opportunity of seeing Torah-observing women who are so talented. It makes all of us proud. One woman said it inspired her to become more of a practicing Jew, and another said the conference definitely enhanced her life. It gives hope that venues can be found for their art as observant Jews,” she said. S.L.R.
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16-Year-Old Repackages Rambam’s Mishneh Torah as an App The great 12th century CE rabbi, phy-
sician, and philosopher, Moses benMaimon, called Maimonides or, by his Hebrew acronym, Rambam, wrote his Mishneh Torah – the recognized authoritative codification of Jewish law – about 850 years ago. Just recently, in a breath-taking sign of the times, a 16-year-old Teaneck resident repackaged it into a beautifully designed iPhone and iPad app.
Joshua Meier, the son of Dr. Ronny and Elizabeth Meier, named his new application Rambam’s Mishneh Torah. In addition to containing the entire Mishneh Torah, the app includes Maimonides’s introduction and his list of mitzvoth. There are corroborative glosses as well as the harsh criticism of Maimonides’s contemporary, Rabbi Abraham ben David of Posquières, known as the Ra’avad. Believing that the codification of halacha would negate the need for further
development of the study of Talmud, the Ra’avad criticized Maimonides’s efforts to bring order to the vast body of Jewish law in a definitive, systematic, and methodical manner. Visually Appealing Not content with simply presenting an enormous amount material, Josh strove to make the app aesthetically pleasing as well. “It imitates the feeling of reading a manuscript of the Mishneh Torah on parchment,” he says. Taking justifiable pride in his work, Josh says creating the application was an act of combining his two passions: computer science and Torah. Daily Torah Study A student at the highly regarded Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, where the school’s division of Telecommunications and Computer Science includes computer applications and networking, Josh still manages to include time for daily Torah study with Rabbi Menahem Meier, the now-retired founding principal of the Frisch School. Last year, Josh put in as many as six hours a day with Rabbi Meier, who is not related to him, in preparation for the American National Chidon HaTanach Bible Contest. After winning first place in the US, he traveled to Jerusalem to compete in the international finals, in which he placed sixth. “Studying for the Chidon was an extraordinary experience,” he says. “In the same way that the Chidon stressed
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similarities and relationships throughout Tanach, I strive to continue that experience through my daily life. This time, I combined my passions to create a beautiful product.” Answering a Need While he no longer can devote as much time to Torah study as he did before the Chidon, Josh says studying with Rabbi Meier, whom he called “an
Joshua Meier outstanding role-model and teacher,” is a high point of his day. “Whenever I study a new sugya of Gemara with Rabbi Meier, we conclude by reading the Rambam’s codification of the halacha. With my new app, I can simply type in the topic that we are learning and, within seconds, have the correct portion of the Mishneh Torah right in front of me,” he says. The app, which can be found at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app// id481558723?mt=8, is already attracting attention and five-star reviews and recommendations. “Easy to use, aesthetically pleasing and great for on-the-go learning,” said one customer review. Another said it is “great for my high school classes.” “I use this app to look up what we learn in Gemara class and see what the Rambam says about it. I can also look up P’sukim that the Rambam uses through the search function. App looks great and is extremely useful,” said the reviewer. S.L.R.
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A Summer Chesed Programs Fair and the Website and Creator behind It Are a Hit Early last month, before the Chanukah
season swung into a full-court press, AllChesed.com, a free website which serves as a one-stop resource for chesed projects and volunteer opportunities primarily in the Northern New Jersey Jewish community, gave teenagers the chance to consider the most important gift they can offer to a non-profit organization: time and effort. AllChesed’s first Summer Chesed Programs Fair, held for two hours at Teaneck’s Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, featured many different ways for teenagers to spend valuable time volunteering during the school vacation. “There are an abundant array of programs for teens to choose to volunteer for, depending on their areas of interest. These experiences tend to leave a lasting impression on both the volunteers and those they are helping. There is a program for everyone and the best part is that every volunteer is appreciated,” said Ariella Steinreich, a community activist who created AllChesed.com last October. Ms. Steinreich saw the fair as a way to guide teenagers who want to volunteer but need to know for whom, when, where, and how to perform acts of kindness. “Each program had its own niche with the hopes that the right individuals would connect with the right group,” she said. For the 22-year-old Teaneck resident, AllChesed.com is merely a high-tech extension of what she was doing anyway: helping connect people—adults and teenagers—with non-profit chesed organizations and volunteer opportunities. Variety of Programs To present themselves to potential high school volunteers and their families, the organizations that participated in the Summer Chesed Programs Fair included local Jewish as well as secular groups, such as CareOne at Teaneck, Jewish Family Services, and Englewood Hospital. Other organizations represented at the fair allow teens to visit Israel while engaged in chesed projects. For example, Yad B’Yad (Hand in Hand), a project run by the Orthodox Union and its Yachad program, brings high school students and Yachad members (adults and teens with special-needs) to Israel for the summer.
The program allows all participants to experience the trip together. Another OU affiliate, the National Council of Synagogue Youth (NCSY), through its GIVE (Girls Israel Volunteer Experience) program, allows high school girls to experience hands-on Judaism while helping those in need in Israel. Students spend time in soup kitchens, participate in medical-clowning programs, and may even paint kindergartens in Israeli underprivileged communities. When not engaged in chesed activities,
GIVE participants visit major sites throughout Israel, including spending Shabbat in Tzfat, boating on the Kinneret, hiking in the Judean desert and the Golan, and floating in the Dead Sea. “Through giving back, the girls are empowered to change the world around them by recognizing the value of the smallest act of kindness towards others,” said Ms. Steinreich. Another fair participant, Bet Elazraki, an EMUNAH children’s home in Netanya,
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OHEL’s Chanukah Video Resonates All Year Round Home and Family Services prepared its powerfully moving video, “Reach for the Stars” for Chanukah 2011, its message—that all of us are in some way challenged and that it’s time to “close the door on stigma”—is one that should resonate long after the menorahs are put away. The video, which has already received tens of thousands of hits, focuses on OHEL’s view that misconceptions about disabilities leads to prejudice even in the most well-meaning of communities. The video, through the use of Chanukah
candles, says there is a need to “lighten up the darkness.” The video stars a number of OHEL clients who are initially shown as “boxed-in” by society, which identifies them as their disabilities— developmentally challenged, bipolar, foster child, domestically abused, bullied—rather than as unique individuals. Meaningful Lyrics Eventually, those with specialneeds are taken out of captivity by OHEL volunteers and professionals who recognize that everyone wants “to be understood, integrated, loved, and not alone, no labels, no presumptions,
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offers American high school students the opportunity to spend the summer volunteering with Israeli children who have been rescued from “atrisk” homes. The home’s motto is “a receiving child grows up to be a giving adult.” Enthusiastic Students Ms. Steinreich was not surprised by the success of the Summer Chesed Programs Fair. As the former community-service coordinator at the Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in Teaneck, she knows that students are eager to spend time volunteering, whether by playing with children in an Israeli orphanage
or driving for Kosher Meals on Wheels. “Many of our high school students already volunteer on a weekly basis for many worthy organizations, such as the Friendship Circle, which works with special-needs children, and Tomchei Shabbos, which delivers meals to needy families,” she said. In addition to the chesed component, she said, activities such as these help competitive colleges and universities in the selection process. “The best part is that, by volunteering, students learn that they really enjoy being active community members and giving back,” said Ms. Steinreich.
While OHEL Children’s
just support and reassurance, respect for one and all.” “Everyone of us is challenged, some invisible, hidden deep, or those we just ignore; but let’s focus on the person; the more we have in common, no divisions anymore; it starts with you, takes one you see, to impact our community,” say the lyrics, which were set to the well-known tune of “World” recorded by the group Five for Fighting. “OHEL clients who participated in the video were so enthused because they saw the message as one of such personal importance,” says
Derek Saker, OHEL’s director of communications, who wrote the new lyrics used in the video. Familiar Scenes The OHEL video features the voices of lead singer Craig Resmovits and includes Rabbi Ahron Rosenthal, Dov Adler, Jake Sojcher, Ephraim Schoenbrun, Jonathan Jerome, and Dov Adler. Video production was led by Samuel Hoffman of Hoffman Productions, and filming was completed over two days at some of OHEL’s facilities in New York. The video can be viewed at www.ohelfamily.org/chanukahvideo. S.L.R.
Experience Ms. Steinreich knows the joy of sharing firsthand. She sits on the boards of several chesed organizations, including the Jewish Association for the Developmentally Disabled (JADD), and, during her last year with Ma’ayanot, founded the school’s still popular “Pay It Forward” club which pairs more than 60 elementary-school children from the community with high school students who then serve as mentors and offer help with homework. At Ma’ayanot, she coordinated the school’s Community Service Fairs, which featured more than 50 organizations. She planned trips for students to visit OHEL, the Hebrew Free Burial Association, OTSAR Family Services for Jewish families with special-needs children, the NJ Food Bank, and the JCC on the Palisades’ senior citizens programs. She also oversaw various chesed drives, including those to benefit Bears from Bergenfield, which brings toys to hospitalized children in Israel;
Reach Out and Read, a literacy program for young children; and the NJ Blood Bank. Talmudic Inspiration While she started AllChesed.com as a resource for the community, her inspiration came from Pirkei Avos, the Ethics of the Fathers, a compilation of the ethical and moral teachings and maxims of the rabbis of the Mishnaic period which takes it authority from the transmission of the Oral Tradition. “In Pirkei Avos, we learn that the world depends on three things: Torah study, service to G-d, and the performance of good deeds. As Jews, this is a phrase we repeat often as it explains our inherent responsibility to help those around us and actively work to help those in need,” she said. Her parents’ generation, she said, certainly had their causes. “They rallied for Soviet Jewry and raised money to help Israel during the Yom Kippur War. Today, many of us have the ability to integrate chesed and activism into our
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everyday lives,” she said. Solutions Her passion to help everyone find a place for chesed made her a natural resource for friends, friends of friends, and members of the community looking for ideas for projects, especially for bar and bat mitzvah children. “People would stop me and say, ‘I have a daughter who will be a bat mitzvah, where can she volunteer? What kind of chesed can she engage in?’” said Ms. Steinreich. Now those with questions can turn to the website, which lists close to 200 organizations with the chesed opportunities offered by each so that those seeking to donate time can decide whether to work with special-needs children, help at a shelter, volunteer at a hospital, or offer assistance to the elderly or the disabled. “The website is a fun and
easy way to find volunteer opportunities in the community and to help the volunteers find the leader within themselves. Some people are nervous about volunteering in a hospital or nursing home. The website allows them to find other options,” she said. Gemachs, an abbreviation for gemilat chassadim, the Hebrew for “acts of kindness,” have sprung up in Orthodox communities around the world. While the original gemachs were free-loan societies, today they are organizations which offer everything from tables to strollers and wedding gowns to medical equipment. AllChesed.com has a separate page devoted to contact information for gemachs in need of donations of all types. Many Visitors According to Ms. Steinreich, AllChesed.com receives more than 500 visitors daily
The Jewish Voice and Opinion
and hundreds have signed up for the weekly email newsletter that lists upcoming chesed events. These events, which range from fundraisers to blood drives, are also listed on the site’s Google calendar. “Some are spur-of-themoment chesed opportunities, but others encourage people to become involved in longterm projects, many of which are appropriate for bar and bat mitzvah children,” she said. She hopes families and individuals will visit the website often to determine which volunteer opportunities are a good match for them personally. “Some opportunities are geared to specific age groups while others are for all ages,” she said. Working with Schools AllChesed’s newest project is to offer its services to local schools and synagogues so that they, too, can implement
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chesed programs and fairs. Working with the EnglewoodShuls yahoo group, AllChesed has created a monthly chesed club so that elementary-schoolaged children can meet to learn about different mitzvoth and chesed opportunities and then participate in a joint project. For more information on any of these projects, the website can be accessed at www.allChesed.com, and Ms. Steinreich can be reached at Ariella@allChesed.com. “An emphasis on chesed and volunteering has been immersed into our schools and shuls, and even our children’s summer programs. Students are seeking volunteer opportunities beyond their schools’ chesed requirements, and I’m glad AllChesed could be part of helping them see how to dedicate their holiday and summer vacations to helping others,” she said. S.L.R.
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January 2012/Tevet 5772
Tell Our Advertisers “I Saw It in The Jewish Voice and Opinion”
When There Is Too Much Stuff, a Professional Organizer May Be Needed Sarah Morgenstern is a
professional organizer who knows she will get hate mail for using the “P” word in January, but is bound and determined to do it anyway. “The thought of Passover throws anyone with an avoidance complex into a procrastination mode that lasts until after Purim. But after Purim, Pesach is right around the corner and, by then, we’re in fullblown panic mode,” she says. The Morristown mother of five says her game plan for crossing the Red Sea is to get things moving in January, when she starts preparing lists of everything she intends to accomplish each week, “leading up to Matzah Month.” “Believe it not, getting an early jump on things makes the job easier and sets you on the path toward simplifying your everyday life,” she says.
Organizing She knows this because, as the owner of “Organize+Simplify: Helping You Create a Simpler, Easier Life,” she is regularly hired to help people sort out their homes and offices. “And those people who organize cupboards, closets, and drawers early have a much easier time with actual Passover preparations. Actual Passover preparations aren’t that hard. The hardest part is dealing with all your stuff. Most of your stuff isn’t chometz; it’s just stuff. Some of the stuff you need and want, and some of the stuff, well, let’s just say that’s why they invented dumpsters,” she says. Mrs. Morgenstern, who identifies as a “recovering hoarder,” knows whereof she speaks. She says she lives with her husband, her mother, the youngest of her five children, “and a lot of stuff.”
The Organized One Nevertheless, she is known to her clients, family, and colleagues as “the organized one.” A specialist in the field of human and business performance improvement, she has a successful track record of 25 years helping organizations and individuals solve problems, make improvements, and reach goals. “Creating order and harmony is my passion, and, as a mother and executive, I truly understand the needs of both residential and business clients,” she says, adding that her goal is to “help people identity the real source of problems, design solutions that really work, and achieve extraordinary outcomes that are the result of designed spaces that are comfortable and inviting.” Her satisfied clients say that her warmth, understanding, and non-judgmental attitude make getting organized easy. Range of Services Her services range from simple fine-tuning of an office or a room to supplying expert advice and assistance to declutter, organize, and simplify an entire space. “After assessing a client’s current environment, I create organizing solutions for space layout, paper management, and
clutter control. I design environments that make working and relaxing easier,” she says. Working side-by-side with the client, she organizes home offices, kitchens and pantries, playrooms and homework areas, and storage spaces, including closets and basements. Asked to define the individual who needs a professional organizer, she sounds like the psychologist she trained to be at the University of Michigan. The person who needs her services is someone who feels overwhelmed by “stuff” and besieged by a never-ending “to-do” list. “If you often waste time looking for something you can’t find, or a messy desk or room is preventing you from working effectively, or clutter and disorganization are causing chaos in your life, then working with a compassionate, skilled professional organizer can change your life,” she says. No One Is Hopeless She does not believe in “hopeless cases.” Being organized, she says, is a learned behavior. “Some people just didn’t grow up learning how, or didn’t have a chance to learn from someone later in life. It will take effort, but if you’re willing to learn and develop some
http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com new behaviors and routines, the results are well worth the effort. Once you start, the good feelings you get from becoming organized keep you motivated,” she says. Some of her clients fear that, in her zeal, she will “make” them discard items, even those they love. But, as a collector herself, she says she understands the difficult process of discarding items that have sentimental value or that a person has kept for years. “Becoming organized isn’t just about throwing things away. It’s about identifying your goals and priorities, determining what’s important to you, and being honest about what you really need to have. It involves making decisions about how you want to live your life and do your work. Getting organized is a chance to decide what really matters,” she says. Planned Obsolescence Part of the problem, she
January 2012/Tevet 5772
says, is that times—and possessions—have changed. For thousands of years, people had few possessions. When they acquired something new, they bought the best they could and took care of it so that it would last a lifetime, perhaps becoming an heirloom that could be passed down to future generations. Many of Mrs. Morgenstern’s clients grew up being taught to take good care of their things and not to waste. “Those are good values,” she admits, “but we don’t live like that anymore. We live in a time when much of what we own was made with planned obsolescence in mind.” Letting Go She points, as an example, to disposable pens, which, as opposed to fine fountain pens, were made to be tossed out. “So my question is this: In a society in which even vacuums and phones have
The Jewish Voice and Opinion
become disposable, why is it we seem to have more stuff than ever before?” she asks. The answer, she says, is that, because of their upbringing, many people have a hard time letting go of these temporary things. “We keep them and buy more new things. The old stuff clogs up our cupboards, drawers, and closets. And still, we don’t get rid of it. Many people rent off-site storage bins,” she says. When people have too many things, it all becomes clutter, and they have a hard time finding what they really need, she says. The solution, she says, reached with or without a professional, is to recognize that “letting go of the things we don’t use and no longer need opens space for new and better things—and opportunities.” Doing It With Passover coming, she suggests Jewish families
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simply “take a deep breath and dive in,” hoping “the sea of clutter will part and you’ll see a clear path ahead.” But those who want to contact a professional can access Mrs. Morgenstern’s website at www.organize-simplify.net or send her questions, which she welcomes, to neatissweet@verizon.net. Her phone number is 201-400-8467. Her own Passover plans include recruiting her husband to help out, but, she says, he considers the garage the focal point of his holiday preparations. “How much actual chometz is in the garage?” she says. “The space I really care about is my home. If we have to, we can ‘sell’ the garage for Passover. The only problem is, with this lousy economy, some homeless people might actually move in. And, of course, I’ll feel obligated to invite them for both seders.” S.L.R.
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January 2012/Tevet 5772
Tell Our Advertisers “I Saw It in The Jewish Voice and Opinion”
Pesach with the Smilows in Florida This year, Smilow Family Tours will be hosting their guests at the AAA, 4-Diamond Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Resort & Spa in Ft. Lauderdale/ Weston, Florida. From the moment guests enter this breathtakingly beautiful resort, spanning 23 acres with nature trails, koi-filled ponds and tropical gardens, they will realize they’ll be spending Pesach in paradise. From the recently renovated, stunningly appointed rooms (many connecting), one- and two-bedroom suites, and common areas, to the lush tropical
grounds and the world-class facilities, it’s easy to see why the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Resort & Spa is one of Florida’s most visited properties. Add the Smilow Family’s two-decade-old reputation for providing outstanding personal service in the glatt-kosher hotel industry, and it’s easy to understand why Pesach 2012 at the Bonaventure will be a one-of-a-kind quality yom tov vacation. It starts with the finest in exquisite dining. Pesach 2012 is a new opportunity to nourish the creative passions of Smilows’ glatt kosher Pesach experience.
Last Pesach, we were blessed to have an incredible culinary team and this year we are upping the ante. We are proud to announce that last Pesach’s executive chef and team members will be returning to us at the Hyatt Bonaventure Resort & Spa and will delight our guests with distinctive flair and outstanding savory delights. In addition, we will be welcoming a 5-Star team of veteran chefs who have worked at some of the world’s most famous 5-Star resorts and restaurants. Yom Tov Spirit Guests will be dazzled with dishes ranging from exceptional gourmet artistic fare to traditional Pesach favorites. There will be menus tailored to children’s tastes, mouthwatering daily meals, exquisite buffets and desserts, daily poolside BBQs, and smoothie bar stations. All will leave guests’ taste buds tingling. Smilow Family Tours prides itself on satisfying each individual’s tastes and preferences. Our “specialty” chef will prepare dietary requests such as vegetarian, diabetic, low-sodium, no-sodium, and non-gluten dishes. Please let us know in advance how we can meet your needs. Since the entire hotel will be Kosher for Pesach, we ensure a true yom tov atmosphere, filled with an ambience enriched with the holiday spirit. Guests will enjoy the finest baalei tefilah, shiurim, daf yomi, and stimulating lectures for men, women and teens given by renowned rabbis, authors, and speakers. The fully stocked shul will have machzorim for guests’ convenience. Activities We also offer teenage learning/activities, children’s programs, and baby-sitting. Guests are welcome to take advantage of our exciting chol-hamoed excursions and onsite interactive recreation for adults and children. Joining us for the entire Pesach vacation will be singing sensations Mordechai Ben David, The Shira Choir, and Sruli Williger, offering concerts, kumzits, and beautiful davening ensembles. We look forward to providing everything you need for Pesach 2012. Contact us at 323-275-1949 or 305-537-6487, or by email: info@smilowfamilytours.com.Y
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January 2012/Tevet 5772
The Jewish Voice and Opinion
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Leisure Time Tours Passover Programs in Florida, Arizona, New York, and Venice, Italy For the past 54 years, Leisure Time Tours
America’s first Passover tour operator, has also been its largest. This company first introduced glatt kosher Passover programs at some of the finest hotels in the US and Europe. This year, Leisure Time Tours will host five Passover programs in Florida, Arizona, Westchester, and New York, as well as in Venice, Italy. In Boca Raton, Florida, Leisure Time is offering the world-famous Boca Raton Resort & Club. This Waldorf Astoria Resort boasts a gorgeous half-mile stretch of private pristine beach, 30 clay tennis courts, two champion golf courses, and a world-class spa. In Palm Beach, Florida, the company is offering the AAA 4-Diamond PGA National Resort, where each room and suite includes a private balcony. This luxury resort features five tournament-ready golf courses, 19 tennis courts, and a European spa. The entire hotel will be glatt kosher for Passover. In Phoenix, Arizona, they are offering the world-class Arizona Biltmore Resort. This Waldorf Astoria Resort boasts eight swimming pools, six whirlpool spas, seven tennis courts, two 18-hole putting courses, and a 20,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art spa complex. In the Northeast, just 30 minutes from NYC, they are offering the Hilton Rye Town in Westchester. The entire hotel will be glatt kosher for Passover. The hotel has completed an extensive $30 million dollar renovation, which includes all guest rooms and suites. Its recreational facilities include an indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, expanded fitness center, and indoor tennis complex. European Vacation In Europe, Leisure Time is offering the 5-star beach-front resort, Hotel Excelsior in Venice-Lido, Italy. This worldrenowned resort, which offers a fabulous swimming pool, tennis courts, and fitness facility, faces the Grand Canal and the blue Mediterranean, and is ideally located for fascinating touring and shopping. Just opposite the resort, a complimentary launch-ride away, lies the architectural miracle of the city of Doges and San Marco Square. In Venice, guests will be able to enjoy the outstanding
museums, palaces, and galleries. There are tours to the ancient Jewish Ghetto and its synagogues, the Ducal Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Rialto Bridge. Exclusive boutiques carry fashions of top Italian designers. London’s most prestigious glatt kosher caterer, Arieh Wagner, will be joining the Leisure Time team. The hotel’s awardwinning chefs and service-oriented banquet staff will work with Leisure Time’s kosher chefs to create a culinary experience that will draw from the best of Italian, continental, and traditional Jewish fare under the glatt kosher supervision
of Rabbi Garelik of Milan and the Federation of Synagogues-London KF. All Leisure Time Tours programs include outstanding glatt kosher cuisine, traditional Orthodox synagogue services, two magnificent seders, and a full and exciting array of activities, including thought-provoking lectures, dazzling entertainment, professionally run children’s camps and teen programs, and exciting optional sightseeing tours. For further information and a full color brochure, can contact Leisure Time Tours at 718-528-0700 or 800-223-2624. The website can be accessed at www. leisuretimetours.com. Y
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January 2012/Tevet 5772
Tell Our Advertisers “I Saw It in The Jewish Voice and Opinion”
The Log: Apply Now
Alisa Flatow Scholarship Fund, applications for the 2012-2013 academic year, for students who play to study full-time for at least one year in a yeshiva, seminary, or other approved program in Israel, deadline is Feb 15, www.alisafund.org Yiddish Book Center, for high school juniors and seniors who would like to spend a week, July 29-Aug 5, in Amherst, MA, studying essential works of Jewish literature, no prior knowledge of Yiddish is required, includes grant for tuition, room, kosher meals, and books, deadline is March 15, 413-256-4900
Do It Now
Reflective Belts, to make it easier for drivers to see pedestrians walking to and from shul at night, available from Jewish Family Service, Clifton, 973-777-7638
Mon., Jan 9
Winter Break Learning, for undergraduate men with a strong background in Gemara, Yeshiva Chovevei Torah, Riverdale, continues through Fri., Jan
ersey new j
perfo
13, Mon-Thurs, 8:30am-5:30pm; Tues and Thurs seder, til 9pm; Fri, 8:30am-noon, 212-666-0036 Mommy and Me, for mothers and babies ages newborn-4 years, Chani Gurkov, Chabad Center, Wayne, 10am, 973-694-6274 Israeli TV: “Arab Labor: Avoda Aravit (Shoddy or SecondRate Work),” with Sayed Kashua (Israel-Arab journalist, the Arab “Seinfeld”), discussion with Daniel Sonnenschein, JCC Rockland, West Nyack, 7pm, 845-362-4400 “The Boomer Table: Ignore Them at Your Peril—How to Engage Those in Their 50s and 60s,” Stuart Himmelfarb, spons by the Jewish Federation’s Synagogue Leadership Initiative, Jewish Federation of Northern NJ, Paramus, light kosher supper, 6:30pm; program, 7pm, nancyp@jfnnj.org Latte and Learn: Parsha through a Literary Perspective, Ben Keil, Teaneck General Store, 7pm, 201-530-5047 “In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives,” Steven Levy, JCC, Tenafly, 8pm
ente a rt s c r m in g
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Sat, Feb 4 / 7:30
David Broza Legacies and Legends
Meet one of the most distinctive musical voices of our time at this moderated conversation with Israeli singer-songwriter and activist David Broza. $28
1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722)
Café Chai: Happy New Year Game Day, for those 60 and over,
One Center Street, Newark, NJ
ewishvoice_3.5x4.65_Broza_Dec28.indd 1
Tues., Jan 10
Jewish Business Network Breakfast, JCC, Ridgewood, 8:1510am, 646-233-2031 “Generating Intergenerational Tales: What Do You Want to Tell the Upcoming Generations, How Would You Generate an Inspiring Tale They Will Remember,” Leanora Kordova, Cong Ahawas Achim Bnai Jacob and David, West Orange, 11:15am, 973-736-1407 ext 240 Confidential Divorce Support Group, for Orthodox women, Dr. Carol Glaser, private location in Teaneck, 8pm, 201-833-8822 Films: “Crossing the Line” (anti-Israel movement on campuses), “A State is Born,” and “Israel and the West,” Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center, Livingston, 8pm, 973-994-2620 or 973-994-0122 “Modern Family: A PresentDay Look at Sefer Bereshit—How to Make It through a Rough Winter: Tuition, Stress, and Family,” Rabbi Shalom Baum, Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 8:30pm, 201-907-0180 “Keep Kids Safe from Inappropriate Behavior at School and in the Neighborhood,” Dr. Shloimie Zimmerman, Young Israel of Staten Island, 8:30pm, 212-929-1525
Wed., Jan 11
Groups of 10 or more: 1-973-297-5804
njpac.org
Community Synagogue of Monsey Sisterhood Book Club: “Peony in Love” by Lisa See, private home in Monsey, 8pm, 845-356-2720 or 845-356-2003 “Unique Opportunities and Challenges in ModernOrthodox Education: Crisis or Challenge: The Affordability of Modern-Orthodox Education,” Rabbi Jeff Kobrin, Riverdale Jewish Center, 8pm, 718-548-1850 “The Law and the Law: Bakke v. University of California Board of Regents and the Torah’s View on Affirmative Action,” Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, Esq, Cong Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, 8:15pm Zumba with EMUNAH, for women and girls, 12 and up, Club Fit, Teaneck, 8:15pm, reneebecker33@gmail.com
12/28/11 12:28 PM
includes kosher lunch, Bayonne JCC, 10:45am, 201-697-3355 Book Group: “Who by Fire” by Diana Spechler, with Carol Berman, JCC, West Orange, 11am, 973-530-3421 “Man and Mission: How Our Great Biblical Personalities Reacted to Being Called by G-d,” Shifra Schapiro, Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls, 11:15am, Rachel@maayanot.org Lunch and Learn, for seniors, Rabbi Avrohom Herman, Jewish Educational Center, Elizabeth, lunch, 11:30am; Parsha study, noon, 908-527-9815 Make Your Own Kosher Sushi, Andrea Klein, JCC, Tenafly 7pm, 201-408-1457 “The Reincarnation of Babe Ruth,” Rabbi Shmuel Zvi Kessin, The Teaneck General Store, 7:30pm, 201-530-5047 Mom’s Support Group, for mothers of children with special needs, Amy Brunswick, LSW, spons by Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, JCC, West Orange, 7:30pm, 973-765-9050 or 973-929-3129 Support Group for Caregivers, those caring for an older adult who is physically frail or suffering from memory loss, JCC, Tenafly, 7:30pm, 201-408-1450 Mishloach Manot Planning Meeting, N’shei Chabad of New City, at the Chabad House, 7:30pm, 845-641-1312 Challah Baking and Shiur, Rebbetzin Shoshana Gershon, private home in Englewood, 7:30pm, 201-568-1315 “Chicks with Sticks Knitting Circle,” hats for preemies, children with cancer, and IDF soldiers in Israel, private home in Highland Park, 8pm, 732-339-8492 Yeshiva Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (YRSRH-Breuers) Parlor Meeting, for prospective parents of preschool and elementary students, private home in Riverdale, 8pm, jbechhofer@yrsrh.org Mesechet Megilla Shiur, in memory of Willie Bauman, z”l, Cong Ahavath Torah, Englewood, 8pm, 201-568-1315 “Ha’arama: Loopholes in Halacha,” for women, Rabbi David Katz, private home in Teaneck,
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The Jewish Voice and Opinion
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“Separate Yourself Not from the Community” 8:30pm, elanarothstein@gmail.com “Practical Halachot and Common Questions of Baking,” Rabbi Ari Zahtz, Cong BY, Teaneck, 8:30pm “Medical Ethics: A Jewish View of Cosmetic and Elective Surgery,” Rabbi Jonathan Cohen, Cong Ahavath Torah, Englewood, 8:45pm, 201-568-1315
Thurs., Jan 12
Jewish Business Network Breakfast, Temple B’nai Jeshurun, Sough Orange, 8-9:30am, 646-233-2031 Jewish Art History: Books, Manuscripts, and the Dawn of Jewish Painting (16th-20th Century CE), Richard McBee, Derfner Judaica Museum, Riverdale, 2:30pm, 718-581-1596 Challah-Baking Workshop, spons by Chabad at the Shore, JCC, Margate, 7pm, 609-822-8500 Teaneck High School Jewish Community Open House, for prospective parents and students, includes kosher refreshments, display of all academic offerings including Holocaust
Center, Israel Club, kosher hot lunches, accommodations for all Jewish holidays and Shabbat observance, 7pm Cake Decorating, for 6th grade girls, private home in Englewood, 7pm, 201-568-1315 Book Group: “Who by Fire” by Diana Spechler, with Carol Berman, JCC, West Orange, 7:30pm, 973-530-3421
Fri., Jan 13
Tot Shabbat, for mothers and babies ages newborn to 3 years, includes Shabbat songs and crafts, Deena Gurkov, Chabad Center, Wayne, 10am, 973-570-9866 “Reaction and Direction: How to Ace the Test of Antisemitism,” Rabbi Avrohom Rapoport, Chabad at the Shore, Ventnor, 12:15pm, 609-822-8500 Israel’s Ambassador to the US Michael Oren, will receive an honorary degree and deliver the commencement address to the Monmouth University winter graduating class, West Long Branch, 1:30pm, 732-571-3473 Family Kabbalat Shabbat,
Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot, Cong Netivot Shalom, Teaneck, 4:30pm AIPAC Shabbaton: Tangible Steps to Become an Effective Pro-Israel Activist, Cong Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, through Shabbat, Jan 14 AIPAC Shabbaton, Josh Pruzansky, Cong Keter Torah, 5pm, 201-907-0180 Cholent Cook-Off, Cong Arzei Darom, Teaneck, 7:30pm, mrrocks@gmail.com “Contemporary Challenges Facing the Jewish Family,” Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser, scholar-inresidence, Cong Ahavas Achim, Highland Park, includes Shabbat dinner, 8pm, 732-247-0532 Cong Ohav Emeth Midrash Series, Rabbi Yisrael Botnick, private home in Highland Park, 8pm, 732-246-3508 The Chulent Challenge, taste and vote for who makes the best chulent, Cong Beth Aaron, Teaneck, 8-9:30pm, to enter, mensclub@bethaaron.org Partners in Torah Shabbaton: Panel Discussion with
Rabbi Eli Gewirtz and Stephen Savitsky, private home in Englewood, 8pm, 201-816-0307
Shabbat, Jan 14
Partners in Torah Shabbaton, with Rabbi Eli Gewirtz and Stephen Savitsky, Cong Ahavath Torah, Englewood, 8am; seuda shlishit: “What’s More Important: How Much You Know or How Much You Care?” 4:30, 800-STUDY-42 Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser, scholar-in-residence, Cong Ahavas Achim, Highland Park, “Chinuch Habanim: How to Raise Teens,” 10:30am; “Kibud Av V’Em in the Real World,” includes Seudat Shlishit, 5pm; 732-247-0532 AIPAC Briefing: “The Urgency of Now: Why Congressional Advocacy Is Essential for Israel’s Security,” Justin Pozmanter, Cong Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck, 11am, 201-837-2795; Ed Miller, Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 11am, 201-907-0180 Bnai Akiva Snif Chadash of Teaneck Darom, for students in grades 1-6, fun with an educational
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The Log
January 2012/Tevet 5772
Tell Our Advertisers “I Saw It in The Jewish Voice and Opinion”
continued from page 29
Zionist element, Cong Netivot Shalom, Teaneck, 4:25pm, davidmontag@rocketmail.com
Motzei Shabbat, Jan 14
Saturday Night Fun, spons by the Friendship Circle of West Orange, parents can drop off their special-needs children and their siblings for an evening of swimming, magic, and more while the parents enjoy “Saturday Night Out,” at Aidekman JCC, Whippany, 6:30pm, 973-251-0200 Cooking Demonstration, with Chef Seth Warshaw of Etc Steakhouse, spons by Bais Medrash of Bergenfield, private home in Bergenfield, 7pm, ryan@bmob.org Movie Night, for grades 6-8, spons by Cong Beth Aaron, Teaneck, private home in Teaneck, 7pm, bethaaronjuniors@gmail.com “The Impact of the Arab Spring on Israel’s Safety and Security,” Jonathan Schanzer and Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, spons by AIPAC, Cong Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck, 7:30pm, mhermannesq@gmail.com. New Member Tea: “From Cairo to Cambridge: A Tour of the Cairo Genizah,” Rabbi Mordechai Becher, Cong Ahavas Israel, Passaic, 8pm, 973-777-5799 Chabad Lubavitch of Riverdale Dinner, at the New York Botanical Garden, 8pm, 718-549-1100 “Shidduchim: Reading the ‘Parsha’ Correctly—An Evening of Advice and Guidance,” for girls and mothers of children involved in shidduchim, featuring: “Growing through the Process on Your Way to the Outcome,” Chani Juravel; “ABCs of Dating: How to Make
the Most of Your Dates,” Chani Ziskind; “Menuchas Hanefesh in Strengthening Our Most Cherished Relationships,” Shaya Ostrov; “Practical Tips of How to Succeed in Today’s Shidduch World,” Ahuva Cherns; and Mrs L.H. Mandelbaum, Ateres Charna, Spring Valley, 8pm, 845-354-3233 ext 118
Sun., Jan 15
Blood Drive, Cong Ahavath Torah, Englewood, 9am-3pm, 201-568-1315 Explanatory Morning Service, Rabbi David Pietruszka, spons by the Jewish Learning Experience, at Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 9:15am, 201-966-4490 Jewish Humor Central with Al Kustanowitz, includes breakfast, Cong Ahavat Achim, Fair Lawn, 9:15am, 201-519-7951 Jewish Federation Klene Up Krewe Trip to New Orleans to Help with the Clean Up from the Devastation of Hurricane Katrina, leave 9:30am, return Tues., Jan 17, stuarthimmelfarb@ gmail.com or 201-820-3921 Feeding the Hungry at Eva’s Kitchen, spons by the Young Israel of Passaic-Clifton, purchase, bake, and deliver 15 pieces of chicken to the shul, 10am, 973-471-5273 or 973-472-2531 Riverdale Israel House (iHouse), gym and Israeli-style brunch, for children and adults, in Hebrew, Talya Leib, Riverdale YMHA, 10:30am, 718-548-8200 Siyyum in Honor of the First Yahrtzeit of Buddy Fingerhut, z”l, Kollel of Manalapan, Morganville, 2:30pm, 732-617-1521 Building Jerusalem with
60,000 Lego Building Blocks, for children ages 6 and up, parents, and grandparents, babysitting for children 3-5, Cong Ahawas Achim Bnai Jacob and David, West Orange, 3pm The Friendship Circle of Passaic-Clifton Bowling League, for special-needs children, their families, and teenage volunteers, at Van Houten Lanes, Clifton, 3pm, 973-694-6274 Cong Ohav Emeth Dinner, honoring Gerry and Renee Silverstein and the memory of Danny Ravitz, z”l, at the Rutgers University-Livingston Student Center, Piscataway, 4pm, 732-322-0503 Dinner to Celebrate the Opening of the Center for Jewish Life, Rabbi Yossi Kanelsky, featuring Sen Robert Menedez (D-NJ) and honoring Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik and Marat and Simone Mesh, Marlboro, 5pm, 732-316-7600 Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey Dinner, honoring Eva and Mordy Rothberg and Rabbi Yitzchak Rosenbaum, at Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 5:30pm, 201-986-1414 Movie and a Mitzvah, JCC, West Orange, 6:30pm, 973-929-2922 Concert: “Women Uniting through Song,” for women and girls grade 3 and up, featuring Chanale, Esther Freeman, the Kol Isha Choir, and Leah Rubashkin, at ASHAR, Monsey, 7:15pm, 718-757-9149 Yeshivas Beis Hillel (YBH) Open House, for parents with children entering grades N-8, Passaic, 8pm, 973-777-0735
Mon., Jan 16
Winter Break Learning, for undergraduate men with a strong background in Gemara, Yeshiva Chovevei Torah, Riverdale, continues
through Fri., Jan 20, Mon-Thurs, 8:30am-5:30pm; Tues and Thurs seder, til 9pm; Fri, 8:30am-noon, 212-666-0036 Mommy and Me, for mothers and babies ages newborn-4 years, Chani Gurkov, Chabad Center, Wayne, 10am, 973-694-6274 “Jewish Views on Issues Facing Seniors,” Rabbi Gary Katz, JCC, Tenafly, 11:15am Mother-and-Daughter Matan Bat Mitzvah Program, for girls 10-12 and their mothers, aunts, and grandmothers, Pnina Yahid, Ben Porat Yosef, Paramus, 7pm, 201-845-5007 ext 10 “Divorce and You: Support Group for the Divorced and Those Considering Divorce,” Dr. Nancy Zwiebach and Rabbi Martin Rosenfeld, Esq, The Teaneck General Store, 7pm, 201-530-5047 “The Law and the Law: Goldman v. Weinberger and the Public Yarmulka,” Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, Esq, Cong Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, 8:15pm Teleconference Shiur: “School Issues,” Slovie Jungreis-Wolff, 8:30pm, events@ metroimma.com Personalized Interactive Teleconference Workshop: “Achieve Harmony,” Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller, 10pm, www.TorahExperience.com or 732-806-1578
Tues., Jan 17
Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva Grade 1 Siddur Presentation, Edison, 9:30am, 732-572-5052 Lunch and a Movie, spons by New Beginnings for Mature Adults, Jewish Center of Teaneck, 12:30pm, 201-837-4575 or 201-837-3791 Hat-and-Purse Show, to raise money for the Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva student newspaper and the ASPCA, private home in Edison,
The Log is a free service provided to the Jewish community in northern and central New Jersey, Rockland County and Riverdale. Events that we list include special and guest lectures, concerts, boutiques, dinners, open houses, club meetings, and new classes. Announcements are requested by the 25th of the month prior to the month of the event. Due to space and editorial constraints, we cannot guarantee publication of any announcement. Please email them to : susan@jewishvoiceandopinion.com
http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com 7-9pm, 732-819-8998 “Turmoil in the Middle East: Ramifications of the Arab Spring and the Role of the United States,” Dr. Sharon Goldman, spons by AIPAC, at Cong Bnai Tikvah, North Brunswick, 7:45pm, 212-750-4110 “Modern Family: A PresentDay Look at Sefer Bereshit— Don’t Forget to Remember: Leaving a Legacy after We’re Gone,” Rabbi Shalom Baum, Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 8:30pm, 201-907-0180 “Practical Halachot and Common Questions of Baking,” Rabbi Ari Zahtz, Cong BY, Teaneck, 8:30pm
Wed., Jan 18
Jewish Business-to-Business Breakfast, Whole Foods, Bergen Town Center, Paramus, 8:15am, 646-233-2031 “Man and Mission: How Our Great Biblical Personalities Reacted to Being Called by G-d,” Shifra Schapiro, Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls, 11:15am, Rachel@maayanot.org Lunch and Learn with Nishmat, for men and women, Rutgers Hillel, New Brunswick, 12:30pm, 732-545-2407 “Understanding Metastatic Cancer,” Mary Friedman, spons by Genentech Oncology, at Gilda’s Club, Hackensack, 6pm, 201-457-1670 Bat Mitzvah Class: Challah and Making—Everything but Baking,” Rebbetzin Chana Reichman, Cong Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck, 7pm, batmitzvahamazing@gmail.com Abused Women’s Confidential Support Group, Jewish Family Service, Teaneck, 7:15pm, 201-837-9090 JCC Rockland Book Club: “Sotah” by Naomi Ragen, facilitated by Arlene Sandner, West Nyack, 7:30pm, 845-362-4400 Super Singles 65+, JCC Rockland, West Nyack, 8pm, 845-362-4400 “Medical Ethics: A Jewish View,” Rabbi Jonathan Cohen, Cong Ahavath Torah, Englewood, 8:45pm, 201-568-1315 Cong Ahavas Achim of Highland Park Mission to Israel, returns Mon, Jan 30, aamission@
January 2012/Tevet 5772
arieltours.com
Thurs., Jan 19
La Leche League of Bronx/ Riverdale, Mia Damond Padwa, pregnant women, babies and small children welcome, healthy snacks, Riverdale YMHA, 9:30am, 718-543-0314 Volunteer Managers’ Lunch and Learn, for professionals who work with or manage volunteers in non-profit, corporate, community, governmental, or faithbased settings, Bergen County Volunteer Center, Hackensack, 11:30am, 201-489-9454 ext 118 “Torah and Science,” Rabbi Natan Slifkin, Web Yeshiva, 1pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844 Trip to Fun City in Monsey, spons by Bais Medrash of Bergenfield, for children with a parent, includes Magiquest and wand, rides and attractions, pizza and drink, 2-5pm, miriamstobezki@ gmail.com “Jewish Art History: Modernism and Israeli Art—The 20th Century,” Richard McBee, Derfner Judaica Museum, Riverdale, 2:30pm, 718-581-1596 Links and Drinks: Networking Social to Expand Your Network of Career and Job Contacts,” JCC, West Orange, 7-9pm, 973-530-3992
Fri., Jan 20
Deadline to Apply for a Bronfman Youth Fellowship in Israel, for Jewish high school students from diverse Jewish backgrounds to study in Israel and lead social action programs at home, 518-475-7212 Tot Shabbat, for mothers and babies ages newborn to 3 years, includes Shabbat songs and crafts, Deena Gurkov, Chabad Center, Wayne, 10am, 973-570-9866 Discount Tickets for Disney on Ice: Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey, Izod Center, E Rutherford, through Cong Beth Aaron, Teaneck, 10:30am, fisch. chips@att.net Discount Tickets for Disney on Ice: Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey, for mothers, daughters, grandmothers, or aunts, spons by Cong Ohr HaTorah, Bergenfield, at the Izod Center, E Rutherford, 10:30am, michele.
The Jewish Voice and Opinion
moskowitz@gmail.com “”Why, Thank You: Jewish Perspectives on Gratitude,” Rabbi Avrohom Rapoport, Chabad at the Shore, Ventnor, 12:15pm, 609-822-8500 Carlebach Shabbaton, Jewish Center of Teaneck, through Shabbat, Jan 21, 201-833-0515 Birthright Reunion Shabbat Dinner, Rutgers Hillel, New Brunswick, 6:45pm, 732-545-2407
Shabbat, Jan 21
Cantor Yanky Lemmer, cantor-in-residence, Cong Ahavath Torah, Englewood, yltenor@ gmail.com Carlebach Minyan, Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, 8:30am, 718-549-6477 Carlebach Minyan, Cong Darchei Noam, Fair Lawn, 8:45am Rabbi’s Tish—“The Three C’s: Cholent, Cugel, and Conversation: On Boycotts and Blockades, Issues Surrounding Our Heritage,” Rabbi Lawrence Zierler, Jewish Center of Teaneck, 11:45am, 201-833-0515
Motzei Shabbat, Jan 21
Café Chabad Movie Night: “Leap Of Faith,” includes light dinner, Chabad Center, Wayne, 7pm, 973-694-6274 Kolnoa: Israeli Film Club: “The Battle over the Soul,” in Hebrew with English subtitles, with producer Dan Almagor, 8pm, 201-408-1496
Sun., Jan 22
Partners in Torah Breakfast, Cong Tifereth Israel, Passaic, 9:30am, 973-221-3650 ext 107 Hadassah Chug Ivrit, Hebrew Club, for men and women, intermediate to advanced Hebrew speakers, private home in Edison,
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11am, 732-371-6350 “Lessons from the Olive Trees for Families, Jewish Unity, and the Social Security System,” Dr. Jon Greenberg, includes brunch, YMHA, Union, noon, 908-289-8112 ext 34 Kids in Action: Rock Climbing at the NJ Rock Gym and Pillow-Making for Hospitalized Children, for boys and girls in grades 1-6, spons by the Chabad Center, Wayne, 12:45pm, 973-694-6274 “Reconciling the Past: Why a Jewish Boy and Son of a Dachau Survivor Became a German Citizen,” Rick Landman, Holocaust Museum, Spring Valley, 2pm, 845-356-2700 Piano Master Class, Boris Berman, JCC, Tenafly, 2pm, 201-408-1465 Snow Day—Even if It’s Not Snowing, Rutgers Hillel, New Brunswick, 2pm, 732-545-2407 School-Choice Week Event: The “Bucco Bill,” with NJ State Sen Anthony Bucco, Sr; NJ Assemblyman Anthony Bucco, Jr; NJ Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll; Anna Little; Valarie Smith, and Andrew Bernstein, Hyatt Hotel, Morristown, 2pm The Friendship Circle, for special-needs children and teenage volunteers, Chabad Center, Wayne, 2:30pm, 973-694-6274 “Teaneck Community Chorus Winter Concert Goes Wii: Music from Animated Moves, Cartoons, and Video Games,” Teaneck High School, 3pm Personalized Interactive Teleconference Workshop: “Achieve Harmony,” Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller, 10pm,
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The Log
January 2012/Tevet 5772
Tell Our Advertisers “I Saw It in The Jewish Voice and Opinion”
continued from page 31
www.TorahExperience.com or 732-806-1578
Mon., Jan 23
Mommy and Me, for mothers and babies ages newborn-4 years, Chani Gurkov, Chabad Center, Wayne, 10am, 973-694-6274 Israel Film Club: “Late Marriage,” in Hebrew with English subtitles, discussion led by Daniel Sonnenschein JCC Rockland, West Nyack, 7pm, 845-362-4200 “Latte and Learn: Parsha through a Literary Perspective,” Ben Keil, Teaneck General Store, 7pm, 201-530-5047 “Jewish Business Ethics: Money Matters, Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis: Hot Tips: The Ethics of Insider Trading,” Rabbi Mendy Kasowitz, West Orange Lubavitch Center, 7:30pm, 973-486-2362
Tues., Jan 24
Thurnauer Young People’s Chorus Winter Concert, JCC, Tenafly, 7pm, 201-408-1465 “Stress: Take Back Control of Your Life,” for adults 18 and over, Dr. Dov Kroopnick, includes free dinner, King of Delancy, Passaic, 201-203-8058 “Jewish Business Ethics: Money Matters, Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis: Hot Tips: The Ethics of Insider Trading,” 7:30pm, Rabbi Meir Konikov, Chabad of Fort Lee, 201-886-1237; Rabbi Levi Dubinsky, Chabad of Mountain Lakes, 973-551-1898; The Riverdale YMHA, Rabbi Yitzchok Dubov, 718-549, 1100; 7:45pm, Rabbi Levi Azimov, Chabad of North Brunswick, 732-398-9492; 8pm, Rabbi Dov Drizin, Valley Chabad of Woodcliff Lake, 201-476-0157
Wed., Jan 25
Café Chai: Learn about Dorot University without Walls, for seniors, Fran Rod, includes kosher lunch, Bayonne JCC, 10:45am, 201-697-3355 Jewish Business to Business Meeting, Premiere Energy Auctions Office, Fairfield, 5pm, 646-233-2031 Poetry Reading with Kosher Wine and Cheese, Yehoshua November, Riverdale YMHA, 7pm, 718-548-8200 “Israeli Dancing and Mental Health,” for women, Anna Placenzia and Iris Levy, Chabad House, Margate, 7pm, 609-992-4900 “Jewish Business Ethics: Money Matters, Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis: Hot Tips: The Ethics of Insider Trading,” 7:30pm, Rabbi Mendel Mangel, Chabad Center of Cherry Hill, 856-874-1500; Rabbi Mendy Herson, Chabad of Greater Somerset County at Basking Ridge, 908-604-8844; 8pm, Rabbi Levi Wolosow, Chabad of Manalapan, 732-972-3687; Rabbi Avrohom Bergstein, Anshei Lubavitch Cong of Fair Lawn, 201-794-3770 “Chicks with Sticks Knitting Circle,” hats for preemies, children with cancer, and IDF soldiers in Israel, private home in Highland Park, 8pm, 732-339-8492 “The Mikveh: Mayim Chaim, Living Waters, and Its Effect on the Individual and the Community,” spons by Hadassah and presented by L’Dor v’Dor, private home in Highland Park, 8pm, ywhadassahevents@yahoo.com
Thurs., Jan 26
“Essentials of Volunteer
Management: From Development to Achievement,” kosher breakfast and lunch available, Volunteer Center of Bergen County, Hackensack, 9am-3pm, 201-4899454 ext 114 Support Group for Caregivers, those caring for an older adult who is physically frail or suffering from memory loss, JCC, Tenafly, 11am, 201-408-1450 “The Invisible Bridge,” Julie Orringer, about a HungarianJewish architecture student in Paris in 1937, includes lunch, JCC, Tenafly, 11:30am, 201-408-1405 “Torah and Science,” Rabbi Natan Slifkin, Web Yeshiva, 1pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844 “Jewish Art History: Contemporary Jewish Art (19502011), Richard McBee, Derfner Judaica Museum, Riverdale, 2:30pm, 718-581-1596 Falafel and Films: “Willingly,” “A Jerusalem Tale,” and “Luz,” presented by the Ma’aleh School of Television, Film, and the Arts in Jerusalem, at the JCC, Bridgewater, 6:30pm, 908-7256994 ext 201 “Raising Expectations: Quality of Services and Expecting More from Your Special-Needs Family Member,” JCC, West Orange, 7:30pm, 973-929-3129 UN Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration: Film: “Carrying the Light,” JCC, Tenafly, 8pm, 201-408-1426
Fri., Jan 27 Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
“Quality above Quantity: Making the Most of Your Time,” Rabbi Avrohom Rapoport, Chabad at the Shore, Ventnor, 12:15pm, 609-822-8500 Shabbat Daven and Dine, Cong Mount Sinai, Jersey City, 4:45pm, info@mtsinai.net Friday Night Dinner, Chabad of Greater Somerset County, Basking Ridge, 4:30pm, Yitzchok@ chabadcentral.org
Motzei Shabbat, Jan 28
NJ Jewish Film Festival: “My Australia,” a Jew posing
as a Catholic, JCC, West Orange, 7:30pm, 973-530-3417 Kumzitz and Melava Malka, Rabbi Dr. Dennis Shulman, The Teaneck General Store, 8pm, 201-530-5047 SAR Anniversary Dinner, honoring Judith and Harry Ballan, Stephanie Schneider Minkove, Milly Rosner, and Abbie and Moshe Greenberg, at the school in Riverdale, 8pm, spinner@saracademy.org “The Garment of Life,” Rabbi Moshe Snow, 18th annual Ezra Witkin, z”l, Yahrtzeit Shiur, JEC Elmora Shul, Elizabeth, 8:15pm
Sun., Jan 29
Family Minyan: Bring the Children for Tefilla, Breakfast, and a Project, for children in grade 2 and up, Cong Netivot Shalom, Teaneck, netivotshalomwebsite@gmail.com “Ladies Got Talent” Auditions, for an all-female talent show, Mount Sinai Jewish Center, Washington Heights, 9am-5pm, 212-568-1900 or ladiesgottalent@ gmail.com Explanatory Morning Service, Rabbi David Pietruszka, spons by the Jewish Learning Experience, at Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 9:15am, 201-966-4490 Highland Park Community Kollel Breakfast, honoring Yechiel Wegner and Mr. and Mrs. Eli Reinitz, at Cong Ohr Torah, Edison, 9:30am, Charles@lawgw.com Riverdale Israel House (iHouse), gym and Israeli-style brunch, for children and adults, in Hebrew, Talya Leib, Riverdale YMHA, 10:30am, 718-548-8200 Rep Shelley Berkley (DNV), spons by NORPAC, private home in Englewood, 11am, 201788-5133 or 201-951-7900 Party Showcase, featuring many kosher vendors, Park Ave Club, Florham Park, 12-3pm, 973-301-8233 Party Showcase, featuring many kosher vendors, Marlboro Jewish Center, 1-4pm, 732-536-2300 International Holocaust Remembrance Day Observance: World War II Liberator Alan Moskin, Holocaust Museum, Spring Valley, 2pm, 845-356-2700
http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com JACS Meeting, 12-steps meeting for Jews in recovery, Rabbi Steven Bayar, Cong B’nai Israel, Millburn, 6pm, 973-379-3811 Meeting for Mothers Whose Children Have Made Aliyah, private home in Highland Park, 8pm, Debbie.brown@cardinal.com Souper Sunday Night Learning, Rabbi Akiva Weiss, private home in New Brunswick, 8:30pm, 732-545-2407 Personalized Interactive Teleconference Workshop: “Achieve Harmony,” Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller, 10pm, www.TorahExperience.com or 732-806-1578
Mon., Jan 30
Café Europa Holocaust Survivor Group, Jacob Weiland, MSW, Riverdale YMHA, 1pm, 718548-8200 ext 303 Israeli TV: “Arab Labor: Avoda Aravit (Shoddy or SecondRate Work),” with Sayed Kashua (Israel-Arab journalist, the Arab “Seinfeld”), discussion with Daniel Sonnenschein, JCC Rockland, West Nyack, 7pm, 845-362-4400 “Jewish Business Ethics: Money Matters, Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis: Hot Tips: The Ethics of Insider Trading,”
January 2012/Tevet 5772
Rabbi Shmuel Gancz, Chabad of Suffern, 7:30pm, 845-368-1889 “Jewish Business Ethics: Money Matters, Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis: By the Sweat of Their Brows: Wages of the Working Poor,” Rabbi Mendy Kasowitz, West Orange Lubavitch Center, 7:30pm, 973-486-2362 “The Law and the Law: Kelo v. City of New London and the Torah’s View on Eminent Domain,” Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, Esq, Cong Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, 8:15pm
Tues., Jan 31
Last Day for Dachau Exhibit: “Names Instead of Numbers,” 22 biographies from the Dachau Book of Remembrance (Gedächtnisbuch), Holocaust Museum and Study Center, Spring Valley, 12-4pm, 845-356-2700 “Music of Alex Borodin and Kismet,” Lloyd Kishinsky, Cong Ahawas Achim Bnai Jacob and David, West Orange, 11:15am, 973-736-1407 ext 240 Individual Counseling for Seniors and Blood-Pressure, Karen Frank, RN, Cong Ahawas Achim Bnai Jacob and David,
The Jewish Voice and Opinion
West Orange, 12:45pm, 973-7361407 ext 240 “Living Rich Coupons Workshop,” Cindy Levesey, spons by the Teaneck Baby Gemach and Cong Arzei Darom, to provide diapers and formula for needy Bergen County families, at Cong Arzei Darom, Teaneck, 7pm, TeaneckBabyGemach@gmail.com “Jewish Business Ethics: Money Matters, Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis: By the Sweat of Their Brows: Wages of the Working Poor,” 7:30pm, Rabbi Meir Konikov, Chabad of Fort Lee, 201-886-1237; Rabbi Levi Dubinsky, Chabad of Mountain Lakes, 973-551-1898; The Riverdale YMHA, Rabbi Yitzchok Dubov, 718-549, 1100; 7:45pm, Rabbi Levi Azimov, Chabad of North Brunswick, 732-398-9492; 8pm, Rabbi Dov Drizin, Valley Chabad of Woodcliff Lake, 201-476-0157 Cong Ahavas Achim Book Club, “The Hotel on The Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” by Jamie Ford, private home in Edison, 8:30pm, 732-572-2792
Wed., Feb 1
Deadline for College Students to Apply for the
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Tuition-Free Steiner Summer Program at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA, will run from June 10-July 27, no prior knowledge of Yiddish is required, 413-256-4900 Deadline for College Undergraduates and Recent Graduates to Apply for the Shalem Summer Internship Program, held in Jerusalem from June 26-Aug 16, includes a $3,000 honorarium to assist in research, editing, and writing on a wide range of topics including Jewish and Zionist Thought, SharonB@shalem.org.il “Strengthening Family Life,” Dr. David Pelcovitz, Jewish Women’s Circle of Chabad of NW Bergen County, Chabad Jewish Center, Franklin Lakes, 10am, 201-848-0449 Lunch and Learn, for seniors, Rabbi Avrohom Herman, Jewish Educational Center, Elizabeth, lunch, 11:30am; Parsha study, noon, 908-527-9815 Abused Women’s Confidential Support Group, Jewish Family Service, Teaneck, 7:15pm, 201-837-9090 Jewish 12-Step Meeting,
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The Log
Tell Our Advertisers “I Saw It in The Jewish Voice and Opinion”
continued from page 33
JACS—Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons, and Significant Others, Jewish Family Service, Teaneck, 7:30pm, 201837-9090, ask for IRA (Information and Referral) or 201-981-1071 One Book—One Community: “My Father’s Paradise” by Ariel Sabat, about Jewish life in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, with facilitator Ruthann Eckstein, JCC, Tenafly, 7:30pm, 201-408-1456 “Jewish Business Ethics: Money Matters, Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis: By the Sweat of Their Brows: Wages of the Working Poor,” 7:30pm, Rabbi Mendel Mangel, Chabad Center of Cherry Hill, 856-874-1500; Rabbi Mendy Herson, Chabad of Greater Somerset County at Basking Ridge, 908-6048844; 8pm, Rabbi Levi Wolosow, Chabad of Manalapan, 732-9723687; Rabbi Avrohom Bergstein, Anshei Lubavitch Cong of Fair Lawn, 201-794-3770 “Jewish Business Ethics: Money Matters, Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis: Hot Tips: The Ethics of Insider Trading,” Rabbi Chanoch Kaplan, Chabad House of Franklin Lakes, 8pm, 201-848-0449
Thurs., Feb 2
“Torah and Science,” Rabbi Natan Slifkin, Web Yeshiva, 1pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844
Fri., Feb 3
Deadline for Entries to the Galelen Juried Art Show and Sale, for artists who reside in the greater MetroWest area, 973-530-3413
“Simon Says: How to Get Others to Think for Themselves,” Rabbi Avrohom Rapoport, Chabad at the Shore, Ventnor, 12:15pm, 609-822-8500 Junior Yachad Shabbaton, Young Israel of Monsey and Wesley Hills, through Shabbat, Feb 4, 845-354-5218
Shabbat, Feb 4
“Occupy Cholent: Enter for a Chance to Win the Coveted 1 Percent Cholent Ladle of Truth,” must be parve or fleishig, Cong Ahavas Achim, Highland Park, 11:30am, rabbidbecker@ yahoo.com Bnai Akiva Snif Chadash of Teaneck Darom, for students in grades 1-6, fun with an educational Zionist element, Cong Netivot Shalom, Teaneck, 4:45pm, davidmontag@rocketmail.com
Motzei Shabbat, Feb 4
Heart-to-Heart Journey to Israel, spons by the Jewish Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy, returns Fri., Feb 10, 201-820-3952 Cong Beth Aaron Sisterhood Book Club: “When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa” by Peter Godwin,” private home in Teaneck, 8pm, 201-837-0651 Thurnauer Chamber Music Concert: “From the Heartland: Folk Music as an Inspiration,” featuring Sharon Roffman, Annaliesa Place, Yari Bond, and Richard Goldsmith, JCC, Tenafly, conversation with the artists, 7pm; concert, 8pm, 201-408-1465 Frisch School Dinner, honoring Tammy and Ken Secemski, Tammy Schaum, and Rabbi Yaakov Blau, Marriott at Glenpointe,
Choose your journey Through Jewish History WITH DR. MARC SHAPIRO
• Spectacular Italy JULY 9-19, 2012
• Budapest Vienna Prague AUGUST 2-12, 2012 www.torahinmotion.org • 1.866.633.5770
Teaneck, 8pm, 201-267-9100 “Seven Steps to ‘Mentchhood’: The Virtue of a PrincipleDriven Life,” Stanley Fischman, Ben Porat Yosef, Paramus, 8:15pm, 201-845-5007
Sun., Feb 5
Bob Klapisch, Cong Beth Aaron, Teaneck, 9am, mensclub@ bethaaron.org G.E.M. (Gathering for Encouragement of Modesty): Hashkafa and Halacha from Bnos Melachim and Individual Thoughts, for women, private home in Passaic, 9:15am, 973-365-2342 Riverdale Israel House (iHouse), gym and Israeli-style brunch, for children and adults, in Hebrew, Talya Leib, Riverdale YMHA, 10:30am, 718-548-8200 Uncle Moishy Concert, snacks and lunch can be purchased, Spons by Gan Miriam, at the Riverdale Jewish Center, 11am, ganrjc@gmail.com or 718543-2553 or 718-548-1850 Tu B’Shevat Carnival, Yeshivat Noam, Paramus, 11am-2pm Salute to Women in the Arts: The Power of Squares, Sheryl Intrator Urman, JCC, Tenafly, 1-3pm, 201-503-9796 or 201-615-7758 Father-and-Son Basketball Game, Jewish Educational Center, 2pm, 908-527-9815 Tu B’Shevat Chocolate Fondue with Tree Fruits, Rutgers Hillel, New Brunswick, 2pm, 908-391-4927 Kids in Action Kindness Project: Challah Baking and Woodwork Crafts with the Jewish Association for Developmental Disabilities, for boys and girls 6-10, Rabbi Michoel Goldin, includes pizza supper, Chabad House, Teaneck, 3:30pm, 201-907-0686
Mon., Feb 6
Israel Recreational Hockey Association Tournament, open to all players and geared for those over 35, proceeds go to support Leket Israel, Israel’s National Food Bank, at the Canada Center, Metulla, Israel, through Fri., Feb 10, irha@live.ca or www.israelhockeyassociation.org “Jewish Business Ethics:
Money Matters, Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis: By the Sweat of Their Brows: Wages of the Working Poor,” Rabbi Shmuel Gancz, Chabad of Suffern, 7:30pm, 845-368-1889 “Jewish Business Ethics: Money Matters, Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis: Morally Bankrupt? The Ethics of Debt Discharge,” Rabbi Mendy Kasowitz, West Orange Lubavitch Center, 7:30pm, 973-486-2362 Personalized Interactive Teleconference Workshop: “Achieve Harmony,” Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller, 10pm, www.TorahExperience.com or 732-806-1578
Tues., Feb 7
Tu B’Shevat Celebration, for seniors, Cong Ahawas Achim Bnai Jacob and David, West Orange, 11:15am, 973-736-1407 ext 240 Tu B’Shevat Seder, JCC, Tenafly, family crafts project, 5:45pm; dinner, 6pm, 201-569-7900 Contemporary Israeli Poetry Group, in the original with English translation and discussion, Atara Fobar, Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, 7pm, 718-796-4730 Tu B’Shevat Seder, spons by Raritan Valley Chapter of Hadassah and L’Dor v’Dor, private home in Highland Park, 7:30pm, shamrela30@hotmail.com “Jewish Business Ethics: Money Matters, Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis: Morally Bankrupt? The Ethics of Debt Discharge,” 7:30pm, Rabbi Meir Konikov, Chabad of Fort Lee, 201-886-1237; Rabbi Levi Dubinsky, Chabad of Mountain Lakes, 973551-1898; The Riverdale YMHA, Rabbi Yitzchok Dubov, 718-549, 1100; 7:45pm, Rabbi Levi Azimov, Chabad of North Brunswick, 732398-9492; 8pm, Rabbi Dov Drizin, Valley Chabad of Woodcliff Lake, 201-476-0157 Volunteer Orientation, to work with special-needs children and teens through the Friendship Circle of MetroWest, Livingston, 8pm, 973-251-0200 Confidential Divorce Support Group, for Orthodox women, Dr. Carol Glaser, private location in Teaneck, 8pm, 201-833-8822 Film: “Searching for Peace,”
http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center, Livingston, 8pm, 973-994-2620 or 973-994-0122
Wed., Feb 8, Tu B’Shevat
Drawing for the Yeshiva Gedolah of Teaneck Community Raffle, first prize: $25,000; Second prize: $3,000 Teaneck shopping spree, 209-cash-ygt (209-227-4948) “Children and the Holocaust: Children’s Wartime Writing,” for middle and high school teachers, Master Teacher Institute in Holocaust Education, Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life, Rutgers, New Brunswick, 4:30pm, 732-932-2033 Thurnauer Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, and String Camerata Winter Concert, JCC, Tenafly, 7pm, 201-408-1465 Mom’s Support Group, for mothers of children with special needs, Amy Brunswick, LSW, spons by Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, JCC, West Orange, 7:30pm, 973-765-9050 or 973-929-3129 Support Group for Caregivers, those caring for an older adult who is physically frail or
January 2012/Tevet 5772
suffering from memory loss, JCC, Tenafly, 7:30pm, 201-408-1450 “Jewish Business Ethics: Money Matters, Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis: Morally Bankrupt? The Ethics of Debt Discharge,” 7:30pm, Rabbi Mendel Mangel, Chabad Center of Cherry Hill, 856-874-1500; Rabbi Mendy Herson, Chabad of Greater Somerset County at Basking Ridge, 908-604-8844; 8pm, Rabbi Levi Wolosow, Chabad of Manalapan, 732-972-3687; Rabbi Avrohom Bergstein, Anshei Lubavitch Cong of Fair Lawn, 201-794-3770 “Jewish Business Ethics: Money Matters, Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis: By the Sweat of Their Brows: Wages of the Working Poor,” Rabbi Chanoch Kaplan, Chabad House of Franklin Lakes, 8pm, 201-848-0449 “Chicks with Sticks Knitting Circle,” hats for preemies, children with cancer, and IDF soldiers in Israel, private home in Highland Park, 8pm, 732-339-8492
Thurs., Feb 9
“The Sacred Table: Creating a Jewish Food Ethic,” Mary
The Jewish Voice and Opinion
Zamore, JCC, Bridgewater, 7pm, 908-725-6994 “Hassidic Courts: A Photographic Journey,” Gil CohenMagen, JCC Rockland, West Nyack, 7pm, 845-362-4400 “Join the Club: How Peer Pressure Can Transform the World,” Tina Rosenberg, JCC, Tenafly, 8pm
Fri., Feb 10
“A World of Difference: What Impact Do I Make?” Rabbi Avrohom Rapoport, Chabad at the Shore, Ventnor, 12:15pm, 609-822-8500 Family Kabbalat Shabbat, Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot, Cong Netivot Shalom, Teaneck, 5pm “Esoteric Origins, HandsOn Insights,” Rabbi Elchanan Adler, Jeffrey Berger/Stephanie Shatkin Scholar-in-Residence, Cong Ohr Torah, West Orange, includes Friday night dinner, 5pm, e.weixelbaum.1@alumni. nyu.edu
Shabbat, Feb 11
Rabbi Elchanan Adler, Jeffrey Berger/Stephanie Shatkin Scholar-in-Residence, Cong Ohr Torah, West Orange, “The
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Pursuit of Truth: How to Find Light at the End of the Tunnel,” 11am; seudah shlishit, “Torah and Menschlechkeit: Which Comes First?” 5pm, e.weixelbaum.1@ alumni.nyu.edu
Motzei Shabbat, Feb 11
Final Day of Art Exhibit: “Upon Our Doorposts,” textile mezuzot, JCC, West Orange Kosher Wine-and-ScotchTasting and Seminar, Cong Ahavath Torah, Englewood, 8pm, 201-568-1315 Film: “Lonely Man of Faith: The Life and Legacy of Rabbi Joseph B Soloveitchik, z’tl,” featuring Dr. Arnold Lustiger, Cong Tifereth Israel, Passaic, 8pm, 646-361-1701 Comedy Night: Ari Teman, Cong Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, 8pm An Evening of Wine and Cheese Tasting, for Modern Orthodox second-time singles or those open to dating men and women with children, ages 32-42, spons by Bergen Connections, includes light dinner, private location in Teaneck, 8:30pm, bergenconnections1@gmail.com Y
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January 2012/Tevet 5772
Tell Our Advertisers “I Saw It in The Jewish Voice and Opinion”
New Classes This Month Sundays
“Messilat Yesharim Part 3,” Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman, Web Yeshiva, 6am, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 15 “Hasagas Gvul: Parameters and Psak Regarding Economic and Other Competition in Halacha,” Rabbi Duvie Weiss, includes breakfast, Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 8:30am, 201-907-0180 Torah Teens, for special-needs and non-disabled teen volunteers, spons by the Friendship Circle, includes music, art, baking, sports, prayer, and holiday, Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy, Livingston, volunteer training and breakfast, 9am; program, 9:30am, 973-251-0200, begins Jan 22 Weight Watcher, Riverdale YMHA, 9am, 718-548-8200 “Jews in the Workplace,” Rabbi Dovid Fink, Web Yeshiva, 1pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844 Pirkei Avot Chapter 5, Rabbi Chaim Brovender, Web Yeshiva, 2pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-9208844, begins Jan 15 Soccer for Yeshiva Boys, The Learning Center, Clifton, grades 1-2, 2pm; grades 3-4, 3:15pm, 732-310-5313, begins Feb 5 “The Story of Kohelet,” Rabbi Yehoshua Geller, Web Yeshiva, 3pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-9208844, begins Jan 15 “Practical Halachic Issues for Our Times,” Rabbi Joshua Blass, Kehillas Bais Yehuda (KBY), Wesley Hills, 8pm, 845-362-1408 Chaburah on Mitzvas Tzedaka, Rabbi Zev Rivkin, Bais Medrash of Bergenfield, 8:15pm, hermankc@gmail.com Interactive Shemona Perakim Chaburah, Rabbi Yitzchok Segal, Kehilas Bais Yosef, Passaic, 8:30pm, kby613@gmail.com Chaburah Beginning with Avodah Zorah, Binyomin Halberstam, Cong Tifereth Israel, Passaic, 9pm, benhalberstam@yahoo.com “Maimonides’ Guide to the Perplexed,” Martin Kaufman, Web Yeshiva, 9pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 15 Advanced Gemara: Pesachim Chapter 1, Rabbi Chaim Brovender, Web Yeshiva, 10pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim. php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844,begins Jan 15
Mondays
“Megillat Esther with the Vilna Gaon,” Rabbi Yedidya Rausman, Web Yeshiva, 7am, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 16 “Ask the Rabbi: Anything about Judaism,” Rabbi Steve Golden, JCC, Tenafly, 9:30am, 201-408-1426 “The Book of Ezra: The Most Relevant Sefer of Our Time,” Rabbi Alex Mondrow, in memory of Rochi Lerner, z”l, Yeshivat Noam, Paramus, 10am, avogel@yeshivatnoam.org
Tehillim and Tefilla, for women, Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, Cong Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, 11am Intermediate Israeli Dance, Sara Burnbaum, JCC Rockland, West Nyack, noon, 845-362-4400 “The Book of Daniel,” Rabbi Chaim Brovender, Web Yeshiva, 1pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-9208844, begins Jan 16 “Discovering Concepts in Gemara: Pesachim Chapter 1,” Rabbi Daniel Goldstein, Web Yeshiva, 2pm, http://www.webyeshiva. org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 16 “Expanding Commentary Skills in Chumash: Yaakov and Lavan,” Osnat Goldman, Web Yeshiva, 2pm, http://www.webyeshiva. org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 16 “Sharing the Journey” Bereavement Group, spons by Holy Name Medical Center Hospice and Palliative Services, Teaneck, 6:30pm, begins Jan 16, 201-833-3188 ext 7580 “A Taste of Kosher Gourmet Made Simple,” for baby-boomers, Riverdale YMHA, 6:45pm, 718-548-8200 “Judaism 101,” Rabbi Shlomo Marks, Cong Mt. Sinai, Jersey City, 7pm, barbaraemarks@gmail.com “Happiness Is Learned: A Course on The Book of Exodus,” Rabbi Asher Herson, Chabad Educational Center, Rockaway Twnshp, 7:30pm, 973-625-1525 ext 227 Shomer Shabbat Boy Scout Troops, for boys in grades 6-12, Scoutmaster Daniel Chazin, Jewish Center of Teaneck, 7:30pm, 201-836-7019 “The Life and Times of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel,” Rabbi Lawrence Zierler, Jewish Center of Teaneck, 7:45pm, 201-833-0515 Melachim Bet, Rabbi Ian Shaffer, Young Israel of Fair Lawn, 7:55pm, 201-797-1800, begins Jan 30 “Introductory Level Bais Yaakov Classes for those without a Jewish Day School Background,” Goldie Cohen, spons by Passaic Torah Institute N’shei, private home in Passaic, 8pm, 908-278-4059 Dikduk, Rabbi Shaya Jaffe, Yeshiva Passaic Torah Institute,
Mazal Tov
Mazal Tov to the Bat Mitzvah Girls: Kayla Barishansky, Rivka Gefen, Leora Geralnik, Ariella Halstuch, Rivki Hook, Yael Kaszovitz, Chana Esther Klavan, Yael Liebman, Avigayil Scheiner, Elyana Schwartz, Shayna Sklar, Rachel Malka Stein, Chanie Weinberger, Tovah Ilana Weiskopf, Gabriella Wolf, and Tamar Zinkin; and the Bar Mitzvah Boys: Yonatan Berner, Abraham Cooper, Eli Fink, Noah Greenblatt, Chaim Kazlow, Shabbi Kestenbaum, Jonathan Malek, Elazar Mermelstein, Ari Portal, Daniel Rosenberg, Zachary Rothenberg, Tani Sassoon, Joshua Schuman, Shachar Talmon, Eli Yager, and Yehudah Weitz Mazal Tov to Janet and Kenny Hoffman on being honored by the Jewish National Fund at JNF’s Teaneck Reception Mazal Tov to Rabbi Marc Spivak on winning the 12th Annual Greater West 73rd Doubles Foosball Championship Mazal Tov to Penina Krischer on winning the Ma’adan Junior Latke-Eating Contest Mazal Tov to Matza Rivenson of Edison on her engagement to Aryeh Schleider of Jerusalem, formerly of Passaic Mazal Tov to Rabbi Naftali Hanfling on his receiving smicha, Yora Yora in Hilchos Shabbos Y
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January 2012/Tevet 5772
Passaic, 8pm, 862-371-3186 Gemara, Rabbi Yosef Adler, Cong Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck, 8pm, 201-837-2795 “Nefesh Hachaim by Rav Chaim of Volozhin,” Rabbi David Bassous, Cong Etz Ahaim, Highland Park, 8pm, 732-247-3839 “Unique Opportunities and Challenges in Modern-Orthodox Education,” Rabbi Jeff Kobrin, Riverdale Jewish Center, 8pm, 718-548-1850 Navi Shiur: Shmuel II, for women, Aviva Orlian, private home in Monsey, 8:15pm, 845-364-5148 “Becoming Self-Sufficient in Your Learning,” Rabbi Baruch Bodenhein, Yeshiva Passaic Torah Institute, 8:30pm, 862-371-3186 “Two Hours of Jewish Soul Music: Chazzonus,” with Charlie Bernhaut, wwwchaliebernhaut.com, 9-11pm Maseches Sukkah Shiur, Lieber Schachter, Bais Medrash of Bergenfield, 9:20pm, ryan@bmob.org What’s Brewing: Torah and Coffee, Rabbi Akiva Weiss, spons by Rutgers Hillel, at Au Bon Pain, New Brunswick, 9:30pm, 732-545-2407 “How to Read Gemara: Pesachim Chapter 1,” Rabbi Chaim Brovender, Web Yeshiva, 10pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim. php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 16 “Understanding the Rabbinic Mind: How to Understand Gemara: Pesachim Chapter 1,” Rabbi Yitzhak Zuriel, Web Yeshiva, 11pm, http:// www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844,begins Jan 16
Tuesdays
“Jews and Non-Jews in the Kitchen,” Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman, Web Yeshiva, 6am, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 17 Walking Groups, brisk 3-mile walk around Highland Park, spons by Hadassah, 7:30am, 732-819-9298 Torah in the AM: Navi Chavura: Sefer Divrei HaYamim, Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 9am, 201-907-0180 Study of Chapter 1 of Baba Metzia, Rabbi Menahem Meier, Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 9:45am, 201-907-0180 Parsha Hashavua, for women, Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler, Cong Ahawas Achim Bnai Jacob and David, West Orange, 10am, 973-736-1407 Knitting Woolen Hats for IDF Soldiers and Cancer Patients, private home in Monsey, 10am, 845-356-2060 Navi: Sefer Yonah, Rabbi Shalom Baum, Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 11am, 201-907-0180 Dorot University without Walls TeleConference Class: Operatic Survey, Helen Bromberg, 11am, 212-769-2850, begins Feb 7 “Sharing the Journey” Bereavement Group, spons by Holy Name Medical Center Hospice and Palliative Services, Teaneck, 1pm, begins Jan 17, 201-833-3188 ext 7580 Talmud, Rabbi Yonah Lazar, private office in Verona, 1pm, Harold@datalife.com “The Story of Creation: Day 2,” Rabbi Chaim Brovender, Web Yeshiva, 1pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 17 Parsha Shiur, for women, Rabbi Eliyahu Kaufman, Cong Ohav Emeth, Highland Park, 1:30pm “Letters of the Rambam,” Rabbi Yitzchak Blau, Web Yeshiva, 2pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-9208844, begins Jan 17 Nach Shiur: Shmuel Alef, Rabbi Nachum Muschel, private home in Monsey, 2:45pm, 845-356-3832 “Writings of Rav Soloveitchik,” Rabbi Jeffrey Saks, Web Yeshiva, 3pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212920-8844, begins Jan 17 PROFESSIONAL HebrewO RLanguage, G A N I Z E R Rebbetzin Barbara Marks, Cong Mt. Sinai, Jersey City, 6:30pm, barbaraemarks@gmail.com Weight Watchers, Riverdale YMHA, 6:30pm, 718-548-8200
The Jewish Voice and Opinion
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Mitzvah Volunteer Program, for 6th and 7th graders who want to learn how to help children with special needs, The Friendship Circle of MetroWest, Livingston, 7pm, 973-251-0200 Book Club, for baby-boomers, Riverdale YMHA, 7pm, 718-548-8200 “Everyone Has an Opinion,” Aytan Adler, for baby-boomers, Riverdale YMHA, 7pm, 718-548-8200 “The Jewish Calendar’s Rich Culture,” Rabbi Michael Stein, for baby-boomers, Riverdale YMHA, 7pm, 718-548-8200 Israeli Folk Dancing, Gabi Gabay, Riverdale Temple, 7:30pm, 914-548-7739 Study Buddies: Yeshiva Night, with students from the Rabbinical College of America. Lubavitch Center, West Orange, 8pm, 973-486-2362 Gemara: Keddushin, for men, Rabbi Eliyahu Kaufman, Cong Ohav Emeth, Highland Park, 8pm “Judaism Crash Course: A Study of the Mitzvot of Our Daily Lives,” Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, private home in Englewood, 8pm, 201-568-1315 Partners in Torah, for learners and mentors, Cong Bais Sholom, Clifton, 8:15pm, 862-591-2920 Parsha Hashavua, for women, Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler, Cong Ahawas Achim Bnai Jacob and David, West Orange, 8:30pm, 973-736-1407 Shiur, Rabbi Moshe Stavsky, Bais Medrash of Bergenfield, 9pm, ryan@bmob.org “Purim and Pesach with the Chassidic Masters,” Rabbi Avi Weinstein, Web Yeshiva, 9pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim. php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 17 “Amud-a-Week: Pesachim Chapter 10, Rabbi Chaim Brovender, Web Yeshiva, 10pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 17
Got those Cleaning for P
continued on page 38
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January 2012/Tevet 5772
New Classes
continued from page 37
Wednesdays
Shiur on Tefillah, Rabbi Shalom Baum, Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 7:30am, 201-907-0180 Shalom Bayit, for women, Mandana Bolour, private home in Englewood, 9am, 917-544-1929 Coffee and Kaballah, Rabbi Baruch Klar, Lubavitch Center, West Orange, 10am, 973-731-0770 Slower-Paced Walk, spons by Hadassah, around Donaldson Park, Highland Park, 10am, 732-249-4321 “Keys to Joy and Wisdom,” Rabbi Herschel Grossman, JCC, Tenafly, 10:30am, 201-408-1426 Support Group for Those Facing Financial Distress and the Downsizing of Their Lifestyles, Jewish Family Service, Teaneck, 11am, 201-837-9090 Chumash Shiur, for women, Rabbi Yosef Adler, Cong Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck, 12:30pm, 201-837-2795 “Laws of Charity,” Rabbi Dovid Fink, Web Yeshiva, 1pm, http:// www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 18 Lunch and Learn, for seniors, Rabbi Michael Taubes, Cong Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, lunch, 1pm, shiur, 1:30pm, begins Jan 18 Dorot University without Walls TeleConference Class: “Living with the Torah: Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi’s Parsha HaShavua,” Dr. Lee Slavutin, 1pm, 212-769-2850, begins Feb 8 “Rav Tzadok HaCohen of Lublin on Parshat HaShavua,” Rabbi David Sedley, Web Yeshiva, 2pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim. php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 18 “Discovering Concepts in Gemara: Pesachim Chapter 1,” Rabbi Daniel Goldstein, Web Yeshiva, 2pm, http://www.webyeshiva. org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 18 “The Legacy of the Twelve Tribes,” Yosefa Wruble, Web Yeshiva, 3pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or
Tell Our Advertisers “I Saw It in The Jewish Voice and Opinion”
212-920-8844, begins Jan 18 Class for Teenage Girls, Rabbi Marc Spivak, private homes in West Orange, 7pm, 973-669-7320 Matan Bat Mitzvah Class, Rebbetzin Debbie Baum, Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 7pm, 201-907-0180 Girls-Only Swim and Gym, for grades 4-7, Jewish Center of Teaneck, 7pm, 201-833-0515 ext 205 Knitting Hats for Israeli Soldiers, Riverdale Jewish Center, 7:30pm, 718-796-3775 “Judaism’s Relevance in Modern Life: Gratitude, Antisemitism, Recovery, Parenting, and Jewish Leadership,” Rabbi Mendy Gurkov, Haskell Towne Centre, 7:30pm, 201-696-7609 Chumash Methodology and Commentators, Rabbi Marc Spivak, Cong Ohr Torah, West Orange, 8pm, 973-669-7320 Gemara: Sukkos, Rabbi Shlomo Ziegler, Cong Ohav Emeth, Highland Park, 8pm Beginners Israeli Dance Class, Elyse Litt, Summit JCC, 8pm, dances.from.the.heart@gmail.com Mishna Shiur, for women, Rabbi Yosef Adler, Cong Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck, 8pm, 201-837-2795 Gemara Brachot B’Iyun Shiur, Rabbi Ari Jacobson, Young Israel of Monsey and Wesley Hills, 8pm, 845-354-5218 “Introduction to Kabbalah—Uncovering the Secrets of Jewish Mysticism,” Rabbi Mordechai Gershon, Cong Ahavath Torah, Englewood, 8pm, 201-568-1315 Chaburah on Mitzvas Tzedaka, Rabbi Zev Rivkin, Bais Medrash of Bergenfield, 8:15pm, hermankc@gmail.com “The Halachot of the Ben Ish Chai,” Rabbi Ari Elbaz, Cong Ahawas Achim Bnai Jacob and David, West Orange, 8:30pm, 973-736-1407 “Becoming Self-Sufficient in Your Learning,” Rabbi Baruch Bodenhein, Yeshiva Passaic Torah Institute, 8:30pm, 862-371-3186 Moreh Nevuchim, Dr. Isaac Chavel, Riverdale Jewish Center, 8:30pm, 718-548-1850 Gemara Class, for women, Riverdale Jewish Center, 8:30pm, 718-548-1850, begins Jan 26 “How to Read Gemara: Pesachim Chapter 1,” Rabbi Chaim Brovender, Web Yeshiva, 10pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim. php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 18 The Weekly Torah Portion, Rabbi Avi Weinstein, Web Yeshiva, 10pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-9208844, begins Jan 18 “Understanding the Rabbinic Mind: How to Understand Gemara: Pesachim Chapter 1,” Rabbi Yitzhak Zuriel, Web Yeshiva, 11pm, http:// www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844,begins Jan 18
Thursdays
“Megillat Esther with the Vilna Gaon,” Rabbi Yedidya Rausman, Web Yeshiva, 7am, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844,begins Jan 19 Torah in the AM: Navi Chavura: Sefer Divrei HaYamim, Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 9am, 201-907-0180 Study of Chapter 1 of Baba Metzia, Rabbi Menahem Meier, Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 9:45am, 201-907-0180 “Shir HaShirim: The Complexities of a Love Relationship between Man and G-d,” Rabbi Menahem Meier, Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck, 10:50am, 201-907-0180 “The Zohar on Creation,” Rabbi Avraham Chira, Web Yeshiva, 2pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-9208844, begins Jan 19 Dorot University without Walls TeleConference Class: “Israel Today: A Jewish State Surrounded by Islamic Countries,” Yale Roe, 2pm, 212-769-2850, begins Feb 9
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January 2012/Tevet 5772
“Mishlei: Good vs Evil,” Rabbi Yehoshua Geller, Web Yeshiva, 3pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php?sid=24 or 212-9208844, begins Jan 19 Dorot University without Walls TeleConference Class: Parsha Insights: A Closer Look at the Weekly Torah Portion,” Rabbi Daniel Kestenbaum, 4pm, 212-769-2850, begins Feb 9 “A Taste of Kosher Gourmet Made Simple,” for baby-boomers, Riverdale YMHA, 6:45pm, 718-548-8200 Introductory Hebrew, Aytan Adler, for baby-boomers, Riverdale YMHA, 7pm, 718-548-8200 Pre-Intermediate Israeli Folk Dance, Sara Burnbaum, JCC Rockland, West Nyack, 7pm, 845-362-4400, begins Jan 12 Boys-Only Swim and Gym, for grades 4-7, Jewish Center of Teaneck, 7pm, 201-833-0515 ext 205 Open Israeli Folk Dance, Sara Burnbaum, JCC Rockland, West Nyack, 8-11pm, 845-362-4400 “Thoughts on the Parsha,” Rabbi Yosef Sharbat, Sephardic Shul of Cong Ahawas Achim Bnai Jacob and David, 8pm, 973-736-1407 Mishne Brura Shiur, Rabbi Ari Jacobson, Young Israel of Monsey and Wesley Hills, 8pm, 845-354-5218 Mishmar, with guest educators, Rutgers Hillel, New Brunswick, 8pm, 732-545-2407 Gemara: Masechet Brachot, Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler, Cong Ahawas Achim Bnai Jacob and David, West Orange, 8:30pm Chumash Shiur, Rabbi Chaim Davis, Bais Medrash Torah, Passaic, 8:30pm, 973-473-3666 Chumash Shiur, Rabbi Yissocher Frand, via satellite, Cong K’Hal Zichron Mordechai, Monsey (845-356-7188);Young Israel of Fair Lawn (201-797-1800); Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck (201-907-0180); Cong Ohr Torah, West Orange (973-669-7320); Cong Tifereth Israel, Passaic (973773-2552), Cong Ahavas Achim, Highland Park (732-247-0532), 9pm Maseches Sukkah Shiur, Lieber Schachter, Bais Medrash of Bergenfield, 9:20pm, ryan@bmob.org In-Depth Chumash and Rashi Parshas HaShavua Shiur, Cong Bais Torah (BTU), Passaic, 9:45pm, passaiccliftonkollel@gmail.com Advanced Gemara: Pesachim Chapter 1, Rabbi Chaim Brovender, Web Yeshiva, 10pm, http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim. php?sid=24 or 212-920-8844, begins Jan 19 Parsha and Halacha, Rabbi Michael Taubes, Cong Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, 10:15pm
Fridays
Dorot University without Walls TeleConference Class: “Our World Today: Uprisings in the Middle East,” Jerry Wish, 2pm, 212769-2850, begins Feb 10 Friday Night Carlebach Minyan in Passaic, kup4man1231@ yahoo.com Learning Program, for men and boys, Betalel Mezei, Bais Medrash
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L’Torah, Passaic, 7:20pm, 973-473-0166 Parsha HaShavua, private home in West Orange, 7:30pm, pam. greenwood@gmail.com Parsha, for grades 5-8 and their parents, Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, Cong Ahavath Torah, Englewood, 8pm, 201-568-1315
Shabbat
Navi Shiur on Sefer Melachim, Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim, Yeshiva Passaic Torah Institute, 7:45am, 862-371-3186 Pirchei Shabbos Groups, for boys, Yeshiva Passaic Torah Institute, 2pm; Pirchei Building, 2:30pm, 973-432-6917 Bnos Shabbos Groups, for girls grades N-6, Cong Adas Israel, Passaic, 2:30pm Bat Mitzvah Learning Program, for girls approaching Bat Mitzvah age, Rebbetzin Peshi Neuburger, private home in Bergenfield, 3pm, 201-384-0434 12-Step Recovery Program: How Jewishness and the 12 Steps Can Bring Serenity and Closeness to Hashem, group led, private location in Highland Park, 4pm, 732-342-7365 or 732-890-6312 “Texting on Shabbos,” Rabbi David Hellman, Cong Ahavas Achim, Highland Park, after mincha
Motzei Shabbat
Oorah’s ChillZone, for girls in grades 1-12, includes food, fun, activities, and raffles, private home in Passaic, 7:30pm, 1-866-THEZONE Navi, Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, live via satellite, Young Israel of Fair Lawn (201-797-1800); Cong Ahavas Achim, Highland Park (732247-0532); Cong Tifereth Israel, Passaic; JEC, Elizabeth (908-591-5929); Cong Khal Zichron Mordechai, Monsey (845-356-7188); Cong Keter Torah, Teaneck; Cong Ohr Torah, West Orange (973-669-7320), 7:30pm Halacha/Navi Shiur: Sefer Melachim Aleph, for men and women, Rabbi Yosef Viener, Cong Agudas Yisroel of Passaic Park, 9pm, 718-755-3515, begins Feb 4
New Minyanim
Evening Minyan, Cong Ahavas Achim, Highland Park, 9:30pm, vpritual@ahavasachim.org
Chesed Ops
The Passaic-Clifton Toy Gemach could use more toys; they take indoor and outdoor toys, building toys, games, puzzles, but not stuffed animals, 973-471-9603 The Passaic-Clifton Bridal Gown Gemach needs modest wedding gowns, special need right now for size 20-22, can be donated or lent, pick-up available, 973-777-1180 The Chevrah Kaddisha of Monsey is need of linens for taharas, can be flat or fitted, solid, colored, or patterned, any size, 845-362-3254 Chatan and Kallah Gemach needs new, unopened gifts for needy couples, 201-801-9028 Volunteers are needed to visit residents at the Hebrew Home in Riverdale, for more information, sheryl.dubin@gmail.com Y
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Rothman
January 2012/Tevet 5772
Tell Our Advertisers “I Saw It in The Jewish Voice and Opinion”
continued from page 1
agreement between the Palestinians and America’s strategic partner and indispensable ally, the Jewish State of Israel, and only encourages terrorism.” Standing up for Israel It was neither the first nor last time that Mr. Rothman took such a position. In 2009, he authored a letter, signed by dozens of his colleagues, urging Mr. Abbas “to truly end anti-Israel and antiJewish incitement.” Just this past December, Mr. Rothman reacted angrily to an anti-Israel piece in the New York Times by columnist Tom
Friedman. Mr. Friedman argued that the standing ovations Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had received from Congress were not for his policies, but, rather, because the Israeli lobby, AIPAC, had “bought and paid” for them. Mr. Rothman responded by calling Mr. Friedman’s “defamation against the vast majority of Americans who support the Jewish state of Israel…scurrilous, destructive, and harmful to Israel and her advocates in the US.” “Mr. Friedman is not only wrong, but he’s aiding and abetting a dangerous
narrative about the US-Israel relationship and its American supporters,” said Mr. Rothman, adding that he gave Mr. Netanyahu a standing ovation “not because of any nefarious lobby, but because it is in America’s vital national security interests to support the Jewish state of Israel and it is right for Congress to give a warm welcome to the leader of such a dear and essential ally.” “Mr. Friedman owes us all an apology,” he said. Doubling Special Aid Mr. Rothman’s advocacy for Israel and insistence that aiding the Jewish state is in America’s best interest goes way beyond lip service. In December, through his senior position on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Mr. Rothman was responsible for helping to double the amount of special aid Israel receives from the US for the development and implementation of its anti-missile systems. The Appropriation Committees in the House and Senate went well beyond the request from the Obama administration to approve aid totaling $106.1 million for the Arrow 3 anti-ballistic long-range air defense system, for the program to improve the basic capabilities of the Arrow system, and for the David’s Sling mid-range anti-missile system. The Appropriation Committees raised the amount of aid from $129 million to $235.7 million in 2012. Mr. Rothman said Israel’s anti-missile programs advance US interests in the Middle East. “The growing distribution of missiles and rockets around the globe, starting with Iran and Hezbollah and ending with Gaza and Syria is a direct threat to US national security,” said Mr. Rothman. “Our enemies know they cannot cope with the combined power of the world’s only military superpower and the most powerful military force in the Middle East.” At the beginning of January, Mr. Rothman received a letter from Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren thanking him for his work in Congress. “Whether in the press or on the House floor, you have always been there for Israel. Your contributions to Israel’s security, especially in the fields of missile defense and intelligence, are deeply appreciated,” wrote Mr. Oren.
http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com Pressuring Israel By contrast, in 2010, Mr. Pascrell was one of 54 Democratic Congressmen, to call on Mr. Obama to pressure Israel into lifting its defensive blockade on Gaza. The embargo was imposed by the Jewish state after the terrorist group, Hamas, won control of Gaza.. The Congressional letter signed by Mr. Pascrell charged Israel with “imposing a de facto collective punishment of the residents of the Gaza Strip.” Written by Rep Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first Muslim to serve in Congress, and supported and endorsed by J Street, Americans for Peace Now, the Methodist Church, and the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, the letter was seen as a response to Israel’s 2009 defensive, counter-terrorist Operation Cast Lead, which was mounted to stop the attacks on Israeli civilians. Traditional supporters of Israel said that, in signing the letter, Mr. Pascrell had allied himself with some of the most antiIsrael voices in Congress, many of them associated with CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which has been accused of supporting terrorists, including Hamas and Hezbollah. Supporting CAIR and Israel In March 2007, Mr. Pascrell arranged for CAIR to meet in a conference room on Capitol Hill. A few days later, Mr. Pascrell received a community service award from the NJ chapter of the American Muslim Union. Despite this record, Mr. Pascrell insists he is not anti-Israel. “Anyone who would accuse me of being ‘anti-Israel’ clearly hasn’t looked at my record or probably even spoken to a member of the Jewish community in the 8th District. I have supported US security assistance aid to Israel every year since I was elected and have consistently advocated for Israel’s right to defend itself and its people from the terrorists on its border that would seek its ultimate destruction,” he said. 13 becomes 12 The contest between Messrs Pascrell and Rothman, both of whom have served in Congress since 1997, is the result of redistricting that occurs every ten years to reflect population changes recorded in the census. New Jersey is losing one of its current 13 House seats because the
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The Jewish Voice and Opinion
state’s population grew more slowly than those of other states. This required the Congressional Redistricting Commission to consolidate the Garden State’s 13 congressional districts into 12. NJ is not alone. New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts are also losing seats, while Florida and Texas are gaining representatives. While, theoretically, the commission could have combined any two of NJ’s 13 districts, population figures and US Voting Rights Act protections for minority representatives forced the consolidation to affect only the 5th district, which is represented by Republican Scott Garrett; the 9th, which is currently represented
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by Mr. Rothman; and the 8th, which is represented by Mr. Pascrell. Staying Put Some of Mr. Rothman’s current constituents, including a large portion of those in Teaneck, were redistricted into the 5th District, but the majority remain in the redrawn 9th. This is one of the reasons that, although he had the option to oppose Mr. Garrett in the general election next November, Mr. Rothman has opted instead to confront Mr. Pascrell in the Democratic Primary for the 9th District in June. Because the 8th and 9th are overwhelmingly Democratic districts, it is
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Redrawn NJ-9 District likely that the winner of the Democratic primary will win the general election in November. “I have represented the 9th Congressional District for the past 15 years and have lived here nearly my entire life. I look forward to continuing to represent this district. We have more work to do together, and I look forward to continuing to work for the people of Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic Counties and earning each of their votes on Election Day,” said Mr. Rothman. His District He said he briefly considered retiring
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continued from page 41 from Congress, but never seriously thought about challenging Mr. Garrett, which would have meant, if he were successful, taking on an almost entirely new constituency. The reconfigured 9th District includes 35 municipalities, 30 of which Mr. Rothman has represented at one point or another during his career. In contrast, the newly reconfigured 5th District includes about 80 percent of the towns Mr. Garrett currently represents. Fifty-five percent of the newly redrawn District 9 was in Mr. Rothman’s former 9th District; 45 percent was in Mr. Pascrell’s
former 8th District. Among registered Democrats, the numbers are 61 percent from Mr. Rothman’s old district and 39 percent from Mr. Pascrell’s. Most of Mr. Rothman’s current constituents—those not absorbed into the 5th district—will still be able to vote for him. Too Valuable to Lose By the beginning of January, lines were being drawn in the newly formed 9th District between supporters of Mr. Rothman and Mr. Pascrell. Teaneck Mayor Mohamed Hameeduddin, Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, and NJ State Senator Loretta Weinberg issued a statement calling Mr. Rothman “an outstanding Congressman who has delivered nearly $2 billion in federal funding for NJ.” “We cannot afford to lose him,” said Bergen County Democratic Chairman Lou Stellato, making clear that Mr. Rothman would have the support of his organization. Mark Smith, chairman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization also supported Mr. Rothman. Support in Passaic The very influential NJ Assemblyman and Passaic City Council President Gary Schaer, a member of the Passaic-Clifton Orthodox community, issued a statement praising both candidates as “two highly regarded Democrats,” but he threw his support to Mr. Rothman. “Steve’s post on the House Appropriations Committee is simply too vital for us to do without,” he said. Mr. Schaer, who represents the 36th Legislative District, two-thirds of which is in southern Bergen County and one-third in Passaic, said that while Mr. Rothman’s full identification as a Jew had nothing to do with his endorsement, the Congressman’s pro-Israel record did. “One could well argue that, in terms of actual votes, Rothman and Pascrell are very similar in terms of Middle East issues. Nonetheless, Rothman’s position on Israel seems to be much more in keeping with that of the Jewish community’s thinking on the issue,” said Mr. Schaer. Past Support Mr. Pascrell’s campaign spokesperson, Sean Darcy, had no comment on Mr. Schaer’s decision,” but, he said, in the past, Mr. Schaer had “vouched for Congressman Pascrell in the Jewish community.”
http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com In fact, in 2010, Mr. Schaer did write a letter urging his constituents to vote for Mr. Pascrell. At that time, Mr. Schaer cited Mr. Pascrell’s vote for the unconditional release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was being held captive by Hamas in Gaza, and his signing a letter praising Israel for appointing an independent commission to investigate the flotilla incident and agreeing to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Now that there is Democratic Party choice, Mr. Schaer seems to have rethought his position, and because of his influence in the Passaic-Clifton Orthodox community – which boasts some 2,300 voters – Mr. Schaer’s endorsement is considered a major factor in the contest between Messrs Rothman and Pascrell. And Mr. Schaer knows it. “Clearly one endorses for that reason,” he said, recognizing that he is “the highest-ranking elected official who is Orthodox in the state of NJ.” NORPAC One group that has, in the past, supported both Messrs Pascrell and Rothman is NORPAC, the bipartisan proIsrael political action committee based in Englewood. While the group recognizes that some politicians are more pro-Israel than others, it traditionally supports incumbents as long as they have voted to continue US aid to the Jewish state. While he was still Mayor of Englewood, Mr. Rothman became one of NORPAC’s original members when it was first organized in 1992 under the chairmanship of Rabbi Menachem Genack. Since 1996, when they first ran for Congress, Messrs Pascrell and Rothman have each been the beneficiary of tens of thousands of dollars in donations from NORPAC members. It is unclear if NORPAC, as a group, will choose to support financially one of the candidates for the newly redrawn 9th over the other, or if the group will hold events for both and allow members to decide for themselves whom to support. “Between Rothman and Pascrell, Rothman is clearly the outstanding leader on our issues. Rothman has been engaged for years,” said NORPAC president Ben Chouake, adding that Mr. Pascrell “doesn’t have the 100 percent record on Israel that Rothman has.” Not Burning Bridges Admitting that Mr. Pascrell has
January 2012/Tevet 5772
The Jewish Voice and Opinion
participated in some anti-Israel actions in Congress, Dr. Chouake pointed out that, in addition to his large pro-Israel constituency, the Congressman also “has a large constituency that is anti-Israel.” Mr. Pascrell’s 8th District includes sizable Arab-American and Muslim communities in Clifton and Paterson. Nevertheless, Dr. Chouake said, Mr. Pascrell “generally votes well on our issues.” Mr. Pascrell’s support for and from J Street was harder for Dr. Chouake to swallow. “Although J Street calls itself the ‘pro-Israel, pro-peace lobby,’ to my way of thinking, there is very little air between them and the antagonists to Israel,” he said. However, he would not call Mr. Pascrell
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“an antagonist.” “He’s not,” said Dr. Chouake. “He is a decent human being.” Taking Jews for Granted Mark Meyerowitz, a West Orange resident who heads Republican Friends of Israel, said, because he is a Democrat, Mr. Pascrell “takes the Jewish vote for granted.” “When he speaks to Jewish groups, he’s very, very pro-Israel, but when he gets back to the northern part of the district, to the Paterson part, it’s a different story. He’s been playing both sides against the middle,” said Mr. Meyerowitz. Mr. Meyerowitz said that, in general, he would support Republicans
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Redrawn NJ-9 District over Democrats, but he said Mr. Rothman is probably an exception. “Rothman is very supportive of Israel. On most other issues, I disagree strongly with him, but if he were to run against a Republican version of Bill Pascrell, I would not support the Republican,” said Mr. Meyerowitz. Not Falling on His Sword Some Democrats seemed to take issue with Mr. Rothman for not falling on his sword in the party’s fight with Republicans. Passaic County Democratic Chairman John Currie, who has thrown his support behind Mr. Pascrell, accused Mr. Rothman of “letting down NJ Democrats by passing up an opportunity to unseat rightwing radical Scott Garrett.” In this, Mr. Currie is not alone. Most of the state’s liberals, including the editorial board of the Star-Ledger, hoped Mr. Rothman might take on Mr. Garrett and either defeat or, at least, weaken him. In the pro-Israel community, it is recognized that the defeat of either Mr. Rothman or Mr. Garrett would be a palpable loss. Mr. Rothman’s decision to confront Mr. Pascrell rather than Mr. Garrett means NJ’s Democratic Congressional contingent will be reduced by one, but, if Messrs Rothman
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and Garrett are successful, NJ’s pro-Israel Congressional contingent will be untouched. Pro-Israel Tea Party-nik Recognized as one of the most conservative members of Congress on issues such as abortion rights, Mr. Garrett’s position as a strong supporter of Israel is unchallenged by anyone. A Tea Party favorite, he has not only voted consistently in favor of foreign aid for the Jewish state, he has also signed letters, such as one urging the European Union to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, and supported or co-sponsored pro-Israel bills and resolutions. After Mr. Netanyahu’s appearance before a joint session of Congress last spring, Mr. Garrett said he, like the prime minister, opposed Mr. Obama’s suggestion that Israel revert to the 1967 borders as a starting point for negotiations with the Palestinians. Mr. Garrett also opposed Mr. Obama’s assertion that Israel could remain secure beside a contiguous Palestine. The only viable starting point, said Mr. Garrett, would be “a dual-commitment” by the Palestinians to reject terror and recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. “Why President Obama insists on weakening the hand of our ally Israel is a complete
Rep. Scott Garrett mystery to me. It’s ridiculous to expect Israel to begin negotiations with the Palestinians under the precondition that they pull back to the 1967 borders. Any negotiations for long-term peace should begin when the Palestinians live up to their end of the Oslo Accords by recognizing Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and putting an end to terrorism,” he said. In 2011 alone, Mr. Garrett supported or co-sponsored House bills and resolutions recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and urging the US to relocate its embassy there; withholding US contributions to the UN until it retracts the Goldstone report which held Israel responsible for “war crimes” for defending itself against Hamas terrorists; prohibiting contributions to the UN’s “Human Rights Council” or the Durban process whose anti-Israel statements crossed
the line into blatant antisemitism; cutting off contributions to any UN entity which upgrades the status of the Palestinians; and reaffirming the US commitment to a negotiated settlement of the Israel-Palestinian conflict through direct talks between the parties. Report Card These positions netted Mr. Garrett a score of -5 by a pro-Palestinian group calling itself End the Occupation. The group issues a “report card” for members of Congress, giving grades ranging from +2 for being highly supportive of the Palestinian side and opposed to Israel, to -5 for supporting Israel over the Palestinians. Mr. Rothman also received a score of -5, won by supporting the bill to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocate the US embassy there, as well as one that asked the Secretary of State for a report on whether any of the organizations that participated in the Turkishsponsored flotilla attempt to destroy the Israeli blockade against Gaza were terrorists. He asked for an expression of gratitude to the Greek government for preventing the flotilla from sailing to Gaza. Mr. Rothman received extra negative points from the pro-Palestinians for writing
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Changing Party Affiliation So You Can Vote in the Primary While most American Jews
are registered Democrats, this is increasingly not the case among Orthodox-Jewish voters, whose voting patterns often reflect their more politically conservative religious perspectives. In New Jersey’s 9th District’s Democratic primary, scheduled for June 5, this reality could make a difference in whether the very pro-Israel Steve Rothman, or Bill Pas-
crell, whose record of support for the Jewish state is much more spotty, becomes the next Congressman. According to Assemblyman and Passaic City Council President Gary Schaer, there are approximately 2,300 Orthodox voters in Passaic and Clifton. While Mr. Schaer said the vast majority of them are Independents, others in the community say most of them are registered Republicans.
Redrawn NJ-9 District his letters. By contrast, Mr. Pascrell received a -2 from the proPalestinians. They did not like that last March, he signed a letter, written by left-wing Democrats Jan Schakowsky from IL and Anna Eshoo from CA, supporting the Obama administration’s efforts to maintain current levels of foreign aid to Israel and the PA. Mr. Pascrell also lost a point from the pro-Palestinians for reaffirming the US commitment to a negotiated settlement of the Middle East conflict through direct negotiations by the parties themselves. Republican District Even with the newly redrawn boundaries that now include some Democratic areas such as part of Teaneck, Mr. Garrett is expected to face
Although many of them say they will not vote for Mr. Pascrell, based primarily on his less-than-stellar record on Israel, if they do nothing about their registration, they will not be able to vote at all in the Democratic primary. Simple Form According to New Jersey law, voters are eligible to participate in primaries if they are either registered members of the party holding the primary
or if they are “unaffiliated.” Independents are not considered “unaffiliated.” Switching party affiliation, even just for a primary, is simple. It requires merely filling in the form we have reproduced on this page and sending it to the proper county clerk’s office no later than 55 days before the primary. This year, that means making sure it is received by April 2.
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few problems winning his sixth term in November. Voter registration numbers in the 5th District, which includes Paramus and Tenafly in Bergen County as well as parts of other counties, including Sussex, show that Republicans enjoy a four percentage-point advantage. Democrats currently exploring the possibility of opposing him may include Passaic County Freeholder Director Terry Duffy, Assemblywoman Connie Wagner of Paramus, NJ State Sen Robert Gordon of Fair Lawn, and even former Giants linebacker Harry Carson. One Democrat, Teaneck’s Deputy Mayor Adam Gussen, a member of the town’s Orthodox community, has already thrown his hat into the ring. He said Mr. Garrett is “wrong for the 5th District and the people
of NJ” because “he represents the fringe of the Republican party and is not representative of the values nor sensitive to the needs of those he was elected to represent.” “He has become a caricature of himself, trying to outdo the most right wing of the right wing, the most conservative of
the conservative,” said Mr. Gussen. Asked about his conservatism, Mr. Garrett has said, “If it’s conservative to say we need to help the middle class, then I’m a conservative.” He has said he believes his constituents are sending “too much money to Washington” without getting sufficient benefits in return. Y
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Ess Gezint: Kosher Cooking from Alsace-Lorraine, from a Trip to France and Germany, and a Cookbook from Cong Keter Torah Among the joys of travelling in Europe, the opportunity to explore and touch Jewish history, ancient and recent, is reason enough to make the trip. Even those familiar with Jewish history may be surprised at the richness of the legacy in the Eastern French region known as Alsace-Lorraine, which stretches from the Rhine Valley through the Moselle Valley to the north of the Vosges Mountains. Over the centuries, the area, along with its Jewish population, was often up for grabs, tossed between France and Germany. At the end of World War I, in 1918, French
troops marched into Alsace; the Treaty of Versailles secured Alsace for France. The Jews in the region were doomed when the Nazis annexed the area de facto in 1940, but after the war, Alsace reverted to French rule. On a recent trip, which included visits to the magical, medieval French-Alsace city of Colmar as well as to Speyer and Worms, which, together with Mainz, formed the center of medieval Jewish life in Germany, and even a stop at the historic resort of Baden-Baden, it was not that difficult to imagine what life
Rösti-Style Potato Latke with Caramelized Onions 2 onions, divided Oil 1 Tbs brown sugar 3 large potatoes, peeled and grated
2 large eggs, lightly beaten 3 Tbs matzo meal 1 heaping tsp salt ½ tsp pepper
Preheat oven to 400º. Slice 1 onion into thin rounds and sauté in oil until translucent. Add brown sugar and continue to sauté until onions are browned. Set aside. Combine potatoes with eggs, matzo meal, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Finely chop the second onion and add to potato mixture. Coat a 12-inch oven-proof sauté pan with enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan. Heat oil over medium-high heat. When hot, add potato mixture. Continue to cook until bottom has browned, 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and place in the oven. Bake latke for 30 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer latke to a serving platter and cut into triangular wedges. Cover with caramelized onions and then, if desired, sour cream.
was like for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi, whose shul and yeshiva are still open to the public in Worms) or any of the Jews buried in Worms’ Heiliger Sand cemetery, the oldest still extant in Europe. The oldest surviving gravestone in that cemetery is that of Jacob Bahur, who died in 1076 CE. So many Jewish scholars of the Middle Ages are buried in that cemetery that one section is known as “The Valley of the Rabbis.” Probably the most poignant—and startlingly relevant—story concerns two gravestones which time has
Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Soup 6 heads garlic Olive oil 2 large Vidalia onions, sliced or diced 4 cups vegetable stock
Salt and pepper, to taste Shaved Parmesan cheese (optional) Fresh sage or thyme (optional)
Preheat oven to 375º. Trim the tops of the garlic heads and sprinkle with a little olive oil. Wrap each garlic head in aluminum foil. Place wrapped garlic in a pan and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until garlic is soft enough to mash. Set garlic aside to cool. While the garlic roasts and cools, sauté onions over mediumhigh heat. Once the onions are translucent, lower the heat to extremely low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced and lightly browned, about 2 hours. Once the garlic is cooled, squeeze the pulp from garlic heads into the caramelized onions and mix well. Add stock and bring to a gentle simmer for 5-10 minutes. Purée soup to desired consistency using an immersion or standard blender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with cheese or herbs if desired.
Flammekueche or Tarte Flambée
1 oz fresh yeast 4 oz ricotta cheese ½ tsp sugar 5 oz sour cream 5 oz hot water 1¼ tsp black pepper 2½ cups flour 4½ cups mushrooms, sliced 2 tsp salt, divided 2 oz mild cheddar cheese, 1 egg coarsely grated 3 Tbs oil, divided Crumble yeast into the bowl of a food processor and add sugar, water, and a few tablespoons of flour. Mix together. Then add the rest of the flour, 1½ tsp salt, egg, and 2 Tbs oil. Mix to make a dough and knead for a minute or two in the processor, adding 1-2 Tbs extra flour if it is too sticky. Turn onto a floured board and knead lightly by hand for 30 seconds or until the underside of the dough is silky smooth.
caused to lean somewhat askew, but, nevertheless, remain side by side. The first is that of Rabbi Meir ben Baruch (the Maharam of Rothenburg), who, at the end of the 13th century, while trying to flee Germany for the Land of Israel, was kidnapped and imprisoned by Emperor Rudolph. Assuming correctly that the Jewish community would pay a considerable fortune for the rabbi’s release, Rudolph waited as the Jews began collecting funds. But Rabbi Meir, citing Jewish law that recognized such payment would lead only to an increasing number of kidnapped scholars, forbade
Grease a large mixing bowl lightly with oil and put in the dough. Then turn the dough over so that it is covered with a film of oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave in a warm spot until the dough doubles in bulk, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Knead lightly again and then roll out very thinly to cover the base of a well-oiled 12-inch baking tin. Preheat oven to 450º. Mix the ricotta cheese with sour cream, ½ tsp salt, and pepper (it will look like whipped cream). Sauté the mushrooms in 1 Tbs oil for 5 minutes, until golden and tender. Spread the cream-and-ricotta mixture over the dough, making sure it covers it completely. Then cover evenly with the mushrooms and sprinkle with the grated cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, until the edges of the dough are crisp and slightly singed. Serve immediately.
http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com paying the ransom. He died seven years later, still held in the Alsatian Ensisheim prison, but Rudolph would not permit the unransomed release of his body for burial. Finally, 14 years later, Alexander ben Saloman Wimpfen paid the ransom with the sole stipulation that he be buried next to the rabbi. And there he remains. Asked why it is that the preWorld War II Jewish community of Worms either managed to escape or were murdered while the cemetery still remains intact, a guide explained that when the Nazis marched into Worms, the mayor calmly informed the German soldiers that the cemetery was “locked and off-limits.” That’s all it took. At the so-called “triangle” border, where France, Germany, and Switzerland meet, the Celtic (Breakwater) Bridge spans the Rhine River. During the Holocaust, the German side, Breisach, meant certain death for Jews; the French side (Neuf-Brisach) meant possible escape; and
January 2012/Tevet 5772
entry into Switzerland, possibly through nearby Basel, could mean freedom. Today, the bridge stands for active commerce and culture. For example, not too far from the bridge, in the town of Lörrach, where Jews lived from the 17th century until 1940, the Jewish community is being reborn, although, as in so many of these newly revitalized Jewish communities throughout the Alsace region and bordering Germany, the Jews speak French or German with decided Sephardic or Russian accents. Successive German governments have done their level best to lure Russian-Jewish immigrants with tempting perks for residency and citizenship. While the French insist on seeing themselves as innocent victims without any guilt for the plight of the Jews under the Nazi occupation, the Germans do their best to keep the memory of what happened to German Jews from 1933 to 1945 alive. Throughout
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Germany, it is hard to go too far without seeing signs, statues, monuments, or plaques, some emblazoned into the sidewalk, showing what happened, where, and to whom. “We do not ask forgiveness for the unforgivable, but we can promise never to let it be forgotten or repeated,” says one plaque on the now-deserted remains of an ancient synagogue-and-mikveh complex. Always fascinating, of course, is local Jewish cuisine, available in kosher restaurants in Strasbourg and private homes along the way. Two outstanding dishes are rösti, which is a sort of a potato latke, and “flammekueche” (if the cook is speaking Alsatian) or “tarte flambée” (if the language in the kitchen is French), an amazing, thincrusted, pizza-like staple. While both dishes are usually 100 percent treif, often made with bacon, it is not hard to imagine Rashi enjoying the vegetarian or dairy kosher versions.
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Finding recipes was not easy. Happily, one for rösti turned up in Temptations: Modern Kosher Recipes for Every Occasion, which was just published by Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck. A magnificently beautiful book, it comes with suggestions for appropriate wines as well as complete menus. Temptations was begun as a fundraiser with donated recipes. It now attests the shul’s devotion to the concept of hachnassat orchim, welcoming guests to one’s home. Because it was reminiscent of a wonderful Alsatian lunch, the book’s roasted garlic-andcaramelized-onion soup is included here, too. Temptations would make a welcome addition to any kosher kitchen. It can be ordered by calling 201-907-0180 or by visiting www.ketertorah.org/ cookbook. The recipe for flammekueche or tarte flambée came courtesy of a small café in the Jewish neighborhood of Colmar. S.L.R.
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The Primary
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State of New Jersey
Political Party Affiliation Declaration Form I, being a registered voter at the address listed below, do hereby declare that I wish to affiliate with the following political party or political group: Democratic
Republican
Conservative*
Green*
Libertarian*
Natural Law Party*
Reform Party*
U.S. Constitution Party*
OR I, being a registered voter at the address listed below, do hereby declare that I do not want to be affiliated with any political party or group. Unaffiliated**
Last Name First Name Date of Birth (month)
Middle Initial (day)
(year)
New Jersey Residence: Street
Apt. No.
Municipality County
Zip Code
Signature or mark of registered voter
Date
*If you are a registered member of the Green Party, Libertarian Party, Natural Law Party, Reform Party, U.S. Constitution Party or the Conservative Party, you can participate in the convention of that party, according to its bylaws, but you cannot vote in either the Democratic or Republican Primary. **If you are a previously affiliated voter who becomes unaffiliated, you must file the declaration form no later than 55 days before the primary in order to vote in either primary. Declaration must be filed no later than 55 days preceding the primary in which the voter wishes to vote. An unaffiliated voter can affiliate with the Democratic or Republican Party on the day of the primary.
State of New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections
www.njelections.org NJ Division of Elections - 6/17/11
Return to your County Clerk’s office: Passaic County Clerk Bergen County Clerk Kristin M. Corrado John Hogan 401 Grand Street One Bergen Plaza, Rm 130 Paterson, NJ 07505 Hackensack, NJ 07601
In Passaic, the address is: Passaic County Clerk Kristin M. Corrado, 401 Grand St., Paterson, NJ 07505. In Bergen County, the form should be sent to: Bergen County Clerk John Hogan, One Bergen Plaza, Room 130, Hackensack, NJ 07601. Mail-In Ballot Immediately after the primary, the voter can switch back to his or her party of choice. In the general election, a voter can select any candidate irrespective of his or her party affiliation. As in all New Jersey elections, mail-in ballots are accepted in the primary. Voters do not need to give a reason for deciding to use a mail-in ballot, which can be obtained at any municipal clerk’s office or online by going to http://www.njelections.org/ mail-in_doe.html and clicking on the correct county. The deadline for getting a primary mail-in ballot to the county clerk’s office this year is May 29. The Dilemma According to several registered Republicans in Passaic, the primary season has placed them in a quandary: voting in a Republican primary that might be exciting (or possibly not, if the candidate has been chosen by June), or voting in a Democratic Congressional primary that could decide whether Mr. Rothman or Mr. Pascrell is the candidate in November. Because the district is heavily Democratic, the winner of the June primary is likely to coast to victory in the general election in November. The major decision will be made in the primary. If Mr. Rothman fails to win the primary because pro-Israel voters were not registered to vote for him, they will not get to vote for him in the general election. S.L.R.
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January 2012/Tevet 5772
Index of Advertisers Entertainment & Events
1/15: Women Uniting Through Song . 30 1/29: Celebrate! Party Showcase . . . . 14 2/4: David Broza-Legacies & Legends . 28
Financial & Insurance Services
Broad Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Graphic Artists & Editorial Services Aldine Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Seventh Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Home Products & Services
Car Service
Teaneck Taxi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
American General Windows . . . . . . . . Organize + Simplify . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shalom Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starr Carpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Camp, Sports, & Summer Programs
Kosher Groceries
bricks4kidz.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Camp S’dei Chemed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Camp Regesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Camp Kaylie - Boys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Regesh EXTRA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
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51 37 51 36
Butterflake Bakery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Ma’adan Glatt Kosher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Teaneck Road Bagels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Kosher Restaurant, Take-Out
Congr. Shomrei Emunah . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Deena Greenstein Event Services . . . 16
Dougie’s BBQ & Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Chai KO Tapas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Chopstix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Ma’adan Take Home Foods. . . . . . . . . . 40
Charities
Medical Services
Catering Hall/Event Planning
Donate Your Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Umbrella Tzedaka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Education
Leah Sokoloff Nursery School . . . . . . 24 Kindergarten of KAJ of Paramus . . . . 45
Holy Name Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . 3 OBGYN, Dr. Efrat Meier Ginsberg . . . . 51 Psychotherapy, Chana Simmonds......51
Miscellaneous
Glitter Galore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
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Green for Silver and Gold . . . . . . . . . . . 16 NARTH/JONAH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Resumes & Essays, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Steve Rothman for Congress . . . . . . . 50
Musicians
Jeff Wilks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Photography/Video
Aptowitzer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Judah S. Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Mendel Meyers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Real Estate.
Englewood Garden Apts . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Travel & Vacations
Disney Orlando Hotel 1/22-29 . . . . . . 31 Elite Dimensions Passover . . . . . . . . . . 19 Emunah Bar/Bat Mitzvah . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Emunah in Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 “Flakey” Jake Passover . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Gemstar Tours Passover . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Hochdorf Hudson Valley Passover . . 38 Jewish Heritage Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Journey Through Jewish History . . . . 34 Kosherica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 L’Ayla Women’s Israel Mission . . . . . . . 12 Lasko Getaways Passover . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Leisure Time Tours Passover . . . . . . . . . 4 Marco Polo Passover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Mendy Vim’s Holidays Passover . . . . . 33 MatzaFUN Tours Passover . . . . . . . . . . 15 Pearlstein Center Passover . . . . . . . . . . 20 Passover Resorts Valencia . . . . . . . . . . 35 Smilow Pesach Ft. Lauderdale . . . . . . 41
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January 2012/Tevet 5772
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AMBASSADOR OF ISRAEL
שגריר ישראל
WASHINGTON, D.C.
וושינגטון
January 3, 2012 The Honorable Steve Rothman 2303 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Rothman, I would like to thank you for your principled response to Tom Friedman's recent column in which he claimed that the outstanding support for Israel in Congress is "bought and paid for by the Israel lobby," a statement that enraged many regardless of their political background, both in Washington as well as in Jerusalem. Without hesitation, you issued a statement fully refuting this charge, pointing out its dangerous associations and stressing the deep bonds between our two nations. Your statement undoubtedly contributed to Friedman's subsequent expression of regret. Whether in the press or on the House floor, you have always been there for Israel. Your contributions to Israel's security, especially in the fields of missile defense and intelligence, are deeply appreciated. With warmest wishes to you and your family for a healthy, fulfilling new year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Oren Ambassador of Israel to the United States
3514 INTERNATIONAL DRIVE N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20008 Tel (202) 364-5590 FAX: (202) 364-5560 www.israelemb.org
Paid for byPaid SteveforRothman for New Jersey, by Rothman for New Jersey Bart Mongelli, Treasurer, P.O. Box 714, Hackensack, NJ 07602
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January 2012/Tevet 5772
Beit Shemesh and Agudath Israel
The recent incident in Beit Shemesh has made waves in the media and elsewhere, from the yeshiva world to the most secular. They all appropriately condemn reprehensible acts of this fanatic mob. A recent NY Jewish Week editorial on this issue notes that the rabbi of a major synagogue in New York was annoyed by the fact that Agudath Israel and especially the organization’s “Revered Torah Scholars” have been silent rather than condemn the shameful incident. Dear Rabbi, are you not aware that, not so long ago, a “revered” one, who is no longer alive, came out publicly against a wellknown personality, who was an outsider, for not being sufficiently religious, a complaint which had absolutely nothing to do with the organization and was not of interest to most of the audience. The incident created only bad feelings in the whole community. This, the major synagogue’s rabbi should realize that the Agudah learned the hard way to refrain from mixing into matters which are outside its limits. It is a complement to today’s sages that they are aware of their limitations. We are now celebrating the 100th anniversary of Agudath Israel. At that time, the pride and glory of this group was that one of its sponsors was the giant of his time, the world famous Gaon, Rabbi Chaim Brisker (Soloveitchik). Without his participation and consent, the Agudah would never have been born. However after the opening conference in Katowitz, in which 300 delegates from all over the globe participated, the Gaon realized that there were elements who would later use the organization for self-serving purposes, perhaps not on purpose. The Gaon, therefore, was very outspoken and he told the group that, in our generation, we are not the guardians of Torah who can tell others what to do. Our task is to make sure our kehillos are not influenced by the winds that are swept against the total purity of Jewishness. That in itself is a tremendous work. Let us concentrate on that! If we follow that road, we will perforce influence others. In our orphaned generation, all we can do is to build yeshivoth and Torah centers so that King Moshiach will have residences at his hopefully speedy arrival. Amen. Jacob Eisemann Elizabeth, NJ
An Ounce of Protection?
Kudos on your recent article regarding reparative therapy for those questioning their sexual preferences [“Therapy to Help Homosexuals Change Orientation: Hundreds of Orthodox Rabbis Now Say It’s the Only Torah-Approved Way,” Dec 2011]. Once again, you have tackled an issue in a way unseen in other local Jewish publications. As the question of homosexuality in the Orthodox community becomes more open and accepted, I have to ask if we as a community are doing enough to proactively combat this challenge. While responses such as reparative therapy are effective to treat this challenge once it develops, I see far too many stumbling blocks being placed before our impressionable young men that could push people to choose a lifestyle antithetical to Torah values. High school dormitories, single-sex social groups, professional boys’ choirs, and very physical simcha dancing are just a few of the scenarios that I believe could push some questioning youth over the edge. Even the so called “express lanes” seen at some mikves during men’s mikve hours should, perhaps, be questioned. Our community has been very successful over the years in
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Letters to the Editor
separating men and women to protect them from engaging in untoward acts. Perhaps it is time to figure out how to separate same genders from each other in some contexts as well. Please keep up the great work. Our community needs journalists who look beyond the controversies and really study the issues. I love your publication! M.C. Shiur Brooklyn, NY SLR: Thank you
“Life” Should Mean “Life”
Last month, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice informed me that Richard Charles Robinson, (State ID 01990069 TDCJ ID 00328186), the man who shot my son, Michael, in the head on February 18, 1981, is once again coming up for parole. In 1981, Michael was a pre-med student at the University of Texas in Austin who wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon and help the ill and the maimed. After studying for an Organic Chemistry exam in the library of the university, he stopped at a convenience store about one-third of a mile from campus to get gasoline. Unbeknownst to him, the store was then being robbed by three men. Michael walked into the store and, after taking the $2 in his hand, the robbers quickly forced him to lie down in the cooler. Furious that he had netted only $2, Richard Charles Robinson put his gun behind Michael’s head and pulled the trigger, an act of anger and arrogance, hatred and cruelty, barbarity and mercilessness. The bullet penetrated Michael’s skull, head, and brain, and he was left for dead as the three ran off from the convenience store, laughing and joking. It did not seem to bother them that they had presumably just killed an innocent college student. Michael miraculously survived this vicious and horrifying, agonizing and distressing attack. However, he could no longer become a doctor. Even today, he limps severely on his right leg, speaks slowly, reads slowly, and has almost no use of his right arm. The activities he can perform are very limited. About a week after the attack, Richard Charles Robinson was caught. He was tried and sentenced to “life” in prison. Thus far, Mr. Robinson has served only 30 years. “Life” should mean “life.” That is what a jury of his peers felt that he should serve. He was not sentenced to 30 years. For no reason at all, Mr. Robinson did his best to murder Michael. Even a wild animal would not have done what Mr. Robinson did. Wild animals kill when they are hungry and need food. Mr. Robinson was not hungry and did not need food There are already a sufficient number of criminals on our streets. We do not need to make our streets and parks more unsafe for the citizens of Texas. Mr. Robinson should remain in jail, and parole should be denied, as was originally stated by the jury. He is still a violent, vicious, forceful, and turbulent person. Anyone who would attempt murder for $2 should remain in jail and never be allowed back on our streets. I truly hope that you will write a note to: Angela McCown, Director, Victim Services Division, 8712 Shoal Creek Blvd. Ste. 265, Austin, TX 78757-6899; and request that Mr. Robinson’s request for parole be denied. Please include Mr. Robinson’s full name and his State ID and TDCJ ID numbers as indicated above.
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“Thought Is the World of Freedom” (R’ Dov Ber of Mazeritch)
I ask for your help in keeping this man behind bars. My wife and I are both thankful to you. Rabbi Jack Segal Houston, TX
Teaching Hillary
I just created a petition entitled “Hillary Clinton: Learn Rationales for Gender-Separation in Judaism and Retract Comments, because I care deeply about this very important issue. I’m trying to collect 5000 signatures, and I could really use your help. If you are unsure of the reasons for gender segregation in Judaism, just ask. It may not be what you think. To read more about what I’m trying to do and to sign my petition, go here: http://www.change.org/petitions/hillary-clinton-learnrationales-for-gender-separation-in-judaism-and-retractcomments?share_id=lxYirXYHEk& It’ll just take a minute! Once you’re done, please ask your friends to sign the petition as well. Grassroots movements succeed because people like you are willing to spread the word! Jonathan Gewirtz Monsey, NY
It’s Not the Money, Stupid; It’s the Issue
Thomas Friedman’s animosity towards religious Jews and his claim that all of Congress is bought by the Jews puts him in the category of bigot. Mr Friedman attributes the Congressional standing ovations for PM Netanyahu, to the money of the pro-Israel lobby of America. It is true that Americans who believe in Israel support members of Congress who also believe in strong US-Israel relations. What Friedman misses is that it is an easy sell. The oil industry and its lobby generate more money in one hour than all the friends of Israel in a year. They would get nowhere with an anti-Israel agenda, because no one would listen. Support for the Jewish homeland speaks to the heart of the American people and their representatives. It’s not the money stupid, it’s the issue. Mr. Friedman has such animosity for Israel that he simply cannot imagine that Congress or the American people support the Jewish state as a matter of the heart. His personal disdain for those of traditional Jewish faith is also evident. Mr. Friedman is upset that Jewish hareidi women, who sit
separate from the men by choice, have a system of sitting in the rear of the bus. Mr. Friedman assumes this is disrespect. Mr. Friedman, the rear of the bus is safer in the event of an accident or terror attack. I guess Mr. Friedman also prefers child car seats in the front, so the kids will have better self-esteem, provided they survive an accident. In certain countries in the Middle East, other than Israel, mistreatment of women is the standard. Mr. Friedman is aware of the countries where women are unable to work, vote, or drive, and suffer from genital mutilation and honor killings. Why bash Israel, where women have reached every level, including Prime Minister? Time to retire this employee, or you can wait until he tells all the Jews to go back to Eastern Europe. Ben Chouake, MD President, NORPAC Englewood, NJ
Kol Hakavod, Newt
Newt Gingrich is the only US politician who had the courage to say the truth in public. In fact, “Palestine” refers to a coastal section of land in the area of today’s Gaza Strip that was inhabited by the ancient Philistines who were not native to Israel or the region. Most scholars believe they migrated from Greece or Crete. The ancient Philistines were enemies of Israel. The biblical giant Goliath, whom King David slew, was a Philistine. The name “Palestine”( in Hebrew, the name was “Pleshet”) is from the Latin name “Philistia.” It came to be known as such after the unsuccessful Jewish revolt led by Bar Kochba in 135 CE. Then-Roman Emperor Hadrian, in an effort to wipe out any symbols of Jewish presence, renamed the Kingdom of Judea “Philistia.” He did this specifically to insult the Jews, since the Philistines were their enemies. For the record, there isn’t, nor has there ever been a sovereign nation called Palestine, unless Abbas and Company can claim that they are descendants of the Plishtim. Kol Hakavod, Newt! Yehiel Levy The Jewish Voice and Opinion welcomes letters, especially if they are typed, double-spaced, and legible. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and style. Please send all correspondence to POB 8097, Englewood, NJ 07631. The phone number is (201) 569-2845. The FAX number is (201) 569-1739. The email address is susan@jewishvoiceandopinion.com
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January 2012/Tevet 5772
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“Nora’s Will” Probes Mexican-Jewish Family Secrets and a Pre-Pesach Suicide “Nora’s Will,” a film writ-
ten and directed by Mariana Chenillo and now available on DVD, is billed as a comedy. In fact, while there are sparks of humor, drawn from the inexorably sad premise of the story, the film—Ms. Chenillo’s first feature—is more about family tensions and ingenuity in solving what seem like intractable problems, made more complicated by old wounds and religious hypocrisy. The film takes place in downtown Mexico City, but the characters could be found in Jewish communities anywhere in the world. The pull of religious traditions and the need to respond properly to a death in the family is universal. The story’s namesake (or at least her hands) makes a live appearance only in the first few minutes of the film, as she wraps
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food, writes recipe instructions, and sets a very elaborate dining room table, all in preparation for Passover, which she knows she won’t live to see. Nora is next seen after her suicide, accomplished after 14 unsuccessful attempts over the past 35 years. The core of the film is the reaction of her gruff, grizzled ex-husband, José (Fernando Luján), who divorced her 30 years earlier. A wounded lover no longer able to sustain his marriage to a woman bent on ending her life, he was equally unable to find another partner to replace her in his heart. When the film opens, he still resides in an apartment across the street from her. Because life goes on, there is humor, whether in the form of a Mexican convert to Judaism who really wants to be a chef and is excited at the prospect
of learning secrets of MexicanJewish cooking from Nora’s beloved housekeeper, or a local Catholic funeral parlor sending flowers in the shape of a cross that various members of the family keep placing out of sight. When Nora’s and José’s only son, Rubén [Ari Brickman], who is married with two children of his own, asks his father why he remained living across the street from his ex-wife, the father gently says, “To be close to you.” “But I moved out 15 years ago,” the son exclaims. It is a funny line, delivered with the knowledge that his father’s inner life is also a mystery, and it emphasizes José’s tender feelings for his son and daughter-in-law, and, especially, their daughters. A cynical, weary agnostic despite an obviously rather
thorough early religious education, José is stuck in a lively family which still values the semblance of Jewish traditions. He is flabbergasted at the rabbinic take on Nora’s death. She chose to die on the evening before the first seder. The non-Orthodox rabbi who comes to advise him is neither José’s nor Nora’s spiritual leader (neither has one), but, rather, the pulpit rabbi of the congregation where Rubén’s wealthy father-in-law belongs. The rabbi explains that because the first two days of Pesach that year lead right into Shabbos, if Nora is not buried by 3pm on Wednesday, her body will have to wait, on the floor, covered in dry ice, always in the company of a young student reciting prayers, until Sunday. José would just as soon be done with the procedure,
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Live Where You Can Walk to Shul
but his son, who is on vacation with his family when news of his mother’s death reaches him, asks José to wait until his family can return for the funeral. How this family must then deal with religious law in the hands of pompous irreligious Jews, to say nothing of the issues left unresolved by Nora’s suicide, makes this a touching slice of life with a surprisingly satisfying conclusion. Suffice it
to say, everything takes place in a homey atmosphere heavily laden with relationships, food, and secrets. In Mexico, “Nora’s Will,” which appeared as “Five Days without Nora” (“Cinco Dias sin Nora”), won the Ariel, the Mexican equivalent of the Oscar, for best picture of the year. In all, the film won six Ariels, including one for Mr. Luján and another for Ms.
Chenillo, who mined her maternal family’s history for the story, as best director. All four of Ms. Chenillo’s grandparents escaped from Europe just ahead of the Nazis’ takeover. Once in Mexico, her maternal grandmother, after numerous tries, finally succeeded in killing herself, leaving a bitter husband and a confused family. Ms. Chenillo said she wrote the film
to provide a sense of closure. She gives this film that sagacity in the form of an oldworld Orthodox rabbi whose traditional take on halacha satisfies the pragmatic needs of the family and a final admission that satisfies José’s—and the audience’s—heart. “Nora’s Will” is currently available from Menemsha Films and can be ordered on line from www. menemshafilms.com. S.L.R.
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