Jewish Observer Newspaper - January 31, 2019 by Jewish Federation of CNY

25 SHEVAT 5779 • JANUARY 31, 2019 • VOLUME XXXX, NUMBER 3 • PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID, SYRACUSE, NY

Lions of Judah BY JACKIE MIRON Jewish Federation of Central New York Chair of the Board Ellen Weinstein recently attended the 2019 international Lion of Judah conference in Florida. The Lion of Judah is often considered one of the most dynamic philanthropic organizations in the world, setting an “exemplary standard of commitment and giving” at the level of $5,000 per year to the local community’s Jewish Federation. In addition to contributing resources, Lions seek to provide leadership, build Jewish identity and create social justice. The Jewish Federation of Central New York has more than 40 members in the Lion of Judah. The International Lion of Judah Conference is held every two years for what is described as “extraordinary learning, sharing and celebration ... inspire one another and hear from the world’s leading speakers in the fields of religion, culture, art, business and politics.” The 2019 conference was held January 13-15 in South Florida and was attended by 1,400 women, representing 87 Federations from six countries. Together, the group has pledged more than $35 million with a goal of “repairing the world.” Weinstein represented the local chapter for what she described as “an invigorating and enlight-

ening experience with incredible women with the same level of passion and hope and excitement.” Weinstein defined examples of both national and local efforts to strengthen and enhance the Jewish community. She attended lectures with speakers from the Pittsburgh, PA, and Parkland, FL, communities who touched upon recent and pertinent strategies for security measures around the world. Presentations were made about Lion of Judah assistance in the Los Angeles community to help in wildfire relief, and explanations of how Federations are bringing Israeli innovation and solar technology to impoverished parts of Africa. Weinstein said she was moved to hear how Federations have become some communities’ safe spaces. She said there were consistent themes of hands-on and “roll up your sleeves” involvement by the Lions of Judah, with significant impact on individuals and entire communities – a commitment to dig in and help on the ground, empowering the sisterhood to do good – not just now, but in perpetuity. She learned how the interaction among multiple generations plays a role in the continuity of Jewish growth and survival, and said, “Reaching young people is necessary, by growing and embracing change, community

and diversity and inclusion.” She felt “lucky to attend the conference” with her daughter, Danielle Weinstein, who is employed by the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston (a Jewish Federation) and said she was thrilled to see Danielle installed as a Lion of Judah during the conference, l’dor v’dor (from generation to generation). Conference attendees spent time with old and new friends, watched chefs and comedians, and absorbed ideas of how to take it all back home. For more information on the Lion of Judah and how to become a member, go to https://jewishfederations. org/how-you-can-help/lion-of-judah. Current members of the Central New York Lions of Judah should watch for an event in the near future for implementing new ideas and programs.

L-r: Danielle Weinstein and her mother, Ellen Weinstein, at the recent Lion of Judah conference in Florida, where Danielle was installed as a Lion of Judah.

Syracuse in Florida reunion The Hilbert Maloff Syracuse Reunion will be held on Sunday, March 10, from 11 am-2 pm, at the Delray Civic Center in Delray Beach, FL. The event, which brings Syracusans together for a social occasion in the middle of winter, was founded by Bert/Hibsy Maloff many years ago. It is a “meet-andgreet” event, where guests should bring

their own lunch to eat and share. The South County Civic Center is located at 16700 Jog Rd., Delray Beach. There is a charge of $10. Checks should be made payable to Ellie Hayman and mailed to 13580 Morocca Lake Ln., Delray Beach, FL 33446 and sent by Thursday, February 28. All proceeds will go to the Syracuse Jewish Cemetery Association.

“Who Will Write Our History” film rescheduled for Feb. 10 BY WILLIAM WALLAK Due to the recent snow storm, the screening of “Who Will Write Our

History” has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 10, at 3:30 pm, at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community

Center, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. A question-and-answer session will be held immediately following the movie.

The cantors of Central New York BY BARBARA DAVIS “Where have all the cantors gone?” asked a recent article in the Atlanta Jewish Times. It described the situation in Georgia’s capital, the country’s ninth Cantor Francine Berg largest Jewish population center, home to 38 synagogues. Only four Atlanta synagogues, all of them Reform, employ fulltime professional cantors. For the High Holidays, Atlanta’s Congregation Ahavath Achim, one of the oldest synagogues in the Conservative movement, invites Syracuse’s Cantor Robert Lieberman to serve as its guest hazzan. The Jewish Observer thought it would be interesting to investigate the cantorial situation in the local community. But first, some background. The cantorate developed after the Second Temple was destroyed in 70 C.E. The choirs of Levites, whose vocal and instrumental music had accompanied sa-

Cantor Kari Ba’alat Tefillah Siegel Eglash Esa Jaffe cred rites, were disbanded. The emphasis in worship shifted to prayer, but due to the lack of uniform literacy among worshippers (not to mention a dearth of prayer books), representatives were designated to pray on behalf of those unable to do so on their own. These representatives were called sh’lihei tzibur, emissaries of the congregation, a term that continues to this day to denote persons who lead services. The role of the shaliach tzibur, however, has always been much broader than that of prayer leader. The Hebrew word for “cantor” is hazzan, which literally means “overseer.” Hazzanim historically were in charge of many religious and See “Cantors” on page 8

Cantor Robert Lieberman

Cantor Paula Pepperstone

The screening, which was originally planned for January 20, is free and open to the public. “Who Will Write Our History” is about who gets to tell the story. In November 1940, days after the Nazis sealed 450,000 Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto, a secret band of journalists, scholars and community leaders decided to fight back. Led by historian Emanuel Ringelblum and known by the code name Oyneg Shabes, this clandestine group vowed to defeat Nazi lies and propaganda not with guns or fists, but with pen and paper. They detailed life in the ghetto from the Jewish perspective and documented Nazi atrocities with eyewitness accounts. Ringelblum was fearful that all European Jews might be See “Film” on page 2

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Congregational notes

Genealogy meeting

New SJFS programs

Local synagogues announce The Greater Syracuse Jewish Syracuse Jewish Family Service movies, talks, a lunch and learn, Genealogical Society will host a announces several new programs speaker at its February meeting. aimed at older adults. hamantashen sale and more. Story on page 5 Stories on page 4 Story on page 7

PLUS Classifieds................................ 6 Calendar Highlights............... 6 Obituaries................................. 7 Simcha Party Planning......... 8

JEWISH OBSERVER ■ JANUARY 31, 2019/25 SHEVAT 5779

A MATTER OF OPINION

Point/counterpoint

Note: The Israeli Knesset passed a nationality law on July 19, 2018, that calls Israel “the national home of the Jewish people.” The law has generated much discussion. Below are two letters that look at different sides of the issue.

Concerns about the Jewish Nation State Law BY ZACHARY FIELD Israel’s new Nation State Basic Law has betrayed the legacy of Ben Gurion’s Declaration of Independence, which established the country’s Jewish and Democratic character. The law has potential negative consequences for the equal status of Israel’s national and ethnic minorities and it shifts the country’s delicate balance between secular and religious values. Israeli legal experts Eyal Benvenisti and Doreen Lustig warn that the law weakens the protections granted to individuals and that “attempts to challenge discriminatory legislation could now be answered by invoking the new Basic Law.” Dr. Amir Fuchs, head of the Defending Democratic Values Program at the Israel Democracy Institute, has cautioned that the clause promoting Jewish settlement as a national value “paves the way for acts of exclusion and racism against the Arab minority.” The law also embraces language proposed by religious Orthodox MK Uri Maklev, which weakens commitments to promoting connections between Israel and

Film

destroyed, and considered it a sacred duty to record everything that those in the ghetto saw or heard from others about what the Germans had done so that the history of the ghetto would not be told by the murderers. Nineteen-year-old David Graber wrote, “What we were unable to cry and shriek out to the world we buried in the ground. I would love to live to see the moment in which the great treasure will be dug up and scream the truth at the world.” With 30,000 pages of writing, photographs, posters, essays and more, the Oyneg Shabes Archive is considered the most important cache of in-the-moment, eyewitness accounts from the Holocaust.

the Diaspora because he “did not want the state to help Diaspora Jews advance religious pluralism in Israel in general and at the Western Wall in particular.” The Jewish Federations of North America has described the law as “a step back for all minorities,” and their criticisms have been echoed by the CEO of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the Union for Reform Judaism, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League. By failing to include references to equality and democracy, harming the relationship of Diaspora Jewry to Israel and attacking the collective rights of the country’s minorities, this law undermines Ben Gurion’s vision of “complete equality of social and political rights to all inhabitants” of Israel. Zachary Field is a recent graduate of Binghamton University, where he majored in geography and minored in Israel studies. He is also an alumnus of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies in southern Israel.

Continued from page 1

It documents not only how the Jews of the ghetto died, but how they lived. The film is based on the book of the same name by historian Samuel Kassow. There will be a post-screening question-and-answer period with Syracuse University Professor Kendall Phillips, SU Professor Emeritus Alan Goldberg, SU Assistant Professor Robert Terrell and Liverpool High School English teacher Rhiannon Berry. The screening is sponsored by the JCC of Syracuse, the Jewish Federation of Central New York and Alan and Dorothy Goldberg. For more information, contact the JCC at 315-445-2360 or info@jccsyr.org.

Much ado about nothing BY RICHARD D. WILKINS Much ado about nothing! Misinformation, misconceptions and misapprehensions swirl around Israel’s new Nation State Basic Law – for what’s in it and what isn’t. Has Israel’s “Jewish and democratic character” been betrayed? Have minority rights been diminished, their language muted and the Diaspora dissed? No. The law’s actual text solely enshrines Israel as a Jewish state. Israel has no constitution, only a series of Basic Laws, serving a similar purpose. As such, those are carefully crafted general principles. Unlike the U.S., which is founded on “ideas,” Israel, like most nations, is ethnically-based. Few countries have more than one official language; many claim a state religion, displaying its symbols on their national flag; while still others significantly privilege their diasporas. In no country, even if their individual rights are respected, and regardless of how numerous, or geographically concentrated minorities may be, do they enjoy any collective right of self-determination. The move to formalize Israel’s Zionist ethos arises from its political milieu. The Knesset combines legislative and executive powers. Those now coexist in tension with a self-perpetuating independent judiciary, seen by many as a secular hyper-progressive elite. The Supreme Court repeatedly has weakened Israel’s Jewish underpinnings, citing existing Basic Laws. Preservation of Israel’s Jewish character would now be put on par with those, and itself be subject to judicial interpretation. Its language largely mirrors that in

an earlier proposed constitution. Why are the words “Jewish and democratic” omitted? Because they’re already in the preamble to Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty. But wasn’t Arabic downgraded? Article 4: “Nothing shall affect the status given to the Arabic language before this law came into force.” What about Diaspora relations? Article 6: “The state shall act, in the diaspora, to preserve ties ... and cultural, historical and religious heritage among Jews.” Diaspora Jews have a vote, but not a veto, over Israel’s domestic policies, and should more greatly appreciate the difficulties inherent in multi-party coalition governments. “Jewish settlement” as code for discrimination? The Mandate itself called for “close settlement by Jews.” The focus, now, is on the Galilee and Negev, not “settlements,” in disputed areas of Judea and Samaria. The very core of the Arab-Israel conflict remains Arab rejection of the legitimacy of a Mideast sovereign Jewish state, Jewry’s existential imperative. As cries of “Mort aux Juifs” (“Death to the Jews”) again resound on the streets of Paris, as North American campuses are aflame with anti-Zionism, as relentless attacks escalate on Israel in international forums, and even amidst internal calls for “a state of all its citizens,” the Nation State Basic Law proudly proclaims the absolute validity, and necessity, of a Jewish state. Richard D. Wilkins is a member of Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse and a frequent contributor to the Jewish Observer.

Hebrew Interest-Free Loan

The Jewish Federation of Central New York has instituted the Hebrew Interest-Free Loan program to help Jewish people get past a temporary financial need. To learn more about the program or to see if you qualify, visit the Federation’s website, www.jewishfederationcny.org.

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JANUARY 31, 2019/25 SHEVAT 5779 ■

JEWISH OBSERVER

AROUND CENTRAL NEW YORK Come sing at World InterFaith Harmony Assembly BY CANTOR PAULA PEPPERSTONE Central New York’s celebration of the United Nations’ annual observance of World InterFaith Harmony Week, the eighth World Interfaith Harmony Assembly, will be celebrated locally on Monday, February 4, from 6:308 pm, at Southern Missionary Baptist Church (3143 Midland Ave., Syracuse). Last year, Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas hosted the event that typically attracts more than 400 people. The Jewish community has been participating for several years, sponsored locally

by Women Transcending Boundaries and InterFaith Works of Central New York. Rosalie Young, a member of the organizing committee, said, “It’s wonderful to have people of all different races and religions working together to plan an evening in which all the groups explain their traditions.” Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone, rabbi at Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas, said, “In our day, one of the most important things we can do as members of communities of faith is to come together, celebrate how each

Matthews grant to benefit JCC’s Gymnastics Program BY WILLIAM WALLAK The Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse has received a $1,000 grant from the Matthews Children’s Foundation to benefit its children’s gymnastics program. This latest round of funding is the result of JCC Board President Steven Sisskind’s ongoing efforts to sponsor the JCC’s grant application. “We are extremely appreciative of the Matthews Foundation’s continued support of our children’s programming,” said Sisskind. “The outstanding generosity of the foundation has been very helpful in allowing us to secure much needed equipment and to better serve local families.” The JCC’s gymnastics program will use the funds to purchase new tumbling mats, which will allow aspiring gymnasts to further hone their skills. Matthews Children’s Foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations whose purpose is to support children. It has contributed millions of dollars to date to such charities. The JCC of Syracuse has received a substantial amount in grants over the years from Matthews Children’s Foundation to benefit the JCC’s children’s programming. “Steven has been a wonderful advocate on behalf of the JCC, securing such solid support from the Matthews Children’s Foundation and other organizations,” said Marci Erlebacher, JCC of Syracuse executive director.

L-r: Richy Adlman, representative of Matthews International Corporation casket division, presents a $1,000 Matthews Children’s Foundation grant check to JCC Board President Steven Sisskind. The JCC’s Matthews grant application has been sponsored by Sisskind for many years. “We appreciate the Matthews Foundation’s recognition of the quality programs that we offer.” For more information about the JCC of Syracuse and supporting its many programs serving infants through seniors, contact Erin Hart at 315-445-2040, ext. 112, or ehart@jccsyr.org.

Sam Pomeranz JCC senior dining menu FEBRUARY 4-8 Monday – vegetable soup, spinach cheese quiche Tuesday – spaghetti and meatballs Wednesday – imitation crab cakes, chicken noodle soup Thursday – beef stew over egg noodles Friday – birthday celebration – fresh salmon with dill FEBRUARY 11-15 Monday – chicken noodle soup, tuna salad on wheat Tuesday – baked ziti Wednesday – chicken rollatini Thursday – meatloaf Friday – brisket The Bobbi Epstein Lewis JCC Senior Adult Dining Program at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center offers Va’ad Ha’ir-supervised kosher lunches served Monday through Friday at noon. Lunch reservations are required by noon on the previous business day. There is a suggested contribution per meal. The menu is subject to change. The program is funded by a grant from the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth and

the New York State Office for the Aging, with additional funds provided by the JCC. To attend, one need not be Jewish or a member of the JCC. For further information or to make a reservation, contact Cindy Stein at 315-4452360, ext. 104, or cstein@jccsyr.org.

of our faiths seeks to elevate us as humans and see how each faith does that in its own unique way. This event celebrates not only our commonality, but also sees value in our differences. When we encounter another faith on its own terms, we not only learn about that faith, but perhaps even more about our own.” This year’s theme, “We Are Family,” will be exemplified by a plurality of faith groups from the area. The Jewish community will sing a setting of “Hinei Ma Tov” by Sylvia F. Goldstein based on the text from Psalm 133. Everyone of all abilities and ages is invited to sing. Vegetarian food and beverages will be served at the reception following the event. For more information, contact Cantor Paula Pepperstone at cantorpepperstone@ gmail.com. The World InterFaith Harmony Assembly is part of the United Nations’ annual observance of the World Interfaith Harmony Week during the first week of February. It started in 2011. World Interfaith Harmony Week was proclaimed by the General Assembly in resolution A/RES/65/5 adopted on October 20, 2010. In the resolution, the General Assembly pointed out that mutual understanding and inter-religious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace and establishes World Interfaith Harmony Week as a way to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith. Recognizing the imperative need for dialogue among different faiths and religions to enhance mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among people, the General Assembly encouraged all states to support the spread of the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship, on a voluntary basis and according to their own religious traditions or convictions during that week.

DEADLINE

Deadlines for all articles and photos for the Jewish Observer are as follows. No exceptions will be made.

DEADLINE

Monday, January 28, early.......... February 14 Wednesday, February 13............. February 28 Wednesday, February 27................. March 14 Wednesday, March 13..................... March 28

SAVE THE DATE!!!

Save Sunday, March 10, 2019 for the Hilbert Maloﬀ Syracuse Reunion! Bert/Hibsy was the founder of this fun event. We honor his memory. Join us to have Fun, Meet, Greet and Eat (bring your own) to the South Palm Beach County Civic Center (picnic area) at 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach, Florida, from 11 AM un�l 2 PM. Make out your $10.00 check to Ellie Hayman. Send to 13589 Morocca Lake Lane, Delray Beach, Florida 33446 by February 28, 2019. All proceeds go to the Syracuse Jewish Cemetary Associa�on. Pat Randall-Meltzer, Ellie Freeman, Marlene Maloﬀ and Marcia Schotz are assis�ng Ellie Hayman. Looking for addi�onal volunteers. If interested, please contact me at ebh312@gmail.com.

ISSUE

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ JANUARY 31, 2019/25 SHEVAT 5779

CONGREGATIONAL NOTES Temple Adath Yeshurun TAY SISTERHOOD HAMANTASHEN SALE BY SONALI MCINTYRE The Temple Adath Yeshurun Sisterhood will bake hamantashen on Sundays, February 3 and February 10, from 9 amnoon, in preparation for its annual Purim hamantashen sale. Volunteers are welcome to assist with baking. To volunteer for baking, contact Alison Bronstein at sisterhoodoftay@gmail.com or Susie Drazen at susie.drazen@gmail.com. Advanced order and payment by Wednesday, March 6, is available for $8 per dozen. Hamantashen will be available for purchase for $10 per dozen after March 6, while supplies last. Baking will take place in the TAY kitchen, and the hamantashen will be kosher. The flavors available to order are chocolate, poppy seed, apricot, cherry or a mix of all flavors. Hamantashen will be available for pickup on Sunday, March 17. TAY Sisterhood President Alison Bronstein said, “We love this intergenerational program. Everyone comes together to bake every year. Their hard work does not go unnoticed, either. We sell out fast!” For more information, contact Bronstein or Drazen. Order forms are available at www.adath.org or at the TAY office. Checks may be made payable to TAY Sisterhood, with “hamantashen” in the memo. Checks may be dropped off or mailed to Hamantashen/TAY Sisterhood, 450 Kimber Rd., Syracuse, NY 13224.

Temple Adath Yeshurun visiting Rabbi Carl Wolkin led approximately 30 people in discussion during an adult education class on Jewish sexuality and the Conservative movement’s stance on various issues.

Iris Pollichemi and her mother, Holly, got cozy with their sleeping bags and pillows during the Rothschild Early Childhood Center family movie night. Several families attended and had snacks while watching the movie “Ice Age.”

Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation On January 15, more than 20 people gathered at Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse for an evening of cake decorating and fund-raising to help

Elyssa Rosenbaum (center) and her parents, Neil and Debbie Rosenbaum. She is hoping to participate in the Maccabi Games this summer.

Elyssa Rosenbaum go to the Maccabi Games in Mexico City this summer to compete in the triathlon. Contributions may be made to Maccabi USA, 1511 Walnut St., Suite 401, Philadelphia, PA 19102, with “Elyssa Rosenbaum” in the memo line.

Rebecca Raphael and her daughter, Izzy.

Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas SHABBAT LUNCH AND LEARN FEB. 16 A Shabbat lunch and learn will take place on Saturday, February 16, following services, with time beforehand for participants to enjoy an extended kiddush lunch. Continuing CBS-CS’ six-part series on the various expressions of Jewish tradition, Rabbi Michael Weingarten, an Orthodox rabbi and currently a medical student at SUNY Upstate, will share his perspective on Orthodox Judaism. Each lunch and learn session is self-contained, and new participants are always welcome. For more information, contact Bob Tornberg at btornberg@gmail.com. LOST AT THE SEDER The CBS-CSAdult Learning Committee will present a new course, “Lost at the seder,” which will meet from 10:30-11:30 am on

Sundays when religious school is in session in the religious school wing. Participants can join the class any Sunday until the last class on April 7. Drop-ins are welcome and there is no registration required. It is designed as a beginner’s study of the haggadah, where participants will examine key ideas, central themes, popular songs and favorite symbols. They will examine texts from the haggadah and other classical sources, share experiences that have enriched their own sederim and learn how the central story of Jewish history – the Exodus from Egypt – has inspired the Jewish people – in ancient times and today. This course is not teaching how to lead a seder, but instead aims to ensure that participants will never feel lost at one. For more information, contact Bob Tornberg at btornberg@gmail.com.

Temple Concord “NICKY’S FAMILY” AT TEMPLE CONCORD CINEMAGOGUE FEB. 9 BY CHANA MEIR Temple Concord’s Cinemagogue series will present “Nicky’s Family,” a documentary about a rescuer who organized his own Kindertransport and saved 669 children from the Nazis. It will be shown on Saturday, February 9, at 7:30 pm. The Nicky of the title is Sir Nicholas George Winton, a British stockbroker, who died in 2015 at the age of 106. In 1938, after receiving a request for help from a friend in Prague, he realized the extent of the need to move children quickly. He single-handedly placed nearly 700 Czech and Slovak children in British homes. The story only came to light in 1988, when Winston’s wife discovered a trunk full of documents detailing the operation. The film is narrated by Canadian journalist Joe Schlesinger, who was one of the rescued children. The New York Times described the film as having “lovely cinematography and lively editing.” Audiences are growing for Temple Concord’s Cinemagogue, which are free and open to the public, with candy and snacks available. More than 60 viewers attended the last film, “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story.” Donations are welcome. For more information, contact the TC office at 315-475-9952 or office@ templeconcord.org. TC SISTERHOOD AND BROTHERHOOD MEETINGS ON WOMEN’S HEALTH AND MEN’S BASKETBALL The TC Sisterhood and Brotherhood will hold meetings on Sunday, February 10, at 9:30 am. The Sisterhood will highlight women’s health and the Brotherhood will highlight Syracuse University men’s basketball.

On January 6, Temple Concord Brotherhood presented Joe Eglash, who spoke on Jewish music. He is director of Transcontinental Music Publications and JLicense, a publisher of Jewish music. He is also editor of numerous anthologies of Jewish musicians, including Debbie Friedman. A musician and leader of Temple Concord’s Shabbos Kelzmorim Band, he often accompanies his wife, Cantor Kari Siegel Eglash, during Shabbat services. Sisterhood will feature congregants with “significant experience” in women’s health practices and issues, including physical therapist Ellyn Roloff, who will discuss balance techniques and fall prevention, and nurse practitioner Meryl Lefkowicz, who will conduct a Reiki session. Brotherhood will host congregant Mark Frank, who covers Syracuse University football and basketball for the Associated Press. He will talk about sports reporting and the state of SU hoops. Temple Concord Brotherhood meets monthly on Sunday mornings and is open to the public. For more information go to the synagogue calendar at www. templeconcord.org.

Rebbetzins commemorate the yahrzeit of the Rebbe On January 17, the Chabad rebbetzins of upstate New York gathered in Syracuse with their young children to commemorate the yahrzeit (day of the death of the sixth rebbe of the Chabad movement, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, 1880-1950). It is also the day on which, one year later, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-94), the son-in-law of the previous rebbe, accepted the leadership of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, thus becoming the seventh rebbe, setting about transforming the face of world Jewry. Chasidim have always considered the day of the 10th of Shevat to be a day of gathering to reflect on the lives of these two leaders. It is considered a time of reflection and contemplation, how every man, woman and child can increase their commitment to do everything in their power for the advancement of Jewish education, Torah study and mitzvah ob-

servance – personally and communally. After the death of his father, Rabbi Shalom Ber Schneersohn, the fifth rebbe, Rabbi Schneersohn assumed the leadership of Chabad in the aftermath of Russia’s revolution and civil war, rallying and reorganizing his scattered Chasidim in the face of hunger, disease and religious persecution at the hands of the Communist regime. Following his 1927 arrest by the Communist regime, and his subsequent release from prison, he relocated to Warsaw and built a new educational and institutional infrastructure from scratch, only to see it destroyed at the hands of the Nazis in 1939. Arriving in New York in 1940, Rabbi Schneersohn immediately set out to build a new network of educational institutions. His motto became “America is nit andersh” – “America is not different” – which See “Rebbetzins” on page 5

The Chabad rebbetzins of upstate New York gathered in Syracuse with their young children.

JANUARY 31, 2019/25 SHEVAT 5779 ■

Syracuse Jewish Genealogical Society to meet Feb. 10 The Greater Syracuse JewThere will also be a scanner available that day. Anyone ish Genealogical Society will who would like their photo present Assistant Professor of scanned and projected, but Fashion Design Todd Conover can’t send a jpg, should come at its bi-monthly meeting on a half hour early. Sunday, February 10, at 1:30 So far this year, the group has pm, at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish had visits by an internationally Community Center. known Jewish genealogist, Jay Among other topics, ConSage and Steven Sisskind, who over will look at some old Todd Conover spoke on the Jewish cemeteries family photos and help parof Syracuse. ticipants date them. To have a For more information, e-mail Yonat photograph analyzed, send a jpg attached to an e-mail to fixler44@gmail.com. Klein at yonatklein@gmail.com.

Hebrew Interest-Free Loan can help with expenses BY WILL WALLAK It’s a new year and if you’re like a lot of people, you might already be stressed over last year’s holiday bills or getting a better handle on expenses. While the list of things vying for the money in your wallet may seem endless, there is something that could help with your finances. It’s a Hebrew Interest-Free Loan from the Jewish Federation of Central New York. This personal loan program offers any Jewish person in Central New York affordable access to temporary financial assistance. Borrow up to $4,000 and pay zero interest. Use it for any number of expenses – such as a family emergency, car/home repairs, small business expenses, medical/dental bills, debt consolidation and school tuition. “Word is starting to get out about our Hebrew Interest-Free Loans,” said Steve Volinsky, Federation board member and finance committee chair. “We funded ma-

Rebbetzins meant that Torah study and observance could grow and thrive in America as it did in Europe. By 1944, there were more than 15 Chabad educational institutions throughout the Northeast and as far as Chicago. Despite personal illness and frailty, he made efforts to save Jews from the Nazi onslaught and imbue a new generation of American Jews with the spirit of Chasidism. The seventh rebbe, Rabbi Schneerson, now known as the Rebbe, has been called “the most phenomenal Jewish personality” of modern times. People often say that, more than anyone else, he was the one individual who was singularly responsible for stirring the conscience and spiritual awakening of world Jewry. From the moment the Rebbe arrived in America in 1941, he said he would not acknowledge division or separation. He felt that every Jew – and every human being – “has a unique role to play in the greater scheme of things and is an integral part of the tapestry of God’s creation.” For nearly five decades, the Rebbe’s goal to reach out to every corner of the world “with love and concern” is said to have unfolded, with no sector of the community has been excluded – young and old, men and women, leader and layman, scholar and laborer, student and teacher, children and infants. He was said to have an ability to meet everyone at their own

sonry repairs on an applicant’s 1926-built house and helped with another person’s graduate studies tuition. We’ve got money to lend and you won’t pay a penny in interest to use it. It really is a great deal.” The Hebrew Interest-Free Loan program is open to Jewish borrowers who are at least 18 years of age and reside in Onondaga, Oswego, Jefferson, Cortland, Madison or Cayuga counties. Loans up to $2,000 require one co-signer. For loans from $2,001 to $4,000, two co-signers are required. The minimum co-signer credit score is 675. Loan repayment terms and monthly payments are determined by the Federation’s loan committee in consultation with the borrower. For more information about the Hebrew Interest-Free Loan program and to obtain an application, visit the Federation’s website, www.jewishfederationcny.org, or call 315-445-0161, ext. 130. Continued from page 6

level – he advised heads of state on matters of national and international importance, explored with professionals the complexities in their own fields of expertise, and spoke to small children “with warm words and a fatherly smile.” The Rebbe was said to encourage each person that came to seek his advice to actualize their own strength, energy and potential. Hundreds of young couples have set out, even after the passing of the Rebbe (on June 12, 1994) to bring his teachings all over the globe. Among the rebbetzins participating were Andi Krish from Ithaca College, Nechama Dina Hecht from SUNY Cortland, Miri Birk from Cornell University, Sarah Ives from Syracuse University and Devorah Waks from Hamilton College. Rebbetzins Chana Madvig from SUNY Oswego and Chaya Haskelevich from Colgate University were unable to come to the event. The evening focused on the children who attended, who were said to play an important role in the Rebbe’s plan. They had an opportunity to meet their fellow “colleagues” and present their thoughts and feelings regarding the day through words and song. The event was coordinated by Chanie Rapoport, senior rebbetzin and co-director of Chabad Lubavitch of Central New York and Chabad House at Syracuse University.

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ JANUARY 31, 2019/25 SHEVAT 5779

Calendar Highlights

To see a full calendar of community events, visit the Federation's community calendar online at www.jewishfederationcny.org. Please notify jstander@jewishfederationcny.org of any calendar changes.

Monday, January 28 Early deadline for February 14 Jewish Observer Saturday, February 2 Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas Tu B’Shevat seder at noon Temple Adath Yeshurun Tot Havdalah at 5:15 pm Temple Concord Regina F. Goldenberg Cultural Series presents Jewish rock performer Sheldon Low at 6 pm Sunday, February 3 CBS-CS participates in World Wide Wrap at 9:15 am CBS-CS workshop for teens and tweens on “What to Say” at 1:30 pm TC Brotherhood and Sisterhood sponsor health day at 9:30 am All religious school concert with Jewish rock performer, Sheldon Low at TC at 10 am Monday, February 4 World InterFaith Harmony Assembly at Southern Missionary Baptist Church from 6:30-8 pm Tuesday, February 5 Epstein School for Jewish Studies at TAY from 6:308:30 pm Wednesday, February 6 Jewish Community Center blood drive 11 am-4 pm Syracuse Community Hebrew School at Temple Concord from 4-6 pm Saturday, February 9 TAY Mishpacha Shabbat at 10:30 am Sunday, February 10 Rescheduled screening of “Who Will Write Our History” at JCC at 3:30 pm TC Brotherhood presents urologist Elan Salzhauer at 9:30 am TC gan program for toddlers and pre-schoolers to learn about mitzvot/tzedakah from 10:30 am-noon Syracuse Hebrew Day School BUDS sledding party from noon-1 pm Tuesday, February 12 JCC Executive Committee meeting at 6 pm, followed by board meeting at 7 pm Epstein School for Jewish Studies at TAY from 6:308:30 pm Wednesday, February 13 Deadline for February 28 Jewish Observer CBS-CS Board of Trustees meeting at 7:30 pm Syracuse Community Hebrew School at Temple Concord from 4-6 pm Sunday, February 17 Klezmer Sunday at the JCC at 2 pm Wednesday, February 20 TC Board of Trustees meeting at 7 pm

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D’VAR TORAH

Immigration today – do not oppress the stranger BY ALAN SUKERT As I am writing this d’var Torah, we are in the middle of a government shutdown. I am not taking sides on the shutdown, but I, like many others, wish that the Democrats and Republicans would work together to resolve the impasse and get government workers back on their jobs, and, more importantly, get their paychecks back. However, as anyone who reads the paper knows, a major cause of the shutdown is the differing views on what U.S. immigration policy should be. Clearly, Democrats and Republicans have vastly different views on what our country’s immigration policy has to be; whom we should let into this country; how we make sure that those we let in to the U.S. should be let in; how we keep out persons who may be “undesirable” (I won’t go near the vast difference between the two political parties on how that term is defined in this context); what to do with people who illegally enter the U.S. (especially those children who enter the U.S. with their parents); and the myriad other topics that frame this whole issue. We have heard arguments from both sides on the

MAZEL TOV Jacob Snell

Private First Class Jacob Snell, 18, the son of Matt and Randi Snell of Clay, graduated from United States Marine Corps boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island on January 4. He is a 2018 graduate of Cicero-North Syracuse High School. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2018 with Boy Scout Troop 117 in Cicero. Snell successfully completed 13 weeks of intensive basic training Private First Class at MCRD Parris Island as one of Jacob Snell 80 recruits in Training Platoon 1001 Charlie Company, 1st Battalion. While in recruit training, he achieved the following: expert rifle shooter. Following 10 days home on leave, he will report to Camp Geiger for one month at Military Combat Training, then Military Occupation Specialty School at Camp Leonard Wood, MO.

BOOK REVIEW

Did you read?

BY JACKIE MIRON Inspiring soldier stories are plentiful in books, movies and speaking engagements. This book, author and lecture were intriguing enough for me to leave the warm weather of Southwest Florida to attend a book series at a synagogue far from home. The memoir, “Disarmed: UnJackie Miron conventional Lessons from the World’s Only One-Armed Special Forces Sharpshooter,” addresses all the characteristics of grit, determination, goal setting and accomplishment. Izzy Ezagui, an American who had enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces at the age of 19 in 2009, lost his arm in a mortar attack in the Gaza Strip. He is presumed to be the only soldier in the world who has lost an arm in combat and returned to the battlefield. His message is universal: if someone like him can accomplish what he set out to do, anyone can become a hero in his or her own life. The book has been out nearly a year, but his book tour, lectures and message continue to resonate with audiences. A self-described “nerd and regular guy,” he unashamedly talks of family struggles, unique friends and Jewish life in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, with both wit and sensitivity. It is an easy read, humorous and at times laugh-out-loud funny. The reader doesn’t feel sorry for him and he doesn’t feel sorry for himself. He is just emotional enough to grasp both his struggles and his successes inside and outside of the IDF. There was just enough of a backstory to shed light on the reasons for enlisting. At a time of much political rhetoric, the story manages to be pro-Israel without the difficult issues of the news.

topic of immigration since the current occupant of the White House took office. However, as a Jew, I have often wondered what the Jewish view on this very controversial topic is. It turns out that this week’s sedrah, Mishpatim, offers a very important clue as to the Jewish view on immigration. Mishpatim is all about civil legislation in Jewish law. It covers numerous topics, such as slavery, murder, theft, bearing false witness and the three pilgrimage festivals of Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot. However, there is one law in Mishpatim that is relevant to the immigration discussion: “And a stranger shalt thou not oppress; for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” What God is saying through Moses is that as Jews, we must recall that in our history, we were immigrants in the land of Egypt. We were mistreated and forced into slavery by the Egyptians because we were not Egyptians and because they were afraid we might become too powerful due to our large numbers. Keeping that in mind, we should not treat strangers to the land of Israel the same way we were treated when we were strangers ourselves in the land of Egypt. If anyone can understand this particular law from Mishpatim, it is the Jewish people. We have been persecuted as a people just because we are Jews for most of the last 5,000-plus years. In many of the lands where we were persecuted, we weren’t even strangers. We were inhabitants of that country. Being persecuted as strangers in someone else’s land or as inhabitants of that land gives us, as Jews, a unique perspective to understand what strangers to the U.S. and other countries are going through and to understand why this law is so important. In many ways, it is a corollary to the famed “golden rule” found later in the book of Leviticus, where we are told that we should treat our neighbor as we would want to be treated ourselves. In this case, it is that we should treat the stranger in our midst as we would want to be treated if we were a stranger. As has been said by many people, it is also important to keep in mind that, except for Native Americans, everyone in this country is either an immigrant or a descendant of immigrants. Therefore, applying this Mishpatim law to the issue of immigration is saying that, as Jews, we must treat all strangers, regardless of where they came from, with respect and with kindness because we know how we were treated in the land of Egypt. That means that we need to do what is right in the eyes of God with respect to potential immigrants to the U.S. regardless of what country they come from; regardless of what religion they practice. I am certainly not saying that we shouldn’t protect our borders from those who would smuggle in drugs, commit crimes or do evil (although how one determines who they are is a controversial topic in and of itself); but forced detention centers and separating children from their parents is definitely not in the spirit of “not oppressing the stranger” as this law from Mishpatim requires. Our overall approach to immigration in this country should be based on treating potential immigrants with respect, compassion and righteousness. They should be treated as we would want to be treated if we were in their situation. We can have an effective immigration policy and secure borders and still treat potential immigrants as human beings we want to welcome into the U.S., and not as “enemies of the state,” which is how the current administration seems to be treating them. If we don’t treat strangers as we would want to be treated, what does that say about us as a country and as a people? As Jews, we must be better than that if we are truly going to follow in the footsteps of God. My hope is that the rest of the country will see that is the case also. Alan Sukert is an engineer with Xerox Corp. in Rochester and a member of Temple Adath Yeshurun.

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SJFS plans ambitious 2019 agenda NEW PROGRAMS Agewise Care Planning, Dementia Consultations and Coaching, and Activity Companions are three new ways Syracuse Jewish Family Service is packaging its trademark expertise in issues of aging this year. AGEWISE CARE PLANNING “Want to start building a relationship with an expert in aging?” asks SJFS Director Judith Huober. “Don’t need assistance yet, but you’d like some information about getting ready for when you might want that more regular support and on-going guidance?” She recommends that people who are not ready for sustained monthly support try the new program, modeled after the relationship with a financial planner. The initial work-up, for $375, includes two one-and-a-half -hour sessions in the home, a written, individualized action plan and up to four annual 15-minute telephone/e-mail check-ins. An annual “check-up” thereafter, for $175, includes a one-and-a-half-hour in-home session and an update of the action plan. At any time, clients may transfer to the ongoing care management program, AgeWise Solutions. DEMENTIA CONSULTATION AND COACHING Likewise, Dementia Consultation and Coaching adapts SJFS’s dementia and service expertise to focus on supporting caregivers of individuals with dementia. A dementia consultation and coaching package similar to Agewise Care Planning is available and includes two one-and-a-half-hour in-home evaluation and coaching sessions, a written personalized care plan addressing specific caregiving challenges, and up to four annual 15-minute telephone/e-mail check-ins; the cost is $375. Additional individual coaching visits and/or check-in calls or e-mails with the coach may be purchased at any time at a rate of $75/hour or at a reduced rate for multiple future sessions on an as-needed basis. ACTIVITY COMPANIONS SJFS has taken on the challenge of building a cadre of specially-trained activity companions, making it easier for families caring for loved ones with dementia and other conditions to find enriching, strengths-based companion care. These activity companions may be trained and supervised university students or others. Their goal will be to offer engagement and connection through activities with loved ones, such as puzzles, memoir writing, art, music, board games and exercise. Thorough documentation of what activities are performed; what the client’s response is; what else transpires during the typical two- to three-hour sessions (up to three times per week) will help this new service provider establish a meaningful relationship with the individual and family. For information about these new programs or to enroll, contact SJFS at info@sjfs.org or call the SJFS intake coordinator, David Donaghy, at 315-446-9111, ext. 227. Subsidies, especially within the Jewish community, are available for these and all SJFS services. Interested individuals should contact Huober to speak specifically about fees. BUILDING A DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY JEWISH COMMUNITY Thanks to a Community Program Fund grant from the Jewish Federation of Central New York, SJFS is launching a one and a half year initiative, Building a De-

NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org

Belgian high court hears lawsuit against kosher slaughter ban

Belgium’s Constitutional Court heard a lawsuit against laws passed by two of the country’s largest regional governments, banning kosher and halal slaughter. It was brought by the Belgian Federation of Jewish Organizations (or CCOJB), the representative body of Belgian Jews, with support from the legal think tank the Lawfare Project. The lawsuit says that the ban in Wallonia and Flanders violates religious freedoms guaranteed in the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights. The European Court of Human Rights has previously labeled shechita, or kosher ritual slaughter, as “an essential aspect of practice of the Jewish religion.” “Belgian Jews regard this as an assault on their religious freedom,” said Lawfare Project Executive Director Brooke Goldstein. “Belgium’s courts will recognize the ban for what it is – discrimination and hostility against minority faith communities.” The Flanders ban took effect on Jan. 1, while the Wallonia one will take effect in September. Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark and Slovenia all ban religious slaughter without pre-stunning. Excluding poultry, Lichtenstein and Switzerland also require pre-stunning. Poland proposed legislation earlier this year banning kosher slaughter until it was removed from the parliamentary agenda.

mentia-Friendly Jewish Community. SJFS seeks to help establish a community that is informed, safe and respectful of individuals with the related cluster of syndromes, their families and caregivers, and the agencies and institutions that must increasingly conduct their missions in an environment affected by dementia-related issues. Huober said, “Our community can, and must, foster the ability of people and families living with dementia to engage in community life, to participate meaningfully in spiritual, social and volunteer activities of the community, receive support from Jewish community members and agencies, and to thrive in day to day living.” The communitywide project will use and build on the Act On Alzheimer’s Toolkit with these phases: convene, engage and assess, analyze and act, including needs assessment, and goal-setting and action planning/ implementation that supports individuals, families and Jewish institutions to build quality of life and community well-being in the presence of dementia. Huober continued, “People think they know what dementia is, how it manifests and what can be done to cope – but they really don’t. A fundamental goal of this project is to destigmatize and normalize dementia. That will mean attracting good representation from across all sectors of the community to come learn together about what dementia is, what it isn’t, what it looks like in different people and situations, how it is experienced by different individuals and families and institutions at various phases and presentations of the diseases that make up this complex phenomenon. It will be important to clarify community values and priorities and establish dementia-friendliness as an aspect of social justice, which cannot be achieved through action targeting only those most directly affected, the affected individuals and their immediate families.” GOALS OF A DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: Raising awareness about dementia, transforming attitudes, and moving people to action Supporting family and friend caregivers and agency staff by providing accessible information, resources and in-person support Promoting meaningful participation in community life for everyone SJFS will be issuing more information about focus groups and community meetings, and asks community members to consider becoming involved. SJFS STAFF JOIN AGING LIFE CARE ASSOCIATION Huober, Assistant Director Ellen Somers and AgeWise Solutions Care Manager Evelyn Kinsey were recently accepted as professional members of the Aging Life Care Association™, and Janice Estey, recently hired as another care manager, will also be applying for certification. Members of ALCA adhere to the standards of practice and code of ethics developed by the association and its

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members to ensure public accountability. These SJFS staff were certified by ALCA based on their educational, professional and experiential credentials of many years’ standing in working with older adults, people with disabilities and families who need assistance with caregiving issues. Aging Life Care specialists provide guidance and advocacy for families who are caring for older relatives or disabled adults. With a specialized focus on issues related to aging, they assist clients with the challenges of aging, such as finding appropriate housing, in-home care, referrals to medical providers or elder law attorneys, as well as the advocacy and support that provides families peace of mind. “ALCA is the gold standard of Aging Life Care™,” commented Huober. “I am proud that our staff is part of an association that defines excellence in our profession and is dedicated to education, professional development, and the highest ethical standards.”

OBITUARIES DAVID EDWARD FELDMAN

David Edward Feldman, 79, died on November 26 in Kennett Square, PA. Born in Yonkers, he was a resident of Syracuse from 1972 until 2012. He retired as professor emeritus of English and journalism from Onondaga Community College, where he had established the journalism program and the OCC student newspaper Overview. He also taught at SUNY Cortland, Leslie College in Cambridge, MA, and in the Syracuse University drama department. He received his bachelor of arts from SUNY Albany, a master’s from Syracuse University and a master of fine arts from Brandeis University. He was well-known in the local theater community, founding two local workshops for playwrights – Contemporary Theater of Syracuse and Armory Square Playhouse. His own plays were produced at Brandeis University; in Brooklyn, Colorado Springs, Ithaca and Los Angeles, as well as in Manhattan, at the Marblehead (MA) Little Theater, and in Syracuse and Rochester. He was the principal theater critic for the Syracuse New Times from 1972-87. He was briefly a member of Temple Concord and, later, of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas. He is survived by his daughter, Jessica and her longtime partner, Alex Mackay, of Pasadena, CA; and his former wives, Norma S. Feldman of Jamesville and Tina Summerwood of Fayetteville. Contributions may be made to the David E. Feldman Journalism Scholarship Fund at Onondaga Community College. 

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Cantors

communal roles, including shohet (ritual slaughterer), mohel (circumciser), teacher and government official. Although the functions have changed over the centuries, the cantor is still a multitasking member of the clergy. In the 21st century, hazzanim serve as teachers, chaplains, choir directors and educators; Reform and Conservative cantors also conduct weddings and funerals. But music is the heart of the cantorate. Around the 7th century C.E., professional sh’lihei tzibur began to create and chant poetic interpolations, known as piyyutim, on the themes of basic prayers. By the early Middle Ages, cantors had gained stature within the community and were expected to have fine voices, musical ability and good character. Most importantly, cantors were responsible for transforming the fixed structure of ritual into an experience that was not only aesthetically pleasing, but also highly emotional. (This might have gotten a little out of hand, as by the 16th century the Shulchan Aruch, or Code of Jewish Law, was compelled to state that it was “disgraceful” for a cantor to prolong a service so that people will hear “how pleasant his voice is.”) Historically, cantors learned their craft as meshorerim or choir singers, trained under experienced hazzanim and eventually assumed their own positions. There has always been variety in the nature of those who serve their congregations as the shaliach tzibur. Some sh’lihei tzibbur are people from the community with in-depth knowledge of the prayer services; others are rabbis; still others are ordained members of the clergy who have undertaken a rigorous program of study. In Central New York, which is a microcosm of the American Jewish scene, there is a similar diversity of sh’lihei tzibbur. Cantors Robert Lieberman and Paula Pepperstone were ordained after completing programs at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Cantor Kari Siegel Eglash received ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Esa Jaffe’s title is ba’alat tefillah, and she received her training through her history at Temple Adath Yeshurun and her professional degrees in voice performance and Jewish communal service. Cantor Francine Berg was one of only 25 female cantorial soloists across the United States when

she took on that position at Temple Concord. Those who enter the cantorate seem to have sensed early on that this would be their destiny. “I believe the seeds were planted by the rabbi of my youth,” said Cantor Lieberman. “I loved music and knew I wanted to study music education.” A couple of the cantors who visited his small shul on the High Holidays became role models, because they brought the liturgy to life and “shook the rafters” when they sang. Cantor Pepperstone was also “chosen” early. “At my bat mitzvah,” she recalls, “my cantor suggested the cantorate would likely soon be available to women, and I should consider it. I kept it in the back of my mind through college. After college, I took a job as the b’nai mitzvah tutor at the BJE in Indianapolis. I found myself buying Jewish music, going to Jewish conferences. I decided it was time.” Cantor Eglash likewise was interested early and said, “When I was a teenager, a good friend got me involved in NFTY, the Reform movement’s youth movement, and I was completely hooked. I loved the community, the worship, the singing, the learning and the intellectual stimulation.” She made her decision after college when she realized that she could meld all of her passions – history, teaching, music, Jewish communal life – “in one very specific calling.” Both Cantor Berg and Ba’alat Tefillah Jaffe followed the historical path to their positions, beginning with vocal talent and moving into the shaliach tzibur role. Growing up at her “little shul on the lake” in Geneva, Cantor Berg was in the junior choir. Her cantor recognized her love of singing, and allowed her to lead the closing hymn every Friday night. He also supported her dream of becoming a cantor, although at the time women were not permitted to assume the role. Jaffe was almost destined to become a ba’alat tefillah – her maiden name was Kanter. In fact, she admits that it wasn’t so much that she decided to follow this path as that the role found her. “Ever since I had my bat mitzvah,” she recalls, “I helped lead services. Even in high school, I was asked to lead services for the congregation.” As a result, she began studying voice seriously in college, and afterward, decided to pursue vocal training in graduate school. Because Jewish life was also important to

Showcase your rock ‘n’ roll wedding (NAPSI) – So, you’re gearing up for your wedding day. Unlike many brides, though, you’ve been imagining something a little different from the norm. You’re more of a Billy Idol “White Wedding” and apple-bobbing bride than a traditional bouquet-tossing bride. Which is great. And which is why there’s a member of Professional Photographers of America out there itching to get creative with your nontraditional wedding photos. Your wedding photos are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture that crazy, special moment in time. So put some thought into getting a photographer and you’ll be able to relive those special memories with delight. After all, long after the cake is gone, your photos will be there. Your wedding might be the first time you’ve ever thought of hiring a photographer. Fortunately, photographers are

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Continued from page 1 her, she got a second master’s degree in Jewish communal service. She began her professional career in Syracuse as a Jewish educator, but when the position at Temple Adath Yeshurun became available, she was delighted to accept an offer to take it, despite the fact that she did not have formal training as a cantor. “It was the perfect marriage of my love of singing and my love of Jewish professional work,” she said. These musical leaders have a deep love for their work. Ba’alat Tefillah Jaffe said, “I think the cantor’s most important role is to help provide the emotional and spiritual feeling to the service through music.” Cantor Berg said, “Music is a language that communicates differently from the spoken word and it is understood differently by those hearing it. It adds a different dimension to our prayers.” She explained that the music of the synagogue “touches so many souls” and “the congregation feels a certain warmth and sensitivity with their cantor.” Cantor Pepperstone believes that her role “is to strengthen people’s connection to God, Judaism (our mitzvot, values and culture), the community, themselves” and she tries to facilitate that through the musical choices she makes when leading services. Asked what the cantor’s most important role is, Cantor Eglash replied, “It is a three-way tie between teaching the love of Judaism to young and old, connecting the community to the beautiful liturgy of our services, helping worshipers find spiritual inspiration and being there for the congregation as clergy, pastorally, as well as during their life-cycle events.” She added, “As a clergy member, I am able to be there as people experience the extreme joys as well as the deepest sorrows in their lives. This is a privilege and an honor, and I am continually grateful for the opportunity to be there for each congregant at their time of need or of happiness. My position as cantor has filled my life with purpose and has given me the opportunity to really have an impact on the lives of so many. What a gift!” Cantor Berg likewise loved “getting to know families, teaching the kids, but most of all, singing. The music touched my heart and soul, and to sing beautiful music was so gratifying. This was the music of my people, and it connected me to something special.” The challenges of the cantorate resemble those of any Jewish professional. “There is never an ‘off’ day (even on a day off),” one explained. “As clergy for a very active congregation in a very tight-knit Jewish community, I am never off duty. I am the cantor when I’m shopping at Wegmans, going to a movie, having a dinner out, etc. Most of the time I truly don’t mind, but I am never anonymous.” Another mentioned that “the irregular hours sometimes take me away from my family,” a view shared by another, who said, “I found it very difficult to be away from my family so much. The choir rehearsals – adult, children’s, volunteer – and all the bar and bat mitzvah lessons, the weekly evening rehearsals, Friday night services, Saturday morning bar/bat mitzvahs and Sunday school.” And there were inevitably the challenges of synagogue politics and inadequate compensation. And even though sh’lihei tzibur are exceptionally busy, they sometimes feel underappreciated. One explained, “It’s frustrating that not everyone understands what incredible resources cantors can be. We make pastoral visits, and perform weddings and funerals. We work together with our rabbinic colleagues to create services filled with meaning, and to meet the needs of congregants. We brainstorm with the other professionals (and lay people) of our congregations to vitalize our congregations. We teach, we lead schools, we participate in the larger Jewish community and beyond. We see the potential of our communities and endeavor to help them get there.” Yet this challenge is also a strength, as the multiple talents of professional cantors allow them to take on positions that utilize all their skills, particularly now when across America, the number of full-time cantorial positions is in decline. Ultimately, though, being a shaliach tzibur is very fulfilling. “Being a part of people’s lives in such a special way, and helping kids connect to their Judaism so that they can grow into proud, active Jewish adults,” is what Cantor Eglash finds most rewarding. Ba’alat Tefillah Jaffe loves “being able to sing every week (and sometimes every day). I love being able to have an effect on those who listen to me and I hope that what they hear enhances their prayer experience.” Cantor Lieberman values the opportunity to commission new melodies and try new ways to present standard liturgy while creating “positive Jewish memories for the people whom I serve.” Cantor Pepperstone notes that “people generally like to share what makes them happy, what moves them, and music and Judaism are both of those for me.” She describes the feeling of those “rare moments in shul, when seemingly, the whole room is in the same place, spiritually, mentally,” and rejoices in the fact that “I get to create that with my kehillah/congregation, adults and students.” She summed it up, saying, “It doesn’t get better than that.” Barbara Sheklin Davis is author of “100 Jewish Things to Do Before You Die” (Arcadia) and the forthcoming “Two Jews, Three Opinions” (Wipf and Stock).