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20 SHEVAT 5777 • FEBRUARY 16, 2017 • VOLUME XXXVIII, NUMBER 4 • PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID, SYRACUSE, NY

Philip L. Holstein Community Program Awards BY JUDITH L. STANDER The Jewish Federation of Central New York announced that 14 of the 21 grant applications to the Philip L. Holstein Community Program Fund were approved at the January 2017 meeting of the Board of Directors. This annual grant program was renamed the Philip L. Holstein Community Program Fund of the Jewish Federation of Central New York last fall in honor of Holstein, who died in September. His “insight and effort” are said to have served as the genesis for the fund, which aims to foster collaboration and cooperation among local Jewish institutions. It is

intended to continue honoring Holstein’s lifelong dedication to Central New York. He was the Annual Campaign chair for two years, and received the Esther and Joseph Roth Award in Recognition of Outstanding Jewish Community Leadership in 2013. The Federation Allocations Committee, working with an available fund amount of just more than $40,000, reviewed 21 applications and established a final list of 14 applications totaling $40,700 to recommend to the Federation board for final approval. These Community Program Funds are made available to Jewish community organizations so “new and innovative” programs and services can be introduced to

the community. They are identified during the annual budget-planning process and do not affect planned allocations to any of the Federation’s beneficiary agencies or programs. Members of this year’s Allocations Committee included Co-Chairs Ellen Weinstein and Cheryl Schotz, along with committee members Linda Alexander, Marc Beckman, Adam Fumarola, Mickey Lebowitz, Todd Pinsky, Jef Sneider, Ruth Stein, David Temes and Steve Volinsky. The programs are expected to “add a new or expanded component to the Jewish life, heritage and culture” of the community.

Women’s seder to be held March 22

After a hiatus of several years, plans are underway to once again hold a communitywide women’s seder on Wednesday, March 22, at 6:15 pm, at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. The event will feature a light Passover meal with symbolic foods, singing, dancing and the opportunity to “bond spiritually.” The seder will be open to all women, including “interfaith sisters,” and participants have been encouraged to bring

daughters and granddaughters. The story of Exodus will be celebrated in story, song, dancing and symbolism from a woman’s perspective, and will memorialize Jewish women who overcame “significant obstacles to make major contributions to the country and the world.” The seder will be led by Cantors Paula Pepperstone, Kari Siegel-Eglash and Francine Berg, and Ba’alat Tefillah Esa Jaffe, using a women’s haggadah, which has been updated and compiled

by Cantor Eglash. The women’s seder is sponsored by the Sisterhoods of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas, Temple Adath Yeshurun and Temple Concord, and the National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Syracuse Section. The committee is chaired by CBS-CS member Sally Ullman. Other committee members include Marcia Cohen and Nancy Barnett, from CBS-CS; Alison Bronstein, from TAY; Ellyn Roloff, See “Seder” on page 5

Federation’s CRC to show “Hate Spaces” movie BY JUDITH L. STANDER The Jewish Federation of Central New York Community Relations Committee has arranged for a showing of the film “Hate Spaces: The Politics of Intolerance on Campus” to be held on Sunday, March 5, at 3 pm, at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. There will be no charge to view the movie and no reservations will be necessary. The film illustrates how antisemitism affects Jewish students on college campuses through the ongoing efforts of “academic delegitimization of Israel and the normalization of hatred of Israel and Jews in the name of social justice.” Executive producer and director Ralph Avi Goldwasser is a child of Holocaust survivors and grew up in Israel and New York City. He is a co-founder and former executive director of the David Project,

a pro-Israel advocacy campus group, and he has been executive producer of several other films. Goldwasser has said that this film is about what is happening on campuses now, who is doing it and why it is happening. He added, “Jew hatred on campus is based on lies. Moving beyond hatred requires a more complete understanding of how these lies are propagated on campus, and how our humanistic values are distorted and exploited against us by an organized political movement and ideology. We need to educate the Greater Syracuse area about how demonization of Israel and Jews on campus is normalized in the name of social justice.” In Central New York, this topic is said to be “of particular importance” as there are several local colleges and universities with Jewish students and faculty who are potentially facing a

Printer error in February 2 issue

Some subscribers in Syracuse received two copies of the February 2 issue of the Jewish Observer, as a printer error resulted in some subscribers not initially receiving a copy.

variety of overt and covert antisemitic and anti-Israel accusations. The showing will be open to college-bound students and their families throughout Central New York. Maxwell School at Syracuse University Associate Professor Miriam Elman will introduce the program and, following the film, moderate a question-and-answer session. She is a member of the Federation’s Community Relations Committee. Elman has viewed the film and said, “All parents of college-bound Jewish students need to see this film. Fortunately, most U.S. universities and colleges aren’t awash in antisemitism or anti-Israel animus. However, on campus ‘hot spots’ where antisemitic forms of anti-Zionism are prevalent, this film explains why this bigotry has taken root; who is responsible for funding and promoting it; and how we can better equip Jewish and Zionist students to confront it.” For more information, contact Judith Stander at the Federation, 315-445-2040, ext. 114.

Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas – $1,600 This funding will partially help support publicity materials and programs for the planned program “Voices of the Shoah: Music and Composers of the Holocaust.” The schedule for the performance will be announced. Rabbi Jacob H. Epstein School of Jewish Studies/Temple Adath Yeshurun – $5,000 This jointly-funded program between the Rabbi Jacob H. Epstein School of Jewish Studies and Temple Adath Yeshurun will provide a madrichim training course for teenagers from all area religious schools to provide them with the skills to properly work with children and teachers in classrooms and social activities. Teenagers will have an opportunity to develop self-confidence and the skills needed to become leaders and role models for younger children. A shalshelet program will be put in place to provide a monetary incentive for teenagers to participate in providing service to the Epstein School, in community religious schools and the Syracuse Hebrew Day School. Rabbi Jacob H. Epstein School of Jewish Studies – $800 There will be a research project to learn why Jewish teenagers residing in the Greater Syracuse area do or do not enroll in and attend the Epstein School. See “Awards” on page 6

2017 Federation Annual Campaign Goal: $1,200,000

761,098

$

as of Feb. 13, 2017

To make a pledge, contact Jessica Lawrence at 445-2040 ext. 102 or jlawrence@jewishfederationcny.org.

C A N D L E L I G H T I N G A N D P A R AS H A February 17..............5:21 pm.............................................................Parasha-Yitro February 24..............5:30 pm.................................................. Parasha-Mishpatim March 3....................5:39 pm......................................................Parasha-Terumah

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Point/counterpoint

JCC Purim Carnival

Singing the blues

Two views of the recent ban on The annual JCC Purim Carnival will Jewish musicians are combining Muslim immigrants from seven be held on March 12; volunteers Jewish spiritual or religious lyrics are needed. countries. with Americana music. Stories on page 3 Stories on page 2 Story on page 8

PLUS Small Business Profiles.....7-9 Calendar Highlights............. 10 B’nai Mitzvah......................... 10 Obituaries................................11


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