28 ADAR 5775 • MARCH 19, 2015 • VOLUME XXXIV, NUMBER 6 • PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID, SYRACUSE, NY
Federation and Hillel host pre-college program By Judith Stander The Jewish Federation of Central New York and Hillel at Syracuse University have invited Jewish college-bound high school juniors and seniors, their parents and current Hillel students to a free forum by the Anti-Defamation League on how to deal with antisemitism and anti-Israel issues the students will encounter on college campuses. The forum will be held on Sunday, April 12, from 1-3:30 pm, at the Hillel at Syracuse University Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life,
102 Walnut Pl. A light kosher lunch will be provided. Reservations for the forum and the lunch can be made by contacting Judith Stander at the Federation at 4450161, ext. 114, or jstander@jewishfederationcny.org. Any junior or senior who has not yet received an invitation to the forum should contact Stander. Organizers feel that there is not a lot of negative activity against Israel, or publicly-expressed antisemitic attitudes, from people or groups in this region. The forum’s sponsors realize that the Syracuse
community has multiple faith-based organizations, including synagogues, mosques and churches, that meet to share cultures and concerns, and that this is not necessarily true in other communities or on all college campuses. The ADL forum will provide information, materials and training to incoming freshmen to help them understand how to assess the political environment on their campus and prepare them to respond to words and actions from students, faculty or groups that can be identified as antise-
mitic or anti-Israel. Organizers hope that this forum will give the young adults a variety of options to enable them to react safely, while responding to potentially “frustrating and irritating” moments on and off campus. The program has been designed by the ADL specifically for high school juniors, and especially for seniors who will be incoming freshmen in September. Parents have been encouraged to join their children to learn how they can best support them during their first year of college.
Dinner to mark Rabbi Shore’s 25 years at STOCS By Richard D. Wilkins Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse will hold a gala dinner at Traditions at the Links on Sunday, May 17, at 5:30 pm, celebrating Rabbi Evan and Deborah Shore’s 25 years of service to the congregation and community. Evan’s tenure at the synagogue is said to have been been “marked particularly by the sheer number and variety of courses he has taught, and the approaches he has taken with them.” Subjects most prominently include classical and contemporary Tanach, Talmud, halachah and ethical issues. In a typical week, he offers more than 20 separate sessions. He has had divrei Torah published on OU Divrei Torah. He regularly adds educational material, including holiday celebration packets, to the STOCS website at www.stocsyracuse.org. He also gives a weekly parasha class at The Oaks and is a regular contributor to the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center’s Centerpost. He also serves as a chaplain at Menorah Park and provides ongoing instructional services there. He regularly responds by phone, text and e-mail to halachic questions raised by members of the local Jewish community. Throughout the past quarter century, he has taught Judaic studies to students in third-sixth grade at the Syracuse Hebrew Day School. In addition to teaching Chumash, dinim, tefillah and hashkafa (Jewish thought), he developed a course in middos (proper behavior). He also teaches “Scholarly Feast” and the moral
called “the confidante” of many women within and outside of the congregation, and has hosted scores of families for Shabbat, yom tovim (certain Jewish holidays) and seder meals. A past president of the Syracuse Rabbinical Council, Evan received rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University and is a member of the Rabbinical Council of America. He has continued to pursue further rabbinical education courses, and has just completed a 12-seminar online course in “Addressing Child Abuse.” The Shores are the parents of Jessica, of Brooklyn, and twins Ari, of Pittsburgh, and Dov, of Har Nof, Jerusalem, and the grandparents of seven. Further details on this event will be forthcoming.
Rabbi Evan and Deborah Shore visited the Castel lookout overlooking Jerusalem. Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse will hold a gala dinner at Traditions at the Links on Sunday, May 17, in honor of their 25 years of service to the local Jewish community. dilemmas discussion “Ethics for Eights” (eighth grade students) courses at the Rabbi Jacob H. Epstein High School of Jewish Studies. More recently, he introduced “Café Shore,” for students in grades 11-12, which meets at Wegmans every Thursday night. He is actively involved with the Jerome and Phyllis Charney Early Childhood Development Program at the JCC, holding a monthly class for preschool
Israel imports Gaza produce for first time in nearly eight years JERUSALEM (JTA) – Israel imported fruits and vegetables from the Gaza Strip for the first time in nearly eight years. In an apparent easing of the long-term economic blockade, the first truckloads of tomatoes and eggplants crossed the border on March 12. Before the Hamas takeover of Gaza eight years ago, Gaza farmers exported produce to Israel on a daily basis.
Until March 12, the only produce that crossed from Gaza to Israel was two truckloads of palm tree shoots known as lulavs, used on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Before June 2007, more than 85 percent of all goods shipped from Gaza were sold in Israel and the West Bank, including produce, furniture and textile products, See “Imports” on page 7
children and providing in-service Jewish holiday training. At STOCS, his “Rap with the Rabbi” and monthly classes are offered to NCSY (formerly known as the National Conference of Synagogue Youth) senior youth. He serves as the rabbinic authority for the Syracuse Va’ad Ha’ir and provides kashrut supervision at 15 regional food processing plants for the Orthodox Union and the Va’ad Hakashrut of Albany. He has also provided such services for the OK and Kof-K Kashruth supervisory organizations. Deborah serves as field representative for the Syracuse Va’ad. At STOCS, she is said to have been “a very active participant” in preparing many events, including dinners and fund-raisers. She has been
2015 Federation paign Update Cam
To make your pledge, please contact Marianne at 445-2040 ext. 102 or mbazydlo@jewishfederationCNY.org. Goal: $1,000,000
$841,059
as of March 16, 2015
C A N D L E L I G H T I N G A N D P A R AS H A March 20..................6:59 pm.........................................................Parasha-Vayikra March 27..................7:07 pm............................................................. Parasha-Tzav April 3.......................7:15 pm.......................................................Parasha-Passover April 4.......................after 8:17 pm............................................................Passover
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Yom Hashoah
Yom Ha’atzmaut
Passover
The annual community Yom The community will celebrate Yom Synagogues announce their Hashoah commemoration will be Ha’atzmaut, Israel Independence Passover services and celeDay, on April 23. held on April 19. brations; recipes; kids’ books. Story on page 3 Story on page 3 Stories on pages 6, 8 and 11
PLUS Spring Home and Garden.... 13 Calendar Highlights............. 14 Do You Know?........................ 14 Obituaries............................... 15
2
JEWISH OBSERVER ■ march 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775
U.K. groups circulate declaration of appreciation for Israel as safe haven for Christians
(JNS.org) – British Christian groups are circulating a declaration expressing appreciation for Israel as a safe haven for Middle East Christians, support for bolstering ties with the Jewish state, and a call to combat antisemitism. Called the “Shalom Declaration,” the
document states, “We deeply appreciate that Israel is the only country in the Middle East which extends freedom of worship to all its citizens and where the Christian community is growing,” the U.K.-based Jewish News reported. “We grieve and stand with families in Israel
and the wider Middle East, who have lost loved ones, and with all who are persecuted by the rise of violent extremism and intolerance in the region,” the document adds. The declaration also calls on Christians and U.K. leaders to work to combat the
a matter of opinion Israel as inspiration: An interfaith journey By Rabbi Irvin S. Beigel and Jane Beigel “We want to see Israel through your eyes.” That desire was at once a great compliment and a great challenge to us. In February, we had the privilege of leading a group that included chaplains, a spiritual caregiver, two parish priests and a nurse on a nine-day trip to Israel. There were Catholics, Protestants and a Buddhist. All were filled with enthusiasm for learning about Israel and Judaism from us and from our Israeli tour guide, Joe Freedman. We all, in fact, learned from each other in a spirit of mutual respect. What was the Israel that our fellow travelers were seeing through our eyes? It was an Israel where security is a constant concern, but where one goes about one’s life without fear. Whether walking through the Arab market in Jerusalem or standing on the Golan Heights, we all felt safe and secure. We saw that holy sites and pilgrims of all religious faiths were respected and protected by Israel. The purpose of the trip was to introduce Israel to people who had not been there before, to help them understand what Israel means to Jews, and to counteract negative images of Israel that are found in the media and elsewhere. Everyone saw that one is able to travel safely there. We hope the trip’s participants will share their positive experiences with friends and members of their faith communities. The unique aspect of the trip was our visits to the hospitals. Our ostomy nurse spent time with a colleague at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. Those involved with spiritual care met with Rabbi Miriam Berkowitz, a spiritual caregiver at Hadassah, and we all learned about emotional
The “Israel as Inspiration: An Interfaith Journey” tour group, headed by Rabbi Irvin and Jane Beigel, at the Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel in Petach Tikvah. Schneider is the only facility of its kind in the Middle East and serves all children, regardless of nationality or creed. The group met with the hospital director and toured the oncology unit, with a special interest in learning about the ways in which the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and families are met. and spiritual support provided at Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel in Petach Tikvah. We are not aware of any other group tour from this area that has included that dimension of Israeli life. The Israel that we saw is a contrast between the old and the new, a nation conscious of history, but looking to the future. We were all moved by our visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial. Every time we visit Yad Vashem, we are moved to see the story of the destruction of Jewish life in Eastern Europe and elsewhere. When we exited the museum at Yad
letters to the editor Yasher koach for Purim visits To the Editor: Purim celebrates the physical survival of the Jewish people, in spite of the efforts of Haman and many after him to destroy us. On Purim, we rejoice in simply being alive. For hospital patients facing illness and pain, celebrating life can be difficult. On behalf of Jewish patients at Crouse Hospital and Upstate University Hospital, I thank Rabbi Yaakov Rapoport, director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Central New York, for arranging to have a visiting student, Mendy Kugel, accompany me on my Pu-
correction
rim rounds at the two hospitals. He read the megillah for patients who wanted to hear it. Our visits supported healing by reminding patients that joy is possible even when we are ill and uncomfortable. For one patient, Mendy’s visit brought back childhood memories. Everyone we visited shared some of the joy of Purim. Yasher koach to both Rabbi Rapoport and to Mendy. Rabbi Irvin S. Beigel Jewish chaplain, Crouse Hospital Associate chaplain, SUNY Upstate University Hospital
In the article on the B’nai Israel Auburn Legacy Fund on page 5 in the March 5 issue of the Jewish Observer, it was stated that “Funds have been awarded to the Jewish Federation of Central New York through a fund at the Jewish Community Foundation of Central New York to help support the scholarship needs of local first-time Jewish campers. The Legacy Fund of Congregation B’nai Israel of Auburn, NY, was created at the Foundation in 2013 to honor the synagogue’s history when the congregation was forced to close... The property was sold and a philanthropic fund was created to assure the survival of the B’nai Israel name forever.” In fact, the fund was created with the remaining liquid assets of the congregation; the building is currently under lease to a private school, with the lease payments going into the legacy fund each month. When the building is eventually sold, the proceeds from the sale will also join the legacy fund. The Jewish Observer regrets the error and any confusion it may have caused.
Vashem, however, we looked out over an open landscape, part of a Jewish state that is alive and vibrant. As our guide pointed out, Israel is an answer to the Holocaust and, we would add, to all those who seek to destroy the Jewish people. The Israel we all saw is a nation where Jewish values are lived daily. We did not hide our eyes from the scandals and political rivalries that attract so much attention,
of Central New York
Syracuse Office
Bette Siegel Syracuse Editor Publisher Jewish Federation of Central New York Inc. Ruth Stein Chair of the Board Linda Alexander Federation President/CEO Mark Field Vice President for Communications Editorial 5655 Thompson Rd. DeWitt, NY 13214
Binghamton Office
Rabbi Rachel Esserman Executive Editor Diana Sochor Layout Editor Michael Nassberg Assistant Editor Jenn DePersis Production Coordinator Alaina Cardarelli Graphic Artist Bonnie Rozen Advertising Representative Kathy Brown Bookkeeper Production and Management The Reporter 500 Clubhouse Rd. Vestal, NY 13850
Billing Office 500 Clubhouse Rd., Vestal, NY 13850 1-800-779-7896
Jewish Federation of Central New York Inc. Web site: www.jewishfederationcny.org
Call for... Address Changes........... 315-445-2040, ext. 116 Local Articles and Announcements ......................................315-445-2040, ext. 116 ..... or e-mail JewishObserverCNY@gmail.com Advertising:.....Bonnie 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244 ...........or e-mail bonnie@thereportergroup.org Advertising Billing only............1-800-779-7896
growing threat of antisemitism and forge closer British-Israeli relations. Antisemitic incidents in the U.K. reached their highest levels ever in 2014, according to a report by the British watchdog group Community Security Trust. See “U.K.” on page 8
but we saw other things as well. It was a surprise to some that the national day of rest in Israel is Shabbat, and that Sunday is an ordinary workday. Nowhere were Jewish values more apparent than at Hadassah and Schneider Children’s hospitals, where we were warmly welcomed. The sanctity of every human life is a value deeply rooted in Judaism. Both hospitals are committed to healing, without regard to a patient’s national identity or creed. At Hadassah, we were told that one might find a victim of terrorism in one room and the perpetrator of terrorism in the next. At both hospitals, we could see Israelis and Palestinians receiving treatment. At Schneider, we had the privilege of meeting with the hospital director, Joseph Press; Dr. Ofra Aran, director of social services; and Anat Klein, head social worker in the hematologyoncology department. They shared with us creative and innovative approaches that address the spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families. The name of our trip was “Israel as Inspiration: An Interfaith Journey.” Every trip we have taken to Israel has been inspiring, but this trip was unique in allowing us to introduce the Israel we love to colleagues in the field of healthcare and chaplaincy. We all grew professionally and spiritually. Of course, Israel has much more to offer than we could experience in nine days. If you have not been to Israel in the last few years, we encourage you to make Israel your next vacation destination. All articles, announcements and photographs must be received by noon Wednesday, 15 days prior to publication date. Articles must be typed, double spaced and include the name of a contact person and a daytime telephone number. E-mail submissions are encouraged and may be sent to JewishObserverCNY@gmail.com. The Jewish Observer reserves the right to edit any copy. Signed letters to the editor are welcomed: they should not exceed 250 words. Names will be withheld at the discretion of the editor. All material in this newspaper has been copyrighted and is exclusive property of the Jewish Observer and cannot be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed by our writers, columnists, advertisers and by our readers do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s and editors’ points of view, nor that of the Jewish Federation of Central New York. The newspaper reserves the right to cancel any advertisements at any time. This newspaper is not liable for the content of any errors appearing in the advertisements beyond the cost of the space occupied. The advertiser assumes responsibility for errors in telephone orders. The Jewish Observer does not assume responsibility for the kashrut of any product or service advertised in this paper. THE JEWISH OBSERVER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK (USPS 000939) (ISSN 1079-9842) Publications Periodical postage paid at Syracuse, NY and other offices. Published 24 times per year by the Jewish Federation of Central New York Inc., a non-profit corporation, 5655 Thompson Road, Dewitt, NY 13214. Subscriptions: $36/year; student $10/ year. POST MASTER: Send address change to JEWISH OBSERVER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK, 5655 Thompson Road, DeWitt, NY 13214.
The Jewish Observer is a member of the American Jewish Press Association.
MARCH 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775 ■
JEWISH OBSERVER
3
AROUND CENTRAL NEW YORK Yom Hashoah Yom Ha’atzmaut 2015 community celebration
By Judith Stander Federation Seeking Holocaust Survivors The Yom Hashoah Planning Committee of the Jewish Federation of Central New York is planning its annual community Yom Hashoah memorial observance, to be held on Sunday, April 19, at 3 pm, at Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas, 18 Patsy Ln., off of Jamesville Road, DeWitt. During the program, Holocaust survivors may come forward to light a special memorial candle in recognition of their survival, while participants will recall the loss of more than six million Jews. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum defines a survivor as a person who was displaced, persecuted and/or discriminated against by the racial, religious, ethnic and political policies of the Nazis and their allies. In addition to former inmates of concentration camps and ghettos, among others, this includes refugees and people in hiding. Federation organizers are said to be “particularly interested” in finding local survivors who may not yet have participated in Yom Hashoah events in Central New York. Anyone who meets the definition of a survivor has been encouraged to contact Judith Stander at 445-0161, ext. 114, or jstander@jewishfederationcny.org, for more information. Federation Book of Remembrance The Jewish Federation of Central New York maintains a leather-bound “Book of Remembrance” in its archives. This book contains the names of many individuals and families who were lost during the Holocaust. Each year at the Annual Community Yom Hashoah memorial observance, the names are read aloud to perpetuate their memory. To submit names of family members lost in the Holocaust to be recorded in the Federation’s Book of Remembrance, contact Judith Stander at 445-0161, ext. 114, or jstander@jewishfederationcny.org.
By Doug Hornbacker Syracuse will celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, with a free event on Thursday, April 23, from 6-8 pm, at Temple Adath Yeshurun. For the sixth consecutive year, Nurit Nussbaum, Orit Antosh and Linda Chait-Davis, cochairwomen of the 2015 Yom Ha’atzmaut planning committee, have organized the celebration in honor of Israel’s birthday. This year is Israel’s 67th birthday. The event will be underwritten by the Jewish Federation of Central New York. A grant from the Pomeranz, Shankman, Martin Charitable Foundation. The Yom Ha’atzmaut Planning Committee posed for a group photo. Sitting (lLocal synagogues are involved r): Cantor Francine Berg, Carolyn (and Gabriel) Weinberg, Shannon Small, and the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Nurit Nussbaum and Orit Antosh. Standing (l-r): Rebecca Reikes Moody, Community Center is helping Cantor Kari Siegel-Eglash, Cantor Paula Pepperstone, Linda Chait Davis and Cantor Marvin Moskowitz. Not pictured: Esa Jaffe, Cantor Robert Lieberman with the marketing. The event will start with and Julie Tornberg. commemorations to Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, followed by a can- past and future. They also conveyed special thanks for tors’ concert. Organized and led by local cantors, the organizing the musical tribute to Israel to Cantor Francine performance will unite the voices of local adult choruses Berg, Temple Adath Yeshurun Ba’alat Tefilah Esa Jaffe, with children from all of the Syracuse religious schools Cantor Robert Lieberman, Cantor Marvin Moskowitz, in a celebration of the 67th anniversary of Israel’s state- Temple Concord Cantor Kari Siegel-Eglash and Cantor hood. Additionally, there will be a free Israeli dinner Paula Pepperstone. supervised by the Va’ad. Reservations have been requested and can be made Antosh and Nussbaum hope to bring the entire commu- by contacting each synagogue’s office – Congregation nity together for a choral simcha (celebration) of Israel’s Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas at 446-9570, Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse at 446-6194, Temple Adath Yeshurun at 445-0002 or Temple Concord at 475-9952 – or the Yom Ha’atzmaut Committee at Israel67cny@gmail.com.
Eric Lichtblau to speak about “The Nazis Next Door” on March 25 By Marianne Bazydlo The 2015 Annual Campaign “Thank You” event for donors will be held on Wednesday, March 25, from 78:30 pm, at Traditions at the Links. The Jewish Federation of Central New York will welcome Eric Lichtblau back to his home town to discuss his book, “The Nazis
Next Door: How America Became a Safe Haven for Hitler’s Men.” Lichtblau said, “It’s always a thrill to return home to Syracuse and see so many old friends, and I hope the subject of my new book – the Nazis who made it into See “Nazis” on page 5
Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center senior dining menu March 23-27 Monday – eggplant Parmesan Tuesday – kielbasa and sauerkraut Wednesday – shepherd’s pie Thursday – chicken fried rice Friday – sliced turkey with gravy March 30-April 3 Monday – lasagna Tuesday – roast chicken Wednesday – TBA Thursday – TBA Friday – TBA 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-Friday at noon. Reservations are required by noon on the previous business day and there is a suggested contribution per meal. The menu is subject to change. The program is
D O G D O O DY D U T Y
Too busy, physically unable, have better things to do, or just don't like the chore of cleaning up after your dog? Call us! We clean up your yard of dog waste so you don't have to! We offer weekly, bi-weekly, or one time clean ups
Call us at 315-656-9096 www.dogdoodyduty.com
Ê
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 more information or to make a reservation, contact Leesa Paul at 445-2360, ext. 104, or lpaul@jccsyr.org.
S
DEADLINE
Deadlines for all articles and photos for the Jewish Observer are as follows. No exceptions will be made.
DEADLINE
ISSUE
Wednesday, March 18......................... April 2 Wednesday, April 1........................... April 16 Wednesday, April 15......................... April 30 Wednesday, April 29...........................May 14
To advertise, contact Bonnie Rozen at 800-779-7896, ext. 244 or bonnie@thereportergroup.org
The Oncenter Carrier Theater March 24-25 • 7:30 PM
TICKETS ONLY $40!
Oncenter Box Office 435-2121 Famous Artists 424-8210 • Ticketmaster 800-745-3000 BroadwayinSyracuse.com
Visit the JO online at jewishfederationcny.org and click on Jewish Observer
4
JEWISH OBSERVER ■ march 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775
congregational notes Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas Hazak presents Sam Gruber The Congregation Beth SholomChevra Shas chapter of Hazak will present Samuel Gruber, who will give an illustrated lecture, “The (Re)Invention of Jewish Art: Jewish Painters and Painting in Modern Times,” on Sunday, March 29, at 2 pm, at the synagogue. The program will be open to the community. Gruber will discuss how, during the period of Jewish emancipation in Europe during the 19th century, and as Jews achieved more and more political freedom in Europe, Jewish artists re-invented Jewish art. They produced a body of work based on the Hebrew Bible, synagogue life and the Jewish world in which they were raised. By the end of the 19th century, academically-trained artists were also ad-
dressing Jewish social and political themes in their art, as well as religious traditions. In the lecture, Gruber will introduce the work of many often forgotten artists, such as Moritz Daniel Oppenheim, Solomon Alexander Hart, Alphonse Levy, Edouard Brandon, Simeon Salomon and others. In the independent studios of the early 20th century, many of these trends continued, although styles and subjects changed. Many Jewish artists actively engaged in, and promoted, new art styles, including Impressionism, Art Nouveau, Cubism, Fauvism, Expressionism and Constructivism – sometimes distancing themselves from all things Jewish and sometimes building on Jewish themes. Well-known Jewish Impressionists and See “CBS-CS” on page 7
L-r: Karen Beckman, Bob Tornberg, Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone, Aliyah MacCrindle, Rachel Beckman and Elise Beckman celebrated Havdalah together at Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas.
Temple Adath Yeshurun The Sturgeon Queens By Barbara S. Simon Temple Adath Yeshurun’s adult education chavurah will present the documentary “The Sturgeon Queens” on Sunday, March 22, at 10 am. The film chronicles a New York City “appetizing shop,” Russ and Daughters. Appetizing refers to anything eaten on a bagel: lox, white fish salad, herring, etc. At one time, there were numerous appetizing shops on the Lower East Side; Russ and Daughters is one of the few remaining in the city. It recently celebrated its 100th anniversary and the documentary was made to coincide with the event. “The Sturgeon Queens” is the story of the Russ family, from patriarch Joel Russ, an immigrant from Austria-Hungary, to the current fourth-generation owners. The film features interviews with the original Russ daughters, 100-year-old Hattie Russ Gold and 92-year-old Anne Russ Federman, as well as interviews with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mario Batali, Calvin Trillin and Morley Safer. The trailer, which can be found at www.adath.org, notes the history represents “100 years, four generations and 1.8 million pounds of pickled herring.” Chavurah Co-chair David Simon recently saw the film and said, “Through its visual imagery, ‘The Sturgeon Queens’ provides a history of the Lower East Side immigrant experience, which is furthered enhanced by the wonderful Yiddish and Klezmer background music. It’s a delightful film about the wonder of American immigration, an uplifting story of the ‘American dream.’ By welcoming a new immigrant group into the business, R & D shows how it makes good business sense to break down barriers to opportunity. Through hard work, the Latino manager is able to move from poverty to success, an experience that mirrors that of founder Joel Russ. This movie makes one proud to be an American and an American Jew.” The film was written, directed and produced by Julie Cohen, a veteran television news producer and documentary filmmaker. “The Sturgeon Queens” has been shown in film festivals throughout the country and was the winner of the Audience Choice Award at the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival and the San Diego
Elijah Grifasi held up his “no-bake” hamantashen during Temple Adath Yeshurun’s Storah Time. Children used sliced bread, removed the crusts and pinched the corners to create the cookie pocket, and filled it with a spoonful of strawberry jam. Storah Time is held every Tuesday from 10-11 am at Temple Adath Yeshurun. For more information, contact Alicia Gross at alicia@adath.org. Jewish Film Festival. A light breakfast will be served at 9:30 am, with the movie shown at 10 am. There will be no charge for admission and the community has been invited to attend. “The Sturgeon Queens” is subsidized by the Anita and Abraham Altman Fund. For more information, contact the TAY office at 445-0002 or info@adath.org, or visit the website, www.adath.org Musical Shabbat Temple Adath Yeshurun will have a musical Shabbat service on Saturday, March 21, featuring the Temple Adath adult choir led by Esa Jaffe. The newly-expanded choir has almost doubled its size this year. The music for the Shabbat service will be a mixture of familiar pieces with new ones added. TAY’s musical Shabbat services are held every few months and were created to keep Shabbat services “interesting and creative.” The March 21 service will be followed by a kiddush luncheon and will be open to the entire community.
Donna Lipton, Karen Morton, Marsha Glatter and Linda D’Imperio danced at the recent Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas Music for Hazak program.
Members of Temple Adath Yeshurun’s Chai Mitzvah group prepared cookies to be distributed to Vera House residents. Chai Mitzvah is a program of monthly study that includes a social action component. The group selected this project because it “fosters community” among the Chai Mitzvah participants and is believed to benefit the larger community. Clockwise from left: Ivan Wolf, JoAnn Grower, Joan Siegel and Carol Lipson.
MARCH 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775 ■
5
JEWISH OBSERVER
“Girls on the Run” returns to the JCC starting March 25 By William Wallak Girls on the Run, an after school running program for girls of all fitness levels in third-fifth grade, will again be offered this spring at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. The 10-week course will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30-5:45 pm, starting on Monday, March 23. The program encourages preteen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. It brings girls together to have fun, share experiences with one another, become physically and mentally stronger, set goals for making healthy choices, learn about being a friend and help others in the community. Throughout the course, participants will also train for Paige’s Butterfly Run, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 6.
Mick Hagan, director of children and teen services, said, “We’re very pleased to be bringing back Girls on the Run to the JCC. Along with promoting physical fitness, the program teaches some valuable life lessons. It was very popular when we last offered it a year ago.” Trained coaches teach Girls on the Run, which includes a healthy snack at each session, lesson materials, T-shirt, water bottle and entry in Paige’s Butterfly Run.
Girls on the Run of the Finger Lakes runs the Syracuse course at the JCC. Started in 1996 in Charlotte, NC, Girls on the Run aims to provide pre-adolescent girls with the goal of learning, the tools to embrace their individual strengths and preparation for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. For more information about Girls on the Run, call the JCC at 445-2360 or visit www.jccsyr.org.
Forget-Me-Nots chorus begins rehearsals The Forget-Me-Nots, Menorah Park’s chorus of more than 35 residents, many with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, resumed rehearsals on March 1 and will continue to rehearse until its concert on Sunday, April 26.
The chorus is open to anyone who wants to join in the singing. For more information and a rehearsal schedule, contact Cantor Francine Berg at songberg@ hotmail.com.
JCC “Senior Lunch and Learns” program kicks off March 27
By William Wallak The Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse will begin its monthly senior lunch and learn program with a meeting on the topic of emergency preparedness on Friday, March 27, from noon-2 pm, at the JCC, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. The session will begin with a hot kosher lunch followed by guest speakers from the American Red Cross. There will be a modest suggested contribution for lunch, but attendance at the emergency preparedness guest speaker portion of the program, which will start at 12:30 pm, will be free. Registration will be required and can be made by calling 445-2040, ext. 104, by noon on Thursday, March 26. This first lunch and learn will focus on information for seniors for staying safe and being properly prepared for various emergencies. A question-and-answer session
will follow, and each attendee will receive a small bag with some emergency-related items. The JCC lunch and learn series has been designed to offer individuals age 60 and older “useful and timely” information on a range of issues facing seniors. Among the issues presented by local professionals at the free monthly meetings will be health, wellness, finances, legal matters and caregiving. The new JCC program has been made possible by a grant from the Green Family Foundation. The lunch and learns are an added monthly component to the JCC’s Bobbi Epstein Lewis Senior Adult Dining Program, which offers kosher lunches on weekdays at noon for a modest suggested contribution per person. Each lunch and learn meeting will begin at noon with the lunch portion, with the presentation following at approximately 12:30 pm. Leesa Paul, the JCC’s director of adult and senior
programming, said, “Having guest speakers come in and share their expertise will be a wonderful addition to our lunches, and will make our program even more interactive and meaningful. We are extremely appreciative of the Green Family Foundation for funding our lunch and learns to help empower local seniors with the knowledge to live better, more fulfilling lives.” The JCC’s Bobbi Epstein Lewis Senior Adult Senior Dining Program offers seniors age 60 and older a kosher meal on weekdays at noon. It is the only kosher dining program available in upstate New York serving kosher meals five days per week. The program is funded in part by the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth, the New York State Office for the Aging and the Administration for Community Living. For more information or to make lunch reservations, contact Paul at 445-2040, ext. 104, or lpaul@jccsyr.org.
Na’amat event to highlight women’s nutrition The Syracuse area Na’amat group has scheduled the last of the 2014-15 season’s women’s wellness-themed gathering for Sunday, March 29, at 10:30 am. The Avodah chapter has hosted recent events on balance and exercise, preventing osteoporosis, women’s nutrition, Jewish ge-
netics and other health-related topics. All events have featured a presentation by a specialist, group discussion, time for individual questions and light refreshments. On March 29, Laurel Sterling, M.A., R.D., CDN, Natur-Tyme director of integrative nutrition and well-
McCarthy@Beard The Super Sunday teen co-chairs collected gift items on Super Sunday, January 25, for students at McCarthy@Beard, the Syracuse school district alternative education program. Items included hair accessories; bottles of body wash, hand sanitizer, shampoo, conditioner, hand and body lotion; children’s toothbrushes or toothpaste; hair brushes and combs; coloring books, crayons, colored pencils and colored chalk; cards and card games; craft kits, board games and puzzles; gift cards; footballs and basketballs; and T-shirts/sweatshirts. When the teenagers delivered the items to the school, everyone at the school was said to be “very thankful and excited” for all the items they received.
Nazis
America after the war – is one that resonates in particular with my old friends at Beth Sholom and the Syracuse Jewish community.” Linda Alexander, Federation president/CEO, said, “All donors to the 2015 Campaign are invited as our guests. After a tough winter, we invite you to come schmooze, have a bite to eat and then hear how thousands of Nazis came to the U.S. after the war and quietly settled into new lives.” Lichtblau is an investigative reporter in the Washington bureau of The New York Times. A graduate of JamesvilleDeWitt schools, he graduated from Cornell University in 1987. Lichtblau and James Risen, his partner at The
Ê
ness educator, will speak about women’s health and wellness at Natur-Tyme’s Erie Blvd. East site. While there is no cost to attend the lecture, participants can each purchase their own lunch at the Natur-Tyme Café immediately following the presentation and socialize in Natur-Tyme’s Community Room. The session will be open to the community. Each attendee has a chance to win a surprise post-lunch raffle. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Karen Roberts by Monday, March 23, at 446-2306 or karher5757@aol.com.
To advertise, please contact Bonnie Rozen at 800-779-7896, ext. 244 or bonnie@ thereportergroup.org
Continued from page 3 New York Times, won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting for breaking the story of the secret wiretapping program authorized by President George W. Bush weeks after the September 11 attacks. An hors d’oeuvres and dessert reception supervised by the Syracuse Va’ad Ha’ir will be held at 7 pm. The buffet will feature pareve appetizers, fresh fruit, Southwestern fondue and a variety of desserts. Coffee and tea will be served. To make a reservation or to pledge before the event, contact Marianne Bazydlo at 445-2040, ext. 102, or mbazydlo@jewishfederationcny.org. There will be an opportunity to make a pledge at the event.
Visit the JO online at jewishfederationcny.org and click on Jewish Observer
The Jcc and CONg. Beth SholoM Graciously accept Donated Vehicles. “imagine benefiting our schools”
CALL
Tax de
“mike the car guy”
ductio
n
Mike Lessen-256-6167 donatecars@twcny.rr.com
6
JEWISH OBSERVER ■ march 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775
Passover preparations around the community
Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas will hold its annual chocolate seder on Saturday, March 28, following services, at approximately noon. The program will be open to people of all ages. The CBS-CS Achla United Synagogue Youth teenage members will lead the program. In addition to the chocolate “seder” foods, there will be a non-chocolate light lunch served. For more information, contact the CBS-CS office at 446-9570 or office@cbscs.org. Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse will hold a “Keeping Kosher for Passover” workshop on Sunday, March 22, at 11 am, at the synagogue, 4313 E. Genesee St., DeWitt. Rabbi Evan Shore will share 10 ideas for “enhancing” the seder, to make it “much more meaningful” for family and guests. Up-to-date Passover kashrut information will be provided and suggestions offered as to how make koshering for Passover “as easy as possible.” Handouts will also be available. The workshop will be free and open to the public. For
more information, call the STOCS office at 446-6194 or contact Shore at Rabbi@stocsyracuse.org. Temple Adath Yeshurun Temple Adath Yeshurun’s Torah Tots program will prepare for Passover with the annual model seder on Sunday, March 29, from 10:30 am-noon. The story of Passover will be presented in an interactive and musical seder. The program will be open to children from birth-5-years-old and their parents. For more information, contact Alicia C. Gross at alicia@adath.org or call 445-0002. Chabad House Lubavitch of Central New York Chabad House Lubavitch of Central New York will hold a model matzah bakery and Passover program on Sunday, March 22, from 10:30 am-2:30 pm, at Wegmans, 6789 East Genesee St., Fayetteville. There will also be a model seder table on display with information about the seder. Chabad Rabbi Yaakov Rapoport will be available to answer questions. The model matzah bakery will be based on the hand shmurah matzah bakeries in Brooklyn and Jerusalem. Children and adults will have a chance to see how the wheat kernels are separated, see the wheat ground into flour and mix, knead, roll and bake their own matzah.
Shmurah, which means “watched” in Hebrew, describes the round, handmade matzahs, where the wheat is carefully watched and protected from any contact with water from the moment of harvest until the matzahs are ready to be kneaded into dough and baked. The wheat is only harvested on a sunny day and the mill stones are cleaned thoroughly before it is ground into flour. Special care is taken during its transportation and, upon arrival at the bakery, the flour is kept in a special dry room. The rationale is that any contact with water before the flour is ready to be mixed and made into dough could cause leavening in the wheat and disqualify its use for Passover. In ordinary matzah, the wheat is watched only from the time of milling. These shmurah matzahs are meant to be baked entirely by hand and under “intense” scrutiny. The model matzah bakery will also be held at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse, 5655 Thompson Rd., from Monday-Wednesday, March 23-25 for the students at the Syracuse Hebrew Day School, the Jerome and Phyllis Charney Early Childhood Development Program at the JCC and seniors also at the JCC. The model matzah bakery is made possible by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Central New York. For more information, call Rapoport at 727-0973.
Passover around the community Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas (USCJ affiliated), 18 Patsy La. off Jamesville Rd., DeWitt, 4469570. For youth programs, call 701-2685. Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse (Orthodox, affiliated with the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America), 4313 E. Genesee St., DeWitt, 446-6194. Temple Adath Yeshurun (USCJ affiliated) 450 Kimber Rd., Syracuse, 445-0002. Temple Concord (Reform, affiliated with Union for Reform Judaism), 910 Madison St., Syracuse, 475-9952. Chabad House at SU. All services at Chabad House, 825 Ostrom Ave., 424-0363. No information at press time. Hillel – Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life at Syracuse University Campus, 102 Walnut Pl., Syracuse, 422-5082. For information, go to www.suhillel.org or call 422-5082.
Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas Thursday, April 2 B’dikat chametz (search for chametz) – after 7:20 pm Friday, April 3, EREV PESACH Siyyum B’Chorim (Shacharit service) at 7:30 am, followed by siyyum study session and bagel breakfast Mechirat chametz (sale of chametz) – 10 am Biur chametz (burn chametz) – noon First seder Candle lighting – 7:14 pm Saturday, April 4 – first day Shacharit services – 9:30 am Second seder Candle lighting – after 8:33 pm
LARRY METZGER Owner
L-M PAINTING Residential/Commercial
6340 Danbury Drive Jamesville, NY 13078-9729 (315) 446-0966 Fax (315) 446-1555 Email:LMPainting@aol.com
Sunday April 5 – second day Shacharit services – 9:30 am Thursday, April 9 – EREV seventh day Candle lighting – 7:21 pm Friday, April 10 – seventh day Shacharit services – 9:30 am Candle lighting – 7:22 pm Saturday, April 11 – eighth day Shacharit services at 9:30 am. Yizkor Pesach ends – 8:41 pm
Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse Friday, April 3 – EREV PESACH Eat chametz – until 10:55 am Burn chametz – until 11:55 am Candle lighting – 7:15 pm Mincha – 7:20 pm Start seder – after 8:11 pm Saturday, April 4 – first day Morning services – 9 am Mincha – 7:05 pm Candle lighting – 8:11 pm Start seder – after 8:11 pm Sunday April 5 – second day Morning services – 9 am Mincha – 7:15 pm Havdalah – 8:12 pm Monday-Thursday, April 6-9 Chol Hamoed services at 6:30 am Thursday, April 9 – EREV seventh day Candle lighting – 7:22 pm Mincha – 7:25 pm Friday, April 10 – seventh day Morning services – 9 am Mincha – 7:25 pm Candle lighting – 7:23 pm Saturday, April 11 – eighth day Morning services – 9 am Yizkor – 11 am Mincha – 7:15 pm Havdalah – 8:29 pm Chametz reverts to one’s possession after 8:50 pm
Temple Adath Yeshurun Friday, April 3 – EREV PESACH Morning service, Fast of First Born – 7:30 am Candle lighting – 7:14 pm Erev Passover evening service – 5:30 pm Saturday, April 4 – first day Morning service – 9:15 am Evening service – 6 pm Candle lighting – 8:15 pm Sunday, April 5 – second day Morning service – 9:15 am Mincha/evening service – 7:30 pm Thursday, April 9 – EREV seventh day Evening service – 6:45 pm Candle lighting – 7:21 pm Friday, April 10 – seventh day Morning service – 9:15 am Candle lighting – 7:22 pm Evening service – 6:45 pm Saturday, April 11 – eighth day Morning service (Yizkor) – 9:15 am Evening service – 7:30 pm
Temple Concord By Daniella Kohan Friday, April 3 – EREV PESACH This year, Temple Concord will join with Hillel at Syracuse University for the first Passover seder in the Syracuse Carrier Dome, the largest Passover seder ever held on the Syracuse University campus. Organizers think it could be one of the largest seders in the country. A Hillel haggadah that aims to cater to everyone, regardless of Jewish background, will be used. All food will be prepared under the supervision of the kosher food operations of Shaw Dining on campus. Rabbi Daniel J. Fellman, Temple Concord and Hillel campus rabbi, said, “Bringing the university community and the Syracuse Jewish community together has long been a goal. What better way to make that goal a reality than sharing a Passover seder in the dome as we chant together ‘let my people go orange?’” The seder will be preceded by a short service on Friday, April 3, at 6 pm, followed immediately by the seder. The entrance through Gate C will open at 5:15 pm. There will be a cost to attend and tickets must be prepaid. Paid tickets serve as a reservation and must be picked up at the synagogue office no later than 5 pm on Thursday, April 2. Non-synagogue members who want to attend this seder are welcome and will need to purchase their tickets through Hillel at Syracuse University, which can be reached at 422-5082. Saturday, April 4 Morning service – 11 am Saturday, April 11 Yizkor – 11 am
Hillel at Syracuse University Friday, April 2 First seder – 6 pm in the Carrier Dome There will be a charge and reservations will be required. For more information, contact Hillel at 422-5082, or Hillel@suhillel.org Saturday, April 4 A traditional second seder will be held at 7:30 pm at the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life. There will be a charge and reservations will be required. For more information, contact Brian Small at 422-5082. Lunch and dinner will be served at the Winnick Hillel Center during Passover. Reservations have been requested. Students may use a meal swipe if they have an SU meal plan. There will be a charge for those not on a meal plan. Cash, credit (Visa, Mastercard and American Express), checks and SUpercard will be accepted. Individuals must bring their SU ID and pick up tickets in person at the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life during business hours. Tickets may be picked up no later than Thursday, April 2, at Hillel. No phone, Internet or e-mail reservations will be taken. Each student with a valid student ID may receive only one ticket. All Syracuse/ESF faculty and staff may receive two tickets. As long as there is room, family members may attend. Ticket prices apply to all family members as well. Guest passes can be used. Kosher for Passover meals will be served at Hillel all week long. For more information, contact Hillel at 422-5082 or Hillel@suhillel.org.
MARCH 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775 ■
JEWISH OBSERVER
Menorah Park Auxiliary partnership makes large gift to Menorah Park residents By Drew Lovejoy Due to a $70,000 donation, residents of Menorah Park’s Jewish Health and Rehabilitation Center will soon have new beds. The donation, a gift from the Auxiliary of Menorah Park, enabled the facility to purchase beds specially designed for seniors to provide “the utmost in comfort and safety,” according to the center. Menorah Park CEO Mary Ellen Bloodgood said that a team of professionals at the Health and Rehabilitation Center “spent many hours researching and testing the latest in design and manufacture to find the most suitable beds. I’m very pleased with the result and I think our residents will be as well.” Although residents have not been told about the gift yet, since the beds are on order, Auxiliary President Gwen Kay said that board members and staff have been “very vocal” in their appreciation. When asked what prompted the donation, Kay said, “Quite simply, we were asked, we had the funds – thanks to the hard work and dedication of previous members of the auxiliary – and it fit within our mission.”
The donation is the latest gift from the auxiliary. Throughout the years, gifts such as a wheelchair-accessible van, flat-screen TVs, Nintendo Wiis, dining room furniture and a professional-grade treadmill have all been purchased for Menorah Park by the auxiliary. The beauty shop and bingo are supported by the auxiliary as well, which donates time as well as money. Menorah Park’s gift shop is staffed by auxiliary volunteers. According to Kay, auxiliary help is dependent upon its membership, which has diminished throughout the years. For example, when the auxiliary was in full force, it helped run an annual golf tournament. Kay said she hopes the bed donation will “reinvigorate interest” in joining the auxiliary. She added, “Just showing up is tremendous. Visiting residents, working in the gift shop and volunteering at events, like Shining Stars and the tournament, are all helpful and appreciated.” A call for men and women to join the auxiliary will be launched with an event this spring. As Menorah Park and the auxiliary move forward, Kay and her officers, Vice President Janis Martin and
PJ Library PJ Library® presents The Science of Plagues The PJ Library® will present a Passover-themed event on Sunday, March 22. In collaboration with the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology, organizers have created stations that will combine the elements of the Passover story with science and art activities. This is a one-time event that the MOST will host just for PJ Library. Advance registration will be required and can be made by contacting Carolyn Weinberg at pjcny@jccsyr.org. Information should include a parent’s name, the name and age of each child being registered and which time slot the child and parent will attend. The event will be held at 11 am for 1-4-year-olds and at 1 pm for 5-8-yearolds. Each session will be free, will last approximately 45 minutes and will be limited to 25 children. Anyone attending the event will also have the opportunity to tour the museum at a half-price group rate. Reading at the SHDS BUDS program PJ Library participants will read at the Syracuse Hebrew Day School BUDS program on Sunday, March 29, from 2-3 pm. There will also be a Passover story time at the DeWitt Community Library on Tuesday, March 31, at 10:30 am. Pajamas from PJ Library During March, PJ Library will have a pajama drive to benefit Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. New
Secretary Margo Lynn, want to continue the legacy that former auxiliary members have created. Kay said, “We hope that community members will support the auxiliary, both through donations and membership, so we can continue to help the residents of Menorah Park.” To join or volunteer for the Auxiliary of Menorah Park, contact Kay at gwen.kay@oswego.edu. To donate to the Foundation at Menorah Park, contact Victoria Kohl at vkohl@menorahparkcny.com.
CBS-CS
Continued from page 4
Modernists included Camille Pissarro, Jozef Israëls, Max Libermann, Marc Chagall and Amadeo Modigliani. Most of these Jewish painters, with the exception of Chagall, only occasionally referenced Judaism in their art, although collectively, they influenced how 20th century Jews viewed, understood and collected art. Gruber is an internationally recognized expert on Jewish art and the historic preservation of Jewish sites and monuments. He is director of Gruber Heritage Global, a cultural heritage consulting company, and, since 1994, has been a lecturer in Judaic studies at Syracuse University. He is the author of “American Synagogues: A Century of Architecture and Jewish Community” (2003) and “Synagogues” (1999), as well as numerous published reports and articles. He lives in Syracuse and is a member of Temple Concord. Light refreshments will be available. For more information, contact the CBS-CS office at 446-9570.
PJ Library Coordinator Carolyn Weinberg and her son, Gabriel Weinberg, manned the PJ Library table at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center’s annual Purim Carnival, where children had the chance to decorate masks. pajamas for infants-adults, since parents sometimes need to spend the night in the hospital as well, may be donated at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse, Syracuse-area synagogues and the DeWitt Community Library. For more information, contact the JCC at 445-2360 or pjcny@jccsyr.org.
Imports
Continued from page 1
according to the human rights group Gisha. The decision to bring in produce from Gaza reportedly stems in part from a deficit of homegrown produce due to the shmitta, or biblical fallow year. “Top Israeli security officials have said that Gaza’s reconstruction and economic recovery are an Israeli
interest and may help bring calm and stability to the region,” Gisha’s executive director, Eitan Diamond, said in a statement. “We hope that the resumption of sales to Israel becomes permanent and is expanded to additional sectors in Gaza, giving its residents a horizon for economic development.”
Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas members and friends had their heads shaved to raise awareness and funds to combat childhood cancer. The 34 members of the CBS-CS team raised more than $33,000, placing first at Kitty Hoynes Irish Bar and Restaurant shave location and 12th in the world as of March 4. (Photo by Rosalie Spitzer)
OF CENTRAL NEW YORK, INC.
2015 Annual Campaign “Thank You” Event for Donors Eric Lichtblau, Syracuse native and Pulitzer Prize winning reporter for The New York Times, will speak about his book The Nazis Next Door: How America Became a Safe Haven for Hitler’s Men 7 to 8:30 pm • Wednesday, March 25, 2015 Traditions at the Links • 5900 N. Burdick Street, East Syracuse, NY DAIRY Hors d’oeuvre and dessert reception supervised by Va’ad Ha’ir All 2015 Campaign donors are invited as our guests. RSVP to Marianne Bazydlo at 445-2040, ext 102 or mbazydlo@jewishfederationcny.org If you have not done so already, make your pledge by contacting Marianne before or at the event. Philip Holstein 2015 Campaign Chair
Ê
7
Linda Alexander President/CEO
Ruth Stein Chair of the Board
Visit the JO online at jewishfederationcny.org and click on Jewish Observer
8
JEWISH OBSERVER ■ march 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775
JCC’s Purim Carnival delivered non-stop fun
By William Wallak Hundreds of families attended an afternoon of games, entertainment and other activities at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse’s annual Purim Carnival on March 1. “It was a great day all around,” said Mick Hagan, the JCC’s director of children and teen services, and one of the carnival’s primary organizers. “Nearly every corner of the JCC was bustling with action amid a backdrop of smiles, cheer and laughter. The kids had a blast with all of the games and attractions, the food was delicious and everyone seemed to really be enjoying themselves. It’s an awesome feeling to create such a great afternoon for so many people and to give back to the community this way.” As it does each year, the JCC was decorated to create a “festive” atmosphere. Paper chains made by children in the After School Program were hung from hallway ceilings. Many children came dressed in costumes, a Purim holiday custom. A cowboy, a princess, a dancer, a ninja turtle, a butterfly and Winnie the Pooh were some of the characters represented by the costumes. The Schayes Family Gymnasium featured children’s carnival games, a large inflatable slide and obstacle course, face painting and caricature drawings. The Gaga pit was crowded all day, as school-age children played the “Israeli dodge ball” game. On the other side of the building, preschool students participated in crafts, face painting and the inflatable bounce house. Other attractions included Safe ID and car seat safety checks by the DeWitt Police, a used book sale, PJ Library® story time and a magic show. In the Anne and Hy Miller Family Auditorium, Esther’s Café drew visitors seeking home-cooked kosher foods, including hamantashen. Volunteers again this year were credited with giving the event “a solid foundation” by keeping attractions and concessions running smoothly. More than 30 members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at Syracuse University donated their time, making up more than half of all of the event volunteers. Hagan said, “We got a lot of support in so many areas to make everything go so well. A big thank you goes out to all of the wonderful volunteers and organizations that helped us make this year’s Purim Carnival a huge success. We couldn’t have done it without all the great teamwork.”
U.K.
Continued from page 2
The declaration has been endorsed by several Christian organizations, including Christian Friends of Israel and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, as well as individual churches and prayer groups. “Sadly, we often hear of negativity [about Israel] from elements within the churches in the U.K. The Shalom Declaration is a powerful reminder we have strong friends in the Christian community. They wish to promote the cause of peace in a way which recognizes Israel as the only democracy in the Middle East,” said Steven Jaffe, a consultant with the Board of Deputies of British Jews. The declaration is expected to be signed by more than 800 Christians at a gathering in Westminster later this month, in addition to signing opportunities for Christians at an Edinburgh Friends of Israel event and a Christian event in Northern Ireland.
The Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center’s Schayes Family Gymnasium began to fill up as attendees bought their tickets and visited the attractions at the start of the Purim Carnival.
Rabbi Daniel Fellman (right) as “Hamantashen Man” had a little role-playing fun as he extended his wrists to be handcuffed and surrendered to Randy Andrews, a DeWitt police investigator.
Rabbi Yaakov Rapoport attached tefillin to Robert Perlstein, a carnival volunteer and member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at Syracuse University, before reciting prayers.
Passover children’s books: choo-choos, baa-baas and back to Sinai By Penny Schwartz BOSTON (JTA) – When Deborah Bodin Cohen immersed herself in rabbinical school in the early 1990s, she expected to spend a year in Israel as part of her studies with Hebrew Union College-Jewish “Engineer Ari and the Passover Institute of Religion. Rush” is the fourth book in What she didn’t know the “Engineer Ari” series was that a decade later, by Deborah Bodin Cohen. the experience of liv- (Photo courtesy of Kar-Ben ing in Jerusalem would Publishing) spark her inspiration for a children’s book that has become a popular award-winning series. “Engineer Ari and the Passover Rush,” Bodin Cohen’s fourth book in Kar-Ben’s “Engineer Ari” series, is among a trio of new children’s books for the eight-day holiday marking the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. Shahar Kober provides the illustrations. Passover begins this year with the first seder on the evening of Friday, April 3. Other new books for the holiday include “And Then Another Sheep Turned Up,” by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Amy Adele, and a rare middle-reader Passover chapter book, “Scarlett and Sam: Escape from Egypt,” by Eric Kimmel and illustrated by Ivica Stevanovic. Bodin Cohen, the author of other award-winning Jewish children’s books, including “The Seventh Day” and “Nachshon Who was Afraid to Swim,” credits the idea for the Ari character to her daughter Ariana, who as a preschooler was a train enthusiast. Her daughter’s train play stirred memories of living near Jerusalem’s historic train station that dated back to the 1890s. “I literally passed it every day,” she told JTA. Bodin Cohen, the director of congregational learning at Congregation Har Shalom in Potomac, MD, realized that she could create a story of a train adventure based in historic Israel – one that would also entertain her own daughter and her friends. Each of the Engineer Ari stories has some historical element, she points out, with extensive research and consultation with a curator of the Israel Railway Museum in Haifa. While the book is not about Israel, it is the backdrop,
“And Then Another S h e e p Tu r n e d U p ” follows a friendly family o f s h e e p p re p a r i n g for Passover. (Photo courtesy of Kar-Ben Publishing)
TwinsreturntotheEgyptian desert in Kimmel’s timetravel Passover adventure “Scarlet and Sam.” (Photo courtesy of Kar-Ben Publishing)
one of Bodin Cohen’s goals. “The idea of an illustrated book exposes kids to some of the beauty of Israel, the wildlife and the agriculture,” she said. “Engineer Ari and the Passover Rush” by Deborah Bodin Cohen, illustrated by Shahar Kober, Kar-Ben ($17.95 hardcover, $7.95 paperback, $6.99 eBook); ages 5-9 Engineer Ari is a friendly train engineer, an imagined character based on Jerusalem’s early railway system that transported people and goods between Jaffa and Jerusalem dating back to the end of the 19th century in prestate Palestine. Like the previous books in the series – for Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot and Chanukah – this charming tale is set at the eve of the holiday. In the “Passover Rush,” Engineer Ari is in a hurry to make his last run before the start of the seder. The sense of urgency to keep track of time for the train schedule is a perfect pairing for the story of Passover, when the Israelites fled Egypt. His ride to Jerusalem has neighbors offering him foods for his seder plate, including a bowl of charoset made with almonds and dates, a traditional Sephardi custom. Ari promises that on his return route, he’ll deliver newly baked matzah in exchange. As he arrives back in Jaffa in the nick of time, he and his neighbors swap the Jerusalem matzah for the seder plate foods. See “Books” on page 10
MARCH 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775 ■
JEWISH OBSERVER
Purim around the community
Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas members David and Sara Reckess attended the synagogue’s Purim celebration.
Temple Concord’s “Frozen Purim” SHPIEL By April Rando Temple Concord celebrated Purim on March 4 with a dinner and a “Frozen Purim” shpiel based on the Disney movie “Frozen.” The event began with a costume parade of children and adults around the sanctuary, followed by a reading of the first few lines of the megillah by the third grade Hebrew class. The leading roles in the Purim shpiel were performed by Rabbi Daniel Fellman as Olaf/Mordechai, Cantor Kari SiegelEglash as Elsa/Vashti, Knesset Shalom Singers Mark Sukoenig as King Ahasuerus, Mark Frank as Haman, Chana Meir as Anna/Esther and Bruce Gentry as Sven. The Shirat Shalom Singers junior choir sang, and TC staff members Chet Hoisington and Cheri Lass, as well as board President Irv Bodofsky, also participated.
“What a great evening!” Fellman said. “Our ‘Frozen Purim’ was the most fun imaginable! Cantor Kari mesmerized all of the children with her version of ‘Let It Go’ and playing Olaf was the coolest role I’ve ever had on Purim!” Temple Concord makes Purim gifts for Menorah Park residents Temple Concord members held their
9
annual Shabbaton program, “Mitzvahpalooza,” on February 28, to learn about and engage in mitzvot by working together on a project. This year, children and their parents put together mishloach manot gift bags for Purim containing hamantashen, a home-made Purim card and more. The gift bags were then brought to Menorah Park and distributed to residents.
L-r: Temple Concord’s “Frozen Purim” shpiel cast included Rabbi Daniel Fellman, Mark Frank and Cantor Kari Siegel-Eglash.
More than 130 people attended the Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas Star Trek/science fiction-themed Purim dinner celebration on March 4. Children and adults listened to the megillah reading and Purim shpiel.
Temple Adath Yeshurun Religious School’s pre-k/kindergarten and first grade classes attended the annual Purim program. L-r: Gali Cooper, Lilah Levy, Marissa Spevak, Tyler Wladis, Noah Mowers and Ronen Shapiro.
Rabbi Evan Shore performed stand-up comedy for the crowd at Purim at Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse.
To advertise, contact Bonnie Rozen at 724-2360, ext. 244 or bonnie@ thereportergroup.org.
Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton
Temple Concord members made mishloach manot gift bags for Menorah Park residents.
We have a place set just for you... and your ad! Upcoming Dine Out issue: April 30 (deadline April 22)
L-r: Temple Adath Yeshurun professional staff Sonali Eaton, Barbara Simon, Alicia Gross and Esa Jaffe dressed up and attended the TAY Purim and Pasta event on March 4. More than 100 congregants were present, many of whom were dressed in costume. The dinner was sponsored by the Mishpacha Committee.
Ê
Visit the JO online at jewishfederationcny.org and click on Jewish Observer
To advertise, please contact Bonnie Rozen at 800-779-7896, ext. 244 or bonnie@thereportergroup.org
10
JEWISH OBSERVER ■ march 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775
WCNY Public Media presents “The Jewish Journey: America”
WCNY Public Media will present “The Jewish Journey: America” on Sunday, March 22, at 8 pm, on WCNY. For viewing information, visit www.wcny. org/television/where-to-watch. The documentary begins by exploring what it meant to be part of a tight-knit Jewish community in this diverse range of countries, and what prompted those families to leave their enclaves for America. Some left the multi-generational Eastern European shtetls or cities for the experience of life in a land with “seemingly unending horizons.” As the film explains, contrary to common belief, most of these Jewish families and those from Russia came not to escape pogroms but actually for economic opportunity. Others made
the “Jewish Journey” from the Islamic World. In these lands, many Jews had to leave when the politics and treatment of Jews changed with the creation of Israel in 1948, and for other political and economic reasons in the years and decades that followed. More recently, Persian Jews who left Iran in the late 1970s recall hiding their identity during the ayatollah’s regime until they could escape. Unlike other immigrant stories, Jewish-American history is said to have been rooted in an ever-changing “Old Country,” including South America, Europe, Russia, North Africa, and the Middle East to name a few. Interviews with scholars in Jewish history, Jewish-American writers and many
immigrants detail the varied stories of migration through the last five centuries, with a look at the actual journeys to get here. Whatever the reason, these families and those who came in other waves made a “leap of faith” in search of the American Dream. For them, staying was thought to not be an option, yet leaving meant “unimaginable heartbreak” as parents said good-bye to children they knew they would never see again. As historians and first-fourth generation Americans explain in the film, the risk came with the hope that the trek would be rewarded with a better life for themselves and future generations. Throughout the film, the stories feature archival photographs and footage, showing the men, women and children
who traveled to America in whatever way possible. Moving through the centuries, the film follows the trajectory of Jewish American life, from the earliest arrivals in the mid17th century through the impact of the Nazi regime in World War II, the creation of Israel and the new challenges of 21st century assimilation. The current generation of American-born Jews now identify with their religion by choice, as the culture has become mainstream and intermarriage more prevalent. Among those interviewed in the film are two American-born rabbis whose own “Jewish Journey” took them from an assimilated household with no real roots in the rituals of the religion back to a life of observance.
Israeli start-up hoping USB drives will bridge digital divide By Ben Sales TEL AVIV (JTA) – In Peter Jairus’ Nairobi neighborhood, almost nobody has a personal computer. Mathare is one of the Kenyan capital’s largest slums. Buildings are constructed from sheets of corrugated metal and Internet access is rare, found only in places like schools or community centers. Even then, the connection can be spotty. So when Jairus heard about Keepod, a cheap device that places a computer’s operating system on a small USB drive, he jumped at the idea. Last April, he met with Keepod’s creators, and six months later 60 of the devices were delivered to Mathare. Jairus, a musician and youth activist, now runs a cybercafe where 30 to 40 people come daily to go online with their Keepods. “The Keepod is very personal to everyone,” Jairus told JTA. “People use it for studying, someone else is using it for YouTube, Facebook, social media. This one is using it for research. It helps the community very, very much because a lot of people cannot afford the laptop, and 99 percent of the community could not have computer access.” Based in Tel Aviv, the Keepod company aims to provide the world’s poorest countries with widespread computer and Internet access. By putting a modern computer operating system on affordable USB drives, users are able to connect to the Internet using older – and much less expensive – computers. Founders Nissan Bahar and Franky Imbesi say their innovation will help bridge the so-called digital divide – the gap between those with and without regu-
lar computer access. “People can access information to empower themselves,” Bahar said. “That means education, health care, personal growth, being able to read and see what’s going on around the world through a free medium.” Attempts to bring Internet access to the world’s poorest people are hardly new. Nearly a decade ago, the United Nations backed an effort to create a $100 laptop through One Laptop Per Child, a project that aimed to bring inexpensive computers to developing nations. But Bahar believes such efforts are impractical on a large scale because even $100 can be hard to afford for citizens of developing countries. Keepods cost just $7 a pop, and by allowing users to store their personal information on the drive, people can use their individual Keepods to share a single computer, further depressing the cost of Internet access. Keepod has arranged to collect some of the tens of millions of computers discarded each year and ship them to schools and community centers in the developing world at a cost of under $100 each. “[It’s] something very cheap that people won’t even try to steal, that if you lose it, you replace it,” Bahar said. “We don’t believe in making a cheap computer; $140 will never be cheap enough.” When they began Keepod in 2011, Bahar and Imbesi aimed to create a USB drive that kept all of a user’s data on a small external drive rather than on a computer’s internal hard drive. By keeping sensitive information off the computer, the product gave users an added layer of security. In late 2013, Bahar and Imbesi realized their device could be a boon for those in the
developing world who shared computers. Keepods can run a modern Android operating system even on older computers. And because every program will be run from the USB drive, viruses won’t infect whole computers. “After a couple of years, my partner and myself started seriously questioning what we were doing in life,” Bahar said. “How we could make a positive impact on the world around us instead of just making products?” Keepod has already sold more than 30,000 USB drives. This year, Bahar hopes to vastly increase that number. About half of the company’s sales have been made through partnerships with NGOs; the rest are purchased directly from Keepod’s website. The device is also available through retailers. College Socka Bongue, a 500-student high school in Cameroon, bought USB drives for its students last year along with 26 used computers. Philippe Socke, the executive director of a foundation that funds programs at the school, said the drives have allowed them to conduct research on the Internet for the first time. After so many years of limited digital
Books
Young kids will enjoy the fun adventure, which also introduces the elements of preparing the Passover seder. The cartoon-like illustrations by the Israeli artist Kober will delight young readers, with animated characters dressed in colorful native garb, and bustling scenes of city life and rolling hillsides and farms. For some young readers, the biggest thrill will likely be the red locomotive, with its whistle cord that regularly announces “Toot, toot!” “And Then Another Sheep Turned Up” by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Amy Adele, Kar-Ben ($17.95 hardcover; $7.95 paperback; $6.99 eBook); ages 3-8 As a friendly family of sheep prepares for Passover, one guest after another arrives, from grandma with the macaroons and wine to uncles and friends who arrive unexpectedly. As the seder progresses from the Four Questions to hiding the afikomen and dipping the parsley, each page brings another unexpected visitor. Gehl’s delightful rhymes will tickle young ones. Even non-readers will join the repeating refrain, “And then another sheep turned up.” Kids will be entertained with page after page of Adele’s colorful, lively illustrations of adorable sheep having fun at Passover.
access, the transition has been a challenge. Socke said only about 5 percent of the students have computers at home. “The administration was still relying on pads of paper and chalkboards,” Socke said. “Not having computer experience negatively affected the education. Our collaboration with Keepod literally allowed us to put computer access in the hands of every student.” Still, Keepod has encountered some challenges in putting its product into the hands of those who would most benefit from it. Two of the five funded projects listed on Keepod’s website have fallen through because the company’s NGO partners could not afford it or faced infrastructure challenges. At one of the two, the WhyNot Academy in Mathare, 26 students had Keepods last year. Now only seven have them. Students either lost them or transferred to other schools, taking the devices with them. The school also lost Internet access for several months, making the Keepods far less useful. Mike Dawson, CEO of Ustad Mobile, which installs educational programs on See “USB” on page 11
Continued from page 8 “Scarlett and Sam: Escape from Egypt” by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Ivica Stevanovic, Kar-Ben ($15.95 hardcover, $5.95 paperback, $6.99 eBook); ages 6-9 When twins Scarlett and Sam bicker about who is going to recite the Four Questions at the seder, their magical Grandma Mina cuts the squabbling short: “Tonight, at the seder, we don’t just tell the story of Passover. We become part of it.” So sets the stage for Kimmel’s timetravel Passover adventure that transports the duo to the Egyptian desert, back to the time of Moses and Aaron as they prepare to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The Ten Plagues, Pharaoh’s palace, and the suffering and indignity endured by the Israelite slaves come alive for the siblings, who manage to make a podcast of their experience. Older readers familiar with Kimmel’s hugely popular illustrated books (“Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins,” “Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock” and “The Chanukkah Guest”) will again enjoy his deft humor and flair for storytelling in the illustrated chapter book that will appeal to school-age kids. It’s a terrific pairing with Kimmel’s earlier “Wonders and Miracles,” a lavishly illustrated seder companion that explains and demystifies the customs and traditions.
MARCH 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775 ■
JEWISH OBSERVER
Adding elegance to seder meals – and it’s easy By Shannon Sarna NEW YORK (JTA) – I am not one of those people who looks forward to Passover each year. I dread it. I love my carbs and I absolutely loathe the constant cooking and dishwashing that somehow always accompanies the holiday. Since my husband and I started hosting our own seder each year for my family and our close friends, we have worked on an array of Passover-friendly dishes that are so good, we eat them all year. This has greatly improved the quality of our holiday. Now if only I could find someone to wash my dishes all week. These recipes are easy, elegant and a little different from the delicious, but humdrum, chicken soup, brisket and kugel. And with two nights of seders, sometimes you need something a little different to keep the seder menu interesting. Gefilte fish is one of those dishes that is truly an acquired taste. For some people, the taste is simply never acquired. It’s hard to change traditions, but try switching out gefilte fish for bite-sized croquettes topped with salmon roe. Not a fan of caviar? Use smoked salmon instead. You can make these during the year and substitute panko bread crumbs for the matzah meal. You can also serve these for a dairy meal and add some sour cream, Greek yogurt or creme fraiche on the side. Dill Horseradish Potato Croquettes with Salmon Roe Makes 2 dozen 4 large Yukon gold potatoes 1 Tbsp. salt 1 tsp. freshly ground pepper 1 Tbsp. horseradish 1 to 2 tsp. dried dill ½ cup vegetable broth ½ cup olive oil 2 eggs Matzah meal 1 tsp. salt ½ tsp. pepper Peel potatoes and place in a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender, approximately 15 minutes. Drain water and immediately place potatoes into a ricer or food mill. Add oil, vegetable broth, dried dill, horseradish, salt and pepper to potatoes and mix until smooth and seasoning is even throughout. Add 1 egg and mix again. Begin forming patties by packing potatoes lightly into balls and then flattening them with palms of hand. Place on a platter and put in the refrigerator for a few hours or up to 24 hours. After patties have finished chilling, beat the other egg with 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl. Place matzah meal in another bowl and add 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Mix. Dip each potato patty into egg, then matzah meal. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry croquette 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Allow the croquettes to cool slightly before topping with salmon roe and fresh dill if desired.
Dill Horseradish Potato Croquettes with Salmon Roe are the perfect replacement for gefilte fish. (Photo by Shannon Sarna) Braised Lamb Shanks with Dates and Raisins Serves 4-6 4 lamb shanks 2 tsp. salt
Ê
1 tsp. black pepper 1 heaping tsp. sumac 1 heaping tsp. cumin 1 heaping tsp. sweet paprika Olive oil 1 large onion 3 garlic cloves 1 tsp. fennel seed 2 cloves ½ tsp. cinnamon 1 Tbsp. tomato paste 1½ cups vegetable broth or water 1½ cups red wine ½ cup golden raisins, soaked in warm water 30 minutes ½ cup dates Fresh parsley and cilantro (optional) Combine the salt, pepper, sumac, cumin and paprika in a small bowl. Cover lamb shanks in dry spice rub and place on a platter covered in plastic wrap. Chill for 1 hour or up to 4 hours. Place raisins in a bowl of warm water. Heat a few tablespoons olive oil in a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear shanks on all sides until brown. Remove from pan. Add onion and garlic and saute, scraping the “good bits” from the bottom of the pan. You can deglaze with a little bit of the broth. Cook for 7-8 minutes, until onion is translucent. Add tomato paste, clove, fennel seed and cinnamon; continue cooking for another few minutes. Add stock, wine, dates and drained raisins (discard water), and bring to a boil. Put the lamb shanks back in the pot and reduce heat to low, or place into a 275°F oven. Braise for 2½ hours. Serve with fresh cilantro and parsley, if desired. Kale, Apple and Roasted Beet
Ti re d o f brisket? Try these Braised Lamb Shanks with Dates and Raisins. (Photo by Shannon Sarna) Salad Serves 4-6 3 cups chopped fresh kale, stems removed 2 medium beets ½ apple, diced ¼ cup chopped candied walnuts ¼ cup dried cherries or cranberries Olive oil Balsamic vinegar Salt and pepper Preheat the oven to 400°F. Wash and dry the beets. Place in tin foil and roast in oven for 45-60 minutes, or until soft. Allow to cool. Remove the outer peel of beets using hands or a vegetable peeler. Cut beets into bite-sized pieces. Place chopped kale in a large salad bowl. Add beets, apple, candied walnuts and dried cherries or cranberries. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or salad dressing of your choosing. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Chocolate Raspberry Torte with Pecan Crust For the crust: ¼ cup margarine or butter ½ cup pecans ¼ cup sugar ½ tsp. salt For the filling: 8 ounces dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips ½ cup margarine or butter (1 stick) 1 tsp. instant espresso
¼ cup cocoa powder 1 tsp. vanilla 5 eggs 1 cup sugar ½ cup strawberry or raspberry jam Powdered sugar for dusting (optional) Preheat the oven to 375°F. To make the crust: Melt the ¼ cup margarine or butter in the microwave at 20-second intervals. Place the pecans, salt and sugar in a food processor fitted with blade attachment and pulse until you have course looking crumbs. Add melted margarine/butter and
A Chocolate Raspberry Torte with Pecan provides a sweet finish to the seder. (Photo by Shannon Sarna)
USB
smartphones for children in the developing world, said that spotty electricity, plus the challenge of maintaining old computers, present obstacles to the wide deployment of Keepod technology. “The problems come from electricity costs, come from maintenance costs, come from access to skilled people,” he said. “These are all costs and they don’t add up to $7 per person.”
11
pulse 1-2 more times. Press mixture into an 8- or 9-inch springform pan. Bake 7-8 minutes. The crust may look a little funny, bubbly or like it is ruined, but this is totally fine. Set aside. To make the filling: Place the chocolate chips and margarine in medium saucepan over low heat until smooth. Whisk in cocoa and espresso. Cool 10 minutes. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar in large bowl on high speed until thick, about 6 minutes. Fold in chocolate mixture slowly. Then fold in raspberry jam, but don’t mix too much. Pour batter into prepared crust. Bake torte until dry and cracked on top, and tester inserted into center comes out with some moist batter attached, about 35-40 minutes. Cool in pan on rack 1 hour (center will fall). Using an offset spatula or butter knife, carefully separate torte from sides of pan. Remove outer ring of springform pan. Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Shannon Sarna is editor of The Nosher blog on MyJewishLearning.com.
Continued from page 10 Unreliable infrastructure may continue to hinder Keepod, but Bahar hopes that selling the drives through retailers – in addition to providing them through NGOs – will give increasing numbers of people access to the digital world, at least when the Internet is on. “We want to enable anyone to buy a Keepod and use it, if not part of an NGO or organization,” he said. “We want to be sustainable.”
PA S S O V E R 2015
Deadline: March 6 (April 2 issue)
Passover is traditionally a time for sharing with family, friends and strangers. While your seder table may not be large enough to fit all these people, you can share the warmth of this holiday with the entire local Jewish community by placing a Passover greeting in The Jewish Observer.You may choose from the designs, messages and sizes shown here - more are available. You may also choose your own message, as long as it fits into the space of the greeting you select. (Custom designs available upon request.) The price of the small greeting is $18 (styles C & F), the medium one is $36 (styles A & D) and the largest one (style G, not shown - measures 3.22” x 3.95”) is $68. To ensure that your greeting is published, simply fill out the form below and choose a design that you would like to accompany your greeting, or contact Bonnie Rozen at 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244 or bonnie@thereportergroup. org. Checks can be made payable to The Reporter and sent to: The Reporter, 500 Clubhouse Rd., Vestal, NY 13850.
Wishing you and your family peace, health and happiness this Pesach
Your Name(s)
Your Name(s)
Style A • $36
Actual Size: 3.22” x 1.975”
PA S S O V E R
Style D • $36
Actual Size: 3.22” x 1.975”
2015
Name_________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________
H a pp y
Passover
City__________________________________________________________ State____________ Zip_________________ Phone_____________________ Greeting Style__________________________________________________
Next year may we all be free!
Message_______________________________________________________
Your Name(s)
_____________________________________________________________ How you would like it signed______________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
Style C • $18 Actual Size: 1.5278” x 1.975”
_____________________________________________________________
We accept r Visa r Mastercard r American Express r Discover (if applicable) Print Name on Card_____________________________________________ Card Number__________________________________________________ Expiration Date_________________________________________________ Address, City, State, Zip (Registered billing address of card) __________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
March 25 DEADLINE
Checks should be made payable to The Reporter, 500 Clubhouse Rd., Vestal, NY 13850
Visit the JO online at jewishfederationcny.org and click on Jewish Observer
May your Passover seder be joyous! Your Name(s)
Style F • $18 Actual Size: 1.5278” x 1.975”
12
JEWISH OBSERVER ■ march 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775
In Boulder, new JCC marries goats and Judaism
By Uriel Heilman BOULDER, CO (JTA) – There’s not much to see yet at the site of this city’s new Jewish Community Center, just some trailers and earth-moving equipment covered in snow. But the first inhabitants already are on site living in a pair of sheds. Though it’s cold, they don’t complain much. That’s because they’re goats and chickens. With five goats and some 40 hens, the animal farm is a key part of the $27 million center slated to open on 12 acres in the summer of 2016. Already operating as a co-op for fresh eggs and goat’s milk, the farm is also one of the elements that makes this JCC unusual. Here are a few others: The JCC will have no full-service gym or indoor swimming pool – or membership fees. “I think the whole idea of what Jewish engagement is in the 21st century has been changing,” Jonathan Lev, executive director of the Boulder JCC, told JTA. “We want to capture what people love and overlay it with Jewish values. For many, coming to the farm and milking goats and taking care of the chickens is their Jewish engagement.” Boulder’s JCC, founded in 2005 and currently located on a smaller site elsewhere in town, is focused on its preschool and community programming rather than on membership. The institution is guided by four pillars reflective of values dear to local Jews and Boulder residents generally: food and wellness; innovation; arts and culture; and early childhood education. Its $2.7 million operating budget is covered by program fees and fund-raising. For the innovation pillar, the JCC launched a Jewish overnight entrepreneurship camp last summer, Camp Inc., in Steamboat Springs. For arts and culture, Lev cites Boulder’s annual Jewish film festival, now in its third year and held every March. On early childhood education, the JCC’s popular preschool is one of four getting special support from the Rose Community Foundation, the Union for Reform Judaism and the JCC Association to increase enrollment and build stronger Jewish connections. The farm is the anchor of the food and wellness piece. Some 20 family members already belong to the co-op, taking shifts about once a week to clean poop, refresh the feed and milk the goats by hand. In exchange, they receive fresh milk and eggs. The farm, which may be the only Jewish animal husbandry co-op in the country, is also open to occasional milkers and the wider Jewish community. “The farm is this idea of connecting people, having them engage in something meaningful and building community around it,” said Lev, 36, who at the time of his hire in 2010
Some 40 hens and five goats are part of the co-op at the future site of the Boulder JCC, where Jonathan Lev is executive director and Becca Weaver is farm and sustainability director. (Photo by Uriel Heilman)
Jonathan Lev, executive director of the Boulder JCC, standing at the site of the new $27 million JCC slated to open in 2016. (Photo by Uriel Heilman)
Members of the Boulder JCC’s goat co-op milk the goats by hand, feed them and clean up poop. In exchange, they get fresh milk. (Photo by Uriel Heilman)
was the youngest JCC director in the country – as well as the fledgling JCC’s first full-time employee. “Twentyfirst century Judaism and Jewish life is determined by the connection points people make. People are searching for meaning. And they’re finding it in unique ways. People go to farms on a regular basis here. What would it mean for them to go to a Jewish farm?” Last year, when one of the goats went into labor on Purim, holiday revelers in costume came to watch the birth, naming the newborn Vashti after the Persian queen from the Book of Esther. Now three of the five goats are pregnant, with due dates around Passover – perfect timing to turn the milk into cheese by Shavuot, a holiday traditionally focused on dairy foods. “Getting to go out for a visit with the animals is really great therapy for the average person,” said Becca Weaver, the JCC’s farm and sustainability director. “A lot of people do other things, sit at a computer all day. Getting out and bonding with the animals is very intimate and tactile.” Then there’s the Jewish social justice component. The community decided to stop milking the pregnant goats several weeks before their due dates to adhere to the traditional injunction against causing animals unnecessary distress. When new chicks are brought to the farm, they’ll come from humane breeding operations rather than the “cruelty of the industrial food system,” Weaver said. Weaver’s parents’ family charity, the Oreg Foundation, donated the land on which the JCC is being built – part of a 32-acre parcel the family foundation purchased 15 years ago for a future Jewish community campus.
“The JCC is the first recipient of a land grant from the foundation,”said Julie Shaffer, executive director of the Oreg Foundation. “It’s Oreg Foundation’s hope that there will be other community institutions that will come forward and want to be on the campus.” The new JCC capital campaign needs $3 million more to reach its $27 million goal. When it’s complete, the JCC will house a preschool, social hall, meeting rooms, yoga studio, sports fields, playgrounds and summer camp facilities. Two acres will be devoted to the farm, which will include greens, strawberries, raspberries, apples, plums and beehives. There will be handicapped-accessible raised beds, an outdoor kitchen and child-friendly education space. The veggies will be organic and excess food will be donated to the Boulder Food Rescue, which collects donations by bicycle to avoid using fossil fuels. In keeping with the focus on high environmental standards, the JCC building will be LEED-certified. It’s all very Boulder – a university town of some 100,000 with the social consciousness of Park Slope, Brooklyn, the entrepreneurial spirit of Silicon Valley, and the farming and ranching sensibility of the West. Boulder’s Jewish community is relatively young and growing quickly. The most recent Jewish demographic survey, in 2007, found about 13,000 Jews living in 7,600 Jewish households in Boulder County, located about 40 minutes northwest of Denver. “A lot of these people have zero affiliation or interest in Jewish community,” Lev said. “But the possibility of engagement is tremendous because of the large Jewish population.” Half a century ago, there was just one synagogue in town. But the Jewish presence grew considerably as technology companies moved to the city, the university grew and Boulder’s location in the foothills of the Rockies drew outdoors enthusiasts. Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, the father of the Jewish Renewal movement, moved here in 1995. The University of Colorado-Boulder launched a Jewish studies program in 2007 and now has a kosher eatery. Boulder has two Jewish Renewal synagogues, a couple of Chabad Centers and one Reform, one Orthodox and one Conservative shul. An online Jewish news site, Boulder Jewish News, was launched in 2009. At the JCC, the budget has more than doubled since Lev came on in 2010, and he said 4,000 people were reached last year through programming. “The JCC provides so many portals into Jewish life,” Oreg’s Shaffer said. “This community offered Jonathan opportunities for professional growth, and he’s paying us back many times over for his vision of what this community can be.”
Becca Weaver, farm and sustainability director for Boulder’s JCC, says that getting out and spending an hour or so milking the goats at the JCC’s co-op is great therapy for the average person. (Photo by Uriel Heilman)
Japanese culinary curiosity gives hummus moment in the rising sun By Cnaan Liphshiz TOKYO (JTA) – At the end of his 13-hour workday, Hidehiko Egata takes a seat at the bar at his regular eatery in this city’s upscale Shibuya neighborhood. A senior adviser at a local financial firm, Egata sips sake and nibbles on traditional Japanese pickles as he chats with the owner in Japanese. Then he orders his usual dish: hummus topped with warm chickpeas, tahini and olive oil. “I first ate hummus a few years ago on the other side of town,” said Egata, a slender man in his 50s who keeps fit by practicing Japanese martial arts daily. “I found that it was more healthy than my usual dinners then. It was filling, but it didn’t make me tired the way a noodle dish would. When this place opened, it became my regular spot.” This place is Ta-im, an intimate 16-seater that is one of no fewer than eight Israeli restaurants to open
in Japan in the past five years, serving up hummus and other Middle Eastern staples to the novelty-oriented and health-obsessed urban elite. In January, the Chabad House in Tokyo joined the trend when it opened Chana’s Place – the capital’s only kosher certified restaurant – serving hummus, shakshuka, matbucha and other popular Israeli dishes. “The urban population in Japan only recently became exposed to real international cuisine beyond the obvious dishes like spaghetti, pizza and hamburgers,” said Israeli businessman Dan Zuckerman, 54, who moved to Tokyo in 1985 and ran a deli before he opened Ta-im in 2011. “Now they are discovering the more exotic foods like Mexican, Portuguese, Spanish and Greek.” As new foreign restaurants open in Japan – Taco Bell announced its entry to the island nation in January – Israeli and Arab food enjoys an advantage because of its reliance on fresh vegetables and other lean substances, according
to Rabbi Binyomin Edery, a Tokyo-based Chabad rabbi who supervises King Falafel, the city’s only certified kosher food stand. “In a city where the population is so health conscious that about a third of them regularly wear surgeon masks whenever they go out, a lean, fiber-rich food that’s full of vitamins is going to have a serious advantage compared to fat-dripping tacos,” Edery said. “Israeli food is becoming super trendy in this country, and hummus is leading the charge because people here are already used to the idea of bean paste from their local food. It just fits.” Chana’s Place, housed in the Tokyo Chabad Center and run by the movement’s envoy to Japan, Rabbi Mendy Sudakevich, is small, accommodating only 14 diners at a time. The restaurant’s profits are used to fund activities for Tokyo’s Jewish community of a few hundred people. “If this restaurant is to succeed, it needs to appeal to the See “Japanese” on page 15
MARCH 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775 ■
JEWISH OBSERVER
After intrigue, theft and deterioration, Holocaust collection secure at CU Boulder By Uriel Heilman BOULDER, CO (JTA) – The yellowing document is crumbling and fading, but the smooth signature on its cover is as legible as it is chilling: Rudolf Hess, the Nazi who served as a Hitler deputy from 1933-41. The signature, which adorns a 70-year-old leniency plea for top Nazi Hermann Goering during the postwar Nuremberg trials, is one of some 500,000 discrete items and 20,000 books donated last year to the University of Colorado at Boulder – nearly the entirety of one of the world’s largest privately owned Holocaust collections. The unusual trove includes aerial surveillance photos of the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, decaying copies of the Nazi newspaper Der Sturmer, Nuremberg trial transcripts, and a trove of pro-Nazi and Holocaust denial literature. “We don’t even know what we have,” said David Shneer, director of the Jewish Studies program at University of Colorado at Boulder and the person responsible for bringing the archive to the university. “We have teams of students inventorying it. We hope to get through everything by the fall.” The unlikely story of how the archive, known as the Mazal Holocaust Collection, ended up in Boulder is a tale of Holocaust denial, a hidden Jewish past and the shady market for Holocaust artifacts. The collection represents the life’s work of Harry Mazal, a businessman from Mexico City who was raised Protestant and discovered during his teen years that he was Jewish. Mazal’s family emigrated from present-day Turkey before World War II, and his father built a successful women’s lingerie business that he subsequently passed on to his son. Though neither Mazal nor his parents personally experienced the Holocaust, Mazal became increasingly disturbed by the rising tide of claims that the genocide against the Jews was fabricated. Determined to do something about it, Mazal, who made his first research trip to Germany in the 1960s and died in 2011 at age 74, began collecting and carefully documenting evidence of the concentration camps, the Final Solution and the
murder of the six million Jews. Mazal became fixated on documenting the Holocaust. He traveled to Europe to photograph the camps and bought rare Holocaust artifacts on eBay. He established a relationship with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington and became a repository for trial transcripts that were duplicates of material the museum already had. He collected Yizkor memorial books, original sketches of extermination camps and aerial photographs of the camps taken by the U.S. military, American Nazi newspapers from the 1930s and ‘40s, materials relating to the David Irving-Deborah Lipstadt Holocaust denial trial in England, and an extensive array of Holocaust denial literature. He also wrote scholarly articles and lectured about the attempted genocide of the Jews. “I remember him being very offended by the fact that Holocaust denial was so prevalent,” Mazal’s daughter, Aimee Mazal Skillin, told JTA. “He really took it to heart. He began to collect as much information as he could about the Holocaust and the war, and about how the Jews were mistreated. Combating Holocaust denial was his real motivation. It was like he was walking around with horse blinders and saw nothing else other than this mission.” By the mid-1990s, there was no more room for Mazal’s collection in his home in San Antonio, TX, where he had moved with his family. So Mazal built an addition to his house, which proved inadequate even before it was completed. He later added two more expansions, bringing the total space dedicated to his in-home Holocaust library to 3,000 square feet. It became one of the largest privately held collections in the world, according to Lipstadt, the Holocaust historian who was sued by Holocaust denier David Irving in 2000. Mazal even kept some bone fragments collected at Auschwitz in a glass case on his desk (his daughter later buried them). As Mazal’s collection grew, he enlisted help. That ultimately led to one of his most devastating discoveries: that someone working for him was stealing one-of-a-kind materials and illicitly selling them online. Mazal, who by
13
the time of the discovery was ill with cancer, mounted a sting operation to find the perpetrator. Ultimately, a young man named Mansal Denton who had volunteered at Mazal’s Holocaust library was arrested in January 2011 and charged with stealing some 17,000 pages of documents valued at $100,000 to $200,000. Last June, Denton was sentenced to eight years in prison. Some of the material Denton pilfered still has not been recovered. The Denton theft underscored the need to find a proper home for the collection, especially after Mazal’s death in 2011, when it became clear his family wouldn’t keep the big house. Skillin considered selling the materials, whose value was estimated at $1 million to $1.5 million, but she didn’t want the collection to be broken up. While planning to move her own family to Boulder, Skillin, who is an interpreter and social media consultant and is raising her children as Jews, was introduced to Shneer. In 2011, Shneer had helped bring the collection of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, the father of the Jewish Renewal movement who died last summer, to the University of Colorado. Skillin and Shneer hit it off, but with Skillin’s imminent plans to sell her San Antonio home, Shneer had to act fast. When he flew to San Antonio to examine the collection, he only had 24 hours or so to figure out what to do with it, he recalls. Eventually, a small portion of the collection went to Texas A&M University-San Antonio, including about 8,300 books. The rest was packed into 367 boxes and trucked to Boulder. In the months since, Shneer has been overseeing a team of student interns and graduate students cataloging and digitizing the collection in a windowless office in the bowels of the university library. Schneer says it has been challenging not just to figure out what’s in the trove, but how to deal with the copious collection of Holocaust-denial and pro-Nazi material, including literature produced by the American Nazi Party See “Boulder” on page 15
Time-saving spring cleaning tips for your home’s outdoor spaces (StatePoint) – It’s time to prep your home’s outdoor spaces for the season ahead. From the yard to the garage to the deck, getting these areas tidy is all part of a thorough spring clean. Here are some tips from www.PowerFlowPlus. com to make the process faster and easier. %%De-Clutter Your Workspace: Your shed, your garage, your toolbox – it’s time to take stock of what you’re storing in these key areas. Broken tools, piles of junk – these are items that will get in your way and slow you down all season long. So before you get to the nitty gritty of your outdoor spring clean, take the time to organize your workspace. Throw out what is junk, donate what you aren’t using, and organize the rest into categories. Vertical storage can save crucial room, so install tall shelves and use walls and the ceiling to install organizational systems. Now is also a great opportunity to perform routine maintenance on your lawn equipment and tools to improve their efficiency. %%Identify Multitasking Tools: Check out innovations on old tools that can make your versatile workload easier. For example, you can upgrade your conventional pressure washer for a newer model with more diverse functional-
ity. Consider a pressure washer that has one pump with two separate cleaning modes – high pressure and high flow, which work for different tasks. Remember, different surfaces require different cleaning techniques. %%Do Smart Yard Maintenance: If you have a larger yard, consider a riding mower to save time and energy on lawn maintenance. Remember not to over-mow your lawn. Not only is it not healthy for the grass, it can waste time and increase your carbon footprint needlessly. Likewise, only water your lawn and garden when necessary. During periods of rain, you can ease up on this chore. The most efficient time of day to water your lawn is morning. When the sun is strongest, you will lose more water to evaporation and your work will be for naught. By changing up your lawn care habits, you can save time all season. While working outdoors can be fun, don’t spend more
time than you need to on your household spring cleaning tasks. Finding simple ways to be more efficient will give you more time to enjoy your home’s outdoor spaces.
Be a part of our upcoming
home and real Estate ad Section Issue Date: June 25 • Deadline: June 17 To advertise, please contact Bonnie Rozen at 800-779-7896, ext. 244 or bonnie@thereportergroup.org
Ê
Visit the JO online at jewishfederationcny.org and click on Jewish Observer
14
JEWISH OBSERVER ■ march 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775
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.
Sunday, March 22 Temple Adath Yeshurun presents documentary film “The Sturgeon Queens: Russ and Daughters” at 10 am, following breakfast at 9:30 am Community religious schools Limmud, a community wide storytelling event for pre-kindergarten seventh grade, from 9 am-noon at Congregation Beth Sholom Chevra Shas PJ Library’s “The Science of the Plagues” at the Museum of Science and Technology for 1-4-year olds at 11 am and for 5-8-year-olds at 1 pm. Registration required by e-mailing pjcny@jccsyr.org. Monday, March 23 Jewish Federation of Central New York Board of Directors meeting at 5:30 pm Wednesday, March 25 Federation presents Eric Lichtblau at Annual Campaign Thank You event from 7-8:30 pm at Traditions at the Links Sunday, March 29 Na’amat program on women’s health at 10:30 am at Natur-Tyme Syracuse Hebrew Day School Passover planting at 2 pm CBS-CS Hazak presents Samuel Gruber at 2 pm Monday, March 30 Early deadline for the April 16 issue of the Jewish Observer Friday, April 3 Erev Passover B first seder Saturday, April 4 First day of Passover, second seder
b’nai mitzvah Sara Helene Garrow
Sara Helene Garrow, daughter of Paul and Miriam Garrow, of Central Square, became a bat mitzvah at Temple Concord on March 7. She is in the seventh grade at Central Square Middle School. She enjoys gymnastics and crosscountry. She also loves children and enjoys babysitting and playing with children of all ages. Sara Helene For her bat mitzvah project, Garrow she has volunteered at Sunshine Horses, a rescue organization for retired racehorses and abused horses. She hopes to continue her work there after her bat mitzvah.
NEWS IN bRIEF From JTA
Report praises Israel’s effort to prevent civilian casualties in Gaza
Israel’s military went far beyond its legal obligation last summer during its Gaza operation to prevent civilian casualties, according to report by a panel of former senior U.S. military officials and legal experts. The Gaza Conflict Task Force report, which was released on March 11, was commissioned by the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, or JINSA. The task force called the conflict “Hybrid Warfare: where non-state actors equipped with advanced weapons operate in densely populated urban areas, disregarding the safety of civilians and capitalizing on its enemy’s efforts to comply with the law.” The report praised the Israel Defense Forces for its effort to limit civilian casualties, such as alerting residents in a targeted area through phone calls, leaflets and low impact explosives, but also emphasized that the United States and Israel should study the conflict in order to find a balance between mitigating civilian casualties and achieving mission objectives. Michael Makovsky, JINSA’s chief executive officer, said the task force compiled the report after making a fact-finding mission to Israel, where they met with Israeli, United Nations and Palestinians officials, as well as analyzing primary and secondary research. JINSA, a Washington-based nonprofit group, advocates for a strong U.S. military relationship with Israel. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have accused Israel of committing war crimes and violations of the laws of war during its Operation Protective Edge against Hamas in Gaza.
d’var torah
God is in the details By Barbara Davis Vayikra, the third book of the Torah, was once called Torat Hacohanim. In English, Vayikra is called Leviticus, referring to the Levites, from whom the priests descended. In this portion, God calls to Moses and communicates to him the laws of the korbanot, the animal and meal offerings required for the five types of sacrifices offered by Jews, first in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. Moses is instructed to deliver these laws to the people and to the priests. This is not a narrative to which we relate well today. Our modern sensibilities recoil at the descriptions of the sacrifices and at animal sacrifice itself. We wonder why these instructions, meant for the priests, are presented to the whole Jewish people. We cringe at the descriptions; in our minds, we are screaming, “Why all the gory details?” And yet, rather than reading Vayikra as promoting or advocating sacrificial offerings, let us consider the obverse: that Vayikra in fact is doing just the opposite, putting stringent limits on an accepted (albeit not fully acceptable) practice, making it more difficult and meaningful, while at the same time, demystifying it. We regulate that which is subject to excess and abuse. Nowadays, we regulate alcohol consumption by restricting the hours when it may be served, the places and days when it may be sold, the ages of those who may purchase and consume it. We restrict hunting and fishing with required permits to certain seasons, specified locales and limited catches. Sacrifice was an ancient and universal component of religious ritual. Greeks, Romans, Canaanites and Egyptians made offerings to their gods. Cain and Abel, and Noah and his sons, offered sacrifices. The word “sacrifice” generally implies the offering of animal, plant or human life, or some material possession, to a deity, as propitiation or homage. We know that human sacrifice was practiced in biblical times; Abraham was told to sacrifice his son Isaac. The laws elaborated in Vayikra, however, clearly restrict and delimit the practice of sacrifice. Human sacrifice is not sanctioned and other offerings are permitted only in certain specified ways, at certain specified times, in certain specified places, by a limited number of specified people for specifically defined purposes. A second meaning of “sacrifice” is the surrender of something valued for the sake of something considered of greater worth. When Vayikra says that only the best animals were to be selected as an offering, we have to ask what it meant to a family to take a prized and valuable animal to the Temple to be sacrificed. This was no mere gift or donation; this was a true “sacrifice,” a self-denial of a very important part of a family’s wealth. Do we have any concept of what this entails? Let us stop for a moment and ask what it would mean to make a sacrifice like that today. What would it be like for a family to give up a week’s wages or a week’s food for the sake of their religion? Who, beyond those who serve in our armed forces, truly understands the meaning of sacrifice for a cause in the 21st century? We don’t do sacrifice for religion well these days. Consider Passover, when we are bidden to forego leavening; yet the shelves of our supermarkets fill up with “kosher for Passover” pasta, cereal, cookies and cakes, so that we won’t feel any deprivation. Likewise, we focus today on our repugnance of animal sacrifice, even though most of us still eat meat and wear leather and even fur. The infinite detailing in Vayikra of the sacrificial offerings is a way of focusing on the scrupulous care with which the taking of an animal’s life was to be accomplished. One has only to contrast this with the typical description of an abattoir today to understand that the sacrifices described in Vayikra were meant to be elevating, not degrading; meaningful, not meaningless. Lastly, why were these instructions given to the people and not just to the priests? Do we all really need to know how the blood and the fat and the other sacrificial elements are used? Two answers present themselves: one is the demystification of the ritual. When we know what goes on, there is less mystery, less terror, less awe, less superstition. The laws of Vayikra are part of a trajectory that leads inevitably to the replacement of sacrifice with prayer. For the second explanation, I turn to the words of our local scholar and educator, Robert Tornberg, from a d’var Torah published on www.reformjudaism.org: “The Torah ensures that Judaism is not a secret religion run by priests who know more ‘truth’ than anyone else. It is, instead, open and accessible. All one has to do is pay attention and learn in order to know fully how to be a Jew – even if one isn’t a priest in the old days (or a rabbi in modern times)! So, Vayikra, with all its laborious detail, comes to remind us what we already learned in Exodus 19:6. Namely, we are a ‘kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ Our tradition is not locked away in
secure vaults, closed books or behind locked doors. It is open and transparent.” As we read Vayikra, it is worthwhile to think of the words of Charles Eames, “The details are not the details. They make the design.” Barbara Davis, Ph.D., served as principal of the Syracuse Hebrew Day School for 27 years. A graduate of Barnard College, she holds a master of arts and a doctorate from Columbia University, and is professor emerita of modern languages at Onondaga Community College. She was a member of the first Lookstein Center Principals Seminar at Bar Ilan University, serves on board of RAVSAK: the Jewish Community Day School Network, is executive editor of the quarterly journal of Jewish education HaYidion and is the co-author of “A History of the Syracuse Jewish Community,” published by Arcadia Press. She is also a member of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas.
Do You Know? Do you qualify? By Jackie Miron How many times have you passed a sign for a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip experience and not really known what it is? Here is a quick lesson for those who want to know more. Birthright Israel is a partnership between the Israeli government Jackie Miron and the Birthright Israel Foundation, as well as local Jewish communities, including the Jewish Federations of North America and leading Jewish philanthropists. Our own Jewish Federation of Central New York gives an annual allocation to Birthright as part of our partnership. Taglit-Birthright Israel’s mission is to provide planning and funding for a free, 10-day, educational peer trip to Israel for Jewish young adults, aged 18-26, who have finished high school by the time the trip departs. Anyone turning 27 prior to May 1 for summer trips, or December 1 for winter trips, is not eligible to participate in the upcoming round of trips. Eligible individuals are those who identify as Jewish and are recognized as such by their local community or by one of the recognized denominations of Judaism. Applicants must also have at least one Jewish birth parent, or have completed Jewish conversion through a recognized Jewish denomination. Trips combine historic, cultural and religious experiences, and include a mifgash (meeting) with Israeli peers. More than 400,000 young adults from around the world and from varying degrees of religious backgrounds have participated in this memorable experience. Participants have come from 66 different countries. Feedback gathered throughout the years has been very positive, and independent research supports what participants have reported. Included in the trip is airfare from designated cities; room and board and up to two meals per day, as well as related tour and land costs. All buses are guided by a licensed, professional tour guide, and are staffed by two American staff people and a medic/guard. Not included are gratuity, medical insurance, personal purchases and extra travel before or after the trip. Young adults born in Israel are excluded unless they left the country before the age of 12. Those who have been to Israel for more than three months since the age of 12 are excluded. Also excluded are those enrolled in certain kinds of Jewish studies programs, rabbinical training programs or Jewish teacher training programs, as well as young adults who were in Israel as part of a touring group, educational program, study program or an organized extended residential program since they were 18 years of age or older. Birthright is intended to provide a peer touring experience. Until recently, young adults who had already been on such a trip were excluded. However, recent rule changes stipulate that any student who was in Israel for fewer than three months before the age of 17 is eligible to go on a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip. And what about after the trip? NEXT is a division devoted to alumni of Birthright trips to provide resources and funds to hold Passover seders, Shabbat dinners and High Holiday celebrations. Birthright participants requested help in finding the space to “reflect, learn more, and take action” within their communities. The entire experience can be made more meaningful with remaining involved, to foster creativity and passion, and further engage in the Jewish community. See “Know” on page 15
MARCH 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775 ■
obituaries
15
NEWS IN bRIEF
Fred Barnett
Fred Barnett, 88, died on March 9. Born in Brooklyn, he had been a resident of Syracuse for almost 20 years. He was a U.S. Navy veteran. He worked as an independent sales representative of women’s clothing, traveling the tri-state area for his entire career. He was an active member of Temple Adath Yeshurun and considered the morning minyan his extended family. He was predeceased by his wife, Cookie, in 2003. He is survived by his children, Andrea (Shelden) Sacks, of Fayetteville, Jeff (Brenda) Barnett and Sharon Seiden (Elliot) Bershader; and six grandchildren. Entombment was in Montefiore Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions may be made to the Minyan Fund, Temple Adath Yeshurun, 450 Kimber Rd., Syracuse, NY 13224.
Martha (Shuffler) Lavine
Martha (Shuffler) Lavine, 71, of DeWitt, died on March 1. A Syracuse native, she graduated from Nottingham High School. She trained as a lab technician and histologist at the Veterans Administration Hospital and then worked at Community General Hospital. She left her career to be a full-time wife, mother and caregiver. She was a member of Temple Adath Yeshurun, but spent most of her years as a member of Temple Beth El. She is survived by her sister, Maxene Shuffler Block; her husband, Robert; her children, Michael (Andrea), Jerry (Faith), Scott (Karen) and Carolyn (Bill) Scott; and 10 grandchildren. Burial was in Temple Beth El Cemetery. GinsburgMaloff Funeral Home had arrangements.
Debra Sanders Lessen
Debra Lessen, of Manlius, died on March 2 at Crouse Hospital. Born and raised in New York City, she loved life and the special holiday occasions that brought the family together. She was predeceased by her parents, Edward and Billi Sanders. She is survived by her husband, Michael; daughters, Nicole (Jeffrey Stillman) Lessen; Erika (Joseph Cicatello) Lessen and Michele Reitz; her brother, Ken Sanders; and seven grandchildren. A private burial will be at the convenience of the family. Birnbaum Funeral Service has arrangements. Contributions may be made to the Lupus Foundation of America, 5858 E. Molloy Rd., Mattydale, NY 13212.
Ruth Sichel Weinberg Speiser
Ruth Sichel Weinberg Speiser, 90, died on March 8 at Menorah Park. Born in New York Ctiy, she was a graduate of Hunter College and a member of Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. She continued her studies in counseling at Syracuse University. From 1966-80, she was a counselor at the Syracuse office of the Board of Labor. From 1980-89, she was a vocational rehabilitation counselor at the Department of Education in Utica. She was a former member of Temple Beth El, where she volunteered at bingo and enjoyed participating in musicals produced by the Sisterhood. She served on the boards of the Syracuse Symphony and Syracuse Jewish Family Service. She delivered Kosher Meals on Wheels for SJFS, was an active member of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas and was a dedicated volunteer at Crouse Hospital. She was predeceased by her husband, Allen, in 2007. She is survived by her sons, Jonathan (Lyn Paul) Weinberg, Stuart (Sherry) Weinberg and Howard (Abbie Ellicott) Weinberg; eight grandchildren; and a greatgranddaughter. Burial was in the Beth Sholom section of Oakwood Cemetery. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions may be made to the Allen Speiser Memorial Fund for Vocational Rehabilitation, c/o The Central New York Community Foundation, 431 E. Fayette St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13202 or at http://cnycf.org/cnycf.
From JTA
Ethiopian wins Jerusalem Marathon
A 26-year-old Ethiopian, Tadesse Dabi Yae, won the fifth annual Jerusalem Marathon. Dabi defeated some 25,000 runners from 60 countries in the March 13 race, The Jerusalem Post reported. His winning time of 2 hours, 18 minutes, 20 seconds was about 2 minutes slower than the record set last year by Ronald Kimeli Kurgat, 28, of Kenya, who won in 2:16:09. Some of the runners participating in the race, which began shortly after 6 am in order to prevent heat exhaustion, ran in groups, including those organized by Jewish organizations. Dror, a Beit Shemesh-based organization helping young girls achieve their potential through education and sports, sent a team of 126 runners. The Koby Mandell Foundation, which helps families that lost loved ones to terrorist attacks, had 60 runners.
Interfaith peace ring brings more than 1,000 to Copenhagen synagogue
More than 1,000 people formed a peace ring around a Copenhagen synagogue that came under deadly attack in February. Muslim, Jewish and Christian participants held hands and called for peace during the display of solidarity at the central Copenhagen shul, or Krystalgade Synagogue, on the afternoon of March 14, according to reports. On Feb. 14, a volunteer Jewish security guard, Dan Uzan, was shot and killed there by a lone Islamist gunman. Hours earlier, the same gunman killed one in a shooting at a free speech event at a cultural center in the Danish capital. The
Japanese
Japanese public,” Sudakevich told JTA. “The Jewish, kosher-observing community is too small to sustain this business.” Unlike Zuckerman’s Ta-im, which feels like a typical Tel Aviv hummus bar, complete with the Israeli pop radio station Galgalatz playing in the background, Chana’s Place fuses Middle Eastern cuisine with a local Japanese design, including a miniature Japanese garden. Sudakevich says he realized he would need to adapt hummus for the Japanese after he served the dish at an event he catered for an Israeli firm in Tokyo. Hummus is consumed typically by wiping the paste from a plate with pita bread, but the Japanese cut the bread into pieces and made tiny hummus sandwiches. “The Japanese marry an almost impossible mix of hunger for new stuff with a deep conservatism,” Sudakevich said. “If you want to serve them something new, you need to make sure you do it in familiar ways.” Roy Somech, a 33-year-old Israeli who last year opened his second restaurant in Sendai, 220 miles north of Tokyo, takes a different approach. Somech believes in totally immersing his patrons not only in the Israeli experience, but that of the entire Middle East. “When
To advertise, please contact Bonnie Rozen at 800-779-7896, ext. 244 or bonnie@ thereportergroup.org
gunman was killed in a shootout with police. Among the participants in the peace ring was Uzan’s father, as well as Denmark’s chief rabbi, Jair Melchior, and government ministers Morten Ostergaard and Sofie Carsten-Nielsen. The ring was the initiative of Niddal El-Jabri, a Copenhagen Muslim who told the news website thelocal.dk that he wanted Jews to feel safe and welcome in the city. Police had cited security concerns for rejecting the original request for such a rally, which was made a week after the shootings. The Copenhagen organizers duplicated a similar initiative that took place in February in Oslo, where reports said that more than 1,000 people, including many Muslims, formed a human chain around a synagogue in a show of support for Jews. A separate Danish Muslim group held a peace vigil in Copenhagen’s City Hall Square on Feb. 27 that was attended by an estimated 300 people, thelocal.dk reported.
Boulder
Continued from page 13 beginning in the 1930s. “We have to think about how we deal with Holocaust denial literature,” Shneer said. “Libraries are afraid of the material. We can’t just put it on shelves without context. How do we deal with this?” Once the Mazal collection is categorized and digitized, the university plans to make it accessible to researchers all over the world by putting it online. Some of the collection’s 20,000 books will end up on the library’s shelves. Rare and one-of-a-kind volumes will be preserved in the university’s 60,000-square foot archive. Continued from page 12 you come to our restaurants you find three flags: Israel, Turkey and Tunisia,” Somech said. “There’s Arab and Israeli music, there’s hookahs – all the fun stuff of the Middle East and Israel that many Japanese don’t know because they only hear of terrorism and bombs from that part of the world.” Somech says he receives approximately 200 patrons daily at his two restaurants in Sendai and that 70 percent of them are returning customers. The Israeli restaurants are able to supply their patrons with fresh pita thanks to the only bakery in the country that produces the flatbread, an operation set up a decade ago by the Israeli entrepreneur Amnon Agasy. But white tahini, the sesame spread that is a key ingredient of hummus, must be specially imported – a constraint that has 3.5 ounces of hummus selling in Japan for about $6. “There’s demand for hummus, sure,” said Somech, who opened his first restaurant, Middle Mix, five years ago. But, he added, in a country where even cheap street food is expected to meet strict standards, and whose capital city has more Michelin stars than Paris, “competition is very, very tough.”
Proudly serving Syracuse for 81 years, with dignity, integrity and honesty
1909 East Fayette St., Syracuse, NY 13210 • 315.472.5291 • 1.800.472.5182 Martin J. Birnbaum* Elaine R. Birnbaum* Joel M. Friedman * Also Licensed in Florida
Know
Continued from page 14 Studies have shown that those attending Birthright trips are more likely to marry within the faith. More information can be found on the Taglit-Birthright Israel website, www. birthrightisrael.com. My own children, who are now 18 and 20, are interested in going, even though we traveled as a family in 2007. Universities often organize groups of students together and apply for the same dates to encourage friendships and community of their school for the trips.
Ê
JEWISH OBSERVER
Visit the JO online at jewishfederationcny.org and click on Jewish Observer
email: birnbaumfs@cnymail.com www.birnbaumfuneralserviceinc.com
16
JEWISH OBSERVER ■ march 19, 2015/28 ADAR 5775