14 AV 5779 • AUGUST 15, 2019 • VOLUME XXXX, NUMBER 16 • PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID, SYRACUSE, NY
Jewish Community Foundation adds $300,000 to Federation 2019 Campaign BY MICHAEL BALANOFF The Jewish Community Foundation of Central New York held its 18th annual meeting on July 16. Foundation Chair Neil Bronstein said, “This was a celebration of the Foundation’s continued success in raising money for the benefit of the Jewish community’s short- and long-term future. An amazing and talented number of people passionate about and committed to the success of the future of the Jewish community started this Foundation that was long thought to be important – but never brought to fruition until almost 20 years ago. The faith our founders and supporters and contributors had and continue to display in the community and its future have led to the Foundation’s continued success. That faith has paid off: “From zero, they established 118 donor advised funds. “From zero, they established 78 endowment funds. “From zero, they established 37 legacy funds valued in excess of $3 million. “From zero, they established nine
agency funds. “From zero, we administer almost $18.5 million in assets. “From zero, over $300,000 was added to the Federation’s annual Campaign.” Elected to serve a four-year term were: Jeffry Berman, Stephen Davis, Vicki Feldman, Neil Goldberg, Victor Hershdorfer, Sheldon Kruth, Lois Ross, Phillip Rubenstein and Jeffrey Scheer. Officers elected were: Neil Bronstein, board chair; Lynn Smith, vice chair; Steven Miron, financial vice president; Howard Port, treasurer and Mark Field, secretary. Under the leadership of Bronstein and its Investment Committee, led by Steve Miron, as well as so many other committed volunteers who serve on the board and various committees, the Foundation is flourishing, and its future looks even brighter. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of the Foundation and contributed to its growth. Michael Balanoff is the Foundation’s executive director.
NCJW to present 47th annual Hannah G. Solomon Award to Cantor Esa Jaffe
United Synagogue Youth and BY VICKI FELDMAN is a graduate of the Syracuse The National Council of JewHebrew Day School and the ish Women, Greater Syracuse Rabbi Jacob Epstein Hebrew Section At-Large, will present High School. the 2019 Hannah G. Solomon She began her professional Award to Cantor Esa Jaffe, of life at Temple Adath Yeshurun, Manlius, at a luncheon on Monafter returning to Syracuse day, September 16, at Pascale at with her husband, Chaim. She Drumlins, 800 Nottingham Rd., first worked as a teacher in the Syracuse. Registration will start religious school and as youth at 11:30 am, with the luncheon advisor, and later became the Esa Jaffe and program beginning at noon director of education, a job sharp and ending by 1:30 pm. she held for eight years, after which, she Reservations are $36 per person. The Hannah G. Solomon Award is a transitioned to the job of ba’alat tefillah. She taught music at the Syracuse Henational award presented by individual sections of NCJW. This is the 47th year of brew Day School first, in the late 1990s the Syracuse Hannah G. Solomon Award. and early 2000s, and has taught Judaic “The award is named for the founder of music there for the past three years. She NCJW and is given to women who have also taught at the Epstein School during demonstrated exceptional service to both her career. Through her role as clergy the Jewish community and the communi- in the community, she has also been inty-at-large,” said organizers of the event, volved with the creation and running of “and Esa has made a commitment to the Syracuse Community Hebrew School. improving the quality of life in Syracuse.” Along with the other local cantors, Jaffe Jaffe has been a multi-faceted member has had a role in the community’s Yom of the Syracuse Jewish and music com- Ha’atzmaut celebration organizing the munities for most of her life. She grew up musical portion of the program, and the See “Jaffe” on page 4 at Temple Adath Yeshurun, was active in
Boichik to headline 20th annual Syracuse Jewish Music and Cultural Festival BY VICKI FELDMAN Back by popular demand, the band Boichik, featuring Cantor Kari and Joe Eglash, will appear on the Price Chopper stage at 3 pm at the 20th annual Syracuse Jewish Music and Cultural Festival on Sunday, September 15, from 12-5:30 pm, at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center. JMAC organizers are “excited to have the band back after its festival debut in 2017, once again performing toe-tapping, contemporary arrangements of familiar Jewish music.” Cantor Kari Siegel Eglash joined Temple Concord in July 2014 and serves as cantor and director of education. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, she was ordained in 2001 by the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion. Her journey to the cantorate took her from Beloit College, where she earned her bachelor’s in history, to Tata, Hungary, where she taught English to high school students, to five years in the business world of investment and finance. Through all these experiences, her love of Judaism, history, teaching and music remained strong and led her to her true calling – the life of a cantor.
Joe Eglash has had a lifelong passion and love for music. He is a guitarist/ multi-instrumentalist, accompanist, editor, arranger and composer in Syracuse, and studied classical guitar with Jeffrey Van at the University of Minnesota. He taught guitar professionally for many years and has a bachelor’s degree in Judaic studies from Brooklyn College. Formerly the managing director of Transcontinental Music Publications and Union for Reform Judaism Press, music/ book publishing divisions of the Union for Reform Judaism, he has hundreds of publications to his credit. In 2015, he returned to Transcontinental Music as its first director under American Conference of Cantors ownership. Under his leadership, the first Jewish music licensing agency, JLicense, was created and was launched in 2017. Independent musical artists, small businesses and publishers know him as a jack-of-all-trades designer, consultant, composor, engraver and publisher. He is considered an authority in the Jewish music industry, and is a consultant of musical repertoire, marketing and building congregational instrumental ensembles. His T’filah Band songbook series, containing See “Festival” on page 4
The band Boichik will headline the 20th annual Syracuse Jewish Music and Cultural Festival on September 15 at the JCC campus. L-r: Joe Eglash, John Martin, Cantor Kari Siegel Eglash and Steve Fleury.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE So-Long summer camp Congregational notes
Safe Haven
The Jewish Community Center will Local synagogues announce The Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee hold its So-Long Summer vacation programs, dinners, film showings Shelter museum is planning an and more. camp in late August. open house on September 3. Stories on page 4 Story on page 2 Story on page 5
PLUS Seniors...................................... 5 Calendar Highlights............... 6 D’var Torah............................... 6 Obituaries................................. 7
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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ AUGUST 15, 2019/14 AV 5779
JCC’s So-Long Summer vacation camp starts August 26 BY WILLIAM WALLAK Let your child enjoy “a ton of fun and excitement” during the final week of summer vacation. The Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center will offer its So-Long Summer vacation camp for school-age children entering grades kindergarten through six from August 26-30 and September 3. The camp will run from 9 am-4 pm at the JCC of Syracuse, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. Early- and late-care options are available to extend each day from 7 am-6 pm. Half-day options are also available most days. Children may attend just one day or up to all six days that the camp will be offered. Amy Bisnett, JCC associate director of children’s programming, said, “With so many cool things planned, each day will be like one big adventure for the children. We’ll be going on some field
trips, and we’re going to get everyone moving and having fun with activities like arts and crafts, games, swimming, sports and more.” The camp will feature a variety of age-appropriate indoor and outdoor activities, as well as a special Pokémon theme day on Monday, August 26. Field trips to the New York State Fair for the older children and Rosamond Gifford Zoo are also planned. All campers should bring seasonally appropriate clothing for outdoor activities, including sneakers, swimsuit and towel, hat and sun screen. Full-day campers are asked to bring a non-meat lunch. An afternoon snack will be provided. Prices start at $32 per child for the halfday program and $50 for a full day for JCC members. A sibling discount is also offered. Registration will continue right up until and throughout the camp, space
Word Mavens at The Oaks At right: Philadelphia-based humorists and authors Ellen Scolnic (left) and Joyce Eisenberg, known as The Word Mavens, shared anecdotes and “playful definitions” of favorite Yiddish expressions at this year’s Auxiliary at Menorah Park summer fund-raiser held on July 28 at The Oaks. Audience members were quizzed about the meanings and pronunciations of Yiddish phrases, and the authors of “A Dictionary of Jewish Words” and “The Whole Spiel” stumped the attendees once or twice.
permitting. Current JCC membership or program enrollment is not required to enroll your child.
For more information and to obtain a registration form, call 315-445-2360 or visit www.jccsyr.org.
The Jewish Observer Campaign The Jewish Federation of Central New York’s newspaper, the Jewish Observer of CNY, is asking its communities to support its JO Appeal Campaign, which seeks to raise $35,000 to assist the newspaper. To date, we have raised half that amount. The JO is the only Jewish newspaper in Syracuse and its surrounding communities. It supplements synagogue newsletters, bulletins and e-mails, and is delivered to all known Jewish households in the region. As with all newspapers, its publishing costs have “increased dramatically” over the years – although the newspaper continues to be provided free to members of the Jewish community. The Federation substantially funds the JO annually. Readers are asked to help subsidize a small percentage of these expenses and continue bringing the JO to every identified Jewish household in the area. The newspaper is delivered bi-weekly (except for the single-issue months of July and December). It contains a variety
of material – opinions and columns on issues that affect the local communities, Israel and world Jewry, publicity for events and programs held by Federation’s and the Jewish community’s affiliated agencies and organizations, life-cycle events, letters to the editor, holiday recipes, the Jewish community calendar and other columns. It can also be read online on Federation’s website, www.jewishfederationcny.org. The Federation is asking each member of the community to join the effort to keep the JO viable. Send your check to the Jewish Federation of CNY, 5655 Thompson Rd., Syracuse, NY 13214, and mark it “JO” or visit the Federation website (www.jewishfederationcny.org.) and click on the button, Donate Now. “Your gift to fund the JO matters a great deal, and please know that we gratefully accept your financial support,” said Federation President/CEO Michael Balanoff.
NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org
U.S. senators call on Poland to pay Holocaust victims for property stolen by Nazis
A bipartisan group of 88 U.S. senators signed a letter on Aug. 5 to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, asking him to “act boldly and with urgency to help Poland resolve this issue comprehensively” of compensating Holocaust victims whose property was stolen by German Nazis. Crediting Pompeo with raising the issue in a statement in February about the matter, the senators said they were “deeply troubled” with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki responding that the issue has been “resolved.” “Now is the time, while the last Holocaust survivors are still alive, to back up our words with meaningful action,” wrote the senators. “We encourage you to pursue bold initiatives to help Poland to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Dan Sullivan (R-AL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Richard Shelby (R-AL) did not sign the letter.
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AROUND CENTRAL NEW YORK THE LEADERS OF OUR JEWISH FUTURE
Ken Steiger, Jay Sinclair and Art Diamond BY BARBARA SHEKLIN DAVIS “Leaders lead because there is work to do, there are people in need, there is injustice to be fought, there is wrong to be righted, there are problems to be solved and challenges ahead.” These words, by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, apply most appropriately to all those who assume leadership positions in the Jewish community. They are certainly true of three men who this year are ascending to the helms of four of our community’s most important Jewish institutions: Temple Concord, the Syracuse Hebrew Day School, Menorah Park and Jewish Family Service. Ken Steiger, newly-elected president of Temple Concord, did not at first believe he was the right person for the job. When asked to take the position, he said, “I thought about it briefly, about why I should not. And then said yes.” His decision to take the helm of the 180-year-old congregation at a critical time in its history is fortuitous. Steiger moved to Syracuse in Ken Steiger 1984 with his wife Kate to serve as executive director of the Syracuse Symphony. Kate was a teacher in the city school district. Steiger had an M.B.A. in arts administration and had worked previously with the Casper, WY, Symphony. He then switched careers from music to corporate training. As project manager and vice president for operations with a local company, he served clients around the country and then struck out on his own in the field of organizational and leadership development and talent management. Now retired, he can devote time to his new duties. He grew up on Long Island in a classical Reform congregation. He became bar mitzvah and was confirmed in Temple Sinai in the Five Towns. In perhaps a foreshadowing of his future, he recalls that his bar mitzvah took place in a Masonic Lodge, as the temple was being renovated. Kate Steiger was raised Episcopalian. When Steiger and she were to be married, they went to counseling with Steiger’s rabbi, and decided that it was not necessary for Kate to convert. But Steiger wanted to raise their children in the Jewish faith, so that they would have a sense of identity and belonging. Once they arrived in Central New York, they joined Temple Concord to provide their sons with a Jewish education. As the bar mitzvah of their older son Alex approached, Kate decided to convert so that she could fully participate in the rituals and ceremony. Both Alex and his brother,
Drew, became bar mitzvah and were confirmed at Temple Concord. Sadly, Kate passed away in 2016. After being elected, Steiger participated in the Reform Movement’s Scheidt seminar for new congregational presidents. He found it inspiring and was particularly struck by the idea that people are attracted by why you do what you do, rather than what you do, because the “why” appeals to the heart, rather than the head. “When you reach people with what matters to them, at the heart level, they’ll be more connected, loyal, enthusiastic,” he said. The “why” is very important to him. He struggled with understanding his motivation to take on the temple presidency. “I’ve got skills and a million reasons not to,” he said. He believed at first that he took on the position in emulation of his parents. “My parents were volunteers and leaders. They served; they had a sense of service.” He had likewise volunteered, served as a board member and then assumed board leadership; but ultimately, he came to the realization that “My real why is Kate. Kate wasn’t Jewish, but she chose to be Jewish to support her family. I want to, I need to honor that. We buried her in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Jewish tradition. I would be very sad if, because I chose not to step up, Temple Concord failed and wasn’t around for the rest of eternity.” Steiger’s goals for his presidency are to assure that the congregation achieves both financial and structural stability. He wants to address unsustainable deficits and reliance on reserves and endowments. He wants to provide succession planning and transparency to ensure that staff is supported and that clergy and the board are supported in their work. He wants to work to enhance membership, philanthropy and event planning. It is an ambitious agenda, but Steiger believes his skill set, the temple’s strongly committed board and the congregation’s enthusiasm will help Temple Concord find the answers it needs for its future. Incoming Syracuse Hebrew Day School President Jay Sinclair arrived in Syracuse from London five years ago with his wife, Anick, and their three sons. They settled into Central New York seamlessly and happily. The company that Jay works for has developed the world’s first proton linear accelerator with technology derived from the Large Hadron Collider in Jay Sinclair Switzerland, the largest physics experiment the world has ever seen. This treatment is used in the field of radiation oncology.
Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center senior dining menu AUGUST 19-23 Monday – dinner – orange glazed Cornish hen Tuesday – spaghetti and meatballs Wednesday – tuna sandwich Thursday – beef chili Friday – salmon with dill AUGUST 26-30 Monday – dinner – salmon croquettes Tuesday – hamburgers with sautéed onions Wednesday – macaroni and cheese Thursday – sweet and sour meatballs over rice Friday – Marsala meatballs over rice 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 Tuesday through Friday at noon. Dinners are served on Mondays at 5 pm throughout the summer through August 28, thanks in part, to the Dr. Morton
Hebrew InterestFree Loan
The Jewish Federation of Central New York has instituted the Hebrew Interest-Free Loan program to help Jewish people get past a temporary financial need. To learn more about the program or to see if you qualify, visit the Federation’s website, www. jewishfederationcny.org.
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and Mrs. Libby Maloff Summer Senior Dinner program. Reservations for dinner are required by the Wednesday before each dinner. Lunch reservations are required by noon on the previous business day. There is a suggested contribution per meal. The menu is subject to change. The program is funded by a grant from the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth and the New York State Office for the Aging, with additional funds provided by the JCC. To attend, one need not be Jewish or a member of the JCC. For further information or to make a reservation, contact Cindy Stein at 315-445-2360, ext. 104, or cstein@jccsyr.org.
Sinclair’s role is to establish North America’s first clinical install and the creation of collaborative research and development projects with academic medical centers. Growing up in a large, traditional Jewish family in London has many benefits, and being an engaged member of the community is something Sinclair learned from a young age from both his parents. Getting involved, whether in an official capacity or personally, was never an option; it was expected. Having both parents heavily involved in the Reform movement, as well as the Orthodox community, it was inevitable that Jewish Continuity See “Leaders” on page 6
Let’s give it up to chants
“Let’s Give It Up to Chants,” a Jewish chant circle begun by Maggid Jim Brulé, Lisa Levens and Cantor Paula Pepperstone, will meet for the second time on Monday, August 19, from 7-8 pm, in the Community Room at Menorah Park. For more information, contact Lisa Levens at eraina9@ gmail.com.
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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ AUGUST 15, 2019/14 AV 5779
CONGREGATIONAL NOTES Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas CBS-CS SUMMER FILM SERIES CONTINUES This summer, Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas presented a selection of films that examine the lives of Jewish Americans in the 20th century. Remaining screenings include “The Jazz Singer” (1980) on Wednesday, August 21, and “Keeping the Faith” on Wednesday, August 28. Screenings are free and open to the public. Contact manager@cbscs.org for more information. Reservations are requested.
Festival
arrangements of liturgical music for synagogue band and choir, was published by Tara Publications. His music can be found on Spotify, iTunes and Amazon. Completing the band are Steve Fleury (bass) and John Martin (drums). Performances by West of Odessa, the Keyna Hora Klezmer Band performing “A Day at the Yiddish Theatre” and Farah are also scheduled throughout the afternoon. For complete details, visit the festival website at www.SyracuseJewishFestival.org. Past festival attendees have been heard saying, “the whole community loves this festival,” “We love that the afternoon is for everyone – families, children and adults,” and “I’ve seen so many people I have not seen in a long time!” The food tent will offer a place to relax and listen to the music while enjoying Va’ad-supervised kosher foods that reflect Middle
Jaffe
CBS-CS BACK TO SHUL BBQ Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas will hold its annual Back to Shul barbecue on Monday, September 2, from 4-6 pm. The event features kosher barbecue prepared by CBS-CS members. CBS-CS will collect school supplies for a Syracuse public school, food for the Food Pantry and toiletries for Operation Soap Dish. Donations are appreciated. For more information or to make a reservation, e-mail manager@cbscs.org. Continued from page 1
Eastern and Eastern European favorites by The Oaks Catering, as well as beer and wine. A variety of artisans and vendors will be on hand selling their goods, and there will be free parking on and around the JCC campus. Kids’ activities will include activities in the kids’ tent hosted by the Jewish Community Center; the Robert Rogers Puppet Theater; face painting; and PJ Library®. These sponsors provide support to keep JMAC free of charge: Price Chopper; the Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation; Pomeranz, Shankman, Martin Charitable Foundation, Inc.; Jewish Federation of Central New York; Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center; a state grant secured by Senator John A. DeFrancisco; Paul B. and Georgina H. Roth Charitable Foundation; Jewish Observer; CNY Arts; M&T Bank and KeyBank.
Continued from page 1
performance with Symphoria and the Syracuse Pops Chorus in 2018. In April 2019, she fulfilled all the requirements to assume the role of cantor/ hazzan by the Cantors Assembly, affiliated with the Conservative/Masorti movement. She has been able to draw on her history at Temple Adath Yeshurun to maintain its musical traditions while, at the same time, building new ones. A trained singer with a master’s degree in voice performance from Syracuse University, she also holds a master’s degree in Jewish communal service from the Hornstein Program at Brandeis University, with a concentration in Jewish education, as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brandeis. She has sung with many groups in the
community, including the Syracuse Opera, Syracuse Vocal Ensemble and Syracuse University Oratorio Society. She served on the board of the Syracuse Hebrew Day School. She is married to Chaim Jaffe, the president of Temple Adath Yeshurun. They have four children. At the Hannah G. Solomon luncheon, the Greater Syracuse Section At-Large of National Council of Jewish Women will continue its efforts on behalf of youngsters in Central New York. Guests are asked to bring children’s items to donate to McCarthy@Beard, a program run by the Syracuse City School District. For more information, or to make a reservation and/or send a tribute card honoring Esa, contact Marlene Holstein at 315-446-7648 by Monday, September 9.
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Temple Adath Yeshurun CONGREGATIONAL DINNER BY SONALI MCINTYRE Temple Adath Yeshurun will host a congregational dinner on Sunday, August 25, at 6 pm. The dinner presents an opportunity for members of the congregation and community to meet Rabbi Yehoshua Zehavi and his family, and welcome them to TAY and the larger Syracuse Jewish community. At 5:15 pm, young families and children are invited to meet on the playground at Rothschild Early Childhood Center. Evening services will be held at 5:30 pm in the Miron Family Chapel, with the dinner beginning at 6 pm. Reservations for the dinner are required. The cost is $12 per person age 4 and older, free for children 3 and younger, and there is a $45 household maximum for those living at the same address. The meal will feature oven-fried chicken, sides and dessert. For more information or to make a reservation, contact the TAY office at 315-445-0002 or info@adath.org, or visit www.adath.org to register online. JEWISH PATHS TO BUILDING CHARACTER WITH RABBI ZEHAVI BY SONALI MCINTYRE Temple Adath Yeshurun Rabbi Yehoshua Zehavi will lead a program, “Jewish Paths to Building Character,” over four sessions to be held on Thursdays, August 22, August 29, September 5 and September 12, at 7 pm. Participants will study, discuss and reflect, as well as engage practical tools to build character. The rabbi said, “Many of us seek wisdom and practices to grow as people. We search for guidance from many sources and in many forms. But few of us are aware that Judaism contains a discipline known as Musar that has been used for over a thousand years to strengthen personal character, increase joy and instill spirituality. This work is enriching at any time of year and is particularly empowering ahead of the difficult soul-searching of the High Holy Days.” On Saturday, September 21, at 7 pm, participants can share some of their exploration with the wider community before the Selichot service. The free program is open to the community, but registration is requested for appropriate planning. To register, contact the TAY office at 315-445-0002 or info@ adath.org, or visit www.adath.org. SUMMER CINEMA – “PROSECUTING EVIL: THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD OF BEN FERENCZ” BY SONALI MCINTYRE On Wednesday, August 28, at 7 pm, Temple Adath Yeshurun will present “Prosecuting Evil: the Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz” as part of its summer cinema series. This documentary tells the story of Ben Ferencz, the last surviving prosecutor of the Nuremberg Trials, and a lifelong advocate of “law not war.” This is the story of one man’s lifelong quest for justice for victims of crimes against
At right, l-r: Marcia and David Mizruchi, Nadine Berk and Eileen Blair were among TAY Hazak members who attended an outdoor concert at Ryder Park following a pizza party at Trappers on July 18.
humanity, a concept Ferencz was instrumental in developing after the Nuremberg Trials after World War II. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1943, Ferencz enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the 115th AAA Gun Battalion. In 1945, he was transferred to the headquarters of General Patton’s Third Army where he was assigned to a team tasked with setting up a war crimes branch and collecting evidence for these crimes. In this role, Ferencz was sent to the concentration camps as they were liberated by the U.S. Army and was assigned to collect all the evidence of the crimes for future trials. The first camp was Buchenwald, and what he saw traumatized him for the rest of his life and fueled his desire to hold accountable those responsible for such crimes against humanity. Though it was his first case, 27-year-old Ferencz became the chief prosecutor for the United States in the Einsatzgruppen Case, the ninth of the 12 trials that followed the International Military Tribunal prosecution against German Field Marshal Herman Goering and other leading Nazis. Ferencz’s trip to the concentration camps led him to gather enough incriminating evidence to prosecute 22 Einsatzgruppen Nazis responsible for murdering more than a million people. It was called “the biggest murder trial in history.” Following the trials, he proceeded to advocate for restitution for Jewish victims of the Holocaust and later, the establishment of the International Criminal Court. He published several books on the subject, and in 2009 won the Erasmus Prize, awarded to individuals or institutions that have made notable contributions to European culture, society or social science. In April 2017, the municipality of The Hague announced that the city would honor him by naming the footpath next to the Peace Palace after him as “one of the figureheads of international justice.” Much of the documentary film includes archival footage and photos. Interviews featuring the “top minds” working in the fields of human and civil rights and international justice, such as Alan Dershowitz (an American civil liberties and criminal defense lawyer, and regular CNN and Fox News contributor and political analyst), Henrike Claussen (director of the Nuremberg Trials Memorial), David Scheffer (the first U.S. ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues) and Don Ferencz (son of Ben Ferencz, and founder and convener of the Global Institute for the Prevention of Aggression) are also included. The 82-minute film is directed and produced by documentary filmmaker Barry Avrich. The free program is open to the community and is subsidized by the Abraham and Anita Altman Adult Education Fund. For more information about this program and other TAY events, e-mail info@adath. org, call the TAY office at 315-445-0002, or visit www.adath.org.
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JEWISH OBSERVER
Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter museum open house on September 3 On Tuesday, September 3, there will be a free open house from 10 am-9 pm at the Safe Haven Refugee Shelter. Located at the Fort Ontario State Historic Site in Oswego, the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum commemorates the open house held at the fort on September 3, 1944, and the September 5, 1944, arrival of the train carrying 982 Holocaust refugees to the Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter. This refugee shelter is the only camp for Holocaust victims located in the United States during World War II. In 1944, there was an open house to celebrate the end of the 30-day quarantine imposed on the Fort Ontario refugees upon their arrival by ship in New York City on August 3, 1944. For the first time since the refugees
arrived at Fort Ontario, the shelter was opened to Oswego residents and others to enter and observe refugee living conditions and activities. The open house also marked the beginning of a pass system enabling refugees to leave the shelter on a short-term basis. On Tuesday, September 3, from 10 am-5 pm, there will be free admission to the old stone fort and the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum. The open house will include daytime self-guided walking tours of the former shelter using 1944-46 photographs and plans. At 10:30 am and 2 pm, Fort Ontario Historian Corey S. King will leaded guided tours of the shelter utilizing the map of open house activities issued to guests on September 3, 1944. Tours will begin at the refugee
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monument located by the Lake Ontario overlook parking lot. King will incorporate 1944-46 photographs taken at the locations of stops on the tour. From 5-9 pm, the old stone fort will be open at no charge for a program of evening speakers, music, refreshments, games and a sky lantern launch. The fort will remain open until dark for special programming. The Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum is located at 2 East 7th St., Oswego. For more information on the Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter, or 75th Anniversary commemorative events, contact Historic Site Manager Paul Lear at 315-3434711, the Friends of Fort Ontario Facebook page, or visit www.fortontario.com.
Four ways to remain mentally sharp in retirement (NAPSI) – Many retirees share a fear of gradually losing their ability to think as clearly as they used to or remember simple information such as other people’s names. And while everyone has the occasional “senior moment,” medical research indicates that aging by itself is generally not a cause of cognitive decline. “Studies have shown that you can help prevent cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia with some basic good health habits,” according to Harvard Medical School’s Healthbeat newsletter. Here are four simple steps from www.LISA.org to keep your mind sharp at any age: 1. Exercise: It’s important to stay physically active. Simple routines such as taking exercise classes at your health club or taking walks in your neighborhood every day can do wonders for your mental health. Just get moving. “The cognitive benefits of exercise have been understood for so long,” notes the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. 2. Serve: Research published by the American Psychological Association found that volunteering in later life “is associated with significant psychosocial, physical, cognitive and functional benefits for healthy older adults.” Science is now confirming what many have learned by experience:
People often feel better after they have served others and enjoyed the time spent helping someone else. 3. Learn: Experts think that ongoing education and learning new things may help keep you mentally sharp simply by getting you in the habit of staying mentally active. Take a class from a senior center or community college, make it a habit to visit the library and pick up a new book each week. “Challenging your brain with mental exercise is believed to activate processes that help maintain individual brain cells and stimulate communication among them,” according to Harvard Medical School. 4. Finances: A study published by The Journals of Gerontology found that “financial strain was a strong and robust predictor of worsening mental health” among older adults, including anxiety and depression symptoms. Another way to help keep yourself mentally healthy in retirement is to make sure you have ample cash on hand to help pay off unexpected health care bills or fund any renovations that might need to be made to your home. Many seniors are surprised to learn that one potential asset for generating immediate cash is a life insurance policy. A life insurance policy is considered your personal property and – as such – you have the right to sell that
policy anytime you like. When a consumer sells a policy in a “life settlement” transaction, the policy owner receives a cash payment and the purchaser of the policy assumes all future premium payments – then receives the death benefit upon the death of the insured. Candidates for life settlements are typically aged 70 years or older, with a life insurance policy that has a death benefit of at least $100,000. To learn more about life settlements, visit www.LISA. org, call the LISA office at 888-672-3917, or talk to your financial or insurance advisor.
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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ AUGUST 15, 2019/14 AV 5779
D’VAR TORAH
Are 10 enough? BY RABBI IRVIN S. BEIGEL “The only thing that you have to do to be a good person is to obey the Ten Commandments.” I have heard that statement, or a variation of it, many times. Usually, it is reported as a teaching learned from a parent or grandparent and, usually, it implies that the rest of religion, the teachings of Judaism in particular, are not especially important. The notion that living according to the Ten Commandments is sufficient to make one a moral and ethical human being is widespread, but is it true? It is worth exploring the question. The answer turns out to be not so simple. There is no doubt that the world would be a better place if, for example, the prohibition of committing murder were more widely adhered to. But what constitutes murder? The Ten Commandments found in Exodus and again, with slight variations, in parasha Vaetchanan do not tell us. In other passages, the Torah suggests that killing another person in self-defense is permissible. The rabbis make it clear that taking the life of another person in self-defense is permissible, but only as a last resort, when our life is endangered and no other options are available. How we deal with such critical questions as abortion and end-of-life medical care is influenced by the belief that human life is sacred; but is abortion murder or is withdrawal of treatment at the end of life considered murder? Specific responses require an understanding of other biblical passages and talmudic and post-talmudic writings. All these sources provide insight and greater understanding. If it were up to each person to define murder as he or she sees fit, one can imagine – or better yet – look to history, to see the consequences. Without the details, we are left with platitudes, subject to an endless variety of interpretations. When I am told that all one needs to do is obey the
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.
Friday, August 16 Temple Concord Shabbat service at Clark Reservation at 6 pm, followed by dinner Saturday, August 17 Temple Adath Yeshurun Casual Shabbaton by the Garden at 9:15 am Sunday, August 18 SJFS Views on Aging series film screening and discussion, “20th Century Women,” at Menorah Park at 3 pm Monday, August 19 Talmud class with Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone at Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas from 12-1 pm Tuesday, August 20 Epstein board meeting at 6:30 pm Wednesday, August 21 Lunch and Learn at The Bistro at noon CBS-CS summer film series presents “The Jazz Singer” at 7 pm Temple Adath Yeshurun board meeting at 7:30 pm Thursday, August 22 Meet Up with Rabbi Zehavi at DeWitt Wegmans Café at 1 pm Saturday, August 24 TC Cinemagogue presents the film, “The Infidel,” at 7:30 pm Sunday, August 25 STOCS Tea and Torah at 4:30 pm TAY chicken dinner (RSVP required) at 6 pm Monday, August 26 Talmud class with Rabbi Pepperstone at Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas from 12-1 pm Wednesday, August 28 Deadline for September 12 Jewish Observer TAY presents the film “Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz” at 7 pm CBS-CS presents the film “Keeping the Faith” at 7 pm Friday, August 30 TC Welcome back SU Outdoor Service and Dinner Monday, September 2 CBS-CS Back-to-Shul barbecue at 4 pm Tuesday, September 3 Safe Haven open house at the Refugee Shelter at Fort Ontario State Historic Site from 10 am-9 pm. Various activities. Free admission. TC High Holiday preparation with Rabbi Daniel Fellman at12:30 pm
Decalogue (by the way, these 10 declarations are never referred to as “commandments” in Jewish sources), I always wonder what meaning is given to the fourth statement, “Observe the Sabbath to keep it holy.” There is no doubt that, along with the dietary laws (kashrut), Shabbat is a pillar of Jewish life and, arguably, of Jewish survival. Jewish survival without Shabbat is a survival without meaning. The notion of “Sabbath” has been adopted by other religions and by individuals who see a need for a day of “rest,” or a day away from modern technology. The details of what the Torah means by Sabbath observance, however, are not obvious from a cursory reading of Deuteronomy 5:12-15. Although most details of Jewish Sabbath observance are found in the Talmud and later sources, a fundamental principle can be learned from a close reading of verses following the injunction to observe the Sabbath. We are commanded not to do “m’lacha” on the seventh day. That same word is used in Genesis to describe God’s work of creation. It is not “work,” but creative activity that is prohibited by the Torah. Six days a week, we build and shape the world around us. On the seventh day, Jews are commanded to
Leaders
(the official name for a program founded by former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks and chaired by his father, Dr. Michael Sinclair) was not only happening within his own family, but also within the wider Anglo-Jewish community at large. The Sinclairs felt that they should immediately get involved not only with their congregation, Sha’arei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse, but also the wider Jewish community in Syracuse. “This included the Syracuse Hebrew Day School, where two of our boys have attended for the last five years (one having just graduated),” Sinclair said. “Our kids did attend a Jewish day school in London, so we are familiar with the importance of elementary Jewish education within the wider community and how imperative it is both for its survival and growth. “The Syracuse Hebrew Day School is remarkable,” said Sinclair, “accepting students from across the Jewish divide and further. Its mission is to teach, inspire and nurture future leaders of our community through an unparalleled academic experience guided by Jewish studies and values.” He noted that the day school had gone through a period of change recently, and his presidency coincides with Laura Lavine assuming the head of school position. Sinclair said, “Having met Laura during the recruitment phase for a new head of school, I know that with her leadership, we will achieve a school of primarily academic excellence. We are both aligned in our commitment to increase enrollment, recruit and retain the best teachers and put our finances onto a long-term sustainable foundation. Transparency is paramount in my endeavor to increase recruitment and financial stability. The interest and engagement of the whole community and its agencies should be sought, and all should be aware of our future plans and do what they can to aid us in this undertaking.” Sinclair hopes to actively engage others in his work and said, “I have met, through the board and various committees, some extraordinary people with amazing talents – talents that SHDS could very much benefit from.” Looking ahead, Sinclair said, “I hope that I can encourage and engage people to get involved. It is unbelievably rewarding to give of yourself, your talents, your time and your commitment to something other than yourself. I hope [that] when that phone rings, you will pick up and start a conversation with me – because with a strong Jewish day school, we have a strong Jewish community.” As well as the priorities mentioned above, Sinclair looks forward to the next few years “working alongside colleagues new and old. Engaging with fellow community agencies and synagogues to not only continue the important and valuable work, but further strengthen that which binds us all, our love of our children, their education and the ultimate nurturing into our future communal leaders. SHDS is a shining beacon of community engagement, and it is because of our challenges that we should celebrate that which is unique, a school supported by all agencies and synagogues in our dynamic Jewish community.” He added, “The decisions we take, the actions we prioritize and the foundations we set now will impact and affect this community years after both our kids have left the school. Taking on this role, president of the Board of Directors for the Syracuse Hebrew Day School, is more than just as an invested parent. It is with a strong sense of civic and communal
step back from our God-like role as creators and recognize that we are not God, but we are also not like God’s other creations. Shabbat is a day to assert our humanity. Shabbat is a day to refresh ourselves and strengthen our relationship to God, family and community. As with the prohibition of homicide, the essential and practical details of Sabbath observance are not explicitly stated in the Decalogue. Neither the significance nor the joy of Shabbat is more than hinted at in the passage before us. My colleague, Rabbi Wayne Allen, points out in his book, “Prescription for an Ailing World,” that Judaism obligates us to a daily regimen intended to teach and habituate us to act in accord with the values of the Torah. The brilliance of our tradition is in those details, not merely in the grand ideals. So, is it true that all that a good person (or a committed Jew) needs to do is obey the Ten Commandments? I will let you decide. Shabbat shalom! Rabbi Irvin S. Beigel, a member of Shaarei Torah, serves as Jewish chaplain at Crouse Hospital, Hutchings Psychiatric Center and Loretto, and as associate chaplain at Upstate University Hospital.
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responsibility, a desire to affect change, positively for all and not just for the few.” The new president of Menorah Park and Jewish Family Service is Art Diamond, owner of Property Restoration Inc. in Syracuse and Disaster Clean Up in Binghamton, companies that specialize in fire, water and mold damage restoration and construction. A graduate of New York Military Academy and Ithaca College, he has always lived in the DeWitt Art Diamond area – except for a year in Virginia and one in Florida. Recently, he moved to Lafayette to try out country living. His interests range from the New York Mets, travel, spending time with his sons and friends hunting, fishing, boating and, especially, snowmobiling. He has three children: Rachel, a graduate of Ohio State University, who lives in Columbus and works for Abercrombie and Fitch; and twin sons, Sam and Eli. Sam graduated this year from SUNY Potsdam and is currently working at Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery. Eli has one more semester at the University of West Virginia. Diamond’s connection with Menorah Park started when he was young and visited there with his Hebrew school. He has had a few relatives living there, and there was always “the simple Jewish connection that we all have coming from a relatively small Jewish community.” Over the years, he has been involved in volunteer service on boards, including the town of DeWitt zoning and planning, DeWitt Fire District and a few others. He enjoyed learning about how these organizations operated; what their challenges were; how he could apply what he learned to his own business; and what he could do to add value and change to an organization. Most importantly, he emphasizes, is “developing relationships, networking and friendships along the way.” Assuming the presidency of Menorah Park, he said, “is much bigger in scope than my other volunteer activities and so different in many ways,” but he is “intrigued to see how I can value-add to the organization. With many boards, if you show interest, they direct you up toward the leadership roles and Menorah Park is no different.” His vision for his tenure “is to help bring a balanced, thought-out change necessary to Menorah Park so it can flourish in a very complicated and regulated environment.” His short-term goals for his presidency are “to help find new ways to market Menorah Park and its services, find ways to attract workers to our campus and see what we can do to continue to update our facilities.” His long-terms goals are “to continue to build our niche in the community, both Jewish and non-Jewish, and to make sure the demands for all our services are maximized – also, to see what opportunities may be out there to expand our services to meet the growing demand of long-term memory care.” The Talmud says that “When a man is made leader of the community, he becomes rich.” While it is unlikely that material wealth will devolve to these new presidents, it is clear that the community will be richer for their service, and they will be enriched by serving. This column is sponsored by Bernie and Ona Cohn Bregman.
AUGUST 15, 2019/14 AV 5779 ■
JEWISH OBSERVER
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ADL study: Nine percent of online gamers OBITUARIES IRIS G. COHEN have been exposed to Holocaust denial Iris G. Cohen, MSW, 89, of North Syracuse, died July BY JNS STAFF Sixty-five percent of gamers have experienced severe harassment while playing games online, which includes physical threats, stalking and sustained harassment, while 74 percent of online multiplayers have experienced some form of harassment, with 9 percent of them being exposed to Holocaust denial, according to a report released on July 25 by the Anti-Defamation League. Among online-game players who experienced harassment, 53 percent reported being targeted based on their race, religion, ability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or ethnicity. An alarming 29 percent of online-game players have been doxed in an online game, meaning that their personal or private information was publicly exposed against their wishes. “Video games are an important and extremely popular form of entertainment. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults play games online, yet there are significant problems with hate, harassment and discrimination,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. “We see online multiplayer games as social platforms, and we need to fight hate on these platforms with the same seriousness as traditional social media – and for us that starts with quantifying the problem through studies like this.” The survey also found that online-game players had been exposed to extremist ideologies and hateful propaganda. Twenty-three percent of respondents reported being exposed to discussions about white supremacy through online games, 8 percent reported being exposed to pro-Islamic State statements and 13 percent to disinformation about the September 11 terror attacks, among other topics. “Online hate causes real harm,” said Greenblatt. “Every time someone in an online multiplayer game physically threatens or harasses another player repeatedly because of who they are or what they believe, that
experience doesn’t just end for that individual when the game is over. “That’s why it’s imperative for industry leaders and policymakers to take action to prevent this poisonous ecosystem from overflowing and causing additional harm,” he added. Sixty-two percent of online multiplayer gamers believe that companies should do more to make games safer and more inclusive for players, and more than 55 percent feel games should have technology that allows for content moderation of in-game voice chat. The survey sheds light on the lasting impact of online harassment on targets. For instance, 38 percent of online multiplayer gamers have become more careful about choosing their online partners out of concern for harassment, while 27 percent have changed the way they play out of concern for harassment. In addition, 23 percent of online multiplayer gamers who have been harassed avoid certain games due to a game’s reputation for having a hostile environment, and 19 percent have stopped playing certain games altogether as a result of in-game harassment. However, the positive aspects of digital social spaces that exist inside online games include opportunities to connect, build friendships and communities, and learn. Eighty-eight percent of online multiplayer gamers have experienced some form of positive social interaction while playing online multiplayer games, including making friends (51 percent) or helping other players (50 percent). This most recent survey comes on the heels of an ADL survey released earlier this year that looked at the experience of users on social-media platforms, and found that more than one-third of Americans experienced severe online hate and harassment, including sexual harassment, stalking, physical threats or sustained harassment.
Israel welcomes 121 olim from Ukraine
28 at the Jewish Home of Central New York. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and Syracuse University, she worked as a psychiatric social worker for the Oswego County Mental Health Department. She was a board member of Syracuse Jewish Family Service and was active at Congregation Ner Tamid. She was a member of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas. She raised bonsai and orchids, and was an officer of the local societies. Iris will be greatly missed by all who knew her and for her giving nature, humor and wit. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Elihu; her son, Harald; grandchildren, Brian, David (Melissa) and Nicole Bell; and five great-grandchildren. Burial was in the Congregation Beth Sholom section of Oakwood Cemetery. Birnbaum Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions may be made to Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas, PO Box 271, DeWitt, NY 13214.
NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org
Watchdog: Record high antisemitism in U.K. recorded for first six months of ‘19
During the first six months of 2019, the highest number of antisemitic incidents to date were recorded in the United Kingdom in comparison to the same period in previous years, according to a new report published on Aug. 1 by the Community Security Trust. The CST recorded 892 anti-Jewish incidents between January and June 2019 – a rise of 10 percent from the first six months of 2018 – with social-media attacks accounting for 384 of the incidents. The total number included 710 abusive acts, such as verbal abuse and antisemitic graffiti, and 85 incidents classified as “assaults,” an increase of 37 percent of the same type of incidents recorded in the first half of 2018. During the first six months of 2019, 225 antisemitic incidents targeted random Jewish individuals, at least 110 incidents were aimed at victims who were visibly Jewish, 22 antisemitic incidents targeted synagogues, and 16 incidents had synagogue congregants or rabbis targeted on their way to or from prayer services. CST reported that almost two-thirds of the 892 antisemitic incidents were recorded in Greater London and Greater Manchester, the two largest Jewish communities in the United Kingdom. Of the rise in antisemitic incidents, David Delew, CST’s chief executive, said, “The problem is spreading across the country and online. It reflects deepening divisions in our society, and it is causing increasing anxiety in the Jewish community. It will take people of all communities and backgrounds standing together to turn this tide of hate around.”
BY JNS STAFF (JNS) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed 121 new immigrants (or olim) from Ukraine on July 29 at a reception held at the foot of their plane. The olim, who arrived on a flight organized by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, were A plane full of 121 new immigrants from Ukraine arrived in Israel on July 29. “filled with excitement” at (Photo by Noam Moskowitz) the welcoming ceremony that was prepared for them, which also included the Since 1934, our mission statement remains the same... participation and attendance of Absorption Minister To advertise, Yoav Gallant and Fellowship President Yael Eckstein. Committment to family, with compassion, integrity & honesty. please contact Netanyahu, who took time to shake hands and speak with the new arrivals, said, “I am especially pleased Bonnie Rozen at to see the children who moved to Israel today. These children have a wonderful future here in Israel. Here is 800-779-7896, your home, and here is your place. I invite you to share ext 244 or with me any details about your absorption process, and if you have any problems, I am here at your service.” bonnie@ Martin J. & Elaine R. Birnbaum Joel M. Friedman The passengers referred to both a deteriorating economic situation and a prevalence of antisemitism as two primary thereportergroup.org 1909 East Fayette Street • Syracuse, New York 13210 factors motivating them to move to the Jewish state. 315-472-5291 • birnbaumfs@cnymail.com Olga Chinui, a former resident of Kiev who moved www.birnbaumfuneralserviceinc.com to Israel with her husband and son, said, “My son was asked by his teacher to remove the Star of David around his neck.” They are expected to settle in Katzrin, often referred to as the “capital of the Golan Heights.” Eckstein acknowledged that “we live in a complex reality. On the one hand, manifestations of antisemitism are increasing in Europe. On the other hand, as the prophets said, the children [Jews] shall return to their borders, and the people of Israel have returned to their homes in Zion.” The coastal city of Haifa will absorb 24 of the olim, the largest number among the group moving to a respective municipality. The age range among them all spans from a 9-month-old infant to a 78-year-old. Forty of the olim are under the age of 18. “From the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption has absorbed more than 17,000 new olim from all over the world – an increase of 25 percent compared to last year,” said Gallant. “This summer, thousands of additional olim from all over the world are expected to arrive. The Ministry of Immigration and Absorption is working diligently to provide all of them with the most necessary tools and services for a quick and comfortable adjustment in their new home.”
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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ AUGUST 15, 2019/14 AV 5779
NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org
Iran warns of war if “Zionists” enter the Persian Gulf
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval commander Alireza Tangsiri warned on Aug. 11 that “any illegitimate presence by the Zionists in the waters of the Persian Gulf could spark a war,” after Israel announced that it was taking part in a U.S.-led mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz. “Whenever our commanders wish to, they are able to detain any ship, even if it is accompanied by American and British forces,” Tangsiri told Hezollah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen television in Lebanon. The previous week, Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that Israel would be providing intelligence and other assistance to “Operation Sentinel,” a U.S.-led effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of multiple incidents in which Iranian naval forces seized foreign oil tankers in the vital shipping lane. Katz said Israel’s participation would help to contain the Iranian threat as well as boost ties in the Gulf region. Britain, which has had run-ins with Iran in the strait, including the seizure by Iran of the British-flagged Sterna Impero tanker, has also joined the mission. Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on Aug. 8 said that “Operation Sentinel” would “increase insecurity” in the region, and that Israel’s involvement would have “disastrous consequences.”
SS guard, 92, to go on trial in Germany for Nazi crimes
A 92-year-old former SS guard charged with helping murder 5,230 prisoners at a Nazi death camp in World War II will go on trial in October, prosecutors said on Aug. 8. Bruno Dey, whose full name will not be released under German rules for court cases, is charged as an accessory to murders committed at the Stutthof concentration camp in Poland from August 1944 to April 1945. Dey was a guard at the camp and helped prevent prisoners, many of whom were Jews, from escaping, Hamburg prosecutors said in April when they charged him. They added that Dey was “a cog in the murder machine who was aware of the circumstances, of having been able to contribute to carrying out the orders to kill.” The former SS guard made a partial confession, said a spokeswoman for the Hamburg prosecutors. The daily Die Welt reported that Dey acknowledged his presence at the camp, said he knew people were pushed into gas chambers and saw bodies being burned in the crematorium. He argued, though, that he is not guilty of a crime. “What use would it have been if I had left; they would have found someone else?” Die Welt newspaper quoted him saying. About 65,000 people were murdered or died at Stutthof, according to the museum’s website. Day was a teen at the time of the crimes, so he will be tried in a youth court, which has different sentencing rules. If found guilty, he could still face time in prison.
Israeli women’s lacrosse teams gives Kenyan opponents brand-new cleats
Israel’s Women’s Lacrosse team has become a worldwide sensation – but not for their performance on the field. When the Israeli team played Kenya in in the 2019 Women’s Lacrosse U19 World Championships in Ontario, Canada the week of Aug. 9, the players noticed the Kenyan team did not have cleats but were wearing regular sneakers. The day after team Israel’s 13-4 victory the Israelis returned to the field and gifted a new pair of cleats to each member of the Kenyan team. A video captured hugs
between the opponents. The Kenyan team posted a video of the event on its Twitter account (@KenyaLacrosse) on Aug. 7. Someone at ESPN noticed the tweet, and then sent the following message to the Kenyan Lacrosse team: “Hello, reaching out from ESPN. Can we please have permission to use this video on our TV and digital platforms?” Permission was granted and that led to ESPN showing the video on all its platforms, exposing millions of people all around the world to this act of kindness from the Israeli team. On Aug. 8, with their new footwear on, team Kenya defeated Belgium 16-9, earning their second win of the tournament. David Ladsay, COO of the Israel Lacrosse Association, told JNS: “Our players, coaches and supporters take pride in representing our country using our sport as a way of building bridges and connections to Israel. They continue to inspire the world winning on and off the field.”
Court orders neo-Nazi website founder to pay $14 million for inciting violence
The founder of the alt-right website The Daily Stormer was ordered by court on Aug. 8 to pay a Jewish real estate agent $14 million for inciting his readers to harass her family, the Associated Press reported. U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen entered Tanya Gersh a default judgment after Andrew Anglin did not appear for a scheduled deposition in the civil lawsuit case. Anglin is ordered to pay Gersh more than $4 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages. He is also required to permanently remove all posts, comments and images about Gersh and her family. Anglin accused Gersh of trying to run the mother of white nationalist Richard Spencer out of town in 2016. He published her family’s personal information on his neo-Nazi website and asked his readers, “Are y’all ready for an old fashioned troll storm?” Gersh said she and her family received threatening and antisemitic messages for months. Anglin does not live in the United States, but Gersh’s attorney, David Dinielli of the Southern Poverty Law Center, said that he “will go to the ends of the earth to collect the judgment … whether it’s cash, assets or intellectual property.” This is the second multimillion-dollar award against Anglin recently, according to the Associated Press. In June, a federal judge in Ohio awarded a Muslim radio host $4.1 million after Anglin falsely accused him of terrorism. Anglin’s lawyers, who argued that his writings were protected by the First Amendment, dropped their client when he failed to appear for his deposition in April.
Israeli high school robotics team wins in China competition
The robotics team of the Tichonet high school in Tel Aviv was part of a group that won first place in an international robotics competition in China. The team’s mentor, Raanan De Haas, said the competition in China requires that after the preliminary stage, four teams unite as one to compete from the quarter-finals to the final. The Israeli team joined the New York, China and Hawaii teams to win first place against 71 international teams, Arutz Sheva reported. The competition in China was the fifth time the Israeli team competed with the same robot. “Every year, there is a new mission, a new challenge to build a robot. This year, the goal was to target discs in different places on the field,” De Haas explained, saying that each robot had to protect its own discs and also attack the discs of other robots. “For us, the defense was better than the attack. ...We learned a lot from the Chinese groups, and part of our job was to teach,” added De Haas. “Three days before the competition, we adopted a new group from China and passed on our knowledge to them.”
L ’ Sh a nah Tova h
A dollop of honey and a dollop of sweetness for the upcoming year!
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