9 ELUL 5777 • AUGUST 31, 2017 • VOLUME XXXVIII, NUMBER 17 • PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID, SYRACUSE, NY
Jewish Music and Cultural Festival Organizers hope that there will be “something for everyone” at the Jewish Music and Cultural Festival on Sunday, September 10, at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. Beginning at noon, the Keyna Hora Klezmer Band will perform on the Price Chopper Stage. Many activities and games will be provided by the JCC throughout the afternoon in and around the children’s tent, which is sponsored by Debbie and Barry Shulman, together with the Mackenzie Hughes Law Offices.
In addition, there will be face painting, the PJ Library®, the instrument petting zoo provided by Signature Music, the Robert Rogers Puppet Theater and a variety of vendors. Authentic Jewish food choices from The Oaks Catering will be available in the food tent, and Carvel will return again this year with kosher ice cream selections. Organizers said, “You don’t have to be Jewish to have a great time at JMAC!” The JMAC schedule and information are available online at www.syracusejewishfestival.org.
Save the date:
Sisterhood Symposium to be held October 19 The Sisterhood of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas and the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center are gearing up to present another Sisterhood Symposium this fall. The program, “Assimilation: Is it Good for the Jews?” will be held on Thursday, October 19, at 6:30 pm, at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. The event’s featured participants will be Jenna Weissman Jocelit, Ph.D., profes-
sor of experiential education and Jewish cultural arts at George Washington University; and Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas. Attendance at the event will include dinner. Table sponsorships will be recognized in a printed program. For more information and to register, contact CBS-CS at 315-446-9570 or office@cbscs.org.
Senior Sudanese official seeks establishing relations with Israel BY JNS STAFF JNS.org In an unusual move, a senior Sudanese government official has expressed support for establishing diplomatic relations between his country and Israel. “There is no problem normalizing relations with Israel. The Palestinians normalized relations with Israel – even Hamas is talking to Israel,” Mubarak al Fadil al Mahdi, Sudan’s minister of investment, said in an interview on August 20 with Sudania 24, a Sudanese satellite station, Haaretz reported. “The Palestinians receive tax money from Israel and electricity from Israel. The Palestinians sit with Israel and talk to Israel. They have disputes, but they sit with them.” Like other countries in the Arab-Muslim world, Sudan has long viewed Israel as an enemy nation. The African country is known for hosting the 1967 Arab League summit in the wake of the SixDay War, where the Arab world issued what became known as the “Three No’s: no peace with Israel, no recognition of
Israel, no negotiations with it.” Currently, Israel does not have relations with Sudan. The Jewish state established full ties with South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011. Israel is also the only country that Sudanese citizens are barred from entering, while Sudan has had past ties with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Sudan is run by President Omar alBashir, who was indicted for war crimes in Darfur in 2009. Nevertheless, there has been movement within Sudan for normalizing ties with Israel as part of an effort to get economic sanctions lifted by the United States. In the interview, Fadil also said the Arab world has used the Palestinian issue for “domestic purposes” and they use it to “oppress their own peoples in the name of the struggle for Palestine.” Fadil also praised Israel for its technology and democracy, saying “one can agree with the Israelis or disagree with them, but they have a democratic regime,” he said. “They prosecute their leaders and send them to prison and they have transparency.”
Linda Alexander celebration event on 9/6/17 cancelled The Event Committee expressed “sorrow and regret” in announcing that the event celebrating Linda Alexander’s “legacy of leadership” on Wednesday, September 6, at Temple Adath Yeshurun, has been cancelled due to the recent passing of her husband, Steven. The Event Committee will send information out to those individuals who have already reserved tickets on how to acquire a refund or obtain a tax-deductible receipt, should the individual allow the committee to use the ticket money as a tax-deductible donation to the new Linda Alexander Teen Funders Fund, which will be established at the Jewish Community Foundation of Central New York in thanks for her years of service to the community. This new fund at the Foundation would stipulate a yearly amount to
be added to the annual teen funders allocation pool to augment the current teen funders program, which was originated by Alexander during her tenure at the Foundation. Anyone who had not yet reserved tickets, but who wants to participate in the initial creation of the Linda Alexander Teen Funders Fund, can use the event invitation response card to fill out the contribution portion and mail it to the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syraucse, Attn: Linda’s Legacy, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt, NY 13214. All donations earmarked for the new fund will be fully tax-deductible. The committee noted it appreciates everyone’s understanding related to this unexpected cancellation and apologizes for any issues it may have caused.
Sarah Pinsky joins Foundation Board
honored to join the Board of BY LINDA ALEXANDER Trustees for the Jewish ComThe Jewish Community munity Foundation of Central Foundation of Central New New York. When I think York recently announced the about all of the outstanding addition of Sarah Rose Pinprograms and institutions in sky to its Board of Trustees. our Jewish community, I am The Foundation’s chair of filled with optimism for our the Board, Neil Bronstein, future. I’m excited to serve said, “We are thrilled to have on the board to help ensure Sarah as our newest trustee. the continuity and vitality of She brings great energy and enthusiasm to our board, in ad- Sarah Pinsky is the these great organizations.” For the past 14 years, dition to her marketing skills newest trustee on knowhow. Although she is a the board of the Pinsky has worked in the relatively new person in our Jewish Community marketing, communications community, she has already F o u n d a t i o n o f and account management proven herself as a leader.” Central New York. departments for KaBOOM!, a DC-based playground buildPinsky serves on the boards of the Syracuse Jewish Cemeter- ing nonprofit organization. She grew ies Association and the Sam Pomeranz up in Grand Rapids, MI, and attended Jewish Community Center of Syracuse. the University of Michigan, where she She chaired the JCC’s Early Childhood met her husband, Todd. In 2011, they Development Program Parent Commit- moved to Central New York to be closer tee for two years. She is a member of to family, and so Todd could practice the Enders Road Elementary School law alongside his father, Roy, in the site-based team and a volunteer with law firm founded by his grandfather, Norman. They have two children and Community Care of Syracuse. When asked why she agreed to serve Sarah added, “I can’t imagine a better on the Foundation board, she said, “I am place to raise our kids.”
C A N D L E L I G H T I N G A N D P A R AS H A
September 1.................... 7:21 pm...................................................Parasha-Ki Tetze September 8.................... 7:09 pm....................................................Parasha-Ki Tavo September 15.................. 6:56 pm................Parasha-Nitzavim-Vayelech (Selichot)
INSIDE THIS ISSUE SJFS at 125
Congregational notes SHDS alumni profiles
Syracuse Jewish Family Service Selichot services are announced, Profiles of successful Syracuse will celebrate its 125th birthday as are a film showing, concert, Hebrew Day School alumni begin blood drive and more. with a party on October 10. in this issue of the JO. Stories on page 4 Story on page 3 Story on page 6
PLUS Prep. for Rosh Hashanah...4-5 Classifieds................................ 6 Calendar Highlights............... 7 Obituaries................................. 7