Syr0902 by Jewish Federation of CNY

9 ELUL 5774 • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • VOLUME XXXVIII, NUMBER 17 • PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID, SYRACUSE, NY

William Jacobson to speak on BDS movement at Temple Concord By Judith L. Stander The Jewish Federation of Central New York will present Cornell Law School Professor William A. Jacobson, who will speak on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement on Wednesday, September 17, at 7 pm, in the Temple Concord social hall. This is a change of venue. The talk will be free and open to the community. Jacobson has a national reputation as a leading practitioner in securities arbitration and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association, which is made up of more than 450 attorneys interested in protecting public investors. He has argued cases in numerous federal

and state courts, including the many of these misperceptions Courts of Appeal for the First, and argue that the boycott of Fifth and Sixth Circuits, as well Israel not only is not justified, as the Rhode Island Supreme but actually encourages further Court. He pursues alternative conflict, not resolution.” dispute resolution, electronic Jacobson graduated from evidence discovery and the Harvard Law School where he scope of arbitrator power in was senior editor of the Harvard contractual arbitration. International Law Journal and He said, “The movement to director of litigation for the Harboycott Israel has generated a vard Prison Legal Assistance lot of attention throughout the Professor William Project. He is currently a clinical A. Jacobson past several years, yet most professor of law and director of of the arguments in favor of the securities law clinic at the the boycott, particularly any academic Cornell Law School. boycott, ignore or misrepresent the hisFederation’s Community Relations torical, political and legal history of the Committee Chair Michael Balanoff conflict. In this presentation, I address said, “It is important to understand the

misdirection and disinformation being presented by individuals and groups who are working to delegitimize the very existence of the state of Israel. We need to support programs and efforts that promote reconciliation and coexistence, rather than those that attempt to eliminate the Jewish, democratic, multicultural, sovereign state of Israel as the BDS movement does.” Jewish communities have been known for having diverse views on the peace process in the Middle East. The vast majority of organizations within these communities, however, are considered to be seeking peace with Israel’s neighbors and opposed to the approach, methods and goals of the BDS movement.

During combat and after, lone soldiers look to each other for support By Ben Sales TEL AVIV (JTA) – When Shir Kleyman, an infantry instructor for the Israel Defense Forces and a Los Angeles native, found out that someone named Sean had died fighting in Gaza, she knew the army had lost a fellow lone soldier. The official announcement came soon afterward as Kleyman, 19, was sitting in a Tel Aviv café on furlough: The fallen soldier was her friend, Texas native Sean Carmeli. “I asked Sean’s last name and said ‘please don’t be Carmeli, please don’t be Carmeli,’” Kleyman said. “You find this out and don’t know what to do with yourself. I didn’t know how to handle it. You feel it because you know that you’re one of them.” Kleyman, who joined the IDF in January, knew both Carmeli and fellow Californian Max Steinberg, who died alongside each other in Gaza on July 20. Though Steinberg and Kleyman grew up in the same Los Angeles neighborhood, they met only when serving kitchen duty together in the army. At Steinberg’s funeral, Kleyman stood in the honor guard across from Steinberg’s parents. She called the funeral “the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with in my life.” About 2,800 soldiers are serving in the Israeli military despite not growing up in the country, according to the Lone Soldiers Program, which provides them with social and other services. Three have died in the current conflict with Hamas: Along with Carmeli and Steinberg, French immigrant Jordan Bensemhoun was killed on July 20. Most native Israelis, for whom army service is both a national obligation and a rite of passage, have networks of family

and friends who served before them to help handle the deaths of comrades in war. But military volunteers whose families remain abroad say their strongest support is each other. “They become your second family,” said Ron Gordon, who joined the IDF in 2012 after stints growing up in Europe, Atlanta and East Asia. “You don’t have anyone else here. You live with your friends.” Because of the shared experience of joining an army while struggling with a new language and culture, lone soldiers say they relate to each other even if they never served or lived together. For those who join the army soon after moving to Israel, fellow lone soldiers are often their first friends in the country. Infantry instructor Tal-Or Cohen joined the IDF five years ago after growing up in Maryland. When she was called to reserve duty during the current conflict, Cohen made sure to befriend and help out younger lone soldiers serving with her. “Culturally, the army is a place we’re not raised to know,” Cohen said. “The different sects and cliques, we don’t know what to do with them. Whom do we trust? When I meet other lone soldiers, there’s an automatic connection because it takes a lot of strength and determination to be here and continue to be here.” Many lone soldiers meet each other through Garin Tzabar, a program that houses groups of lone soldiers together on kibbutzim and provides a framework for guidance and support. Cohen left the program three years ago, but she remains in near-daily contact with her cohort. During her reserve duty in July, she would often check in with fellow lone soldiers by text message. During fighting, Gordon says the dis-

tinction between native Israeli and lone soldier stops mattering because everyone is focused on staying alive. But the divide returns, he said, once soldiers take leave. “The first thing you want is to throw off your uniform, get in the shower and eat mom’s food,” Gordon said. “For lone soldiers at the kibbutz, you don’t have that.” Josh Flaster, who runs the Lone Soldier Center, said the first weeks after returning from the front are critical. His organization, which was founded

in memory of Philadelphia native Michael Levin, who died in combat in 2006, has hosted barbecues in recent weeks to help returning soldiers begin to unpack their experiences. “There’s lots of stigmas in the army and society about therapy and mental health,” said Flaster, a former lone soldier who joined the IDF in 2006. “If you don’t start talking about it and dealing with it, this type of stuff can mess up your life for decades in the future.”

Israel is Under Fire. Please Donate to Help

Stop the Sirens is a community-wide campaign responding to urgent needs in Israel. The fundraising effort is coordinated by the Jewish Federation of CNY in cooperation with the Jewish Federations of North America. We had originally hoped to raise $33,000, but thanks to the generosity of the community, we have received hundreds of gifts totaling over $50,000. Our goal was $33,000

To make your pledge, please contact Marianne at 445-2040 ext. 102 or mbazydlo@jewishfederationCNY.org.

thank you!

As of 8/29/14

55,806

C A N D L E L I G H T I N G A N D P A R AS H A September 5.............7:14 pm....................................................... Parasha-Ki Tetze September 12...........7:02 pm........................................................ Parasha-Ki Tavo September 19...........6:49 pm..................................... Parasha-Nitzavim-Vayelech

INSIDE THIS ISSUE JMAC Festival

Congregational notes

Building ties

PLUS

In addition to music, the 15th Lunch and learn; women’s events; Students learn African-American Prep. for Rosh Hashanah...8-9 Jewish Music and Cultural Festival garden harvests; religious school and Jewish history and culture at Calendar Highlights............. 10 and more at area synagogues. will feature kosher foods. St. Louis’ Cultural Leadership. News in Brief.................... 10-11 Stories on page 4 Story on page 3 Story on page 7 Obituaries................................11

JEWISH OBSERVER ■ SEPTEMBER 4, 2014/9 ELUL 5774

a matter of opinion After Gaza war, helping traumatized Israelis heal By Chelsea Polaniecki JNS.org Editor’s note: Chelsea Polaniecki is a resident of Woodmere, NY, and a junior at Brandeis University. She is spending the summer interning at OneFamily (www.onefamilytogether. org), an Israeli organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of victims of terror attacks and their families. “You know what’s worse than being stabbed 13 times? Being stabbed 14 times. It can always be worse.” In 2010, Kay Wilson, a Jerusalem tour guide who had emigrated from London, was brutally attacked by a terrorist in the Jerusalem Forest. After being stabbed 13 times, she fooled her attacker into thinking that she had passed on, and he left her for dead. In the moments that followed, Kay watched in horror as he murdered her best friend, Kristine Luken, right before her eyes. Four years later, Wilson has a new lease on life and an impossibly positive attitude. She truly feels that “it could have been worse,” and she motivates others with those words. This summer, I interned at OneFamily, Israel’s leading national organization solely dedicated to the rehabilitation of victims of terror attacks and their families. In a few short weeks on the job, I met hundreds of victims of terror,

most of whom appeared courageous and strong. Slowly, I learned that they – like Wlson – underwent a slow and painful process that brought them peace, clarity, and ultimately, strength. The road from trauma to resilience is a long and arduous journey that requires extensive therapy and the constant support of a family, whether biological or one born out of tragedy. My experiences at OneFamily this summer taught me that caring goes a long way. In fact, becoming the “family” that a victim of terror needs to heal can make all the difference – without a strong support system, the victim may never find strength. Over the course of the summer, I did everything I could to empower these brave but broken individuals. I held a mother’s hand as she called home to check that her husband and children were all right after several sirens had sounded in their hometown. I played with children who had not been out of their local bomb shelter for days. I sang and danced with bereaved mothers as they taught me how to prepare the recipes that their children – fallen soldiers and victims of terror – had enjoyed the most. I listened to story after story, provided unlimited hugs and gave away

as much of my own strength as I could muster so that those affected by terror could find their own. As the war in Gaza reaches its conclusion and the plight of the victims of terror and their families once again fades into the background, it is our responsibility to stand with these individuals so that they can begin to heal. We must help them develop the positive outlook required for true recovery and enable them to realize that “it could have been worse.” Due to the extreme devastation brought about by war, thousands of injured and traumatized Israelis require our support. We must help them come to terms with what they have lost and prepare them for what still lies ahead. We must share their trauma and help

shoulder their burdens in order to keep them moving forward. This summer, I learned that one should never underestimate the power of love and support. When someone’s life is changed forever by a violent act, there is no telling how long it will take for that person to find peace and regain strength. But one thing is clear: the involvement of a loving family is a crucial element of the healing process. As I return home, I will continue to do everything I can to empower these traumatized individuals, and I encourage you to do the same. We cannot allow them to get lost in the shuffle simply because the news cycle has moved on to other things. We must always be there for them because they are our family.

letters to the editor Children of Gaza Editor’s note: This letter was written in response to the letter from Mark Field in the August 21 issue of the Jewish Observer. To the Editor: Jews are expected to be compassionate. In fact, if someone is not compassionate, we question whether or not he or she is truly a descendant of Abraham. Any information about casualties that comes from Hamas must be looked at with suspicion. Hamas is hardly a reliable informant. Nonetheless, we all should be distressed to see pictures of Gazan children who have suffered injuries. We are witness to a tragedy. The proposal advocated in “Helping the children of Israel and Gaza” is inappropriate and detrimental to Jewish interests for all the reasons that Mark Field cites. In the present climate, it will certainly be seen as a criticism of Israel. It will likely be understood as an acceptance of Hamas’ narrative, which ultimately seeks to justify the destruction of the state of Israel. We must not, even with the best of intentions, be complicit in that effort.

There are, of course, trustworthy organizations that treat both Israeli and Gazan children and that can be relied on to use contributions for the purpose they were given. Israeli hospitals carry out this humanitarian mission in these difficult times as they have in the past. They are the organizations that deserve our support. By far the most important thing that we can do to help Gazan children, however, is to urge the American government and other nations as well, to bring pressure on Hamas to end its war against Israel. When Hamas stops attacking Israeli children, Israel will have no need to attack terrorists and rocket launchers hidden amidst Gazan civilians. As we approach Rosh Hashanah, we pray for a year of peace and well-being for all Israel and for all who share this planet with us. Rabbi Irvin S. Beigel Rabbi Irvin S. Beigel is a member of Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse and works as a Jewish chaplain at healthcare facilities in Syracuse.

Children of Gaza

Editor’s note: This letter was written in response to the letter from Mark Field in the August 21 issue of the Jewish Observer. To the Editor: The proposal to allocate Federation funds [Editor’s note: not money from the “Stop the Sirens” campaign] toward helping Gazan children is a very bad idea. The short, more than sufficient reason is that it would seriously break faith with those donors who fully expect Federation money to be directed to Jewish causes. Any expectations, moreover, that that or similar gestures “could begin to break down fears and mistrust” are utterly illusory. This generation of Palestinian children, primed by incessant Palestinian school and media incitement, is guaranteed to grow up hating Jews and Israel. Unfortunately, this proposal epitomizes

Cynthia Ozick’s piquant phrase, “Universalism is the Jews’ particularism.” While sympathy for wounded Gazan children is fully justified, there are large, unmet needs in Israel that should now be the sole focus of Jewish concerns. If not worldwide Jewry, who else will provide such assistance? By contrast, the Palestinians have several sources of succor. The U.S. alone has pledged $47 million in aid. The Europeans, as ever, will pour in euros. Had it any sense of decency, Qatar, which largely financed Hamas’ war, would pick up the tab. Who would actually benefit from such aid, and who could be trusted to properly distribute it, certainly remain serious, unanswerable questions. The past record is very far from promising. Sincerely yours, Richard D. Wilkins

A crowd gathered around the Mt. Herzl grave of Max Steinberg, an Israel Defense Forces lone soldier who was killed in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge. (Photo by Sean Savage)

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AROUND CENTRAL NEW YORK JMAC festival to feature variety of kosher food By William Wallak Food will be one of the highlights of the upcoming 15th annual Jewish Music and Cultural Festival, which will be held on Sunday, September 14, from noon-6 pm, at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center

of Syracuse, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. Food will be available starting at 11:30 am. A variety of Va’ad-supervised kosher food will be available throughout the day under the festival’s new outdoor tent. On the menu will be traditional sandwiches,

Harry Rosenfeld speaker at SU Author and journalist Harry Rosenfeld will talk about his recent book, “From Kristallnacht to Watergate – Memoirs of a Newspaperman,” on Tuesday, September 16, at 4 pm, at the Newhouse School, Room 432. Rosenfeld’s book tells the story of his life from Berlin

to The Washington Post, where he was an editor for the Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein reporting team. The event will be free and open to the public, and is organized by the Tully Center for Free Speech. For more information, contact Roy Gutterman at rsgutter@syr.edu.

JCC senior news Traffic Safety Program The Onondaga County Sheriff’s office will present a traffic safety program on Friday, September 12, from 12:30-1 pm, at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. The program will be free and open to the public. The presentation will offer drivers of all ages tips and updated information on various road safety issues. Topics will include defensive driving techniques, the recent “Move Over” law, Yellow Dot program, child passenger safety issues and distracted and aggressive driving. Seniors age 60 and older are welcome to attend the JCC’s regular weekday kosher lunch at noon before attending the traffic safety program. There will be a modest suggested contribution for lunch. For more information and to RSVP, contact Leesa

Paul, the JCC’s director of adult and senior programming, at 445-2040, ext. 104, or lpaul@jccsyr.org. Mini Senior Health Fair to be held September 18 Syracuse will hold a free miniature senior health fair on Thursday, September 18, from 9 am-2 pm, at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse. The event will be open to the public. Among the information and resources available will be health screenings, flu shots and Medicare information. Limited table space is still available for organizations and businesses seeking to participate in the fair. Seniors age 60 and older at the health fair are welcome to attend the JCC’s regular weekday kosher lunch at noon. There will be a modest suggested contribution for See “Senior” on page 10

Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center senior dining menu September 8-12 Monday dinner – skirt steak with hunter sauce Tuesday – honey mustard chicken Wednesday – turkey with gravy Thursday – hot pastrami sandwich on rye Friday – grilled lamb chops September 15-19 Monday dinner – beef brisket, corned beef, stuffed cabbage Tuesday – Italian roasted chicken Wednesday – soup and salad bar Thursday – meatloaf Friday – lemon baked fish The Bobbi Epstein Lewis JCC Senior Adult Dining Program, catered by Tiffany’s Catering Company at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center, offers Va’ad Ha’ir-supervised kosher lunches served Tuesday-Friday at noon. On Mondays through early September, dinner

will be served at 5 pm. 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 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 and United Way of Central New York. To attend, one need not be Jewish or a member of the JCC. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Leesa Paul or Larry Crinnin at 445-2360, ext. 104, or lpaul@jccsyr.org.

“Lower East Side nosherai” and other Jewish delicacies. The entire menu will be available for takeout. “We’re really excited to offer such a wide selection of traditional Jewish foods,” said Howard Benjamin, owner of Tiffany’s Catering, the JCC’s caterer. “The authentic style and home-cooked taste will be very familiar to many and sure to please all.” Along with JMAC’s food, the festival will feature family-friendly music, vendors and other activities. For more information about JMAC, call 445-2040, ext. 114, or visit www.syracusejewishfestival.org.

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ SEPTEMBER 4, 2014/9 ELUL 5774

congregational notes Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas Youth Programming Coordinator Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas recently hired David Strinkovsky as the youth programming coordinator. He is a student at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies. He spent this summer as a United Synagogue Youth Pilgrimage staff member, guiding teenagers through Poland and Israel. His knowledge of USY is a result of being a participant, as well as a leader. He also has experience as a sports writer, Russian translator, Hebrew school teacher and camp counselor. He will be the advisor for the CBS-CS USY and Kadima

groups, in addition to assisting in youth activities throughout the year. Strinkovsky was introduced to the CBS-CS community at the annual CBSCS Back-to-Shul barbecue and will meet with USY and Kadima families at a Back-to-Shul splash scheduled for September 7. CBS-CS Hillel Lunch and Learn The Congregation Beth SholomChevra Shas Hillel Lunch and Learn class will read and discuss “Jeremiah: The Fate of a Prophet” by Binyamin Lau. The book is a narrative of national struggle, social degeneration and political strife during

the time leading up to the destruction of the First Temple. The class will meet at noon approximately every other week, starting on Monday, September 8, at the Syracuse University Hillel and will be open to the community. For more information, contact the CBS-CS office at 446-9570. The CBS-CS Women’s Connection The Congregation Beth SholomChevra Shas Women’s Connection has planned its programming for the upcoming year.

Walks around Green Lakes State Park will continue on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Participants will meet at 10 am at the boathouse. Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone will again hold his twice a month, Thursday study sessions at 10:30 am. This year, the sessions will be divided into short miniature sessions. The first of these will be a three-part series, “Ab(Normal) Families in the Torah.” Due to the Torah’s focus, especially in Genesis, on families and the complex dynamics and relationships See “CBS-CS” on page 10

Temple Adath Yeshurun Hazak – garden harvest Prior to the High Holidays, the Temple Adath Yeshurun chapter of Hazak will perform the mitzvah of harvesting the Jewish Community Garden, which is hosted at Temple Adath Yeshurun, on Sunday, September 7, at 1 pm. Produce picked will be donated to those in need. Jobs will be tailored to the skills of those who attend. People have also been invited to attend and bring a chair if they just want to socialize. Light refreshments will

be served and there will be no charge. In the event of rain, participants can socialize indoors. The TAY chapter of Hazak will once again sell the Save Around books, which offer savings from hundreds of businesses. The fund-raiser helps support the programs that Hazak offers throughout the year. For more information, contact JoAnn Grower at 463-9762 or Joanne Greenhouse at 446-3592.

Members of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas attended a Syracuse Chiefs baseball game. The outing, which included a tailgate barbecue, was sponsored by the Men’s Club and Youth Committee.

Hava Nagrilla The Temple Adath Yeshurun chapter of Hazak held its annual officers and board installation dinner on August 13. The officers included (front, l-r): Rita Shapiro, recording secretary; Sylvia Gilman, corresponding secretary; JoAnn Grower, president; Elaine Meltzer, membership vice president; and Joanne Greenhouse, president and programming vice president. Board members included (back) Ceil Cohen, Lynn Cohen, Ira Tobak, Dee Bluman, Ruth Borsky and Marcia Mizruchi.

L-r: Brad Ozinsky, Lon Lowenstein, Steve Halpern, Steve Bronstein and Syd Tenenbaum grilled more than 300 hotdogs and hamburgers for the Hava Nagrilla barbecue held at Temple Adath Yeshurun on August 8. Congregation Beth SholomChevra Shas and Temple Concord joined the congregants from TAY for a total of 300 in attendance. An outdoor musical service was held with rabbis from the three congregations participating. Prayers were led by TAY Ba’alat Tefilah Esa Jaffe and Temple Concord Cantor Kari Eglash.

L-r: Jackie Mayers, Angelina Smith, Keelin Naylor, Meghan Westpfal and Will Schofield-Broadbent made an ecosystem for a beta fish at the TAY Camp Rothschild.

Temple Concord Religious School Temple Concord’s Religious School will begin the year on Sunday, September 7. Led by the synagogue’s new cantor and educator, Kari Siegel Eglash, the school has been called “the biggest and most diverse synagogue religious school in Central New York.” Cinemagogue The TC Cinemagogue film series will begin with a showing of an American sports movie, “The Life and Times of Hank

Greenberg.” It tells the story of Detroit Tiger Hank Geenberg. Cinemagogue is free and open to the public, but contributions are appreciated. Regina F. Goldenberg series The Syracuse City Ballet will begin the new season of the Regina F. Goldenberg Cultural Series on Tuesday, September 16, at 7 pm. The series will be free and open to the public. For more information, contact the TC office at 475-9952.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2014/9 ELUL 5774 ■

JEWISH OBSERVER

Spector Family Renews Holocaust Education Fellowship By Alan Goldberg Former Syracuse residents Andrew and Helen Spector and their children, Elyse Kalmans and Matthew Spector, have renewed the Spector/Warren Fellowship for Future Educators through 2019. The competitive fellowship, which began in 2006, is funded by the foundation established by Joe and Elaine Spector. It honors Helen’s mother, Auschwitz survivor Naomi Warren, and supports up to 20 School of Education undergraduate and graduate students each year in learning about the Holocaust so that they can be the speak for survivors in the future.

The students, who represent all programs within the School of Education, spend a week at the Holocaust Museum Houston learning about the Holocaust from leading national and international Holocaust scholars and educators. They then participate in a spring seminar with Syracuse faculty, studying the Holocaust and contemporary genocides while designing multi-disciplinary lessons and curriculum. In an effort to assess the impact of the fellowship, 166 former fellows were asked to update their activities and reflect on their experience, and 154 responded.

Spector Fellowship By Christina Valerino Editor’s note: This e-mail was received from recent law school graduate Christina Valerino, of San Antonio, TX. One of the first round of Warren Fellows in 2006, she responded to a request from Syracuse University Professor Emeritus Alan Goldberg, from the Spector Fellows, in an effort to assess the impact of the fellowship on its graduates. I am very happy to report I graduated from Boston College Law School and will be completing my master’s degree at Tufts in urban planning this fall. My hope is to be a land planning attorney in California and eventually a professor. I am not sure I would have ever had the dream of be-

coming an attorney until my experiences with the Warren Fellowship. Through most of my childhood and early adult life I was content with following the path that others had carved for me. I was a talented musician and was pushed toward a [musical] career. It wasn’t until college I realized that the outward pressure wasn’t enough to succeed as a professional flutist. After I left music, I was slightly lost... I remember hearing about the Warren Fellowship. I had no expectations of what the week would be like, but thought it would be interesting to learn about the Holocaust from a different perspective. Before See “Fellowship” on page 10

PJ Library® Kabbalat Shabbat

Excerpts from the 75 pages of testimony and accomplishments portray the impact the fellowship has had on their activities, their teaching and their personal lives. Raphael Richard (2012), a higher education graduate, planned the first-ever Holocaust Remembrance Day event at the University of Alabama Birmingham. Rachel Dentinger (2012) used musical instruments to create an interdisciplinary arts performance on anti-bullying that depicted “the power of upstanders,” people who help others who are being bullied, which she presented at the International Society for Music Educators world conference in Porto Allegre, Brazil. Stephanne Catania (2009), a high school social studies teacher, coordinates her school’s Yom Hashoah observance and just returned from an invited study tour to Germany and Poland. She wrote, “Without what I learned from [Warren], the other survivors, historians, educators... I would not have had the opportunities I have been given... What I learned in Houston drives me to bear witness and share the stories of millions with future generations.” English teacher Rhiannon Berry (2010) can now provide her students with a “more well-rounded perspective of the Holocaust beyond simply a study of Elie Wiesel’s ‘Night.’” Music teacher Deborah Cunningham (2010) wrote, “I never considered how the Holocaust and genocides might find a place in my curriculum. It is not that I didn’t know the power of music before the fellowship – I just didn’t un-

derstand the role it can play in teaching us all about past and present atrocities.” For Cara Levine (2013), a doctoral candidate in counseling and counselor education, the fellowship had a different impact: “the Fellowship awakened me to many of the joys of being Jewish. I have begun attending Shabbat services weekly... so grateful for the chance to worship freely.” Peter Rugano (2013), who is from Kenya, says he now teaches “the human side of science and the inhuman side of science.” Kelsey Wiemer (2011) summed up the impact of the experience, saying, “Although we often worked at the museum for some 10 hours a day, we always left not feeling depressed but empowered with the new responsibility we knew we were all receiving. We had the fortunate opportunity to be able to work one-on-one with survivors who asked us to be their voice in the future after they were no longer able to tell their own story. Throughout the entire week, the answers we were given continually led us to new questions. Our experience with this material has only just started and it is a journey I am sure we will all continue. At the end of the week in Houston, I feel like my decision to be an educator was affirmed. The responsibility is now on us to continue to pass on these lessons in the hopes that our students will finally say enough is enough.” For additional information about the fellowship, contact Professor Emeritus Alan Goldberg at agoldbe1@twcny. rr.com.

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Children learned about the beneficial role of insects from Morrisa Golden-Sieradski at a PJ Library® Kabalat Shabbat held in the Jewish Community Garden at Temple Adath Yeshurun. The garden was made possible by a Community Program Fund grant from the Jewish Federation of Central New York. Clockwise from upper left: Jonah Sahm, Golden-Sieradski, Jordan Burns, Ethan Gadarian and three unidentified children (backs to the camera).

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ SEPTEMBER 4, 2014/9 ELUL 5774

JCC fitness and recreation classes for children

By William Wallak The Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center will begin another school year with a variety of classes aimed at “getting children moving and having fun.” The classes, open to preschool and school-age boys and girls, consist of dance, gymnastics, basketball, karate and rookie sports. They will start the week of Monday, September 8, and run 12 weeks through late November. Sherri Lamanna, JCC director of gymnastics, dance and preschool physical education, said, “We’re again offering another great lineup of classes this fall for children of all abilities. The children learn a lot of great skills and other important lessons such as cooperation and teamwork, and we make it fun.” The dance classes will include ballet, jazz and tap for children age 3-11, with the focus on “movement, rhythm strength and flexibility,” while emphasizing “fun, creativity and selfesteem.” The program will conclude with a recital.

Gymnastics classes for children age 3-14 will utilize the bars, beam, floor and vault. Children are offered a comprehensive regimen of instruction to develop agility, flexibility and self-confidence. Placement in the classes is based on skill rather than age. Also offered will be a special sensory gym class for 3-5-year-olds, providing appropriate sensory input for children of all abilities and developmental levels. The sports skills classes, which will consist of basketball, karate and rookie sports, are for children ages 3-12. In addition to teaching each sport’s specific skills, children will learn conditioning, teamwork, fair play and sportsmanship. The JCC has partnered with the Central New York Karate School, which will conduct the karate classes. “For children wanting to try a class for the first time, to those a little more experienced, our classes offer a See “Classes” on page 11

L-r: Preschool students Esther Hertzberg, Logan Ransier and Meryl Murphy tried the balance beam during a gymnastics class at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center.

JCC summer camps celebrate another “busy and successful” summer By Nick Finlayson Another summer camp season has concluded at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center. A variety of camps, suited to fit child or teenage interests, were offered again this year. Mick Hagan, director of children and teen services, said, “We really go all out to make our camps engaging and fun. This season, we worked with nearly 600 campers, ranging in age from early childhood and school age to teenagers.” Camp Rishon, the JCC’s summer camp program, was said to make the JCC “especially busy” this year. The program offered the equivalent of more than 40 camp weeks of various activities and different camps, including horseback riding, rocketry, “secret agent” camp and several art camps. Also offered were many sports camps, including soccer and tennis. Campers were also able to take advantage of the summer weather by swimming in the JCC’s heated pool under

In the foreground (l-r): Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center Camp Rishon counselor Sean Mulvihill helped Alessio Vega launch his homemade rocket on the rocketry camp’s final day, which included a rocket launch on August 15.

the supervision of certified lifeguards. SyraCruisin’, the JCC’s exclusive teen travel camp, had a large turnout throughout its eight-week run. The teenagers’ activities were spread across activities such as helping local non-profits, spending time at the JCC and its ShoppingTown Mall SPOT (Syracuse Project 4 Our Teens) location, and several field trips for visiting state parks, playing laser tag, bowling and miniature golfing. Hagan said, “SyraCruisin’ also included exciting overnight excursions to Old Forge, Buffalo and Rochester. This offered campers a unique type of camp experience, allowing them to get away for a night.” Each summer, Camp Rishon endeavors to provide a “well-rounded, educational, active and enjoyable environment” that is available to most people. Such offerings are an extension of the JCC’s mission “to See “Camps” on page 11

SEPTEMBER 5, 2014/9 ELUL 5774 ■

JEWISH OBSERVER

In shadow of Ferguson, group builds ties across racial and cultural lines

By Anthony Weiss (JTA) – On the evening of August 12, after two consecutive nights of clashes between police and protesters in Ferguson, MO, Mikal Smith rose to address a community meeting in the neighboring city of Florissant. In front of Gov. Jay Nixon, Obama administration officials and community leaders, Smith spoke off the cuff about his own experiences as a young black man – the constant need to be aware of his surroundings, for example, and the indignity of being questioned by the police for no apparent reason. At the end of his speech, Smith, an incoming freshman at Saint Louis University, received a standing ovation. Smith, 18, is a recent alumnus of Cultural Leadership, a St. Louis-area organization that educates high school students about discrimination and social injustice through an intensive, year-long study of Jewish and AfricanAmerican history and culture. The program, which in August celebrated its tenth anniversary, teaches how to work across racial and cultural boundaries to address social inequalities. With Ferguson now a flashpoint in the wake of the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, Cultural Leadership’s curriculum is being played out in the national headlines. Meanwhile, its alumni are on the front lines in organizing a response. “Our students are trained to be what we call ‘troublemakers of the very best kind,’” said Holly Ingraham, the executive director of Cultural Leadership. “They have been taking action, standing up and speaking out before, during and after Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson.” Aaron Johnson, a Cultural Leadership alumnus, class of 2010, organized a training session for voter registration in St. Louis and will lead a registration drive in Ferguson. Mary Blair, a member of the incoming class of 32 students, organized a walkout and silent protest at Metro High School in St. Louis that made the local news. Other alumni, who now number in the hundreds, have acted as runners for the community dialogue portion of the meeting in Florissant. “I don’t think I would be the person I am today had I not experienced Cultural Leadership,” said Johnson, an organizer for Grassroots Organizing in Columbia, MO, who is working toward a master’s degree in public policy at the University of Missouri. “It was fundamental for becoming a social activist in this way.” Cultural Leadership recruits many of its students through local houses of worship, as well as schools and youth groups. The organization has close ties with St. Louis-area rabbis, ministers and school administrators, and those leaders often identify talented students and connect them with Cultural Leadership. The program was founded by Karen Kalish and modeled after a similar initiative, Operation Understanding, in Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Cultural Leadership was designed originally to bring together black and Jewish students to revive the historic black-Jewish alliance, which was particularly strong dur-

ing the civil rights movement. It has since been expanded to include students of all faiths and backgrounds, though a significant number continue to be black and Jewish. The curriculum, however, has remained consistent. Over the course of a year, students study black and Jewish culture, history and contemporary issues. They also learn the history of social justice movements and community organizing basics. Students attend one another’s schools and houses of worship, and gather for a three-week trip to New York, Washington and civil rights landmarks throughout the South. On past trips, students have met Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Clarence Thomas, and Georgia Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights leader. Even the students who are neither black nor Jewish say the focus on those two groups gives the curriculum a powerful perspective on injustice. “You find those stories in a lot of other identities’ history, and of course one huge part of it is in the partnership between Jews and African-Americans,” said Wynn Hawker-Boehnke, a Cultural Leadership alumna who is white and Christian. Cultural Leadership recently launched a two-week summer camp for seventh- and eighth-graders. The Rev.

Shaun Ellison Jones, chairman of the Cultural Leadership board and himself a native of Ferguson, said the organization is also hoping to begin training counselors and students to lead St. Louis-area councils and peer groups focused on fighting social injustice. But expansion requires funding and Cultural Leadership has had to struggle to raise its current annual budget of $300,000. The organization received funding from the Steven Spielberg-founded Righteous Persons Foundation in its first few years, and more recently a grant from the Natan Fund. However, it now raises most of its money from local corporations, foundations and individual donors. Jones says he hopes that with the national attention on St. Louis, the organization will be able to find more funding. In the meantime, Cultural Leadership is gearing up for the coming school year. On August 24, it held its welcome party to kick-off its newest class. Incoming student Mary Blair said she was inspired to join Cultural Leadership after watching her brother go through the program and become wiser and more open-minded as a result. “It was amazing and I can’t wait to do it myself,” Blair said. “I want to make a change in the world and I hope Cultural Leadership will help give me the tools to do so.”

The Oaks to offer a kosher gourmet Italian dinner By Stewart Koenig The Oaks at Menorah Park will present a kosher gourmet Italian dinner on Sunday, September 21, beginning with cocktails at 5 pm and followed by the dinner at 6 pm. Jan Edwards, executive director of The Oaks, said,

“This is scrumptious kosher gourmet food in a beautiful and friendly setting. Bring your friends and have a wonderful evening.” The Oaks is located at 18 Arbor Ln., DeWitt. For reservations and prices, contact The Oaks at 449-3309 or jparish@menorahparkcny.com.

Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music and Viktor Ullmann By Barbara Haas When the Dover Quartet opens the Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music series on Saturday, September 20, they will perform string quartets by Beethoven and Dvorak, as well a work composed by Viktor Ullmann after his deportation to the Theresienstadt (Terezin) prison camp in 1942. The concert will be held at 7:30 pm at the H.W. Smith School on Salt Springs Road. According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website (www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article. php?ModuleId=10005424), Theresienstadt was “neither a ‘ghetto’ as such; nor strictly a concentration camp. [It] served as a ‘settlement,’ an assembly camp, and a concentration camp, and thus had recognizable features of both ghettos and concentration camps.”

Before the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia, Ullmann was a figure in the musical culture of Prague. At Theresienstadt, he was soon given the task of organizing the “permitted” leisure activities within the ghetto, taking part in a musical life that was said to have “flourished amidst the most appalling conditions.” He wrote, “We did not sit down by the waters of Babylon and weep. Our artistic endeavors were equal to our will to live.” Along with composer Pavel Haas, Ullmann created several works while at Theresienstadt. Both were in their mid-40s in October 1944, when they were sent to Auschwitz for execution. Their music is only now beginning to be recognized. Tickets will be available at the door. Students will be admitted free of charge.

Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas A Warm and Welcoming Jewish Community Where fostering relationships is our primary goal. Wishes You a Happy and Healthy New Year No Tickets Required for High Holidays

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ SEPTEMBER 4, 2014/9 ELUL 5774

Roman Vishniac archive chronicling pre-Shoah Eastern Europe goes online

(JTA) – An archive of photographs taken by Roman Vishniac documenting the life of pre-Holocaust Eastern European Jews is available online. The archive of the Russian-American photographer also documents the rise of the Nazis and the

party’s effect on Jewish life in Europe. It is a joint project of the International Center of Photography in New York and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. The database includes most of Vishniac’s 10,000 negatives, of

which only about 350 have previously been published, according to the Holocaust Museum. The project has called on the public to assist in identifying people and places in the photographs. “Your efforts can

help others learn about the vanished world documented by Vishniac,” the website says. Vishniac, who died in 1990, was born to a Russian-Jewish family and grew up in See “Archive” on page 10

Selichot around the community Congregation Beth SholomChevra Shas CBS-CS Selichot Program – Shifting Images for a New Year: An Introduction to Soul Collage® As a precursor to its annual Selichot ser vice, Congregation Beth SholomChevra Shas will present Pauline Cecere on Saturday, September 20, from 8:15-9:15 pm. Cecere will provide an Pauline Cecere introduction to Soulwill provide an Collage®, which has introduction to been called a “joyful SoulCollage ®, a process of tapping program described into one’s intuition as a “joyful process to find guidance with of tapping into current life quesone’s intuition.” tions.” In this brief introduction, Cecere

will provide images that reflect the themes of the past year people would like to let go, as well as those that provide guidance for change in the coming year. Participants will be led in guided centering meditation, choosing from the images provided and will share reflections with the group. Following this, light refreshments will be served. At 10 pm, the Selichot service, led by Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone and Cantor Paula Pepperstone, will incorporate themes from the SoulCollage experience. Cecere is a licensed clinical social worker, providing psychotherapy. She has had a private practice in Cazenovia for more than 30 years. She is a certified SoulCollage facilitator. She is also a longtime meditator and meditation instructor, Kripalu yoga instructor and has taught at Syracuse Universit y. She also offers Mindful Eating workshops. The SoulCollage experience and service will be open to the community. The synagogue is located at 18 Patsy Lane, off Jamesville Road, in DeWitt. For more information, contact the CBS-CS office at

ROSH HASHANAH Deadline: Sept. 10 (Sept. 18 issue)

Once again this year, The Jewish Observer is inviting its readers and local organizations to extend New Year’s greetings to the community by purchasing a New Year’s greeting ad, which will appear in our September 18 issue. 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 E and F), the medium one is $36 (style A and C) and the largest one (style G, not shown) is $68. To ensure that your greeting is published or for more information on additional styles, sizes & designs, please contact Bonnie Rozen at 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244 or bonnie@ thereportergroup.org. Checks can be made payable to The Reporter Group and sent to: The Jewish Observer of CNY, 500 Clubhouse Rd., Vestal, NY 13850.

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Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse A discussion on “Depression and Suicide: The Jewish View,” facilitated by Rabbi Evan Shore, will be held on Saturday, September 20, at 11 pm. Selichot services will begin at 12:15 am. Selichot services will also be held on Sunday-Tuesday, September 21-23 after Maariv; Sunday, September 28, at 7:45 am; Monday, September 29, at 6:15 am; and Monday-Thursday, September 29-October 2, after Maariv. The synagogue is located at 4313 E. Genesee St., DeWitt. For more information, contact the synagogue at 446-6194 or visit www.stocsyracuse.org.

Temple Adath Yeshurun By Barbara S. Simon To introduce Selichot, Temple Adath Yeshurun will present the film “Life in Stills,” a documentar y by Tamar Tal, on Saturday, September 20, at 8:30 pm. The film, which is in Hebrew, has English subtitles. It will be followed by a dessert reception at 9:30 pm, sponsored by the TAY Sisterhood, with the Selichot service beginning at 10:30 pm. The event will be free and open to the communit y. “Life in Stills” won the Ophir Award (Israeli Oscar) for Best Documentar y in 2012. At the age of 96, Miriam Weissenstein and her grandson Ben Peter embarked on an “exciting, funny and touching quest” to save the legendar y

“Photo House,” her late husband, Rudi’s, photo studio, and its nearly one million negatives that document some of Israel’s “defining” moments. David Simon, cochair of the TAY adult education chavurah, the group sponsoring the program, said, “This film is the perfect introduction to Selichot, a stor y of family relationships, love, compassion, loss and resilience.” After the film and the dessert reception, the Selichot service will include the dedication of the memorial plaques endowed since Selichot last year. The synagogue is located at 450 Kimber Rd., on the east side of Syracuse. For more information, call the office at 445-0002, visit the TAY website, www.adath.org, or e-mail info@adath.org.

Temple Concord In beginning the High Holiday season, Temple Concord will show the film “Dead Poets Societ y” on Saturday, September 20, at 8 pm, followed by a discussion on t wo major topics: mental health and seizing the day. Participants will have the opportunit y to reflect on both concepts as they prepare to welcome the year 5775. Following the movie, discussion and an oneg, participants will move into the sanctuar y to change the Torah mantles to white and begin the High Holidays. The synagogue is located at 910 Madison St. in the Syracuse University neighborhood. For more information, contact the TC office at 475-9952 or visit www.templeconcord.org.

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At right: Miriam Weissenstein and her grandson Ben Peter held a photograph of her as a young woman from the film “Life in Stills,” which will be be shown at Temple Adath Yeshurun on Selichot, on Saturday, September 20.

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SEPTEMBER 5, 2014/9 ELUL 5774 ■

JEWISH OBSERVER

Wishing You A Sweet New Year L’Shana Tova Tikatevu 2014-5775

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ SEPTEMBER 4, 2014/9 ELUL 5774

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, September 7 Temple Adath Yeshurun Hazak garden party at 1 pm, Hazak planning meeting at 1:45 pm Hazak presents the film “The Yankles” at 2:30 pm Tuesday, September 9 Epstein School starts at 6:30 pm Saturday, September 13 Temple Concord Cinemagogue at 7 pm Sunday, September 14 Jewish Music and Cultural Festival at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse from 12-6 Monday, September 15 Syracuse Hebrew Day School open school night at 7 pm SHDS Board of Trustees meeting at 7:30 pm Tuesday, September 16 EARLY deadline for the October 2 issue of the Jewish Observer Jewish Community Center Executive Committee meeting at 6 pm, followed by board meeting at 7 pm Regina Goldenberg series presents Syracuse City Ballet at Temple Concord at 7 pm Wednesday, September 17 Federation presents William Jacobson, speaking on Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement at Temple Concord at 7 pm Thursday, September 18 JCC health fair from 9 am-2 pm Federation board planning and orientation session at The Oaks at 5:30 pm TAY board meeting at 7 pm Saturday, September 20 Selichot programs around the community Sunday, September 21 The Oaks presents Italian dinner at 5 pm Wednesday, September 24 Erev Rosh Hashanah

Fellowship

Continued from page 5

Houston, I had never traveled beyond Virginia. The short time in Houston with Naomi [Warren] and the other professionals who shared their knowledge shook me in a way I would have never expected. The moment that I had with Naomi at the end of the program still brings tears to my eyes. Although I shared my gift with her in front of everyone, it felt very intimate. I remember her telling me she was also a tall girl growing up and giving me a hug. I had always felt self-conscious about my height and from that moment on I stood a little taller. I remember giving her a bell, with the promise that from then on, I would speak out against injustices and not remain silent... I had always been quiet and preferred to be in the background. During that week, it frightened me to think that I could have been a person during the Holocaust who didn’t speak up. I wanted to be different and promised myself not to keep quiet. The Warren Fellowship also gave me an idea on how to keep my voice strong and loud when I met Benjamin Ferencz. Until meeting him, the only attorneys I had ever met were family law attorneys. I remember we were all given a chance to shake his hand and ask a question. I asked Mr. Ferencz, “Why you? Why did they choose you?” My question was in reference to the fact that he was a prosecutor in the Nuremburg trials as a young attorney. He responded, “Why not?” It occurred to me at that moment, and in subsequent years, why not me? Why can’t I become an attorney? Why can’t I travel and explore new areas? I had previously limited myself because I allowed others to limit me. No one expected the quiet flutist to speak up or travel the world. [Up to this moment], I had not been given an opportunity to thank the Spectors, Naomi or other participants for the impact that week had on me. I still think of my promise to Naomi when I feel sheepish or feel like maybe I am not worthy of becoming an attorney or representing those who can’t represent themselves. I am honored to have been a part of the first round of Warren Fellows.

d’var torah

The essence of Torah is tikkun olam By Cantor Paula Pepperstone I spent a month this summer teaching at Camp Ramah New England in Palmer, MA. This year’s theme was Etz Chayim, Tree of Life. “Etz Chayim” usually refers to the Torah, and each teacher could choose how to teach the theme. I knew my take immediately – tikkun olam, repairing the world. Lately, I’ve felt strongly that tikkun olam is the main point of the Torah, and our pursuit of social justice is the gift we give to the world. Clearly, we live in an imperfect and flawed world but we become God’s partners when we work toward creating a whole, perfected world. Examples of these kinds of actions include treating others with compassion, visiting the sick and following laws in the Torah that embody mitzvot bein adam le-chavero, commandments between one person and another. Pursuit of social justice is lived when we care for the stranger, the orphan and the widow in our midst. When Devarim/Deuteronomy 26:12-13 teaches us to feed these three groupings of people – and we should interpret those groups more broadly today – who lack their own community or financial support, we learn that we must step in to meet their needs. Later in the parasha, we read that we will be cursed (27:19) if we don’t attend to the rights of these same people who are often lacking the power and resources to stand up for themselves. When I think about the curriculum of the Rabbi Jacob Epstein High School of Jewish Studies here in Syracuse,

one of my concerns is whether or not we teach the texts, concepts and skills that have life-long impact on our students’ lives. We must impart to them teachings that will shape their minds as Jews, and this includes tikkun olam and social justice. As Rabbi Bradley Artson teaches, justice “is the primary Jewish contribution to the human spirit.” In the coming years, I envision adding an active tikkun olam component to the Epstein School because it’s not good enough to only study and learn Torah, it must be lived as well. Our students currently volunteer in the Jewish community while representing Epstein, and I am proud of them, but I want to make sure we’re hitting a deeper note with our efforts. Our teenagers should feel more directly that they are tipping the balance on our community’s scale from shaky to stable, from despair to hope. We will be looking for partners in this endeavor and if you are interested in working with us, please let me know. It is up to all of us to engage in acts of tikkun olam, big or small, so that we may embody the words of Torah and, in turn, be “blessed in our comings and blessed in our goings.” (Devarim 28:6) Cantor Paula Pepperstone is the director of the Rabbi Jacob H. Epstein High School of Jewish Studies, as well as a teacher and frequent chazzan at Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas.

NEWS IN bRIEF From JTA

Sinai terror group beheads four accused of spying for Israel

Four Egyptian men were beheaded by a Sinai-based terror group for allegedly spying for Israel. Members of the Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis said in a video released on Aug. 28 that they killed the men because they had been spying for Israel’s Mossad agency. The headless bodies were found in the Sinai earlier in August, Reuters reported citing security sources. The video shows men in black masks beheading the accused collaborators as they kneeled on the ground, according to Reuters. The terror group said that the men provided intelligence to Israel used in a July airstrike on northern Sinai, in which three Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis fighters were killed. The Egyptian army said at the time of the strike that no Israeli aircraft had been in Egyptian airspace. Two of the executed men served time in Israeli jails for smuggling and two had said the Mossad had paid them for information, the group asserted in the video.

U.N. peacekeepers flee Syrian rebel captors

Filipino troops from the U.N. peacekeeping force on the Syria-Israel border escaped from the Syrian rebels holding them captive. The Filipino troops, part of the United Nations peacekeeping force monitoring the 1974 disengagement agreement between Syria and Israel following the 1973 war, escaped in the middle of the night on Aug. 30, Reuters reported. The troops from the U.N. Disengagement Observer Force “have relocated to an alternate site and are safe,” the United Nations said in a statement. Meanwhile, 44 Fijian peacekeepers have been held captive since Aug. 28. “At this time, no additional information on their status or location has been established,” according to a U.N. statement. “The United Nations continues to actively seek their immediate and unconditional release.” The statement said also that other observer force troops are on high alert and carrying out

CBS-CS

Continued from page 4 within them, the three-part series will cover “All about Eve? Murder and the First Family,” “‘The Help’ and Abraham’s Blended Family Dynamics” and “Brotherly Love – Who Really Sold Joseph?” Future series will include “The Jewish Game of Thrones,” “Samuel, Saul and David – She Did What?” and “Women of the Bible and Biblical Fiction – Selections from an Unfamiliar Genre.” The Women’s Connection’s monthly brunch will be held on Friday, September 5, at 10 am, at the Eggplant. The Women’s Connection’s annual potluck dinner will be held on Monday, September 22, at 6 pm, at the Kimry Moor Clubhouse. The dinner will provide an opportunity for participants to see old friends, meet new ones and enjoy a meal. Details of the year’s programming will be reviewed. For more information about these activities and the Women’s Connection, contact Nancy Belkowtz at belkowitzn@yahoo.com or the CBS-CS office at 446-9570.

their duties. The week of Aug. 22, the Philippines said it would recall its peacekeeping force of 331 at the end of its tour of duty in October due to the difficulty in securing the peacekeepers. In September 2013, 21 Filipino peacekeepers were kidnapped by Syrian rebels and released a week later. The rebels and Syrian forces in Syria’s more than three-year civil war have been fighting near the border for control of the crossing. Several mortars and gunfire have hit Israeli territory; an Israeli military officer and a civilian were injured by the live fire. The Israel Defense Forces said it responded by striking two Syrian military positions in the Golan. A rebel spokesman told the Associated Press on Aug. 28 that they are focused on fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad and pose no threat to Israel.

Report: Netanyahu, Abbas met secretly in Amman

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met secretly in Amman days before the current cease-fire with Gaza, the Jordanian daily Al-Ghad reported, saying the meeting was part of a gathering of senior Israeli and Palestinian officials, held at the invitation of King Abdullah II. No Israeli officials have confirmed the report. As part of the Egyptian-brokered, open-ended cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian Authority will coordinate reconstruction efforts in Gaza with international donors.