Jewish Observer issue of September 26, 2019 by Jewish Federation of CNY

26 ELUL 5779 • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • VOLUME XXXX, NUMBER 19 • PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID, SYRACUSE, NY

Syracuse Hillel hosts record-breaking orientation program for incoming Jewish Students BY DELANEY VAN WEY This article comes via Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University and is reprinted with permission. It can be found online at https://news.syr. edu/blog/2019/08/27/syracuse-hillelhosts-recording-breaking-orientationprogram-for-incoming-jewish-students/. Syracuse Hillel is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Central New York. In Syracuse University’s largest pre-orientation program, incoming students do more than learn about campus safety and where the dining halls are located. These new students also form lifelong friendships, braid challah and learn about the Jewish community at Syracuse University. More than 190 incoming Jewish students and their families participated in this year’s “FreshFest,” the pre-orientation program organized by Syracuse Hillel. The 2019 cohort marked the highest number of participating students in the history of Freshfest, welcoming more students into the Hillel community. “FreshFest is a unique opportunity for us to bring together Jewish first-year students as they embark on their journey to college,” says Jillian Juni, executive

director of Syracuse Hillel. “It is a space in which we can open our arms and welcome them to their home away from home.” FreshFest 2019 ran August 19-21, allowing students to move into residence halls early and get acclimated to campus before the designated beginning of Syracuse Welcome. Over the course of the program, students take tours of campus, hear from campus leaders, and learn details about Greek life and study abroad opportunities. At its core, FreshFest is about making friends and building community. Incoming students are paired with upperclassmen mentors that guide them through the week and often continue to give them advice throughout the rest of the year. Sophie Baron ‘22 is one of this year’s mentors helping to guide the incoming students around campus, residence halls and home colleges. She says participating in FreshFest helped her to build a network of peers and upperclassmen that has supported her throughout her journey at SU. “I really want incoming students to know that they always have a safe spot and people to lean on at Hillel,” Baron says. “I know for me it was really comforting to know I always had people to go to if I needed something.”

• 5780 •

Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year!

Syracuse Hillel hosted FreshFest, an orientation program for incoming Jewish students. The number of participating students was a record-breaker. Students also help design the program, with support from Syracuse Hillel staff. Ariel Hylton ‘20 and Alexis Boehnlein ‘20 were the co-chairs of FreshFest 2019 and in charge of developing numerous on- and off-campus activities, including icebreakers and an evening at the New York State Fair. Hylton, who attended FreshFest as an incoming student three years ago, says she felt compelled to help this year to give back to the program that was so welcoming and exciting for her. She says she met some of her best friends during FreshFest, and felt like she had found a home on campus. “FreshFest is important for Hillel and the SU Jewish community because it brings freshmen with a common back-

ground together,” Hylton said. “The students that take their first steps on campus through FreshFest can sense the school spirit and love that each and every student has for Syracuse University.” Over the course of three days, the participating students get to know SU, Hillel, and most importantly, each other. As their journey at Syracuse University continues, these students will continue to form bonds in classes, residence halls and at Hillel events. “FreshFest gives students a foundation to grow upon,” Juni said, “And the knowledge that they will always have the support of the vibrant SU Jewish community.” “I’m so proud to be able to call Syracuse Hillel my Hillel,” Hylton says. “I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way!”

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September 27.................. 6:35 pm............................................... Parashat Nitzavim September 29.................. 6:32 pm........................................... Erev Rosh Hashanah September 30......... after 7:30 pm....................................................Rosh Hashanah October 4......................... 6:23 pm.................................................Parashat Vayelech October 8......................... 6:16 pm................................................. Erev Yom Kippur October 11....................... 6:11 pm..................................................Parashat Haazinu

INSIDE THIS ISSUE High Holidays

Dialogue at SU

IDF submariners

The holiday challenge for college Two Arava Institute alumni will IDF Nav y personnel offer a kids; a “Reverse Tashlich”; and discuss environmental peace- glimpse into training for advanced local Sukkot services and events. building in the Mideast at SU. submarine wafare. Story on page 3 Stories on pages 2, 8-10 Story on page 6

PLUS Community Institutions.....8-9 Health Care Greetings..........11 Personal Greetings..........12-13 Classifieds.............................. 14

JEWISH OBSERVER ■ SEPTEMBER 26, 2019/26 ELUL 5779

JCC kicks off another school year

BY WILLIAM WALLAK After the hustle and bustle of summer camps came to an end late last month, the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center quickly switched gears and kicked off a successful back-to-school opening on September 3. Between the JCC’s Jerome and Phyllis Charney Early Childhood Development Program and the Before/After School Programs, more than 250 children from

age 6 weeks through sixth grade began their 2019-20 school year at the JCC in DeWitt. There were a good number of new faces and many returning familiar faces around the JCC’s classrooms and hallways. Staff said everything went smoothly and as planned throughout the first week of school. For more information about the JCC’s early childhood and school-age programs, call 315-445-2360 or visit www.jccsyr.org.

Sukkot around the community Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas (USCJ affiliated), 18 Patsy Ln., off Jamesville Rd., DeWitt, 315-446-9570 or office@cbscs.org. Contact Melissa Harkavy for youth programs at director@ cbscs.org or 315-701-2685. Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse (Orthodox, affiliated with the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America), 4313 E. Genesee St., DeWitt, 315-446-6194. Temple Adath Yeshurun (USCJ affiliated), 450 Kimber Rd., Syracuse, 315-445-0002. Temple Concord (Reform, affiliated with Union for Reform Judaism), 910 Madison St., Syracuse, 315-475-9952. Chabad House at SU. All services at Chabad House, 825 Ostrom Ave., Syracuse, 315-424-0363.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 Candle lighting 5:55 pm MONDAY, OCTOBER 21 Shemini Atzeret Shacharit 9:30 am, including Yizkor, led by Cantor Paula Pepperstone Candle lighting after 7 pm TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2 Simchat Torah Shacharit and Musaf only starting at 9:30 am Celebration and Ma’ariv at 5:45 pm Conclude the Festival season with Simchat Torah’s Torah service. Sing and dance as we end and begin the Torah. Food and drink. Davening and chanting. Live music. Havdalah at 7 pm

Congregation Beth SholomChevra Shas

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 Erev Sukkot Morning service 8 am Candle lighting 6:08 pm Mincha 6:10 pm Eat in sukkah after 7:14 pm MONDAY, OCTOBER 14 Sukkot Day 1 Chumash class 8:15 am Morning services 9 am Mincha 6:10 pm Candle lighting 7:14 pm Earliest time to eat in the sukkah 7:14 pm TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15 Sukkot Day 2 Chumash class 8:15 am Morning services 9 am Mincha 6:10 pm Havdalah 7:13 pm SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 Shabbat Chol Hamoed Morning services 9 am Candle lighting 5:59 pm Mincha 5:40 pm Havdalah 7:06 pm SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 Morning services 8 am Candle lighting 5:56 pm Mincha 6 pm

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10 Build the CBS-CS sukkah starting at 5:30 pm SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 Erev Sukkot Decorate the CBS-CS sukkah during religious school, between 9 am and 11:30 am All day Oys and Joys Sukkot Candle lighting 6:06 pm MONDAY, OCTOBER 14 Sukkot, Day 1 Shacharit 9:30 am Candle lighting after 7:12 pm TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15 Sukkot, Day 2 Shacharit at 9:30 am SUKKOT SERVICES Wednesday-Friday, October 16-18 – daily Sukkot services at TAY at 7:15 am SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukkot; led by Cantor Paula Pepperstone Services at 9:30 am Lunch and learn about JFS senior programs SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 Dine(r) in the Sukkah at 8 pm

School-age children in the JCC’s After School Program get dropped off at the main entrance by the JCC bus. Noah Solomon was out of the bus first, with Alexa Levy not far behind. The JCC’s After School Program runs from 3-6 pm on school days.

Sha’arei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse

See “Sukkot” on page 4

In the foreground, from left, are the Jerome and Phyllis Charney Early Childhood Development Program’s Tobias Hart, Nathan Rosenberg, teacher Becca Wojtanowksi and Scarlett Reeves making “alphabet soup” during the first week of school. They used wooden chips containing letters of the alphabet. Standing at the sand table in the background (l-r) are Lucas Perrone and August Denton.

About the cover This year’s Rosh Hashanah cover was designed by Jenn DePersis, production coordinator of the Jewish Observer.

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SEPTEMBER 26, 2019/26 ELUL 5779 ■

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AROUND CENTRAL NEW YORK Arava Institute – environmental peace-building in the Middle East BY SARAH BRAVERMAN AND DAVID A. SONNENFELD Founded in 1996, on the belief that “nature knows no borders,” the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies brings together Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians, Americans and college students from around the world to study some of the most pressing environmental and political challenges of the time. Undergraduates take fully accredited courses for one or two semesters at the institute’s campus at Kibbutz Ketura, Israel. Graduate students serve as teaching assistants or interns in one of the institute’s research centers, focusing on renewable energy and conservation, transboundary water management and sustainable agriculture. This fall, two Arava Institute alumni – one Israeli and one Palestinian – will visit universities and local communities across the United States to share their experiences with the institute’s cross-cultural environmental initiatives. Having participated in the Institute’s Peace-building Leadership Seminar, the alumni will reflect on the value of open and respectful dialogue with those whose personal narratives may be different from, and sometimes in opposition to, their own. Sponsored by the Jewish National Fund, the 2019 Dialogue Project Tour features Odeliya Matter and Mohammed Abusaada. Raised in Jerusalem, Matter lives in Tel Aviv. After serving in the IDF, she volunteered on farms across Europe and worked as a teacher in refugee camps in Greece. Moved by her passion for the environment and grassroots activism, she attended the Arava Institute for two semesters in 2018-19. Abusaada, raised in the Palestinian Territories, lives in Ramallah. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration prior to his semester at the Arava Institute in 2017. For the past two years, he has been working in

The event is cosponsored by ESF’s Department of Environmental Studies and Office of International Education. For further information about the Dialogue Tour or the Arava Institute, contact Sarah Braverman, Friends of the Arava Institute (sarah@friendsofarava.org). For information on the local events, contact Prof. David Sonnenfeld (dsonn@esf.edu), Department of Environmental Studies, ESF.

DEADLINE The Arava Institute’s desert ecology course met at the Samar Sand Dunes. community development and youth empowerment for international humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations and VNG International. The Dialogue Project Tour will make two stops in Syracuse. On Wednesday, October 16, from 6-7:30 pm, Matter and Abusaada will discuss “Environmental Peace-building in the Middle East” at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School for Citizenship and Public Affairs. The public event will be held in the Strasser Legacy Room, 220 Eggers Hall, Syracuse University, and is cosponsored by the Maxwell School’s Program for Advanced Research on Conflict and Collaboration (or PARCC); and the Department of Environmental Studies, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (or ESF). On Thursday, October 17, from 11 am-12:20 pm, the Arava Institute alumni will meet with students at Moon Library, Room 110, ESF, to share their experiences working together across cultures on environmental projects.

Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center senior dining menu SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 3 Monday – Rosh Hashanah – closed Tuesday – Rosh Hashanah – closed Wednesday – spinach cheese quiche Thursday – crispy baked teriyaki chicken wings Friday – orange-glazed chicken OCTOBER 7-11 Monday – tomato basil soup and grilled cheese sandwich Tuesday – veggie burger with sautéed onion Wednesday – Yom Kippur – closed Thursday – vegetable lasagna roll Friday – salmon with dill

The Bobbi Epstein Lewis JCC Senior Adult Dining Program at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center offers Va’ad Ha’ir-supervised kosher lunches served Monday through Friday at noon. 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 315-4452360, ext. 104, or cstein@jccsyr.org.

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Congregation Ahavath Achim will observe its annual Cemetery Memorial Service Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. rain or shine. Rabbi Evan Shore will officiate.

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ SEPTEMBER 26, 2019/26 ELUL 5779

CONGREGATIONAL NOTES Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas TASHLICH AT JAMESVILLE BEACH On Sunday, October 6, at 10 am, the Sunday between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, join the CBS-CS community at the Jamesville Beach Sandpiper Shelter for Tashlich, the Jewish art of letting go. A range of approaches to Tashlich will be offered, including vanishing paper and casting crumbs. This ritual is appropriate for children and adults alike; participants are even welcome to bring their dogs. Everyone is encouraged to bring a picnic brunch to enjoy the autumn morning together. YOUNG PROFESSIONAL BREAK FAST All young professionals in the Central New York Jewish community are invited to a Yom Kippur break fast at the home of CBS-CS Program Director Melissa Harkavy after Neilah, at 7:45 pm, on Wednesday, October 9. Reservations are

requested and may be made by contacting Melissa Harkavy at director@cbscs.org. DINE(R) IN THE SUKKAH On Saturday, October 19, from 8-9:30 pm, rock around the clock with a diner-themed evening in the sukkah: veggie burger bar, French fries and shakes in the sukkah, including a lulav shake. Participants are encouraged to come in ‘50s attire. Reservations are requested and may be made by contacting Melissa Harkavy at director@cbscs.org There is a suggested donation of $10 per person. CBS-CS CELEBRATES CNY AT SUKKAH HARVESTFEST Enjoy local foods, beverages and music on Tuesday, October 15, from 8-10 pm. All community members over the age of 21 are welcome. Reservations are requested and may be made by contacting Melissa Harkavy at director@cbscs.org. There is a $10 per person cover charge.

Temple Concord CINEMAGOGUE PRESENTS “DEFYING THE NAZIS” On Saturday, October 12, at 7:30 pm, Temple Concord’s Cinemagogue Series will present the film “Defying the Nazis, The Sharps’ War.” It is the story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp, a Unitarian minister and his wife from Wellesley, MA, who left their children behind in the care of their parish, committing themselves to multiple European missions to save

political dissidents and Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis in Europe over two years. This documentary is directed by Ken Burns and Artemis Joukowsky, and narrated by Tom Hanks and Marina Goldman. Cinemagogue events are free and open to the public, and candy and snacks are available. Donations are welcome. For more information, contact the TC office at 315-475-9952, or office@ templeconcord.org.

NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org

Initiative #ShowUpForShabbat to recall Pittsburgh shooting victims, one year later An initiative by the American Jewish Committee invites people of all faiths to join Jews in synagogues for Shabbat services on Oct. 25-26 as a show of solidarity timed to the first anniversary of the deadly massacre at the Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The AJC launched #ShowUpForShabbat following the murder of 11 Jewish worshippers on Oct. 27, 2018, when a lone gunman entered the building during Shabbat-morning services. Exactly six months later, on April 27, 2019, a similar shooting took place at Chabad of Poway, CA; in that shooting, a 60-year-old Jewish woman was killed in the synagogue lobby. “The sanctity of Jewish houses of worship – the sense of American Jewish security – changed dramatically after these fatal terror attacks,” said AJC CEO David Harris. “But the outpouring of support from political and religious leaders was energizing, demonstrating Americans’ determination to come together to fight hate, in this case hatred of Jews. One year later, we wish to remember the victims of maniacal hatred and unite with people of good will in the struggle against rising antisemitism.” AJC’s first #ShowUpForShabbat initiative took place right after the shooting, on the weekend of Nov. 2, 2018. It was called the largest show of solidarity with the Jewish community in American history. More than 250 million people used the hashtag on Facebook and Twitter, and millions attended services at synagogues in the United States and abroad that Friday evening and Saturday morning. A list of synagogues participating in the upcoming #ShowUpForShabbat initiative is on the AJC’s website.

Temple Adath Yeshurun

L-r: Marilyn Ribyat, Michael and Sandy Meltzer, Rabbi Yehoshua Zehavi and Nadiv Zehavi were among the more than 20 Temple Adath Yeshurun Hazak members who attended a social hour with the Zehavi family.

Sukkot MONDAY, OCTOBER 21 Shemini Atzeret Chumash class 8:15 am Morning services 9 am Yizkor 10:30 am (approx.) Mincha 5:55 pm Candle lighting 7:02 pm Hakafot 7:10 pm TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22 Simchat Torah Morning services 9 am Hakafot 9:45 am Mincha 5:55 pm Candle lighting 7:02 pm Havdalah 7:09 pm Simchat Torah celebration

Temple Adath Yeshurun SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 Erev Sukkot Evening services 5:30 pm Candle lighting 6:06 pm MONDAY, OCTOBER 14 Sukkot, Day 1 Morning services 9:15 am Evening services 5:30 pm Candle lighting 7:12 pm TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15 Sukkot, Day 2 Morning services 9:15 am Evening services 6:30 pm SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 Shabbat Chol Hamoed Morning services 9:15 am Pizza in the Hut following services Mincha (approximately) 12:15 pm

Continued from page 2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 Hoshanah Rabbah Morning services at Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas 9 am Shemini Atzeret evening services 5:30 pm Candle lighting 5:55 pm MONDAY, OCTOBER 21 Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Morning services (includes Yizkor) 9:15 am Evening services 6 pm Family celebration 6:30 pm Candle lighting 7:01 pm TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22 Simchat Torah Morning services 9:15 am Evening services 6:45 pm

Temple Concord Sukkot/Simchat Torah MONDAY, OCTOBER 14 Office closed Sukkot morning service 11 am MONDAY, OCTOBER 21 Office closed Shemini Atzeret Yizkor service 11 am Simchat Torah and Consecration service 7 pm

Chabad House All services and meals take place at Chabad House, 825 Ostrom Ave. Schedule not available at press time. For information, call 315-424-0363.

Bishop Douglas J. Lucia and the People of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse Greet our Jewish Friends and Neighbors in Your Holy Season

May Our Friendship be a Blessing for All May We Give Our Common Voice to the AncienttellPromise of Shalom them you saw their ad here in

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SEPTEMBER 26, 2019/26 ELUL 5779 ■

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Temple Concord celebrates 180th congregational anniversary BY SALLY CUTLER Over the weekend of September 6-8, Temple Concord celebrated its milestone 180th congregational anniversary with worship, celebration and service. The congregation that today is Temple Concord was founded in 1839 by a small group of German Jewish immigrants. TC Rabbi Daniel Fellman said, “Ours is a community of living fully, of laughing often and of showing love for others.” Cantor/educator Kari Siegel Eglash confirmed, saying, “Each song I sing, prayer I chant, lesson I teach reaches both backward and forward, both remembering our roots and dreaming of the future.” On September 6, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, spoke at Shabbat services. He recognized the long history of the congregation, the ninth oldest in the Reform Movement, as well as Concord’s current and future direction and leadership. The service was enlivened by music from the adult and junior choirs and the synagogue band. It also included the dedication of new Torah mantles and recognized all those who had contributed to them. An oneg Shabbat followed, featuring home-baked desserts, many of which were based on historic recipes. That Saturday evening, the synagogue social hall was filled with members and families. Food stations served up fare, adults bid on auction items, families mugged at a photo booth and kids participated in their own kid-friendly “auction” and played in the GaGa ball pit. On Sunday, the first day of religious school, students turned to social action, with age-appropriate activities in the synagogue vegetable garden (which serves the

food pantry), at the Ronald McDonald House and at We Rise Above the Streets, as well as an on-site presentation from the Cuse Pit Crew promoting humane treatment of animals.

Adding to the fun of the Temple Concord celebration on Saturday night was a photo booth. L-r: Booth staffer Gina Fargnoli, Olivia Sykes (with mask) and the Sykes family. The booth included props and participants felt it made many memories.

L-r: Cantor Kari Siegel Eglash, Rabbi Daniel Fellman and Joe Eglash started the celebration off on Saturday night with melodies for Havdalah.

Happy Passover! Alex Lyon and Son Sales Managers and Auctioneers

The kids were interested in the results of the kids’ auction. L-r: Zach Fellman, Marian Spitzer, Judah Spitzer, Ari Eglash and Emma Waldman.

Participants from Temple Concord Religious School’s sixth grade volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House.

One of the food stations included a pasta bar. May you be nscribed in the Book of Life for good health, peace and prosperity.

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ SEPTEMBER 26, 2019/26 ELUL 5779

IDF’s naval-training personnel offer glimpse into world of advanced submarine warfare

BY YAAKOV LAPPIN (JNS) – The Israel Navy’s submarine training course is – much like the world of submarines itself – submerged in the lesser known world of military operations. A submarine is the most expensive platform that Israel can buy, and the Israel Defense Forces is about to expand its fleet to six German-made Dolphin platforms – half of them new-generation vehicles that can stay submerged for longer. These vessels, bristling with advanced technology, can covertly gather intelligence on enemy activities, approach distant coastlines and strike targets with precision missiles, while remaining out of the reach of the enemy’s missiles and rockets. According to international media reports, they are a key aspect of Israel’s nuclear deterrent and second-strike capability. Yet training the sailors who will serve onboard the secretive vessels is as vital for mission success as any of the submarine’s technological capabilities. “When we returned to dock after some sort of operation and read all kinds of headlines, we understood that there is great significance in what we did,” 1st Lt. I (full name withheld), a commander of a navy submarine course, told JNS. He served onboard a Dolphin submarine for a year and eight months after being drafted in 2013. He then chose to attend a naval

Israeli Navy soldiers boarded an Israeli Dolphin-class submarine in Haifa on September 7, 2009. (Photo by Moshe Shai/Flash90)

officer’s course to join the training personnel. The submarine training course is divided into two stages: A basic stage and a mission specialty stage. First Lt. I initially commanded a team within the basic-stage course before going on to command the whole basic stage. He has overseen five training cycles so far, sending “generations” of sailors into the sea’s depths, where they conduct “critical missions,” the vast majority of which will never be known to the public. “The basic stage is the physically challenging part,” the officer said. “There are many marches and a series of tests to determine if the cadets are suitable for becoming submarine personnel. We check character traits, the ability to work in teams and the ability to work in a high-pressure environment.” Only half of the cadets successfully complete the “grueling” basic stage. Some volunteer to leave after concluding that they are not suitable for this type of service, while others are told by course instructors that they will best realize their skills in other parts of the military. Six months later, the remaining cadets split up into five specialty areas: technicians, machine operators, electricians, sonar and communications, and weapons operators. “The second phase is also a challenge,” said 1st Lt. I. At the end of the course, the cadets graduate and split up again into their operations teams onboard the submarines. “They have to continue training in the submarines on their own after a year-and-a-month of acquiring tools and knowledge. They have to serve with people of different ages and roles, and not necessarily from their own course,” said the commander. “The two stages of the course prepare them for life in a submarine. The course is filled with uncertainty. They don’t know how long their [simulated] missions will be. They don’t know what will happen in 10 minutes. We take away their phones on base. In a submarine, no one knows what will happen in 30 minutes, and the course reenacts that environment,” explained the officer. “High-pressure situations” are also re-enacted, in which cadets must complete tactical or technical tasks. “We get them used to dealing with this kind of pressure with the help of simulators that generate the pressure levels,” he added. “Those who’ve never been in a submarine can think it is small crowded place, but slowly, one learns to master this environment. I can tell you that one of the reasons I became a commander in the course is the sense – and it is hard to accurately describe it – of satisfaction in seeing the next generation of fighters deploy.” He described how submarine personnel must remain silent about their missions when they return home for breaks, even as they hear their friends openly share their military stories and experiences. “You can’t talk about what you did, though the operations can influence things in all sorts of places. It is a little hard to transmit this to 18-year-olds, but in the end, this is what they understand,” he said. “They gain great satisfaction in what they do, even if it’s not totally clear to them at that very moment.” The lieutenant noted that Israel is continuing to buy submarines, even though each one is worth “tens, if not hundreds, of tanks and tens of planes. In the end, it is a vessel with very unique capabilities compared to others in the military. The defense leadership has in recent years

Shana Tovah from

An Israeli Navy Dolphin-class submarine off the coast of Haifa on September 7, 2009. (Photo by Moshe Shai/ Flash90) understood their significance, and they are purchasing more of these, while improving existing submarines. And the ambiguity around this issue is there for a reason. We want to keep our cards close to our chest. Not many units can bring these cards.” Pvt. A, a naval cadet who is currently in the basic stage of the training course, told JNS about the experience of entering such a secretive and singular military world. “In this course, one does not really know where he will end up, and this is the whole idea. It is not very well-known and this is deliberate. It’s about entering the unknown and climbing up from there,” he said. He described a “highly demanding” training period that presents a battery of physical as well as mental theoretical tests. “There is a very strong combination between the two. One minute we are in a lesson, the next we are in training,” he said. “Teamwork is a central part of this experience. It is emphasized in every aspect. We have to work closely in teams, so that we can sail optimally later on.” The stress on teamwork even finds expression in the dining hall, where cadets can only begin to eat after everyone has received food. During training missions, even if the task is not fully completed on time, the commander is most interested in “whether we worked as a team. This is the main thing,” said Pvt. A. “He wants to see whether we worked together and not each in his own bubble. This emphasis appears everywhere. Even TELEPHONE (315) 474-3326 476-8058 AX (315) when we run, the faster ones do not Fgo ahead. We all EMAIL: careerguide@verizon.net run together.” Pvt. A was drawn to the submarine-training course because, he said, he would never get another opportunity to be onboard such a vessel.SERVICE, “This isINC. not PLACEMENT a platform one sees anywhere else. Everything we Agency but fascinating,” he stated. “It learn here is different, “the right person for the job” is a whole world that opens up – one that most of the world doesn’t know about because it’s not supposed 120 E. WASHINGTON ST. SUITE 201 ILDRED SIMINOFF toMdeal with it. Every new layer that opens up leaves SYRACUSE, NY 13202 us wide-eyed.”

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Seal of First Temple-era royal steward found in Jerusalem BY JNS STAFF (JNS) – A 2,600-year old bulla (seal) bearing a Hebrew name was uncovered recently in earth excavated in 2013 from beneath Robinson’s Arch at the foundations of the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. The seal bears not only a name, but also a role – considered the most prominent in the courts of the kings of Judah and Israel. The seal, which was used to sign documents, bears the Hebrew name and title “Adoniyahu Asher Al Habayit,” which literally translates as “Adoniyahu, who is over the house.” The term, which means “royal steward,” is used throughout the Bible to describe the most senior official serving under a king of Judea or Israel. According to archaeologist Eli Shukron, who conducted the initial excavations on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority just north of the City of David at the foundation stones of the Western Wall, “This is the first time this kind of archaeological discovery has been made in Jerusalem. The biblical title ‘asher al habayit’ was the highest ranking ministerial position beneath the king during the reigns of the kings of Judea and Israel.” As small as it is, the seal is of tremendous significance, said Doron Spielman, vice president of the City of David Foundation, which operates the site where the seal was discovered as well as the Archeological Experience, where it was uncovered. “This tiny bulla has immense meaning to billions of people worldwide – the personal signet of a senior official to a biblical king from the First Temple period. This is another link in the long chain of Jewish history in Jerusalem that is being uncovered and preserved at the City of David on a daily basis,” said Spielman. The seal is approximately 1 centimeter

The “Adoniyahu Asher Al Habayit” bulla (seal). (Photo by Eliyahu Yanai, City of David) (two-fifths of an inch) wide, and according to the writing on it dates to the seventh century B.C.E. – the period of the Kingdom of Judea. The term “asher al habayit” appears for the first time in the list of King Solomon’s ministers. This role is mentioned in the Bible in reference to a number of figures, all of whom had “considerable influence” in the kingdom. For example, “Ovadyahu Asher Al Habayit” is mentioned in I Kings as having served in that role in the kingdom of Israel under King Ahab during times of the prophet Elijah. Ovadyahu acted against Isabel in administering the kingdom and even saved 100 Israelite prophets by hiding them in a cave. French archeologist Charles Clermont-Ganneau discovered a burial cave with the inscription: “Tomb of … yahu Asher Al Habayit” some 150 years ago. The beginning of the name had been erased, but the burial site, on the outskirts of the City of David, were also dated to the seventh century B.C.E. Although discovered by Clermont-Ganneau, the inscription was only deciphered by Professor Nachman Avigad some 80 years later.

NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org

Swastika-like symbols found outside entryway to Boston-area synagogue A Boston-area synagogue has been vandalized with what appear to be swastikas. Police in Sharon received a call on the night of Sept. 20 from congregants at Temple Sinai about the marking near its entrance. There were two other markings in the mulch bed. Sharon is known for its sizable Jewish population. “While these markings were easily removed with soap and water, we imagine that their presence may remain in your minds, hearts and spirits,” synagogue President Cindi Crutchfield wrote in an e-mail sent to congregants, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported. The New England chapter of the Anti-Defamation League condemned the markings. Anyone with information about this case should contact the Sharon Police Department at 781-784-1587.

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ SEPTEMBER 26, 2019/26 ELUL 5779

“Reverse Tashlich” program encourages Jews to keep the oceans clean

BY SHIRYN GHERMEZIAN (JNS) – A Florida-based program aimed at reconnecting Jewish people to the ocean and empowering them to help keep the sea clean is attracting attention from communities around the United States and even in Israel. On Rosh Hashanah, Jews throw bread in the water to symbolically cleanse themselves of their sins. The “Reverse Tashlich” project calls on Jewish communities to switch the

process and remove these human “sins” from the water in waterfront cleanups. The project is part of the Tikkun HaYam (“repairing the sea”) initiative launched last year. It was founded by Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, also the founder of Scubi Jew, a Hillel club that teaches marine conservation through a Jewish lens as part of its mission of Tikkun HaYam. As Rosenthal, who serves as the Hillel rabbi at Eckerd College in Florida,

Members of Congregation B’nai Israel and Temple Beth-El, in St. Petersburg, FL, participated in a clean-up. (Photo courtesy of Facebook)

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explained to JNS: “It applies a modern context to an ancient practice. In addition, it is intended to raise awareness about one of the greatest existential threats to our planet, the ongoing destruction of the ocean.” Every year, approximately six million tons of human-made trash pollute the water. “Reverse Tashlich” started as a small program at the Suncoast Hillel at Eckerd College in Tampa Bay, FL, which has a large marine-science program and a beach on campus. Three years ago, about a dozen students went to their local waterfront and cleaned nearly 100 pounds of trash. The program then expanded under the leadership of Shayna Cohen, director of Tikkun HaYam, and last year’s event included nine locations and 307 participants. Some 650 pounds of trash were collected in Miami, Tampa Bay and Washington, DC. The next event is scheduled for Sunday, October 6; groups in Boston, Minnesota, California, New York and Israel have expressed interest in participating. Cohen and her team are also hosting a grant competition for people who collect the most trash, as a way to incentivize locals to do “some really hearty cleanups,” she told JNS. “Our dream goal is having this one day a year where the Jewish community gets involved in their ecosystem and helps make an impact in their environment,” said

Shayna Cohen helped spruce up the mangroves in Tampa, FL. (Photo courtesy of Facebook) Cohen. “As Jews, we are required to care for the environment, but there is a stark lack of environmentalism when it comes to the ocean and the Jewish community… a lack of awareness in the Jewish community for marine conversation. Tikkun HaYam is just a way to bring the topic of the ocean into the conversation.” See “Oceans” on page 13

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019/26 ELUL 5779 ■

JEWISH OBSERVER

Fall into the flavors of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur BY ETHEL G. HOFMAN (JNS) – Rosh Hashanah falls late on the calendar this year, at the end of the backto-school month and at the beginning of the first signs of fall. No matter; somehow, there are always those last-minute guests and added recipes that cause a flurry of activity in Jewish households right down to the wire. This year, the holiday starts after sundown on September 29, a Sunday – a gift for those cooks and hosts who have just a few more preparations to make before they welcome the new Jewish year, 5780.

Since summer seems long-gone and families are knee-deep in activities already, make it a little easier on yourself. Make the freezer your friend. With the time ahead of the holiday, whip up a few dishes, slip them into the freezer and forget about them until that Sunday morning. Besides the ubiquitous brisket and chicken, soups and casseroles galore may be cooked, cooled, sealed and frozen. Just don’t forget to label each one, adding key codes such as pareve, meat or dairy. It’s no big deal to cut up salads the night before (remember, the clocks start to go back, and there will be time after

Shabbat for thawing and finalizing the menu). Chunks of tomato, cucumber and shredded basil stay just fine overnight. Toss with a little olive oil, some lemon or lime, and salt and fresh pepper just before serving. Cream soups, however, do not freeze well. The soup will separate, and the texture will become grainy; those are best prepared fresh, or make the night before and refrigerate. For thawed soups, the seasonings may need to be adjusted as flavors are reduced by the cold. And what’s a Jewish holiday without a kugel? My grandkids, home from college, will expect my PineappleApplesauce Kugel,

Ophra’s Mushroom Soup (Photo by Ethel G. Hofman)

Ginger-Spiked Fruit Soup (Photo by Ethel G. Hofman)

Pumpkin Honey Cake (Photo by Ethel G. Hofman)

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and for dairy meals, a Rich Banana Dessert Kugel. Both freeze exceedingly well. Another must-have on the table is honey cake. Try a seasonal variation: Pumpkin Honey Cake, which is moist, dark and delicious. All of the dishes here may be served at Rosh Hashanah or to break the fast after Yom Kippur. Ophra’s Mushroom Soup (Dairy, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free) Serves 6; recipe may be doubled. Longtime home cook Ophra Kimberg generously shared this recipe with me. Cook’s Tips: Cauliflower is the soup thickener. Chopped onions are available fresh or frozen. Buy canned mushrooms, pieces and stems. Cauliflower should be soft before adding to onions and mushrooms. When doubling the recipe, freeze in two batches. For a pareve dish, substitute olive oil for butter. For a dairy dish, top with a spoonful of sour cream or plain yogurt. 1 cup cauliflower florets 3 Tbsp. butter

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High Holiday challenge for college kids: Finding their (spiritual) home away from home

BY DEBORAH FINEBLUM (JNS) – Spending the High Holidays away from home can be a lonely experience. And, sadly, without the family around, many a Jewish college student simply ignores the call of the shofar – even the apples and honey – and attends class as usual. But for countless others, the pull of these special days, fueled by memories of childhood Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur holiday services and festive meals, is too strong to ignore. Even when they can’t get home to celebrate, they take a break from schoolwork long enough to celebrate in new ways with their campus “family.” “I loved the holidays with my family, and I was pretty active at my temple,” says Melissa Denish, who left Philadelphia behind to attend Elon University in North Carolina. “But it’s too far to go home just for a couple of days, so I stay at school.” Fortunately, for Denish and other Jewish college students, most schools offer opportunities for these young adults to be, if not exactly home for the holidays, at least able to celebrate these days together and, when it works, begin to find a spiritual home of their own. And those who provide these services tend not to take the responsibility lightly. At a time when other Jews are getting a break from their jobs, Rabbi Zalman Deitsch says what he does during the holidays, including the 600 meals that he and his wife, Sarah, serve, may be the most important moments of his entire year. “Much is at stake here,” says the rabbi, now in his 23rd year of leading High Holidays for Chabad at Ohio State University in the state’s capital of Columbus. “It’s an opportunity to reach our students with a deep experience of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, to create a home away from home for the holidays.” Rabbi Zalman Deitsch As he relates, “When Serving CNY for your Real Estate needs... of Chabad at Ohio they’re away from their State University. (Photo families and on their own courtesy of Chabad.org for the first time, they ask themselves, ‘Who am I?’ If News)

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they have the right experience, they can take this into themselves for the rest of their lives, so it’s an amazing opportunity and also an awesome responsibility.” “Each one of them who stays here on campus for the chagim [holidays] is precious to us,” says Rabbi Chana Leslie Glazer. “For those who don’t go home, we know it’s a time of year when they need to feel part of something, a sense of community, and when we can help students feel empowered to take the reins of their Jewish lives.” But the competition is stiff. Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, where Glazer is in her fourth year as chaplain for the Jewish community and a Hillel advisor, is “a very demanding school where missing even one class can be a problem, so even though university policy insists the professors be willing to make accommodations, I’m hearing more and more students who genuinely want to observe the holidays, but are concerned that missing material will affect their grades.” The result: Many come only to evening meals and services. “But whenever they come,” she notes, “we work at making it a welcoming, special and nurturing experience for them.” Tobin Gevelber would certainly understand how the students at Bucknell feel about missing class. His engineering curriculum at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland is also demanding. “But there’s no way I’m not going to go to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services,” he says. “That’s not really an option for me.” One difference Gevelber notices from the holidays back at home in Boston: “There everyone you see is pretty much doing the holiday, too, but on campus for most people it’s just another day, and that feels kind of strange.” Still, there is an advantage in being cast adrift from the comforts of home, he points out: “There it’s a more straightforward way of celebrating the holidays; there’s no question as to exactly what you’re doing, whereas at school it’s actually fun to make these decisions, to have that new independence in this area, to navigate the holidays yourself with a new awareness.” Involving the students is key to the way Betsy Polk at Elon University in North Carolina constructs the services for those among the school’s 600 Jewish students who opt to stay on campus for the holidays. “We have a fairly small population,” says Polk, who directs the Hillel for the university. “So we need to make sure our services are pluralistic and inclusive for our Reform, Conservative,

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Students at Elon University in North Carolina read from the Torah. (Photo courtesy of Elon University Hillel)

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A student at Elon University in North Carolina blew the shofar. (Photo courtesy of Elon University Hillel) unaffiliated and more observant students. Our challenge is creating a High Holiday experience where everybody feels comfortable.” One approach Polk has found successful in her two years-plus on the job: “They need to know it’s going to be different from being at home, but when they say, ‘That’s not the melody we use,’ I answer, ‘Great. Let’s hear your melody. Maybe we can sing it together.’” Unlike smaller schools where Jewish students attending services on campus need to find common ground, the larger ones can afford to offer more choices. Over at the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life at Columbia/Barnard Hillel, Lavine Family Executive Director Brian Cohen says students can select which service they feel comfortable with. “And if one doesn’t feel right to them, they can try the next one,” he adds. “My primary goal is to provide our Jewish students with a meaningful High Holiday experience, including services, meals, etc.” To build momentum, Cohen’s team presents holiday programming not only in the Hillel building, but in dorms and other campus locales. “We want to reach the Jewish students, of course, but we also want the broader campus community to be aware that this is an important time for Jewish students and professors.” A key ingredient: food. They serve hundreds of meals over these 10 days, including nearly 500 bagels at Yom Kippur break-fast. Nor does he think that the presence of anti-Israel forces on his campus puts a damper on holiday celebration. “I think they feel safe expressing their Jewishness,” he adds. “It’s a beautiful sight, hundreds of students walking up to the Kraft Center at sundown on Rosh Hashanah.” In fact, says OSU Chabad’s Deitsch, “holidays away from home in a community that feels like family can give students an opportunity they never had before: to be open to the experience and bring themselves to the table, to begin to decide the kind of person they want to be beginning right now at the beginning of this new year.” Now the religious and educational chairman at the Elon Hillel, Denish is already reaching out to her fellow students to lead a prayer or a song or a reading from the Torah. “We’re at a stage in our lives when we’re no longer forced to come, so we need another reason – to see it as an opportunity to really learn about ourselves and our community, about different traditions than what we may have grown up with.” When everyone comes willing to ask and answer questions, she adds, “the holidays can be a powerful learning experience and can have more of an impact than they did at home.” “With no tickets or dress code required, we want our students to feel completely welcome,” says Columbia/ Barnard Hillel’s Cohen. “Even the students who never got it or who were turned off as kids, we’re hoping they give it another shot.”

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SEPTEMBER 26, 2019/26 ELUL 5779 ■

JEWISH OBSERVER

NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org

Jewish group upset British Labour Party to discuss antisemitism issues on Shabbat The Jewish Labour Movement is frustrated that the British Labour Party will discuss proposed changes to how it deals with antisemitism complaints at an event on Shabbat, as part of the annual Labour Party Conference. Labour’s National Executive Committee decided on Sept. 17 that the party would change its current process for dealing with members accused of antisemitism and other types of abuse. Under the proposed rule changes, panels of NEC members would have the ability to rule on cases and expel members when necessary as opposed to only the party’s National Constitutional Committee having that power, which is the current rule. The proposed changes were required to be debated at the Labour conference, which was to run from Sept. 21-25. JLM, the Labour Party’s Jewish affiliate, said the timing of the debate was “the latest example of institutional failing” by the party and that the NEC decision to make changes to its rules on antisemitism was reached “without consulting us, it’s only Jewish affiliate, or any communal organization [sic]. ...To add insult to injury, they will debate these changes at conference on the Jewish Sabbath, when religiously observant Jewish Labour delegates will be silenced, unable to participate in the debate,” said JLM. It continued, “The

Jewish community has zero confidence that proposals to hand the NEC more powers on disciplinary matters will solve this crisis. There have been countless examples of NEC members either engaging in antisemitism or turning a blind eye to it. It will simply streamline the process of letting antisemites off the hook.”

Dutch army to use Elbit’s Iron Fist to protect its armored vehicles The Royal Netherlands Army will employ active defense systems developed by Israel’s Elbit Systems, European defense contractor BAE Systems Plc announced on Sept. 17. BAE was selected to integrate Elbit’s Iron Fist Active Protection System (or APS) into a fleet of 150 CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicles after successful testing. “Iron Fist is an advanced technology that automatically detects, tracks and neutralizes incoming threats to protect the vehicle and its crew,” said BAE Systems in a statement. “The APS will give us a significant combat advantage and will improve tactical operation,” said Joost Vernooij, Dutch project manager for the CV90. Elbit’s Iron Fist won a Israeli Defense Ministry deal worth $250 million, Israel business daily Globes reported in August, and the U.S. Army is in the process of acquiring the system for use with its Bradley armored vehicles. Iron Fist uses electro-optical sensors, tracking radar, launchers and countermeasure munitions to neutralize missiles fired at a vehicle.

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Flavors

½ cup diced onions 1 can (14 oz.), plus 1 (7 oz.) can mushrooms, stems and pieces, drained 2 tsp. bottled chopped garlic ⅛ tsp. dried thyme 2 tsp. pareve bouillon powder 3 cups vegetarian broth White pepper and salt to taste Place cauliflower in a microwave-safe dish with 1 to 2 tablespoons water. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Microwave 4 minutes or until very soft. Drain. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the cauliflower, onions, mushrooms, garlic, thyme and bouillon powder. Cook over medium heat until onion is transparent. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often. Cool slightly before transferring to food processor. Add the broth and process until slightly grainy (longer if a smoother mixture is preferred). Season to taste with white pepper and salt. Cool before pouring into a container. Cover tightly, label and freeze. Ginger-Spiked Fruit Soup (Pareve, Vegetarian) Serves 6. Super-easy: Just place all ingredients, except the ginger, in blender and whirl. Serve chilled. Cook’s Tips: Use fresh squeezed lemon juice, not bottled. Ginger root, not powdered ginger, should be used. May substitute apple juice for orange juice. For a dairy soup, stir ½ cup sour cream or plain yogurt into thawed soup. If too thick, add a little more orange juice. 1 (15 oz.) can pitted cherries, drained 1 cup whole cranberry sauce 5 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (from 2 large lemons) 1 cup orange juice ½ cup water 1 slice (½-inch thick) challah or white bread, crumbled 2-3 Tbsp. coarsely grated ginger root to taste Place all ingredients, except ginger root, in blender

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The Cominsky & Gatesy Families New Year Greetings to you and yours

jar or food processor. Whirl until smooth. Stir in grated ginger root to taste. Pour into freezer container, cover tightly, label and freeze. Easy Vegetable Lasagna for a Crowd (Dairy) Serves 24. Cook’s Tips: Don’t be intimidated by the long ingredient list or directions. Ingredients are all ready to use. May divide ingredients into two containers each that serves 10-12. Full-fat ricotta, sour cream and milk may be used, if desired. Dry thawed chopped spinach by rolling tightly in clean tea towel. Reheat, thawed, at 325°F, for 40 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. 1 (16 oz.) package skim-milk ricotta cheese 1 (16 oz.) package low-fat sour cream ½ cup skim milk 1¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper 1 (16 oz.) jar meatless spaghetti sauce 1 (10.5 oz.) “no cook” lasagna noodles 1 (12 oz.) jar roasted sliced red peppers, drained 1 (12 oz.) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and quartered 1½ cups frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 2 tsp. garlic powder 1 3 / cup grated Parmesan cheese ¾ cup water Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 13×9 inch lasagna pan with nonstick vegetable spray. In a bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, sour cream, skim milk and pepper. Set aside. Spread half the spaghetti sauce over the bottom of prepared pan. Cover with 3 lasagna noodles and top with about cheese mixture. Cover with roasted pepper and half the artichokes. Repeat with 3 lasagna noodles and half the remaining cheese mixture. Cover with remaining artichokes and the spinach. Top with remaining cheese mixture. Sprinkle with garlic powder and Parmesan cheese.

May this New Year be a time of peace & joy for you and all those you love.

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Continued from page 9 Pour ¾ cup water into one corner of pan, tilting to distribute water to other corners. Cover tightly to seal with heavy-duty foil. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. Uncover and bake 15 minutes longer. Cool completely before sealing with foil. Label and freeze. One-Bowl Pineapple-Applesauce Kugel (Pareve) Serves 8-10. Cook’s Tips: Recipe may be doubled using a large baking dish. May use a pareve granola topping instead of crushed cornflakes. Substitute canned pineapple for fresh. ½ pound medium egg noodles, cooked and drained 5 eggs ¼ cup vegetable oil 2 cups chopped fresh pineapple 1 (16-oz. jar) chunky applesauce ¾ cup sugar 1½ tsp. cinnamon, divided 1 3 / cup crushed cornflakes Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×12-inch baking dish with nonstick vegetable spray. In a large bowl, whisk eggs with oil, pineapple, applesauce, sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Add the slightly cooled noodles. Stir to mix. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle cornflakes evenly over noodle mixture. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon. Bake in preheated oven 45 minutes or until slightly moist in center. Cool, cover tightly with foil and freeze. Rich Banana Dessert Kugel (Dairy) Serves 8-10 Cook’s Tips: Leave butter and cream cheese at room temperature for several hours to soften. May use overripe bananas. About half an 8-oz. package of fine egg noodles, cooked and drained 2 bananas, thinly sliced 1 stick (4 oz.) unsalted butter, softened 4 oz. cream cheese, softened ½ cup sugar 3 large eggs 1 cup sour cream 1 tsp, vanilla extract 1 to 2 tsp, cinnamon-sugar Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch square baking dish with nonstick vegetable spray. Spread cooked noodles over bottom of baking dish. Spread bananas over to cover. Set aside. In a large bowl, whip the butter, cream cheese and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Pour over bananas. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Bake in preheated oven 50 minutes or until almost firm to touch in center. Cool completely before sealing with aluminum foil, labeling and popping into freezer. Pumpkin Honey Cake (Pareve) Makes 1 loaf (9x5x3-inch dish) and 1 extra mini-loaf (not individual, but mini-size), or 4 mini-loaves. Cook’s Tips: Substitute 2 teaspoons cinnamon and 1 teaspoon nutmeg for pumpkin-pie spice. Substitute ¾ cup candied citron peel instead of raisins. For full-proof nonstick effect, line bottom of loaf pan with waxed paper and spray with nonstick vegetable spray. 4 eggs 1 cup dark-brown sugar ½ cup water 1 cup vegetable oil 1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin-pie) mix ¾ cup molasses ½ cup honey, warmed 2 cups whole-wheat flour 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 tsp, baking soda 1 Tbsp. pumpkin-pie spice 1¼ cups dark or golden raisins Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray loaf pan and extra mini-loaf pan (or 4 mini-loaf pans) with nonstick vegetable spray with flour. Beat eggs and sugar until blended. Add the water, vegetable oil, pumpkin, molasses and honey. Mix well. Stir in the flours, about ½ cup at a time, mixing to blend between each addition. Stir in the baking soda, spice and 1 cup raisins. Spoon into prepared pan(s). Scatter remaining raisins on top. Bake in preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Bake mini-loaves 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Loosen edges by running a round bladed knife around. Turn out onto a wire tray. Cool completely. Wrap and freeze.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019/26 ELUL 5779 ■

JEWISH OBSERVER

Oceans

Continued from page 8

Ahead of October’s event, individuals or team leaders can register on the “Reverse Tashlich” website their location, which is added to the public page so people can join. Participants then get in touch with each other to schedule a meetup, and Cohen provides coaching, guide books and online seminars to help organize things ahead of the event. Signup is open to everyone. “We want anybody to feel empowered to make a difference in the ocean,” said Cohen. According to Rosenthal, many mitzvot apply to the environment, such as bal tashchit, the prohibition against needless and unnecessary waste and destruction. He discusses “Water Torah” in length on the Tikkun HaYam website, citing texts that describe “the deep Jewish connection to the sea and the profound spiritual nature of water” and how the Torah calls upon Jews to care for the ocean. He also hosts an underwater meditation – or surface meditation for snorkelers – on the Shema prayer that connects the oneness and unity of God, with the oneness of the ocean and the unity of water. Tikkun HaYam’s goal is to show there is a Jewish connection to the sea, and its name is connected to the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, the repair of the world. Rosenthal said, “We call it ‘Tikkun HaYam’ because people, especially Jews, have a tendency to forget that even though they may speak of going ‘green’ to save the environment, we actually live on a blue

Scubi Jew: EC Environmental Divers and University of Tampa Hillel students combined forces at Maximo Park in St. Petersburg, FL. (Photo courtesy of Facebook) planet. The ocean makes up 71 percent of the planet. It produces more oxygen than all of the rainforests and trees in the world combined. “Water is the most unifying force in the world,” he continued. “Every living organism from a worm to a whale, from a weed to a towering oak tree, from an amoeba to man – everything is made up mostly of water. The human body is 70 percent water. Our blood and our tears are about the same Joyous Passover salinity as the sea.A Water is the source of life. All think of a If the ocean dies, we die. To I can’t more tikkun olam effort than that.” Cohen believes that because humans live on land, many times the issues of

the ocean are “out of sight, out of mind.” But with “Reverse Tashlich,” she said, “people can go somewhere in their local area and see that the fork that they used the day before might be the fork that they are picking up out of the mangroves, or they see the plastic bag that they probably got from their groceries a week ago is entangled in a tree, and they can connect themselves to the issue and the solution.” She added, “Having a hand in making the world a more beautiful place is an incredibly transformative experience. I’m hoping that this is a way to jumpstart people’s empathy and inspire them to care for this ecosystem that they don’t normally think about, and get them curious and interested in exploring what else they can do to make the ocean and the world in general a better place.”

NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org

Bulgaria opens first Jewish school in two decades

Bulgaria just opened its first Jewish school in 20 years. The Ronald S. Lauder Day School in Sofia, the country’s capital, started classes on Sept. 15, named for the president of the World Jewish Congress and a major philanthropist to Jewish causes. Currently, an estimated 6,000 Jews reside in Bulgaria. “What do we want from the school? We want the children to be proud of being Jewish. In order to be proud, they have to know what and your familyPreviously, the they’re proud of, and why,” saidWishing Lauder at you the school’s inauguration. school’s 88 student, all under the peace, age of 12, health learned at the Lauder-ORT No. 134 “Dimcho Debelianov” Jewish School in Sofia – a public school that, thanks to the Lauder Foundaand happiness tion, incorporated some Jewish curriculum, including Hebrew-language classes. In 2010, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, with the Shalom Bulgarian Jewish this Pesach community, founded a Jewish kindergarten, which now includes dozens of children.

Michael & Euni Balanoff Elihu & Iris Cohen

May this New Year be a time of peace & joy for you and all those you love. The Malzman Family

May Bestyour wishes for a Passover sweet New Year! seder be joyous! Marc & Karen Beckman

Elihu & Iris Cohen

L ’ Sh a nah Tova h Sam Young DeWitt Town Councilor L’Shanah Tovah May you and Wishes for a yourand family Healthy Happy New Year!

Wishing the community y Rosh p p a a Happy Chanukah! H Have a sweet, happy & healthy New Year!

Karen & Chaim Roberts and Family

L’Shanah Tovah

Michael & Euni Balanoff

Wishing you a Happy Chanukah light • peace • love

Have a sweet, happy and healthy New Year!

Sydney Tenenbaum & Deidre Zehner Marc & Karen Beckman

Wishing peace, he Hhappiness ashanah to all thi !

Sydney Tenenbaum & D

Ruth & Joel Stein Michael & Euni Balanoff

Happy Chanukah!

have a joyous Pesach

May the new year be the start of only the sweetest things!

Marc & Karen Beckman

Robin and Neil Goldberg

Let the New Year be the start of only the sweetest things!

Miriam and Jeremy

Georgina, Paul, Joshua, Gabriel and Laima, Gina, Althea and Aaron (z”L”) Roth

Georgina, Paul,Abe, Joshua, Seth, Leah, Harry, Jack Jared, Danya, Eliana, Aviva Gabriel Shira, and Laima, Gina, Althea Adam, Amira, Liora and Aaron (z”L”) Roth

Sydney Tenenbaum & Deidre Zehner

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ SEPTEMBER 26, 2019/26 ELUL 5779

D’VAR TORAH Choosing life hayom (today): a Jew – an American ROBERT TORNBERG Sixth century B.C.E. philosopher Heraclitus said, “No person [orig. ‘man’] ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same person [man].” In today’s Torah portion we read, “You stand here today (hayom), all of you, before the Lord your God – your tribal heads, your elders and your officials, all the men of Israel, your children, your women, even the stranger within your camp... to enter into the covenant of the Lord your God, which the Lord your God is concluding with you this day (hayom)… not with you alone, but both with those who are standing here with us this day (hayom) before the Lord our God and with those who are not with us here this day (hayom).” (Deuteronomy 29:9-14) If I had to choose a few verses from Torah that I find totally engaging, that stick with me year in and year out, these six verses would be near the top of the list. What excites me about this passage is primarily the use of one word, “hayom,” which can be translated as “today,” “the day” or “this day.” Such a simple word used here in profound ways. Often when we read Torah, we see it as an ancient historical document that also teaches us how to live based on mitzvot given to us over 3,200 years ago. We can certainly understand this passage that way. Moses speaks to the entire Jewish people – men, women, children, leaders, followers and strangers – and he tells those who stand there that day (hayom) that if they will take God’s covenant seriously, their lives will be enhanced, and they will reap great rewards. The text goes on to state that by accepting the covenant that day (hayom), the people are also doing it on behalf of all future generations of Jews – those present that day (hayom) and those not present (hayom). The rabbis in the midrash (Exodus Rabah, Pirkei De Rabbi Eliezer) even go so far as to argue that every Jew who would ever live – you, me, our children, our grandchildren … – stood at Sinai at that time, at that day (hayom) of revelation. But, there is another way to read Torah – not as a historical narrative, but as a living, breathing, contemporary document that speaks to us in the moment. Our text makes that abundantly clear. Read it again and this time read it aloud. “You stand here hayom (today in 2019) all of you, before the Lord your God – your tribal heads, your elders and your officials, all the men of Israel, your children, your women, even the stranger within your camp … to enter into the covenant of the Lord your God, which the Lord your God is concluding with you this day (hayom) … not with you

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alone, but both with those who are standing here with us this day (hayom) before the Lord our God and with those who are not with us here this day (hayom).” (Deuteronomy 29:9-14) It is as if the Sinai moment is eternal, and we are standing at the base of the mountain and hearing these words anew whenever we read it or hear it hayom. Which brings us back to Heraclitus. Every hayom we “stand at Sinai,” the world is a different place and we are different people. So, what are the implications? While I am not arguing that the words of Torah are not eternal, I am suggesting that our understanding of them changes as we change. The rabbis knew this and the more I study their words in Talmud, midrash, the rest of our books … the more I know this is true. They had an amazing ability to take the words of Torah, see them as living and breathing, and adapt them to new times and places. They didn’t reject the past – they used it to creatively build an appropriate visionary future for the Jewish people – a future that has resulted in you and me reading these words hayom more than 1,170,000 yoms (days) after we first stood at Sinai. At the end of this parasha, we read: “Surely this Instruction which I enjoin upon you this day (hayom) is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach. It is not in the heavens… No, the thing is very close to you in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it. See, I set before you this day (hayom) life and prosperity, death and adversity... I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day (hayom): I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life – if you and your offspring would live....” (Deuteronomy 30: 11-19) Today (hayom) when you hear the words of Torah, when you stand at Sinai again and again and again, may you experience them at each unique place in your life’s journey, and choose life – choose to make yourself live fully as you make Torah live, just as we have done for thousands of years. D’var acher: another thought. Note: stop reading here if you will be offended by – not a political message, but an ethical message of choosing life! As I have written these words about Nitzavim, I could not stop thinking about the polarized nature of the United States today. Americans have fundamentally different views of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and it is tearing us apart. I would argue that Torah lives 3,200 years after it was given because we have chosen to keep it alive by understanding its meaning in new times and new places. Perhaps, we can take the same approach to the Constitution. When we look at that document hayom, we are dealing with a time and place, people, complexities and technologies that

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could not possibly have been foreseen in 1787. When we read that document, shouldn’t we understand the meaning of those words in new ways based on who we are now and what has changed – just as the rabbis (as we) do with Torah, a much older, more tested “Constitution”? In Torah, we read the words and struggle to understand what the message is between the words. We understand that Torah is “not in the heavens.” We have an obligation to make it live hayom so that we can live. Why not the same with the U.S. Constitution, which is not 3,200 years old, but only 232 years old? Muskets are just not the same as assault weapons! Most of us are no longer living on farms. Did Washington, Jefferson and Franklin envision Americans owning more guns than there are people in the country? As Jews, I/we choose life every day. I hope I/we also do so as Americans! Robert Tornberg, Ph.D. is a member of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas and its vice president for adult learning. Following a 40-year career as a Jewish educator in which he led both congregational and Jewish day schools, he is currently working as an evaluation consultant at the Office of Professional Research and Development in the School of Education at Syracuse University. He is a past president of the National Association of Temple Educators, a past vice-president of the Jewish Educators Assembly and the author of books and articles on Jewish education. He and his wife, Julie, moved to Syracuse several years ago to be near their children and grandchildren.

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.

Tuesday, September 24 Early Deadline for October 10 Jewish Observer Monday, October 7 Early Deadline for October 24 Jewish Observer Friday, September 27 Syracuse Jewish Family Service art show opening reception at Menorah Park 4 to 5:30 pm Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas – wine and cheese Asefat Shabbat at 5:45 pm Sunday, September 29 Erev Rosh Hashanah Monday, September 30 Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Tuesday, October 1 Rosh Hashanah Day 2 Wednesday, October 2 Tzom Gedaliah Community Hebrew School at Temple Concord from 4-6 pm Saturday, October 5 Temple Adath Yeshurun – Discussion on Building Jewish Paths to Building Character with Rabbi Yehoshua Zehavi at 7 pm Sunday, October 6 Temple Concord adult b’nai mitzvah Introduction to Judaism with Rabbi Daniel Fellman at 11 am Tuesday, October 8 Erev Yom Kippur Wednesday, October 9 Yom Kippur Saturday, October 12 Temple Concord Cinemagogue presents the film “Defying the Nazis: the Sharps’ War” at 7:30 pm Sunday, October 13 Erev Sukkot Monday, October 14 Sukkot day 1 Federation and JCC offices closed Tuesday, October 15 Sukkot day 2 Federation and JCC offices closed TC Talmud with Rabbi Daniel Fellman at 12:30 pm Epstein School at CBS-CS at 6:30 pm Wednesday, October 16 Community Hebrew School at Temple Concord from 4-6 pm CBS-CS board meeting at 7:30 pm TAY board meeting at 7:30 pm TC Sushi in the Sukkah with Cantor Kari Siegel Eglash at 6 pm Arava Institute – environmental peace-building in the Middle East discussion in the Strasser Legacy Room, Eggers Hall 220, Maxwell School at Syracuse University from 6-7:30 pm

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019/26 ELUL 5779 ■

JEWISH OBSERVER

OBITUARIES LESLIE DAVIS Leslie Davis, 77, died peacefully at home on September 17. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, to Irving and Estelle Davis. A research chemist by training, he did his undergraduate work at New York University and earned a master of arts in teaching from Colgate University and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Syracuse University. He was a science and technology educator who taught at Syracuse University, the Community College of the Finger Lakes, and Christian Brothers Academy. He was an accomplished photographer and musician. His large-scale photographs of animals were displayed at Syracuse Stage during the run of “The Jungle Book.” He played the string bass and began composing music while an undergraduate. NYU student orchestras performed his incidental music for drama department productions. His works included songs for voice and piano based on biblical themes, as well as compositions for small instrumental groups. He studied music theory, voice, piano and bass at Onondaga Community College, where his experimental 12-tone serial work for piano, “Chemical Composition: Chiral Rows (Lactic #1),” was performed by Kevin Moore and published in “Perspectives of New Music.” His “Overture” for small orchestra was premiered by the Onondaga Civic Symphony in 1999. He was a member of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas, where he read Torah and chanted haftorah. He is survived by his wife Barbara; his daughters, Pamela (Steve) Wells and Phyllis (Mark) Zames; his son, John (Lital) Davis; his grandchildren, Talia, Jack, Henia, Sam, Leora, Julia, Tama, Noam and Ella; and his sister, Helen (Peter) Kolins. Burial was in the Beth Sholom section of Oakwood Cemetery. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions may be made to the Syracuse Hebrew Day School, 5655 Thompson Rd., Syracuse, NY 13214 or Christian Brothers Academy, 6245 Randall Rd., Syracuse, NY 13214. 

DOLLY ROTH KOMAR HONIG (DOLLY ELLEN HELEN ROTHZIEGE)

Dolly Roth Komar Honig (Dolly Ellen Helen Rothziege) died on September 16. Born to Harry Rothziegel and Anna Selma Muller in Berlin, her early years were shaken by the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust, impelling her politically active, Jewish father Harry, and later, Dolly and her mother, to escape to Prague. She and her mother were among an extremely lucky group of refugees whose lives were saved in 1939 by obtaining passage on a sealed train from Prague to Oslo under the auspices of the humanitarian Odd Nansen. She survived the war years in Norway with the help of brave and caring people in Nansenhjelpen and reunited as a teen with her father in New York, where he had dramatically escaped through a visa from Varian Fry. Quickly learning English as she had learned Czech and Norwegian, she studied art and married her first husband, physicist Arthur Komar, in 1952. She obtained a master’s degree in art from Columbia University Teacher’s College and was featured in a televised program, “Children Explore,” showcasing her art classes as a teacher at Public School 81 in New York City. After her divorce, she married physicist Arnold Honig and they moved to a farm, which evoked fond memories of the farmers who hid her in Norway. Her lifelong career as a professional artist focused on clay and metalsmithing, teaching art classes including at the Everson Museum, and she was active in the Syracuse ceramics guild and Oran Pompey Historical Society. She was predeceased by her stepbrother, Tom Fabian. After Arnold’s death in 2012, she was able to live until the end of her life at their farmhouse with the help of her live-in companion, Sheila Roock. She is survived by her children from her first marriage, Arne and Tanya Komar; three grandchildren, Harold, Hannah and Tessa; three stepchildren, Lawrence Honig, Madeleine Lenski and Jonathan Honig; nine step grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Burial was in the Beth Sholom section of Oakwood Cemetery. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to a charity of choice. 

LAWRENCE (LARRY) SHELDON KATZMAN

ELAINE SCHWARTZ Elaine Schwartz, 91, died on September 16 in Sandy, UT. Born in Elizabeth, NJ, to Benjamin and Mae Kurtz, she lived most of her life in Syracuse. She and her late husband, Donald, raised their family in Fayetteville until they retired to Erieville, and then Florida before retiring to Sandy, UT, a few years ago. Elaine was the co-owner and manager of The Wardrobe of DeWitt. She was predeceased by her husband, R. Donald in 2015 and her parents, Benjamin and Mae Kurtz. She is survived by her sons, Lee and Barry (Christine); grandchildren, Amie (Jake), Briggs, Dustin (Hyeyoung) and Erin; and great-grandchildren, Katelin and Molly. Burial was in the Adath Yeshurun Cemetery. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions may be made to Temple Adath Yeshurun, 450 Kimber Rd., Syracuse, NY 13224. 

Lawrence (Larry) Katzman died on September 2 (just short of his 94th birthday), in Phoenix, AZ, where he had lived for the past 35 years. Born in Syracuse, he was the middle of three boys and was a good athlete from a very early age. Sports, teaching and coaching were the highlights of his career, and he was physically active well into his 80s. At 18 years of age, having just graduated from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After training, he was stationed on the USS Pasadena in the South Pacific during World War II. Although he didn’t say much about his experiences, he was always proud of his military service. It was a life-changing experience, and he returned home after the War a much more mature young man. Back home in Syracuse, he entered Syracuse University and earned a bachelor’s, master’s and eventually a Ph.D. in health and physical education. During his time at Syracuse, he was a member of the varsity MARION WAHL SPOONT gymnastics team, which led to a lifetime of teaching, Marion Wahl Spoont, 88, died on September 12. coaching and counseling kids in various camps about Born in Frankfort, Germany, she had been a resident the importance of physical fitness and value of sports, of Binghamton for more than 50 years until moving to with basketball becoming the main focus for this (5’5”) Fayetteville in 2015. She was a past member of Temple giant of a man. Throughout his life, he was in excellent Israel of Binghamton, the Sisterhood of the temple, Haphysical condition and felt that this was the best way dassah, the Orchid Society of the Southern Tier and was a he could set an example for his students and his family. volunteer docent at the Roberson Museum of Binghamton. “Coach” taught at the high school and collegiate levels, She was predeceased by her husband, Maxwell, in including at Erie Community College (ECC), Buffalo June, 2017. State University, Syracuse University and Arizona She is survived by her children, Michael (Martha) State University. Spoont and Michele (Deanna SINCE Bass) Spoont; grandchilCONTINUOUSLY FAMILY OWNED 1934 At ECC in 1950, he was the firstMartin athleticJ.director dren, Rachel, Rebecca, Adam andFriedman Connor; her sister, & Elaine R. Birnbaum Joel M. and basketball coach. The mascot’s name, the KATS, Monica; and her brother, Dieter. 1909 East Street • Syracuse, New York 13210 was named after him – a name that remains to thisFayette day. Burial was in the Adath Yeshurun Cemetery. Sisskind He was also inducted into the ECC and Buffalo State Funeral Service had arrangements. 315-472-5291 University Athletics Halls of Fame. Contributions may be made to the Jewish Federation Larry was predeceased by his parents, E-MAIL: Nettie and birnbaumfs@cnymail.com of CNY, 5655 Thompson D., Syracuse, NY 13214. WEB: birnbaumfuneralserviceinc.com Frank Katzman, and his older brother, Norm.  He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Elaine Menter Katzman; his brother, Ed Katzman; his daughters, Linda (Jerry) Tenenbaum, Judy (Marc) Isaacs, Joanie Katzman (Donnie Samora) and their children and From JNS.org grandchildren: Todd (Mary) Tenenbaum (Brandon and Israelis traveling to Egypt’s Sinai in large Jack), Neil (Liza) Tenenbaum (Leah, Evan and Noah), Kerri Tenenbaum (Dylan and Cody), Scott and Jenni- numbers in 2019 fer Tenenbaum, Adam (Melanie) Isaacs (Charlie and Sinai is again becoming a popular tourist destination Anna), Dena Isaacs, Paul (Jessica) Venesky (Natalie, for Israelis, with the Israel Airports Authority expecting , Lilly and Paulie), and Alan (Shara) Venesky (Adelynn some 150,000 tourists to visit the peninsula during the and Charlotte). holidays, C O N T I N U O U Supcoming LY FA MJewish I LY O W N E Dbusiness S I N Cdaily E 1Globes 9 3 4 reportFamily was his pride and joy throughout his lifetime ed on Sept. 19. Since the beginning of 2019, one million Martin J. & Elaine Israelis R. Birnbaum Joelborder M. Friedman and as the patriarch of the family, he enjoyed participating passed through the Taba crossing between

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in the lives of his three girls, eight grandchildren andFayette 14 Eilat and Egypt, according to the report, in a 30 percent 1909 East Street • Syracuse, New York 13210 great-grandchildren. increase over 2018. The revival of Israeli tourism to 315-472-5291 Sinai Mortuary in Phoenix, AZ, had arrangements. Egypt is coming at the expense of the domestic tourism • WEB: birnbaumfuneralserviceinc.com E-MAIL: birnbaumfs@cnymail.com industry, according to the report.

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