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2 CHESHVAN 5776 • OCTOBER 15, 2015 • VOLUME XXXIV, NUMBER 20 • PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID, SYRACUSE, NY

NCJW to present 2015 Hannah G. Solomon Award to Barbara Davis BY VICKI FELDMAN The National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Syracuse Section AtLarge, will honor Barbara Davis as the recipient of the 2015 Hannah G. Solomon Award. The presentation will occur at a luncheon on Wednesday, October 28, at noon, at Justin’s Grill, 6400 Yorktown Circle, East Syracuse. Registration will start at 11:30 am, with the luncheon and program beginning at noon sharp and ending by 1:30 pm. Considered a “multi-faceted dynamo,” Davis has served as principal of the Syracuse Hebrew Day School; education director of the Rabbi Jacob Epstein High School of Jewish Studies; youth education director for Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas; director of educational development and Spanish professor at Onondaga Community College; Spanish instructor at Columbia University; and Spanish teacher at the Nightingale-Bamford School. She has also published on a variety of topics and has translated several publications for children with ADD; persons with disabilities; minority and youth careers;

and for the Journal of the Jewof awards, including Phi Beta ish Community Day School Kappa, Danforth Foundation Network. Graduate Fellowship, WoodDavis is a member of the row Wilson College Teaching Board of Directors of RAVFellowship, New York State SAK, the Jewish Community College Teaching FellowDay School Network. She is a ship, Urban League recogniSuper Sunday Kids project cotion, State University of New ordinator, Cultural Resources York Showcase for Excellence Council evaluator, a member of award, Miller Brewing commuPanim el Panim and a Middle Barbara S. Davis nity recognition, Chancellor’s States Association evaluator. Award for Excellence in TeachShe is a reviewer for the publisher Holt, ing, Temple Adath Yeshurun Citizen of Rinehart and Winston; a reader for the the Year Award, Syracuse Hebrew Day Danforth Foundation Graduate Fellow- School community tribute award, and the ship Program; on a youth scholarship Jewish Federation of Central New York committee at the Jewish Federation of Roth Award for Community Service. Central New York; a campaign co-direcShe has been married for 50 years to tor at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Com- Leslie Davis, a chemist and teacher of munity Center of Syracuse; a Board of science and computer science at Syracuse Directors member at Congregation Beth University, the Community College of the Sholom-Chevra Shas; a Spanish instruc- Finger Lakes and Christian Brothers Acadtor for the Syracuse Police and Onondaga emy. They are the parents of Pamela Davis County Sheriff Departments; an agency Wells, ba’alat kriah at Congregation Beth representative to the Jewish Observer Sholom-Chevra Shas; Phyllis Davis, a first oversight committee; and a member of and second grade Hebrew teacher at the Syracuse Area Jewish Educators. Syracuse Hebrew Day School; and John She has been the recipient of a number Davis, a business consultant with Shaldor,

Tel Aviv. She has nine grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing and shopping. At the Hannah G. Solomon luncheon, the Greater Syracuse Section At-Large of National Council of Jewish Women will continue its efforts on behalf of children in Central New York. Guests have been asked to bring children’s items – such as coloring books, 24-packs of crayons, magic markers, socks and gloves – to donate to McCarthy@Beard, a program run by the Syracuse City School District. The Hannah G. Solomon Award is a national award presented by individual sections of NCJW. Event organizers said, “The award is named for the founder of NCJW and is given to women who have demonstrated exceptional service to both the Jewish community and the community-at-large. Davis has made the commitment to improve the quality of life in Syracuse for many years.” There will be a cost to attend. For more information, or to make a reservation and/or send a tribute card honoring Davis, contact Marlene Holstein at 446-7648 by Tuesday, October 20.

On Syrian refugee crisis, Jewish community moves from words to action

BY EITAN AROM JNS.org (JNS.org) – Will Recant pulls both heartstrings and purse strings for a living. As the head of the Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief, a consortium of 49 national Jewish organizations, he has been at the center of the American Jewish reaction to 20 global crises in the last 20 years. Of late, his focus has been on Syria. In September, Jewish organizations across the country and denominational spectrum revved up their response to the refugee crisis, plunging millions into desperate need and stumping world leaders, led by Recant in his role as an assistant executive vice president of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. American news networks swung their cameras toward the migration in September, resulting, predictably, in a good deal of hot air from politicians – ranging from Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s assertion that he would deport 200,000 potential asylum seekers back to Syria to Israeli Labor leader Isaac Herzog’s call for Israel to take in refugees despite a fraught relationship with its northern neighbor. Some Jewish leaders haven’t held back as the rhetoric flies: the president of the Jewish refugee charity Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society called the U.S. State Depart-

Relief efforts for Syrian refugees near the border with Serbia in Hungary. (Photo courtesy of JDC) ment’s September 20 announcement that it would up the number of refugees it allows into America a “symbolic measure” and a “baby step.” But talk is cheap. Food, shelter and healthcare can be more expensive. Enter the Jewish Coalition for Syrian Refugees, the JDC subgroup that counts HIAS among its 20 members. The coalition was formed to funnel money and aid to the Syrian refugees. A 2-year-old effort by the task force to accommodate refugees from the Syr-

ian civil war accelerated in September in response to the flood of media coverage that followed “the balloon just bursting” in terms of the displaced population, Recant told JNS.org. “Systems have been completely overwhelmed,” he said.

The result has been scenes such as crowds clashing with border police, sprawling makeshift encampments, an infant corpse washing up on a Turkish beach: all pumped into American homes by round-the-clock cable TV and online news coverage. “There’s a direct correlation of awareness and media attention to the response,” Recant said. The dollar figures tell the story: between 2013 and August 2015, the JDC coalition raised about $600,000 in relief funds. Then, in the past month alone, it raised almost $300,000. Meanwhile, the coalition expanded from working strictly for Syrian refugees in Jordan to those in the entire region, partnering with non-governmental organizations in Hungary and Turkey. Functionally, that widens its scope from the 600,000 refugees residing in Jordan to the four million estimated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to have been externally displaced by the civil war. See “Refugee” on page 10

C A N D L E L I G H T I N G A N D P A R AS H A October 16...............6:03 pm........................................................... Parasha-Noah October 23...............5:52 pm.................................................. Parasha-Lech Lecha October 30...............5:42 pm..........................................................Parasha-Vayera

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Congregational notes

SCHS opens

Dennis Ross

Local synagogues announce The Syracuse Community Hebrew Ambassador Dennis Ross spoke to upcoming film showings, talks on School opened its doors in the Syracuse Jewish community September with 85 students. a variety of subjects and more. on the Israel-U.S. relationship. Story on page 6 Stories on page 4 Stories on page 7

PLUS Do You Know?.......................... 5 Small Business Profiles.....8-9 Calendar Highlights............. 10 Obituaries................................11

JEWISH OBSERVER ■ OCTOBER 15, 2015/2 CHESHVAN 5776

A MATTER OF OPINION Jewish Federation of Central New York board statement on Iran Deal

This summer’s national debate on the Iran Deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – JCOPA) has been one of the most divisive in recent history. The Iran Deal debate was also contentious in Greater Syracuse, where the Jewish Federation of Central New York serves a large and diverse community. Federation leadership decided to respect the diversity of opinions in our community by educating and enriching the conversation through the dissemination of information that might not be readily available. In addition, principled positions both for and against the Iran Deal were published in the Jewish Observer in recent weeks.

The Federation leadership recognizes and appreciates that, as American Jews, we may hold different ideas about how to achieve the peace and security we all desire. However, there is no disagreement among us with regard to the core mission of our Federation to ensure the continuity of the Jewish people, support a secure state of Israel and care for the welfare of Jews in need here and abroad. Now that the vote on the JCPOA is behind us, the Federation leadership stands united in encouraging our government officials to: maintain a strong and continued level of vigilance on Iran’s actions; do all they can to monitor and enforce Iran’s compli-

ance; and ensure that Iran does not acquire the capability of producing nuclear weapons, promote terrorism or engage in other menacing behavior toward Israel. The Federation leadership also stands united in condemning any antisemitism leveled at those supporting or opposed to the Iran Deal. Like other Americans, American Jews have the right to express themselves on government policies without having their integrity maligned by accusations they are disloyal, either to the United States or Israel. In the months and years ahead, we will be ever watchful for such trends. We will remain vigilant in ensuring that our

local and national rhetoric surrounding issues of concern are devoid of all forms of racial, ethnic and religious prejudice and bigotry. There are many threats facing our country and Israel. We must remain strong and steadfast in promoting our shared values in order to protect the way of life we cherish. At this, the holiest time of our year, we continue our never-ending desire for a life of peace with honor and dignity. Michael Balanoff Chair, Community Relations Committee Ruth Stein Chair of the Board Linda Alexander President/CEO

A MATTER OF OPINION

Intifada or not, Palestinians have anger without leadership BY BEN COHEN JNS.org In the days that have passed since Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared before the U.N, General

Assembly that he was abrogating previous agreements with Israel, Palestinians in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem have carried out dozens of terror attacks, some of them deadly, against Israelis.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letter to Jewish Federations of North America BY JERRY SILVERMAN Jerry Silverman is president and chief executive officer of the Jewish Federations of North America. This is a letter he wrote on October 8 to the executive directors and presidents of Jewish Federations across North America. The Jewish Federation of Central New York is a member organization. The letter is reprinted with his permission. Dear colleagues, As you’ve seen from the news, Israel is experiencing a significant and worrying escalation in terror attacks to which the security forces and, in many cases, the police have been responding. Our Israel office reports that while debate is swirling about whether this is a “Third Intifada,” the sheer volume of incidents suggests that this could be more than just a wave of isolated attacks. The terror has now spread well beyond Jerusalem, with stabbings of Israeli civilians in both Kiryat Gat and Petach Tikvah and a serious incident in Jaffa. Tens of incidents have been reported, including shootings, rock throwing, stabbings, Molotov-cocktail attacks and more. In all, four Israelis have been killed in recent days with seven wounded. Five Palestinians, including three attackers, have been killed and there are reports of a high number of injured demonstrators – many of them children and youth. More than 50 police officers and IDF soldiers have been wounded in clashes with Arab rioters. In one tragic attack, gunmen shot and killed Eitam and Na’ama Henkin in front of the couple’s four young children. Eitam, who holds American citizenship, is also the son of Rabbanit Dr. Chana Henkin, a wellknown American Jerusalem educator who heads the Nishmat Institute, an Orthodox seminary noted for breaking boundaries on behalf of Orthodox women. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled his planned trip to Germany marking 50 years of diplomatic relations this week in light of the deteriorating security situation. Police and other security has been significantly boosted, particularly in Jerusalem. In a highly unusual move, security forces

have restricted entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City to Israeli citizens, tourists and Old City residents, thus preventing outside Palestinians from entering the area. While the situation remains tense, Israeli citizens are by and large continuing to go about their daily lives, but are aware of the increased police presence; a regular background of helicopters, ambulances and other sirens; the return of security guards at public venues; and other subtle changes. This morning, many schools in Jerusalem are closed as parents have organized to demand additional security measures be put in place. Following a meeting at police headquarters on Wednesday afternoon, Netanyahu stated, “Civilians are at the forefront of the war against terrorism and must also be on maximum alert. I would like to praise the level-headedness that Israel’s citizens have shown both in recent days and today, in Jerusalem and Kiryat Gat. The goal of terrorism is to sow fear and the first order in defeating terrorism is to be level-headed and resilient, both nationally and personally. We have known worse times than this and we will also overcome this wave of terrorism with determination, responsibility and unity.” Violence and tensions between Israelis and Palestinians are heightening internal political divides within the current government, with the PM and Defense Minister taking a more moderate line than some other members of the Cabinet – most notably Naftali Bennett, but also a number of Likud ministers. Abbas has called on his security forces and factions to lower tensions, and Israeli and P.A. security services plan to hold a joint meeting. Amidst this highly volatile situation, some in the Israeli and Palestinian publics are expressing great frustration with their leadership. JFNA’s Jerusalem office is keeping a close watch on the situation, including liaising with the IDF and other government bodies, and will continue to update us as the situation unfolds. Sincerely, Jerry Silverman

It’s a situation that has led many analysts to speculate about the possibility of a third intifada (uprising) against Israel, and to worry about where such an enterprise will lead. Not that the first two intifadas were exactly picnics. Intifada number one broke out in 1987 and petered out in the early 1990s. In propaganda terms, it was a definite victory for the Palestinians, as the world media was peppered with images of masked, protesting Palestinians throwing rocks at the well-armed IDF. Politically, it was distinguished by the fact that it was led by the nationalist and leftist Palestinian factions. Intifada number two, launched by the late PLO leader Yasser Arafat in 2000, was a far more dangerous affair, involving both the armed wing of Fatah, the main nationalist faction, as well as the Islamists of Hamas. Throughout the early part of the previous decade, Israel was under physical and psychological siege from suicide bombings and other atrocities perpetrated by Palestinian terrorists who demonstrated

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that, like Islamic State now, there are no limits to what they will do. The March 2002 bombing of a Passover seder at a hotel in Netanya, in which 30 Jews were murdered and more than 100 injured, was the bloodiest confirmation of that. Yet that intifada petered out, too, for many reasons, not least Israel’s construction – in the teeth of heavy Arab and world opposition, along with a rising tide of anti-Zionism and antisemitism among Western publics – of a security barrier along its border with the West Bank. One can only shudder at the thought of how many Israelis might have been killed in the current round of violence had the barrier not been there. In that sense, the Palestinians have a strategic decision to make. If they do launch intifada number three, what is their ultimate goal? How will they prevent it from failing like the last two? Put another way, will it leave their people in a better or worse position, both during and after its execution? See “Intifada” on page 8

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OCTOBER 15, 2015/2 CHESHVAN 5776 ■ JEWISH OBSERVER

AROUND CENTRAL NEW YORK Thursday Morning Roundtable lecture in honor of the late Philip C. Pinsky A lecture, in conjunction with Thursday recently served as consultant to New York’s Morning Roundtable, will be held in honor health care industry transition to the Delivery of the late Philip C. Pinsky’s “passion for System Reform Incentive Payment Program. civic involvement’s potential to improve He is former president and CEO of Loretto in society.” James Introne will present “Health Central New York. Care Reform in New York State: From WilPinsky, a Central New York lawyer who lowbrook to DSRIP” on Thursday, October 22, was said to be “committed to issues involving from 8:15-9:15 am, at Drumlins Banquet and health care and family issues,” died in 2011 at Event Center in Syracuse. Thursday Morning the age of 72. He dedicated himself to numerRoundtable is an award-winning public service ous civic and Jewish organizations, including program sponsored by University College of serving as president or chair of the boards of Syracuse University. Loretto, the Jewish Federation of Central New Introne has 40 years’ experience in health Philip C. Pinsky York, the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community care policy and management, and has served as the Center of Syracuse and the New York State Association principal health care advisor to Governors Hugh Carey of Jewish Federations. He also served on the boards of and Andrew Cuomo. He served as deputy secretary the former Syracuse Symphony, Syracuse Stage, United for health and directed Cuomo’s Medicaid redesign Way of Central New York, United Way of New York team. He also directed the implementation of a major State, the Board of Advisors of Syracuse University reform of New York’s Medicaid program, including College of Law and the Foundation for SUNY Upstate the development of the New York State Health Insur- Medical University. ance Exchange; the transitioning of the special needs During his 50-year legal career, he served as the first populations from Medicaid fee-for-service to managed assistant counsel to the New York State Senate Majority and care; and the creation of a new agency, the New York assistant counsel to its Senate Majority; as chief counsel to Justice Center for People with Special Needs. He most the Temporary State Commission on Child Welfare; and

as assistant welfare attorney and the chief welfare attorney for the Onondaga County Department of Social Services. He was also an adjunct professor at Syracuse University College of Law, where he taught legislative law. When he left public service in 1988, Pinsky continued to work in the health field and had an active practice representing numerous hospitals, healthcare systems, the New York State Radiological Society, health insurers and municipalities. He also served as referee to the state Commission on Judicial Conduct from 2000 until his death. He met Introne in the late 1970s, when the two worked together on issues connected to the Willowbrook Consent Decree. The ruling emerged from a legal battle with the state to improve conditions at Willowbrook, a Staten Island institution for children with mental disabilities. Their work on Willowbrook was said to reflect “a shared vision of how government can improve life for people.” Thursday Morning Roundtable is a weekly civic forum that brings together citizens to learn about and discuss community issues. The program, which is sponsored by University College of Syracuse University, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. For more information, contact Director of Community Programs Sandra Barrett at 443-4846 or cps@syr.edu.

JCC fitness center kicks off “workout challenge” for its members

BY WILLIAM WALLAK The Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse’s Neulander Family Sports and Fitness Center recently launched a “Fall into Fitness Challenge” program for its members. Every time a member works out, he or she will be helping the JCC obtain a new cardio exercise machine at no cost. In addition, more frequent workouts also mean that members will be helping their own fitness. The non-competitive program will run through Friday, January 1, and is completely voluntary. There will be no cost for the JCC’s fitness members to enter and participate. Joe Yager, JCC sports and fitness director, said,

“We’re very pleased to offer another fitness contest for our members because it’s a great way for everyone to rally around a common goal. We haven’t held one of these challenges in a while so everyone is pumped that we’re bringing it back. Plus, we’ve got some neat prizes to give away as a way of saying ‘thank you’ for helping to upgrade our equipment.” Fitness center members can register and receive a scorecard for the JCC’s Fall into Fitness Challenge at the fitness desk. Participants get two points per workout completed or fitness class attended, and they will be asked to track their progress on their scorecards every visit. The goal is for all participants combined to reach 4,000

Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse senior dining menu OCTOBER 19-23 Monday – sweet and sour meatballs Tuesday – chicken salad Wednesday – stuffed cabbage Thursday – turkey sandwich Friday – honey-glazed chicken OCTOBER 26-30 Monday – Hawaiian chicken Tuesday –shepherd’s pie Wednesday –chicken Marsala Thursday – spaghetti and meatballs Friday – hoisin-glazed salmon The Bobbi Epstein Lewis JCC Senior Adult Dining Program at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community THE JCC, CONG. BETH SHOLOM & TEMPLE CONCORD, GLADLY ACCEPT DONATED VEHICLES THRU C*A*R*S (a locally owned Manlius company)

Center offers Va’ad Ha’ir-supervised kosher lunches served Monday-Friday at noon. Lunch reservations are required by noon of 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 more information or to make a reservation, contact Cindy Stein at 445-2360 ext. 104, or cstein@jccsyr.org.

points. Once the goal is achieved, the cost of the JCC’s new cardio machine will be covered by the Pomeranz, Shankman and Martin Charitable Foundation. Two levels of prizes will be offered during the challenge. The first 25 participants to reach 30 points will receive a free JCC reusable water bottle. Every participant who earns 50 points will receive a free JCC T-shirt. “We really appreciate the Pomeranz, Shankman and Martin Charitable Foundation’s wonderful support of our fitness challenge again and for helping to keep our facility’s equipment current and on the cutting edge,” said Yager. For more information about the JCC’s Fall into Fitness Challenge, visit the fitness desk or call 234-4522.

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CONGREGATIONAL NOTES Temple Adath Yeshurun BY SONALI EATON PAUSE BUTTON PROGRAM Temple Adath Yeshurun will begin a new, monthly Shabbat program, “Pause Button,” on Saturday, October 17. Services will “pause” for a few minutes between Shacharit and the Torah service. Participants will take a break to have a snack and an informal discussion, or have the opportunity to learn a new melody. Rabbi Paul Drazen said, “It is most appropriate, on a day dedicated to rest and relaxation, to have the opportunity for informal discussion about issues of importance.” Shabbat services begin at 9:15 am. The “Pause Button” will occur at approximately 9:45 am, and the Torah service will be at approximately 10:30 am. For more information, contact the TAY office at info@adath.org, 445-0002, or visit www.adath.org. “DELI MAN” DOCUMENTARY TO BE SHOWN ON OCTOBER 25 The Adult Education Chavurah at Temple Adath Yeshurun will present the documentary “Deli Man,” produced and directed by Erik Greenberg Anjou, on Sunday, October 25, at 7 pm. There will be no charge for the movie and it will be open to the community. In the spirit of the movie, a deli dinner will be served at 6 pm. There will be a charge for the dinner. The film’s main guide, Ziggy Gruber, is the owner and operator of Houston’s Kenny and Ziggy’s, which is considered one of the country’s top delis. The film features visits to other delicatessens, including Carnegie, Katz’s, 2nd Avenue Deli and Langer’s; as well as interviews with deli connoisseurs, such as Jerry Stiller, Alan Dershowitz and Larry King. The emphasis of the film is on the cultural aspects of the food and how the culture and desire for the food are disappearing. The story of the American deli is said to be “the story of Jews – their immigration, migration, upward mobility and assimilation.” “Deli Man” has been shown at more than 200 film festivals. The picture is Anjou’s third in his trilogy on Jewish culture. The

other two are “A Cantor’s Tale” and “The Klezmatics – On Holy Ground.” For more information or to make a reservation for the dinner, call the TAY office at 445-0002 or visit www.adath.org. SISTERHOOD BOOK DISCUSSION The next TAY Sisterhood book discussion will be held on Sunday, November 1, at 9:30 am, in the Muriel and Avron Spector Library, on the book, “Journey to the Land of No: A Girl Caught in Revolutionary Iran” by Roya Hakakian. The book is a memoir of a young Iranian girl from a Jewish family who recalls her childhood and adolescence in pre-revolutionary Iran. Her story recounts a period dominated by violence, religious fanaticism and fear with honesty and humor. Book discussions are an initiative of the TAY Sisterhood and are open to the community. USCJ DIRECTOR OF LEARNING ENRICHMENT SUSAN WYNER TO SPEAK Susan Wyner, director of learning enrichment for the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, will speak on See “TAY” on page 5

Temple Concord LAST CALL FOR ITZHAK PERLMAN TICKETS At press time, a limited supply of tickets were still available for Itzhak Perlman’s performance with Symphoria, on Sunday, November 1, at 3 pm, sponsored by Temple Concord’s Regina F. Goldenberg Cultural Series. If available, tickets can be purchased by calling the Symphoria box office at 299-5589, or online at www.experiencesymphoria.org. BASKETBALL COLUMNIST MIKE WATERS TO SPEAK ON OCT. 18 BY LESLIE BROCKSMITH The Temple Concord Brotherhood will host Mike Waters, award-winning basketball writer for the Syracuse Post-Standard, on Sunday, October 18, at 9:30 am. He has written three books, including “Syracuse University Basketball Vault.’’ A lox and bagel breakfast will be served and donations have been requested. The talk will be open to the community. For more information, contact Brotherhood president Larry Brown at 633-5583 or lawbrown1@aol.com. TEMPLE CONCORD PRESENTS DR. ROBERT LEBEL Dr. Robert Lebel, director of medical genetics at State University of New York Upstate Medical University, will open

Temple Concord’s Scholar Series on Tuesday, October 27, at 7 pm, with the lecture “From Jesuit to Geneticist.” Lebel is a professor of pediatrics, medicine, obstetrics, gynecology and pathology, with special interests in prenatal, pediatric and adult-onset genetic disease, as well as ethical issues in genetics. Admission will be free and open to the public. Donations will be welcome. For more information, contact the TC office at 475-9952 or office@templeconcord.org. TERRI COOK TO SPEAK ON “TRANSGENDER ISSUES” BY LESLIE BROCKSMITH Terri Cook will speak as part of Temple Concord’s seventh annual Scholar Series on “Transgender Issues,” on Tuesday, November 3, at 11 am. In their book, “Allies and Angels,” Cook and her husband, Vince, share the story of their son’s transition and what they learned about whom they are and who they want to be as a family. The TC Scholars Series brings university professors and other experts to the community to talk about a variety of topics. Admission will be free and open to the public. Donations will be welcome. For more information, contact the TC office at 475-9952 or office@templeconcord.org.

Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas Max Selig, an 8-year-old, practiced the tree pose in a yoga class that is offered every Wednesday afternoon during the after-school program at Rothschild Early Childhood Center at Temple Adath Yeshurun.

Temple Adath Yeshurun Religious School students in grades three-seven visited Meadowbrook Creek for a Tashlich service.

RUMMAGE SALE The Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas Sisterhood will hold its semi-annual rummage sale from Sunday-Monday, October 25-26, from 10 am-4 pm, with a bag sale from 3-4 pm on October 25 and all day on October 26. Proceeds from the sale help support scholarships for Jewish summer camp, gifts for b’nai mitzvah students and synagogue needs not in the regular budget. Items for sale may be dropped off between 9 am-4 pm from Monday-Friday, starting on Monday, October 19. CBS-CS also collects toiletries for Vera House and Operation Soap Dish, which collects toiletries and household products for clients of St. Lucy’s Food Pantry. These items can be brought to CBS-CS during the same hours. For more information, contact Steffi Bergman at 632-4905, 243-4009 or steffibergman@gmail.com. FRIDAY NIGHT SERVICES Two Friday evening Shabbat services have been scheduled for late October. Cantor Robert Lieberman will lead services, with Jonathan Dinkin on piano, on Friday, October 23, at 6 pm. The service will feature original melodies by Dinkin.

Atright(l-r):Kayla and Bella Graber, Tammy and Emily Greenblatt, and Myah Pettiford visited the Abbott Farms greenhouse during the annual Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas apple-picking trip on September 20.

Rabbi Paul Drazen spoke to the Religious School pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first and second grade classes in the Temple Adath Yeshurun sukkah.

CBS-CS youth with a Jewish experience – such as attending camp, visiting Israel or taking an extended trip – from last summer will lead services on Friday, October 30, at 6 pm. Services will be held in “camp style” and the participants will speak about their experiences. There will also be a dinner following the service where the youth will lead songs they learned during the summer. During the program, the congregation will thank the CBS-CS Sisterhood and the Goeler, Wagner, Samuel Fund, which provides annual financial support so that CBS-CS youth can have these experiences. This past summer, support went to 19 individuals. Sisterhood raises the money for camperships through rummage sales, dues and catering. Reservations and a fee will be required for the dinner. For more information, contact the CBS-CS office at 446-9570 or office@ cbscs.org. HAZAK DOES KLEZMER Hazak will present a musical program by the Keyna Hora Klezmer Band on Sunday, November 15, at 2:30 pm. CBSCS Hazak provides programs for adults ages 55 and older, but everyone can attend the event.

OCTOBER 15, 2015/2 CHESHVAN 5776 ■ JEWISH OBSERVER

DO YOU KNOW? Your Federation dollars at work – Community Garden

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Educators in Greater Cleveland. The community is invited to hear Wyner and to Shabbat services in general. To make a reservation, or for more information, contact the TAY office at 445-0002 or info@adath.org. TAY RELIGIOUS SCHOOL The first day of school for the Temple Adath Yeshurun Religious School was September 20. The day began with parents and students meeting the teachers in the ballroom. The teachers and students were then dismissed to go to their classrooms and a parent breakfast and orientation was held. Parents were given information regarding the school calendar and special programming for the school year. Students in grades three-seven walked down to Meadowbrook Creek for a Tashlich service, and students had an opportunity to “cast away their sins” in preparation for Yom Kippur. TAY Religious School has many programs planned for the 2015-16 school year, including holiday programs and Jewish learning elective courses.

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Saturday, October 24, during Shabbat morning services, which will begin at 9:15 am. She will give the d’var Torah on “The many meanings of Lech Lecha.” Services will be followed by a lunchand-learn, “The Responsibilities and Challenges of Blessing.” Wyner previously served as the education director of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Cleveland, OH, and has a master’s degree in Judaic studies in education from the Siegal College of Judaic Studies in Cleveland. She is a member of the Jewish Educators’ Assembly, and holds the title of Conservative Jewish educator. She has also served as a mentor to graduates of Jewish Theological Seminary’s Davidson School of Education, and has taught Melton adult education classes. Wyner created and taught classes on administration and supervision at the Jewish Principal’s Academy in the Pittsburgh area. She is a graduate of the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute, and has published articles on b’nai mitzvah and family education. She also serves as chair of the Board of License for Jewish

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Syracuse Jewish community BY JACKIE MIRON in educational and volunteer The Allocations Committee pursuits. Her goal of connecting of the Jewish Federation of Jewish values with the environCentral New York awards ment has never wavered. community Program Fund Activities in the Jewish comGrants annually during the fall. munity garden have included The grants are available to all Shabbat in the garden; readings Jewish organizations, agencies with PJ Library®; exploration and synagogues in the Central of seed-saving with children New York community. The Jackie Miron of various ages and many funds come from Federation’s Annual Campaign and are given out in synagogue and religious school visits. amounts of $10,000, $5,000 or $2,500. The Zimmern-Kahan said, “I want to infuse Allocations Committee reviews the grant the community here with energy that I’ve requests and makes recommendations observed in other communities that are to the board, which then votes on the also connecting to community gardening through Jewish values. I want to use the recommendations. Recent articles have highlighted grants garden as a point of engagement for the awarded in 2015. However, there are some community, as other communities are interesting developments at the Jewish also doing.” Anyone can participate in garden acCommunity Garden, to which the Federativities through volunteering. Children, tion awarded a $10,000 grant in 2013. The garden is located on the grounds of families and groups of all ages, both Temple Adath Yeshurun. Garden educa- Jewish and non-Jewish, should visit the tors offer opportunities for the community garden. Sampling the bounty is part of the to engage in the Jewish approach to food, reward, and no experience is necessary. agriculture and the important connection The garden may be visited any Tuesday inherent in the Jewish tradition to ecologi- between 4:30-6 pm. The next event, on Sunday, October cal values. Seasonal events connect to the major 25, from 2-4 pm, will have volunteers Jewish agricultural holidays: Pesach, helping prepare the garden for the winter. Shavuot and Sukkot. All produce grown Upcoming changes for the next season will in the garden is donated to local family be discussed, as well as the formation of shelters, exemplifying the Jewish values a garden committee for the future. The Jewish Federation of Central New of tzedakah and tikkun olam. The community garden is overseen York grants continue to enhance the comby an experienced and passionate leader, munity for years to come, as seen at the Tiferet Zimmern-Kahan, who started the Jewish community garden. Zimmern-Kahan would like anyone garden, and has led its programming and maintenance for more than two years. interested in becoming involved in the garTo preserve continuity, it is necessary to den to contact her, especially if someone establish a wider group of participants is interested in joining the garden committee. She will also discuss what volunteers and volunteers. A native of Boston, Zimmern-Kahan should expect through participating. For is a graduate of State University of New more information on the Jewish ComYork College of Environmental Science munity Garden, contact Zimmern-Kahan and Forestry, and has been involved in the at garden@adath.org.

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ OCTOBER 15, 2015/2 CHESHVAN 5776

New JCC fall fitness classes for children start next week

BY WILLIAM WALLAK The Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse will introduce several new fitness classes for preschool and school-age children starting the week of Monday, October 19. The classes will be held on weekdays and run for seven weeks at the JCC, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. The Lil’ Kickers Soccer class for pre-kindergarten children will be held on Mondays, starting October 19, from 2-2:45 pm. A Lil’ Kickers class for kindergarten-sixth grade

will be held on Wednesdays, starting on October 21, from 4:30-5:15 pm. The class will focus on boosting balance, coordination and fundamental soccer skills, while also helping develop listening skills, cooperation and teamwork. Movin’ and Groovin’ Fitness for children in third-sixth grade will be held on Mondays from 4:30-5 pm, starting on October 19. The class will have the children move to “high-energy” sounds of upbeat music. Another class for children in grades

three-six, Cardio Hoops, will be held on Tuesdays, starting on October 20, from 4:30-5 pm. Using a mixture of dance, play, games and movement, the program intends to help students “hoop their way to happiness and health.” “I’m very excited to be offering these new classes this fall,” said Sherri Lamanna, JCC director of gymnastics, dance and preschool physical education. “They’re going to be lots of fun and offer a unique experience for children looking to do something a little different and for those with lots

of energy and enthusiasm.” Enrollment for the classes is open to the community and JCC membership is not required. However, members receive a discount. Busing for school-age children attending classes is available from some Syracuse City schools, select private schools, Fayetteville-Manlius schools and all public schools within the JamesvilleDeWitt School District. For more information, contact Lamanna at 445-2040, ext. 126, or slamanna@ jccsyr.org, or visit www.jccsyr.org.

Syracuse Community Hebrew School first day of school The Syracuse Community Hebrew School opened its doors on September 16 with 85 students in attendance. The day began with an all-school assembly. Shannon Small, Syracuse Community Hebrew School’s education director, introduced the rabbis and cantors who will be assisting during the community prayer time this year by leading prayers and teaching. After the introductions, Small led an activity with the students that incorporated movement and learning about prayer, after which Cantor Paula Pepperstone led prayers with the students. The students then headed to their classrooms for ice breakers and introductory activities. Parents later visited the classrooms and were able to meet the students’ teachers and participate in other learning activities. Giveaways presented to students

and parents at the end of the first day of school included backpacks and water bottles with the Syracuse Community Hebrew School logo on them. A Jewish Federation of Central New York Community Program Fund grant of $20,000 helped establish the Syracuse Community Hebrew School for grades three-seven, which opened its doors in September. In addition to the Federation funding, money was secured from the Pomeranz, Shankman, and Martin Charitable Foundation at a level of $30,000 annually, as well as money from Congregation Beth Sholom- Parents and students participated in a learning activity together on September 16, Chevra Shas, Temple Adath Yeshurun the first day of the Syracuse Community Hebrew School. and Temple Concord. The Dorothy and Marshall Reisman Foundation gave desire to provide a “high quality Jewish years, it will be hosted by Temple Adath $3,600. The school was the result of educational experience, with an increased Yeshurun. It will then alternate locations the three participating synagogues’ sense of community.” For its first two every two years.

The Syracuse Hebrew Day School announces the dates of the 2015-2016 BUDS events

BY MELISSA NERI The Syracuse Hebrew Day School Bringing Up Day Schoolers program for preschool-aged children and their families has planned events for the 2015-16 school year. All events will be held on Sundays, from 1-2 pm, at the Syracuse Hebrew Day School, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. The fall festival will be held on October 18. The session “Thanksgiving Treat” will be held on November 22. There will be a “Bounce House Bonanza” on December 20. The first winter activity, “Super Sledding Sunday,” will be held on February 28. The various programs will give children the opportunity to meet and play with

other preschool children within the community. While the children participate in activities provided and supervised by SHDS staff, adults will be able to converse with other parents over coffee, tour the school or relax and spend an afternoon out with their children. SHDS teachers will be available to meet students and families and answer questions about the dual curriculum for children in kindergarten-sixth grade. SHDS BUDS events are intended to provide an opportunity for “learning and fun” for families with young children. Reservations have been requested and can be made by contacting the school at shds@twcny.rr.com or 446-1900.

The Israeli Lacrosse Team would like to thank the following for their support for Team Israel during the recent World Indoor Lacrosse Championships! The Haudenosaunee and Onondaga Nation OIP Pizza The Palace Theater and Paul Valenti King David Restaurant and Nadar Hatem The Rise-N-Shine Diner and Danielle Mercuri Campolito Neil Goldberg and family Mark Charlamb and family Martin Wells and family Mark Wladis and family David Reed The ParkView Hotel Temple Adath Yeshurun Property Restoration Inc. Jewish Federation of CNY Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse Chabad Lubavitch of CNY

Preschool students and their families heard a story read by kindergarten teacher Jessie Kerr-Whitt at a recent Bringing Up Day Schoolers event at the Syracuse Hebrew Day School.

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OCTOBER 15, 2015/2 CHESHVAN 5776 ■ JEWISH OBSERVER

Ambassador Dennis Ross spoke to Syracuse Jewish community on Israel-U.S. relationship

Temple Adath Yeshurun Rabbi Paul Drazen (left) spoke to Ambassador Dennis Ross (right) while Jewish Federation of Central New York Annual Campaign Chair Mark Wladis looked on.

Ambassador Dennis Ross spoke to approximately 350 members of the Jewish community on October 1 in a Jewish Federation of Central New York-sponsored event. Held at Temple Adath Yeshurun, the event also included a presentation by Ross to major donors of the Federation Campaign. A record number of people were in attendance at the Major Gifts dinner, more than 70. Federation Annual Campaign Chair Mark Wladis said of the event, “This is the beginning of what is going to be a great year for the Jewish community and the Jewish Federation.” Ross was said to have played “a leading role” in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process. He was the U.S. point man on the peace process in both the George H. W. Bush and Bill

Clinton administrations. Ross recently published a new book, “Doomed to Succeed: The U.S.-Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama,” and signed copies at the event.

Wladis added, “The Meet at the MOST event will be on Saturday, November 14, from 6:30-9 pm, and that promises to continue the momentum that we have developed for this community!”

U.S. Ambassador Dennis Ross spoke to Federation of Central New York major donors at a dinner before his public presentation.

A crowd of around 350 community members listened to Ambassador Dennis Ross speak in the sanctuary at Temple Adath Yeshurun.

Ross: U.S.-Israel relations suffered because Rice failed to communicate Editor’s note: Ambassador Dennis Ross was the speaker at a Jewish Federation of Central New York event on October 1. See coverage above on this page. BY JTA STAFF WASHINGTON (JTA) – National Security Adviser Susan Rice’s failure to cultivate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu contributed to a breakdown in U.S.-Israel communication, a former top U.S. official said. Dennis Ross, who was President Barack Obama’s top Iran advisor from 2009-11, said frequent communications between the Obama and Netanyahu governments between 2009 and 2012 tamped down the Israeli prime minister’s anxieties about Obama’s Iran plans, with assurances that the president was determined to keep Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. In November 2013, Ross – no longer in government – was visiting Jerusalem when Netanyahu summoned him, he recounts in a new book, excerpted on October 8 in Politico Magazine. Israel had been caught off guard by the acceleration in sanctions relief for nuclear restrictions talks between Iran and six major powers. “I was struck by how alone Netanyahu felt,” Ross wrote of Netanyahu, saying he met with him just after Netanyahu concluded a phone call with Obama. “He believed the United States had given up all its leverage in this deal and the sanctions would now collapse of their own weight, taking all the pressure off the Iranians and freezing the situation. The Iranians would be left as a threshold nuclear state and Israel would be confronted with unpalatable choices.” Ross tried to assuage Netanyahu’s fears, but believed that a second call with Obama would go further toward calming the Israeli leader, basing his assessment on previous such crises. “Had Tom Donilon still been the national security adviser, he surely would have understood that there was a

problem and he would have immediately spoken to his counterpart,” wrote Ross, who worked closely with Donilon in Obama’s first term. “If the impression was not corrected, he would have had Obama make another call,” Ross wrote. “He had done precisely that in September 2012 when Prime Minister Netanyahu had made public comments, challenging our position on the Iranian nuclear issue. Donilon arranged the call and the air was not only cleared, but there was a meeting of the minds. “By contrast, now there was no call from Susan Rice, there was no follow-up from the president and the prime minister did not soften his public criticism two weeks later when the actual Joint Plan of Action with Iranian negotiators was concluded,” Ross said. Rice, Ross said, was infuriated with Netanyahu’s broadsides against the deal. “Rice, reflecting her generally more combative mindset, would say to Abe Foxman, national director of the AntiDefamation League, that in reacting to the Joint Plan of Action, Netanyahu’s posture was outrageous,” Ross wrote. “In her view, the Israeli leader did everything but use ‘the N-word’ in describing the president.” That mindset helped damage relations with Israel, Ross said. “We damaged our relationship with Israel far more than we needed to,” he concluded. The White House, responding to The New York Times, said Rice cultivated close relations with her Israeli counterparts. “We have long had differences with the Netanyahu government over the agreement to verifiably prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear – a deal achieved after Dennis Ross’tenure in the administration,” National Security Council spokesman Ned Price told the Times. “However, those differences have never lessened in any way our unprecedented commitment to Israel’s security.”

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Netanyahu halts building near Western Wall, seeking to contain violence

(JTA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shelved a plan for government offices near the Western Wall, saying that building in the sensitive area could spur more violence. Beit Haliba was scheduled for approval on October 8 by the Interior Ministry’s District Committee for Construction and Planning in Jerusalem, but the approval process was suspended indefinitely following a request for its removal from the agenda by the Prime Minister’s Bureau,Army Radio reported. The request cited the desire to refrain from moves that could lead to an escalation in violence, the report said.

The Western Wall is adjacent to the Temple Mount, or Haram al Sharif, a site holy to both Muslims and Jews that has been the locus of the recent escalation in violence. According to the plan, the Beit Haliba is to include office space for the Western Wall Heritage Foundation and several government offices, which the report on Army Radio did not specify. The suspension comes amid what Netahyahu described that week as a “wave of terror” by Palestinians in the West Bank and Israel, and especially in Jerusalem. Recently, two Israelis in their 30s, Na’ama and Eitam Henkin,

were killed in an attack near the West Bank settlement of Itamar. Several Palestinians were also killed and injured in clashes with security forces. Israeli authorities have restricted access to the Temple Mount area to Palestinian men older than 50. Women’s access is unrestricted. Separately, Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the PalestinianAuthority, accused Israel of trying to cause Palestinians to act violently. “We will not allow ourselves to be dragged where they want to drag us,” Abbas said at a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new building in Ramallah, according to a translation of his speech provided by Army Radio.

Intifada

Continued from page 2

Palestinian leaders, whether nationalists or Islamists, don’t care about the day-to-day welfare of their people. They view the entire Palestinian population as an instrument of struggle, rather than as a collection of individuals and families who aim for a better quality of life for themselves and their nation. Some groups, like the Al-Aqsa Brigades of Fatah or the Qassam Brigades of Hamas, engage Palestinians in violence: sniper attacks on Israeli vehicles in the West Bank, rocket attacks from Gaza, stabbings of the sort witnessed this [past] week in Jerusalem and other locations, training and building up of terror cells across the West Bank, organizing confrontations with the Israeli army and so on. As the three wars in Gaza throughout the last decade have proven, their overarching goal is to drag the Israelis into a prolonged armed conflict that will turn the world against the Jewish state. Abbas himself goes both ways. Sometimes he encourages violence; other times, he urges a quieting of confrontation. In terms of the Israelis, Abbas approaches them in a spirit of diplomatic confrontation. Domestically, for example, he rebuffs attempts by the Jerusalem municipality to improve living conditions for Palestinians in the eastern part of the united city. Internationally, he continues to pursue a strategy of gaining unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state with or without the Israelis.

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But that is not leadership, and Abbas is not really the leader of the Palestinians anymore. That, perhaps, is the gravest crisis they face. Abbas has become a classic Arab “gerontocrat” – an old man clinging onto power through corruption and bullying, and with no obvious successor in the wings. Indeed, as the Israeli journalist Nahum Barnea explained in a recent Yediot Achronot article, it’s quite possible that the succession battle that will follow the departure of Abbas could result in a civil war – for the second time, in fact, when you remember the bloody conflict between Hamas and Fatah in Gaza in 2007. As any revolutionary worth his or her salt will tell you, without proper leadership, you can’t win. It was the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin who came up with the widely adopted concept of the “vanguard party” – in essence, a cadre of professional revolutionaries who will guide, shape and direct the struggle of the working class and the oppressed. Right now, Hamas looks a much more credible candidate for that position than does Fatah. Israel is capable, in military terms, of containing a Hamas-led intifada in the West Bank, which is arguably the worst scenario that could emerge from the present situation. It will be an ugly conflict that could well see the introduction of Islamic State terrorists into the equa-

tion. But the continuing brutal wars in Syria and Iraq, now under the joint control of Moscow and Tehran, will limit, in practical terms, any assistance for a renewed Palestinian front in the Islamist war against Israel and the West. You’ll notice that I haven’t mentioned American policy once in this discussion. That’s because, tragically, the U.S. has become a virtual irrelevance in the Middle East. President Barack Obama’s attempt to achieve a peace settlement was derailed by Abbas’ duplicity and by Obama’s own antagonism toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Since then, American policy in the wider region has only served to strengthen Israel’s mortal enemy, Iran. Israel is now living with the consequences of America’s retreat from the Middle East, which means it has to worry about far greater problems than the occasional rap over the knuckles from a disengaged White House. Ben Cohen, senior editor of TheTower.org and The Tower Magazine, writes a weekly column for JNS.org on Jewish affairs and Middle Eastern politics. His writings have been published in Commentary, the New York Post, Haaretz, The Wall Street Journal and many other publications. He is the author of “Some of My Best Friends: A Journey Through Twenty-First Century Antisemitism” (Edition Critic, 2014).

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OCTOBER 15, 2015/2 CHESHVAN 5776 ■ JEWISH OBSERVER

Israel’s ambassador to China on nations’ shared pursuits and differences

BY MAXINE DOVERE JNS.org (JNS.org) – When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited him to be Israel’s ambassador to China in 2012, Matan Vilnai’s career had included time as a cabinet minister, military general and Knesset member, but there was one hole in his résumé. “I knew nothing at all about China,” Vilnai told JNS.org in an exclusive interview from his Beijing office. To prepare for his current role, Vilnai embarked on a six-month study program that included learning basic Mandarin, the official language of China. His teacher, Shalva Jin – an Israeli Jewish woman of Chinese descent – traces her heritage to the ancient Kaifeng Jewish community and made aliyah in 2000. Vilnai said China and Israel “have become very important allies” in a relationship that is “always improving. ...The Jewish people and the Chinese people are the oldest civilizations in the world. Both are well-connected to their respective histories.” Vilnai noted “similar values” among the two peoples. “In the writings of [the Chinese scholar] Confucius, you will find the ideas and values of our and their culture... the family values, the values between people. This is the very solid common denominator,” he said. But while the Israeli and Chinese populations are strongly aligned at the “grass-roots” level, the diplomatic

front is not considered to be “as rosy.” Vilnai In 1991, U.S. President George H.W. Bush said, “It’s politics, it’s economic interests – it’s convened the Madrid Conference, where Israel absolutely different. Despite philosophical and many Arab nations sat together. China also similarities, the practical interests of the Chisat at that table, and full diplomatic relations nese government clearly differ from those of with Israel took form in 1992 upon the opening Israel. The Chinese must be aware of energy of embassies in Beijing and Tel Aviv. sources, especially the importance of supplies As the quarter-century anniversary of Isfrom the Arab nations (some 60 percent of raeli-Chinese relations approaches, China has China’s energy comes from Arab countries)... developed an interest in Israeli technology and It is because of the energy that they remain innovation. Vilnai described a recent international on the other side and traditionally support the competition in Beijing sponsored by Shengjing, a Arabs. The Chinese have voted against us in Israeli Ambassador Chinese investment company. Three Israeli startall the forums, including the United Nations. to China Matan ups were among the 20 finalists. The first prize “China says Israel is the strong state of the Vilnai (Photo by was won by an Israeli company presenting an Middle East – the superpower,” he added. Maxine Dovere) innovative methodology for cardiac ultrasound. “They say, ‘You have to solve the problems by “The Chinese can’t understand how, from a ‘small yourselves...’I hope that [this diplomatic attitude] will be town’ of eight million, we have so many Nobel Prizes and changed, but it’s a long way [off] – a very long way.” so much new technology,” Vilnai said. Israel declared its independence on May 15, 1948. The Chinese are said to be “particularly intrigued” by The formation of the People’s Republic of China was Israeli technology related to desertification prevention, announced on October 1, 1949. “We supported them, water desalination, agricultural advances and high-tech in acknowledged them in the U.N.,” Vilnai recalled. In fact, general. There is also a trend of rising academic exchanges Israel was the first Middle Eastern country to recognize between Israel and China. “In Israel, all the universities China. Yet, the Israeli-Chinese relationship developed have Chinese students,” said Vilnai. “The Chinese govslowly. On the official level, Israel had little to do with ernment provides many scholarships. There are special the PRC until 1992. “Israel had recognized the PRC in summer courses in every Israeli university.” See “China” on page 12 the beginning, yet we had nothing,” Vilnai said.

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ OCTOBER 15, 2015/2 CHESHVAN 5776

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, October 18 Temple Concord community blood drive at 9 am TC visits Safe Haven at 10:15 am International Syracuse Film Festival screenings throughout the day. For information, visit www.filminsyracuse.com. PJ Library® Animal Park in Chittenango at 10:30 am Monday, October 19 Syracuse Hebrew Day School board of directors meeting at 7 pm TC Board of Trustees meeting at 7 pm Tuesday, October 20 JCC Executive Committee meeting at 6 pm, followed by board meeting at 7 pm Goldenberg anniversary celebration of Temple Concord organ with a recital at 7 pm Sunday, October 25 Syracuse Jewish community garden day at Temple Adath Yeshurun from 2-4 pm Wednesday, October 28 Deadline for the November 12 issue of the Jewish Observer National Council of Jewish Women Hannah B Solomon luncheon honoring Barbara S. Davis at Justin’s at noon Sunday, November 1 Temple Concord Goldenberg Series presents Itzhak Perlman at the Onondaga County Civic Center at 3 pm

Refugee The expansion comes in spite of a relationship between Israeli Jews and Syria that lacks historical kinship, to say the least. “I have personally had some calls asking, ‘Isn’t Syria an enemy state of Israel, and is helping the Syrian community in any way helping our enemy?’” Recant said. “That has been a small voice... assistance from the Jewish world has been done on a purely humanitarian basis, completely apolitical.” While perhaps apolitical, the Jewish reaction to events in Syria isn’t without a religious element. “The fact that this kind of grips the international consciousness right around the High Holidays added even more power to the desire to respond, when people are really thinking about issues of responsibility and our connection to others,” said Barbara Weinstein, an associate director for the Religious Action Center, the Washington, DC-based social justice arm of the Union for Reform Judaism. Besides fund-raising for the JDC-led coalition, RAC provided special prayers and materials for rabbis hoping to sermonize on the humanitarian crisis. The group is also helping congregations sponsor refugee families for immigration to Canada, where the law allows it. “We know that there is a great interest among our congregations, our rabbis and our congregants to play an active role in responding to this crisis,” Weinstein said. “So many of them, like people of all faiths across the country, have been deeply moved by the images and stories in the news.” Just before Yom Kippur, Jewish World Watch – a Los Angeles-based coalition that fights genocide and mass atrocities – announced an emergency fund to provide relief to refugees displaced by violence in Syria. “During these holiest days of the Jewish year, we have issued an urgent appeal to all members of our community to take action now,” the organization wrote. The announcement

D’VAR TORAH

The limits of human hubris BY JOAN N. BURSTYN The Torah portion Noah contains two stories of destruction, and in each case, God was responsible for the act of destruction itself. Each story has led people throughout the centuries to question the reasons for God’s action. The first act of destruction was the “great flood” that we are told occurred because, as God explains to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with lawlessness because of them: I am about to destroy them with the earth.” (Genesis 6:13 from “The Torah,” Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1962.) After the flood, God grants Noah and his sons the right to eat every creature that lives, but humans may not eat “flesh with its life-blood in it.” Is that what humans had been doing before the flood? Killing animals, tearing them apart and eating them raw with blood still dripping off them? Had they eaten other humans, as well? Possibly so, because from the new instructions God gives, we can deduce more detail about the “lawlessness” that had existed previously, “For your life-blood, too, I will require a reckoning: of every beast will I require it; of man, too, will I require a reckoning for human life, of every man for that of his fellow man! Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God was man created.” (Genesis 9:5-6) The second story of destruction by God describes less lethal actions by humans. In this case, the destruction was limited in scale, but its influence was profound. At the time of this story, “All the earth had the same language and the same words.” (Genesis 11:1) With the power that their single language provided to them, humans began to build a city and, within it, “a tower with its top in the sky, to make a name for ourselves; else we shall be scatContinued from page 1

also quoted the Book of Deuteronomy: “You shall love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” But for Jewish World Watch, the Syrian refugee crisis hearkens to the more recent past. “Our concern is the fact that there are millions of people that have been displaced and are on the move and are being treated in some ways that are terribly reflective of how Jews were treated during World War II,” said Bill Bernstein, the organization’s executive director. Images from the region have evoked memories of Jewish internment and displacement: refugees crowded into train stations, suffocating in overcrowded transports, and in some cases of “spectacular tone-deafness” having numbers scrawled on their wrists. The brute force of the Syrian regime inside that country is also conjuring memories of the Holocaust. “When you’re barrel-bombing your own citizens and thousands of those citizens are being killed, it is of great concern that this could evolve into a genocide,” Bernstein said. He said that Jewish World Watch is still vetting potential beneficiaries of its appeal. JDC’s Recant, himself the son of Holocaust survivors, agrees that memories of World War II play a part in motivating Jewish empathy for Syrian refugees. “It’s dominant in our thinking,” he said. “We were there, that could be us. We understand what it is to have a child and just want your child to grow up in security and safety.” For instance, Recant recounted receiving an e-mail the day before Rosh Hashanah from an 80-year-old Holocaust survivor who said that JDC was the only organization to help him when he left Czechoslovakia after the war. Now, he wants to travel to the region with the JDC to aid those currently in need. (Recant explained that JDC only sends trained professionals to crisis regions – so the offer was respectfully declined.) “Once made aware, the Jewish community has been quite responsive,” he said. “I’m personally very proud of the response.”

LARRY METZGER Owner

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Syrian refugees at a train station in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo couresy of JDC)

tered all over the world.” (Genesis 11:4) This decision by humans, we are told, brought swift action by God, who said, “If, as one people with one language for all, this is how they have begun to act, then nothing that they may propose to do will be out of their reach. Let Me, then, go down and confound their speech there, so that they shall not understand one another’s speech. Thus the Lord scattered them from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city.” (Genesis 11: 6-8) We may find this story to be an interesting, but hardly scientific, explanation for the many languages in the world; or we may ponder, as Jews have done for centuries, the lessons that the story may provide for us about the limits of human power. I turned to Rabbi Arthur Green’s book, “Ehyeh: A Kabbalah for Tomorrow,” for more insight into what might have been at stake for humans and for God in these two stories. In the two stories, humans had apparently stepped over the borderline of power appropriate for them; they had threatened the balance of nature itself. According to Kabbalah, there is a level of spiritual development entitled netzah, where we may come to believe that “we can be triumphant over all enemies of perfection, whatever they may be... netzah strives for transformation; it is the impatient force within us that believes we can accomplish anything; that reality should be subject to our wise reshaping power” (Ehyeh, p. 53). Now, in the 21st century, we are unlikely to claim that God deliberately caused the floods of Hurricane Katrina, the four-year drought in Syria or the destruction of the World Trade Center because of the hubris of humans in claiming so much power. Nevertheless, we cannot deny that our latest technical innovations provide us with immense, and previously unimagined, power over the forces of nature. We surely need to use that power with greater wisdom than we have done up till now, and with greater concern for maintaining life on earth for other species as well as for ourselves. Joan N. Burstyn, professor emerita of education and history at Syracuse University, is a member of the adult education committee at Congregation Beth SholomChevra Shas. She serves on the board of the Rabbi Jacob Epstein High School of Jewish Studies and the advisory board of Women Transcending Boundaries. She is also a published poet.

NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org

Violence won’t stop global astronautical conference from landing in Jerusalem

Some 2,000 participants from 60 countries, among them the heads of every space agency around the globe, are expected to attend the International Astronautical Congress that was to begin on Oct. 12 at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem. Despite the current tensions and wave of Palestinian terrorist attacks across the country, particularly in Jerusalem, no participant has cancelled their attendance. Israeli Science, Technology and Space Minister Ofir Akunis said this was “a vote of confidence and certificate of recognition for Israeli science.” The conference is being hosted by the Israel Space Agency. “The state of Israel is perhaps ‘only’ 68 years old, but it stands in the front row of global entrepreneurship and innovation,” Akunis said, Israel Hayom reported. International Astronautical Federation President Kiyoshi Higuchi said, “The IAC is returning to Israel 21 years after Jerusalem hosted the 45th Congress. Despite being a small country, Israel is regarded internationally as a global leader in space science and technology. With its diverse space industrial facilities and technical expertise, Israel has much to offer to the international space community.”

Israeli team first to sign launch deal in Google Moon race

An Israeli team competing in a Google-sponsored rocket launch race to the Moon has signed a deal with the Elon Musk-owned SpaceX with a plan to launch a rocket in 2017, officials said. Sixteen teams are competing in the rocket launch race for a $20 million first-place prize. To win the race, a privately funded team must have an unmanned spacecraft reach the surface of the Moon, explore 500 meters (1,640 feet), and transmit high-definition video and photos back to earth. Israel’s SpaceIL is the first team to have its launch agreement approved by XPRIZE, the organization overseeing the race. “The magnitude of this achievement cannot be overstated,” said XPRIZE President Bob Weiss, Israel Hayom reported. “This is the official milestone that the race is on....They’ve lit the fuse, as it were, for their competitive effort.”

OCTOBER 15, 2015/2 CHESHVAN 5776 ■ JEWISH OBSERVER

OBITUARIES MARK BINDER

Mark Binder, 75, died on September 26 at Northwoods Rehabilitation and Nursing Centerin in Moravia. He had been a practicing physician until retiring because of his Parkinson’s disease. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was a member of Temple Adath Yeshurun. He was predeceased by his son, Sean; and one grandson. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Binder; his sons, Joey and Scott; his daughter, Whitney; his sister, Marian (Sheldon) Sacks; a granddaughter; and two nephews and their families. Burial was in Adath Yeshurun Cemetery. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. 

ALAN S. BURSTEIN

Alan S. Burstein, 75, of Fayetteville and Old Forge, NY, died of complications from pancreatic cancer on October 1. He was among a very small percentage of five-year pancreatic cancer survivors. Born in Detroit, MI, he grew up in Detroit, where he attended Mumford High School. He attended the University of Michigan, where he earned a bachelor of arts in pre-legal studies, and the University of Michigan Law School, where he was awarded a juris doctor in 1965. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1966 and was also a member of the Michigan Bar. He practiced law for nearly 50 years. After graduating from law school, at the urging of his late father-in-law, Albert Gordon, he began his legal career in 1965 at the firm then known as Hiscock, Cowie, Bruce, Lee and Mawhinney, now Barclay Damon. He was a partner at the Hiscock firm for 20 years. In 1985, he joined the firm Scolaro, Shulman, Cohen, Lawler and Burstein, and in 2013 became “of counsel” to its successor firm, Scolaro, Fetter, Grizanti, McGough and King, P.C. He was a skilled litigator and negotiator, and was a leader in many local charities and non-profits. Earlier in his career, he was associate counsel from 1971-72 (Senator Earl Bridges) and special counsel in 1973 (Senator Warren Anderson) to the majority leader and president pro-tem of the New York State Senate. He ran the Syracuse mayoral campaign of John O’Connor against Lee Alexander and was general counsel and corporate secretary to the family business, Penfield Manufacturing Company in Syracuse, for many years. He served on the Fifth Judicial District Attorney Grievance Committee by appointment of the Appellate Division of the Fourth Judicial Department. He served as vice president, and later was named honorary vice president for life, of Temple Adath Yeshurun. He was the annual toastmaster of the Temple Adath Citizen of the Year dinner for many years and received the Citizen of the Year award in 1994. He loved the Adirondacks and enjoyed the family camp on Fourth Lake for more than 50 years. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Margery Gordon Burstein; sons, Mark Albert Burstein (Anthony Balbona), of New York City, and Robert Gordon (Dajung Chung) Burstein, of Edgewater, NJ; his daughter, Florence (Joel) Levy, of Denver, CO; three grandchildren; a brother, Richard J. (Gayle) Burstein, of Bloomfield Hills, MI; a sister, Diane B. (James Safran) Wainess, of Beverly Hills, MI; brothers-in-law, Charles L. (Julie) Gordon and P. Steven Wainess; five nieces and nephews; and four great-nieces and -nephews. Burial was next to his parents-in-law in the Temple Concord section of Woodlawn Cemetery. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions may be made to Temple Adath Yeshurun, 450 Kimber Rd., Syracuse, NY 13224; the United Way of Central New York, 518 James St. #200, Syracuse, NY 13203; or the Jewish Federation of Central New York, 5655 Thompson Rd., Syracuse, NY 13214. 

ELISSA MORGANSTEIN

Elissa Morganstein, 74, died on September 29 at Crouse Hospital. Born in the Bronx, she graduated from the University of Miami. She had been a Syracuse resident for the past 50 years. She is survived by her daughter, Susanne (Lynda Bobo) Morganstein; her son, Scott (Faith) Morganstein; five grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. Burial was in Mt. Hebron Cemetery in Queens, NY. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. 

KAREN R. MORGANSTEIN

Karen R. Morganstein, 57, died on October 5 at home after a recent reoccurrence of the cancer she had been successfully fighting for many years. Born in Johnstown, PA, she graduated from West Genesee High School and was a graduate of SUNY Geneseo. She was a registered sales assistant for E. F. Hutton and then UBS Securities. In recent years, she had worked from home as a legal scopist. She is survived by her husband of 29 years, Marty; her father, George (Cindy) Liperote; her mother, Nancy (Tom Carter) Liperote; her brothers, David Liperote and Douglas (Kris) Liperote; her sister, Kathy (Richard) Grunow; nieces and nephews; and Marty’s children, Susanne (Lynda Bobo) Morganstein and Scott (Faith) Morganstein. Burial was in the Fayetteville Cemetery. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions may be made to a Central New York animal shelter. 

LEONARD ROTHSCHILD

Leonard Rothschild, 88, died on October 1 at the Auburn Nursing Home. A life resident of Auburn, he was the founder and owner of Leonard’s Discount Jewelers of Auburn. He was a World War II Army veteran. He had also been a member of Congregation B’nai Israel in Auburn. He was predeceased by his wife, Vivian, in 2010. He is survived by his daughter, Karen (Edmond) Lonsky, and his granddaughter, Lauren. Burial was in the B’nai Israel section of Ft. Hill. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions may be made to Auburn Nursing Home, 85 Thornton Ave., Auburn, NY 13021. 

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SAMUEL (“SANDY”) STEMPLER

Samuel Stempler, 91, died on October 4 at Menorah Park. Born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1923, he graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and served as a first lieutenant (bombardier/navigator) in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He married after the war, and he and his wife had two children. He worked during the day to support his young family and went to college at night. He graduated from Polytechnic Institute with a bachelor of science and master of science in electrical engineering. During the first part of his career, he worked in the aerospace industry. Under the administrations of Mayors Abraham Beame and Ed Koch, he later served as an assistant commissioner in the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and as director of its Bureau of Air Resources. He was an active member of Madison Jewish Center and several other civic organizations in the Marine Park section of Brooklyn. Once retired from city government, he and his wife enjoyed traveling, especially on their annual trips to Israel. In his spare time, he enjoyed reading, going to the theater and opera, and helping his wife with her printing business. Once they both retired, they spent time traveling between residences in Brooklyn and Florida, visiting family and friends. In Florida, they were active members of Temple Torah of Boynton Beach. In 2002, they moved from their Brooklyn home to Syracuse to be closer to family. Early in his marriage, he established the tradition of presenting his wife with a single rose every Friday night. This tradition was passed down to his son-in-law, Howard, who, for the past 47 years, has been presenting his wife, Ellen, with weekly Friday night flowers. He was predeceased by his parents, Sarah and Michael; his sister Roselyn; and, in 2012, his wife of 69 years, Arliene. He is survived by his son, Michael (Abigail Wenner); his daughter, Ellen (Howard) Weinstein, of Fayetteville; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Burial was in the Adath Yeshurun Cemetery. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions may be made to Menorah Park of Central New York, 4101 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13214; Temple Adath Yeshurun, 450 Kimber Rd., Syracuse, NY 13224; the Jewish Federation of Central New York, 5655 Thompson Rd., Syracuse, NY 13214; the Jewish Community Center of Syracuse, 5655 Thompson Rd., Syracuse, NY 13214; or the local chapter of Na’amat, c/o Nancy Barnett, 103 Claremont Dr., Camillus, NY 13031. 

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ROBERT HILL

Robert Hill, 67, died on September 25 at the Cleveland Clinic. He was born and raised in New Hartford, NY. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1969 and made his home in Syracuse. He was a certified financial planner, a member of Temple Concord, a volunteer in the Big Brother Program and an avid SU sports fan. He was predeceased by his parents, Albert and Betty Hill; and his brothers, Alan and Steven. He is survived by his loving companion of 14 years, Karen Cali; his brother, Mark; and a loving extended family. Burial was in the Temple Emanuel Cemetery, Roberts Road, Sauquoit, NY. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. 

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Visit the JO online at jewishfederationcny.org and click on Jewish Observer

JEWISH OBSERVER ■ OCTOBER 15, 2015/2 CHESHVAN 5776

NEWS IN BRIEF From JTA

Palestinian woman detonates explosives in car near Jerusalem

A Palestinian woman detonated explosives in her car at a West Bank checkpoint near Jerusalem. An Israeli policeman was injured in the attack by a 31-year-old from Jericho at a checkpoint near the city of Maale Adumim on Oct. 11. The bomber was seriously injured and taken to a Jerusalem hospital. She reportedly shouted “God is great” in Arabic before detonating the explosives, and tried to jump out of the car right before the explosion, according to police. The car carried a canister of gas, police said, which may indicate that she had intended to carry out a larger attack. The woman, whose car had Israeli license plates, was pulled over for driving a “suspicious vehicle” in a carpool lane, according to police. The Palestinian Maan news agency reported that the car had an “electrical problem” that ignited a small fire in the car. The attack followed several violent episodes on Oct. 10, including two stabbing attacks in Jerusalem that injured at least three Israeli civilians and a police officer; several rock-throwing attacks that injured Israeli civilians and soldiers; the killing of at least seven Palestinian rioters trying to infiltrate Israel at the Gaza security fence; and retaliatory airstrikes by Israel against Hamas that killed a pregnant Palestinian and her 2-year-old daughter.

Arab-Israeli lawmaker to be investigated over call for “real intifada”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his attorney general to open a criminal investigation against an Arab-Israeli lawmaker who called for a “real intifada” against Israel. The statement by Hanin Zoabi of the Arab Joint List was printed in al-Risala, the official newspaper of Hamas, on Oct. 8. Netanyahu said on Oct. 11 during the weekly Cabinet meeting that his government would use all means at its disposal to prevent incitement from within. “This wild and deceitful incitement is a clear call to violence,” he said. “This is serious and I will not ignore it.” Zoabi said in al-Risala: “Hundreds of thousands of worshipers should go up to Al-Aqsa in order to face down an Israeli plot for the blood of east Jerusalem residents. Today there are actions only by individuals and what is needed is popular support. If only individual attacks continue without popular support, they will sputter out within a few days. Therefore the outpouring of thousands of our people will make these events a real intifada.” Zoabi, who participated in the 2010 flotilla sail to Gaza to break Israel’s blockade organized by the Islamic IHH group in Turkey, has been censured in the past for anti-Israel statements. She was suspended from the Knesset for statements she made in the summer of 2014 encouraging Palestinian “popular resistance” and saying that the kidnappers of three Israeli teens, who later were murdered, were not terrorists. She was banned by Israel’s Central Elections Committee from running in 2013 and 2015 elections in decisions that were overturned by Israel’s Supreme Court. Also on Oct. 11, Netanyahu said that he would convene a meeting to advance government action against the Islamic Movement in Israel.

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Kerry to Netanyahu and Abbas: Condemn violence, restore calm in Israel

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called for efforts to restore calm in Israel during telephone conversations with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Kerry over the Oct. 11 weekend spoke with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas about the current wave of violence throughout Israel, the State Department said in a statement. The statement said that Kerry called the leaders “to express his deep concern over the recent wave of violence and offer his support for efforts to restore calm as soon as possible. He reiterated the importance of strongly condemning violence and combating incitement, and taking affirmative steps to reduce tensions.” Kerry also “stressed the importance of upholding the status quo in word and deed at the Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount and of preventing inflammatory rhetoric and actions that will increase tensions.” The secretary of state that he would follow the situation “closely” and that the U.S. will “remain engaged in efforts to restore calm.” Netanyahu said in a statement that during the phone conversation, he “made it clear that he expects the Palestinian Authority to stop its wild and mendacious incitement, which is causing the current wave of terrorism.” The statement also said that Kerry “clarified that the U.S. is aware of the fact that it is Israel’s policy to maintain the status quo and not change it.” The status quo at the Temple Mount, a holy site for Jews and Muslims, allows Jews to visit, but confine obvious worship to the adjacent Western Wall while leaving the day-to-day administration of the mosque compound to a Muslim authority, the Waqf. Netanyahu on Oct. 10 ordered the reinforcement of Israel Police units, mobilizing three reserve Border Police companies for Jerusalem and 13 others throughout the rest of the country.

Matisyahu concert attracts thousands near Jerusalem’s Old City walls

Thousands of Israelis turned out to see the American Jewish reggae singer Matisyahu perform in Jerusalem. “Jerusalem, I’m home,” Matisyahu said the night of Oct. 10 during his concert at Sultan’s Pool, outside the Old City. The crowd turned out despite a rash of stabbing attacks in recent days in Jerusalem and throughout the country, including two in the Old City hours before the concert. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat thanked the crowd for coming, as well as the Israel Police and security services for their efforts during the recent wave of terrorist acts.

Fourth Seinfeld performance added for Tel Aviv

A fourth performance was added in Israel for comedian Jerry Seinfeld after three others sold out. It is the first time that Seinfeld will perform his stand-up routine in Israel. Seinfeld will present two shows on Dec. 19 and two on Dec. 20 in Tel Aviv. Tickets range from $65 to more than $230. The comedian, who starred in the eponymous hit TV show in the 1990s, last visited Israel in 2007 when he was promoting “The Bee Movie.”

Israel’s outgoing envoy slams U.N. over failure to condemn attacks

Israel’s outgoing U.N. ambassador, Ron Prosor, called on the body to condemn the recent attacks against Israeli citizens. “In 72 hours alone, 11 terror attacks have taken place in cities across Israel, and the Security Council stands by in silence,” Prosor said on Oct. 9 on the last day of his four-year tenure as envoy to the United Nations. “Israelis are being attacked and murdered in the streets, in their vehicles, and even in their homes, and the U.N. stands by in silence. Palestinian officials continue to use inflammatory rhetoric and dangerous incitement, intensifying this wave of terror against Israeli citizens, and it must stop.” Prosor called on the Security Council as well as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to “denounce these attacks in a clear and unequivocal manner.” Prosor’s successor, Danny Danon, a former Israeli government minister, was to take over on Oct. 12. Meanwhile, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the U.N., told the Associated Press that he has asked the Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the actions by Israeli forces against Palestinian demonstrators. He told the AP that the Palestinians want the council to draft a resolution that would condemn “Israeli aggression” and provide “protection” for Palestinians. Over the Oct. 11 weekend, at least seven Palestinians were killed trying to infiltrate at the security fence between Gaza and Israel; a 13-year-old Palestinian boy was shot during clashes with Israeli troops in the West Bank; some 50 Palestinians were shot during clashes at a West Bank checkpoint; and

a pregnant Palestinian woman and her 2-year-old daughter were killed in retaliatory strikes by Israel against Hamas. The reports were from the Palestinian news agency Maan.

Leon Frankel, U.S. aviator who fought for nascent state of Israel, dies

Leon Frankel, an American aviator whose exploits fighting for the nascent state of Israel were featured in a documentary, has died. Frankel died on Oct. 7 in his native Minnesota. He was 92. His exploits were spotlighted in the 2014 film “Above and Beyond,” which describes the beginnings of the Israel Air Force. Frankel was trained as a torpedo bomber pilot during World War II and in February 1945 took off from the aircraft carrier USS Lexington for the first U.S. Navy raid on Tokyo. In a subsequent raid, he was instrumental in sinking a Japanese cruiser and protecting his squadron commander, whose plane was badly damaged. For his actions, Frankel was recognized with the Navy Cross, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Air Medals and two Presidential Citations. In 1948, with the Jewish state about to declare its independence, Frankel traveled clandestinely to Israel. He joined the country’s first fighter squadron and flew 25 missions, ironically in the Czech version of Nazi Germany’s famed Messerschmidt-109. He explained his motivation to fight for Israel in a letter last year to the Minneapolis StarTribune, responding to an Op-Ed column that labeled Frankel and his fellow volunteers as “American jihadists.” “I could not stand idly by, with my experience, while a second Holocaust loomed, with the Arab nations telling the world they were going to destroy the Jewish state,” Frankel wrote. Frankel later established a car dealership, married and eventually settled in Minnetonka, MN. He is survived by Ruth, his wife of 63 years, two children and two grandchildren.

China

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The construction of a new, state-of-the-art campus for the Haifa-based Technion – Israel Institute of Technology is underway in China’s Guangdong Province. The heavily industrialized region is the home of Chinese billionaire Li Ka-shing, who founded Shantou University there. Ka-shing’s foundation donated more than $130 million to Technion to fund the development of what the ambassador calls a “customized campus.” Additional funds for the initiative – approximately $150 million – will come from Chinese government sources. An Israeli of ChineseJewish descent, IDF Brigadier General (res.) Dr. Moshe Marom, is the site director of the ongoing project. “He had to learn Chinese,” Vilnai said with a chuckle. Trade between Israel and China continues to increase. China’s Fosun International, the largest privately owned investment conglomerate in the country, has agreed to acquire a majority share of Ahava, the Israeli Dead Sea mineral cosmetics company, for $76 million. Under Vilnai’s watch as ambassador, the Shanghai International Port Group was awarded a 25-year, $2-billion-plus contract to manage the new port being developed in Haifa. Meanwhile, China Harbor Engineering Company won the bid to construct a new port in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod. Although small, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Israel is growing. Direct flights from Beijing to Tel Aviv, to be operated by China’s Hainan Airways, are anticipated to begin shortly. The only other direct flights between China and Israel are run by the Israeli carrier El Al. “There is increasing demand from both the business and tourist sectors for more direct flights,” Vilnai said. Asked about the current status of Chinese Jewry, Vilnai said there is “no Jewish community in China” beyond the presence of Chabad-Lubavitch centers, which primarily serve tourists. “There is some kind of Jewish community in Hong Kong. There are several thousand Jews and they behave like a Jewish community. They are the only ones. They have a school and a synagogue. But in Beijing, there is no Jewish community,” Vilnai said. Indeed, there are five religions officially recognized by the Chinese government, and Judaism is not one of them. (They are Buddhism, Catholicism, Daoism, Islam and Protestantism.) When Vilnai leaves his post in Beijing, his tenure will have witnessed the expansion of the Israeli-Chinese relationship in various areas. Yet he acknowledged that there is much left to be done, as the nations remain somewhat “suspicious” of each other. “You don’t know, you don’t understand,” he said. “China is absolutely not our culture, not the culture of the West. It is a unique culture... a very strong one, very smart one, very impressive.”