December 5, 2019 Issue of Jewish Observer

7 KISLEV 5780 • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • VOLUME XXXX, NUMBER 24 • PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID, SYRACUSE, NY

A message from Federation’s Campaign chair

Can we count on you in 2020?

BY NEIL RUBE Friends and neighbors, the 2020 annual Campaign of the Jewish Federation of Central New York has begun. I am pleased to chair the Campaign for another year, and I am grateful that all eight members of the 2019 Campaign cabinet have agreed to serve again in 2020.

Last year’s Campaign was remarkably successful. Early last summer, we announced we had raised $1.297 million against a goal of $1.3 million. With some late-arriving gifts, we actually met the goal, and we’ve decided to aim for $1.3 million as our 2020 goal, as well.

How will we get there? Well, one way is to remind donors of the educational, health and wellness, cultural, social and foreign assistance programs that Jews rely on for essential parts of their lives.

Or we could remind donors of the mitzvah of giving. A sermon I heard on Yom Kippur reminded, “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the edges of your field; you are to leave them for the poor and for the stranger.”

Put simply, be generous, be righteous.

Yet another approach is to make sure people face the realization that there hasn’t been a more important time in a

generation for Jews to show focal point for white supremacy, solidarity, strength and visibilwhite nationalism, and racist vitriol and acts. Owen Pell was ity. Increased incidents of anvery clear about a point we all tisemitic and other hate speech know so well: our Federation is a shocking trend. Sadly, on is a front line of defense in the same day last month when our community for ensuring Federation held its major gift we have a strong presence and dinner for the 2020 Campaign are not marginalized. As Pell and sponsored Owen Pell, pressaid, “At bottom, genocide and ident of the Auschwitz Institute atrocity prevention are about for Peace and Reconciliation, breaking down the processes speaking about his institute’s by which we dehumanize othwork preventing genocides Neil Rube and mass atrocities, a swastika ers, and creating processes by was carved in the snow for all to see on which we respect and restore the dignity Comstock Avenue. Soon after, our beloved of others. For me, this captures the work Syracuse University became a national of the Federation. Whether it is supporting

the Yom Hashoah commemoration, or providing security upgrades for Jewish institutions, or strengthening the Central New York community through its support for education and culture, Federation is about acting righteously and demonstrating justice. When we strengthen our communities and keep the cultural and social fabric strong, we are bolstering our capacity to prevent.”

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I look forward to a happy Chanukah season followed by Super Sunday and our Campaign kickoff. Take our call, e-mail or text and tell us we can count on you in 2020. There is no shortage of reasons to do so. Thank you.

Federation statement on antisemitic and racial slurs at Syracuse University

BY MICHAEL BALANOFF On November 19, Jewish Federation President/CEO Michael Balanoff issued the following statement in response to concerns about recent antisemitic acts on the Syracuse University campus.

May your holiday shine bright with happiness and peace!

By now, you have all likely heard about the racial and hate speech graffiti posted by, as of this writing, unknown people at the Syracuse University campus, to include a swastika drawn in the snow near the campus and in the stairwell of a dormitory, as well as other bias incidents.

Brian Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel, called me last week to express his contempt for anyone who would use such an atrocious antisemitic symbol and that the university stands solidly with the Jewish community knowing how hateful and hurtful that symbol is to the Jewish people. He told me that Kent Syverud, chancellor of Syracuse University, wanted to meet with me to talk about what the university could do beyond expressing its intolerance of any and all expressions of antisemitism and racial bigotry.

I attended that meeting at Hillel, along with Rabbi Daniel Fellman from Temple Concord; Rabbi Joel Goldstein from Hillel; Jillian Juni, executive director at Hil-

lel; and several students. The chancellor expressed his intent to hold perpetrators fully responsible for their acts and that the university would continue to aggressively and conspicuously maintain and promote its policy of intolerance for all acts of racial and antisemitic expressions on and around the campus.

In addition, Susan DeMari, Federation’s security liaison, is in constant contact with law enforcement people at all levels of government from federal to SU campus. Susan keeps me informed of developments as they occur, and assures me that law enforcement is working endlessly toward finding the perpetrators and keeping the SU campus safe for all students and faculty.

The Jewish Federation of Central New York will continue to assist law enforcement personnel and SU leadership in any way we can to rid our community of the bigotry and hate we so vehemently deplore.

Follow the Jewish Federation of Central New York for the latest updates! @Jewish-Federation-Of-Central-New-York @JewishFederationOfCNY

Happy Chanukah!

C A N D L E L I G H T I N G A N D P A R AS H A

December 6..................... 4:12 pm...................................................Parashat Vayetze December 13................... 4:12 pm..............................................Parashat Vayishlach December 20................... 4:14 pm................................................ Parashat Vayeshev December 27................... 4:18 pm.................................................... Parashat Miketz January 3.......................... 4:24 pm.................................................Parashat Vayigash

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Chanukah

Uzbekistan

Avitourism in Israel

Local congregations announce Uzbekist an has signed an A new visitor center aims to their Chanukah celebrations; agreement with an Israeli firm to attract millions of birders to help fight chronic water shortage. Israel’s Hula Valley. holiday recipes; and more.

Story on page 8 Stories on pages 4, 10-11 Story on page 9

PLUS Personal Greetings.......... 10-11 Healthcare Greetings......12-13 Calendar Highlights............. 14 Obituaries............................... 15

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ DECEMBER 5, 2019/7 KISLEV 5780

Antisemitism the focus of last month’s Sisterhood Symposium

BY WILLIAM WALLAK More than 100 people explored one of the oldest hatreds at the 10th annual Sisterhood Symposium on November 6 at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center. The program, “Today’s Antisemitism: How Does It Affect You?,” featured guest speaker Professor Miriam Elman, executive director of Academic Engagement Network, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit that combats campus antisemitism.

Elman addressed the audience during the first half of the presentation and gave an overview of the historic roots of antisemitism, how it has evolved to the present day and what can be done to counter it.

Different hypothetical antisemitic scenarios were then given to each of the tables to discuss and brainstorm responses.

Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas

Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone and Elman moderated the responses that came from the table discussions, which were then presented to the entire group.

Sisterhood Symposium Committee Chair Ruth Stein said, “The audience was extremely engaged with the presentation and the discussion of the scenarios, and Elman also handed out a list of suggested additional readings. I would like to continue studying and discussing how to deal with antisemitism as tension about antisemitism continues to affect us.”

A full-course Va’ad-supervised dinner by the JCC’s chef, Donna Carullo, kicked off the evening. Natur-Tyme in DeWitt donated gift bags filled with health and beauty items for each attendee. The event was presented by the Sisterhood of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas and the JCC of Syracuse.

This year’s Sisterhood Symposium guest speaker Professor Miriam Elman (standing at the podium to the left of the screen) addressed the audience during her presentation, “Today’s Antisemitism: How Does It Affect You?” The symposium was held on November 6.

L-r: Sisterhood Symposium Committee Chair Ruth Stein, Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone, guest speaker Miriam Elman and Jewish Community Center of Syracuse Executive Director Marci Erlebacher.

New York-Israel connection

BY BARBARA SHEKLIN DAVIS At first glance, Israel and Central New York do not have a lot in common.

Between 2013 and 2018, for example, no snow fell in Israel, while Central New York averaged 10 feet each year.

But the lack of commonality may be about to change. Aaron Kaplowitz, president of the New York-Israel Business Alliance, and his colleague, Andi Flug Wolfer, recently came to Syracuse to meet with city officials, business leaders and Syracuse University faculty to brief them on the findings from the first New York-Israel Economic Impact Report.

They also briefed members of the Jewish Federation of Central New York and the Jewish Community Foundation of Central New York.

Israel is a country that is short on

natural resources, has a small domestic market and lives among traditionally unsupportive neighbors. These limiting factors have caused Israeli entrepreneurs to seek creative solutions and global markets to grow their companies. The shortages of resources in Israel, prior to and following statehood, challenged the nation to pioneer technologies that are paying dividends today. The country that “made the desert bloom” now exports green technology that irrigates Ugandan farms, harnesses California solar energy and replaces fuel with batteries to charge Chinese buses.

The United States is one of Israel’s most robust partners. America’s natural and financial resources, its need for cutting-edge technology and tax incentives See “Israel” on page 3

About the cover This year’s holiday cover was designed by Jenn DePersis, production coordinator of The Reporter Group, which publishes the Jewish Observer.

of Central New York

Syracuse Office

ah Happy Chanuk from

Bette Siegel Syracuse Editor Publisher Jewish Federation of Central New York Inc. Ellen Weinstein Chair of the Board Michael Balanoff Federation President/CEO Alan Goldberg Vice President for Communications Editorial 5655 Thompson Rd. DeWitt, NY 13214

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AROUND CENTRAL NEW YORK Owen Pell spoke at Major Gifts event

BY BETTE SIEGEL Owen Pell, president of the Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, spoke on “Confronting the Problem of the ‘Other’: Building a World That Can Prevent Genocide Before It Happens” at the Jewish Federation of Central New York’s major gifts event and at a community talk afterward on November 14.

The Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, the largest NGO in the world for training government officials in genocide and mass atrocity prevention, maintains that effective genocide prevention requires a multi-dimensional approach to education. The Auschwitz Institute’s programs train policymakers globally.

Pell crafted a proposal endorsed by the European Parliament to create a European title-clearing body that addresses claims for art looted during the Holocaust. In his professional work, he is an attorney with White and Case, LLP, a New York City-based international law firm where he represents Jewish families seeking the return of art looted during the Holocaust. He also works with the Commission for Art Recovery, advocating the rights of Holocaust victims and their families.

L-r: Federation Campaign Vice Chair Neil Rube, Federation President/CEO Michael Balanoff and guest speaker Owen Pell, who spoke at Federation’s major gifts dinner.

L-r: Past Federation President/CEO Linda Alexander had time to talk with Mateele and Sheldon Kall before the dinner.

S E N I L D A E D Deadlines for all articles and photos for the Jewish Observer are as follows. No exceptions will be made.

DEADLINE

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Wednesday, December 18............... January 2 Tuesday, Dec. 31, early................. January 16 Wednesday, January 15................. January 30 Wednesday, January 29............... February 13 Guests gathered around the appetizer table before dinner.

L-r: Alyse, Chuckie and Alex Holstein listened to Owen Pell at the community talk about the role of the Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation in preventing genocide.

Israel

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for new businesses synergize with Israel’s innovative export market. The New York-Israel Business Alliance is seeking to provide Israel, known as the “Start-Up Nation,” with economic opportunities for growth in areas of New York state outside of the New York City metropolitan area. NYIBA monitors economic development activity and trends in the public and private sectors to identify bilateral business growth potential and hosts information seminars, organizes trade missions, and provides its members with funding notifications and investment opportunities. The recent visit by NYIBA is only the first of many proposed visits as the group works to enhance business that will benefit both New York state and the state of Israel.

Hebrew InterestFree Loan The Jewish Federation of Central New York has instituted the Hebrew Interest-Free Loan program to help Jewish people get past a temporary financial need. To learn more about the program or to see if you qualify, visit the Federation’s website, www.jewishfederationcny.org.

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ DECEMBER 5, 2019/7 KISLEV 5780

CONGREGATIONAL NOTES Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas

RUACH HASHABBAT: A NEW INTERGENERATIONAL SERVICE AT CBS-CS Join CBS-CS on Saturday, December 14, at 11 am, for a spiritual tune-up with Ruach HaShabbat (the Spirit of the Sabbath), a new intergenerational service with Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone and Executive Director Melissa Harkavy. The service seeks to help congregants reconnect with family, friends and God while exploring the meaning of Shabbat and its rituals in a ruach-filled service.

“SHABBAT: A CREATIVE NON-CREATING”: A LUNCH AND LEARN WITH BOB TORNBERG On Saturday, December 14, at noon, CBS-CS’ monthly Lunch and Learn will address the topic “Shabbat: A creative non-creating.” In this session, Bob Tornberg will lead an exploration of the meaning of Shabbat observance, which has little to do with avoiding “work.”

ANNUAL CBS-CS CHANUKAH CELEBRATION: THE GREAT LATKE VS. HAMANTASHEN DEBATE On Sunday, December 29, from 4-6 pm, the eighth night of Chanukah, CBSCS will host one of the most “important” debates of our time, perhaps the most important unanswered question of our age: latkes or hamantashen? CBSCS is assembling two teams of three scholars each to ponder this question in a “deep, reverentially silly and scientific fashion.” The teams will include six scholars, men and women from

the congregation, whose backgrounds range across the social and physical sciences. To open the debate, CBS-CS youth will contribute their thoughts on this issue. The debate will be hosted and moderated by CBS-CS member Mickey Lebowitz.

The celebration will start at 4 pm with finger foods, including entries from this year’s cook-off, which will feature latkes.

Participants will have the opportunity to taste each team’s offerings, and then vote for their favorite(s). While tasting latkes, adults and children alike can enjoy Chanukah-themed science demos. At 4:30 pm, the Latke vs. Hamantashen debate will begin, at which time younger children will be able participate in a chanukiah-building competition with Legos, as well as other arts and crafts.

When the debate concludes and, while the votes are being counted, participants will have the opportunity to light their chanukiyot and sing Chanukah songs.

Participants can enjoy dessert during the awards ceremony, which will name the winner of the latke cook-off and the winning debate team.

Reservations are requested and may be made by contacting CBS-CS at https:// tinyurl.com/cbscs-candles19. The event is funded in part by the Scientists in Synagogues Grant Program, run by Sinai and Synapses, in consultation with the AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion, and is funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Temple Adath Yeshurun HAZAK CHANUKAH BAZAAR On Sunday, December 8, at 10 am, the Temple Adath Yeshurun Hazak group will host its annual Chanukah bazaar for the TAY Religious School students. During this inter-generational event, members of Hazak will help the students shop for gifts for family and friends. Hazak will also hold a raffle that the students can win.

It will feature a colored necklace with a hamsa pendant designed and created by Ruth Borsky, and a Syracuse University backpack filled with orange and blue spirit items. For more information, contact Hazak President JoAnn Grower at hazak@ adath.org.

SE’UDAH SHELISHIT AT TAY

BY SONALI MCINTYRE Traditionally, Shabbat is celebrated with three festive meals: one on Friday night when Shabbat begins, another following Saturday morning services and a third meal (se’udah shelishit) in between Mincha (afternoon) and Ma’ariv (evening) services – just before Shabbat departs.

Temple Adath Yeshurun will host four se’udah shelishit: December 14 at 3:30 pm, January 11 at 3:45 pm, February 15 at 4:30 pm and March 7 at 5 pm.

The afternoon will begin with a Mincha service at the times listed above. Congregants will be able to enjoy a meal together, which will include time for singing, study and family activities. The program will conclude with a Ma’ariv service followed

by Havdalah.

Since winter days can be cold and dark, TELEPHONE (315) 474-3326 the TAY synagogue family members are FAX (315) 476-8058 encouraged to come and warm their minds, EMAIL: careerguide@verizon.net bodies and souls with a Shabbat meal. For more information, contact the TAY office at 315-445-0002 or info@adath.org, or PLACEMENT SERVICE, INC. visit www.adath.org.

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Temple Concord TEMPLE CONCORD PRE-CHANUKAH FAMILY DINNER Temple Concord’s annual congregational Chanukah dinner will be on Friday, December 20, following the Shabbat service. Among the menu items will be latkes, many of them made by the TC Re-Imagined Latke Brigade. The Shabbat service will begin at 6 pm and will feature the TC Knesseth Shalom Singers, Shirat Shalom Singers and Shabbos Klezmorim Band.

Rabbi Daniel Fellman said, “On Chanukah we celebrate the miracle of our survival. Join us and enjoy a wonderful evening of family, friends, food and of course, celebration!”

There is a fee for the dinner. Registration and payment made be made online at www.templeconcord.org or by calling the TC office at 315-475-9952.

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RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE On Thursday, December 19, from 1:306:30 pm, Temple Adath Yeshurun will sponsor a blood drive through the American Red Cross. The event will be held in the TAY foyer at the synagogue, 450 Kimber Rd., Syracuse. Donors are asked to enter through the synagogue’s main entrance, under the canopy. To make an appointment, call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code TEMPLEADATH. Appointments are encouraged and preferred; however, walkins are welcome, but may have to wait for an available donor slot.

INTERGENERATIONAL CHANUKAH CELEBRATION AT TAY

BY SONALI MCINTYRE On Sunday, December 22, Temple Adath Yeshurun will usher in the Festival of Lights with an intergenerational Chanukah celebration presented by the TAY Family Programming and Education Committee.

The evening will feature a family glow dance party with crafts and games from 5:15-5:45 pm, evening services at 5:30 pm, a Chanukah sing-along at 6 pm, a barbecue chicken dinner at 6:15 pm, and a Chanukah concert featuring Cantor Esa Jaffe and Rabbi Yehoshuah and Ashira Zehavi at 7 pm.

Reservations for the dinner are required

by Monday, December 16. Dinner will cost $15 per person, with a $60 household maximum. There is no charge for children age 3 and younger. The Chanukah dinner will feature barbecue chicken and latkes.

A vegetarian option will be available upon request when the reservation is made. To make a reservation, contact the TAY office at 315-445-0002 or info@adath.org, or register online at www.adath.org.

CINEMAGOGUE PRESENTS “RBG” 120 E. WASHINGTON ST. On Saturday, December 14, at 7:30 SUITE 201 MILDRED SIMINOFF pm, Temple Concord’s Cinemagogue will SYRACUSE, NY 13202 present the documentary “RBG.” This documentary recounts the life and career of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginzburg, with footage and TELEPHONE (315) 474-3326 photos from her early years, accounts of FAX (315) 476-8058 Happy past court cases, and narration by public EMAIL: careerguide@verizon.net figures. The moviePassover! shows her as the “true warrior she is.”

Cinemagogue events are open to the public and, while there is no set fee, dona- PLACEMENT SERVICE, INC. Agency tions are appreciated. To emulate the real “the right person for the job” theater experience, candy and other snacks will be available for purchase. For more 120 E. WASHINGTON ST. information, contact the TC office at 315SUITE 201 MILDRED SIMINOFF 475-9952 or office@templeconcord.org.

SYRACUSE, NY 13202 GAN PRESCHOOL PROGRAM Temple Concord’s monthly preschool Temple Adath Yeshurun Religious School students in grades five through seven See “TC”on page 5 baked cookies for the upcoming Mishpacha Shabbat.

TELEPHONE (315) 474-3326

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DECEMBER 5, 2019/7 KISLEV 5780 ■

JEWISH OBSERVER

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Jewish Genealogy Society of Central New York to meet The newly formed Jewish Genealogical Society of Central New York will hold a meeting on Sunday, December 15, at 2:30 pm, at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse. One of the group’s

members, Anna Menaker, will speak on how her involvement with the group has helped her find some of her long-lost relatives.

The group will also outline its plans for upcoming

Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center senior dining menu DECEMBER 9-13 Monday – vegetable soup, tuna salad on rye Tuesday – baked ziti Wednesday – beef barley soup, chicken rollatini Thursday – meatloaf Friday – birthday celebration – turkey DECEMBER 16-20 Monday – tomato basil soup, grilled cheese Tuesday – stuffed cabbage Wednesday – mac and cheese Thursday – chicken noodle soup, egg salad sandwich on wheat Friday – Chanukah celebration – brisket, latkes DECEMBER 23-27 Monday – Teriyaki crispy baked chicken wings Tuesday – Italian sausage with peppers and onions Wednesday – closed for Christmas Thursday – split pea soup, veggie burger Friday – honey mustard chicken

DECEMBER 30-JANUARY 3 Monday – New Year’s Eve celebration – honey-glazed chicken Tuesday – beef stew over noodles Wednesday – closed for New Year’s Day Thursday – vegetable lasagna Friday – fresh salmon with dill The Bobbi Epstein Lewis JCC Senior Adult Dining Program at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center offers Va’ad Ha’ir-supervised kosher lunches served Monday through Friday at noon. Lunch reservations are required by noon on the previous business day. There is a suggested contribution per meal. The menu is subject to change. The program is funded by a grant from the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth and the New York State Office for the Aging, with additional funds provided by the JCC. To attend, one need not be Jewish or a member of the JCC. For further information or to make a reservation, contact Cindy Stein at 315-445-2360, ext. 104, or cstein@jccsyr.org.

First “artificial meniscus” transplant performed in Israel

BY JNS STAFF (JNS) – The world’s first successful “artificial meniscus” transplant was just performed in Israel, i24News reported on November 18.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Gabriel Agar from the Yitzhak Shamir Medical Center in Be’er Ya’akov and Dr. Ron Arbel from Ramat Aviv Medical Center in Tel Aviv, who were both involved in the development of the “NUsurface Implant,” which passed clinical trials in Israel and is made from medical-grade plastic in Israel by Active Implants LLC. It was given a Breakthrough Device Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The implant is inserted into the knee joint with a small incision and made to mimic the movement of the body’s natural meniscus. It does not require any fixation on the bones or soft tissues, which allows patients to return home not long after the operation is complete.

Patients with damaged or torn menisci can have the transplant surgery as a replacement for previous treatments, such as pain management and physical therapy, according to i24News.

The Jerusalem Post noted that the implant is “intended for people who have regular knee pain following medial meniscus surgery; have failed meniscus repair; are not suitable candidates for a meniscus allograft transplant; or are too young for knee replacement.”

Agar said, “This is an exciting time to finally put the NUsurface implant at the disposal of Israeli patients.

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events this year. They include a published author and a genealogy expert from Philadelphia. It is now possible to officially join the JGSCNY and help the group become part of the international organization. It is the only chapter between Albany and Buffalo along the Erie Canal.

For more information, contact Mike Fixler at fixler44@gmail.com.

NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org

Congressmen introduce bipartisan resolution against rockets fired on Israel

Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Lee Zeldin (R-NY) have introduced a bipartisan resolution in the House of Representatives condemning the recent rocket attacks on Israel and supporting the country’s right to defend itself. “When heinous terrorist groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad fire hundreds of rockets at innocent civilians in Israel, there should be no question who the United States stands with. We must stand with our historic ally, Israel – the key democracy in the region.

That’s why members on both sides of the aisle have come together to support Israel’s right to defend itself from terrorist rockets,” said Gottheimer. Joining the two congressmen as co-sponsors of H.Res. 727 are Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Elaine Luria (D-VA), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Max Rose (D-NY), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Ben McAdams (D-UT), Anthony Brindisi (D-NY), Susie Lee (D-NV) and Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ). Between Nov. 12-14, Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in Gaza launched more than 450 rockets at Israel, evacuating homes, schools and hospitals, and forcing Israeli citizens to flee to bomb shelters. On Nov. 26, Palestinian terrorists launched two rockets at Israel, with one shot down by the Iron Dome system and another striking an open field.

Wishing you a Happy Chanukah light • peace • love

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Sales Managers and Auctioneers Israeli surgeons performed the artificial meniscus implant on November 11. (Photo by Active Implants LLC) Persistent pain after repair of meniscus tears is a very common orthopedic problem and, until now, we did not have effective treatment options.”

TC

Continued from page 4

program, Gan, will meet on Sunday, December 15, from 10:30 am-noon. Parents and preschoolers are invited to participate in learning through Jewish-themed crafts, stories, music and art. The December program theme is Chanukah. Gan sessions are led by Rebbecca Oppedisano. For more information, contact the TC office at 315-475-9952.

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ DECEMBER 5, 2019/7 KISLEV 5780

Maccabee Task Force to boost campus presence, funding, trips to Israel and fact-finding in Europe

BY SEAN SAVAGE (JNS) – In the past two decades, one of the most critical frontlines of pro-Israel advocacy has been the college campus. Today, a number of organizations work in this space to counter the anti-Israel movement found at many universities in North America. With this presence, some U.S.-based pro-Israel organizations are now turning their sights on Europe in an attempt to tackle what many feel is a significantly more difficult environment for supporters of Israel.

The Maccabee Task Force has recently announced that it will expand into 11 universities in Europe in six countries. “This year, we will be on over 100 North American campuses; we are almost on all the campuses that meet of criteria of support. What we saw abroad was a significant need,” said CEO David Brog, noting

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that MTF focuses on campuses with a “serious” BDS threat and ones that will produce “tomorrow’s leaders and influencers.”

Launched in 2015, the Maccabee Task Force goal is focused on combating the BDS movement by investing directly in Jewish and pro-Israel organizations, while building a broader consensus supporting Israel on campus.

After its initial foray into six campuses in 2016, the Maccabee Task Force has expanded each school year, with a current presence on 80 campuses across North America.

“We had another very good year last year. We were able to support more than 1,200 pro-Israel events on our 80 campuses,” said Brog. “We were able to bring 1,500 campus leaders and influencers to Israel. That, to us, is a significant investment. Nobody else is bringing that number of campus leaders to Israel, and these are primarily non-Jews as well.” Brog said of the 80 campuses they operated on last year, just seven schools held BDS votes, with only one passing a BDS resolution.

The success comes as Israel-related antisemitism is becoming more prevalent on North American college campuses. In September, the AMCHA Initiative found that the number of Israel-related, antisemitic incidents against Jewish students on campuses increased 70 percent from 2017 to 2018.

MTF’s expansion into Europe likely comes with challenges not seen in North America. For starters, the Jewish population in Europe is much smaller than it is in the United States, with much larger Muslim communities in some Western European countries that are typically less sympathetic to Israel. While antisemitism is on the rise in North America, many Western European countries have been dealing with record numbers of anti-Jewish sentiments and attacks for a long time now.

The task force is funded by Sheldon and Dr. Miriam Adelson, mega-philanthropists who have given millions to Birthright Israel, the Israeli-American Council and other Jewish organizations.

At the same time, overall pro-Israel public sentiment in the United States is much higher than it is in Europe.

Ireland, for example, has one of the strongest pro-BDS

movements in Europe, and similarly in the United Kingdom, where students face a “very virulent” BDS movement and an antisemitism scandal within with Labour Party. All this translates into a more hostile environment on campus for pro-Israel students and less established organizational support.

“When we analyzed the situation abroad, many said it was too late for Europe and that BDS has won. But what we found is that it is much more nuanced than that,” said Brog.

“Actually, to their credit, at a lot of the most prestigious schools in Europe, they are actually better and more subtle to their approach on issues related to Israel than U.S. campuses,” he said. “They behave how I would expect elite students to behave; they say ‘nothing is black and white, I am not going to be sheep led by propaganda, I want to learn more about this complex region’ than the BDS supporters would claim. BDS is not as far ahead as one might expect over there; in fact, there is a real opportunity to compete in the marketplace of ideas.”

Brog also noted the potential to make a real impact with pro-Israel students and Jewish organizations in Europe.

“We found that most Israel groups had incredibly low budgets and were resource-poor. We saw immediately an opportunity that we didn’t realize exists. We hope to have an outsized influence for our investment,” he said. “We are going to test it; we are going to start on 11 campuses in six foreign countries. And if these investments bear fruit and are productive, I can see us expanding abroad.”

Brog declined to name the six countries and campuses ahead of time, citing the desire to avoid “inadvertently making life more difficult for our partners abroad.”

In North America, one of the signature initiatives of the task force has been its sponsored trips to Israel. Unlike Birthright, which is exclusively for people with Jewish heritage, the MTF trips include recruiting emerging non-Jewish campus leaders to see Israel and Palestinian areas first-hand on fact-finding trips that include a visit to Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, as well as to the Palestinian Authority. This is part of an effort See “Europe” on page 9

Quick Reference Guide to Planned Giving Use this planned giving quick reference guide to help determine the best strategy for achieving your philanthropic and financial goals.

For further information or assistance, please contact Michael Balanoff at 315-445-0161 or mbalanoff@jewishfoundationcny.org

If Your Goal is to:

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Simply write a check now

An income tax deduction and immediate charitable impact

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Contribute long-term appreciated stock or other securities

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Put a bequest in your will (gifts of cash, specific property, or a share or the residue of your estate)

Exemption from federal estate tax on donations

Receive guaranteed fixed income that is partially tax-free

Create a charitable gift annuity

Current & future savings on income taxes plus fixed stable payments

Avoid capital gains tax on the sale of a home or other real estate

Donate the real estate or sell it to a charity at a bargain price

An income tax reduction plus reduction or elimination of capital gains tax

Avoid the two-fold taxation on IRA or other employee benefit plans

Name a charity as the beneficiary of the remainder of the retirement assets after your lifetime

Tax relief to your family on inherited assets

Give your personal residence or farm, but retain life use

Create a charitable gift of future interest, called a retained life estate

Tax advantages plus use of the property

Make a large gift with little cost to you

Contribute a life insurance policy you no longer need or purchase a new one & designate a charity as the owner

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DECEMBER 5, 2019/7 KISLEV 5780 â–

JEWISH OBSERVER

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8

JEWISH OBSERVER ■ DECEMBER 5, 2019/7 KISLEV 5780

Uzbekistan signs agreement with Israeli high-tech firm to help fight water shortage

L-r: Watergen Vice President of Marketing and Sales Michael Rutman and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Innovation Ibrohim Abdurakhmonov signed a memorandum of understanding to improve the availability of clean drinking water using the company’s technology. (Photo courtesy of Watergen)

BY JNS STAFF (JNS) – The government of Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of understanding with the Israel-based company Watergen in an effort aimed at harnessing and using the company’s patented technology to make clean drinking water out of ambient air.

The agreement was signed on October 29 by Uzbekistan’s Minister of Innovation Ibrohim Abdurakhmonov and Michael Rutman, Watergen’s vice president of marketing and sales. Thousands of GEN-M atmospheric water generators (or AWGs) produced by Watergen will be dispatched to different towns and cities in the country facing major water shortages, including in Bukhara and Samarkand.

“We are giving the people of Uzbekistan a safe and simple alternative for dealing with a very difficult problem they are facing,” said Rutman. “Our technology offers the people of Uzbekistan a method to acquire fresh water on a daily basis.”

With a weight of just 780 kilograms, the GEN-M is easily transportable and can make as much as 800 liters of water per day. Each unit contains an internal water-treatment system and needs no infrastructure except a source of electricity in order to operate.

The Central Asian nation has been in need of a secure water supply, as it’s one of only two countries in the world that is “double landlocked” from the oceanic seas. As a result, it has relied on the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for a fresh-water supply.

In recent years, however, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have established hydro-power dams at the headwaters of both rivers, undermining Uzbekistan’s ability to use them as sources.

The patented, heat-exchange GENius technology in each of Watergen AWGs creates water by cooling collected air at its dew point. Subsequently, the water goes through physical, chemical and biological treatments, followed by a mineralization process to maintain its cleanliness, tastiness and healthy quality.

The technology made a splash during Uzbekistan’s Innoweek 2019 exhibition in late October at the Uz-

A girl in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, sampled water from an atmospheric water generator known as the “GEN-350” in May. (Photo by Watergen) expocentre National Exhibition Complex in the capital of Tashkent. The annual exhibition, which is attended by representatives from the United Nations and dozens of countries, features new forms of technology to improve the living standards and economic conditions in the country.

On that note, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Aziz Abdukhakimov said, “In light of Uzbekistan’s water shortage, Uzbekistan desperately needs technology such as that provided by Watergen in order to improve its water sector.”

The GEN-M saw success as part of a pilot project in May at an orphanage in Bukhara that houses 120 children.

Uzbek Jews derive from both the more religious and traditional Bukharan Jewish community, and the more progressive, Europe-extracted Ashkenazi community.

In 1989, as many as 94,900 Jews lived in Uzbekistan, though fewer than 5,000 remained in 2007, mostly in Tashkent. About a dozen synagogues remain in the country. Most Uzbek Jews are now Ashkenazi due to the immigration of Bukharan Jews to Israel and the United States.

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A Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment (PACE) is a permanent fund that endows your Jewish community Annual Campaign gift as a lasting legacy.

A PACE fund will continue to make an annual gift in perpetuity on your behalf.

Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment To determine the amount you need to endow your entire campaign gift, multiply your current annual gift by 20. You can fund your PACE by adding the Jewish Federation of CNY to your will, or by making the Federation a beneficiary of your IRA. All contributions to establish a PACE are tax deductible.

Let your name be remembered as a blessing.

Endowments can be created through a variety of vehicles, some of which do not necessitate funding during your lifetime yet still provide your estate with considerable tax benefits.

They also enable you to perpetuate your commitment to the Annual Campaign in a way that best achieves your own personal financial and estate planning goals.

For more information, contact Michael Balanoff at mbalanoff@jewishfederationcny.org or call 315-445-2040 ext. 130.

DECEMBER 5, 2019/7 KISLEV 5780 ■

JEWISH OBSERVER

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New Hula Valley Visitor Center aims to attract millions of birders

BY JUDY LASH BALINT (JNS) – With the inauguration of the Stephen J. Harper KKL-JNF Hula Valley Visitor and Education Center at the Agamon Hula Park recently, Israel aims to strengthen its place as a leader in one of the fastest-growing tourism trends.

Avitourism, the new word for birders who travel, is one of the most lucrative aspects of the multibillion-dollar ecotourism industry. In Canada, birdwatching is more popular than gardening. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that more than 45 million people – or one out of every five Americans – are birders. In Israel, there are hundreds of active birdwatching societies.

Israel is considered one of the best places in the world to observe the seasonal migrations of the millions of birds who travel huge distances to find warmer climes and then return to their natural habitat. Some 500 million birds fly over Israel every year. One of the prime stops in Israel for hundreds of bird species that touch down on their lengthy journey from Europe to Africa and beyond is the Hula Valley in the upper Galilee region that includes the Agamon Lake.

In 2009, BBC Wildlife magazine named the Hula Valley one of the top 10 “most outstanding sites in the world for nature observation and photography.”

On November 6, the Visitor Center named for Stephen J. Harper – Canada’s 22nd prime minister – was inaugurated to enhance the experience for the hundreds of thousands of birders who come to ride or walk on more than five miles of trails surrounding the lake. The center will also focus on education, conservation and research.

On a recent late fall morning, staff ornithologists counted more than 56,000 cranes at the park. Dozens of flamingoes, storks and ducks mingled in the lake as a couple of wild boar ambled nearby through the water.

Europe

A view of the new Stephen J. Harper KKL-JNF Hula Valley Visitor and Education Center at the Agamon Hula Park in Israel. (Photo by Judy Lash Balint) The new Visitor Center blends in with its natural surroundings and features VR stations that simulate a flight from the viewpoint of a migrating bird; a 194-square-foot digital gesture-controlled wall that projects a live feed of surrounding migrating birds; a 3D digital topographical model of the Hula Valley; the 220-seat Laureen Harper Auditorium that screens 3D films and a stereoscopic docudrama; classrooms; a café; and a rooftop observation platform for extensive views over the entire valley.

“The new center brings together nature and high-tech,” noted Wendy Spatzner, president of JNF Canada.

Daniel Atar, world chairman of KKLJNF, told visitors, “Lake Hula is a prime destination not only for migrating birds, but for tourists everywhere. This new beautiful center is going to bring in many more visitors and lift up the entire economy for the Northern Galilee.”

Regional officials hope that the increase in tourism will create jobs, and encourage more Israelis and immigrants to move to nearby periphery towns like Hatzor and Kiryat Shmona that have been struggling to bolster their populations and attract new development.

For Shay Charka, chief ornithologist for the KKL-JNF, the new center is “the jewel in the crown.” While noting that cooperation with international-birding bodies is still in its infant stages, he revealed that KKL-JNF had just signed a memorandum of understanding with the 770,000 member U.S.-based Ducks Unlimited group dedicated to the conservation of wetlands.

At a gala dinner in Jerusalem on the night before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Harper and his wife, Laureen, were joined

by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara. A delegation of hundreds of Canadian KKL-JNF donors and JNF supporters from around the world joined in a standing ovation as Netanyahu awarded a citation to Harper for his

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commitment to JNF-KKL and the state of Israel. “Israel has had no better friend than Stephen Harper,” said Netanyahu.

Sen. Linda Frum, a Conservative member of the Senate of Canada since 2009, and her husband, Toronto Argonauts owner Howard Sokolowski, headed the Canadian delegation. Frum explained that the project grew out of a 2013 JNF gala that was a tribute to Harper when he was still in office. Since that event, more than $5.7 million has been raised for the Visitor Center. Harper, known as a strong supporter of Israel, recounted the history of the Hula Valley, which was inappropriately drained in the 1950s in an attempt to clear out the swampy marshlands and create fertile farmland. Many natural species were wiped out, and JNF-KKL subsequently spent millions of dollars to restore the valley and return the land to productive farming.

Harper, who was raised in the United Church of Canada, is a longtime member of the evangelical Christian and Missionary Alliance. He compared the Hula Valley project to the return of the Jewish people to its native land. “This park is one of the greatest restoration stories, just like this country is to the Jewish people,” he declared. “It is a magnificent honor to have this center named after me. I am grateful for this beautiful occasion and will never forget this visit.”

The center is expected to be open to the public by 2020. Admission fees will be 28 NIS ($8) per person.

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to establish a broad-based coalition of support for Israel on campus beyond just Jewish or pro-Israel organizations.

“We are investing in changing the attitudes of those who dominate the politics on campus,” said Brog, “not only to create a situation where supporters of Israel can do so publicly, but to also to do so publicly with critical support from other campus organizations and leaders.”

As such, he hopes to replicate the success of the Israel trips in Europe.

Brog, who said he will be departing soon on a “fact-finding” trip to European schools, says he is looking forward to hearing firsthand how his organization can help. “I am very curious to learn about the situations on their campuses,” he said, “to hear what they think will be effective on their campuses. And like North America, to fund the groups for what they want to do. Of course, the one big thing we are doing in North America, the Israel trip, is that they are excited about.”

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ DECEMBER 5, 2019/7 KISLEV 5780

Keepin’ Hanukkah with traditional Scottish “keepin’ cakes”

BY ETHEL G. HOFMAN (JNS) – Get ready to light the first Hanukkah candle, sing songs, play dreidel games, and, of course, eat. (Hanukkah takes place this year starting on the evening of Sunday, December 22, and lasting through the evening of Monday, December 30.) But are we ready to indulge in all the rich holiday dishes in honor of Judith the Jewish heroine?

Diet, be damned! I’ll bake, serve and savor every morsel of my mother’s buttery cakes. Memories, unbidden, flash through my mind; I’m transported to my mother’s Shetland Island kitchen. For Jean Greenwald, Hanukkah was more than latkes, though she fried up dozens every night, only to be devoured by me and my brothers as soon as they were cool enough to eat.

But it was her Hanukkah cakes that spring to mind all these years later. “Keepin’cakes,” she called them. She was probably influenced by the extensive make-ahead baking that Scots do in preparation of Hogmanay (the Scottish May your New Year’s Eve celebration). Rich, buttery (and a different oil of sorts), and studded with dried fruits and Passover spices, they were baked in advance, and tightlyseder wrapped and stored.

The highlight for the first nightbe of Hanukkah was Whisky Fruit Cake. Forget the tough, tasteless, shamefully joyous! “lacquered” fruitcake that appears every winter in stores throughout our nation. My mother’s version was baked six weeks earlier. The whisky-infused cake was crowned Marc & with a layer of marzipan, toasted and again wrapped in Karen Beckman whisky-soaked cheesecloth before storing in an airtight container. Unwrapped, each slice was moist, rich and aromatic with a kick. What else when it had been doused with Dad’s bestGreetings single-malt whisky?

Passover to you and yours These “keepin’ cakes” won my mother the highest compliment: “a superb baker.” On our island home, doors were never locked. Friends and neighbors would drop in unannounced, especially during the eight days of Hanukkah. They were sure of a welcoming potaofsweet, tea, kept warm Have happy under a padded tea “cosy” (cover)and andhealthy a luscious variety New Year!of Jean Greenwald’s “keepin’ cakes.” Tea, cakes and gossip,

repeated every afternoon in our bright, warm kitchen.

At these tea times, my mother never failed to tell the story of the biblical Judith, who fed Holofernes, the enemy general, enormous quantities of cheese (possibly a smooth rich ricotta or cream cheese that slips down easily), then plied him with copious drafts of heavy red wine to quench his resulting thirst. As planned, he fell into a stupor so deep that he was quickly beheaded by Judith.

Without their leader, the enemy fled, and Judith’s town was saved. Her bravery is said to have inspired Judah Maccabee and his followers to clean and re-dedicate the sacred Temple in the second century B.C.E. Not only at Hanukkah, but year-round, Roly-Poly was hands-on favorite. A cross between cake and cookie, it’s a catchall for the last spoonful of jam left in the jar, any variety of dried fruits and candied peel, or even a diced apple. My mother made her own flaky pastry – a laborious job. No need these days. We can pick up frozen puff pastry at the market, thawed and ready to use. I can still smell the spicy sweet aromas greeting me when I came home from school on cold winter days. Half a dozen cakes, including Glazed Cherry Loaf, Caraway-Seed Cake, Coconut Coffee Cake and that star – Whisky Fruit Cake – resting on wire racks with several more still in the oven. When the cakes were completely cooled, I helped wrap each one tightly in grease-proof paper (the British version of our wax paper), sealed with adhesive tape and tied with string.

Although my mother’s “keepin’cake” custom originated many years ago, the bake and store-ahead method fits in admirably well with contemporary frantic schedules. Other than the Whisky Fruit Cake, these desserts – all rich in butter – can be stored three to four days before serving. Wrap and store in a cool, dry place; the day of serving, bring to room temperature. All of these cakes may be frozen; remove from the freezer about four to six hours before serving.

Ingredient lists are simple, and you probably have most of them in the house, such as eggs, sugar, butter and flour. A list of ingredients to buy and cook’s tips are included with each recipe.

Cantor Francine & Barry Berg

Marc & Karen Beckman

New Year Greetings to you and yours you and Happy r family Chanukah! yous Pesach

Cantor Francine & Barry Berg Marc & Karen Mildred Siminoff Beckman

Let the New Year

Chanukah Greetings to you and yours be the start Cantor Francine & Barry Berg May the Alights of only the sweetest things! of Chanukah Wishing you a Paul, Joshua, Georgina, Paul,shine Joshua, in your Happy aima, Gina, Althea Gabriel and Laima, Gina,Chanukah Althea hearts n (z”L”) Roth and Aaron (z”L”) Roth Steve Stern & forever Fredda Sacharow

Wishing the community a Happy Chanukah!

Rabbi Rachel Esserman

May you and your family be blessed during the holiday and throughout the year!

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

May your Chanukah be filled with the miracles of the holiday Bonnie Rozen, Advertising Representative

Happy Hanukkah from the Shetland Islands!

GENERAL TIPS AND TRICKS: No need to use a heavy Mixmaster, which I’ve relegated to the basement (just in case one far-off day I should need it.) A hand-held electric mixer does the job and it’s easy to clean.

For fail-safe turnout, line the bottom of baking pans with wax paper after spraying with nonstick baking spray.

To soften butter, cut into six or seven pieces. Leave in a covered bowl at room temperature overnight.

GLACÉ CHERRY LOAF (DAIRY) Serves 10-12.

Cook’s tips: 1. Cut cherries in halves with kitchen scissors.

2 . To s s w i t h 2 teaspoons flour to avoid sticking and dropping to Glacé Cherry Loaf. (Photo bottom of cake.

by Ethel G. Hofman) 3. In a pinch, use vanilla extract instead of almond.

Buy: Glacé cherries, almond extract 1 cup glacé cherries, halved 2 cups all-purpose flour 1¾ sticks (7 ounces) butter, softened ½ cup sugar 1 tsp. almond extract 4 large eggs 1 tsp. baking powder ¼ tsp. allspice or nutmeg Preheat oven to 325°F. Line the bottom of a medium-size loaf pan (8½x4½x2½ inch) with wax paper. Spray bottom and sides of pan with nonstick cooking spray with flour. Toss the cherries with 2 teaspoons of the flour. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, beat the butter, sugar and almond extract until pale, 1-2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, along with about ¼ cup of the flour. Mix well.

Add the baking powder, allspice or nutmeg, and the remaining flour, gradually mixing to blend. Using a wooden spoon, fold in the cherries. Transfer mixture to prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spoon.

Bake in preheated oven for 50 minutes or until risen, golden and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center. Cool completely before wrapping.

COCONUT COFFEE CAKE (DAIRY) Serves 10-12. Instant coffee for wake-up flavor; unsweetened coconut gives crunch.

Cook’s tip: If using sweetened coconut, omit the honey.

To buy: Unsweetened shredded coconut 1½ sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, softened ¾ cup, plus 2 Tbsp. sugar 3 large eggs 1½ cups all-purpose flour 1¼ tsp, baking powder 2 tsp, instant coffee granules 2 Tbsp. honey, warmed 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut Shredded coconut to sprinkle Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan with wax paper to fit. Spray with nonstick cooking spray with flour. Set aside.

Cut the butter into 6 pieces. In a medium bowl, beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy (about 1-2 minutes).

Add the eggs, one at a time, along with about ¼ cup flour. Beat in the remaining flour, baking powder, coffee and honey. Stir in the coconut. Transfer to prepared baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing from pan to cool completely. Cut into squares to serve.

CARAWAY-SEED CAKE (DAIRY) Serves 10-12.

In the fall, armed with a tin cup, I was sent to gather the pungent seeds of the caraway plants that grew wild by the roadside. Caraway is a popular Scottish (and Jewish) flavoring. If you love seeded rye bread, then this is your cake!

Cook’s tips: 1. Substitute frozen orange-juice concentrate with 2 tablespoons orange juice and ½ teaspoon orange extract.

2. Buy caraway seeds and spices from a general spice store or natural-foods market, where you can measure exactly what you need. It’s much fresher and cheaper than buying premium glass jars of seeds at the supermarket.

To buy: Caraway seeds, frozen orange-juice concentrate or orange juice and orange extract ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened ¾ cup sugar 3 large eggs 1½ cups all-purpose flour 1 Tbsp. frozen orange-juice concentrate, thawed 1½ tsp. baking powder See “Cakes” on page 11

DECEMBER 5, 2019/7 KISLEV 5780 ■

Cakes

JEWISH OBSERVER

11

Continued from page 10

2 Tbsp. caraway seeds Preheat oven to 350°F. Line bottom of 1½ quart cake pan, ovenproof soufflé dish or 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with wax paper cut to fit.

Spray with nonstick cooking spray with flour.

In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar until pale (about 1-2 minutes). Beat in eggs, one at a time, with about ¼ cup flour. If curdling occurs, don’t panic! Add 2-3 tablespoons flour and whisk on. Cake will not be compromised.

Add the orange-juice concentrate, or orange juice and orange extract. Mix well. Add in remaining flour and baking powder, about ¼ cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the caraway seeds. Turn into prepared pan, smoothing top with a spoon.

Bake in preheated oven 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool slightly.

Loosen edges with a round bladed knife before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely.

ROLY-POLY (DAIRY) Serves 8-10.

Cook’s tips: 1. Purchase puff-pastry sheets from the supermarket in the frozen-food case.

2. Any dried fruits or a mixture of them, such as raisins, currants or chopped apricots, may be used.

3. Use up jam/preserves at the bottom of the jar. If crystallized, microwave 12-15 seconds until melted.

4. Instead of ricotta cheese, a mild grated cheese like Muenster or white cheddar may be used.

5. No chocolate chips? Grate any chocolate you may have on hand.

6. Keep cinnamon-sugar on hand. Mix 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar with 2-3 teaspoons cinnamon. Store in a tightly lidded container in the kitchen cupboard.

Use as needed.

To buy: frozen puff-pastry sheets, ricotta (or other) cheese, mixed dried fruits, chocolate chips 1 sheet (about 8 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed

1-2 Tbsp. preserves 3 Tbsp. ricotta cheese ½ cup mixed dried fruits ¼ cup chocolate chips or grated chocolate 1 tsp. cinnamon sugar Preheat oven to 410°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Spray with nonstick baking spray with flour.

Unroll the pastry sheet and lay on a flat surface. Spread with preserves to within ½ inch of edges. Repeat with ricotta cheese. Sprinkle dried fruits and chocolate over top.

Brush the top edge with a little water. Roll up loosely, and press ends and top edge to seal. Place sealed-side down on a prepared baking sheet. Prick all over surface, about 10 times, with a fork.

Bake in a preheated oven 25-30 minutes, until risen and nicely browned. It should be firm to the touch. Cool slightly on a wire tray. Slice 1-inch thick. Serve warm or at room temperature.

WHISKY FRUIT CAKE (DAIRY) Serves 15-20.

Don’t be put off by the long ingredient list! After all, it’s a once-a-year holiday. To help it along, measure everything out the night beforehand. Put dry ingredients in one bowl, and fruits and nuts in another. Then mix and bake.

Cook’s tips: 1. May substitute brandy for whisky.

2. Marzipan or almond paste is available in spice shops and supermarkets. Do not refrigerate.

To buy: Ground almonds, brown sugar, currants, raisins, chopped walnuts, diced candied orange peel, glacé cherries, marzipan (optional) 1½ sticks unsalted butter, softened ¾ cup light-brown sugar 4 large eggs 2 cups all-purpose flour 1¼ tsp. baking powder 3 Tbsp. finely ground almonds

1 tsp. nutmeg 2 tsp. fresh ground pepper 1 cup currants 1 cup raisins 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 cup glacé cherries ½ cup diced candied orange peel 3-4 Tbsp. whisky, plus whisky for infusing weekly Optional topping: 2 Tbsp. apricot jam, melted; 10 ounces prepared marzipan, softened Preheat oven to 325°F. Line bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with wax paper to fit. Spray bottom and sides with nonstick cooking spray with flour. Set aside.

Cream softened butter and sugar in a large bowl (about 1-2Wishing minutes). Add at time, with ¼ cup of the youeggs, andone your family flour. Add the baking powder and remaining flour gradpeace, ually, about health ¼ cup at a time, mixing well. Stir in all the remaining ingredients. and happiness Mixture will be stiff and sticky.

Transfer mixture to prepared baking pan, smoothing topthis withPesach a spoon. Bake in preheated oven for 1 to 1¼ hours, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center. If cake seems to brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil. Cool slightly before removing from pan.

Michael Euni prick Balanoff While still&warm, the cake all over the top with a metal skewer. Use a teaspoon to pour in the whisky.

Allow to soak in thoroughly. Cool and wrap in cheesecloth, then in foil. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place, though not in the refrigerator.

For optional topping: Turn cake upside-down so that the top is flat. Brush top and sides with melted jam. Set aside.

Roll the marzipan on a lightly sugared board in a circle large enough to cover the top of the cake. Place on cake, pressing lightly. (Don’t worry if some of the marzipan hangs down onto the sides of the cake.) Mark the marzipan with a metal skewer in a diamond pattern. Place under a preheated broiler just until beginning to brown. Watch carefully; this takes only seconds! Cool and wrap as above.

y Rosh Hashanah! p p a H

Michael & Euni Balanoff

Hanukkah news briefs From JNS.org

Jack Black, Flaming Lips and Haim among those to join Hanukkah album A holiday-inspired music album titled “Hanukkah+” was to be released on Nov. 22. It features a collection of Jewish classics and originals from various artists, including Haim, the Flaming Lips, Jack Black and Yo La Tengo, The Rolling Stone reported. The album, produced

by Grammy-winning music supervisor Randall Poster, will be released via Verve Forecast, with a vinyl release following on Dec. 13. Among the songs with be a rendition of Leonard Cohen’s 1984 track “If It Be Your Will”

by Haim and Woody Guthrie’s “Hanukkah Dance” sung

by Watkins Family Hour. Other artists wrote and recorded original songs for the album. The collection was inspired in part by Yo La Tengo’s annual eight-night concert series “Hanukkah Run.” “When our old friend Randy Poster asked us to contribute to an album of Hanukkah songs he was putting together, we were kind of stumped,” Yo La Tengo said in a statement. “As non-practicing Jews (and non-Jews), truthfully the holiday has little meaning for us, but we were open to inspiration. We thought maybe another friend, Sam Elwitt, could crack the code, and we think he did a fantastic job with his composition ‘Eight Candles.’”

Hallmark Channel set to premiere movies Hanukkah featuring for first time

The Hallmark Channel will premiere its first two Hanukkah-themed movies in December in honor of the eight-day Jewish holiday, which this year starts on Dec. 22, the New York Post reported. “Our audience is very vocal and they tell us when they’d like to see more of something,” said Michelle Vicary, Crown Media’s executive vice president of programming. “We’ve heard over the years that they would like to see [a Hanukkah movie] if a script came in that we liked. And that happened this year – twice.” The first film, “Holiday Date,” will air on Dec. 14 and follows Brooke, a woman who experiences a breakup shortly before a trip to introduce her boyfriend to her family for Christmas. She instead goes home with Joel, a Jewish actor who will pose as her boyfriend Since he has never celebrated Christmas, drama, of course, ensues. “Unfortunately, they have not discussed if he knows all the traditions,” said Vicary. “As the family becomes more suspicious whether he knows how to celebrate, our two leads begin to fall for each other.” The second movie,”Double Holiday,” will air on Dec. 22. It’s about a Jewish woman named Rebecca whose Hanukkah plans are disrupted when her boss asks her to team up with her rival to plan their office holiday party together. Vicary said about the characters, “They learn that while the traditions and celebrations are different, the feelings of holiday and celebration and family and togetherness are the same.”

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Happy Chanukah!

Ona & Bernie Bregman

Wishing you a Happy Chanukah

May you andlight • peace • love your family have a joyous Pesach Ruth & Joel Stein

Michael & Euni Balanoff

From Our Families to Yours, Happy Neil and Debbie Rosenbaum Chanukah!

The Cominsky & Gatesy Families

Wishing community May you the be inscribed the Book of Life ainHappy Chanukah! for good health, peace and prosperity.

Neil and Debbie Sydney TenenbaumRosenbaum & Deidre Zehner

Wishing peace, health and Warm Chanukah to happiness to all thiswishes Passover you and your family!

Neil and Debbie &Rosenbaum Sydney Tenenbaum Deidre Zehner

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JEWISH OBSERVER ■ DECEMBER 5, 2019/7 KISLEV 5780

ADL poll: Roughly one-quarter of Europeans are antisemites

BY JNS STAFF (JNS) – Approximately one in four Europeans holds antisemitic views, according to a global 2019 poll released by the Anti-Defamation League on November 21.

The results were particularly alarming with regard to Eastern and Central Europe, where the study found a significant increase in antisemitic beliefs linked to old tropes such as Jews controlling business and finance, and having “dual loyalty.” In Western Europe, levels of antisemitism have remained more consistent, according to the study. In a statement released with the study, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called the findings a “powerful wake-up call.”

“It is deeply concerning that approximately one in four Europeans harbor the types of antisemitic beliefs that have endured since before the Holocaust,” said Greenblatt.

“These findings serve as a powerful wake-up call that much work remains to be done to educate broad swaths of the populations in many of these countries to reject bigotry, in addition to addressing the pressing security needs where violent incidents are rising.”

The survey followsADL’s 2015 Global 100 Index, which researched attitudes and opinions toward Jews in more than 100 countries. Compared to the 2015 survey, the 2019 poll, which surveyed 9,000 adults in 18 countries, showed increasing levels of antisemitic sentiment in Ukraine (up 14 percent), Poland (up 11 percent), South Africa and Brazil (both up 9 percent), Russia (up 8 percent) and Argentina (up 6 percent), while antisemitic attitudes decreased in Italy (down 11 percent), Austria (down 8 percent) and Canada (down 6 percent).

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movement against Israel, considered to be a new form of antisemitism that attempts to undermine the Jewish state, was found to be less than 15 percent in most European countries, though 38 percent of South African respondents were supportive of the movement.

The poll found that antisemitic stereotypes were more widely accepted among Muslims. In Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, Muslim respondents reported agreement with Jewish stereotypes at a rate three times that of their respective country averages. However, antisemitism among European Muslims was found to be lower than among Middle Eastern and North African Muslims polled in 2014. According to the ADL, this might be attributed to the “impact of Holocaust education, exposure to Jews, and societal values of acceptance and tolerance.”

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Report: Hezbollah uses Germany as hub for terror

As many as 1,050 Hezbollah members and supporters reside in Germany, and the organization uses the country as a major hub for its activities, German daily Tagesspiegel reported in late November, citing security sources. The Lebanese Shi’ite terrorist group’s operations in Europe include drug-trafficking, with the ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg serving as the main entry points, according to the report.

The sources also said that Hezbollah engages in money-laundering, recruitment and fund-raising on the continent, and sends the money it raises in these ways to Lebanon to buy weapons and fund the group’s operations, according to Tagesspiegel. Around 30 mosques and culture centers in Germany have ties to Hezbollah, the report said.

According to a report on Nov. 28 in German newspaper Der Spiegel, the German government is planning to ban all Hezbollah activity in the country. Sources in the German foreign, interior and justice ministries told the news outlet that the ban could happen as early as the week of Dec. 6. Such a move would put Hezbollah on the same level as terrorist groups such as Islamic State and the PKK Kurdish militia. Following the ban, all activities of Hezbollah would be forbidden in the country, including the public display of the group’s flag. The European Union has to date outlawed only the so-called military branch of Hezbollah, but not the entire group.

terrorism, we are strengthening the security components in the communities in Judea and Samaria, of the Israeli citizens there. This is the proposal that will be submitted to the Cabinet today – NIS 40 million for strengthening the security components. We will fight terrorism. They will not uproot us from here. This is our land.”

Netanyahu warns Europe over Iran sanctions relief efforts

(Israel Hayom via JNS) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned European nations on Dec. 1 that they were making a big mistake by trying to salvage the nuclear deal with Iran through a special mechanism that would bypass U.S. sanctions on the Islamic republic. In a video message posted on YouTube, Netanyahu implored European nations to abandon their efforts to strengthen economic ties with Iran and instead join the U.S.-led “maximum pressure” effort, launched by the Trump administration a year ago after Washington withdrew from the nuclear deal. “These European countries should be ashamed of themselves. Have they learned nothing from history? Well, apparently not. They are enabling a fanatic terrorist state to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, thereby bringing disaster to themselves and upon everyone else,” said Netanyahu. “Now is the time to change course. Now is the time to ratchet up the pressures on Iran, not to lessen them. Now is the time to join the United States and increase sanctions against Iran. To those who favor appeasement of Iran, I say this: History and your own people will judge you harshly. Change course.”

Israeli defense minister approves new Jewish neighborhood in Hebron

Relations with Israel are at a “dead end,” Abbas tells U.N. representative

Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett on Dec. 1 approved the planning of a new Jewish neighborhood in the city of Hebron. The decision comes after years of legal battles between the city’s Jewish and Arab residents over the fate of a marketplace in the city that has been vacant for years, according to Israel National News. The new neighborhood would create territorial continuity from the Cave of the Patriarchs to the Avraham Avinu neighborhood, doubling the number of Jewish residents in the city, according to the report.

The market buildings, which were owned by Jews prior to the 1929 Hebron Massacre, would be destroyed in order to make way for the new buildings, the report noted. Separately on Dec. 1, during the weekly Security Cabinet meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested approval of a NIS 40 million ($11.5 million) security budget for Judea and Samaria, Israel National News reported. Netanyahu cited the success of the Israeli security establishment in the region, calling them “very impressive.” Cooperation between the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Israel Defense Forces, he said, “is bearing marvelous results for the State of Israel. Simultaneous with the fight against

Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas said on Nov. 30 that relations between Israel and the P.A. have hit a “dead end,” and urged Europe to recognize a Palestinian state. Speaking during a meeting in Ramallah with Spanish diplomat and U.N. High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Moratinos, Abbas urged Europe to formally recognize a state of Palestine in the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported. Such recognition was necessary, said Abbas, to “end the occupation and create an independent state of Palestine with eastern Jerusalem as its capital and within the pre-1967 borders.” The meeting came following the Nov. 18 announcement by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the United States no longer views Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria as illegal, a move the European Union subsequently denounced. “Calling the establishment of civilian settlements inconsistent with international law has not advanced the cause of peace,” said Pompeo. “The hard truth is that there will never be a judicial resolution to the conflict, and arguments about who is right and who is wrong as a matter of international law will not bring peace.”

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D’VAR TORAH

A whole nation whose minds are unlike

BY BARBARA SHEKLIN DAVIS Amos Oz and his daughter, Fania Oz-Salzberger, in their book “Jewsandwords,” write that “we Jews are notoriously unable to agree about anything that begins with the words ‘we Jews.’” These words resonate in the 21st century, an epoch rife with diversity, choices, customization, globalization, fluidity and cries for authenticity and accountability. Yet at Chanukah time, “we Jews” seem to feel that some sort of celebration is in order. It’s a dreary time of the year, with a lot of darkness relative to daylight, and our Christian friends and neighbors are celebrating a major holiday of their faith as well. So many of us light candles, exchange gifts, eat jelly donuts, fry latkes and simply enjoy the feeling of doing something that lots of other Jews are doing at the same time. It’s too bad this holiday only lasts eight days, because its lesson of solidarity is one “we Jews” all need to take to heart.

In the past, there were givens: defined bodies of knowledge, fixed boundaries of communities and nations, and canons of law and custom. The individual was subordinate to the community; progress was linear and rational; and we all lived in a world of self-contained, closed systems.

Twentieth-century Jewish America created and joined congregations because that’s what Protestant America did, and Jews acculturated their children to American values and the American way of life. The state of Israel was seen as a dream fulfilled, an almost invincible country, a moral leader and a nation dependent upon American Jewry for its survival. The Federation system attended to the welfare of Jewish communities both local and global; and denominational institutions tended to their ritual and educational needs. All was right with the Jewish world.

Then a new Zeitgeist dawned. The beliefs, behaviors and boundaries that had guided the Jewish community for decades lost their grip in the 21st century. Intermarriage rates soared; divorce rates rose with them. Religious identification dropped, along with synagogue affiliation.

Almost a third of younger Jews describe themselves as having no religion. Israel, a source of pride and unity in the 20th century, became a polarizing issue. A Jewish household, once seen as a heterosexual married couple with children, was redefined to include LGBTQ families, single adults and individuals living with or married to non-Jews. The Orthodox world slid to the right; the Conservative and Reform worlds just slid. The American Jewish community today could be called “Jews Without Borders.” “We Jews” of the 21st century see ourselves as

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independent thinkers, rejectors of the past and designers of a bespoke future. We want to customize tradition, design new rituals, draw upon multiple faith traditions, make observance more stringent or simply do without. It is hard to know what is authentically and crucially Jewish in this new paradigm. If Judaism is to be relevant and meaningful in a changed world, what do people need to know; what does Judaism have to offer; what is it about Judaism that is still attractive?

The answer may lie in the connections we make when “we Jews” light the candles of the chanukiyah. This simple act connects us in a meaningful way to other Jews, to the Jewish past, to Israel, to Jewish knowledge, to the Jewish calendar and to the Jewish lifecycle. The mere act of acknowledging, remembering, singing and celebrating re-establishes links between the Jewish community of the 21st century – a community different from every one that preceded – and every Jewish community that preceded it.

There is a talmudic blessing that is recited whenever Jews gather is huge numbers: “Baruch ata Adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam, chacham harazeem. Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe, knower of secrets.” The Talmud tells us this blessing is recited because God “sees a whole nation whose minds are unlike each other and whose faces are unlike each other, and He Who knows all secrets, God, knows what is in each of their hearts.” How appropriate this ancient wisdom is to the present day. Jews have always had minds unlike each other and faces unlike each other and secrets in their hearts that are unique to them. When Jews today declare themselves atheists or nonbelievers, when they are people of color, or neurodiverse, or gender fluid or haredi or feminist, on or off the derech, doubting, challenging, rejecting or committing, they are no different from Jews of centuries ago, “whose minds are unlike each other and whose faces are unlike each other.”

The Central New York Jewish community is small, perhaps 8,000 Jews. Once there were 11,000. There are four synagogues; once there were twice as many. Many Jewish organizations that once were thriving (ZOA, Na’amat, Jewish War Veterans and Hadassah) are no more, or no longer as active as they once were. A young woman in the community recently created a new group.

She called it NYMS. The acronym stood for Not Your Mother’s Sisterhood. This is the world we live in today.

None of the rabbis in our community grew up in the denominations they serve: the Orthodox rabbi was raised in the Conservative movement; one of the Conservative rabbis was raised Reform and the other was once Orthodox; the Reform rabbi was Conservative. This is the 21st century: norms have changed, preconceptions are invalid, lifestyles have changed.

But the unique and wonderful thing about our Jewish community in the 21st century is that all of the rabbis send their children to our day school – Reform, Orthodox, Conservative and Chabad – joining with other Jews to establish connections and teach their children about their common heritage of faith, culture, language, prayer, values and rituals, so that they all connect to a Jewish future. This is the template we need to follow. We can be individuals.

We can be unique and we can be different. We don’t all have to do the same thing, wear the same clothes, eat the same foods, worship the same way or not worship at all.

We don’t have to look alike. We don’t have to have like minds. Only God need know our secrets.

This is what we need in the 21st century. It doesn’t matter if we look different, if we think differently, if we live different Jewish lives. We must stop being the Jew on the desert island who built two shuls – one which he would never set foot in. Instead, we must look for our commonalities, our connections – those things that bring us together, that make us what we are as Jews, proud of our heritage and positive about our present and our future.

In an era of social isolation, political polarization, economic and climatic instability, and heightened antisemitism, Judaism can provide the connections that people seek even as they are alienated from one another by screens, distance, lifestyle, or politics. Those who believe in the values of Judaism must provide connections, bridges, community and inclusivity. Judaism can connect Jews with a past, a present and a future if we can connect with one another. Let us think about this as we experience the joy of lighting the candles of our menorahs.

Barbara Sheklin Davis is professor emerita of modern languages at Onondaga Community College. She served as principal of the Syracuse Hebrew Day School for 27 years and also headed the Epstein School of Jewish Studies and the Combined School. She is the author of “100 Jewish Things to Do Before You Die,” co-author (with Susan Rabin) of a “A History of the Syracuse Jewish Community,” and author of “A History of Syracuse’s African American Community.” She is a member of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas.

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.

Wednesday, December 18 Deadline for January 2 Jewish Observer Wednesday, December 31

Early Deadline for January 16 Jewish Observer Friday, December 6

Temple Concord Through Ages Shabbat at 6 pm Saturday, December 7 Temple Adath Yeshurun Mishpacha Shabbat at 10 am

Sunday, December 8 TAY Interfaith Family Forum at 9 am

TAY Chanukah bazaar at 10 am TAY Foundations for Jewish Life at 10:45 am

TC Sisterhood Chanukah brunch at 9:30 am TC Brotherhood presents Art Bronstein on “Sailing to Cuba” at 9:30 am TC Intro to Judaism at 11 am Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas Judaica shop Chanukah sale 9 am-2 pm CBS-CS “Lost in the Library” at 10:30 am CBS-CS Israeli film and discussion: “Bethlehem” at 2 pm Monday, December 9 CBS-CS Torah trope class at 8:15 pm Tuesday, December 10 Epstein School board meeting at CBS-CS at 6:30 pm Epstein School at CBS-CS at 6:30 pm Wednesday, December 11 Syracuse Community Hebrew School at Temple Concord from 4-6 pm CRC meeting 4:30-6 pm Menorah Park Auxiliary holiday jewelry sale on Menorah Park veranda from 11 am-4 pm Saturday, December 14 CBS-CS Ruach HaShabbat at 11 am CBS-CS lunch and learn at 12:15 pm CBS-CS Chosen Meeple at 7 pm TAY se’udah shlishit at 3:30 pm TC Cinemagogue presents RBG at 7:30 pm Sunday, December 15 CBS-CS “Lost in the Library” at 10:30 am TC Gan program at 10:30 am Sunday, December 15 TAY Rummage pre-sorting at 9 am TAY Foundations for Jewish Life at 10:45 am TC Intro to Judaism at 11 am Community Chanukah party at the JCC from noon-3 pm Monday, December 16 CBS-CS Talmud class at noon and 7 pm CBS-CS Torah trope class at 8:15 pm Tuesday, December 17 JCC Executive Committee at 6 pm, followed by board meeting at 7 pm Epstein School at CBS-CS at 6:30 pm Nosh and Knowledge at The Oaks at Menorah Park, breakfast and program at 8:30 am Wednesday, December 18 SCHS at Temple Concord from 4-6 pm TAY Board meeting at 7:30 pm Menorah Park Red Cross blood drive from 11 am-4 pm Nosh and Knowledge at The Oaks at Menorah Park.

Free breakfast at 8:30 am, program at 9 am Menorah Park blood drive in the Community Room from 11 am-4 pm Thursday, December 19 TAY Red Cross blood drive at 1:30 pm Friday, December 20 CBS-CS Shirat Shabbat with Lisa Levens at 6 pm TC Chanukah service and pre-Chanukah family dinner, service begins at 6 pm Sunday, December 22 CBS-CS “Lost in the Library” at 10:30 am TAY Foundations for Jewish Life at 10:45 am Erev Chanukah – first Chanukah candle TAY – Chanukah celebration starting at 5:15 pm Monday, December 23 Chanukah day 1 Sunday, December 29 CBS-CS Chanukah celebration at 4 pm TAY Jewish Living at 10:45 am Sunday, January 5 TAY Jewish Living at 10:45 am TC Intro to Judaism at 11 am

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Martin J. & Elaine R. Birnbaum Joel M. Friedman 1909 East Fayette Street • Syracuse, New York 13210 315-472-5291 DECEMBER 5, 2019/7 KISLEV 5780 ■ JEWISH OBSERVER E-MAIL: birnbaumfs@cnymail.com WEB: birnbaumfuneralserviceinc.com

OBITUARIES

WALTER “WALLY” E. MILLER

CARRIE SCHAYES GOETTSCH

Carrie Schayes Goettsch, 64, died on November 13 at home in Tarpon Springs, FL. Born in Syracuse to Dolph and Naomi Schayes, she was a resident of LaFayette, NY, until September 2019.

In 1980, she received her doctorate in chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA. She was a committed and beloved chiropractor of 38 years and the owner of Brighton Hill Chiropractic until her retirement in 2019. She served on the Board of Directors of the New York State Chiropractic Association and was a past president of District 12 of the state association. Other volunteer work included providing chiropractic services in the Dominican Republic on a nine-day mission trip in 1993, and serving as staff chiropractor with the 15th Maccabiah Games in Israel in 1997 and the Maccabiah Pan American Games in Chile in 2003. In 2019, she was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for her work with the NYS Chiropractic Association.

She was a passionate singer and received a B.F.A. from Ithaca College, where she majored in voice and developed a love for composing and arranging music.

She sang with local groups, including the Syracuse Chorale, the Syracuse Symphony Pops Chorus and the SSO Gospel Choir. She also had the opportunity to sing in the White House in December 2002, 2004 and 2008 as a member of the Master’s Touch Chorale.

She will be remembered for her bright smile and positive outlook. She was loving and kind to everyone she touched. Her daughters were the light of her life.

She was predeceased by her parents, Dolph and Naomi Schayes.

She is survived by her husband, Marty; their daughters, Rachel, Carla and Abi; her sister, Debbie (Lou); her brothers, David (Melissa) and Danny (Wendy); her sister-in-law, Elizabeth (David); her brother-in-law, Lauren; her nieces, Hannah, Julia and Renee; her nephews, Mickey, Benjamin, Kevin, Logan and Seth; her uncle, Sam (Dory) Gross; her aunt, Vicki Gross; and a large and loving extended family.

Burial was in the Temple Concord section of Woodlawn Cemetery next to her parents. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements.

Contributions may be made to Parkview Jr. Academy, 412 S. Avery Ave., Syracuse, NY 13219, or Camp Cherokee, 4930 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, NY 13215. 

ALVIN JEROME GOLDSTEIN

Walter “Wally” E. Miller, 66, the person who loved to Syracuse, his beloved home. Much of his enthusiasm Syracuse more than anyone, and was a pillar in the Syra- for business came from his mentor, his father, Melvin cuse community known for his extraordinary knowledge Miller. As a child and on into adulthood, he worked for of Syracuse history, which was only matched by his Mel, the Charles Chips home delivery distributor, in willingness to share with others his knowledge, died Syracuse, and was the first to bring them to New York state. Later in life, the tables turned with his father, Mel, November 15 at the age of 66.

Walter (or Wally to his close friends and family) working for Walter’s automobile literature business – attended Charles Andrew, H.W. Smith, Nottingham setting up tents at many a car show , and working closely High School and Jamesville DeWitt High School, and for many years.

C Oclassmates.

NTINUO FA M LY O WN D Sof I Nautomobile C E 1 9 3literature, 4 in Ihand with hisElove stayed lifelong friends with many of his HeU S LYHand Walter loved driving antique cars year-round in Syracuse. was very nostalgic about the time heMartin spent asJ.a camper & Elaine R. Birnbaum Joel M. Friedman at Camp Frenle, Camp Tousey and Camp Chalet – and When he was 14, he bought his first car, a 1936 Plymouth 1909overgrown East Fayette Street • Syracuse, New Yorkcar 13210 Coupe.

Many in Syracuse enjoyed rides in all the went back to visit them frequently in their 315-472-5291 cars he owned. Walter was proud of keeping states. He looked past that and was always filled with unusual condition – even going so far as to wonderful childhood memories.E-MAIL: At the agebirnbaumfs@cnymail.com of 5, he started cars in their•original WEB: birnbaumfuneralserviceinc.com collecting coins and began a lifetime of collecting – from never wash barn finds. He and his wife spent many years stamps to automobile literature to all things Syracuse together supporting local museums, historical associaand political ephemera and memorabilia. As a teen, he tions and a wide variety of community organizations. started collecting vintage magazines and found that he He is survived by his wife, Jane Verostek; their two could sell ads for cars from the magazines and thus be- children (aptly named after cars) Minerva and Octavia; gan his literature business. He attended SUNY Potsdam, his mother, Susan; sister, Amy; and many cousins, nieces, SUNY Binghamton and McGill University with a focus nephews, in-laws and countless friends from the Syracuse on business. From a handful of boxes of literature, he and automobile communities. , Burial was in the Temple Concord section of Woodstarted what ended up being the largest and most wellknown inventory and business for original automobile lawn. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements.

CO N TtoI N U O U S LYContributions FA M I LY Omay W Nbe E Dmade S I NtoC Ethe1 Minerva 934 literature. His passion for collecting led him opening and a museum in 1996, the Museum of Automobile Miller College Fund, Martin J. History, & Elaine Octavia R. Birnbaum Joel(https://www.gofundme.

M. Friedman to share the oddities, eccentric and oftentimes humorous com/f/minerva-and-octavia-miller-college-fund?utm_ East Fayette Street • Syracuse, New York 13210 automobile-related artifacts he found in1909 his travels.

He source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_cam315-472-5291 traveled to all the U.S. states, except for Alaska and Ha- paign=p_cf+share-flow-1).  waii, and to over 75 countries, but he always came back E-MAIL: birnbaumfs@cnymail.com • WEB: birnbaumfuneralserviceinc.com

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Wishing everyone a Happy Rosh Hashanah!

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Wishing everyone a Happy Chanukah!

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C O N T I N U O U S LY FA M I LY O W N E D S I N C E 1 9 3 4 Martin J. & Elaine R. Birnbaum Joel M. Friedman 1909 East Fayette Street • Syracuse, New York 13210 315-472-5291 E-MAIL: birnbaumfs@cnymail.com • WEB: birnbaumfuneralserviceinc.com

Alvin Jerome Goldstein, 89, died at Menorah Park on November 17.

He grew up in Syracuse, attended Central High school and was a graduate of the University of Buffalo School of Pharmacy.

He was a veteran of the Korean conflict. He was a member of Philo-Mt. Sinai Lodge, the Jewish War Veterans, a Hadassah associate and the Onondaga County Pharmaceutical Society. He was the senior vice president of the Carl’s Drug company and later worked for Rite Aid Pharmacy.

He was a member of Temple Beth El and Shaarei Torah.

He was predeceased by his parents, Esther and Max Goldstein; his sister, Sarah; and his brother, Eli. He is survived by his wife of almost 49 years, Francine; his nephew, Rabbi Chaim Safren of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and several nieces and nephews.

Burial was beside his brother, Eli, in Beth El Cemetery.

Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. 

NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org

El Al to begin direct flights to Australia in 2020

Israel’s national carrier El Al will begin direct flights from Tel Aviv to Melbourne, Australia, in the second quarter of 2020, it was announced on Nov. 27. The flights, pending regulatory approval, will be operated on the airline’s new fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, The Jerusalem Post reported. The flight from Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport to Melbourne will take approximately 16 hours and 45 minutes, and the return flight an hour longer, according to El Al. The route from Israel to Australia is expected to become one of the airline’s 10 longest direct-flight routes, according to Ctech.

Australian Ambassador to Israel Chris Cannan told the Post that Australia welcomes El Al’s announcement.

“This is a great opportunity for more Australians and Israelis to explore each other’s beautiful countries,” he said. “Direct flights would also be a game changer for increasing our trade, investment and innovation links.”

El Al is also planning to launch new routes to Chicago, Tokyo, Dublin and Düsseldorf in 2020.

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