Jewish Observer issue of 1/3/2019 by Jewish Federation of CNY

26 TEVET 5779 • JANUARY 3, 2019 • VOLUME XXXX, NUMBER 1 • PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID, SYRACUSE, NY

Super Sunday is January 27 – answer the call BY COLLEEN BAKER The Jewish Federation of Central New York will kick off the 2019 Annual Campaign with Super Sunday on January 27, from 9 am-3 pm, at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. Volunteers will call members of the Jewish community to ask for their pledge throughout the day. Campaign Chair Neil Rube said, “The Campaign is off to a great start.

There is wide recognition in our community of all the good that Federation does and how important it is to keep Federation strong. To help keep that enthusiasm going, we need volunteers to help on Super Sunday. I hope you will stop by the JCC on January 27 and have breakfast or lunch with us. Make a few phone calls, stuff a few envelopes, even make your own pledge, and spread the word about the great things we can accomplish with the Campaign. Bring

your cell phone to make calls, or if you don’t have one, we’ll provide a phone for you to use. I really look forward to seeing you and sharing the spirit of the Campaign.” Federation President/CEO Michael Balanoff added, “Super Sunday isn’t just about raising money. It’s about renewing relationships and communicating Federation’s vision for the future. We hope to reach you, but if we don’t, we will mail you your pledge card to

complete and return. Thank you for your past support.” To make a secure online donation to the 2019 Annual Campaign before Super Sunday, visit www.jewishfederationcny. org and click on the tzedakah box on the home page. To volunteer, contact Colleen Baker at 315-445-2040, ext. 102, or cbaker@ jewishfederationcny.org, or visit www. jewishfederationcny.org. Training will be provided.

Save the date: “Who Will Write Our History” screening at the JCC January 20 The pre-national screening of the docudrama “Who Will Write Our History” will be held on Sunday, January 20, at 2 pm, at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center in DeWitt. It is free and open to the public. There will be a post-screening question-and-answer period with several Syracuse University faculty, including Kendall Phillips,

Syracuse University professor; Alan Goldberg, Syracuse University professor emeritus; and Rhiannon Berry, Liverpool High School English teacher. It is the story of Emanuel Ringelblum and the clandestine organization Oyneg Shabes, which he created to document the experiences of those in the Warsaw Ghetto. With more than 30,000 pages

of essays, photographs, posters and more, the Oyneg Shabes archive is considered the most important cache of in-the-moment, eyewitness accounts from the Holocaust. JCC of Syracuse Executive Director Marci Erlebacher said, “It is an honor to help bring this film to Central New York so that this important story can be told.

These brave people risked and sacrificed so much. We owe it to them to have their horrors finally exposed so that the evils committed will never be forgotten.” The film screening is being sponsored by the JCC of Syracuse and the Jewish Federation of Central New York. For more information, contact the JCC at 315-4452360 or info@jccsyr.org.

As April elections loom, Israeli party leaders face daunting issues ANALYSIS BY ISRAEL KASNETT (JNS) – Politics in Israel moves fast. National elections were on December 24 and immediately, commentators on television, radio, online and in print, as well as nearly every citizen in Israel, have begun making predictions. By the time election day rolls around on April 9, a right-wing coalition will have led the country for 10 years, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the helm. Will a right-wing government lead again after April and will Netanyahu once again serve in the top job? These are typical questions, but the timing and circumstances are less so. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has just been handed a recommendation by the state prosecutor and Israel Police to indict Netanyahu for corruption in three separate cases. Mandelblit’s decision, expected possibly within the next few weeks, could directly affect the outcome of this election campaign – and everyone knows it. So why elections now, and what will they focus on? Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, told JNS that “especially now, when the coalition is fragile, there is an interest among the different actors to go for an early election.” All parties have an interest in going to early elections, according to Plesner, including Education

Minister Naftali Bennett, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and the ultra-Orthodox. “The most important actor is, of course, the prime minister, who has both substantive political reasons and reasons that have to do with his legal status.” Plesner admitted that Netanyahu is “ostensibly leading in the polls.” From a legal standpoint, assuming the attorney general will indict, “the common wisdom is that it is in Netanyahu’s interest to go to early elections after the indictment, but before there is a final decision,” he said. “This is the right time for the prime minister to go for an election because it means he will enter the hearing process in a position assuming, as he hopes, [to] gain a fresh new mandate from the Israeli public. He will be able to claim, ‘Well, I’ve obtained a mandate from the Israeli people who were aware of the intention to indict me, but nevertheless have chosen to elect me for this position.’ This would make it more difficult for the attorney general to reverse a decision made by millions of Israelis.” What is the focus of the April elections? In terms of the substance of the elections, it remains to be seen. Plesner believes that the elections will be about “competence” both in terms of security and the economy. “So far,” he said, “Netanyahu’s ratings are relatively good, but both environments might change.” Gayil Talshir, a senior lecturer in political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told JNS that at this point, the gist of these elections have not yet been de-

fined. Unlike Plesner, however, she believes t might focus on “collective identity,” and not on economics and security. “It’s not clear what the right-wing is going to campaign on,” she said. “You would suspect it would be on security, and that Netanyahu is the only one who can make Israel secure.” But she speculated that Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria would say that Netanyahu is not tough enough on security, “therefore I am not sure the security or terror issue will be central. It’s clear the anti-Netanyahu camp is going to try to put Netanyahu on the spot, but it’s not clear it will be helpful. Usually, the right-wing in Israel gathers around the wounded, so I’m not sure it will be a good tactic.”

Talshir believes that the anti-Netanyahu camp will campaign “both around issues that are anti-Netanyahu himself and on issues over saving Israeli democracy,” such as the public media, the civil service, the judiciary and all of the other democratic institutions they perceive as being under attack by Netanyahu. As reported earlier, the White House said that the election could also affect the timing behind the rollout of its Mideast peace plan, dubbed the “deal of the century” by the Trump administration. According to Plesner, “Netanyahu has nothing to gain, even if Trump submits a peace plan. It won’t work in Netanyahu’s

See “Elections” on page 5

Follow the Jewish Federation of Central New York for the latest updates! @Jewish-Federation-Of-Central-New-York @JewishFederationOfCNY C A N D L E L I G H T I N G A N D P A R AS H A

January 4.......................... 4:25 pm...................................................... Parashat Vaera January 11........................ 4:32 pm........................................................... Parashat Bo January 18........................ 4:41 pm....................... Parashat Beshelach (Tu B’Shevat)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Technion top 10

Battle of the Bands

Congregational notes

A look at 10 breakthroughs The JCC will hold its 17th annual Concerts, children’s events, researchers at the Technion in high school Battle of the Bands author and scholar talks, and more concert on January 19. Israel made in the past year. are planned by local synagogues. Story on page 3 Story on page 2 Stories on page 4

PLUS Classifieds................................ 6 Calendar Highlights............... 6 B’nai Mitzvah........................... 6 Obituaries................................. 7

JEWISH OBSERVER ■ JANUARY 3, 2019/26 TEVET 5779

JCC dance introduces children to the art form

BY ANKUR DANG The soft tinkles of a tenor ukulele echoed in the open room. Eight-year-old Cara Engel held her arms high above her head in the second position of classical ballet. In the background, the “Lava” song reached its crescendo and a lonely volcano found love. Engel has been studying ballet for three years at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center. In addition to ballet, she is also enrolled in the tap and jazz class. While she has more friends in that class, she is more interested in ballet. “Cara is very good at what she does,” says Dakota Bucher, JCC dance instructor. “She remembers everything that is taught, and it is obvious that she practices at home. She is also very engaged with the music and that shows. In fact, she picked the Lava song. We’re hoping to perform it for the annual recital in June.” Both dance classes, tap and jazz and ballet, begin with a set of stretching exercises to help the children with their flexibility. These exercises help ensure that they feel sure and steady of their bodies while dancing. And after that, they go across

Cara Engel (forefront, center), demonstrated a dance move during a recent ballet class at the JCC of Syracuse as class instructor Dakota Bucher (far left) and (lr) students Isadora Cannon, Tommy Racko and Leneah MacDaniel looked on. Another round of JCC dance, gymnastics and other sports classes for preschool and school-age children recently got underway and will run through early March. the dance floor in the various positions required by each of the dance forms. Sherri Lamanna, JCC director of

gymnastics, dance and Early Childhood Development Program physical education, said, “The sooner the children start

dancing, the better artists they will be once they are older. Some of the greatest dancers in history like Paula Abdul, Anna Pavlova, Alina Cojocaru, Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov started dancing between the ages of 5 and 11.” Lamanna added, “Starting early teaches them to love the art form, but even if they choose to keep it as a hobby, being good at it would always be a plus. Dancing is a great way to stay fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle.” The JCC recently started another round of dance, gymnastics and other sports classes for preschool and school-age children. The weekday afternoon classes will run through early March and are aimed at getting the children moving and having fun. JCC membership is not required; however, members receive a discount. Busing for school-age children is available from some Syracuse city schools, select private schools, Fayetteville-Manlius schools and all public schools within the Jamesville-DeWitt School District. For more information, including details about a free class trial, contact Lamanna at 315445-2040, ext. 126, slamanna@jccsyr.org, or visit www.jccsyr.org.

Another year of the Technion transforming Israel and the world BY JENNIFER FREY As the year comes to a close, the Technion is said to have again powered transformational breakthroughs, milestones and innovations that are advancing Israel and changing lives throughout the world. This list of highlights from 2018, while not comprehensive, offers a glimpse of the Technion’s global impact. 1. An interdisciplinary team collaborated to develop quantum metamaterials, a new scientific field, proving that man-made nano-materials can generate and control quantum light. This discovery could yield unbreakable encryptions, quantum information computer chips and more. 2. On the (very slightly) larger side of the small scale, a team of Technion chemists, mathematicians and physicists discovered a better way for nano-robots to travel in human bodies, where they can perform “seemingly impossible” tasks, like delivering drugs directly to a small area. Previous researchers had long thought nano-robots should be shaped like a helix – like bacteria – but the Technion team found that robots would be more efficient shaped like an arc with twisted ends. 3. Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Professor Moshe Shoham started Mazor Robotics in 2001 with a vision: create revolutionary robots to redefine the gold standard of quality medical care. Since then, he and his team have created software that makes it easier for surgeons to accurately and precisely see individual patient’s internal anatomy before surgery, as well as advanced robots that make surgery less invasive. This year, Mazor was sold to Medtronic for $1.6 billion, which will make spinal and brain surgery safer for Medtronic’s more than 46,000 patients in more than 150 countries. 4. Technion researchers have developed a new, integrated wearable medical system that is made of self-repairing materials (in case of a scratch or cut) and recharges itself

from the wearer’s body movements and body heat. This new system also contains precise sensors and advanced analytical tools. This could revolutionize the use of wearables in medicine, which already are used to monitor diseases by facilitating better treatment plans and helping with epidemiological studies. 5. Intel and the Technion inaugurated the Center for Artificial Intelligence on the Technion’s Haifa campus this year, a new step in its decades-long relationship of collaboration on cutting-edge projects. As one of the top 10 universities for AI in the world, the Technion will continue to advance research in natural language processing, deep learning and hardware optimization – the ideas that fuel tech breakthroughs like Siri and Alexa, self-driving vehicles, and smart homes. 6. Kira Radinsky, a Technion visiting professor and alumna who is now chief scientist for eBay Israel, and master’s student Shahar Harel created an AI-based system to develop new drugs faster and cheaper. They found a better way to narrow down which molecules could be effective drugs: they referenced a database of molecules that are effective drugs with a computer program they created that treats organic molecules like spoken language. This means effective, lifesaving medication can be made available sooner and more safely. 7. One groundbreaking way scientists are working to reduce environmental impact is by growing beef in labs – using fewer resources and reducing pollution. One of Scientific American’s 50 leading scientists in the world, Professor Shulamit Levenberg is at the forefront of this effort as a co-founder and chief scientific officer of Aleph Farms Ltd., which pioneered a new way to grow meat on a 3D platform, while mimicking a beef steak’s complex structure and texture. 8. Technion scientists have also found new ways to generate clean energy:

Please support our advertisers and tell them you saw their ad here in

For information on advertising, please contact Bonnie Rozen at 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244 or bonnie@thereportergroup.org

Quantum metam-aterials, a new scientific field developed at the Technion, could yield unbreakable encryptions, quantum information computer chips and more. (Photo courtesy of Technion) bacteria. Researchers discovered how to harvest energy from cyanobacteria, which are common to lakes and seas and

of Central New York

Syracuse Office

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

Binghamton Office

Rabbi Rachel Esserman Executive Editor Diana Sochor Layout Editor Ilene Pinsker Assistant Editor Jenn DePersis Production Coordinator Bonnie Rozen Advertising Representative Kathy Brown Bookkeeper Production and Management The Reporter 500 Clubhouse Rd. Vestal, NY 13850

Billing Office 500 Clubhouse Rd., Vestal, NY 13850 1-800-779-7896

Jewish Federation of Central New York Inc. Web site: www.jewishfederationcny.org

Call for... Address Changes........... 315-445-2040, ext. 116 Local Articles and Announcements ......................................315-445-2040, ext. 116 ..... or e-mail JewishObserverCNY@gmail.com Advertising:.....Bonnie 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244 ...........or e-mail bonnie@thereportergroup.org Advertising Billing only............1-800-779-7896

use photosynthesis. This energy is used to make electricity and hydrogen gas – a clean gas that emits water when used, paving the way for a clean, eco-friendly future. 9. Technion Professor Marcelle Machluf was named Woman of the Year by one of Israel’s magazines, Lady Globes. One of the world’s top researchers on cancer and nanotechnology, the Moroccan-born scientist is currently working on the “nano ghost”: a stem cell to treat metastatic melanoma and mesothelioma. Prof. Machluf is just one of the trailblazing women of the Technion, which has five female deans, a record for academic institutions in Israel. In addition, 42 percent of Technion students are women and 20 percent are Arab. See “Technion” on page 3 All articles, announcements and photographs must be received by noon Wednesday, 15 days prior to publication date. Articles must be typed, double spaced and include the name of a contact person and a daytime telephone number. E-mail submissions are encouraged and may be sent to JewishObserverCNY@gmail.com. The Jewish Observer reserves the right to edit any copy. Signed letters to the editor are welcomed: they should not exceed 250 words. Names will be withheld at the discretion of the editor. All material in this newspaper has been copyrighted and is exclusive property of the Jewish Observer and cannot be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed by our writers, columnists, advertisers and by our readers do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s and editors’ points of view, nor that of the Jewish Federation of Central New York. The newspaper reserves the right to cancel any advertisements at any time. This newspaper is not liable for the content of any errors appearing in the advertisements beyond the cost of the space occupied. The advertiser assumes responsibility for errors in telephone orders. The Jewish Observer does not assume responsibility for the kashrut of any product or service advertised in this paper. THE JEWISH OBSERVER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK (USPS 000939) (ISSN 1079-9842) Publications Periodical postage paid at Syracuse, NY and other offices. Published 24 times per year by the Jewish Federation of Central New York Inc., a non-profit corporation, 5655 Thompson Road, DeWitt, NY 13214. Subscriptions: $36/year; student $10/ year. POST MASTER: Send address change to JEWISH OBSERVER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK, 5655 Thompson Road, DeWitt, NY 13214.

The Jewish Observer is a member of the American Jewish Press Association.

JANUARY 3, 2019/26 TEVET 5779 ■

JEWISH OBSERVER

AROUND CENTRAL NEW YORK JCC to hold 17th annual Battle of the Bands BY WILLIAM WALLAK The Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse will hold its 17th annual high school Battle of the Bands concert on Saturday, January 19, at 7 pm, in the JCC’s Schayes Family Gymnasium, 5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt. Tickets to the show are $10 at the door and the event is open to the public. For every high school student admission, the JCC will donate $1 to his or her school district’s music department. The JCC of Syracuse is again expecting The 2018 JCC Battle of the Bands winner Churches and Graveyards, a good crowd for this yearly winter teen from Marcellus High School. Pictured are the band’s members (l-r): event. Each band will have 30 minutes Jackson Masters, lead guitar; Ben Carranti, vocals; Colin Arnett, to play. The winner will receive a $200 piano/saxophone; Dan Balman, bass; Christian Malone, drums; and cash prize, eight hours of studio time Tyler Wetherell, vocals. with More Sound Recording Studio in Syracuse and $200 to perform at the Winter Fair on rock band Churches and Graveyards from Marcellus Sunday, February 10. Last year’s winner was classic Senior High School.

PJ Our Way book club at the Apple Store

To celebrate Tu B’Shevat and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, PJ Our Way will hold a hands-on, interactive book club program for children on Monday, January 21, from 10:30 am-noon, at the Apple Store in Destiny USA. The children will read a story and then work together using Apple’s technology to create a story of their own. This event is geared toward children ages 8-11. Space is

There are still openings for bands to play in the Battle of the Bands concert on January 19. The deadline for bands to register is Friday, January 11. Judges for the 2019 Battle of the Bands will be Micaela Patchin, More Sound Recording Studio; Bob Staffa (B.O.B), 95X radio personality; Greg Minix, Syracuse NewTimes; and other judges to be announced shortly. For more information about the 2019 Battle of the Bands, contact the JCC at 315-445-2360, info@jccsyr.org or visit www.jccsyr.org.

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

ISSUE

Wednesday, January 2................... January 17 Wednesday, January 16................. January 31 Wednesday, January 30............... February 14 Monday, February 12, early........ February 28

limited and registration is required. An Apple permission form must be completed in advance of attendance. For more information and to register, e-mail Carolyn Weinberg at pjcny@jccsyr.org with the child’s name and age. PJ Our Way, a free book program for 9-11 year-olds, is a part of PJ Library® in CNY, a program of the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse.

Young Adult Holiday and Shabbat Fund created BY MICKEY LEBOWITZ On December 7, Syracuse University Hillel members joined with members of the SU Jewish Law School Association, Jewish Medical School Association and SU graduates to celebrate the sixth night of Chanukah and Shabbat with a Shabbat service and dinner. The service and dinner were organized with the help of Hillel leaders, Jessica Lemons, Rabbi Leah Fein and Rebecca Zeuschner, along with law school leaders, Arlene Kanter and Aliza Milner and medical school advisor, Rebecca Greenblatt. The event was funded in part by the newly-formed Anne Ruffer and Mickey Lebowitz Young Adult Holiday and Shabbat Fund. The fund is located within the Jewish Federation of Central New York.

They donated seed money for the young adult fund to help financially support communitywide young adult events, such as the one at Hillel. Additional dollars were donated to the fund in honor of Lebowitz’ 60th birthday. The young adult fund was inspired by a similar fund at their daughter Rachel’s synagogue in San Francisco, wherein monies were put aside to support monthly young adult Shabbat onegs and post-service social gatherings. The local fund is available to any groups willing to organize communitywide Jewish Shabbat or holiday events for young adults in their early 20s to 40. The two donors welcome community support of this fund and are hoping there will be additional contributions. The hope is to maintain the fund in perpetuity for future generations.

"Rustic Elegance"

Fully renovated in 2018 89 Guest rooms • 3500 sq. ft. of meeting space Wedding packages available 7300 East Genesee St., Fayetteville, NY

Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center senior dining menu JANUARY 7-11 Monday – sweet and sour meatballs Tuesday – chicken rollatini Wednesday – vegetable soup, turkey sandwich Thursday – Hawaiian chicken over rice Friday – birthday celebration – apricot-glazed chicken JANUARY 14-18 Monday – beef stew over egg noodles Tuesday – chicken noodle soup, tuna salad on rye Wednesday – tomato basil soup, grilled cheese Thursday – stuffed flounder Friday – brisket

Technion

The Bobbi Epstein Lewis JCC Senior Adult Dining Program at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center offers Va’ad Ha’ir-supervised kosher lunches served Monday through Friday at noon. Lunch reservations are required by noon on the previous business day. There is a suggested contribution per meal. The menu is subject to change. The program is funded by a grant from the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth and the New York State Office for the Aging, with additional funds provided by the JCC. To attend, one need not be Jewish or a member of the JCC. For further information or to make a reservation, contact Cindy Stein at 315-4452360, ext. 104, or cstein@jccsyr.org.

Continued from page 2

10. Technion is considered a leader in global cybersecurity. Researchers and students have found vulnerabilities in Intel’s security feature for PCs and internet servers, in Bluetooth systems and in Microsoft’s virtual assistant, showing global multi-billion dollar companies how to patch their software and protect countless people, governments, and businesses. With campuses in New York (Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute), China (Guangdong Technion Israel Institute

of Technology) and Haifa, researchers at the Technion believe it is positioned to make an even bigger impact in 2019 as a global leader in entrepreneurship and innovative technologies that benefit humankind. The American Technion Society supports the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, consistently ranked among the world’s top science and technology research universities. This is a paid post. JTA’s editorial team had no role in its production.

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

315-663-2500

JEWISH OBSERVER ■ JANUARY 3, 2019/26 TEVET 5779

CONGREGATIONAL NOTES Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas OYS AND JOYS WITH BLUEBIRD MUSIC TOGETHER On Sunday, January 6, at 10:30 am, Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas will present a free “Music Together” demonstration class for children from birth through 5 years old – and the adults who love them. Participants can sing, dance and play, with a goal of having fun and realizing how beneficial family music-making can be. The class is 45 minutes of songs, movement activities and instrument play that is developmentally appropriate for children and fun for the whole family. Reservations are requested and may be made by contacting Program Director Melissa Harkavy at director@ csbcs.org or by contacting the CBS-CS office at 315-446-9570. ICE SKATING AT SUNNYCREST On Sunday, January 6, from 2-4 pm, there will be intergenerational ice skating at the Sunnycrest Ice Rink, 699 Robinson St., Syracuse. CBS-CS will provide kosher snacks. For more information, or to make a reservation contact Program Director Melissa Harkavy at director@csbcs.org or by the CBS-CS office at 315-446-9570. INTERGENERATIONAL MITZVAH DAY JAN. 21 On Monday, January 21, there will be an afternoon of tikkun olam (repairing the world) in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Ronald McDonald House of Central New York, 1100 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, starting at 2:30 pm. Participants can help prepare a dinner for families who are staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Contact Program Director Melissa Harkavy at director@csbcs.org or call the CBS-CS office at 315-446-9570. Organizers feel that this is an opportunity for everyone to give back to the Central New York community. This is not just an activity for the children. The event is open to all adults. “Kitchen-ready” children are also welcome.

SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE RABBI MICHELLE H. FISHER “SCIENCE AND JUDAISM AT THE CROSSROADS: SOME UNEXPECTED DIALOGUES” JAN. 25-26 Rabbi Michelle H. Fisher will be the CBS-CS scholar-in-residence the weekend of January 25-26 for a Scientists in Synagogues weekend. Rabbi Fisher is the executive director of MIT Hillel and the first alumna rabbi from MIT. She earned her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Princeton University, and her master’s in chemistry from MIT. Ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary, she has served as the associate rabbi of Congregation Har Shalom in Potomac, MD, and the rabbi of Congregation B’nai Shalom in Walnut Creek, CA. She is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship, a veteran of the U.S. Naval Chaplain Corps and a former student at the Pardes Institute and the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. She specializes in exploring the nexus of science and religion. On Friday, January 25, CBS-CS will host a drash and dinner with Rabbi Fisher on “Metaphors for God,” starting with Kabbalat Shabbat at 5:45 pm. On Saturday, January 26, there will be a Lunch and Learn titled “Religious Culture, Politics and Science” at noon. There will be a Havdalah program, “Wine in the Jewish Tradition,” at 7 pm. For more information, contact Program Director Melissa Harkavy at director@csbcs.org or the CBS-CS office at 315-446-9570. This scholar-in-residence weekend is sponsored by the Joseph and Leah Kalina Memorial Scholar-In-Residence Fund. It is a collaboration of the CBS-CS Adult Learning Committee and the CBS-CS Scientists in Synagogues Program. The Scientists in Synagogues Grant program is run by Sinai and Synapses, in consultation with the AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion, and is funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation SHABBAT SHIRAH Shabbat Shirah, the Shabbat on which the Song of Moses (Exodus 15) is read, has traditionally been a time to celebrate birds and their songs. It is customary to feed the birds from the remnants of Shabbat preparations. In order to enhance this tradition and prepare for Shabbat Shirah, children are invited to make bird feeders at Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse on Sunday, January 13, at 2 pm. Children from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade can chose from age-appropriate projects. Parents are welcome to stay and help. There is no charge. Reservations are appreciated by Wednesday, January 9, and can be made online by visiting the STOCS website at www.stocsyracuse. org/events or contacting STOCS at info@ stocsyracuse.org, or 315-446-6194 to leave the names of those attending. CAKE DECORATING PARTY Elyssa Rosenbaum will share her cake-frosting tips and tricks at a cake decorating party on Tuesday, January 15, at 6:45 pm, at STOCS, to raise money for her to compete in the triathlon at the Pan

American Maccabi Games this summer in Mexico City. Rosenbaum will help participants make their own decorated cakes to take home. An accomplished gymnast and avid runner, she has completed several half-iron races and two Ironman races (140.6 miles). She is a member of Team USA and has a $5,779 fund-raising commitment before the games begin this summer in order to participate. Cake-decorating participants are asked to contribute a minimum of $36 to Rosenbaum’s Maccabi account on the Maccabi USA website (http://musa.convio.net) or by a check payable to Maccabi USAwith “Elyssa Rosenbaum” in the memo line. There are no separate charges for the cake-decorating party. Unfrosted layers, assorted frostings, piping bags and all the necessary gadgets and gizmos will be provided. Reservations and contribution information will be available online at www.stocsyracuse.org/events, or can be accessed by e-mailing info@stocsyracuse.org, or calling 315-446-6194. Reservations are requested by Thursday, January 10, as space is limited.

Hebrew Interest-Free 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.

Temple Adath Yeshurun YOGA AT TAY On Sunday, January 6, at 9:15 am, Temple Adath Yeshurun will welcome back Dharma Yoga, taught by Mary Jo Proietta-Halpern. The goals of the class are to help each student begin to get in touch with his/her body, develop strength and learn to breathe in a yogic manner. The final goal is to reduce stress and learn to relax quickly. Participants are welcome to join the group after Sunday morning Conservative services at Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas. Those interested should bring a yoga mat, water and a towel or blanket. It is advised to avoid eating at least an hour and a half to two hours prior to the class. Dharma Yoga with Proietta-Halpern is an initiative of the TAY adult education group. For more information, contact the TAY office at 315-445-0002 or info@adath.org.

RABBI CARL WOLKIN BY SONALI MCINTYRE Temple Adath Yeshurun announces the return of Rabbi Carl Wolkin. The visiting rabbi will be at the synagogue from January 10-12. On Thursday, January 10, at 7:30 pm, he will lead an adult education session titled “Jewish Sexuality: Is There Such a Thing?” In answer to the question, he said, “Of course. Judaism has something to say about every aspect of our lives, even on questions that were not yet asked a century or more ago.” The class will cover topics such as premarital sex (not just about young singles), homosexuality and same sex marriages, LGBTQ and the issue of transgender and sexual reassignment surgery. The session will look at what the Conservative movement has to say about these topics. Rabbi Wolkin said, “We may not have one answer or all of the answers, but the questions must be confronted.” See “TAY” on page 8

L-r: Jaclyn Sisskind-Gnacik joined Temple Adath Yeshurun’s Ba’alat Tefillah Esa Jaffe and Shai Jaffe in reciting the blessings over the Chanukah candles during TAY’s family Chanukah celebration, which had more than 125 adults and children in attendance.

TAY Rothschild Early Childhood Center Director Alicia Gross offered Samuel DuChene a piece of challah during their Shabbat experience as part of RECC’s optional Jewish enrichment program.

Temple Concord SARAH L. YOUNG TO DISCUSS HER NOVEL Local author Sarah L. Young will discuss her novel, “Nice Jewish Boys,” at Temple Concord’s Shabbat service on Friday, January 11, at 6 pm. Yo u n g i s a graduate of Jamesville-DeWitt High Sarah L. Young School and a junior at Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA. She wrote this young-adult novel when she was 15 years old. The story is about Avishai Miller, who is secretly dating a male classmate at a Jewish private school, and how their lives change when the relationship is discovered. Young was nominated by the Rainbow Book Awards and the Lambda Literary Awards for “Nice Jewish Boys,” and the Bisexual Book Awards for best romance for “Plus One,” her newest book, which was published in November. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the TC office at 315-475-9952 or office@ templeconcord.org. “BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY” BY CHANA MEIR “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” is next up in Temple Concord’s Cinemagogue series. It will be shown on Saturday, January 12, at 7:30 pm. Directed by Emmy Award-winning journalist and producer Alexandra Dean, “Bombshell” has been called “an illuminating portrait of a brilliant and overlooked inventor who was far more than the pretty face seen by the movie-going public.”

Hedy Kiesler, a Jewish refugee from Hitler’s Austria, under her new stage name Lamarr, became a Hollywood starlet known as “The Most Beautiful Woman in the World.” What the world didn’t know was that Lamarr was also an inventor whose groundbreaking work created a secret communication system to help the Allies beat the Nazis. She never received credit or profit, and died in near poverty. Lamarr broke ground in other areas, as well. She pioneered the Aspen, CO, ski resort, co-produced several of her own movies, and it’s been argued that she may have been the mother of modern cosmetic surgery. Cinemagogue events are free and open to the public, and candy and snacks will be available. Donations are welcome. For more information, contact the TC office at 315-475-9952, or office@ templeconcord.org. TU B’SHEVAT AT TC WITH GAN FOR YOUNGSTERS On Sunday, January 13, from 10:30 am-noon, at Temple Concord, children from 2-5 will celebrate and learn about the Jewish Arbor Day at a Tu B’Shevat gan. Temple Concord presents monthly gan programs for toddlers that are filled with learning through art, movement, stories and music. The programs are open to the public and the community is invited to bring children, grandchildren, family and little friends. For more information, call the TC office at 315-475-9952. TONY TRISCHKA TO PERFORM Syracuse native Tony Trischka, considered to be among the most influential banjo artists in the world, will perform with his band at Temple Concord on Saturday, January 19, at 7 pm, as part of the Regina F. Goldenberg Cultural Series. See “TC” on page 6

JANUARY 3, 2019/26 TEVET 5779 ■

SHDS pajama program

At left, l-r: Syracuse Hebrew Day School students Sydney Kanter and Judah Eglash displayed some of the pajamasandbookscollected by the school for donation to the Pajama Program, a national organization with the belief that “Good Nights Are Good Days!” The pajamas and books will be distributed locally to those in need.

Elections

favor because it will force him to choose between the [Israeli political] far-right and the president of the United States. It’s a choice Netanyahu will not want to make. Whatever elements in the plan that will be in favor of Israel, there will also be elements that will require Israel to compromise. This will leave room for some [politicians] to position themselves on the right of Netanyahu and the Likud, and he does not want that to happen.” Another significant development, besides the announcement of the elections, was that Kahlon said he will not sit in the government if Netanyahu is indicted. “I don’t see a majority after the elections that will be willing to sit with Netanyahu,” said Talshir. She also said it is possible that Netanyahu voters who do not want to vote for someone else will not go out to vote at all, resulting in a low voter turnout. One thing to look for, she noted, are the generals who are entering the political fray, including former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and former IDF Chiefs of Staff Moshe Ya’alon, Benny Gantz and possibly Gaby Ashkenazi. They are entering or returning to politics to counter the common misconception that Netanyahu is supposedly the only one who can maintain Israel’s security and

Continued from page 1

best defense. Also of note: Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon reportedly resigned from his position at the world body to put his name into the Likud Party political fray this spring. Another issue, according to Talshir, is the economy. The “yellow vest” protests that began in Paris have spread to other parts of the globe, including Israel. Consumer prices are rising in Israel, and so far a smattering of protests have taken place, but it’s possible this movement will grow in the next few weeks and thus have a significant impact on the outcome of the election. The right-wing Likud Party currently has a clear lead on any other political party, with a projected 30 seats in the next government, according to one poll. The right-wing party Bayit Yehudi would gain three seats, while the left-wing Zionist Union would fall 15 seats from its current 24 to just nine. Clearly, at least at this point, Israel is looking at another right-wing government in the next Knesset. While it’s still too early to tell what Mandleblit will decide and what effect that will have, Talshir was confident: “I don’t think we are going to see a Netanyahu government after the indictment.”

At left: View of the Plenary Hall during a session for the vote on a bill to dissolve parliament at the Knesset in Jerusalem on December 26. (Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Advertisers... help our readers take the out of planning their big day!

OY VEY

To advertise in our upcoming Simcha & Party Planning Guide special ad section, contact Bonnie 800-779-7896, ext 244 or bonnie@thereportergroup.org. Issue Date: February 15 • Ad Deadline: February 7

JEWISH OBSERVER

JEWISH OBSERVER ■ JANUARY 3, 2019/26 TEVET 5779

D’VAR TORAH

…and Pharaoh slept BY RABBI EVAN SHORE The Torah informs us, “Pharaoh arose at midnight, he and all of his servants and all Egypt, and there was a great outcry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not a person who was dead.” (Shmot 12:30) One has to picture the scenario: Pharaoh and Egypt suffered nine horrific plagues. Each warning communicated by Moshe and Aharon to Pharaoh came to fruition. Yet, Pharaoh, a firstborn himself, as well as a father to a first born, went to sleep without a care in the world. Rashi explains this dilemma in one word, memetaso: from his bed! And Pharaoh arose from his bed. Of course, he is arising from his bed. What is Rashi telling us that we do not already know? Tallei Orot points out that Pharaoh exhibited great levels of insolence by not being concerned about the impending death sentence hanging over the first borns of Egypt. There is no doubt Pharaoh misunderstood. Regardless, the impending threat of death made no impact upon him whatsoever. The book, Taam V’daat writes, “Pharaoh did not care whether the word of God would come to fruition or not, the proof being that he went to sleep like on any other night.” The hardening of his heart reached a point where he despised and rejected the word of God. As a result, he was able to sleep without a worry at all.

B’NAI MITZVAH Ainsley Gael Resig

Ainsley Gael Resig, daughter of Rebecca and James P. Resig Jr., of Fayetteville, became bat mitzvah at Temple Adath Yeshurun on December 22. She is the granddaughter of Lynne and David Williams, of Buffalo, and Ann and the late James Resig, of Fayetteville. She is a graduate of the SyraAinsley Gael Resig cuse Hebrew Day School and is a student at Wellwood Middle School and the Rabbi Jacob H. Epstein School of Jewish Studies. She enjoys ballet and jazz, sewing, art, fashion design, cooking, reading and horseback riding.

Continued from page 4

Trischka, a Nottingham High School graduate, has toured globally for 45 years, been nominated for two Grammy Awards, performed in the 1984 feature film “Foxfire,” and authored 15 instructional books and a DVD series on banjo playing. He also produced Steve Tony Trischka Martin’s Grammy-nominated album “Rare Bird Alert,” which features performances by Paul McCartney, the Dixie Chicks and the Steep Canyon Rangers. Joining Trischka will be guitarist Michael Daves and fiddler Avery Merritt, both known in the bluegrass music world as “extraordinary musicians.” “This is truly world-class entertainment,” Vicki Feldman, Goldenberg Series chair, said. “We look forward to welcoming Tony home to Syracuse and he will no doubt put on a phenomenal show.” General admission to the show is $25. Tickets can be reserved at 315-475-9952 or purchased at the Temple Concord office, or in the events section of www. templeconcord.org.

LARRY METZGER Owner

L-M PAINTING Residential/Commercial

6340 Danbury Drive Jamesville, NY 13078-9729 (315) 446-0966 Fax (315) 446-1555 Email:LMPainting@aol.com

The Sefer Nair L’shabbot by Rabbi Nachum Lerner emphasizes the idea of Pharaoh’s lack of character change in spite of the fact that his own son was lying dead before him as a first born. He arose from his bed without any regret or guilt; there was no movement or desire to repent for the terrible things he did to the Jewish people. Rather, Pharaoh just got out of bed – ignoring the fact that every house in Egypt contained at least one corpse. Rabbi Frand in his Commuter Torah Tapes quotes Rabbi Elya Meir Bloch. He maintains that Pharaoh had to go to sleep to prove a point. Pharaoh was on a power trip. The only way in which he would be able to be victorious was to show to Moshe and all of Egypt he was in charge. Pharaoh proved this by going to sleep. If he was afraid of going to sleep, it would be a sign of weakness on his part. By going to sleep, Pharaoh was in effect stating, “I am in charge and nothing happens unless I say so.” This entire episode is a sad commentary about the mindset of Pharaoh. Early on, Pharaoh proclaimed, “Who is God that I should listen to His voice.” (Shmot 5:2) God gave him an answer – many answers on multiple occasions; but Pharaoh refused to process or accept the evidence. Pharaoh is the symbol of those who refuse to see the reality of the present or recognize signs sent by God to guide all of us on the proper path. God sends each and every one of us clues to follow. We can follow the signs or ignore them. We already have seen what happens when the signs are not followed. Rabbi Evan Shore is the rav at Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse, teacher at the Syracuse

NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org

Welcome rains arrive in Israel as threat of sixth year of drought looms

A massive storm front arrived in Israel on Dec. 27, as heavy downpours spread from the north to the southern coastal plan, helping to abate a six-year drought that has severely depleted the Kinneret. The storm system was accompanied by a significant drop in temperatures and risk of flooding in the Judean Desert, the Dead Sea region and the Jordan Valley. Authorities were warning travelers to beware of flash floods in those areas, and issued an advisory to avoid driving on flooded roads, to adjust driving speeds and to maintain safe trailing distance on the road. Heavy rains dropped more than a half-inch of rain on Kibbutz Ayalon in the Western Galilee in just one hour, and the Mount Hermon site in the Golan was closed on Dec. 27 due to rainfall and heavy fog, with snow expected to fall. Heavy rains were also recorded throughout Judea and Samaria, and the Sharon and Dan regions. Hailstorms were recorded in Caesarea, Pardes Hanna-Karkur and other parts of the Sharon region. The abundance of water was good news for the Kinneret, otherwise known as the Sea of Galilee, which has suffered through a six-year drought that has brought water levels so low that Israel’s largest body of fresh water is no longer being pumped. As of the morning of Dec. 27, the Kinneret had risen 4 centimeters in a week, bringing it to 214.54 meters below sea level, but still 1.54 meters below the lower red line. That level remains below what can be used for drinking water and a mere .33 meters from the black line – a historic low below which it is believed that the Kinneret will become unpotable. Israel has built two desalination plants on Israel’s coast, where processed Mediterranean Sea water now provides more than 70 percent of Israel’s drinking water. In August, authorities warned that if heavy rainfall does not arrive in Israel this winter, water rationing may be put into place.

Hebrew Day School and instructor at the Rabbi Jacob Epstein School of Jewish Studies.

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, January 2 Deadline for January 17 Jewish Observer Saturday, January 5 Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas presents “A Taste of Spain,” a dinner honoring Bette Siegel and Steffi Bergman at 7 pm Sunday, January 6 Temple Concord Brotherhood meeting featuring Joe Eglash on Jewish music at 9:30 am TC Sisterhood Mitzvah Bag assembly and delivery at 9:30 am CBS-CS Oys and Joys with Bluebird Music Together at 10:30 am CBS-CS ice skating at Sunnycrest 2 pm Tuesday, January 8 Epstein School for Jewish Studies at TAY from 6:308:30 pm Wednesday, January 9 Syracuse Community Hebrew School at Temple Concord from 4-6 pm CBS-CS Board of Trustees meeting at 7:30 pm Thursday, January 10 Temple Adath Yeshurun Rabbi Carl Wolkin adult education program on Jewish sexuality at 7:30 pm Friday, January 11 TC presents Syracusan Sarah L. Young, author of “Nice Jewish Boys,” at Shabbat services at 6 pm CBS-CS Shirat Shabbat with Lisa Levens and Mark Wolfe at 6 pm Saturday, January 12 TAY Shabbat L’dor V’dor – Multi-generational Shabbat-friendly program with aliyot for children and adults at 9:15 am CBS-CS Shabbat Spot at 9:30 am TC Cinemagogue presents “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” at 7:30 pm Sunday, January 13 TC Tu B’Shevat gan program 10:30 am-noon Free Klezmer music at JCC at 2 pm Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation “Build a Bird Feeder” for Shabbat Shirah at 11 am Tuesday, January 15 JCC Executive Committee meeting at 6 pm, followed by Board meeting at 7 pm Epstein School for Jewish Studies at TAY from 6:308:30 pm TC program on “Savoring Judaism” at 7 pm Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse cake decorating with Elyssa Rosenbaum 6:45 pm Wednesday, January 16 Syracuse Community Hebrew School at Temple Concord from 4-6 pm TAY Executive Committee meeting at 6:30 pm, followed by a Board meeting at 7:30 pm The maggid at Wegmans in DeWitt at 7 pm Friday, January 18 TC Shirah Shabbat and dinner at 6 pm Saturday, January 19 TAY consecration of third grade class at 9:15 am CBS-CS Lunch and Learn about Reconstructionist Judaism with Rabbi Marley Weiner at CBS-CS at noon TAY Tot Havdalah from 5:45-7:15 pm TC Goldenberg Series presents Tony Trischka at 7 pm Sunday, January 20 Screening of “Who Will Write our History” at Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center at 7 pm Monday, January 21 Tu B’Shevat PJ Our Way Book Club at the Apple Store from 10:30 am-noon CBS-CS Mitzvah Day with Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY at 2 pm Tuesday, January 22 Epstein School for Jewish Studies at TAY from 6:308:30 pm TC program on “Savoring Judaism” at 7 pm Wednesday, January 23 Syracuse Community Hebrew School at Temple Concord from 4-6 pm Federation Board meeting at the JCC at 6 pm Syracuse Hebrew Day School Executive Committee meeting at 7 pm

JANUARY 3, 2019/26 TEVET 5779 ■

OBITUARIES

NEWS IN BRIEF

ALICE B. CHICO

Alice B. Chico, 76, of Syracuse, died on December 1 at Francis House after a 16-month battle with brain cancer. A native of Brooklyn, NY, she moved to Syracuse in 1973. In 2012, she retired after 50 years of nursing and served as an assistant chaplain at SUNY Upstate Medical Center until the last day she could walk on her own in April of this year. She was a swing dancer, teacher, mentor, care giver, reader, master word puzzler, walker, mother to all, a righteous pursuer of fairness, peace and love, and an active member of the May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society since 1974. She was predeceased by her husband and children’s father, Luis A. Chico; her parents, Eddie and Esther Benton of Manhattan; a brother, Jeremy; and a nephew, Tim. She is survived by her children, Sarah and Mike; grandson, Justin; husband, Michael; stepsons, Jamie and Jared; son-in-law, Joseph; and nephew, Eric. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions may be made to the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research and Information Inc. (https:// virtualtrials.com/musella.cfm) or Francis House, 108 Michaels Ave., Syracuse, NY 13208 (https://francishouseny.org). 

ALICE KAUFFMAN

Alice Kauffman, 68,died on December 20 at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. Born in Brooklyn, NY, she spent 45 years in Syracuse, but always considered New York City her home. She was a dedicated volunteer for the Leukemia, Lymphoma Society and loved making blankets for rescue dogs. She enjoyed daily trips to Wegmans, shopping for her grandchildren, gardening, painting and design work. On trips to her Florida home, she loved collecting shells, taking walks and riding her bicycle. She had a master’s degree in education from Syracuse University. She was very creative and enjoyed teaching preschool for many years. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Michael; their children, David (Ana), Susan (Lawrence) and Daniel; grandchildren, Sophie and Joshua; her brother, Jay (Lauren); and her sister, Marjorie (Robert). She was predeceased by her parents, Shirley and Simeon Rehr. Burial was in Beth El Cemetery. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions may be made to the Leukemia, Lymphoma Society 4043 Maple Rd. Ste. 105, Amherst, NY 14226 or Helping Hounds Dog Rescue, 6606 Kinne Rd., Syracuse, NY 13214. 

JOYCE H. MELTZER

Joyce H. Meltzer, 81, died on December 17 at Crouse Hospital. Born June 19, 1937, to Helman and Florence Rubinson in Hornel, NY, she lived most of her life in Syracuse. She was a graduate of Nottingham High School and the journalism school at Syracuse University. She served on the boards of the Jamesville-DeWitt School District, and of the PTA of many of the JD schools. She was a longtime member of Temple Concord. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Chuck; their children, Debra (Steve), Lisa (Jon), Robert (Kathy) and Dana (Adam); and grandchildren David, Noah, Sophie, Rachel, Aaron, Zachary, Sarah, Max and Zooey. Burial was in the Temple Concord Section of Woodlawn Cemetery. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. 

ELI ROTH

Eli Roth, 87, died on December 16 following a brief illness. Born in Lithuania to Hyman and Leah Roth, in 1938, he and his family immigrated to Syracuse, where they made their home. He was a former member of Temple Beth El and a current member of Temple Adath Yeshurun. He was the distribution manager for Roth Bros. Smelting Co. of Syracuse until retiring. He was an avid sports fan of SU and the Yankees. He loved to bowl and played baseball in several leagues in Syracuse. He was predeceased by his sister, Miriam. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sandra; their children, Steven (Janice), Marty (Debra Cameron) and Ellen Newman; grandchildren Natasha, Zachary (Malia), Samantha, Dena, Max, Leah and Marilyn; and seven great-grandchildren. Burial was in Beth El Cemetery. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions may be made to the minyan fund at Temple Adath Yeshurun, 450 Kimber Rd., Syracuse, NY 13224. 

JEWISH OBSERVER

MURRAY N. RUTNER

From JNS.org

Murray N. Rutner, 72, died on December 24 at home. Born in Brooklyn, he had been a resident of Syracuse since 1967. He was a school psychologist for the North Syracuse Central School District until retiring. He was a founding, active member of Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse. He taught b’nai mitzvah students throughout the community and was a lay leader of the shul. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Fay; their children, Michael (Marilyn) Rutner, David (Deena) Rutner and Danielle (Michael) Holland; grandchildren, Kayla, Andrew, Sarina, Hailey, Emily and John; and his sister, Lisa (Martin) Stark. Burial was in the Shaarei Torah section of Oakwood Cemetery. Sisskind Funeral Service had arrangements. 

ABRAHAM ARNOLD SCHWARTZ

Abraham Arnold Schwartz, 85, of Boynton Beach, FL, formerly of DeWitt, died on December 12. Born in Port Jervis, NY, he grew up in Syracuse from the age of 10 and attended Syracuse Central High School and SUNY Oswego. He served seven years in the United States Army. During his service in the Korean War, he earned five medals. For 15 years, he was an auditor with the United States government, and covered New York state. He owned and managed many apartment buildings in Syracuse. A gifted handyman who could fix anything, he also rehabilitated houses. He was a Syracuse University sports fan, mentored and coached youth baseball teams, and was fond of the outdoors. While in Syracuse, he was a member of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas for 38 years. He moved to Florida in 2002. He was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Marilyn Elaine (Lebowitz) Schwartz. He is survived by his children, Stefanie Schwartz (Daniel Blacker), of Vienna, VA, Robert (Kyra) Schwartz and Judy (Kevin) Parsons; his grandchildren, Louis and Rachel Blacker, Matthew and Zachary Schwartz, and Mitchell Parsons; his sister-in-law, Carol Lebowitz (Jack) Eisenberg; and several nieces and nephews. Burial was in the Beth Sholom section of Oakwood Cemetery. Birnbaum Funeral Service had arrangements. Contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016. 

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

Your ad should be here! To advertise, please contact Bonnie Rozen at 800-779-7896, ext. 244 or bonnie@ thereportergroup.org

Satellite images reveal Iranian facility destroyed in airstrike on Syria

(Israel Hayom via JNS) – An intelligence report issued by the satellite-imaging company ImageSat International on Dec. 27 revealed the aftermath of the recent airstrikes in Syria, largely attributed to Israel. According to reports, the target of the airstrikes was an Iranian weapons depot near Damascus. The satellite images unveiled that week showed “extensive damage” to the targeted site. A caption on the satellite imagery indicates that the site was “completely destroyed.” London-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Dec. 26 that three weapons facilities belonging to Iran and Hezbollah had been targeted outside Damascus overnight between Dec. 25 and Dec. 26. The ISI report included a survey of the targeted area, focusing on a reported Iranian weapons facility inside the Division 4 camp. The report further concluded that there was no evidence of attacks on the airport in Damascus or in Al-Kiswah.

Danon, U.S. prepping to block Palestinian initiative on full U.N. membership

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said that his delegation, in coordination with the United States, is preparing to block any attempts by the Palestinians for full state membership at the United Nations. “Even as it continues to pay salaries to terrorists every month, encourage violence and lead an unrelenting campaign of incitement against Israel, the Palestinian Authority has the audacity to ask the Security Council to recognize it as a full member state of the United Nations,” Danon said in a statement. “Instead of focusing on building a better and more hopeful future for the Palestinians and helping to ensure stability in the region, the Palestinian leadership is continuing its destructive policies that have encouraged recent terror attacks, including the murder of the 4-day-old baby, Amiad Yisrael (z”l),” he said. The announcement by Danon comes after P.A. Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said the Palestinians would appeal to the U.N. Security Council to gain recognition as a full member state. This is expected to come against the backdrop of the Security Council’s quarterly discussion on the status of the Middle East, which is expected to take place on Jan. 15. In 2012, the U.N. General Assembly granted to the Palestinians non-observer status. That move enabled the Palestinians to join a number of international organizations, such as the International Criminal Court. However, an upgrade to full membership at the world body would require support from the Security Council, where the U.S. holds veto power.

El Al plans flights from Las Vegas to Israel

Israel’s national airline will offer direct flights starting on June 14 from Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport to Ben-Gurion International Airport. Flights to Las Vegas will depart Ben-Gurion on Fridays at 7 am, with return flights to Israel leaving on Saturdays at 10:45 pm. The flight time will vary between 11 and 13 hours.

birnbaum funeral service, inc. CONTINUOUSLY FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1934 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

Wishing everyone a Happy Passover!

birnbaum funeral service , inc.

C O N T I N U O U S LY F A 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

Wishing everyone a Happy Rosh Hashanah!

birnbaum funeral service inc.

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

C O N T I N U O U S LY F A M I LY O W N E D S I N C E 1 9 3 4

JEWISH OBSERVER ■ JANUARY 3, 2019/26 TEVET 5779

TAY

Rabbi Wolkin, rabbi emeritus at Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook, IL, has served as a visiting rabbi multiple times at TAY. Most recently, he joined the Adath Yeshurun family for the High Holidays. During his visits, he said he enjoys sharing his knowledge in the form of adult education sessions. Past sessions have included minhag (custom), halachah (law), bubba meisah (superstition), and saving a life and its limits. On Saturday, January 12, the synagogue will hold a Shabbat L’Dor V’Dor, a multi-generational program where aliyot will be given to children and adults. There will be a 20-30 minute break before the Torah service, when children, teens and adults will split up for stories, snacks and study. There will be something for every age and stage of life with activities

Continued from page 4

ranging from tot yoga to story time to teen and adult parasha studies. After the break, everyone will return to complete the service. Shabbat services will begin at 9:15 am. Following services, there will be a kiddush sponsored by the Rev. Solomon and Marsha Kaplan Kiddush Endowment Fund and the Temple Adath Yeshurun Sisterhood. For more information about these TAY programs, contact the TAY office at 315445-0002 or at info@adath.org. TAY HAVDALAH Temple Adath Yeshurun will celebrate the end of Shabbat with Tot Havdalah on Saturday, January 19, at 5:15 pm. The program, for children birth to five years old and their families, includes reciting Havdalah, singing songs, mak-

RECC families came for a Friendly’s FUNraiser to raise money for the early childhood center. Among the families in attendance were (l-r): Madut Jok (father), Angeth, Madut and Andrea Shaw (mother).

ing a crafts and a dairy dinner. Children are welcome to wear pajamas. This program is sponsored by the Edward and Marilyn Steinberg Family Fund for Tiny Tots and Preschool Children’s Programming. For more information, contact Alicia Gross at alicia@adath. org or call 315-445-0002. CONSECRATION AT TAY The Temple Adath Yeshurun Religious School second- and third-graders will participate in their consecration program on Saturday, January 19, during Shabbat morning services. “Consecration” means dedication and the TAY second- and third-graders will celebrate this milestone in their religious educa-

tion by dedicating themselves to further Jewish study and being active members of the Jewish community. The participants in this year’s consecration class are Isaac DuChene, Eliana Friedman, Mia Grabowsky, Lilah Levy, Andrew Packard, Jordyn Shapiro, Jocelyn Stadin, Gryffin Tecler and Tyler Wladis. These students, led by their teacher, Michal Downie, will lead prayers, teach the community about Tu B’Shevat and receive an aliyah during Shabbat services. At the conclusion of the program, the children will receive their siddurim, a gift from the TAY Sisterhood. The service will be followed by a kiddush in honor of the consecration class.

L-r: Among those TAY Hazak members who attended the Chanukah luncheon at the Sam Pomeranz Jewish Community Center of Syracuse were (seated) Linda Stone, Brenda Hamernik and Adrienne LeBlang; (standing) Nancy Holstein, Mike Meltzer and Sandy Meltzer.