HAKOL - December 2020

The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community

www.jewishlehighvalley.org

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Issue No. 437

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December 2020

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Kislev/Tevet 5781

AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977

Pick your favorite pumpkin carving from YAD’s socially distanced fall event p12

Find ways to have a fun and meaningful holiday in our Chanukah special section

FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN p3 WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY p4 LVJF TRIBUTES p8 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p11 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p14 JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p15 COMMUNITY CALENDAR p22-23

Rivlin and Netanyahu congratulate Biden on election win, thank Trump Left, Then-Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands while giving joint statements at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, March 9, 2016.

Jewish News Syndicate

DEBBIE HILL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Israel’s president and prime minister on Nov. 8 congratulated Joe Biden on his election as the 46th president of the United States and conveyed messages of gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump.

“I send the blessings of the Israeli people and of the State of Israel to our friend Joe Biden on your election as the 46th President of the United States of America. I also send congratulations and best wishes for

your success, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris,” Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin said in a statement.

Relations between Israel and its “closest and most important ally” were stronger than any political leadership, and were “rooted deeply in our shared values” and “commitment to freedom and democracy,” he said.

The Israeli president thanked Trump for “four years of partnership in strengthening Israel’s security,” and the American people for their “steadfast support and friendship.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin tweeted: “Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. Joe, we’ve had a long & warm personal

relationship for nearly 40 years, and I know you as a great friend of Israel. I look forward to working with both of you to further strengthen the special alliance between the U.S. and Israel.”

The Israeli premier added, “Thank you @realDonaldTrump for the friendship you have shown the state of Israel and me personally, for recognizing Jerusalem and the Golan, for standing up to Iran, for the historic peace accords and for bringing the American-Israeli alliance to unprecedented heights.”

Rivlin concluded his statement by wishing Biden and his future administration great success “on behalf of the Israeli people,” and extending an invitation to visit Jerusalem.

Jonathan Sacks, former UK chief rabbi and Jewish ‘intellectual giant,’ dies at 72 Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the former chief rabbi of the United Kingdom whose extensive writings and frequent media appearances commanded a global following among Jews and non-Jews alike, has died.

Sacks died on the morning of Nov. 7 at age 72, his Twitter account announced. He was in the midst of a third bout of cancer, which he had announced

in October.

Sacks was among the world’s leading exponents of Orthodox Judaism for a global audience. In his 22 years as chief rabbi, he emerged as the most visible Jewish leader in the United Kingdom and one of the European continent’s leading Jewish voices, offering Jewish wisdom to the masses through a regular segment he produced for the BBC. He had a close relationship with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who called Sacks “an intellectual giant” and presented Non-Profit Organization

702 North 22nd Street Allentown, PA 18104

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him with a lifetime achievement award in 2018.

Sacks was also an immensely prolific author, addressing pressing social and political issues in a succession of well-received books. His popular commentary on the prayer book, published

by Koren, helped to dethrone the more traditionalist Artscroll Siddur as the preeminent prayer book in American Modern Orthodox synagogues.

Sacks was normally averse to mixing religion and politics, something he discussed, along with his latest book, “Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times,” and an array of other hot-button topics with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in August.

“When anger erupts in a body politic, there is quite often a justified cause. But then the political domain has got to take that anger and deal with it very fast,” he told JTA’s opinion editor Laura Adkins. “Because anger exposes the problem but never delivers the solution.”

But he did take public stances on two topics that were often ensnared with European politics:

JOHN DOWNING/GETTY IMAGES

By Ben Harris and Cnaan Liphshiz and Gabe Friedman Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Jonathan Sacks seen as the chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, circa 2000.

Israel and anti-Semitism.

Sacks spoke out publicly as Britain’s Labour Party was engulfed in an anti-Semitism scandal under its previous leader Jeremy Corbyn, calling Corbyn an anti-Semite.

“We have an anti-Semite as the leader of the Labour Party and her majesty’s opposition.

That is why Jews feel so threatened by Mr. Corbyn and those who support him,” Sacks said in 2018 during an interview with the New Statesman.

That judgement paved the way for the current British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis to harshly condemn the Labour Party, a precedent-setting event in British Jewish life.

Corbyn was replaced in April

by centrist Keir Starmer, who has apologized for how antiSemitism was allowed to flourish in Labour’s ranks under Corbyn.

Starmer, who is married to a Jewish woman, expressed his condolences to “the entire Jewish world” in a tweet on Nov. 7.

“He was a towering intellect whose eloquence, insights and kindness reached well beyond the Jewish community. I have no doubt that his legacy will live on for many generations,” Starmer wrote.

Sacks was also vocal in his opposition to the forces that lead to anti-Semitism on the far left and the far right, as he wrote in a Jonathan Sacks Continues on page 9

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Miracles and light “Miracles sometimes occur, but one has to work terribly hard for them,” — Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Israel’s first President and Founder, Weizmann Institute.

This year has brought a lot of darkness, uncertainty and suffering. But what if we each took a moment to remind ourselves of the light each one of us adds to the world? You are the light for your family and friends. You help them in times of need and comfort them in times of uncertainty.

As we get ready to celebrate Chanukah, you can be that light for your extended Jewish family as well – including the individuals and families who urgently need your help

now more than ever locally, in Israel and in 70 countries around the world. Through our work together, we can make miracles happen.

As a result of the pandemic, millions of people now face full-blown financial emergencies. Many of them, including those living here in the Lehigh Valley, are struggling to meet their most basic needs.

I encourage you to be a light for those who thought they’d never have to rely on food pantries to feed their families – but now do.

Federation-supported initiatives help make the world a better and brighter place, made possible by community efforts and donations. From caring for

those in need to inspiring the next generation of young leaders, our campaign showcases the many ways Federationbacked programming, and our community members, bring light to the world. Through our work together, we can make miracles happen.

Please help make this Festival of Lights one that brings relief to those living in fear, sustenance to those living with hunger and hope to those most affected by the ongoing pandemic and economic recession.

This Chanukah, we ask you, our generous community members, to add your light by making a generous gift to Federation.

Through the end of the year, we have an exciting opportu-

nity made possible by national philanthropists through the Jewish Federations of North America. They have set up a Human Services Relief Fund in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. All increased donations to the 2021 campaign, all new gifts and all donors who haven’t made a gift in at least 18 months will be matched by 50%. Through our 2021 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs, funds will be provided to help our local agencies and synagogues with additional resources for: • Emergency financial aid • Increased food assistance, including the expansion of pantries, grocery gift card and

IN HONOR

ALICE AND MARK NOTIS In honor of the birth of your grandson, Eden Barak Cohenotis Cooky and Michael Notis

IN MEMORY

ALAN BLACK (Husband of Donna Black) Carole and Michael Langsam

PAUL LANGER (Husband of Elaine Langer) Carole and Michael Langsam MARTHA SEGEL (Wife of Ron, mother of Brian Segel and Julie Segel Mendelson) Amy and David Jaffe Carole and Michael Langsam The Marill Family Arlene and Richard Stein

TO ORDER TREES, call the JFLV at 610-821-5500 or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org.

This Chanukah, you are a light that heals. You are a light that brings relief to those in times of need. Thank you in advance for your generosity and for being the light that helps to make miracles happen. Chag Urim Sameach!

HAKOL STAFF

The Lehigh Valley-Yoav Partnership Park in Blessed Memory of Mark L. Goldstein We gratefully acknowledge those individuals who have offered expressions of friendship by requesting that trees be planted in the Mark L. Goldstein Friendship Park, a Yoav-Lehigh Valley Partnership Forest.

meal programs • Mental and physical health and safety • Community stability, including emergency operating support and professional expertise for local Jewish human service and educational agencies

STEPHANIE GOODLING Editor

HAKOL is published 11 times per year for the Jewish communities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and vicinity by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.

COMMUNITY SUBMISSIONS Submissions to HAKOL must be of interest to the entire Jewish community. HAKOL reserves all editorial rights including, but not limited to, the decision to print any submitted materials, the editing of submissions to conform to style and length requirements, and the placement of any printed material. Articles should be submitted by e-mail or presented as typed copy; “Community Calendar” listings must be submitted by e-mail to hakol@jflv.org or online at www.jewishlehighvalley.org. Please include your name and a daytime telephone number where you can be contacted in the event questions arise.

We cannot guarantee publication or placement of submissions.

MAIL, FAX, OR E-MAIL TO: JFLV ATTN: HAKOL 702 N. 22nd St. Allentown, PA 18104 Phone: (610) 821-5500 Fax: (610) 821-8946 E-mail: hakol@jflv.org

ALLISON MEYERS Graphic Designer DIANE MCKEE Account Representative TEL: 610-515-1391 hakolads@jflv.org BAYLEY CARL Marketing & Engagement Associate

JFLV EXECUTIVE STAFF JERI ZIMMERMAN Executive Director STEPHANIE SMARTSCHAN Director of Community Development & Operations TEMPLE COLDREN Director of Finance & Administration AARON GORODZINSKY Director of Campaign & Security Planning JIM MUETH Director of Planned Giving & Endowments WENDY EDWARDS Office Manager GARY FROMER JFLV President

Member American Jewish Press Association

All advertising is subject to review and approval by The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley (JFLV). JFLV reserves the right to decline, withdraw and/or edit any ad. The appearance of any advertising in HAKOL does not represent an endorsement or kashrut certification. Paid political advertisements that appear in HAKOL do not represent an endorsement of any candidate by the JFLV.

JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY MISSION STATEMENT

In order to unite, sustain, and enhance the Lehigh Valley Jewish community, and support Jewish communities in Israel and around the world, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is dedicated to the following core values: • Supporting Jews in need wherever they may be.

• Supporting Israel as a Jewish homeland.

• Supporting and encouraging Jewish education in the Lehigh Valley as a means of strengthening Jewish life for individuals and families.

• Supporting programs and services of organizations whose values and mission meet local Jewish needs.

To accomplish this mission the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is committed to the following operating guidelines: • Raising and distributing funds to support the core values.

• Developing Jewish leaders.

• Building endowments to support implementation of core values.

• Committing to ongoing Jewish community strategic planning.

• Fostering cooperation among organizations and community building.

• Evaluating all decisions with respect to fiscal responsibility.

• Identifying unmet needs and investing in community initiatives to help get them started.

• Coordinating and convening a community response as an issue or need arises.

• Setting priorities for allocation and distribution of funds.

• Acting as a central address for communication about events, programs and services of the Jewish community as a whole.

Approved by the JFLV Board of Directors on November 15, 2000

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | DECEMBER 2020 3

WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY

New-ish group celebrates Friendsgiving Women’s Philanthropy brought together “new-ish” Jewish women for a virtual Friendsgiving on Nov. 10. The women shared a little bit about themselves and got to know others through the Zoom screen.

The group will meet again for a Chanukah program on Dec. 17. If you are a woman who is new to the Lehigh Valley or is looking to get more involved in the Jewish community, you are invited to join this group.

Email stephanie@jflv.org to learn more.

SPONSORED BY THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY’S WOMEN’S DIVISION

WELCOMING NEW BABIES

to the Lehigh Valley

MATHIAS BILLIG Son of Tracey and Jason Billig

If you’re expecting, know someone who is, or have a new baby, PLEASE LET US KNOW! Contact Abby Trachtman, 610-821-5500 | abbyt@jflv.org

4 DECEMBER 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Lion/Pom women get a virtual tour of Tel Aviv fashion district

By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor On the morning of Sunday, Nov. 15, Jewish women philanthropists from around the Lehigh Valley got together to tour “Israel Through Fashion”—without leaving their own homes. Thanks to the powers of Zoom, they were able to meet with each other as well as two young professionals in the fashion industry who were sitting in Israel at the time.

This kick-off to the 2021 campaign year brought Pomegranates and Lions of Judah together for an exploration of Tel Aviv’s vibrant fashion scene.

But first, Women’s Philanthropy board members took the time to thank the donors and remind them of the mission of the Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

“You show others how to put Jewish values into action,” said Carol Bub Fromer, Women’s Philanthropy president, who welcomed the guests.

Vicki Wax, co-chair of the Annual Campaign, updated the group on fundraising goals. She thanked the younger generation for taking up the torch of these efforts, saying, “It is such a blessing to live in a community where we really do see l’dor v’dor.”

Laurie Wax, Lion and Pomegranate event chair,. introduced presenter Liraz Cohen Mordechai, founder of Fashionating

by Liri, who has a master’s in fashion merchandising from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Mordechai started her social enterprise in 2016. The company’s mission

is to bring Israeli fashion to the first tier and empower Israeli fashion designers, brands and companies while telling Israel's story through the new and unique perspective of fashion.

She has given over 200 similar lectures to organizations across North America.

Mordechai described Tel Aviv as a big city of culture, fashion, art and start-ups, where the old meets the new.

“It is international and at same time, very local,” she said.

A special guest was introduced from Israeli fashion house Maskit. Sharon Tal is the woman responsible for resurrecting Maskit in 2013 after its doors closed in 1994. Tal, who was head of embroidery for Alexander McQueen in London before returning to Israel and reopening Maskit, was able to join the Lehigh Valley Lions and Poms over Zoom and modeled some of the brand’s most iconic designs for them.

Tal spoke of the inspiration she receives from the land of

Israel itself, showing moodboards with images captured from landscapes and a scarf patterned after the national bird of the nation.

“I was in the desert half an hour ago,” said Tal, who relishes the opportunity to get out into nature and then to come back to her hometown of Tel Aviv and create beautiful textiles in her open studio based on what her muse, Israel, has shown her.

She is doing her part to support the art of others, as well. Currently, a curated selection from 30 different small Israeli designers is available on Maskit’s website, an effort to help them weather the COVID-19 lockdowns.

After Mordechai took back the screen, she guided the women to their next virtual destination through a video visit to ATA. While Maskit had been created for high fashion, ATA was the manufacturer of clothing for the workers of Israel. It has a similar story in a recent relaunch, but while Maskit has stuck to its original audience, Mordechai said ATA is more of a Tel Aviv hipster staple than the uniform of the everyman these days. In the footage, she modeled their iconic tembel hat, which they still make today.

The last stop on the tour was Kuchinate, which is a psychosocial project for asylum seekers from Africa who have settled in Tel Aviv. Using their traditional craft of crochet, the women who participate at Kuchinate are able to find community in a safe space with others like themselves and process their emotions while using their skills to earn money at the same time. They crochet baskets, dolls and other items for sale, where all the products come from their own ideas.

“What’s cool about Tel Aviv is really the whole idea of everyone can fit in. It’s really open to welcome with open arms every person. You can be as creative as you like, and you will fit in and find your space. The blend and mix is really what is making Tel Aviv so vibrant and creative,” said Mordechai.

After a Q&A session, the group closed out the event by all raising a glass sent to them prior to the event to toast together in unison.

JFNA looks ahead at what 2020 election could mean for Jews

By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor After a tense week, news outlets called the 2020 presidential election for former Vice President Joe Biden. Uncertainty still hangs in the air, however, and certainly it did so on Nov. 6, when the Jewish Federations of North America hosted a Zoom webinar to discuss a post-election analysis before that call had been made.

“What Comes Next? A PostElection Deep Dive” brought together Jewish professionals from across the country to hear about predictions for the future based on the Nov. 3 elections.

Mark Wilf, chair of the JFNA Board of Trustees, opened the morning by expressing his pride in the Jewish community.

“We all know this election was unusually divisive, and we should acknowledge these divisions not going anyway any time soon. We must all agree to work toward the common goal of bringing people together. We need our right flank and our left flank to lock arms to aid non-profits and stem anti-Semitism. We must have faith in the durability of our democracy,”

Wilf said.

CNN commentator Bakari Sellers, fresh from an overnight shift of reporting on poll results, joined the audience to give his professional opinion on how things were shaking out.

“The 50,000-foot-view analysis takeaway is that we are on the verge of a historical moment in this country,” suggested Sellers.

He pointed out two overarching themes that had shaped the election’s outcome: the contrast between not only urban versus rural voters but also between those with and without a college education and the unanticipatedly high turnout of Black voters.

“Our democracy is extremely fragile, and we have taken that for granted,” said Sellers.

Next, JFNA Senior Vice President for Public Affairs Elana Broitman introduced Washington, D.C., Bureau Chief of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency Ron Kampeas.

For Kampeas, the two big surprises of the week were the integrity of polling and the Latino vote in Florida, which many underestimated in their numbers going to President Donald Trump.

“U.S.-Israel relations in

a Biden administration will see substantial change,” said Kampeas. “Joe Biden is intent on re-entering the Iran nuclear deal, but on better terms.”

He added that the Abraham Accords are one area where Biden and his advisors have praised the Trump administration and that “nobody wants to undo them,” although there may be some wrinkles in the deal to iron out. Meanwhile, he predicted there won’t be much change in terms of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict under a Biden administration.

Domestically, Kampeas is hopeful that there will be movement on pandemic assistance and funding for the small business and non-profit sectors. He also believes that security funding is a bipartisan issue with a perceived need for it from both sides of the aisle.

And an emphasis on diminishing bigotry and fighting racism and anti-Semitism should be on the horizon, especially considering the U.S. will have its first Jewish second spouse in Doug Emhoff.

The next webinar guest was the Rev. Dr. Barbara WilliamsSkinner, who is co-convener of the National African American Clergy Network.

“The grievance politics is going to continue, and I think that people of faith—Black people, Jewish people, other people claiming faith as part of their core and tradition—have to see themselves as bridge builders in an active way,” she said.

Aaron Dorfman, president of the Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah, spoke next on the intersection of Judaism and democracy and the nonpartisan work he has been involved with to promote a free and fair election.

Finally, a panel discussion chaired by JFNA President and CEO Eric Fingerhut with Dr. Helene Lotman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, and Neil Meltzer. president and CEO

of LifeBridge Health, a Jewish communal healthcare network in Baltimore, discussed the new administration’s impact on non-profits such as theirs.

David Golder, JFNA’s chair of domestic policy and government affairs, closed the program by emphasizing, “We know every election has an impact. If we are to advance our priorities and address issues like anti-Semitism and security, we must continue the strong public affairs efforts at JFNA.” He announced that there will be a virtual mission to Washington, D.C., on Feb. 1-2 with opportunities to meet with top leaders of both sides of the congressional aisle and in the presidential administration.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | DECEMBER 2020 5

Mentalist mystifies at The Main Event

By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor On the evening of Oct. 25, 100 households from the Lehigh Valley Jewish community gathered together via Zoom for The Main Event: Sidney Friedman’s Virtual Impossibilities.

Greeted with jazz music, Federation President Gary Fromer gave the introduction to the exciting evening.

“To see the level of effort to make sure that the communities we touch are able to continue has been a great blessing for me and an honor, and it’s something to celebrate,” Fromer told the crowd. Then they watched a video highlighting the message “We are interdependent.”

Robby Wax, this year’s Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs co-chair, took a turn welcoming the audience as well, announcing that at that time

$50,000 had already been raised toward the Federation’s $180,000 goal for a human services relief fund that would respond to the needs for emergency financial aid, food, and mental and physical health and safety brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. All increased donations and new gifts will be matched through the end of the year to help reach this goal.

Country Meadows Retirement Communities, the premier sponsor for the evening, showed a video highlighting their connection to the community.

The main event of the Main Event, however, was when psychic and mentalist Sidney Friedman took over the screen from Chicago.

There were some words Friedman wanted to focus on for the evening: “impossible, unattainable and incon-

6 DECEMBER 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

ceivable.” Those were all words, he said, that people might apply to both his act and to the goals of Federation.

“Make the unbelievable believable for your community, the entire globe and our beloved Israel, that is what the Federation does,” said Friedman.

But, he worked hard to show that those words did not actually apply to either, commending the efforts of Federation’s leadership and donors, and amazing the crowd from 700 miles away. Choosing names randomly from the guest list, Friedman showed why he has been called the country’s leading mentalist.

“How could he do that?” one audience member exclaimed.

Gavriel Siman-Tov, Federation’s new community shaliach, also showed off a trick of his own as an intermission after sharing that he had dabbled in magic as well.

Friedman ended the night with a special feat that he said took him years to perfect and which he claims only he has been able to showcase. Asking for two random numbers from two different people and matching them up with the ranking on the all-time Billboard Top 100 chart, he was able to successfully play on his piano the corresponding songs. Encouraging everyone to sing along, the event closed out with singing of “Sweet Caroline” and a mystified crowd.

If you haven’t yet made your pledge to the 2021 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs, you can do so online at www.jewishlehighvalley.org and have your new or increased gift matched through the end of the year.

On the Same Page Book Club to hold last meeting of the year

Author Dara Horn All are invited to the On the Same Page Book Club, which reads books and joins in virtual dialogue with a group from the Lehigh Valley’s Partnership2Gether community in Yoav, Israel.

The last meeting of the year will take place virtually via Zoom on Sunday, Dec. 27, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. They will be a discussing a short story by Dara Horn entitled “Shtetl World.” (Read it at www.commentarymagazine.com/ articles/horn-dara/shtetl-world) Further information will be sent to participants in advance of the meeting on the discussion themes of “the American Jewish fascination with Fiddler and all other Teviahs” and “searching for authenticity in all the right places.”

To register, visit www.jewishlehighvalley. org or e-mail mailbox@jflv.org.

Moments in Jewish History series kicks off with a trip to ancient Babylonia

By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor On Nov. 9, a seven-part “Moments in Jewish History” series kicked off, co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and the Berman Center for Jewish Studies at Lehigh University.

Aaron Gorodzinsky, director of campaign and security planning for Federation, opened the evening by marking the 83rd anniversary of Kristallnacht.

“Today we are getting together to study the history of the Jewish people, ready to learn,” he said.

Dr. Hartley Lachter, director of the Berman Center, introduced the 40 Zoom participants to the evening’s speaker, Dr. Dustin Nash of Muhlenberg College.

Nash is currently an assistant professor of religious studies and the interim director of Jewish studies there.

He earned his doctorate in Near Eastern studies from Cornell University, and he is an expert in many ancient

languages and focuses on assyriology, the study of the culture and history of ancient Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia covers what is in large part modern day Iraq, as well as Turkey, Eastern syria and the western edges of Iran.

“You may wonder why a civilization admittedly so removed from Israel is important to a discussion of Jewish history,” Nash said. “That lies in the region’s cultural prestige and political dominance.

Long before Israel arrived, the Mesopotamians had invented writing, geometry, astronomy, empire and urbanization. It had already spread its influence as far afield as Egypt, the other superpower of the time.”

By studying ancient Mesopotamian texts, Nash said that we can gain insights into ancient Israel.

“Regardless of the geographical distance, the relationship between Israel and these cultures was actually quite close. They shared a cultural world,” he explained.

BIG holds virtual interfaith Thanksgiving service

Going on to compare passages from the Hebrew bible with those from Mesopotamian prayers and political propaganda, Nash pointed out similarities between them that give clues to better understanding the bible.

“Mesopotamian sources allow us to reexamine biblical material from another perspective. This provides a window into assumptions and biases of the biblical authors in a way that otherwise would just not be possible,” said Nash.

One such topic is that of scribes.

“Who are these scribes?

How did they learn to write?”

Nash asked. “The Hebrew bible remains frustratingly quiet in that regard. But there is a wealth of education about scribes in Mesopotamia and evidence Israel would have been very similar.”

Audience members had an opportunity to do a Q&A session with Nash at the end of his presentation.

Additional programs will take place on Nov. 23, Dec. 8, Feb. 16, March 24, April 21 and May 4.

To sign up for the series, visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org.

Cost is $54/household, and recordings of past talks will be available.

By Carol Burns Bethlehem Interfaith Group On Sunday, Nov. 15, the Bethlehem Interfaith Group (BIG) held a “Thanksgiving Service of Healing & Unity,” a virtual gathering for the community. Streamed over YouTube from 4 to 5 p.m., it was free and open to the public. Representatives from more than 20 houses of faith and religious organizations were featured in the video.

“As we did last year, we are coming together to give thanks, especially in this year of so many challenges,” said Rabbi Michael Singer of Congregation Brith Sholom, spokesperson for the group. “It is a time to focus on healing and unity in our community, and we hope to promote and inspire that with this event.”

The service included representation from many different faiths, with prayers, reflections and music as part of the service.

BIG was formed in 2017 when local faith leaders recognized the importance of providing a different kind of vision, where people of diverse faith backgrounds could foster dialogue and seek common ground. The group’s focus is on education, justice and friendship.

To access a replay of the service, go to the YouTube link at bit.ly/2TyXYJh. HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | DECEMBER 2020 7

FLASH90

Palestinian Authority restores ties, security cooperation with Israel

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a meeting of the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank city of Ramallah, August 18, 2020.

The Palestinian Authority decided to restore ties with Israel after it cut-off relations with Israel in May because of plans to apply sovereignty to parts of Judea and Samaria.

Palestinian officials said on Nov. 17 that the decision opens the way to free up tax revenue collected by Israel for the P.A., reported the AP. Hussein al-Sheikh, a senior Palestinian official and aide to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, tweeted: “The relationship with Israel will return to how it was” after “official written and oral letters we received” confirming Israel’s commitment to past agreements.

Two Palestinian officials were quoted by the AP as saying all cooperation with Israel would be restored, including security coordination.

Israel’s plan to apply sovereignty was put off in September in exchange for normalization of relations with the United Arab Emirates.

Hamas, the terror group that runs the Gaza Strip, shot back against the P.A., calling the move a “stab in the back,” according to the report.

IN HONOR HANNAH AND RABBI NISSAN ANDREWS In honor of the birth of your new baby boy Vicki Wax SHERYL AND RANCE BLOCK In honor of the birth of your grandson, Austin Lalak Wendy and Ross Born Beth and Howard Kushnick KIRA AND RICHARD BUB In honor of daughter Michaela’s Bat Mitzvah Aliette and Marc Abo Marlene and Arnan Finkelstein Beth and Wesley Kozinn SARA-JANE AND DAVID BUB In honor of son Max’s Bar Mitzvah Aliette and Marc Abo Marlene and Arnan Finkelstein Beth and Wesley Kozinn Carole and Michael Langsam SYLVIA AND SAM BUB In honor of grandson Max’s Bar Mitzvah and granddaughter Michaela’s Bat Mitzvah Aliette and Marc Abo Marlene and Arnan Finkelstein Beth and Wesley Kozinn Carole and Michael Langsam EILEEN AND ROBERTO FISCHMANN In honor of the birth of your grandson Aliette and Marc Abo LISA AND BARNET FRAENKEL In honor of the birth of your granddaughter Aliette and Marc Abo ROBERTA AND LEWIS GAINES In honor of your granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah Aliette and Marc Abo

RHODA AND LENNY GLAZIER In honor of your 70th wedding anniversary Wendy and Ross Born AARON GORODZINSKY In honor of being chosen as a Charles Bronfman Israel Policy Forum Atid Convener 2020 Carol and Barry Halper BONNIE AND BOBBY HAMMEL In honor of your overwhelming generosity in support of the JCC Sybil and Barry Baiman BONNIE AND BOBBY HAMMEL In honor of receiving the JCC Extraordinary Service Award Aliette and Marc Abo RABBI YAACOV AND DEVORAH HALPERIN In honor of your son Zevy’s Bar Mitzvah Aliette and Marc Abo LAUREN AND DORON RABIN In honor of son Max’s Bar Mitzvah Aliette and Marc Abo JANE SCHIFF In honor of grandson Ari’s Bar Mitzvah Sybil and Barry Baiman RICHARD SCHIFF In honor of grandson Ari’s Bar Mitzvah Sybil and Barry Baiman BARBARA AND FRED SUSSMAN In honor of your granddaughter Dahlia’s Bat Mitzvah Sybil and Barry Baiman VICKI WAX In honor of your birthday Bonnie and Bobby Hammel

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IN MEMORY SISTER, BETTY (Sister of Stanley Benzel) Elaine and Leon Papir GERALD BERMAN (Uncle of Nancy and Michael Busch) Pam and Greg Silverberg ALAN BLACK (Husband of Donna Black) Ann and David Packman CHAD OBENSKI (Son of Martina and Mike Obenski) Wendy and Ross Born Pam and Greg Silverberg MARTHA SEGEL (Wife of Ron Segel, mother of Brian Segel and Julie Segel Mendelson) Rita and Michael Bloom Karen and Peter Kelli and Donald Elsenbaumer Ann and Gene Ginsberg Stephanie and Bob Kricun Carole and Alan Kushnir Lehigh Valley Regional Realty/ Keller Williams Real Estate Elaine Lerner Ann and David Packman Lota and Robert Post Joshua Wolff and Lillian Wolff HELEN AND SOL KRAWITZ HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FUND HONOR ILENE AND EDWARD O’BRIEN In honor of the birth of your granddaughter, Shirley Rose Lynda and Stuart Krawitz We gratefully acknowledge those individuals who have offered expressions of friendship through recent gifts to the Lehigh Valley Jewish Foundation. The minimum contribution for an Endowment Card is $10. Call 610-821-5500 or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org to place your card requests. Thank you for your continued support.

Bring the light of real love to the world

CANTOR ELLEN SUSSMAN Temple Shirat Shalom Here we are in the midst of the pandemic, and it will be a while until we can resume our normal activities.

David and I are alone for Thanksgiving, and we will be alone for Chanukah.

That is the worst part of the pandemic, being separated from loved ones. I am the Jewish clergy on staff at Country Meadows Adult Living. I went every week to discuss with my friends the holidays, Torah and anything else that would come up. We had a fantastic time. Our discussions were meaningful, interesting and great fun. When the pandemic started, I was unable to go, and I have not been back since. That was a loss for all for us. One of the residents told me not to come back yet. As much as she wanted to see me, I shouldn’t put myself in any

Jonathan Sacks Continues on page 9

JTA op-ed in January.

“Anti-Semitism has little to do with Jews — they are its object, not its cause — and everything to do with dysfunction in the communities that harbor it,” he wrote.

In 2017, in a widely circulated YouTube video, Sacks called anti-Zionism a new form of anti-Semitism, arguing that it denies Jews the “right to exist collectively with the same rights as everyone else.”

The video was based on a 2016 speech Sacks delivered in Brussels, which is widely seen as having paved the way to Britain’s adoption later that year of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism.

But the video went far beyond political and academic circles, and became symbolic of Sacks’ ability to reach mainstream audiences. Rachel Riley, a famous British Jewish game show television host, last year shared the video, telling her over 600,000 Twitter followers that it is “the best explanation of antiSemitism I’ve seen.”

Sacks branched out beyond religious and Jewish cultural thought as well. In 2017 he delivered a TED Talk about “facing the future without fear” and

danger. She also told me she told her daughter not to come. This is the kind of behavior of a real mother; willing to sacrifice for the good of her children. I was very touched by her actions.

We have been asked to sacrifice for the good of the country, wear a mask, stay home during these holiday seasons and be careful if we must go out.

How to get through these times? To keep my connection to Country Meadows, I have been writing letters to all my friends there every week.

They look forward to it, and I enjoy writing them. We at Temple Shirat Shalom continue to have Zoom services and Torah study.

I have officiated at Zoom lifecycle events. I also Zoom with friends and family.

David and I hike, walk and exercise on our Peloton bike.

I take classes online, and I have taken outdoor spin classes at the JCC. The days seem to pass one into the other. There are days that I become despondent. But there are times that the most unlikely things move me. I have been watching a lot of TV and have found some of it uplifting.

One of the shows that I found to be surprisingly profound is “Schitt’s Creek.”

It is the story of a marginally Jewish family who lose all their wealth. On a lark many years before, they bought a town called Schitt’s Creek,

and now that is their only asset and the only place left to go. They end up living in this out of the way “hick” town residing in two rooms of a motel. The parents have one room, and the adult children, a boy and a girl, sleep together in another.

The daughter begins as a vapid, silly, 20-somethingyear-old—a self-centered, unfocused child. The son is a neurotic, selfish, young man.

The mother is a self-centered fading actress, and the father is an emotionally clueless but kind individual. They are the proverbial fish out of water.

They are sophisticated but do not know how to show or accept love in a normal way. They never understood the value of community.

Their understanding of love was transactional. The beauty of the show is that they are totally transformed by human kindness. I loved seeing how people can change when they are met with acceptance and love.

We all live in a wonderful community where many of our leaders care and are willing to help. We have institutions that have been adapting as we continue to be supportive of each other.

This month, we will celebrate Chanukah, our Festival of Lights. Let us take that opportunity to reach out to our friends and neighbors and truly bring light into the world.

Be well, stay safe and Chag Sameach Chanukah!

what he called a “fateful moment” in Western history after the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, citing Thomas Paine and anthropologists to make an argument about returning a culture of togetherness.

Born in London in 1948, Sacks studied at Cambridge University. While a student there in the '60s, he visited Rabbi Menachem Schneerson — the spiritual leader who is credited with turning the Hasidic Chabad-Lubatvitch movement into a powerful organizing force of Jewry around the world — in New York City. Sacks credits that meeting with inspiring him to get involved with Jewish studies, as he detailed in a series of videos for Chabad.org in 2011.

He became the rabbi of the Golders Green synagogue in London’s most Orthodox neighborhood in the late '70s and then rabbi of the Marble Arch synagogue in central London.

The U.K. Board of Deputies of British Jews President Marie van der Zyl also released a statement.

“Rabbi Sacks was a giant of both the Jewish community and wider society. His astounding intellect and courageous moral voice were a blessing to all who encountered him in person, in writing or in broadcast,” van der Zyl said.

Sacks is survived by his wife Elaine, three children and several grandchildren.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | DECEMBER 2020 9

FoodFestFaire brings community together for JFS

By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor On Sunday, Nov. 8, supporters of Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley were guests to an all-day virtual festival that left mouths watering and hearts warmed.

Thanks to the generosity of dozens of sponsors, the event raised funds to support the JFS’s Community Food Pantry and their signature Mazel Meals program.

Starting at 11 a.m., a new video was posted every half hour on both the JFS website and Facebook page. Featuring a number of volunteers showing off their skills in the kitchen through cooking demonstrations, viewers of the virtual food film fest also got the opportunity to learn more about the work of JFS

10 DECEMBER 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

and the community members who make that possible through giving of their time and talents. Those who liked and shared the videos were entered into a drawing to win prizes.

Then, at 4 p.m., ticket holders gathered around their computers for the Food Pantry Throwdown. Event co-chair Marcia Berkow welcomed the guests and reminded them why they were there.

“Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley, guided

by Jewish values, helps individuals and families live healthier, more stable lives.

The vision of Jewish Family service is that no one in our community should suffer hunger, isolation, abandonment, emotional or physical distress, or lack of community support and caring. For the past four decades, JFS has served the whole community with the belief that if we can help one person in need, we are helping us all,” said Berkow.

Her co-chair Susan Sosnow added, “Since the start of Covid, we have expanded sections of our pantry dedicated to providing a wider selection of foods for people with diabetes, allergies such as celiac, and a robust kosher-only section to meet the needs of all people experiencing food insufficiency.”

Sosnow then introduced the host of the event, committee member Naomi Schachter. Schachter explained the concept of the Throwdown: members of the local community who love to cook were given a box of ingredients from the kosher section of the Community Food Pantry and challenged to come up with their own signature dish. They were judged on how well they incorporated the given ingredients, creativity and taste.

“I’d just like to remind everyone that, while we hope they have enjoyed getting great ideas for their next meal from the videos, this isn’t just about fun, but

that all of our cooks gave of their time, energy and talent to benefit our community through the work of JFS, who is committed to tikkun olam,” said Schachter.

Three rounds of the competition had taken place through social distancing with proper safety measures in place and were prerecorded. Schachter got a chance to chat with each of the three contestants in each round live after their videos were shown. She also was on-screen with some of the judges asking about what stood out to them through the whole process of getting to taste each dish.

At the end, the winners were announced. For the amateur home cook round who prepared appetizers, the contestants were Terrence Baker, Jane Levine and Judith Rodwin. Baker won with his tuna croquettes, a recipe inspired by his father.

For round two, professional chefs Leslie Goldsmith, Mary Grube and Eric Rappaport faced off to create the best entree, with Rappaport coming in first. And in the final dessert round, each of the three local junior chefs received a special prize for the area in which they individually stood out. Thalia Levine won Most Creative, Shelby Tenzer earned Most Innovative Use of Basket Ingredients, and Jackson Bub was named Best Overall Execution.

JFS President Rabbi Allen Juda and JFS Executive Director Debbie Zoller both gave closing thank-yous to the audience, reflecting on the importance of the day.

Sponsors of The Great JFS FoodFestFaire also received an exclusive cookbook made up of over 250 favorite vegetarian recipes from members of the Lehigh Valley Jewish community. Cookbooks as well as JFS aprons are still available with a donation to the fundraiser.

To see videos and donate, visit www.jfslv.org/foodfestfaire.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | DECEMBER 2020 11

YAD meets new shaliach for fall fun On Oct. 29, the Federation's Young Adult Division got together with the community's new shaliach, Gavriel Siman-Tov, for some socially distant pumpkin carving. It was a great chance to get acquainted and be social in a safer way.

HAPPY CHANUKAH! May your season of light be peaceful and prosperous.

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Maktot: The best-known beach game in Israel

By Gavriel Siman-Tov Community shaliach What does this word even mean? It is a name of a game.

A game that can be defined as Israel’s national game.

The first time I heard about this game was when I was a little kid. I went with my parents to the beach in Tel Aviv, and I immediately went to play in the sand. A few minutes later, my dad pulls out of his bag two rackets, which look like more round and smaller tennis rackets or large ping pong rackets or some weird combination between the two.

Dad gave me one matka (the name in Hebrew for this racket) and told me to stand in front of him and took a few steps back. Then he took out a rubber ball which is used

in this game, and started explaining how to play. In this game, there are no winners or losers; the only goal is to keep passing the ball while cooperating with each other in order to succeed. It was hard at first to hit the ball and even more to aim, but I kept playing and fell in love with this game. From then until today, every time I go to the beach, I take my matkot with me, to be ready to play.

If you find yourself walking on the beach in Israel and you do not hear the noise of the ball jumping from matka to matka, if you are walking on the beach and do not see pairs of people playing matkot, you probably got on the wrong flight and you are not in Israel.

Matkot is such a popular game that matkot competitions are held every year, and there is even one unique and special Matkot Museum, which is located in one of Tel Aviv’s most beautiful and pastoralist neighborhoods. This museum

is not an ordinary museum.

You don’t have to buy a ticket in order to go in, and when you look at the building, you are not going to think “that’s a museum.” That’s because this museum is located in an ordinary apartment, of one of the most well-known matkot players in Tel Aviv. Amnon's apartment—or rather I should say the Matkot Museum—is full of hundreds of types of matkot, some ancient, some signed by celebrities, and some real works of art.

I personally visited the museum many years ago, and I must point out that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, to enter someone's apartment that is full of history, the history of the matkot, this game you will see people play on every single beach in Israel.

So next time you're in Israel, or when the weather gets a little warmer, let's go play matkot together, and you can get to know the best-known beach game in Israel a little better!

ISRAELI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

1st UAE flight and delegation to Israel herald a new age

Hats hailing the first official UAE visit to Israel, at Ben-Gurion International Airport, October 20, 2020.

By Abigail Klein Leichman Israel21c “We are making history in a way that will stand for generations,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said upon the first official visit from the United Arab Emirates on Oct. 20.

An historic trilateral summit was held at Ben-Gurion International Airport with delegations from the UAE and the United States.

“This is your first visit to Israel, and because of the corona limitations, we cannot show you our beautiful country, but I expect to have many more visits so that we can [get to] know each other,” said Netanyahu. “I already invite you to an additional trip as soon as this corona disease disappears from our world, and with our collaboration, it will disappear faster.”

The Emirati leaders revealed plans to open an embassy in Tel Aviv.

U.S. International Development Finance Corp.

CEO Adam S. Boehler announced the establishment of a $3 billion trilateral regional development fund based in Jerusalem, focused on projects “that promote economic cooperation and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa.”

Four agreements signed by Israeli and the UAE government ministers at the summit provide for: the advancement and protection of investments between the two governments; future cooperation in science and technology; mutual direct civilian flights and flights through Abu Dhabi connecting Israelis to Asian destinations; and a mutual exemption on visas for both tourist and business travelers.

The delegation also toured an Israeli space technologies exhibition set up at the airport in their honor.

The summit capped an historic week. On Oct.13, the first cargo ship from Abu Dhabi docked in Haifa, bearing iron, firefighting equipment, cleaning equipment and electronic equipment. Weekly shipments from the UAE are expected to lower the cost of living in Israel, as imported items from afar carry high tariffs.

On Oct. 18, two planes took off from Israel – one with the first official business delegation to the UAE and the second with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Israel National Security Council head Meir Ben-Shabbat to Bahrain, where eight MOUs were signed regarding future cooperation.

On Oct. 19, the first commercial flight of Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, arrived at Ben-Gurion International Airport. The Emirati crew descended from the Boeing 787 Greenliner waving UAE and Israeli flags.

“If someone had told me a few months ago that I would stand and make a speech here in Tel Aviv, I wouldn’t have believed it,” said the plane’s captain, Abdallah Salah. “But our heroic leaders have made it possible. I hope the day will come when all people live in peace and harmony.”

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HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | DECEMBER 2020 15

NASA

Israel to send second astronaut into space

Above, The Earth's horizon pictured as the International Space Station orbited above the north Pacific near Alaska's Aleutian Islands.

Left, Eytan Stibbe, Israel’s next astronaut.

GPO

By Abigail Klein Leichman Israel21c In about a year, Israel will send its second astronaut into space.

Former fighter pilot Eytan Stibbe will be trained in the United States, Germany and Russia before taking off from Florida in December

2021 for a 200-hour stay on the International Space Station (ISS).

This mission will be the first to the ISS manned entirely by private astronauts.

Stibbe is donating his time and all costs of the journey, including expenses related to the experiments to be chosen for him to bring into space

designed by Israeli scientists, entrepreneurs and students.

The announcement was made today at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem by the Ramon Foundation, the Israel Space Agency and the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology.

Ran Livne, CEO of the foundation, will lead the project. He plans on special broadcasts from the space mission for Israeli children, including dozens of demonstrations, experiments and live calls from the ISS with schoolchildren across the country.

Israel’s first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, died in the explosion of the Space Shuttle Columbia in February 2003. Receiving his pilot wings in 1978, Stibbe flew under Ramon’s command in the 117 F-16 squadron.

Ramon’s son Tal said that Stibbe “and his family escorted us through the years through everything we went through, the good and the bad, and their family has become our family.”

Stibbe, a founding board member of the Ramon Foundation, said its mission is “to see how space research can heighten the senses, spark our curiosity and

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At Country Meadows, we’re keeping retirement living enjoyable while taking all possible precautions. We’re making sure our residents are staying safe and getting the support they need. And, we’re finding new ways to help them stay connected and enjoy life.

Our residents can safely socialize with friends, share family visits and stay active. If you have questions about how retirement living can be vibrant and safe at the same time or would just like more information, please contact us today at CountryMeadows.com.

even challenge our wildest imagination. I hope that our mission to space will open new channels of cooperation, peace and belief in our ability to look after our beautiful planet for future generations.”

Now a colonel in the IAF reserves, and a grandfather, Stibbe founded Vital Capital Fund and has focused on impact investing in developing countries for the past 35 years. He is a founder of the Center for African Studies at Ben-Gurion University, and serves on the boards of several education, arts and culture organizations.

“The International Space Station is one of the greatest points of cooperation in the world, where astronauts from many countries live and work together,” Stibbe said. “This is the kind of fellowship that is so vital, particularly at this time as we deal with the coronavirus crisis.”

President Reuven Rivlin called it “a day of national celebration and immense pride. An Israeli pilot, with a blue-and-white flag embroidered on his uniform, is proving once again, as we have proved here over the last 72 years, that even the skies are no limit.”

Staying safe Staying connected Staying social

Photos of residents, summer 2020

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Jewish Agency launches JReady, the Jewish Emergency Network

Ruth Bader Ginsburg to get a statue in her native Brooklyn

The Jewish Agency for Israel

The late Jewish Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is getting her own statue in her native Brooklyn.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo named the members of a commission in October that would oversee the installation of a statue honoring Ginsburg, who died Sept.

18.

Cuomo said in a statement that the statue would be somewhere in Brooklyn, the New York City borough where she grew up.

“Her legacy as a jurist, professor, lawyer and scholar will endure for generations and we are honored to erect a permanent statue in memory of Justice Ginsburg,” Cuomo said. “Lord knows she deserves it.”

The New York Times reported that there are a number of other initiatives to honor Ginsburg, including a bronze statue to be erected next year at a Brooklyn development. New York City has also named a municipal building in Brooklyn for Ginsburg.

Among the 19 people Cuomo named to the commission are Ginsburg’s daughter Newspaper_ads v2final.pdf and hofreid_20_007_Hakol two granddaughters; Irin Carmon, the 1

The Jewish Agency for Israel recently launched JReady, “the Jewish Emergency Network,” an initiative designed to assist Jewish communities in dealing with the challenging consequences of the COVID-19 crisis, as well as other emergencies, including the uptick in antiSemitic hate crimes around the world.

Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac Herzog and CEO Amira Ahronoviz decided to establish JReady in response to the devastation the pandemic has caused in global Jewish communities, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Jews and a deep economic crisis that led to the collapse of vital community institutions. The pandemic brought a significant increase in the number of Jews in need, harmed the Jewish education system and affected the entire fabric of community life.

The JReady platform was developed by The Jewish Agency in collaboration with a group of volunteer experts who have been assisting Israel in dealing with COVID-19. The Jewish Agency has recruited additional partners for this effort, including the Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod, the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and other government ministries, the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, the National Emergency Authority at the Ministry of Defense, the IDF Home Front Command, Tel Aviv University and civil society organizations.

JReady’s advisory committee is headed by former Member of Knesset Ayelet Nahmias Verbin and includes prominent figures such as Haim Bibas, Mayor of Modi’in-MaccabimReut, who also serves as head of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel and the Weizmann Institute of Science’s Prof. Eli Waxman, who headed Israel’s National Security Council’s Committee on Combating the Pandemic.

JReady is already assisting

Jewish communities, including those in Italy, South Africa and Peru, in coping with the pandemic. The groundwork is being set to assist the response to future crises by sharing information, experience and technological capabilities accumulated in Israel and in global communities. JReady is also working with communities to build resilience infrastructures by training local organizations and professionals in emergency preparedness, trauma and rehabilitation.

As part of the initiative, a first-of-its-kind digital platform was developed to enable Jewish communities to use and share knowledge in crisis and emergency situations. The toolbox includes: best practices, dedicated courses for community emergency managers, webinars and training with professionals, volunteer management, a chat forum and access to advanced research and technologies, such as the Haggai App, an Israeli app for food distribution to those in need, and a Belgian methodology to alleviate loneliness among the elderly.

JReady connects top professionals in Israel and worldwide who are managing the battle against COVID-19, such as heads of local authorities, school principals, nursing home administrators, experts in resilience and trauma and more.

To date, The Jewish Agency has conducted numerous webinars in various countries on emergency preparedness and has held joint meetings between dozens of professionals from Israel and their counterparts in other countries.

We invite you to share your knowledge and expertise with other Jewish communities at Jready.org.

By Ron Kampeas Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the United States Supreme Court, Dec. 3, 1993.

Jewish journalist and Ginsburg biographer who helped make popular Ginsburg’s latein-life sobriquet, “Notorious RBG”; Nina Rotenberg, the Jewish NPR judiciary reporter who was a close friend of Ginsburg’s; and a number of her former clerks.

Cuomo also named five honorary members of the commission, including Hillary Clinton, Ginsburg’s colleague on the Supreme Court bench Sonia Sotomayor, and Gloria Steinem, the pioneering Jewish 3/28/20 12:34 AM feminist.

Editor’s note: The Jewish Agency for Israel is an overseas partner of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | DECEMBER 2020 17

PARTNERSHIP2GETHER UPDATE FROM YOAV

Getting ready for Chanukah and more in Yoav

By Nurit Galon Partnership2Gether With the glimmer of hope raised by the possibility of

ps are just as s themselves.

a vaccine for Corona, there is perhaps some cause for optimism—though I doubt if anyone would like to bet on it!

But at least we have Chanukah just around the corner—always a sign for cheering us up at the thought of tempting, tasty dough-

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nuts, greasy but delicious latkes, lighting the Chanukah candles and telling as we have done for centuries what is so special about Chanukah and the encouragement it gives us about our ability to withstand hardship and overcome very serious difficulties. And in the midst of hardships and uncertainty, the Jewish people will once again stand together and celebrate, for without a doubt, we still have much to celebrate!

In the towns and cities, because of Corona and all the "don'ts" which accompany it, Chanukah decorations, special foods and lights will be more subdued this year, but most families will make the effort to give every day the Chanukah geld (money) and little presents to celebrate the miraculous oil that burned eight days.

In the communities of Yoav, this is no less so. Whilst there are traditional foods and candle lighting, the running of the heirs of the Maccabees ending in the lighting of the community Channukia has also become a part of Chanukah. All the children take part, waving their lit torches that they have made themselves, and beginning their run in Park Britannia, a few kilometers from the gate of the kibbutz. In the park, the torches are passed on to seventh-graders who lead the way back to the kibbutz where they are all met by members of Beit Guvrin with cheers and songs and of course the doughnuts!

Throughout the Chanukah holiday, across Israel and, of course, Yoav, the Chanukkia lights will shine brightly from the towers of each community reaffirming for all to see: "The spirit of the Maccabbees is alive and well no matter what difficulties we face."

Kibbutz Galon held its annual Galgalon bicycle run recently with virtually most of the kibbutz members and children taking part—the fields were indeed alive with the sound of music and

bicycles, corkinettes and electric bicycles and even baby carriages. Because of the Coronavirus, the Galgalon was more limited this year, but nevertheless anyone of whatever age who could ride any sort of vehicle took part enthusiastically!

Out of necessity, our communities in Yoav have bomb shelters and safe rooms scattered around the houses and buildings, and they can look pretty grim. So the Bat/ Bar Mitzvah class in Moshav Segula decided to brighten things up and paint the buildings with cheerful and creative pictures. Guided by Mazzal Malca (a member of the Steering Committee of Partnership 2Gether) and Osnat Elichai from Segula, the group turned what was a rather dark reminder of ongoing security measures into a bright and pleasant area.

In the Yoav-Lehigh Valley Partnership, one of the many important aims is the building of personal contact between families, adults and children.

The project "Under the Same Moon," begun some years ago, continues to expand each year with direct contact between families, and it is always a thrill to receive mail and more from your very own family of pen pals! Want to have your own family, too? Please contact Federation Director of Campaign and Security Planning Aaron Gorodinsky at aaron@jflv.org.

Around this time of year, our 12th grade students are beginning to prepare for their army service. This is an enormously meaningful time both for the students and their families. How does this affect the young people of Yoav, their families and their communities? More on this subject in the next edition of HAKOL. Meanwhile, we wish the whole Lehigh Valley Jewish community good health, and when we light our Chanukah candles, we know that we do so together with you! Chag Chanukah Sameach!

Where are they now?

Catching up with past Yoav teen counselors

By Annette Mashi Partnership2Gether The Yoav-Lehigh Valley Partnership2Gether reflects on 17 successful summers of Yoav teen delegations to the Lehigh Valley. Sixty-eight Yoav teens, many of whom traveled to the U.S. for the first time, facilitated Israel programming and forged great friendships with the campers, their families and the staff at Camp JCC. Similarly, deep connections were made with the Jewish families in the Lehigh Valley who generously hosted the teens, as well as with the families of the teens in Yoav.

The ever-widening circle of lives impacted by this flagship Partnership2Gether project continues.

"Where Are They Now?" will periodically highlight several Yoav teens from the past 17 delegations and include updates on their lives today and memories and insights as to how their experience connecting with and living with Jews outside of Israel influenced and impacted them.

Readers are invited to reconnect and share their memories and photographs on the Partnership2Gether Facebook page or write to the editor of HAKOL (sbolmer@jflv.org). Don't forget to mention who you remember from Yoav and how you got to know them, including the year you met.

Noa Lumbroso From Kfar Harif, Israel, participated in the 2019 delegation, hosted by the Levin, Lipson, Bush and Pinsley families.

Noa Lumbroso, part of the delegation in 2019, is currently involved with the Jewish Agency for opportunities to work abroad. She fondly looks back at her time in Lehigh Valley where she says she will never forget the last day of camp when she knew the best two months of her life had come to an end. She remembers looking around

at the beautiful camp, the sweet campers and the lovely guides and realizing how much she was going to miss everything. She did not want to go home at all; she just wanted to stay there.

One of the benefits of being a delegate is meeting wonderful people. She is still in touch with one of the mothers from the adoptive families. The mother constantly asks how Noa is and sends sweet pictures of her children. Noa is also in touch with some other counselors through social networks.

Another major benefit of participating in the delegation was Noa’s realization of the enormous importance of the connection between Israel and Jews of the Diaspora.

It made her understand the impact that these ties have and prompted her to continue to be part of the bond.

The whole experience has made Noa more mature and independent. She gained a perspective on life in Israel and the importance of foreign relations.

Why Israel is sending in the clowns — to the COVID ward

By Abigail Klein Leichman Israel21c Arizona resident Carrie Mork contracted COVID-19 while touring Egypt in March. Her symptoms began shortly after her group got to Israel. For the next month she was in a hospital near Tiberias, far from everything familiar.

The doctors and nurses at Poriya Medical Center saved Mork’s life. What saved her sanity were the Dream Doctors therapeutic clowns on Poriya’s staff.

On her second day in the hospital, Mork was asked to come to the window separating the patient area from the medical monitoring area. She saw two clowns waving at her.

“She looked at us, a bit puzzled, and picked up the telephone on the other side,” recalled Shoshi Ofir, aka Dr. Hearta, who’s been working as a medical clown at Poriya for 16 years.

“She asked us if we speak English. I said yes, and she said, ‘What a relief! I need help with something, and I don’t know who to talk to.’

“It’s not that nobody on the staff spoke English. But she felt more comfortable turning to us because no matter the condition of the patient, the clown’s situation is always worse,” said Ofir, referring to the zany appearance that makes a medical clown a purposely unintimidating member of the medical team.

The next day, when Ofir and another Dream Doctor came to the window, “Carrie almost ran to us. We could see her smiling despite her mask.

We played music over the loudspeaker and she was dancing with us on the other side of the window.”

Now recovered, Mork told ISRAEL21c: “Having the Clowns Continues on page 20

Dream Doctor David “Dush” Barashi suited up for the corona ward at Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem.

Idan Nahum From Vardon, Israel, participated in the 2017 delegation, hosted by the Zager, Levin, Zahn and Pinsley families.

2017 was only a few years ago, but Idan Nahum is now serving in the Israeli army.

He’s in an officer’s training course as part of the Human Resources division. Idan chose this path as a direct result of his experience as a delegate. He obtained a strong desire to strengthen his connection with Judaism and Israel by playing a significant role as an officer in the IDF. Being part of the delegation changed his perspective of Judaism and Jews in the world. He feels that we should continue to grow our connections and hopes that after he finishes his military service he will be able to serve the Jewish public as part of the Jewish Agency abroad once again.

Idan remains connected with his adoptive families as well as some of the counselors from the camp. He had special moments with the Levin family when they went to touristy places, to restaurants that were unique and out of the ordinary. Idan really felt like he was given a sense of home with them. The experiences with them were amazing and surreal.

Idan looks back at the time fondly, especially remembering the Israeli Day where there was a feeling of unity and fun for all the campers. It was really great for them to experience the Israeli culture.

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Clowns Continues from page 19

clowns there was really uplifting and gave me something to smile about when I was just not feeling well. Their laughing and acting silly gave me something to look forward to and brightened my day. Shoshi even found out the state song of Arizona and played it for me so I would feel like I was home.”

Dream Doctors Director Tsour Shriqui tells ISRAEL21c that Israel is the only country where medical clowns are still working regular shifts in hospitals since the coronavirus outbreak, and directly with COVID-19 patients.

“Here in Israel, so far only a few hospitals have allowed it, but we expect more to follow. It’s very trailblazing,” he said.

Red nose behind the face shield David “DuSH” Barashi has been a Dream Doctor at Hadassah-Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem for 18 years and has participated in many humanitarian missions abroad.

In June, Hadassah’s management trained Barashi in personal protective equipment (PPE) and hygiene protocols to enter the corona ward; until then he and other staff Dream Doctors had been interacting through a window, as Ofir did at Poriya.

“As far as we know, I was the first clown in the world to go inside a corona ward,” Barashi told ISRAEL21c. He created his own COVID clowning protocols.

“It’s about how to be unique with the mask and the PPE so people understand this is a clown when the silhouette of the clown has disappeared,” he said.

“It’s important for a clown to look unique so people can look at you and laugh. Only then can you start to make a change.”

Hadassah’s Dream Doctors decorate their PPE with stickers and wrap an adult

diaper around their coveralls to look extra ridiculous and non-threatening. Below the cuffed coveralls peek outrageously loud socks and clown shoes encased in disposable covers.

“People know immediately something is wrong with this guy. And then they see the red nose on the N95 mask behind the plastic face shield, and they smile,” Barashi said.

“I use the same techniques with corona patients as in any hospital or disaster zone — a positive dynamic where your body is in a tight balance while you’re playing an imbalanced person,” said Barashi.

“But you have on two masks and a plastic screen, so you need to create communication with people essentially in a huge box. I have to bring a lot of energy to break the walls. I need to speak louder so they can hear me, and I do that in a funny way,” he said.

“We use a lot of black humor with corona patients. It’s all about changing how we look at the reality, through a comic filter. Then we can communicate freely and start talking about anything and everything.”

Since June, the Hadassah Dream Doctors have been ending their day’s shift in the corona ward three times a week, two at a time, and have cheered more than 100 patients.

Waving bubbles Ofir and three other Dream Doctors at Poriya began working inside corona patient rooms on October 1 at the request of the head nurse, who saw how therapeutic the window visits were.

“The nurse said that some patients deteriorate although their vitals seem fine, and it can be the emotional state that brings them down,” said Ofir. “They saw that the patients were much better after our visits.”

So were the staffers. “Often we felt we were there for the medical team as much as for the patients,” said Ofir.

Like Barashi, Ofir developed situation-

Dream Doctors David Barashi and head nurse Carol Salma in the Hadassah corona unit. specific protocols. Even little things must be done differently – like waving the bubble wand instead of blowing into it.

“One of the major issues was to create an intimacy with the person while staying at least 2 meters away, wearing a mask. At our staff meetings, we focused on ways to make the physical distance somehow feel smaller. One thing we did was play music that we both could enjoy.”

Needed and loved Ofir recalls preparing to enter the room of a corona patient who’d suffered a miscarriage and surprisingly tested positive for COVID-19 upon her hospital admission.

“It was so frightening on top of everything else she was going through,” said Ofir. “So we walked in her room and said, ‘You look great!’ And she said, ‘I recognize your voice!’ It turns out she was a nursing student. I give a one-hour lecture each year to nursing students, and somehow she remembered my voice.”

After about 15 minutes with the Dream Doctors, the patient said to Ofir, “Wow,

you told us about medical clowning but now I feel how it really works.”

Ofir came upon another patient having a video call with her kids. She was speaking in Arabic, but it was clear that the mood was “emotional and sad. So I just started singing and dancing and asked her to turn the screen toward me, and I saw all her kids get up and start dancing with me. Her face lit up and the whole mood changed.

“And when you’re in a better mood you breathe easier and everything feels better.”

After Carrie Mork went home, she and “Dr. Hearta” had a video call. “It was the first time we saw one another without masks. We talked for an hour,” said Ofir.

Mork then messaged the Dream Doctor: “I wanted to tell you how healing your phone call was. When I left the hospital, I still had a lot of leftover emotions and our call helped to release them. … Keep being a clown. You are needed and loved.”

To support the work of Israel’s Dream Doctors, visit dreamdoctors.org.il

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March of the Living launches global interfaith initiative to commemorate Kristallnacht

An international campaign titled “Let There Be Light” invited individuals, institutions and houses of worship worldwide to keep their lights on during the night of Nov. 9, 2020.

Jewish News Syndicate A two-day pogrom began on Nov. 9, 1938, during which the Nazis burned more than 1,400 synagogues and Jewish institutions in Germany and Austria.

Indeed, Kristallnacht (“The Night of Broken Glass”) was a critical moment in the chain of events that led to the Holocaust.

This year, March of the Living marked Kristallnacht with a message of unity and hope through an international campaign titled “Let There Be Light.”

The March of the Living is an annual educational program which brings individuals from around the world to Poland and Israel to study the history of the Holocaust. It invited individuals, institutions and houses of worship worldwide to keep their lights on during the night of Nov. 9 as a symbol of solidarity and mutual commitment in the battle against anti-Semitism, racism, hatred and intolerance.

Salomon Korn, head of the Jewish Community Frankfurt am Main in Germany, said “anti-

Semitism and racism threaten our society as a whole; they endanger our values and our democracy. Together, we want to send a signal against the increase of anti-Semitism and hate speech all over the world. We want to raise awareness against growing discrimination and intolerance, and bring the light of humanity in these difficult times.”

As part of this virtual initiative, people of all religions and backgrounds were invited to write personal messages of hope in their own words on the cam-

paign website.

The main synagogue in Frankfurt (one of the few that was not destroyed on Kristallnacht) was illuminated, as well as other places of religious significance across the world. Prayers from the virtual campaign were projected on the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.

Against the backdrop of rising anti-Semitism and racism— last month saw terroristic attacks in France and Austria—and the shadow of COVID-19, these expressions of optimism and unity

hoped to illuminate the world against darkness and hatred.

March of the Living president Phyllis Greenberg Heideman and March of the Living World chair Shmuel Rosenman said “we must use our voices to tell the world that attacks on Jews and non-Jews alike, whether on the basis of religion, race, color or creed, are inexcusable. In the days when synagogues and holy places for various religions are attacked on a regular basis, it is our duty to speak out loudly and clearly.”

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | DECEMBER 2020 21

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