The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community
www.jewishlehighvalley.org
| Issue No. 473 | February 2024 | Shevat / Adar 5784 AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977
An artist formerly of Allentown dreams up a creative way to honor hostages and fallen soldiers in a Haifa exhibit. p6
Winter or not, it’s time to start thinking about summer-summer camp, that is. See our special coverage inside. p16-21 and elsewhere
FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN p3 LVJF TRIBUTES p9 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p12-13 JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p14 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p15 COMMUNITY CALENDAR p23
Lehigh Valley stories from wartime Israel
4 community members share experiences from separate January visits
Since the days right after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, the Lehigh Valley Jewish community has jumped in to help. Donations to the Jewish Federation’s Israel Emergency Campaign are nearing the goal of $1 million. Community members have also visited Israel to see family and friends and help wherever help was needed. In January, four different community members were in Israel on different trips on overlapping days. We asked them to write a bit for us about their personal experiences there. Here’s what they had to say: ERIC LIGHTMAN From January 15 to 18, I joined a group of 40 JCC executives and board members on a fourday solidarity mission to Israel organized by the Jewish Community Centers Association of North America. The purpose of this trip was threefold: 1) to
show support for our friends in Israel, 2) to bear witness to the atrocities of October 7 and the ensuing national trauma, and 3) to return home to share this experience in our home communities. We witnessed firsthand the devastation of places like Sderot, Kibbutz Nir Oz, and the site of the Nova musical festival. We heard from political leaders, including President Isaac Herzog and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. We learned about how community centers are working to provide critical services to displaced families and those who have been impacted by the war. Most of all, we met with the brave family members of those who lost their lives and whose loved ones are still being held hostage in Gaza, and with the dedicated soldiers and reservists who have been deployed for over 100 days to defend the State
of Israel and Jewish people around the world. I was told by an Israeli we met that a picture is worth a thousand words but an experience is worth a thousand pictures. After walking through the burned, ransacked homes of Kibbutz Nir Oz, where 25% of the population was either murdered or taken hostage, I looked at the pictures that I had just taken. Indeed, they did not even begin to tell the story of what I experienced. Israelis are experiencing a level of pain, anger, and fear that is hard to capture or comprehend. But they are also demonstrating unshakeable Eric Lightman, Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley executive direcresilience, unity, and persever- tor, exits a home in Kibbutz Nir Oz in Israel. ance. the safety of all Jewish people. While most of the world has “head of the octopus.” As Diaspora Jews, we must stand Israelis are fighting not only flattened the political issues of side by side with our friends for their own freedom and the Middle East to the conflict in Israel in the fight against security, but for ours as well. between Israel and Palestine, Am Yisrael chai! the reality is a much deeper re- terrorism and antisemitism. The lessons of history have gional agenda of Jewish hate, From here to Israel taught us that a strong State of which Iran is the proverbial continues on page 10 of Israel is necessary to ensure
Super Sunday program promotes post-10/7 mental healing
By Carl Zebrowski Editor
“We’re here to start the mental healing process.” That was Stuart Horowitz’s opening for “Post-October 7: From Trauma to Hope to Resilience—An Introduction to the Intergenerational Approach to Healing,” the presentation for the Maimonides Society Brunch and Learn on January 28, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Super
Sunday. Horowitz, head of the clinical committee of the event’s cosponsor, Jewish Family Service, explained to the Maimonides healthcare professionals and others in the large audience how trauma affects people as individuals and as a community. He talked about the rise of antisemitism that began well before the October 7 Hamas attacks and has only gotten worse. “We know about oppression,” he Non-Profit Organization
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said. Horowitz said the Jewish community feels threatened these days. “At one time, I think we felt safe,” he said. “I don’t think we feel safe anymore.” His co-presenter for the program, Dr. Nadine Bean, recently retired professor of social work at West Chester University, said hope is essential to the healing process. She said she could see it in the auditorium. “There is hope,” she told the crowd. “There is despair going on right now. But there is hope.” Hope helps people move from hurting to healing. “We cannot erase traumatic memories,” Bean continued, “but just as the brain can be hurt, it can be healed, in however small ways.” People must first acknowledge wounding before healing, Horowitz said, then they can start putting the wounds behind them. “We put it in a closet and we know it’s there,
Left to right: PA Representative Michael Schlossberg; Amy Cozze, Lehigh Valley regional manager for U.S. Senator Bob Casey; Dr. Nadine Bean; U.S. Representative Susan Wild; Aaron Gorodzinsky, Federation director of campaign and security planning; and Stuart Horowitz, Jewish Family Service chair of the clinical committee. See more Super Sunday photos on page 10.
but we are not going to obsess over it,” he said. “Every once in a while we can open that closet and take a look.” Then we move on again. Trauma chips away at physical, mental, and emotional well-being, said Bean. It could be a single event or a series of events. It can be
war, an accident, historical or racial, or intergenerational. Intergenerational trauma impacts entire communities and cultures over time. African American enslavement is one example. Centuries of Jewish oppression and the Holocaust Healing Continues on page 2
Healing
Continued from page 1 are another. “Intergeneraltional traumas can have a tremendous impact on longterm health,” said Horowitz. The accumulation of traumatic experiences of all kinds can lead to negative health outcomes. And since discrimination is one of the traumatic experiences that affects entire groups, it is one of the greatest health crises in the United States. A person can experience actual trauma just by hearing about the experience of another. “It’s caused by hurting for others and feeling helpless about how to help,” Bean explained. “After a while it wears on you.” She told the audience that trauma makes physical marks on the brain. “MRIs of the
brain actually show changes in the brain structure,” she said. “Survivors of trauma like the Holocaust may pass on those little brain changes.” Children, then, can inherit a level of fear about their environment. “They grow up thinking people will hurt me,” Bean said. “I am not safe.” This leads to its own long-term negative health outcomes. Children can also carry all sorts of unhealthy effects from their youngest years into adulthood. Incidents known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are common. “Most of us in this room have experienced one or more of these,” Bean said. “Post 10/7, probably everyone in this room has experienced reopening of those traumatic experiences, and they accumulate.” Fortunately, helping to
counteract ACEs during younger years are Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). The main key to childhood resilience, said Bean, is having even just one person who’s on the child’s side unconditionally, “someone who’s irrationally crazy about you.” Next it was time to focus fully on healing. “This is the hopeful part of the presentation,” said Horowitz. “Hope is knowing that we’ve experienced trauma and toxic stress but we still have the potential to experience well- being. We can move on.” Horowitz brought up resilience. “It truly means that we can process these experiences and continue living our lives to the best of our ability despite the struggles we endure,” he explained. Self-care was critical to this, he said. Going on vaca-
tion is one example. Embracing healthy thoughts is another. “Learn from the past and move on,” he said. “We can learn from the lies of antisemitism. We can learn from October 7.” He elaborated Dr. Nadine Bean and Stuart Horowitz. See more Super Sunday photos on page 10. on “narrative development,” hymn. “Prayer and music one of the main steps on the connect us,” he said. “Now path from trauma to healing. sit in the silence a moment.” It refers to talking about trauThe next Maimonides Somatic issues. Bean explained, ciety Brunch and Learn will “We need to look the probbe Sunday, March 10, at 10 lem in the face. This is real.” a.m. in the JCC Kline AuditoHorowitz closed the prerium. Dr. Sam Bub will make sentation by leading the audi- a presentation on the topic ence in a breathing exercise. “Psychedelics,” covering the After several slow breaths history of their use in mediin through the nose and out cine and their current use in through the mouth, he led the treatment of psychiatric a sing-along of a Hebrew illnesses.
Israel update highlights Hezbollah war fears, US support By Carl Zebrowski Editor
When the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley began cosponsoring regular Israel news updates via Zoon from David Horovitz, founder of the news site Times of Israel, there was no war with Hamas. These days, there could hardly be a one-hour briefing on Israel that could cover much else. That brings us to the Israel update for January 22. Horovitz spoke to the Zoom audience about the continuing severity of the situation, with details on the fighting. Alongside that was talk of displaced civilians, economic challenges, and the divisions in Israeli society.
The prospect of long-term security came up as, Horovitz said, Hamas remains a significant force and an existential threat to Israel. He delved into the increasingly tense relationship between the United States and Israel, emphasizing the importance of U.S. assistance. “Broadly speaking,” he explained, “I think Israelis realize that were not for the United States, we would not be able to fight this war, and I mean that diplomatically, to some extent, and practically, to a very, very significant extent.” Yet civilian casualties in the war and the issue of humanitarian aid to Gaza will continue to divide the two countries. Looking to the future, how might the conflict end? The
United States remains committed to a two-state solution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, is skeptical, skeptical of the chance of success for that option in light of the security threats that have remained through the years. The main security threats to Israel right now are from across the border in the northern part of the country involving the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon. “What’s happening now is already something very close to a war,” he said. “Hezbollah is using antitank missiles, which are very accurate from about 5, 6 miles, and firing into people’s homes, and somebody was killed in the north about a week ago, an elderly Israeli
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woman who was having a meal with her son.” Neither side wants an all-out war, he concluded, but the potential for escalation is concerning. Israel is meanwhile in a quandary over whether to allow tens of thousands of Palestinian workers to cross its border legally, as they had done before October 7. There are obvious risks with reinstating that movement, but security officials generally support it. “The economic situation and the hopelessness in the West Bank are going to radicalize more people,” Horovitz said. Horovitz addressed the divisions within Israel, referring to the prewar supreme court ruling to weaken Knesset legislation that disallowed the court from overturning laws because they don’t meet
a “reasonableness” standard. But there have been protests calling for the government to stand down over its handling of the war and potential instability. Meanwhile, municipal elections are scheduled for the end of February, though they will probably be postponed. The results could markedly change local governments. They’ll also be a barometer of the national mood. The war has further slowed down the legal proceedings in Netanyahu’s criminal trial, with the number of hearings per week being cut from three to two. “The glacial pace to conclude them has been a problem,” Horovitz said. “But I think they slowed the process of the trial with understandable reason.” More than 130 hostages still remain in Gaza, and their families continue to be vocal in their pleas to win release. Talks continue, along with reports about deals, but details are unclear. Does Israel meet Hamas’ demands, including for the exchange of Palestinian prisoners? Horovitz isn’t quite sure where Israelis stand on the possibility of such an exchange, with the moral and political dilemmas it raises. But he suspects that if a referendum were presented to the people, they might reluctantly support an exchange for the sake of bringing the Israeli hostages home safely. “I would imagine that Israelis would say yes,” he said. “They would say, ‘These are people who are still alive.’ And Israel will continue to fight Hamas.” The next Israeli update by Horovitz will be at noon on March 11. Look for a Federation upcoming events email closer to the date for a link to register. If you don’t receive the weekly events emails, visit jewishlehighvalley.org/ email-sign-up.
The time of your life...
Despite the cold weather of Jonathan Krasner, a profesand identities within the February, it’s already time to sor of Jewish education at broad American Jewish start thinking about sumBrandeis University. community, aiming to mer camp! Camp is all about Eventually, different demeet the evolving needs of fun and real-world learnnominations, youth groups, Jewish children. There are ing. Going to summer camp and social identities within overnight camp, day camp, helps kids form their Jewish Judaism developed camps to and specialty camp options, identities. In addition to bepromote their own ideolosome of which are reflected ing totally fun, Jewish camp gies, cultures, and ideals, yet in our own community. is a place for young Jews to they all shared a common More broadly, summer learn more about themselves mission: promoting Jewcamp is an opportunity for and their heritage, and to ish life and values. Today, growth and development for explore new aspects of their studies show that attending both children and counselJewish identities. Summer a Jewish summer overnight ors. The camp experience afcamp is often a life-changing camp, such as Pinemere, fords participants the chance experience that helps foster Harlam, Ramah, Moshava, to build new relationships, a sense of pride and Jewish Golden Slipper, and Galil, foster independence and reidentity, but also commuamong many others, is one silience, develop new skills Join us for an exciting series of online P2G movie events that bring together nity. of the strongest predictors of or practice favorite ones, and people for live and thought-provoking discussions, based on prize-winning Jewish camps’ roots took developing a strong Jewmost importantly, contribute short Israeli films. In cooperation with Beit HaAm Films and the World Zionist hold in the late 19th and ish identity in adulthood. to the camp’s own commuOrganization Department of Irgoon and Israelis Abroad. early 20th centuries when Children who attend Jewnity and culture. camps were being develish summer camp are more Camp is an oppor12:00 pm Minneapolis CST oped to help immigrants likely to identify as Jewish tunity forpm children and EST 1:00 Lehigh Valley acculturate to their new adults and actively engage adolescents alike to begin 8:00 pm Israel IST lives in America and expose with their Jewish commuto explore their own identiher big Moroccan family Zohara is the daughter everyone urban Jewish children to nity.InThe experience of livties and blaze their own takes for granted while Oshrit is the beauty who is about to get the outdoors. “Camps were ing in an immersive Jewish paths, henna eitherceremony by attending married. On the day of the traditional agents of Americanization: community has deep and a camper working preceding theawedding, Zoharaas steals Oshrit'sorblessing. Theas mystical power making of this blessing transforms Zohara, bringing her teaching immigrant kids profound impact, a counselor or counselorandlikely changing the dynamicsin-training. of her relationship with her how to play American sports themlove more to practice By attending sister. and encouraging them to Jewish behaviors as adults. one of our local community develop a taste for American Jewish summer camp camps, both campers and 12:00 pm Minneapolis CST cuisine and enjoy popular options continue to reflect counselors learnEST 1:00 pmbegin LehightoValley American pastimes,” said the diversity of lifestyles and experience 8:00the pmthings Israel IST
Sunday, January 21
Sunday, February 18
Ran returns to the kibbutz to visit his father, who has suffered a sudden heart attack. There's been no contact between the two since Ran returned to his religious roots. Driving a rickety Hassidic van, which breaks the way, series Ran is anxious Join down us foralong an exciting of about the impending encounter with his father and theand options online P2G movie viewings for reconciliation.
discussions afterwards!
All showings occur at 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 17
BLESSED Sunday, January 21
REGISTRATION 12:00 pm Minneapolis CST 1:00 pm Lehigh Valley EST REQUIRED 8:00 pm Israel IST
Scan the QR code or visit the link below to register!
The New Jew is a four-episode TV documentary series showcasing TATEH the cultural and political influence of the Jewish community in theSunday, United States, the variety of alternative models it offers for living a rich Jewish life and the rifts in February 18 THE NEW JEWrelations between them and the State of Israel–presented by Guri Alfi, one of Israel's most popular comedians.
Sunday, March 17
The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is proud to make need-based scholarships available for Israel teen and young adult travel and for summer camp for eligible families. These funds are made possible through the VISIT program, the Elaine and Leslie z”l Lerner Israel Scholarship Fund (for young adults), and the generosity of our donors, who provide scholarship support each year. For more information, visit our website jewishlehighvalley.org/ scholarships to apply before March 22, 2024.
HAKOL STAFF CARL ZEBROWSKI Editor CHARLENE RIEGGER Director of Marketing 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. Quotes may be edited for grammar and clarity. 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
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JFLV EXECUTIVE STAFF JERI ZIMMERMAN Executive Director AARON GORODZINSKY Director of Campaign & Security Planning DENISE AHNER Director of Finance & Administration JULIA UMANSKY Director of Gift Planning & EITC LEE SOLOMON Director of Community Engagement ROBBY WAX JFLV President WENDY EDWARDS Office Manager GINGER HORSFORD Donor Services Associate
Phone: (610) 821-5500 Fax: (610) 821-8946 E-mail: hakol@jflv.org
ISRAEL CENTER
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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. IN HONOR ADA DEHTYAR, AARON KARCZMER AND FAMILY Happy New Year! Beth and Edward Posner NIKA DYAKINA, FRANK FAGNANO AND FAMILY Happy New Year! Beth and Edward Posner VERONICA AND VICTOR DYAKINA Happy New Year! Beth and Edward Posner VALERIE KARCHENKO LUCAS, JUSTIN LUCAS AND FAMILY Happy New Year! Beth and Edward Posner YEVA, ALAN AND ELLA POSNER Happy New Year! Beth and Edward Posner
that we, the Lehigh Valley Jewish community, value, such as developing and enhancing specialty skills alongside friends; bonding with Israelis who come to work at camp; and celebrating Shabbat together as a community. Our local camp options are a chance for us to introduce the youngest in our community to the richness and vibrancy that our Jewish community has to offer them, allowing them to experience those things and to see for themselves how loved, welcomed, and valued they are as the future of our community. Jewish day or residential camp experiences enrich the lives of participants and their families now and into the future. Make this a summer to remember!
VALESKA AND ISRAEL ZIGHELBOIM In celebration of your son Ari’s Bar Mitzvah Aaron Gorodzinsky and Jennie Schechner IN MEMORY BOBBY HAMMEL (Husband of Bonnie Hammel, brother of Victor Hammel) Lenny Abrams and Family Beth and Scott Abrams Dolores Delin Cooky Notis Board of Directors, Oheb Zedeck Synagogue Center BEVERLY KAYE (Mother of Sharon Kaye-Hitchen) MHS Girls
TO ORDER TREES, call the JFLV at 610-821-5500 or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org.
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 | FEBRUARY 2024 3
Yoav and Valley Jews view, discuss Israeli film via Zoom
By Carl Zebrowski Editor
Life goes on, even in Israel during the war. That includes the Partnership2Gether Israeli Film Club. Yoni Alon, a soldier serving with the Israel Defense Forces near Israel’s northern border, was host of a January 21 virtual meeting of the club. Members of the Lehigh Valley Jewish community and its sister Partnership2Gether community of Yoav, Israel, joined others in both countries via Zoom to view the award-winning Israeli short film “Blessed” and discuss it in English afterward. “You might hear an alarm go off,” Alon told the audience, referring to the possibility of a missile attack. “But it’s not likely at this time of night.” The film opens with Zohara, the elder daughter of a large Moroccan Jewish family, bringing food back from the market on the day of the traditional henna ceremony preceding her sister’s wedding. This is Zohara’s usual role: taking care of everyone, taking care of whatever needed to be done—and being taken for granted for it. Her sister, Oshrit, is the beauty, the one about to get married. Brenda Ganot, project manager for the Partnership2Gether
Minneapolis-Rehovot pairing, introduced the event saying that one of the goals of the club is to give the Diaspora an opportunity to become better acquainted with Israeli culture. “This film has nothing to do with the war,” she said. As the film’s opening scene continues, Zohara, makeup-free and dressed for comfort, sets down the food she just brought and sits down. She happens to be seated next to a handsome young man, who makes obvious his interest in her. Zohara is indifferent and soon walks away. In the next scene, Oshrit is getting ready for the ceremony and the two sisters are talking. Their grandmother summons her. It’s Zohara who leaves the room to respond to the call. The grandmother, who is blind, wants to give the bride a marriage blessing and a hamsa necklace, the hamsa being a traditional protection against the evil eye. Zohara enters the room where the grandmother is. She stands there quietly as the grandmother gives the blessing and puts the necklace on her. It soon turns out that, like the biblical Jacob, who deceives to receive his brother Esau’s blessing from their
father, Isaac, Zohara may actually be the sibling better suited for the invocation. The next scene shows Zohara watching from a distance as her sister sneaks out a rear exit of the house to meet up with a man. Not the groom. When the sisters talk again, Zohara keeps what she knows to herself, but Oshrit reveals that she doesn’t want to get married. Zohara responds that she is lucky to have a groom who loves her and will take care of her. She puts the hamsa necklace on Oshrit. The difficulty of her sister’s situation occurs to her. The film ends with Zohara coming outside all dressed up with makeup and fine clothes and sitting next to the young man from the beginning of the film. This time, there’s interest on both sides. After the screening, participants were divided into small groups to talk about what they saw. In one of the groups, they were asked to share a feeling or a thought that came to mind while watching the film, which character they identified with and why, what is the relationship between superstition and Judaism, and what are the functions of religion and superstition in their own lives? Some of the American
Jews, from Ashkenazi (Eastern European) backgrounds, had never heard of the henna ceremony, with its Mizrachi roots. Since half of Israel is non-Ashkenazi, Israelis tend to get exposed to more diverse traditions, and Israelis in the meetup explained the henna ceremony to the Americans. The discussion delved into the relationship between the sisters, with connections made to the biblical sisters Leah and Rachel. The same Jacob of the Jacob and Esau story intended to marry Rachel but was tricked at the wedding ceremony into marrying Leah, the elder sister, whom their father wanted to marry off first, according to custom. Some viewers identified with the grandmother and thought she was the most sympathetic character in the film. A few spoke of superstitions that their grandparents
or parents held. Some added that their parents swore they would not pass down those beliefs to the next generation. The next virtual meeting of the Partnership2Gether Israeli Film Club will be Sunday, February 18, at 1 p.m. EST. Local, national, and Israeli participants will watch and discuss the short film “Tateh.” Ran, the film’s main character, returns to his native kibbutz (communal settlement) to visit his father, who has had a sudden heart attack. The two haven’t talked since Ran converted to Hasidic Judaism. He is anxious about their impending encounter. For more information and to register for the February 18 Zoom meeting, visit the film club website at jewishminneapolis.org/p2g-film-club.
New planned giving website coming soon By Julia Umansky Director of Gift Planning and EITC
Just before the new year, the Jewish Foundation staff met with our gift-planning software partner, Crescendo, to discuss our current gift planning website: lvjfgiving. org. While our website has been up and running for years, the launch of a new Jewish Federation logo and branding guide in 2023 seemed like an opportune time to update the site and make it more user friendly for our donors. Along with a complete aesthetic makeover, the site will offer the following: gift-
calculator tools, information about donating vehicles, information about available fund types, tax advice, the latest planned giving updates, readily accessible planned giving reference documents, and more. We look forward to launching our new Foundation website soon and hope you will experience all it has to offer when we do. If you’d like more information about gift planning and the Lehigh Valley Jewish Foundation, visit lvjfgiving.org or call the Jewish Federation office at 610-821-5500.
SECURITY SQUARE WITH TIM BROOKS
I want to train your organization! I can provide several types of training from the Secure Community Network: Guardian: Guardians take personal responsibility for the safety and security of themselves, families, and the community. BeAware: SCN’s introduction to situational awareness. Countering Active Threat Training (CATT): A comprehensive training program to counter an active-threat event, developed for faith-based institutions and houses of worship. Stop the Bleed: Learn how to save lives by applying emergency first aid to control bleeding. Traveler’s Safety and Security Best Practices: Domestic and international travel. For more information on these training programs, or to talk about security concerns in general, contact me at tbrooks@securecommunitynetwork.org or 872-400-0239. 4 FEBRUARY 2024 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
Dignity Grows Packing Party Sponsored by the Maimonides Society of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 6:30 PM at the JCC Join our Women’s Philanthropy Packing Party to assemble hygiene tote bags for neighbors in need.
If you cannot attend, you can still sponsor a bag! To register or sponsor, scan the QR code, or visit jewishlehighvalley.org/calendar or call 610.821.5500.
Local leaders join national gathering to lobby in DC Lehigh Valley Jewish community leaders Vicki Wax, Bruce Reich, and Aaron Gorodzinsky traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with elected officials as part of the Jewish Federations of North America fly-in to show our support for Israel. Our Jewish Federation was there to urge Congress to act on three critical priorities for us: 1) Move forward with the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriation Act to provide Israel with $14.3 billion in emergency aid, 2) Increase funding for the nonprofit Security Grant Program from $350 million to $500 million and approve a one-time supplement of $1 billion for this fiscal year, and 3) implement
the Antisemitism Act of 2023, which calls for using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) official definition of antisemitism to determine whether an act is considered antisemitism. The IHRA definition has been officially recognized by over 80 countries and by 31 states in the United States. Gorodzinsky, Wax, and Reich advocated for local and national community priorities and strengthened relationships with decisionmakers in Congress. They met at the Capitol with Senator John Fetterman, Senator Robert Casey, U.S. Representative Susan Wild, and others, including Senators Rick Scott, Ben Cardin,
Gary Peters, and Katie Britt, and Representatives Elise Stefanik, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Ritchie Torres, and Michael Lawler. Dignitaries took to the podium to address the full gathering of Jewish Federation representatives. Among those speakers were Israel’s Ambassador to the Clockwise from top: The Lehigh Valley group with U.S. Senator John Fetterman; the United States, Michael group with U.S. Representative Susan Wild and her pooch; and hostage signs in SenaHerzog; Admiral John tor Fetterman’s office. Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State; and families of the hostages who remain captive by Hamas. Look for a more in-depth article on this event in the next issue of Hakol.
By Jennifer Lader Congregation Brith Sholom
century, a series of anniversary events will continue with a big celebration gathering in March and a Mother’s Day brunch in May. A key part of figuring out the future is reflecting on the past. Psychologist Marshall Duke found that children do best when they know their families’ stories. These may be success stories, what Duke called the “ascending narrative,” or failure stories with a “descending narrative.” Or they may be stories with an “oscillating narrative,” one that features both triumphs and setbacks. This, Duke found, is the most healthful, because it helps develop resilience. According to Bruce Feiler, writing for the New York Times in 2013, Duke and colleague Robyn Fivush found
that children who know their family stories develop “an intergenerational self.” As Feiler wrote, “They know they belong to something bigger than themselves.” The same may be said for communities. Some in Congregation Brith Sholom were born and raised in Bethlehem. Others have been there for decades and, as the congregation is growing, still others have just arrived. In Israel, soldiers new to the Israel Defense Forces are taken on a tour of significant historical sites. The U.S. Navy teaches its recruits its history because that strengthens the connections its sailors feel toward one another through their shared heritage. Brith Sholom is taking a page from these lessons and its own history, bringing its past along
Brith Sholom ‘roars’ into its second century A band of guys and dolls in their best threads, with white ties and fedoras on the men, fun hats and sparkles on the women, burst through the doors of Congregation Brith Sholom on January 1. Inside, they found basic black and glittering gold decor, vases bedecked with gloves and pearls on cocktail tables, colorful punch, and all the best appetizers of the 1920s. This Roaring Twenties Brunch and Talk, highlighting the congregation’s founding a century ago, was just the start of the fun for 2024. Throughout the year, Brith Sholom will continue to celebrate 100 years as a vibrant community. As the congregation heads into its second
ISRAEL NEEDS YOU: OPERATION SWORDS OF IRON
Out of the past and into a new century (from left): Gary and Jennifer Lader and Drs. Andy and Flora Pestcoe get into the spirit of Congregation Brith Sholom’s Roaring Twenties Brunch and Talk, with its focus on the community’s founding a century ago.
to inform a new century of Jewish living. For more information and to register for events open to
WE’RE ALMOST THERE!
the Lehigh Valley Jewish community, contact Tammy at the synagogue office at 610-8668009.
In partnership with:
To address critical needs in Israel in support of Operation Swords of Iron, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley launched an emergency campaign, co-chaired by Israel and Valeska Zighelboim.
SCAN QR CODE OR VISIT THE LINK BELOW TO DONATE NOW! 100% of your donation will go directly to the relief efforts.
https://www.jewishlehighvalley.org/swords-of-iron HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2024 5
Art of war
Former Valley resident honors Hamas victims in Haifa exhibit By Carl Zebrowski Editor
Deborah Dworman Sullum worked fast to put together her current art exhibit at the Marc Chagall Artists’ House in Haifa, Israel. She had to. Her work began only after October 7, when she got the idea to create a piece of art to represent each Israel Defense Forces soldier killed since Hamas attacked. A former member of the Lehigh Valley Jewish community and well-known international artist and art therapist, Sullum moved to Israel in 1995 and taught art for 25 years at the Anglican International School in Jerusalem. Then she relocated to Haifa. The piece of art she made in honor of each fallen IDF member was a cast wax soldier. Who knew the material of choice itself would lead to
distress about the larger reality? “I saw myself becoming consumed about how much wax to order,” she remembers. “Too little was optimistic. Too much was devastating.” In truth, whatever the number, the project has been difficult. “There were moments that I could not cast figures quickly enough to keep up with the count,” Sollum says. “I am shaken by the magnitude of the installation, which unfortunately keeps growing.” With the rising death toll occupying her thoughts, she wanted to make sure not to lose sight of the hostages who remained in Gaza. She decided to craft a suncatcher to represent each one. “While consumed with grief, I cannot relinquish the hope that there are hostages to bring home,” she says. “It
is imperative to me not only to commemorate the deceased but also to be a voice for the living.” So, 129 molten-glass suncatchers are also part of the Chagall House exhibit, joining the more-than-200 wax soldiers. Each glasswork hangs from the ceiling, catching the light. Lisa Fraenkel, a prominent member of the Lehigh Valley community, an artist herself, and a well-known supporter of the arts, alerted Hakol to Sullum’s exhibit. “Debbie and I have been close friends for 37 years, first in Allentown and now in Israel,” she says. “I have always admired her artistic talents and her deep commitment to Israel. “I couldn’t be prouder of her response to the October 7 tragedy. Her work is beautiful and deeply moving.”
Kids ‘cross the Dead Sea’ in a chair at havdalah party By Billy Thompson Digital Marketing Specialist
Families gathered at Temple Beth El on the evening of January 20 for a havdalah celebration. As folks began filling the auditorium, their attention turned to the assortment of snacks presented buffet-style. Almost as good as a dinner, the snacks included a DIY fruit salad station, cheese and crackers, and hummus and pita chips.
Parents took their time chatting over their food, while kids were more likely to gobble it down and get to playing.
Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs Champion Sponsor:
The auditorium space quickly transformed into little pockets of children engaged in their little games and a sea of parents
conversing with one another in a world of their own. Given so much space to roam, the kids fully immersed them-
This year, we will continue to reach out to those in need, find innovative ways to engage with our community and make sure GOOD grows at home, in Israel and around the world. Because of your generosity GOOD continues to grow throughout our community. For almost 70 years, Federation has been HERE FOR GOOD. And with your help, we’re not going anywhere.
Help us be #HEREFORGOOD Give your gift now. Visit
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FEDERATION IS HERE FOR GOOD. 6 FEBRUARY 2024 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
WE HAVE BEEN FOR ALMOST 70 YEARS.
AND WE WILL BE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
selves in rambunctious fun. Soon, Rabbi Moshe Re’em came to usher everyone to PJ Library story time. First up was “Everywhere Chair” by Nati Bait, which encouraged listeners with its presentation of the creative fun children made out of the mundane, while also highlighting Israel as the beautiful homeland of the Jewish people. Then came “Pavel and the Tree Army” by Heidi Smith Hyde, a story of an immigrant finding his own sense of patriotism despite pushback from his nonimmigrant peers that, a story that also spoke to the importance of environmental conservation. A chair-decorating game began shortly after, with kids and adults breaking off into teams to make their own “everywhere chair.” Using common decorations like tinsel, paper, and ribbon, the kids created chairs they imagined could cross the Dead Sea, fly into space, or throne a princess. The night concluded with havdalah festivities for the end of Shabbat, sending kids and parents home in a cheery mood. PJ Library and Temple Beth El partnered to host the event and will periodically host fun havdalah celebrations like this one in the coming months.
Super Sunday returns! Super Sunday came back from its pandemic hiatus on January 28, a day of unprecedented generosity, with volunteers phoning donors to raise funds while community members attended three major educational and charity programs in the morning and afternoon. Volunteers at the JCC made 250 calls to community members asking for donations to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs and 500 calls to thank donors for their contributions. The
fundraising effort brought in about $50,000 from more than 80 donors. The morning began with callers taking to the phones while an audience gathered for a joint Maimonides Society and Jewish Family Service presentation on the topic “Post-October 7: From Trauma to Hope and Resilience—An Introduction to the Intergenerational Approach to Healing” in the Kline Auditorium. Stuart Horowitz, head of the clinical committee at Jewish Family Service, and Dr. Nadine Bean, recently re-
tired professor of social work at West Chester University, introduced the large crowd to the particulars of trauma over time and how to heal from it. (Full story on page 1.) The Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy began their program with a ceremony recognizing the new and returning Pomegranates and Lions of Judah. Naomi Schachter is a new Pomegranate while Suzanne Lapiduss is a returning Pomegranate. New Lions of Judah include Anne Falchuk, Crissy Toff, Lauren Rabin, and Lora Vaknin, who contin-
ues her mother’s (Eva Levitt) legacy as a Lion of Judah. Women’s Philanthropy volunteers then gathered at the JCC kitchen for a baking mitzvah project. Participants baked cookies and packed them into 60 boxes to be given to Jewish Family Service and distributed to clients of its community food bank. At midday, An Israelistyle buffet lunch was spread across a few tables for everyone to sample. There were hummus and pitas, falafel, French fries topped with diced veggies, and more.
Cookies for dessert too! The all-day event ended with PJ Library and Jewish Family Service teaming up for an American Sign Language demonstration to kick off Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (February). Students from the Parkland High School Sign Language Club taught signs to the kids gathered around them and read a kid’s book demonstrating the newly learned signs.
MAIMONIDES SOCIETY brunch & learn Psychedelics
JOIN US! SUNDAY
10am 10 JCC MARCH 2024
of the Lehigh Valley
Maimonides Society
Dr. Sam Bub will lead a discussion of the history of psychedelics, including government regulations, and the potential use in the current treatment of psychiatric illnesses. TO REGISTER SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT jewishlehighvalley.org/calendar
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2024 7
of the Lehigh Valley
Maimonides Society
The complications of ‘comm-unity’
By Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg Congregation Keneseth Israel Many of us in the Jewish world are profoundly moved these days by the deep sense of unity that the crisis in the Middle East inspires. Times of crisis do indeed bring us together. So, we are together, this Jewish people. We are one. And yet this very month we are in the book of Exodus, where we read in “Parashat Bo,” the Torah portion for the 15th week of the Hebrew year, about the mixed multitude of folks who left Egypt with the Israelite slaves. Though we are one, even from our inception as a people, diversity has been a mark of our character. It is one of the aspects of our heritage that not only makes so many of us proud, but also brings
people to Judaism from faiths less tolerant of diversity. (At least this is what many of my students tell me of their experience coming to Judaism.) So, we are one, and we are many. We are a people with a unique story, and we enter that story from many different directions, each of us entering through the open flap of Abraham’s tent from whatever direction we are traveling. This diversity is what lends our people the endless adaptability and creativity that has allowed our heritage to persist. It is the source of the saying “Two Jews, three opinions.” It is the reason we can be a people in the ancient Middle East and still thrive in the Lehigh Valley in the 21st century. It is the foundation of how Jews engage with text, turning it over and over, arguing, struggling, listening to multiple points of view. In the Babylonian Talmud, in Eruvin 13b, we read: “For three years there was a dispute between the House of Shammai (and his disciples) and the House of Hillel (and his disciples), the former asserting, ‘The law is in accordance with our views,’ and
the latter contending, ‘The law is in accordance with our views.’ Eventually, a bat kol (heavenly voice) rang out and announced, ‘Eilu v’eilu divrei Elokim Chayim.’ These and those are both the words of the living G-d—both views represent a valid understanding of Torah—but in practice, the law follows the House of Hillel.” There are many reasons it is hard to be a Jew, and this is surely one of them: To be truly ethical, we must walk a balance beam. We must hold space for “these” and for “those.” We must acknowledge different, and even competing, notions of what is right, just, good, and important. “These” and “those” inevitably are all of us. We call our community and congregations kehillot k’doshot (holy gatherings). It is through our diversity that we find the kedushah (sacredness). It is so easy for us each to find community in the echo chamber of our online worlds. We befriend those with like minds, and we reiterate our mutual agreements. These kinds of platforms can feel like com-
munity, but they are not kehillot k’doshot. Kedushah is something special, something we find in a place more challenging than a group of only the like-minded. We create it when we each dare to bring our authentic selves into the room. And we make it possible when we receive one another in our differences— even in our disagreement— with kavod and chesed (respect and compassion). We allow space for kedushah when we argue, struggle, and disagree, and still remember that we are one people. In the Lehigh Valley Jewish community next month, we have the chance to further explore all that our diversity can yield. I am excited that March 15-17, Congregation Keneseth Israel will host a remarkable scholar-inresidence with the partnership of Congregation Brith Sholom. Professor Lewis Gordon is Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and head of the department of philosophy at the University of Connecticut at Storrs. Professor Gordon founded the Center for Afro-Jewish Studies at Temple University
and is a world-renowned philosopher. He brings to us a deep conversation about the nature of Jewishness and how we build Jewish identity, peoplehood, and community in the 21st century. I hope many of you—no matter your affiliation—will take at least one of the weekend’s many opportunities to study with Professor Gordon. The weekend promises to enhance our understanding of how we maintain unity amid diversity, and how we nurture kedushah even amid our differences. Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav taught that the whole world is a very narrow bridge, but we must not be afraid to walk it, looking for wisdom to our left, to our right, and on the road ahead, all the while balancing, as we must, against the abyss of certainty. Holding “these” and “those” up to the light in our discourse with one another, maintaining sometimes uncomfortable space for respectful difference—these are marks of holiness that we can invite into our Lehigh Valley Jewish community.
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8 FEBRUARY 2024 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
Biz mag honors Wild, Born, Markowitz, Bennett as Icons Lehigh Valley Business named the winners of its Icon Success and Leadership Awards for 2023, with four members of the Valley Jewish community among the 21 honorees: Ross Born, U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, Steve Markowitz, and Rob Bennett. The awards recognize business and community leaders 60 and older who have established themselves as trusted leaders and influencers, wrote LVB editor Ernie Long in an introduction to the publication announcing the Icons. “Each profile presented here will introduce you to a person who found a way to find success without losing sight of those around them,” he wrote. Ross Born was CEO of the century-old family business Just Born Quality Confections, maker of Peeps and Mike and Ike, before
IN HONOR SAMANTHA GOLDMAN In celebration of your Special Birthday Vicki Wax IN MEMORY JOSEPH BERGSTEIN (Brother of Bill Bergstein) Aaron Gorodzinsky and Jennie Schechner NEIL BODERMAN (Husband of Christie Boderman) Lynda and Richard Somach JACK DELASTER (Husband of Becky Delaster) Elaine and Leon Papir ELEANOR WIENER FLETCHER (Mother of Rabbi Alan Wiener and Steve Wiener) Lynda and Richard Somach BOBBY HAMMEL (Husband of Bonnie Hammel, brother of Steve Hammel) Laura and Bob Black Lisa and Ellis Block Marilyn Braunstein and
Ross Born
Congresswoman Susan Wild
Steve Markowitz
Rob Bennett
he retired in 2021 after four decades. He has served in various leadership roles in the Valley’s Jewish community and beyond over the years, telling Hakol recently that he was on about two dozen different boards. He has served as chair of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs and is currently honorary president of the Federation’s board of directors. Susan Wild is the representative for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. After beginning her career as a litigator and becoming
the first woman ever appointed Allentown solicitor, she entered Congress after winning a special election in 2018 to fill the vacant 15th District seat of newly retired Charlie Dent. With redistricting, her territory became the 7th District. She has won two elections to that seat. She currently serves on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ethics Committee, and Education and Labor Committee. Steve Markowitz is president of Allen Organ Company in Macungie, founded by his father after inventing an
electronic organ in the 1930s. The instrument became popular, especially with churches, and Steve eventually joined the firm. In the late 1980s, he began expanding foreign sales and licensing the company’s patents, including those for playing digital musical instrument samples. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he added medical equipment circuit boards to Allen’s output. Rob Bennett is the owner and president of Bennett Automotive Group, based in Allentown and stretching west to Lebanon and north
to Wilkes-Barre with a total of 12 dealerships. The six in Allentown are Infiniti of Allentown, Jaguar Allentown, Bennett Maserati of Allentown, Bennett Toyota, and Land Rover Allentown. Bennett’s father, Bud Bennett, started the automotive group in 1951. Lehigh Valley Business breaks business news daily on its website and circulates a print and online edition of its publication along with specially focused sections, reader rankings, and annual Book of Lists. It also hosts events.
Family Evelyn Brown Judy and Ward Combs Beth and Scott Delin Dolores Delin Roberta and Jeff Epstein Sandra and Harold Goldfarb Carol and Barry Halper Ellen and Phil Hof Rachel and Howie Levin Kimberly Lockhart Roberta, Norman, Rachel and David Marcus Jane and Bill Markson Amy and Rich Morse Elaine and Leon Papir Deena and Mark Scoblionko Randi and Donald Senderowitz Esther and Bern Sobel Barbara and Arthur Weinrach Cherie and Rick Zettlemoyer ELYSE HAUSNER (Mother of Stephanie Hausner) Aaron Gorodzinsky and Jennie Schechner
ARLENE HURWITZ (Wife of Robert Hurwitz) Lynda and Richard Somach HOWARD SOKOL (Husband of Midge Sokol) Lynda and Richard Somach SYLVIA SUSSMAN (Sister of Edith Miller) Evelyn Brown
IN HONOR RICHARD BASS In celebration of your Birthday Beth and Wes Kozinn LAURENCE CHACKER Thank you for your kindness Cheryl George Freddy and Chase Robinson STEVE GOLDMAN In celebration of your Special Birthday Vicki Wax ARI ZIGHELBOIM In celebration of your Bar Mitzvah Kimberly and Hal Folander VALESKA AND ISRAEL ZIGHELBOIM In celebration of your son Ari’s Bar Mitzvah Sara and Karl Glassman
JERI ZIMMERMAN In appreciation for your kindness to our Israeli children Cantor Ellen Sussman and David Vaida
HELEN AND SOL KRAWITZ HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FUND HONOR LENNY GURVITZ Happy 100th Birthday Joan Lesavoy MEMORY BOBBY HAMMEL (Husband of Bonnie Hammel) Susan Engelson Friefeld ANITA SCHIRTZER (Mother of Andrea Cohen) Joan Lesavoy DAVID UNTERBERG (Husband of Heidi Unterberg) Susan Engelson Friefeld
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 jewishlehighvalley.org to place your card requests. Thank you for your support.
IN MEMORY ELEANOR WIENER FLETCHER (Mother of Steve Wiener and Allan Wiener) Sara and Karl Glassman BOBBY HAMMEL (Husband of Bonnie Hammel) Aliette and Marc Abo Sara and Karl Glassman Jeannie and Holmes Miller ASHIRA RABINOWITZ (Granddaughter of Ruth Derby) Beth and Wes Kozinn
ORT mourns the death of Robert Hammel Bobby Hammel was a friend and supporter of ORT, and a true mensch whose boundless generosity touched lives worldwide. We will miss his commitment and kindness. May his memory be for a blessing. Robert J. Grey Board Chair, World ORT
Michael Perlmuter Board Chair, ORT America
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2024 9
Stories from Israel Continued from page 1
TAMA TAMARKIN When you listen to a witness, you become a witness. —Elie Wiesel I landed in Israel on January 12. The hostage posters lining the halls of Ben Gurion Airport mar my usual elation. I am reminded that my Israel is wounded. Can I soothe her? I spend my first four days wrapping arms around my Israeli family. I reunite with Sapir Lev, a shlicha who stayed at my home 10 summers ago. I look all of them in the eyes. I touch their arms. “I am with you. You are not alone.” My first Shabbat dinner is with family. We eat, we talk, we laugh. I can’t stop thinking about Carmel, the 18-year-old nephew of my sister and brother in law who isn’t at the Shabbat table. He’s fighting in Gaza. The 100th day after the Hamas attack arrives. There is a ceremony at the kibbutz. I hear tender words of Tsafra Kipnis, sister of Evyatar, and his wife, Lilach, who along with Evyatar’s aide Paul were brutally murdered by Hamas at their home on Kibbutz Be’eri. Nine members of Lilach’s’s family were kidnapped and eight have since been released. Tal Shoham is still captive in Gaza. I bear witness to the pain. On January 16, I join Momentum’s Unity Mission. I start this journey by myself and strangers become family. The Israelis traveling with us are so strong. It’s a gift to learn with and from them. I meet Adi. She talks to us about her brother Chen Avigdori, whose wife and daughter Sharon and Noam were kidnapped. She shares her agony from the time they were in captivity and her family’s heartache that family member Tal Shoham is still held hostage. Adi and Tsafra don’t know each other. They are on different sides of the same family. I hear about Adi’s courageous presence at rallies and all of her advocacy efforts. I bear witness to her pain. For six days, our group shows up for the people of Israel. We harvest four tons of kohlrabi for evacuees who are living in hotels. We pack bags of necessities for soldiers and include handwritten letters from Jewish Day School children and Friendship Circle adults from the Lehigh Valley. We prepare hot meals that go straight to the army bases. We comfort parents of lone soldiers and hug moms with husbands and children in the Israel Defense Forces. We listen to Jacqui Vital tell the tragic story of the murder of her daughter Adi, a mother of two young boys. We bear witness to the pain. We share meals, conversations, and a bonfire with IDF units. We dance and sing together. We feel the ruach of the young soldiers. Their resolve to
keep fighting for their country is strong. We say, “I am here. I see you. Tell me your story.” We see unimaginable horror. On October 7, terrorists stormed Kibbutz Kfar Aza. They went house to house for hours, murdering more than 60 people and abducting 19 others. We walk through the burned and bullet-ravaged neighborhood of young people. I see the homes of kidnapped 26-year-old twins Gali and Ziv Berman. I break down emotionally. Their older brother Liran Berman talked with our Lehigh Valley community about what wonderful uncles Gali and Ziv are to his little kids and how they did everything together. I bear witness to the pain. At the sight of the Nova music festival, we walk through the makeshift memorial to the nearly 400 young beautiful souls who were killed, raped, and kidnapped at the best time of their life. I begin to panic. I can’t find the poster for 21-year-old hostage Omer Shem Tov, who was stolen from the festival. Omer, like my kids and me, has celiac disease. He has a special place in our hearts. We worry about him. Is his stomach hurting? A chair is reserved for Omer at my kitchen table at home. We lit Chanukah candles for him. I mention his name every day to U.S. Representative Susan Wild’s staffers when I call to urge her to fight for his release. I finally find Omer’s picture and I crumble. I bear witness to the pain.
We go to Hostage Square and the headquarters of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. We see art exhibits there. In a tent set up for Nova festival families, I try to comfort the uncle of hostage Elkana Bohbot. I walk through a fabricated tunnel and feel the walls closing in. Families of hostages come to talk with our group. I sit in the front row of the auditorium. Shelly Shem Tov, Omer’s mom, walks on stage to tell the story of Omer. My heart breaks into a million pieces. I bear witness to Shelly’s pain. As I write this reflection, I have been home for two days. Reentry is hard. I’m trying to make sense of the moments of intense grief and sadness contrasted with the glimmers of hope and joy. I remind myself that it is possible to hold both. Our humanity invites us to witness both the joy and the pain together, for ourselves and for others. The Israel I love is both broken and whole. I bear witness. The intergenerational resilience of the Israeli and Jewish people is stronger than our intergenerational trauma. I am a witness. I now have a job to do. I will share. I will take action. I will not stop until the hostages are home. Am Yisrael chai.
10 FEBRUARY 2024 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
AMY GOLDING I joined the Jewish National Fund’s fourth volunteer mission to Israel since the war broke out, January 14-18. We were based in Sde Boker in the south. We spent most of our days volunteering and listening to stories from survivors and heroes.
Those Are Ours As we drive from our hotel to our morning volunteer site, Kibbutz Erez, we are on Road 323, the main artery of this area. We pass some of the kibbutzim (communal settlements) where horrible massacres occurred, when the security teams were overrun. We passed the site of the Nova festival, which is dotted with trees and shrubs, looking so peaceful. It’s hard to imagine the horrors that occurred there. Burnt asphalt patches along the road are all that’s left of the many cars that were torched here. For weeks this road was closed to all but the military, essential workers, and forensic teams. We pass an Iron Dome battery, a valiant protector of Israel. It is a solely defensive weapon used to shoot down incoming missiles, with a 90% success rate. A reassuring sight, but also a stark reminder of how long it took the army to arrive. The Erez border crossing, at the northern end of the Gaza Strip, was the sole civilian crossing point from Hamas-run Gaza into Israel. Every day, thousands of Gazans with permits to work in Israel would proceed through the modern terminal complex; others came in for medical treatment; diplomats, U.N. officials, and others could drive through. It was the only avenue of IsraelGaza coexistence. On the morning of October 7, Hamas terrorists blew up and burst through the barriers separating Erez from the Gaza Strip and poured into the complex. Unwatchable footage shows them killing some of the utterly unprepared, hopelessly outnumbered soldiers on duty and abducting others into Gaza. The Erez kibbutz was founded in 1949. An agricultural community, they are especially famous for their honey. Ten years ago their population was 300, a number which has since doubled. They are proud of their cohesive community, which is more like one big family. This peaceful existence was shattered at 6:30 a.m. on October 7, when an unusually large barrage of missiles was launched from Gaza. Missile attacks are a familiar part of life here. Life here in the Gaza envelope (now known as the Israel envelope) has been described by the residents as 95% heaven and 5% hell. “One must never go to the 5%,” the say, “for if you do, it can consume your way of life and become 100%.” Missile attacks (which began in 1997), infiltrations, fire balloons, etc. make life a challenge. Israelis met this challenge by requiring every home built in this area to have a mamad (safe room of reinforced concrete). In addition, there are free-standing bomb shelters at every bus stop
and scattered throughout the Erez kibbutz. Beautifully painted, they are works of art that help people deal with this reality. You have 15 seconds or less to get into a shelter when there is a siren. Often you hear the distinctive whistle of the rocket before the sirens even sound. People drive with their car window ajar to make sure they can hear the warnings. Ironically, many people living in this area are themselves refugees from Arab lands, and many are peace activists and supporters of a Palestinian state. There were many volunteers that met Gazans regularly at the Erez crossing to bring them into Israel for medical care. On the fridge in homes were lists of names of people who cross the Erez border who need medical treatment and support that kibbutz families met regularly to help. We arrive at the guarded kibbutz entrance. Before disembarking from the bus, we review the safety procedures, something we do throughout the day, over and over, as we move from site to site. The tour guide explains, “The first boom you hear is scary. Even the second boom. They are loud and they are overhead, sometimes near and sometimes far. The loud booms, zeh shelnau (those are ours). You will get used to them.” And he was right. As we rolled out sod to build a field for children to play freely and happily, the loud booms from tanks, explosions, and guns faded behind us as we focused on the possibilities that hopefully one day will lie ahead. On October 7, the security forces of this kibbutz were able to successfully stave off the initial attack. They lost one member of their first line of defense security team of nine. Two were also badly injured, but a nurse heroically was able to get them to Sorokot Hospital in the midst of the morning chaos—despite her being told not to leave the kibbutz, she insisted, saying, “They will die if we stay, so we must try.” Then the terrorists were diverted to Nova, which proved an easier target. Now, the streets of the kibbutz are empty. The tennis courts are quiet and the school unoccupied. Some 400 have temporarily relocated to Mitzpe Ramon. A few are living in our hotel in the south, and the remaining scattered in different locations. The original school suffered a direct missile hit some years back. Fortunately it was Shabbat and no children were in school. The new school is built of reinforced concrete with no exterior windows (all windows are on the interior patio side), so it also serves as a shelter. Our job there was to repair an outdoor recreation area. We plant, we paint, we put down grass and leave the area gleaming, awaiting the reawakening of life here. We imagine the happy smiles of the kibbutzniks upon their return to see this creation. Many do not want to return, many can’t wait to see the youth playing on the field we built, and others can’t see a path forward. Indeed we hear that that very evening, the few kibbutzniks still there and the soldiers enjoyed a barbecue dinner in the park and smiled happily for the first time in over 100 days. They knew someone cared and that Israel is not alone. The entire focus of everyone we speak to here is a grim determination to recreate their lives
and their communities on the ashes. There is a deep persistent sense of betrayal. Some business owners recognized employees among the attackers. Maps in possession of the terrorists were found that showed how many were in which house, whether they had a dog, locations of safe rooms. Information that was clearly documented by the Gazan workers. Yet, despite this they speak of their love of life, of the life they made here, of the need for resilience and community. Every Israeli child receives a letter at the age of 16 to inform them that they will need to report for service at age 18. It includes their IQ and medical scores and which branches of the military they are eligible to join. Some letters say they are excused from services, because, for example, they are Special Needs.
In 2001, Major General Gabi Ofir, who had a disabled daughter, created Specials in Uniform so that many of those deemed exempt could have a chance to serve in the Israel Defense Forces, which is a rite of passage here in Israel. The Specials in Uniform unit currently has 900 soldiers with disabilities. That night, we sponsored a thank-you BBQ dinner on an air force base for soldiers, and the band from Specials in Uniform performed. At the end of the beautiful concert of songs speaking of love, life, hope, and peace, the commander on the base said, “Thank you for sharing our country’s pain and for absorbing our soldiers’ pain. We will protect you.” We hug our soldier friends goodbye. Most are 18-21, smooth faced, eager, full of life. Together our hearts mend as we see the joy with which they dance and sing. These youngsters will indeed save us. Shiva B’October What is incredible and inspiring is to see how the people of Israel united and rose to meet the challenges that befell us on October 7. My team of volunteers were humbled to be able to see this with our own eyes and to participate in a small way and to honor their amazing bravery and resilience. Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, the nearest and largest hospital in the newly named Israel Triangle, was designated as a Trauma 1-level hospital by 7:45 a.m. With 1,175 beds and 5,000 employees, Soroka is the largest hospital in the Israel envelope. They treated over 670 patients in the first 24 hours. The deputy director painted a vivid picture of that day. Realizing something big and terrible was happening—there were reports of a large-scale attack— they developed an action plan at an emergency meeting. Patients arrived by the dozens in ambulances, helicopters, private cars, and military vehicles. Some patients were unconscious,
Stories from Israel continues on page 11
Stories from Israel Continued from page 10
so medical personnel had no idea of their identities or medical conditions and medications. Teams were assigned to do the testing and research to identify the unconscious injured. A table was set up in the lobby, where parents and relatives all around Israel could email pictures of their loved ones so the hospital could try to match pictures to faces. The 250 care packages we had packed the night before, which were filled with products from small businesses in the Negev that are no longer able to function, products we purchased to help support the economy, were brought in to be shared out among the injured, the displaced, and the soldiers. Over half had already been distributed by the time our short briefing was over to very grateful recipients. Despite the chaos all around, it was not just Soroka Medical Center that served as an instant support system. There are a lot of heroes when things aren’t working according to plan. For example, an event manager not affiliated with Nova festival contacted the Nova production team to retrieve the names of all those that purchased tickets to attend the concert. She then set up a table in Tel Aviv by noon on October 7 and made lists. Those helped connect who was missing and who was abducted. Others joined her and they used social media to track people down. They followed Hamas’ social media accounts and used AI to help match names to people, creating Excel spreadsheets. Eventually they passed the sheets to the Israeli government and the IDF, who took over from there. Our guide shared, “We are not yet ready to memorialize. We are still in mourning. This is our second war of independence. We are a chapter in history textbooks.” A woman who hid in a bomb shelter for 25 hours with her
three children explained to us there is no P in post-traumatic stress in Israel. The people are hurting, mourning, and fearful. They count days since the war started and the hostages are being held. It is not January 18 but October 104th. It is Shiva B’October. The youth have attended more funerals than most of us will attend in a lifetime. Many have tattooed the date on their arms in the same vein as Nazis in Auschwitz branded our relatives in the concentration camp: 100723. And yet, another tattoo that appears on the arms of other survivors of the Nova festival is “We will dance again.” A commander at an air force base said to me, “We cannot live in sadness. Look at all these volunteers from around the world that stand with us. Look at our youth chanting “Am Yisrael chai.” The Israeli flag has a heart painted around the star now. We don’t go down. We go up.” As he finished the words, I watched as two fighter planes left our base and flew over our heads. Everyone on the ground cheered the pilots on. Never once did a word of hate pass through the lips of those we met. Never once did I see a hateful sign. Never once did I see a torn flag. Instead a young boy picked up trash off the floor to help keep Hostage Square clean, art was created to express pain, a man played guitar with songs of hope, people danced in the streets, and eyes that were filled with pain discussed solutions and actions.
By Charlene Riegger Director of Marketing
ish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, covered common safety protocols such as locking home and vehicle doors, staying away from remote or dark public areas, carrying bags across your body, keeping your dominant hand free, and situational awareness (being aware of your surroundings). Sacks stressed that walking in public with your head buried in your phone is not safe.
It Will Be OK After a full week in Israel, I ended my stay visiting a friend and her family, originally from Yemen, for their weekly Shabbat breakfast consisting of jachnun and kubaneh. Our conversation from start to finish was about the state of Israel, politics, and the
future of the Jewish people as 18 people from three generations sat around a table outside surrounded by lemon and orange trees. The patriarch was a lieutenant colonel who made aliyah when he was 3 years old in 1947. He has seen every war in Israel. His soon-to-be grandson-inlaw asked him, “What do you want Amy to go back to the United States and tell her community about what is going on here?” Without missing a beat he answered, “Yihye beseder.” Yihye beseder translates to “It’ll be OK.” It’s a common Israeli phrase, an answer to whatever might have just gone wrong—a “Don’t worry, be happy” without the “be happy.” The soon-tobe grandson-in-law responded that in 1992 then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin made a speech encouraging Israelis no longer to answer problems with “Yihye beseder,” noting that the phrase usually conceals all the things that aren’t OK. My friend’s saba thought for a half second before shrugging his shoulders and saying, “Yihye tov” (It will be good).” ALLA TOFF The attacks of October 7 devastated me. I was terrified and helpless. I decided to go to Israel to volunteer, the least I could do. I went to Israel on January 14 and stayed until January 28. I was part of a program run by Livnot Ulehibanot (Build and Rebuild), based in Tzfat. We spent the first week in Tzfat preparing lunches for soldiers. One day we put together 1,500 Shabbat meals and baked cakes to send to the front. We did so together with many Israeli volunteers of all ages. Usually, the program supplies 3,000 Shabbat meals, but the donation money is drying up. Some of us went to local farms to help harvest lemons and raspberries. In Sderot, we did a variety of things. We cleaned and painted preschools in various kibbut-
workers went back home, and workers from Gaza no longer come in, for obvious reasons. All farms in the south desperately need help, and the farmers were grateful for our small contribution. Actually, not only farmers. All the people in the south we met were deeply appreciative of us volunteers. Cleaning and
zim (communal settlements). These particular kibbutzim were not attacked by the terrorists, but the people were evacuated from the danger zone, and the schools were used as barracks for soldiers. After three months of being barracks and of general neglect, the preschools looked pitiful. Making these schools into schools again—bright, clean, and cheerful—was the most rewarding task we accomplished while in Sderot. The kibbutzim were eerily devoid of people, though their belongings were still there, as if some magic wand swept the people away—one moment they were there and the next moment gone. Teacups were still on the tables with plates of cookies next to them. We also went to an organic farm to plant lettuce. The farms in the south lost most of their regular workers. Terrified Thai
putting in order their homes is exhausting both physically and emotionally, and they were grateful for any help they received. The people in the south also thanked us for simply being there. One woman we met, who just came back from being evacuated to Eilat, was terrified of being back in Sderot, but seeing that we came all the way from North America to help calmed her fears. That alone was a worthwhile reason to come here. The last house we worked on was in a Yemenite Jewish village. Terrorists came here, made a hideout in a storage shack, and started shooting everyone in sight. People died and houses suffered damage. Now they are being repaired, cleaned, and painted in the hope that their owners will come back. Before I came to Israel, I was seriously afraid that this time Israel may not survive the multiple attacks on its soil, but after being here, meeting incredible ordinary people, working side by side with them, seeing the unity, determination, and warmth, made me believe in a brighter future. “Ein lanu eretz aheret,” they say. We have no other country. Am Yisrael chai.
Security pro at TBE: Always be aware, be a ‘gray man’ One hundred and fifty community members gathered at Temple Beth El on January 23, 2024, for “Be Aware, Stay Safe” training presented by Michael Sacks, cofounder of Raven Point Security Systems. The presentation, cosponsored by TBE, Congregation Keneseth Israel, and the Jew-
Mental preparedness is important. Asking yourself what you would do in different situations and determining your course of action helps you be prepared if there’s an emergency. “You can’t plan for everything,” Sacks said, “but you can plan for most.” Thinking about the ramifications and outcomes of your response is also important. Other things to consider are purchasing a device to de-
tect hidden cameras, removing AI applications from your phone, having code words for family members so you will not be fooled if their voice is “spoofed,” lighting up the outside of your home, and being a “gray man” (don’t stand out). Don’t have bumper stickers or vanity plates on your vehicle, don’t wear expensive brands, and do what you can to avoid attracting attention.
SAVE THE DATE!
An evening of stories, reflections, and conversation about our magical relationship with Israel, presented by Joel Chasnoff.
APRIL 4, 2024
Champion sponsor
6:30 - 8:30P.M. at the JCC More information to follow!
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2024 11
JCC OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY - HAMMEL CAMPUS | 702 N. 22ND STREET ALLENTOWN, PA 18104 | 610-435-3571 | LVJCC.ORG JCC OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY - HAMMEL CAMPUS | 702 N. 22ND STREET ALLENTOWN, PA 18104 | 610-435-3571 | LVJCC.ORG 12 FEBRUARY 2024 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
Competition Ramps For New With JHoops Season ECE Celebrates RoshUp Hashanah Some Sweet Guests By Heather Lavin By Jackie Weiss
Additionally, the students had the Program Director opportunity to smell a honeycomb Early Childhood & Jewish and learn how honey is made! Education Coordinator The 2023-2024 season begins in The honeybees collect nectar from mid-November with practices and flowering plants and bring the Our ECE students had a sweet games starting in December. We nectar back to the hive. Once the second week of school! For Rosh are recruiting for teams in grades Hashanah this year, a couple of our honeybees are back in the hive, 1-2, grades 3-4, and grades 5-6. the nectar is stored inside the ECE classes gathered in the gym We are always looking for coaches empty combs made of beeswax. for a special honeybee presentation and volunteers to help us make the The honeybees then flap their (minus the bees). program a success. Practices take wings very quickly to remove the Dr. Robbie Roeshman, a master place during the week, with games beekeeper for 35 years, along with excess moisture. Afterwards, the on Sundays both at home and away. honeybees make a wax to create his wife, Adrienne London, are Whether they are new to the sport a seal over the honeycomb for beekeepers in the Lehigh Valley. or are looking to play with friends, protection. Finally, beekeepers The presentation was a fun and With the opening of winter JHoops is the perfect opportunity harvest the honey by collecting the interactive experience with props, programs we will also bring back for your child to get inJCC the game. The would like to thank of our who honeycomball frames anddonors scraping offparticipated in the annual Friends of the J Campaign. beekeeping supplies, a honeybee our popular JHoops Jr. classes. Our teams will once again be the wax cap that seals the honey. song, and a waggle dance! The Keystone Society Both Pre-K and Kindergarten-aged competing in the Rising Stars The frames are then placed in an students enjoyed pretending to be athletes willHSA haveMechanical, the opportunity Leonard & Enid Abrams Foundation+ Inc.+ Pat Rhodes+ Basketball League, in Family both boys extractor to spin honey out&ofNathan the Siegfried+* bees&and buzzing around the gym. Lori Houman Ahdieh+(L) Jenny Hayden Sara Ritter & Mike Smith+* to be introduced to basketball and and girls leagues. All teams must comb. After the honey is extracted, The students learned that Wendy & Ross Born+(L) Nancy & Andy Kahn+(L)* Kristine Schultz & Aaron Mendelson+* basic skills. These practices have a required minimum number itlearn is strained Kobrovsky to remove Fund+ any Chelsea & Elliot Busch+* Ophira Silbert & Jeff Fleischaker+(L)* honeybees get all their food from are once a week and include inof players to run.Cohen+ Our time in the Robert & Michelle Lynda & Stuart Krawitz+(L)* Stephanie & Adam Smartschan+* remaining wax or other particles. flowers and the food consists of house recreational scrimmages. league for the 2022-2023 season Michaela & Christine Criswell* Margo & Eric Lightman+(L) Melissa & Matt Unger+* After straining the honey, it is time wish all of you a happy and healthy Road, Schnecksville, PA 18078. nectar&and pollen. Afterwards, the To registerFrancine or for more Emily Briansuccess, Ford+(L)* & David Maiatico Lynn Wilson & Michael Alterman+ was a huge giving our to bottle, label, and bring it to you! new year. If you’re looking for a Contact Dr. Robbie Roeshman and students had Fraenkel+(L) the opportunity to Lisa & Barnet & Billy Markson+(L) Valeska & Israel Zighelboim+(L) informationJane about JHoops visit teams opportunities to play (and How does honey connect to the sweet way to celebrate, local honey Adrienne London at 610-360-4191 look at a container of nectar and a Carol Fromer+ Sara & Marcos Martinez+* Kathy Zimmerman & Peter Fisher+(L)* lvjcc.org/JHoops. win)&inGary a league that fits our High Holidays? Because eating is available all year roundJeri at & theLen Zimmerman+ or 13beekeeper@gmail.com for Sandra & Harold Goldfarb+ Michael Miller+(L) container of pollen. The students players’ skills. Stay tuned for our Jessica & Scott Zolotsky* Andrea & Zach Goldsmith+* Marc Nissenbaum+ apples and honey is a tradition on Game Preserve Apiary, which is more information. now know that nectar is a liquid home & game schedule! Lauren & Kevin Reuther+(L)* Bonnie Bobby z”l Hammel+(L) Rosh Hashanah, of course! We located at 4542 Game Preserve and pollen looks like dust. Thomas Basseches+ Mary Ann & Frederick Bausch+ Kathleen & Alan Berger+ Tracey & Jason Billig+ Laura & Robert Black+ By Heather Lavin Sheryl & Rance Block+ Program Director Christy & Andrew Block+ Christel Boyd Evelyn Brown Stagemakers Youth Theater Nancy & Michael Busch welcomes both Jennifer Cassetty new and returning Audrey Cherney+ performers to our stage as we Charles Cohen present The Addams Family Young Barbara Cohen @Blair Part. Performances are Thursday, M. Couch+ Michaela & Christine November 9 at 7 Criswell p.m. and Sunday, Patty & Jack DeBellis November 12 at noon and 4 p.m. at Jenn & Gregg Dietz+ the JCC of the Lehigh Valley. Rachel Doyle Audrey Drozdowski To join in on the fun and celebrate Emery Dudra+ the work of this great cast and crew, Jan & Glenn Ehrich+ you can cheer them on in person in Jessica Eygnor & Rob Iacovella Patricia Feast+ Wednesday Addams, November. Lynn & Samuel Feldman+ the ultimate princess of darkness, Brenda & Edward Finberg+ has grown up and fallen in love Sandi & Harris Fine* Phyllis with aFord+ sweet, smart young man Monica & Henry Friess+family whom from a respectable Robert Fritzinger her parents never met. She Carol & Stewarthave Furmansky+ Jeffrey Gevirtz (L) father and begs him confides in her Ina notGoldstein+ to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Arlene & Dwight Griffin+ Addams must do something he’s Carol & Barry Halper+ Kathleen Halpert+ never done before– keep a secret Beth & Cory Hiken+(L) Ginger Horsford Donna & Mike Iorio+(L)* Gia & Matthew Jones+* Toby & Rabbi Allen Juda+ Audrey & Steven Kanoff+ Jane & Arthur Kaplan+ Janice & Robert Kaplan+ Binae Karpo+ Amy Katz+ Marty Katz+ Alexander Kita+
Rosine Knafo+ Linda Shankweiler Beth & Wesley Kozinn+ Linda & Elliot Sheftel+(L) Teri & Joshua Krassen Judith & Larrie Sheftel+ Stephanie & Robert Kricun+ Linda Silowka+(L) Fay & Michael Kun+ Sallie Smith+ Beth & Howard Kushnick+ Kaitlyn Stefanowicz+ Susan & David Latham Patricia Stumpp Heather & David Lavin+ & Matt Sussman+ instructed by qualified coaches. By Jodi Lovenwirth Tracy Martha Lebovitz+ Fred & Barbara Sussman Fund+ Our participants will also get to Aquatics Director Jodi & Maccabee Levine+ Cantor Ellen Sussman & David Vaida+ Robin & David Lightman+ The Tamarkin Family Fund+ compete against other JCC swim Evelyn & Jay Lipschutz Stuart Teger+ teams in the Mid-Atlantic region, Every year during late fall, the Marilyn & David Louick+ The Loomis Company+ including Baltimore, Harrisburg, aquatics center at the JCCAbby comes Aileen Love & Stephen Bacchi & Mark Trachtman+ Jodi & Sam Lovenwirth+ Donna Troeller Cherry Hill, and Delaware. These alive with smiling faces, cheering Karla Lyle+ Eileen Ufberg+ exciting competitions consist of children, and blooming friendships. Colleen & Earl Lynch Kimberly & Chris Valuntas+* home and away meets, leading It’s swim season, featuring the& Marc Vengrove+ Ann Marie & Steven Markowitz+ Susan Betty Mendelson+ Venkataraman up to the championship meet in JSeals Swim Team! This Ramamirtham year Sally & Charles Metroke+ Raza Visram+* Delaware, where the swimmers is going to be packed withAliteam Rill & Steve Miller+ Marissa Wallace get to show off their swimming building parties, swim meets, Jeannie Miller+ Lindaand & Bob Watkins+ managerand Tessa from his beloved Morticia. Madison’s philosophy is “process Jeanne wife, Narkiewicz & Constantine Marcopul+ Beatrix Watt+ abilities hardDeJesus work. and lots of ruach (spirit). For anyone costume designer Stokes, over product.” In Stagemakers Everything Rabbi will change for the Steve Nathan Wax Family Fund+ To have some funKayla throughout who doesn’t know what the JSeals Edward Nissenbaum+ Jackie Weiss+ productions, performers spend far the hasseason, led a cast over 40various middle whole family on the fateful night we of will have just aWestman+ Sandy Nussbaum-Giercyk+ is about, we are more than Martin and elementary school students they host a dinner for Wednesday’s more time learning and building Amy & Martin Oselkin+ SaraThis Whildin+ parties including a holiday party, swim team, we are a family. than they do performing through physical that “normal” boyfriend and his parents. isa ashow Carole & David Ostfeld+ Carol & Bob pizza party, and therehearsals coveted Dipplace for swimmers to build it Wilson Joan & Alan Parker+ Working Dog Press+ have challenged to improve Director Madison William, in front of while an audience. While the N-Disco, which isthem scheduled for their skills they grow their Phyllis & Henry Perkin Janet Yandrisevits+ their skills as performers and stage performance is the ultimate with choreographer Marcell Marianne & Stephen Phillips+ friendships. This close-knit Lisagroup Yoskowitz January & Matt Leon+ 13, 2024. Mark your cast members. Mackenzie Megan and musical director it is all theshare rehearsal & Jeremy Pildis+ Carolyn & Larrycalendars, Zelson you won’t want to miss ofgoal, friends their process love of Cherie & Rick Zettlemoyer+ For tickets and more moments information that gives performers experience Mackenzie Sandra Lynch,Preis+ have taken it! One of my proudest swimming while cheering on their Adina & Aron Preis+ Carol Zirkel+ and opportunity for growth. visit lvjcc.org/stagemakers. these youngRB performers on a SABN Foundation Debbie & Leon as Zoller+ Aquatics Director is not only teammates and watching themThis journey throughout rehearsals. creative team, including stage Amy & David Reppert watching the swimmers earn their progress throughout the season. + Previous Year Donors Carol & Ronald Rieder+ TM (L) Life & Legacy trophies Donors and medals, but watching The 2023-2024 JSeals season Charlene Riegger *Denotes JCC Board Member Alissa Romano & David Hammerman+ these children become a family begins on November 27. Robin & Alex Rosenau+ Registration is now open for the Each member has the opportunity List as of 1/22/24 Amy & Jesse Saborsky+ JSeals 2023-2024 season. For more to practice up to three times a Brian Safer Mary & Alan Salinger+ information, call the JCC at 610week to build their swimming Jennifer Schechner & Aaron Gorodzinsky+ 435-3571 or visit lvjcc.org/JSeals. skills. Practices will consist of Terry Schettini+ clear, concise, proven workouts, Reynold Schneck Peter & Kate Schutzler+ Annie & Maggie Schutzler+
Stagemakers Brings the Spooky This Fall JSeals Is Back, Making a Splash This November
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2024 13
we’d be here only a few weeks at most. As demic as built-in playmates and friends. we’d be here o be here few weeksthat at most. As demic as pandemic built-in play the pandemic continued, we made deci- we’d The JDSonly hasaenabled relationship to the The JDS has enabled the pandemic continued, we made decision after decision to establish roots and strengthen – they check in on each other sion after deci strengthen – they sion after decision to establish roots and build a life here in Pennsylvania. on the playground and love to see each build a life chec her on the playground an build a life here in Pennsylvania. other itin came the hallways. It’s a joy to see the When it came time for Joseph, our When When it ca time for Joseph, our other in the hallways. older children care for the younger ones. now five-year-old son, to get back into now five-yearnow five-year-old son, to Valley get back into older children care for JDS is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation ofJDS theisLehigh Valleyagency of the JDS is Federation a beneficiary of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh a beneficiary Jewish of theagency Lehigh Valley an early childhood education program, an Evelyn is always so proud when one of anisearly Evelyn alwayschild so p early childhood education program, “big helps h welcoming, intimate, “big kids” helpsand herwarm withenher the backthe welcoming, intimate, and warm en- thethe the kids” welcoming pack vironment at the end ofatthJ JDSend was of an the obvious pack atatthe day,place and Joseph vironment at JDS was an obvious place vironment for us to turn. The administration and talks about his “rea for us to turn. The administration and talks about his “reading buddy” confor us to turn staff worked tirelessly to adhere to ever- stantly! stantly!guidelines from the CDC and staff worked tirelessly to adhere to ever- changing staff worked One of the major tit One the of magic the major tenets the JDS is to theguid changing guidelines from the CDC and still make changing a devotion deve of school veryofreal though not impossible— 24th of February. These the development of bright, still make the magic of school very real foraitsdevotion still students make the confident wh students. toJoseph FLOURISHED spend some time with our days are also linked to to meet Th environment, and who now that confident students are he’s wellinprepared for itsHyman students. Joseph FLOURISHED in this forthe itsworld. students By Megan students for a hefty dose), adjustments oninthe calenrepresentative of our histo third yearthe as world. a studentThis (kindergarten!) meet couldn’t be more this environment, and now that he’s in in this environ By IMegan Megan Sadly, our chapter in he loves the dynamic and joyful learnhe decision parentsBy make about Hyman chooseHyman to focus on faith dar due to the leap year. of our experience. his third year as a student (kindergarten!) ingrepresentative his third year a ing to a close. For profe experience he’s had there. I’ll never where to send their children for and optimism. But I like the message they our chapter isare comdynamic joyful learn- forget he loves he decision parents make about he loves heSadly, decision parents make about moving backthe to Td when he came homeintoAllentown recite the schoolthe is often one of and the most stressful This yearwhere we have not theirsend. to aofclose. For professional there.strike I’ll never ingtheexperience to send children for ing experience where toAllegiance send their children sionwe of school yea Pledge and knew all reasons, the for and difficult. he’s Will had the school the fulling one, butschool two months of of the most There are very few community Amy words the Hatikvah three years old! right balance between quality educaareistomoving backofattothe Texas atstressful the concluforget when he came home toofrecite the forget that when h is often one stressful school often one most Adar. The Jewish calendar requirements, obligations, andthe volunteers have year, his sister was able tion andofoverall child development? How sion of the school year. Our lovethe for Allegiance and knew all the full Pledge ofcrA and difficult. Will the school strike the full Pledge and This difficult. Will theEvelyn school strike forever. The to community join the three-year-old program willtoour fit in? Luckily for years our famrequiresright a bitbalance of adjustor restrictions to that Amy Golding, herusstaff, words thechild Hatikvah at three old! words to friends the H between quality of educa- related right balance between quality of with educaa family through the the same teachers and several younger ily, in a period of great uncertainty, the ment every few years to Purim Katan. The Talmud volunteers have created will stay with This year, his sister Evelyn was able This year, h tion and overall child development? How tion and overall child development? How By Joanna Powers decision to choose the Jewish Day School siblings of her brother’s class. She was and we know these m keep the seasons aligned suggests only to avoid us shy forever. we’ve made as the three-year-old with to join theforthr will our child fit in? Luckily for our fam- to join will our child fitThe in? Luckily our famHead of School will bring us joy ye very at first, butfriendships quickly for overcame of Lehigh Valley was theprogram easiest “yes!” with ourily,lunar calendar. doing anything sadsame on ever the school will the remain teachers teac in a period of great uncertainty, the the ily,that ina and afamily period of ready great uncertainty, Forthe any same parent grap trulythrough gets for school with we’ve said. and several younger Some years we to adjust Purim asWegivof where toofsend enthusiasm. The these school has supported in Allentown in lateShe March and to wechoose know memories madesion here siblings ofarrived her brother’s class. was siblings hery decision chooseby the Jewish Day Katan, School such decision the Jewish Day School Depending on when in thevery Lehigh lovebring ofValley art,ussinging, and she’s 2020 with a 2-year-old son, Joseph and of her adding an extra Adar, eulogies saying will joy forthe years tomade come. shy the at first, but quickly overcame shyValley, at fi of Lehigh Valley and was theing easiest “yes!”or very Lehigh was easiest “yes!” you’re reading this, it’s daughter, Evelyn. Having the sweetest friends. We LOVE getting an extremely support is one those penitential prayer, called For any that 4-month-old and truly gets ready for school with that and truly everofsaid. we’ve ever said.parent grappling with the decialmost or already the start this yearwe’ve flown in from Dallas, Texas to be closer updates and photos on the Class Dojo from the uncertainties years. I think we need Tachanun. Some rabbis ension of where to send your child to school enthusiasm. The school has supported enthusiasm. We arrived in Allentown in late March We arrived in Allentown in late March of the Hebrew month of our daily lives, and thT to family (Adam’s parents, Dr. David and app throughout the day. in the Lehigh Valley, we found the JDS her love of art, singing, and she’s made her love this additional time now courage little extra food 2020 with a 2-year-old son, Josephaand with 2-year-old son,close Joseph ment to instill a of lovear o kidsabecame extremely dur-and Mrs. Susan Hyman who have lived in Al- 2020Our Adar. More specifically, supportive place, a refuge the sweetest LOVE getting the sweetest f ish values. ingantheextremely quarantine stageEvelyn. of the panlentown forfriends. nearly 50We years), we assumed daughter, Evelyn. 4-month-old daughter, Having up to a festive, duringHaving your regular meals, Adar I. We have a two-day to warm4-month-old tan asks from us is a little year to ease into our next the uncertainties we closer all face in updates “A and photos on the Class Dojo updates and p in from Dallas, Texas to says be closer flownfrom in from Dallas, Texasthat to be excitingflown Purim. as it in Proverbs, Rosh Chosdesh this time less sadness and maybe an happy holiday. We do the our daily lives, and the perfect environapp throughout the day. app throughou to family (Adam’s parents, Dr. David and to family (Adam’s parents, Dr. David and Adar I is a quiet Jewish heart of feasting is always on the 9th and 10th of Febextra helping of meatloaf. same thing at the JDS. Our ment to instill a love of learning and JewOur kids became extremely close durOur kids be Mrs. Susan Hyman who have lived in AlMrs. Susan Hyman who have lived in Altime. No holidays and not good.” ruary, the last day of the The rabbis could never teachers take stock of our ish values. ing the quarantine stage of the paning the quara lentown for nearly 50 years), we assumed lentown for nearly 50 years), we assumed much excitement. There The basic idea is that, month of Shevat and the have foreseen the situastudents’ mindsets. An is, however, Purim Katan, instead of the expected, al- tion we are in today, but first day of Adar I. exciting experience might or Little Purim, followed most forced joy and festiv- they were known for their be upcoming, but we The rabbis stated that guage that my kids have – only bec Editor’s note: On Saturday, February 4, JDS parby Shushan Purim ity of Purim, all Purim Ka- sense of what may happen make sure that from the day that Adar very the important entKatan, Anastasiia Zavodnyk, was invited to be a guest kidsbecause are we have the a or Little Shushanspeaker Purim,at Refugee Shabbat at Temple Beth El. with their roots, which I hadn’t in m begins, we are already in the future. I think we ready and won’t be overhelp and support made us confiden Here are her remarks. on the 23rd and bidden to intensify our all need a little whelmed. here, in the US! feelings of joy, faith, and more time Our prayerSo, is what thatisby the difference betwee So, who is the refugee? It’s me. I can’t speak for everyoptimism. JustOn like during February 4, JDS par-one, only for myself and my family. the–time and Pu-Itwho andIIother people But let my storyOn be Saturday, February guage that my have only Adar because of you. is came here as Editor’s note: Saturday, Editor’s note: 4,this JDSkids parChanukah, weZavodnyk, are faced was invited to be a guestsomething that can show the general sons why came. I love Ukraine, it come we will important we have thealong, ability to we reconnect ent Anastasiia entpicture. Anastasiia Zavodnyk, was very invited to be abecause guest rim of my children and many past gene a happy time for me. with a time of happieven more to cel- Your with their roots, I hadn’t in my childhood. speaker at Refugee Shabbat at Temple Beth El. The beginning of 2022 It was speaker at Refugee Shabbat at Temple Bethwhich El. have my husband’s family. We miss our h I had a beautiful house near Kyiv, capital of Ukraine. I ness that conflicts help and support made us confident in our presence Here are her remarks. Here her Iremarks. ebrate. Purim always forewill February 2022 we never thoug had a garden full of fruit trees and berryare bushes. had with our continhere, in the US! be a big party at the ing abroad, we simply didn’t want to great plans – I was opening my own cafe and bakery ued sorrow So, speak what for is the differenceJDS, between me aswith a refugee So, who is theover refugee? It’s me. I can’t speak for every-store, I was setting up a big greenhouse So, who themany refugee? It’s me. I can’t everyour lives and happy in to is plant butsatisfied we’ll all have US because ittowas the best opti great for preschool the themyself hos- and my family. But let my story bevegetables there. My children went andBut other people as the immigrants? one,war, only for one,to only myself and my family. let my storywho be came here a little more timeReamost difficult. It was hard, and i and afterschool smart classes. My daughter started to show the general tages, andthat rising sonspicture. why we came. I love Ukraine, my home, home something can show the general picture. something that can getit’sthe ready to enjoy because of usual immigrant’s difficu go to ballroom classes at the best dance school in the antisemitism. my children of my and The beginning of 2022 It was a happy time for me. The beginning of 2022 It was of a happy time forand me.many past generations the entcelebration. language, different culture, find area. My husband had a very important role with great my husband’s family. We miss our home a lot. And beI had a joy beautiful I had a beautiful house near Kyiv, capital of Ukraine. I While is a house near Kyiv, capital of Ukraine. Icareer opportunities in the biggest local documents, impossible life wit energy company in fore February about life emigrathad a garden full of fruit trees and berry bushes. I hadUkraine. We used to invite our friends had atogarden berry bushes.2022 I hadwe never thought challenge (alimpossible without a credit scor our littlefull par-of fruit trees and is notwe being allowed to go out we –wanted webakery simply didn’t want to,ficulty because were great plans – I was opening my own cafe and bakeryties at home, used to see our parents greatwhen plans I was opening my ing ownabroad, cafe and for people,We who decide to come he of life; I was truly up a big greenhouse satisfiedtowith ourmany lives and happy in Ukraine. chose store, I was setting up a big greenhouse to plant manyto. It was really a very great period store, I was setting plant big of goal, who the toUSgreat because it was the best option all, butchoose also to live here an vegetables there. My children went to great preschoolhappy. vegetables there. My children went preschool thing to make this “American dream And then, on 24th of February, all was ruined. The most difficult. Not only and afterschool smart classes. My daughter started towar started. And what did we know and about afterschool smart classes. Mythedaughter startedIttowas hard, and ititisis hard. very hard for us, refugees, force war? Only because of usual immigrant’s difficulties such go to ballroom classes at the best dance school in thehistory WW2 from books and movies…and go to ballroom classes at the best dance school in the our home with our some hor- evening we needed to shut all lights, because our ter- heart is stillasatdifferent different culture, job, houses getting area. My husband had a very important role with greatrible stories from our grandparents. area. My husband a very important role for with great ritorial defense was language, looking hiding russian soldiers.finding I parents, andallgardens. And on We decided to stay, had realized that I couldn’t stand any more. I couldn’t preour life here more like at home (thro because it was our home. We thought that our village local documents, life without a car, almost career opportunities in the biggest energy company in career opportunities in the biggest energy companyimpossible in tend as nothing serious was happening and it was safe versations, care and was now a target for the enemy and even if they would impossible without Ukraine. We used to invite our friends to our little parUkraine. We used to invite our friends to ourlife little par- a credit score, but the real dif-support). Becaus come. We heard stories from our grandparents who enough for kids. The worse for me was to let then feel day most important things are not m ficulty is not allowed to go out of the US. Maybe ties at home, used to see our parents when we wanted ties at home, used to see our parents when webeing wanted remembered a time when their homes were under oc- fear, to feel war. It’s not what children should feel, not will never ever fill your heart and so for people, who decide to come has it like to. It was really a very great period of life; I was trulycupation during WW2 so we kindto.ofItcould was guess reallyhow a very great period of life; I was truly until they are enough old to understand everything andhere, nesswho and happiness. big goal, who choose to live here and can stand happy. happy. So, I want toeverysay a big, huge thank it could be in our case. But we were wrong, very very not be hurt by it. I want my children to be happy, to be to make this “American dream” came true, And then, on 24th of February, all was ruined. Thewrong. Because in village aren’t many And then,– it’s ondif24thconfident of February, all was ruined. The and thing have strong and healthy mental health. to all of you! I ambut grateful for the ab people So, I asked my husband to leave our home. day, in a safe, beautiful and ambitious ficult to feel panic. We heard sounds of missile strikes, it is very hard for us, refugees, forced migrants, who’s war started. And what did we know about war? Only war started. And what did we know about war? Only We left on 7th of March and on 8th of March rusgrateful to all of you, for listening the house was shaking every time, but personally I really all lights, our and ter- movies…and we friends, needed neighbors, to shut all lights, becato heart is stillsome at our homeevening with our history WW2 from books and movies…and some hor- evening we needed to shut history WW2 because from books horfelt it on the second week, end of February. I needed to sians* came to our house. They occupied all village, porting my family and Ukraine. I be forstories hidingfrom russian I parents, ritorial defense was looking for hiding russia housestoand gardens. And only your help made rible stories from our grandparents. We decided to stay, ritorial defense was looking rible our soldiers. grandparents. We decided stay, take my youngest daughter to doctor. So, we were going killed men, raped women, stole a lot of things, ruin our end soon, that I can finally see my ho realized that I couldn’t stand any more. I couldn’t prerealized that I couldn’t stand any c our life here more like at home (through relations, conbecause it was our home. We thought that our villageby car because it was our home. We thought that our village Butmore. I, as allI U there. It wasn’t far but we needed to go through houses… it lasted 4 weeks. So, it was nothing like occu- friends and neighbors. tend as nothing and wasenemy safe tend asAnd nothing serious was happening and versations, care andmuch support). the end of the was now a target for the enemy and even if they woulda checkpoint was now foritthe even itifwas they would pation duringand WW2… worse, worse.Because inat that fatal February, in pre-war day which wasserious createdwas as ahappening part a of target country is still. our land, inworse our they home; happy, actions. ThereThe I sawworse real soldiers, bulenough for kids. for We meguns, was to stories letitthen feel our enough formaterial kids. The for me wasconfid to daygrandparents most important things are not things, come. We heard stories from our grandparents whoprotection come. heard from who Nowtheir we arehomes here.never And weever are very lucky,heart because we days, full love, of plans. shou on feel the ground, the first time ainshould my when fear, to war. It’stanks notfor what children feel, not fear, to feelsoul war. It’s notambitious what will fill ocyour and with kind-children remembered a time when their homes were under oc-lets laying remembered time were under metsopeople with very bighappiness. open hearts lovethey and are enough old to understand eve And itthey wasn’t it was real everything life aremuseum enoughexhibition, oldcupation to understand andkind until ness and cupation during WW2 so we kind of could guess howlife. until during WW2 we of could guess howfull of situation. But worst was that something just fly above kindness, people who helped us with so many things. *I use little letter instead of capital on p not be hurt by it. I want itmycould children be happy, to be hurt by I want children to be h So,wrong, I want very to sayvery a big, not hugebethank youit.one moremy time it could be in our case. But we were wrong, very verymy head be intoour case. But we were and then I heard and felt shot near me. It was People from Jewish Day School, Jewish Community of this people anymore and it’s even hard for m confident and have strong and healthy mental health. confident and have strong and me to all of you! I am grateful for the ability to be here towrong. Because in village aren’t many people – it’s dif-enemy wrong. Because in village aren’t many people – it’s difand are still drone. It scared me to death, I never ever felt Lehigh Valley, Jewish Community Center. Not enough because what they have donehealthy So, before. I asked myweeks husband to leave home. So, I asked husband to leave day,how in safe, beautiful and place, the US. I’m ficult to feel panic. We heard sounds of missile strikes,like this ficult to our feel panic. heard sounds of amissile strikes, words to describe grateful we are for it. ambitious And this my they are humans at all to me.our And home. because i Next were very scary for me. The We great opportunity know Jewish traditions and left lan- on my them.8th of soldiers closer closer to ouron village. At March left were on 7th ofand March and 8thshaking of rusWe 7thstory, ofit as March andto on to all of you, for listening to highlight my forrelation supthe house was shaking every time, but personally I reallyenemy We the house was every time, grateful but to personally I really They occupied village, sians* came to our They occupied myI needed family and I believe thathouse. war will felt it on the second week, end of February. I needed to sians* came to our house. felt it on the second all week, end of porting February. to Ukraine. stole lot of things, ruin our killed men, raped women, endSo, soon, finally see my home and hug allstole my a lot of thin take my youngest daughter to doctor. So, we were going killed men, raped women, take myayoungest daughter to doctor. wethat wereI can going was nothing houses… lasted 4 weeks. So, it was nothin I, as allitUkrainians, still stay by car there. It wasn’t far but we needed to go through houses… it lasted 4 weeks. by So, car itthere. It wasn’tlike faroccubut we friends needed and to goneighbors. through But worse, much And in pation during WW2… it was fatalofFebruary, days, when we were onworse, much a checkpoint which was created as a part of country pation during WW2… ita was checkpoint whichworse. was created asthat a part countryin pre-war it is still. oursoldiers, land, inguns, our home; confident in the coming protection actions. There I saw real soldiers, guns, bul- it is still. protection actions. There I saw real bul- happy, Now we are here. Andlets we laying are very becausetanks we for Now we are here. And we are very lucky, days, ambitious lets laying on the ground, tanks for the first time in my onlucky, the ground, thefull firstoftime in my plans. open full of love and life. And it wasn’t museum exhibition, it was real life met people with very biglife. Andhearts it wasn’t museum exhibition, it was real life met people with very big open hearts full us with many helped *I use little instead of kindness, capital on people purpose. who I don’t respectus with so m situation. But worst was that something just fly above kindness, people who helped situation. But so worst wasthings. that something justletter fly above People from Jewish Day School, Jewish Community of People from Jewish Day School, Jewish Co this people anymore and it’s even hard for me to call them people, my head and then I heard and felt shot near me. It was my head and then I heard and felt shot near me. It was Center. Not enough Jewish Center. becauseI what have and are Valley, still doing doesn’tCommunity look like enemy drone. It scared me to death, I never ever felt Lehigh Valley, Jewish Community enemy drone. It scared me to death, neverthey ever feltdone Lehigh are for it.weeks And this to describe howI grateful they are humans at allThe to me. words And because it is my story, want to we are for like this before. Next weeks were very scary for me. The words to describe how grateful like this we before. Next were very scary for me. Jewish traditions and langreat opportunity to know Jewish traditio highlight it as village. my relation enemy soldiers2024 were| HAKOL closer and closer to our village. At great opportunity to know enemy soldiers were closer and closer to our At to them. 14 FEBRUARY LEHIGH VALLEY
Why JDS? Why JDS?
Two Adars for theWhy Price ofJDS? One T
T
T
Who is the refugee? It’s me
Who is the refugee? WhoIt’s is the me.refug
we’d be here only a few weeks at most. As the pandemic continued, we made deci-
demic as built-in playmates and friends. we’d be here o The JDS has enabled that relationship to the pandemic
610.821.8722 | www.jfslv.org
JFS Focuses on Accessibility and Inclusion February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM), a unified effort among Jewish organizations to raise awareness and foster acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities. This year, Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley (JFS) partnered with PJ Library and Parkland High School’s American Sign Language Club to educate young Jewish children about American Sign Language, as well as Deaf culture. Even though February is when we direct attention to education and learning about disabilities, Amanda Thomas, Ph.D., Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator, spends the other eleven months
continuing to educate the community agencies on accessibility and inclusion. Here are a few highlights from the past year: JFS collaborated with synagogues and community agencies to cultivate inclusive practices through professional development and to assist in creating feasible steps to achieve their inclusion goals. For example, Temple Beth El’s marketing staff was trained on digital accessibility. “Disability awareness training helps create a higher understanding in which we can create an inclusive environment,” Michelle Rohrbach said upon completing the training. “It will help those individuals who feel alienated when
participating in events.” In addition, Temple Beth El’s religious school received training on disability awareness and inclusive practices. The JFS Accessibility and Inclusion Committee meets on a quarterly basis to serve as a resource for advocacy and education of inclusive practices of people with disabilities and the LGBTQIA community. The committee plays an integral role in education of inclusion for the High Holidays and JDAIM. JFS recognized that an inaccessible website excludes visitors just as much as an inaccessible physical location. It was a priority that everyone be able to access the website under the guidelines of
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The new JFS website was developed and coded to ensure proper navigation of text, organization of content, color contrast, and alternative text for images. The new website supports the use of assistive technology (i.e., screen readers, screen magnifiers, voice recognition software) and adaptive strategies (i.e., increasing text size, changing colors). Having an accessible website benefits everyone, with and without disabilities. You are invited to visit us at jfslv.org. What to expect this year? In addition to education and training, JFS has started a Parent Support
Amanda Thomas, Ph.D.
Group for parents/ caregivers of adult children with disabilities (18-40 years old). This group will be co-facilitated by JFS staff members Laura Garber, LCSW, and Amanda Thomas, Ph.D., accessibility and inclusion coordinator. If you are interested in learning more about the Parent Support Group, please email Amanda Thomas, accessibilty@jfslv.org.
Volunteer Spotlight: Yale West Yale West has been a resident of the Lehigh Valley since 1987. During the pandemic, he began volunteering through Congregation Brith Sholom by delivering masks made by congregants to New Bethany and to a Bethlehem food pantry. This inspired Yale to reach out to JFS to see if community members were having difficulty getting their meals. He began volunteering with JFS in August
2020 by delivering Mazel Meals to older adult clients. As an independent business owner, Yale has the ability to carve out time to volunteer and has been delivering meals once a month for more than three years. “The people that I deliver meals to are very appreciative and it is something they really look forward to,” says Yale “It feels good to do something for them.”
CHEERS
VO LUNTEERS
If you would like to volunteer for JFS, contact Jennifer Oxfeld, volunteer@jfslv.org
We thank those individuals who have graciously supported Jewish Family Service by sending tribute cards: IN HONOR
MR. AND MRS. RICHARD CROASDALE Sandi and Kenneth Mackler MR. AND MRS. JOHN D’AUGUSTINO Sandi and Kenneth Mackler JFS STAFF Alison Post and Morgan Godorov MOLLY MANNIX Sandi and Kenneth Mackler MR. AND MRS. R. MAYER Sandi and Kenneth Mackler
MR. AND MRS. ROBERT RASKIN Sandi and Kenneth Mackler THE ZEBRAK FAMILY Sandi and Kenneth Mackler
IN LOVING MEMORY
JOSEPH BERGSTEIN (Brother of Bill Bergstein) Wendy and Ross Born Rabbi Allen and Toby Juda Phyllis Kaufman Sarah Morse Cary and Michael Moritz Roberta and Alan Penn
BOBBY HAMMEL (Husband of Bonnie Hammel) Audrey Ettinger-Finley and Michael Finley Rabbi Allen and Toby Juda Robin and Alex Rosenau Susan and Howard Sherer DOROTHY HOFFMAN (Mother of Betty Burian) Linda Davies Rosalie Goldstein Marvin Schwartz and Aleta Schwartz Grunberg Vickie and Scott Semmel
RICHARD KOTTLER (Brother of Paul Kottler) Rabbi Allen and Toby Juda MORRIE KRICUN Stephanie and Robert Kricun RABBI MILTON KULA (Husband of Phyllis Kula) Casey Goldblat and Irving Kaplan ASHIRA RABINOWITZ (Granddaughter of Ruth Derby) Lenore Scharf ESTHER SHERER In observance of her Yahrzeit Susan and Howard Sherer
SYLVIA SUSSMAN (Sister of Edith Miller) Christina and Bill Ammerman Marilyn Braunstein Congregation Am Haskalah Joshua Greenberg Wender Timmerman Charitable Fund The Willows at Westborough Resident Association Cherie and Rick Zettlemoyer PHYLLIS WEINSTEIN Susan Scarborough
A wonderful way to share your thoughtfulness with family and friends, the minimum contribution for a JFS Tribute Card is $18. Visit www.jfslv.org/give to place card orders. Questions? 610.821.8722. Thank you for your continued support. HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2024 15
The sleepaway camps
What’s new this year? What makes each camp unique?
As sure as time flies, summer camp will start in what feels like a few weeks. It’s time to collect information and figure out which sleepaway camp to send your kids to. We asked the overnight camps in the area to send us their essential information and let us know what’s new in their neck of the woods. Here are their responses:
Pinemere Camp Pinemere Camp in Stroudsburg is a dynamic community made up of campers, families, staff, and alumni from around the world. Each summer, Pinemere creates a safe space for children where they can leave behind the hectic pace, pressure, and technology of the outside world and just be kids. Many people say that Pinemere Camp feels like a family. This is probably why more than 90% of its campers return each summer to its home in the beautiful Pocono Mountains. Pinemere sets itself apart with its intimate camp size,
rustic setting, innovative programs, inclusive Jewish programming, and fun and welcoming environment. It aims to hire and develop the best staff in camping. Pinemere’s goal is to assist campers in building friendships, fostering their Jewish identity, acquiring new skills, and having the best summer every summer. For more information visit pinemere.com.
Golden Slipper Camp Every summer, campers ages 7-15 converge on Golden Slipper Camp’s 600-plus acres of land in Stroudsburg in the Pocono Mountains. Its international and professional staff create a memorable summer experience by bringing their own unique character and style to everything they do. Golden Slipper offers all the traditional summer camp sports as well as lake fun and swimming. The Art Village provides an opportunity to get the creative juices flowing. Add to those a skate park, bikes, archery,
and ropes courses, along with fun evening and special programming, and you have golden summer. Golden Slipper bases its camping mission on Jewish values and welcomes all to attend. With over 75 years of camping experience, it has proven its ability to give your child a fun, safe, and memorable summer. New for the summer of 2024 is a one-week minicamp. This discount-rate, fully immersive experience is designed for new campers ages 7-10 who are unsure about committing to an entire summer or full session. It runs July 19-26 at a cost of $150. Further information, registration, rates, and a new camp video are available at goldenslippercamp.org. Camp Galil Habonim Dror Camp Galil is a 60-acre summer camp in a rustic environment on the banks of the Tinicum Creek in Ottsville, Bucks County, with a beautiful pool and an amazing high-ropes course.
did you schedule YOUR EYE EXAM yet? Houman Ahdieh, M.D. Daniel Ross, M.D. Irena Cherfas, M.D. Mark Krakauer, M.D., M.Phil Robert Morrison, M.D.
Lindsay Tilghman, O.D. Kelsey Paciotti, O.D. Magi Labib, O.D. Amanda Hadeed, O.D.
ALLENTOWN & PALMER TOWNSHIP ACCEPT MOST MAJOR MEDICAL & VISION PLANS
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Kids who want to help shape their own summer experience will find a home at Camp Galil. Parents who want to foster independence and confidence love the way Galil nurtures their kids and inspires them to make the world a better place. Camp Galil is a place where campers have fun while learning and living the values of kindness, inclusion, tikkun olam (making the world a better place), and connecting to Israel. It’s a small place that celebrates cultural Judaism in the kibbutz (communal living) tradition. The camp’s youth leadership model that means its college-age staff is shaping and designing the day-to-day programs, and its campers have the opportunities to lead camp themselves. Galil helps Jewish youth feel comfortable and confident in their Jewish identity, something that has felt even more important in recent months. Since October 7, it has been running educational programming for its campers, helping its
community feel informed, connected, and empowered. It builds special connections to Israel through its partners in Israel, including a shaliach (Israeli emissary) who works with the community yearround. For more information, visit campgalil.org.
Camp Harlam URJ Camp Harlam is located in Kunkletown on over 300 acres in the Pocono Mountains. It offers two pools and a lake; athletic fields, arts facilities, and climbing apparatuses; a teaching kitchen; a digital arts studio; and much more. Harlam is a great place for kids who want to experience a wide range of activities every day. New features for summer 2024 include pickleball, a renovated garden, and guitar lessons. In addition to varied programming, commitment to an open and safe environment makes Harlam exceptional. The facility was created with an eye for universal design, ensuring inclusivity at every entry point. There are affinity spaces for minority campers, including its Gender Sexuality Alliance and Jews of Color group, to explore and discuss their identities with trusted peers and staff. There are also individual changing rooms in all living spaces and all-gender bathrooms throughout camp to serve campers and staff of all gender identities. One further way Harlam sets itself apart is through its values: acting according to one’s heart, finding inner beauty, and gaining confidence and independence. These tie in with Jewish teachings and everything done at camp to develop children who are compassionate, resilient, and proud of their Judaism. For more information visit campharlam.org.
Pinemere Camp
Golden Slipper Camp
Camp Galil
Camp Harlam
YOAV CALLING!
What do we want from camps? What do the kids need? By Nurit Galon Partnership2Gether
Even though it is definitely winter weather, we are usually cheered up by the thought of the summer to come. The nice weather, its warm and golden days, the swimming pool, picnics, long hikes into the cool mountains, camping, sports, games. The joys of being young and free, the future assured, the world our playground. What memories we have? What photos to remind us? But wait. Something has gone wrong with this picture in Israel. There are no smiles. Instead, burnt-out houses, children crying. What do those have to do with the delights of normal lives, es-
pecially children’s lives? The answer is, of course, nothing. This is a picture of the Israeli settlements near the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, a day of horrors as Hamas went on a murderous rampage. On October 8, a new and very sad story appeared on televisions throughout Israel: it’s not so easy to be a child here. Summer camps are an old and familiar tradition. Today there are camps for almost everything—art, drama, music, sports, debate, cookery, and more. What do the kids expect from them? Kids getting ready for camp, at least in the Western world, is a sign, we hope, of another stage in growing up, in becoming independent, taking part in decision-making
processes. What do adults expect? Assistance with children as they grow into adults? Help with teaching them to understand how the world works and how to make it better? What is waiting for our
children beyond the fun/ not fun days of camp? Will they change their and our world with it? Looking back, will we regret that we didn’t recognize just how important camp days are in shaping the future? Now, with sum-
mertime and summer camp approaching, is a good time to think about that. To our family and friends in Lehigh Valley, we wish you a wonderful summer of camps and songs, health, and peace.
DON’T MISS IT!
COMMUNITY CONCERT at CONGREGATION SONS OF ISRAEL February 25th, 4:00 pm
Six13 is an award-winning six-man a cappella vocal band that is bringing an unprecedented style and energy to Jewish music, with nothing but the power of the human voice. • $45 General Admission
For reservations or to
• $25 Students & Children 5 and up
purchase an ad in our journal,
• Children 4 & under free (on lap)
go to SonsofIsrael.net, or call
• Event sponsorships available DAYCARE & TRAINING CENTER
www.coldnoselodge.com | Call/Text 610-965-3647
610-433-6089
ACT NOW! Limited seating available HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2024 17
Camp JCC: Growth, fun, friendship for every camper By Heather Lavin JCC Project Director
and enriched by the enduring values of a Jewish camp.
What better time than the bitter cold of winter to start planning for the warm days of summer? As families get a jump on planning, many are searching for an immersive day camp experience that combines fun, education, and the timeless wisdom of Jewish values. Enter Camp JCC, a haven where the magic of summer comes alive, guided by trained and passionate counselors,
Diverse activities for every interest One of the standout features of Camp JCC is its diverse array of activities catering to various interests. From arts and crafts to science experiments, dance parties to outdoor adventures, the camp ensures that every child finds something they’re passionate about. This variety allows campers to explore new interests, fostering personal growth and development. Camp Junior, tailored for younger campers enter-
, II
EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION . �\� \ ��- SC HOLARSHIPSAVAILABLE Scholarships will be awarded to individuals for Jewish teen education experiences that will enrich the recipients, enhance the community, and increase the likelihood of future engagement with Jewish life. Scholarships are provided by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley's annual campaign, on a non-needs basis.
Teens may request scholarships for: Conventions I Jewish youth group summer programs I Jewish summer camps Certain trips to Israel I Leadership development programs
LIMITED FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE.
Scholarship forms are available at www.jewishlehighvalley.org/scholarships
DEADLINE: MARCH 24, 2023
ing pre-K and kindergarten, provides a more flexible pace while maintaining a focus on active, hands-on fun. Daily swim instruction, along with a mix of activities like athletics, arts and crafts, and science ensures a well-rounded and enjoyable experience for the little ones. Building strong bonds and day camp spirit The trained counselors at Camp JCC play a crucial role in fostering strong bonds among campers. Through team-building activities, sportsmanship promotion, and engaging programming, campers not only have a blast but also develop essential social skills. The emphasis on teamwork and camaraderie ensures that every child feels a sense of belonging and community, making lasting friendships along the way. Active engagement all day long The signature of the Camp JCC experience lies in keeping kids actively engaged throughout the day. Whether it’s through exciting games, imaginative play, or educational activities, children are
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constantly stimulated both physically and mentally. Camp Adventure field trips take campers to new destinations for fun and exploration, including farther-away and longer day trips for the oldest camp groups. The active engagement approach not only ensures a fun-filled summer but also contributes to the holistic development of each camper. Expanding opportunities for older campers Summer 2024 brings exciting expansions for older campers, including an enhanced archery program, overnight and late-night options, and a counselor-in-training program that empowers ninth- and 10th-graders with essential leadership skills, bridging the gap between being a camper and a future counselor. With a focus on skill development and working with children, the program promises a valuable and enjoyable experience for older campers. International flavor and cultural exchange Camp JCC not only values diverse experiences but actively incorporates them into the camp atmosphere. This year, an Israeli shlicha (emissary) will join the camp, bringing a touch of Israeli culture. Campers will have the chance to explore Israeli Adventure activities, learn Israeli songs and dances, and gain a broader perspective through cultural exchange. A summer of growth, fun, and friendship Camp JCC offers more than just a summer camp. It provides a platform for growth, fun, and friendship. The wellrounded program, diverse activities, and specialty camps ensure that every child finds their place in this vibrant and inclusive community. As the camp season approaches, families can look forward to a summer filled with laughter, learning, and the joy of creating cherished memories.
2018 Camp JCC worker from Yoav to return this summer
By Carl Zebrowski Editor
Tahel Shemer misses the Lehigh Valley. It’s been six years since she came here from Yoav, Israel, to work at Camp JCC. This summer she’s coming back. Shemer is no longer a teenager. She’s almost 22 now, though she still lives in Kibbutz Negba and remains close with her parents and two younger sisters.
“
On workdays, Shemer is a guide for fourth and sixth graders in a kibbutz. They come after school, and she plays with them and comes up with activities to keep them occupied and learning. Much of her free time is spent on music—listening, singing, and playing. She’s been playing piano since age 5 and also plays violin, ukulele, and a bit of guitar. In 2018, Shemer came to
the Valley with three other teen girls and worked at Camp JCC as an Israeli guide in the Israeli Adventure program. She led activities related to Israel, focusing on a different theme each week. During Water Week, for example, the children learned about the Sea of Galilee and about the desalination process used in Israel to make saltwater drinkable. She stayed in the Valley with host families, as the camp teens coming from Israel do. “We had the best time!” she said. “We went to restaurants and shopping. Sometimes we stayed at home and watched movies and cooked. We even went to laser tag and a baseball game.” She said spending the summer here gave her many great memories. “It was one of the best things I ever did in my life,” she said. To name just a few of her favorite camp recollections: the morning gatherings at the flagpole, dances near the pool, pajamas day, the Fourth of July barbecue, Kabbalat Shabbat every Friday, Maccabi Games week. The best part of the summer for Shemer was the people— the host families, the camp
staff, the campers, all of whom contributed to creating a unique experience for her. “I remember always laughing and having a good time,” she said. “That is why I am so excited to return.” This summer at camp, Shemer’s role will be as a music specialist, and she’s already planning activities related to all kinds of music. She named movie music and classical as two genres that will get atten-
tion. After camp hours, she’ll head to the homes of her new host families and no doubt do many of the sorts of things she did last time. She also plans to meet with her 2018 host families while she’s here. All of this is just a few months away, though it may feel like longer for Shemer: “I can’t wait to have fun with the staff and the children in camp.”
IN THE eaRIGHT rt ISHANDS My hheart I never thought that I would have a heart attack at my age, but I’m glad that when I was at my worst I turned to the best. Now I feel better than ever, and none of this would have been possible without the extraordinary care from everyone at St. Luke’s.”— Kim Krug When it comes to your heart, you need a team you can trust to provide the highest quality care, no matter how complex or routine the issue. That’s why Kim chose St. Luke’s – the region’s only nationally ranked 50 Top Heart Hospital to help her get back to feeling better than ever. With St. Luke’s, Kim knows her heart is in the right hands. To learn more, visit sluhn.org/kim or scan the QR code.
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GIVE A MITZVAH, DO A MITZVAH
Collecting diverse books for kids
Chloe Fadlon will become a bat mitzvah at Temple Beth El in Allentown on June 1. A seventh grader at Springhouse Middle School, she plays violin and golf, ice skates, and studies voice.
She is involved in the school’s TV studio, Springhouse Upbeat News Network (SUNN), and the Reading Olympics, and she volunteers for Read Across America. She will be in the school’s upcoming
performance of the musical “Descendants.” When it came to planning her mitzvah project, she knew she wanted to do something related to books and reading. A college classmate of her mom’s had started a literacy organization called Our Kids Read, and Chloe learned about the work it’s doing at a community service event the organization hosted at her mom’s recent 25th college class reunion. That inspired her to bring a similar event to Allentown. Chloe will be sponsoring an Our Kids Read Free Book Festival at Mosser Elementary School in Allentown in March. The festival will bring storytellers, West African drummers, and free, diverse books to second-grade students. You can help out by donating specific books or money to help with purchasing the books at ourkidsreadinc.org/free-book-festival-
allentown. The organization is also aiming to go live with its Reading Buddies program in Allentown School District in the fall. Our Kids Read seeks to match mentors with strong reading skills with children who are behind in their reading. During the Zoom-based program, the children select titles from a collection of 400 diverse e-books, all featuring positive African American, Latino, and Native American characters. The organization hopes that through exposure to various cultures, the children are encouraged to grow up to be open-minded and tolerant adults with a solid sense of belonging and self-esteem. Chloe’s parents, Cheri and Yariv Fadlon, are very proud of their daughter. “We love that Chloe is a kid who genuinely loves to read for fun,” they said. “Her voraciousness
is so legendary that teachers sometimes turn to her for book recommendations. “She is also very creative and tenacious in her creativity. She has been working on her own novel, and it seems that she is not just writing a story but building a whole world that could become an entire series. Another passion of hers is creating YouTube ‘edits’ based on favorite books. Combined, these edits have a couple hundred thousand views.” In addition to the mitzvah project, Chloe has made her first adult gift of tzedakah to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs. For help developing your mitzvah project, contact Abby Trachtman, project coordinator, at abbyt@jflv.org or call her at the Jewish Federation office at 610-821-5500.
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Pinemere staff among the most globally diverse in US By Eytan Graubert Pinemere Camp Executive Director
Pinemere has always nurtured and cherished its homegrown alumni. They are the group we most consistently rely on to return year after year and to keep traditions alive. But over the last few years, there’s been some change. We’ve started seeing international staff return. This year, in the wake of the horrible events of October 7, we’ll have over 30 returning staff from Israel, England, and Argentina—the largest group of returning international staffers we’ve ever had. In fact, it will be among the largest group of international staffers of any Jewish camp in the country. We at Pinemere most often describe ourselves as a community camp that primarily serves campers from the Mid-Atlantic. We refer to our cozy home nestled in the Poconos. But over the last few years I have come to realize
that our description, while true at its core, is misleading. Perhaps a better way to describe Pinemere is as a Jewish community that, after 81 years, is celebrated globally. It’s a haven for young leaders from around the world to come together around the commonalities of the Jewish people. It’s a camp that works to strengthen the local communities around the world based on the values and love that we live together every summer. One of the many things that makes the camp so special is the staff. The personal, role-model relationships that are built during the summer often outweigh the lessons of our actual curriculum. As the years pass, campers usually forget what part they played in a camp musical, but they rarely forget their counselors. They are the heartbeat of camp. Our counselors tend to fit into one the two categories mentioned at the beginning: homegrown (campers who have grown up at Pinemere
and are continuing on their camp journey as staff) and international (hired to bring international culture to our community and to fill in the gaps left open by the homegrown staff). When I speak with many of the returning staff about why they are coming back, I usually get a variation of this response: October 7 has made me realize how important my work is and how important our Jewish community is. For a camp director, this is an incredibly powerful thing to hear. It reiterates that the group of staff we bring in to lead us every summer understands camp far more deeply than I could have thought. Our home away from home is not just a place where
local Jewish youth can come together. Our impact is being felt in every corner of the world. Without ever changing who we are, Pinemere has become a place to which international Jewry turn to find the best aspects of community. It’s a holy place that even our staff in Jerusalem look to as the among the most sacred of Jewish communities. On our small pocket of land on the shores of Pinemere Lake, Jews from all around the world are finding connection to Judaism, to one another, and to Israel. And while our summers are filled
with zip lines and camping trips, music, sports, and arts, we have also become a home away from home for hundreds of incredible leaders from all around the world. Returning year after year to be in the place where they found, and built, a truly sacred Jewish community. We are so blessed that our traditions and history have brought them all together.
DEADLINE: MARCH 22, 2024
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2024 21
BOOK REVIEWS Camp gives ex-besties chance to make up—if they want “Second Chance Summer,” by Sarah Kapit, Henry Holt, 2023, 240 pages. By Sean Boyle Congregation Keneseth Israel
Sarah Kapit’s latest middlegrade novel, “Second Chance Summer,” is about seventhgrade school friends Maddie and Chloe and their changing friendship while they are away at summer theater camp. Chloe is a child actor and starred in “Super Hero Kids,” a popular streaming series and is instantly recognized at camp by fans. Maddie, her best friend since kindergarten, is “a chubby Jewish girl with thick glasses and a ten-
dency to fall over at the worst possible moments.” Maddie has dyspraxia, which led to an embarrassing incident during the school’s spring musical that Maddie blames on Chloe, causing a fallingout. Chloe, suffering from a year of failed auditions, is thinking of switching from acting to singing and performing in musicals, but is afraid to tell her mother. Maddie wants to put the embarrassing incident behind her and concentrate on becoming a screenwriter. Both inadvertently go to the same summer theater camp and are assigned to the same cabin. As they make potential
new friends and face camp disasters, Maddie and Chloe need to decide whether they can ever be best friends, as they were at the start of seventh grade. As Maddie and Chloe work out their friendship issues, including acts of revenge, both girls have individual coming-of-age experiences at camp. The story proceeds with two points of view and dual timelines. Chapters alternate between Maddie and Chloe and occasionally from camp to the previous school year. Each chapter heading tells who is the narrator and when that chapter is set. Maddie and Chloe are
modeled off Kapit and a childhood friend, including the cover artwork, but Kapit has never starred in a musical. Auditions and many aspects of rehearsals for and performances of a musical are included. There are many references to current and classic musicals. “Second Chance Summer” is highly recommended for ages 10-120, especially for anyone who has ever been, or wanted to be, in a school play or musical. Sean Boyle is Congregation Keneseth Israel’s librarian and is also serving as Vice President, President-elect of the Association of Jewish Libraries.
Anecdotes and recipes from a Holocaust survivor
“Recipes Remembered: A Celebration of Survival,” by June Feiss Hersh, Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2011, 360 pages.
By Sandi Teplitz Special to Hakol
There have recently been several cookbooks written to honor or remember the people who survived the Ho-
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locaust. The author of “Recipes Remembered,” which has stood the test of a dozen years, is a master storyteller who engages the future chef with her delivery of anecdotes before she lists ingredients. A few fascinating facts: To test butter’s readiness for baking, place your thumb on the wrapped stick; if it makes an indentation, throw the stick into the mixer for creaming. Jared Kushner, after learning of Auschwitz prisoners’ commitment to G-d despite their living conditions, began laying tefillin (small boxes containing Torah verses that are worn during prayers) as a daily tribute to his surviving grandparents. “Spaetzle” means “tiny sparrow,” which is the way these noodle-like dumplings look as they flutter in boiling water. Like any cookbook worth purchasing, the recipes are special. I am introducing you to two of the fun ones.
Rae Kushner’s Potato Chip Kugel Ingredients 12-ounce bag No Yolks noodles 1 tablespoon oil 2 beaten eggs
salt and pepper to taste Technique Boil noodles, then drain. Combine with eggs and seasonings. Heat oil in a 12-inch frying pan. Cook until golden on one side; turn over and do the same. Slide onto a serving dish and serve hot. They taste like delicious chips!
Swimming Goggles Horseradish By Jerry Rubach Ingredients 6-inch piece horseradish root, peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces 6 medium fresh beets, cooked and peeled 1/2 cup white vinegar
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Technique Put the horseradish in a food processor. Add the beets, three at a time. Add the vinegar. Process. Before you remove the cover of the processor to add ingredients, be sure you’re wearing goggles—the fumes are intense. Process several times until you reach a desired consistency. Sandi Teplitz provides a recipe for each issue of Hakol and regularly reviews books.
Community Calendar
To list an event in the Community Calendar, submit your information on our website, www.jewishlehighvalley.org, under the “Upcoming Events” menu.
All events listed in the Community Calendar are open to the public and free of charge, unless otherwise noted. Programs listed in HAKOL are provided as a service to the community. They do not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. The JFLV reserves the right to accept, reject or modify listings.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4 ‘American Hospitals: Healing a Broken System’ 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel View the documentary on America’s healthcare system by Vince Mondillo, who will join the group. Cost is $5 for the light brunch that will be served after the screening. Register at kilv.org. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Shabbat Out of the Box: Rise to the Occasion–Let’s Bake Some Bread! 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel Join KI’s own master baker, Martina Obenski, making kubaneh, traditional Yemenite bread. Supplies, lunch, and wine are included. Ages 21 to 100. Register by February 23 at kilv.org. Due to limited oven space, this event can accommodate only 12 people. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Women of KI Winter Book Swap 10-11:30 a.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel Join Women of KI for an informal book swap and casual conversation. Nosh on bagels, bond over books, and share recommendations for new reads. Bring a favorite book to swap, along with a short written description of the book. Participants will exchange books so everyone goes home with a new favorite. Books of any genre are welcome. Register at kilv.org by February 8. SUNDAYS, FEBRUARY 18, MARCH 17 Partnership2Gether Film Club 1 p.m., via Zoom Watch an Israeli film via Zoom as viewers in the Lehigh Valley’s Partnership2Gether region, Yoav, Israel, do the same. Then discuss it with the group here and there. The films are “Blessed” in January, “Tateh” in February, and “The New Jew” in March. Visit the film club website at jewishminneapolis.org/p2g-filmclub/?mc_cid=5fe57b930d&mc_ eid=6f42536b63 for more information and to register. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Six13 Concert 4-6 p.m., Congregation Sons of Israel See the popular Jewish a capella group Six13 at Sons of Israel. The six-person, family-friendly vocal group brings style and energy to Jewish music using nothing but the human voice. The concert starts at 4:30 and ends at 5:30. Six13 merchandise will be available for purchase until 6. General admission is $45, Students and children 5 and up are $25, Children 4 and under are free (on lap). Event sponsorships are available. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase. Reserve seats at jewishlehighvalley.regfox.com/csoisix13-concert. SUNDAY, MARCH 3 Knot Just for Fun 10-11:30 a.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel Join the Women of KI in learning about the history of rope making, uses of rope
Celebrate the beauty of Shabbat
in the Torah, and how to make a sailor’s bracelet or zipper pull to take home. Rope will be blue and white to honor Israel. Learn from master roper maker and knot artist Sean Boyle. Cost is $8, and a light brunch is included. Register at kilv.org/event/knot-just-for-fun.html. TUESDAY, MARCH 5 Dignity Grows Tote-Packing Party 6:30 p.m., JCC Boardroom Join volunteers from the Women’s Philanthropy to fill bags with hygiene products to be given to local women in need. The event is free and open to the public. Register at jewishlehighvalley. regfox.com/dignity-grows-packing-partymarch-5-2024 by February 27. You can also sponsor a bag at that web page, even if you cannot attend. SATURDAY, MARCH 9 Shabbat Out of the Box: Art with Susan Hardy 10-11 a.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel Explore your inner creativity and see what Susan Hardy has planned for her fourth year doing this. No art experience necessary. Supplies will be provided. Ages 10-100. Register by March 7 at kilv.org/event/art-with-susan-hardy. html#. FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MARCH 15-17 Scholar in Residence 2024: ‘Exploring Jewish Identity in Turbulent Times’ See below for times and locations Lewis R. Gordon, head of the University of Connecticut philosophy department, will lead events for the weekend sponsored by Congregation Keneseth Israel and Congregation Brith Sholom. Friday at 7:30 p.m. is “What Do We Mean when We Say ‘Jew’ or Jewish’?” at KI. Saturday at 11:45 a.m. is “Jewish History through an Authentically Diverse Jewish Lens” at Brith Sholom. Saturday at 7 p.m. is “Unpacking Ashkenormativity or What is Jewish Really?” at KI. Sunday at 10 a.m. is “Creating a Vision for 21st Century Jewish Pluralism” at KI. Sunday at 12:30 p.m. is a Lunch and Learn for teens. Register at kilv. org/scholar-in-residence-2024-lewis-r.gordon.html. THURSDAY, APRIL 4 The Main Event: Conversation and Comedy with Joel Chasnoff Time and location TBA Save the date for an evening of stories, reflections, and conversation about our magical relationship with Israel with Joel Chasnoff, comedian and coauthor of the book “Israel 201: Your Next-Level Guide to the Magic, Mystery, and Chaos of Life in the Holy Land.” Details to come. ONGOING EVENTS FIRST OR SECOND SUNDAY OF THE MONTH Bnai Shalom Cash Bingo 1 p.m., Congregation Bnai Shalom Join Bnai Shalom for its monthly bingo games on the first Sunday of the month. For more information call 610258-5343.
MONDAYS Yiddish Club 2-3:30 p.m., JCC of the Lehigh Valley via Zoom Experience the joys of Yiddish via Zoom as part of Adults at the J. The group meets weekly to discuss topics like cooking, humor, music and all kinds of entertainment in the Yiddish language. Enjoy fun, fellowship, stories and more. Participants Zoom in from 5 states. No cost. Call 610-435-3571, ext. 501. MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS Online Jewish Yoga Studio Mondays 11-11:45 a.m., Thursdays 4-4:45 p.m., Institute for Jewish Spirituality Join yoga teacher and IJS faculty member Rabbi Myriam Klotz or Cantor Lizzie Shammash as she guides you in an all-levels yoga and movement session. Open to all, no experience needed. Sign up at jewishspirituality.org/get-started. TUESDAYS Weekly Torah Study 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Institute for Jewish Spirituality Rabbi Jonathan Slater will lead a weekly program: “Torah Study to Sustain The Soul,” aimed at addressing an aspect of spiritual life that will help us navigate this time of uncertainty and isolation. Open to all. Sign up at jewishspirituality. org/get-started. TUESDAYS, MARCH 12 THROUGH APRIL 16 Introduction to Judaism 7-9 p.m., Keneseth Israel Join Kenseth Israel in an engaging 6-session course for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of Jewish life through a Reform lens. The course is open to individuals from Jewish and various faith and cultural backgrounds as well as those who have had no religious upbringing. Cost is $15 for KI Members, $30 for Non-KI Members. There are six sessions: March 12, March 19, March 26, April 2, April 9, and April 16. Reservations are required. There are no walk in’s. Register. WEDNESDAYS Yoga with Miriam Sandler: Chair-Supported Yoga 1-2 p.m., Congregation Brith Sholom in person and via Zoom Be seated in a comfortable chair, preferably armless (folding works well). Open to the public in person and live stream available to all via Zoom. *$10 drop-in fee payable to Congregation Brith Sholom. For more information email mbserow@gmail.com.
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THURSDAYS Basic Yiddish Class 4-5:30 p.m., JCC via Zoom Learn to read, write, speak and comprehend Yiddish. Textbooks from Yiddish Book Center available for purchase. Contact 610-435-3571, ext. 501. FRIDAYS Kol HaEmek 8:30-9:30 a.m., WMUH 91.7 Radio show with Cantor Kevin Wartell. For information go to muhlenberg.edu/ wmuh. SATURDAYS KI Torah Study 9:30-11 a.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel Join Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg for a study session making sense of the week’s Torah portion. Enter the building through the 23rd Street door. For more information, contact Rabbi Tornberg using the form at kilv.org/form/contactrabbicall. SATURDAYS Wisdom of the Talmud Class After Shabbat Lunch and Schmooze, Congregation Brith Sholom Join Rabbi Michael Singer in a discussion about Jewish law, ethics, customs and history as found in the pages of the Talmud. The fall-winter class begins a new volume of the Talmud: “Mesechet Megillah.” Books are available in the synagogue office. For information email tammy@brithsholom.net or call 610866-8009. SATURDAYS, JANUARY 27, FEBRUARY 24, MARCH 30, APRIL 27, MAY 18 KI Shabbat Yoga 10:30-11:30 a.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel Experience Shabbat through movement with Jett Ulaner Saracheck and Ann Friedenheim after Torah study. Bring a mat, blocks, blanket, or anything that will bring you comfort in your practice. For information, call Saracheck at 610-762-1450 or Friedenheim at 610-462-2549. Register at kilv.org. DAILY Jewish Broadcasting Service JBS is a Jewish television channel. Visit jbstv.org.
WEDNESDAYS Torah Studies: A Weekly Journey into the Soul of Torah 7 p.m., Chabad of the Lehigh Valley in person and via Zoom Torah Studies by the Jewish Learning Institute presents Season Two 5784, a 12-part series, in person and via Zoom. Cost is $54 for the course, including textbook. For more information, call 610-351-6511 or email rabbi@ chabadlehighvalley.com.
Shabbat & Yom Tov Candlelighting Times Friday, February 2 Friday, February 9 Friday, February 16 Friday, February 23
EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY Hadassah Study Group 12:30 p.m., via Zoom We discuss short stories from an anthology. Always welcoming new participants! Contact mjclaire@gmail.com or 610-972-7054 to sign up.
DAILY Congregation Sons of Israel Minyanim Shacharit on Mondays and Thursdays 6:30 a.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 6:45 a.m.; Sundays 8:30 a.m. Congregation Sons of Israel welcomes all to the daily Shacharis and Mincha/ Maariv services. Please check the synagogue at sonsofisrael.net for the weekly listing. If you have any questions, call the synagogue office at 610-433-6089. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY Daily Online Meditation 12:30 p.m., Institute for Jewish Spirituality One of their master teachers will lead a live daily guided meditation. Open to all. Sign up at jewishspirituality.org/ get-started.
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2024 23
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