HAKOL - March 2018

The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community

www.jewishlehighvalley.org

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Issue No. 407

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March 2018

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Adar/Nisan 5778

AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977

Revisit the Israeli Consul General’s visit to the Valley p6-7

Check out our special Passover section for fun holiday tips

COM.UNITY WITH MARK GOLDSTEIN p2 LVJF TRIBUTES p8 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p15 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p18-19 JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p20 COMMUNITY CALENDAR p30-31

Cantor Kevin Wartell to receive Schiff Award for Prejudice Reduction Honor to be presented at Federation’ annual meeting and golf tournament

Cantor Wartell at an interfaith and multicultural rally in Allentown in 2016

By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Marketing Growing up in Detroit, Cantor Kevin Wartell vividly remembers the time his parents left a private pool because the family’s black maid was not allowed in.

“My parents turned around and said if Fisher can’t go in, we’re not going in either,” said Wartell, who has made the mission of prejudice reduction and tolerance an important part of his life’s work. “That impacted me greatly.”

Wartell, who is closing out his 30-year tenure as cantor and educator at Allentown’s Temple Beth El, will be honored this June with the Schiff Award for Prejudice Reduction.

The award will be presented at the Jewish Federation’s Community Celebration & Annual

Meeting on June 14. Wartell will again be honored at the Mortimer S. Schiff Memorial Golf Tournament on June 18, which brings people together of all faiths and raises money to support the Federation’s prejudice reduction efforts.

Born in 1956, Wartell’s formative years in Detroit took place at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. As an 11-year-old, he remembers smelling the smoke from the city’s 1967 race riot.

“I have probably, in retrospect, lived my life since a child motivated by the concept of prejudice reduction,” said Wartell, who also enjoys a life-long relationship with The Four Tops, a Motown quartet from Detroit, since a chance meeting with lead singer Levi Stubbs at age 18.

“Experiencing the ‘60s and

Non-Profit Organization 702 North 22nd Street Allentown, PA 18104

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watching people being treated intolerantly has always made my life uncomfortable and I’ve always wanted to change that.”

“As a Jew, I’ve always felt like an underdog as well,” he continued. “And now that I think the Jewish community has been accepted more in the mainstream, I think it’s our responsibly to help those who are not yet accepted and that’s really my passion – bringing groups together to dialogue and to respect each other’s differences.”

On Sept. 11, 2015 – his birthday – he did just that. It was the first time he had the opportunity to host his Friday morning radio show – Kol HaEmek – on an anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

“I decided that I wanted to do a radio show that exemplified how our faith communities do get along in the Lehigh Valley despite what happened in 2001 and I wanted to do that by having different faith leaders come on the air and share that experience with the listeners,” he said.

Instead of sending an email or making a phone call to ask the Muslim community to participate, “I literally went and knocked on their door and introduced myself,” he said.

Rabbi Moshe Re’em of Temple Beth El noted that

Love and kindness inspire a family to give back on their daughter’s 5th birthday

By Michelle Cohen HAKOL Editor When Robin Coleman Kudryk asked her daughter Carly if it’s “cool to be kind,” her resounding “yes!” is unsurprising for a child donating her fifth birthday to charity.

Carly and her family have started the “Carly’s BirthdayBackPACKS” fundraiser to provide children and teenagers throughout the Lehigh Valley with backpacks and school supplies for the 2018-19 school year.

“People don’t have that much stuff,” Carly explained, which is one reason why she and her family are teaming up with Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley to host a fundraising drive for the backpacks and supplies. Once the drive has ended, Carly and her friends will gather to shop for the supplies and stuff the backpacks in anticipation of the new school year. The backpacks will then be distributed to elementary, middle and high schools around the Valley.

The drive is inspired by BirthdayBack, a program created by Tyler Fazzari, the son of one of Robin’s best college friends. In 2012, after Hurricane Sandy, Tyler decided to raise money for an elementary school devastated by the storm for his ninth birthday. After raising over $20,000 in the first year, he has continued to support different causes with his birthday each year. With

Cantor Wartell Continues on page 3

COMMUNITY EXCEEDS YEAR 1 LIFE & LEGACY GOAL! The 10 participating organizations have secured more than 180 commitments … with more than two months to go! See more on Page 9.

Carly’s BirthdayBackPACKS Continues on page 8

com.UNITY

FROM THE DESK OF MARK L. GOLDSTEIN

Executive Director | Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley markg@jflv.org

The collective is alive In the 35-ish years I have been working for Jewish Federations, I have witnessed, first hand, what we can accomplish together as a system. Communities acting alone could not have clandestinely flown planes into Addis Ababa to rescue the remnant of our people who had been residing in Ethiopia for centuries. But the collective resolve of Jewish Federations flew more than 24,000 from Addis to Tel Aviv fueled by successful national fundraising campaigns.

And the rescue and resettlement of more than 1.5 million Jews from the former Soviet Union might have been enough to bankrupt Israel and larger U.S. Jewish communities were it not for an ingenious financial plan leveraging the guarantee by Jewish Federations of $1 billion (that’s billion with a “b”) in loans to provide the resettlement services, coupled with a $925 million multi-year fundraising campaign. Each Federation guaranteed its fair share of the $1 billion in loans. It was, in many ways, the “full faith and credit” of the Jewish people that brought over 1.1 million Jews to Israel and most of the balance to the U.S. There are other examples as well. Flooding in Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Hurricanes Andrew, Sandy and Katrina; the emergency needs of war-torn Sarajevo and Ukraine, and extensive social services and relief efforts in Israel in response to attacks from Hezbollah in the North and Hamas in the South.

In February, I spent a few days in Houston and came away with great respect for what we can do

when we act as a collective and bring to life the old UJA slogan, “We are one.”

They called it a once-in-a-thousand-years flood. Rain of biblical proportions, nearly 60 inches amounting to 1 trillion gallons of water, fell on the greater Houston area over four days. Houston’s Jewish community was hit especially hard. Nearly three quarters of the city’s Jewish population live in areas that received extensive flooding, devastating over 2,500 Jewish homes and much of the Jewish community’s infrastructure. For many this is the third time in as many years that they have had to rebuild after a hurricane or flooding.

We met a woman who regularly checked how things were going outside. At first she thought the worst of the storm had passed.

She tracked the rising water, but rather than receding, the water level kept rising. When water first started to leak into the house, she and her husband moved their three young children and key supplies to the second floor. Luckily they were rescued before their first floor became impassable and they became trapped on the second floor. Volunteers carried her and her two young twins through the fast-moving water into a Toyota Tundra truck. Her husband and their oldest child found refuge in a boat attached to the truck. Sensing the anxiety of the kids, one of the volunteers began singing “The wheels on the bus go round and round …” and a sense of calmness was a momentary godsend.

Jewish organizations, most lo-

cated in the flooded neighborhoods of high Jewish concentration, were not spared. We toured the JCC and witnessed the devastation of the first floor. It was basically stripped down to the metal studs and concrete blocks. The water line, clearly visible on the concrete blocks, was 4-5 feet above my head. The entire early childhood center was destroyed. We heard about how the community, needing to provide childcare as quickly as possible so parents could begin rebuilding their lives, repurposed the JCC’s indoor tennis courts, magically turning each court into its own classroom.

As we were driving to the JCC down a main street of one of Houston’s most popular residential neighborhoods, an eerie quiet overtook our bus. We could see the remnants of the flooding.

Homes were severely damaged or destroyed. Looking down the side streets, we could see the damaged homes. From modest homes to mansions, the damage was indiscriminate. The piles of furniture, drywall, bags of mildewed clothes – most removed by the time of our trip – were not called “debris” by the residents. It was peoples’ lives.

Almost overnight, Houston’s Jewish Family Service added 1,400 new clients. Synagogues and the Jewish nursing home were also hard hit. Thousands of prayer books and bibles were ritually buried. One synagogue must demolish its sanctuary as it is beyond repair.

Our Jewish Federation collective – including the Lehigh Valley – raised more than $22 million. But new estimates point to an additional $10 million needed, beyond

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, Passover has always been a holiday that I find inherently fun. Yes, the seders are serious occasions meant to be followed in a specific way, but my family has always found ways to create our own joy in the holiday in whatever ways we can.

When I was a teenager, I wanted to share the fun I found in Passover with others beyond my family, including the members of my local USY chapter.

In my position on the board as religion/education VP, it was my job to create a Passover program for the region. Most of the previous programs had consisted of talks, but I wanted to take it in a new direction.

The program I ended up spearheading was an activity where participants made candy renditions of the Ten Plagues.

Once they were done with construction, everyone had an opportunity to enjoy their food creations while schmoozing. (The program took place a few days before Passover began.)

This program didn’t include a formal seder, but it got people thinking and talking about Passover, engaging with the holiday in a way that broke the mold but also continued with themes from the seder. Engaging in this way helped my youth group take a holiday that tends to be serious (some might even consider it dull), and turn it into a good time.

Shalom, Michelle Cohen

We gratefully acknowledge those individuals who have offered expressions of friendship by requesting that trees be planted in the Yoav--Lehigh Valley Partnership Park.

MICHELLE WITKOWSKY AND NICK CLARK Birth of their daughter, Freya Luna Clark SHALOM BABY IN MEMORY THEODORE F. CHILDS (Father of Sheila Berg) Sheila Berg RALPH GROSSMAN (Father of Ben Grossman) Barnet and Lisa Fraenkel

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

2 MARCH 2018 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

STEPHANIE SMARTSCHAN JFLV 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. 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.

Phone: (610) 821-5500 Fax: (610) 821-8946 E-mail: hakol@jflv.org

I hope this year’s Passover section is as fun for you and your family as my “Sugar Seder” was years ago, and I wish you a meaningful Passover in whatever ways you celebrate.

Whether it is the pooling of our donations through our Annual Campaign to strengthen our community, or partnering with other Jewish Federations to measure the multiplying effect of our collective action in Eastern Europe, in Israel or in disasters abroad and at home, the collective is alive. It not only defines our Jewish Federation, it defines the Jewish people. Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh B’zeh. All of the Jewish people are responsible for each other. The collective is alive.

HAKOL STAFF

MAIL, FAX, OR E-MAIL TO: JFLV ATTN: HAKOL 702 N. 22nd St. Allentown, PA 18104

JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY IN HONOR ANDREA AND ZACH GOLDSMITH Birth of their daughter, Elise Mara Goldsmith SHALOM BABY RABBI YAACOV AND DEVORAH HALPERIN Birth of their daughter, Bluma Malka Halperin SHALOM BABY BATYA AND AKIVA HOLLINGER Birth of their daughter, Adina Hollinger SHALOM BABY

the limited insurance settlements, to rebuild the Houston Jewish community. Please, please consider the Jewish Federation’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund (jewishlehighvalley.org/hurricanerelief), even if you previously contributed. The needs are beyond those of the Houston Jewish community and require the power of our Jewish collective.

For some time I have heard a similar refrain: the Jewish collective is dead. It is a relic of a bygone era. It does not speak to the “me-ism” of emerging generations. I can decide what and how to spend my philanthropy.

I get it, but I don’t believe it must be exclusive of being part of a Jewish collective. A colleague of mine wrote: “no matter how ‘tailor-made’ the experience of Jewish philanthropy becomes, the importance of fostering a strong sense of collective identity will forever remain a hallmark of the Jewish people and the Jewish Federation system.”

MICHELLE COHEN Editor ALLISON MEYERS Graphic Designer DIANE MCKEE Advertising Representative TEL: 610-515-1391 hakolads@jflv.org

JFLV EXECUTIVE STAFF MARK L. GOLDSTEIN Executive Director JERI ZIMMERMAN Assistant Executive Director TEMPLE COLDREN Director of Finance & Administration JIM MUETH Director of Planned Giving & Endowments AARON GORODZINSKY Director of Outreach & Community Relations EVA LEVITT JFLV President

EDITORIAL BOARD Monica Friess, Acting Chair Barbara Reisner Judith Rodwin Sara Vigneri

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

Cantor Wartell Continues from page 1 radio show as just one of the many examples of the times Wartell has “raised his voice in a multicultural, interfaith chorus aimed at improving the society and the community in which we live.”

“Through his music, Kol HaEmek radio show, interfaith work both within the walls of our synagogue and in the broader community and youth work at Temple Beth El, prejudice reduction has been an essential part of his cantorate,” Re’em said.

Wartell has been involved in the work of the Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding at Muhlenberg College since its inception in 1989, said the Rev. Dr. Peter Pettit, the institute’s director.

Because of his extensive network, he has become a “go-to individual” to make connections and bring people together.

“Kevin has shown up more regularly and for longer than anyone on the interfaith scene in the Lehigh Valley,” Pettit said. “His personable style is disarming and wins him friends across religious lines long before the issues of religious difference ever begin to emerge.”

In 2016, Cantor Wartell had the opportunity to sing “America the Beautiful” at an interfaith rally in downtown Allentown.

His rendition took place amid signs touting “Black Lives Matter” and “Justice for All.” In 2017, he performed with The Four Tops on the song “We All Gotta Stick Together,” and he introduced a speaker from the Muslim

community with the traditional Shehecheyanu prayer at an interfaith Thanksgiving service.

“Cantor commits himself to community building. He reaches across boundaries of race, faith and socioeconomics in order to promote dialogue,” said the Rev. Dr. Larry Pickens, ecumenical director for the Lehigh Conference of Churches.

“I have found him to be an ardent defender of the human dignity of persons who are often times overlooked and left out … He does not search for consensus, but is more concerned with doing what is right and then molding consensus.

This is a rare attribute that only the most effective leaders have.”

In recent years, in addition to his cantorial duties, he has devoted himself to clinical pastoral education, becoming certified through Phoebe Ministries in Allentown. It’s something he plans to continue as he phases out of his full-time role – in addition to becoming cantor-educator emeritus of Temple Beth El – focusing on being a “sacred listener” of someone else’s life story.

Wartell is also looking forward to performing and lecturing on a program he’s calling “From Moses to Motown: What Makes a Soul Singer Move the Soul.”

“It’s the whole concept of how my relationship with The Four Tops, growing up in Detroit, and my life story has fueled this work of working together and can continue to fight the prejudices that people feel when they don’t know someone,” he said.

But he will of course miss his daily interactions with congregants – “this isn’t goodbye, it’s ‘I’ll see you on the street, maybe even in

the synagogue or the church or the mosque, or at a Four Tops concert’” – and they will miss him.

“In business we seek out people and companies that, by their actions, say what they do and do what they say,” said Bruce Reich, Temple Beth El president.

“When it comes to seeking racial equality, religious freedom and social justice, Cantor Wartell is one of these people. He openly does so in his words, in song and by his actions. Representing Temple Beth El, we can all be proud of his accomplishments in this field and that he will be recognized with this award.”

“Our Bible and our liturgy refers to God speaking through a ‘kol dimamah dakah,’ a ‘still small voice.’ For many, hearing that still small voice is a challenge,” said Mark L. Goldstein, executive director of the Jewish Federation and a Temple Beth El congregant and long-time friend of the cantor.

“But Cantor Wartell helps us all hear the still small voice of God. And sometimes Cantor Wartell’s voice is not so small, especially when he calls attention to, and inspires action for, human rights, tolerance and prejudice reduction.

He is a restless advocate for civil rights and bridging differences to promote that which unifies.”

The Jewish Federation’s Community Celebration & Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the JCC of the Lehigh Valley is free and open to the community. To join or honor Cantor Wartell at the Mortimer S. Schiff Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, June 18, at Lehigh Country Club, visit www.jewishlehighvalley. org/golf.

CRC and Hillel to sponsor anti-BDS event for students The Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is working with Hillel International to host a program for rising high school seniors and college freshmen to help them prepare and navigate their first year of college as a Jewish student on campus.

The program, which will take place on April 22, will begin with a screening of a documentary, “Crossing The Line 2: The New Face of Anti-Semitism on Campus.” The film, according to its production company Jerusalem U, is “a new documentary that reveals the rise of anti-Israel activity and anti-Semitic rhetoric on North American university campuses, and demonstrates when reasonable criticism of Israel ‘crosses the line’ into anti-Semitism.”

After the movie, attendees will split into two groups for further programming.

Rising high school seniors and incoming college students will have the opportunity to meet with current college students who are activists in the fight against BDS, or the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which is a campaign attempting to put economic and political pressure on Israel to end perceived violations of international law.

Meanwhile, parents and community members will hear from two speakers from Hillel International about the current climate of college campuses and how to support their children.

The event, “BDS: Understanding the Situation on College Campuses,” will take place on April 22.

For more information, or to RSVP, contact Aaron Gorodzinsky at 610-821-5500 or aaron@jflv.org or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org.

MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 at Lehigh Country Club, 2319 S. Cedar Crest Boulevard, Allentown WITH DINNER TO HONOR CANTOR KEVIN WARTELL with the Schiff Award for Prejudice Reduction.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE 610.821.5500 www.jewishlehighvalley.org/golf

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | MARCH 2018 3

SAVE THE DATE

Women’s Philanthropy Spring Event

Time for tea Past leaders of Women’s Philanthropy gathered at the home of Sylvia Bub on Feb. 15 for tea and a discussion about the Jewish Federation and the future. Campaign Co-Chair Carol Bub Fromer kicked off the event with a spirited reading about a traditional tea service. After enjoying tea and scones, the group discussed ways to share their deep and meaningful experiences with up-andcoming leaders and philanthropists. Top row from left: Sylvia Bub, Carol Bub Fromer, Carol Wilson, Vicki Wax, Sandra Goldfarb, Susan Levin, Wendy Born, Iris Epstein and Jeanette Eichenwald. Bottom row from left: Merry Landis, Eva Levitt, Beth Kozinn and Sheila Berg.

Wednesday, May 9 FEATURING ROBIN FOX, the mother of all comedians For women who have pledged a minimum of $365 to the 2018 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

More information to follow.

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

WELCOMING NEW BABIES

to the Lehigh Valley BLUMA MALKA HALPERIN

daughter of Rabbi Yaacov and Devorah Halperin

ADINA HOLLINGER

daughter of Batya and Akiva Hollinger

ELISE MARA GOLDSMITH daughter of Andrea and Zach Goldsmith

FREYA LUNA CLARK

daughter of Michelle Witkowski and Nick Clark

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

4 MARCH 2018 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Handmade Afghans

BY EVA LEVITT

All proceeds benefit projects in Israel:

Food Banks in Israel Neve Michael Youth Village

For prices or to place an order, call Eva 610-398-1376.

All payments are made payable to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

TBE to screen ‘Ben Gurion, Epilogue’ in honor of Israel’s 70th birthday

By Rabbi Moshe Re’em Temple Beth El David Ben Gurion had died just nine short months prior to my arrival at Sde Boker to study as a high school student.

However, his legacy was everywhere.

It was my first time in Israel. The ride from Lod Airport to Sde Boker in 1974 was filled with nervous anxiety.

Slowly the roads and buildings gave way to rolling barren hills, covered in loess soil, dotted here and there with the occasional Nitraria bush. Every once in a while there were signs of civilization; a Bedouin tent pitched here and there with goats grazing peacefully nearby. It felt as if I had landed on the moon, a biblical moon. The Negev was wide open. The earth kissed the sky uninterrupted by any human construction on the landscape. It was glorious and scary. Where had I gone to live?

I had caste my lot in the place that David Ben-Gurion dreamed would serve as the educational heart of Israel – Sde Boker. Far from the heart of Israel, Sde Boker certainly had soul and plenty of it. Ben Gurion had come to live at Sde Boker 10 years earlier at the age of 77. The leader who declared the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948 and served as its first prime minister for 13 years suddenly resigned from the government and came to live in the Negev.

In April 1968, almost 50 years ago to the day, Ben Gurion agreed to give a filmed interview to a British film crew

that built an elaborate film set near his desert home. The interview took place when he was 82 years old, five years after he had left the government. The film was found in the Spielberg Archive in Jerusalem by chance. Unfortunately, the sound track was lost and the image remained silent. The search for the lost soundtrack led to the Ben Gurion archive in the Negev. There, an 86-year-old British Jew who served as the soundman for the interview, had deposited the original sound reels a few years ago without knowing where the silent video portion of the interview was. For the first time the two, audio and visual, were re-united in a fascinating intimate and rare interview with Ben Gurion. This interview served as the basis for the 70-minute film “Ben Gurion, Epilogue.”

“Ben Gurion, Epilogue” has been screened in major theatres in Israel and has enjoyed a central focus of Jewish film festivals here in the United States.

In honor of Israel’s 70th birthday and through the generous support of Wayne Woodman and Lisa Scheller and the American Association of the Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Temple Beth El will be showing the film for the first time in the Lehigh Valley for a discounted entrance fee of $5 on Sunday, March 25, at 1 p.m.

We are fortunate to have Professor Paula Kabalo, director of the Ben Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism at Ben Gurion University, introducing the film and leading a discussion afterward.

Shabbat in Jerusalem View from the Botanical Gardens in Zikhron Yaakov. The map at the bottom shows Israel as you're facing the coastline.

By Leah Mueth Special to HAKOL I have recently had the opportunity to spend a Shabbat in Jerusalem, specifically in the more Orthodox (and very American) area of Ramat Eshkol. This weekend was part of a small program where we learn about different topics in Judaism once every two weeks.

While the program itself isn’t exactly what I expected, spending Shabbat in Jerusalem was very enjoyable.

First of all, while they don’t force you to keep Shabbat, they definitely encourage it. I chose to because I had never intentionally kept Shabbat before. All that it really consisted of for me is staying away from my phone.

Keeping Shabbat is a lot easier when all of your meals are cooked

for you at different homes around the neighborhood.

Shabbat is an interesting time in Israel.

Almost everything shuts down to give everyone the opportunity to celebrate Shabbat.

It becomes frustrating at times because you have to make a decision about where you want to be and have enough food for the next 25 hours. It doesn’t sound difficult, but it is annoy-

ing when you feel stuck someplace or you’ve forgotten to stock up on comfort foods. Overall though, Shabbat makes everything quiet and peaceful. Now that the weather is starting to improve, being able to spend Saturdays at the beach with friends will make the weekends much easier.

Leah is spending 10 months in Israel through MASA.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | MARCH 2018 5

Consul General: ‘A lot of optimism’ in Israel’s 70th year

By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Marketing Over the past 70 years, Israel has transformed: economically, culturally and diplomatically, Consul General Dani Dayan said on his first visit to the Lehigh Valley on Feb. 6.

“We enter the year in which we celebrate our 70th anniversary not without problems, with a lot of problems, as every country in the world, but with a lot of optimism,” said Dayan, who is based in New York. “Not without challenges, but with the strong belief in our capability to meet those challenges.”

In the 1980s, for instance, Israel was experiencing a 400 percent annual rate of inflation.

Today, the bank of Israel has foreign exchange reserve dollars in excess of $100 billion, Dayan said.

“If you had a shekel in your pocket, you virtually could feel the value slipping underground. Every minute that passed, the shekel lost value,” the ambassador said of the economy in the ‘80s. “Today the shekel – which is incredible, I still have to pinch myself to believe that it’s true – the shekel is the strongest currency in the world.”

While Israel has been targeted by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement spreading on some American college campuses, the ambassador urged the Lehigh Valley Jewish community members gathered at the JCC to see beyond the headlines.

“An economic boycott of Israel is ridiculous,” he said. “I don’t know of any serious company that does not do business with Israel.”

“The cultural boycott of Israel is even more ridiculous,” he continued.

Big name acts like Elton John, Madonna and Lady Gaga are constantly appearing in Israel, he said.

“There is this guy Justin Bieber who came to Israel already three times. I would like him to start boycotting us,” he said to laughter from the audience.

Dayan then proposed a challenge to those gathered: He asked them to go home, take a globe, spin it and put their finger randomly on any place on the globe. “Most probably, it will be a country with which Israel improved dramatically its relations the last five to 10 years,” he said.

In India, which didn’t even recognize Israel 25 years ago, today the relationship between the two countries can only be described as “intimate,” he said.

“And then we go to China,” he continued.

“With China, I’m not implying that we have the same kind of intimate political relationship, but

6 MARCH 2018 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

yes we do have a very strong economic relationship.”

In the same day last year, the Israeli prime minister was on a visit to China while the Israeli president was visiting Vietnam, Dayan said. “Those were countries that didn’t even recognize Israel,” he said.

Israel has also greatly improved its relations in Africa, he said.

In the 1960s and ‘70s, Israel staunchly supported African nations like Kenya, Ghana and Rwanda, but after the Yom Kippur War, Arab oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia and Libya exerted immense pressure on African nations to cut relations with Israel, and they did, he said.

That was the situation for a few decades, but recently, “an incredible change happened.”

“Israel is returning to Africa in an unprecedented way and Africa is returning to Israel in an unprecedented way,” Dayan said. “African leaders visit Israel almost on a monthly basis.

Netanyahu visited in the last 18 months at least six African countries.”

Dayan also addressed Israel’s relations with America, and how he sees it as this generation’s “extra obligation” to make sure they continue to be strong.

“There was a generation of Jews that had an extra mitzvah, an extra obligation, to try to save our brethren in Europe during the Shoah, during the Holocaust. And we failed, they failed unfortunately. There is a generation who had the extra obligation to try to save our brethren in the Soviet Union and Ethiopia and thank God they succeeded,” he said.

“We have not one, but two extra obligations.

The first one is to make sure that the state of Israel not only exists, but exists as a strong, secure, thriving country. And the second extra obligation is to make sure that every single Jewish community around the globe continues to exist, continues to thrive, continues to be Jewish.

“And I will tell you my friends, for me it would be a tragedy if each side of the ocean, we fulfill only one of those mitzvahs. If we Israelis guarantee our existence and you guarantee the continuity of Jewish life. I think that our obligation as Israelis is to help you, to keep the continuity of Jewish life, and your obligation as Jewish Americans is to help us keep Israel strong, safe and thriving. And even if there are problems and differences of opinion, and even differences of culture, let’s never forget, even if we are Jews, our marriage is Catholic … Divorce is not one of the options.”

Consul General shares message across Valley

On his first stop in a jam-packed day in the Lehigh Valley, Consul General Dani Dayan teaches in a comparative national security policy class at Muhlenberg College.

Dayan visits the Jewish Day School to address students in third through eighth grade.

Dayan next heads to Lehigh University to speak at a forum called “Startup Nation: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Joint Venture Opportunities in the Lehigh Valley,” a partnership between the Federation, the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, the Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, the BIRD Foundation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA.

The Consul General meets with three student groups at Lehigh University.

After the Federation’s community-wide program, Dayan greets CRC Chair Eric Fels, Executive Director Mark L. Goldstein and President Eva Levitt.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | MARCH 2018 7

Carly’s BirthdayBackPACKS Continues from page 1

a motto of “celebrate by giving,” BirthdayBack is about raising money for worthy causes in one’s local community while celebrating the blessings in one’s own life.

Carly, who turned five in February, began her involvement with charity work at a young age.

Last year, rather than bringing a treat to school for her birthday, she and her classmates drew pictures for children in the pediatric oncology unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital. “This year, we wanted to do something bigger. Five is a big birthday,” Robin said, and they were inspired by an organization they had visited not too long before.

JFS was a familiar place for Carly and her family after she donated Halloween candy from one of the two neighborhoods where they went trick-or-treating this year. Robin approached JFS Volunteer Coordinator Chelsea Karp, who had led Carly around the pantry, to see if there was another way they could team up to help local children.

The specific project came about because of Carly’s great love of school. One of her favorite subjects, math, often requires a calculator, which can be expensive and problematic for low-income families. Other supplies will include markers, crayons, pencils and pens, paper and sturdy backpacks designed to last at least one year.

“Do you think these kids deserve to have nice things?” Robin asked when listing the items. Carly’s

response was a vigorous nod and a large smile.

Robin and her husband Michael, often called Michou, have been determined to raise Carly as a caring and giving person. “Carly is our miracle child. Carly was wanted for many years before we had her, so we promised, when we had her, that we would always pay it forward and always give back, because we were so blessed that we were able to have her. There were many generous people who went into the makings of this child,” Robin acknowledged, including her parents, who were incredibly supportive throughout her many years of fertility treatments. “We always wanted people to know how grateful we were, and we wanted her to grow up to know how grateful we should all be.”

Carly was due on her paternal grandfather’s birthday, yet came a bit early, but her parents take inspiration from his legacy. As a “very charitable man who always gave things to other people, and a very caring gentleman,” he serves as inspiration for Carly’s middle name, as well as her charitable upbringing.

For Carly and her family, there is one big takeaway from the drive: “What’s the most important thing we all need?” Robin asked. “Love,” Carly replied.

Learn more about how to participate in Carly’s BirthdayBackPACKS drive at www.bit.ly/carlysbdaybackpacks.

IN HONOR

IN MEMORY

LYNN AND SAM FELDMAN Birth of their grandson Elaine and Leon Papir MARLENE FINKELSTEIN Happy 75th Birthday Alan and Judy Morrison SANDRA GOLDFARB Happy "Special" Birthday Vicki Wax LINDA AND GREG HAMILTON Birth of their granddaughter, Ela Ross and Wendy Born SUZANNE LAPIDUSS Happy "Special" Birthday Donald and Randi Senderowitz GAIL LEVINE Speedy Recovery Elaine and Leon Papir CANTOR KEVIN WARTELL Engagement of his daughter MiRit to Justin Samuels Ross and Wendy Born ROBBY AND LAURIE WAX Congratulations on Ben’s acceptance to Emory University Beth and Wes Kozinn VICKI WAX Congratulations on Ben’s acceptance to Emory University Beth and Wes Kozinn MIRIAM ZAGER Speedy Recovery Vicki Wax

HENRIETTE ENGELSON (Stepmother of Susan Engelson Friefeld) Ross and Wendy Born Taffi Ney RALPH GROSSMAN (Father of Ben Grossman) Carol and Stewart Furmansky Donald and Randi Senderowitz SHIRLEY MARCZAK (Mother of Laurie Eisenberg) Ross and Wendy Born DOROTHY PARMET Evelyn Brown and Family Taffi Ney GAYLE COLEMAN RADER (Daughter of Natalie Coleman) Serita Silberg and Family MARVIN SACHS (Brother of Ruth Meislin) Selma Roth MILTON SHEFTEL (Husband of Ronnie Sheftel) Jeff and Jill Blinder Marilyn Claire and Family Marlene and Arnan Finkelstein Carol and Stewart Furmansky Norman Moses Selma Roth Stuart and Janice Schwartz Donald and Randi Senderowitz Fred and Barbara Sussman

610-882-8800 | www.embassybank.com

HAPPY PASSOVER

8 MARCH 2018 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

(Brother of Reba Scoblionko) Marilyn Claire and Family Marlene and Arnan Finkelstein Beth and Wes Kozinn Merry Landis Vicki Wax JUSTIN STARR (Son of Alan and Lori Starr) Abby and Mark Trachtman JOSEPH WEISS (Brother of Diane Silverman) Fred and Barbara Sussman HELEN AND SOL KRAWITZ HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FUND IN MEMORY NINA JACKSON (Mother of Renata Jackson) Samantha and Jason Algaze Eloise Engelson 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 www.jewishlehighvalley.org to place your card requests.

Thank you for your continued support.

SUPPORT FOR LIFE & LEGACY AS OF FEBRUARY 9, 2018

196 COMMITMENTS from 107 DONORS With an estimated value of $3.8 MILLION! Rony Ackerman Karen Albert Richard Albert Dr. Marc Berson Lauren Berson Hon. Alan and Donna Black Rance Block Ross Born Wendy Born Dr. John and Ingelise Brown Dr. Ian and Patricia Carlis Lawrence Center Dr. Jessica Cooperman Edwin Davis Rabbi Melody Davis Risa Dorfman-Thomas Vikki Dunn David Eiskowitz Rabbi Mordechai Eskovitz Eileen Fischmann Roberto Fischmann Dr. Jay and Fran Fisher Rena Fraade Renee D. Gittler Gary and Patricia Glascom Leonard Glazier Rhoda Glazier Neil and Eydie Glickstein Sandra Goldfarb Amy Golding Anita Goldman Mark L. Goldstein Martin Goldstein Allan B. Goodman

Ben Grossman Dr. Harvey and Melissa Hakim Robert and Bonnie Hammel Jerome and Florence Hausman Arthur Hochhauser Dr. David and Susan Hyman Gwen Jacobs Rabbi Allen Juda Andrew Kahn Dr. Kenneth and Marilyn Kalnitsky Ken and Sue Kirshner Dr. Nelson and Andrea Kopyt Lucy Korsky Stuart and Lynda Krawitz Ferne Kushner Jennifer Lader Ina Levin Larry Levin Mary Jane Levine Eva and Dr. Larry Levitt Dr. Marc Levitt Dr. Jenni Levy Edward Levy Ursla S. Levy Pam Lott Dr. William and Jane Markson Jeannie Miller Linda Miller Mike Miller James Mueth Jeff Murdoch Sandra Newman Taffi Ney Audrey Alexander Nolte

Dr. Michael Notis Dr. Michael A. Obenski Martina A. Obenski Rabbi Seth Phillips Dr. Robert and Lota Post Gary Preis Sandra Preis Patti Price Bruce Reich Dr. Richard and Barbara Reisner Carol Robins Robert Rockmaker Judith Rodwin Dr. Alex and Robin Rosenau Amy Sams Richard Sams Ivan Schonfeld Mark and Deena Scoblionko Joy Scott Adrian Shanker Rabbi Michael and Alexis Singer Ann K. Stehney Peggy A. Stettner Aimee Stewart Ron Ticho Arthur and Barbara Weinrach Rachel Zane Kathy Zimmerman Drs. Lawrence and Deborah Zohn Debbie Zoller Anonymous (10)

Community exceeds Year 1 LIFE & LEGACY goal!

By Jim Mueth JFLV Director of Planned Giving & Endowments Thanks to the dedication of our community partners, we are proud to announce that the Lehigh Valley has already exceeded its Year 1 goal of securing 180 commitments through the LIFE & LEGACY program. Year 1 ends April 30.

LIFE & LEGACY is a four-year partnership program between the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to secure legacy gifts and support the future of the Lehigh Valley Jewish community.

Ten local organizations are participating: Jewish Community Center, Jewish Day School, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Federation, Congregation Am Haskalah, Congregation Brith Sholom, Congregation Keneseth Israel, Congregation Sons of Israel, Temple Beth El and Temple Covenant of Peace.

Eight of the 10 partners have already met or exceeded their own personal goals of 18 commitments in the first year, and will receive grants from the Grinspoon Foundation to further their efforts.

To learn more about ways that you can remember the Lehigh Valley Jewish community in your will, trust, retirement account or life insurance policy, contact any of the participating organizations.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | MARCH 2018 9

10 MARCH 2018 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Lifting the veil on a Jewish problem

RABBI MELODY DAVIS Temple Covenant of Peace Purim is a holiday about masks and deception and

dark things in hiding.

Thus, it is an appropriate time to discuss one of the unmentionables in the Jewish community: addiction.

We are instructed on Purim to drink until we don’t know the difference between "blessed be Mordechai" and "cursed be Haman." Indeed, Judaism is replete with times we are enjoined to imbibe.

Wine is a symbol of our joy.

We welcome the Sabbath with it. We drink wine at a wedding. We drink four cups on Passover. There are congregations that have a custom having a shot after each hakafah on Simhat Torah.

Then there is the inevitable "L’chaim!” with a "bissel"

schnapps. Many synagogues have a "kiddush club" which quietly meets in the kitchen and does shots of various beverages.

“Ad lo yada” – until you do not know. Many of us do not want to know or do not accept the fact that there are Jewish alcoholics. There are. We don’t discuss it in the hope that it will simply disappear. Like any other group, we have philanderers, gamblers, drug addicts and thieves.

We also have alcoholics.

But until we lift the veil and open our eyes, and see the Haman of alcoholism in our midst, we are doing a disservice to our community.

The evil embodied in denial is the Haman in the Jewish community.

It is difficult enough to struggle with addiction. It is a disgrace that people have to hide from their community the fact that they have a problem. In so doing, others with a problem are ashamed

to seek help.

We need to be like Mordechai and help our brethren. “Ad lo yada” is not acceptable in today’s day and age. We all must know.

Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is seeking help for addiction, call 610-882-0558.

Maimonides physicians to discuss mental health issues at brunch At one point or another, we all experience some mental conflict and stress. Come listen to two mental health professionals at a Maimonides Society bagel brunch on Sunday, March 18, at 10:15 a.m. at the JCC and learn how to understand and manage these common issues.

Dr. Robert Gordon, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, will show a psychotherapy video and discuss ways in which a patient suffering from depression and poor relationships can learn to improve these aspects of his or her life with insights into his or her

personality and self-defeating patterns of behaving.

Stuart Horowitz, a licensed clinical social worker, president of NASW-PA, and chair of the Clinical Committee for Jewish Family Service, has been practicing mindfulness for over 40 years. He will teach how mindfulness can help with stress and relaxation.

Participants will have an opportunity to practice some techniques at the same time.

Brunch is free for Maimonides members and spouses, $10 for community members. RSVP to 610821-5500 or mailbox@jflv.org.

NEW ST. LUKE’S DOCTORS FIND LOCAL COMMUNITY A PERFECT MATCH

Evan Marlin, MD, Neurosurgeon and Aviva Marlin, PsyD, Neuropsychologist When Aviva Marlin, PsyD and Evan Marlin, MD moved to the Lehigh Valley last July for new jobs at St. Luke’s, they were hoping to find a community that met several important criteria.

“We wanted to relocate to a city that has both a strong medical community and a strong Jewish community,” says Dr. Evan Marlin, a neurosurgeon with St. Luke’s Neurosurgical Associates in Bethlehem. “We have found that the Lehigh Valley has both of those things.”

Since their arrival, they have become active participants in Congregation Sons of Israel and the Jewish Federation.

They also volunteer their time at the Jewish Day School, where their son is currently a student and their daughter will attend in the future.

“We’ve taken part in so much in the few months that we’ve been here and we feel fully integrated into the local community,” says Dr. Aviva Marlin, a clinical neuropsychologist with St. Luke’s Neurology Associates in Bethlehem. “I think that’s a testament to the community and how much they really value young people coming in.”

Both doctors entered their respective field because of the patient interaction it affords, and the profound impact they can have on patients and their families.

“Neurosurgery also appealed to me in that it’s always changing,” explains Dr. Evan Marlin, who grew up in San Antonio, TX. “I find it very intriguing to be part of a field that is continuing to grow both in its complexity and capabilities. This will allow us to have a positive impact on more people in the future.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Aviva Marlin, who grew up in East Meadow, NY, found the connection of disciplines appealing in her specialty.

“I chose neuropsychology because it’s a perfect intersection between clinical psychology and neuroscience, between mind and body, and between art and science,” she explains.

Another aspect of their move that the Marlins have found attractive is that they are practicing as part of an established health network that is progressive, yet keeps its mission top of mind.

“St. Luke’s is very patient centered,” explains Dr. Evan Marlin. “There are an amazing number of people and resources that go into the care of a single patient so he or she can achieve treatment goals and have the best outcome. I enjoy the interdisciplinary nature of the team at St. Luke’s.”

Dr. Aviva Marlin agrees: “St. Luke’s is interdisciplinary with strong two-way communication. What is very special about St. Luke’s is that care can be an ongoing conversation between providers so it’s not just my specialty existing in a vacuum, but a collaboration of expertise to help our patients.”

Aviva Marlin, PsyD is a clinical neuropsychologist. She earned her Doctor of Psychology from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University and completed an internship at the Dayton VA Medical Center and a fellowship at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Evan Marlin, MD is a staff neurosurgeon. He earned his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine and did both an internship and a fellowship at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Dr. Marlin specializes in minimally invasive treatment of vascular disorders of the brain and spine.

www.sluhn.org • 1-866-STLUKES Evan Marlin, MD Aviva Marlin, PsyD

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | MARCH 2018 11

Thank you for being the

start of something powerful 2018 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs Because of your support of the 2018 campaign, we are able to help when help is needed, provide a safety net for those who must rely upon it and nurture the core institutions that are the fabric of a rich and dynamic Jewish community.

PRIME MINISTERS CIRCLE $100,000+ Ross and Wendy* Born° Lewis and Roberta* Gaines° Robert and Bonnie* Hammel° Anonymous (1) KING DAVID SOCIETY $25,000 - $49,999 Fischmann Family Fund° Roberto and Eileen* Fischmann Tama Fogelman* and Family° The Fraenkel Family° Dr. Harold and Sandra* Goldfarb° Shelley Stettner*° TREE OF LIFE SOCIETY $18,000 - $24,999 Leonard Abrams° KING SOLOMON CIRCLE $10,000 - $17,999 Dr. Jeffrey and Jill* Blinder° Charles Cohen and Rebecca Binder* Jonathan and Iris* Epstein Gary Fromer and Dr. Carol Bub Fromer* Mark L. Goldstein and Shari Spark*° Kobrovsky Family Fund Elaine Lerner*° The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation Orgler Family Fund Dr. Richard and Barbara* Reisner° Robert & Judy Auritt Klein Family Fund Lisa Scheller* and Wayne Woodman Dr. Stuart A. and Janice* Schwartz Seidel Cohen Hof & Reid LLC° Daniel and Nancy* Cohen Phillip and Ellen* Hof Chris and Tara Reid Anonymous (1) BUILDERS OF ISRAEL $5,000 - $9,999 Dr. Marc and Aliette* Abo Bernard and Flo Kobrovsky Special Fund Donna Black* Dr. Sam and Sylvia* Bub° Scott and Beth* Delin Dr. Peter Fisher and Kathy Zimmerman* Susan Gadomski *° Robert J. and Susan* Grey Allen and Patricia* Gribben° Barry and Carol R.* Halper° Eugene and Toby Halpern Nat and Erica* Hyman Judy Auritt Klein Lion of Judah Endowment Dr. Wesley and Beth* Kozinn° Stuart and Lynda* Krawitz Dr. Lawrence and Eva* Levitt° Stanley R. Liebman Estate Dr. Moshe and Lisa* Markowitz Dr. William and Jane* Markson° Michael and Linda* Miller° Drs. Steven and Nancy* Oberlender Rhoda Prager*° Dr. Alex and Robin* Rosenau° Shaoli Rosenberg* Drs. Jarrod and Nicole* Rosenthal Sadie Berman Lion of Judah Endowment Lorrie Scherline*° Mark and Deena* Scoblionko° Elizabeth Scofield* Bruce Sheftel and Ruth Sheftel* Larrie and Judy* Sheftel° Edith Simon*° Sylvia and Herb Rosen Foundation Dr. Frank and Tama* Tamarkin Dr. Michael and Eileen* Ufberg° James and Linda* Wimmer° Dr. Israel and Valeska* Zighelboim Jeri Zimmerman* Anonymous (1) SABRA CIRCLE $2,500 - $4,999 Dr. Houman and Lori* Ahdieh

12 MARCH 2018 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Air Products & Chemicals Inc. Leonard and Beverly* Bloch Foundation° Dr. Ian and Patricia* Carlis° Glenn and Jan* Ehrich° Andrew and Dr. Lisa* Ellis Dr. Eric J. and Amy* Fels Veronica Fischmann* Dr. Jay Fisher° Dr. Ronald J. and Linda* Glickman° Dr. Steve and Audrey* Kanoff° Dr. Arthur and Jane* Kaplan° Martin and Judy* Krasnov° Dr. Harold and Linda* Kreithen° Robert and Roberta* Kritzer Dr. Howard and Beth* Kushnick Dr. Brian LeFrock Donald and Lois* Lipson° Dr. Richard and Roberta* London° Ryan and Claudia* Mattison Dr. Jay and Marla* Melman° Dr. Holmes and Jeannie* Miller° Dr. Michael and Ruth* Notis° Dr. Noah Orenstein and Diana Fischmann Orenstein* Rabbi Seth Phillips and Marge Kramer* Dr. Robert and Lota* Post° Dr. Abraham and Nancy* Ross and Family Cathy Sacher*° Jack and Amy* Silverman° Dr. Arthur and Audrey* Sosis° Arthur and Barbara* Weinrach° Dr. Michael and Miriam* Zager and Family Larry and Carolyn Zelson Anonymous (3) GATES OF JAFFA $1,500 - $2,499 Alan and Sandy* Abeshaus Marsha Abraham* Dr. Howard Altman° William M. and Peggy* Berger° Mr. Samuel and Dr. Janet Brill Dr. David Bub Lawrence Center Marilyn Claire*° Helen Cook*° Dr. Karen Dacey* Patrick Dacey Marlene Finkelstein* Jerome and Sally Frank Dr. Lawrence and Vicki* Glaser° Dr. Gordon and Rose Lee* Goldberg° Mitzi Goldenberg* Drs. Zach and Andrea* Goldsmith Dr. Marsha Gordon* Dr. Robert M. Gordon° Dr. David Greenberg Dr. Paul Gross° Shirley F. Gross*° Bennett Grossman Esther Halperin*° Hausman Family Dr. Jonathan and Marjorie* Hertz Stuart and Hope* Horowitz° Rabbi Allen and Toby* Juda° Mark and Patty Klein° Dr. Robert Kricun° Dr. Michael and Fay* Kun Ferne Rodale Kushner*° Dr. Michael and Carole* Langsam° Dr. Henry and Susan* Lehrich Dr. Paul and Diane* Lemberg and Family Howard and Rachel* Levin Dr. Jay and Evelyn* Lipschutz° Robert and Betty* Mendelson Katherine Molinaro* Dr. Michael Moritz Morris & Dyna Gorfinkel Memorial Fund Dr. Richard J. and Amy* Morse Taffi Ney*° Dr. Mark and Alice* Notis° Alan and Roberta* Penn° Drs. Andrew and Flora* Pestcoe Bruce and Enid Reich Dr. Marvin and Janet Rosenthal° Selma Roth* Dr. Michael and Lynn F.* Rothman Dr. Darryn and Lorey* Shaff Howard and Susan* Sherer Margery Strauss*° Dr. Ryan and Carah* Tenzer Dr. Darren and Stefanie* Traub Dr. Marc and Susan* Vengrove° Dr. Benjamin and Ellen Weinberger° Gail Wolson*°

$1,913,113 raised as of 2.16.18 Dr. Larry and Debra Zohn° Leon and Debbie* Zoller Anonymous (7) CHAVERIM $500 - $1,499 Judith Aronson*° Marietta Banach* Tama Lee Barsky* Richard and Joan* Bass Sanford and Patricia* Beldon Dr. Harry and Donna Berger Steven Bergstein and Nanci Goldman Bergstein° Larry and Susan W.* Berman° Lauren Berson*° Rance and Sheryl* Block° Akiva and Rachel* Boonswang Dr. Stuart and Joan* Boreen Harry and Edna* Brill° Evelyn H. Brown*° Richard and Kira* Bub Gordon Campbell Harvey and Elizabeth* Cartine Charles L. Fletcher Memorial Fund Robert Cohen and Michelle Hindin Albert and Eva* Derby Richard and Ruth* Derby° Eduardo and Jeanette* Eichenwald° Dr. Mark and Ellyn* Elstein° Joan Epstein*° Frank Penn Family Fund Hon. Robert and Ronnie Freedberg° Dr. Henry and Monica* Friess and Family Dr. Gene Ginsberg° Dr. Brian and Alyssa Goldberg Lance and Ellen* Gordon Alan Greenberger° Dr. H. William and Ruth* Gross° H. Sheftel Memorial Fund Drs. Harvey and Melissa Hakim Jay Haltzman° Arthur and Susan* Hochhauser° Dr. Arthur Hoffman° Roslyn Holtz* Selma Jacowitz* Jules and Tama Fogelman Fund Andrew and Nancy Kahn° Dr. Binae Karpo* Seth and Kathi* Katzman° Dr. Jay and Phyllis* Kaufman° Lisa Kirshner* Drs. William and Susan* Kitei° Maxine S. Klein*° Paul and Dore Kottler Dr. Jeffrey and Kim Kramer Dr. Joshua Krassen Joshua and Danielle* Kroo Karen Kuhn*° Lawrence M. Lang and Elaine N. Deutch* Dr. Paul H. and Elaine* Langer° Gerson Lazar Family Fund Martha B. Lebovitz*° Lillian Schwab Memorial Fund Dr. Lisa* and Rivki Lindauer Scott and Allison* Lipson Eric Luftig Jean Mandel*° Drs. Evan and Aviva* Marlin Dr. David and Robyn Meir-Levi Ethel Melamut*° David and Judy* Mickenberg Edith Miller*° Morton and Judy* Miller° Michael Molovinsky° James and Shelah Mueth Jay and Bobbi* Needle Marc Nissenbaum° Dr. William and Marjorie Ofrichter° Dr. David and Carole* Ostfeld° Dr. David and Ann* Packman Dr. Robert and Joanne* Palumbo Henry and Phyllis* Perkin Edward and Beth* Posner° Randi and Donald Senderowitz Fund Elaine Rappaport-Bass*° Adam and Penny* Roth and Family Jerry Roth Memorial Fund Sheila Saunders*° Marcia Schechter*° Rusty Schiff* Bernard and Sara* Schonbach Mark and Joyce Schuman* Dr. Andrew and Jacqueline Schwartz Schwartz Family Fund

Dr. Andrew and Rachel* Shurman Diane Silverman*° Marshall and Nina* Silverstein° Rabbi Michael Singer and Alexis Vega-Singer* Marcy Staiman* Richard and Allison Staiman Dr. Phil and Diane* Stein Dr. Richard Stein° Dr. Ronald and Melissa Stein and Family Hon. Robert L. Steinberg Barry Goldin and Cheri Sterman* Sterman-Goldin Family Fund Dr. David and Laurie Strassman Sussman Family Fund Ron Ticho and Pam Lott* Dr. Ronald and Beverly* Wasserman° Robert and Sandy* Weiner° Rosalyn Weingrod * David and Deborah* Wiener Jerry and Flossie* Zales° Richard and Cherie* Zettlemoyer Anonymous (13) SHORASHIM $250 - $499 Herma Abramson* Karen Albert*° Alexander Sach Phil Fund Alfred T. Gifford Family Fund Isabella Alkasov* Michael and Lynn Alterman Vivian Appel* Joan Balkwill*° Miriam Bandler*° Dr. Peter and Barbara Barbour Fran Bassett* R. Bill Bergstein° Sharon Bernstein* Andrew and Dr. Christy* Block and Family Sally Brau*° Dr. Lisa Bunin* Robert and Jane* Cohen ° Marcia K. Cohen*° Temple and Ann Coldren Roger and Sharon* Collins Donald Denburg° Dr. George and Roberta* Diamond° Fred and Gail* Eisenberg Dr. Thomas and Roni* Englert and Family° Eleanor Extract* Melissa Falk* Samuel and Lynn* Feldman° Marcia Felkay*° Brian and Emily* Ford Phyllis Ford* Renee Gittler*° Dr. Barry and Sharon* Glassman Rhoda Glazier*° Ann Goldberg* Amy Golding* Allan and Mary Goodman° Lothar and Wendy Gumberich Etta Heller* Ricky Hochhauser* Ferne and Jack Kushner Fund James and Andrea* Jesberger Stacey Kandel* Irving Kaplan° Janice Kaplan* Chelsea Karp* Iris Klein*° Lillian Kobrovsky*° Gary and Jennifer* Lader Merry Landis*° Suzanne Lapiduss*° Susan Levin* Gilfrid and Michele* Levy Eileen Lewbart* Dr. Irwin and Linda Lewis Robert and Shirley* Malenovsky° Dr. Norman and Roberta* Marcus Drs. James and Meredith Margolis Marvi Family Fund Dr. Douglas and Ruth* Nathanson Norma Neff*° Dr. Michael and Martina Obenski° Papir Family Fund Stephen and Marianne Phillips Dr. Mitchell and Carol Rabinowitz° Harry and Carole* Rose° Michael and Linda Rosenfeld° Judd Roth Dr. Norman and Jett* Sarachek° Naomi Schachter* Joel and Linda Scheer

James and Sandra* Schonberger Ronald Segel° Sally Shapiro*° Elliot and Linda Sheftel° Stuart and Susan* Shmookler Dr. Laurence Silberstein° Dr. Roger and Marna* Simon° Beth El Sisterhood° Adam and Stephanie* Smartschan Michael and Jane* Spitzer° Stephanie Szilagyi*° Tenzer Family Fund Kimberly Valuntas* Robert and Marcia* Weill Martin and Frances* Weinberg Joseph and Kristina* Weiner Gerald Weisberger Bruce and Alicia* Zahn Zelickson Family Fund Debby Ziev* Anonymous (11) KEHILLAH $100 - $249 Richard and Maria* Ain Dr. Mark Stein and Sharon Albert* Alfred Wiener Family Fund Amy Born Fund Anthem Insurance Company Florence Applebaum* Elaine Atlas*° Pnina Avitzur* Dr. Marsha Baar*° Karen Bader*° Michael and Barbara* Bassano Michael Benioff Elaine Berk* Scott Berman Dr. Joan Bischoff* Randi Blauth* Dr. Marianna Borshansky* John Botzum and Miriam Harris Botzum Ilya Bragin Joan Brody*° Robert and Gail* Burger Chelsea Busch* Sara Camuti* Muriel Charon* Audrey Cherney*° Dana Cohen* Zachary and Ginny* Cohen Coleman Family Fund Jerome and Audrey* Cylinder° Leah Devine* Dr. and Mrs. Neil Dicker Brooke Dietrick* David and Vikki* Dunn Dr. Abbott and Judy* D'ver° Barbara Einhorn* Dr. Ellen Field* Brenda Finberg* Michael Finley and Audrey Ettinger* Vivian Fishbone* Harry and Amy* Fisher Lance Flax Eric and Rebecca* Fleisch Atty. Jeffrey Fleischaker and Dr. Ophira Silbert* Frederick Fleszler Jenna Fromer* Rachel Fromer* Dr. Allan and Sandra* Futernick Murray and Linda* Garber° Debbie Gertner* Jerome and Gloria* Ginsburg° Dr. Joel and Muriel* Glickman° Becky Goldenberg* Brian and Judith* Goldman° Susan Goldman*

Daniel Leisawitz

Nathaniel and Joanna Golub Mark Kennedy and Arlene Gorchov*° Aaron Gorodzinsky Donald Greenberg Jeff and Elizabeth* Greenberg Judith Greenberg* Arlene Griffin*° Tom and Rita* Guthrie° Marion Halperin*° Rabbi Yaacov and Devorah* Halperin Ronald Harrison° Alvin and Arlene* Herling° Syman and Anita* Hirsch Michael and Donna* Iorio Baron and Marjorie Jasper Eva Jones* Jennifer Kaplan* Dr. Lewis and Joan* Katz Daniel and Anne* Kaye Ilena Key* Kimmel Family Fund Renee B. Kleaveland* Deborah Kohler*° Alyssa Komarow* Dr. Arnold and Barbara* Kritz° Barbara Kritz*° Ruth Kugelman*° Gilbert and Judy* Lappen Mary Laronge* Frederick and Sherry Lesavoy° Bob and Ilene* Levin-Dando° Leonard and Janice Levy Paul Levy and Helen Mack-Levy Joan Lichtenstein*° Lisa Ellis Fund Dr. Zalman Liss° David and Marilyn* Louick° Steven Markowitz° Janis Mikofsky* Gary and Diane* Miller° Norman and Maxine* Miller° Millie Berg Memorial Fund Natalie Millrod* Steven and Judy Molder Gladys Morgenstein*° Amy Morrison* Judith Murman* Hank and Jill* Narrow Howard and Jill Nathanson Richard and Paula* Nelson Audrey Nolte* Benjamin Notis Joseph and Eve* Peterson Linda Piesner* Howard and Jane* Pitkoff Jay and Marlene* Plotnick Dr. Matthew and Denise* Pollack Patti Price* Ilene Prokup*° Abram and Alyssa Pure Raab Fund David Reiff Charles Richter and Lynda Pollack* Ira and Erica* Robbins Wendy Rothstein* Herman Rovner Barth Rubin Ryan Sacher Phil Fund Fae Safer* Alan and Mary* Salinger° Seith Schentzel Melvin and Pearl* Schmier Ivan and Jill* Schonfeld Dr. Arthur Levine and Dr. Janet Schwartz* Lynne Shampain*° Dr. Mark and Lynne* Shampain° Stanley Shrager Barry Siegel° Serita Silberg*

Abigail Silverman* Jessica Silverman* Micki Sinclair* Dr. Yehuda and Victoria* Smooha° Anne Snyder-Lyons* Susan Sosnow* Dr. Mark Stein and Sharon Albert* Michael and Sybil* Stershic David Vaida and Cantor Ellen Sussman* Matthew and Tracy* Sussman Kenneth Szydlow Norman Tahler Alan and Enid* Tope° Sharon Trinker* Dr. Mark and Gayle* Unger° Sharone and Lora* Vaknin Dr. Steven Vale and Dr. Jennifer Gell* Volk Family Fund Dr. Stanley Walker Marjorie Weiss* Norman and Sandra* Wruble Dr. Robert Zemble Anonymous (29) GENESIS $1 - $99 Abigail Silverman Fund Rabbi Jake Adler Marvin and Sylvia* Adler Harris Apsell Arianna Delin Fund Max Averbach Zoe Averbach* Dr. Susan Basow* Marla Beck* Delores Bednar* Arthur and Phyllis Berg Stephanie Berman* Jeffrey and Lisa* Bernfeld Nancy Bernstein* Jason and Tracy Billig Jerome Block Igor and Alla* Bolotovsky Johanna Brams* Neil and Diane Brown Jerry and Wilma Brucker Petr Bruk Victor and Leslie* Bunick Betty Burian* Ivan Buyum Joyce Camm* Marjorie Carroll* Dena Cedor* Linda Chmielewski*° Claudia Fischmann Fund Dr. Barry Cohen Neela Covel Danielle Staiman Mitzvah Fund Edwin and Rabbi Melody* Davis Eugene and Eileen* Denitz Diana Fischmann Fund Marilyn Doluisio*° Wendy Edwards* Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz David Eiskowitz Joseph Epstein and Sheryl Feinstein Anita Evelyn* E.G. Jerry Farris* Abby Feinberg* Ben and Abby* Feinberg Sharon Feldman* Diane Fisher*° Ann Friedenheim* Dr. Michael and Traci Gabriel Dr. Todd and Laura Garber Dr. Debra Garlin* Gail Gelb* Bernice Glickman* Steven Glickman and Hannah Zabitz

The Zighelboim family gets ready for Super Sunday.

Shelley Goldberg* and Family Caroline Goldblat* Anita Goldman* Dr. Malvin and Lillian* Goldner Ezra Goldstein Martin Goldstein° Nissa Gossom* Ann Gould* Harry and Paula* Grines Herman and Maryalice Gross Sharon Guindine* Bernice Harris* Holly Hebron* Dolores Heller* Philip Heyman° Rima Hirsch* Dorothy Hoffman*° Dr. Michael Hortner Robert and Arlene* Hurwitz Dr. Lubov Iskold* Sondra Jacobs*° Jessica Silverman Philanthropic Fund Leonard Kahn Jessica Kamber* Joel and Liz* Kamp Honey Kandel* David and Margaret* Kaplan Helene Kaplan* Sidney and Helene* Kaplan Harriet Karess* Francine Katzman* Chaim and Carol Kaufmann Herbert Klivan Rosine Knafo*° Jeffrey Koch Brett and Hilary Kricun Sandra Lachter Peter and Madeline* Langman Andrea Lass* Daniel and Daniella Leisawitz Barbara Levinson* The Eva Levitt Knitting Project Nancy Levy* Julian Lewis Howard Lieberman Doris Lifland* Rebecca Lovingood* Rochelle Lower* Leonard Lutsky° Michael and Pam Magnan Ronald and Patricia Malvin Rikki Mandel* Silvia Mandler* David and Susan* Manela Louise Mapstone* Brie Marks* Marlee Senderowitz Fund Aliza Martin* Chahine Marvi* Robert Mayer and Jan Muzycka* Debrosha McCants* Ruth Meislin*° Dr. Robert and Ellen Miller* and Family Stanley Miller Susan Mohr* Anne Morris*° Jane Much* William and Sharon* Mullin Scott and Phyllis* Naiden Nancy Gevirtz Memorial Fund Myra Needle* Terry David and Shirley* Neff Noah Ryan Delin Fund Olivia Nolt* Robert Prichard and Ellen Osher* Dr. Alan Parker Pam Pearlmutter Howard and Jane* Pitkoff Miriam Pitkoff*

Mildred Poliner*° Aron and Adina* Preis Loren Rabbat* Alan Raisman Martin Rapoport° Kevin and Lauren Reuther Linda Rich* Rissa Senderowitz Philanthropic Fund Robert Rockmaker Jodie Rosenblum* Phyllis Rothkopf* Barbara Rudolph* Amy Sams* Samuel Gevirtz Mitzvah Fund Samuel Harris Fund Mary Lou Scarf* Lynn Schiavone* Rachel Schmeidberg* Lewis Schor° Rabbi Rebecca Schorr* Warren Schorr Eugene Search Lorraine Secouler* Susan Selsky-Hann* Richard and Dr. Cheryl* Shadick Robert and Maryanne Appleby-Shaffer Ezra Shapiro Dr. Stephen Shore Greg and Pamela* Silverberg Judi Silverberg* Pamela Silverberg* Richard Silverman Silverman Family Fund Debra Skinner* Rabbi Aryeh and Beth* Spera Dr. Rima Strassman* Susan B. Mellan Memorial Fund Norman and Cindy* Sussman° Gabe Tamarkin Sandi Teplitz*° David Teumim Donald Thaler Harriet Theodore* Howard and Marilyn* Tokosh Ufberg Family Fund Veronica Fischmann Fund Inna Vishnevetsky* Nicholas and Jessica* Volchko Lynn Waite* Dori Wallace*° Cantor Kevin Wartell° Les and Anita* Weintraub Dr. Brian Wernick Barbara Wolfgang* Gladys Yass* Helaine Young* Herman and Jessica* Ytkin Anonymous (23)

The donors noted above represent gifts to the JFLV 2018 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs. Every effort is made to correctly recognize all of our generous donors and honor their listing requests.

If there are any inaccuracies or omissions, please call the Federation office at 610-821-5500. * Indicates an individual woman’s gift to the 2018 Campaign for Jewish Needs ° Indicates Silver Circle members who have contributed for 25 years or more.

PJ Library reader Vicki Wax gets a special greeting from IronPigs mascot FeRROUS. HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | MARCH 2018 13

Advocating on Capital Hill for Jewish Disability Advocacy Day

By Susan Sklaroff-Van Hook Jewish Family Service Justice, justice shall you pursue (devarim 16:20) and do not stand by the blood of your neighbor (vaikra 19:16) The 2018 annual Jewish Disability Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill welcomed the largest group of participants in its eight-year history, including some 200 professionals and lay leaders, advocates, activists and stakeholders from Jewish organizations and diverse communities from around the United States in order to advocate with, on behalf of, and for individuals with disabilities.

This full day of events included the opportunity for attendees to learn about relevant public policy issues and raise awareness about different programs for people with disabilities and their families. Among the many presenters were representatives of the Jewish Federations of North America’s Disability Committee, the Ruderman family, government administrators, disability policy and legislative affairs advisors, disability support CEOs and religious action directors. Particularly enlightening discussions included the panel discussion,

entitled “Year 1 of the Trump Administration: Where Do We Go From Here?”

Presentations on this year’s JDAD advocacy issues, “Undermining Medicaid: Its Impact on People with Disabilities” and “Supporting Special Education Funding with the IDEA Full Funding Act” helped to better inform all as we prepared to advocate with Congressional representatives later in the day. Being provided with a strong background and key points of each issue and demystifying the experience of lobbying went a long way to calm the stress that can sometimes accompany the opportunity to speak to government officials.

We advocated that block grants or caps to the Medicaid system would jeopardize access to critical services for millions of vulnerable Americans with disabilities.

Many people do not realize that Medicaid not only covers health costs, but is instrumental for providing other services that are vital to well-being such as community based services which allow people with disabilities to live in the community rather than be institutionalized. Also, if federal block grants/caps are implemented, states will be forced to cut services and this means that there will be

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significant job losses among health care, long-term care and social service workers.

Regarding the full funding of the IDEA Act (H.R, 2902), while Congress promised to provide 40 percent of special education costs to states when the IDEA was passed (1975), currently that support is at the 15 percent level. This underfunding is a critical challenge for school systems and means that students receive less support then they require to make progress.

This is a problem that will only intensify with time as the numbers of children with special needs increases; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2014 found that the rate of autism among children to be 1 in 68 compared to 1 in 150 in 2000.

Other advances in medical care have helped children survive that otherwise would not, and many may require special education in order to thrive.

Throughout the afternoon, visits were made by key representatives and senators who felt compelled to share their own stories and express their support for the rights of people with disabilities. These speakers included, among others, Chris Van Holland (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cathy McMorris Rodgers

(R-WA), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Jamie Raskin (DMD), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (D-FL) and Pete Sessions (R-TX). All of these speakers emphasized that they felt that disability-related issues remained one of the areas where bi-partisan work was a real and robust possibility.

As stated by Ms. McMorris Rodgers, the mother of a child with Down’s Syndrome, “the disability community is the one community that celebrates what everyone has to offer” and as stated by Ms. Duckworth, herself a person living with disability, “these needs are not just about a wheelchair ramp, it’s about living your whole life.”

In the afternoon, we took to the halls of Congress armed with statistics, history, lived experience and professional

insight. Twenty-two groups of JDAD participates sat down in the offices of 18 representatives, introducing ourselves to legislative staff and making our cases, both individually and collectively.

During these intense and meaningful visits, one could not ignore the frequent blinking and buzzing of the Congressional Capitol clock lights, suggesting that votes were taking place; we were, after all, two days away from another possible government shutdown as Congress wrestled with trying to agree on how to fund federal government.

For more about Jewish Disability Advocacy Day and Awareness Month, visit the Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley website at www.jfslv.org/jdaim.

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HEROES UNITE ON SUPER SUNDAY

By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Marketing

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Heroes united on Super Sunday to raise money for the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

Four teams engaged in a friendly competition to see who could bring in the most money. After a hard-fought battle, the blue team came out on top, and had the opportunity to allocate $1,000 to the campaign beneficiaries of their choice. The team chose to allocate $250 to Muhlenberg Hillel for a student program and $750 to the Lehigh Valley Jewish Clergy Group for a collaborative community event.

New this year, all new gifts and increases were matched dollar for dollar, thanks to the generosity of Lewis and Roberta Gaines. The match served as great motivation for those making the calls and those receiving them.

Volunteers enjoyed breakfast and snacks courtesy of Giant and Whole Foods Market and delicious macaroni and cheese for dinner donated by Boscov’s.

In the afternoon, the first group of mitzvah project volunteers arrived to prepare kosher meals for older adults in the JCC kitchen, in partnership with Jewish Family Service. The volunteers made a Shabbat chicken dish along with green beans and a carrot soufflé, with the help of ingredients donated by Whole Foods, Wegmans and Costco.

Later, a second mitzvah project crew came to package and deliver the meals in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. They bagged the chicken, carrots and green beans with minestrone soup made by the Jewish Day School, rice salad from Congregation Brith Sholom and challah from Congregation Keneseth Israel. They also included bags of chocolate chip cookies baked by the PJ Library children that morning.

The PJ Library kids also had the chance to do crafts, decorate cookies and enjoy story time with IronPigs mascot FeRROUS. State Reps. Mike Schlossberg, Zach Mako and Ryan Mackenzie and Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski stopped by to help and offer encouragement to volunteers.

Brian Ford, who co-chaired the event with his wife Emily, had the chance to talk to WFMZ about the great work of volunteers. The Fords were supported this year by the young leaders from Israel Next Dor. Super Sunday sponsor Patient First offered free blood pressure checks throughout the morning.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HEROES!

150 volunteers, 35 PJ kids and 1 pig made Super Sunday a big success.

800

Volunteers made thank you calls to donors who had previously pledged their support to the campaign.

175 donors pledged $36,000 on Super Sunday Thank you to everyone who volunteered and everyone who gave!

You are supporting Jewish life in the Lehigh Valley, across the country and around the world.

If you did not have an opportunity to answer the call on Super Sunday, please contact the Federation at 610-821-5500 or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS:

PHOTO KEY: 1. Israel Next Dor young leaders with FeRROUS 2. Anna Ratmansky and her son help prepare meals for older adults 3.

Brian Ford, Wendy Born, Barry Halper, state Rep. Zach Mako, Moshe Markowitz and Aaron Gorodzinsky 4. BBYO volunteers 5. Kathy Zimmerman 6. Vicki Wax reads to the PJ Library kids 7. Larry Levitt 8. Aaron Gorodzinsky and Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski 9. State Rep. Mike Schlossberg 10. Federation Executive Director Mark L. Goldstein thanks Gabe Tamarkin for his first adult donation to the Federation 11. PJ Library kids make cookies for older adults 12. State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie reads to the PJ Library kids TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT www.jewishlehighvalley.org

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Designing your own Purim costumes ready to celebrate.

Consider how to bring your costume to life.

There are many ways to design a costume. If your character is in a movie, what does he or she wear? If you’re getting inspired by a book, do the pages contain any clues about favorite colors or clothing styles?

If your character has no “official” or predetermined costume, or you want to create your own look, try to think of how you envision your character, and let your imagination fly free. This can work amazingly well for characters from the Purim story itself. Does Queen Esther prefer royal purple or springtime green? Does Haman wear ties? Only you can answer questions like these and create a costume all your own.

A medieval take on a princess or Queen Esther.

Consider taking photos in different locations to match the vibe you’re going for with your costume.

By Michelle Cohen HAKOL Editor As someone who didn’t celebrate Halloween as a kid, Purim was my one time of year to express myself with costumes. As an adult, I’ve expanded this and started making my own costumes.

I’ve found costume design to be an incredibly rewarding experience, even for someone with very little crafting skills. The creative and costeffective process leads to fun times for the whole family.

Here are a few tips for how to choose and design a special Purim costume this year.

Pick a costume from the heart.

When I’ve decided what costumes to try making, I’ve focused on favorite characters of mine from books, video games and movies. These are characters who inspire me or make me laugh or simply put a smile on my face.

My experiences at conventions have taught me that costumes can be anybody wearing anything. You don’t have to look like the character or act like them outside of your costume day. Villains can be just as fun to dress up as heroes, and I’ve found that when I truly enjoy a character or a costume concept, I feel happy, confident and

Simple materials can make wonderful costumes.

Once you know what you’d like to look like, consider how you’ll obtain the materials and put them together. Costumes do not need to be expensive, even if designs are intricate. There are always adaptations that can be made, and the experience of creating a homemade costume can lead to some great fun with family and friends.

For my first costume, the character wore socks with a detailed striped pattern and a dress with elaborate embroidery on the hem. My solution was to find an assortment of colors of duct tape and create the pattern on top of old clothes for a bright splash of color.

Another time, a friend and I made armor using sheets of foam usually used for kids’ craft projects, a hot glue gun and silver spray paint.

The sky’s the limit for what you can make with the most mundane of materials.

Add props for a new dimension of fun.

Props are a great way to bring out aspects of your character that might not be in the outfit, and they also provide great photo opportunities.

I’ve seen people tape paper over a book cover to create the character’s favorite book, paint a version of the character’s favorite painting, or accessorize with jewelry or a snazzy cape. This is a way to make your costume truly unique and memorable.

Who or what are you dressing up as for Purim this year? Send in your photos of costumes for adults, children and pets to HAKOL for a chance to be featured in the next issue.

JCC to host ‘Positively Purim’ carnival Join the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley on March 4 to celebrate Purim with a twist at the “Positively Purim” carnival.

This year’s carnival focuses on a theme of positivity from multiple perspectives. In addition to the traditional games and activities, the carnival will feature ways to do good for the community, Israel and one’s own body and mind.

For the community effort, there will be an activity of creating greeting cards for tzeda-

kah, as well as a canned food drive to benefit Jewish Family Service.

Other activities will include exercise activities, an obstacle course, sports and games, face and nail painting, a lollipop tree and arts and crafts.

The event will take place at the JCC on Sunday, March 4, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Call 610-435-3571 or visit the JCC Welcome Desk to RSVP. All-day fun passes and food passes are available for purchase.

JFS prepares Purim treats for older adults Jewish Family Service is planning a special surprise for local older adults this Purim in the form of mishloach manot gift baskets.

These baskets, traditionally given at Purim time, each contain a decorated mask by students from the Jewish Day School and the JCC kindergarten, hamentaschen and an insert from JFS. The bags were assembled by the Jewish War Veterans Post 239 Lehigh Valley and will soon be delivered to older adults living in residences and aging in place.

JFS staff and volunteers will also run Purim programs at local residential facilities including Kirkland Village in Allentown and Atria Bethlehem.

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JDS celebrates Tu B’Shevat with seder and crafts

By Michelle Cohen HAKOL Editor The Jewish Day School spent a week celebrating Tu B’Shevat in many ways. The kindergarten class grew their own grass heads, and then created a community garden using recycled paper. Students also had the opportunity to attend seders, complete with coloring haggadot and hats. Each seder featured snacks appropriate for the holiday, and time was spent learning about what the holiday means.

Tu B’Shevat with Brith Sholom

By Rabbi Michael Singer Congregation Brith Sholom Each year, we have a Tu B'Shevat seder with parents and children celebrating the new year for trees. Everyone takes turns reading from the special Haggadah for Tu B'Shevat as we eat and connect different fruits and vegetables with our spiritual ties to Creation and the Creator.

We drink four cups of wine/ juice that starts out white and gradually gets darker with the seasons and the growth life of a tree from a seed, to a sapling, to a tree, to finally bearing fruit. We learn about our responsibility to be caretakers of God's earth and that we are not apart from, but rather intimately connected to, all of Creation.

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KI studies with a sofer on Tu B’Shevat

Congregation Keneseth Israel We were so fortunate to have a sofer here, Rabbi

Levi Selwyn, who was working on one of our Torahs. The workshop was all about our Torah – its origin, the repairs he was making and how he was making them. He tied it into Tu B'Shevat by explaining that not only was Torah known as a Tree of Life, but when we look at what trees provide – sweet, delicious fruits – it is a reminder of how having Torah, studying Torah and following commandments are not just necessary, but a sweetness too. We followed the workshop with refreshments traditional at Tu B'Shevat – figs and dates, raisins, nuts and oranges, challah and honey.

Children and adults enjoy JCC’s Tu B’Shevat seder

By Michelle Cohen HAKOL Editor “Why is this night different from all other nights?” is a question most commonly heard at Passover seders, but thanks to an innovative program at the JCC, children and adults alike pondered the question on Jan. 31 as they enjoyed a program modeled on a Passover seder to celebrate the new year for the trees.

Like a traditional Passover seder, this seder was structured around four questions and four cups of wine, or in this case, grape juice that was served in gradients from white to red to symbolize the natural passage of time. Each of the four questions corresponded to a “world” in which we live: the physical world of Action; Formation, the world of feelings and emotions; Creation, the world of the mind and knowledge; and Emanation, the world of spirituality.

Throughout the seder, which was attended by members from around the community as well as the JCC’s kindergarten class, participants read aloud from a service guide compiled by Deborah Strauss, the wife of Congregation Keneseth Israel’s Cantor Jeff

Warschauer. The couple led the service with musical accompaniment and plenty of ways to engage, from answering philosophical questions to dancing to familiar and new songs.

Each section of the seder included a food element. For the first world, participants ate fruits with a tough skin reminiscent of the earth’s protection, including clementines, pomegranates and bananas. The second world focused on fruits with a soft outside and a tough inner core, such as peaches, cherries and apricots. Next came the third world, featuring fruits that are completely edible, like grapes, raisins and apples.

Finally, for the spiritual world, a plate of spices was passed around to engage in senses beyond the physical.

In addition to celebrating the holiday as a group, the framework of the seder provided the opportunity to engage in larger moral issues. Several of the songs and readings focused on environmental conservation, and people brainstormed ways to help the environment in their own lives. The event also included light-hearted elements like name tags decorated by the kindergartners and placemats that doubled as coloring pages filled with trees and fruits.

The Four Questions of Tu B’Shevat These questions were presented at the JCC Tu B’Shevat seder, and originate from “New Flavours of the Jewish Table” by Denise Phillips.

1. Ordinarily, we eat whatever fruit is in season. Why, today, do we specifically eat fruit that is grown in Israel?

2. Other holidays honor events and people. Why does this holiday honor trees?

3. We often take the environment for granted.

Why, today, do we focus on conservation?

4. It’s winter! Why are we thinking about planting when spring is several months away?

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | MARCH 2018 23

A Celebration of Choral Art

Greg Funfgeld, Artistic Director/Conductor

March 17 - 7:30 PM - $42/$39 Sponsored by WDIY 88.1 FM

453 Northampton St., Easton, PA 610-252-3132 1-800-999-STATE www.statetheatre.org

.

Nobody Does It Better!

MUHLENBERG THEATRE & DANCE

A fierce and provocative new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry VI tetralogy Created and Directed by

Holly Cate

April 5-8 484.664.3333 muhlenberg.edu/theatre

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KI and TBE host New Jerusalem performance Congregation Keneseth Israel and Temple Beth El joined together to host 150 people for a staged reading of “New Jerusalem” on Feb. 3. The play was written by David Ives, directed by Charlie Richter (head of the Theatre Department at Muhlenberg College and a KI congregant) and introduced by Dustin Nash, another professor at Muhlenberg and a TBE member.

The cast members were a mix of students and professionals. After the event, attendants enjoyed refreshments in the Social Hall and had an opportunity to meet the director and cast. The event was sponsored in part by the Ray and Bonnie Singer Community Lecture Series and Education Fund and it is another in a series of collaborative programs put on by the Adult Ed Committees of Congregation Keneseth Israel and Temple Beth El. This production was chaired by Patty Carlis and Lynn Rothman.

JCC celebrates 100 days of school

PJ Library Family of the Month:

THE KAHN FAMILY

We love being a part of PJ Library! Being new to the area, it connects us with other families and let’s us bring the joy of Jewish holidays to our new home. We love the tzedakah box and cards and talking about the cards with our cousins across the country, sharing a love of tikkun olam. - LAURIE AND JOSH KAHN

The kindergarten class at the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley dresses like 100-year-olds to celebrate the 100th day of school. Teacher Holly Hebron also led the class in a series of 100th day activities.

PJ Library and JDS join together for rainbow party

By Amy Golding Jewish Day School On Feb. 11, over 100 participants gathered at the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley for a PJ Library rainbow Purim party. Children dressed in rainbow-themed costumes, posed for photos in our rainbow photo booth, created colorful hamentaschen and listened to PJ Library books. Crafts included rainbow-dyed ziti pasta that were used to string royal jewelry and crowns, groggers made with colored beads and a rainbow/cloud decoration with streamers.

We ended the event participating in a singa-long while munching on hamentaschen.

What a way to spend a rainy Sunday, with rainbows and fun!

To learn more about PJ Library and register to receive free Jewish-themed books for children from 6 months through 8 years, visit www.pjlibrary.org.

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USY teens enjoy Shul-In at CBS

Regency Real Estate Contact Larry Ginsburg Cell: 610-393-0892 Office: 610-432-5252 Larry.Ginsburg@BHHSRegency.com Local Ownership. Local Commitment.

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USY teens enjoy food and games at the 2018 Shul In, held at Congregation Brith Sholom in January. To get in on the fun, contact Lehighvalleyusy@gmail.com.

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Sons of Israel offers scholarship through philanthropic fund

By Jeff Blinder Congregation Sons of Israel The Frank and Ada Segel Family Student Scholarship Program was established through a philanthropic bequest by Frank and Ada Segel's daughter, Helen Segel. Miss Segel recognized the importance of higher education and the need for financial assistance to students in the Jewish community. Frank and Ada Segel were members and friends of Congregation Sons of Israel, and Miss Segel wanted to honor the memory of her beloved parents with this wonderful act of tzedakah.

Applications will be accepted from Jewish students who (a) have been accepted or are enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution, (b) have a demonstrated record

of service to the Jewish community and to the Lehigh Valley community at large, (c) meet additional specific criteria established by the Frank and Ada Segel Family Student Scholarship Program Committee and (d) have been residents of the Lehigh Valley for at least one year currently or in the past.

Decisions for awarding scholarships will be at the discretion of the committee. A scholarship may be awarded to one or more students on an annual basis for an amount up to $5,000.

Please call Congregation Sons of Israel at 610-433-6089, or email april2715@gmail.com for more information and to obtain an application. Applications, along with supporting materials, should be submitted by Friday, May 11, 2018.

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HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | MARCH 2018 27

JCC kindergarten class volunteers at JFS The kindergarten class from the Jewish Community Center walked over to Jewish Family Service on Feb. 12 to donate time and creativity to brighten the days of older adults in the community.

The children decorated and assembled gift bags for older adults’ birthday celebrations, which included supplies and an edible treat.

JFS will distribute the bags across the Valley.

GIVE A MITZVAH, DO A MITZVAH

Helping disabled young Israelis experience summer camp Mitchell Rosenthal is a seventh grade student at the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr. He will become a Bar Mitzvah on April 21 at Congregation Sons of Israel in Allentown.

Mitchell loves school, swimming, sports and summer camp. When choosing his mitzvah project, he knew that he wanted to embark on a project that focused on children in Israel. Because camp is such an important part of his own life, Mitchell wanted to help other kids know the joy of attending summer camp. “Camp is important to me. I go to a Jewish summer camp so I want to help kids in Israel experience summer camp.”

After doing some research, Mitchell discovered House of Wheels, or “Beit Hagalgalim,” an organization which helps

disabled young Israelis attend summer camp. He chose House of Wheels because he felt strongly about helping Israeli children in need.

House of Wheels is a home away from home that provides rehabilitation and encouragement of autonomy within a social setting for children and young adults with physical disabilities. All of their activities promote social and civic participation while creating equal opportunities for people with physical disabilities.

The Shai Society for the rehabilitation and support of disabled children is the volunteer organization behind The House of Wheels and was established by the late Miriam Schwartz in 1979. It is devoted to the development and integration of physically

handicapped children in Israel. They have four centers throughout Israel, and provide activities for 300 children, youth, and young adults between the ages of 12 and 30, the majority of whom suffer from muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy.

“We are so proud of Mitchell because he works hard at everything he does,” said Mitchell’s parents Nicole and Jarrod Rosenthal. “He is a smart boy who is dedicated to his academic achievement, and excels in school. He makes Jewish studies a priority.

He is a dedicated swimmer, swimming for a local team as well as his school team.

Even with a daily two-hour commute, Mitchell has managed to maintain his rigorous practice schedule, and has worked especially hard on his bar mitzvah studies. He has spent many months learning the Torah portion which is the long double parsha, Tazria Metzora.”

“Perhaps what makes us most proud of Mitchell is his kind nature,” they continued. “Mitchell is kind to everyone. He is considerate of others, and he is accepting of everyone.

At summer camp, he is often paired with children who are having a hard time adjusting in order to help them feel more comfortable.

He has a way of making the people around him feel special. He is a very special person, and we are so blessed to have him as our son.”

To donate to House of Wheels please go to www. jchoice.org/MDswims.htm.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Mitchell at MDRbar2018@gmail.com In addition to his mitzvah project, Mitchell has made his first adult gift of tzedakah to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

For help developing your mitzvah project, contact Abby Trachtman, program coordinator at abbyt@jflv.org or call her at the Federation office at 610-821-5500.

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Stagemakers benefit celebrates theatrical kids

By Tracy Sussman JCC of the Lehigh Valley

Fun times

By Jacob Sussman Special to HAKOL Over the past couple of weeks, Allentown AZA has had a lot of fun and has programmed some amazing events. Some of these events include the bi-weekly chapter meetings, a Phantoms game and AIT (Aleph in Training) Night. All of these events were very fun and had a great turnout.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms game was an event that was with our sister chapter, Allentown BBG. On this night, many people went to the game and enjoyed watching the game with friends and eating some good food.

And to make it even better, the Phantoms won the game with the score of 5-3.

Next was Allentown AZA’s annual AIT night. At the event, new members were officially inducted into the Allentown AZA Chapter and experienced a new sense of brotherhood. This was a great night where members learned the AZA handshake and the

AZA heartbeat that is still a tradition from many years ago. Like other years, this is one of our most important yet fun events of the year.

Also, as a reminder, Allentown AZA is still actively recruiting members and we encourage any Jewish teen that is in 8th-12th grade to join this great organization of BBYO and Allentown AZA. If anyone is interested or has any questions about BBYO, how to sign up, or anything else, please contact allentownaza@gmail.com or Robbie Shaff, the vice president of recruitment, at robertshaff1@gmail.com. We are welcoming to everyone and encourage everyone to join as it may be a life-changing experience.

Be on the lookout for upcoming events such as the Regional Summit Convention, which is March 16-18 in Harrisburg, as well as Allentown AZA’s chapter event SAFTB (Saturdays are for the Boys Night). This is an event focused on good programming and brotherhood.

Once again, feel free to contact us and learn more about this great organization!

On Sunday, Feb. 11, the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley held a dinner theater benefit for our Stagemakers program.

Stagemakers children and staff performed a cabaret of songs to delight audience members. Stagemakers is part of the JSchool of Visual and Performing Arts at the JCC which allows participants from pre-K through 12th grade to express their creativity with a variety of classes ranging from musical theater to fine arts.

Stagemakers Youth Theater puts on three live performances throughout the school year and also runs theater camps during the summer.

Along with learning singing, choreography and acting, Stagemakers youth theater aims at growing children’s recognition of emotion and imagination which allows them to develop life long skills such as thinking creatively, working collaboratively and speaking publicly. Youth theater also teaches children to be kind and empathetic. They will walk in someone else’s shows and understand the character they are playing and how that character fits in with the other character to make the show come to life. These are foundations for success whatever path a child chooses.

To learn more about Stagemakers youth theater or any of the visual and performing arts programs, visit our website at lvjcc.org or

Above, Closing Number: Full Cast singing “You Can’t Stop The Beat” from Hairspray.

Right, Jared Sussman singing “You’re Welcome” from Moana. contact Brenda Finberg at 610435-3571 or bfinberg@lvjcc.org.

We also invite you to come and support Stagemakers by seeing our next show, “Once Upon a Mattress,” in May!

PS-8th grade

open house Thursday, March 15

Program begins at 9 a.m.

To register visit swain.org/openhouse Can't make it? Call 610-433-4542 today to schedule a personal tour!

1100 South 24th Street • Allentown

ALSO ANNOUNCING OUR NEW

Summer Early Learners Program Children ages 3-5

Hands-on learning • Flexible schedule • Early bird discounts

swain.org/earlylearners

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | MARCH 2018 29

There’s a reason it

feels like

We’re family-owned

family and managed for

around here.

over 30 years, and many

of our co-workers have family members working, even living here.

Our co-workers

serve & care for our residents

just like family. We’re here for families in supporting their aging loved ones. And too.

we're here for yours,

CountryMeadows.com 410 N. Krocks Road, Allentown (minutes from Route 22 & I-78) • 610-395-7160 4035 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem (close to Routes 22 & 33) • 610-865-5580 / 175 Newlins Road West, Easton (in Forks Twp.) • 484-544-3880

Independent Living | Assisted Living & Personal Care* | Memory Care | Restorative Care* | Skilled Nursing** | In-Home Services* *Forks campus offers Independent Living, Assisted Living & Memory Care only. **Skilled nursing is available at our Bethlehem campus only.

PMS 118

Country Meadows offers services and housing without regard to race, color, religion, disability, marital status, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation or gender.

PMS 119

PMS 3435

wishes you a

Happy Passover

Kosher Fresh Chicken Items

Fresh Kosher Boneless Chicken Breast Fillets

9 4 $

5

p

Fresh Kosher Cut Up Chicken Fryers

per pound

9 4 $

2

Fresh Kosher Whole Broiler Chickens

p

9 4 $

2

per pound

p

per pound

We have a selection of Kosher for Passover cakes and cookies made by Lilly’s Bakery Shop.

Selected Streits Macaroons

$ 99

2

Streits Mayonnaise - 16 ounce; Gefen Ketchup - 28 ounce

Manischewitz Gefilte Fish

10 ounce

24 ounce

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Yehuda Matzos

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Kedem Grape Juice

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64 ounce

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Dr. Brown’s Soda

12 ounce

4 $5

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$ 99

4

Yehuda Matzos

5 lb, with the any $50 purchase. *Limit 1 per transaction; $50 purchase excludes price of Matzo

Visit Weis for all your Food & Drink needs or order online at weismarkets.com/shop We reserve the right to limit quantities. • Not responsible for typographical or pictorial errors. • Products may not be available in all stores.

all prices good through

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