The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community
www.jewishlehighvalley.org
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Issue No. 432
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June 2020
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Sivan/Tamuz 5780
AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977
Get the inside scoop on Camp JCC’s plans for this summer p5
Mazel Tov to the graduating class of 2020! p12-14
FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN p2 WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY p4 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p11 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p14 JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p15-16 VIRTUAL COMMUNITY CALENDAR p23
Federation to host virtual Annual Meeting
Featured speaker Eric Fingerhut, CEO of JFNA
Feldman Award winner Israel Zighelboim
Pomerantz Award winner Eileen Ufberg
Schiff Award winner Rabbi Michael Singer
Mark L. Goldstein Award winner Rabbi Seth Phillips
By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Community Development & Operations
Lehigh Valley will discuss the current state of the community and honor its award winners at its virtual Annual Meeting on June 11.
Eric Fingerhut, CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, will be the featured speaker, discussing the global Jewish community and mov-
ing forward through this time of uncertainty. Gary Fromer, president of the Lehigh Valley Federation, will discuss the same topic on a local level.
The Federation will be giving out four awards this year: the
The Jewish Federation of the
Annual Meeting Continues on page 3
Love not cancelled for Jewish #coronabride By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor
Cory Hiken and Beth Zaleon celebrate their engagement in Zion National Park.
Beth Zaleon and Cory Hiken met as teenagers at a small Jewish day school outside Baltimore. After surviving years of long distance, they’re still together, and planned to wed on May 24. Then, the coronavirus hit. “We had planned to do May 24, then we postponed to Aug. 9. When we realized that probably wasn’t going to happen, we switched back to a small legal ceremony on May 24,” said Zaleon, who is the development coordinator for the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley.
They had to be extremely flexible, switching plans twice, with the date of a second, larger celebration still unknown. Hopefully, they’ll be able to gather with at least a few dozen guests this fall. And while they will be able to join with a small number of family members for a champagne toast and some cake afterward, it will be just the bride and groom and their rabbi standing outside the synagogue to exchange vows at their first wedding. “Our rabbi was our teacher in high school and is a close friend and a mentor, so it means a lot to us that he’s willing to meet the two of us with a facemask outside,” said Zaleon.
The couple still had to work out exactly which elements would go into their first ceremony, because they want to save the more meaningful parts for their future “Jewish” wedding that will take place later, when their carefully chosen witnesses can be present to sign the ketubah. “For us, we’re really excited about the [Jewish] ceremony. We already got a chuppah and kippot, and my mom already sewed the pouch for breaking the glass,” explained Zaleon. “It’s a hard decision to separate the two [ceremonies]. It was because the #coronabride Continues on page 21
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CELEBRATING MILESTONES Learn about how Jewish life cycle events are still being celebrated despite the pandemic in our special section on pages 20-21
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Repair the world “Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!” – Dr. Seuss, ‘Oh the Places You’ll Go’ I am sure that nobody who has read this Dr. Seuss classic, often quoted around now as graduations and end-of-year transitions are celebrated, could have imagined how different this time of year would look in 2020. Rather than drifting off to the places you’ll go, it can feel more as if you’re stuck in what Dr. Seuss refers to, in this same book, as “The Waiting Place…” (“… for people just waiting. Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go, or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring … Everyone is just waiting”). Perhaps Dr. Seuss knew what he was talking about. As I think about our community and the students who
are graduating right now, I feel as though there is no better class of students to graduate into the chaos and uncertainty that fills the world right now. Generation Z, as these students are called, came of age with the Internet and social media, earning the title “digital natives.” Who could be better equipped to navigate the end of their high school and college courses virtually than these graduating students? Yet, this graduating generation has sometimes been pejoratively characterized as “sensitive,” prone to anxiety and depression. But is it any wonder? This is a generation who was born never knowing a world before September 11; they’ve lived through the financial crisis in 2008 and ensuing Great Recession; school shootings do not shock them; and now, on the eve of their transition to
adulthood, they are inheriting the era of COVID-19. They’re missing the end of their senior year and all the milestones that come with that – proms, caps and gowns, graduation ceremonies. Perhaps what some see as “sensitivity” is actually resilience – taking in these grave global occurrences, internalizing them and using that to fuel their efforts in tikkun olam, repairing the world. Perhaps their role will be to lead the way to making the world a better place for all of us. Another hallmark of Generation Z. For the Class of 2020, whether graduating from middle school, high school, college or even pre-K, your introduction to the next phase of your life amidst COVID-19 can feel unsure and unpredictable. Add social distancing to everything else that is unknown, and this time
of your life can perhaps feel disheartening. It may not feel like much of a graduation or a milestone; but despite all of this, I encourage you to celebrate. You are among a generation of the most highly educated, diverse, innovative and adaptable young adults to enter the world. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Although the immediate outlook may feel grim, I have full confidence that you are a graduating class who has the tools and ingenuity to develop creative solutions that will lead the rest of us through these uncertain times.
HAKOL STAFF STEPHANIE GOODLING Editor
HAKOL is published 11 times per year for the Jewish communities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and vicinity by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.
*HAKOL RECOGNIZED FOR JOURNALISTIC EXCELLENCE* We are proud to announce that HAKOL has been awarded First Place for the 2020 Professional Keystone Media Award for best Special Section in a niche publication. Thank you to all our readers and sponsors for your ongoing support!
“Kid, you’ll move mountains! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So get on your way!” And should you ever feel unsure of your footing or not know exactly how to take that next step forward, remember that you can always come home to your Lehigh Valley Jewish community, where we will all be here supporting and encouraging you in whatever course you choose. Mazel tov to the Class of 2020!
COMMUNITY SUBMISSIONS Submissions to HAKOL must be of interest to the entire Jewish community. HAKOL reserves all editorial rights including, but not limited to, the decision to print any submitted materials, the editing of submissions to conform to style and length requirements, and the placement of any printed material. Articles should be submitted by e-mail or presented as typed copy; “Community Calendar” listings must be submitted by e-mail to hakol@jflv.org or online at www.jewishlehighvalley.org. Please include your name and a daytime telephone number where you can be contacted in the event questions arise. We cannot guarantee publication or placement of submissions. MAIL, FAX, OR E-MAIL TO: JFLV ATTN: HAKOL 702 N. 22nd St. Allentown, PA 18104 Phone: (610) 821-5500 Fax: (610) 821-8946 E-mail: hakol@jflv.org
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JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY MISSION STATEMENT
BEST WISHES TO HAKOL EDITOR STEPHANIE BOLMER ON HER MARRIAGE TO BRANDON GOODLING #coronabride (If you've noticed a new editor's name, that's why!)
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
2 JUNE 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
Annual Meeting Continues from page 1
George Feldman Achievement Award for Young Leadership, the Daniel Pomerantz Award for Campaign Excellence, the Mortimer S. Schiff Award for Prejudice Reduction and the Mark L. Goldstein Award for Outstanding Jewish Communal Professionals. “We are privileged to give these awards to honor the leadership and excellence of those for whom the awards are named,” said Jeri Zimmerman, executive director of the Jewish Federation. “The recipients reflect Jewish values through their leadership, engagement and commitment to our Jewish community.” Israel Zighelboim, a member of the Federation’s executive board and co-chair of the Community Planning Committee, will be this year’s recipient of the Feldman Award. “Since arriving in the Lehigh Valley, Israel has been an exemplary member of our Jewish community. He learned the importance of a vibrant Jewish community from being born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela,” read a nomination for Zighelboim. “As a co-chair of the Community Planning Committee, Israel brings fresh ideas and a forward-thinking attitude, always looking for ways to make our community the best that it can be,” Zimmerman said. Zighelboim, chair of the St. Luke’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has also served on the JCC executive board and as part of the Chevra Kiddisha and is active at Congregation Sons of Israel and Temple Beth El. His wife, Valeska, took home the award two years ago. For her tireless campaign efforts, Eileen Ufberg will receive the Pomerantz Award – for the second time. “Campaign solicitation comes so naturally to her because she knows that the funds raised are making a huge impact in the lives of so many others. And she always does it with a smile!” Zimmerman said. “Even though she has received this award in the past, we truly could not think of someone more deserving.” In addition to her work for the Annual Campaign, Eileen and her husband Mickey stepped up as co-chairs of the Coronavirus Emergency Fund this year. The Schiff Award for Prejudice Reduction will go to Rabbi Michael Singer of Congregation Brith Sholom for his dedicated interfaith efforts in Bethlehem. Singer single-handedly started the Bethlehem Interfaith Group (BIG) by going door to door and recruiting support. The group now meets regularly for events like Passover seders and days of prayer. “The work Rabbi Singer is doing is surely helping to teach tolerance and reduce prejudice,” said Richie Schiff, son of Mortimer, z”l, for whom the award is named. “That’s really what this award is all about.” And a second community rabbi will be honored this year as Rabbi Seth Phillips of Congregation Keneseth Israel receives the Mark L. Goldstein professional award for his Jewish communal
service. Upon hearing that he was the recipient, Rabbi Phillips said “thank you for this singular honor” and KI President Melissa Hakim was overjoyed. “Through his role as rabbi of Congregation Keneseth Israel, Rabbi Seth has made a significant impact on his congregation, as well as the entire Lehigh Valley Jewish community,” read a nomination for Phillips. He “consistently demonstrates dedication and commitment to Jewish values, and he conveys those values so strongly and with a good heart throughout his congregation.” The nomination also noted his activism and frequent collaboration with other Jewish agencies and synagogues. Annual meeting attendees will also have the chance to elect the new Federation Board of Directors and the board will elect its new officers. The Jewish Federation’s Annual Meeting will take place on Thursday, June 11, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Visit www.jewishlehighvalley. org or email mailbox@jflv.org to register now.
PA Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine speaks to the Jewish community about COVID-19
By Bayley Carl JFLV Marketing & Engagement Associate On May 8, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley hosted a Zoom meeting with Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for a special briefing about COVID-19. Levine addressed ways the Jewish community is being affected directly, such as when it comes to summer camp, but also spoke more broadly about what reopening the state will look like. This Zoom meeting was moderated by Dr. Bill Markson, president of the Federation’s Mai-
monides Society. Community members had the opportunity to submit questions and participate in the talk. Levine spoke about how public health preparedness has to be a priority and mitigating the spread of the virus as not to overwhelm the medical community. When the state is eventually reopened, she emphasized the importance of doing so gradually to reduce the risk of an increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths. Though efforts have succeeded in “bending the curve” and the healthcare systems have not become wildly overwhelmed, some areas have still been challenged. While Levine encouraged social distancing, she also addressed when it’s actually important to take extra precautions. “Being outside is great, and we encourage people to go outside. If you’re going to go outside to your backyard, you don’t need a mask,” she said. Levine continued on to say that if you know you’ll be within close proximities of others, that is when you should wear a mask. When it comes to large gatherings in public places, she said that will be the last part of life to return to normal. But as we begin to reopen the country, Levine shared an important note: “Balance the public health risks of the virus and the public health risks of isolation.”
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2020 3
WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY
‘The luckiest unlucky person in the world’ shares her story of perseverance at the Women’s Philanthropy’s annual Spring Event
Lisa Friedman Clark
By Bayley Carl JFLV Marketing & Engagement Associate On Thursday, May 7, Women's Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley hosted their annual Spring Event—virtually. This event is one of Federation’s largest Women’s Philanthropy events, and not being together in person didn’t change that. Jeri Zimmerman, Federation executive direc-
tor, shared, “Our inability to gather in person doesn’t equal an inability to gather.” This year’s keynote speaker was Lisa Friedman Clark, along with her sons Mike and Dan. Lisa shared her story of how the Jewish Federation has helped her time and again over the years. Lisa refers to herself as “the luckiest unlucky person in the world.” After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 23, she was
presented with one treatment plan: a radical hysterectomy. But her desire and drive to start a family kept her from doing this, and she received treatment at Mount Sinai Hospital. Today she is cancer free. Only later would she find out that Mount Sinai Hospital receives a portion of its funding from the Jewish Federation. Once she completed her treatment, she and her husband Andy got pregnant with their “miracle babies”—their twin boys. Lisa cherished her healthy and happy family. She and her husband were raising their family in New York. When they first moved to Long Island, they had made contact with their local Jewish Federation because they were new to the area and knew they would find community via the organization. On September 11, 2001, Andrew Friedman went to work on the 92nd floor of One World Trade Center, and he never came home. After the attacks, she knew she needed help. Three weeks
after 9/11, she reached out to the Federation for that help, and there was no delay. The Federation’s resources were already in place to help her as a result of the training their profesionals had received based on years of Intifada in Israel. Lisa shared, “I am so proud to be a supporter of the Federation.” Not only did they provide support for her, they provided support for her sons Mike and Dan. They were taught the importance of tzedakah, and every week, they set aside $2 to donate to charity. “We’ve embraced the tall order of giving back,” Dan shared. This sentiment was part of the inspiration for the company that Dan and Mike started called Tall Order. Tall Order makes socks for everyone of every size. Dan and Mike stand well over 6 feet tall, and were nicknamed the “Twin Towers” long before the attacks in 2001. The other part of the reason for starting this company was that Mike
and Dan always had issues finding socks that fit them and they have a deep desire to help others. The Friedman family has persevered, despite deep pain and loss, and the Jewish Federation was a large reason that they were able to get back on their feet after losing Andy. “Federation were really the people that got us over the hump,” Lisa shared. They provided a community for her family when she didn't know what was next. She shared that one of the most important reasons for her support of the Jewish Federation is that wherever her children and grandchildren settle down, they will be greeted by a vibrant Jewish community. Today, Lisa is a proud Lion of Judah. She considers herself to be a very lucky, unlucky person. With the help of the Federation, Lisa shared that, “I’m able to dance between the raindrops instead of letting them fall on my head.”
LIONS: MARK YOUR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY’S WOMEN’S DIVISION
welcoming new babies to the Lehigh Valley 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 SPONSORED BY
JUNE 10: How Do We Get Our Groceries? JUNE 24: Women Leadership in Unsettled Times 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST JFNA Women's Philanthropy via Zoom
Space is limited. Zoom details to be shared after registration. Register here: https://form.jotform.com/201327946948971
Handmade Afghans BY EVA LEVITT
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All payments are made payable to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley 4 JUNE 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
Camp JCC hopes to run modified program this summer The Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley is hoping that – with some modifications – Camp JCC will be on for this summer. “We’re keeping our eye on June 15th, which was supposed to be opening day anyway,” said JCC Youth and Camp Director Kristen Johnson. “Hopefully, we’ll reach the yellow phase before then, and then we’ll take an entire week to do all the training and make preparations.” Since the JCC had to close due to the stay-at-home order, staff members have been on Zoom calls daily with JCCs and camps nationwide, gathering the most up-to-date information about best practices for operating safe summer programming for children. On May 18, they received the American Camp Association's "Field Guide for Camps on Implementation of CDC Guidance,” outlining specific recommendations and approaches that supplement the CDCs original guidance for child care programs. “We have altered our camp programming in order to fully comply with the guidance we have received from the CDC, the American Camp Association and our state government. We know that both parents and children are feeling a strong need for our services, and we want to assure everyone that we are taking this responsibility very seriously,” said Johnson. “Though we have cancelled our field trips and on-site programs from outside entertainers, the essence of camp remains the same,” she contin-
ued. “The children will be having lots of outdoor fun in small groups with their peers. They will have a ‘home base’ assigned within the building where they can keep their belongings, participate in fun group activities and eat their lunches. But they will also be using our new recreation area in the upper parking lot, enjoying the playground that is being delivered from the Center Valley camp site, playing non-contact games and sports on our athletic field, and participating in science, nature and arts activities outdoors. On top of that, we expect to be able to open our indoor pool for 45-minute free swim sessions every day for our campers.” Sadly, the difficult decision was made to cancel specialty camps for at least the main summer session, but the traditional day camp program will continue as soon as it is deemed safe. Capacity is expected to cap at eight
groups of 10, equaling about 80 campers each week. “We will still have fun theme weeks and special events, opportunities to learn tons of camp songs, dance parties and baking up yummy treats,” said Johnson. The biggest changes this year will be staying at the JCC camp location for the full camp day, keeping camper groups separate from one another, intensely sanitizing activity areas after each use and having a consistent health screening process upon morning drop-off. All of these measures and more are being taken to ensure that campers, their families and staff are safe. “We have hired a fantastic group of highly creative, friendly, energetic staff members who understand that their role as counselors this year is even more important than ever before. We'll be providing our campers the
socialization and fun that they so desperately need, and we'll be giving them a safe and supportive place to come every day after months of uncertainty,” added Johnson. Whenever Lehigh County enters the yellow stage of quarantine, Camp JCC will be ready. “I personally feel like the mission of camp has become invaluable this year. We have seen families doing incredible bonding and working through extraordinary circumstances over the past months. But we also know that many families need daytime care, and that kids are really missing their friends and time around same-age peers. We are excited to serve our community in this way, and we are honored that families are trusting us because they know that we care about their kids and that we are taking every measure to make this a great but very safe summer,” said Johnson.
St. Luke’s is working tirelessly to ensure our hospitals and facilities are as safe as ever: • We are all masking for you • We screen all patients for COVID-19 symptoms prior to appointment and convert suspected positive screens to virtual appointments • We limit the number of people in our waiting rooms and maintain social distancing • We limit guests to 1 per person and mask all guests • We keep patients with COVID-19 in separate patient rooms • We make sure our staff is healthy and fever-free • We provide virtual registration and check-in as well as online payments • We offer a blend of appointments (in-person and virtual) • We maintain high levels of infection prevention, repeatedly cleaning and disinfecting all waiting and exam rooms
The care you trust. Now more than ever.
sluhn.org/COVID-19 HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2020 5
My Jerusalem: Israeli embassy spokesperson shares perspective on Yom Yerushalayim
By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor May 21 was Yom Yerushalayim, or Jerusalem Day, which commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City in the aftermath of the June 1967 SixDay War. To celebrate, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley hosted a Zoom webinar entitled “My Jerusalem vs. Jerusalem in the Media,” featuring speaker Elad Strohmayer. Strohmayer is spokesperson of the Embassy of Israel to the United States in Washington, D.C., and has been a member of Israel’s Diplomatic corps since 2010. The diplomat greeted the participants with a quote from the Talmud: “Ten measures of beauty were given to the world. Nine
were taken by Jerusalem, and one was distributed all over earth.” Strohmayer shared that he first heard that saying when he was nine years old, and his enthusiasm for his adopted city shows that he has certainly taken it to heart. After studying as both an undergraduate and graduate at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, he now spends his time promoting Israel on the international level. The focus of his talk was to explain how the Jerusalem he knows differs from that which is often portrayed in the media. Strohmayer presented three main ways that he sees Jerusalem misrepresented in the media: erasure of the Jewish connection to the city, focus on the negatives such as tensions related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and it
not being officially recognized worldwide as Israel’s capital, despite the fact that the seat of government is housed there. “You need to show the complexity, you need to show the beauty, you need to show the uniqueness of the city,” Strohmayer enthused. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging that Jerusalem is a mixture of both the Old City and the new, where rustic and modern meet. And he shared personal reflections on his experiences in the city and what it means to him. “When you go up the mountain to Jerusalem, you ascend spiritually, you ascend culturally,” said Strohmayer. “Driving up the hills prepares you to enter the city with all the emotion and excitement about it. There is no experience like that in my mind; it is always beautiful. This is the Jerusalem I am trying to share.” Fielding questions from the audience, he was unable to say with certainty when things in Jerusalem would return completely to normal and American tourists would be allowed to visit once again. “You can now have small groups of prayer. That’s progress, that people can come together,” he said. “But I don’t have an answer to that question. It really depends on the spread of COVID-19.”
JFS and Federation hold webinar for families dealing with COVID-19 stress By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor In the second of a series of webinars about COVID-19 and how to deal with it, Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley and Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley hosted a Zoom meeting with Dr. Howie Levin entitled “Family Matters” on May 6. Levin is board certified in child and adolescent psychiatry and is currently the medical director for ambulatory psychiatry services at St. Luke's University Health Network. Stuart Horowitz, a social worker and chair of the JFS clinical committee who spoke on mindfulness in the first webinar in the series, introduced Levin and moderated the event. Levin started off with how to help adults to handle stress during the pandemic. “It’s important to try to normalize the experience. It’s a stressful time for everybody,” said Levin. He explained that it is normal to be feeling more tired, restless, achy, irritable or on edge, or to be having trouble concentrating or
sleep problems. Those who already deal with anxiety or other mental health problems may find their symptoms exacerbated during this time. In terms of managing stress, Levin recommends limiting how much information you’re taking in every day and making sure you’re getting information from reliable sources when you do read the news. “Spending time on social media can be good in some aspects, but don't believe everything you read,” he cautioned. To keep yourself busy and distracted from the anxieties of the virus, Levin said this is a great time to do hobCOVID-19 stress webinar Continues on page 7
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6 JUNE 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
Community dances together on Yom Ha’atzmaut
‘Gal will always be 25’ Yoav mother shares story of her son on Yom Hazikaron
By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Community Development & Operations
More than 100 individuals and families from the Lehigh Valley came together via Zoom on April 29 to celebrate Israel’s 72nd birthday. The party featured dance tutorials from community shlicha Rotem Bar and Muhlenberg Hillel shlicha Talya Inbar alongside music from the DJs at City Beat Entertainment. Families also competed in an Israeli trivia game using the Kahoot platform, showed off their blue and white fashion and sang Hatikva together to mark the occassion. Following the local celebration, families tuned in to Facebook LIVE for a global celebration produced by the Jewish Federations of North America.
COVID-19 stress webinar Continues from page 6
bies, learn a new skill or work on projects around the house. The main point is to be trying to find things that bring you joy or comfort. Exercising is also important to stay relaxed and energized. To avoid depression and loneliness, it’s also key to keep in touch with friends and family through phone calls and virtual visits. Checking in on others, especially those who may need help, and sharing how you feel with people you trust rather than bottling up emotions are very helpful, too. For those who need support beyond just friends and family, Levin highlighted available resources in the Lehigh Valley, including JFS, NAMI and online support group Emotions Anonymous. He emphasized that people should still be caring for their physical and mental health during this time, which is made possible with most practices through teletherapy. As for children, Levin said much of the same advice applies to them. They will do better with a daily routine and having their time structured for them. Making sure they get breaks and get outside for physical activity is ideal. “Giving kids a sense of control, allowing them to make choices when choices can be made such as picking out which game or TV show they want can help,” said Levin. He encouraged parents to “let little things go.” Children may act out with challenging behaviors when they have trouble expressing their feelings. When it comes to actually addressing the topic of the virus with children, Levin said it is difficult. “It’s always a fine balance of wanting to be open and
honest with your children and at the same time not scaring your children about what's going on. It depends on their development level and how anxious their temperament is. If they do have questions, answer them honestly and use words and concepts they can understand.” Levin fielded questions at the end of the presentation, addressing topics from pandemic-induced dreams to how to make milestones such as birthdays and graduations special during this time. He shared that his own daughter had celebrated her fifth birthday recently with a drive-by parade. “It definitely can be challenging when we’re not allowed to leave our homes, so trying to find ways to still maintain connection to loved ones is important and helps a child feel special,” he said. To view a recording of the full webinar, visit https://jfslv.org/ coronavirushelp.
On Israel’s Memorial Day, Nurit Grossman sat down at her computer. On the wall behind her hung a picture of her son Gal, drawn by a fellow member of his bomb squad. Over Zoom, Grossman was able to share Gal’s story this Yom Hazikaron with both her friends and neighbors in Yoav and members of her Lehigh Valley family. Gal lost his life while serving his country in 1987, at the age of 25. “Sometimes it’s difficult” to share his story, she admitted. “But the net result is that more people will know about him and hear about him, and that makes up for the discomfort.” Grossman – a founding member of the Partnership2Gether committee – was born in London, but emigrated to Israel in 1962. She served in the army, where she met her husband Yudke, who was from Kibbutz Galon in Yoav. The couple settled there and had four children. Over the years, the family twice served in Canada as Israeli emissaries. At the end of the second tour, Gal, nearly 18, had settled into life there and wasn’t sure he wanted to return to Israel. His mother told him he could stay, but ultimately he decided to go back and completed his army service. “We were happy that he got through the army without any big accidents or serious injuries,” Grossman said. About eight months after finishing his service, Gal came to his parents and said, “You know, I really don’t think I did enough for the country.” It was a familiar speech to Grossman – similar to the one she gave her parents before making aliyah. “We weren’t quite sure, should we take him seriously?” she said. But “it became very clear that he really felt that.” He wanted to volunteer for a commander unit, but wasn’t accepted. At that point, he thought he would go back to the field and start university at the end of the year. But a week later, he got a phone call from the police, who suggested he join their bomb squad. “I said, are you kidding? Gal never knew what was his left hand and what was his right hand!” she said. But he passed his tests and was accepted to the bomb squad of the Israeli police force. He was assigned to Hevron. Meanwhile, Grossman was embarking on her own career, working to set up the community center in Yoav. She was asked to attend a twoday meeting in Jerusalem for new regional heads. Coincidentally, Gal, about nine months into his service, was told to report to Jerusalem that same day for transport to Ramallah. So they rode to Jerusalem together, and she dropped him off before heading to her meetings.
“As he got out of the car, he said don’t forget, I won’t be home tonight, Mommy, I’ll be home tomorrow, so don’t worry, don’t expect me,” she said. “I watched him as he got out of the car and he walked away, and I was so proud of him.” She went to her course in Jerusalem and late that night in her hotel, her husband Yudke appeared at her door. He was standing with an officer. “He said, Nurit, there’s been a fatal accident and Gal was killed.” “At this point, I knew only one thing. I couldn’t accept it, it couldn’t be true, because as long as I couldn’t accept it, then Gal would be alive,” she said. “I started shrieking there, it’s not true, it’s not true.” “Even though I think I knew it was true.” She rode back to Yoav with Yudke. “I don’t wish my worst enemy a trip like that. Every 15 minutes, I had to ask him to stop so I could throw up.” She later learned that Gal was riding in a jeep from Ramallah to Jerusalem and collided head on with a tank around a very sharp bend. The week of the shiva passed in a blur. And when it was over, she thought “I could sit here feeling sorry for myself or maybe I can do something about road accidents.” She went back to Jerusalem to speak to the head of the community centers, to let him know she could no longer serve in her position because she wanted to focus on road safety. And he said, “don’t you think you can do more with the might of the community centers behind you? If you stay with us, I will set up a committee and we will work with you.” Her committee started holding demonstrations and doing what they could to make a difference. At the same time, she and Yudke decided that if they wanted their other children and grandchildren to come home, they couldn't be a “miserable house.” “We knew that Gal would not have wanted everyone to be miserable and in mourning,” she said. “He wanted to help his country, he wanted to be with his friends, he had plans from here ‘til tomorrow, and we knew that he would want life to go on.” Today, all of her grandchildren know about Gal and talk about him often. “It’s a difficult story, but it’s very important to me that other people hear about Gal because when you hear about him and you talk about him, to a certain extent, Gal lives on as he does with us.”
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2020 7
KI presents Shabbat Out of the KI Box: A Gala Like No Other By Iris Epstein Congregation Keneseth Israel
an all-day event on Saturday, June 13, and will highlight some of the key elements that define KI. In light of this unique time and gala format, we are making our celebration free and open to all. Individuals can still make donations or sponsor sessions since the gala is traditionally our biggest fundraiser. This support will help KI continue to be a strong, welcoming and caring place. Sessions will run from 9: a.m. to 9 p.m., and there will be something for everyone. Start the day with some meditation practices and conclude with a very special Havdalah service led by Noah Aronson, a Jewish singer and songwriter known for his energetic and soulful music. In between, you can choose from a vast selection of sessions to attend. You can get a taste of Mussar, learn more about B’rit Olam, move your body and increase your heart rate, create a mitzvah dice, snuggle in and enjoy a story, study with Rabbi Seth, listen to the Marvelous Mrs.
8 JUNE 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
Kushner share her unique (wink) humor, share your favorite books and bingeworthy shows, meet our new president and Board of Trustees, enjoy your favorite beverage as you meet new friends and learn to make the best burger ever. Come to one session, come to several or stay all day, we hope you will join us for what will be a unique, engaging and fulfilling Jewish community experience. Of course we miss our family, friends and our normal activities, but these past weeks confirm that KI still remains our home and our congregational community remains connected, just in a new and exciting way. Looking forward to connecting with you on June 13 at our Shabbat Out of the KI Box: A Gala Like No Other. For more information on how to attend our celebration, please visit our website at www.kilv.org or contact the office at 610-4359074.
ALEX KOLOMOISKY/POOL
Congregation Keneseth Israel is pleased to present Shabbat Out of the KI Box: A Gala Like No Other. As COVID-19 spread across the world and forced us to adopt a new normal, KI quickly embraced the challenge of providing their members and wider community a way to safely connect during a time when we are all required to stay home and practice social distancing. KI’s quick response to our new normal allowed people to connect and engage from the safety of their homes. Even before the date Gov. Wolf required schools to shut down, KI’s religious school children were distance learning with their teachers and classmates. Regularly scheduled programs, including Shabbat services, Mussar discussions and Rabbi’s Torah class, as well as community programs including changes in the voting laws and the census, inequalities in education, a poetry workshop and a book discussion, were made available online and were widely attended. In our roles as co-chairs of KI’s annual gala, Alyssa Emswiler and I, along with our committee, were planning a Roaring '20s themed event for June. Overnight, our plans changed, and we are now pleased to present this year’s new online format of Shabbat Out of the KI Box: A Gala Like No Other. Our virtual gala will be
After more than a year and 3 elections, Israel swears in a new government — its largest ever
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the halls of the Knesset after the swearing-in of the new government on May 17, 2020. By Marcy Oster Jewish Telegraphic Agency After over a year and three national elections, Israel’s new government was officially sworn in on May 17. The Knesset, Israel’s legislature, approved the government by a vote of 73 to 46. Thirty-six Cabinet ministers, the most ever, and 16 deputy ministers were also sworn in. “The public wants a unity government, and that is what the public will get,” Benjamin Netanyahu, who remains prime minister, said in opening the Knesset session. He said the government would fight the coronavirus pandemic and get Israel’s economy back on track. Netanyahu also called for the annexation of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, saying: “The time has come for anyone who believes in the justness of our rights in the Land of Israel to join a government led by me to bring about a historic process together.” The Likud Party’s Yariv Levin, formerly tourism minister, was approved as Knesset speaker with 71 votes. He replaces Benny Gantz, who resigned in order to become defense minister and prime minister-designate. Under the coalition deal for the so-called emergency unity government, Netanyahu will remain in his position for the next year and a half and then be replaced for the same amount of time by Gantz. Netanyahu said Gantz would become prime minister Nov. 17, 2021. “The people told us to stop fighting and start working for them,” Gantz said, citing his “national responsibility” to form the unity government. Gantz will open a vice prime minister’s office, in addition to his Knesset office and his office at the Defense Ministry, signaling that the new coalition could be a contentious one. Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s corruption trial is scheduled to begin May 24.
For the sake of Heaven
RABBI STEPHEN NATHAN Lehigh Hillel On June 20, the weekly parasha is Shelach. This contains the story of the 12 spies whom Moses sends to scout out the land of Canaan before crossing the Jordan. Upon their return, they all agreed that the land was “flowing with milk and honey.” However, 10 of the spies reported that the land was occupied by "giants" which made them feel “like grasshoppers.” Only two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, disagreed with that negative assessment. Unfortunately, the people were carried away by the negative report and doubted if they would ever really make it to the Promised Land. God punished them by decreeing that the Israelites would wander in the desert for 40 years until this generation of adults died,
with the exception of Joshua and Caleb. Why were the 10 spies so quick to give such a negative report in spite of the miracles God had done for them? The Torah refers to these 10 spies as an “evil community,” for they were not acting as individuals. Rather, they banded together as one in order to mislead the people. Though that made them a “community,” what made the spies actions so “evil” and not just misguided? Nehama Leibowitz, z”l, wrote that it was because their actions were planned and intentional. They drew the people in by telling them of all the bounty in the land. Only then did they hit them over the head with the negative fear-mongering report. Using words such as “grasshoppers” and “giants,” they instilled fear in the people. Furthermore, the spies emphasized how they felt about themselves. They were like grasshoppers! This warped self-perception, lack of self-confidence and sense of powerlessness led 10 leaders of the community to fear for themselves and not to trust God, regardless of all the miracles they had witnessed and promises God had made. Joshua and Caleb were the only true leaders in this narrative. Is this because they were not afraid of the inhabitants? Maybe not. But what it does mean is that, even
if they were afraid, they knew to be realistic about the fear and who are trying to instill fear or that they belong to God’s people. uncertainty while also being rebellion among us. Let us avoid And God’s people were not realistically optimistic that in those trying to reel us in and grasshoppers! the future we will “cross the then hit us with what they claim I couldn’t help but relate this Jordan.” We don’t know what to be the “truth.” Instead, let us to our current situation. All of is on the other side, but we will listen to the voices of those who us are afraid of the unknown. eventually get there. I can’t are being realistic and cautious, We look around us, and it say that it will be “normal,” preparing us to work together for would be easy to see our current for we don’t even know what the good of our community even situation as insurmountable. We that means anymore. But, just when uncertain about the nature could easily view ourselves as as Joshua and Caleb knew that of the future. insignificant like grasshoppers they could make a life in the Let us look for the Joshuas in the face of such an enormous land, with God’s help, while and Calebs in our community, tragedy. And yet, the role of our still not knowing what that life our country and our world. Let leaders is to help us see that this would be like, so it must be with us allow them to guide us as we is not the case. our leaders and all of us. continue on our journeys. For Their role is not to make us Right now we hear and they are acting l’shem shamayim, think that everything is fine and read so many reports from our for the sake of heaven, or for the we can simply go about our communal and political leaders, greater good of our communities business as usual without any as well as the press, claiming to and our world. fear or concern. Nor is it to make know the truth about the present, Our ancestors were unable us fear the future so much that and even the future. But let us – or unwilling to do this – but hofreid_20_007_Hakol Newspaper_ads v2final.pdf 2 3/28/20 12:34 AM we are paralyzed. Rather, it is do our best not to follow those hopefully we can.
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2020 9
MAZAL TOV CLASS OF
2020 Kailee Margalit Bar-Nadav Madison Elana Barrack Sarah Gabrielle Bartos Sivan Danielle Barzeski Maor David BenAbou Ruby Shai Benjamin Benjamin David Bernstein Lillian Rose Bernstein Sabrina Karly Chevlin Rachel Tamar Civan Caleb Parker Claywell William Joel Cohen Matan Groen Dolev Mia Carmen Erlbaum Valerie Lenore Feldman Erez Efraim Carlos Fischman-Cohen Brenna Eileen Fels Orli Jordana Friedman Itay Goldfarb Mira Claire Greenspan
Janie Claire Hershman Gisele Rachel Kahlon Michael Edward Kalman Emily Michele Kaplan Natalie Hana Katalan Saul Irving Koslo Ethan Andrew Kushnick Matthias Aidan Langer Maya Elena Langer Serena Dora Kruger Levingston Gabriel Joseph Lulu Adam Gabriel Maman Zoe Helaine Maze Ruth Chaya Meles Jordyn Rose Meltzer Lauren Adina Mermelstein Sydney Felicia Milkman Gabriel Paul Miller Graiden Marshall Miller Bailey James Moshal
Jordan Naim Maya Belle Patent Samuel Reed Pomerantz Maya Collette Posner Stefanie Rae Rose Helen Claire Rudoler Ira Scheer Sarah Elana Scheinmann Rebecca Sarah Shaid Sophia Perri Shapiro Devora Rachel Solomon Emily Sara Stein Shira Grace Stein Shaqed Tzabbar Hayden Benjamin Ufberg Abe Benjamin Wachs Sophie Maya Warsetsky Belle Macy White Ethan Charles Willner Rivkah Arianna Wyner
Class of 2020 Graduates Have Been Accepted at the Following Universities, Colleges & Israel Programs American University Arcadia University Arizona State University Barnard College Binghamton University Bloomsburg University Boston University Brandeis University Brown University Case Western Reserve University Clark University College of Charleston Columbia University Dartmouth College
Dickinson College Drexel University Elon University George Washington University Grinnell College Haverford College Hawaii PaciďŹ c University Hofstra University Indiana UniversityBloomington Ithaca College James Madison University Jewish Theological Seminary Johnson & Wales University Lehigh University
Loyola University New Orleans McGill University Muhlenberg College Northeastern University Northwestern University Pennsylvania State University Princeton University Rice University Rochester Institute of Technology Rutgers University Shippensburg University Stevens Institute of Technology Swarthmore College Syracuse University Temple University The College of New Jersey The Ohio State University Towson University Tulane University
University of Alabama University of Arizona University of Colorado-Boulder University of Delaware University of Denver University of Hartford University of Illinois-Champaign University of Maryland University of Miami University of Michigan University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Rhode Island University of Richmond University of Rochester University of South Florida
Partnering with Accredited by Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) and Secondary Schools.
University of Southern California University of Tampa University of Texas, Austin University of Toronto University of Vermont University of Virginia University of WisconsinMadison Vanderbilt University Vassar College Washington & Lee University Washington University in St Louis Wesleyan University Gap Year Programs Israel Defense Force Midreshet Lindenbaum City Year Colleges where at least one student will enroll are in bold
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2020 11
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12 JUNE 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
IN 70 OF ANYEARS INVESTMENT EXTRAORDINARY IN 70 YEARS OF
ACHIEVEMENT EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT
00th th
Anniversary
Anniversary
LILLIAN BERNSTEIN
HARPER CHRISARI
LEAH COHEN
NATHANIEL DROR
SHANE EDWARDS
RAPHAEL ETTINGER-FINLEY
BRENNA FELS
AARON FRALEY
BENJAMIN GRACE
MATTHEW HARTNETT
ANNA KARP
ETHAN KUSHNICK
DANIEL LADER
GABE MILLER
JADA PINSLEY
ANDREW RINGOLD
DANIEL ROOSE
HANNAH SCHINDLER
STEFANIA LOURDES STECHER SCHOEN
THEODORE SHURMAN
JACOB SUSSMAN
NATHAN SZYDLOW
ALEX VALUNTAS HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2020 13
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2020 LILLIAN BERNSTEIN Daughter of Sara Vigneri and Marc Bernstein JACK M. BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY Literary magazine, writing center, TEAMS engineering competition, varsity softball, literary magazine editor-in-chief, senior class vice president, varsity softball co-captain, Brown Book Award, Bausch and Lomb Excellence in Science Award, National Merit Commended Scholar, Delaware Valley Science Council Science Achievement Award, associated with Ramah movement. Plans to attend Brown University to major in mathematics. HARPER CHRISARI Son of Deirdre Kamber Todd PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Freshman football, SADD, Investing Club, Entrepreneurship Club, Italian Club, Physics Club, National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, stage crew, Asian Culture and Language Club, Young Scientists Science Fair, science fair, Engineering Club, president of Physics Club, treasurer of YSSF, treasurer of Investment Club, treasurer of Italian Club, CEO of HARP Co., COO of Stealth Options Ltd., chairman of the board of International Association of Teenage Physicists, head of a localized effort to 3D print PPEs for LVHN, private pilot training. Plans to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to study physics, math, electrical engineering and business. LEAH COHEN Daughter of Rebecca Binder and Chuck Cohen PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY Captain of varsity field hockey, sports editor of “The Exonian” weekly newspaper, class treasurer, co-chair of Relay For Life, student listener and member of the Exeter Jewish Community. Plans to attend Northeastern University to study English and communications. MOLLY COLEMAN Daughter of David Coleman PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Plans to attend West Chester University to study communications. NATHANIEL DROR Son of Sandra Dror PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Joining the Marine Reserve and plans to attend college for a mechanical engineering degree. SHANE EDWARDS Son of Wendy Edwards LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL Track & field, Category Six Liberty Letter RAPHAEL ETTINGER-FINLEY Son of Audrey Ettinger and Michael Finley PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL PHS orchestra (concertmaster, president), PHS Strolling Strings, PHS chorale, Tri-M Music Honor Society (chorus representative), National Honor Society, elected to Math, Science, History, English, French Honor Societies, Tri-M/PALS Chime Choir, National Merit Scholarship (Johnson & Johnson); All-State Orchestra (2019), All-State Chorus (2020); Bethlehem Friends of Music Outstanding Young Artist Competition (second place, 2019); Northeast PA Music Teachers Association Carnegie Hall Honors Recitals (2014, 2016, 2018); Le Grand Concours National French Exam (silver medal 2018, 2019), Pinemere Camp (7 years as camper, CIT, counselor), Shalshelet, Temple Beth El Religious School Aide (5 years), Valley Suzuki Strings violin performance group (14 years). Plans to attend Vassar to study physics and music. BRENNA FELS Daughter of Amy and Eric Fels JACK M. BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY Lacrosse, DECA, yearbook, HEAR club, Heart to Heart Club, president of Stock Market Club, business and marketing editor of yearbook. Plans to attend Syracuse University. 14 JUNE 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
AARON FRALEY Son of Randi and Keith Fraley PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL PALS Club, Jewish Culture Club, Allentown AZA chapter leadership position as moreh 2018-19 and regional leadership position as moreh 2019-20. Friendship Circle volunteer 4 years, Temple Beth El teachers’ aide 4 years, JCC basketball, Shalshelet. Plans to attend West Virginia University to study hospitality and tourism management. BENJAMIN GRACE Son of Jacqui and Andy Schwartz PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Chess Club, Computer Club, PLTW (engineering and computer science), Camelot for Children volunteer, Shalshelet. Plans to attend Penn State University to study information science and technology. MATTHEW HARTNETT Son of Gwen and Kevin Hartnett PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Cross country, lacrosse, wrestling. Plans to attend Arizona State University to study liberal arts. ANNA KARP Daughter of Chelsea and Eric Karp PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Key Club, Club Med, tennis team (4 years), Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society, Muslim Student Association (event planner 11th & 12th grade), secretary of Club Med 11th grade, Madrachim Religious School assistant at Temple Beth El. Plans to attend New York University. ETHAN KUSHNICK Son of Beth and Howard Kushnick JACK M. BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY Vice president of DECA, president/founder of Chess Club, Delphia Events Owner, Friendship Circle volunteer, aide at Temple Beth El Hebrew School. Plans to attend Tulane to study management and finance. DANIEL LADER Son of Jennifer and Gary Lader LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL Varsity swim team (captain), varsity track and field, National Honor Society, Environmental Club, United Synagogue Youth Lehigh Valley Chapter. Plans to attend Lehigh University to study engineering. GABE MILLER Son of Linda Miller JACK M. BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY Plans to attend Washington and Lee University to study philosophy and political science. JADA PINSLEY Daughter of Nina and Mark Pinsley PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Historian of stage crew, 1st place for quick change challenge at ITS, 2nd place overall for tech challenge at ITS, best scenery Freddy Award, best stage crew Freddy Award, best overall show Freddy Award, Performing Arts Club, Festival of the Arts, International Thespian Society (ITS), BBYO, dance. Plans to attend West Virginia University to study theater design and technology. ANDREW RINGOLD Son of Ilene and Michael Ringold PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Captain of the Parkland High School varsity tennis team, 91st shaliach of Allentown AZA, Dale Carnegie Highest Award for Achievement, Friendship Circle, BBYO, Shalshelet. Plans to attend University of Michigan.
DANIEL ROOSE Son of Michele Salomon and Arnaud Roose PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Marching band (9th-12th grade); trombone player, teaching assistant at Congregation Keneseth Israel Religious School (11th grade). Plans to attend Penn State University to study aerospace engineering. HANNAH SCHINDLER Daughter of Ellyn and Michael Schindler NAZARETH HIGH SCHOOL National Honor Society, Library Advisory Board, Nazareth High School theatre troupe, BBYO (Allentown BBG). Plans to attend West Chester University to study cell and molecular biology. STEFANIA LOURDES STECHER SCHOEN Daughter of Beth and Scott Zimmerman EMMAUS HIGH SCHOOL East Penn School District Comprehensive Plan Planning Committee (worked with superintendent, faculty and community to develop Civic Learning Curriculum for the district), Drama Department (vice president, started the Theatre Department's outreach program, also acting and student directing), Model UN (officer), debate (varsity, team lead), National History Day (vice president), science fair (president), Art Department, Buzz Magazine (fashion and lifestyle magazine), Habitat for Humanity, National Honor Society, French National Honor Society, International Thespian Society, Pennsylvania Governor’s School for Global and International Studies plus countless other awards in writing, math and history. BBYO (gold and silver Star of Deborah Awards, several leadership roles), journalism (published several articles in HAKOL (in addition to BBG articles), Affinity Magazine and TeenInk, playwriting, outreach for JCC Krakow, ambassador trips to Kiev Ukraine through BBYO, cultural immersion and exchange through BBYO and ZWST, acting through Civic Theatre, AIPAC, RJC, Students Together Assisting Refugees (cofounder for PA chapter), Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (youth member), Escher Studios (vocal performance). Plans to attend Wesleyan University to study global studies and feminist, gender and sexuality studies, with certificate in international relations. THEODORE SHURMAN Son of Rachel and Andy Shurman PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Club Med, Jewish Culture Club, National Honor Society, Investing Club, most competitive athlete on JCC basketball team 2019, JCC basketball, BBYO, Friendship Circle. Plans to attend University of Wisconsin to study business. JACOB SUSSMAN Son of Tracy and Matt Sussman PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Jewish Culture Club and PALS, National Honor Society, member and board positions held with AZA/BBYO, Friendship Circle volunteer through Chabad, Shalshelet participant at Temple Beth El. Plans to attend University of Delaware to study health sciences. NATHAN SZYDLOW Son of Lisa and Ken Szydlow LEHIGH VALLEY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS Cross country, ITeam president, Theater Master Classes, Pennsylvania Youth Theatre productions (“Diary of Anne Frank,” “Our Town”). Plans to attend Penn State to study computer sciences. ALEX VALUNTAS Son of Kimberly and Christopher Valuntas PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Tennis, basketball, Jewish Culture Club, BBYO, Shalshelet. Plans to attend Elon University.
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2020 15
16 JUNE 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
BOOK REVIEW:
MEET THE PRESIDENT:
By Sean Boyle JDS Librarian
By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor
Naomi Ragen’s 11th novel, “An Unorthodox Match,” tells of two Yeshivish community members' multiple attempts to find an observant partner to marry. Leah is a formerly secular Jew now living as an observant Orthodox Jew in Boro Park, Brooklyn, who is looking for an observant husband that she can begin to raise children with. Talmudic scholar Yaakov is a widower with five children, who is looking for an observant woman to marry him and love his children. Although the story starts with Leah applying to a woman’s study program for newly observant Orthodox Jews located in Boro Park, we learn of her past of growing up secular but always longing to learn more of her Jewish heritage and faith. We also learn of the severe hardships in her life that lead her to deciding to join a Haredi community. Through her volunteer work, she helps with housework and cares for Yaakov’s young children while he attends the kollel and his older children attend their yeshivas. Leah and Yaakov do not cross paths and actually meet until halfway through the book. Yaakov we learn is a 40-year-old widower who lost his wife just the year before, and his youngest child is only 14 months old. His oldest two sons attend Yeshiva in Baltimore, and his 15-year-old daughter was forced to take the role of mother for her two youngest siblings and become the caretaker for the household. Ragen takes the reader through the trials and tribulations of using shadchanim for matchmaking for older adults; in these situations, “older” means anyone older than mid-20s. We also learn the value of a family’s yichus, and the role it plays in who a shadchan pairs you with. Ragen respectfully addresses current issues inside Haredi communities, but is never critical or judgemental and is very effective in how she resolves potential conflicts. Ragen has lived in Jerusalem since 1971 and attended Sara Schenirer Hebrew
Hailing originally from Philadelphia, Dr. Eric Fels specifically chose the Lehigh Valley when deciding where to settle down. “I came here in 2000 for work,” said Fels, “and the reputation of the Jewish community was an important part of the decision. Having a strong Jewish community was really important to us.” His wife, Amy, is a graduate of Muhlenberg College, so they were familiar with the area. They’ve been here ever since, and Fels practices medicine as a nephrologist at Kidney Care Specialists-Valley Kidney. He’s also currently serving as president of the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley. Raised in a secular home, Fels explained that he didn’t truly understand the value of a Jewish education when his two daughters were younger. Consequently, he’s actually not a JDS parent. When his older daughter expressed interest in attending Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr for high school, however, the Fels family underwent a transformation. “My younger daughter began going there as well. I was asked if I would be willing to share our story with some local families at a JDS event. Next thing I knew, I was on the board and, ultimately, president,” recalled Fels. Looking back now, he said he would do things differently, given the chance. “I would absolutely send my kids to the day school. The secular education there is absolutely outstanding, and it’s really remarkable what it does for these kids,” said Fels. Fels’ passion for Jewish education led him to strive for lofty goals for the day school, and he has been
‘An Unorthodox Match’
Teachers Seminary in Boro Park in 1968. She also attended The Hebrew Institute of Long Island, an Orthodox Day School, from 2nd grade through high school while living in a public housing project with her secular family. It wasn’t until high school that Ragen became more observant herself and lived with a Haredi family while attending the seminary. Although Ragen writes with reverence and authority, the misleading cover art and it being published in the secular world means this book will likely not be read by the community that would enjoy it the most, which is quite unfortunate. Highly recommended for ages 14-120, with special interest for those interested in stories about Haredi community culture in the New York City area. A copy of “An Unorthodox Match,” without dust-jacket artwork, is available at the Jewish Day School Library. An Unorthodox Match (Ragen, Naomi, New York, St. Martin’s Press, 2019, 328p.)
A P R O GR A M S P ON S O R E D B Y T HE J E W I S H D AY S C H O O L O F T HE L EH I G H VAL L E Y
IS YOUR SCHOOL NOT OFFERING ONLINE LEARNING? Join an interactive session (or four) at JDS@Home for free
STARTING WEDNESDAY, MAY 6TH, ANY JEWISH CHILD IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY WHO IS IN PRE-K THROUGH KINDERGARTEN (3-5 YEAR OLDS) MAY PARTICIPATE IN #JDS@HOME FOR FREE. 20-30 minute live online engaging sessions. Tuesdays - Fridays, times vary. Featuring circle time, singing, Israeli dance, and our Shabbat party. All sessions are taught by our stellar Jewish Day School team. For more information or to sign up, email Sara Schonbach at sschonbach@jdslv.org.
Eric Fels
very pleased with their progress in improving the school’s financial situation, growing enrollment and expanding their program. Now, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, leadership has shifted their focus to remodeling their curriculum to be adaptable to both in-person and distance learning. Whatever happens next year, Fels will continue to champion JDS. “There are a lot of misperceptions about Jewish education, like children won’t be prepared for the real world. I think the opposite is true. This is their chance to really develop their pride in being Jewish and pride in Israel, to participate in Jewish life and defend it when needed.” In addition to serving as JDS president, Fels is also a vice president on the board of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. Former chair of Federation’s Community Relations Council, he now serves as chair of Community Security. His first leadership roles upon moving to the Lehigh Valley were as president of Congregation Keneseth Israel and their endowment foundation. He is now active with the security committee at Congregation Sons of Israel. He is a past winner of Federation’s George Feldman Achievement Award for Young Leadership. His wife, Amy, is also active in the Jewish community, including with Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy Board.
The Board of Directors, the Faculty, and the Class of 2020 of the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley request the honor of your presence at the virtual 7th Grade Pre-Commencement of Sorah Basya Andrews and 8th Grade Pre-Graduation of Noah Cohen Talia Cohen Isaac Dahan Mikaela Garber Jazmine Rose-Jones Tuesday, June 9, 2020 7:00 PM Join the celebration via Zoom RSVP to amanger@jdslv.org to receive Zoom information. Class of 2020
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2020 17
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2020!
Elysse Abraham Alexander Adams Emilio Alvarado Abraham Atiyeh Chasey Augustin William Bingham Jack Blobe Adam Boak Brogan Breslin Liam Brolly Ethan Buck Lavinia Burchielli Taylor Busch Gianna Carosella Meghan Connors Darby de Castro Eric Dee Maxwell Demsky Neil Deshmukh
Evan Edelman Cyrus Elmi Maya Ettle Julius Ewungkem Jade Farr Thomas Fegley Navin Ferrari Clara Floyd Iyancy Georges Miranda Gibson Jared Gill Thomas Griffith Benjamin Haddad Margarita Helfst Jagger Hornik Tyler Joseph Jai Kandola Isha Kaza Austin Kelley
Addison Kovats-Bernat Benjamin Kraft Dhruv Krishna Karilyn Kruklitis Emma Lamberti Michael Long Rhea Malhotra Gianna Maniscalco John Marmaras Bethany Marzella Rileigh Miller Grace Moser Margaret Keeler Nichols Quinn O’Connor Gabrielle Oudin Willem Parent Michael Phenneger Austin Recinos Aidan Reese
Mark Saba Aaron Salen Peter Scarperi Deepak Shankar Leah Shields Avijit Singh Thomas Smith Alex Teleo Eric Trinkle John van Gelder Konstantinos Voyiazis William Werner Kathrine Yeaw Raymond Yedlock III Jackson Young Gabriel Ytkin Raymond Zelada
Memories of Hungary diminished Jewish population. Its restoration and renovation began in 1991, when democracy returned to Hungary. The government refused to provide money if it would be used for religious services, however. At that point, two Americans, Tony Curtis (a native of Hungary who lived there for four years) and EstÊe Lauder, of Hungarian heritage, stepped up to the plate and contributed $20 million to complete the restoration in 1996. This new synagogue has a capacity of 2,964 seats—1,492 for men and 1,472 for women. It is classified according to my tour guide as "Conservative/Orthodox." The synagogue is open every day except Shabbat for a two-hour personally guided tour. The cost is $35 per person and includes a tour of the Raoul Wallenberg Holocaust Memorial Park in the rear courtyard. I hope you enjoy this typical Hungarian dessert, served at Gundel Restaurant in Budapest. HUNGARIAN TORTE Cake ingredients: 5 oz. chopped bittersweet chocolate 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup warm water 6 Tbsp. salted European butter 8 extra large eggs, separated 1/2 lb. walnuts, grated 2 Tbsp. soft white bread crumbs
By Sandi Teplitz Special to HAKOL When I got my results from Ancestry.com and discovered that most of my ancestors were from Central Europe, I was eager to plan a trip to visit these countries. Perhaps the most emotional experience was a tour of the Dohany Street Synagogue in Budapest. Located in the 7th district of the city, it is the second largest synagogue in the world, surpassed only by Temple Emanu-El in New York. It was originally built between 1854-59 in Moorish Revival style based on Islamic models from North Africa and Spain because the architect, Ludwig Forster, believed that no one type of Jewish architecture could be identified. The synagogue was bombed by the Hungarian Nazi Arrow Cross Party in February of 1939 and suffered severe damage. During the subsequent Communist era, the edifice became again a house of worship for the
Frosting ingredients: 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 Tbsp. instant espresso powder 1/2 lb. chopped bittersweet chocolate 3/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts Technique: Set oven to 375 degrees. Melt chocolate with sugar and water until sugar is dissolved. Cool. Beat butter and yolks; stir in chocolate. Stir in ground walnuts. Beat whites stiffly; fold in, a third at a time. Divide between two 9" cake pans, which have been buttered and floured. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pans. For frosting, heat cream with espresso until dissolved. Add chocolate, stirring until melted. Spread cake with a third of the chocolate; top with second layer. Cover top and sides with remaining frosting. Spread walnuts around the cake. Serve at room temperature.
Sweet memories of my father
BY SANDI TEPLITZ
In mid-June, those long days of Shabbat seem to last forever. My dad made them special by promising us a family outing on Sunday, something that my brother, sister and I always enjoyed. One of our favorite destinations was an ice cream parlor called Grablick's in West Pittston, PA. It featured a three-page menu, but to me, there was really only one choice: their scrumptious hot fudge sundae. Through the years I've been working on replicating the sauce, and here is the result. So why not serve it to your dad on Father's Day? He deserves something special.
HOT FUDGE SAUCE INGREDIENTS: 4 oz. (by weight) Guittard extra dark chocolate chips, grated in processor 3 1/2 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup heavy cream 1/8 cup warm water 1/2 tsp. vanilla dash of salt
TECHNIQUE: Melt all ingredients except the last two over hot water in a double boiler. Remove from heat and add the salt and vanilla. Serve warm over a scoop of ice cream (Tillamook chocolate mint or strawberry, available at Giant, is a particularly good choice), a cloud of whipped cream, then top with a large strawberry dipped in the fudge.
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2020 19
CELEBRATING MILESTONES
Throwing candy at the computer: What celebrating your bat mitzvah looks like in the time of the coronavirus By Josefin Dolsten Jewish Telegraphic Agency
COURTESY OF THE DUKE FAMILY
Midway through Lila Duke’s bat mitzvah ceremony, her family’s cat made an appearance. Minnie’s interruption was one of many ways that Lila’s comingof-age ceremony was different from what she had expected. While the 12-year-old still read her Torah portion in front of more than 100 people, still got to wear a pretty dress and still was showered with candy, she was at home with her parents, Susan and Jon, and younger siblings, Naomi and Ezra, not at her family’s Atlanta-area synagogue. Lila addressed community members on Zoom rather than giving her sermon in a sanctuary. She read the Torah portion she had been practicing for a year from a book instead of a scroll and therefore wasn’t able to recite the blessings she had been practicing. And at one point, Minnie jumped up on the table where the family had perched a computer on top of several stacked puzzle boxes and her mom had to rush to get the animal out of the way. Such is the bat mitzvah in the coronavirus era. With synagogues closed and gatherings prohibited, traditional bar and bat mitzvah celebrations — which typically include participation in communal services and big, sometimes splashy parties — have become impossible. “It’s different right? Everyone has their bat mitzvah or whatever, but not everyone has had a Zoom bat mitzvah,” Lila said in a
phone interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency a few days after the rite. “I was sad I didn’t get to have a party though.” Lila’s family plans to have a party for her once it is deemed safe. But even though parties can be postponed, it is harder to delay the service itself. Most kids spend a year training to chant the Torah portion for their specific date, and choosing another date would mean they would have to learn a different reading. So as with so many events these days, many families are opting instead to do the service virtually, sometimes with drive-by, socially distanced celebrations as well. (Orthodox synagogues do not allow livestreaming on Shabbat). One event planning company has even started offering virtual bar and bat mitzvah planning services, including helping to organize a virtual party complete with party favors and hora dancing. In Lila’s case, going virtual meant making some tweaks. At a typical bat mitzvah, a number of family members are called to the Torah to say a blessing ahead of the scroll reading. Since Lila was reading from a book rather than a scroll, however, the Hebrew blessings could not be said. Instead, family members prepared short blessings in English to mimic the traditional order. The Dukes set up two monitors in their living room, so they could watch both the service leader and the congregants tuning in. Susan Duke had decorated the room with orchids, peonies,
Lila Duke celebrated her bat mitzvah at home as more than 100 guests tuned in on Zoom. tulips and roses from a local florist to make it look festive. Guests typically shower the bat mitzvah with candy after she completes the haftarah reading. In Lila’s case, her parents and siblings threw Hershey’s kisses at her, while the congregants threw sweets at their computer screens and sent her candy emojis in the Zoom chat. Her parents also hoisted her up on a chair after the reading, as is customary during Jewish celebrations. And just because the guests weren’t meeting in person didn’t mean they didn’t dress up, though the Duke family opted to go without shoes since they weren’t leaving the house and Lila wore a comfortable cotton dress rather than the long satin
Happy 2019! Happy 2019! Happy 2019!
Allentown & Lebanon Allentown & Wilkes-Barre
Allentown & Lebanon Wilkes-Barre Allentown & LebanonAllentown Allentown && Wilkes-Barre
20 JUNE 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
gown she had initially picked out. Following the three-hour service, Lila’s family recited the kiddush and ate the French toast casserole that her mother had cooked as they video chatted with a smaller group of relatives. Rabbi Analia Bortz, who with her husband, Rabbi Mario Karpuj, leads Congregation Or Hadash, the Conservative synagogue where the Dukes are members, had worried originally about whether there would be technical difficulties. But she left the service impressed by how well it worked out and how the community came together to celebrate Lila’s special day. “In 30 years in the pulpit, many things have changed and
have left a big hallmark in our lives, most of the time for good reasons, but this one was one of the highlights of our careers,” Bortz said. “It was very, very special.” Susan Duke said the service exceeded the family’s expectations. “We just thought we’d try it, and it was so much more intimate and personal and successful than I imagined it could be,” the bat mitzvah mom said. One unexpected perk of doing the service on Zoom was that Lila, who had been anxious about doing her Torah reading in front of a large audience, felt less nervous. “I didn’t have a bunch of people watching me doing scary stuff,” she said. “They were there but they were on the screen. I felt it wouldn’t be as big of a deal as if I was actually there in front of everyone.” Meanwhile, Lila hopes she can serve as a model for other kids who will have to do their coming-of-age ceremonies virtually, too, as it becomes increasingly clear that limitations on large gatherings won’t be lifted imminently. “People were watching me, other people who are going to probably do the same thing,” she said. “They wanted to know what it was like.”
CELEBRATING MILESTONES
How to host a virtual bar or bat mitzvah we wore cocktail dresses to make the statement that this event, despite being virtual, was special. IMAGE OF BAR MITZVAH BOY BY CAPTUREDNUANCE / GETTY IMAGES; TABLET BY EGGY SAYOGA / GETTY IMAGES
4. Designate a host and queue the music. The meeting host is responsible for integrating the flow of the party with the use of the technology, spotlighting computer screens at just the right time, and knowing when to mute and unmute participants. The host makes introductions, tells guests what activity on the agenda comes next and has the music teed up and any other apps (games, videos, etc.) preloaded on their computer so it’s ready to go.
By Robin Masheb and Jennifer Zwilling Kveller.com There’s an old saying, “necessity is the mother of invention,” and in this moment of pandemic uncertainty and cancellation, we mothers are inventing a lot! In fact, we invented – on-the-fly – a virtual bat mitzvah party. A little back story: One day after the national state of emergency was declared, our families had planned to be in Boston for Shabbat to celebrate the bat mitzvah of dear friends. But due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the necessity of social distancing, our plans, like most everything these days, were cancelled. Instead, on Shabbat morning, our families joined the bat mitzvah via live stream of the synagogue’s Shabbat morning services. The bat mitzvah girl, her close family and the clergy led a beautiful service with many touching moments, and modeled social distancing throughout. Yet our community longed to be together and to celebrate the simcha. After texting with a few friends to kvell over the bat mitzvah and share our disappointment of being stuck at home, we hatched a plan: We would throw a virtual bat mitzvah party celebration that evening instead! As many of you will be forced to be equally creative in the weeks ahead, here are tips on throwing a pop-up, virtual celebration: 1. Send an invitation to set the tone. Since a virtual party is novel, people need to know what to expect and how to participate. We sent an email with a fun message about the plan with a link to a Zoom meeting and told families what to bring. We suggested a havdalah set and celebratory beverages. 2. Limit the guest list. While hundreds of people can theoretically participate in online sessions, if you want to see and interact with everyone, limit your virtual guest list to about 10 to 15 families. If it’s hard to choose whom to invite, consider holding multiple parties: one for family, another for school friends, another for family friends. Our party lasted less than an hour. You could easily hold three separate parties in one evening! 3. Dress for the occasion. Set a dress code to set a festive tone. People got in the spirit and arrived wearing sunglasses, hats and light-up accessories of b’nai mitzvah pasts. As hosts,
#coronabride Continues from page 1
Jewish ceremony meant so much to us that we decided to do it. And we wanted to keep the integrity of our original date we’ve been planning for two years.” After years of preparing for their dream wedding, it hasn’t been easy to give that up. But, ultimately, the couple is trying to find the silver linings to this situation. “It really put things into perspective. Before the pandemic, my biggest thing was, ‘Is it gonna rain?!’ But now it’s, ‘is everyone going to be healthy enough to be together?’ I know there’s a lot of other people who have family members who are sick or who have passed and can’t be there at all. We’re happy a few people can,” said Zaleon. She credits her soon-to-be-husband for helping
5. Set an agenda and embrace ritual. Consider sharing the program agenda with guests to know what to expect ahead of time. At our virtual party, we sought to preserve the rituals that felt most important to the bat mitzvah and her family. Our celebration agenda included: Introductions and greetings. Just like at a live bat mitzvah party, invite the DJ to introduce the bat mitzvah girl and her family while playing their favorite tunes. Havdalah. To end Shabbat, our DJ spotlighted a designated family who lit the havdalah candle with several wicks, blessed a cup of wine and smelled sweet spices. Other families watched and/or participated in the Jewish rituals in their homes. Dancing! It’s not a simcha if there isn’t a hora! As the DJ cues the hora music, invite each family to dance their own mini hora in their living rooms. Games! Often at bat mitzvahs, the DJ engages the kids in games, and online games offer a fun alternative. We played a trivia game with questions focused on the bat mitzvah girl using Zoom’s survey feature that invites people to vote on answers to multiple choice questions. A photo montage. An often poignant moment of a b’nai mitzvah celebration is when the family shares a slideshow of photos of their child over the years paired with music. This works beautifully to show online with Zoom’s screen sharing feature. Schmoozing. Even after the formal party rituals ended, people lingered to talk, joke and to just be connected. Leave time for this in your agenda. 6. Allow time to orient to the technology. We recommend inviting guests to arrive a few minutes early to adjust to the technology and use its functionality. 7. Record the event and share it. A nice feature of many online conferencing systems is that you can record your meeting. We recorded our party and afterwards sent it to the family to preserve for posterity. Celebrating life’s milestones, creating joy, and connecting with friends and community are Jewish obligations and must continue in spite of this deadly virus. We hope our experiment can offer inspiration to other families as you plan to celebrate in these uncertain times.
her to try to stay positive during this ordeal. “Who gets two weddings?” emphasized Zaleon, who is going to wear a simple dress for her first wedding and save her originally purchased gown to still have “first looks” with both her husband and father on her second wedding day. Zaleon knows she’s not the only #coronabride out there. Many milestones including weddings, graduations and bar/bat mitzvahs have had to be altered due to the coronavirus. She advises others like her who have to forego the typical celebrations planned to “keep your head up and make the most of things.” “My mantra has always been that things happen for a reason, and I think it’s really difficult to find that in these times. I’m very much a planner, and this whole experience has really taught me that plans are meant to be broken. I’m really looking forward to making some new traditions. It’s not what we originally imagined, but it will be just as beautiful,” said Zaleon. HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2020 21
PARTNERSHIP2GETHER UPDATE FROM YOAV
Thinking out of the box in Yoav By Nurit Galon and Annette Mashi Partnership2Gether For the Jewish people everywhere, the months of April and May are filled with the Jewish Holidays, one after the other in quick succession — Pesach, Mimouna, Yom HaShoah; Yom Hazikaron, Yom Ha’atzmaut, Lag B’Omer, Shavuot — each very important in our tradition and history, each to be celebrated and remembered in its own way. This year, the restrictions of the coronavirus demanded much creativity and thinking “out of the box” to enable every member of our communities to be part of the holiday while physically restricted to being at home. Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) was commemorated uniquely this year due to COVID-19. Instead of ceremonies in schools and on each moshav and kibbutz, Zoom sessions were held throughout the municipality. We sat captivated by our computer screens, listening to survivors. Live streaming on Facebook allowed us to hear Rachel Mermelstein’s (from Kibbutz Negba) moving testimony on surviving the Holocaust. Her story is still available on the Yoav Facebook page. Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial Day) was also effected by
the virus. Instructions from the government restricted visitation to the cemeteries, creating heartbreaking cries from families who traditionally visit their loved ones’ graves – standing in silence while the two-minute siren is heard. Time for out of the box thinking. Within days, the Israeli army designed a computer program and put a plan in place. Thousands of soldiers were sent to various cemeteries throughout the country to salute the graves because the families couldn’t. Captured by a photograph, each soldier saluted the grave and silently remembered the fallen soldier for their ultimate sacrifice. Ofek Malka from Kfar Menahem was one of over 500 soldiers sent to Har Herzl to honor the brave who have given their lives. Each photo was then sent to the control center where it was verified prior to it being sent to the family of the fallen. The control center worked round the clock for over 72 hours. How do we know? Because Orlee Mashiach from Moshav Segula was part of the control center. What enormous pride we have for our soldiers and the state of Israel. Here in Yoav, youth from the community took their place by each memorial location in the region to commemorate those that died serving the country.
22 JUNE 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
Israeli Independence Day was different this year also. A car equipped with a DJ playing music drove around the communities, distributing light toys and getting residents into party mode to celebrate Israel’s 72nd birthday. Children were encouraged to draw pictures and wave flags. COVID-19 will not stop Yoav. We also had the opportunity to Zoom with our Lehigh Valley partners in a virtual dance party, making us close although we are physically apart. Great to be able to connect and see our Lehigh Valley partners as we all celebrate 72 years for Israel. How fun to be in Kahoot together. Kudos to everyone involved! Yoav, consisting of country communities, does not surprise us with the expert way it is coping with corona times, but we are all really grateful for the efforts made to continue activities for all ages, mainly through the use of Zoom. We continue to do exercises, hear lectures, listen to concerts and receive daily bulletins as to what is permissible (which seem to change daily, if not even hourly!) Over the last week, there are definitely signs of returning normalcy: a return to school for a little more than 50% of students, reopening of stores though not shopping malls, take-away from restaurants though no meals served inside, a promise of train service — and we even seem to have a government! In general though, there is a feeling of wait and see, and a suspicion that corona is hiding around the corner and may still come back with a vengeance. We are sincerely impressed with the organization of the
Jewish community in the Lehigh Valley and very grateful for the opportunities we have to meet and exchange ideas and plans for the future with the leadership of the Federation and members of the Lehigh Valley Steering Committee of Partnership2Gether. Somehow, even though mutual visits — the teen counselors from Yoav to the Jewish Community Center summer camp, the Momentum project partnering women from Yoav and Lehigh Valley and the visit of the Yoav Steering Committee to their counterparts and friends in Lehigh Valley — all have had to be postponed, yet the anticipation has not diminished and the contacts are strengthened.
We in Israel, and I am sure in the U.S. also, allow ourselves now to talk cautiously about the end of the corona era — at least for this year — and wonder whether we will be any the wiser. Will we take better care of the environment? Will we be less materialistic? Will we be kinder to each other and especially to those different to ourselves? Is this really an opportunity for a new era? Philosophical questions — or maybe a search for new directions? Whatever the answer, we have no doubts that our connections with our partners and family in the Lehigh Valley Jewish community will continue to develop and grow stronger! Stay safe and be well!
Virtual Community Calendar To list an event in the Community Calendar, submit your information on our website, www.jewishlehighvalley.org, under the “Upcoming Events” menu.
All events listed in the Community Calendar are open to the public and free of charge, unless otherwise noted. Programs listed in HAKOL are provided as a service to the community. They do not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. The JFLV reserves the right to accept, reject or modify listings.
VIRTUAL EVENTS FROM OUR LOCAL JEWISH AGENCIES SUNDAY, JUNE 7 (NEW DATE)
Phyllis Ringel Lecture: What’s In Your Medicine Cabinet? 10 a.m., Jewish Family Service via Zoom Registered Pharmacist Don Bastian will discuss how the aging process impacts the body’s ability to metabolize drugs. Older adults often have multiple medical conditions or comorbidities, and they typically have more physician visits and consume the most drugs of all age categories. As more drugs are added to the medication profile, the chances increase for drug-drug interactions. Register at www.jfslv.org.
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
Learn about Inequalities in Educational Funding
7 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel via Zoom Presented by Rep. Mike Schlossberg and sponsored by the KI B’Rit Olam and Adult Ed Committee. Go to www.kilv.org to RSVP to get online meeting invite.
TUESDAY, JUNE 9
JDS Class of 2020 Commencement
7 p.m., Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley via Zoom The Board of Directors, the faculty and the Class of 2020 of the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley request the honor of your presence at the virtual 7th Grade Pre-Commencement and 8th Grade Pre-Graduation. Email amanger@jdslv.org to receive the Zoom link.
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Jewish Federation Annual Meeting
7 p.m., Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley via Zoom Join the Federation – virtually – to honor this year’s award winners, elect a new board and hear from leadership about the future of our Jewish community. Featuring Eric Fingerhut, CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America. Register at www.jewishlehighvalley.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
KI Spectacular Online Shabbat Out of the KI Box
holiday observance, prayer, blessings and, for that matter, nearly any Jewish topic? Then Sons of Israel’s daily “Daf Yomi” class is for you. Meeting all year long -- and right now via Zoom -- this class covers the gamut of Talmudic law, studying one page of the talmud each day, and completing the talmud over the course of seven and a half years. Basic Jewish background is recommended. To access the daily Zoom conference, use zoom.us/j/5598767191.
Morning Prayer Group
8:30 a.m., Congregation Sons of Israel via Zoom Join Rabbi Nisan Andrews of Sons of Israel for a morning prayer group. To access the daily Zoom conference, use zoom.us/j/5598767191. Along with the prayer group, Rabbi Andrews will also be sending out a daily insight email. To subscribe, email him at rabbicsoi@gmail.com.
Daily Learning with Rotem
7:30 a.m., Congregation Sons of Israel via Zoom Are you intrigued by thought-provoking, stimulating and provocative religious discussion? Are you enamored by the depth and scope of the Jewish legal system? Are you curious about Judaism’s perspective on marriage, tort law, Jewish burial,
Temple Shirat Shalom Shabbat Services
6 p.m., Temple Shirat Shalom via Zoom Please join us for Shabbat services on Friday nights. We will be able to see each other and hear each other. Zoom Meeting ID: 819 2143 3408; Password: 091889.
Congregation Keneseth Israel Virtual Shabbat
Friendship Circle
7 p.m., Temple Covenant of Peace via Zoom Please join us for Shabbat services on Friday nights. Zoom Meeting ID: 354 606 828; Password: 681393.
11:45 a.m., JCC of the Lehigh Valley via Zoom Friendship Circle will be having online gatherings. If you would like to participate, contact Beth Kushnick at bkushnick@lvjcc.org.
7 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel via Zoom Join Congregation Keneseth Israel for a virtual Shabbat service. Email vdunn@kilv.org for the link to the Zoom meeting.
TUESDAYS
Congregation Am Haskalah Online Erev Shabbat Services
JCC Torah Class
12:30 to 2 p.m., JCC of the Lehigh Valley via Zoom Every week until June 30. Visit www.lvjcc.org to learn more.
TUESDAYS
Yiddish Club
2 p.m., JCC of the Lehigh Valley via Zoom Every week until June 30. Visit www.lvjcc.org/ jccathomeadults to learn more.
TUESDAYS
Basic Hebrew Tuesdays
WEDNESDAYS
Daf Yomi
6 p.m., Temple Beth El Facebook LIVE Join Rabbi Moshe Re’em for a Kabbalat Shabbat service via Facebook LIVE. Like the Temple Beth El Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Temple-Beth-El-1471610986384380 to follow along.
MONDAYS
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
Temple Beth El Kabbalat Shabbat
Temple Covenant of Peace Shabbat Services
8:15 p.m., Temple Covenant of Peace via Zoom Every week until June 2. You will need the password! (Zoom has upped their security protocols.) Zoom Meeting ID: 982 8967 9099; Password: 486979.
7 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel via Zoom Go to www.kilv.org to RSVP and receive online info. Sponsored by the B’rit Olam Committee.
6 p.m., Congregation Brith Sholom via Zoom Join Congregation Brith Sholom for a Kabbalat Shabbat service with Rabbi Singer and Chazan Sam. Zoom Meeting ID: 677 083 639; Password: SHABBATLUV.
12 p.m., Federation Facebook page Cooking, dancing, story time, family activities and more! Israeli shlicha Rotem Bar is bringing you some of her favorites, from her home to yours, every weekday at 12 p.m. New videos will be posted on the Federation Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jewishlehighvalley.
12 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel via Zoom In lieu of our regular gala, an exciting day of activities. Go to www.kilv.org for more information.
KI Book Discussion: Shame of the Nation by Jonathon Kozol
Brith Sholom Kabbalat Shabbat
Judaism 101 Wednesdays
11 a.m., Temple Covenant of Peace via Zoom Every week until June 3. You will need the password! (Zoom has upped their security protocols.) Zoom Meeting ID: 952 4084 8264; Password: 448461.
FRIDAYS - SHABBAT SERVICES
JCC Virtual Shabbat
11:15 a.m., JCC Facebook LIVE Join the JCC for Virtual Shabbat with the little ones on Facebook LIVE. Visit www.facebook. com/JCCLV to learn more.
7:30 p.m., Congregation Am Haskalah via Zoom Please join us for weekly Erev Shabbat services, held at zoom.us/j/5274597031. Open to ALL. For tech support or any questions, email Liz at AmHaskalahDirector@gmail.com.
Easton Jewish Community Friday Night Services
7:30 p.m., Easton Jewish community via Zoom The Easton Jewish community will be holding virtual Friday evening services on Zoom for the foreseeable future. All are welcome. Zoom Meeting ID: 354 606 828 and password: 681393 to join.
VIRTUAL EVENTS FROM AROUND THE JEWISH WORLD THURSDAY, JUNE 4
Images of Moroccan Jews and Perceptions of American Jews, 1942-54
MONDAY through FRIDAY
Momentum Boost Webinar Series
1 p.m., Momentum We all need a boost, don’t we? In this challenging time, so many of us are feeling anxious and confused. This uncharted territory is our new reality and we’re all trying to navigate our way through it. Momentum is here to help. This daily series will run like a TV show – same time, same place, every day, for 30 minutes, and we’ll cover the topics you care about most – especially today! Each webinar will include wisdom, tools, techniques, and motivational messages from the Trip Leaders you love to experts you’ll truly appreciate. Visit Momentum on Facebook at www. facebook.com/momentumunlimitedofficial.
MONDAY through FRIDAY
Daily Online Meditation
12:30 p.m., Institute for Jewish Spirituality One of their master teachers will lead a live daily guided meditation. Join with people from around the world to share 30 minutes of Jewish mindfulness. Open to all, no experience needed. Sign up at tinyurl.com/ybzk478p.
TUESDAYS
Jewish Meditation for Calm & Resilience
8 to 8:45 a.m., Institute for Jewish Spirituality and JPRO Network Drop in for a meditation session, led by an experienced Jewish mindfulness meditation instructor. These sessions will help you develop your ability to pay attention to the present moment, cultivate calmness, practice kindness towards yourself and others, and respond to this difficult moment more wisely and skillfully. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ybwpg9v4
TUESDAYS
Weekly Torah Study
12 to 12:25 p.m., Institute for Jewish Spirituality Rabbi Jonathan Slater will lead a weekly program: “Torah Study to Sustain The Soul,” aimed at addressing an aspect of spiritual life that will help us navigate this time of uncertainty and isolation. Open to all, no previous knowledge needed. Sign up at tinyurl.com/ybzk478p.
WEDNESDAYS
AIPAC Engage Webinars
2 p.m., AIPAC AIPAC Engage is a brand new virtual conversation series developed exclusively for AIPAC club members. This program will feature subject matter experts to discuss the latest developments impacting the U.S.-Israel relationship. Club members can check their email for access information.
WEDNESDAYS
JCC Camps of North America Flagpole
2 to 3:30 p.m., JDC via Zoom With Dr. Michal Ben Ya’akov, a Speigel Fellow of the Arnold and Leona Finkler Institute of Holocaust Research at Bar-Ilan University. Her current project at the JDC Archives continues previous research on JDC activities in Morocco during World War II and explores the perceptions of American Jews regarding North African Jews. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/ybggq4vo.
8 p.m., Jewish Community Centers of North America Facebook Join us LIVE for our JCC Camps of North America Flagpole, a gathering of solidarity and song! The weekly Flagpole series features inspiring news from JCC camp community leaders, directors, counselors, campers and alumni and is hosted by Rick Recht! Join us every Wednesday evening. Go to www.facebook.com/JCCAssociationOfNorthAmerica to join.
with Cantor Wartell FRIDAYS 8-9:30 AM WMUH 91.7
muhlenberg.edu/wmuh | 484.664.3456
Celebrate the beauty of Shabbat
Shabbat & Yom Tov Candlelighting Times
Friday, June 5 Friday, June 12 Friday, June 19
8:12 pm 8:16 pm 8:18 pm
Friday, June 26 Friday, July 3 Friday, July 10
8:19 pm 8:18 pm 8:16 pm
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2020 23