HAKOL - January 2020 by Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community

www.jewishlehighvalley.org

Issue No. 427

January 2020

Tevet/Sh’vat 5780

AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977

The Impact One Makes: A new series on individuals who’ve laid the foundation for our future p7

See photos from the Lehigh Valley CommUNITY Concert p12-13

FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN p2 LVJF TRIBUTES p8 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p11 JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p14-15 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p16 COMMUNITY CALENDAR p23

Federation to expand mitzvah project menu for Super Sunday By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Community Development & Operations

free program focusing on disability and inclusion. Jen Einstein will show us how she is “different” and how we are all unique. Parents are welcome and encouraged to participate in a Q&A with their children and Einstein. There will be crafts and snacks and, of course, a PJ Library story, and the first 50 children will receive a free T-shirt. New this year: the Children’s Mitzvah Station will also open at 10:30 a.m. Children of all ages will have the opportunity to bring their tzedakah – in whatever amount

PHOTO COURTESY OF HARRY FISHER

There will be more ways to get involved than ever at this year’s Super Sunday Community Mitzvah Day on Jan. 26. From cooking to visiting older adults, painting walls and making calls, there will be opportunities for volunteers to participate whenever and however they like. “The goal is to do as much good as possible in our community in a single day,” said Naomi Schachter, who is co-chairing Super Sunday with Dana Cohen

for the second year. “We really wanted to expand the opportunities so that everyone could find a way to get involved,” Cohen said. The day will begin at 9:30 a.m., as it always does, with an opportunity for volunteers to “make the call,” reaching out to members of the community to secure their support for the Federation’s Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs. The campaign benefits all of our local Jewish agencies, along with partners in Israel and in 70 countries around the world. At 10:30 a.m., PJ Library families are invited to participate in a

Super Sunday Continues on page 2

A Chanukah miracle gives a second chance at life By Stephanie Bolmer HAKOL Editor

Brian Zionts-Bernstein, left, with his wife, Kym, and their son, Sam.

Five years ago, a miracle happened in Philadelphia on the last night of Chanukah. Brian ZiontsBernstein still carries a dreidel in his pocket every day to remind him of the gift that he has received—a double lung transplant which saved his life. “My miracle happened on Chanukah, and the dreidel I carry is an Israeli dreidel—it says a ‘Great Miracle Happened Here.’ That’s why I carry it as a reminder every day of the miracle that I received. I try never to forget to put it in my pocket,” said Zionts-Bernstein, noting that he purchased the dreidel in the gift shop of National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, so its inscription rings true for his situation. Zionts-Bernstein, now 55, is from Philadelphia originally, but has lived in the Lehigh Valley for many years with his wife, Kym, a lifelong member of the Lehigh Valley Jewish commu-

nity. It was on a hike with their son, Sam’s, Boy Scout troop that he first noticed he was having a hard time breathing. That day eventually led to a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, a disease of the lungs. Sam’s Bar Mitzvah was only a year away. “What do we do?” asked Zionts-Bernstein, recalling how he and his wife weren’t sure how much to explain to their son as they prepared for this milestone. “Because this disease has many different paths it can take, but all of them, it’s terminal. There’s no cure.” They ended up telling Sam just the bare minimum—that Zionts-Bernstein had issues with his lungs and that they were dealing with them. The Bar Mitzvah came, the party was thrown, and the family even did a tour of Israel to celebrate. Zionts-Bernstein went on with life the best he could. He kept working as an IT

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

U.S. POSTAGE PAID Lehigh Valley, PA Permit No. 64

Continue reading about this Chanukah miracle and find more articles to help boost your well-being this year in our Health & Wellness special section on pages 20-22

Chanukah Miracle Continues on page 22

A healthy outlook A new year is filled with the promise of fresh starts and new beginnings. It’s also a time when many people take an opportunity to reflect inward and recommit to improving their health and wellbeing. In Judaism, health and wellness are held in high esteem, and the Torah commands us to respect our bodies and prioritize our wellness, viewing these acts as holy. Maimonides, a medieval Sephardic Jewish physician who became one of the most prominent Torah scholars of his time, described the purpose of Torah law as guiding “the wellbeing of the body and the wellbeing of the soul.” The connection between physical health and spirituality is embedded within Judaism, ranging from the rules of kashrut to viewing the body

as a sacred vessel of the soul. There is a story in which Rabbi Hillel noted how important it was to care for one’s body since we are “created in the divine image and likeness.” Judaism teaches us that we are responsible for caring for the gift of our bodies – and so maintaining our health becomes a positive act. Health and wellness extend far beyond individual decisions and one person’s efforts. Judaism emphasizes a holistic perspective on wellness, viewing the mind, body and soul as intertwined with one another. I would add that the health and wellbeing of the community contribute to the wellness of the mind, body and soul of the individual. What is a healthy community? Healthy communities are built on the relationships that

we nurture and the efforts that we make to work through the problems we encounter along the way. It is also about celebrating our successes as a community. A community must provide for all of its members’ spiritual and physical needs. Another area that is significantly tied to health and wellbeing is in the social support that we derive from our communities. Social support, or close relationships with family and friends, has been linked to improving the health of the mind, body and soul in many ways. Social support is not something that one person can do by themselves, and it is not something that can be developed with New Year’s resolutions to go to the gym more or begin a new diet; it is only something that can be achieved

Federation welcomes new marketing and engagement associate By Stephanie Bolmer HAKOL Editor

when multiple people work to bring a community together. Community engagement and individual health share a reciprocal relationship: attending yoga classes at the JCC or swimming in the pool every morning are ways to focus on mind and body health, whereas involvement in Jewish organizations, attending community events and participating in Jewish life focus on spiritual health. Likewise, investing oneself in the community, either by donating financially or with your time and energy, addresses the health of the community, building and creating a vibrant Jewish community that, in turn, contributes to the health and wellbeing of the members. This month (and in the months to come), there will be multiple events and opportuni-

HAKOL STAFF STEPHANIE BOLMER Editor

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

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

The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is pleased to announce that Bayley Carl has joined their staff as the marketing and engagement associate. She will be involved with video production, social media, writing for HAKOL and planning events. Carl, an Emmaus native, graduated from Temple University in 2018, where she earned a degree in journalism. She also works as a graphic design assistant for Agassi Art and keeps busy with acting engagements, the most recent being Touchstone Theatre’s Festival Unbound. “Honestly, I’m just thrilled to be here, and I’m looking forward to further refining my skills and getting to know the community better,” said Carl.

ties to focus on the health and well-being of our Jewish community and to enjoy the benefits of the social support that comes from a strengthened community. Our annual Super Sunday phonea-thon on Jan. 26 is one such opportunity to donate financially and will include an afternoon of mitzvah activities to benefit those around us. In 2020, as you consider your own personal resolutions, I encourage you to consider contributing to the health and well-being of our community in ways that matter to you!

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

ALLISON MEYERS Graphic Designer DIANE MCKEE Account Representative TEL: 610-515-1391 hakolads@jflv.org

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

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

Super Sunday Continues from page 1

they choose – and plant a tree in the Mark L. Goldstein Partnership Park in Yoav. Each child will receive a certificate and have the opportunity to take home a tree craft. At 12 p.m., the first mitzvah projects will kick off. Federation will again partner with Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley to prepare and deliver “Mazel Meals” for older adults living at home in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. “While the meals provide nourishment, so do the friendly

visits that accompany them,” said Carol Wilson, who is coordinating the project on behalf of Jewish Family Service. “These volunteers have no idea what a difference they are making in the lives of their recipients.” Meanwhile, more volunteers will visit older adults living in residential facilities across the Lehigh Valley. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to get their hands dirty and help spruce up the JCC. There are rooms that need to be painted and, weather permitting, a garden that needs tending. And for the first time, older school-age children will have the

opportunity to learn first-hand about philanthropy and what the meaning of Super Sunday is all about. At 12:30 p.m., “Philanthropy 101” will kick off for kids approximately 9 to 13 years old. The participants will participate in a real-life exercise to learn the importance of giving and then get in on the action with their own mitzvah project. To learn more about all of these opportunities and sign up now to participate or volunteer, call the Jewish Federation at 610-821-5500 or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org/ supersunday.

The Lehigh Valley-Yoav Partnership Park in Blessed Memory of Mark L. Goldstein We gratefully acknowledge those individuals who have offered expressions of friendship by requesting that trees be planted in the Mark L. Goldstein Friendship Park, a Yoav-Lehigh Valley Partnership Forest. IN MEMORY RONALD BROPHY (Husband of Mary Brophy) Nancy Bernstein

TO ORDER TREES, call the JFLV at 610-821-5500 or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org. 2 JANUARY 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Member American Jewish Press Association

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

JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY MISSION STATEMENT

In order to unite, sustain, and enhance the Lehigh Valley Jewish community, and support Jewish communities in Israel and around the world, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is dedicated to the following core values: • Supporting Jews in need wherever they may be. • Supporting Israel as a Jewish homeland. • Supporting and encouraging Jewish education in the Lehigh Valley as a means of strengthening Jewish life for individuals and families. • Supporting programs and services of organizations whose values and mission meet local Jewish needs. To accomplish this mission the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is committed to the following operating guidelines: • Raising and distributing funds to support the core values. • Developing Jewish leaders. • Building endowments to support implementation of core values. • Committing to ongoing Jewish community strategic planning. • Fostering cooperation among organizations and community building. • Evaluating all decisions with respect to fiscal responsibility. • Identifying unmet needs and investing in community initiatives to help get them started. • Coordinating and convening a community response as an issue or need arises. • Setting priorities for allocation and distribution of funds. • Acting as a central address for communication about events, programs and services of the Jewish community as a whole. Approved by the JFLV Board of Directors on November 15, 2000

Young leadership course Interfaith dinner to focus kicks off on ‘the water we share’

By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Community Development & Operations

Rabbi Allen Juda, rabbi emeritus at Congregation Brith Sholom, is leading the first Yesod cohort.

Nine young adults are embarking on a journey with the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley to deepen their leadership skills and understanding of the needs of our Jewish community. The leaders were selected by local community organizations to participate in the first cohort of Yesod, a program of the Jewish Federations of North America and the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning. The cohort, made up of Chelsea Busch, Andy Ellis, Jeff Fleischaker, Brian and Emily Ford, Aaron Gorodzinsky, Susan Kolpon, Rachel Levin and Kyle Newfeld, held their first session on Dec. 8 and will continue to meet every two weeks for a total of eight sessions. The Yesod program merges Judaic text studies, business skills, leadership theory and experiential applications to enable participants to become more informed leaders. The program is made possible in the Lehigh Valley with the support of the Sylvia Perkin Perpetual Charitable Trust. Rabbi Allen Juda, who served as the rabbi at Congregation Brith Sholom

for 30 years, is leading the cohort, utilizing a curriculum developed by Dr. Erica Brown. Juda said he is excited not only to teach, but also to learn from the participants. “One of the key aspects of this program is that it puts an emphasis on looking at Jewish texts and seeing what we might learn from them about leadership,” Juda said. “Some of it’s from the best that we have done in our ancient past and some of it’s from the worst of what we’ve done in the ancient past. A lot of it is how do we treat people.” After the eight sessions, Juda said he hopes the participants think about these textual and also more modern examples in taking on leadership positions. “I hope that the people who are participating – some are already in positions of leadership frankly – that they’ll feel more comfortable, more prepared, to seriously consider if they’re asked or to volunteer,” Juda said. “Because the community does need a younger generation, however we define that, to step up. And we always will.”

By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Community Development & Operations The Lehigh Dialogue Center is partnering with the Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh Conference of Churches to present its 16th Annual Friendship Dinner on Thursday, Feb. 20. The interfaith dinner, hosted by the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley, is open to all and will focus on the impact of flooding in our community. “This is an issue we are all going to have to deal with going into the future,” said Rachel Rosenfeld, community outreach coordinator for the Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter. “This dinner will focus on what we can do as a community, as a group of organized faiths, to bring about awareness and action.” David Brandes, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Lafayette College, will give the key-

note address. He will speak about our regional climate and the impact of flooding, cross-collaborative mitigation strategies, as well as the importance of protecting the water quality of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers from storm water runoff. Rabbi Seth Phillips of Congregation Keneseth Israel, the Rev. Dr. Larry Pickens from the Lehigh Conference of Churches and a representative of the Muslim community will discuss the water we share from a religious perspective. “We are trying to give the message to the whole community that each religion and the scientific community, that we are all on the same page that it’s important to conserve our environment,” said M. Said Selmanlar, president of the Lehigh Dialogue Center. The “Friendship Dinner” on Thursday, Feb. 20, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the JCC is free and open to everyone. Registration is required. To register, call 484-893-0584 or visit bit.ly/FriendshipDinner2020.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JANUARY 2020 3

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

Momentum women visit JFS

Above, Debbie Zoller, executive director of Jewish Family Service, shows the 2019 Momentum cohort the newly expanded food pantry at their Thanksgiving event in November. Far left, the women drop off their donations of coats and cocoa. Left, led by Rachel Shurman, the group makes Chanukah cards for older adults.

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

WELCOMING NEW BABIES

to the Lehigh Valley DAHLIA SOPHIA MARLIN

daughter of Aviva and Evan Marlin

PHINEAS ELIJAH MARLIN

son of Aviva and Evan Marlin

LENNOX PRYCE GOLDENBERG son of Jana and Jeffrey Goldenberg

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

4 JANUARY 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Handmade Afghans BY EVA LEVITT

All proceeds benefit projects in Israel:

Food Banks in Israel Neve Michael Youth Village

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

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

JFS kicks off a year of disability inclusion awareness

By Stephanie Bolmer HAKOL Editor Each February, Jewish communities worldwide are unified in raising awareness for fostering inclusion through an initiative known as Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). Over the past few years, Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley has created programming that reflects the mission of JDAIM, but was limited to the month of February. Realizing inclusion requires more than just one month of programming a year, JFS is planning to add programming throughout the year. Kicking off JDAIM, there will be a PJ Library program entitled “PJ Library Celebrates Differences” at Super Sunday on Jan. 26 (see page 1), featuring local speaker Jen Einstein. Einstein will talk about how she is “different” and about how we are all unique. Parents are welcome to participate in a question and answer session with their children. The PJ Library story “The Only One Club” will also be read, and crafts and snacks will be provided. In the beginning of February, representatives from the JFS staff will be participating in the Jewish Disability Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. They will travel there, joined by Jewish Federation Director of Campaign and Security Planning Aaron Gorodzinsky, to participate in a day of education and lobbying for disability rights. When they return, they hope to bring a fresh perspective on how to create a more inclusive Jewish community in the

Lehigh Valley. Rounding out the month is the JDAIM Community Event, a screening of the film “Swim Team,” followed by questions and conversation with an athlete from Special Olympics PA-Bethlehem. This 2017 documentary follows the story of a New Jersey swim team made up of a diverse group of teens on the autism spectrum. Demonstrating the power of inclusion to transcend disability, the film profiles the Jersey Hammerheads and shows how the athletes gain selfconfidence and social skills that serve them both in and out of the pool. The film will be shown at Muhlenberg College’s Seegers Union on Feb. 23 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The film screening is made possible by ReelAbilities International, a worldwide program which grew out of a 2007 film festival at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan in New York. The festival was the first of its kind to present a series of award-winning films by, about and for people with disabilities. ReelAbilities has now expanded to having festivals in different cities, as well as year-round screenings such as the one that JFS is hosting. “While we’ve done programs each year in celebration of JDAIM, we are looking to create year-long programming that better reflects the notion of ‘nothing about us without us,’” said Rebecca Axelrod-Cooper, JFS community impact coordinator. Throughout 2020, JFS will invite those with ability limitations to the table to be part of the conversation. “We want community partner engagement to guide and expand education, access and advocacy in the community in a thoughtful and comprehensive way,” Axelrod-Cooper said.

First female cantor will speak about her emotional journey at Lunch & Learn By Bayley Carl JFLV Marketing & Engagement Associate The Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation will be ringing in the new year by hosting a Lunch & Learn on Jan. 29. The focus of the presentation will surround wellness and emotional health. The Lunch & Learn’s featured speaker will be Cantor Barbara Ostfeld. Ostfeld is not only an ordained cantor but also newly published author, who will be giving her talk, “Rare Birds and Birds of a Feather,” which encourages wellness and recovery. From a young age, Ostfeld enjoyed many activities. She loved to read, and she found sincere joy in attending temple. What she arguably enjoyed most, though, was singing. After graduating high school, she was admitted to Hebrew Union College’s School of Sacred Music (HUC-SSM). Five years later, she became the first ordained female cantor in Jewish history. Ostfeld met (now) Cantor Ellen Sussman of Allentown’s Temple Shirat Shalom while Sussman was still studying at HUC-SSM. Sussman spoke of her experience attending cantorial school in the early 1980s. In order to attend cantorial school, “You have to be Jewish, you have to like to sing, and you have to be willing to dedicate your life to the Jewish people,”

said Sussman, all qualities that both Ostfeld and Sussman had. In order to thrive in a then male-dominated environment, all of the women at HUC-SSM had to be willing to help that environment grow. For instance, Sussman wanted to start a family. “They didn’t know how to reconcile a cantor being pregnant and having children. Before that, the cantor would never be gone for three months,” explained Sussman. These women were trailblazers. Nowadays, there are more women studying to become cantors than there are men. Both Sussman and Ostfeld had to overcome a lot to be

where they are today. One thing Ostfeld had to overcome from an early age was her own anxieties about singing. Ostfeld’s memoir, “Catbird: The Ballad of Barbi Prim,” tells the story of a young girl who loved to sing. She had to overcome judgement from others and herself, fears and anxieties, in order to bloom into her own hero. Her talk focuses on the lessons taught in this book. The Lunch & Learn will be on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 12 p.m. in the Auxiliary Auditorium of the JCC. Tickets are $12 and a kosher lunch will be provided. Contact the Jewish Federation at 610-821-5500 or mailbox@ jflv.org or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org to register.

For questions about programming and getting “a seat at the table,” please contact Rebecca AxelrodCooper at 610-821-8722 or racooper@jfslv.org or visit www.jfslv.org/ jdaim.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JANUARY 2020 5

It’s official: Israel headed for another round of elections on March 2, 2020 Jewish News Syndicate Israel is officially headed for its third round of elections in less than a year, following marathon Knesset sessions on Wednesday, Dec. 11 and overnight into Thursday. The last act of Israel’s short-lived 22nd Knesset was to set the date for new elections on March 2, a decision which was ultimately approved around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12. The bill passed with 94 lawmakers voting in favor and none opposed. It also granted parties tens of millions more shekels to spend on their campaigns—$124,000 per Knesset member and $200,000 per party—in its first and only piece of legislation. The figures represent a 30 percent increase over the funding for the previous

election. Legislators explained that the smaller parties had accrued debts due to the country’s successive election cycles, and would need to repay them in order to be able to run again. The Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu parties opposed the increase. Though the Knesset has done little in the way of legislating since December 2018, Knesset members’ salaries will nevertheless increase by 3-3.5 percent, to $13,000 a month, according to Ynet, an automatic increase that happens once a year. Elections are usually set for 90 days after the dissolution of the Knesset, but as that would have put them on the Jewish holiday of Purim in 2020, legislators set the date a few days earlier.

Coming soon to the JCC: Dr. Ruth Westheimer a documentary about a dynamic Jewish woman who has impacted so many lives,” remarked Krawitz. “Her experiences escaping the Holocaust and fighting for Israel’s independence and her professional career are truly remarkable.” The documentary will be screened in its entirety at a preceding event on Sunday, April 19. Additional film screenings will be announced as the festival approaches. Tickets for each event will be available and open to the public. Epstein sums it up: “There will be so much to celebrate: being in the room with a legendary sex therapist, listening to a firsthand recount of a survivor’s experience and celebrating our JCC.” By Beth Zaleon JCC Development Coordinator At the age of 91, Dr. Ruth Westheimer shows no sign of slowing down. The renowned sex therapist continues to travel the world to educate audiences and to share the story of her personal journey. On April 23, that journey will bring Dr. Ruth to the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley. “An Intimate Evening with Dr. Ruth” is being hosted by the JCC as part of the 25th anniversary of the Jew-

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ish and Israeli Film Series. Attendees will enjoy selected clips from the new documentary, “Ask Dr. Ruth,” hear her story firsthand, and participate in a question-andanswer session. Dr. Ruth will also be available for a book signing and meet-and-greet at a dessert reception following the event. The event is co-chaired by Iris Epstein and Lynda Krawitz, who are excited to bring Dr. Ruth to our community. “This momentous anniversary of a seminal JCC program fits perfectly with

Tickets to this event are limited and are expected to sell out quickly. Reserve your spot for this incredible evening at lvjcc. org/drruth. This event is generously sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. Sponsorship opportunities are available, starting at just $500. Sponsors receive reserved priority seating, an invitation to the VIP Reception, recognition at the event and in marketing materials, and more. Please contact Beth Zaleon at 610-435-3571 or bzaleon@lvjcc.org for more information.

THE IMPACT ONE MAKES:

Taffi Ney By Stephanie Bolmer HAKOL Editor Editor’s note: We are starting a new series on individuals who have laid the foundations for the future of the Lehigh Valley Jewish community through their generosity. We could think of no one better to begin with than Taffi Ney.

Sponsored by M&T Bank and 100.7 WLEV; Series sponsored by Capital BlueCross

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

COURTESY OF EDWIN A. DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY

There are many ways to leave your legacy in the Jewish community to echo through the years to come. Taffi Ney has done that by her tireless dedication to raising money for and building up the endowments of Jewish organizations in the Lehigh Valley. In addition to establishing her own endowments to benefit the future of our Jewish community, Ney is responsible for many of the endowments established by others. She gave her all as a professional to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley for 28 years before retiring in 2014, where she worked in a number of roles to raise money for the Federation’s annual campaign and endowment. “I always thought of endowments as the future, and annual campaigns as the present,” Ney said. “Both are needed and both are vitally important for the continued success of our community.” In recognition of her efforts, Federation presented her with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at its 2015 annual meeting. Ney is well-known in the community for the time she took building true relationships with many of the donors she worked with. “A real strength of hers is just her love of the community and understanding that, in order to have people be involved, you really have to build relationships with people and maintain them. And she’s done a great job with that over the years,” said Wendy Born, past president of the Jewish Federation, who knew Ney first as a neighbor before they collaborated on projects officially for Federation. Federation campaign co-chair Vicki Wax echoed Born’s sentiments, recalling, “She was an amazing endowment and development director, reaching out to donors in the most thoughtful, caring, kindest ways. She wrote notes to people, she would visit people, she would bring goodies to people. She was like everybody’s daughter/sister/ friend. She was amazing — nobody has ever done it the

The best pub concert you’ve ever been to!

Thu., Feb. 13 - 7:30 PM - $45/$39

way she did.” Ney was at the forefront of creating endowments to secure the future of the Lehigh Valley Jewish community at a time when those were just getting started. “At the time that she served, there was no endowment program to speak of, so effectively … whatever endowments came in were as a result of her efforts,” explained Federation past president Lenny Abrams. “And of course, before LIFE & LEGACY, going back as far as my tenure, effectively she was the professional that dealt with the Heritage Society, so whatever numbers of people set up endowments [through that] during her tenure really were, in some way, shape or form, attributable to her.” She also worked closely with Federation’s beneficiaries to ensure they were supported. “To me, Taffi is the epitome of a professional who is able to connect individuals and larger systems in a way that deeply enriches both,” said Jim Lodge, who worked with her for many years on behalf of ORT, one of Federation’s overseas partners. It wasn’t just a job for Ney, however. “It was a passion for her,” added Abrams. “She really enjoyed doing what she did, and she went at it very professionally and aggressively and tried to do whatever she could possibly do.” All in all, Ney is a wonderful example of what it means to leave a legacy. She not only has given generously across the board of her own resources, but also dedicated herself for decades to helping others leave their

own legacies. “Not only does she talk the talk, but she walks the walk,” said Federation Executive Director Jeri Zimmerman. “Taffi has made a lasting impact on all the people and organizations she has touched through a lifetime of caring. She was instrumental in creating a culture in our community that enabled donors to express their values philanthropically, and for that we are especially grateful.”

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JANUARY 2020 7

What I learned in Israel through the MMG Fellowship

By Benjamin Porat 2019 MMG Fellowship Winner Editor's Note: The Melvin M. Goldberg Fellowship is a $5,000 prize supporting STEM research in Israel granted to a university student each year by a fund set up through the Lehigh Valley Jewish Foundation in memory of Dr. Melvin Morris Goldberg, z"l. Benajamin Porat was the 2019 recipient. The experience I had thanks to my Melvin M. Goldberg Fellowship was amazing. When I arrived in Sde Boqer, the place was a dream: a campus of just students and researchers all interested in environment-related topics. Then, the fact that there was a whole building dedicated to solar energy research, something not available to me at home, was incredible. My professor, Dr. Katz, was incredibly supportive, along with his postdoc, Mark Khenkin. They really made sure I learned as much as possible about solar energy. I was given a research project, but also given much latitude to make meaningful decisions about the direction of the research, which was really valuable to me. I also got to explore Be'er Sheva, which is a really unique city, and to visit friends in Jerusalem and relatives in Rishon LeZion. So while I got an extraordinary education in photovoltaics, I also got to explore Israel. And now I have been able to apply what I have learned to my studies back at home.

IN HONOR PEGGY AND BILL BERGER In honor of your granddaughter Amanda and Julia’sbat mitzvahs Vicki Wax LAURA AND BOB BLACK In honor of your daughter Stefanie’s engagement to Alex Alchek Wendy and Ross Born Laurie and Robby Wax Vicki Wax LAURA AND BOB BLACK In honor of your 50th anniversary Wendy and Ross Born Stephanie and Stephen Szilagyi MELISA AND GLENN BLOCK In honor of your son Daniel’s marriage to Allie Margulies Sybil and Barry Baiman WENDY AND ROSS BORN In honor of receiving AFP’s Lifetime Achievement Award Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald Ellen and Phil Hof STUART BROWN In honor of your birthday Sybil and Barry Baiman VIKKI AND DAVID DUNN In honor of son Henry’s marriage to Sara Helm Wendy and Ross Born JEANETTE AND EDUARDO EICHENWALD In honor of your Spectacular Over 70 recognition Daniela Viale and Dan Leisawitz

IRIS AND JON EPSTEIN In honor of Harry’s bar mitzvah Carol and Gary Fromer Ellen and Phil Hof AMY AND ERIC FELS In honor of your anniversary Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald EILEEN AND EDUARDO FISCHMANN In honor of your meaningful and generous donation to the JDS Sybil and Barry Baiman LOIS AND DON LIPSON In honor of granddaughter Meredith’s college graduation Sybil and Barry Baiman AMY AND RICH MORSE In honor of the birth of your first grandchild, Wesley Graham Jakubiak Vicki Wax MARGE KRAMER AND RABBI SETH PHILLIPS In honor of the birth of your granddaughter, Vada Bilello Phillips Vicki Wax DEBBIE AND SCOTT ROSEN In honor of your son Steven’s marriage to Phoebe Kimmelman Sybil and Barry Baiman UFBERG FAMILY In honor of recognition by Israel Bonds Carol and Gary Fromer BARBARA ABD ARTHUR WEINRACH In honor of your daughter Julie’s engagement Sybil and Barry Baiman

IN MEMORY FAYEZ DAHAN (Father of David Dahan) Vicki Wax MAXINE FELDMAN (Mother of Neil Feldman) Lynn and Samuel Feldman Marla and Brian Strahl LOUIS FURMANSKY (Husband of Shirley Furmansky, father of Stewart Furmansky and Helen Kirschbaum) Andie and Jim Jesberger BILL GROSS (Husband of Ruth Gross) Marlene and Arnan Finkelstein Carole and Michael Langsam Elaine Lerner MALCOLM LEVY (Father of Carol Wilson) Carol and Gary Fromer Carole and Michael Langsam Daniela Viale and Dan Leisawitz Marcy Staiman SAIDA SHAMAI (Mother of Eva Ginsberg) Marlene and Arnan Finkelstein BERNARD WOLENSKY (Husband of Adele Wolensky) Marlene and Arnan Finkelstein Carole and Michael Langsam JOSEF ZWIEBEL (Brother of Cooky Notis) Carole and Michael Langsam We gratefully acknowledge those individuals who have offered expressions of friendship through recent gifts to the Lehigh Valley Jewish Foundation. The minimum contribution for an Endowment Card is $10. Call 610-821-5500 or visit www. jewishlehighvalley.org to place your card requests. Thank you for your continued support.

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8 JANUARY 2020 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

The controversy surrounding New Year’s in Israel

By Rotem Bar Community shlicha Every year in December, the same topic comes up. Is it okay to celebrate Silvester in Israel? Wait, Silvester? Yes! Silvester! The 31st of December, which you may know as New Year’s Eve, is referred to as “Silvester” in Israel. This name is used in other countries around the world, too, mainly in Europe in countries like Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and more. This name was used in Israel even before establishment during the British mandate. It is surprising that the name was adopted specifically in Israel, since it is named after Pope Sylvester I, who was a priest, a resident of Rome, who was elected pope from 343-314 A.D. Dec. 31 is a day the Catholic church chose to honor him. A number of myths have been linked to Pope Sylvester's name, some of which are probably true and others that seem to be a bit imaginary. Among those myths is his hatred towards the Jews, one that I can buy and would assume has some truth to, but from there on there are many tales of the horrible things Pope Sylvester has done, and after reading many different sources for this article, I feel very confused into which are

true and which are false. I also found it interesting that I got different results searching in English versus Hebrew. I am sure you can figure out where there was more information about Sylvester being “a Jew Hater.” Ever since I was old enough, I celebrated Silvester. It seemed to me like most people around me did, even though that wasn’t really the case in other places around the country. You see, the 1st of January isn’t a national holiday in Israel, and isn’t even acknowledged on the Israeli calendar. Everyone goes to work and school like any other regular day (except Christians who are entitled to take the day off by law if they wish to). I remember that the week before, we would be reminded in high school by our teachers that even though some of us might be celebrating Silvester, that is not an excuse for skipping school the next day. It was then that I heard for the first time voices that expressed why I shouldn’t mark this night as a special occasion or celebrate it. Some Jews in Israel see the Silvester celebration as a sign of national and religious assimilation, mainly because it is a non-Jewish holiday. I first heard about the connection to the “evil” Sylvester, but that was not the only reason I was told not to celebrate

it. I was told this celebration also marks the beginning of the Christian count, and we already have our Jewish new year, so why do we need to celebrate a different one? To simplify things, I was basically told this is not a day that Jews need to celebrate, and therefore we all need to be in school. Yet, we too follow the Gregorian Calendar as well at the Hebrew one, and many around me did and do celebrate Silvester. Not just in Israel but also in other places around the world, the celebrations have no religious or ideological significance and are celebrated by people of all religions. So why not celebrate? Also, I was never one to turn down a good party ... For many years, religious entities have tried to dissuade bodies and institutions from holding Silvester parties in Israel, and yet the popularity of these celebrations in the Israeli public has grown over the years. As in many places around the world, celebrations are held in Israel and do not carry a religious character but more of a party character. Unlike other countries, the celebrations in Israel are not marked by public street parties and fireworks but more at private parties, nightclubs and banquets. Also, many Israeli-Russians continue to celebrate Novi Goode that night as they did in the former USSR, a holiday that carries a family character and a message of joy and success for the new year and has nothing to do with religion. So, despite the controversy, Silvester/New Year celebrations are found across Israel! I celebrate, as do many other Israelis. We might be at the office by 8 a.m. on the 1st of January, but that never stopped us Israelis from having a fun night of celebrations! I hope everyone that celebrates has had a wonderful evening and start to 2020!

Happy Happy2019! 2019! Happy 2019! Allentown & Lebanon Allentown & Wilkes-Barre Allentown & Lebanon Allentown & Wilkes-Barre Allentown & Lebanon Allentown & Wilkes-Barre

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The beauty of building a Jewish life

CANTOR ELLEN SUSSMAN Temple Shirat Shalom

One of my favorite leisure time activities is to go window shopping. I also like to have pretty things. I like jewelry, clothes and make-up. I enjoy fixing up my house and finding things that just fit and add that certain something to a room. But, I had an interesting experience the other day. I went with a friend to a store associated with the Saks Fifth Avenue warehouse. Supposedly you can get incredible bargains of designer purses and clothes. People line up

early in the morning and travel from far away to get that really great bargain. They also rush into the store when the doors open and are not very gracious and will push ahead to get that perfect purse. There are those who buy the stuff and resell it on eBay. This is their job. I thought this would be a fun day with a good friend; a day of frivolity. Unfortunately, I hated it and felt bad; but why? I was brought up in Roslyn, Long Island:

Retirement living that’s a little

the “Guilded Ghetto” as it was called at the time. My parents were one of the founding members of the Shelter Rock Jewish Community Center. This congregation became quite prominent in the Conservative movement. The congregants were primarily Holocaust survivors. They were businessmen married to stay-at-home moms. My parents were different because they were highly educated professionals born in New York City. Everyone was living the American Dream: a house in the suburbs and an upper middle class existence. They were all proud of what they had accomplished, and for that reason they loved to adorn their wives with beautiful jewelry, clothes and furs. However, that was not what was important to them. They were the people who built the JCC, Federation and all the large synagogues on the Island. The women built ORT, Hadassah

Hospital and synagogue sisterhoods. Judaism was paramount, for they knew from experience that in a twinkle of an eye Judaism could be obliterated from the world. They were serious philanthropic individuals. Although their education was cut short because of the Shoah, education was the most important thing in the home. My mother was one of the few college-educated women in our neighborhood. Her friends, however, made sure their daughters were college-educated, and most ended up with graduate degrees. To those I grew up with, the ring or the bracelet was nice but they would never forget their real purpose: to ensure the continuation of the Jewish People and all our values. Let us remember that the bumper sticker that says “He who dies with the most toys wins” is wrong. What it should say is, he who dies having contributed most to the Jewish People wins.

unexpected

We have lively happy hours filled with laughter, chef-prepared meals including regional favorites, and even trips to the theater. Our campuses are filled with lavender from aromatherapy classes, cheers of friendly competitions and residents’ dogs that do tricks. We’re even family owned and involved. It’s all part of what makes life here a little better. We offer a full range of services from independent living to personal care and memory care. But we also do a lot of things a little differently.

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

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10 CM JANUARY 2020 |Hakol HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY Ret Living - Allentown September 10x8 R1.indd 1

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MEGA CONCERT FOSTERS UNITY IN THE LEHIGH

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACLYN DU CHATEAU PHOTOGRAPHY

friends were made. “This event was all about putting the unity in community, and that’s exactly what it did,” said Jeri Zimmerman, executive director of the Jewish Federation. Concert Co-Chairs Aliette Abo, Lauren Rabin and Carol Steinberg were on hand to make sure that the army of volunteers who helped make the night possible had everything they needed to ensure things ran smoothly. Then, they hopped up on stage to welcome the crowd and introduce Hatikva 6. Before long, there were people dancing in the aisles, and a conga line broke out at the climax of the show. Afterwards, sponsors were able to get their pictures taken with the band at an exclusive meet and greet. Thank you to everyone who sponsored, volunteered and attended the concert— #unitybeginswithU!

PHOTO COURTESY OF EDWIN DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACLYN DU CHATEAU PHOTOGRAPHY

The Jewish community of the Lehigh Valley came together for one incredible night celebrating unity on Nov. 21. ArtsQuest’s Musikfest Café in Bethlehem was overflowing with energy, as 400 people across every shade on the spectrum of Jewish life from Easton to Allentown were gathered for the Lehigh Valley CommUNITY Concert. Israeli band Hatikva 6, a frequent topper of the Israeli charts with their global and roots style hits, wowed the crowd with their enthusiasm. At one point, lead singer Omri Glikman even walked out into the audience to snatch up a bottle of wine before returning to the stage to lead the room in a toast. But, before the show even started, spirits were up thanks to the snacks, drinks and décor provided by the concert’s many generous sponsors and the schmoozing that was taking place left and right as old friends caught up with each other and new

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS MULTI-PLATINUM ALBUM SPONSORS

Wendy & Ross Born

Bonnie & Bobby Hammel

PLATINUM ALBUM SPONSORS Beth & Howard Kushnick/ Zissu Family Foundation

Aliette & Marc Abo

Lisa Scheller

GOLD ALBUM SPONSORS

Carrie and Richard Toltzis

American Friends of Ariel University Chicken Lounge Fischmann Family Pamela Averick and John Jaffe Beth and Wes Kozinn Susan and Richard Master Susan and Sydney Muskat

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Lauren and Doron Rabin Carol and Alan Steinberg Pam Lott & Ron Ticho Warren County Community College Laurie and Robby Wax Valeska and Israel Zighelboim

DEMO SPONSORS Abraham, Borda, Corvino, Butz, LaValva & Co. Marsha and Alan Abraham Barbara and Gary Asteak Balloons by Paulette Bella Casa Bernstein Fashions Laura and Bob Black Block Insurance Co. Sara-Jane and David Bub Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo Iris and Jon Epstein Margee and Ari Forgosh Lisa and Barnet Fraenkel Dr. Robert Friedman Carol Bub Fromer and Gary Fromer Sharon Glassman and Maria DeFebo-Edwards Sandra and Harold Goldfarb Ellen and Phil Hof Hof & Reid Just Born Binae Karpo Deborah and Andrew Kimmel Suzanne Lapiduss Judith Rodwin Lehigh Valley Center for Sight

Lesavoy Butz & Seitz Susan and Marc Levin Eva and Larry Levitt Alyssa Abo Lubitz and David Lubitz and Madison & Morgan Molly’s Irish Grille and Sports Pub Judy and Alan Morrison Amy and Rich Morse Norris McLaughlin, P.A. NuGo Nutrition Ilana and Eric Rabin Keren and Noemi Rabin The Restaurant Store Nicole and Jarrod Rosenthal Jessica Abo Shainfeld and Brett Shainfeld and Alexa Glynis and Mervyn Shainfeld ShopRite of Bethlehem Rebecca and Ross Silver Tama and Frank Tamarkin Stefanie and Darren Traub Samantha Waldman Vicki Wax Marie Ann and David Wendells Ilene Wood Working Dog Press Haley and Joel Zimring

VALLEY JEWISH COMMUNITY

PHOTO COURTESY OF EDWIN DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACLYN DU CHATEAU PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO COURTESY OF EDWIN DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACLYN DU CHATEAU PHOTOGRAPHY

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LETTERS FROM A LONE SOLDIER

Three Thanksgivings for one lone soldier By Helaina Zahn Special to HAKOL It was tough not being with family over Thanksgiving, and I was dreading not even being in the United States. Israel celebrates many amazing holidays, but of course American Thanksgiving is not one of them. I discovered that this just means that the Americans in Israel find a way to celebrate together. Technically, I had three Thanksgivings this year. One put on by the Lone Soldier Center, one by my friend's host grandmother and one by my garin. On the Thursday of Thanksgiving, I attended the Lone Soldier Center Thanksgiving, along with lots of other soldiers who were probably missing their American families. It was in Jerusalem and was held at the First Station under a big tent. There was a live band, catering of Thanksgiving food by a famous kosher restaurant in Jerusalem called Crave, and Defense Minister Naftali Benit spoke. It was really fun, but more like a big party and definitely not a real Thanksgiving dinner. Friday, I went to my friend's host grandmother's house, who I really like and have bonded with during a previous dinner. She took the time before I drafted to come and teach

me conversational Hebrew for a few weeks. This dinner was sit-down with traditional holiday dishes, with the exceptional addition of really spicy Moroccan fish. I tried to make pumpkin pie, and in the end succeeded, but not in time to bring the actual thing to dinner. Very unfortunate, because I went and didn't bring anything to my host. I felt the Jewish woman in me crying. In a nutshell, my cooking disaster went like this: I added rice to the dough by accident because the recipe said I have to weigh down the crust while pre-baking and that rice would be perfect for this. Silly me didn't put parchment paper down on the crust before pouring the rice over, and it ended up seeping into the dough. No one wants to eat rice-y pumpkin pie! A real disaster! I ended up making the pie in time for my third Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday night with my garin. Shown in the picture is my garin celebrating together. We held a potluck, and while I am a vegetarian and didn't eat the turkey, I was told it was quite good. My pumpkin pie was a hit! It was very special to celebrate one of my favorite holidays with my new family in Israel, but I missed my family in America A LOT! Thanksgiving has always been a holiday with many memories. We actually have

pictures and videos of our extended family gatherings because it is the one holiday we get together that is not Shabbat or Chag. There was a Thanksgiving where the dog got locked in a bathroom and we fed him string cheese through the bottom of the door, a Thanksgiving where someone pushed the panic button by accident and we didn't know how to turn off the blaring alarm that followed, and a Thanksgiving where we wrote what we were grateful for and baked our grateful sentences inside rolls. All in all, Thanksgiving is a holiday I really wish I could have celebrated in

America because, as we all know, it is an American holiday. I am very glad, though, that I got to spend it here with my multiple new families that I love and appreciate so much. There is so much to be grateful for, and I hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving and happy Chanukah and a glorious beginning of 2020! Editor’s note: Helaina Zahn is an Allentown native who attended Hebrew school at Temple Beth El and graduated from Parkland High School. She graduated from Temple University before making aliyah and joining the IDF.

SteelStacks is the perfect venue for your Bar or Bat Mitzvah! SteelStacks is the perfect venue for your next event. The ArtsQuest Center and the surrounding campus is an ideal location to host a spectacular social or corporate experience your guests will be talking about for years. From the first hello to the final farewell – every detail is handled by ArtsQuest’s courteous hospitality professionals.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JANUARY 2020 17

PARTNERSHIP2GETHER UPDATE FROM YOAV

Despite the dangers we face, Yoav keeps on dancing By Nurit Galon Partnership2Gether Shalom to our partners and friends in Lehigh Valley! The early mornings and evenings are wintery cold here in Yoav, though the middle of the day is still sunny and warm. But where is the desperately needed rain? Hopefully it will still come and fill our reservoirs and rivers and nurture our fields. From Nov. 12-14, we once again found ourselves in a “mini war.” Once again, rockets from Gaza immobilized half the country, with learning in all our schools and universities in the south cancelled and

families once again confined to the “safe” rooms. The Yoav Municipality, as always, was well-organized, giving all the residents a feeling of security, though our hearts went out to the people in the Gaza strip area, for whom every other day is a mini war. As suddenly as it started, life was back to normal—until the next time. At the end of November, over 30 counselor graduates of the Lehigh Valley JCC summer camp met in a touching and exciting reunion, some of them already parents with children of their own. Of course, there was lots of nostalgia, with the counselors sharing what the experience meant to them.

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All spoke of the friends and families they now have in the Lehigh Valley; of the amazing experience—”it was the best in

my life!”; of the understanding it had given them of life in America; of their increased pride of living in Israel; and how many of them had gone on to be emissaries in other parts of the U.S. From its conception, we considered this project to be the jewel in the crown of our Partnership. Our Partnership is very dynamic, and two projects in particular are moving ahead. “Under the Same Moon,” which encourages children in our schools to share their lives and experiences, is thriving and will continue throughout the coming year. “On the Same Page” is an innovative and creative book club led by Adina Re’em (who recently visited us) in the Lehigh Valley and Ravit Blidstein from Kibbutz Kfar Menachem. The two groups in each place read the same book—in English and Hebrew—and then meet in a video conference to share their impressions and thoughts about what they have read. At the first conference, 17 participants from Al-

lentown together with seven from Yoav found much to discuss. The second conference will be in two months, and those interested can contact Ravit and Adina for details. The books chosen by Adina and Ravit concern Jewish and Israeli identity, and future books will also be written by American Jewish writers and translated into Hebrew. Other recent highlights in our community include: Our senior citizens were recently treated to an evening with the songs of Simon and Garfunkel, and age certainly didn’t stop anyone from dancing! The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women was also recognized in Yoav. And our Tzafit High School contributed to global ecology by deciding no more throw away utensils but instead, they now have beautiful green plates and cups, etc. Perhaps we’ll all follow their example! May the Chanukah lights shine on our Lehigh Valley partners and families and be truly a holiday of peace!

AZA kicks off a fun new year — and membership soars By Jake Wiener AZA As our BBYO year has kicked off, we have already had so many opportunities to meet new

people, to volunteer and to have fun, and we are not even halfway through our fiscal year. In our community, the chapter has and will continue to serve as a volunteer organization. We have two dates planned in the spring to run services at the B’nai B’rith houses, and we are looking forward to working with Jewish Family Service to implement volunteer opportunities for Jewish teens in the Lehigh Valley. Allentown AZA kicked off the year with our own Fall Kickoff

Event. We had a spikeball tournament, CanJam game, Shabbat service, food and more. This coed event was the perfect way to start off the year, and is one of the reasons our membership is soaring this year! We are definitely planning to model future events after our kickoff to continue to retain our new members. Liberty Region kicked off the BBYO year with their own event at the Concourse Dance Bar in Philadelphia. There were several dinner options, a ball pit, a DJ and hundreds of Jewish teens from our region. It was a great opportunity for new members to meet other new members, as well as to connect with some friends we have made in the past year. The event as a whole was a success, as over 300 teens attended the party, and they hope to get most of these teens back for the upcoming conventions. Stay tuned for upcoming news and events; you do not want to miss out! If you have any questions regarding upcoming events or about signing up for BBYO, please contact allentownaza@gmail.com or jakewiener26@ gmail.com.

An exciting end of the decade for BBG By Stefania Schoen BBG December was an incredible month for Allentown BBG! On Dec. 3, as people all over the nation engaged in #GivingTuesday, so did BBYO. All over the world, regions of BBYO raised donations for BBYO to use to better its programs. Many BBGs in Allentown signed up to participate as ambassadors, and Liberty Region surpassed its goal by almost $1,700! On Thursday, Dec. 5, Allentown BBG and Allentown AZA started getting excited about Liberty Region BBYO’s biggest convention of the year: Tournies. Every spring, all of the chapters in the region gather together to compete in a range of competitions: from basketball to cake decorating and everything in between! This year, the convention will be hosted by the two Allentown BBYO chapters, so—to build up hype—teens from Allentown BBG and Allentown

AZA got together for a cookie-decorating contest and board games! While parents gathered for a meeting led by Regional Director Jared Rosenbloom, Associate Regional Director Genna Miller sat in on the teen event. On Saturday, Dec. 7, Allentown BBGs gathered to celebrate Global Shabbat. Every year, chapters all over the world gather together to celebrate Global Shabbat as one. This year, Liberty Region BBYO had a New Member Weekend, so Allentown BBG celebrated early! We held a Havdallah dinner—complete with matzah ball soup and mashed potatoes—and a Havdallah service and yoga practice led by our sh’licha (vice president of Judaics) and yoga instructor trainee, Pandora Schoen. This was one of our more successful events this year, and we hope to keep up this momentum well into the new decade. Speaking of the new decade, Allentown BBG had its “End of Decade” holiday party on Tuesday, Dec. 10. We decorated doughnuts, exchanged presents, and planned some exciting New Year’s resolutions for ourselves and for our chapter. You won’t want to miss what Allentown BBG has to offer this year!

BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Length of a String’

By Sean Boyle JDS Librarian When you are unable to talk with someone directly, it often becomes easier to write to them instead. Elissa Brent Weissman in “The Length of a String” uses written words as substitutes for conversations due to fear, distance and even death. Imani is preparing for her bat mitzvah, and her Hebrew school class is tasked to study about the Holocaust and then include a section about what they learned in their speeches. Imani’s great-grandmother Anna was a Holocaust survivor from Luxembourg. After great-grandmother Anna’s death, Imani discovers Anna’s diary, written in the form of letters to her sister left behind, starting from when she arrived in the United States after escaping the Nazis. Imani had never known of her great-grandmother’s escape and that she had left behind all of her family, including a twin sister. Imani, herself adopted, begins researching more about her great-grandmother and grows deeper connections to her faith and family while still wondering about her own birth parents. Weissman writes “The Length

of a String” alternating between the present and Anna’s diary entries. The sections of Anna’s narrative are actually identified by horizontal borders in the header and footer of each page. Anna writes her diary entries as if they are letters to her twin, and are less of a reflection of her day as much as her trying to keep her sister informed about everything she’s missed while still in Luxembourg. Anna believes her family will be able to rejoin her after enough money is raised. This gives us a young teenage immigrant’s view of New York City and of her uncles’ fur coat factory. As Imani discovers her greatgrandmother’s past and prepares for her bat mitzvah, she also desperately wants to understand her own personal identity, including her own biological cultural identity. This causes tensions with her parents and leads them to communicating on the topic only through writing. Weissman draws on three experiences for her inspiration of Imani and Anna. First, was growing up with two adopted friends from Mexico and their experiences growing up Jewish. Second, was an NPR show where a caller told a story of how her grandparents saved to send their two children to America and at the last minute the smuggler doubled the prices and they could only send one child. And third, were Weissman’s grandparents’ experiences growing up in New York City in the 1930s and ’40s and of her grandfather as a furrier. Highly recommended for 12120, with special interest for adopted children and families with orphaned childhood survivors of the Holocaust. A copy of “The Length of a String” is available at the Jewish Day School Library. The Length of a String (Weissman, Elissa Brent, New York, Dial Books, 2018, 379p.) HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JANUARY 2020 19

WHAT’S UP, DOC?

Offering hope for stroke treatment By Deborah Kimmel, M.D. Medical Director, Brain Injury Program, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital, Allentown Editor’s Note: Dr. Kimmel will speak about stroke prevention and treatment at a Maimonides Society Brunch on Feb. 9. As a physiatrist at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital specializing in brain injury, I see the impact stroke has on patients and their families every day. A family member recently told me they couldn’t get over the change in their loved one’s abilities after a stroke. It’s a sentiment I hear often. A good portion of my role as a physician is to help patients understand their condition, treatment options and offer hope. Simply put, a stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. The burden of stroke is one of the main challenges for health care providers worldwide. Stroke is ranked as the second most common cause of death globally and the most common cause of acquired disability in adults. Approximately 800,000 people suffer from a stroke in the United States annually. About 600,000 of these are first

attacks and 185,000 are recurrent attacks. Nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65, and stroke risk more than doubles each decade after the age of 55. Modern medicine has made tremendous advances in the treatment of acute stroke. Intravenous thrombolysis opens blocked arteries that supply blood to the brain. Endovascular treatment mechanically can remove occluding blood clots via catheterization. Decompressive craniectomy allows room for swelling of the injured brain. Despite the advances, however, stroke can still result in significant disability, which is where physiatry and specialized stroke care come in. Physiatrists help patients, whose illnesses or injuries have resulted in a physical and/or cognitive disability, to improve their functional abilities and quality of life. In stroke rehabilitation, we strive to facilitate the return of brain function and to teach patients strategies to maximize those functions that do not recover fully. Like any other injured organ, the brain begins to heal as swelling goes down. The brain’s nerve cells that were injured but not destroyed can regain function. In addition, the brain has some plasticity, which is the ability to make new connections to replace the ones that were lost to injury.

Caring FOR YOUR future. Garrett, age 4, future construction worker

It’s important to note that stroke recovery can vary significantly between patients for the simple reason that each patient is infinitely different. We all have different personalities and talents, much of which are controlled by our brains. For this reason, no two people are affected by a stroke in exactly the same way and their rehabilitation needs to be customized to their particular goals. After a stay at an acute-care hospital, many patients transfer to an inpatient rehabilitation facility that specializes in stroke recovery. Depending on the patient’s needs, the stroke rehab team may include a: • Physiatrist, or a physician who specializes in rehabilitation. • Physical therapist who focuses on helping patients regain mobility. • Occupational therapist who helps patients regain upper extremity function, visual perceptual skills and activities of daily living such as dressing and bathing. • Speech therapist who helps patients regain language, cognitive function and the ability to eat safely. • Case manager who works with patients and families to coordinate care, plan for discharge and navigate the health care system. • Psychologist who helps patients and families adjust to their disability and provides emotional support. Stroke patients at Good Shepherd

receive at least three hours of therapy a day during their stay to regain mobility and the ability to eat and care for their personal needs (dressing, toileting and bathing). Once home, they may need additional care in the form of continuing outpatient therapy or care inside the home. While many people recover quickly, I generally tell patients to expect a two-year recovery, with the greatest gains in the first year. Recovery during the second year generally includes adaptation, compensation and acceptance. Stroke can cause significant life change and, like any significant life change, adjustment takes time. While rehabilitation provides help and hope, you can reduce your stroke risk by taking control of your health. Keep your weight, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure in a healthy range by exercising and eating right. Specifically: • Keep your blood pressure less than 120/80. • Keep your cholesterol in a good range; total cholesterol should be under 200 mg/dL, while LDL (bad) cholesterol should be under 100 mg/dL and HDL (good) cholesterol should be above 60mg/dL. • If you have atrial fibrillation, have it treated. • Get help to stop smoking. • If you have diabetes or predia-

betes, learn how to keep your blood sugar in a normal range. • Start moving. Thirty minutes of aerobic exercise five times a week can make a positive difference in your health. Walking, propelling a wheelchair or using a stationary bicycle is safe for most people. If you have been sedentary for a long time start slowly. Consult with a rehabilitation specialist to learn how to start exercising safely. • Learn how to eat healthy for life and keep your weight in a normal range. The goal is a body mass index, or BMI, of 25 or less. We should all do our best to live a healthy lifestyle, but what happens to us in life is not totally under our control. Know that if you have a stroke, rehabilitation can help you regain function and improve the quality of your life. For more information about stroke rehabilitation, call 1-888-44-REHAB (73422) or visit GoodShepherdRehab. org.

Your children are your future. Having a child is one of life’s most precious experiences. You want only the best for your child. At St. Luke’s Pediatrics, we do too! Our team listens to your concerns, understands your child’s needs, mends broken bones, heals broken spirits and takes care of whatever life brings your way. St. Luke’s Pediatrics delivers the quality and compassionate care you expect for your child, now and for their future. Choose a St. Luke’s Pediatrician today. New patients are always welcome!

Trust St. Luke’s Pediatrics... St. Luke’s Pediatric Primary Care Practices Conveniently located in your neighborhood. Find a location close to you! St. Luke’s Pediatric Specialists when your child needs specialty care. St. Luke’s Pediatric Inpatient Unit 24/7/365, in-hospital pediatric physician coverage.

sluhn.org/pediatrics • 1-866-STLUKES

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St. Luke’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Brand new unit opening in 2020 so your child can receive advanced care close to home.

PRACTICING MINDFULNESS WITH JCC PRE-K

By Stephanie Bolmer HAKOL Editor The pre-K classroom at the Jewish Community Center is a bit more peaceful these days. This is the third school year that teacher Holly Hebron has been teaching her students mindfulness after learning about it from a parent who specializes in it, Dr. Christine Gorigoitia. What is mindfulness? Mindful.org, the website of a nonprofit called Mindful dedicated to educating the world about its benefits, defines it as “the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.” Upstairs at the JCC, it looks like a dozen 4-year-olds gathering for circle time to the calming sound of rain and a pan flute. “What’s that sound?” Hebron asked them as they found their

spots on the rug, tuning them into the relaxing music. Then, she passed a singing bowl around to them, as one by one they each got a turn to ring it once. All of the children followed Hebron’s example of taking deep breaths as the high-pitched gong filled the air. “If you like to close your eyes, you may close your eyes,” Hebron told the circle. Next, she read them a book entitled “Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda” by Lauren Alderfer. The whole objective of mindfulness is summed up perfectly in the simple story of a monkey who is always thinking of something other than what he is doing and wants to be happy like his panda friend—who explains that his happiness lies in only focusing on the present moment. These are just a few ways that the pre-K class practices mindfulness. There are also “one-person” spaces throughout the room

where children can go to calm down alone with a book or their own thoughts. Throughout the day, if things are getting a little too agitated, they can practice “five-finger breathing”—taking deep breaths in and out as they trace each finger on one of their hands with the other. Sometimes they play instruments, or hold a rock or gemstone. Another favorite practice is yoga. The children in the circle got to their feet and took turns to demonstrate different poses. As they stood in the warrior pose, they repeated the mantras that Hebron chanted: “I am strong. I am kind. I am playful. I am curious. I am happy.” “There are many different ways of practicing mindfulness, you just have to find what works for you,” Hebron said after the class moved on to their next activity. Mindfulness is not just child’s play—Hebron has seen a difference in her class since she began the program, and it can make a positive difference in your well-being, too. In addition to the practices that the pre-K does, Hebron recommended other simple ways for adults to try out mindfulness, such as through a meditation phone app. Her favorite is Insight Timer, but Calm and Headspace are also extremely popular options. Mindful claims that “both science and experience demonstrate its positive benefits for our health, happiness, work and relationships,” so learn from the wisdom of children and give it a try today!

YOGA FOR BEGINNERS AT TBE By Bayley Carl JFLV Marketing & Engagement Associate “The light in me honors the light within you.” Temple Beth El is kicking off the New Year by hosting an Iyengar Yoga course. Yoga became somewhat of a staple at TBE after Rabbi Moshe Re’em introduced classes to the congregation.

Iyengar Yoga focuses on posing, stretching and arm work and is perfect for beginners. Students are asked to bring their own yoga mats, towels, yoga blocks and a yoga belt to all classes. Iyengar Yoga classes begin Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 5:30 p.m. at TBE. The course is eight weeks long, and classes will take place every Tuesday evening.

HEALTHFUL SALMON BY SANDI TEPLITZ

INGREDIENTS: 6 – 6 oz. pieces of North Atlantic salmon 1 – 6 oz. bag of natural salt and vinegar potato chips, crushed by hand Olive oil spray White, green and purple asparagus spears, parboiled Honey (optional) TECHNIQUE: Line a broiler pan with heavy duty foil. Lightly spray olive oil on the surface. Place the salmon pieces on the foil, and spray with oil. Divide the chips among the six portions, spray again with oil, and bake at 400 degrees until almost done. Add the asparagus spears and bake for about five more minutes. Right before serving, drizzle with honey, if desired. Serve accompanied by tomato juice spiked with Sriracha sauce and a celery stick.

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Chanukah miracle

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specialist, volunteering with the Boy Scouts and traveling with his family. He was one of the lucky ones. His disease progressed slowly, but for many others, the decline can be much quicker. Even so, after several years of living with the disease, his lunchtime walks were traded for naps, and he started doing pulmonary rehabilitation to prepare him for his transplant and using oxygen. He worked up until the day of his transplant, with a 50-foot hose connecting him to an oxygen concentrator so he could move freely about his office. “I pushed myself,” ZiontsBernstein said of his rehab work, “because I knew every bit of that was going to help me in my recovery post-transplant. I didn’t let [needing more and more oxygen] discourage me.” Finally, in December of 2014, Zionts-Bernstein received his miracle. “I had just left work and was on my way to pulmonary rehab on this Tuesday afternoon, and my phone rang,” said Zionts-Bernstein. “And it said ‘no caller ID,’ so I chose not to answer it, not thinking it could be ‘the call.’” Driving on the ramp to the interstate, Zionts-Bernstein checked his voicemail. The first words he heard were, “Brian, we have lungs for you.” “I started crying, with joy and fear for myself, for Kym,

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for Sam, for my in-laws, and with sadness, too, for the donor and donor family.” Zionts-Bernstein, who now regularly speaks at schools and hospitals in support of organ donation, doesn’t take the gift he received lightly. “The donor family made a decision to honor their loved one’s choice to be a donor. To give the gift of life, and I happen to benefit from that, and I am so appreciative, we are all so appreciative,” said ZiontsBernstein. “That donor is my hero, but all donors are heroes.” It wasn’t an easy recovery for Zionts-Bernstein. His surgery went well, but complications arose which led him to spend two weeks in a sedated state at the hospital. Fearing he may has had a stroke, he was subjected to many CAT scans and MRIs. Finally, he was able to start physical therapy and build up his strength again. This didn’t happen without a fair bit of vomiting first, however. “My physical therapist in the ICU was a super guy, I had a great time with him,” recalled Zionts-Bernstein, “but one day after I had just finished throwing up, he came in and said, ‘Brian, finish up, we’re going for a walk.’ I gave him a look with daggers in my eyes.” The PT did indeed get Zionts-Bernstein leaning on a high-rise walker, and held a basin in front of him while his wife followed behind with a

chair just in case he needed to suddenly sit down. “I walked 65 feet that day, but for me, it was a tremendous walk,” said Zionts-Bernstein. The next day, he went 145 feet, and a month later, that same PT sent a video to the hospital staff on the ICU to show how much progress Zionts-Bernstein was making in his new stepdown unit, where the nurses were ordering him to slow down. That was five years ago. Now, Zionts-Bernstein is doing things like competing in the Transplant Games of America, an annual multi-sport festival event where donation recipients, living donors and donor families compete to help promote the need for organ, eye and tissue donation, and flying in airplanes—no oxygen needed. And, of course, he is actively promoting organ donation with the Gift of Life Donor Program. “Being a speaker for them is very cathartic for me,” ZiontsBernstein explained. “I feel like I’ve been given this gift and I’m paying it forward. I want people to be able to make an educated decision and hope that people will choose to check the box and choose to register and, most importantly, share that with their loved ones so they know your wishes so that they can honor it. Only 47 percent of people in Pennsylvania are registered as organ donors. We need more people to be registered.”