The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community
www.jewishlehighvalley.org
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Issue No. 439
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January 2021
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Tevet/Sh’vat 5781
AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977
Get self-care ideas for this winter in our special Health & Wellness section p12-13
See the smiles of PJ Library families celebrating Chanukah p17
FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN p3 WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY p4 LVJF TRIBUTES p8 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p10-11 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p14-15 JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p16 COMMUNITY CALENDAR p22-23
Super Sunday is coming to you live Virtual program to honor local superheroes By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Community Development & Operations Super Sunday, the Jewish Federation’s biggest fundraising and community service day of the year, is going virtual. During a 3-hour livestream on Jan. 31, the Federation will be honoring essential workers for the superhero work they perform in our community. The livestream, which will be broadcast on YouTube and Facebook, will also highlight the Federation’s beneficiaries and feature performances, donor spotlights and special
messages. Dana Cohen and Naomi Schachter, Super Sunday co-chairs, will be emceeing the broadcast. Supporters will have the opportunity to text to give throughout the day. While the livestream is underway, volunteers will be at home “making the call.” They’ll have the opportunity to pick up their volunteer kits at the JCC that morning between 9 and 11 a.m. before heading home to call, text and email donors, asking for their support of the 2021 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs. Also that morning, children can swing
by the JCC to drop off their tzedakah and pick up PJ Library kits for a 3 p.m. event on Zoom. The event will also focus on essential workers and feature PJ parents sharing their stories, a game of bingo, a craft and a story. The Federation will also be collecting a much-needed item for the Jewish Family Service Community Food Pantry – deodorant. “While this Super Sunday will undoubtedly be different, we are excited for what we have in store,” said Aaron Goro-
dzinsky, director of campaign and security planning for the Jewish Federation. To sign up to volunteer or for PJ Library, visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org/supersunday. To see the Livestream, beginning at 12 p.m, like the Jewish Federation on Facebook and YouTube.
Getting ready for the COVID-19 vaccine
By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor It has now been a year since COVID-19 reached North America, and soon, the longawaited vaccine will be available across the United States. Dr. Bill
Markson, president of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Maimonides Society, is a cardiologist, but he is still taking the opportunity to talk to every patient who enters his office about the vaccine. He has also invited local immunology experts Non-Profit Organization
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to speak on the subject at the next Maimonides event on Feb. 21. “Our current crisis and absence of normality really won't change until we achieve some sort of herd immunity,” said Markson. That will only happen in one of two ways – by allowing everyone to contract coronavirus, which will lead to even more illness and death than the over 300,000 lives already lost this year in this country alone, or by having a majority of people vaccinated. So ultimately, “it’s only people getting vaccinated that will help save people.” The good news is that the COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved so far have efficacy rates that are much higher than the flu vaccines which millions receive each year. Markson explained that both of the first two vaccines to be approved, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, use very unique methods. “Traditional vaccines use either a live but weakened virus or a dead virus, inducing immunity when your lymph cells are later able to recognize and catch the same particles and not let them get into your cells,” said Markson. While some of the COVID-19 vaccines waiting to be greenlit operate this way, not all do. In contrast, some of them use a different technology, where proteins which are very similar to those of coronavirus are introduced, essentially mimicking the virus
without actually introducing it to your system. “This new technology [existed before, but] has never been tried on this scale,” said Markson. While some of the early vaccines offered require two doses, there are some developing which will only require one. Markson noted that there are vaccines for other diseases, such as shingles, which require two doses and are currently given regularly, so people should be used to the idea of following up for their second shot. While Markson admits that there are still a lot of unanswered questions about COVID-19, he is confident that as 2021 unfolds, we will keep learning more about the best practices available. In the meantime, he says he is “absolutely” getting the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available. “This is a real public health crisis,” said Markson. “Based on everything we know so far from well-scrutinized data, the risk from the vaccine is extremely low, and the benefit of all of us having it is extremely high. Very few of us in our daily lives live completely risk-free lives – we drive, we cross the street, we take reasonable risk in order to live. And I think we should be taking reasonable risk for society to live. The benefit of not spreading coronavirus to a vulnerable person and their family is really great.” If 70% of people get the vaccine, Markson estimates that we
can reach herd immunity by late spring or early summer. As to questions about vaccines in relation to Jewish law and practice, Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner, who formerly led Congregation Sons of Israel in Allentown and who has lectured on the subject, gave some insight. “Jewish law, in general, is very much in favor of vaccination, and in general, the Torah is filled with requirements to look after one’s own health and the health of others. This includes preventive actions to avoid becoming ill, and vaccination very much fits into that picture,” said Torczyner. The protocol in Jewish law for determining medical interventions includes looking to the medical establishment to see what they think. This is something that goes back to the Talmud, according to Torczyner. If somebody becomes ill on Yom Kippur and there is a question of whether they should eat, seeking medical advice is part of the protocol there, he explained, and that approach runs all the way through to present day when determining what it is safe. “When the benefits far outweigh the risks, it becomes the duty of every Jew to be vaccinated,” said Torczyner. To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider or visit cdc.gov. Register for the Maimonides brunch on Feb. 21 at jewishlehighvalley.org.
WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY
New-ish Jewish women celebrate Chanukah
Women's Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation brought "new-ish" Jewish women together for Chanukah. The group met on Dec. 17 to learn about the holiday and share their own Chanukah memories. They welcomed special guest Jeanette Eichenwald, a longtime community educator, who told the moving story of a unique family menorah. The group meets regularly and is open to any women who are new to the Lehigh Valley Jewish community or just looking to get more involved. Contact Stephanie Smartschan at stephanie@ jflv.org to learn more.
Let’s get cooking with Israel’s celebrity chefs By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Community Development & Operations Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation is taking you on a virtual international culinary journey with four celebrity chefs on the Israeli and American scenes this winter. The four-part series, which will run on Tuesday evenings, will explore Moroccan, Yemenite, Persian, Tunisian and Ashkenazi recipes and culinary inspirations. The series will kick off on Jan. 19 with Einat Admony, “the ultimate balaboosta.” Admony is the chef and owner of Balaboosta, a fine-dining Middle Eastern restaurant, and the beloved falafel chain Taim. She is also the author of two cookbooks: “Balaboosta” and “Shuk.” She will be cooking Moroccan-spiced fish and Yemenite salad with fenugreek-yogurt dressing and ja'ala. On Jan. 26, “the spice master” Lior Lev-Sercarz will be making freekah and feta salad, charred eggplant and labneh parfait. LevSercarz is the chef, spice blender and owner of La Boîte, a biscuits and spice shop in New York City. LevSercarz and La Boîte have been featured in publications including The New York Times, Vogue, In Style
Magazine, Every Day with Rachel Ray, Food & Wine Magazine and the SAVEUR 100. He is the author of “The Art of Blending, The Spice Companion,” and his most recent book, “Mastering Spice,” was named one of the best cookbooks of the year by The New York Times Book Review. Meat-stuffed artichokes,
sumac-scented fennel and tangerine salad will be on the menu on Feb. 2 when Danielle Renov of “Peas, Love & Carrots” gets cooking. Renov is the blogger and influencer behind the popular website and social media brand of that name, where she shares delicious and approachable recipes, lifestyle tips and hacks and more. Half Moroccan and half Ashkenazi, Renov is a living melting pot of the cultures she was born into and those she now lives among in Israel. The series will conclude on Feb. 9 with Adeena Sussman, author of “Sababa: Fresh, Sunny Flavors from My Israeli Kitchen,” which was named a Best Fall 2019 cookbook by The New York Times, Bon Appetit and Food & Wine Magazine. She is currently working on her follow up to Sababa, all about the foods of Shabbat. The co-author of 11 cookbooks, Sussman’s three most recent collaborations, including “Cravings” and “Cravings: Hungry for More with Chrissy Teigen,” were New York Times best-sellers. She will be making her mother’s “irresistible” peach kuchen and chewy tahini blondies. $36 per household for the entire series, which will be presented virtually and is open to all. Visit www.jewishlehighvalley. org/cooking to register.
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Moments in Jewish History series continues journey through time By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor The “Moments in Jewish History” series co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and The Berman Center for Jewish Studies at Lehigh University continued to educate as it presented its second and third installments. The second lecture was "Who Was a Jew: Jewish Diversity in the Second Temple Period" with Dr. Ben Wright from Lehigh University on Nov. 23. Wright holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania with an international reputation as a scholar. Wright explained how the Second Temple period of history was relatively ignored for years in scholarship due to its lack of inclusion in the Protestant Bible. Within Jewish tradition, the solidification of rabbinic Judaism as normative also led to frequent skips from Hebrew Bible to the rabbis. But Jews lived in every major city of the Mediterannean and many remained in Babylon and other areas during this period. The main point Wright hoped to make in his lecture was that “we in the modern world are not so different from those in antiquity.” He argued that by looking at how ancient Jews dealt with constructing their own lives and their own Judaism, we can gain insight into how we construct our own lives. In antiquity, Judaism featured its own version of the modern concept of “globalization.” The rapid mixing of different peoples can lead to strains in society in many ways. Jews in the Second Temple period had to confront many of the same challenges that we face in present times. Jews lived throughout Egypt during the Ptolemaic period. They adapted well to their new surroundings, leading to the Septuagint, the translation of the Hebrew Torah into Greek. This helps us to think about how Jews in Egypt dealt with living as a minority culture there. It also helps us understand how the Bible has been interpreted throughout the ages. In the third lecture of the series entitled “Ages Upon Ages: Multiple Worlds and Historical Epochs in Medieval Kabbalah,” the organizer of the program, Dr. Hartley Lachter, who is the director of the Berman Center, jumped the discussion much farther in time into the Common Era. Lachter focused on the early 14th to 16th centu-
ries, when many Jews were exposed to Jewish mysticism, or Kabbalah. He explored Jewish theories of time and of the universe, including the theory that there could be multiple ages or series of time and multiple universes. Lachter also spoke of the difference between history and memory. “Sacred histories are much less about recent events and generally talk about much further in the past and don't conform to what we think of as a chronicle,” he said. Expounding on the many mysterious theories of time in Kabbalah, Lachter presented the audience with much food for thought in understanding the medieval Jewish frame of mind. “This was how medieval Jews told their history. For them, Jewish historical setbacks were not a sign of the universe somehow moving backwards but by suffering setbacks, medieval Kabbalists believed they were in fact moving the universe forward,” Lachter explained. In both sessions, audience members had the opportunity to do a Q&A session with the presenters after their lectures. The next of the “Moments in Jewish History” talks is on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. with Dr. Roslyn Weiss of Lehigh University presenting "Thinking About God Through a Rabbinic Lens: Maimonides (12th C.) and Hasdai Crescas (14th C.) on Berakhot 33b."
Chef Michael Solomonov returns for Chanukah Chef Michael Solomonov of Philadelphia’s Zahav shared his culinary prowess with the Jewish community again on Dec. 2, this time with a Chanukah cooking demonstration. After his smash hit demo for the High Holidays, Solomonov agreed to return for Chanukah. He will also make an encore appearance in 2021 for Passover. Solomonov, a James Beard award winner, showed viewers how to make Abe Fisher’s potato latkes, borrowing a recipe from another of his restaurants. He also made apple shrub, roman artichokes with arugula and olive oil, poached salmon and sfenj (Moroccan dough-
nuts) with cinnamon and sugar. Join Solomonov for more holiday recipes on March 16 at 8 p.m. The Passover program is provided
to the Lehigh Valley Jewish community as a gift from the Jewish Federation. To register and receive the recipes, the Vimeo link and password, visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org/cooking.
To sign up for the series, visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org. Cost is $54/household, and recordings of past talks will be available.
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Community shaliach introduces Valley to Israel National Trail By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor Have you dreamt of seeing all of Israel? Community shaliach Gavriel Siman-Tov has introduced the Lehigh Valley Jewish community to one of the best ways to do just that. Through a threepart Zoom series, Siman-Tov gave a virtual tour of the Israel National Trail. In the first part of the series on Dec. 1, SimanTov gave an overview of the trail. The Israel National Trail runs the entire length of the country of Israel. From lush waterfalls in the north to the bustling coastal city of Tel Aviv to the stark beauty of the southern desert, you really can experience all that Israel has to offer just by following the route. Siman-Tov spoke of his experience walking different parts of the trail and explained the basics about how it works. There are 56 different sections, and you can do one section at a time or the whole thing at once. If you do that, it would take about two months walking around 12.5 miles per day. Along the way, you’d see mountains, forests, cities, villages, settlements, streams, springs, historical sites and unique natural phenomena. In fact, the markers for the trail are a unique combination of three colored stripes: white for the snow of the northern mountains, blue for the Mediterranean Sea and orange for the desert. “Every few miles, you will see it on trees, light poles, rocks, barrels, whatever is there— those markers are your guiding line for how to walk on the right path. When orange is higher,
we are heading south, and when white is higher, we are heading north, so you can easily know which way you are walking,” explained SimanTov. But it’s not just nature you will encounter on the Israel National Trail. “I can assure you, you will meet so many different people, unique people from different backgrounds. All combined, this creates what we call ‘the Israeli experience.’ It's not just that you’re going for a hike, you’re going for an experience,” said Siman-Tov. People of all ages can walk sections of the trail at their own pace. One such person was Siman-Tov’s close friend, Shahar Boukris, who recently hiked the entire trail after finishing his service in the Israel Defense Forces before moving to Jerusalem to study. He shared his experience on the trail and gave tips to those who might want to visit during the second part of the Zoom series on Dec. 13 in a conversation led by Siman-Tov. They shared photos of his journey, showing everything from visiting a llama farm to floating in the Dead Sea to the time he almost fell off a cliff. Boukris met people from as far away as Germany and Spain and was welcomed into the home of trail “angels” who feed and house strangers making the trek. Siman-Tov also announced that he would be giving out goody bags on Dec. 14 and 18 to prepare attendees for the third and final installment of the series on Dec. 20, where he would go more into detail about the trail angels and how the trail started and why it's important.
My journey to better health By Gavriel Siman-Tov Community Shaliach As the theme of this month is health and wellness, let me share with you my story growing up. When I was younger, and
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up until I was around 19 years old, I had always been a heavy kid. It’s not that I was sitting at home all day eating junk food—I did a lot of sports every day—but I sure loved to eat and eat a lot each meal. This part about myself I always had an issue with. I was always the biggest kid in my friend group, and I just couldn’t stand it anymore. I tried, I really did try, to do something with it, but I couldn’t find the right way. The years passed, and I did succeed for a bit, and then put the weight back on. At about the same time, both my brother and my cousin were dealing with the same thing, and we all tried to find our way. I think the biggest realization we all made was that it’s too underrated how much what you eat affects you and the way you feel. To be healthy does not necessarily mean to be skinny or “shredded.” For me, it means to eat good food and to move my body, to treat my body right so I can feel much better, and it helped me manage to become healthier. I managed to change my way of living for a more healthy way for me and for my body. I think we all did. My cousin took it to the next level and became a personal trainer so he can help people who were in the same situation as he was, and my brother is also a personal trainer in the IDF, helping soldiers to live a healthier life. This idea of eating and
being more healthy is something that has gotten big in Israel in the past few years. You see more and more products that are advertised as better for your body and more and more gyms are opening. More people are focused on healthy eating and trying to cook more at home than eating out, and more people are talking about becoming vegan. I think I can say that right now, after trying to eat healthy for a few years now, that whenever I’m eating junk food – and don’t get me wrong I do eat junk food – my body feels less energetic than after eating a homemade healthy meal. And yes it might have been because I got used to it, but I’m not the only one who said that. Especially in this time of COVID, when we are all at home all day, it’s so much easier to open our phone and get a delivery, but try and cook something, and try to move a bit more for yourself, for your body. I promise it’s worth it.
Allentown Art Museum welcomes new director
The Allentown Art Museum (AAM), a cornerstone of the Lehigh Valley’s cultural landscape and long-time sponsor of HAKOL, has welcomed a new president and CEO. Max Weintraub, an art museum professional with more than 20 years of experience in both curatorial and educational aspects of museum operation, moved here from Aspen, Colorado, to lead the AAM. In his new position, he will be responsible for the successful operation of the museum, including implementing the organization’s strategic plan; overseeing exhibitions, education and programming; building fundraising and donor capacity; and fostering productive community relationships. Weintraub brings a stellar resume to Allentown. He was senior curator at the Aspen Art Museum in Aspen, where he was responsible for the museum’s exhibition program. Before that he was director and chief curator of the art galleries at the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis. His experience includes eight years as a curator and professor of art history at Hunter College in New York, 10 years as a museum educator at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, and seven years as a museum educator and film educator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. When asked about what led him to his career in art, Weintraub credited growing up in New York City, where he was surrounded by it. “My parents first and foremost exposed me to it and immersed me in it,” he said. “Some of my earliest memories are at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” Born to a Jewish father, Weintraub is proud to identify as a Jew and embraces that part of his personal heritage. “I deeply connect with and identify with that side of my upbringing. I always talk to my father about his
parents, who came over as babies around the turn of the last century as Jewish emigrants from Poland and Romania. I associate my deep commitment to social justice to my father and to the way in which I was brought up,” he said. Weintraub hopes to work toward those goals by increasing the outreach of AAM. “I am delighted and humbled to join the Allentown Art Museum and to become a member of the Lehigh Valley community. I am excited about this opportunity to enhance the museum’s mission as a vital resource for its diverse audiences. I believe in making art accessible and meaningful to all, and I will continue to advance these principals as the AAM grows,” he said. Weintraub puts priority on ensuring that the museum continues to be a resource for the community. “My primary mission first and foremost is to make sure the museum continues to be a catalyst in inclusive representation and positive change in the community we serve,” he said. “What I envision the museum being is this sort of wonderful artistic holding doing programming with various members of the community.” Weintraub’s hiring comes at a forward-looking time for the AAM, which reopened to the public in August using COVID-safe measures and plans a public unveiling of its recently reattributed Rembrandt, “Portrait of a Young Woman,” amid a downtown Allentown rejuvenation that is poised to regain momentum following the pandemic. “It is clear that Allentown is on a positive trajectory with cultural and professional development,” Weintraub said. “The Allentown Art Museum is perfectly poised to help fuel that charge. Because we are perfectly situated between Philadelphia and New York, we can maxi-
mize connections with artist communities that I have worked with for decades. People want a dynamic, intimate, personal experience at a museum – and our size and wonderful world-class collection is perfectly positioned to deliver that.” Weintraub’s education formulated his ties to the Philadelphia area. He holds a Ph.D. in history of art with a focus on modern and contemporary art from Bryn Mawr College. He also has a master’s in history of art with a focus on modern and contemporary art from Bryn Mawr in addition to a master’s in medieval European history from North Carolina State University. His undergraduate bachelor’s degree in history was earned at Haverford College in 1993. Having visited the AAM for the first time in 2015 during a driving snowstorm, Weintraub was left with a strong impression of the Lehigh Valley. “The highways were getting shut down. I made it out, and it was one of the last busses to make it from New York City to the museum. You’d think it would have been a poor turnout from the local community, but it was incredibly well-attended, the energy and enthusiasm was incredible. It was such a memorable moment to see the community support.”
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JFS to offer disability awareness programming
By JFS Staff This year, Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley will be celebrating Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) in February with two virtual events. For the first event, JFS is partnering with the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL) to introduce Supported Decision Making (SDM) to the community. SDM is a viable alternative to guardianship for young adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. While Pennsylvania doesn’t currently have laws to support this program, JFS and CIL are committed to advocating to bring SDM to the Lehigh Valley. This informational discussion will be on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. On Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. via
Zoom, join JFS for “Disability Pride vs. Disability Fix.” The event will focus on how the development and the availability of a “cure” is not always the obvious answer. The discussion will cover a wide range of thought provoking topics including: what is a cure and what is not, how is disability identity affected by a cure, who is the cure meant to help (the answer is usually not the person with disability), and can disability pride be counteracted by the cure movement? The discussion will be moderated by a representative of the disability community and features two people with disabilities: one a bioethicist, and one who is a disability advocate. There will be time at the end for questions to be asked of our panelists. Both events are free to the community. To learn more and register for events, please visit jfslv.org/jdaim or contact info@jflsv.org.
IN HONOR SHERYL AND RANCE BLOCK In honor of the birth of your grandson, Austin Lalak Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald Suzanne Lapiduss JAN EHRICH In appreciation of all that you, Glenn and Noah do Mona and Russ Kaufman JEANETTE EICHENWALD In appreciation for all your efforts to educate Ann Ginsberg JEANETTE AND EDUARDO EICHENWALD In honor of your grandson’s bar mitzvah Karen Kuhn EILEEN AND ROBERTO FISCHMANN In honor of the birth of your grandson Karen Kuhn AARON GORODZINSKY In honor of being chosen as a Charles Bronfman Israel Policy Forum Fellow Bonnie and Bobby Hammel JUDY LASKAR In honor of the birth of your grandchild Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald HARVEY MARANUS In honor of the bar mitzvahs of your grandsons Caleb and Ethan Marilyn Claire ETHEL AND GERALD MELAMUT In honor of the birth of your great
granddaughter Karen Kuhn AMY AND ROBERT MORRISON In honor of the birth of your grandchild Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald JANE SCHIFF In honor of the birth of your grandson Samuel Patrick Watters Sybil and Barry Baiman RICHARD SCHIFF In honor of the birth of your grandson Samuel Patrick Watters Sybil and Barry Baiman BARBARA AND ARTHUR WEINRACH In honor of the marriage of your granddaughter Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald IN MEMORY FATHER (Father of Roz Birnbaum) Randi and Donald Senderowitz ROBERT BINDER (Father of Rebecca Binder) Fay and Michael Kun Ilene and Michael Ringold ALAN BLACK (Husband of Donna Black) Karen Kuhn MARJORIE DENT (Mother of Charlie Dent) Vickie Wax SHEILA EMANUEL (Mother of Michael Silverstein) Mona and Estelle Gubow JANE FRIEDBERG (Mother of Joseph Friedberg)
Proud to offer contactless payments. 9 OFFICES VALLEYWIDE: Allentown • Bethlehem • Easton • Macungie • Nazareth
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Theresa Racek Jackie and Michelle Turner ANITA GOLDMAN (Mother of Brian Goldman) Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald Randi and Donald Senderowitz KEN GREENE (Husband of Ellen Greene) Karen Kuhn MICHELLE MINDLIN LEVINE Michael Molovinsky ROBERT LEVINE (Husband of Cindy Levine) Karen Kuhn PEARL LITWAK (Mother of Howard Litwak) Francee Fuller Carole and Michael Langsam Mimi Roth JOSEPH ROSENFELD (Brother of Michael Rosenfeld) Carole and Michael Langsam MARTHA SEGEL (Wife of Ron Segel, mother of Brian and Julie) Catherine Dematte Karen Kuhn Fay and Michael Kun Ilene and Michael Ringold COREEN SEITMAN (Sister of Terri Goren) Mona and Estelle Gubow Toby Gubow Suzi, Michael, Morgan and Brooke Silverstein
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.
Seeking renewal of body and soul
RABBI SETH PHILLIPS Congregation Keneseth Israel Though the annus horibilis 2020 won’t truly be over until the spring, I applaud the editors of HAKOL for continuing that most venerable of New Year’s traditions, the health and wellness issue! After all, survey says that losing weight continues to be in the top five yearly resolutions along with exercising and eating better. Seen in that light, “How’s your COVID-19?” is less a fatal diagnosis than a curable condition—even pre-vaccine. Hopefully the lockdown, gym closing, stress eating weight gains are less than 19 pounds
for you and the motivation to get your life and body back will remain strong. Mens sana in corpore sano (“a healthy mind in a healthy body”) serves as a warning to those who would seek health and wellness only as gym rats or only as nerds. The need for balance between mind (mens) and body (corpore) is well known in our Jewish tradition with this twist. Though the Roman satirist Juvenal started with the injunction to pray for a healthy mind, the first two daily mentions of HaShem in a Jewish day are for the body. Before Dr. Fauci emphasized washing hands, the first conscious act in a Jewish day is to do so with the bracha “Al n’tilat yadim.” As that phrase literally means “the lifting up or elevating of the hands,” your mom was right that cleanliness is next to godliness. In fact, it is the prerequisite! Then comes “asher yatzar” describing the intricacies of our physical selves and the fragility of flesh. From healthy body, the Siddur proceeds to what separates us from other creatures, a soul—the animating gift from our Creator. Just as we are dependent on HaShem for physical health, so too for our spiritual elevation through
the eternal journey of the soul. The prayers of gratitude and wonder for the daily renewal of body and soul are opportunities that all humanity has, after its own customs and traditions. What makes a day Jewish is the fourth bracha to engage in Torah study. That sequence of four blessings takes us from flesh and blood (hands and body) to b’tzelem elokim (the image of HaShem-soul) to “little lower than angels” (Ps 8:6) when we make the Torah our guide and our goodness. The Siddur then includes three ritualized passages, Torah, Mishnah and Talmud, to (minimally)
satisfy the requirement to study. Reader, a year ago, I went beyond that. On Jan. 5, 2020, I started the 14th Daf Yomi cycle, first in person with a group at Congregation Sons of Israel and then online. The resolution to study a page of Talmud a day has become my anchor in a sea of troubles. Especially since March, I have had a comforting routine, a solidarity with past and current students, a renewed intellectual curiosity, and a grudging acceptance that things which I don’t like still have to be accorded attention. In an overnight delivery world, in a doom and gloom world, I have
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At Country Meadows, we’re keeping retirement living enjoyable while taking all possible precautions. We’re making sure our residents are staying safe and getting the support they need. And, we’re finding new ways to help them stay connected and enjoy life. Our residents can safely socialize with friends, share family visits and stay active. If you have questions about how retirement living can be vibrant and safe at the same time or would just like more information, please contact us today at CountryMeadows.com.
needed to learn patience and humility to commit to a quest that would take me to age 75 with no more certainty than day by day, for 2711 days (G-d willing) there would be another page. We find our comfort where we can and this path has made all the difference. As you contemplate the passage of time, Peter, Paul & Mary remind us that there are many roads to walk down in the quest to become a mensch. Which you choose and how long you can stay on any one matter less than an unswerving dedication to that one step forward away from today. Chazakv’ematz (Be strong and find courage!)
Staying safe Staying connected Staying social
Photos of residents, summer 2020
410 N. Krocks Road, Allentown (minutes from Route 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
Independent Living | Assisted Living & Personal Care* | Memory Care | Restorative Care* | Skilled Nursing** Country Meadows offers services and housing without regard to race, color, religion,disability, marital status, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation or gender. *Forks campus offers Independent Living, Assisted Living & Memory Care. **Nursing & Rehabilitation Center serves Greater Lehigh Valley.
CM-332 Hakol, Welcome, Life, 10”w x 8”h
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Stress-busting recipes
By Sandi Teplitz Special to HAKOL One way to beat the blues is to belong to a book club, read a great book and discuss it with friends. But what happens postdiscussion? That's the time we usually turn to food. So I asked several noted readers and eaters how they've been spending their time, pandemically speaking. Here are the responses. Carole Maisel of Easton, a known foodie, swears by this staff of life which I have renamed "EZ Pandemic Bread"... it is an artisanal find.
EZ Pandemic Bread Ingredients: 1 1/2 c. lukewarm water 3/4 Tbsp. granulated yeast 3 1/4 c. flour 3/4 Tbsp. kosher salt Technique: Stir together everything in a bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Poke a few holes in the wrap and wait 2 hours. Sprinkle a cutting board with flour and place the dough on it. Stretch it out and make a ball. Put the seam side down and let it rest for forty minutes. Dust the bread with flour, and place in a preheated 450 degree oven on a baking sheet for 30 minutes.
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Sue Shaffer of Bethlehem may have been inspired by her recently reviewed Agatha Christie novel when she submitted her recipe for "Disappearing Ghost Cookies." Or maybe they're just so darn good that they vanish quickly.
Disappearing Ghost Cookies Ingredients: ¼ c. granulated sugar 1/2 c. dark brown sugar 1 stick lightly salted butter 1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla 1 c. flour 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt 1 c. old-fashioned oats 1 c. mini chips 12 vegan marshmallows, halved Technique: Mix all ingredients except last three in mixer. Combine thoroughly. With mixer off, add oats and chips. Form 24 balls. Crisscross with fork. Bake 2 sets of 12 on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Put a mallow atop each cookie and bake 1 more minute. Add mini chips for eyes. Toby Juda, also of Bethlehem, knows that we all have a lot to still be thankful for, so at Thanksgiving she accompanied her turkey with these luscious "Cranberry Mushroom Stuffing Balls." I can see this becoming a tradition in my house long after COVID is gone ...
Cranberry Mushroom Stuffing Balls Ingredients: 2 bags soft pareve bread cubes 1/2 c. diced celery 1 c. diced onion oil 3 Tbsp. chicken flavor GW Aces, dissolved in 2 c. hot water and cooled 2 eggs 1 c. each fresh cranberries and sautéed sliced mushrooms Technique: Sauté celery and onions until soft. Transfer to large bowl; add bread and cooled consommé. Add whisked eggs. Mix together and form into large balls. Place on two oiled cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour. Dr. Larry Levitt has been in the same book club for many years, and though they may be meeting virtually now, he is quick to point out that he cannot stop enjoying his wife Eva's "Shakshuka." Hard to spell, easy to enjoy.
Shakshuka Ingredients and technique: Chop a large Spanish onion. Sauté in 2 Tbsp. oil until soft and golden. Add 2 16 oz. cans of tomato sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer over low heat. Drop in 7 eggs and keep simmering until eggs are cooked.
Crying the winter blues: Dealing with SAD this winter
By Debbie Zoller, MSW, LCSW JFS Executive Director This month is January, when we commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. How ironic that Dr. King said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” What is the ultimate measure for each of us as we leave 2020—a year with a pandemic, lives lost, political controversy, racial tensions and economic insecurity? We leave 2020 with the hope of a vaccine, but a long winter ahead. More darkness, cold temperatures and warnings to “stay home and avoid going out unless absolutely necessary.” This follows nine months of coping with a plague that has impacted everyone. So, we are not alone, because many of us feel that way. However, our feelings of social isolation are worse than ever. Social workers who specialize in mental health treatment say while the crisis instills anxiety and depression for many, those who suffer from mental health disorders are being further traumatized by the perceived need to isolate. Sleep issues, increased use of drugs and alcohol, paranoia and lack of exercise are additional consequences of being isolated. Technology helps a lot to keep us connected to our loved ones, but as far as I know, nobody has figured out how to hug through a screen. It can be very therapeutic to give yourself a hug. Wrap your arms
around yourself and feel the human touch. It can be comforting and self-soothing and you deserve it. Interaction is different on Zoom than in a social situation. Teletherapy does provide ease of access in that you don’t need transportation to see a therapist and therapists can cover more geographical territory. Also, technology helps us connect to persons who may live in other states or countries. The stresses associated with travelling may decrease, but life goes on, and we can’t be near the little toddlers as they experience new developmental stages or our loved ones who are in facilities that cannot allow visitors. We cry for our loved ones who die alone. The holidays don’t feel like the holidays because we’re not able to celebrate in the same way. Feeling hopeful when you are isolated and experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is extremely challenging. The first step is to be aware of your feelings and know that even if you’re isolated, you are not necessarily alone. This is some paradox. It may seem like a far reach to gather the tools needed to cope with what you’re experiencing. Your tools are those activities which provide comfort for the blues. Music, creative writing, reading, mindfulness, cooking, exercising, painting, praying, connecting on the telephone or Zoom, poetry, drama, board games, crossword puzzles, cards, knitting, sculpting and even cleaning may be tools that help you feel less down. Lights, rituals, volunteering by creating cards or calling others who may be alone can help lift us up. There is no one way of raising our spirits, but it takes courage to believe that change is possible. The practice of gratitude can also transform how we feel. As a realist and a therapist, I know that you can try every one of these things and not necessarily feel a lot better. We have to quiet the negative self-talk in our heads and commit to the healing process. This is hard and it takes courage. We may need to reach out for more professional assistance, and we may need to go out of our comfort zone. Believing that you have a choice in how you confront adversity strengthens your ability to manage it. The French Philosopher Albert Camus said, “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
Maimonides Society Brunch@ Home focuses on LGBTQ+ issues By Bayley Carl JFLV Marketing & Engagement Associate On Dec. 13, members of the community participated in a virtual Maimonides Society Brunch@ Home on the topic “LGBTQ+ Issues in Medicine.” The event consisted of a lecture with Dr. Rebecca Markson, Lehigh Valley native and long-time JCC member, and Dr. Nicole Defenbaugh. Markson recently returned to the Lehigh Valley to continue her medical training with St. Luke’s University Health Network, and Defenbaugh is the clinical communication specialist at St. Luke's and founder of ND Communication Consulting LLC. Both have extensive knowledge on LGBTQ issues. They both shared a great amount of information regarding LGBTQ issues in medicine and how society can grow to become more inclusive as a whole. In their talk, they explored factors that impact health disparities, introduced current LGBTQ terminology, reviewed inclusive language and phrases and recognized in-network and local community resources. There are many issues for
the LGBTQ+ community within medicine. There is inadequate training within the healthcare system, which leads to non-inclusive or discriminatory laws and policies. Healthcare providers have both implicit and explicit biases. The doctors discussed how implicit bias has long-term effects and can lead to increased health inequalities, reduced health outcomes and poor patient care. There are insufficient providers for LGBTQ-specific care. All of these contribute to LGBTQ+ health disparities and factor into why a patient can have issues receiving healthcare, negative experiences and fear of and experienced discrimination. These inequalities lead to higher rates of depression and suicide in the LGBTQ+ community as compared to the general population, along with higher rates of homelessness and likelihood of abuse. Also, because LGBTQ+ individuals have difficulties getting proper healthcare, serious health conditions can go untreated for long periods of time. LGBTQ+ individuals are marginalized in healthcare, and they are also at disproportionately increased risk of certain diseases.
Disparities are multifactorial, intersectional and vary within the community. The doctors explained how, by improving their knowledge, healthcare providers can improve the care they provide, eliminate bias and break the cycle. Defenbaugh said, “The important part is to recognize two things. One, is that there are many different terms. And the terms really represent the constant change in language to really represent the diversity of individuals, all of our LGBTQIA community members.” She continued, “the second is that you don’t have to know them but you have to ask the person about the language that they use to represent themselves.” To follow this up, there was a discussion of gender versus sex. The main takeaway points of the lecture were that our words and how we use them matter. Using an individual's language for their identity demonstrates respect, validation and creates a safe space. Being cognizant of the various genders and orientations strengthens the physician-patient relationship and helps to build a foundation of trust, honesty and open communication.
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Book review: ‘The Teacher’
PJ Library families have fun with Chanukah kits
By Sean Boyle Special to HAKOL Michal Ben-Naftali’s Sapir Prize-winning novel, “The Teacher,” originally written in Hebrew and translated by Danielle Zamir, is a fictional biography of Elsa Weiss narrated by a former student. Weiss was a respected English teacher at a Tel Aviv high school, and was one of the 1,684 Jews on the infamous Kastner train that left Budapest, Hungary, in June 1944. The opening page tells us Weiss committed suicide 30 years earlier, and it is a former student who is a teacher herself that is the narrator for her story. We are told Weiss never shared anything personal with her students, and that they did not even know that she was a Holocaust survivor. Weiss left no testimony, no papers, no family, no evidence of who she was and what her life was like. The unnamed narrator readily admits, beyond the barest facts, the life of Elsa Weiss she presents is fiction, and is an attempt to tell us what “might have happened, or rather, should have happened and most likely did happen to the one who went to the point of no return.”
Elsa Weiss represents a real teacher that BenNaftali had in high school who committed suicide in the 1980s. Similar to the narrator in the story, Ben-Naftali researched and tried to find out more of the life of her teacher, researching the Kastner train and Kastner’s trial and actually interviewing other survivors of the Kastner train, all in vain, to try to learn more about her former teacher. Since there was so little information to be found about her own teacher’s life, Be n-Naftali instead decided to create a fictionalized version of her life, imagining what her life must have been like going through Book review Continues on page 18
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JANUARY 2021 17
UPDATE FROM A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
It’s not about the coffee By Alice Notis Special to HAKOL I can’t sleep, so I’ve gotten up to write. Maybe I can’t sleep because I’m 56 years old and I had coffee at 4pm yesterday. To be fair, I needed the coffee because I was working my fourth 12-hour shift in a row, also my choice. Mostly, I’m just so excited to have been given the opportunity to contribute to our escape from the oppressive experience of this pandemic. It’s snowing outside, and I’m grateful I don’t have to work tomorrow. Due to unsafe roads, many of my co-workers had to stay at friends’ houses or rent hotel rooms tonight in order to fulfill their shifts tomorrow. In these times, exposing yourself to a different environment could be a dangerous decision. In these times, health care workers are often forced to take risks so we can keep taking care of others. This year, nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists and others across the country have had to keep working without proper masks, gloves and gowns so they could keep taking care of patients. That was the job, so staying over at a friend’s house doesn’t seem like such a big deal. Fortunately, my hospital had the foresight to provide enough PPE for its employees. The day after tomorrow, I will have the opportunity to change the trajectory of our country and our lives. I’ve already voted and given blood a few times, but the day after tomorrow, I will have the opportunity to be a vaccinator. To be clear, I didn’t invent this vaccine. I have not contributed to the science of creating this vaccine. Those scientific researchers are really the people who are going to save all of us. I’m just excited to contribute. We have been asked not to call employee health because they are so overwhelmed with taking care of employees and making arrangements for vaccine distribution. I don’t always follow the rules, which can be a good thing
sometimes. So I called and gave someone my name and number. I said I wanted to help to make things better and I’ll put in some time. I’m not seeing the grandchildren anyway, so I’ve got time on my hands. Besides, I’d rather do something than just sit around and wait for my turn to take the vaccine. The day after tomorrow, I’m showing up at 6 a.m. and vaccinating until 10 a.m., and I’m so excited about it! It feels kind of like giving blood. It feels more like voting and hoping my vote counts. But it feels even better because I know this is the beginning of the end of this horrible time in our history. Who would ever believe that a virus, which is smaller than a human cell, would take down the wealthiest country in the world? Who would think we would have to go into hiding behind masks, to save our lives and the lives of our families because of this tiny virus? It’s so tiny, yet we have fallen. Fifty-eight thousand U.S. servicemen died in Vietnam from 1954-75. Sixty-one thousand people died from the flu from 201718, the deadliest flu season. Three hundred thousand people dying from COVID-19 is a disaster, and more people will die before we have herd immunity. We have all suffered. Some of us have paid the ultimate price. We have lost family and friends. We have lost time with children, grandchildren and our elderly parents. We have suffered loneliness and depression. Some of us with chronic illnesses have deteriorated more rapidly. The vaccines are supposed to come to my hospital tomorrow, in the middle of a snowstorm. I hope they make it. I can’t wait to start living again. I’m going to try to go back to sleep now. I knew that coffee was a bad idea. I hope you all get vaccinated soon. After all, we’re all just people sharing the same living space on this planet. I’d like it to be a healthier place soon. Good night.
Book review
Continues from page 17
those historical experiences and what led to her final decision. Instead of a tragic life story ending with an effectively anonymous person’s suicide, we instead read of the deeply conflicted life lived by a woman coping with a unique survivor’s guilt. The teacher lived a public life as a school teacher but also punished herself with solitude, never sharing any personal details with students or colleagues. Instead of choosing to allow others the opportunity to know and possibly love her, she instead made it difficult for anyone to even care about her. Ben-Naftali writes that the students did care for her, as did other people who did know her, and that her later adult life did not have to be tragically lived as a form of self-punishment, nor did she have to believe she had 18 JANUARY 2021 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
no other option but to end it when she did. Highly recommended for ages 15-120, especially for those interested in the “Kastner train” and looking for a non-typical Holocaust survivor’s story. Editor’s note: COVID restrictions and isolation along with depression symptoms caused by Seasonal Affective Disorder are taking a great toll, emotionally and psychologically, on everyone. We encourage anyone suffering to please reach out to friends, family or clergy, as well as using the services offered at Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley to receive help and learn ways to cope in these conditions. You are not alone. Sean Boyle is a past JDS librarian and is now serving as president of the Schools, Synagogues, Centers, and Public Libraries Division of the Association of Jewish Libraries. The Teacher (Ben-Naftali, Michal, Translated by Daniella Zamir, Rochester, NY, Open Letter, 2019, 184p.)
PARTNERSHIP2GETHER UPDATE FROM YOAV
Yoav celebrates Chanukah and blooming new life By Nurit Galon Partnership2Gether
Valley and Yoav Partnership 2Gether Project and husband, Ofer, and family. And of course all the other babies and their families in both our communities. Soon, as we light the Chanukah candles in whichever way possible, we shall light for our Partners in Lehigh Valley, and look forward to the day we can meet up again in person. The Jewish people have suffered so much, have survived so much—and never failed to hope and to love life. How lovely that we have you to be together with! Be well, be safe and we hope you had a happy Chanukah!
YAEL SUK
As I write this, here we are celebrating Chanukah! Not the way we are used to, and still surprised that we haven't all moved on from Corona and are back to our normal lives, and even with the potential solution of the Corona vaccine in front of us, for the moment we are in a world of lockdowns, Zooms, social distancing— and uncertainty. Can we get together with the family to light the Channukiah? Is it safe to buy the doughnuts and the classical Chanukah foods? Will the stores be open? Here in Israel we are very confused, and so it seems is the government, with contradicting statements being issued all the time. Local governments have a certain leeway and in many cases this is working—and in others not at all! In Yoav, we are blessed with an excellent and organized leadership which is probably why in the main we are a green area. The many activities which can be carried on through Zoom technology provide all ages of the community subjects of interest, and the open air "keep your distance" programs are carefully planned and well attended, usually for all ages and stimulating. For example, Kibbutz Galon is preparing a Navigation game for all ages, in which participants will be given a clue to the next stopping point. At each point there will be a video with narration telling about the history of Galon, a stimulating method of learning about one's home from all aspects. At the moment it seems the community within the limits of permitted Corona limitations, will be allowed to celebrate Chanukah, and the next HAKOL will contain more pictures and stories about the novel and imaginative ways in which Yoav celebrated Chanukah! Recently, the Yoav Steering Committee of Partnership2Gether had the pleasure of meeting with a dear friend, Jeri Zimmerman, executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. The meeting (Zoom, of course!) took place in the charming lounge of Kibbutz Beit Guvrin. Jeri gave a detailed report of the various departments and organizations in the Lehigh Valley community, and willingly
answered the questions of the Yoav Steering Committee. For some years now the Lehigh Valley and Yoav Partnership2Gether Committees, together with the Yoav Regional Council, have organized the Chevrouta (Friendship) series for the Yoav communities. The popular and well-attended program consists of a series of lectures by well-known Israeli writers and authors, and this year included Noam Chorev, Dr. Chaim Shapira, Meir Shalev and Yael Neuman. As many of you who have visited Yoav know, we are proud (and boastful!) of living in one of the loveliest areas in Israel, with the agricultural fields that are constantly changing color with the seasons, forests and hills, and parks, and what we are sure will become one of the most in demand, the Partnership Park at the side of Moshav Nachala, with the memorial to Mark Goldstein, z”l, firmly in the middle. The park had a difficult beginning—lack of irrigation and sufficient water, arid earth, a park somewhat unsure of what it was supposed to be! But slowly, with the tree planting by the children of Yoav every year, and the contribution of trees and benches by the Lehigh Valley, and continuous cooperation with Jewish National Fund, the park is rightly showing off. The recent heavy rains have colored the park in a lush green, and when Corona finally leaves us, what better place for a grand Lehigh ValleyYoav Partnership2Gether reunion! In January, the Steering Committee of Yoav is planning a Zoom cook-in! Though Crembos are not normally part of the Chanukah traditional foods, and though personally I'd rather eat than cook, it's a great way of reminding ourselves of the delights of celebrating one of our happier holidays. And to prove that life does indeed go on, we welcome into the Partnership community a grandson for Dr. Matti Sarfatti Harcavi, the mayor of the Regional Council of Yoav, and her husband, Eran, and all the family, and a granddaughter for Hana Bachar, chairperson of the Yoav Steering Committee of the Lehigh
NURTURING EACH CHILD’S UNIQUE POTENTIAL HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JANUARY 2021 19
Meet the presidents: Dr. Marc Abo and Harvey Cartine By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor Congregation Bnai Shalom is the newest congregation in the Lehigh Valley. But actually, it continues on the rich legacy of two of the oldest congregations— Bnai Abraham Synagogue and Temple Covenant of Peace. These two congregations have been in Easton for 180 years. Now as they combine into one Jewish family to represent the Easton Jewish community, they hope to become stronger than ever together. Bnai Shalom is led by Rabbi Melody Davis and Cantor Jill Pakman, and the congregation has two co-presidents: Dr. Marc Abo and Harvey Cartine. Each served in the role for their former individual synagogue and have worked together with their transition team to make this merger
official. While the prospect of officially connecting the two congregations have been in talks for years and their collaboration started a few years ago with a combined religious school, it was the leadership team led by Abo and Cartine which has now made this a reality. While there is an adjustment period, and even a bit of grieving as they move into one building instead of two, the co-presidents are hopeful for a bright future, despite current setbacks. “I think the biggest challenge right now is the pandemic,” said Cartine. “The two congregations are close—many people know other people from the other congregation and vice versa. But a lot of people don’t, so that is the thing that we haven’t been able to do. When it’s safe, we need to get in our place of worship.”
Aliette and Marc Abo He said that while Zoom is a blessing making meetings and services possible, he believes that the people-to-people connection is the biggest thing that Bnai Shalom needs to do right now. He and his wife have already formed closer friendships since the merger.
Liz and Harvey Cartine “Necessity is the mother of invention,” said Abo. “We sort of needed each other. There were Jewish merchants here when the Declaration of Independence was read [in Easton on July 8, 1776]. We want to continue the Easton Jewish community, and there are a lot of wonderful people.” Cartine agrees that this continuation of the Jewish heritage in Easton is the main reason for the merger and the main goal of Bnai Shalom moving forward. “The real reason for the merger is not just for the present. It’s really meant for the future. We want to continue the legacy and a vibrant Jewish community in the Easton area. We want it to be an active participant in the overall community of Easton, as we are now, involved in so many of the other charitable functions that go on.” Cartine and his wife, Liz, moved to the Lehigh Valley in 2000 from Essex County, New Jersey. Since then, they had been
involved with Temple Covenant of peace, with Cartine having served on the board for many years, including as president in a previous term. Cartine is a retired aerospace engineer and professor. He and his wife were both honored in 2019 as part of Jewish Family Service’s Spectacular Over 70 recognizing local volunteers in the Lehigh Valley Jewish community. Abo and his wife, Aliette, came to the area in 1979 when Abo started practicing general surgery at Warren Hospital. Their daughter started at the Bnai Abraham nursery school, which led them to get more involved. While his wife serves on the board of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, Abo has been serving as president of Bnai Abraham. He also served as chairman and president of the medical staff as well as on the board of trustees of his hospital, which also recognized him as their Humanitarian of the Year.
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JDS holds Evening of Tribute to honor 67 years of education
By JDS staff King Solomon asked, “Who is wise?” Many interpretations later, the best answer may be, “The one who knows how to look through the eyes of a child.” Every day, and every year for 67 years, the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley looks through the eyes of its students to grow the next generation of Jewish leaders. On Saturday, Dec. 5, the JDS celebrated our students and their families; along with Morah Joanna Powers, who, for 20 years has planted the seeds of education and values; and the work of Harold Grinspoon, a philanthropic visionary who looks at the potential inherent to a Jewish child, and sees the future. The virtual event began at 7:30 p.m. with an inspiring montage of JDS students with their favorite PJ Library books. PJ Library was the first Harold Grinspoon Foundation program in the Lehigh Val-
ley, sponsored initially by three families of lay leaders, in conjunction with Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. JDS Head of School Amy Golding assumed hosting duties for the Evening of Tribute. She gave a warm welcome to each participant, and introduced a video highlighting Mr. Harold Grinspoon and the work of his Foundation. Arlene Schiff, the national director of Grinspoon’s LIFE & LEGACY program, accepted the Pillar of Excellence award on his behalf. Following that, Joanna Powers, recipient of the Educator of the Year award, was surprised with a video message of appreciation and congratulations from several JDS alumni, all of whom have had her as their beloved early childhood Morah and Hebrew & Judaics curriculum director. All participants were invited to raise their glass of “signature” Powertini in a toast to Morah Joanna’s embodiment of the Grinspoon Foundation’s vision. The JDS family is honored to have Morah Joanna teaching Jewish values and tradition in partnership with parents and community to build a shared future. To cap the Evening of Tribute, Board President Eric Fels detailed the unceasing effort of the JDS faculty and staff to open and teach while setting such a high bar for excellence during uncertain times. The evening concluded with smiling faces and at-home celebrations all across the Valley and beyond. Thank you to the committee who worked tirelessly to help make this fundraiser successful: Suzanne Lapiduss, Carah Tenzer and Megan Pildis. The Jewish Day School would like to send its sincere gratitude to all of the donors who responded so generously, swiftly and strongly to this year’s unprecedented needs. Those needs will not abate after Dec. 5. All additional contributions can be made at jdsevent2020.eventbrite.com.
Rabbi Judith Schindler to speak on civic engagement and the vitality of Jewish life Associate Rabbi from 1998-2003. For nearly two decades, she has been engaged in interfaith work, contributing to leadership of Mecklenburg Metropolitan Interfaith Network and the Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice. Work in the surrounding community is, for many Jews, an important means of expressing our Jewish identities and acting upon the imperatives of Jewish teachings. Building upon a history of performing acts of loving kindness in the community, KI has chosen to become a Brit Olam congregation, a network of Reform congregations working together to engage in more impactful social justice work. Accordingly, KI has committed to deepening connections among study, worship, personal growth (tikkun midot) and tikkun olam. In her Jan. 24 talk, sponsored by KI’s Adult Education Committee, Schindler will offer insights on how the congregation can build upon these efforts. And she will describe how, as a result, the vitality of individual lives and synagogue life can be increased. Schindler explains that as synagogues embrace civic engagement, Jewish community life is expanded in important ways: loosely affiliated and unaffiliated Jews discover profound connections between their passions for justice and their Jewish roots, and Jews who are instinctively drawn to civic engagement solidify their personal connections with Jewish teachings, voice those teachings with greater confidence and transmit them with renewed commitment to the next generation. All are empowered to respond, individually and collectively, to addressing the serious challenges facing our society.
Rabbi Schinder’s talk, which will include plenty of time for Q&A, will be on Sunday, Jan. 24, at 10:30 a.m., via Zoom. Register at kilv.org by Thursday, Jan. 21.
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By Maryann Snyder Congregation Keneseth Israel Civic engagement—a manner of living the values expressed through our prayers and sacred texts in the world—can provide a path to new flourishing of congregations, individual Jewish lives and our nation. That’s the message of Rabbi Judith Schindler, whose recent book, “Recharging Judaism: How Civic Engagement is Good for Synagogues, Jews, and America,” provides both evidence and practical “how-to” advice on recharging individual lives, energizing and enlarging congregations and advancing causes of justice. The Lehigh Valley Jewish community is invited to join Congregation Keneseth Israel via Zoom on Sunday, Jan. 24, to hear her message. Schindler directs the Stan Greenspon Center for Peace and Social Justice at Queens University, where she inspires advocacy and enables work for justice both on the Queens campus and in the greater Charlotte, North Carolina, community. She is rabbi emerita of Temple Beth El in Charlotte, the largest synagogue in the Carolinas, where she served as senior rabbi from 2003-16 and as
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