HAKOL October 2017

The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community

www.jewishlehighvalley.org

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Issue No. 402

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October 2017

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Tishrei/Cheshvan 5778

AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977

Meet 13 remarkable older adults p10-11 & 23

Learn more about the Jewish response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma p16-17

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

Hurricanes Harvey & Irma: JEWISH COMMUNITY RESPONDS

An Interview with Harlan Cohen Editor’s Note: The following is an interview with Harlan Cohen, New York Times bestselling author and syndicated advice columnist, also known for his TEDx talk "Getting Comfortable with the Uncomfortable” which touches on raising resilient children. Cohen is the author of six books, including “The Naked Roommate.” Cohen will be speaking at The Main Event for the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley on Nov. 9, 2017.

What will you be discussing at The Main Event?

It’s going to be a lot about transition ... It’s an event that every parent, regardless of whether their child is in kindergarten or a teenager, can really appreciate, because the fundamentals, the framework of transition, is something all of us can relate to in our lives as parents and as individuals. Life is constantly changing, and what I’ve discovered over the years is that we don’t teach our kids – and no one teaches us – how to go from one place to another and navigate the big changes, whether they are social, emotional, physical, financial or academic. Those are the five big changes, and I’m going to help parents, their kids and everybody who’s there really get comfortable with the uncomfortable that’s part of change.

This is going to be such a fun night; it’s going to be incredibly interactive. People get to text me questions Harlan Cohen Continues on page 7

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As Hurricanes Harvey and Irma battered the southern United States and the Caribbean late this summer, the Jewish community quickly activated to help those in crisis.

Hurricane Harvey – one of the most devastating hurricanes on record in U.S. history – delivered its worst blows to Houston’s Jewish community.

Nearly three-quarters of the city’s Jewish population live in areas that received extensive flooding, and nearly every Jewish-owned business and institution has felt the impact in some way. For many, this is the third time in as many years that they have had to rebuild after a hurricane.

The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, along with Federations across North America, immediately set up the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to help meet urgent needs such as food, medicine, cleaning supplies and trauma counseling, and to enable rebuilding. The Federation’s network of local and international partners, supported by its Annual Campaign, allowed it to respond quickly and effectively to this emergency – but the work is not done. Experts say that full

recovery could take many years.

More than $14 million has been raised so far by Jewish federations, foundations and the Government of Israel, including almost $21,000 from the Lehigh Valley Jewish community. The money raised is a little over one third of the estimated $26-33 million needed to rebuild.

Already, that money is being put to use. In the first few days after the hurricane, Federation helped displaced and affected families with urgently needed temporary housing, food and cleaning supplies.

After flooding and released toxins rendered homes and large parts of the central JCC nearly unusable, distraught families were able to send their children to a day camp so that they could focus on recovery and rebuilding.

Three synagogues have catastrophic damage, and rabbis are working tirelessly to help congregants in need.

Initial grants have been given to rabbis to help congregants rebuild.

To help Houstonians, the Hebrew Free Loan Association will match resources from four cities to create a

new Hurricane Harvey loan pool.

The Federations funds are also helping families who have been flooded out of their homes two or three times in less than three years receive telephone-based counseling sessions and schedule inperson appointments with trauma and family-resilience specialists.

Without much time to recover after Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, one of the largest storms on record, hit the east coast. The storm caused widespread damage and flooding and left more than 10 million people without power for many days. The Federation quickly expanded its relief efforts to include communities affected

by Irma.

The impact on the Jewish community in this case was more widespread.

Major flooding in Naples, Jacksonville and the catastrophic damage in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Key West heavily impacted individual Jewish families.

A number of Jewish communal institutions sustained

Hurricanes Continues on page 16

com.UNITY

FROM THE DESK OF MARK L. GOLDSTEIN

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

It’s election season, again Usually this column topic appears once every two years coinciding with national elections. But as our interest in elections, and the candidates’ interest in our votes, transcends more than the national elections, much of this content bears repeating.

Of course, we should all take time to vote, but we should also take the time to understand the candidates and their positions. In the future we will again strive to host candidate information programs, perhaps for the U.S. Senate race and/or the now open 15th U.S. Congressional District race. There is greater competition for such programs and the candidates and their parties don’t accept every offer. Hopefully, we will be back as host of a political forum in a future election cycle.

This past year we commemorated the 40th anniversary of HAKOL. I do not know about the early years of HAKOL, but I know when I arrived at the Federation in

2002, HAKOL was not accepting paid political advertising (for that matter, HAKOL was not accepting much paid advertising of any kind).

Our HAKOL Editorial Board reviewed the issue of paid political advertising and approved a policy enabling the acceptance of such advertising over 12 years ago.

As a charitable not-for-profit organization, we act in accordance with IRS guidelines as well as the federal election regulations. Although the Federation must remain politically neutral, we are not prohibited from contact with politics or politicians. That’s why our Community Relations Council sponsors political candidate forums, organizes missions to Washington and Harrisburg to meet with our legislators and mounts letter writing campaigns on issues of concern to the Jewish community. We are allowed to express positions on particular issues before our elected officials, but we are not allowed to endorse any candidates.

That decision rests with you and is done so – hopefully – out of a process of educating yourself on the candidates and their positions.

It is important for Jewish Americans, as individuals and as a community, to remain actively engaged in political discourse. Carolyn Katwan, then HAKOL editor and Federation assistant executive director, wrote in a February 2008 HAKOL column: “American Jews have exercised their right to vote enthusiastically and in percentages far greater than the national average.

Our participation has served us well – on issues from Israel to civil rights to Soviet Jewry – and will continue to do so if we remain active, informed, engaged and accessible. The fact that candidates view our vote as important and significant demonstrates the role of the Jewish community in today’s electoral process.”

Over the years, our HAKOL Editorial Board and Jewish Federation Board of Directors have reaffirmed our

During my first year at Colgate University, Rosh Hashanah services marked my first Jewish holiday away from home. So many things had changed that year, and I was feeling overwhelmed, unsure of whether I could handle all the newness of life on my own. But then, the rabbi took out a large stuffed goat.

The stuffed goat, she said, was meant to be a representation of the scapegoat sent into the wilderness in the Torah.

She started passing it around, explaining that we could each have a moment to hug the stuffed goat and confess our sins or any new year’s resolutions. Once we were done, the goat would return to the “wilderness” of her office until the following year.

I didn’t know if people would participate and follow along, but to my surprise, people started hugging the goat, whispering a few words in its ear and passing it along.

When I received it, I par-

ticipated as well, and it put a smile on my face and helped me feel confident once more.

Later, I began to wonder why the rabbi had chosen a goat. Yes, the Torah mentions goats, but there were so many other stuffed animals around that wouldn’t have been quite as hard to track down. Why was evoking this image worth the effort?

Goats, I learned, are known for being able to climb insurmountable-looking obstacles. Pictures abound on the Internet of goats scaling sheer cliffs and conquering incredibly tall mountains.

A goat never gives up, even when things look impossible to achieve.

This view of goats inspired me that Rosh Hashanah, and is one of the reasons goats are my favorite animals today. At a time when things can seem confusing or overwhelming, particularly in the wake of the two hurricanes that ravaged parts of our country, I find goats inspirational.

Like a goat climbing a sheer

Shalom, Michelle Cohen

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

IN MEMORY ARNOLD SULLUM (Father of Daniel Sullum) Roberto and Eileen Fischmann MURIEL WARMAN (Mother of Sheri Koones) Arlene and Richard Stein

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

2 OCTOBER 2017 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

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.

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

JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY IN HONOR ISAAC DRUKER Happy 80th Birthday Arlene and Richard Stein

STEPHANIE SMARTSCHAN JFLV Director of Marketing

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.

cliff, each of us is capable of so much, even in a situation that may look hopeless. And when we work together as a community to find our inner strength, there’s no cliff we can’t climb, no challenge we can’t face.

However you embrace change this year, whether or not it involves stuffed goats, I hope we can continue to join together and achieve what may look like an insurmountable task, but in fact, is achievable with a little bit of faith.

the presence of an advertisement does not represent an endorsement of a candidate; likewise, the absence of an ad from a candidate does not reflect a position by HAKOL or the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley on that candidate.

I am Mark Goldstein, and I approve this message.

HAKOL STAFF

COMMUNITY SUBMISSIONS

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers,

policy to accept paid political advertising in HAKOL. This practice is mirrored in the vast majority of Jewish community newspapers sponsored by their Jewish federations. In accordance with federal regulations, our advertising policies offer equal access to all candidates.

If we directly solicit advertising from one political candidate, we must reach out to all candidates with the same solicitation. Further, if we do not solicit ads, but we are contacted by a candidate and accept their ad, we must offer the same diligence to other candidates who similarly reach out to us. These and other policies we maintain for paid political advertising meet federal regulations.

It is important to note that

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

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

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

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

Member American Jewish Press Association

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

JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY MISSION STATEMENT

In order to unite, sustain, and enhance the Lehigh Valley Jewish community, and support Jewish communities in Israel and around the world, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is dedicated to the following core values: • Supporting Jews in need wherever they may be.

• Supporting Israel as a Jewish homeland.

• Supporting and encouraging Jewish education in the Lehigh Valley as a means of strengthening Jewish life for individuals and families.

• Supporting programs and services of organizations whose values and mission meet local Jewish needs.

To accomplish this mission the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is committed to the following operating guidelines: • Raising and distributing funds to support the core values.

• Developing Jewish leaders.

• Building endowments to support implementation of core values.

• Committing to ongoing Jewish community strategic planning.

• Fostering cooperation among organizations and community building.

• Evaluating all decisions with respect to fiscal responsibility.

• Identifying unmet needs and investing in community initiatives to help get them started.

• Coordinating and convening a community response as an issue or need arises.

• Setting priorities for allocation and distribution of funds.

• Acting as a central address for communication about events, programs and services of the Jewish community as a whole.

Approved by the JFLV Board of Directors on November 15, 2000

Federation donors receive anti-Semitism update at campaign reception

By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Marketing The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley kicked off its 2018 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs on Sept.

18 at a special reception for major donors with Thane Rosenbaum, novelist, essayist, and host of "The Talk Show" at the 92nd Street Y. “My job here is to inspire you to support the Jewish Federation, and I must tell you, I don’t think it’s a difficult task, especially in this community,” Rosenbaum said.

Rosenbaum provided a briefing on the state of antiSemitism today, from Charlottesville to France.

Recently, two Jewish brothers were kidnapped and abused on the streets of Paris. A Jewish woman was thrown off her balcony, he said.

“If you’re not aware of these things, I’m glad I came,” he said. “It’s important to know this is the world in which we now live.”

Jews cannot wear yarmulkes or stars of David all throughout Europe, he said. The type of anti-Semitic language that was once considered “for the gutter” is now normalized.

“There’s no more shame in this, this is out,” he said.

The Jewish future is dependent upon on Jews forming community and standing together. “Jewish continuity depends on Federation, it depends on Jewish giving,” he said.

“I don’t know where we’re headed,” he said, “but I do know that complacency has never served us well.”

Complacency is certainly not something Campaign Co-chair Carol Bub Fromer noted, as she opened the program by asking those in attendance to look around at the “unwavering philanthropy in this room.”

Her husband and co-chair Gary Fromer closed the program with his hopes for the coming year. “We have to centralize our energies through institutions to be stronger than we otherwise would be,” he said. “I thank everyone for being a major contributor to our present and our future. And may this room be double the size next year.”

Above, Campaign Co-chairs Carol Bub Fromer and Gary Fromer with speaker Professor Thane Rosenbaum.

Below left, Roberto Fischmann, who hosted the event along with his wife Eileen, talks with Jill Blinder.

Below right, delicious desserts from My Boy’s Bakery.

Above, each attendee was given puzzle pieces to help create the big picture.

Left, Mickey Ufberg maneuvers his pieces.

Above, Tama Fogelman and Federation President Eva Levitt.

Share the warmth of the High Holidays and a sweet new year by donating new or gently used children’s coats (infant-age 16) and hot chocolate mix to the Jewish Family Service Community Food Pantry.

Drop off at JFS, the JCC or the JDS in October.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | OCTOBER 2017 3

10 months in Israel with Masa

By Leah Mueth Special to HAKOL Editor’s Note: Leah’s parents live in Easton and are members of Temple Covenant of Peace. Leah will be checking in with HAKOL readers throughout her time in Israel.

My name is Leah, and I've decided to participate in a program where I'll be teaching English for 10 months in Israel. This program appealed to me because I believe education is important, and all The Ashdod skyline from the south children should have equal access. I am hoping to help make a difference in at least one kid's life and help them connect with the rest of the world through English.

I’ve just finished my first week in Israel with the Masa Israel Teaching Fellows (MITF) program in Ashdod which is about an hour south of Tel Aviv. MITF is a program that is working to eliminate the English learning gap that exists all over Israel.

This week, however, was about getting settled into living in a different country with a different language. It is a very beautiful city and the main goal of everyone is to make it to the beach at least once a day, preferably to watch the sun set.

We won’t start teaching for at least a month. We have all of the holidays coming up, and we’ll be training in the meantime.

I’m looking forward to teaching and meeting all the kids. In any group setting, everyone tells us that the kids already know we’re coming and are very much looking forward to meeting us. If this first week is any indication of how the next 10 months will go, I cannot wait to experience it.

Israeli designer’s unique 3D book printed on space station

At the unveiling of “Genius: 100 Visions of the Future” in Montreal on Sept. 10, 2017, from left, Soichi Noguchi, Monette Malewski, Ron Arad, Murray Palay and Rami Kleinmann.

By ISRAEL21c Staff To mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, the first prototype of Genius: 100 Visions of the Future — the world’s first entirely 3D-printed book printed and bound in one piece — was produced on the International Space Station in zero-gravity conditions 400 kilometers above Earth.

The project was conceived

by Rami Kleinmann, head of Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University. Einstein was one of the founders of the university, which has two campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot.

When Einstein died in 1955, he left his estate and intellectual legacy to the university.

The limited-edition book (300 copies) was designed by Ron Arad, the Israeli-born preeminent industrial designer,

A Women’s Journey to Israel

February 4-8, 2018 For more information, visit jfeds.org/HearttoHeart2018.

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

WELCOMING NEW BABIES

to the Lehigh Valley

SHIR IRIT SALTZ

daughter of Keren and Matthew Saltz 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 OCTOBER 2017 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

architect and modern artist based in London.

The prototype was produced in coordination with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Association of Space Explorers president and astronaut Soichi Noguchi, and 3D Space Book project manager Yifat Sharon.

Genius: 100 Visions of the Future features laser-cut pages formed in the silhouette of Einstein. Each of its single-sided 100 pages is devoted to the vision of one distinguished contributor, among them Zubin Mehta, Shimon Peres, Barbra Streisand, Deepak Chopra, Wynton Marsalis, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Francine Prose, Salman Rushdie, David Suzuki, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Frank Gehry and Nobel laureates including Professors Dan Shechtman, Aaron Ciechanover and Robert Aumann of Israel.

The unique book – which Arad inadvertently designed to open left to right, like Hebrew books do — was unveiled Sept. 10 at the Einstein Legacy Project Dinner of the Century in Montreal, part of a year-long commemoration.

Prominent guests at the dinner included Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, actor James Caan, Air Canada president and CEO Calin Rovinescu, Hebrew University Rector Asher Cohen, and Toyota Motor Corporation chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada.

Arad’s sculptures, industrial design pieces and buildings are scattered across many sites the world over. His architectural works in Israel include the iconic Design Museum of Holon and what will soon be Israel’s tallest skyscraper, in Tel Aviv.

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

A miracle on Pennsylvania Avenue

WHAT’S UP, DOC? A new diagnostic taxonomy for mental disturbances

By Robert M. Gordon, Ph.D., ABPP Special to HAKOL

By Eva Levitt JFLV President I went to the Jewish Day School recently to hang some pictures, and found an unbelievable and heartwarming scene. Specifically, members of the local Jewish community had been volunteering all summer, using their talents and their time to help get the school ready for the new school year. Parents, grandparents, lay members of the community, clergy and faculty under the supervision of Amy Golding, our terrific head of school, all giving their time to enhance the inside and outside of the building in any way that was needed. What an amazing sight! Our JDS saw all these people work together to prepare the building and make it ready for an exciting upcoming year. Wow! A true example of community cooperation in our midst. Thanks to all of you who volunteered your efforts.

The diagnoses of mental illness have a long history, and are even mentioned in the Torah. One such example is a fairly good description of King Saul suffering what may have been a bipolar disorder. Generally, the causes of disorders were attributed to offending God, until Hippocrates (460-375 BCE) attributed mental and physical disorders to biology, traumas, diet and stresses.

In the 20th century, Sigmund Freud made a significant contribution by theorizing that the interaction of the developing child’s brain and the interaction of caregivers and society had a lot to do with emotional problems. The American Psychiatric Association has continued to develop their taxonomy of mental disorders (DSM), and the World Health Organization also has a taxonomy of mental disorders (ICD). Both these classification systems tend to categorize disorders similar to diseases in a descriptive fashion, focusing mainly on symptoms.

As a reaction to the DSM and ICD symptom-based taxonomy, in 2006 the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM) was published. It was not a taxonomy of symptoms, but a taxonomy of the full range of personality- from healthy functioning to disturbed.

It made history as the first taxonomy to start with “What is healthy?”

We all have a complex personality with strengths and weaknesses. No two people with depression are alike. The PDM first classifies personality style (i.e., obsessional, narcissistic, dependent, anxious etc.) and mental functions (ex., insightfulness, ability to relate, moral reasoning, ability to experience and communicate the full range of human emotions, defensive style, etc.). Finally, symptoms were considered the emergent result of issues within a person’s core personality and mental functions. The PDM’s overarching goal was to scientifically inform treatment by formulating a better understanding of the whole individual and underlying personality issues – not just focusing on the symptoms.

Locally, I am known as a practitioner. Internationally, I am known as a research scientist

with many empirical research publications. When the PDM was first published, I realized that the science of psychoanalysis needed a researchable taxonomy.

I began to do research on the PDM and develop a validated tool for a PDM diagnosis. I called it the Psychodiagnostic Chart (PDC) (search “Psychodiagnostic Chart-2” for a copy). Due to my work on the PDC, I was asked to be on the initial PDM-2 study group, and later chapter editor for the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual Second Edition (published by Guilford Press in 2017).

The PDC-2 became the main tool for the PDM-2 and is being used by mental health professionals worldwide. Now the PDM-2 adds to our understanding of the whole person and scientifically informs for better treatment.

Robert M. Gordon Ph.D. ABPP is a diplomate of clinical psychology and a diplomate of psychoanalysis, and served on the governing council of the American Psychological Association. He was president of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association and received its Distinguished Service Award. He was elected Honorary Member of the American Psychoanalytic Association. He authored many scholarly articles and books in the areas of ethics, the MMPI2, psychotherapy, relationships, forensic psychology, personality assessment, diagnoses, the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual, a PDM-2 editor and researcher, and co-author of the Psychodiagnostic Chart. Dr. Gordon is rated by ResearchGate as a top researcher.

He has a consulting practice in Allentown.

From the people who broughtjOlA the bat mit�uah..

WHAT Is RECONSTRUCTIONIST JUDAISM? • A progressive approach to Judaism that makes sense for 2017 and beyond • A simultaneous respect for traditional ritual and a longing to create new rituals that better fit contemporary American Jewish life • Inclusive and egalitarian communities that welcome Jews of all races, genders, sexual identities and delineations to participate as equals in congregational life

To learn more, visit amhaskalah.org or contact amhaskalahdirector@gmail.com HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | OCTOBER 2017 5

JFS pairs volunteers with older adults for shopping experience

By Michelle Cohen HAKOL Editor Picking out a new outfit for the High Holidays was the highlight of 102-year-old Henriette’s day. “I haven’t gone shopping in ages because I have to have somebody go with me,” she said before choosing a jacket, blouse and skirt to wear to synagogue.

“I’m so glad that I came out today.”

Henriette and two other women who have few opportunities to get out and go shopping were treated to a fun day out with Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley on Sept. 12 at Boscov’s.

Before the big day, each client received a home visit from a volunteer to review their wardrobe and budget and create a wish list. Transportation to and from the

store was provided by these volunteers, who served as personal shoppers during the event.

The event began with a brief welcome before the volunteer-client pairs split off to do their shopping. After the shopping experience, each pair went out to lunch at a local restaurant.

“It was just wonderful,” said Dolores, who received the personal attention of Boscov’s associates. “I can’t say how appreciative I am.

Otherwise, I never would have been able to come out and enjoy a day like this, and I’m in my favorite store!”

Boscov’s was enthusiastic to be able to provide this experience for the shoppers.

“Boscov’s is a very community-oriented department store,” said Jessica Blasco, Boscov’s regional manager.

“We welcome any opportunity we are presented with to help our customers and the members of our community and give them the ability to come out shopping. We just want to make them comfortable, and we want to make it a fun, enjoyable experience for them.”

“They had everything prepared. They had personal shoppers arranged, they provided bags of snacks and gifts, they’ve really been a dream to work with,” said Carol Wilson, JFS coordinator of older adult services.

“Several months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting with a 92 year old client. She explained that due to health challenges, her clothing no longer fit properly and barriers to transportation made it difficult to go shopping. She was also looking for the social

aspect that comes with spending the day shopping with a friend. My conversations with this client were the inspiration for Shopping & Sharing,” Wilson said. “It's a unique program and one we hope to replicate again in the spring.

We have a waiting list of clients who would truly benefit from this program.”

Chelsea Karp, JFS's volunteer coordinator, was in charge of preparing the volunteers for the event. "We've talked a lot about the benefit for the clients, but it’s not just about shopping. We're using shopping as a vehicle to have a ladies' day out, freshen up their wardrobes and feel connected to our community. Our volunteers, all avid shoppers, have shown great enthusiasm and passion for this project. They know how good it feels to have an afternoon of Shopping & Sharing.”

Each volunteer was enthusiastic about her role in helping brighten an older adult’s day. “My personal belief is that when you look good, it changes your whole outlook,

so I just want to add a little bit of sunshine and happiness so that our older generation feels like a part of this community,” said volunteer Naomi Schachter.

“It was terrific! I’m happy to give back to people who could use some help. We are a lucky community to be so close-knit and family-like, and it gives me joy to be able to help somebody else,” added Beth Kozinn, another volunteer.

Tama Lee Barsky, another volunteer, said, “When I first heard about it, I thought it was exciting! I love to shop and I love to help people with their choices of clothing, and I thought it would be a great day out, especially for these women who maybe don’t get out a lot.”

At the end of the day, the collaboration between Boscov’s, JFS and volunteers brought great joy to the clients.

“I’m loving it,” Helen said as she made her purchase. “I’m alone all the time, and I don’t get out anymore, so this was the biggest treat anybody could have made for me.”

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Harlan Cohen Continues from page 1

live during the event, and then I also am always interacting with people who are there and learning as much about them as they get to know about me, and using real-life examples and real issues that are affecting your community as the focal point of what I get to deliver.

It’s funny, too. It’s light but it’s powerful, and people leave with insight into their own lives. It really helps us to be better parents, better partners and more in alignment with who we are and what we want. I love doing it.

How did you start grappling with these ideas?

I had a really difficult transition to life in college, and I ended up transferring. I had an internship at the Tonight Show with Jay Leno one summer, and that’s when I came up with the idea to write an advice column. I went back to Indiana University and started writing the column, and it was during that time that real students started to write to me sharing their challenges and life issues. This is when I started to realize that so many students struggle when it comes to navigating all of these big changes.

Two of the most shocking statistics are, nationally, 47 percent of first-year college students have felt hopeless over the previous 12 months, and over a third were so depressed that it was hard to get their work done. It doesn’t have to be this way.

My mission is to change how we look at transition and navigating change so that we can be equipped to work through the uncomfortable without it becoming all-consuming. It was only after researching and writing “The Naked Roommate and 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College” that it became even clearer to me that this isn’t a me issue, this is an epidemic. It’s something we all experience.

Mom, here’s a way that you can look at the changes you’re going through.” Her mom was retired, had recently lost her spouse and was dealing with big life issues. She took exactly what we talked about at a K-5 event and took the message and was able to be the person in her mom’s corner to help her mom to navigate these big life changes she was facing.

At the event, I’ll touch a lot on college, but I’ll also touch on all aspects of our lives. To give you a larger perspective, my expertise is in helping people to navigate change. I have my “Naked Roommate” books for students and parents, a book called “Dads Expecting Too,” which is a book about pregnancy, a book called “Getting Naked: Five Steps to Finding the Love of Your Life (While Fully Clothed and Totally Sober),” which navigates the change from being single to being in a relationship. There’s a constant theme of going from one place to another.

How to navigate those changes is universal. I call what I share transition framework; that can help with any stage of life.

Personally, I’m married with three kids, and being a parent has really also given me even more insight into what so many families are dealing with.

I’m able to draw on professional expertise and personal challenges that we’ve faced.

The Jewish stuff, this is an event that’s really for everyone, but I feel that being Jewish and being someone who is part of a larger community has always been a source of strength, and a powerful connection that’s something I take a lot of pride in.

I talk a lot about people, places, and patience, that’s a very important theme that I’ll be sharing more about at the event, but my connection to the Jewish community has always been important.

Judaism has always been a place with people that has helped me to be comfortable and grounded.

I’m really grateful to be able to do something with your community.

What do you want people to know before the event?

I’m so grateful to be able to share this because I know that it’s a really powerful message that has a history of leaving a lasting impact.

I’m so excited to meet everybody. With me it’s not hello and goodbye, it’s hello and so nice to meet you, I’m in your corner, let’s continue this relationship.

Keeping those statistics in mind, do you see your methods as a way to challenge a negative mindset?

I look at these statistics and I see students who don’t know what’s coming, who are unequipped to navigate the normal changes that are part of transition, and they panic. They’re not resilient and gritty enough to get through the normal “tough stuff,” and as a result, we see these statistics of students who really struggle. One of my goals is to give parents deeper insight and tools so that they can help their children to be better at navigating change, anticipating the challenges ahead and to be empowered to be self-advocates and work through the “tough stuff” that so many students struggle with.

What applications do you see for parents and other members of the community?

What I’m sharing can be applied to anyone at any time in their life. From birth to death, and everything in-between, we are constantly dealing with change. Birth, marriage, divorce, loss, professional changes – it is a constant change, and the framework I introduce is relevant to everyone.

I was at one event for kindergarten through 5th grade parents, and one of the moms left and the first thing she did was call her mom and say, “Hey

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Who would believe it?

By Laurence Levitt Special to HAKOL

IN HONOR

Would anyone believe that during a time of significant tensions among the various religious and secular groups in Israel, including those related to prayer at the Western Wall, there exists a community where: 1. All clergy in the community meet on a regular basis to discuss items of concern and try to solve problems together, for the common good.

2. Each of the synagogues, as well as the Jewish Federation, on a regular basis, makes its members aware of events that occur in the other synagogues, which might be of mutual interest.

3. The rabbi of the Reform synagogue attends services at the Orthodox synagogue on a regular basis, and both synagogues' rabbis have been spotted hugging each other.

4. The former president of the reform synagogue is now president of the community’s Jewish Day School. Furthermore, that the latter has over its long history (50+ years) had students whose families came from each of the major synagogues.

5. It is the birthplace of the Federation's Maimonides Society, formed by a dedicated group of Jewish physicians with the goal of promoting medical projects locally and abroad. That society has been duplicated around the country. Recently, upon the occasion of its 30th anniversary, members of the society raised money for an ambucycle for the city of Ma’alot in northern Israel, where it helps save lives daily.

6. It is the birthplace of the Pomegranate pin, whose wearers help raise funds for Federation, and that idea has likewise been duplicated around the country.

7. Ten organizations have joined together to form a LIFE & LEGACY ™ program, whereby each one would develop or enlarge an endowment fund to sustain and enrich the Jewish community long-term.

Though hard to do so, believe it, because the above describes the Jewish community of the Lehigh Valley, of which we should all be duly proud. It just might serve as an example for other communities to follow.

BELLA ALKASOV Marriage of her daughter JFLV Staff ROBERT AND LEAH BERGER Shanah Tovah Alice and Mark Notis MARC AND LAURIE BERSON Marriage of Andrew to Kourtney Jeff and Jill Blinder WENDY BORN Becoming JFLV Honorary VP Donald and Randi Senderowitz NATE BRAUNSTEIN Happy 90th Birthday Lenny Abrams Susan and Larry Berman Gloria and Jerry Ginsburg Rhoda and Leonard Glazier Selma Roth and Family Donald and Randi Senderowitz Fred and Barbara Sussman, Robin and Philippe Amouyal, Wendy and David Silverman, Lisa and David Griffiths LESLIE AND VICTOR BUNICK Birth of their grandson Lynn and Sam Feldman LARRY AND TOVA COHEN Shanah Tovah Alice and Mark Notis EPHI AND LISA DARDASHTI Shanah Tovah Alice and Mark Notis HERBERT AND DINA DOBRINSKY Shanah Tovah Alice and Mark Notis LYNN AND SAM FELDMAN Engagement of Brooke to Jeffrey Kessel Jane and Arthur Kaplan and Family STEWART AND CAROL FURMANSKY Birth of their grandson Donald and Randi Senderowitz MARK GOLDSTEIN Speedy Recovery Ann and Gene Ginsberg Mark and Alice Notis and Family Bob and Lota Post Audrey and Arthur Sosis Fred and Barbara Sussman BETH KUSHNICK In her honor Gayle Farman

LOIS LIPSON Happy "Special" Birthday Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald CAROLE AND ARNOLD MARDER Shanah Tovah Alice and Mark Notis BOBBI NEEDLE Happy "Special" Birthday Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald COOKY AND MICHAEL NOTIS Shanah Tovah Alice and Mark Notis ELAINE AND LEON PAPIR Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald Roberta and Robert Kritzer LOTA POST Happy "Special" Birthday Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald HOWARD AND SUSAN SHERER Birth of their grandson, Ronan Ross and Wendy Born FRANNI STUTMAN Speedy Recovery Roberta and Alan Penn MICKEY AND EILEEN UFBERG Birth of their grandson Marilyn Claire and Family Roberta and Robert Kritzer CANTOR KEVIN WARTELL Engagement to Bunny Tobias Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald BARBARA WEINRACH Speedy Recovery Roberta and Robert Kritzer IN MEMORY LILY CLINE (Mother of Pam Byala) Marilyn Claire and Family RON COLFER (Father of Jeff Colfer) Marilyn Claire and Family LEE HAMMEL (Brother of Bobby Hammel) Donald and Randi Senderowitz BARRY MINDES (Father of Janet Mandelker) Vicki Wax JAMIE MOSS (Daughter of Stanton Moss) Roberta and Alan Penn RITA REDNOR

(Mother of Austin Rednor) Faye Bloch and Family ALYSSA SCHLOSSER (Daughter of Alexa Karakos) Tracey and Jason Billig and Family Suzanne Lapiduss PETER SUSMAN (Father of Vikki Dunn) Ross and Wendy Born BERNARD TOMKIN (Father of Ed Tomkin) The Head and Neck Center HELEN AND SOL KRAWITZ HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FUND IN HONOR NATE BRAUNSTEIN Happy 90th Birthday Susan Engelson Friefeld HENRIETTE ENGELSON L’Shanah Tovah Susan Engelson Friefeld ADAM AND PENNY ROTH Marriage of Alex to Julia Joani Lesavoy and Sid Greenberg IN MEMORY HARRY LANDE (Father of Donna Breslow) Zac and Rachel Miller (Father of Marsha Krawitz) Paula, James, Scott and Bree Dreiling Stephen and Allison Garber Christy and Joel Naydyhor Ed and Ilene O’Brien Abby and Dan Rosenberg Donald and Randi Senderowitz Arlene and Richard Stein Ruby and Michael Triplett ANNETTE SUMMER (Mother of Susanne Matlin) Susan Engelson Friefeld and Family 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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Nearly halfway through their first year, the 10 local Jewish organizations that have partnered with LIFE & LEGACY™ to secure the community’s future are going strong.

Teams from each of the partner agencies are reaching out to their constituents and asking them to support the Jewish community in their wills, trusts, retirement accounts and life insurance policies. The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive.

Want to learn more about leaving your legacy?

Visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org/lifeandlegacy or contact any of the following organizations: • Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley • Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley • Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley • Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley • Congregation Am Haskalah

• Congregation Brith Sholom • Congregation Keneseth Israel • Congregation Sons of Israel • Temple Beth El • Temple Covenant of Peace

MY LEGACY: Mike & Linda Miller

“Congregation Keneseth Israel has been an important part of Linda’s life since childhood and our lives since we moved here in 1966. It has been our second home. Over the years, we have been involved with numerous committees, leadership roles, life cycle events, frequent prayer miles and educational and social activities that have enriched our lives. We have met and continue friendships with many wonderful KI families, clergy and staff for which we will always be grateful.

It is our hope that KI will always be there to benefit our KI community in the future. We are proud to be

LIFE & LEGACY

community total

Mike and Linda Miller

Ann Stehney

Patty Glascom

a part of KI’s L’Dor Vador Society.”

traditions of Brith Sholom.

I have chosen to make a current gift from my IRA by taking advantage of the Qualified Charitable Distribution option.”

thing we could have done.

What would happen if something happened to us?

My children would want to know how we could be cared for. Our younger daughter lives in Phoenix, Arizona, our older daughter and son-in-law live in Pittsburgh. Sure, they could come if needed, but it’s not right around the corner.

And so we felt the need to make our commitment to the LIFE & LEGACY program to ensure that there would be JFS on board to help when needed. The time may come, could be tomorrow, could be 10 years, could be 30 years, who knows, but we want to know that we will be cared for and that JFS will be there for us and for others who will have that need.”

MY LEGACY: Ann Stehney

“I moved to the Lehigh Valley 17 years ago, so I'm somewhat of a newcomer.

When it came time to plan for retirement living, I realized that “home” was here - not the town where I grew up, not the town where my career took off, not the town where I raised my daughters, but here where I’ve felt comfortable and been welcomed at Congregation Brith Sholom from my very first Shabbat there. The CBS community has truly become a second family. I appreciate how important the Endowment Fund has been to maintaining the programs and

MY LEGACY: Patty Glascom

“Through the years, I’ve experienced numerous health issues of family members.

The most detrimental, or excruciating, was when my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1995. So my father and I turned to Jewish Family Service and asked if they could create a support group for counseling for all those dealing with their relatives with dementia issues of various kinds. And that was the first time I had close contact with JFS. It was the best

AS OF SEPTEMBER 15

• 73 commitments with an estimated value of $1.3 million from 41 donors.

• 40% of the way to reaching our community goal of 180 commitments this year!

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | OCTOBER 2017 9

New group of older adult volunteers to be celebrated at second 8ish Over 80 event

By Michelle Cohen HAKOL Editor The Lehigh Valley Jewish community will gather on Nov. 5 to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of a new group of 13 remarkable people over the age of 80 who have donated their time, talents and hearts to enriching our community.

An elegant champagne brunch in their honor will be hosted by Jewish Family Service at Temple Beth El. The proceeds from the brunch will benefit JFS’s older adult services.

“This event brings our community together to honor special individuals who have made a difference in the lives of others,” said Debbie Zoller, JFS executive director. “As we age and begin the phase of retirement, many older adults look at their time as a gift they can give their community by volunteering.”

Rabbi Allen Juda, JFS board president, added, “8ish Over 80 gives us collectively a wonderful opportunity to tell a group of extraordinary Jewish community members from across the Lehigh Valley that we have not forgotten their past efforts nor are we unaware of their current contributions to communal life. We value and appreciate what they have done and what they do and the example they have set for all of us.”

Each of the honorees is a community volunteer chosen by a synagogue or Jewish agency in the Lehigh Valley. As part of the process, the organizations were instructed to choose individuals with

dedication of time, talent and menschlike qualities in the Lehigh Valley. The 13 honorees, comprised of 11 individuals and one couple, have volunteered extensively across the Lehigh Valley, each lending his or her time and dedication to the community.

The event, which will feature a brief presentation from JFS as well as a video featuring the honorees in their own words, is intended not only to celebrate the efforts of these remarkable people, but also to inspire the whole community to improve the lives of older adults in the Lehigh Valley. “The stories of our honorees are treasures to be enjoyed and preserved,” Zoller said.

Carah Tenzer, co-chair of the event, called several of the honorees to let them know they’d been selected. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the various honorees say, ‘I don’t know what I’m being honored for … this is just what I’ve always done,’” she said. “What I love so much about hearing from this year’s honorees is how much they feel they’ve gained from active participation in the community.” Tenzer and Audrey Nolte also co-chaired last year’s event.

“The lifelong commitment of our honorees’ gifts of Tikkun Olam is like ripples on the water, touching lives near and far, now and in the future,” Nolte said.

The 8ish Over 80 brunch will take place on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 10 a.m. at Temple Beth El. To learn more about admission and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jfslv. org/8ishOver80.

MEET THE 8ISH OVER 80 HONOREES

Bernard Filler

Marlene & Arnan Finkelstein

BERNARD FILLER Born on Oct. 2, 1932, in the Bronx, Bernie owned a factory in Palmerton where he manufactured ladies’ blouses and pants for over 25 years before retiring at age 62. Bernie served as the president and treasurer of JFS and was instrumental in finding and renovating JFS’s building.

He served on the board of the JCC. A member of KI, he joined their board of trustees as treasurer and then financial secretary. He was the president of the brotherhood at KI, and also worked in the kitchen as the brotherhood’s culinary vice president. When he retired from the position, he had a service honoring him, but he was back in the kitchen the next week! He

was also a member of three rabbinic search committees for KI. Known affectionately as “Mister Bunny,” Bernie made all the costumes for the JDS Purim celebrations in his factory. Now, Bernie enjoys life with his wife of 51 years, Bunny, and their two children and four grandchildren.

MARLENE AND ARNAN FINKELSTEIN Marlene and Arnan are approaching their 55th anniversary; Arnan moved to Allentown in 1954 and Marlene joined him when they got married in 1963. As a life member of Hadassah, Marlene co-founded the evening study group and became vice president of programming for Hadassah and Temple Beth El Sisterhood. She was involved in the JCC Women’s Auxiliary, served on the first JFS board, working her way up over time to become the president at the same time as she was getting her MSW. She worked in inpatient psychiatry for 10 years and was in private practice for 25 years. She was also on the board of Planned Parenthood and edited their newsletter before co-founding HAKOL, the Jewish Federation’s newspaper. Arnan served on the Federation board before becoming campaign chairman in 1973 during the Yom Kippur war, and later became president. He was also involved at the JDS, where the couple’s three daughters went to school, the JCC, and Temple Beth El. Upon graduating from Lehigh University as an engineer, Arnan went into the Air Force before joining his father in the textile business. He later worked as a real estate developer.

Marlene and Arnan were also founding members of Am Haskalah. Marlene and Arnan enjoy spending time with their six granddaughters and love to travel frequently.

RENEE GITTLER Renee and Frank Gittler, along with their two young sons, moved to Allentown in 1958, when Frank accepted a position at Bell Labs. They were immediately involved in the Jewish community.

10 OCTOBER 2017 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Renee Gittler

Lillian Goldner

Gwen Jacobs

Selma Jacowitz

Ruth Sachs Meislin

Renee became involved with the JDS PTA board, served as an officer on the Temple Beth El Sisterhood Board, and the local chapter of American Jewish Congress board. She is a life member of Hadassah.

Renee was a den mother of her third son’s Cub Pack from the JDS. Before the birth of her fourth child, a daughter, she completed certification courses in secondary education. She taught chemistry classes at the local colleges and did long-term subbing at various secondary schools but continued volunteering.

In 1975, she was asked to join the faculty at Penn State Lehigh Valley and retired in 2002. She became certified as an appraise counselor in 2000 when her husband died. He had been a counselor since 1989 and she wanted to continue his work helping people with Medicare and Medicaid courses. She is still working at LVAL every week. Renee was part of a B’nai Mitzvah group at Congregation Brith Sholom in 2010. She continues regular attendance and classes. In 2014, she was recognized as an Unsung Hero by Lehigh County. She enjoys spending time with her four children, grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren.

attended Hebrew school at Bnai Abraham Synagogue before her family joined Temple Covenant of Peace. Now, she is the temple’s ritual chairperson and a board member. She was a Girl Scout leader for nine years, and co-founded the Bnai Abraham/TCP Knitting Club where the members produce blankets, slippers, mittens, caps and scarves for people in need. She was married to a physician for 31 years and has three children and four grandsons. In her spare time, Gwen enjoys sailing.

to a family that settled in the area in the late 1800s. She has been involved in the Jewish community of the Lehigh Valley since her childhood, beginning with religious school and a JCC membership. She later helped to found JFS, and brought her

experience in education and social work to the fledgling agency for which she later served as president. During this time, she was part of the newly formed Lehigh Valley Jewish Nursing Home Committee, which was instrumental to the creation of

Beth Tikvah, the valley’s first Jewish nursing home. She also worked with JFS to help ensure the successful resettlement of scores of Russian Jews to the Lehigh Valley.

Ruth was a founding board

LILLIAN GOLDNER Lillian, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday, has lived in Allentown for nine years. Prior to moving to Allentown, she lived in New York and served on the local school board for 15 years, 13 of which she served as the president. She was also on the library board for 15 years.

She retired at 73 after a career in patient advocacy at a local hospital that began when she created a volunteer program there. When she moved to Luther Crest in Allentown, she got involved in several committees – food, welcoming, fundraising and entertainment – in her new home.

She stays active socially and physically, knits three scarves a week for people in shelters and stays in close contact with her three children and several grandchildren.

SELMA JACOWITZ Selma grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey. When her family moved to Easton in 1951, it became important to be active in the much-smaller Jewish community. She became active in Hadassah and joined Bnai Abraham Synagogue, taking a variety of roles there once her three daughters were in school.

In addition to serving as Sisterhood president, Selma chaired a variety of projects, served on the cemetery committee, and wrote a history of the synagogue. She was also past president of the Easton Home (the Easton Home for Aged Women), as well as JFS’s Benefits CheckUp program. She currently serves on the Bnai Abraham cemetery committee and volunteers with Meals on Wheels.

RUTH SACHS MEISLIN Ruth was born in Allentown

8ish Over 80 Continues on page 23

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GWEN JACOBS Gwen moved to Easton at age 2 and has been in the area ever since. A psychology major in college, Gwen taught in school before working as a psychology counselor in a partial care clinic for emotionally disturbed adults. She then worked for FEMA for 10 years. Her three children HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | OCTOBER 2017 11

Reflections on our Israel trip

By Barry Halper Special to HAKOL A few months ago, my wife Carol and I decided to visit Israel to attend our niece’s wedding in Jerusalem, and to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. And so it was this past August that our son Alex, daughter-in-law Emily and grandchildren Henry, age 4, Jane, 6, and Ava, 14 had the wonderful opportunity to visit Israel. Carol and I were so excited to see Israel through the eyes of our children and grandchildren.

We arranged our own tour, to accommodate the needs of the vast age range. And we had the best tour guide ever! Shira helped make this trip meaningful for all of us.

As we drove north from Ben Gurion Airport, we could see tremendous growth occurring in smaller cities like Herzilyia, Netanya and Hadera. Building cranes were changing these small coastal cities into vibrant centers of commerce. We also saw the miles of banana trees, and other produce, much of which will be exported to Europe so the Europeans can enjoy fresh, relatively inexpensive products while continuing to unduly criticize Israel.

We stayed at a beach resort in Kibbutz Nachsholim, a beautiful location Emily found, which allowed for some time to enjoy an uncrowded beach and the warm Mediterranean waters.

Touring the Golan brought into perspective Israel’s exposure to hostile neighbors. Standing on the top of Mount Bental at a UN observation post, you can see well into Syria, as well as the Galilee Valley to the south; one could imagine how precarious it was, prior to 1967, for Israeli farmers with the Syrians periodically firing artillery shells from the Golan Heights. Our visit

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to the Golan also had its light moments: we rode a jeep down the mountain with a driver who knew every rut and pothole to drive through, and I can still hear the howls of laughter from the back of the jeep.

A few months ago, Jane told me about a PJ Library book “Goodnight Israel,” in which it describes taking a boat ride on the Kinneret and thus we included it on our itinerary! The boat ride was great, particularly when our family started dancing to music coming from the ship’s sound system and other families joined in. At dinner prior to the boat ride, we ran into our friend, former Consul General Yaron Sideman, who was leading a small tour of officials. It was great to see him and he sends his warm regards to the Lehigh Valley Jewish community.

Our family had a very special day in Yoav. We spent a wonderful afternoon with Nurit Grossman, who helped start the partnership, and Mayor Matti Scarfatti Harcavi, enjoying lunch, touring a new winery (La Terra Promissora) and spending time in Nurit’s home in Galon.

Earlier in the day we were in Bet Guvrin and participated in an archeological dig of a cave used during the Roman occupation.

The second half of our trip brought us to Jerusalem and, eventually, our niece’s wedding.

We stayed at a beautiful apartment in the German Colony neighborhood. Once again, Emily found perfect lodging to accommodate all seven of us. On Friday evening, the bride and groom’s families came together for services in an Ashkenzi shul and a festive dinner. The aufruf was held at a beautiful Sephardi synagogue and our family enjoyed experiencing a different style of Shabbat morning services compared to Sons of Israel.

Of course the children enjoyed gathering up the candy thrown at the groom after his aliyah.

The few days prior to the wedding, our family visited the

Kotel, the tunnels along the Kotel, the shuk (market). We visited on the day of an IDF induction ceremony. What a moving sight to see all these incredible men and women in uniform, streaming into the Kotel plaza; young Israelis from different backgrounds talking, laughing and eating together as they waited for the ceremony to commence.

Later we shared a meaningful moment planting trees at Ne’ot Kedumim forest. With help from the JNF personnel, we each planted one or two trees to honor our daughter Lauren, whom we lost to cancer in 2013.

It was a very special time and was made more memorable when we stopped and shared memories about Lauren who was so passionate about Israel.

In traveling in and out of Jerusalem, the most efficient routes inevitably took us through the West Bank. We were concerned at first, but Shira helped put our mind at ease explaining the extensive security procedures that Israel has put into place.

Traveling through a small portion of the West Bank gave us an opportunity to see a significant amount of construction of new Israeli and Arab communities.

At the checkpoints, we saw soldiers on duty – with smiles on their faces despite the reality that these young men and women must make split second decisions as each vehicle passes through, to ensure the safety of all people, Israeli Jews and Arabs, and visitors like us.

The culmination of the trip was the wedding, held in a beautiful venue in the hills outside of Jerusalem. We celebrated the bride and groom with “l’chaims” and dancing in their honor.

Our journey significantly impacted us individually and as a family. To have three generations traveling through Eretz Yisrael will forever provide great memories in our minds and special feelings in our hearts. We are already planning our next trip!

Experiencing Germany today

By Jessica Schwartz Special to HAKOL What do Americans think of when we hear the word “Germany?” OK, yes, obviously it’s a country; maybe it’s where our family came from. Or maybe you think of Oktoberfest, beer or Weinerschnitzel. However, for many Jewish Americans, we think: Holocaust. As much as we wish we didn’t have to, it’s ingrained in our history to remember. I was lucky to participate in an educational and exciting program this summer called Germany Close Up – American Jews Meet Modern Germany, a program in cooperation with Classrooms Without Borders, a 10-day, affordable, organized trip for Jewish young professionals designed to introduce you to Germany today, learn about its past and understand its goals for the future. Most of the trip is geared toward Jewish history, Holocaust remembrance and present and future Jewish relations; however, we also learned about general German history and current politics, including the hot topic of immigration and refugees in Germany.

The very first day at orientation, we learned that this program has no agenda – it is not designed to convince us to love Germany, and did its best to present an unbiased viewpoint of German society. Instead, GCU’s goal is to introduce us to the country, its culture, its history, and provide opportunities for discussion so that we could process what we saw and heard and come to our own conclusions. Some of us were second or third generation Americans with parents or grandparents who survived the Holocaust, some of whom came from Germany; and some of us, myself included, had no known direct connection, but felt it important to see the history first-hand. A diverse group of thoughtful, interested and bright Jews, led through Berlin, Nuremburg and Munich by non-Jewish German leaders, who left a mark on all of us with their compassion and perspective. A very unique opportunity.

Some highlights from the trip included: a Berlin bus tour seeing the Berlin Wall and Eastern Gallery, Brandenburg Gate and Bavarian (formerly Jewish) quarter, among other historic stops.

Seeing memorials for many of the different groups targeted by the Nazis and artist interpretations of Holocaust and World War II remembrance. Learning about the “German guilt” and efforts for reconciliation, remembrance, and having eye-opening discussions about the other perspective: how present-day Germans carry

the weight of their ancestors and World War II. Many exceptional guided tours through Jewish Berlin, museums, synagogues, Sachsenhausen concentration camp, Track 17 and other important sites related to the Holocaust, the city of Nuremberg, the Nuremberg Trials, the documentation center and Zeppelin Field and the city of Munich. Shabbat services with German and other international Jews, followed by a lively, crowded Friday night dinner singing loudly and beating on tables – taking me back to summer camps and connecting to others from across the world through song and prayer … and food! Thought-provoking and heart-felt group discussions, and panels on Jewish life and politics.

A tour of Berlin from the perspective of a Syrian refugee and the life of an immigrant. And lastly, learning about German culture, experiencing a new country, and meeting amazing people. Truly an experience that I could not have possibly achieved on my own.

One noteworthy takeaway from this list was the ever-present notion of “reconciliation,” German guilt, and the idea of public representation of shame. I learned that many Germans – not all, but many – find it important to contribute to the “Never Again” mentality that we as Jews work to maintain. To restrict freedom of speech to persecute anyone who supports Nazi idealism; to provide government funding for organizations like GCU and Action Reconciliation Service for Peace to promote positive relations and atonement for the Holocaust; to educate their youth in school; and to commission artists, architects, historians and other professionals to create and preserve public memorials to commemorate such events and historic sites. Nothing can take away the frustration, horror and sadness I feel when I think of what the world would be like had the Holocaust never occurred. However, learning about and seeing Germany “close up” has reaffirmed for me that while we cannot change the past, we can work for a better future.

Germany is making a strong ef-

fort, and I think it’s important to try and recognize this. But more importantly, I encourage you to go and see for yourself to make your own decision, feel your own emotions, and interpret what you will from this experience.

You can learn more about the organization and trip opportunity through GCU’s and Classrooms Without Borders’ websites: www. germanycloseup.de and www. classroomswithoutborders.org/ seminars.

Jessica Schwartz lives in Bethlehem and is a member of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley's Young Adult Division.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | OCTOBER 2017 13

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HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | OCTOBER 2017 15

In wake of hurricanes, TCP member recalls her years working for FEMA

If there was one thing Gwen Jacobs learned in the decade she worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, it was to always keep a bag packed.

When disaster struck – like it recently did in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma – Jacobs knew her phone would be ringing.

“If there was a lead time, it was less than 24 hours. Sometimes it was only 12 hours,” said Jacobs, a member of Temple Covenant of Peace who lives in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. “I never knew what I was going to encounter.”

Workers would be deployed for 30 days – though FEMA would typically remain on site for six months after the disaster – and be responsible for finding their own accommodations, she said. Since the workers couldn’t stay in the affected area, motels could be 40 miles away. Each worker would receive a budget of $40 a day for room and board. “We lived on bologna sandwiches a lot,” said Jacobs, now in her 80s.

In places like North Carolina, Louisiana, West Virginia

Hurricanes Continues from page 1

severe damage – in Key West, Miami, Naples and St. Augustine.

The prolonged power outages left tens of thousands of older adults isolated in apartment buildings throughout Florida, with a big concentration in Broward County. Emergency outreach and wide-scale distribution of meals, water and ice were provided with Federations, Jewish Family Service agencies and Chabad extremely active on this front.

The immediate and longterm needs of these communi-

ties are still being assessed and funds will be allocated to help where they are most needed.

In addition, the Federation’s overseas partner, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, has escalated its response to the Caribbean Islands outside the U.S. If you would like to make an impact, there are several ways to help the communities affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Donate gently used PJ Library books to families in need at the JCC, or donate to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Hurricane Relief Fund.

Visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org/ hurricanerelief to learn more.

Hurricane Harvey FACTS (based on early estimates)

• Of the 51,000 Jews who live in Houston, 71% live in areas that were affected by flooding.

• 1,000 people have been displaced from their homes.

• 6 major Houston Jewish institutions have suffered catastrophic flood damage, including three of the largest synagogues and a day school.

• Seven Acres, with one of the largest Alzheimer’s care units in the country, experienced complete flooding on its first floor. Residents had to be relocated.

16 OCTOBER 2017 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

By Gabe Friedman Jewish Telegraphic Agency It was 5 a.m. and Hurricane Irma was pounding the tiny Caribbean island of Saint Martin. Rabbi Moishe Chanowitz and his wife, Chana, the Chabad movement’s emissaries there, gathered their five children and hunkered down in an unlikely place: a mikvah.

According to the Chanowitzes, as told on Chabad.org, the ritual bath helped save their lives.

The storm killed at least eight people on St. Martin and a councilman told Reuters that 95 percent of the 34-square-mile island was destroyed. Irma’s winds reached around 180 miles per hour and decimated trees and homes, flinging cars around in its wake.

Even though the Chanowitzes’ Chabad center building was sturdy and built into the side of a mountain, the storm had them rightly terrified. By 4 a.m. that morning, the front door of the building had flown off.

“You could hear it; you feel the pressure in your ears,” Moishe Chanowitz

CHABAD.ORG/NEWS

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and Texas, she would help to set up centers to assess claims, among other jobs.

“The centers opened at 7 in the morning, they closed at 7 at night. However, anybody who was in the center was serviced so sometimes we didn’t get out until 10 or 11 at night,” said Jacobs. “We would travel back to wherever the motel was, fill out all the papers and travel back for 7 in the morning. After working 7 to 7, seven days a week, after three-and-a-half weeks, you had a half day off.

That was working for FEMA.” Jacobs first pursued work with FEMA around 1989.

“My brother had worked for FEMA, my husband had just passed away and my brother said you cannot sit at home sucking your thumb in the corner. You’ve got to go out and do something,” Jacobs said.

“So I said, fine. He said, apply to FEMA, I did. Took them two years to pick me up.”

She was sent to Emmitsburg, Maryland, for training before being deployed. She worked for the agency from 1991 to 2000.

During that time, she had the opportunity to serve in a city all too familiar with flooding – Houston.

Though FEMA was and continues to be there to help, much more help is needed for recovery in these types of disasters, she said.

“What people need the most right now is money,” she said.

“People are very, very anxious to send them clothing, they have no place to put it. And food, they have no place to store it. What they need right now is money.”

Hurricane Irma was no match for this mikvah on St. Martin

The door of the Chabad center in Saint Martin blew off when Hurricane Irma passed through. said. “I thought the windows would explode at any moment.”

With more wallboards flying away, the Chanowitzes fled to the center of the building and into the mikvah. It’s still under construction but crucially has an outer wall and a door. The family pushed a commercial freezer in front of the door.

“We have hurricaneproof doors and windows; it’s not like we weren’t prepared,” Chanowitz said.

“But this was off the charts.

The mikvah saved us.”

Around 10 a.m., the family and hundreds of neighbors finally ventured out into the disheveled landscape. Most had similar stories. One friend told the Chanowitzes he survived by hiding in a closet.

The Chanowitzes, along with the rest of Saint Martin, were left without electricity.

“The damage is unimaginable,” Chanowitz said. “But we’re going to rebuild.”

Humbled by the need to ask for help after Harvey; Trauma counseling made a critical difference On the night Hurricane Harvey flooded their home, two of Judi and Roger’s four sons were staying with their grandparents.

They were the lucky ones. Since that night, the rest of the family has been struggling to overcome the trauma. And Judi is grateful to the Jewish Federation for providing not only practical support to help them put their lives back together, but also the trauma counseling she and her family needed.

Their home had never been flooded before — neither had their street — and they were unprepared for just how quickly it happened. Before they even had a chance to pack a change of clothes, the family found themselves huddled on a bed, watching in disbelief as the water rushed in and surrounded them. It was too late to get to the roof of their one-story house, so when their neighbors offered them a room on their second floor, Roger put his 7-yearold son on his shoulders and they all waded outside through waist-deep water.

“We were on our neighbor’s second floor for three days,” Judi recounted. All four of them, along with two dogs, using a child’s bedroom as a shelter, with their hosts in the room next door and a foot of water on the first floor. Rather than attempt evacuation, they decided it would be safer and more comfortable to stay put.

Out on the street, the water current was so strong that Judi couldn’t get into her house to try to salvage a few things. When she finally was able to get inside, she grabbed her laptop and a few other items.

But virtually everything the family owned was destroyed.

The Jewish community came through with the help they needed. Meals arrived, and volunteers showed up to help

them sort through their belongings. The JCC handed out supplies and Target gift cards. The Federation provided emergency money to get them through the weekend, no questions asked. Volunteers from the Federation’s Young Leadership department came to help them pack up. “When everyone else had left, they stayed and continued to help us. Even when I said, ‘No, other people need help more,’ they still sent help. They knew I needed it.”

But for Judi and her family, the most valuable service the Jewish community provided was trauma counseling. “Jewish Family Service set up shop in the JCC, providing someone I could talk to who was there to listen when I really needed it. I could break down because they were there to help.”

A therapist herself, Judi has been moved by the support offered to her family. “It’s not easy for me to ask for help — I’m used to giving help. It’s been a humbling experience,” she said. “We’re so fortunate to have this community. The Houston Jewish community will survive this and come back stronger.”

US hurricane victims welcome Israeli aid workers 1

By Abigail Klein Leichman Israel21C On a house-to-house mission in the Florida Keys, search-andrescue volunteers from Israel discovered an ailing American military veteran who’d spent four days without water, electricity or telephone reception in his home as Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc outside.

“You are the first people to come down here and offer aid,” the grateful man told Tamar Citron, a member of the team from the Israel Rescue Coalition and United Hatzalah.

“We provided him with water, food and a lot of positivity,” Citron reported. “We notified local authorities and EMS teams and made sure that they followed up. Unfortunately, there are many people stuck on the Keys right now without access to food, water, electricity or a method of communication. Our entire team is heading down to the Keys to help rescue more of these people.”

Citron and volunteers from other Israeli humanitarian aid groups, who dropped everything to fly over and assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Hurricane Irma in Florida, are finding their expertise is needed and appreciated.

Israel is the only country to send multiple groups of volunteers in addition to material aid.

“Our first night in Texas [Sept. 8] we went to a restaurant and the waiter asked us if we were in Houston for business or pleasure,” says Smadar Harpak, a therapeutic clown with Israel’s Dream Doctors Project.

“We explained that our business is pleasure, that we came to

work with families who lost their homes. With tears in his eyes, the waiter said, ‘Nobody comes because they think we’re a rich country and don’t need help. It’s exciting to know someone cares about us.’ And we realized there is a lot to do here,” Harpak tells ISRAEL21c.

Her 20-hour journey with co-clown Penny Hanuka was arranged by Israel’s Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Consulate in Houston. They have been on past humanitarian missions to Europe, Nepal and Haiti. In Texas they’ve been working in Houston and Dallas shelters, hospitals and schools.

“We bring the clown approach to help people touch the trauma and deal with the trauma.

Most of the damage was not physical, but there is emotional damage and we deal with that,” says Harpak, a Dream Doctors staff member of Dana Children’s Hospital in Tel Aviv. “This is the most important thing when people lose their homes and history and are terrified for the future.”

In the course of their relief work, the women met Tomer Kaplan, Haim Dagan and Itzik Mor, volunteers from Israel’s Magen David Adom national first-response network. This was the first time that MDA teams were invited by the American Red Cross to assist in a domestic disaster. “The destruction is immense,” reported Dagan. ”During the first couple of days here, we visited different shelters with the Red Cross to figure out what items civilians were missing. Then we loaded trucks with those items and distributed them to people requiring water, warm food, blankets, hygiene products, clothing, cleaning

agents and more.”

Mor described driving through blacked-out residential areas, honking their truck’s horn to alert people still in their homes that help was available.

They stopped often to hand out supplies.

“This is a physically taxing mission that extends over long hours, but the smile and gratitude on the face of civilians is worth the effort,” he said.

Israeli humanitarian group IsraAID was among the first to arrive in Houston after the hurricane. A second IsraAID relief team landed on Sept. 10 to assist in clean-up efforts after mass flooding.

“Our emergency management team is currently planning how to aid the long-term recovery process. IsraAID remains committed to supporting the floodaffected individuals, families and communities as long as is needed,” reported co-CEOs Yotam Polizer and Voni Glick.

The Jewish Agency for Israel, an overseas partner of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, also sent Israeli emissaries to do relief work in Houston and is readying a team for Florida in the wake of the hurricanes.

In addition, nine volunteers (eight Israeli and one British), two doctors and two staff members from JAFI’s Project TEN helped in Mexico following the Sept. 7 earthquake that left 96 people dead. They packed and delivered about 1,000 food parcels, clean water, diapers, milk substitutes and other necessities.

The doctor treated local residents who retained injuries. The Project TEN Oaxaca location opened in 2013 to support the local rural population.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ISRAELI CONSULATE

2

3 4

1 - Israeli volunteers from ZAKA Search and Rescue join local relief organizations and police to help Floridians affected by Hurricane Irma.

2 - Therapeutic clowns Smadar Harpak (seated) and Penny Hanuka at the Goldberg Montessori School in Houston.

3 - Israel Rescue Coalition and United Hatzalah team members in Florida with local rescue services.

4 - ZAKA and CSE Miami volunteers installing a generator in the home of a sick child.

$21,000 raised so far Thank you for helping us be the part of something powerful!

DONATE NOW

www.jewishlehighvalley.org/hurricanerelief

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | OCTOBER 2017 17

18 OCTOBER 2017 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | OCTOBER 2017 19

20 OCTOBER 2017 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Jerry Lewis, comedian and filmmaker, dies at 91 Jewish Telegraphic Agency

LARRY FRENCH/GETTY IMAGES FOR THE FRIARS CLUB

Comedian and filmmaker Jerry Lewis, who rose to fame working with singer-actor Dean Martin and earned plaudits as host of the Muscular Dystrophy telethon for four decades, has died.

Lewis, who was known for his starring role in “The Nutty Professor,” died Aug. 20 at his home in Las Vegas, The Las Vegas Review Journal columnist John Katsilometes first reported. He was 91.

Though he was largely out of the movie industry by the end of the 1960s, Lewis continued to perform a comedy routine in Las Vegas, where he launched his career in 1949, according to Variety. He also had memorable serious roles in Martin Scorcese’s 1982 drama “The King of Comedy” and the 1980s TV drama “Wiseguy.”

Lewis, raised in Newark, New Jersey, was born Joseph Levitch to Borscht Belt entertainer parents Danny and Rae Levitch, who used the name Lewis when they appeared in small-time vaudeville and at Catskills resort hotels, according to The New York Times. Lewis, known as Joey when he was young, said the fact that his parents often left him in the care of his grandmother and aunts gave him a longstanding sense of insecurity and a need for attention.

Lewis began performing with Martin in 1946 after they performed on the same bill at a Manhattan nightclub and created an act that soared in popularity with Lewis using

his physical slapstick comedy acting alongside Martin’s relaxed persona.

The duo also starred in 13 films, but broke up after 10 years together, at which point they were barely speaking to each other.

Lewis and Martin reconciled in 1987, when Lewis attended the funeral of Dean Paul Martin Jr., Martin’s oldest son, a pilot in the California Air National Guard who had been killed in a crash. They continued to speak occasionally until Martin died in 1995, the Times reported.

Lewis began writing, producing and directing films in the late 1950s and ’60s. “Rock-a-Bye Baby” (1958), “The Geisha Boy” (1958) and “Cinderfella” (1960) were his first three films, and were directed by Lewis mentor Frank Tashlin. Lewis wrote, directed and starred in the 1960 film “The Bellboy,” his directorial debut.

In “The Nutty Professor,” from 1963, Lewis in a variation of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” played both the shy chemistry professor and a brash nightclub singer. At the end of his life, Lewis hoped to bring a musical adaptation of “The Nutty Professor” to Broadway.

Lewis’ unreleased and apparently unwatchable 1972 Holocaust drama “The Day the Clown Cried” intrigued film buffs for decades; a 30-minute cut of the film surfaced online in 2016.

Lewis began hosting the annual Labor Day weekend Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon in 1966, remaining as host of the telethon and his beloved “Jerry’s Kids” until 2010, raising more than $2 billion during

Comedian Jerry Lewis attending The Lincoln Awards: A Concert For Veterans & The Military Family at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Jan. 7, 2015. those years.

He received the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences’ Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his charitable activity in 2009. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — one for his movie work, the other for television.

Lewis, whose comedy style remained popular in France, was inducted by the French government into the Légion d’Honneur in 2006.

In 2015, the Library of Congress announced that it had acquired Lewis’ personal archives. In a statement, he

said, “Knowing that the Library of Congress was interested in acquiring my life’s work was one of the biggest thrills of my life,” according to the Times.

Lewis had two heart attacks, prostate cancer and pulmonary fibrosis.

He also had suffered from a painkiller dependency in the ’80s.

He had six sons with his first wife, Patty Palmer: Gary, Ronnie, Scott, Anthony, Christopher and Joseph, who died in 2009. He is survived by his second wife, SanDee Pitnick, and their daughter.

A Caretaker of his Communities Michael Ringold, M.D., Vascular and Interventional Radiologist There was never any doubt that Michael Ringold would become a doctor. His father was an endocrinologist and his grandfather was a dentist.

His two brothers also entered the medical field.

“I can’t remember wanting to be anything else,” says Dr. Ringold, a vascular an interventional radiologist with the St. Luke’s Vascular Center in Bethlehem, PA. “Apparently, it runs in my blood.”

Still, he carved his own path. Dr. Ringold was drawn to radiology because he found it challenging to take two-dimensional images of a three-dimensional structure – the body – and piece together evidence to help determine patients’ diagnoses. Vascular came into the picture during his residency. He was fascinated with the specialty’s real-time, hand-on approach to treating patients that extends beyond reading film.

According to Dr. Ringold, radiology is evolving at a very rapid rate as research is conducted and new knowledge and approaches are shared. For example, when vertebral augmentation became a treatment option for compression fractures in the spine, he went to a training course and helped develop the procedure for St. Luke’s. He has performed many “firsts” at St. Luke’s, including vertebral augmentation and stroke thrombolysis.

“Radiology is cutting edge and training is a very important part of being the best radiologist,” he says. “The most rewarding aspect of my job is that at the end of a hard day of work, I can look back and know I helped patients get better, feel better and find answers.”

For Dr. Ringold, the strong desire to help others has become a family pursuit. In late June, Dr. Ringold’s wife, Ilene, was part of a group of Jewish mothers from the Lehigh Valley who traveled to Israel through the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project and Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs to connect with their Jewish heritage.

Two of the Ringolds’ sons – Sam, who will be a freshman at the University of Michigan this year, and Andrew, a high school sophomore – volunteer with Chabad’s Friendship Circle and BBYO, with which Sam was a member of the chapter and regional leadership teams. Another son, Matthew, will be entering this sixth grade this fall.

Michael Ringold, MD Dr. Ringold specializes in multiple, minimally invasive non-surgical procedures to treat various diseases, including: • Ablation of tumors using CT guidance • Infusion of radioactive beads into liver tumors • Treatment of uterine fibroids without hysterectomy • Opening of blocked arteries outside the heart • Treatment of pulmonary embolisms To contact Dr. Ringold or make an appointment, call 484-503-8281.

“We are active in these ways because we are trying to ensure that there is a future within the Jewish community for our children and beyond,” Dr. Ringold says.

www.sluhn.org • 1-866-STLUKES

Michael Ringold, MD

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | OCTOBER 2017 21

Every stitch made with love

By Anita Hirsch Special to HAKOL Ilene Rubel loves to knit. She always has a knitting project she is working on. Well, she works on one, but she has others partially done and others almost done and lots of brand new skeins ready for projects. Ilene started knitting more complicated patterns not so long ago, about nine years ago. Her mother Honey (Helene) Greenstein was a prolific knitter and had tried to raise an interest and enjoyment of knitting to Ilene, but without success. Honey made baby and toddler sweaters and blankets for Ilene’s three daughters, which Ilene saved and cherishes.

Without much experience herself, Ilene started a mitzvah knitting club at Temple Beth El in October 2004 and included a much more experienced knitter with a mission, Anita Brody, who was promoting making baby blankets for charity. Anita and Ilene got together with a group of women from the temple; they knitted baby blankets which Anita took to local hospitals where they were donated.

Ilene was living in Allentown and had cousins visiting from Vancouver, British Columbia, and Verona, New Jersey, and they read about a brand new knitting store that opened in April 2009 in Bethlehem, The Knitter’s Edge. “Let’s take a ride,” they said and “The rest is history!” They met a teacher named Pat who Ilene now refers to as her “knitting angel:” her teacher and her mentor, who started Ilene on her knitting passion.

Ilene made several sweaters for herself and made gifts for family and friends such as scarves, hats, shawls, mittens and blankets and baby hand-knit items. She made a knitted sweater with two inches of a lace pattern down the front of the garment, her first and only lace experience, a more difficult project.

By this time, had she had lots of experience knitting. With her three daughters, Marla, Cori and Julie, coming up to marriageable age, Ilene thought about making

a family heirloom. She had heard about a knitter knitting a special wedding canopy, or chuppah, and she thought about making one for her daughters. She found a pattern for a knitted lace chuppah cover on Ravelry.com and she decided to find out more about it.

Her daughter, Marla, was planning to marry Ryan and they set a wedding date for April 2016. So, on Aug. 15, 2015, less than a year earlier, Ilene went to visit Pat the knitting angel at Knitter’s Edge, who gave Ilene confidence and promised to be by her side through this pattern until the last stitch. Pat showed Ilene how to use a chart to work this pattern. And the project began.

She purchased 11 skeins of natural fingerling wool, undyed yarn and began knitting with the help of mentor Pat. She had to work with a chart to keep the pattern.

And Ilene cast on eight stitches and started the project: she had to increase eight stitches every other row. By October 2015, Ilene was on row 130 with 524 stitches. Those of you who knit can appreciate having to knit one row with 524 stitches. First of all, there is the problem of counting stitches. Ilene cried when stitches fell off. Then there is the problem of having knitting needles that long.

Ilene was able to use interchangeable needles that have an end that the next needle can be lengthened or snapped into the next part to accommodate these 524 stitches. To make it easier to count the stitches, she counted 10 stitches and then put a marker on the needle, so she didn’t have to count all the stitches at once and could keep a marker between every 10 stitches. At this point, Ilene was still enjoying the knitting, three months into the project and with the help of her knitting angel Pat.

By December, Ilene had 932 stitches on the needles and was knitting “at every free moment.” She was worried about running out of yarn. The measurement of the top of the chuppah is 75 inches square now and it has to be over 100 inches square when complete.

By March 9, 2016, Ilene had completed

the knitting. The final row, number 314, counted out to 1,304 stitches! Now the 120 inch by 120 inch piece had to be blocked, which means flattened and shaped. JoAnne Turcotte, the owner of the Knitter’s Edge, assured Ilene that she would help her with the blocking. She volunteered her business floor for the project. JoAnne, Pat, Ilene, her youngest daughter, Julie and Edie Eckman, a well renowned knitting designer who was there teaching, helped the evening of the blocking.

The chuppah was spread out on the floor for steaming and pressing into shape.

Ilene was grateful to all who helped her with this massive project including her inspiration, her three daughters. She was grateful to Kat Coyle who designed the pattern for the lace chuppah, There was never a point where Ilene said she would not finish it.

She thanks the men who helped with the wooden structure of the chuppah. The wood 4 x 4s were purchased. Ryan, the bridegroom, sanded and stained with the help of Steve, the father of the bride, Troy, our “next groom in waiting,” Uncle Bob, Brad, Ilene’s nephew, and our friend Brian, who all helped with that on a weekend in December 2015. The base was constructed and put together and it stood up.

All was ready for the wedding of her daughter Marla and her beau, Ryan on April 16, 2016. The wedding was held at the Manor House at Prophecy Creek in Ambler.

“It was a magnificent weekend and the chuppah was breathtaking,” confirms Ilene.

Then daughter Julie announced a wedding date of May 6, 2017. She was to marry Troy at The Glasbern Inn in Fogelsville, but the day came and it was very windy and rainy. No one wanted to have the beautiful chuppah ruined by the weather, so it wasn’t used. The wedding was beautiful.

The chuppah has been preserved and stored in an archives box waiting for daughter Cori or for the next niece or nephew or family member to get married to use the handmade chuppah heirloom.

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22 OCTOBER 2017 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Glemser Hall Reception Area

Gladys Morgenstein

Carole Rose

Selma Roth

Marshall Silverstein

Arthur Weinrach

8ish Over 80 Continues from page 11

nize the money donated at weekly minyans. She enjoys crossword puzzles, mah jongg, exercise classes, reading and spending time with her two children and three grandchildren.

in 2000, she helped to found the art gallery at the JCC. She also enjoys doing small acts of kindness for a variety of people in the community. She has been happily married for 67 years! She enjoys spending time with her son and daughter and two grandchildren, and enjoys painting and swimming.

for the local Kidney Foundation, is a perennial Super Sunday volunteer, and currently volunteers at The Perfect Fit for Working Women.

Selma is the proud “bubby” of six grandchildren.

helping younger generations stay in touch with their Jewish roots.

member of the Community Music School, and was a docent at the Allentown Art Museum. Passionate about women’s rights and educational issues, she became a self-described activist. Ruth has been supported in her civic engagements by her late husband Ira Meislin and her son, daughter and two granddaughters.

GLADYS MORGENSTEIN Gladys, who was born in Allentown and has lived there all her life, has been involved with Congregation Sons of Israel for many years. As a retired secretary who worked for the Allentown School District for 24 years, she brings her expertise to the Sons of Israel office, where she helps with a variety of secretarial duties. She also goes to the synagogue weekly to orga-

CAROLE ROSE Carole moved from Cincinnati to the Lehigh Valley in 1964, and shortly after, she began a career as a preschool teacher at the JCC. After teaching for 18 years, she took a variety of jobs at the JCC, including adult programming, fundraising, program director, and running the JCC day camp before retiring. Her main volunteer involvement was founding The Perfect Fit for Working Women, an organization which gives economically disadvantaged women an outfit for a job interview and, if hired, women are eligible to come back and get more outfits free of charge.

After starting The Perfect Fit

SELMA ROTH Selma married Jerry Roth in Temple Beth El in 1952. They lived in Chicago and L.A. and moved to Allentown in 1958, where Selma took an active role in the Jewish community, serving as the founding president of the Women’s American ORT Allentown chapter before serving as the president of the Women’s Auxiliary of the JCC. She has also served as campaign chair of the Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation and, with Jerry, went to Israel on a young leadership mission.

Selma has done some work

MARSHALL SILVERSTEIN Marshall moved to Allentown in 1958 to manufacture ladies’ handbags, and has been active in the Jewish community ever since. Citing his parents’ involvement as an inspiration, Marshall served on the JDS board and was elected president for several years. He belongs to Temple Beth El, where he was the president of the cemetery organization for 25 years. At the time when they decided to build a new synagogue, preliminary funds were necessary. He was able to get excellent funding for the entire project. He volunteers because he believes in the importance of keeping the Jewish community alive and

ARTHUR WEINRACH Arthur, who moved with his bride from Philadelphia to the Lehigh Valley 50 years ago, began volunteering at Congregation Sons of Israel, where he served a term as president. He has had board and/or officer positions, at the Jewish Federation (where he has been an active campaign and committee worker), Jewish Family Service, Jewish Day School (where his three children attended), Allentown Rotary, Program for Women and Families, and the Literacy Center. Arthur was inspired by philanthropic family members like his mother, Mildred Berkowitz, who served as national president of Junior Hadassah. Arthur was recently appointed to the Lehigh Valley Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Council.

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GIVE A MITZVAH, DO A MITZVAH

Mitzvah project supports Friendship Circle Jared Sussman will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 7, at Congregation Keneseth Israel in Allentown. Jared is heavily involved in theater at Springhouse Middle School and the JCC. He also plays percussion in the SMS Middle School band. His favorite time of the year is the seven weeks he spends at Camp Saginaw each summer.

“Not everyone is as fortunate as me,” Jared said. “There are many children who live with extensive special needs and disabilities.”

“With my Torah portion lesson of acceptance, I knew I wanted to work with special needs kids for my bar mitzvah project,” he added. “I wanted to work with children and show them the same compassion and understanding

shown to me.

I feel that each of them have something incredible to offer and many times don’t have any friends. As I talked to Rabbi Seth, we thought that it would be good for me to connect to our local Chabad and learn more about Friendship Circle which my brother, Jacob, and my cousins are already involved in. This program creates meaningful relationships and friendships between teen volunteers and children with special needs, helping to increase the children’s confidence.

Every week, pairs of trained teenage volunteers visit children with special needs at home. These one or two hour visits go a long way in curing loneliness by doing normal things friends do such as playing board games, electronic games, sharing music and stories.

The bonds that are formed through this program often last a lifetime.

I have learned also that they need donations of sensory toys and tools. Therefore, I am reaching out to the community for donations of money or sensory toys for my project. I plan on attending Sunday circles at the Chabad this year and am excited to continue with this project beyond my bar mitzvah.”

For his mitzvah project, Jared is collecting money and supplies for Chabad to foster the Friendship Circle program. Tools and toys may be purchased at this website www.funandfunction.com/ therapist-picks.html and given to Jared to donate. Checks may be made out to Friendship Circle and mailed to the Jared Sussman Bar Mitzvah Project, c/o JCC of the Lehigh Valley, 702 N. 22nd

Street, Allentown, PA 18104.

If you’d like to participate in Jared’s mitzvah project or to ask questions, please contact Jared at sussmanbmproject@gmail.com.

“Jared is exceptionally unique and embraces what it means to be true to himself and who he is” Jared’s parents, Tracy and Matt Sussman, said. “He is a true mensch and shows compassion and acceptance of others. Being Jared’s parents is an endless source of joy, gratitude and pride in our daily lives.”

In addition to his mitzvah project, Jared has made his first adult gift of tzedakah to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

Bar Mitzvah helps animals in distress

By Joanna Powers Special to HAKOL We are thrilled to share our celebration of Ari’s bar mitzvah on Sunday, Nov. 19. Ari was called to the Torah this summer on the Shabbos of his bar mitzvah parsha, Pinchas, and the festivities will continue on Rosh Chodesh Kislev when Ari will lain the Rosh Chodesh Torah portion which is a selection from Pinchas.

We could not be prouder of Ari. He has grown from a sweet, caring little boy into an earnest, kind and clever young man with

a sharp sense of humor (who is still sweet and caring). Ari faces challenges head-on and always gives 100 percent as a student, a friend, a son and a brother. He and his brother Yitzi might tussle on occasion, but we are so blessed by how dedicated they are to each other.

Ari’s interests range from Star Wars to hockey to technology. He is fascinated with computer coding and the inner workings of anything electronic. We’ve had several old computers and cell phones turned inside out to quell Ari’s curiosity.

He aspires to work in engineering one day and has been honing his skills though the Jewish Day School’s STEAM program.

The JDS has also given Ari his strong Jewish identity and a real interest in Limudei Kodesh learning. He comes to life during a discussion about a story in the Torah or a debated tradition in Mishna. He has a true love for Israel and hopes to make a trip to our homeland someday soon.

High among what matters most to Ari is his love of animals. He is biding his time until he can be an independent pet owner. In the interim he enjoys spending quality time with his uncle’s search and rescue dogs, Storm and Roxanne.

Ari has chosen his mitzvah project to reflect his connection to animals. He will be volunteering for The Sanctuary at Haafsville in Breinigsville, which is a rescue shelter for homeless dogs and cats. They partner with shelters that are overcrowded, work with Lehigh County municipalities to take in stray dogs and cats, rescue animals from natural disasters,

accept pets from owners who need to relinquish them and work to place animals into loving homes.

They also provide neuter and spay services for feral cats. Ari and his dad will be working shifts at the Sanctuary this fall cleaning cages, walking dogs, and feeding and playing with the animals.

Ari is asking for donations for this important community organization. There are specific opportunities to give that include buying formula for new kittens, funding a dog’s transportation to the shelter, and building a new outdoor exercise pen for the dogs.

Please go to www.thesanctuarypa. org/donate to help Ari reach his mitzvah project goals!

Jonathan and I, Yitzi, Ari’s grandparents Mark and Louise and Paul and Jessica, his aunts and uncles including Ellie, Dan, Nomi, Marty and David, and his entire family are all kvelling with nachas over Ari’s milestone and all he’s accomplished so far. We can’t wait to continue celebrating our incredible bar mitzvah boy, Ari! For help developing your mitzvah project, contact Abby Trachtman, program coordinator at abbyt@jflv.org or call her at the Federation office at 610-821-5500.

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Israeli government must reinstate Western Wall deal or explain why it won’t, Supreme Court orders

Jewish Telegraphic Agency Israel’s Supreme Court has ordered the government to either reinstate the Western Wall agreement with non-Orthodox groups or explain why it should not force the state to honor the deal.

“One can’t help but ask ‘What exactly happened here?'”

Chief Justice Miriam Naor said at a hearing Aug. 31. “There was an agreement, they were working on it. But then the government came and said there isn’t one. It raises some questions.”

The hearing was in answer to a petition filed by the liberal Jewish movements in Israel and

the Women of the Wall calling for the implementation of the agreement to expand and upgrade the egalitarian prayer section at the southern end of the Western Wall. The agreement puts the upgraded section on equal footing with the single-sex sections; it would be run by a special committee with no input from the Chief Rabbinate.

In June, the Cabinet suspended the deal passed in 2016, negotiated by the Reform and Conservative movements, the Women of the Wall, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Israeli government. The government’s haredi Orthodox coalition part-

ners pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scrap the agreement.

The government has said it plans to go forward with the expansion of the egalitarian section despite the freeze.

“The court sent a clear message to the government that it is their responsibility to reconsider their position about freezing the Western Wall agreement,” Rabbi Gilad Kariv, executive director of the Reform movement in Israel, said in a statement. “We continue to be committed to the compromise and hope that the Prime Minister will understand the message of the Supreme Court judges.”

Women of the Wall chair Anat Hoffman said, “As we were negotiating the agreement we felt at times that we were making history. Today proved that feeling to be right. That feeling proved itself right today. The agreement is the guiding light in the Court’s path to a just solution to the Kotel dispute.”

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate said in a brief filed with the Supreme Court that the court lacks the jurisdiction to rule on the “intrareligious” struggle involving egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall.

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Germany adopts international definition of anti-Semitism Jewish Telegraphic Agency Germany has formally accepted an international definition of anti-Semitism in a move designed to provide clarity for the prosecution of related crimes.

The German Cabinet announced on Sept. 20 that it unanimously adopted the working definition promoted by the International Alliance for Holocaust Remembrance, a body with 31 member states.

In addition to classic forms of anti-Semitism, the definition offers examples of modern manifestations, such as targeting all Jews as a proxy for Israel, denying Jews the right to a homeland and using historical anti-Semitic images to tarnish all Israelis.

“We Germans are particularly vigilant when our country is threatened by an increase in anti-Semitism,” Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maizière said following the meeting. “History made clear to us, in the most terrible way, the horrors to which anti-Semitism can lead.”

Josef Schuster, head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, welcomed the announcement “as a clear signal” that anti-Semitism is not tolerated in Germany. Schuster said he hoped the definition would be “heeded in schools, in the training of public servants and in the courts,” and that it would help police to categorize crimes effectively.

“Cases of anti-Semitism are all too often overlooked or even ignored by authorities due to the lack of a uniform definition of anti-Semitism,” said Deidre Berger, director of the American Jewish Committee’s Ramer Institute for German-Jewish Relations in Berlin. “This will change dramatically with the adoption of the Working Definition, which will make it more apparent

when anti-Semitism rears its ugly head.

“This decision, coming at the beginning of the Jewish New Year, sends an important and reassuring message to the Jewish community in Germany.”

Its adoption was recommended by the independent Bundestag Commission on AntiSemitism. The commission also has urged the appointment of a federal commissioner for antiSemitism affairs — a move the AJC and other Jewish organizations have promoted as essential to “fight[ing] anti-Semitism as well as respond[ing] to current manifestations,” Berger said.

According to the IHRA definition, anti-Semitism “is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

Contemporary examples are provided, including: * Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor. * Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation. * Using the symbols and images associated with classic anti-semitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis. * Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis. * Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.

In Germany, recent court decisions reveal the difficulty of

finding unanimity on the issue.

For example, while some courts have found anti-Zionist-motivated crimes to be tantamount to anti-Semitism, since perpetrators blame Jews in Germany for Israel’s policies, other courts have accepted political motivation as a mitigating factor in sentencing.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | OCTOBER 2017 25

When a fire at Jewish summer camp has a silver lining

By Hartley Lachter Special to HAKOL

TM

OCTOBER 6-22

WWW.CIVICTHEATRE.COM

26 OCTOBER 2017 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

This summer, I joined many fellow parents across the country in doing something that may seem to some to be irrational — I entrusted my two daughters, ages 8 and 12, into the care of complete strangers for a month at Jewish summer camp.

In my particular case, I’ve been lucky enough to serve as a scholar in residence at my kids’ camp (Ramah in the Rockies) for the past four summers. This has given me the chance to observe firsthand how beneficial, even life-changing, the crazy decision to send kids to summer camp can be. This is due in no small measure to the remarkable young people who serve as camp counselors. I have been able to see their work up close; reading to kids at bedtime, leading songs, making every child feel included and accepted, comforting kids who feel homesick, turning everything, even cleaning the bunk, into fun.

These kids who care for our kids are amazing.

My time at Ramah is usually peaceful, but at 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 7, I knew something had gone very wrong when I heard, “Fire! We need everyone’s help right now!” I threw on some clothes and ran outside to learn that the fire was in the central lodge building, a large wooden structure that houses the kitchen, dining hall and all of the administrative offices.

My heart sank when I ran down to find the entire lodge engulfed in flames shooting at least a hundred feet high. The heat was incredible, and even though the camp had been blessed with heavy rain the day before, I couldn’t help but worry what would happen to everyone, including my own children, if the fire spread to the surrounding forest. I knew we needed to be ready to leave quickly.

Standing in front of the fire, walkie-talkie in hand, was the camp director, Rabbi Eliav Bock, a friend I’ve known since college. He was directing about a thousand things at once with unbelievable focus and composure. Emergencies are something that he prepares for, and it really showed that night. He asked me to help drive vehicles away from the lodge so that they would be ready to use in the event of an immediate evacuation. He made sure that all of the kids and staff were at the fire emergency gathering spot, and that all of the horses and other animals were safe.

When the vehicles were all in place, I made my way to the gathering point, where I found the entire camp sitting quietly, each group of kids gathered around their counselors. I found my own daughters and gave them each a quick

hug, and I could see the tears of fear welling up in their eyes, but there was no time for me to stay with them. The staff in charge of campers had to stay with their kids, which meant that the rest of us needed to be available to do other things.

The amazing thing is, I felt no parental anxiety at all about leaving my daughters in the care of these incredible young people. They all knew what they were doing, and they protected their kids, our kids, my kids, with tremendous competence and compassion.

The decision was made to move everyone to an open field at the end of camp farthest from the fire, and closest to the road leading off the property. I arrived there with the last group of adults, and before I had even reached the gathering spot, the sound of singing reached my ears through the chilly darkness of that night.

Sitting on the damp wild sage in an open field under a full moon, the kids and staff were singing Hebrew songs together with loud, joyful voices.

The staff found a way to turn this frightening experience into a moment of mutual reinforcement for everyone. When I found my daughters down on that field, they were sitting with their bunkmates and counselors, wrapped in blankets, singing songs, and smiling. The staff was doing, I realized, what they always do. The same young women who braided my daughters’ hair, wrote them special notes every Friday for Shabbat, and made sure that they always had the whole group together whenever they moved from one activity to another, were doing the same thing now out on this field.

I don’t know how I will ever be able to express the gratitude I feel to those incredible people for what they did for my children, and for all of the kids here. Led by Rabbi Eliav, their heroism continued as we relocated the entire group to JCC Ranch Camp, where the staff found a way to make this last week of camp a joyful and enriching experience for everyone.

I’ve always been drawn to the myth of the 36 righteous people who sustain the world with secret acts of kindness. I’m certain that they were all present at Camp Ramah the night of that fire, and that they will probably never know how much their actions changed the world. But I’m also starting to realize how remarkable the camping world is every summer. I, for one, can’t wait to see who will care for my kids when they come back to camp next year. I also know for sure that this has been a summer my daughters will never forget – and not just because of the fire.

Hartley Lachter lives in Allentown and is the director of the Berman Center for Jewish Studies at Lehigh University. This article was originally published in The Forward.

PJ Library celebrates Rosh Hashanah

By Abby Trachtman PJ Library Project Coordinator PJ Library families gathered on Sept.

10 to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Children made and sounded their own shofars. Cantor Jeff Warschauer from Congregation Keneseth Israel led the families in song before he and Rabbi Moshe Re'em of Temple Beth El blew their own shofars. The afternoon concluded with a delicious apple and honey dipping bar.

PJ Library Family of the Month:

THE AMMERS

Our family loves PJ Library. When my girls, Suzanna and Sonya, see a book come in the mail, their eyes light up and they jump up and down with excitement. Oftentimes, a game or activity will accompany a book, which is received with additional joy. Also, PJ Library not only brings my family together for quality story time, but the Jewish community as well. We love meeting up and socializing with other families at the PJ Library events. Fun can be had by all!

- SAMANTHA & STEVE AMMER

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

A S KK H SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., Temple Beth El

Join Temple Beth El and PJ Library for a Sukkah Hop. Take a bus ride around town to experience different sukkot and learn about tzedakah. Each sukkah will feature its own activities. The “hop” will end with a dairy potluck dinner at Temple Beth El. $10 per family.

RSVP to shari@bethelallentown.org.

Please bring gently used children’s coats and cocoa to donate to the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | OCTOBER 2017 27

Allentown AZA’s transition from summer to fall

By Jacob Sussman AZA Over the past summer, many fellow BBYO members from across the United States went to different summer programs. There were five different programs the teens could attend. These five experiences were: CLTC (Chapter Leadership Training Conference), ILTC (International Leadership Training Conference), Kallah, ILSI (International Leadership Seminar in Israel) and BBYO Passport.

The teens that attended these summer programs learned many new ways to become leaders and how to be role models in the community and in BBYO. Many of the teens that attended had a life-changing experience.

Just like last year, Liberty Region BBYO held its regional kickoff event on Sept. 10. This event was held at the Spirit of Philadelphia and over 400 teens from the Liberty BBYO region took a cruise around the Delaware River. At this regional event, teens had an amazing view of the river and had a chance to re-connect with their regional

friends, and meet new friends, all while having a great night.

The next regional event was the RLTI convention, which was held from Sept. 15-17 at Camp Kweebec in Schwenksville. This convention was a great way for board members and chapter members to learn how to become positive leaders and how to be the best board or chapter members possible.

Allentown AZA’s first meeting after the summer was held on Sept. 12. This meeting brought all the members back together to kick off another great year.

This year, the 90th Allentown

AZA board was elected. The new board members are ready to set the standards for continued open communication, excellent programing, raising lots of money for the standup cause, recruiting new members, having a lot of fun and making sure it is another meaningful year overall.

If anyone’s child or grandchild is Jewish, in 8th-12th grade and is interested in joining BBYO, please contact Robert Shaff at 484-274-2885 or email allentownaza@gmail.com. Allentown AZA looks forward to continuing the Jewish tradition and having another great year!

Allentown Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) and BBG board at board installations.

Meet the BBG Board

By Fana Schoen BBG Hello, HAKOL readers! It’s Fana Schoen (mazkirah board member ‘17-18) here to introduce you to the Allentown Danielle Goren B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG) #1188 board members for the 2017-18 term.

SOPHIE VALUNTAS: N’Siah (chapter president)

Sophie Valuntas is a senior at Parkland High School and has been a proud BBG since she was in eighth grade. This is Sophie’s third year on board and she can’t wait for another fun year in the chapter and region. She hopes that in her senior year she can enjoy herself, but also get Allentown BBG back to the well-oiled machine it once was.

SOPHIA McWILLIAMS: S’Ganit (vice president of programming)

Sophia is a senior at Moravian Academy and has been a proud BBG since her sophomore year of high school. This is Sophia’s second year on board and she can’t wait to try out a new position and see how she can continue to improve the chapter. She hopes that with her board position, she can make Allentown BBG’s programming relaxed, but fun and interesting. She is working hard 28 OCTOBER 2017 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

to plan exciting and new programs for all of Allentown BBG’s members to enjoy!

MOLLY COLEMAN: Morah (vice president of recruitment)

Molly is a sophomore at Parkland High School and has been a proud BBG since she was in eighth grade. Molly loves being on board because she likes that “[she] get[s] to recruit new girls but make new friends at the same time. [She] love[s] watching friendships form, especially from experience and that’s what BBYO is all about: meeting the friends who you will cherish forever.”

Molly’s main goal for the year is to beat our membership goal and to start more events just for new members so that they can all get to know one another. Molly can’t wait to recruit every girl she can find for our chapter to help increase Allentown BBG’s attendance at chapter, region, and international BBYO events.

FANA SCHOEN: Mazkirah (vice president of communication)

Fana is a sophomore at Emmaus High School and has been a proud BBG since her eighth grade year. Fana loves her board position because, “[she] love[s] communicating. [She] think[s] that communication is the lifeblood of relationships and of a

BBG chapter, so [she] feel[s] that [her] role is not only important, but vital to the existence of the chapter. It’s nice to feel crucial to the function of something so important to [her].” Fana’s goal is to increase communication among the girls in the chapter and to increase communication skills in the girls in the chapter.

SABRINA TOLAND: Sh’Licha (vice president of Jewish heritage)

Sabrina is a junior at Parkland High School and has been a proud BBG since her eighth grade year. Sabrina loves being on board because she really loves BBYO and it is an important part of her life and she likes to be as involved as possible. This is Sabrina’s second year on board and she can’t wait for another year of active membership in the chapter and region. Her goal is to make her junior year low in stress but she wants to have fun and plan cool and interesting services.

BAYLEY ADIEH: Gizborit (vice president of treasury)

Bayley is a junior at Moravian Academy and has been a proud BBG since her sophomore year.

This is Bayley’s second year on board and her second year serving as Gizborit of the chapter. She can’t wait for another great year for Allentown BBG!

Smiles and miles at JDS Fun Run

KI gears up for two musical events

By Cantor Jeff Warschauer Congregation Keneseth Israel I am excited to tell you about two musical events coming up at Congregation Keneseth Israel in October:

SIMCHAT TORAH SERVICE with Live Music and Dance Wednesday, October 11

Our KI celebration of Simchat Torah will take place on the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 11, beginning at 7 p.m.

As always, Rabbi Seth Phillips will be leading services. I will be singing, as will our professional choir, led and accompanied by Karen Berta, KI’s wonderful musical director.

Special for this year, we will be dancing with our Torah scrolls to live music, featuring violinist Deborah Strauss, and the fantastic klezmer clarinetist Zoe Christiansen from New York City.

Deborah will also be leading traditional Jewish simcha dancing, Yiddish dance and Israeli dance!

All are welcome, kids and adults. Bring family and friends!

KENESETH ISRAEL’S BIG JEWISH MUSIC JAM

BY SANDI TEPLITZ

klezmer music, Hebrew and Yiddish songs, Hasidic tunes and synagogue songs. It’s all great music and you will have a wonderful time in a warm and heymish (friendly and cozy) environment.

We invite everyone to participate, regardless of vocal or instrumental level, previous experience, background or knowledge. Ages 0 to 120 are welcome. If you are someone who is shy about singing or playing, come anyway. We’ll make it work!

Kids should be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Instrumentalists, please bring a music stand. Keyboardists, please bring an instrument if possible.

For more information, please contact Cantor Jeff Warschauer at 610-435-9074, or cantorjeff@ kilv.org.

INGREDIENTS: 4 egg whites, beaten until peaks form 3 c. all purpose flour 2 2/3 c. club soda corn or peanut oil 1/4 c. spicy mustard 2 T. honey 2 t. soy sauce 1 1/4 t. Tabasco sauce 1 lb. mixed asparagus spears & green/wax beans TECHNIQUE: Whisk flour and club soda into the whites; refrigerate. Heat oil in large pot until very hot. Combine the next four ingredients in a saucepan; stir over medium heat for five minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Dip beans and asparagus into the egg white batter. Remove excess with a slotted spoon. Fry for three/four minutes. Remove with a spatula and drain quickly on paper towellined plate. Season with salt. Serve with warm dip. This is a great accompaniment to chicken wings and beer for game time parties!

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Free and open to all from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Congregation Keneseth Israel.

Led by KI’s cantor and Klezmer/Yiddish performer and educator Cantor Jeff Warschauer.

Calling all singers and instrumentalists. No previous experience is necessary.

Kids and adults from any background are welcome.

(No, you don’t have to be Jewish to sing, play and love Jewish music.)

Come sing and play

Asparagus and green beans with dip

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HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | OCTOBER 2017 29

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