The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community
www.jewishlehighvalley.org
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Issue No. 442
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April 2021
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Nisan/Iyyar 5781
AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977
Celebrate Israel with us in our special section p6-7
See how PJ families celebrated Passover p18
FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN p2 LVJF TRIBUTES p8 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p11 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p14-15 JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p16 COMMUNITY CALENDAR p23
Local Jewish family prays for second miracle in fight against daughter’s rare disease By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor Jen and Zack Einstein fell in love 17 years ago during rehearsals of a play they were in together at Civic Theatre of Allentown. After getting married in 2010, they were eager to start a family. Soon, however, they would discover they were facing a long battle with infertility necessitating in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. The first round of IVF resulted in a miscarriage, the second round in the stillbirth of their son, Nachmiel, and the following six rounds were failures. Then, the miracle came with round nine. Their daughter, Ellery, was born in 2015, and it seemed like happily ever after at last. The first sign that Ellery might have a developmental delay came when she was two years old. She immediately started receiving speech therapy. Later, once she was a student at the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley’s Early Childhood
Education program, she began receiving speech therapy, occupational therapy and specialized instruction services once a week. Life carried on fairly normally, however, for the next two years. Last April, when Ellery was 4, Jen noticed her falling to the floor and shaking. Doctors initially wrote it off as clumsiness or bids for attention. Jen knew Ellery’s seizures were more than that and contacted the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). On Nov. 16, 2020, after a battery of tests, she and Zack finally received the grim diagnosis – Batten disease. As defined by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Batten disease is the common name for a broad class of rare, fatal, inherited disorders of the nervous system. In these diseases, a defect in a specific gene triggers a cascade of problems that interferes with a cell’s ability to recycle certain molecules. The disease has several forms that share some of the same features and symptoms but
vary in severity and age when symptoms first begin to appear. Each form is caused by a mutation in a different gene. The variant Ellery has is known as CLN6, one of the rarer forms of Batten disease. Symptoms vary among children, but typically start after the first few years of life and include developmental delay, changes in behavior and seizures. Children eventually lose skills for walking, playing and speech. They also develop myoclonic jerks, problems sleeping and vision loss. Most children with CNL6 die during late childhood or in their early teenage years. Since finding out about Ellery’s condition, Jen and Zack have been tireless advocates for their daughter. Jen not only sets up the CHOP appointments, but she continues to work on trying to find a cure, speaking with researchers both in the U.S. and abroad. The family drove to Columbus, Ohio, earlier this year to Nationwide Children’s
Hospital, where there is a clinic specifically focused on Batten disease. Zack takes Ellery to her weekly speech, occupational and physical therapies. “We love her whole team at CHOP. They encourage us to keep going with the services. We want to keep her skills and everything as strong as possible for as long as possible,” said Zack. There is currently no cure for Batten disease. However, there is research being done, the most promising of which currently is using gene therapy to slow its progression. The Einsteins have been in close contact with the pharmaceutical company who recently completed the gene
therapy clinical trial. They are hopeful that science may yet be able to save their daughter. The clinical trial was done at Nationwide Children's Hospital. The goal of the aforementioned trip to Nationwide was to make sure that Ellery wasn't simply a name on a list when the next trial happens, but instead a patient who had an established connection with the Nationwide team. The Einsteins were told that it was likely that Ellery would qualify for the next trial. Then, a setback: blood results showed that Ellery has high Einstein Continues on page 22
Noted Jewish scholar to kick off ‘season of independence’ By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Community Development & Operations Avraham Infeld has invested a lifetime building Jewish identity and strengthening the State of Israel. On Sunday, April 11, at 10 a.m., Infeld, one of the most Non-Profit Organization 702 North 22nd Street Allentown, PA 18104
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unique and compelling leaders in the Jewish world today, will speak to our community on the “season of independence.” His talk will take place a few days after Yom HaShoah and a few days before Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut. While these are three distinct events – two somber, one celebratory – Infeld will help us make sense of why they all occur within a week of each other. “Ultimately, all of these events tie back to the importance of the State of Israel, and Avraham Infeld is certainly the best to speak to that. You won’t want to miss his presentation,” said Jeri Zimmerman, executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, the program’s sponsor. Prior to Infeld’s talk, the Lehigh Valley will mark Holocaust Remembrance Day with a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, April 7, including a personal story and
orchestral performances (see story on page 6). After his talk, the Federation will host three more events to mark Yom Hazikaron – Israel’s Memorial Day – and Yom Ha’atzmaut – Israel’s Independence Day. On Tuesday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m., community shlicha Gavriel Siman-Tov will lead us in a ceremony to honor Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror attacks. The program will feature Itai Bachar and his involvement with a project in Israel called “These Are My Brothers.” Through this initiative, which uses lyrics or poems written by IDF soldiers and converts them into songs, Bachar wrote a song to honor Colonel Ariel Buda. He will speak about Buda, why he chose the song and the special relationship he maintains with Buda’s family. On Wednesday, April 14, at
7 p.m., as day turns to night and Yom Hazikaron ends and Yom Ha’atzmaut begins, Siman-Tov will present another program to celebrate Israel through modern music. Then on Thursday, April 15, it’s time to party! A virtual family friendly dance party will kick off at 4:30 p.m. to celebrate Israel’s 73rd birthday along with our partners in Yoav. The first 100 families to register will receive a free kit from Yoav that they can use as part of the celebration. Later that evening, at 7 p.m., our community is invited to participate in the global Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration presented by the Jewish Federations of North America. The program will feature a special farewell to Israeli President Reuben Rivlin. All of these events are free and open to everyone. To learn more, visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org/yom.
Israel in our hearts Having just finished retelling the story of our deliverance from slavery in Egypt and our wandering in the wilderness, we end our seder with the saying “Next Year in Jerusalem.” We say this just before we prepare for the next holiday “season,” a period of time beginning with Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) followed by Yom Hazikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) and then Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day). Yom HaShoah, also known as Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day, was established by the State of Israel to honor the victims and survivors of the Nazi effort to exterminate the Jewish people. The annual commemoration honoring Jews who perished, those who actively resisted and those who survived this devastation is marked by a siren sounded throughout the country, when all activity, traffic, broadcasts and social activities come to a stop for two minutes. Around the world, Jewish communities, schools and congregations gather for meaningful programs and ceremonies and utilize this time as an opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance of remembering the pain and the tragedy,
the lessons and the legacy of memory that we inherit. On Yom Hazikaron, Memorial Day for Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism, the State of Israel stops to remember, to mourn and to honor their legacy. The contrast of Yom Hazikaron directly followed by Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, conveys a powerful message: Israelis owe their independence and the very existence of the Jewish state to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for it. For American Jews, marking Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut strengthens our connection to Israel. Our Jewish communities view Israel as a core element of Jewish life, and so we share a continuum of enriching opportunities and experiences that engage with, educate about and celebrate Israel. The day after the Declaration of Independence, Israel was at war with enemies who wished to eliminate her entirely. In the following seven decades, Israel has been forced to defend herself in numerous wars and military operations. It is important to take the time to remember and honor those who lost their lives defending Israel. This is about people. This is about family.
Despite our collective sorrow, Israel is a land of hope and joy. On May 14, 1948, David Ben Gurion read aloud the Declaration of Independence, officially announcing to the world that the Jewish people had returned to our ancestral homeland for the third time. The children of Israel returned from slavery in ancient Egypt. The people of Israel returned from exile in Babylon. The Jewish people returned from the diaspora, to become, once again, free in the land of our ancestors – an ingathering of exiles. Those who wanted to come home now had a home to come to and a global family strong enough to help them make the dream a reality. As we are reminded in the words of “Hatikvah,” “the hope of 2,000 years, to be a free people in our land: the land of Zion and Jerusalem.” You helped to build Israel. Today, you help to keep it strong. Through your support of Jewish Federation, we are able to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable, and we advocate for those in distress. When Israel is threatened, we mobilize to come to her aid. Our global connection is also fostered by experiences for young Jews
and programming that brings Israel to life in our community. We’ve helped hundreds of thousands of young Jews create personal connections to Israel through programs like Birthright Israel, MASA and Shlichut, while building strong relationships between communities through Partnership2Gether. We have seen the immigration of over one million Jews from over 100 countries to the State of Israel. Jewish Federations have helped millions of immigrants move to Israel and start new lives – 255,000 in the past decade alone. And, we take great pride in Israel’s achievements
in technology, health and medicine, the environment, social action and culture, helping to make the world a better place. We hold Israel in our hearts. No other nation has achieved what the State of Israel has accomplished in such a short history. It is essential to keep Jewish communities all over the world connected with our Jewish homeland in order to secure the meaningful, continuous future of the Jewish people.
HAKOL STAFF STEPHANIE GOODLING Editor
HAKOL is published 11 times per year for the Jewish communities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and vicinity by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.
COMMUNITY SUBMISSIONS Submissions to HAKOL must be of interest to the entire Jewish community. HAKOL reserves all editorial rights including, but not limited to, the decision to print any submitted materials, the editing of submissions to conform to style and length requirements, and the placement of any printed material. Articles should be submitted by e-mail or presented as typed copy; “Community Calendar” listings must be submitted by e-mail to hakol@jflv.org or online at www.jewishlehighvalley.org. Please include your name and a daytime telephone number where you can be contacted in the event questions arise. We cannot guarantee publication or placement of submissions. MAIL, FAX, OR E-MAIL TO: JFLV ATTN: HAKOL 702 N. 22nd St. Allentown, PA 18104 Phone: (610) 821-5500 Fax: (610) 821-8946 E-mail: hakol@jflv.org
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JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY MISSION STATEMENT
The Lehigh Valley-Yoav Partnership Park in Blessed Memory of Mark L. Goldstein We gratefully acknowledge those individuals who have offered expressions of friendship by requesting that trees be planted in the Mark L. Goldstein Friendship Park, a Yoav-Lehigh Valley Partnership Forest. IN HONOR JILL BLINDER In honor of your Birthday Eileen and Roberto Fischmann HAROLD KREITHEN In honor of your Birthday Eileen and Roberto Fischmann IN MEMORY WILLIAM FELS (Father of Eric Fels) Aaron Gorodzinsky
ARTHUR LEMBERG (Father of Paul Lemberg) Judy Alperin YAIR LEVY (Husband of Ilana Levy) Vicki Wax JANICE ORBUCH (Mother of Steven Orbuch) Arlene and Richard Stein
TO ORDER TREES, call the JFLV at 610-821-5500 or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org. 2 APRIL 2021 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
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 seeks nominations for annual awards By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Community Development and Operations The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley will honor some outstanding individuals this June at its annual meeting. The Federation is seeking nominations for two important awards by April 30. An exceptional cadre of young leaders have been recipients of the George Feldman Achievement Award for Young Leadership since it was first given in 1973. The award was named for Feldman, past executive director of the Allentown Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Federation of Allentown. It recognizes those individuals who have exemplified the finest qualities of leadership in volunteer life serving the Jewish community. Feldman was “small in stature,” but he was “a giant in his adopted community, Allentown,” according to a story in The Morning Call in 1984 upon his passing. Known as “Mr. Jewish Community Center,” Feldman directed fundraising efforts to complete the former center at 6th and Chew streets and to build the current center at 22nd and Tilghman streets, according to The Morning Call story. Nominees for the Feldman Award should be between the ages of 25 and 45 by December 31, 2021, have demonstrated
tangible evidence of promise in community leadership and have demonstrated an understanding of the Jewish purpose of community work. The Federation is also seeking nominations for the Mark L. Goldstein Award for Outstanding Jewish Communal Professionals. The award was established in 2019 in memory of Goldstein, who served as executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley for 16 years and committed his entire career to Jewish communal service. The award will be presented to an individual in recognition of extraordinary work as a communal professional. The recipient will have made a significant impact through his or her professional role, demonstrating dedication and commitment to Jewish values, pursuing collaborative efforts and exhibiting optimism and leadership in the Lehigh Valley Jewish community. Nominees should be professionally employed in the field of Jewish communal service in the Lehigh Valley at the time of nomination; serving at, for example, an agency, synagogue or other Jewish communal organization. To submit a nomination for the Feldman or Goldstein award, visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org/awards or email jeri@jflv.org. Award winners will be announced in June.
VOICES FROM THE CRC
The importance of speaking up and making our collective voice heard By Lauren Rabin Community Relations Council Editor's note: This is the first piece in our new "Voices from the CRC" series. I was invited to join the Community Relations Council (CRC) after a conversation with Amy Fels, who was chairing the committee at that time, and with Federation Director of Campaign and Security Planning Aaron Gorodzinsky regarding the rise of anti-Semitism in our country and around the world. I wanted to join the CRC because I was feeling frustrated with the rise of anti-Semitic incidents I was witnessing, and I wanted to channel that frustration into action. At that time, as I continue to be today, I was especially worried about the rising number of incidents occurring at colleges and universities, where the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement continues to target the progressive movements and make life very uncomfortable for our Jewish students by harassing them, interrupting their events and forcing them to denounce their love for Israel to feel accepted. This is not OK. The world today is very different from what it was two years ago, but anti-Semitism, even during the pandemic, continues to be on the rise. Our college students continue to be targeted by student groups determined to pass BDS resolutions that are disruptive and aggressive against any attempt by our Jewish students to show pride in their love for Israel. Since joining the CRC, I have learned that our Jewish community is fighting back against BDS at college campuses by supporting the Israel Action Network (IAN), an organization created with the support of our Federation dollars that advocates, supports and trains college students, Federation professionals and volunteers to combat BDS.
Even during the pandemic, IAN has held 12 virtual events and trained nearly 3,000 community members, including one regional event sponsored by our community. At the same time, IAN helped Jewish students at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) file a formal civil rights complaint under Title VI because of a documented pattern of anti-Semitic attacks and discrimination by the university that forced the school to admit their inaction and the creation of an Advisory Council on Jewish and Campus Life to address concerns about the future. I feel encouraged that other Jewish students, supported by Federations, Hillels and IAN, are forcing their universities to abide by their obligation to protect Jewish students from harassment and intimidation. We are fighting back and using our legal rights against those who want to discriminate against us. To learn more about the work of the CRC, contact Aaron Gorodzinsky at aaron@jflv.org or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org/crc.
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | APRIL 2021 3
PJ parents celebrate Purim
Women’s Spring Event to feature Lehigh Valley native By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Community Development & Operations
Kids went to bed early on Feb. 27, as the Jewish Federation hosted its first PJ Library event just for parents. For this big night “out,” the Federation provided free kits with cocktail ingredients, masks and hamentaschen. The parents listened to a reading of the Purim story – Mad Libs style. Participants then went head to head in a series of games including name that tune.
In the quiet pandemic hours, you have probably found yourself scrolling through Facebook a lot. When you see photos of smiling families, job promotions and tropical vacations, it’s easy to fall into the “compare and despair trap.” But are your friends really as happy as they look? So, you post your own smiling photos. But are you? If you’re not, you can be, according to Jessica Abo, author of “Unfiltered: How to Be As Happy As You Look on Social Media” and the featured speaker for this year’s Women’s Philanthropy Spring Event on May 6. This annual event is open to women who contribute a minimum of $365 to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Annual Campaign.
This year’s program will be presented virtually beginning at 8 p.m. and is free of charge. In her talk, Abo will address why we care about what people are posting online and what are some ways that we can use social media to bring joy to our lives. She will also talk about her own personal journey, including her philanthropic and Jewish communal involvement. Raised in the Lehigh Valley, Abo graduated from the Jewish Day School and Moravian Academy. Her parents, Dr. Marc and Aliette Abo, have been involved with the local Jewish community for decades, including the newly formed Bnai Shalom synagogue and the Jewish Federation. After graduating from Northwestern University, Abo found herself in New York and, now, Los Angeles, where she is involved with the Los Angeles Jewish Federation and recently became a Lion of Judah. She has been speaking publicly since age 15 and has presented all over the country including at TEDx, Facebook, Microsoft, Delta Airlines, WW and the United Nations. She has appeared on The TODAY Show, ABC News, Access Hollywood, KTLA, CBS, and NY1 and in Forbes, Fast Company and Women's Health. She has won several awards for her journalism
and philanthropy work, including being named to The Jewish Week’s 2014 “36 Under 36” list and The Jewish People’s Choice Awards “Voice of Influence” award. The granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, she produced and hosted a documentary on the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. “We are so excited to bring Jessica home to our community, even if it’s virtually,” said Chelsea Karp and Sara-Jane Bub, Spring Event co-chairs. “We really feel like this topic will resonate with women of all ages.” To learn more and register, visit www.jewishlehighvalley. org/365.
SPONSORED BY THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY’S WOMEN’S DIVISION
WELCOMING NEW BABIES
to the Lehigh Valley
Handmade Afghans
RAZ CORLISS SALTZ Parents: Keren and Matt Saltz
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 4 APRIL 2021 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
If you’re expecting, know someone who is, or have a new baby, PLEASE LET US KNOW! Contact Abby Trachtman, 610-821-5500 | abbyt@jflv.org
THE IMPACT ONE MAKES:
The Goldfarbs By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor Dr. Harold and Sandra Goldfarb each raised three children in the Lehigh Valley before marrying each other in a later chapter of life. Their commitment to the Jewish community and to a life of giving are things they have in common which brought them together. “Allentown is a wonderful community. It’s small enough that you can get to know people. You can rally and get involved and feel that you are doing something to help people,” said Sandra. Harold, originally from Boston, came to the Lehigh Valley in 1968 after serving as chief of ophthalmology at Fort Bragg during the Vietnam War. He immediately joined the Jewish Community Center and got involved in activities there as well as at Congregation Keneseth Israel and Temple Beth El. While he was busy building a practice and raising a family, he always remained supportive of the Jewish community here and in Israel. “My family was very Zionist,” Harold, whose mother was one of the early founders of Brandeis University, explained. “My bar mitzvah day, May 15, 1948, was also the day Israel became a state. So, it was beshert that I have been involved with Israel and Jewish activities.” Harold recalls pounding the pavement as a teenager in 1951, the first year Israel bonds were available, selling six $50 bonds that day, saying that he has been a buyer of them himself ever since. He and Sandra also give generously of their time and other resources to the Lehigh Valley. “We’ve been very active in the Jewish Day School. My three sons went there, and they had a good foundation. We tried to imbue our children with a love of Judaism,”
said Harold. Sandra moved to the Lehigh Valley in 1957 and has been a force here ever since. The Jewish Federation was just getting started then, and Sandra was active at the JCC and TBE as well as being involved with Hadassah and bringing ORT to the area. After going back to school for her MBA and focusing on a career as a certified public accountant, when she was again able to have more time for volunteering, she was on the Federation board for several years, including serving as treasurer. She was also chair of the Endowment Committee for several years. The concept of giving back is integral to the Goldfarbs’ philosophy. They feel very fortunate to continue to be involved in community affairs even as they are enjoying their six children, 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. “I feel very strongly that you come into this world with nothing and leave with nothing. It gives us greater pleasure and satisfaction in knowing that we’re giving to others than buying new things for ourselves. Giving to others is the most important thing we can do,” said Harold. “Both of my parents were always very charitable. My mother was heavily involved in Jewish activities, and after my father died, we found out how much he had done for other people without ever telling us,” said Sandra, crediting the previous generation’s influence on how the family hopes to pass on to the youth. The Goldfarbs care passionately about working together for the survival of Jewish life in the modern world and hope that the community which they found to welcome them in the Lehigh Valley will be here for future generations. “We hope to have a
Service brings community together after one year of COVID By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor
continuation of a dynamic, thriving Jewish community, one where Judaism – both the religion and the culture – have a role,” said Harold. “We have a good cadre of dedicated, involved young people, and this gives me much hope for a continuation of a strong and vibrant Jewish community,” Sandra added.
After a year of so much loss, the Lehigh Valley Jewish Clergy Group wanted to bring the community together in a meaningful way. So, on March 11, the entire Lehigh Valley Jewish community was invited to gather together via Zoom for a service of healing and remembrance. Rabbi Steven Nathan, the group’s chair, welcomed the participants to a time of “remembering those we have lost, of remembering the life we lived only one short year ago and praying for the life we will, God willing, live when the pandemic is over.” A recording of each member of the clergy group, along with executive
directors of local Jewish agencies, was shared, with many insights and prayers offered. A recurring theme throughout the evening was a maxim from Rabbi Nachman of Breslov: “The whole entire world is a very narrow bridge, and the main thing is to have no fear at all.” Likening enduring the past year of pandemic to walking on that bridge, more than one of the service leaders encouraged the virtual congregation to have faith over fear. “It is a very shaky, rickety bridge, but have no fear of sudden terror,” said Rabbi Seth Phillips, closing out the service. “God reassures us as we return to our lives, ‘I made you, I will bear you, I will carry you, and I will rescue you.’”
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | APRIL 2021 5
COMMEMORATE, CELEBRATE
The week of tear-filled smiles
Gavriel Siman-Tov (far right) and part of the band in uniform.
By Gavriel Siman-Tov Community Shaliach This time of year in Israel always comes with mixed feelings. There is a lot to celebrate and a lot to be sad about. It's kind of sadness mixed with joy. It's something so unique to Israel that I don't know if I could even explain in words this feeling. I hope throughout the ceremonies and the celebration here in the community I'll be able to pass this feeling, even if only a tiny bit of it, to you. But for now, I want to tell you about my experience of this time of year in my three years of service in the IDF, but first a little bit of background. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) is pretty unique, I would say,
because drafting to the army is mandatory and not everyone is the same person. You will find so many different and maybe "wired" jobs in the IDF. Let me tell you about my job. I was a sound engineer, or a “sound-man,” in the air force band, and if you wonder what exactly I was doing, think of a concert or a show you’ve ever watched live. (I know it's been a while, but try and remember.) You remember that guy in the middle of the crowd with his big console? Well that was my job in the IDF in the air force band. When you first think of it, a band for the air force – why would you need such a thing? Well, this thought crossed my mind when I joined, but after being there for
not even a month, I started to understand how much music is integrated into daily life and how important it is to everyone from the soldiers to the officers. This time of year was the busiest time of all. In only eight short days, you have Yom HaShoah, Yom Hasikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut, and in each of them, there is a ceremony or a celebration. Being in the air force band meant that we were part of every ceremony and every celebration because music talks in a way that words can't. We were working day and night to prepare for each of those ceremonies, driving across Israel from base to base, singing and playing so many different songs, and watching and participating. Each one of them has a different story to it, a different message to share, and I can't count the number of tears and smiles I had in those three years in this time of year. After being a part of so many ceremonies and celebrations in only eight days, I thought maybe I'd have a better way to describe this feeling in the air around this time of year, but I still can't. I still feel the mixed feeling. I still smile with tears in my eyes, but I would say this is our story, this is our life, and I'm proud of it. It's part of being an Israeli to know how to smile with tears and how to laugh while crying.
Community to mark Holocaust remembrance with virtual program By Stephanie Smartschan JFLV Director of Community Development & Operations Icek and Luba Muskat, born in 1914 and 1921 respectively, had little in common except for their experiences in the Holocaust and, eventually, their family. Little did they know or imagine what life had in store for them. They survived unimaginable hardships, against all odds, to unknowingly help in developing the infant country of Israel and at the same time bearing and nurturing their three children: the first born son in Italy, the middle son in Israel and their daughter in their final stop, Canada. Their middle son, Sydney Muskat, and his daughter Lauren Rabin, will be sharing Icek and Luba’s story at the Yom HaShoah Holocaust Commemoration presented virtually by the Holocaust Resource Center of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley on April 7. The program will also feature the music of the Copeland String Quartet, led by Eliezer Gutman, who was raised in Israel and is the concertmaster for the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. The quartet will perform music written by three composers who died in the Holocaust, including Hans Krása who composed “Brundibár,” a children’s opera made famous by performances in the Terezín concentration camp. The evening will also include traditional prayers and readings and the lighting of the memorial candles. A reading of names will begin at 6:45 p.m., followed by the program at 7 p.m. and the concert to follow. To learn more and receive the Zoom link, call 610-821-5500, email mailbox@jflv.org or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org/ yom.
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COMMEMORATE, CELEBRATE
YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90
Israeli real-world data shows vaccine is 97 percent effective
A medical worker prepares a COVID-19 vaccine injection at a vaccination center in Jerusalem, Feb. 4, 2021. Jewish News Syndicate The Israeli Ministry of Health, Pfizer and BioNTech said on March 11 that data from Israel’s national vaccination campaign demonstrates that
their vaccine is 94 percent effective in preventing asymptomatic infections. They also said that Israeli data shows that vaccinations prevented symptomatic disease, severe cases and death
with 97 percent effectiveness, according to a statement released by the companies and the Health Ministry. More than 5 million Israelis, or about 55 percent of its population of 9 million people, had received the first shot of the vaccine by that date, and over 4 million, or 49 percent, have gotten the second shot. The analysis was derived from data collected by Israel’s Health Ministry from Jan. 17 until March 6. “Israel’s strong health system and an unprecedented societal mobilization and awareness allowed us to achieve high national uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in a short period of time. Thanks to our comprehensive public-
Community shaliach Gavriel Siman-Tov, right, at the Israel Embassy in Washington, D.C. to vote in the Israeli election. Pictured with embassy spokesman, Elad Strohmayer and Oren Ben Yosef, consular office/visa specialist.
health surveillance program, we have been able to document the remarkable success of the nationwide vaccination campaign with the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Professor Yeheskel Levy, director of Israel’s Ministry of Health.
He added: “Incidence rates in the fully vaccinated population have massively dropped compared to the unvaccinated population, showing a marked decline in hospitalized cases due to COVID-19.
Find out how Yoav’s Kibbutz Negba was built in a day Between 1936 and 1939, 57 kibbutzim and moshavim were established in the future State of Israel. All of these constructions were built in just one day under Homa u'migdal (Tower and Stockade), a method approved by the British mandate. One of those kibbutzim was Negba, a kibbutz that is part of our Partnership2Gether community of Yoav. Join an American filming crew and witness the construction of Kibbutz Negba with
original footage from 1939 and learn all about this era in a program presented by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and Partnership2Gether on Sunday, April 18, at 11 a.m. The program will feature commentary from Michael Bauer, an educator, tour guide and author of "Israel Journey: A Travel Diary,” and a resident of Kibbutz Bet Guvrin in Yoav. To register, visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org/yom.
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Rabbi Marshall Lesack announced as new Barrack head of school IN HONOR GENE GINSBERG In honor of your special birthday Lynne and Mark Shampain HAROLD KREITHEN In honor of your special birthday Lynne and Mark Shampain VALESKA AND ISRAEL ZIGHELBOIM In honor of your 20th anniversary Vicki Wax IN MEMORY WILLIAM FELS (Father of Eric Fels) Wendy and Ross Born Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald Laurie, Robby, Ben and Danny Wax
Suzanne Lapiduss MITCHELL SMITH (Bother of Sheryl Block) Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald ERNESTINE URKEN (Mother of Bobby Hammel) Aliette and Marc Abo 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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Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy The Board of Directors and the Co-Chairs of the Head of School Search Committee (HOSSC) announced in January that Rabbi Marshall Lesack '97 has been named the new Head of School (HOS) at the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy effective July 1. In a letter to the community, Howard Treatman, board president, and Lisa Sandler, cochair of the HOSSC, announced, “Rabbi Lesack exemplifies all the characteristics we are looking for in a head of school. We are confident in his ability to carry forward Barrack’s strong traditions and culture while innovating and moving us into the future.” After a months-long search process, led by DRG Talent Advisory Group, a search firm specializing in nonprofit and Jewish organizations, that included interviews, virtual visits with all constituents and numerous feedback surveys, Rabbi Lesack was
unanimously confirmed by the board as the new head of school. Treatman added, “We are thrilled to have Rabbi Lesack join our community as Head of School and build on the work of our beloved Sharon Levin. Rabbi Lesack brings strong strategic vision and intelligence that will help us meet the challenges of the future.” Sharon Levin, outgoing head of school and a 35-year AkibaBarrack veteran said, “The Mission of our school is to prepare future leaders in our community in our world. I was lucky to have had Marshall as a student during high school, and I have followed his career from when he entered JTS (The Jewish Theological Seminary), to his work at Ramah, Hillel and, of course, at Donna Klein.” She added, “As we say, L’ dor la dor, from generation to generation. I could not be more thrilled to pass the mantle of leadership to an Akiba-Barrack alum, especially someone like Marshall, who has all the values and ethics we need to lead our school forward.” Of his new role, Lesack commented, “As a proud graduate of Akiba Hebrew Academy, I understand the value and importance of an Akiba-Barrack education. While the school has evolved over the years, I have always felt a deep connection to its mission and purpose. It was apparent to me in my ongoing and detailed conversations with community members that Barrack remains a cornerstone of the Philadelphia Jewish community with a storied
past and a bright future.” He added, “It is a great privilege to have the opportunity to lead a school of Barrack’s stature; it is an even greater blessing to have been a graduate of that esteemed institution and to be bringing my family back home.” Virtual meet and greet opportunities have been planned in the coming months to allow the staff, faculty and the community the chance to further get to know Lesack. Since 2015, Lesack has served as the principal of the Claire and Emanuel G. Rosenblatt High School at Donna Klein Jewish Academy. During his tenure, he led the development of the school’s specialized programs in medicine, engineering and law, redesigned the Judaic studies curriculum and oversaw the growth of student life programming and enrollment in the high school. Lesack and his family will be relocating to the Philadelphia area this summer. Two of his children will be attending Barrack as students. Located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia, Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy is a pluralistic Jewish day school for students in grades 6-12. Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy integrates a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with the teaching of deeply rooted Jewish values and texts. Students become leaders of the American, Jewish and global communities inspired to better the world.
JFS hosts discussion on ‘Disability Pride vs. Disability Fix’ By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor This February, Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley presented two virtual programs for Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). The second event, “Disability Pride vs. Disability Fix,” on Feb. 28 featured three panelists, all members of the disability community. Dr. Joseph Stramondo, an assistant professor of philosophy and associate director of the Institute for Ethics and Public Affairs at San Diego State University, gave a bioethical primer to lay the groundwork for some of the questions that were raised during the program. He addressed the ethical and political problem of which should be prioritized as the answer when it comes to disability: pride or cure? He explained that while the common view is that when possible it is better to cure a disability rather than accommodate it because it theoretically eliminates more suffering in a more permanent way, it is more cost-effective and is fairer to the valid interests of non-disabled people. The common view among disability activists is actually that it is better to accommodate a disabled person with environment modification and assistive technology (AT) because it eliminates suffering without reproducing social stigmas and regards disability as a valid identity rather than a problem. Stramondo then outlined the differences between AT and CT, or curative technology. Curative technology is something that permanently leads a person away from disability, like a cochlear implant for hearing impairments. AT is something like using a wheelchair. His thesis was that AT confers the group identity of disability on the user while CT moves them away from that group identity. “Why reject the magic cure pill?” Stramondo asked. “AT instead of CT preserves an aspect of individual identity that a person many find valuable or important. It can also preserve group cohesion or culture. And it sends a message. If eliminating
disability sends a message about a person’s, group’s or society’s values (i.e. eugenics), then preserving disability may also send the reverse message.” The next presenter was Michelle Kraus, senior social worker for the Disability Justice Program at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, a nonprofit law office serving different communities in need of advocacy and legal representation, and director of advocacy and public relations for Little People of America. She shared how these philosophical questions Stramondo introduced become real for her organization. “Advocacy has become a very strong arm of the organization,” Kraus said. “We started out as just dwarfism awareness but we’ve grown to be more directioned in disability rights. We’re not only an inclusive club, we are a force with a voice.” Lastly, Rabbi Dahlia Kronish, the high school associate head at the Abraham Joshua Heschel School, shared her personal story, from growing up in a nurturing family in Israel to starting one of her own in New York City. “In high school, I wanted everyone to say, ‘I barely remember that you're different,’” she said. Now, as a parent of two boys who share her achondroplasia, she is thankful for the organization that allows them to be around others like them, but has also decided not to enter them into pharmaceutical trials which might make attempts at “curing” them. After the presentations, Kraus moderated a discussion with questions posed to Stramondo and Kronish from herself and the audience of over 60 participants. They ended with weighing in with their opinions on how individuals might use technology and still publicly express – or not-– disability pride. JFS Executive Director Debbie Zoller summed up the evening’s goal of raising awareness. “This was a great dialogue, and we probably came away with more questions than answers, but that's OK. We’re all searching,” she said.
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Journeying through the wilderness of uncertainty
RABBI STEVEN NATHAN hofreid_20_007_Hakol Lehigh University Hillel
“It was the best of times, comparisons. The Israelites, it was the worst of times.” after crossing the Sea of Reeds, The opening line of Charles were in a place that was totally Dickens’s “A Tale of Two foreign to them. They didn’t Cities” is probably one of know what each day would the most well known and bring or what was in store. often quoted lines in English I believe it was all of that literature. Even people who uncertainty and anxiety which have never read the book know caused them to complain to it. That’s because it describes so Moses and even wish that they much of life. were back in Egypt. They had It is rare that any time in experienced the miracle of our lives is all wonderful or all salvation and still they did not bad. Usually it is a mixture of trust in God or in their future. It the two. was almost as if their eyes and That has certainly been true minds were closed. of the past year. Though it is Today, we are turning easier to focus on “the worst of the corner after a year of times,” it is important that we isolation. This certainly can’t look for the best as well. compare to slavery, and yet As we complete the it has certainly been a year of celebration of Passover, I hardship, sadness, loss, fear Newspaper_ad_Yom Ha'atzmaut Sameach.pdf PM can’t help but draw some 5 4/3/20 and8:59 anxiety. The seemingly
miraculous creation of vaccines in such a short period of time can be seen as our crossing of the sea, even if we are not all crossing it simultaneously. And as each of us receives the vaccine we are then in our own wilderness. We are in a liminal, unknown place. In this wilderness we are back to “normal,” and yet not. We can begin to engage with others, and yet with caution. We feel a sense of gratitude and relief, yet this is tempered by the uncertainty of what will happen in the long run. And yet, we cannot allow this uncertainty to prevent us from living and enjoying our existence. We must simply do so cautiously and carefully. This past year has been the worst of times in so many ways. Yet, we still have things to be grateful for. I have reconnected with friends I haven’t been in touch with on a regular basis in years. I have discovered family members I never knew existed. I have learned to bake things I never knew I could, including some of my grandmother’s and mother’s recipes (I won’t talk about the eating of them!). As a community, we have been able to connect online with older adults and others who had felt cut off because they could not attend Shabbat services or community events in person. And I have no doubt that, thanks to the miracles of the internet and Zoom (did
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we even know what that was one year ago?), we will be able to maintain many of those connections. And that is a blessing. And so we are on the journey of leaving the worst of times and entering better times. Yet, I’m not quite ready to call these the best of times. As we journey in our wilderness we are not there yet. We will still be carrying with us the national, world and communal grief from the death of so many, whether loved ones or total strangers. For some of us who contracted the virus, we may still be living with its effects for some time. We just don’t know. The future will be better, but it is still uncertain. And that uncertainty will indeed temper the “best of times” for all of us. However, as with the Israelites in the wilderness, our sense of community, family and connection is what will help us through these liminal times, which are neither the best nor the worst. Let us remember to always be there for each other on each step of the journey. This way we will eventually make it through the wilderness of the unknown and reach our personal and communal promised land. Whatever that may be. It may still be the best and the worst of times in certain ways. But whatever that future brings, we’ll make it through as long as we take the journey together.
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Coming soon to the JCC: Dr. Ruth Westheimer
By Beth Hiken JCC Development Coordinator Dr. Ruth Westheimer is a woman of many talents and this past year, she added one more important skill to her impressive resume – video chatting. When the COVID-19 pandemic began last year and her in-person events were canceled, Dr. Ruth was not to be deterred and, like so many of us, she learned how to use Zoom to connect with audiences around the world from the safety of her home. This month, Dr. Ruth will be using those video chat skills to connect with the Lehigh Valley community at “An Intimate Evening with Dr. Ruth,” hosted
by the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley. The event, which had originally been slated to take place last March, will be held virtually on Thursday, April 22. All existing tickets will be honored, and additional tickets have been made available to purchase for $36. “We are so grateful to come together as a community – even if virtually – and host this incredible event,” said JCC Executive Director Eric Lightman. The event, which is part of the 25th anniversary of the Jewish and Israeli Film Series, will feature a moderated conversation between Dr. Ruth and Jeanette Eichenwald, clips from the new documentary, “Ask Dr. Ruth,” and a
Phyllis Ringel Memorial Lecture to tackle tough conversations Do you have an aging family member you’re concerned about? Are you the aging family member everyone else seems to be concerned about? If you answered yes to either of these questions, this year’s Phyllis Ringel Memorial Lecture is for you. Each year, Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley presents a lecture on a healthrelated topic in memory of their former executive director Dr. Phyllis Ringel, z”l. On May 2 at 10 a.m. via Zoom, join JFS for “The ‘Conversation’ About Aging: Collaborative Family Communication and Decision Making.” This lecture will address how and when to start a conversation with your loved ones. It will cover topics to include in “the conversation,” dealing with emotions and different philosophies, mapping out the process and expectations and going over what tools you need in your toolbox to succeed. The speakers presenting are Carol Wilson, MSW, LCSW, and Sarah Z. Levinson, MSG, MA. Wilson is cur-
question-and-answer session. The event is co-chaired by Iris Epstein and Lynda Krawitz, who are excited to bring Dr. Ruth to the community. “This momentous anniversary of a seminal JCC program fits perfectly with a documentary about a dynamic Jewish woman who has impacted so many lives,” said Krawitz. “Her experiences escaping the Holocaust, fighting for Israel’s independence and her professional career are truly remarkable.” In a separate event on Tuesday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m., Jewish Film Nights will host a free virtual discussion of the documentary, “Ask Dr. Ruth.” Attendees are invited to watch the film at their convenience and then join Jewish Film Nights for the discussion. “Ask Dr. Ruth” is available on Hulu and ticket holders will receive a link to watch the film prior to the discussion. For more information, visit lvjcc.org/drruth. Iris Epstein sums it up best: “After a difficult year, there will be so much to celebrate: being with our community, listening to a first hand recount of a survivor’s experience, and marking this significant milestone for our JCC.” Reserve your spot for this incredible evening at lvjcc.org/drruth. We are grateful to our sponsors for supporting this event. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available, starting at just $500. Sponsors receive an invitation to an intimate virtual reception with Dr. Ruth prior to the event and will receive a gift package curated for a VIP theater-going experience. Please contact Beth Hiken at 610-4353571 or bhiken@lvjcc.org for more information.
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rently the program manager and community liaison for older adults at JFS. She is a compassionate and skilled professional who helps older adults and their families develop mutually agreeable and realistic plans for the future. Wilson earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. She is licensed as a social worker in Pennsylvania. Levinson is currently the manager of a naturally occurring retirement community (NORC) at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. NORC supports the healthy aging of older adults in their own homes by providing opportunities for meaningful involvement and increased access to support services. Levinson earned a master’s degree in gerontology at the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in psychology at Washington University in St. Louis. To register for the event, visit jfslv.org. If you need accommodations, please contact info@jfslv. org by April 23. HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | APRIL 2021 13
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Interfaith Seder unites Bethlehem and beyond
By Stephanie Goodling HAKOL Editor When the Bethlehem Interfaith Group (BIG)’s interfaith Seder was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, the group was disappointed but undeterred. A year later, the ongoing restrictions didn’t stop them from putting on an event for 50 participants thanks to their new familiarity with Zoom. “We are truly blessed to be able to come together as a community,” said Rabbi Michael Singer of Congregation Brith Sholom, the group’s founder and former president. Singer led the program donning his egg matzah-patterned tie, pointing things out on a split screen “Seder cam” as the service progressed. Joined by members of Jewish Family Service, the Moravian College Interfaith Group, BIG and the greater Lehigh Valley Jewish community,
Singer and many assistants read through a condensed Seder and gave context and history along the way. While fun was had with someone offering to read the Dutch translation of the Four Questions impromptu and audience members volunteering to do sound effects in a traditional song, Singer closed out the event with a solemn reminder. “The M.O. of every dictator and tyrant is to highlight some group and point out how they’re different and sow seeds of distrust like Pharoah. Hate comes from fear of the other ... Any human being who is willing to risk their lives to fight oppression and help others, all are considered righteous and children of God.” The seder was recorded and a truncated version will be shown to older adults in long-term care residences this year in lieu of JFS’s traditional holiday visit.
Sigal Museum to exhibit Jewish artifacts from Easton
By Carey Birgel Sigal Museum Executive Director To celebrate the merger of Bnai Abraham Synagogue and Temple Covenant of Peace into Congregation Bnai Shalom, Sigal Museum was honored to accept over 100 objects, including photographs, deeds, objects of worship, paintings and items that provide a glimpse into the rich Jewish heritage of
Easton. Particularly poignant were pieces such as commemorative plaques memorializing founders and anniversaries; photos of confirmation classes past; a small wooden box containing the nails from the original temple building; and a wooden chuppah that presided over so many moments of hope and joy. Donated objects are currently being processed by museum
staff and will help tell the story of a community that stretches back to the days before the American Revolutionary War and the founding of Easton. Trustees and members of Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society are grateful to act as caretakers, and to share these memories with future generations. Stay tuned for information about a future display and museum event to mark this historic occasion. We extend a special “thank you” to temple and synagogue leaders, staff and Helaine Sigal, who are committed to preserving this history, and who gave so generously of their time and knowledge. Congratulations to members of both congregations! May the years to come be blessed.
Sen ior livin In the words of our co-workers, g in sig our residents and their families hts
“We’re here for you. Always.”
For many people, being a caregiver for an aging parent can be both satisfying and complex. Gradually the demands of caregiving can overwhelm even the most dedicated families. But there are several solutions for these circumstances, and you don’t have to face them alone. Call us, and we can tell you about short-term stays and long-term residential options to help relieve the stress. This can be better for both you and your loved one and help you return to a more balanced relationship.
“Mom’s home care agency sent a different caregiver every day, and she was still alone too often.” A loved one may not need care every minute of the day, but it’s nice to know it’s there whenever it’s needed and will come with a familiar face. We offer 24-hour access to medical care and caregivers available day and night to provide help as needed—all without disrupting a family’s work or personal schedule when a caregiver is suddenly not available. The availability of ondemand care helps loved ones live as independently as possible, often far more so than staying in their own home. They are free to go about their day and maintain their privacy while always knowing help is readily available.
“This is all new to me, so I have no idea about the cost.” The cost of independent living, personal care or memory care can vary quite a lot. It’s important to remember, though, that there are fewer expenses associated with living in a retirement community. Gone are home maintenance and repairs, taxes and utilities, even groceries as meals are provided. Since every person’s situation is different, we use customized pricing to ensure our residents pay for what they need and nothing else. And, we have a financial calculator on our website to help you compare your current living expenses with our all-inclusive rate. Helping to choose a retirement community for a loved one can be a daunting task. We are happy to answer your questions. Contact us for more information.
Welcome, life
410 N. Krocks Road, Allentown (minutes from Route 22 & I-78) • 610-395-7160 4035 Green Pond, Bethlehem (close to Routes 22 & 33) • 610-865-5580 175 Newlins Road West, Easton (in Forks Township) • 484-544-3880 Nursing & Rehab Center (for the greater Lehigh Valley) • 610-844-9003
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CM-362, Hakol, Here For You, 5”x15.75”
Allentown AZA making progress By Jared Lazansky AZA It’s been a rollercoaster of a year for AZA, but things are definitely starting to look brighter for the boys. Over the winter, AZA took a well-needed hiatus for around a month’s time. This helped not only the board but also all of the members to take a step away from the screen and clear their heads for a bit, as to not reach a point of burnout. After the break, AZA has been back and continu-
ing to try our hardest with programs and meetings alike. Some fun events we’ve had since the break have been multiple Rocket League tournaments and a relaxing Discord hangout event, to name a few. BBYO Liberty Region just finished their New Member Weekend, at which Allentown had great representation with two members leading programs and three members participating. As the months continue, Allentown is
only looking ahead. We are beginning to plan and put into action our first inperson event for this year! We’re very excited, and we are taking every precaution and following every rule given to us by BBYO. The event is planned for early April, so stay tuned for an update. We hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. If anyone has any questions please feel free to reach out to me and the other board members at allentownaza@ gmail.com.
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PJ families celebrate Passover with mini-seder kits
GIVE A MITZVAH, DO A MITZVAH
Fostering care: One sock at a time Ever wonder what happens to kids who get placed in foster care because of suspected child abuse or neglect? How a child might feel being taken away from the only home he or she ever knew? Do they have time to pack? Take their favorite stuffy? While every foster child’s story is unique, many have to leave their homes in haste because of the dire situation they lived in. No time to pack. Sometimes there’s nothing to pack. That’s where Healley and Mia Saltz come in. And they hope the readers of HAKOL can help too. Mia and Healley are collecting socks and underwear to benefit the foster children served by Lehigh County Office of Children and Youth. They are asking for any donation, no amount is too small, to purchase new socks and underwear for these welldeserving kids who’ve gone through too much for their young ages. You may donate a gift card or money, and it will be used to purchase undergarments or birthday gift cards, too. You may also donate packages of new underwear and socks. There will be drop boxes available at the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley and at area synagogues. If you wish to arrange a drop off of your donated items, Healley and Mia say you can reach their mom Keren Saltz at fosteringcare21@gmail.com or 484-2744614 to arrange that. Monetary donations may also be made using Venmo @ Matthew-Saltz-2 or Zelle at kerensaltz@yahoo.com. Please mention that you are supporting Healley and Mia’s b’not mitzvah project. This “Fostering Care: One Sock at a Time” has been in the making for quite a while. Because of COVID-19, Healley’s bat mitzvah has been postponed twice since the original date of June 2020. The extra time allowed her younger sister Mia to be eligible to become a bat mitzvah too.
The sisters will celebrate (hopefully the third time is the charm) their b’not mitzvah together this July, and this mitzvah project is another link in the girls’ chain of tikkun olam activities. Healley has been a “buddy” at Camelot for Children’s summer camps, and Mia can often be seen helping other students at her school, Parkway Manor Elementary. When they were younger, the girls also organized a yard sale and a lemonade stand to benefit area charities. The sisters wanted to plan a mitzvah project that would help children. “Our mom works at a school, and she knows lots of children who don’t have what they need,” Healley said when speaking via Zoom about why they chose this mitzvah project. “We have great parents, we are blessed, and we want to give back.” “The girls are aware that not everyone has everything that they have,” Mom Keren said. “Kids leave their homes when they are in an unsafe situation, sometimes with nothing, only the clothes that they are wearing. It’s hard and really sad to imagine a child who doesn’t even have clean socks and underwear.” Parents Keren and Matt are so proud of Healley and Mia and hope the Lehigh Valley Jewish community will support this special endeavor to help foster kids have it a little bit easier in their time of turmoil. In addition to their mitzvah project, Mia and Healley have made their first adult gift of tzedakah to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.
As Holocaust survivors dwindle, a proposal emerges for a day devoted to them By Katarzyna Markusz Jewish Telegraphic Agency Jews who were murdered by the Nazis have two days of commemoration devoted to them. Now two Jewish leaders have proposed a third day of Holocaust remembrance – devoted to the Jews who survived. Jonathan Ornstein, director
of the JCC Krakow in Poland, and Michael Berenbaum, director of the Sigi Ziering Institute at the American Jewish University, have jointly proposed a new holiday. Holocaust Survivor Day would be celebrated on June 26, the birthday of Marian Turski, a prominent Polish survivor and advocate. The proposal, which they
hope will catch on among Jews around the world, comes as the number of living survivors is dwindling and COVID-19 has exacted a steep toll on them. The new day would focus on how to help survivors, whether by providing companionship and listening to their stories or by gathering needed material support, such as food.
For help developing your mitzvah project, contact Abby Trachtman, project coordinator, at abbyt@jflv.org or call her at the Federation office at 610-8215500.
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | APRIL 2021 19
PARTNERSHIP2GETHER UPDATE FROM YOAV
Yoav celebrates Passover BY SANDI TEPLITZ Try this delicious version of chopped herring with slices of crusty pumpernickel accompanied by sweet butter. Perfect when paired with sparkling white wine. INGREDIENTS 1 1/3 pounds chopped pickled herring 1 cup chopped and peeled Granny Smith apples 1 cup chopped Macintosh apples, peeled and chopped
2/3 cup chopped celery 1/2 cup chopped Vidalia onions 1/8 cup sugar Garnish: iceberg lettuce, 8 small red potatoes cooked sliced and chilled, 1/2 Granny Smith apple sliced, 1/2 Macintosh apple sliced, dill to sprinkle TECHNIQUE Grind all ingredients together, but do not purée. Serve on lettuce leaves surrounded by the other garnishes. Serves 6.
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By Nurit Galon Partnership2Gether Hard to believe but it's just a year ago that we all had to change our Pesach plans – whether travel or family gatherings for the traditional family seder. A new pandemic was with us, Corona, though we didn't recognize this at the time. Today, restrictions are
being eased, the vaccines seem to be at least a partial solution, and our communities are making plans for Pesach activities! First there is the Seder – with not just the four seder questions, but lots more! How many people can we have together at one time? Will the weather cooperate and let us sit outside, or will we somehow squeeze together to get everyone in? Oops,
no! Of course not. What about social distancing? So, if we are not quite back to normal, it is spring, and the greenery and flowers do indeed lighten the mood, and there will be seder nights and other activities. In Yoav, where the Community Centre and kibbutzim and moshavim are usually working overtime with programs for celebrating Pesach, in many ways this year all have to work harder, but celebrate we shall! So what do we have to offer? In Kibbutz Bet Guvrin, Hanna reports that this year the kibbutz's gift to each member is being made by a group of ladies and it is both decorative and useful – a macrame plant holder – and the chaverot are volunteering all their spare time to make sure that no one is left out! In Kibbutz Galon, everyone can take a virtual trip abroad. How? Through a giant drive-in screen with films for children and adults, chosen by members of the community. Years ago, before the era of video and films and television, young settlements had to make their own entertainments, and community singing was very popular, and it still is. So the Yoav Community Centre has arranged for singing with well-known stars around the Yoav Region. The children are not forgotten either, and there will be a four-day fun camp for children with special needs in Moshav Nahala. The Bnei and Bnot Bar Mitzvah year of Kibbutz Kfar Menachem will hold a happening for the whole community. These are just some of the events that will be taking place in the Yoav Region during Pesach, all to recall the passing from bondage to freedom and that as a free people, we do not forget why we are free and wait eagerly to share photos with our Lehigh Valley partners and friends. To all of you, from all of the Yoav communities, we hope you have a very happy and safe Pesach.
Book review: ‘A Passion for Israel’ By Sean Boyle Special to HAKOL Mark Werner’s second memoir, “A Passion for Israel: Adventures of a Sar-El Volunteer,” covers over a decade of when he was volunteering with the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). This book covers the years 2006-19 and details his annual work as a Sar-El volunteer and his experiences traveling through Israel during the weekends. Sar-El (www.sar-el.org) is a nonprofit volunteer organization that works with the IDF to assign volunteers for two to three weeks of service in a logistics support role (“Sar-El” is a transliterated acronym of Sherut L'Yisrael, “Service to Israel”). Founded in 1983, over 160,000 volunteers have served from Israel as well as from countries around the world. The volunteers are given IDF uniforms and work and live side-by-side with IDF members as they perform tasks that then frees up other Active Duty and Reserve members for other vital duties. Werner is the national president of Volunteers for Israel (www.vfi-usa.org), the organization that helps Americans apply and prepare for Sar-El trips. The book’s chapters are titled with the base that he was serving in during that particular trip. Werner is a retired lawyer and had no previous military
background before he began volunteering. The volunteers do mainly manual work; inspecting and packing emergency kits for reserve units, filling sandbags, clearing brush from near fencing, serving in the base kitchen and even some technical work when they assembled tank radio antennas. Since volunteers only work from Sunday through Thursday afternoon, Werner was able to spend the weekends either traveling with other volunteers or with his family living in Israel. These weekend trips are just as insightful as his descriptions of working beside IDF members, as he describes the political and current affairs occuring in Israel during those weeks. Werner not only gives a snapshot of what it is like on each base, but details what roles the IDF members serving on the base play in Israel’s defense, as well as detailing any missions or activities the units had recently completed. There are some expectations from Werner that his readers are familiar with basic IDF unit names and descriptions, as well as some military jargon. He does not include a glossary nor does he ever define the terms, which is interesting since he writes for a civilian audience. Since it is written as a promotion for organizations that he is very passionate about, his volunteer groups are described as the fastest and most motivat-
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ed workers on base, and often have to beg to be assigned more work. He also includes how appreciative the IDF members were of the volunteers, and how amazed they all were to have such ardent Zionists paying their own way to come and volunteer for them. Recommended for ages 14120, especially for those interested in the IDF and/or who want to do a unique volunteering opportunity in Israel. Sean Boyle is a past JDS librarian and is now serving as president of the Schools, Synagogues, Centers, and Public Libraries Division of the Association of Jewish Libraries. A Passion for Israel: Adventures of a Sar-EL Volunteer. (Werner, Mark, Jerusalem, Israel, Gefen Publishing House, 2020, 488p.)
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Einstein Continues from page 1
antibody levels for the virus used to deliver the gene therapy, likely disqualifying her from the next trial. “She was a miracle to begin with so another miracle could happen,” is Jen’s mantra these days. When Zack found out that Feb. 28 is Rare Disease Day, he decided he wanted to share what the family is going through beyond just their inner circle. He posted on Facebook to let people know about Ellery’s diagnosis and asked for an e-mail campaign to petition the pharmaceutical company to allow children with high antibodies in their next trial. The campaign got their attention, and they have now been in touch with them more than once. Asking friends and family to stop sending e-mails for now, he shifted to a different way to try to help Ellery and other children like her. On March 10, Zack celebrated his 40th birthday, and when Facebook prompted him to start a fundraiser for a charity of his
choice, he decided to run one for The Charlotte and Gwenyth Gray Foundation to Cure Batten Disease. Started by the parents of two little girls with the same CLN6 variant as Ellery, the funds go to research to find a cure and to providing financial support to families for education, patient therapies and equipment critical to their well-being and rehabilitation. Since it was his 40th, Zack set the goal at $4,000, never thinking he would actually reach it. Within nine hours, it had already been surpassed. “I was floored,” Zack said. He was able to raise the goal again and again, this time in multiples of 18, until it sat at $18,000. At the time of press, over $16,000 had already been donated. The Lehigh Valley Jewish community showed their support not only by writing emails and checks, but also in a more tangible way. Dana Cohen has organized a meal train for the family, so that Jen and Zack can spend less time worrying about what’s for dinner and more time with Ellery. “Because Jen worked at the front desk of the J for five years, we know a lot of people in the community,” said Zack.
The family has been touched by the overwhelming support they’ve received at this difficult time. “I was totally shocked,” Jen said of the generosity of the meal train participants. It has not been easy by any stretch of the imagination, but the Einsteins retain their sense of humor and their faith in God. When asked how the community can best help them, Jen’s immediate answer was, “Praying. All of the prayers.” The Einsteins hope that sharing their story can raise awareness of this rare disease, help other parents get a diagnosis sooner rather than later, and, ultimately, save Ellery's life. If you would like to support the Einstein family, you can do so in the following ways: They appreciate prayers for Ellery (whose Hebrew name is Ester Malka Chana bat Batya Rut). You can sign up for the meal train at http:// bit.ly/398JOad. Donations to their fundraiser for CLN6 can be made on Facebook at http://bit.ly/393ri32 or directly to The Charlotte and Gwenyth Gray Foundation to Cure Batten Disease at curebatten.org.
Passover Prep Answers By Yoni Glatt koshercrosswords@gmail.com Crossword puzzle from March 2021 HAKOL Passover Section page 7
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