HAKOL - November 2012

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community

NOVEMBER 2012 | CHESHVAN/KISLEV 5773

Specter remembered as a senator who First ordained enjoyed going toe to toe with tyrants Ugandan rabbi to visit

During his 30 years in the U.S. Senate, Arlen Specter never lost his prosecutorial zeal. His commitment to independence made the longtime senator for Pennsylvania a critical player in recent U.S. history, but ultimately crippled his career.

In his 2010 bid for a sixth term, Specter lost the support of both Democrats and Republicans. Specter, who had been the longest-serving U.S. senator from his state, died October 14 of complications from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was 82.

His iconoclasm was his brand from the outset of his career, when he made a name for himself as the young Philadelphia assistant district attorney on the Warren Commission who first postulated that a single bullet hit both President John F. Kennedy and Texas Gov. John Connally.

“Arlen was a statesman and a problem solver who was able to work with Democrats and Republicans in the best interest of our Commonwealth and our country,” Sen. Bob Casey (D-

ISRAEL AND SYRIA The two neighbors have connections as far back as 244 C.E. See page 7.

JOAN NATHAN The award-winning cookbook author visits the Lehigh Valley in November.

See pages 16-17.

PHOTO CREDIT: STEVE DIETZ/SHARP IMAGE

By Ron Kampeas and Kathleen Mory Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Interim JFLV Marketing Associate

Arlen Specter represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate for 30 years.

Pa.) said of Specter.

The pro-choice Republican helped fell Robert Bork’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, and then ensured Clarence Thomas’ ascension by leading what many liberal groups saw as the smearing of Anita Hill, a one-time aide to Thomas who had accused him of sexually harassing her.

Specter also enjoyed his one-onones with some of the Middle East’s most bloodstained tyrants.

“A tough, fierce competitor,” Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) said of Specter. “Arlen

Specter courageously and tenaciously battled cancer as passionately as he advocated for the causes in which he believed.”

Running for district attorney in Philadelphia in 1965, he left the Democratic Party, but returned in 2009. Specter the Democrat helped pass President Obama’s health care reforms.

Specter, who represented Pennsylvania in the Senate from 1981 to 2011, was shaped by his

Arlen Specter Continues on page 6

Lehigh Valley group travels to Israel TEENS SPEAK UP Lehigh Valley Jewish teens respond to survey, attend programs this year.

See page 32.

No. 350 com.UNITY with Mark Goldstein 2 Women’s Division

4

LVJF Tributes

8

Jewish Family Service

15

Jewish Day School

18-19

Jewish Community Center

20-21

Community Calendar

30-31

Dr. Jeff Blinder plants a tree in Israel at Neot Kedumim. Blinder traveled to Israel this October as part of the Lehigh Valley community mission to Israel, taking in visits to Tel Aviv and partnership community Yoav among other destinations, and exploring Israeli culture and the country's economy. Complete photo coverage of the mission will appear in the December edition of HAKOL. Mission trips include stops that are not part of most tours and opportunities to experience Israel with others infrom the community. To learn more about the group’s activities, visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org and click on programs and mission.

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

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

By Judith Rodwin Special to HAKOL In 1919, the Bagandan warrior, Semei Kakungulu, completed a complex spiritual and practical journey. He brought his followers and their families to the religion that most resonated with their lives: They became the Abayudaya, the Jews of Uganda.

“Western Jews do not always imagine that people of different skin colors and from distant cultures could be Jewish, but the truth is that there are currently indigenous communities observing traditional Jewish rituals all over the continent of Africa,” said Jay Sand, Univeristy of Pennsylvania graduate and African researcher.

The Abayudaya practiced traditional Judaism, enduring discrimination and attempted genocide at the hands of Idi Amin. They had not communicated with the outside Jewish world until the 1960s when the elders recognized that their isolation needed to end.

They began dialogue with Israel.

In 1992, Matthew Meyer, a Brown University student, spent Shabbat with the Abayudaya community of Mbale. He returned to the U.S. with photos and recordings of the community choir singing Hebrew prayers to traditional African melodies.

Interest in the Abayudaya grew from that time on.

Gershom Sizomu, son and grandson of Abayuda rabbis, became the first ordained Conservative Ugandan rabbi in history. He studied at the American Jewish University’s Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles.

Rabbi Seth Goren, Lehigh University’s director of Jewish student life and associate chaplain, and Rabbi Allen Juda have arranged for Sizomu to speak in scholar-in-residence programs in Bethlehem.

Sizomu will speak in Room 85 of Rauch Hall at Lehigh University at 4:15 on Thurs., Nov. 8, and will attend Shabbat dinner and Shabbat services at Brith Sholom on Fri. and Sat., Nov. 9 and 10. More information is available at the Brith Sholom office at 610-866-8009.

com.UNITY

FROM THE DESK OF MARK L. GOLDSTEIN

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

Disquieting times between Protestant and Jewish communities I try hard to vary the topics in this column. It is farily easy.

We have a vibrant Jewish community. Our Jewish Community Center and Jewish Day School are each experiencing a renaissance. The Federation’s new strategic plan will lay the foundation for expanding service delivery to our Jewish elderly and will target new ways to engage Jews Jewishly. Two weeks ago, the Lehigh Valley hosted the new Israel Consul General, Yaron Sideman for the second time in a month; and he had only been in his position for six weeks. While in the Lehigh Valley, he visited with Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Mayor Sal Panto and Congressman Charlie Dent, among others. Any of these would make excellent columns and would not require me to repeat a topic.

But alas, I feel compelled to return to my summer column on Israel advocacy. I wrote about the narrow margin defeating an anti-Israel resolution at the Presbyterian Church (USA) assembly, as well as triumphs within other mainline Protestant denominations. I acknowledged that although these were victories, there was much

remaining to do. However, I really thought these actions would enable those in active dialogue with national Christian leadership make inroads in the ongoing dialogue structures.

Then in early October, on a Jewish holy day, a group of 15 prominent Christian leaders sent a letter to every member of Congress asking that they investigate alleged human rights abuses in the Middle East. No, these clergymen were not seeking to stop the slaughter of Muslims and Christians in Syria. And no, they didn’t demand action to end the massacre of Christians in Iraq and Egypt. They sought neither an end to Iran’s march towards nuclear weapons nor the cessation of renewed missile fire from Gaza into Israel’s southern cities.

These clergymen were asking that Congress investigate alleged Israeli human rights abuses and they suggested cutting foreign aid to Israel in the process.

In the past, many of these same church leaders have sent notes to Congress criticizing specific Israeli efforts, particularly settlement building.

However, this is the first salvo against the $3 billion annual U.S. aid package to Israel.

And like efforts to boycott and divest from Israeli businesses, this latest missive is one-sided and implies that Israel is not only solely responsible for all that is wrong, but also is the only party worthy of investigations of human rights violations or misuse of U.S. foreign aid. Arafat’s wife is worth $1 billion and the media reports that President Mahmoud Abbas is worth $100 million, but only Israel is worthy of investigation?

The letter was sent without the knowledge of Jewish dialogue partners who have devoted years of efforts to bridge the growing gap with mainline Protestant groups. Press releases from Jewish leaders call this an act of betrayal, a disrespectful tactic, an essential declaration of separation from interfaith activities and a “breach of trust so egregious” as to call into question the efforts of interfaith activities. Strong words.

A roundtable interfaith dialogue process, which had been occurring since 2004, has been cancelled. Virtually every Jewish group has withdrawn from the process. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs withdrew noting that business as usual meetings

cannot proceed at this time; a break was needed to “discern if there’s a positive path forward.”

The national chairman of JCPA noted, “It is the right of these Christian leaders to say what they want to Congress or anyone else, and it is our right to say ‘enough is enough.’ We will continue to be vigilant against anti-Christian and antiPalestinian activities wherever and whenever we see them because it is the right thing to do. If only the leaders of these churches cared a fraction as much about the anti-Israel and anti-Zionist activities that have found comfortable homes in their denominations. How tragic that some of our counterparts in the churches are not only silent to this invective, they are accessories to it … and worse.”

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY Hakol is published 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 in writing or by e-mail to hakol@jflv.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.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, At my son’s recent bar mitzvah, Rabbi Allen Juda of Congregation Brith Sholom said, “This isn’t the end of anything.”

These words are comforting, not only for my husband and me, who don’t want to leave our son’s childhood behind, but for all of us as we look around the wider world.

This month’s issue presents a crossroads: The future hinges on the outcome of the presidential election and the events in the Middle East. At the same time, we have the Thanksgiving holiday and Jewish Book Month. We explore Jewish connections to Syria in the same month when we offer thanks for a bounty of food. A Jewish writer of children’s books talks about words in the context

of the elections. A renowned intellectual speaks about the decline of Jewish literature.

Notice he does not say the end.

Even when we consider the passing of Sen. Arlen Specter, the loss is not total.

Specter left a legacy because he modeled working with others.

Internationally known cookbook writer Joan Nathan preserves and shares the legacy of others: She collects family recipes from elderly Jews around the world, bringing to light their recipes and their family stories, awakening the memories of all those who use her books. It is not the end.

Even when it seemed to be the end, when, as we learned in a recent Torah portion, the Earth was flooded (a story that appears in the lore of many cultures), there were still Noah, his family, and the animals. And so, this

month, we bring you stories of animals – in foster care, as a case for vegetarianism, as characters in books. We see that sometimes we help animals and, sometimes, animals help us. In this month of ponderous news, consider the events and then turn to the stories of children’s books and of animals and know that this isn’t the end of anything.

Shalom, Jennifer Lader

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

Many at the national level have commented to me that there is a serious gap between the Protestant leadership and the people in the pews. Polls of American opinions on Israel and foreign aid to Israel indicate that these 15 leaders may be out of step with mainstream American values and opinions.

These are serious times.

There are serious stakes. If the Jewish community and the Protestant community can work through these issues, there is much to gain. Not only for our relationships with each other, but also for Israel.

HAKOL STAFF Jennifer Lader Editor

Allison Meyers

Graphic Designer

Diane McKee

Advertising Representative TEL: 610-515-1391 hakolads@jflv.org

JFLV STAFF

Mark L. Goldstein Executive Director

Judy Diamondstein

Assistant Executive Director

Temple Coldren

Director of Finance and Administration

Stephanie Smartschan Director of Marketing

Taffi Ney

Donor Development Officer

Joan Brody

Executive Assistant/Office Manager

Eileen Assed Wendy Edwards

Administrative Staff

Barry J. Halper President, JFLV

Monica Friess

Acting Chair, HAKOL Editorial Board

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

JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY 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 HONOR

IN MEMORY

SUSAN AND MARC KOLPON Birth of daughter, Rebecca Shalom Baby MARTIN LEMELMAN In appreciation of Artwork for PJ Library Abby Trachtman and the Staff of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

ETHYLE HALPER (Mother of Barry Halper) Eileen and Roberto Fischmann Vicki and Larry Glaser ANNETTE WEISER (Family of Annette) Julia and Richard Givre

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

CORRECTION The photo that appears on page 32 of the October edition with “Teen filmmakers explore …” is the work of Lehigh Valley teen photographer Julia Sams. We apologize for this omission.

2 NOVEMBER 2012 | 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

Ben Gurion Society launch planned B&Ps mix and mingle Mixing and mingling at the quarterly Jewish Business & Professional Network event on Wednesday, October 18, local Jewish professionals were hosted

by Lafayette Hillel Society. Several Hillel members were on hand not only to provide their warm hospitality but to get to know established members of the community as they chart their own professional path. Several members of the Lehigh Valley business community took the opportunity to get to know fellow Jews in business and to swap business cards and information. The Jewish Business & Professionals Network group is live on Linkedin and encourages all Jewish businesspeople and professionals to join.

By Ginny Cohen Special to HAKOL The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is delighted to announce the launch of the Valley’s own Ben Gurion Society with a party for young adults at the Da Vinci Science Center on Saturday, November 10.

The Ben Gurion Society is a nationally-recognized giving level for adults 45 or younger who contribute $1,000 individually to Federation or, for couples, $1,800 for the household. Membership confers a range of benefits, from social and philanthropic activities close to home to regional events and national conferences and missions.

Nicole Rosenthal and Erin Corsa are co-chairs of the Ben Gurion Society. Erin is also the co-chair, with her husband Justin Corsa, of JFLV’s Young Adult Division, or YAD, which is for adults under 45 and which has no required giving levels.

Together these co-chairs have already been hard at work, connecting young adults of the community and developing ideas for more ways to get people involved.

YAD is sponsoring the BGS launch event, which is free and open to all young adults of the community.

Chris & Stephanie Glacken attend a YAD event

Other upcoming YAD events include snow tubing on February 16 at Bear Creek and a barbecue in the spring.

Naomi Schachter, an actress, model, certified personal trainer and life coach, said, “There are no expectations except for fun and a whole lot of laughs! I look forward to each event.”

But YAD has serious goals, too. It provides a way for young adults to, in the words of certified commercial investment member Jonathan Epstein, “navigate their way

through the Jewish elements of the Lehigh Valley – including service, networking, philanthropy, education and religion.”

Attorney Zachary Cohen pointed out that YAD is “geared so that anyone can truly make a meaningful contribution.”

YAD’s Tikkun Olam group ran a “winter bundle” coat drive last year and has distributed warm clothing at

THE 2012 GENERAL ASSEMBLY: WHERE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

baltimore General Assembly 2012 N OV E M B E R 1 1 - 1 3

At the GA, the Jewish community shares innovations and celebrates achievements, comes together and gets inspired.

Join us in Baltimore to tackle the crucial issues of the day at the most important annual event of the Jewish Federations.

Register now at www.generalassembly.org

Ben Gurion Society launch Continues on page 26 Uploads Shares Gathers Learns Speaks Acts Recharges Downloads Uploads Celebrates Gathers Learns Speaks Shares Happens Acts Recharges Uploads Celebrates Happens Downloads Uploads Shares Gathers Learns Speaks Acts Recharges Downloads Uploads Celebrates Gathers Learns Speaks SHARES Shares Happens Acts Recharges Uploads Celebrates Happens Uploads Downloads Uploads Shares Gathers Learns Speaks Acts Recharges Downloads Uploads Celebrates Gathers Learns Speaks Shares Happens Acts Recharges

Ben Gurion Society Launch Event

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2012

7:30 p.m.

Da Vinci Science Center | 3145 Hamilton Blvd. Bypass, Allentown

PARTY WITH THE GROWNUPS, BUT PLAY LIKE A KID! Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres Free access to museum exhibits A night out with good friends Bodies Revealed Exhibit | $9 per person NO COST TO PARTICIPATE NO MINIMUM GIFT REQUIRED TO ATTEND

RSVP to Judy Diamondstein, 610-821-5500, judy@jflv.org

save the date

january 27, 2013

Together, we do extraordinary things HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2012 3

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

Lunch & Learn

Wood’s closet yields treasures

SAVE THE DATE

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

12 to 1 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of Allentown Program is $12, including lunch.

Men and women welcome.

Please RSVP to 610-821-5500 or mailbox@jflv.org.

WENDY ROSENFELD Lunch & Learn Chair

EVA LEVITT

Women’s Division President PLEASE BRING NONPERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS FOR THE JFS FOOD PANTRY

Lunch & Learn programs are a community education initiative coordinated by the Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.

At the Pomegranate & Lion of Judah Fall Kickoff event at the home of Ilene Wood, Ben Gurion Society Co-Chiars Nicole Rosenthal & Erin Corsa, stand with Women’s Division Campaign Co-Chair Iris Epstein and Pomegranate Division Chair Lisa Ellis.

At the Lunch and Learn, Ilene Wood speaks of her vintage finds and why each piece tells a story.

A WOMEN’S JOURNEY TO ISRAEL FEBRUARY 2-8, 2013 Check out www.jewishfederations.org/page. aspx?id=241735 for more information.

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

WELCOMING NEW BABIES to the Lehigh Valley

REBECCA KOLPON

daughter of Susan & Marc Kolpon

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 NOVEMBER 2012 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Enjoying the exploration of the purses, Abby Wiener looks on as Jeannette Eichewald juggles many bags.

Regina Brenner checks out Ilene Wood’s collection.

Ilene Wood spoke at a Lunch and Learn for the JFLV Women’s Division on October 5, a day already devoted to the fundraising sale of part of Wood’s collection of vintage apparel.

During her talk, this talented author, merchandiser and designer showed many examples of vintage handbags. Many of them remind Wood of her own mother.

“The 60s-inspired fashions are things I almost remember her wearing,” Wood said.

“And because these fashions have again come into vogue, collecting vintage wear is really a green way to shop.

“Plus, you won’t see yourself coming and going.” Meaning, no one else will have one exactly like it. That’s because the kinds of pieces that Wood finds in her travels were often very carefully selected, personalized and perhaps even made, by the original owner. At one point, Wood held up a bag embroidered with a violin.

“Take needlepoint bags,” she said. “Women in the 1950s and 60s went to yarn stores and selected the canvas and the yarn and then did an excruciating amount of work.

They would bring it back to the store and have it made into a bag, all for the equivalent of today’s $500 or $700 each!”

These women were making something of value to themselves, something durable that

Ilene’s collection of pins.

they would in turn pass on to their children.

In this, the embroiderers of past decades had something in common with the women gathered for the Lunch and Learn.

These are women who have made a commitment and who have demonstrated that commitment through their donations and pledges. They do so with the hope and the goal that there will always be a Jewish community. The multiple generations of the Jewish community of the Lehigh Valley and the world show that this hope will be realized.

JFLV women and their families will derive a lasting value from their efforts -- not necessarily the case for the women embroidering their quite personalized carpet bags. When the embroiderers did pass the bags to their children, those children may not have valued them; hence, the bags landed in consignment stores and went to Wood’s collection.

There may or may not be anything so tangible as a carpet bag to show for the hours and hours of volunteer work and fundraising on behalf of the Jewish community by JFLV women, but the belief is that they -- that all of us together -- are making something much more lasting.

Through the generosity of Wood’s donation of vintage clothing for the sale, the JFLV raised an additonal $2,000 for this year’s annual campaign.

Thank you to all who participated.

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

Doctor strengthens bonds with others through medicine

By Dr. Shaul Atar Special to HAKOL Yes, I am excited, yet hesitant; optimistic, yet anxious; motivated, yet skeptical. Those are some of the feelings I have while preparing for our trip to Lehigh Valley. “Why should I leave my family, my son who is currently serving in the army, my two students (a boy and a girl), my young daughter who is now in “Shnat Sherut” (voluntary community service for one year before her army service), my patients and my medical students?” These thoughts cross my mind several times a day.

For me, coming to the Lehigh Valley for even such a short period will definitely be an excellent opportunity to learn more about a vibrant community with such strong ties with the Western Galilee Hospital and region and feel the true spirit of partnership between the communities. I would like to study more cardiology and medicine, absorb knowledge and good clinical practice and apply it here, in Israel.

For my wife, Irit, and me, our visit will also be a time for acquaintance, for trying to make new friendships and initiate future projects.

I am looking forward to introducing to you the unique endeavor which is my second “home” – Western Galilee Hospital, a symbol as well as a vivid example of the “bond of life for the living” between all the religions and ethnic groups of the Western Galilee. Working in such an ethnically diverse population, six miles off the northern border of Israel, definitely makes you feel everyday like you are “walking on a thin line.” This virtual line that divides countries yet unites people regardless of religion, cultural background,

Dr. Shaul Atar (first row, second from far right) with his staff at Western Galilee Hospital in Israel.

political beliefs or socioeconomic status.

I am serving as the head of a large cardiology service that encounters patients in critical times and situations, coming with heart attacks, in moments when they feel they are “hanging between life and death.”

And as a patient is admitted, no one ever asks for the patient’s background or religion, whether it’s on Yom Kippur, the Ramadan holidays, a Druze holiday or a Christian holiday.

We practice just medicine. Working with such a wonderful group of people, a medical staff of which more than half are non-Jews is a reality

MAIMONIDES BAGEL BRUNCH

How Can I Be Sure that I Have a Healthy Heart ?

morning”), makes you sharpen all your senses, demanding one to learn more about the other: beliefs, needs, fears and sometimes suspicion. And I have to provide the best medical care, according to all international standards and accommodate my practice and ethics to the patients’ preferences and wishes, hoping and praying for the best. Nevertheless, despite all the difficulties and inadequate facilities in which we provide medical care, the smile on our patients’ faces as they leave the hospital says it all.

See you soon in the Lehigh Valley.

I am looking forward to meeting you.

Congregation Sons of Israel Scholar-in-Residence December 7-9, 2012

RABBI DR. ELIEZER SCHNALL

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4 10:15-11:45 a.m. at the JCC of Allentown

We are happy to invite you to participate in our program as we host Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Schnall. Rabbi Schnall, is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology at Yeshiva University.

The community is invited to join us in welcoming Israeli Dr. Shaul Atar to the Lehigh Valley. Dr. Atar, chief of cardiology at Western Galilee Hospital in Israel, will be the featured speaker at a brunch.

Free for Maimonides members and spouses, $10 for community members Visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org to learn more.

I wouldn’t want to change. On the contrary, I would make every effort to strengthen the bond between people through medicine – there is no better way to do that!

Being a father of five grown-up children, a husband to a wonderful supporting wife, a Jewish physician and at the same time living in this unique, one-of-a-kind country makes life complex yet full of satisfaction. There is never a dull moment. Greeting “boker tov” (“good morning”) to your patients every morning and they reply “marhaba” (in Arabic,“welcome”) or “Dobroye Utro” (in Russian,“good

Contact Judy Diamondstein at 610-821-5500 or judy@jflv.org for information.

SHABBAT DINNER FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 7, 5:15 p.m.,

“Groupthink and the Sanhedrin: An Analysis of the Ancient Court of Israel Through the Lens of Modern Social Psychology.” Cost for the Shabbat Dinner is $12 per adult, $8 per child under 12, $36 maximum per family. Babysitting will be available. Reservations by December 3 to April at 610-433-6089.

SHABBAT MORNING, DECEMBER 8

“Why we’re stressed, why we’re satisfied: The National Study of Orthodox Jewish Marriage.”

MAIMONIDES SOCIETY BAGEL BRUNCH DECEMBER 9, 10:15 AM AT THE JCC OF ALLENTOWN “Hakarat Hatov: Positive Psychology in Jewish tradition.”

Free of charge to Society members and spouses, $10 to community members

2012 maimonides society directory CORRECTION We apologize for incorrectly spelling the name of Stuart Schwartz, past Maimonides Society president.

Rabbi Eliezer Schnall‘s scholarly work focuses on the relation between Positive Psychology (how to lead a happier, more productive, fulfilling life) and religious traditions. He has published in such noted academic journals as Family Medicine, Psychology and Health, and the Journal of Counseling and Development. His research on psychology and religion has been featured in The NewYork Times,The Wall Street Journal, on CBS television news, and numerous other national and international media.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2012 5

Hakol 4x4_Nov_HoneyB_GuysDolls_Layout 1 10/3/2012 4:39 PM Page 1

A view of the Golan Heights. Several spillover mortar shells from fighting in Syria hit the area. Israeli reports said on September 25 that the shells landed in an open area and no one was injured. In the past few months, fears of the Syrian conflict leading to fighting with Israel have risen. Last week, the IDF conducted a surprise military drill in the Golan to simulate an attack scenario on the northern border. The IDF said the drill was not related to recent events, the Post reported.

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Israel will continue to target attackers, Netanyahu tells Blair Jewish Telegraphic Agency Since the beginning of this year, hundreds of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip have hit Israel, including 80 in a 48-hour period during the week of October 21, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

In response, Israel will continue to attack the groups that fire rockets on her citizens, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu's statement came during a meeting on Oct. 22 with Mideast Quartet envoy Tony Blair and after Israeli airstrikes targeted what the IDF described as "launching squads" in two locations in the northern Gaza Strip.

Two Palestinian men were killed in the strikes.

Hamas' military wing claimed one as a fighter

and Islamic Jihad claimed the other as a fighter in its militia, according to the Palestinian Maan news agency. At least two others were reported injured.

The IDF said the attacks were in response to mortar shell fire at a routine IDF patrol on the border with northern Gaza, near the Israeli kibbutz of Nir Am. "We've got Hamas, supported by Iran, firing rockets at us. They’ve fired again. We're not going to let anyone arm themselves and fire rockets on us and think that they can do this with impunity," Netanyahu said. "They're not going to get away with it. We attacked them before, we attacked them after and we're going to prevent them from arming themselves. This is our policy."

Arlen Specter Continues from page 1

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6 NOVEMBER 2012 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

childhood as the only Jewish kid in his class in a small Midwestern town of Russell, Kan., said David Brog, Specter’s longtime aide who eventually rose to be his chief of staff.

Specter’s upbringing -helping out his father, a peddler and scrap metal business owner -- was a factor in his pro-Israel leadership, Brog said.

“He saw a little of Israel in himself as the only Jew in his class in Russell,” he said.

Although his sisters were Orthodox Jews, Specter himself was not outwardly religious.

Brog noted that on his visits to the Jewish state Israel, Specter would make a point of visiting the grave of his father, who came from what is now Ukraine, and wished to be buried in Israel.

Specter was a congressional leader in advancing the cause of Soviet Jews. He helped preserve the Lautenberg Amendment, which eased immigration for refugees from persecution, including some from Iran.

“A prescient leader, he understood early on that religious minorities within Iran

needed special protection,” said a statement from the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.

Yet Specter also courted the Middle East’s tyrants, including Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and the Assads in Syria. He longed for a role brokering peace between Israel and Syria, with the idea that if he could get Syria, the most extreme of Israel’s neighbors, to sign a peace deal, it could create an improved political climate in the region.

Closer to home, Alex Halper, son of JFLV President Barry Halper and formerly part of Specter’s legislative staff, said, “Sen. Specter was a pretty regular presence in the Lehigh Valley and supported many local institutions -- particularly in his capacity as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, where he was able to secure significant federal funding for many local institutions like Lehigh University and Lehigh Valley Hospital. He also helped provide funding for LANTA and other local transportation projects like the American Parkway reconstruction and ... the Route

412 Improvement project.”

Nominees for the federal bench were a regular target of his difficult questions, said Sammie Moshenberg, the Washington director of the National Council of Jewish Women.

Moshenberg found his tough questions gratifying when Specter grilled nominees on reproductive rights, but recalled being “infuriated” when he accused Hill of perjury in her testimony about Thomas.

As the political climate grew more polarized, Specter felt assailed by the left and the right.

However, in 2004, he fended off a Republican challenge from his right by Rep. Pat Toomey.

Five years later, realizing he would likely not be able to beat Toomey again, Specter switched parties, saying the GOP had “moved far to the right.” Yet the Democratic Party proved no more welcoming; he lost in the 2010 primary to Rep. Joe Sestak, who in turn was defeated by Toomey in the general election.

The Jewish affiliates of both parties issued statements that echoed one another in describing Specter’s higher calling: The Republicans noted that he was a “devoted public servant,” and the Democrats called him a “consummate public servant.”

Linked by more than geography:

Syria and the Jewish people

By Jacob Glass Special to HAKOL During a year in which the world has seen sweeping change come to countries across the Middle East, another dramatic transformation is taking place in Syria.

Following 18 months of popular uprisings against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government and an increasingly violent government response, Syria is now “on the point of collapse,” according to its former Prime Minister Riyad Hijab.

Mark Stein, associate professor of history, at Muhlenberg College, explained, “The recent successes of the Syrian rebels and the growing chaos in Syria make it doubtful that Assad will remain in power.”

Since the Syrian conflict began, the United Nations has estimated that over 18,000 lives have been lost, and millions more people have been displaced from their homes. What once were demonstrations have now escalated into full-scale civil war. Rebel groups, led by the Free Syrian Army, increasingly are in a position to challenge Assad for control of the country.

The Syrian conflict presents the state of Israel, and the Jewish people, with an opportunity to reflect on the geopolitical importance of Syria, the long history shared between the two countries and the potential for a brighter future.

Jewish ties to Syria

Following the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 C.E., large numbers of Sephardic Jews sought refuge in Syria, resulting in centuries of vibrant Jewish communities in major cities such as Aleppo and Damascus. However, during the first half of the 20th century, anti-Semitism in Syria grew, and then finally boiled over, culminating in the 1947 attack on Aleppo’s Jewish community, which left 75 people dead and 10 synagogues destroyed.

An increasingly hostile Syrian population led to the vast majority of Syrian Jews emigrating to the United States and Israel by the mid-20th century. This violent history, though, was not the experience of all Syrians.

Rami Khoury, a Syrian dentist in the Lehigh Valley, recently described his interactions with Syrian Jews growing up: “I had several Jewish classmates as I went through school, […] some that are now dear friends of mine; […] we lived in harmony together,” Khoury said. “Syria has a rich Jewish history, especially the DuraEuropos synagogue.” Discovered in 1932, this synagogue is dated to 244 C.E., making it one of the oldest in the world.

Three major wars

Following Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948, a coalition of Arab states, including Syria, unsuccessfully waged war against the new Jewish state. “Israeli-Syrian relations [over the next three decades] were characterized by constant hostility punctuated by actual belligerence,” said Brian Mello, assistant

professor of political science at Muhlenberg College.

Syria invaded Israel as part of the 1967 Six Day War and again in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War. Resulting from these conflicts, Israel gained control of the Golan Heights, an area of strategic importance to both countries.

The Golan, recognized as Syrian territory by the United Nations, has marked a major point of contention between Jerusalem and Damascus. Assad has consistently asserted that peace with Israel remains impossible without “guarantees to return the whole land.”

The Assad government’s relationship with the Syrian people has been no less fraught with controversy. Twelve years of political repression and financial corruption, benefiting Syria’s elite at the expense of the majority, laid the groundwork for Syria to erupt.

The Arab Spring and Israel

“The current crisis in Syria began after students, inspired by democratic protests elsewhere in the region, painted anti-Assad and pro-democratic graffiti on the walls of their town,” Mello said. “The torture of these boys by government security forces launched waves of popular uprisings around the country.”

Protests quickly escalated into large-scale demonstrations and a humanitarian crisis that U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon characterized as “grave and deteriorating.”

“The condition of Syria is vitally important to the stability of the entire region and, in particular, to the security of Israel,” Mello said.

Though often heavy-handed, Assad’s ability to unify Syria, a nation naturally fragmented across sectarian lines, led to several decades of relative calm along the Israeli-Syrian border and a measure of predictability throughout the Middle East.

The increasing destabilization of Syria, combined with concerns over the growing influence of Islamic fundamentalism in the country, has caused great concern throughout Israel. The potential collapse of Assad’s government has also raised anxieties in Jerusalem, as Israeli leaders brace for waves of Syrian refugees. Further, the Israeli government has stated its concern that, in the current disorder, “Syria’s stockpile of nonconventional weapons could reach terrorist groups and other extremist elements.”

While emphasizing the pressing nature of such concerns, Mello said that the profound changes taking place may also have a silver lining for Israel and the region, as many of the values that led to the Syrian uprising are the same values that many Jews hold dear.

“It wasn’t Islamic radicals who began the protests,” Mello said, “but the students and people of Syria empowering themselves to reach their full democratic capacities.”

The Dura-Eurpopos synagogue is dated to 244 C.E. The above reproduction of the synagogue’s western wall fresco can be seen at the Jewish Museum of New York, which offers acclaimed art exhibitions that explore art and culture from ancient to modern times.

Jacob Glass, a 2012 Truman, Brower and Udall Scholar, is a senior at Muhlenberg College, majoring in international studies and environmental science, with a special interest in international diplomacy.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2012 7

Lehigh Valley Jewish Foundation The endowment fund of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

IN MEMORY

IN HONOR

BROTHER OF LIZ SCOFIELD Sandra and Harold Goldfarb DR. MALVIN GOLDNER (Husband of Lillian Goldner and father of David, Jonathan and Michael Goldner) Cheryl and Scott Brenner Sandra and Harold Goldfarb Ina and Larry Levin ETHYLE HALPER (Mother of Barry Halper) Nanci and Steven Bergstein Jill and Jeff Blinder Wendy and Ross Born Cheryl and Scott Brenner Kira and Richard Bub Sylvia and Sam Bub & Family Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald Carol and Stewart Furmansky Sandra and Harold Goldfarb Ellen and Phil Hof Lynda and Stuart Krawitz Alice and Mark Notis Roberta and Alan Penn Vicki and Stan Wax Barbara and Arthur Weinrach GERALD MARR (Husband of Helen Marr) Shirley and Lou Furmansky MILTON MOLLICK (Husband of Ruth Mollick) Roz and Al Mishkin JUDY WASSER (Mother of Deborah Wasser Glass) Roz and Al Mishkin Dr. MARVIN WEISS (Husband of Judy Weiss and father of Lynda Somach, Janet Quate and Jodi Holman) Lenny Abrams and Family Carol and Stewart Furmansky Sandra and Harold Goldfarb Lynda and Stuart Krawitz Elaine and Les Lerner Lisa Mishkin Susan and Stuart Shmookler Audrey and Art Sosis Arlene and Richard Stein

DONNA AND ALAN BLACK New Home Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald ELLEN AND STEPHEN BLUMBERG Birth of grandson, Ari Daniel Blumberg Wendy and Ross Born Susan and Stuart Shmookler NATE BRAUNSTEIN Special Birthday Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald ROBERT COHN Son Gideon’s engagement Lisa Mishkin JEROME CYLINDER Special Birthday Selma Roth and Family GAIL AND FRED EISENBERG Marriage of son Aaron to Nicole Moore Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald RONI ENGLERT Special Birthday Lisa Mishkin SARA GLASSMAN Special Birthday Audrey and Art Sosis LIBBY GOLOMB Happy Birthday Roz and Al Mishkin LAUREN HALPER Speedy Recovery Cheryl and Scott Brenner JAY HALTZMAN Speedy Recovery Cheryl and Scott Brenner EVA AND MEL HOFFMAN Birth of grandson Shirley and Lou Furmansky SUSAN AND DAVID HYMAN Marriage of daughter, Janine to Mark Tandy Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald JUDY AND MORTON MILLER Marriage of granddaughter, Becky Lenny Abrams Renee Schwartz MR. AND MRS. SETH MIROWITZ Birth of son

Freedom isn’t free.

Veterans paid our way.

To our Nation’s courageous men and women in uniform and to American Veterans everywhere…

Thank You.

embassybank.com 8 NOVEMBER 2012 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Sandra and Harold Goldfarb LOTA POST Special Birthday Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald ALEX ROSENAU In honor of becoming President-Elect of the American College of Emergency Physicians Carah and Ryan Tenzer PENNY ROTH Happy Birthday Audrey and Jerome Cylinder JOE SCHELLER Special Birthday Wendy and Ross Born STEPHANIE AND ADAM SMARTSCHAN Birth of daughter, Emma Joy Smartschan Vicki and Stan Wax AUDREY SOSIS Special Birthday Laura and Bob Black Sylvia and Sam Bub & Family Sandra and Harold Goldfarb BARBARA S. SUSSMAN Special Birthday Sybil and Barry Baiman VICKI WAX Receiving the Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award Kira and Richard Bub Sylvia and Sam Bub & Family Sara and Karl Glassman Sandra and Harold Goldfarb Elaine and Les Lerner Patti and Alan Mittleman Cooky and Mike Notis Pauline and Bill Trachtenberg LINDA WIMMER Special Birthday Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald 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 610821-5500 or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org to place your card requests. Thank you for your continued support.

Medieval Jews flourish amidst oppression

Hartley Lachter

By Hartley Lachter Special to HAKOL Medieval Jewish history can sometimes sound like a list of tragedies: expulsions, crusades, forced conversions, legal restrictions and violence.

Salo Wittmayer Baron, one of the most important Jewish historians of the 20th century, argued that we should resist what he referred to as the “lachrymose conception of Jewish history” that focuses primarily on negative events. This is not to say that bad things didn’t happen or that such events were of no consequence, but rather that medieval Jewish history presents us with a complex tapestry in which anti-Jewish legislation and intense pressure to convert occurred at the same time as remarkable developments in Jewish literature, culture and religious thought.

Consider, for example, the challenges faced by Jews in the Franco-German region known as Ashkenaz during the period of the first crusade in the late 11th and early 12th centuries. Christian armies heading off to the Holy Land regularly committed acts of violence against the Ashkenazi Jewish communities they encountered on their way. Forced conversions were unfortunately not uncommon. Yet, it was during this time that Rabbi Solomon Isaac of Troyes, also known as Rashi, composed his magisterial commentaries on the Bible and Talmud.

Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, or Maimonides, lived in Spain during the tumultuous transition of power from the Almoravid

dynasty, which had been relatively friendly towards the Jewish community living as a minority in Muslim Spain, to the Almohad dynasty which abolished many of the protections that Jews had previously enjoyed. Maimonides and his family had to flee their home in Cordoba in the late 1240s, eventually taking refuge in Fez, Morrocco, and later in Fostat, Egypt. Despite this, Maimonides became one of the most famous Jewish thinkers of all time, penning classic works of Jewish law and philosophy. Maimonides was also a famous physician, writing important treatises on medicine and even serving as the court physician to the Vizier when he lived in Egypt.

Examples of Jewish accomplishment in the face of complex and dangerous historical circumstances are legion in medieval Jewish history. During the mid- to late-13th century in Spain, Jews faced increasing pressure from Christian anti-Jewish missionaries, as well as tighter legal restrictions in a number of royal jurisdictions. Yet, Spain saw the composition of Jacob ben Asher’s important work on Jewish law, the Arba’ah Turim. Rabbi Moses ben Nahman, known as Nahmanides, composed most of his influential works, especially his classic commentary on the Torah, while living in Spain during the mid 1200s. And it was during the mid-to late-13th century in Spain

that Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism, became widespread, creating a lasting paradigm shift in how many Jews, from the Middle Ages to today, understand the nature and meaning of Judaism.

These examples are only the tip of the iceberg. Even the functioning of Jewish communal organizations, from synagogues to burial societies and charities, are indebted to practices that stem from medieval Jewish communities.

The oddly paradoxical fact that these important developments in Jewish life often coincided with difficult historical circumstances demonstrates how cultural creativity can happen in unexpected ways. The need to articulate the relevance and meaning of Judaism in the face of open attack and troubling uncertainty can be a powerful force.

The question for contemporary Jews is how to maintain the same level of cultural and religious engagement in a context where the motivations must be generated internally. Our willingness to rise to this challenge will in no small measure help us to write the next page in Jewish history.

Hartley Lachter is an associate professor of religious studies and director of the Jewish studies program at Muhlenberg College. He received his Ph.D. from New York University.

Lachter has a background in Jewish philosophy, mysticism and medieval Kabbalah.

Easton Salon Series A hybrid social/intellectual Jewish experience

Presentation by

Dr. Robert Weiner Professor of History, Lafayette College Fascilitated by Dr. Hartley Lachter

Dr. Weiner will be presenting “Happy to be Born in America: The Jews of Dijon and the Jews of Easton, A Comparison” for interactive discussion.

Dr. Weiner’s special academic interests include Europe, diplomatic history and Jewish history.

He serves as advisor to Hillel, coordinates Jewish religious observances on campus and serves as a spiritual advisor to the Jewish community at Lafayette.

Based on the salon concept in Europe

where the elite would host small gatherings featuring scholars or artists, the Easton series will allow Jews to come together every month to discuss captivating and thought-provoking themes.

3rd Sunday of every month

7 to 9 p.m. at the Third Street Bistro, Easton NOVEMBER 18, 2012 | JANUARY 20, 2013 FEBRUARY 17, 2013 | MARCH 17, 2013 APRIL 21, 2013 | MAY 19, 2013 There is no cost to participate. Food will be available for purchase. Respectful accommodation for dietary observance.

Sponsored by the Easton Leadership Council of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2012 9

Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley 2013 Campaign for Jewish Needs

DONOR HONOR ROLL $892,000 raised (as of 10.15.12)

Because of you, we are able to help when help is needed, provide a safety net for those who must rely upon it, and nurture the core institutions that are the fabric of a rich and dynamic Jewish community.

THANK YOU.

KING SOLOMON CIRCLE $10,000 - $17,999

CHAVERIM $500 - $1,499

Nathan and Marilyn* Braunstein Leslie and Elaine* Lerner Nan Ronis* Jay and Lorrie* Scherline

Dr. Karen Dacey* Eric Luftig Dr. Gerald Melamut Edith Miller* Dr. Norman and Jett* Sarachek

BUILDERS OF ISRAEL $5,000 - $9,999 PRIME MINISTERS CIRCLE $100,000 + Ross Born Wendy Born* Robert and Bonnie* Hammel Just Born Inc THEODORE HERZL SOCIETY $50,000 -$99,999 The Deanne and Arnold Kaplan Foundation* KING DAVID SOCIETY $25,000 - $49,999 Fischmann Family Fund* Roberto and Eileen* Fischmann Claudia Fischmann* Diana Fischmann* and Dr. Noah Orenstein Veronica Fischmann* The Fraenkel Family Dr. Harold and Sandra* Goldfarb Max and Shelley* Stettner and Family The Wax-Goldman Family Funds Stan and Vicki* Wax Robby and Laurie* Wax Steven and Nancy* Wax Goldman TREE OF LIFE SOCIETY $18,000 - $24,999 Leonard Abrams Peter and Karen* Cooper Jean Weiner*

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SHORASHIM $250 - $499 Richard Director Samuel and Lynn* Feldman Marcia Felkay* Allan Goodman Jonathan and Jocelyn* Hodes Andrew and Nancy Kahn Dr. Binae Karpo* Herbert Katz Dr. Andrew Kimmel Bernard and Laurie Lesavoy-Lesavoy Butz & Seitz LLC Jerome and Norma* Neff Dr. Michael Obenski Thomas Loetzbeier Peter and Sheila* Sokalsky Anonymous (2) GENESIS under $250 Frederic Abeloff Marvin and Sylvia* Adler Isabella Alkasov* Florence Applebaum* Pnina Avitzur* Dr. Sherri Bassner* Scott Berman Dr. Joan Bischoff* Andrew and Dr. Christy* Block and Family Dr. Christy Block* Jerome and Loretta Block Gail Burger* Robert and Gail* Burger Betty Burian*

Ivan Buyum Allen and Marjorie Carroll Alvin and Dorothy* Cohodas Edwin and Melody* Davis Shelley Drozd* Dr. Wayne and Heather Dubov Vicki Duerr* Eleanor Extract* Fredda Fischman* Barbara Friedenheim* Jerry and Bette Friedenheim Dr. Allan and Sandra* Futernick Lewis and Roberta* Gaines Linda Garber* Rabbi Jonathan Gerard and Dr. Pearl Rosenberg Lolly Glickman* Julia Goldberg* Arlene Gorchov* and Mark Kennedy Betty Greenberg* Sidney Greenberg and Joan Lesavoy Ervin Gross Ruth Gross* Shirley F. Gross* Marcel and Sharon Guindine Marion Halperin* Gloria Hartglass* Ted Herstein Dorothy Hoffman* Janet Hogan* Karen Holloway* Dr. Donald and Carol Jaffe Joan Katz* Dr. Lewis and Joan* Katz Lionel and Ellen* Kier Rosine Knafo* Deborah Kohler* Paul and Dore Kottler Gary and Jennifer Lader*

Mary Laronge* Joan Lichtenstein* Doris Lifland* Dr. Lisa Lindauer* Rebecca Lovingood* Louise Mapstone* Betty Mikofsky* David and Jane* Much Jill Stewart Narrow* Richard and Paula Nelson Ellen Osher* and Robert Prichard Jay and Marlene* Plotnick Mildred Poliner* David Reiff Charles Richter and Lynda Pollack* Helene Rae Scarcia* Leon Schneider Mimi Silberstein* Abigail Silverman* Jessica Silverman* Dr. Arnold and Judy* Slyper Susan Sosnow* Robert Sussman Norman and Susan Tahler Alla Toff* Dr. Edward Tomkin and Sandra Wadsworth Philmore and Rose* Tucker Dr. Mark and Gayle* Unger Sharone and Lora* Vaknin Lynn Waite* Alice Ward* Anne M. Warschauer* Dr. Steven Weintraub Magda Weiss* Neil and Judith Wetcher Yo Fresh Yogurt Cafe Anonymous (22)

The donors noted above represent gifts to date to the JFLV 2013 Campaign for Jewish Needs. Every effort is made to correctly recognize all of our generous donors and honor their listing requests. If there are any inaccuracies or omissions, please call the Federation office at 610-821-5500. *Indicates an individual woman’s gift to the 2012 Campaign for Jewish Needs

Your heart’s not just another It could be your #1 health threat!

More women than men die of heart disease each year.

Although traditional risk factors affect women just like men, other factors may play a bigger role in the development of heart disease in women, including: • A combination of fat around the abdomen, high blood sugar and high triglycerides (Metabolic Syndrome) • Stress • Depression • Smoking • Low levels of estrogen after menopause These risk factors are more subtle than traditional risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity. Consequently, women tend to seek or get medical help after much heart damage has been done.

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10 NOVEMBER 2012 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

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WRITINGS FROM THE

CLERGY

RABBI DAVID WILENSKY

Congregation Sons of Israel

Year after year, following the moving experience of the Jewish High Holidays, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah, we find ourselves amidst our contemporary society’s preparations for the very next “holiday,” that of Halloween. The contrast is stark. The uplifting, meaningful and breathtaking messages of our High Holiday period collide in seemingly irreconcilable fashion with the chilling and intimidating messages

Halloween versus Purim presented by the modernday commemoration of All Hallow’s Eve. Ghosts, skeletons, graves and goblins are used to re-create the Irish superstitious endof-summer celebration during which the dead were believed to take the form of spirits and occupy the bodies of the living.

Witches, jack-o-lanterns and skulls juxtaposed with the shofar and the apple dipped in honey create a clash of values that we as Jews see as irreconcilable.

There are those who believe this comparison to be unfair. Were Halloween to fall out immediately following the Jewish holiday of Purim, the holiday in which Jews themselves dress up in costumes and engage in levity, we could see great commonality between Jewish and secular holidays.

Yet, upon reflection, Purim serves as a greater contrast to Halloween than even the Jewish High Holidays.

Purim celebrates the triumph of the Jewish people in the face of eradication. In stunning fashion, Mordechai and Esther, through prayer and repentance, led the

Jewish people to victory over Haman, paving the way for ongoing Jewish existence.

As opposed to Halloween’s fascination with death, Purim, then, celebrates the preservation of life -- the life of individual Jews as well as the life of a nation in its entirety. Perhaps no distinction other than life versus death needs to be drawn, yet other differences are telling as well.

On Purim, children (and adults) spread goodness and cheer through the mitzvah of mishloach manot, the sending of gifts, to family, friends and neighbors. These tasty deliveries accentuate the next difference between Purim and Halloween. Whereas the famed Halloween pastime of trick-or-treating showcases children taking goods from others (or playing a trick on them), Purim showcases our children giving goods to others. Aside from celebrating life, Purim also highlights the importance of benevolence and camaraderie.

Finally, Purim’s mishloach manot must be delivered during the day, a time when safety and well-being

pervade the streets, whereas Halloween’s nighttime trickor-treating is performed at a time of foreboding, fright and worry, promoting the scary and endorsing the uncertain. And herein lies the critical difference between these two days.

Children walk away from Halloween with the subtle message that spirituality is scary. The notion that G-d

the other hand, imparts the notion that religion is life-giving, uplifting and encouraging, a lesson that children can more healthily incorporate and digest.

Halloween and Purim are in fact polar opposites, perhaps even more disparate than Halloween and Yom Kippur.

There is a much better

The notion that G-d communicates through ghosts, demons and the like is anathema to Judaism. communicates through ghosts, demons and the like is anathema to Judaism.

Children, who more naturally tend to have such thoughts enter their mind anyway, easily walk away from Halloween with an utterly warped view of religion lingering in their subconscious. Purim on

treat that we can offer our children on Halloween. If we were planning on going trick-or-treating, let’s take that time and spend it with the family at home -- a place of warmth, security, comfort and reassurance, the types of ideals exemplified by our own Jewish holidays, whichever they may be.

Barrack Hebrew Academy Announces Tuition Signature Grants for eligible students for the 2013-2014 academic year There’s Never Been a Better Time to be at Barrack!

Through the generosity of the Barrack Family Foundation more families can now afford a stellar Barrack education.

Barrack Tuition Signature grants will be awarded for the 2013-2014 year to eligible students who fit one of the following categories: • Legacy – for students who are children of Akiba-Barrack alumni or siblings of current students • Jewish Summer Camp – for students who attend an affiliated Jewish summer camp • New to Day School – for students who are entering the Jewish Day School community • Rabbi Scholars – for students active in their synagogue community Each minimum grant award for eligible students is $3,600 per year and will be locked in and follow your student as long as he or she is enrolled at Barrack. Grant amounts may be increased to up to 50% of tuition based on family’s adjusted gross income.

We want you as family!

Limited grants available.

Applications due by January 15, 2013.

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For additional information and to see if you qualify, contact Jennifer Groen, Director of Admisson and Strategic Engagement: 610-922-2350 or jgroen@jbha.org ì

JACK M.

B ARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY FOR LEARNING • FOR LEADING • FOR LIFE

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272 S. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 • www.jbha.org

CAR SERVICE AVAILABLE FROM ALLENTOWN TO BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY

UPCOMING OPEN HOUSES: Tuesday, October 30 - 9am-Noon • Thursday, November 15 - 9am-Noon HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2012 11

Camels carry weight throughout the ages

By Alan Raisman Special to HAKOL Before I traveled to Israel with Birthright in 2009, I never imagined I would be able to ride a camel in the desert.

Growing up, I saw camels on television, in movies and in shows like “A Rugrats Passover” and “The Prince of Egypt.” More recently, I saw “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” onstage. As that show hints, camels play an important role in the Torah, specifically in parshat Chaya Sarai (life of Sarah).

In the Torah portion, Abraham sent his servant on a mission.

The servant took ten of Abraham’s camels and went off to find a wife for Isaac. To find a suitable wife, the servant looked for a woman who would not just offer water for him after his long journey, but for his camels as well. The servant acknowledges the importance of the camel as a means of transportation and its need to stay hydrated. Rebecca comes to the well and offers water for the servant and for all ten of his camels, too.

While camels may seem like an animal you may never encounter without traveling to the Middle East, you can learn more about these amazing animals right here in the Lehigh Valley. Located in Schnecksville, off of Route 309, the Lehigh Valley Zoo is home to over 275 animals representing 70 species, including two dromedary camels, which can go without water for up to ten months.

So, before you travel to the Middle East and ride a camel in the desert, visit the Lehigh Valley Zoo this winter and watch camels as they walk through, not sand, but snow.

Alan Raisman is the Development and Marketing Coordinator for the Lehigh Valley Zoo. The Zoo is open all year, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from November to March and until 4 p.m. starting in April.

12 NOVEMBER 2012 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

‘The lions showed God’s compassion’

Animals as characters in Jewish stories

By Josh Goldin Teen correspondent There are many Jewish stories, including those of Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, and the parrot that was accepted by a Jewish family that offer lessons about loyalty to God, the bond between people and animals, and God’s compassion for his creatures.

For instance, when the snake persuades Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, God shows compassion by sparing not only Adam’s and Eve’s life, but also that of the snake.

God also shows compassion for his creatures in the story of Noah’s Ark. During the time of Noah, people were misbehaving. The Torah tells us that, as a result, God creates a flood as punishment for their behavior. However, God spares

Noah, his wife and sons, and the animals by having Noah create the ark. After the flood, Noah sends a dove to find dry land, with the bird coming to symbolize peace.

When Noah finally gets on dry land with the animals, the population begins to grow. However, people again begin to misbehave and that is the time when God realized there would always be chaos among humans.

God realized he needed to love them no matter how they acted, which shows God’s amazing compassion for all creatures.

We see this compassion again in the story of Daniel and the lions. In the story, Daniel’s loyalty to God saved him from a situation in which he was doomed to die.

King Darius demanded that his subjects be loyal to him, not to others so that no one was allowed to pray to God. When Darius discovered that Daniel was praying to God, he became furious, sending Daniel to the lions’ den. However, when Darius realized that Daniel was still alive after being with the lions, he decided to get rid of the law about not praying to God. The story’s lesson is that if one continues to believe in God, God shows complete compassion as he did when he protected Daniel from the lions.

In addition, the lions showed God’s compassion because they did not attack Daniel. In fact, the lions showed Darius God’s compassion because they did not kill Daniel.

Finally, in “The Parrot” by Isaac Beshevis Singer, the parrot shows the idea that God loves all his loyal creatures. Upon seeing the parrot in the cold winter, God guided it to the Jewish family to save the parrot and to bring happiness to the family’s life. The bird becomes almost like one of the family members since it learns the Jewish songs and celebrates the Jewish religion along with the family.

In all of the stories, the reader realizes that God shows compassion to all his creatures, especially those who believe in and show loyalty to God.

Vegetarians find biblical basis

By Monica Friess Special to HAKOL The benefits of a vegetarian diet have long been touted: It’s lower in total fat, so there’s less of a tendency toward obesity; a diet rich in whole grains and leafy greens is also higher in fiber, which is good for lowering cholesterol; and a vegetarian diet has been associated with a lower risk for cancer, stroke, heart disease and diabetes.

There’s another benefit you may not have heard about. In his book “The Jewish Vegetarian Tradition,” author Joe Green concludes that vegetarians are the pioneers heralding the Messianic era -- that their lifestyle will make the coming of the Messiah more likely. While this idea is at the extreme of Jewish belief, there is strong support for a vegetarian diet as a tenet of Judaism.

The diet’s strongest proponent is undoubtedly Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook, the first chief rabbi of pre-state Israel and a beloved spiritual leader of the early 20th century. He believed that the eating of flesh was to be only a temporary concession. As he put it, we are told early in the book of Genesis to eat of every tree and of every green herb in the field. It is not until chapter nine -- after the flood -- that we are permitted to eat meat.

Kook explained that because mankind had sunk to an absolute spiritual low, G-d gave people permission to eat food as a “transitional tax” -- a way for people to acquire an “elevated image of themselves” as superior to animals. Eventually,

Kook taught, a vegetarian diet would return.

Kook taught that the laws of kashrut actually promote vegetarianism. The restrictions and dictates of meat preparation and consumption cause us to continually think about what we’re doing. It is not something to be taken for granted. In the kosher slaughtering of an animal, we are required to do all we can to minimize the animal’s suffering. This, Kook said, increases the reverence for life that will hopefully lead us to resume our vegetarian ways.

Rabbi Arthur Green, Ph.D., of Brandeis University, writes, “We have a long tradition of abhorring violence. Cruelty to animals has long been forbidden by Jewish law and sensibilities.”

He mentions the tradition of shooing a mother bird away from the nest before taking her eggs and the prohibition of slaughtering a mother and her calf on the same day.

“The very next step beyond these prohibitions,” Green says, “is a commitment to a vegetarian way of living.”

Kook cites Isaiah 11:6-9 as basis for vegetarianism in the

Messianic age: “And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, And the leopard shall lie down with the kid … And the lion shall eat straw like the ox ... They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain.”

Rabbi Green frames a return to vegetarianism as, among other things, a response to the horrors of the Holocaust.

He writes, “Some of us feel our abhorrence of violence and bloodshed growing so strong that it reaches even beyond the bor-

ders of the human and into the animal kingdom.”

Green says that, as a people, we have always shunned the killing of animals for sport or pleasure, concluding, “A vegetarian Judaism would be more whole in its ability to embrace the presence of G-d in all of Creation.”

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Jewish farms cultivate deeper connections

By Paul Foer Jewish News Service

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Perform a mitzvah this holiday season and deliver Meals on Wheels to those in need.

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On a recent autumn day, Nadav Slovin was cultivating the fields of potatoes and other crops in the rural Litchfield Hills of northwestern Connecticut. As he moved between the rows, he could have been mistaken for an Amish farmer, especially with his reddish beard and straw hat. Then again, maybe he looked more heimish than Amish, especially when you notice the tzitzit protruding from his clothes and the yarmulke beneath his hat.

The 22-year-old Slovin, raised in a Conservative Jewish home in Worcester, Mass., is among a new breed of Jewish youth learning farming skills -- as well as Jewish sensibilities and teachings -- as a fellow with the Adamah Farm, a unit of the Isabella Freedman Center.

After collecting eggs nearby, Rachel Stern said, “My decision to attend Adamah came out of my personal journey with religion and a craving to experience life in Jewish community. While I was there, my most exciting discovery was the incredible meaning to be found in an intentional community that rests upon a spiritual foundation.”

Slovin, who arrived at Adamah with a stronger Jewish background

than Stern, was searching for a deeper relationship with what he calls “my source, myself and my surroundings.”

But the summer at Adamah “was by no means Pleasantville,” Slovin said.

“Conflict grew as profusely as the flowers of a cucumber plant,” he said. “Yet out of the flowers grew cucumbers, glorious relationships and learning … [and] Ultimately, learning how to be a more responsible, caring, humble person is learning how to be a better Jew. Similar to Adamah’s mission, the Pearlstone Center farm near Baltimore says that it “embodies and inspires vibrant, healthy and sustainable living through experiential education grounded in Judaism, agriculture and ecology.”

Pearlstone is not quite as rural and is more “upscale” than Adamah, but among its staff are graduates of the older and more established Adamah program.

And what could be more Jewish than Jewish food, especially pickles?

At the Adamah and Pearlstone farms, growing, harvesting and enjoying pickles, vegetables and cheese with other Jews in an environmental, educational and spiritual setting makes those activities even more heimish.

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November 4 | 7 pm Fowler Blast Furnace Room ArtsQuest center at steelstacks $20 Live from NY’s 92nd Street Y™, now in its ninth year, uses satellite technology to simultaneously broadcast 92Y’s renowned educational and cultural programming to community organizations across America.

Tony Lucca

with special guest Matt Duke

as seen on “The Voice”

Programming Partner: Jewish Community Center of Allentown Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks 101 Founders Way | Bethlehem, PA FRee to ArtsQuest Members | $9.50 ($7.50 student & senior) $7.50 for Jcc members (must present Jperks card)

Anna Quindlen with Jodi Kantor November 26 | 8 pm Jon Meacham: On Jefferson December 9 | 7:30 pm God is One: Moses, Jesus, Muhammad December 16 | 8:15 pm

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November 7 | 7:30 pm Musikfest café ArtsQuest center at steelstacks $18 | $15

LOVE IS GOOD An Evening with Christine Andreas with Martin Silvestri at the piano

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December 6 | 7 pm Fowler Blast Furnace Room ArtsQuest center at steelstacks $20

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2012 15

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Berman Center enlightens, entertains, excites An interview with Ruth Knafo Setton, director of the Center

By Jennifer Lader Editor, HAKOL Q. What is the Berman Center?

Philip and Muriel Berman established the Berman Center in 1984 to promote Jewish studies.

We offer programs throughout the school year at Lehigh University, and often bring in the community. The programming is academic and cultural as well as educational in the broadest sense. My goal is to continue to make the Center the place to go for meaningful, enlightening, entertaining programming about a wide range of Jewish interests.

Q. How do Jewish studies differ from Judaic studies, which focus on beliefs?

Our focus is on the academic exploration of Jewish identity through history, culture, religion, literature, art and archaeology. Jewish studies cannot be contained within a single discipline the way Jews cannot be categorized within a single definition. Jewish studies focus on how Jews express their Jewishness. We’ve invited music groups, artists, poet laureates and Academy award-winning filmmakers as well as world-

16 NOVEMBER 2012 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

renowned scholars to campus. In addition we’ve held conferences and published books.

Q. The theme for this school year’s programs is Food for Thought. What’s cooking?

Food opens doors and windows into what it means to be a Jew. I’m a Sephardic Jew, and last December, was invited to give a talk on “The Importance of Cinnamon in Sephardic Literature,” as part of a panel with two important speakers, Ted Merwin and Joan Nathan.

That sparked the idea for a semester’s programming that offers metaphorical as well as literal food. For example, Ted spoke at Lehigh about the Jewish deli. For that program we ordered cookies from Zabar’s and served bagels.

Q. Joan Nathan accepted your invitation to be here, too. What are you planning for her November 13 visit?

We’ll have a book signing and a reception during which we will offer hors d’oeuvre chosen from her latest book, “Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous.” I’ve got the Lehigh caterers working on them.

Q. What creative touch are you adding

PHOTO: JOSEPH SETTON

FREE VISION SCREENINGS

Award-winning cookbook author Joan Nathan will give a lecture sponsored by the Philip and Muriel Berman Center for Jewish Studies at Lehigh University on Tuesday, November 13, at 4:15 p.m. in Sinclair Auditorium. Nathan will speak about her travels across France while researching her latest cookbook, “Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous.”

To find the best ingredients, Nathan travels well-worn lanes – they may be in Europe, Israel or America -- but always her work involves stirring the memories of those whom she meets. Recipes lie in wait there, but so do the family memories that came with them, hiding themselves in the minds of those who share recipes or who open Nathan’s cookbooks and draw out through the scent and the feel of the foods a kitchen of long ago. And that’s the idea.

“People are going back,” Nathan said in a recent telephone interview, “thinking about the way food was, but making [the recipes] easier.”

Even making a recipe easier could be seen as a bold step, but Nathan does so with care, sometimes eschewing modernity.

Take bagels: “They were never what they are today,” Nathan said. “They were thinner, smaller, crunchier. Kugel was never so sweet [and neither was] challah. Pickles were not made with vinegar.

Then there’s sauerkraut, which is so easy. Chicken was less salty.”

Nathan knows because she’s spent many years interviewing Jewish octo- and nonagenarians, collecting their family recipes while this is still possible. She’s published numerous cookbooks and writes for The New York Times, Hadassah Magazine and Tablet. The recipes she shares are so old that they seem almost … new.

“I love getting old, forgotten recipes,” she said.

“There’s an Iraqi beef dish with beets; it’s sweet and sour. I wrote about it in the Times. It’s so wonderful and so modern.”

There is a unique story with every recipe, but what all of Nathan’s recipes share is the purity of their ingredients. Nathan, who keeps a garden on Martha’s Vineyard, asked, “Is there anything like digging in the dirt for potatoes? Or plucking tomatoes? It’s such joy … You think differently [about the food]. What do I have in my garden?

And go from there.

“One time, I found rhubarb and chard and made a soup,” she said. Liking the results, she went on to serve the dish cold with sour cream and tomato at a big fundraiser.

That’s not to say Nathan’s a vegetarian, but rather, in favor of traditional foods. “Anything made without processed ingredients can’t be bad,” she said. “It’s the processing that [causes the problems].”

Nathan is quite aware that processing can

to the Berman Center as its director?

I’ve tried to add some spark, some excitement with an interesting menu to inspire people, to make them think. I want to wake up their minds.

Ruth Knafo Setton is the author of the critically acclaimed novel, “The Road to Fez,” and of the recently completed “Midnight Siren”, the first book in a trilogy. She is the director of the Berman Center for Jewish Studies at Lehigh University, where she teaches courses in Jewish literature and creative writing. She is presently working on the second novel in the “Siren” trilogy.

cipe l results drive down the price and thereby tempt those who are feeding more mouths than their budget can comfortably handle.

“In very religious families with a lot of kids, it’s hard to feed everyone. More fresh [food] is needed.

That’s the next place to make inroads. It’s a matter of re-educating. [For example,] vegetables are more expensive when they’re covered [in plastic].”

Making recipes from scratch can be cheaper but take more time. As to that, Nathan said, “If it’s a big family, there are a lot of people who can help.”

Whether the budget is big or small, simplifying goes a long way toward a tasty and healthful meal.

“You don’t have to have a kugel,” Nathan said.

“You don’t have to put out all pareve desserts. You can serve fresh fruit, dark chocolate, fruit sorbet.

What’s wrong with that?”

Nathan particularly enjoys speaking at universities because, she said, “I can relate to students, culture, history and food.”

Drawing on “Joan Nathan’s Jewish Holiday Cookbook,” she might share a flavorful account of how and why geese were a popular Jewish food. It turns out that even though the cost to raise a goose is more per pound than for chicken, every part of the goose could be used, even the grieben, or skin that has been deep-fried.

As more people become aware of the value of traditional foods, the number of people drawn to Nathan’s message grows. As she said, “We’re moving in a good direction.”

Workshop examines comedy, law in Jewish studies

Professor Miron speaks with students and faculty at Lehigh University A workshop at Lehigh University on Law and Comedy in Jewish Studies featured graduate student papers on comedy and humor in Jewish literature, but delivered a somber punch line.

The workshop’s organizers, Nitzan Lebovic and Ruth Setton, are both part of the Berman Center for Jewish Studies, which they called “the right place for the reconsideration of boundaries and the future of Jewish studies as a whole.” The Center, they said, has become known in the academic world as an innovative place for contemporary Jewish thinking.

Adi Gordon, assistant professor of Jewish history at Cincinnati University, and Dan Miron, Kaye Professor of Hebrew literature at Columbia University,

opened and concluded the day with key note speeches on the current status of Jewish studies. By way of analogy, Gordon described his research on Arnold Zweig, a popular German Jew who wrote on radical political topics from the 1920s to 50s. After years spent at the edges of society, Zweig moved toward conformity and became the president of The Academy of Arts in East Germany during the early 1950s.

Miron held up the flourishing world of Yiddish creation as a model of pluralism and openness and contrasted it to what he called the decline of Jewish culture in the present. This decline, he said, is a byproduct of growing nationalist tendencies that limit knowledge to a certain territory

and of nationalist ideology in Israel.

Miron, who is one of the bestknown experts in the world on Hebrew literature and Jewish culture, said that Jewish literature has sunk during the past few decades, in particular, to a state of decline and crisis. The crisis can be detected, he said, when one examines the declining quality and quantity of Jewish encyclopedias.

He said that this decline reflects the gradual disappearance of knowledge and the victory of narrow ideology over openness and education.

The solution must be found, Miron said, in opening up to new scholarly horizons and through inclusion and openness, rather than exclusion and closing down.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2012 17

18 NOVEMBER 2012 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2012 19

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Writer makes more than lemonade

By Aaron Berger Special to HAKOL Ellen Wruble Greenberg of Bethlehem has recently written a series of children’s books based on her pet cat, Spencer. Greenberg, who is a member of Congregation Brith Sholom, had surgery for a brain tumor in spring 2010. Since then, she has followed the mantra, “When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.” The creative pursuit of writing is her lemonade.

Her first book, “Inspector Spencer Solves the Curious Case of Danger Mouse” is about a cat detective, Inspector Spencer, and his animal friends catching a thief. Her other books are “Inspector Spencer Solves the Case of the Stolen Piano” and “Inspector Spencer and the Case of the Dog Park.” The animal characters have fun names like Von Squiggly (a rhinoceros) and Manny Lowenstein (a hippopotamus). In the end, Inspector Spencer always comes to the rescue.

“Writing is fun and cathartic for me. It is a creative outlet,” she said. Prior to her surgery, Greenberg was a reading specialist and public school teacher for the second grade. While teaching, she wrote children’s plays and the students acted them out.

Greenberg’s mom, Sandy Wruble said, “I

ABOVE, Ellen Wruble Greenberg holding two of her children's books (“Danger Mouse” and “Stolen Piano”) LEFT, One of the drawings of Inspector Spencer from the third grader at Lehigh Valley Charter School, also a description of her book from Xlibris, the publisher.

find it ironic Ellen was a reading specialist and now a writer. I am so proud of her.”

Ellen published the books herself. One of the challenges was receiving too many responses from the companies she and her mother had contacted. “Once you contact them, they will not leave you alone. We chose Xlibris because they had the best offer and we knew someone who had used their services,” Sandy said.

The “Danger Mouse” story was recently read to a group of third graders at Lehigh Valley Charter School. As a result, Greenberg received a number of decorated thank you notes from the students. They contained compliments about the book and drawings of the characters.

“I give your book two thumbs up,” said one student.

“When I get older I want to write a book,” said another.

Greenberg wrote a letter back thanking the students. “These make writing truly worth it and warm my heart; I hope my books will continue to help kids think creatively,” said Greenberg.

Greenberg dedicated her first book to her tutor, Ann Goldberg. Goldberg is a retired reading specialist and helps Greenberg edit the stories.

“I am thankful to have Ann helping me,” she said. She also appreciates her books’ illustrator, artist Sarah Magner.

These books would make a wonderful Chanukah present for children according to Greenberg and her mother, Sandy. The books are available from Greenberg directly, at 610865-2474, or online.

Greenberg’s teaching background showed as she summed up her hope for her readers, as well as the tagline she includes with her autograph: “Keep reading.”

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Finding the perfect word: Author Sandra V. Feder speaks about writing, technology and the power of words

The PJ Library Family of the Month:

THE SILVER’S

Interview by Jennifer Lader Editor, HAKOL

Daisy likes making up words and so do lots of children.

Q. Some people may not know about your connection to the Lehigh Valley. Would you explain?

Q. On your website, you talk about the ‘power of words.’

Tell us more.

I lived in Allentown for seven years, from 1999 to 2006 because my husband, Daniel J. Feder, was rabbi at Keneseth Israel. My family loved our time in the Lehigh Valley. We often think fondly of all our friends there, but my husband is the senior rabbi at Peninsula Temple Sholom in the San Francisco Bay Area where we both grew up. Moving back to this area -where we still have a lot of family -- has been a nice homecoming for us.

We use words when we are happy and when we are sad, to express our thanks and to help another person.

For words in a Jewish context, there’s a very good book called “Words that Hurt, Words that Heal,” by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin.

There is a lot in our tradition, and really in all religious traditions, about how we use words.

Q. You have a book out, “Daisy’s Perfect Word,” and two more on the horizon. How did you get started writing for children?

While I was at Stanford in California, I had the pleasure of working at the Stanford Daily and then as a news clerk for The New York Times [bureau] in Washington, D.C., and I worked for a variety of other papers in California.

While [living in Allentown], I wrote a column on parenting for The Morning Call, and Ruth Radin [of KI] invited me to join a writer’s group called Inkweavers. I loved the idea of writing for children and this was like a master class. It was the impetus for me to give it a go, so I wrote “Daisy’s Perfect Word,” which I originally envisioned as a picture book.

My editor at Kids Can Press said, “We think it wants to be a chapter book.” So, taking her suggestion, I expanded it into a fun and light chapter book for ages 7 to 10. It’s about a child who loves words, about how we think about words and how we teach that to our children.

It’s so fun for me to see how children react to Daisy. They love playing with language.

When I ask children about their perfect word, without missing a beat, they can name it.

They’ll often say they like it because it’s fun to say or goes with something else they like.

Q. What are some words that come to your mind when thinking about the presidential elections? Many adults and some children are paying attention to that right now.

One of the hardest things for teens and kids is that words like ‘fairness’ and ‘truth’ and ‘justice’ -- big words and concepts -- get tossed around. Candidates say, ‘I’m telling you the truth,’ but it’s hard to decipher.

Our family has really enjoyed receiving our monthly PJ Library books this year. Ethan and Jordan love the wonderful stories and beautiful illustrations. What a great way to discover and celebrate our Jewish heritage!

- REBECCA SILVER TO SIGN UP: To register your children age six months through eight years to receive free books, CDs and DVDs in the mail each month, visit www.pjlibrary.org.

CELEBRATE CHANUKAH with Barnes & Noble and PJ Library!

Q. What do you make of the proliferation of hurtful words, even obscene words, in public?

The proliferation of technology does a lot of things. One of them is to make things that were private no longer private. Who is overhearing the words we use? Words can cause hurt and harm. Words can cause happiness, beauty and feelings of joy.

Daisy delights in words; there are so many wonderful words. When we are able to use these words, it makes the non-wonderful words less appealing.

Sandra Feder will visit the Lehigh Valley in early December, with author visits to Parkway Manor Elementary and, on Nov. 29 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., to Moravian Bookshop in Bethlehem. Book two in the Daisy series “Daisy’s Defining Day” – about alliteration – is due out in March 2013.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2012

10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Barnes & Noble at The Promenade Shops

Hear stories of Chanukah from a mystery guest reader while enjoying a scavenger hunt, coloring table and dreidel making.

Shop at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide from November 18 – 20 or online at www.barnesandnoble.com from November 18 – 23 using the Book fair ID #10817963 and a percentage of sales will go to support the Jewish Community Center of Allentown and PJ Library.

For information, contact Brenda Finberg at bfinberg@lvjcc.org.

Please sign up at the JCC of Allentown front desk by Monday, November 12, 2012.

702 N. 22nd St., Allentown, PA 18104 610.435.3571 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.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2012 23

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For rescuers and survivor, a Thanksgiving to remember

By Hillel Kuttler Jewish Telegraphic Agency When Dahlia Jakutiene of Giedraicai, Lithuania, was diagnosed with a brain tumor just before Thanksgiving of last year, Cheryl Rosen offered to fly the woman she had never met to the United States for treatment.

“I was heartbroken when I heard she was sick,” said Rosen, who lives in Scarsdale, N.Y. “Of course we would have brought her here. Whatever was necessary.”

Jakutiene’s tumor proved benign, and she is recuperating nicely. She didn’t need to fly to New York for treatment, but coming through in an emergency is what family members do for one another, and here the matter was personal: Jakutiene’s grandmother, the late Leokadija Ruzgys, and the latter’s three children saved Rosen’s mother, Mira “Mary” Erlich, during the Holocaust.

On Nov. 23 of last year, at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, Erlich, then 82, got a good look at Ruzgys’ daughter, Egle Bimbirine, 83, and son, Aurimas Ruzgys, 81, for the first time since World War II ended.

On Thanksgiving night, with the dishes washed and the household’s 20-somethings nearby, Bimbirine and Erlich relaxed in the dining room.

“I feel like we’re one family,” Bimbirine said, her daughter interpreting.

The two clans were reunited by the Jew-

ish Foundation for the Righteous, a New York-based organization that honors nonJews who rescued Jews during the Shoah.

Seventy years ago, Israel Katz, a bakery shop owner in Giedraicai, knocked at the window of Leokadija Ruzgys in Dudenai four miles away, seeking refuge. His son, Leibel, had been killed by schoolmates and Israel survived a mass execution. Ruzgys, a widow, had been Katz’s steady customer.

Her three children frequently had played with his daughter, Mira, while Ruzgys shopped or attended church.

Ruzgys hid the three Katzes, including Mira’s mother, Berta. Concerned over the family’s food supply and the consequences of harboring Jews, Ruzgys tried limiting their stay to three days. Meile, Egle and Aurimas wailed in support of the Katzes, and their mother relented.

When visitors came, the Katzes buried themselves in a narrow pit beneath the pantry, with one of the hosts replacing the floor and topping it with a bushel of potatoes.

The families dwelled together for three years until an informant blew their cover.

Leokadija Ruzgys and the Katzes were jailed, but bribes kept them alive. They were released at war’s end.

“It is a very special day,” Bimbirine said. “… I was so glad I met Mira and that she and I are still alive and can talk about the time we spent together.”

Another Reason To

GIVE THANKS

Easy three-ingredient recipes for Thanksgiving

BY SANDI TEPLITZ

HARVEST CELEBRATION

™

With leaf-shaped pineapple dipped in gourmet chocolate and CINNAMON CHOCOLATE APPLE WEDGES in a pumpkin keepsake ®

Make life a little sweeter.

™

SPICY TURKEY INGREDIENTS: 1 turkey 1 bottle of ginger ale, premium spiced 1 stick of pareve margarine DIRECTIONS: After fully defrosting the turkey in the refrigerator, remove and dispose of the innards.

Place turkey in large roasting pan and generously coat the turkey with the ginger ale.

Refrigerate overnight. When ready to cook, remove pan from refrigerator and baste with pareve margarine. Cook turkey as directed.

CRANBERRY STUFFING BALLS INGREDIENTS: 1 bag of stuffing mix 1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce Melted pareve margarine, to taste

DIRECTIONS: Set the oven to preheat at 350 degrees.

Combine the bag of stuffing mix and whole berry cranberry sauce. After the ingredients are fully combined, roll ingredients into balls about the size of a golf ball. Place these on to a pre-greased cookie sheet and bake in oven until exterior is a crisp golden brown. Occasionally, baste with melted pareve margarine.

PARSNIPS IN CIDER INGREDIENTS: 1 bag of parsnips 1 bottle of apple cider DIRECTIONS: Peel parsnips and cut into one-inch pieces.

Parboil parsnips in a medium to large pot.

After draining, place parsnips back in to the pot and cover with apple cider. Bring to a boil and cook for five minutes, until tender.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2012 25

Ben Gurion Society launch Continues from page 3

Allentown’s inner city schools.

YAD develops leaders in the community through its Next Dor program.

There are other benefits, too.

As Stephanie Glacken, a stayat-home mom in Allentown said, “My husband and I really enjoy that members of YAD have children that are the same ages as our children [and that we] can give back, contribute and help the community.” Dr. Matthew Saltz said he even met his wife at a YAD event in Arizona nine years ago.

Having Ben Gurion Society, with its high standards of giving, active in the Lehigh Valley speaks well of the commitment and values of the community, and maany in YAD eagerly anticipate the BGS launch.

Again, Zachary Cohen: “The programming teaches you so many ways to help contribute to the Federation’s mission. It’s opened my eyes to the vast opportunities available.”

For more information about the Ben Gurion Society launch event, see ad this page. To find out more about upcoming YAD events, like us on Facebook at Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley or visit the JFLV website at www. jewishlehighvalley.org.

How does she do it?

An interview with Devorah Halperin

By Angela Goldstein Special to HAKOL Now that the High Holidays are over, most of us have fallen back into our comfortable daily routines –work, school, kids, rinse and repeat. Personally, I am rather happy that the next holiday, Chanukah isn’t for another month or so because it gives me some time to prepare!

But, what if preparations meant several guests at a time staying at your home, preparing meals for 50 people at a time, and mothering five children while you’re doing it all? I asked those questions and more when I sat down with Devorah Halperin at Chabad of the Lehigh Valley to get some insight into how she was able to manage the High Holidays while keeping it all in perspective.

Is it true that during the three and a half weeks that spanned the High Holidays, you prepared 22 Shabboslike meals for 25 to 150 people at a time?

Yes. I really enjoy the opportunities that the holidays provide to connect with people. During the year,

with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s hard to find time to just sit and enjoy a meal with good friends.

How do you manage to pull it all together?

I try to keep things simple, yet elegant. In other words, the holidays are a great time to try maybe one new recipe –not six. Also, I tend to be very organized; even throughout the year, I start my Shabbos prep on Wednesday evening.

It’s also nice that my children are now at an age where they enjoy helping.

How are you able to separate the domestic from the spiritual?

I feel it’s important to greet all of our guests and make everyone feel welcome. I also oversee all of the children’s programming during holiday and Shabbos services.

However, I still take time to be involved in the prayer services for my own personal spiritual development. It helps me to stay connected.

What are some things that stood out to you during this year’s High Holiday services?

Every year is special in its own way, but this year there were a few memorable experiences. On Rosh Hashanah, it was very moving to see nearly 50 children come

up to the front of the Shul to hear the rabbi blow the Shofar; during Sukkot, we had a beautiful sukkah party at our home with 50 guests; and on Simchat Torah we had so many people from our community come together to celebrate. The adults danced, sang, and embraced while the children made edible Torahs as the Hakafot were recited.

We even ended up dancing outside under the stars. You can’t always reach that type of happiness and joy in a formal setting.

Aside from your children’s programming, do you also teach adult classes?

Yes, I teach a women’s Torah

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class that puts a modern spin on Torah learning. No matter what your prior knowledge, I feel that everyone can take something from the lesson material. I also organize other women’s programs throughout the year such as challah baking, yoga, and more.

Do you have any advice for other women with busy schedules?

Take some time for yourself!

Even though I, too, struggle with this concept, it is vitally important in order to keep you grounded and rejuvenated. For me, it’s a good gym workout and spending quality time with my family.

Family helps dogs in need of homes

Mina Fisher with a few of the family’s foster spaniels

By Kathleen Mory Interim JFLV Marketing Associate Fran and Jay Fisher of Bethlehem have raised their family as dog lovers. Daughter Mina even made a bat mitzvah project of out of the care they offer rescued dogs. In her bat mitzvah speech, Mina mentions Jack, a foster dog that had sores on his leg and had to be nursed back to health, which the family did.

Since June 2006, their family has been fostering dogs through the Mid-Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue (MAESSR). MAESSR takes English springer spaniels from all backgrounds, whether the dogs are undersocialized, abused or just in need of a good home. The organization has over 500 volunteers in the mid-Atlantic region.

In the seven years that the Fisher family has been participating in the fostering program, they have had approximately 50 English springer spaniels grace their home. Currently, their family is fostering Jasper, an English springer spaniel from Philadelphia, which the Fishers received as a young 9-monthold.

Their journey of fostering first began by the simple snap of a picture. The family was asked to take a picture of one of the rescue dogs for MAESSR. Fran commented that the puppy was adorable and that she wished that she could take her. To her

surprise and excitement, the volunteer said, “You can.”

The rest, as they say, is history.

Fran beams when talking about MAESSR. “It’s a family project,” she said. “Everybody participates and we get to do something that makes our hearts smile.”

Mina takes an active part in the family’s involvement with MAESSR. “She likes saving the dogs,” Fran said. “It’s a good experience for both the children [Mina has an older sister named Lauren] and the dogs like to have them around. It helps the dogs adjust better when they’re placed with a family.”

One of the fostered dogs, Charlie, spent five months at the Fisher home before being permanently placed.

He was an extremely undersocialized dog that had been rescued from a farm in Reading. The owner had died and the had been neglected. By providing their new family member with attention, love and plenty of human contact, the Fishers were able to help Charlie grow into a well-adjusted and friendly dog that, they said, anyone would be lucky to have in their home. In addition to welcoming dogs into their home, the Fisher family also helps by working at local MAESSR events. This often entails standing at booths with dogs that are eager to go to families and handing out information about the organization.

And Jack? He was adopted by an elderly woman who loves him and they are very happy together.

More information about the Mid-Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue is available at www.maessr.org.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2012 27

Shakespeare, Venice and the Jews

Muhlenberg professor continues seminar series

By Rachel Kennett Special to HAKOL Dr. Thomas Cartelli, professor of English at Muhlenberg College, will deliver a lecture for Muhlenberg’s seminar series, “Jews, Money, and Capitalism.” Entitled “Who is the Real Merchant of Venice?

Shakespeare’s Mystery Man of the Rialto,” this speech and slide presentation will take place on

Wednesday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Muhlenberg College Hillel in Allentown.

Cartelli’s talk will address and amend certain ideas about “The Merchant of Venice” and anti-Semitism, in addition to revealing “the extent to which [the play is] really supposed to be about Shylock, the Jew, as opposed to Antonio, the merchant.” Although Antonio is the character that the audience is most exposed to, Shylock, who is subordinate to Antonio, “steals the show.”

“Many people have heard about, seen or read ‘The Merchant of Venice,’” said Cartelli. However, those familiar with the play have not, most likely, thought about it with intensity. Cartelli hopes to bring about certain clarifications regarding the piece of literature and prompt the attendees to “reconsider and rethink the received ideas on the given subject matter.” As a scholar,

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Cartelli wants to share his knowledge and research.

This presentation, which will feature slides, is designed to be listener-friendly. Cartelli stated, “I think that the Jewish community here is an educated one … [community members] may have their own ideas about ‘The Merchant of Venice,’ but people tend to give Shakespeare the benefit of the doubt, and I will help them do that.”

According to Cartelli, everyone knows about Shakespeare and the negative stereotypes associated with the playwright.

As a Shakespearean scholar, Cartelli hopes to compel others to correct these stereotypes so that the information concerning Shakespeare can “travel differently.”

Jewish studies do not only include the materials produced

by Jews over the course of time.

Rather, Cartelli recognizes that Jewish studies also seek to analyze the representation of Jews formed by non-Jews. “The Merchant of Venice” does not plainly illustrate a negative, vindictive portrayal of the Jew, as expressed by Cartelli. Thus, it is necessary to approach this work “in a capacious and fuller manner.”

Cartelli is excited to participate in this new program.

Because of growing up in a Jewish neighborhood, having Jewish friends and marrying a Jew, Cartelli has been immersed in the Jewish culture for a long time. The seminar series represents a means to bring

GIVE A MITZVAH, DO A MITZVAH

Grandpop inspires bat mitzvah Jordyn Wiener, a seventh grader at Springhouse Middle School, will become a Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth El on November 3, 2012.

As a first grandchild, Jordyn and her grandfather, Fred Wiener, always had a special bond. When Grandpop passed away from cancer in late 2010, Jordyn gave a heartfelt eulogy at the memorial service.

“Everyone attending was incredibly moved,” said Deb Weiner, Jordyn’s mom.

Jordyn has many interests and abilities; she likes to ski and to play tennis. She loves creative writing and being with her friends. But one of Jordyn’s hobbies is making bracelets.

“I watched some videos about bracelet stitches and I got strings and tried it,” she said. “At the

time, it wasn’t for any reason; I just wanted to try it.”

Then Jordyn had an idea. “I decided to make some and sell them for my mitzvah project,” she said.

Jordyn emailed some friends and cousins and told them about her project and they started making bracelets, too. Jordyn is now making and selling the bracelets to raise money for the American Cancer Society in honor of her grandfather. She is also asking for donations to the American Cancer Society.

“Grandpop used to say, ‘I’m not sure I will be here for the wedding, all I want is to see her as a bat mitzvah’” Deb recalled.

“He said this to her from the moment she was born. It would have meant so much for him to be here.”

The project is already a huge success. Jordyn and her parents sent an email to very close family and friends explaining the project. The family had set a goal of $360 and were much moved by the overwhelming response, already surpassing $900.

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his Jewish experiences into account, as well as to partake in the Jewish studies program at Muhlenberg College.

This presentation, as well as Dr. Jessica Cooperman’s screening and discussion of the classic Yiddish film, “Uncle Moses,” (Tuesday, November 27 at 7 p.m. at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem) is free and open to the public. The series is sponsored jointly by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, the Jewish Studies Program and the Religious Studies Departments of Muhlenberg College and is made possible by a grant from the Legacy Heritage Jewish Studies Project and the Association for Jewish Studies.

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“Grandpop would be incredibly proud,” Deb said.

Those who wish to make a donation may visit www. main.ascevents.org and type in Jordyn Wiener to find her donation page. Those who wish to purchase bracelets can email Jordyn at bracelets4benefit@ gmail.com.

Dave Wiener, Jordyn’s dad, is amazed by his daughter.

“She has taken her mitzvah project and run with it. She is the most hardworking and dedicated person I know. She has always been like that.

She takes initiative and goes beyond expectations. When she gave the eulogy at her grandfather’s funeral, I told her this would be the hardest thing she would have to do; [that] if she can do this, everything else will seem easy.

People were blown away by her speech and [her] poise. I knew right then she could face any obstacle and overcome it.

Deb and I are extremely proud of her!”

In addition to her mitzvah project, Jordyn has made her first adult gift of tzedakah to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

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.

Lone Soldier writes home Editor’s note: Sami Meir-Levi graduated from high school in the Lehigh Valley in the spring of 2012, then headed for Israel. She writes to us each month of her experiences as a lone soldier -- an Israeli soldier without family living in Israel.

Shalom Hakol Readers, Living on a kibbutz, I’ve realized many things regarding people, culture and society. Some of what I’ve learned happens through experiences like the recent annual tradition in the kibbutz I’m living on, Maoz Haim. It’s a competition called Machaneh Irgun (Organization Camp).

The entire kibbutz split up into three teams and we built our own camps. It reminded me of JCC camp during Maccabi. There was a lot of cheering and there were side competitions, too.

It was fun to interact with all the “kibbutznikim” and work on these projects.

What made it even more fun was that our conversations were in “Hebrenglish,” half Hebrew and half English. Luckily, we were able to complete the projects and they looked fantastic.

Now, when people say, “in a kibbutz everyone knows everything,” they aren’t kidding. I can hardly believe how fast things get around. For example, some of my friends in my garin (group that moved to Israel together) really like some of the kibbutz kids. If they get mad at each other or hug or did this or that, the next day people know about it.

My adopted family has asked me questions about specific people in my garin and I still don’t understand how they know so much. It can be good and bad, but either way it’s something I need to get used to.

One major difference from the U.S. that I’ve noticed is in the way people run their businesses.

If you want to buy something and the manager is having a conversation with another person, you’ll wait until they are done speaking and then pay for your items.

Another difference is lines. From going to the supermarket to getting a train or bus ticket, there’s no such thing as a line. The only organized places are usually for appointments

Each team built bunk beds for a competition. somewhere and that’s only because you have to take a number.

There are many aspects that I’ve enjoyed, such as how welcoming and friendly the people are.

Our host families always invite us for Shabbat dinner or lunch or to go on a family outing.

My family loves a sport called “orienteering.”

It deals with navigation and a lot of running on different types of terrain. I went with them once and it was a lot harder than I had expected -- but I can’t wait for next time.

Experiences like these make me feel at home and happy to be living here. I’m very excited to learn more about the culture and to get the most out of this experience.

Sami Meir-Levi The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and other Federations in North America fund the Lone Soldier program.

We invite you to learn about the academic excellence and rich heritage that is Moravian Academy. Beginning in Pre-K, we seek to build character by inspiring and supporting our students to reach their full potential and realize their goals for the future. Our graduates matriculate to a variety of top college and universities.

Attend one of our upcoming Admissions events!

For dates and times, visit our website or call 610-691-1600.

www.moravianacademy.org

Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University welcomes

Rabbi Gershom Sizomu spiritual leader of the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda Public lecture November 8th at 4:10 pm Lehigh University, University Center Room 303 Reception to follow Check our website for updates on Rabbi Sizomu’s visit, including a Guitar Clinic: www.lehigh.edu/~inhil Sponsors for this event include: Congregation Brith Shalom and the following offices at Lehigh University: Office of Academic Diversity and Inclusion Office of Advancement Africana Studies Department Berman Center for Jewish Studies

BBG BBG is off to a great new programming year! September and October were filled with exciting meetings and events that everyone enjoyed. Our first meeting was September 4; we all had a blast reconnecting with our chapter friends. At the following meetings, we decided that this year we are going to “Stand-Up” against domestic violence by working with the local organization, Turning Point.

This Stand-Up cause will be the cause we strive to support throughout this year. At our October sleepover, one of our fellow members, Sarah Holtz, ran an educational program informing us on the details of this cause and its main goals.

“The program opened my eyes to some of the hardships women face,” said Blair Krassen at the end of the night. We are excited to work with Turning Point. It’s an amazing cause!

To celebrate Rosh Hashanah, we attended a co-ed program with the AZAs called Apples to Apples to Apples.

This program was fantastic and we all had an amazing time!

First, we went apple picking at Strawberry Acres and all the apples we picked were donated to a local soup kitchen. Later in the night, we had a fun

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Ji-In Freiss, Naomi Pitkoff, Madeline LeFrock, Amy Miller, Rachel LeFrock

havdalah service and roasted marshmallows around the campfire. Overall, it was a great night of New Year celebration.

This year, Allentown is the lucky host of one of the biggest conventions for CRE BBYO: Tournies! October was filled with planning for this threeday regional convention taking place November 9 to the 11 at the Allentown JCC. Tournies is a convention that is run like a tournament. All chapters in the region compete in a variety of activities including basketball, dance, chess, debate and so much more! The theme for Tournies this year is Musicals, and each chapter represents a different musical. At one of our meetings, Allentown BBG voted to represent Legally Blonde!

Preparations for our Legally Blonde-themed dance, cheer and banner has really brought

out the creativity in Allentown BBG and, of course, the competitiveness. All of the girls are getting ready to dominate Tournies and show all those other chapters who is boss!

Now that we’re back in full swing, Allentown BBG is prepared to have the most exciting year yet!

Your Mazkirah, Hannah Kahn For more info on BBYO, please contact: President Dana Shustik at dana. shustik3@gmail.com, Hannah Kahn at allentownmazkirah@gmail.com, advisor Barbara Yudis at byudis@aol.com or Cori Rubel at car02982@ huskies.bloomu.edu or Regional Director Jeff Koch, jkoch@bbyo.org HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2012 29

Community Calendar To list an event in the Community Calendar, submit your information on our website, www.jewishlehighvalley.org, under the “Upcoming Events” menu.

ic clutter and dispose of it in accordance with EPA regulations. This event is free and open to the community. For more information, contact Scott Levin at 610-258-5343 or president@bnaiabraham.org.

All events listed in the Community Calendar are open to the public and free of charge, unless otherwise noted. Programs listed in HAKOL are provided as a service to the community. They do not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. The JFLV reserves the right to accept, reject or modify listings.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Vacation Dayz: Stars on the Move

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1 Temple Beth El Healing Service

7 p.m., Temple Beth El. We will be creating a safe space to bring our pain, our questions and our yearning. This one-hour service will be held in the Hammel Family Chapel. The service will include music, silent meditation, traditional prayers and Torah study. The entire community is invited to participate.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1 Election 2012: Time for a Change?

7:30 p.m., Congregation Brith Sholom. Are you excited about the current presidential election and the campaigns for the House and Senate? Congregation Brith Sholom’s Adult Education Committee and the JFLV Community Relations Council are pleased to host a conversation on the upcoming elections with Dr. Chris Borick, director of the Institute of Public Opinion at Muhlenberg College, and Dr. Gordon Goldberg, professor emeritus of history at Kutztown University. Free and open to the community.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Family Game Night!

6 p.m., Temple Covenant of Peace. Come join us for some Dungeons & Dragons, Scrabble, Charades, Pinochle or whatever you’d like! Fun for the whole family! This event is open to the community and free for all to join. RSVP at the temple office or by emailing tcp@rcn.com.

7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., JCC of Allentown. “Stars on the Move” is a portable planetarium service owned and operated by Denise Vacca. Vacca has over 15 years of experience in astronomy education.

As producer of the Fels Planetarium at the Franklin Institute Science Museum, Vacca has worked with schools, educators and public audiences. This event is open to kindergarten through fifth graders.

Cost of the event is $75; $50 with a JCC member discount. Please RVSP by contacting Brenda Finberg by phone at 610-435-3571 ext. 121 or by email at bfinberg@lvjcc.org.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Temple Shirat Shalom Wandering Jews Shabbat

7 p.m., Swain School, 1100 South 24th St, Allentown, PA, 18103. The Temple Shirat Shalom ‘house band,’ the Wandering Jews, will accompany the cantor at Shabbat services. The Wandering Jews consists of guitars, piano and vocals, and provides a beautiful and melodic backdrop for Shabbat worship. “Shirat Shalom” means “song of peace” and this is exemplified by our Wandering Jews Shabbat services. Contact Cantor Sussman, 610820-7666, ContactUs@templeshiratshalom.org

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11 2nd Annual Chanukah/Holiday Craft Show

11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Temple Covenant of Peace.

Craft vendors and crafters wanted! Contact docsharongl@gmail.com for a 2012 vendor application.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 TCP Cooking Class

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4 KI Library Fundraiser

All day, Barnes & Noble, The Promenade at Saucon Valley. Please support the Keneseth Israel Library at our annual fundraiser. Events from 2 to 4 p.m. will include the KI Youth Choir led by Cantor Jennifer Duretz Peled, story time with Rabbi Seth Phillips and a discussion on “Finding the Story,” led by Jennifer Lader, editor of HAKOL. KI Sisterhood will provide free gift-wrapping in the store throughout the day.

Please mention the KI Library at checkout! If you are unable to attend in person, you can also shop online between November 4 and 9 by using code 10885291 at checkout. Sponsored by the KI Library and KI Sisterhood. This event is free and open to the community. For more information, please contact michele.salomon@gmail.com or call the KI office at 610-435-9074.

6:30 p,m., Temple Covenant of Peace. Leslie Goldsmith, professional chef, will share her secrets on how to prepare Shabbos chicken. Cost of event is $20 and is open to the public. For more information, please contact the temple office at 610-2532031 or by emailing tcp@rcn.com.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16 KI National Organ Donor Shabbat

7:30 p.m., Congragation Keneseth Israel. The community is invited to join KI as KI president, Dr. Eric Fels, discusses the relationship between Judaism and organ transplant. Please join us at Shabbat service as we kick off a weekend of celebration around organ donation. Free and open to the public.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 Temple Beth El Dor L Dor Program

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4 Free e-Cycling Event

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Forks Plaza at The Towne Centers, Easton. Do you have empty ink cartridges and broken iPods lying around? Bnai Abraham Synagogue and 611 Metals are sponsoring this opportunity to rid your home and office of accumulated electron-

Want to see your joyous news announced here?

Visit our website, www.jewishlehighvalley.org, to submit your wedding, birth and anniversary announcements, as well as news of your accomplishments—FOR FREE!

Questions?

hakol@jflv.org or 610-821-5500

30 NOVEMBER 2012 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

10 a.m., Temple Beth El. Interactive and intergenerational family services for parents and grandparents along with their children. We’ll sing Shabbat songs, hear a Shabbat story and even have some dancing! Each service concludes by joining the main congregation at a kiddush (lunch). Services are open to the community. This is sponsored by Jewish Family Educaton and Temple Beth El. For complete information about the services, please contact shari@bethelallentown.org.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 KI Sisterhood/Brotherhood Brunch: National Organ Donor Brunch and Art Exhibit

9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel.Please join KI as we honor and celebrate the accomplishments of Larry Rafes, a longtime KI member and kidney transplant recipient for the contributions he has made to the cause of organ donation. In August 2012, Rafes kayaked 100 miles in five days to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. A short film was made

about the trip and will be shown for the first time at the brunch. Laura Deutch is an independent filmmaker, Lehigh Valley native and graduate of Temple University. Artist Vickie Dash will have an exhibit on display at KI for the entire weekend. Her creation was inspired by her 25-year odyssey of two kidney transplants. Dash will be on hand at the brunch to discuss her work. This program is free and open to the community. Reservations should be made by calling the KI office at 610-435-9074. Contributions for the program are greatly appreciated.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 Temple Beth El Giftique

10 a.m., Temple Beth El. Stock up an all of your Chanukah needs! There is a large selection of candles, dreidles, gelt, menorahs, toys and decorations. Temple Beth El Sisterhood Presents our Annual Gift Shop Giftique. Jewelry, mezuzzot books, platters and so much more for purchase! This event is sponsored by the Temple Beth El Sisterhood and is free and open to the community.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 KI Chanukah and Vendor Fair

10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel. Come out and shop for all your holiday needs - Chanukah, teacher gifts, gift cards and more!

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20 Sisterhood Congregation Sons of Israel presents: a chef demonstration & tasting featuring Moroccan cuisine, presented

by Steve Bonner

7:15 p.m., Congregation Sons of Israel. Come enjoy amazing Moroccan cuisine by Steve Bonner.

Event is open to the community. Cost of the event is $10 if reservations are made by November 12. If reservations are made November 13 through 16, the cost is $12. For additional information and to make reservations, please contact the shul office at 610-433-6089.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26 (Almost) Live 92nd Street Y in Partnership with ArtsQuest: Anna Quindlen with Jodi Kantor

8 p.m., Banko Theater, Bethlehem Steel Stacks.

Motherhood, journalism, life in her 30s and what comes afterwards: Anna Quindlen reveals it all to Jodi Kantor. Quindlen is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author. Her latest book is a memoir on aging. “Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake,” which debuted at number one on The New York Times best seller list. Kantor is a New York Times correspondent and author. Cost of this event is $9.50; however, JCC members with a jPerks card can purchase tickets for $7.50. This event is open to the public. Sponsored by ArtsQuest and the JCC.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30 Temple Beth El Shira Chadasha

7:30 p.m., Temple Beth El. Temple Beth El invites you to share in our Shira Chadasha service. Come celebrate a musical Shabbat service with contemporary American and Israeli music. This service is open to the public.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 (Almost) Live 92nd Street Y in Partnership with ArtsQuest: On Jefferson

7:30 p.m., Banko Theater, Bethlehem Steel Stacks.

Jon Meacham discusses the founding father who steered the states to nationhood, wrote the Declaration of Independence and, as a master politician and president, doubled the size of America through the Louisiana Purchase -- a man never truly understood in all his complexity.

Meacham is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose most recent work is “Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power.” Check online guide for details and register at www.allentownjcc.org or call 610.435.3571. This event is open to the public. Cost of the event is $9.50; however, JCC members with jPerks cards can purchase tickets for $7.50. This event is sponsored by ArtsQuest and the JCC.

Community Calendar Ongoing Events

For information, please contact Assistant Rabbi Yehoshua Mizrachi at 207-404-0474.

IN-DEPTH GEMARRAH CLASS 7 p.m., Congregation Sons of Israel Instructor Rabbi Wilensky. You don’t need to know Hebrew or Aramaic, as we don’t read much directly from the text.

MONDAYS INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Temple Covenant of Peace The purpose of the course is to provide a forum to acquire a more complete understanding of the history, practices and ideas of the Jewish people. Cost: $120. Checks made payable to: TCP. Fee includes text and materials. (There is no additional fee for spouses, fiancees, partners or other family members.) Contact the temple office at tcp@rcn.com.

PRAYERBOOK HEBREW MORE THAN JUST A LANGUAGE EXPLORING THE MESSAGE! 7 to 7:50 p.m., Temple Beth El Nov. 13, 20, 27 & Dec. 4 Taught by: Cantor Kevin Wartell. For those who have beginner’s Hebrew under their belt, we will continue to develop our Hebrew prayer skills, and explore the meanings and the message of the Siddur.

7 DIMENSIONS OF THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE 7 p.m., Chabad In this course, uncover the soul, spirit and mystical dynamism of being a woman, discovering a pragmatic approach to implementing these feminine strengths in practice.

Guided by classical Jewish and kabbalistic texts, examine issues such as beauty, love, relationships, career, family, education and spirituality — tying together the various facets of womanhood in synchronized harmony. $36 for the series. Instructor: Mrs. Devorah Halperin.

THE RHYTHM OF JEWISH LIVING 8 to 9 p.m., Temple Beth El Taught by: Rabbi Moshe Re’em. This course will examine the ideas, beliefs and practices that define and shape Jewish life through daily, weekly, annual and life cycle observances. The course is designed as a yearlong course for those wishing to learn more about the religious observances of Judaism, theology of the holidays and ritual practices.

The course is organized around the Jewish calendar, but includes other daily Jewish rituals.

REQUIRED TEXTS: “Entering Jewish Prayer” by Reuven Hammer “The Jewish Holidays” by Michael Strassfeld “The Observant Life: The Wisdom of Conservative Judaism for Contemporary Jews” with Senior Editor Martin S. Cohen

TUESDAYS

TORAH ON TUESDAYS 12 to 1 p.m., Temple Covenant of Peace Join Rabbi Melody to delve into the heart and soul of the Torah. This group is for busy people who want to go deep into the Jewish bible, but only have an hour during lunchtime. Bring your lunch and curiosity as we delve into the wisdom, history and joy of the Torah. All welcome!

PROJECT YACHAD’S TORAH STUDY GROUP 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., JCC of Allentown It doesn’t matter how much you know, it matters how much you want to know. Bring your curiosity to Project Yachad’s Torah study group and discover the wonders, adventures and meaning of the Torah. Each FREE session is taught by one of our dedicated clergy members or a respected Jewish educator. Held in the Teachers’ Learning Center/ Holocaust Resource Room (lower level, JCC).

Call 610-435-3571 for information about individual sessions.

KASHRUTH 101 AND 102 8 to 9 p.m., Congregation Beth Avraham of Bethlehem-Easton

WEDNESDAYS FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE 1 to 4 p.m., JCC of Allentown For those who love to play mah jong, Scrabble or bridge. Call Betty at 610-3956282 or Steecia at 610-965-7136 for more information.

FROM JESUS TO CONSTANTINE 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Congregation Brith Sholom Rabbi Jonathan Gerard leads a weekly adult learning class centered around the timelline from Jesus to Constantine. Because it is possible to enter the text at any place, new participants are welcome at any time.

BETH AVRAHAM TORAH STUDY 7 p.m., Congregation Beth Avraham Torah: It is the common heritage that binds all Jews together. It belongs to you! We will explore the ancient healing wisdom of Torah together. All are welcome. Who knows? It might even be fun! RSVP to Rabbi Yehoshua Mizrachi at 207-404-0474 or congregationbethavraham@gmail.com.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I CANNOT PRAY? 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Temple Beth El Taught by Rabbi Moshe Re’em. The notion that humans have difficulty praying is not new. The ancient rabbis already grappled with the problem. In this course, we will explore some of the difficulties that arose and were presented as barriers to prayer.

We will study chapter five of the Tractate of Berachot. We will use the new Koren Talmud Bavli translation of the Tractate of Berakhot.

Students are encouraged to purchase the text in advance of the course.

JFS-LV’S YIDDISH CLUB 1:30 p.m., Jewish Family Service Kibbitz in the mama loshen! You don’t need to be fluent — just come and enjoy! Call 610-821-8722 for more information.

AFTERLIFE AND JEWISH BELIEF...

A COMMUNAL BOOK EXPLORATION 8 to 9 p.m., Temple Beth El Nov. 13, 20, 27 & Dec. 4 Taught by: Cantor Kevin Wartell. Together, we will read and discuss the new book written by Rabbi Ellie Kaplan Spitz concerning Jewish beliefs about afterlife. With a blend of candor, personal questioning and sharp-eyed scholarship, Spitz relates his own observations and first-hand accounts shared with him by others. These experiences helped propel his journey from skeptic to believer that there is life after life. From near-death experiences to reincarnation and past-life memory to the work of mediums, Rabbi Spitz explores what we are able to know about the afterlife and draws on Jewish texts to share that belief in these concepts.

THE BOOK OF EZRA WITH JUDY SLYPER 7 p.m., Congregation Sons of Israel Come to Sons of Israel for a discussion-oriented class on the Book of Ezra with accomplished teacher Mrs. Judy Slyper. This class is free, on-going and open to the public.

TORAH STUDIES: A WEEKLY JOURNEY INTO THE SOUL OF TORAH 7:30 p.m., Chabad Torah Studies by JLI presents, “Season Four: A 12-part series.” Fee: $36 for the complete 12-week series (textbook included). For more information contact: 610-351-6511 or Rabbi@chabadlehighvalley.com.

HADASSAH STUDY GROUP Every other Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Temple Beth El Allentown Hadassah presents a stimulating series of short story seminars. All are welcome to attend these free sessions in the Temple Beth El library. The group will be reading selections from anthologies available from Amazon.com. For dates and stories, e-mail Lolly Siegel at spscomm@aol.com or call 610-439-1851.

THURSDAYS JEWISH CHANTING AND MEDITATION Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, 10 a.m., Temple Covenant of Peace Chanting is a traditional Jewish art form which is now being recognized outside the Hasidic tradition. It may be used as a vehicle for healing, prayer and emotional expression.

Using music, breathing and simple, easily

FRIDAYS 8 - 9:30 AM WMUH 91.7 Featuring Cantor Wartell muhlenberg.edu/wmuh

learned words and melodies, one can enter Jewish prayer on a whole new level. Bring your soul yearning for connection, your sense of adventure and any pillows, back-jacks or yoga mats that make you comfortable.

Congregations

MOMMY & ME 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., Chabad Led by Morah Devorah Halperin and Mrs. Alli Lipson, Mommy & Me is an innovative program for babies and toddlers to experience Jewish traditions in a stimulating, fun and creative atmosphere. Cost is $10 per class, $40 for full session. For more information and to register, e-mail morahdevorah@chabadlehighvalley.com.

1545 Bushkill St., Easton – 610.258.5343 Rabbi Daniel Stein, Conservative MORNING MINYAN services are Thursday mornings at 7:25 a.m., SHABBAT EVENING services are Fridays at 8 p.m., SHABBAT MORNING services are Saturdays at 9:30 a.m., RELIGIOUS SCHOOL classes are Wednesdays at 4:15 p.m. and Sundays at 9:30 a.m..

TORAH ON TILGHMAN 12:15 p.m., Allentown Wegmans Cantor Sussman of Temple Shirat Shalom leads a lunch and learn on the Torah.

Shopping is optional! RSVP to contactus@ templeshiratshalom.com or 610-820-7666.

4457 Crackersport Rd., Allentown – 610.336.6603 Rabbi Yaacov Halperin, Chabad Lubavitch SHABBAT EVENING services are held once a month seasonally, SHABBAT MORNING services are held Saturdays at 10 a.m., RELIGIOUS SCHOOL classes are held Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m.

FRIDAYS CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION GROUP 10 a.m., JCC of Allentown Everyone is welcome. Exercise your mind.

SHABBAT INTRODUCTION TO TALMUD 8:15 a.m., Congregation Sons of Israel On Shabbat mornings, come to an Introduction to Talmud class with Dr. Henry Grossbard.

This class is free and open to the public.

CHAVURAT TORAH STUDY Each Shabbat following kiddush lunch; length of each class will vary.

No sign-up needed for this class taught by Shari Spark. Enrich your Shabbat experience by studying the parashat hashavua, the weekly Torah portion, with other congregants, each Shabbat in the library at approximately 12:45 p.m. No previous know-ledge or long-term commitments are required to participate as we discuss Torah together. This is an ongoing class.

BNEI AKIVA 5:45 p.m., Congregation Sons of Israel On Shabbat afternoons, Bnei Akiva, an Israelcentered fun program for kids ages eight to 14. This program is free and open to the public. For information and to RSVP, call 610433-6089.

SUNDAYS JEWISH WAR VETERANS POST 239 LEHIGH VALLEY MONTHLY MEETING Second Sunday of the month, 10 a.m., JCC of Allentown A brunch follows each meeting – bagels, cream cheese, lox, herring, pastry and coffee. The veteran and significant other are invited as the guest of the Ladies Auxiliary.

Come and enjoy camaraderie, and we will even listen to your “war story.” Questions? Call Commander Maur Levan at 610-437-4561.

TEMPLE SHIRAT SHALOM HEBREW & ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES 10 to 11 a.m., JCC of Allentown Interested in learning Hebrew for the first time or brushing up your skills? Every Sunday, Marcia Berkow teaches adult Hebrew beginning at 10 a.m., followed at 11 a.m. by David Vaida, who will you take you through the great moments across all 5,773 years of Jewish history. Free and open to all. RSVP at learnwithus@templeshiratshalom.org or 610820-7666.

ADULT HEBREW SCHOOL 10 to 11 a.m., Chabad An opportunity for you to learn about your heritage and expand your Jewish knowledge so that you can keep up with your child.

Class is led by Rabbi Yaacov Halperin. There is no fee.

TALMUD CLASS FOR BEGINNERS! 10 to 11 a.m., Congregation Beth Avraham of Bethlehem-Easton For information,contact Rabbi Yehoshua Mizrachi at 207-404-0474.

TEMPLE SHIRAT SHALOM ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES 10 a.m., JCC of Allentown Join Marcia Berkow as she teaches adult Hebrew.

Celebrate the beauty of Shabbat Shabbat & Yom Tov Candlelighting Times Friday, Nov. 2

5:39 pm

Friday, Nov. 23

4:21 pm

Friday, Nov. 9

4:32 pm

Friday, Nov. 30

4:18 pm

Friday, Nov. 16

4:25 pm

Friday, Dec. 7

4:17 pm

BNAI ABRAHAM SYNAGOGUE

CHABAD OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY

CONGREGATION AM HASKALAH

Bethlehem – 610.435.3775 Weekly Shabbat services and a monthly family service with potluck dinner. Religious school meets Sunday mornings. Email am.haskalah.office@gmail.com to be added to list for exact times and locations.

CONGREGATION BETH AVRAHAM

439 South Nulton Ave., Palmer Township – 610.905.2166 | Rabbi Yitzchok Yagod, Orthodox SHABBAT EVENING starts half an hour after candle lighting. SHABBAT MORNING starts at 9:30 a.m., followed by a hot kiddish. We are in the process of moving so please contact Rabbi Yehoshua Mizrachi at 207-404-0474 for service location information.

CONGREGATION BRITH SHOLOM

1190 W. Macada Rd., Bethlehem – 610.866.8009 Rabbi Allen Juda, Conservative MINYAN is at 7:45 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. on Saturdays and holidays. RELIGIOUS SCHOOL classes every Tuesday/Thursday at 4:15 p.m.

CONGREGATION KENESETH ISRAEL

2227 Chew St., Allentown – 610.435.9074 Rabbi Seth D. Phillips | Cantor Jennifer Duretz Peled, Reform SERVICES begin at 7:30 p.m. three Fridays a month, with one Friday a month devoted to a FAMILY SERVICE. SERVICES also offered at 10:30 a.m. most Saturday mornings. RELIGIOUS SCHOOL classes are held Wednesdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 9:30 a.m.

CONGREGATION SONS OF ISRAEL

2715 Tilghman St., Allentown – 610.433.6089 Rabbi David Wilensky, Orthodox SHACHARIT: Sundays at 8:30 a.m., Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:45 a.m. For MINCHA, MAARIV.

TEMPLE BETH EL

1305 Springhouse Rd., Allentown – 610.435.3521 Rabbi Moshe Re’em | Cantor Kevin Wartell Conservative Weekday morning minyan services at 7:45 a.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. Shabbat evening services at 7:30 p.m. with the last Friday evening of the month featuring our Shira Chadasha Service .

Shabbat morning services at 9 a.m. followed by Kiddush. Religious school classes every Tuesday/ Thursday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. Midrasha school classes Monday at 7 p.m. Shalshelet — Temple Beth El’s new innovative high school program — meets bi-monthly on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. Shalshelet (the chain) is open to ALL 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students in the Lehigh Valley. For more information contact Alicia Zahn, religlious school director, at school at bethelallentown.org.

TEMPLE COVENANT OF PEACE

1451 Northampton St., Easton – 610.253.2031 Tcp@rcn.com; tcopeace.org Rabbi Melody Davis | Cantor Jill Pakman Reform TCP holds Shabbat evening services every Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with occasional Saturday morning services throughout the year. A Family Shabbat Service is held on the second Friday night of each month. Our services reflect a diverse culture of traditional, innovative and musical experiences within a Reform Judaism context. Religious school meets on Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 12:15. Our Youth Choir meets afterwards from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. We have family potluck dinners, 6:30 p.m., on the fourth Friday of the month.

For more information about our Temple and our activities, contact the TCP office, send us an email, see our website or look us up on Facebook.

TEMPLE SHIRAT SHALOM

Cantor Ellen Sussman Friday night SHABBAT WORSHIP SERVICES held at 7 p.m. at The Swain School, 1100 South 24th St., Allentown. For more information, Contact Us at templeshiratshalom.org or 610-820-7666.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2012 31

Youth groups help teens flourish

By Sara Vigneri Special to HAKOL

r ve-wracking to watch you As a parent of a teen, it is ner en wh y larl ticu adulthood, par child fumble their way into s nces during these precariou erie exp ir the t tha you realize re. futu the in ke ma y the years will shape the choices developing a life outNavigating social groups and , a vital part of a teen's life and side the nuclear family are nd spe y the how into e hav you as a parent, the more input y spend it with, the better their free time and who the y be. Research from Universit off you and your teen will s ent par ir the to ess sen ld's clo of Oxford found that a chi ir ability to have a healthy the h wit ted rela cor 16 age at as an adult. relationship with a spouse ticularly those associpar es, viti acti up gro Youth ance your teen's need bal p ated with a religion, can hel life while allowing parental for an independent social th the National Study of You involvement. According to via ing lud inc n, gio reli h wit ld and Religion, raising a chi teens away from dangerous youth groups, helps steer ce abuse. Luckily, the Lehigh behaviors such as substan de of youth groups and pro Valley is home to a multitu and s ion ious Jewish organizat gramming through the var synagogues.

USY (United Synagogue The Allentown chapter of Beth El and includes lots ple Youth) meets through Tem the Fall Regional Convenof social activities, including Isll, Pa. Congregation Sons of tion taking place in Bluebe SY, NC up, gro th you ox hod Ort rael hosts a chapter of the ets and Bnei Akiva, which me offering monthly activities, and g zin iali soc for synagogue Saturday afternoons in the s. discussion ai B’rith Youth OrgaThe youth group BBYO (B’n ys’ branch) just wrapped up nization) with its AZA (bo big and is getting ready for its their sleepover at the JCC pete com ns tee ere wh , ber vem Tournies Convention in No ketbas m fro g rs in everythin against those in other chapte us ero num has ) nch bra girls’ ball to storytelling. BBG (the ball ket bas n tee a ts hos also activities planned. The JCC of Coach Terrence Baker. league under the guidance is launching the FriendChabad of the Lehigh Valley tes t uni teenage volunteers ship Circle, a program tha ply in friendships that can dee en and special needs childr enrich both lives.

Abraham Synagogue in Rabbi Daniel Stein of Bnai Learn every Sunday; the and Easton offers a teen Lunch st of studying Jewish life group is currently in the mid meet as a USY chapter and in Eastern Europe. They also gagramming, as does Congre have occasional social pro of ns tee r nge hem for the you tion Brith Sholom in Bethle Kadima. ial outlet for teens through Keneseth Israel offers a soc Youth (KITY) programtheir Keneseth Israel Temple ent trip to Crystal Caves. ming, which included a rec of teamed up with Mike Iorio Temple Shirat Shalom has ng aki spe provide inspirational Dale Carnegie Training to events for teens. are plenty of opportunities In the Lehigh Valley, there ust Jewish social life. rob a to provide your teen with

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Jewish teens speak: Results of HAKOL survey give the scoop In May 2012, HAKOL intern and graduating high school senior, Ben Notis, surveyed a group of 36 teen and pre-teens. He concluded that embracing new ideas will allow HAKOL to affect the lives of more young Jews in the Lehigh Valley.

The survey respondents ranged in age from 12 to 19 years, but all had three things in common: They are Jewish, live in the Lehigh Valley and are in some way connected to the Jewish community.

Ben conducted the survey, developed with input from the HAKOL staff, by telephone or e-mail. He gathered and analyzed the responses of 20 girls and 17 boys.*

“Just Jewish” Of the 36 teens and pre-teens surveyed, eight reported they attend services at least weekly, seven at the High Holy Days only and one, never. The remainder -- more than half of those surveyed -- are somewhere in between in their service attendance (see chart 1).

Regardless of whether and where respondents attend religious services, more than a third called themselves “just Jewish” (see chart 2).

Twenty-one of the respondents -- or more than half – said they read HAKOL monthly (12 respondents) or occasionally (9 respondents).

Forty-one percent reported that they rarely or never read HAKOL. Of all those surveyed, eight, including three who are HAKOL readers, reported that they (also) get Jewish news from sources outside of HAKOL (see chart 3). This means that about two-thirds – or 67 percent -- reported some source of Jewish news. One third of respondents reported no source of Jewish content.

CHART 1: How often teens and pre-teens attend religious services: Results of the HAKOL survey of young people in Pa.’s Lehigh Valley Jewish community, May 2012

How Jewish teens and pre-teens identify themselves:

CHART 2:

Results of the HAKOL survey of young people in Pa.'s Lehigh Valley Jewish community, May 2012

Where Jewish teens and pre-teens get their Jewish news:

CHART 3:

Results of the HAKOL survey of young people in Pa.’s Lehigh Valley Jewish community, May 2012

What they hunger for Ben said most teens seemed interested in articles that they found to be relevant to themselves. In particular, those who read HAKOL said they look for “people they know,” Jewish Day School happenings and local events. Of all respondents, three -- who are also monthly readers of HAKOL -- said they look to HAKOL for articles describing events outside the Valley, such as in Israel or the world.

Thirty-six percent of those surveyed reported they read the May issue, which had significant content aimed at teens.

Survey identifies gap A separate, HAKOL staff review of six other Jewish newspapers revealed no specifically teen content whatsoever.

Meanwhile, in his analysis of the teen survey findings, Ben addresses the finding that only eight percent of teens are interested in events outside the Lehigh Valley, saying, “This [low number] may be a serious problem, as such a statement suggests that 92 percent of teens may not see themselves as part of a broader Jewish community.

“By the same token,” Ben writes, “75 percent of teens surveyed do not read any Jewish content outside of HAKOL [and are] dependent on HAKOL alone for Jewish information.”

Coming soon Ben concluded that HAKOL has an opportunity -- the findings imply that it may even be a moral imperative -- to reach out to teen readers with more stories about people they know or on topics they reported would be of interest: activism, diet, exercise, philosophy and theology. *NOTE: The sample size of 36 is large enough that we can be somewhat confident that the same survey administered to a group of similar teens would yield similar results. A survey of the same number of teens conducted among those who are not affiliated with Jewish communal life could yield very different results.

The HAKOL staff thanks JFLV Intern Ben Notis and all those who participated in the survey. All are welcome to share their comments on the survey with Ben: ben.notis@gmail.com. Teens interested in sharing more ideas for HAKOL stories are invited to email the editor: jenniferlader@jflv.org.