JEWISH FEDERATION OF the desert 69-710 Highway 111 Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 (760) 324-4737 Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit #113 Santa Ana, CA
On the cover....
jewish federation BOARD OF DIRECTORS Celia Norian, Chairman of the Board Sondi Green, Co-chair, Campaign Libby Hoffman, Co-chair, Campaign Vernon Kozlen, Treasurer Bernard Reiter, Secretary Howard Levy, Immediate Past President Roberta Nyman, Immediate Past President
Board Joseph Bernstein William Chunowitz Elliott Cohen Nancy Ditlove Ellen Glass Phil Glass Marjorie Kulp Ron Langus
Allan Lehmann Allan Nyman Dr. Paul Ross Stephanie Ross Elisa Schwartz Sandy Seplow Andrew Teitel Lainie Weil
Bruce Landgarten, Chief Executive Officer
Table of Contents Vol. 40 • No. 8
Community Calendar 16-17 Federation 2, 3, 24 LGBT Alliance 4 Major Gifts 12-13 Women’s Philanthropy 2 Food 23 Jewish Family Service 15 Schools 20 Simchas & Classifieds 22 Temples Listing 16 Tolerance Education Center 15 Tributes 14 2 • JCN • March 2015 • Adar/Nissan 5775 • www.jfedps.org
Musings on a Friday Afternoon From the CEO Bruce Landgarten Jewish Federation Chief Executive Officer
000As of last month, I have served as Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of the Desert for 5 years … and for all this time I have never taken it for granted. It’s been a wonderful journey for me on so many fronts and I remain eternally grateful. Every once in a great while, when it somehow manages to get quiet in our office — usually late Friday afternoon – I try to take a few minutes and reflect on who we are and what we do, praying that I am leading our Federation in a positive way and living up to my potential. These are special moments for me.
Remarkably enough, even after 5 years, I still feel that each week is my first week on the job. I’ve wondered over the years where that feeling comes from. I think it comes from my admiration over the work we do, an unending trust in the potential of our organization, and a passionate belief in the goodness and dedication of our volunteers. At the Federation, ours is spiritual work. It’s easy to forget that, given the necessary focus on fundraising, program development, organizational operations, volunteer recruitment etc. We, who work on behalf of the Federation in any capacity – our volunteer leaders who devote their time endlessly to making our organization better and our donors who give so generously of their means – touch and enrich and change lives every day in so many ways. We make things better for people: people in need, people who need a voice, people who need our support. What
We Extend Condolences The Jewish Federation of the Desert, on behalf of our Jewish community, extend heartfelt condolences to the Danish Jewish community over the tragic death of one of their community members, Dan Uzan, resulting from the attack on the Krystalgade Synagogue in Copenhagen on February 14th. We extend our condolences to the victim’s family and the entire community. At this time, millions of Jewish
people across North America and, indeed, around the world, are standing by their side, sending messages of solidarity and support and also mourning with them. We are all deeply troubled by the unsettling climate across all of Europe that saw this tragedy, as well as the assault on the cultural center earlier in the day. Any attack on Jews, anywhere in the world, affects each and every one of us. And when
could be a better calling? These are among the reasons that I’m so grateful for the opportunity that was given to me more than 5 years ago; an opportunity that to this day, I remain thankful for and never take for granted. People who advise Jewish Communal Executives say passion alone is not enough. True, but I take a slightly different view. Without passion, there is little to sustain you when times get tough. I knew over 25 years ago what my life’s work would be. The challenge for me has been moving beyond my passion to embrace the less-loved aspects of running a Federation– i.e., the daily minutia. I can’t say that the past five years have all been easy, but they have easily been among the most rewarding years of my professional life. I am fortunate enough that in my job I am charged with making relationships. I spend a large percentage of my time meeting people, finding out what they
want to do and what makes them happy. I have the luxury to spend an hour with someone who just moved to town and learn their story, or sit with longtime desert residents and hear about their childhood. I believe in relationships; good old fashioned, personal relationships. I know that meeting people, where they are, is the first step to building that bond. The next part is listening. I’m always looking to engage people not only in our organization but with our greater Palm Springs and Desert Area Jewish community. The only way to accomplish this is to truly understand how people are feeling and what they want. When you are doing something you are passionate about the experience takes on a whole new meaning. Both the person and the ultimate product are far richer for the experience. I appreciate that “ya gotta love it.” When all else fails – and it certainly will at times – it helps to love what you do. And I do.
innocent people are targeted, the pain is felt by us all. We live in a time when extremists are taking center stage and trying to prove the validity of their ideas through force and intimidation. One of the most important steps people who uphold faith and freedom can take is to stand together in the face of such terror – and to recognize that even though we might have differences, we are united by common bonds of humanity. We stand in solidarity with our
fellow Jews and freedom loving peoples around the world. We affirm and demand that Jews must have the right to live freely, openly, and safely as Jews. We will continue to stand with the Jewish community in Europe and elsewhere that is under attack. These attacks on the Jewish community are also attacks on western values and freedom of speech. Governments have the responsibility to protect Jewish communities, and all communities, from hate, violence, and attacks on our freedom.
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Federation LGBT Dinner 000Jewish Federation of the Desert’s Lesbian/Gay/ Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) kickoff event is a Shabbat Dinner on Friday, March 13th and welcomes the LGBT Jewish community to come for an evening of friendship and camaraderie. The goal of the Federation’s LGBT Alliance is to offer to as many people as possible a meaningful Jewish experience, encouraging interest and investment in being Jewish in some way. Federation seeks to create a fully welcoming and
inclusive Jewish community for LGBT Jews and their spouses, partners, significant others and good friends, working to create more opportunities for LGBT Jews in the Desert to connect socially with each other. LGBT Jews are a valued and vibrant part of the Desert area’s deeply diverse Jewish community, with much to contribute to its present and future. Attendees will be invited to share their ideas for future LGBT Alliance activities and programs. Dinner couvert is $36. Space is limited. Please RSVP quickly to assure your participation for this special evening.
JEWISH COMMUNITY NEWS A Publication of the Jewish Federation of the Desert VOL. 40, No. 8
EDITORIAL Bruce Landgarten, Chief Executive Officer Miriam H. Bent, Editor Bailey & Co., Layout & Design JCN STATEMENT The Jewish Community News seeks to provide news and feature material of special interest to its readership, and to create a heightened sense of Jewish identity through the dissemination of information about people, events and issues at home and abroad. The JCN seeks to serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions in the Jewish community. The JCN is published monthly, ten months a year by the Jewish Federation of the Desert, 69-710 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, 760-324-4737, fax 760-324-3154. Articles & Advertising, Miriam H. Bent, Editor 760-323-0255 e-mail-mhbentjcn@earthlink.net ADVERTISING The JCN does not endorse the goods or services advertised in its pages and makes no representation as to the kashrut of food products and services in such advertising. The publisher shall not be liable for damages if, for any reason whatsoever, it fails to publish an advertisement or for any error in an advertisement. Acceptance of advertisers and of advertising copy is subject to the publisher’s approval. The JCN is not responsible if ads violate applicable laws and the advertiser will indemnify, hold harmless and defend the JCN from all claims made by government agencies and consumers for any reason based on ads carried in the JCN.
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Special Needs Children To Israel
Chai Lifeline special needs children shown at the EL AL check-in counter with family members prior to departure. Photo credit: Shahar Azran
NEW YORK – January 30, 2015 – EL AL Israel Airlines recently flew 14 children to Israel as part of Chai Lifeline’s “Wish at the Wall” program. Chai Lifeline, a non-profit organization that provides emotional, social and financial support to families with children who have cancer and other life-threatening or chronic illnesses, has for decades been a partner with EL AL Israel Airlines. Departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport, the special needs children are traveling with their parents to fulfill the dream of visiting Israel and touring the country’s most celebrated destinations, from Eilat to Rosh HaNikra. Specially trained EL AL reservations agents working on the medical desk and airport managers offer maximum assistance to provide these children with a smooth travel experience, despite their medical
conditions. Nachman Maimon, Chai Lifeline Program Director stated, “The EL AL staff continues to provide personalized service, which makes it possible for the children to take a trip that most never dreamed they could manage. Regardless of any challenge, the airline’s staff are devoted to ensuring that the children are comfortable and happy by providing warmth, smiles, and outstanding care both on the ground and throughout the flight.” In 2011, this program made history when it became the first teen tour composed of chronically ill and disabled children. In 2013, before taking off, an EL AL plane turned back to retrieve an 11-year-old cancer patient who was heading to Chai Lifeline’s Camp Simcha and missed the flight because she mistakenly thought her passport was lost.
Representing Buyers and Sellers throughout the desert for more than 27 years When you think of real estate, "Just Ring a Bell"
760.902.9206 rng.bell@aol.com/www.beverlybell.com JCN • March 2015 • Adar/Nissan 5775 • www.jfedps.org • 5
South African Jews Hit Back Against BDS with Mandela Billboards By Sam Sokol, Jerusalem Post Online
The South African Jewish community has placed billboards along a major highway in Johannesburg quoting Nelson Mandela as a means of countering the BDS movement. The billboards, which cite the founding father of post-Apartheid South Africa as supporting Zionism as legitimate Jewish nationalism, among other things, are intended to counter "efforts by the BDS campaign and anti-Israel lobby in SA to hijack the legacy of Nelson Mandela in showing his support of the Palestinian agenda as a one-sided affair," Ben Swartz,
one of the campaign's organizers explained. The BDS movement recently announced that it was bringing former PFLP airline hijacker Leila Khaled on a speaking tour throughout the country. In another action, the Johannesburg High Court banned BDS South Africa last November (2014) from protesting in Woolworths stores. The South African retailer, with a stock market cap of NIS 10 billion, has been involved in a long-running battle with boycott, divestment and sanctions
activists over three Israeli foods that the store imports: pomegranates, figs and pretzels. Altogether, Israeli products make up 0.1 percent of foods in Woolworths supermarkets. The company, explaining why it took the matter to court, said the BDS campaign’s decision to ramp up its protest action left Woolworths with no other choice but to protect customers and staff, allowing them to shop and work unhindered. “The right of BDS to assemble and protest does not extend to protest action inside Woolworths stores,” said the company in its court application. The campaign took an ugly turn when a student body aligned with the ruling government placed pigs’ heads in what they thought was the kosher section of a Woolworths store in Cape Town last October. It later emerged that the heads were actually in the halal (Moslem) section! The stunt upset the Muslim community, which generally supports boycotting Israel. Despite initially endorsing this particular protest action via social media, embarrassed BDS leaders subsequently backtracked on supporting the act, but said they understood why it had happened. Following the incident, the company applied for a court interdict to halt in-store protest action. The court order prevents members of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions SA (BDS SA) from organizing, coordinating or encouraging any form of protest action inside the Woolworths stores.
To apply for Emergency Funds from the
TZEDAKAH FUND call the Jewish Federation 760-324-4737 6 • JCN • March 2015 • Adar/Nissan 5775 • www.jfedps.org
Morris Beschloss Receives Distinguished Eagle Scout Award On January 30, 2015, Morris Beschloss was welcomed into the honor roll of distinguished Life Members of the National Eagle Scout Association. The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award was established in 1969
to acknowledge Eagle Scouts who have distinguished themselves on a national level, receiving recognition or eminence within their field and who have a strong record of voluntary service to their community. Only
Eagle Scouts who earned the Eagle Scout rank a minimum of 25 years previously are eligible for nomination. The award is granted by the National Eagle Scout Association upon the recommendation of a committee of Distinguished Eagle Scouts. Beschloss, who became an Eagle Scout in 1947, is well known as a conservative economic and political expert who, in his mid-
80’s, writes a regular column for the Desert Sun newspaper, blogs on the paper's website, and hosts his own television show, The World Report, on the Time Warner network and was recently selected as a daily blogger for USAtoday Online, his opinions and influence is reaching literally millions of readers throughout the United States and around the world.
Israel Guide Dog Center Luncheon Honors Karen Meyer D e s e r t Island C o u n t r y C l u b ’s beautiful clubhouse was the site of the fifth annual luncheon of the Matthew Varon Chapter of Israel Karen Meyer Guide Dog Center for the Blind, held on a picture perfect desert afternoon. Guests were graciously welcomed by chair Helen Varon, charmed by Event chair Helen the message of Varon (right) with Israel sight impaired Guide Dog Center U.S. Israeli Bracha National Director Michael J. Leventhal and sight Ben Avraham impaired Israeli Bracha who shared Ben Avraham with her dog Dinka how her life Photos by Pat Krause completely changed when she received her guide
Honoree Karen Meyer (center) with her husband, Michael Neu, CEO of K-9 Friendly Visitors (left), and Jewish Federation CEO Bruce Landgarten (right)
dog, and impressed by the professional success of honoree Karen Meyer, profoundly deaf since birth but, among her accomplishments, was hired as an on-camera commentator on Chicago’s ABC Channel 7 News. Meyer has also taught at DePaul University since 2003 and has worked in the Illinois Attorney General's Office as deputy chief of the Disabled Persons Advocacy Division. Among her many awards, she received an Emmy in 2011. Guests were entertained by lyric soprano Melissa Batalles.
Call to attend the next informational meeting for our November 3-13 Mosaic 2 Israel Mission 760-324-4737 JCN • March 2015 • Adar/Nissan 5775 • www.jfedps.org • 7
Significant Increase in the Employment Rate of Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel The data reveals an 18% jump in the employment of women to 68% and a 10% increase for men to 56%. By Gal Cohen, No Camels
The Central Bureau of Statistics revealed a significant increase in the employment rate in the ultraorthodox sector. In 2013, the rate of employment among ultra-orthodox men ages 25-64 increased to 56%. For comparison, from 2002-2011, the percentage of employment in the community for males was between 40-50%. Ultra orthodox women also saw a big increase in employment rates. In 2013, the number went up to 68%,
compared to 2002-2011 when the number was around 50%. The rate increased among women in the Arab
community as well and in 2013, it was recorded at 33%. The Yesh Atid Party welcomed the figures and said in response that they “prove that the process that Yesh Atid is working toward is the right direction, starting with an obligation to the core curriculum, through the equal burden of military service, and finally integrating the ultra orthodox into the labor market. Israel’s economy needs a successful integration of ultra orthodox men into the job market, which will be a vitally important social and economic revolution.” Of all those who are employed, 37% found it difficult to cover all monthly household expenses. 12% of those employed felt poor in the past year (about 400,000 people). 56% reported “no fear at all” of losing their job in the coming year, 28% reported “a little concern”, 9% said “big concern," and 4% said “a very great concern." 38% said they were "very satisfied" and 48% said they were "satisfied" with their work. A relatively high percentage who are "very satisfied" with their work were the lecturers
in higher educational institutions, kindergarten teachers, school teachers, administrative secretaries, secretaries and CEOs. On the other hand, relatively low rates of satisfaction were seen in those who found work as security guards, drivers, caregivers, aides in nursing homes and cleaners. 56% of those employed were satisfied with their income from work - 10% described themselves as "very satisfied," 46% as “satisfied," 28% were "not very satisfied" and 15% "not at all satisfied" with their income from work. The Kulanu Party backed up the data: “The situation is bleak, according to the figures. According to people who work in Israel, they are not able to live in dignity and make ends meet. It is an intolerable situation that we cannot accept. The tragedy of our country is that we are living in a place where our citizens are poor and our wealth benefits are weak. The rest of the population is stymied and our commitment is to give the population hope.”
Saudi Preacher Says U.S. Never Went to Moon, Offers 'Rational' Proofs Earth Doesn't Revolve Bandar Al-Khaybari, a preacher with the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs in Al-Madina, challenged the claim that the Earth revolves, during a series of lectures held in the Sharjah emirate, between January 28 and 31. In a video translated by MEMRI, Khaybari brings two proofs to back up his claim, which he says is rooted in the Koran. The first proof he brings, which he says is based on reason rather than a Koranic proof, is that a plane in midair doesn't reach a destination when immobile and that if the Earth did revolve, then a plane could never reach a destination because as 8 • JCN • March 2015 • Adar/Nissan 5775 • www.jfedps.org
the plane moves through the Earth's atmosphere, its destination would be moving away from it. The second proof brought by the preacher is that if the "seventh heaven" in the sky falls, it could not fall on the Kaba'a--the Islamic holy site in Mecca--as the Prophet Mohammad promised, because the earth would spin as it falls, and therefore "seventh heaven" would land far from the Kaba'a over which it hangs. Al-Khaybari also stated the claim that the US did not land on the moon, but rather fabricated lunar travel in Hollywood.
Shi'ite Lebanese Cleric Non-violence Campaign
Sayyed Muhammad Ali Husseini preaches inter-faith tolerance in multi-lingual Facebook messages. By Tamara Zieve, Jerusalem Post Online
A Shi'ite Lebanese cleric has extended an olive branch to Jewish and Christian leaders around the world with a message of non-violence. Sayyed Muhammad Ali Husseini, secretary general of the Arabic Islamic Council, took to Facebook on February 8, 2015, to warn of the dangers of religious extremism. “We call on rabbis, priests, cardinals and Muslim clerics, Sunni and Shia, to play down the verses, the scriptures, the traditions and the religious texts that call for violence, because they are more dangerous than nuclear weapons," he wrote at the beginning of a long message. “The various religious texts which call for the use of violence and cruelty to achieve goals are extremely dangerous texts when used by groups that we have
Sayyed Muhammad Ali Husseini
warned against in the past, as these texts give religious authorization to commit acts of violence and murder," he added. "Obviously, these are texts that were implemented in specific and even limited times, places and situations - they cannot necessarily be applied to our time, since every situation has its own unique conditions and circumstances."
This message comes just a few weeks after he posted two videos to his Facebook page, one in Hebrew which he addresses his Jewish "cousins", and the other in English in which he addresses both Jews and Christians. "Know that we are your cousins and followers of Prophet Ishmael, son of Prophet Abraham. We both belong to the same family and are relatives as your ancestor and ours were brothers who had the same father, i.e. Prophet Abraham," he says. "We respect and sanctify Holy Scriptures and we believe in the Torah, Bible and Koran. We also believe in all prophets and respect them and we do not differentiate between them," he continues. "We believe that not all Jews are evil, not all Christians are depraved
Two Smugglers Killed on the Israeli-Egyptian Border The smugglers, trying to bring in weapons, appear killed by Egyptian fire By Gal Cohen, Jerusalem Post Online
Two people, whose identities remain unclear, were killed in a smuggling attempt in mid-February on the IsraeliEgyptian border. The IDF Spokespersons Unit says that the Israeli soldiers fired warning shots, but did not kill the smugglers. The incident occurred around 9:00 AM, a few kilometers from the Nitzana border crossing which separates the Israeli Negev from the Sinai Peninsula. Israeli and Egyptian soldiers identified the smuggling attempt and soon the smugglers and the Egyptian soldiers began firing. IDF soldiers were dispatched to the site of the incident, and fired warning shots designed to deter the smugglers. According to a preliminary investigation, the two men who were killed in the incident were shot by Egyptian soldiers, and not by Israeli fire, but the issue is still under investigation. The Sinai Peninsula area has become particularly sensitive in recent months, in the wake of jihadist activities against the Egyptian army in the region. Due to the worsening situation, the Egyptian army, in coordination with Israel, is strengthening their presence in the
region, and are trying to re-impose law and order on the peninsula. Just last month, 27 Egyptian soldiers were killed
in Sinai in an attack by jihadists. The border fence, which was established by the previous government,
and not all Muslims are terrorists. Our cousins, let us therefore leave behind our differences, stay away from evil and hatred, reject extremism and violence and refuse to accept bigotry." These messages are part of a larger social media campaign for peace and co-existence: Husseini's Facebook page is filled with messages in Arabic, Hebrew, English and French preaching non-violence. Among these is a condemnation of the deadly attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. Husseini describes the paper's satirical cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad as "ignorance," which he sees as an opportunity to explain to the world "the personality of the Prophet Mohammad and his universal message for all of humanity." separates Israel and Egypt for over 180 kilometers from the Gaza Strip to Taba. The fence has significantly reduced the number of Africans crossing into Israel illegally, and it makes it difficult for smugglers operating on both sides of the border.
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Jewish Federation of the Desert Offers Free Jewish Children’s Books to Local Jewish Children by Debbie Midcalf, Director, Tikvah Preschool
Jewish children in the Coachella Valley are eligible to receive free, ageappropriate Jewish-content children’s books each month. Any Jewish child from six months to 8 years old can be enrolled to receive the books in the mail. The program which was implemented locally by Tikvah Preschool and funded by the Jewish Federation of the Desert 5 years ago has now been expanded to offer books to children through age 8. “There’s no catch, no hidden agenda and the books are free” says Debbie Midcalf, Director of Tikvah Preschool in Palm Desert. “These are beautiful books that will enhance the Jewish life of any young family. The Jewish Federation of the Desert has generously expanded their funding so that we can offer the program to children through age 8.” It’s all part of The PJ Library, a national program created by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation in Massachusetts, implemented in partnership with hundreds of communities throughout North America. Locally, the Jewish Federation of the Desert funds the program, which mails out more than 100,000 books nationally. “PJ” stands for pajamas and PJ Library books turn snuggly bedtime moments into Jewish moments. Every month enrolled children receive a book or music CD in the mail. The books are beautifully illustrated and are about Jewish holidays, values, and folk tales. The books come with reading guides to help parents discuss and do activities with their children around the themes 10 • JCN • March 2015 • Adar/Nissan 5775 • www.jfedps.org
found in the books. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation pays about 60 percent of the cost of this amazing program and the Jewish Federation of Palm Springs pay the rest because they believe it’s important to get young Jewish families off to a great start. You don’t have to be a member of a synagogue, or any Jewish organization to get PJ Library books. This is for everyone—members, nonmembers, two Jewish parents or interfaith couples. If you don’t have children 6 months to 8 years old, be sure to tell a friend or neighbor who would benefit from this gift of history and heritage. The PJ Library is just one of the programs at Tikvah Preschool that the Jewish Federation of the Desert funds. It is with the support of donors like the Jewish Federation of the Desert that Tikvah Preschool is able to offer high quality Jewish education for children throughout the Coachella Valley. To see for yourself why Tikvah Preschool has earned the reputation as one of the best preschools in the Coachella Valley, you are invited to tour the early learning program at our Community Open House on Tuesday, March 17 at 9:30 am. You will see our program in action and experience the magic of childhood! Reservations are required. To sign up for the PJ Library or to make a reservation for Tikvah Preschool’s school tour contact Debbie Midcalf at (760)568-6779 or dmidcalf@templesinaipd.org. More information about the PJ Library can be found at www.pjlibrary.org.
MIT and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Approve Five Joint Projects for Funding In what is called the MIT-IsraelBGU Seed Fund, the two universities recently approved five joint research proposals for funding, supporting new collaborations between faculty and research scientists at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). BGU and MIT signed the agreement last May to create the MIT-BGU Seed Fund, which promotes and supports early-stage collaborations. It is the first seed fund that MIT has launched in Israel through its MIT International Science and Technology (MISTI) Initiative. The initial five collaborative projects are: 1. Self-Sustained Agriculture Based on Marginal Water -- Professor Jack Gilron (BGU), Dr. Naftali Lazarovitch (BGU), Professor David Faiman (BGU) and Professor Eilon Adar (BGU), Professor John Lienhard (MIT), Associate Professor Amos Winter (MIT). 2. Improving the Delivery of Treatments in Spinal Cord Injury Using Ultrasound – Prof. Joseph (Yosi) Kost (BGU), Professor Robert Langer (MIT), Timothy O'Shea (MIT). 3. Identification of Epigenetic Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Tomato Seed Germination -Associate Professor Aaron Fait (BGU) and Associate Professor Mary Gehring (MIT). 4. Guiding Students' Learning Using On-line Collaborative Annotation
Tools -- Dr. Yakov Gal (BGU) and Professor David Karger (MIT). 5. Channel Photocurrent Spectroscopy – Characterization Tool for Heterostructure Transistors -- Associate Professor Ilan Shalish (BGU) and Professor Jesus A. del Alamo (MIT). “We’re very excited about these early stage BGU-MIT collaborations that focus on our strengths in medical and environmental research,” says Doron Krakow, executive vice president, American Associates, Ben Gurion University of the Negev. “We look forward to promising results from this research and expanding the relationship between our two worldclass universities.” The MISTI (MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives) Global Seed Funds grant program promotes and supports earlystage collaborations between MIT researchers and their counterparts around the globe. Many of the joint projects they fund lead to additional grant awards and the development of valuable long-term relationships between international researchers and MIT faculty and students.
From its inception in 2005, the MISTI-MIT Israel program has recruited, selected and placed outstanding students in unique Israel
internship opportunities. In total, 40 MIT students from around the United States and dozens of other countries have had internships at BGU.
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Tribute Card Donations Sending tributes and memorials is a meaningful way to honor loved ones.
Honorarium Tributes –
In Appreciation For:
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Joy and Steve Appel, Happy Anniversary, from Barry and Leslie Usow.
All contributions received by the Jewish Federation for Tribute Cards are placed in our special Tzedakah Fund, which provides direct monetary intervention for needy Jews living in the Coachella Valley.
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Susan Konheim, Happy Birthday, from Harriet and Howard Bernstein, Sanford and Rosemary Hertz.
Memoriam Tributes –
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Bill and Cydney Osterman, Thank you from Jane and Larry Sherman, Barry and Leslie Usow.
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Mary Jo Pomerantz, Thank you from Rosemary Hertz.
Enid Busch, In memory of Donald Busch, from Joan B. Harris.
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Nancy Schechtman, Thank you from Rosemary Hertz.
Mrs. Sydney Bushman, In memory of your beloved husband, Ron, from Gail and Bob Scadron.
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Burt Chudacoff and Family, In memory of your beloved wife, Evette, from Ellen and Phil Glass, Joan B. Harris, Sanford and Rosemary Hertz, Ruth and Mal Kaufman
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Barbara Feldman, In memory of Leonard Feldman, from Ronald and Susan Cigelnik.
Merle Arenson, Thank you from Rosemary Hertz.
Condolences Sent To:
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Ellen Bakst, Thank you from Cora Ginsberg.
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Melisse Banwer, Congratulations on being recognized for your work, from Marcia and Rick Stein.
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Herb and Renee Schneider, Thank you from Leslie and Barry Usow.
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Sandra Borns, Happy Birthday from Harriet and Howard Bernstein, Dodie Cadiff, Ellen Glass, Cathy and Larry Pitts, and Susan Rappaport.
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Barbara and Till Segal, Thank you from Judy and Al Dorn.
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Joy Bratter, Happy Birthday, from Al Bloch and Fefe Passer.
Larry and Jane Sherman, Thank you from Joan and Pat Kerns, Barbara Schrayer and Cal Levin.
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Leslie and Lilo Cooper, Thank you from Jane and Larry Sherman, Lainie and Tom Weil.
Fred Simon, Happy Birthday, from Dorothy Goldstein
Family of Sandy Goldman, in memory of Sandy Goldman, from Sanford and Rosemary Hertz.
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Phyllis Eisenberg, Happy Birthday, from Marion Cowle, Bonnie McFarland, Lainie Weil and Dodie Cadiff.
Peter and Nan Tynberg, Thank you from Jane and Larry Sherman.
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Leslie and Barry Usow, Thank you from Jane and Larry Sherman.
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Bernie Fromm, Happy birthday, from Wendy and Steve Abrams.
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Lainie Weil, Happy Birthday from Judy and Marty Cohn.
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Ellen Glass, Thank you from Roberta Nyman.
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Cass Graff-Radford, Thank you from Rosemary Hertz.
Mr. and Mrs. William Wolshein, In honor of your great grandchild, from Renee and Herb Schneider.
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Judge David Ziskrout, Mazel tov on your 80th birthday, from Marnie Miller and Joe Noren.
Joan Holland, In memory of your beloved husband, Eli Glassman, from Harriet and Howard Bernstein, Judith and Elliott Cohen, Evie Edidin, Edith and Arnold Familian, Toni and Bobby Garmisa, Ellen and Phil Glass, Libby and Buddy Hoffman, Ruth and Mal Kaufman, Marnie Miller and Joe Noren, Roberta and Allan Nyman, Barbara Schrayer and Cal Levin, Gail and Bob Scadron, Marcia and Rick Stein, Lainie and Tom Weil.
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Steve and Shelly Zucker, Thank you from Toni and Bobby Garmisa, Ellen and Phil Glass, Eunice and Jerry Meister, Barbara Schrayer and Cal Levin.
Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Schwartz, In memory of your beloved mother, from Gail and Bob Scadron.
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Adrienne Slutske, Condolences on Joel’s passing, from Celia and Sandy Norian, Eileen and Robert Trainoff.
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Harriet Starr and Family, in memory of your beloved husband, Pat, from Ruth and Mal Kaufman.
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Beth Weisberg, In memory of your beloved husband, Eugene, from Dorothy Goldstein, Sanford and Rosemary Hertz, Ruth and Mal Kaufman, Gail and Howard Stone.
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Larry and Shirley Zipkin, In memory of your dear mother, Harriet Kronick, from Margot and Jerry Halperin, Barry and Leslie Usow.
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Jim and Peggy Greenbaum, Happy anniversary from Elise Essig.
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Joyce Gruenberg, Thank you from Rosemary Hertz.
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Stan Hack, Happy Birthday, from Ellen and Phil Glass.
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Loreen Jacobson, Thank you from Cora Ginsberg.
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Carol and Jerry Katzman, Thank you from Sanford and Rosemary Hertz.
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Carol Katzman, Happy birthday from Harriet and Howard Bernstein, Sanford and Rosemary Hertz.
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Joe Kirshenbaum, Happy Birthday from Fefe Passer and Joe Bloch.
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Bruce and Susan Konheim, Thank you from Sanford and Rosemary Hertz, Leslie and Barry Usow.
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Refuah Shleimah –
Get Well Wishes To:
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Jacqueline Rudman, best wishes for a speedy recovery, from Frances Horwich.
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Randy Tichauer, Wishing that each day brings your renewed strength, brighter times, and a healthier, happier you. Get well soon, from Bruce Landgarten, CEO, and the Jewish Federation Board.
Jewish Family Service of the Desert “Count on us… for life”
801 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 202 Palm Springs, CA 92262 73750 Catalina Way, Ste. A, Palm Desert, CA 92260 (760) 325-4088 • www.jfsdesert.org
Tolerance Education Center
MARCH IS WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
Jewish Family Service of the Desert is Pleased to Announce Our Exciting Upcoming Events:
Free movies are shown on Wednesdays at 10 am and 1:30 pm
“Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie.” Hosted by Lucie Arnaz March 2, 2015 – Annenberg Theater, Palm Springs Art Museum
March 4: Vera Drake (2004) 117 min. R Set in England during the 1950’s, Vera Drake assists women miscarry unwanted pregnancies. When authorizes find out, her world unravels.
Michael Childers Presents “One Night Only” April 22, 2015 – McCallum Theatre
March 11: Mama Drama: The Jewish Mother in Cinema (2001) 73 min. Combines film clips, cultural commentary, interviews with Hollywood and Israel filmmakers, exploring the image of the Jewish mother.
Contact JFS at 760-325-4088 for more information
PROGRAMS & SERVICES For further information about these services and others, please call the JFS office, 760-325-4088.
March 18: Winter’s Bone (2001) 1000 min. R Ozark teen breaks code of silence to protect her family. March 25: Iron Jawed Angels (2004) 1223 min. NR Defiant young activists take the women’s suffrage movement by storm, putting their lives at risk to help American women win the right to vote.
COUNSELING & FAMILY SUPPORT: Experienced therapists help individuals, couples, and families address life's challenges.
DESERT HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL
Exhibit Opening & Reception
SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM: JFS counselors serve elementary school children in Palm Springs Unified School District with on-site counseling and now with a new 5th grade curriculum to teach drug refusal and interpersonal skills to prepare them for success in middle school. SOLUTIONS FOR SENIORS: Serves older adults to maintain independence and help them enjoy a higher quality of life.
ENCOUNTERING WOMEN Photos by Evelene Wechsler Saturday, March 7, 2015 4:00 – 7:00 pm
BEREAVEMENT GROUP: Free to the local community. This group meets every Wednesday at the JFS Palm Springs office, 3.30-5.00 p.m. FRIENDLYVISITORS: JFS volunteers visit home bound seniors to provide companionship and support. For more information please call 760-779-9400 Ext. 204. SHABBAT- IN- A- BAG: JFS volunteers provide companionship and celebration during the Shabbat observance to home bound seniors. For more information please call 760-7799400 Ext. 204. CAFÉ EUROPA GROUP: Social programming for holocaust survivors. Transportation available, for dates, times & more information please call 760-779-9400 Ext. 204.
The Desert Holocaust Memorial is located in the Palm Desert Civic Center Park at San Pablo Avenue & Fred Waring Drive. Residents and visitors are encouraged to visit this moving memorial, a place of remembrance and monument of hope.
LET’S DO LUNCH! PROGRAM: Bimonthly activity program for homebound or isolated seniors. Participants take part in social activities; transportation and lunch are provided. Some restrictions apply. Please call Lisa Schmid for further information and to register 760-779-9400 Ext. 205.
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Shabbat and Weekday Service Information Check the websites or call for times of services. BETH SHALOM (Member, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism) Ken Hailpern, Spiritual Leader 79-733 Country Club Drive, Bermuda Dunes, CA 92203 bethshalom18.wordpress.com, 760-200-3636 8 pm Friday/9:30 am Saturday Shabbat Services. 8:30 am Monday & Thursday Morning Minyan, followed by light breakfast. Wednesday, March 4 – 7:00 pm. Megillah reading followed by hamantashen & refreshments. CENTRO CULTURAL HEBREO DE MEXICALI (Conservative) Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico Contact: Ron Cohen www.judiosdemexicali.com 760-960-3392 US (686) 216-7152 Mexico CHABAD OF PALM SPRINGS & DESERT COMMUNITIES Rabbi Yonason Denebeim 425 Ortega, Palm Springs, CA 92264 www.chabadpalmsprings.com,
760-325-0774 Shabbat services Friday/Saturday; daily morning and evening minyan. Wednesday, March 4: “Purim Live” costume party at Aleph Academy in Palm Desert. Adults $18; children $10. RSVP: 760-413-4425. CHABAD OF PALM DESERT A project of Chabad of Palm Springs & Desert Communities Rabbi Mendy Friedman www.chabadpd.com, 760-969-2153 / 760-969-2158 CHABAD OF RANCHO MIRAGE A project of Chabad of Palm Springs & Desert Communities Rabbi Shimon Posner 72295 Via Marta, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 www.chabadrm.com, 760-770-7785 Shabbat services Friday/10 am Saturday; daily morning and evening minyan. Check website for service times. Thursday, March 5 – 4:45 pm Megillah reading 5:15 pm dinner and “Purim A Paris” dinner and Purim celebration at Westin Mission Hills Resort. RSVP before
February 26: Adults $25; children $15; afterwards price goes up a $1 a day. Special family prices. Call for information. CONGREGATION HAR-EL (Member, Union for Reform Judaism) Rabbi Richard Zionts 47-535 Hwy 74, Palm Desert, CA 92260 harelurj@aol.com, 760-779-1691 5 pm Friday evening Shabbat Service, followed by speaker or discussion. CONGREGATION SHALOM BAYIT (Reform) Rabbis Larry and Linda Seidman 1320 Williams Ave., Banning Contact 951-769-3678/769-7514 Shabbat Service 3rd Friday/ Havdallah 1st Saturday evening. Desert Hot Springs Monthly Friday Shabbat Service with Rabbi Faith Tessler September through May. Contact 760-324-4737 for more information.
TEMPLE ISAIAH (Conservative) Rabbi Sally Olins 332 West Alejo Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262 www.templeisaiahps.com, 760-325-2281 7:30 pm Friday/10 am Saturday Shabbat Services; morning minyan Mondays & Thursdays - 8:30 am. Thursday, March 5 – 10 am. Megillah reading followed by holiday brunch. TEMPLE SINAI (Reform) Rabbi Andrew Bentley 73-251 Hovley Lane West, Palm Desert www.templesinaipd.org, 760-568-9699 7:30 pm Friday/10 am Saturday Shabbat Services Friday, March 20 - 6 pm “Israeli” Shabbat Dinner followed by 7:30 pm Shabbat Zimra. BIKUR CHOLIM A project of Chabad of Palm Springs & Desert Communities (Community Outreach) Rabbi Yankel Kreiman www.BikurCholimPS.com, 760-325-8076
March Community Calendar Sunday, March 1 3:00 pm Temple Isaiah Lecture Series: Bryan Fogel, co-writer of the off-Broadway megahit comedy “Jewtopia.” At Temple Isaiah. $18 or $40 for series. See ad page 5 for more information. Monday, March 2 Jewish Family Service presents “Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie” at the Annenberg Theatre at the Palm Springs Art Museum. Call JFS 760325-4088 for information and reservations.
Monday, March 2, 9, 16, 23 7:00 pm Chabad of Rancho Mirage Men’s Torah Class with Rabbi Benny Lew. For more information call 760-6362897 or emailrabbibenny@ chabadrm.com. Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 10:00 am Mamaloshen at Sinai. Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 1:00 pm Temple Sinai Adult Education “The Wisdom of the Talmud” led by Rabbi Andrew Bentley. Course: Current – June. $36 members/$72 non-members.
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Drop in fee for individual session $5 members/$7 non-members. Call 760-568-9699. Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24 5:00-7:00 pm Chabad Rancho Mirage’s weekly BBQ. Reservations not required, but helpful: 760-770-7785. Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25 9:00 am Temple Sinai Introduction to Judaism. Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25 10:00 am and 1:30 pm Tolerance Education Center free movies. See page 15 for March movie schedule.
Wednesday, March 4 10:00 am Women’s Philanthropy Education Day with Dr. Tal Becker. UCR Palm Desert Auditorium. $25. See page 2 for details. Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25 10:30-11:30 am and 6:307:30 pm Chabad of Rancho Mirage Torah and Tea. A weekly journey into the soul of Torah. Call 760-770-7785. Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25 12 Noon Temple Sinai Lunch and Limud.
March Community Calendar Continued Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25 1:30 pm Temple Sinai Bereavement Group. Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25 3:30-5:00 pm Jewish Family Service Jewish Bereavement Group. Meets weekly at the JFS Palm Springs Office, 801 East Tahquitz Canyon. Free to local community and reservations not required. Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25 4:00 pm Temple Isaiah Adult Education Class “The Song of Songs” led by Rabbi Sally Olins. Call 760-844-7302 for more information. Wednesday, March 4, 11, 18 4:00-5:30 pm Har-El Galen Trimester Course “Three Short Books of the Bible: Esther, Lamentations and Ruth.” Presenter: Professor Marvin Sweeney, Claremont School of Theology. Fee. See “The Sage” cartoon ad, page 14 for registration information. Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25 5:30 pm Temple Isaiah Beginning Hebrew. Instructor: Rabbi Sally Olins. Call 760-844-7302 for more information. Thursday, March 5 9:00 am Tamar and Sun City Hadassah Groups joint continental breakfast meeting at Sunset View Clubhouse, Sun City. Program: Author Maggie Anton will speak on her latest book, “Enchantress.” $7.
Thursday, March 5, 12, 19, 26 1:00 pm Temple Sinai Adult Education: “Kabbalah” led by Rabbi Andrew Bentley. Course: March – June. $36 members/$72 non-members. Drop in fee for individual session $5 members/ $7 non-members. Call 760-568-9699. Friday, March 6 Follows 5 pm service: Har-El Discussion Series: Presenter: Len Kapner, “Making Something Out of Nothing – Creating a High Tech Hub in the Desert.” Saturday, March 7 4:00 – 7:00 pm Tolerance Education Center Exhibit Opening and Reception “Encountering Women” – photos of Evelene Wechsler See ad page 15. Sunday, March 8 9:00 am JNF Breakfast for Israel. Speaker: IDF Major General Doron Almog. Complimentary event but registration required. Call 760-864-6208, ext. 961 or email nrodgers@jnf.org. Sunday, March 8 4:00 pm Mensch Foundation program honoring the 10th anniversary of the death of Mossad Agent Peter Malkin. Speakers: Professors Michael Bazyler and Stanley Goldman, and Steve Geiger. US Riverside/Palm Desert Campus. See ad page 10 for details. $15. RSVP 760-416-3685.
Monday, March 9 7:00 pm Second of Temple Isaiah Speaker Series: Matthew Levitt, expert on Islamist terrorism “Perfect Storm: Syria, Iraq and the Foreign Fighter Phenomenon.” At UC Riverside/Palm Desert Campus Auditorium. $18 or $40 for series. Free for Coachella Valley college students. See ad page 5.
Monday, March 16 10:30-11:45 am Har-El Galen Monthly Book Course. “My Promised Land” by Avi Shalit, reviewed by Rabbi Richard Zionts, Ph.D.. Registration required. Call 760-779-1691 or email harelurj@gmail.com.
Tuesday, March 10 11:00 am Mensch Foundation presents Gabriella Karin and Michele Gold speaking about the kindertransport and their book “Memories That Won’t Go Away.” Tolerance Education Center. $10. See ad page 10. RSVP to 760-416-3685.
Thursday, March 19 4:00 pm Beth Shalom Book Club Discussion: “In the Garden of Beasts” by Erik Larson. Discussion led by Bill Amplo. Call 760-200-3636 for information.
Thursday, March 12 5:00 pm Tolerance Education Center: Patti Gallagher Returns, singing 60 years of hits! $20. RSVP to 660-328-8252. See ad page15. Thursday, March 12 5:30 pm Temple Sinai Brotherhood Dinner and Movie: Dinner $15; movie and popcorn only $5. RSVP to 760-568-9699. Friday, March 13 6:00 pm Jewish Federation LGBT Alliance Dinner See page 4. Saturday, March 14 6:00 pm Temple Sinai Cabaret: Cocktail supper and entertainment. Entertainment: Song styling of Randy Tichauer and comedy of Marty Ross. $50. See ad page 7. For information and reservations call 760-568-9699.
Tuesday, March 17 11:00 am Temple Sinai Sisterhood Book Club
Sunday, March 22 12:30 pm Beth Shalom “Up and Close with Federation” Brunch and Conversation with Celia Norian and Bruce Landgarten. Reservations necessary by March 17: 760- 200-3636. Tuesday, March 24 11:00 am Temple Sinai Sisterhood luncheon. Tuesday, March 24 and Wednesday, March 25 Temple Isaiah presents the Jewish Film Festival – 2 days/8 movies, at the Camelot Theatres, Palm Springs. Films at 10:30 am, 1:30 pm & 4:30 pm. See ad page 8. Series passes available now. Sunday, March 29 4:00 pm Temple Isaiah presents “A Cavalcade of Cantors” with Hazzan Alberto Mizrahi and Friends. Tickets: $35, $50 and $100. See ad page 9. Call 760-325-2281 for reservations.
JCN • March 2015 • Adar/Nissan 5775 • www.jfedps.org • 17
Israelis, Palestinians Join Forces to Explore Local Flowers to Combat Cancer, Diabetes By Betty Ilovici, No Camels
Tropical rain forests are home to plants that have been used in 65 percent of promising anticancer drugs. Now, it turns out that medicinal flowers grow in the Mediterranean climate as well. In the last three years, Israeli and Palestinian researchers have joined
efforts to discover the untapped potential of plant diversity in the Mediterranean Basin. Throughout their study, the researchers gathered plants from different regions across Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and discovered plant properties to be used in the treatment of diabetes, infections and viral diseases, but also for cosmetic uses. The collaborative research project, named Bio-Xplore, was led by Professor Bertold Fridlender and Dr. Gili Joseph from Hadassah Academic College in Israel. Under their instruction, Israeli, Palestinian, Greek and Spanish researchers screened thousands of plant samples and analyzed plant properties such as antioxidant, antiviral, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer and anti-fungal agents. Much of the information about the medicinal uses of plants was based on folklore and traditional medicine. Joseph spoke to members of Arab communities, who passed information from generation to generation, about these medicinal plants. Her goal was to further these traditions and use science to
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identify the materials and active ingredients with health benefits, which led her to study more than 4,000 plant samples with a wide range of medicinal activities. “We need to take the results from the screening of plant species and continue investigating their uses at different concentrations, while verifying that they are nontoxic,” Joseph tells NoCamels. “If we are able to identify compounds that are active, we can develop new drugs and even over- the- counter products.” During the study, researchers discovered that what they needed to treat chronic illness was at the tips of their fingers. Diseases such as diabetes, which affects over 347 million people worldwide according to the World Health Organization, can be addressed using the rich plant diversity of the region. An example of such, the Senecio flower, a genus of the daisy family, is a plant found in almost every field in Israel. It was found to have properties essential to the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. According to Fridlender, his research will give some new leads on molecules that can be developed into new drugs. “These materials in plants can be used in cosmetics, the veterinarian industry, and as food additives. They open up a number of possibilities for enhancing human health and wellness.” Despite the medicinal treasures found in nature, in recent years many pharmaceutical companies have chosen to stick to synthetic chemicals in their products. This is because they are not as difficult to acquire and test, unlike plant species which may be found in
remote regions or may require cooperation with native populations who have used them traditionally for centuries. In order to reach out to native populations, a rare collaboration was created and funded by the European Union, which aimed to encourage cooperation among various Mediterranean countries. The 2 million euro grant from the EU was given for the advancement of pharmaceutical research, but also in order to fuel regional communication, as well as economic development and wellbeing. The future of the project lies in further examinations of the antibacterial properties of plants, but also in establishing relationships with the local industry and increasing scientific collaboration across borders. In addition to the EU grant, the researchers have been awarded a grant by the Israeli Ministry of Health to create a center of excellence which will develop antibiotics from plants – a promising project that is expected to reach scientific breakthroughs, according to the research team. The center will also further multinational collaborations, much like the BioXplore project. “We have a national treasure that is simply unused,” Fridlender says about medicinal flowers. “We need to develop a cultivation system for the plants to be converted into medicinal products, while also protecting the environment.” Commenting on the crosscultural collaboration, Fridlender says: “Even though we were all exposed to the political issues, we were able to overcome those issues and work for common objectives. The language of science allowed us to create a bridge of communication.”
Israeli Gas Fuel Tech Could Power Future Chryslers, Fiats
Israel’s alternative fuels initiative has entered into a deal with several of the world’s largest vehicle makers to help develop gas-based fuels By David Shamah, The Times of Israel
Developing alternative fuels remains a priority of governments, start-ups and automobile manufacturers, who sell more vehicles when the fuel that runs them is cheaper. It’s to that end that the Israel Fuel Choices Initiative (IFCI), a project of the Prime Minister’s Office, signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Iveco (a Brand of CNH Industrial) and Magneti Marelli (FCA Group) for cooperation in the development of natural-gas based technologies, developing fuels for cars, trucks and buses, based on gas. Launched in 2011, IFCI seeks to make Israel a leader in alternative energies for transportation, including developing electrical, biofuel, hydrogen, natural gas, and other fuel solutions for vehicles. The group includes representatives of nine government ministries. And Eyal Rosner, chairman and director of IFCI, is a sort of “godfather,” coordinating the activities, the funding, and the development of technologies such as fuel cells, electric vehicles, hybrids,
biodiesel-fueled vehicles, ethanol/ methanol fuel, and even algae fuel. While alternatives exist for electricity production — the government’s plan, which is currently behind schedule, is to have 10-20% of the country’s electricity produced from non-fossil fuel sources by 2020 — gasoline refined from oil has a near monopoly as a transportation fuel: 96% of the vehicles in the world are powered by gas engines. For many countries, oil for transportation takes a huge chunk of the national GDP (oil accounts for nearly 20% of Israel’s total imports), and oil in transportation is estimated to be the source of about 25% of greenhouse gases. So there are good reasons for the world to be interested in alternative fuels and IFCI seeks to make Israel a center of that effort. According to the group’s strategic plan, “we intend to make use of Israel’s strengths, including its interdisciplinary nature and Israeli entrepreneurs’ operational agility, as well as the research power and the exceptional cooperation between academic research bodies
S&P Reaffirms Israel's A+ Credit Rating
Said the elections are not expected to influence the economy. By Omri Ariel, Jerusalem Online
On February 13th Standard & Poor's Ratings Services approved Israel's foreign currency credit rating and left it unchanged at A+, with a "stable outlook." This is the third time Israel's credit rating is reaffirmed since
and industry” to turn the country into a world showplace of alternative fuel development and deployment. According to the group, “In order to jump-start the development of solutions and to catalyze a global move toward alternative fuels, we are turning Israel into a test bed, which, together with the technological activity in the country, will attract partners from throughout the world. International cooperation is an important component of our activities. A global-scale problem requires global-scale collaboration to be overcome.” One good example is the Phinergy aluminum-air battery for electric vehicles, which solves a major problem of electric vehicles — the short range of travel provided by batteries before a recharge is needed. The Phinergy battery allows a threefold increase in travel range over a regular electric vehicle, and weighs much less than conventional batteries. U.S. President Barack Obama, on his 2013 visit to Israel, reviewed the Phinergy technology and
recommended that the company get in touch “with Ford or GM about this.” In the new deal, IFCI will coordinate with Fiat Chrysler, Iveco, and Magneti Marelli to develop natural-gas based fuels. The sides are also discussing the possibility of establishing an extended R&D cooperation program involving Israeli companies in fields related to alternative fuels, smart mobility and other automotive-industry related activities. The organizations will discuss timetables and specifics in meetings over the coming months, as they negotiate a final deal. According to IFCI, its new partners “are strongly committed to reducing the environmental impact of road transport and this is a key pillar of their highly ranked sustainability policies.”
defense budget next year, regardless of the election's results, due to the high level of intensity along its borders.
S&P representatives visited Israel 8 months ago, Finance Ministry officials stated. This announcement comes after several weeks of talks between the company representatives and Finance Ministry and Israel Bank officials, concerning Israel's policies regarding its economy management. The company's analysts complimented Israel on its "strong fiscal policy", and concluded that the results of the upcoming elections should not influence Israel's positive economic growth. They also said they expect Israel to have to raise its JCN • March 2015 • Adar/Nissan 5775 • www.jfedps.org • 19
Community Schools
Shalom
RELIGIOUS/HEBREW SCHOOLS
Aleph Academy A Project of Jewish Sunshine Circle Director: Shaindy Friedman 73-550 Santa Rosa Way, Palm Desert, Ca. 92260 alephacademy.org • 760-413-4425
Temple Sinai Director: Leslie Pepper 73-251 Hovley Lane West, Palm Desert, CA 92260 www.templesinaipd.org • 760-568-9699
NURSERY SCHOOL
Temple Sinai Tikvah Pre-School Director: Debbie Midcalf • 24 mos - Pre-K 73-251 Hovley Lane West, Palm Desert, CA 92260 760-568-6779
To apply for Emergency Funds from the
TZEDAKAH Shalom The finest in Jewish Living FUND call the Jewish Federation 760-324-4737
20 • JCN • March 2015 • Adar/Nissan 5775 • www.jfedps.org
Five Years Post-Quake, Israel is Still Helping Haiti Heal
IsraAID runs a medical facility, an agriculture program, a youth empowerment center and a gender violence prevention program for Haitian women By Abigail Klein Leichman, Israel 21c
Within 24 hours of the severe earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12, 2010, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a 220-person team of rescuers, disaster-management experts and medical personnel. Myriad Israeli governmental and nongovernmental organizations joined in the difficult work of treating physical and psychological wounds and getting the island country back on its feet. Five years later, Israeli humanitarians are still on the ground helping Haitians rebuild their lives and communities. “Today, five years later, we remember the victims and renew our commitment and dedication to helping the survivors,” said IsraAID Director Shachar Zahavi. IsraAID, The Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid, is always one of the first relief groups to respond to disasters across the globe. Its policy is to stay on the ground after the emergency to create and implement an infrastructure of
programs to rehabilitate the affected community, leaving only once those programs are functioning in the hands of local residents trained by IsraAID. That’s why you’ll still find IsraAID workers in Japan, for example, nearly four years after a deadly earthquake and tsunami. They are also currently assisting in areas of crisis including Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, the Philippines, China, Hong Kong and South Korea. In Haiti the organization’s focus is getting people resettled at home. Of the 1.5 million citizens initially displaced by the earthquake, an estimated 85,000 remain in temporary tent cities.
IDF Destroys Another Tunnel into Gaza By Gal Cohen, Jerusalem Online
Operation Protective Edge in Gaza ended six months ago, but in mid February another tunnel from the Gaza Strip into Israel was destroyed. The IDF recently completed a planned military operation to finish destroying the rest of the tunnel. The force that operated the destruction of the tunnel worked in Israel, close to Kibbutz Nahal Oz, which is near the border. The tunnel route was in IDF control before the destruction. During the destruction, the IDF identified a number of old weapons in the area. After completing the destruction of the tunnel, Southern Command forces continue to consolidate and strengthen the protection of the area around Gaza.
“We have been running a medical facility, an agriculture program to help returning families earn a livelihood, a youth empowerment center to help teens reintegrate into the community, and a gender violence program for women who were abused in the [tent cities],” Zahavi says. Gradually, each of these programs is being turned over to Haitian NGOs. “Some have been transferred entirely. Others we’re still monitoring and advising,” says Zahavi. “We’ve downsized because most of the staff is local now. We have a small team there, and experts from Israel come as needed to provide training.” At least 230,000 Haitians died as a result of the 2010 earthquake, and 300,000 people were injured. In addition to tens of thousands still unable to return home, Haiti has been further devastated by a cholera epidemic in these past five years. Zahavi explains that most of the money needed for IsraAID programs in
Haiti is donated by Jewish Federations in North America. “We have also won some contracts with different international aid organizations that saw the work we do, like several UN agencies and the International Red Cross. This happens in other parts of the world, too,” Zahavi relates. Zahavi cannot say when IsraAID will cease its work in the island nation altogether. “We always have an exit strategy, though right now we have no idea how long we’ll stay in Haiti,” Zahavi says. “It depends on the success of the programs and how fast the local NGOs will be able to integrate them. We are not a hit-andrun organization; we stay on longer term to help disaster victims rebuild their lives. There is more than enough Israeli capacity and knowhow to do this.”
Dome system. 4,762 terrorist targets were attacked by the IDF, 900 terrorists were killed, and 32 tunnels were destroyed.
Operation Protective Edge Statistics Operation Protective Edge, which ended in August, and lasted 50 days, killed 67 officers and soldiers, and 5 civilians. 3,356 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israeli cities, an average of 115.7 rockets per day. 2,542 of which fell in open areas and 116 in built up areas. In the operation, there were 119 failed launches, 578 rockets were intercepted by the Iron JCN • March 2015 • Adar/Nissan 5775 • www.jfedps.org • 21
Darling), on having published her second children’s book “Miranda the Panda.” It is already in the Tikvah Nursery School Library and is available in gift shops around the Flora & Rabbi Daniel Kripper desert. Many Just heard that Rabbi Daniel and will remember Flora Kripper, will be visiting our her charming community March 12-18. He was first book “The the spiritual leader of Beth Shalom Hole Story” that Dr. Linda E. Coco a dozen or so years ago, and all we featured in who knew them have fond, warm our December memories. Baruchim Habayim! 2010 Simchas ... Mazel Tov to Linda Welcome back! ... Congratulations E. Coco, JD. PhD., daughter of Mary to Ruth Kritzik-Gassner, (alias Ruthie Coco, stepdaughter of Shaun Casey,
on being granted tenure on February 6, 2015, at the Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, at Barry University in Orlando, FL. Dr. Coco received her JD from the University of Maryland, Baltimore while working for Ralph Nader in Washington, D.C., and her doctorate in Legal Anthropology from UC Berkley ... Renee Glickman is rightfully bursting with pride over the recent accomplishments of her grandchildren. 17 year old grandson Myles Silverman, one of three top snowboarders in the United States in the 20-and-under division, has been invited to represent the United States in the International Ski Federation’s World Junior Championships in Yabuli, China March 6-12. Meanwhile, his sister Maisie plays college tennis, and she and her partner won silver in
the recent Open Mixed Doubles National Tournament ... Chabad of Palm Springs’ March 4th “Purim Live” costume party has announced a wonderful group of costume judges for their event, drawing from around our local Jewish community: Pearl White (98 years young), Shirley Shapiro, Yair Sherman and Rabbi Andrew Bentley! ... and did you notice Chabad of Rancho Mirage’s brilliant way to encourage getting reservations in a timely manner for what sounds like a fabulous Purim celebration on March 5th, “Purim a Paris”? Their reservation deadline is February 26 and for every day after that date the price will go up $1.00. What a great idea! ...Share your Simchas with us. Call Miriam Bent at 760-323-0255 or email her at mhbentjcn@earthlink.net.
KRISTINE A. KAUFFMAN - SENIOR CARE SPECIALIST. Driving for appointments, shopping, dining, etc; Errands (groceries, banking, etc); Bill paying and other miscellaneous tasks; Companionship. Dog sitting, walking. References available. 4-hour minimum 760-902-3490.
CAREGIVING OR CHILDCARE POSITION WANTED. Certified Gentle Yoga Teacher for seniors and children. Retired teacher – can offer tutoring for reading skills and English. Home care: Healthy meals include Shabbat Dinner. Transportation, light housekeeping, laundry. Organized. Detail oriented. Compassionate and sensitive. How can I be of assistance to you? Call Dina at 760-565-1320.
CAREGIVER AVAILABLE. Let me give you a helping hand at a reasonable rate. Experienced in personal care. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Stroke cases. Cooking, errands and light housekeeping. Strong. Reliable. References and background check available. 760-668-6764.
Simchas
Classifieds C O N G R E G AT I O N H A R - E L WELCOMES YOU to their 25th S h a b b a t E ve L e c t u r e S e r i e s coordinated by Dr. Harold Linstone. Lectures follow 5 PM Shabbat Eve services. Friday, March 6, 2015: Len Kapner on “Making Something Out of Nothing: Creating a Hi Tech Hub in the California Desert.” Friday, April 17, 2015: Joel Kocen on “Bringing a New Technology to the World.” Shabbat Services 5 PM followed by lecture, discussion and Oneg. No registration required. For information pertaining to Galen Trimester Courses, Special Events, Passover Seder and Guest Speakers call: 760-779-1691 or E-mail: harelurj@gmail.com.
PERSONAL ASSISTANT/PERSONAL AFFAIRS MANAGER Excellent local references. Bill paying, reconcile bank statement, run errands, drive to appointment. Computer help: MS Office, QuickBooks, emails. N o t a r y. 2 h o u r s m i n i m u m . Trustworthy, discreet, dependable. 760-408-5260. DOOR PROS We specialize in repair of garage doors, sliding glass and screen doors. Reasonable pricing. Same day service. Fully insured and licensed #889442. 760-360-9300.
Candle Lighting Times Friday, March 6 Friday, March 13 Friday, March 20 Friday, March 27
Shabbat Ki Tisa Shabbat Vayakel-Pekudei Shabbat Vayikra Shabbat Tzav
5:04 pm 6:10 pm * 6:15 pm 6:21 pm
* Daylight savings time begins March 8th LETTERS TO THE EDITOR WELCOMED The Jewish Community News welcomes letters to the editor Publication will be based on appropriateness of material and available space, at the discretion of the editorial staff. We reserve the right to edit submissions. Submit letters of 250 words or less by e-mail to: mhbentjcn@earthlink.net, fax to 760-320-6085 or mail to the Jewish Federation, 69-710 Hwy. 111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, attn: Editor, JCN. 22 • JCN • March 2015 • Adar/Nissan 5775 • www.jfedps.org
DAVID’S CONSTRUCTION Conscientious licensed, insured, bonded, general contractor. Catering to all your home repair needs. No job too small or big. Room additions, remodeling, patio covers, decks, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, masonry, drywall, cement, wood floors, tile, fences, painting, sprinklers, landscaping, swamp coolers, custom homes and more. License #506-370. davidsconstruction@ ymail.com 760-671-4476 .
TEMPLE SINAI GIFT SHOP: One of a kind and largest Judaica shop here in the desert. For all your traditional needs and unique gift items. Special orders available. For information call the Temple office, 760-568-9699. JFS VOLUNTEERS WELCOME: JFS has rewarding volunteer opportunities available and is now accepting applications for the following positions: Let’s Do Lunch! Program Driver, Let’s Do Lunch! Program Volunteer, Friendly Visitor, JFS Express Senior Ride Transportation driver, Front Office Assistant. For more information contact 760-779-9400 Ext. 204.
We Mourn the Passing of... Gertrude Brody, Joyce Cohn, Leonard Feldman, Eli Glassman, Marjorie Becker Goldstein, Louis Greif, Stanley Guttman, Laura Lee Patt Lewison, Burton Miller, Gene Weisberg. Our deepest sympathies to their families and friends. May their memories endure as a blessing.
Laugh out Loud Stories in the news that bring a smile!
IT’S ALL WHAT YOU’RE USED TO After plummeting temperatures and precipitation blanketed the Jerusalem Hills in snow, Israeli TV noted that the ISIS Effect has turned the world upside down - the news from Israel focused on the weather, the news from France on terrorism. Israel HaYom journalist Adi Rubinstein commented dryly on panicked media reports about a little snow that “in Israel, daily salvos of rockets are tagged “a drizzle” (tiftuf) while the first sign of snow flurries is labelled “a storm” (se’ufa)! IN THE DRINK When an Israeli woman entered a posh hotel on the Dead Sea to attend a Ladies’ Day event she was ‘run over’ by a harried waiter, spilling the hot coffee she was carrying, all over herself. The hotel claimed the mishap happened in a crowded lobby, arguing that anyone stupid enough to pour a cup of hot coffee under such circumstances “exposes themselves to the dangers involved.” The judge ruled otherwise, awarding the victim 44,500 NIS ($12,714) in damages saying the hotel had been stupid enough to set up the table with refreshments near the entrance to the crowded lobby and therefore management was the guilty party on all counts – establishing a new definition’ for the term ‘tourist trap.’ ONLY DUST IN THE WIND? When Israel was battered by a four-day gigantic unseasonal sand storm from the Sahara in mid-February, commentators were divided: Was the freak phenomenon a blessing or a curse? Columnist Yonatan Yavin exclaimed “the dust-laden air was a cover-up that made Israel’s multiplicity of flaws invisible from the distance of a meter.” Climatologist Tel-Aviv University Professor Pinchas Albert explained the strange weather was a blessing in disguise: An estimated 30-50 million metric tons of fine dust dumped in Israel’s and neighboring countries’ turf in the short space of four days was a kind of free ‘topping fertilizer’ from North Africa rich in nutrients – a windfall that would be washed into the soil the next time it rained, nurturing trees and plants across the region. (Yediot, London & Kirshenbaum - Channel 10) BIOLOGICAL WARFARE When Niv Artzieli was demobilized from conscript service he was allowed to take his closest Army buddy Norris home with him. Niv took the 10 yearold veteran from the IDF’s K-9 Corps back with him to moshav Fatza’el** in the Jordan valley, where the former dog trainer taught the retired German Shepherd to find another type of infiltrator than he was used to – a nasty Asian weevil that bores into palm trees at the base and lay eggs. When the larvae hatch they eat away at the trunk from the inside, causing hollowedout palm trees to suddenly collapse without warning. Up until now the only way to pinpoint ‘sick trees’ was with a doctor’s stethoscope – checking each tree for ‘munching sounds’ – one-by-one. Unleashed in a palm plantation, Norris makes a bee line for infested trees and bites scratches and licks the trunk. Artzieli hopes to establish a kennel which will raise and train dogs for this new form of biological warfare. (Yediot, Haaretz)
Have A Nosh With Miriam
...and nosh some hamantashen
By Miriam H. Bent
Erev Purim is Wednesday, March 4th and if you have been afraid to make hamantashen because the thought of working with dough was daunting, please try this recipe! It’s from my mother-in-law and it is marvelously easy to work with. For fillings I am giving you a very traditional Lekvar (cooked prune) filling and two new variations. I have no idea who Rabbi Olitzky is/was, but the recipe that bears his name is super easy, plus anything with chocolate chips is always good! The Ricotta Pomegranate recipe has an appealing tart-sweet taste that I think you’ll enjoy. Chag Purim Sameyach ... Happy Purim! MHB
Goldie’s Honey Dough 1/3 cup Crisco 2½ teaspoons baking powder ½ cup sugar ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ cup honey 1 Tablespoon lemon juice 2 eggs, beaten ½ teaspoon grated lemon rind 2½ cups flour Preheat oven to 350̊. Thoroughly cream the Crisco and sugar together. Add honey. Beat in eggs, lemon juice and lemon rind. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt, then stir into the egg mixture and form into a soft dough. Toss lightly on a floured board. Roll out to ¼ inch thickness and cut into circles. Fill with desired filling, pinch into triangles and bake for 18 to 20 minutes at 350̊ F. until brown.
Lekvar - Prune Filling 2 cups pitted prunes 1 cup water 1/4 cup orange juice
1 tsp orange zest 1/4 tsp salt 1/3 cup brown sugar
Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan except for the brown sugar. Stir and bring to a boil for one minute. Reduce heat to medium low so the mixture simmers slowly and constantly. Cover the pot. Let the mixture simmer covered for 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Remove the lid from the pan. Let the prunes continue to simmer for 3-5 more minutes, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid has evaporated/absorbed. Keep a close eye on the pan to make sure the prunes don't burn. When there are about 3 tbsp of liquid left in the pan, remove from heat. Stir the brown sugar into the prune mixture till brown sugar melts and dissolves. Mash the prune mixture with a potato masher till a smooth puree forms. You can also use an immersion blender for a smoother puree. Let cool to room temperature before using. Store in a sealed, airtight container in the refrigerator. Refrigerating the filling to chill completely will make it easier to work with when filling hamantashen. Makes 2 cups filling.
Rabbi Olitzky’s Chocolate Cream Cheese Filling 1½ cups brown sugar 6 oz. cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup chocolate chips
Cut the cream cheese into small chunks. Mix ingredients until well combined. Chill until ready to use.
Ricotta Pomegranate Filling 2 cups ricotta cheese 1 egg yolk ¼ cup superfine sugar 2 teaspoons pomegranate molasses
½ tsp. vanilla extract 1 level Tablespoon cornstarch ½ cup golden raisins
Place the ricotta in a mixing bowl. Beat in egg yolk, sugar, pomegranate molasses, vanilla and cornstarch. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the raisins. Chill until ready to use. JCN • March 2015 • Adar/Nissan 5775 • www.jfedps.org • 23
HELP US ANSWER THE NEEDS OF THE JEWISH WORLD Our Jewish Federation in the desert has been supporting, sustaining and revitalizing Jewish life for over half a century. Today our work is far from finished. And we need your support. Your contribution helps to care for our entire Jewish community, enabling us to use your gift whenever it’s needed most … at home, in Israel and around the world. With our 2015 campaign underway, we ask that you give generously. The needs are great. The time is now.
OF PALM SPRINGS & DESERT AREA
The Strength of a People. The Power of Community. 69-710 Highway 111 Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 760-324-4737 • www.jfedps.org