A Jewish camp in Maine is actually opening. Here’s how it plans to keep COVID-19 away

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Love doesn’t self-quarantine for Arlington woman’s 98th birthday

By Kayla Steinberg Special to WJW

There was no skimping on Erika Robinson’s 98th birthday. Calls poured in from her adoring children, grandchildren and friends as Robinson noshed on a massive breakfast whipped up by her full-time caregiver, Zenaida “Zeny” Belcher. But that wasn’t all.

Robinson’s friend Beth Wolffe, a fellow member at Congregation Etz Hayim in Arlington, organized a surprise social distancing bash for the big day on May 17.

And Robinson’s daughter Marlene Schillinger, son-inlaw Jim, and grandson Aaron had driven from Petersburg, Va., to Arlington to spend the weekend with her.

Schillinger persuaded her mother to leave the house for a quick drive so Belcher could put the final pre-party touches on the exterior: a sign, banners and balloons. It’s the same red brick house Robinson and her husband bought in 1952, 16 years after she fled Germany during the Holocaust.

Growing up, Robinson lived with her family above her father’s clothing and fabric shop in Hildesheim, Germany. In 1936, recognizing imminent danger, relatives arranged for Robinson and her sister to come to Virginia. Robinson created a new life for herself, raising her three children in her Arlington starter home.

When Schillinger and Robinson returned from their drive to that home at 4 p.m., it was almost unrecognizable. Twenty-five mask-clad visitors brought a mishmash of party gifts — signs, flowers, baked goods and balloons — and two TV cameras from local news stations. Schillinger was overwhelmed. And Robinson had no idea it was all for her.

“It looked like a fair!” Robinson said later by phone.

The party brought a Holocaust survivor, who defied the odds to reach 98, a brief hour of connection, positivity and joy in an escape from what feels to some like an endless social distancing saga.

Robinson sat behind a banner that Belcher had affixed to two trees in front of the door. One by one, her friends approached to wish her happy birthday, give her presents and reconnect after months apart.

“I was flattered,” Robinson said. “I feel like 81!”

She probably does, thanks to years of 60 sit-ups per day and loads of fruits and vegetables. Robinson is healthy: she walks unaided, takes few medications. Every Friday afternoon, she had a standing date with Wolffe at Starbucks. And she cooked, cleaned and regularly attended Shabbat services until December.

That’s when she came down with what was thought to be the flu, but was later diagnosed as heart failure. After a stint at a hospital, she moved to a rehabilitation center, where she got shingles.

Her family worried she’d never recover.

Maybe it was a miracle — or all those sit-ups she’d done into her nineties — but Robinson gradually recuperated, inching toward 98. “I would love to know why she came back so strong,” said Schillinger. After Robinson left rehab, Schillinger hired Belcher to care for her and was able to visit in person. Then quarantine hit, and all they could do was FaceTime.

It was hard for the whole family, including grandson Aaron Schillinger who missed his grandmother’s long further south toward Richmond so she could be closer, but she never wanted to leave Arlington,” Aaron Schillinger said. “That’s her living out her life the way she wanted to.”

While Robinson has filled her decades in the United States with vibrant connections, she has never forgotten her past. Robinson gives talks about the Holocaust, fearing that its memory will die with survivors. “When we are gone, the history may be forgotten,” she said.

After the party, Robinson received a phone call from an international number. It was the daughter of Robinson’s friend from Hildesheim, calling to say happy birthday. The two chatted in German as Marlene Schillinger marveled at her mother’s popularity.

Erika Robinson with the chocolate birthday cake her daughter, Marlene Schillinger, baked for her. Photo by Marlene Schillinger

hugs. “We call it an Oma hug,” he said, using the German word for grandmother. “She squeezes everything out of you, and it lasts for a really long time. You actually have to pry yourself out of her arms.”

Robinson is the kind of person who is determined to create the best possible life for herself. As a newlywed, she lived a double life, working as a secretary by day and earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology by night. Three children later, Robinson continued to work and strengthen her roots in Arlington.

“We had at one point tried to get Oma to move down

“She is loved by so many,” said Schillinger. “It’s really amazing.”

And Robinson continues to create new memories, like diving into the word search Belcher gave her for her birthday. “She’s gonna burn through this word search,” said Aaron Schillinger. “We’re gonna have to get a box of them.”

The next day, Robinson took an extra long nap in her old Arlington home, taking a pause from friends’ calls, Belcher’s homemade food and her word search for a moment of well-deserved rest. WJW

Jewish groups advocate for the neediest during pandemic

By Suzanne Pollak assistance.” enough,” Gilden said. Special to WJW Tammy Gilden, JCPA senior policy associate, spoke To those who fear releasing prisoners into the of her organization’s efforts to assist those in prison general population, Gilden said there have been a few

The novel coronavirus continues to alter lives, and detention centers and its other advocacy issues problems, but she called those people “outliers” who shutter businesses, schools and camps, and determined through 125 Jewish community relations are “a tiny fraction of those who are released.” send many to food pantries. councils. Josh Protas, vice president of public policy at MAZON,

But it has been particularly cruel to those in Citing the importance to “stand up for the needs of noted even before the virus outbreak, 40 million people jail, living in refugee camps and detention centers or the more vulnerable,” Gilden noted that there is no faced food insecurity. without the means to feed their families. such thing as social distancing in these institutions, “We now are expecting millions more to be at

In a joint video conference call May 14, representatives which enables “rampant disease spread.” risk. With skyrocketing unemployment rates, we will from HIAS, which aids refugees and asylum seekers; She listed poor ventilation, subpar medical care, probably see 70 million.” Jewish Council for Public Affairs; and MAZON: A Jewish lack of hygiene products, limited staff and not enough Military families, veterans, Native Americans, college Response to Hunger, described current problems and protective facial coverings as problems that will students and single mothers are especially vulnerable, detailed how people could help. accelerate the novel coronavirus problems. he said. “The pandemic has laid bare the hollow myth

Naomi Steinberg, vice of the American dream.” president of policy and He urged the 230 people advocacy at HIAS, explained on the afternoon virtual call that her organization “now to ask their legislators to works with people of all faiths” support a 15 percent boost to in 16 countries, to help resettle SNAP — the federal Supplerefugees in this country as mental Nutrition Assistance well as provide legal services Program. for refugees stuck at the “No one deserves to be Mexican border. hungry,” Protas said.

Her organization, head- He addressed the current quartered in Silver Spring, is status of crops being working to enable refugees to destroyed, livestock slaughenter this country rather than tered and milk dumped due a remain in overcrowded camps. lack of buyers and supply chain

She described the poor problems, noting there was litconditions in these “squalid tle that could be done quickly. camps,” which have limited Also during the hour-long clean water and cleaning call, Rabbi Victor Urecki of supplies, as “vectors for B’nai Jacob Congregation in COVID-19.” Charleston, W.Va., praised

The spread of the novel the activists, saying they are coronavirus “could be less if doing the heavy lifting during we reduce the population,” she said. Steinberg said the vast majority of people in camps at Even before the coronavirus outbreak, 40 million Americans faced food insecurity. according to Josh Protas of MAZON. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Parkinson the pandemic when so much is needed even though they are “ignored by those in power” and “have doors shut” on them the border are there for immi- in Washington. gration violations and not for violent crimes. JCPA is calling for states to “significantly reduce the He predicted, “What lies ahead may make today look

“They don’t pose a threat to the public,” she said. She number of people in detention.” like a walk in the park,” adding their work has become called on the elderly, sick and pregnant refugees to It also has called for more soap products, virus testing Herculean. be released. and free telephone calls for those who are incarcerated. He warned that some might lose hope and give up,

HIAS also provides legal services to the refugees. She cautioned that the virus will spread not just although “we are not free to desist from this,” adding,

Of the clients who have resettled here with the help among prisoners, but also to employees and others “Your holy work inspires me.” WJW of HIAS, Steinberg estimated that 61 percent “will who live in the community. not be able to make their rent this month without Many states have released prisoners, “but it is not Suzanne Pollak is a Washington-area writer.

Israel Maimon, Israel Bonds CEO, talks pandemic, uncertainty

By Jesse Bernstein

The Israeli economy has contended this spring with a third national election in less than a year, a prime minister under indictment and a global pandemic.

And yet, on May 17, the credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s issued a report stating that Israel would retain its AA- rating. The forecast for the near future even expressed confidence in the country’s continued economic stability.

To Israel Maimon, president and CEO of Israel Bonds, that is a key point in continuing his work — selling individuals and foundations on the idea that an Israel bond is a sound investment.

Working from home, Maimon and his team can’t do their usual parlor meetings, speaking arrangements or galas. Though there was a steep learning curve, they haven’t slowed down in their mission.

“With humility, we’ve overcome this very quickly,” Maimon said.

What are the challenges to Israel Bonds that are unique to this period?

The first concern, or challenge, is the uncertainty that exists in the hearts and minds of the people, whether it’s a Jewish investor, or whether it’s an Israeli Christian supporter. How much liquidity do they need to have in their pocket? For how long are they going to invest? And with what kind of instruments? Equity? Everyone understands that equity was hit so much.

So, whether bonds are the alternative, whether to keep it in the savings account in the bank, stuff like that. This is one concern.

It’s the mood. People that are at home, many of them unemployed, they don’t know what’s going to happen to them in the coming few months. In some of the places around the states, there is still a shutdown, and people cannot see when it is going to be lifted.

These are the two main challenges that we are dealing with. I don’t need to motivate anyone to invest in Israel; I don’t need to explain the importance of investing in Israel. I don’t need to give the Zionistic speech. It’s understood. I would say even, contrary; they understand that the state of Israel needs to be secured by additional capital, because like every responsible Israel Maimon: “Let’s be honest. Nothing can compare to this period. Nothing.”

Courtesy of Development Corporation for Israel/Israel Bonds government, we need to secure the additional capital for any eventuality. So I don’t need to give this speech.

However, we need to ease the fear, or the concern, of the individual, to explain why all is solid, why it’s still important, why it has a good yield compared to other financial instruments.

Does the way you make the case to investors, large and small, change?

The case is less about the importance of investing in Israel and more to ease the concern of investing in general. This is the way it shifted a little bit.

Of course, we have to explain and to give all the arguments and the messaging, which are also relevant to Israel. People need to know that Israel’s economy is great. It’s stable. There is not any liquidity problem.

What have been some other challenging periods for Israel Bonds? And how has thinking about them shapes the way you’ve approached your work in the last few months?

Let’s be honest: Nothing can compare to this period. Nothing. Not in the size, not in the uncertainty, and not in the scale, I would say.

When you look at previous challenges, it’s a little bit different. One challenge, for instance, is that something is happening in Israel. A crisis, or a war in Israel. Usually, it’s a positive impact on Israel Bonds, because immediately, the solidarity that the Jewish people want to show ... you see an immediate jump, on how many bonds we are selling.

If it’s a crisis that is happening outside of Israel — let’s say the 2008-2009 financial crisis — of course it had an impact on the investors that live outside of Israel. And then, you can see an impact again, people are seeing individual challenges, and you see a decrease in the investment in Israel bonds.

In general, Israel bonds, through the years, the growth of the selling of Israel bonds is steady, it’s good. I cannot say we took something out of those past challenges in order to implement now. WJW

Jesse Bernstein is a writer for the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent, an affiliated publication of Washington Jewish Week.

A Jewish camp in Maine is actually opening. Here’s how it plans to keep COVID-19 away.

By Ben Sales

Here’s a story that would have been unremarkable until just a few months ago: A Jewish camp is planning to open this summer.

Camp Modin in Maine has announced that it will open

July 9 — two weeks later than originally planned — despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. And it has set out a detailed plan to make it happen.

“COVID is something that’s going to be with us for the foreseeable future,” said Howard Salzberg, the camp’s co-director with his wife, Lisa Wulkan Salzberg. “The children have lost in-person learning and they have lost art and they have lost sports and being part of a team. How long is that acceptable for children? We felt we had to do what we could to give the kids a return to normalcy and to mitigate the risk as best we can.”

Dozens of Jewish summer camps across the country have announced that they will not be running this year because of the danger of spreading the disease and the challenge of navigating murky regulations. But Maine has allowed overnight camps to open beginning July 1 and plans to release detailed instructions for them on May 20, and other camps in the state have also said they will open.

Modin is perhaps the first Jewish camp to tell parents definitively that it will open, and to specifically describe how it will keep campers and counselors safe.

Modin plans to test every camper for the disease via at-home test kits before they arrive, and again throughout the summer. The camp has consulted on its measures with epidemiologists and the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, and will expand its medical staff this summer. And it has laid out a list of measures aimed at ensuring campers’ safety — from abolishing a buffet line for meals to closing communal bathrooms.

An email to parents sent Friday said the camp relied on “facts not emotion” while making the decision, and said the disease “does not adversely affect children and young healthy adults. The hospitalization rate of children with COVID is 1 in 100,000.” It also said that the Campers play on the water at Camp Modin. Kawasaki-like illness affecting young children has affected a minuscule percentage of U.S. kids.

Ron Hall, executive director of an umbrella organization called Maine Summer Camps that works with 145 camps in the state, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that Modin will be able to ensure its campers’ safety.

“What camps like Modin will be doing is they’ll essentially create a bubble at camp,” Hall said. “Staff will be there and won’t be leaving the camp. They won’t be leaving the camp to do outside activities, so everything will be happening at camp.”

Modin defines itself as an independent, pluralist Jewish camp that practices Conservative Judaism. It was founded nearly a century ago and serves kids aged 7 to 16 primarily from the Northeast. It typically runs for seven weeks, but this summer will have a five-week session and, within that, a 3 1/2-week session. Modin serves around 300 campers each summer — a number that Salzberg said will stay the same this year.

The camp’s decision runs counter to those made by large American Jewish camp networks, which have announced — or are in the process of announcing — summer cancellations either because their states do not allow them to open or they are afraid that the coronavirus will spread in their camps and endanger campers, staff and others.

Modin’s list of measures to ensure those things don’t happen include holding campwide gatherings in large open areas, where groups of campers can socially distance; serving meals table by table rather than having campers line up at a buffet; using only disposable plates and silverware; and closing communal bathrooms.

Staff will be tested before they arrive and will be at camp “well in advance of the campers,” according to the email to parents.

The email encouraged campers to arrive by plane, possibly by charter flight arranged by the camp, whereupon camp staff would pick them up at the airport. Should parents drive their kids to camp, they will have to drop them off at a staging area outside the camp gates. Buses or vans will be available only from the nearby city of Boston. Photo courtesy of Camp Modin International staff also will be working at the camp.

Also, the email said the camp would consider sticking to bunk activities for the summer and smaller outings as opposed to full camp trips to outside locations like an amusement park.

Is social distancing possible in the freewheeling atmosphere of camp?

Salzberg said that kids would be safer in the contained environment of camp than they would be running around a public park or beach. Even so, he said, the camp will have to impress on kids that they can’t be nearly as uninhibited as they are in a normal year, and will have to emphasize that no plan is foolproof.

“We have said to families, no matter what procedures we put in place, there are no guarantees,” Salzberg said. “You’re going to have to have an understanding with your campers and staff that it’s going to be a different summer. I don’t think there’s a parent that can guarantee you that their child, from now until they go back to school, there’s going to be no slip-ups.”

Salzberg added that if everyone tests negative for COVID-19 multiple times after a few weeks, the rules could be relaxed. He even floated the idea of a socially distanced bar mitzvah party for the kids who had to celebrate the coming-of-age ceremony virtually this year.

The camp has managed outbreaks of other diseases in the past, Salzberg said. Most recently, in 2009, more than 130 Modin campers were infected with swine flu. It also experienced outbreaks of measles in 1992 and meningitis a few years later.

Salzberg recognizes that the risk of exposure to COVID19 is more dire for those who are older than their 20s — a group that includes himself, his wife and the camp social worker, who is in her 60s and has been working at Modin for decades. Still, she told Salzberg that she was coming back.

“We’re the ones that took the risk on opening,” Salzberg said of the older staff members. “They were given the choice to come or not come, and they’re all in.” WJW

BRIEFS

Hundreds of layoffs with more to come May 14: 60 laid off from Union for Reform Judaism

The Reform movement laid off 60 full-time employees, constituting 20 percent of its workforce, and said other workers would be furloughed for three months this summer. The organization also announced pay cuts of 3-16 percent.

May 6: Deep cuts at Jewish Federations of North America

Dozens of people were laid off in early May, representing about 20 percent of the organization’s workforce. Executives also took temporary pay cuts.

JFNA is the umbrella group of communal fundraising and programming organizations across the country. It is leading an emergency coalition to coordinate the Jewish response to the pandemic-induced financial crisis.

April 27: 20 percent of Hillel International employees laid off

The organization that operates a network of campus centers for Jewish college students laid off or furloughed 30 people in late April. The cuts represented 20 percent of staff at Hillel’s Washington headquarters.

April 23: Conservative Yeshiva in Israel lays off five people

April 1: Virtually total layoffs at Philadelphia-area JCC

The Kaiserman Jewish Community Center outside Philadelphia laid off 176 of 178 staff members just two weeks into the crisis. The JCC, like most others across the country, depends on fees paid for services such as day care and gyms that it could no longer deliver.

Jewish woman gives birth to sextuplets A Jewish woman in Strasbourg, France, gave birth to sextuplets.

The five girls and one boy were born very prematurely at the Hautepierre Hospital in Strasbourg, requiring the assistance of 30 medical staff members, the daily LeParisien reported, citing the newspaper Les Actualités Nouvelles d’Alsace.

It took four minutes to deliver the babies, who were born at 24 weeks, after which they were taken to the neonatal intensive care unit. They weighed in at between 1.4 pounds and 1.6 pounds and likely will require a stay of many months in the hospital.

The couple have two other children. The Hebrew-language news website B’haredey Haredim identified the father as Rabbi Ovadia Ben-Simon.

The last sextuplets in France were born nearly 30 years ago, in 1989 in Normandy. Sextuplets occur once in 4.7 million deliveries worldwide.

State Dept: annexation should be part of peace process JERUSALEM — Israel’s annexation of West Bank settlements should be part of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians as part of the framework of the Trump administration’s peace plan, the State Department said.

State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus made the statement during a widely reported conference call with Israeli journalists.

“We really think annexation should be part of a peace process where Palestinians should have a say,” Ortagus said during the call.

Addressing the fact that the Palestinians have thus far refused to return to peace negotiations, Ortagus said, “We’re going to continue to push for this vision for peace that the president has. We have certainly by no means given up hope. In fact, it will continue to be a major part of our foreign policy to press for the Palestinians to come to the table as a part of this peace plan, as a part of this process.”

The call came on Friday, the same day that King Abdullah of Jordan said in an interview published in the German Der Spiegel weekly magazine that “if Israel really annexed the West Bank in July, it would lead to a massive conflict” with his country.

Briefs from Jewish Telegraphic Agency