New York Jewish Life Vol. 1

THE

INAUGURAL Issue

Elected leaders move to protect JCCs as threats grow

Gov. Cuomo pledges to fight anti-Semitism during trip to Israel

Date Night! For many married couples, love started at the Brooklyn Marriott

VOL. 1, NO. 1 | MARCH 8 – 14, 2017 | NEWS THAT MATTERS TO JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA | NYJLIFE.COM | FREE

No Regrets Exclusive NYJL poll finds that many New York Jews would vote for Trump over Clinton in a do-over

MARCH 8 – 14, 2017 | NYJLIFE.COM | 1

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Generations gathered to rally against hate in the plaza of Queens Borough Hall.

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Community Leaders Rally to Combat Hate

BY MAXINE DOVERE

Rabbis and reverends, imams, shieks and elected and community leaders braved frigid temperatures to gather on the plaza of Queens Borough Hall Sunday afternoon to rally against hate and bigotry. Calling Queens “the most diverse area in the world,” Borough President Melinda Katz described Queens as “a welcoming home filled with opportunities.”

With the timeless call of the shofar and the beat of drums, leaders of Queens communities stood shoulder to shoulder. “What affects one of us affects us all. We’re all standing together,” said Katz. “We are standing together against hate and bias. We need to make sure that, throughout the country, folks can hear us!”

Congressman Gregory Meeks reminded that diversity makes America the great country that it is. “We stand together,” said the congressman. “We don’t build walls...We knock walls down and we build bridges to and for one another.”

Newly elected Congressman Tom Suozzi noted the vast opportunities afforded his father, an immigrant, an American airman and a Harvard Law

School graduate who said his goal was “to be a great American.” “If we stick together...America will remain the greatest country in the world.”

Letitia James, public advocate of the city of New York, declared that “hate will not be the new normal!...Democracy demands the ability to raise our voices.” New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer recalled his family’s immigrant history, noting that his grandmother arrived “with five dollars in her pocket” and built a successful future.

Recalling the “promise my grandparents found in this country,” Rabbi Jerry Stillman quoted Jewish poet Emma Lazarus’ words inscribed on the base of the “Lady of the Harbor.” The Rabbi said, “When all is said and done, we are each other’s security blanket.”

The rabbi raised his shofar, and with a full blast, raised “a call to spiritual awakening—a sign to be aware of what’s happening in front of your eyes.”

Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, member of the North American Board of Rabbis, calling Katz “our Esther,” said, “We are people that represent a philosophy

Top to bottom: Borough President Melinda Katz called for unity in the world’s most diverse county. Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum is to her left; Michael Nussbaum, president of the Queens Jewish Community Council, is at her right.

New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer shared family history with the diverse crowd.

Congressman Tom Suozzi said Queens made him a Congressman, praising the opportunities the borough had afforded his Italian immigrant father.

that believes in people...we will not fear and we will overcome.”

With greetings in some of the many languages of Queens, president of the Queens Jewish Community Council Michael Nussbaum warned of the cloud descending across this nation—one that instills fear and uses alternative facts. “There has to be truth told from our leaders’ lips. It is a great problem when we can’t trust the truth coming out of Washington,” cautioned Nussbaum. “Hate crimes—the spewing of hate, the spewing of division in this country—have been unheard of.... No one in Washington is lifting us up. A leader must give us hope, not despair Look to the future. Don’t give up hope!”

MARCH 8 – 14, 2017 | NYJLIFE.COM | 3

SCHUMER IN THE NEWS

Schumer Urges FCC to Help Solve JCC Bomb Threats

Following Recent Increase in Small-Plane Crashes in New York, Schumer Calls for NTSB to Investigate

BY STAFF

Last week, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer exhorted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide Jewish institutions with caller information as law enforcement officials rushed to solve a recent string of bomb threats. Over the weekend, the FBI and police arrested a former journalist for calling in several of those threats, but many more cases are still open.

Schumer, the Democratic Senate minority leader from New York, sent a letter on Wednesday—two days after 29 JCCs and Jewish schools across the country received called-in bomb threats—to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai asking him to grant the targeted institutions special waivers allowing them to work with law enforcement to access caller-ID information.

His statement called the waiver “critical.”

“All communities and entities targeted by

intimidation and fear deserve access to all of the tools needed to ensure these criminals are brought to justice,” Schumer said.

The veteran senator referenced a string of threatening phone calls made last year to the Middletown School District in his state. At Schumer’s request, the FCC granted the district a waiver to access caller information about the perpetrators.

In total, roughly 90 bomb threats have been called in this year to more than 70 Jewish institutions in the United States and Canada, according to the JCC Association of North America.

–JTA

Mazel tov to Michael Tobman and the team at New York Jewish Life on this inaugural issue!

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In February, a small plane crashed on Long Island.

Another small plane crashed in a neighborhood in New Jersey. The two incidents come after 18 similar crashes took place in and around New York State in 2016. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said the rising number of accidents may suggest a concerning trend, and he is calling on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to get some answers.

In a letter to NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart, Schumer requested a comprehensive safety review of the recent string of small-plane accidents to help develop recommendations to prevent future incidents.

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Third Spanish Municipality Reverses Own BDS Vote Following Legal Action

BDSWatch

Knesset Bans Entry to Foreigners Calling for Boycotts of Israel Israel enacted a law banning entry to foreigners who publicly call for boycotting the Jewish state or its settlements.

The Knesset passed the law by a vote of 46-28 on Monday, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.

The ban applies to any foreigner “who knowingly issues a public call for boycotting Israel that, given the content of the call and the circumstances in which it was issued, has a reasonable possibility of leading to the imposition of a boycott—if the issuer was aware of this possibility.” It includes those who urge boycotting areas under

Israeli control, such as the West Bank settlements.

The measure was meant to target groups rather than individuals, according to Roy Folkman, a lawmaker from the Kulanu party.

“It doesn’t cover any individual who ever said something. It’s aimed mainly at organizations that work against Israel,” Folkman said, according to Haaretz.

The Interior Ministry will be able to make exceptions to the law, and foreigners with residency permits will not be affected, according to The Times of Israel.

–JTA

The Spanish municipality of Petrer rescinded its support for boycotts against Israel following legal action against the city.

The city council of Petrer, a city of 95,000 located 200 miles southeast of Madrid, voted Thursday to withdraw its support from a 2016 resolution for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel, or BDS, according to a statement Friday by the pro-Israel ACOM (Action and Communication in the Middle East) group.

ACOM had sued the city to reverse its action and has launched dozens of successful lawsuits in recent months against institutions that adhered to BDS principles, arguing their actions are discriminatory and infringing on the principle of equality, as well as on the jurisdiction of local authorities.

Petrer, which hosts the annual Christians and Moors re-creation of eighth-century battles between

Crusaders and Muslims, joined the nearby municipality of Santa Eulalia in distancing itself from previous support for the BDS movement following ACOM’s initiation of legal action. Santa Eulalia’s reversal came in December.

In recent months, Spanish courts, including constitutional tribunals, have scrapped approximately 10 BDS resolutions and suspended another three following lawsuits. Only three municipalities have voluntarily reversed their support for BDS, ACOM wrote in a statement.

The attitude of the Spanish judiciary toward BDS is a recent development in a country where at least 50 municipalities have joined the boycott movement— the highest number in Europe.

Promoting BDS is illegal in France, where doing so is considered a form of incitement. Britain’s government said it was considering similar legislation.

–JTA

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OUR CIVIC LIFE

Publisher’s Note

News that matters to Jewish communities in the New York City metropolitan area

PUBLISHER

Welcome to the inaugural issue of New York Jewish Life. This new weekly print and digital newspaper, distributed throughout the New York City metropolitan area and in Albany, will be unabashedly centrist in its outlook.

But what does “centrist” even mean these days? How exactly is that defined in today’s charged political climate?

I say centrist because we are passionate about our shared civic life; nonpartisan; and hold favorable opinions of some Republicans and some Democrats. We have strong reservations about the direction some parts of the Democratic Party are intent on—despite clear messages sent by the voters concerning the party’s embrace of self-referential and usually condescending rhetoric—and we are very troubled with aspects of the Republican Party’s anti-immigrant agenda. We are conservative on fiscal issues but progressive on social issues.

We are internationalist in outlook and open to the world.

This paper will feature reporting, news, editorials, investigative pieces, photography and coverage of issues impacting, and about, New York’s diverse Jewish communities, institutions and culture. But it will also have a wide lens, writing on general civic affairs, city and state concerns, and politics.

It’s been said that I am, on some issues, so progressive that I seem conservative, while on other issues so conservative that I seem progressive.

New York Jewish Life will mirror that.

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Our cover story this week, sharing the results of an opinion poll in our large distribution area, confirms that sense of things in the wider community.

Above all, we believe in small-d democracy, fair process and transparent public institutions locally, nationally and in global affairs. We are passionate about media and news as vehicles for providing information. We are excited about the state of modern news and not cynical about the state of reporting these days. We believe in fairness.

We are, without reservation, Zionist and pro-Israel, aghast at continued foreign pressure on Israel to compromise its safety in the name of what others think is appropriate.

We celebrate the full diversity, accomplishments and dynamism of New York’s Jewish community, our history, our institutions and our culture. We embrace faith communities and their priorities.

I myself come from a Jewish tradition of social and political activism, which will be recognizable to many of you, and which I look forward to sharing as we spend more time together. An attorney by training, I am a proud graduate of the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the State University of New York at Albany, and then of the City University of New York School of Law. I have served in politics, government and media for nearly 25 years, and have worked for and with some exceptional people and causes.

New York Jewish Life is guided by newspaper professionals who, among them, have been turning out high-quality weekly publications for over 60 years. We are grateful for their support.​ Nothing stays the same, and everything changes. Media and reporting have been in severe flux for two decades now, and though there is no indication that this tumult will slow down, there are encouraging signs that it has settled in to a new workable foundation. We are excited to have New York Jewish Life—in print and online—be a part of today’s news landscape and a new addition to your home.

Michael Tobman LAUNCH EDITOR

Michael Gareth Johnson EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Sara Werden BUREAU CHIEF

Maxine Dovere COPY EDITOR

Marjorie Lipsky FREELANCE REPORTER

Jenny Powers DESIGN

LETTER7

Michael Tobman, Publisher

©2017 929-274-0762 news@NYJLife.com www.nyjlife.com 306 Gold Street Brooklyn, NY 11201

OUR CIVIC LIFE

FourQuestions Lavine was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2004.

He is currently the president of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators and the chairman of the Assembly Ethics Committee.

CHARLES LAVINE Assemblyman

01

03

Are you better off now than you were four years ago?

I have a great life, today and four years ago. Proud husband of 47 years, father of two grown children and now grandfather to two adorable little ones. I am privileged and honored to be a public servant and had a successful career prior to that practicing law in the federal and state courts. But I am deeply concerned about the lives of the people I represent on Long Island, which is why I am driven every day to do this work.

What was the last television show you binge-watched?

“Game of Thrones”—I don’t think it’s possible to watch only one episode.

02

04 What was your favorite vacation from your childhood?

We didn’t take many, but I always enjoyed visiting my grandma, who lived in Chicago. That was the “big city” until my parents drove us across country to see New York when I was 12.

Have you ever been the target of discrimination?

Yes—I grew up in small towns in the Midwest. At times we were the only Jewish family in town. I know discrimination up close and personal and have felt its destructiveness. I abhor discrimination in any form.

These experiences shaped who I am today and why I fight so hard for equal rights for all.

MARCH 8 – 14, 2017 | NYJLIFE.COM | 7

OUR CIVIC LIFE

No Regrets TRUMP WOULD BEAT CLINTON IN DO-OVER ELECTION IN HEAVILY JEWISH COMMUNITIES AROUND NEW YORK CITY Exclusive

BY MICHAEL GARETH JOHNSON

On Feb. 21, after touring the National Museum of African American History and Culture, President Donald Trump spoke up about the recent threats of violence against Jewish communities across the United States.

“The anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community and community centers are horrible and are painful, and a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil,” he said.

Normally, comments like this from the president of the United States would hardly raise eyebrows.

But after weeks of criticism in the press and from prominent Jewish leaders for a series of actions, comments and decisions by the administration— including an apparent refusal days earlier to openly condemn various reports of a rise in anti-Semitic activity in the country when asked by Jake Turx, a Jewish reporter for Ami Magazine—these remarks led the news cycle.

Later that day, a poll commissioned by New York Jewish Life (NYJL) went into the field. It asked a series of questions about politics and policy of voters in predominantly Jewish neighborhoods where this newspaper is distributed. Over the course of two nights we got responses from 951 voters, more than 88 percent of whom identified as Jewish and among whom there was a roughly even split of men and women.

An overwhelming 57 percent of the respondents told us they would vote for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton if the election were held again. Clinton only received 33 percent of the vote from the sample, which targeted voters who live in specific neighborhoods in Trump vs. Clinton, by area

Brooklyn

TRUMP

CLINTON

76%

14%

Manhattan

20%

73%

Queens

60%

36%

Nassau Co.

46%

46%

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Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Nassau County and a few other locations around the state including the Bronx, Albany and the Hudson Valley.

The numbers give us a glimpse into the divide between the thinking of predominantly Jewish communities and that of the rest of the New York City metro area. By comparison, Clinton received more than four times as many votes as Trump in the five boroughs.

That is not the only divide we saw in the numbers.

A closer look at the crosstabs shows that in predominantly Jewish communities in Brooklyn and Queens where we polled, voters backed Trump by significant margins—62 percent in Brooklyn and 24 percent in Queens. Meanwhile, in Manhattan, Clinton held a 53 percent edge over Trump in the heavily Jewish zip codes that NYJL polled.

The divide between the outer boroughs and Manhattan is not too surprising, considering the political and cultural diversity of the predominantly Jewish neighborhoods in and around New York City.

Generally, we’d expect Manhattan to trend more liberal, with the outer boroughs more conservative.

What is interesting is that one month into the Trump administration, these beliefs do not appear to have been altered by the string of negative headlines regarding Jewish relations that the president has garnered.

Since he has taken office, Jewish organizations and leaders have been quick to criticize the administration.

The appointment of Steve Bannon, who has been criticized for making anti-Semitic comments in the past, as a senior adviser infuriated many. This was followed by the administration’s decision not to mention Jewish victims in a statement released on National Holocaust Remembrance Day, and then the delayed condemnation of the rise of anti-Semitic acts.

In each case, progressives are quick to use this as ammunition to make the case that Trump is not a friend to Jews, or to Israel. Our poll suggests these efforts are not really working. One explanation may be a lingering perception that the Obama administration was not friendly towards Israel, and a sense that the Trump administration will be a better partner.

We asked voters to tell us how they felt President Obama treated Israel during his eight years in office.

The response was overwhelmingly negative: 43 percent said Obama was grossly unfair to Israel, 23 percent said he was unfair, 10 percent said he was neutral, 15 percent said he was favorable and 9 percent said he was very favorable to the country.

We then asked voters a similar question about how they thought the Trump administration would treat Israel, and the results almost flipped: 26 percent of voters said they expect him to be very favorable to Israel, 43 percent said favorable, 15 percent said neutral, 9 percent said unfair and 8 percent said grossly unfair.

The poll asked several other policy questions with a clear focus on voters’ opinions on issues important

to Israel, which shed more light on the thinking of our audience. One question concerned thoughts on moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. Roughly 41 percent of voters said moving the embassy was a good idea, 29 percent said it shouldn’t be moved and 30 percent were not sure.

On the controversial deal the Obama administration struck with Iran to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon, we asked voters what the Trump administration should do, offering four specific approaches. The most popular response, given by 31 percent of voters, was that the United States should pull out of the deal as quickly as possible, minimizing negative impact globally and to that region of the world. We had 29 percent of voters say the United States should work to alter the deal to create better terms and conditions; 24 percent said the United States should stand by the agreement as long as Iran does. Finally, 16 percent of respondents said the United States should pull out immediately even if there are negative impacts globally and to that region of the world.

What’s clear from these responses is that the Israeli policy positions that President Trump has put forth are more popular among our audience than the positions taken by President Obama over the past eight years. It seems likely that many of the voters participating in the poll felt Hillary Clinton was likely to continue those policies, making Trump a more popular choice.

On Social Issues •

51% Pro-Life, 49% Pro-Choice

•

56% oppose marriage equality, 44% support it

What is also clear from the poll is that the preference for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton is not a purely partisan divide. The poll showed relatively even splits on the controversial social issues of abortion and same-sex marriage. We also see in the poll that respondents generally have favorable opinions of two of New York State’s most prominent Democrats— Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Roughly 40 percent of voters said both Democrats are doing a good or great job. Roughly 37 percent said they are doing a fair job. And only about 22 percent said the two are doing a poor or awful job in their respective roles.

The mayor and governor have had an open feud over the past few years, with a general perception that de Blasio has been trying to position himself as more progressive than the governor. While this fight has created a clear divide among Democratic factions writ large, the two have made it a priority to show support for New York’s powerful Jewish communities and

OUR CIVIC LIFE

NOTE ON METHODOLOGY

Cuomo vs.

De Blasio

JOB PERFORMANCE

9.7%

Great

9.4%

30.5%

Good

30.5%

36.5%

Fair

37.7%

14.7%

Poor

14.8%

8.5%

Awful

7.6%

stand behind the Israeli government. The polls show that the two have been mostly successful in staying popular among voters in our distribution area.

While it is obvious to many, it is worth stating that New York State is home to a large and diverse population of Jews. These poll results in many ways back this up, while also providing useful insights that highlight stark differences in opinion. In coming weeks, NYJL will explore these numbers in more detail with a goal of explaining the results, identifying trends and telling the story of you, our readers.

In the past year, political opinion polls have come under great scrutiny for their fallibility in accurately predicting political campaign outcomes. So, why did we do a poll? The goal for us was to get a better understanding of the thinking of our audience, so we can be better at picking the stories that our readers want to see.

NYJL has a distribution of 25,000 newspapers in communities with large Jewish populations around the New York City metro area and into the Capital Region. The editorial focus of the paper is to reach cultural Jews interested in civic affairs, so we have intentionally chosen not to distribute the newspaper in several heavily Orthodox Jewish areas, because we don’t view them as home to our main audience.

Because of this, the poll intentionally targeted only the areas where we are distributing, so some geographic areas are oversampled, like Brooklyn, because our distribution will be higher in those places.

Our sample size was 951 likely voters, whom we

contacted between Feb. 21 and Feb. 22. Roughly 88 percent of the respondents self-identified as Jewish.

The margin of error for this survey is 3.13 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval.

GEOGRAPHY OF SAMPLE ZIP CODES 11215; 11213; 11210; 11234; 11218; 11235; 11235; 11223; 11375; 11374; 11415; 11367; 11691; 10002; 10023; 10024; 10025; 10463; 11559; 11598; 11516; 11096; 11557; 11050; 10020; 10021; 10022;10023; 10024; 10026; 10027; 11576; 11797; 11753; 11853; 11601; 11602; 11603; 11605; 11606; 11204; 11218; 11219; 11230.

* We also did a small sample in Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties.

MARCH 8 – 14, 2017 | NYJLIFE.COM | 9

OUR CIVIC LIFE

BY STAFF

Assembly Housing Chairman Steven Cymbrowitz meeting with NYCHA Chairwoman and CEO Shola Olatoye at a hearing in 2017

Head of the House NEW ASSEMBLY HOUSING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN STEVEN CYMBROWITZ HAS AMBITIOUS AGENDA FOR 2017 SESSION

Congratulations

New York Jewish Life on your inaugural issue.

Message and strategy for winning campaigns 926 N Street NW Rear, Studio R7 Washington, DC 20001 Phone: 202-333-7889 Fax: 202-333-8078 www.kennedycommunications.com

10 | NYJLIFE.COM | MARCH 8 – 14, 2017

Last month, during his first joint legislative budget hearing as chairman of the Assembly Housing Committee, Steven Cymbrowitz made it clear he has New York City’s interests at heart.

During the testimony of leaders of the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), the assemblyman directly asked if the state agency had “excluded” New York City officials from discussions vital to the city.

“Is there a signal that’s being sent by the executive to New York City?”

Cymbrowitz asked. “It seems as if anything that has to do with New York City is not bringing New York City to the table as to what they think is the best way to get things done.”

The HCR officials denied that such a “signal” exists, but the exchange highlighted the assemblyman’s agenda of making sure city leaders have a say in housing decisions that directly impact their constituents.

Cymbrowitz has a deep background in housing. He served as assistant commissioner for Housing Finance and deputy commissioner for Development at NYC Housing Preservation and Development, and as NYC Housing Authority’s (NYCHA’s) director of intergovernmental relations, before he was elected to the the 45th Assembly District in South Brooklyn in 2000 to succeed his late wife, Lena.

His elevation to housing chairman this year, replacing former Manhattan Assemblyman Keith Wright, marks a move back to Brooklyn for the powerful position. The Housing Committee plays a key role in deciding where and how state funds are distributed for projects that are always a priority for neighborhoods, mayors, governors, activists and developers. For many years, the position was held by longtime Brooklyn political powerhouse Vito Lopez before his extensively chronicled fall from grace in 2012. While opinions of Lopez varied greatly, there was no disputing that his influence benefited Brooklyn greatly with favorable budget allocations. Since then, the borough has lost some clout as the chairmanship moved to Bronx leader Carl Heastie and then to Harlem Assemblyman

Keith Wright after Heastie’s elevation to assembly speaker. While the Housing Committee chairmanship has statewide purview, a responsibility Cymbrowitz clearly takes seriously, his district is in Brooklyn.

Cymbrowitz has already outlined several priorities for the 2017-2018 budget. He has called for a new 421a tax-abatement program to help build affordable housing, called Affordable New York. He has also called for state funds to be appropriated to NYCHA directly to allow for quicker repairs and improvements.

Additionally, he has aggressively pushed for $2.5 billion in state funds to be set aside for affordable and supportive housing that would create or preserve 100,000 affordable housing units and 6,000 supportive housing units throughout the state over the next five years.

“We’re facing a housing crisis.

Without the creation of affordable housing units, New Yorkers will face higher housing costs, which can lead to the displacement of existing residents and an increase in the number of rentburdened families,” Cymbrowitz said.

With the state’s current population of 2.6 million seniors expected to increase to 3.6 million by 2040, Cymbrowitz says it is urgent for New York to take a long view in preparing for the growing number of struggling fixed-income residents who will want to remain close to children and grandchildren and should be given the ability to do so. The assemblyman wants to see supportive housing funding designated specifically for seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia, providing “wrap around” services for patients and their caregivers.

He also recommends adding $30 million in funding ($10 million this year and $20 million the next) to preserve the existing network of foreclosure-prevention services in New York.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us and many people depend on us,” he said. “We cannot let millions of New Yorkers struggle to keep their heads above water. That goes against everything we fight for every day in the People’s House.”

Governor Cuomo and commission dignitaries COURTESY OF ILIA YEFIMOVICH -FOR OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO

In Israel, Cuomo Launches New York - Israel Commission

BY STAFF

During a weekend trip that focused heavily on standing alongside Israel in a time of increasing antiSemitic incidents in America, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the creation of a new commission to strengthen economic and cultural ties between New York and Israel. The commission will also focus on improving counterterrorism operations between the two states and bolstering academic and research exchanges between Israeli universities and SUNY and CUNY. “New York and Israel have always shared a deep cultural, social and economic bond, and I am proud that we are working to make our partnership stronger than ever before,” Cuomo said.

Cuomo made the announcement after meeting with international business leaders and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. Among the commission’s goals is

to organize a U.S.-Israel business summit to promote investment in both countries. In 2016, nearly $5 billion in economic activity was generated from commodities exported from New York to Israel.

“New York and Israel are more than just major economic partners—we share a bond that transcends borders,” said Linda Mirels, former chairwoman of UJA Federation of New York and co-chair of the new commission. “The New York-Israel Commission will work to strengthen the ties that bind us, as well as open new doors to economic growth, expand cultural exchanges, and ensure our best and brightest continue to advance cutting-edge research and technology.”

On a lighter side, the new agreement will also have initiatives to celebrate New York’s growing Israeli food scene by hosting a festival with the state program Taste NY. The commission will also host industryspecific roundtables on technology, cybersecurity and healthcare.

The 22 commission members are Mort Zuckerman (honorary chairman), Allen Faigin (co-chair),

Malcolm Hoenlein (co-chair), Linda Mirels (co-chair), Howard Zemsky (co-chair), Stuart Appelbaum, Jack Bendheim, Sara Berman, Bob Cohen, Alisa Doctoroff, Abe Foxman, Richard Joel, George Klein, Michael Miller, Joe Potasnik, Burton Resnick, Bill Rudin, Jeffrey Richard, Charles Temel, Randi Weingarten, Sol Werdiger and Howard Zucker.

Gov. Cuomo meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO

During the trip, Cuomo also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the recent rise in American anti-Semitism, including an uptick in attacks and threats. Cuomo also toured the Old City police headquarters, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall. And he proclaimed that the first Sunday in June will be Shimon Peres Day in New York State, handing the proclamation to Chemi Peres, son of Shimon Peres, after making the announcement.

MARCH 8 – 14, 2017 | NYJLIFE.COM | 11

IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS

Date Night Road to marriage often begins at New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge

BY JENNY POWERS

They sit across from one another, a small table separating them, and nervously sip water out of plastic cups with red straws in the farthest corner of the lobby.

She looks about 20 and wears a modest gray dress. It’s clear she’s had her hair done for the occasion. Her dark-brown wavy tendrils hang down to her shoulders and frame her pretty face.

She wears stylish gold heels and her left foot frantically bobs up and down.

The boy-man across from her looks a bit older. He is wearing a pale-blue yarmulke and a smart navy-blue suit that conveys confidence, yet his childlike giggling tells another story.

No wonder they’re nervous; this isn’t your ordinary blind date. This is an ageold tradition among many Orthodox Jews to find their bashert, the one with whom they are meant to be. A few more dates and these strangers may become husband and wife.

A quick glance around the lobby reveals more couples paired as in Noah’s ark, all performing the same dating ritual in secluded nooks.

For many Orthodox couples in the

“The biggest perk lies within the hotel’s name itself— proximity to the Brooklyn Bridge.

On a nice night, a couple might take a stroll in the moonlight away from the hustle and bustle of the lobby.”

12 | NYJLIFE.COM | MARCH 8 – 14, 2017

New York area, the road to marriage often begins at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge.

The biggest perk lies within the hotel’s name itself—proximity to the Brooklyn Bridge. On a nice night, a couple might take a stroll in the moonlight away from the hustle and bustle of the lobby.

Lobbies are ideal meeting places for shidduch, or matchmaking, because they are safe, neutral public places in attractive settings where you can sit for hours getting to know one another uninterrupted. They also adhere to the laws of yichud, prohibiting couples from being physically alone together until marriage.

One woman shared her story with New York Jewish Life: Devorah was 21 years old when, she says, “My really good friend got married, and she and her husband set me up with his first cousin Jacob. I was in New York because I had family there and had just been to a wedding. Jacob lived in Israel and he came to New York because I would be there.”

On a Friday afternoon, Jacob picked

Devorah up in a taxi. They headed to the Waldorf Astoria at the suggestion of a friend, who had told him it had a beautiful lobby.

The following evening after Shabbos, Jacob returned to pick her up and suggested heading back there. According to Devorah, “I told him, ‘What are you wasting money on a taxi all the way out to Manhattan for? Why don’t we just go to the Brooklyn Marriott?’”

For years, many in the Orthodox community have flocked to the Brooklyn Marriott, making it more tradition than trend at this point. However, it can be a catch-22. “It’s a popular place for dating but the downside is it’s more likely to run into people you know,” Devorah explains. There’s an element of privacy in our community when it comes to dating. People don’t want to be seen with someone in case it doesn’t work out.”

Devorah continues, “So we were sitting in the lobby when all of a sudden I hear someone from another corner of the lounge say, ‘Is that Devorah?’

So I turn around and it was one of my friends from back home, which was really funny. I saw her a year later and we were both married. She didn’t end up marrying the guy I saw her with but I married Jacob.”

Devorah and Jacob got engaged three weeks after their first date and married soon after. They have returned to the hotel since then and “whenever I’m in New York and I pass it by, it brings back very fond memories,” Devorah says.

The couple has six children, four of whom are girls.

“Who knows? One day some boy might take them to the Waldorf or the Marriott on a date,” she says, happily thinking about the dates that lie in her daughters’ futures.

Unique Internship Program Brings Generations Together, Benefiting Teens and Seniors

BY STAFF

Each year roughly a dozen teens compete for an exclusive summer internship program offered by DOROT, a nonprofit that connects volunteers to programs that help the elderly. But this is not a typical internship. The experience is unique in many ways, most notably for its documentary film component.

As part of this innovative program, offered to high school sophomores through seniors, experienced filmmakers from Old School Films work with the teens to teach them how to record interviews with an artistic and compelling eye. Then, twice a week, the interns sit down with elderly Jews to ask them about their lives and experiences, ultimately editing short documentary films that tell their stories in their own voices.

DOROT’s motto is “enhancing the lives of the elderly and bringing generations together.” Through this unique experience, and other

activities like group teleconferences with homebound seniors, discussions on Jewish traditions, and weekly intergenerational classes about Jewish perspectives on current events, the nonprofit is enriching the lives of seniors and their teen partners.

Studies across disciplines—medical, educational, psychological, social and community health—highlight the benefits of intergenerational connections. Sincere connections with interested students keep older adults engaged, present and valued, while the conversations provide healthy, informative perspectives for the teens.

The artistic-film component is an added benefit fostering professional and educational development.

There are two internship sessions available at DOROT’s Manhattan office, and one at its Riverdale office. Two of the sessions have the documentary film program.

Applications are currently being accepted on a rolling basis until May 10, but interested students are encouraged to apply early. To apply, reach out to Dara Garcia at (347) 913-4440.

YeshivaMemories

CYNTHIA GREENWALD Yeshiva R’tzhad Elementary School Class of ’94 Merkaz Bnos High School Class of ’98

Among the many benefits of the yeshiva education I received from the two fine schools I attended were the lifelong friendships formed with my classmates.

The small class sizes, and the affectionate and fair teachers and staff, created a sense of community that I still treasure. The fun trips, concerts, school plays and shabbatons cultivated a special bond among us that still holds strong over 20 years later.

Perhaps the most important lessons learned were the values instilled by the rabbis and teachers. These are relevant in my everyday life—now—as a mother, wife and teacher. I remember my yeshiva years as I convey those same values to my children.

ARY ROSENBAUM

It was the early to mid-1980s. Pro wrestling was huge, so in the seventh and eighth grades we’d actually wrestle in the back of the classroom and at bar and bat mitzvahs.

I never did submit to Jacob Birnbaum’s cobra clutch. Every week was the bar and bat mitzvah circuit with big hair, shoulder pads and the Michael Jackson impersonator or the talking robot as entertainment.

It was a crazy time living in Brooklyn in those days with reports of and concerns over crime and crack, but that school was a cocoon for all of us.

Rabbi Harry Halpern Day School Class of ’86

CULTURE & EVENTS

CULTURE One Hundred Years for a Jewel of a Shul

BY STAFF

The Theater District shul that Red Buttons, Al Jolson, Jack Benny, Alan King, Shelley Winters and other talented performers called their performing spiritual home will be celebrating its 100th anniversary on March 13. But this is no ordinary centennial celebration, as it’s also an affectionate reflection on

long-ago difficult class divides in New York’s Jewish communities.

Founded in 1917, the Actors’ Temple—Congregation Ezrath Israel, affectionately called “a jewel of a shul”—houses a theater seating 199 alongside its temple. Welcoming Jews whose profession and colorful working life made them unattractive to more mainstream congregations, the Actors’ Temple provided a stage for development and a refuge from scorn.

This fundraising gala will be held at the storied Friar’s Club. Actress Tovah Feldshuh and comedian Jackie Hoffman, and other honorees, are headlining the event.

At a time when America’s Jewish communities were rife with tension between more-established German Jewish families and Eastern European newcomers—especially recent immigrants in certain professions thought of as crass—The Actors’ Temple established itself as open and welcoming.

The moneys raised from the gala will also benefit the 100th Year Capital Campaign to preserve the temple’s historic building at 339 West 47th St. Constructed in 1923, the Actors’ Temple building is a federally designated national landmark.

Tickets can be purchased at www. theactorstemple.org

WEB IMAGE, THE ACTORS’ TEMPLE

MARCH 8 – 14, 2017 | NYJLIFE.COM | 13

IN THE COMMUNITY

JCPA Conference Tackles Engagement, Security

BY MAXINE DOVERE WASHINGTON, D.C.

In his opening remarks at The Path Forward, the 2017 conference of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), president and CEO David Bernstein called for public officials “to do everything in their power to put a stop to [anti-Semitic] threats and incidents,” hoping that “radical elements will be kept in check.”

Cheryl Fishbein, JCPA chairwoman, offered a similar warning, saying, “We urge the president to continue to speak out against these threats against the Jewish community and other minority groups.”

The three-day meeting occurred at a time when more than 100 Jewish institutions have received bomb threats, Jewish cemeteries have been desecrated and swastikas have been sprayed on playgrounds and cars.

Some 200 leaders of 125 community and 16 national member agencies—federations, Jewish community centers and Jewish Community Relations councils— gathered to discuss topics ranging from how to reinvigorate the once-strong relationships between the black and Jewish communities to establishing workable borders and conditions needed to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the mirror of the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War. The battles against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, the global refugee/humanitarian crisis, criminal justice reform and America as a Nation of Immigrants were also addressed.

At the initial plenary session, Criminal Justice Reform: Reengaging the Jewish Community in Civil Rights, Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of the Reform Movement, and Glenn E. Martin, a “graduate” of the New York State prison system and founder of JustLeadershipUSA, a criminal justice reform advocacy organization, concurred that we must “re-engage the Jewish community in civilrights—a historically powerful relationship—to stand on the shoulders of giants.”

Martin said, “I am not the exception. Don’t divide the population. Pay attention to how we got here; it has little to do with good and bad. It takes people who are close to the problem to work with the people of privilege to find the solution.”

Cautioned Pesner, “The justice system is the opposite of what Torah has in mind. The first law is you shall love the stranger. (NB: More than 15,000

14 | NYJLIFE.COM | MARCH 8 – 14, 2017

Jews are incarcerated; there are four prison-based synagogues in the United States.)

Within its policy statements, JCPA called for implementation of the Anti-Defamation League’s antihate recommendations including fighting hate at local and national levels, protecting university students from religious harassment and discrimination, and developing hate-crime response techniques.

William C. Daroff, senior vice president for Public Policy and director of the Washington Office of the Jewish Federations of North America, was honored February 26 with the JCPA Tikun Olam (Repair the World) Award. “We must ensure,” he said, “that we welcome Jews of all stripes, regardless of specifics, to encourage all means of Jewish engagement that meet people where they are.... We must provide a Jewish umbrella under which Jews can express themselves.... however people want to engage with the Jewish community.”

Daroff reminded the Jewish community that its responsibility is to be helpful in a divisive world, saying Jews should “seek to bring together a bipartisan supermajority to provide assistance for Holocaust survivors, to help our country and our people through whatever means or institutions.

“Tikun Olam,” said Daroff, “has been defined in many ways. We are challenged by the commandment to pursue a more just world....To survive as Jews we must be optimists.”

Wade Henderson, president of and counsel to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights—described as “eloquent, brilliant, inspiring... an accomplished coalition builder” by JCPA Board member David Saperstein—was the tzedek (righteous) awardee. He spoke of the shared history of the Jewish and black communities during the civil rights movement, and of the current imperative that “everyone should be appalled by the rise of anti-Semitism...the rise in hate crimes and violence and threats to diverse communities. This historic moment presents obvious challenges, but also the opportunity to protect the rights and freedoms we enjoy as Americans.” Henderson concluded, “If you’re not practicing the politics of coalition, you are not practicing the politics of the 21st century.

Above: Cheryl Fishbein, JCPA chairwoman Below: Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of the Reform Movement PHOTOS BY MAXINE DOVERE

IN THE COMMUNITY

JCPA Conference Tackles Engagement, Security

Tamara Cofman Wittes and Aaron David Miller, Vice President for New Initiatives and a Distinguished Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Wade Henderson, President of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and counsel to the Leadership Conference Education Fund

RIGHT:

Glenn E. Martin, founder of JustLeadershipUSA

William Daroff, senior vice president for Public Policy and director of the Washington Office of the Jewish Federations of North America, recipient of the Tikun Olam Repair the World - Award

MARCH 8 – 14, 2017 | NYJLIFE.COM | 15

OUR WORLD

Two Jewish Museums Open in Portugal amid Opposition to One in Lisbon Two municipalities in Portugal opened museums about their Jewish heritage amid protests by residents of the capital of Lisbon against the ongoing construction of a third and larger one.

In the northeastern city of Braganca, the municipality last week opened a two-story Sephardi Interpretive Center that focuses on the life of Jews under persecution in the 15th and 16th centuries.

And on Thursday, a smaller Jewish Memorial Center opened in the town of Vila Cova à Coelheira east of the northern city of Porto.

Separately, the Association for Heritage and Population in Alfama organized a news conference Wednesday to express its opposition to the ongoing construction of the four-story Jewish museum being built in the neighborhood.

The building, which will feature a façade with a large Star of David, “breaks with the neighborhood’s tradition,” a spokeswoman for the residents association was quoted by the public newspaper as saying in an article about the opposition published Wednesday.

The spokeswoman, Maria de Lurdes Pinheiro, also said residents were not consulted about the plan to erect the Jewish Museum of Lisbon in Alfama.

Portuguese Jews had lobbied for decades for the construction of a Jewish museum in Lisbon—one of the few capital cities in Western Europe without such an institution—until an agreement was reached in 2016.

Pinheiro insisted she does not oppose plans to erect a museum about Jews as such.

“Jewish museum, sure. But not in Sao Miguel Square,” she said in reference to the intended area where the museum is being built. She also said the planned museum does not fit the “atmosphere” of the neighborhood, which is one of Lisbon’s oldest. It is considered a tourist attraction for its narrow hillside alleyways with their many boutique restaurants, leading to the Sao Jorge Castle overlooking the Tejo River.

But Ester Mucznik, the former vice president of the Jewish Community of Lisbon, in 2016 said Alfama and Sao Miguel Square were “symbolic” choices for a Jewish museum because of their proximity to Lisbon’s historical Jewish neighborhood.

The opening last week of the Sephardi Interpretive Center of Braganca was less controversial. Focusing on the history of so-called New Christians—those who were forced to convert from Judaism to Christianity

Trump, Netanyahu Discuss “Dangers” of Iran Deal in Phone Call

posed by the nuclear deal with Iran and by Iran’s malevolent behavior in the region and about the need to work together to counter those dangers,” read the statement.

Netanyahu and Trump have both denounced the deal, which exchanges sanctions relief for a rollback of Iran’s nuclear program. But the U.S. president and other top officials have wavered in their commitment to undoing the agreement.

During the phone call, Netanyahu also thanked Trump for the “warm hospitality” during his visit to Washington last month and for condemning anti-Semitism during a joint address to Congress, according to the statement.

The White House statement reporting the call described the conversation in more general terms.

“The two leaders discussed the need to counter continuing threats and challenges facing the Middle East region,” it said. “The prime minister thanked the president for his comments at the beginning of his speech before the joint session of Congress condemning anti-Semitism.”

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about the Iran nuclear deal in a phone call.

Trump called Netanyahu on Monday and the two leaders discussed “the dangers posed by the nuclear deal with Iran,” according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office.

“The two leaders spoke at length about the dangers

16 | NYJLIFE.COM | MARCH 8 – 14, 2017

under duress during the Portuguese Inquisition, which began in 1536—the building’s opening was attended by the mayor and leaders of Portugal’s Jewish community of roughly 1,000 people.

Many of Portugal’s New Christians were refugees from Spain, where the authorities and the Catholic Church began the Spanish Inquisition in 1492. The persecution led to the dispossession and exile of hundreds of thousands of Jews. Many of those who remained for centuries continued to worship according to the Jewish faith in secret. In Hebrew, those who practiced in secret are called anusim— forced ones.

The two-story museum in Braganca features artworks about the anusim and a large monument in the shape of an olive tree whose branches are emblazoned with the names of locales that had anusim communities.

Jaime Ayash, vice president of the Jewish community of Lisbon, said the center’s opening was the latest demonstration of modern Portugal’s immunity to rising anti-Semitism elsewhere in Western Europe.

“Jewish culture is popular in Portugal and that’s significant in a world experiencing a wave of antiSemitic hate,” he said, according to an article published on the website of the TSF radio station.

Separately, the mayor of the town of Vila Cova à Coelheira, where a small Jewish memorial museum opened Thursday, highlighted the touristic value of the new establishment in his address at the opening, according to the news site Aveiro.

–JTA

Last Tuesday, Trump noted recent bomb threats on Jewish institutions and vandalism of cemeteries in his first address to a joint meeting of Congress.

“Recent threats targeting Jewish community centers and vandalism of Jewish cemeteries, as well as last week’s shooting in Kansas City, remind us that while we may be a nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms,” Trump said.

Nearly 100 Jewish institutions have been targeted with bomb threats since the beginning of the year.

The Kansas shooting occurred when a patron who was ejected from a bar after hurling racial epithets at two workers from India allegedly returned with a gun, killing one of the men and wounding the other.

Trump has come under fire for his delayed responses to the threats against Jewish institutions, deflecting questions about it before finally issuing a denunciation. The White House did not address the Kansas shooting until Tuesday, six days after the attack.

–JTA

OUR NATION

Battling Hate in the Spirit of Queen Esther

BY ELLEN HERSHKIN

Shots fired into a classroom window at an Indiana synagogue. Cemeteries desecrated in Pennsylvania, Missouri and New York. Swastikas scrawled on Jewish buildings. More than 100 bomb threats called in to Jewish community centers.

History doesn’t always repeat itself, but echoes of the darkest chapters serve as warnings. We study the past and preserve our tradition so that we’ll recognize the signs. For these troubled days, the observance of Purim—commemorating the defeat of a plot to massacre the Jews in ancient Persia—is a timely reminder.

But as troubling as the recent anti-Semitic outrages are, the United States is not prewar Europe, let alone ancient Persia, where for all Queen Esther’s courage, protection depended on a king’s will. Here, the protection of the law and the fabric of society are with us.

The FBI is aiding local authorities in investigating the crimes. During his first address to Congress, President Trump condemned anti-Semitism. The House of Representatives’ Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism has called on the president to take additional steps—involving resources for the Justice Department and interagency coordination— in the fight against anti-Jewish hate crimes.

We’ve seen an outpouring of support from fellow citizens. Many non-Jews stood in line to clean and repair the Chesed Shel Emeth cemetery outside St. Louis, where more than 150 tombstones were overturned. Muslim organizations launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay for the damage, quickly raising $100,000—far surpassing the $20,000 goal.

I can’t help but share my pride at the Jewish response to equally appalling attacks against Muslim institutions. When a Muslim man launched a fundraising drive to help repair a Tampa mosque damaged by an arson attack last month, he noticed many donations in multiples of $18 and discovered that they were attached to Jewish names.

Generosity and solidarity can be unleashed by acts of hate. I have full confidence, and there is bountiful evidence, that America’s soil is especially rich for the cultivation of good.

But we can never be complacent, nor can we expect America to fulfill its potential, without constant vigilance. The idea that anti-Semitic crimes are not just a Jewish problem, but also an American one, must be acknowledged.

We have to speak out, express our values, and demand justice every day. All hate crimes must be punished to the fullest extent of the law. We should all exercise our right to insist that Congress and the administration redouble their efforts to fight all forms of anti-Semitism and all hate crimes at home and abroad.

The heroine of the Purim story is a queen who raised her voice to save her people. Until she asked for his support, the king didn’t know his own wife was Jewish. “Esther,” her Persian name, was part of her cover—her Hebrew name was Hadassah.

Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, was founded in the season of Purim in 1912, inspired by the recognition that altering the course of history required learning its lessons. Modern Hadassah combines the legacy of Queen Esther, the Jewish national liberation movement and the determination of women to become leaders. While the central goal of Zionism was the establishment of a Jewish state, in America it also accelerated the impulse for Jews to involve themselves in public life, to insist on equality for all and to wear their identity proudly.

The more we learn from history, the more likely it is to reward us. Let us use the celebration of Purim as a reminder that even while evil exists, we, our society and our government have the capacity to defeat it.

(Ellen Hershkin is president of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.) –JTA

WWII Airman Gets Star of David on His Headstone 75 Years After Being Shot Down The headstone of an American soldier killed in World War II was replaced with one bearing a Star of David.

A headstone replacement ceremony was held on Feb. 28 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, according to a report on Friday on the United States Air Force news website.

Staff Sgt. Jack Weiner, a navigator for the 345th Bombardment Group, was killed during an air raid on Aug. 10, 1945, days before the surrender of Japan. He was the only son of a Jewish immigrant mother from Russia, and had enlisted in the military despite being excused from the draft.

Originally buried at Yokohama Cemetery in Japan, Weiner’s remains were moved to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in 1949. During the transition, a mistake was made and Weiner ended up with a cross on his headstone instead of the Star of David.

First Lt. Rabbi Levy Pekar, who serves from Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, told reporters that he first heard about Weiner and the mix-up from one of the navigator’s cousins. He said it took “some digging,” but he was able to find the form that “confirmed Sgt. Weiner’s wishes to have the Star of David on his headstone.”

“Sgt. Weiner’s story resonated with me on so many different levels,” Pekar said. “With both of us being Jewish and airmen, I felt like his story could have easily been mine. His story affected me on a spiritual level and as my duty as chaplain I knew we had to correct this mistake.”

Over 30 members of the Honolulu Jewish community, both military and civilian, attended the headstone replacement ceremony and recited the Kaddish prayer for Weiner.

–JTA

MARCH 8 – 14, 2017 | NYJLIFE.COM | 17

PHOTO COURTESY OF SKY TECH ONE

Kaufman and Silvercup Studios Boost Western Queens

BY ARIEL HERNANDEZ

With numerous hit shows being filmed at western Queens’ two studios—Silvercup and Kaufman Astoria— Astoria and Long Island City have become a hub for development.

At Long Island City’s Silvercup Studios, shows currently in production include CBS’ “Madam Secretary,” ABC’s “Quantico” and HBO’s “Divorce.”

And Kaufman Astoria Studios’ current roster includes Fox’s “Shades of Blue,” Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black” and Showtime’s “The Affair.”

Since Kaufman Astoria Studios was founded in 1920 and Silvercup Studios, which is the largest studio in the five boroughs, was built in 1983 at a former bakery building, the studios have attracted businesses, restaurants and art groups to the upand-coming residential areas where they are located.

However, the influx didn’t occur until 2004, when the state implemented a tax incentive to spur film and TV production. That incentive, now an annual $420 million, has allowed for hit shows and movies to be filmed at the studios, leading to the increase in young adult and families wanting to live in the area.

The increase in films has resulted in an increase in staff and an increase in working commuters every day. According to Kaufman Astoria Studios executives, between 200 and 400 people work on

18 | NYJLIFE.COM | MARCH 8 – 14, 2017

Kaufman Astoria Studios PHOTO COURTESY OF KAUFMAN ASTORIA STUDIOS

an average television series—including writers, costume and set designers, location scouts and production assistants.

Studio workers are not the only reason for western Queens’ increase in foot traffic. Local businesses have sprouted up in the neighborhood to be in close proximity to Kaufman Astoria Studios and Silvercup Studios, and existing businesses said that the studios have brought in new customers.

The owner of LIC Market, which is just two blocks down from Silvercup, said that the eatery has received approximately 20 percent of its business from the studio and gets calls throughout the day from the studio for catered lunches for the crew.

Adding to the commercial businesses in the area is the Australian café Toby’s Estate Coffee, which opened last month on Jackson Avenue, just blocks away from Silvercup; and Eleni Goros’ café Sweet Scene, which opened a few blocks from Kaufman Astoria Studios last August.

“George Kaufman’s plan was to not only revitalize the studio and a piece of history, but to make the studio an anchor for revitalizing the whole neighborhood,” said Hal G. Rosenbluth, CEO and president of Kaufman Astoria Studios. “We’ve done that by bringing in businesses like the movie theatre and restaurants like the Astor Room and Tacuba. We also work with and support neighborhood cultural institutions like the Museum of the Moving Image and Queens Council on the Arts. The combination has fostered a vibrant creative community and encourages more like-minded businesses to locate here.”

Not only is western Queens seeing a boom in commercial businesses, but the studios have also contributed to residential development.

Silvercup Studios owners Alan and Stuart Suna spent $80 million to build The Harrison, a 27-story, 120-unit property on 44th Drive in Long Island City.

The condominiums, ranging from $495,000 to $2.5 million, went on sale in September. The building is projected to be completed this June and 60 percent of the units have already been sold. Due to the city’s rezoning of the area in 2001, which enabled developers to construct more cheaply than in Brooklyn and Manhattan, The Harrison will stand taller than The View, an 18-story building that is currently the tallest condo in Long Island City.

Kaufman Astoria Studios’ owner George S. Kaufman, on the other hand, owns The Marx, a 33unit, seven-story boutique condominium, directly across the street from the studio. The building, which opened in December, was sold out within a month.

In addition to the studios bringing new condo units to the neighborhood, Valyrian Capital and Volmar Construction are contributing an eightstory, 64-unit building, which is slated to open at the end of the year. However, rather than selling, the developers are renting apartments for $2,400 to $3,400 per month.

And the studios intend to continue spearheading both commercial and residential development in the community.

“In recognition of the neighborhood’s creative character, the city designated this Kaufman Arts District, which has spurred even more interest in this community,” Rosenbluth said. “Young people and families are moving here and it’s become a popular destination for visitors. It has really fulfilled George Kaufman’s original vision and we look forward to building on this success.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO MICHAEL TOBMAN AND THE EDITORIAL STAFF AT

NEW YORK JEWISH LIFE ON THE PUBLICATION OF YOUR INAUGURAL ISSUE I WISH YOU MANY YEARS OF SUCCESS!  HELENE E. WEINSTEIN ASSEMBLYWOMAN, 41st A.D. 3520 Nostrand Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11229 (718) 648-4700

MARCH 8 – 14, 2017 | NYJLIFE.COM | 19

Mayor and Police Commissioner Reassure and Caution

BY MAXINE DOVERE

At his March 7th news conference in Staten Island with Jewish leaders, Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner O’Neill met with New York Jewish leaders to address the continuing threats against Jewish community institutions—threats that are “very seriously” considered, said the mayor. “We are in a state of vigilance, a very troubling reality...(when) forces of hate have been unleashed.”

The mayor pledged that “New York City stands with you, the New York Police Department stands with you, as your mayor I stand with you...Our response is to be not only vigilant but aggressive. These horrible threats,” he continued, “go against the values of New York City; they are unacceptable to us...We don’t tolerate intolerance, and we do something about it.”

Michael Miller is vice president and CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.

20 | NYJLIFE.COM | MARCH 8 – 14, 2017

The mayor spoke of the brotherhood of communities: “There have been attacks on mosques.

Mosques have, literally, been burned to the ground.

And members of the Jewish community have come forward to help the Muslim community rebuild the mosque. There have been attacks on Jewish cemeteries and members of the Muslim community have come forward to help the Jewish community rebuild and restore the cemeteries...This is when we find out what we’re made of as Americans. This is when we get an opportunity to live out, more fully, our values.”

Reassurance also came from Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill: “It’s about making sure all New Yorkers feel safe too. The hardworking men and

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio

women of the New York City Police Department have been working tirelessly on their behalf. And it’s not just the NYPD; it’s about all of us—cops and community—sharing the responsibility of public safety.

Michael Miller is vice president and CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.

In an exclusive interview, Rabbi Miller told NYJL that “the mayor’s objective was to ensure that [Jewish leaders] were well informed of the seriousness of the New York Police Department regarding threats against the Jewish community.” Miller called the mayor’s sincerity and the overall NYPD response to acts of anti-Semitism “impressive.”

David Pollock directs the JCRC-NY Division on Public Policy and Jewish Security. “We have a regular communication with Jewish organizations including ongoing recommendations of security protocols and hardware.”

The question Pollock is most frequently asked is “What now?” His advice: Make sure you know who is coming into your building. A welcoming committee that knows “the regulars” and lists of expected guests are suggested for special events.

“The most common complaint,” says Pollack, “whether from synagogues, churches or mosques, is how to handle emotionally ill or disturbed people who walk in off the street.”

JCRC NY helps facilitate NYPD security training.

“It is vital,” said Rabbi Miller, “that institutions reach out to their local precinct and do security assessments through the community affairs officer.”

Asked about the “gut reactions” of community leaders, Miller said “the Jewish community as a whole feels a degree of vulnerability that we have not felt recently. Regrettably, this series of bomb threats continues; it is fortunate that attacks have not been against buildings, not individuals.” He noted that there is an “uneasiness” in the Jewish community regarding the spike in anti-Semitism, but stressed the reassurance of knowing that there is concern and action from the highest level of government and law enforcement.

NYJL asked Miller how children should be reassured in the face of school or institutional threats. “What do you say to a 12-year-old?” asked NYJL. The rabbi responded, “We must say that there are those even in America, even in New York, who do not like our people. However, we are in the good hands of law enforcement and government.

We must reassure and comfort...No stone will be left unturned by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies. That is indicative of the American response to an un-American act.”

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MARCH 8 – 14, 2017 | NYJLIFE.COM | 21

EDITORIAL

New Yorkers Elected to Leadership in National Association of Jewish Legislators

Editor’s Note

BY JEFFREY M. WICE

BY MICHAEL GARETH JOHNSON LAUNCH EDITOR

Any new endeavor, especially one in media, is filled with excitement and trepidation. Starting from scratch allows you to think hard about what your audience wants and what makes a good newspaper in the 21st century.

The experience is also scary, because you never know if an idea is good until you test it out and get feedback. This has been the case for the launch of New York Jewish Life (NYJL).

For roughly the past 10 weeks, the small team involved in building this newspaper have spent many hours discussing the stories and sections we wanted to have in the publication, always with a focus on who our readers are and what they would want to read.

As you flip through the paper you may notice a recurring theme—the word “our.” The sections have been labeled “Our Civic Life,” “In Our Neighborhood,” “Our Nation,” “Our World” because the driving editorial force behind the publication is for it to be a newspaper created and edited by people who could be your neighbors, friends, colleagues or classmates— people who have shared the rich and diverse cultural experiences of being a New York Jew. In my role as launch editor, I have worked with the publisher, Michael Tobman, to construct the layout and sections of NYJL with that core philosophy. Let me tell you a little bit about those sections.

Politics and civic affairs are at the forefront of many people’s minds these days. Therefore, NYJL wanted to make sure several pages of the newspaper would be dedicated to covering what is happening in government and why it matters to the diverse Jewish communities in and around New York City and up the Hudson Valley into Albany. This will be a key editorial goal.

22 | NYJLIFE.COM | MARCH 8 – 14, 2017

Another important goal is to constantly track national and international storylines important to Jews, like the Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) movement. Across the United States and around the world, this effort designed to put economic pressure on Israel to change its policies has caused much alarm among Jews, especially on college campuses. While BDS may be intended as simply a political campaign by many, it has at times morphed into a rallying call for anti-Semitism and unfortunately has led to violence in some cases.

So, in each issue of NYJL, we will be dedicating some space to tracking this movement so our audience is always informed on this issue.

While the topic of politics and civics is vitally important to our readers, we know that is not all they want. That is why New York Jewish Life will also be dedicated to telling interesting stories about the arts, culture, humanity and the experiences we share. One example is a recurring section called “Yeshiva Memories,” where we encourage our readers, of all ages, to tell us about their school memories—teachers, friends, class trips, successes or failures. We will also strive to bring you captivating stories, like the article on page 12 of this issue about how the Brooklyn Marriott has become one of New York’s prime spots for shidduch dates.

Rarely is something perfect at the beginning, so we welcome your thoughts, good and bad, as we continue to build this exciting new venture.

Two New York state legislators are helping to steer the outreach, program development and networking for more than 230 Jewish legislators in 40 states through the National Association of Jewish Legislators (NAJL).

Assemblyman David I. Weprin (Queens) has been elected to serve as NAJL co-president. Assemblyman Charles Lavine (Nassau), who chairs New York’s NAJL chapter, which at 29 members is the largest in the country, also has been elected to serve on the NAJL’s national board of directors.

The NAJL, which is based in New York City, was founded in 1977 by then New York Assembly Speaker Stanley Steingut and Connecticut Senate Majority Leader Joseph Lieberman.

The association helps develop efforts for legislators to share experiences, proactively engage in issues, react to issues of importance to the American Jewish community and strategize ways to address cultural prejudices, assumptions, language and antiSemitism. Working through the NAJL, legislators engage non-Jewish colleagues to gain greater mutual understanding and to work on matters of shared interest.

“I am excited to serve in this position, working with my colleagues in states across the nation,” Weprin said. He added, “My focus will be on helping my colleagues understand issues of importance to Jewish American communities, including broadening diversity, supporting Israel and addressing anti-Semitism wherever it occurs. We will also be focusing on efforts to support Israel and ways to work with our African American, Hispanic and Asian American colleagues.”

Assemblyman Lavine’s interest in leading the NAJL’s New York chapter is personal.

He relates, “As a very little girl, my grandmother survived a pogrom in her

Czarist shtetl by hiding in a hay wagon.

She witnessed Cossacks, armed cowards on horseback, murder defenseless civilians. Just a few years later, she sailed past the Statue of Liberty for a new life in America. No one could have loved the United States more. That is just one of the reasons that I am very humbled and very honored to serve as president of the New York chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators and to be a member of its national board of directors. I know that my grandmother would have been very proud of me!”

A new NAJL partnership with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), the nation’s umbrella group for Jewish Community Relations councils, aims to identify emerging and pending state policy issues and opportunities to work with community leaders.

Priority matters include addressing Israeli Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)-related legislation, support for Israel, social service priorities and ensuring public safety for Jewish communities and institutions.

The NAJL is also promoting Jewish American Heritage Month recognition in the states (in May) and Jewish leadership training efforts for elected officials.

Jeffrey M. Wice serves as NAJL executive director and is a contributing columnist for New York Jewish Life. In addition to directing the NAJL, Wice has worked for five state assembly speakers and four state Senate Democratic leaders.

He is also a fellow at SUNY Buffalo Law School, where he specializes in election and redistricting law.

EDITORIAL

Wiping Out the Name of Haman

BY RABBI ADAM MINTZ, PH.D.

Traditionally, when the name of Haman is read in the Megillah, the children together with the adults shake their groggers and enable their special Purim iPhone apps to make noise and wipe out the name of Haman. This tradition is based on the biblical verse that instructs us to “wipe out the memory of Amalek,” the nation of Haman. Why, however, do we attempt to wipe out their memory with noise-making?

The answer lies in the power of making noise, of lawful civil protest. As diasporic Jews in a culture that is not our own, we are forced to navigate a fine line between loyalty and appreciation on the one hand, and an ability to effectively voice our opposition on the other. To complain too often might be seen as ingratitude for our place in American society and our freedom of religion and expression that makes this democracy great. Yet to never express opposition would be to ignore injustice and unfairness to us, and to others. On Purim, the holiday that occurred in the diaspora, we acknowledge this tightrope by expressing our polite, yet audible,

opposition to the evils that Haman continues to represent for Jews in the diaspora. The noise of the groggers is loud but brief; it is emphatic but quiets when it is time to continue the reading.

So, too, must our response to injustice be loud and emphatic yet respectful of the opportunities that American and diasporic society continues to provide the Jewish people.

May this Purim bring an end to suffering for all people and lead us to the ultimate redemption celebrated on Pesach.

Rabbi Adam Mintz, Ph.D., is an adjunct associate professor of Jewish Studies in City College, New York, and rabbi of Kehilat Rayim Ahuvim on the Upper West Side. He is a former president of the New York Board of Rabbis.

MARCH 8 – 14, 2017 | NYJLIFE.COM | 23

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WE HOUSE NEW YORK 24 | NYJLIFE.COM | MARCH 8 – 14, 2017