Southern Jewish Life
January 2019 Volume 29 Issue 1
Southern Jewish Life P.O. Box 130052 Birmingham, AL 35213 Model of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, at Palestine Gardens near Lucedale, Miss.
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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
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shalom y’all Just after the last issue went to press, I headed to Israel for an International Jewish Media Conference. Held every other year, this time the conference had a major emphasis on “new media” of bloggers and social media. About 160 delegates represented 30 countries. In the coming weeks, we will publish many pieces about the trip, both in Southern Jewish Life and in our new publication, Israel InSight. Some will have to do with politics and history, others will be about unique connections from Israel to our region. One topic will be about the security barrier, which is demonized by anti-Israel activists as an “apartheid wall.” We spent a morning with the architect of the barrier, gaining insight as to how and why it was built, and how its existence dramatically cut terror attacks. Listening to him, it is clear that many of the activists are clueless. It is important to get a frame of reference by being there. In the U.S., we see endless reports on the conflict and it is framed as whether Israel and the Palestinian leaders can make peace. There, both on the trip and in my own exploration, the overwhelming opinion was that peace will come from the ground up, despite the leadership, through economic endeavors and joint ventures. Of course, the aforementioned activists are fighting that tooth and nail, not wanting to “normalize” Israel and Israelis. This being Israel, there were many disagreements and heated exchanges, and most of us were mature enough to realize much of what was presented followed certain narratives, and it is up to us to form our own opinions. Regardless, it was a valuable experience, and we will be sharing more of it with you shortly.
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MESSAGES Maccabi USA leader praises Birmingham Games I have had the honor of attending many Maccabi competitions around the world. From Israel to Australia to South America, Europe and the JCC Maccabi games around the United States and Canada, I have logged many miles seeing how sports can be a vehicle to help build Jewish identity, especially in our young. I felt honored to come to Birmingham for the first time and fell in love with not just the city but the people. You have taken Southern hospitality to a new level with your kind and caring approach to the JCC Maccabi Games. Led by the Sokol and Helds, your hard-working volunteers were wonderful. They partnered with your outstanding staff, led by Betzy Lynch, to make the 2017 JCC Maccabi games a huge hit. I want to take this opportunity as executive director of Maccabi USA to say thank you on behalf of everyone involved. I had just returned from the 20th World Maccabiah games in Israel with a U.S. delegation of over 1100, who joined 10,000 Jewish athletes from 80 countries. Back in July the eyes of the entire Jewish world were on Jerusalem and the Maccabiah. This past month with 1000 athletes and coaches from around the world being in Birmingham, you became the focal point. Everyone from the Jewish community and the community at large, including a wonderful police force, are to be commended. These games will go down in history as being a seminal moment for the Jewish community as we build to the future by providing such wonderful Jewish memories.
This Week In Southern Jewish Life
Jed Margolis Executive Director, Maccabi USA
The South’s Most Comprehensive Weekly Jewish News Email supremacists would like to see pushed back
On Charlottesville To Subscribe, sendinto an aemail subscribe@sjlmag.com cornerto and made to feel lesser. We stand Editor’s Note: This reaction to the events in Charlottesville, written by Jeremy Newman, Master of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Theta Colony at Auburn University, was shared by AEPi National, which called it “very eloquent” and praised “our brothers at AEPi Theta Colony at Auburn University and… the leadership they display on their campus.” White supremacy has been a cancer on our country since its beginning, threatening its hopes, its values, and its better angels. The events that took place in Charlottesville represented the worst of this nation. Those who marched onto the streets with tiki torches and swastikas did so to provoke violence and fear. Those who marched onto the streets did so to profess an ideology that harkens back to a bleaker, more wretched time in our history. A time when men and women of many creeds, races, and religions were far from equal and far from safe in our own borders. A time where Americans lived under a constant cloud of racism, anti-Semitism and pervasive hate. The events that took place in Charlottesville served as a reminder of how painfully relevant these issues are today. Auburn’s Alpha Epsilon Pi stands with the Jewish community of Charlottesville, and with the Jewish people around the country and around the world. We also stand with the minorities who are targeted by the hate that was on display in Charlottesville. We stand with the minorities of whom these white 6
January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
with and pray for the family of Heather Heyer, who was there standing up to the face of this hate.
We recognize the essence of the American narrative as a two-century old struggle to rid ourselves of such corners, and allow those in them the seat at the table that they so deserve. It is the struggle to fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal… endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” We know our work is far from finished, but we know we will not move backwards. When men and women, fully armed, take to the streets in droves with swastikas and other symbols of hate, it is a reminder of how relevant the issues of racism and anti-Semitism are today. It is a wake-up call to the work that needs to be done to ensure a better, more welcoming country. But it should not come without a reflection on how far we’ve come. America was born a slave nation. A century into our history we engaged in a war in part to ensure we would not continue as one. We found ourselves confronted by the issue of civil rights, and embarked on a mission to ensure the fair treatment of all peoples no matter their skin color. Although we’ve made great strides, it is a mission we’re still grappling with today. America was also born an immigrant country. As early as the pilgrims, many groups and families found in the country the opportunity to plant stakes, chase their future, and be themselves. Few were met with open
January 2019
Southern Jewish Life PUBLISHER/EDITOR Lawrence M. Brook editor@sjlmag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ADVERTISING Lee J. Green lee@sjlmag.com V.P. SALES/MARKETING, NEW ORLEANS Jeff Pizzo jeff@sjlmag.com ADVERTISING SPECIALIST Annetta Dolowitz annetta@sjlmag.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ginger Brook ginger@sjlmag.com SOCIAL/WEB Emily Baldwein connect@sjlmag.com PHOTOGRAPHER-AT-LARGE Rabbi Barry C. Altmark deepsouthrabbi.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rivka Epstein, Louis Crawford, Tally Werthan, Stuart Derroff, Belle Freitag, Ted Gelber, E. Walter Katz, Doug Brook brookwrite.com BIRMINGHAM OFFICE P.O. Box 130052, Birmingham, AL 35213 14 Office Park Circle #104 Birmingham, AL 35223 205/870.7889 NEW ORLEANS OFFICE 3747 West Esplanade, 3rd Floor Metairie, LA 70002 504/432-2561 TOLL-FREE 866/446.5894 FAX 866/392.7750 ADVERTISING Advertising inquiries to 205/870.7889 for Lee Green, lee@sjlmag.com; Jeff Pizzo, jeff@sjlmag.com; or Annetta Dolowitz, annetta@sjlmag.com Media kit, rates available upon request SUBSCRIPTIONS It has always been our goal to provide a large-community quality publication to all communities of the South. To that end, our commitment includes mailing to every Jewish household in the region (AL, LA, MS, NW FL), without a subscription fee. Outside the area, subscriptions are $25/year, $40/two years. Subscribe via sjlmag.com, call 205/870.7889 or mail payment to the address above. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission from the publisher. Views expressed in SJL are those of the respective contributors and are not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff. SJL makes no claims as to the Kashrut of its advertisers, and retains the right to refuse any advertisement.
Documenting this community, a community we are members of and active within, is our passion. We love what we do, and who we do it for.
agenda interesting bits & can’t miss events
In November, B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge did its 10th annual Turkey Train, delivering 124 donated turkeys to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for their Thanksgiving meal. This was their largest Turkey Train thus far.
Panama City becomes newest panhandle community with Chabad presence Three months after a new Chabad center was announced for Pensacola, a third location for Chabad along the Florida panhandle coast was announced, in Panama City Beach. Rabbi Mendy and Chaya Havlin and their three young sons are moving to the area to establish a Chabad presence, at the invitation of the Achdut Israel community, a small Sephardic Orthodox congregation mainly of Israelis in the area. The first Chabad center in the panhandle was established in 2013 in Destin by Rabbi Shaya Tenenboim, who was a classmate of Rabbi Havlin. Last September, Rabbi Mendel Danow arrived in Pensacola to establish Chabad there, just days before Hurricane Michael hit the area and caused extensive damage in the Panama City area. For Panama City, “the arrival of Chabad Shluchim will give strength and support to the local residents,” said Rabbi Havlin. The three panhandle Chabads are overseen by Rabbi Schneor Zalman Oirechman of Chabad of the Panhandle in Tallahassee. Mrs. Havlin said they want to start with offering educational opportunities for children. As a former principal of a preschool, she said they
want to start a religious school, offering Bar and Bat Mitzvah lessons and the CTeen program. “Our plans are to create a schedule of Torah lessons for the adults, and community events as well,” and they hope to establish a daily minyan. They also want to serve tourists and businesspeople who come to the area, as well as Jewish students on Spring Break. “We want to reach every Jew and be there for everyone, men and women, kids and adults,” she said. Rabbi Havlin is a son of Rabbi Moshe Havlin, the Rosh Yeshiva in Kiryat Gat, and chief rabbi of Kiryat Gat and Sderot, in Southern Israel. There are several groups in Alabama that maintain close ties to organizations in Sderot. He has studied in Brooklyn and Israel, and taught in Argentina, Israel and Ukraine. Mrs. Havlin is a daughter of Rabbi Zushe Alperowitz, the Mashpia and Rebbe’s Shliach to Kiryat Gat. While they are from Israel, she said they have a lot of family in the United States,
and many family members that have been sent by Chabad to locations all over the world. They have established a website, chabadpcb. org. In addition to Achdut Israel, which dedicated a mikvah in 2014, Panama City has a Reform congregation, B’nai Israel. January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
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Hadassah Baton Rouge will host the Hadassah Southern Region’s board meeting and installation, and chapter members are welcome to join the delegates in celebrating two local officers. Marla Kameny will be installed as regional president, and Susan Smolinsky will become organization vice president. There will be a Havdalah and dinner installation on Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are $36. For those wishing to attend the board meeting and marketing training on Jan. 27, cost for the entire weekend is $75.
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Montgomery’s Agudath Israel-Etz Ahayem will have a piano concert and reception on Jan. 13 at 2 p.m., in memory of Marian Paige Segall. A Montgomery native, Segall became a popular entertainer in New York but never forgot her roots. Whenever she was home visiting relatives she always insisted on entertaining people at the synagogue. She gifted her magnificent piano to Agudath Israel-Etz Ahayem, and at the concert, pianist Kris Sanchez will be the first to play this special piano for the community. There will be a talk by Leibel Mangel, “From Auschwitz to the IDF,” on Jan. 30 at 7 p.m., hosted by Chabad of Baton Rouge, and on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. at the Uptown Chabad in New Orleans. The son of a Chabad rabbi and grandson of one of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz, Mangel left Cincinnati at age 19 and enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces. He served as a machine gunner in the Kfir Brigade, where he took part in numerous high profile anti-terror operations. Today, he advocates for Israel in mainstream and social media, speaking throughout the U.S. He is also a Krav Maga instructor. On Jan. 26, B’nai Israel in Monroe will hold a Taste of Judaism class with Rabbi Judy Ginsburgh, open to everyone — Jews and non-Jews. Ginsburgh will touch on the topics of history, beliefs, customs, holidays, Israel and more. An “Ask the Rabbi” session is available at the end of the class, as are tours of the congregation’s museum. The class will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Springhill Avenue Temple in Mobile will have its annual Tu B’Shevat Planting Event on Jan. 27 at 10 a.m., followed by the religious school’s Tu B’Shevat Seder. The planting is part of the beautification for the congregation’s 175th anniversary celebration the following weekend. Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El will have its Sisterhood and Brotherhood Shabbat service and dinner on Jan. 25 at 5:45 p.m. B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge will have a Tu B’Shevat Seder on Jan. 26 at 10 a.m.
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The Henry S. Jacobs Camp will be in Tuscaloosa at Temple Emanu-El on Jan. 13 to speak to the religious school and meet with parents, and on Jan. 27 at B’nai Israel in Little Rock. Chabad of Alabama presents “Songs of the Inspired Soul,” a multimedia concert featuring the Rebbe’s niggunim, including a live performance by a string quartet, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. The inspirational film and live music presentation celebrates the Chassidic musical legacy of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, and is presented on the 10th of Shevat, the date he became leader of Chabad. The quartet is comprised of Marilyn Pipkin, violin 1; Ilene Brill, violin 2; Zakaria Enikeev, viola and Greg Odrezin, cello. Refreshments will be served. The suggested donation is $18. Temple Beth El in Pensacola is hosting Adult Hebrew for Beginners, Sundays from Jan 13 to Feb. 10, 10 to 11:30 a.m. The free five-session class includes a textbook and the ability to recognize and read Hebrew by the end of the course.
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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
The Etz Chayim Men’s Club and Temple B’nai Sholom Brotherhood will have an outing on Feb. 2 to watch the Huntsville Havoc battle continued on page 35
agenda Tired of Bama’s football dominance? Blame the Jews After Alabama’ Iron Bowl 52-21 beatdown of Auburn on Nov. 24, a disgruntled Auburn fan came up with a new explanation for Alabama’s dominance in college football. Actually, it is one of the oldest explanations for all sorts of global ills — Jewish Zionists. On the Auburn Undercover Internet board, a fan calling himself “Auburnmanfromtn” accused Bama of buying players, then explained that the reason Alabama gets away with it is the influence of Jewish Zionists. The post, which was later flagged and edited to remove Jewish references, apparently by board moderators, received widespread ridicule. First, he called Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban a Jewish Zionist. Saban is actually a Catholic who attends mass before games, and the Catholic student center at Alabama is named in his honor. The fan then said the last two commissioners of the Southeastern Conference “are Jewish Zionist,” along with the president of the National Collegiate Athletics Association. “They all take care of each other. They let Saban do anything he wants,” he wrote. Mark Emmert, who he called Emminett, is NCAA president, and an online search doesn’t turn up any mention of his religion. He was formerly the chancellor of Louisiana State University, and it was during his tenure that Saban was hired at LSU. Currently, the SEC commissioner is Greg Sankey. He succeeded Mike Slive, who died earlier this year and was an active member of Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El. The poster added that “I may be wrong” but he heard the head of SEC officials “is one of them too.” Steve Shaw, head of SEC officiating, is a member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church and has been a board member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. To complete the conspiracy, the Auburn fan noted Alabama’s “good Journalist school” that “New York Jews” attend and then “go back to NY, they really support Bama football. Enough said?” Alabama has had several notable Jewish players over the years, including Leroy Monsky and Harold Newman. There was also the legendary Fred Sington, who became Christian later in life. There is a lot of Jewish history in the radio booth in Tuscaloosa, starting with one of the earliest voices of Crimson Tide football, Melvin Israel, who started broadcasting games in 1933 at age 20 while still in law school. Israel later became Mel Allen, the Voice of the New York Yankees. Currently, Eli Gold does play-by-play on the Alabama Football Radio Network, which was created by Bert Bank, a radio pioneer who survived the Bataan Death March as a prisoner of war in World War II. Also, Robert Levin is the long-time voice of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band. And of course, there’s the famous Alabama store in the very center of Zion itself, in the Old City of Jerusalem. Oops, that’s not a Jewish establishment, the owner is a Palestinian graduate of Alabama. But “Auburnmanfromtn” has a couple of problems in rooting for Auburn — their head basketball coach is Bruce Pearl, who is very open about his Judaism and is a founding member of the Jewish Coaches Association. Also, as reported in this publication two years ago, the Auburn fight song, “War Eagle,” was written by two Jewish New Yorkers who are best known for writing the Christmas standard “Home for the Holidays.”
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agenda OFFICE OF INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY
THIS IS AUBURN. “This wonderful country of ours allows us to gather together, to be Jewish and be free… I’m grateful I can be Jewish and a basketball coach in the SEC.”
— Auburn Head Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl, at the 2017 JCC Maccabi Games Opening Ceremony
WE ARE COMMUNITY. Hillel, Auburn University’s Jewish student organization, was the recipient of the 2015 AU Student Involvement Award for Overcoming Adversity. diversity@auburn.edu www.auburn.edu/diversity
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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
Natchez concert benefits B’nai Israel The Natchez Festival of Music and the Goldring/ Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life are presenting Cabaret Under the Dome at historic Temple B’nai Israel in Natchez, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. This evening of Broadway and opera classics performed by singers from across the South supports the building’s restoration and celebrates Courtesy Historic Natchez Foundation the Jewish community’s important place in the his- Among the modifications at B’nai Israel in Natchez is an ADA-accessible ramp. tory of Natchez. The artists performing in the cabaret are featured in the Natchez Festival of Music’s annual outreach program. They will share favorite songs from their repertoires in this benefit concert in the historic sanctuary of B’nai Israel. Eric Botto, a Houston native, is a tenor currently pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Mobile. Tennessee native Grace Denton is a Doctorate of Musical Arts student in Voice Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Mobile. Harlan Mapp is studying for his Master’s Degree in Conducting at the University of Southern Mississippi. Soprano Olivia Russell, a Gulfport native, has a resume of diverse roles in opera and musical theatre, which she continues to build as a student at the University of Mobile. Collaborative pianist Julian Jones, a Louisiana native, is a Doctorate of Musical Arts Student in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance at the University of Mobile. “We’re excited to be bringing these incredible performers into Temple B’nai Israel’s sanctuary. The acoustics in the space are perfect for Broadway and opera music. We’re grateful for the Natchez Festival of Music’s support, and we look forward to many more events like this in the future,” said Nora Katz, ISJL Director of Heritage and Interpretation and co-chair of Temple B’nai Israel’s Board of Overseers. The small Jewish community that remains in Natchez is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Jewish Natchez. In 1991, Temple B’nai Israel went into partnership with the ISJL as a way of preserving the temple into the future. The temple is now under the auspices of the ISJL’s Heritage and Interpretation Department, which interprets and shares the rich tradition of Jewish life in the American South through public programs, trips and tours, shared experiences, and more. In 2017, the Mississippi Heritage Trust named Temple B’nai Israel one of the Ten Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi. The Natchez Jewish community and the ISJL are embarking on a renovation project that will enhance accessibility, restore the historic structure, and preserve the building in perpetuity. Once the multimillion-dollar restoration project is complete, the building will be consistently open as an event space, community arts hub, and museum telling the story of Jewish life in Natchez. This preservation process will be accompanied by cultural offerings and dynamic experiences, making use of the space and bringing people together even while construction is still underway. Tickets for the performance are $15, and all of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Temple B’nai Israel Restoration and Preservation Fund. A reception will follow.
January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
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Mississippi: Can’t help falling in love with Israel Governor Bryant leads fourth trade delegation from SJL and JNS reports
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In November, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant made his fourth trip to Israel in five years, leading a 20-member trade delegation and speaking at the third Jerusalem Leaders Summit. Bryant was presented with the Distinguished Leadership Award for his efforts to strengthen the Israel-U.S. strategic partnership. A strong Israel advocate, Bryant’s emotions were on full display when he addressed the crowd. “We have so many friends around the world,” he said, “but none as close, and none that I love more than Israel. I am called to be here. Perhaps sometimes we cannot explain exactly why, but that call, that voice, is stronger than any other that we hear, to come to Israel, to Jerusalem, to do what I can to strengthen this relationship.” The summit featured leading voices who articulated principled solutions in addressing the 21st-century’s economic concerns, global threats and security challenges. The parent organization — the International Leaders Summit, co-founded by Joel Anand Samy and Natasha Srdoc — brought together leaders from America, Britain, continental Europe, India and Israel to its inaugural Jerusalem Leaders Summit event in 2015, affirming the rule of law of civilization, based on shared principles and values. This year’s summit focused on strengthening the rule of law, advancing economic freedom and free trade, and featuring contributions from the fields of innovation and technology that benefit individuals around the world. Anand Samy told JNS “We are delighted that Governor Phil Bryant is here with a trade delegation… This is a practical approach that we are infusing into the Jerusalem Leaders summit. Bringing business leaders together who are looking into establishing economic partnerships, security partnerships through their endeavors working with government entities as well. So this is where we see the next level developing of us being involved as a team, as an organization, in facilitating these important gatherings.” Also speaking at the Summit was Sampat Shivangi, a prominent Mississippi physician who was recently named to the ILS executive advisory board. A member of Mississippi’s Hindu community, Shivangi was appointed a goodwill ambassador to Israel in 2005, working with the American Jewish Committee. Shivangi was appointed as an advisor to the U.S. Health and Human Services committee by President George W. Bush. Former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour appointed him to the Mississippi State Board of Health, then was appointed chair of the State Board of Mental Health, by Bryant. Also on schedule was Rev. Chris Edmonds of Tennessee, an ILS board member whose father, Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds, was recognized as Righteous Among the Nations for saving the lives of American Jewish soldiers during the Holocaust when his unit was captured by the Nazis.
community Bryant told Israeli media that his first Israel visit in 2013 came when he saw that the U.S. administration “was weakening in our support of Israel,” so he wanted to come to Israel to reiterate that the heartland of America supports Israel. Among those on the trip were Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Glenn McCullough Jr. and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Col. Greg Michel, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and representatives of the Mississippi State Port Authority and the State Workforce Investment Board. Israeli Consul General Lior Haiat from the Miami Consulate accompanied the Nov. 17 to 21 trip, which included a visit to the Elvis Inn, a restaurant and gas station near Jerusalem that is a shrine to the Mississippi-born King of Rock and Roll. “It kind of caught me by surprise,” Bryant said. “I walked in, there’s a guy singing ‘Jailhouse Rock.’ Sounded just like Elvis Presley. And I’m in Jerusalem.” On Nov. 20, Bryant met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called Bryant “a stalwart friend of Israel and a great champion of the Israeli-America alliance.” Bryant brought greetings from President Donald Trump, “my dear friend, who called me on Sunday night at 02:00 Israeli time to make sure that I expressed our strong support of Israel, not only in Mississippi, but across the United States and his administration again for peace in our world and in our time, and you are doing so much to help us reach that and we thank you for that.” Netanyahu responded, “We appreciate what President Trump is doing and his effort to contain Iranian aggression, which is the greatest danger to the peace of the world.” In their meeting, they discussed cyber, fighting BDS and strengthening the alliance against “common enemies” and for “common challenges.” In the JNS interview, Bryant also addressed anti-Israel boycott efforts. “That’s not going to happen,” he said adamantly. “I was at a board meeting with Caterpillar, and they said they need to stop selling Caterpillars to the Jewish nation, and we said, ‘No! We’re not going to do that’,” Bryant said. “We have had success. We were able to pass a bill that said we will not invest, in the State of Mississippi, any of our dollars, whether education or retirement dollars, in any company that is helping threaten Israel, attack Israel, [or] supporting those nations and rogue organizations that are a threat to Israel.” Bryant told JNS how he would suggest that people get to know the real Israel — not what they glean from the mainstream media.
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Mobile Jewish Film Festival
Tickets: $8, $6 for students and seniors, at mobilejewishfederation.org Thursday, Jan. 10, 1:30 and 6 p.m. “The Invisibles” Mobile Museum of Art, free Sunday, Jan. 13, 3 p.m. “The Boys” Ahavas Chesed. Dessert reception and singalong Tuesday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m. “The Last Suit” Laidlaw Center, USA. Wednesday, Jan. 16, 7 p.m. “The Cakemaker” Laidlaw Center, USA. Thursday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m. “The Band’s Visit” Laidlaw Center, USA. Dessert reception follows. Saturday, Jan. 19, 6:30 p.m. “Humor Me” Springhill Avenue Temple. Optional deli dinner precedes ($15) Tuesday, Jan. 22, 7 p.m. “The Interpreter” USA Fairhope campus. Reception follows. Wednesday, Jan. 23, 7 p.m. “A Bag of Marbles” Ben May Library. Thursday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m. “Inside The Mossad” Ahavas Chesed. Reception follows. Sunday, Jan. 27, 3 p.m. “Itzhak” Springhill Avenue Temple. Followed by mini-concert and dessert reception.
Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival Manship Theatre at Shaw Center Tickets: $8.50 at brjff.com Wednesday, Jan. 16, 7 p.m. “Big Sonia” Thursday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m. “Inside The Mossad” Saturday, Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m. “Itzhak” Sunday, Jan. 20, 3 p.m. “Driver”
Jewish Cinema Mississippi
Malco Grandview Tickets: $10, or $35 for festival pass, at jewishcinemams.com Thursday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m. “Bye Bye Germany” Saturday, Jan. 26, 7 p.m. “The Last Suit” Sunday, Jan. 27, 2 p.m. “GI Jews” Tuesday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m. “A Quiet Heart”
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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
Photo courtesy Greenwich Entertainment
Itzhak Perlman performing the National Anthem at Citi Field
January is Jewish Film Festival month Film Festival season has arrived, with the Mobile Jewish Film Festival celebrating its 18th anniversary with an ambitious lineup of 10 films over two weeks in January. Organized in 2002, Jewish Cinema Mississippi in Jackson celebrates has its 17th season, while the Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival, which started in 2006, returns to the Manship Theatre. In Mobile, the festival kicks off with a free film at the Mobile Museum of Art, “The Invisibles.” Though there is no charge, reservations to the Mobile Area Jewish Federation office are still required. In addition to the regular festival, the Julien E. Marx Holocaust Student Film Series reaches about 2,500 students in the Mobile area. The Baton Rouge festival also has an empha-
sis on Holocaust education. The festival provides funding for teachers in the area to attend the Belfer National Conference for Educators, an internationally renowned conference held yearly at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. There is also an annual Holocaust education program for junior high and high school students, with a Holocaust-themed film accompanied by a speaker who is a Holocaust survivor. This year, the festival is also raising funds through T-shirt sales, using a quote by Rabbi Shmuel ben Nachman, “We Don’t See Things As They Are, We See Things As We Are.” The shirts are $29, of which $15 goes to the initiative. A highlight of the Jackson festival is “G.I. Jews,” with free admission to veterans or current military with ID.
Mossad: Imperfect Spies Over the nearly seven decades of its existence, the Mossad has cultivated its image as a daring, all-powerful intelligence agency for which no ‘mission impossible’ exists, while remaining tight-lipped about its activities. “The Mossad: Imperfect Spies” brings to the screen for the first time the stories of 24 former spy-chiefs and operatives, and with them a first-person perspective of the personal and operational challenges they overcame, the ethical dilemmas they faced and the personal price they were forced to pay for the rest of their lives for their chosen career path. Exploring missions past and present, successes such as the capture of Adolf Eichmann and the failures including a botched 1997 assassination attempt on a former Hamas leader are described in a wide exploration of Israeli history.
For filmmaker Duki Dror, it was a major challenge just getting into Mossad circles, let alone convincing the interviewees to sit down with him. The film is a shorter version of a series that aired on Channel 8 in Israel in 2017. Baton Rouge, Jan. 17; Mobile, Jan. 24 as the annual Reita Franco Memorial Film, with a reception following.
Itzhak “Itzhak” is an enchanting documentary about Itzhak Perlman, a polio survivor whose parents emigrated from Poland to Israel, who struggled to be taken seriously as a music student when others could not see past his disability. The film focuses on the mensch behind the music,
through archival footage, often-irreverent interviews and a lot of input from his wife, Toby. Baton Rouge, Jan. 19. Mobile, Jan. 27, with violin and piano mini-concert and dessert reception following.
The Last Suit A winner of Audience Awards at numerous Jewish film festivals, “The Last Suit” is about 88-yearold Buenos Aires tailor Abraham Bursztein, whose kids are moving him into a retirement home. Instead, he plans a secret one-way trip to Poland, where he plans to fulfill a promise to find the Christian who saved him from certain death at Auschwitz. Mobile, Jan. 15, with introduction by David Meola. Jackson, Jan. 26.
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Babies come from the swamp!
A Bag of Marbles The true story of brothers Joseph and Maurice, ages 10 and 12, who are forced to flee Nazi-occupied France in 1941, relying on each other to make their way to the demilitarized zone in a quest to reunite with their family. Mobile, Jan. 23.
The Band’s Visit The musical version of this film swept the Tony Awards last spring. A band comprised of members of the Egyptian police force arrives in the middle of the Israeli desert to play at the inaugural ceremony of an Arab Arts Center only to discover they have taken the wrong bus to the wrong destination. An exploration of how “enemies” are “ordinary people.” Mobile, Jan. 17, dessert reception follows.
Big Sonia In her 90s, Sonia Warshawski runs a tailor shop six days a week, the only thriving business in a mostly-abandoned Kansas City mall. She does it to keep busy, when she isn’t serving as the only Holocaust survivor in the community who speaks publicly about her experiences at Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Baton Rouge, Jan. 16.
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story The writers of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Wan’na Be Like You” and “It’s A Small World (After All),” among others, brothers Robert Sherman and Richard Sherman defined Disney musicals for decades. But this documentary shows that behind the facade, after some early success together, they cranked out a catalog of iconic songs while being completely estranged from each other and living separate lives. The acclaimed film includes a lot of their music and a wide range of interviews. Mobile, Jan. 13, followed by wine and cheese dessert reception and Disney singalong.
Bye Bye Germany In 1946 Germany, David Bermann and several Jewish friends have survived the Nazi regime and want to get to America as fast as possible — but how do they put together money to do that? They sell bed linens door to door, but questions from Bermann’s past start catching up to him. Jackson, Jan. 24.
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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
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community The Cakemaker For mature audiences, “The Cakemaker” won Best Picture, best Director and Best Actress in the Israel Academy Awards. Thomas is a pastry chef in Berlin. After Oren, Thomas’s married business-traveler lover, dies in a car accident at home in Jerusalem, Thomas travels to see the life Oren left behind, assuming a false identity and infiltrating the life of Oren’s widow, Anat. Mobile, Jan. 16.
Driver Nahman Ruzumni lives on the fringes of the ultra-Orthodox community in B’nei Brak. As a “Driver” he takes beggars to wealthy people’s homes, and helps them find the right way to tell their story in order to inspire philanthropy. For his services he gets a cut of the money, and records their stories in his notebook. He spends the rest of his nights in makeshift casinos and dining halls where the more questionable members of this pious society spend their nights. But when his wife leaves suddenly, Ruzumni is faced with the responsibility of his nine year old daughter. Baton Rouge, Jan. 20
GI Jews “GI JEWS: Jewish Americans in World War II” tells the profound and unique story of the 550,000 Jewish men and women who served in World War II. Through the eyes of the servicemen and women, the film brings to life the little-known story of Jews in World War II, as active participants in the fight against Hitler, bigotry and intolerance. Jackson, Jan. 27
Humor Me Nate Kroll is an award-winning playwright who suddenly finds himself wifeless, jobless and homeless. With literally nothing else to lose, he moves in with his eccentric father, Bob, and gets a job at an old folks home where he helps the elders put on a new play. Stars Jemaine Clement and Elliott Gould. Mobile, Jan. 19, with optional deli dinner preceding.
The Interpreter
I N D I V I D UA L P U R S U I T collective endeavor
An 80-year-old translator, armed with a pistol, sets off to Vienna to look for the SS man who may have killed his parents, but the only person he encounters is the man’s 70-year-old son Georg. Together they set out on a road trip through Slovakia, each with his own agenda, and each trying to come to terms with the past. Mobile, Jan. 22, reception follows.
The Invisibles In June 1943, Germany infamously declared Berlin “free of Jews.” But at that moment there were still 7,000 Jews living in the Nazi capital, of whom only 1700 made it to liberation. “The Invisibles” tells the stories of four survivors, bringing edge-of-the-seat suspense to their years spent underground. Mobile, Jan. 10, introduction by Deborah Velders of the Mobile Museum of Art. Reception follows.
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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
After failing to gain traction as a classical pianist, a secular Tel Aviv woman played by Ania Bukstein of “Game of Thrones” moves to a religious neighborhood in Jerusalem to discover herself. She meets an Orthodox boy from a neighboring family and a charismatic Italian monk, becoming embroiled in the religious-secular divide. Baton Rouge, Jan. 29
community Favre “sickened” after being duped into making video for anti-Semitic group Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre was “sickened” to learn that a video he thought he was making in support of a veterans’ group turned out to be for a white supremacist group, and included heavily-veiled anti-Semitic expressions. The group, GDL, paid for the video through Cameo, a website where celebrities offer to record personalized messages. The group’s acronym stands for Goyim Defense League, and they also were able to get messages from actor Andy Dick and rapper Soulja Boy. The video’s text was “a shout-out Photo by Arnie Papp/Wikimedia Commons to the Handsome Truth and the GDL Brett Favre at Super Bowl 50 boys.” The submitted script continued, “You guys are patriots in my eyes. So keep waking them up and don’t let the small get you down. Keep fighting too and don’t ever forget the USS Liberty and the men and women who died on that day. God bless and take care.” “Waking them up” is a term used by conspiracy theorists, referring to “enlightening” those who are ignorant of the conspiracies. “The small” refers to “the small hats,” a term for yarmulkes, referring to Jews. The USS Liberty is a popular rallying cry for those who promote anti-Israel conspiracy theories, but isn’t widely known outside those circles. The U.S. ship was in the Mediterranean, off the Sinai coast, during the Six Day War in 1967, and was attacked by Israeli planes, killing 34 U.S. crew members. Both Israel and the U.S. concluded that the ship, which apparently was not where it was supposed to be, was attacked in a case of mistaken identity, but conspiracy theorists eager to drive a wedge between the U.S. and Israel maintain it was a deliberate attack. In an online video, user Handsome Truth, who arranged for the Cameo videos, said the celebrities could reject a request, so they had to make the script vague and cryptic so it would not set off suspicions. A Mississippi native, Favre said he re“Had I understood ceived the request on Nov. 22 “to record a shout-out supporting what appeared to the source of the be a U.S. veterans organization… I had previously fulfilled more than 50 of these request, I never requests without incident. Since I match service dogs with military veterans who would have have PTSD, I assumed that the request fulfilled it” stemmed from my interest in veterans affairs and recorded the message.” A few days later, he was “distressed to learn that the request came from an anti-Semitic group that reposted my video with comments implying that I endorsed their mission. Nothing could be further from the truth.” He said he is “sickened by what these groups stand for and concerned about their role in fueling today’s negative political climate.” Favre said he was sending his $500 Cameo fee to the Southern Poverty Law Center, “supporting their fight against hate and bigotry.” “I thought I was creating a message to support the brave men and women of our military forces,” Favre said. “Had I understood the source of the request, I never would have fulfilled it.” Cameo said the videos were a “blatant misuse” of the platform, removed the videos and banned the group from purchasing future videos. January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
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community Iron Dome developer works with Alabama group to deepen relationships with Israel
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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to educate Members of Congress about Israel. But sometimes it helps. Especially in the case of Ari Sacher, a joke-cracking, down to earth Israeli who is one of the rocket scientists and weapons engineers who helped Israel develop its famed Iron Dome missile defense system. Sacher was in Birmingham recently because not only is he a systems developer for Rafael, a Photo courtesy USIEA large Israeli defense contractor, Heather Johnston and Gen. Charles Krulak of Birmingham, he also is director of education for along with U.S. Ambassador David Friedman and Ari the Birmingham-based US-Israel Sacher at a recent event in Israel Education Association. USIEA specializes in taking influential Members of In May, Sacher will begin officially dividing Congress on fact-finding trips to Judea and Sa- his time between Rafael, where he will continue maria, also known as the West Bank. to work as both an engineer and a spokesman, USIEA is headed by Birminghamian Heather and Johnston’s group. Johnston, who has made support of Israel and Sacher is no stranger to Alabama. His defense the Jewish people her life’s work. Through a sis- systems work over the years has brought him ter organization she heads, JH Israel, she also to Huntsville many times in connection with has established close ties with the city of Ariel, U.S.-Israel joint projects. located in Samaria. Does Sacher ever feel out of place as an OrA Biblically-inspired Christian, Johnston is thodox Jew working for an organization conpart of the growing Christian Zionist movement, ceived of, shaped and driven by Christians? committed Christians who believe it is their reli“No,” he responded immediately. “I have been gious and moral duty to support the Jewish state. working with pro-Israel Christian groups since Part of the Christian Zionist mission is also to 2011, including Heather’s. There is much that combat anti-Semitism and atone for the atroc- we have in common. For the purposes of what ities committed against the Jewish people over we do regarding Israel, the religious beliefs that the centuries in the name of Christianity. we don’t share are irrelevant. What binds us are Johnston’s trips to Israel help participants bet- the values, visions and voices of the Old Testater understand the Biblical and modern history ment — things that inspire Jews and Christians. of Judea and Samaria, its strategic importance Inherent in these is a burning love of Israel.” to Israel, and the challenges that the 500,000 IsIn an interview before a dinner program raelis living in these territories face daily. Many hosted by Johnston and her husband Bruce for groups shy away from visiting Judea and Sa- a small group of Birmingham Jews and Chrismaria, fearing political repercussions because tians, Sacher’s burning love of Israel blazed most of the international community doesn’t brightly. recognize Israeli rule over these areas. Sacher grew up in the U.S. and Canada, and However, Johnston has found that such visits made Aliyah to Israel in 1982 right after high significantly deepen congressional understand- school. ing of Israel’s needs, and they have produced a Aliyah is a Hebrew word that means ascent, series of impressive legislative dividends. And and what an ascension it has been for this accomSacher, an Orthodox Jew, is the guy she counts plished 55-year-old father of eight who received on to brief Members of Congress on Israel’s his BSc and MSc in Electrical Engineering at the weapons systems and security challenges. Technion, which is considered “Israel’s MIT.” In fact, that’s how Johnston and Sacher first Even behind his self-deprecating humor and connected — he briefed one of her groups quick and versatile wit, one can feel the Zionist during their visit to Israel. The two of them flames burning. Sacher believes deeply in the clicked and recognized they were Zionist soul- right of Jews to control their destiny in their mates who shared a vision of the importance of own land and worries, among other things, that educating Members of Congress and other in- Israel is losing its power of deterrence by not refluentials about Israel’s security challenges. sponding more decisively to the Iranian-backed
community terror groups Hezbollah and Hamas. “We in Israel are getting very close to irreversibly losing our deterrence, because a country that has deterrence does not suffer balloon and kite attacks and 469 rockets fired in the course of two days,” he explains. Hamas’ indiscriminate and brutal violence “is not the response of an organization that is deterred. “We restore our deterrence by impressing upon the enemy that it is not worth his while to use force against us; we must make him rue the day that he attacked us.” Sacher also bristles at criticism from Americans who think Israel’s actions against its enemies are too harsh. He says that though there are periodic acts of violence in America, they pale in comparison to the security pressures Israel faces every day. “Our reality is different than the American reality — there are some Americans who just can’t get their heads around the fact that we in Israel live in life and death situations on a daily basis,” he explained. “In the U.S. you may have a periodic active shooter. But our reality is different — there is a question mark over my life 24 hours a day.” “Sometimes,” he admits with a wry smile, “I even have to use humor to get through it all, which I admit sometimes bothers some people who don’t live in Israel, people who believe I am trivializing life-and-death situations.” Sacher also worries about growing anti-Israel sentiment from the political left, both in the U.S. and Europe. “I believe that people who are further to the left do not have a pro-Israel feeling, and I believe that Israel should prepare itself for the possibility one day of a U.S. government that is not as pro-Israel as we have seen before,” he worries. “I believe that more difficult times are coming. I would like to be more optimistic, but I am not. Yes, I have never seen an administration more pro-Israel than the current Trump administration and I pray that this level of support for Israel continues,” he said. “But, as Israelis, we must prepare for the day when the U.S. administration won’t be as supportive. In Israel, we are developing relationships with other countries but no other country can replace the U.S. when it comes to influence and support.” He paused for a moment, digesting all that he had said, and then added, almost as a reminder to himself, “We in Israel, more than any other nation in the world, live with a Sword of Damocles over our heads.” As that comment hung in the air for a split second, he followed it with an important takeaway: “Yet we thrive in spite of it, and perhaps because of it.” With that, this kippah-wearing bearded father of eight, an architect of one of the world’s most innovative missile defense systems, a warm outgoing man who is no stranger to Alabama, realized it was time to go. After a wide-ranging interview covering Zionism, Jewish-Christian relations, the need for Israeli deterrence, concerns about an unfriendly American administration one day, Hezbollah, Hamas, and fire-causing balloons and kites, he somehow ended the conversation with a smile — and these eight words: “Gotta Go. See you in Israel. Roll Tide!”
New auctioneer for annual Dothan Art Sale Dothan’s Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood will hold its 41st annual art auction on Jan. 26. Each year, a portion of the proceeds go to local charities. This year, there will be a new auction house in charge, a new auctioneer and new genres of art and memorabilia. The art includes a wide range of media and prices. A preview will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 26, and the auction will start at 7 p.m. Admission will be $10 per person if purchased in advance, $12 at the door. The event will feature light hors d’oeuvres, desserts and beverages with champagne, tea, wine and a beer tasting by the Thirsty Pig. A Second Chance Sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 27. There is no admission charge that morning.
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community Beth-El plans Jan. 11 installation weekend for Rabbi Slater
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Rabbi Ebn Leader will officiate the installation of Rabbi Stephen Slater at Birmingham’s Temple Beth-El the weekend of Jan. 11. Slater said Leader “was a very important teacher for me” when he was at Hebrew College. “He taught me how to bring my questions to Torah and how to listen to the answers I found there. I also prayed with him every morning for years,” and Slater considers him “the best leader of Jewish prayer in the country.” Leader has a growing international reputation as a spiritual teacher in the neo-Hasidic tradition and is an authority on Jewish prayer. He is co-editor, with Rabbi Or Rose, of “God in All Moments: Mystical and Practical Wisdom From Hasidic Masters.” The weekend starts on Jan. 11 at 4:45 p.m. with a “Small Fri” Tot Shabbat and oneg for young families. Shabbat Ruach services led by Slater and Sarah Metzger will be at 5:45 p.m., followed by a fried chicken dinner from CoKo Catering. Dinner reservations are $20 per adult and $10 per child, maximum $55 for a family. At 8 p.m. there will be a community Tisch, an evening of song and Torah. On Jan. 12, 9:30 a.m. services will be led by Slater and Leader. A “Yoga Special” Tot Shabbat starts at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon. Leader will conduct a Torah study session at 1:15 p.m. After the 5 p.m. minyan, the formal installation and Havdalah service will be at 5:45 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. Installation Celebration, including a “roast and toast” of Slater, with dinner, music and dancing.
Emanu-El ratifies selection of Wright Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El announced that Rabbi Adam Wright will be its next senior rabbi, starting on July 1. At a special meeting called on Dec. 9, after he and his wife had visited the congregation for Shabbat, the congregation ratified the board’s recommendation, 241-0. Wright is associate rabbi at Temple Solel, a 700-member congregation in Cardiff-by-the Sea, Calif., in the San Diego area. He has served there since he was ordained at the Los Angeles campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2014.
Montgomery Reunion in Tel Aviv: Rabbi Scott Kramer of Agudath Israel-Etz Ahayem in Montgomery and Bert Shephard visited Israel in late October for the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly, and were able to catch up with three former Shlichim to Montgomery — Shimon Smith, Ori Tal and Dana Korem. 20
January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
community Mobile’s Springhill Avenue Temple to celebrate 175th anniversary Alabama’s oldest Jewish congregation, Sha’arei Shomayim, currently better-known as Mobile’s Springhill Avenue Temple, will celebrate its 175th anniversary in early February. Established on Jan. 25, 1844, the Reform congregation will hold an anniversary service on Feb. 1 at 6 p.m., led by Rabbi Howard Kosovske, who is serving the congregation monthly as a search is conducted for a new full-time rabbi. The combined choirs will also lead the service, which will be followed by a heavy hors d’oeuvres reception. Among the guests for the evening will be Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson and Rep. Bradley Byrne. Many historic items from the congregation’s archives will be displayed. On Feb. 2, the 10 a.m. service will be followed by a deli lunch. The Men’s Club is hosting a 175th anniversary Super Bowl Sunday party, with filet mignon and grilled fish, hosted by Jonathan Fratkin and Gail Chadwick in Theodore. Advance reservations are needed, and are $15 for members, $30 for non-members. An historical marker on Government Street is near where the St. Emanuel Street Temple, the first in Alabama, was dedicated in 1846. In 1853, the congregation moved to the Jackson Street Synagogue, and the Ten Commandments from the building are in the current building’s auditorium. In 1878, the congregation joined the Reform movement, and moved to Government Street at Warren Street in 1906. The first service was held at the current building on Springhill Avenue in 1955.
Soup’s on in Pensacola
Stanley’s Soups return to B’nai Israel in Pensacola on Jan. 8. The congregation is using a stack of kosher recipes from member Stanley Schmerken to make the soups each Tuesday. They go on sale at noon and often sell out after a very short time, but they do take advance orders. The Jan. 8 soup is corn chowder. Opening day was Nov. 27, and the chicken soup sold out “within minutes” of opening the doors. Other varieties that have been made are minestrone, Mulligatawny, and beef, barley and mushroom. The goal is to help the congregation put a new roof on the building.
January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
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Bama-born Raven honors Israel with his cleats
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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
After a visit to Israel last March that Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce called “nothing short of life changing,” when it came time for him to make a choice for the National Football League’s “My Cause, My Cleats,” it was an obvious choice. In early December, hundreds of players wore designer cleats with a wide range of charitable causes highlighted. For the Ravens’ Dec. 2 game at the Atlanta Falcons, the Alabama native sported cleats with Israel’s flag and a silhouette of famous sites in Jerusalem. “Having an Israel flag in front and center was paramount to me, I needed it to be right where it is,” he explained. He went to Israel with the Israel Collective, an initiative of Christians United for Israel. It was founded in 2014 by young Christian leaders dedicated to building vibrant relationships between American Christians and the people of the Israel. According to the group’s website, the collective’s purpose “is to create a community that walks out the teachings of Jesus by asking how we can love Israelis and Palestinians in a way that makes God smile.” In a video about the initiative, Pierce said he felt a “oneness and connectedness” with the land. Growing up reading the Bible, he said it was “awesome” to walk where Jesus did. Pierce said he learned a lot about Israel and many different customs, experiencing the culture and being hosted for a Shabbat dinner. He said visiting Israel “is definitely something I hope people will read about and then maybe go over if they are able, to see exactly what is going on.” A native of Daphne, Pierce played college football at Samford University in Birmingham. In 2016, he signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent. In 2016 he started one game but saw action in all 16, racking up 35 tackles and two sacks. In 2017 he started 13 games and played in all 16, with 49 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Through the first 11 games of 2018, he has 24 tackles and one fumble recovery. At CUFI events, Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those that bless thee,” is often quoted as a call to support Israel and the Jewish people. Whether or not Pierce’s cleats had anything to do with it, the Ravens beat the Falcons, 26-16.
community
Shuttlesworth honoree Angela Davis is also a leading anti-Israel activist Birmingham native to be recognized by Civil Rights Institute in February Each year, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute has an event to present its highest honor, the Fred Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award, but for some in the community, there might be some indigestion at the dinner over this year’s honoree. Birmingham native Angela Davis will be honored at the Feb. 16 event, which is being referred to as “A Civil Rights Icon Returns.” According to the Institute, “Through her activism and scholarship over many decades, Angela Davis has been deeply involved in movements for social justice around the world. Her work as an educator – both at the university level and in the larger public sphere – has always emphasized the importance of building communities united in the struggle for economic, racial and gender justice.” Something not included in the Institute’s publicity for the event is that Davis has also been an outspoken voice in the boycott-Israel movement, and advocates extensively on college campuses for the isolation of the Jewish state, saying Israel engages in ethnic cleansing
and is connected to police violence against African-Americans in the United States. In her talks, the “building communities united” specifically excludes supporters of Israel as intersectional coalitions adopt the Palestinian struggle as their own. Her 2015 book was entitled “Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement,” and she frequently compares Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to police shootings of African-Americans. She has also said Israel gets its tear gas to use against Palestinians from the same company that supplies the police force in Ferguson. There is a national effort among advocates for the Palestinians to get police departments to refuse joint training with Israeli police on best practices for fighting terrorism and enhancing emergency response. She also connects Israel with one of her primary causes, the abolition of the prison system in the U.S., which she calls the “prison-industrial complex.” Palestine under Israeli occupation
Photo from BCRI website
is “the worst possible example of a carceral society” as the world’s “largest open air prison,” she has stated. Davis compares Israel to apartheid South Africa, but has stated that Israel is worse in its treatment of Palestinians. She refers to the security barrier Israel erected following a long series of deadly suicide bombings by Palestinians in Israel in the early 2000s as an “apartheid wall.” Davis has called for “political prisoner” Mar-
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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
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wan Barghouti to be released from jail. A leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Barghouti is serving five life terms for participation in murders of Israelis. A leader of the First and Second Intifadas, in 2014 he called for an end to Palestinian security cooperation with Israel and advocated a Third Intifada. Davis also was a supporter of Rasmea Odeh, who was convicted of a 1969 bombing in a Jerusalem grocery store, killing two students. A member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Odeh was deported from the U.S. for immigration fraud, lying about her terror ties and not disclosing her terrorism conviction. Davis spoke at Odeh’s farewell celebration in Chicago in 2017. In a 2017 talk at George Washington University, Davis asserted “In standing up against the racism of the state of Israel, we are passionately saying no to anti-Semitism as well,” and opposing Israel benefits the Jewish people. Ignoring Jewish indigenous ties to the land of Israel, she also reminded the audience that like Israel, the United States “is also a settler colonial nation” occupying someone else’s land. She is a passionate supporter of the boycott-Israel movement, routinely joining Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and author Alice Walker in pressuring entertainers who have scheduled events in Israel to cancel. Davis co-signed a letter stating that restricting BDS to the settlements lets Israel “off the hook” for approving the settlements, Israeli banks for financing them, and other “serious violations of international law” by Israel. She also endorses an academic boycott of Israeli institutions and professors. Davis criticizes Israel for what is called “pinkwashing,” defined as Israel’s touting its acceptance of the LGBTQ community as a way to “distract” from other “crimes,” and falsely charging that Palestinians who are LGBTQ aren’t allowed into Israel. In a January 2018 speech at Washington University, Davis stated that pro-Israel advocates can not stand for intersectional social justice, and all feminists should be pro-Palestine. Davis grew up on Dynamite Hill in Birmingham, where Klan bombings were commonplace. After being recruited for a northern high school, she became active in Communist youth groups. She received a scholarship to Brandeis University, where she was one of three black students in her class. After further studies in Europe, she became an assistant professor at UCLA, then was fired for her ties to the Communist party. A judge overturned her dismissal, but she was fired again for “inflammatory language.” She was also a member of the Black Panthers. In 1970, an activist took hostages in a Marin County courtroom; during a shootout the judge and three others were killed. Davis had purchased the weapons used in the attack, and fled upon being charged. She was named to the FBI Ten Most Wanted list. She was captured and stood trial, but was acquitted. Davis has said that her consciousness of Palestine came during her undergraduate years at Brandeis, and that when she was imprisoned, she was supported by Palestinian political prisoners and Israeli attorneys who were defending Palestinians. She also noted in a recent interview that “encounters between Black liberation struggles in the United States and movements against the Israeli occupation of Palestine have a very long history.” Established in 2002, the Shuttlesworth Award was first presented to Shuttlesworth, a towering figure in Birmingham’s civil rights struggle. It is “an opportunity for the Institute to recognize individuals for their service to civil and human rights causes around the world.” Among past recipients are Danny Glover, Rep. John Lewis, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Rep. James Clyburn, Bryan Stevenson, Ambassador Andrew Young, Vernon Jordan Jr. and C.T. Vivian. This year’s event will be held at Haven in Birmingham’s Southside.
summer camp an annual SJL special section
Taking the 50th
Jacobs Camp, Space Camp mark major milestones After years of efforts by small Jewish communities throughout the Deep South, 50 years ago the gates opened for the first summer at Henry S. Jacobs Camp. Anna Herman, the camp’s director, said the Jacobs Camp team “can’t wait for another amazing summer in Utica,” made even more special with celebrations of the camp’s 50th anniversary. Herman said registration for 2019 is “off the charts,” with the second session mostly wait-listed at this point, and session one filling fast. One major change to this summer is the starting date. Traditionally, cars line up on Morrison Road on a Sunday to start the camp summer, but this year the traditional day to start camp is also Shavuot, so camp will begin on June 10 instead, a Monday. The change is only for this year. Staff are still needed for the summer, and new programs will enhance the recruiting process. “We have refocused our Counselor-in-Training program to be a true leadership development program for high school seniors,” Herman said. There are also many positions beyond that of traditional counselors, offering real-world experience. The camp has also established an internship program for additional real-world experiences. Staffers age 19 and older will have the opportunity to have an internship in May or August at area businesses, gaining career-oriented work experiences. Information is available at jacobscamp. org/internships. Over the decades, the camp “continues to evolve our programs to meet the needs of our community,” Herman said. There will be more social justice programming for older campers. “These are the kids that will change the world. We want our campers to be the ones to stick up for people that don’t have anyone to stick up for them.” Popular camp classes include robotics, wacky science, archery and gymnastics, along with classics such as sports, adventure and visual arts. A new water trampoline debuts this summer, joining the blob, slide and obstacle course. The 50th anniversary reunion and celebration will be the weekend of Nov. 1 in New Orleans, taking potential football schedules into account in selecting the dates. More details will be announced as the year progresses.
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Space Camp marking Apollo 11 anniversary Tara Sweeney came to Space Camp at age 14 because she wanted to meet people as excited about space exploration as she was. She didn’t know then that the experience would give her the confidence to pursue her passions and lead her to the U.S. Air Force Academy, a career as an Air Force officer and to running her own national defense and homeland security testing and evaluation company. Before she came to Space Camp, “my parents had accommodated my interest in space exploration, aviation and service,” Sweeney said. After Space Camp, she knew she was on her path in life. Thirty-two years later, Sweeney is back at the U.S. Space and Rocket CenJanuary 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
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summer camp Paying The Way: Summer Camp Assistance Goldring Jewish Summer Camp Experience assists all first-time campers Thinking about sending your child to Jewish sleepaway camp for the first time in 2019? The Goldring Jewish Summer Camp Experience Incentive Grant Program, which is administered by the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana, offers a one-time grant of up to $1,500 per child for first-time campers. This program, which helps families provide their children with a first-time camping experience at a Jewish sleepaway camp, was established by JEF in 1999 and has been funded by the Goldring Family Foundation since 2001. Since its inception, more than 1,400 children have received grants to attend Jewish summer camp. “We are grateful to the Goldring Family Foundation for their extraordinary generosity and their commitment to making a Jewish camping experience available to so many children,” said JEF President Larry Lehmann. “This program benefits not only the individual campers, but our entire community.” Experts agree that one of the most effective ways to develop children’s commitment to living Jewish lives is to expose them to a camp experience where they will meet other Jewish boys and girls and savor the precious heritage of Jewish traditions while enjoying wholesome summer fun and sports activities. To be eligible, a child must be a first-time camper at a not-forprofit Jewish sleepaway camp; in grades 1 through 9 in the 2018-19 school year; and a resident of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or the Florida Panhandle. Grants are not based on financial need. Both parents need not be Jewish. Neither temple nor synagogue affiliation is required. The deadline for applications is March 31. Award notification will be made by May 31. For more information and an application form, contact Ellen Abrams at (504) 524-4559 or ellen@jefno.org. The application can also be downloaded at www.jefno.org.
JCRS accepting applications for need-based summer camp aid Applications for need-based camp scholarship aid from Jewish Children’s Regional Service are now available online for summer 2018. Last year, the New Orleans-based social service agency provided partial scholarship funding for over 300 Jewish youth in a seven-state region to attend a non-profit Jewish sleepaway camp. Campers must be entering grades 3 to 12 in the fall of 2018, and must reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee or Texas. The priority consideration deadline is Feb. 15, and the application process is done entirely online at jcrs.org. In addition to the online application, several documents need to be uploaded — a PDF of the most current Federal tax return for the parents or guardians, the most current W2s and 1099 forms and a copy of the final 2017 pay stub if the 2017 W-2 has not yet been received. Financial information is required from all legal parents and guardians, and permission must be given for JCRS to work with other local organizations that give camp scholarship assistance. Applications for siblings can be combined if all legal parents or guardians are the same. There is a different, shorter form for returning campers. A similar procedure is in place for college aid, with around 140 students receiving an average award of $2,000 each year. The college application deadline is May 31. 26
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ter in Huntsville, serving as vice president of Space Camp. It is an exciting time to be back, with record numbers of camp trainees and many changes to the curriculum. It is also an exciting year to be at Space Camp, as this July, Huntsville and the Center will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, the historic moon landing mission. Space Camp students today are going on simulated missions to the International Space Station and learning about the important work NASA is doing with the Materials International Space Station Experiment, or MISSE, mission. For that, the Space Camp mission focuses on a Tara Sweeney as a spacewalk to expose materials to the atmosphere and en- Space Camp student vironment of space, much as the astronauts living and working on the ISS are doing. Other missions are more about where we are going rather than where we are right now. An updated lunar mission includes a habitat where astronauts would live while doing the work of installing solar arrays and conducting surface experiments on the moon. They’re also learning about the challenges of living in a hostile environment with a new health screening simulation. And beyond the moon is Mars, with major upgrades to the Space Camp Mars mission. The Mars component of the Space Camp training floor now contains two 16-foot-diameter domes where camp trainees learn about growing food in space and other aspects of living on the Red Planet. The domes will contain aeroponic towers where students will plant, nurture and harvest food that can be used in the Space Camp Crew Galley to help feed fellow Space Camp students. The domes will also serve as the base to conduct experiments and operate rovers to inspect the Mars base and to do geological surveys. While all this is lots of fun and immerses trainees into the concept of living and working in space, one of the most important aspects of Space Camp and its sister programs — Aviation Challenge, Space Camp Robotics and the new U.S. Cyber Camp — is showing the importance of teamwork for mission success. That applies across all programs and all ages, whether it’s a 9-year-old attending on her own for the first time, a family coming to enjoy the experience together, or an adult living out a lifelong dream of attending Space Camp. It’s a lesson Sweeney found applied in her military and civilian careers, and it’s one she is excited to reinforce now that she’s back in the place that meant so much to her as a child. “Every position matters, no matter what you do in life,” she said. “It’s important to have passion, excitement and enthusiasm for what you want to do, and to ask people to help you get there.” Sweeney is excited to be part of the mission that set her trajectory and one that she has carried with her for more than three decades. She has now come full circle, back to where she began, and she is pretty starry-eyed about it. “I walk around here as my 14-year-old self with this thin veneer of professionalism,” she said.
Tikkun Olam, love for Israel at Camp Judaea Camp Judaea in Hendersonville, N.C., celebrated many successes in 2018, its 58th season. Enrollment from its two sessions combined reached a record high of 720 boys and girls. By Dec. 1, enrollment for 2019 summer had already reached 650 with about a 90 percent retention rate of eligible campers from last summer, which is a true testament to the high quality of programs and experiences provided in 2018. Camp Judaea continues to update its program and facilities as it gears up for its 59th summer season. To help lead the way, Walter Synalovski, long-time camping professional and alumnus of Camp Judaea, returned as executive director, to continue leading CJ to new heights. Elana Pollack, a former CJ camper and veteran staff member, was recently named assistant director. The two are joined by longtime Judaean and Jewish camping professional Lori Zeligman as program director. Camp Judaea’s core educational programming revolves around fostering a strong connection to and love for Israel. Every summer, the camp hires a significant number of Israeli staff who live in the cabins and work in activity areas, providing campers with immersive and experiential encounters with modern Israeli
summer camp
Doing Tikkun Olam in Columbia, S.C. culture. Camp Judaea offers a wide variety of activities, including horseback riding, swimming, sports, arts and crafts, ziplining and rock-climbing, archery, music, dance, cooking, and more. In 2018, Camp Judaea launched a new program called Tikkun for rising 11th graders that revolves around the value of tikkun olam, repairing the world. The teen participants volunteered in Columbia, S.C. for five days, helping to rebuild damaged homes with the Saint Bernard Project, an organization that was founded in New Orleans after Katrina, as well as additional community service work within the Columbia, S.C. community. Community service hours were earned for this program. It is very exciting for Camp Judaea to offer this opportunity for young leaders to make a difference for others. The camp also recently launched a $5.7 million Let My People CAMPaign for improvements around the facility. Enrollment is still open, and there is space in select units, including Tikkun. Interested families should visit www.campjudaea.org or call (404) 6347883 for more information. Scholarship and tuition support opportunities are available.
Camp Barney Medintz the “Summer Place” Camp Barney Medintz, the summer overnight camp of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, is located on 540 acres surrounding two private lakes in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, just 70 miles north of Atlanta. Since 1963, Camp Barney has attracted more than 1,200 boys and girls each summer throughout the Southeast, drawing from about 25 states from coast to coast, and several countries. They all consider Camp Barney their “Summer Place!” Each summer, Camp Barney Jim Mittenthal said, the camp creates a meaningful and exciting community that is all about adventure, exhilarating activities, strengthening one’s connection to Israel and the global Jewish community, feeling knowledgeable and comfortable in the natural environment, and making lifelong friendships, all under the supervision of a mature, talented, and nurturing staff. Every imaginable activity is offered at Camp Barney, including the “Hurricane” water slides, multiple lakefront adventures, water skiing, stand up paddleboards, rock climbing and several zip lines, horseback riding, tennis, mountain biking, all field and court sports, music, dance, theater, arts and crafts, film making, cooking, fencing, scuba, and much more. Every year, Camp Barney is committed to building new additions and programming features to enhance its facility and experience for campers. In recent years, Camp Barney has built a second swimming pool with water slides, a cultural and performing arts complex, (Kosher) cooking school, film studios, martial arts center, Israeli culture center, and many new cabins for its campers. In 2019, campers will be able to try another new zip line spanning 1000 feet across one of the lakes, as well as pedal boards, knockerball, brand new adventure trips, new menus, and more. Mittenthal, who has been director for the past 26 years, said “It is so gratifying to see the power and impact of Camp Barney: campers and staff feeling accomplished because of their shared experiences in new or challenging moments, greater awareness and connection to our Jewish culture, elevated self-esteem and personal growth, and countless special and hilarious moments with friends, both during and in between summers at Camp Barney!” For more information, and to register for Summer 2019, visit campbarney.org, or call (678) 812-3844.
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summer camp
Ramah Darom introduces lacrosse and rowing specialty tracks Camp Ramah Darom, an overnight summer camp serving Jewish children throughout the southeast, announced the opening of Athletic Edge, two specialty “camps within a camp” offering intensive Lacrosse and Rowing tracks. Athletic Edge allows campers to pursue their sports passion while being part of Ramah Darom’s vibrant and inclusive Jewish summer camp. This program is for athletes who want to be able to improve their skills and conditioning over the summer and still fully participate in the fun and social experience of traditional Jewish summer camp. The program will fill a gap in the Jewish camp world, providing the first-ever four-week, Jewish residential camp dedicated to lacrosse and rowing in the country. Ramah Darom was one of two camps in North America to receive grant funding from the Gottesman Family Foundation and the Foundation for Jewish Camps under a new program called “Competitive Edge.” “We see this grant as an opportunity to create a sacred space for athletes to pursue their passion and still fully participate in a traditional Jewish residential camp experience. Participants will hone their athletic skills, strengthen their minds and bodies, train with renowned coaches, and be immersed in a vibrant Jewish community filled with campers with diverse interests,” says Ramah Darom Director Geoff Menkowitz. “Ramah Darom offers the best of both worlds and, in doing so, equips young people to navigate life experiences — whatever their interests and wherever their futures may take them — while maintaining a strong sense of Jewish identity and connectedness to Jewish community,” said Menkowitz. “I never want kids to feel like they need to choose between a commitment to competitive athletics and a desire to engage with Jewish community.” Ramah Darom’s campus in the North Georgia mountains is near Lake Burton, which offers a pristine location for rowing. Rowers will receive high-level coaching instruction to improve their technique and conditioning throughout the camp session. Similarly, lacrosse track campers will gain an edge by improving their individual stick skills and their capacity to be team leaders. Participants in Athletic Edge will dedicate about three hours a day to their chosen sport. The rest of the day, athletes will be fully integrated into the Ramah Darom community and programs, giving them access to swimming, art, music, hiking and other camp favorites. Rowers and lacrosse players alike will experience Jewish living and learning at a place where being Jewish is fun and celebratory. Nationally recognized for programmatic excellence in sports and arts and its innovative approach to Jewish education, Ramah Darom is part of the National Ramah Camping Movement. Ramah Darom’s traditional summer offerings, its two-, four-, and eight-week programs for children, and its family camps remain in high demand. When the summer is over, the Kaplan Mitchell Retreat Center at Ramah Darom offers Jewish experiential programs for all ages, including adult, family and multi-generational retreats in a kosher setting. Ramah Darom’s 122-acre Clayton, Ga., campus, just two hours north of Atlanta, is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Jacobs holding Family Camp in March The Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica will host Family Camp, a weekend for new camp families as well as veterans, March 22 to 24. Registration is open for the weekend, which is geared to students in grades 1 to 5, but there will also be the National Federation of Temple Youth’s Junior Youth Weekend for grades 6 to 8 going on at the camp that weekend. Registration is $125 per participant, free for ages 3 and under, and is available at the camp website. 28
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education
an annual SJL special section
Shabbat 1000, held in March at Tulane University
Jewish enrollment, involvement continue to rise at the University of Alabama by Lee J. Green The Alabama Crimson Tide football team continues to rise to new heights. So too does Jewish student enrollment and involvement at the Capstone. University of Alabama Hillel Director Lisa Besnoy said they were glad they started the fall semester with an expanded, enhanced Hillel facility as a part of a million-dollar renovation The newly-expanded Bloom Hillel at Alabama project. “We’re even filling the new, larger space for some Last October, they held a candlelight vigil for events, Shabbat dinners and Sunday breakfasts,” the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. said Besnoy. “We’re seeing record participation They planned for 100 people but had close to 500 and we continue to add more programming. It’s participants. part of our comprehensive plan to meet the needs They also are involved with other groups, such of Jewish students at the University of Alabama.” as Habitat for Humanity and other charitable Usually more than 100 students attend every causes. “It’s tikkun olam,” said Besnoy. “We can Shabbat dinner. It is estimated that there are more repair the world.” than 1,000 Jewish students at the University. Junior Leslie Bashuk, from Macon, serves as On Dec. 4, Hillel hosted a Chanukah Casino Hillel president. When making her decision on a Night and menorah-lighting event, both with re- university, she said Hillel was very pivotal for her. cord attendance. “It is an amazing Jewish community here, and They will host three events — one per month I knew it would continue to grow,” said Bashuk. in January, February and March — as a part of an “Hillel is like a home away from home. I really program entitled, “What it Means to be a Jewish feel a sense of belonging here.” Woman.” She joined the Hillel board as a freshman and January will focus on women of the Torah and has held leadership roles in different areas. what they might say today. In February, a multi-gen“This gives us such a great opportunity to erational panel of women will discuss important connect with other Jewish students and to reach issues for and perspectives of Jewish women. out to future students at the University,” added In March they hope to bring in a prominent Is- Bashuk, who is majoring in marketing, and said raeli actress who is also a little person. If so, they she has learned much about how a successful orwill turn her visit into a campus-wide event. ganization is run as well as how to best promote “There are things can be learned that are not activities with a goal of increasing participation. just important to Jewish women, but all women,” “I know the friendships I have made here will said Besnoy. last a lifetime,” she said. Along those lines, Hillel regularly partners Besnoy adds that like the Crimson Tide footwith other faith-based organizations as well as ball team, success takes a team effort. “We get student organizations for events and projects that much support from the University and Temple aid those in need. Emanu-El. Together we are stronger.”
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Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl hosts an annual Auburn Hillel Chanukah party at his home
Hoops and Chanukah part of Auburn experience by Lee J. Green
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Thanks in part to the passionate involvement of Jewish Auburn Tigers Head Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl, growth in Jewish student enrollment and activity is a slam-dunk. As of press time, Pearl’s Tigers were in the Associated Press Top 10 college basketball poll, and the Jewish student presence continues to grow, with about 100 currently. “Coach Pearl really cares about the Jewish community and the Auburn community,” said Cory Garfunkel, graduate student advisor for Auburn Hillel. “There’s no doubt his involvement has helped us recruit more Jewish students and make the current students here feel special.” Pearl and his wife once again hosted the annual Chanukah Party at their house, which was a lot of fun and had record attendance, added Garfunkel. This past fall, they also had a couple Bagels with Bruce events and are planning to get a big Hillel group, or what Pearl refers to as “the Jew Crew,” out for a few more basketball games during the upcoming semester. Garfunkel said they also had high turnout for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. Hillel hosts weekly Shabbat dinners and special events including movie nights. “We appreciate the good support we get from the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion, Temple Beth Shalom along with the University,” said Garfunkel, who is from Mobile and earned his undergraduate degree from Auburn in 2016. He worked in Auburn for a couple of years and remained involved with Hillel activities before coming back this past August to pursue a
graduate degree in GIS Science. Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion advisor Ed Youngblood asked Garfunkel to serve as a graduate advisor. In 2012, as a freshman he attended the Annual Bagel Brunch, the Hillel’s welcome to campus event each August. “It’s been exciting to see how our community has grown.” Auburn Hillel Co-Presidents Jade Tate and Izzy Perling, both sophomores, both relished the opportunity to play leadership roles early in their collegiate careers. Garfunkel said they are all working together to plan activities for the spring semester, including a Tu B’Shevat event, Passover celebrations and basketball games. They also are working on enhancing email communications to reach more Jewish students on campus directly regarding opportunities for participation. Hillel also partners with Alpha Epsilon Pi at Auburn for joint activities. The Theta colony continues to grow in size and will become a fullfledged Jewish fraternity in 2019-20. Taffye Benson Clayton, Auburn’s vice president and associate provost for inclusion and diversity, said “Auburn’s Hillel chapter and Theta Colony of Alpha Epsilon Pi are great points of pride for our campus. We are committed to providing opportunities that support the comprehensive wellbeing and vitality of all students.” Clayton added that Auburn embraces “the idea that having students from a variety of different backgrounds, countries, cultures, faith beliefs, interests, perspectives and lived experiences contributes to the educational benefits that our students reap as a result of interactions with a diverse student body inside and outside the classroom.”
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by Lee J. Green The spotlight is on the arts at Millsaps College, with its co-hosting of Jewish Cinema Mississippi this month; becoming the theatre in residence at the Arts Center of Mississippi in downtown Jackson, and its new Windgate Visual Arts Center slated to open in a few months.
Millsaps’ Jewish Culture Organization co-hosts Jewish Cinema Mississippi with Jackson’s Beth Israel Congregation. The 2019 film schedule includes “Bye Bye Germany” Jan. 24, “The Last Suit” Jan. 26th, “GI Jews” Jan. 27 and “A Quiet Heart” Jan. 29. All films are at 7p and more information can be found at www.jewishcinemams.com. Director of Communications John Sewell said,
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“we appreciate our partnerships with the Jewish community, former graduates and greater Jackson. We had a progressive 2018 and we look forward to 2019.” The JCO, a student organization dedicated to celebrating Jewish culture at Millsaps, coordinates programming ranging from special events to Shabbat and holiday observances. Ties with the Jewish community also include the annual Rabbi Perry Nussbaum Lecture Series, named after the longtime Beth Israel rabbi who was known for his activism in the 1960s, during the heart of civil rights battles in the state. In 2008, Dr. John Bower, renal pioneer and friend of the late Nussbaum, endowed the lecture series. It is dedicated to men and women who have stood against racial bigotry and religious prejudice. Nussbaum Laureates are honored for their contributions to the civil rights movement in Mississippi and beyond. The Windgate Visual Arts Center will be located on the west side of campus and that gate will be re-opened. “This and our other business and community involvement will continue the development of the Midtown neighborhood on that side of campus,” said Sewell. He also said Millsaps generated much positive media attention in the political arena for the privately-supported liberal arts college with close to 1,000 students, thanks to a partnership with a former student. The partnership with Millsaps graduate and Rhodes Scholar Brad Chism established the college as a sought-after-resource with regards to politics and government. In 2018, four different Millsaps College-Chism Strategies surveys covered a wide variety of topics from legislative priorities to electoral reform.
Celebrating Jewish life at LSU Now in its fourth year, Chabad at Louisiana State University continues to expand its offerings to Jewish students. The fall semester included Rosh Hashanah dinner, Yom Kippur services, Shabbat dinners, challah baking, sukkot on campus, a Homecoming Shabbat dinner for students and families, and a Tikkun Olam project followed by lunch from Kosher Cajun in Metairie. Chabad also offers Sinai Scholars classes, a course that includes study of classic Jewish texts, social programming and national networking opportunities, with a stipend at the conclusion of the series. The semester ended on a high with a menorah lighting at the parade grounds. Since Chanukah was early, it was a rare opportunity to celebrate while students were still around. Though it was finals Sinai Scholars week, LSU made an exception for the program. Jonathan Earles, dean of the Holors College, lit the menorah, LSU Vice President Kurt Keppler spoke, and there was a memorial to victims of the Tree of Life massacre in Pittsburgh.
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Hillels of Memphis expands to second campus, grows Jewish involvement Hillels of Memphis continues to foster the growth of Jewish student life at the University of Memphis, and in January 2018 launched a second chapter at Rhodes College. The Hillel at the University of Memphis has been active for over 30 years, while Rhodes formerly had an informal presence. Each school has an estimated 60 to 70 Jewish students, according to Rabbi Jeremy Simons. In 2016, Rhodes named its first Jewish Community Fellowship recipient, an annual scholarship presentation. Fellows attend monthly meetings and work to advance the Jewish community on campus. At the Rhodes dedication, recently-installed Rhodes President Marjorie Hass, the school’s first Jewish president, said it was meaningful that Hillel’s arrival coincided with her first year there. “When they said to me ‘we’re bringing this organization, perhaps you’ve heard of it’, I was able to say ‘Yes, I know all about it’.” The Jewish Student Union at Memphis was dedicated in 1984 after having several temporary locations since its founding in 1968. Simons was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. After ordination, he was director of rabbinic services for the Goldring-Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, serving dozens of communities around the region. Since taking over at Hillel in the summer of 2017, Simons has overseen programs at both campuses. The Memphis Jewish Federation fully funds Hillels of Memphis, which Simons considers the best path. “Our Hillels are not just isolated islands populated with mysterious millennials. Our Hillels belong to all of us. And we, as Jewish Memphis, recognize we are responsible for them.” Each spring, there is also a Yiddishe Cup miniature golf tournament as a fundraiser.
UAB surpasses ambitious campaign goal by Lee J. Green
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The green and gold doesn’t just refer to the UAB Blazers’ historic football season in which they won 11 games, including their first bowl victory as well as Conference USA championship, just two years after the program was shut down. It also refers to “The Campaign for UAB: Give Something, Change Everything,” which surpassed its $1 billion goal at the end of 2018. The Campaign for UAB launched 10 years ago and was publically announced five years ago. Support for the Campaign resulted in substantial funds for each of UAB’s fundraising priorities — programmatic support, facilities, faculty, research and innovation, athletics as well as student support. “Five years ago, we began the public phase of The Campaign for UAB, the largest and most comprehensive fundraising effort in UAB history, with the very ambitious goal of raising $1 billion,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts. “In the five years that have followed, we have received overwhelming support and advocacy from donors, alumni, friends. The profound impact of their support and generosity is seen in every pillar of UAB’s mission as well as across our community, state and indeed around the world,” said Watts. “We can’t say ‘thank you’ enough to our friends, old and new, for their philanthropy.” One of the significant milestones of the campaign includes the Collat School of Business. The first named school at UAB was made possible by the “longtime generosity” of Charles Collat and his late wife, Patsy. The new home of that school opened this past August. Thanks in large part to record contributions for UAB athletics, with more than $50 million in support since 2015, UAB’s football program was brought back to life in 2017 after a two-year hiatus. Other Campaign successes include 211 new endowed scholarships and 33 new endowed chairs as well as 59 new endowed professorships. UAB also has enjoyed three consecutive years of record enrollment.
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Tom Brannan, UAB vice president for advancement, said “UAB is grateful for the many donors that contributed to the Campaign for UAB to help us exceed our billion-dollar goal. The Birmingham Jewish community is well known for its efforts to strengthen our community and has been an important part of our Campaign’s success. All of us at UAB are extremely appreciative of the support, we received and continue to receive each day. We are humbled and grateful to all our donors who help us fulfill our mission, in so many ways.” A recent study concluded that UAB provides an economic impact of $7.15 billion in Alabama and supports more than 64,000 jobs in the state. With more than 23,000 employees, UAB is the state’s largest single employer.
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When Julia Goldberg, a junior at Indian Springs School near Birmingham, moved to the area from Dallas, it was a “huge culture shock.” Having attended a Jewish day school there, “I could walk to my school and synagogue and the Kosher grocery store and the Kosher frozen yogurt store. The only place I went outside the community was the Jewish community center, where I had gymnastics lessons with all Jewish girls and was in Girl Scouts with all Jewish girls.” Indian Springs has a very diverse environment, including “boarding students from all over the world,” she said. “I’ve really enjoyed being here where I can learn about so many different cultures and I can see where Judaism fits into it all. There’s so many people I can compare my culture with.” After the shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, she gave a talk at a town hall meeting “about how the Jewish community and the Indian Springs community could move on.” During the school’s annual Diversity Day, she led a discussion group on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “I did my best to maintain a neutral position, and we had a great discussion about it. If we keep things on a factual basis, we can have a discussion rather than an argument.” As an eighth grader, Goldberg joined the four-member debate team, became team captain the next year and the team now has 30 members. Without a dedicated coach, she is teaching the other students. “It’s not something I would have imagined myself doing in a million years — I used to hate public speaking, but now I identify as a public speaker. I really love doing it and continue to improve.” She also has found a love of languages, though at first she wanted to learn only Hebrew. She is now in Latin IV, has taken Spanish and is studying Arabic. “I’ve really fallen in love with linguistics. I really want to do an independent study where I translate parts of the Torah from ancient Hebrew to Latin,” she said. “I think it would be really cool to compare my translation to other people’s and see how it differs. Things can get lost in translation.” One of her friends is an observant Muslim who speaks Arabic. “Now that I’m taking Arabic, I’m having a great time looking with her at the similarities between the languages and cultures. I do the same thing with German students and Yiddish — so many of our words are similar and I find that fascinating. Usually, they do too!” Outside Springs, Goldberg is president of United Synagogue Youth at Temple Beth-El and is running for the regional board this spring. She visits other communities in Alabama and Mississippi where there aren’t active chapters, encouraging their teens to attend conventions. She also volunteers at Children’s Hospital and as a vegan, studies animal rights and environmental impact. “Although the world may not be perfect, it’s important to keep up hope,” she said, “because if we don’t, nothing would ever get done. We have be active.”
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Birmingham-Southern College’s Jewish student population and participation numbers continue to increase, thanks to the establishment of a Hillel and the launching of the Abroms Scholarship in 2017. At approximately 20, it’s a small group, but very active. And the numbers of both Jewish and non-Jewish students participating in student events thus far in 2018-19 is growing, according to Liz Dillard, a junior who is president of the BSC Hillel. “We had our first meeting and got to know each other while eating apples and honey for Rosh Hashanah,” she said. “We went to my grandfather’s house to decorate and eat in the sukkah for Sukkot. We had a successful challah bake and we were part of the Religious Life holiday party, where we taught everyone how to play dreidel.” There will be a Birmingham-Southern College Shabbat at Temple Emanu-El on March 15, and they hope to host an on-campus Seder for Passover this year. The Jewish students on campus also worked with staff and faculty on campus, including the college’s Cross-Cultural Committee, to organize an interfaith vigil on Nov. 1 in honor of the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue attacks. At that event, Associate Professor of Education Louanne Jacobs named the victims and said the gathering was an effort to mourn them as well as to denounce the fear, hatred, bigotry, anti-Semitism and xenophobia behind their deaths. “May we, as an academic community, gain strength from this congregation of students, faculty, administrators and support staff. May we gain strength in order to do good — to go forth from this place determined not to simply curse the darkness, but to light our own candle to dispel the darkness which brought us together today,” said Jacobs. Much of the activity on campus stems from the Abroms Scholarship, founded in 2017 by philanthropists Hal and Judy Abroms, as an effort to increase Jewish student enrollment and provide a more meaningful campus experience for all students. “We are deeply indebted to the Abroms family for their continued dedication to increase Jewish student enrollment on BSC’s campus,” said Sarah-Kate Roberts, director of annual giving for BSC. “We were able to welcome four Abroms Scholars to campus this fall because of this scholarship program.” Cameron Roddy of Florence is the sophomore awardee and Hillel vice president. This year, three first-year students — Maddie Brook of Los Altos, Calif.; Halley Cooper of Marietta, Ga, and Max Sager of Baton Rouge — were awarded the scholarships. Brook, who attended Kehillah Jewish High School, learned about BSC through outreach for the Abroms program. Cooper took a gap year at American Jewish University in Israel before coming to BSC.
Open Late Every Day (205) 848-2080 Photo courtesy BSC
At the Birmingham-Southern Tree of Life vigil 34
January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
community >> Agenda
continued from page 8
the Quad City Storm at the Von Braun Civic Center. Tickets are $13 and must be ordered from the respective congregations by Jan. 18. The ticket price includes a baseball cap. The Jewish Federation of Greater Baton Rouge will have its annual meeting on Jan. 13 at 3 p.m. at B’nai Israel. Speaker will be Lindsey Friedmann, associate regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. Collat Jewish Family Services in Birmingham will have its annual meeting on Jan. 9 at 5:15 p.m. at the new CARES location, 3794 Crosshaven Drive. Alan Berman will be recognized as volunteer of the year. Michelle Bearman-Wolnek is incoming president. The next Torah On Tap in Pensacola will be Jan. 8 at 5 p.m. at Union Public House. Discussion topic will be “The Dignity of the Office, the Dignity of the Person.” The Birmingham Holocaust Education Center will present Clark Hultquist of the University of Montevallo, Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m. He will speak on “The New Order in Europe.” The President’s Award at B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge will be presented to Victor Sachse at the Jan. 20 annual meeting. Sachse leads the Shabbat morning minyan and has served as cemetery chair for a long time. The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Pensacola’s Temple Beth El will have a Night at the Theatre, seeing “Cemetery Club” at Pensacola Little Theatre. The play is about three Jewish widows who meet monthly for tea before visiting their husbands’ graves. The show had a six-week run on Broadway in 1990, then was made into a film with Ellen Burstyn, Diane Ladd, and Olympia Dukakis. After the 7:30 p.m. performance on Jan. 24, there will be a “talk-back” with production members. Contact Rabbi Joel Fleekop to purchase tickets. There will be a “totally rad” 1990s-style Throwback Bar/Bat Mitzvah party in Birmingham on Jan. 12 for ages 40 and under. We Belong in Birmingham, a project of the Birmingham Jewish Federation and Levite Jewish Community Center, is hosting the theme party from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the LJCC. 1990s attire is encouraged. There will be an open bar and lots of food. Tickets are $36. A portion of ticket sales will go to Leket Israel and support programming through We Belong in Birmingham. Ballroom dancing returns to Ahavas Chesed in Mobile, on Wednesdays starting Jan. 30. Professional instructor Veronica Meola will lead beginner lessons at 6 p.m. in the social hall. Partners or skill not required. Registration is $96 for the eight-week course. Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El will take part in the celebration of Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday with a Shabbat Shirah program at the 5:45 p.m. service on Jan. 18. Cantor Jessica Roskin will deliver a “sermon in song” during the service. Also, the Grafman Legacy Luncheon on Jan 17 at 11:30 a.m. will be a “Happy 100th Birthday Lenny” celebration. The next Old Fashioned Judaism for Beth Shalom in Baton Rouge will be Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m., place to be announced. Birmingham’s Levite Jewish Community Center will hold a Day at the J, an open house on Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free family event, open to the community, will showcase JCC programs, with complimentary brunch and free fitness classes all day long. Local vendors will be in attendance, there will be tons of kids and sports activities, tours of the JCC and the Early Childhood center, as well as giveaways. Beth Shalom in Baton Rouge will have an Israel Institute, discussing issues of the day, Feb. 3 at 11:30 a.m. January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
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Ahi Tuna Ingredients: 7-ounce sushi-grade tuna 2 cups farro pasta 1 cup chicken stock or vegetable stock 3 cauliflower florets 1 butternut squash
6 carrots 1 handful of spinach 1 cup olive oil 1 lemon Salt and pepper
Instructions: Cook faro until al dente. Roast cauliflower in the oven for 20 minutes. Peel and cut butternut squash and six carrots. Add olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes. Salt and pepper each side of the tuna filet and sear medium rare. Cook finished farro in the stock, cauliflower, carrots and squash. Reduce by half and add spinach, salt, pepper. Spoon in the middle of the bowl and cut tuna on an angle on top. Squeeze the lemon and add a little salt on top of the tuna.
Bistro V by Lee J. Green Former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Jeremy Downey, now co-owner and executive chef of Bistro V, treats his culinary career as he did his football career. To score with customers and win business, Downey said he has to keep his game up; challenge himself, and believe in The Process, as Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban says. “I’m competitive. I always want to stay sharp and push myself,” said Downey, who played on the 1992 national championship team. “When our customers say they love what we are doing, come back frequently and tell others, those are like victories to me.” Growing up in Bayou Le Batre, Downey remembers helping his family out on shrimp boats when he was as young as 6 years old. “It was ingrained in me. It was a part of life growing up there,” he said. “I’m a seafood nut. It is exciting for me to bring in the freshest seafood for Bistro V and prepare it in special ways.” After graduating from Alabama, Downey would chef in Mediterranean, Italian and French restaurants in San Francisco and Washington. He took those influences, along with those from growing up, into the concept for Bistro V, which opened almost nine years ago in the former City Hall Diner location where he was head chef. “I like to put a new spin on a classic dish such as gnocchi for dumplings,” said Downey. “I’m inspired by many different types of cuisine. I am always learning and trying to incorporate those influences into what we’re doing here. Learning is infinite.” Downey has even incorporated some traditional Jewish foods and ingredients and Israeli cuisine staples into Bistro V specials, as well as in their custom catering. The late fall menu includes Jerusalem artichokes. “A few days a week I will go to different restaurants to see what they are continued on page 37 36
January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
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>> Rear Pew Mirror “Marty, are you still there?” “Moses. Yes.” “Moses. Sorry about that. But good news. Your tablets can be replaced.” “Well, that’s good news. When can I pick them up?” “They’re not currently in stock.” “Look, it took a very long time to get the first set. In fact, how long I was away picking them up kind of led to them getting smashed. Any chance the replacements can be ready faster?” “You’ll have to come in for them now, and we’ll try to expedite the replacement tablets as fast as we can.” “Thank you.” “We want to ensure the replacement process goes easily for you without any headaches, and we’ll follow up with you after pickup. So, when they’re ready, please take two tablets, and call me in the morning.” Doug Brook is taking requests! If either of his readers has a topic you’d like to see in this column, let him know. It might even happen. To read past columns, visit http://brookwrite.com/. For exclusive online content, like facebook.com/rearpewmirror.
>> Bistro V
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doing,” he said. “My kids will go with me to several places. They are nine and 10 years old. They’re open to trying new things. It is a great bonding opportunity for our whole family,” added Downey. Bistro V’s menu changes somewhat about once every season. In the late fall and winter they add forest mushrooms, sweet potatoes, Mentone beans, lamb and beef shanks. Every night during dinner they have a risotto special and a fish of the day. The lunch menu includes sandwiches, such as Po Boys with bread from New Orleans. Downey said Bistro V takes great pride in providing exceptional food and service. He said they want dining there to be a memorable experience every time. “Food can take you back to a certain time, place or memory. It can also take you on some new journeys,” he said. “It’s not just about eating, it’s a very sensory experience.”
>> Bryant
continued from page 13
“You have more people that come and visit. You have more governors, more senators, more congressmen or more prime ministers. People from all over the world,” he said. “One of the things that we have in common is that people misunderstand Israel as much as they misunderstand Mississippi. That’s why we’re here. I tell people, ‘Once you’ve come here, you can go back as an advocate for Israel and say you need to go’.” “Everyone I talk to says, ‘Oh, I wish I could go to Israel.’ Well, go! They’re flying planes out of New York and Atlanta every day… The more people that come here, I think the more they understand the reality that is Israel. It is the most remarkable place in the world,” gushed Bryant. Why does Mississippi have an emphasis on Israel, with four missions in five years? Bryant said the state has a desire “to work with one of the most successful nations in the world.” He explained, “We in Mississippi have to learn how to do remarkable things. We have to overachieve… that is what has been taking place here in Israel since 1947.” The most remarkable thing about Israel, Bryant said, is that everyone he sees there “just wants peace.” With the threats and attacks from Israel’s neighbors, one would think Israelis would be angry and want to strike back, “and you could. But you just want peace.” January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
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rear pew mirror • doug brook
But the tablets…
Advertise in Southern Jewish Life Call Lee Green, (205) 870-7889 In New Orleans, Call Jeff Pizzo, (504) 432-2561
“Thank you for calling Technical Support. This conversation may be recorded for quality purposes.” “Recorded? What’s that?” “Can I have your name?” “Moses.” “Thank you, Moses. How is your day so far?” “I’ve had better.” “I’m sorry to hear that. What can we do to help make it better?” “Well, I’m having some trouble here related to a tablet.” “I see. What sort of trouble?” “It’s broken.” “I see. Please help me figure out the exact problem. Can you read anything that’s on the tablet?” “No. Not at all.” “I see. Is the tablet cracked?” “Actually, it’s smashed. Very small pieces.” “I see. That’s a little more serious. You weren’t kidding about your day. Do you know what caused it to break into so many small pieces?” “I… dropped it.” “It’s made of pretty solid material. Just dropping it shouldn’t be so…” “I dropped it at a very rapid pace after raising it over my head and flinging my arms downward. Down the side of a mountain.” “Wow.” “I bet you don’t hear that one often.” “You’d be surprised. Any chance you have the serial number?” “No.” “Well, let me look based on your name to see if I can find it in our records.” “Two.” “Excuse me?” “There were two of them. Two tablets.” “Both smashed? Flung down the side of a mountain?” “Yes.” Technical support “By accident?” “It wasn’t pre-meditated, if that’s hasn’t changed what you mean.” “Can you clarify the situation in thousands of around the mountain when you downyears… loaded the tablets from there?” “There was a big, stupid party going on down there. A lot of dancing and… What does this matter?” “Just trying to determine if the damage is covered by warranty.” “I thought that the warranty on these tablets was a lifetime covenant.” “Yes, but certain user activities and behaviors can break that… covenant, thus voiding the warranty.” “So if I do something wrong the warranty is voided and the covenant is broken? But if you do something wrong… nothing happens?” “If there’s something wrong from our end, we will do whatever is appropriate to fix the situation.” “You got that right.” “Can I put you on a brief hold while I speak to our supervisor?” “Put me on a what?” <Forty days and forty nights later:> continued on previous page
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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life
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