The Jewish News - July 2016 by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

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800 Jewish mothers from 10 countries celebrate Israel journey

Volume 46, Number 7

Community celebrates Israel’s Independence Day By Federation Staﬀ

he May 15 Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) celebration on The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s campus was filled with love, laughter, songs, dance and delicious food. More than 500 people joined together to celebrate their passion for Israel. It was also a time to solemnly remember Israel’s fallen soldiers. Brilliant performer, teacher and vocalist Betty Silberman opened the event by inviting two Israeliborn members of our community to read the “Yizkor,” a special memorial prayer for the departed. After this moving prayer, Alexandra Fucas, who had previously participated in the Bob Malkin Young Ambassadors Teen Leadership Program (BMYA), sang a stirring “Star Spangled Banner.” Silberman concluded the opening ceremony with a rousing performance of “Hatikvah,” the national anthem of Israel. The dynamic Freylekh Klezmer Dance Band,

Tel Aviv Graﬃti Art Project

an all-woman ensemble whose upbeat sound brings out the strong rhythmic impetus of klezmer music in a way that has been known to set even the most reluctant of feet tapping, followed – engaging the audience to join in dancing and clapping to the lively music. continued on page 3

The Jewish News welcomes two journalism interns By Federation Staﬀ

he staff and leadership of The Jewish News sored by the U.S. Army; conduct a workshop for are proud to welcome Phoenix Berman and students interested in debate or mock Congress, SenJessica Zelitt, this year’s Mimi and Joseph J. ate and House programs sponsored by Junior State Edlin Journalism Interns. This paid internship proof America (she is the organization’s president); and gram, generously funded by Sarasota Bay Club resident Miriam “Mimi” Edlin and her family through the Joseph J. Edlin Endowment Summer Journalism Internship Fund in St. Louis, provides an opportunity for area students, ages 16-22, to get real-world experience with a professional publication, as well as the Family Jeweler 14276 Name: ________________________________________________ Invoice Ref #: ________________ learn about the Jewish nonprofit world. Phoenix Berman recently completed her sophomore year at the Sarasota Military Academy, where she is a very active and involved member of the school’s International Baccalaureate program. She Phoenix Berman, Mimi Edlin, Jessica Zelitt spearheaded the effort to increase the IB program’s will attend a leadership camp to prepare her for her visibility on the web in an effort to attract more sturole as company commander. dents and showcase the successes of the program. In discussing her upcoming trip to Israel, PhoeShe oversees This Proof must be currently signed and returned beforethe social media efforts and nix said, “Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people, is inwith theyour process of designing a website. In her junior Local SRQUSY we can proceed order. This is your Proof prior to year, printing.Phoenix Please examine spell- as a 1st Battalion Company and having the privilege to set foot onto its ground is will allserve teens attend ing and information carefully. RFJD will not be not only a dream of mine, but has been a dream for Commander, the highest ranking officer – an accomUSY Regional held responsible for any unnoticed errors.she Anyis quite proud. Jews past and present. I want to see the sights, hear plishment for which errors found after printing will be customer’s sole Convention the sounds, and taste the diversity of the Jewish state. Phoenix will be quite busy this summer. In adresponsibility. I want to meet the strong and courageous individuals dition to her duties with The Jewish News, she will Approval participate on the Bob Malkin Young Ambassadors who fight for Israel’s survival. Israel is truly one of ApprovedMission to Israel; attend a leadership camp sponcontinued on page 2

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July 2016

FEDERATION NEWS

Israeli dancer Erez Zohar teaches Gaga class in Sarasota By Leymis Bolanos Wilmott

n Saturday, May 14, a beautiful spring day, a flock of dancers in sweat pants and tanks, of different ethnic backgrounds and ages, ranging from 14-75, gathered at College Hall on the New College of Florida campus. All were excited about an unusual dance class being offered in our community. Experienced dancers, like a retired professional dancer with the Jose Limon Company, to young trainees from the Sarasota Cuban Ballet, would be dancing alongside company members from Sarasota Contemporary Dance as well as dancers who had traveled from Orlando for this one-time master class.

The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee partnered with Sarasota Contemporary Dance to offer a Gaga/ dancers class led by guest teacher Erez Zohar, a former dancer with Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company. Gaga is a movement language

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which Ohad Naharin, Artistic Director of the Batsheva Dance Company, developed over the course of many years, which is applied in daily practice and exercises by Company members. The language of Gaga originated from the belief in the healing, dynamic and the ever-changing power of movement. Melissa Coleman, Company Manager and Dancer with Sarasota Contemporary Dance, shared with me that, “having the opportunity to experience an authentic Gaga/dancers class was a rare and very appreciated opportunity. We live in an area with limited access to this technique, which is so powerful for a dancer, and can inform any style of mover. The class was ever changing, non-stop, and almost an emotional/ spiritual practice as well. It was a very challenging and rewarding experience that will continue to inform my dancing and artistry.” Gaga is a new way of gaining knowledge and self-awareness through your body. Gaga provides a framework for discovering and strengthening your body and adding flexibility, stamina and agility while igniting the senses and imagination. Gaga raises awareness of physical weaknesses, awakens numb areas, exposes physical fixations, and offers ways for their elimination. The work improves instinctive movement, connects conscious and unconscious movement, and allows for an experience of freedom and pleasure in a simple way; in a pleasant space, in comfortable clothes, accompanied by music, each person with himself and others. As the Artistic Director of Sarasota Contemporary Dance, I believe offering unique movement experiences of this kind, not only for my company but

Interns...continued from page 1

the wonders of the world, and there is no place on earth like her.” We can’t wait to hear from her upon her return! Jessica Zelitt is a recent graduate of Lakewood Ranch High School. She was a member of the National Honor Society and received a number of awards for academic and civic accomplishments. This fall, she will attend the University of South Florida in Tampa where she plans to major in physics. She has been accepted into the college’s honors program and she looks forward to getting involved in student government, Hillel and community service clubs. While in high school, Jessica was very involved with the Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) program. She served in a number of leadership positions at both the chapter and state level. The program has given her the opportunity to do community service, develop leadership skills, and to travel the country attending conferences and educational programs. This summer, she will attend the organization’s National Leadership Conference in San Diego. Jessica was very active in the local USY chapter where she held various offices and was an active participant in regional conventions. As a past participant on the Bob Malkin Young Ambassadors Mission to Israel, Jessica said, “My most memorable experience in Israel was exploring the city of Jerusalem. It is full of so much history, and I loved learning about all of the cultures that are a part of the city.” Jessica is also an accomplished

the community at large, is essential to gaining knowledge and appreciation of different cultures and the art of contemporary dance. This specific class allowed dancers from our community and surrounding areas an inside experience to how Ohad Naharin trains Israeli dancers, specifically of Batsheva Dance Company. Erez asked me after class how did the Gaga/dancers class feel due to me being pregnant in my second trimester. I told him it was exhilarating. The guided movement nature of the class allowed me to find new discoveries and challenge my usual movement patterns, and I did not feel that I was limited due to my growing belly. Two summers ago I traveled to Israel and attended my first performance of Batsheva Dance Company at the Suzanne Dellal Centre in Tel Aviv. I was blown away by the dancers’ flawless skill and contagious passion. I knew that I wanted to experience Gaga personally in hopes to gain access to the technique, which I felt could push my dancer’s movement range and performance to new heights. When I returned from Israel I began desiring that same level of excellence and emotional vulnerability for Sarasota Contemporary Dance. This class was the first step in equipping my company and fellow dancers in our area with a new skill set. My hope is to continue to build this relationship with both The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and Ohad Naharin of Batsheva Dance Company, and to continue to bring Gaga in its purest form to Sarasota – possibly, even the promise of an Ohad Naharin repertory piece to be set on Sarasota Contemporary Dance for the 2017-18 season.

musician. She played the clarinet and bass clarinet in the jazz, concert, symphonic and marching bands while at Lakewood Ranch High School. As a member of the school’s wind ensemble, the group received various accolades at state and district competitions. In 2015, they were the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl National First Runners-Up. Don’t miss Jessica’s story about our Federation’s Education Scholarships on page 4 of this issue. Phoenix will have her first article published next month. Our Federation is grateful to Mimi Edlin for her longtime support of this initiative. The roots of this project began to grow in 1990, when Edlin and her daughters, Jamie, Laura and Mari, discussed ways to honor Edlin’s late husband, Joseph. “We were determined to memorialize him in a meaningful way that would reflect and encompass Joe’s lifetime cultural interests and concerns. He was a man who used words exquisitely, both oral and written,” remembers Mrs. Edlin. She remains passionate about the project and thoroughly enjoys getting to know the interns each year. Of this year’s candidates, she had this to say: “They are the pick of the crop – bushytailed, smart, involved in an array of school activities, savvy participants in Jewish youth organizations, excellent writers, thinkers, planners – people who have assumed leadership roles in community advancement and development. I am so proud of our local Jewish youth.”

July 2016

FEDERATION NEWS

Israel’s Independence Day...continued from page 1 The event also featured authentic Israeli foods, including spicy falafel, freshly-baked pita bread, hummus and Israeli salad – catered by A Taste of Jerusalem. Other activities included an Israeli wine tasting, and an interactive tour of Israel that featured a Masada climbing wall, an IDF obstacle course, and a graffiti art project. The event was presented by the Federation, along with Temple Beth Sholom, Temple Emanu-El, Goldie Feldman Academy, Temple Sinai, Kehillah of Lakewood Ranch, Congregation Kol HaNeshama, and the Shapiro Teen Engagement Program.

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July 2016

FEDERATION NEWS

The Federation awards $63,000 in college scholarships By Jessica Zelitt, Mimi and Joseph J. Edlin Journalism Intern

he Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee recently awarded 20 outstanding teens from Sarasota and Manatee counties $63,000 in college scholarships. All recipients will be pursuing full-time undergraduate studies at universities, colleges or community colleges and have demonstrated strong community service and religious involvement, good academic records Jessica Zelitt and financial need. The ceremony was held May 25 on the Federation Campus in Sarasota. These scholarships would not be possible without the support of fund holders who graciously donate their time and money to benefit the community’s youth. Celebrated area philanthropist Betty Schoenbaum, who is the donor for two Federation scholarships, recognizes how important these scholarships are to their recipients. “I realize that college costs a lot of money and many families have multiple children, making it difficult to manage finances,” she said. “These scholarships help those families and honor well-rounded students.” Sandra Malamud, a member of the Education Scholarship Committee, values these scholarships because they “help connect young people to our Federation and build a lasting bond between them and the Jewish community.” At the ceremony, Erica Brown, recipient of the Jacqueline Siegel-Frascella Scholarship, the Belle and Herman B. Behrenfeld Scholarship, and

the Meyer Sarkin Scholarship, spoke about her connection with the Jewish community. “I was a participant in the Bob Malkin Young Ambassadors program, a member of the Shapiro Teen Engagement Program as well as a regional board member of BBYO (B’nai B’rith Youth Organization),” she said. “Through our local Federation I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many new friends. It’s like a second home to me.” Justin Bodfield, the recipient of a B’nai B’rith Gulf Coast Lodge #2004 Scholarship, is already planning how he will use these funds in college. “I’ll be attending Florida Atlantic University and majoring in business management,” he said. “I plan to get involved with multiple student organizations. I’ve also applied to become a student manager for the FAU football team, which would give me experience for my dream job of becoming an NFL general manager.” Not only does The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee provide scholarships for Jewish youth, it also offers interfaith scholarships. Nikolas Mansour, recipient of one of the Robert Michelson Interfaith Scholarships, said, “It’s important to be open to multiple faiths and to love everyone.” “Helping young people reach their educational goals is paramount to our mission,” says Howard Tevlowitz, The Federation’s Executive Director, who explains that The Federation has awarded more than $500,000 in college scholarships over the past 10 years. “We’re grateful to the generous donors who endow their legacy gifts for scholarship funds so that, year after year,

students can pursue their dreams at an institution of higher learning. Many of the young people who received scholarships in the past have found ways to give back to their Jewish community, exemplifying the tradition of L’dor V’dor, or passing good along from generation to generation.”

The 2016 recipients of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Education Scholarships are: Sydney Austin Ned and Janet Sinder Scholarship Trust – 1st year Edith Becker Lilienfeld Scholarship Helen A. and Newton H. Sobin Scholarship

Jessie Greenberg Ned and Janet Sinder Scholarship Trust – 2nd year

Justin Bodﬁeld B’nai B’rith Gulf Coast Lodge #2004 Scholarship

Robert Kramer Grace and Sam Gorlitz Scholarship

Erica Brown Jacqueline Siegel-Frascella Scholarship Belle and Herman B. Behrenfeld Scholarship Meyer Sarkin Scholarship Alina Chevtsov Ronald and Geri Yonover Scholarship Sam and Sally Shapiro Philanthropic Fund The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee Scholarship Talia Daniel Jerome and Ruth Kapner Scholarship Ruth and David Gorton Scholarship Valerie Daniel The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee Scholarship Marjorie and Earl Sharff Scholarship Selma and Sydney Flanzbaum Scholarship Haley Dennis Ned and Janet Sinder Scholarship Trust – 2nd year Roxanne Felig Betty Schoenbaum Scholarship Dr. Nelson and Marjorie Newmark Scholarship

Fund holders with scholarship recipients and scholarship representatives

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Jessica Zelitt is a graduate of Lakewood Ranch High School and will be attending the University of South Florida, Tampa campus, in the fall. She is a recipient of the Joseph J. Edlin Journalism Intern Scholarship, a program funded by Miriam Edlin in memory of her husband.

Crystal Greenberg B’nai B’rith Gulf Coast Lodge #2004 Scholarship

Dylan Kona Robert Michelson Interfaith Scholarship

Nikolas Mansour Robert Michelson Interfaith Scholarship Haven Miller B’nai B’rith Gulf Coast Lodge #2004 Scholarship Rachael Pearson Herbert Angel Scholarship Amanda Russo Robert Michelson Interfaith Scholarship Betty Schoenbaum Scholarship The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee Scholarship Maxwell Strauss Bernard Isaacs Family Scholarship The Ronald and Geri Yonover Scholarship Robert Michelson Interfaith Scholarship Liv Tishman Robert Michelson Interfaith Scholarship Betty Schoenbaum Scholarship Schoenbaum Family Scholarship Kelsy Upton Robert Michelson Interfaith Scholarship Alexandra Zirkle Ned and Janet Sinder Scholarship Trust – 2nd year

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July 2016

FEDERATION NEWS

North Port High School holds a “No Place for Hate” assembly By Federation Staﬀ

Established 1971

PUBLISHER The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Road Sarasota, FL 34232-1959 Phone: 941.371.4546 Fax: 941.378.2947 E-mail: jewishnews@jfedsrq.org Website: www.jfedsrq.org Published Monthly Volume 46, Number 7 July 2016 28 pages USPS Permit No. 167 August 2016 Issue Deadlines: Editorial: June 30, 2016 Advertising: June 30, 2016 PRESIDENT Patti Wertheimer EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Howard Tevlowitz

orth Port High School students declared their school to be “No Place for Hate,” thanks to a partnership between the school and The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. On May 20, during an assembly, representatives of The Federation and the Anti-Defamation League presented a banner designating NPHS as a “No Place for Hate” school. Anti-Defamation League anti-bullying leadership training, sponsored by The Federation, started at the school last fall. School staff chose eighteen 11th-grade students to train in anti-hate leadership qualities. As a result of the leadership training, students created three inspirational projects in order to earn the designation of a “No Place for Hate” school. The entire student body was involved, with inspirational message contests and ex-

changing “ally” cards to people who were a positive influence. The students also worked with younger students at the school to model anti-bullying behaviors and offer tips on how to be an ally to other students. An anti-bullying atmosphere was reinforced in the NPHS cafeteria, with inspirational messages in three categories: promoting diversity, body-positive messages and student community involvement. At the May 20 event, the North Port High Jazz Band provided music, an anti-bullying skit was performed by the school’s theater students, and student Alyssa Pascik sang “You are Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera. “We appreciate the opportunity that The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s sponsorship created for our school,” said Nancy Hawkins,

the Holocaust teacher at NPHS. “The assembly was a celebration and a call to action for all of our students. The staff and students at NPHS feel this is just the beginning of what we can achieve together as a school and with our community sponsors to create a ‘No Place for Hate’ school.”

COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR Linda Lipson MARKETING DIRECTOR Kim Mullins MANAGING EDITOR Ted Epstein ADVERTISING SALES Robin Leonardi PROOFREADERS Adeline Silverman, Bryna Tevlowitz MIMI AND JOSEPH J. EDLIN JOURNALISM INTERNS Phoenix Berman, Jessica Zelitt MISSION STATEMENT: The Jewish News of Sarasota-Manatee strives to be the source of news and features of special interest to the Jewish community of Sarasota-Manatee, to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions in the Jewish community, and to communicate the mission, activities and achievements of the Federation and its Jewish community partners. OPINIONS printed in The Jewish News of Sarasota-Manatee do not necessarily reflect those of The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee, its Board of Directors or staff. SUBMISSIONS to The Jewish News are subject to editing for space and content, and may be withheld from publication without prior notice. Approval of submissions for publication in either verbal or written form shall always be considered tentative, and does not imply a guarantee of any kind. Submissions must be sent electronically to jewishnews@jfedsrq.org.

Yael Hershfield (from ADL), Jennifer Lara, Nancy Hawkins, Christian Aguilera, Orna Nissan (The Jewish Federation)

North Port High students created art that is displayed on campus to emphasize that their school is “No Place for Hate”

Fifty Shades of J By Federation Staﬀ

e’re thrilled to announce we enjoyed a wonderful Fifty Shades of J party as old and new friends gathered at World of Beer on May 10. Friends who haven’t seen each other in years reunited and reminisced. We’d like to thank the staff at World of Beer for their warm, welcoming and quick service, and Stacy Hanan, a leading area Realtor®, for sponsoring the event. For more information about Fifty

Shades of J or to register for an upcoming event, contact Jeremy Lisitza at jlisitza@jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2113.

Above: Len Roth and Ellen Echales At left: Maurene Freedman, Marvin Zimmerman, Ellis Goodman, Ronni Miller, Jody Bedard

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July 2016

FEDERATION NEWS

March of the Living

The March of the Living is an annual, two-week educational program that brings students from around the world to Poland, where they explore the remnants of the Holocaust. On Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom HaShoah), thousands of participants march silently from Auschwitz to Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp complex built during World War II. From Poland, they travel to Israel to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee sponsored Hunter Hampton and Rachel Miller’s participation on this life-changing trip. The next March of the Living is April 19 to May 3, 2017. To learn more, contact Orna Nissan at 941.552.6305 or onissan@jfedsrq.org.

Reconnecting with Judaism By Hunter Hampton

lassroom teaching, while effective, pales in comparison to the knowledge and understanding gained from firsthand experiences. This was extremely apparent as I walked on the ground where so many of my ancestors took their last steps. Ever since my Bar Mitzvah, my Jewish identity had slowly begun to fade. I went to fewer and fewer Friday night services – to the point where I began to forget prayers I’ve known since preschool. Once I noticed my gradually decreasing connection to Judaism, I knew something had to change. My mother discovered a program called March of the Living, in which thousands of Jewish teens from around the world share a once-in-a-lifetime experience when they march three kilometers from Auschwitz to Birkenau, the largest concentration camp complex built by the Nazis. The march commemorates Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, by retracing the steps of the March of Death – the actual route hundreds of thousands of people were forced to take on their way to the gas chambers. From Poland, participants travel to Israel to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. I knew this was my way to reconnect with Judaism. The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee offers scholarships to teens in our area and I applied and was accepted. On May 1, my friend Rachel Miller and I began our long flight across the world to Poland. Upon arrival there, we were taken directly to the Lodz train station where so many Jews had been transported in cattle cars to concentration camps. To be hit with such brutal disregard for human life so quickly was shocking for many of us. I, however, had not fully comprehended the scope of the horror just yet. The realization for me came while touring the Majdanek death camp where we came face to face with tons and tons of human ash. They say the first stage of dealing with loss is denial and “they” are correct. I’ve heard Holocaust deniers’ “claims” about the validity of the Holocaust, but I saw their

baseless arguments systematically torn apart with the raw, horrific evidence we witnessed in person. I felt angry and depressed but had a chance to explore these feelings with my fellow travelers. These former strangers had become my brothers and sisters in the week we were

Rachel Miller and Hunter Hampton

together. The uneasy emotions we shared brought us closer than any classroom lesson could have. After visiting the death camps, we were all feeling angry and depressed. But the great part about this trip is the way that depression turned to unbridled joy upon arrival in Israel. Traveling from Poland to Israel made me understand that Hitler did not succeed, that we have an entire country’s military guaranteeing the protection of our people, and that the Holocaust can never happen again to our people. After the atrocities I witnessed in Poland, my experience in Israel was euphoric. I had the time of my life there. From kayaking down the Jordan river to partying on Ben Yehuda Street during Yom Ha’Atzmaut, I have never been more proud to be Jewish. This trip has been the most incredible experience I have ever had the privilege of being a part of. I could not be more thankful for the support from my family and the sponsorship from The Federation. Thanks to this journey, I have reconnected to my heritage and am proud to call myself Jewish. Hunter Hampton is a 17-year-old senior at Pine View School. Next year he will attend the University of Miami to study biomedical engineering.

Experiencing reality up close By Rachel Miller

efore participating in March of the Living, I had only been to Israel once and never to Poland. Never in my life did I expect to see the horrible events that have plagued the history of the Jewish people. As I walked through the concentration camps used only two generations ago, an inner conflict arose in me regarding how I could describe what I’d seen and heard in the Auschwitz, Birkenau, Treblinka, Warsaw and Majdanek concentration camps. How can I possibly capture my feelings in a poem, speech, art or any other way? I can’t. Nothing can truly grasp the torturous events of the Holocaust. How am I supposed to answer when I am asked, “How was your trip?” Although I can’t possibly describe my whole experience in Poland, I can touch upon some of my most prominent memories. As I walked into Auschwitz, bewildered by my own presence there, the camp was not at all what I expected. I walked along a path paved with stones, flanked by numbered barracks. The ground was hard to walk on with sneakers – let alone barefoot – and the barracks were made of red bricks. At first glance, Auschwitz looked like a college campus – except for the prison cells, barbed wire fence and gallows. Many of the rooms were cleared out to create a museum. I would have never guessed thousands of people were murdered there if it weren’t for my prior knowledge. I truly had to imagine, using all of my senses, the camp environment in the 1940s, even more so in Birkenau and Treblinka because hardly anything is left of those camps. I had to close my eyes and focus my attention to the chilly Polish air that was already too cold for me, even though I had warm clothing – a

luxury prisoners were not given. I had to imagine the smell of death drifting around and through the barracks, and the sight of black clouds of ashes pouring out of the crematoria. Although the horrors of Auschwitz, Birkenau and Treblinka are difficult for me to imagine, the worst experience of my trip was in Majdanek in Poland. Even thinking about Majdanek makes my body cringe. Some camps are partially or completely destroyed because, when the prisoners were going to be liberated, the Nazis attempted to destroy evidence of their wrongdoing. However, Majdanek is completely intact. In fact, in less than a few days, Majdanek could be up and running again. As my group walked into the camp, the first thing I took note of was the fact that, just as in Auschwitz and Birkenau, I could see cars driving by and people living their daily lives, going on their merry way. I had always thought that perhaps those who were not persecuted might not have been entirely aware of the gruesome activity that was happening, but the events at Majdanek, Auschwitz and Birkenau took place in their backyards. I was astonished by the fact that, only a few decades ago, the smoke, ash and putrid smell from the ovens lingered over their houses. How could people not help Jews and the other prisoners when they could literally see into the barbed wire fences and smell and hear what was going on? It’s insane to me that anyone could let such an abomination take place right outside their windows. As we headed toward the showers, there was a white house on our right where the head guard – or whoever he was – lived in comfort with his wife and children. I cannot even try to imagine telling my future children that they couldn’t stray too far from the house because there were gas chambers close by. When we stepped into the showers

continued on next page

BE INFORMED AND HAVE THE TOOLS TO FIGHT

ANTI-SEMITISM

Susan Miller: Testament in Stone

On View Through September 11, 2016

Susan Miller “sees” through stone. She has the ability to perceive and reveal, through the density of weighty blocks of marble, a form that communicates human dignity and energy. Miller’s sculptures express her spirit and the beauty of the human body. The subjects of the pieces are connected to names from history, mythology and the Old Testament. Biblical passages, poetry, and prose accompany the works.

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July 2016

FEDERATION NEWS

March of the Living...continued from previous page

of Majdanek, I brushed my fingers against the two gray, concrete baths. They were ice cold. The room was dark, lined with a few windows where danyone could have looked in to see the gvulnerable, cold, naked prisoners. My group was told that the Nazis d would toy with the prisoners by changing the water from extreme hot to extreme cold with a water pressure so ehigh that it could rip skin. I learned that the Nazis viewed killing as a science. kWhen I questioned why they would waste hot water on someone who was ealready sentenced to death, I was told

s r s n d

d y Rachel Miller with two friends s that the hot showers and harsh disinnfectant that was used would open up -their pores to allow the poison of the sgas chambers to kill them more effiuciently. Right before we headed to the gas chambers, a door slammed behind the -group in front of us. Everyone jumped. rI was terrified. It felt as if we were in ta scary movie and, at any moment, we would be locked in just as our ancesdtors were. There was a single light and tonly one or two windows out of reach. tThe dark and eerie nature of the room nwas enough to chill us all. Above us, we could see open squares in the ceiling where Zyklon B had been released; ta bright blue residue from the poison eremained on the walls and ceiling. Since my experience in Poland is e -extremely difficult to think about, let yalone articulate, there is only one more ememory I’d like to share. On Yom eHaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance sDay, I marched alongside 12,000 others down the exact same path our ancestors walked as they approached an excruciating death at Auschwitz and

Birkenau. I stood with my Jewish family, united, strong, and proud to be here to honor and remember the six million Jews the Nazis murdered. As someone who has always lived in a community with a Jewish minority, it was one of the most powerful moments of my life. I felt a bond with thousands of others from all over the world as we walked, arm in arm, down the train tracks of Birkenau. I had never felt so connected with my Jewish heritage as I did at that very moment, staring into the camp. Even though I hate to think about death and the despair of my people only two generations ago, I think it is absolutely vital to everyone – Jewish or not – to witness the camps, feel the cold concrete of the showers, and look into the ovens that still contain bits of human ash. Everyone should try to feel even a sliver of pain that the Jewish people and many others felt when they stared death in its eyes, were ripped from their families, and lived in despair. It is absolutely necessary for everyone to see both the past and the present, and ensure that history will never repeat itself. There is a strange and sickening paradox in the way that there are bright yellow flowers growing in fields throughout Poland and the concentration camps. The air is clean and fresh, the homes with warm fireplaces pushing smoke out of their chimneys, and their owners going on with their daily lives. I think this proves that beauty and optimism can grow out of the darkest of places. Only 70 years ago, the Jewish people were almost annihilated, and today they live in the prosperous State of Israel. For the second half of my trip, I toured Israel and visited historical sites. It’s an incredible feeling to be in such a sad state of mind, and then open up to the beautiful and uplifting State of Israel. I truly realized the value and necessity of Israel for all of the Jewish people. We need security, a safe place to live, and a place to raise families to make up for the six million people who perished. We need Israel. Rachel Miller is a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School.

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July 2016

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Temple Beth Sholom, GFA remember lost children of the Holocaust By Sharon Kunkel

n May 6, in recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah), six trees were dedicated on the campus of Temple Beth Sholom and Goldie Feldman Academy, A Hershorin Schiff Community Day School, in the Community Remember Me Holocaust Organic Fruit Tree Orchard. These trees were dedicated to “remember” six lost children of the Holocaust while, at the same time, honoring two members of the community who recently passed away: community leader and longtime Temple Beth Sholom member Allan Lichtenstein, and GFA parent Ben Reinhardt. The event was a partnership of Temple Beth Sholom, GFA, and Yad Vashem (The World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel). Of the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, 1.5 million were children. Through searching and making selections from the Yad Vashem Database of Lost Children, the lost children of the Holocaust can then be “remembered” with the planting of fruit trees. In attendance for the dedication were Rabbi Michael Werbow of Temple Beth Sholom, GFA head of school Dan Ceaser, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Executive Director Howard Tevlowitz, facilitator for the JFCS Holocaust Survivors’ Support Group Jan Alston, and Ed and Betty Rosenthal, the donors whose “Remember Me Fund” helped to establish the orchard and enables GFA students as well as members of the community to select lost children to remember through the planting and dedication of fruit trees. Middle school students of GFA also participated in the ceremony.

For Ed Rosenthal, this program is meant to ensure that the Holocaust is never forgotten, and that Holocaust deniers are soundly discredited at every turn. “The underlying purpose of planting these trees is to remember the lost

and, with the planting and harvesting of trees, horticulture. Additionally, the experience brings history to life for the children in a meaningful way. “The tangible nature of this experience is very powerful,” said Rabbi Werbow. “The children can see and touch something that represents the history they’re learning about in class.” He noted that the dedication did cause several students to become quite emotional, as they recognized that the children they were remembering might have the same first name, or be the same age as loved ones in their own lives. Through “twinning,” community Dan Ceaser, Rabbi Michael Werbow, and Betty & Ed Rosenthal members can honor next to a tree dedicated during the recent event held in recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day a loved one or comchildren of the Holocaust by this simmunity leader while also rememberple act of life – a fruit tree planting and ing a lost child of the Holocaust. For dedication – to emphatically say over program sponsor Betty Rosenthal, that and over again, ‘We will never forget’ provided valuable emotional support and ‘Never again,’” he said. “That is when she lost her mother, who lived why we read the Hebrew word ‘Zachin Montreal. “I needed a place to go or’ above the entrance to the orchard. where I knew she was here with me in In Hebrew, Zachor means ‘We must reSarasota,” she said. “I’ll come here and member.’ That is what we are doing for sit on a bench and meditate.” the lost children of the Holocaust – we Betty said that, while the underare saying ‘Never forget’ and ‘Never lying purpose of and need for the again.’” Remember Me Orchard is almost unFor GFA students, this experibearably sad, there is great joy in being ence is a process that dovetails nicely outside among the trees of the orchard with the project-based curriculum at and seeing the fruit – including avocathe school. They learn about history, dos, plums, pomegranates and olives – geography, elements of mathematics

growing on the trees. While the subject matter is difficultt for any age – much less children – GFAt head of school Dan Ceaser emphasizedR that it is important it be addressed.m “There are multiple touchpoints for thec children as we go through the processS of planting the trees, learning aboutT the Holocaust, searching the Data-t base of Lost Children and selectingT children, holding the dedication and,b somewhere down the road, harvestingk fruit from the trees,” said Ceaser. “Theo more touchpoints we create between classroom subject matter and real life,l the more meaningful it will be for ourn students. The more we can emphasized the importance of this particular pointb in history and talk about it, the better.” S Temple Beth Sholom received“ generous grants from the Blumenthala Family Fund and the Papa Ed andt Mimi Rosenthal Remember Me Funds at GFA, as well as support from the Marie Cohen Hadida Remember Meb Fund at The Jewish Federation ofo Sarasota-Manatee to build the Re-a member Me Orchard. The Rosenthals’m Go Green Fund sponsors a profession-g al horticulturist to tend to the orchard. g Community members are encour-t aged to plant trees in order to remembers a relative or lost child of the Holocaust.p There is a voluntary $36 fee to reserveY the name of a lost child. This activitym is recommended for children becom-w ing Bar or Bat Mitzvah as well. Morec information about the Remember MeF Orchard can be found on the websitesp of GFA, Temple Beth Sholom and Thev Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Mana-m tee. To begin the process of planting a tree, contact GFA at 941.552.2770. H w

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the Borscht Belt; from humorous interactions in the Bible to the State of Israel. You are invited to study and laugh as you add to your own repertoire and knowledge of Jewish humor. This class will make you laugh! No kidding. To enroll, please contact me at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail. com. The fee is $60 and includes all materials. This course is open to everyone regardless of background or personal orientation. The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva is a 501(c)(3) nondenominational not-for-profit organization, which also operates through a grant from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

Rabbi Geoff Huntting honored by the community

hey laughed, they criedâ&#x20AC;Śand they expressed deep appreciation. In honor of Rabbi Geoff Hunttingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s twenty-three years at Temple Sinai and on the occasion of his retirement, Temple Sinai hosted a Sunday afternoon program that featured speakers, video and music that all celebrated what Rabbi Huntting has meant to the temple and the Sarasota community. Officiated over by Mike Siegel, past temple president, the program began with reflections about Rabbi Hunttingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s influence and importance from congregants via video followed by Debra Weinsberg, Sam Blumenstein and April Guttman, each of whom developed a unique relationship with the rabbi over his/her years growing up at the temple. They were followed by three representatives of the community who spoke personally and professionally about Rabbi Huntting as a colleague. Howard Tevlowitz, Executive Director of The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee, shared how his relationship with Rabbi Huntting is an example of how one can have friends with whom you regularly have breakfast meetings even though you may not see eye-to-eye on current events. Reverend Charles Tigard, on behalf of the

Church of the Trinity MCC, and Reverend Nancy Wilson, expressed deep appreciation for Rabbi Hunttingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support and advocacy of LGBT causes in Sarasota, specifically with GAIN and ALSO. Dr. Steve McConnell, Senior Pastor at Church of the Palms, spoke of how interfaith friendships over time break down walls that otherwise might keep communities factionalized. The Huntting children, Gabe and Becca, along with Sue, Rabbi Hunttingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife, told stories and shared memories about growing up at Temple Sinai as â&#x20AC;&#x153;RKsâ&#x20AC;? (rabbiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kids) and having the rabbi as their dad. The congregation loved hearing from them now that they are each grown up and pursuing careers in Chicago and New York, respectively. Rabbi Joel Mishkin, a dear colleague and friend of the Hunttings for eighteen years, spoke about what it means to be a real friend, and how loyalty and honesty are valued traits Rabbi Huntting has displayed over the years. Lastly, Chazzan Cliff Abramson, Rabbi Hunttingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;bimah buddy,â&#x20AC;? talked via video about his conversations with the rabbi when he was first hired and their partnership over the past ten years. As a gift, the Chazzan sang a French aria followed by two ensemble numbers, one of which was an original composition. At the end, a deeply touched Rabbi Huntting reflected on how the temple

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had changed over the last twenty-three years. Modestly not wanting to take credit for all it had become, he charged those entrusted with its future to keep the temple growing and vibrant. That, he said, would be the greatest indicator of his success. Temple Sinai has renamed its en-

dowment fund the Rabbi Geoff Huntting Endowment Fund as a sign of the foundation Rabbi Huntting helped build at the temple that has positioned it well for the future. At the end of June, the temple hosted a Send-Off Shabbat that included conferring upon Rabbi Huntting the title Rabbi Emeritus.

Becca, Sue, Rabbi Geoff & Gabe Huntting with Chazzan Cliff Abramson

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NOTE: To be publicly acknowledged in The Jewish News, Honor Cards require a minimum $10 contribution per listing. You can send Honor Cards directly from www.jfedsrq.org. For more information, please call 941.552.6304.

July 2016

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Temple Emanu-El welcomes Assistant Rabbi Michael Shefrin

emple Emanu-El is proud, excited and happy to welcome its h new Assistant Rabbi Michael d sShefrin to the Sarasota-Manatee community. After years of dynamic growth, .Temple Emanu-El realized it was time lto invite a younger rabbi to join Rabbi -Brenner Glickman in leading the conrgregation – and feels blessed to have afound Rabbi Shefrin. The Search Com-mittee was captivated not only by -Rabbi Shefrin’s talents and knowledge, abut also by his enthusiastic, warm and sincere personality. From preschoolers to religious school families to boomers to retirees, everyone agreed that Rabbi Shefrin was a perfect fit for this vibrant, welcoming spiritual community. “The smile I have on my face right fnow is a big one in anticipation of joinding the Temple Emanu-El family,” dRabbi Shefrin stated. “I was moved , t i

by the genuine warmth and welcome of the members, the commitment to a thriving community, and the passionate leadership of [temple leaders]

Rabbi Michael Shefrin and wife Shayna celebrated their wedding in April

Gloria Weed, Toby Halpern and Rabbi Brenner Glickman.” Born and raised in Los Angeles, Rabbi Shefrin spent years working in the music industry, but “after some profoundly impactful spiritual changes in life, I decided to pursue a new career in serving the Jewish community as a Reform rabbi.” Rabbi Shefrin was ordained in May at Hebrew Union College’s Los Angeles campus. Rabbi Shefrin is also a newlywed – he and his wife, Shayna, just got married in April! “Working on spiritual development, discussing Jewish topics, inspiring the next generation of Jews, and laughing are some of the things I am most passionate about,” Rabbi Shefrin said. “I consider it a privilege to get to know you!” For more information about meeting Rabbi Shefrin and Temple EmanuEl, please call 941.371.2788.

Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson announces new hires and staff promotions

obernick-Anchin-Benderson, Sarasota’s only rental senior lifestyle community offering the continuum of care, announces recent new hires and staff promotions to the organization’s management and sales team. The addition of new and promoted staff at Kobernick-AnchinBenderson has been made to meet the growing numbers of seniors and their families, and their preferences for living on a campus where residents enjoy a renewed and refreshing lifestyle where needs are met, friends are made and worries are taken away. “We are thrilled to welcome our new staff aboard during this exciting period of growth for KobernickAnchin-Benderson,” said CEO Heidi Brown. “We have strategically chosen professionals experienced in customercentric organizations. They will contribute to our competitive advantage as the only rental senior community

offering the full continuum of care.” Esther Bodfield has been named concierge services manager, a newly created role, while Tammy Geraldson was named as the facility’s program

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July 2016

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Temple Beth Israel lends a hand to our disabled war veterans

l and Bib Grossman of Temple Beth Israel on Longboat Key made a presentation to the Bay Pines VA Hospital on April 29. The outstanding generosity of Temple Beth Israel members enabled them to fulfill the wish list of our VA hospitals, including three mountain bikes, 13 portable DVD players, 56 xBox360 dedicated headphones, four Dell laptop computers, a Microsoft Office Professional 2016 site license, 20 universal headphones, 20 universal ear buds, and

30 dozen reading glasses. These were all emotionally and gratefully received by the staff and patients. This partnership between TBI and the disabled war veterans has been an outstanding success. Nathan Witt, Chief of Voluntary Service at Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, expressed deep appreciation. “We’re so thrilled with all the donations, and we sincerely appreciate all your support. We look forward to the delivery of the reading glasses.”

Temple Beth Israel continues to help our disabled Army veterans with a yearlong fundraising effort geared to fulfilling an ever-growing wish list. The dedicated volunteers devote their time and efforts to demonstrate their gratitude to all our veterans for their service to our country.

Presentation at Bay Pines by Al and Bib Grossman of Temple Beth Israel

Temple Beth Sholom buries items in its cemetery

n early 2014, students at Paver Religious School at Temple Beth Sholom took part in a field trip to the Temple Beth Sholom Cemetery off Beneva Road to bury old siddurim, tallitot, and pages that had God’s name on them. At the cemetery, these items were buried with the same dignity and respect that a human being receives upon burial. After the field trip, the students discussed and asked for a genizah, a formal repository for holy Jewish items awaiting a proper burial. Two temple members, Norman Walter and Dr. Mark Ballow, built a beautiful ark so that future generations will know to treat these items with derech eretz

and love. On May 1, 2016, Paver Religious School took another field trip to bury religious books and other ritual items that had been collected in the temple’s genizah. Students and volunteers congregated at the Temple Beth Sholom Cemetery on Circus Blvd. Rabbi Michael Werbow led a ceremony for the burial of unused or damaged religious items. Old and young alike took turns emptying boxes into a hole dug specifically for this purpose.

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Everyone is welcome to deposit items into Temple Beth Sholom’s genizah. For more information, contact the temple office at 941.955.8121 or info@templebethsholomfl.org.

Above: Ashton Graber and Spencer Cohen carry books in the cemetery At left: Len Berman and Joel Servetz dump items into the dug hole in the Temple Beth Sholom Cemetery (photos by RGB Media Services, LLC)

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July 2016

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Providing a lifeline to families By Andria Bilan, VP of Development, JFCS of the Suncoast

A “

s a young newly married couple, my husband and I struggled financially. But we were fortunate to have the support of our families to help us through the tough times,” explained Toby Deutsch. “Thanks to their support, we were able to build a good life. Now I hope to pay it forward by helping others achieve their goals.” An active member of Congregation Kol HaNeshama, Toby is serving her second term as co-president. Toby also volunteers at JFCS – providing a Jewish connection to nursing home residents by leading monthly Shabbat and High Holy Day Services as well as Festival celebrations. Last year, in response to learning how reliable transportation can change the lives of families and veterans, Toby established the Deutsch Family Transportation Fund at JFCS. “I heard about a family who was going to be evicted because the father lost his job. He was delivering magazines and his car broke down. JFCS provided funds to get the car repaired and he was able to get his

job back. A simple solution to help the family be self-sufficient.” Here are just a few stories of the 21 families who received assistance

Toby Deutsch

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ments, get to doctor appointments and take their granddaughter to daycare. Car repairs for a 30-year-old single mother of two children allowed her to get to and from work to support her family. New tires for his car allowed a disabled male veteran to safely transport his brother, who has cerebral palsy, to doctor appointments and access community resources. Through her donor advised fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Toby is renewing her commitment to help clients of JFCS. “Reliable transportation is key for families to achieve self-sufficiency by helping people get to work, transport their children to daycare, and seek medical treatment. This is exactly what I wanted to do…provide a lifeline!” To discuss ways you can support JFCS and empower individuals and families toward self-sufficiency, please contact me at 941.366.2224 or ABilan@JFCS-Cares.org.

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t sounds like I’m doing a lot, but it’s no big deal. I connect with people while having fun.” Aleksandra, a Russian émigré, can’t do enough to repay JFCS, who brought her and her family to this country in 1995. [Editor’s note: Funding for the Russian resettlement program was provided by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.] “They took us under their wing, provided us with a head start, and put us on the road to independence. Years later, they’re still helping us. During the recession, they helped us financially. They even have given medical help for my son, who has special needs.” Aleksandra’s dedication resounds Fridays, when she and other volunteers support JFCS staff and caregivers of Alzheimer’s clients in the Senior Outreach Services (SOS) program, which strives to preserve the dignity and respect of the aged. “Whether working in the kitchen, setting up, or just being a friend – whatever I can do, count on me.” At JFCS Holocaust Survivors Holi-

day Luncheons, Aleksandra capitalizes on her Russian background. According to Jan Alston, Program Director of

Aleksandra Berman with SOS client

Holocaust Survivor Support Services, “Clients feel more welcomed because she shares her language, customs and traditions.” A JFCS school-based program that benefits from Aleksandra’s commitment is Emma’s Dream Team, where she mentors a first- and fifth-grader at

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Emma E. Booker Elementary School. “I’m passionate about advocating for these underprivileged children. Someday, I want to be a child psychologist.” She also volunteers in her son’s prekindergarten classroom. Another JFCS program that both she and her daughter participate in is the Operation Military Assistance Program, which offers needed supportive services and assistance in securing affordable housing for homeless veterans and their families. “During the Stand Down event, I gain such satisfaction from preparing bags of personal hygiene essentials for our veterans.” Thirsty for knowledge, Aleksandra enjoys learning Yiddish, tracing her genealogy, and discussing world affairs with her 16-year-old daughter. “JFCS’s presence in this community is monumental. I want to foster JFCS values and make a difference. The Program Director of Holocaust Survivor Support Services position is funded by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

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July 2016

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

Jewish Happenings FRIDAY, JULY 1

MONDAY, JULY 4

Prayer class

July 4th Family Barbecue

Join Rabbi Mendy Bukiet from 11:00 a.m. to noon on Fridays, July 1 and 15 to learn about all aspects of prayer. The class takes place at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Admission is free. For more information, please call Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030.

Looking for something to do on July 4th? Join Camp Gan Israel SRQ at noon for a family barbecue which will include delicious food, a short presentation by campers sharing their camp spirit, as well as a chance to win a July 4th-themed cake that will be decorated at the event by cake decorator Amber Phillips. The event takes place at Chabad of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road, Sarasota. Cost: $5 per person; the sponsorship of Arthur & Sheila Fox makes this event free for campers and their families. Advance reservations are necessary. To RSVP or for more information, call 941.925.0770.

SATURDAY, JULY 2 Shabbat Shaboom at TBS On Saturdays July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Temple Beth Sholom (Multi-Purpose Room, 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota), children are invited to have playtime, snack and an age-appropriate service. Shabbat Shaboom is geared toward preschool and early elementary children, however, any age children are welcome. This service is free and open to the public. For more information, please call the temple office at 941.955.8121.

SUNDAY, JULY 3 Patriotic public concert Prepare for the celebration of Independence Day with a free public piano concert featuring incomparable local piano entertainer Sam Lane, who will dazzle you with his virtuoso performance of popular patriotic tunes. See the Al Katz Center’s new addition of a custom-made 1940 Wurlitzer Baby Grand piano which survived the Holocaust, and visit the west coast’s only Jewish art gallery, currently exhibiting the artworks of a dozen local Jewish artists. The event begins at 3:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Donations greatly appreciated; kosher refreshments served. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva PRESENTS AUGUST COURSES THE HISTORY OF JEWISH HUMOR MONDAYS 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM Starting August 1 (Eight Weeks) Why are so many comedians Jewish? What is the background and origins of Yiddish wit and comedy? Was it a coincidence that the movie industry was founded by Jewish immigrants and that much of “Broadway” was inhabited by performers, directors and producers who identified as Jews? Likewise, the music industry interfaced and experienced much of the same phenomena. This course will explore all of these issues plus study the depth and breadth of this unique ethnic humor: from the Russian shtetl to American television; from the Wise Men of Chelm to the heyday of the Borscht Belt; from humorous interactions in the Bible to the State of Israel. You are invited to study and laugh as you add to your own repertoire and knowledge of Jewish humor. Instructor: Marden Paru; fee $60.

BASIC JUDAISM TUESDAYS 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM Starting August 2 (Eight Weeks) Many of our students have requested a course on Basic Judaism so they can better understand the background and heritage of our great Jewish tradition. This new course will present insight into the Jewish transition from biblical to rabbinic Judaism, a review of religious texts, the Hebrew calendar, customs and ceremonies, ethnic differences, ritual choreography, the holidays, and contemporary Jewish practice. Bring your questions to this class where they will be answered through group discussion and class materials which will be distributed. Please bring a three-ring notebook. This course may be particularly useful to prospective converts, B’nai Anusim (Crypto-Jews), non-Jews, and anyone lacking a broad Jewish education. Instructor: Marden Paru; Fee $60.

ISRAEL IN AMERICAN POLITICS AND ON OUR MINDS FRIDAYS 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM August 5 (Eight weeks) In this highly-charged era of rampant anti-Israelism, a form of veiled antiSemitism, a new discomfort is being felt by those who regularly watch cable television, read the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, and/or view the myriad of online Anglo-Jewish press media outlets. Israel has become a pariah state—at least in the world press—and we are now seeing it play out in American politics. This course is devoted to becoming more familiar with the issue, the changing attitudes of a younger Jewish generation, the seemingly waning positive views toward the State of Israel in our branches of government and within political parties. Attention will also be given to the positive steps taken to contravene the negatives. All materials are included. Instructor: Marden Paru; fee $60.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 Deep Roots: The Origins and History of the Jewish Experience With a focus on the global Jewish experience, participants will explore the economic, social and religious development of Judaism, culminating with the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel. A Short History of the Jewish People: From Legendary Times to Modern Day Statehood by Raymond P. Scheindlin will be available for purchase during this free course. Classes meet from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, July 6, 13, 20 and 27 at Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson, 1951 N. Honore Ave., Sarasota. For more information, contact Tammy Geraldson at 941.487.5547 or tgeraldson@kobernickanchin.org.

“Eugenics and the Holocaust” The Nazis were greatly impressed by the American eugenics movement, which began in Indiana with the passage of the first eugenics law in 1907. In Mein Kampf, Hitler stated, “I have studied with great interest the laws of several American states concerning prevention of reproduction by people whose progeny would, in all probability, be of no value or be injurious to the racial stock.” Discover the deep roots of this dark movement that fed the Holocaust. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments with vegan options and discussion materials included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

THURSDAY, JULY 7 Chug Ivri (Hebrew Circle) The Chug Ivri is a study group of individuals who wish to improve their knowledge of Hebrew, both spoken and reading. It is conducted at an advanced intermediate level and consists of reading Hebrew literature and an Israeli newspaper (for experienced students of Hebrew) and Hebrew conversation. The members’ knowledge and the use of dictionaries provide the expertise. Our goal is to use Hebrew as much as possible in the classes, which take place on Thursdays, July 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. There is no cost. New participants are always welcome. Anyone who has the necessary Hebrew competence and wishes to expand his/her Hebrew knowledge is welcome to join. For more information, call Claire Fox at 941.921.3765.

“Moses: Our Greatest Teacher and Prophet” Marden Paru’s lunchtime eight-week course, “Moses: Our Greatest Teacher and Prophet,” will continue on Thursdays, July 7, 14 and 21, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Join one or more sessions for an in-depth look at Moses as he goes from being a desert cowboy to persuader-in-chief and magician with the simple goal of redeeming his enslaved people. Materials provided except one 3-ring binder; bring a dairy or pareve lunch. Everyone is welcome! The course takes place at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. There is no fee for members; tuition for nonmembers is $5 per class. Advance registration is required. To register, call the temple office at 941.955.8121. For more information, contact Marden Paru at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail.com.

Bridge...

Anyone?

Inquire about multi-course discounts. Scholarships are also available. Classes are held on the Campus of The Jewish Federation, 580 McIntosh Rd. in Sarasota. To register or seek more information, please contact Marden Paru, Dean and Rosh Yeshiva at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail.com. Please make checks payable to the Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva and mail to Marden Paru, 5445 Pamela Wood Way #160, Sarasota, FL 34233. NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs. The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva is a 501(c)3 non-profit agency. It is funded, in part, by a grant from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

For more information

The Bridge Group meets Thursday afternoons from 1:00–4:00 pm on the Federation Campus (582 McIntosh Road). Open to intermediate and advanced bridge players. call Bob Satnick at 941.538.3739

July 2016

JEWISH HAPPENINGS FRIDAY, JULY 8

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Rhythm & Jews Family Erev Shabbat Service Join Rabbi Michael Churgel, Chazzan Abramson, friends and neighbors at 6:00 p.m. as Rabbi Churgel leads his first service – a Rhythm & Jews Erev Shabbat Service – at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. Hear the Bruno Family Musicians as they join the rabbi and chazzan for an uplifting service with a variety of traditional, Israeli, Sephardic and Chasidic melodies. A welcome reception begins at 5:15 p.m., and a catered celebratory dinner with Rabbi Michael Churgel follows services. Cost: $18 for Temple Sinai adult members, $20 for adult guests, $40 for families. For more information, call the temple office at 941.924.1802.

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The German Doctor screening The Congregation for Humanistic Judaism (which meets at Unity, 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota) will screen the film The German Doctor (93 minutes, subtitles for the hearing impaired, Patagonia, Argentina, 1960) at 4:00 p.m. A German doctor meets Eva, Enzo and their three children who welcome the doctor into their home and entrust their young daughter, Lilith, to his care, not knowing that they are harboring one of the most dangerous criminals in the world. Bring your own favorite brown-bag meal. Free to CHJ members; $5 for nonmembers. For more information or to RSVP, call 941.929.7771 or email chjsarasota@hotmail.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 10 Crash course: “How to Defend Israel” “We were not fully prepared with the knowledge necessary…in defeating anti-Semitism, and we are not educated in a way to defeat the ignorance… We need intense study of Israel’s history and culture.” These recent words by a USF student highlight the need for all Jews to become conversant with the facts and arguments needed to advocate for Israel in today’s increasingly anti-Semitic environment. Learn what you need to know to become a defender of Israel! The event begins at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $10 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments with vegan options and discussion materials included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

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Temple Emanu-El’s Israeli wine-tasting If you missed Temple Emnau-El’s free wine-tasting event last summer, you won’t want to miss this one! Please join us for a lovely evening of good conversation and good cheer and hear Rabbi Brenner Glickman share his insights on the vintages and regions of the Israeli wine we will sample from Total Wine and More. The chefs from Fresh Start Café will offer savory and sweet treats for sale as well. This event is sponsored by Temple Emanu-El’s Outreach Committee and will begin at 6:00 p.m. at Fresh Start Café, 630 South Orange Ave., in Burns Court, Sarasota. Free admission and wine tasting; freshly-prepared Mediterranean light bites will be available for purchase. Reservations are limited and required by Sunday, July 3. For reservations or more information, email TEEwinetasting@gmail.com.

A M I L E ST O N E WO R T H C E L E B R AT I N G

TUESDAY, JULY 12 Fifty Shades of “J” Happy Hour This is an opportunity for singles and couples to meet new and old friends. Join us at 6:00 p.m. at Brasa & Pisco Peruvian Restaurant, 8347 Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. There will be a cash bar and light snacks. To RSVP or for more information, contact Jeremy Lisitza at jlisitza@jfedsrq. org or 941.343.2113. You may also register at www.jfedsrq.org/events. Sponsored by

Mitzvah Knitting Group at Temple Emanu-El Are you a knitter or crocheter interested in using your talent to brighten the lives of others while making new friends? If so, please come to the Mitzvah Knitting Group sponsored by Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood. We gather monthly to craft and socialize, and our beautiful handiwork has been donated to local new parents as well as needy families in SarasotaManatee and in Israel. Bring your needles or crochet hook and a favorite pattern – we’ll supply the yarn and great company! This free event begins at 10:00 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. For more information, email Susan Bernstein at susanhope22@comcast.net.

L O N G B OAT K E Y C LU B ST Y L E Let our exceptional catering team at Longboat Key Club customize your special milestone, bat/bar mitzvah or wedding, and create precious memories that will last a lifetime! .

Pirkei Avot Ethics of the Fathers, Pirkei Avot, records the wisdom of Jewish sages in six chapters which are read each Sabbath from Passover until Rosh Hashanah. “Treat the poor as members of your household,” states a leader of Jerusalem, while another leader continues, “Judge everyone favorably.” We shall share these words for wise living within our Jewish community. Join us for inspirational discussions, and contribute your own thoughts and experiences to our communal study group. The discussion is in honor of Al Katz’s, z”l, birthday. The event begins at 4:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments with vegan options and discussion materials included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239. 941.387.1609 • LongboatKeyClub.com

July 2016

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20

Temple Emanu-El “Lunch with the RABBIS”

“Coffee with the Rabbis” at Temple Emanu-El

Are you looking for a great lunch date? Temple Emanu-El welcomes you to our signature monthly program of lunch, socializing, and discussion of current events and subjects of Jewish interest with new and old friends. This month is our first “Lunch with the RABBIS” as Rabbi Brenner Glickman is joined by new Assistant Rabbi Michael Shefrin in facilitating the program. All are invited at noon at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Please bring a brown-bag lunch – homemade desserts and terrific company are provided. For more information, call the temple office at 941.371.2788.

A little coffee, a little conversation, a few sweets – what better way to spend a summer morning than enjoying Temple Emanu-El’s “Coffee with the Rabbis”? The community is warmly invited to drop in from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road. Meet Senior Rabbi Brenner Glickman and new Assistant Rabbi Michael Shefrin, spend time with new and old friends, and enjoy greetings and conversation along with a yummy nosh. You will be sincerely and warmly welcomed. For more information, call the temple office at 941.371.2788.

THURSDAY, JULY 21

MONDAY, JULY 18

JFCS Holocaust Survivors’ Havurah

Marijuana facts fair

All survivors are invited to attend these monthly gatherings of friendship, camaraderie and support. Enjoy a light nosh and a lively discussion. The group meets from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at Kobernick House, 1955 N. Honore Ave., Sarasota. Conversation topic: “I read this book…” This is a multi-agency event sponsored by JFCS of the Suncoast, Inc., Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. To RSVP or for more information, contact Jan Alston at 941.366.2224 x172 or jalston@JFCS-Cares.org. Sponsored by

For many reasons, the legalization of marijuana is a critical Jewish issue, as fundamental Jewish belief holds that our bodies are on loan from the Creator and should be returned to Him in the best possible condition. Additionally, Jews are to use environmental resources scrupulously for the benefit of humans, plants and animals; while each marijuana plant consumes six gallons of water per day, leading to droughts. Learn marijuana facts from law officers and other experts. The event takes place from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Donations greatly appreciated; healthy kosher refreshments with vegan options and discussion materials included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

TUESDAY, JULY 19

MONDAY, JULY 25 “Hundreds of Laws: Legalizing the Holocaust”

AJC’s 2016 Summer Lunch & Learn Series Aaron Jacob, AJC Associate Director of International Affairs, will discuss “U.S. - Israel Relations: Background and Dynamics.” The U.S. was the first country to recognize the State of Israel, and for many years the U.S. has been the Jewish state’s best friend in the international arena. But the two countries also have had their share of disagreements. Join Mr. Jacob as he provides a historical background and insights into the current state of the U.S. - Israel relations. The event, sponsored by Williams Parker, takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Michael’s On East, 1212 S. East Avenue, Sarasota. Cost: $28 (includes lecture and luncheon). Advance registration is required. Contact Brian Lipton at AJC at 941.365.4955 or sarasota@ajc.org.

Sarasota Jewish Singles The Sarasota Jewish Singles is an outreach program of Temple Beth Israel to give all Jewish singles in the area the opportunity to meet other men and women who are alone. The group meets once a month for dinner, laughter and a time to turn acquaintances into lifelong friends. Join us at 6:00 p.m. at Columbia Restaurant, 411 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota. For more information or to make a reservation, call or text Rosalyn Fleischer at 941.915.6631 or rozfleischer@gmail.com.

Unlike other genocides, the Holocaust, history’s most comprehensive genocide, was established upon a foundation of law. From the beginning of Nazi Germany in January 1933, hundreds of laws were duly enacted to progressively isolate and remove Jews from German government, society, professions and commerce. This course investigates the legal incrementalism which began with social isolation and grew to eventual Nazi destruction of European Jewry. The Holocaust’s legal legacy is a lesson for all citizens today. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments with vegan options and discussion materials included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

THURSDAY, JULY 28 “The Big Dig: Biblical Archeology and Anthropology” Marden Paru will lead a “Lunch and Learn” eight-week course, “The Big Dig: Biblical Archeology and Anthropology,” about discoveries that prove a continous presence in Eretz Yisrael to the present. Materials provided except one 3-ring binder; bring a dairy or pareve lunch. Everyone is welcome on Thursdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. There is no fee for members; tuition for non-members is $40. Advance registration is required. To register, call the temple office at 941.955.8121. For more information, contact Marden Paru at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail.com.

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July 2016

JEWISH INTEREST

Mikhail Gebelev, hero of Minsk By Paul R. Bartrop, PhD

n July 20, 1941, 75 years ago this month, the Nazis established a ghetto in Minsk, the capital and largest city in what was then called the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic – today’s Republic of Belarus. The ghetto was to be managed by a Nazi-appointed Jewish Council (Judenrat). It was one of Dr. Paul Bartrop the largest in Eastern Europe and was certainly the largest in the territory of the Soviet Union at that time occupied by the Germans. It ultimately accommodated nearly 100,000 Jews, most of whom would perish in the Holocaust. One of those caught in the Nazi net was Mikhail Gebelev, who became an anti-Nazi resistance leader in the Minsk ghetto. Born on October 15, 1905 in the Jewish shtetl (village) of Uzliany, he later moved to Minsk and worked there as a clerk and public servant. After Germany invaded the Soviet Union and occupied Minsk on June 28, 1941, Gebelev went into hiding. He had good reason. Within days of the occupation, two thousand Jewish leaders and intellectuals were massacred by Einsatzgruppen squads; additional murders of Jews henceforth became a daily occurrence. Within the first few months of the German occupation, at least 20,000 Jews were slaughtered. At this time, the total population of the ghetto was about 80,000, of which some 50,000 were pre-war inhabitants; those remaining were refugees forcibly resettled by the Germans from smaller villages nearby. In August 1941, activists led by Isay Pavlovich Kazinetz, a Jewish engineer, established an underground group in which they forged documents, set up a radio receiver, and aided Soviet resistance in the area. This was one of the earliest expressions of Jewish resistance after the invasion of the Soviet Union. Having escaped the clutches of the Nazis, Gebelev made contact with Kazinetz, who appointed him as liaison officer between the communist resisters on the “Aryan” side of the ghetto and the ghetto fighters inside, whose leader was a Polish Yiddish writer from Białystok, Hersh Smolar. Together with another resistance leader, Matvey Pruslin, Gebelev quickly emerged as the unstated head of the ghetto underground due to his charisma and ingenuity, and he played a key role in Kazinetz’s plans to stage large-

scale simultaneous uprisings throughout Minsk to drive the Germans out and hold the city until the Red Army arrived. These uprisings would be conducted by communists, ghetto fighters, and Soviet prisoners of war incarcerated in the city. The proposed rebellion did not take place, however, owing to its plans being leaked to the Nazis. Kazinetz was among those ultimately hunted down. Before he was taken, he shot two Germans. Wounded and captured, under torture he then held out and refused to reveal any names or information, even after one of his eyes had been put out. On May 7, 1942, Isay Kazinetz and 28 other underground fighters were publicly hanged in the center of Minsk. It is recorded that his last words were “Death to the Nazis!” Despite this huge setback, the resistance movement in the ghetto remained largely intact owing to Gebelev’s leadership and the support of the head of the Judenrat, Moshe Yoffe. In the period that followed, Gebelev organized mass escapes from the ghetto to the forests outside Minsk, where they formed (or joined) partisan units. The underground’s main objective was to save as many Jewish lives as possible, realizing that all were condemned to death in any case. At night, under extremely dangerous conditions, couriers led small groups of prisoners out of the ghetto. There were as many as three hundred active members of Gebelev’s underground organization, and through their efforts perhaps up to 10,000 Jews achieved their objective of escaping the Minsk ghetto, with many joining the partisans. It was said of Gebelev that on the numerous occasions he was encouraged to flee his reply was always that “I am here in the line of duty!” In August 1942, however, he was arrested by local collaborators as he was preparing the escape of a group of Soviet prisoners of war. He was handed over to the Gestapo, and, like Kazinetz before him, brutally tortured while at the same time refusing to provide any names or information. On August 15, 1942, he was hanged in the Nazi prison in Minsk. The ghetto itself was liquidated on October 21, 1943. Those Jews still remaining in the city at this time, including Moshe Yoffe and Mikhail Gebelev’s 80-year-old father Liev, were murdered, with most being deported to the extermination camp at Sobibór. Several thousand were massacred at a camp that had been established on the outskirts of Minsk, Maly Trostenets.

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By the time the Red Army retook the city on July 3, 1944, there were only a handful of Jewish survivors left. Hersh Smolar did manage to escape just prior to the final liquidation of the ghetto, and in 1946 produced a memoir of Minsk, Fun Minsker geto (published in English in New York as The Minsk Ghetto: Soviet-Jewish Partisans against the Nazis, 1989). In this, he described Gebelev’s role in the resistance movement in some depth, highlighting both his initiatives and his heroism in the face of immense obstacles and constant danger.

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There is much to recall in this story of Mikhail Gebelev’s heroic acts in and around Minsk during the Holocaust. Perhaps the most important of these is that he was more concerned with the saving of Jewish lives than with the taking of German ones. The tens of thousands of descendants of those he saved can testify to the truth of the maxim: Am Yisrael Chai! Dr. Paul Bartrop is Professor of History and the Director of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. He can be reached at pbartrop@fgcu.edu.

TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM

Sarasota-Manatee’s Conservative Synagogue

in july

All Are Welcome! Come Join Us!

ONGOING PROGRAMS Morning Minyan

Sunday-Friday, 8:00am – 9:00am

Men’s Club Minyan Breakfast Wednesdays 9:00am

Chug Ivri (Advanced Hebrew) Thursdays 10:30am – 12:00pm

TEMPLE TALK

Chat with our co-presidents about the exciting changes happening at TBS!

SUNDAY, JULY 17

COFFEE HOUR 9:30–11:00am (3rd Sunday each month)

UPCOMING EVENTS Lunch & Learn

Introduction to Reading Hebrew A Cup of Joe and the Five Books of Mo Shmooze & Brews with Rabbi Werbow Will return in the Fall. Details coming soon!

SHABBAT SERVICES

Thursday, July 7, 14, 21 12:00-1:30pm Marden Paru is the instructor. Moses: Our Greatest Teacher & Prophet. No charge for TBS members; non-member $5 per class. Come to one or all! Feel free to bring a dairy or parve lunch, beverage and a 3 ring binder.

Lunch & Learn

Fridays, 6:30pm Saturdays, 9:00am Shabbat Shaboom

Saturdays, 10:30am – 12:00pm

Shabbat Shmooze Saturday, 12:45pm

EDUCATION Paver Religious School Classes will resume September 11th – Register at https://tbsfl.wufoo. com/forms/martin-mildredpaver-religious-school/

OFFICE HOURS Monday – Closed

Thursday, July 28 (the 1st of eight weeks) 12:00-1:30pm Marden Paru is the instructor. The Big Dig: Biblical Archeology & Anthropology. No charge for TBS members; $40 non-member fee (or $5 per class) Come to one or all! Feel free to bring a dairy or parve lunch, beverage and a 3 ring binder.

IDELSON LIBRARY We will be closed during renovations July through mid-August.

JUDAICA SHOP

Tuesday – Friday 9am – 3:30pm

We will be closed during renovations July through mid-August. We will have Tallitot and Mezuzot available.

Our new membership year has begun. If you are interested in joining TBS, please contact our office.

TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM

VOLUNTEERS WANTED! No experience needed

941-955-8121 www.templebethsholomfl.org 1050 South Tuttle Avenue • Sarasota, Florida 34237

email: info@templebethsholomfl.org

July 2016

JEWISH INTEREST

Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle “It’s Showtime!” By Yoni Glatt

Diﬃculty Level: Medium

K’zohar Ha-Ivrit The story of the shekel By Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin

Across 1. Show about an Israeli import of the 1930s? 5. Locale of a last stand 11. “...and the bush ___ not consumed” (Ex. 3:2) 14. Slurpee alternative with many flavors certified by the OU 15. Gives a public d’var Torah 16. Marx follower? 17. Show about David when he worked for Saul? 19. Magen David Adom letters 20. Natalie Portman’s role in “Goya’s Ghosts” 21. Dolph Schays in 1948 23. Rare striped kosher animals 26. Hillel and Yirmiyahu (Abbr.) 28. Noun suffixes (or an anagram of 20-Across) 29. Judean sound? 30. Sacrificial sound? 31. What many Nazis traded the Alps in for 32. Show that teaches 5-Down when to hit and when to speak? 36. Title group in Elle King’s 2015 hit 37. Anderson who often casts Jason Schwartzman 38. Work by Samuel Bak 39. “Prelude ___ Kiss” (Craig Lucas play) 42. Yeshiva University based show? 45. C Lanzbom sometimes uses them 48. Capp and Capone 49. What one often does after a blessing 50. Newly nuclear country 51. Israeli director Nesher 52. He famously played 5-Down 54. Pet Einstein lovingly (in “Back to the Future”) 56. Dwelling for Abraham 57. Org. for Dershowitz 58. Joseph’s show about his relationship with Pharaoh? Rescue Adoption Education Resource Center

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64. Impersonated (Woody Allen) 65. Roth’s work, compared to Spielberg’s 66. Rabbi Akiva, for much of his life 67. Koufax was one, once 68. Spewing false information about Israel, on many college campuses 69. Show about how many times G-d said he’d flood the Earth? Down 1. Ramah or Moshava supervisor-tobe, briefly 2. Israeli brother 3. It comes at the end of Shavuot? 4. Like many athletes in Israel 5. See 52-Across 6. Ben Canaan and Gold 7. Casspi’s team, on the scoreboard 8. Shekels dispenser 9. Bubbelehs 10. Comes ___ surprise (Like Billy Joel selling out the Garden) 11. Show about Haman? 12. Strive to play like Perlman 13. Tests given in a Scientology scam 18. Verse opening for G-d? 22. Tref sound 23. There are 6.5 million Jews in Israel, ___ (approximately) 24. Three-time New York mayor 25. Sounds while having a good shvitz 26. ___ HaDerech 27. Rolled items 30. Community or band 31. When Tevye sings “Tradition” 33. Has the rights to (like Israel of the Golan) 34. Give a heter 35. Theodore Bikel’s rock metal? 39. “... and it is a rare thing ___ the king requireth” (Dan. 2:11) 40. Director Preminger 41. Part of the IFA 42. Skye of “Say Anything” 43. High Priest with disappointing sons 44. Police in “Casablanca” 45. One might ruin your Shabbat nap...every 17 years 46. Language on many Israeli signs 47. Show about an annual Israeli occurrence on 5th Avenue? 51. Son of Zilpah 52. 1991 Harrison Ford title role 53. Lang. on many Israeli signs 55. Mark from a Jerusalem Post editor 56. Made like Samson with fox tails 59. Before, to Bialik 60. All Jews, in a sense 61. Minority in Israel, with “Jews” 62. Paul Newman in “Cars” 63. Esau feels it for Jacob

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Land was bought using shekel (Gen 23:16), vows where paid by shekel (Lev 27:3), cattle was purchased with shekel (I Chr 21:26), and the value of booty was measured by shekel (Josh 7:21). It is interesting to note that, in ancient Greece, there was a coin called siklos, a name derived from old Persian but originated with the Hebrew shekel. The shekel was continuously used during the Greek and Roman world and beyond. During the Maccabean era (188-136 B.C.E.), for example, coins with the impression Shekel Israel were minted by the Jewish authorities. Shekel was the name of the dues an individual paid to belong to the Zionist movement since 1897, which allowed one to elect and be elected as a representative to the Zionist Congress. And, since 1980, the shekel is the official currency of the State of Israel. To conclude our short investigation of the shekel, I wish to mention the phrase ta-vin u-te-ki-lin, literally “good and weighing,” which is based in Aramaic but used to this day in reference to “hard cash” and “good money,” indicating that a full price of good tender was paid for a transaction. It is a strong reminder of the days when correct payment was weighed in gold. And so, to all of our readers who will embark on a trip to Israel for which they paid ta-vin u-te-ki-lin, I wish you a safe trip, an enjoyable voyage and a good exchange for the shekel. Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor of biblical literature at Spertus College in Chicago and an adjunct professor of Hebrew and Bible at New College in Sarasota.

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Editor: YoniGlatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com

ummer is here and traveling to Israel is on the mind of many. Since money is a factor in a trip, the Israeli shekel comes to the fore. Let us briefly explore the origin and the long history of the word shekel, which is the name of the modern Israeli currency. It’s not surprising the name shekel as payment for a transaction is rooted in the Dr. Rachel Dulin economic world of the Bible. In the ancient world, two commodities were used as payment for goods and services. One was cattle and the other was precious metals like gold and silver. As for the first, the importance of cattle in commercial transactions in ancient Israel is evidenced from the fact that, in Hebrew, the word for cattle is mik-neh, which is derived from the verb kana meaning “buy.” That is to say, one paid for services, goods and even temple taxes, with cattle, namely with mik-neh. Another important form of payment was the use of pieces of gold or silver weighed on a merchant’s scale. A piece of such metal was called shekel. The word shekel, which appears almost 90 times in the Bible, is derived from the verb lish-kol, meaning “to weigh.” According to the Bible (Num 3:47; Lev 27:25; Izk 45:12), the shekel was worth 20 ga-rah in weight, estimated to be 7.2 grams in today’s measure. And, indeed, many transactions were mentioned in the Bible where the shekel was used.

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July 2016

JEWISH INTEREST

A stunning immigrant tale of identity, inheritance and transformation Book review by Philip K. Jason, Special to The Jewish News

n l h e l

Don’t Let My Baby Do Rodeo, by Boris Fishman. Harper. 336 pages. Hardcover $26.99.

his novel ties together an exploration of the immigrant experience, the roots of personal identity, and the possible shapes of d nfamilies. It is an episodic quest narrative that attempts to answer the question: “What d makes eight-yearn old Max Rubin so , strange?” This is the question that . has been growing larger and larger t in the mind of d Phil Jason Maya Shulman Rubin, the woman who with her huslband Alex adopted the infant Max. The quest is a journey to the Montana home -of Max’s birth parents, where Maya efeels the answer must lie. For Alex, Max doesn’t seem quite d so strange; his reluctant agreement to etake the journey grows out of his need -to soothe a range of stresses in the marrriage. That is, he wishes to satisfy his wife – somehow. Alex and Maya live in suburban New Jersey. The son of Russian immigrants, Alex met Maya when she hcame to the U. S. from the Ukraine as an exchange student. They are both children of Jewish parents whose sense of Jewish identity, while strong, does not include active involvement in Jeweish ritual or community life. Alex, who fhad struggled for a defining career, nhas ended up working for his father’s import business. Maya’s dreams of becoming a chef gave way to a job as a medical technician. Seemingly infertile (we learn late in the novel that their childlessness had to do with Alex, not Maya), she ironically meets breasts daily while taking mammography images. Maya’s insistent need to be a mother leads them, in their mid-thirties, to adopt. Their steps in taking this action seem flawed – or at least naïve. The Montana couple, not yet out of their teens, needs to meet the adopters, and they deliver the child to the Rubins rather than use professional intermedi-

aries. They give up all rights. It is the birth mother, Laurel, who utters the title phrase: “Don’t let my baby do rodeo.” She has seen how rodeo has torn up her husband. The point of attack is eight years later. Maya is approaching her 43rd birthday. The Rubins’ situation as a family is not what they hoped it would be. Moreover, there is some kind of wildness in Max. He enjoys sleeping in a tent behind the house, collecting and perhaps consuming grass samples, and communing with animals. He doesn’t fit in at school. He doesn’t make friends. One day, when he is supposed to board the school bus for his return home, he gets on a public bus and disappears. After he is discovered and brought home, and after professional help toward understanding Max’s behavior proves ineffective, the family begins the journey to Montana. The 2,000-mile journey is a new beginning (perhaps actually the first

than the immigrant cloaks they have been wearing. As middle age approaches, they are finally growing up. I came to love this book more and more as I stayed in it. The expository matter that prefaces the trip to Montana can drag a bit, though it is necessary. Fishman’s wit is not so fully on display here as in A Replacement Life, but you’ve got to like a guy who knows that the perfect car model name for this quest is the Ford Escape. Philip K. Jason is Professor Emeritus of English from the United States Naval Academy. He reviews regularly for Florida Weekly, Jewish Book World, Southern Literary Review, and other publications. Please visit Phil’s website at www.philjason.wordpress.com.

novel. Thus her eyes are opened more widely and she learns much more about herself. An affair assists her education, as does a comment made when she finally engages Max’s birth mother again. (This scene has a dreamlike quality and might be taken as a dream or reverie.) Laurel suggests that Max’s wildness is not some eruption of genetic traits but rather the restless vibes he has picked up from Maya – the true, if repressed, wild one. Though they come from different color palettes, Maya and Max have become profoundly related. Though the Rubins, returning to New Jersey, are not fully transformed, they seem far more capable of transformation. They seem capable of self-creation – of forging (such a double-edged word) identities more vital

A NEW NOVEL BY SARASOTA RESIDENT

Barry Wolfe

“Izzy White?” Experience Izzy’s search for self-discovery

as a Jewish boy growing up in racially desegregating Washington, D.C., his love of rhythm & blues, admiration and fear of black people, and his excitement at becoming the first white player on Howard University’s varsity basketball team. “Izzy White?” is a provocative meditation on race, identity, and commitment that will stimulate your brain while tugging at your heart.

BarryWolfephd.com | Paperback or Kindle versions available at Amazon.com Boris Fishman (photo by Stephanie Kaltsas)

beginning) of their American lives, which until now have been highly restricted. This is especially true for Maya, who came to the U.S. when she was many years older than Alex was upon his arrival and thus is not as fully acclimated. Still, they have been living inside of the older Rubins’ immigrant family patterns and still seem like they have not yet grown up. The journey is an informal education in American openness, as well as other qualities symbolized by the immensity and variety of the landscapes they move through. Once again, it’s like they have moved to a foreign country – but this time they are much faster learners. They are tested over and over again, with mixed success, but always with personal growth. Again, Maya is more dynamic than Alex in these travel chapters, just as she is throughout the

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July 2016

JEWISH INTEREST

Stars of David

By Nate Bloom, Contributing Columnist Editor’s note: Persons in BOLD CAPS are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of the column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in a faith other than Judaism – and don’t identify with a faith other than Judaism as an adult. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish. On Your Favorite Viewing Platform The 8th season of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, hosted by JERRY SEINFELD, 62, began on June 16 on the website Crackle (which can also be streamed to your TV by devices like Roku). A new episode is released each Thursday and can be viewed when you want for months thereafter. Guests scheduled to appear this season include SNL creator and producer LORNE MICHAELS, 71, and producer/director JUDD APATOW, 48. The weeks they will appear have not yet been disclosed as I write this. A new series with a Jewish connection that will play into July is Maya & Marty. MAYA RUDOLPH, 43, and Martin Short, 66, co-host a live variety show (music and sketches). New shows air Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. on NBC. Rudolph, a former SNL star, made a moving appearance earlier this year on the PBS series Finding Your Roots. Her father, music producer DICK RUDOLPH, 69, is Jewish. Her mother was Minnie Riperton, the late African-American pop star. Maya said she knew almost nothing about her

Jewish family roots because Dick’s father cut virtually all ties to his family, including his parents. You really have to check out this delightful program full of top notch stars. (The season ends July 12). Also catch Murder in the First (TNT, began June 19, new episodes air Sundays at 10:00 p.m.). This show’s “gimmick” is that each ten-episode season covers one distinct murder investigation. Taye Diggs, 45, who was long married to IDINA MENZEL, 45 (they split up in 2014), stars as a San Francisco detective who leads the investigation with his female partner (Kathleen Robertson). This season begins with the murder of a star pro football player. In season one, STEVEN WEBER, 55, had a big recurring role as Wilkerson, the driver and confidant of a rich guy suspected of murder. Weber returns this season as Wilkerson. Exactly why Wilkerson is involved in this new case is not yet clear. Weber works constantly, but I suspect most veteran TV watchers know him best as the younger pilot on the hit TV series Wings.

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Interested in Your Family’s History? Nate Bloom (see column at left) has become a family history expert in 10 years of doing his celebrity column, and he has expert friends who can help when called on. Most family history experts charge $1,000 or more to do a full family-tree search. However, Bloom knows that most people want to start with a limited search of one family line.

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Write Bloom at nteibloom@aol.com and enclose a phone number. Nate will then contact you about starting a limited search. If that goes well, additional and more extensive searches are possible. The first search fee is no more than $100. No upfront cost. Also, several of this newspaper’s readers have asked Bloom to locate friends and family members from their past, and that’s worked out great for them. So contact him about this as well. Also on TNT is Animal Kingdom. It began on June 14 and new episodes air on Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. This tenepisode show stars ELLEN BARKIN, 62, as the matriarch of the Codys, a crime family. Barkin’s character’s first name is Janine, but everybody calls her “Smurf.” And here’s a shout-out for Aquarius, a good, if not great series starring DAVID DUCHOVNY, 55, as Hodiak, a 1960s Los Angeles police detective. It began its second season on June 23 (new shows air Thursdays at 10:00 p.m. on NBC). The sixth season of the hit USA cable series Suits begins on July 13 (new episodes air Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m.). The previous five seasons focused on law firm partner Harvey Spector and his shady associate Mike Ross. The last season ended with Ross in jail and the firm falling apart. Can Spector pick up the pieces? Starring as Spector is the handsome GABRIEL MACHT, 44. His father is STEPHEN MACHT, 74, a hard-working, mostly TV, actor you will almost certainly recognize if you Google his name. The elder Macht has become a pretty observant Jew in the last decade. At the Movies Friday, July 1 features the opening of BFG, a new STEVEN SPIELBERGdirected film. The basic plot: a girl named Sophie encounters the (mon-

strous looking) Big Friendly Giant. He turns out to be a kindhearted soul who is not liked by the other giants because, unlike them, he refuses to eat children. Friday, July 22 finds the next “rebooted” Star Trek film in theaters. ANTON YELCHIN, 27, returns as Ensign Chekov. By the way, Yelchin (like Chekov) was born in Russia. His parents were stars of the Leningrad ice ballet, but weren’t permitted to skate in the 1972 Olympics (either because they were Jewish or simply because the Soviets didn’t trust them to travel). They gave up a good life to immigrate to America in 1989. The Los Angeles Times interviewed them shortly after they arrived and they pointed to their then-infant son (Anton) when asked why they came to America. [Editor’s note: Late-breaking news: Yelchin was killed on June 19 in a tragic auto accident.] MILA KUNIS, 32, whose highlyeducated parents also fled the former Soviet Union, stars in the comedy Bad Moms, which opens Friday, July 29. Kunis plays a “perfect mom” who overloads and looks for a way out with other moms.

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July 2016

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

800 Jewish mothers from 10 countries celebrate Israel journey at Mega Event ultimately, to build their communities back home. The Momentum trips stretch from the mystical Galilee city of Safed to the ancient desert mountaintop fortress Masada, and feature extensive itineraries and curated curricula from Jewish values to contemporary Israeli society. JWRP Founding Director Lori Palatnik, referring to the Momentum participants, said: “We always say the last day of the trip is the first day of their journey. For the very first time, we will be saying “l’hitraot” to 400 Jewish mothers finishing their trip, while welcoming hundreds more who literally just landed. There are no words to describe the power of 800 Jewish mothers under the same roof, with all of the energy, emotions and inspiration. They return to their families ready to lift them into a new commitment to Israel, their Jewish values and their home communities.” The JWRP and Ministry of Diaspora Affairs recently announced an historic partnership to dramatically expand the JWRP’s life-changing trips for over 5,600 Jewish mothers from 26 countries around the world. The landmark partnership for 2016 and 2017 will also allow JWRP and the Ministry to involve women from Jewish communities facing increased threats of anti-Semitism and economic hardship, especially in Argentina, Cuba, the for-

mer Soviet Union, France, the U.S. and Canada. Since 2009, more than 7,300 Jewish mothers from 150 partner organizations in 26 countries spanning several continents including Australia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America have experienced the Momentum trips. Participants commit to getting involved in activities when they return home, including community events, Israel engagement programs, Jewish education, global learning, leadership development, and Momentum Israel missions for husbands. Also speaking at the Mega Event was Sivan Yaari, the founder and CEO of Innovation Africa, and Zohar Raviv, the international vice president of education for Taglit Birthright Israel. About JWRP The Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project (www.jwrp.org) was founded in 2008, with the mission of empowering women to change the world through Jewish values. Its major project is “Momentum,” a nine-day, highly subsidized life-changing journey to Israel, experienced by over 7,300 women from 150 partner organizations in 26 countries worldwide. Since 2014, the JWRP has partnered with Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee will partner with JWRP for a Momentum trip in 2017. For more details, contact Ilene Fox at 941.343.2111 or ifox@jfedsrq.org.

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Some of the 800 women at the Mega Event

JWRP Founding Director Lori Palatnik (2nd from left) with city leaders and guides at the Mega Event

The group of 10 Cuban-Jewish women in Jerusalem before joining the Mega Event (photos by Aviram Valdman)

Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Naftali Bennett with JWRP Founding Director Lori Palatnik

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EL AVIV, Israel, May 17 – More than 800 Jewish mothers from 10 countries around the world celebrated a life-changing journey to Israel this month, at a Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project (JWRP) Mega Event on Monday, May 16, in partnership with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. Headlining the Mega Event was Minister of Diaspora Affairs Naftali Bennett, who discussed the future of the Diaspora-Israel relationship, the role of women in strengthening ties between the Jewish state and the Jewish people, and current issues facing Israel. The Mega Event took place at the Wohl eCentre, Bar Ilan University. “Being a Jew has a meaning – we o have a mission – to fix the world,” he , told the gathering. And “Israel is an -exemplar to the world.” The Jewish mothers journeyed to . Israel from Australia, Argentina, Cannada, Chile, Cuba, Germany, Mexico, Panama, South Africa and the U.S. eSome Israelis also participated. Featuring the theme “Begine nings,” the “Momentum Mega Event” e launched the JWRP’s specialized “Moe .mentum” trips for hundreds of Jewish emothers, while culminating the joursney for hundreds of others. The entire rexperience empowers the women, inrspiring them to engage with Israel and dIsraelis, connect to their Jewish identities, develop new leadership skills and,

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July 2016

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

Two immigrants came from Indonesia, and one each from Cambodia, New Caledonia and Mauritius. (Judy Maltz, Ha’aretz)

BRIEFS NASA HOPES TO REACH MARS IN 2030s WITH ISRAEL’S HELP

PUTIN HAILS TALKS WITH ISRAELI PM, WANTS TO STRENGTHEN TIES

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, in Israel recently to receive an honorary doctorate from Bar-Ilan University, said that NASA hopes to reach Mars in the 2030s and looks forward to working with Israel, whose “incredibly innovative people on the cutting edge of technology” can help with the mission. “We are excited about ongoing relations with the Israel Space Agency and what we can do together on the International Space Station,” said Bolden, who himself made four trips into space as an astronaut. (Menachem Rephun, JP Updates)

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, June 7, in Moscow, saying, “We spoke about the necessity to pool efforts to counter international terrorism. Israel knows only too well what it means and it is fighting against terrorism. In this sense, we are unconditional allies.” Putin also said Russia and Israel will pool efforts to counter attempts to revise the history of World War II. “Our peoples fought together against Nazism and paid a huge price for the victory. That is why we must and will keep the memory of the heroes and victims of that war, we will counter attempts to revise its results, to forget the tragedy of Holocaust.” (Tass - Russia)

30,000 JEWS IMMIGRATED TO ISRAEL IN THE PAST YEAR

Since last Independence Day, 29,715 immigrants from more than 90 countries have arrived in Israel, according to the Immigrant Absorption Ministry. 7,054 came from France, 6,880 from Russia and 6,306 from Ukraine. Immigration from English-speaking countries was 4,627: U.S. - 3,072, Britain - 692, Canada - 466, South Africa - 236, Australia - 153, and Ireland - 8.

ISRAEL: A GROWING DESTINATION FOR INDIAN TRAVELERS

When Samuel Reddy was planning a business trip to Israel, hoping to learn about the famous drip irrigation technology used there so as to adopt it on his dry farms in Rayalaseema, his wife

United Methodists, voting at their General Conference, have called on their church’s mission agency to withdraw from the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation in a 478-318 vote. Critics see the group as more antiIsrael than pro-peace. “Blaming only one side while ignoring the wrongdoing of Hamas, Hizbullah and Iran will not advance the cause of peace,” a petition asking for the agency’s withdrawal said, naming groups that have stated their aim to destroy the Jewish state. (Emily McFarlan Miller and Lauren Markoe, Religion News Service - National Catholic Reporter)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to express “my deep personal appreciation” for his executive order barring state agencies from doing business with companies that support a boycott of Israel. “An executive order by the governor of one of America’s most important and influential states demonstrates to the world and to Israel that we do not stand alone and that our American friends are behind us.” He praised Cuomo and New

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insisted on accompanying him; spa tourism was on her mind. His mother, too, wanted to come along; her wish: a religious tour of Jerusalem. Reddy and his family are among many Telugus [numbering 74 million people in India] who have found an ideal travel destination in Israel. Israel saw the number of Indian travelers rise from 20,300 in 2006 to 40,000 last year and the number is expected to go up to 50,000 by year end. “Since Israelis also travel to India in droves, the special bond is always there,” says Sharon Pelleg, a seasoned tour guide. (Bappa Majumdar, Times of India)

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ISRAEL BOYCOTT IS FAILING WHEN MEASURED BY MAIN ECONOMIC GAUGE

Foreign investments in Israeli assets hit a record high last year of $285.12 billion, a near-tripling from 2005 when the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement was started by a group of Palestinians. Money managers, economists and government officials say Israeli assets are an attractive alternative to weak performers elsewhere. The country’s economy is slowing but growing faster than those of the U.S. and Europe and its interest rate is higher. Plus, many reject the notions driving the boycott – that investing in Israeli innovation and natural gas violates Palestinian rights, and that Israel’s misdeeds are so exceptional that they justify singling it out for censure. Israeli startups raised $3.76 billion last year from non-Israeli investors, the highest annual amount in a decade. Foreigners spent an additional $5.89 billion acquiring them. A survey of nine Israeli companies with ties to settlements showed major non-Israeli holdings have increased or remained largely unchanged over the past three years. The increase easily made up for a handful of divestments such as Barclays Plc’s sale of its 50,000 shares in Elbit Systems in 2014, worth about $3 million. One fund manager said that while state pension funds in northern Europe have opposed investing in companies linked to Israeli activities in the West Bank, many others in China and elsewhere simply want assets with good management, high dividend yields and healthy balance sheets. (Sangwon Yoon, Bloomberg)

ISRAEL’S SPECTACULAR CHAMPIONS

Hapoel Beersheba recently clinched the championship of Israel’s premier soccer league, its first championship since 1976. Team owner Alona Barkat took over an unsuccessful, second-division team and built it into a champion, demonstrating that there is no glass ceiling for women in Israel, neither in the business world nor in the sports world. Seeing a female owner being celebrated by all the male coaches, managers and players demonstrates a beautiful side of Israel. Next we look to the players. The team’s roster includes Jews, Muslims and Christians, from different races. All came together with respect and friendship to win this championship. All stood side-by-side as the national anthem was sung before games. What better example demonstrates what we are as a Jewish state, where minorities and members of different faiths are given equal opportunity and equal rights? (Dov Lipman, Jerusalem Post)

For daily news stories related to Israel & the Jewish world, visit www.jfedsrq.org.

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COMMENTARY

July 2016

Why history matters: The 1967 Six-Day War

l tBy David Harris, CEO, AJC, June 1, 2016 ention history and it can trigIsrael, in the days leading up to the war, ger a roll of the eyes. Add passed word to Jordan, via the UN and the Middle East to the equaUnited States, urging Amman to stay tion and folks might start running for out of any pending conflict. Jordan’s the hills, unwilling to get caught up in King Hussein ignored the Israeli plea the seemingly bottomless pit of details and tied his fate to Egypt and Syria. and disputes. His forces were defeated by Israel, and But without an understanding of he lost control of the West Bank and 2what happened in the past, it’s imposeastern Jerusalem. He later acknowlnsible to grasp where we are today – and edged that he had made a terrible error swhere we are has profound relevance in entering the war. afor the region and the world. Seventh, Egypt’s President GaForty-nine years ago this month, mal Abdel Nasser demanded that UN -the Six-Day War broke out. peacekeeping forces in the area, in e While some wars fade into obscuplace for the previous decade to pre-rity, this one remains as relevant today vent conflict, be removed. Shamefully, as in 1967. Many of its core issues rewithout even the courtesy of consultemain unresolved. ing Israel, the UN complied. That left s Politicians, diplomats and journo buffer between Arab armies being snalists continue to grapple with the mobilized and deployed and Israeli gconsequences of that war, but rarely forces in a country one-fiftieth, or sconsider, or perhaps are even unaware two percent, the size of Egypt – and of, context. Yet without context, some just nine miles wide at its narrowest tcritically important things may not point. make sense. Eighth, Egypt blocked Israeli shipFirst, in June 1967, there was no ping lanes in the Red Sea, Israel’s only -state of Palestine. It didn’t exist and maritime access to trading routes with anever had. Its creation, proposed by the Asia and Africa. This step was underlUN in 1947, was rejected by the Arab standably regarded as an act of war by yworld because it also meant the estabJerusalem. The United States spoke olishment of a Jewish state alongside. about joining with other countries to i Second, the West Bank and eastbreak the blockade, but, in the end, redern Jerusalem were in Jordanian hands. grettably, did not act. eViolating solemn agreements, Jordan Ninth, France, which had been rdenied Jews access to their holiest Israel’s principal arms supplier, an-places in eastern Jerusalem. To make nounced a ban on the sale of weapons nmatters still worse, they desecrated and on the eve of the June war. That left tdestroyed many of those sites. Israel in potentially grave danger if a Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip was unwar were to drag on and require the der Egyptian control, with harsh miliresupply of arms. It was not until the etary rule imposed on local residents. next year that the U.S. stepped into the s And the Golan Heights, which were breach and sold vital weapons systems tregularly used to shell Israeli commuto Israel. -nities far below, belonged to Syria. And finally, after winning the war d Third, the Arab world could have of self-defense, Israel hoped that its screated a Palestinian state in the West newly-acquired territories, seized from Bank, eastern Jerusalem, and the Gaza Egypt, Jordan and Syria, would be the Strip any day of the week. They didn’t. basis for a land-for-peace accord. FeelThere wasn’t even discussion about it. ers were sent out. The formal response And Arab leaders, who today profess came on September 1, 1967, when the such attachment to eastern Jerusalem, Arab Summit Conference famously dedrarely, if ever, visited. It was viewed as clared in Khartoum: “No peace, no recran Arab backwater. ognition, no negotiations” with Israel. p Fourth, the 1967 boundary at the More “no’s” were to follow. Unttime of the war, so much in the news derscoring the point, in 2003, the Saudi -these days, was nothing more than an Ambassador to the U.S. was quoted in -armistice line dating back to 1949 – The New Yorker as saying: “It broke sfamiliarly known as the Green Line. my heart that [PLO Chair] Arafat did nThat’s after five Arab armies attacked not take the offer (of a two-state deal Israel in 1948 with the aim of destroypresented by Israel, with American ging the embryonic Jewish state. They support, in 2001). Since 1948, every ,failed. Armistice lines were drawn, time we’ve had something on the table, abut they weren’t formal borders. They we say no. Then we say yes. When we couldn’t be. The Arab world, even in say yes, it’s not on the table anymore. edefeat, refused to recognize Israel’s Then we have to deal with something svery right to exist. less. Isn’t it about time to say yes?” l Fifth, the PLO, which supported Today, there are those who wish to -the war effort, was established in 1964, rewrite history. dthree years before the conflict erupted. They want the world to believe mThat’s important because it was crethere was once a Palestinian state. rated with the goal of obliterating IsThere was not. srael. Remember that in 1964 the only They want the world to believe d“settlements” were Israel itself. there were fixed borders between that n Sixth, in the weeks leading up to state and Israel. There was only an ?the Six-Day War, Egyptian and Syrian armistice line between Israel and the leaders repeatedly declared that war Jordanian-controlled West Bank and was coming and their objective was to eastern Jerusalem. wipe Israel off the map. There was no They want the world to believe the ambiguity. Twenty-two years after the 1967 war was a bellicose act by IsraHolocaust, another enemy spoke about el. It was an act of self-defense in the the extermination of Jews. The record face of blood-curdling threats to vanis well-documented. quish the Jewish state, not to mention The record is equally clear that the maritime blockade of the Straits of Tiran, the abrupt withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces, and the redeployment of Egyptian and Syrian troops. All wars have consequences. This one was no exception. But the aggressors have failed to take responsibility for the actions they instigated. They want the world to believe post1967 Israeli settlement-

building is the key obstacle to peacemaking. The Six-Day War is proof positive that the core issue is, and always has been, whether the Palestinians and larger Arab world accept the Jewish people’s right to a state of their own. If so, all other contentious issues, however difficult, have possible solutions. But, alas, if not, all bets are off. And they want the world to believe the Arab world had nothing against Jews per se, only Israel, yet trampled with abandon on sites of sacred meaning to the Jewish people. In other words, when it comes to the Arab-Israeli conflict, dismissing

the past as if it were a minor irritant at best, irrelevant at worst, won’t work. Can history move forward? Absolutely. Israel’s peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 powerfully prove the point. At the same time, though, the lessons of the Six-Day War illustrate just how tough and tortuous the path can be – and are sobering reminders that, yes, history does matter. For more information, visit www.ajc.org.

The AJC West Coast Florida oﬃce, located in Sarasota, can be reached at 941.365.4955.

Opinions and letters printed in The Jewish News of SarasotaManatee do not necessarily reflect those of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, its Board of Directors or staff, or its advertisers.

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July 2016

COMMENTARY

Israel saves the Jewish community of Yemen By Rabbi Howard A. Simon

ing place in Yemen for years. In 2008, n March 20, all of the Jews in a Jewish teacher, Moshe Yaish Nahari, Yemen who wished to leave was murdered. In 2012, Aharon Zindathe country were miraculously ni was murdered after being charged brought home to Israel. Approximately with witchcraft. Mr. Zindani’s remains 51,000 Jews have emigrated to Israel were flown to Israel where he will be from Yemen since 1948. This March buried in accordance rescue mission brought 19 with Jewish ritual. Jews out of that country. ToThe Jewish Agency day, some 50 Jews remain for Israel became conin Yemen, wishing to stay, cerned for the welfare rather than make the move of Yemen’s Jews in to Israel. Those who chose January, 2015, when to make Israel their home inthe capital city Sana’a cluded the rabbi of the town was taken over by the of Raydah, who brought with Houthi rebels who had him a Torah scroll believed already displaced Jews to be over 800 years old. This in the town of Sa’dah in is an end to a saga that began Rabbi Howard A. Simon 2007. The Houthis express their hatred in 1949 when the aptly named Operaof Jews with slogans that read, “Death tion Magic Carpet brought thousands to Israel,” and “Damn the Jews.” The of Yemenite Jews to Israel, thus saving Jewish Agency for Israel knew it their lives and introducing them to a was only a matter of time before the new existence in the Holy Land. wholesale slaughter of the Jews would Anti-Semitic acts have been tak-

become a reality. Thus, plans were formulated for the rescue and the deliverance of every Jew in Yemen who wished to leave the country. Ever since the State of Israel came into existence in 1948, every government, regardless of the party, has said “Israel stands to welcome any and all Jews who wish to emigrate from wherever they live and make Aliyah to Israel.” Our people have flocked to Israel from throughout the world. The Law of Return guaranteed an open door for Jews to “come home” to Israel. The word “emigration” has become a dirty word throughout the world. Nation after nation has said “close the doors to our land.” Politicians from every perspective have voiced the threat these “strangers” bring to their lands. Such has never been the case regarding Israel. Since the birth of the State of Israel, every Jew is greeted with open arms by the leadership of Israel. “Come

home” is not just a wish; it is a reality, as experienced now by Yemen’s last 19 Jews. There has been a Jewish presence in Yemen since the third century. Now that history has been relocated to Israel where the traditions of yesterday and today will be observed and respected.t There will now be shalom bayit, peacef in the house, of every Yemenite Jew.s The miracle of Zion lives on. May ity i continue to do so forever. Rabbi Simon serves as a member of thea Heller Israel Advocacy Initiative ands is the author of the recently published book, Atlantic City: Winners and Los-b ers. For more information about thel Heller IAI, visit www.sarasotalovesk israel.com or contact Jessi Sheslow at jsheslow@jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2109.

Reﬂecting on the importance of inclusion in our Jewish community From the Bimah Rabbi Michael Werbow Temple Beth Sholom

e often say, “If only I could be a fly on the wall in that room.” For a short time, the idea of being present without being seen may be somewhat appealing to us. However, when it comes down to it, most of us would never choose to live our lives this way – always being talked around but never being acknowledged. Ultimately, we want to be

talked to and consulted as individuals. Unfortunately, too many individuals living with a disability are treated like flies on the wall. Twenty years ago, I had the opportunity to tutor a young man preparing for a Bar Mitzvah celebration. It was a remarkable experience because this man was almost 21 years old – not a typical time to be preparing for one’s Bar Mitzvah – and because he was autistic. Throughout his life everyone considered Paul to be “mentally retarded” since he was non-verbal and gave no indication that he comprehended what people were saying to him. This all changed when he was introduced to a new technique known as Facilitated Communication. Through the use of a keyboard, and with the assistance of another individual, Paul was suddenly able to express

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himself by typing on a special keyboard. Paul celebrated his Bar Mitzvah through the use of Facilitated Communication, using his keyboard to “recite” brachot, the blessings, for his aliyah, his honor to the Torah, and to compose a d’var Torah, his speech on the meaning of his Torah portion. When I first started working with Paul, I began by giving him an overview of key people and stories in the Torah, but he clearly knew much of the information already. Paul’s Torah learning came from fly-on-the-wall experiences. If someone was talking to his sister, he would listen in and soak up the information. Think of what your educational experience would have been like if the person conveying information, a teacher or a parent, knew you were present but didn’t intend the message for you. Imagine Paul’s joy at being taught directly, as an individual, for the first time. We all want to be included, and individuals with a disability want and should expect nothing less. It wasn’t just Paul who benefited from being taught as an individual. His whole congregation learned from his d’var Torah, and becoming a learner helped Paul in turn to become a teacher himself. The truth is, Paul – any of us really – was not just an individual but an individual

member of a larger community. This month, I will be spending two weeks with my family at Camp Ramah Darom, in Clayton, Georgia. Camp Ramah was instrumental in my journey toward becoming a rabbi, and it was my involvement as a counselor for the Tikvah program, a unit of campers with special needs, that began that process. My first cabin had fifteen campers with a variety of developmental disabilities including autism, Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. There are now Tikvah programs at all thirteen Ramah camps, providing summer experiences for Jewish children with special needs. At Ramah, these campers are integrated into the everyday activities of the camp. They are not relegated to being flies on the wall. At the end of July, we will read from the Parasha of Balak where Bilam, intending to curse the Israelites, instead blesses them. One of his blessings is the famous line, “Ma Tovu Ohalecha Ya’akov Mishk’notecha Yisrael – How good are your tents Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel.” When will our tents be great? When everyone is welcomed into the middle of them. When will our dwelling places be special? When no one is a fly on the wall.

MAKE SURE YOUR VOICE IS HEARD. How far can a dollar go toward making a difference in the lives of women and children? THE WOMEN’S GIVING CIRCLE, or Ma’agal Nashim, is a group of passionate and caring women in Sarasota-Manatee who are committed to making a difference in the lives of women and children in need or at risk in Israel. Ma’agal Nashim is a place for women to explore how we can make a difference, become role models for our families and discover how leadership and philanthropic passions can build a stronger world for women and children.

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E S T A T E

To become a member or for more information:

Contact Ros Mazur at bsbhigh18@gmail.com The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee KLINGENSTEIN JEWISH CENTER

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July 2016

FOCUS ON YOUTH

Just two words Education Corner

By Sara Steinmetz

ave you ever been waiting on a long line at the bank, mall or grocery not really talking to others who are standing within your four-foot space, but notice that when someone sneezes, people say “bless you” or “Gezuntheit” to strangers. Is it not amazing that blessing someone after sneezing is an ice-breaker among strangers? What are popular Jewish or Hebrew phrases that most Jews, regardless of affiliation or background, will know? Shalom, Shalom Aleichem,

Shabbat Shalom, Zei Gezunt, Shema Yisrael, Baruch Hashem, and perhaps you can name a few more. From all of these phrases, the one which I want to elaborate upon is Baruch Hashem, which literally means blessed by G-d and which translates as thank G-d. G-d provides us with life, happiness and health, and the least we can do to reciprocate is to show expressions of gratitude, not because G-d needs our words of praise, any more than a parent needs their child to express thanks. Our thanks should acknowledge G-d’s constant presence in our lives. Parents don’t just give birth and walk away from their child. So too, G-d is not just some big guy, hanging out in the heavens playing with angels. He is essentially responsible for every facet of our lives. Many believe that G-d and

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Judaism belong in the synagogue, but the opposite is true. Judaism is not just a religion. It is a way of life, and we should recognize and thank G-d all the time, not just when we are in the synagogue. The two words that we should attempt to say more often are Baruch Hashem. By saying Baruch Hashem more often, our family and friends will be influenced to realize that we truly attribute thanks to G-d daily, and not just cry out when we face illness, financial constraints or other personal problems. G-d doesn’t only want to hear from us on Yom Kippur when we feel judged, or at a funeral. G-d wants us to invite Him into our day-to-day lives. After all, He plays a big role in the good stuff as well. We need to show our children the joys and not just the “oy’s” of living a Jewish life. Let our children and grandchildren see us enjoying our Judaism and thanking G-d for all the goodness we do have. So while you’re enjoying your summer and creating fine memories, keep in mind just two words: Baruch Hashem. Sara Steinmetz is the education director at Chabad of Sarasota.

Amy F. Weinberger, M.S.Ed. Founder/Director

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Celebrating 25 Years Serving Over 7,500 Families & Students

A great end to a great 2015-16 year for Temple Emanu-El Religious School

lthough summertime brings excitement and preparation for a new year ahead, it’s also a great time to look back with pride and happiness on the year that has passed. Temple Emanu-El Religious School’s closing ceremonies on Sunday, May 22, were a fitting end to another fantastic year of learning, friendship, and joy in being Jewish. The last day of religious school began with awards presentations in every grade, with each student being recognized for their special qualities and contributions to the class. Whether “Most Likely to be a Rabbi,” “Academic Excellence,” “Ruach (spirit),” “Friendship,” or “Effort,” every child received a certificate and moment to shine. The classes then gathered in the temple sanctuary for spirited and beautifully-performed presentations that summarized their year of learning.

Rabbi Brenner Glickman and Director of Education Sabrina Silverberg offered touching words about the wonderful year gone by, and how special each child and family is to the school

Temple Emanu-El Religious School students Cameron and David traded in their shekels for giant Pixie sticks

GFA students help others through Trifecta Project

his year, the kindergarten stubook to take home for the summer. The dents of GFA, A Hershorin teachers received books to use in the Schiff Community Day School, classroom as well. have been engaged in the Trifecta Proj“The benefit of project-based ect, based around food, art and books. learning is that our students learn in a The project has included elements of way that combines various disciplines, science, social studies, math, technolwhile weaving in real-world experiencogy, engineering, art, language arts and es and emphasizing our commitment to community service. The Trifecta Projmaking the world a better place,” said ect asked the essential question, “What kindergarten teacher Shonna Brady. can we do to help others and take care “We are so proud of our students for of the Earth?” their insatiable curiosity and heartfelt Community service engagements desire to help others!” have included collecting used markers For more information about GFA, and sending them back to Crayola to please call 941.552.2770 or visit www. be recycled into diesel fuel; collectgfasarasota.org. ing cans of food to feed the hungry at the Salvation Army; and reading books to small children at Children First, which serves low-income families. In mid-May, during the visit to Children First, 15 GFA kindergartners read to the preschool children enrolled there, and also played on the playground with them. But the highlight of the visit was to give each of the Ashley Cueto-Ocana, Sophia Levin, Maggie Gakicowski, Lev Werbow and Cynthia Santana during the book presentation children a brand new

and to the entire Temple EmanuEl family. After the presentations, celebration of a great year ensued! Brandishing paper shekels earned for good behavior, effort and excellence throughout the year, students purchased toys and tchotchkes from the shuk, then headed outside for a fabulous and fun picnic lunch. With hot dogs and veggie burgers cooked to perfection by the Temple Brotherhood, as well as side dishes and desserts brought by religious school families, a delicious meal, friendly socializing, and Maccabiah games were enjoyed by all!

Stacie, David and Mark Lowell celebrated Mark’s first great year at Temple Emanu-El Religious School

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July 2016

FOCUS ON YOUTH

USY Regional Convention Abundant Life Church joins

By Amanda Green, SRQUSY VP of Membership/Kadima n April, I attended the final USY Regional Convention of the 2016 school year. Four members from Temple Beth Sholom’s USY chapter, SRQUSY, were represented at Regionals: Erica Lester, Amanda Green, Alex Hanan and Hannah Levison. They were accompanied by advisor Jessica Zimmerman. The highlight was winning three Awards of Excellence for our chapter, more than we’ve ever won previously. Our enthusiasm and hard work earned us the “Fallin’ in Love with USY” award for our TreeUmph event, and we won in the category of Kadima/USY joint program for the Latke Cook-Off. In addition to being a weekend full of fun and tefillah, I got the opportunity to spend time with Jewish teens from all over the Hanegev region. At Regional Convention, regional board candidates presented speeches, and I was able to vote to elect the new positions. During the convention, USYers were given the opportunity to learn more about Israel, politics and Jewish values by attending educational “tracks” throughout the weekend. Through a variety of options for prayer

services, we were given the opportunity to pray in new and awesome ways. Regional Convention is definitely one of my favorites of the year, and I was so excited to attend this year. In other USY news, the new Board of Directors for 2016-17 was installed at our annual banquet on May 22. The board has begun planning a year of activities, and we invite Jewish high school students to join in the fun.

Tabs for Souls campaign

upport for Temple Sinai’s Tabs for Souls campaign, an effort to collect six million can tabs, each one representing a Jewish life lost in the Holocaust, recently got a boost from the youth at Abundant Life Church. Encouraged to get involved by Al Brown, former custodian at Temple Sinai and a member of the church, several youths accompanied by their Youth Minister, visited the temple’s 7th and 8th graders on a Sunday morning with three large containers of tabs. It

is estimated that they donated at least 10,000 tabs! Recent additional supporters of Tabs for Souls include: Palmer Ranch Dental, Fresh Start Café, Chutney’s, Sol’s Deli, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and Char-Lee’s Beauty Salon. As is common, seeing one of our acrylic collection boxes at a public place of business inspires others to join the effort. Contact Sue Huntting if you know of a place that would like to get involved.

SRQUSY members at Regionals: Erica Lester, Amanda Green, Alex Hanan, Hannah Levison

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Students from Abundant Life Church deliver tabs to Temple Sinai students in Reb Ari Shapiro’s (at right) religious school class

Save THE DATE AUGUST 31, 2016 Take the STRESS and GUESS 7–8:30 pm

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How do rigor, grades, tests, essays and activities fit into college admissions? For additional information, please contact Debra Landesberg, M.S. at DL@MyCollegeResource.net or 941-704-5553

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The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is offering need-based scholarship assistance for religious school students in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Get complete details: jfedsrq.org Questions? Contact Jeremy Lisitza, 941.343.2113 or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.

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July 2016

LIFE CYCLE ANNIVERSARIES

55 Howard & Sandra Goldberg Temple Emanu-El 50th Elaine & Ted Gast Temple Sinai 50th Melvin & Jo Stone Temple Emanu-El 45th Kenneth & Susan Simon Temple Emanu-El 35th Joan & Jerome Ennis Temple Sinai th

30 Susan & Robert Goldstein Temple Sinai 30th Alana & Stephen Rahn Temple Sinai 20th Sharon & Frank Alcock Temple Emanu-El 10th Rachel & Neil Marcus Temple Emanu-El 5th Dr. Brad & Melissa Lerner Temple Emanu-El th

f h , n s g a IN MEMORIAM s Janice L. Alley, 60, of Sarasota, May 20 g Ann R. Baum, 82, of Sarasota, formerly of White Plains, NY, May 7 e Iris Forrest, 90, of Sarasota, March 28 Rachel Mann, 68, of Sarasota, May 23 Harvey Mizes, 87, of Sarasota, April 27 Daniel Radman, 85, of Sarasota, May 12 Lillian Richman, 92, of Longboat Key, May 23 Doris Shiﬀman, 85, of Sarasota, May 16 Solo Schiﬀman, 91 of Sarasota, April 21 Winnie Skversky, 99, of Sarasota, May 18 Naomi Wertheimer, 88, of Sarasota, May 19 Roger D. Woods, 82, of Sarasota, May 4

Please submit your life cycle events (births, B’nai Mitzvah, anniversaries, weddings) to

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SHALOM BABY Join us for a gathering of mommies and babies to sing Jewish and/or Israeli children’s songs and bond with other moms every fourth Friday of the month!

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