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THE JEWISH January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775

STAR Vol 14, No. 5 • TheJewishStar.com

Beshalach • Published weekly since 2002 • 516-622-7461

THE NEWSPAPER OF LONG ISLAND’S ORTHODOX COMMUNITIES

Northern exposure

70 years later World remembers Shoah, told Jews remain targets

Fighting on border

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Ner Echad draws 5 Towns women

By Celia Weintrob As women put a few coins or bills into the pushka just before lighting the Shabbos candles, they think of their family and friends who need a special blessing for health or peace, and of Jews facing difďŹ culties across the globe. Ner Echad (One Light) seeks to magnify the power of those blessings 1,000 -fold, allowing the ladies to tap into a worldwide sisterhood that is giving tzedakah and lighting candles together at the same auspicious moment. Ner Echad was founded this past Succos, on the third yahrzeit of Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky of Bnei Brak, by her husband, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, an acclaimed Talmudic scholar, through the efforts of close family friends, Rabbi Ernest Rothman and his son Yehuda. Many of the founding supporters of this new organization hail from the Five Towns. By all accounts, this unassuming Rebbetzin greeted scores each day with )RU WKH )LYH 7RZQV WKH EOL]]DUG RI WKH FHQWXU\ WXUQHG RXW WR EH ÂŤ QRW VR PXFK $OWKRXJK DFFXPXODWLRQV ZHUH QRWKLQJ OLNH WKRVH LQ 6XIIRON WKH VQRZ cheer and respect, leaving a DORQJ &HQWUDO $YHQXH LQ &HGDUKXUVW KDG WR EH FOHDUHG QRQHWKHOHVV $V DOZD\V mark upon countless hearts Continued on page 10 $FKLH]HU KHOSHG SUHSDUH IRU DQ\ HYHQWXDOLW\ VHH SDJH 0RQLFD 5]HZVNL

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By Vanessa Gera, AP BRZEZINKA, Poland — A Jewish leader stood before 300 survivors of the Nazis’ most notorious death camp on Tuesday and asked world leaders to prevent another Auschwitz, warning of a rise of anti-Semitism that has made many European Jews fearful of walking the streets, and is causing many to ee the continent. World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder made his bleak assessment on the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, speaking next to the gate and the railroad tracks that marked the last journey for more than a million people murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau. He said his speech was shaped by the recent terrorist attacks in France that targeted Jews and newspaper satirists. “For a time, we thought that the hatred of Jews had ďŹ nally been eradicated. But slowly the demonization of Jews started

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SHEAR YASHUV — Missiles ďŹ red by Lebanese Hezbollah terrorists struck an Israeli military convoy on Wednesday, killing two soldiers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would respond “forcefullyâ€? to the attack, and the military launched aerial and ground assault on Hezbollah positions, including at least 50 artillery shells according to Lebanese ofďŹ cials. A Spanish peacekeeper was killed in the border are-up in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah’s attack was its deadliest assault on Israeli forces since a 2006 war. It followed a Jan. 18 airstrike attributed to Israel that killed six Hezbollah ďŹ ghters and an Iranian general. Hezbollah said its ďŹ ghters destroyed a number of Israeli vehicles and caused casualties among “enemy ranks,â€? and that the attack was carried out by a group calling itself the “righteous martyrs of Quneitra.â€? Ever since, Israel has braced for a response to the strike, beeďŹ ng up its air defenses and increasing surContinued on page 17

0RUH RQ SDJH to come back,â€? Lauder said. “Once again, young Jewish boys are afraid to wear yarmulkes on the streets of Paris and Budapest and London. Once again, Jewish businesses are targeted. And once again, Jewish families are eeing Europe.â€? The recent attack in Paris, in which four Jews were killed in a kosher supermarket, is not the ďŹ rst deadly attack on Jews in recent years. Last May a shooting killed four people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels and in 2012 a rabbi and three children were murdered in the French city of Toulouse. Europe also saw a spasm of anti-Semitism last summer during the war in Gaza, with protests in Paris turning violent and other hostility across the continent. Continued on page 18

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January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775 • THE JEWISH STAR

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By Celia Weintrob Last May, a car full of Five Towns women headed to the Sharsheret beneďŹ t in Teaneck. They were a mix of breast cancer survivors and their family and friends. When they walked into that ballroom, the striking impact this organization has on its community was clear. During the car ride home, the women discussed what was missing in the Five Towns, and an idea was born. One in 40 Ashkenazi Jews — both men and women — carries the BRCA gene mutation which greatly increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as compared to 1 in 345 in the general population. That means Jews are 10 times more likely to develop these hereditary diseases than the general public. And that is one of the reasons Sharsheret (Hebrew for “chainâ€?) is a critical resource for our Jewish community. Any family that faces a diagnosis of breast cancer knows the dread and anguish that arrives with it. A patient’s ďŹ rst question is typically, “What do I do next?â€? Sharsheret’s new volunteer group in the Five Towns can ďŹ eld that ďŹ rst call, and connect cancer patients to conďŹ dential peer support, kits to help their children and families, and a kit to help them cosmetically. The concerns of pre-menopausal women facing breast cancer are unique. Young women are dating, marrying, having children, and raising children. Their cancers tend to be more aggressive, yet breast cancer research studies often fail to include them. Sharsheret, a national not-for-proďŹ t organization, supports Jewish women and families of all backgrounds, who face breast cancer and ovarian cancer. It has ďŹ elded over 45,000 inquiries, and have over 4,000 peer supporters in 48 states across the country, according to Elana Silber, director of operations. The services offered are accessed by live chat, phone, online or mail, so busy patients with young families can easily access all programs. These services take into consideration the stage of diagnosis or treatment, and the connection to Judaism. Whether the concerns are about genetics, dating, fertility, parenting, career, managing side effects from treat-

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ment, or preparing for the holidays, Sharsheret support is available. The surprising fact that men also carry this gene mutation and pass it to their daughters is not well known; these men may also be at risk for related cancers themselves. All Sharsheret programs are open to women and men, said Silber. “Sharsheret doesn’t offer medical advice or medical refer-

rals,â€? Silber pointed out. “We offer support, information and education at every stage–before, during and after diagnosis, even during the survivorship years.â€? To get the word out, about the new Long Island volunteer group is hosting its ďŹ rst event, Yoga for a Cause, to coincide with Sharsheret’s Pink Day on Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Lawrence. Several local high schools including HAFTR and SKA are also planning Pink Day events, spearheaded by the children of Sharsheret committee members. The Sharsheret Long Island volunteer committee includes Reva Borgen, Terri Herenstein, Shari Kaufman, Naomi Levinson, Mimi Samter, Dorit Schwartz, Sharon Shtern, and Esther Zeidman. “We’re truly grateful for the dedication of the new Five Towns volunteer group,â€? Silber said. “These extraordinary women are moved by Sharsheret’s mission and are passionate about spreading the word. Their efforts will help ensure that every Jewish family in the Five Towns and surrounding communities knows that Sharsheret is here for them, if they ever need it.â€? Sharsheret offers peer support network (cancer patients can speak with someone in their situation who has gone through it); genetic information and conversations; family focus support; and access to health care symposia (which are recorded and can be viewed on the website). Mailed care packages are also available: the Busy Box (with videos, activities and games to help children understand); the Best Face Forward kit (ďŹ lled with cosmetics and tips on how to look your best while undergoing various treatments); a caregiver information packet; and the Sharsheret Educational Resource Booklet Series (culturally-relevant publications for Jewish women, their families, and health care professionals). Yoga for a Cause will be held at 11 am, Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the Hoenig home, 61 Muriel Ave., in Lawrence. Admission is $36 per person (participants should bring their own yoga mats). To register, visit sharsheret.org/liyoga (or call Naomi Levinson, 516374-6334 for more information). For more information about Sharsheret, visit sharsheret.org, or call 866.474.2774.

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THE JEWISH STAR January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775

Sharsheret yoga event launches 5T cancer group

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Boehner: Only Bibi can talk about radical threat By Yoni Hersch, Shlomo Cesana and Gideon Allon, Israel Hayom via JNS.org Despite the criticism he has received, House Speaker John Boehner does not regret his decision to invite Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress in early March. In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes on Sunday, Boehner said he notiďŹ ed the White House of his decision only on the morning that he extended the invitation to Netanyahu. “There’s nobody in the world who can talk about the threat of radical terrorism, nobody can talk about the threat that the Iranians pose, not just to the Middle East and to Israel, our longest ally, but to the entire world, but Bibi Netanyahu,â€? Boehner said in the interview. Boehner then criticized President Barack Obama for failing to take the threat of terrorism and the Iranian nuclear threat seriously. “The president is trying to act like it’s not there,â€? he said. “But it is there. And it’s going to be a threat to our homeland if we don’t address it in a bigger way.â€? Asked about passing additional sanctions on Iran to stop its nuclear program, Boehner said that he thinks “the House believes that more sanctions, if they don’t come to an agreement, are in order,â€? and that he disagrees with Obama, who has said that additional sanctions during negotiations would ensure the failure of diplomatic efforts. Republican Senator John McCain on Sunday defended Boehner’s decision to invite Netanyahu to speak before Congress. McCain said that he feels the relationship between the Israeli and the U.S. governments has deteriorated, and suggested that the Iran issue has likely contributed to the worsening ties. “I do believe that it’s important that Prime Minister Netanyahu speak to the American people,â€? McCain said. “We need congressional ratiďŹ cation of any agreement that is made [with Iran].â€? Netanyahu addressed the Iran issue on Monday during a visit to Israel Aerospace Industries’ Systems, Missiles and Space Group. “The agreement now being forged between the major powers and Iran is unacceptable to Israel,â€? Netanyahu said. “This agreement is dangerous to Israel, to the region and to the world. ... I, as prime

minister, stand up and say this unequivocally: We will do everything in order to prevent the arming of Iran with nuclear weapons capabilities,â€? he added. A senior Israel ofďŹ cial with knowledge of the Iran negotiations said Monday, “I don’t believe that an agreement will come at any price.â€? He added that a deal is unlikely to be reached before March, and that a great deal rests on “difďŹ cult decisions that Iran must make ... though there has not yet been any real change among the Iranians with regard to concessions that could lead to an agreement.â€? “The combination of diplomatic and economic pressures increases the chances of a good outcome from the negotiations. Putting pressure on Iran won’t guarantee a deal, but a lack of pressure will ensure that there is no deal,â€? the ofďŹ cial said. Meanwhile, Israeli Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran is expected to rule on whether Israeli media outlets will be permitted to air Netanyahu’s address to Congress, two weeks before the March 17 Knesset elections. Joubran requested that Netanyahu personally respond by Feb. 1 to the left-wing Meretz party leader Zehava Gal-On’s petition that the speech before Congress not be televised on the ground that it would constitute electioneering, and he further named Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein as a respondent in the petition.

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By Vanessa Ogle, The Brooklyn Paper The president of Israel visited Brooklyn on Sunday to discuss the importance of the relationship between the African-American and Jewish communities and the communities’ common goals at the Christian Cultural Center in East New York, Brooklyn. Thousands attended the international ceremony, which featured live music in English, Spanish, and Hebrew, was held — not coin-

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January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775 • THE JEWISH STAR

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cidentally — between Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. President Reuven Rivlin spoke about the history and future of the two communities, which have historically fought together for equality. He said they must continue to be catalysts for social change. They must together remind the world of the atrocities of slavery and the Holocaust, he said. “We must remember, we must educate, for the lessons of the past to be learned — that is the key to our freedom,â€? Rivlin said. Revlin said he drew inspiration from King, who often marched alongside rabbis, and said that — just like the famous civil rights leader — he hopes there will be peace for the people of Israel and the rest of the world. “I also have a dream,â€? said Rivlin, who was interrupted by a surge of applause. “I have a dream that, once again, G-d will knock on our door. I dream that Jerusalem, a microcosm of the world, will serve as a model of coexistence between different communities and religions.â€? An elected ofďŹ cial who attended the ceremony said the two communities have always worked together to ďŹ ght for equality, and that the Brooklynites he knows will continue ďŹ ghting together for a fairer future. “The African-American community and the Jewish community have a great history together, and as long as we continue to work together — stay together — I’m conďŹ dent that our two communities will remain close and strong, and one day soon, our people will together cross over into the promised land of a better way of life,â€? said Bergen Beach, Brooklyn, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. A volunteer at the cultural center said Christians and the Jewish community are bound together. “Culturally, the faiths are so connected,â€? said Andrew Pulao. “There is a bond that goes beyond physical connection, it is a spiritual bond.â€?

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and yet that same principle, for the moment, does not apply to Muslims.â€? Jonathan Sacerdoti of Britain’s Campaign Against Anti-Semitism said many British Jews feared that hatred against them was on the rise, and felt hate speech laws were not being applied ďŹ rmly enough. He said that during protests against Israel’s Gaza war last year, some demonstrators held banners saying “Hitler was rightâ€? and “Hitler should have ďŹ nished the job.â€? “These aren’t examples of legitimate debate,â€? Sacerdoti said. “These are examples of hate speech ... that made some Jewish people on the streets of London feel afraid.â€? The two communities may have similar fears, but they occupy different positions in European societies, and have widely differing views of the way they are treated. Jewish communities in Britain and elsewhere have been established for centuries. The shaming example of the Holocaust has helped spur European governments to denounce anti-Semitism and work to ensure such genocide never happens again. In several European countries, including France, denying the Holocaust is a crime. Muslims arrived in large numbers more recently, and often tend to be poorer than the national average. Many Muslims feel they are unfairly blamed for terrorist acts by extremists. Keane said many Muslims feel they “are treated as second-class citizens.â€? Jonathan Romain, a spiritual leader of British Reform Jews, said he sympathized with Muslim communities, who have had to adapt over recent decades to living in European countries where their faith is in a minority. “Jews have had practice of that for 2,000 years,â€? he said. Some Muslims believe they can learn from the Jewish community how to counter antiIslamic attacks. Tell Mama is modeled on the work of the Community Security Trust, a Jewish charity that monitors and combats anti-Semitism. “The Jewish community has been far more vocal and far more organized,â€? Mughal said. “The best form of defeating hate is speaking and socially organizing. The Muslim community is in disarray in terms of its leadership, its messaging.â€? Mughal sees signs of hope in the same place he often ďŹ nds hate — online. When a commentator on Fox News said Birmingham, England’s second-largest city, was “totally Muslim,â€? British Muslims and non-Muslims united in satire. Soon a Twitter campaign under the hashtag #foxnewsfacts was offering comically bogus snippets of information: a photo of hajj pilgrims labeled as the crowd at a local soccer match, a Mecca-brand bingo hall as proof of Islamic domination, a picture of Birmingham’s BT tower presented as the city’s “main minaret.â€? Mughal said it was an example of “communities coming together and having a laugh about stupidity, but also about some of the sensitive issuesâ€? about difference and integration in Britain. Romain, the Reform Jewish leader, said that instead of trying to silence offensive speech, people of all faiths could learn from the deft response of the Mormon church to irreverent stage musical “The Book of Mormon.â€? “They didn’t scream and shout outside. They didn’t harass the actors,â€? he said. “They took out a full-page advert in the program saying, ‘You’ve seen the play. Now come to one of our churches and see the difference’.â€?

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By Jill Lawless, AP LONDON — When cartoonists at a French publication that had poked fun at the Prophet Muhammad were shot dead, millions around the world felt it as an attack on freedom of speech. Since the rampage that left four dead at a kosher supermarket and 12 at the Charlie Hebdo ofďŹ ces, French authorities have arrested dozens of people — including a comedian — for appearing to praise the terrorists or encourage more attacks. That has unleashed accusations of a double standard, in which free speech applies to those who mock Islam while Muslims are penalized for expressing their own provocative views. Many Muslims complain that France aggressively prosecutes anti-Semitic slurs, but that they are not protected from similar racist speech. French police have arrested more than 70 people since the attacks for allegedly defending or glorifying terrorism. The most famous is comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, charged over a Facebook post saying “I feel like Charlie Coulibalyâ€? — a merger of the names of magazine Charlie Hebdo and Amedy Coulibaly, the attacker who killed four hostages at the supermarket. The comic also has repeatedly been prosecuted for anti-Semitism. Many countries have laws limiting free speech, and on paper most hate-speech rules do not discriminate against any particular faith or group. In Britain, recent prosecutions include a white supremacist convicted of sending a threatening anti-Semitic tweet to a lawmaker; a Muslim teenager tried for posting on Facebook that “all soldiers should die and go to hell;â€? and a 22-year-old man jailed for posting anti-Muslim comments on Facebook after two al-Qaida-inspired attackers murdered soldier Lee Rigby. French law bans promoting racial or religious hatred, as well as inciting or defending terrorism or crimes against humanity — a line that prosecutors say Dieudonne’s remarks crossed. Blasphemy, in contrast, is not illegal in France, so Charlie Hebdo’s mockery of religion is regarded differently. But the line between religious satire and hate speech is not always clear, and Charlie Hebdo was sued by Muslim groups for “publicly abusing a group of people because of their religionâ€? over cartoons it ran in 2006. The paper was acquitted, with the court ruling that the cartoons took aim at extremists, not Islam. Charlie Hebdo also has been sued by Roman Catholic groups. Defenders of Charlie Hebdo argue that the cartoonists are not motivated by hatred or a desire to spread discrimination when they make fun of religion. The latest French arrests have been criticized by Amnesty International, which has expressed concern about a new French law that permits sentences of up to seven years in prison for defending or inciting terrorism. The group says some prosecutions have been excessive, including that of a drunk man who praised Paris attackers the Kouachi brothers and told police: “I hope you will be next.â€? He was sentenced to four years in prison. John Keane, an Australian political scientist who has studied the history of Islam in Europe, said the arrests add to a widespread perception among Muslims that “the satirizing of Jewish people and the insult of Jewish people is not permitted under French law,

THE JEWISH STAR January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775

French arrests raise a question: Is free speech free for all?

January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775 • THE JEWISH STAR

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Vol 14, No. 5

Friday Jan. 30 • 10 Shevat 5775

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Is Netanyahu’s Congressional visit a blunder — or is it a necessity? JEFF DUNETZ POLITICS TO GO

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he dynamics of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Congressional visit is more complicated than the U.S. and Israeli media have made it out to be. It is more than just one more breach in the Obama/Netanyahu relationship; it’s a reaction to the President’s attempt to go around the constitutionally mandated rules for Senate approval of treaties, Obama’s use of British Prime Minister David Cameron to lobby for Congress to submit to the President, and a fear that the President will agree to a deal that will give Iran a treaty that will put the United States and Israel in grave danger. After the Netanyahu visit to a joint session of Congress was announced, the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz quoted a senior U.S. ofďŹ cial as saying, “There are things you simply don’t do. He spat in our face publicly and that’s no way to behave. Netanyahu ought to remember that President Obama has a year and a half left to his presidency, and that there will be a price.â€? On Sunday’s “Meet The Pressâ€? White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough tried to distance the President from that anonymous statement, “I can guarantee that it’s not me, not the president, and not what we believe.â€? He added, “I’m not going to get hyperbolic or emotional about this. Our relationship with Israel is many faceted, deep and abiding. It’s focused on a shared series of threats, but also, on a shared series of values that one particular instance is not going to inform overwhelmingly.â€? Despite McDonough’s protestations, the President is seething, and that is the real reason the Administration made a point to say the President would not be meeting with Netanyahu without the Prime Minister even broaching the topic. And if you look at it

from the president’s perspective, the anger is justiďŹ ed; after all, the Israeli Prime Minister kept the possible visit secret for weeks while he negotiated the details with the speaker. But from the perspective of the Israeli Prime Minister there is no wiggle room, the Iranian nuclear program must be stopped at all costs. Netanyahu is not a worry-aboutIran-come lately; for Bibi has, the Iranian nuclear program has been a priority issue since he became Likud party leader the ďŹ rst time, in 1992. either Netanyahu nor either party in Congress trusts this Administration to negotiate a treaty with Iran. Indeed, much of the pushback against this Administration on Iran comes from the Democratic Senator from New Jersey, Bob Menendez. As for New York’s Senior Senator Chuck Schumer, he is too close to the top of Democratic leadership to ever disagree with this President. At last week’s Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Senator Menendez cornered Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken into admitting the White House is no longer negotiating stop Iran from breaking out to nuclear weapons, they are only trying get a better “alarmâ€? in case the rogue nation tries to make the leap. In the end, why should it matter? The constitution requires that the Senate approve each treaty with a two-thirds vote. However, if the agreement does not bind a future presidency it isn’t considered a treaty and thus does not need Senate approval. And according to the Administration, that is exactly what they are trying to accomplish. The Administration is ďŹ ghting two different Congressional bills. One will require the Administration to seek Senate approval for any agreement with Iran, closing the loophole the Administration is trying to use. As Menendez described it to Anthony Blinkin, “The Iranians

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have made it very clear that their parliament has to vote on this issue. Why is it possible that Tehran will treat its parliament better than the Administration in the greatest democracy is willing to its Congress?â€? The very fact Obama does not want Senate input into this treaty is cause for concern that he will make a bad agreement. The second bill is the one generating the most buzz. It would increase sanctions on Iran in July 2015 if a framework agreement were not made by the March 2015 deadline, although Obama (or any President) has the right to waive or delay the sanctions for speciďŹ ed reasons. According to the President, the possibility of new sanctions will scuttle the discussion, even if it’s scheduled for four months after the agreed to deadline. Menendez and others in Congress are fearful that if a deal is not made by the March deadline, the time for Iran to breakout into nuclear weapons time is shorter than the time it will take to create new sanctions, thus the reason to have sanctions in place. And what is Iran doing during this debate? Increasing their nuclear capacity. Iran is building two new nuclear plants “for peaceful purposes.â€? They always say they are building new nuclear infrastructure for peaceful means, but in actuality they use it as a pretext for expanding their nuclear stockpile. Indeed, China’s Xinhuanet News Agency reported that “Iran’s atomic chief said on Sunday that Iran must increase its uranium enrichment capacity to 30 tons per year to meet the fuel needs of its Bushehr nuclear power plant, according to Tasnim news agency So in the end, Netanyahu’s trip to Congress is a necessary risk. Start with the fact that this President does not like Netanyahu and his Administration has enacted anti-Israel policies since he took ofďŹ ce. Add to that the fact that we now know that the Obama Administration cannot be trusted to make a deal which protects the United States or Israel from a nuclear Iran. Why else would he try to skirt Congressional approval? Iran is increasing its nuclear capacity without objection from the United States. The only way to prevent this possible disaster is to convince Congress and the American people to put their foot down. Under those conditions Benjamin Netanyahu had no choice.

RABBI AVI BILLET PARSHA OF THE WEEK

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heteronym in the Torah appears in three contexts which have too many parallels to be ignored. The prophetess Miriam (M-R-Y-M) appears on the scene to sing about the splitting of the sea, and then we are immediately told that the people arrived in Marah to find that “Marim Hem” — the water (or, according to some, the people) were bitter. The Hebrew for bitter appears here as MR-Y-M, spelled the same as “Miriam.” If it was people who were bitter, one wonders if the water was really bitter, or if it was only perceived as bitter until Moshe put the stick in it. Elsewhere in the Torah, in the chapter on sotah, the water-solution the accused adulteress is given to drink is called “Mei HaMarim (M-R-Y-M) Ha’Meor’r’im,” sometimes called the “bitter waters.” (Bamidbar 5:18) Finally, shortly after the death of Miriam (Bamidbar 20:1), when the people complain about lack of water, Moshe chastises them saying, “Shimu na HaMarim (M-R-Y-M)” – listen you rebels! Miriam dances in celebration over a miracle with water, there is bitterness over water (twice), and people are rebels over lack of water. All these episodes present the M-R-YM heteronym in different forms. Why? Is Miriam meant to be a representative of bitterness? Is there a tinge of rebelliousness in her? What is Miriam’s connection to water? Why is the sotah water called bitter, when perhaps the second adjective for the water – meor’r’im (revealing) is more im-

portant? Why do the people seem – at least in Moshe’s eyes – to be rebels when asking for water in Bamidbar, when they are clearly not rebels when they arrive in Marah and find nothing to drink? Is there a connection between bitterness, rebelliousness, water and Miriam; do they share a latent commonality? Miriam is referred to as “achot Aharon” – the sister of Aharon – when she leads the women in dancing after the splitting of the sea (15:20). Rashi et al suggests she was “Miriam the prophetess” when she was still only Aharon’s sister, because she prophesied about the birth of her brother who would become the Deliverer. On the other hand, the Midrash Aggadah (15:20) says she was a prophetess until Moshe was born, at which point the power of prophesy was taken from her and bestowed upon Moshe. Was she jealous over his success? Perhaps here is the source of our connection. What does losing prophesy do to one’s personality? It could certainly make Miriam bitter. And, for all the women who joined Miriam in her dance, not seeing her as the leader Moshe is may have also made them bitter — and legitimately so! Did Miriam’s bitterness towards Moshe ever come through? The Midrash is very critical of Miriam’s speaking of Moshe’s marital relations when she spoke ill of him in Bamidbar 12. The sotah is accused of being rebellious; she may be bitter because she feels squelched by her husband and feels no sense of self, no sense of freedom, no sense of trust. Her husband is so jealous of her, so untrusting, that he does not let go of the strings that allow her

personality to shine; certainly she is bitter. And even if she is innocent, we ought to consider how the commitment of marriage – the public declaration that one am dedicated to one person and not available to others – changes how one relates to members of the other gender; one’s personality must still shine through, but in different ways. Those who think that marriage suppresses them (though marriage isn’t the culprit, abusive spouses are) have not figured out how to balance the responsibilities of marriage with appropriate social engagement with others. Bitterness only brings people down and prevents them from moving on with life. Did a collective bitterness prevent people from seeing sweet water in Marah? Did the death of the 40-year female leader, leaving no female heir to her position cause bitterness and a rebellion over the symbol Miriam represented? (See Taanit 9a for Miriam’s connection to the well). There have been a number of articles written recently by women who are “freeing themselves” from the “shackles” of Orthodoxy — famous singer embraced Reform Judaism, a woman chose to cover her hair when she married and then uncovered it to not lose her personality, a woman felt silenced by husband and faith and found her voice through singing on a reality TV show in Israel (and subsequently divorced to complete her personality), and then there are the regular bloggers who find Judaism’s every purported fault. Nothing is perfect. But instead of being bitter about rabbis and halakha and beit din and

Bitterness brings people down and prevents them from moving on with life.

tefillin and mikveh and gets and singing, perhaps we can tap into the amazing creativity and innovation that has broadened the playing field. There are Orthodox women who serve as halakhic advisors, the mikveh in many communities is comprised of an incredible sisterhood, the pre-nuptial agreement and the post-nuptial agreement have saved many a heartache over the deliverance of gittin, and there are a good number of talented women who perform in public as actors, dancers, musicians and singers, without compromising their faith and commitment to our Halakhic system. See the power of an incredible woman in the film “Brave Miss World” in which a former Miss Israel, who became Miss World, and who has subsequently embraced the Orthodox lifestyle, takes on an important subject and has inspired perhaps millions through her personal experience and her advocacy. Miriam is an incredible heroine in the Torah. Her concern for her people when she was only a child, for her brother when he was a baby, for the women she led at the Sea, and in whatever else she did makes her a model for all time. But she was also human. Whether it’s the subtlety of being called “Aharon’s sister,” or her lashon hara episode about Moshe, there was something lying beneath the surface. Did she ever move past it? I think she did. I think her getting tzaraat taught her an important lesson. And the fact that both her brothers prayed for her indicates a filial relationship that never waned through thick and thin. Miriam the prophetess proves that there can be a very prominent place for women in Judaism — and the women I have encountered who put their hearts into the system and become the most educated about it (flaws it has and all!) have found the life to be overwhelmingly a good one.

When free choice is no longer ours to choose RABBI BINNY FREEDMAN THE HEART OF JERUSALEM

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his doesn’t look like such a good idea, said Benjy, commander of an elite company in Golani’s Egoz unit, in the summer of 2006. “I know,” responded his commander, “but orders are orders.” Their mission was to cross the border into Lebanon, and take the ridgeline some 3 kilometers opposite in an effort to support IDF troops to the east. I have visited the border by Kibbutz Avivim many times, and it never ceases to amaze me, the fortitude and raw courage it must have taken, for Benjy to lead his men over wide open territory in broad daylight, beneath the guns of Hezbollah terrorists in the hills above. This was the same Benjy Hillman, o”bm, subsequently killed in that battle at Maroun Aras , who was cited for bravery some years earlier, when he single handedly charged armed terrorists who had infiltrated one of the settlements in Gush Katif . Alone, he saved the lives of those under fire, by choosing to attack armed terrorists, rather than wait for backup forces to come to his aid. How does a person make such choices? Whence comes the courage and bravery necessary, in the face of what would cause most people to be frozen with fear, to ignore the most basic survival instinct and make what would post facto prove to be the right choice?

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his week’s portion, Beshalach, presents us with a fascinating opportunity to explore the nature of our freedom to choose: “And G-d did not take the Jewish people via the land of the Philistines lest they see war and desire to return to Egypt.” G-d knew that the Jewish people, straight out of 200 years of Egyptian servitude, were not ready to fight, and the inevitable encounter with the warlike Philistine tribes would terrify them and have them wanting to return to Egypt. So G-d takes them northeast, towards the Red sea, where they encounter … the entire Egyptian army! Since G-d splits the sea to save the Jewish people and subsequently vanquishes the entire Egyptian army, why couldn’t G-d do that to the Philistines instead? G-d could simply have caused the Philistines not to want to fight, avoiding the conflict all together; why the need for such an elaborate detour? Rav Moshe Feinstein, in his Darash Moshe, suggests that in either case, G-d would have been removing the enemy’s free choice. A miracle preventing the conflict would have necessitated a removal of the Philistines’ free will, and the Philistines did not (yet?) deserve such a consequence. Of course this implies the Egyptians did deserve such a removal of choice; why? An integral part of the Exodus story is that G-d does indeed “harden Pharaoh’s heart,”

removing his free will and ability to choose to let the Jews go. The Ramban points out that although G-d promises (at the burning bush) that he will harden Pharaoh’s heart, in the first five of the ten plagues the verse actually says that “Pharaoh hardened his heart;” only in the sixth plague does it actually say that G-d hardened Pharaoh’s heart. In fact, a person can make choices that remove his ability to choose — much like a drug addict who initially makes a conscious choice to experiment with a dangerous chemical substance, and eventually loses his ability to resist what has become an addiction. Egypt chose an evil path, but eventually those choices precluded their ability to choose a logical path of good. Similarly, in modern times, the Nazis’ chosen evil path eventually precluded their ability to see that the choices they were making were not only illogical but spelled their inevitable downfall. In the summer of 1944, with the war hanging in the balance, and their supply lines were in disarray, the Nazis were diverting desperately needed trains to move the 400,000 Jews of Hungary in the opposite direction to Auschwitz in Poland. Hitler and his minions were simply no longer able to choose logically; they were too deeply committed to evil. (One could make the same case for today’s Hamas, shooting missiles into Israel and spending the bear’s

Sometimes we grow up making good choices that eventually preclude our ability to make the wrong choices.

share of their finances and materials to build tunnels, undermining the need to supply their own people.) Perhaps the Philistines had not yet sunken, in their pagan idolatry, to the level of evil that precluded their ability to choose. As for the Jews, after centuries of servitude, their slave mentality was such that they were no longer free or able to choose to leave Egypt on their own; they needed Hashem’s help to get out. Before we could choose to truly leave behind the slave mentality and dependence born of 200 years of slavery, we needed to see Egypt in all its might destroyed by no less than G-d Himself. What choices do we make, and how do they take us down a path which eventually removes our ability to choose? Sometimes, like Major Benjy Hillman, o”bm, we grow up making good choices that eventually preclude our ability to make the wrong choices. How many difficult but good, right choices must a person make until it becomes almost natural, to choose a dangerous path out of such a deeply felt belief in the privilege of serving the Jewish people? The message of the portion of Beshalach is that we need to define the “Egypt” in our lives, and outline our choices to set ourselves free. We often make poor choices, whether in terms of what we eat, how we work, or the relationships we cultivate. We don’t always realize the implications of those choices, and that they can eventually preclude our ability to make wiser and healthier choices in the future. May we be blessed to find the wisdom and fortitude to make the right choices, for the right reasons, at the right time. Shabbat Shalom, from Jerusalem.

THE JEWISH STAR January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775

Beshalach: Bitterness, rebelliousness, Miriam

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January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775 • THE JEWISH STAR

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Tu B’Shvat’s hope for an early spring ALAN JAY GERBER KOSHER BOOKWORM

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his coming Wednesday, Feb. 4, we celebrate Tu B’Shvat, the beginning of spring on the Jewish calendar. The very thought of spring, especially given recent climatic events, is a bit of a stretch. Yet, spring is here, albeit a spiritual spring. This week I will present several literary pieces drawn from varied sources that will hopefully give you a better appreciation of this unique holiday, and hopefully add extra warmth to our frigid lives. First, we have an interview with Knesset member Rabbi Dov Lipman. Rabbi Lipman made some interesting observations that I will share without comment: “Trees are often a metaphor for humans. Many of us have heard the injunction that during war one may lay siege to a town, but one may not cut down the trees. The entire verse, Devarim 20:19, reads, ‘When you lay siege to a city for many days to capture it by making war against it, you shall not destroy its tree, wielding an axe against it; for you shall eat of it but not cut it down; for a man is a tree of the field.’ “I should hasten to point out that halachically-speaking, one is only prohibited from cutting down trees that bear fruit. Others consider the fruit of one’s tree as the mitzvot that we do. And, indeed, trees are often a metaphor for Torah. The most famous expression of this is in Mishlei 3:18, ‘It is a

tree of life for those who hold fast to it’.” We learn from Rabbi Lipman the following: “We see that the 15th of Shevat is an important growth period for trees. We also see that trees, in our tradition, are related to both Torah and to mankind, and that the 15th of Shevat was a time when there was major spiritual growth among Jews. So, Tu B’Shevat is a time for Jews to focus on ‘the tree’ — the Tree of Torah and the tree of our own spiritual growth, and our potential for growth.” (Based on an interview with Eric Simon, Torah.org). Rabbi Dov Lipman recently authored a simple yet eloquent autobiography entitled, “To Unify A Nation” (Urim Publcations) in which he, a musmach of Ner Yisrael, explains the motivations and beliefs behind his heartfelt activities on behalf of the Jewish people. This work deserves your attention for its honesty and a quality of chessed that he represents. We learn the follow from historian Rabbi Berel Wein, in his essay “As The Season Turns”: “Tu B’Shvat marks the turning point of the winter season. Even though there are many weeks of winter still ahead of us, there is no doubt that the season is turning. The days are becoming longer, the sun higher and brighter in the sky and the advertisements for Pesach accommodations more urgent and frenzied in tone. Tu B’Shvat is thus not only a new beginning for the fruits and trees of the Land of Israel, it is meant to signal a new beginning for us as individuals and as a people and a Jewish society.” Rabbi Wein always writes with a smile. A unique booklet is still extant in its

fourth edition entitled, “Haggadah Shel Tu B”Shvat,” by Seymour Hefter, a resident of Cedarhurst and a member of the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst. Within this brief booklet can be found an interesting collection of verses, teachings, songs and rituals all patterned as the liturgy of the Pesach Haggadah. “This Haggadah captures the holiday spirit to be shared with family and friends,” Hefter writes. “I firmly believe in the centrality of community, caring, and doing things Jewish. This work is intended to complement your enjoyment of this special day.” And, truly, so it is. ••• Please be aware of the following upcoming events: •The Annual Tu B’ Shvat Seder with Rav Moshe Weinberger will be held at 8 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 3, the eve of Tu B’Shvat, featuring music, Torah and fruit, at the Schuckman home, 33 Wyckoff Pl., Woodmere. This joyous event is sponsored by Congregation Aish Kodesh. • Yeshiva University’s annual seforim sale will once again be held from Feb 1 to March 1. For information as to location and hours view online at theseforimsale.com. •And finally, please reserve the weekend of Shabbat Terumah, Feb. 20–21, for the Red

Shul’s annual scholar-in-residence Shabbat, this year hosting Rabbi Reuven Ziegler of Yeshivat Har Etzion and Koren Publishing. Further details to follow next week.

Europe’s Jews tied to a declining political class BEN COHEN VIEWPOINT

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s regular readers of my column will know, I am not an admirer of the analogy between the situation that Jews faced in Europe in the 1930s, and the trials and challenges we face now. I don’t like it because, quite simply, the differences far outweigh the similarities. First and foremost, since 1948, there has been a Jewish state ready to absorb any Jew fleeing from anti-Semitism—a lifeline that was glaringly absent during the period of Nazi perse-cution. The position of Jewish communities visa-vis their governments has also changed. In the 1930s, European leaders didn’t say that their countries would be irredeemably damaged by the exodus of their Jewish populations; even after the Holocaust, it took several years for there to be anything like a moral reckoning with the fate of the Jews in the countries that were occupied by the Nazis. But in the days following the recent Paris terror attacks, both the French prime minister and the British home secretary delivered emotional speeches declaring that France would not be France, and Britain would not be Britain, without their long-settled Jewish populations. Nonetheless, I do understand the appeal of the 1930s analogy. During that decade and the one that followed, the lethal potential of anti-Semitism was driven home with a darkness previously unknown. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising, now that we are living in

the most dangerous period for Jews since the Second World War, that the Nazi period has become the yardstick against which we measure and judge our current woes. I expect the use of the 1930s analogy to grow in the coming months, as Europe further succumbs to the temptations of populism and nationalism, as the United States is led by an administration that has made its disinterest in—even contempt for—the old continent painfully clear. Under President Obama, Europeans have been rudely awakened to the fact that they no longer have a privileged relationship with an America that variously ap-pears to them inward-looking, or trapped in the Middle East, or desperate to tilt its for-eign policy towards Asia. Politically, Europe looks very different now than it did in 2008, when Obama was elected. To many Americans, it seems as if Europe is gripped by menace and vulnerabil-ity, and by the widespread fear of a future dominated by conflict and social discord. How Europeans actually see their future depends, in large part, on where they live, how they vote, how financially secure they are, and what opinions they hold on the Middle Eastern and Afghan wars that have defined the post-9/11 period. While a visitor to one of Europe’s metropolitan capitals will meet any number of sensible, reasoned people who will make a very convincing case that the continent’s current difficulties are unlikely to lead to a 1930sstyle convulsion, it’s getting harder to ignore

the alternative view: that Europe’s political foundations are coming apart, with grave repercussions for societies that have not (at least in the Western half of the continent) directly experienced prolonged armed conflict since the middle of the last century. he Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), an outfit known for its sober and dispassionate analysis, says that a “crisis of democracy” now prevails in a Europe where the voting public feels great remoteness from the political class. And there are approaching elections in the U.K., Denmark, Finland, Spain, France, Sweden, Germany, and Ireland—all these polls will demonstrate the degree to which the new parties and movements of left and right can shake the established political parties. The first test of that was in Greece on Jan. 25, in an election that resulted in a victory for the leftist coalition Syriza, which garnered 36 percent of the vote, eight percentage points ahead of the much more familiar and much more establishment New Democracy Party. I was more shocked by what I saw at the other end of the scale: Golden Dawn, an organization of violent neo-Nazi thugs and vandals, winning 6.3 percent of the vote. All in all, Greece will go into this year with the most left-wing government in the history of post-war Europe, with a large contingent of far-right criminals itching for a fight as well. (If you’re wondering what that means for Israel, it’s not good. The current Greek government has a decent relationship with Israel; a

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I understand the appeal of the 1930s analogy … it’s getting harder to ignore.

Syriza government will be distinguished by the fact that most of its far left constituent parts don’t think Israel has the right to exist in the first place. Alexis Tsipras, Syriza’s leader, doesn’t share that view, but he is a harsh and hyperbolic critic of Israel even so.) Syriza’s victory could rebound across Europe, with benefits for both the far right and the far left, just at the moment when the public has again been reminded of the bestial depths that Islamist terrorism can sink to. No wonder, then, that growing numbers of European Jews are seeking a future outside. As the EIU says in its study, “There is a gaping hole at the heart of European politics where big ideas should be.” The absence of big ideas is compounded by the presence of some very bad ones. An important aspect of the threat that Jews in Europe face lies in the fact that they are closely associated with the political class that the EIU says is now in danger. Over many decades, their communal representatives have cultivated the leaders of the main parties; they are consulted by ministries and think tanks; they have advanced relations with Israel in culture, business, and politics; they share the foundational conviction that the disaster of Nazism can never be repeated. That is why the current French prime minister and the current British home secretary speak as they do. That is why Frans Timmermans, the European Commission vice president, said this week that Jewish fears pose “a huge challenge to the very foundations of European integration. But we have no certainty, even 10 years from now, that their successors, of potentially very different political stripes, will say the same. Ben Cohen is Shillman Analyst for JNS.org.

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THE JEWISH STAR January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775

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material protection for the individual, their family, and the Jewish nation,” said Henya Storch, a Woodmere resident and the group’s outreach and special events director. Every dollar donated by Ner Echad members goes directly to the Batsheva Kanievsky Widow and Children Fund and into the hands of needy women and children across Israel. But Rabbi Rothman also pointed to the spiritual unity that the group achieves. “It enhances the prayers and requests that one beseeches the Almighty at that time. This is done all together, all member credit cards are charged $1 at exactly the same moment: candle-lighting time in Jerusalem, the spiritual center of the world. So it’s lighting Shabbos candles together, praying for each other together, and dispensing charity together,” he said.

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January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775 • THE JEWISH STAR

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my role model, it is a powerful way to bring Jewish women closer to mitzvot and to each other.” Debbie Greenblatt of Lawrence, the wellknown public speaker for Gateways, commented, “Our Sages teach: ‘In the merit of righteous women, our forefathers were redeemed from Egypt, and in the merit of righteous women they will be redeemed in the future.’ Throughout the ages, Jewish women have maintained a clear vision of the direction that our people need to take. At this critical juncture in history, the idea of women joining together in a mitzvah, and to honor the great Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky, of blessed memory, is an expression of that vision and will no doubt create a formidable force that will hasten the ultimate redemption.” Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner,menahales of Machon Basya Rochel Girls Seminary in Lawrence, and Rebbetzin of the White Shul in Far Rockaway said, “From the few momentous opportunities that I had to meet Rebbetzin Kanievsky there are two feelings that linger: warmth and simcha. Ner Echad has hightlighted our mitzva of hadlakas neros to be a zechus for the continued aliya of her neshama. Let’s all embrace this opportunity to connect our candles to Rebbetzin Kanievsky, and enable that warmth and simcha to permeate our hearts and homes, every Shabbos Kodesh and all week long.” Rebbetzin Slovie Jungreis Wolfe of Lawrence, an author, international lecturer, and leader of Hineni Couples, stated, “More than the Jewish people have kept Shabbos alive, Shabbos has kept the Jewish people alive. We have the incredible opportunity to ignite our Shabbos candles across the world and give life to our nation. Through our acts of kindness, prayers and our Shabbos lights we join as one people, as Ner Echad, and bring blessing to Am Yisroel.” Ner Echad’s website is replete with testimonials of dozens of well-known Jewish women encouraging others to join, such as Rachel Frankel, Yamina Mizrachi, Rebbetzin Tzipporah Heller, Rabbanit Yehudit Yosef, Bracha Goetz, and Shani Hikind. For six extraordinary decades, Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky’s tiny apartment in Bnei Brak overflowed onto the streets of Israel with women coming from all over the world to seek her advice, blessing and support. “The Kanievsky family devote their lives 24/7 to the Jewish people,” Storch said. “If we have a chance to say thank you, and show hakoros hatov, and help the Rebbetzin’s soul have an aliyah, how can we not take a few minutes to sign up, and donate a dollar for candlelighting in her memory that helps widows, divorcees, and children in need?” Volunteers are sought as communal ambassadors, to spread the word, do good deeds, and build a huge network of Jewish women from all backgrounds. If you are ready to light up the world, join Ner Echad by signing up on the website: www. nerechad.org/join, by calling 844-637-3242, or emailing info@nerechad.org.

Judy is on vacation this week — she’ll be back next week with a fresh menu of tales from her cruise. Meanwhile, we’re rerunning last year’s Super Bowl column, in which her husband, Jerry, suggested that she write about Sid Luckman. id Luckman? I asked. “Was he an old friend of yours I never heard of, or is this going to be a never heard of story you pulled out of your Jerry-tool kit?” “Yes, one of those stories. We were able to sit in his seats, in the ’80s on the 50 yard line, first row right behind the Giants’ bench,” Jerry responded. (An aside to women who are not into football: Those seats is equivalent to standing in a pair of Louboutins or better yet wearing a custom tailored Channel evening gown. The seats don’t get better than those.) I heard all about how he, his son Yoni and daughter Elana, were so close to the players, they got to speak to Laurence Taylor, Phil Simms and Mark Bavaro through the game. (Ladies and gents, to those who don’t follow football, let’s just say that would be like hobnobbing with the likes of Sinatra, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Liz Taylor and Sophia Vargara.) “You were able to afford those tickets?” I inquired. Jerry replied, “No, I went for free. A friend of mine knew Sid Luckman and I was given his seats from time to time.” So there I was on my computer looking up Sid Luckman.

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Deviled egg footballs Ingredients: 12 hard boiled eggs 1/4-1/3 cup mayonnaise (regular or light) depending how creamy tasting you like it. 1 3/4 Tbs. yellow mustard

Salt and white pepper to taste When cool, peel the eggs. Slice the eggs in half lengthwise, remove yolks and place in a separate plate, and mash well.

Add 1/3 cup mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons of yellow mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste, then carefully spoon into the white egg halves. Cut chives into small pieces and arrange on the eggs so that it looks like football lacing, see photo. Cocktail Hot Dog Football Players in Helmets

Ingredients: As many cocktail franks as you want to serve. 1 jar of large pimiento-stuffed olives Mustard Al dente thin spaghetti (just enough to use as lacing for the footballs) Preparation: Players in helmets Boil cocktail franks according to package directions. • Cut 1/3 off the base of the olives. This will be the helmet. • To place the helmet, slice vertically through the back of the olive and place over the top of each cocktail frank • Pipe on mustard to form the mouth guard and finish by placing two mustard dots for the eyes. Preparation: Footballs Follow photo and use mustard for stitching in the center of the cocktail frank and use pasta for the other rings around the edges of the football. judy.soiree@gmail.com

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Even though Luckman played for the Chicago Bears, the Mara family, which owns the Giants, was so impressed by Luckman that they gave him lifetime seats. He was the greatest Jewish observant NFL and college football quarterback and is in the Hall of Fame. He won four championships, was the leader of the Bear’s Monsters of the Midway, and dominated the NFL throughout his career. He would unquestionably make any postcard or pamphlet depicting famous Jewish athletes (see movie Airplane to understand what I’m talking about). Just yesterday, Jerry read an article that had Luckman — who retired five years before Jerry was born — listed as the fourth greatest Jewish athlete of all time, only surpassed by Sandy Koufax, Hank Greenberg and Mark Spitz (my personal favorite). While Yoni, 6, and Jerry were riveted to the game, Elena, 4, would spend the entire game looking back at the crowd cheering on their beloved Giants; she loved the sound of the cheering and the ring of the cowbells. Sid Luckman heard the identical sounds but in his case the crowd’s adulation was meant for him, a Jewish observant kid from Brooklyn. Unless you’re one of the lucky (or unlucky, depending on the weather, I guess) few who will attend this year’s Super Bowl, try your hand at these easy to make, football themed snacks. Whether you’re hosting or attending a get together, they are sure to be a crowd pleaser.

THE JEWISH STAR January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775

Whether or not you’re ready, here comes Super Bowl

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12 January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775 • THE JEWISH STAR

Enjoy fruit wine for Tu B’Shevat Morad Winery We think of wine as being only made from grapes. But wine can yield an abundance of flavors, including every fruit imaginable (and some not so imaginable). Few are aware of, or have tried, wines made from fruit. At B’Shevat, next week’s celebration of trees and agriculture, what better way to celebrate than with fermented fruit from the holy land? Morad Winery is an exclusively non-grape winery that produces full-flavored fruit wine including lychee and passion fruit grown in Israel. Tu B’Shevat, the 15th day of Shevat, marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees, when the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle. In Jewish Law, the “new year” for trees relates to the various tithes that are separated from produce grown in the Holy Land. These tithes differ from year to year in the seven-year shemittah cycle; the point at which a budding fruit is considered to belong to the next year of the cycle is the 15th of Shevat. We mark the day of Tu B’Shevat by eating fruit, particularly those that are singled out by the Torah in its praise of the bounty of the Holy Land: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. Traditionally we eat a new fruit so we can make the blessing of Shechiyanu. The deeper meaning of the day is to remember that “man is a tree of the field” (Deuteronomy 20:19), and reflect on the lessons we can derive from our botanical analogue on self improvement. Just as grape based wine is the natural fermentation of the juice of the grape, Fruit

wine, similarly, is the natural fermentation of the juice of the fruit. Often fruit wines may be enhanced with the addition of alcohol or what is known as ‘Pot Still Brandy’ meaning alcohol derived from grapes. As any chef will tell you, if you want great food start with great ingredients. The same is true for fruit wines, and when is comes to those, no one does it better than Israel’s Morad Winery. Besides drinking Morad’s wine straight (it’s delicious), here are two cocktail recipes for a joyous Tu’Bishvat celebration. 0RUDG 3DVVLRQ )UXLW 6SDUNOHU In a champagne glass, pour 3 oz of Morad Passion Fruit wine and then top with Prosecco (such as Bartenura brand). Garnish with fresh fruit. 1HFWDU RI 7KH *DOLOHH 4 oz Morad Lychee Wine 2 oz Coconut milk ½ oz lime juice In a shaker filled with ice, shake vigorously and strain into champagne coupe. For an exotic presentation, triple the ingredients for this recipe and serve in a hollowed out coconut shell. These Morad Winery products are available at Liquor & Wine Watrehouse, 343 Rockaway Tpk., in Lawrence. 516-371-1133.

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he next time you visit the American consulate in Jerusalem, the heavily armed men whom you think are there to protect you may actually be Palestinian terrorists. The consulate’s chief security ofďŹ cer, Dan Cronin, has decided to hire 35 Palestinian security guards, some of whom are former terrorists, according to Ynet, the Englishlanguage website of the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. Some of the new hires “have been arrested in the past for throwing stones,â€? as Ynet put it. In other words, they were caught trying to stone Jews to death. One “senior Palestinian adviserâ€? to the consul-general “served time in

tion leading to the capture of the terrorists. Believe it or not, that was a radical step for the U.S., which has almost never offered rewards in cases of Americans killed by Palestinian terrorists. The PA was furious and Arafat’s National Security Adviser, Jibril Rajoub, publicly accused the U.S. of “blackmail.â€? To ease the American pressure, the PA quickly put four “suspectsâ€? on trial. But the proceedings were kept secret, and two months later, the PA reported that three of the suspects had “escaped.â€? What happened to the fourth is unclear. In 2010, John Parsons of Wayne, N.J., the brother of one of the victims, asked the FBI’s Victims’ Assistance OfďŹ ce for an update. It told him that it considers the case “closedâ€? even though the killers were never punished. It seems that the Jerusalem consulate has now adopted the attitude that if it can’t capture the terrorists who attacked the convoy, it should hire terrorists to “protectâ€? more convoys. Sounds like the kind of “protectionâ€?

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Israeli prison because of membership in the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization).� Another is related to a Hamas leader in Jerusalem, Mohammed Hassan Abu Tir, who has served “numerous sentences� for terrorist activity. The new guards are now undergoing training in weapons and hand-to-hand combat at an American facility in the Palestinian Authority (PA)-ruled city of Jericho. Some have also undergone training in the United States. To make matters worse, the hiring of the Palestinians is a blatant violation of an Israeli-American agreement. In 2011, Israel consented to the American consulate’s request to keep 100 guns on the premises, on condition that they are handled only by U.S. diplomats or veterans of the Israeli army. Now, those guns are being handed over to those who tried to stone Jews to death and have served time in prison for their terror activity. In a dose of bitter irony, one of the terrorguards’ duties will be to serve as “escorts to American diplomats’ convoys in the West Bank.� That’s ironic because of what happened the last time the U.S. turned to Palestinians for assistance with regard to a diplomatic convoy. In October 2003, Palestinian terrorists attacked a convoy of U.S. diplomatic vehicles entering Gaza (they were going to award Fulbright scholarships to Palestinian students). Three American security men were murdered. At the time, PA chairman Yasser Arafat and his security services dragged their feet in the investigation, so the U.S. announced a $5-million reward for informa-

one might be offered by the maďŹ a. The Jerusalem consulate’s ofďŹ cial response to the Ynet report of its hiring plan was hardly reassuring. “We do not discuss security for our diplomatic delegation,â€? the consulate asserted, adding, “We coordinate our work with local authorities in a complete and ongoing manner.â€? A rubbery phrase such as “complete and ongoingâ€? could, of course, mean anything. Ynet lays the blame for the situation at the feet of Dan Cronin. It quotes sources as saying that the consulate security chief has shown “a callous attitude towards the Israelisâ€? and has made “pro-Palestinian remarks.â€? They also say he is responsible for the recent ďŹ ring of seven Israeli security personnel employed at the consulate. Three more Israeli security men have since resigned in protest from the consulate staff. Whatever Cronin’s role, he is in the end an employee and representative of the U.S. State Department. He does not make his own foreign policy. The Obama administration makes the decisions. If the plan to put terrorists in charge of the Jerusalem consulate’s security goes forward, it is the policymakers in Washington who bear responsibility—and who should hear from outraged taxpayers. Giving badges to terrorists doesn’t make them security guards, and paying them with American taxpayers’ money just adds to the outrage. NJ attorney Stephen M. Flatow is the father of Alisa Flatow, murdered in a Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995. He is a candidate on the Religious Zionist slate in the World Zionist Congress elections.

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THE JEWISH STAR January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775

Palestinian terrorist with badge is no ‘guard’

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January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775 • THE JEWISH STAR

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Replay: This feature was a reader favorite when it first appeared last January. By Lonnie Ostrow he Super Bowl. The Ultimate sporting event in North America. A virtual national holiday, no matter which team you happen to root for. A day for parties, bigscreen TVs, serious calorie consumption, and those spectacular, high-priced commercials. With Super Bowl XLVIII (that’s 48, for those of us who are Roman numerally challenged) being played here in the New York area for the first time on Feb. 2, it seems only fitting to share one of the ultimate Jewish experiences of my life. A mincha service for the ages at Super Bowl XXXII. The date: Jan. 25, 1998. The place: Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The epic match-up: Between the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos. In attendance: 68,000 spectators, with another 90 million watching at home on Lonnie Ostrow television. Among those seated behind the goalpost at the north end of the stadium were myself, and a young colleague of mine by the name of “Yankel.” Just the story of how we ended up attending this spectacle is rather remarkable. Back in 1998, I was working as the director of public relations and marketing for an international postal agency. Yankel, only a teenager at the time, had recently been hired to help out in the stockroom. My love for sports, and pro football in particular, was well known around my workplace. Every Monday morning during football season, my corner office would fill with a half-dozen or so NFL enthusiasts to recap the weekend’s games. We had a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, a Miami Dolphins diehard, two Dallas Cowboys rooters, and an assortment of backers for our pair of local teams. Yankel, as I recall, was a New York Jets fan. It would be hard to call him “long-suffering” back then, as he was only 18-years old. However, his passion for the sport, and his knowledge of the game made him a valuable contributor to our Monday morning wrap-ups. Yankel was a unique young man. He once confided in me that he had been raised by an aunt and uncle due to “complicated issues” relating to his biological parents. I also noticed that he would regularly recite kaddish during mincha in our office conference room each weekday afternoon. When I quietly asked him who he was saying it for, he told me matter-of-factly that his “actual father,” a man he barely knew, had recently passed away. He had been advised by a rabbi that he was not obligated to observe all aspects of mourning due to these circumstances; still, he felt the need to say kaddish whenever a minyan was available. It was an overcast January Monday morning when Yankel slipped into my office with a grin from ear-to-ear. I’d figured that my young friend had come in to talk about Sunday playoff games from the just-completed weekend. Instead, Yankel closed the door to my room, sat down in the lone chair facing my desk and leaned in to share his big news. “Hey, Lonnie, what if I told you that I could get us tickets to the Super Bowl?” I should qualify here that up to this point in my life, I had never attended an NFL game. Tickets to the NY Giants were pretty much locked down by a group of some 70,000 season-ticket holders for decades. The Jets were of no interest to me, even if plenty of good seats were often available. I’d watched hundreds of games on television, but never

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had I witnessed one in person. Now, here was this young man who I worked with, offering me a ticket to attend the Super Bowl! I nearly fell backward off my chair. It turned out that Yankel’s uncle worked for an apparel company in Brooklyn. As an NFL licensee, he received a pair of tickets to the big game each year. Only this time, urgent business prevented him from traveling. Instead, he offered them to his football-obsessed nephew, providing that Yankel could find a responsible adult to accompany him to San Diego. That “responsible adult” turned out to be me! I immediately began checking for flights to San Diego. There were none to be had. No hotel rooms either for Super Bowl weekend. A complete sellout. Plan B was to inquire on flights to Los Angeles. A few scattered seats remained open. Next, I called up a friend out in Agoura Hills to determine if he and his wife could host Yankel and me for Shabbos, then drive us to the Amtrak station early on Sunday morning. Thankfully, the answer was yes on both counts. n the morning of Super Bowl Sunday, Yankel and I boarded an Amtrak down the California coast to San Diego. The scenery was picturesque, but only a momentary distraction from our Super Bowl excitement. Fans of the Denver Broncos and Green Bay packers filed into Qualcomm stadium in droves. Large clusters of seats were occupied by the orange and blue of Denver, or the green and yellow of Green Bay. Many of the Packers fans sported large triangular hats with small holes in them, which they called “cheeseheads.” Kick-off occurred around 3:30 pm local time (6:30 pm on the East Coast). It was a picture-perfect warm and sunny afternoon. Yankel and I watched with excitement as Denver jumped out to a 17–14 halftime lead behind the success of star runner Terrell Davis. A thoroughly entertaining back-andforth affair. The halftime show was billed as a 40th anniversary tribute to Motown. Featured performers were to include Boys II Men, Smokey

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Robinson, and the Four Tops. As stages were being rolled into place on the field below, my friend Yankel suddenly became panicked by a singular detail that we had overlooked. “The sun is already starting to set. By the time the game is over, it’ll be too late to davan mincha. Where am I going to find a minyan to say kaddish?” My initial instinct was to dismiss the idea of a minyan, for us to simply recite mincha on our own in one of the stadium corridors. Yankel was not sold. “There’s got to be ten Jewish men around here in this stadium. Probably more than that. But how do we find them and get them into one place? There’s got to be a way.” We hurried from our seats to the main concourse, seeking men with yarmulkes. I located one emerging from a men’s room. Yankel couldn’t locate any. He was particularly frustrated by all the baseball caps, and those triangular cheeseheads worn by the Green Bay contingent. His pale, youthful face was turning a deeper shade of red with each passing minute. I felt compelled to come up with a solution. We strolled the crowded hallways in search of eight additional eligible participants. We passed concession stands, souvenir carts, even a baby-changing station. No luck. And to make matters more difficult, the halftime show was about to begin according to the announcements over the public address system. We were nearly prepared to call it quits on our longshot minyan idea, when it hit me. The “Lost and Found.” Yankel and I had passed this area only moments before. Now, suddenly, it was our last hope. A stanchion with red rope led us to a pair of wooden desks, situated in front of a small glass window that resembled a bank-teller station. A pair of stadium security guards sat at each of the desks with arms folded. Only one woman waited ahead of us in line. I turned back to Yankel and urged him to follow my lead. Moments later, one of the uniformed men called out: “Gentlemen, how can I help you.”

A man removed his cheesehead to reveal a knitted yarmulke. He pointed the way east and led the davening. Soon, 27 men were shuckling back and forth, reciting the Shemoneh Esrei and answering Amen to my friend’s kaddish.

switched on my most panicked disposition. “Sir, it’s our younger brother. He’s only 12. He wandered off to the bathroom just before halftime. We can’t find him anywhere.” The security guard pulled out a clipboard, fired off a few questions about the characteristics of our “missing brother,” and scribbled a few notes. Finally he asked: “And by the way, what’s his name?” “Mincha,” I responded. “Mincha Service.” “Meen-cha Service?” The man looked up at us with a puzzled expression, then repeated the name to make sure he had the correct pronunciation. “Okay, I’m going to have them announce something. Let’s hope he hears it and turns up.” The guard slid a paper to a woman behind the glass window and carefully repeated the name we had provided. Within moments, an announcement rang out throughout the stadium. “Ladies and Gentleman, may I have your attention please. Would Meen-Cha Service please report to the lost and found, located on the plaza level between gates F and G. That’s Meen-Cha Service.” To this day, I’m still not sure w h i c h aspect of this story surprises me more: That the stadium security actually made the announcement, or the immediate response to our unusual minyan call. No matter, within 90 seconds, we had 14 men just outside the Lost and Found ready to begin Ashrei. Yankel and I hurried to join them. One man removed his cheesehead to reveal a knitted yarmulke with the Green Bay Packers logo stitched in. He pointed the way east and led the davening. Soon, 27 men were shuckling back and forth, reciting the Shemoneh Esrei. Yankel had more than twice the requisite number of men to answer Amen to his kaddish. We recited Alenu as the muffled strains from the halftime concert commenced. It was at that moment that our friendly security guard stepped out from behind his post and came to locate me out in the corridor. “Sir, did you find your little brother?” A look of concern remained etched on his face. “Several of them,” Yankel shouted behind the man’s back, generating laughter from a few of our minyaneers. “Yes, thank you,” I replied, then flashed a grateful smile. “We never would have found him if you hadn’t made that announcement. Thanks for being so helpful. You really saved the day.” In today’s more advanced world of smartphones, text-messaging and social media, I suspect that there are easier ways to organize a minyan in a large public venue. I’ve witnessed pre-organized minyanim for both mincha and maariv at the Kosher concession stands at Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium and Citi Field. I’ve seen impromptu minyanim on airplanes, in restaurants, and even one in the waiting area in Penn Station. However, given the improvised nature of our Super Bowl mincha, and the magnitude of the event, I don’t think I’ll ever be a part of a more improbable, or memorable mincha service. The final score that day was Denver 31, Green Bay 24. But to my friend, Yankel, the 27 men who gathered outside the Lost and Found in Qualcomm Stadium was the most significant number of all. Lonnie Ostrow is a resident of Merrick.

THE JEWISH STAR January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775

At Big Game in San Diego, unlikeliest of minchas

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NSN prepares another kosher halftime show NSN Halftime Show. Hosted by Jewish radio icon, Nachum Segal, the Kosher Halftime Show is the family oriented alternative to the pop culture musical and dance performance on broadcast television. The program will stream and be available during halftime of Super Bowl XLIX, Sunday, Feb. 1, on www.nachumsegal.com. The program will feature Soulfarm, led by Grammy Award winning guitarist C Lanzbom and lead singer Noah Solomon Chase. Together with drummer Ben Antelis and Grammy Award winning bassist Mitch Friedman, Soulfarm will debut “Shalom Lach Eretz Nehederet,” a Hebrew song that is a remake about wandering away from and then returning to Israel. “Featuring a band with the magnitude and talent of Soulfarm makes the Kosher Halftime Show a real alternative for families during the Super Bowl,” Segal said. “There are many families that enjoy watching the game together, but when the halftime show starts they are uncomfortable. We’ve created a family friendly entertainment venue that can be enjoyed by everyone.” Last year’s inaugural show received accolades from across the spectrum, attracting tens of thousands of viewers during and in the weeks following the game, for providing a family focused entertainment program during one of the most watched sports events of the year. Soulfarm will perform two other tracks in addition to the debut of “Shalom Lach Eretz Nehederetm.”

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE OF COUNTY TREASURER’S SALE OF TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE Notice is hereby given that I shall on the 17th day of February, 2015 through the 20th day of February, 2015, beginning at 10:00 o’clock in the morning each day, in the Legislative Chambers, First Floor, Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building, 1550 Franklin Avenue, Mineola, New York, sell at public auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer by February 13th, 2015 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property. Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section 5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code. As required by Section 5-44.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code, the County Treasurer shall charge a registration fee of $100.00 per day to each person who shall seek to bid at the public auction as defined above. A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at http://www.nassaucountyny. gov/DocumentCenter/ View/10577

A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or before February 12th, 2015. Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audio-tape or other alternative formats. For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 Ext. 13715. Dated: January 2015 THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, New York TERMS OF SALE Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts. However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased. The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursu-

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Kruter Photography, Kruter.com

Segal’s trademark humor and commentary on the Jewish music scene and Jewish community life will provide background for the entire program. Following the game, the song “Shalom Lach Eretz Nehederet” will be available on iTunes, along with the rest of Soulfarm’s catalogue, and the entire Kosher Halftime Show will be available on demand on NSN’s website and the NSN YouTube channel, NachumSegalNet. The program’s presenting sponsor is the Friends of The Abe Naymark Foundation. Debuting Big Game commercials, Royal Wine Corp., American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem and The Religious Zionist Slate will air 30-second spots. Ables & Heyman and Gourmet Glatt are sponsors as well.

ant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/ or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act(FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et.seq., with regard to real property under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation(FDIC) receivership. The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed. The Nassau County Treasurer reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien. The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for

any legal representation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case where the purchased tax lien is at risk. The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect. Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal incidents of the sale. Dated: January 2015 THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, New York 751383

Fighting erupts near Israel’s northern border‌ jidiyeh, Abbasiyeh and Kfar Chouba near the Chebaa Farms area. By afternoon, residents along the border reported the shelling had died down but that there were still Israeli aircraft ying overhead. The Spanish Defense Ministry identiďŹ ed the dead peacekeeper as Cpl. Francisco Javier Soria Toledo, 36. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo told reporters he received a phone call from Israel’s ambassador to Spain, offering condolences. In a statement, Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that he conveyed Israel’s condolences for the death in a conversation with his Spanish counterpart. Families living on the outskirts of the Lebanese villages ed further within, fearing they’d be hit, said the two Lebanese ofďŹ cials, who are based in south Lebanon. Celebratory gunďŹ re echoed in Shiite-dominated areas of Beirut, while in some areas, nervous parents hurried to pick up their children from school and hunker home. Sounds of ďŹ ring were heard near the Israeli village of Shear Yashuv, and there were plumes of smoke near Mount Dov. Israeli helicopters ew above and Israeli police and army set up checkpoints on roads near the border, closing roads briey. Netanyahu, speaking at an event in southern Israel, warned that Israel’s enemies would face a fate similar to Hamas, the rulers of the Gaza Strip who fought a brutal 50-day war against Israel last summer. “To anyone who is trying to challenge us on the northern border I suggest looking at what happened here, not far from the city of Sderot, in the Gaza Strip. Hamas was dealt its heaviest blow ever since its founding and the Israel Defense Forces is prepared to act forcefully in all areas,â€? he said.

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Israel Ziv, a reserve Israeli general and a former head of the IDF’s Operations Directorate, told reporters that the situation was â€œďŹ‚ammableâ€? and that Israel should work to “containâ€? the situation. “We could ďŹ nd ourselves in a war that

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pop. 2.1M TUNISIA pop. 10.7M

LIBYA pop. 5.6M

BAHRAIN pop. 1.2M

SYRIA pop. 22.5M

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does not belong to Israel,� he said. “I do believe that Israel understands that it needs to contain it,� he said, adding that Israel should not take any “steps that would pull us into the chaotic situation in Syria.� By the Associated Press

IRAN pop. 78.9M

EGYPT pop. 83.7M SAUDI ARABIA pop. 26.5M OMAN pop. 3.1M

The Jewish News Service (JNS.org) was created to correct that. Our weekly reporting, including exclusive distribution rights for Israel Hayom, Israel’s most popular daily, now appears in 31 Jewish weeklies. We invite you to join us in getting the truth out about Israel. To receive our FREE weekly newsletter go to jns.org/ subscribe-to-our-newsletter today!

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There’s no lack of media coverage on Israel, the Middle East’s sole democracy with civil rights and a free press. What is lacking is objective coverage. This tiny Jewish nation, the size of New Jersey, with less than eight million people, a quarter of them non-Jewish, generally receives inaccurate, harsh, even hostile coverage from the world’s press.

THE JEWISH STAR January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775

Continued from page 1 veillance along its northern frontier. The Israeli military said several anti-tank missiles hit an Israeli military convoy near Mount Dov and Chebaa Farms, a disputed tract of land where the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria meet. The two soldiers were killed in the strike and seven others were wounded, the military said. About an hour after the attack, mortars were ďŹ red at several Israeli military locations on Mount Dov and Mount Hermon, the Israeli military said. No injuries were reported in that attack. The military said it responded with ďŹ re toward Lebanese positions, and evacuated Israeli visitors from a ski resort in the area. The are-up recalled the beginning of the month-long 2006 Israel-Lebanon war, which was sparked by a Hezbollah attack on an Israeli military vehicle along the border and the kidnapping and killing of two Israeli soldiers. The Israeli military said there was no indication of any Israeli soldiers captured in Wednesday’s attack. But the latest salvos raised the possibility of renewed ďŹ ghting along the LebaneseIsrael border, which has remained mostly quiet since the 2006 war. Since then, Israel has responded with airstrikes and artillery ďŹ re following a number of rocket attacks and shootings, but the violence has remained contained. Earlier Wednesday, Israel launched airstrikes in Syria targeting Syrian army artillery posts in response to two rockets that were ďŹ red from Syria the previous day into the Israeli-held Golan Heights. No casualties were reported in that exchange of ďŹ re. Two Lebanese ofďŹ cials said the Israeli shelling targeted the border villages of Ma-

17

January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775 • THE JEWISH STAR

18

Spielberg at Shoah event: Anti-Semitism grows four siblings who were killed in the Holocaust. She was By Vanessa Gera, AP separated from them upon arrival in Auschwitz with KRAKOW, Poland — Film director Steven Spielberg no time to say goodbye and survived because she was told a group of Holocaust survivors on Monday that selected to do slave labor. Jews are again facing the “perennial demons of intoler“I have no graves for my mother and sisters and anceâ€? from anti-Semites who are provoking hate crimes brother, my father. So this somehow is a way to say and trying to strip survivors of their identity. goodbye,â€? Schindler said. His warning came in a speech to dozens of Auschwitz Together, several of the survivors said kaddish next survivors the evening before ofďŹ cial commemorations to the infamous “Arbeit Macht Freiâ€? (“work makes you marking the 70th anniversary of the Soviet army’s libfreeâ€?) sign that hangs above the entrance to the camp. eration of the death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. Marcel Tuchman, a 93-year-old survivor of AusAbout 300 survivors will gather with leaders from chwitz and three other Nazi camps, reected on the around the world Tuesday to remember the 1.1 million unspeakable suffering of the Jews, Gypsies, homosexupeople killed at Auschwitz-Birkenau and the millions als and others who were tortured and executed at Ausof others killed in the Holocaust. Leaders expected inchwitz, many in gas chambers. clude the presidents of Germany and Austria, while the “The overwhelming statistics are not the stories to be United States is sending a delegation led by Treasury told,â€? Tuchman said. “The stories could only be told by Secretary Jack Lew, who is an Orthodox Jew. Lew’s the victims. Unfortunately their voices were silenced by family left Poland before World War II. gas and the crematoria, so we are here, the survivors, to Spielberg, the Oscar-winning director of the 1993 speak for them and honor the memory of their suffering.â€? Holocaust ďŹ lm “Schindler’s List,â€? was introduced by an Mordechai Ronen, an 82-year-old survivor from Hun81-year-old survivor, Paula Lebovics, who praised him gary who now lives in Canada, made the trip very reas “a man who has given us a voice in history.â€? luctantly and said he wasn’t sure he had the strength to In a short speech, Spielberg told how his own Jewhandle it emotionally. After the survivors prayed in Heish identity evolved, ďŹ rst as a boy learning to read numbers from the numbers tattooed on the arms of )LOP GLUHFWRU 6WHYHQ 6SLHOEHUJ DIWHU DWWHQGLQJ WKH XQYHLOLQJ RI D PHPRULDO SODTXH DW brew he cried out, “I don’t want to come here anymore!â€? The concentration camp was liberated by the Soviet survivors, and as an adult when he ďŹ lmed “Schindler’s WKH $XVFKZLW] 1D]L GHDWK FDPS LQ 2VZLHFLP 3RODQG RQ 7XHVGD\ AP Photo/Alik Keplicz army on Jan. 27, 1945, in the last months of the war. Listâ€? in Krakow. cation and preserving Auschwitz and other historical sites. The Soviet advance from the east forced the Nazis to But he warned of “anti-Semites, radical extremists, Earlier in the day some of the survivors traveled an hour and retreat from occupied eastern Europe to Germany and they and religious fanaticsâ€? who are again provoking hate crimes — a warning that comes after radical Islamists massacred a half by bus from Krakow to Oswiecim, the town where the Aus- took many of their prisoners to kill along the way. However, chwitz-Birkenau State Museum is located. There they prayed for they left several thousand behind, among them children and Jews at a kosher supermarket earlier this month in Paris. Spielberg also noted that there are now Facebook pages that their murdered loved ones amid the barracks and barbed wire of prisoners close to death. The World Jewish Congress and the USC Shoah Foundaidentify Jews and their geographic locations with the intention to the former Nazi death camp, with one survivor crying out in a pained voice: “I don’t want to come here anymore!â€? tion helped bring the survivors to Auschwitz for the anniverattack them, and a growing effort to banish Jews from Europe. Rose Schindler, 85, who was one of 12 survivors from a sary. Inspired by making “Schindler’s List,â€? Spielberg founded “These people ... want to all over again strip you of your past, of your story and of your identity,â€? he told them. He family of more than 300 people, returned once 20 years ago the Shoah Foundation, which has collected video testimony stressed the importance of countering that hatred with edu- but said she wanted a ďŹ nal visit to mourn her parents and from more than 53,000 Holocaust survivors.

Survivor recalls Nazi evil, liberation 70 years on By Aida Cerkez, AP SARAJEVO — The tattoo on her left arm has become unreadable but the habit of reading it aloud in Polish remains strong, seven decades after it ďŹ rst scarred her skin. Greta Wienfeld Ferusic had to yell A9233, in Polish, for 10 months during the morning lineups at the Nazi-run death camp of Auschwitz, the last time shortly before the Red Army arrived on Jan. 27, 1945, liberating the emaciated inmates. Worldwide events this week are commemorating that agonizing moment in history. “To physically survive is the easier part,â€? Ferusic, 90, said during an interview in her Sarajevo living room as she recalled her survival in a

camp where more than 1.1 million Jews like her were killed. “What’s important is that you do not go insane. That’s the part you can work on. I kept repeating: I will survive, I will survive.� Ferusic was 19 when she and her parents, two aunts and an uncle were forced from their homes in Novi Sad, Serbia, and loaded on a cargo train in April 1944. Dr. Joseph Mengele personally separated her from her mother but never performed any medical experiments on her. It was the last time she ever saw her family. Ferusic credits her survival to the Nazis’ desire to cover up their genocide as the Soviets drew near. German troops destroyed the

crematoriums in November 1944, providing a lifeline for Ferusic, who in December told camp authorities she was ill. “Before November, if you would admit you are sick, there was only one place they would send you,� she said, referring to the crematoriums. But German authorities then turned a barracks beside the crematoriums into a hospital. Three days before liberation, hospitalized prisoners were told that whoever could walk should move toward a waiting train for evacuation west. Ferusic refused and convinced others to disobey. Most of those who followed orders ended up at the Bergen-Belsen camp in Germany. For an entire day, no guard entered the

hospital. Wrapped in a blanket, Ferusic strolled out to look for food. Corpses lay in the snow. In one of the guards’ rooms, she found a frozen pot of soup and a Nazi soldier who, surprisingly, ran away from her. When the Red Army arrived, they fed the survivors slowly because too much food, they explained, would kill them. But Ferusic said she couldn’t resist and ate “day and night.â€? She weighed just 73 pounds) when the Russians ďŹ rst weighed her, but reached 95 pounds three weeks later, when she hopped on the roof of a train for the long journey home. She hoped to ďŹ nd a surviving relative waiting for her, but all had perished in the Holocaust.

World remembers Holocaust, told Jews remain targets‌ Continued from page 1 “This viliďŹ cation of Israel, the only Jewish state on earth, quickly became an opportunity to attack Jews,â€? Lauder said. “Much of this came from the Middle East, but it has found fertile ground throughout the world.â€? One Holocaust survivor, Roman Kent, became emotional as he issued a plea to world leaders to remember the atrocities and ďŹ ght for tolerance. “We do not want our past to be our children’s future,â€? the 85-year-old said to applause, ďŹ ghting back tears and repeating those words a second time. U.S. President Barack Obama, who was in Saudi Arabia to pay respects after the death of King Abdullah, issued a statement paying tribute to the 6 million Jews and millions of others murdered by the Nazis. “The recent terrorist attacks in Paris serve as a painful reminder of our obligation to condemn and combat rising anti-Semitism in all its forms, including the denial or trivialization of the Holocaust,â€? Obama said. A U.S. delegation to the ceremony was led by Treasury Secretary Jack Lew.

In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, where he said: “My job as prime minister of Israel is to make sure that there won’t be any more threats of destruction against the state of Israel. My job is to ensure that there won’t be any reasons to establish any more memorial sites like Yad Vashem.â€? The commemorations in Poland, which during World War II was under Nazi occupation, were also marked by a melancholy awareness that it will be the last major anniversary that a signiďŹ cant number of survivors will be strong enough to attend. “The survivors are completely gutted that in their lifetime they went through what they went through and that now they are at the end of their life and they don’t know what kind of world they are leaving for their grandchildren,â€? said Stephen Smith, executive director of the USC Shoah Foundation. “That is very disappointing for them. We have let them down.â€? Politics also cast a shadow on the event, with Russian President Vladimir Putin absent

— even though the Soviet Red Army liberated the camp — the result of the deep chill between the West and Russia over Ukraine. Among those in attendance were French President Francois Hollande, who has vowed to ďŹ ght the violent extremism that has wounded his nation, as well as the presidents of Germany and Austria, the perpetrator nations that have spent decades atoning for their sins. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was also there in a sign of Poland’s strong support for Ukraine in its conict with Russia. Poland apparently snubbed Putin, though ofďŹ cials don’t say that openly. The organizers, the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum and the International Auschwitz Council, opted for a form of protocol this year that avoided direct invitations by Poland’s president to his foreign counterparts. The organizers instead simply asked countries that are donors to Auschwitz, including Russia, whom they planned to send. Poland’s Foreign Ministry says Putin could have attended if he wished. The Russian delegation was led by Sergei

Ivanov, Putin’s chief of staff. The public spat comes at a low point in relations between Russia and the West, following Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, and its support for the rebel forces battling Kiev’s troops in eastern Ukraine. Poland has been vocal in condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine, which has plunged the continent into one of the worst East-West crises since the end of the Cold War. Some of the survivors said they thought Putin should have been there, given the fact that Soviet soldiers fought and died to liberate the camp, and Russia is the successor state to the Soviet Union. “They lost their lives and we should honor them,� said Natan Grossmann, a survivor who now lives in Munich. In Moscow, Putin visited the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center and used the occasion to press the Russian points on Ukraine. He spoke of the Ukrainian nationalists’ collaboration with the Nazis in killing Jews during the war, and he accused Ukrainian authorities today of killing civilians in Donetsk and Luhansk in cold blood.

19 THE JEWISH STAR January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775

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January 30, 2015 • 10 Shevat 5775 • THE JEWISH STAR

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