Sacred Ground

SACREDGROUND Beautification project restores Worcester’s Jewish cemeteries

WORCESTER – After a successful capital campaign that raised more than the goal of $400,000, the effort to refurbish Worcester’s Jewish cemeteries is nearly done.

Both Worcester Hebrew Cemetery and Chevra Kadisha have been landscaped, fallen gravestones have been up-righted, fresh paint covers cement posts and stairways, and new signs now welcome visitors to the cemeteries.

Dana Levenson, chair of the Worcester Jewish Cemetery Improvement Association (WJCIA), said that the third cemetery, B’nai B’rith Cemetery, should be finished by early next year.

“We may end up having to wait until the spring because there’s some fairly heavy iron work that needs to be done, replacing gates and cement posts,” Levenson said. “But I fully expect that by the time spring rolls around, we will have three pretty much completely renovated cemeteries here in Worcester.”

Levenson got involved with the effort to restore the area’s Jewish cemeteries after visiting B’nai B’rith Cemetery on Memorial Day in 2017 with his sons to help the Jewish War Veterans put flags on the graves of veterans.

BY STACEY DRESNER

Noticing overgrown graves, toppled gravestones and inadequate signage, he then visited Worcester Hebrew Cemetery and Chevra Kadisha, which were in much the same condition.

Levenson contacted Steven Schimmel, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Central Mass., and the Federation approved the formation of the WJCIA, which includes an advisory board of community laypeople involved in running the cemeteries.

Schimmel praised Levenson’s work as chair of the cemetery improvement association and the capital campaign.

“Dana’s leadership on the project was Adelson; and the Sigel Family Foundation. the reason for its success,” Schimmel said. But Levenson said that the whole “He’s been so committed to it and has really community made the campaign a success. led the way, both in the fundraising and the “We had around 110 donors. We got gifts actual execution of the beautification project. as small as $25 and we got gifts as large as That’s been really impressive and it’s been $6,000. The average gift was around $600 great to work with him on it.” or $700.”

The WJCIA originally sought to Most of the soliciting had been done by raise $400,000 for the cemetery capital last spring before Covid, with the campaign campaign. In the end, $401,500 was raised. ending in April.

Some of the larger donors were “We asked when we solicited people that businessman and New England Patriots if you made a pledge we really would like owner Robert Kraft; real estate developer you to pay by June 1,” Levenson said. “And and Worcester native Jeff Greene; just about everyone has.” businessman and philanthropist Sheldon Three months ago the physical work at the cemeteries began. THE ENTRANCE OF “We did WORCESTER HEBREW landscaping, arborial CEMETERY BEFORE ITS RESTORATION. work, signage and we did the righting of stones, and a lot of cement work. “In one of the cemeteries, Worcester Hebrew, there was a huge number of tombstones that were down,” Levenson said. “They weren’t toppled by anybody but rather they actually got felled by a tree bough that fell. And there were some others stones in the cemetery that had toppled because of frost heaves [swelling of soil during freezing temperatures]. Now there are virtually no tombstones that are on the ground; they’re all sitting upright, the way they should.” At Worcester Hebrew much of the cement work – pillars, steps and walkways – LYA STUDENTS DOING were given a fresh coat THEIR SCHOOLWORK OUTSIDE of white paint. Two fur trees next to the

OVERGROWN TREES AND SHRUBS AT THE ENTRANCE OF WORCESTER HEBREW CEMETERY HAVE BEEN CUT BACK TO PROVIDE A CLEANER, MORE LIGHT-FILLED APPEARANCE. CEMENT POSTS AND STAIRS HAVE BEEN GIVEN A NEW COAT OF PAINT.

entrance were cut down and a new sign was installed.

“We wanted to replace it with something that was a little bit more in keeping with the setting,” Levenson said. Some large trees at Chevra Kadisha were taken down, and in Worcester Hebrew a tree that had caused some damage was also removed.

“The tree was on its last legs,” Levenson explained. “A year and a half a go a large bough fell from that tree as those things do. It was right in the middle of the cemetery, and there was no way it was going to come down without taking out down some stones. But those have all been fixed,” Levenson said. “If the stone could be fixed, it was fixed. And if it couldn’t be fixed for some reason, we laid it carefully in the ground where the grave was.” Work has also been done on the cemeteries’ signage, including a new sign at the entrance of Worcester Hebrew and signage on a white slab of stone has also been refurbished.

One of the bigger expenses was repaving the parking lot of Worcester Hebrew and an access road that had deteriorated tremendously. Because CSX railroad tracks ran across the access road, the corporation donated funds to repave the road.

“We are very pleased with how this has turned out,” Levenson said.

Now, in addition to getting B’nai B’rith’s restoration finished, the next step is a database.

An excel sheet on the website of the Jewish Federation of Central Mass. does contain the names and locations of the more than 10,000 Jews buried in the cemeteries. A new more sophisticated database with a new mapping system will provide clearer information about the location of graves.

“All three cemeteries have or are in the process of turning in a list of interments have taken place over the past five to 10 years. Right now the database consists of 10,650 Jews that have been buried at these three cemeteries,” Levenson explained. (Some of the names on the database are Jews who were buried two Jewish sections in the Hope Cemetery in Worcester dating back to the early 1800s where Jews are no longer interred.)

“Once that is done I’d say you’re probably looking at another 1,000 Jews that will be in that database. It will be the name of the person, the date of interment and location -- which cemetery and [the location] within the cemetery.”

They also have plans for a GPS app.

“If someone wants to find a loved one, all they will have to do go on their phone, or their computer and look up on this GPS system exactly where this person is buried, and it will direct them there, so we are also going to be doing new maps for all three cemeteries as well,” Levenson said. “The other thing that we haven’t gotten to, which we fully plan to is security systems that are going to be in each of the three cemeteries. Basically motion based lights with cameras.”

Levenson said he hopes the upkeep of the cemeteries will continue after the beautification project.

“Cemetery management does as good a job as possible, but money is short when it comes to the operations of the cemeteries. [Upkeep] was not the intent of the project -- it was really a capital campaign,” Levenson said. “I’m hoping this is long-term not shortterm, because nothing’s going to last. These cemeteries deteriorate over time. I am a Worcester native and when I go there I see so many graves of people that I knew growing up, whether they are family members or friends or stalwarts in the community… This is our legacy.”

“As the resting place of our community members, our family members and our leaders, its sacred ground. And that should be reflected,” agreed Schimmel. “There should be beauty in the final resting place of these people who meant so much to us. A cemetery should reflect the values of the community the upkeep of the cemeteries reflects a very important Jewish value.”

NEW SIGNAGE AT CHEVRA KADISHA CEMETERY.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

As “Borat,” Sacha Baron Cohen mocks coronavirus antisemitic conspiracy theories

BY GABE FRIEDMAN

(JTA) – Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest appearance in character as Borat was heavy on the bathroom humor – and on satirizing conspiracy theories that target Jews.

On “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Monday night, Cohen showed up as Borat – the anti-Semitic, misogynist journalist from Kazakhstan who starred in a blockbuster 2006 film and is set to star in a sequel out this week. Right away, Borat said the coronavirus comes from “a place called Wuhan, which is in Israel.”

“It is no surprise, they are spreading everything,” he said.

When Jimmy Kimmel asked if he really thought that the virus originated in Israel, Borat said “Yes, it spread from the you-know-who’s,’” making a gesture that mimicked having a long nose.in your browser.

Cohen’s upcoming film, which premieres on Amazon Prime on Friday, tackles antiSemitism and a range of other hot-button topics, in the same way that the original Borat movie did – by tricking real people into making incriminating comments. Cohen reportedly interviewed a real Holocaust survivor for the new film in order to mock Holocaust deniers. (After filming, the now late survivor’s family claimed that she was “horrified” with the end result.)

Anti-Semitism was a central theme of the original Borat film as well; some scenes, including the fake “Running of the Jew” event, have become some of the zeitgeist’s most memorable parodies of Jew hatred. The Anti-Defamation League criticized Cohen in 2006 for perpetuating anti-Semitic stereotypes in pop culture, regardless of his intentions.

But Cohen repaired that relationship and last year received an award from the ADL for his efforts to fight disinformation. In his acceptance speech, Cohen called social media the “greatest propaganda machine in history,” and he has since grown only more outspoken in his criticism of Facebook and other social media companies for their role in facilitating the spread of false and dangerous information. He has focused much of his satirical energy to mocking conspiracy theories about topics ranging from the coronavirus to George Soros, the right-wing bogeyman who features in many false and anti-Semitic narratives.

He pilloried those ideas on Kimmel’s show, when, as Borat, he subjected the host to a fake medical questionnaire and asked if he had been in the presence of any Jews

SACHA BARON COHEN AS BORAT SAGDIYEV ON “JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE,” OCT. 19, 2020. (SCREEN SHOT FROM YOUTUBE)

“for more than 15 minutes” in the past week. Kimmel said “Yes, all of our writers and none of our camera guys are Jews.”

The theory that Jews were the source of the coronavirus pandemic has gained some momentum in far-right circles, most notably in parts of Europe, such as France and Germany. Some German protesters have also used Holocaust language and imagery to rail against their government’s strict coronavirus lockdown protocols.

But Borat didn’t stop at coronavirus anti-Semitism. In the questionnaire, he also asked Kimmel: “As a member of Hollywood elite, have you recently drunk any unpasteurized children’s blood?”

When Kimmel said no, Borat added “Really? Not in any pizza parlors recently?”

Cohen hit on three different conspiracy theories: the term “Hollywood elite,” which has been tossed around in everything from decades-old anti-Semitism about Jews in the media to the more recent QAnon theory; the concept of drinking the blood of children, part of the centuries-old blood libel that accuses Jews of killing Christian children for their blood; and the 2016 “Pizzagate” theory, which had some believing that Hillary Clinton and other high-ranking Democratic officials were involved in a sex trafficking ring at a pizza parlor.

The Kimmel appearance has made headlines today for some of Cohen’s on-stage antics – which included prodding Kimmel’s crotch with a long rod and getting Kimmel to trade pants with him. As he clipped one of his devices onto Kimmel’s pants, he got a last anti-Semitic trope in: “Normally it is the Jew who controls the media, now it is the Kazakh who controls the late-night host!”

HBO Max to air Israel’s Yom Kippur War drama ‘Valley of Tears’

BY CURT SCHLEIER

(JTA) – HBO Max has bought the rights to “Valley of Tears,” a drama about the 1973 Yom Kippur War that is being touted as Israel’s biggest-budget TV series to date.

The 10-part series depicts the war through the eyes of young soldiers through four different plot lines. No premiere date has yet been announced.

It stars Lior Ashkenazi, familiar to international audiences from his role in Israel’s acclaimed film “Foxtrot” and his work opposite Richard Gere in “Norman:

The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall Of A New York Fixer.”

There is significant talent behind the scenes as well: It was created and co-written by Israeli-American writer Ron Leshem, who wrote HBO’s “Euphoria,” and Amit Cohen, who wrote the popular Israeli thriller series “False Flag.” The pair are also already at work on another Israeli series called “Traitor,” a thriller currently in post-production.

Holocaust survivor’s daughter wants late mother’s interview out of ‘Borat’ sequel

BY CNAAN LIPHSHIZ

(JTA) – The daughter of a late Holocaust survivor is suing to have her mother’s appearance in Sacha Baron Cohen’s upcoming “Borat” sequel removed from the film, stating that the comedy mocks “the Holocaust and Jewish culture.”

Cohen, who is Jewish, interviewed Judith Dim Evans earlier this year “under false pretenses with the intent of appropriating her likeness,” reads the lawsuit, which was filed this week with the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Cohen approached Evans for an interview in what he called a documentary earlier this year, the lawsuit states. Her daughter said that Evans, who passed away this summer, was “horrified and upset” upon learning that the film was a satirical comedy.

The attorney representing Evans’ estate declined to tell the Journal-Constitution if Evans had signed a waiver before participating in the interview.

In the original “Borat” film, which premiered in 2006, Cohen tricked several people into participating in a similar fake documentary to mock them. The film also satirizes the antisemitism present in the Borat character’s home country of Kazakhstan.

Sources told Deadline that Evans was included to mock Holocaust deniers, not herself, and she was “clued in on the gag” right after it was shot.

The sequel, full title “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” premieres on Amazon Prime on Oct. 23. Amazon has yet to comment on the Evans lawsuit.

SYNAGOGUE DIRECTORY Western and Central Massachusetts

AMHERST

Jewish Community of Amherst

Reconstructionist Rabbi Benjamin Weiner (413) 256-0160 info@jcamherst.org www.jcamherst.org 742 Main St., Amherst, MA 01002

ATHOL

Temple Israel

Unaffi liated/Egalitarian Reb Sarah Noyovitz (978) 249-9481 templeisraelathol@gmail.com 107 Walnut Street Athol, MA 01331

BENNINGTON, VT

Congregation Beth El

Reconstructionist Rabbi Micah Becker Klein (802) 442-9645 cbevtoffi ce@gmail.com www.cbevermont.org 225 North St., Bennington, VT 05201

CLINTON

Congregation Shaarei Zedeck

Conservative Lay Leadership - Elena Feinberg (978) 501-2744 sherryesq@yahoo.com www.shaareizedeck.org 104 Water St., Clinton, MA 01510 FLORENCE

Beit Ahavah, The Reform Synagogue of Greater Northampton

Reform Rabbi Riqi Kosovske (413) 587-3770 info@beitahavah.org www.beitahavah.org 130 Pine St. Florence, MA 01062

GREENFIELD

Temple Israel of Greenfi eld

Unaffi liated Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener (413) 773-5884 offi ce@templeisraelgreenfi eld.org www.templeisraelgreenfi eld.org 27 Pierce St. Greenfi eld, MA 01301

HOLYOKE

Congregation Rodphey Sholom

Orthodox Rabbi Tuvia Helfen Religious Leader (413) 534-5262 djs1818@aol.com 1800 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040

Congregation Sons of Zion

Conservative Rabbi Saul Perlmutter (413) 534-3369 offi ce@sonsofzionholyoke.org www.sonsofzionholyoke.org 378 Maple St. Holyoke, MA 01040

LEOMINSTER

Congregation Agudat Achim

Conservative Rabbi Eve Eichenholtz (978) 534-6121 offi ce@agudat-achim.org www.agudat-achim.org 268 Washington St., Leominster, MA 01453 LONGMEADOW

Congregation B’nai Torah

Orthodox Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe Rabbi Yakov Wolff (413) 567-0036 offi ce@bnaitorahma.org rabbi@bnaitorahma.org www.bnaitorahma.org 2 Eunice Drive Longmeadow, MA 01106 Neighborhood Minyan 124 Sumner Avenue Springfi eld, MA 01108

NORTHAMPTON

Congregation B’nai Israel

Conservative Rabbi Justin David (413) 584-3593 offi ce@CBINorthampton.org www.CBINorthampton.org 253 Prospect St. Northampton, MA 01060

PITTSFIELD

Temple Anshe Amunim

Reform Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (413) 442-5910 rabbiliz@ansheamunim.org www.ansheamunim.org 26 Broad St., Pittsfi eld, MA 01201

SPRINGFIELD

Sinai Temple

Reform Rabbi Jeremy Master (413) 736-3619 rblanchettegage@sinai-temple.org www.sinai-temple.org 1100 Dickinson St., Springfi eld, MA 01108

Temple Beth El

Conservative Rabbi Amy Walk Katz (413) 733-4149 offi ce@tbesprinfi eld.org www.tbespringfi eld.org 979 Dickinson St., Springfi eld, MA 01108

WESTBOROUGH

Beth Tikvah Synagogue

Independent Rabbi Michael Swarttz (508) 616-9037 president@bethtikvahsynagogue.org www.bethtikvahsynagogue.org 45 Oak St., Westborough, MA 01581

Congregation B’nai Shalom

Reform Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz/ Rabbi-Educator Joseph Eiduson (508) 366-7191 info@cbnaishalom.org www.cbnaishalom.org 117 East Main St., PO Box 1019, Westborough, MA 01581

WESTFIELD

Congregation Ahavas Achim

Unaffi liated Cantor Colman Reaboi (413) 642-1797 ahavasachiminquiry@gmail.com www.congregationahavasachim.org Ferst Interfaith Center, Westfi eld State University PO Box 334, 577 Western Avenue, Westfi eld, MA 01086 Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AhavasAchimWestfi eld/ WORCESTER

Central Mass Chabad

Rabbi Mendel Fogelman, Rabbi Chaim Fishman, Rabbi Michael Phillips, Cantor Eli Abramowitz (508) 752-0904 rabbi@centralmasschabad.com www.centralmasschabad.com 22 Newton Avenue, Worcester, MA 01602

Congregation Beth Israel

Conservative Rabbi Aviva Fellman (508) 756-6204 receptionist@bethisraelworc.org www.bethisraelworc.org 15 Jamesbury Drive Worcester, MA 01609

Congregation Shaarai Torah West

Orthodox Rabbi Yakov Blotner (508) 791-0013 Brotman156@aol.com www.shaaraitorah.org 835 Pleasant St. Worcester, MA 01602

Temple Emanuel Sinai

Reform Rabbi Valerie Cohen (508) 755-1257 amayou@emanuelsinai.org www.emanuelsinai.org 661 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609

To join our synagogue directory, contact Howard Meyerowitz at (860) 231-2424 x3035 or howardm@jewishledger.com

LGA takes to the outdoors

Lander-Grinspoon Academy in Northampton is still operating hybrid, with students learning remotely three days a week and two mornings a week spent on campus for academics and social time. A few mornings a week students take to the outdoors.

“Our skilled teachers are getting creative with how to make our academic program work outside, especially as the days get colder and - in some cases - more wet,” said Ellen Frank, LGA’s executive director. “We’ve had so much rain that the teacher decided to integrate art and science, and have the students paint with mud on cardboard!

Shown here are some LGA students bundling up and enjoying the great outdoors while they work on assignments and create art with mud.

Outdoor adventures at LYA

LONGMEADOW - A sure sign of fall is falling leaves and for Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy’s preschoolers, fallen leaves are a sign of adventure.

Pre-3 friends went on a leaf hunt with their teacher Ms. Kier, armed with an empty plastic bucket and wide smiles they embarked on a leaf adventure that began in the classroom, where they talked about where leaves grow and what makes them fall off of the trees.

Older students are also spending lot of time outside learning in outdoor pavilions.

Inside, LYA’s middle school students studied the Golden Age of Spanish Jewry, which began in 711 and lasted for 400 years under Muslim rule. In addition to being a time of peace, it was a time period where many great Jewish poets, doctors and philosophers flourished – like Shmuel Hanagid, Yehudah Halevi and Rambam (Maimonides). Students were challenged to dress up as Jew living in Spain and present a glimpse to their life. Each student created an interactive google slide that was used as a backdrop for their presentation.

PRESCHOOL STUDENTS ON A LEAF HUNT

BEN ADELSTEIN DRESSED UP AS A GOLDEN AGE OF SPAIN PERSONALITY