CT Jewish Ledger • April 9, 2021 • 27 Nisan 5781 by 2020 Media

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JEWISH LEDGER

| APRIL 9, 2021

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JEWISH LEDGER

| APRIL 9, 2021

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INSIDE

this week

CONNECTICUT JEWISH LEDGER | SINCE 1929 | APRIL 9, 2021 | 27 NISAN 5781

8 Briefs

14 Celebrate Israel events

14 Milestones

15 Torah Portion

17 Crossword

Experiencing Hate........................ 5 “It is understandable that the level of anxiety is rising and concerns about communal safety are on everyone’s minds,” says ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt, regarding a new poll tracking American Jews who have encountered antisemitism.

“Eat, Drink, Connect”................... 5 Three local Jewish leaders dedicated to educating Jewish teens will be honored at a virtual gala celebrating JTConnect – Greater Hartford’s Jewish Teen Learning Connection.

Arts & Entertainment................... 6 Aaron Bendich may be 27 years old, but he loves Yiddish music. Which is why he’s launched “Borscht Beat,” a weekly Jewish music radio show that recalls the heyday of the once popular Jewish vacationland in NY’s Catskill Mountains.

18 What’s Happening

19 Yom Hashoah events in CT

20 Obituaries

21 Business and Professional Directory

OPINION.................................................................................10 A new population study claims that there are 7.6 million Jews in the United States. But is it including people, like the vice president’s stepdaughter, who say they aren’t Jewish?

Classified

ON THE COVER:

In celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut – Israel Independence Day – photographer Noam Chen shares breathtaking settings of Israel that will transport you to a magical place of serenity and imagination. Yom Ha’atzmaut begins the evening of April 14 and ends the evening of April 15. It is preceded by Yom Hazikaron – Israel Memorial Day – which begins the evening of April 13. Photo © Noam Chen. PAGE 12 jewishledger.com

Authors Corner...................................................................16 During the Holocaust, Jewish women, some barely into their teens, joined the resistance and risked their young lives to sabotage the Nazi regime. Sadly, their stories have been largely overlooked. Until now.

CANDLE LIGHTING

Sponsored by:

SHABBAT FRIDAY, APRIL 9 Hartford 7:08 p.m. New Haven: 7:08 p.m. Bridgeport: 7:09 p.m. Stamford: 7:10 p.m. To determine the time for Havdalah, add one hour and 10 minutes (to be safe) to candle lighting time.

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APRIL 9, 2021

Mandell JCC

TOWN HALL

MEETING

Welcome Our New Head Tennis Pro

CRAIG DAVIDSON

Make this summer memorable!

The Swim & Tennis Club is an extension of the JCC, a family summer oasis bringing the same Jewish values. Conveniently located in Bloomfield, The Swim Club features one of the region’s largest Olympic-sized recreational swimming pools with a slide, parent-friendly kiddie pool, children’s playscapes and sandpit, along with 8 tennis courts – 4 Har-Tru and 4 asphalt.

Relax and unwind with the JCC’s ultimate summer retreat.

Thursday, April 22 | 7:00 pm

Live on ZOOM

You have questions – we have answers

Whether you are back with us live, participating remotely or getting ready to come back, we are here for you!

For more information: Sara Billings, 860-231-6331, sbillings@mandelljcc.org.

What’s New at the Mandell JCC Zachs Campus | 335 Bloomfield Ave. | West Hartford, CT 06117 | 860-236-4571 | www.mandelljcc.org

LL JCC E D N A M

R E M M SU Thursday, April 15 | 8:00pm Thank You Mandell JCC Partner

Tovah Feldshuh Lilyville: A Memoir

In Conversation with Holly Firfer ZOOM Webinar Author Talk + Q & A

April 11

April 13

The SS Officer’s Armchair

Broken (In the Best Possible Way)

Daniel Lee

Jenny Lawson

April 25

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AMS R G O R &P CAMPS Registration

OPEN NOW! PAY 2019 PRICES

Robert Lefkowitz, M.D. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm

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UP FRONT CONNECTICUT JEWISH LEDGER | SINCE 1929 | APRIL 9, 2021 | 27 NISAN 5781

ADL: Most American Jews have experienced anti-Semitism in past five years

EW YORK, New York – Well over half of Jewish Americans have either experienced or directly witnessed some form of antisemitic incident in the last five years, according to a new poll released Thursday, April 1 by the AntiDefamation League (ADL). The 2021 poll found that 63 percent of respondents have either experienced or heard antisemitic comments, slurs or threats targeting others, an increase from 54 percent a year earlier. Alarmingly, nine percent of Jewish Americans indicated in the survey they had been physically attacked in the last five years because they are Jewish, up slightly from 2020 but still within the margin of error. And one in four Jewish Americans (25 percent) reported having been directly targeted by antisemitic comments slurs or threats. “In the aftermath of major antisemitic attacks in Pittsburgh, Poway, Jersey City and Monsey, American Jews are reporting that they feel less safe in the U.S. today than they were just a decade earlier,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “Looking back on the past five years, which were bookended by the antisemitism in Charlottesville in 2017 and the hateful symbols on display during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, it is understandable that the level of anxiety is rising and concerns about communal safety are on everyone’s minds.”

BY STACEY DRESNER

A MAN HOLDS A SIGN PROMOTING AN ANTISEMITIC CONSPIRACY THEORY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE FORMER WORLD TRADE CENTER SITE ON SEPT. 11, 2011, THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 9/11 ATTACKS. (LUIGI NOVI VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

Some additional findings include: • Fifty-six percent of Jewish Americans have heard antisemitic comments, slurs or threats targeting others in the past five years. • Jewish Americans frequently encounter antisemitism online, with 36 percent saying they had experienced some form of online harassment. • Thirty-one percent say they have been called offensive names online. • Thirteen percent say they have been physically threatened online. • Thirteen percent have avoided identifying themselves as Jewish on social media. jewishledger.com

JT Connect to honor three Jewish community leaders

• More than half (59 percent) of Jewish Americans polled said they feel less safe in the U.S. today than they were a decade ago. • Forty-nine percent reported being afraid of a violent attack at a synagogue. • Antisemitic harassment comes at a cost: Thirty-three percent of respondents who have been harassed reported having trouble sleeping, and 16 percent said the harassment affected their lives financially. “These findings reinforce the need for a whole-of-society approach to combat antisemitism,” said Greenblatt. “Whether it appears on social media or on a

synagogue, antisemitism has no place in our communities. We need corporate and government leaders to step up to ensure that it does not gain a foothold on social media or in broader society.” The survey was fielded by YouGov, a leading public opinion and data analytics firm, examining Jewish Americans experiences with antisemitism both online and offline. The survey of more than 500 Jewish American adults over the age of 18 was conducted from Jan. 7-15, 2021 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percent.

EST HARTFORD – On April 25, supporters of JT Connect, Greater Hartford’s Jewish Teen Learning Connection, will “Eat, Drink, and Connect” at the organization’s 2021 gala fundraising event. Well, they will connect, at least. While they have kept the name of their annual in-person gala, the Zoom event will not include any refreshments. It will however be a chance to celebrate and raise funds for JT Connect and its programming, and to honor three community leaders dedicated to Jewish teen education: Audrey Lichter, founder of JT Connect’s predecessor, Yachad; JTConnect teacher Rabbi Steven Chatinover and board member Cyral Sheldon. “Our gala raises significant funds for us to carry out our mission, and we were working tirelessly to put an in-person event together last year that we had to cancel at the last minute,” says Eric Maurer, executive director of JT Connect. “It’s a year later and we are looking not only to raise money for our organization, but also to honor three exceptional individuals in our community who have had a tremendous impact on Jewish teen education and leadership.” Highlights of the gala will include a video of a discussion between Lichter, Sheldon and Chatinover on Jewish teen education and programming, and another of teens participating in various classes showing, “the impact that JT Connect is having on their lives today,” says Maurer. “There will be an opportunity for the guests of the gala to be a real fly on the wall for a conversation these community leaders had with one another about what drives them and what their vision is for education and community,” Maurer says. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

JEWISH LEDGER | APRIL 9, 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Meet the 27-year-old amplifying the sounds of the Borscht Belt (and listen to his favorite Yiddish songs) (New York Jewish Week via JTA) – Growing up, Aaron Bendich would spend lots of time with his grandfather Max in the North Bronx, in a house “filled to the brim” with records, videotapes and CDs. Among Max’s collection were recordings of Yiddish songs and other Jewish music. Fast forward a few years and Aaron is the manager of the radio station at Vassar College and taking Yiddish classes. Inevitably he started a show featuring Yiddish music and spent his free time scouring thrift shops and used record stores for obscure Jewish recordings. Now 27 and living in Brooklyn, Bendich is about to launch his second Yiddish music show – on WJFF Radio Catskill, the public radio station for the Catskills and Northeast Pennsylvania. He’ll host “Borscht Beat,” a weekly hour of Jewish music recalling the heyday of the Jewish vacationland in upstate New York. “If I can be a bridge to this lost media to other people, Jewish or not, and anyone who might enjoy, it is just so pleasing,” said Bendich, whose day job is director of advertising for Digital Media Rights, a film distributor in Manhattan. “There’s a real magic to it.” Bendich said he was excited to be hosting the new show, which launches Sunday at 1 p.m., on a radio station with ties to a historic epicenter of Yiddish culture in the United States. “Most of the artists I play have, at one time, performed within WJFF’s broadcast area,” Bendich said. “I think it’s very wonderful and exciting that my show is now on the station. There is some beautiful continuity with the rich Jewish cultural history of the region.” We asked Bendich to pick and discuss five songs that represent the range of the Borscht Belt. He added a sixth as a bonus: a recording of his grandfather, Max Bendich, who ran a laundry service in the Bronx and recently passed away at the age of 105.

“Mein Shtetl Yaass” – Marc Kurz A nostalgic tune about the longing for one’s home in the Old World is uncharacteristically raucous in this 1960 sing-along record by Marv Kurz, a band leader who frequently performed in the ’40s and ’50s at Gibber Hotel in Kiamesha Lake, New York. Kurz’s voice has the crazed excitement that many of the great Yiddish JEWISH LEDGER

“Birds Chorus” – Jenny Kessler https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=dCGqXO6clPQ I found a copy of this record at a Hasidicrun thrift shop called Blessed Buy in Brooklyn among a stack of much older 78 rpm records. To my surprise, this relatively recent LP was by far the least documented, and rarest, of my haul. I could find no information about it online, except Kessler put out the album with an Israeli conductor named Martin Moskovitch. I gave it a listen, and this opening track, “Bird’s Chorus,” blew me away with its upbeat, poppy sound, prefaced with audio of actual birds chirping. In the years since, Blessed Buy has closed, but someone uploaded the record onto YouTube, and it’s been a joy to listen to such a sweet and happy record.

“Ot Azoy” (from “Az Men Git Nemt Men”) – Yakov Bodo https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=iBE3WEZCHL8 I first heard this odd, disco-inflected Yiddish song from a YouTube search. The video, featuring a group of young dancing Hasidim surrounding a notably older singer (Yakov Bodo), captivated me and my grandfather as well. I showed him the video nearly every time I visited him, and he learned the words quickly (which was no small feat for a centenarian). “Az Men Git Nemt Men” was the first film in Yiddish produced in Israel, and was released in 1982. Bodo is still alive and performing in Yiddish theater in Israel, and turned 90 on March 28.

“Coney Island” – The Barry Sisters https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=kEaZqu_xxOI

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=HeR7yAkBlaI

stage performers once had. The scat-singing conclusion is explosive, and inspires ecstatic longing for an Old World that I’ve never been to.

The Barry Sisters, born Minnie and Clara Bagelman, were crossover superstars of Yiddish song from the 1940s to the early 1970s. They had a long, illustrious career and recorded a substantial body of work in many languages. When Claire Barry died in 2014 (her younger sister Merna had died in 1976), The New York Times remembered them not only as “darlings of

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THE BARRY SISTERS, RIGHT, WERE CROSSOVER STARS OF BOTH THE JEWISH CATSKILLS AND MAINSTREAM LAS VEGAS; AT LEFT, GIBBER HOTEL, A RESORT IN KIAMESHA LAKE, N.Y. (THE TICHNOR BROTHERS COLLECTION)

the Catskills, Miami Beach and other Jewish entertainment outposts,” but as stars in Las Vegas and on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” This tune, “Coney Island,” has a classic “Yinglish” style of lyricism; English lyrics are seamlessly melded with those in Yiddish. The lyrics revel in the boundless joy to be found a short train ride away, in Coney Island: “There’s garlic and cheese in the ocean breeze.”

and actresses to the Catskills to perfect their dramatic skills,” according to a website dedicated to his memory. His idiosyncratic style is still beloved and remembered to this day.

“A Chazandl in Amerike” – Aaron Lebedeff

My main inspiration for my record collecting and radio pursuits is my zayde (grandfather) Max Bendich, who was an avid collector himself, a devout Yiddishist and a fount of knowledge and wisdom. Three years ago he burst out in song with a Yiddish tune I’d never heard before, with lyrics about the goldfish-swallowing fad of the 1930s. I recorded him and circulated the recording to the point where it has been viewed thousands of times. Max died on Dec. 23 at the age of 105 without ever learning where the song came from, but he took great joy in knowing I was carrying on his legacy of collecting Jewish music and sharing it with others.

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=38JeU32HPYg This is a parody of the classic tune “A Chazan af Shabbos” (“A Cantor for the Sabbath”), where a cantor auditions and three workers describe the glory of his voice in terms of their labors. In this parody, the judges are restaurateurs, each coming from a different region of the Yiddish-speaking world: one a Litvak, one a Galitzianer and one from America. Each of the three compare the singing to their favorite foods, in their wildly hyperbolic accents. This culminates in the Amerikaner comparing the cantor to ham and eggs, and then proclaiming “Holy Moses! Jesus Christ! Is this a cantor!” This hysterical parody was actually censored in its LP release by The Greater Recording Co. and the name of Jesus was removed from the recording. The singer, the legendary Aaron Lebedeff (1873-1960), was one of the greatest Yiddish theater performers, who would “regularly lead a contingent of actors

“Mentshn Zenen Mishigge” – Max Bendich https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=IbtEVDxisXs

WJFF Radio Catskill is available on-air at 90.5 FM, online at wjffradio.org, on smartphone via the WJFF app, and on smart speaker. Episodes of some of Aaron’s previous shows featuring Jewish music are available at his website, laughingwithlizards.com.

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JT Connect CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

“Additionally, we’re highlighting our organization. So viewers from the comfort of their living room will have an opportunity to get a glimpse of how JT Connect looks today.” JTConnect engages teens from across the Greater Hartford Jewish community in fun, interactive and thought-provoking educational and social experiences grounded in Jewish learning and values. Together, teens examine religion, history and traditions through innovative, handson programming that includes classroom study, volunteer projects and special events. JTConnect meets at four different locations at four separate times – Congregation Beth Israel, the Emanuel Synagogue, Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation, and the Mandell Jewish Community Center. Maurer says JTConnect engages with approximately 400 teens over the course of a year. When JTConnect President Ben Wexler reflects on the program’s success, he can’t help but focus on this year’s three honorees. “Simply, without the three honorees JTConnect would not be in the position it is today,” he says. Referring to Audrey Lichter’s 16-year work as founding director of Yachad, the Greater Hartford Jewish Community Teen High School, which was the forerunner of JTConnect, Wexler AUDREY LICHTER says, “Audrey built the incredible foundation that JTConnect now sits on. JTConnect would not have been able to grow and adapt to what it is today without what Audrey created with Yachad.” In addition to her work at Yachad, Lichter also helped create the Jewish Day School Consortium that was made up of what was then Greater Hartford’s three community Jewish day schools. And, she served as served as a founder and board president of the Hebrew High School of New England, which later merged with the Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy to become the New England Jewish Academy. For the past 10 years, she has served as director of the national Jewish engagement program for teens through adults called Chai Mitzvah. “Yachad was really an incredible model, where you had a compete buy in from the community and you had lots of teens coming together on a Monday night, to explore tons of different topics. In many ways, the core elements of Yachad still exist today,” Maurer says. “We still thrive on being a unifying force in our community and of representing the entire Jewish jewishledger.com

community in our teen programming with buy in from the synagogues. We still are deeply committed to Jewish learning. “In many ways I look at the work of JTConnect that I’m able to do, and our successes as really being able to stand on the shoulder of giants, and I think Audrey is a giant in our community. She created an incredible institution and set the foundation for where we are today. JT connect has seen incredible growth in recent years. Rabbi Steven Chatinover has taught at both JT Connect and Yachad since its inception in 1993. Ordained as a rabbi at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) STEVEN CHATINOVER in 1982, he served as spiritual leader of Temple Beth Hillel in South Windsor and, in 1989, began teaching middle school at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford, where he still teaches Judaic studies. He has taught numerous adult education courses and at countless workshops in the community and has tutored many bar/bat mitt ah students. Cyral Sheldon is a past board member of Solomon Schechter Day School and Hartford Hillel and sits on the boards and various committees of the Maurice Greenberg Center for CYRAL SHELDON Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford, the Jewish Community Foundation, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, where she serves as co-chair of the Community 21 Task Force. Along with Chatinover, she founded JT Connect’s Teen Leadership and Philanthropy Institute (TLPI), an intensive and impactful three-year program for teens to learn about civic responsibility and philanthropy from a Jewish perspective. She continues to share her expertise and passion with TLPI in an advisory role. TLPI, says Maurer, enables teens to “explore philanthropy through a Jewish lens.” Teens learn step by step about raising money, sending out requests for proposals (RFP) and giving grants. He estimates that the program has awarded more than $30,000 in grants. “Cyral and Rabbi Chatinover have worked directly with the kids and have really touched the kids’ lives. There are kids today, whose involvement in the Jewish community and in Jewish leadership today is I think a direct reflection of their of the experience with TLPI.”

Bennett Center for Judaic Studies LECTURES AND EVENTS: SPRING 2021 Don’t Miss A Single Virtual Moment

Joan and Henry Katz Lecture in Judaic Studies

“The Rise and Destruction of the Jewish Fashion Industry, Berlin 1836 – 1939”

Uwe Westphal

Journalist and author, Fashion Metropolis Berlin (2019).

Tuesday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. - free webinar

Virtual Events Registration required at fairfield.edu/bennettprograms. For questions, contact Virtual the Bennett Center at bennettcenter@fairfield.edu or (203) 254-4000,Event ext. 2066

See the Full Schedule Here JEWISH LEDGER

APRIL 9, 2021

Briefs State Dept. revives preTrump use of ‘occupied’ Israeli territory language (JTA) – President Joe Biden’s State Department has revived the use of the term “occupied,” but with caveats noting Trump administration changes in policy. In 2018, the State Department stripped “occupation” and “occupied” from the sections of its annual human rights report dealing with Israel and Palestinian areas at the behest of David Friedman, then-President Donald Trump’s ambassador, who has ties to the settlement movement. Under Republican and Democratic presidents, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights had been called the “occupied territories.” In the first human rights report under Biden, the term reappears, but with an explanatory note: “The United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017 and Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019. Language in this report is not meant to convey a position on any final status issues to be negotiated between the parties to the conflict, including the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, or the borders between Israel and any future Palestinian state.” The Times of Israel first reported the change. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has affirmed Biden’s pledge that the United States will uphold the Trump recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, although the Biden administration is also taking steps that implicitly recognize a Palestinian claim to the eastern part of the city, including plans to reopen a Palestinian-specific U.S. consulate. Blinken has stopped short of recognizing Israel’s claim to the Golan Heights, as Trump had done.

Ra’am official: We will support a Netanyahu coalition ‘from outside’ (Israel Hayom via JNS) MK Mansour Abbas’s Ra’am Party has decided in principle to back a coalition under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while remaining outside it, a senior party official told Israel Hayom. According to the official, the decision to provide “outside” support for a coalition led by the prime minister does not necessarily mean that Ra’am will recommend to President Reuven Rivlin that he tap Netanyahu to form the next government. The official added that the decision to support a Netanyahu-led coalition could change if Ra’am’s demands were not met. The official explained that Ra’am would insist that leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party Itamar Ben-Gvir not be given any operative role or any high-ranking 8

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ministerial portfolio in the new government, and that significantly larger budgets are allocated to fight crime in the Arab sector. The party also plans to discuss the cancellation of or major changes to the Nation-State Law. According to the official, the party decided to support a coalition led by Netanyahu for a few reasons. “First and foremost, because the bloc to replace Netanyahu doesn’t have any serious candidate for prime minister, and in a situation like this, a government under [Yesh Atid Party leader Yair] Lapid, even if it had the support of Ra’am, would be unstable and would collapse not long after it was formed. A government of the Netanyahu bloc, with him as leader, will be more stable and able to help up achieve the goals we have set for Arab society,” he said. The official added that “even before we [Ra’am] split off from the Joint Arab List, we were excoriated for heading toward political unity, and we proved the opposite when the Arab public gave us the mandate and expressed their faith in the path we proposed. For 30 years we’ve tried the path of isolationism, and it hasn’t gotten us anywhere. It’s time for a change.” The anti-Netanyahu bloc is also courting Abbas’s party, and he has met with Lapid, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz and Labor leader Merav Michaeli.

US and Iran to join talks aimed at rejoining nuclear deal (JTA) – Iran and the United States will join talks in Vienna this week that aim to return all parties to the terms of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. There will not be direct contact between Iran and the United States at the in-person meeting, according to a European Union statement issued after a virtual meeting April 1 of the countries left in the deal – China, Russia, Iran, Britain, Germany and France. Instead, a coordinator will make “separate contacts” with “all JCPOA participants and the United States.” The Trump administration pulled the United States out of the deal in 2018. The New York Times, which first reported on the resumption of talks, quoted a U.S. official saying that the indirect talks would sketch out a sequence for the parties to return to the original agreement. Once the sequence was in place, Iranian and U.S. officials would meet directly. President Joe Biden has said he wants a return to the deal, which traded sanctions relief for a rollback of Iran’s nuclear program. But Iran wants the Biden administration to first end the sanctions that President Donald Trump imposed after leaving the deal. Biden wants Iran to first return to full compliance with the deal. Israel continues to vehemently oppose the deal in any form. The U.S. official told The Times that the United States would not seek to keep in place the sanctions Trump imposed as a means of leverage. Republicans, a number of Democrats and the centrist pro-Israel movement have pressed the Biden administration to maintain

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some sanctions. The EU statement said that the virtual meeting Thursday was at the level of deputy foreign ministers.

British court jails Holocaust denier (JTA) – A Holocaust denier from London with previous convictions for inciting hatred against Jews is headed to jail. Alison Chabloz, 57, was handed a nine-week prison sentence in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, March 31, for saying on the social network Gab that “anything that’s worth controlling will have Jews there controlling it,” and that Jews turn their children into “psychopathic maniacs,” the Jewish News of London reported. Prison sentences for hate speech are unusual in the United Kingdom, where the judiciary generally errs in favors of freedom of expression. In 2018, Chabloz was given a suspended sentence for writing, performing and disseminating three songs about Nazi persecution. One was about the young diarist Anne Frank. She also sang that the Holocaust was “just a bunch of lies.” When prosecutors played the song for the court in January 2018, Chabloz sang along with the recording. The Westminster court decided to activate the suspended sentence and impose another nine weeks suspended sentence in case Chabloz engages again in racist incitement.

Hundreds of US mayors sign pledge to combat antisemitism (JNS) American Jewish Committee and the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) announced March 29 that more than 525 mayors across the United States have joined their national effort to combat antisemitism. The two organizations are calling on mayors across the country to sign a statement declaring that antisemitism is incompatible with fundamental democratic values. “Antisemitism is a growing societal menace, it comes from multiple sources, and mayors are uniquely positioned to lead their cities in taking concerted steps to fight it,” said AJC CEO David Harris. The statement, Mayors United Against Antisemitism, in part reads: “In a world of global communications, where antisemitic ideas spread rapidly, a concerted and principled response is required to raise awareness, to educate and to ensure decency prevails. As mayors and municipal leaders, we have a unique responsibility to speak out against the growing menace of antisemitism.” As part of signing the pledge, the mayors agree to condemn antisemitism in all its forms, including hatred and prejudice directed towards Jews; stereotypes or conspiracy theories about Jews; Holocaust denial or distortion; and anti-Israel animus that crosses a line to target Jews or deny the Jewish state’s right to exist. Additionally,

the mayors also will support national, state and local efforts to eradicate antisemitism; reject notions that Israel’s actions can justify or excuse antisemitic acts; and affirm that a climate of mutual understanding and respect among all citizens is the bedrock of pluralistic communities.”

Sabra hummus recalls over 2,000 containers from 16 states (JTA) – Sabra, one of the country’s largest makers of the chickpea spread, has recalled 2,100 containers of its 10-ounce “Classic Hummus” because of possible salmonella contamination. The FDA said no consumers have reported complaints so far, and noted the containers had a “best before date” of April 26, USA Today reported. The containers were recalled from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Jersey, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Sabra previously recalled batches of hummus for listeria contamination in 2015 and 2016.

‘New Yorker’ slammed for article on Polish complicity during Holocaust (JNS) The New Yorker is under fire for an article it posted two weeks ago that critics claim lays the blame for the murder of Jews in Poland during World War II on the Polish people and not the Nazis. The magazine article explored a legal fight waged against two historians who alleged that a Polish mayor named Edward Malinowski helped the Nazis find Jews and Jewish partisans hiding in forests. The historians – Jan Grabowski and Barbara Engelking – recently lost their fight and were ordered to pay restitution to Malinowski’s family. Much of the criticism stems from the original subhead: “To exonerate the nation of the murders of three million Jews, the Polish government will go as far as to prosecute scholars for defamation.” In a letter to the magazine, the Polish Embassy asked that the article be pulled, and if that was not possible, that it be edited, calling the subhead “the most absurd part of the text … through which the author accuses Poles of murdering 3 million Jews.” According to Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, “It is most unfortunate that in seeking to draw attention to the Polish government’s problematic confrontation with the tragic history of wartime Polish-Jewish relations, The New Yorker’s Masha Gessen implies that Poles (not Germans) were the prime perpetrators of the Holocaust,” said Lauder, adding, “Whatever the extent of local participation, Poland cannot be held accountable for masterminding the plan to wipe out Polish and European Jewry which was pursued by the Germans with ruthless zeal.” Gessen, whose grandmother survived jewishledger.com

the Holocaust, noted on Facebook to be the recipient of hate mail and death threats, and that what was included in the article is being misunderstood. “Most of the reactions seem to focus on a single phrase concerning the Polish government’s ‘effort to exonerate Poland – both ethnic Poles and the Polish state – of the deaths of 3 million Jews in Poland during the Nazi occupation,’” Gessen wrote in the post, which was sent to a Polish newspaper. “Contrary to the laws of both linguistics and logic, this sentence has been interpreted as an assertion that Poles, or Poland, is responsible for the deaths of all three million Jews killed on its land during the Holocaust. I said no such thing.” In response to the criticism, The New Yorker did make some changes, including adding a new subhead it says was “updated to include reference to the Nazi occupation of Poland, and to more accurately describe the potential legal threats to scholars.”

Houston shul claims city is violating its religious rights (JNS) A synagogue in Houston has filed a federal lawsuit against the city claiming that it is violating its right to free exercise of religion by denying the right to worship in a residential neighborhood. In a court filing last week, TORCH: Torah Outreach Resource Center of Houston, also doing business as Heimish of Houston with a separate building, and property owner Michael Winkler alleges the city is trying to enforce a “residential-use deed restriction” on the property, which would force the synagogue to close. The use of such a designation over a property being utilized as a house of worship, say the plaintiffs, would violate the Federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Commonly referred to as RLUIPA, the act states that governments cannot enforce land-use regulations and zoning laws on different terms for houses of worship than for nonreligious institutions. In July 2020, the local homeowners association contacted the property owner and said that a house of worship may violate the terms of the property’s deed restriction. After meeting with the HOA board, no further action was taken. A few weeks later, according to the lawsuit, the City of Houston sent the congregation a letter “asserting its right to enforce the deed restriction and demanded Heimish of Houston stop all activities or face further actions.” The federal lawsuit notes that in the same area as the synagogue are several businesses including a law firm, paper shop and hair salon. And yet, according to legal documents, “the city has taken no action to enforce the deed restriction against these secular businesses.” “The city’s actions are illegal and unfair,” said Justin Butterfield, deputy general counsel for First Liberty Institute, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the congregation, in a statement. “Hundreds of thousands of Americans meet every day in small groups for prayer meetings, Bible studies, book clubs, jewishledger.com

card games and other gatherings. Why would Houston stop this small, Jewish congregation from doing likewise?” The city would not issue a comment.

Israel, Morocco sign multimillion-dollar commerce accord (Israel Hayom via JNS) Jerusalem and Rabat have signed a strategic accord worth hundreds of millions of dollars, Israel Hayom has learned. The heads of the Israel Manufacturers Association, the Israel Farmers Federation and the Israeli Federation of the Chambers of Commerce signed the unprecedented agreement with the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises, also known as CGEM, on March 27. At the signing ceremony, the president of CGEM said, “Beyond the important potential for additional trade, there are now infinite investment opportunities that Moroccan and Israeli private sector[s] can take advantage of locally, regionally and globally; in particular, as far as existing advantages in various sectors in our countries – like tourism, industry and innovation–are concerned.” Israel Manufacturers Association President Ron Tomer noted that “many Israelis’ roots are in Morocco, where there has been a large, thriving Jewish community for years. It’s only natural that we are renewing and bolstering ties between the two states through a genuine, long-term partnership that will yield trade cooperation and assist in promoting imports and exports between Israel and Morocco.”

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Educational video charts history of antisemitism for use at colleges (JNS) The Academic Engagement Network (AEN) announces a new video, “Antisemitism in Our Midst,” which charts the history of antisemitism, from its ancient origins to its contemporary manifestations. The video was created as part of the Antisemitism Education Initiative at the University of California, Berkeley, which brings together campus stakeholders to inform about, discuss and develop the resources to respond to antisemitism. AEN is supporting the Antisemitism Education Initiative with a multi-year grant. AEN executive director Miriam F. Elman notes the video’s potential to reach new audiences. “With heightened anxiety about antisemitism around the country and the disturbing trend of rising antisemitic incidents on college campuses, this educational resource couldn’t be better timed,” she says. Elman hopes the nuanced way in which the video approaches complex contemporary issues will lead to a deeper understanding of antisemitism among senior campus officials, especially those tasked with promoting diversity and inclusion. “On campus, it’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

For more information or a personal guided tour, please contact us. 463 Summer Hill Rd. Madison, CT PART OF THE 2018-19 BEMA CONCERT SERIES www.laurelwood.org 2626203.421.3736 ALBANY AVENUE • WEST HARTFORD • 860.233.9696 JEWISH LEDGER

APRIL 9, 2021

OPINION

How many American Jews are there, and does it really matter? BY JONATHAN S. TOBIN

(JNS) This past weekend, the White House Passover seder was hosted by America’s Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. The Brooklyn, N.Y.-born lawyer is the first Jew to be a spouse of a vice president, as well as the first male to occupy the role. Being a Jew in such an important place in American society is not quite as big a deal as it might have been in previous eras when most Jews were either immigrants or firstgeneration Americans. Nonetheless, Emhoff has become a symbol of the acceptance of a community that was once marginalized. The same might also be true for his children, who call his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, their “Momala,” though it’s not clear whether that was intended as a Yiddishism or simply an affectionate term that rhymes with her first name, despite the fact that some publications seized on it as a way of selling Harris to the Jewish community. But 21-year-old

period” when her father tried to reconnect with his Jewish roots. “It’s not something she grew up with,” said the spokesman. “Ella truly has no qualms with the faith, but she does not want to speak on behalf of Judaism, as she does not celebrate [it] herself.” It is very much to Ms. Emhoff’s credit that she was unwilling to pretend to embrace Jewish identity for some good press for her stepmother. Having grown up as the daughter of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother in a household where Judaism wasn’t observed, the notion of being a community role model rightly struck her as absurd. But according to the latest estimate of the Jewish population of the United States, she might actually be considered Jewish. Is that right? A lot rides on the answer to that question. It was difficult not to think about Ella

COLE AND ELLA EMHOFF, STEPCHILDREN OF U.S. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS, ATTEND THE 59TH PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION CEREMONY IN WASHINGTON, D.C., ON JAN. 20, 2021. (DOD PHOTO BY NAVY PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS CARLOS M. VAZQUEZ II)

Ella Emhoff, who introduced Harris at the virtual Democratic National Convention last summer by using that affectionate term, apparently doesn’t consider herself Jewish. We learned that when The Forward sought an interview with her and were politely brushed off when a spokesman for the 21-year-old bluntly told a reporter that “Ella is not Jewish.” While Ella Emhoff and her older brother, Cole, 26, understand that they now live in a fishbowl that inevitably involves having to deal with the press, she wanted no part of the paper’s desire to include her in the “Forward 50” list of Jewish celebrities. Her spokesman explained it this way. “Ella’s dad has been celebrating Judaism for a few years now, but out of an independent search.” He said that “Ella was living on her own in New York during this 10

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Emhoff when reading Brandeis University’s American Jewish Population Estimates 2020 published earlier this month. The work, which is based on 30 different local demographic studies of Jewish communities as well as the landmark 2013 Pew Research Institute’s “Portrait of Jewish Americans,” contains some interesting tidbits. It’s not exactly shocking to learn from the Brandeis study that American Jews are older, better-educated and more likely to live in an urban setting than non-Jews. It’s equally unsurprising that those areas where the Jewish population skews much younger are places where there are heavy concentrations of Orthodox and nonOrthodox Jews. But other elements of the document are likely to generate a spirited debate. The most important one is the most basic: How many Jews are there, and who

| APRIL 9, 2021

is counted as such at a time when identity is fluid, and affiliation and faith remain on the downswing for those who categorize themselves as Jewish in one way or the other. Brandeis asserts that 7.6 million Jews currently live in the United States. Of those, 4.9 million are adults who identify as Jewish. It also counts another 1.2 million adults who either claim to be “partially” Jewish or fall into a category that Pew called “Jews of no religion,” which is to say that they do not identify as being Jewish, but have some direct Jewish connections and don’t identify as members of another faith. It also counts 1.2 million Jewish children, including anyone with at least one Jewish parent who is being “raised as a Jew in any way,” though that requirement is so loosely defined as to be meaningless. Another demographer, Sergio DellaPergola of Hebrew University, disagrees. In his article on “World Jewish Population” in the 2019 American Jewish Yearbook, DellaPergola came up with a much lower number for American Jews. He excluded those who called themselves “partially” Jewish and said the “core” Jewish population was 5.7 million, a finding that the Brandeis study rejects as mistaken. This sounds like a boring statistical debate that could only interest demographers. Still, if those in charge of communal institutions are counting Ella Emhoff and the many other people who, like her, have some Jewish connections but don’t consider themselves Jewish, then it is directly relevant not only to funding priorities, but is also a commentary on the state of American Jewish identity. This is a product of the changing demographics of American Jewry. As the Pew study noted, with the rate of intermarriage among the approximately 90 percent of Jews who are not Orthodox now more than 70 percent, assumptions about who should be considered as Jewish are inevitably on shaky ground. In an era when the number of those who are “Jews of no religion” is rising, understanding how to reach the population of people who do not observe Judaism but who might feel some sort of connection with Jewish identity is of vital importance. As such, it’s understandable that many demographers, like Jewish communal leaders, are eager to frame the community in as inclusive a manner as possible. That’s in part because many children of intermarriage are receiving some Jewish education and being raised in homes where Judaism is observed. It also represents a desire not to write off those who are

being raised with both religions being acknowledged in the home as not Jewish. Yet as the author of a New York Times op-ed about “saying goodbye to Hanukkah” noted in December, being the child or grandchild of Jews with only loose cultural connections to Jewish identity simply does not a Jew make. The Pew data recorded a marked decline in interest in those aspects of Jewish life that are integral to passing on identity to subsequent generations. Merely liking lox and bagels, and having a feeling that social justice is an important cause, cannot sustain Jewish identity. A sense of Jewish peoplehood isn’t likely to survive in the absence of active involvement in religion or engagement with Israel, let alone without some form of Jewish education. Of course, that isn’t what many in the Jewish community want to hear. Some see the “Jews of no religion” group as justifying a new way of thinking that de-emphasizes traditional institutions like synagogues, schools and camps, as well as Zionism. Instead, it reflects a more loosely defined notion of Jewish life that is both more amenable to the universalist instincts of the non-affiliated and to their liberal political sensibilities. For a generation, the Jewish world has struggled to balance an emphasis on outreach and inclusion while allocating sufficient resources to sustain institutions that are vital to maintaining a core Jewish community. There’s no reason – other than shrinking resources – why both can’t be done. But the debate about allocating those increasingly scarce Jewish funds is inevitably going to be influenced by the way we count Jews. Outreach is vital, and no one who might one day be inspired to connect to Jewish life should be turned away. But so long as we are counting people with no real sense of Jewish identity or peoplehood as Jews, we’re skewing that conversation. The argument about demographics may make it less likely that communities will devote themselves to reinforcing those who embrace their identity. Those seeking to raise Jewish families at a time when assimilation is such a powerful force should be a priority for the organized Jewish world. Seen from that perspective, counting individuals like Ella Emhoff who are ambivalent on the subject or who actually say they are not Jewish matters a great deal. Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNS – Jewish News Syndicate.

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Briefs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

critically important for administrators and faculty to teach students how to better distinguish between a robust and rigorous criticism of Israel and harassment, intimidation and discriminatory actions targeting Jews for their support of Israel and their Zionist beliefs and identities,” she says.

Matt Gaetz says he’s part of an extortion plot involving missing Jewish FBI agent (JTA) – Matt Gaetz, the Republican congressman under federal investigation for an alleged sexual relationship with a minor, has brought into the increasingly complex scandal an alleged bid to free Robert Levinson, the Jewish former FBI agent who went missing in Iran more than a dozen years ago. On March 31, Gaetz and his father produced documents that suggest a trio of figures associated with the search for Levinson solicited $25 million from Gaetz’s father that would free the agent and get the congressman off the hook on charges from the relationship. The Gaetzes and Levinson are from Florida. According to the purported plan, Matt Gaetz would be depicted as the man who freed Levinson, which would earn him good will from the U.S. government and possibly a pardon for his alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz and his father, Don, who is said to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, say they alerted federal authorities to the alleged extortion scheme. There is no evidence that Levinson’s family was involved in the scheme. The three men in the alleged scheme were not involved in the investigation into the accusations of Gaetz’s illicit affair. Levinson’s family has accepted that he is dead based on evidence presented

to them by the FBI. U.S. officials say Iran is responsible for Levinson’s disappearance. Iran’s government has denied any involvement. The investigation into Gaetz reportedly arose out of the probe of his friend Joel Greenberg, a former Florida tax official who has been indicted for sex trafficking a minor, as well as identity theft and myriad other charges. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.

Report: Canadian Jews most targeted for religious hate crimes (JNS) Jews remained by far the most targeted religious group for hate crimes in Canada, according to the Canadian government’s annual survey of policereported hate crimes. The report found that there were 1,946 police-reported hate crimes in Canada in 2019, up 7 percent from a year earlier. In particular, some 608 hate crimes targeted religion, down 7 percent compared to 2018. This number, however, remains higher than those recorded before 2017, when it hit its peak at 842 incidents. According to the report, Jewish Canadians were targeted 296 times in 2019 – a 20 percent decrease from 372 in 2018. Despite the decrease, attacks on Jewish Canadians still occurred on average five times per week during 2019 with Jews comprising some 50 percent of overall religious hate crimes, Muslims at 10 percent, and Catholics and other religions at 3 percent each. The frequency of attacks comes despite the fact that the country’s Jewish community comprises only 1 percent of the population, and yet is the target of 17 percent of all police-reported hate crimes. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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L IKE U S ON

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APRIL 9, 2021

ISRAEL’S BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPE IS THE BY ABIGAIL KLEIN LEICHMAN | PHOTOS © NOAM CHEN

Celebrate Israel @ 73! Yom HaZikaron – Israel Memorial Day – honors Israel’s fallen soldiers, as well as civilian victims of terror attacks against the Jewish state. This year, Yom HaZikaron begins the evening of Tuesday, April 12 and ends the evening of Wednesday, April 13. Yom Ha’atzmaut – Israel Independence Day – begins at the close of Yom Hazikaron and ends Thursday, April 14.

fairytale location, says Israeli photographer Noam Chen, “is someplace you find yourself disconnecting from the troubles of the world, just drowning in the beauty and serenity of the place and forgetting about everything else.” The fairytale locations he shares here were photographed using his special techniques that turn beautiful landscapes into dreamy scenes with an unreal quality. Yet these magnificent images do exist in Israel – even if tourists cannot come enjoy them just yet. So sit back and let your imagination run wild as Chen’s photos take you to magical places. It’s a perfect antidote to a year of pandemicinduced stress. Our fairytale tour begins up north at Nimrod Fortress in the Golan Heights. “It’s the largest fortress in Israel, and its magnitude and lush green surroundings makes it feel a proper fairytale location,” Chen says. “You can use your imagination to see royalty there.”

SA’AR FALLS IN THE GOLAN HEIGHTS.

The Golan Heights and the Galilee are blessed with many fairytale-like water elements. “Among the streams and waterfalls of the North, you can go and find quiet and mesmerizing little spots that transport you to another place,” says Chen. Moving a bit southeast to the Upper Galilee, we come to the Hula Valley, which has it all: fields of wildflowers, thousands of migrating birds, clear lakes teeming with wildlife.

WILDFLOWERS IN ISRAEL’S HULA VALLEY

THE MAGNIFICENT NIMROD FORTRESS IN NORTHERN ISRAEL.

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Rosh Hanikra in the upper Western Galilee is famous for its Mediterranean grottos reached by cable car. “When you go into the grottos, the thing that pops out immediately is the dreamy turquoise color of the water which makes you feel you’re entering another world,” Chen says. “Outside the grottos, the white cliffs overlooking the sea are certainly a fairytale setting.” About 20 minutes south of Rosh Hanikra is Nahariya, a beautiful beach city of the Western Galilee where Chen spent his childhood. The Tal Shahar Forest in central Israel, otherwise known as Cyclamen Hill because of the wildflowers that dominate the landscape in February and March, is surely a proper fairytale

setting. “You just need a princess in th Chen remarks. Having lived in Tel Aviv and in the years, Chen came back to the north of pandemic and recently relocated to Je across the world and hopes to do his n capital city. Just south of Jerusalem is the Gus where you’ll find Herodian (also calle Park. Here, in the first century BCE, K forces of nature by building one of the of the ancient world. “The story behind it is what makes

| APRIL 9, 2021 jewishledger.com

E STUFF OF FAIRYTALES

THE GROTTOS OF ROSH HANIKRA

OVERVIEW OF HERODIAN IN THE JUDEAN DESERT

A NAHARIYA BEACH

SALT FLATS IN THE DEAD SEA.

THE WHITE CLIFFS OF ROSH HANIKRA

he middle of the field,”

e United States for many f Israel during the Covid erusalem. He’s exhibited next show in Israel’s

sh Etzion region, ed Herodium) National King Herod challenged the e most daring structures

s this a fairytale location,”

THE SUN SHINING ON THE CYCLAMENS IN TAL SHAHAR FOREST

says Chen. “It was a huge palace complex and Herod chose it to be his burial site. The Judean Desert landscape around it takes it to another level.” One of the most popular tourist sites in the southern Judean Desert is the salty Dead Sea, the lowest place on Planet Earth. “In spite of the fact that it’s a popular tourist destination, the Dead Sea still has many spots that not everyone knows about and that literally looks like an alien landscape with features like salt flats,” says Chen. “It really looks like a different world down here,” he adds. “At sunrise and sunset there are the most beautiful skies.” And for our last fairytale location, here’s a glimpse of the gorgeous Red South fields of the Negev when carpeted with anemones.

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RED SOUTH ANEMONE FIELDS IN SOUTHERN ISRAEL

To achieve his trademark effect, Chen combines different exposures in order to capture the big contrast between highlights and shadows in the frame. “But the most important thing is to keep it real,” he says. Even when the image is the stuff of fairytales. For a look at Noam Chen’s work, visit https://www.instagram.com/noamc_official/

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

JEWISH LEDGER

APRIL 9, 2021

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

Turkey ready to resume exchange of ambassadors with Israel

CT marks Yom Hazikaron & Yom Ha’atzmaut

(Israel Hayom via JNS) Turkey has made it clear to Israel that from its perspective it is ready to dispatch an ambassador to Tel Aviv once the Israeli government commits to simultaneously reciprocating the measure, a senior Turkish official told Israel Hayom. The main point of contention between the two former allies remains the presence of senior Hamas officials on Turkish soil. Following years of contentious relations, Turkey recently altered its foreign policy toward the region in general and Israel in particular. In December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared that “Turkey wants to improve its relations with Israel. Our intelligence cooperation with Israel is ongoing.” This occurred some three weeks after his close confidant, former Admiral Cihat Yayci, proposed a shared maritime border deal with Israel, which was first reported by Israel Hayom. The trend continued earlier this month, when Dr. Hakan Yurdakul, a board member of the Turkish Presidency’s Committee for Economic Policies, attended a European Jewish Parliament conference focusing on a renewed agenda between the former allies. Israel is not the only country in the Middle East with which Ankara wants to rehabilitate and normalize relations. In Ankara’s efforts to normalize ties with Cairo, Turkish authorities on March 20 ordered Istanbul-based TV channels affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood to immediately stop airing criticism of Egypt. This could indicate that if Israel agrees to restore relations with Turkey, Erdoğan’s government could work, to some extent or another, to remove or stifle the senior Hamas leaders residing in Istanbul. Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed recently that Israel was “engaged in talks with Turkey” about natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Netanyahu also noted that Israel was holding fruitful talks with Egypt, Greece and Cyprus on the issue of exporting gas to Europe. Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, an expert on contemporary Turkish politics and foreign policy, told Israel Hayom: “The question isn’t whether Turkey wants to normalize relations with Israel or not; it’s whether it needs to–and it does. Turkey’s immediate interests require immediate alterations to its foreign policy regarding the eastern Mediterranean and Syria. Iran’s influence in the region is growing, and Turkey wants to curb this influence in Syria, just as Israel does. Meanwhile, Turkish-U.S. relations are deteriorating by the day. Therefore, Ankara needs Jerusalem as a ‘bridge’ to Washington in order to alleviate the pressure from the Biden administration.” 14

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Honor Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror attacks, and celebrate Israel’s 73rd birthday at these virtual events. All events are FREE. Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

TUESDAY, APRIL 13 Virtual Yom Hazikaron Ceremony The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven will host a communal Yom Hazikaron ceremony for fallen IDF soldiers and victims of terror, which will include a message from Meron Reuben, the Consul General of Israel to New England.

THURSDAY, APRIL 15 Journey to Israel with PJ Library in New Haven PJ Library of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven will host an outdoor celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut. Children will be treated to a Story Walk, get stamps for a “passport” and receive a goodie bag filled with souvenirs, and listen to Israeli music. Story Walks will be scheduled in 30-minute time slots to ensure social distancing. Jewish Federation is located at 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. For more information, call (203) 397-7439. Jewish Rock Radio All-Star Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration! 5:30 p.m. — JCC Stamford, United Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford, and UJA/ JCC Greenwich and many community partners will host a celebration of Israel’s 73rd Birthday with Jewish rock radio all-stars, including: Nefesh Mountain, Rich Recht, David Broza, Rabbi Josh Warshawsky, Josh Nelson, Rabbi Lisa Silverstein, Chava Mirel, Shimon Smith, and Laurie Akers. To register, visit ujf. ticketspice.com. For more information visit ujf.org.

7 p.m. — The celebration continues with a global celebration of Israel hosted by the Jewish Federation of North America. Join a Global Celebration of Israel presented by Jewish Federation of North America (JFNA). The program includes a farewell to Reuven Rivlin as he completes his term as Israel’s tenth president, as well as special appearances by Israeli Olympic hopefuls and many more. Attendance if FREE. For more information or to register, visit jewishtogether.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 17 Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration with fireworks in Bloomfield B’nai Tikvoh-Sholom in Bloomfield will host a socially distanced celebration of Israel Independence Day on April 17 at 8:30 p.m. Havadlah will be followed by a

fireworks display. Arrive 15 minutes early to pick up your Havdalah candle and more. If forecast calls for inclement weather, check the BTS website (btsonline.org) by 5 p.m. on April 16. BTS is located at 180 Still Road, Bloomfield. For more information, call (860) 243-3576. Registration not required.

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2:30 p.m. Come Fly With Us…Over Israel! Join us for an aerial flight over Israel with retired Israel Air Force pilot Lt. Col. Alon Moller, hosted by the Southern New England Consortium (SNEC) and Partnership 2gether with Afula-Gilboa. Attendance if FREE. To register, visit ujf. ticketspice.com. For more information visit ujf.org.

West Hartford attorney receives Connecticut Bar Association pro bono award HARTFORD – The Connecticut Bar Association has named Richard S. Order of Simsbury as the recipient of the Honorable Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award. The Hartford attorney will receive his award at the Association’s “Celebrate with the Stars” awards ceremony to be held on Thursday, April 8. Order is a shareholder in the Litigation Department at Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. in Hartford, where he primarily represents clients in business disputes. He

| APRIL 9, 2021

was nominated for the Honorable Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award by Linda Allard, an attorney with Greater Hartford Legal Aid, in recognition of the pro bono program he instituted at his law firm to help persons of limited financial means obtain domestic violence restraining orders protecting them from their abusers. Through this program, Order and Updike Kelly associates have represented dozens of women and their children, as well as several men, who have been physically, verbally, and mentally abused, harassed, stalked, and controlled by domestic partners. “It is horrifying to see how domestic

abuse persistently threatens families and relationships, regardless of financial situation, education, culture, and ethnicity,” said Order. “Our clients are so grateful when we go to court with them and help them start on the path to a new life. Each time we obtain a restraining order, it reminds me of why I went to law school.” Richard Order and his wife, Denise, are members of Beth El Temple in West Hartford. He serves as treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Mandell Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center (JCC) in West Hartford, and as co-chair of the JCC’s annual Hartford Jewish Film Festival.

jewishledger.com

TORAHPortion Shemini

BY SHLOMO RISKIN

ne of the greatest tragedies in biblical history is the death of Nadav and Avihu, the two sons of Aaron the High Priest, on the day of the celebration of the dedication of the Sanctuary. Aaron’s greatest triumphs turned tragedy. And one of the deepest Biblical mysteries is the reason why God Himself sent down a fire to consume them. Why? The Midrash (VaYikrah Rabbah 12,1) attempts to provide an explanation: “It seems impossible to understand why God would have caused them to die. And then comes the explanation in the verse which appears immediately after this incident; ‘And the Lord said to Aaron saying, do not drink wine or mead, neither you nor your sons with you, when you enter into the Tent of Meeting so that you do not die. It is an eternal statutes for your generations so that you may distinguish between the holy and the profane, between the impure and the pure.’” Apparently the Midrash is teaching that Nadav and Avihu were given this capital punishment because they had brought a fire unto God which had not been commanded while having become intoxicated with wine. From this perspective, wine – which removes the ability of the individual to distinguish between the Holy and the profane, between the pure and the impure – can lead to evil action and can bring about tragic consequences. And indeed at least according to one Rabbi Meir’s view in the Talmud (B.T. Sanhedrin 70A, 70B), “The fruit from which Adam ate was the fruit of the vine because there is nothing which brings greater woe to the individual than wine.” And of course it was Noah’s planting of the vineyards which caused him to become drunk; The Midrash even goes so far as to suggest that Satan was Noah’s partner and convinced him to plant a vineyard and drink from its fruit. At the same time, however, the first Passover Seder night, which we recently concluded, is punctuated by four cups of the wine which symbolizes redemption. The Talmud goes on to teach “There is no joy without wine since ‘wine gladdens the heart of humanity’”(B.T. Pesahim 109A). And further enjoins that we ‘Remember (the Sabbath day) on wine’ both at the inception of the Sabbath day by means of the Kiddush and at the closing of the Sabbath day by means of Havdallah. Is it not strange that the very wine which has the capability of causing forgetfulness and debauchery drunkenness can also be used as a means towards understanding and

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distinguishing. After all the very reference to Havdallah (separation between the Holy and the profane) is placed in the blessing in which we ask God to provide us with understanding and the ability to distinguish. In the words of our Sages, “If there is no knowledge how is it possible to distinguish between night and day, the Sabbath and the rest of the week, the holy and the profane. And the blessing of Havdallah is specifically recited over wine! The Talmud links wine with the Hebrew word Tirosh which is usually translated as grape; the Hebrew Rosh means head and the Hebrew Rash means poverty. If the individual who drinks the wine has merit, he will become a head; if not he will become a pauper. Wine therefore can lead the individual in two very opposite and even antithetical directions. It depends on the individual drinking the wine. Maimonides, who establishes the fact that the joy of the festival must be expressed through meat and wine, distinguishes between drunken frivolity and joyous festivity. “Drunkenness and much frivolity and levity is not rejoicing but is foolish hooliganism”. Nadav and Avihu, at least according to the above Midrash, went into the Tent of Meeting of the Sanctuary having already been intoxicated – and it is written, “You shall not drink wine or mead when you come into the Tent of Meeting” (VaYikrah Rabbah 12,1 ). The Sabbath wine on the other hand is a very different experience. When we hold aloft the wine goblet of Kiddush it is after we have spent at least most of Friday in preparation for the holy day. Wine which is drunk before one has expended energy and accomplished an ideal will lead to drunkenness; only wine which comes to express an inner state of sanctity and accomplishment as a result of successful human effort will lead to great joy. In the words of one of my great teachers Rav Poleyoff:’ If you are empty inside and expect the wine to put in the joy, the wine will only lead to forgetfulness and drunkenness; but if you are filled inside with a deep sense of self worth and accomplishment – and you see the wine as an expression of your own state of human happiness – then the wine will lead to true rejoicing, sanctity and remembrance of the Divine.” Shlomo Riskin is founder and rosh yeshiva of Ohr Torah Stone, and founding rabbi of Efrat, Israel.

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• Discounts for Senior Citizens, Veterans, and Low-Income Individuals • Huge Savings through our free Fine Fettle Club • Online ordering and more at www.finefettle.com A conversation with a healthcare provider can help you determine whether medical marijuana may be right for you. JEWISH LEDGER

APRIL 9, 2021

AUTHOR’S CORNER The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler’s Ghettos BY SHARON LEIB

(JTA) – They hid revolvers in teddy bears and dynamite in their underwear. They learned how to make lethal Molotov cocktails and fling them at German supply trains. The girls with “Aryan” features who could pass as non-Jews flirted with Nazis – plying them with wine, whiskey and pastry before shooting them dead. When the Nazis occupied their native Poland, Jewish women, some barely into their teens, joined the resistance and risked their young lives to sabotage the regime. That crucial but often overlooked story of defiance and resistance is told by Judy Batalion in her new book, “The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler’s Ghettos” (William Morrow). It’s the result of her 12-year odyssey digging through archives and interviewing descendants of the women. The research skills she honed while earning a doctorate in the history of art from the University of London helped her navigate the daunting challenges of crafting a cohesive, factually accurate narrative out of history shrouded in myth and neglect. The book and a companion edition targeting 10- to 14-year-olds are both due out on April 6 in honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Director Steven Spielberg has optioned the book for a motion picture and signed Batalion to co-write the screenplay. “I was slow with this book because it was so challenging – emotionally, intellectually

and practically. I had to deal with reading incredibly difficult memoirs and testimonies on my own,” she said in a phone interview from her New York City home. Batalion, who spent her mid-20s in London working as an art historian by day and stand-up comedian at night, is not a Holocaust scholar accustomed to reading graphic primary sources. She felt weighed down by the women’s accounts of being sexually assaulted by Nazis, of soldiers stomping on Jewish babies and of mass murder committed before their eyes. “Their stories seeped into my system. I worked on it in dribs and drabs when I could,” Batalion said of her years of offagain, on-again research and writing. The misogyny and antisemitism she saw in recent years churned up in its wake, pushed Batalion to go all in and craft the ghetto girls’ stories into a work of narrative nonfiction. “I felt a shift in the zeitgeist. The importance of telling honest stories about women in the Holocaust and women’s empowerment felt urgent,” she said. “I dashed off a book proposal and committed to diving into two years of intensive, focused research.” At the heart of the project is an obscure Yiddish book published in 1946 titled “Freuen in di Ghettos” (“Women in the Ghettos”) chronicling these young women’s tales of resistance and derring-do. Batalion discovered the dusty tome by chance in

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: TEMA SCHNEIDERMAN, BELA HAZAN AND LONKA KOZIBRODSKA AT A GESTAPO CHRISTMAS PARTY IN 1941. (COURTESY OF YAD VASHEM PHOTO ARCHIVE)

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| APRIL 9, 2021

London’s British Library while researching strong Jewish women. Why, despite her years of education at a Montreal Jewish day school, where she learned Yiddish and Hebrew, and as the granddaughter of Polish Holocaust survivors, had she never heard of these ghetto girls? “My research was very complex and strangely time consuming. I had to work in multiple languages,” she said. “The women’s names and the place names had so many confusing iterations – Yiddish, Polish, Hebrew, English.” Her research missions took her to Poland for two weeks and Israel for 10 days. She visited the places that her heroines wrote and spoke about. “I wanted to understand what the ride from Krakow to Warsaw looked like from the train window and experience a taste of what they did,” she said. Batalion hit the research jackpot at Warsaw’s new Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews, where an archivist directed her to thousands of pages of information about Jewish resistance fighters. She snapped photos of the documents to share with a Polish translator in New York. “The Light of Days” highlights the incredible tenacity of Renia Kukielka, one of the youngest ghetto girls. As a 15-yearold, Renia saw her parents deported from the Będzin ghetto to Auschwitz. Fueled by outrage, she and her older sister, Sarah, joined the ghetto’s resistance movement. Renia’s youthful charm, fluent Polish and soft features made her an ideal courier. The Jewish underground obtained expensive fake papers that established Renia’s identity as a Catholic Pole. She successfully ran multiple missions, smuggling weapons, correspondence and money from Będzin to Warsaw until the Gestapo discovered her papers were forged and threw her into prison. Despite repeated beatings that left her bloodied and unconscious, she clung to her cover story and never revealed her Jewish identity. Sarah and her underground comrades bribed a guard with whiskey and cigarettes to rescue her from prison. Weak and feverish from starvation and physical abuse, Renia mustered the strength to run through forests and over snow-capped mountains. She survived a tortuous journey through hidden bunkers in Slovakia, then on to Hungary, Turkey and the ultimate destination – Palestine. Against terrifying, oppressive odds, Renia lived to tell her story in a memoir she began writing at 19. When Batalion

read Renia’s memoir she felt as if she’d discovered a kindred spirit – a thoughtful writer processing her experiences. Batalion’s favorite research and writing involved the surviving ghetto girls’ postwar lives. “I wanted to know how they reconstructed their lives after going through everything they did. I so wanted to talk to their children and find out who these women became,” she said. She achieved this level of intimacy with her subjects on her trip to Israel, when she met with their descendants. Batalion was overjoyed to meet Renia’s adult children, who described their mother’s zest for family, fashion and world travel. “This brought home on such a personal level that I was writing about real people,” she said. Batalion hopes the stories of female heroism she resurrected serve to inspire future generations of all faiths, especially her own two daughters, both in elementary school. “These were women who saw and acknowledged the truth, had the courage to act on their convictions and fought with their lives for what was fair and right,” she said. She feels a deep sense of connection to the ghetto girls who died fighting and believes they sacrificed themselves for the future dignity of the Jewish people. Their stories serve as a timeless call to action to women to empower themselves to resist all forms of oppression. During this difficult COVID year, Batalion drew personal inspiration from her subjects’ life stories. “Thinking back to their stories of courage and bravery really helped me,” she said. “I thought if they could get through the horrific challenges they faced, I can definitely get through this.” jewishledger.com

THE KOSHER CROSSWORD APRIL 9, 2021 “Board Games” By: Yoni Glatt

Difficulty Level: Easy

Vol. 93 No. 15 JHL Ledger LLC Publisher Henry M. Zachs Managing Partner

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ANSWERS TO APRIL 2 CROSSWORD

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Across 1. Game where you might say “L’chaim!”? 5. Many homes at the start of Shabbos as opposed to the finish 9. “___ 18” (Uris novel) 13. Some jackets and collars 15. China preceder 16. Camera aperture 17. Discriminator against the elderly (Var.) 18. Game for Shifrah and Puah? 20. Legendary director Sydney, and others 22. Person from Muscat 23. Queens stadium that was nearly empty last September

24. Loughlin who didn’t have the best 2020 26. Game for Egypt and Syria’s attempts to destroy Israel? 32. They’re run 33. Carpentry tool 34. Where Senators skate? 36. “Titen ___ l’Yaakov, chesed l’Avraham....” 37. Game for not following Jewish tradition? 39. ___ lot (like what many do at a Seder) 40. Yearly shot, for many 41. Isn’t so hot...but also might be hot? 42. Copycat’s activity

43. Game for Rosh Hashana? 47. Avigdor Kahalani, e.g. (look him up!) 48. Organ tube 49. Seussian character that was not cancelled, with “the” 52. Abased 56. Game for Israeli campaigns? 59. 10, in Hebrew dates 60. Have the aspect of 61. Gentle as ___ 62. “Rosemary’s Baby” author Ira 63. Never ___ sentence with... 64. Pure 26-Down in liquidy form 65. Game for an Israeli vacationing in Iran?

Down 1. Like every fourth year 2. 2/3 of a hit “Frozen” song 3. Aluminum product in the kitchen 4. Makes like Pharaoh to the Israelites after Joseph dies 5. Buffalo coin of the past 6. One of Adam’s grandsons 7. Use this: + 8. Oft-stubbed appendage 9. Sch. in Ohio not Florida 10. “The Joy of Cooking” author Rombauer 11. House hold? 12. Talmudic Rav 14. Condition of equilibrium

19. Like Thor or Loki 21. Hornets, on the scoreboard 24. Celebrity chef Lefebvre 25. Little pasta 26. Impure, in Yiddish 27. City in central Israel 28. Freeze over 29. “Blue Ribbon” beer maker 30. Recon gathering 31. Yonder 35. PepsiCo snack brand 37. Stadium ticket price factor 38. Plus 39. One who gives in easily 41. She might play music for you if asked 42. Petition to a higher court

44. Big ___ (drug industry) 45. Went on before the main attraction 46. Point 49. Miss a game winning shot, e.g. 50. Kind of sports competition with rackets or clubs? 51. First name of the Fantastic Four 52. Way in or out 53. Yechezkel or Amos, e.g. 54. Apple-thrower of myth 55. Cellarlike 57. Tefilah for dew 58. Mom of Mary’s best friend, on classic TV

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APRIL 9, 2021

WHAT’S HAPPENING Jewish organizations are invited to submit their upcoming events to the our What’s Happening section. Events are placed on the Ledger website on Tuesday afternoons. Deadline for submission of calendar items is the previous Tuesday. Send items to: judiej@ jewishledger.com.

Organ Sounds Concert Series

Discipline and Diversification: Keys to Long-Term Success, Investment Updates Michael Miller, principal at Crewcial Partners, the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford’s investment consultant, will answer questions on April 6 at 12 noon, about how your funds are invested, trends in the marketplace, and the investment policy that guides the Foundation’s approach. Both seasoned investors or those new to the Foundation are invited to Discipline and Diversification: Keys to Long-Term Success, Investment Updates. Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom. us/meeting/register/tZArfCtpj8jH9AG3nlKKiobhenQs0ELScQN For information, email Kathryn Gonnerman at kgonnerman@jcfhartford.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 8 The Jewish Heroes of Warsaw: The Afterlife of the Revolt The Helen Cohen Memorial Lecture: “The Jewish Heroes of Warsaw: The Afterlife of the Revolt,” with Prof. Avinoam Patt, on Zoom, April 8 at 12 p.m. Hosted by the JDC Archives and the Jewish Book Council. For more information: avinoam.patt@uconn.edu. Blood Drive Congregation Or Shalom will host a Red Cross blood drive on April 8, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Help ensure blood is available for patients in need this summer. Even if you have recently received a COVID-19 vaccination, you can still give blood. To donate, download the Blood Donor App (3cu.be/blood), visit redcrossblood.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Short Story Coffee Break: A Scrap of Time A Zoom discussion of short stories from A Scrap of Time by Polish-Israeli Holocaust survivor Ida Fink with Rabbi Andi Fliegel. Hosted by Congregation Beth Israel, April 1 at 11 a.m. To register and receive a copy of the next short story and a link to the Zoom discussion, email kbeyard@cbict.org.

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Whether you listen, play, sing, or do it all, be a part of this diverse musical event. Jazz, Classical, Pop, Songwriters, Poetry, dance, storytelling, all are welcome to perform or listen on Thursdays, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Hosted by JCC in Sherman. Zoom info: Meeting ID: 882 7431 2692 | Passcode: 501805

FRIDAY, APRIL 9

TUESDAY, APRIL 6

Open Mic on Z

Organist Scott Lamlein, director of music for St. John’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford, will perform, April 9 at 6:30 p.m. Program will be announced. For more information or to register, visit cbict.org/calendar.

SATURDAY, APRIL 10 For the Love of Shakespeare A special performance of scenes, songs, and monologues centered around the love themes that are embedded in some of Shakespeare’s plays. Directed by Robin Frome. Available to stream online on April 10 at 7 p.m. FREE, donations welcome. Hosted by JCC in Sherman. For more information, email info@ jccinsherman.org, or visit jccinsherman.org.

fundraiser hosted by Congregation Or Shalom of Orange, to be held virtually April 11 at 8 p.m. Ari has been demonstrating his amazing sleight of hand to awestruck audiences for four years. He took second place in the 2020 Florida Magician of the Year competition. Most recently he transferred his act to the virtual space, bringing the magic directly into an audience member’s living room. Tickets are $18/household. Check out his act n YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=EsDhEbTFIfU&feature=youtu.be. For more information: (203) 799-2341.

TUESDAY, APRIL 13

TUESDAY, APRIL 20

The Rise & Destruction of the Jewish Fashion Industry, Berlin 1836-1939

Harry Potter in Yiddish, Magic in Mame-Loshn, with Arun Schaechter Viswanath

The Joan and Henry Katz Lecture in Judaic Studies: “The Rise and Destruction of the Jewish Fashion Industry, Berlin 1836 – 1939,” with guest lecturer Uwe Westphal, journalist, and author of Fashion Metropolis Berlin (2019), to be held March 16 at 7:30 p.m. This FREE webinar is co-sponsored by the Bennett Center for Judaic Studies at Fairfield University. Registration required at fairfield. edu/bennettprograms. For information: bennettcenter@fairfield.edu or (203) 2544000 x2066.

The Tribe/Super Tribe Havdalah

THURSDAY, APRIL 15

Havdalah followed by a meet and greet for both of Tribe groups, ranging in age from 20-50. Hosted online by Congregation Beth Israel on March 13, 6:30 p.m. For more information: email Tracy Taback at tracytaback@gmail.com.

Book Group: “The Lions of 5th Avenue”

SUNDAY, APRIL 11 Seeking Refuge: Shanghai & Beyond The 4th Annual Henny Simon Remembrance: “Seeking Refuge: Shanghai & Beyond” featuring guest speakers Laurence Tribe, Carl M. Loeb Professor of Constitutional Law Emeritus at Harvard Law School, and teacher Helen Elperina. This program will explore the desperate search for refuge from persecution and impending death faced by Jews during the Holocaust through the experiences of Ludwig Rosenbaum z”l (father of Henny Simon), Prof.Tribe and Helen Elperina, whose stories converge in 1941. Hosted by Eastern CT chapter of Hadassah, the presentation will be held April 11 at 2 p.m. For more information and to receive the Zoom link to the program, contact Karen Bloustine at bloustinek@gmail. com. Zoomed: A Magic Show Fundraiser The popular Orlando-based magician Ari is the featured performer for a magic show

| APRIL 9, 2021

A new book group formed by Congregation Or Shalom in Orange and led by Caryl Winter will discuss “The Lions of 5th Avenue” by Fiona Davis on April 15 at 7 p.m. The book tells the story of two women living decades apart, mysterious family secrets, and the quest to stake a place in society and history. To register and receive the link, email the synagogue at coshalom@sbcglobal.net. Short Story Coffee Break: The Quiet Americans A Zoom discussion of short stories from The Quiet Americans, led by Erika Dreifus Learning Center (Virtual) Writer in Residence, to be held April 15, a.m. Hosted by Congregation Beth Israel. To register and receive a copy of the next short story and a link to the Zoom discussion, email kbeyard@ cbict.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 18 Mental Health & the Pandemic With the end of the pandemic in sight, New York psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Dr. Jeremy R. Mack examines how we are coping – or not coping. An interactive talk on Zoom on April 18, 2 - 3 p.m., hosted by the JCC in Sherman FREE, donations welcome. To

Israel Food Tour A live virtual culinary tour of the foods and culture of Israel on April 18 at 1 p.m. Expert guides immerse you in the history, culture, and people of Israel through unparalleled knowledge and connection to the vendors who make Israeli food come alive. Includes interviews, videos, maps and a Q&A time with a local culinary expert. For more information or to register, visit cbict.org/calendar.

Arun Schaechter Viswanath will discuss “Harry Potter in Yiddish, Magic in MameLoshn,” on April 20 at 5:30 p.m. Hosted by UConn Judaic Studies. For more information: judaicstudies.uconn.edu/upcoming-events/ JCC in Sherman announces line-up for 2021 Great Decisions 2021 Great Decisions, a nation-wide discussion group on U.S. foreign policy and global affairs sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) and co-hosted by the JCC in Sherman and The Sherman Library, will begin on April 20, 7 - 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. The 8-session monthly program will run on Tuesdays through November. Each month participants will review and discuss a critical world issue facing America today. Topics for 2021 are: Global Supply Chains and the U.S. National Security; The Future of Persian Gulf Security; Brexit: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead; The Coldest War: Toward a Return to Great Power Competition in the Arctic, China and Africa; The Two Koreas; The World Health Organization’s Response to Covid-19; and, The End of Globalization. Briefing booklets are $20 and can be purchased and picked up at the Sherman Library Call (860) 354-2455 to schedule a pick-up time. Space is limited, so register early to receive a briefing book. For information: info@jccinsherman.org, or visit jccinsherman.org/greatdecisions.

THURSDAY, APRIL 22 “Hava Nagila” – Film Screening and Discussion A screening and discussion of the awardwinning documentary “Hava Nagila” on April 22 at 7 p.m. Follow the story of this infectious party song from the shtetls of Eastern Europe and Ukraine to the Catskills to Greenwich Village to Hollywood in this hilarious and surprisingly deep film. Featuring interviews

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APRIL 6 – MAY 6 with Harry Belafonte, Connie Francis, Glen Campbell, Leonard Nimoy, Regina Spektor and more.For more information or to register, visit cbict.org/calendar.

SUNDAY, APRIL 25 Eat, Drink & Connect JTConnect will honor Rabbi Steven Chatinover, Audrey Lichter and Cyral Sheldon at an an evening of inspiration and celebration to benefit JTConnect’s work inspiring the next generation of Jewish leaders, to be held on Zoom, April 25 at 5 p.m. For tickets and more information:, visit jtconnect.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 26 State of Play: The Political Future of the American Jewish Community David Axelrod, political consultant/strategist; CNN senior political commentator former chief strategist and senior advisor to President Obama, will discuss the political future of the American Jewish community at a FREE seminar to be held on Zoom, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. Axelrod’s talk is co-sponsored by the Bennett Center for Judaic Studies at Fairfield University. Registration required at fairfield. edu/bennettprograms. For information: bennettcenter@fairfield.edu or (203) 2544000 x2066.

APRIL 28 & MAY 5 A Virtual Historical Tour of Jewish Argentina A two-part virtual historical tour of Jewish Argentina with Claudia Hercman, an Argentinian tour guide and translator. She is also a sculptor and painter, and honors her four grandparents who emigrated from Poland to Argentina. Hosted by Congregation Beth Israel. Session 1, April 28 at 8 p.m. – The Argentinian Jewish community is the 6th largest in the world. The first Jewish communities in Latin America were Sephardic. What happened to those Jews during the Inquisition? Why, if Latin America was part of the Spanish Empire, is the Jewish Community in Argentina 80% Ashkenazi and only 20% Sephardic today? Session 2, Thursday, May 5 at 8pm – Before WWII many Jews came to Argentina. In a country of immigrants, it became a very important and strong community. What happened in Argentina during and after the Holocaust? Who was Perón; what was his policy towards the Jews? Did he really help the Nazis come to Argentina? For information, visit www.cbict.org/ calendar.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29 Short Story Coffee Break A Zoom discussion of short stories and poetry by Erika Dreifus, Congregation Beth Israel’s Learning Center (Virtual) Writer in Residence, will be held APril 29 at 11 a.m. To register and receive a copy of the next short story and a link to the Zoom discussion, email kbeyard@ cbict.org. Book Discussion at Congregation Beth Israel “The Book of the Lost Names” by Kristin Harmel will be the focus of a book discussion hosted by Congregation Beth Israel’s Sisterhood on April 29 at 7 p.m. The Book of Lost Names is inspired by a true story that takes place during World War II, about a young woman with a talent for forgery who helps thousands of Jewish children flee the Nazis. A social hour will follow. For more information, contact Rabbi Tami Elliott Goodman at ravgoodman@icloud.com. Manchester Memories: Jewish History Through the Decades Prof. Arnie Dashefsky will moderate a panel discussion on “Manchester Memories: Jewish History Through the Decades,” featuring panelists Bill Bayer, Sissy Seader, Rabbi Richard Plavin, and Joel Wind. Co-sponsored by Beth Sholom B’nai Israel and the Manchester Historical Society, the discussion will be held April 29 at 7:30 p.m. Those who have memories of Jewish Manchester to share are invited to submit them when they register To register and receive the Zoom link, visit jhsgh.org/manechester-memries/

THURSDAY, MAY 6 On Zionism, Israel, and Social Justice Prof. Gil Troy, McGill University will discuss “On Zionism, Israel and Social Justice,” on Zoom, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. The lecture is part o ALEPH: The Institute of Jewish Ideas, a community-wide Jewish learning initiative co-sponsored by the Mandell JCC and UConn Judaic Studies. Troy’s lecture will analyze the central theme in Zionism ideology, assessing what Israel has achieved – and where it has fallen short – in creating a nation that fulfills the Torah’s commandment to seek justice. For more information, visit judaicstudies.uconn. edu or mandelljcc.org.

YOM HASHOAH EVENTS ACROSS CONNECTICUT Connecticut organizations and synagogues hosting Yom Hashoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day events – are invited to submit them for inclusion in the Jewish Ledger calendar. Email information to: judiej@jewishledger.com. Connecticut organizations and synagogues hosting Yom Hashoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day events – are invited to submit them for inclusion in the Jewish Ledger calendar. Email information to: judiej@jewishledger.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 6 Legacies of European Jewry: The Second Generation and Beyond Annual Yom HaShoah Program on April 6 at 7 p.m., hosted by the University of Connecticut, Stamford, Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life. For moreinformation: judaicstudies.uconn.edu/upcoming-events/

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7 Yom Hashoah Commemoration The annual Greater Hartford Yom Hashoah Commemoration hosted by Voices of Hope, Mandell JCC, and Hero, will be held April 7 at 7 p .m. on YouTube Live. Shira Sandler will moderate a “Conversation Between Generations,” featuring survivor Leon Chameides and his sons. The commemoration will be preceded at 6:30 p.m. by a reading of the names of the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. Advance registration is required. For more information: (860) 470-5591 or (860) 231-6315.

THURSDAY, APRIL 8 Yom Hashoah Commemoration The United Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford, new Canaan and Darien and UJA-JCC Greenwich will host a Yom Hashoah commemoration on Zoom, April 8 at 7 p.m. Community rabbis will participate in a virtual candle lighting followed by guest speaker, Holocaust survivor Peter Somogyi, interviewed by journalist and author Shushannah Walshe. Registration is required. To registion and receive a Zoom link: ujf.org/YH2021. For more information, contact Sharon Lewis, JCRC director, at (203) 321-1373 x104, slewis@ujf.org. Yom Hashoah Reading of the Names A virtual community-wide reading of the names of the martyred six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust will be held on Yom Hashoah – Holocaust Memorial Day – on April 8 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information: (860) 470-5591 or (860) 231-6315. 17th Annual Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony The University of New Haven will hold its 17th Annual Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony, a memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazism in Europe, on April 8 at 3 p.m. Keynote speaker is Holocaust survivor Dr. Leon Chameides of West Hartford, who was sheltered as a child. Registration information to be announced. 40th Annual Virtual Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance Program For the 40th year, ADL’s Mountain States Region will host the Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance Program online April 8, 7:30 - 9 p.m. Guest speaker is Holocaust survivor Judith Altmann of Connecticut. Co-sponsored with ADL Connecticut, the program is one of the largest such events in the U.S.. and is open to people of all faiths. To register, visit mountainstates.adl.org.

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APRIL 9, 2021

OBITUARIES BEATMAN Marilyne Sari Beatman of West Hartford, died March 31. Born in Hartford, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Caroline (Krauss) Beatman. She was also predeceased by her brother Leslie Beatman and his wif, Lillian. She is survived by her nephews, Matthew (Debra), and Anthony (Aksana) and her niece Bobbitt Walker (Britt) and their families. BERMAN Marion J. (Geber) Berman, 81, of South Windsor, wife of the late Steven Berman (1985), passed away on Friday, March 26 after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Marion was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, daughter of the late Alfred and Lillian (Schliefstein) Geber. Marion lived in Rutherford until her family moved to Hagerstown, Maryland. She was a graduate of Hagerstown High School; received her BA from Simmons University in Boston and an MA in counseling from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. After spending the first part of her married life living in the southern part of the United States, Marion, her late husband Steven, and their daughters moved to South Windsor in 1974. Marion raised the daughters while working part-time at the family-owned laundromat and dry cleaners until it was sold during her husband’s illness in 1985. In 1986, she began a successful second career in retail and merchandising, first serving as a regional manager for Casual Male, then joining

what became Macy’s where she worked as a manager for over 20 years, before retiring to work as a part-time regional vendor representative. She was dedicated to her synagogue, Temple Beth Hillel, and was a committed volunteer and active participant in all its ritual, educational and communal activities. She had a lifetime passion for reading and loved volunteering for the Friends of the South Windsor Public Library. She is survived by her daughters, Anne Berman-Waldorf and her husband Joshua Waldorf of Yardley, Pennsylvania, and Karen Berman of New York, New York; and her four grandchildren whom she adored, Samuel Waldorf, Lily Waldorf, Simon Yellen and Asher Yellen; her brother Charles Geber and his wife Sara Zeff Geber, of Santa Rosa, California. She also leaves behind her nephews, nieces and extended family, in addition to an amazing circle of friends who were beyond generous with their love and care, particularly in her last year of life. Graveside services were held March 30 at Beth Olam Cemetery in South Windsor. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Temple Beth Hillel, 20 Baker Lane, South Windsor, CT 06074. Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home in South Windsor is caring for the arrangements. For online condolences and guest book, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com. CALECHMAN Jack Calechman, 88, of New Haven died April 1. He was the widower of the late Harriet (Bukoff) Calechman. Born in New Haven, April 6, he was the son of the late David and Sophie Calechman. He is survived by his children, Karen Calechman and her husband Jerry Prell of Long Beach, Calif., and Kim Gifford and her husband Burton of Hamden; and his grandchildren, Alison, Ari, Leah, and Jordan; and his great-granddaughter Mabel.

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JEWISH LEDGER

| APRIL 9, 2021

ROSEN Meyer Seth Rosen of Willimantic, died March 26. He was the son of the late Louis and Nettie Rosen. He is survived by his children, Benjamin Rosen and his wife Laura Cardwell, and Emily Rosen and her husband Michael Jordan; his longtime partner Susan Gay Flanagan; his siblings, Arnold Rosen, Sidney Rosen and Linda Gerall; and many nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by sister Janet Miller. ROCHLIN Jeffrey “Rocky” Rochlin, 73, of West Haven, died March 29. Born in New Haven, he was the son of the late Abraham and Bernice (Brownstein) Rochlin. He is survived by his brother Michael Rochlin of California; his sister Laurie Luedee of Cromwell; his nieces and nephews, Joseph Rochlin, Rich Rochlin (Sarah Hyland) and their children, Dan Luedee (Aileen), Sarah Luedee (Tom). SMITH Harvey (Harv) Smith, 92, of West Hartford, Connecticut and Delray Beach, Florida died March 27. Born in Hartford, he was the son of the late Leon Smith and Sophie Yalen Smith. He was a longtime member of The Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford and Congregation Kol Haverim in Glastonbury. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He is survived by his partner in life Harriet Elbaum; his children, Merle Kaplan and her husband Bruce, and Mark Smith and his wife Jennifer; his grandchildren, Erica and Halle Smith, Hannah (Kaplan) Uricchio and her husband, Paul Uricchio and Michael Kaplan; his sister-in-law Olga Smith and her son and daughter; his step-children, Jeff and Andrea Elbaum and Meredith Elbaum and Aaron Block; and his stepgrandchildren, Dara, Shayna, and Bethany Elbaum, and Ari and Eli Block He was also predeceased by his wife Zelda Apter Smith and his brother Jack Smith.

TCATH Moris (“Moe”) Aaron Tcath, 89, of Hamden, has died.He was the husband of Beverly (Hendel) Tcath. Born in Providence, R.I., he was the son of the late Jacob and Gertrude (Lahn) Tcath. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was predeceased by his sister Sybil Michelman and her husband Leonard. He is survived by his children, Laurie Sterling and her husband Peter, Jay Tcath and his wife Amy, and Pam Schiff and her husband Barry; and his grandchildren, Max and Sam Sterling, Gordon, William, and Lily Tcath, and Bennett Schiff. He owned The Carousel, a children’s clothing store in Wallingford, working side by side with Bev for almost 20 years. Moe’s first love was his family but was also a voracious crossword puzzler, avid set-back and bridge player, and, with Bev, a world traveler. Moe served on the Executive Board of PROBUS, as well as the Board of Directors of Temple Beth Sholom in Hamden. He was also a Hadassah Associate. TILLES Solomon H. Tilles, of Middletown, formerly of Old Lyme and Storrs, died March 25. He was the widower of Elinor Cohen. He was born in the Bronx, N.Y. He served in the U.S. military. He was an active member of Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek in Chester. He was also predeceased by his daughter Cynthia, and his grandson Samuel. He is survived by his sister Estelle Ginsberg of Brunswick, Ohio; his sons Peter and his wife Lori of East Meadow, New York, and David of Middletown; two grandsons; two great-granddaughters; and several cousins, nieces, nephews, and their families.

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Needed, a live-in caregiver for an elderly female home owner in Bloomfield. Duties include trash out, availability at night in case of emergency - attached apartment provided at reduced rent. Applicant must submit 3 references. Call Vivian at 860301-2066.

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MASSACHUSETTS December For more information on advertising in these magazines, call Donna 860.833.0839 or DonnaE@jewishledger.com 22

JEWISH LEDGER

| APRIL 9, 2021

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Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation – Emek Shalom, a warm, vibrant, inclusive Reform synagogue in Simsbury, CT is seeking Sunday morning and/or Wednesday afternoon Judaica and Hebrew teaching staff for the 2021-2022 school year. We are looking for energetic, creative individuals who can help young people build a strong sense of Jewish identity and commitment to Jewish life. Opportunities for teaching in grades kindergarten through seventh available. Must be eager to work in a collaborative environment. An ideal candidate will be a motivated individual with a passion for encouraging and inspiring students to love learning and Judaism. Please submit your resume for consideration to school@fvjc.org.

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CT SYNAGOGUE DIRECTORY To join our synagogue directories, contact Howard Meyerowitz at (860) 231-2424 x3035 or howardm@jewishledger.com. BLOOMFIELD B’nai Tikvoh-Sholom/ Neshama Center for Lifelong Learning Conservative Rabbi Debra Cantor (860) 243-3576 office@BTSonline.org www.btsonline.org BRIDGEPORT Congregation B’nai Israel Reform Rabbi Evan Schultz (203) 336-1858 info@cbibpt.org www.cbibpt.org Congregation Rodeph Sholom Conservative (203) 334-0159 Rabbi Richard Eisenberg, Cantor Niema Hirsch info@rodephsholom.com www.rodephsholom.com CHESHIRE Temple Beth David Reform Rabbi Micah Ellenson (203) 272-0037 office@TBDCheshire.org www.TBDCheshire.org CHESTER Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek Reform Rabbi Marci Bellows (860) 526-8920 rabbibellows@cbsrz.org www.cbsrz.org

COLCHESTER Congregation Ahavath Achim Conservative Rabbi Kenneth Alter (860) 537-2809 secretary@congregationahavathachim.org

Temple Sholom Conservative Rabbi Mitchell M. Hurvitz Rabbi Kevin Peters Cantor Sandy Bernstein (203) 869-7191 info@templesholom.com www.templesholom.com

EAST HARTFORD Temple Beth Tefilah Conservative Rabbi Yisroel Snyder (860) 569-0670 templebetht@yahoo.com

HAMDEN Temple Beth Sholom Conservative Rabbi Benjamin Edidin Scolnic (203) 288-7748 tbsoffice@tbshamden.com www.tbshamden.com

FAIRFIELD Congregation Ahavath Achim Orthodox (203) 372-6529 office@ahavathachim.org www.ahavathachim.org Congregation Beth El, Fairfield Conservative Rabbi Marcelo Kormis (203) 374-5544 office@bethelfairfield.org www.bethelfairfield.org GLASTONBURY Congregation Kol Haverim Reform Rabbi Dr. Kari Tuling (860) 633-3966 office@kolhaverim.org www.kolhaverim.org GREENWICH Greenwich Reform Synagogue Reform Rabbi Jordie Gerson (203) 629-0018 hadaselias@grs.org www.grs.org

MADISON Temple Beth Tikvah Reform Rabbi Stacy Offner (203) 245-7028 office@tbtshoreline.org www.tbtshoreline.org MANCHESTER Beth Sholom B’nai Israel Conservative Rabbi Randall Konigsburg (860) 643-9563 Rabbenu@myshul.org programming@myshul.org www.myshul.org MIDDLETOWN Adath Israel Conservative Rabbi Nelly Altenburger (860) 346-4709 office@adathisraelct.org www.adathisraelct.org

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NEW HAVEN The Towers at Tower Lane Conservative Ruth Greenblatt, Spiritual Leader Sarah Moskowitz, Spiritual Leader (203) 772-1816 rebecca@towerlane.org www.towerlane.org Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel Conservative Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen (203) 389-2108 office@BEKI.org www.BEKI.org Orchard Street ShulCongregation Beth Israel Orthodox Rabbi Mendy Hecht 203-776-1468 www.orchardstreetshul.org NEW LONDON Ahavath Chesed Synagogue Orthodox Rabbi Avrohom Sternberg 860-442-3234 Ahavath.chesed@att.net Congregation Beth El Conservative Rabbi Earl Kideckel (860) 442-0418 office@bethel-nl.org www.bethel-nl.org NEWINGTON Temple Sinai Reform Rabbi Jeffrey Bennett (860) 561-1055 templesinaict@gmail.com www.sinaict.org NEWTOWN Congregation Adath Israel Conservative Rabbi Barukh Schectman (203) 426-5188 office@congadathisrael.org www.congadathisrael.org

NORWALK Beth Israel Synagogue – Chabad of Westport/ Norwalk Orthodox-Chabad Rabbi Yehoshua S. Hecht (203) 866-0534 info@bethisraelchabad.org bethisraelchabad.org

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Temple Shalom Reform Rabbi Cantor Shirah Sklar (203) 866-0148 admin@templeshalomweb.org www.templeshalomweb.org ORANGE Chabad of Orange/ Woodbridge Chabad Rabbi Sheya Hecht (203) 795-5261 info@chabadow.org www.chabadow.org Congregation Or Shalom Conservative Rabbi Alvin Wainhaus (203) 799-2341 info@orshalomct.org www.orshalomct.org SIMSBURY Chabad of the Farmington Valley Chabad Rabbi Mendel Samuels (860) 658-4903 chabadsimsbury@gmail.com www.chabadotvalley.org Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation, Emek Shalom Reform Rabbi Rebekah Goldman Mag (860) 658-1075 admin@fvjc.org www.fvjc.org SOUTH WINDSOR Temple Beth Hillel of South Windsor Reform Rabbi Jeffrey Glickman (860) 282-8466 tbhrabbi@gmail.com www.tbhsw.org

WALLINGFORD Beth Israel Synagogue Conservative Rabbi Bruce Alpert (203) 269-5983 info@bethisraelwallingford. org www.bethisraelwallingford. org WASHINGTON Greater Washington Coalition Rabbi James Greene (860) 868-2434 jewishlifect@gmail.com www.jewishlife.org WATERFORD Temple Emanu - El Reform Rabbi Marc Ekstrand Rabbi Emeritus Aaron Rosenberg (860) 443-3005 office@tewaterfrord.org www.tewaterford.org WEST HARTFORD Beth David Synagogue Orthodox Rabbi Yitzchok Adler (860) 236-1241 office@bethdavidwh.org www.bethdavidwh.org Beth El Temple Conservative Rabbi James Rosen Rabbi Ilana Garber (860) 233-9696 hsowalsky@bethelwh.org www.bethelwesthartford.org Chabad House of Greater Hartford Rabbi Joseph Gopin Rabbi Shaya Gopin, Director of Education (860) 232-1116 info@chabadhartford.com www.chabadhartford.com

SOUTHINGTON Gishrei Shalom Jewish Congregation Reform Rabbi Alana Wasserman (860) 276-9113 President@gsjc.org www.gsjc.org TRUMBULL Congregation B’nai Torah Conservative Rabbi Colin Brodie (203) 268-6940 office@bnaitorahct.org www.bnaitorahct.org

Congregation Beth Israel Reform Rabbi Michael Pincus Rabbi Andi Fliegel Cantor Stephanie Kupfer (860) 233-8215 bethisrael@cbict.org www.cbict.org Congregation P’nai Or Jewish Renewal Shabbat Services Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener (860) 561-5905 pnaiorct@gmail.com www.jewishrenewalct.org

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Kehilat Chaverim of Greater Hartford Chavurah Adm. - Nancy Malley (860) 951-6877 mnmalley@yahoo.com www.kehilatchaverim.org The Emanuel Synagogue Conservative Rabbi David J. Small (860) 236-1275 communications@emanuelsynagogue.org www.emanuelsynagogue.org United Synagogues of Greater Hartford Orthodox Rabbi Eli Ostrozynsk i synagogue voice mail (860) 586-8067 Rabbi’s mobile (718) 6794446 ostro770@hotmail.com www.usgh.org Young Israel of West Hartford Orthodox Rabbi Tuvia Brander (860) 233-3084 info@youngisraelwh.org www.youngisraelwh.org WESTPORT Temple Israel Reform Rabbi Michael S. Friedman, Senior Rabbi Rabbi Danny M. Moss, Associate Rabbi Rabbi Elana Nemitoff-Bresler, Rabbi Educator (203) 227-1293 info@tiwestport.org www.tiwestport.org WETHERSFIELD Temple Beth Torah Unaffiliated Rabbi Seth Riemer (860) 828-3377 tbt.w.ct@gmail.com templebethtorahwethersfield. org WOODBRIDGE Congregation B’nai Jacob Conservative Rabbi Rona Shapiro (203) 389-2111 info@bnaijacob.org www.bnaijacob.org

APRIL 9, 2021

Spring Is In The Air! And we’re planning some delicious new things for you to enjoy!

Don’t forget flowers to brighten up your table!

The Crown Market 2471 Albany Ave West Hartford, CT 06117

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Thank you for a GREAT Passover! Your continued support and patience helped to make this Passover terrific!

HKC supervises the Bakery, Five o’clock Shop, Butcher Department, Sushi, Pizza and Catering. We’re not JUST kosher...we’re DELICIOUS! 24

JEWISH LEDGER

| APRIL 9, 2021

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