Israelis grapple with synagogue safety p. 8 December 2014 Kislev/Tevet 5775 Vol. 19, No. 4
Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton
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Chanukah in America
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Bark Mitzvah Boy with sufganiyot, traditional Chanukah doughnuts
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Minnie Driver as Leah & Rebecca Ferguson as Dinah in Lifetime’s The Red Tent
DAYTON Marshall Weiss
Children in the Shabbat Nerot class dress as Native Americans during the JCC Early Childhood Annual Thanksgiving Feast, on Nov. 19 at the Boonshoft CJCE.
Happy Chanukah
from the residents & staff of Friendship Village
You’re Invited To our next monthly Friday Night Shabbat featuring a traditional Shabbat dinner with all your favorites
Friday, Dec. 19, 5 p.m. In The Atrium Dining Room
Friday Night Shabbat is $10 per person.
Montgomery County Commissioner Dan Foley welcomes 80 teens from five states to Temple Israel on Nov. 19 for the North American Federation of Temple Youth-Ohio Valley Region Kallah weekend. In addition to worshiping together on Friday night and Saturday morning, the teens participated in social action projects with Daybreak, Five Rivers MetroParks, and St. Vincent de Paul. Shown with Foley are Temple Israel Rabbi/Educator Karen Bodney-Halasz and Temple Israel Dayton Youth President Craig Fishbein.
R.S.V.P. to 837-5581 ext. 1274.
Marshall Weiss
Join our Alzheimer’s Support Group Wednesday, Dec. 17, 5:30-6:30 p.m. How to Balance Work, Caring for an Aging Adult and Home Responsibilities. Sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care. Meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month in the conference room. Please enter at Door 18. For more information, call Pam Hall, 837-5581 ext. 1269.
Join our Diabetic Support Group Tuesday, Dec. 9, 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. (2nd Tuesday each mo.) with Gem City Home Care Certified Diabetes Educator Mara Lamb. For more information call Pam Friendship Hall, 837-5581 ext. Village 1269. Ari L. Goldman (L), author of The Late Starters Orchestra, performs with students of cello
instructor Linda Katz (2nd from L) following Goldman’s talk at the Boonshoft CJCE on Nov. 13 as part of the JCC’s Cultural Arts and Book Fest
7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Located directly inside the Atrium entrance. Stop in & join us for a cup of coffee & Friendship Village Hospitality.
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L i f e c y c l e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 8
Fa m i l y Ed u ca t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
DAYTON
Making sense of being Jewish in the modern world Beth Abraham Scholar-in-Residence Jenna Weissman Joselit’s fascination with American Jewish history & culture By Marshall Weiss, The Observer Dr. Jenna Weissman Joselit describes herself as a girl with a mission. “Whatever I do, whether it’s in the context of a scholar-in-residence weekend or a column or teaching, my whole point is to underscore the richness and complexity of American Judaism,” she says. The director of George Washington University’s Program in Judaic Studies and a professor in GW’s history department, Joselit will present three talks for Beth Abraham Synagogue’s Susan and David Joffe Scholar-in-Residence Weekend, Dec. 5-7. Joselit is the author of The Wonders of America: Reinventing Jewish Culture, 18801950 (a recipient of the National Jewish Book Award in History) and A Perfect Fit: Clothes, Character and the Promise of America. For 15 years, she has written The Wonders of America column for the Forward. She takes a keen interest in everyday Jewish life, particularly how American Jews raise their children, decorate their homes, and make sense of being Jewish in the modern world. “It’s like everything that relates to the Jewish culture,” Joselit says. “There’s this lovely dance between the outside world and the inside world. I think Jews are extraordinarily mindful of what’s going on, but they adapt it to their own needs.” Her fascination extends to Jewish
contributions to this lovely dance: the influence Jews have had on shaping mainstream American culture. Joselit is halfway through writing her latest book, about America’s embrace of The Ten Commandments. In it, she’ll explore the visual and cultural presence of The Ten Commandments in America, and how The Ten Commandments moved from being a Jewish phenomenon to what she calls an American foundational document. “The argument is essentially an oldfashioned American national character study, trying to seek out why Americans seem to value The Ten Commandments much more heavily than many Christian countries, and why they insist on seeing it everywhere: in films and on bracelets and statuary. That’s what I’m after.” Her new book, she says, will explore and pull together possible reasons for this phenomenon. “Whether it’s a new wrinkle on the age-old notion that America is a providential place — the new Promised Land — or whether it has to do with the Judeo-Christian heritage, or whether it has to do with the fact that there are very few things that Americans can agree on up until recently — The Ten Commandments is one of them. Or maybe The Ten Commandments are so orderly and offers that kind of promise of taming the unruly, bringing people together, there’s some-
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thing very affirming In the latter program, about The Ten ComJoselit says she digs into mandments.” the challenges and imAmerica’s embrace of pact of new media on the The Ten Commandments Jewish community. will form the topic of Next semester she’ll Joselit’s talk on Saturday, teach a course called MulDec. 6 following Shabbat tiple Lives, about how a morning services and particular form of Jewish kiddush lunch at noon. culture lives on through The evening before, various emerging media. on Friday, Dec. 5 followThe class will study the ing 6:15 p.m. Shabbat media iterations of The services and a 7 p.m. dinDiary of Anne Frank since ner, Joselit will present its initial publication. the talk Taking Stock: An “One of the most fasciInventory of the American nating components is this Jewish Experience. online museum that uses And during brunch on Dr. Jenna Weissman Joselit the house, Anne Frank’s Sunday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m., house,” Joselit says. “It she will present Merry allows you, from the comfort of your Chanukah: The Americanchair, to make your way through the ization of Tradition. house, but it’s all virtual. This is some“I thought it would thing we study at great length: what be fun to look at Chadoes it mean not to really inhabit space, nukah, which is just but to inhabit virtual space and how around the bend, and is does that ‘mediate’ Anne Frank?” a holiday that went from being barely a blip on the Beth Abraham Synagogue Joffe calendar into kind of a Scholar-in-Residence Weekend with major movement,” Joselit Dr. Jenna Weissman Joselit. 305 Sugar says. “And it (the topic) Camp Cir., Oakwood. R.S.V.P. for touches on childhood and commercialFriday dinner and Sunday brunch to ism and improvisation.” 293-9520. Though she’s been on the GW faculty • Fri., Dec. 5, 6:15 p.m. Kabalat Shabfor five years, Joselit commutes via train bat, 7 p.m. dinner followed by Takto her home in New York each weekend. ing Stock: An Inventory of the “My husband is in New York, my American Jewish Experience. $22 life is in New York,” she says, but she’s adults, $7.50 children. involved with the Jewish Historical Society of Washington, Theatre J, and the • Sat., Dec. 6, noon kiddush lunch Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, helping followed by Rock Solid: America’s them generate innovative programming. Embrace of The Ten CommandShe oversees two master’s degree ments. programs at GW: Jewish cultural arts, • Sun., Dec. 7, 10 a.m. brunch followed and Jewish cultural arts and experiential by Merry Chanukah: The Amerieducation. canization of Tradition.
Happy Chanukah
From the editor’s desk A positive trend I see in the Dayton area is public and private schools that offer classes (or segments of classes) on comparative religions. Several Marshall times a year, I talk about Judaism Weiss with students as young as fourth grade and all the way through high school. Around November, students begin to ask, “Is Chanukah the Jewish Christmas?” I explain that Chanukah is a relatively minor holiday in Judaism, though there’s nothing minor about the concept of religious freedom. Someone will then ask why Chanukah seems to be a major holiday. There’s no question it’s in response to the American celebration of Christmas. Is this our way of competing? Of buttressing our Jewish identity here? Either way, is it a good thing? While we consider our comfort zones with these questions, take a look at the features in this issue about Chanukah in America.
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
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DAYTON A celebration of Jewish journalism David Stuck/Washington Jewish Week
Editor and Publisher Marshall Weiss MWeiss@jfgd.net 937-853-0372 Contributors Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin Rachel Haug Gilbert Candace R. Kwiatek Mark Mietkiewicz Rabbi Hershel Spalter Advertising Sales Executive Patty Caruso, plhc69@gmail.com Proofreaders Karen Bressler, Rachel Haug Gilbert, Joan Knoll, Pamela Schwartz
The American Jewish Press Association celebrated its 70th anniversary on Nov. 9 during its conference at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, Md. Shown here with AJPA President Marshall Weiss (R), editor and publisher of The Dayton Jewish Observer, are AJPA Past Presidents (L to R) St. Louis Jewish Light Editor-in-Chief Emeritus Bob Cohn, New York Jewish Week Associate Publisher Rick Waloff, and former Washington Jewish Week Editor Debbie Rubin. At the conference, Weiss was elected to his third and final term as AJPA president.
Chabad menorah lighting at Nutter Center A Wright State Raiders basketball game at the Nutter Center will be the venue for Chabad’s Chanukah celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 6:30 p.m. Chabad will offer latkes and doughnuts before the game and a menorah lighting during halftime. For ticket information, call Chabad at 643-0770.
Chanukah Bazaar at Beth Or
Temple Beth Or will hold its Annual Chanukah Bazaar on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Dec. 10 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Along with Chanukah items available for purchase in the Judaica shop, local artisans and vendors will be on site. The Temple Beth Or Brisketeers will have lunch available for purchase on Dec. 7 including brisket sandwiches, latkes, sufganiyot (doughnuts), and chopped liver. Brisket and chopped liver will also be available for bulk purchase by preorder. To place an order, email judaicashop@templebethor.com or call 435-3400.
Jewish Genealogical Society meeting
The Dayton Jewish Genealogical Society will hold its next meeting on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Temple Israel. The topic will be Beginning Genealogy and Organizing Your Materials (that you’ve saved in shoe boxes). R.S.V.P. to Molly Blumer at jmblumer@hotmail.com or 479-8880.
Chanukah cookoff at Beth Or
Two teams — men versus women — will compete to prepare the best Chanukah-themed main dish when Temple Beth Or presents Hellenist’s Kitchen on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a menorah, three candles, and a side dish or dessert. R.S.V.P. to Leslie Beers at 435-3400.
Billing Jeri Kay Eldeen, JEldeen@jfgd.net 937-853-0372 Observer Advisor Martin Gottlieb Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton Judy Abromowitz President David Pierce President Elect Melinda Doner Vice Pres. Mary Rita Weissman Vice Pres. Bruce Feldman Vice Pres. Cathy Gardner CEO The Dayton Jewish Observer, Vol. 19, No. 4. The Dayton Jewish Observer is published monthly by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, a nonprofit corporation, 525 Versailles Dr., Dayton, OH 45459. Views expressed by guest columnists, in readers’ letters and in reprinted opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Dayton Jewish Observer, The Dayton Jewish Observer Policy Committee, the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton or the underwriters of any columns. Acceptance of advertising neither endorses advertisers nor guarantees kashrut. The Dayton Jewish Observer Mission Statement To support, strengthen and champion the Dayton Jewish community by providing a forum and resource for Jewish community interests. Goals • To encourage affiliation, involvement and communication. • To provide announcements, news, opinions and analysis of local, national and international activities and issues affecting Jews and the Jewish community. • To build community across institutional, organizational and denominational lines. • To advance causes important to the strength of our Jewish community including support of Federation departments, United Jewish Campaign, synagogue affiliation, Jewish education and participation in Jewish and general community affairs. • To provide an historic record of Dayton Jewish life.
Kosher Chinese buffet & movie Dec. 24 On Wednesday, Dec. 24 at 5:30 p.m., Chabad will present an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet followed by a showing of the movie Raid On Entebbe. The cost is $18 adults, $5 children. R.S.V.P. to 643-0770 or chabaddayton.org.
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
DAYTON
The Law Office of
Alan D. Gabel
Consul: incitement from Palestinian leaders causing latest wave of violence By Marshall Weiss The Observer One day after two Palestinians from eastern Jerusalem murdered four Jews with a gun, a meat cleaver and an ax in a western Jerusalem synagogue, Israel’s consul general to the Dayton area blamed consistent incitement against Israel from Palestinian leadership as the cause of the recent wave of violence against Israelis. “It’s cultivated and inspired by a culture that is being embedded into the Palestinian society by Palestinian leadership for a very, very long time,” said Yaron Sideman, Israel’s consul general to the Mid-Atlantic region. The consul delivered a speech on Nov. 19 at Beth Abraham Synagogue, presenting the Israeli government’s positions on a wide range of security issues. Sideman was referring to the wave of violence that began in October with attacks by two Palestinian drivers who drove their vehicles into pedestrians waiting at light rail stations in Jerusalem. The terror attacks left four dead — including a 3-month-old girl — and 22 injured. “I would even go back since the military operation in Gaza,” Sideman said of Palestinian incitement. “And the examples are abundant. Over the past week or two, a letter of condolence that the Palestinian president sent to the family of one of those terrorists who shot an Israeli, tagging that murderer as a martyr and wishing the family that God will put him in a special place in heaven.” He also cited Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ call for a day of rage in Jerusalem on Oct. 31, and statements that Jews should not be allowed at the Temple Mount, as examples of what Sideman described as the core reason for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “The root cause of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict is plain and simple,” Sideman said. “The lack of acceptance of Israel’s right to exist as the nation state of the Jewish people in that neighborhood, in the Middle East, under any set of borders. It’s evident in the fact that he (Abbas) entered into a coalition agreement with Hamas, a terrorist organization which calls in its charter for Israel’s destruction.”
222-5335 • alan.gabel@yahoo.com P.O. Box 1423, Dayton, Ohio 45401 11230 Cornell Park Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
Marshall Weiss
Iran acquiring nuclear capabilities.” Sideman said that Iran with a nuclear weapon would be the same as ISIS with a nuclear weapon. “Take a knife out of the hand of the ISIS terrorist who cut the throats of American journalists and put a nuclear weapon in his hand: that’s Iran.” He said a good deal with Iran would be similar to the one negotiated with Syria’s stockpile Israeli Mid-Atlantic Region Consul of chemical weapons. General Yaron Sideman Nov. 19 at “Ninety-nine percent of all Beth Abraham Synagogue the chemical weapons in Syria are dismantled and taken out Following the summer war of the country,” Sideman said. with Hamas, Israel faces the “That’s what should happen challenge of Gaza’s rebuilding along with the need to demilita- with Iran’s nuclear capabilities.” Israel’s Mid-Atlantic region rize Hamas, Sideman said. “Israel cannot do this alone,” consulate comprises Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, West Virhe said. “We have a partner today in the form of Egypt. Right ginia, Kentucky and southern now, the current Egyptian lead- New Jersey. While in Dayton, Sideman also met with leaders ership sees Hamas as a bitter enemy of its own, and puts a lot of economic development projects connected to Israel. of time, effort and energy into Approximately 130 people, clamping down on the weapons mostly members of the Jewish smuggling into Gaza.” With much skepticism toward community, attended his talk, sponsored by the Jewish Coma positive outcome for U.S.-led munity Relations Council. negotiations with Iran over its With Israel’s resumption on nuclear capabilities, Sideman that day of its policy to destroy said Israel’s government views terrorists’ homes, The Observer all of its challenges as twofold: asked Sideman if there was eviIran and everything else. dence the policy was a deterrent “And by everything else to further terror attacks. I mean Syria, the Israeli-Pal“I don’t know of statistics estinian conflict, Hamas,” he said. “All these are very serious that relate directly to the efchallenges that we need to deal fect of demolishing terrorists’ with. But none of them pose an houses lowering the number of terrorist attacks,” Sideman existential threat on Israel and replied. none of them are as severe as
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mm Yoga regular, along with his wife, Molly. “They’ve actually tweaked it each time to incorporate more and more of a service and it’s weaved in quite nicely,” Blumer says. “It’s a reBy Marshall Weiss ally nice way to start the The Observer day of rest, for sure: just A year ago, when being able to stretch and Courtney Cummings left get the calm feeling as her cultural arts job with you go into Shabbat.” Cincinnati’s JCC to become Jeff Stoller says he Temple Israel’s music and and his wife, Julie, had programming director, she no idea what to expect began thinking about how Earlier this fall, Temple Israel took Shalommm to meet congregants’ needs Yoga outside, overlooking the Great Miami River from the program. “My wife and I both in unconventional ways. have done yoga over the years,” portion of the week focuses on A yoga enthusiast for a Jacob and Esau’s rivalry. During Stoller says. “We just thought number of years, she learned it would be an interesting way breath work, Cummings talks of synagogues on the East and to be with other members of about the portion. West Coasts that combine yoga the congregation in a unique “We’ve come to think of the with worship. environment, have a little yoga, twins, Jacob and Esau, as yin This was the birth of Shaa little spiritual awakening and and yang, good guy and bad lommm Yoga at Temple Israel, seed,” she tells the group. “But then stay for services.” which brings together yoga, He says that people with isn’t there more to a person Shabbat meditations and physical limitations take in the prayers on a Friday night every than what is on the surface?” sessions too. Along with the exercise, other month at the Reform “We’ve even had people Cummings suggests, “It is up congregation. participate while seated. Court“Shabbat itself is unplugging to us to see beyond superficial ney and Cathy have been very appearances to find out who from the week, getting away sensitive and alert to the needs people really are. There can be from all the busyness that you of those who might not have a have been involved with for the good in the bad and bad in the background in yoga.” week,” Cummings says. “We’re good, and a lot more in beShalommm Yoga is open to tween.” all able to unplug, tap into the anyone in the community on a Cummings says six to eight Jewish knowledge of the week, drop-in basis. The cost is $5 per congregants are regulars at to break away from the week each program, with new people session. Previous yoga experiwe all may have had, and also circulating in for as many as 16 ence isn’t required. just do right by our bodies “I wish everyone knew about participants at the sessions. and create this connection for this because people are missing “Some people come in and people to have a different kind out,” Blumer says. “I hope it that’s their dose of temple for of spiritual experience outside grows. Because once you go, I of typical worship experiences.” the week or that’s their relithink you’re kind of hooked.” Cummings leads Shalommm gious connection they wanted Hackett leads participants to make and they’re happy with Yoga with yoga instructor through the Sun Salutation vinthe class, and they head home Cathy Hackett. The two paired yasa (pose) and Cummings says, from there,” she says. up for the project in March. “We feel the connection to the About half of those who “Cathy was willing to jump earth and the sky and the space take in Shalommm Yoga at 6 two feet first in with me, and between. It is in this space that p.m. stay for 7:30 p.m. Shabbat we’ve been working together we can feel the lovingkindness services. since March,” Cummings of the God of past, present and “We tried out the first one says. “We’ve been doing it on future generations, all around and it was amazing. And it the third Friday every other us. May these hours of rest and keeps getting better,” says Jeff month. I bring a little bit of my renewal on Shabbat open our Blumer, who is now a Shalomyoga knowledge, but more so hearts to joy and our the Judaica knowlminds to truth.” edge and content Cummings sums — whether it’s from up Shalommm Yoga the values, from the as taking time for Shabbat liturgy or yourself. the Torah portion of “I think it’s in the week — and then moments where you give her some ideas allow yourself to and insights as to have that space that what different poses you can really feel might make sense the Divine connecwith some of the tion. And being able things I’m picking to get into that kind out for that month’s of zone or state, it’s practice.” Yoga Instructor Cathy Hackett (Center, L) and Temple something I think is At the session on Israel ‘s Courtney Cummings (Center, R) lead Shalommm truly powerful.” Nov. 21, the Torah Yoga for the congregation THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
THE WORLD
White House aide to succeed Abe Foxman as ADL chief By Uriel Heilman, JTA The Anti-Defamation League’s new national director will be social entrepreneur Jonathan Greenblatt — a special assistant to President Obama who earlier in his career cofounded the bottled water brand Ethos. Greenblatt, 43, will succeed Abraham Foxman, who announced in February Jonathan that he would Greenblatt be stepping down effective July 2015. Foxman, 74, has been the ADL’s national director since 1987. The ADL said the unanimous selection of Greenblatt by the 16-member succession committee was the culmination of a two-year nationwide search led by the Atlanta-based executive search firm BoardWalk Consulting. Greenblatt, a grandson of a Holocaust survivor who escaped Nazi Germany but lost nearly all his family in the war, interned for the ADL while in college at Tufts University and later participated in an ADL professional leadership program. His wife, Marjan Keypour Greenblatt, an Iranian-American Jewish immigrant, worked as an associate director at ADL’s Los Angeles office for about eight years. Until last December, she was acting director of the Israel on Campus Coalition. She went on to co-found the new nonprofit Alliance for Rights of All Minorities, which promotes women’s and minority rights in Iran, and serves as its director. At the White House, Greenblatt serves as director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation in the Domestic Policy Council.. A veteran of the Clinton administration, Greenblatt has been a serial social entrepreneur. Ethos, the bottled water company he and a business school classmate launched in 2003, donated a portion of its profits to finance water programs in developing countries.
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THE WORLD
Israelis grapple with synagogue safety in aftermath of Har Nof attack By Deborah Fineblum Schabb JNS.org Seven a.m. It’s an hour when most are still battling with an insistent alarm clock. But for those intent on being part of a morning minyan (prayer quorum), it’s prime time for showing up at synagogue to thank God for the possibilities of a new day. On Nov. 18 in Jerusalem’s Har Nof neighborhood, that morning routine was shattered. With the images of the slaughter at Kehilat Bnei Torah still fresh in the minds of Israelis and not likely to go away anytime soon, leaders of synagogues around the country are grappling with setting the right tone and safety procedures for an uncertain future. In the days that followed the attack, thousands came out to mourn the four murdered rabbis and the slain Druze policeman who tried to save them. While it seems almost everyone in Israel is personally connected to at least one of the victims in some way, those who are not feel immense sympathy for their fellow Jews who were gruesomely killed while wrapped in tallit and tefillin by Palestinian terrorists wielding butcher knives, axes, and a gun. How does this attack af-
Miriam Alster/Flash90
Hundreds of Israelis mourn at the funeral of three of the victims killed Nov. 18 when two Palestinian terrorists from east Jerusalem entered the Kehilat Yaakov synagogue in the Jewish neighborhood of Har Nof in west Jerusalem, with pistols and axes, and attacked worshippers
our congregation’s safety.” At fect the Jewish state’s roughly 11,000 other synagogues, which Nachalat Yehuda and many in many neighborhoods, can be other shuls, that means havfound on virtually every block? ing volunteer shomrim (guards) “Of course, we are all reeling take shifts during services and get training from the city’s from this terror that has echoes of (the) Kishinev (pogrom) over police force. “It’s been a difficult week, 100 years ago and (the) Hevron but this is not the first time (massacre) in 1929,” says Rabbi Jews worshipping have been Daniel Beller of the Kehillat targeted, and we have to learn Shivtei Yisrael synagogue in how to deal with a minority Ra’anana.” He adds, “Yes, we who doesn’t want us here,” do plan to be more vigilant at says Orenstein. “But one of the shul.” At the Mizmor LeDavid syn- blessings of the sovereignty of having a Jewish state is that, agogue in the trendy Jerusalem thank God, after 2,000 years in neighborhood of Baka, where exile, we have more than 200 police and an crowd into the ‘By attacking army whose job building each people in a it is to proFriday night tect us. That’s synagogue, they for a rousing something our Kabalat Shabbat attacked us grandparents service, there is talk of hiring a where it hurts the and greatgrandparents guard — some- most, literally at never had.” one who packs a At one of Tel gun and knows the heart of the Aviv’s busiest how to use it. Jewish people.’ synagogues, “We know we Beit Daniel, need to do this. “hundreds of people come into Though it’s certainly not anyour building every day, not just thing we ever wanted to do,” on Shabbat,” says Rabbi Meir says Naomi Goldberg, wife of Rabbi Mordechai Goldberg, the Azari. “And in this day and age congregation’s leader. we have to have a guard,” says In the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, Ze’ev Oren- Azari, who reports that since the second Palestinian intifada stein is president of the Nachalat Yehuda congregation, which (uprising), when one of its members was killed in a bus attracts a mix of young and old bombing, the congregation has to Shabbat services. made use of a security camera “I don’t think anyone is and an alarm that alerts the panicking or planning to stay police when triggered. home on Shabbos out of fear,” “Of course, the cost of all of he says. “But, though on the this is enormous,” Azari says. one hand it’s important not to The rabbi balks at the idea of panic, on the other hand, we also need to be alert around Continued on Page 36 THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
THE WORLD
Despite ‘incitement,’ Abbas seen by Washington as bulwark By Ron Kampeas, JTA WASHINGTON — The Mahmoud Abbas whom Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused of incitement has said the Jewish state practices genocide and called the temporary closure of the Temple Mount after a terrorist attack a “declaration of war.” Yet virtually no one in Washington wants Abbas to do anything but what he’s done for nine years: be president of the Palestinian Authority. For that matter, neither does Netanyahu. That means the $500 million annually that the Palestinian Authority receives in U.S. funding is unlikely to stop, and that warnings from American politicians to Abbas are relatively mild, if expressed at all. “The Palestinian Authority will be getting aid from America because we want a two-state solution, but you better get your act together,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who as incoming chairman of the foreign operations subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold considerable sway over foreign assistance, said in November in reference to the P.A. Keeping Abbas in power and the Palestinian Authority in place reflects Israeli policy, said Dan Arbell, a former deputy chief of mission at the Israeli Embassy. “The Israeli government is not interested in the collapse of the Palestinian Authority,” said Arbell, a guest scholar at the Brookings Institution who teaches at American University here. “There may be faults in Abbas and the leadership and in what they’re doing, but they’re still the safest bet.” That’s because Abbas is presiding over a West Bank where the violence that wracked the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip over the summer and Jerusalem in recent weeks is barely simmering. Should Abbas and the P.A. go, Hamas could take its place. “There is a bipartisan consensus on the significance of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority, while there is a lot of disagreement on Capitol
At the same time, congresHill about every other thing,” sional appropriators wrote in said Husam Zomlot, a foreign November to Abbas asking policy adviser to Abbas who him to end incitement. met in October with governU.S. law “clearly stipulates ment officials in Washington. that the Palestinian Authority “They know that the situation must act to counter in the West Bank the incitement of is relatively calm violence against because of the PLO,” Israelis in order to Zomlot said. continue receiving The Obama U.S. assistance,” said administration is the letter from Reps. not encountering Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), congressional resisthe chairman of the tance to continued U.S. House of Repassistance to the resentatives ApproPalestinian Authority in part because of Palestinian President priations Committee; Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), strict oversight that Mahmoud Abbas its top Democrat; ensures the funds and Kay Granger (R-Texas), reach their designated targets the chairwoman of its foreign and because the cooperation operations subcommittee. between Israeli and Palestinian But the letter does not directsecurity services is seen as key ly threaten a cutoff. Instead, it to keeping the West Bank from urges Abbas to “return to direct boiling over. Natan Sachs, a fel- negotiations with Israel.” Last April, after the collapse low at the Brookings of the U.S.-brokered peace Institution’s Center talks, the American Israel for Middle East Public Affairs Committee, rePeace who focuses flecting Netanyahu’s policies, on Israel, noted that urged lawmakers to review Israel’s Shin Bet funding for the Palestinians. chief, Yoram Cohen, Abbas’ overtures to Gaza’s has pushed back against Netanyahu’s Hamas rulers, with both his Fatah party and Hamas backing claims that Abbas is a government of technocrats, an inciter. may have made the P.A. ineliSachs said that the recent crisis in Jerusalem underscored gible for funds, AIPAC argued. Now, in the wake of the the utility of Israeli-P.A. coopsummer’s Gaza war and the eration. violence in Jerusalem, AIPAC “It’s not coincidental this frames funding for the P.A. as wave of violence is in Jerusaa necessary means of ensuring lem, where P.A. forces can’t Continued on next page operate,” he said.
Should Abbas and the P.A. go, Hamas could take its place.
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THE WORLD
Abbas
Continued from previous page that Abbas keeps cooperating with Israel on security. In a memo after Palestinian terrorists murdered four worshippers and a policeman at a Jerusalem synagogue on Nov. 18, AIPAC listed Abbas’ alleged incitements, including his call on Palestinians to prevent settlers from entering the Temple Mount by “any means” and to keep the Temple Mount from being “contaminated” by extremists. (Abbas condemned the synagogue murders.) But the AIPAC memo, while noting that tamping down incitement was a condition for aid, also reflected in its recommendations the Israeli investment in Abbas as a bulwark against further violence and Hamas. “The P.A. must continue security cooperation with Israel and take responsibility for controlling the border crossings into Gaza,” the memo said. Jonathan Schanzer, the vice president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the author of the book State
of Failure about the P.A., said Abbas was walking a high wire — accommodating anti-Israel sentiment while helping to rein in violence. The danger, Schanzer said, is that the violence may not be easy to control, something Abbas’ predecessor Yasser Arafat discovered amid the second intifada in the early 2000s. “What he’s doing now is trying to ride the wave of this sentiment,” he said. “He’s flirting with embracing a popular uprising. You get a sense he’s walking in Arafat’s footsteps.” Zomlot, the Abbas adviser, said Palestinian security forces were not simply a sop to Israeli needs but also a means of improving quality of life for Palestinians. He accused Israel of undercutting the P.A.’s authority with raids into parts of the West Bank, for instance during the searches for the men who kidnapped and murdered three Jewish students last summer. “The premise of security cooperation is you do not come into my territory unless we work together,” he said. “Israel has been wrecking this principal, invading Palestinian Area
A on a daily basis. You break the contract and ask yourself for how long this commitment will be one sided.” Palestinian Area A refers to those areas of the West Bank where the Palestinian Authority is meant to prevail, per the Oslo Accords of the 1990s. Zomlot said the Palestinians wanted to review other aspects of the relationship, saying that much of what the Oslo agreements outlined no longer held, especially with a substantial portion of Netanyahu’s governing coalition opposing the two-state solution. In November, the P.A. signed a $660,000 per year contract with the major Washington lobbyist Squire Patton Boggs to “help manage the P.A./U.S. bilateral diplomatic and political relationship” and review the 1994 Paris Protocol governing economic relations. “The Paris Protocol assumed a state would emerge within five years,” Zomlot said, noting its provisions keep the Israeli and Palestinian economies tightly interwoven. “It is no longer capable of serving the needs of the Palestinian economy.
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Making Israel’s Jewish status the law: Why it matters By Ben Sales, JTA TEL AVIV — On Nov. 23, Israel’s Cabinet advanced a controversial bill in a 14-6 vote that, if passed by the Knesset, would enshrine into law Israel’s status as a Jewish state. The nation-state law, as it is being called, has sparked a crisis in Israel’s coalition, with center-left parties voting against the measure and threatening to break up the government if it passes. Following the threats, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed a full Knesset vote on the bill for one week. With Arab-Jewish tensions running high in Israel, supporters of the bill say it will reinforce Israel’s Jewish character. Opponents fear the bill will undermine the status of Israel’s Arab minority and stoke the flames of the conflict. Here is what you need to know about the bill and its prospects: What is the nation-state law? The bill makes clear that Israel is the state of the Jews or, in the words of the bill, “defines the state of Israel’s identity as the nation-state of the Jewish people.” Among other things, it means that Jewish law should inspire its legal system and that Israel’s national holidays will be the Jewish holidays plus Independence and Memorial Day. The bill affirms that the country’s national anthem is Hatikvah and that its flag is the blueand-white star-and-stripes. For good measure, the bill also affirms the Law of Return, which gives automatic citizenship to any Jew who wants it. Some of the bill’s sections already are law. But the nationstate law would become one of the so-called Basic Laws, which like a constitution guide Israel’s legal system and are more difficult than regular laws to repeal. Two drafts of the nationstate law have been proposed recently by right-wing lawmakers. The one advanced by the cabinet Nov. 23 is a version formulated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office aimed at compromise. The earlier version also would have defined Hebrew as Israel’s sole national language,
Nati Shohat/Flash90
Israeli flags next to the Israeli state symbol in the Knesset, Nov. 6
giving Arabic a secondary status, and affirmed the importance of settlement throughout Israel’s borders — a term that was not defined. Everyone knows Israel is a Jewish state. Why is the nation-state law necessary? Supporters say it’s because Israel’s Jewishness has never really been made into law. Judaism is mentioned throughout the country’s laws and religious authorities control some ceremonies, like marriage. But the 11 existing Basic Laws deal mostly with state institutions like the Knesset, the courts or the presidency, and Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty defines Israel’s democratic character. The nation-state law, proponents say, will place Jewish values and democratic values on equal footing. “Although there is wide agreement in the Israeli public regarding the state of Israel’s definition as a Jewish state, the characteristics of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people were never anchored in the state’s foundational laws,” Likud Knesset member Zeev Elkin wrote in the earlier version, which he drafted. Netanyahu has long demanded that the Palestinian leadership recognize Israel as a Jewish state, something it has refused to do. Elkin wrote that the law “is doubly important especially in times when some seek to negate the right of the Jewish people to a national home in its land.” Why is the bill so controversial? Opponents of the bill worry that it will prioritize Israel’s Jewish character over its democracy. Israel’s Declaration of Independence defines it as a Jewish
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
THE WORLD and democratic state, a dual mandate that has sometimes been a tough balancing act. Opponents worry that the bill will further alienate Israeli Arabs, who make up about a fifth of the population, fomenting discord in Israel and giving ammunition to Israel’s detractors. In particular, some Israeli legal scholars oppose sections of the bill that say legislation should be inspired by Jewish law and that courts should look to Jewish law in cases where civil law provides no clear answer. “Israel is a nation-state whose vision has three essential ingredients: Jewishness, democracy and human rights,” Hebrew University law professor Ruth Gavison wrote in a governmentcommissioned report on the bill. “The nation-state law is likely to upset the essential balance of safeguarding the entire vision.” If the bill becomes law, what concrete changes would follow? None, really. The bill aims to set out general principles and safeguard existing legislation, so it doesn’t create any new laws. But because it would be a Basic Law, its principles would guide the rest of Israel’s legal system. Amir Fuchs, the head of the Defending Democratic Values project at the Israel Democracy Institute think tank in Jerusalem, says the law will make it
easier for discriminatory laws to pass Knesset and stand up in court. “The goal here is to change the balance from where we have too much democracy, too much liberty and not enough Judaism,” he said, explaining supporters’ views. “If you want to pass a law that discriminates against Arabs, now you can claim that the (ArabIsraeli) demographic threat (to a Jewish majority) justifies the law.” How has the government addressed the concerns? Will the bill pass? Supporters of the bill say opponents are mischaracterizing it. They note that the measure explicitly refers to Israel’s democratic character and affirms “the personal rights of all its citizens according to law.” Unlike the Elkin version, which Justice Minister Tzipi Livni came out against, the Netanyahu version has stronger language protecting democracy, and removes the portions on Jewish settlement and the primacy of Hebrew. But despite the changes, Netanyahu’s center-left partners say the bill will still hurt Israel’s democratic character. “We are not to opposed to a National Law because this is a Jewish state and it should remain a Jewish state,” Finance Minister Yair Lapid, who heads the centrist Yesh Atid party, said in a statement Sunday. “But it must also be a democratic state. The current national law is a bad law which is badly worded.”
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For some Orthodox converts, biggest challenges come after mikvah By Uriel Heilman, JTA NEW YORK — There was the convert who was barred from a synagogue on Yom Kippur, the Jamaican convert whose boyfriend’s rabbi offered him a coveted synagogue honor if only he’d dump her, the grandmother who told her granddaughter she’d be going to Hell because she became a Jew. The road to conversion can be long and difficult for many prospective converts to Orthodox Judaism, filled with uncertainties and fear about gaining final rabbinic approval. Yet even once they emerge from the mikvah as newly minted American Jews, many
find the challenges hardly end. “Most of my negative experiences were after the conversion,” said Aliza Hausman, a 34-year-old writer and former public school teacher in Los Angeles. “I was really excited about (attending) my first Bar Mitzvah. But when I got there the rabbi’s shtick was that he would tell the most derogatory jokes about goyim (non-Jews) he could think of,” Hausman recalled. “My first Pesach was listening to someone whose daughter was in a matchmaking situation, and out of nowhere she starts talking about shiksas,” a derogatory word for non-Jewish
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women. One Yom Kippur, Hausman, who is of mixed-race parentage, said she was stopped at the door of her in-laws’ synagogue by people who assumed she couldn’t possibly be Jewish. She ran back to her in-laws’ home in tears. Many Orthodox converts contend that the Orthodox community is less accepting of Jews by choice than the more liberal Jewish denominations, where converts are far more numerous. In the first couple of days after the arrest in October of Rabbi Barry Freundel on charges that he installed a secret camera in the mikvah at his Orthodox shul in Washington, Kesher Israel, many of Freundel’s converts expressed concern that the legitimacy of their conversions would be challenged. The Rabbinical Council of America, the nation’s main centrist Orthodox rabbinical group, quickly announced that it would stand by Freundel’s conversions, and Israel’s Chief Rabbinate eventually offered similar indications. Orthodox converts say it’s not unusual to be asked to produce their conversion papers — either by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate, if they seek to marry in Israel, or by a Jewish institution, potential matchmaker or prospective in-law. One woman who asked to be identified only as Sarah due to the personal nature of her
PAGE 12
New to the community, converts often have no place to go for Shabbat or holidays
rabbi, he said. “There has to be a sponsoring rabbi so there’s someone who Finding a spouse Back when she was studying is gong to take responsibility to keep up with that person after for conversion, a rabbi offered the conversion takes place — Sarah an early indication that making sure the community finding a mate would not be accepts that individual fully easy. as Jewish, has a place to go “The rabbi said to me, ‘We don’t have much to offer you in to holidays, for example,” he said. “It’s hard enough for a the way of husbands. The only thing we would have to offer is single person to function in the Orthodox community, which the bottom of the barrel,’ “she is family oriented. The convert recalled. doesn’t have any of these supRabbi Yosef Blau, a Yeshiva port mechanisms.” University spiritual adviser Unmarried converts often are who is among the 15 or so rabfixed up with the community’s binic volunteers who staff the RCA’s conversion courts in New least desirables, converts say. Non-white converts say they York, says the courts are very are frequently fixed up only cognizant of the challenges of integrating converts into the Or- with members of the same race, thodox community — and wary even if they have nothing else in common. of converting those unlikely to Converts “receive the absucceed. That’s partly why the solute worst shidduch (matchconversion courts require that every convert have a sponsoring making) recommendations for potential marriage partners, if they receive them at all,” wrote Bethany Mandel, a convert in her Bill of rights for Jewish converts in the Times of Israel after the Freundel scandal broke. “A corporate lawyer does not deserve to be constantly Dayton Optometric Center, Inc. matched with the likes of a janitor just because he happens to Dr. Ronald Gilbert be another black convert (yes, Dr. Heath Gilbert this happened to a friend on a serial basis).” Dr. Marc Gilbert Rabbi Zvi Romm, who adDr. Kathleen Rudolf ministers the Orthodox conversions in New York certified Eye Examinations • Contact Lenses by the Rabbinical Council of Children’s Vision • Vision Therapy America, says the demographic Low Vision • Eye Disease Treatment profile of most converts doesn’t make things any easier: Most are women in their late 20s and early 30s. 813 Troy St. 40 Southmoor Cir., N.E. “When you convert at that Dayton 45404 Dayton 45429 age, you’re at a disadvantage,” said Romm, who expressed 228-2020 299-4132 sympathy for the challenges
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experience said that when she became involved in a serious relationship with a man from a Chabad family, his father demanded to see her conversion papers and decided her conversion wasn’t kosher. Thus began a long odyssey to convince her future in-laws that hers was a bona fide conversion. (Sarah did not convert through the RCA system, whose certified conversions are broadly accepted, because she said RCA rabbis refused to meet her or respond to her inquiries.) Eventually her future father-in-law’s concerns were assuaged.
South
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
THE WORLD Barker immigrated to Israel a year after her conversion and said she immediately found a warm embrace in her multinational Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem. But four years later she became ill, forcing her to move back in with her mother near Charlotte, N.C. Now she says her greatest challenge as a Jew is her isolation. The closest Orthodox synagogue is a 45-minute drive away, and it’s Chabad, which Barker says is not an ideal fit for her modern Orthodox sensibility. “It’s very difficult for me living with my family because my family is not Jewish,” Barker said. “I still keep kosher, I still keep Shabbat. It’s just not what it was when I was living in a community.” Of course, not all Orthodox converts have difficult transitions. One Brooklyn man who asked to be identified only as Simcha said he was worried about acceptance before he converted five years ago. But his fears turned out to be unfounded. “I have only had really good people who were genuinely interested in helping me, who were there for me and continue to be,” said Simcha, who is married to a Yemenite Jewish woman, with whom he has a child. “Most people that know me don’t know I’m a convert.”
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ism amounted to an embrace of Jesus’ original religion. Some converts say they face hostility within their own families when they explain that they can no longer eat in their parents’ kitchen or face the predicament of a sibling’s church wedding (Orthodox authorities commonly forbid entering churches or attending church services). “The biggest transition for me was adjusting to always having to rely on close friends for certain things, like the holidays, especially since I come from an Italian family that’s really close knit,” said Stephanie McCourt, an Orthodox convert in her 20s originally from Connecticut. “Balance between religion and family will always be a struggle.” Ariella Barker, a 34-year-old single attorney, says that after Family tensions her conversion she would often Ginzberg says some of the leave her lower Manhattan greatest resistance to converts home to spend Shabbat on the comes from their own families. borough’s Upper West Side, At a wedding last month for home to America’s singlea convert who remarried her Jewish husband just hours after largest concentration of modern Orthodox singles. formally becoming a Jew, the But the scene there felt like bride’s mother unexpectedly a club in which she clearly was refused to attend because she was upset that her daughter had not welcome. “I felt like an outsider. I really rejected Jesus. couldn’t break through and The mother eventually make a lot of friends,” Barker was coaxed into the Brooklyn synagogue basement where the said. “People would always ask me, ‘Are you Jewish?’ or wedding took place by inter‘What’s your Hebrew name?’ I locutors who argued that her never felt like I fit in.” daughter’s conversion to Judafacing converts. “These people convert and they’re all starryeyed, and they have this very idealistic image of what the Orthodox Jewish community is all about. Then they have a hard time getting dates. There is a certain degree of prejudice against geirim,” — Hebrew for converts. Conversion also can be lonely. New to the community, converts often have no place to go for Shabbat or holidays. Yossi Ginzberg, an Orthodox activist who along with his wife runs support programs for converts, including hosting them for Shabbat and holidays, says the community needs to more attuned to welcoming converts — a mitzvah the Torah makes clear in passages about “loving the ger,” or convert.
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Jerusalem coexistence programs persist amid rising tensions
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Jewish and Arab students working on a project together at the Max Rayne Hand In Hand Jerusalem School, where they also engage in current events discussions
with Chabad of Greater Dayton Home Depot Menorah Workshop Sun. Dec. 14 | 3 PM
Participants will receive a free worker’s apron, craft their own unique wooden Menorah, and enjoy Chanukah treats. Home Depot Miamisburg 345 N Springboro Pike
NO E! G CHAR
Torah & Tea Chanukah Dinner Wed. Dec. 17 | 7:00 PM
Chabad Women’s Circle presents the monthly class. Enjoy a dinner and friends. Create a one of a kind Gary Rosenthal sculpture. Each unique piece will be later auctioned at the Women’s Retreat.
Run Around Fun Town
Sun. Dec. 21 | 4:00 - 6:00 PM
A fun Chanukah party for children ages 0-6. Latkes, doughnuts and crafts. Discounted admission. Ages 0-2/$3.75, Ages 3-6/$7.50 Adults/free
Kosher Chinese Buffet
Wed. Dec. 24 | 5:30 PM
All you can eat Chinese buffet. Followed by a big screen showing of Raid at Entebbe Early Reservations: Adult/$18 • Child/$5 Join us for a Shabbaton on Jan. 30 with guest speaker, Sassy Reuven a commando at Entebbe.
Chanukah At the Nutter Center Tuesday, Dec. 23 • 6:30pm Enjoy a Wright State Raiders basketball game & Menorah Lighting during halftime. Special group pricing! Pregame hot latkes and doughnuts.
For info. and to reserve visit www.ChabadDayton.com or call 643-0770.
Are you reading this? So is the entire Jewish community. Contact Patty Caruso at plhc69@gmail.com to advertise in The Observer. PAGE 14
By Ben Sales, JTA JERUSALEM — Rawan Masalha and Inbar Shaked-Vardi were in their ninth-grade geography class earlier this year when a fight began over the name of their textbook, Israel: Its People and Area. “The Palestinian students started saying, ‘Why Israel? Why not Palestine?’ They didn’t want to use the book,” recalled Shaked-Vardi, 14, a Jewish student from western Jerusalem. She and Masalha, also 14 and from eastern Jerusalem, recalled their Palestinian classmates changing “Israel” to “Palestine” as they read aloud from the text. “Some of the Jews felt it’s Israel, it’s the land their grandparents helped build,” Masalha said. “But for Palestinians, it’s the place where 300 years ago their ancestor had his orchard. The Jews said it’s the Land of Israel, the Arabs said it’s Palestine.” Masalha and Shaked-Vardi are two of more than 600 students at the Max Rayne Hand In Hand Jerusalem School, Israel’s largest joint ArabJewish school and the only such primary and high school in the city. Hand In Hand is the biggest and most intensive of a handful of youth coexistence initiatives in the city, which has seen Jewish-Arab tensions rise following a recent spate of violence. At Hand In Hand, students attend classes in Hebrew and Arabic, celebrate Jewish, Muslim and Christian holidays, and engage in a weekly current events dialogue. They learn
both the Israeli and Palestinian historical narratives. The past year has been a challenging one for the school. Classes have struggled to confront the effects of war in Gaza this summer, the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers and the killing of a Palestinian teen in response, and recent deadly attacks in Jerusalem, including the killing of four Jewish worshippers and a police officer Nov. 18 at a synagogue in the haredi Orthodox neighborhood of Har Nof. “You come to school charged,” said Tala Jbarah, 15, a 10th-grader from eastern Jerusalem. Efforts to separate politics from her life at school, she said, have been “very hard.” Located on a campus in western Jerusalem, Hand In Hand seeks to be an island of peace in a city riven by conflict. The goal, says middle and high school principal Arik Saporta, is to have students confront intolerance, not to isolate them from it. “We’re not a bubble, we’re a greenhouse,” Saporta said. “A bubble is shut off from what’s outside. A greenhouse brings the outside inside, but also holds the plants so they can grow outside.” Beyond school, students face a difficult climate. Recent polls suggest that younger Israelis are more extreme than their parents. One survey conducted ahead of last year’s national election
found that among voters under 30, the most popular party was Jewish Home, which supports Jewish settlement in the West Bank and opposes a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Jewish Home placed fourth in the election. A poll conducted in 2010 found that majorities of Israeli high-school students preferred strong leaders over the rule of law and believed that state security concerns should trump democratic values. Young people involved in coexistence projects say xenophobic attitudes have flared on both sides because of this year’s violence. Samia Nustas, 16, an Arab resident of eastern Jerusalem who sings in a Jewish-Arab choir at the Jerusalem YMCA, says that a friend chided her for associating with Jews. “If I care about them and they care about me, what’s the problem?” Samia said. “I try to tell her, ‘No, they’re not like that.’ ” Students understand that when they become adults, they will enter a largely separated society. Most Jewish students will enter a military conscription that could have them manning a West Bank checkpoint. Michael Mintz, 14, is a participant in Heartbeat, an afterschool program where Jewish and Arab teens make music together that is supported by American rock stars Neil Young and Eddie Vedder. Serving in Continued on Page 26
The goal is to have students confront intolerance, not to isolate them from it.
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
Life. Love. Latkes. Happy Chanukah from Cedar Village! Cedar Village Retirement Community is a not-for-profit retirement community located in Mason, Ohio. An organization devoted to meeting the needs of “mind, body and spirit,” we offer a wide range of inpatient and outpatient as well as home and community based services. Our services are focused on meeting each individual’s unique needs to help them achieve an optimal quality of life. Cedar Village’s mission is that aging be an enriching and fulfilling experience, and we live that mission every day. CEDAR VILLAGE SERVICES • Cedar Village Home Care • Cedar Village Hospice • Driving Assessment Program • Independent and Assisted Living • Long Term Care • Inpatient Rehabilitation • Outpatient Rehabilitation
• Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati Aquatic Therapy Center • Shalom Center for Elder Abuse Prevention • Specialized Dementia Care • Specialized Wound Care • VillageCare
5467 Cedar Village Drive, Mason, OH 45040 | Tel: 513.754.3100 | www.cedarvillage.org THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
PAGE 15
OPINION
LETTER Social Security for Nazis
As a Holocaust survivor of Auschwitz and Dachau, I was outraged reading the article Ex-Nazis collecting U.S. Social Security from the Associated Press on Oct. 20. How can a country like the United States allow this to happen, paying millions of dollars in Social Security to Nazi criminals who are responsible for murdering thousands of Jews in concentration camps — such as in Sachsenhausen where S.S. guard Martin Hartmann, who killed thousands of Jews is now receiving thousands of dollars in taxpayer’s money, and Jacob Denzinger who was a S.S. guard in Auschwitz, where I went through a selection? All these years I have lived in the U.S. and the U.S. government never considered helping the Holocaust survivors? When my wife passed away recently, I applied for widows pension from my wife’s Social Security. I was denied. I was told that I am not entitled to receive widows pension or Social Security. The Social Security Administration took away my money and gave it to the Nazis for murdering six million Jews, including my whole family. From a family of nine, I am the only survivor. Perhaps I don’t know any loopholes? Those Nazis shouldn’t have been allowed to come to the United States to begin with. It brings back bad memories of the ‘40s when I was in concentrations camps, starving from hunger, weighing only 75 pounds after the liberation, and now reading about those S.S. murderers who tried to starve me to death and now those S.S. live in luxury. The U.S. government should confiscate all the assets from those Nazis and give it to the Social Security Administration. I am surprised that the Wiesenthal Center didn’t know about those S.S. living in the United States and receiving Social Security. I express my gratitude to AP and its writers for this article, and also to U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney for her plans to introduce legislation to close this loophole. My only regret is that AP didn’t investigate this years ago. — Sam Heider, Dayton
PAGE 16
Exodus to Egypt: 100 years since the Turkish expulsion of the Jews The World’s Work/Wikimedia Commons
the Gabbari camp. Torah that the refugees By Rafael Medoff “Even many years established for their This year marks a century later, my father still children,” Brodetzky since the expulsion of thouvividly recalled, and noted. sands of Jews from Turkishtold me about, the Back in Turkish ruled Palestine to Egypt, in stirring speeches that Palestine, the rest of a dramatic reversal of the Jabotinsky gave, to the local Jewish comhistoric Exodus from the Land inspire the refugees to munity struggled to of the Pharaohs to the Land sign up,” Brodetzky survive. Some, includof Israel. But from that tragic recalled. ing two of Frieda’s episode in 1914 would emerge The British agreed brothers went into a Jewish fighting force that to create a relatively hiding to avoid being would help liberate the Holy small unit known as inducted into the TurkLand from the Turks. the Zion Mule Corps, ish army, where antiTurkey entered World War then expanded it into Jewish discrimination I in October 1914, joining the Jewish Legion, conwas rife. Others, such Germany in its fight against sisting of five full batas future Israel Prime Russia, England, and France. talions. It was the first Minister Moshe SherIn Turkey’s eyes, all Russian Jewish army in nearly tok (Sharett), sought to citizens, including the many 2,000 years. The legion ingratiate themselves Russian-born Jews living in played an important with the authorities by U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Henry Morgenthau Sr. Palestine, were now enemy role in the battles that volunteering to serve (Center) in Turkish-ruled Palestine, who, in 1915-16, nationals. Fueled by wartime brought about the in the armed forces. hysteria and Muslim religious rescued Palestine Jewry from utter devastation liberation of Palestine Frieda’s father desentiment, the Turkish authoriHenry Morgenthau Sr., from the Turks in 1918. vised a unique way to elude the ties in the Holy Land turned America’s ambassador to Jabotinsky served as a lieuTurkish censors and communiagainst the country’s foreignTurkey, played a critical role in tenant in the Jewish Legion. cate with his exiled daughter. born Jews. On Dec. 17, the rescuing Palestine Jewry from Other legionnaires included Turkish governor of Jaffa, Beha “He would write a message on utter devastation. He persuadDavid Ben-Gurion; future A-Din, ordered the mass expul- the inside of a bandage, which ed President Woodrow Wilson prime minister Levi Eshkol; would be wrapped around the sion of the 6,000 Russian-born to let U.S. ships bring food and Zionist leader Berl Katznelson; arm of someone who was travJewish residents of that city. and future Jerusalem mayor eling from Jerusalem to Egypt,” medicine to the Palestine JewOver the course of the next ish community, even though Gershon Agron. Moshe Brodetzky explained. three months, thousands Jewish Legion members took A number of Palestine’s Jews that technically meant providmore Russian-born Jews were ing supplies to a country with part in the defense of Jerusalem were forced into Turkish labor expelled from Palestine or fled which the U.S. was at war. against Arab rioters in 1920. brigades, where just ahead of the The Jewish By contrast, his son, TreaAfter the British disbanded they paved roads deportations. sury Secretary Henry Morgenthe legion, some of its veterans and worked in By the spring of refugee camps thau Jr., was unsuccessful in joined up with the Jewish unstone quarries 1915, more than in Egypt became his attempt, 25 years later, to derground militias that ultiwithout pay, 11,000 Russian the birthplace of barely subsisting convince President Franklin mately fought for the creation Jewish exiles D. Roosevelt to permit food of Israel. on meager food were living in a Jewish armed shipments to Jews who were The Brodetzky family, for rations. Zionist British-occupied force that would political parties starving in the Warsaw Ghetto its part, in the 1920s lived Egypt. and elsewhere in Nazi-occuin Michigan City (Indiana), were outlawed help take back Yaakov and pied Europe. The Roosevelt and Brooklyn, where and newspapers Frieda Brothe Land of Israel were shut down. administration said it could not Chicago, young Moshe became active in detzky were from the Turks. permit shipping supplies to a Hashomer Hadati, the youth When David among the country with which the U.S. wing of the Mizrachi moveBen-Gurion deportees. “My was at war. ment (today known as the parents were newlyweds when — who would later become In a remarkable historical Religious Zionists of America). Israel’s first prime minister — the expulsion was ordered,” twist, the Jewish refugee camps The family returned to British protested these measures, he Moshe Brodetzky, 88, of Los in Egypt became the birthPalestine in 1934, and Moshe too was deported to Egypt. Angeles, told me. “They spent place of a Jewish armed force later served with the Irgun Zvai With thousands of Palestheir ‘honeymoon’ — and the that would help take back the Leumi, headed by Menachem tine’s Jewish farmers trapped next three years — in exile in Land of Israel from the Turks. Begin, in Israel’s 1948 War of in Egypt, their crops back Egypt.” Advocates of the creation of Independence. home withered on the vine. To With generous support a modern-day Jewish army It was historical irony, twice make matters worse, wartime from the Egyptian Jewish found large numbers of eager over: the first generation of naval blockades prevented the community, the exiled family volunteers among those exiled. Jews exiled to Egypt had importation of many foods. built a new life for itself in the These recruiting efforts helped bring about the libAs a result, from 1915-1916, Mafruza and Gabbari refugee were spearheaded by Russian eration of Palestine from the thousands of Jews in Palestine camps near Alexandria. “My Zionist leader Vladimir Ze’ev Turks, and the second generadied of starvation or diseases father earned a living by beJabotinsky, war hero and Ziontion played its own part in freeaggravated by the lack of food. coming a teacher in a Talmud ist pioneer Yosef Trumpeldor, ing the Land of Israel from the and a fervent Christian Zionist, British three decades later. the famous British lion hunter Send your letters (350 words max., thanks) to Col. John Henry Patterson. Dr. Rafael Medoff is director of The Dayton Jewish Observer, 525 Versailles Drive The latter personally signed The David S. Wyman Institute for Dayton, OH 45459 • MWeiss@jfgd.net up the first 500 volunteers in Holocaust Studies.
So, what do you think?
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Classes
Temple Beth Or Classes: Sun., Dec. 14 & 28, 10:30 a.m.: Tanach Study w. Rabbi Chessin. Sun., Dec. 14 & 28, 1 p.m.: Adult Hebrew w. Rabbi Chessin. Tues., Dec. 9, 7 p.m.: iEngage w. Rabbi Chessin. Weds., Dec. 3, 10 & 17, 7 p.m.: Adult Modern Hebrew w. Ehud Borovoy. Wed., Dec. 17, 6-9 p.m.: Israeli Folk Dancing w. Janifer Tsou. Thurs., Dec. 4, 11 & 18, 7 p.m.: Beginners Adult Modern Hebrew w. Ehud Borovoy. Thurs., Dec. 11, 1 p.m. Socrates Café. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 4353400. Temple Israel Classes: Mondays, 1:15 p.m.: Knitting & Crocheting. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.: Lattes & Legends w. Rabbi Bodney-Halasz, Dorothy Lane Mkt., 6177 Far Hills Ave. Wednesdays, noon: Talmud study w. Rabbi Sofian. Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.: Torah study w. Rabbi Sofian. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 496-0050.
Discussions
Temple Israel Ryterband Lecture & Brunch Series: Sun., Dec. 7, 9:45-11:45 a.m. Paul Cooper, The C-130 Air Raid on Entebbe. $5. 130 Riverside Dr. 496-0050. Dayton Jewish Genealogical Society Meeting: Sun., Dec. 7, 10:30 a.m. Beginning Genealogy & Organizing Your Materials. Temple Israel, 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. R.S.V.P. to Molly Blumer, 479-8880.
2014 Susan & David Joffe
Kabalat Shabbat, 7 p.m. dinner followed by Taking Stock: An Inventory of the American Jewish Experience. $22 adults, $7.50 children. Sat., Dec. 6, noon: kiddush lunch followed by Rock Solid: America’s Embrace of The Ten Commandments. Sun., Dec. 7, 10 a.m.: brunch followed by Merry Chanukah: The Americanization of Tradition. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. R.S.V.P. for Friday dinner & Sunday brunch, 293-9520.
BBYO Teen Night: Weds., Dec. 3, 10, 17, 6:30 p.m. 105 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. Call Yale Glinter, 853-0372.
Fitness
Tai Chi @ the CJCE: Tuesdays. Beginners 3:30-4:30 p.m. Advanced 4:45-5:45 p.m. $5. 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. R.S.V.P. to 610-1555.
Temple Beth Or Chanukah Bazaar: Sun., Dec. 7, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. & Wed., Dec. 10, 4:30-6:30 p.m. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 435-3400.
Temple Beth Or Hellenist’s Kitchen Chanukah Cookoff: Wed., Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. R.S.V.P. to Leslie Beers, 435-3400. Beth Abraham is Dayton’s only Conservative synagogue, affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
Chabad Women’s Circle Torah & Tea Chanukah Dinner: Wed., Dec. 17, 7 p.m. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. R.S.V.P. to We are an enthusiastically egalitarian synagogue. 643-0770. We also have an enerKeruv program that Chabad Chanukah Party at Rungetic Around reaches out to intermarried couples and families in our Fun Town: for children up to age 6. Latkes, synagogue and in the Dayton community. doughnuts & crafts. Sun., Dec. 21,Jewish 4-6 p.m. 1218 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering. $7.50 For a complete schedule of events, go to ages 3-6, free ages 2 and under &our adults. bethabrahamdayton.org. R.S.V.P. to Chabad, 643-0770.
Insanity Workout: w. Lauren Baumgarten. Mondays & Wednesdays, 4 p.m. $5. Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. R.S.V.P. to 610-1555.
Beth Abraham Synagogue Chanukah Dinner: Sun., Dec. 21, 5:30 p.m. $10 adults, $5 ages 12 and under. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. R.S.V.P. to 293-9520.
Seniors
Chabad Menorah Lighting at Nutter Center: w. Wright State Raiders Basketball. Tues., Dec. 23, 6:30 p.m. Latkes & doughnuts before game. Call Chabad, 6430770.
Jewish Family Services Events: See Federation newsletter in center spread.
Community Events
Friday, Dec. 5, 6:15 p.m.: Kabbalat Shabbat 7 p.m.: Shabbat Dinner $22 – adults; $7.50 children. R.S.V.P. Followed by discussion Taking Stock: An Inventory of the American Jewish Experience. Saturday, Dec. 6, noon: Kiddush lunch followed by discussion Rock Solid: America’s Embrace of the Ten Commandments.
Chanukah
Chabad Home Depot Menorah Workshop: Sun., Dec. 14, 3 p.m. 345 N. Springboro Pike, Miamisburg. R.S.V.P. to Chabad, 643-0770.
Teens
Americanization of the Jews
Temple Israel Wintertime Brunch: Sun., Dec. 28, 11:30 a.m. With comedian Aaron M.G. $12 by Dec. 22, $15 at door. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. R.S.V.P. to 496-0050.
Women
JCC Winter Camp Shalom: Dec. 22Jan. 3, 8:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Grades K-6. Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. Call Yale Glinter, 853-0372.
Jenna Weissman Joselit
JCC Family Brunch: Thurs., Dec. 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Boonshoft CJCE. 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. $8 individual, $25 family. Payment is reservation. Kosher meals available upon advance request. R.S.V.P. by Dec. 18 to Karen Steiger, 6101555.
JCC Active Adults Chanukah Brunch: Sun., Dec. 7, 11:30 a.m. Boonshoft CJCE. $8 advance, $12 at door. 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. R.S.V.P. to Karen Steiger.
Children
George Washington Univ. Prof. of Judaic Studies
Chabad Kosher Chinese Buffet & Movie: Wed., Dec. 24, 5:30 p.m. $18 adults, $5 children. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. R.S.V.P. to 643-0770.
JCC Speaker Series: Thurs., Dec. 18, 10:30 a.m. Personal Safety w. Officer John Davis, Miami Valley Crime Prevention Assn. R.S.V.P. to Karen Steiger, 853-0372. Beth Jacob Sisterhood: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. Let’s Walk Group. 7020 N. Main St., Harrison Twp. 274-2149.
Scholar in Residence Weekend
Sunday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m.: Sunday Brunch. $5 per person. R.S.V.P. Merry Chanukah: The Americanization of Tradition.
Beth Abraham is Dayton’s only Conservative synagogue, affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. We are an enthusiastically egalitarian synagogue. Beth Abraham is Dayton’s We also have an eneronly Conservative getic Keruv program that synagogue, affiliated with reaches out to intermarried the United Synagogue of couples and families in our Conservative Judaism. synagogue and in the Dayton Jewish We arecommunity. an enthusiastically egalitarian synagogue. For a complete schedule of Forevents, a complete our go toschedule of our events, go to bethabrahamdayton.org. bethabrahamdayton.org.
Chanukah Dinner
Sunday, Dec. 21, 5:30 p.m. $10 adults, $5 ages 12 and under Bring Your Menorah. R.S.V.P.
New Member Shabbat Saturday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m.
Beth Abraham Synagogue Scholarin-Residence Weekend: w. Dr. Jenna Weissman Joselit. Fri., Dec. 5: 6:15 p.m. THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
PAGE 17
LIFECYCLES
Benjamin Ellis Promisel Amy and Seth Promisel of Short Hills, N.J. announce the birth of their son, Benjamin Ellis, on Aug. 22. Amy Blumhof Promisel is a former resident of Dayton. Benjamin weighed 8 lbs., 11 oz. and was 21 inches long. Welcoming him into the family are big brother Nathan, along with grandparents Bari and Steve Blumhof of Dayton, as well as Myra and Larry Promisel of Washington, D.C. Family and friends gathered at his brit in Short Hills on Aug. 29 to celebrate Benjamin’s naming: Benyamin Eleeom Ben Zalman Ber v’Sarri Yehoodis. Send lifecycles to: The Dayton Jewish Observer 525 Versailles Dr. Centerville, OH 45459 Email: MWeiss@jfgd.net There is a $10 charge to run a photo; please make checks payable to The Observer.
Our warmest wishes for a Happy Chanukah Bob & Sharon Burick & Family
KVELLING CORNER
Porter-Barnett George and Ruth Barnett are proud and happy to announce the marriage of their son Ronald to Rebecca Porter. Rebecca is the daughter of Dolores Porter of Mission, Kan. and the late Andrew Porter. Ronald’s grandparents are Joseph and Irene Levin of Palm Harbor, Fla., and the late Meyer and Betty Barnett of Dayton. The ceremony took place Nov. 23 at Congregation B’nai Jehudah in Overland Park, Kan., the Porter family congregation, where Rebecca’s father had his Bar Mitzvah. Ronald’s brother, Ira, and his cousin, Samuel Kuhr of Columbus, shared the honor of reciting the Sheva Brachot during the ceremony. Ronald and Rebecca met while on their Birthright trip to Israel in 2010. Ronald is a cash flow manager for Wells Fargo in Columbia, Md. Rebecca is a geriatric social worker for the Jewish Federation of Northern Virginia. The couple currently reside in Bethesda, Md.
Siegelman-Lebovic Rina Chaya Siegelman and Mickey Dov Lebovic were married at the historic Newton White Mansion outside of Baltimore on Nov. 9. Rina is the daughter of Rachael and Jan Siegelman of Atlanta and Mickey is the son of Linda and Stanley Lebovic of Baltimore. Maternal grandparents are Stanley and Connie Blum of Dayton. The bride is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland; she works at the Baltimore JCC as a personal trainer in the phys. ed. department and is also a preschool assistant at Cheder Chabad Day School. She will begin graduate studies in family therapy at Johns Hopkins University in January. The groom is a graduate of Excelsior College and is employed by Connections Academy as a competitive business analyst and marketing specialist.
Our warmest wishes for a joyous Chanukah
Best wishes to all for a Happy Chanukah
Marni & Richard Flagel
Chuck & Dee Fried
Trust Furst
with your Chanukah Centerpieces Bring in this ad and receive $10 off your next in-store purchase of $60 or more* Expires 3.31.2015. *Some exclusions apply. Not valid on wine, candy, or delivery.
Dr. Martha Moody Jacobs began her two-year term as president of the Dayton Woman’s Literary Club at its 125th anniversary dinner on Oct. 2. Marti was also a speaker at the 2014 Ohio Library Council Convention and Expo held in Columbus on Oct. 8. She talked about history as inspiration, how local history can help us think about the future, and how libraries can play a role in responding to unanticipated problems in a community.
Rachel Haug Gilbert Beth Abraham Synagogue Sisterhood has announced the recipients of its 2015 Women of Valor Awards: Maryann Bernstein, Connie Blum, Carol Finley, Irene Fishbein, Shelley Goldenberg, Rochelle Goldstein, and Sandy Zipperstein. The sisterhood will present the awards at a luncheon this spring. The locally-produced documentary Take Us Home had its Israeli premiere on Nov. 15 at Tel Aviv’s Cinematheque. Directed by former Yellow Springs filmmaker Aileen LeBlanc and edited by Wright State University Prof. Jim Klein, Take Us Home follows the journey of the Falash Mura — Ethiopians of Jewish descent — and their dreams of making aliyah (immigrating) to Israel. Initial support for the film came from The Levin Family Foundation.
Chloe Rose Greenfield, granddaughter of Dr. Art and Joan Greenfield, recently studied for 10 weeks in Israel as part of her education at The American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro, N.C. Currently in her junior year, she has received the president’s scholarship for all four years of high school based on academic performance. She also won the annual Hebrew studies award for the 2013-14 school year. She and her classmates lived in Hod HaSharon, Israel and studied at the Alexander Muss High School there. Chloe’s brother, Alex Greenfield, lives in Israel, studying at yeshiva Ohr Somayach and is pursuing his development as an artist. Their parents are Dr. Dwynn and Aimee Greenfield of Sparta, N.C. Grandparents Leo and Shirley Katz reside in Sarasota. Alex Frank was elected prince of the sophomore class for Springboro High School’s 2014 Homecoming Court. Alex is the son of Debbie and Larry Frank, brother of Abby Frank, and grandson of Caryl and Don Weckstein, and Geri and Bruce Frank. Temple Israel is now certified through 2016 as a Green Business by Montgomery County Dayton Regional Green 3. The certification was made possible through the temple’s Greening the Synagogue, Greening the World Committee. Send your Kvelling items to kvellingcorner@gmail.com or to Rachel Haug Gilbert, The Dayton Jewish Observer, 525 Versailles Drive, Centerville, OH 45459.
Happy Chanukah
And G-d said, “I will establish My covenant between Me and your children.” (Genesis 17:2)
Dotan Herszage Certified Mohel
Wishing You A Happy Chanukah
614-231-4226 home 614-274-0979 work 614-580-0416 car
1306 Troy Street • Dayton 45404 • (937) 223-1213 • furstflorist.com PAGE 18
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
CAMPAIGN: David Gregory To Be Keynote Speaker At Federation’s 2015 President’s Dinner
Jewish Federation of GREATER DAYTON
Yom Hashoah Sunday, April 12 4PM @ Beth Abraham Synagogue
Yom Ha’Atzmaut Thursday, April 23 5:30PM @ the Boonshoft CJCE
President’s Dinner Sunday, May 3 @ the Dayton Art Institute
PJ Library Punim Party February 15 Check out the January Observer for more details!
Renowned Journalist, Former NBC Chief White House Correspondent, and Former Host of NBC's Meet the Press will join The Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton as Keynote Speaker for their President's Dinner on May 3, 2015. Gregory brings with him 25 years of unparalleled journalistic insight into today's world. From the O.J. Simpson trials, to being the only network news correspondent to walk the wreckage of Ground Zero with President George W. Bush mere days after 9/11, Gregory has been contributing to our nation's collective understanding of the world around us for over two decades. David is also the author of the forthcoming book How’s Your Faith?, an examination of his own faith journey with Judaism, as well as those of others, including well-known religious leaders and former President George W. Bush, who asked David the question that became the title of his book. As the Keynote Speaker for the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton's 2015 President's Dinner, Gregory's first-hand world experience will speak to the heart of the
Federation's new Annual Campaign focus, 100 Days of Tikkun Olam. Tikkun Olam is a Hebrew phrase and key Jewish belief, which references the shared responsibility to heal, repair, and transform the world. 100 Days of Tikkun Olam will kick off on May 3, with the President's Dinner, followed by the Thank You Event in August. The Federation's Annual Campaign helps raise funds for use locally, for Israel, and around the world. The Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Services, and the Jewish Foundation all benefit from the Federation's Annual Campaign. Having David Gregory as keynote speaker is an exciting decision for the Federation. “We are thrilled to bring David Gregory to Dayton, especially now, as he is currently writing a book on journeys of faith, including his personal experience with Judaism. As we initiate a revitalized approach to our upcoming Federation Annual Campaign, it's a perfect match," stated Mary Youra, 2015 Annual Campaign Chair.
David Gregory was a staple of the network’s special coverage at NBC—he contributed anchoring duties to all the network’s major programs including Today and Nightly News, reported the news of Osama Bin Laden’s capture and death as anchor of the network’s special coverage, and was a key player in election night coverage spanning four Presidential cycles.
What’s All the Hubub about End of Year Donations? If you haven’t made a donation to the 2014 Annual Campaign, now is the time! As 2015 looms in the near future, many people are thinking about what charitable donations they would like to make before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st. And when you donate to the 2014 Annual Campaign, you get so much in return! You get tax breaks. When you give by December 31, 2014, your gift is tax-deductible. We all know that is a good thing! We encourage you to speak with your legal or financial advisor for more details about the tax benefits associated with making charitable contributions.
You make a difference. It has been said that people don’t give to a charitable organization; rather they give through a charitable organization. When you make a gift to the 2014 Annual Campaign, you can feel good knowing that you are making a difference locally, in Israel and around the world. It is your gift that helps provide food for a person who can’t afford to feed themselves or their family; your gift that provides funding to help rebuild in areas of Israel affected by conflict; your gift that provides a lifeline for homebound seniors in our community to ensure they are safe and well cared for in their golden years. You make our services happen. You help repair our world.
RSVPs are due at least 1 week before event. Events with no price listed are free. PLEASE CONTACT KAREN STEIGER REGARDING ALL EVENTS UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE: 610-1555, ksteiger@jfgd.net
You invest in tomorrow. Our 2014 Annual Campaign allows us to continue programming and services in the coming year. All of our programs ~ whether through the Federation, Jewish Community Center, or Jewish Family Services ~ rely on dollars from the 2014 Campaign to keep going. So your gift now will ensure we can continue to provide essential services to the Jewish community here and abroad in the coming months. Whatever your reason for giving, we encourage you to donate today. To make your 2014 Annual Campaign gift, call 610-1555 or email athomas@jfgd.net. You may also go online and donate at www.jewishdayton.org. Thank you in advance for your generosity and your commitment to Tikkun Olam! JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON AGENCY NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2014
Teen & Tween
Fall Fun with the JCC Jewish Community Center of GREATER DAYTON Wednesdays, December 3 & 10 BBYO Teen Night 6:30PM @ 105 Sugar Camp Circle, Oakwood Ohio 45409 Sunday, December 7 Annual Chanukah Brunch 11:30AM @ Boonshoft CJCE $8 in advance, $12 at the door. Kosher meal available upon advance request. This event has been made possible by a partnership through the JCC Active Adults, JCC Yiddish Club in memory of Linda A. Cohen, and the Dayton Jewish War Veterans. Thursday, December 18 JCC Speaker Series: Officer John Davis 10:30AM @ the Boonshoft CJCE Wednesday, December 17 Teen Chanukah Program 6PM Location TBD Dinner & ice skating. Contact Yale Glinter, yglinter@jfgd.net, 401-1550 December 22 - January 2 Winter Camp Shalom 8:45AM-3:45PM @ Boonshoft CJCE Grades K through 6 Contact Yale Glinter at yglinter@jfgd.net or 401-1550. December 25 Family Brunch 10AM - 1PM @ Boonshoft CJCE $25 per family or $ 8 per individual. TEEN MACCABI SIGNUP August 2-7, 2015 Contact Yale Glinter at 4011550 or yglinter@jfgd.net by December 10 if your teen is interested in participating. RSVPs are due at least 1 week before event. Events with no price listed are free.
ABOVE: Middle Schoolers attend Scene 75 for an evening of fun, friendship and activities. Front Row (L-R), Abigail Zied, Oscar Waldman, Zeb Kuperman, Ava Kuperman, Nathalie Taylor, Ben Guadalupe, Back (L-R) - CIT, Jason Guadalupe, Adam Guadalupe. RIGHT: Deborah Lieberman, Zoe Waldman, and other BBYO members jump around at Skyzone.
JCC Speaker Series to cover personal safety A two part series on personal safety with Officer John Davis from the Miami Valley Crime Prevention Association will take place at the Boonshoft CJCE. Part 1 on December 18 at 10:30AM will be an informative session and Part 2 on January 15 at 10:30AM will be more hands on. The safety program has been designed by the Miami Valley Crime Prevention Association to bring attention to everyday habits that make us vulnerable to criminals. The ultimate goal is to change the way each attendee thinks about crime, as well as to consider when and where crime occurs. By arming participants with knowledge, they will be able to avoid and be aware of dangerous situations and habits. In the second part of the presentation on January 15, realistic practices will be offered as well as tactics to use if the dangerous situation cannot be avoided.
›Mamaloshen A little bit of Yiddish to share with friends, courtesy of the JCC Yiddish Club, in memory of Lynda A. Cohen.
Vayn: \VAYN\ Noun \ Masculine \ Pl. Vaynen Wine. Expressions with Vayn: 1. Matses un vayn, muz zayn; shmalts un eyer, nisht zeyer - Matzohs and wine must be [present at the Seder]; fat and eggs, not so much. 2. Nitsokhn farshikert on vayn - Success intoxicates without wine. 3. A yunge froy un an alter vayn - fun beyde farlirt men dem seykhl - A young woman and old wine - both make you lose your senses!
PLEASE CONTACT KAREN STEIGER REGARDING ALL EVENTS UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE: 610-1555, ksteiger@jfgd.net JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON AGENCY NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2014
EARLY CHILDHOOD:
Who says Sukkot is just for big kids? Linnley Balog, Bryce Kopp, and Luke Miller enjoy time in a Sukkah just their size in the Malachim Room. PHOTO CREDIT: ROSE KANE
Jewish Family Services Jewish Foundation ofof GREATER DAYTON GREATER DAYTON
Friday, December 5 NOON @ Covenant Manor Fresh Friday delicious home cooked meal. Prepared by Bernstein’s Fine Catering. Tuesday, December 9 12:30PM @ Covenant Manor Sing Along with Brenda Allen.
Jewish Family Services: A Year of Mitzvahs!
Local Service Helps JFS Make “Smooth Transitions” For Clients When individuals make the decision to move out of their home that they have lived in for many years, there are companies which provide services to help with this difficult transition. The professionals have a clear understanding of both the emotional and physical needs of individuals as well as the emotional needs of their loved ones during this relocation period. This can be a stressful time for those who are moving as well as for their family members. Staff will consult with the individual and their family about downsizing and moving, and will allow the individual to take the lead through this process. Staff provides as much or as little help as is needed or requested, gives direction and provides reliable resources, including movers to pack everything to be moved. These companies prove to be invaluable when it is time to relocate. They will make downsizing happen! Transition companies are community resources utilized to assist families. For more information on this service, please contact Jewish Family Services at 853-0372 and ask to speak with a case manager.
- Hyla Weiskind Outreach Specialist JFS of Greater Dayton
ABOVE: Lita Saul and Jewish Family Services transportation driver Helen Holcomb. PHOTO BY CHERYL BENSON. LEFT: Saxophonist Tim Cochlin delighted audience members with the sounds of smooth jazz at the Covenant Manor Lunch Program. PHOTO BY HYLA WEISKIND.
Eat Smart This Winter To Avoid
The Bloated Blahs Eating healthy isn’t just about what you
›› Wait 10–15 minutes after eating
eat, but also how much we eat. Even healthy foods can cause excess weight if we don’t
Friday, December 12 NOON @ Covenant Manor Fresh Friday delicious home cooked meal. Prepared by Bernstein’s Fine Catering. Tuesday, December 16 12:30PM @ Covenant Manor Songs of the Swing Era featuring Bob Kohn. Tuesday, December 23 12:30PM @ Covenant Manor Trivia Tuesday. Tuesday, December 30 12:30PM @ Covenant Manor Cookie decorating project.
what is on your plate before taking dessert or seconds – it can take that
know the proper portions.
long for your stomach to recognize it
What does the average adult need daily? *6 – 1oz. servings of grain; 2.5 c. (5 servings) of vegetables; 2 c. fruit (4 servings); 5-6
is full.
oz. protein (meat, fish, chicken, beans); 3
›› When you snack, put the amount
servings of dairy; 2-3 “servings” fat. (BE
in a bowl and take no more – eating
SURE TO LOOK AT LABELS TO KNOW THE SERVING SIZE) It can be a challenge if you are used to
out of the container is trouble.
The JFS Bereavement Group meets Thursday afternoons at Graeter’s in Oakwood. If interested in attending please contact Joyce at (937) 853-0377.
›› In restaurants, share a meal or take
larger serving sizes, so allow yourself to use
a “doggie bag” – ask for it before you
some “tricks” to help you feel “full.” ›› Use a smaller plate and eat slower.
begin the meal.
›› Drink water with your meal.
›› Lastly, watch those drinks. Soda,
›› Don’t put serving dishes on the
sweet drinks and alcoholic beverages
table – it will discourage seconds.
have calories, too!
PLEASE CONTACT CHERYL BENSON REGARDING ALL COVENANT MANOR EVENTS : 854-6319
JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON AGENCY NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2014
Planned Giving Quiz Take our quiz to test your planned giving knowledge! Jewish Foundation of GREATER DAYTON
Applications will be available beginning January 5, 2015, for the following grants and scholarships:
›› Innovation Grants:
Contact Jodi Phares at jphares@jfgd.net or 610-5513
›› Jewish Residential
Camp Scholarships, Jewish Foundation College Scholarships, and Travel to Israel Scholarships: Contact Alisa Thomas at athomas@jfgd.net or 610-1796 Check back in January for more detailed information including criteria, deadlines, and award announcement dates.
True or False ~ Only wealthy people make planned gifts. False. Almost anyone can make a planned gift. It is important to discuss with a legal or financial advisor what type of planned giving is right for you.
True or False ~ I have no say in how my gift will be used after I am gone. False. A planned gift can be structured to be used at the discretion of the organization, or the gift can be designated for a specific use, such as supporting a specific event or agency.
True or False ~ Giving to the annual campaign is the same thing as planned giving. False. Giving to the annual campaign helps us operate today. Planned giving helps us prepare for tomorrow. Both are instrumental in supporting the organization as we work to provide essential services and meaningful programs to the Jewish community in Dayton, in Israel, and around the world.
What is the most common form of planned giving? a. Charitable Gift Annuities b. Bequests c. Charitable Remainder Unitrusts d. None of the above The correct answer is b. Bequests. A bequest, whether through a will, a retirement plan, or life insurance policy, is the most common form of planned giving.
What percentage of people over the age of 50 have made a charitable bequest commitment? a. 5.3% b. 10.6% c. 16.4% d. 30.7% The correct answer is a. 5.3%.
If you would like more information about planned giving, please contact your legal or financial advisor, and then call us at 937-610-1555.
Legacies, Tributes, & Memorials FEDERATION
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN IN HONOR OF › Engagement of Josh Handel to Arielle Mann › Bobbie and Jerry Kantor & Family › Vicki Kemmerer’s Bat Mitzvah Carol Petri IN MEMORY OF › Ross Pincus brother-in-law to Renee and Dr. Frank Handel Bobbie and Jerry Kantor & Family CAROL J. PAVLOFSKY LEADERSHIP FUND IN HONOR OF › 80th birthday of Myrna Miller Sarah Pavlofsky Wendy and Ervin Pavlofsky › Susan and Stanley Katz’ new granddaughter Wendy and Ervin Pavlofsky IN MEMORY OF › Ross Pincus, brother-in-law to Renee and Dr. Frank Handel Wendy and Ervin Pavlofsky
THE TALA ARNOVITZ FUND IN HONOR OF › Birth of Matan, son of Rabbi Josh Ginsberg & Hazzan Jenna Greenberg Beverly Saeks IN MEMORY OF › Gilbert Unger › Becky Bodenstein Beverly Saeks JCC
JOAN AND PETER WELLS FAMILY, CHILDREN AND YOUTH FUND IN MEMORY OF › Bob Zussman Joan and Peter Wells
JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON AGENCY NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2014
HERTA G. & EGON F. WELLS AND MARGE ARNOLD CHILDREN’S FUND IN HONOR OF › Complete recovery of Sarah Weiskind, granddaughter of Hyla & Dr. Raymond Weiskind Joan and Peter Wells
SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE IN HONOR OF › Complete recovery of Sarah Weiskind, granddaughter of Hyla & Dr. Raymond Weiskind Shirlee and Dr. Ron Gilbert Bari and Dr. Steve Blumhof IN MEMORY OF › Gilbert Unger Hyla and Dr. Raymond Weiskind
FAMILY SERVICES
SENIOR SERVICES IN HONOR OF › Jane and Dr. Gary Hochstein’s new grandson Sylvia Linsker IN MEMORY OF › Leonard Solganik › Gilbert Unger › Charles Weprin Bobbie and Jerry Kantor & Family › Gilbert Unger Rosalyn Mosrow Sharon Mosrow
FOUNDATION
JEREMY BETTMAN B’NAI TZEDEK FUND IN MEMORY OF › Stephen Sommer › Gilbert Unger Jean and Todd Bettman
RELIGION
What makes Chanukah great in America By Dianne Ashton, JTA As Chanukah nears, let the grousing begin. Too much is made of a holiday that Judaism ranks as a minor festival — one whose rite takes no more than five minutes to complete each night — some American Jews will say. Some will complain about the season’s excessive commercialism or materialism. Yet most Jews will also participate in at least one of the many customs developed by American Jews to augment the holiday’s simple rite and express the enhanced place of Chanukah, which this year begins of the evening of Dec. 16. In addition to exchanging gifts (or giving them to children), they will decorate their homes, eat fried foods, sing songs, listen to holiday music and attend one or more of the many holiday festivities held at Jewish community centers, synagogues, Jewishthemed museums and Jewish schools. At these and other venues, they will join in more elaborate versions of the domestic customs. They will light holiday candles or watch them be kindled, sing more songs than they do at home, snack on potato pancakes or jelly donuts, chat with their friends and neighbors, watch or participate in amateur theatricals on the holiday’s theme — generally have a good time. Beneath the lighthearted celebrating, however, more serious meanings are often conveyed through the holiday’s songs. The word Chanukah means dedication, and the holiday has always highlighted occasions when Jews overcame challenges to their continued religious commitment. Chanukah commemorates the rededicating of the Jerusalem Temple in 165 BCE after a band of Jews led by the Maccabees retook it from the Syrians, who had conquered Judea. Generations of Jews retold that story at Chanukah and thanked God for helping their ancestors to prevail. American
Jews found additional reasons to reaffirm their dedication at Chanukah and often voiced those reasons in original songs. Since 1842, American Jews have been singing Chanukah songs that expressed the complicated experience of being Jewish in the United States. That year, a new hymnal for Congregation Beth Elohim in Charleston, S.C., included a special hymn for Chanukah that reassured congregants that the God to whom they prayed forgave their sins and continued to stand by them. The hymn countered the energetic effort by local Christian evangelicals to convince them to worship Jesus. Yet because it reassured Jews living anywhere in a largely Protestant America, the song appeared in hymnals used by both the Reform and Conservative movements as late as 1959. In the 1890s, two American Reform rabbis, in New York City and Philadelphia, wrote a new English version of Maoz Tsur, a song that Jews have sung at Chanukah since the 13th century. Titled Rock of Ages, the new song kept the melody of its predecessor, which thanked God for saving Jews in the past, but in its shortened version substituted a homey image of domesticity bright with lights and joy and promised a future that would see “tyrants disappearing.” Rock of Ages offered Jews an emotional link to past traditions through its melody while reminding them of the tyranny currently besetting their coreligionists in Eastern Europe. As 2.3 million new Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe came to America over the next 30 years, the song grew popular. It became a fixture at American Chanukah celebrations following the rise of Nazism in 1933, when the hope for a world free of tyranny seemed even more desperate. Rewrites of older prayers or songs often appeared in the first half of the 20th century. One Chanukah rewrite published during World War II offered a new version of an older prayer
At Hanukkah, Remember the Past, Share Joy in the Present. Come see our complete line of Hanukkah gifts & cards.
Vandalia 674 W. National Rd. 890-6842 Huber Heights 8293 Old Troy Pike 236-0036 Springfield 2984 Derr Rd. 937-399-5014 that described God’s saving power. The rewrite — offered in Hebrew as Mi Yimalel? and in English as Who Can Retell? — has a lively melody that fits its lyric, which aims to rouse Jews to act politically, militarily and philanthropically. Although a “hero or sage” always came to the aid of needy Jews in the past, it says, the current problems facing Jewry require more. Now “all Israel must arise” and “redeem itself through deed and sacrifice.” The crises facing Jews during those years influenced the ideas and emotions that they expressed in this Chanukah song. The experience of unity and strength that is felt in group singing may have assuaged Jews’ fears during those decades of disorientation and anguish. Chanukah provided an occasion for singing songs that voiced old and new hopes while building new communal alliances and bonds. And that, perhaps, helps explain the broad and continuing appeal of Chanukah for American Jews. Chanukah allows Jews to join in the national merrymaking occasioned by Christmas, but also to rededicate ourselves to Judaism. In homes, synagogues, museums, community centers and schools, it provides us with an occasion for gathering, singing, eating, lighting candles in the evenings of the shortest days of the year, exchanging gifts, voicing religious commitments and values, and enjoying being Jews. Dianne Ashton is the author of Hanukkah in America: A History, published by NYU Press, and a professor of religion studies at Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J.
KATIE’S HALLMARK
Our Warmest Wishes For A Happy Chanukah
937-222-4625 Are you reading this? So is the entire Jewish community. Contact Patty Caruso at plhc69@gmail.com to advertise in The Observer.
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
PAGE 23
RELIGION
Music hath charms to soothe December Dilemma By Hillel Kuttler, JTA PHILADELPHIA — In text accompanying a new exhibition at this city’s National Museum of American Jewish History, Sammy Davis Jr. is quoted on why he converted to Judaism. “I became a Jew because I was ready and willing to understand the plight of a people who fought for thousands of years for a homeland,” the late entertainer said. What immediately follows is a curator’s observation: “Davis knew that becoming a Jew also meant recording Christmas songs.” The comment, while somewhat facetious, has a ring of truth to it: Some of the most popular Christmas tunes were written and/or sung by American Jews — notably the children of immigrants, like Irving Berlin, who composed the iconic White Christmas, or in Davis’ case, who are new to Judaism. It also encapsulates the theme of the exhibition, which carries the provocative title of ‘Twas the Night Before Hanukkah. The exhibition, which highlights the music of Chanukah and Christmas, and the people behind some of the holidays’ songs, is auditory rather than visual, homey rather than museum-ish. No documents or objects are displayed. Words are mostly
absent from the walls. Standing is implicitly discouraged. The atmosphere in the small exhibition area better resembles one’s family room: comfy couches, upholstered chairs, carpeting and floor-to-ceiling windows; shelves containing books about the holidays (for example, how Jewish teenagers can cope with Christmas pressures); record players for adults and children along with holiday albums; Legos from a Chanukiyah (Chanukah menorah) kit. “It’s more of an experience than a traditional museum exhibit that’s artifact-heavy,” co-curator Ivy Weingram said. “I like to think of the songs as the artifacts.” Indeed, the main attractions are the iPads resting on the blue plastic-block end tables. Visitors can get cozy on the sofas and select a song to lose themselves in, through the provided earphones. Enjoying the music while watching snow fall on Independence Hall this winter — all a visitor would seem to lack to complete the indoor Americana ideal is a mug of hot cocoa. The iPads offer the Jewishly numerically significant 18 Chanukah songs and 18 Christmas songs; nearly all the singers and songwriters featured are Jews. Debbie Friedman’s The Latke Song and Sol Zim’s Maoz Tsur are among the 36, but far more
fascinating are the crossovers. Eddie Cantor (born Edward Israel Iskowitz) sings The Only Thing I Want for Christmas. Benny Goodman performs Santa Claus Came in the Spring. Opera great Richard Tucker, trained as a cantor at a Brooklyn synagogue, has O Little Town of Bethlehem. And the non-Jews doing Chanukah? Try Woody Guthrie (Hanukkah Dance), The Indigo Girls (Happy Joyous Hanukkah) and Don McLean (Dreidel). What in the name of assimilation is going on here? “All holidays, in many ways, are cultural constructions,” explained Josh Kun, a University of Southern California professor and co-curator of the exhibition with Weingram. The exhibition grew out of the 2012 release by the Jewish organization Kun co-founded, the Idelsohn Society for Musical Preservation, of a two-CD set from which the museum exhibition takes its name. The CD is subtitled The Musical Battle Between Christmas and the Festival of Lights. As if to underscore the point, the society’s website describes the CD set as the first effort at presenting 20th-century American music that’s most closely identified with the two holidays’ dual roles. The CD’s cover, also displayed on an exhibition wall, shows a circa-1940s photo-
What in the name of assimilation is going on here?
Sharing the Celebration of Freedom. Sharing the Celebration of Life.
of butler PAGE 24
& warren counties
Idelsohn Society for Musical Preservation
graph of a teenage girl lighting a Chanukiyah while her presumed sister and mother exchange wrapped gifts beside a Christmas tree topped by a star — a Star of David. The exhibition’s goal is “to raise the big questions of Jewish American pop culture: questions of identity and of assimilation,” Kun said by telephone from Los Angeles. “Chanukah grew in power alongside the dominance of Christmas.” A CD set of Christmas and Chanukah music To Kun, the provided the inspiration and title for the new Jews putting their exhibition at Philadelphia’s National Museum of musical talents American Jewish History in Philadelphia to work in this mainstream and not ethnic manner were — and certainly not Jewish — neither surrendering to nor fighting America’s overwhelm- America. “One of the great Jewish ing Christmas tide but rather tactics in American life,” Kun riding it. said, “is that Jews do America In so doing, he said, they better than anyone: ‘You want were embracing their new Christmas? We’ll give you American identities. To them, Christmas.’” Christmas was a national holiAlong with the musical day, not a Christian one. offerings and the CDs’ liner That’s why, Kun said, their notes, from whence the Davis songs tended to celebrate the quotation comes, the iPads seasonal nature of Christmas: provide holiday-centric Youthe chestnuts, reindeer and Tube clips like Adam Sandler snow, but not the manger. performing The Hanukkah Song, That approach echoed Joel Fleischman bringing home Hollywood’s Jewish moguls a Christmas tree in the televichurning out films high on sion series Northern Exposure, and the Ramones onstage belting out Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight). Hospice of Dayton is proud to Not that the museum’s tradibe accredited by the National tional offerings are ignored in Institute for Jewish Hospice the exhibition, which runs until March 1. Printed pamphlets and the iPads offer a guided tour of all Chanukah-related artifacts elsewhere in the building, like a Chanukiyah brought to America in 1881 by an immigrant from Lodz, Poland; a 1948 photograph showing Rabbi Chaim Lipschitz teaching Philadelphia children the 324 Wilmington Ave. Dayton Chanukah blessings; a 1962 937.256.4490 letter explaining Saks Fifth 1.800.653.4490 Avenue’s lack of Chanukah www.hospiceofdayton.org decorations. Naturally, too, visitors can Jules Sherman, D.O. see Irving Berlin’s piano — Senior Medical Director and the sheet music for White Christmas.
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
RELIGION
Children’s books for the Festival of Lights By Penny Schwartz, JTA Book publishers have introduced and brought back several colorful characters to help younger children learn more about the Jewish Festival of Lights. Here are some of the new Chanukah books for children this year: Beautiful Yetta’s Hanukkah Kitten Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Jill Pinkwater. Macmillan ($17.99), ages 3-8 A fun-filled collaboration between the Pinkwaters — the humorist Daniel and his artist wife, Jill — will enliven Chanukah in this new Yetta the Yiddish-speaking chicken tale. Yetta’s flown the coop from a Brooklyn poultry market and takes up with a cast of nest mates who jest in English and Yiddish translations. A lost kitten in need of care leads them to celebrate Chanukah with a warmhearted grandmother. The largeformat pages sparkle
with brilliant and entertaining color illustrations. The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin Martha Seif Simpson; illustrated by Durga Yael Benhard. Wisdom Tales ($16.95); ages 5 and up In this beautifully illustrated tale set in the old world, the keeper of a toy shop offers a mysterious dreidel to a young boy from a poor family. The boy’s humility emits a small miracle from the special dreidel. An author’s note explains the holiday, dreidels and how to play the dreidel game. Here is the World: A Year of Jewish Holidays Leslea Newman; illustrated by Susan Gal. Abrams Books for Young Readers ($18.95); ages 4-7 A lavish and brightly illustrated book by the award-winning writer Leslea Newman lyrically rhymes its way through the Jewish holidays, including Chanukah. End pages explain Jewish customs and holidays and include recipes,
are lively as the story follows a family celebrating Chanukah and retelling a simple version of the holiday story.
including fried potato latkes for Chanukah. A perfect Chanukah gift for young readers.
Miracle for Shira: a Chanukah Story Galia Sabbag; illustrated by Erin Taylor. Available on www. shiraseries.com ($12; also ebook through Amazon.com); ages 4-8 This entry in a series by longtime Jewish educator Galia Sabbag features the spunky and curious Shira searching for her new unusual dreidel sent by her aunt in Israel that is lost at school. Hebrew words, written also in English, are sprinkled throughout the text. Erin Taylor’s large format and animation-like illustrations enliven the story that’s a good read for kids in Jewish and religious schools.
Latke, the Lucky Dog Ellen Fischer; illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke. Kar-Ben ($17.95 hardcover; $7.95 paperback); ages 2-7 A newly adopted dog from a shelter is a family Chanukah gift that delights a young brother and sister. Latke, the dog, feels very lucky to be living with the loving family, but in innocence he gets into mischief and threatens to spoil the Chanukah celebrations. The story, told from Latke’s perspective, will delight dog-loving kids. The Night Before Hanukkah Natasha Wing; illustrated by Amy Wummer. Grosset & Dunlap ($3.99); ages 2-5 This rhyming Chanukah story for young kids is Natasha Wing’s newest entry in her bestselling series of “nightbefore” books. Rhymes and illustrations
Temple Beth Or Presents Hellenist’s Kitchen: The Greatest Battle Since The Maccabees Took On The Hellenist Greeks So Long Ago!
Wednesday, December 17, 2014 6:30 pm In Levin Hall Two Teams of Master Chefs: Men vs. Women Battle To Make The Best Hanukkah-Themed Main Dish This Side Of Modi’in. Audience Should Bring A Hanukkah Menorah, Three Candles, And A Side Dish Or Dessert.
We’ll Provide The FIRE! Please RSVP To Leslie or Patty at Temple Beth Or, 435-3400 or email leslie@templebethor.com SAVE THE DATE FOR THE PEARL BALL CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF TEMPLE BETH OR SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 7, 2015. THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
PAGE 25
RELIGION
CONGREGATIONS Beth Abraham Synagogue Conservative Rabbi Joshua Ginsberg Cantor/Dir. of Ed. & Programming Andrea Raizen Monday through Friday 6:50 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m. Sundays at 8:30 a.m. 305 Sugar Camp Circle, Oakwood. 293-9520. BethAbrahamDayton.org Beth Jacob Congregation Traditional Mornings: Sun., Mon., Thurs., 7 a.m. Sat. 9:30 a.m. Evenings: Sun. through Fri. 7 p.m. 7020 N. Main St., Dayton. 274-2149. BethJacobCong.org Temple Anshe Emeth Reform Fri., Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m. led by Rabbinic Intern Tina Sobo. 320 Caldwell St., Piqua. Call Eileen Litchfield, 937-5470092, elitchfield@woh.rr.com. Correspondence address: 3808 Beanblossom Rd., Greenville, OH 45331. ansheemeth.org Temple Beth Or Reform Rabbi Judy Chessin Asst. Rabbi/Educator David Burstein Fridays 7:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat 4th Friday, 5:30 p.m. Saturdays 10 a.m. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 435-3400. templebethor.com Temple Beth Sholom Reform Rabbi Haviva Horvitz See Web site for schedule. 610 Gladys Dr., Middletown. 513-422-8313. thetemplebethsholom.com Temple Israel Reform Rabbi David M. Sofian Rabbi/Educator Karen Bodney-Halasz 1st & 2nd Fri., 6 p.m. Other Fri., 7:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat 4th Fri., 6 p.m. Sat., 10:30 a.m. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 496-0050. tidayton.org Temple Sholom Reform Fridays 6 p.m. 2424 N. Limestone St., Springfield. 399-1231. templesholomoh.com
ADDITIONAL SERVICES Chabad of Greater Dayton Rabbi Nochum Mangel Associate Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Youth & Prog. Dir. Rabbi Levi Simon, Teen & Young Adult Prog. Dir. Rabbi Hershel Spalter. Beginner educational service Saturdays 9 a.m. adults, 10 a.m children. Sundays 9 a.m. Tuesdays & Wednesdays. 6:45 a.m. 2001 Far Hills Ave. 643-0770. www.chabaddayton.com Yellow Springs Havurah Independent Services 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 10-noon. Antioch College Rockford Chapel. Contact Cheryl Levine, 937-767-9293. PAGE 26
Jerusalem coexistence program
more natural about it. You can weather these things.” Though the coexistence programs do outreach to parents, visit other schools and take trips abroad, they remain relatively small, with fewer than 1,000 total participants Continued from Page 14 the West Bank, he says, is an out of a total youth population opportunity. in Jerusalem numbering in the “If they tell me to go to the hundreds of thousands. territories, I won’t say no,” A YMCA staff member says Mintz said. “I won’t refuse to she has trouble recruiting Jewserve my state. I’d rather go to ish participants to her programs the territories so there won’t be because most of the interested an idiot there who’s not nice to Jewish kids already attend (Palestinians).” Hand In Hand. The YMCA, Despite the challenges, which has brought Jews and Arteenagers and activists say the abs together in joint programs coexistence programs are sucfor decades, also has a Jewishceeding in fostering mutual em- Arab kindergarten, a youth pathy across the ethnic divide. videography workshop and On Monday night, the YMCA leadership training programs. choir, which combines dialogue Those who do participate say on current events with vocal the challenges of the past few training, sang a rousing cover of months have only made them Adele’s Rolling in the Deep after more resilient. a rehearsal led in Hebrew and At Hand In Hand, the arguArabic. ment over the geography text“They can’t talk about evbook continued throughout that erything all the time, but it’s in day, Masalha and Shaked-Vardi everyone’s hearts and minds,” recall. But the following mornsaid Noa Yammer, Hand In ing, it was all but forgotten. Hand’s communications coordi“We got there the next nator. “If you’ve been with Jews day, and all we saw were our and Arabs, and spoken Hebrew friends,” Shaked-Vardi said. and Arabic since you were 4 “We can forgive them and years old, there’s something laugh.”
Bring light to the world
not the purpose — the Hellenists chose instead to target the soul, that which makes us recognize the spirituality within us. They were uncomfortable with our obsession with light, with God, with good. So they decreed that we couldn’t have what is holy to us: our Torah, our mitzvot. Trying to drive spirituality from us, they passed laws forbidding Shabbat, a day on which we are in touch with our spiritual side. Our unquestioning dedication to the will of God offended them, so they forbade kashrut they are lit in the White House (Jewish dietary laws). Conand by the Eiffel Tower. Faminecting to our Maker meant lies gather together and sing less connection to their ideals, the blessings as they kindle so they didn’t allow Jews to the lights. Jewish homes are recognizable on Chanukah by a permanently seal a covenant with God, through the menorah flickering in mitzvah of brit milah the window. (circumcision). Actually, a menorah Then the Maccabees is not only a symbol fought back. Not just on Chanukah, but year spiritually — with round as well. You can prayers and the like see it on synagogues. — but also physically, It’s a favorite icon, like with bows and arrows the Star of David. and swords. A spirituThere is a reason for Rabbi Hershel al response wouldn’t this. Spalter resolve the issue, We, as Jews, have a because the issue the enemy task. We were given an assignhad with the Jews was that we ment, a goal which affects all we do and say. Our mission is to brought the spiritual into the physical realm: Judaism not just light up the world, make what is too frequently a place of dark- as a philosophy, but a distinct way of living in this world. JERUSALEM — Yehuda Glick, the Temple Mount activist shot ness and evil into a place full And so we fought a physical in a failed assassination attempt, left the hospital nearly a month of light that we can call home. after the attack. At a news conference Nov. 24 at Jerusalem’s We can do this by doing mitzvot war, and defeated the Greeks, reconquered Jerusalem, and Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Glick thanked those who helped (commandments), which illuto save his life and recited the blessing thanking God as “He who minate our lives; by being kind, purified the Holy Temple. And lit the Menorah. brings back life to the deceased.” Glick, 49, said that his attacker brightening the lives of others; Here is the climax of the told him before he pulled the trigger on Oct. 29 outside a Jerusaand by inspiring others to light story. Our story is told until lem conference center that he was doing it because Glick is “an up the world. the miracle of the oil — when enemy of Al-Aksa,” the Temple Mount mosque. “Anybody who That is the message of the shoots and kills someone in the name of his religion is the first menorah. We are the Maccabees a small flask of oil, enough to person disgracing his religion,” Glick said. “Those who are giving of today, as the Maccabees were burn for just one night, was found to still have the seal respect to Islam are those Muslim doctors and nurses who work before us. They fought against at this hospital, helping people after they have signed the Hippoa regime that wished to destroy which let everyone know that it was still pure. This flask was cratic Oath.” Immediately before he was shot, Glick had spoken at us. Not looking to destroy the used in the Menorah, and mithe center on the Jewish right to pray on the Temple Mount. — JTA Jewish body — genocide was raculously burned for the whole eight days it took to obtain new oil. The End. This is the end, because that is where the lesson is. The story teaches us how to counter opShabbat Torah position: deal with it by adding Candle Portions light. There may be times when Chanukah Lightings war is necessary, when we must Festival of Lights December 6/14 Kislev forcefully confront a deadly Dec. 17-24/25 Kislev-2 Tevet Vayishlach (Gen. 32:4-36:43) danger. But the final answer to December 5 Eight-day holiday commemorating 4:54 p.m. the darkness of the world is to Jewish victory over the Syrians and December 13/21 Kislev add in light. Just as every day the miracle of the rededication of the Vayeshev (Gen. 37:1-40:23) December 12 of Chanukah is celebrated with Temple. One day’s oil for the Temple’s 4:55 p.m. December 20/28 Kislev a new candle, so should we light lasted eight days. A chanukiah Miketz (Gen. 41:1-44:17; December 19 celebrate each day by light(menorah) is lit for eight nights, and Num. 7:30-35) 4:57 p.m. ing a new candle, a new soul. latkes (potato pancakes) are fried in oil Through inspiring others, our December 27/5 Tevet to commemorate the story. Children play December 26 own light will shine on. Vayigash (Gen. 44:18-47:27) with dreidels and gifts are exchanged. 5:00 p.m. We can set the world on fire. By Rabbi Hershel Spalter Chabad of Greater Dayton Light a match and watch. The fire flares, burns down quickly, dies. Now try it again, but have a candle ready. Strike the match and put it to the wick. The flame lives. On Chanukah, Jews everywhere are lighting candles. They shine in our windows, light up the shopping malls;
Perspectives
Temple Mount activist leaves hospital nearly month after shooting
December • Kislev/Tevet
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
FOOD
‘Top your own’ party gives latkes a lift By Shannon Sarna, JTA There’s nothing quite like that first night of Chanukah: a platter full of hot, crispy latkes and the accompanying applesauce and sour cream. It’s classic, delicious and a beloved comfort food for so many American Jews. But by the third or fourth night, I need a change of pace for my latkes. Or to be more specific, I crave some other toppings. While I love dipping my latkes into a healthy serving of rich sour cream, I also relish serving meat with latkes, specifically pulled brisket. You can use any beloved recipe of choice. After the brisket has finished cooking and cooled, shred it with two forks. Throw a “top your own” latkes party and make an array of creative toppings — like the brisket or spicy cranberry applesauce recipes offered here — or tell your guests to bring their favorites. It’s fun to see how creative people can get. Some other potential latke toppings: grilled pastrami and mustard, sauerkraut, salsa, pickled jalapenos, beef chili and caramelized onions. The sky’s the limit. Classic Potato Latkes Ingredients: 12 medium-large Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks 4 small onions, or 1 medium-large onion, cut into large chunks 4 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole 3/4 to 1 cup flour 4 eggs, lightly beaten 11/2 Tbsp. salt 1/2 Tbsp. pepper Vegetable oil for frying Preparation: Using the shredding attachment of a food processor or a hand grater, coarsely grate potatoes, onions and garlic. Place in a large bowl. Add flour, eggs, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly until completely combined. Allow to sit five to 10 minutes. Drain excess liquid. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Using
Shannon Sarna
your hands, make a small latke patty and squeeze out excess liquid again. Fry for three Brisket-topped latkes: not the ordinary meat & potatoes to four minmeat is completely tender. utes on each side, until golden When the meat is fork tender, brown. remove the meat and set aside Remove from pan and place on a large cutting board. on wire cooling rack placed Let the sludge rise to the top on a baking sheet, which you of the pot liquid and skim it can place in a warm oven until off. Strain out the carrots and ready to serve. Makes four onions and using a food procesdozen latkes. sor, blend them with one to two cups of the cooking liquid, then Pulled Brisket return the blended mixture to This pulled brisket also makes the rest of the liquid and simfor an amazing sandwich on mer to reduce slightly. a challah roll. You can cut the On the cutting board using proportions in half, too. two forks, carefully shred the brisket into small strands. Add Ingredients: one to two cups of the puréed 2- to 3-lb. brisket cooking liquid to the pulled 1 Tbsp. salt brisket for additional moisture 1/2 Tbsp. freshly grated and flavor. black pepper Serve in a large bowl and 2 tsp. garlic powder allow guests to top latkes, or 2 tsp. onion powder spoon small amounts of brisket 1 tsp. dried parsley on each latke for a more elegant 3 to 4 Tbsp. olive oil presentation. 1 can beer 1 can ginger ale Spicy Cranberry Applesauce 1 bottle red wine Like it really spicy? Add more 4 oz. tomato paste chilies or one tablespoon of 4 medium carrots, cut into Sriracha hot sauce for more medium size pieces heat. 2 onions, cut into quarters Ingredients: Preparation: 6 apples, peeled and diced In a small bowl combine salt, 12 oz. fresh cranberries pepper, garlic powder, onion 1 cup water powder and parsley. Spread 2 Tbsp. orange juice dry rub on both sides of brisket 2 Tbsp. orange zest evenly. Preheat the oven to 300 1/3 cup sugar degrees. 2-3 small dried chilies Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven or pot on medium Preparation: high heat. Sear the brisket on Combine all ingredients in a both sides “until the smoke de- saucepan on medium-high heat. tector goes off.” Remove meat Bring to a low boil and cook and set aside. for three to four minutes, until Using the remaining oil and cranberries have softened and “good bits” on the bottom of released juices. the pan, sauté carrots and onReduce heat to low and simions, scraping the bottom until mer for 15-20 minutes covered. the veggies are soft, about eight Allow to cool slightly. to 10 minutes. Add the tomato Place applesauce in a food paste and stir until thoroughly processor fitted with blade atmixed. tachment. Process until desired Put the brisket back in the consistency. Serve chilled. pan, and cover with the bottle Makes about 11/2 quarts. of red wine, beer and ginger ale. Place the entire pot with brisket Shannon Sarna is editor into the oven, and cook for at of The Nosher blog on least three to four hours, until MyJewishLearning.com.
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PAGE 27
FOOD
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How to eat Chanukah sufganiyot without guilt Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller
By Jaime Geller, JNS.org The average Chanukah sufganiya (jelly doughnut) has between 300 and 400 calories of nearly pure oil and fat. In honor of the miracle God bestowed on the Maccabees, making oil meant for just a day last eight days, the delicious donut and other traditionally oily Chanukah foods become annual killers for your diet. For those who are health conscious but do not want to be deprived of the annual treats, here are three healthier recipes selected from Joyofkosher. com. Consider substituting or reducing ingredients further as Baked sufganiyot needed for your diet. For the Glaze Baked Whole Wheat Cranberry 1/4 cup fresh cranberries 1 Tbsp. fresh squeezed orange Orange Doughnuts juice Contributed by Tamar Genger on 1/4 tsp. vanilla Joyofkosher.com 3/4 cup powdered sugar These baked doughnuts taste more like cake since they are not fried, but they are still very Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 detasty. In addition, they use the healthier option of whole-wheat grees. Grease a nonstick mini donut pan with cooking spray flour. and set aside. 2. In a large bowl, whisk the Prep Time: 15 minutes flour, cornmeal, orange zest, Cook Time: 15 minutes sugar, baking powder, and salt Ready Time: 30 minutes together. Servings: 12 mini donuts 3. In a small bowl, whisk the coconut oil, the coconut milk Ingredients mixture, egg white, and vanilla 1 cup white whole wheat flour together. Add the wet and dry 3 Tbsp. corn meal ingredients and fold in until just 1 tsp. orange zest mixed, and add chopped cran1/4 cup plus 3 Tbsp. sugar berries. Stir until just mixed. 1 tsp. baking powder Spoon into doughnut pan. 1/2 tsp. salt 4. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. 3 Tbsp. liquid coconut oil 5. Make glaze. While dough6 Tbsp. coconut milk mixed nuts cool, in a small saucepan with 1 tsp. lemon or vinegar heat the cranberries and orange 1 egg white juice until they burst, about five 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract minutes. Remove from heat, 1/2 cups chopped fresh mash berries with fork, add cranberries powdered sugar and vanilla,
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Baked whole wheat cranberry orange donuts
stir well. Dip doughnuts into glaze and serve. Baked Sufganiyot Jelly Doughnuts From Jaime Geller on Joyofkosher. com. Another recipe that forgoes frying in oil. Prep Time: approximately 2 hours Cook Time: 10 to 12 minutes Ready Time: approximately 2 to 3 hours Servings: 24 doughnuts Ingredients 1 (1/4-oz.) package rapid rise dry yeast 1 Tbsp. sugar 1/4 cup warm water 1 egg yolk 1 egg 1/4 cup sugar 1 cup 1 percent milk, warmed 31/2 cups all-purpose flour Pinch of salt 3 Tbsp. margarine or butter, cut into 9 pieces Cooking spray 3/4 cup strawberry jam Confectioners’ sugar for dusting Directions 1. Dissolve the yeast with the one tablespoon of the sugar in quarter cup warm water. 2. In a standing mixer with a paddle, beat egg yolk, egg, yeast mixture, quarter cup of sugar, and milk. 3. With paddle going, add flour and salt. 4. Add margarine one piece at a time. Dough should be sticky but elastic. 5. Turn out dough onto floured surface. Knead once or twice. Shape into ball. Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and place in a warm area for at least an hour or until dough is doubled. 6. Lightly grease two baking sheets. 7. Divide dough in half. With lightly oiled hands, take approximately two tablespoons of dough and roll into ball. Place on greased baking sheet. 8. Repeat with remaining dough placing balls two inches apart (about 12 balls per baking sheet). Cover with a kitchen or tea towel and let rise 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 9. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden.
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
FOOD Remove from oven and let cool. 10. Place jam in a pastry bag fitted with a medium pastry tip or use a small seal top type of bag fitted with a medium pastry tip. Pastry tips are available at most craft stores. 11. Press tip into doughnut and squeeze at least one teaspoon of jam into donut, or more if desired. 12. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve. Tips: If you don’t have a standing mixer, use a hand mixer for Step Two and beat the egg yolk, egg, yeast mixture, sugar, and milk for about one minute. Knead the rest of the ingredients together by hand: first the flour, then the salt and margarine, one piece at a time, then proceed with Step Five. Apple Zeppole With Jelly Dipping Sauce From Jaime Geller on Joyofkosher. com. Try these apple zeppole as a change over for doughnuts. The recipe itself is not low-fat, but the portions are bite-sized. Prep Time: 8 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Ready Time: 28 minutes Servings: 12 Ingredients 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. Kosher salt 1 cup all purpose flour 4 large eggs
1 granny smith apple (about 1 cup), peeled and diced Vegetable oil for frying 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam 1 Tbsp. orange juice Directions 1. In a medium saucepan, heat butter, water, sugar, cinnamon, and salt, and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and add flour. Return to low heat and stir with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together and forms a ball. Continue to cook for one minute. 2. Transfer dough to the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on low speed with a paddle attachment for one minute or until cooled slightly. Add eggs one at a time. Add apple and mix until just combined. 3. In a heavy, medium-sized pan, heat oil to 350 degrees on a candy or deep-fry thermometer. Using a one-teaspoon scoop, carefully drop batter into hot oil and fry until golden brown, about five minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining dough and dust with powdered sugar. 4. In a small bowl, whisk together jam and orange juice and serve with zeppole.
Jamie Geller is the only bestselling cookbook author who wants to get you out of the kitchen — not because she doesn’t love food — but because she has tons to do. Now hailed as the “Queen of Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller Kosher” (CBS) and the “Jewish Rachael Ray” (New York Times), she’s the creative force behind Joyofkosher.com and Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller magazine. Jamie and her husband live in Israel with their five busy kids who give her plenty of reasons to get out of the kitchen — quickly. Apple zeppole with jelly dipping sauce
Shannon Sarna
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sufganiyot: Israeli-style doughnuts with the classic American pairing
Brunch jazzes up Chanukah By Shannon Sarna, JTA One of my favorite ways to celebrate Chanukah is over brunch. Yes, it’s nontraditional — and you can’t enjoy the experience of lighting the menorah together or singing. But it’s a great way to change up the routine, especially if you have young kids and want to work around nap and bedtime schedules. Serve Dill Potato Latkes with Caper and Lemon Crème Fraîche and a seasonal winter Blood Orange and Goat Cheese Salad, and add tradition with sufganiyot. Sufganiyot are much more popular in Israel, where an array of flavors is featured at bakeries beginning as early as October. In the United States, the flavors are more limited to jam and perhaps chocolate. But these round, fried doughnuts aren’t so difficult to make and lend themselves to any combination of flavors that you fancy. I love peanut butter and jelly with baked
goods, and so I decided to combine an Israelistyle sufganiya with the classic American pairing of PB&J. Whether it’s Chanukah or not, doughnuts really are a perfect brunch food. So are the latkes when they are topped with lox. Serve these dishes with mimosas and a strong pot of coffee. You might miss the sparkling lights of the menorah, but you won’t think twice about that applesauce or sour cream. Blood Orange and Goat Cheese Salad Ingredients 3 blood oranges, peel removed and cut into sections 1 navel orange, peel removed and cut into sections 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 2 oz. crumbled goat cheese 2 Tbsp. olive oil Continued on next page
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FOOD
Brunch
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1 Tbsp. honey 1/2 lemon, zest and juice Salt and pepper to taste Preparation: Alternate the blood orange and naval orange slices decoratively on a platter. Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts and goat cheese on top. In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, honey, lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper. Drizzle over salad and serve. Makes four to six servings. Dill Potato Latkes with Caper & Lemon Crème Fraîche Can’t find crème fraîche? Substitute sour cream or Greek yogurt for an easy fix. Ingredients: 6 medium-large Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks 2 small onions, or 1 medium-large onion, cut into large chunks 2 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole 1/4 to 1/2 cup flour 2 eggs, lightly beaten 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill 2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. pepper Vegetable oil for frying 8 to 10 oz. fresh smoked salmon 1 cup crème fraîche 1 to 2 Tbsp. chopped capers 1/2 lemon, juice and zest Pinch salt Preparation: Using the shredding attach-
ment of a food processor or a hand grater, coarsely great potatoes, onions and garlic. Place in a large bowl. Add flour, eggs, dill, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly until completely combined. Allow to sit five to 10 minutes. Drain excess liquid. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Using your hands, make a small latke patty and squeeze out excess liquid. Fry for three to four minutes on each side, until golden brown. Remove from pan and place on wire cooling rack placed on a baking sheet, which you can place in a warm oven until ready to serve. Mix together the crème fraîche, capers, lemon juice, lemon zest and a pinch of salt. Place piece of smoked salmon on each latke. Add approximately one teaspoon of crème fraîche mixture on top of salmon. Garnish with more dill if desired. Makes two dozen latkes. Peanut Butter & Jelly Sufganiyot Have a peanut allergy? Swap out the peanut butter in the glaze for cashew or almond butter. Substitute the peanuts for the corresponding nuts or exclude them completely if you prefer. Ingredients: For the sufganiyot: 11/2 Tbsp. dry yeast 1 tsp. sugar 1/2 cup lukewarm water 21/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup sugar 2 large eggs
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2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 2 tsp. salt Vegetable oil for frying For the glaze: 2 Tbsp. milk 2 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter 1 cup powdered sugar 1/4 cup chopped, salted peanuts For the filling: 11/2 cups raspberry jam Preparation: Combine yeast, one teaspoon sugar and water in a small bowl. Mix gently and allow to sit until top gets foamy, around five to 10 minutes. In a stand mixer fitted with dough hook, add flour, sugar, eggs, butter, nutmeg and salt. Add yeast mixture and mix on low for two minutes. Increase speed and mix another five minutes. You can also do this by hand with a wooden spoon, which will take slightly longer. Place dough in a greased bowl. Cover with a damp towel and allow to rise 21/2 to three hours. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface. Using a round biscuit cutter or drinking glass, cut rounds. Place on a large plate, cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise another 20 minutes. While doughnuts are rising again, whisk the milk, peanut butter, powdered sugar and chopped peanuts together to make the glaze. In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium heat until a thermometer reads about 370 degrees. Fry each round for 30 to 40 seconds on each side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Immediately spoon peanut butter glaze over the top. Fill a pastry bag with jam and cut tip. Using a wooden skewer or toothpick, make a hole in the side of each doughnut. Wiggle the toothpick around a bit to open up the inside of the doughnut. Fit the pastry bag into the hole, pipe about two teaspoons jam into doughnut. Repeat with remaining doughnuts. Add an extra dot of jam on top if desired. Makes 10 to 12 sufganiyot. Shannon Sarna is editor of The Nosher blog on MyJewishLearning.com.
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
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Happy Chanukah
Happy Chanukah to our friends
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Best wishes to all for a Happy Chanukah
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Happy Chanukah Jan Rudd-Goenner
Happy Chanukah to our friends
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Wishing all of Dayton Happy Chanukah
Mr. & Mrs. Franklin T. Cohn
Ron & Shirlee Gilbert
Andi & Bill Franklin
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Susan & David Joffe
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
Our warmest wishes for a joyous Chanukah In loving memory of our mother, Lila Gensler. Fran & John Hoover
PAGE 33
LESHON IMA - MOTHER TONGUE
FOOD THE JEWISH INTERNET
Words of war
Shoah restitution details & deadlines
The horrific experiences of wars left their mark on Jewish history and culture from biblical times onward. The lovely holiday of Chanukah, which we celebrate this month, commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over Greek oppression and
Their numbers are shrinking but their needs are not. Various programs have been established over the years to provide restitution to survivors of the Holocaust, and to return property seized during World War II and held by governments, art galleries, banks and insurance companies since then. While the deadlines for applying for many restitution
Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin the reestablishment of Jewish sovereignty in the land of Israel (167-37 B.C.E). However, this historic period was marked by a long series of wars and battles for survival and, in a way, is analogous to our modern reality. Sadly, milchamah — war — has forever been attached to our existence. Milchamah is mentioned in the Bible 317 times. It is derived from the verb lacham meaning fight or do battle and is related to the Moabite verb hiltaham, which may have originally meant to order the battle. Over the years, the word milchamah received additional meanings in Hebrew, reflecting cultural struggles, political controversies, economic struggles for survival and heated intellectual discourses. A question is frequently raised regarding the similarity in sound between the words milchamah and lechem, the Hebrew word for bread. There were those who, even as early as biblical times, tried to make an etymological connection between the two words (Judges 5:4). However, this is a popular suggestion only. Lechem, which also means meat or food, is derived from
the Ugaritic verb lhm meaning to eat and is related to the Akkadian lemu meaning taste or enjoy. It has no connection to the battlefield. Milchamah is at the center of many terms describing wars, which entered the language in post biblical times. Terms such as milchamah karah (cold war), milchamah garinit (nuclear war), milchemet hakiyum (war of existence), and milchamet hashichrur (war of independence) are but a few examples. In a social and cultural spectrum, milchamah was used to express political disputes and cultural disagreements. Milchemet hasafot, the wars of languages, was the name given to the early struggle to establish Hebrew as the official language of the universities in Israel (1913-1914). Milchemet d’varim, a war of words, means polemics or controversies, reflecting intense varying opinions. And milchemet b’chirot, war of choices, points to political campaigns and elections. We will end with the biblical term milchemet Gog u Magog, the war of Gog and Magog — the war of wars — which according to the prophet Ezekiel, is the war presaging the advent of the Messiah (Ez. 38-39). May the Chanukah lights illuminate the universal hope to bring an end to all milchamot. May the words of the prophet Isaiah — “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, velo yilmedu od milchamah, and they shall study war no more” (Is. 2:4) — come to fruition.
Sadly, milchamah — war — has forever been attached to our existence.
Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor of biblical literature at Spertus College in Chicago and an adjunct professor of Bible and Hebrew at New College of Florida.
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Heirs are not entitled to compensation unless the child survivor applied and subsequently died. Applications will become available on Jan. 1, 2015. The Claims Conference site also has information about other established funds that are still in effect. Programs vary according to the current residency of the survivor. These apply to survivors living in North America, Israel and Western Europe: • Article 2 Fund: a pension for people who were interned in Mark concentration camp or ghetto, Mietkiewicz aperformed forced labor, or lived in hiding or under false identity. • Hardship Fund: a one-time payment for people who fled programs have passed, some funds are still accepting applica- Nazi invasion or lived under tions, and a new one is about to curfew. • Payments directly from the go into effect. This month, I’ll tell you which programs are still German government: pensions accepting claims from survivors and one-time payments for work performed in ghettos (bit. as well as their heirs. ly/hclaims2). Please note that there are The “Late Applicants Fund“ many different funds, and apis intended for heirs of former plication requirements can be owners of Jewish property and confusing. You may need to assets located in the former East engage a lawyer to assist in the Germany (bit.ly/hclaims3). claims process. Unlike some other funds Just this year, the Jewish that benefit survivors only, this Claims Conference reached an one can be claimed by spouses, agreement with the German children, grandchildren, greatFinance Ministry to provide asgrandchildren, siblings, nephsistance for Jewish child surviews and nieces. A 1,447-page vors of the Holocaust. “The joint fund will recognize list of asset owners’ names may survivors worldwide who were be downloaded from the site. (bit.ly/hclaims4). in camps, ghettos, hiding and Important: This fund is a last false identity for psychologiopportunity for claimants who cal and medical trauma caused missed earlier deadlines. Apduring their deprived childhoods,” said Claims Conference plications must reach the fund President Julius Berman (bit.ly/ by Dec. 31, 2014. Hashava, the Holocaust hclaims1). Under the terms of the agree- Restitution Company of Israel, was established to return assets ment, “survivors of the Shoah to the heirs of victims of the who were born Jan. 1, 1928 or Holocaust. As the site explains, later and who were in concen“Thousands of Jews across Eutration camps, ghettos, or for rope invested in pre-state Israel at least six months under Nazi before WWII. These proud Jews occupation (or 12 months in believed in the dream of a JewNazi Axis countries) in hidish State, so they opened bank ing or under false identity will accounts and bought stocks, be eligible to receive a special bonds and real estate. Many one-time payment of 2,500 euros (approximately $3,280 US) tragically perished at the hands of the Nazis. Their investments because of special needs.”
did not.” The online database contains more than 60,000 entries to be matched up with rightful heirs, many of whom may be living in North America. The database can be searched by name, city, country and asset type: real estate, cash and securities. An online form starts the claims process (bit.ly/hclaims5). Company director Dr. Yisrael Peleg recently told Haaretz, “We operate out of a deep sense of mission, intent on correcting an old injustice. It’s more than a mission, it’s a bequest. It’s the last will of Zionists who perished in the Holocaust. We trace their property in this country and return it to their heirs, here or abroad (bit.ly/hclaims6).” The company will be operational until 2017 when remaining funds will be transferred to the Israeli treasury. Because no one site has all the details about survivor funds and assistance, I also recommend visiting: • the London-based Association of Jewish Refugees – Claims News (bit.ly/hclaims7) • the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants (bit.ly/ hclaims8) • and the U.S. National Archives Holocaust-Era Assets: A Finding Aid to Records at the National Archives (bit.ly/ hclaims9) Several years ago, I came across the story of Kaspar Sutter, Massimiliano Desumma and three other high school students at the Gymnasium Neufeld in Berne, Switzerland, who set out to right a wrong. As they wrote at their website, “It came as a shock to us to realize, that some 50 years after the end of World War II, there are still Holocaust survivors who are in need of support and who, so far have never received any compensation for their sufferings. We feel that one cannot afford to wait any longer and must give these people a sign of solidarity and support (bit.ly/ hclaims10).” Their efforts spread across the country and the Solidarity Fund for the Victims of the Holocaust was created (bit.ly/hclaims11). Two years later, the five Swiss youths presented 50,000 Swiss Francs (more than $30,000) to Amcha, the Israeli Center for Holocaust Survivors and the Second Generation. Mark Mietkiewicz may be reached at highway@rogers.com.
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
JEWISH FAMILY EDUCATION
Mishpacha & Menschlichkeit
wear you out.” He then offered Moses advice on how to lighten his burden and empower the The Jewish Family Identity Forum people by setting up a system of courts. Approaching Moses in private, encouraging him to consult with God, and offering good counsel, Jethro acted with honor and caring and ultimately The Torah is a revolutionary biblical insurrection; throughout revolutionized the Israelite judiciary. The medium is the document, likely one reason our the Torah we find evidence of message. American Founders found it subversive ideas and actions. so appealing. In fact, Jefferson The reciprocal man-God Covevoked the revolutionary story enant was revolutionary. Direct The 12 Scouts (Num. 13-14) of the Exodus when proposconversations with God were Upon their return from invesing the motto “Rebellion to radical. The rejection of magic tigating the Promised Land, 10 Tyrants is Obedience to God” and the outlawing of human of the 12 scouts publicly anfor the Great Seal of the United sacrifice sabotaged nearlyuniversal practices. The reversal nounced their findings, saying, “the inhabitants of the land are of firstborn inheritance rights by favoring character over birth powerful and enormous, the Candace R. order undermined long-held cities are large and fortified, and the land devours its settlers.” customs. The establishment of Kwiatek one law for stranger and citizen Spreading calumnies, the scouts alike toppled standard practices. convinced the Israelites that it would be unwise to attack, and The Bible’s very purpose was better to appoint a new leader States. It recalls the tyranny of to replace the ancient world’s Pharaoh, who undermined the values and practices with those and return to Egypt. Rebelling against God, against the Israelites’ “unalienable rights” having transcendent foundaDivinely-inspired of life, liberty, and the pursuit tions in ethics mission of the of happiness. The motto’s and morality — a What does the logical conclusion is that, just divine revolution. Bible have to say Israelites, and against the founas rebellion against Pharaoh While the dational value of was divinely ordained, rebelTorah fomented about rebellion, liberty, the scouts lion against any such ruler is a revolution in the revolution, and engaged in the divine obligation. outside world, sedition within unscrupulous While the overall saying there were sedithe community? tactics of skewmay be true, God is really in the tious forces at ing their report details. For rebellion to be obework within the and offering only doomsday dience to God, the leader must ancient Israelite community as be a tyrant: Pharaoh decreed in- well. The golden calf. Threats to scenarios. Furthermore, they attempted fanticide and supported slavery. return to Egypt. Miriam’s chalto pressure Moses and Aaron He must have absolute power: lenge of Moses’ leadership. Pharaoh’s word was law, and Just what does the Bible have to acquiesce by making their report public at the outset. As a he wasn’t swayed by Divine to say about rebellion, revoluconsequence, not only did the warnings, plagues, his court, or tion, and sedition within the scouts’ rebellion fail but an enhis people. He must undermine community, and how might its tire generation — frightened out “unalienable rights,” not just message be relevant today? of faith in God and a vision for preferences. the future — was doomed to die And the tyrant must be given Jethro (Ex. 18) in the wilderness. Even rebelthe opportunity to address the As the Israelites encamped grievances or requests, just as at Mt. Sinai, Jethro observed his lion is guided by propriety. Moses and Aaron gave Pharaoh son-in-law Moses acting as sole multiple opportunities to relent. judge of the people. Jethro chal- Korah (Num. 16) Biblically sanctioned rebellion When Googling “Bible, rebellenged, “What are you doing to isn’t a free-for-all. lion,” Korah’s name is the first the people? And why do you But the Exodus isn’t the only act alone? It is not good. It will entry. Korah’s sedition was supported by hundreds of Israelite chieftains who complained to Literature to share Moses and Aaron, “…all the community are holy, all of them, Rising Sun, Falling Shadow by Daniel Kalla — In the 1930s, and the Lord is in their midst. Shanghai was a haven for European Jewish refugees. A deWhy then do you raise yourcade later, the invading Japanese established the Hongchew selves above the Lord’s congreghetto there and terrorized the Jews with threats of extermination, imprisonment, and torture. This stand-alone sequel to gation?” In response, some were swallowed up by the earth and Kalla’s The Far Side of the Sky continues the story of a Eurothers by fire. asian nurse and her Austrian refugee husband who struggle And yet, perhaps their muto keep the Jewish hospital functioning in the disintegrating tiny was just, argues Yehoshua Shanghai world of the early 1940s. Engelman in Korach, for their Skullcaps and Crossbones: The Adventures of Shmuel Kafri rebellion was in pursuit of a by Yonah Klein — Targeted for the middle school set, this Divine ideal. “How can one say graphic (illustrated) novel introduces a little-known aspect to someone seeking closeness to of Jewish history. Tracing the tale of the real-life 16th century God ‘you have enough’? Should pirate Yaakov Koriel, archaeologist Shmuel Kafri discovers Moses — or even God — be exmore than antiquities, buccaneers, and the Caribbean in this empt from criticism?” But God lively and adventurous historical fiction. is in the details. Rather than
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criticize Moses in private or give him a chance to reflect and respond, Korah gathered a large following of Israelite leadership and publicly challenged Moses and, by extension, God. It is not enough to pursue divine ideals if the behavior is improper. Both intent and action must reflect the Divine.
Daughters of Zelophechad (Num. 27)
Because Zelophechad had no sons, his daughters proposed a revolutionary solution to retain their father’s property within the family: allow the daughters to inherit. They brought their unprecedented claim directly to Moses and the elders at the Tent of Meeting, explaining why they sought such a radical ruling. Moses took the problem directly to God who ruled in the daughters’ favor. Although radical and
disquieting, the daughters’ reasonable and respectful request was founded in justice and met with approval by God and thereafter by the community. Revolution is a right, the Bible seems to say, but it isn’t always right. A revolution’s foundation must be moored in biblical values and its implementation must reflect biblical ethics. It’s not just visions that are transcendent; God needs to also be in the details. Family Discussion: How might you extrapolate the biblical lessons about rebellion, revolution, and sedition to a family context? To the business or volunteer world? To the political arena? For an interesting Chanukah exercise, consider how these biblical lessons apply to the Maccabean revolt.
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Wintertime Brunch Sunday, Dec. 28 at 11:30am Featuring Comedian Aaron M.G. RSVP: 937.496.0050 $12 by Dec. 22, or $15 at door
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Yale J. Holt. A man of dignity, grace and love. Mr. Holt passed away Oct. 30 surrounded by his loved ones, all his children and grandchildren, in the loving arms of his wife. He will be missed by many people, especially his family: Donna, his wife of 50 years, his children: Ilene Holt-Turner (Robert), Susan Biondi (Mitchell), Teri Mandell (Robert), Patricia Caruso (Michael), and Jon Holt (Emily); 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was born in Youngstown, served in the U.S. Navy, and after graduating from The Ohio State University, moved to Dayton. He was vice president at Globe Industries and TRW, as well as senior executive vice president of Dayco Corporation. Interment was at Riverview Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton, American Kidney Fund or Temple Israel. Carline Margolis Copland Ravel age 94, formerly of Dayton, passed away Oct. 26 in Austin, Texas where she had made her residence. Mrs. Ravel was preceded in death by her husbands, Dr. Sidney Copland and Irving Ravel, her brothers, Robert and Jack Margolis and nephew, Dr. John Margolis. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Carol and Douglas Kadison, son Albert Copland, grandchildren Joshua and Erin Copland, Alexis and Matt Kaplan, Bret Kadison and Andrew Johnson and Zachary Kadison, several great-grandchildren, sister-inlaw Audrey Margolis, as well as Soraya and Freddy Salazar, BJ and Buddy Herz, Rick and Rhonda Ravel, Melanie and
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Chris Promecene, Kenny and Rachel Herz and Alex Ravel and several nieces. Interment was at Riverview Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. Irwin Reingold (aka Ted Ryan), 89, of Cincinnati (formerly from Dayton), passed away Nov. 18. Mr. Reingold worked at WHIOTV for more than 50 years, hosting numerous television programs through the years including Travel to Adventure, which was the longest running regional travel show in the country. He was also known as The Weatherman, Chief Announcer, Travel Director, and co-host of the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon. He and his wife, Adele, traveled extensively to more than 65 countries around the world. He was a past president of the Society of American Travel Writers. Mr. Reingold also wrote articles for the Dayton Daily News, the Chicago Tribune, and the LA Times. In a recent moment of reflection, Mr. Reingold commented, “You know, I’ve been very lucky and fortunate all of my life. A great upbringing by my parents and I’ve been happily married to my loving wife and best friend Adele, for over 65 years. To work all my life at something I really loved is remarkable. And, yes, Pop, not to worry, they really did pay me for all that talking. I’m a very lucky guy.” Mr. Reingold is survived by his wife, Adele (Singer) Reingold; his children, Lynn Frank, Keith Reingold (Susan Johnson), Laura Philip (Thomas Philip); grandchildren, Emily Frank,
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Continued from Page Eight having a gun inside the synagogue during services. “People come to synagogue looking for the peaceful energy of this place, and seeing a gun can take that feeling away,” he says. “Still, I might have to compromise someday. I don’t want to, but it may become necessary.” Yet guns inside synagogues are already common sights elsewhere, including in the West Bank settlement of Efrat. “So as a result (of having guns) we are pretty wellcovered,” says Barry Friedman, who is on the board of the Lev Efrat congregation. “But I’ve
been here for 20 years and seen thing kind of thing before, as the Palestinians’ fanatical leadership incites their people to violence. We just have to remind ourselves that having our own country is a miracle, and we need to be strong and maintain a Jewish life and future here no matter who doesn’t want us here.” Was the synagogue in Har Nof targeted simply because it is a synagogue? Rabbi Azari in Tel Aviv does not believe so. “It could have been a community center, school, or any place where many people congregate,” he says. “(Terrorists) choose places where many
Leslie Putz (Daniel Putz), Benjamin Philip (Sarah), Matthew Philip, and Seth Philip. Mr. Reingold is also survived by six greatgrandchildren. Interment was at Beth Abraham Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to: Hospice of Cincinnati, 4310 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242 or the Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl., SW, Washington, DC 20024-2126. Gloria G. Saeks, age 83, of Boca Raton, formerly of Dayton, passed away Oct. 27 at West Boca Medical Center in Boca Raton. Mrs. Saeks was a member of Beth Abraham Synagogue, confirmed at Temple Israel in 1945, a 1948 graduate of Fairview High School, and 1951 graduate of Miami University. She was preceded in death by her parents, Maxwell S. Goodman and Elaine Matisoff Goodman, daughter, Jodi Saeks, and cherished friend Ted Cohen. Mrs. Saeks is survived by her daughter Ellyn Saeks of Boca Raton; son, Jeffrey Saeks of Hallandale Beach, Fla.; brother and sister-inlaw, Merton and Rhoda Goodman of Huntingdon Valley, Pa.; sister-in-law, Beverly Saeks of Cincinnati; three grandchildren; 10 greatgrandchildren; aunt and uncle, Doris and Jack Matisoff of Silver Springs, Md.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Interment was at Beth Abraham Cemetery. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Beth Abraham Synagogue, Ted Cohen Memorial Fund c/o Beth Abraham Synagogue.
Jews are together and easy to kill.” Gabie Sykora, a board member at the Kinor David synagogue in Ra’anana, disagrees. “By attacking people in a synagogue, they attacked us where it hurts the most, literally at the heart of the Jewish people,” she says. Kinor David has had congregants taking guard shifts since the second intifada, and in the wake of the Har Nof attack is considering bolstering security further with an armed guard. “We don’t want to have Jews needing to work on Shabbat, but when it comes to our congregants’ safety, it’s whatever it takes,” says Sykora. “Nothing else matters nearly as much.”
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
Arts&Culture
Glimpsing matriarchs from the Book of Genesis under The Red Tent
Joey L.
Review by Michael Fox Special To The Observer A corrective of sorts to the Bible’s predominantly patriarchal view of seismic events and everyday tribal life, Lifetime’s emotiontapping adaptation of The Red Tent fulfills one’s modest expectations for a primetime soap opera in period garb. Anita Diamant’s bestselling saga of female selfactualization and familial tribulations, centered on Jacob’s daughter Dinah, is rendered here as an aspirational fable informed more by harlequin romance than hardscrabble reality. (L to R) Rebecca Ferguson (Dinah), Will Tudor (Joseph) and Viewed as harmless Minnie Driver (Leah) in Lifetime’s miniseries, The Red Tent entertainment and a desert tions placed on women in those days. respite from winter, The It seems jarringly anachronistic, for Red Tent provides acceptable escapism. example, when Dinah shocks her closest But if you’re hoping for an earthy, accusibling, Joseph, by announcing she’ll rate sense of how people actually lived choose her own husband at such time as in those days, or a spiritual experience she determines. (on television?), those prayers won’t be But it does provide the foundation answered. The Red Tent airs Dec. 7 and 8 at 9 p.m. for her character’s aggressive interfaith on Lifetime. If you employ the DVR and love affair with Shechem, the son of the skip the commercials, the two-part mini- local king. This passage from the Torah has been interpreted in several ways, series comprises three hours of actual but The Red Tent presents their sexual couch time. The titular scarlet structure serves as a relationship as mutually consensual and community center and haven for Jacob’s an expression of love. That doesn’t soothe Jacob’s pride in four wives and their daughters. In this the least when he’s informed that Dinah comfy, cozy enclave, the young Dinah and Shechem have married, and things acquires extraordinary self-confidence go south in a hurry. Whatev— presumably from seeing firsthand the essential role of It takes pains er sins the menfolk proceed to commit, the second half of women in the family. The Red Tent —spotlighting Their most cherished skill to show that Dinah’s life in exile — takes is midwifery, partially for its women are pains to show that women autonomy (the men assurare as capable as men at edly want no part of assisting as capable inflicting cruelty. with births) and because it’s as men at Part Two of the miniseries closely linked to females’ inflicting embraces such reliably eyeunique function. As one cruelty watering themes as separawoman puts it, “We are the tion from, rejection by and lucky ones, for we alone are reconciliation with one’s children. They the ones who can give life.” may comprise the meat and potatoes of The actual experience of childbirth the plot, but the heart of Dinah’s journey in biblical times was presumably more involves accepting the family and tradiprimitive than New Age-y, so you’ll be tion she was born into and the talent for rolling your eyes at the miniseries’ inmidwifery that she inherited. sistence on hinting at suffering without The Red Tent implicitly honors the bringing us down by actually showing continuum of women who preceded it. My biggest peeve about the show’s and followed Dinah, extending to the glamour quotient is that everyone has present day. At the very least, this perfect teeth and nobody ages, despite female-oriented interpretation offers an the skin-wrecking trifecta of sun, wind exceedingly interesting counterpoint to and sand. Ridley Scott’s testosterone-fueled movie The Red Tent’s greatest challenge, Exodus: Gods and Kings, opening Dec. 12 however, is plausibly reconciling a 21stand picks up — chronologically speakcentury feminist point of view (emboding — shortly after The Red Tent ends. ied by Dinah) with the societal limita-
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Kimmel and Hershel celebrate 25 years By Penny Schwartz, JTA Back in 1984, when Eric Kimmel was an up-and-coming children’s book author, he tried his hand at a Chanukah story, one featuring goblins. Overly cautious Jewish editors rejected the manuscript, not knowing what to make of it, Kimmel recalled. “It was strange. It didn’t look like any other Chanukah books and didn’t fit into any neat category. It wasn’t a folk tale and it was kind of creepy,” he told JTA with his signature sense of humor and tell-it-like-it-is manner. Kimmel tucked the story away in a drawer for a while. Years later, some keen-eyed editors, first at Cricket magazine and later at Holiday House, took a chance on Kimmel’s offbeat tale, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, Holiday House has issued its 25th illustrated by the late anniversary edition of Eric Kimmel’s classic acclaimed artist Trina the folk character as a hero among the Schart Hyman. people, the opposite of the fools of The book was recEric Kimmel Chelm. ognized with a 1989 Hershel has street smarts, is practical Caldecott Honor and went on to win a place in the hearts and homes of Jewish and takes on the mighty and powerful. “He’s surviving day to day and using and non-Jewish families, schoolteachhis wits,” Kimmel says. ers and librarians across the country. The book was hailed as a perfect Hershel has been in print ever since. match between the master storyteller Now, in time for Chanukah, the and Hyman, whose vibrant paintings eight-day Festival of Lights that begins set the tone with darkened scenes ilthis year on the evening of Dec. 16, luminated by the golden glow of the Holiday House has issued its 25th anChanukah candles and shiny gelt coins. niversary edition of Hershel and HanukIn addition to the strong pairing kah Goblins, with a new afterword by between art and story, Hershel and the Kimmel and Holiday House publisher Hanukkah Goblins is conJohn Briggs, who brought Overly cautious sidered a classic because the book to light. of Kimmel’s ability to tell And Kimmel has a new Jewish editors a mesmerizing story, says Chanukah tale out this rejected the Anita Silvey, the author of year, Simon and the Bear. As Hershel and The manuscript, not 100 Best Books for Children and Everything I Need to Hanukkah Goblins opens, knowing what Know I Learned From a Chila wandering poor Jewish to make of it. dren’s Book. man named Hershel ar“Readers from different rives in a Jewish village on backgrounds learn about a snowy day at the start of the holiday. Jewish culture, but what pulls them For years, the townsfolk have been along is a story,” Silvey wrote in an scared off by goblins from celebrating email. Chanukah, they tell him. The evil doers Kimmel, 68, who was born and blow out the Chanukah candles, break the dreidels and throw the latkes on the raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., has gone on to win two National Jewish Book Awards floor, they bemoan. and the Sydney Taylor Award for JewBut Hershel tells the rabbi he is not ish children’s books. afraid. He recalls a letter from a young read“If I can’t outwit a few goblins, then er with a Latino background who said my name isn’t Hershel of Ostropol,” Hershel was his favorite Halloween Hershel says. story. Kimmel says he receives many On each of the eight Chanukah nights, Hershel outwits the goblins, one requests for permission to turn the story into theatrical productions. more menacing than the next. In the “I am always flattered,” he says. end, with clever maneuvers and quick Kimmel says Simon and the Bear (Disthinking, he breaks their evil spell and ney Hyperion; ages 3-6) may be his best returns the Festival of Lights back to work. It’s a charming, witty, feel-good the townsfolk with a triumph to match adventure based on a sad story that the holiday’s own miracle. Kimmel read about the sinking of the Growing up, Kimmel enjoyed hearTitanic. The book is illustrated by Mating stories of Hershel of Ostropol from thew Trueman. his storytelling grandmother. He sees THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014
THANK YOU 2014 HILLEL ACADEMY CONTRIBUTORS $20,000 and above Patti and Lee Schear Family Foundation/Sinai Scholars of Dayton Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton $10,000-$19,999 Teri and Dr. Dan German Economy Linen and Towel Service Debra and Theodore Schwartz Foundation Pamela and Andrew Schwartz $1,000-$9,999 Dr. Cassie Milling Jacobs and Dr. Brad Jacobs Carol and Bernie Rabinowitz Karen and Michael Weprin Hills and Dales Veterinary Clinic Bloom Family Eye Surgeons Susan and Dr. David Joffe Marcia and Ed Kress Amy Munich and Ed Sperber Linda and Steve Horenstein Brenda and Allan Rinzler Mary Rita and Norman Weissman Joan and David Marcus Dr. Stanley and Mickey Kaplan Foundation BT/A Advertising OIA Marketing Communications Anonymous
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.
Kroger is pleased to help you and your family enjoy the tastes and traditions of Hanukkah. With a complete selection of Kosher foods, you can stock up on all your favorites for less.
,
Come in and check out our wide selection of Kosher meats.
It’s important to you. It’s important to us.
We invite you to stop by our Blue Ash Kroger Store and meet our Mashgiach, Elizar. He and his staff are happy to assist you, providing the special attention and service you and your holiday events deserve!
A large selection of Kosher items are available to serve your needs at the following Kroger locations:
Blue Ash Kroger
(Full Service Kosher Department) 4100 Hunt Road Cincinnati, OH 45242
Centerville Kroger
1023 S. Main Street Centerville, OH 45459
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Stroop Road fresh fare by Kroger 530 E. Stroop Road Kettering, OH 45249
Harper’s Point Kroger
11390 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, OH 45249
Fresh Packaged Meats Available 24 Hours Daily
Friday 11/7 Jewish Observer 1440
Blue Ash Kosher Service Hours: SUNDAY-WEDNESDAY 9am-8pm; THURSDAY 9am-8pm; FRIDAY 9am-4pm; SATURDAY CLOSED
VAAD HOIER
VH
CINCINNATI
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2014