August 2, 2012 Edition of the Federation Reporter by Becky Schastey

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Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania AUGUST 2, 2012

VOLUME X, NUMBER 15

Europe’s Jews still chasing an elusive collective identity By Ruth Ellen Gruber BUDAPEST (JTA) – Is there such a thing as a European Jewish identity? Can such an identity be created? What clout can European Jewry wield in global Jewish affairs? Jewish policymakers have debated these questions ever since the fall of communism in the early 1990s erased east-west borders and opened the way to a new Jewish chapter in Europe. Back then, some strategists saw fostering a European Jewish identity as key to the political goal of making European Jewry a “third pillar” – or equal player – alongside Jews in Israel and North America. Today, it is clear that the optimistic ideal of a pan-European Jewish identity remains elusive and the political goal of European Jewry as a strong third pillar has yet to materialize. Yet rejuvenated efforts are under way to tackle the challenge. But what happened to damper the initial enthusiasm for the idea? For one thing, “French Jews are very French; UK Jews are very British. It’s a simple fact,” said Rabbi

Andrew Baker, director of international Jewish affairs for the American Jewish Committee. “Eastern European communities had many challenges during these last two decades in re-establishing Jewish life. But in the process we have also seen how they were pulled closer to their respective governments’ policies and views.” Or, as put by Barry Kosmin, who recently directed a survey of European Jewish leaders for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s International Center for Community Development, “We have aspirations versus reality.” The survey polled 328 “Jewish leaders and opinion formers” in 32 countries, and as far as Europe was concerned, it demonstrated a dramatic gap between theory and practice. Most respondents “strongly supported” Jewish solidarity and a European Jewish identity, but only 22 percent had “direct knowledge” of other Jewish communities in Europe and only 15 percent said they were familiar with “the goals and programs” of the main European Jew-

Hungarian sociologist Andras Kovacs, who coordinated a 2011 survey on Jewish identity in five post-communist European countries. (Photo by Ruth Ellen Gruber) ish organizations. Finally, more than 70 percent agreed that “European Jewry is not composed of integrated communities across the continent.” Kosmin presented the survey finding in June at a conference in Barcelona sponsored

Winter 2012 Teen Leadership seminar to be held in Israel

Jewish high school students in grades nine-12, who are JCC members and participate in the JCC Jewish youth group BBYO, are eligible to attend the Winter 2012 Teen Leadership seminar, which will be held in Israel. Teens must participate in a three-part Israel experience

enrichment program prior to the trip and agree to complete a post-trip evaluation and written report. The teen’s family also must contribute to the Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign. The trip will run from Thursday, December 20-Monday, December 31. Reservations

are currently being taken. For more information, contact Ann Wadicka at awadika@ scrantonjcc.org. To register, visit www. regpacks.com/reg/?g_id=1031. “Don’t miss out on the experience of a lifetime in Eretz Yisrael,” said a JCC representative.

by the JDC and the European Council of Jewish Communities, an umbrella organization that recently revived operations in an attempt to kick-start closer European cooperation. The data, said ECJC President Evan Lazar, prove the need for his group. The survey findings in fact reflect how both prospects and conditions have changed since the heady post-communist days of the 1990s. Baker, who helped organize a number of conferences and other initiatives promoting European Jewish identity and integration, said the lack of success was due to a combination of factors. Changed realities in the global arena, of course, played a major role: among them the collapse of the Middle East peace process, the second intifada, the rise of Islamic extremism and spikes in antisemitism largely linked to growing Arab and Muslim communities in Europe. The official report on a 1995 meeting in Prague – the first major conference on panEuropean Jewish identity issues – declared in fact that it had taken place at a time “when Israel is not under threat and the problems of antisemitism no longer pose an immediate danger.” But, Baker told JTA, internal Jewish failures also helped thwart expectations. For one thing, the AJC official said, strategists had not realized how “nationally connected” European Jewish communities were and still are. Ironically, he added, “Today it is the need to confront common concerns and threats – antisemitism and anti-Israel campaigns primarily – that serves as the basis for pan-European and panDiaspora cooperation.” Against this background, Jewish strategists and policymakers are attempting to chart new courses. Hampering efforts, say some strategists and researchers, is a growing disconnect in some countries between mainstream Jewish institutions and the way Jewish lives are lived. Informal networks and alternative initiatives, they said, are increasingly important, particularly for younger Jews. Sociologist Andras Kovacs, who has charted the development of Jewish life in Hungary for decades and coordinated a survey released in 2011 on Jewish identity in five post-communist European countries, agreed. In many places, he told See “Identity” on page 6

Federation on Facebook

The Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania now has a page on Facebook to let community members know about upcoming events and keep connected.

Candle lighting

Teens on a previous trip to Israel posed for a group photo.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Under the radar

Jewish cancer survivors

Jews in Tunisia

August 3...........................................7:59 pm August 10.........................................7:50 pm August 17.........................................7:40 pm

An Israeli octet claims its members A new support network for Jewish The president of Tunisia’s Jewish PLUS are aliens; an official name change cancer survivors held its inaugural community tries to maintain ties Opinion...........................................................2 for the disabled; and more. event recently. with Tunisia’s new government. Jewish Community Center News............6 Story on page 7 Story on page 11 Story on page 13 D’var Torah.................................................10

THE REPORTER ■ August 2, 2012

a matter of opinion Iran is the problem, not Israel By Rabbi Steven Weil (JTA) – The third round of negotiations with Iran on its nuclear activities have failed, the latest and most severe round of sanctions against the economy of that country have gone into effect, and all eyes are turned to – Israel. Israel – such a small piece of land should logically be ignored and forgotten. Israel is content to be the Jewish homeland that welcomes and absorbs people of all faiths. She does not seek the world’s attention; she seeks the world’s persecuted and broken, and offers assistance and refuge. She does not ask for special treatment, but democratically asks for and grants rights, privileges and freedom to all of her citizens. Her one claim to fame is the disproportionate share she contributes to the world’s intellectual, scientific and cultural advancements. But she doesn’t want fanfare. All she wants is to live in peace with her neighbors. Yet, time and again, little Israel is viewed front and center stage as an aggressor, an oppressor, an antagonist and the source of all the evil in the Middle East and beyond. Terror attacks, boycotts, divestments, sanctions, hate conferences and countless U.N. resolutions have been aimed at Israel, punishment for her “crime” of survival. The international community seems to thrive on making her government, her occupation, her military maneuvers, her self-defense and her pre-emptive strikes the problem. But if Iran should achieve nuclear capability, Israel will be right in Tehran’s sites. Israel cannot be expected to be a sitting duck, and so Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

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and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have threatened a pre-emptive strike, much to the world’s chagrin. The world should not be focused on whether Israel will attack Iran in a lifesaving effort to prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear capabilities. Israel is not the problem. The world should be focused on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities. Not for Israel’s sake, but for the sake of the world. A nuclear Iran would create an untenable situation and have devastating and incalculable effects on the world’s safety and economy. A nuclear Iran would cause the cost of oil to permanently skyrocket due to its ability to intimidate and control fellow members of OPEC. Iran will share nuclear technology with its proxies all over the world. Groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, which already have 50,000 rockets that we know of, could conduct nuclear terror activities anywhere, including in the United States. Earlier this year, Jerome Hauer, commissioner of New York State’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, met with representatives of more than 60 Jewish institutions at the Orthodox Union. He expressed his greatest security concern: a “dirty bomb” hidden in a parked car that could instantly destroy thousands of lives. Countries allied with Iran – Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia – also could gain from Iran’s nuclear capabilities and bring a nuclear threat closer to American shores.

If Iran develops nuclear capabilities, it will set off a round of nuclear proliferation in the entire Middle East. To keep a balance of power, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and others will race to develop their own nuclear capabilities. A nuclear Middle East will inevitably lead to nuclear terrorism, and nuclear terrorism is a game changer for the entire world. In the 1930s, Winston Churchill was perceived as a warmonger for warning that military action needed to be taken against Hitler. But after World War I, the world was tired of fighting and instead engaged in capitulation and appeasement. This emboldened Hitler and enabled him to follow through on what all along he told the world were his intentions. The Iranians have not been shy about their intentions, either. They have used “talks” and “negotiations” for more than 20 years to cheat and deceive the West. They continue to push the envelope; every day, they are closer to acquiring nuclear capabilities. Even as the so-called “technical experts” meet to keep negotiations alive, the centrifuges keep spinning. Yes, we are tired after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yes, there will be dire consequences if we take military action against Iraq: oil prices will rise, sleeper cells will be roused. Pentagon war games have predicted that some American ships in the Persian Gulf will go down. But the world needs to have no doubts: not stopping Iran will pose the most devastating consequences of all.

Israel is at the most immediate risk due to its proximity to Iran. A nuclear Iran poses an existential threat to the Jewish state, which has limited capabilities to defend herself against such a nuclear attack. When Iran’s leaders and people say “death to Israel,” they are not engaged in mere bluster – they mean it. As an Iranian general told Reuters recently, if Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear installations, “They will hand us an excuse to wipe them off the face of the earth.” Israel has too often been forced to defend herself alone against existential threats and she will do so now if necessary. This is Israel’s issue and Israel’s prerogative. No one desires war, and that is why the most crippling sanctions to shut down the Iranian economy are now operative. However, if sanctions and international pressure fail, the world does not have the option of tolerating a nuclear Iran. We need to convey the message that Iran is the problem and not Israel. We need to articulate that no one dare confuse the victim with the perpetrator. Unfortunately, many in the media and in other circles lack an understanding of the facts and a sense of moral clarity. We cannot allow a repeat of what happened in the 1930s. Our responsibility is to be as proactive as we can in helping to clarify where the problem lies, and to pray to the Almighty that the world does not have to endure a nuclear Iran. Rabbi Steven Weil is executive vice president of the Orthodox Union.

How to turn around Jewish education investments By Abraham H. Foxman (JTA) – Much has been said and written about the financial priorities of the Jewish community and whether they are misdirected. All too often in these discussions, an artificial dichotomy is created between two goals: sustaining American Jewish support for Israel and attending to the domestic priorities of the community in the United States. Reams of paper have been used in arguing where the financial priorities of the community should lie. We need more and more to integrate these two challenges: to recognize, as the TaglitBirthright Israel project has, that rather than a competition, the twin goals of strengthening Israel and strengthening the American Jewish community are linked and reinforce each other. I believe the best way to strengthen a Jewish community that is diminishing through assimilation is through Jewish education. That is why, in my recent remarks to the Israeli Presidential Conference in Jerusalem, I called for a five-year, $500 million-per-year reinvestment in the Jewish Diaspora. For whatever reason, it is very difficult to raise money in the Jewish community in the United States for Jewish education. It has always been much easier to raise money for Israel. Raising funds for Israel is certainly important. But what if we redirected some of the community purse back to the U.S. for the purpose of giving the next generation the possibility of a fuller immersion into Jewish life through all that a Jewish education has to offer? Education, among other things, makes the real Jewish connection to Israel. And the best way to ensure continued Jewish support for Israel is by having a highly identified Jewish community.

Let’s face it: American Jewish ignorance on Israel is the primary obstacle to American Jewish identity, continuity and American Zionism. Here is where we are falling down as a community. Too many young Jews receive only rudimentary Jewish training. And those who do often stop studying and practicing their faith at age 12 or 13, right after their bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah. Throughout the crucial teenage years, when peer pressures are intense and young people are truly learning what it means to be responsible adults in a confusing and challenging world, we neglect their spiritual development and allow the highly secular mass media and educational systems to work on them unchecked. When they go off to college, we hope that Hillel and other Jewish campus organizations will attract them. But why should they when our Jewish youth have seen their religion and their being Jewish treated as unimportant in their own homes and communities? Why not let American Jews continue to raise the money for Israel, but let Israel take the money and invest in American Jewry. Invest in the infrastructure of day schools, whether Reform, Conservative, Orthodox or Reconstructionist, and to make scholarships available so that Jewish schools can be more affordable, especially for those students most willing to continue their Jewish education through high school and beyond. Times have changed. Many years ago, when Israel was struggling to survive as a fledgling agrarian nation-state, $500 million would have been a princely sum. Today, Israel is a nation that has its own millionaires. The economy and tourism are robust and growing. That sum of $500 million is not as significant in Israel as it used to be.

Imagine how far we could advance Jewish education with such a commitment, which comes to $2.5 billion over five years. That is a significant sum of money for schools, scholarships and teachers. A certain percentage of the money – perhaps 20 percent – should be invested in programs to continue, enhance and ensure bringing young people to Israel. There should be no waiting list. We have developed the most exciting audio-visual Jewish identity program that anyone could dream of and it is called Israel. We know it works. This is the tourniquet. I believe that if 100 children go to Israel, one-third will be Zionists forever, for one-third it won’t matter and one-third will be “different.” That is a pretty good investment for $3,000 per youngster. The remaining 80 percent of the money should be invested in Jewish education in the U.S. – in expanding its infrastructure, in substantial tuition subsidies, and in playing teachers’ salaries that will attract the best and brightest. Only an estimated 35 percent of Jewish children are now attending private Jewish schools and yeshivas. The main reason is the cost, which averages $14,000 a year per child – and sometimes much more. If I could, I would make Jewish day school education at all levels available and affordable for as many Jewish families as possible. This would mean building many new schools and providing scholarships for those who need them. It would be expensive, but worth every penny. Such a program could help bring about a vibrant Jewish future in America, which will reap benefits many times over in terms of future support for the Jewish state of Israel. Abraham H. Foxman is national director of the Anti-Defamation League.

AUGUST 2, 2012 ■

THE REPORTER

community news Congregation B’nai Harim to present lecture on Civil War General Order 11 on Aug. 19 By Lee Emerson Bruce Tucker, a local historian and political science expert, will speak about Grant’s General Order 11 expelling the Jews from the Department of the Tennessee, December

1862. The lecture is part of the ongoing Lox Academy series and will be held at Temple B’nai Harim on Sunday, August 19, at 11 am, at the temple at Rt. 940 at Pocono Crest Road and Sullivan Trail, Pocono Pines.

Congregation B’nai Harim to hold charity golf outing and dinner Pinecrest Lake Golf Club will be the site of Congregation B’nai Harim’s first charity golf outing on Monday, August 27 (or Tuesday, August 28, in case of rain). The day’s events will including 18 holes of golf with a complimentary cart rental and drink cart service, a continental breakfast during registration and warm-up, an awards dinner, raffles and a silent auction. The prizes will include two rounds of golf for four people at Pinecrest Lake golf Club; two physical fitness sessions by a licensed personal trainer at the Lake Naomi or Pinecrest gym; two tickets to a Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic performance; a surprise gift at The Shawnee Inn; and more. The cost for golf and dinner will be $115 per person. The cost for dinner only will be $45 per person. Those interested

can pre-register by sending a check to Congregation B’nai Harim, P.O. Box 757, Pocono Pines, PA 18350. Included should be one’s name, address, phone number, the number of players, if one wishes to complete a foursome or the names of others with whom ones wishes to play. For the dinner only, send a check noting how many are attending and include the address and phone number. There is an opportunity to sponsor a tee or hole for $100. The sponsorship will be noted at each designated tee or hole. To arrange a sponsorship, call Ira or Phyllis Miller at the message center at 646-0100. For more information, visit www.bnaiharimpoconos.org or leave a message for Ira Miller at 646-0100.

Jewish Fellowship held Sisterhood paid-up membership brunch By Judy Hamer The Sisterhood of the Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms held its annual paid-up membership brunch on June

The program will be preceded by a lox and bagel brunch at 11 am, and the lecture will begin at 11:30 am. The cost will be $13 per person, which includes the brunch. Pre-registration has been suggested. To reserve a seat, call the message center at 646-0100. For more information, visit www.bnaiharim.poconos.org.

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24. The chairwoman for the event, Jean Seltzer, decorated the tables in bright colors with centerpieces, and the food was largely prepared by her committee. Organizers of the program called the entertainment the highlight of the event. Julia Kirchgessner and Audrey Djiya sang together as well as solo. Kirchgessner is the See “Sisterhood” on page 4

Sisterhood President Arlene Rudin (right) presented flowers to Julia Kirchgessner (left) and Audrey Djiya (center) after their performance.

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Julia Kirchgessner (left) and Audrey Djiya (right) sang “Here’s to Us” from “Glee.” (Photos by Judy Hamer)

August 17 and weeks of August 20-24th & 27-31st

Camp continues from Daleville to the JCC! Field trips! Arts & crafts! Sports! Games and more! Please bring your own lunch, and don’t forget a towel— we will be swimming. Snacks will be provided.

un! For more information, or to register, please contact F r e mm u S Aaron at aaron@scrantonjcc.org or 346-6595, ext 116 PRICES: Members - $35/day, $140/week, or $275 for both weeks Non-members - $40/day, $150/week, or $290 for both weeks Extra care - 8—8:30 am and 5—5:30 pm, $10 per day or $25 per week $10 weekly sibling discount for the second and third child from one family

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THE REPORTER ■ August 2, 2012

Congregation B’nai Harim held flea market

By Lee Emerson Members of Congregation B’nai Harim held a flea market and book sale on July 15 in the temple parking lot. In addition to the typical toys and appliances were books, records, kosher hot dogs and cook books for sale. Ellen and Al Kagan chaired the event with the help of other congregants. Proceeds will help projects and activities that are ongoing. Jim Hannan helped out at the flea market.

Al Kagan and Aaron Kershenbaum planned the day’s sales.

JWI and JFHF Sisterhood trip to New York City

Elaine and Daniel Goodstein shopped for dorm room supplies.

By Marilyn Meyerowitz Members of Jewish Women International and the Sisterhood of the Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms, along with a number of spouses and friends, took a bus ride to New York City on July 15 to see an exhibit on Emma Lazarus at the New York Museum of Jewish Heritage, as well as the rest of the museum and the 9/11 Memorial. In school, children learn the words “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free,” and that they appear on the base of the Statue of Liberty, but how many know who the author is and what her life was like? Lazarus, who was born in 1849, was a fourth-generation American born into a wealthy New York Sephardic Jewish family. She was an educated woman, having stud-

ied both American and British literature, and was fluent in several languages. For a while, she was a protégé of Ralph Waldo Emerson, and wrote her early poetry about nature and her life. The great migrations from Eastern Europe that occurred in the later part of the 19th century sent hordes of immigrants to America. Lazarus felt empathy for them and gave up much of her earlier privileged life, dedicating herself to helping to educate Americans against antisemitism and the opening up of the west to the immigrants. She founded Hebrew Technical Institute, a vocational school to help Jewish immigrants become self-sufficient. Her poem “The New Colossus,” from which the famous words were taken, was written to aid in raising funds for the pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty sits. Lazarus died of Hodgkin’s disease in 1887, at age 38. Her words were placed on the statue in 1903. The Museum of Jewish Heritage houses several exhibits that describe the lives of Jews in New York, as well as a section about the Holocaust. However, those on the trip did not have enough time to see more of the museum before breaking for lunch and visiting the 9/11 Memorial. The 9/11 Memorial is still called “a work in progress.” Currently there are reflecting pools on the footprints of the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center. See “Trip” on page 7

Visitors from Scranton stood by a reflecting pool at the 9/11 Memorial.

Sisterhood

Continued from page 3 granddaughter of the Sisterhood’s president, Arlene Rudin. She is a home-schooled student now going into seventh grade. Djiya is a senior at Delaware Valley High School. They have both been trained by the same vocal coach, Sandy Stalter. JFHF Sisterhood members said they enjoyed their performance and were reportedly “very impressed” by the poise of the two young women.

Notice to our Pocono Readers 911 Emergency Management Services has been updating mailing addresses in Monroe County and Lehman Townships in Pike County. Please don't forget to notify the Federation so you will continue to receive The Reporter. Thanks, Mark Silverberg, Executive Director Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania

AUGUST 2, 2012 ■

THE REPORTER

Men in Concert IV held at the Jewish Fellowship By Judy Hamer Members of the Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms were treated to a concert on July 14 featuring Cantor Charles Osborne, along with Eric Sparks, Marshall Cooper and Steve Utzig, who sang music from the 1960s. The event marked Osborne’s final performance as spiritual leader of JFHF. The arrangements chosen for the fourpart harmony selections were “unique and beautiful,” organizers of the program noted, as the voices of the four perform-

ers blended together. Each of the singers also sang solo pieces that showed off their virtuosity. After a standing ovation, the group sang Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” as the encore. The song starts with the words “And now, the end is here and so I face the final curtain,” which reminded listeners that the performance was to be Osborne’s last with JFHF. “It was a very emotional finale to a wonderful concert,” said a JFHF representative.

At right, l-r: Men in Concert performers Steve Utzig, Eric Sparks, Cantor Charles Osborne and Marshall Cooper posed with pianist Judith Schaff (in front).

New $1 million “Jewish Nobel Prize” established By JTA staff JERUSALEM (JTA) – The establishment of the Genesis Prize, which is being touted as a “Jewish Nobel Prize” and worth $1 million, was announced. The international prize was announced on June 26 in a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that included Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky and Genesis Philanthropy Group founder Mikhail Fridman. The prize will be awarded to Jews who win global recognition for their professional achievements, including in the world of science and the arts. The Genesis Philanthropy Group, which is comprised of several oligarchs from the former Soviet Union who are committed to building the Russian-speaking Jewish Diaspora, will fund the prize. Israel’s prime minister will award the prize at an annual ceremony to be held near Passover. A selec-

tion committee made up of retired judges and Diaspora Jewish community leaders, as well as representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Genesis group, will choose the winner in a multi-stage process. “The Genesis Prize emphasizes the contribution of the Jews to world history,” Fridman said in the statement. “Far-reaching achievements in science, the arts, business, medicine, diplomacy and other fields of human endeavor have been realized thanks to the Jewish people’s natural aspiration to improve the world, and to its desire to pass its moral values on to coming generations. This tradition of the Jewish People must continue.” Stan Polovets, the CEO and co-founder of Genesis, said that Fridman first came up with the idea for the prize, which in turn was developed during the past three years in partnership with Sharansky, Netanyahu and the prime minister’s staff. “Our foundation and

the Jewish Agency under Natan Sharansky are focusing on ensuring that the next generation of Jews grows up with a strong sense of Jewish identity and Jewish values,” Polovets said. By recognizing the achievements and accomplishments of Jews worldwide, he added, the Genesis Group hopes to inspire younger Jews to embrace “the idea of belonging to the Jewish People and strengthening

their sense of Jewish identity.” Polovets downplayed the Russian background of the businessmen-philanthropists behind Genesis, noting that some of them now claim citizenship and conduct their affairs in various countries. “We consider ourselves as global citizens and see [the need to fight assimilation] as a global issue for the Jewish people,” Polovets said.

NEWS IN bRIEF San Diego Jewish teen wins Google science prize

(JTA) – An eighth-grader at the San Diego Jewish Academy won a science prize at the second annual Google Science Fair competition. Jonah Kohn, 14, won a $25,000 scholarship for his device that uses tactile sound to enhance music for people with hearing loss. “In essence, they said that it has given them the best perception of classical music that they’ve heard since they lost their hearing,” Kohn said, ABC News reported. Kohn was one of five finalists in his age group from the 15 finalists at the fair, which received thousands of entries from more than 100 countries worldwide.

Sign up today! The Jewish Federation is proud to give a helping hand to the businesses, business professionals, and non-profit organizations of NEPA during these difficult economic times by creating the NEPA Jewish Federation Business & Trade Alliance.

It will allow people from Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Wayne and Pike counties 24/7 access to: . Exchange Business Leads . Promote your Business . Develop Critical Business Skills and Solutions

. Post Job Opportunities and Receive Resumes . Increase Search Engine Optimization . Socialize and Network with Other Successful Business people

Sign up for membership at http://JewishNepaBTA.org If you have not yet registered your business on our new Alliance web site, please contact Mark Silverberg at 570-961-2300 (ext. 1) or mark.silverberg@jewishnepa.org with your contact person, business name, business phone number, business e-mail address, and regular business postal address to ensure further Business and Trade Alliance communications and event invitations.

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THE REPORTER ■ August 2, 2012

jewish community center news JCC holds Annual Meeting and Board Installation The JCC held its Annual Meeting and Board Installation on June 7. Officers elected for two consecutive one-year terms were Lou Shapiro, president; Jeff Leventhal, first vice president; Harris Cutler, second vice president; Jerry Fragin, treasurer; Dan Cardonick, secretary/executive director; and Ann Monsky, assistant secretary. Board members elected for a three-year term were Karen Cahn, Alan Smertz, Jeff Rosenstein and Elliot Schoenberg. The JCC also selected Michael Roth, Edward Monsky and Seth Gross as new honorary members of the board. Approximately 30 JCC members, board members and guests attended the meeting. Cardonick gave a presentation on the state of the JCC and Rika Schaffer, the JCC’s Early Childhood director, was honored for 25 years of service. A dessert reception followed the meeting.

JCC holds 58th Awards Banquet

The JCC of Scranton held its 58th Awards Banquet on June 10 to honor is volunteers for their service. Approximately 140 people attended the event, which was held in the Koppelman Auditorium at the JCC. The banquet was chaired by Alma Shaffer, board member. Steven Seitchik, past JCC president (1995-98), served as master of ceremonies for the evening. The awards were presented by previous recipients. The JCC congratulated all of the award recipients and expressed its gratitude for their contributions to the JCC and the community. The JCC also thanked all of the committee members and volunteers who worked at the banquet.

Newly elected officers were installed at the JCC Annual Meeting and Board Installation on June 7.

Identity

JTA, “new initiatives come from civic groups, not from the established Jewish community.” Moreover, Kovacs adds, “What people say about their identity is different from European Jewish politics and Jewish institutional politics. Regarding Jewish identity, the data show that a sense of European-ness does exist. But it is not so present in the Jewish leadership.”

Continued from page 1

That leaves Europe’s Jewish leaders – just like many in America – trying to connect their goals to the realities of the people they seek to unite.

Quick Reference Guide to Planned Giving

Use this planned giving quick reference guide to help determine the best strategy for achieving your philanthropic and financial goals. For more information or to discuss these planned giving options, please contact: Mark Silverberg, Executive Director, Jewish Federation of NEPA, 570-961-2300 (x1) or at mark.silverberg@jewishnepa.org.

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Donate the real estate or sell it to a charity at a bargain price

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Give your personal residence or farm, but retain life use

Create a charitable gift of future interest, called a retained life estate

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Make a large gift with little cost to you

Contribute a life insurance policy you no longer need or purchase a new one & designate a charity as the owner

Current & possible future income tax deductions

Receive secure, fixed income for life while avoiding market risks

Purchase a charitable gift annuity or create a charitable remainder annuity trust

Tax advantages & possible increased rate of return

Give income from an asset for a period of years but retain the asset for yourself or your heirs

Create a charitable lead trust

Federal estate tax savings on asset & income tax deductions for donated income

Create a hedge against inflation over the long term

Create a charitable remainder unitrust

Variable payments for life plus tax advantages

Make a revocable gift during your lifetime

Name a charity as the beneficiary of assets in a living trust

Full control of the trust terms during your lifetime

L-r: Ionel Schlesinger, president of the Jewish community in Arad, Romania; Evan Lazar, president of the European Council of Jewish Communities; and Ivan Bloch, president of the Jewish community in Lugoj, Romania, at the “meeting of presidents” sponsored by the European Council of Jewish Communities and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Barcelona, Spain, in June. (Photo by Ruth Ellen Gruber)

AUGUST 2, 2012 ■

Israel under the radar

Freedom for movie noshers, vocal over the Voca People by MARCY OSTER JERUSALEM (JTA) – Here are some recent stories out of Israel that you may have missed: BYOP* (*popcorn) Israeli movie goers can soon show their own Junior Mints rather than sneak them into the theater like their American counterparts. The Knesset Finance Committee recently approved an amendment to the Consumer Protection Law that allow Israelis to bring their own snacks to the movies. Under the amendment, which Ynet reports is being called the Popcorn Law, movie theaters that sell food and drink cannot limit customers to buying only what they sell. It also limits the price of movie concessions. The committee passed the amendment unanimously, and it is expected to sail through the full Knesset and go into effect in January. Voca People’s claims alien to Foreign Ministry The strangely attired a cappella octet Voca People has angered the Foreign Ministry by disassociating itself from Israel and claiming to be aliens from another planet. Members of the group, who dress in all white and wear white bald wigs and white painted faces with bright red lips, claim to be friendly aliens from another planet. And the group’s Facebook page lists its hometown as Planet Voca. The Foreign Ministry recently took the group to task, issuing a letter to Israeli delegations around the world pointing out that the group does not identify itself in any way as Israeli. Lior Halfon, a co-creator of Voca People, told Ynet that “The group is not Israeli, but rather aliens from the planet Voca.” Eyal Golan wants you... to turn down the volume A Jerusalem neighborhood reportedly will use a popular Mizrachi singer to combat the loud, early morning call to prayer in surrounding Arab villages. The French Hill community intends to blast Eyal

Trip

The names of the 2,983 men, women, children and nine unborn who perished in the attack September 11, 2001, are engraved on the top of the walls of the two fountains. “Participants felt the enor-

Golan’s music at a deafening roar at 3 am, The Jerusalem Post reported. Apparently the community failed in negotiations with the Issawiya Arab village to convince its neighbors to lower the volume on the early morning (about 4 am) call from the mosques to pray. Religious Muslims answer a call to prayer five times a day between about 4 am and 9 pm. Imams in the village reportedly turned down the volume of the muezzins several months ago, but it has regained its full volume again, according to reports. The community could blast its music from speakers on top of the balconies that face the village or by placing them at the edge of the neighborhood. First, however, it’s making sure the action is legal, The Jerusalem Post reported. Not all the French Hill residents opted for Golan’s music; some preferred classical. Smile and the airline world smiles with you Among flight attendants, Israelis have that special something. The Association of Flight Attendants, the world’s largest labor union for flight attendants, voted Israeli flight attendants the most beautiful in the world. On July 14, the association reportedly noted the special smiles of the Israelis. Aerolineas Argentinas airline was second, followed by Shanghai Airlines. Name change for disabled The term mental retardation is out officially in Israel. In June, the Welfare and Social Services Ministry announced that one with developmental and intellectual issues will now officially be known as “adam im mugbelet sichli hitpatchut,” a person with intellectual and developmental disability, as opposed to “adam im pigur sichli,” a person with mental retardation. The ministry said the name change will help the disabled’s profile in Israeli society and offer them more respect, according to The Jerusalem Post. Minister Moshe Kahlon had received See “Radar” on page 12

Continued from page 3

mous sense of loss as they looked at the names,” noted organizers of the trip. “It was a sobering sight.” Organizers of the program thanked Gail Neldon, who coordinated the trip.

A group from Jewish Women International and the Sisterhood of the Jewish Federation of Hemlock Farms visited the New York Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Jewish Federation of NEPA

Facebook ® is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc

THE REPORTER

8 THE REPORTER ■ August 2, 2012 Challenger Division $500 - $999 Men’s 2012 Dr. & Mrs. Shaya Barax Campaign Honor Roll Beth Israel Congregation

Mr. David Adler Mr. & Mrs. James Alperin Mr. & Mrs. Donald Dembert Deutsch Family Foundation Mr. David Feibus Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Fink J. & R. Friedman Endowment Fund Mr. & Mrs. Alan Glassman Mr. Ken Green Mr. Richard Jacobson Jacobson Hat Co. Mr. Kenneth Levine Mr. Richard Levy Jacob & Mary Levy Fdn The Oppenheim Family Dr. & Mrs. David Rutta Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Scheck Morris/Esther Waldman Memorial Fund

Atty. & Mrs. Richard Bishop Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Desind The Dime Bank Atty. David Fallk Mr. Shlomo Fink Atty. & Mrs. Joseph Fisch Mr Richard Goldenziel Dr. Scott Gordon Mr. Michael Greenstein Mr. Leonard Hopkins Dr. Kenneth Jacobs David Katz Foundation Mr. Harold Kornfeld Dr. Michael Krakow Mr. Jeffrey Leventhal Mr. Meyer Levine Dr. & Mrs. John Lewy Rabbi Baruch Melman Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Mogel Atty. Edward Monsky Dr. Mordekhai Moritz Atty. & Mrs Morris Raub Milt & Lillian Rosenzweig Pace Fund Rabbi Samuel Sandhaus Mr. & Mrs. Phil Schneiderman Atty. & Mrs. Ben Schnessel Dr. Douglas Sheldon Mr. Alan Silverman Dr. Jonathan Sullum Mr. & Mrs. Barry Tremper Mr. & Mrs. Alan Wasser Mr. Michael Weinberg Mr. & Mrs. Larry Weinberger Dr. Jeffrey Weiss Mr. Ruben Witkowski Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Wizwer Mr. Lewis Ziman

President’s Circle $3,000 - $4,999

General Division $100 - $499

Humanitarian Division $50,000+ Mr. Donald Bernstein Moe Cohen Bequest

Heritage Builders $20,000 - $49,999 Grossman & Atlas Mr. Saul Kaplan Nivert Metal Supply Mr. Alfred Reich Mr. Gilbert Weinberger

Legacy Builders $10,000 - $19,999 Arley Wholesale - S & A Partnership Mr. Harold Kaplan Mr. & Mrs. Herb Rosen Mr. & Mrs. Richard Rutta

Founders Circle $5,000 - $9,999

Mr. Lester Abeloff Brucelli Advertising Company Dr. Steven Eisner Mr. Lee Jaffe Atty. & Mrs. Samuel Newman Pearl Brothers Mr. Robert Rosenberg Atty. Jerry Weinberger Mr. Steven Weinberger

Vanguard Division $1,000 - $2,999 Abeloff Fam Fd Atty. John Appleton Mr. Jack Bernbaum B’nai B’rith Amos Lodge Mr. & Mrs. Steve Bram Mr. Charles Cahn Mr. Jerry Chazan Chevra Kadisha Cohen Family Fdn A. B. & Dora Cohen Fund Richard and Emily Cohen Phil Fd Mr. Jacques Deutsch Atty. Donald Douglass Mr. Bernard Dubin Mr. & Mrs. Mark Entenberg Atty. Richard Fine Morris Gelb Endowment Dr. Vitaly Geyfman Mr. Jerome Giles* Mr & Mrs Lee Glassman Mr. Seth Gross Mr. Samuel Harris Atty. Scott Herlands Mr. Herbert Hollenberg Mr. & Mrs. Howard Kaufman Mr. Sidney Kaufman Mr. & Mrs. Alan Levy Albert A. & Bertram N. Linder Fdn Dr. & Mrs. David Malinov Mr. Michael Mardo Mc Grail, Merkel, Quinn Assocs. Dr. Kenneth Miller Mr. I. Leo Moskovitz Mr. Mark Noble Mr. & Mrs. Joel Ostro Mr. Arthur Pachter Riverside Rehab & Nursing Ctr Mr. Sam Rosen Mr. Jamy Rosenstein Mr. Jeffrey Rosenstein Mr. Barth Rubin Dr. Joseph Schectman Mr. & Mrs. Paul Schuchman Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Schur Mr. Steven Seitchik Dr. Edward Sherwin Mr. & Mrs. Mark Silverberg Mr. & Mrs. Henry Skier Dr. & Mrs. Paul Solomon Mr. Sam Starr Atty. Robert Ufberg Atty. Edwin Utan Dr. Steven Vale Mr. & Mrs. Joel Vener Dr. Barry Warshal Dr. Richard Weinberger Dr. Stephen Weissberger Dr. Howard Wimmer Dr. Michael Wolk

Mr. Murray Abeloff Mr. Irwin Adler Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Appel Mr. & Mrs. Vladimir Aronzon Mr. Mark Berger Dr. & Mrs. Eli Berman Dr. Lee Besen Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Blau Mr. & Mrs. Steven Bleier Mr. & Mrs. Donald Brand Mr & Mrs John Brezack Mr. & Mrs. Seymour Brotman Dr. & Mrs. Bruce Brownstein Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Cardonick Dr. & Mrs. Alfred Carin Chatiner Hatikvoh Ferein Dr. & Mrs. Mitchell Cohen Mr. Sanford Cohen Mr. Geoffrey Cutler Mr. Gary Davis Mr. & Mrs. Mark Davis Dr. Leonard Denis Mr. Michael Diamond Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Dreyer Mr. & Mrs. Seymour Edelman Mr. Irving Effross Dr. & Mrs. Benjamin Eisenberg Rabbi & Mrs Mayer Elefant Mr. James Ellenbogen Dr. Scott Epstein Mr. Julian Falk Mr. & Mrs. Howard Farber Mr. Richard Feibus Mr. Howard Feinberg Rabbi Mordechai Fine Mr. Moshe Fink Dr. & Mrs. Gerald Fragin Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Fredericks Mr. Paul Fried Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Friedman Mr. Jack Friedman Carlucci, Golden, Desantis Funeral Home Mr. Alex Gans Mr. Jeffrey Ganz Mr. Ricky Gelb Mr. & Mrs. Peter Gelbart Dr. & Mrs. Jerry Gilbert Mr. Eugene Glantz Mr. & Mrs. Martin Gold Mr. Sheldon Goldstein Mr Ward Goodman Mr. Sam Goosay Mr. Philip Graff* D. & B. Greenberger Endow Fund Dr. Peter Gregory Dr. Larry Grossinger Ms. Honi Lynn Gruenberg Mr. & Mrs. Martin Hainer Hebrew Orthodox Center Mr. Joseph Hollander Dr. & Mrs. Milt Hollander Honesdale Nat’l Bank Mr. Joel Joseph Mr. Irwin Kalisher Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Kapitansky Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Kaplan Mr. Wallace Katz Mr. Bernard Kaufman Mr. Irving Kaufman

UJA/Federation Campai

The Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania would like to thank those community memb community’s tradition of tzedakah. In these difficult times, especially when other victims of o and resettle those oppressed or in need in other lands, and otherwise help guarantee the con honor our 2012 Annual Campaign donors and volunteers for caring about their fellow Jews… all donors and volunteers in our Honor Roll – except those who advised us, prior to publicat omitted, please notify the Federation office at 570-961-2300, and allow us the privilege of Mr. & Mrs. Bob Klomp Atty. & Mrs. Edwin Krawitz Mr. & Mrs. Charles Kudosh Dr. Barry Kurtzer Dr. Joel Laury Atty. Jeffrey Levine Mr. & Mrs. Steve Levine Mr. Albert Levy Mr. & Mrs. Alan Lipschutz Mr. Len London Mr. & Mrs. Larry Mandel Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Manglaviti Mr. & Mrs. Avrum Marcus Mr. Sidney Markowitz Mr. & Mrs. Alan Meyerowitz Mr. Jerry Mizrachi Mr. Michael Morrow Mr. & Mrs. Mark Myers Mr. & Mrs. David Nagelberg Mr. & Mrs. Steven Natt Mr. & Mrs. Neil Nissel Mr. & Mrs. Roman Novak Mr. & Mrs. Harry Olenberg Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Oliveri Mr. Alvin Pachter Mr. Howard Pachter Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Pallas Mr. & Mrs. Harold Plotkin Mr. Marvin Pollack Mr. Robert Pollack Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Rice Mr. & Mrs. William Roos Mr. Filmore Rosenstein Mr. Howard Rosenstein Mr. Melvin Rosenthal Atty. Howard Rothenberg Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Rothman Mr. David Rubinow Rabbi & Mrs. Yehuda Salkow Mr. & Mrs. Vernon Schlamowitz Rabbi Jacob Schnaidman Mr. & Mrs. Philip Schulder Mr. Asher Schwartz Mr. Richard Schwartz Scranton Printing Company Mr. & Mrs Louis Shapiro Mr. & Mrs. Al Silverstein Mr. Ben Singer* Mr. Alan Smertz Mr. Gary Smertz Mr. Melvin Spatt Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Stein Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Steinlauf Dr. & Mrs. Jon Sternburg Mr. Stephen Sugarman Mr. Jack Suravitz Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon Tabak Mr. & Mrs. Allan Trynz Mr. Barry Weiss Mr. Jack Weissberger Mr. Seymour Weissberger Mr. Gary Wilmet Mr. & Mrs. Emanuel Witty Atty. & Mrs. Marc Wolfe Mr. & Mrs. Irwin Wolfson Cantor & Mrs. Marshal Wolkenstein Dr. & Mrs. Barry Yoss Mr. Irving Zlatin Mr. Alan Zuckerman

Super Sunday $1 - $99 Dr. Neil Ackerman Rabbi & Mrs. Nathan Adlin Rabbi & Mrs Jeff Aichenbaum Mr. A. Albert Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Arcus Dr & Mrs. P Bachman Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Bader Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Balaban Mrs. Tobi Barnett Mr. Robert Baron Mr. & Mrs. Philip Barr Mrs. Barbara Bashe Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Bedrick Mr. Mikhail Berlin Rabbi Shraga Berlin Rabbi Yaakov Bilus Mr. Leonid Boguslavsky Mr. Jack Braunstein Rabbi & Mrs Chaim Bressler Rabbi & Mrs. Daniel Brotsky Rabbi Nathan Bushwick Mr. Sheldon Charick Mr. & Mrs. Abe Cherkes Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Cohen Mr. & Mrs. Robert Cohen Rabbi & Mrs Eli Deutsch Mr. & Mrs. Alvin Dichter Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Eckstein

Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Einhorn Mr. Isaak Epshteyn Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Epstein Mr. & Mrs. Meshulem Epstein Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Feinman Mr. Charles Feinstein Mr. & Mrs. Howard Feltman Mr. & Mrs. Richard Feman Rabbi & Mrs. Jacob Fensterheim Dr. Emanuel Fineberg Atty. & Mrs Allen Finkelstein Mrs. Carole Fishbein Rabbi Shmuel Flam Mr. Alex Fookson Mr. & Mrs. Michael Friedman Mr. Ken Ganz Mr. Leyzer Gelberg Mr & Mrs Marc Gerson Mr. Yuriy Gidalevich Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Ginsberg Mr. Murray Glick Rabbi & Mrs. Samuel Goldberg Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Goldberg Mr. Yevgeniy Goldenberg Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert Goldstein Mr. Morris Goldstein Mr. & Mrs Samuel Green Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Greenwald Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Guttman Mr. & Mrs. Martin Hamer Mr. Yaakov Herber Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Hirshman Mr. David Hollander Rabbi & Mrs Yehuda Itkin Mr. Peter Ivanov Mr. & Mrs. Alan Kagan Rabbi & Mrs Avrum Karp Atty. Steven Krawitz Mr. Zachary Kurzweil Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Kusnitz Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Landon Mr. Sidney Lebowitz Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Leisten Mr. & Mrs. Paul Levande Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon Levenson Dr. Sander Levinson Prof. Michael Liberman Mr. Sheldon Liberman Mrs. Seth Linker Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Lorber Rabbi Joseph Luchins Mr. & Mrs. Morton Mandelman Mr. Ivan Margolies Mr. Irving Mark Rabbi & Mrs. Joseph Mendelsohn Mr. David Meyer Mr. Don Minkoff Mr. Marshall Needle Mr. & Mrs. Ira Nerenberg Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Newman Mr. & Mrs. Irving Norkin Mr. Jay Okun Mr. & Mrs. Walter Orgel Rabbi Y. Penstein Mr. Allan Pisarz Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Pollack Mr. & Mrs. Howard Popkin Rabbi Avrum Pressman Rabbi & Mrs Nathan Pritzker Rabbi & Mrs. Benny Rapoport Dr. & Mrs. Steven Ratner Mr. & Mrs. Robert Richman Rabbi & Mrs Isaac Ringel Rabbi Dovid Rosenberg Mr. & Mrs. Martin Rosenberg Mr. Joel Roth Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Rothman Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Rudin Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Rudner Rabbi David Saks Mr. & Mrs. Al Schips Rabbi Chayim Schnaidman Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Schneider Mr. Steve Selincourt Senior Adult Club Mr. Steven Sherman Mr. Joel Silberstein Dr. Gary Silverstein Mr. & Mrs. Allan Sitroon Rabbi Hillel Sittner Mr. & Mrs. Peter Slipak Mr. & Mrs. David Slutsky Mr. Herbert Smith Mr. & Mrs. Shawn Smith Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Smith Mr. & Mrs. Steven Strauchler Rabbi Daniel Swartz Mr. & Mrs. Peter Talman Dr. & Mrs. Morton Tener Mr. Scott Tinkelman

AUGUST 2, 2012 ■

ign 2012 Honor Roll

Super Sunday $1 - $99

bers who gave of themselves, whether financially and/or by volunteering, to continue our other tragedies also need our support, we continue to aid the Jewish vulnerable, rescue ntinuance of our community here, in Israel and elsewhere around the world. We now and doing something about it. To the fullest extent possible, we have tried to include tion, that they wished to remain anonymous. If, for any reason, your name has been f publishing your name/s in a subsequent issue. On behalf of world Jewry – thanks! Mr. Al Tragis Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Trumpaitzky Rabbi Abraham Turin Rabbi & Mrs. Hershel Tzuker Rabbi/Mrs Eliezer Vann Mr. & Mrs. Robert Walters Wayne Bank Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Weg Mr. & Mrs. Al Weinberg Mr. Alfred Weinberg Mr. & Mrs. Eric Weinberg Mr. Neil Weinberg Mr. Robert Weinman Mr. & Mrs. David Weinstein Mr. Martin Weiss Rabbi Zvi Weiss Dr. & Mrs. Alan Westheim

Women’s 2012 Campaign Honor Roll Lion of Judah $5,000 - $9,999 Arley Wholesale - S & A Partnership Mrs. Jeanne Atlas Mrs. Eileen Feibus Mrs. Marion Glassman Mrs. Susan Jacobson Mrs. Bernardine Kaplan Mrs. Audrey Kaufman Mrs. Beverly Gelb Klein Mrs. Lillian Levy Mrs. Sondra Myers Sare Family Fund Dr. Margaret Sheldon Mrs. Goldye Weinberger

Guardian Division $3,000 - $4,999 Betty Goldsmith Endow

Hineni Division $1,000 - $2,999 Mrs. Claire Dubin Mrs. Lois Dubin Mrs. Roselle Fine Mrs. Jerry Ganz Dr. Jennifer Gell Mrs. Dorothy Gordon Mrs. Bonnie Green Mrs. Susan Herlands Mrs. Shirley Hollenberg Honorial Memorial Jaffe Family Fund Mrs. Rose Levine Mrs. Jennie Levy Schwartz Mack Fndn Mrs. Barbara Nivert Ida Rosenbluth Trust Mrs. Betty Stahler Dr. Meredith Stempel Mrs. Vicki Sullum Mrs. Arline Swartz Mrs. Laney Ufberg Mrs. Elaine Utan Gussie Weinberger Memorial*

Pacesetters Division $500 - $999 Mrs. Emily Adler Mrs. Harlene Arenberg Ms. Marna Berman Mrs. Esther Birnbaum Mrs. Phyllis Chazan Ms. Joyce Chizever Mrs. Joyce Douglass Mrs. Ruth Fallick Mrs. Miriam Gans Ms. Judith Ginsberg Ms. Robin Gittelman Mrs. Mildred Harris Mrs. Lee Hollenberg The Hyers Family Mrs. Claire Jacobson Mrs. Helene Kornfeld Mrs. Dale Miller Mrs. Sara Morris Mrs. Sheila Nudelman-Abdo Dr. Frances Olick Mrs. Phyllis Oram Mrs. Nettie Pinkus Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Pollock Mrs. Faye Rosenberg Mrs. Lola Schwartz Mrs. Ingrid Warshaw Mrs. Paula Wasser Mrs. Phyllis Weinberg Anne Wertheimer Phil Fund Mrs. Mary Ziman

Kadima Division $200 - $499 Mrs. Rose Brody Mrs. Harriet Brotter Mrs. Susan Colombo Diamond Mrs. Gail Dickstein Mrs. Gloria Dinner Mrs. Nancy Dressel Mrs. Marylu Eisner Mrs. Rosalie Engelmyer Mrs. Shirley Friedman Ms. Natalie Gelb Mrs. Kristina Gregory Mrs. Sheryl Gross Mrs. Molly Grossinger Mrs. Helene Hughes Mrs. Madeline Jacobs Jewish Woman International Mrs. Leah Laury Mrs. Carol Leventhal Mrs. Odessa Levine Mrs Iris Liebman Mrs. Beverly Meil Mrs. Sheila Miller Mrs. Ann Monsky Mrs. Tamar Moritz Mrs. Mildred Myers Ms. Gail Neldon Mrs. Harriet Noble Mrs. Carol Nogi Miss Lynn Pearl Mrs. Ilise Rubinow Mrs. Molly Rutta Mrs. Renee Schectman Atty. Elizabeth Schneider Mrs. Anne Silverman Mrs. Elma Starr Mrs. Lisa Starr Bessie Todres Starr Mem Fund Dora Troy Memorial Fund Mrs. Judy Warshal Mrs. Judy Weinberger Mrs Nancy Weinberger Ben Dov Mrs. Jan Weiss Mrs. Tova Weiss Dr. Nancy Willis

Bereshit Division $100 - $199 Ms. Esther Adelman Mrs. Donna Appleton Mrs. Eileen Baine Mrs. Marilyn Balaban Mrs. Adele Baldinger Ms. Judith Brown Mrs. Susan Connors Mrs. Ruth Davis Mrs. Lainey Denis Mrs. Bertye Dietrick Mrs. Syvia Eisenberg Mrs. Sandra Epstein Mrs. Ella Ettinger Mrs. Donna Fiegleman Mrs. Doris Fine Mrs. Deborah Fink Mrs. Martha Fisler Mrs. Nancy Friedman Mrs. Esther Friedmann Ms. Marion Gardner Saxe Mrs. Marian Goldstein-Beckhorn Mrs. Ellen Goodman Mrs. Jean Haas Mrs. Doreen Henstell Mrs. Robin Jacobson Mrs. Nancy Johnson Mrs. Miriam Joseph Mrs. Denise Krafchin Mrs. Hannah Leiter Mrs. Mitzie Levy Mrs. Jill Linder Ms. Marlene Mandel Mrs. Helen Masowicki Mrs. Claire Morrow Mrs. Ann Moskovitz Mrs Vivian Needle Ms. Roberta Nelson Mrs. Shirley Nudelman Mrs. Lee Pachter Ms. Barbara Parker Bell Mrs. Helen Pinkus Mrs. Sonia Sandhaus Ms. Elaine Shepard Mrs. Dorothy Silverman Mrs. Jayne Simon Mrs. Gladys Suravitz Temple Hesed Sisterhood Mrs. Millie Weinberg Mrs. Gail Weinberger Mrs. Thelma Witkowski Miss Evelyn Wolfe Mrs. Lila Zipay

Mrs. Michele Ackerman Mrs. Dolly Baron Mr. & Mrs. Charles Berenbaum Mrs. Fayge Berlin Mrs. Svetlana Berlin Mrs. Penina Bilus Mrs. Fern Blum Ms. Joanne Blum Mrs. Lyudmila Boguslavsky Mrs. Yvette Brauner Ms. Elaine Brown Mrs. Marguerite Bushwick Mrs. Rose Chaskin Ms. Heidi Cohen Ms. Deborah Costanza Mrs. Eileen Coyne Mrs. Mildred Davis Mrs. Ruth De Picciotto Ms. Deborah Eisenberg Mrs. Vera Epshteyn Mrs. Rhonda Fallk Ms. Elizabeth Feller Mrs. Simona Fielding Mrs. Etty Fink Mrs. Esther Flam Ms. Lillian Freidlin Mrs. Marie Fried Mrs. Leah Gans Mrs. Dassie Ganz Mr. & Mrs. Jules Garron Mrs. Frances Gelb Ms. Rose Gelbard Mrs. Mira Gelberg Mrs. Lois Gerson Ms. Klara Gervits Mrs. Lida Glaser Mrs. Marsha Glick Mrs. Nelli Goldenberg Mrs. Tobi Gordon Ms. Esther Graves Mrs. Esfir Greenblatt Mrs. Ruth Greenfield Mrs. Gayle Greenstein Mrs. Joy Greenwald Ms. Iris Grubler Mrs. Charlotta Gurevitz Mrs. Dorothy Haas Ms. Audrey Harrell Mrs. Jodi Herber Mrs. Dale Hersh Miss Irene Hochman Mrs. Ruth Hollander Mrs. Raisa Ivanov Mrs. Nancy Jackman Ms. Helen Kaminski Mr. & Mrs. James Kane Mrs. Helen Kaplan Mrs. Beverly Klein Mr. & Mrs. Charles Koloski Mrs. Donna Kostiak Ms. Gladys Kremen Mrs. Nina Kurtser Mrs. Ruth Kurzweil Mrs. Ruth Lebowitz Ms. Lindsay Leventhal Mrs. Ruth Levin Mrs. Eleanor Liberman Mrs. Anna Lisak Mrs. Miriam Litvak Rae & Fred Magliocchi Ms. Barbara Maiman Ms. Lois May Mr. & Mrs. Radcliffe McGowan Mrs. Marlene Meyer Miss Arlene Michaels Mrs. Sandy Mittelman Mrs. Sally Moskovitz Miss Florence Moskowitz Ms. Amy Moulton Ms. Lorraine Mursch Miss Marcia Myers Mrs. Shirley Nass Miss Ann Nathan Mrs. Paulette Okun Mrs. Channie Penstein Ms. Natalie Pichler Mrs. Charlotte Pollack Mrs. Marylyn Preven Mrs. Linda Rosenberg Miss Esther Rosenfeld Mrs. Lorraine Rosenthal Mrs. Joan Ruben Mrs. Malka Saks Mrs. Rika Schaffer Ms. Becky Schastey Ms. Barbara Schneiderman Ms. Marilyn Schwab Mrs. Susan Schwartz Mrs. Ellen Seitchik Miss Anne Shaffer Mrs. Lynn Shaffer Mrs. Malca Shapiro Ms. Dolores Siarniak Mrs. Shira Silverberg Mrs. Nina Silverman Mrs. Rochelle Sittner Ms. Sydell Spinner Ms. Tamara Spolan Kossoff Ms. Michelle Star Ms. Bonnie Strohl

THE REPORTER

Mrs. Rhonda Sugarman Ms. Dorothea Szczesniak Mrs. Ilona Thurston Mrs. Emily Trunzo Ms. Rebecca Tschampel Mrs. Dvorah Turin Mrs. Sarra Ufberg Mrs. Arlene Walker Ms. Mary Lil Walsh Mrs. Arlene Weinberg Mrs. Karen Weinman Miss Lois Weisberger Mrs. Rachel Weisberger Ms. Miriam Weiss Mrs. Rachel Weiss Miss Rachelle Werbin Ms. Pearl Woodnick

Community Division 2012 Honor Roll Atty. Edwin Abrahamsen Art Print Co Judge Michael Barrasse Andrew Billets & Son Mrs. Sally Bohlin Breig Bros Inc Contractors Dr. Harmar Brereton Burkavage Design Assoc. Atty. Brian Cali Rev. William Campbell Carpenters Local 645 Mr. Stephen Casey Chamberlin & Reinheimer Ins, Inc Citizens Saving Bank Mr. James Clauss Costa Drugs, Inc Mr. Tony Costanzo Dr. Mark Cruciani Diamond K Incorporated Diocese of Scranton Dunmore Roofing & Supply Co Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Earl Mr. & Mrs. Robert Eckersley Mr. John Egan Fidelity Dep & Discount Bank First Liberty Bank & Trust First Nat’l Community Bank Gertrude Hawks Chocolates, Inc Dr. Albert Giallorenzi Ginader Jones & Company W D Iacono & Company Jesuit Community Keystone Community Resources, Inc King’s College La Trattoria Restaurant Landmark Community Bank Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Lavelle Mr. William Lees Atty. John Lenahan M & T Bank Corp Drs. Miriam O’Malley & Kenneth Miller Atty. Joseph Murphy Dr. Albert Nalevanko Mr. Jamie O’Donnell Mr. Peter O’Donnell Mrs. Arlene O’Hara One Point Mr. John Palumbo Partridge Wirth Company PDQ Print Center Penn Security Bank Pennstar Bank F. Pesavento & Sons Pioneer Dist Co PNC Bank Dr. & Mrs. J Anthony Quinn Atty. James Reid RJ Burne Olds Cadillac Inc Mr. James Ross Mr. Robert Rossi Ms. Olga Rupinski Hon. & Mrs. William Scranton Scranton CLU Scranton Label Scranton Rent All Center Scranton Times-Sunday Times Sibio’s Restaurant Mr. Donald Simpkins Ms. Kathryn Smith Spotless Cleaners Steamfitters Local #524 Mr. Harold Thorpe Mr. & Mrs. David Tressler University of Scranton WBRE TV Atty. Myles Wren * - Of Blessed Memory

THE REPORTER ■ August 2, 2012

d’var torah ABINGTON TORAH CENTER

Rabbi Dovid Saks President: Richard Rutta Jewish Heritage Connection 108 North Abington Rd., Clarks Summit, PA 18411 570-346-1321 • Website: www.jewishheritageconnection.org Sunday morning services at 8:30 am Call for other scheduled services throughout the week.

BETH SHALOM CONGREGATION

Rabbi Yisroel Brotsky 1025 Vine St., Scranton, PA 18510, (corner of Vine & Clay Ave.) 570-346-0502 • fax: 570-346-8800 Weekday – Shacharit: Sun 8 am; Mon, Thurs. & Rosh Chodesh, 6:30 am; Tue, Wed & Fri, 6:45 am; Sat & Holidays, 8:45 am. Mincha during the week is approx. 10 minutes before sunset, followed by Maariv.

BICHOR CHOLEM CONGREGATION/ CHABAD OF THE ABINGTONS Rabbi Benny Rapoport President: Richard I. Schwartz 749 Northern Blvd., Clarks Summit, PA 18411 570-587-3300 • Website: www.JewishNEPA.com Saturday morning Shabbat Service 9:30 am. Call or visit us online for our bi-weekly schedule

CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF THE POCONOS Rabbi Mendel Bendet 570-420-8655 • Website: www.chabadpoconos.com Please contact us for schedules and locations.

CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL Affiliation: Union for Reform Judaism Rabbi Allan L. Smith President: Henry M. Skier Contact Person: Len London (570) 698-9651 615 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431 570-253-2222 • fax: 570-226-1105

CONGREGATION B’NAI HARIM

Affiliation: Union for Reform Judaism Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum President: Phyllis Miller P.O. Box 757 Sullivan Rd., Pocono Pines, PA 18350 (located at RT 940 and Pocono Crest Rd at Sullivan Trail 570-646-0100 • Website: www.bnaiharimpoconos.org Shabbat Morning Services, 10 am – noon; every other Saturday Potluck Shabbat Dinner with blessings and program of varying topics, one Friday every month – call for schedule.

JEWISH FELLOWSHIP OF HEMLOCK FARMS

President: Steve Natt Forest Drive 1516 Hemlock Farms, Lords Valley, PA 18428 570-775-7497 • E-Mail: jfhf@enter.net Friday evening Shabbat service 7:30 pm, Saturday morning Shabbat Service 9:30 am.

MACHZIKEH HADAS SYNAGOGUE Rabbi Mordechai Fine President: Dr. Shaya Barax 600 Monroe Ave., Scranton, PA 18510 570-342-6271

OHEV ZEDEK CONGREGATION

Rabbi Mordechai Fine 1432 Mulberry St, Scranton, PA 18510 Contact person: Michael Mellner - 570-343-3183

TEMPLE HESED

Union of Reform Judaism Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz President: Eric Weinberg 1 Knox Street, Scranton, PA 18505, (off Lake Scranton Rd.) 570-344-7201 Friday evening Shabbat, 8 pm; Saturday morning Shabbat, 11:15 am

TEMPLE ISRAEL OF DUNMORE

President: Isadore Steckel 515 East Drinker St., Dunmore, PA 18512 570-344-3011 Saturday morning Shabbat 7:30 am; also services for Yizkor

TEMPLE ISRAEL OF THE POCONOS

Affiliation: United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Rabbi Baruch Melman President: Suzanne Tremper Contact person: Art Glantz 570-424-7876 660 Wallace St., Stroudsburg, PA, 18360 (one block off Rte. 191 (5th Street) at Avenue A) 570-421-8781 • Website: www.templeisraelofthepoconos.org E-Mail: tipoc@ptd.net Friday evening Shabbat, 8pm; Saturday morning Shabbat, 9 am

TEMPLE ISRAEL OF SCRANTON

Affiliation: United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism President: Michael Mardo 918 East Gibson St., Scranton, PA, 18510 (located at the corner of Gibson & Monroe Sts.) 570-342-0350 Fax: 570-342-7250 • E-Mail: tiscran@epix.net Sunday, 8 am; Mon & Thurs, 7:15 am; Tue, Wed & Fri, 7:25 am; Rosh Hodesh & Chagim weekdays, 7 am; Shabbat Morning Service, 8:45 am; evening services: Sun – Thurs, 5:45 pm; Friday Shabbat and Saturday Havdalah services, call for times.

Hearing God’s comforting message by RABBI SCOTT L. GLASS, TEMPLE BETH-EL OF ITHACA Vaetchanan, Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 The Shabbat following Tisha B’Av is known as Shabbat Nahamu, the Sabbath of Consolation, as we seek comfort following the commemoration of the sacking of Jerusalem and the destruction of the holy Temple. The annual commemoration of the calamities that befell our people in ancient times, followed by the seven Shabbatot of consolation, conveys the message that even as our people survived the most unthinkable horrors and still survive, we can endure suffering and loss and survive. Shabbat Nahamu takes its name from the prophetic selection we read, which is from Isaiah, chapter 40, “Comfort ye, comfort ye, My People, says your God.” Shabbat Nahamu always coincides with the reading of parashat Vaetchanan, which is the continuation of Moses’ discourses to the people Israel on the eve of their entering the Promised Land. The Torah reading is very rich and contains many familiar verses. In addition to the reiteration of the Decalogue (otherwise known as the Ten Commandments), we also find what is probably the bestknown selection from the Torah – the Shema – a one-line summary of the foundation of Judaism: the belief in one God and Israel’s loyalty to God. There is something curious about this verse, which has been referred to as “the watchword of our faith.” While there are many slight variations on the translation of the Shema, the most universal translation for the first word, shema, is “hear.” Now, one could argue that it is the declaration of the statement that is important, the calling of people to witness, and the laws regarding the Shema are mostly about its recitation: when it needs to be recited, where it can be recited and who is obligated to recite it. While we are supposed to make an attempt to understand the Hebrew so we can appreciate what we’re saying, still the word is shema, “hear,” rather than hakshev, “listen.” While one might argue for the importance of listening and understanding, it is worth remembering that just hearing has some value, as well. The fact that for most Jews the words of the Shema, the sounds of the prayer, are among their earliest Jewish memories has great significance. Over and over, we hear the words until they become a part of us. We may not know any other Hebrew, we may not be familiar

with most other parts of the liturgy, but when it comes to the Shema we are united because it’s something we have all internalized. And what could be more important to make a part of ourselves than the central tenet of Judaism: the oneness of God and Israel’s devotion to God. Perhaps, then, it is not a coincidence that it is on Shabbat Vaetchanan that we read God’s comforting message for Israel. Ultimately, the greatest comfort we may draw comes from these words which we hold dear, which take us back to our childhood and evoke meaningful memories for us, these words which remind us of our covenantal relationship with God, of God’s nearness and of God’s constant presence in our lives.

Jewlicious SummerFest

The third annual Jewlicious SummerFest Music and Summer Camp Festival will be held from August 16-19 in Brandeis, CA. The four-day festival will include performances by world-renown musicians and a weekend of cultural experiences at the Brandeis Bardin Campus of American Jewish University. Numerous community and recreational activities will be held throughout the weekend, including rock-climbing, midnight hikes, bonfires, yoga, Sabbath banquets, folk dance, and wine and pickle making. Pre-sale tickets are now on sale at JewliciousFestival. com. For ticket information, updated news on performers, speakers and more details, visit www.jewliciousfestival.com.

Israeli and Jewish cooking

Tori Avey offers information and recipes about Israeli and Jewish cooking at The Shiksa in the Kitchen website, http://theshiksa.com. Avey, who converted to Judaism and has an Israeli husband, includes kitchen memories, which feature interviews and photos in addition to recipes, videos, cooking tips, lists of other sites of interest and more.

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columns that cover everything from food to entertainment. The Federation assumes the financial responsibility for funding the enterprise at a cost of $26,400 per year and asks only that we undertake a small letter writing mail campaign to our recipients in the hope of raising $10,000 from our readership to alleviate a share of that responsibility. We would be grateful if you would care enough to take the time to make a donation for our efforts in bringing The Reporter to your door.

As the primary Jewish newspaper of our region, we have tried to produce a quality publication for you that offers our readership something on everythingfrom opinions and columns on controversial issues that affect our people and our times, to publicity for the events of our affiliated agencies and organizations to life cycle events, teen columns, personality profiles, letters to the editor, the Jewish community calendar and other

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AUGUST 2, 2012 ■

THE REPORTER

In a new network, Jewish cancer survivors are finding the understanding they need By Charlotte Anthony NEW YORK (JTA) – Roni Bibring was 15 when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Four years later, her treatment completed, she says her biggest challenge – having lost touch with many of her friends – is making new friends who understand what she’s been through. “Most people don’t even realize that they’ve completely lost touch with you and that’s the thing you need the most,” said Bibring, of Englewood, NJ. “They think because you don’t text them every day that you don’t want them in your life, but you might not even be conscious,” adding that “you could be asleep for days in a row.” Through R-Mission, a support network for Jewish cancer survivors that held its inaugural event in New York last month, Bibring is finding people who do understand. “I have a lot of scars, and they would never judge me for it because they probably have similar things on their body, too,” said Bibring, who is featured on the group’s website. “Just not having to be judged and to have friends that understand why you look a certain way is the best part.” Cheryl Greenberger said her work as a psychologist at Chai Lifeline, which provides support and a camp for Jewish children with life-threatening illnesses, spurred her to create R-Mission – as in remission – as a Chai Lifeline program. “What people were asking for and looking for was a way to connect with other people who could relate to them and understand them in a way that even close family members and close friends couldn’t relate to them,” Greenberger said.

The group’s website, r-mission.org, includes a discussion forum open only to those who have registered, as well as a resource section with links to everything from cancer research foundations to support groups to organizations that give scholarships to young people who have had cancer. Although events will be held in New York, Greenberg points out that the discussion forum can reach a global audience. More than 100 people already have registered, many of them from outside the United States. An online community, she says, gives “people the opportunity to really be open and honest with the questions they had without publicly announcing themselves.” Bibring says she is glad to meet people who have had experiences similar to hers. “All of us went through the same thing,” she said. “They understand what you are going through and they are not going to ditch you. They are there for you when you aren’t feeling well.” Melanie Kwestel, Chai Lifeline’s director of communications, anticipates that R-Mission will draw its initial members from Chai Lifeline. But she says the goal “is to reach people of all types of cancer beyond just pediatric cancer, and with online advertising we can reach a bigger audience.” For now, the majority of those involved in R-Mission are Orthodox, but through online advertising and word of mouth, officials hope to reach Jews across the denominations. David Pelcovitz, a professor of psychology and education at Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School and a member of the R-Mission Advisory Committee, said a stigma long surrounded

At left: David Pelcovitz, professor of psychology and education at Yeshiva University's Azrieli Graduate School, spoke about the challenges of remission at the R-Mission inaugural event on June 3. (Photo courtesy of RMission)

ish Federatio n’s he Jew t n em o u ail o y lis re t We send updated announcements and special

L-r: R-Mission members Robin Burger, Roni Bibring and Yonina Teitelbaum at RMission's inaugural event on June 3. (Photo courtesy of R-Mission) cancer. In Yiddish, cancer was referred to as “yenem machla,” an affliction from the other world. “It was almost too dread a reality to even face and name,” Pelcovitz said. “We’ve come a long way since then, and this is another example of being able to openly discuss, openly support and to openly name the monster.” The stigma, however, remains and it is most prevalent in the Orthodox community, Kwestel said, pointing in particular to a culture in which matchmakers are common. Before the couples meet, they learn much about one another’s background. “There are people who aren’t going to date someone who had cancer, but it’s just not acceptable in the non-Orthodox community to say that,” Kwestel said. Unlike Sharsheret, a nonprofit founded a decade ago to focus on young Jewish women who have or were treated for breast and ovarian cancer, R-Mission is the first Jewish organization dedicated to connecting Jewish survivors with all types of cancer, according to Greenberger.

Kwestel says that many who have survived cancer are seeking a sense of community. “Sometimes people say I’m not religious, I don’t do Shabbos, I don’t do kosher, but I’m Jewish,” she said. “There’s still this feeling of affiliation and there is a feeling that in any kind of traumatic situation, we look back to our families and community.” Bibring says that she is excited that R-Mission has been working closely with survivors to ascertain their needs. “It’s like we are building our own organization by the means that we have. I think it’s awesome; it’s the best thing you can ask for,” she said. “Different people have different needs, so it’s nice that they are asking us.” Greenberger wants R-Mission to be a program “for survivors by survivors. I hope that we will develop a strong community where no one will feel alone anymore when they complete treatment, and that people will feel like there is a place they can go where people understand them,” she said. “We really want to empower survivors.”

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THE REPORTER â&#x2013; August 2, 2012

Now playing at a museum mah jongg table: Jewish pop culture

By Edmon J. Rodman LOS ANGELES (JTA) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; With a Chinese â&#x20AC;&#x153;bamâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;crak,â&#x20AC;? and a Jewish â&#x20AC;&#x153;pop,â&#x20AC;? the real action is happening outside the galleries of the Skirball Cultural Center here. That was by design. Unlike most art shows, where guards may stand watch to ensure that no one gets too close to the artworks, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Project Mah Jonggâ&#x20AC;? is different: Not only is the central exhibit touchable, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playable, too. At the Skirball through September 2, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Project Mah Jonggâ&#x20AC;? next travels to the Jewish Museum of Florida in Miami Beach in October and then the William Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta in April. The exhibit originated at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York. On a recent afternoon, the distinctive clinking-clanking sounds of mah jongg tiles fill the air of the Skirball. Although the game table sitting in the middle of the exhibition looks inviting, eight players of the rummy-like game of Chinese origin â&#x20AC;&#x201C; popular with Jewish players since its U.S. introduction in the early 1920s â&#x20AC;&#x201C; prefer to take their friendly games to the terrace, where the museum has set up several mah jongg tables. The players come from several generations, and the bams, craks and dots â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the names for the various suits of mah jongg tiles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are flying. Before taking a seat at a table, each player had warmed up by taking in the show: a gallery of memorabilia illustrat-

This 1924 photo of a floating game of mah jongg is part of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Project Mah Jonggâ&#x20AC;? exhibit now showing at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. (Photo courtesy Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.) ing the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s place in Jewish pop culture supplemented by more contemporary and humorous interpretations by artists Maira Kalman and Bruce McCall. One exhibit, titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mah Jongg Hostess,â&#x20AC;? features a mah jongg-themed skirt, gelatin mold and a box of Joya chocolate-covered jelly rings. For the mostly groups of women visiting that

T H S Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S T !

Hesed, Hallah and Honey Continuing a Sisterhood Rosh Hashana fÂ&#x201A;ndraising tÂ&#x192;adition starÂ&#x201E;ed by Roseann Smith Alperin (O.B.M.), we begin 5773 in her memorÂ&#x2122;.

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â&#x20AC;˘ Proceeds benefit Youth Religious Education â&#x20AC;˘

Choose one of two gifts, your choiceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;only $20 â&#x20AC;˘ A giďŹ&#x2026; bag with a Kosher Challah (plain or raisin), apples, a container of honey, candy, and tÂ&#x;o Yom Tov candles. â&#x20AC;˘ A large flowering plantâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Mums. Last year the mum were huge and beautifÂ&#x201A;l. This is the ideal giďŹ&#x2026; for someone who cannot accept outside food items.

To order: Make checks payable to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Temple Hesed Sisterhoodâ&#x20AC;?. SpecifÂ&#x2122; plain or raisin Challah or the flowering mum. Mail to: Carol Leventhal, 125 Welsh Hill Road, Clarks Summit, PA 18411. For more inforÂśation, call Carol at 570-587-2931 or email jeff@gÂ&#x192;aphicsarÂ&#x201E;.net.

We are delivering the ÂŠesh Challah giďŹ&#x2026; bags and the beautifÂ&#x201A;l mums on Erev Rosh Hashanah: Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012.

DELIVERIES WILL BE MADE TO ANY ADDRESS IN SCRANTON OR THE ABINGTONS

All Orders Must Be In By Sept. 7, 2012 Volunteers Needed! To assemble gift bags at 10:00 a.m., Friday, Sept. 14, 2012 at the Leventhal residence located at 125 Welsh Hill Road in Clarks Summit. To make deliveries on Sunday morning, Sept. 16, 2012. Call Carol or Jeff at 570-587-2931 to volunteer.

Hesed, Hallah and Honey Order Form Last Day to Order is 9/7/2012 To: Name _______________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________ ___________________________ Phone ___________________

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day, its accompanying text belabors an already internalized point: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In many households, mah jongg was a ritual created by and for women.â&#x20AC;? Jewish women were pioneers in standardizing the game and writing rulebooks, even becoming authorities of the game, the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s text reminds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is my grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s set. I have it at home. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a family heirloom,â&#x20AC;? Teri Kaufman says, pointing to a vintage mah jongg set with an artificial reptile skin case she found on display. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I remember my grandmother playing with that set.â&#x20AC;? Kaufman is visiting the show with members of her Hadassah group â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all mah jongg players. Another display attempts to answer whether Chinese food was the Jewish link to mah jongg, or possibly the other way around. The showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s text explains that Jewish Americans of the 1920s were enthusiastic adopters of immigrant products, including Chinese food. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cross-ethnic sampling created a sense of adventure, and demonstrated a sophistication that transcended old-world parochialism,â&#x20AC;? it reads. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am so craving Chinese food right now,â&#x20AC;? says Nancy Eisman, responding to the Asian motif of the tiles, vintage scorecards and other accouterments of the game. Ronee Kraves, who is Chinese, encountered the original version of the game while growing up in China. She is doing her own â&#x20AC;&#x153;cross-ethnic sampling.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The tiles are the same and the rules might be different,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My parents played and I learned from them. When we go back to China, we play.â&#x20AC;? Kraves says that until visiting the show, she was not aware that Jews were big players. She points to a large 1924 photo, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leisure class ladies playing a floating game of mah jongg,â&#x20AC;? depicting a group of bathing-suited Jewish women playing the game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just like the Chinese people who play in the water when it gets hot,â&#x20AC;? Kraves says. See â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mah jonggâ&#x20AC;? on page 13

Radar

Continued from page 7 hundreds of requests from parents of children with intellectual or developmental disabilities to move away from the term mental retardation.

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your chair A haredi Orthodox synagogue in Jerusalem can rest easier now that a missing chair that some believe has special powers has been found. The wooden chair, belonging to Shas party spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, disappeared in June from its place in the Tiferet Yerushalaim synagogue, causing an uproar. But it was found several days later when a synagogue gabbai said he lent it to members of a well-known rabbinical family for a brit milah. The family had wanted to have the chair at its brit so that when the rabbi attended the service as the babyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s godfather, he would be surprised with the chair. The rabbi did not attend the brit, however, and the chair remained with the babyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family. Ynet reported that the special seat is slated to be returned soon. Bill would bar baring it all A haredi Orthodox Shas lawmaker wants to make it illegal to bare it all, especially for artâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sake. Nissim Zeev tried and failed late last year to prevent American artist Spencer Tunickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nude photo shoot at the Dead Sea, where more than 1,000 Israelis modeled nude for the installation initiated in Israel to draw attention to the environmental plight of the Dead Sea. The volunteers modeled in the sea, on the shore and covered in Dead Sea mud. Now Zeev has submitted a bill that would send to jail for at least one year anyone who gets naked for artistic or commercial purposes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The determination that pornographic expression (including public nudity for art or advertising) is protected by freedom of expression and is an expression of human creation in the modern era and promotes public discourse is contrary to the basic principle mentioned in the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights,â&#x20AC;? the explanatory notes to the bill said, specifically a violation of the religious sentiments of religious Jewish, Muslim and Christian citizens. Tunick said at the time of the photo shoot that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Israel is not a theocracy, it is a democracy and the only place in the Middle East that I could create this art. Thanks to the participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; efforts, the world has a new image of Israel as an open and vibrant democracy.â&#x20AC;? No more marijuana high Israeli scientists have developed a strain of marijuana that does not make you high. The cannabis, which already is in use by people who are undergoing medical marijuana treatment, was developed by Hebrew Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s department of immunology and grown in the medical cannabis company Tikun Olam. The new marijuana strain also does not give users the munchies, according to Ynet. Meanwhile, police in the largely haredi Orthodox populated city of Elad arrested a yeshiva student and his wife for growing 210 potted marijuana plants in one of their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bedrooms, Ynet reported. The wife told police she tried to break her husband of his habit, and even brought a rabbit into the house to eat the plants. The rabbit did manage to destroy some of the plants.

AUGUST 2, 2012 ■

THE REPORTER

Jewish leader in Tunisia tries to maintain ties with new gov’t By Kouichi Shirayanagi TUNIS (JTA) – Sitting beside his collection of Tunisian menorahs, spice boxes and jewelry, with Danish Impressionist paintings on the walls, Roger Bismuth was recalling his days as a Nazi slave laborer – and the dramatic change in his life since that time. Bismuth said that between November 1942 and May 1943, he built bunkers and harbors for the Nazis in the nearby port of La Goulette, a suburb of Tunis. He had left school in 1940 at age 14 to become a construction worker. “The Germans knew I was Jewish. The major who was in charge of building

Mah jongg “The game is a perfect runway to memories,” says the traveling show’s curator, Melissa Martens, director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. “So many people have mah jongg sets buried in their attics or closets.” On the Skirball deck, several visitors are ready to add to those memories. Assisting them is Lisa Blandford, the Skirball exhibit’s mah jongg facilitator. “I try to get people to play,” she says. “The tables are usually filled with people who bring their own groups, and sometimes people who have just met each other.” Players of one game included Necia Sukonig, a veteran who sometimes plays twice a week, and her daughter, Ivy Ransom, as well as Kraves, who after watching a game is ready to try her hand. Blandford, also a newcomer to the game, makes the fourth. The game, slow at first as players draw tiles and arrange them on racks, quickly picks up speed. They try to achieve mah jongg by using their tiles to match specific sequences of tiles dictated by a game card published by the National Mah Jongg League, a group founded in 1937 by German Jewish women.

the bunkers was a nice man – he would pick me up every morning and take me to work,” Bismuth, 86, remembers. After the war, Bismuth worked for the French building barracks for the colonial soldiers stationed in his port city. At the same time, he was active in the Tunisian independence movement against the continued French colonization of Tunisia. A product of an almost-lost era, when most Jews living in metropolitan Tunis became doctors, lawyers and businessmen while those on the island of Djerba studied to be rabbis, Bismuth amassed his wealth by developing

Continued from page 12

“Who has all the jokers?” Sukonig asks as she eyes each player. “You’re a good a bluffer,” she says to her daughter as they cross looks. The players continue a complicated passing sequence until Sukonig announces, “Mah jongg,” signifying victory. “At home they would all have to pay me money,” she says in an aside. Many mah jongg games are played for small amounts of money; it’s part of the game’s sociology. Martens says that each aspect of the game is meant for sharing and community, and that the exhibit “was designed to feature the visitor.” As a result of the New York museum’s creation and continued involvement with the show, she and some 30 staff members have learned how to play mah jongg, Martens says. “They have become addicts,” she said. Exhibit visitor Bonnie Neustein, seated on a couch next to Eisman, observes that mah jongg is about “reaching out to other people, face to face instead of a computer.” Eisman adds, “It will be interesting to see if a younger generation can sit still long enough to play.”

a major product distribution conglomerate that distributes food, electronic and cosmetic products, including L’Oreal, across North Africa. He also is president of the Jewish community of Tunisia. After spending decades developing a good relationship with Tunisia’s old government, which he served as a member of parliament, he hopes to build a strong relationship with the new Islamist-leaning government of his small North African country, keeping the aging Jewish community from further decline. Tunisia at the time of Bismuth’s birth had more than 100,000 Jews. Today, there are fewer than 2,000 Jews in the country and many of them are elderly. According to historians, Tunisia has had a continuous Jewish presence for more than 2,600 years. When Tunisia was a French colony, the Tunisian Jewish Community Council was a government within a government – operating its own court, issuing marriage licenses and overseeing education for the Jews. Following the North African nation’s independence in 1956, Tunisia’s first president, Habib Bourguiba, dissolved the council and created a new organization with a dramatically altered role. Most of the country’s Jews live on Djerba, which always has maintained a separate organized Jewish community from the mainland. Thus the majority of Tunisia’s Jews don’t use the services of the Tunisian Jewish Community; Bismuth has been its president since 1996. Elderly Jews are provided with visits from the doctor and given food, clothes and assistance no matter where they live in greater Tunis, Sousse or Sfax. The community worked to build the Center for Aging People in La Goulette, which provides kosher food and assisted living to 20-25 residents. A 12-person staff of doctors, nurses, cooks and medical spe-

Roger Bismuth, president of Tunisia's Jewish community. (Photo by Kouichi Shirayanagi) cialists provides round-the-clock care for the residents. The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee once provided half the operating costs for the center but with funding from abroad reduced, Bismuth says the Tunisian Jewish community works diligently to get by. Bismuth maintains ties with the World Jewish Congress and American Jewish Committee. It’s difficult to gauge, however, the significance of Bismuth’s role in Tunisia’s Jewish community. Both Bismuth and Chief Rabbi Haim Bittan acknowledge that they have a cold working relationship, and congregants at Bismuth’s synagogue, Beit Mordechai Synagogue in La Goulette, are reluctant to speak about him on the record. Beth Mordechai Rabbi Daniel Cohen, however, calls Bismuth “a nice man who does his best to care for the community.” Jo Krief, a retired fashion designer who is involved with the association to preserve the Borgel Jewish cemetery in Tunis, says Bismuth was named president of the Jewish community only because of his close ties to the old regime. Krief claims the Tunisian Jewish Community operates under an old, outdated structure that lacks transparency, See “Tunisia” on page 14

September 13 issue September 5 deadline Once again this year, The Scranton Reporter is inviting its readers to extend New Year’s greetings to the community by purchasing a New Year’s greeting ad, which will appear in our September 13 issue. You may choose from the designs, messages and sizes shown here - more are available. You may also choose your own message, as long as it fits into the space of the greeting you select. (Custom designs available upon request.) The price of the small greeting is $18 (styles E and F), the larger one is $34 (Style A) and the largest one is $68 (not shown). To ensure that your greeting is published or for more information on additional styles, sizes and designs, please contact Bonnie Rozen at 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244 or bonnie@thereportergroup.org. Checks can be made payable to The Reporter Group and sent to: The Reporter, 500 Clubhouse Rd., Vestal, NY 13850 Style A

A friendly mah jongg game on the terrace of the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles in June. (Photo by Edmon J. Rodman)

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Congregation B’nai Harim is looking for a Religious School teacher for the 2012-2013 school year. Religious School classes are held two Saturdays a month. Each session is 3 hours in length and includes Hebrew and Judaic studies. We are a one-room school house with children from age 8 1/2 and up and also have a teacher assistant who works with the beginners. We are a 35 minute drive from Scranton, located on Sullivan Road, off Rte. 940 in Pocono Pines, PA. For additional information, please contact the temple and leave a message at 570-646-0100 or Barbara Kapitansky, Religious School Director at 570-646-4668.

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THE REPORTER ■ August 2, 2012

Jewish Federation of NEPA

Jewish Film Library

The Jewish Film Library Update - Check out new titles in both feature & non-feature films. Contact Dassy Ganz dassy.ganz@jewishnepa.org for information.

Feature Films Currently Available- SEptember 2011 A Stranger Among Us - A New York policewoman enters the Hasidic community to investigate a diamond robbery/murder. Cast a Giant Shadow - U.S. Colonel David “Mickey” Marcus goes to 1940’s Israel to help re organize its army. Defiance - The extraordinary true story of the Bielski brothers who turned a group of war refugees into powerful freedom fighters against the Nazi regime Frisco Kid - It’s 1850 and new rabbi Avram Belinski sets out from Philadelphia toward San Francisco. Cowpoke bandit Tom Lillard hasn’t seen a rabbi before. But he knows when one needs a heap of help. And getting this tenderfoot to Frisco in one piece will cause a heap of trouble - with the law, Native Americans and a bunch of killers. Gentleman’s Agreement - A magazine writer (played by Gregory Peck) posed as a Jew to expose anti-Semitism in 1940’s America. Good - Featured at the 2009 Jewish Film Festival of NEPA In an attempt to establish its credibility, the new Nazi government is seeking out experts to endorse its policies, and they trip across Johnnie Halder’s (Viggo Mortensen) sensitively written 1920s novel of a husband who aids his terminally ill wife in an assisted suicide. Although Johnnie despises Naziism he is flattered by the attention paid to his novel, and accepts (with misgivings) an honorary commission in the SS. This opens the door to promotions at the University. He becomes Dean of Literature after the former Dean, Herr Mandelbaum “leaves in such a hurry.” He is tapped to inspect facilities for the care of the mentally ill, based on his “humanitarian” writings. Throughout “Good”, Johnnie is “good,” but he becomes increasingly blind to what is happening around him as he travels down the slippery slope that eventually takes him to Auschwitz on an inspecton tour. Never evil, Johnnie Halder is an Everyman who goes along, accepts what he told without question, and is increasingly co-opted by flattery and comfort. In the end, he comes to realize that he is stumbling through a waking nightmare of which he in part created. Not judgmental of its protagonist, GOOD invites us to question just what a “good” man is and does and where the bounds of responsibility lie. Kazablan*- Israel’s all-time Great Musical, nominated for two Golden Globe Awards. This 1970’s mega-hit is Israel’s answer to the musical West Side Story, with its story of star-crossed lovers, street gangs and cultural differences. With its exhilarating music and choreography, Kazablan is sure to entertain. Lies My Father Told Me - The heart-warming story of the Jewish immigrant community of 1920’s Montreal. David, the grandson, lives with his parents, his grandfather Zaida and Zaida’s aging horse Ferdeleh. Noodle - (PAL version- can only be played on computer NOT regular DVD players)At thirty-seven, Miri is a twice-widowed, El Al flight attendant. Her well-regulated existence is suddenly turned upside down by an abandoned Chinese boy whose migrant-worker mother has been deported from Israel. The film is a touching comic-drama in which two human beings -- as different from each other as Tel Aviv is from Beijing -- accompany each other on a remarkable journey, one that takes them both back to a meaningful life. Schindler’s List*-The Academy Award winning film by Steven Spielberg tells the true story of Oskar Schindler, the man responsible for saving the lives of hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust. School Ties - A young man from the wrong side of the tracks gets a football scholarship to a private school, which will lead to his entrance to Harvard. He is well accepted at the blue blood school until it is revealed that he is Jewish. The Angel Levine - Things couldn’t get worse for Jewish tailor Morris Mishkin (Zero Mostel). His shop has gone up in flames, his daughter has married outside the faith and, worse yet, his wife is slowly dying. But just when he decides to give up on God, a mysterious man (Harry Belafonte) appears, claiming to be his Jewish guardian angel! Doubtful that the stranger is Jewish, never mind an angel. Mishkin must overcome his skepticism if he want ones last chance at redemption. The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz -*A Jewish teenager is determined to “make it” no matter what it takes. On his path to success he faces anti-Semitism, betrays family and friends, and faces the responsibilities of being an adult. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas -* Set during World War II, this is the story of Bruno, an innocent, and naïve eight-year –old boy who meets a boy while romping in the woods. A surprising friendship develops. The Impossible Spy*- Elie Cohen was a family man leading a quiet, normal life, when at the age of 35, he was recruited by Israel’s secret service (Mossad) and assigned a mission that would forever change his life, and the history of Israel. Today he is regarded as a legend and a national hero. The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob -*In this French comedy, Louis de Funes stars as Victor Pivert, a hopelessly bigoted man. Victor loves people, as long as they’re Caucasian, French, and Catholic. But when it comes to foreigners, Victor draws the line. His ultimate nightmare becomes a reality the day of his daughter’s wedding, when he stumbles across a group of Arab revolutionaries and is forced into hiding as a rabbi. Gerard Oury’s film features an onslaught of hilarious chase sequences. Ushpizin- A fable set in the orthodox Jewish world in Jerusalem, Ushpizin tells the story of a poor childless couple, Moshe and Malli (played to perfection by award winning actor Shuli Rand and his real-life wife, Michal Bat-Sheva Rand) whose belief in the goodness of the Almighty follows a roller coaster of situations and emotions but leads to the ultimate happiness, the birth of their son.

Non-Feature Films Blessed is the Match*- In 1944, 22-year old Hannah Senesh parachuted into Nazi-occupied Europe with a small group of Jewish volunteers from Palestine. Theirs was the only military rescue mission for Jews that occurred in World War II. Told through Hannah’s letters, diaries and poems, her mother’s memoirs and the recollections of those who knew and loved her, the film traces her life from her childhood in Budapest to her time in British-controlled Palestine, to her daring mission to rescue Jews in her native Hungary. Budapest to Gettysburg*- The past and present collide as a world-renowned historian confronts a history he has refused to study- his own. Gabor Boritt is an expert on Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War. But it took his son’s urging to get him to return to his native Hungary and learn about the Jewish experience there from the time of his childhood until, together with his family, he escaped to the United States. Constantine’s Sword - Constantine’s Sword is an astonishing exploration of the dark side of Christianity, following acclaimed author and former priest James Carrol on a journey of remembrance and reckoning. Warning of what happens when military power and religious fervor are joined, this new film from Oscar-nominated director Oren Jacoby asks: Is the fanaticism that threatens the world today fueled by our own deeply held beliefs? I Have Never Forgotten You - The Life and Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal*- Wiesenthal, a Holocaust survivor who lost 89 family members, helped track down over 1,00 Nazi war criminals and spent six decades fighting anti-Semitism and prejudice against all people. Into the Arms of Strangers - A superb documentary that chronicles the Kindertransport, an extraordinary rescue operation to save the youngest victims of Nazi terror. Making Trouble - A just released documentary telling the story of six of the greatest female Jewish comics entertainers of the last century- Molly Picon, Fanny Brice Sophie Tucker, Joan Rivers, Gilda Radner and Wendy Wasserstein. Night and Fog - One of first cinematic reflections on the horrors of the Holocaust, Night and Fog, filmmaker Alain Renais investigates the cyclical nature of man’s violence toward man and presents the unsettling suggestion that such horror could come again. Steal a Pencil for Me*- 1943: Holland is under Total Nazi occupation. After deportation Jack his wife and his new love find themselves living in the same barracks in a concentration camp. This documentary chronicles the secret love letters written by Jack and Ina which gives them the strength to survive the war. The Case for Israel - Democracy’s Outpost Famed attorney, Alan Dershowitz, presents a vigorous case for Israel- for its basic right to exist, to protect its citizens from terrorism and to defend its borders from hostile enemies. Featured commentators include: Ehud Barak, Caroline Glick, Dore Gold, Tzipi Livni and Natan Sharansky. The Jewish Americans - A Series by David Grubin*- This series traces 350 years of Jewish American history from the arrival of the first Jews in 1654 up to the present day. The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg - As baseball’s first Jewish star, Hammering’ Hank Greenberg’s career contains all the makings of a true American success story. An extraordinary ball player notorious for his hours of daily practice, Greenberg’s career was an inspiration to all and captured the headlines and the admiration of sportswriters and fans alike. This is the story of how he became an American hero. With All Your Heart- (Hebrew with English subtitles)The poignant true story of the life of Leut. Roi Klein, who gave up his life to save his battalion during the Lebanon War of 2002.

*Films marked with an * are newly acquired by the Film Library.

Jewish outdoors event

The Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America will hold “A Rocky Mountain Chai” event at the JCC Ranch Camp near Colorado Springs, CO, from August 30-September 3. Day options will include scenic hikes, riding horses and Segways, swimming, rock climbing, biking down Pike’s Peak and more. Entertainment possibilities will include watching Ninja acrobats, visiting cultural and histories sites, a field day, workshops and more. Evening activities will include social events, campfires, night hikes, Shabbat activities, dancing, nature presentations and more. Registration is open until Sunday, August 12. Events are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Details of more than 100 events are noted on the event website, and participants even have the option for pre-trip and a post-trip events. For more details, visit http://2012event.mosaicoutdoor.org.

DVD on “The Thomashefskys”

“The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater” – written, hosted and conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas – has been released on DVD by New Video. Recorded in April 2011 at the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center in Miami Beach, the performance of “The Thomashefskys” stars Judy Blazer as Bessie Thomashefsky and Shuler Hensley as Boris Thomashefsky. It also features Ronit Widmann-Levy and Eugene Brancoveanu and the New World Symphony, and is directed for television by Gary Halvorson. The DVD also features additional music performances, an interview with Thomas about the Thomashefskys and a feature on the New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy.

Free Hebrew literature and music

Sifriyat Pijama B’America (SP-BA) provides an opportunity for young Jewish children, ages 3-6, living in the United States to sign up to receive free storybooks in Hebrew. The program is designed to strengthen participants’ Hebrew language proficiency and connections with Jewish values and culture, as well as develop a channel through which young Jewish children can spend more quality time at bedtime with their families in a positive, educational manner. For more information or to register, visit www.sp-ba.org.

Tunisia

Continued from page 13 separates Djerba from the mainland community and concentrates all decision making into one leader. Bismuth, who says he meets regularly with the community’s four-member board and provides assistance to Djerba as needed, denies that he supported the former regime. Bismuth asserts that the old Tunisian government itself was not corrupt, saying that talented technocrats ran the state apparatus. Until the revolution, he was the only Jewish parliamentarian anywhere in an Arabic-speaking country. In 2005, the Tunisian employers association selected him as one of seven representatives to serve in the Tunisian Senate. “When we had people shouting kill the Jews in the street of Tunis and at the airport, the whole world called me,” Bismuth said, referring to incidents in January when Islamists made violent threats to the Jewish community while greeting the arrival party of visiting Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and in March when an imam at a downtown Tunis rally in support of Islamic law called on Tunisian youth to kill Jews. As a businessman, Bismuth has found himself working with the new government. “It’s not just Jews but everyone in Tunisia’s business community who has to change from working with the old to the new governments,” he said. Bismuth frequently meets with ministers in the new government, particularly after each of the recent incidents of incitement. He says the government has responded positively after each incident. He acknowledges, however, that he has greater ideological differences with the new government. “I have a problem with this government because I don’t believe in mixing religion and state,” Bismuth said. “I think religion is a private matter.” With his wife, Aase, a Dane who converted to Judaism through the Masorti (Conservative) movement – a conversion that has brought Bismuth harsh criticism from some in the Jewish community who are more observant than he – Bismuth has six children (only two of whom remain in Tunisia), 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. And while life for Tunisia’s Jews remains uncertain, Bismuth has no plans to leave his native land. In fact, he has harsh words for Israel’s Tunisian-born deputy prime minister, Silvan Shalom, who in December urged all of Tunisia’s Jews to immigrate to Israel. “I really don’t like Silvan Shalom. He is very stupid. I knew him before,” Bismuth said. “Even in Israel many don’t like him. What will he do for the people once they get to Israel? He can’t provide better services for our community than we can. He is really speaking for nothing.”

AUGUST 2, 2012 ■

THE REPORTER

NEWS IN bRIEF From JTA

Jewish summer campers “terrorized”

Three adults and two juveniles are under arrest for allegedly for making children at a Jewish summer camp feel “terrorized and in fear of for their lives.” The five were arrested in Wayne County, PA,ABC News reported. They face felony and misdemeanor charges, including “assault, vandalism and terroristic threats.” Allegations include shouting antisemitic epithets and firing paintball guns at campers and staff at Camp Bonim, Edwards said in a news release. “These children were terrorized and in fear for their lives by the actions of this group,” District Attorney Janine Edwards said in a press release. “The vicious, cruel and obscene nature of the language hurled at the campers is unspeakable. Luckily none of the children suffered any serious physical injury, however, the emotional damage is immeasurable.” The camp has about 300 children. Those arraigned, according to ABC News, include Mark Trail, 21, and Cassandra Robertson, 18, both of Wayne County, and Tyler Spencer, 18, of Linden, TN. They reportedly were held on $20,000 bail. A 17-year-old and a 16-year-old face juvenile court cases.

Celebrity chef Jamie Geller chronicling aliyah preparations

Celebrity chef Jamie Geller is chronicling her upcoming move to Israel in a series of documentary videos. Geller, a television producer, author and cooking celebrity, is producing with the Nefesh B’Nefesh aliyah assistance organization a documentary series following her and her family as they prepare to make aliyah and finally land in Israel. She is leaving from New York on the Aug. 13 Nefesh B’Nefesh charter flight in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Immigrant Absorption and the Jewish Agency for Israel. Geller founded the Kosher Media Network, which combines traditional media such as magazines, books and broadcast with digital, online and social media. In the spring of 2011, the network unveiled its Joy of Kosher consumer brand, launching JoyofKosher.com and the Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller magazine.

Obama signs U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act

Calling America’s commitment to Israel “unshakable,” President Barack Obama signed legislation designed to enhance security cooperation between the two countries. As he prepared to sign the bipartisan U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, Obama said “I have made it a top priority for my administration to deepen cooperation with Israel across the whole spectrum of security issues – intelligence, military, technology.” The legislation provides additional support for various defense systems as well as the extension of loan guarantees for Israel and encouragement of an expanded role for Israel within NATO. It also calls for the expansion of intelligence cooperation between the two states. “In many ways what this legislation does is bring together all the outstanding cooperation that we have seen, really, at an unprecedented level between our two countries that underscore our unshakeable commitment to Israel security,” Obama said. The president also announced an additional $70 million in spending for the Iron Dome project, which targets incoming missiles and artillery shells and has been used with success by Israel.

Bunker buster bomb ready, Air Force chief Donley says

The U.S. Air Force’s bunker buster is ready for use, according to the secretary of the Air Force, Michael Donley. The 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator, which is designed to destroy deeply buried bunkers that protect chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, is ready to be used, Donley told the Capitol Hill Club on July 25, Air Force Times reported. “If it needed to go today, we would be ready to do that,” he reportedly said. “We continue to do testing on the bomb to refine its capabilities, and that is ongoing. We also have the capability to go with existing configuration today.” Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who is scheduled to visit Israel in early August, had said said earlier this year that the bunker buster was not yet developed enough to be used in Iran. The Iranian nuclear installations that Israel is widely reported considering bombing to halt Tehran’s nuclear program are buried deep under the ground across the country.

White House press secretary: U.S. stance unchanged on Israeli capital

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, responding to a reporter’s question on the capital of Israel, said the Obama’s administration “has not changed.” The question – “What city does this administration consider to be the capital of Israel, Jerusalem or Tel Aviv?” – came during a news briefing on July 26. “I haven’t gotten that question in a while,” Carney responded. “Our position has not changed.” Pressed for an answer, Carney responded, “You know our position.” He then took another question. The transcript of the briefing later released to reporters included a statement outlining the White House’s official policy. “The status of Jerusalem is an issue that should be resolved in final status negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians,” the statement said. “We continue to work with the parties to resolve this issue and others in a way that is just and fair, and respects the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.” Mitt Romney’s campaign circulated a statement from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) the next day criticizing Carney’s answers. “For thousands of years, Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish people, but this administration refuses to say if Jerusalem is the true capital,” Cantor said. “At a moment when Israel is facing so many perils, the United States should be standing by our ally, not quibbling or quarreling about its capital city.”

Arab-Israeli MK Zoabi blames Israeli policy for terror attack in Bulgaria

An Israeli Arab Knesset member said that Israeli policy led to the deadly recent terrorist attack against Israeli tourists in Bulgaria. “Israel is not a victim, and even when civilians are killed, the occupying Israeli policy is to blame,” Channel 10 quoted Haneen Zoabi as saying, The Jerusalem Post reported. “If there was no occupation, no repression and no blockade, then this wouldn’t have happened,” she said during an interview at Haifa’s Gordon College. The terrorist attack, which American and Israeli offiicals blame on a Hezbollah operative, killed five Israelis and wounded another 36 on vacation in Burgas, Bulgaria. Zoabi also came out against efforts to have the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics remembered with a moment of silence during the opening ceremonies of this year’s London Olympics. She is member of the National Democratic Assembly, a secular party that says a democratic, secular stay is the only way that Israel’s Arab citizens can “achieve full, cultural, national and minority rights.” “Why don’t they commemorate the Palestinians that Israel murdered?” Channel 2 quoted Zoabi as saying. “If Israel would say that it recognizes the injustice it has done to Palestinians, then it would also be logical to ask the world to remember all the sides. But it is hypocritical to continue to bring up the victims of 40 years ago, while Israel wants to hide the victims of recent years.” Zoabi on July 27 denied the reports, saying that the media had ignored her condemnation of the murder of Jewish civilians in Burgas and her participation in a minute of silence in their memory in the Knesset, according to The Jerusalem Post. The media, she said, also ignored her central contention: that the occupation is the central act of terrorism, the center of conflict and suffering in the region, the paper reported.

Pentagon, Lockheed reach agreement on using Israeli systems for F-35s

The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin Corp. have reached an agreement to integrate Israeli systems into the F-35 fighter jet. The $450 million program will enhance electronic warfare equipment on the jets, according to sources familiar with the negotiations, Reuters reported. The deal, to be finalized in coming weeks, marks a big step forward for Israel’s $2.75 billion agreement, signed in 2010, to buy 19 F-35 jets; it includes options for up to 75 of the radar-evading fighters, according to Reuters. The agreement will allow increased participation in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program by Israeli companies, including Elbit Systems Ltd. and Israel Aerospace Industries, which will start building wings for the radar-evading warplane, Reuters reported.

New date set for Migron settlement evacuation

Israel’s Supreme Court said that the evacuation of an illegal West Bank settlement must take place by Aug. 21. The judges granted the government request on July 27 to postpone the eviction of the Migron, home to about 50 families, until Aug. 21, according to Ha’aretz. An earlier postponement had decided the date would be Aug. 1. The state requested that the delay not take place during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan amid worries of “price tag” reprisal attacks by settlers that could have inflamed tensions with Palestinians, according to Ha’aretz. Supreme Court Justice Edna Arbel recently said that “the request for a delay today, is preparation for another request to delay next month.” In March, the Supreme Court ruled against an attempt by the government to postpone to 2015 the demolition of Migron, which the Palestinians say is built on their land. Deferrals against the demolition stretch back to 2006.

Jewish Federation Acquires New Film Festival Picks Dassy Ganz, assistant to executive director of the Jewish Federation, announces that thanks to the generosity of the Glassman family of Scranton, the Federation film library has acquired a number of newly released films recently shown at film festivals around the country. Film Library Continues to Grow Thanks to Your Donations Thanks to the generosity of Ms. Lindsay Leventhal, the film library now owns 5 new films of Jewish interest: A Film Unfinished- Using footage completely unparalleled, A Film Unfinished provides new insight into the Nazi propaganda machine further exposing an agenda already known to be deceitful beyond our greatest beliefs. (non-feature) A Matter of Size- Winner of numerous international awards, this Israeli comedy is a hilarious and heart-warming tale about four overweight guys who learn to love themselves through the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. (not rated) Blessed is the Match- The life and death of Hannah Senesh (non-feature) Inglorious Basterds- This popular WWII revenge fantasy film follows a Nazi-scalping squad of American soldiers is on a daring mission to take down the leaders of the Third Reich (rated R) Komediant-(non-feature) The glory days of the Yiddish stage are brought to life in this funny saga of a legendary theatrical family, the Bursteins. Smoothly incorporating rare archival footage and interviews with Yiddish stage veterans, this tightly edited and briskly paced documentary is as richly bittersweet and the Yiddish theater itself. Nora’s Will- When his ex-wife Nora dies right before Passover, Jose is forced to stay with her body until she can be properly put to rest. He soon realizes that he is part of Nora’s plan to bring her family back together for one last Passover feast, leading Jose to reexamine their relationship. (not rated) Rashevski’s Tango- Just about every dilemma of modern Jewish identity gets an airing in this packed tale of a clan of more or less secularized Belgian Jews thrown into spiritual crisis by the death of the matriarch who has held all doubts and family warfare in check. (not rated) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas- Based on the best-selling novel, this movie is set during WWII and tells the inspiring story of two boys and the power of the human spirit. (rated PG-13) The Hidden Child- A gripping tale of survival, The Hidden Child tells the story of a six-year-old girl and her sister, separated from their parents, dodging bullets, lying for survival, and relying on the compassion of strangers To Take a Wife- A powerful drama about a woman’s struggle for independence and emotional freedom in the face of family tradition. (not rated) The following are also now available for private and synagogue viewing: Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story. This excellent documentary, narrated by Dustin Hoffman, portrays the contributions of Jewish major leaguers and the special meaning that baseball has had in the lives of American Jews. Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story was shown at the 2012 UJA Kick-Off in Scranton this past September. The Debt- Academy Award® winner Helen Mirren and two-time Academy Award® nominee Tom Wilkinson star in The Debt. In 1966, three Mossad agents were assigned to track down a feared Nazi war criminal hiding in East Berlin, a mission accomplished at great risk and personal cost - or was it? Sarah’s Key- Julia Jarmond (Kristin Scott Thomas), an American journalist married to a Frenchman, is commissioned to write an article about the notorious Vel d’Hiv round up, which took place in Paris, in 1942. She stumbles upon a family secret which will link her forever to the destiny of a young Jewish girl, Sarah. Julia learns that the apartment she and her husband Bertrand plan to move into was acquired by Bertrand’s family when its Jewish occupants were dispossessed and deported 60 years before. She resolves to find out what happened to the former occupants: Wladyslaw and Rywka Starzynski, parents of 10-year-old Sarah and 4-year-old Michel. Please contact Dassy Ganz at the Federation to borrow these or other films in our library.

ÊVisit the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania on the web at www.jewishnepa.org or on Facebook

THE REPORTER ■ August 2, 2012