September 24, 2015 Edition of The Reporter

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VOLUME XIII, NUMBER 19

SEPTEMBER 24, 2015

Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief collects funds to aid refugees and migrants in Europe and Middle East In light of events involving a swelling population of migrants and refugees in Europe and the Middle East, the Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief has acted to expand the scope and mandate of its Jewish Coalition for Syrian Refugees in Jordan to include refugees and migrants in Europe and the Middle East. The coalition is assessing needs on the ground and raising

emergency funds for humanitarian aid.

“As horrific images from this crisis flood the news, social media and our inboxes, we have been moved to action, reminded of Jewish tradition’s deep value for a single life in crisis. As we have learned from our decades of work with refugees and displaced people, the humanitarian toll and needs will be massive and we must

respond now,” said Alan H. Gill, CEO of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the lead convener of the Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief.

The coalition, which comprises a growing group of Jewish organizations, previously aided thousands of Syrian refugees through more than $500,000 in grants to humanitarian groups operating in Jordan.

Its efforts led to the founding of the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees, an interfaith movement that advocates for the needs of Syrian refugee populations.

To make a contribution, visit www. jcdr.org or make a check payable to the “Jewish Coalition for Syrian Refugees” and mail it to JDC, P.O. Box 4124, New York, NY 10163.

First person

Irving and Frances Kaufman Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment Fund established

By Howard and Sandra Kaufman Our continuing connection to our parents and to the Northeastern Pennsylvania community.

A recent issue of The Reporter announced the establishment of the Irving and Frances Kaufman Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment Fund, which is intended to honor our parents’ memory and to help sustain the Jewish Federation’s well-being. We would like to share some of the perspectives that led us to this fund’s creation.

As those of you who knew Mom and Dad are well aware, each of them established and maintained a strong footprint in the Scranton/Lackawanna Jewish community. In 1967, when the Scranton Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Federation functioned together under George Joel, Mom joined the team of devoted employees, serving as both office manager and assistant to the executive director. After the two agencies became operationally

separate, she transitioned to the same positions for the Federation alone – first working with George Joel and, later, Seymour Brotman.

For 24 years, she lovingly dedicated her time, energy and diverse skill-set to a variety of duties and responsibilities, both official and ad hoc. She didn’t talk about what needed to be done. Unwilling to be limited by either the number of hours in a day or the at-times overwhelming number of tasks to be completed, she just worked non-stop until each goal was achieved. We are grateful (as Mom would have been) to Seymour Brotman for his moving tribute to her in this publication (“In Memoriam: Fran Kaufman,” March 17, 2011), which read, in part: “Fran... knew everything [about the Federation] and had a talent for organization, precision, diplomacy and the ability to work with, then, a large, affluent and prestigious Jewish community... Nothing was too hard for her, complicated or onerous... She was indispensable.”

Irving and Frances Kaufman Without at all diminishing the love and attention devoted to our family, her dedication to the Federation and the Scranton JCC was unquestionable and her commitment unparalleled.

Dad spent his working years putting in 12-hour days in the meat-packing business. We’re not entirely sure whether that was the standard back then or whether it was simply a result of Dad’s strong work ethic and sense of responsibility. He and Mom had long been present at Temple Israel of Scranton when they could, but

Nuclear deal will let Americans buy Iranian caviar, not stocks

By Ron Kampeas WASHINGTON (JTA) – If you’re an American who likes Iranian caviar and pistachios, you’re in for a treat.

Once the nuclear deal with Iran is implemented, the U.S. sanctions that until now have blocked the export of those Iranian foodstuffs into the United States will be lifted. Bon appetit.

But if you’re planning on packing a suitcase and making Iran your next vacation destination — or seeking investment opportunities in the Islamic Republic — keep your excitement in check: Travel will continue to be inhibited by a ban on dealing directly with Iranian airlines or tourism businesses.

Iran and six world powers led by the United States reached agreement in mid-July to lift some sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on the country’s nuclear program. Though the deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, has yet to be formally adopted, it looks increasingly likely.

Thanks to his veto power, President Barack Obama has enough votes of support in the U.S. Congress to overcome any vote to disapprove the deal, and possibly even thwart a vote if Senate Democrats filibuster.

(Iran’s parliament, while yet to vote on the agreement, is expected to approve it.)

But Obama administration officials

are also taking pains to make clear that non-nuclear sanctions on Iran will stay in place once the International Atomic Energy Agency verifies Iranian compliance with the nuclear restrictions, probably in about six months to a year. The motivation is partly to assuage deep concerns among Americans about the deal and partly to warn Iran against bad behavior.

The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which enforces Iran sanctions, says it’s already stepping up enforcement of non-nuclear sanctions – restrictions in place for human rights abuses and for backing terror, which are See “Caviar” on page 13

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Israeli writers

Campaign chai-light

A look at seven Israeli writers who The work of the American Jewish live abroad and are expanding Joint Distribution Committee is Israeli culture’s reach globally. supported by Federation funds.

Story on page 4 Storiy on page 5

Holiday round-up

after Dad’s retirement, his devotion to the temple became more pronounced. For a long time, he attended services twice a day, and he came to view the minyan attendees as extended family. His regular participation in temple life eventually led him to take on an official role as a gabbai in the daily services and a perhaps less official role opening and closing the temple, managing the pushka and innumerable other tasks. Once Mom retired from the Federation, the two of them could also be found serving as volunteers for Jewish Family Service, the JCC and the Federation.

Though Mom and Dad were different in many ways, the lessons they taught us through their actions were plentiful and well-aligned, as they led by example. It was also true that both were committed to the Jewish community. They passed on to their children, among other things, their ethic of hard work, dedication, commitment and community service, along with their penchant for accepting responsibility and their unquestioned love of and attention to family.

It seems appropriate to honor them by maintaining ties with – as they would have – and expressing their affection for the community that nurtured them, that they helped to nurture and that, ultimately, has been so important to us.

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 September 25.............................. 6:37 pm September 27.............................. 6:34 pm September 28...................after 7:32 pm October 2...................................... 6:25 pm October 4...................................... 6:22 pm October 5........................... after 7:20 pm October 9.......................................6:14 pm

Israel’s bees; Sukkot recipes; how Sukkot helped one writer PLUS de-clutter her home and life.

Opinion........................................................2 Stories on pages 5-7 D’var Torah..............................................10

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THE REPORTER ■ september 24, 2015

september 24, 2015 ■

a matter of opinion The Scranton Jewish community: a loving model of ve’ohavta lereyacha kamocha

By Anna Wruble What can one say about a community that becomes your family in an instant?

About people who become a lifeline to your existence; who enter your heart and soul to become as important to you as your own mishpacha?

Well, this feeling began about seven weeks ago, when the phone call I received in Jerusalem at midnight was the dreaded one that all of us hope we will never receive: “Anna, you need to come to the U.S. quickly, Morrie (Moshe Yisrael ben Rochel Golda, my husband) has had a massive heart attack and the possible outcome is... come quickly.”

My husband’s and my family’s miracle began with a massive heart attack on the grounds of Camp Moshava, an Orthodox Zionist summer camp in Pennsylvania, where my husband was working. With the Herculean efforts by the camp staff – Israeli and American, from infirmary to woodshop to music/media to maintenance staff – Morrie was resuscitated, defibrillated (four times), intubated and transferred unconscious to the Regional Hospital of Scranton.

Almost immediately on my arrival, the Scranton Jewish community took us in like one of their own. Crossing all borders of shuls, schools and neighborhoods, we were taken under the wings of the community in the most enveloping way. There were the “on the job” angels, like my college friend who became my dear friend once again, coordinating the

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chesed activities surrounding our long and, at times, very scary hospitalization.

There were the tefilot, the Torah learning, the support of the community members who work at Regional, the bikkur cholim visits, the beautiful meals and snacks, and the magnificent challot – 10s of them – that began pouring in erev Shabbat with their beautiful aroma and freshly done mitzvah of hafrashat challah in the name of Morrie’s recovery.

These amazing guardian angels spanned people we had never known and some never actually met, to dear old friends that reconnected after years of life separating us by oceans and time, as Morrie is originally from Exeter. There were so many wonderful people in the Jewish community who wanted to help – with nourishment, home hospitality, Shabbat lights and candles, clothes – everything we needed and even things we were too fablungent to realize we needed.

The Scranton Jewish community may be modest in size, but in my eyes, well, my time in Scranton left me with the impres-

sion that it is a giant community made up of tzadikim and tzadikot who love each other and have chesed sewn into the very fabric of their being. Morrie is b”h on the mend thanks to hakadosh baruch hu and the excellent care we received at Regional from the nursing and medical staff, and all the support staff that so professionally and mercifully took care of us and eventually got us home to Yerushalayim, safe and sound.

Yet, I will forever be touched by the love and devotion of the Scranton Jewish community. I feel truly humbled by the amazing role modeling I saw – for myself and my whole family. What a kiddush Hashem the community performed for my husband, my family and me, in the direct view of the general community that goes in and out of Regional.

This terrifying and inspirational experience, happening between the nine days and chodesh Elul, has left me with the determination and passion to look into my own mitzvot of chesed, bikkur cholim, ve’ahavta lerayacha kamocha. My

husband and I ask ourselves, am I doing enough? Am I doing my mitzvot ben adam lechavero with sever panim yafot, with a kind and pleasant disposition? Am I not only helping those in need (materially and emotionally), but searching them out and learning how to just be there for the other?

Am I doing all I can do for tikkun olam?

Scranton Jewish community, and you all know who you are even better than I do, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and my neshama, for appearing out of the fog of my near tragic experience, and being there, being who you are. Always appreciate each other for the unique abilities you possess of love, friendship and pure goodness. You have deeply touched our hearts, which are now much healthier than they were before, both physiologically and spiritually. Ketiva ve’chatima tovah – shanah tovah to you and your families and know, we will leave the light on in our home awaiting your visit to your newly found family here in Jerusalem.

Anna Wruble lives in Jerusalem, Israel.

My non-Birthright experience with Birthright

By Eliana Rudee JNS.org Chances are, if you are Jewish and have a close connection with a young Jewish adult, you have heard of Taglit-Birthright Israel. Most people know it as the “free 10-day trip” to Israel for adults ages 1826. But it’s definitely not free.

From what I’ve seen recently, it takes a village (and more) to create the meaningful experiences that Birthright participants enjoy in Israel. It’s more of a gift than a free trip. We know it takes a lot of money. But I think it takes more man/woman power than I expected, and I still don’t know the half of it. There are the tour educators, leaders, soldiers, medics and more who guide the participants through Israel. The goal is to facilitate meaningful Israel and Jewish experiences for the younger generation who are less connected to Jewish identity, the global Jewish community, and Israel.

I recently flew from Israel to the U.S. to participate in the Birthright Fellows conference, the training program for past and future elite leaders of Birthright. We are required to lead at least three trips in the next three years. Based on the training that I underwent as a future leader, I can only imagine what the tour educators and guides go through.

I have never led a trip before, nor have I gone on Birthright – not for lack of trying (I applied before the eligibility rules were changed). But I have heard a lot about the Birthright experience, to say the least. Some people (the ones who haven’t gone on Birthright) call it “brainwashing.” Others (the ones who have) call it a life-changing experience.

It’s actually not surprising that a group of Jewish emerging adults who explore Israel together would return home transformed by the experience. Usually, when we travel outward, we learn inward. And this is even truer when the land to which we travel speaks to us about our own heritage, history, values and culture. It’s not exactly a journey outward bound; it’s a journey home.

I remember hosting my best friend, Hannah, and a friend of hers, Grace, who had just finished their Birthright trip – they

slept for about two days before they could coherently speak. You could tell that they were not only worn out by 10 full days of touring, hiking and interacting, they were exhausted because the experience was emotionally intense. Not the kind of way where your emotions immediately present themselves (although I’ve heard that sometimes they do on Birthright trips!), but the kind of way where what you’ve seen changes the way that you think, act and interact with Israel and with the Jewish community. And that’s a big deal – it’s identity giving and even life-changing.

At first, when I asked Hannah and Grace how the trip was, they simply said, “Amazing!” But what I’ve seen the two years following their trip was the truly amazing thing! Hannah immersed herself in the proIsrael community following her trip and has worked for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee since graduating from college. She is returning in October and this time she’s bringing her dad. Shortly after her trip, Grace decided to return to Israel and live here permanently. This is coming from a Southern girl who, at first, was taken aback by the directness of the Israeli people. After seeing my friends react as they did to their Birthright trip, I was inspired.

Each of us had our own personal journey to Israel and to Judaism that had inspired us and created meaning in our lives. Whether Israel was at the center of Hannah’s career or Grace’s life, they had both proven that Birthright was achieving its mission. All three of us had been inspired by our experiences in Israel – inspirations that have carried over into our adult lives. If Israel can prove to be so central to our lives, then bringing more people here to Israel is definitely something I want to help lead.

That impression was further ingrained at the conference. I learned “to create moments in real time that tomorrow will be someone’s memory,” as one speaker so eloquently put it. I was mesmerized by some of the academics and leaders at the conference who addressed our group. Dr. Zohar Raviv, the international VP of education for Birthright, talked about what

we must do in order to tackle the problems that distance my generation from Judaism and Israel. One way (one that truly spoke to my liberal arts education) is to change our approach from classical to counter-intuitive – the educator’s role is not to give closure or answers, but quite the opposite. Their role is to deconstruct supposed answers, to make answers into nuanced questions. The educator pushes the student beyond comfort. Going through education should be difficult. Not because you’re memorizing dates, people and events, but because you need to be able to embrace ambiguity and perceive it as a friend rather than a threat. This humbling process that is education flies in the face of those who say Birthright education is “brainwashing.”

Another speaker, Dr. Barry Chazan, a pioneer in Israel education and the founding international director of education for Birthright, said the goal of Israel education is not about Jewish identity or Jewish continuity, but rather, it’s about meaning making. We need to ask ourselves not how to be Jewish, but why to be Jewish.

And to put it bluntly, why continue living as a Jew? One suggestion was that we don’t go to historical sites to “remember” the experiences of the Jewish people; we go to sites to “re-member,” to re-become a member of the Jewish people through placing ourselves into the narrative of the Jewish people. What an intriguing way to see an individual’s Jewish journey!

The entire conference was inspiring, and I connected to many other leaders and “Israel junkies,” as one of them put it. And the best consolation for the conference ending was that I was headed back to Israel, the place I had been talking about for the last week. Many friends I met in Chicago told me how lucky I was to be going back, and this time, I acknowledged it even more than when I left for Israel the first time. Many of the Birthright leaders I met hadn’t been to Israel since their own Birthright trips and, for some, that was years ago. Yet their lives and careers are still largely dedicated to Israel. I felt so lucky to be able to go back.

See “Birthright” on page 4

THE REPORTER

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community news Lackawanna Pro Bono to present Distinguished Service Awards

Lackawanna Pro Bono will hold its seventh annual fund-raising gala on Thursday, October 22, from 6:30-8:30 pm, in the ballroom of the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Ave., Scranton. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served, and a brief program will be held.

Proceeds from the gala will support Lackawanna Pro Bono’s mission, which is to provide free legal representation services to the poor by recruiting local attorneys to volunteer their professional services to financially eligible individuals, primarily Lackawanna County residents, who are confronted with civil legal problems. Funds will be raised through ticket and program book ad sales. The Lackawanna Bar Association will be a major sponsor, as it was for Lackawanna Pro Bono’s previous galas.

For their service to the community, attorney Richard Bishop, the Women’s Resource Center and Robert Wright, M.D., will receive the Attorney Robert W. Munley Distinguished Service Award.

Bishop, a principal of Hourigan, Kluger and Quinn since 1985, specializes in estate planning and estate administration work, as well as elder law matters, real estate transactions, business transactions and corporate matters. He is a graduate of Penn State University and Temple University School of Law. He is president of the Amos Lodge of B’nai B’rith, vice president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, secretary of the Jewish Home of Eastern Pennsylvania, past president of Glen Oak Country Club, past president and board member of Temple Israel of Scranton, past president of the ARC of Northeastern Pennsylvania, past president and board member of Jewish Family Services of Northeastern Pennsylvania, past president and life member of Scranton Counseling Center, past president and advisory board member of the Salvation Army Citadel in Scranton, past president and board member of the Estate Planning Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania and a board member of the Schwartz/Mack Foundation. He serves on the boards of the ARC Foundation and the Amos Towers Housing Foundation, and the advisory boards of the Scranton Area Foundation, the University of Scranton Kania School of Management and M&T Bank. He is an emeritus member of the Penn State Worthington advisory board. He served on the board of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania and is a past chairman of the UJA Campaign. Bishop volunteers his professional services to the needy through Lackawanna Pro Bono and serves on the organization’s Golf Tournament and Gala Committees. He is married to the former Faye Kahanowitz. They have three children and three grandchildren.

The Women’s Resource Center is a non-profit organization located in Scranton. WRC is the sole provider of domestic violence and sexual assault services in Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties. Since 1976, WRC has provided free and confidential services in order to support “justice, autonomy, restoration and safety” for adult and child survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. WRC utilizes a holistic approach, providing crisis and advocacy services, safe housing, transitional housing and civil/legal representation for survivors. Programs are designed to

L-r: Attorney Joseph G. Price, vice president, Lackawanna Pro Bono; Robert Wright, M.D.; Peg Ruddy, executive director, Women’s Resource Center; attorney Richard Bishop; and attorney Sylvia Hahn, executive director, Lackawanna Pro Bono.

be flexible to meet the needs of survivors from diverse ethnic, cultural, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

In 2014-15, WRC provided services to 1,504 survivors of domestic violence and 297 survivors of sexual assault.

WRC was able to provide safe housing for 145 families.

Civil legal representation was provided for 110 program participants with 206 case filings.

Wright began the Scranton Temple Residency Program in Internal Medicine, now The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, and directed the program for many years. His work in establishing The Commonwealth Medical College and creating community support and understanding for the endeavor has been called “integral.” Wright is a graduate of the Temple School of Medicine. He did his residency training in internal medicine at Temple and fellowship training in hematology and oncology at the University of Washington in Seattle.

He is a professor of medicine in the Temple University School of Medicine. Wright holds a volunteer faculty appointment at TCMC. He was the founding chairman of the TCMC board and currently chairs its Academic Affairs and Compliance committees.

Lackawanna Pro Bono was established in 1997 for the purpose of addressing the unmet need for pro bono legal services in Lackawanna County. Approximately 200 Lackawanna County attorneys volunteer their professional services through the organization. Since 1997, Lackawanna Pro Bono has matched pro bono attorneys to

its clients in close to 3,000 legal matters, serving almost 7,000 people, and more than 370 local attorneys have represented one or more pro bono clients in cases that Lackawanna Pro Bono Inc. referred to them. Lackawanna Pro Bono is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

To qualify for Lackawanna Pro Bono’s services, a person’s household income must be less than 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Types of cases handled include landlord/tenant, unemployment compensation, mortgage foreclosures, debtor/creditor matters, child custody and visitation, protection from abuse and more.

For more information, call Lackawanna Pro Bono at 570-961-2714.

S

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THE REPORTER ■ september 24, 2015

september 24, 2015 ■

Seven Israeli expat writers to watch

By Beth Kissileff (JTA) – Israelis get around the globe, as anyone who has traveled to Thailand, Goa or Patagonia knows. Writers, too, are known for living outside the lands of their birth – Czech-born Milan Kundera lives in Paris and writes in French; Jhumpa Lahiri moved to Rome in 2012 and wrote her first book in Italian earlier this year and last year Arab-Israeli writer Sayed Kashua decamped to Champaign, IL, and continues to write in his adopted tongue, Hebrew.

So perhaps it comes as no surprise that there’s no shortage of Israeli writers who have made their homes in various corners of the world. Some have adopted the language of their resident country and choose to write in it; others continue to write in Hebrew.

The proliferation of Israeli writers living abroad hasn’t been without controversy: In January, Israel’s top literary award, the Sapir Prize, was awarded to Reuven Namdar, an Israeli who resides in New York. He was the first writer living outside Israel to receive it, and in the aftermath of his victory Israel passed a new law restricting the prize to writers living in Israel full-time.

Though the number of Hebrew authors living abroad and writing prize-worthy books may be small, their work begs the

question of whether or not Israeli culture can have global reach.

Here are some snapshots of Israeli writers around the world worth following: Maya Arad Arad has been the writer-in-residence at Stanford University’s Taube Center for Jewish Studies since 2009 and is best known for her 2003 novel in verse “Another Maya Arad (Photo Place, A Foreign by Sharon Bakhar City,” which was Hirsch) translated into English. Most of her books are about Israelis who live abroad; in fact, she said readers tell her they often give her books to friends readying themselves to go abroad. Her most recent book, “Suspected Dementia,” is about language and memories.

Ola Groisman Groisman immigrated to Israel Ola Groisman from Russia at age 7. For the past 12 (Photo courtesy of years, however, she Ola Groisman)

Birthright

Continued from page 2

On the journey back to Israel, there were some pretty hilarious moments. Before we took off, one middle-aged man passed around his packaged Swiss cheese that he bought in the U.S. for a friend in Israel, asking row by row what they thought of the kashrut (Jewish dietary laws) implications.

During the flight, the man in front of me lost his kippah while he was sleeping, so everyone around him began hunting for the head covering amidst the blankets, pillows, hand luggage and trash that had accumulated on the plane’s floor. When we landed, the flight crew wished us a happy new year. When I went through passport control, the Israeli agent saw that I was a new immigrant, looked at me directly in the eye, smiled, and said, “Welcome home!”

– stressing the “home” part. Outside of the airport, a tiny British girl with a very seri-

ous looking face walked directly up to me and, in the sternest voice I’ve ever heard from someone so little, stated matter-offactly, “I like you.” And then she walked onto a bus before her mom wheeling the girl’s stroller behind her. What chutzpah!

I imagine she’ll fit in well here. Her mom and I exchanged a good laugh, and I smiled, because this is Israel.

Eliana Rudee is a fellow with the Salomon Center for American Jewish Thought and the author of the new “Aliyah Annotated” column for JNS.org. She is a graduate of Scripps College, where she studied International Relations and Jewish Studies. She was published in USA Today and Forbes after writing about her experiences in Israel last summer. Follow her aliyah column on JNS.org, Facebook and Instagram.

ish Federatio n’s e he Jew t n o ma u o il l y e ist Ar ?

We send updated announcements and special

has been has been living in Cambridge, England, and writing in Hebrew. Her first novel, “Suitcase on Snow,” about a young Israeli woman who travels back to Russia, was well-received in Israel. Her second novel, “The Misplaced” – about Russian immigrants’ difficulties assimilating to Israeli culture in the 1990s – hasn’t fared as well, perhaps because the author’s message is one Israelis don’t want to hear.

Admiel Kosman Both a poet and professor of Jewish studies, Kosman grew up in an Orthodox family and is the academic director at the Abraham Geiger College in Potsdam, Germany – the Admiel Kosman first school to train (Photo by Noam Reform rabbis in Rosenthal) Germany since the Holocaust. His poem, “I Try To Wake You In the Dark,” about his love and longing for Jerusalem, has been used by both right-wing Jewish groups and left-wing Palestinian ones to express their feelings about the city. Now living his day-to-day life in German, he has said that Hebrew now holds a strength it did not have for him when he lived in Israel. His book, “Approaching You in English: Selected Poems of Admiel Kosman” was released in 2011.

Reuven Namdar One of Reuven “Ruby” Namdar’s greatest joys is to sit in a coffee shop in New York, hearing the buzz of English all around him, while writing in Hebrew on his Rueven Namdar laptop. Namdar, (Photo by Carolyn 52, moved to the Cohen) United States after his army service, where he discovered Jewish-American writers like Saul Bellow, Philip Roth and Cynthia Ozick. He says his most recent novel – the Sapir Prize-winning “The Ruined House,” about a professor who hallucinates about Jerusalem’s Holy Temple – is an homage to them. The novel is currently being translated into English.

Shelly Oria Oria moved from Tel Aviv to New York

THE REPORTER

5

UJA Campaign Chai-lights

to get a master’s degree in fine arts at Sarah Lawrence College. Though she started doing all her assignments in Hebrew and translating them, at a certain point she forced herself to Shelly Oria compose in Eng- (Photo by T. Kira lish. Her lauded Madden) collection of postmodern stories, “New York 1, Tel Aviv 0” – which range in topic from an unstable, cohabiting threesome to an artist’s short reunion with the daughter he abandoned – feature characters who are trying to negotiate both cultures, American and Israeli. The book, written in English and published last year, is currently being translated to Hebrew.

Lavie Tidhar Few writers have the chutzpah to write fiction about Osama bin Laden or create an alternate history of Auschwitz, yet the prolific Tidhar has done both (in Lavie Tidhar (Photo “Osama: A Nov- by Kevin Nixon/ el” and “A Man SFX Magazine/ Lies Dreaming”).

TeamRock) Raised on a kibbutz, but now a resident of London, Tidhar also edited the recently published anthologies “Jews Vs. Zombies” and “Jews Vs. Aliens.” Tidhar writes at the intersection of speculative fiction, noir, thriller and fantasy. His newest novel, “Central Station,” about Tel Aviv’s bus station, was written in English, like the majority of his work, and is forthcoming in March 2016.

Ayelet Tsabari Tsabari has received a great deal of attention with her recent win of the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature for Ayelet Tsabari (Photo her story collec- by Sean Brererton) tion “The Best Place on Earth: Stories.”

The book, written in English, has stories from the perspectives of a multitude of characters – a Yemenite grandmother, a See “Writers” on page 5

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The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Compiled from American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee dispatches by Mark Silverberg Your 2016 UJA Campaign gift does a World of Good: 32 percent (or $282,000) of last year’s UJA Campaign ($891,673) was allocated to Israel and overseas Jewish assistance.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee supports Jewish life programs and opportunities throughout Europe. Considered of critical importance are the many unaffiliated Jews in the region, particularly those in the middle generation who grew up in an era when organized Jewish community life was either dormant or suppressed. Regional or inter-community programming is a hallmark of JDC’s work in the region, and this focus will continue to play an increasingly important role in the years to come. JDC currently supports: Jewish community centers in Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary.

The Ronald S. Lauder/JDC International Summer Camp in Szarvas, Hungary.

Local Jewish summer camps for more than 4,000 participants.

Informal Jewish education seminars, such as Limmud Baltics and lectures by scholars.

Regional youth gatherings, such as Weinberg Black Sea Gesher.

Family camps and retreats.

Jewish holiday and religious activities.

Community development JDC’s community development strategy focuses on fostering lay and professional leadership, as well as furthering organizational capacity and communal growth. JDC’s tools include training, institutes for advanced learning, community consultations, networking events and web-based learning, such as: The JDC International Center for Community Development at Oxford University.

Jewishprograms.org.

Strategic European Loan Fund.

Property management seminars and training.

The Center for Jewish Leadership (Leatid).

Buncher Community Leadership Program.

Pan-European gatherings, such as the European General Assembly.

Innovative community development concepts and models.

Welfare JDC continues to provide support for 28,000 Holocaust survivors in Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic states.

As these survivors become aged and frail, trying to cope with economic and political change, the social services they receive play an increasingly critical role. Through the local Jewish communities, JDC provides the care these elderly need to live out their lives in dignity, with knowledge that they are not alone.

Communities are assisted in funding programs for Holocaust survivors through restitution sources such as the Conference on Material Claims against Germany (Claims Conference), the Swiss Banks Settlement, ICHEIC, the German government and the Foundation pour la Memoire de la Shoah, who work in partnership with JDC. JDC is also working to transfer more programmatic and financial responsibility to local communities as they become increasingly capable. The following services are provided: Food packages Meals-on-wheels Kosher canteens Warm homes Medications and medical consultations Home care Winter relief S.O.S. emergency support Rehabilitation and respite care

Old age homes Jewish and community

activities Children in need As part of its Global Children’s Initiative, JDC is assisting Eastern European communities in extricating children in need from the cycle of poverty and allow them to fully integrate into society.

In partnership with local communities, JDC has identified more than 1,200 Jewish children in need in the region. In 2015, JDC supported social services to nearly 1,600 Jewish children in need, providing individual case management, food, clothing and medical support.

In addition to basic services, JDC has supported the participation of Jewish children in need in Jewish educational programming. JDC is also providing technical assistance and creating exchange opportunities for communal professionals who work with children and families.

Together, through your gifts to the 2016 Annual UJA/Federation Campaign, the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania sends a message to Jews around the world through the JDC: “We are with you in your hour of need. We are one family.

You will not be forgotten.”

A sweet new year for Israel’s bees

By Mara Friedman JNS.org Bees have suddenly become the buzzword of doom, as their population internationally has plummeted and the effects on commercial agriculture become a serious concern.

In just one year, American beekeepers lost an estimated 42 percent of their colonies, a staggering amount in an agricultural system already struggling to meet demand.

With bee activities having an impact on the American economy of roughly $15 billion annually, scientists and politicians alike have started to take notice. Together with the drought in California threatening almond orchards (local bees’ main source of food), the increasing trend toward using cloned plants that provide very little nutrition to bees and the continued use of strong pesticides, the U.S. and the rest of the Western world seem to be standing on the precipice of a full-blown bee crisis, which could lead to low-quality produce and food shortages.

Israel, on the other hand, anticipated these consequences years ago. “We understand the danger, we understand all the implications, that this affects the quality of food,” says Yuval Lin, owner of Lin’s Bee

Writers

Filipina caretaker, a British man of Indian descent and a young woman in the Israeli army. Though she now lives in Toronto, Tsabari often writes about Israel and says

Yuval Lin, owner of Lin’s Bee Farm in central Israel. (Photo provided by JNS) Farm in Kfar Bilu in central Israel.

Fifteen years ago, Israel was quickly urbanizing at the expense of the diverse trees and plants that provided their bees with food and helped them produce high-quality honey. Lin and other beekeepers recognized that a process was beginning that could cause significant damage to their bee colonies. In the hopes of minimizing potential damage, See “Bees” on page 6

Continued from page 4 that “longing for a place, the sense of being away, is a very Jewish theme.” Tsabari is currently at work on a novel and a memoir.

Effective immediately, send all articles and ads to our new E-mail address,

please note!

jfnepareporter@ jewishnepa.org.

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook

By Jamie Rubin (Kveller via JTA) – Last year, I performed a magic trick: I made most of my “stuff” disappear.

I never considered myself a hoarder, at least not the kind worthy of a feature on late night cable TV, but I held on to things, lots and lots of things, because I was sentimental. I thought getting rid of them meant giving up a memory. I was also convinced I would need all these things later on. And lots of my stuff was around simply because I had spent so much money on it that I thought I hadn’t realized each item’s value yet. Surely I would need this stuff, use this stuff, wear this stuff and amortize the cost of this stuff – one day.

My relationship to my stuff changed last year. In September, my husband, two young daughters and I celebrated Sukkot, the festive Jewish holiday commemorating the years the Jews were believed to be wandering in the desert and protected from the elements by God. For the first time, we erected a sukkah (a temporary dwelling) in our tiny backyard and invited friends over for customary meals inside the wood and bamboo structure. Many were familiar with Sukkot, but I had to explain to others why I had invited them to eat off paper plates in a crude tent decorated with my children’s art and fake fruit.

I took to the Internet in search of something more than the clunky Wikipedia definition and found a rabbi’s simple yet beautiful interpretation of this harvest holiday that changed the way I viewed space in my home. She suggested the acts of eating, sleeping and celebrating in such a simple dwell-

ing should be a reminder to us of how little we need to be happy and how freeing it is to just be with so much less stuff. The metaphor stirred something within me.

Days later, when we took down the sukkah and started eating inside again, all I could see was stuff – much of which I never would have moved into my sukkah if we actually lived in it for seven days as Jews are commanded to do, and most of it I knew I wouldn’t have missed.

I was determined to live simply, no matter how difficult that seemed. In an instant, no closet or shelf or drawer in my home was safe. I gave up sleep to organize and get rid of hundreds of pens, hair ties, shampoo samples, business suits, kitchen utensils and old magazines. I read de-cluttering books and got advice from friends. One told me to look at everything I owned and ask myself with each item if there was somebody who needed it more than I did or could make better use of it, or could even give it more attention and admiration than I could. If the answer was yes, I was supposed to pass it along, donate it or simply throw it away.

Another friend gave me the idea to take everything out of a cabinet, closet or even an entire room, and only put back in what I really used or needed, letting go of the rest. Apparently if you try to do it the other way around and just pick through your items looking for things to take out, you are much less successful. That was certainly true for me, and it’s how I ended up with so much stuff in the first place – just because it fits in the drawer doesn’t mean you need it.

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Friends of The Reporter Dear Friend of The Reporter, Each year at this time the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania calls upon members of our community to assist in defraying the expense of issuing our regional Jewish newspaper, The Reporter.

The newspaper is delivered twice of month (except for December and July which are single issue months) to each and every identifiable Jewish home in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

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

As always, your comments, opinions and suggestions are always welcome.

With best wishes, Mark Silverberg, Executive Director Jewish Federation of NE Pennsylvania 601 Jefferson Avenue Scranton, PA 18510

I WILL SUPPORT CONTINUATION OF OUR EXPANDED FEDERATION REPORTER BY CONTRIBUTING $36

$54

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OTHER AMT $

Name (s) (as you wish to appear on our list of “FRIENDS”) _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone:_________________________________________________________________________________________ __Check here if you prefer your name not to be published Please write and send tax deductible checks to Jewish Federation, 601 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510

To my shock, I learned I really don’t need much. This was quite revolutionary for me. I am someone who has always appreciated the comforts of “stuff,” especially if I can have one in every color. I used to be able to rationalize owning at least five different pairs of black boots: one for the office, one for evenings, one for achieving the equestrian look, one for pulling off motorcycle chic and a funky pair for the always looming threat of pulling together a last-minute Halloween costume. This year, I made it through the winter with just one pair of black boots. It actually made getting dressed much easier; I always knew which boots I was going to wear.

It does feel good to splurge and enjoy having more than just one’s needs met from time to time, but I found that when that was my standard for everything, I had no room for reflection or appreciation or, frankly, places to put everything.

I assumed the hardest part of my downsizing rampage would be missing all of my stuff when it was gone. But See “De-clutter” on page 14

Bees

Continued from page 5 they approached Jewish National Fund to ask for help with acquiring nectar-producing plants that could sustain bee populations around the country year-round.

Sitting in front of a window that is stacked with hives and swarming with bees, Lin recalls, “I started beekeeping as a hobby when I was 16; now it’s a family farm.”

Today, he is not worried about being able to meet peak demands. By introducing hearty nectar-producing plants and trees across Israel, especially eucalyptus trees imported from Australia, JNF and the beekeepers it works with have been able to keep Israel’s bee population in good health, even as the rest of the Western world frets about a looming agricultural crisis as a consequence of their loss of bees over the last few years.

While other countries’ bees suffer from a lack of horticultural diversity, which shortens the amount of time that food is available to them, Israel’s wide variety of eucalyptus species – which flower in different seasons – offers bees a continuous and rich source of food year-round.

Israel is a small country, so when it comes to protecting agricultural endeavors, the story is one of collaboration, not competition. With roughly 500 beekeepers caring for about 100,000 beehives, the Israeli beekeeping community is small and dedicated to supporting each other. In Kfar Bilu alone, there are three beekeepers and they have worked together to encourage residents to plant nectar-producing species, especially eucalyptus, around their homes and the open areas, improving the neighborhood’s aesthetics and the bees’ ability to find food year-round.

The Israeli program of strategically introducing nectar-producing plants is garnering international attention.

JNF has produced a free guidebook for Israeli beekeepers and farmers on nectarous plants, with pictures and short descriptions of the hundreds of species. Due to requests from farmers around the world, this guidebook will soon be translated into English. JNF even recently received a phone call from a farmer in India requesting seven species to try out himself.

Nudging the Israeli government to see eucalyptus trees as a solution, and not as a nuisance or invasive species, has required considerable effort and education. The first and most common species that was introduced to Israel, even before the founding of the state in 1948, propagated too fast and encroached on wetlands. Its large size also meant that it damaged passing trains and often fell onto train tracks, thereby forcing the national railway to spend a significant amount of time and money trying to keep the trees under control. But efforts have paid off, and today when the national railway builds a new line, or when the highway infrastructure is expanded, JNF is consulted about planting smaller varieties of eucalyptus species along the route to beautify the view for commuters and counteract some of the de-forestation that takes place to allow such developments.

Fifteen years ago, beekeepers globally struggled to get anybody to care about the impending crisis. Suddenly, in the last couple of years, colony depletion has been splashed across the headlines and the world has started to worry that the future of humanity could be in jeopardy. In Israel, the positive impact of long-term vision and creative ecological solutions has been felt for years. “Ten years ago I spoke with a beekeeper and he told me, ‘You revolutionized things for us,’” says Aviv Eisenband, director of JNF’s Forestry and Professional Department.

Today, an average of 200,000 eucalyptus trees, in addition to other nectar-producing plants, is planted each year, according to Eisenband. “We do it so that farmers like Yuval will be able to support themselves,” he says.

“With this program JNF will grow and enrich the environment and increase the amount of open land.”

Sweet news indeed for Israelis and their local bees.

Bringing a taste of autumn to the sukkah

By Shannon Sarna NEW YORK (JTA) – Sukkot is such a beautiful holiday: eating outdoors, decorating the sukkah and enjoying the flavors of fall with family and friends. The fasting is over and the craziness of the New Year rush has passed. You can leisurely enjoy long holiday meals outside.

Even though the holidays fall a bit early this year, I still enjoy bringing autumn flavors into my menu. These recipes are beautiful and crowd pleasers, sure to further liven up your sukkah.

Butternut Squash and Sage Challah Yield: 2 large loaves If butternut squash challah sounds a bit bizarre, it’s actually quite similar to a pumpkin or sweet potato challah, which may be more common.

The texture of this dough is smooth, slightly sweet and pairs perfectly with Butternut squash savory sage. It is and sage challah equally delicious slathered in butter for breakfast or dipped in a hearty bowl of soup or stew for lunch or dinner. ¼ cup vegetable oil 5-6 fresh sage leaves 1½ Tbsp. dry yeast 1 tsp. sugar 1¼ cups lukewarm water 5½-6 cups all-purpose unbleached flour (I prefer to use King Arthur) ¾ cup sugar ½ Tbsp. salt ½ cup butternut squash puree (fresh or frozen) 2 eggs 2 egg yolks plus 1 tsp. water Additional fresh sage leaves for garnish Thick sea salt Place vegetable oil and fresh sage leaves in a small saucepan over lowmedium heat. Heat through until sage becomes fragrant, around 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and allow to sit 25-30 minutes. Strain sage leaves, but do not discard. Finely chop leaves.

In a small bowl, place yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar and lukewarm water. Allow to sit around 10 minutes, until it becomes foamy on top.

In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix together 1½ cups flour, salt, butternut squash and sugar. After the water-yeast mixture has become foamy, add to flour mixture along with oil and chopped sage leaves. Mix thoroughly.

Add another 1 cup of flour and eggs and mix until smooth. Switch to the dough hook attachment if you are using a stand mixer.

Add an additional 3 cups of flour, 1 cup at a time, until dough is smooth and elastic. You can do this in a bowl with a wooden spoon, in a stand mixer with the dough attachment or, once the dough becomes pliable enough, on a floured

work surface with the heels of your hands.

Dough will be done when it bounces back to the touch, is smooth without clumps and is almost shiny.

Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with damp towel. Allow to rise at least around 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Braid challah into desired shape. Allow challah to rise another 45-60 minutes, or until you can see the size has grown and challah seems light. This step is very important to ensure a light and fluffy challah.

In a small bowl, beat 2 egg yolks with 1 teaspoon water.

Brush egg wash liberally over challah.

Sprinkle with chopped fresh sage and thick sea salt.

If making one large challah, bake around 27-28 minutes; if making two smaller challahs, bake 24-26 minutes.

Jeweled Veggie Orzo with Wheatberries Yield: 6-8 servings This easy side dish screams autumn and is my way to feel like I am eating a nice bowl of pasta while also getting in a serving of whole grains and veggies. Add any combination of colorful fall vegetables that you like. The sweetness of the dried cranberries and the crunch of the pepita seeds is delicious outdoors in the sukkah on a crisp, sunny day.

1 cup dry orzo pasta ½ cup wheatberries ½ medium butternut squash 2 purple carrots or 1 large beet ¼ cup cooked peas (fresh or frozen) ¼ cup dried cranberries ¼ cup homemade or store-bought pepitas (you can also use slivered almonds or sunflower seeds) Olive oil Salt and pepper Preheat oven to 400°F. Peel butternut squash and carrots. Dice each into ½-inch cubes. Place butternut squash and carrots, separately, on a baking sheet; drizzle with salt and pepper.

Roast for 15-20 minutes, tossing once, until carmelized.

Note: If replacing the carrot with beet, wash the beet gently and place in tin foil.

Roast in oven at 400°F for around 45 minutes or until soft. Allow to cool and remove skin. Once beet has cooled, dice into ½-inch cubes.

While vegetables are roasting, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook orzo around 11 minutes and drain. Drizzle with olive oil and place in a large bowl.

Cook wheatberries according to directions on package. (For ½ cup wheatberries, you will need around 1 cup of water. Bring See “Taste” on page 12

THE REPORTER

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Grocery b

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Including a large selection of Kosher Dairy & Frozen items.

12 oz.

Manischewitz Noodles

5

4/$

9.6 oz.•All Varieties

Manischewitz Tam Tams Crackers

6

2/$

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 4.2 oz.

In Our Kosher Frozen Dept.

Select Varieties

22 oz.•Chicago Style

Kedem Tea Biscuits

47th Street Deep Dish Pizza

20-25 Ct. Select Varieties

15 oz.

89 8 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ¢

Wissotzky Teas

3

19

99

Jason Flavored Bread Crumbs

6

2/$

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Meat b

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 12 oz.•Mild Italian or Bone-In Breasts $3.99 Lb. or

Including a selection of Glatt Kosher Fresh and Frozen Beef, Chicken & Turkey.

Empire Kosher Whole Frozen Turkey

2

79

Empire Kosher Spicy Apple Chicken Sausage

4

99

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Patties $8.29 Lb. or 39 oz. lb.

Meal Mart Stuffed Cabbage

Fresh Teva 85/15 Ground Beef

10 7 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 99

Fish b

99 lb.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Including a selection of Salmon Fillets & Steaks.

9 oz.

Gold’s Cocktail Sauce Jeweled veggie orzo with wheatberries (Photos by Shannon Sarna)

7

Featuring the largest kosher selection of fresh meat, poultry, dairy, frozen, grocery & baked goods!

–––––––– –––––––– ––––––––

How Sukkot helped me de-clutter my life

september 24, 2015 ■

–––––––– ––––––––

THE REPORTER ■ september 24, 2015

––––––––

6

1

99

8 oz.

Admiral’s Smoked Salmon

FREE BUY 1, GET1

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Westside Mall, Edwardsville • 287-7244 1228 O’Neill Highway, Dunmore • 346-4538

Prices effective Sunday, September 27 thru Saturday, November 7, 2015.

Scra Wyo

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THE REPORTER ■ september 24, 2015

september 24, 2015 ■

THE REPORTER

2016 UJA/FEDERATION CAMPAIGN

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

Your gift to the Federation’s UJA Campaign provides funds to meet the ongoing humanitarian and social service needs of our local and global Jewish community. The part of your gift that remains in our community funds the many agencies that comprise the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania and include….

OUR ANNUAL UJA CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS

• Scranton Jewish Community Center • Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania • Scranton Hebrew Day School • Yeshiva Beth Moshe • Bais Yaakov of Scranton • Scranton Ritualarium (Mikva) • Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos (Stroudsburg) • Jewish Discovery Center/Chabad • Temple Hesed Religious School (Scranton) • Congregation B’nai Harim Religious School(Pocono Pines) • Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms Religious School (Lords Valley) • Temple Israel of the Poconos Hebrew School (Stroudsburg) ...and our many and varied programs, projects and services that include, and have included...

• Jewish Heritage Connection • “Stop the Sirens” – Israel Emergency Campaign (2014) - $91,901 raised • Project Kosher Troops – kosher food baskets during Chanukah to Jewish members of the US armed forces • Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) programs • Grants awarded to Jewish affiliates in NEPA for establishing creative and innovative programs and projects designed to attract unaffiliated members of our Jewish communities.

• Reporter – Our regional Jewish newspaper is provided to each and every identifiable Jewish household in Northeast PA - at no charge.

• Holocaust Education Resource Center/ History Teacher Enrichment Seminars • Holocaust Symposia (annually - for hundreds of middle and high school student in NEPA) • Coordination of humanitarian & disaster relief efforts (like Hurricane Sandy) • NEPA Federation Missions to Israel • Israel Emergency Campaigns (including Operation Protective Edge) • Participation in NY’s annual Celebrate Israel Parade • NEPA Federation Missions to Harrisburg (in coordination with the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition) • Northeast Pennsylvania Jewish Film Festivals (2007and 2009) • NEPA Jewish Film Lending Library • Jewish Resource Center (JRC) of the Poconos (Stroudsburg) • partnering with the Scranton JCC, Jewish Family Services, Temple Israel and Temple Hesed in determining the financial feasibility of constructing a new Jewish Community Campus in Scranton • grants to JFS for Russian Jewish resettlement and underwriting the travel expenses of Jewish Family Service (JFS) personnel to and from the Pocono Jewish communities • sponsorship of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Artists Street Fair (Stroudsburg) • sponsorship (with the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg) of the Matisyahu “Festival of Light” Concert (Dec. 11, 2012) • financial support for NEPA Jewish Federation participation in the NY-based OU Job and Relocation Fair designed to attract Jewish families and business persons to our region • participation in Breast Cancer Awareness Programs • analysis of Jewish demographics in Pike, Wayne, Monroe and Lackawanna counties • capital expense assistance for agencies requiring major capital repairs (including the Scranton Mikva, the Scranton Hebrew Day School and Congregation Beth Israel - Honesdale)• CRC activities (lobbying local, regional, state and national elected representatives on matters affecting Jewish interests in NEPA, Israel and the world) • Security-related issues (relating to anti-Semitic threats and vandalism)

The Jewish Federation has earned a reputation as a trusted, effective charity that makes a real difference in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Your support sustains a caring, compassionate community that unites in good times or bad to take care of each other and to celebrate Jewish life together.

A contribution to our annual UJA Campaign is the one gift that does it all.

Because we work together as a community.

Your involvement Yields: Many Happy Returns

HERE’S HOW YOUR FEDERATION BRINGS YOU MANY HAPPY RETURNS WHO...who we are…

The Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania is comprised of many very devoted volunteers whose efforts are supported by the contributions of more than 800 generous financial donors. These engaged community members are facilitated by an executive director, an assistant director, a secretary and a business manager.

YOU can join us by attending an event or bringing us an idea.

WHAT…what we do…

Federation is a regional Jewish philanthropic organization created to fulfill the social service needs of Jewish community members of all ages in Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties. It oversees local community relations issues and through its membership in the Jewish Federations of North America, it shares a portion of its funds to sustain, improve and enrich the lives of Jewish people in Israel and throughout the world.

MISSION: Enrich Jewish life in Northeast Pennsylvania, Israel and around the world through service, programming, advocacy and fundraising through its annual United Jewish Appeal.

WHERE…where to find us…

The Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania is located in the Jewish Community Center of Scranton, 601 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510. Find us online at www.jewishnepa.org or call 570-961-2300.

WHEN…when we started…

The Federation formed in the aftermath of World War II when a group of Scranton’s Jews decided to help rescue Jews striving to escape the perils of Hitler’s ravaged Europe. Dozens of thankful refugees came to Northeast Pennsylvania to find jobs and a place to live. As other communities in Northeast Pennsylvania joined forces and shared financial resources, Federation grew into an extended family of caring volunteers. In 2000, the Scranton-Lackawanna Jewish Federation expanded into the Jewish communities of Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties and became the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania. We are now one family united in a common cause – the perpetuation of Jewish life in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Israel and in many countries around the world where Jews are vulnerable and in need.

WHY…why we’re needed…

The Jewish Federation represents not only our communities in Northeast Pennsylvania, but is a branch of national and international Jewish organizations. We communicate and translate the need and purpose from these umbrella organizations to our community and back. Our membership in the Jewish Federations of North America fulfills our responsibility for offering a dedicated and responsible connection to Klal Yisroel…our Jewish brethren worldwide.

An insightful member of our community said, “If there wasn’t already a Jewish Federation, we would have started one!”

HOW…how you can help…

The Federation provides opportunities to volunteer and participate in many arenas. Give of your valuable time for a one-time or ongoing volunteer experience. Have your voice heard by considering being active on one of our many Federation committees (from disaster relief like Hurricane Sandy to emergencies involving the survival of the State of Israel; from community relations to UJA, and the raising and allocating of funds to over 15 local and regional educational, social service, recreational and cultural organizations and agencies that constitute the organized Jewish interests of NEPA Jewry.

Your Campaign contributions allow Federation to respond to the many service and programming needs in our community, the U.S., Israel and worldwide. We build community, and each person who gives of their time as a volunteer or donates money, fuels the organization.

Your involvement yields...

Many Happy Returns 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA 18510 • (570)961-2300 • www.jewishnepa.org

9

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THE REPORTER ■ september 24, 2015

• Regular Schedule of Services • 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 216 Miller Road, Waverly, PA 18471 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 Elliott Kleinman President: Liza Roos Lucy Contact Person: Cheryl Badner, Congregation Administrator (570)253-2222 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: Irene Stolzenberg 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 Rabbi Steve Nathan 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: Moshe Fink 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: Barbara Parker-Bell 1 Knox Street, Scranton, PA 18505, (off Lake Scranton Rd.) 570-344-7201 Friday evening Shabbat, 8 pm; Saturday morning, when Shabbat Scool is in session, at 11 am

TEMPLE ISRAEL OF DUNMORE President: Isadore Steckel Contact person: Jay Schectman 570-954-9354 515 East Drinker St., Dunmore, PA 18512 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: Dr. Sandra Alfonsi Contact person: Dr. Sandra Alfonsi 570-223-7062 711 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, 7pm; Saturday morning Shabbat, 9 am

TEMPLE ISRAEL OF SCRANTON Affiliation: United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Rabbi Moshe Saks 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.

september 24, 2015 ■

d’var torah

It all depends on us

by RABBI MOSHE SAKS, TEMPLE ISRAEL OF SCRANTON Haazinu, Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52) In the parasha of Haazinu, God commands Moses to write down a poem and teach it to the Israelites. Here is how it begins: “May my discourse come down as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like showers on young growth, like droplets on the grass.” According to the Sifre, an early rabbinic commentary on Devarim, “my discourse” refers to words of Torah. In fact, the rabbis often compare Torah to water. They say: As water extends from one end of the world to the other, so Torah extends from one end of the world to the other, As water descends from heaven, so Torah descends from heaven, As water is free for all, so Torah is free for all, As water is priceless, so Torah is priceless, and As water brings life to the world, so Torah brings life to the world.

As Moses spoke to the people who had spent 40 years in the wilderness – people who sometimes had to go several days without finding potable water – this imagery of gentle rain showers must have seemed to be the greatest of blessings.

But you would have a hard time making a case in New Orleans 10 years ago that rain is always a blessing. Rashi, the foremost biblical commentator, makes this point, noting that rain can sometimes be a source of hardship and loss to travelers or to a farmer whose vat is filled with wine that would be spoiled by rain.

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This is particularly apt for our parasha, because Moses’ message is not all sweetness and light. He says that in spite of all that God has done for Israel, the Israelites would eventually come to reject God, and that God, in turn, would hide His face from them. Ultimately, God would refrain from destroying Israel not because they were worthy of His kindness, but because the other nations would think that God had been powerless to save them.

Like the rain, words of Torah can be gentle or harsh.

Moses gives the people difficult news – God will hide His face from them. However, he also tells them that in time this will lead to blessing. He reminds the people of God’s essential goodness and calls on them to change their ways. Surely, this is why God wanted Moses to write down this poem and to teach it to the people – so that he might plant a seed for the future. For this is how Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Przysucha (1765-1827, Poland) understood this verse: “Words of Torah are like the rain.

The rain does not reveal its influence on vegetation immediately but saturates the earth and germinates seeds.

So too, Torah does not begin to influence us right away.

When we first hear them we don’t sense the positive effect they will have on us. Just the opposite – they may even be inconvenient and uncomfortable. But over time they begin to positively influence those who are open to them.”

Rabbi Simcha Bunim suggests that words of Torah can germinate seeds planted deep in our souls. And just as we cannot know which seeds planted in a garden will grow and flourish, we can’t always know how the study of Torah will influence us. We read Haazinu between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. During this season, we make promises to God and to ourselves that we will do things differently this year; that we will be a little bit more observant or a little bit kinder. We make pledges of money and of time to shuls and schools and organizations that help those in need. We are planting seeds for the future.

And, Haazinu tells us, if we remain open to words of Torah, those seeds will grow and flourish. It all depends on us!

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Taste

THE REPORTER ■ september 24, 2015

water to a boil and then simmer covered for around 15 minutes.)

In the large bowl with orzo, add cooked butternut squash, carrots (or beets), peas, wheatberries, cranberries, pepitas and another 1 tablespoon olive oil. Mix thoroughly. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve room temperature or warm.

Paprika Roasted Chicken and Potatoes Yield: 4 servings This recipe is so easy I don’t even think it should count as an actual recipe. If you are serving a crowd, just double the amount. You don’t have to cut the potatoes into slices if you don’t want, you could just cut them into quarters and toss with paprika, salt, pepper and olive oil. But for me, there is something about chicken fat dripping onto potatoes while they roast that gets me a little excited.

4-5 medium Yukon gold potatoes 4 chicken thighs and/or drumsticks 2 Tbsp. smoky paprika ½ Tbsp. hot paprika 1 tsp. dried oregano 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. fresh lemon zest 4 garlic cloves ¼ cup olive oil Salt and pepper Preheat oven to 400°F. Slice potatoes into ½-inch slices.

Grease the bottom of a Pyrex dish.

Lay potatoes on bottom of pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.

Whisk together spices, lemon juice, zest and olive oil. Spread all over the chicken, including underneath the skin. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes if you have time, though not necessary.

Place chicken and whole garlic cloves on top of potatoes.

Roast for 50-55 minutes, or until juices run clear and a meat thermometer reads 160°F. Remove chicken and set aside. If you want your potatoes crispier, you can place back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes or until desired doneness.

Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate and Dried Cherries Yield: 1 dozen cookies

I love chewy oatmeal raisin cookies.

But when you combine tart, dried cherries with dark chocolate chips, you get a truly unique cookie that your guests will rave about. These cookies are great pareve or dairy, and can be made a few days ahead of time.

Tip: To bring out the sweetness of cookies, don’t forget the salt! Combine ½ tablespoon thick sea salt with ½ tablespoon sanding sugar and sprinkle just a pinch on each cookie. The sanding sugar will make the cookies look beautiful, and the salt will really add a depth of flavor and bring out the cookie. s sweetness.

1¾ cups old-fashioned rolled oats ¾ cup flour ¾ tsp. cinnamon ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt 1¼ sticks unsalted butter or margarine, softened 1 /3 cup packed light brown sugar 1 /3 cup granulated sugar 1 egg ½ tsp. vanilla

Continued from page 7 ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips ½ cup dried cherries ½ Tbsp. thick sea salt (optional) ½ Tbsp. sanding sugar (optional) Preheat oven to 375°F. Combine oats, flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat butter or margarine with sugars with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla.

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients until just combine. Fold in the chocolate chips and cherries (or other add-ins).

Don’t overmix.

In a small bowl combine sanding sugar and sea salt.

Using a cookie scoop, drop cookies on a baking sheet 2 inches apart. Lightly flatten cookies with moistened fingers. Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt and sugar mixture on top of each cookie.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden. Let cool for 2 or 3 minutes on baking sheet and then transfer to cooling racks.

Shannon Sarna is the editor of The Nosher, a 70 Faces Media company.

september 24, 2015 ■

Caviar

not tied to the JCPOA. “We have no illusions that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism and is continuing to engage in these bad activities,” a Treasury official, who spoke on condition of not being identified, told JTA. There are several areas where sanctions still remain in force. The U.S. government’s primary sanctions, which have been in place since the 1990s and ban any U.S. residents or businesses from dealing with Iran, will stay, with only a few exceptions.

“General prohibitions include: investment in Iran; importing Iranian-origin goods or services; and exporting goods or services to Iran, including clearing U.S. dollars,” the Treasury Department said in the sanctions outline it provided to JTA. More than 200 Iranian individuals and groups targeted with “secondary sanctions,” which penalize non-U.S. entities for its dealings with Iran, also will remain in place. Among the groups targeted is the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which controls substantial portions of Iran’s economy, including the construction, energy and shipbuilding sectors.

Long lists of individuals and groups designated as terrorist by the United States remain sanctioned, as do any U.S. or non-U.S. parties that deal with them. That includes Ghasem Soleimani, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ elite Qods Force. Soleimani had been singled out because he is on a list of individuals to be delisted from nuclear-related sanctions, but U.S. officials say he remains sanctioned for the Revolutionary Guard’s backing of terrorist acts.

Other areas where the United States will keep in place sanctions on parties who deal with Iran include transfers of weapons of mass destruction technology to Iran,

Iranians walked through Tehran’s old main bazaar on March 18, 2014. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Images) including missile delivery systems.

Using technology to track and oppress one’s citizens, such as software that allowed Iran to spy on activists or to disrupt communication among Iranians, is also still banned, the Treasury official told JTA. U.S. sanctions targeting – persons providing information technology to Iran or Syria that could be used by those governments to commit serious human rights abuses – stay in place.

But the United States will no longer sanction non-U.S. entities that deal with Iran’s financial sector – most importantly, with its central bank. Until now, the U.S. government has thwarted dealings by third parties with Iran by threatening to ban those parties from any dealings with the huge and lucrative U.S. market if they also dealt with Tehran.

Also lifted are U.S. sanctions on insurers who underwrite Iranian businesses, on

software developers and on those dealing with Iran’s car makers. Iranians will be able to download the latest software updates to their devices and expect a return of French Peugeots to their streets.

Some sanctions will remain in the U.S., but be lifted elsewhere. For example, gas stations in Beijing, Brussels and London may be dispensing petrol that started out as Iranian crude, but no such crude will reach the United States. An oil importer in London or Delhi wanting to transfer funds to an Iranian bank account to import goods will be able to do so.

Iran’s shipping sector will be free to deliver goods and invite foreign investment.

In fact, under the deal the European Union will lift virtually all of its sanctions on financial dealings with Iran and on trade with its energy sector. The U.N. Security Council also will remove bans on dealing with Iran’s financial institutions.

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Continued from page 1 U.S. companies, while banned from dealing directly with Iran, will be able to license their services to non-U.S. entities.

For example, Iranian airlines will be able to purchase airplane parts manufactured under U.S. license. Iran has blamed airline crashes on its inability to get replacement parts for U.S.-made planes in service since before the 1979 revolution.

But not all Iranian airlines will see the bans lifted. Mahan Air, which the U.S. government says has secretly ferried Iranian Revolutionary Guards fighters and weapons on its flights, will remain sanctioned.

The few areas where direct trade between Iran and the United States will resume include pistachios and caviar, a nod to Iranian-Americans who have imported these luxury goods in the past.

Art of Bernard Waber exhibit

The National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia will hold the exhibit “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile and Friends: The Art of Bernard Waber” through November 1. It is the first major exhibit to explore the life and career of children’s book writer and illustrator Bernard Waber (1921-2013). Through more than 90 original illustrations and other artifacts, the exhibit explores the world Waber created in a long career that spanned more than 30 picture books, including the “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile” stories.

For more information, visit http:// nmajh.org or call 215-923-3811.

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook

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THE REPORTER ■ september 24, 2015

september 24, 2015 ■

NEWS IN bRIEF

NEWS IN bRIEF

From JNS.org

From JTA

Amid energy crisis, Israel allows diesel fuel shipment into Gaza

September 2015

• Non-Feature Films • *Deli Man - In Houston, Texas, third-generation deli man Ziggy Gruber has built arguably the finest delicatessen restaurant in the U.S. His story augmented by the stories of iconic delis such as Katz s, 2nd Avenue Deli, Nate n Al, Carnegie, and the Stage embodies a tradition indelibly linked to its savory, nostalgic foods.

Everything is a Present - The Wonder and Grace of Alice Sommer Hertz– This is the uplifting true story of the gifted pianist Alice Sommer Hertz who survived the Theresienstat concentration camp by playing classical piano concerts for Nazi dignitaries. Alice Sommer Hertz lived to the age of 106. Her story is an inspiration.

Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story - Yoni Netanyahu was a complex, passionate individual thrust into defending his country in a time of war and violence. The older brother of Benjamin Natanyahu, the current Israel Prime Minister, Yoni led the miraculous raid on Entebbe in 1976. Although almost all of the Entebbe hostages were saved, Yoni was the lone military fatality. Featuring three Israeli Prime Ministers and recently released audio from the Entebbe raid itself.

Hava Nagila (The Movie) - A documentary romp through the history, mystery and meaning of the great Jewish standard.

Featuring interviews with Harry Belafonte, Leonard Nimoy and more, the film follows the ubiquitous party song on its fascinating journey from the shtetls of Eastern Europe to the kibbutzim of Palestine to the cul-de-sacs of America.

Inside Hana’s Suitcase - The delivery of a battered suitcase to Fumiko Ishioka at the Tokyo Holocaust Museum begins the true-life mystery that became the subject of Karen Levine’s best-selling book Hana’s Suitcase. The film follows Fumiko’s search to discover the details of Hana’s life, which leads to the discovery of her brother George in Toronto.

Israel: The Royal Tour - Travel editor Peter Greenberg (CBS News) takes us on magnificent tour of the Jewish homeland, Israel. The tour guide is none other than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The viewer gets a chance to visit the land of Israel from his own home!

Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story (narrated by Dustin Hoffman) - This documentary portrays the contributions of Jewish major leaguers and the special meaning that baseball has had in the lives of American Jews. More than a film about sports, this is a story of immigration, assimilation, bigotry, heroism, the passing on of traditions, the shattering of stereotypes and, most of all, the greatest American pastime. *Nicky’s Family - An enthralling documentary that artfully tells the story of how Sir Nicholas Winton, now 104, a British stockbroker, gave up a 1938 skiing holiday to answer a friend’s request for help in Prague and didn’t stop helping until the war’s beginning stopped him. He had saved the lives of 669 children in his own personal Kindertransport.

Shanghai Ghetto - One of the most amazing and captivating survival tales of WWII, this documentary recalls the strange-but-true story of thousands of European Jews who were shut out of country after country while trying to escape Nazi persecution. Left without options or entrance visa, a beacon of hope materialized for them on the other side of the world, and in the unlikeliest of places, Japanese-controlled Shanghai.

The Case for Israel-Democracy’s Outpost - This documentary 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.

The Jewish Cardinal - This is the amazing true story of Jean-Marie Lustiger, the son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, who maintained his cultural identity as a Jew even after converting to Catholicism at a young age, and later joining the priesthood.

The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg - As baseball’s first Jewish star, Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg’s career contains all the makings of a true American success story.

Unmasked: Judaophobia - The Threat to Civilization – This documentary exposes the current political assault against the State of Israel fundamentally as a war against the Jewish people and their right to self-determination.

• Feature Films • *Amen - From the acclaimed director of Z and CAPITAL, Costa-Gavras presents a powerful and riveting account of the implementation of the Final Solution and the culpability of the Vatican in the extermination of millions in Nazi Death Camps.

Fill the Void - This is the story of an eighteen-year-old, Shira, who is the youngest daughter of her family. Her dreams are about to come true as she is set to be married. Unexpectedly, her sister dies while giving birth to her first child. The drama of the story reaches its peak when the girls’ mother proposes a match between Shira and the young widower.

Shira will have to choose between her heart’s wish and her family duty.

Footnote - The winner of the Cannes Film Festival (Best Screenplay) is the tale of a great rivalry between a father and son, two eccentric professors, who have both dedicated their lives to work in Talmudic Studies. Each has a need for recognition in his chosen field and the day comes when father and son must look deeply inside themselves for the truth- advancement of his own career or of the others.

Hidden in Silence - Przemysl, Poland, WWII. Germany emerges victorious over the Russians and the city comes under Nazi control. The Jews are sent to the ghettos. While some stand silent, Catholic teenager, Stefania Podgorska, choose the role of a savior and sneaks 13 Jews into her attic. *Ida: Poland 1962 - On the eve of her vows, 18-year old Anna meets her estranged aunt Wanda, a cynical Communist judge who shocks the naive Anna with a stunning revelation: Anna is Jewish and her real name is Ida. Tasked with this new identity, Ida and Wanda embark on a revelatory journey to their old family house to discover the fate of Ida’s birth parents and unearth dark secrets dating back to the Nazi occupation. *Music Box - In this intense courtroom thriller, Chicago attorney Ann Talbot (Jessica Lange) agrees to defend her Hungarian immigrant father Mike Laszlo (Armin Mueller-Stahl) against accusations of heinous war crimes committed 50 years earlier. As the trial unfolds, Ann probes for evidence that will not only establish his innocence, but also lay to rest her own agonizing doubts about his past. When a hospitalized witness is suddenly located in Budapest, the trial moves to her father’s homeland. Here crucial testimony plus Ann’s personal investigation lead to astonishing results.

Noodle (compatible only on PAL/DVD players - Hebrew with English subtitles) - This film was a beloved entry in the Jewish Federation of NEPA’s Jewish Film Festival. It tells the heartwarming story of an Israeli stewardess, Miri, whose personal life as a war widow leaves her without much joy. Everything changes for Miri when her Oriental housemaid disappears one day leaving her with her young Oriental child!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - Based on the best- selling novel, this movie is unforgettable. Set during WWII, the movie introduces us to Bruno, an innocent eight-year-old, ignores his mother and sets of on an adventure in the woods.

Soon he meets a young boy and a surprising friendship develops.

The Concert - Andrei Filipov was prodigy- at 20 he was the celebrated conductior for Russia’s renowned Bolshoi Orchestra.

Thirty years later, still at the Bolshoi, he works as a janitor. Ousted during the communist era when he refused to fire the Jewish members of the orchestra, a broken Andrei now cleans the auditorium where he once performed in front of thousands.

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?

The Other Son - As he is preparing to join the Israeli army for his national service, Joseph discovers he is not his parents’ biological son and that he was inadvertently switched at birth with Yacine, the son of a Palestinian family from the West Bank. This revelation turns the lives of these two families upside-down, forcing them to reassess their respective identities, their values and beliefs. *Woman in Gold - Maria Altman sought to regain a world famous painting of her aunt plundered by the Nazis during World War II. She did so not just to regain what was rightfully hers, but also to obtain some measure of justice for the death, destruction, and massive art theft perpetrated by the Nazis.

*connotes new films To borrow any of these films for home or synagogue use, please contact Dassy at 961-2300 x2 or dassy.ganz@jewishnepa.org.

(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) – The electricity shortage crisis in Gaza is nearing an end after Israel on Sept. 16 authorized the delivery of half a million liters of diesel fuel needed to operate the turbines at the lone power station in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian coastal enclave. The chairman of the Palestinian Energy Authority in Gaza told Palestinian media that the power station will still be unable to produce a steady flow of electricity, and that instead of power outages of 12-20 hours a day, electricity will be provided for eight hours and then turned off for eight hours.

The long power outages have sparked a public outcry in Gaza. Hundreds of protesters the week of Sept. 17 burned images of PalestinianAuthority President MahmoudAbbas and blamed the P.A. for the energy crisis. Hamas, however, was also the target of criticism, despite the fact that antiHamas demonstrations in Gaza have been outlawed by the terrorist organization.

International Monetary Fund: Israeli economy strong, high growth predicted

(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) – The Israeli economy flourished this past year and a high rate of economic growth is projected for the coming year, according to the annual report on Israel’s economy published on Sept. 16 by the International Monetary Fund. The report is based on the evaluation of a senior IMF delegation that visited Israel. According to the IMF’s economists, Israel was relatively unhurt by the global crisis of 2009 and remains a country whose open economy is wellintegrated with the international economy. The IMF economists said Israel has an advantage in its high-tech industry, which accounts for more than 40 percent of the country’s industrial exports. But economists warned that a continued 4 percent increase in Israeli housing prices each year presents a social danger. The report also noted that the income gap between the highest earners and the lowest earners in Israel was among the highest in the West.

The IMF predicted Israel’s economic growth would be 2.5 percent in 2015 and 3 percent in 2016.

Israeli teen develops GPS-enabled ID tag to prevent kidnappings

An Israeli teenager from Ramat Hasharon recently launched a start-up that makes “smart” ID tags with builtin GPS technology that can help soldiers and civilians in distress, and even prevent abductions. “The tag I invented contains a chip with GPS, so if a soldier is in trouble he presses [the tag] and his information and location are sent via a computer program to the IDF and his parents,” Amit Saban, 16, tells Israel Hayom. “I currently have a prototype of the smart ID tag that I can show to the public,” says Saban, who found an investor he hopes will commit $129,000 to the ID tag project. Saban’s goal “was to save Israeli lives, because that’s ‘an entire universe.’ I saw the three yeshiva students [abducted and murdered

by Hamas in the summer of 2014, Gilad Shaer, Naftali Frenkel, and Eyal Yifrach], and my heart ached. After that I felt that I had to take action and think of an initiative that would save lives, both civilians and soldiers.” The ID tag earned Saban first place in a youth start-up competition sponsored by Google.

De-clutter

Continued from page 6

months later I keep finding new spaces to sort through and de-clutter, and delight in giving things to others who can make better use of them. I’m not yet moved to write that elegy for my old camp T-shirts or the George Foreman grill I rarely used. With one or two exceptions, I really don’t miss anything I gave up. I’ve even conveniently forgotten most of it, so I can’t even feel guilty if the day comes when I need something I probably once had. I’m certain that if the day ever comes when I don’t have what I need, I will find a way to get it or simply find a way to get along without it.

As we are now in the midst of the High Holidays season, I’m looking forward to sharing my enthusiasm for the new meaning I’ve found in Sukkot with others.

On Rosh Hashanah, it is written, on Yom Kippur, it is sealed, and on Sukkot, it’s time to call the Council thrift shops to schedule a pick-up. Chag sameach.

Jamie Rubin is a freelance writer, business owner and mother. After years of producing breaking news and exclusive interviews for both Yahoo! News and MSNBC, she switched things up a bit and launched Milkstars, a clothing line she developed for pregnant and nursing women. Milkstars is made in the USA and sold around the world. Rubin lives with her husband and two daughters in Los Angeles.

This piece first appeared on Kveller, a 70 Faces Media company.

Senior Islamic cleric says Muslim violence on Temple Mount justified

A senior Islamic cleric in Jerusalem said Muslim violence on the Temple Mount is a legitimate form of self-defense. Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, who served as the Palestinian Authority’s top clergy member in Jerusalem from 1994 to 2006, told the Times of Israel on Sept. 16 that “Jewish extremists” visiting the contested site have “aggressive intentions” and “want to harm Al-Aqsa [mosque],” rebuild the Temple or “pray overtly” there. In the past year, disturbances have occurred frequently at the site in Jerusalem’s Old City and adjacent to the Western Wall, and they were particularly severe earlier this week during Rosh Hashanah. From Sept. 13-15, Israeli security forces arrested some 26 Palestinian protesters, and 14 Israeli police officers were lightly injured by rocks and firecrackers, Ynet reported. At least 36 Palestinians were injured in the clashes, the Palestinian Maan news agency reported. The Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sept. 16 during a tour of Jerusalem, including the sites of recent violence, that Israel is “in favor of strictly maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount.” Under the status quo, the Temple Mount is under control of the Muslim Waqf, as it has been since 1967, and only Muslims are permitted to pray at the site, though Jews and Christians may visit. The Waqf is under the jurisdiction of Jordan. Sabri contended that religious Jewish aggression on the Temple Mount began during the premiership of Ariel Sharon in 2001 and ever since has been escalating. He criticized Netanyahu for allowing Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel, a member of the Jewish Home party, to visit the site on Sept. 13. Sabri currently heads the High Islamic Council on Temple Mount, which was created, according to its Facebook page, to “protect holy sites and primarily the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque.”

U.N. nuclear watchdog rejects Egyptian proposal to monitor Israeli sites

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s General Assembly rejected a proposal to require the monitoring of Israel’s nuclear sites. Titled “Israeli nuclear capabilities,” the resolution was defeated on Sept. 17 in Vienna by a vote of 61-43. Egypt submitted the proposal to the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog; among those in support were Syria, Iran, Libya and Iraq. It was not the first time that Egypt has proposed the nonbinding resolution. In addition to calling for Israel to allow IAEA inspectors to visit its nuclear facilities, including the nuclear reactor in Dimona in southern Israel, the proposal called for an international conference on making the Middle East a nuclear weapons free zone. Israel sent diplomats to several countries to convince them to vote against the resolution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement called the vote a “great victory for Israel in the international arena. ...I have spoken directly with over 30 presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers,” Netanyahu said. “I explained that there was no place to hold a discussion of this kind as long as the main problem in the Middle East is Iran’s efforts to arm itself with nuclear weapons and its clear declarations regarding its intention to destroy the state of Israel.” Israel has neither confirmed nor denied that it has nuclear weapons.

Ann Coulter accuses GOP candidates of pandering to Jews

In a series of tweets during the Republican presidential debate on Sept. 16, conservative political pundit Ann Coulter slammed the candidates for pandering to “f---ing Jews.”

Her most profane tweet read: “How many f---ing Jews do these people think there are in the United States? – Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) September 17, 2015.” Coulter posted the tweets during the final minutes of the three-hour debate on Sept. 16 in Simi Valley, CA, when four of the 11 candidates mentioned their support for Israel in their closing remarks. The four candidates were former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who said he would move the United States Embassy to Jerusalem as one of his first acts as president; Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. In a follow-up tweet, Coulter said: “Maybe it’s to suck up to the Evangelicals. – Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) September 17, 2015.” Later, when Christie made his pledge, Coulter tweeted: “Christie also talks @ Israel in response to the question: What will AMERICA look like after you are president? – Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) September 17, 2015.”

She then tweeted: “How to get applause from GOP donors: 1) Pledge to start a war 2) Talk about job creators 3) Denounce abortion 4) Cite Reagan 5) Cite Israel. – Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) September 17, 2015.” The sequence of tweets drew outraged and satirical responses, including: “If that lady at the end of my bar likes my twitter feed, there might be six million and ONE. https://t.co/xLojB501x0 – Peter Sagal (@petersagal) September 17, 2015.” Christians United for Israel excoriated Coulter in a news release.

“Ann Coulter’s tweets this evening concerning Israel were completely inappropriate,” spokesman Ari Morgenstern said in the statement. “The U.S.-Israel relationship is both a moral and strategic imperative. There are tens of millions of Christians in this country who stand with the Jewish state.” Jonathan Greenblatt, the national director of the AntiDefamation League, described Coulter’s remarks as “hyperbolic and hateful. ...Ms. Coulter is pandering to the basest of her base. Her messages challenging the candidates’ support for Israel were offensive, ugly, spiteful and borderline antisemitic,” Greenblatt wrote in a statement. “Her tweets give fodder to those who buy into the antisemitic notions that Jews ‘control’ the U.S. government, wield disproportionate power in politics, and are more loyal to Israel than to their own country.”

THE REPORTER

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change before the vote. Jewish and pro-Israel groups, as well as alumni, have called on U.C. President Janet Napolitano and the Board of Regents to formally adopt the State Department’s definition of antisemitism in order to properly identify antisemitic expression on campus. The definition includes more general ethnic and religious hatred against Jews as well as demonizing Israel, and denying Israel’s right to exist. Organizations critical of Israel say that such a definition would limit free speech and conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism. The California State Assembly in July unanimously approved a resolution calling on University of California campuses to condemn all forms of antisemitism.

Recent incidents on U.C. campuses include swastikas drawn on a Jewish fraternity house at Davis and the questioning of a candidate for student judiciary board about her Jewishness and Jewish affiliations at UCLA.

Iceland gov’t does not back Reykjavik’s Israel boycott

The national government of Iceland said it does not support a decision by its capital city to boycott Israeli products. Iceland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sept. 17 said the resolution approved by the City Council of Reykjavik earlier that week is “not in line” with its foreign policy, the Times of Israel reported. The symbolic resolution calls for a boycott of Israeli goods and condemns Israel’s “policy of apartheid.” The foreign ministry also said the resolution also does not reflect on Iceland’s relations with the state of Israel, a spokesman said in an email to the Israeli news site. In 2013 through this year, Iceland’s imports from Israel totaled roughly $6 million, mostly machinery and Dead Sea chemicals, according to the Times of Israel. Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Reykjavik resolution. “For no reason or justification, except hatred for its own sake, calls of boycotting the state of Israel are heard,” its statement said. “We hope someone in Iceland will come to their senses and end the one-sided blindness fielded against Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East.”

British Jewish lawmaker accepts post under new Labor chief Jeremy Corbyn

A Jewish lawmaker in Britain said she joined new Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet after having a “full and frank discussion” with him. Luciana Berger agreed to serve as the shadow mental health secretary for Corbyn, who is regarded as hostile to Israel and has called the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah “friends.” Corbyn, 66, was elected on Sept. 12 in the first round of balloting with 59.5 percent of the vote.

Berger told the Jewish Chronicle on Sept. 16 that the decision to work with Corbyn was “not easy – I cannot honestly say I agree with everything the new leader has said over the years. ...I had a full and frank discussion with Jeremy Corbyn about a number of topics before I accepted the position,” she told the London-based newspaper. “I felt he was willing to listen and engage.” She previously served as shadow public health minister under Corbyn’s predecessor, Ed Miliband, who is Jewish. Miliband stepped down in May after losing the general election by a wide margin to David Cameron of the Conservative Party. The Guardian reported on Sept. 17 that the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council have written to Corbyn requesting talks to clarify his attitudes on Israel, faith schools and antisemitism. Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies, told the Guardian that he wants “straight answers to straight questions” and hopes for “constructive engagement between the Jewish community and the leader of the opposition.” Corbyn, he said, “may be considering afresh some of his views now that he’s in such a senior and responsible position. He no longer has the luxury of being a lone dissenting backbencher. But that doesn’t mean I’m naive or prepared to be soft on concerns and issues raised by the Jewish community.”

U. of California regents rap intolerance statement for not mentioning antisemitism

Members of the University of California Board of Regents criticized the first draft of a statement of “principles against intolerance” for not addressing antisemitism. The regents spoke about the draft on Sept. 17 at their meeting at University of California, Irvine, the Associated Press reported. The proposed statement condemns bias, violence, threats and hate speech based on race, ethnicity, religion, citizenship, sex or sexual orientation, but makes no mention of antisemitism. Regent Norman Pattiz urged the body to take a stand against antisemitic incidents. “To not recognize why this subject is even being brought up is to do a disservice to those who brought it up in the first place,” he said. The university is the first statewide system to consider adopting such a declaration, which calls for its 10 campuses to be “free from acts and expressions of intolerance.” The statement also says that “everyone in the university community has the right to study, teach, conduct research and work free from acts and expressions of intolerance,” and that lectures, scholarship and political expression are protected by “academic freedom or free-speech principles.”

A formal vote on the proposed statement is likely months away; the statement could

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THE REPORTER ■ september 24, 2015