Community Review - February 10, 2023

Questions Asked and Answered at Grass Campus Community Info Sessions

BY ADAM GROBMAN

Last month, The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg hosted two online information sessions dedicated to sharing updates and news related to the Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life.

More than sixty community members dialed in to learn about the campus in a presentation that included an overview of each of the six buildings and their roles on the campus, the surrounding grounds, and the facilities and activities that will be available to community members.

“This is not just about moving organizations from one place to another,” said Federation Chair Abby Smith. “It’s also about growing.”

The session explored opportunities that the new campus will present to increase membership, usage, and sustainability of the JCC and Federation.

“We see an opportunity for greater and deeper Jewish community engagement,” she said. “If we have a JCC that is truly self-sustaining, we can also focus on membership growth, and that leads us to achieving our mission as a Federation.”

The presentation included an overview of the activities that will be housed in each building, including:

• Grass Center (admin building) – fitness center, Federation and Foundation staff offices, and event space

• South Hall – Silver Academy classrooms/offices, which are currently being outfitted to the school’s needs

• Richards Hall – mainly to be used for Senior programming with additional room for studio spaces. “This building offers a lot for seniors,” Abby says. “During the day, almost any day, a lot of activity will be happening and we can expand our offerings.”

• Duncan Hall – currently under construction to meet the needs of the Brenner Family Early Learning Center, with further construction to build the new Sports Center (with gymatorium and swimming pool) in the future

• McCormick House – will be home to Jewish Family Service, with an added elevator to bring the building up to ADA accessibility standards

• Hughes Hall – home to tenant organizations

The session also included information about the allocation of funds raised through the Comprehensive Campaign. More information on giving in support of the Grass Campus is available at www.grasscampus.org/support.

Community members had the chance to have questions answered following the presentation. Some key questions included: Can you elaborate on the commercial kosher kitchen, catering kitchens, and kashrut policy?

A kosher commercial kitchen will be built onto the Grass Center (admin building) to accommodate both meat and dairy for daily programming and events large and small. Committees will meet to finalize policies for individual catering kitchens, kashrut across the campus, and strategize on long-term food service plans. We plan to have a way to mobilize food prepped in the commercial kitchen across the campus. Federation/JCC Programs like Senior Adult Club and Brenner Family ELC will continue to provide kosher food, as will the food service for The Silver Academy. What is the timeline for agencies to move to the campus and activities to begin?

The Federation plans to move staff and programs throughout summer 2023, with the Brenner Family Early Learning Center and The Silver Academy beginning the

new school year on the campus this Fall. We have already begun to host special events on campus when possible in order to introduce community members to the campus. The fitness center is slated to be completed this summer, and we’re aiming for a community grand opening this Fall. The new structure containing the gymatorium/swimming pool will come at a later phase of construction – however, we are looking at a lease-back arrangement with any buyer of the current building to ensure continuous service of the gym/ pool for our members.

What security measures will be in place on campus?

We are currently working with a renowned group of security professionals to complete a full security assessment, which will be put in motion before we step foot on the campus. Some security measures will be visible (like cameras), while others will be shared with our leadership team so that we know the campus is safe. Our team of professionals is working with local, state, and federal law enforcement to ensure our plans are consistent with best practices. We’ve allocated 15% of our campaign funds toward security and infrastructure, and security across our community will be bolstered by our participation in JFNA and SCN’s LiveSecure campaign (more details inside this issue of Community Review)

To watch the full recording of the session held on Monday, January 30th, visit www.jewishharrisburg.org/youtube. You can learn more about the Grass Campus at www.grasscampus.org.

Conceptual rendering of the future "gymatorium" at the Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life

Securing Our Ability to Live Jewishly

BY ARNIE SOHINKI

Many community members of a certain age can remember a time when we didn’t give a second thought to leaving our doors unlocked or even open, whether at home or at synagogue. While danger (and antisemitism) has always existed, we lived in a more carefree time when we thought “that doesn’t happen here.”

Unfortunately, in today’s climate of rising antisemitism, the need for security and safety measures is a fact of life. ADL’s most recent audit found that anti-Semitic incidents are increasing across the country and occurring in all 50 states.

Luckily, we don’t have to face these difficult truths alone.

Last month, the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg was approved to receive more than $250,000 in matching funds over three years through the Secure Community Network’s (SCN) and Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) LiveSecure program. This money will be available to our community’s agencies, synagogues, and temples to help harden their facilities by purchasing/installing safety and health-related items. Additional information and an application process will be available to all of our Jewish community agencies in the coming months.

JFNA launched LiveSecure, an unprecedented security campaign and initiative to ensure the security and resiliency of our communities. With LiveSecure grant funding, local Federations will be able to provide the training, tools, and resources needed to protect those inside our Jewish Community Centers, synagogues, schools, senior centers, summer camps, and other centers of Jewish life.

Nationally, there will be collaboration with SCN, and through its role as the official liaison with the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation, to keep our communities safe.

By being part of the LiveSecure program, SCN and JFNA will also provide additional funding that will specifically enable us to hire a Community Security Director who will help to ensure the safety of all of our community’s agencies, synagogues, and functions. This will be a shared resource with the Lehigh Valley community. SCN and JFNA have coordinated this type of resource in a number of other communities with a great deal of success. More details on this once we have a vetted candidate in place, and you can read more about the program in this edition of Community Review.

And the best part? We’ve already met the matching funds requirement as part of the “Security and Infrastructure” allocation of the Comprehensive Campaign supporting the development of Grass Campus! From here on out, we can focus our efforts in this initiative toward making our community as safe as possible.

While being part of the LiveSecure program will help ensure safety across our community, we still have to be prepared to respond if/when and an incident occurs.

Secure Community Network recently launched a partnership with more than thirty Federations across the country to create a standardized Incident Reporting form, helping communities capitalize on SCN’s resources to respond to anti-Semitic and bias incidents as quickly and effectively as possible.

We’ve signed up to join this initiative and will be implementing the form on our site. More details on this coming soon.

Both of these partnerships are just one of the many, many ways that our affiliation with Jewish Federations of North America and SCN benefits our organization, members, and entire community. We’ll keep you updated on further developments – and as always, if you see something, say something!

Inside This Issue

Community Review

Vol. 97, No. 3

February 10, 2023

(ISSN 1047-9996)

(USPS 126-860)

Published bi-weekly by the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, 3301 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17110.

Subscription rate: $50 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Harrisburg, PA, and additional entry office.

Editorial Board Members

Roberta Krieger

Rabbi Carl Choper

Rita Gordon

Jeanette Krebs

Arnie Sohinki

STAFF Editor

Adam Grobman

a.grobman@jewishfedhbg.org

Advertising

Oren Yagil 717-409-8222 oren@jewishfedhbg.org

Design and Layout

Lisette Stahl

Graphic Designer

Lisette Stahl

Postmaster: Send address changes to Community Review, 3301 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA., 17110.

Mission Statement of The Community Review: Inform readers about local, national and international events of interest to Jews. Promote Jewish values, Jewish identity and a sense of Jewish community in central Pennsylvania.

To sign up for email updates from Jewish Federation, visit jewishharrisburg.org/emails

A copy of the official registration and financial information of the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling, toll free within Pennsylvania, 1-800-7320999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

The opinions expressed in the Community Review do not necessarily reflect the position of the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg. The Federation does not endorse any candidate or political party for any elected office.

The Jewish Teen Learning Project had a fantastic session on Sunday, January 22, with Dr. Nitsa Kann, Dickinson College Professor of Judaic Studies.

Ten JTLP students met with Dr. Kann to discuss food as culture. While talking about their favorite foods, they also discussed where these foods come from, as well as Israeli cuisine/ Jewish cuisine. They explored how these cuisines represent our culture and their similarities and differences. The students also

Jewish Food on the Menu at JTLP

BY JUDITH HODARA

participated in a “tasting meditation” which was a hands -on way to deeply think about what we are eating.

Dr. Kann led the students in cooking shakshuka, one of her favorite Israeli dishes.

JTLP teens really enjoyed learning and being together, before transitioning into their BBYO meeting.

The professor’s popular Dickinson course “Eating the Text” was impetus for this session with our JTLP students. She says in her course

overview, “All human beings are connected to food; some are growing it, others preparing or cooking it, and all are eating it. Food is essential for life, but it is also a source of pleasure, a celebration of the senses and the spirit. Food is also knowledge. Food is also a culture. It represents the diverse traditions of societies, communities, and families.”

Dr. Kann’s teaching interests include Hebrew language, Hebrew Literature, Kabbalah, Israeli Cinema, and Food Studies. She is the author of

three Hebrew poetry books, Black Soul Singer (1989), A Woman With Child (1992), and The Song of the Bird Grofit (2019). She is also the author of two Hebrew novels, Gazelle of Love (1995) and Herotica (1998).

Stay tuned for our next Jewish Teen Learning Project on February 26, 10am at the Harrisburg JCC.

If you know of a teen in grades 8-12 who may want to join these monthly sessions, please contact Judith.Hodara@gmail.com.

JFGH to Enhance Security of Jewish Harrisburg through LiveSecure Grant, Community

Security in Jewish Harrisburg just got stronger, thanks to a LiveSecure grant issued by Jewish Federations of North America, with matching funds raised by the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg.

The grant provides $84,000/year for three years to support security initiatives across the Jewish community. The grant dollars (along with the matching funds, which have already been raised) will help the community to hire a community security director, conduct a security assessment, and provide other enhanced measures and resources across our community.

“With anti-semitism on the rise across the country, these funds come at a critical time for security of the Jewish community,” says Arnie Sohinki, interim CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg. “This program is a necessity for all communities, and will allow us to transform our capabilities locally and bring more peace of mind and freedom to our community members to live Jewishly.”

LiveSecure is a $130 million campaign that was launched by Jewish Federations in 2021 with the goal of securing every Jewish community across North America and to save lives. This campaign represents the largest initiative in history to secure Jewish communities across North America.  Guided by the highest level of standards, funds will go towards implementing

Security Director

a professionally led, comprehensive Communal Security Initiatives (CSI) and training in 150 communities in the U.S. and Canada and enhancing them where they already exist.

“LiveSecure is the collective responsibility of every Jewish community,” said Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of Jewish Federations of North America “This campaign is a tremendous investment in our Jewish future because only when we can safely and freely participate in Jewish communal life can we build flourishing Jewish communities.”

Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg will continue to work closely with the Jewish Federations of North America & the Secure Community Network (SCN), the organization Jewish Federations established to secure the American Jewish community in the aftermath of 9/11. Over the last two decades Community Security Initiatives across North America, both independent CSI’s and those managed in partnership with SCN have saved countless lives and thwarted a multitude of potential threats against our national Jewish community.

The LiveSecure grant comes at a timely moment, with the recent one-year anniversary of the Colleyville hostage crisis, and will provide the Jewish community with the highest level of infrastructure and best practices to stay safe and secure.  Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker credited the security training he received to saving his life and the other hostages during the crisis.

JTLP students joined Dr. Nitsa Kann in cooking shakshuka and learning about Jewish and Israeli food culture.

PRESENTS

OF PEACE

1945 - the war is over. Switzerland, the small, neutral country at the heart of Europe, has been all but spared: Klara, her fiancé Johann and his brother Egon are looking, brighteyed, into the future. While Klara tries to mend the wounds of the war by caring for young, displaced holocaust survivors, Johann, who works for her industrialist father, hopes to save and modernize his father-in-law's well-established, yet troubled textile company. Just home from military service, Egon joins the Attorney General's office with the mission of hunting down escaped Nazis. All three of them soon realize that the narrative of post-war peace, and even of their homeland's wartime neutrality, is more nuanced and less honorable than it appears: Johann's professional ambitions bring him closer to those who committed unspeakable war crimes; Klara risks her marriage while growing ever closer to the survivors, all of whom are met with distrust by the locals; and Egon finds himself caught in a system that willingly turns a blind eye towards Nazi criminals for the sake of profit.

Available for 2 weeks, from February 12-26, 2023

(Begin watching anytime between Feb 12-26 and finish watching within two weeks)

PURCHASE ONE TICKET PER HOUSEHOLD - $25 FOR THE SERIES

Tickets on Sale from January 15 at our website – hbgjff.com

PSU Human Right’s Initiative Director To Discuss Antisemitism, Holocaust Education at Historic B’nai Jacob

The director of Penn State’s Hammel Family Human Rights Initiative will discuss antisemitism and Holocaust education at one of Pennsylvania’s oldest synagogues at 2:30pm on March 12.

“The Need for Holocaust Education in an Era of Rising Antisemitism” will take place at Historic B’nai Jacob Synagogue (220 Nissley St., Middletown). The event, which will include a question-and-answer session and a reception, is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Jewish Community Foundation of Central PA, Lipsett Philanthropic Fund.

“As many of us have seen on the news in recent months, antisemitism is on the rise,”

said Boaz Dvir, who directs the Hammel Initiative and The Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative at Penn State. “Some believe one of the ways to combat hate is to teach about the Nazis’ murder of 6 million Jews. In this talk, I will examine that notion.”

Program co-chair Edward Beck said the program committee “plans to invite regional educators, clergy, community leaders, and policy influencers in the region to get them excited about the initiative and create a buzz that something new is coming in Holocaust education.”

“We have forgotten how to carefully teach

people right and wrong, good and bad, love and hate,” Beck said.

“The Jewish Community Foundation of Central Pennsylvania is honored to sponsor this important program hosted by Historic B’nai Jacob Synagogue,” said Paulette Keifer, the Foundation’s executive director.

“We enthusiastically support Penn State’s Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative. And we believe ‘teach your children well and they will lead well’ and ‘Never Again’ will truly mean ‘Never Again for Anyone.’ ”

Constructed by hand by its founders in 1906, Historic B’nai Jacob is Middletown’s first

and only synagogue and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

It is located near the Penn State Harrisburg Campus, Middletown AMTRAK Station, and the Harrisburg International Airport.

“I’m honored to speak in such a notable place,” said Dvir, an assistant professor at the Penn State’s Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. “While B’nai Jacob represents tradition, it offers an opportunity to explore innovation.”

Pre-registration is required since seating is limited. To register, please email B’nai Jacob’s outreach coordinator Ilana De Laney (dean@ campusoflife.com).

Learn Their Names and Remember Their Faces

BY JENNA RAPPAPORT, DIRECTOR OF HOLOCAUST EDUCATION, JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER HARRISBURG

The following is adapted from a speech given at the International Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration at the Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life on Thursday, January 26th

The Holocaust must be taught as a human chronicle, a story of what neighbors did to their neighbors. It is the story of human beings, with lives, with souls, who shared the same hopes and aspirations as all of us here today.

The events of the Holocaust are personal to me. Nearly eighty years ago, my grandmother and grandfather, of blessed memory, were liberated from Dachau and Buchenwald, respectively.  They were part of what became known as “sherit haplata”—the remnants of a lost civilization.

Life as it had been for them before the Holocaust was forever altered.  The Jewish communities of their youth no longer existed in most of Europe.  Their family homes had been taken over by others; their personal possessions had been plundered.  Because returning to their homes in hopes of reclaiming what had been lost was fraught with extreme danger, my grandparents ended up instead in displaced person’s camps.

Merely surviving took precedence over all other concerns. The future for my grandparents was as uncertain as the present was unstable. They owned nothing and belonged nowhere.  With this as their foundation, they began the task of rebuilding their lives.

My grandmother, I learned, often spoke of the Holocaust, but always prefaced it by saying that there were no words to describe

how it felt when death was the norm and life a miracle.  She and my grandfather had lived among the multitudes of human beings humiliated, isolated, tormented, tortured, and murdered.  She described a piece of bread as making the difference between life and death; and kindness being so important that if someone offered you friendship, he was offering you life.

And so, nearly eighty years later, how do we, who educate about the Holocaust, proceed?  Today’s children are the last generation to be able to learn first-hand from those who survived the Holocaust. In a few short years, there will be no survivors left, especially in our own community.  Our great challenge will be to teach about the Holocaust and its lessons without the benefit of its eyewitnesses.

Using the horrific images of mountains of bodies as our teaching tools is no longer a valid approach.  Our mission is to rescue the individual from those mountains; to learn about their names and to remember their faces; to study about who these people were and what was important to them; to teach about the richness of their lives and the variety of their cultures; to gain a better understanding of their lives and of their struggles for survival in a world of chaos and destruction.

We cannot undo what happened.  Historians can answer the question how; theologians, writers, poets, and philosophers have not yet

answered the question, “Why?” But we can answer the question of what to do with this history.  We must embrace it, study it, wrestle with it, and transform it into a weapon for the human spirit--one that will enlarge our sense of responsibility, alleviate human suffering, and strengthen our moral resolve.

G-d, grant perfect peace to the souls of the men, women, and children who were slaughtered and burned in the ghettos and concentration camps of the Shoah. May their memories endure from generation to generation for all time. May they find the peace denied to them in this world and may they rest in peace.

THURS, APR 6 Passover – Federation, ELC, and JCC Closed

FRI, APR 7 Passover – Federation, ELC, and JCC Closed

WED, APR 12 Passover – Federation, ELC, and JCC Closed

THURS, APR 13 Passover – Federation, ELC, and JCC Closed

Please visit jewishharrisburg.org/whats-open

Sweethearts of the Community:

COUPLES SHARE KEYS TO STRONG RELATIONSHIPS

One couple met on a blind date. A second couple met when he was buying bagels at a kosher bakery. The third couple met at a dance.

Three couples. Three love stories. Nearly two centuries of marriage among them.

As Harvey and Barbara Blinn, Abbey and Phil Goldstein and Eileen and Stuart Kranzel get ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day, this trio of lovebirds all agree that love and respect kept them together all these years.

Harvey Blinn recalls that he got his future wife’s phone number from her cousin “who thought I would like her. I called her, we went out for a few drinks, and the rest is history. I found that we could really communicate.”

Barbara Blinn’s first impression was that “he was nice looking and polite. We had both dated other people but it was obvious from the beginning that we were suited to each other. We hit it off right away. We became best friends.”

Their differences – she was more outgoing, he was rather quiet – brought them closer and both realized that they were ready to marry. Ten months later, they walked down the aisle in a Reform synagogue.

Six decades, three sons, and seven grandchildren later, they’re still in love. “We have a very good, happy marriage,” Barbara said. “We love each other and have wonderful children and grandchildren.”

Her husband called the ability to communicate the key to a good marriage. Both said respect for each other is critical.

“We brought our sons up with good values and they all have good marriages. Two of our sons are married 35 years each and the youngest is married 25 years.”

The Blinns, who belong to Temple Ohev Sholom, said that they realize how blessed they are. “At our stage of life, every day is precious,” Barbara said.

Phil Goldstein met his future wife, Abbey, in 1950 when he was buying bagels for his family at Harrison’s Bakery on Third Street. She worked part-time at that kosher bakery, owned by her cousin.

“I used to go there every week for bagels, rye bread, and strawberry shortcake,” he recalled. I got to know her and we started to date. I liked everything about her.” She considered him a “cute, nice guy.”

They had fun dating -whether dancing at the Jewish Community Center at 1315 N. Third St. or at the Hershey Ballroom or eating at the Barbecue Cottage on Front Street. They got engaged in 1953 and married the following year in Philadelphia. Both were college seniors.

Early in their marriage, Phil joined the Army. He spent the last part of the Korean War in Japan. After that war ended, Abbey took a 32-hour flight to Tokyo in a fourengine prop plane.

“We spent a year together in Japan,” Phil said. “We loved it. I was on active duty for two years and four more years in the reserves.”

The Goldsteins, now married 68 years,

have a daughter, granddaughter, and great-

“We are grateful for everything,” he said. Both agreed that the secret to a long marriage is to be respectful and tolerable of each other. “A sense of humor is important, too,” he added. They’ve also valued their friendships and socializing. For decades, they celebrated New Year’s Eve at parties at the Jewish Community Center. They used to go away with five other couples for an annual July 4th weekend in the Catskill Mountains.

“We stayed at a kosher hotel,” Phil Goldstein said. “The guys played tennis and softball. The girls went to fashion shows, makeup sessions, and the like. We all ate a lot of kosher food and enjoyed the nightclub entertainment.”

The Kranzels, who have been dancing through life together for nearly 60 years, first saw each other at a 1962 New Year’s Day dance at the Jewish Community Center. Both were teen-agers.

When Eileen walked in and saw Stu “gyrating and dancing, I thought he was really cute. When I asked him what the dance was called, he said ‘The Stupidity’ and I said ‘That figures.” But he didn’t introduce himself to me that day.”

The next month, they saw each other at a dance in Lancaster. “He asked me to dance and that’s how we met,” Eileen Kranzel recalled. He invited her to a party and, when she saw his 1961 red Plymouth Fury with a white top, “I didn’t believe it was his car. But it was. We went to the party and really hit it off.”

She said that he came into her life at a time when she needed someone like him. “Two months before we met, my mother had died at age 50 of a heart attack. I had a 10-yearold brother at home. I was away at school but dropped out and came home. If I hadn’t, I would not have met Stu. God works in mysterious ways.”

While she was attracted to his good looks and fun-loving nature, he found that she was “cute, very interesting, and a good dancer. She was an expert at the jitterbug. After the first date with Eileen, I came home and told my mother that this gal was something special.”

Eleven months after seeing each other at the JCC, they got engaged. They were married June 2, 1963 in Chisuk Emuna. Now, they have three children and six grandchildren.

Stu said that the secrets of a long marriage are love, respect and communications.

“The love we have for each other is the most important thing of all,” he said. “Many times, we had differences of opinions but we always sat down and thrashed it out. We always respected each other.”

His wife called him “the nicest and most easy-going human on the face of the earth. He has come through many problems in life but always has a smile on his face and never holds a grudge. The love and respect we have for each other keeps our marriage together. God gave me Stu when I really needed him.”

Both said that they feel blessed to have each other as a spouse. “Stu is the love of my life,” Eileen says. “He has been for over sixty years.”

Eileen and Stuart Kranzel

Barbara and Harvey Blinn

Abbey and Phil Goldstein

Synagogue Life

BETH EL TEMPLE

2637 N Front St | (717) 232-0556 | www.bethelhbg.org

Beth El Temple has resumed in-person Friday evening and Shabbat morning services. We also offer a mix of in-person and Zoom minyans. For more information, visit Beth El's website.

CHISUK EMUNA CONGREGATION

3219 Green St | (717) 232-4851 | info@chisukemuna.org | www.chisukemuna.org

Chisuk Emuna Congregation will be holding services in person and on Zoom. For more information, please contact the office at 717-232-4851 or info@chisukemuna.org.

CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL, LEBANON

411 S 8th St | (717) 273-2669 | www.congregation-beth-israel.org

Contact Rabbi Sam Yolen at yolen002@gmail.com for details on both programming and minyan. For more information, visit Beth Israel's website.

CONGREGATION BETH TIKVAH, CARLISLE

Asbell Center, 262 W High Street | (717)-240-8627 | www.bethtikvah.org

HISTORIC B’NAI JACOB, MIDDLETOWN

Water & Nissley Streets | (717) 319-3014 www.bnai-jacob.org

Historic B’nai Jacob Synagogue, located at Water and Nissley Streets in Middletown, near the Harrisburg International Airport and Penn State-Harrisburg, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Marc Bluestein is currently leading the services. Connection information and program materials will be provided by email to the Congregation and also can be requested by using the contact form on our Shul website: http://www.bnai-jacob.org. We are a community Shul and you are welcome to join us. There are no membership dues or admission fees.

More health resources.

KESHER ISRAEL CONGREGATION

3200 N 3rd St | (717) 238-0763 | www.kesherisrael.org

Kesher Israel is holding in-person daily and Shabbat davening. For details about services, meetings, and programming, contact Benjamin Altman, President, at president@kesherisrael.org, or Ashley Caraballo at office@kesherisrael.org. For more information, visit Kesher Israel's website.

OHEV SHOLOM CONGREGATION, YORK

2090 Hollywood Drive | 717-852-0000 | www.OhevSholomYork.org

Ohev Sholom Congregation is a Conservative congregation serving York County in an inclusive, egalitarian manner. Established in 1902, the congregation is led by our student rabbi in association with our lay leadership. Ohev Sholom provides adult educational opportunities in conjunction with our local Chabad Learning Center while embracing different levels of observance, stages of life, and family structures.

TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL

2090 Hollywood Dr, York | (717) 843-2676 | www.tbiyork.org

York’s 140-year-old Reform congregation.

TEMPLE BETH SHALOM

913 Allendale Rd, Mechanicsburg | (717) 697-2662 | www.tbshalom.org

Shabbat services will be held on February 17, and March 3 and 17. February and March services will be via Zoom only. If you are not on our email contact list and would like to attend, please call or email the Temple office in advance of the service in case of scheduling changes. Services are led by Rabbi Carl Choper of Beth Shalom. Please email the office at tbshalom@gmail.com or call 717-697-2662 for information if you would like to join the services. For details on upcoming Temple Beth Shalom services and events, check the website: http://tbshalom.org.

TEMPLE OHEV SHOLOM

2345 N Front St | (717) 233-6459 | www.ohevsholom.org

Shabbat Services are held Friday evenings at 6pm in person and are also live-streamed on the Ohev Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OhevSholom and on the Ohev YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/TempleOhevSholomHbgPa.

• Friday, Feb. 10: 3rd grade family Shabbat service

• Sunday, Feb. 12 at 9:45am: Sisterhood Board Meeting

• Thursday, Feb. 23, Laugh Out Hate, a comedy fundraiser sponsored by Temple Ohev Sholom to bring together the Jewish community, communities of color and the LGBT community in solidarity. Federal Taphouse, 234 N. Second Street, Harrisburg; doors open at 6:30pm; tickets start at $18. Featuring comedian Ariel Elias, as seen on Jimmy Kimmel Live and Good Morning America. A portion of the proceeds benefit Capital Rebirth. For tickets, visit www.ohevsholom.org.

• Friday, March 3 from 6:45 to 8:15pm: Sisterhood Soup and Study

• Sunday, March. 4 at 10am: Tot Shabbat in the Lehrman Chapel

• Sunday, March 5 at 9:45am: Sisterhood Board Meeting

• Thursday, March 9 at 7pm: Ohev Board of Trustees meeting

• Friday, March 10: 2nd grade family Shabbat service

• Sunday, March 12 at 10am: Sisterhood Brunch

• Sunday, March 19, Shamor V’Zachor trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. Call 717-233-6459 for details.

• Saturday, April 1 at 10am: Tot Shabbat in the Lehrman Chapel

JCC Senior Adult Programs

JCC Senior Adult Club Lunches and programs are held twice-weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Lunch is served at 12 noon, with to-go options available for those who prefer not to unmask to eat. All programs begin after lunch unless otherwise indicated.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS INCLUDE:

FEB 14 John Maietta will lecture on “Our World In Pictures: A Short History Of Photography” even in the Digital Age, we still treasure those old family photos lying around the house. Photography once involved bulky equipment, toxic chemicals, and arcane technical knowledge - until the 1890’s, when George Eastman brought his simple, easyto-use Kodak camera to the masses. This program explores the full 200 years of photographic history: its early pioneers, its famous practitioners, and the iconic images that helped define the world in which we grew up.

FEB 16 Join The Silver Academy Middle School students for our sixth Better Together program of the year. We will celebrate the holiday of Purim together. Enjoy a delicious lunch with the students and then participate in fun Purim-themed activities! Hope to see you there!

FEB 21 HACC History Professor, Dr. Donald Koones –Solving A Mystery at Westermark 20, Amsterdam Very few people knew of the hiding space of Anne Frank and seven (7) other people for a period of twenty-five (25) months. The entrance to the hidden staircase was well-hidden behind the bookcase in the upstairs hallway. An anonymous tipster alerted the Nazis of the hidden location and after the arrests, Otto Frank (Anne’s father) was the only one of eight to survive the Holocaust. Although the story of Anne Frank has become well-known through her daily diary, questions still remained regarding the identity of the individual who alerted the Gestapo and for what reason. Now, a new book, The Betrayal Of Anne Frank by Rosemary Sullivan, sheds a new light on numerous questions. Come and relive the courageous story of a young girl and a betrayal leading to her tragic death. Note: there is no need for you to have read the book in order to attend and learn from the lecture.

FEB 22 Artist-in-Residency Program Begins

FEB 23 Marry Lynn Hawk from Home Instead Senior Care will discuss “Home Your Own Way – How to plan for either moving out of your home or to age in place.”

FEB 28 Our resident technology expert, Nanci Reinhart, will present a program on “Is My Phone Tracking Me?”

Senior Update

BY ROBERTA KRIEGER

On Tuesday, January 10th, we had our business meeting, which went smoothly. Our Vice Presidents gave their reports and we celebrated members with January birthdays. On Thursday, January 12th, Norman Gras started us out with a great lunch, consisting of an entree of baked fish and rice; after which we were fortunate enough to partake of Lillian Rappaport's 9th Session of Holocaust Education in the 21st Century. I am happy to report that once this program is complete, Lillian will continue to lecture on various other subjects.

On Tuesday, January 17th, Norman Gras, once again, showed us his creativity with a lunch of an amazing egg salad platter, which tasted as good as it looked. After lunch, Retired Army Colonel John Maietta gave us the real scoop on the "Dark Ages," "illuminating" (yes, pun intended) the bright spots that emerged during this 1,000 year stretch. You are truly missing out if you do not join us when John is here. Give it a try and you will become addicted.

On Thursday, January 19th, the middle school students from the Silver Academy joined us for our 5th "Better Together" program of the year. Under the guidance of Jackie Rubin and several of their other amazing teachers, once again we had a FANTASTIC afternoon. Each time they join us we think they cannot top this, but they continually do. In the spirit of Tu Bishvat, we did different puzzles and quizzes. Did you know olives are in the fruit family and rhubarb is a vegetable? If you didn't, you would be in the majority. Less than a handful of us knew that answer. The only unanimously correct classification was that tomato was a fruit, not a vegetable. This fact was drilled into our heads as children. We also had a chance to show our creativity (or not) by decorating flower pots with markers. We were given dirt and seeds to plant parsley. I'm sure my chicken soup is going to be so much tastier when I use my own home-grown parsley. Cannot wait until their next visit. Prior to the program, we were served Norman Gras' yummy baked ziti, salad, and garlic bread.

Our fabulous Senior Advisor, Cheryl Yablon, has scheduled many other wonderful programs for the coming months. In the event you missed some, I will attempt to give you a brief synopsis in my next article.

Looking forward to seeing you at lunch. Hope you stay well, are properly vaccinated, and wear masks appropriately. Take care.

Obituaries

NORMA GELBER

Norma Gelber, 86, passed away in Elizabethtown, PA, on January 25, 2023. She was born on June 12, 1936, in Philadelphia, PA, to Faye Gross. Norma was living in retirement at the Masonic Village after a career as a legal assistant and mother. She loved needlepoint and quilting, cooking, and reading, and enjoyed spending time with her loving family and their dogs.

Norma is survived by her sons Stephen, Richard, and Lawrence, her grandchildren Josh, Ally, and Natalie, and her great-granddaughter Abby. She is preceded in death by her parents, Faye and Max Gross.

MORRIS OGUN

Morris E. Ogun, of Harrisburg, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, at the age of 85 after a valiant battle with a lengthy and difficult illness. At the time of his passing, Morris had relocated with his wife to Pittsburgh.

Morris was the beloved son of Joseph and Rikel and adored sibling of Jack Ogun and Sarah Stein. Morris is survived by the wife he adored, Davida (Morris and Davida celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on Jan. 21, 2023), daughter Rachelle and son Harvey. He is also survived by his nieces Rebecca and Beth and nephews Howard and David, who enjoyed a close relationship with their uncle (much of that due to him helping out with a family newspaper route spearheaded by his nephew Howard!).

Born in Irwin, Pennsylvania, Morris was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. After college, he relocated to Harrisburg and embarked on a long, enjoyable and fulfilling career as a pharmacist with retail chains. This included a lengthy tenure with Peoples Drug in downtown Harrisburg before finishing up his pharmacy career with Rite Aid. Morris had an unparalleled work ethic but balanced that with a beautiful devotion to family and his hobbies. After retirement, Morris used his free time to enjoy his hobbies of keeping close tabs on the Pittsburgh Pirates, doing yard work, following the stock market and current events, along with serving on the board of directors of Kesher Israel in Harrisburg.

A funeral service was held Monday, Jan. 23, at Adath Jeshurun Cemetery in Pittsburgh. Donations in Morris's memory may be made to Kesher Israel https://kesherisrael.org/

MARCIA SCHULMAN

Marcia Schulman, 72, formerly of Altoona, passed away peacefully on Thursday at Capitol Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Harrisburg. She was born in Altoona, daughter of the late Max and Sylvia (Krentzman) Schulman.

Surviving are two sisters, Reva Feldman (Gary) of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Elaine Wolkoff (Alan) of Woodbridge, Conn.; three nephews: Jay Wolkoff and Adam and David Wolkoff; two nieces, Leemor Green and Andrea Rudnet; five great-nephews; and four great-nieces.

Marcia was a 1968 graduate of Altoona Area High School. She worked at Schulman’s in downtown Altoona in the ladies’ apparel department. She was also a member of Agudath Achim Synagogue and a lifetime member of Hadassah.

Marcia enjoyed volunteer work in the Altoona community. She moved to Harrisburg later in life, residing at the Jewish Residence of Greater Harrisburg and then the Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg. While at the Residence, Marcia was an active participant in social activities and Bingo; most recently, the Jewish Home of Harrisburg became Capitol Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center.

Marcia enjoyed participating in family events and was always proud and interested in the lives of her nieces and nephews.

A graveside funeral service was held on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, at Agudath Achim Cemetery, Altoona.

The family requests that contributions be made in Marcia’s memory to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be made at www.stevensfamilyfuneralhomes.com or Stevens Family Funeral Homes Facebook page.

NORMA SITKIN

Norma Sitkin, 95, of Rydal, passed away Monday, January 30, 2023 at her home. She was born New Brunswick, NJ on October 31, 1927 to the late Harry and Rachel (Weiner) Levine. Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph J. Sitkin, who died in March 1982. Surviving are her children, Iris Sitkin (Barry Yaches), Jay Sitkin (Lorraine Feldman); grandchildren, David Yaches (Jenna), Rachel (Morgan) Marks, Jeremy (Christina)Yaches, Rabbi Zachary (Lisa) Sitkin; great grandchildren, Emma, Sam, Juniper, Nora, Avi, and Noshe. Norma was known as “The Nonn” or Nonnie to her entire family around whom her life was built. She was a phenomenal grandmother and had a special relationship with each of her four grandchildren. Her grandchildren stayed in close touch with her throughout her life and while she was in hospice in the Philadelphia area, they surrounded her with their love on their visits and phone calls. Nonn died peacefully in her sleep, the evening of October 30. She was the last surviving member of her generation of the Sitkin, Levine, and Weiner families from Lewistown and Harrisburg. During the many years she lived in Lewistown, she was active in the Ohev Sholom Synagogue women’s auxiliary, was an avid golfer, and longtime member of the Lewistown Country Club, where she played as a member of its women’s golf team. Nonn was an amateur artist and was known as a person her friends could call upon for support. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at Kesher Israel Cemetery. Memorial donation in her honor can be made to Bayada Hospice, 650 Louis Drive, Suite 160, Warminster, PA 18974. (215)343-3314 Bayada.com or donations can be made at this link: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1441751, or a charity of your choice.

Bringing Our Community Together Through Exploration, Education, and Enrichment Beauty and the Beast, Jr.

BY JENNIFER BODENSTEIN

As I’m wrapping up another week at my new “home,” my mind is overflowing with ideas, opportunities, and a myriad of possibilities.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg has a robust Jewish Community Center. While there is programming overflowing for our youth and Senior population, the adults “sandwiched” in the middle deserve a bit of attention, too!

Consider this an open invitation to my friends – all of you! I am currently in the creative mode of adult enrichment program development and would love to hear from you. Do you have a burning desire to attend programs or classes covering certain topics?

Are you, or do you know a subject matter expert in:

FOREIGN LANGUAGES, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

PERSONAL INTERESTS

• gardening, cooking, entertaining, at-home mixology, arts/crafts

• home projects/DIY

• history

• religion and spirituality

• nature

• all things technology

• deep dive into Pennsylvania zip codes – cool and unusual places to visit in PA

SOCIETAL ISSUES

• identifying and combatting anti-Semitism, racism, homophobia, anti-LGBTQ+

• serving the underprivileged population

PERSONAL WELLNESS AND SAFETY

• mental and physical

• self-defense

• CPR and First-Aid

HOW DO I?

• start a small business (Food Truck, selling on social market platforms, etc.)

• prepare for retirement

• find funding to send a child to college

• find support as a caregiver of an aging parent or a child with special needs

Truly, this list barely scratches the surface of what is to come. My ultimate goal is to serve and bring our community together through meaningful and thoughtful programs that enrich, empower, educate, and – yes – entertain. With our upcoming move to the Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life, I also have a vision of hosting engaging special events, whether it is an artist-in-residence program, lectures, a cultural or historical program, or simply a “happy hour” gathering for likeminded individuals. The sky is the limit!

There is a wealth of fascinating, knowledgeable, and creative individuals in Central Pennsylvania with so much to offer. Will you embark upon this journey with us? Please feel free to send a message or email me via j.bodenstein@jewishfedhbg.org if you have ideas to share.

The JCC Drama Dept. showcased two phenomenal performances of Beauty and the Beast Jr. last month -

here are some snapshots of our young actors at dress rehearsal!