Community Review - April 10, 2020

community comm unity review www.jewishharrisburg.org

April 10, 2020 | 16 Nisan, 5779 | Vol. 94, No. 7 Published by The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg | Greater Harrisburg’s Jewish Newspaper

Seders Reshaped Due to Coronavirus

BY MARY KLAUS

Z

ei Gezunt (Stay Healthy)! The coronavirus pandemic has upended life as we know it.

These days, it’s elbow bumps rather than handshakes, virtual meetings instead of face-to-face ones. Using hand sanitizers, wearing face masks, and practicing physical distancing are all the norm.

So are the closed Jewish Community Center, shuttered shuls, and smaller seders.

The Pesach seder, perhaps the most widely observed Jewish holiday ritual, includes reading the Haggadah, including the Israelites slavery-to-freedom story; singing special songs; drinking wine or grape juice and eating such traditional foods as matzah, haroset, karpas and everything from matzo ball soup to gefilte fish to beef brisket.

For many, the seder is a stable part of an ever-changing world.

Yet this year’s seder guest shrunk as gatherings nationwide were limited to 10 people to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Those who held seders at home this year had smaller guest lists. Seating was spread out. Larger and public seders were cancelled. Some people held family seders by using Zoom conference or other technology. Others ate alone – the seder stripped of the joyousness that should accompany a traditionally communal meal.

Rabbi Elisha Friedman of Kesher Israel said that in this “generally miserable and uncertain time” Jews have the opportunity to focus on Passover without distraction in a way

they aren’t able to in happier years.

“When we have tons of family and guests getting together, we often end up focused on the hustle, bustle, preparation, menus, and all the other exciting aspects which make holidays joyous,” he said. “This year in the absence of all that, we can reflect on the core teachings of Passover which are that God saved the Jews from Egyptian slavery, took us to be His people and gave us a mission in the world and a promise that we will be redeemed once again.”

Rabbi Eric Cytryn of Beth El Temple urged his congregants to have at their seders only those who live with them.

“This year, people could invite others to livestream or Zoom. We encouraged social distancing and voluntary isolation as the medical professionals urge us to do.”

Cytryn said that at the first seder at the Passover meal in Egypt, “you could not leave your home because the plague would only be lifted for those with blood on their doorposts. This is more like the original Passover.” He said that Jews this year should celebrate what they have instead of focusing on what they don’t have.

The rabbi himself plans a traditional seder with a Zoom with extended family and others. He also plans some “silly riddles” because “there’s a tremendous amount of anxiety this year, so some humor is well earned.”

Mandy Cheskis, who frequently has up to 40 people at her seder, this year has five – her husband, Joel, and their children.

“This year we have a simple seder but we will do the rituals,” she said. Dr. David Bronstein planned “a quiet seder at home.”

Corky Goldstein, his wife, Linda, and their daughters in other cities are having a “Zoom conference” seder this year.

“Technology can allow you to bring your family together,” he said.

Michael Sand called seders “the biggest family gatherings for Jews. This year they are being dramatically downsized into something we have not experienced before. We Jews value our families and they won’t be there.”

He and his wife, Diane, will hold a seder with the rituals and Haggadah reading “but it will feel empty without the family here. Even doing it virtually isn’t the same thing. It’s a big change for every Jew in the world.”

Rabbi Carl Choper of Temple Beth Shalom has told his congregants that “we are all in this together.” He advised his members to “try to think of this time as an extended spiritual retreat which we can use to gain some greater perspective on our lives.”

He reminded them to “stay connected in spirit and through communication.”

MARK YOUR CALENDARS The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg and JCC is currently closed due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Please check our website, www.jewishharrisburg.org for updates related to our re-opening.

Monday, May 25

Memorial Day**

Thursday, May 28 Friday, May 29

Saturday, May 30

Erev Shavuot Shavuot – JCC Open/Federation Offices closed Shavuot – JCC Open

For a full list of community activities, please visit jewishharrisburg.org and click on the Community Calendar.

Message from the CEO

W

BY JENNIFER ROSS

henever I write my column, I am aware that my message may be somewhat dated by the time Community Review is printed and delivered to you. Since our building closure at 6pm on Monday, March 16, calculating time has perplexed me. Information dramatically changes not only by the day, but by the hour, and it seems as though much more time has passed due to our reality being transformed so quickly.

I hope this message finds you healthy and well. Our amazing staff has been working tirelessly to support and engage you during this challenging time and continue to create and build community. If you haven’t already partaken in our JCCatHome programming, I encourage you to visit www.jewishharrisburg.org to learn about the numerous opportunities available to you.

In our first week of closure, our programming staff and board were able to focus briefly on normal operations. This was a much needed reprieve for me personally. A JCCA consultant provided an overview of the Benchmarking survey, program data, and financial information. Thank you to those of you who participated in this survey to share important guidance. We heard you and will be exploring ways to do even better as we reopen in the future.

If you are able, we need your help. Although many of our revenue streams ceased when we closed, our leadership has made a commitment to continue paying our staff through at least the end of April. A pledge to the Annual Campaign always provides a critical resource, but this year, we are facing an emergency situation. Your support will enable us to reopen without still being in crisis mode when the crisis is over. You are able to make a payment online or you can email Beth Romano to make a pledge at b.romano@jewishfedhbg.org. Thank you for your consideration.

This is a challenging and unprecedented time for everyone. Financial hardship is impacting people and will likely continue to become more problematic. Many people have been unable to partake in joyous occasions such as weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, family trips/gatherings, and visiting newborn loved ones. Others are unable to see those they love, including the most vulnerable in hospitals and nursing homes. I pray for a quick end to this unspeakable pandemic and hope that no one loses any loved ones in the meantime. I pray for the day that we can come together in person as a community at our J and houses of worship and we can return to the life we knew before COVID-19 struck.

I wish you a meaningful Pesach, Easter, and/or other time of reflection.

Please let me know if I may be of support to you. I can still be reached at j.ross@jewishfedhbg.org.

CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES APRIL 10 » 7:22PM APRIL 17 » 7:31PM APRIL 24 » 7:38PM

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

Inside This Issue Linda Schwab...................................................................... Pg. 3 Passover for Pets................................................................. Pg. 4 Yom Hashoah...................................................................... Pg. 6 Reading of Names............................................................... Pg. 9 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, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

2 | COMMUNITY REVIEW | greater harrisburg’s jewish newspaper

Community Review Vol. 94, No. 7 April 10, 2020 (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.

President/CEO Jennifer Ross Editorial Board Members Roberta Krieger Rabbi Carl Choper Rita Gordon Jeanette Krebs Jennifer Ross STAFF Editor Adam Grobman a.grobman@jewishfedhbg.org Sales Director Ayelet Shanken 717-409-8222 a.shanken@jewishfedhbg.org Design and Layout Lisette Magaro Designs Graphic Designer Lisette Magaro 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.

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.

Memoir Tells Linda Schwab's Holocaust Story, Aftermath

L

BY ADAM GROBMAN

inda Schwab has been educating people about the Holocaust for a long time. Now, her words and experience will educate for decades to come.

Earlier this year, Linda published her book Displaced: A Holocaust Memoir and the Road to a New Beginning, with co-author Dr. Todd M. Mealy.

The book, which packs a powerful punch within its slim 127 pages, tells the story of Linda and her family’s experience of surviving during the Holocaust – and everything that happened after.

“My life is not just what I went through because of the Holocaust, but also new beginnings that came after,” Linda says. “The rest of my life is a story, too.”

The book was written over the course of two years. “Dr. Mealy would call me every Monday night, from 6-8pm, to talk,” she says.

Since publication, Linda has received the response that she hoped for: an increased interest in Holocaust education and support of causes that are important to her, like the Gesher L’Machar Fund, which she established with Lois Grass to assist students in attending the March of the Living program in Poland and Israel.

All of the royalties Linda receives are being donated to the fund.

“I went on the March of the Living with each of my grandchildren,” she says. “I want to make sure that people remember the Holocaust and what happened during it, and that can only happen by educating people.”

While this year’s March of the Living was postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis, Linda feels there are still many opportunities for Holocaust education.

Linda says that the main impetus to tell her story in this format was to educate children about the Holocaust, and that she hopes that the book will become a staple in school libraries.

“I can’t say no when it comes to educating children,” she says. “I go to the coal regions where the children have never seen a Jew, and I tell them ‘when there are no more survivors to tell the story, they’ll say this never happened. I want you to be my ambassadors.’”

Though we face uncertain times with the COVID-19 crisis, Linda never fails to have a powerful message rooted in education mixed with Jewish pride. “In the Haggadah at Passover, we read about the ten plagues,” she says. “I think of COVID-19 as number 11. This too shall pass, but we must obey the quarantines and be patient. Do a lot of praying to the one above.”

www.jewishharrisburg.org

| APRIL 10, 2020 | 3

Remember Fido and Fluffy’s Diets During Passover

BY MARY KLAUS

T

echnically, your pets may not be Jewish. But you are.

As Jews enter the Passover season, many believe that their pets, like themselves, should not have food with chametz (leavened bread) such as wheat, barley, oats, rye, spelt, pasta, and brewer’s yeast. After all, observant Jews keep chametz out of their homes during Passover.

Many Jews turn to lists of Passover-friendly pet foods free of chametz. Rabbi Elisha Friedman of Kesher Israel approves of this choice.

“Pets must be given kosher for Passover food,” he said. “There are some pet foods with kosher for Passover certification.”

STAR-K, a kosher certification service which has provided kosher supervision for over 50 years, publishes an annual list of Passover-friendly pet foods free of wheat and rice.

Mandy Cheskis said she is familiar with Passover-approved dog food for Genny, her 7-year-old yellow Labrador retriever.

Mark, Aviva and Ariel Woodland, have five cats: Bella, Fluffy, Brownie, Pixie and Shaggy.

“The cat food we buy year round is grain free,” Ariel Woodland said, “so we continue using it during Passover.”

Aviva Woodland said that their cats are quite familiar with Jewish rituals.

“When I get the white tablecloth out every Shabbat, they wander over toward the table

Help Your Dog Celebrate Passover!

A doggy seder could include a water bowl and a plate with:  A bitter apple in place of maror

(dogs don’t like bitter herbs) to

symbolize the bitterness of the

Egyptian oppression of the Israelites.  Chopped up sweet apples for the

charoset to represent the mortar

used by the Hebrew slaves to build in Egypt.

Genny

Fluffy

and sit down to wait,” she said. “When I serve challah, I give each of them a little piece, which they love. During Passover, they are very disappointed not to get it!”

Jews have other options when it comes to feeding their pets during Passover. These include feeding the pets “human food” such as kosher meats, selling their pet food to a nonobservant friend for Passover and buying

it back a week or so later, then using Passover approved pet food; or boarding their pets for a week.

Star K said that Jews should not leave their pets with non-Jews during Pesach if they know that their pets will be fed chametz.

Star K suggests that people leaving their pets at a kennel provide the kennel with a nonchametz food.

 Greenies for dogs, flavored dental

treats as the karpas, the green herb

representing the tears of the

Hebrew slaves.  A lamb shank to represent the

Passover sacrifice.  A hard-boiled egg to represent

mourning the destruction of the temple.

Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg Launches Virtual Programming Initiative, Keeps Community Engaged and Active During COVID-19 Crisis

T

he Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg temporarily closed its physical doors last month amidst the COVID-19 crisis, but is continuing to engage the community through its new JCC at Home Initiative, bringing virtual programming to tots, teens, adults, and seniors throughout the region.

An evolving schedule of the programming slate, which includes stories and crafts

for children and community-sustaining video check-ins for all ages, can be found at https://jewishharrisburg.org/virtualprogramming The programming is designed to reflect a “typical day” at the Harrisburg JCC. ELC students participate in activities similar to their daily schedule, while senior adults meet virtually on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, mirroring the Senior Adult

Club programs that are traditionally held in the JCC building.

Program highlights so far include an evergrowing list of fitness classes with familiar JCC instructors, Super Sunday Live variety show, and Storytime, a Monday-morning session for children. Later this month, the Holocaust remembrance program, Reading of Names, will take place via the Zoom teleconferencing app.

4 | COMMUNITY REVIEW | greater harrisburg’s jewish newspaper

In addition to in-house programming, the Federation has compiled a resource page of activities, workouts, and ideas for keeping busy, culled from all corners of the internet by staff members.

Community members looking for updates on the Jewish Federation’s ongoing response to COVID-19 can sign up for email updates at http://eepurl.com/gcL0Mz or visit www. jewishharrisburg.org.

Mi Shebeirach OďŹƒce (717) 731-1990 x 3003 Cell (717) 514 - 9469 Fax (717) 731- 8765

Mi Shebeirach is often recited in synagogues and homes as a prayer for the healing of the sick or those facing challenges of all kinds. The Debbie Friedman melody and lyrics comprise one of the most widely shared versions of this prayer around the world.

As the lyrics recite, please use this prayer as a source of strength during this uncertain time.

Mi shebeirach avoteinu M'kor hab'racha l'imoteinu May the source of strength, Who blessed the ones before us, Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing,and let us say, Amen.

Mi shebeirach imoteinu M'kor habrachah l'avoteinu Bless those in need of healing with r'fuah sh'leimah, The renewal of body, the renewal of spirit, And let us say, Amen

www.jewishharrisburg.org

| APRIL 10, 2020 | 5

THOUGHTS ON YOM HASHOAH

BY LILLIAN RAPPAPORT

A

s Yom Hashoah approaches in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, we find ourselves living in such strange and unsettling times.

I am writing this article in early spring.

Normally, I would be busy preparing for our community’s Yom Hashoah observances---the observance at the Holocaust Monument where Rabbi Cytryn would have presided and where Abby Smith would have shared the Holocaust experiences of her beloved grandparents.

We would have heard the Schwab Holocaust essay read by its award winning student writer. The following evening would have seen us at Temple Beth Shalom with Rabbi Choper greeting us at the Reading of Names observance, which will now be held virtually (details on page 9). Students from throughout the Jewish community would have been leading us in poetry and prose in its opening ceremony. I would have been assigning parts and rehearsing with the students now. Many hundreds of people would have signed up to read names during the 24-hour observance.

Governor Wolf had scheduled his annual Civic Holocaust Observance at the capitol that same week.

I am deeply saddened that these commemorations will not take place in 2020 due to health precautions required by the current pandemic.

However, we can take pause and remember who and what we have lost. Some thoughts as Yom Hashoah approaches.....

Several years ago, I took part in a “70 days for 70 years” initiative sponsored by Chisuk Emuna Congregation to memorialize the Holocaust. It was a remarkable 70 days for me even though I originally had reservations about the project. For some reason, I didn’t think reading a daily essay would be a particularly meaningful way for me to commemorate the Holocaust…but, still, I agreed to participate.

The concept was quite simple. We were tasked with reading essays, most of which were Holocaust-related, each day for 70 days, marking the then 70 years (now 75 years) since the liberation of the concentration camps. We were also sent a card with the name of one of the kedoshim, a person who perished during the Holocaust, in whose memory we were to read the essays.

Right away, I knew that I needed to make

some modifications to make the project more personal for me. Rather than study in memory of the person whose card I had been given, I decided to study in memory of my own loved ones, and in particular, my father’s (z”l), family, who had all perished in the Shoah. The problem was, however, that I knew so little about them since most were children when they died. Since no pictures of them survived the war, I didn’t even know what they looked like. So, for my entire life, the family members I had lost in the Shoah have had an unreal quality about them. And, my father (z”l), the only survivor of his family, was so emotionally traumatized by his Holocaust experiences that he could never really speak about them---and now was no longer here for me to ask.

But I knew that, for the project to resonate for me, it had to involve my murdered grandparents, aunts, and uncles. So, I sat down with myself and began to think…and try to remember conversations I had had with my father about them. Slowly, it all started to become more real to me. For the first time in my life, rather than think of my grandparents in relation to my father, “my father’s father, or my father’s mother,” I began to think of my grandparents in terms of me.

In my mind, I began to connect with them as “bubby and zayde,” names I would have called them had I known them. I knew the names of my father’s siblings—his brothers Mendel and Herschel; his sisters Frimid and Esther---and tried to remember whatever my father had told me about them. Mendel was the smart one; Herschel the handsome one; Frimid, a lovely girl on the verge of young womanhood; and Esther, the youngest upon whom they all doted.

So I read the essays each night, and each night made a connection with one of my grandparents, or one of my aunts or uncles—and the experience became profound and filled with meaning.

Some background on the Shoah: Many concentration camp survivors spoke of the struggle to remain human in a place that was specifically designed to strip you of your humanity. When prisoners first arrived at the camps, they were immediately segregated by sex, followed by an initial selection.

Those to live went to the left, and the others marked for death, to the right. In a matter

of moments, most, if not all, of their closest relatives were beyond their reach. From there they were stripped of any remaining belongings, their hair, and their names. The inmates were suddenly reduced to a number, naked alongside other women-- and among male guards and prisoners, being searched in every crevice of their bodies.

When they were finally given clothes to wear, the dresses were ill-fitting and didn’t belong to them. They ended up in an overcrowded barracks without any personal space, a bucket for a toilet shared among hundreds of women, if they were lucky enough to have access to any facilities at all, and given what was called food but lacked any real nourishment.

They were even denied a source of water for drinking purposes much less to use to clean themselves. Standing at roll calls, hard labor, and minimal sleep followed.

Anything prisoners were able to do to preserve their humanity was an act of resistance, from washing their faces so they looked human-- to bonding with other prisoners for their emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. Something as simple as holding hands took on new meaning because human beings thrive on physical contact.

Jewish women helped support and sustain each other through the concentration camp ordeal. This has become known as “campsister” relationships or “lagerschwestern”. Often the lagerschwestern were bound by familial relationship or friendship prior to deportation, and from the start, the elder of the group took it upon herself to look after and protect the younger one(s). These lagerschwestern physically cared for one another, shared any extra food, and nursed each other when they became ill. Camp sisters boosted each other’s morale and motivated each other to continue living when all around them seemed hopeless.

My own mother (z”l) was fortunate in that she was together with her two actual sisters for the entire time they were in the camps. When Mom would address why or how she survived her imprisonment, she would state luck or chance as the primary or only possible reason. However, in the next sentence, Mom would talk about her eldest sister, Etta, without whose companionship, aid, and support both she and her other sister, Chaya Sarah, would have died.

Another personal note--I lived in New York

for 15 years and, for much of that time, taught French and Spanish at the Yeshiva of Flatbush High School in Brooklyn. The rosh Yeshiva (head of school) was Rabbi David Eliach. His wife, Yaffa Eliach (z”l) was a professor and well-known Holocaust scholar. I had the privilege of meeting Professor Eliach often during my tenure at the school.

The excerpted essay below, entitled “A Girl Called Esterke,” was written by Yaffa Eliach.

Of all the essays I read, this one was most meaningful to me. Perhaps it was because of the name of the child involved, Esterke. I read it in loving memory of my 11 year old aunt, Esther, z”l.

It was spring of 1944, when Ida and her family were ordered to the train station with the rest of the Jewish community of their Czechoslovakian town. More than 80 people were squeezed into a single wagon. On the eve of the holiday of Shavuot, Ida and her family arrived in Auschwitz.

As they stood on the Auschwitz platform, Ida was separated from her father, mother, young sisters, and brothers. Ida and her older married sister passed the selection and were put to work as slave laborers. Ida sorted the clothes of the gassed, folded them neatly, and placed them in piles according to size and quality, ready for shipment to Germany to be used by the German people.

One night, it was especially difficult to fall asleep in the barracks. Heartbreaking screams were piercing the night, mingled with the wailing of children and mothers as they were torn away from each other. Slowly, the screams subsided and gave way to the usual deadly sounds of the Auschwitz night. Shortly afterwards, a sound was heard under Ida’s bunk bed, where 36 girls slept packed together like sardines. Certain that they were hearing a rat under the bed, Ida went to look and, instead, found a little girl curled up like a frightened porcupine. The girl told them that when the children’s Aktion began, she managed to run away and hide in the latrine among the piles of chlorine cans. When it became dark, she ran into their barracks and hid under the bed.

The girl’s name was Esterke. She had big, blue frightened eyes, beautiful blond curls, and two deep dimples. Ida became instantly attached to the child but the blockhova, the block leader, told Continued on page 7

6 | COMMUNITY REVIEW | greater harrisburg’s jewish newspaper

THOUGHTS ON YOM HASHOAH Continued from page 6

Ida that she must give up the child, otherwise she, her sister, and maybe all the girls in the barracks would pay with their lives for harboring a little criminal. Ida stood there clutching the child. “I will never give her up,” she said with determination. Ida knew the blockhova had a Jewish boyfriend. So she blackmailed her and convinced her to keep Esterke in her private room during the day while the prisoners were at work.

Ida had won her first battle for Esterke’s life.

Ida loved the child. All her thoughts focused on Esterke. To save that child became her obsession and purpose for living.

In early 1945, Ida and Esterke arrived in Bergen Belsen, after having managed to survive a blisteringly cold death march. Conditions there were even more difficult than in Auschwitz.

Filth, lice, starvation, and epidemics made living almost impossible. Ida managed to find a job cleaning latrines, for which she was given a piece of bread and a warm drink that they insisted on calling coffee.

On April 15, 1945, Bergen Belsen was liberated by the British Army. Ida’s older sister had also survived and the two sisters and Esterke made their way back home to Czechoslovakia, together with throngs of other refugees. They were all trying to go home, all hoping that perhaps other relatives had also survived and families could be reunited.

After finding a temporary shelter in Prague, the three set out in different directions to search for other surviving members of their families.

Esterke traveled to Bratislava hoping that her father, mother, or some of her eight brothers and sisters had survived. Ida and her sister left with similar hopes for their family. The parting was painful for Ida. She and Esterke had not been separated since that fateful night in Auschwitz. The three agreed to meet in Prague in two weeks, no matter what the outcome of their search might be.

Two weeks passed and Ida and her sister returned to Prague as planned. But Esterke

failed to return. They waited and waited but there was no trace of her. After months of searching for Esterke, Ida finally gave up. She eventually met and married a young man, a survivor like herself. Her sister was fortunate too, for her husband had also managed to survive the camps. The sisters parted once more. Ida and her husband went to America.

Her sister, her husband, and their newly born baby became part of the illegal immigration to Israel.

In the early 1950s, Ida traveled to the young state of Israel to visit her sister. One very hot day, Ida fainted on the street. Two young Israeli soldiers, who happened to pass by, picked her up from the pavement and took her in their jeep to the nearest hospital. The following day, the soldiers came in to see how their patient was doing. A friendship developed between Ida and the two soldiers, who continued to visit her daily.

As Ida was about to be discharged from the

hospital, she asked the two young men how she could repay their kindness. The taller of the two, Yossi, told Ida that he was getting married in a few days. The biggest reward would be if she would come to his wedding.

It was a beautiful dusk in Jerusalem when the wedding took place. “The bride is coming,” someone near her said so Ida made her way to the front so she could see the bride whom Yossi had described so lovingly. The door opened, the bride walked in. It was none other than her own long-lost Esterke!

Under the bright stars shining above the eternal city and the Judean hills, Ida stepped forward and led her beloved Esterke to the bridal canopy.

“Whoever saves a single soul, it is as if she saves an entire universe.”

May the memories of those whom we lost in the Shoah be for a blessing and may they rest in peace.

www.jewishharrisburg.org

| APRIL 10, 2020 | 7

Your Life – Your Legacy...

What’s in Your Heart?

5 Reasons to Consider Making a Legacy Commitment: 1. Support the Future: You "can" change the future! Commit to a legacy gift. Build endowment funds, and you show

your support. Endowments provide needed financial resources that will benefit organization(s) you love.

2. Support the Present: Organizations participating in our community wide legacy intiative who meet their goal will

receive an incentive grant. Incentive grants may be used now to help current operations, build an endowment, and more.

Your Letter of Intent will help your cherished organizations reach their goal.

3. Create Your Legacy: Establish a legacy gift - whether it's through a bequest in your will, your trust, your life insurance policy, or retirement account, or another option - and you send a clear message to your children, grandchildren, and the community. You tell one-and-all that being generous, caring about others, and thinking about the future are important values to you. You send a profound message to Jewish community members of all ages. Be remembered forever with your gift!

4. Lead by Example: Sign a Letter of Intent and lead by example. Demonstrate your dedication to beloved

organization(s). There is no monetary gift that must be made now, just your commitment, your leadership - your promise to be there in the future - through your legacy gift!

5. Save on Taxes: While the JCF does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice - we encourage you to contact your

trusted advisor. Your legacy gift may save you capital gains, estate, income, and/or other taxes and these savings can be significant.

Be remembered forever! Ready to Create Your Legacy? Contact our JCF today!

Contact our Jewish Community Foundation at 717.409.8220 Option #2 or rebecca@pajewishendowment.org Jewish Community Foundation of Central PA is sponsoring the community wide legacy intiative Please join these organizations in securing the future of the Jewish community:

JEWISH FAMILY SERV I C E O F G R E A T E R HARRISBURG

8 | COMMUNITY REVIEW | greater harrisburg’s jewish newspaper

Norman Gras, the Man Who Nourishes Bodies, Souls

BY MARY KLAUS

N

orman Gras proves the saying “the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”

Norman, owner of Norman Gras Kosher Food Consultant, followed his mother, the late Fanny Gras, as the best-known kosher food expert in the midstate. She spent decades working as the kosher caterer for the Jewish Community Center. When she retired in 1979, her son, Norman, took over the job. He’s been at it ever since.

“I grew up here,” Gras said, clearly at home at the JCC on a recent day when he prepared meals for the Early Learning Center, The Silver Academy, and the Senior Adult Club. “When I was young, I helped my mom inventory the plates and silverware here. Year later, when I was in college, I worked in a kosher restaurant in New York City.”

These days, he prepares food for Jews of all ages both in and outside of the Jewish Community Center. He keeps a kosher kitchen, follows Jewish dietary laws, and prepares dairy and meat entrees separately.

Each has their own dishes, pots, and utensils.

“We have up to 120 children ages 2 to 5 in the Early Learning Center,” he said. “I have to be aware of their peanut allergies, gluten allergies and dairy allergies. Today, they’re having meatloaf made with ground chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans, romaine salad, cantaloupe, and water.”

Food for the youngest children must be cut into very small pieces. Apple slices must be

served without skin. The toddlers drink water with their meals and 2 percent milk with such snacks as whole grain cereals, cucumbers, peppers, and more.

Jodie Raffensperger, Early Learning Center art and garden specialist, collaborates with Gras on menus, emphasizing healthy eating.

“We don’t serve chicken nuggets, hot dogs, or fish sticks,” she said. “We bake instead of fry. We serve chicken, turkey, and vegetarian menus. The kids plant spinach, lettuce, kale, means, beets, onions, and more in our garden, then we use them in our kitchen.”

Gras said he also doesn’t serve many white potatoes, instead turning to sweet potatoes.

“We haven’t had peanuts here for 22 years,” he added. “The parents know that their kids are eating healthy here and they are taking care of the earth, too.”

Sometimes, Gras gives the children a summer picnic. They sit on blankets and eat cheese, turkey or tuna sandwiches, vegetable chips, and fruit, and drink ice water. He also makes lunch for about 40 Silver Academy students who eat everything from hamburgers to tuna fish, hard boiled eggs, and a daily salad bar.

“We serve them a lot of steamed vegetables and Greek yogurt for protein,” he said.

Barb Marvel works as Silver Academy food manager.

Gras said his easiest meals to prepare are the Tuesday and Thursday lunches for the Senior Adult Club.

Norman Gras, left, and family

“I also cook for special events at the JCC,” he said. Jennifer Ross, Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg president and CEO, said she always looks forward to his “appetizing and delicious meals at our events.”

Gras, a member of Kesher Israel, also consults with various clients, including Fresh Express, the Giant bakery, Sensational Sweets of Lewisburg, and more.

He also caters everything from weddings to Bar/Bat Mitzvah meals and collaborates with other caterers to bring kosher food to clients throughout the midstate. In addition

to a wide variety of meals, he offers hors d’oeurves, sushi stations, fondue stations, chocolate stations, carving stations, tempura stations, and Viennese tables.

Gras and Cheryl, his wife of 44 years, have two sons, one daughter, two grandsons and five granddaughters.

Asked what he does for fun, he smiled.

“I like to go to Baltimore where my three children live,” he said. “I just completed a 7 ½ year study of the Talmud,” the collection of rabbinic teachings that covers Jewish laws and tradition. “I like learning.”

Reading of Names to be Held Virtually ADAM GROBMAN

T

he Reading of Names, an annual vigil commemorating Kedoshim (those who lost their lives during the Holocaust), will take place virtually from April 20 – 21st, when Yom Hashoah, the Day of Remembrance, begins.

The annual commemoration was originally scheduled to be held in person at Temple Beth Shalom, and typically features Jewish and non-Jewish groups and individuals,

congregations, organizations, youth groups, school, and churches that continuously read names over a period of twenty-four hours.

This year's program will last twenty-four hours, as usual, and will feature readers from throughout the community.

Lillian Rappaport, Jewish Holocaust Educator who organizes the program each year, said that although the community could not be physically together, it was important to

go ahead with the program.

“As we enter the month of April, our thoughts are focused on the 27th of Nisan, when we commemorate Yom Hashoah,” Lillian said.

“This year during these challenging times, we will perform the mitzvah of the Reading of the Names, those whom we lost during the Holocaust, virtually. We are grateful to the hundreds of volunteers, representing both the Jewish and the Greater Harrisburg

communities, who honor us by joining us as we remember.”

Viewers can watch the program via teleconferencing app, Zoom, and the link can be found at www.jewishharrisburg.org/ virtual-programming. For more information on the Reading of the Names, or to volunteer as a reader (RSVP by April 15), please contact Lillian Rappaport at l.rappaport@ jewishfedhbg.org.

www.jewishharrisburg.org

| APRIL 10, 2020 | 9

Li fe Cycle Obituaries CARMELLA O’GORMAN

Carmella Camplese O'Gorman, 89, of Harrisburg, passed away on Sunday March 8, 2020 at Homeland Center.

She was born December 9, 1930, in Harrisburg. She was the daughter of the late Raffael and Elvira (DeBerardinis) Camplese. Carm was preceded in death by her husband, Francis J. "Pat" O'Gorman, Jr., in 1980.

She was a graduate of William Penn High School. Carmella is survived by her daughter, Elvira O. Guida, and her husband Richard, of Harrisburg; and sons, Francis J. O'Gorman III, and his wife Susan, of Harrisburg and Edward B. O'Gorman, and his wife Nichole, of Dauphin. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren: Patrick, Andrew, Sarah, Rebekah, Deborah, Mary Rose, Samuel, Rachel and Blaine; and a sister, Josephine Heisse, of Ellenton, FL. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday March 12, 2020 in St. Matthew's Catholic Church, 607 Stoney Creek Drive, Dauphin, with the Very Rev. Paul M. Clark, as Celebrant.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name may be made to the charity or organization of your choice.

LOUIS REIS

Louis M. Reis, 92, of Harrisburg passed away on Friday, March 27, 2020 at Harrisburg Hospital.

Lou was born on July 28, 1927 and was pre-deceased by his parents, wife Elaine and two brothers Paul Reis and Sam Reis.

Lou served active duty as an electrician in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific theater. He was honorably discharged three days prior to his 18th birthday.

Lou was one of the founding partners and the CEO of Advanced Conversion Technology in Harrisburg and was still actively involved in the day-to-day running of the business. He previously worked for AMP, Inc. for many years in Chicago and then in Harrisburg. He received his bachelor's degree and his master's degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Minnesota. Lou's greatest joy was spending time with his family.

Lou is survived by his family; three daughters: Deborah (Al Buckalew) Reis, Judith Reis, and Gwyn (Jim Wright) Reis; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Doris Reis; several nieces and nephews; and companion Marcia Bryant.

Due to the pandemic, the funeral service and burial will be private. There will be a memorial service held at a future date. There will be no local shiva.

Memorial donations may be made to Beth El Temple, 2637 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or to the charity of your choice.

10 | COMMUNITY REVIEW | greater harrisburg’s jewish newspaper

Synagogue Life Many synagogues have cancelled or postponed events (including services) for the coming weeks. Please contact individual synagogues for updates.

Beth El Temple 2637 N Front St, (717) 232-0556 www.bethelhbg.org

Congregation Beth Israel, Lebanon 411 S 8th St, (717) 273-2669 www.congregation-beth-israel.org

All services, public gatherings, and religious school are cancelled through at least the end of the month of April. Beth El has a few active initiatives and programs to keep you involved:

Congregation Beth Israel is hosting virtual services. You can view services on their Vimeo page at https://vimeo.com/ user109624793

• "Ask the Rabbi about...Anything!" - Tuesday Evenings at 7:30pm - https://zoom.us/j/695974754

Congregation Beth Tikvah, Carlisle Asbell Center, 262 W High St, (717)-240-8627 www.bethtikvah.org

• To arrange a virtual meeting or pastoral care via Zoom, email Rabbi Eric Cytryn at rabbi@bethelhbg.org.

Chisuk Emuna Congregation 3219 Green St, (717) 232-4851 info@chisukemuna.org www.chisukemuna.org Chisuk Emuna activities are taking place remotely via the video conferencing app, Zoom, until further notice.

• Virtual Gatherings of Prayer and Learning are held Sunday - Thursday evenings at 7:15pm • "Preparing for Passover: Let's Explore Selections from the Haggadah and Mishnah" with Rabbi Ilyse Kramer Wednesday, March 25 at 11am - https://zoom.us/j/173887760 • Chisuk Emuna is reaching out to members and friends to assist those in need during the COVID-19 Crisis. If you need help or would like to volunteer to help, please contact Rabbi Ron Muroff at rabbi@chisukemuna.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. We are a community Shul and all are welcome to join us. There are no membership dues or admission fees.

Kesher Israel Congregation 2500 N 3rd St, (717) 238-0763 www.kesherisrael.org Kesher Israel Shabbat and minyan services will not be held until further notice.

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 are cancelled. Services that were to be held at the Campus of the Jewish Home are also cancelled.

Temple Ohev Sholom 2345 N Front St, (717) 233-6459 www.ohevsholom.org For updates, visit Ohev Sholom’s Facebook page or message Michelle at office@ohevsholom.org to be added to the listserve.

JCC Senior Adult Programs All in-person Senior Adult Club programming is cancelled until further notice.

The Jewish Federation is hosting virtual programming for seniors and the community – visit www.jewishharrisburg.org/virtual-programming for a schedule of events.

www.jewishharrisburg.org

| APRIL 10, 2020 | 11

STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS

Help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

cdc.gov/COVID19 314915-A March 16, 2020 1:02 PM