The Dayton Jewish Observer, April 2024

Happy Passover

Can Moss we sing Dayenu there in are hostages? p. p.

2222 David designs Gracewhile After Meals comic book form

THE DAYTON

Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton

April 2024 Adar II/Nisan 5784 Vol. 28, No. 8

OBSERVER

The Miami Valley’s Jewish Monthly • daytonjewishobserver.org Marshall Weiss

'This class is about action' WSU Boonshoft School of Medicine's Physicians and the Holocaust course

Address Service Requested Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton 525 Versailles Drive Dayton, OH 45459

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID DAYTON, OHIO PERMIT NO. 59

DAYTON Marshall Weiss

Annual Judaic symposium

Humanities Prof. Naomi Seidman of the University of Toronto and its Department for the Study of Religion and the Centre for Diaspora and Transnational Studies will be the speaker for the 44th Annual Ryterband Symposium, Thursday, April 11 at University of Dayton's Curran Place.

A 2016 Guggenheim Fellow, Seidman hosts a podcast on leaving the ultra-Orthodox Jewish world, Heretic in the House, distributed by the Shalom Hartman Institute. Her fourth book, Sarah Schenirer and the Bais Yaakov Movement: A Revolution in the Name of Tradition — winner of a 2019 National Jewish Book Award in Women's Naomi Seidman Studies — will be the topic of her 4 p.m. lecture.

At 7 p.m., Seidman will present the talk Jesus Spoke Yiddish. Both are free and open to the public. The Ryterband Symposium is cosponsored by the University of Dayton, United Theological Seminary, and Wright State University. Curran Place is located at 1700 S. Patterson Blvd. For more information, contact Wright State Zusman Prof. of Judaic Studies Mark Verman at 937-775-2461.

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Melinda Doner and Helene Gordon take a look at the 250 daffodils that bloomed in early March at the Boonshoft Center for Jewish Culture and Education in Centerville. The new garden area marks the Dayton Yom Hashoah Committee's participation in the Worldwide Daffodil Project, which is developing a global living Holocaust memorial by planting 1.5 million daffodils in memory of the children who perished in the Holocaust, and to support children in humanitarian crises in the world today. Doner and Gordon are local chairs of the Daffodil Project.

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Wishing You and Yours a Happy Passover PAGE 2

The Dayton Jewish Chorale, under the direction of Beth Abraham Synagogue's Cantor Andrea Raizen (R), sang Sim Shalom and Hinei Mah Tov as part of the 2nd Annual Interfaith Community Concert: Praise, Hope Sing, held March 10 at Beavercreek High School. The chorale joined the five other choirs on the program — about 230 singers — to perform Let There Be Peace on Earth for the finale.

Calendar..................................15 Family Education....................31

Food................................28 Obituaries...........................34

O p i n i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 6 Religion.......................... 22

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

DAYTON

'This class is about action'

Marshall Weiss

Critical thinking, empathy are hallmarks of WSU Boonshoft School of Medicine's Physicians and the Holocaust course

"I want them to

By Marshall Weiss think," he tells The The Observer Observer. "I want Fourth-year medical student them to think Ashley Hughes from Shaker critically. I want Heights says she'll graduate Wright State University's Boon- them to look into Fourth-year students in Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine's Physicians and the Holocaust elective their own hearts, shoft School of Medicine April is a person? How do you tell Holocaust is for students to take tions speak." synthesize their thoughts, and 28 with a strong background in the difference between right meaningful action as a result of Each student designs a be able to express them, whatpatient care. and wrong? Does the concept participating in the course. project based on their own pas"You see patients from differ- ever they are." of right versus wrong make To that end, Shuster requires sions and talents. The result is a Amanda Peck of Cincinnati ent cultures, backgrounds, difeach student to create and tangible action in the world. says she's learned about respect any difference in the actions ferent types of situations," she humanity chooses? Are there implement their own Holocaust The Boonshoft School of says. Hughes wanted to expand and humility in the class. lives which are not worth livand Humanity Project. "There's Medicine began offering the "And how gray the world her ability to relate to her paing? Are their lives which are thought and there's talk. But ac- Continued on next page is. Things aren't necessarily as tients so she can give them the straightforward as they seem on too expensive? In the context of best care possible. That led her your worldview, how could the to enroll in the medical school's the outside," she says.

Peck went on Birthright Israel Holocaust happen?

Physicians and the Holocaust elecThe class visits Montgomlast year. It was in Israel where tive with Dr. David B. Shuster. ery County Stillwater Center, she says she truly "I'm learning things a residential facility for people comprehended that about myself that I with severe disabilities. They antisemitism has exdidn't know, because learn about the racist pseudoploded in the United he's asking me to look science of eugenics. They visit States. "When I was deeply into my phithe Veterans Memorial Museum born in 1997, there losophy about life," in Germantown and Prejudice were about 1,000 anHughes says. and Memory: A Holocaust Exhibit tisemitic hate crimes A clinical assistant a year," she says. "Just on permanent display at the professor of orthopaeover my lifespan of 26 National Museum of the U.S. dic surgery, Shuster Air Force. years, it's more than has now taught the One of Peck's contributions increased by threeclass — open only to to this class is a presentation on fourth-year students Dr. David B. Shuster fold." the history of antisemitism.

She tells The Observer that at — for a decade.

She says the course has the beginning of each Physicians "This class is about action. provided her with perspective, and the Holocaust class, Shuster And what you do is action," poses three or four open-ended especially with patients. "You Shuster, the son of a Holocaust don't know their backgrounds questions for the students to survivor, tells his class. FourJoin us Thursday, April 17 from 1-3 p.m. for a free art or where they come from." consider and discuss. teen fourth-year students are class: Canvas Painting for Beginners, presented by The goal of Physicians and the A question could be: What enrolled in the yearlong course.

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From the editor’s desk

I've always thought of Passover as a comfort, an anchor, a thoughtful celebration. It's the one holiday that most Jews in the United States Marshall observe in some form or another.

Weiss The situation we Jews find ourselves in across the globe this year — and especially in Israel — gives us a Passover that can still be these things. But the text of the Haggadah challenges us in a harsh way again. It irritates. It agitates. It reminds us of how many times over the centuries the pain and suffering of oppression were on top of us — and ahead of us. It tells us freedom is never to be taken for granted. My prayer is that this year, our Seders urge us on as individuals and as a people to figure out how to live our best lives as Jews, as Americans, and as human beings. Wishing all of us a meaningful Pesach.

c O Menachem

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

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PAGE 3

DAYTON

Physicians and the Holocaust

DaytonMetroLibrary.org PAGE 4

THE DAYTON

In February, Hughes led a class discussion about the 1946 book Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, required reading for the students.

Continued from previous page "Almost anybody that I talk to from Physicians and the Holocaust course in other medical schools doesn't have a 2008. It was originally led by mediclass like this," Hughes says. cal ethics professor and physician Dr. On Match Day, March 15, she Ashley Fernandes and the late Rhoda learned that she'll be a resident in Mahran. Dayton Holocaust Education anesthesiology at Oregon Health and Committee Chair ReScience University in Portland. nate Frydman has also "Dr. Shuster really has a vibeen involved since sion that most physicians don't the beginning. have," Hughes says when When Fernandes asked what she'll take with moved on to The Ohio her from the course. "A vision State University Colto empower us to be openlege of Medicine and minded, to be creative, to dive Nationwide Children's deeply into our own biases Hospital in 2014, and judgements and thoughts Shuster took over the and be able to apply them to course. our practice of medicine, the Ashley Hughes Some of the Holoart of medicine. It goes beyond caust and Humanity Projects Shuster the scientific aspect of medicine. He's recalls over his decade teaching the saying, go out into this world and course include a medical student who be yourself and don't be afraid to was also a violinist playing the violin do something for others that may be at the Community Yom Hashoah Ob- nontraditional." servance. Another student, originally Another goal of the course, Shusfrom Ukraine, sold her homemade ter adds, is to cultivate Holocaust pirozhki and donated the proceeds to speakers beyond survivors: profesa charity. sors, other physicians, who may never He says Dr. Sara Tisherman's have given a presentation about the project stands out. "She and other Holocaust. students in the class put together a "For instance, we had Dr. Marvin Passover Seder for all the students.

Miller, who's a geneticist at Chil(Survivor) Sam Heider was there. dren's, talk about eugenics. Pam Renate was there. If I had to pick one Garverick, who's a Ph.D. professor thing, that would be it. Because the of psychology. I wanted it to be their students participated." peers, their professors."

Tisherman has returned to the Peck will return to Cincinnati for Boonshoft School of Mediher neurology residency cine, as an assistant profesat University of Cincinsor in the Department of nati Medical Center.

Family Medicine. And in "Hearing everyone's June, with the start of the differences of opinions next academic year, Tisherin this class on how they man will co-direct the answered different quescourse with Shuster. tions — and learning "The course improved my about everyone's stories ability to have productive and emotional traumas conversations about difficult — is something I will Amanda Peck topics without transitionreally take with me as a ing from conversation to argument," doctor," Peck says. she says. "I became more comfortable For Shuster's work with the class, conveying my opinions to peers and the Boonshoft School of Medicine more comfortable with public speakhonored him with its 2017 Voluntary ing. All of these skills have helped Faculty Award for teaching medical me in interviews, work, and personal students. situations since the course."

In 2020, he received the MontgomLocal Holocaust survivors have ery County Board of Developmental met with the students and shared Disabilities Services' Erin Ritchey their stories since the beginning of the Memorial Educator Award, given to course. those whose personal efforts have This year, students met Felix Garcontributed significantly to improvfunkel, Henry Guggenheirmer, Ira ing the quality of life for people with Segalewitz, former Daytonian Felix developmental disabilities.

Weil virtually from Chicago, Renate "I'm honored to be a part of it," Frydman, and Bob Kahn, who at the Shuster says of Physicians and the Hotime was 99. locaust. "With each class, the students "It took a lot for him to come to our inspire me, and I'm just blown away class," Hughes says. "He was defiby their actions and their thoughtfulnitely a warrior to come and speak to ness. When they're there, at a time us and make that trip. His presence is that is very stressful for them — powerful. He came in, he stood up to they're all over the country, they're speak with us. He didn't want to sit just trying to get a residency — they down." put their hearts into this."

OBSERVER daytonjewishobserver.org Editor and Publisher Marshall Weiss mweiss@jfgd.net 937-610-1555 Contributors Candace R. Kwiatek Devorah Mangel Advertising Sales Executive Patty Caruso, plhc69@gmail.com Administrative Assistant Samantha Daniel, sdaniel@jfgd.net 937-610-1555 Billing Sheila Myers, smyers@jfgd.net 937-610-1555 Proofreaders Rachel Haug Gilbert, Steven H. Solomon Observer Advisor Martin Gottlieb Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton Mary Rita Weissman President Dan Sweeny President Elect Marni Flagel Secretary Neil Friedman Treasurer Ben Mazer VP Personnel Teddy Goldenberg VP Resource Dev. Dr. Heath Gilbert Immediate Past Pres.

Cathy Gardner CEO The Dayton Jewish Observer, Vol. 28, No. 8. The Dayton Jewish Observer is published monthly by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, a nonprofit corporation, 525 Versailles Dr., Dayton, OH 45459.

Views expressed by columnists, in readers’ letters, and in opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinion of staff or layleaders of The Dayton Jewish Observer or the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton. Acceptance of advertising neither endorses advertisers nor guarantees kashrut.

The Dayton Jewish Observer Mission Statement To support, strengthen and champion the Dayton Jewish community by providing a forum and resource for Jewish community interests.

Goals • To encourage affiliation, involvement and communication.

• To provide announcements, news, opinions and analysis of local, national and international activities and issues affecting Jews and the Jewish community.

• To build community across institutional, organizational and denominational lines.

• To advance causes important to the strength of our Jewish community including support of Federation agencies, its annual campaign, synagogue affiliation, Jewish education and participation in Jewish and general community affairs.

• To provide an historic record of Dayton Jewish life.

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

DAYTON

Cincinnati-based Hebrew free loan society now serves Dayton region The Moses E. Miller Hebrew Free Loan Society has expanded its service area beyond Cincinnati and will now provide interest-free loans of up to $5,000 to Jews in financial need in the Dayton area.

In addition to Jews in need, the free loan society will provide loans to non-Jews in the Dayton area who "have a meaningful connection with the Jewish community," such as employees of Jewish organizations.

Loans are available for such expenses as health care, business expansion, education, and home improvement.

Borrowers typically have two to three years to repay the loan, depending on the amount borrowed.

Tara Feiner, executive director of Dayton's Jewish Family Services, says the free loan society contacted her about expanding to serve the Dayton region.

"Someone had actually reached out to them from the Dayton area asking if they would serve here," she says.

"It's such a great opportunity because JFS has limited financial assistance, and ours is for those who are Jewish and in emergency situations such as for utilities or rent that's going to keep them safe and sheltered.

"The Moses E. Miller Hebrew Free Loan Society has much more flexibility. It covers those next-level needs: helping with a down payment, getting a car, helping with business startup costs, professional development, even for lifecycle events such as bar and bat mitzvahs."

The current trustees of the society, the Katz family, are great-grandchildren of Moses E. Miller, who founded it in 1888.

Feiner adds that applications go directly to the free loan society.

"It's confidential. People can come to us if they're not sure if they want to do it, if they want to learn a little more about the process. But they would still go directly through their website to do it. Their application is very simple. A cosigner is also required."

Application forms are available at memhebrewfreeloan. com.

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Hadassah blankets Israeli babies with comfort Dayton Hadassah members came together at One Lincoln Park in January and made 19 fleece blankets for babies at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem.

Before the volunteers worked on the blankets, member Judy Schwartzman, who holds a Ph.D. in psychology, talked about ways to deal with stress. The Dayton chapter also received a donation of 13 receiving blanket quilts for the project, bringing its total contribution to 32 blankets.

Hadassah National President Carol Ann Schwartz, who lives in Cincinnati, delivered the blankets herself to pediatrics department nurses at Hadassah Hospital's Bloomberg Mother and Child Center. "They feel your love and hugs," Schwartz conveyed to Dayton Hadassah President Julie Bloom.

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Wishing you and your family a happy, peaceful Passover.

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THE REGION

THURSDAY, APRIL 11TH

Five arrested at anti-Israel protest in Heath

THE 44TH ANNUAL

RYTERBAND SYMPOSIUM

Keynote Speaker Dr. Naomi Seidman Jackman Humanities Professor at the University of Toronto

Public 4PM: Revolution in the NameLectures of Tradition: Sarah Schenirer and Bais Yaakov Schools for of Orthodox Jewish Girls 4PM: Revolution in the Name Tradition: Sarah Schenirer andJesus Bais Yaakov Schools for Orthodox Jewish Girls 7PM: Spoke Yiddish

7PM: Jesus Spoke Yiddish Both presentations are free and open to the public Both presentations are free and open to the public

Curran Place - Meyer Room University of Dayton 1700 S. Patterson Blvd.

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For more information, contact Zusman Professor Mark Verman, WSU, (937) 775-2461

Please follow parking signage when arriving at Curran Place. Location is ADA accessible

Co-sponsored by The University of Dayton, United Theological Seminary, & Wright State University

Happy Passover From Bethany Village

Police arrested five anti-Israel protesters on March 11 after they blocked roads leading to the Boeing Company building in Heath, Ohio. The protesters blocked two bridges near the building and chanted “free Palestine,” while tying themselves to disabled vehicles, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Two people also tied themselves to and suspended themselves from bridges in the area – the Aerospace Drive bridge and the James Parkway bridge.

Roads were cleared by 8:20 a.m., with the first call about the protesters coming in at 4 a.m., the Dispatch reported.

Midwest Direct Action, an activist group, claimed responsibility for the protest in a March 11 Instagram post.

Protesters shut down all three en-

trances to the facility, calling for Boeing to “divest from (genocide),” the post read.

“Boeing reminds us all that where we stand on (Palestine) is a choice between valuing wealth or humanity,” an Ohio resident said in the post. “We demand that Boeing act with humanity for once: divest from (genocide).”

The group asked users to donate to the bail of the arrested protesters in a separate Instagram post, also posted March 11. A third March 11 post claims all five protesters were released.

The Boeing plant is a prime contractor for intercontinental ballistic missile guidance subsystem support as of 2023, the Dispatch reported.

— Columbus Jewish News

Antisemitic banner on Cincinnati overpass A homemade banner bearing the message “Save Ireland From The Jews” was discovered hanging from a pedestrian walkway above Columbia Parkway, one of the main routes into downtown Cincinnati, on March 16.

Although not placed along the St. Patrick’s Day parade route, the timing of its appearance coincided with the city’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

Authorities removed the banner prior to the commencement of the parade.

— cincyjewfolk.com

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

THE WORLD

Trump: Any Jew who votes for Democrats ‘hates their religion’

By Ron Kampeas, JTA Donald Trump said that any Jew who votes for Democrats “hates their religion,” an escalation of his anger at a community that continues to vote overwhelmingly for his opponents, and shows little sign of changing course in November.

“Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion, they hate everything about Israel, and they should be ashamed of themselves because Israel will be destroyed,” the former president said March 18 in an interview with Sebastian Gorka, a far-right commentator who once worked as an adviser in the Trump White House.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee who is facing off again against Joe Biden in this year’s presidential election, has long

been baffled by how American Jewish voters continue to favor Democrats in overwhelming numbers, despite the series of pro-Israel policies he advanced as president, including moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and pulling out of the Iran deal.

In 2019, as president, he said, “I think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.”

In 2022, he posted to social media, “Jews have to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel – Before it is too late!”

His Rosh Hashanah message last year was directed at “liberal Jews who voted to destroy America & Israel because you believed false narratives!”

This appeared to be the first

This appeared to be the first time Trump directly mentioned Jews' religion as part of his message.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

time Trump directly mentioned Jews’ religion as part of his message.

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, who recently honored Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, at the group’s annual conference, condemned Trump’s remarks.

“Accusing Jews of hating their religion because they might vote for a particular party is defamatory and patently false,” Greenblatt said in a statement. “Serious leaders who care about the Republican presidential candidate and historic U.S.-Israel alliance former U.S. President Donald Trump. should focus on strengthening, rather than unraveling, Trump referred to New bipartisan support for the State York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the of Israel.”

Jewish Democrat and majority Gorka was asking Trump leader who on March 14 called about growing differences befor early elections in Israel. tween the Biden administration Trump said Democrats were and Prime Minister Benjamin worried about the pro-PalestinNetanyahu’s government over ian vote.

Israel’s prosecution of its war “I really believe (Democrats) against Hamas, which Biden hate Israel, and they also see a has largely backed. lot of votes. Don’t forget, when

you see those Palestinian marches, even I am amazed at how many people are in those marches. And guys like Schumer see that,” Trump said “I think it’s votes more than anything else, because he was always pro Israel. He’s very anti-Israel now.”

Trump has claimed, without evidence, that the war would not have happened on his watch, and says he would be more supportive of Israel than Biden, though he has offered few specifics.

The Biden campaign immediately seized on the clip and posted it on social media, noting a recent report that Trump has praised Adolf Hitler. Trump has denied the claim.

“Trump, who reportedly said Hitler ‘did some good things’: Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion. They should be ashamed of themselves,” the Biden campaign said in its post on X.

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

PAGE 9

THE WORLD

Many Ukrainian Jews have left over 2 years of war. Many others are still invested in their local communities.

By Marcel Gascon Barbera, JTA Hamas’ attack, while 69% of respondents to a DecemKYIV, Ukraine — Before their country was plunged ber opinion poll by the Kyiv International Institute of into war, the synagogue in Kropyvnytskyi, a city in Sociology said they sympathized with Israel — and central Ukraine, was lucky to get 20 people to attend only 1% voiced preference for the Palestinians.

Shabbat services.

What’s more, the high rate of emigration from But two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine to Israel in recent years, which accelerated the arrival of more than a dozen Jewish families from rapidly after the Russian invasion, means that Jews the country’s traumatized Eastern regions has invigostill living in Ukraine are likely to have personal conrated the community. nections in Israel.

“The rabbi there has new people...who moved from “There is a strong feeling of solidarity because Kharkiv and Donbas,” Rabbi Mayer Stambler told the every Jew in Ukraine has friends or family there, so it JTA. “He tells me that things have changed because was an immediate response in our communities,” said they know what a Jewish community is about and Rabbi Irina Gritsevskaya, an Israeli from the former they brought life to the kindergarten, to the synaSoviet Union who periodically travels to Ukraine to gogue, to the Sunday school, to the holidays.” serve the country’s Masorti communities as the direcThe silver lining for Kropyvnytskyi’s tiny Jewish tor of Midreshet Schechter. (Masorti Judaism is similar community, about 300 out of a total population that to the Conservative movement in the United States.) stood at more than 220,000 in 2017, is just one part “People started to come with money (from Ukraine of the complicated reality for Ukrainian Jews as the for Israel), in some cases people who have almost deadly war grinds into its third year. nothing, because there are real economic problems in While the anniversary of the Russian invasion on Ukraine,” Gritsevskaya said. She said her organization Feb. 24 attracted a flurry of coverage hearkening back Chernivtsi Jewish Community to the war’s terrifying early days, most Jews are focused primarily on building — or rebuilding — their lives and communities.

Yet at the same time, attacks are ongoing — 17 people were killed in a Russian missile attack in Odesa on March 15 — and the outpouring of international aid, including from Jewish donors, has largely dried up. Jewish Federations in North America, for example, raised nearly $100 million after the Russian invasion but distributed all of that money and, since Israel was attacked on Oct. 7, has ceased fundraising for The Masorti community in Chernivtsi has doubled to about 70 families because of internal Ukraine. displacement within Ukraine induced by the Russian invasion and ongoing war.

“At the beginning of the war, the American Jewry, Europe, Jews from all over the world were really specifically used the money to help Ukrainian Jews hugging us with sending money and other kinds of who had moved to Israel after the beginning of the help; now that Israel is at war it is tough,” said Stamwar in Ukraine. bler, a rabbi with the Chabad-Lubavitch movement Among the recent arrivals is a Ukrainian teenager who heads the Federation of Jewish Communities of whom Gritsevskaya and her husband have adopted; Ukraine. an orphan, he moved to Israel in the first year of the “There’s almost no local income and the expenses war in Ukraine. Like other boys his age, he has started are growing due to the many needs that have apthe process to join the Israeli army. peared,” said Stambler, who is based in the Chabad Gritsevskaya said the attack on Israel had been stronghold of Dnipro. Now, he said, Jewish communi- transformative for recent Ukrainian arrivals whose ties across Ukraine that used to be self-sufficient are immigration was born not out of Zionist fervor but struggling, and some Ukrainian former donors are out of practicality and fear. now on the list of people needing aid.

“When they see what is going on, how everyone is The shift in aid priorities has left some Ukrainian helping each other and people are being together, they Jews feeling abandoned. “A lot of people here forget really start feeling belonging, and that’s amazing, it’s about my country and our war,” Yeva Hryhorevska, a an unexpected immigration shock which makes them Ukrainian teenager, told her peers at the international feel being part of their new society,” Gritsevskaya convention of BBYO, the Jewish youth movement, in said.

Florida in February. “Our country is really lonely.”

Since the start of war on Ukraine, more than 15,000 And yet Ukraine and Ukrainian Jews have demonof Ukraine’s Jews have moved to Israel, according to strated solidarity with Israel since Oct. 7. Many Kyiv Israel’s records, and Stambler estimates that 30,000 businesses exhibited Israeli flags in the weeks after have left the country. Estimates of Ukraine’s Jewish

PAGE 10

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

THE WORLD

★★★★★

Marcel Gascon Barbera

population before the war than doubled its local “Truly a cultural phenomenon.” range from 45,000 to 10 membership, which has – The Sunday Express times that if one includes now reached nearly 70 those with Jewish ancesmembers. try who don’t necessar“With the beginning “Beautiful, Inventive ily identify as Jews, or of the full-scale war, our and Uplifting” those who have at least community gained many – Variety one Jewish grandparnew interesting members ent, or those living in a who are now part of the household with a Jewish community life; some member. come for Shabbat and Despite the exodus, the holidays or help to many remain on the prepare for events,” said radar of the Federation of Anastasiia Zlobina, a Jewish Communities of youth leader in the city’s Ukraine.

Jewish community.

“At the end of the “The new members day, we have a database As happens every year, a massive menorah marked came from places like Chanukah at the center of Kyiv in 2023, despite the of 52,000 families that Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykoongoing war with Russia. we serve, and it hasn’t layiv, Zaporizhzhia or changed much,” says the 260,000 in western Ukraine Odesa,” said Zlobina, who goes Chabad rabbi, who explains that has received thousands of by her Hebrew name of Naomi. that many have sought mateinternally displaced Ukraini“They are not immigrants rial or spiritual support for the ans from regions more exanymore but full members of first time or have joined their posed to Russian attacks, the the community, part of our local community to offer help Masorti community has more family.” to those in need.

Ukrainians across the country have adapted to living under the threat of Russian bombs. Yevhen Lando, 48, who teaches at the Department of Highways, Geodesy and Land Management of the Academy of Construction and Architecture in Dnipro, says Jewish life in the city hasn’t “changed significantly” despite all the convulsions of these two years of war.

“Of course we struggle with anxieties, but somehow we got used to it, we adapted, and we live,” Lando said.

But the steep degree of internal displacement, in a country 43 S. Main Street where an estimated 3.7 million people have moved because of Centerville, Ohio 45458 • 937-433-9598 DL-Kite_Runner_JewishObs.indd 1 the war, has induced striking Contact Patty Caruso at plhc69@gmail.com changes. As in Kropyvnytskyi, Wishing you a Happy Passover to advertise in The Observer.

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PAGE 12

THE WORLD

Where the $800 million in postOct. 7 donations to Israel goes

By Asaf Elia-Shalev, JTA By now, Israeli charities that need funding for Oct. 7 recovery efforts know very well where to turn.

Jews in North America have donated nearly $800 million to local Jewish Federations to support those efforts, a fundraising drive on a scale unseen for 50 years. About half the money has been allocated so far.

As co-chair of a body known as the Israel Emergency Allocations Committee, Jeff Schoenfeld helps oversee postOct. 7-related grantmaking for the entire Federation system.

The committee is part of the Jewish Federations of North America, an umbrella organization, but includes representatives from a broad swath of institutions.

Schoenfeld and his committee have a staff of 18 in Israel helping review grant applications, which tend to get approved as long as they fit in one of four buckets: Jeff Schoenfeld lifeline or emergency needs; mental health and trauma; economic aid; and community resilience and rebuilding.

The committee also decides whether to grant the entire amount requested or some portion based on an evaluation of needs or whether other funding sources might be available.

As the media has reported, and as Schoenfeld has seen directly, the Israeli government did not meet the needs of Israeli civilians following Oct. 7.

Philanthropy stepped in to fill the vacuum — a reality that Schoenfeld acknowledges but does not regard with criticism. Instead, he approaches it with a sense of duty and purpose.

A retired investment banker and past president of UJA-Federation of New York, Schoenfeld since Oct. 7 has found himself busy with a never-ending series of meetings about Israel’s recovery.

The volunteer role is one of many philanthropic commitments on his schedule.

He also serves on the boards overseeing the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.

Motivated by his experience as a closeted gay executive on Wall Street, Schoenfeld today is also an outspoken champion of diversity and inclusion in the business world.

Schoenfeld agreed to sit down on Zoom for a two interviews with JTA, which have been edited, condensed, and formatted.

Many of our readers donated to support Israel through their local Federation after Oct. 7. As one of the people in charge of shepherding their money, what message do you have for them?

It’s very clear that American Jewish philanthropy has been the entire human support system for Israel since Oct. 7.

The government of Israel is still formulating its response. In the future, they may become a major player but to date, it has been philanthropy.

JFNA That sounds like a

challenging responsibility.

Yes, one of the most difficult challenges is understanding where the government is going to show up, when the government is going to show up, and how much the government is going to show up.

And many things are appropriate for philanthropy to support, but also, many things should be the job of the government of Israel. And we are always working through that calculus.

Can you give me a few examples?

The terrorists directly targeted farm equipment across the kibbutzim in the south. A great deal of the farm equipment was destroyed that day — burned up or stolen into Gaza. So Israeli farmers in the entire Gaza envelope are without the necessary farm equipment to get back into business. The key planting season of the year begins at the end of April. Time is of the essence.

The missing equipment is a $25 million need. Half of it will come from insurance proceeds and half of it is true philanthropy: Jewish Federations of North America (just recently) made a grant to cover all the remaining costs of the farm equipment so that new tractors and farm equipment can be purchased and delivered to Israel in time for farmers to have the planting equipment by the end of April.

That is a newsworthy announcement, but could you explain how it’s related to the government versus philanthropy question?

There is no greater call on government resources than supporting agriculture, which is the primary business in these communities in the south. And the government initially has said they’re not going to fund it. So philanthropy has to step in to do the job.

The last chapter has not been written.

There still are ongoing conversations

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

THE WORLD with the government about covering some of the costs, but, initially, JFNA has stepped up to say this is so vital for the economic recovery of the south, that we’re going to make this happen.

I didn’t anticipate you saying that. I thought you were going to say that the government simply moves too slowly for the demands of the planting season.

So far, they’ve said no.

Any other examples that come to mind, perhaps from earlier in the war?

The largest example would be that the government said initially that they were going to cover the needs of residents who live zero to seven kilometers from the Gaza border.

If you were so unlucky to live eight, or nine, or 10, you were on your own, which means philanthropy played a huge role in supporting those who had immediate needs, who just didn’t happen to live zero to seven kilometers from the Gaza border. That’s tens of thousands of people.

ning phase and they are going to be releasing their plan to the government on March 18.

But today, little or no money has flowed from Tekuma to meet the immediate needs of the affected communities. The Federations, and more broadly, global philanthropy, has played that role.

Some organizations want to go back and document all the atrocities that happened for historical purposes, the National Library in Israel, for instance. That’s really important work. But it’s not our lane.

That might be somebody else’s lane. And I’m reluctant to make that too public.

Following the interview, Schoenfeld sent an email seeking to clarify his sentiment: “I was thinking about our conversation just now.

I would want my characterization of government inaction so far to be more of a fact statement than to come off as a harsh criticism. It will do no good to come down hard on a government that is fighting a major war.”

In normal times, when you get a grant, there are all these reporting requirements attached. But since this is considered an emergency, have these requirements been changed?

The only thing that’s changed is the timeline. We still need to measure impact.

We have a team that is working to provide as much data back to our Federation community as possible on the impact of our grantmaking. So the responsibility to report back has not changed. The timing has changed. We realize we’re still in a crisis. So we’re giving them plenty of time to report back.

I want to talk about politics.

The Federations are a coalition where people share a general pro-Israel outlook, but there are lots of perhaps conflicting opinions on Benjamin Netanyahu, his proposed judicial reforms, the specifics of the war with Hamas, or even the occupation. What impact has recent political turmoil had on the committee’s work?

None.

Because, remember, our focus is humanitarian aid and economic assistance. The politics do not intervene, really, in those agenda areas.

'American Jewish Is there a risk philanthropy has that you’re giving permission been the entire to the governhuman support ment not to take action — incen- system for Israel tivizing inacsince Oct. 7.' tion? Is that a concern?

Absolutely. But we’ve taken the stance that we have people in need, and they cannot wait.

And if the government is going to be too slow, or the government decides it’s not in their coverage agenda, we’re going to step in and do what’s needed. But there’s a level of frustration indeed.

Can you say more about the frustration?

So right after Oct. 7, I think in a very smart way, the government created a special authority called Tekuma to be the key architect and funder of the rebuilding of the south. But their territory is limited.

Many communities that have been hard hit are not within the Tekuma planning agenda.

And, of course, Tekuma has nothing to do with the north of Israel, which is also being very hard hit (Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon, has been firing rockets at Israel’s northern region). So it’s a limited focus.

Tekuma have been spending the last five months in a plan-

Have there been any difficult moments of disagreement among committee members about which grant requests to accept?

We’ve been fortunate to have very generous funding. And so we haven’t had to say no, more often than not. It isn’t as if we have limited resources, and therefore we have to turn down proposals that might otherwise be funded.

I want to make sure I understand that. As long as the proposal fits within your parameters, you haven’t had to say to anyone, “We love this project but we don’t have enough money to support you.”

That’s right.

I’m sure there are a lot of cases where the grant proposal fits very clearly within your mandate, and then it’s probably an easy decision. Have you gotten good requests that just don’t fit into your mission?

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

What are the challenges you expect going forward?

We know from history that trauma needs don’t always show up early, that there are latent needs to prepare for. We are partnering with the Ministry of Health to cover some of the initial trauma-related programmatic needs, with the understanding that the government is going to pick up 100% of the cost in year two and beyond.

We are also focused on the needs of soldiers as they come off of reserve duty and try to integrate back into family life, and work life. Those are really significant issues right now.

Workforce development would be another category.

Many of the evacuees from the south and potentially from the north may never return to their home communities and they are reestablishing life in new locations. Many will need help acquiring new skills.

Sorry to be grim, but are you prepared for a scenario of Hezbollah entering the fray in earnest?

We absolutely are and we’re already addressing some of the needs of the tens of thousands who have been displaced from the north. We provide annual support to major partners like the Jewish Agency and JDC so that when emergencies happen, they’re ready and don’t have to build the firehouse while the fires are raging.

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THE WORLD

Man arrested after Ft. Lauderdale Chabad center is damaged in apparent arson attack Screenshot via Facebook

By Andrew Lapin, JTA A Chabad house in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. was damaged in a suspected arson attack March 16, and local authorities have arrested a 50-year-old man they believe to be responsible.

The rabbi of the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Community Center told local news that he was alerted to the fire that morning, and that security camera footage showed a man lighting the rabbi’s van on fire after first attempting to light the building itself on fire.

No one was injured, Rabbi Chaim Slavaticki said, but the kosher kitchen was destroyed and there was smoke damage to the Torah and other elements of the building.

The fire occurred hours before scheduled Shabbat morning services, which the ChabadLubavitch congregation wound up holding outside, Slavaticki said.

The suspect, 50-year-old Scott Hannaford, had run-ins with the rabbi and his wife in the past, according to Slavaticki, who said Hannaford has screamed at his family and blocked their The Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center shared video vehicle’s path near the synagogue. of its building targeted by an arson attack in Fort Police charged Hannaford with two counts Lauderdale, Fla., March 16. of arson, criminal mischief, and possession of cocaine, but said they would not charge Hanand helps so many different people from so naford with a hate crime because they considmany different walks of life,” Slavatacki told ered the arson to be an isolated incident and local news outlets. But he also said he had hope said he appeared to be sufferbecause a prayer book sitting inside ing from mental illness. his van was still intact after the fire: Police considered Slavaticki and other is a hug from God, and God is the arson to be an “This Chabad congregants, howevtelling us to all stand together.” er, believe the alleged actions isolated incident As particularly visible and often merit a hate crime charge. “It accessible spaces of Jewish worship, and said Hannaford Chabad houses was a clearly targeted attack have been targets of on our facility and our com- appeared to be vandalism in the past. Last year, a munity,” the center said in man was arrested after attempting to suffering from a statement on its Facebook break in to a different Chabad house mental illness. page. in Florida.

Dean Myerlow, who is In general, reports of antisemitic involved with the Chabad, told local news, “The incidents including attacks on synagogues have individual that perpetrated this crime needs to gone drastically up since the outbreak of the have the book thrown at him. This is not an acci- Israel-Hamas war. dent. Our congregation has nowhere to worship, The Las Olas Chabad house launched an so this is a barbaric act.” online fundraiser in an effort to raise $1 million “We are still in shock that such a thing could to repair the damage. It has raised over $74,000 happen at a community center that is a light as of press time.

Weekly podcast

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PAGE 14

The Jewish News Hour with The Dayton Jewish Observer’s Marshall Weiss

Search for The Dayton Jewish Observer in Spotify podcasts and subscribe THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

CALENDAR Classes

Beth Abraham Classes: w.

Rabbi Glazer. Mondays, 10 a.m.: Mishnah on Zoom. Register at 937-293-9520.

Beth Jacob Classes: w. Rabbi Agar. Tuesdays, 7 p.m.: Torah Tuesdays on Zoom. Thursdays, 7 p.m.: Thursdays of Thought on Zoom. Call to register, 937-274-2149.

Chabad Classes: Tuesdays, 8 p.m.: Code of Jewish Law. Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.: Talmud. Thursdays, noon: Parsha on Zoom. chabaddayton.com. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. 937-643-0770.

Temple Beth Or Classes: Sundays, 12:30 p.m.: Adult Hebrew. Thurs., April 4, 11, 7 p.m.: Chai Mitzvah on Zoom.

937-435-3400.

Temple Israel Classes: Tues., April 2, 9, 16, 30, noon: Hybrid Talmud Study. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.: Torah Queeries w.

Rabbinic Intern Kit Brewer, call for location. Thurs., April 25, 3:30 p.m.: Living w. Ambiguous Loss w. Rabbi Bodney-Halasz.

Fri., April 5, 11 a.m.: Living w.

Loss w. Rabbi Bodney-Halasz.

Saturdays, 9:15 a.m.: Virtual Torah Study. Sat., April 13, 9:15 a.m.: Hybrid Torah Study. tidatyon.org/calendar. RSVPs to office, 937-496-0050. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.

JCC Cultural Arts & Book Series Joe Posnanski, Why We Love Baseball: Sun., April 14, 5 p.m. Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. $10 includes ball park supper (veg. option available). Tickets at jewishdayton.org/events or 937-610-1555.

Family

Beth Abraham Rhythm & Ruach: Fri., April 12, 5:30 p.m. w. Cantor Raizen. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood.

937-293-9520.

Chabad Ckids Seder Circus: Sun., April 14, 4 p.m. Free.

RSVP at chabaddayton.com.

2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood.

937-643-0770.

Temple Israel Prayer & Play: Fri., April 19, 5:30 p.m. Infants-2nd grade.130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 937-496-0050.

Women

Chabad Women's Circle Mikvah Tour & Discussion: Tues., March 26, 7 p.m. Miami Valley Mikvah, 605 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. Light refreshments. $25 suggested donation. RSVP at chabaddayton.com/cwc.

Men

Chabad Bagels, Lox & Tefillin: Sun., April 7, 9:30 a.m.

13+ welcome. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. chabaddayton. com. 937-643-0770.

Adults

Temple Israel Brotherhood Ryterband Brunch & Speaker Series: $7. Sundays, 9:45 a.m. April 7: Rabbinic Intern Kit Brewer, God Shopping.

April 14: Rabbi Sobo. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 937-4960050.

When Dance Transcends Barriers w. DCDC2.: Sun., April 7, 3 p.m. $18. Register at jewishdayton.org/events. At Beth Jacob, 7020 N. Main St., Clayton. 937-610-1555.

JCC Boomers Dine Out at La Fiesta: Sun., April 7, 5 p.m.

Pay own way. Contact Stacy Emoff for info., semoff@jfgd. net. RSVP jewishdayton.org/ events. La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, 8331 N. Main St., Dayton. 937-610-1555.

Beavercreek. 937-496-0050.

Springfield. For info., contact Katie Warber, kwarber@wittenberg.edu.

Community

44th Ryterband Symposium: w. Prof. Naomi Seidman, Univ.

Toronto. Thurs., April 11, 4 p.m.: Sarah Schenirer & the Bais Yaakov Movement. 7 p.m.: Jesus Spoke Yiddish.

Free & open to the community.

UD's Curran Place, 1700 S. Patterson Blvd. For info., call WSU Prof. Mark Verman, 937775-2461.

Temple Israel’s So A Rabbi Walks into a Bar: Thurs., Apr. 18, 6 p.m. First drink on Rabbi Bodney-Halasz. BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, 2715 Fairfield Commons Blvd.

Beth Abraham Men’s Club Eclipse Spectacular: Mon., April 8, 12:30 p.m. $13. Kosher deli lunch. Glasses provided.

305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. RSVP to 937-293-9520.

Passover

Chabad Community Seder: Mon., April 22, 7:30 p.m. $36.

RSVP at chabaddayton.com.

2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood.

937-643-0770.

Temple Beth Or Second Seder: Tues., April 23, 6:30 p.m. Bernstein’s Fine Catering.

RSVP at templebethor.com or call 937-435-3400. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp.

Beth Abraham Men’s Club Annual Deli Dinner, Movie, & Raffle: Sun., April 7, 6 p.m. $20. RSVP 937-293-9520.

Beth Abraham Presents Heschel’s Passover Eve: Tues., April 9, 7 p.m. Free.

Reservations required, bethabrahamdayton.org/events/heschels-passover-eve-a-play. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood.

937-293-9520.

Wittenberg Univ. Leventhal Lecture: w. NYT writer Eli Saslow, Rising Out of Hatred.

Tues., April 9, 7 p.m. Bayley Auditorium, Kuss Science Center, 315 Bill Edwards Dr,

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PAGE 15

OPINION

Spoiler alert: It’ll never be enough As a left-wing Israeli, I won’t give up on my ideals of peace — and I also don’t accept the world’s willingness to leave Israel in the dust We wept when Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich were voted into the Knesset.

By Sarah Tuttle-Singer We identify as left-wing Israelis.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

It isn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We continue to implore our government to do whatever it takes to bring our hostages home now. Right now! Even if it means we stop the war today.

It isn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We call for our leaders to do more to feed starving children and families in Gaza — many of us give money to charities that are supposed to send aid, and we pray we aren’t inadvertently helping Hamas.

It isn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We wrote, “Hatred is not a value; racism isn’t the way” on our hands.

We protested the government and some of us were even arrested or hit in the face with water cannons during the demonstrations.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We sent our kids to coexistence camps and schools.

Some of us sat in jail because we refused to serve in the army.

WHEN will it be enough?

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

WHEN will we be seen? WHEN will we be allowed to grieve?

We lost touch with some of our more right-wing friends and family.

When we give up our right to feel safe?

We became friends with Palestinians and had frank and earnest discussions with them about how to move forward and make things better for our children.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

When we give up and let Hamas swallow the hostages whole?

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We planted trees with Palestinians and fought off armed settlers.

We spent our lives insisting that justice and peace are the only way forward for everyone.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

Many of us refused to buy settlement goods.

We fought alongside our Palestinian brothers and sisters for equal rights

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We tried our best to learn Arabic.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We were called traitors and kapos by people we loved.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We protested the Occupation.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We said, “Boycotts don’t help end the Occupation, but we support your right to boycott.”

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We fought to get Gazans medical permits and drove them to their doctors’ appointments and visited them in the hospital and advocated for them when the government gave them a hard time.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We defended the right of our Palestinian brothers and sisters to hold Nakba Day commemorations.

We connected with like-minded peace activists living near Gaza…and then later saw them get raped, tortured, and slaughtered on October 7th.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We even stood beside them at protests and waved watermelon signs.

We continue to endure lies about our lived experiences here on October 7, and do our best to respond with grace and truth.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We wrote op-eds and essays and open letters calling for a just and equal shared society for Arabs and Jews.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We voted for left-wing Jewish parties and Palestinian parties in our national elections.

It wasn’t enough for the rest of the world.

So, what do you think?

PAGE 16

It isn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We see the devastation in Gaza and continue to call for a just solution for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side, as brothers and sisters.

It isn’t enough for the rest of the world.

We advocate for our stolen family — the hostages (two babies! grandparents!) — who are suffering, wounded, and in mortal danger.

Some of us even call for a cease-fire.

It isn’t enough for the rest of the world.

So, I turn to you now:

When we stop fighting for our right to exist?

When we just line up to be killed?

Will it be enough then?

Now, to be clear: I’ll NEVER be done fighting for a just and equal solution to this conflict — for freedom, for some kind of restitution, for basic dignity, and, yes, security for everyone…Palestinian and Israeli. From the river to the sea.

I believe in this with all my heart and all my soul and all my being.

This is a hill I am willing to die on — and I am fully aware that I might.

But I am DONE giving a damn what the rest of the world thinks of me.

So, I’ll turn within and focus here. I’ll build community, and continue those frank and earnest discussions with my Palestinian brothers and sisters. I’ll continue to call out extremism and racism in the government.

I’ll keep advocating for the hostages. I’ll struggle to learn Arabic and continue to look for ways to build bridges between others who also want security and freedom and peace for all of us and our children.

I’ll turn within — and focus here — on making Israel a truly safe and free and strong shared society for all who want to live here and are willing to work together.

I am done with what the rest of the world thinks.

It is enough.

Sarah Tuttle-Singer is the author of Jerusalem Drawn and Quartered and the new media editor at Times of Israel.

Views expressed by columnists, in readers’ letters, and in opinion Send letters (350 words max.) to The Dayton Jewish Observer, pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinion of staff or layleaders of 525 Versailles Dr., Dayton, OH 45459 • MWeiss@jfgd.net The Dayton Jewish Observer or the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.

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SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 3PM When Dance Transcends Barriers — The story of Jewish & African American dance in Dayton SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 5PM JCC Boomers Dine Out at La Fiesta SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 5PM Cultural Arts & Book Series — Joe Posnanski Connect with us! Check out our events. For more information, check out our calendar at jewishdayton.org.

WHEN DANCE TRANSCENDS BARRIERS The story of Jewish & African American dance in Dayton Sunday, April 7, 3 – 4:30PM at Beth Jacob Congregation 7020 N. Main Street, Harrison Township, 45415

Uncover a chapter in Dayton history with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC). Experience a leap through time with a soul-stirring performance by DCDC2 that celebrates the extraordinary lives and legacies of DCDC founder and African American trailblazer, Jeraldyne Blunden, and Jewish pioneering figures of Dayton Ballet, Josephine and Hermene Schwarz.

Witness the rhythm of resilience as Blunden's unwavering spirit blends with the groundbreaking steps of the Schwarz sisters. Prepare to be captivated by a mosaic in motion, where faith, passion, and artistry transcend the bounds of tradition.

This spiritual journey presented by DCDC illuminates the untold story of women who defied limitations and ignited a dance legacy that continues to inspire. Experience the intertwining of two cultures that leave audiences breathless with the power of dance that knows no barriers.

Tickets may be purchased in advance through the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton at jewishdayton.org/events. Cost is $18 each, or $10 each for a group of four or more. Day of event – cost is $18 each.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

Funding provided by an Innovation Grant of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.

PAGE 17

April 2024 JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

Save the Date

CELEBRATE ISRAEL AT 76 with a community meal!

T U O E N DI Sunday, April 7, 5 – 6:30PM La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant 8331 N Main Street, Harrison Township, 45415 Meet your Boomers Group friends for dinner after attending When Dance Transcends Barriers at Beth Jacob Congregation (please see JewishDayton calendar page for further details). Let us know you will be joining us and we will reserve a table!

Cost: Dinner on your own.

Celebrate the 76th Anniversary of Israel’s Independence Experience Israeli cuisine with chef Uri Arnon from the Western Galilee and speak to IDF soldiers about life in Israel right now. ALL AGES WELCOME!

Yom Ha’atzmaut

Tuesday, May 14, 6-8pm at the Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Drive, Centerville, 45459 In partnership with: Beth Abraham Synagogue, Beth Jacob Congregation, Hadassah, Hillel Academy, Jewish War Veterans, Temple Beth Or, and Temple Israel

RSVP at jewishdayton.org/events or contact Stacy Emoff at semoff@jfgd.net or call 937-610-5513.

APRIL THE 24TH ANNUAL DAYTON JEWISH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Sunday, April 14 @ 5PM In partnership with Men’s Philanthropy FEATURING a Ball Park Supper with hot dogs, chips, dessert, and beer. Vegetarian option available.

The Boonshoft CJCE (525 Versailles Drive, Centerville, 45459) Cost: $10 Joe Posnanski Why We Love Baseball — A History in 50 Moments Take Me Out to the Ball Game • Why We Love Baseball is a fresh look at the game’s greatest moments and how they continue to grab at our hearts.

The ultimate symbol of being American, baseball has always drawn Jewish attention, celebrating players, writers, and executives alike. Joe Posnanski is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of multiple sports books and has been named National Sportswriter of the Year by five different organizations.

Bring your baseball memorabilia to display.

SAVE THE DATE Opening Night May 30th

To purchase tickets, please visit jewishdayton.org/events or call 937-610-1555

Festival runs May 30 – June 30

See you at the movies…

Jewish Community Center OF GREATER DAYTON

JCC CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAMMING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRANT FROM OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORTER OHIO ARTS COUNCIL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JEWISH BOOK COUNCIL.

PAGE 18

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

April 2024 JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CAST OF TUCK EVERLASTING! YOU WERE AMAZING!

JUNE 3 - JULY 26 Camp Shalom is planning a summer of fun!

We offer the traditional camp experience, a variety of specialty camps including outdoor adventures, magic, Ninja Warrior, cheerleading, and more! Join us for weekly swimming and field trips, great counselors, and lots of friends!

CAMP SHALOM IS HIRING SUMMER STAFF! Do you know someone 16 or older who would be a great camp counselor? Interested candidates should contact Suzzy Nandrasy at snandrasy@jfgd.net.

See jewishdayton.org for more information.

Register at app.compdoc.com/register/jccgreaterdayton.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

PAGE 19

April 2024 JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

JCC

FEDERATION

Legacies, Tributes, & Memorials

JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER DAYTON ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of Esther and DeNeal Feldman Caroline and Bob Leventhal ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND In memory of Corky Paston Susan and Jonas Gruenberg LINDA RUCHMAN MEMORIAL FUND In loving memory of Bob Friedman Linda Ruchman HOLOCAUST PROGRAMMING FUND In memory of Eric Segalewitz Bruce and Suzyn Schwebel Epstein

ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Righteous Among The Nations

JOAN AND PETER WELLS AND REBECCA LINVILLE FAMILY, CHILDREN AND YOUTH FUND In memory of Louis Levin In memory of Ted Weinreich Peter and Joan Wells FILM FESTIVAL In memory of Louis Levin Jane and Gary Hochstein DAYTON JEWISH CEMETERIES FUND In memory of Louis Levin Linda Kahn and Lori Ohlmann

Sunday, May 5 Starting At 3PM at Beth Jacob Congregation 7020 North Main Street, Harrison Township, 45415

3:15 – 3:45PM Teen Program, If You Don’t Ask, You’ll Never Know Why. Second generation survivor Charlotte Golden facilitates a dialogue with teens and other children of Holocaust survivors.

Contest participants and teens in our community are invited.

Children, teens, adults.

Please join us!

Max and Lydia May Holocaust Art & Writing Contest on display in the social hall until 4pm and following the program.

4PM Community Yom Hashoah Memorial Service. The tone will be set by international performer/composer Noah Gruenberg, who will play the electric violin. Presentation of contest winners will be followed by guest speaker, Marilou Brewster, who will share the story of her father and mother, who were part of the underground that saved Jews from the Nazis.

PJ Library & PJ Our Way Program, How To Be a Mensch.

Join us for a story, craft, and snack. We will discuss how people of all ages can make a difference!

RSVP by Wednesday, May 1 for all events to Samantha Daniel at sdaniel@jfgd.net or call 937 610-1555.

Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton. www.jewishdayton.org.

Presented by the Yom Hashoah Committee, the Holocaust Education Committee, and the 2024 Max & Lydia May Memorial Holocaust Art & Writing Contest.

PAGE 20

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

MAZEL TOV! Anna Smith, who began Hillel Academy of Greater Dayton's 2023-24 school year as its interim principal, has been named the Jewish day school's principal. Anna received her doctorate in educational leadership from Northeastern University and a graduate certificate in Jewish Hillel Academy education Head of School leadership Anna Smith from Hebrew College. She has taught at Hillel since 2019.

Anna was also happy to share the news that beginning with Hillel's 2024-25 school year, it will offer a half-day pre-K program. "We are offering this in response to the community needs for a parttime Jewish school option for 4-year-olds," she says. "It's a wonderful chance for Hillel to introduce Jewish day school education to our youngsters in a more relaxed environment, preparing them to start kindergarten the following year."

Robin Einzig is establishing "We will, in time, be collaborata nondenominational, multiing with local hospice organizacultural hospice choir for the tions to offer our services free Dayton area. Carry Me Home: of charge to patients and their Dayton's Hospice Choir will families." Hospice choirs are join what Robin describes as usually requested by a family a large, growing tradition of member. The choir comes in hospice singing. "Hospice a small group to sing for the choirs are typically made up of patient. "Most of the people volunteers who want to join in we will sing for will be in their providing comfort and healhomes, and sometimes in their ing to people in the rooms at assisted living ending stages of life as facilities," Robin says. well as their families," Carry Me Home Robin, a child develwill hold two informaopment specialist, tional meetings: 3 p.m., explains. "The choir Saturday, April 13 at will rehearse together the Kettering-Moraine regularly, though we Branch, Dayton Metro will generally sing in Library, 3496 Far Hills smaller groups for paAve.; and 6:30 p.m., tients. We will graduTuesday, April 16 at ally learn and practice Robin Einzig the Northwest Branch, a standard repertoire in two to Dayton Metro Library, 2410 four vocal parts, working on Philadelphia Dr., Dayton. the unique style and blending Each meeting will include needed for this kind of work." a screening of the 55-minute Before moving to Dayton, documentary, Holding Our Robin sang with a hospice choir Own: Embracing the End of Life, in the Boston area. Partnerfeaturing the Hallowell Singers, ing with her to start Dayton's a hospice choir from Vermont. hospice choir is Rebecca Whis- For details, email Robin at carmant. The choir will perform rymehomechoir@gmail.com. songs its members may not know in advance: those special Send your Mazel Tov announceto patients and their families. ments to mweiss@jfgd.net.

Ezra Jacobs and Jake Davis With much gratitude, joy, and happiness, we announce the B'nai Mitzvah of cousins Jake Davis and Ezra Jacobs on April 6 at Beth Jacob Congregation. Jacob Asher Davis is the son of Rich Davis and the late and beloved Susan Jacobs Davis. He is the brother of Joey Davis. He is the grandson of Rachel Jacobs and the late Steven Jacobs of Dayton, and Phyllis Davis and the late Arnold Davis of Florida. Jake attended Hillel Academy of Greater Dayton and now attends The Miami Valley School. Jake plays the drums in The Miami Valley School Jazz Band and plays soccer and tennis.

Ezra Milling Jacobs is the son of Cassandra and Bradley Jacobs.

Ezra is the brother of Samantha and Lucie. He is the grandson of Rachel and the late Steven Jacobs of Dayton, Julieann Maduro Milling and Fred Prins of Boca Raton, Fla., and the late John Milling. Ezra attended Hillel Academy of Greater Dayton prior to being a student at The Miami Valley School. He is a member of the middle school basketball, soccer, and tennis teams, and plays guitar in The Miami Valley School Jazz Band. Ezra has enjoyed the past two summers at Camp Wise.

THIS PASSOVER, ELIJAH’S WON’T BE THE ONLY EMPTY SEAT AT THE TABLE. As we celebrate the seder, we remember those who should still be with us. Some of those seats belong to Magen David Adom medics, who gave their lives trying to save others. Your donation provides the equipment MDA needs so that next year only Elijah’s seat may be empty.

Join the effort at afmda.org or call 866.632.2763.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

PAGE 21

CONGREGATIONS

RELIGION

Beth Abraham Synagogue

Can we sing Dayenu while there are hostages?

Conservative Rabbi Aubrey L. Glazer Cantor/Dir. of Ed. & Programming Andrea Raizen Fridays, 5 p.m.

Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.

305 Sugar Camp Circle, Oakwood. 937-293-9520. bethabrahamdayton.org

Beth Jacob Congregation

Traditional Rabbi Leibel Agar Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. Tues., April 23, Wed., April 24, Mon., April 29, Tues., April 30 all at 9:30 a.m.

Evening minyans upon request.

7020 N. Main St., Dayton.

937-274-2149. bethjacobcong.org

Temple Anshe Emeth

Reform Rabbinic Intern Gretchen Johnson Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m.

320 Caldwell St., Piqua.

Contact Steve Shuchat, 937-7262116, ansheemeth@gmail.com. ansheemeth.org

Temple Beth Or

Reform Rabbi Judy Chessin Asst. Rabbi/Educator Ben Azriel Fridays, 6:30 p.m.

5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 937-435-3400. templebethor.com

Temple Beth Sholom

Reform Rabbi Haviva Horvitz 610 Gladys Dr., Middletown.

513-422-8313. templebethsholom.net

Temple Israel

Reform Senior Rabbi Karen BodneyHalasz. Rabbi/Educator Tina Sobo Fri., April 5, 6 p.m.

Fridays, April 12, 19, 26, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 13, 10:30 a.m.

130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.

937-496-0050. tidayton.org

Temple Sholom

Reform Rabbi Cary Kozberg 2424 N. Limestone St., Springfield. 937-399-1231. templesholomoh.com

ADDITIONAL SERVICES Chabad of Greater Dayton

Rabbi Nochum Mangel Associate Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Youth & Prog. Dir. Rabbi Levi Simon. Beginner educational service Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. 2001 Far Hills Ave. 937-643-0770. chabaddayton.com

Yellow Springs Havurah

Independent Antioch College Rockford Chapel.

Contact Len Kramer, 937-5724840 or len2654@gmail.com.

PAGE 22

The Passover Seder gets a post-Oct. 7 rethink.

JTA illustration by Grace Yagel a fund to support education initiatives in Israel.

The fund has backed his own Creating Memory project at Bar-Ilan

By Jacob Gurvis, JTA University, which focuses As the American Israeli poet on Holocaust rememMarty Herskovitz thought brance through art, and about the upcoming Passover also Israel’s Conservative holiday, the prospect of singing rabbinical seminary, the Dayenu at the first Seder since Schechter Institutes. his country was attacked didn’t This year, at Herskovsit right with him. itz’s urging, Schechter The classic Passover song, convened dozens of with a title that means, it would rabbis and Jewish comhave been enough, expresses munity leaders from gratitude about how much God across Israel in February has done for the Jewish people. to re-imagine the HagBut Herskovitz, the son of gadah, the core text of the a Holocaust survivor who Passover Seder. has lived in Israel since 1986, The result of their work Rabbinical seminaries in Israel and the U.S. are producing Haggadah supplements thought the words would ring will be a supplement for for Passover Seders to help Jews navigate the trauma of Oct. 7. hollow at a time when so many Israeli families to use durJews are at risk. brate on their own,” said Rabbi whole again is very hard, and ing their Seders at the begin“We have to take the text and ning the first major holiday Arie Hasit, Schechter’s associate our own tears will mix with find a way to make it relevant dean. “It will be the job of rabthe maror,” Creditor said, using since Hamas attacked Israel and not just say the words that bis and community leaders to the Hebrew word for the Seder on Oct. 7 — an assault that seem so impositself pierced the frame Purim, because the ritual plate’s bitter herbs. “We won’t sible to say,” aspects of it are largely going need the Haggadah’s usual observance of a Herskovitz to happen in the synagogue, or explanation of what bitterness Jewish holiday, said. “‘Dayenu, in the Jewish community. But feels like.”

Simchat Torah. it’s enough.’

Creditor said AJR’s CEO The Oct. 7 attack Passover is going to happen It’s clearly not in the home. So our job right and academic dean, Ora Horn reportedly had enough. As now, which is so significant, is Prouser, approached him with originally been long as people to help people navigate how to the idea of creating a Passover planned for the are trapped in prepare.” supplement about the ongoing first night of Gaza, that’s not Among the Israel-Hamas Passover last Nadav Itai war. enough. As long supplement’s year. as our soldiers passages is an They put Many Seder are still risking addition to the out a call for tables will have their lives, it’s seminal Four submissions — empty seats not enough.

Questions reprayers, essays, representing We can’t say cited during the artwork and Oct. 7 victims, hostages, and ‘Dayenu.’ It can’t be, you know, soldiers who are unable to reSeder, which other reflections ‘Praise God for this situation.’ ask, “Why is — and received turn home for the holiday. But So we have to find new texts.” dozens of the seminary sought to provide this night difIt’s a mission that has long ferent from all responses that rabbis and their communities animated Herskovitz, who used with other ways to adapt the other nights?” will be edited the financial reward from a The added text into a resource ancient tradition to the current legal settlement after his then aims to reflect AJR will selfmoment. teenaged son was injured in a publish and sell “The Passover holiday is real- the feelings of terrorist attack in 2001 to create ly one in which families celeSeder attendees Marty Herskovitz at the Schechter on Amazon. this year.

Parts of the fiInstitutes' Feb. 4 conference in “On all other Israel. nal product will nights, we think also be availthat we have answers. Tonight, able for free on the seminary’s we all just stay silent,” says the website. passage, which is in Hebrew.

“This is a supplement that Pesach “On all other nights, we revery directly addresses our curPassover member, sing and cry...On this rent time and provides a comCandle April 23-30 • 15-22 Nisan night, we only cry.” munity of thinking that we can Lightings Eight-day festival celebrating The initiative is one of several bring into our Seders,” Horn the Exodus of the Israelites underway to adapt the Passover Prouser said. from Egypt. Leavened bread Shabbat, April 5: 7:47 p.m. holiday for a different crisis in In addition to Dayenu, Crediproducts are not eaten.

Shabbat, April 12: 7:54 p.m. the Jewish story. tor and Horn Prouser pointed Rabbi Menachem Credito one particular piece of the Shabbat, April 19: 8:01 p.m.

Torah Portions tor, the scholar-in-residence at Passover text with new resoErev Pesach, April 22: 8:04 p.m.

April 6: Shemini UJA-Federation of New York, nance this year: Vehi Sheamda, (Lev. 9:1-11:47; Ex. 12:1-20) 1st Eve Pesach, April 23: 9:06 p.m. is working on a Haggadah the prayer that warns that in April 13: Tazria supplement with the Academy every generation, a new enemy Shabbat, April 26: 8:08 p.m.

(Lev. 12:1-13:59) of Jewish Religion, a pluralistic will attempt to defeat the Jew7th Eve Pesach, April 28: 8:10 p.m. rabbinic school in Yonkers, N.Y. ish people. This year’s crisis April 20: Metzora “To talk about liberation conjures new ideas about both 8th Eve Pesach, April 29: 9:13 p.m.

(Lev. 14:1-15:33) when our family is not yet the enemy and how to vanquish

'As long as people are trapped in Gaza, that's not enough. As long as our soldiers are still risking their lives, it's not enough.'

April • Adar II/Nisan

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

RELIGION it, Creditor said.

Journal reporter who remains “The language in the Seder, jailed in Russia. in the Haggadah, is that God “The Haggadah is somewill save us,” Creditor said. thing that developed, and as “But Zionism represents a very modern Jews who are dealdifferent religious posture, ing with issues of the same which is: We will save us. themes that have come up “Unfortunately, the first part again and again in our history, of the paragraph remains true we need to figure out how to and was amplified horribly on make those themes accessible, Oct. 7,” Creditor continued. relevant, real and useful,” said “The second half of it must be Rabbi Sara Cohen, a Schechter true through the conalumna who helped nection that we have, plan the seminary’s as a Jewish people conference in Israel. throughout the Cohen, who lives world, strengthening on Kibbutz Ketura our homeland.” near the southern The Passover port city of Eilat, initiatives in both where the populaIsrael and the United tion swelled with States add to a long war evacuees, said tradition of Hagthe text offers an gadah iterations and important opportusupplements that nity for the kind of Rabbi Menachem layer present-day Creditor emotional reckoning issues onto the anthat is desperately cient text, from those centered needed in a battered Israel and around Soviet Jewry to more Jewish world. recent examples like additions “We don’t necessarily think about the Ukraine war and the of holidays as a time for propandemic. cessing trauma, but because Last year, some families left Passover is the first major holian empty seat at their Seder day since (Oct. 7) and because table in honor of Evan Gershit’s a holiday that the story kovich, the Jewish Wall Street of which talks about national

trauma and redempHerskovitz’s entry tion, one of the is an interpretation questions is, ‘What of the core Passover is redemption in our text suggesting that day, and are we feeleach Jew see theming redeemed, are selves as though we feeling free?’’’ they personally left Cohen said.

Egypt.

“When you’re Hasit acknowlbrought face to face edged that beginwith the holiday ning the project Rabbi Sara Cohen that brings up these in early February issues, hopefully we won’t just was a double-edged sword. pass them by but we’ll think On the one hand, it provided about how it’s relevant in our Schechter with plenty of time lives today.” to collect responses and work She added, “We have to pay with Herskovitz to put together attention to the a Passover desire to process resource ahead the trauma and of the holiday, the framework which this year that our tradibegins on the tion gives us for evening of April processing it.”

22.

Cohen wrote On the other the additions to hand, the war is the Four Quesevolving daily, tions that are and nobody included in knows what the Schechter the status of the supplement. conflict, or the Other supplehostages, will be ment passages invoke more by late April. explicit war imagery and the But Hasit said no matter sense of bereavement felt by what happens, the trauma of many across Israel.

Oct. 7 will need to be ad-

'We have to pay attention to the desire to process the trauma and the framework that our tradition gives us for processing it.'

dressed at the Seder table.

“We know that (Passover’s) coming, and we know that it’s going to be different,” he said.

“We know that it’s going to include processing everything that has happened since Oct. 7.

And no matter what happens tomorrow, and the day after that, none of that is going to change.”

Horn Prouser shared a similar sentiment. “Even if our prayers are all answered, our community is feeling trauma,” she said. “The issues to discuss, we still need time to process them.”

Herskovitz said he views the Passover effort as a cognate of his Holocaust remembrance work, in which he emphasizes the importance of creating fresh, personal materials that people can connect with.

“I think the same exact thing is what has to be done in Pesach this year,” he said, using the Hebrew word for Passover. “You cannot use the same text and the same ideas that you used for years and years because this year is so radically different. And to go back to the old text, the old ideas, is basically making it irrelevant.”

Temple Beth Or Second Seder Join your Temple family for a traditional Passover Seder.

Where: Levin Hall, Temple Beth Or When: Tuesday, April 23, 6:30 p.m.

Catered by Bernstein’s Fine Catering Enjoy your choice of beef, chicken, or vegetarian entree.

Gefilte fish with horseradish, mashed sweet potatoes, roasted cauliflower.

Wine (the good stuff), hard boiled eggs, bitter herbs, afikomen, charoset.

For Reservations and More Information, visit: www.templebethor.com or call (937) 435-3400 Chag Sameach.

Temple Beth Or 5275 Marshall Road Dayton, Ohio 45429 www.templebethor.com 937-435-3400 THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

Today...and for Generations

PAGE 23

Inspiring minds, empowering leaders.

Where education for the whole child meets Jewish values.

Your child's path to excellence and leadership starts at Hillel Academy of Greater Dayton.

Individualized learning Social-emotional lessons Art, PE, technology, and music enrichments Hebrew as a foreign language Vibrant, family community

New for 2024-25 - Half-Day Pre-K

Now accepting PreK-6 applications for the 2024-25 school year. daytonhillel.org • 937.277.8966 • asmith@daytonhillel.org PAGE 24

RELIGION

Your pain is my pain, your happiness is my happiness.

Chabad rebbetzin volunteers in Israel Devorah Mangel with a baby in Kfar V'radim, Israel. His father left for reserve duty two days after his birth, his mother cares for him and his five siblings.

reason you were destined to be chosen as queen," holds a deeper lesson for each of us. Reading Esther's story on Purim transcends its being a mere recounting of historical events; it becomes an opportunity to reflect on the miracle and internalize the lesson she passed on.

Recognizing the diversity of talents among us – singing, musical, artistic, and emotional – I embraced the notion of sharing these gifts with others. Just as Queen Esther risked her life to save her people, we too should leverage our resources, both physical and spiritual, to help those in need.

Assisted by friends Renana and Asaf At our Chabad, I introduced ToHarel, my hosts in Mevaseret Zion, rah learning sessions for women and organized Hafrashat (separating) Challah I connected with the Sword of Iron Facebook group and various WhatsApp evenings. These efforts aimed to pray for the release of hostages and the safety chats. This sense of belonging to a larger family — all driven by the common of our soldiers, mirroring the practices purpose of sharing talents and time with in Israel among families facing similar those in need — was heartwarming. challenges.

Volunteering at Chabad of Talbiya, Despite these actions, a lingering feeling of dissatisfaction fueled a desire I inquired about the needs of evacuees and was tasked with bringing outerto do more than merely talk the talk; I wanted to walk the walk. The ethical les- wear. Thanks to the support of the Chabad Women’s Circle, we packed son from our fathers resonated deeply: nearly two suitcases with outerwear "Speak a little and do a lot." of all kinds. Volunteering at Chabad's This prompted me to reach out to boutique in Talbiya, which provides Chabad colleagues in Israel, inquirclothing, shoes, toiletries, and household ing about areas where help was most needed. I felt a personal calling, compel- items to evacuees, offered me a chance to connect with those who endure unling me to share warmth and love with known challenges. those less fortunate, particularly disFrom heartfelt conversations with placed children and mothers navigating those in need, I learned the therapeutrauma. tic impact of a smile and a hug. One In the Hebrew month of Adar, the woman, whose husband had recently heroic tale of Queen Esther serves as a timeless reminder of individual respon- undergone back surgery and was grappling with PTSD, remarked, "I really sibility in times of crisis. Mordechai's needed this hug." guidance to Esther, "Possibly for this

By Devorah Mangel Chabad of Greater Dayton The shocking news of Oct. 7 reverberated not only within me, but also across the global Jewish community. In response, I immediately turned to the teachings of the Rebbe when he offered solace and guidance in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur war. My focus shifted toward increasing spiritual pursuits, acts of goodness and kindness, and tzedakah.

Perspectives

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

RELIGION Volunteering at hotels and piness is my happiness. spending time with evacuees' Reflecting on the Purim children reinforced the joy story, where unity was pivotal and support they felt knowing for salvation, and the recent volunteers, even from abroad, Torah portions emphasizing were dedicating time to create shared talents in constructing positive experiences for them. the Tabernacle, the importance Guided by the wisdom of of coming together in unison my father-in-law, Rabbi Nissen became apparent. Collective acMangel, a Holocaust survition creates a beautiful dwellvor, I focused on the miracles ing place for God to bless us and Hashem's kindness amid all. atrocities. The strength of Am Post-Oct. 7, an increased Yisrael, the People of Israel, awareness of God and spirieven in challenging times, betuality has emerged. Undercame evident. Despite grieving standing the source of strength the loss of loved ones, Israelis, and blessings heightened an like a mother who lost her son appreciation for the beauty in battle in Gaza, expressed of Am Yisrael, allowing us to pride and unwavering support empathize with the suffering, for their country. pain, and joy of fellow Jews, Evacuees, despite even those distant 'Collective facing challenges, from us. openly shared their action creates Our sages' teachgratitude for being ings on the three a beautiful alive and having characteristics of a homes. Some even dwelling place Jew — being merciextended their posiful, self-effacing, tivity to help those for God to and doing acts of less fortunate. I en- bless us all.' goodness and kindcountered evacuees ness — resonate who volunteered in any capacas part of our DNA. The Baal ity they could, exemplifying Shem Tov's teaching that a the strength of the Israeli spirit. soul descends to earth to do Participating in events such a favor for another highlights as a barbecue for soldiers and our inherent compassion and preparing lentil soup for them the interconnectedness of the allowed me to witness the colJewish community. lective effort to boost morale Observing the intense and provide comfort. love among Jews, even those The sentiment expressed by unknown to each other, unsoldiers, appreciating the care derscored the strength of Am and support from volunteers, Yisrael. Our collective strength was a testament to the impact and victory lie in being one naof solidarity. tion with one heart.

Throughout my two-week In the merit of all the kindvisit, the resounding message ness, may we be worthy of the of unity and shared responsicoming of Moshiach (messiah) bility underscored that we are and the swift rebuilding of our one extended family — brothHoly Temple – our third one – ers and sisters standing stronin Jerusalem. ger when united. This unity transcends political differences, Devorah Mangel is women's proreinforcing the notion that your gram director of Chabad of Greater pain is my pain, and your hapDayton.

Helping at a barbecue for IDF soldiers

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

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937-433-6778 937-298-1456 Wishing You A Happy Passover

Wishing You and Your Family a Happy Passover Montgomery County Commissioners Judy Dodge, Debbie Lieberman, Carolyn Rice

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PAGE 25

Wishing all of Dayton Happy Passover

Cantor Andrea Raizen

Happy Passover

RELIGION

Israel establishes an annual commemoration of the Oct. 7 attack — but not on Oct. 7

By Ben Sales, JTA For nearly six months, the date of Oct. 7 has instantly evoked images of horror in the minds of Israelis as the bloodiest day in the country’s history and the deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust.

But when Israel’s governing coalition convened March 17 to set an annual memorial day to commemorate the tragedy, it didn’t choose Oct. 7, or any date on the Gregorian calendar. Instead, the government unanimously approved a yearly memorial day on the Hebrew calendar: the 24th of Tishri, which falls this year on Oct. 26, and next year on Oct. 16.

It isn’t unusual for Israel to establish a day of mourning on

the Hebrew calendar. All the country’s holidays are marked on Hebrew dates, including its back-to-back Memorial and Independence days, marked between April and mid-May, depending on the year.

The Oct. 7 attack presented another complication because it occurred on a Jewish holiday, Shemini Atzeret-Simchat Torah, which falls on 22 Tishri, and meant the annual commemoration had to be held on a different date. The following day, 23 Tishri, presumably didn’t work because it is still a Jewish holiday outside of Israel. The chosen date, 24 Tishri, is the day after that.

But the choice still raises eyebrows. That’s especially true

Jeffrey Abrahams Best wishes to all for a Happy Passover Dena Briskin Best wishes to all for a Happy Passover Don & Sue Zulanch

Wishing you a delicious Passover.

We wish the Dayton Jewish community a very happy Passover

because the same Israeli government that made this decision has done so much to impress the date of Oct. 7 onto the international public consciousness.

The vast majority of the world lives according to the Gregorian calendar, not the Hebrew one — including, largely, non-Jews in Israel, who were also affected by the attack. Talking points from an Israeli government official about an “attack on 22 Tishri” would mean little to most people.

One of the most prominent public faces of Israel, Eylon Levy, describes himself on social media as “Israeli Government Spokesman in the Oct. 7 War.” And in his March 17 speech to his cabinet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, addressing the international community, “Did you so quickly forget Oct. 7?”

Israeli society also operates largely according to the Gregorian calendar, and there are a few days that Israelis mark on that calendar as well. One, Nov. 29, is the date in 1947 when the United Nations voted to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, paving the way for Israel’s establishment. More recently, the Nov. 4, 1995 assassination of Yitzhak Rabin has been popularly commemorated

close to that date, even though the government designated a Hebrew date to memorialize that tragedy as well.

The same thing may end up happening with Oct. 7. But choosing Oct. 7 as the annual commemoration would have come with its own problems — not least that early October often falls smack in the middle of the Jewish holiday season.

In 2025, for example, Oct. 7 will be the first day of the festival of Sukkot, which is known in Jewish liturgy as “the time of our happiness.”

For some Israelis, that isn’t reason enough for opting for 24 Tishri. Ofer Aderet, a journalist for the left-wing Haaretz newspaper, wrote on X, “It was a mistake to set a memorial day on a Hebrew date that means nothing to most citizens. Oct. 7 has already become a concept.

24 Tishri has not.”

The Israeli government has acknowledged the significance Oct. 7 has gained in the minds of Israelis. The announcement of the annual commemoration adds that this year and this year only, there will also be an official state ceremony on Oct. 7 itself, as that date “has been etched in the consciousness of people in Israel and around the world.”

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FOOD

Passover Popovers will help you make it through the holiday

Rob Eshman

Wishing you a delicious Pesach.

5331Far FarHills Hills Ave. Ave., Dayton, Dayton, OH 5531 OH | | MeadowlarkRestaurant.com MeadowlarkRestaurant.com

HAPPY PASSOVER

By Rob Eshman, The Forward between crumbled shards of matzah. But Ruth mixed Before my mother-in-law matzah meal into a boiling Ruth Levy introduced me mixture of oil and water, to Passover Popovers, the then beat in eggs, eight-day holiday and after a few seemed to stretch minutes in the for months. Nothoven, she pulled ing can cover up out popovers. matzah’s cardboardPopovers are like flavor. And how Passover pita. much matzah can They puff up, one Jew eat? which shouldn’t Ruth’s answer be a shock since was popovers. the technique to Many years ago, make them is the Passover Popovers Naomi and I were Rob Eshman same as for makvisiting Ruth in pan, combine water, oil, sugar, ing cream puffs or eclairs.

Brookline, Mass. during the salt, and turmeric. Bring to a Unlike matzah, they hold holiday and planned to make rolling boil. a picnic. I envisioned my usual sandwich ingredients toAdd matzah meal all at once. gether: lox and cream cheese, a Turn off heat and beat well with Passover picnic — tuna salad poached egg and avocado, tuna a spoon or whisk. Beat until the salad. Warm from the oven, mixture comes away from the they make a nice dinner roll. sides as you stir. If the mixture Or make a double batch, freeze looks too soupy, turn on the them, and have some until the heat to medium and stir to very end of the holiday. evaporate some liquid.

The only addition I’ve made Remove from heat and let to Ruth’s recipe is to process cool for about 10 to 15 minutes. the matzah meal a bit in a food Beat in one egg at a time, makprocessor to make it finer (you ing sure each egg is incorpocan also use matzah meal cake rated until you add the next. flour) and I add some turmeric, When all the eggs are incorwhich deepens their color. porated, spoon into muffin tins.

Each should be about three2 cups water quarters full. Don’t worry if 1 cup oil some are near the top.

1 Tbsp. sugar Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce 1 tsp. salt heat to 325 degrees and bake 2 cups matzah meal for 30 minutes. Turn off the 1 tsp. turmeric oven and leave for another 10 7 large eggs minutes undisturbed. Remove and unmold.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 12- to 16-cup Rob Eshman is a senior columnist muffin tin. In a medium saucefor the Forward.

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FOOD

By Rob Eshman, The Forward You really just need one dependable matzah ball soup recipe in your life, and this is it. Tried, true, trusty — and really, really good. Is the broth golden-hued and clear, but rich in chicken-y flavor? Check.

Can you taste the fresh carrots, celery and onion? Check.

Does spring, in the form of fresh bright dill, brighten and sharpen the flavor? Yep. Are the balls both light and substantial, embodying the idea of paradox that is at the center of so much of Jewish life and thought? Of course.

Making the soup involves one extra step — broiling or searing the chicken to achieve an extra depth of flavor. That will add 10 to 20 minutes of joy to your day — because cooking chicken soup for family, friends, or just yourself is always a joy.

Rob’s Go-To Chicken Soup 1 whole 4-lb. chicken cut into 8 pieces, or 4 lbs. chicken wings, backs, necks, and/ or legs 3 carrots, 1 peeled, cut 1/2 inch coins 2 stalks celery, chopped 2 parsnips, 1 peeled, sliced in 1/2 inch coins 2 medium onions, cut into quarters 4 cloves garlic, smashed 3 fresh or 2 dried bay leaves 1 small bunch parsley 1 bunch dill 1 Tbsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper This is a completely optional step but I do think it makes better soup: Brown the chicken.

Preheat broiler. Lay chicken pieces out skin side up on a large pan and place under broiler. Broil until they begin to turn brown. Alternatively, heat a bit of oil in a large skillet or the bottom of a heavy stockpot and sear the pieces on both sides. You’re not cooking them; you’re just coloring the skin to deepen the flavor.

Place the chicken pieces into a large stock pot. Pour in any of the juices from the broiling pan. Add two carrots, a parsnip, celery, onions, garlic, bay leaves, parsley, pepper and salt. And add enough water to cover by about 1 inch.

Over medium high heat, bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the soup gently for about two hours. During this time use a slotted spoon to skim foam off the surface.

This would be a good time

Rob Eshman

Everyone needs a go-to matzah ball soup recipe

to make your matzah balls. See the recipe below.

Remove the soup from the heat and strain through a mesh strainer. Reserve the solids for another use.

Return the soup to the clean pot. Add remaining one carrot and one parsnip slices. Simmer until soft, about 20 minutes.

Before serving, add the matzah balls and chopped fresh dill.

Serves eight to 10.

Notes: Fresh bay leaves are really better. You can make the soup a few days ahead and freeze. It really is better to make it at least one day ahead, let it cool completely, then refrigerate. The next day, remove the layer of fat at the top with a slotted spoon. Use this chicken fat to roast potatoes, or even eat it on a slice of toast. Don’t throw it away!

You can heat the matzah balls in the soup and leave them there, keeping the soup warm for hours...But do not boil. Add the dill just before serving.

If you want to go through an additional, optional step, after you boil the chicken, you can broil the vegetables for the soup.

Toss them with a little oil and put them under the broiler until they just begin to toast.

This adds another layer of flavor— but it is completely optional.

The quickest way to make this soup is in an Instant Pot. I add all the ingredients and cover with water, seal and cook on the soup setting for about 45 minutes, then proceed with recipe.

In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients. Do not over-beat.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled – two hours or more.

Bring a large pot of wellsalted water to a boil. Wet your hands.

Take a lump the size of a large walnut and using your palms, form into a round shape. Drop into the water, reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook for about 40 minutes.

Remove the balls with a slotted spoon. Taste one to make sure they’re cooked through – they probably will be.

Serve in hot soup, sprinkled with fresh parsley and dill.

Makes about 20 balls.

Note: After the balls are cooked in water, let them rest in the soup. If you're chilling your soup in the refrigerator or freezer, leave them in.

If you are reheating soup, leave them in. If your soup is simmering on the stove, leave them in.

Rob’s Go-To Matzah Balls 4 eggs 1/4 cup schmaltz (chicken fat) or vegetable oil 1/4 cup chicken stock or water or seltzer 1 cup matzah meal 1 tsp. salt 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill and parsley 1/4-1/2 tsp. ground white pepper

Matzo • Matzo Meal • Brownie Mix • Gluten-Free Products Gefilte Fish • Matzo Balls • Borscht with Beets • Macaroons Chicken Broth • Memorial Candles • Marshmallows

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Beth Abraham, Dayton’s only Conservative synagogue, is enthusiastically egalitarian and is affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

FOOD

Do I dare grill gefilte fish?

Kebab-style ground fish for your Passover menu

Rob Eshman

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'Grill-filte' Fish Kebab with Spring Green Sauce

A THEATRICAL JOURNEY THROUGH THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF RABBI ABRAHAM JOSHUA HESCHEL, STARRING ERIC BERGER.

Tuesday, April 9, 7 PM Beth Abraham Synagogue

Talk-back following with Rav Aubrey Glazer & Pastor Ken Moss

Free. Registration required at bethabrahamdayton.org Generously sponsored by Jim Nathanson in honor of his beloved Carol, of blessed memory.

Co-sponsored with Pastor Ken Moss & The Potter’s House.

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Sunday, April 7, 6 p.m. $20. Featuring a celebrated docudrama about an Israeli Prime Minister during the Yom Kippur War. R.S.V.P. by April 1.

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Monday, April 8, 12:30-4 p.m. $13. Starting with lunch indoors and

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By Rob Eshman, The Forward Here’s a Jewish paradox: Passover celebrates freedom, so why force people to eat gefilte fish? Some people like it, I understand. But for most dinner guests, especially those new to the sight of grayish pockmarked oblongs of mystery flesh sweating jellied fish globules, it’s at least confusing. If you are free to eat anything, why eat this?

The short answer is, of course, tradition. Ashkenazi gefilte fish, Sephardic fish cakes — which are a huge improvement in flavor and appearance — have been the taste of the holiday for centuries.

But Passover is also about change.

The Passover liturgy tells us that “in every generation” we must tell the story anew, and so every generation has reconfigured it to suit the needs of the day.

The same goes for the food. The Torah’s original menu, in the Book of Exodus, Chapter 12, called upon each household to eat lamb, “roasted over the fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs.” Nothing about gefilte fish. Not even macaroons.

Last year, in the run-up to Passover, the idea struck me: Why not treat ground fish like Persian koobideh, grilling the meat over a flame? In my case, I decided to forgo the actual skewers and traditional koobideh spices. I processed fish, vegetables, and herbs in a Cuisinart, rolled it in parchment, grilled it, unwrapped it and served it with a bright spring green sauce — and it was delicious.

And so a new Passover tradition is born: "Grill-filte" Fish. It’s a recipe in process. You may want to add traditional Persian koobideh spices (garlic, sumac, turmeric) or lean into North Africa (garlic, chile, cilantro, sumac, cumin, turmeric). The whole idea is to make it your own, like Passover itself.

Add all ingredients to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse, scraping down often, until the mixture is well blended but still a little coarse. Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least two hours.

Preheat your grill. Cut two large sheets of baking parchment. Rub or spray with olive oil. Remove mixture from the refrigerator and lay some mixture along one edge of each parchment.

Gently and firmly roll up into a cylinder. Each should be about 2-3 inches in diameter.

Place parchment rolls on the grill and cook over medium-low heat until they are just springy to the touch. Turn them midway through cooking. You can use a meat thermometer to test for doneness.

It should register 140 degrees. They will cook in about 20-30 minutes.

Remove from the grill. Let them rest for a few minutes. Gently unroll. Cut a slice and taste to test for doneness. You can always place them back on the grill for a few minutes more.

Cut logs into 4-inch cylinders. Serve each one on a plate with some green sauce.

“Grill-filte” Fish Kebab with Spring Green Sauce 1½ lbs. white fish filets, cubed

Blend all ingredients together in a blender or food processor until you have a bright green purée.

1 egg ½ carrot, chopped ½ stick celery, chopped ½ leek, white part only, chopped 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley 1 tsp. salt ½ tsp. pepper 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice 2 tsp. matzah meal

Spring Green Sauce 2 cups fresh curly or Italian parsley ½ tsp. salt ½ tsp. pepper ½ cup extra virgin olive oil ½ lemon, juiced 1 clove garlic ½ – 1 tsp. prepared horseradish (optional)

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

JEWISH FAMILY EDUCATION

Individual or community?

for tzadikim (righteous), beinonim (average), and resha’im (wicked), the individuals who choose to form the prayer community.

Countless examples from Jewish text, tradition, and storytelling highlight the imish worldview. Rather, Judaism portance of both the individual and the community. seeks a fundamental balance Prison ransom. In the between the individual and the mid-13th century, Rabbi Meir community, expressed in a faben Baruch was considered mous aphorism by the rabbinic Europe’s leading authority on sage Hillel: “If I am not for me, Talmud and Jewish law. Comwho will be for me? And when munities in France, Italy, and I am only for myself, what am Germany spoke of him with I?” affection and sought his advice The Talmud establishes this on myriad religious and legal same notion as a core Jewish matters. value: “All Israel is responsible As Jewish persecution infor one another,” that is, all creased, however, Rabbi Meir Jews as a community have an left Germany for Israel, where obligation to ensure the wellhe hoped to conbeing of individtinue his work on ual Jews and vice Judaism seeks their behalf. Along versa. a fundamental the way, however, The individual balance between he was recognized, and the community also populate the individual and repatriated, imprisoned, and held key Torah texts. the community. for ransom.

For example, the The Jewish comentire nation of munity quickly raised the exIsrael, ha'am, heard the Revelaorbitant ransom sum of 20,000 tion at Sinai as a communal marks, but Rabbi Meir forbade experience. payment. If ransom was paid And yet, the Hebrew ha'am also implies individuals. There- for him, every notable rabbi would suffer the same fate, and fore, the rabbis of the Talmud the Jews would be bankrupted explain that the Divine Voice or worse. Rabbi Meir remained was also directly heard by in prison for seven years, until every person — man, woman, he died. and child — each according to Underground railroad. A their capability. widow at 26 and heiress to a Similarly, Jewish worship is a communal experience, requir- significant fortune, the converso Beatrice de Luna Mendez ing a minyan (quorum) of 10 fled Portugal for Antwerp to and featuring prayers — even personal ones — in plural form. avoid the expanding Inquisition.

At the same time, the HeThere she joined her brotherbrew letters for tzibbur, prayer in-law in the family’s expandcommunity, are an acronym

Judaism's Worldview Series

As the Roman Emperor Hadrian travelled along the roads of Tiberias, he saw an elderly man digging holes to plant fruit trees.

Hadrian called out, “Old man, old man, how old are you today?” He replied, “I am 100 years old.” Hadrian exclaimed,

Candace R. Kwiatek “You, 100 years old, are standing and digging holes in order to plant trees. Do you believe that you will eat of them?”

He replied, “If I merit, I will eat. If not, just as my ancestors toiled on my behalf, so I will toil on behalf of my children.”

Such personal commitment to the greater community is becoming increasingly rare.

First documented in Robert Putnam’s groundbreaking study Bowling Alone, Americans’ community-mindedness — measured through in-person civic involvement, service, social club attendance, religious engagement, and social connectedness — declined from the 1960s to the 1990s.

Yet those original statistics, historian Anton Cebalo warns, “are eclipsed by the accelerated declines” since then.

For example, Americans’ membership in a church, synagogue, or mosque dropped from 70% in 1999 to 47% today.

The birth rate has also declined, plummeting 50% since 1950 to an all-time low today of 12 births per 1,000 people, well below the replacement level.

Meanwhile, singlehood among adults ages 25-54 is up sharply since 1990, from 29% to roughly 40% today. Polling indicates that at least half “are happily single,” “enjoy time to focus on passions, growth, and career,” “don’t long for companionship,” and “like being able to come and go as I please and not have to accommodate somebody else.”

Instead of heeding Putnam’s early warnings, individualism has increased exponentially.

These modern trends are not reflected in the traditional Jew-

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

ing trade and banking business, made extensive business contacts, and created a secret network of escape routes for conversos throughout Europe.

When her brother-in-law died, Beatrice took her increased fortunes to Italy, adopted the Jewish name Gracia Nasi, continued to maintain the “underground railroad,” and helped underwrite the printing of Spanish translations of Hebrew books, including the Bible. She eventually settled in Istanbul, where she could openly support Jewish causes: redeeming Jewish slaves seized by pirates, establishing a soup kitchen, and supporting synagogues and schools. She even secured permission to resettle Jews in Tiberias, turning it into a thriving city that she never had the chance to visit.

Avinu Malkeinu. Prior to the 2020 High Holy Days, Nina Shapiro posted a family video of her 6-year-old son Bibi singing Avinu Malkeinu, the iconic

prayer of repentance. The spirited rendition by the Black South African child (now living in Australia) went viral, eventually making its way to New York City’s Central Synagogue where Bibi was invited to sing via livestream on Yom Kippur.

“Our community just got to hear you sing and I think our hearts are all just opened up,” Senior Rabbi Angela Buchdahl told the Perth boy. "Connecting with…you (and your mother) today — it feels like that’s what reminds us that we are a huge Jewish family.”

In a Torah scroll, each letter is surrounded by space, each an individual Divine image, but without meaning. However, when letters join to make a word, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks explains, and words combine into sentences, and sentences connect into paragraphs, and paragraphs link together, the letters eventually tell a story.

How can we live our lives like a letter in the scroll?

Literature to share

Under the Rockets’ Glow: Shira’s Journey to Courage by Roman Sandler. Faced with the challenge of explaining the events of Oct. 7 and beyond to his young daughter, Roman Sandler discovered there were no appropriate resources.

This book is his answer. Set in the land of Israel, a father tells stories of bravery and heroism from Jewish history to help his youngster find courage and imagine a peaceful world.

Heartfelt and inspiring, the simple story offers a valuable model for dealing with challenging topics.

Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times by Jonathan Sacks. The writings of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks are universally worthwhile, and this Jewish Book Council 2020 Jewish Book of the Year is no exception. The last book Sacks authored before his untimely death, Morality identifies the source of today’s overarching world crises to be in part “the elevation of self interest over the common good.” In the final chapter, Sacks asks, “Can we restore what has been lost?"

He then offers his prescription for the future.

Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton is proud to be accredited by the National Institute for Jewish Hospice

324 Wilmington Ave. Dayton 937.256.4490 1.800.653.4490 www.hospiceofdayton.org

PAGE 31

Arts&Culture

Wishing You a Happy Passover Filled with Love, Laughter, and Cherished Moments

DCDC2 performance honors barrier-breaking history DCDC

DCDC founder Jeraldyne Blunden

DDN/WSU

Dayton Ballet founders Josephine (L) and Hermene Schwarz

Dayton Contemporary Dance Company's preprofessional ensemble, DCDC2 , will perform When Dance Transcends Barriers: A Story of Jewish & African American Dance in Dayton at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 7 at Beth Jacob Congregation.

The original work celebrates the legacies of DCDC founder Jeraldyne Blunden, and her longtime mentors, Dayton Ballet founders Josephine and Hermene Schwarz.

Blunden established DCDC in 1968 as an ensemble rooted in the African American experience. Two decades before, she was one of the first students at Josephine Schwarz's Linden Center Dance School on Dayton's West Side.

The Schwarz sisters saw to it that Blunden, their star pupil, attended the American Dance Festival, where she learned from Martha Graham, José Limon, George Balanchine, and James Truitte.

When "Miss Jo" asked the 19-year-old Blunden to take over the Linden Center

Dance School, Jeraldyne's School of the Dance was born. And when her dancers began to get hired by Dance Theatre of Harlem and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Blunden decided it was time to start her own professional African American dance company, DCDC. The Schwarz sisters continued to mentor Blunden as DCDC rose to national and international acclaim.

Blunden established DCDC2 in 1975 for recent graduates and undergraduates to further their dance training and performance experience.

When Dance Transcends Barriers is co-sponsored by Beth Jacob Congregation and the Dayton Jewish Community Relations Council, with funding from a Jewish Federation Innovation Grant.

Beth Jacob is located at 7020 N. Main St., Harrison Township. Tickets are $18 and may be purchased in advance at jewishdayton.org/events or at the door.

Groups of four or more may purchase tickets in advance at $10 each.

U.S. touring play about Heschel at Beth Abraham WZO

Temple Israel • www.tidayton.org • 937.496.0050 130 Riverside Drive, Dayton, OH 45405 A Reform Synagogue open to all who are interested in Judaism.

PAGE 32

Zionism, as an influenThe World Zionist tial rabbi, as a philosoOrganization's English pher and a poet, who language U.S. tour of also touched many Jews Heschel's Passover Eve in the Diaspora, mainly will present the onein North America," person play at 7 p.m., Hess told The Jerusalem Tuesday, April 9 at Post in an interview.

Beth Abraham Syna"He himself was a gogue in Oakwood. model of commitment The play is set in to the Zionist idea, the April 1968, a few days human spirit, and hubefore the Rev. Martin Eric Berger as Heschel man rights.”

Luther King Jr. is to The performance at Beth Abraham is join the rabbi at his Seder. sponsored by Jim Nathanson in memory Eric Berger performs as Rabbi Abraof his wife, Carol. It's co-sponsored by ham Joshua Heschel in the 45-minute Pastor Ken Moss and the Potters House. production.

The pastor and Beth Abraham's Rabbi Heschel's Passover Eve had its premiere Aubrey Glazer will lead a discussion folin Israel in January 2023. Originally in lowing the play.

Hebrew, the WZO had commissioned Beth Abraham is located at 305 Sugar Eran Shavit to write it in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Heschel's Camp Circle, Oakwood. Admission to death. WZO Vice Chairman Yizhar Hess Heschel's Passover Eve is free. Reservations are required at bethabrahamdayconceived of the idea for the play.

"Heschel was a leader in the world of ton.org.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

Arts&Culture

Potok Family

Milwaukee Rep/Mark Frohna

Cincy Playhouse presents The Chosen

Director co-wrote play with Chaim Potok

By Marshall Weiss, The Observer Not only did Aaron Posner co-write the play The Chosen with late literary giant Chaim Potok — author of the iconic 1967 novel — he also directed its premiere production in 1998 and has continued to direct it over the years. Here, Posner talks about his new producChaim Potok tion, co-produced by Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. This interview for him. I found him to be just wonderfully has been edited for length and clarity. supportive and smart.

We had a number of opportunities to How did you come to write this play with Potok? speak to audiences together and go out I was living in Philadelphia at the time, I was the and do talks together. He was just a very artistic director of the Arden Theatre Company, and inspiring, incredibly intelligent person to I had met Chaim, who had lived outside of Philadelbe around. And very smart about his own phia. I’d actually been in a reading of a play that he work. He knew what made it work. He wrote, as an actor way back when I first moved to knew where his traps were, he knew how Philly, this is back in the late ‘80s. not to step in those traps.

It was a time in which I was in my 30s and thinking I’ve been directing plays and writing about my Jewish identity and looking for something plays for a very long time and there is no to adapt for the stage that would allow me to engage story I’ve ever put on the stage that I fully with who I was in terms of my Jewish life. That was believe is more, to use his word, more the kind of question in my mind at the time. worthwhile than this story. It’s a word he And having met Chaim, I thought I would go ask uses a lot in this book. It tells a very deep him for advice on what I might adapt, because I was and human story about friendship, about reading a bunch of Jewish literature and not finding coming of age, about choosing who you something that I was really excited about. I had read want to be in the world, about bridges The Chosen in junior high school and didn’t remember across difference. it very well.

And so I went back and read it again and as soon This was premiered at the Arden Theatre? as I read it, I thought, this is what I wanted to do. And It was. It was a co-production between I just fell in love with the book for many, the Arden Theatre and City Hillel Rosenshine (top) as Danny Saunders and Eli Mayer as Reuven Malter many reasons. And went and spoke with Theatre in Pittsburgh. in the Cincinnati Playhouse/Milwaukee Rep co-production of The Chosen.

Chaim, I just asked him if it might be something he’d be willing to let me do, And you directed that first production. religion. Even though you’re dealing with news of the and work on with me.

Yes. I’ve directed it several times since.

Holocaust and the founding of the State of Israel. It is a There had been the movie of it already Then I re-adapted it in about 2017-18. I cut story about faith, but mostly it’s a story about human— and it had been quite successful — that it from five actors to four actors. There was ity. And it’s a story about finding your path in life, he was very happy with. There had been a a separate narrator originally that doesn’t about who you want to be in the world. musical of it that he was not happy with. exist anymore. This is my first time directFor all those religious and political differences, those But he liked my idea, which was to keep ing this version of it. are creating this sort of backdrop or playing field for it a very simple story about two boys and what are very human, very relatable struggles between their fathers. So it was very much this How often is it produced? well-intentioned people. story of this friendship and these two It comes and goes in waves. It’s gotten Aaron Posner remarkable young men and their very a little bit produced since the pandemic. It You also adapted Potok’s My Name is Asher Lev for complicated, very different fathers. So that was the has had about 75 productions around the country and the stage after he had passed. project we embarked on. a little bit abroad as well. I feel it’s a worthwhile time Yes. I worked with Adena Potok, his widow, who is to be telling this story, with all the complexities in the still alive. She worked with me closely on that adaptaIt wasn't too many years before his passing, toward world, stories that are very much looking at the diffition, which actually was done at Cincinnati Ensemble the end of his life. culties and Jewish complexity, Jewish humanity, those Theatre a number of years ago, and I’ve also done it at Although it didn’t feel that way at the time. He Jewish struggles that are very human struggles and Milwaukee Rep as well. passed in 2002 and this was ‘97 when I first went to you certainly don’t need to be Jewish to understand speak with him. And ‘98, and I think we premiered and engage with this story. It is an interesting time to Do you approach each production differently? in early ‘99, the winter of ‘99, the first production. He talk about uniquely Jewish struggles.

People’s ears are different now even than they were certainly seemed absolutely healthy and a strong, a People sometimes think, oh, it’s about a very relisix months ago. And radically different. You know, dynamic person. And he was very engaged in the pro- gious Jew, a Chasidic Jew and a secular Jew, but it’s Chaim and I spoke a lot about, he wrote this novel in cess. The cancer that took him came very quickly. not. Both families are deeply religious and observant ‘66-’67, and by the time I was adapting it in ‘98, his families. view about his optimism or pessimism about people What was that like, to work with Chaim Potok?

But from the outside, so many struggles seem coming together across differences, about splits beHe was a very serious person overall, in my experiintermural. All people in the Middle East seem similar tween the Jewish community, he was in a very difference with him. We talked about serious literature a lot. (in the eyes of) people outside the Middle East. The ent place 30 years on.

His work meant a great deal to him. This was the novel Catholics and Protestants in Ireland seem similar to And now we’re another 30 years. I can’t pretend for that put him on the map, so it had a very special place anybody outside Ireland. a moment that people won’t hear this story very difBut we know that human beings find all sorts of ferently because of what’s going on in the world. And ways of dividing themselves and of, unfortunately, they should. And I did make some small changes to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park presents The drawing lines and creating difficulties and conflict. the script for this adaptation. I didn’t back off or soften Chosen, April 13-May 12, 962 Mt Adams Cir., These are passionate, intelligent people who have or harden anything. I just tried to be aware of the ears Cincinnati. Tickets begin at $35, with discussion the capacity to deeply disagree in fundamental ways with which people would be listening to this story. programs for adults and teens over the course of the about things.

And I checked in with Adena and the whole Potok play's run. For details and to purchase tickets, go to The struggles continue in all sorts of complicated family about that, too. The foundation of the book cincyplay.com or call the box office at 800-582-3208. ways. Essentially, this is not a story about politics or remains the same.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • APRIL 2024

PAGE 33

OBITUARIES

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or Linda and Steve Horenstein, their first personal experience with the Beth Abraham Synagogue cemetery was after the devastating loss of their 8-year-old son Joel in 1986. Since then, it has become a place of solace and reflection for them.

Although there was a family plot in the greater Boston area, almost 20 years later, Steve brought both his parents to Dayton to have them buried in the Beth Abraham cemetery, fulfilling their wishes to be buried alongside their beloved grandson.

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Jean Kolstein Lieberman was born on Dec. 19, 1929 in Cincinnati, daughter of Harry and Reva Kolstein. She died on March 14, surrounded by family in the days prior to her death. She was preceded in death in 2014 by the love of her life, Bert Lieberman, husband of 63 years, founder of Morris Furniture Company. She is survived by her sister, Elaine Schwartz, of Delray Beach, Fla.; and children, Marilyn Klaben (Larry) of Dayton, Michael Lieberman (Randi Abramson) of Washington, D.C., and Diane Slovin of Cincinnati. Loving grandchildren, Max Klaben (Jenny Gerner), Sara Klaben Avrahami (Amit Avrahami), Jeremy Klaben (Miriam Klaben), Eve Lieberman (Ian Rayder) Hannah Lieberman (Molly Bernard), Yonah Lieberman (Maya Matalon), Aaron Slovin (Rachel Myers Slovin) Matt Slovin (Ann Tobias), Joey Slovin (fiancée Paige Gutter). Great-grandchildren, Benny and Zoey Rayder, Mia and Sofia Klaben, Oren, Ari, and Nessa Klaben, Idan and Matan Avrahami, Olivia Slovin, and Hannah and Molly’s daughter. Jean was a wonderful daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, friend, and teacher. She was a lifelong learner and shared wisdom, life lessons, and stories with her family. Jean supported and researched whatever hobbies, sports, and interests her children and grandchildren gravitated to, continuously sending words of encouragement, box scores, letters, voicemails, and texts to let them know she was thinking of them and cheering them on. Jean attended University of Cincinnati and then received her B.S. in education from the University of Dayton in 1952. She then returned to school and received her master’s degree in reading and literacy from Wright State University in 1975. Jean taught second and third graders at Longfellow Elementary in Dayton and then at Ft. McKinley Elementary. Later, she taught reading literacy to students in the Northmont School District.

Her volunteer work included Hadassah, Jewish Family Services, Beth Jacob Congregation, B’nai B’rith, and P.T.A. Jean was artistic and enjoyed treating her children and grandchildren to performances and exhibits. Jean and Bert traveled the world together and returned to share wonderful tales of their adventures. She loved playing and watching tennis and enjoyed providing instruction and competition for her children and grandchildren. Contributions in her memory can be made to Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Cincinnati (foundation.uc.edu/olli), Dayton Literary Peace Prize (daytonliterarypeaceprize.org), and Southern Poverty Law Center (splcenter.org).

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