The Dayton Jewish Observer, January 2025

Jewish Cemeteries projectGrace gets After big boost $450K David Moss designs Meals with in comic bookmatching form p. 22 gift p. 2

THE DAYTON Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton

January 2025 Tevet/Shevat 5785 Vol. 29, No. 4

OBSERVER

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

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Temple Beth Or at 40

Rabbi Judy Chessin has led the congregation since its founding.

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PAGE 2

Jewish Cemeteries project gets big boost with $450K matching gift Thanks to an anonymous donor's matching gift of $450,000, the Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton project has the potential to raise $900,000 over the next two and a half years.

With the $3 million Jewish Cemeteries has alFundraising CoAdministrative Mgr. ready raised, that would Jewish Cemeteries Fundraising CoChair Bruce Kate Elder of Greater Dayton Chair Julie Lisseasily put it across its Katz Feldman Pres.

Mark Feuer threshold of $3.5 million new nonprofit had to be fully funded in perpetuto become operational. ity through an endowment.

This means that Beth Abraham Synagogue, The idea to consolidate the cemeteries into Beth Jacob Congregation, and Temple Israel will one organization came from the late Bart Weprin be able to combine their cemetery operations when he served as president of Temple Israel. into a single nonprofit entity, separate from the Feldman initially cochaired the project's steercongregations' operating budgets. ing committee with Dr. Robert Goldenberg, who The matching gift has brought new momenthen served as Jewish Cemeteries of Greater tum to the Jewish Cemeteries campaign, which had stalled since the Covid pandemic. A behind- Dayton's first president. Its current president is Mark Feuer. The project's aim is to save money the-scenes announcement of the match has already brought in $150,000 in new and increased on the operations of the three cemeteries, which have become financial drains for each of the gifts to the project since November. congregations.

"This generous anonymous donor underCincinnati's Jewish community had already stands the profound importance of preserving our cemeteries," said Bruce Feldman, co-chair of combined 24 of its 27 Jewish cemeteries into JewJewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton's fundrais- ish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati in 2008. ing committee. "This philanthropist's donation, Nearly 175 years of Dayton Jewish history combined with the matching structure, will Beth Jacob Cemetery, located on Old Troy Pike undoubtedly help us achieve our goal. Every in Dayton, opened in 1875. Temple Israel's Rivcontribution is vital, and if this matching gift inspires others to contribute to this sacred cause, erview Cemetery on West Schantz Avenue dates to 1889. Its Founders Circle comprises remains it will have an even greater impact." of those who had been buried in its first cemAccording to the anonymous donor's attoretery, which dated to 1851 and went ney, Jewish Cemeteries of Greater 'The energy it out of use when Riverview Cemetery Dayton will receive matching fund checks in June 2025, 2026, has brought to opened.

Adjacent to Riverview Cemetery is and 2027. Jewish Cemeteries will provide the donor with a list of our campaign Beth Abraham Synagogue Cemetery, which opened in 1894. funds it raises by June each of is palpable.'

Temple Beth Or, now 40 years old, those years; the donor will then has its own section of more than 100 cut a check for each match. plots at David's Cemetery in Kettering.

"The beauty and integrity of these cemeter"The design of this matching gift is not only ies cannot be understated," the donor told The remarkably generous, but true to the essence of Observer in an email interview facilitated by the individual's attorney. "They must be maintained tzedakah (righteous giving)," said Julie Liss-Katz, in perpetuity just as the individuals within their cochair of Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton's fundraising committee. grounds must be remembered."

"The energy it has brought to our campaign The donor had considered this gift for a is palpable. It has inspired our fundraisers and while; the passing of immediate family members, the recent surge of antisemitism, and over- donors alike and made the dream of creating an all concern about the Dayton Jewish community endowment to care for the eternal homes of generations of Jewish Daytonians a reality. We will played parts in the decision to move forward. be forever grateful."

The donor's family has a plot in one of DayThe anonymous donor challenges all members ton's Jewish cemeteries. "Within these cemetery of the Dayton area Jewish community to contribgrounds lie Holocaust survivors, including ute to the matching campaign. "The adage 'You members of my own family," the donor excan't take it with you' is appropriate here," this plained. "Their survivals are a testament to the strength of the Jewish people. We too need to be individual said. "If you are going to be among the dead in one of these cemeteries, you might as remembered and our places in history mainwell maintain your permanent home." tained."

To make a donation to Jewish Cemeteries of The boards of Beth Abraham Synagogue, Beth Jacob Congregation, and Temple Israel agreed in Greater Dayton that will be matched dollar for December 2017 to initiate the Jewish Cemeteries dollar, contact Administrative Manager Kate Elder at kelder@jfgd.net or 937-401-1544. project. Their agreement stipulated that before

— Marshall Weiss any formal consolidation could take place, the Arts..............................24 Ca l e n da r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 9

Mazel Tov................................. 21 Obituaries........................... 26

O p i n i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 7 Religion.......................... 20

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

DAYTON

'We were all young, we all grew up together' Temple Beth Or celebrates 40 years

The young new rabbi is now the longest serving rabbi of the Dayton area's Jewish congregations.

Since that first service, she's been a regular commuter from Cincinnati to the same building,

By Marshall Weiss which the temple has owned The Observer for most of its years. She and "Oh, I remember it vividly," her congregation have matured Rabbi Judy Chessin says of together.

Temple Beth Or's first Friday "It is just breathtaking for me night Shabbat service, Jan. 25, to still officiate where I did their 1985. In the worst snowstorm parents', their grandparents' of that winter, more than 100 events," she says. "Very few rabpeople came out to the new Rebis have that opportunity." form congregation's first service A month before Chessin was and board installation. ordained as a rabbi in 1984 at "We set up the social hall, we Hebrew Union College in Cinhad chairs in the round," says cinnati, two couples — Caryl Chessin, who had only received Rabbi Judy Chessin is the longest serving rabbi of the Dayton area's and Don Weckstein and Sherry her rabbinic ordination seven Jewish congregations. and Daryl McKenney — met to months before. "We had a little consider starting a Reform congregation in the card table, little flowers and candles. I told the suburbs south of Dayton. story of the Holocaust scroll, because we had a "They wanted something more," Chessin Holocaust scroll at the time." recalls. "They wanted something close, closer to She remembers the enthusiasm at the Oneg home. And they wanted an all-inclusive place, Shabbat afterward. "So many of these families not only of worship, but school and learning." were young and excited. Just the whole idea of being able to build something — a new thing."

Marshall Weiss

A congregation of several firsts

So much for defying gravity . . .

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The demographic shift southward

Temple Beth Or (House of Light) was the first Jewish congregation in Dayton's south suburbs.

Its rabbi was the first woman to lead a synagogue in the Dayton area.

She would also become the first congregational rabbi in the Dayton area to officiate at interfaith weddings — for couples who committed to keep Jewish households (not an option for Orthodox or Conservative clergy).

It's been 40 years since that night of beginnings in space rented at the old Fairhaven Church at Marshall and Rahn Roads in Washington Township.

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After World War II, virtually all of Dayton's Jews lived in the Dayton View neighborhood. In the 1960s and '70s, they tended to migrate to the suburbs northwest of Dayton.

In 1975, Jews new to the area who had moved south of Dayton established the Jewish Association of South Dayton to connect their families through social, cultural, and educational events.

By the mid-1980s, 18 percent of the area's Jewish population lived in the suburbs south of Dayton. With more than 300 members in the 1980s, JASD ran preschool and middle school programs and led monthly Shabbat services at what was Continued on Page Four

From the editor’s desk

Only two years into her rabbinate with Temple Beth Or, Rabbi Judy Chessin proposed an idea that's set Jewish Dayton apart since. With blessings from Beth Abraham Synagogue's Rabbi Samuel Press, Beth Jacob Congregation's Rabbi Marshall Samuel Fox, and Temple Israel's Rabbi P. Weiss Irving Bloom, Chessin initiated and came up with the curriculum for a communitywide Introduction to Judaism course to rotate among their congregations, taught by rabbis from each one.

Rather than one or another congregation leading its own intro course — filtered through the lens of its own Jewish movement — people interested in learning about Judaism would meet with rabbis from each of the movements here, would experience each Jewish house of worship for themselves. Those who thought they might become Jewish, and those who were Jewish and wanted to learn more could immerse in all our community offers. "The students could see everybody," Chessin said.

"The hands-on approach, I think even to this day, means something to people because they can take ownership and create their own Jewish experiences."

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PAGE 3

DAYTON Temple Beth Or

THE DAYTON

OBSERVER daytonjewishobserver.org Editor and Publisher Marshall Weiss mweiss@jfgd.net 937-610-1555 Contributors Talia Doninger, Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin, Candace R. Kwiatek Advertising Sales Executive Patty Caruso, plhc69@gmail.com

Simchat Torah, 1985: Temple Beth Or congregants hold an unraveled Torah scroll, marking the end and beginning of the annual Torah reading cycle, in the sanctuary of the congregation's home, the former Fairhaven Church building at Rahn and Marshall.

Temple Beth Or

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Continued from Page Three then Temple Israel's south facility.

The Wecksteins and McKenneys were JASD members. Don Weckstein says JASD was probably the main factor that led Temple Beth Or to form.

"And Rabbi Chessin is, I would say, the primary factor that enabled us to grow," he adds.

Along with JASD members, Chessin says several of the 40 original Temple Beth Or member families were previously unaffiliated.

"There were families from Beavercreek, folks from mostly south of town, southern suburbs, kids who went to Centerville schools."

Weckstein served as the congregation's first president. He says one precept that set Temple Beth Or apart at that time was that it established its own Hebrew and religious school.

An issue for Jewish families that lived south then was that children's Jewish education was run by the Jewish Federation's Bureau of Jewish Education, not the synagogues.

"The rabbis weren't involved at all," Sue Nelson, one of Temple Beth Or's first congregants, recalls of the BJE's approach — and preparations for bar and bat mitzvahs.

"And then when it came time for actual direct preparation, Temple Beth Or involved Rabbi Chessin and whoever the music person was at the time," she says. "She is the heart and Temple Beth Or invites the community to attend its 40th Anniversary Kickoff Weekend events.

40th Anniversary Shabbat and celebration with Cantor Rosalie Will leading the service followed by a gala Oneg Shabbat, 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 31.

Who Knows One? Live games & stories with Micah Hart, 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1. $25, $20 early bird

by Jan. 17. Includes dinner and one drink. Additional drinks $5 each.

RSVP at templebethor.com or 937435-3400. Temple Beth Or is located at 5275 Marshall Rd., Washington Twp.

PAGE 4

soul of the place."

A member of Temple Beth Or's steering committee, Alan Steinharter, had asked Hebrew Union College faculty member Rabbi Michael Cook to recommend a rabbi who might serve the new congregation.

Cook suggested his soon-to-be wife, the newly ordained Rabbi Judy Chessin. An integral member of the congregation, Cook died in 2021 at age 79.

Nelson was on the rabbinic search committee. Chessin, originally from Orlando, Fla., was the only rabbi they interviewed. "When she talked about her work at Camp GUCI," Nelson says, "I was like, yeah, this is the person we want, because you especially want a rabbi who likes being with kids."

An educator by trade, Nelson was involved with Temple Beth Or's religious school for its first years. Her daughter and grandchildren are active members of the congregation.

Nelson notes that Chessin was the first female rabbi to lead a Dayton area synagogue.

"For some people in the Jewish community and at Temple Beth Or, including myself, that was a very big departure from what we were accustomed to."

Chessin says gender has never been a centerpiece of her rabbinate.

"It's just not. And maybe it's just an old-school thing. Yes, I'm a woman, but I didn't really push that. I never talked about feminism. It's just not relevant to me."

Marsha and Stephen Goldberg were also at that first Shabbat service.

They were already members.

"Our kids were getting ready to start Sunday school in Hebrew," he says. "We were looking for something closer to the south area. The more we learned about it, we jumped right in.

Judy was so young when she started.

We were all young, we all grew up together. We were all about the same age. We were determined to get this temple off the ground, and Judy made it easy."

The rabbi recalls that in Temple Beth Or's beginning months, she

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

DAYTON Mary "Mahira" Rogers

MLK weekend programs

Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz

Pastor Joshua D. Ward

Formerly

Simchat Torah, 2024: Senior Rabbi Judy Chessin reads the end of an unraveled Torah scroll as Asst. Rabbi/Educator Ben Azriel (R) looks on.

eration and build more bridges among the Dayton area's Jews.

"We need more kinds of things that bring us together rather than divide us."

Why has she stayed with the temple for as long as Moses led the Israelites?

"There is something wonderful about just being in a place where families are for their whole lives and for generations," she says.

"I didn't have to break into a new culture. It just was created around me. And so I don't have to deal with having to change how I want to do things. It's a blessing."

How does she keep it fresh?

'You're always growing "Kids are always excited about into a new place' Chessin doesn't believe semi- something. You just know what naries make rabbis. "They make excites them or interests them.

You meet them where they are." pre-rabbis and then you work Kids are pretty much the for 10 years and figure out how same as they've always been, to be a rabbi," she says. she says. But social media has "You're always growing into brought about more complex a new place. Judaism itself is times for high schoolers. changing. I think the move"They have a lot more anxiety ments are changing, the demographics are changing, so there's issues. And it's been hard to get them excited and passionate always something to explore." about Israel so we can get them She says the newest generathere. It's a lot more difficult." tion of Temple Beth Or parents The rabbi says parents righthas its own way of navigating fully fear the antisemitism their Judaism distinct from previous kids experience in school. generations in her rabbinate.

"It's always the jackass, you "I don't see as many of them finding their singular place and know, some stupid person making some stupid joke or owning it. I see them more as just being in-your-face political. a consumer generation where I teach the high school (at the they can find great stuff at the temple), and we talk about that JCC, great stuff here, great every single week — to try to stuff at Chabad, and they have get facts and figures and a sense loyalty to all of those. In the of knowing what to say, how to founding days of Temple Beth Or, people found one place, and answer the questions."

She has no plans to slow that's where they did Judaism: down anytime soon. Parents ask that's my community, that's her, "You'll be there to do all my where I learn, where I study, where I socialize and everything kids' bar and bat mitzvahs?"

"People need that affirmaelse. They now want a bit from tion," Chessin says. "And I can every column."

This consumer mentality, she make that promise. I have no expiration date." says, will lead to more coopwould lead a monthly service.

"We were getting 100 people, lots of kids, which was exciting."

Stephen Goldberg admits he was a little skeptical of Chessin as the spiritual leader of the new congregation. And then he met her.

"Here is this young rabbi who just came out of school," he says. "But the more we got to interact with her, the more we found out that she was an incredible person. In the very beginning and until today, she knows you and she relates to you very quickly."

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

Pastor Ken Moss Rabbi Aubrey Glazer

Temple Israel and Omega Baptist Church will hold their 30th pulpit exchange over MLK weekend. The tradition began in 1994 with Rabbi P. Irving Bloom and Pastor Daryl Ward when Omega Baptist purchased Temple Israel's building on Emerson Avenue and Temple Israel moved to Riverside Drive.

Pastor Joshua Ward will deliver the sermon at Temple Israel's Shabbat service, 6:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17. An Oneg reception will follow the service.

Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz will deliver the sermon at Omega Baptist Church's 11 a.m. service, Sunday, Jan. 19.

Temple Israel is located at 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.

Omega Baptist is located at 1821 Emerson Ave., Dayton. For more information, call Temple Israel at 937-496-0050 or Omega Baptist at 937-278-1006.

Members of Beth Abraham Synagogue and The Potter's House will come together at Beth Abraham for a Martin Luther King Jr. Shabbat service, 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 18.

Pastor Ken Moss will join Rabbi Aubrey Glazer for a bima dialogue about King's enduring teachings. A kiddush lunch will follow services. Youths with both congregations will take part in a sacred choreography workshop led by Beth Abraham Synagogue Religious School Director Elyssa Wortzman and Potter's House sacred dancers.

Beth Abraham Synagogue is located at 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. For more information, call the synagogue at 937293-9520.

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PAGE 5

DAYTON

WSU Muslim Student Assoc. speakers: Hamas' massacre & aim of destroying Israel justified on religious grounds

By Marshall Weiss The Observer With two Wright State University uniformed security officers standing visibly at the entrance of the Student Union's Apollo Room, about 50 students attended the Palestine Diaspora Movement's Resistance 101 Community Teach-In, Nov. 20, hosted by the university's Muslim Student Association.

The Palestine Diaspora Movement describes itself as a "Muslim youth-led nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to Palestinian liberation."

"Our goal is that you leave here today, and you'll have a clear understanding of what Palestinian resistance truly is, beyond headlines and misconceptions," a member of the Palestine Diaspora Movement told participants.

The underlying message of the evening — albeit in euphemisms — was that the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre of more than 1,200 people in Israel and the terror organization's goal of eliminating the Jewish state are justified within the religious precepts of Islam.

Guest speaker Thuraya Zeidan, a high school English teacher and adjunct college professor from New Jersey who runs an Instagram account called Decolonize the Classroom, set the tone via livestream with her thoughts on the meaning of Palestinian demands.

"The first one is liberation from the river to the sea," Zeidan said, "and this is an important one, because this refers to the borders according to 1948. And oftentime, we hear the false misconception around, you know, business referred to 1967 borders. But when we say from the river to the sea, we mean all Palestine."

She described the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, as not representing the Palestinian people, but rather as a political faction "put into place by the West."

"Oftentimes, we refer to them as the arm of the Zionist regime and they serve Western interests and the interest of the settler Zionist regime. And they do this by arresting Palestinians (who are) organizing and resisting and handing them over to the settler Zionist regime in exchange for some monetary

PAGE 6

Submitted

Marshall Weiss

A flyer on a Wright State University bulletin board promoting the Palestine Diaspora Movement's Nov. 20 on-campus event with Wright State's Muslim Student Association.

Thuraya Zeidan's livestreamed remarks for the Palestine Diaspora Movement's Nov. 20 event with Wright State's Muslim Student Association, held in the Student Union, justified on religious grounds the Hamas terror movements' Oct. 7, 2023 massacre of more than 1,200 people in Israel — and its goal of eliminating the Jewish state.

gain."

Islam."

Zeidan said the majority of The coursework adds that predominantly Muslim nations "Zionists have weaponized in the world have "chosen the Islamophobia by creating a path of betrayal when it comes negative connotation around to Palestine," and that Palestinthe word 'martyr,' associating ians have "the right to resist it with terrorism and extremand the right to revolution." ism due to their anti-Muslim "And so, resistance, although agenda. They propagate the this might be uncomfortable for notion that Palestinian martyrs, some of us, that's OK. This is who are revered for their ultipart of the learning process, this mate sacrifice in the struggle is necessary. for liberation, 'As a general rule, People have a are instead part right to protect the space is available of a broader, their land and sinister agenda to all, regardless of their people." against 'Westthe content of their She also ern civilization,' emphasized thus underopinions or the to the audimining their ence that most manner of their genuine acts Palestinians are self-expression.' of bravery and Muslim, that resistance."

Islam is ingrained in Palestinian At the Wright State program, life, and that "the martyrs and the Palestine Diaspora Movethe prisoners sacrifice the most ment distributed pamphlets, towards the liberation moveincluding one with phonetic ment."

Arabic chants and their English Leaders with the Palestine translations. Among them were Diaspora Movement provided "Palestine is Arab — from the attendees with an overview river to the sea," and "With of its Resistance 101 course, our souls, with our blood, we which it offers at palestinediasacrifice for Palestine." sporamovement.com.

StopAntisemitism.org, an Palestine Diaspora MoveAmerican nonprofit watchdog ment's Resistance 101 course organization that combats Jew states: "Martyrdom is a cornerhatred, named Thuraya Zeidan stone of Palestinian resistance, an Antisemite of the Week in especially in Gaza. It represents 2022. the ultimate act of bravery, The organization noted that honor, and personal sacrifice in Zeidan's social media account, the fight for Palestinian liberaDecolonize the Classroom, tion, deeply intertwined with "reveals her mission to indoc-

trinate youth with antisemitic bias by diminishing the identity and history of the Jewish people and spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories."

StopAntisemitism.org added that Zeidan is on a mission to deliberately strip Jews of their identity. "Although there are millions of Brown and Black Jews, she repeatedly identifies Jews as 'White' and accuses them of 'White supremacy.'"

Kelly Fishman, director of the Anti-Defamation League's regional office, told The Observer that the Palestine Diaspora Movement's efforts to address Palestinian displacement and oppression should not come at the expense of denying Israel's right to exist or perpetuating harmful antisemitic tropes.

"True justice requires building bridges, rejecting divisive rhetoric, and ensuring that advocacy uplifts all voices without erasing the suffering of others," Fishman said.

"As the ADL has consistently highlighted, combating systemic injustice requires recognizing the interconnected struggles of all marginalized communities, including Jewish people who have faced centuries of discrimination and violence."

Wright State University Interim Director of Communications Bob Mihalek told The Observer via email that the university's president, Susan Edwards, was unavailable to be

interviewed.

He provided a statement as the university's response: "As a public institution, Wright State University is subject to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and analogous provisions in the Ohio Constitution, regarding self-expression. The University supports freedom of speech and assembly. Because assemblies and demonstrations can constitute valuable experiences and opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and members of the public, Wright State makes on-campus space available for those activities. As a general rule, the space is available to all, regardless of the content of their opinions or the manner of their self-expression. The University does not necessarily endorse or oppose the speech of persons or organizations who choose to utilize that space, and no endorsement should be presumed from the fact that an individual or group is expressing their opinions on campus.

Assemblies and demonstrations are subject to the requirements in Policy No. 1260: Expressive Activity; Free Speech."

That university policy states that "speech may be constitutionally protected even though it is (or may be) considered by some to be extreme, indecent, offensive (including 'hate speech'), controversial, 'wrong,' sexual, or even shocking."

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

THE REGION

THE NATION

The U.S. Department of Education announced on Dec. 20 that the University of Cincinnati had agreed to resolve a complaint that the school had failed to follow its obligations under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. An investigation by the department’s Office for Civil Rights reviewed approximately two dozen reports and found that the public research university did not properly respond to alleged harassment based on shared Jewish ancestry, Warren LeMay/Wikimedia Commons as well as Palestinian ancestry, during the 2023-24 academic year.

“It appears that the univerUniversity Hall, University of Cincinnati. sity repeatedly misapplied applicable law when responding, or more routinely declining to respond, to reports of shared ancestry harassment it received,” the Education Department stated.

One example reviewed included a registered student organization’s social media advertisement of a “Spooky Zionist”-themed meeting.

The university chose not to take action on the grounds of a free speech policy.

“While the university may not discipline speakers for protected speech, Title VI requires that recipients take other steps as necessary to ensure that no hostile environment based on shared ancestry persists,” the department stated.

The review also found that the university received multiple vandalism reports targeted at a Jewish student, who told authorities his door had been “defaced because of his Jewish faith and identity,” his home egged, and feces smeared around the home.

University records showed that no further assessment was made of whether a hostile environment existed for the student or any other student affected. Other incidents reviewed included antisemitic comments at a student senate meeting and death threats against a Palestinian student, neither of which received responsive or investigative action from the university.

The Education Department said its investigation “raised concerns that university practices did not appear designed to remedy any hostile environment resulting from shared ancestrybased harassment.” To resolve the complaint, the University of Cincinnati agreed to review all discrimination reports from the past two school years and submit new incidents to the Education Department for the next two years.

The school will also provide staff training and conduct a climate assessment to determine the extent of campus hate. “The commitments the University of Cincinnati made today position the university to turn an important corner in effectively protecting civil rights for students who have suffered some egregious harms,” said Catherine Lhamon, assistant secretary for civil rights for the Department of Education. — JNS

By Ron Kampeas, JTA WASHINGTON — A report on campus antisemitism by the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives recommended cutting government funding to universities that boycott Israel.

The report released Dec. 19 detailed the findings of seven congressional committees and painted a dire picture of antisemitism in the United States while specifying that it concerned “antisemitism on college campuses and in government.”

“Across the nation, Jewish Americans have been harassed, assaulted, intimidated, and subjected to hostile environments — violations that stand in stark contrast to America’s fundamental values, including a foundational commitment to religious freedom for all,” the report said.

“The Committees’ findings are alarming,” it said. “For instance, some of our most prominent American universities refused to crack down on antisemitism.”

The Education Committee, chaired by North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx, has gained attention over the past year-plus for a series of hearings on campus antisemitism — one of which led to the resignation of the leaders of two Ivy League schools. The committee recommended that Congress pass a law to cut federal financial aid for students, under Title IV of the 1965 Higher Education Act, at universities that boycott Israel.

“A significant amount of campus unrest resulted from anti-Israel radicals’ efforts to coerce institutions to divest from and boycott Israel,” said the report. “Congress can help stop this madness by passing legislation so any institution of higher education that contravenes U.S. foreign policy by boycotting or divesting from Israel will become ineligible for federal student aid under Title IV.” The report focused on a handful of universities where reports of pro-Palestinian protesters harassing and intimidating Jewish and Israeli students have been most prominent, among them Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California, Los Angeles, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, and Columbia University.

It said efforts by the administrators of those universities to address antisemitism on campus were inadequate or nonexistent. It singled out Northwestern and Columbia for not clearing out pro-Palestinian encampments last spring that, the report said, intimidated Jewish students.

Northwestern’s Jewish president took flak this year for the agreement the school struck with encampment protesters, and defended the deal in a contentious congressional hearing.

“These encampments frequently generated substantial harassment – and in some cases physical assaults – of Jewish students, created hostile environments, and disrupted campus operations,” the report said. “In a dereliction of their responsibilities, many school officials Continued on Page 26

In-house UC ‘repeatedly Congressional report on jewelry antisemitism misapplied’ law campus repair recommends cutting & custom addressing funds to universities design campus bigotry that boycott Israel

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THE NATION

Trump won a higher percentage of Jews than in 2020, but not by the margins he predicted. ish voters, that advantage is slipping a Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, and the little. groundswell of anti-Israel criticism “The overwhelming majority of from progressive groups that followed, American Jews voted for Harris,” said made it seem like a political change Mellman, who also founded the advocould be afoot. Donald Trump predictcacy group Democratic Majority for ed that he could net 40% of the Jewish vote — and famously said that Chip Somodevilla/ Israel. “There probably was Getty Images some amount of erosion, and Jews would be to blame if he some amount of that erosion lost. was clearly related to Israel Jewish Democrats, meanissues.” while, pointed to polls showing That change comes in a year that their Jewish base was solid. that also saw shifts toward In the days before the vote, Trump from other traditionally however, anxieties surfaced Democratic constituencies, inabout whether that support was cluding Black and Latino men. eroding.

Analyses have also found that the national shift in the electorThe big picture President-elect ate was due mostly to Harris In the weeks since Trump’s Donald Trump losing large numbers of Demovictory over Kamala Harris, cratic votes, rather than Trump gaining several polls have measured Jewish large numbers of Republican votes. support. And while their numbers differ, they all tell the same story.

The numbers According to a poll by Mark MellThe three polls reviewed by Mellman man, a Democratic Jewish pollster, Harris won the Jewish vote 71% to 26%. all used, in his words, the “same sponsor, same surveyor” in both 2020 and Mellman did not conduct a similar poll 2024. Here’s what they found: in 2020, but he noted that a few other A survey conducted by GBAO organizations did poll Jews in both elecstrategies for J Street, the liberal Jewish tions. All show that while Democrats Middle East lobby, found that this year, still command a large majority of Jew-

Harris beat Trump among Jews 71% to 26%, a 45-point margin. That’s 11 points less than the Democratic margin in 2020, when Jews chose Joe Biden by 56 points over Trump, 77% to 21%.

The Cooperative Election Study out of Harvard University found that this year, Harris beat Trump among Jews 63% to 36%, a 27-point spread. In 2020, the poll found that Jews voted for Biden over Trump 69% to 30%, a 39-point difference.

The Associated Press/Fox analysis of online polling, conducted by the University of Chicago, found that Jews voted for Harris over Trump 66% to 32%, a 34-point spread.

In 2020, the same pollsters found that Biden won American Jews 69% to 30%, a 39-point margin.

Mellman’s poll, commissioned by the Jewish Electorate Institute, was conducted from Oct. 31-to Nov. 8; the election was Nov. 5. The poll reached 1,093 voters online through YouGov and has a margin of error of 3%.

He also surveyed Jewish voters’ opinions of the candidates’ Israel policies, which he said may explain Trump’s gains. While 48% of Jewish voters thought Trump would be more

pro-Israel than Biden, only 7% said the same of Harris. And while 23% of Jewish Trump voters said they had a high attachment to Israel, 9% of Harris voters said the same.

Trump scored far lower among voters on other issues Jewish voters prioritized, the poll said. Harris was seen as “most identified with abortion rights, protecting Social Security and Medicare, addressing climate change and protecting democracy,” a JEI release said.

Harris had a 68% favorable and 32% unfavorable rating among the Jewish voters surveyed, while Trump’s ratings were 24% favorable and 76% unfavorable.

The JEI release also dug down into the identity of voters, finding that 74% of Jews over the age of 60 voted for Harris, compared to 70% of Jews 18-39.

There was also a gap associated with synagogue attendance: “81 percent of Jews never attending services selected Harris, while 61 percent of those going more than once a month did so.”

Those figures would be consistent with actual voting results in heavily Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods, as opposed to polls, that showed a marked preference for Trump in places like Crown Heights, Brooklyn and Teaneck, N.J.

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

THE NATION Evan Clark, Atheists United

The Jewish leader taking on Christian nationalism Rachel Laser, the president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, speaks at an event the organization held at St John's Episcopal Cathedral in Los Angeles, Nov. 21.

Rachel Laser, the first non-Christian leader of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, redefines the group’s focus in a polarized era.

By Asaf Elia-Shalev, JTA For decades, Americans United for Separation of Church and State called its adversaries “religious extremists.” Today, the group has a more specific target: fighting Christian nationalism.

The decision to sharpen the language was made by Rachel Laser, the group’s president for the last six years. A Jew and the first religious minority to lead Americans United since its founding in 1947, Laser wanted the group to be more clear-eyed about what she sees as a growing threat to religious pluralism in the United States: the belief that American laws should favor Christian values over those of other religions.

But it was not an easy decision for her to make. “On some deep level, I worry about alienating Christians, as many Jews do,” Laser wrote last year in the group’s magazine. “When you are part of a mere 2% of the population, it can feel perilous to risk fostering adversity with 65% of the population.”

That anxiety about the optics of her leadership surfaced even before she took the job. Laser recounted to JTA that during her interview for the position, she asked the board outright:

Chicago, where she grew up “Why aren’t you hiring Chriswith Jewish activist parents tian clergy?” who didn’t prioritize religious Americans United had always been led by pastors, but life. But when she followed a friend to Sunday school, she enBarry Lynn, who served as the countered Rabbi Arnold Jacob organization’s previous leader, Wolf, a progressive Reform from 1992 to 2018, said he Jewish leader who was deeply welcomes a departure. If there involved in civil rights and were any concerns about havother social justice causes. ing a Jew lead a fight against “I was a very curious kid, Christian nationalism, Laser and he encouraged me to ask has proven it’s possible to do questions,” Laser said, fighting so, he said. back tears as she recalled Wolf, “I’ve thought about that a who passed away in 2008. “The lot, but I just don’t think it’s more questions I a burden or a asked, the more problem because 'She understands he appreciated she works very the depths of the That’s why I collaboratively danger that Christian me. value being Jewwith board nationalism presents ish.” members who Laser (her are themselves to both Christianity name is proChristians and and to religious nounced LAZZshe works in minorities.' er) carried those coalitions,” values into a caLynn said. “She reer focused on public service. understands the depths of the After earning a law degree, she danger that Christian nationalheld senior roles in organizaism presents to both Christianity and to religious minorities.” tions advocating for reproductive rights, LGBTQ equality, Laser, 55, is married to and interfaith dialogue, includintellectual property lawyer ing as the deputy director of Mark Davies. They have three children and the family belongs the Religious Action Center, the advocacy arm of Reform to Adas Israel, a Conservative Judaism. congregation in Washington, “She’s a knowledgeable D.C. Jew who cares deeply about She began her journey in

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

Jewish concerns,” said Rabbi David Saperstein, who led the Religious Action Center during Laser’s time there. “She fit very comfortably into the Reform movement’s view that social justice was a central part of what it means to be a Jew.” He said he hired her because she was already a proven bridge builder, and it was important for the organization to work across political and ideological lines in Washington.

It’s a skill that would be critical when Americans United tapped her in 2018, tasking her with adapting the group for a polarized era.

She took the helm during the second year of Donald Trump’s first presidency, as debates over religion in public life were intensifying. Laser commissioned research to gauge public attitudes and test Americans United’s messaging.

The results were mixed.

“Religious extremism” resonated with most audiences, but “Christian nationalism” was less familiar — and even sounded positive to some people. “We didn’t want people to think we were insulting Christianity or patriotism,” Laser said, so she decided against emphasizing the term.

Then came the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Laser saw the insurrection as a wake-up call. In the rioters’ biblical rhetoric and religious rituals, she recognized Christian nationalism as a potent and underappreciated threat.

She soon hired Andrew Seidel, a prominent critic of Christian nationalism. On his first day as the new vice president of strategic communications at Americans United, Seidel testified before Congress about the role of Christian nationalism in the Capitol insurrection.

Americans United began using the term regularly, aiming to educate the public while highlighting church-state separation as a critical countermeasure.

“The antidote to Christian nationalism is church-state separation,” Laser said in an interview. “It’s the kryptonite that prevents Christian nationalists from codifying their views into our laws.”

Under Laser’s leadership, Americans United has taken high-profile legal actions, such as suing Oklahoma over its proposed religious charter school and representing a Tennessee Jewish couple rejected by an adoption agency due to their faith. The group also helped

raise awareness about Project 2025, a detailed conservative proposal for Trump’s second term from the Heritage Foundation.

Donors have responded to these efforts. In 2023, the organization reported $17.9 million in revenue — almost triple what it was raising before Laser took over.

But Laser’s tenure hasn’t been without controversy.

The organization’s employee union and some former board members have accused her of fostering a toxic work environment and prioritizing publicity over policy and legal work. After commissioning an outside investigation of the organization’s work culture, the board said Laser has its full support.

Laser’s efforts to counter Christian nationalism reflect broader tensions in American Continued on Page 10

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THE NATION

Taking on Christian nationalism

Continued from Page Nine society. While religious affiliation is declining, Trump’s political alliance with the Christian right has energized a vocal minority.

“I love you, Christians,” he said on the campaign trail. “In four years, you don’t have to vote again, we’ll have it fixed so good you’re not going to have to vote.” And the vast majority of them did vote for him.

Since the election, Trump has put together for his next administration a slate of deputies that reflects his strong political alliance with the Christian right, from his nominee for White House budget director Russell Vought to his preferred candidate for defense secretary, Pete Hesgeth.

But while giving Republicans a resounding victory, American voters also rejected many of the specific policies promoted by conservative Christians.

In seven states, including four won

by Trump, voters approved measures to protect abortion rights. All three state proposals to allow public funding to flow to private and religious schools were defeated. Laser calls these outcomes a rejection of Christian nationalism and a continued endorsement of the principle of church-state separation.

In saying that a solid majority of Americans agree with her worldview, Laser relies on surveys like those from the Public Religion Research Institute.

“We find that by a margin of about two to one, most Americans reject Christian nationalism,” said PRRI’s president, Robert Jones.

He said he’s confident in the results because the statements the surveys test against are ”fairly unambiguous.”

“They’re things like, ‘U.S. law should be based on the Bible,’ ‘To be truly American, you must be Christian,’ and ‘Christians should take dominion over all areas of American society,’” he said.

As the term Christian nationalism has come into play in recent years, Jones’ group has been studying how people respond not only to the underlying attitudes, but also to the term itself.

“We are finding people who qualify as Christian nationalists based on our criteria have a positive view of the term, and people who are rejecting that worldview have a negative view of the term,” Jones said. “So it’s not just a term used by one side to smear the other.”

The phenomena can be seen in the strong sales of a 2022 book called The Case for Christian Nationalism, by conservative political theorist Stephen Wolfe, and in prominent politicians, like U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Sen. Josh Hawley, who have embraced the moniker.

But even as one term has become more common, the question of what language to use is far from settled. Advocates on either side of the debate over the place of religion in public life make various choices for strategic or other reasons.

PAGE 10

Sorting through the rhetoric has required substantial attention from Ruth Braunstein, a professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut.

That’s because earlier this year, she was awarded a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to map out the individuals and groups fighting Christian nationalism. Many of the 100 groups added to the list so far don’t use the term Christian nationalism.

“Some, for example, talk about defending or promoting pluralistic democracy,” Braunstein said. “Others talk about creating a more inclusive vision of American identity.”

A growing bunch, including Americans United, do. And for Braunstein, it was easy to figure out how Laser’s group fit into her project.

“They have a high profile, historical gravitas, and respect, and the resources to be able to provide support to other organizations,” she said. “So I think of them as an important node in this broad network.”

A few weeks ago, Laser went on CNN to be briefly interviewed about her opposition to plans in Oklahoma and Texas to bring Christianity into the classroom. She didn’t mention anything about her identity. She simply delivered Americans United talking points: Parents, not politicians, should decide when and if children are exposed to religion; state mandates sully rather than enhance religion; mixing church and state goes against the country’s founding ideals.

But one viewer who contacted CNN to complain about Laser’s statements discovered through Google, or correctly assumed, that Laser is a Jew. He made her identity the center of a lengthy tirade, which he ended with a broad threat.

“When Jews go into the public square to attack Christianity, then we have a problem,” the angry viewer wrote.

“Stop abusing the people that treat you kindly because, eventually, the patience will run out.”

Asked if this kind of threat gives her anxiety about the place of Jews in the United States, she said, “Firstly, I’m Jewish. There’s always anxiety. So, fair question.”

But then she went on to emphasize that she’s never felt alone in her activism. She’s always surrounded by Christian allies. As soon as she took the helm, for example, she set up a faith advisory committee for Americans United and packed it with pastors (as well as other faith leaders). When her group files lawsuits against policies it opposes, it always includes Christian plaintiffs.

“It’s more important to make it clear that Christians are leaders in this cause,” she said. “In any case, however, I don’t plan to go anywhere. This country has given so much to Jews and I feel gratitude for that. I want to ensure that my kids and my kids’ kids can enjoy and be proud of the same America.”

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

THE NATION

Biden signs law that could lead to U.S. Jewish history museum joining the Smithsonian Shoot from WIthin

By Ron Kampeas, JTA WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that could bring the country’s premiere Jewish history museum under the Smithsonian umbrella, a measure that may help ensure the survival of an institution that faced bankruptcy just a few years ago.

Biden announced Dec. 11 the enactment of the “Commission to Study the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution Act.” The act establishes a body that will examine whether the Philadelphia museum, known as the Weitzman, can join the Smithsonian Institution.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill, authored by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Jewish Democrat, in September and the Senate followed suit on Dec. 4.

Both votes were unanimous. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH-10), was one of the three original cosponsors of the bill in the House.

“There is broad bipartisan, bicameral support in preserving and promoting the contributions of Jewish Americans via The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History,” Turner

noted. The bill had the support of 36 Jewish groups.

If the commission created by the bill transfers the museum to the control of the Smithsonian trust, it would join a collection of Smithsonian museums dedicated to other minority groups including African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Latinos.

In floor speeches, lawmakers cited the spike in antisemitism since Hamas launched its war against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, as a spur. But the effort to bring the museum under the umbrella of a system that includes federal government support predated the attacks.

The museum was on the cusp of closure four years ago. In early March 2020, right as Covid hit, the museum filed for bankruptcy protection in the face of a $30 million construction debt.

It was rescued the following year by a donation from footwear entrepreneur Stuart Weitzman, giving the museum its current name, and was in good financial health when the bill was first proposed earlier this year.

In November, the museum named Dan Tadmor its new CEO; he's an Israeli who oversaw the $100 million trans-

A view of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, Philadelphia.

formation of a Tel Aviv museum called Beit Hatfutsot, which reopened in 2021 as ANU-Museum of the Jewish People.

The Weitzman regained its financial footing under Tadmor’s predecessor, Misha Galperin.

The Smithsonian, a trust, runs its museums with a combination of fundraising and federal appropriations, with percentages varying among its many institutions. Most Smithsonian museums are in Washington, D.C. and have free admission, although several

are farther away, including the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in Manhattan. The Weitzman already offers free admission through philanthropic support.

The commission of eight people studying the feasibility of the move will include eight voting members appointed by leaders of both chambers of Congress. Their report to Congress on the feasibility of the museum joining the Smithsonian would come within two years of the commission’s launch.

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

PAGE 11

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THE WORLD

Toronto Jewish girls’ school targeted by gunfire for 3rd time since May

Screenshot

Martin Luther King Jr. Shabbat Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m.

“Leaning Into Our (Hidden) Greatness” Join us for a bima dialogue with Pastor Ken Moss from The Potter’s House and Rav Aubrey Glazer on the enduring teachings of MLK today.

Kiddush lunch to follow.

Pastor Moss

Youth from both communities will join together in a workshop of sacred choreography led

by Dr. Elyssa Wortzman and Potter’s House sacred dancers.

Rav Glazer

Lifelong Learning Class with Rabbis Aubrey Glazer & Martin Cohen

Making of a Mensch

Jewish Virtue Ethics in Proverbs Tuesdays at 10 AM Jan. 21 & 28, Feb. 4 &11 Join us on Zoom To register, call or email bas@bethabrahamdayton.org.

305 Sugar Camp Circle Dayton, Ohio 45409 937•293•9520 www.bethabrahamdayton.org PAGE 12

By Joseph Strauss, JTA For the third time since May, Toronto Police are investigating evidence of gunshots fired overnight at Bais Chaya, a Jewish girls’ school.

As in the previous shootings, no one was injured in the incident.

Police said they were notified of the shooting at around 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 20.

The department’s Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force is investigating, with support from the Hate Crime Unit.

The building sustained property damage, according Bais Chaya Mushka, a Jewish girls' school in Toronto, was hit with gunfire for the third time since May. to the Toronto Jewish federaconcerns.” tion’s Jewish Security NetShe added, “Toronto Police acted work, but students were ultimately able swiftly and arrested two individuals to attend school that day. connected to the Oct. 12 firearm disBais Chaya Mushka is part of a charge incident. I trust the police will network of Chabad-Lubavitch schools. do everything they can again.”

All three shootings at the school took Canadian Prime Minister Justin place overnight, when the building was Trudeau tweeted, “I’m sickened by closed. reports of shots fired at a Jewish The first shooting occurred on a elementary school in North York. This Shabbat in May at around 4 a.m. Then, is a hateful, antisemitic in October, on Yom Kipattack on Toronto’s Jewish pur, gunshots were fired community.” at the school from a veThe shooting comes hicle. About a week later, just days after a Montrealtwo suspects — a 20-yeararea synagogue was fireold man and 17-year-old bombed, and is the latest boy — were arrested on in a series of attacks on firearm charges for that Canadian Jewish institushooting. tions since Hamas’ Oct. 7, “Enough is enough.

2023, invasion of Israel, which launched Antisemitism and antisemitic attacks the war in Gaza and has sparked a have no place in Toronto,” Mayor Olglobal spike in antisemitism. ivia Chow said in a statement Dec. 20.

In November 2023, assailants tossed “The latest shooting at the Bais Chaya a firebomb at the same synagogue, Mushka Elementary School is unacCongregation Beth Tikvah. The same ceptable. Once again students, families, month, shots were fired at two Orand neighbors are waking up to safety thodox Jewish schools in Montreal. In B'nai Brith Canada March, a venue postponed a Jewish film festival in Hamilton, Ontario due to “security and safety concerns,” despite objections from the local Jewish federation, which said that the concerns centered on opposition to Israeli films. In August, bomb threats were sent to dozens of Jewish institutions across Canada.

“When houses of worship are being firebombed and schools are being shot at simply because they’re Jewish,” said Noah Shack, interim president of Canada’s Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, an advocacy group.

“That is unacceptable anywhere in Canada, whether it’s here or anywhere else. And the time for Damage caused by a firebomb at Beth Tikvah action is now.” synagogue, Montreal, Dec. 18.

The shooting comes just days after a Montrealarea synagogue was firebombed.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

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UPCOMING EVENTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 7 - 9PM CABS – Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath, #antisemitism: Coming of Age During the Resurgence of Hate MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 9AM - 4PM JCC Kids’ MLK Day of Service SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 6 - 7PM PJ & PLAY: Bedtime Shema at Hillel Academy THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 7 - 9PM CABS – David Tatel, VISION: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice

Connect with us! Check out our events.

For more information, check out our calendar at jewishdayton.org.

PJ & PLAY: Bedtime Shema at Hillel Academy Sunday, January 26, 6 – 7PM Hillel Academy 305 Sugar Camp Circle – 3rd Floor, Oakwood, 45409 Children 7 and under and their parents are invited to join us for an evening of learning about the beautiful ritual of saying the Shema at bedtime. We’ll do a craft, have a snack, yoga, and a bedtime story.

Older siblings are welcome too! Come in your pajamas!

No cost. RSVP by January 22.

To register, visit jewishdayton.org/events Questions? Please contact Kate Elder at kelder@jfgd.net

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

PAGE 13

January 2025 JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

JANUARY & FEBRUARY EVENTS

Tuesday, January 14 at 7 PM via Zoom — enjoy from the comfort of your home! No Cost.

Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath #antisemitism: Coming of Age During the Resurgence of Hate Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath’s book, #antisemitism: Coming of Age During the Resurgence of Hate, delves into the alarming rise of antisemitism in contemporary society.

Through a compelling blend of personal narrative, historical context, and social analysis, Vinokor-Meinrath explores how this age-old hatred has reemerged in new forms, particularly in the digital age. The book sheds light on the pervasive impact of antisemitism on Jewish youth, examining how they navigate their identities and safety in a world increasingly marked by intolerance.

Vinokor-Meinrath’s work is both a poignant memoir and a critical examination of a pressing social issue, providing a crucial perspective on the challenges facing the Jewish community today.

Thursday, January 30 at 7 PM via Zoom — enjoy from the comfort of your home! No Cost.

David S. Tatel, VISION: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice David S. Tatel is an American judge who served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit deciding many landmark cases.

Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, Tatel has a reputation for his expertise in administrative law and his commitment to civil rights, voting rights, and environmental law. Before his judicial appointment, he was a law professor and also worked in various legal and public service roles.

For 50 of his over 80 years, he has been blind as a result of retinitis pigmentosa. Through the miracle of technology and, lately his canine companion Vixen, he has been able to navigate his blindness and accept it.

Sunday, February 2 at 7 PM via Zoom — enjoy from the comfort of your home! No Cost.

Sara Glass, Kissing Girls on Shabbat Sara Glass, who grew up in the Chasidic community of Borough Park, Brooklyn, was well aware of what her community’s expectations of her were. She acquiesced to an arranged marriage in which she felt no love and then realized she had an attraction to women. She was forced to battle for custody of her children, married again, and suffered a tragic sexual assault. She survived these horrific experiences, earned a Ph.D., and now writes, speaks, and counsels many who have suffered various traumas in their lives. All of these life experiences finally gave her the courage to live her true life.

Jewish Family Services OF GREATER DAYTON

In partnership with the Greater Dayton LGBT Center & Jewish Family Services of Greater Dayton

To purchase tickets for in-person events or to register for free events, please visit jewishdayton.org/events or call 937-610-1555

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.

Wednesday, April 2, 7:30 PM Camelot (Small Cast Version) The Loft Theatre 126 N. Main Street, Dayton, 45402 Meet at the theatre The JCC Culture Club is at it again! Do you love live theater? Join us as we journey to attend exciting live performances at Dayton area theaters. Come with friends or make new ones as we sit together and enjoy Dayton’s finest live entertainment. $44 for center seating (no booking fee required). Limited seating available.

Must register by February 24.

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

Questions? Contact Stacy Emoff at semoff@jfgd.net.

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A Women’s Freedom Seder O U R J O U R N E Y F RO M S L AV E RY T O S T R E N G T H

S ave t he d a te!

Thursday, March 27 6 - 9PM at Beth Abraham Synagogue (350 Sugar Camp Circle, Oakwood) $54 per person. RSVP online by March 6 at jewishdayton.org/events or contact Stacy Emoff at semoff@jfgd.net

The Jewish Community Center is proud to collaborate with the women from Beth Abraham Synagogue, Beth Jacob Congregation, Hadassah, Temple Beth Or, and Temple Israel.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

January 2025 JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES at

Enjoy an exciting JCC Youth Theatre performance of Disney’s Descendants!

Saturday, February 15 at 8PM & Sunday, February 16 at 2PM and 6PM PNC Arts Annex (46 W 2nd St, Dayton, 45402) at

Tickets will be available at daytonlive.org. at

JOIN TEAM OHIO! PITTSBURGH August 3 - 8, 2025 For Jewish athletes representing their communities

for ages 13-17

SPORTS SPECIALTIES Boys 3x3 Baseball Basketball Dance

Ice Hockey Soccer Softball

Star Reporter Swimming Table Tennis

Tennis Track Girls Volleyball

DAY OFF — CAMP ON! Monday, January 20, 9AM – 4PM Temple Beth Or 5275 Marshall Rd, Dayton, 45429 MLK Day may be a day off of school, but it’s a day ON for Camp Shalom! Join us for a day full of fun service projects to help our community, just like Dr. King did. From cooking to crafts, kids will stay busy all day and feel good about making a difference. Pack a lunch; snacks are provided. In partnership with JFS. $67 per child ($75 for extended care 8AM – 5:30PM)

at

Join Jewish teen athletes from across the globe for an Olympic-style sports experience.

Be part of the magic!

RSVP by January 13 to Suzzy Nandrasy at snandrasy@jfgd.net.

Interested teens and parents please reach out to Marc Jacob at 937-401-1545 or mjacob@jfgd.net.

A Jewish Teen Experience you will not forget. Spaces are limited.

Subsidies available.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

Jewish Community Center OF GREATER DAYTON

Jewish Family Services OF GREATER DAYTON

PAGE 15

January 2025 JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

Legacies, Tributes, & Memorials FEDERATION

LINDA RUCHMAN MEMORIAL FUND In memory of Alfred Zacher Marshall Ruchman JEWISH CEMETERIES OF GREATER DAYTON FUND In memory of Joan Isaacson Ellen Weprin EDWARD R. HATTENBACH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND In memory of Fred Fiedler Shelley Hattenbach JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER DAYTON ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of Joan Isaacson Debby and Bob Goldenberg Cincinnati Chaverah CAROL J. PAVLOFSKY LEADERSHIP FUND In honor of Clara Hochstein’s 100th birthday Marlene and David Miller

JOE BETTMAN MEMORIAL TZADIK FUND In memory of Judith Raphael In memory of Joan Isaacson Elaine Bettman Jean and Todd Bettman In memory of Henry Guggenheimer Jean and Todd Bettman JCC

PJ LIBRARY FUND In memory of Dee Dee Weisbrod Marcia and Edward Kress JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER In memory of Joan Isaacson for her many contributions to our community Marni Flagel JANE HOCHSTEIN JCC PROGRAMMING FUND In memory of Joan Isaacson Cathy Gardner

JFS

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES In memory of Judith Raphael Susan and Jonas Gruenberg In memory of Bea Ballas Jeffrey Kantor In memory of Joseph Litvin Cathy Gardner In memory of Joan Isaacson Donna Holt and Charles Fox Susan and Jonas Gruenberg

Did you know you can honor a friend or family member through a Legacy, Tribute or Memorial?

A donation to one of the Jewish Foundation's many endowments benefits our Jewish community while honoring a loved one.

For more information, please contact Janese R. Sweeny, Esq. CFRE, at 937-401-1542.

HOLOCAUST PROGRAMMING FUND In memory of Henry Guggenheimer Helene Gordon Melinda and Bill Doner Cathy Gardner

SCHOLARSHIPS & STUDENT LOANS Heuman Scholarship & Interest-free Student Loans

Applications are now available.

Completed applications are due Friday, March 28.

Are you a member of the Dayton Jewish community who will be enrolled at a two- or four-year college, technical program, or graduate school in the academic year 2025-2026? If so, you may be eligible to apply for a college scholarship and/or interest-free student loan through the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.

It is easy to apply for both incredible opportunities at the same time on a single, unified application.

To request the application and to learn more about the Heuman Scholarship, please contact Alisa Thomas, executive assistant, at 937-610-1796 or athomas@jfgd.net.

If you have questions specific to interest-free student loans, please contact Tara Feiner, executive director of Jewish Family Services, at 937-401-1546 or tfeiner@jfgd.net.

PAGE 16

INNOVATION GRANTS Do you have an innovative idea for a collaborative program that will engage and bring together the Greater Dayton Jewish community? Apply for a Jewish Federation Innovation Grant!

Contact Tara Feiner at tfeiner@jfgd.net or 937-401-1546 to request an application packet. Completed applications are due by noon on Friday, March 28. The application packet includes: • Innovation Grant application (Adobe PDF) signed by the senior officer of the organization(s) • Innovation Grant budget application (Microsoft Excel) • First-time applicants must supply a copy of the organization’s IRS tax exempt certificate 501(c)(3) for all groups involved if there is a collaboration. Prior Innovation Grant awardees do not need to resubmit their tax-exempt status.

For more information visit, jewishdayton.org

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

OPINION

The Jewish vote

By Martin Gottlieb There are many exit polls, wherein voters are confronted at the polling place about how they voted. Any organization that wants to do such a poll can. But there's one big one.

It's done by a group of major news outlets. After this election, it showed that Kamala Harris had won 79% of the Jewish vote. Jewish Telegraphic Agency began its report on this finding by saying, “The first rule of exit polls is to be careful about interpreting early exit polls.”

But the number was very widely reported, especially in Jewish and Israeli publications.

To many experienced observers of these things — otherwise known as Jewish political junkies — the number didn't feel right. It would have been easily the best showing for the Democrats in a very long time.

Really? In 2024? Even as the country as whole was trending a few points to the Republicans?

In the run-up to the election, all manner of things were happening that seemed to raise the possibility of the Jewish vote moving to the right: the dramatic revelation of widespread antisemitism on the campus left; the divisions within the Democratic Party over Gaza and related Oct. 7 issues, even as Republicans seemed united in support of Israel; the reports of huge donations to the Trump campaign by wealthy Jews. And more.

True, there were indications pointing in the other direction, including — by some lights, anyway — Donald Trump's pugnacious approach to Jewish voters as a group. Another one, perhaps: that Harris's husband is Jewish.

But 79%?

Well, since those early postelection stories, a press consensus has developed that other polls were more accurate. The Associated Press and Fox combined on a poll that put Harris at 66%. (Fox has a respected polling operation.) Other polls ranged near there.

So now the conventional wisdom is that, rather than having their best showing in decades among Jews, the Democrats lost ground compared to the last two elections, even if not much.

Specifically, the most widely reported set of stats is that Harris got 66%, compared to Biden's 69% in 2020 and Hillary Clinton's 71% in 2016.

Of course, it should be noted the numbers about 2020 and 2016 were also soft and debated in their time. Somehow these numbers harden with time, as “facts” get repeated and old uncertainties are forgotten.

But, OK, let's say Harris did 3 percentage points worse than Biden. What that says is the Democratic drop-off among Jews was about the same as the drop-off in the nation as a whole. Trump got 46.8% of the total popular vote in 2020 and 49.9% in 2024.

In the weeks after the election, political journalists churned out stories about how the Democrats lost voters in this place and that place, this demographic group and that one. But it was all pretty much one story: There was a small national tide in favor of the Republicans, as there generally is for one party or the other.

All reports about the Jewish votes are based on polls.

People don't even have to be reminded these days about the dangers of polls. All manner of complexities are at play. One has to wonder, for example, if — in this day of rising antisemitism — the Jews confronted by exit pollsters weren't a little less likely to identify themselves as Jews than they might be under other circumstances.

But surely this much can be said: In the big picture, the stability of Jewish voting habits is remarkable. And it seems to suggest — this time more clearly than ever — that most Jews are not voting on Israeli matters (a point that apparently cannot be thumped into Trump's head). Another possibility, of course, is that a lot of Jews did vote on Israel and simply chose the Harris view over Trump's.

Some polling on that may be in order. But it would be tricky, because the kind of people who prefer her views on Israel are presumably predisposed to vote liberal anyway.

Retired Dayton Daily News editorial writer Martin Gottlieb is advisor to The Dayton Jewish Observer.

So, what do you think?

Amid war, election, Jewish mainstream bends to right — not just on Israel Getty Images

Jews feeling threatened by campus protests and the rise of antisemitism look to Jewish organizations and a new administration to crack down.

called an op-ed

By Andrew Silow-Carroll, JTA Marcus wrote As head of the nonprofit about campus Brandeis Center for Human antisemitism in Rights Under Law, Kenneth 2022 “inflammaMarcus was early — critics tory.” would say premature — in Nowadays, using aggressive legal tactics to more than a fight antisemitism on college year into Israel’s campuses and other public war with Hamas and amid spaces. widespread complaints about The former assistant secreanti-Israel activism on college tary for civil rights in the first campuses and antisemitism in Trump administration, Marcus the streets, he is seeing a shift. remembers when other Jewish “It is my consistent sense organizations said his organizathat my approach to campus tion’s tactics — which include antisemitism is shared by a suing universities for not advery wide swath of the Jewish equately addressing antisemitism and challenging educators community, including Jewish communal organizations from and universities under the center right to center left,” he Education Department’s Title said in an inVI civil rights statute — was A historically liberal terview. “There was a time some counterproducyears ago where tive and, in con- Jewish community that wasn’t flating anti-Israel is increasingly necessarily the rhetoric with embracing goals case.” antisemitism, In a profile targeted speech and tactics often earlier this year, protected by the seen at odds calling him The First AmendMan Who Helped ment. with historically Redefine Campus The libliberal positions.

Antisemitism, the eral Leadership New York Times Conference on Civil and Human Rights, which wrote that “his tactics have been widely copied by other includes a number of Jewish groups.” groups, opposed his nominaAmong the groups that in tion to the administration the past year have partnered post, saying he used the Title with the Brandeis Center VI complaint process “to chill (which has no affiliation with a particular political point of Brandeis University) are the view.”

Anti-Defamation League, Hillel Others objected to the cenInternational, the Jewish Fedter’s tone. An American Jewish erations of North America and Committee official internally Spencer Platt/Getty Images

A Jewish student watches a protest in support of Palestinians and for free speech at New York’s Columbia University campus, Nov. 14, 2023.

the AJC — the very group that circulated an internal memo criticizing Marcus in 2022.

Marcus isn’t alone in seeing a change in what American Jews see as ideologically mainstream. With the incoming Trump administration promising a crackdown on the kind of campus activism that left many students, parents and observers feeling alienated and isolated, a historically liberal Jewish community is increasingly embracing goals and tactics often seen at odds with historically liberal positions.

“I think that we (Jews) became alarmed at some of the initiatives happening in universities, happening in other settings, and are moving to figure out a way to limit that movement,” said Steven Windmueller, emeritus professor of Jewish communal studies at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. “And in the process, it has also shifted the debate and context of where we are on free speech.”

Questions about joining coalitions

And it’s not just free speech, said Windmueller. Jews who felt burned by the left’s harsh criticism of Israel since the start of the war are questioning the wisdom of joining coalitions with groups with whom they have been traditionally aligned, on issues like civil rights, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights and abortion.

Jews who historically have embraced diversity at elite universities — in part owing to memories of having been excluded themselves — are joining longtime right-wing critics of campus DEI — or diversity, equity and inclusion – efforts.

Continued on Page 18

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.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

PAGE 17

Jewish mainstream bends to right

Continued from Page 17 “The failure of many of these DEI offices to effectively respond to the crisis right now is quite an indictment — it just is,” Jonathan Greenbatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, told Jewish Insider in December 2023.

Even though ADL supports the goals of DEI, it and other organizations are asking whether the offices adequately protect Jewish students and if they support an ideology of oppressed vs. oppressor that turns Israel and its supporters into pariahs.

Under a second Trump administration, Windmueller said, conservative Jewish groups are certainly going to enjoy increased influence and score policy successes.

But even beyond the most conservative Jewish voters, “I think it may happen with at least a cadre of Jews who will feel comfortable, or at least come to terms with, the new political realities,” said Windmueller. “And part of that is that they are looking for someone, and maybe that’s Donald Trump, who will protect their kids on campuses.”

Granted, as the sizable majority of Jews who voted for Kamala Harris in the presidential election showed, such shifts aren’t drastic or widespread. The largest liberal Jewish groups are not about to embrace a right-wing agenda.

Navigating subtle changes

But Jewish communal professionals must navigate even subtle changes in the political winds, in order to stay relevant and effective.

Pressures to partner with unconventional allies and keep a distance from many traditional ones are being felt

by Jewish community relations professionals around the country, according to Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, a support group for the local Jewish representative bodies known as community relations councils.

“Certainly in a number of communities, there are parents and other stakeholders who are rightfully concerned about what their kids are facing on campus or in K-12 schools and sometimes take a very reactive approach,” she said. “So how to balance that with the policies and solutions that we

PAGE 18

John Rudoff/AFP via Getty Images

know actually work is a challenge for many Jewish professionals right now.”

As an example of a reactive response, she offered the support that some Jews have offered to Trump’s pledge to expel or deport campus activists who are strident critics of Israel.

Spitalnick said Jewish safety isn’t assured by abandoning values like inclusivity, pluralism and democracy, but by doubling down on them. By the same token, she urges local leaders to resist some “very loud voices” saying Jews should walk away from coaliGraffiti on a wall when pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied the Millar Library on the campus of Portland tions that have been unsupState University, Portland, Ore., April 30, 2024. portive of the Jewish community or deeply critical of Israel and civil liberties along with community by aligning with Rosensaft, a former World since the war. defense and safety,” he said. certain problematic far-right Jewish Congress official who “To me, and I think to many But while many groups groups, we’re going to call that teaches classes on law, antidoing this work of commustrive for balance, each week out.” semitism, and the Holocaust at nity relations and coalitionbrings another clash between Gregory also does not see a Cornell and Columbia Unibuilding, the pain and isolation what Jews might call defense contradiction between calling versity, can point to his liberal some Jews are feeling is proof and safety, and others consider bona fides. out antisemitic or threatening of the need to invest more an attack on free speech and speech on campus, and a belief In 1988, he was part of a deldeeply in coalition work…and academic freedom. in free speech. egation of Jewish leaders who to do the work of civil rights At Cornell University, the In a recent essay in the San met in Stockholm with PLO that is core to our values and interim president is facing Francisco Chronicle, he criticized leader Yasser Arafat, breaksafety,” she said. blowback from higher educalocal public schools, writing, ing a Jewish communal taboo Like Spitalnick’s Jewish tion groups after he appeared “That parents had to resort to when Israel itself refused to Council for Public Affairs, to endorse the views of a Jewfiling civil rights complaints is recognize what it considered a other groups associated with ish instructor who felt a course not surprising given lackluster terrorist group. liberal positions see no contraon Gaza being taught in the and slow responses to antisemRosensaft said he finds it diction between assertive and school’s American Indian and “amusing” that a group such as itism by some school districts.” even aggressive tactics in fight- Indigenous Studies program “If free speech is a core value CAMERA, a right-wing Jewish ing antisemitism was biased and of the university, why aren’t media watchdog, agrees with Each week brings inflammatory. and sustaining (administrators) using it to call him on the Cornell course. But their core issues, another clash No action was out antisemitism and isolate at a time when Jews are being including civil taken to shut these bad actors?” Gregory threatened on campuses, he rights, immigra- between what Jews down the course told JTA. “If they’re not willing said, “we find ourselves in tion, LGBT rights might call defense or censure the need of allies — not for a politi- to do that, then how are we and abortion. instructor, but supposed to take this value cal goal, not for a political pur“I think most and safety, and higher education seriously from the administrapose, but in order to keep (the Jews care about others consider groups said the tors?” campuses) from blowing up. free speech. president had no At the Brandeis Center, “I’m not a supporter of an attack on free I think most business saying Marcus too says he believes President Trump, but if, as a Jews care about speech and the course lacked consequence of his election, the very strongly in the importance the freedom to and of free speech and the First Department of Education will academic freedom. “openness protest,” said objectivity,” and Amendment. use Title VI to protect Jewish Rabbi Jonah that his criticism “And for that reason we students on campus nationPesner, director of the Reliwould have a chilling effect on frequently decline cases that wide, that is a positive thing,” gious Action Center of Reform other faculty. we believe would require an he said.

Judaism. “They know that Menachem Rosensaft, the encroachment upon constituEven in the deep blue Bay Jews need those freedoms to instructor who said the Gaza tionally protected freedoms,” Area of Northern California, be safe in America, while at course amounted to “antihe said.

Tyler Gregory, the executive the same time, they want there semitism on steroids,” said the That being said, his organidirector of the local Jewish to be smart policies to keep all controversy had nothing to do zation is busier than ever, filing Community Relations Council, minorities safe, particularly for with academic freedom.

Title VI complaints, suing unisenses a difference between us, the Jewish minority.”

Instead, he blamed a “hyper- Trump’s first term and his versities, and opening a K-12 Pesner says the RAC has sensitivity and fragility on the antisemitism hotline. looming second. been in conversation with part of those who don’t want to “Our workload has in“The first time Trump was partners in the Leadership hear any criticism of courses” creased exponentially, and elected, I think our commuConference on Civil and Hulike the one on Gaza. our staff has increased arithnity embraced the resistance man Rights, talking about “No one is arguing that the metically, and we have gotten mantra, like a lot of the counkeeping Jews and all students course should be shut down,” try,” he said. “This time, I think very significantly increased safe while protecting freedom he said in an interview. “How(financial) support,” he said. our community wants to call of expression and protest. ever, I believe strongly that it is balls and strikes. Where Trump “But this is related to the much, “We try really hard to take part of my academic freedom much greater increase in the stands up for the Jewish coma nuanced view, and we try to and my First Amendment right munity, including in higher ed, number and complexity of the be with other partners to help to express my views on the challenges that we’ve been we’re going to support that, people balance free speech legitimacy of that course.” asked to address.” and where he undermines our

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

CALENDAR Classes

Beth Abraham Classes: Tues., Jan 21 & 28, 10 a.m.: The Making of a Mensch: Jewish Virtue Ethics w. Rabbis Glazer & Martin Cohen. Email to register, bas@bethabrahamdayton.org. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood.

Beth Jacob Classes: w. Rabbi Agar on Zoom. Tuesdays, 7 p.m.: Torah Tuesdays. Thursdays, 7 p.m.: Thursdays of Thought. Call to register, 937274-2149. bethjacobcong.org/ beth-jacob-happenings.

Chabad Classes: Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.: Talmud Class in person & Zoom. Call for Zoom link. Tuesdays, noon: Lunch & Learn. Call for class locations. chabaddayton.com.

2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood.

937-643-0770.

Temple Beth Or Classes: Sun., Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26, 10 a.m.: Adult Hebrew. Sat., Jan. 4, 18, 10 a.m.: Apocryphal Study in person & Zoom. templebethor.com/events. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 937435-3400.

Temple Israel Classes: Tues-

days, noon: Talmud Study in person & Zoom. Saturdays, 9:15 a.m.: Virtual Torah Study on Zoom. For Torah Study Zoom info., email Fran Rickenbach, franwr@gmail.com.

Wed., Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, 10 a.m.: Weekly Torah Commentary w. Rabbi Bodney-Halasz, in person. Fri., Jan. 10, 11 a.m.: Living w. Loss w. Rabbi Bodney-Halasz. Thurs., Jan. 16, 3:30 p.m.: Living w. Ambiguous Loss w. Rabbi BodneyHalasz. Sun., Jan. 26, noon: Stories for the Sake of Argument w. Rabbi Bodney-Halasz. tidayton.org/calendar. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. RSVP to 937-496-0050.

Children/Youths

JCC Winter Camp Shalom: Through Fri., Jan. 3, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Closed Jan. 1) Grades K-7. For info. & to register, contact Suzzy Nandrasy, 937401-1550 or snandrasy@jfgd. net. jewishdayton.org/events. At Temple Beth Or, 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. JCC Camp Shalom's MLK Day of Service: Mon, Jan. 20, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Grades K-7. For info. & to register, contact Suzzy Nandrasy, snandrasy@jfgd.

net or 937-401-1550. RSVP

by Jan. 13. At Temple Beth Or, 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp.

Family

Beth Abraham Rhythm ‘N’ Ruach: Fri., Jan. 10, 5:30-6:15 p.m. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. 937-293-9520.

Temple Israel Prayer & Play: Fri., Jan 24, 5:30 p.m. Infants– 2nd grade. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 937-496-0050.

PJ & Play: Bedtime Shema at Hillel Academy: Sun., Jan. 26, 6 p.m. Free. Children 7 & under w. parents. RSVP by Jan. 22. For info. contact Kate Elder, kelder@jfgd.net. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood.

Adults

Temple Israel Ryterband Lecture Series: Sundays, 9:45 a.m. $7. Jan. 5, Richard Sarason, New-Old Sources for Reform Liturgical Creativity: Genizah Prayers from the Land of Israel. Jan. 12, Yolanda Savage-Narva, The Importance of Standing Strong Through the Storms. Jan 26, Wendy Gray, Newish to Jewish. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. RSVP to 937-496-0050.

Help us obtain scholarship funding for our Fine and Performing Arts Students: Welcoming Sponsors for 2025.

Temple Israel Sacred Stitching: Tues., Jan. 7, 21, 11 a.m.

Make items for donations w.

JCRC’s Upstander initiative.

For info., email Alexandria King, garyuzzking@hotmail. com. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 937-496-0050.

Temple Beth Or’s You Too Can Take Great Photos: Sun., Jan. 12, 1 p.m. Free.

W. Stephen Goldberg. Info. & RSVP at templebethor.com/ event. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 937-435-3400.

Temple Israel’s So a Rabbi Walks into a Bar: Thurs., Jan. 16, 5:30 p.m. First round on Rabbi Bodney-Halasz or Rabbi Sobo. Troll Pub at the Wheelhouse, 216 Wayne Ave., Dayton.

Hillel Academy Wine & Wonder Adult Open House & Tour: Wed., Jan. 22, 6 p.m.

Questions & RSVP, contact Meryl Hattenbach, mhattenbach@daytonhillel.org. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood.

Who Knows One at Temple Beth Or: w. Micah Hart. Sat., Feb. 1, 6 p.m. $25, $20 early bird by Jan. 17. Includes dinner

& 1 drink. Addl. drinks $5 each.

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

Women

Chabad Women’s Circle Tea Party: Sun., Jan. 12, 7 p.m. $36. RSVP at chabaddayton. com/cwc. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. 937-643-0770.

Men

Chabad Bagels, Lox & Tefillin: Sun., Jan. 5, 9:30 a.m.

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

JCC Cultural Arts & Book Series Complete schedule on Page 14.

Community

Temple Beth Or 40th Anniversary Shabbat Service: Fri., Jan. 31, 7 p.m. W. Cantor Rosalie Will & gala Oneg. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 937435-3400.

Chabad Cholent Bowl: Sat., Feb. 1, 12:15 p.m. RSVP at chabaddayton.com/rsvp. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood.

Welcoming Sponsors for 2025!

WEDDINGS, SOCIAL & CORPORATE EVENTS wright.edu/ArtsGala

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

2025 Theatre

Season Tickets Now on Sale!

Saturday, April 5, 2025

2 S. MAIN ST. MIDDLETOWN, OH THEWINDAMERE.COM 513-818-5174

PAGE 19

CONGREGATIONS

RELIGION

Beth Abraham Synagogue

The small act that brings completion

Conservative Rabbi Aubrey L. Glazer Fridays, 5 p.m.

Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.

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

Beth Jacob Congregation

Modern Orthodox Rabbi Leibel Agar Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. Evening minyans upon request.

7020 N. Main St., Dayton.

937-274-2149. bethjacobcong.org

Temple Anshe Emeth

Reform Rabbinic Intern Jonathan Benzion 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, 6:15 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 Fridays, Jan. 3 & 10, 6 p.m.

Fridays, Jan. 17, 24 & 31, 6:30 p.m.

130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.

937-496-0050. tidayton.org

Temple Sholom

Reform Rabbi Cary Kozberg Fridays, 6 p.m.

2424 N. Limestone St., Springfield. 937-399-1231. templesholomoh.com

By Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Chabad of Greater Dayton There is a striking verse in the Lecha Dodi, sung as we welcome Shabbat each Friday night. It sings of Shabbat as that which was: "From the very beginning, from time primordial, chosen: Last in creation, first in thought."

Simply, Shabbat was the last of the seven days of creation, yet it is elevated above them all, indicating it has been from the start the goal to which all days lead.

There are many other views of time. Modern thought has contemplated a universe that progressively wears out, compelled by the second law of

Perspectives thermodynamics to an eventual entropic grey-out.

Ancient thought, by contrast, in Greece, India, and many other places, looked at time as an endless cycle, tending toward nothing in particular.

But the way of seeing time that inspires the poetry of Lecha Dodi is among what Thomas Cahill called the gifts of the Jews. In Cahill's words: "Time isn’t a circle; it’s linear, with a narrative that has a beginning, middle, and a triumphant end toward which mankind is destined. And every generation — every person — is contributing to writing and shaping the story, with the purpose of making the world an increasingly better place.

We can progress and move forward, and everything we do matters."

The words of Lecha Dodi say this poetically — the first

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

Yellow Springs Havurah

Independent Antioch College Rockford Chapel.

1st & 3rd Saturday each month.

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

PAGE 20

Humility is not timidity.

Where timidity paralyzes, humility empowers.

January • Tevet/Shevat

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

week of creation relation with God, moves toward its as now we focus on climax, the seventh Shabbat as it is in the day, in which all is Torah given to us, brought to fullness and the Torah readand completion ing is at the center of before God. The Heour services and of brew word used to the morning prayer. express this comThis is revelation: ing-to-fullness on God is no longer just Shabbat is vayechulu, the Creator behind derived from the the world, but the same Hebrew root Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin One who in love as the word kilayon, reveals His own self which is used by the mystics to to us directly at Sinai. describe the soul’s ecstasy in its Finally, in the afternoon embrace with God. prayer, we embrace redempThis was the goal of the first tion. We, the Jewish people, week, as described in Genesis, reflecting God’s own oneness, and the pattern of the first bring the divine redeeming week repeats itself throughout message of Shabbat into the time. world through exemplifying But these repetitions are the love of God in all we do. not merely start-overs, à la It is at this peak that Shabbat Groundhog Day. For just as the ends. But with Havdalah and a goal of the first week was the set table Saturday night, with Shabbat, so too did the rabmusic and joy, we start the bis of old speak of yom shekulo new week at that high point at Shabbat—the day which will which Shabbat ended, ready be entirely Shabbat for another week and tranquility for that will go even the life of eternity. higher.

In other words, So instead of a each cycle marks static circle, there is the completion of a spiraling upward, another step in the returning to the journey to a wholestart but at a higher ness which is more level. complete and more This is the princifilled with delight ple that determines than the one before. the law of the Chanukah lights As well, there is a progres– that we begin with one light sion within Shabbat itself. The and add on each night, ma’alin brilliant and original Jewish bakodesh, always ascending in German thinker Franz Rosenmatters of holiness. zweig pointed out that on FriNot that there is no eroday night, Shabbat focuses on sion. The rabbis said that if the creation as we read the climax earlier generations were angels, of the creation story in Kidthen we are merely human; if dush and the night prayer. they were just human, then we Saturday morning, we move are donkeys. forward more deeply into our But this was taught to help

Chanukah

Shabbat Candle Lightings

January 3: 5:07 p.m.

January 10: 5:14 p.m.

January 17: 5:21 p.m.

January 24: 5:29 p.m.

January 31: 5:38 p.m.

Dec. 26-Jan. 2 • 25 Kislev-2 Tevet

Eight-day holiday commemorating Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks and the miracle of the rededication of the Temple.

One day’s oil for the Temple Menorah lasted eight days. A Chanukiah (Chanukah menorah) is lit for eight nights, and latkes (potato pancakes) are fried in oil to commemorate the story.

Children play with dreidels, and gifts are exchanged.

Torah Portions

us avoid the chutzpah of taking for granted what our ancestors only achieved with great effort.

Without their example and achievement, we have no reason to believe we would be able to duplicate their work, let alone exceed it.

We need not shy away from looking at ourselves as the very last and lowest, because that is precisely where the blessing is meant to be found. It is the last day of creation, the lowest of levels, that was first in God’s thought.

Humility is not timidity.

Where timidity paralyzes, humility empowers. It is only when we can see ourselves humbly, the recipient of many gifts that we did not work for, that we can realize who we really are.

And the little choices that we make, the little story that we can write ourselves, is what the world was waiting for: the blessing that has waited from the very beginning of all things for us.

All the great people, all the great leaders, mystics, whether prophets, sages, tzadikim, or people of simple goodness, all are looking to us to do what we alone can do.

A mitzvah (commandment) is calling us – and the Day That is Entirely Shabbat is coming on its wings.

But, as El Al used to advertise, why wait till you arrive at Ben Gurion to begin your Israel experience?

Whether lighting the lights at home or making Kiddush, or whether joining the community at prayer and fellowship at shul, we can taste the peace and joy that awaits every week, and anticipate it each day.

Happy Chanukah

January 4: Vayigash (Gen. 44:18-47:27) January 11: Vayechi (Gen. 47:28-50:26) January 18: Shemot (Ex. 1:1-6:1) January 25: Vaera (Ex. 6:2-9:35)

Lawrence Wagenfeld

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

MAZEL TOV! Submitted

Twins Eli and Ethan Greenberg, seniors on Centerville High School's varsity boys basketball team, both signed on Nov. 13 to play basketball at Division 1 schools on full athletic scholarships. Eli will play at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., a member of the Northeast Conference. Ethan will play at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, a member of the Mountain West Conference. Eli and Ethan were invited to play for the U.S.A. delegation to the 2025 World Maccabiah Games in Israel but had to decline because of scheduling conflicts with their schools. Eli and Ethan are grandsons of the late Stan Greenberg, who attended the University of Dayton on a full basketball scholarship. Stan was on the 1962 team, which won the National Invitation Tournament. Eli and Ethan are sons of Maribeth and Marc Greenberg and grandsons of Stanley Scott and Mary and Peter DiSalvo.

One of Our Greatest Mitzvot

W

orking together to benefit our community, Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton was formed to preserve the dignity of our three Jewish cemeteries in perpetuity. But consolidating the administration and operations of these properties is more than a good business strategy. It’s the ultimate act of tzedakah.

That’s why we created an endowment organization to maintain the sanctity, integrity, and perpetuity of Beth Abraham, Beth Jacob, and Temple Israel cemeteries.

Native Daytonian Sara Klaben Centerville High School seniors Ethan (L) and Eli Greenberg Avrahami, who now lives in Tel Aviv, has come up with a venture to connect Israeli artisans with customers cards when she was at a bar with friends — and the from around the world. Sara launched Makers of purse was on her shoulder. "I searched the bar for my Israel with nine female volunbelongings, and even checked 'Find My iPhone' to teers. "At the heart of Makers of locate my phone, but by Israel is the power of connecthen it was too late," she tion," Sara says. "Our artisans explained. "I approached have each been affected by the various technology current war in different ways, manufacturers and found and their stories and creations Lockus, who got to work reflect their resilience." Makdeveloping and testing our ers of Israel has curated a proprietary smart-antiChanukah collection featuring theft technology. We offer exclusive products such as innovative and functional handcrafted menorahs made of wearable technology that local salt threaded with indigo represents a hugely imSara Klaben Avrahami powder, 14-karat gold jewelry portant road towards the named for one of the rescued empowerment of rachelbloom.com hostages, Noa Argamani, and women around Chanukah cards designed by the world in our displaced children. Makers of rapidly advancIsrael customers are also able ing society." The to make an optional donation name of Rachel's business is — what else? to Citizen's Kitchen, which — Rachel Bloom. Rachel's parents are Julie has provided 100,000 meals to and Dr. Rob Bloom. soldiers and their families as well as displaced families across An essay by University of Cincinnati Israel since Oct. 7, 2023. Sara is Judaic Studies Chair Jenny Caplan, Esther the daughter of Marilyn and Friesner's Funny, Serious, and Seriously Funny Larry Klaben.

Speculative Fiction, comprises a chapter in the anthology Jewish Women Science FicAfter five years of develoption Writers Create Future Females: Gender, ment and testing, Dayton native Temporality — and Yentas, to be published by Rachel Bloom, now of the D.C. Lexington Books Jan. 15. Edited by Marleen area, has launched her new S. Barr, the book is the first essay collection business, a line of backpacks devoted to Jewish women science fiction and purses with antitheft feawriters. tures. The idea came to her after someone opened her purse and Rachel Bloom with a purse from Send your Mazel Tov announcements to stole her phone, ID, and credit her collection. mweiss@jfgd.net.

Weekly podcast

The Jewish News Hour with The Dayton Jewish Observer’s Marshall Weiss THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

Search for The Dayton Jewish Observer in Spotify podcasts & subscribe

Judaism teaches us that honoring, respecting, and caring for a person who has died is one of our greatest mitzvot.

Visiting a cemetery expresses respect for the departed, reinforces our connections with them, and shows that their memory has not been forgotten.

Join us in this sacred effort to preserve the eternal homes of the generations that came before us, care for our hometown Jewish community, and look out for future generations who will need our care.

Donations can be made to Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton 525 Versailles Drive, Dayton, OH 45459 or scan the QR Code below to donate on our website.

Preserving Our Past Ensuring Our Future

daytonjewishcemeteries.org PAGE 21

JEWISH FAMILY EDUCATION

Words, wise or wicked Sacred Speech Series

Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel said to Tavi his servant, "Go out and purchase a good cut of meat for me from the market," so Tavi purchased tongue for him. Rabbi Shimon then said to him, "Go out and purchase a bad cut of meat," and again Tavi returned with tongue.

Puzzled, Rabbi Shimon asked, "What is this, that when

Candace R. Kwiatek I said to purchase a good cut of meat, you bought tongue, but when I said to purchase a bad cut of meat, you also bought tongue?"

Tavi responded, "Good comes from it and bad comes from it. When it is good, there is nothing better than it. When it is bad, there is nothing worse than it."

The significance of speech as the agency of creation is established at the dawn of time: “In the beginning…God said, ‘Let there be…’ And it was so. And

God saw that (it) was good…”

Although the language of Creation itself is God’s alone, humans were also uniquely created with the divine power of language, according to Rashi.

Along with cattle and beasts, humans are called “a living soul,” nefesh chayah, the renowned biblical commentator explains, “but the nefesh of man is the most highly developed of all of them, because to him was granted understanding and speech.”

The Torah itself makes this point abundantly clear in its opening chapters. Without language, how would the first humans have made sense of God’s commands to "…fill the earth and master it…”? How could they have comprehended the prohibition, “…but as for the tree of knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat of it…” or the consequence, “you shall die”?

Why would humans instinctively engage in naming existing creations? “God brought (the living creatures) to the human to see what he would call them…”, or dream up symbolic

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PAGE 22

names for new ones: “This one isn’t just a minor wrongdoing, shall be called woman (isha), Sacks warns. “Taking somefor from a human (ish) she was thing that is holy and using it taken”? for purposes that are unholy…

In all of creation, only the is a kind of desecration.” human has the power of lanDuring Saddam Hussein’s guage.

1990 invasion of Kuwait, Among the many lessons to Gregory Maguire noticed his be gleaned from the Creation “deeply held (pacifist) convicnarrative, the most profound tions were swayed by words is the preeminence of language like fascist and Hitler in deitself. scribing the Iraqi leader."

“With words God created "I was dismayed by my the universe…(and) through brain melt,” he explained in a words He communicated with 2008 interview. So he set out humankind,” Rabbi Jonathan to examine how language, Sacks observed. Therefore, in and built-in word associations Judaism, "language itself is in particular, can cause the holy.” formation of opinions such as Holy by design and holy perceived evil, create a mob in purpose, language is set mentality, and marshal brute apart, distinct from the rest of force against individuals and creation. They are God’s comgroups. munications to humankind.

His exploration led him to But what about language in write the fantasy novel Wicked, the world, among people? The a reimagined adult version Bible is filled of The Wonderful The idea that with myriad Wizard of Oz. examples of “It explains how 'brain-melt' can the wise use of Elphaba, who was be instigated by born with unnatulanguage.

Joseph forrally green skin, single-word gave his brothers came to be known, with words. The associations unjustly, as the prophet Nathan Wicked Witch of and word spoke a parable the West,” notes that inspired context isn't so culture commentaKing David to tor Olivia Haynie, far-fetched. repent his evil a tale of persecuactions. King tion and discrimiCyrus decreed that the Jews be nation that many writers have allowed to return to Judah and noted is particularly Jewish. rebuild the Temple.

The idea that “brain-melt” Despite its holy nature and can be instigated by singlepurpose, however, language word associations and word can be distorted and misused. context isn’t so far-fetched.

Korach and his band comResearchers Daniel Kahneplained, boldly challenging man and Amos Tversky discovMoses', Aaron’s, and God’s au- ered that human reliance on thority. Jephthah rashly vowed mental shortcuts to speed up to offer a battle-victory sacrifice reasoning results in a remarkfor which his daughter became able sensitivity to how things the victim. are presented or framed, often Haman accused Shushan’s overruling logic or rationality, Jews of not obeying the king’s Dr. Steve Rathje writes. laws and suggested it wasn’t in “In other words,” Dr. Methe crown’s interest to tolerlissa Hughes adds, “focusing ate them, nearly resulting in on how something is said — or genocide. framed — can result in overThe perversion of language looking what is being said,

MSG

In a rare switch from books this month…

Wicked, the movie. The musical film is, in the words of Israeli writer Hen Mazzig, “not just a spectacle of song and dance; it is a profound allegory.

Beneath its spellbinding melodies lies a narrative as old as humanity itself, the story of scapegoat-

ing, dehumanization, and the moral cost of branding someone as 'other'. It is, in essence, a deeply Jewish story.” Although rated PG, it is 2 hours, 40 minutes in length. The original novel Wicked was authored by Gregory Maguire, a reimagined version for adults of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Six13 - A Wicked Chanukah. A newly-released Chanukah

which is the objective data we need.”

For example, study participants who read short passages about city crime described as a “beast preying” on the city concluded it should be addressed through punishment, while those who read about crime described as a “virus infecting” the city were more likely to support criminal reform, regardless of attitudes about crime and punishment on pre-study surveys.

The German word fluchtlingswelle (wave of refugees), often used to describe Syrian refugees from civil war, led citizens to demand the building of dams and protective walls.

By framing modern Israel as “a model of settler colonialism,” the genocidal dispossession of a native people by a European people, the facts and nuances of Jewish and Middle East history are swept under the rug.

This mental shortcut has resulted in calls for the elimination of the Jewish state, particularly notable recently on college campuses.

Never take language lightly,” Sacks cautions. Language is holy, and its wise use is a holy undertaking. Using it for unholy purposes is a desecration. One might even say it’s wicked. parody video by the groundbreaking a cappella vocal band Six13 uses a Wicked medley to reenact the historical tale of the Maccabees, feature Chanukah traditions, and emphasize the commitment of the Jewish people.

It’s an audiovisual treat that can be enjoyed by all ages!

For additional commentary, see Lior Zaltzman’s Kveller article Six13’s Wicked Hanukkah Parody is Haunting but Uplifting.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

Pull-Apart Sufganiyot Cake

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Harry Rubenstein, The Nosher Now look, nothing — and I mean nothing — beats a perfectly fried sufganiya (Chanukah donut) fresh out of hot oil, dusted with powdered sugar, still warm enough to make the jam dangerously hot.

But if you’re feeding a crowd or just don’t want to smell your house up with hot oil, here’s a pretty fantastic baked version for you.

Fair warning: This is a rich dough that’s going to feel more like a very thick cake batter than bread dough when you first mix it.

You’re working with a seriously wet dough that’s going to test your patience and stick to everything it touches.

But this is exactly what you want. All that richness is going to give you tender, pillowy sufganiyot that pull apart like clouds.

Here’s how to deal with the sticky situation: First, resist the urge to add more flour.

Instead, embrace the chill — a cold dough is easier to handle.

After the first rise, pop it in the fridge for 30 minutes.

When shaping, keep your hands lightly oiled rather than floured. The oil prevents sticking without toughening the dough like extra flour would.

The payoff? Gorgeously golden, honeycomb-patterned pull-apart sufganiyot that look like they came from a high-end bakery.

They’re tender, rich, and perfect for filling with whatever your heart desires. Plus, since they’re baked, you can make a whole batch at once instead

of frying in little batches while your family hovers around you like hungry seagulls.

Total Time: 30 minutes + 2 hours rising/chilling time Yield: Serves 8-12 For the dough: 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. instant yeast ⅓ cup granulated sugar 1 tsp. fine salt 1 cup milk, room temperature 2 large eggs 2 large egg yolks 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract zest of 1 lemon (optional) ¼ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg (optional) 2/3 cup unsalted butter, cubed and softened For finishing: 1 large egg yolk whisked + 1 Tbsp. water (for egg wash) your favorite jam, for filling powdered sugar, for dusting Take butter, milk, eggs out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before starting.

To make the dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine flour, instant yeast, sugar and salt.

Add milk, eggs, egg yolks, vanilla and optional flavorings.

Mix with dough hook on low speed until combined, about two minutes.

With the mixer running, gradually add softened butter, piece by piece, waiting for each addition to be incorporated before adding more.

Once all butter is added,

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

knead for eight to 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Dough will be very soft and sticky — this is correct.

Place dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap or clean kitchen towel. Let rise in a warm place (75 degrees) for 1-1.5 hours or until doubled. For easier handling, refrigerate dough for 30 minutes after rising.

To shape and arrange: First choose your pan setup: 12-by12- or 13-by-13-inch square cake pan (ideal), or half sheet pan with foil walls (you’ll need to create a 12-by-12-inch space by folding heavy-duty foil into 3-inch-high strips to form a square border inside your pan).

Line your pan with parchment paper. With lightly oiled hands, divide dough into 16 pieces. Roll each piece into a smooth ball. Arrange in a 4-by-4 grid with even spacing — they should be close enough to touch when fully risen. The foil walls or pan sides will help them rise upward instead of outward, creating perfectly fluffy, pull-apart sufganiyot.

Cover loosely and let rise for 45-60 minutes until puffy. The balls should be touching and fill the space completely.

Preheat the oven to 350.

Gently brush risen dough with egg wash. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 190 degrees.

Let cool slightly for five minutes. Cut a small slit on each sufganiya, pipe in about one teaspoon of jam. Dust generously with powdered sugar.

Best served warm.

Contact Patty Caruso at plhc69@gmail.com to advertise in The Observer.

PAGE 23

Arts&Culture

How young Jews navigate Jew hatred

By Talia Doninger hostages has transformed what we priSpecial to The Observer oritize, how we show up in the world, Samantha A. Vinokor-Meinrath never and what it means to make these Jewish intended to become an expert on antichoices.” semitism.

A finalist for the National Jewish “I wish we were talking about anyBook Award, #antisemitism serves as a thing else,” she tells The Observer. “I mirror and map to reflect the realities of wish for all of us that anour time. tisemitism would be the Vinokor-Meinrath is the realm of historians and senior director of knowlnot of contemporary eduedge, ideas, and learning cators and those thinking at the Jewish Education of their contemporary Project, a century-old Jewish identity.” venture that provides Yet the Jewish educaprofessional development tor and author stands at and resources to educators the forefront of a critical in early childhood centers, conversation. In her book, congregations, day schools #antisemitism: Coming of and yeshivas, youth Age During the Resurgence programs, and emerging of Hate, Vinokor-Meinrath spaces. parses the complexities She holds a Doctor of Samantha A. Vinokor-Meinrath of modern antisemitism, Education degree from particularly as it impacts Jewish youths. Gratz College, a private Jewish studShe'll talk about her book Jan. 14 on ies institution in the Philadelphia area, Zoom as part of the JCC's Cultural Arts where she also teaches. & Book Series.

Based in Westchester, N.Y., Vinokor“We’ve experienced existential loneli- Meinrath wrote #antisemitism during ness as a people this year,” she says what she calls a “cusp moment” in Jewof the events beginning with the Oct. ish history.

7, 2023 Hamas massacre. "The sense The 2017 Unite the Right rally in of walking through the world holding Charlottesville, Va., the 2018 Tree of Life and knowing the names of a hundred Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, and

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the isolation of the Covid pandemic informed her work, she says. These events set the stage for the current climate, where antisemitism manifests both subtly and overtly.

Antisemitism takes on new forms in the digital age and rapidly spreads across social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, as well as gaming platforms and servers.

“It can manifest as microaggressions that may not even be recognized as antisemitism at the moment,” Vinokor-Meinrath notes.

According to the 2023 ADL Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, Ohio experienced 237 incidents that year, compared with 61 in 2022.

“We as a community are becoming unfortunately well-versed in blatant acts of antisemitism,” she explains. “But there’s still a lot of discussion around the things that someone wouldn’t necessarily report — but have made them The JCC Cultural Arts & Book Series presents author Samantha A. Vinokor-Meinrath via Zoom, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 14. Register for the free program at jewishdayton.org/event.

feel othered and uncomfortable.”

The Jerusalem Post reported in November that nearly one third of Jewish teens in the United States admitted to hiding their faith symbols including kipot, Stars of David, or other Jewish insignia while at school, according to a survey Mosaic United conducted with Israel's Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism Ministry.

Jill, a teen from Ohio whom VinokorMeinrath features in the book, expresses this reservation.

“I’ll see the news about all these attacks,” Jill said, “but then instead of calling it out, it’s almost like all these people are saying the Jews deserve it. I’m scared—it’s like, do they think that about me too?”

Vinokor-Meinrath says this kind of vulnerability among young Jews is deeply troubling; it’s also where she sees the greatest potential for change.

She says Jewish youths do want to talk. “They are eager to reflect on their own experiences. They are eager to see themselves as part of this bigger reality and to put their own personal experiences into this larger context.”

“We want proud Jews,” she emphasizes. “We want people who are connected to their Jewish identities, who see value added in it and aren’t going to be intimidated or frightened to express it.”

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

Arts&Culture

The first season of Nobody Wants This made its Jews pretty unlikeable — but maybe it’s fixable Stefania Rosini/Netflix

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By Mira Fox, Forward Noah and Joanne’s intera huge nag and openly nasty to Joanne, Apparently everybody wanted faith relationship, includ- calling her “whore #1” and Joanne’s Netflix’s hot rabbi rom-com Noing frequently remarking sister “whore #2.” body Wants This; it's been watched how it just couldn’t posThe only time we see her being truly by millions and was renewed for sibly work, a lot — and I caring is at her daughter Miriam’s bat a second season less than a month mean a lot — of Jews are mitzvah. In season two, I want to see after its debut. in successful interfaith more of Esther with her daughter, figurViewers swooned over Adam relationships. ing out how to raise Miriam Jewish in a Brody as the rabbi dating a nonReform rabbis, which way she finds meaningful.

Jewish woman, and his chemistry Noah presumably is, are And, as far as Rebecca, Noah’s exwith Kristen Bell, who plays the allowed to officiate intergirlfriend, it’s not really clear why she’s girlfriend, Joanne. Jews, however, faith marriages; several in the show except to look crazy, but had complaints. denominations allow since she’s here, let’s work with it. In The rabbi, though hot and their rabbis to be interthe first season, Rebecca talks about charming, is framed as an anomaly married themselves. how much she wanted to be a rabbi’s in a religion otherwise portrayed It’s probably true that, wife — maybe in season two she realas strange and off-putting. The as a rabbi, Noah might izes that what she really wanted was to Jewish women in the show are face some pushback be a rabbi herself! nagging shrews who serve as foils about his relationship Let’s see Rebecca go to rabbinical to set off the hot, fun, very blonde Kristen Bell as Joanne & Adam Brody as Noah in Nobody Wants This. from older clergy and school and realize she doesn’t need a shiksas — a pejorative term the lost in her own neighborhood without synagogue members. But man to achieve her dreams. show deploys liberally — to whom the the assistance of Google Maps. Or she the younger generation would probably Plus, she and Joanne can bond over Jewish men are inexorably drawn. Just accidentally turns off a light switch by feel really seen and included if their all the Jewish fun facts they’re learning to name a few of the tropes at play. reflex and then, newly zealous about rabbi was in an interfaith relationship through their parallel Jewish journeys When The Los Angeles Times asked the keeping Shabbat, staggers around in the himself. I’d love to see some synagogue as Joanne converts and Rebecca pursues show’s creator, Erin Foster, about her dark for the rest of the night. members come up to Noah and Joanne ordination. unflattering portrayal of Jews, she said But I hope the show would also and get excited about being represented Besides, the ex and the current girlthat, having already made her rabbi a avoid cheap jokes about Shabbat elevaon the bima. friend having an enemies-to-lovers arc hot guy who smokes weed — “that’s the tors. Instead, this could be an opportuis perfect romcom fodder. antithesis of how people view a Jewish nity to add nuance, like a conversation Let’s fix the Jewish women See? Taking Judaism seriously rabbi, right?”— she wanted to avoid between Joanne and her sister about Esther, Noah’s sister-in-law, gets doesn’t mean the show has to be a drag. criticism for inaccuracies. how practices others might find strange utterly shafted by the writing in the Let’s hope Nobody Wants That realizes I know plenty of rabbis who smoke hold beauty in the way they force you show. She’s sort of funny, but she’s also that in season two. weed. And as a fun (and blonde!) Jewish to take a step outside the vicissitudes of woman, I don’t think Foster’s heavily modern life. stereotyped Jewish women were very accurate. But since we are getting more Tell us about Noah’s parents’ of Nobody Wants This anyway, let me immigrant experience offer a few more suggestions for next There’s a lot of damage that’s alseason, which Foster has said she hopes ready been done with the character of will focus on the conversion process.

Rabbi Noah’s mother, played by Tovah Feldshuh as a cruel hypocrite who Let’s see Joanne put in some effort shames Joanne for bringing prosciutto Joanne’s decision not to convert for to Shabbat lunch, then later eats cured Noah at the end of the first season is pork out of the trash. one of the better moments in the show; It’s next to impossible to totally walk she explains that she doesn’t want to that back, but the show could give us just convert to keep her relationship, a deeper understanding of why the because Judaism is more than a hobby character is so prickly. Besides, Tovah to join because your boyfriend is into it. Feldshuh is amazing; give her more to I agree! work with!

But other than that insight, we see We already learned that Noah’s parJoanne put very little effort into underents emigrated from the Soviet Union, standing Judaism — she still doesn’t where Jews often had to hide their know what shalom means, crosses Jewishness; Noah’s parents’ observance, herself at synagogue, and goes to Shaband their desire for their children to bat camp with Noah without Googling marry Jewish women, is probably a rewhat Shabbat is. action to their inability to practice freely So if Joanne indeed begins to consider in their own youth. conversion, let’s see her actually, you Let’s hear Feldshuh talk about her know, consider it. I’d love to see her, at character’s upbringing, which could least briefly, become more observant inform viewers about the trials of the than Noah. It’s fairly common for conJewish Diaspora. And it could also tie verts to end up feeling closer to Judaism in the prosciutto incident; many Soviet than those born into it, who can take it Jews ate pork. Perhaps she and Joanne for granted. can bond over their shared guilty pleaDAILY HOURS | EVENT DATES | ARTIST PROFILES I’d love to watch Joanne decide to sure: bacon. stop driving on Shabbat in L.A., a famously unwalkable city. Maybe she Get into the interfaith thing more 1001 EAST 2ND STREET DAYTON OHIO 45402 ends up hiking along the edge of a Though the first season of Nobody highway to get to Noah’s house, or gets Wants This made a lot of drama over

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JANUARY 2025

PAGE 25

OBITUARIES Frieda Borkan Gottesman Blum died peacefully on Dec. 14 at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, at age 94. She was born in Newark, N.J. on Jan. 30, 1930, and was the daughter of Maurice “Murray”and Helen Borkan. She was preceded in death by all five siblings, husbands Bernard Gottesman and Arnold Blum, and son-in law Richard Clowson. Frieda is survived by her children: Dr. Martin (Jenny) Gottesman, Rita Gottesman and Linda Gottesman; grandchildren Bethany (Michael) Bowen (nee Gottesman), Andrew (Jacqueline) Gottesman and Brian (Nia) Gottesman; and great-grandchildren Amelia Bowen, Zachary Bowen and Lennon Gottesman. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. A graduate of Fairview High School in Dayton, in her younger days, she was active in B’nai B’rith Women and B’nai B’rith Bowling, hav-

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ing served as president of both organizations. Frieda was a rabid mah jongg player and even in advanced age quickly memorized the hands on each annual card. Knitting was also a passion and she was very skilled at the craft. She made a baby blanket for each greatgrandchild and the one for Amelia ended up 7 feet long, a bit much for a baby. When asked what happened, she just stated that she got carried away and couldn’t stop. Despite her age and use of a walker for distances, she regularly spent quality time with Linda playing the slots at the local casino.

She lived independently until her recent hospitalizations and was driving until the summer of 2024. Interment was at Beth Abraham Cemetery. The family requests donations to the charity of your choice in her name.

Vivienne Meisel Himmell, born June 1, 1930 in Philadelphia, died peacefully at home in Voorhees, N.J. on Dec. 1 at age 94. Active, vibrant and gregarious, she worked throughout her life to help people and to make the world a better place for those with disabilities. She received her master's degree from Wright State University and worked as a social worker throughout her career in Ohio for the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities. In the 1970s, she was instrumental in shutting down the institutions that provided terrible living conditions, relocating the residents into schools, resident homes, and workshop programs. She was an active member of the League of Women Voters for more than 65 years, serving a term as regional director in Dayton. Ms. Him-

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mell was preceded in death by daughter Michelle in 2017 and husband Roger in 2021 and is survived by daughters Amy Himmell Lynch and Catherine Aharon (Michael), and grandchildren Max, Emily, Ian and Aidan. She will be missed by the many who knew and loved her. Donations can be made to autismnj.org in her name.

On Dec. 2, Zohar “Zo” Saed Levi passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loved ones, who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest just as he wished for them. Zo was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he served as a half-track operator in the Israeli army and fought in the Six-Day War. In 1968, he met Paula Neeman on a kibbutz in Israel, and they moved to the United States in 1971. Zohar and Paula were a true American success story. For many years, Zo worked tirelessly as a diesel mechanic before opening his own shop and car dealership in 1985. With great kindness and generosity, he also helped his siblings get established in the U.S. after emigrating from Israel. Zohar leaves behind an amazing legacy of selfless love for others, putting their needs above his own. He spent much of his life sacrificing for those he loved. He devoted his time and energy to being the best provider and protector for his family. His children will always remember his loving presence in their lives. He also loved being a grandfather, and he lit up around his grandchildren, for whom he would do anything. All those who knew Zo considered him a wonderful friend with whom they shared many great times. Above all else in this life, Zo wanted to help people in any way he could. His kindness and generosity extended beyond his own family and friends to the community around him.

He had a great knowledge and ability to fix anything, and it was his passion to share this gift with others. Until the very end, his thoughts were of what he could do for others. During his final weeks, he could still be found working at his shop whenever he was able and spending time with his beloved family. Zo was preceded in

death by his parents, Ovadia and Nazima Levi; his son Ryan (2007); and his best friend, Paula (2016). He is survived by his son and daughter, Shawn (Andrea) Levi and Rachael (Ryan) Sutter; grandchildren, Jordan, Miles, and Elan Levi, and Landon and Audrey Sutter.

He is also survived by his sis-

ter, Aviva Kothman; brothers, Yehezkel “Zeke” and Weitzman Levi; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Interment was at Beth Jacob Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Zo’s memory to Guiding Grayson through his fight against CLN3 Batten Disease, guidinggrayson.com.

Congressional report

comes amid reports that the incoming Trump administration plans on shutting down Continued from Page Seven the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to track farfailed to clear these encampright extremists. ments in a timely manner, The only allusion to rightoften negotiating with encampment participants, and in some wing antisemitism was when the report cited Claudine Gay, cases appeasing them with the former Harvard University appalling concessions.” president for “disparaging” The tax-writing Ways and Means Committee recommend- New York Rep. Elise Stefanik as a “purveyor of hate” and ed removing the tax-exempt status of nonprofit groups that, “supporter of proudboys.”

Stefanik, President-elect it said, abet terrorism.

Donald Trump’s nominee to be The Commerce Committee, ambassador to the United Nawhich oversees the Departtions, has echoed a version of ment of Health and Human “Replacement Theory,” a baseServices, recommended that less claim whose original form the department more closely says Jews are orchestrating the scrutinize whether educamass immigration of people of tional institutions receiving its color to replace whites.

National Institutes of Health Stefanik’s campaign said in research grants are protecting 2021 that Democrats want to Jewish students. “overthrow our current electorThe report said that proate” via undocumented immitections extended to Jewish gration to the United States. students must apply when ZiShe has also used the term onists are named as the targets “hostages” to refer to people of exclusion or harassment. prosecuted for their involveNYU changed its bylaws to ment in the outlaw discrimThe report said pro-Trump ination against Jan. 6, 2021 “Zionists” last that protections riot, summer. extended to Jewish Capitol which sought “Universistudents must to overturn the ties should make clear that apply when Zionists 2020 election.

A number of discrimination those defenagainst Zionists are named as the is an unaccept- targets of exclusion dants are members of the able violation Proud Boys, a of their conduct or harassment. far-right group. policies and Stefanik’s questioning of must prevent hostile environGay in Congress, in which Gay ments created by discriminaequivocated about whether she tion against ‘Zionists,'” it said. would penalize calls for the “Campus Jewish communities genocide of Jews at Harvard, are often targeted through led to Gay’s stepping down. antisemitic discrimination and The Jewish Federations of harassment on the purported North America welcomed the basis of being ‘Zionists.’ While report. criticism of Israel is not in“We applaud House leaderherently antisemitic, hatred ship for publishing this report, against ‘Zionists’ is.” which sheds light on this critiWhen House Speaker Mike cal issue,” said its vice presiJohnson, a Louisiana Repubdent of government relations, lican, launched the multipronged investigation in April, Karen Paikin Barall. “To put a halt to this hatred, bipartisan he made clear that its sole collaboration along with public focus would be universities and private sector partners is and groups often identified essential. We look forward to with the left that have backed working in the next Congress the pro-Palestinian protests.

The report barely mentioned to confront this critical challenge.” right-wing antisemitism, and

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You’re Invited

to Temple Beth Or’s 40th Anniversary Kickoff Weekend

Friday, January 31

Saturday, February 1

7:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Or

40th Anniversary Shabbat Service and Celebration

Join special guest visiting worship leader, consultant, and performer Cantor Rosalie Will for Shabbat service.

Celebration and toasts to follow in Levin Hall. No cost to attend, all are welcome!

Shabbat Service followed by Gala Oneg Shabbat

Visit templebethor.com for more details

6:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Or

“Who Knows One?” Live

It’s not who you know, it’s who [who you know] knows!

It’s not just a show—it’s an experience!

Join Micah Hart for his interactive sensation where Jewish Geography meets laugh-out-loud games and stories.

Visit whoknows1.com for a sneak peek!

Tickets:

$25 per person...

Early bird special: $20 by January 17 Your payment secures your reservation.

Includes dinner and 1 drink.

Additional drink tickets: $5 RSVP online or call the office

5275 Marshall Road Dayton, Ohio 45429

937.435.3400 templebethor.com