The Dayton Jewish Observer, July 2023

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Journeys to Judaism

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(L to R): Featured speaker David Tillotson III, director of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force; Dayton newcomers Wayne and Sue Myers; Jewish Federation CEO Cathy Gardner; Helen and Post #587 Commander Steve Markman; and Columbus Post #122 Commander Steve Seeskin.

Jewish War Veterans Post #587 celebrates 75 years Four veterans of World War II — which ended 78 years ago this September — attended Jewish War Veterans Dayton Post #587's 75th Anniversary Brunch, held May 28 at Temple Beth Or. The oldest among them was Robert Kahn, 99, who escaped Nazi Germany following Kristallnacht. After his arrival in the United States, he fought with the U.S. Army Air Forces in the South Pacific.

Al and Lou Levin, 97, are among the oldest known living twins in the United States to serve in World War II. They were in the Army together and were with the more than 60,000 soldiers and Marines to storm ashore at Okinawa beginning on April 1, 1945. The Levins served in Okinawa for a year

and a half.

The Ohio Department of Veterans Services has produced a five-minute video profiling the Levin brothers, which it posted at its website and Facebook page this spring.

Dr. Mort Levine, 95, served with the U.S. Navy in New York at the very end of World War II. The Jewish War VetAl (L) and Lou Levin, 97, among the oldest erans, founded in 1896, known living twins to serve in World War II, is the oldest continuing veteran service organiza- at JWV's 75th Anniversary Brunch. tion in the United States. the Jewish Community Council, Dayton's Post #587 was documented that more than 400 established April 11, 1948.

Jewish Daytonians had served Dayton Mayor Edward Breen in World War II. attended the ceremony. Post Post #587's current com#587's first commander was J.L. mander, Steve Markman, is also Cunix. At the time, Dayton's a past JWV Ohio department Jewish Federation, then called commander. — Marshall Weiss

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World War II veterans Bob Kahn (L), 99, and Dr. Mort Levine, 95, at the brunch.

Arts & Culture.........................22 Calendar..................................15

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Family Education.................... 21 Obituaries........................... 23

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

DAYTON

Journeys to Judaism

Photos: Marshall Weiss

Since the Covid pandemic has receded, some area congregations have seen an uptick in conversions.

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By Marshall Weiss, The Observer Israeli American Ofir Ravin, 27, beams from the front row of Beth Abraham Synagogue's main sanctuary as her husband, Ryan Lechich, 25, is called for an aliyah to the Torah for the first time.

On this Shabbat morning, June 17, Ryan carefully intones the blessings before and after the Torah reading. He then receives several blessings from Israeli American Ofir Ravin, 27, with her husband, Ryan Lechich, 25.

Rabbi Aubrey Glazer, who prepared Ryan completed his conversion to Judaism in June.

Ryan for his conversion.

Earlier that week, Ryan had met with a bet din going through conversion, or who have converted over the last five or six years. (court of Jewish law) comprising three rabbis, "Of the 40 I have, 13 have completed converand immersed in the Miami Valley Mikvah. He is sion," Bodney-Halasz says. She estimates that now a Jew. over the coming year, eight to 10 more converRyan is one of dozens of people in the Miami sion students will complete the process. Before Valley who have recently converted to JudaCovid hit, Temple Israel would facilitate four or ism or are studying toward conversion. Rabbis five conversions a year. at three area congregations say they've noticed Temple Israel Rabbi/Educator Tina Sobo adds an increase in conversion students and converthat because some whole families have gone sions to Judaism since the Covid pandemic has through the conversion process, she had three receded. children join her third-to-fifth-grade religious "It's a large influx of people — and younger school class after the High Holidays last fall. people — which I find to be really fascinating," "I've never had that happen before," Sobo says. says Temple Israel Senior Rabbi Karen BodneyTemple Beth Or Senior Rabbi Judy Chessin Halasz. "I don't know if any of them would say says she has "lots of conversions on the docket." it has to do with Covid. It's hard for me not to She agrees with Bodney-Halasz that she hasn't think that Covid gave them more time to think in trying to decide what is meaningful, with every- heard anyone say it's because of Covid, but "in a one realigning what's important to them. There's post-lockdown society, people are searching for meaning, rootedness, and healing." been a lot of reflection."

"There's always been a group of people en She says more than 40 people are on Temple Continued on Page Four Israel's roster of those asking about conversion,

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From the editor’s desk

Though The Observer has presented some stories about people who have become Jews over the years, I've shied away from these articles for two reasons.

First, is the value that once someone becomes a Jew, that person is in. In JewMarshall ish tradition, we are not to "other" those Weiss who weren't always Jewish. It's an individual's choice whether to talk about the journey.

One's beliefs about God are personal and private whether one is born a Jew or becomes a Jew. Some people are more comfortable than others about sharing their beliefs. The other reason is because Judaism does not proselytize. We don't seek out non-Jews to become Jewish. We don't aspire for everyone else to become Jewish. For those who aren't Jewish, there are many paths to God. And not all Jews believe in God, either. One conversion student I interviewed for the story above remarked how fortunate I am to meet so many new and soon-to-be-new Jews and hear their stories. I'm very fortunate indeed. Thanks go to the area rabbis who guided me for this piece.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

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Journeys to Judaism Continued from Page Three route" to conversion, Chessin says.

"I got a lot of calls in the last year or two. There seems to be an increase. I have a group, I call them ABD, All But Dipped.

These are people who have been around for a while, and that's my biggest group: people who were saying, OK, now is the time."

Chessin's group comprises women from their early 20s through their 40s. Each, she says, would like to hold her formal conversion at the mikvah on a Rosh Chodesh, the start of a Jewish month. Her group meets as a collective.

"I think they need community, and they need bravery," Chessin says. "They need someone to go into cold places with.

And so this was the first time I ever put a group together, and they really seem to like it, that they have each other."

Those in the conversion process or who have recently converted to Judaism at Temple Beth Or preferred not to be interviewed by The Observer.

"There's kind of an insecurity too," Chessin says. "Am I valid?

Should I be talking about it, or should I just find my place quietly for the moment?"

by a bunch that have been going for 30-plus years. And I've been there pretty much every week since."

Bodney-Halasz guided Kit through the conversion process.

"She knew exactly how to hook me," Kit says. "The first book she gave me was a big collection of essays about Jewish perspectives on sexuality and sex. I didn't feel that I had to change anything about myself to approach Reform Judaism."

In February, after about nine months of study, Kit emerged from the mikvah as a Jew. "I'm a bit of an overachiever.

It was a bit on a fast track. I was reading a lot. Just tearing through stuff. She would send me home with a stack of books and I'd be done with it in a couple of weeks."

Kit is now considering entering the rabbinate.

Photos: Marshall Weiss

OBSERVER daytonjewishobserver.org Editor and Publisher Marshall Weiss mweiss@jfgd.net 937-610-1555 Contributor Candace R. Kwiatek Advertising Sales Executive Patty Caruso, plhc69@gmail.com Administrative Assistant Samantha Daniel, sdaniel@jfgd.net 937-610-1555 Billing Sheila Myers, smyers@jfgd.net 937-610-1555 Proofreader Rachel Haug Gilbert

Kit Brewer, 23, became a Jew in February. They're considering a career in the rabbinate.

jelled for me," Angela says.

"So anytime that I was feeling particularly hurtful or didn't know what was going on, it was not Christian God, it was Jewish God. I needed Jewish God Perspectives and because it meant more to me. discussions And it was more comfortable Angela Montjar, 44, says it to me." was the darkness of trauma Around that time, she had a that drew her to Judaism on Jewish boyfriend. She learned a her journey of more than two lot from him, she says, particudecades. larly about Kabalah.

"I've been through not nice After reading Daniel Menthings in my life," the Springfield resident says. She was also delsohn's The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million last year, Andrawn to understand how the gela decided to start researchhorror of the Holocaust could 'Tickling in the back happen and was curious about ing Judaism again.

She appreciated how incluof my brain' mysticism surrounding death sive the language was at Temple Kit Brewer, 23, of Germanand resurgence. town, received their bachelor's "I had a nervous breakdown Sholom's website and contacted Rabbi Cary Kozberg. degree in individualized studwhen I was about 19 — and Angela decided to visit the ies from Miami University in after that, things never really Springfield congregaJanuary. Their thesis was tion on Purim in 2022, on gender, learning theory, "because it's such a and visual media. Kit has happy kind of holiworked as a substitute day." teacher for Valley View LoOnce she spoke to cal Schools and has taught the rabbi, she started religious school at Temple coming regularly. She Israel. now studies with him "I didn't ever really meet toward her converJewish people until I went sion. to college," Kit says. "But as "One of the things I got there and I was meetI like so much about ing Jewish people, it started Judaism is that you tickling in the back of my have all these differbrain." ent perspectives and The household Kit grew then you talk about up in was not religious. them. We have discusPrior to Judaism, Kit was a sions about the parsha practicing pagan for about (Torah portion), what a decade. we read, what we're

By Kit's last semester in singing, we're talking college last August, they about prayers." called Temple Israel.

Angela notices that "I asked, 'I'm not Jewish. some Jews she encounAm I able to come in and ters are uncomfortable attend a service?' And they talking about God. said, 'Absolutely.' So that She and Kozberg have next Friday, I walk in and Angela Montjar, 44, began studying for conversion last year at Temple Sholom in Springfield. talked about this. immediately get adopted

PAGE 4

THE DAYTON

"The center of why God is not discussed, I think, is because God is so personal," she says. "It's a personal definition existing within us, and we don't want to try and force that on anybody else."

She's also asked the rabbi about Judaism's perspectives on mental health.

"That was kind of important to me. He essentially said you can't just deny science."

'The more I learned, the more I couldn't stop'

Mariah Strickland, 32, of Kettering, says she was always interested in Jewish religion and culture.

"I read book after book, listened to Jewish cultural music, visited historically important Jewish places, and tried to consume as much Jewish culture as I could," she notes.

What stopped her from becoming Jewish earlier in her life? She didn't know that a person could convert to Judaism.

Mariah says she was intimidated, too.

"Once I realized that conversion was possible, I started to learn more about that path for myself."

Her current journey began in 2009, when she was diagnosed with stage 4 uterine leiomyosarcoma.

"I've definitely always been someone who had a strong belief in God but didn't really find a particular religion or niche that I felt encapsulated everything I felt. I was looking into, if God is good, why is there evil?

Why do people suffer? What happens after we pass?"

Mariah's best friend from middle and high school — who converted when she married a

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

DAYTON Submitted

ing children himself.

"I'm sure it was a big struggle for him. I can only imagine. He doesn't reach out a lot. He's my role model."

Alexandria says she struggled with her religion for years ever since her mom died.

"How can there be a God if something like this happens? How would a loving God let something like this happen? It's a struggle with, if God would let something like this happen, why should I worship him?"

For a while, she was an atheist. What pushed her toward Judaism, Alexandria says, was the time she spent on TikTok. "The algorithm had, for some reason, pushed me toward a lot of Jewish creators. They would talk about their religion and aspects of the religion. And I thought, that makes sense."

Alexandria made an appointment with Temple Israel's Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz earlier this year.

"Specifically on their website it says we are open Nick Schmall, 46, who converted in August 2021, now coto the LGBT community. That meant a lot to me. chairs Temple Israel's Newish to Jewish program.

Because being in the LGBT community, you belatkes. Along with the discussions at the Passover procome a bit wary of even a lot of the more so-called gram, they made charoset for the Seder plate. accepting religious institutions. You get that 'love "We also include some mentors at the programs, the sinner, hate the sin' mentality." some longstanding members — some of them Jews by Alexandria had come out first as bisexual and choice — to answer questions and help in the discusthen as transgender in high school. sion part of it."

"I went to Rabbi Karen and she was just super Mariah Strickland, 32, says her conversion process has been 'all Newish to Jewish is open to the entire community. welcoming. She seemed very excited to work with consuming.' me. When people want to put that effort in for you, The next program will be held in conjunction with the fast day of Tisha B'Av, at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 27. you have to put the same effort in, if not more."

Conservative Jew — suggested she consider Judaism.

Co-chairing Newish to Jewish is Nick Schmall, who The next week, she attended her first temple service.

"I hear from a lot of converts that there's just this converted through Temple Israel in August 2021. He's "I just felt like I was at home. That's the best way I can moment of alignment or feeling of coming home or a physics professor at Clark State College in Springclicking into place," Mariah says. "And it definitely felt describe it. During the kiddush, I just felt this burst of energy in me. And everything just felt right. And I felt field. that way."

Last fall, she signed up for the Introduction to Juda- at home. Like I was where I belonged. And every time Forming a relationship with God ism course, offered each year by the Synagogue Forum since that I've been in temple, I've just felt the same "I grew up in a really religious household," Nick, feeling of belonging, of being home." of Greater Dayton.

46, says. "Both my parents were Catholic, but my She notes a shared history of trauma in the LGBTQ "And the more I learned, the more I couldn't stop. I mom was primarily the inspiration. I always enjoyed and Jewish communities. started going to Temple Israel. I've been craving to be "The Nazis killed queer men alongside Jewish men. Continued on Page Six around people that have this idea of, there's more than Temple Israel The LGBTQ community went through the just the day-to-day in our lives, and that we're all going in the same place, holding very similar beliefs. And AIDS crisis. A lot of people in the LGBTQ that's been really comforting in kind of answering or at community have been Jewish, like Harvey Milk. That was another reason why I was least being able to sit with the unknowns." drawn into the Jewish community: because Mariah studies for her conversion with BodneyI was very aware of the overlap. And I felt Halasz. "It would be best if we took the whole year at least to kind of go through the whole cycle of holidays. that joining a community that had overlap — and having my voice in there — would But with my situation, it would kind of depend on help make both of our voices stronger." how things go. I will definitely look to convert before Alexandria is now in the process with my health gets too bad. Because if I get to a point Bodney-Halasz of learning to live as a Jew, where I can't walk, or if I'm hospital-bound, I don't think having my mikvah is going to be very possible at "trying to integrate myself into the culture, doing what feels right for me." that time.

"But I'm still in the process of learning, so much that Newish to Jewish I don't feel like I'm ready anytime soon. I'm trying to The first holiday service Alexandria atabsorb as much as I can." tended was Purim. For her first Passover experience, she participated in Temple 'I just felt like I was at home' Israel's Newish To Jewish hands-on learnAlexandria King, 26, grew up in Trotwood. She is a ing program. direct support professional in a group home, assisting Bodney-Halasz and longtime congregant individuals with developmental disabilities.

Tom Bainbridge — who converted to Juda"I've been working at the same house for almost ism years ago — came up with Newish to seven years now, and I've been helping the same four Jewish last summer as a post-conversion guys," Alexandria says. program. Tom is its chair.

"Growing up, I was raised as a Christian. My mom "We did our first program in November, was more religious than my dad. I'd probably describe a Chanukah program," Tom says. "Chamy dad as agnostic. He's one of the people who just nukah, in general, can be a difficult time if tries to be a good person," she says. you're in a family with a mixed religion.

"I went to a lot of churches growing up, but that Trying to celebrate Chanukah when Christchanged when my mom passed away back in 2006 mas is so pervasive in our culture, it can be when I was 9 years old."

A year before Alexandria was born, her parents lost overwhelming. We wanted to help support people for that time of year." a child, a daughter, before the child's first birthday.

Conversion student Alexandria King, 26, braids her first challah, a rainbow challah, for Temple Israel's Pride Shabbat.

Participants also learned how to make It fell to Alexandria's father to raise the four remain-

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

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in Ohio. They're of the mind-set that one who does not accept Jesus as their savior will burn eternally in Hell, Mariah says. By that measure, they're concerned for their son, too. And they've said all of this to Mariah Continued from Page Five directly. Her husband, she says, has her back. being religious when I was young. It was always a "Even though he hasn't found exactly what he becentral part of my life."

He says atheism played a big part in shaping his life lieves, he believes that people should be able to choose what is right for them," Mariah says. "And there's been and the "religious ideals" that led him to Judaism. He a big adjustment in terms of seeing my sense of purbegan exploring Judaism a year after college, in 2001 pose and my sense of happiness and enjoyment of life. in Toledo. He bounced back and forth between JudaAnd so, he supports me very much with his family. ism and Catholicism and then was an atheist from his "We've been together for over 10 years now. I think late 20s through his mid 30s. it's to the point where I'm enough in the family where "Even though I had renounced God, I still thought I can advocate for myself. And I also feel like that's an a lot about religion," he says. He continued reading important part of learning to become Jewish: it seems about religion and attended Jewish and Catholic worvery un-Jewish to hide your Jewishness." ship services.

When Alexandria King told her father she was con"I attended them because they had a meditative verting to Judaism, she says, he was more surprised quality, something I needed after my father died in 2013," he says. "During that time, I came to realize that than anything else, "just because I had spent so much I had a very narrow idea of God." He came to appreci- time being someone without faith."

"A lot of people don't notice the differences between ate what he describes as the "life affirming, positive Christian culture and Jewish culture until they've idea that Judaism has of God." experienced both. One of the ideas that I had to break He decided to convert to Judaism in 2018, but away from — even when I was identifying as atheist hesitated. "I was worried about antisemitism increasor agnostic — was the idea that you have to prosing around that time, especially with the Pittsburgh elytize. And it's a problem synagogue shooting and the Marshall Weiss with a lot of atheist circles. fact that the FBI stopped a Because they grew up as potential shooting at Temple Christians, they are so used Shomer Emunim in late to proselytizing and trying to 2018." Shomer Emunim is 'convert.'" the temple in Toledo where Judaism is not a proselyNick would attend services. tizing belief system; Jews "Ultimately, I had to make don't seek others to become the decision that if I had Jewish. an affinity for the Jewish "It's something I had to people and their faith, that I break away from because couldn't let fear dictate my for me, my religion is very life decisions." personal. And I had to get Nick formally entered to that space before I could the conversion process in even move forward with any fall 2019 at Temple Shomer religion."

Emunim while still living in Cory and Sharon Lemmon, shown here at Temple Israel's Alexandria shares that her Toledo. He had to put it on Jewish Cultural Festival, became Jews on May 31, 2022. fiancé, who is also transgenhold when Covid hit. der, is now considering becoming a Jew. "That was kind of a kick in the teeth," Nick says. "I "If he doesn't want to go on the same path I'm on, had to wait 20 years and then to wait even more. And then when we moved, I started the conversion process that's perfectly fine, because if we're both happy and we're both spiritually contented, that's all that matpretty much all over again with Rabbi Karen down ters," she said. here. It's a religion that centers on my relationship Angela Montjar says her dad, who lives in Arizona, with God. I enjoy the intimacy of that relationship to is very supportive of her conversion process. "He’s God, that the responsibility of forming a relationship said some very nice things that I never thought my with God is with me and only me." dad would ever say to me. So it was kind of a way for He adds that reading Maimonides was especially us to get emotionally closer." eye-opening. "God is somewhat mysterious. You have Her mother lives in St. Paris. "My mom finally came to wrestle with the idea of God. That's what Israel to a service," Angela says. "She came for Shavuot means. It embraces uncertainty, which is what I like. because I made blintzes. I was like, 'You have to come.

There's no definite reality of God. You have to essenI slaved over these blintzes.' But mostly her concerns tially come to terms with that and figure it out." were safety. We lock the doors. We have guards. But Nick says his wife, an agnostic, is incredibly supnow that she’s actually been to a service, I think she portive. "We've chit chatted about religion, but a understands a little bit more. conversion was not for her."

"And she keeps saying, ‘Everyone was so nice to me.’ She wasn’t sure what to expect. My mom was Reactions of family and friends Mariah Strickland says her husband is also support- raised Lutheran. I was raised Lutheran. My dad was Catholic. My dad is now Episcopalian. She doesn’t ive of her journey, "but it's not something that he parhave different ideas of God. I think it’s strange to her ticularly feels the need to parse out for himself yet." to see that there are so many similarities. More than She says her parents, who live in New York state, she probably thought there would be." are supportive but not entirely understanding.

"I think I didn't fully appreciate how Christian-lean'Almost afraid to go to a synagogue' ing most of the world is. And even though I haven't One couple on an extended journey that culminated necessarily walked that path for many years, I think with their Jewish conversions is Cory and Sharon there's a difference between 'we just don't talk about Lemmon of Covington. Cory is 82, Sharon respectfully it,' versus 'I am actively choosing another path that I declines to share her age. They studied for converbelieve very strongly in.' They ask a lot of good quession with Temple Israel's Rabbi Tina Sobo and became tions."

Jews on May 31, 2022. They've been married for 15 Her in-laws, Mariah says, struggle more to underyears. Cory says their families didn't have a lot to say stand why she chose to become a Jew. They live here

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

DAYTON wich University in Vermont, a small, private military college.

After a six-month hiatus at home because of the Covid pandemic, he took advantage of an opportunity to study for a year on a fellowship in Israel. At the end, he would receive a master's degree in counterterrorism and government.

There, he also met his bashert, his intended, Israeli American Ofir Ravin, who served as a lone soldier in the Israel Defense Forces.

Ofir grew up in Maryland and had been in Israel for almost six years at that point.

They were both studying at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, now Reichman University. It turned out they lived two doors down from each other.

"We traveled a lot," Ryan says. "We went to Masada, Jerusalem."

Ryan and Ofir were out for a run on the Herzliya beach one evening at the beginning of Israel's 11-day conflict with Hamas in May 2021. Rockets started coming in from Gaza.

"She pushed me down. And I'm looking up and all I see are explosions.

Hundreds of rockets. They were right above us. The sky was just blazing with explosions. And even though those are intercepts, the shrapnel is still coming down. We had to decide to stay in this field or just run, because it wasn't going to stop. It was going on all night. We ran back to the dorms. People were running and it was like Armageddon."

While they lived in Herzliya, Ofir helped Ryan find out that his maternal grandmother had fled Germany in 1938 because she had Jewish lineage.

"I didn't know a lot about her background. We didn't know who her dad was or anything like that," Ryan says.

"Ofir started asking questions about my family and their history. We found out that she was on a refugee ship from Germany, and that she was listed as "Hebrew" on the Ellis Island manifest.

And then we found out that her dad was probably Jewish, almost certainly."

Ryan and Ofir moved to Kettering when Ryan, on active duty with the Bashert in Israel Ryan Lechich grew up in Connecticut Air Force, was assigned to a research position at Wright-Patterson Air Force in a Roman Catholic family. He wanted Base. Last summer, he proposed. Ofir to join the military, so he went to NorPeter Wine said yes.

He began studying for conversion with Rabbi Aubrey Glazer at Beth Abraham Synagogue at the beginning of this year.

"We had a civil marriage but now we want to have a religious marriage," Ryan says.

Ofir says the process has exposed her to a lot more Judaism, too.

"Growing up in a very secular family, and also being in the IDF for a long time, I started getting prejudiced to Judaism as a religion," she says. "And I tried to even stay away from it. And through the rabbi and Elyssa (his Ryan Lechich lights a candle on the Dayton Yom Has- wife), I've come to appreciate it a hoah Candelabra as Hannah Dritz watches, April 23. lot more." about it. "We've been doing this for so long," he says, about coming closer and closer to living a Jewish life.

"I went through a lot of churches myself," says Cory, who was even a pastor for six years at Harris Creek Church of the Brethren in Bradford. He resigned after his first wife, Mary, died. He then started attending "Messianic" churches in the area in his attempt to learn more about Judaism, albeit within an evangelical Christian overlay.

Followers of “Messianic Judaism” — actually an evangelical Christian subgroup — believe that Jesus is the messiah. Some "Messianic" adherents have Jewish lineage, others are Christians who seek to connect with what they perceive as the Jewish roots of Christianity. But "Messianic Judaism" is not a Jewish movement.

At one of these congregations, Cory met Sharon. Eventually, they began to question the validity of the Christian Bible. They started exploring services and programs at various synagogues and temples across the Miami Valley, beginning with Anshe Emeth in Piqua, near where they live.

They decided to live as Noahides, non-Jews who follow the Seven Noahide Laws, which all people are obligated to observe, according to Jewish tradition. Myjewishlearning.com notes that somewhere between hundreds and thousands of former Christians have become Noahides in the modern world.

This was the journey that led them to become Jews. They felt like they knew they were Jewish. They were ready to make it formal.

"I had a really strong pull toward the Jews," Cory says. "I want to be named among my brothers and sisters. There are so many things that we had to relearn. But the main thing is the people.

We definitely feel part of the family. I was just almost afraid to go to a synagogue. I didn't know what was there.

And that's a shame. I just wish I had been a little bit quicker at getting it all together."

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

PAGE 7

‘If we don’t take care of our cemeteries, who will?’ — Matt Arnovitz

I

n the 1920s, scores of Arnovitz family members left Poland and immigrated to the United States. They came to the Dayton area to create a new home and found success as merchants. Decades later, Matt Arnovitz and his aunt Beverly Saeks feel an emotional connection to their parents, grandparents, cousins and dozens of other family members who have found their eternal home at Beth Abraham’s cemetery.

“I have so much history here,” said Beverly.

“This cemetery is just so peaceful. I take great pride in how beautiful it looks.”

“My family helped build the synagogue and community,” said Matt. “It’s up to us and our generation to take care of the cemetery for the future.”

For Elaine Arnovitz, whose parents Fred and Ruth Scheuer are also buried at Beth Abraham’s cemetery, she believes “It’s a mitzvah when we work together for the benefit of our community.”

Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton is an endowment organization created to maintain our three Jewish cemeteries in perpetuity.

Please join us as we strive to maintain the sanctity, care, and integrity of these sacred burial grounds.

Preserving our Past Ensuring Our Future

daytonjewishcemeteries.org 525 Versailles Drive • Centerville, OH 45459 PAGE 8

THE WORLD

Jury finds Pittsburgh synagogue shooter guilty on all counts Wedner, one of two worshippers who were shot and

By Ron Kampeas, JTA survived, asked not to be on the stand during the PITTSBURGH — The gunman who committed the playback of her 911 call. Leger, the other shooting vicworst antisemitic attack in U.S. history is guilty of all charges he faced, according to the verdict delivered by tim who survived, and the Tree of Life rabbi, Jeffrey Myers, became emotional as each recounted reciting a federal jury on the morning of June 16. the Shema, the Torah verse and central Jewish prayer Robert Bowers, who killed 11 worshippers at a that Jews have traditionally recited at times of mortal Pittsburgh synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, was charged peril. on 63 counts in total. Those include 22 capital charges The defense team never contested that its client — two for each of his victims: 11 charges of the federal committed the shooting, electing to call no witnesses crime of “obstruction of the free exercise of religious and present no evidence at the trial. Their sole argubeliefs resulting in death,” and 11 charges of the fedment, articulated by Elisa Long in her brief closing eral crime of “willfully causing bodily injury because statement June 15, was to rebut the capital charge that of actual or perceived religion resulting in death,” Bowers was guilty of “obstruction of the free exercise which is a hate crime.

The sentencing phase of the trial is set to begin June of religious beliefs resulting in death.” The defense attorneys, headed by a prominent death row lawyer, 26, during which the jury of seven women and five Judy Clarke, are expected to argue that their climen will consider whether to give the defendant the ent suffered from epilepsy, schizophrenia and other death penalty. Defense lawyers told the court they mental illnesses in their effort to keep him from being were prepared to argue a mental health defense, and sentenced to death. would bring witnesses to the stand.

Long said Bowers was under the delusion that The verdict is a milestone in one of the most signifiJews were facilitating the entry of immigrants into the cant court proceedings in American Jewish history. It United States to commit provides a determination Jeff Swensen/Getty Images genocide, and that his goal of legal accountability in a was to prevent them from tragedy that has reshaped doing so, not to keep Jews American Jews’ sense of from worshipping. But she security in Pittsburgh and did not contest the hate beyond in the nearly five crime charge. There is no years since it occurred. question, she said, that The trial opened with “his statements that day jury selection in April, and reflected animosity and lawyers delivered their hatred toward Jews.” opening statements on Prosecutors anticipated May 30, beginning 11 days that the defense would of harrowing testimony argue that the gunman did from survivors of the not intend to obstruct worshooting and first respondMourners visit the memorial outside the Tree of Life Synaship. Government attorneys ers who described the gogue, Oct. 31, 2018 in Pittsburgh, four days after 11 Jewish concluded each survivors’ attack and its aftermath. testimony with some form On June 16, families of worshippers were killed during services there. of the same question: “Did the victims and survivors the defendant prevent you from praying?” packed the courtroom and an overflow room where At times, the testimony doubled as a kind of crash they were able to monitor the proceedings over video. course on American Jewish worship, with witnesses Staff from the 10.27 Healing Partnership, a counseling service housed at the local JCC, were on hand to assist explaining the differences between Reconstructionist and Conservative Judaism as well as the use of ritual them. objects, like a prayer shawl or ritual fringes.

The victims of the attack were Joyce Fienberg, RichProsecutors used visuals to make the point that the ard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil attack interrupted an exercise of religion: prayer books Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan were stained with blood, a kipah was split in two by Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger. gunfire. Bernice Simon used a prayer shawl to stanch They worshipped at three congregations housed in the wound that killed her husband, Sylvan, before she the building at the time: Tree of Life, Dor Hadash and was killed.

New Light.

Another theme pervading the proceedings was the Before the jury entered the courtroom, the defenpolitical polarization that has beset the United States dant strode in, wearing a dark blue sweater over a in recent years. Ahead of the shooting, the gunman collared blue shirt and looking around the room. posted hateful messages and signaled his intent to Once the jury was seated, he rose to face them for a commit the attack on Gab, a social media site that is moment, whispered to one of his lawyers, Elisa Long, a redoubt of far-right extremists. The site’s founder, and then sat down. He appeared to be taking notes Andrew Torba, testified in the trial, as did Mark Hetthroughout the reading of the verdict. field, the CEO of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Judge Robert Colville asked those in attendance not the Jewish refugee aid group. The gunman chose to to react during the verdict, and they complied. Maggie Feinstein, the director of the 10.27 Healing Partner- attack the Tree of Life building because Dor Hadash partnered with HIAS on its National Refugee Shabbat ship, gave out blue stress balls to family members. the previous week.

Margaret Gottfried, the widow of Richard Gottfried, The non-death penalty charges the defendant faced took a deep breath when Bowers was pronounced are related to the injuries suffered by Wedner and guilty of the crime of murdering her husband. Ellen Leger as well as police personnel who engaged with Leger, whose husband, Daniel, was shot and wounded, put her arm around him after the verdict was read. Bowers when they raided the synagogue, in addition During the trial, the trauma of the shooting was evi- to gun charges. The shooter was an avid collector of guns. dent when survivors spoke in the courtroom. Andrea

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

THE WORLD

Biden plan to combat antisemitism demands reforms across the executive branch and beyond of the plan, and said the delay seemed President Donald Trump equivocated

By Ron Kampeas, JTA to produce results. while condemning the neo-Nazis who WASHINGTON — President Joe “The White House has taken this very organized a deadly march in CharlotBiden unveiled a multifaceted and seriously. The phrase that something is tesville, Va. in 2017. broad strategy to combat antisemitism still being worked on can often be a eu“Repeated episodes of hate — inin the United States that reaches from phemism for a lack of concern,” he said. cluding numerous attacks on Jewish basketball courts to farming communi“In this case, it seems to have resulted in Americans — have since followed ties, from college campuses to police an even more comprehensive and hopeCharlottesville, shaking our moral condepartments. fully more effective result.” science as Americans and challenging “We must say clearly and forcefully Some of the initiatives in the plan the values for which we stand as a Nathat antisemitism and all forms of hate tion,” Biden wrote in an introduction to focus less on directly confronting and violence have no place in Ameriantisemitism and more on promoting the report. ca,” Biden said in a prerecorded video. tolerance of and education about Jews.

The administration launched the “Silence is complicity.”

The Biden Administration will seek initiative last December, after years The 60-page document and its list to ensure accommodations for Jewish during which Jewish groups and the of more than 100 recommendations FBI reported sharp spikes in antisemitic religious observance, the accompanying stretches across the government, fact sheet said, and “the Department of incidents. The strategy was originally requiring reforms in virtually every Agriculture will work to ensure equal planned for release at its Jewish Amerisector of the executive branch within a access to all USDA feeding programs for can Heritage Month celebration May year. It was formulated after consultaSecond Gentleman Douglas Emhoff speaks about 16, but was delayed, in part because of USDA customers with religious dietary tions with over a thousand experts, the Biden administration's antisemitism strategy needs, including kosher and halal dilast-minute internal squabbling over and covers a range of tactics, from at the State Department, May 25 etary needs.” whether it would accept a definition of increased security funding to a range of Jonathan Greenblatt, the Anti-Defaantisemitism that some on the left said heritage and antisemitism. And the educational efforts. chilled free speech on Israel. Some right- mation League CEO who was closely plan includes actions to be taken by a The plan has been in the works since consulted on the strategy, said promotwing groups were deeply critical of number of cabinet departments, from December, and the White House has ing inclusion was as critical as fighting the new strategy for not accepting that the Department of Veterans Affairs to consulted with large Jewish organiantisemitism. “Is FEMA giving kosher definition to the exclusion of others. the USDA. zations throughout the process. The provisions after disasters going to solve Rabbi Levi Shemtov, the executive “It’s really producing a whole-of-govfinished document embraces proposals antisemitism?” he said in an interview. vice president of American Friends of ernment approach that stretches from that large Jewish organizations have Lubavitch (Chabad), praised the breadth Continued on Page 10 what you might consider the obvious long advocated, as well as initiatives things like more (security) grants and that pleasantly surprised Jewish organimore resources for the Justice Departzational leaders, most of whom praised ment and the FBI,” said Nathan Diait upon its release. ment, the Washington director of the Among the proposals that Jewish Orthodox Union. “But it stretches all leaders have called for were recommenthe way across things that the Departdations to streamline reporting of hate crimes across local, state and federal law ment of Labor and the Small Business enforcement agencies, which will enable Administration can do with regard to educating about antisemitism, that the the government to accurately assess the National Endowment of the breadth of hate crimes. The Humanities and the Presiproposal also recommends dent’s Council on Sports that Congress double the and Fitness can do with funds available to nonprofregard to the institutions its for security measures, that they deal with.” from $180 million to $360 An array of Jewish million. organizations from the left One proposal that, if to the center-right echoed enacted, could be particuthose sentiments in wellarly far-reaching — and coming the plan with encontroversial — is a call for thusiasm, marking a change Congress to pass “fundafrom recent weeks in which mental reforms” to a provithey had been split over how the plan sion that shields social media platforms wright.edu/Snowglobes should define antisemitism. from liability for the content users post Still, a handful of right-wing groups on their sites. The plan says social media blasted the strategy, saying that its chocompanies should have a “zero tolerShare memories or support a student in the Fine and sen definition of antisemitism diluted ance policy for hate speech on their the term. platforms.”

Performing Arts. All proceeds go to scholarships for Despite the relatively united front, In addition, the plan calls for action in Art, Dance, Motion Picture, Music, and Theatre students! partnership with a range of government there are elements of the strategy that may stoke broader controversy: Among agencies and private entities. It says a broad array of partner groups named the government will work with profesin the plan is the Council on Americansional sports leagues to educate fans Islamic Relations, whose harsh criticism about antisemitism and hold athletes of Israel has led to relations with centrist accountable for it, following instances Jewish organizations that are fraught of antisemitic speech by figures such as at best. The call to place limits on social NBA star Kyrie Irving or NFL player media platforms may also upset free DeSean Jackson. speech advocates.

The government will also partner Biden recalled, as he often does, that with rural museums and libraries to he decided to run for president after educate their visitors about Jewish

The plan calls for action in partnership with a range of government agencies and private entities.

Order your Wright State Snow Globe TODAY!

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

PAGE 9

THE WORLD

Plan

Thank you

to our lead sponsors for making the event a success!

Businesses

Kettering Health Dayton Louis S. Cantor, Rose Sorokin Cantor, Samuel L. Cantor and Lena Cantor Temple Israel and Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, Inc. Fund Fort Washington Investment Advisors Groundskeeper Landscape Group Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton Burke Orthodontics • Definitive Logic Economy Linen & Towel • Rieck Services Brady Ware & Company • Buck Run Doors Ghostlight Bakery • Real Art

Gold Ambassadors & Ambassadors Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz and Scott Halasz John and Elaine Gaglione The Goldenberg Family Michael H. Halasz, DDS Wendy and Jeff Horwitz Joan and Charlie Knoll Fran Rickenbach The Rose Family Foundation The Saldoff Family Andy and Sue Snow Tom and Juli Bainbridge Mitchell and Sara Faust Jon, Heidi and Julia Freeman Alan and Julie Halpern The Sobo family 130 Riverside Drive • Dayton, OH 45405 • www.�dayton.org PAGE 10

“double standards” applied to Israel are antisemitic.

Continued from Page Nine Advocates on the left say those “No, but…it’s an acknowledgement of clauses turn legitimate criticism of Israel the plurality of communities and the into hate speech; instead, they pushed to need to treat Jewish people like you include references to the Nexus Docuwould any other minority community, ment, a definition authored by academand I think I’m very pleased to see that.” ics that recognizes IHRA but seeks to In the months since Second Gentlecomplement it by further elucidating man Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, how anti-Israel expression may be convened a roundtable to launch the antisemitic in some instances, and not initiative, the Biden administration has in others. Others sought to include the pivoted from focusing on the threat of Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, antisemitism from the far-right to also which rejects IHRA’s Israel-related highlighting its manifestation in other examples. spheres — including amid anti-Israel In the end, the strategy said the activism on campuses and the targeting U.S. government recognizes the IHRA of visibly religious Jews in the northdefinition as the “most prominent” and east. Those factors were evident in the “appreciates the Nexus Document and strategy. notes other such efforts.”

“Some traditionally observant Jews, A number of the centrist groups especially traditional Orthodox Jews, pressed for exclusive reference to IHRA, are victimized while walking down the including the Conference of Presidents street,” the strategy said in its introducof Major American Jewish Organization. “Jewish students and educators are tions and the Simon Wiesenthal Center. targeted for derision and exclusion on Those groups praised the strategy and college campuses, often because of their focused only on its embrace of IHRA. So real or perceived views about the State did the Israeli ambassador to Washingof Israel.” ton, Michael Herzog.

The proposal that may provoke con“I would like to congratulate the troversy beyond American Jewry is the Biden administration for publishing the Biden Administration’s calls to reform first ever national strategy to combat the tech sector, which echo bipartisan antisemitism,” Herzog wrote on Twitrecommendations to change Section 230, ter. “Thank you, @POTUS, for prioritiza provision of U.S. law ing the need to confront that grants platforms im- 'This document antisemitism in all its munity from being liable elevates and forms. We welcome the refor the content users post. of @TheIHRA advances IHRA as embracing Free speech advocates definition which is the and the companies them- the way that U.S. gold standard definition of selves say that if the gov- policy will be antisemitism.” ernment were to police Some center-right formulated going online speech, it would groups like B’nai Brith veer into censorship. forward and across International, StandWi“Tech companies have thUs, and the World Jewa critical role to play and all of the agencies.' ish Congress praised the for that reason the stratstrategy while expressing egy contains 10 separate calls to tech regret at the inclusion of Nexus. Rightcompanies to establish a zero-tolerance wing groups, such as the Republican policy for hate speech on their platJewish Coalition and Christians United forms, to ensure that their algorithms for Israel condemned the rollout. do not pass along hate speech and RJC said Biden “blew it” by not exextreme content to users and to listen clusively using the IHRA definition. The more closely to Jewish groups to better Brandeis Center, which defends prounderstand how antisemitism manifests Israel groups and students on campus, itself on their platforms,” Elizabeth said the “substance doesn’t measure Sherwood-Randall, Biden’s top Homeup.” land Security adviser, said during a Groups on the left, however, broadly 30-minute briefing on the strategy May praised the strategy. “We call on our 25. “The president has also called on Jewish communities to seize this historic Congress to remove the special immumoment and build on this new strategy nity for online platforms and to impose to ensure that the fight for Jewish safety stronger transparency requirements is a fight for a better and safer America in order to ensure that tech companies for all,” said a statement from six leftare removing content that violates their leaning groups spearheaded by Jews For terms of service.”

Racial & Economic Justice.

In the weeks before the rollout, a deGreenblatt said it was predictable bate raged online and behind the scenes that groups on the left would take the amid Jewish organizations and activwin and that groups on the right would ists about how the plan would define grumble — but that it was also beside antisemitism. Centrist and right-wing the point. IHRA, he said, was now U.S. groups pushed for the plan to embrace policy. the International Holocaust Remem“This document elevates and advancbrance Alliance’s working definition. es IHRA as the way that U.S. policy will Among its examples of anti-Jewish bigbe formulated going forward and across otry are those focusing on when Israel all of the agencies,” Greenblatt said. criticism is antisemitic, including when “That is a win.”

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

July 2023 JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

SUN

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WEDNESDAYS 12:30-3:30PM Canasta

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THURSDAYS 3-6PM Mah Jongg FRIDAY, JULY 21 5:30-8PM Shabbat Pool Party FRIDAY, JULY 28 Last day of Camp Shalom

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Save The Date WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16 5:30-7:30PM JFGD Annual Meeting

Shabbat Pool Party Friday, July 21, 5:30 to 8PM Camp Shalom families and PJ families are invited to a fun evening of swimming and a kosher Shabbat dinner.

RSVP by July 18 at jewishdayton.org/events $18/family.

Five Seasons Family Sports Club, 4242 Clyo Road, Centerville, 45440 THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

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THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR FESTIVAL DONORS FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT! $2,500+ STUDIO EXECUTIVE Sam Levin Foundation Bernard Rabinowitz

2023

$1,000+ DIRECTOR Gayle and Irvin Moscowitz

$500+ SCREENWRITER Renate Frydman Michael and Rochelle Goldstein Cultural Arts Fund The Gruenberg Family Douglas Hauer and Jack Gilad Robert and Vicky Heuman Michael Jaffe and Judy Schwartzman Barbara Mendelson Cantor Andrea Raizen Stephen Renas The Rubi Girls Sue Spiegel and Lisa Hanauer

$250+ ACTOR

2023

Theodore Arnovitz Film Festival Fund Michael and Patty Caruso Enrique and Ruth Ellenbogen Marni Flagel Friends of the Community Michael Herrlein Linda and Steve Horenstein

Susan and David Joffe Joseph and Marsha Johnston Ed and Marcia Kress Ann R. Laderman Judy Lipton Julie Liss-Katz and Marc Katz David London and Kim Dinsmore Dr. and Mrs. Donald Marger Norman and Mary Rita Weissman Joan and Peter H. Wells, in Memory of Rebecca Linville

$100+ SUPPORTING ACTOR Matthew and Elaine Arnovitz Jack and Maryann Bernstein Lisa Blum Stanley and Connie Blum Dayton Optometric Center Libby and Ken Elbaum Tara and Adam Feiner Neil D. Friedman Felix Garfunkel Paula Gessiness and Jay Holland Debby and Bob Goldenberg Lynn and David Goldenberg Martin Gottlieb Jane and Gary Hochstein Joan Isaacson Meredith Levinson Cheryl and Franklin Lewis Beverly A. Louis

Linda Novak and Jerry Kuhr Elliot Ratzman Alice and Burt Saidel Dan and Kim Shaffer Bob and Suzanne Thum

$18+ CREW Gary and Andrea Abrams Barbara E. Blauman Frieda Blum Dena Briskin Alan and Judy Chesen Louisa and Phil Dreety Stacy Emoff Helene Gordon Arlene Graham Fannie Groveman Henry Guggenheimer Sharon and Izzy Guterman Helen Halcomb Meryl Hattenbach Judy Heller Jon and Emily Holt Neil Katz and Karin Hirschkatz Kim and Candy Kwiatek Amy Margolin Ruth B. Meadow Eleanor Must Edie Pequignot Cherie Rosentstein Nick and Bobbie Schmall Celia and Jeff Shulman Audrey P. Tuck Diane and Ralph Williams

2023 FILM FESTIVAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS Judy Schwartzman – Chair Elliot Ratzman – Vice Chair Jack Bernstein Connie Blum Mike Caruso Alan Chesen Enrique Ellenbogen Ruth Ellenbogen

2023

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Renate Frydman Felix Garfunkel Michael Goldstein Michael Herrlein Gary Hochstein Susan Joffe Marc Katz Ryan Levin

Meredith Levinson Dave London Gayle Moscowitz Bernard Rabinowitz Andrea Raizen Steve Renas Marci Vandersluis

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE AND GRANT SPONSORS! THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

July 2023 JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

The Catalyst

A transformational fellowship to inspire volunteerism in partnership with Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and Repair the World. The Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton was chosen to join a pilot cohort of 12 Federations. JFGD's project was aimed to involve a younger audience in volunteering through collaboration among YAD and all the Federation’s agencies.

Volunteering + Pizza = FUN

A participant about Tikun Olam (repairing the world): "Hunger is a real problem. I will not talk about statistics; I just know we are making someone’s day just a little better.”

A participant about Nedivut (generosity): "Giving is fun and it definitely makes you feel good."

• 87 volunteers helped make this project a success.

• The project was a collaboration between YAD, JCC, JCRC, PJ Library and JFS*.

• Almost 300 outreach bags were created for isolated seniors, Care House, and FLOC (For Love of Children).

Volunteering + Laser tag = FUN

We make volunteering fun

Volunteering + Scene 75 = FUN

*Young Adults Division, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Family Services THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

PAGE 13

July 2023 JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

Legacies, Tributes, & Memorials FEDERATION LINDA RUCHMAN MEMORIAL FUND In memory of Harriet L. Crell Marshall and Judy Ruchman

HARRIS ABRAHAMS DJCC CHILDREN’S THEATRE FUND In honor of Chava Gilbert’s Bat Mitzvah

HOLOCAUST PROGRAMMING FUND In memory of Lawrence Kahn, who will never be forgotten Robert B. Kahn

Jamie Pavlofsky

JOAN AND PETER WELLS AND REBECCA LINVILLE FAMILY, CHILDREN AND YOUTH FUND In honor of the wedding of Jennifer Wells Michael and Rochelle Goldstein

EARLY CHILDHOOD FUND In memory of Audrey MacKenzie Joyce and Jim Anderson

2023 ANNUAL MEETING

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 16 5:30 TO 7:30PM

for the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton & its Agencies

CANASTA

OPEN MAH JONGG SCAN QR CODE HERE TO SEE THE TABLE IN ACTION

WEDNESDAYS, 12:30–3:30PM

THURSDAYS, 3-6PM

LESSONS TAUGHT BY: Linda Schuman & Sue Nelson

Play on our new completely automated table! Don't build walls yourself; watch this machine do it for you!

PLACE: CJCE COST: Free PAGE 14

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

CALENDAR Classes

Beth Jacob Classes: Sundays, 10 a.m. in person & Wednesdays, 6 p.m. on Zoom: Beginners Hebrew w.

Rabbi Agar. $100. Tuesdays, 7 p.m.: Torah Tuesdays on Zoom w. Rabbi Agar. Thursdays, 7 p.m.: Thursdays of Thought-Jewish Law on Zoom w. Rabbi Agar. 7020 N. Main St, Harrison Twp. bethjacobcong.org. Call to register, 937274-2149.

Temple Beth Or Classes: Sundays, 12:30 p.m.: Adult Hebrew. Thurs., July 13, 7 p.m.: Chai Mitzvah on Zoom.

5275 Marshall Rd., Wash.

Twp. 937-435-3400.

Sobo, educator@tidayton.org.

At Sycamore Trails.

Children & Teens

JCC Camp Shalom: Through July 28: 1st-7th grade. Contact Meryl Hattenbach, mhattenbach@jfgd.net or Marc Jacob, mjacob@jfgd.net. At Temple Beth Or, 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. JCC Camp Shalom & PJ Families Shabbat Pool Party: Fri., July 21, 5:30 p.m. $18 family. W. kosher Shabbat dinner. RSVP by July 18 at jewishdayton.org/events or 937-610-1555. At Five Seasons Family Sports Club, 4242 Clyo Rd., Centerville.

Temple Israel Classes: Tues., July 18 & 25, noon: Talmud Study in person.

Wednesdays, 10 a.m.: Social Justice Commentary w. Rabbi Bodney-Halasz at home of Cathy Lieberman. Saturdays, 9:15 a.m.: Virtual Torah Study.

Sat., July 8, 9:15 a.m.: Hybrid Torah Study. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. tidayton.org. 937496-0050.

Chabad Camp Gan Israel: July 24-Aug. 11. Register at chabaddayton.com. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. 937-6430770.

Family

Temple Israel Living with Loss: Fri., July 14, 11 a.m.

130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.

937-496-0050.

Adults

JCC Open Mah Jongg: Thursdays, 3-6 p.m. Free.

Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. 937610-1555.

S D

Temple Israel Prayer & Play: Sat., July 15, noon. Infants2nd grade. Contact Rabbi

avethe

Hadassah Sundae FunDay: Sun., July 16, 2 p.m. $10, includes sundae bar & 50/50 purse raffle. Email hadassahdayton@gmail.com. At One Lincoln Park, 590 Isaac Prugh Way, Kettering.

Temple Beth Or Exploration of the Jewish Short Story: Wed., July 26, 7 p.m. On Zoom. Register at templebethor.com or 937-435-3400.

Ron Wynne, Instructor

Curtis Estep, Instructor

Learn to properly and safely handle firearms.

Bring this ad and save $15 per lesson, $60 each (reg. $75)

Call 937-529-9076

515 WAYNE AVE. DAYTON, OH | WHEATPENNYDAYTON.COM

Tisha B'Av

Beth Abraham & Beth Jacob Tisha B’Av Services: Weds., July 26, 8:30 p.m. & Thurs., July 27, 8:30 a.m. At Beth Abraham Synagogue, 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood.

937-293-9520.

Temple Israel Newish to Jewish Tisha B’Av Program: Thurs., July 27, 7 p.m. At home of Marcia Cox. 937-4960050.

Want to receive your own copy of The Dayton Jewish Observer each month by mail?

TASTE THE LOVE!

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A Spiritual Shabbat Musical Experience and Installation of Rav Aubrey Glazer Beth Abraham Synagogue August 25-27

ates

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

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

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OPINION

We must stand up to Christian nationalism As a rabbi in

By Elliot Ratzman “In the scriptures, it says that children are a reward, they're a heritage, they're a blessing,” is how Ohio Rep. Melanie Miller explained her opposition to abortion. “They are not a burden, but they are a gift from God.” We have come to expect such anodyne sentiments misconstruing reproductive care as “anti-child” and “anti-family.”

However, last summer, The New York Times podcast, The Daily, interviewed an anti-abortion activist and pastor, Jeff Durbin, whose organization was committed to introducing legislation to charge women who received abortions — and the doctors who performed them — with homicide, possibly incurring the death penalty.

“It’s a command of God to rescue those who are being led to the slaughter,” he explained. “That’s in Proverbs Chapter 24. So that’s not a request or a suggestion.”

In many cases, anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ extremists, who assert that life begins at conception, or that gender is binary and immutable, cite “Old Testament” passages to justify their positions.

Infuriating. Ohio's Jews must oppose this both as citizens committed to democratic pluralism, but also, clearly, publicly, and forcefully, as Jews.

After the Dobbs decision, we hear that anti-abortion extremists, nearly all Christian, who along with seeking a nationwide abortion ban, even of mifepristone, are also targeting legal birth control. We see the storm brewing here in Ohio in the attempt to thwart the reproductive freedom referendum.

It is not just abortion access that is under threat; at Pride parades and events all over the country, we have, for decades, seen messaging by anti-gay activists citing Leviticus or referencing Sodom and Gomorrah.

Organized hate to gay, lesbian, and transgender people continually refers to our Scriptures for support.

We are living in times when legislation against reproductive rights and gender-affirming care is being organized by the Christian right, imposing a fringe religious agenda on Jewish bodies, and citing “Old Testament” texts to add insult to injury.

Let’s connect the dots.

Crusades against abortion rights and transphobia are grounded in a Christian “supremacist” logic laced with antisemitic tropes. While the majority of mainstream Christians support repro-

ductive freedoms and are supportive of LGBTQ issues, the activist core of the religious right is, in essence, Christian nationalist. They reject the separation of church and state, recast the American project as the story of a “Christian nation,” and demonize liberal opponents with religiously tinged dog-whistles, framing them as harming children and killing babies — a new sort of blood libel.

Anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ extremists explicitly seek a theocracy, a rule by alleged “laws of God.” Christian theocracy has a long bloody history, and Jews and other perceived heretics, eccentrics, and misfits do not fare well under such regimes.

Even the Catholic right, while not strictly Christian nationalists, insist, absurdly, that their narrow views on reproduction, contraception, and gender are grounded in “universal reason” accessible to all, rendering all others, including the vast majority of American Jews, “irrational.”

Christian nationalism also seeks to expand mass incarceration, criminalizing healthcare providers, parents, and those who seek abortion. In the name of “protecting children,” Christian right bills contain heavy penalties for families who seek proper reproductive and gender-affirming care. The claims that children are being murdered and mutilated by doctors draw on age-old Christian superstitions and antisemitic conspiracies.

Within the conversations of the Christian nationalist right, Jews are already being divided into “good” and “bad”— Soros and liberal Jews are demonized. Liberal Jews are scapegoated and their spaces are under threat as was the case with Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life murders.

By contrast, the Christian right is more than happy to embrace Jewish conservatives, the Ben Shapiros, Marc Levins, and Josh Mandels, who will buck Jewish values on social issues, and whose stated positions on abortion and gender-affirming care are indistinguishable from the Christian right.

As Jewish ethicist Michal Raucher points out, “Unless you support a person’s right to bodily autonomy, then you are supporting a system wherein someone else determines what you or anyone else can do with their bodies.”

At Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, we agree and insist that bodily autonomy is a Jewish value. This extends to trans people’s gender-affirming care.

Some Jews believe that making common cause with White Evangelicals

It is our Jewish obligation to stand with those most vulnerable, both on principle, and out of a larger sense of self-interest.

So, what do you think?

PAGE 16

is “good for the Jews,” either through their desire for public funding of religious schools or in Christian support of the State of Israel. On June 8, AIPAC tweeted that it “mourns the passing” of Pat Robertson, one of the architects of the modern religious right. Commentators have insisted that, on Israel, American Jews will have to forego their social liberalism for this unholy alliance.

Other Jews may perceive the burden will fall primarily on poorer women, women of color, the disenfranchised, those who cannot access health care, or afford arrangements in states where abortion or gender-affirming care is legal. While this is true, it is our Jewish obligation to stand with those most vulnerable, both on principle and out of a larger sense of self-interest. Jewish history is familiar with the costs of social exclusion.

Our role as Jews, as an organized Jewish community, should not be to stand with the wicked and the powerful out of misplaced self-interest, but those populations at risk—women, people of color, LGBTQ—who are the targets of Christian nationalists and their anti-abortion, anti-“woke” legislative agenda.

True security for Jews means living in a pluralistic society, not one guided by toxic extremists who would use the state to deny us rights and freedoms.

There is plenty to do. In the short term, gathering petitions for Ohio’s Right to Reproductive Freedom amendment, mobilizing the vote for August, and opposing anti-trans and anti“woke” legislation.

In the medium term, we must join in coalition with others—African Americans, the LGBTQ community, liberal Christians—to contain the threat of Christian nationalism.

While disrupting pernicious legislation is crucial, while standing in coalitions is incumbent on us, we also need to turn to our Christian nationalist neighbors in dialogue and discussion.

By doing the hard work of engagement, we will get to the heart of these retrograde hostilities to social pluralism, religious freedom, and misunderstandings of the Hebrew Bible, and to accompany their journey out of hate toward mutual understanding and democratic pluralism.

Whether the efforts of the coalitions for reproductive freedom succeed or fail in their efforts this August and November, Jews must be central to the organized resistance to Christian nationalism in Ohio in the coming years.

Elliot Ratzman is a professor in the religion department at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. He is part of the leadership team of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action — Ohio.

a small town, I understand the class divide — and how to close it.

By Rabbi Rachel Isaacs When you walk into the back door at my home away from home, Beth Israel Congregation of Waterville, Maine, you’re greeted with a faint scent of kosher matzah ball soup mixed with the slightest hint of mildew from a 70-yearold building that can’t quite manage its moisture anymore.

On your left, you’ll see the kitchen, the heart and soul of our congregation.

It is often where the most invaluable Torah is taught and learned. That happened a few years ago, when my wife, Mel, was joined one snowy Saturday night by our rabbinical intern.

“Mel,” the intern asked, “do you always need to make this many sandwiches for the food pantry?”

“No,” she replied. “Demand has gone up over the past few years, but we always need to make double at the end of the month.”

“Why?” the intern asked. Mel stood there somewhat stunned by a question that should not have felt like a Talmudic riddle. How could he not know?

“Most of the clients we serve, some of whom are members of our own congregation,” she explained, “rely on WIC and EBT, government benefits that are issued at the beginning of each month and that often run out by the end, especially in families with children.”

“Oh, OK. I didn’t know that,” he said with a humility that endeared him so deeply to all of us at Beth Israel.

He didn’t understand the significance of the double portion at the end of the month, but before I came to Waterville, I didn’t either. I knew nothing about communities like Waterville. And what I thought I knew was not only wrong, but actually, in retrospect, was harmful and offensive. And if I did think about class differences when I lived in Brooklyn, I rarely thought about it in connection to the Jewish community.

But my ignorance and that of my student should not surprise us. How many of us really talk honestly about class? Class isn’t just about money. It’s a messy alchemy of financial wealth, social connections, political and cultural power, the opportunities people encounter in their lifetime, and the communal regard they receive. To put it more concretely, someone can have the money — through personal resources or scholarships — to attend a Jewish Continued on Page 23

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 • JULY 2023

MAZEL TOV!

Jonathan Shtilman, shown here with Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz, was confirmed at Temple Israel on Erev Shavuot, May 25.

The speakers for Beth Jacob Congregation's Third Annual Jewish Women Inspiring Jewish Women Luncheon on June 4 (L to R): Michele Serotkin, Linda Blum, Susan Gruenberg, Ann Berger, Jenny Caplan, and Chaya Vidal.

Dave London

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force honored Dave London of Beavercreek as its 2022 Museum Volunteer of the Year for his dedication and excellence in serving the museum and the Air Force.

Dave received the honor at the museum's 41st Annual Volunteer Appreciation Banquet. The museum’s exhibits division nominated Dave, who has contributed more than 1,200 hours maintaining, updating, and creating exhibits, with "remarkable attention to detail."

Among the museum volunteers who received special recognition at the banquet was Steve Markman, who received the President’s Volunteer Service Award, which honors those who have completed 4,000 hours or more of volunteer service.

Courtney Cummings will play the role of Baroness Elsa Schrader in Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra and Dayton Playhouse's production of The Sound of Music, July 21-23 at the Arbogast Performing Arts Center in Troy.

Send your Mazel Tov announcements to mweiss@jfgd.net.

Devorah and Rabbi Nochum Mangel honor their children at Chabad's 30th Anniversary Dinner, June 4. (L to R): Chaya, Rikki, Lazer, Schneur, and Sara. Not pictured: Mendel Mangel.

Rabbi Levi and Rochel Simon honor their children at Chabad's 30th Anniversary Dinner, June 4. (L to R): Shmuel, Moshe, Yoel, Chaya, Yisroel, and Menachem.

Volunteering at JCC's Camp Shalom this summer are two shluchim (emissaries) from Israel: Itay Cohen, 22, (L) from Haifa, who recently completed his IDF service; and Harel Ben Yosef, 24, of Kiryat Ata, a city in Israel's Haifa district. Their stay here is coordinated by the JCC Association and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

Brennan Kahn and Kara Chambers

Dr. Ronald Kahn (Mary) of Centerville, and Diane Kahn (Dennis Hager) of Charleston, S.C., along with Michelle and Reed Chambers of White, Ga., are thrilled to announce the engagement of their children, Brennan Kahn and Kara Chambers.

Brennan, the grandson of Robert Kahn and the late Gertrude Kahn of Kettering, has reached a remarkable milestone in his life.

He recently graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, specializing in management and marketing, from the prestigious University of South Carolina. Brennan's career is flourishing as a digital marketing consultant at PureCars, a highly regarded firm located in Atlanta.

The bride-to-be, Kara Chambers, holds a special place in the hearts of her family, including her grandparents Gary Winisky and the late Audrey Winisky of Lavonia, Mich. Kara's educational journey has been commendable, culminating in the attainment of a bachelor of science degree in business management from Kennesaw State University and a bachelor of science degree in actuarial science from Georgia State University. Currently, she excels as a senior strategic sourcing analyst at AXIS Capital, a renowned company based in Alpharetta, Ga. Brennan and Kara, a couple radiating with joy and eager anticipation, are delighted to share their plans for a Summer 2024 wedding. As their love story continues to unfold, their families eagerly await the union of their beloved children. Congratulations to Brennan Kahn and Kara Chambers on their engagement!

May their journey towards matrimony be filled with everlasting love, boundless happiness, and treasured memories.

On May 13, Jennifer Wells of Noblesville, Ind. married Jose Ramos at Longboat Beach, Fla. Bridesmaids were her nieces, Madeline Linville, Lauren Linville, Gabby Linville and Erika Ramos, daughter of the groom. Officiating was her cousin, Rachel Kirkpatrick. Jennifer's parents are Joan and Peter Wells. Her sister was Rebecca Michelle Linville of blessed memory. Jose's groomsmen were his three sons.

PAGE 17

RELIGION

CONGREGATIONS Beth Abraham Synagogue

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

Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.

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

Beth Jacob Congregation

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

7020 N. Main St., Dayton.

937-274-2149. bethjacobcong.org

Temple Anshe Emeth

Reform 320 Caldwell St., Piqua.

Fri., July 14, 7:30 p.m. led by Steve Wyke and Mary 'Mahira' Rogers.

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

Temple Beth Or

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

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

Temple Beth Sholom

Reform Rabbi Haviva Horvitz 610 Gladys Dr., Middletown.

513-422-8313. templebethsholom.net

Temple Israel

Reform Senior Rabbi Karen BodneyHalasz. Rabbi/Educator Tina Sobo Fri., July 7, 6 p.m.

Fridays, July 14, 21, 28, 6:30 p.m.

Sat., July 8, 10:30 a.m.

130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.

937-496-0050. tidayton.org

Temple Sholom

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

ADDITIONAL SERVICES Chabad of Greater Dayton

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

Yellow Springs Havurah

Independent Antioch College Rockford Chapel.

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

Overdue or overdone? Two scholars hope to secure the legacy of Jewish Renewal

By Andrew Silow-Carroll, JTA Rabbi Arthur Green gave the commencement address May 18 at the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Conservative flagship where he was ordained 56 years earlier.

His talk was mostly a response to political turmoil in Israel, but he also urged the graduates to pioneer a “new Judaism.”

“I had the good fortune, as a young seeker, to run into the Jewish mystical tradition, especially the writings of the early Chasidic masters,” said Green, who taught Jewish mysticism and Chasidic theology at Brandeis, the University of Pennsylvania, and Hebrew College. “I have been working for half a century to articulate what could simply be called a Judaism for adults living in freedom. I am now near the end of my creative course. But you young people are just at the beginning of yours. We need you to enroll — however you can — in the task of the generations, that of re-creating Judaism.”

That is the language of Jewish Renewal, with which Green, 82, is deeply identified.

Renewal isn’t a denomination, really, but a movement that was born in and reflects the 1960s and 1970s counterculture. Baby boomer Jews disillusioned with the large suburban synagogues that they considered soulless embraced Jewish practice that was spiritual, egalitarian, environmentally conscious, and largely lay-led.

Renewal’s signature institution was the havurah — intimate prayer, study, and social fellowships. Its soundtrack comprised the liturgical

July

Tammuz/Av Shabbat Candle Lightings July 7: 8:49 p.m.

July 14: 8:46 p.m.

July 21: 8:42 p.m.

July 28: 8:36 p.m.

PAGE 18

JTS

melodies composed by plunging enrollment in the hippy-ish, “neosupplementary schools, Chasidic” Orthodox the shrinking numrabbi, Shlomo Carleber of non-Orthodox bach. And its rebbe synagogues. Most of — to the degree that an my adult life has been egalitarian movement spent in synagogues, had a central figure havurot, and institu— was Rabbi Zalman tions heavily influenced Schachter-Shalomi

by Renewal. If the Jew(1924-2014), a refugee ish Renewal movement from Hitler’s Europe revitalized synagogue and former Lubavitcher life in the last century, Chasid whose Judaism could it also be blamed channeled the spirifor its struggles in this tual “New Age” of the one?

1970s.

Magid, a fellow These ideas and in Jewish studies at approaches may be Dartmouth College, familiar to you even if and Chanes, an adjunct you’ve never heard of Rabbi Arthur Green delivers the commencement adprofessor of Jewish dress at Jewish Theological Seminary in Manhattan, Renewal. Rare is the Studies at Baruch Colsynagogue that doesn’t May 18. lege, presented their it as one of the most influential try to offer a more inchapter at a conference if not defining Jewish movetimate spiritual experience for dedicated to the release of the ments of the last 50 years. its worshippers, to shrink the book, held May 23-24 at Trinity “While Jewish Renewal has distance between pulpit and College in Hartford, Conn. pew, to incorporate new Jewish never boasted a large number Magid made the claim — of members, its influence on music and, in non-Orthodox considered bold, at this small the larger American Jewish and a number of Modern Orgathering of Jewish historians thodox synagogues, to increase community has been signifi— that the “three most imcant, in terms the participaportant Jewish figures in 20th of its liturgical tion of women If the Jewish century America Judaism” experimentain prayer and were Mordecai Kaplan, MenRenewal movement tion, its revistudy. achem Mendel Schneerson, and revitalized synagogue sions of ritual Those Shachter-Shalomi. and its overall prayer shawls Kaplan, the founder of life in the last metaphysics,” with rainReconstructionist Judaism, century, could it they write. “It bow stripes? downplayed the supernatural That was a also be blamed for its has also served element of Judaism and instead as an ongoSchachter-Shacalled it a “civilization” defined struggles in this one? ing conduit of by its people and culture. lomi innovainformation tion.

Schneerson, the Lubavitcher How a counterculture move- and inspiration from its own Rebbe, turned an insular past — the havurah movement, Orthodox sect into an outreach ment came to be absorbed by radical politics, feminism — to the mainstream is the subject movement that promotes ritual the next generation.” of a paper in a new collection, practice among secular Jews.

I came to the paper after The Future of Judaism in America, Schachter-Shalomi combined giving a lecture at my own edited by Jerome Chanes and their visions and imagined a synagogue on The Crisis of the Mark Silk. Chanes is the co-auJudaism, said Magid, that “is American Synagogue. I spoke thor, with Shaul Magid, of the no longer used as a tool for chapter on Renewal that claims of declining affiliation rates, Jewish survival, but rather as a

Torah Portions July 1: Chukat-Balak (Num. 19:1-25:9) July 8: Pinchas (Num. 25:10-30:1) July 15: Matot-Masei (Num. 30:2-36:13) July 22: Devarim (Deut. 1:1-3:22) July 29: Vaetchanan (Deut. 3:23-7:11)

Fast of the 17th of Tammuz

July 6 Commemorating numerous calamities that fell on the Jewish people on this day, this fast is observed from dawn until dusk.

Among the calamities were the breach of the walls of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E. and by the Romans in 70 C.E. Marks the beginning of the Three Weeks, a period of mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, culminating on the Ninth of Av.

Tisha B’Av

Ninth Day of Av • July 27 The day of fasting to mark the destruction of the First and Second Temples, the loss of Jewish sovereignty, and numerous other tragedies said to have fallen on this day.

The Book of Eicha (Lamentations) is read.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

RELIGION project for Jews to become part because many of their principast 50 years. In her chapter, of the global community, to pals went on to important posi- she credits the “active partnercontribute to the global comtions in academia and Jewish ship” of women in revitalizing munity.” organizations, including Green, American Judaism: Women’s Environmental awareness Rabbi Everett Gendler, Sharon religious expressions, she became a hallmark of Renewal, Strassfeld, John Ruskay, and writes, “create social contexts as did absorbing influences Rabbi Arthur Waskow. and are distinguished by a from other religions, especially Small but influential Gen X communal dynamic, quite unEastern ones. “He really did and millennial institutions also like the isolated, personalized take Schneerson’s teaching bear Renewal’s fingerprints: Jewish experience, which some about bringing Judaism to the the Jewish Emergent Network have claimed defines contemstreets and expanded it furof independent congregations; porary Jewishness.” ther to bring Judaism to the New York’s Romemu and B’nai I came away convinced that mosque, to bring Judaism to Jeshurun synagogues; egalitarRenewal has had an outsized the monastery, to create anothian, traditional-style yeshivas influence on Jewish life, er way of being Jewish which like Hadar. Bayit, with a numespecially for baby boomers was not afraid of the world.” ber of principals associated like me. But I also wondered In an interview with Magid with ALEPH: the Alliance for if its outward-facing, syncretic before the conference, I asked if Jewish Renewal, is an online Judaism failed to instill a sense he and Chanes might be exagartist’s collective and publisher of obligation to Jewish forms, gerating Renewal’s influence. of Jewish books, including a institutions, and peoplehood “I’m sure there will — unlike, by contrast, Joan Halifax/Wikimedia Commons be people who will Orthodoxy in all of its claim that case, but I booming present-day don’t think so, no,” he manifestations. said. Magid acknowlI asked Magid in edges that few people what ways Renewal regard themselves might have fallen as direct disciples of short.

Schachter-Shalomi, “Part of its failure and yet, like Kaplan, is that it is very, very his influence is felt anchored to a certain widely and deeply. kind of American “Each one of them had counterculture that no a futuristic vision,” he longer exists. It hasn’t said. “They were able really moved into a to cultivate a way of 2.0 phase,” he said. thinking about Juda“There are students ism that was before and staff members their time and that that are still very tied Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (L), one of the foundeventually came into ers of the Jewish Renewal movement, with his friend Ram to (Schachter-Shalobeing in many ways.” Dass, the spiritual teacher and writer born Richard Albert. mi’s) vision, and then One of those skeptithere’s a younger gencal of Schachter-Shalomi’s forthcoming Shabbat prayer eration, Gen Z, who have read influence is Jonathan Sarna, book. some of his work and they’re professor of Jewish history at One of its contributors, influenced by it, but they really Brandeis, who gave the keyRabbi Rachel Barenblat, who are thinking much more about, note talk at the conference. was ordained by ALEPH, has well, how does this translate In his response to the panel argued that the influence of into a post-countercultural on Renewal, Sarna doubted Renewal is felt even within America?”

Schachter-Shalomi was as inOrthodoxy.

Magid also feels the ideas fluential as Carlebach, the Con“If you look at the Open Orof Renewal will become more servative theologian Abraham thodoxy movement, if you look important as American Jews’ Joshua Heschel, or the Modern at the ordination of women as attachment to Israel wanes, Orthodox philosopher Joseph maharats (by Yeshivat Mahaand the living memory of the Soloveitchik. “I don’t think we rat, a women’s seminary), the Holocaust recedes. should delude ourselves into future of women as rabbinic If Rabbi Green’s speech at thinking that every innovator is leaders in Orthodoxy is already the JTS graduation was any a new Moses,” Sarna said. here,” she said on an episode of indication, then the ideals of Benjamin Steiner, a visiting the Judaism Unbound podcast.

Jewish Renewal still hold their assistant professor in religion “It’s not everywhere, but some- appeal. at Trinity, also wondered if day it will be.”

“We need a new Judaism in Renewal had spread “everyMagid and Chanes similarly America…where we also have where in the country, or only claim a number of leading the fresh air needed to create in large urban areas with critiJewish feminists as products of it,” he said. “How do we move cal masses of educated Jewish Renewal — they mention Paula forward…in articulating a Jewstudents.”

Hyman, Eva Fogelman, and ish theology for today that is Listening to Magid’s reJudith Plaskow — although both intellectually honest and sponse to such caveats, I some in the audience at Trinity spiritually rewarding?” thought of the quote often insisted they gave Renewal too The audience of future Jewattributed to music producer much credit for a movement by ish leaders and teachers leapt Brian Eno: “The first Velvet and for women. to its feet.

Underground album only sold In her essay in the Chanes/ 10,000 copies, but everyone Silk book, Sylvia Barack FishAndrew Silow-Carroll is editor who bought it formed a band.” man of Brandeis University at large of the New York Jewish Renewal’s influence spread offers a counter-narrative of Week and managing editor for beyond its founding havurot Jewish innovation over the ideas for JTA.

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PAGE 19

With Totally Kosher, Chanie Apfelbaum aims for a wider audience

Naftali Marasow

aftermath, Halberstam fought tirelessly to have his murder formally classified as a terrorist attack, which eventually happened in 2005. She was also a founder of the Jewish Children’s Museum, which was dedicated to the memory of her son.

Of all people, Halberstam understands the power of a photo. “At Ari’s yahrzeit (anniversary of his death), I tweet things out,” Halberstam said, noting that her son died 29 years ago. “I got 85,000 responses because I put his picture up there. Pictures make you stop. They make you pause.”

Photos, she added, “personalize everything. A story is not a story without pictures. It makes it real.

It comes to life.”

Apfelbaum agrees, feeling that her decision to include photos of herself, her boys in their tzitzit (ritual prayer fringes), and her children around a table, is “a huge step in the Orthodox world.”

“I’m doing this because I think this is something that has to change,” she said. “Jewish women should be celebrated just like men.”

Apfelbaum’s culinary journey began in 2002 when she was 22 and newly married. Her mother had been the chef in the Halberstam home, and Apfelbaum was raised on what she calls “brown food” — matzah ball soup, gefilte fish, potato kugel. She came to her marriage skilled as a web designer but not knowing how to boil an egg. Her Syrian/Argentinian/ Jewish mother-in-law introduced her to ingredients like rosewater and dishes like empanadas, piquing Apfelbaum’s interest.

Photo or no photo?

Brooklyn-based food writer Chanie Apfelbaum hopes to reach a “When I started cooking, I was always very artistic broad audience with her second cookbook, Totally Kosher.

Apfelbaum’s decision to go with a mainstream and looking for ways to put color in my food and publisher meant the book would appear in “regular” plate it nicely,” said Apfelbaum. “I would make my her rethink her decision. Apfelbaum’s global recibookstores — and not just Judaica stores — but the mom’s recipes. But when I started hosting friends and pes — such as Nachos Bassar, nachos with hummus, change meant some new challenges. One hurdle was putting out a spread, with menus and plated meals, Israeli salad and pickles — and how she “bounces off the publisher’s decision to feature a large, color photo I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this is beautiful. Such a of trends that are happening in social media, in resof Apfelbaum on the book’s rear cover — a decision beautiful way to express my artistic side.’” taurants,” as Pelzel describes her, are what drew the that could be considered controversial in the Haredi When Apfelbaum left her web design job after the mainstream publisher to Apfelbaum Orthodox world, where many publishers refrain from birth of her third child in 2010, she poured her creative “From the first time I met Chanie, I understood why showing photos of women in the interest of modesty. juices into her nascent cooking and photography skills, she was the obvious choice to make kosher cool,” ApApfelbaum’s photo does not appear anywhere in and her family encouraged her to start her own blog. felbaum’s mentor and fellow cookbook author Adeena Millennial Kosher, published by Artscroll/Shaar Press, In 2011, she launched Busy in BrookSussman said. “She’s wildly passionate about her food which serves the Haredi market. lyn — at the time she was raising three and her Judaism, and makes no apologies for either.”

“If my photo is on the back of the children under 5, running a home, and “Add to that her natural warmth, sense of humor book, maybe the Judaica stores really teaching Hebrew while taking knitting and willingness to share the ups and downs of life with won’t take it,” Apfelbaum recalled, and crochet classes. her followers, and you’ve truly got a recipe for sucthinking when she was sent a mockup Her first post, in January of that cess,” Sussman added. of the cover. “I called friends in the year, was of sautéed chicken cutlets publishing industry. I called Judaica topped with canned dark sweet cher'So much more than recipes' shops and asked if my photo is on the ries. Later that year, she gave her first And there have been plenty of ups and downs: After back cover, are you going to carry the cooking class for the teachers at her signing her book contract in 2019, Apfelbaum became book?” The answers, Apfelbaum said, children’s school. a single mom due to divorce. She was also hospitalized were mixed.

In 2013, she enrolled in a program with Covid (as was one of her kids) and lost her sense And yet, she didn’t back down or at the Center for Kosher Culinary Arts of smell and taste, at a time when nobody knew that ask for a change in the cover. “I was (now closed). “I started to seek out this was a side effect of the virus. like — you know what? I’m doing different cultural dishes and put my Fortunately, Apfelbaum has since regained her sense this for my daughters, I’m doing this kosher Jewish spin on it,” she said. She of taste and smell, and she remains very busy in Brookfor the women out there,” she said. also took a photography class. lyn — and elsewhere. In July, she leads a food tour “There is nothing wrong with having The following year, her recipe for in Italy where her group will make gelato, hunt for a photo of a Jewish woman on the Drunken Hasselback Salami — a whole salami sliced, truffles, and taste olive oil. She has just come out with back of the book. I’m just doing it, and I stand behind coated in a sauce of jam, brandy and mustard, then a line of her own spices called TK (as in Totally Kosher) it.”

Spices. Her first two products are the Yemenite spice Fortunately, validation came quickly. “When I walk baked until crispy — went viral. Later that year, she down the street in my neighborhood (Crown Heights), was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal mix, hawaijj — one for savory foods and one for coffee, I pass Hamafitz Judaica and they have two books in the for her creative spins on the traditional Ashkenazi Cha- which has a sweet profile. With Totally Kosher now in window — one of the front cover of my book, depicting nukah treat, latkes. In 2015, she made the first of many its third printing, she looks to finally hire an assistant out-of-town food demonstrations, traveling to Monand find work space outside of her home. my corned beef ramen, and one of the back.” tréal to prepare harissa chicken sliders with preserved “There were many times I said I don’t have the Apfelbaum’s mother, Devorah Halberstam, a lemon carrot slaw and a marble halvah mousse. emotional bandwidth and strength to do this book — prominent member of Crown Heights’ Chabad comThese recipes, among others, made it into Millennial I wanted to give up,” Apfelbaum said. “My friends munity, couldn’t be prouder. Her first-born son, Ari Kosher. And although Apfelbaum swore she would believed in me and pushed me and made it happen.

Halberstam, was killed in 1994 when a Lebanesenever write another cookbook because of all the work When I look at this book, I see so much more than reciborn man shot at a van filled with Chabad-Lubavitch pes. It was really a journey for me.” students, killing Ari and wounding three others. In the involved, that call in 2019 from Clarkson Potter made

By Rachel Ringler, New York Jewish Week Chanie Apfelbaum’s newest cookbook, Totally Kosher, is filled with inventive, flavor-packed recipes, like Miso Matzah Ball Soup, Berbere Brisket, and Pad Chai, a shrimp-free version of the Thai staple.

But while the book is designed for kosher-keeping observant Jews like herself, Apfelbaum — who boasts 101,000 followers on Instagram and runs the popular Jewish lifestyle blog Busy in Brooklyn — had a larger audience in mind. Her first book, Millennial Kosher, published in 2018, is now in its sixth printing. With her second effort, however, Apfelbaum said she wanted to reach a larger demographic. “I wanted to reach people that don’t necessarily know what kosher is.”

That’s how Apfelbaum, 42, ended up publishing Totally Kosher with Clarkson Potter, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group and publisher of cookbooks by culinary megastars like Ina Garten and Alison Roman. When Raquel Pelzel, the editorial director of cookbooks at Clarkson Potter approached Apfelbaum in 2019 about writing a cookbook — pitched as a “celebration of kosher,” as Apfelbaum recalls it — she immediately said yes.

“I was so excited,” Apfelbaum said.

“We hadn’t published a kosher cookbook in a really long time and, with Instagram and social media, there is obviously a massive kosher community,” Pelzel said.

“To not publish a kosher cookbook seemed like a huge omission and a hole on our list.”

PAGE 20

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

JEWISH FAMILY EDUCATION

Animals tell tales

enterprising ward than that.” head, it sees its face reflected in merchants set Said Chanan- the water. Thinking it’s another up along travel ya, “It is enough horse, it stomps, hoping to scare routes and supfor us that we the other away and preserve the plied returning entered this water for itself. But the horse’s Diaspora Jews nation in peace fear is groundless — the river may originate in Genesis 1, with all their and came out in can water more than one horse. when God creates nefesh chaya, needs. Fearing peace.”

“You are like this horse. You living animals. God then says, Tabletop imagine that the river of God’s “Let us make man in our image, the returnees would reclaim lesson. Plodbounty cannot sustain both you according to our likeness.” ding wearily, a and another, so you’re stompIn our image may refer to the their ancestral skinny lion met ing your hooves to scare away animals.” writes Dennis Prager, lands, locals claimed the a fat dog who an imagined competitor. You author of The Rational Bible. mushrooming mocked him. cannot guarantee your own “This man is physiologically “Where are success; all you can do is maxiboth animal-like and man-like.” Jewish population would openly revolt. you going? Why are you so mize your chances. Run your In Genesis 2, God permaThey advised the emperor to thin? It would be easy for you business as wisely as you can nently distinguishes humans to be among men, to guard and and know that whatever comes from animals by breathing into order the Jews to change either carry and serve. Then you could to you is decreed in heaven. the man nishmat chayim, a tran- the Temple location or its dimensions, “and they will recant eat to your heart’s content, even Your only true competition is scendent living soul. as I, their servant, am fat and no the reflection of self you see in However, humans still retain on their own!”

But the Jewish population wanderer. Even when they bind the river.” their kinship and singular grew mutinous, so the sages me with ropes, meat and bread Rabbi's advice. Living in a fascination with animals, the are my food. crowded, busy, noisy hut with only other animate elements of turned to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya, who Answered the lion; “Your his expanding family, a despairCreation. spoke to the pride is the pride of one sated ing man turned to the rabbi for We can see people. with food, therefore you don’t help. ourselves in the "A lion was dediscern between your honor “Bring in the chickens,” the personalities and vouring prey and and your disgrace. Shall I be rabbi counseled. On another actions of animals. a bone got stuck like you, bound with chains? day, “Bring in the goat.” Then, That makes them in its throat. It Better for me to be without a “Bring in a cow.” ideal characters said, ‘I will give a ruler and skinny than to be Now along with the more for myriad literary reward to anyone bound to the table of others.” crowding, bustle, and clamor, genres. who removes it.’ An Egyptian Horse sense. A fellow once there were clucking birds, an “Animals can bring silliness heron put its long beak into the went to Reb Meir of Premishlan uncontrollable goat, and a tramand incongruity to a story,” mouth of the lion and extracted for advice about a competitor pling cow. notes children’s author Mary the bone. who was robbing him of his “Rabbi! It’s worse than a Gibbs, “making it more enjoy"It then said to the lion, livelihood. nightmare!” able,” and communicating ‘Give me my reward.’ The lion “Have you noticed that when “Send the animals out,” he important life lessons and big responded, 'Tell others, "I went a horse goes to the river to counseled. That night, the man ideas in memorable ways. into the mouth of the lion in drink, it strikes its hoof against and his family slept soundly in “But,” she continues, “they peace and I came out in peace"' the bank?” the rebbe began. the roomy, peaceful, quiet little also add a degree of emotional — and there is no greater re“When the horse bends its hut. It could always be worse. distance for the reader, which is important when the story message is personal, painful or powerful.”

Animal characters can even June 16 –September 10, 2023 provide a voice to those who are not free to speak.

Because they have universal appeal — across ages, cultures, social rankings, time, and place — animal tales allow everyone EXHIBITION to join in the conversation.

SPONSORS Peaceful pursuit. When Emperor Hadrian decreed the rePROMOTING building of Jerusalem’s Temple, Norman and Mary Rita

The Power of Stories Series

Every day, the renowned medieval scholar Maimonides visited Egypt’s sultan, whom he served as a court physician. During the long donkey ride, Maimonides voiced his thoughts aloud and the donkey would listen and reflect.

“You must accept the truth from whatever source it comes,” the rabbi might say.

Candace R. Kwiatek Or, “The purpose of the Law is to develop self-discipline so we might keep distant from either extreme.” Or, “Silence is a fence around wisdom.”

Upon his return, in between his rabbinic duties, he would treat his own patients and write late into the night.

Exhausted, Maimonides wondered if riding a horse would save time. Sure enough, with a speedy horse, the rabbi’s travels were shorter, and he had more hours for his work at home.

But his donkey missed hearing the rabbi’s wisdom, and the rabbi soon discovered he no longer had time for just thinking.

Originating in oral tradition, Jewish stories and texts involving animals have spanned its nearly 4,000-year history.

Biblical and Yiddish narratives.

Parables, proverbs, and riddles.

Chasidic tales and fox fables.

Even legal texts and prayers.

Animals are liberally peppered throughout Jewish literary works.

Why animals? The answer

Animal tales allow everyone to join in the conversation.

Weissman

Literature to share

The Rabbi and His Donkey by Susan Tarcov. Every day, the great Rabbi Moses ben Maimon traveled to visit the Sultan in Cairo, according to his diary. While riding his donkey, he would think aloud, and the donkey listened and learned.

But the journey was long—would a horse be better? Fittingly illustrated in the ancient arabesque style of the region, this children’s picture book shares some of Maimonides’ ideas as well as a lesson he learns from his donkey.

SUPPORTING Linda Lombard and Paul Marshall The Dayton Chapter of the Links, Inc. ART CURATED BY Mr. Elijah Rashaed, Dayton Unit NAACP Curator

The Other Family Doctor by Karen Fine. Despite an allergy to cats, Karen Fine always knew she wanted to be a vet. Inspired by her grandfather, Oupa, a compassionate doctor who paid house calls to his human patients, Fine keeps the importance of understanding her patients’ stories — both animal and human — at the forefront of her care. Woven throughout the memoir are tales of her own pets, the animals she has treated, and the lessons they have taught her.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

Kim Wiggins (American, born 1960) Homecoming Reunion, 2023, oil on canvas. On loan and commissioned by NAACP

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6/5/23 10:00 AM

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features a diverse range of Washington Jews, past and present, as well as others with quirky biographies, including Tom King, a CIA spy who became a comic book writer.

The changing fortunes of American Jewry are embedded in the date the museum opened, June 9: On that date in 1876, Ulysses Grant was the first president to attend synagogue services, when he helped dedicate the new building of the Adas Israel congregation.

Fourteen years earlier, as a Union general, he infamously expelled the Jews of Paducah, Ky., accusing them of being war speculators. President Abraham Lincoln rescinded the order, which has been described as “the most sweeping anti-Jewish regulation in all of American history,” Esther Safran Foer, the museum’s president and the former executive director of the city’s historic Sixth & I Synagogue, said Grant’s presence in 1876 at the Adas Israel building was emblematic of the upward trajectory of American Jewry. “He sat here for more than three hours in the heat, no air conditioning, and he even made a generous personal contribution,” she said.

The museum’s core is the 1876 building that Grant helped dedicate. It has since been physically moved Ron Sachs/Consolidated News Photos in its entirety three times in order to preserve it, most The interior of an 1876 synagogue that is the core of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. recently in 2019 as part of the initiative to build the museum, which began in 2017. The museum’s upper

By Ron Kampeas, JTA relating the local history of Washington’s Jews, the WASHINGTON — Washington, D.C.’s new Jewish new museum fills a gap. Unlike many of the country’s floor reproduces the sanctuary, with the original pews.

Its walls, however, are renovated: they display an museum features at least two notorious women from other longstanding Jewish communities, Washington audiovisual chronicle of the area’s Jews. history. attracted Jews not because it was a port but because The museum’s permanent exhibition aims to traOne is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first Jewish it was the center of government. Like the district’s verse that history in other engaging ways as well. The woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice, who was broader community, Jews in the area have been prone same section that highlights Levy Phillips’ adventures dubbed “Notorious RBG” late in her life by a cluster to transitioning in and out of the city. (including her diary’s account of her arrest — “I am of fans. When the Capital Jewish Museum opened in “Lots of our stories start in other places, with folks not in the least surprised Sir” she told the agent who June, it launched with Ginsburg at its center when a who end up in D.C.,” Barsky said. “This is a unique had come to take her away) also mentions Rabbi traveling exhibit on her life had its final stop here. community, especially because the local business is Jacob Frankel, who was commissioned by The other is the 19th-century figure Eugenia Levy the federal government.”

Lincoln during the Civil War as the first Phillips, whom the museum characterizes as “notoriJews have been in Washington since Jewish military chaplain. ous” without irony. it was established in 1790, and the area A photo of Jews and African Ameri“One of D.C.’s most notorious Confederate symnow includes some 300,000 Jews, accans joined in a bid to desegregate a local pathizers, Eugenia Levy Phillips (1819-1902) came to cording to a 2017 study. The museum amusement park in the early 1960s gets town in 1853 with her congressman husband, Philip chronicles that community’s expansion equal billing with one of Sam Eig, a JewPhillips (1807-1884) of Alabama,” one of the exhibits from the capital to the Maryland and the ish developer who in 1942 advertised the says. “Eugenia, a spy, delivered Union military plans Virginia suburbs, driven at times by Jews new Maryland suburb he built as “ideally and maps to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.” joining “White flight” — when White located and sensibly restricted,” a eupheAnother description of Levy Phillips in the museum residents left newly integrated neighbormism for not allowing Black people to buy property. is more straightforward: “SPIED for the CONFEDhoods — and other times by restrictions that barred Interactive exhibits include a Seder table that ERACY,” it says below her photo.

Jews from certain areas. encourages guests to debate immigration, Israel and The late justice and spy are two of an assemblage of Larger historical events have also at times played civil rights. Parts of the museum’s exhibition recounts notable Jews throughout history who grace the Capia role: The Jewish population in the city grew in the Jewish debates over pivotal issues such as those and tal Jewish Museum, which opened June 9 in northwest 1930s and 1940s because of the expansion of governothers, including abortion.

Washington’s Judiciary Square neighborhood, which ment during President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Ginsburg is the museum’s first main attraction, and was a local center of Jewish life more than a century New Deal and World War II. it makes clear she was a role model. The special exhibiago. Showcasing the warts-and-all history of Jews in An exhibition asks visitors “Who are you?” and and around the nation’s capital — both Ron Sachs/Consolidated News Photos tion on her life and career includes a glamorous photo of the two Jewish women who prominent officials and ordinary denizens coined the "Notorious RBG” nickname, Shana of the city — is the point of the museum, its Knizhnik and Irin Carmon. Visitors can go directors say. into a closet and don duplicates of Ginsburg’s judicial robes.

A Talmudic approach One of the first events is on July 12, when “Jews are a Talmudic people, we like to museum goers will join in fashioning the argue, we like to look at different sides of special "I Dissent” collars that Ginsburg would a story,” Ivy Barsky, the museum’s infamously wear over her robes when she was terim executive director, said at a tour for ready to dissent from the bench. members of the media. Sarah Leavitt, the Jonathan Edelman, the museum’s collections museum curator, involved the Jewish idea curator, described one prized collection — of makhloket l’shem shamayim, Hebrew for items he persuaded disability rights advocate “an argument for the sake of heaven” — in Judy Heumann to donate before she died in other words, for sacred purposes.

March.

“We’re telling the story in this museum “Judy’s is a Washington story,” he said. “She in a Jewish way,” Leavitt said. “So that it’s came to this city first as an outsider as a pronot just that we might not agree, but actutester protesting for disability rights. And then ally the disagreement is important and preshe came back to the city as an insider working serving those disagreements is important.” within the government to make change both Barsky, who was previously the CEO of in D.C. government and in the federal governthe National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, said that in An exhibit on Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. ment.”

D.C.’s new Jewish museum highlights Jews who shaped nation’s capital

Arts&Culture

'We're telling the story in this museum in a Jewish way.'

PAGE 22

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JULY 2023

Class divide

Continued from Page 16 summer camp. But class is also knowing which brands everyone else is wearing, knowing where to access those in-fashion clothes, and being able to own them.

The trickiness of class is what brought one of my Maine rabbinic colleagues to warn me about sending the kids in my congregation to major Jewish summer camps. “Even if you can get them the scholarship, Rachel,” she said, “the teasing they might endure might not make it worth it.”

Why don't we talk about class? The topic is tender because class is inextricably linked with our dignity. In Hebrew, the word for dignity is kavod and it shares the same root with kaved, heavy. Dignity is about how much leverage we have — in creating a world that gives us what we need and brings us into spaces with the promise of fullness, respect, and agency. And the inequitable distribution of this kavod impacts the ability of the American Jewish establishment to sustain functional, holy communities.

For many small-town rabbis like myself who travel back and forth between large cities and our small-town synagogues, the disparity in services, luxuries, and opportunities we witness between urban communities and our home shuls is striking and often painful.

Synagogues like ours are struggle to pay their heating bills so that their pipes don’t freeze. Our congregants often cannot make their rent or pay college application fees, and our boards struggle mightily to raise

the funds for paltry part-time rabbinic salaries. These heroic small-town lay leaders work the equivalent of unpaid, full-time jobs so that every member of their congregation can have a human hand to hold when life gets real — during times of transcendent joy and deep distress.

Over the past 50 years, wealth and social power have been increasingly concentrated in 12 metro areas to the exclusion of large swaths of our nation. The organization I lead, the Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College, estimates that one in eight American Jews lives outside one of these areas. At the same time, we must also see that class disparities exist within every locale. And so, as we plan programs and craft policies as an American Jewish community, I would challenge all of us to ask ourselves and our institutions questions we usually don’t ask.

Who is included or excluded by the price of this event or membership?

What services should every member of a Jewish community be able to access, regardless of price? Who will provide it? Who will pay those who are providing those services, and will they be paid a fair wage?

How do we work to address the pain and shame caused by unacknowledged class differences within our community?

Not all of these questions have simple answers, but we have to start addressing them.

There are three steps we should take as an American Jewish community to make our community more economically equitable now.

First, even though livestreaming has been a blessing and increased accessibility and

access in ways that cannot be overstated or taken for granted, we still need to reiterate — in all of our communities — that it doesn’t replace the importance of physical presence. For most of us, to be human is to be embodied, and we cannot let physical presence and contact become a luxury good.

Second, every state in America should have at bare minimum one full-time, at-large, pluralistically oriented rabbi with an endowed salary that serves the entire Jewish community of that state, regardless of ability to donate or pay.

Third, we need to find ways to make sure that everyone has a seat at the table, so that every Jew’s soul is fed. We cannot afford to lose anyone. The eternal faith of the people Israel is a covenant that should not be contingent on one’s class — it is up to all of us to make sure every member of our people is spiritually sated, held by community, known and called by name. We need a new American Jewish budget that fulfills the basic birthright of every Jew in this nation — to be served and held as a worthy member of our people.

Recently I turned to Central Synagogue in New York to support the work of the Center for Small Town Jewish Life.

They answered the call immediately, partnering with us not only financially, but as thought partners in building community and capacity through Central’s The Neighborhood online community and my organization’s programs. Two other Manhattan synagogues — Rodeph Sholom and Park Avenue Synagogue — came in alongside them, eager to help us spread the story of

small-town Jewish life and advance our mission. They are funding our National Impact program, Makom, that trains small-town lay leaders and Jewish communal professionals in order to make small-town Jewish life sustainable. They are also supporting our Shaliach Tzibur program that trains small-town Jews to lead rituals and services when no clergy are present.

But there is so much more to be done on a strategic, national scale to ensure we touch and serve every member of the American Jewish community with dignity. We will need to continue this work together, large and small Jewish congregations serving the entirety of our people with dignity.

Rabbi Rachel Isaacs is executive director of the Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.

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