The Dayton Jewish Observer, June 2022

our Class 2022Meals high school graduates p. 23p. 22 DavidCelebrating Moss designs GraceofAfter in comic book form

THE DAYTON Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton

June 2022 Sivan/Tammuz 5782 Vol. 26, No. 10

OBSERVER

The Miami Valley’s Jewish Monthly • daytonjewishobserver.org Photos: JFGD

National Jewish groups prepare for likely overturn of Roe v. Wade

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

8

Stefani Reynolds/ AFP via Getty Images

Jewish Cultural Festival returns to Temple Israel

2

Andy Snow

Dayton’s JCC at 100 2019 Jewish Cultural Festival

Time for JCC Film Fest

Address Service Requested

Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton 525 Versailles Drive Dayton, OH 45459

26

Menemsha Films

The feature film Neighbors

DAYTON Photos: Peter Wine

The Resources of Goldman Sachs.

The Independence of Artifex Financial Group.

Combining local expertise with a proven process Artifex Financial Group is a fee-only independent wealth management firm headquartered in Oakwood since 2007.

We provide a comprehensive solution for our clients including all aspects of financial planning, personal tax, estate and business planning, and investment management.

As an independent Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management firm, we bring advanced solutions directly to our clients and provide an objective, interactive process to help you create your “One Best Financial Life®.”

Find out how we can help you live the life you want.

CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE Doug Kinsey, CFP®, CIMA® Managing Partner, Oakwood Office artifexfinancial.com

855-752-6644 doug.kinsey@artifexfinancial.com 2305 Far Hills Avenue, Suite 206 | Oakwood, OH | 45419 United Capital Financial Advisers, LLC d/b/a Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management ("GS PFM") is a registered investment adviser and an affiliate of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a worldwide, full-service investment banking, broker-dealer, asset management, and financial services organization. All names, logos, and slogans identifying United Capital and United Capital's products and services (including, without limitation, HonestConversations®, MoneyMind®, Finlife®, Financial Control Scorecard®, live RichlySM,We Help You live RichlySM, Helping People live RichlySM, One Best Financial Life®, Ideal Life Index®, GuideCenter®, lnvestmentViewfinderSM, United Capital Financial Life Management®, and Financial Years of FreedomSM are trademarks and service marks or registered trademarks and service marks of United Capital or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. © 2022 United Capital Financial Advisers, LLC, a Goldman Sachs Company d/b/a Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management. All Rights Reserved.

BETH JACOB GIFT SHOP

Need Gifts for Dads & Grads?

Visit our newly restocked Gift Shop for your Judaic, Holiday & Gift needs.

Please call the synagogue office to schedule your appointment to visit our beautiful shop.

7020 N. Main Street Dayton, OH 937-274-2149

Are you reading this?

So is the entire Jewish community.

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

PAGE 2

Above: Cantor Andrea Raizen of Beth Abraham Synagogue leads students from Hillel Academy Jewish day school in singing Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, at the Jewish community Yom Ha’atzmaut Israel Independence celebration May 1 at Indian Riffle Park in Kettering.

Right: The Miami Valley Klezmer Ensemble, led by Rich Begel (R) added to the spirit of the Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration at Indian Riffle Park.

Jewish Cultural Festival Improving Black/Jewish returns to Temple Israel relations focus of Temple Temple Israel’s Jewish Cultural Festival and Oy Vey 5K return Sunday, June 12 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Food will be available for purchase from Bootleg Bagels, Grist, Meadowlark, as well as kosher deli catered by Rochel Simon. Also available will be treats from Graeter’s and Temple Israel’s bakery, and The Dayton Beer Co. Entertainment includes the Miami Valley Klezmer Ensemble, Mary “Mahira” Rogers, the Shimmy Cats, the Dayton Metro Barbershop Chorus, and the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra. Honey Hill Farm will presAndy Snow ent a petting zoo near the open-air vendor marketplace. Inside the temple, discussions will focus on the theme of modern Judaism in a diverse world. Nonprofits at this year’s Mitzvah Alley will be Crayons to 2019 Jewish Cultural Festival Classrooms, Daybreak, and SICSA. The festival is held at Temple Israel, 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. Admission is free. For more information, go to tidayton.org/festival.

Arts & Culture.........................26 Calendar..................................19

Beth Or/JCRC program

Trinity College history Prof. Cheryl Greenberg, author of Troubling the Waters: Black-Jewish Relations in the American Century, will facilitate the Zoom discussion Improving Black/Jewish Relations at 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 21, presented

by Temple Beth Or Adult Education and the Jewish Community Relations Council. Greenberg teaches African American history, race and ethnicity, and 20th-century U.S. Cheryl Greenberg history. “Our goal is to find a core group of people interested in building bonds with the Black community,” said Mark Gruenberg, chair of Temple Beth Or Adult Education.

Greenberg will talk about how past Jewish/Black relationships resonate in America now. She’ll lead a Q&A, and participants will talk about next steps to improve local Black/Jewish interactions.

Gruenberg said the next step for the collaborative will be a session for Jews and Black people to “figure out some things we can do going forward to find value and strengthen relationships.” Register at templebethor.com/adult-education.

Family Education....................24 Obituaries...........................31

Opinion.........................20 Religion.......................... 25

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

Photos: JFGD

Dayton’s JCC at 100 Wright Brothers Home Asphalt Restoration

Make the “Wright Choice” Our 50th Year

Houser Asphalt & Concrete Paving, Repairs, Sealcoating, Concrete, Walks, Patios, Drainage, Curbs, Approaches • Residential & Commercial

Part One: Becoming Americans

937-223-9207 • 800-319-1114 • www.houserasphalt.com

Jewish Federation Pres. Sam Thal with children at the JCC’s picnic at Siebenthaler Bridge Camp during the Great Depression. The Thals and Sanders families would sponsor such weekly outings each summer

By Marshall Weiss, The Observer Even a week before the Jewish Federation for Social Services completed its June 26, 1922 purchase of the house at 59 Green St. to serve as Dayton’s first Jewish Community Center, the Dayton Daily News wrote of the Jewish community’s plans for the site.

“Dayton will have a special school for the Americanization of its foreign-born Jews above the school age,” the June 18, 1922 article reported. “Detailed plans for this school have been formulated and will be announced publicly at the open meeting of the Dayton B’nai B’rith lodge Wednesday evening.”

All sessions of the school, the article continued, would be held at the new JCC, “now undergoing alterations and which will be ready for occupancy within the next two weeks.”

“With the co-operation pledged by all other

Jewish organizations in the city, the B’nai B’rith will have for its objective, ‘Every foreign-born Jew in Dayton a naturalized citizen.’”

The primary purpose of Dayton’s JCC in its first decade was to Americanize Dayton’s most recent Jewish arrivals: impoverished, uneducated Jews who had fled Eastern Europe even as the gates to America were closing. The leader of this local effort was also the chair of B’nai B’rith’s new national Americanization committee, Sidney G. Continued on Page Four

STEP INTO MODERN LUXURY SENIOR LIVING! 1 & 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT HOMES AVAILABLE NOW.

On the cover

Top: A children’s dance class at the JCC, 1929 Bottom L: 59 Green St. housed Dayton’s JCC 1922-1941 Bottom R: A citizenship class at the JCC, 1936

Bark Mitzvah Boy

‘Mr. B’nai B’rith,’ Sidney G. Kusworm Sr.

JCC Exec. Sec. Jane G. Fisher

From the editor’s desk

Old Kveller, what wisdom can you offer the Class of 2022?

Learn how to do laundry.

OK

c O Menachem

Premier Retirement Living

Here is another update from Centerville resident Maryna Braginsky about her immediate family’s situation since Russia invaded Ukraine.

“Well, everybody’s alive,” she says.

Her brothers fight in Ukraine’s army.

Marshall Now that the army receives weapons Weiss from European countries and the United States, they slowly see improvement.

“But there are still casualties,” she says. “My younger brother, some of his comrades, and my older brother, some of his comrades.”

She shares how difficult this is for her brothers to process emotionally — they must go out again and fight the next morning.

Maryna’s 11-year-old niece Polina is still in France, living with a distant relative of Maryna’s husband.

Polina suffers from PTSD after hiding from Russian bombings in her grandmother’s basement for a month. Maryna and her husband have applied to bring the girl to the United States, “but the program Continued on Page Eight

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

Our 1 & 2 bedroom apartment homes include custom cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and premium finishes to enhance your perfect dream home.

It’s worry-free retirement living with premium amenities, freedom from cooking, cleaning, and running errands... all for one reasonable monthly fee.

CALL NOW, AVAILABILITY IS LIMITED!

Please call Jane or Jonathan at 937-298-0594 to schedule your personal tour.

590 Isaac Prugh Way — Kettering LincolnParkSeniors.com

follow us on

Are you reading this? So is the entire Jewish community.

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

PAGE 3

DAYTON JFGD

JCC at 100

Though a temporary measure, the Emergency Quota Act significantly curtailed the burgeoning Continued from Page Three immigration of “undeKusworm Sr. The person to im- sirables” into the United plement his vision over nearly States: southern and easttwo decades would be Jane G. ern Europeans (Italians and Fisher, who dedicated her life to Jews). the new field of social work.

Three years later, the Volunteers from across Day- Immigration Act of 1924, ton’s Jewish congregations and a permanent measure, myriad Jewish organizations would even further slash came together at 59 Green St. — immigration from southern in the Eastern European Jewish and eastern Europe by 87 neighborhood of the East End percent even as the brutal— to teach Jewish immigrants ity Jews faced in Eastern how to become self-sustaining Europe continued. and how to comport themselves Kusworm introduced his in the Gem City of the Golden Americanization plan to all Land.

B’nai B’rith lodges across the United States at the end Friday music class at the JCC, mid-1920s A national powerhouse of 1921: no charge to the immigrants.

Over the eight decades since “The B’nai B’rith intends B’nai B’rith began in 1843 as a to take an active and aggressive Jewish physicians provided the immigrants with free medical Jewish fraternal organization part in this tremendous task care. in New York, it had grown into and the program as planned Dayton’s Jewish community a powerhouse of social service, includes the teaching of English, of approximately 5,000 people social justice, and Jewish culcivics, and American history already had a reputation of tural initiatives. to the foreign born. But most B’nai B’rith founded the Anti- important of all is to strive with caring for its own — and for its desire to become U.S. citizens.

Defamation League in 1913 and all the power we possess to “Dayton Jews are conspicuthe B’nai B’rith Youth Organiinculcate the spirit of democzation in 1925. It adopted and racy in all our immigrants...It is ous among our most progressive and philanthropic citizens. supported Hillel a year after the not only a work which we owe Their societies reach out to all Jewish college organization’s to our co-religionists but it is their people,” the secretary of 1923 founding. It founded and also an act of patriotism to our the Dayton YWCA’s Immigrasupported hospitals for Jews beloved country.” tion and Foreign Community suffering from tuberculosis, His plan called for lodge Department noted in a 1917 America’s number one killer in members across the United report, Foreigners In Dayton, An the first decades of the 20th cen- States who were lawyers to tury. B’nai B’rith founded and volunteer as instructors in civics Investigation.

“A visiting committee of the supported Jewish orphanages. and American history.

Young Men’s Hebrew AssociaAnd in 1921, B’nai B’rith set In Dayton, Temple Israel’s tion conducts a class in English out to ensure Jewish acclimation Rabbi Samuel Mayerberg was for 24 Jews at the Patterson to the United States. appointed president of B’nai School night class in English At age 36, attorney Sidney B’rith’s local Americanization during the past year,” the report G. Kusworm was the youngCommittee. Kusworm and indicated. “The Jews themselves est member of the B’nai B’rith then-partner Ben Shaman were ‘rush the process of citizenNational Executive Committee among the faculty registered to ship,’ and of all our immigrants, in 1921. He had already served teach at the school. need the least stimulus toward two terms as the second presiThey and other Jewish lawself-improvement educationdent of Dayton’s Jewish Federa- yers provided legal services at tion beginning in 1913.

Dayton Daily News ally. They are eager for the privileges which were denied And he had served as them through unsympathetic president of Temple governments in the old counIsrael, the congregation try.” of Dayton’s established As early as 1913, when German Jews, who had Kusworm was Federation founded the Federation president, he called for “imin 1910. mediate steps” to be taken to In the spring of 1921, establish a settlement house, the national B’nai B’rith “to serve as a temporary named Kusworm the place of residence for new first executive director immigrants that come to of its Americanization Dayton,” the Dayton Daily Department.

News reported. “Educational B’nai B’rith’s mobiclasses are also to be conlization of this departducted for persons desiring ment was no doubt to learn the English language, tied to the Emergency the customary studies of Quota Act of 1921, elementary schools, and the passed overwhelmingly workings of the American

by Congress and signed into law by President A precursor to Dayton’s JCC was the Young Men’s government. Classes for the benefit of mothers are also Warren Harding on Hebrew Association, established in 1910 and to be conducted in sewing, May 19, 1921. operated at 339 W. First St. beginning in 1914

PAGE 4

THE DAYTON

OBSERVER daytonjewishobserver.org Editor and Publisher Marshall Weiss MWeiss@jfgd.net 937-610-1555 Contributors Rabbi Cary Kozberg Candace R. Kwiatek Advertising Sales Executive Patty Caruso, plhc69@gmail.com Proofreader Rachel Haug Gilbert Billing Sheila Myers, SMyers@jfgd.net 937-610-1555 Observer Advisor Martin Gottlieb

domestic economy, and domestic science.”

The great wave of Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe, which had begun in 1881, was still on in 1913. With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, that would end, as would the local Jewish community’s ability to fund a settlement house for its newest Jewish immigrants.

The Dayton Jewish community’s highest priority beginning in 1914 was relief for the Jews of Eastern Europe: starving, attacked, and murdered while the war raged on. Another high priority emerged for Dayton’s Jewish community with America’s entry into World War I in 1917: support for Dayton’s new Red Cross chapter — led

by Temple Israel’s Rabbi David Lefkowitz — to ease the suffering of women and children in war-torn Belgium and France, to provide much-needed medical supplies and nursing care for U.S. soldiers in Europe, and then after the war, to transition to local services for those in need and the comfort and welfare of returned soldiers.

In 1918, the Jews of Dayton established a Jewish Welfare Board chapter to provide support for Jewish and non-Jewish soldiers stationed locally.

JCC precursors here: YMHA & YWHA

The same year Dayton’s Jewish Federation was established, 1910, a group of Jewish men organized Dayton’s Young Men’s Hebrew Association. Its first president would also become an early president of the Jewish Federation, A.W. Schulman.

Three years later, the Dayton YMHA affiliated with the newly formed national Young Men’s Hebrew and Kindred Association, and soon after opened its

Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton Dr. Heath Gilbert President Bruce Feldman Immediate Past Pres.

Mary Rita Weissman Pres. Elect/VP, Personnel/Foundation Chair Beverly Louis Secretary Neil Friedman Treasurer Dan Sweeny VP, Resource Development Cathy Gardner CEO The Dayton Jewish Observer, Vol. 26, No. 10. The Dayton Jewish Observer is published monthly by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, a nonprofit corporation, 525 Versailles Dr., Dayton, OH 45459.

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

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

Goals • To encourage affiliation, involvement and communication.

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

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

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

• To provide an historic record of Dayton Jewish life.

The Dayton Jewish Observer

Please recycle this newspaper.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

DAYTON Dayton headquarters at 339 W. First St. Kusworm was a member of the YMHA, which also added two women’s auxiliaries; they would form their own organization, the Young Women’s Hebrew Association, in Dayton in 1915. Kusworm’s wife, Helen, was an active volunteer with the YWHA. At first, the purpose of the two organizations was to provide social, cultural, and physical recreation for their members. In 1914, the YMHA formed a basketball team and even announced plans to install a gym in its building.

But at the same time, they adjusted their priorities out of necessity: The YMHA opened a night school in 1914 for Jewish immigrants, in partnership with the Federation. In 1917, Dayton’s YMHA and YWHA considered opening a community house. However, they faced the same financial challenges and immediate shift in purpose as did the Federation during World War I. Ultimately, when the Jewish Federation opened the JCC in 1922, the YMHA and YWHA became clubs of the Federation and met at the JCC.

A well-used piano

Nearly a year after the JCC at 59 Green St. opened — after it had undergone renovations — it held an open house for the general public on March 14, 1923.

A few weeks later, the JCC’s executive secretary, Miriam S. Van Baalen, sent a letter to Sidney G. Kusworm: “We have received the piano which you have presented to the community center in memory of your beloved wife, and I wish to express to you the deep appreciation we feel for a gift which carries with it memories so tender and sacred.”

Helen F. Kusworm had died in 1918 at age 29 of heart problems. She and Sid, who had one son, had

Dayton Daily News

The settlement house movement beonly been married six years. He never gan in England in the 1880s as a reformremarried. ist social movement, and soon came to The piano would be put to good use America, most notably with Hull House, at the center. In its first full year of opfounded in 1889 by Jane Addams and eration, the JCC’s programs included Ellen Starr in Chicago, and the Henry the classes Folk Songs and Rhythmic Street Settlement House, founded in Dancing with Clara Bell Marcus and 1893 by Lillian Wald in New York.

Dancing with Josephine Schwarz, Their aim was to bring people from who with her sister, Hermene, would all levels of society together for the comfound the Dayton Ballet 14 years later. mon purpose of improving the condiThe center also held Saturday evening tions of the poor, empowering the poor dances and was the meeting place for to rise up and become self-sufficient. the Jewish Boy Scout troop.

The field of social work sprang directly In her report for 1923, Van Baalen out of the settlement house movement. explained how the JCC undertook its Fisher first met Jane Addams in 1912 immigration work: at a national conference of settlement “The chairman of the Immigration workers in Boston. Addams invited Committee of the Council of Jewish The JCC, 59 Green St., 1922 Fisher to serve as a guest on the Hull Women makes the first visit when she House staff for six weeks in 1913 before Fisher began is notified that a family or individual has arrived. She interests the family in the ways of becoming American- her assignment at the Newark, N.J. Settlement House.

“She proved the common humanity of us all — rich, ized and refers them to our classes and clubs as the first poor, honest and crooked — and the healing effect of process. We make additional visits urging attendance at our English classes and Mother’s Club, and progress better living conditions,” Fisher said of Addams. “She towards American ideals and ideas has been noticeably was never afraid.”

Before arriving in Dayton, Fisher had undertaken an rapid in several instances.” extensive two-year study of the immigration situation in New York while working there in child welfare.

Enter Jane G. Fisher One of her first projects here was to start a series The arrival of social worker Jane G. Fisher from New of free outdoor summer concerts in the garden at 59 York in May 1924 to serve as the JCC and Federation’s Green St., beneath two cherry trees. new executive secretary deepened the center’s settle“Miss Fisher maintains (and rightly) that music is a ment house approach to Americanizing Dayton’s Jewfood just as bread or meat; that our souls demand muish immigrants, with a focus on arts and culture. sic,” wrote a Dayton Daily News columnist in July 1924.

Born in Warsaw, Poland in 1885, Fisher arrived in The soloist for the first concert was 16-year-old violin the United States in 1896. She entered the field of social Continued on Page Seven work in 1912.

AWARD-WINNING OHIO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TEAM Newmark congratulates Terry Coyne, Derek Lichtfuss and Claire Coyne on recent industry honors. The team serves the Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown markets through buying, selling and leasing commercial properties.

NAIOP Northern Ohio 2021 Broker of the Year Terry Coyne

COCIE (Central Ohio Commercial Information Exchange) 2021 Top Industrial Producer Derek Lichtfuss CoStar Power Broker 1Q22 Top Sale Award Terry Coyne CoStar Power Broker 1Q22 Top Industrial Lease Terry Coyne CoStar Power Broker 1Q22 Top Office Lease Terry Coyne & Claire Coyne

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

PAGE 5

DAYTON Photos: Peter Wine

Greater Dayton

Yom Hashoah Observance

April 24, Temple Israel

Guest speaker Judy Rosenthal of Frankfurt, Germany views entries in the student art contest

University of Dayton Prof. of Music Sharon Gratto (R) conducts the UD World Music Choir and members of the Dayton Jewish Chorale in an arrangement of Ani Ma’amin. UD student Emily Lewis plays the violin solo using her instrument, which she told the audience had belonged to a Holocaust survivor in Nazi-occupied Europe.

Survivor Dr. Felix Garfunkel lights a candle on the Dayton Yom Hashoah Candelabra with shamas Helene Gordon

Max May and Lydia May Memorial Holocaust Art & Writing Contest 2022 Winners Division 1 Art, Grades 5-8 1st Place: Liliuane Kiewitz, Montessori 2nd Place: Cindy Ju, Hastings 3rd Place: Johnny Dinsmore, Hillel Hon. Men.: Jaxon Endres, Ascension Division II Art, Grades 9-12 1st Place: Bra’Kayla Harris, MVCTC 2nd Place: Collaboration of Art Classes 2,3, and 4, CJ 3rd Place: Emma Hall, Stivers Hon. Men.: Abigaile McIntosh, MVCTC Hon. Men.: Takarah Spruill, Stivers Division I Poetry/Prose, Grades 5-8 1st Place: Elena Zhu, Hastings 2nd Place: Chindwendu Chima, Northmont 3rd Place: Zoe Kourlas, Hastings Hon. Men.: Marion Robertson, Hastings Division II Poetry/Prose, Grades 9-12 1st Place: Emily Lirtzman, MVCTC 2nd Place: Nick Trent, Stivers 3rd Place: Asiah McCarty, MVCTC Hon. Men.: Izabelle Troidl, Stivers

PAGE 6

Above: Holocaust Education Committee Chair Renate Frydman (L) with some of the winners of the Max May and Lydia May Memorial Holocaust Art & Writing Contest Left: Art contest entry, Srulek’s Holocaust Experience, by Isaac Guest, seventh-grade homeschool.

To view the documentary

by Judy Rosenthal shown at the Yom Hashoah Remembrance, go to thefamilywasjewish.com THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

DAYTON

JCC at 100

ism, “The idea involved broadof its “settlement” stage beening the synagogue’s mandate cause Jewish immigration to the to embrace a range of social, United States had been virtually educational, and even physical shut down, Fisher urged the Continued from Page Five fitness activities designed to JCC to expand its recreational virtuoso Paul Katz, who would turn the house of worship into a facilities and activities. found the Dayton Philharmonic seven-day-a-week multipurpose But with the Great DepresOrchestra nine years later. That center, a hub of Jewish life.” sion, America’s entry into same year, 1933, Fisher estabIn Dayton, two Jewish conWorld War II, and numerlished the JCC Music School at gregations opened synagogue ous emergency campaigns to 59 Green St., with Katz directing center facilities: the two-yearsupport the new Jewish state, its violin department and offer- old Dayton View Synagogue Fisher’s vision wouldn’t come ing individual lessons.

Center in 1924 (Dayton’s first to pass in Dayton until the Hands-on learning was Conservative congregation), 1960s. integral to Fisher’s approach. In and Temple Israel in 1927 with By the mid 1930s, most of 1926, she asked a college gradu- the opening of its Community Dayton’s Jews had moved on ate who had majored in biology House on Salem Avenue. from the East End; they lived to dig a hole in the backyard at In her 1928 report to the com- in Lower Dayton View. The 59 Green St., fill it with water, munity, Fisher lamented the Federation sold the Green Street stock it with fish, and teach the challenges the JCC faced from JCC building in 1941. Fisher children how to fish. this competition — and from departed Dayton in 1943 to “And we bought the poles the JCC’s own inertia. become director of the Jewish and taught the kids to pull out “Our efforts in the field of Children’s Home in Brighton, the fish and then we taught recreation can best be described Mass. them not to kill them, and to at present as being in a transiThrough the end of World put them back in,” the gradutional stage,” she wrote. “The War II, the Dayton Jewish ate recalled 59 years later for a situation is somewhat complicommunity’s highest priority Jewish Federation oral history cated — with the recent erecwas once again supporting the project facilitated by Linda Pat- tion of the Temple Center for war effort in every way posterson. congregational facilities and a sible: through donations to the “Whatever she said was limited program for recreational Dayton War Chest, supporting law,” said another oral history activities are almost wholly on a Dayton’s Jewish Army Navy project participant of Fisher. congregational basis.

Committee, and U.S.O.-Jewish “Green Street also had a fund, “Attempts are being made Welfare Board. and nobody knew who they by other groups, such as the Synagogues and Hadassah gave to or how they gave it. If Dayton View Center, The hosted local dances, entertaina newcomer came to town and Dayton Hebrew Institute, the ment, and holiday meals for he didn’t have any money, they B’nai B’rith and here and there hundreds of Jews in the military would find him a house, a place spasmodically we hear a new with War Chest funds. Dayton’s to live, and buy him a horse and organization come into being, B’nai B’rith shipped care packwagon.” with no definite program — no ages to local Jewish soldiers Fisher successfully kept imdefinite leadership.” stationed overseas. Young migrants in this country when She described the JCC’s recJewish Women established the immigration authorities sought reational activities as limited in War Activities Group under the to deport them and oversaw number to very young children Federation’s auspices. distribution of relief for families because of inadequate physical It was a time when young unable to maintain themselves. equipment, lack of proper facili- Jewish adults arrived in Dayton But her overarching belief, ties, and limited funds. in significant numbers because directly in line with the settle“With no adequate Young of the war. Plenty of them found ment movement, was that social Men’s and Young Women’s spouses here and would stay. workers “can build families Hebrew Association in Dayton, Others would stay because their today and thereby help prevent there is very little doubt that be- work here continued after the poverty 10 years from now.” tween the Temple and the Jewwar. ish Community Center on the This would contribute to JewThe synagogue other hand...a large proportion ish Dayton’s peak population center movement of Dayton’s Jewry is unserved of about 7,200 in the early 1970s A century ago, Jewish insofar as organized recreation and the push for an expansive congregations also began is concerned.”

JCC facility equal to those in incorporating the community As the JCC was passing out any large American city. center concept into their JFGD By 1950, Fisher facilities to interest a new had returned generation of Jews in to Dayton and becoming and staying on opened her own as members. employment Rabbi Mordecai Kaagency. Two plan, who inspired the years later, when Reconstructonist moveshe died at age ment, was among the 67, she willed first to include cultural the remainder of and recreational activiher estate to the ties at his synagogue, Montefiore Jewthe Jewish Center on ish Home for the Manhattan’s Upper West Aged in CleveSide, beginning in 1918. land.

As Brandeis UniverSupporting the war effort — with programs such as this sity Prof. Jonathan Sarna U.S.O.-Jewish Welfare Board dance for Jewish soldiers — was Next month: writes in American Juda- the Jewish community’s highest priority during World War II. Part Two

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

When Someone You Know is Considering Buying or Selling Real Estate

Call Ethan Pope 937-336-2650 ethanpope.exprealty.com

Proudly Serving the Miami Valley

Spring has Sprung Means Real Estate Season has Begun!

FOR MORE INFO, VISIT

LEVITTDAYTON.ORG

SUPPORT PROVID ED BY:

Lawn at Levitt Pavilion Dayton This organization was awarded the Ohio Art Council’s ArtSTART award for 2022

Are you reading this? So is the entire Jewish community.

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

PAGE 7

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

For a complete schedule of our programs, go to bethabrahamdayton.org.

Shavuot Tikkun Leil Shavuot

Saturday, June 4, 6:30-10 pm

Dairy meal, learning sessions & evening service

To Snip & Dunk or Not To Snip & Dunk, That Is The Question!

The Talmud & Conversion to Judaism with Rabbi Crespy

What is Jewish About this Music? with Cantor Raizen

RSVP for dinner

s s s s s ts t t tst t s s s s s s t t t t tt ts t s s t

t

Shavuot

In The Park

Sunday, June 5, 5-7 pm Hills & Dales Park, White Oak Camp Shelter & Playground 2606 Hilton Dr., 45409

Potluck Dinner All invited.

Bring a dairy or pareve dish to share with friends old and new.

Shabbat Under The Stars

Friday, June 24, 7:30 pm At Beth Abraham We’ll usher in Shabbat amid the beauty of nature with a spirited service featuring our band.

Enjoy a dessert oneg following.

305 Sugar Camp Circle Dayton, Ohio 45409 937•293•9520 www.bethabrahamdayton.org PAGE 8

THE WORLD

National Council of Jewish Women creates outlet for Jews to donate to abortion funds

By Jackie Hajdenberg, JTA calls from organizations and individuals In the 1920s, the National Council looking to help, as well as from people of Jewish Women helped establish the who are themselves seeking abortion first 10 birth control clinics in the United care. The group, which has been orgaStates, which later became Planned nizing around reproductive rights for Parenthood clinics. Now, with the right decades, launched the Rabbis for Repro to abortion under threat, the group is group in 2020. partnering with the National Abortion On May 17, NCJW held the Jewish Federation to raise funds for people who March for Abortion Rights in Washneed help to end pregnancies. ington, D.C. Approximately 150 Jewish As the Supreme Court appears likely organizations, including representatives to soon overturn Roe v. Wade, NCJW’s from all denominations, sponsored the Jewish Fund for Abortion rally.

Access will help pay for Initially, Katz said, the the NAF’s abortion hotline, instinct within her group the largest in the country; was to support people to directly support people who stand to lose abortion who must travel to reaccess by working in local ceive abortions because of communities and directly restrictions in their home with clinics providing aborstates; and to cover medition care. cal costs associated with “But what we heard abortion procedures. overwhelmingly is that The fund marks the people who are getting NCJW CEO Sheila Katz first time that the National abortions want to see Council of Jewish Women has underpeople who look like them as part of taken a fundraising effort for another the process and they need people with domestic organization. (It has raised expertise as part of the process,” she funds for progressive causes in Israel in said, noting that NCJW is a historically the past.)

White organization that does not reflect The choice to do so felt self-evident, the lower-income demographic of the Sheila Katz, the group’s CEO said. people who would be most likely to lose “One of the reasons National Abortion access to legal abortions after the end of Federation is a good partner is because Roe v. Wade. their hotline is the most known and it’s “It really feels powerful and special the most turned to,” Katz said. “There’s and a moment of growth for NCJW that no need for organizations, including we are able to say, ‘We’re not the right Jewish organizations or synagogues people to show up physically,’” Katz or youth groups, to be reinventing the said. “So we’re going to provide funding wheel.” instead.’”

Since a leaked draft suggesting a The plan for now is to run the fund for Supreme Court majority is ready to six months, Katz said. The group is also overturn the 1973 decision that legalized keeping an eye on potential litigation abortion across the United States, NCJW that could challenge a Supreme Court has been receiving nonstop emails and decision to do away with abortion rights.

Editor’s desk

started to move in their direction again, and they started to bomb them with heliContinued from Page Three copters again and long-distance artillery states it is not designed for minors to en- from Russian territory because they live 40 miles from the border,” Maryna says. ter the U.S., because they are concerned “Then something happened again in about trafficking,” Maryna says. “And the war theatre and the Russian troops that is a big obstacle for us, because she are slowly stepping back. So now it’s is a minor and she is alone because her quieter. Mom’s hopeful that she can dad is fighting and her mom stayed behind in Ukraine, helping volunteering plant her garden. They still have food.

The Red Cross gets medicine for my and doing her job. We do understand mom.” that the law is designed to protect kids.

Maryna sums it up. “I guess it’s as In our case, it doesn’t protect my niece. It good as it can be. They were never denies her the access to her family.” under occupation. And that is big, big The family continues to work with lawyers, U.S. Immigration Services, and luck. Because 12 miles from where she (her mother) lives, a couple little vilU.S. Rep. Mike Turner’s office. lages, they are under occupation. And “We cannot figure out how to bring the things the world saw happening in her here,” Maryna says. “Every step we Bucha, the same things happened there.” take, it’s two steps back.”

When I ask if I may check back with Maryna’s mother and stepfather reMaryna in a few weeks, she says, “Hopemain in their home in Suma. fully I will tell you, ‘Yes, we won. Just “A couple of weeks ago, there was like we won Eurovision.’” a scary moment when Russian troops

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

THE WORLD

For Orthodox groups, it’s wait and see on the reversal of abortion rights

Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images

The New Vista Place An Elevated Experience

The spacious Wright Patterson collection of luxury apartments at Bethany Village offers a new view on retirement living. Vista Place is elevated in every aspect with curated amenities, engaging events, and inviting dining experiences.

A protest in reaction to the leak of the Supreme Court draft abortion ruling, New York, May 3

gia’s law, for example, bans abortion six

By Ron Kampeas, JTA weeks after fertilization and includes a WASHINGTON — Orthodox Jew“medical emergency” exemption, but ish advocacy groups are getting ready explicitly excludes mental health diagfor a deep dive into state abortion laws noses, which many rabbinic authorities — and a potentially delicate political would say constitute medical need. Alabalancing act. bama’s law, on the other hand, explicitly Laws severely restricting abortion in includes mental health diagnoses in the 26 states would no longer be subject to exception for people who face “serious challenge if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, as it is now expected health risk” if their pregnancy continues. to do after a draft majority ruling was A balancing act was evident as Ortholeaked May 2 to Politico. The landmark dox groups responded to the Supreme 1973 decision enshrined a woman’s Court news. right to an abortion.

The Orthodox Union’s lengthy state“The Orthodox Union is unable to ment emphasized that its stance toward either mourn or celebrate the news reDobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Orports of the U.S. Supreme Court’s likely ganization, the case before the Supreme overturning of Roe v Wade,” read the Court, is mixed, because the group statement from the group representing opposes what it called “abortion on Modern Orthodox congregations. demand” as much as it does restrictive Indeed, the putative end of Roe v. bans on abortion.

Wade could pose a If the draft decision “Jewish law prioritizchallenge for Orthoes the life of the pregdox groups that have stands, the Orthodox nant mother over the increasingly found groups will have to life of the fetus such that allies within conservative politics. On the reconcile not only the where the pregnancy critically endangers the one hand, many have differences among physical health or menaligned themselves with the so-called “religious states’ laws, but also tal health of the mother, an abortion may be right” on issues such among rabbinical authorized, if not manas education, LGBTQ+ authorities. dated, by halacha and rights and Israel. should be available to all On the other, halacha, women irrespective of their economic the body of Jewish law that Orthodox status,” it said in a statement.

Jews abide by, holds that a mother’s life “Legislation and court rulings — is paramount in considering whether federally or in any state — that absoa pregnancy should be seen through to term. That approach conflicts with lutely ban abortion without regard for Christian ideas about abortion that have the health of the mother would literanimated lawmakers in the 26 states ally limit our ability to live our lives in with abortion bans and severe restricaccordance with our responsibility to preserve life,” the statement added. tions.

The more liberal Jewish religious All of the states’ laws have exemptions for a threat to the mother’s life, but streams have for decades defended Roe v. Wade, and they expressed outrage at there are variations that do not necessarily comport with how Orthodox Jews its apparent imminent repeal.

Continued on Page 10 assess what constitutes a threat. Geor-

You’ll love the attention to detail in our well-appointed 1200 or 1600 square foot apartments with options that include: • Large gourmet kitchens

• Washer and dryer

• En-suite master bath

• Choices of flooring, tile, and paint colors

Make your apartment into your own unique home with upgrades like: • Fireplaces with mantels • Crown molding • Glass front kitchen cabinets

• Modern cabinetry

Call today to learn more about upcoming information sessions and model tours. A no-obligation priority deposit offers the opportunity to secure the apartment of your choice.

Call (937)428-7286 to talk with a Marketing Counselor.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

PAGE 9

If you love what we do, help us continue!

We can’t do it without you!

Ad sales and Jewish Federation support only cover a portion of our expenses to bring you The Observer.

BMB

Observer mascot Bark Mitzvah Boy

Printing costs and postage go up.

We need your help to ensure the depth of our coverage doesn’t go down.

Please consider a Voluntary Subscription to The Dayton Jewish Observer.

Yes! I will support

The Dayton Jewish Observer. $18 Subscriber

One-year subscription to The Observer and acknowledgment in The Observer ($18 value)

$36 Double Chai

$100 Angel

One-year subscription, One-year subscription, acknowledgment in acknowledgment in The Observer and one The Observer and one free one-column holiday free three-column holiday greeting ($30 value) greeting ($54 value)

$250 Guardian Angel

One-year subscription, one-year acknowledgment in The Observer and three free three-column holiday greetings ($126 value)

$1,000 Champion

All listed in Guardian Angel, plus the gratitude of knowing how much you help support Jewish journalism in the Miami Valley ($126 value)

Fill out your name exactly as you wish it to appear in The Observer Name Address City

Phone

State

Zip

E-mail

(check one) I currently receive The Observer via mail: yes

no

Make checks payable to The Dayton Jewish Observer

Return with payment to: The Dayton Jewish Observer, 525 Versailles Drive, Dayton, OH 45459 PAGE 10

THE WORLD

Orthodox groups

Continued from Page Nine But many Orthodox Jewish advocacy groups, as well as politically conservative Jewish groups, offered only guarded reactions to the leaked ruling, in part because they are likely to agree with it to some degree. A number of Orthodox groups have in the past said some states are too liberal in their allowances.

Matt Brooks, the executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, had previously argued that American Jews worried about a conservative Supreme Court because of its potential abortion rulings held misplaced concerns because Roe was considered settled law. He declined to comment on the leaked ruling, saying it was not a finalized opinion.

Brooks said he did not regret his counsel in presidential elections that Roe v. Wade was not in danger. “I was repeating what every justice had said during their confirmations, that Roe v.

Wade was settled law,” Brooks said.

Abba Cohen, the Washington director of the Haredi Orthodox umbrella body Agudath Israel, noted that the draft ruling, authored by Samuel Alito, was not the final decision, and could be tweaked by the time the ruling comes down.

Draft rulings may be subject to considerable revision, based on negotiations among the justices.

“While Agudath Israel is closely monitoring this important — if irregular — development, the Jewish perspective on abortion is nuanced,” Cohen wrote in an email.

“Thus, we would have to review the precise nuances of the final decision itself — how, for example, it treats abortion rights when the ‘mother’s life or health is endangered,’ or when the ‘mother’s sincerely-held religious beliefs allow or require’ her to seek an abortion,” Cohen said. “We would also have to carefully examine state statutes and prospective legislation on these matters.

Only then can we responsibly determine the true impact of the Dobbs decision and future steps we might deem necessary.”

The Coalition for Jewish Values, an Orthodox advocacy group that joined a friend of the court brief defending restrictive abortion laws in the current Supreme Court case, said a number of liberal Jews were overstating halachic allowances for abortion.

“The Jewish Bible identifies human life as a soul placed (breathed) within a body by G-d Himself, with inestimable sanctity and value,” the group said in a statement. “That is the authentic Jewish view, as determined by rabbinic texts and legal codes stretching back to Sinai.

We support Heartbeat Laws and other efforts to distinguish between tragic cases of abortion due to medical necessity, as compared to disregard for fetal life as simply the mother’s ‘choice.’”

The OU statement decried what it called “extreme polarization” around the issue, which it said “does not bode well for a much-needed nuanced result.

Human life — the value of everyone created in the Divine Image — is far too important to be treated as a political football.”

There was a lot for Orthodox groups to absorb about a ruling no one knew would be revealed this soon — the final ruling will likely come down in June — or that would be as far-reaching as the leaked opinion appears to be. A number of court watchers believed there would be a partial rollback of Roe v. Wade’s protections, but that the court would fundamentally preserve the decision.

Ultimately, if the draft decision stands, the Orthodox groups will have to reconcile not only the differences among the states’ laws, but also among rabbinical authorities.

In a 2018 analysis in The Forward, Rabbi Elli Fischer, a historian of Jewish law, outlined nuanced differences among religious authorities regarding whether a diseased or deformed fetus could be aborted to spare a mother mental anguish, with some opposing it except in the most extreme circumstances, while others allowed it more broadly.

A number of states have exemptions from certain abortion bans for rape and incest; others do not. There are also differences among halachic authorities over whether rape constitutes a reason to carry out an abortion. The late British chief rabbi, Immanuel Jakobovits, a Jewish legal scholar, said rape was not a reason for abortion. Rabbi Asher Lopatin, a Detroit area Orthodox rabbi, told JTA that the late Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik, another halachic authority, ruled that rape in some cases would allow abortion.

Lopatin, the founding rabbi of Kehillat Etz Chayim who is affiliated with politically liberal Orthodox movements, said an end to Roe v. Wade might shake more politically conservative Orthodox Jewish groups out of their complacency on the topic.

He noted for instance that some Orthodox rabbinical authorities have held that a diagnosis of the degenerative infantile disease Tay-Sachs in the fetus, coming with the likelihood of death by 5 years old, would justify an abortion — but that one would be banned under most of the state laws restricting abortion.

“It’s hard to imagine that we’re living in a country where you cannot terminate that pregnancy and I think that there’s going to have to be a period where (Orthodox Jews) realize what this means,” he said.

Many Jews live in Democratic-led states, Lopatin said, but substantial communities reside in conservative states, and would soon have to contemplate the necessity of an ailing pregnant woman having to travel long distances to a state that allows abortion.

“Not all Jews are wealthy, and not all Jews really have the resources to go spend a week in New York,” he said.

“People in the Orthodox world may not realize how this can really affect their lives.”

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

Sunday, June 12 • 11:00am to 7:00pm • free Temple Israel, 130 Riverside Drive, 45405 • www.tidayton.org/festival

Outside Entertainment

Inside Speakers & Tours

Food & Drink Vendors

Oy Vey 5k

12:00PM 12:00PM, 1:30PM, Mary “Mahira” Rogers 3:00PM, 4:30PM Jewish & Yiddish favorites Guided Building Tours 1:15PM Dayton Metro Barbershop Chorus Barbershop Classics

12:30PM Naomi Ruben Understanding & Combatting Antisemitism

2:30PM Miami Valley Klezmer Ensemble Eastern European tunes

2:00PM Rabbi Tina Sobo The Changing Face of Judaism

3:45PM The Shimmy Cats Israeli folk & Middle-Eastern dancing

3:30PM Dr. Vanessa Ward Embracing Our Shared Heritage

5:00PM Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra Jewish Orchestral Settings & Movie Soundtrack Classics

5:00PM Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz Jews by Choice Panel Discussion

Fun All Day Run or walk with us on the bike path

Outdoor Market Judaica, jewelry, accessories, gifts, clothing, and more

Children’s Area

Family story time, games, crafts, and a petting zoo

Kosher Fare by ROCHEL

Mitzvah Alley

Donate items to Daybreak, Crayons to Classrooms, and SICSA

Raffle Prizes

Take a chance to win one of 5 prize packages, valued at a total of $4500.

Tickets avaialable online.

Learn more, become a sponsor, pre-order baked goods, and buy raffle tickets online: www.tidayton.org/festival Thank you to our lead sponsors:

Jewish Federation

®

OF GREATER DAYTON

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

PAGE 11

THE WORLD

What you need to know about the antisemitic ideology behind the Buffalo shooting

By Philissa Cramer and Ron Kampeas, JTA The man charged with killing 10 people at a Buffalo, N.Y., supermarket May 14 allegedly was motivated by a conspiracy theory that has spurred recent deadly attacks on Jews, among others.

An online manifesto attributed to Payton Gendron, 18, explains that the attack was prompted by the theory that a tide of immigrants is crowding out White populations in western countries. The manifesto also says that Jews are the real problem but that “they can be dealt with in time.”

The Tops supermarket, located just a few miles from the Canadian border, was chosen because it is in an area with many Black residents, the manifesto says. Eleven of the 13 people shot there were Black, local law enforcement officials said.

Law enforcement authorities are working to verify that the manifesto was written by Gendron, who was arrested at

the scene and later charged with first-degree murder. The U.S. Justice Department is investigating the shooting as “a hate crime and an act of racially motivated violent extremism,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

The baseless theory outlined in the manifesto is known as “Great Replacement” and has united White supremacists across borders in their hatred of Jews and immigrants.

Replacement theory has inspired multiple antisemitic and extremist attacks, including the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in which 11 Jews were murdered; the 2019 attack on a New Zealand mosque that killed 51; and the 2019 massacre at a Texas Walmart that targeted Hispanic immigrants.

In 2017, White supremacists marching in Charlottesville, Va. infamously chanted “Jews will not replace us.”

The manifesto cites the perpetrator of the New Zealand massacre as a chief inspiration and says that its author learned

Staffing Needs? Call The Professionals!

about the dangers of immigration from online research, including on 4chan, a website popular among right-wing trolls.

The theory has gained significant traction in right-wing media and politics. Tucker Carlson, the top-rated Fox News Channel opinion host, has trafficked for more than a year in replacement rhetoric. In one passage in the manifesto allegedly written

by Gendron, the writer echoes Carlson’s phrasing in a notorious September 2018 segment, which began, “How precisely is diversity our strength?” The manifesto launches a similar salvo, “Why is diversity said to be our greatest strength?”

The Anti-Defamation League called on Fox News to fire Carlson after the host explicitly defended replacement theory on air last year. Fox executives rejected the call.

“Horrified by the #Buffalo shooting which is apparently motivated by #antisemitism and #racism,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted the night of the attack. “The rhetoric that fuels hate-filled conspiracies has to stop...These are the consequences of conspiracies going unchecked.”

John Normile/Getty Images

Police on scene at a Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, N.Y. after a mass shooting there, May 14

Replacement theory has gained currency among some Republican officials, including Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, whose hometown newspaper in Albany decried her invocation of the theory in an editorial last fall. An Associated Press poll released in early May found that half of Republicans in the United States agree at least partially with the idea that there is an intentional effort to crowd White Americans out with immigrants.

Structured largely in a question-and-answer format and accompanied by collected memes and internet citations, the manifesto explicitly states

MANAGEMENT RECRUITERS

OF DAYTON

BUILDING THE HEART OF BUSINESS

228-8271

228-0060

Jeff Noble • mridayton.com • info@mridayton.com

C

OMMAN • ROOFING•

D

Serving Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana

COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • GOVERNMENT RE-ROOFING / NEW CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS • ROOF REPAIRS • MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS Firestone - Johns Manville - Carlisle - Soprema

24-Hour Emergency Roof Leak & Repair Service After 6:00 PM/Weekends - Call 937-604-2922

937-298-1155

www.commandroofing.com Email: info@commandroofing.com 2485 Arbor Blvd., Dayton, OH 45439

PAGE 12

CJ CHAN A Healthy Alternative We Use The Best Ingredients Prepared Fresh Daily

www.mycjchan.com 536 Wilmington Ave. Dayton, OH 45420 937-259-9866

2ND LOCATION! 2747 W. Alex Bell Rd. Moraine, OH 45459 * Hot Pot Available * 937-259-8882 Mon-Thu: 10:30 am-10 pm Fri-Sat: 10:30 am-10:30 pm Sun: 11:30 a.m-10 pm

MSG

that the author is driven by hatred of Jews.

The author says he departs from many White supremacists in concluding that Jews are, for the most part, White. But, citing pages of quotations from the Talmud, he says Jews are polluted by learning that “they are God’s chosen people and they are permitted to hate and exploit the goyim” or non-Jews, and to engage in pedophilia.

(Purported fear of pedophilia is also central to QAnon, another conspiracy theory with antisemitic roots that has gained widespread currency on the American right.)

“Are you an anti-semite?

YES!!” the manifesto reads in one place. Later, the author answers the question, “Why attack immigrants when the Jews are the issue?” The answer reads, in part: “They can be dealt with in time.”

The manifesto cites George Soros, the Hungarian-born Jewish billionaire and philanthropist who is a boogeyman for right-wing conspiracy theories, as “majorly responsible for the destruction of our White culture.” It also says that Jews are driving the rise of critical race theory, an academic idea about the ways in which racism is embedded in society that has become a recent rallying cry for right-wing activism. The alleged shooter broadcast his attack on Twitch, a streaming platform for video game enthusiasts also used by the man who attacked a synagogue in Halle, Germany in 2019. That attack broadcast for 35 minutes; Twitch said it had removed footage of the Buffalo attack sooner.

The manifesto says Halle showed the author “that there is enough time to capture everything important.”

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

_DL_JewishObsrvr_Ad.indd 1

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

TM © 1986 CMOL

©Disney

2022-2023 SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

5/10/22 3:29 PM

PAGE 13

THE WORLD Yuri Kadobnov/AFP via Getty Images

In trying to seize Russian assets, U.S. takes a page from Chabad

By Asaf Shalev, JTA When the U.S. government announced that it would seek to seize the assets of VEB, Russia’s main development bank, a lawyer for the Chabad Chasidic movement was thrilled.

For years, Chabad has sought a collection of sacred texts and documents that were taken from the movement after the Russian Revolution and, during the Holocaust, ended up in the hands of the Kremlin.

And for years, the United States had opposed Chabad’s efforts to seize Russian assets as a bargaining chip in their quest.

Now, the United States is going after the very same funds, establishing a legal connection between VEB’s assets and the Russian government.

“The federal government determined that VEB is a piggy bank for the Kremlin, it’s essentially a tool of the Russian state,” said Steven Lieberman, an attorney represents Chabad pro-bono.

In hunting for Russian assets to seize amid an effort to sanction Russia for invading Ukraine, the White House is to some degree following in Chabad’s footsteps. The saga began in 2004 when ChabadLubavitch, the Brooklyn-based

Chasidic movement, filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court to demand that Russia return the texts.

The court ruled in Chabad’s favor and — after Russia failed to comply — imposed a fine of $50,000 a day on the country.

Today, Russia owes Chabad more than $165 million. Subsequent court orders have authorized Chabad to claim certain Russian assets in the amount of the fine.

But claiming those assets requires finding them first.

Because so much of Russian wealth is tied up in ostensibly private companies, not the state, that can be tricky. It requires a legal process of subpoenawriting that attorney Nicholas O’Donnell, who specializes in lawsuits against foreign governments over property such as Nazi-looted art, compares to a game of whack-a-mole.

“It’s hard especially in this case because the foreign sovereign, Russia, is acting in bad faith,” he said. “They are hiding assets to avoid paying the money that they owe.”

Chabad says it would prefer ownership of the collection to seeing fines continue to accrue.

Known as the Schneersohn library and archive — a historic

collection of 12,000 books and 50,000 documents named for Rabbi Joseph I. Schneersohn, who led the movement until his death in 1950 — it is considered of particular sentimental value because it was amassed over 200 years and then stolen by government authorities bent on persecuting the Chabad movement and Jews in general.

Part of the collection is made of a library that fell to Soviet authorities when Chabad fled to Poland in the early 1920s. The other part is an archive Chabad left behind when escaping the Nazis and relocating to the United States.

“Our hope is that if we can seize those assets, it will put enough pressure on Putin and his minions that they will finally decide to return this library of holy books, which means so much to Jews throughout the world, but which means nothing to the Russian government,” Lieberman said.

Years before Russia invaded Ukraine and the Biden administration decided to capture Russian wealth held in the United States, Chabad’s lawyers were busy tracking down that wealth. They issued subpoenas to numerous financial institutions and companies seeking

The Suites at Walnut Creek An Assisted Living Community

AVAILABL E NOW!

Comfort • Convenience • Safety • 24-Hour Care by Licensed Health Care Staff • Medication Management • Fine Dining with Specialized Diets • Alzheimer's/Dementia Care • Private Suites • Courtyard & Patios • Therapy Services • Daily Planned Events

Call Today! 937-299-0194 2501 Keystone Club Drive Dayton, OH 45439 • www.wcreekoh.com PAGE 14

SENIOR LIVING CAMPUS

Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin (R) and Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar attend a ceremony marking the handover of items in the Schneerson library to a Chabad-run museum in Moscow, June 13, 2013. Putin had hoped the handover would settle a dispute over the collection.

relevant information.

By late 2021, two entities had emerged as Chabad’s primary targets: Russia’s main development bank, VEB, and Tenex, a subsidiary of a Russian staterun company called Rosatom that sells uranium to nuclear power plants in the United States.

The United States announced sanctions on VEB on Feb. 22 in the lead-up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, freezing the bank’s U.S. assets. Its determination that VEB is effectively state wealth has given Lieberman confidence that Chabad can eventually convince the U.S. Treasury Department to turn over VEB assets.

“Treasury from time to time grants what are called OFAC licenses where they essentially give third parties the rights to assets they’ve seized,” he said.

“They’ve done that, for example, in certain terrorism cases.”

Not everyone is sure things will play out so favorably for Chabad. O’Donnell, who has been following the Chabad case but not working on it, said it’s likely the United States would resist claims on the seized assets.

“I’m not sure the U.S. government wants to create a situation where they seize a whole bunch of money, and then a whole bunch of other people who claim to have been wronged by Russia — which is a very, very long list — say they should be getting some or all of the money,” he said.

If VEB’s U.S. assets are all tied up in sanctions, Tenex remains entirely unrestricted.

That’s because when the Biden administration imposed sanctions on Russia’s energy industry on March 8, it exempted nuclear power, allowing the continued import of Russian uranium.

“If we’re allowed to seize the

assets of Tenex, Chabad will be the only religious organization in the world that has its own nuclear power supply,” Lieberman said, half-jokingly.

Ironically, the U.S. government has long opposed Chabad’s legal efforts against Russia, arguing that the group’s attempts to seize Russian assets would undermine diplomatic aims. In 2016, for example, the U.S. Department of Justice argued in a court filing that seizing assets “could cause significant harm to the foreign policy interests of the United States.”

O’Donnell said the policy of the United States is to oppose civil claims against foreign governments.

“The United States will almost always take the side of a foreign sovereign no matter how regressive or repressive,” he said. “They will do it for Saudi Arabia, they will do it for Iran. It’s actually sort of shocking.”

Lieberman declined to answer questions about whether Chabad has been in touch with the U.S. government about the issue, but he noted that there have been no court filings opposing its motions targeting VEB and Tenex.

“The State Department has now come over to our side,” he said, citing the government’s publicly stated position on Russia. “It’s very clear that the US government’s interest is 100 percent in applying sanctions and seizures to assets of the Russian Federation. So finally after 20 years, we’re getting full support from the U.S. government.”

In its defense, the Russian government has said it considers the Jewish texts a “treasure of the Russian people.” Some of the collection is held by the Russian State Library and the Russian State Military Archive.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

June JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

SUN

MON

29

30

TUE

31

WED

1

THU

FRI

2

3

SAT

4

UPCOMING EVENTS 5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Connect with us! Check out our events. For more information, see our calendar at jewishdayton.org.

June 2, 7, 9, 13, 15, 16, 21, 23, 26 — JCC Film Fest

12 19

13 20

14 21

15 22

16

17

23

24

18 25

Wednesday, June 8 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. — JCC Alliance Program Friday, June 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. — Shabbat Pool Party Sunday, June 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. — JFS Drive-Thru Mitzvah Mission

26

27

28

29

30

1

2

Join Us

2022 SUMMIT in BUDAPEST

SEPTEMBER 10 - 15

Our first international gathering in almost three years AND our first Partnership Summit in Budapest!

Enjoy the Partnership Experience:

1

Tour the current Jewish renaissance while immersed in Budapest’s history

2

Meet with Jewish community leaders in fascinating locations

3 4 5

Immerse in conversations with members of Budapest’s Partnership Enjoy Jewish Budapest hospitality Hear about current and future Partnership programs

COST

Let’s celebrate being together again. Reconnect with old friends and meet new friends from our U.S. communities, Western Galilee, and Budapest. $900pp (double); $1,400 (single occupancy) Subsidized cost includes 5 nights in the 4-star Budapest Mercure Budapest City Center Hotel, kosher meals, guided tours, program fees, and transportation during the Summit. Flights and transport to and from airport are not included in the cost of the Summit.

Registration fee $500 due by June 1, 2022 Remaining amount due by July 1, 2022 Fully refundable up to July 31, 2022

Registration at: westerngalilee.org.il/summit For more details, contact: Marcy L. Paul, U.S. Consortium Director, at marcyp2g@outlook.com

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

PAGE 15

June JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

JCC DAY AT THE

AYTON DRAGONS Sunday, July 24, game begins at 1:05 p.m.

Come have a great time at a Dayton Dragons game! Enjoy an afternoon at the ballpark and celebrate as the JCC of Greater

Dayton turns 100!

What’s included?

Game ticket for a stadium seat Great family entertainment $7 of every ticket purchased is returned to the JCC

How to order:

Call ticket representative Carl Hertzberg at 937-228-2287 ext. 160 Order online at jewishdayton.org Call Helen Jones at 937-610-5513 to request an order form Deadline to order is Monday, June 27

Tickets:

$14.00/person for tickets texted to you $16.00/person for tickets printed and mailed to you

Shabbat Pool Party Friday, June 24, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Camp Shalom families and PJ families are invited to a fun evening of swimming and Shabbat dinner.

RSVP at jewishdayton.org/events. $18/family Five Seasons Family Sports Club 4242 Clyo Road, Dayton, Ohio 45440 PAGE 16

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

June JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

LET’S EXPLORE! JUNE 7 - JULY 22 GRADES 1 - 10

Traditional camp, swimming, field trips and specialty camps including Lego, Woodcraft, Biking, Theater, Tennis, and Art. For more information and to register, visit jewishdayton.org. Spots filling up fast!

MEET ME IN THE LOBBY! Come out and join the JCC for Lobby Games and Gatherings at the CJCE every day from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

The JCC provides the cards and game boards unless noted. (Masks are OPTIONAL)

Join us for a tribute to Jewish composer

MONDAY

Bridge

TUESDAY Canasta

WEDNESDAY

Mah Jongg (please bring your mah jongg set and cards)

THURSDAY

Scrabble/Backgammon

FRIDAY

Wednesday, June 8, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Throughout the early- and mid-1930’s, Arlen composed songs such as “Let’s Fall in Love” and “Stormy Weather.” But his most beloved contributions were probably his musical scores for The Wizard of Oz and A Star is Born. Guests are welcome to ask questions via the chat throughout the program.

Questions? Contact Helen Jones at hjones@jfgd.net or 937-610-5513 $12.50 until June 5 $15.00 June 5 to June 8

Needlework (knitting, crochet, needlepoint) Questions? Contact Helen Jones at hjones@jfgd.net or 937-401-1553

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

PAGE 17

June JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

Legacies, Tributes, & Memorials FEDERATION

ANNUAL CAMPAIGN IN MEMORY OF › Judith Saks Joseph Saks IN MEMORY OF › Irv Zipperstein Ellen and Alvin Stein JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER DAYTON ENDOWMENT FUND IN HONOR OF › Debbie and Bruce Feldman receiving awards Susan and Joe Gruenberg PAST PRESIDENTS FUND IN MEMORY OF › Eva Izenson Sylvia and Ralph Heyman ROBERT AND MOLLIE FITTERMAN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND

IN MEMORY OF IN HONOR OF › The birth of a grandson, Gideon, to Robin and Tim Moore Susan (Fitterman) Witte and Alan Witte JOE BETTMAN MEMORIAL TZADIK AWARD › Joe Bettman Catherine Lieberman

IN HONOR OF

› Dr. Jesse P. Kuperman

ALLAN WASSERMAN YOUNG LEADERSHIP FUND

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES DISCRETIONARY FUND

› Renate Frydman being honored as a Woman of Influence Margy and Otis Hurst

IN MEMORY OF

› Irv Zipperstein Lynn Levin

JCC

IN HONOR OF › Our regards and friendship for Caryl and Don Weckstein

Lorna and John Osborne

JOAN AND PETER WELLS AND REBECCA LINVILLE FAMILY, CHILDREN AND YOUTH FUND

JFS

IN YAHRZEIT MEMORY OF › Rebecca Linville Joan and Peter Wells

› Claire Lieberman › Shelly Partlow’s daughter

CHILDREN’S CULTURAL FUND

Susan and Joe Gruenberg IN MEMORY OF

IN HONOR OF › The birth of granddaughters to Marla and Steve Harlan Margy and Otis Hurst

› Eva Izenson

Susan and Joe Gruenberg Maureen and Marc Sternberg Cindy Pretekin and Jeff Froelich Debbie and Gary Froelich and family

Cook macaroni and drain. Melt cheese separately and add to macaroni. Add milk and soup. Mix well. Pour into sprayed pan. Cover loosely and place in refrigerator until completely cooled. Then cover tightly with sturdy foil lid and freeze. Casserole should be frozen for 36 hours.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES of GREATER DAYTON

IN MEMORY OF › Naomi Lerner › Eva Izenson › Grant James Markman Bernie Rabinowitz

Esther Pass

If you have questions, please contact Jacquelyn Archie, JFS Administrative Assistant, at jarchie@jfgd.net or at 937-610-1555.

CAROLE RABINOWITZ CAMP FUND

IN HONOR OF THE BIRTH OF

JEWISH FEDERATION FOUNDATION › In memory of Ed Hattenbach

Prepare frozen, unbaked macaroni and cheese casseroles following the required recipe and directions below. JFS will take your donations and provide you with a sweet treat in return.

PAGE 18

Cathy Gardner

THE RESILIENCE SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Back by popular demand, JFS is hosting another Drive-Thru Mitzvah Mission! Help us feed guests at St. Vincent de Paul’s shelters and provide feminine hygiene products (menstrual pads, tampons, and/or menstrual cups) for the Femme Aid Collaborative.

1 1/2 lbs (24 oz) elbow macaroni 2 lbs cheese, melted 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of celery soup 2 1/2 cups milk

IN MEMORY OF

FOUNDATION

Sunday, June 26, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

RECIPE:

Michelle and Don Kuperman

› Claire Lieberman

IN MEMORY OF

› Irv Zipperstein

IN MEMORY OF

IN MEMORY OF

HOLOCAUST PROGRAMMING FUND

Period Poverty

is Real and Pervasive!

Did you know?

•

16.9 million people in the U.S. living in poverty, menstruate.

•

1 in 4 teens and adults struggle to purchase period products due to lack of income.

•

1 in 5 low-income people report missing work, school, or similar events due to lack of access to period supplies.

•

State and Federal safety-net programs can’t be used to purchase period supplies.

•

Period poverty causes physical, mental, and emotional challenges.

From Wednesday, June 1 to Friday, June 24, help our community by donating: •

Menstrual liners

•

Menstrual pads

•

Tampons

•

Menstrual cups

•

Incontinence products

You can drop off your donations at: Boonshoft Center for Jewish Culture and Education 525 Versailles Drive, Centerville 45459 If you have questions, please contact Jacquelyn Archie, JFS Administrative Assistant, at jarchie@jfgd.net or at 937-610-1555.

Jewish Family Services OF GREATER DAYTON

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

CALENDAR Classes

Beth Jacob Classes: Sundays, 2 p.m.: Conversions w. Rabbi Agar. Tuesdays, 7 p.m.: Weekly Parsha w. Rabbi Agar. Thursdays, 7 p.m.: Jewish Law w.

Rabbi Agar. 7020 N. Main St., Harrison Twp. 937-274-2149.

Temple Beth Or Adult Education Chai Mitzvah Virtual Class: Thurs., June 2, 7 p.m.

Free. Register at templebethor. com/chai-mitzvah.

Family

Temple Israel Prayer & Play: Sat., June 18, 10:30 a.m. Info. at 937-496-0050.

JCC Camp Shalom & PJ Our Way Shabbat Pool Party: Fri., June 24, 5:30-8 p.m. Five Seasons Family Sports Club, 4242 Clyo Rd., Dayton. $18 per family.

Register at jewishdayton.org/ events.

Recreation

Temple Israel Classes: Tuesdays, noon: In-Person Talmud Study. Saturdays, June 4, 11 & 18, 9:15 a.m.: Virtual Torah Study. Saturday, June 25, 9:15 a.m.: In-Person Torah Study.

130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. Register at 937-496-0050.

JCC Lobby Games: 10 a.m.noon, Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville.

Bridge Mondays, Canasta Tuesdays, Mah Jongg Wednesdays (bring own set & cards), Scrabble/Backgammon Thursdays, Needlework Fridays. 937610-5513.

Children

Theatre

JCC Camp Shalom: June 7-July 22. Grades 1-10. At Temple Beth Or, 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. Registration at jewishdayton.org.

Fiddler on the Roof North American Tour: June 21-26, Schuster Center, 1 W. 2nd St., Dayton. $26-$109. Tickets at daytonlive.org.

JCC Film Fest

See Page 27 for complete schedule.

Shavuot

Beth Abraham Tikun Leil Shavuot: Sat., June 4, 6:30-10 p.m.

Dairy meal, learning sessions, evening service. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. R.S.V.P. for dinner, 937-293-9520.

Temple Israel Shavuot & Confirmation: Sat., June 5, 10:30 a.m. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.

937-496-0050.

Shavuot at Chabad: Sun., June 5, 11 a.m. Reading of Ten Commandments followed by dairy lunch & ice cream. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. 937643-0770.

Beth Abraham Shavuot in the Park: Sun., June 5, 5-7 p.m.

Hills & Dales Park, White Oak Camp Shelter & Playground, 2606 Hilton Dr., Kettering.

Potluck dinner. Info. at 937-2939520.

Community

JCC Alliance Virtual Tribute to Jewish Composer Harold Arlen: Wed., June 8, 5 p.m. $12.50 until June 5. $15 June 6-8. Register at jewishdayton. org/events or contact Helen Jones at hjones@jfgd.net.

Temple Israel Jewish Cultural Festival: Sun., June 12, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. Info. at tidayton.org/ festival.

Temple Beth Or/JCRC Zoom Discussion, Improving Black/ Jewish Relations: Tues., June 21, 7 p.m. W. Prof. Cheryl Greenberg. Register at temple-

JFS Drive-Thru Mitzvah Mission: Sun., June 26, 10 a.m.noon. Donate frozen unbaked mac & cheese casseroles for St. Vincent de Paul’s & feminine hygiene products for Femme Aid Collaborative. Drop-offs at Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. For info., contact Jacquelyn Archie, jarchie@ jfgd.net or 937-610-1555.

Expires 8.31.2022. *Some exclusions apply. Not valid on wine, candy, or delivery.

1306 Troy Street • Dayton, Ohio 45404 937-223-1213 • furstflorist.com

Mazel Tov 2022 Hillel Academy Graduates!

Johnny Dinsmore Noah Baumgarten Jake Davis Ezra Jacobs

Students new to Hillel for 2022-23 are eligible to apply for renewable scholarships funded by the Sinai Foundation.

Beth Abraham Shabbat Under the Stars: Fri., June 24, 7:30 p.m. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. Service w. band, oneg.

Info. at 937-293-9520.

Bring in this ad and receive $10 off your next in-store purchase of $60 or more*

(L to R)

Now accepting K-6 applications for the 2022-2023 school year.

bethor.com/adult-education.

• For Jewish students in grades K to 6

• Art & science professional residencies

• Dedicated to nurturing the curiosity that propels lifelong learners

• Project-based learning & critical thinking

• Exemplary secular & Judaic education

• Hebrew language immersion via Ulpan Or & Tal-Am Hebrew curricula

daytonhillel.org • 937.277.8966 • dkmecoli@daytonhillel.org THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

PAGE 19

OPINION

Jewish tradition ‘permits’ abortion. If you Battling antisemitism, believe in bodily autonomy, that’s not enough. anti-Zionism at Duke

By Michal Raucher On May 3, Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz responded to the draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, “A woman’s rights over her own body are hers alone.”

It might seem odd that the Israeli health minister was commenting on U.S. abortion law, but his response, contained in a tweet, addresses a theme common to the abortion discussion in Israel and America that I research as an ethicist and scholar of reproduction among Jews.

In the 1970s, the Israeli Knesset debated the legalization of abortion. After several years of discussions, it ultimately passed a law that permitted abortion in certain circumstances: 1. If a woman is younger than 17 or older than 40.

2. When pregnancy results from rape, incest or extra-marital relations.

3. Under the possibility that the baby will be born with a physical or mental deformity.

4. When the continuation of the pregnancy could endanger a woman’s life or mental health. This law allows for certain abortions to be performed until the 39th week of pregnancy.

When I teach Americans about abortion law in Israel, they often express shock that Israel seems much more progressive than America.

That’s because their frame of reference for religion and abortion is a particular strain of American antiabortion Christianity.

My students — college-age and adult, Jewish or not — are surprised to see a country so strongly influenced by religion that is not opposed to abortion.

Yet in one important way the Israeli and American attitudes toward abortion are similar. They both reflect the fundamental assumption that abortion is wrong, and one must have a “good enough” reason to do something that is otherwise wrong.

This is called the justification approach to abortion.

Certain abortions are justified, while others are not.

The justification approach to abortion also assumes that women were meant to be mothers. As a result, not wanting to be pregnant for nine months, give birth or raise a child are not considered good enough reasons to get an abortion.

In order to qualify for an abortion that is legal and paid for by the state, Israeli women have to sit in front of a committee and tell them why they are requesting an abortion. Although 98 percent of abortion requests are approved, the law reflects the belief that women cannot or should not make this decision on their own.

Consider the case of a pregnant 24-year-old married woman who is pregnant from consensual sex but does not want to be pregnant because of the potential harm to her career.

Or a 35-year-old married Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) woman who has eight children and who simply cannot care for one more. In Israel, both of these women must lie or otherwise mislead the committee to get their abortions.

Horowitz opposes these committees and has been advocating to get rid of them, at least through the first trimester. He says that women should not need to give any reason for their request, and that nobody should have to determine whether their request is valid.

While we don’t have these committees in America, we have heard a lot this spring about the legislation that many states have developed, each providing dif-

So, what do you think?

PAGE 20

ferent circumstances under which they would permit abortion.

Some say that abortions will only be permitted if the woman’s life is in danger. Others allow abortion after rape or incest.

And of course one’s ability to terminate a pregnancy is already limited by where one lives, how far along one is in pregnancy, and the financial resources one has available.

Well-meaning Jewish groups often draw on rabbinic sources to claim that Judaism is supportive of abortion rights.

In a statement, the Orthodox Union explained that it cannot support an “absolute ban” on abortion because Jewish law requires abortion when “carrying the pregnancy to term poses real risk to the life of the mother.”

This popular argument is commonly also heard among more progressive Jewish groups.

But when you hear that “Jewish law permits and sometimes requires abortion,” you must also listen to the assumption underlying this statement: Women do not have the bodily autonomy to make that decision on their own. Jewish law must permit it — and sometimes demands it, regardless of what a woman prefers.

These statements, often used to express support for abortion rights, are ultimately stymied by the assumptions of rabbinic law, a system that does not support bodily autonomy or the ability to make decisions about one’s own body.

The statement by the Orthodox Union goes even further. It also explicitly prohibits what the group and others call “abortion on demand,” or abortion because someone doesn’t want to be pregnant.

By contrast, the Reform movement’s Religious Action Center bases its position on reproductive rights on “the core belief that each person should have agency and autonomy over their own bodies.”

Other progressive Jewish groups, including the National Council of Jewish Women, have gone on record highlighting the value of bodily autonomy over reproduction, but too few. Some non-Orthodox rabbis even expressly forbid it.

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.

It does not matter whether that person is a lawmaker, a judge, a contemporary rabbi or one from 2,000 years ago. It does not matter whether that person would permit most abortions or even require some.

There’s a temptation right now to say that restrictions on abortion rights in the United States violate the religious freedom of Jews.

That’s true, to an extent. But a religious argument based on Jewish law and rabbinic texts only goes so far.

Those of us who support reproductive health, rights, and justice ought to be honest about the connection between that and our rabbinic tradition.

I believe in the same bodily autonomy argument that Nitzan Horowitz makes. It may not be an argument rooted in Jewish law, but it is a Jewish argument — and it’s time to make it.

Michal Raucher is associate professor of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University and author of Conceiving Agency: Reproductive Authority Among Haredi Women.

By Alexandra Ahdoot I am a Persian Jew who has lived all of my life in America. Yet at the same time, Israel is my home. I get the chills every time I sing Hatikvah because even though I live thousands of miles away, my heart lies and will always lie in Israel. The small things in my daily life are a constant reminder of this: the mezuzah on my doorpost, the way I pray facing Jerusalem, the necklace I wear every day that bears my last name, meaning unity in Hebrew.

As a proud Jew and Zionist, Israel is not only part of my identity; it is also my duty to support it in any and every way. Especially upon beginning my college years, I realized that if I am not physically serving in the Israel Defense Forces like my 18-year-old Israeli counterparts, the least I can do is defend Israel my way — by receiving an amazing education and making it known that I will be a strong, unwavering pro-Israel voice on campus.

That is why when I started at Duke University last fall, I was so excited to be selected as a Zionist Organization of America Campus Fellow. As such, I work with the ZOA’s campus department to plan and host educational pro-Israel programs for Jewish and nonJewish students. Together, we work to challenge the anti-Israel falsehoods that some students and student groups promote on campus. Arming students with the facts about the Jewish state and its history, we encourage them to become informed advocates while at Duke and beyond.

One of my most impactful collegiate leadership activities has been the founding of Duke’s Students Supporting Israel chapter, a grassroots movement led by students for students. By starting SSI with a good friend of mine, I hoped to create an opportunity to help combat false narratives about Israel, educate those who don’t have any background knowledge of Israel, and help people understand why supporting this tiny country is so crucial to the world.

Last November, the Duke Student Government vetoed our SSI chapter a mere four days after the DSG Senate officially approved it. After making a social-media post calling out a student’s antisemitic remarks and inviting her to engage in a civil dialogue, our chapter was vetoed because we allegedly failed to engage in “good faith behavior.” DSG hadn’t exercised its veto power in over five years. After being gaslighted into believing we had done something wrong — though afterward digesting the extent of this double standard — my co-president and I realized with complete clarity that we had nothing to apologize for. Instead, we were more motivated than ever to put an end to anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric. “Good faith behavior” is a completely subjective term; in our eyes, we had, in fact, acted in good faith by standing up against antisemitism.

The days following the veto were a whirlwind; I was in and out of meetings with SSI National, news organizations, and concerned community members more than I attended class. I didn’t have a single free minute, and my phone was flooded with text notifications from outraged friends and family, as well as residents of Durham, N.C. Every single top headline of the Duke Chronicle, our school newspaper, involved SSI. The tensions were high as I felt all eyes turn to me when I entered the DSG Senate for the second time in a week. I was given a few minutes to speak — the room Continued on Page 30

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 • JUNE 2022

PRESIDENTS

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

DINNER 2022

PAGE 21

MAZEL TOV! Lela Klein, co-founder and co-executive director of Co-op Dayton, has been named to the fourth cohort of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York Collective. Established in 2019, the collective is an incubator for “Jewish women changemakers using a Jewish and gender lens to address critical

Marshall Weiss societal needs and issues, both existing and emerging, with the innovation and determination to make meaningful systemic change and inspire others.”

As a member of the collective, Co-op Dayton will receive two years of general operating support, and Lela will receive

Pasha Grill

immersive study of leadership and organizational growth with the other nine women from across the United States and Israel named to the cohort.

“I see it as a real broadening of my personal network and connecting our work here in Dayton to this incredible tradition of Jewish women’s leadership,” Lela says. “I’m mostly excited about the other women, being able to learn from them and participate in cohort gatherings.”

Now six years old, Co-op Dayton is an incubator for worker- and communityowned businesses that broaden economic opportunities and strengthen Dayton’s workingclass and Black neighborhoods.

May 13 marked a year since the co-op’s Gem City Market officially opened at 324 Salem Ave. Supplychain issues brought about with the pandemic hit the grocery store hard, but Gem City Market made it through, and sales are now Lela KIein up 40 percent.

“We brought in some great industry expertise to guide us,” Lela says. “We changed our pricing on 7,500 items. Our produce department has tripled in terms of what we offer, and our meat and seafood have pretty much tripled also. I’m feeling really good about it right now.”

The co-op opened another incubator project April 2, the West Side Makerspace, started

by African American engineers who graduated from UD. Its pilot location for the next year is at the new West Dayton Metro Library Branch.

“Right now, we’re experimenting to see what are the tools the folks in West Dayton will want, what kind of trainings can we offer,” Lela says.

“It will add to the workforce development pipelines that already exist in the city.”

The co-op is also incubat-

Catering & Online Delivery Available

Greene Town Center

72 Plum Street Beavercreek, Ohio 937-429 9000 www.pashagrill.com PAGE 22

2313 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood 937-293-1196 www.oakwoodflorist.com family owned and operated military discount

ing a group of perinatal health providers, mostly doulas, with some nurses, lactation consultants, and massage therapists.

“They are mostly African American although it’s both an interfaith and also a very diverse group.”

The women focus on how they can make their one-on-one birth support services more available to women of color who are disproportionately impacted by poor birth and maternal outcomes, who experience racism in the healthcare system.

“By forming a cooperative, they can do more together, can share services — they’re going to share backgrounds for support, bookkeeping, marketing, and also they’ll be able to do cross-sensitization between their low-income and their more highermoderate-income clients,” Lela says.

They’ll also pursue grant funding to support women who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford their services.

Lela and Co-Op Dayton’s co-founder and co-executive director, Amaha Sellassie, were recipients earlier this year of the J.M.K. Innovation Prize given by the J.M. Kaplan Foundation in New York for their social innovation work.

“It’s nice to be part of a national ecosystem of folks who are working for social and economic justice,” Lela says.

Syracuse University.

Jennifer is the author of the forthcoming book, Funny, You Don’t Look Funny: Judaism and Humor from the Silent Generation to Millennials. For the fall semester, she’ll teach Jews in American Film and Introduction to the Study of Religion. She’ll also teach courses about Jews in comics and humor, modern Jewish history, and several religious Adriane Miller studies courses.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 11.

Proceeds support conservation, civic improvement, and beautification projects in the Dayton area. This year also marks the Garden Club of Dayton’s centennial.

Longtime Daytonian Rosalyn “Ro” Mosrow celebrated her 100th birthday May 6 at her home in Boulder, Colo. “She is in amazing shape for that age,” her daughter Sharon says. “Her mind is sharp as a tack. She still plays with a Scrabble group and does crossword puzzles. Mom lives independently and goes for walks every single day. Yes, she does use a walker and is on oxygen, which is mainly an ‘altitude thing,’ living at Boulder’s high elevation.” Ro moved to Boulder at age 92 to be near Sharon, who tells us her mom would love to receive birthday greetings from her old friends in Dayton. Send greetings to rozmos17@ gmail.com.

Adriane Miller, executive director of the National Conference for Community & Justice of Greater Dayton, received a 2022 Coretta Scott King Legacy Award from Antioch College’s Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural & Intellectual Freedom at the center’s Sixth Annual Legacy Luncheon, April 29. Adriane has expanded NCCJ’s youth and corporate programming to create individual and organizational change agents. She helped create and Rosalyn Mosrow Jake Speller, who implement Divergraduated from UD in 2021 sity 101, a four-part training series that several organizations with a major in sport management and minors in mathematacross the Miami Valley use. ics and business administration, has been named UD’s Sam Dorf, associate professor Jennifer Caplan makes her of musicology at the University director of football operations.

A native of St. Louis, Jake return to the area with her of Dayton, has been named to worked for UD’s football proappointment as the new Jewthe regional board of the Antigram all four years as an underDefamation League, which ish Foundation of Cincinnati grad, including as equipment encompasses Ohio, Kentucky, Chair in Judaic Studies with manager, head West Virginia, and western the University of Cincinnati. video coordinaPennsylvania. Sam is presiMost recently, Jennifer served tor, and assistant as assistant professor in the dent of UD’s academic senate, to the director of department of philosophy and a member of the board of the football operareligious studies at Towson Jewish Federation of Greater tions. He returns University.

Dayton, chair of Miami Valley to UD after a She’s also held visiting proJewish Genealogy & Hisyear as head fessor positions at tory, and is an video coordinaWesleyan Uniadministrator of Jake Speller tor for Southeast the Citizens for versity, Western Missouri State University. In a Better Oakwood Illinois Univeran interview with the St. Louis Facebook group. sity, and Rollins Jewish Light, Jake described College. Jennifer his job at UD: “Anything that Nora Sokol Newreceived her bachdoesn’t have to do with on-field elor’s degree from sock chairs the coaching or active recruiting of Wellesley College, Garden Club of players, it’s most likely someher master’s in Dayton’s Garthing in which I have my hand theological studden Gems Tour, in the pot.” a walking tour ies from Harvard of six gardens in Divinity School, Send your Mazel Tov announceDayton, Oakwood, and her Ph.D. ments to mweiss@jfgd.net. and Kettering, in religion from Jennifer Caplan

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

The Class of 2022 Celebrating our high school graduates Benjamin Caruso

Parents: Patty and Michael Caruso Grandparents: Donna and the late Yale J. Holt, Joan Stack and the late Gary Caruso School: Oakwood Activities: Saxophone, Marching and Concert Band, Soccer, Speech and Debate, Student/ Superintendent Advisory Board, Student Leadership Activities, Political Engagement, GUCI Volunteering: Dayton Live, Ohio Democratic Party, Dayton History, Junior Leadership Dayton Philanthropy, Teacher’s Aide Honors: LaSertoma Club Award, High Honor Roll, Speech and Debate Placement, Bridges Scholar, Junior Leadership Dayton, National Honor Society, Oakwood Teen Court.

Congregation: Temple Israel After Graduation: Miami University

Benjamin E. Char

Parents: Deborah and David Char Grandparents: Tony Char and Mark Chesler School: Kettering Fairmont Activities: Marching Band, Basketball, Men’s Choir, Symphonic Chorale, A Cappella Group Fusion, Varsity Track Honors: Cum Laude, Scholar Athlete, Outstanding Tenor I Congregation: Temple Beth Or After Graduation: Capital University, Zoology and Business

For your Class of 2022 graduates

Faith Wagner

Parents: John and Julie Wagner School: Tecumseh Activities: Volleyball, Track Team, Junior Optimist President, National Honor Society Vice President, Class of 2022 Vice President Volunteering: Dayton VA Medical Center, Impact Bethel, Temple Israel Honors: Class Valedictorian Congregation: Temple Israel After Graduation: Purdue University, Engineering, Honors College

New Address

THECSorner HOPS AKWOOD of FarOF HillsO &D orothy Lane 23162977 FARFAR HHILLS ILLS AA VEVE DAYTON OH DAYTON OH45419 45419 937-224-7673 937-224-7673 THEFLOWERSHOPPE.COM WWW.THEFLOWERSHOPPE.COM

Ethan P. Zied

Parents: Eric Zied and Dr. Dena Mason-Zied Grandparents: Renee Mason and the late Howard Mason, Ernie and Marcia Zied School: Springboro Activities: Boy Scouts, Recreational Soccer, Academic Team, Ultimate Frisbee, City of Springboro Memorial Day Committee Member, Dungeons & Dragons Club, Temple Israel Madrich, Temple Israel Virtual Service Leader Volunteering: Decorating Veterans’ Graves, Honor Flight Dayton, JFS Mitzvah Day Volunteer, Teacher’s Aide Honors: Eagle Scout, National Honor Society, National Merit Scholarship Commended Student, AP Scholar Award With Distinction. Eagle Scout Project of the Year Award 2020, Sons of the American Revolution Eagle Scout Award Congregation: Temple Israel After Graduation: Stanford University, Physics

Kayla M. Zied

Julian Doninger

Parents: Sandra and Nicholas Doninger Grandparents: Armando Susmano, Joe and Ruth Doninger School: Kettering Fairmont Activities: Varsity Soccer, Class Council, Orchestra, Latin Club, Soccer Leadership Committee Volunteering: Special Olympics, Dorwood Optimist, Fairmont Buddy System, Dayton Blood Bank Donor and Volunteer, AIM Honors: Scholar Athlete, Academic Honors Congregation: Temple Israel After Graduation: University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering

Weekly podcast

The Jewish News Hour

with The Dayton Jewish Observer’s Marshall Weiss

Parents: Eric Zied and Dr. Dena Mason-Zied Grandparents: Renee Mason and the late Howard Mason, Ernie and Marcia Zied School: Springboro Activities: Acrobatics, Recreational Soccer, Girl Scouts, Art Club, Spanish Club, Temple Israel Youth Group, Ohio Sports Academy Coach, Temple Israel Madricha Volunteering: Robyn’s Nest Rescue, Decorating Veterans’ Graves, Teacher’s Aide, JFS Mitzvah Day Volunteer Honors: National Honor Society, National Merit Scholarship Commended Student, Mark Twain Nonresident Scholarship Congregation: Temple Israel After Graduation: University of Missouri, Class of 2030 Veterinarian Medicine Student

Search for The Dayton Jewish Observer in Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, or your favorite podcast app and subscribe.

Or listen on the web at player.whooshkaa. com/shows/the-dayton-jewish-observer.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

PAGE 23

JEWISH FAMILY EDUCATION

The space between

“It does not mean holding yourself low; it means holding other people high,” explains Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. “It means honoring others and regarding them as important, no less important than you are.”

Rabbi David Jaffe suggests asked to rest in the store for humility emerges between a bit. After watching endless personality extremes. “True people come in for food and humility occupies a middle other items, he quietly left. space between self-deprecaAfter Shabbat, the tzadik visited the puzzled shopkeeper tion and arrogance.”

The focus of either extreme to explain. is not on others nor on the “Many times I have asked relationship between oneself you to close your store on and others, but solely on the Shabbat. But I wanted to unself, “either a ‘woe is me’ menderstand for myself — to see and feel with my heart — what tality or illusions of personal Irena Sendlerowa, 1944 grandeur,” explains Jewish I was asking you to give up.

Rabbi Jeffery Saxe concludes, And I now realize how difficult educator Kate Hennessey. “But “Humility is about having a true humility calls for us to fill it would be for you. Now that clear vision of where we fit into the space we are called to fill.”

I truly understand, I can’t and the events taking place around There are times when we won’t ask you to close your us; of how we can be most are called to fill a store on Shabbat.” helpful in achieving a worsignificant space The next Friday thy outcome; and of when to and other times night, and all the remind ourselves that it is not when we are following Fricalled to step back about us.” day nights, all of How do the individuals in and allow space the stores in the the these stories illustrate Jewfor others. rabbi’s Jerusalem ish views of humility? What Moses was neighborhood spaces are they called to fill? called to fill more were closed for Two houses. For three years, space when facShabbat. Every Beit Shammai (the house or foling Pharaoh and less when one. lowers of Shammai) and Beit listening to Jethro’s advice to Like Moses, described in Hillel disagreed on the proper delegate. the Torah as “very humble,” Rabbi Levin was called to fill understanding and application Rabbi Levin was known for of laws in the Torah. Each side more space when persuading his humility. But Judaism does the shopkeepers and less when would argue that the halacha not define humility, anavah, in (Jewish law) was in accordance observing the shopkeeper’s the typical manner as meek or with their position. store. submissive.

Finally, a Heavenly Voice proclaimed that both sides’ arguments accorded with God’s Word. However, the halacha would follow the position of Beit Hillel, because the followers of Hillel were agreeable, considerate, and restrained when provoked. Furthermore, when teaching, they not only taught the arguments of both sides, but they presented the arguments of Beit Shammai before their own out of respect for Beit Shammai.

Lives in a jar. During World War II, Polish social worker Irena Sendlerowa was permit“Setting the Standard ted to enter every Warsaw

The Power of Stories Series Jerusalem’s tzadik. Early in the 20th century, the young Lithuanian rabbi, Aryeh Levin, arrived in Jerusalem. There he studied and taught Torah, visited the sick, comforted the bereaved, and visited Jewish dissidents imprisoned by the British. Humble, kind, and

Candace R. Kwiatek willing to extend himself to anyone in need, he was loved by the religious and the secular alike and came to be known as the Tzadik (righteous one) of Jerusalem.

To create a peaceful Shabbat experience for his entire neighborhood situated outside the city walls, he persuaded all the local shopkeepers to close their stores for Shabbat — all but one.

So one Friday eve, Rabbi Levin headed not to synagogue but to the shopkeeper’s store.

Surprising the owner with a “Shabbat shalom,” the rabbi

Humility is filling just the space we are called to fill in the moment.

Call Today for a Tour 937-293-7703

SENIOR LIVING CAMPUS

Featured on Campus: • Skilled Nursing Center • Elegant Assisted Living • Independent Living Community • Memory Care • Rehabilitation Services

www.wcreekoh.com

for Excellence in Health Care”

5070 Lamme Rd. - Kettering - OH - 45439 - 937-293-7703 PAGE 24

neighborhood. While inside the ghetto, she used her position to smuggle out Jewish children, provide them with false papers, and place them with Polish families, orphanages or convents.

Her careful records, written on small slips of paper hidden in jars buried in a nearby garden prove she saved nearly 2,500 children from certain death.

Arrested, brutally tortured by the Gestapo, and condemned to death, she was rescued moments before her execution. She assumed a false identity and continued to help underground rescue operations while remaining out of sight for the remainder of the war.

In 2007, when finally honored by the Polish government, she didn’t relish the accolades but rather shared her regrets about not accomplishing more.

When reporters pressed her for a comment about being a hero, Sendlerowa responded, “Every child saved with my help and the help of all the wonderful secret messengers… is the justification of my existence on this Earth, and not a title to glory.”

The mountains. Before God gave the Torah to Israel, each of the mountains offered arguments for why it would be the perfect site for the revelation. Mt. Tabor claimed it was higher than all the other mountains, untouched by the Flood. Mt. Carmel bragged it was used for crossing the sea.

Another, adorned with magnificent wildflowers, proclaimed its regal beauty.

Only one neither boasted about its qualities nor denied its worth, and for its humility God chose Mt. Sinai.

An essential trait for serving God and one another, humility is filling just the space we are called to fill in the moment, the space between the Talmud’s dictum, “I am but dust and ashes”and “The entire world was created just for me.”

Literature to share Soosie, The Horse That Saved Shabbat by Tami LehmanWilzig. Welcome to Jerusalem in the early 20th century, where two elderly bakers braid dough before dawn every Friday. The challah is then sold along the cobblestone streets of the city by a delivery boy and a devoted horse, Soosie, who pulls the cart. But what happens when the Friday morning routine is thrown into disarray? Will Soosie save the day? Inspired by the story of Israel’s famed Angel Bakery, this charming tale with its colorful, inviting images is guaranteed to delight preschool and primary ages.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

RELIGION

It’s personal.

By Rabbi Cary Kozberg Temple Sholom, Springfield I admit it. Since I first saw it as a kid, I have been a devotee of the 1956 film The Ten Commandments. Even as I came to realize the extreme liberties it takes with the biblical account (inaccuracies), what continues to recommend it is its reiteration of the biblical message that God wants human beings to be free.

But not just free. Free to serve Him: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me (Ex. 7:27).” That’s why it’s a bit curious that in the film, Moses (Charlton Heston) relays only

Perspectives the first part of God’s directive to Pharaoh (Yul Brynner) — “Let My people go”— but leaves out the second part, “that they may serve Me.” Indeed, because the quote is often invoked without this second part, there is a common misconception that the story of the Exodus from Egypt is only about freedom from slavery, when more correctly it is about freedom to serve God. Fortunately, this curious deletion is corrected later in the film. When Moses comes down from Mt. Sinai with the Tablets and begins to scold the

Former Springfield rabbi dies at 90

Rabbi Lloyd R. Goldman, who served Temple Sholom in Springfield from 1983 until his retirement in 1995, died May 12 at age 90. A native of Cleveland, Goldman received his ordination at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati Rabbi Lloyd R. and served Goldman as rabbi of congregations in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Spokane, Wash.; and Downey, Calif. before his arrival in Springfield. At his retirement, the Springfield News-Sun described him as a “highly visible spiritual leader in a mostly Christian area.” He is survived by his wife, Bernice, four sons, and four grandchildren. Interment was at Mayfield Cemetery, Cleveland Heights.

people for worshipping the Golden Calf, he is confronted

by Dathan (Edward G. Robinson) who says to him: “We're gathered against you, Moses.

You take too much upon yourself! We will not live by your commandments. We're free!”

To which Moses replies: “There is no freedom without the Law.” As I write this, we are celebrating Pesach/Passover. One of the other names of Passover is z’man cheruteynu, the season of our freedom.

But taking a cue from Moses’ response to Dathan (an exchange that doesn’t occur in the biblical text), the “season of our freedom” is not really limited to the week of Passover.

Rather, it encompasses the seven weeks which begin with Passover and culminate with Shavuot, also called z’man matan torateynu, the season of the giving of our Torah.

Unfortunately, these two holidays are often misunderstood as two distinct festivals that commemorate two distinct events.

More correctly understood, the holidays and the events that they commemorate are inextricably connected. Why? Because the movie script is correct: There is no freedom without the Law. Law creates clear boundaries and prevents social chaos by legislating what is and is not acceptable behavior when people live together.

Without laws, people tend to believe Dathan’s words: “freedom” is having the right to do whatever they want to

CONGREGATIONS

God’s Voice at do whenever they Sinai, but also want to do it. that every person They confuse heard the Voice freedom with according to his/ license. Signifiher individual cantly Judaism’s understanding. source of Law, the The Voice was/ Torah, hardly disis addressed to cusses what rights us as a people; people have. On but it was/is also the other hand, it addressed to us as clearly sets forth individuals. an extensive list As the Hagof responsibilities: Rabbi Cary Kozberg gadah’s directive 613 of them. encourages us to On Shavuot — the season of the giving of our Torah—we af- experience liberation personfirm that we were not just freed ally, so Shavuot calls us to experience the revelation at from slavery, but liberated to Sinai personally. serve God. It calls each of us to rememWe commemorate gatherber/imagine what it was like at ing at Sinai, hearing the Voice Sinai when we were there. It that addressed us as a people calls each of us to ask: Where and collectively we responded did I stand? Next to whom was “na’aseh v’nishmah”—we will I standing? What did I see? comply and listen/understand, And perhaps most imporagreeing to comply first and tantly, to ask: In addition to understand later. what I heard as a member of During the the Jewish people, what did I Passover Seder, hear as an individual? we tell the story Unfortunately, although of our liberaShavuot is arguably the most tion as a people. important Jewish holiday But we are also (without the Torah, there encouraged to would be no other holidays), it experience that is also the most neglected. liberation perNevertheless, even if it is not sonally: In every observed as Jewish tradition generation each person should see mandates, one need not neglect it altogether. him/herself as if they themShavuot beckons each of us selves went out of Egypt. to reflect upon what it means On Shavuot, we recall our to each Jew to be a committed collective experience of hearJew and to renew that commiting God’s Voice at Sinai and ment on this important annireceiving the Law by which to versary. realize true freedom.

It beckons each of us to ask However, just as the collecagain: What did I hear at Sinai? tive event of leaving Egypt is What assignment was I given, supposed to be experienced by and am I fulfilling it to the best every person individually, our of my ability? tradition seems to encourage Paraphrasing a famous line the collective event at Sinai also from another blockbuster film, be experienced by every person I pray that on this Shavuot, individually. each of us will understand that Indeed, not only are we our commitment is “not just taught that every Jewish soul business; it’s personal.” past present and future heard

We affirm that we were not just freed from slavery, but liberated to serve God.

Shabbat, June 3: 8:42 p.m.

Erev Shavuot, June 4: 9:49 p.m.

2nd Eve Shavuot, June 5: 9:50 p.m.

Shabbat, June 10: 8:46 p.m.

Shabbat, June 17: 8:49 p.m.

Shabbat, June 24: 8:51 p.m.

Torah Portions June 4: Bamidbar (Num. 1:1-4:20) June 11: Naso (Num. 4:21-7:89) June 18: Behalotecha (Num. 8:1-12:16) June 25: Shelach (Num. 13:1-15:41)

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

Conservative Interim Rabbi Melissa Crespy Cantor/Dir. of Ed. & Programming Andrea Raizen Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.

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

BethAbrahamDayton.org

Beth Jacob Congregation

Traditional Rabbi Leibel Agar Sundays & Wednesdays, 7:15 p.m.

Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.

7020 N. Main St., Dayton.

937-274-2149. BethJacobCong.org

Temple Anshe Emeth

Reform 320 Caldwell St., Piqua.

Fri., June 17, 7:30 p.m. lay-led service with Jese Shell Contact Steve Shuchat, 937-7262116, AnsheEmeth@gmail.com. ansheemeth.org

Temple Beth Or

Reform Rabbi Judy Chessin Asst. Rabbi/Educator Ben Azriel 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., June 3, 6 p.m.

Fridays, June 10, 17 & 24, 6:30 p.m.

Sat., June 25, 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

June • Sivan/Tammuz Candle Lightings

Beth Abraham Synagogue

Chabad of Greater Dayton

Shavuot

Festival of Weeks, Giving of the Torah June 5-6/6-7 Sivan Marks the end of the counting of the Omer, a 49-day period that begins on the second night of Passover, and recalls the giving of the Torah at Sinai. In Israel, it falls at the end of the spring harvest. An all-night study session called a tikun, originally a mystical practice, is held at some synagogues.

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

Yellow Springs Havurah

Independent Antioch College Rockford Chapel.

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

PAGE 25

Israeli’s updated choreography highlight of Fiddler tour

Nine movies in June for JCC Film Fest

Menemsha Films

Arts&Culture Arts &Culture The company of the North American tour of Fiddler on the Roof

Joan Marcus

me and kept on saying, ‘Oh my God, When Hofesh Shechter agreed to uphe’s just like Jerome.’ And I thought, date Jerome Robbins’ iconic Fiddler on the Roof choreography for Bartlett Sher’s that’s a good sign.”

Shechter’s creative style might even 2016 Broadway revival, the Israeli nabe similar to that of Robbins, known for tive knew his friends and colleagues his trial-and-error approach. were nervous for him.

“I tell people always, you know, it’s “I have to say, I normally suffer when one, maybe two percent talent, and I make work, but with this one, I had a then you just have to try over and over great time,” Shechter told The Observer again. And I also tell people my only from his home in London, where he is real talent is that I’m persistent and I artistic director of the Hofesh Shechter just don’t let go. I just persist and perCompany of international dancers.

Audiences here will see his Tonysist and persist until I find something I nominated work when the North feel works.

American tour of Bartlett Sher’s produc“It’s very much the same for me as well, when I create work for my own tion of Fiddler comes to the Schuster company, and my dancers know that Center, June 21-26. we will create so much material and “I was very happy to be involved in then maybe five percent of what we do that project. I was excited to be asked,” he says. “I wasn’t too worried about the ends up on stage. We are making tons original choreography. I first connected of material and I only keep what I feel is really like the jewel, the to the music and the story Hugo Glendinning very pure stuff. For me, from my own angle.” that’s the way. That’s how He says he knew from his it works. I just accept it and discussions with director Sher work hard.”

— who had previously diShechter adds that Sher rected revivals of South Pacific trusted him and gave him (New York) and The King and the freedom to do what he I (London) — that this Fiddler wanted. revival would incorporate “There was something some elements of Robbins’ very organic about the original choreography, but whole process,” Shechter that he could rely on his own says. “Working with Bart experiences to expand upon it. was such a pleasure. It’s “I grew up in Israel. I was really a beautiful and lifedoing a lot of folk dancing,” Hofesh Shechter affirming production.”

Shechter says. “That was the He says he was able to negotiate adfirst connection I have. Then it felt like a very natural connection to the musical, ditional time to the length of the show the music, the story.” for his dance creations, working with But first he had to convince the the music director and Sher.

Jerome Robbins estate to give him A happy coincidence was when permission to adjust Robbins’ original Shechter learned that Israeli actor and Fiddler choreography. dancer Yehezkiel Lazarov would play “I had to go and meet with them and the lead role of Tevye in this North we met for breakfast in New York in the American tour of Sher’s revival. offices of the producers,” he says.

“When I was in Israel, when I was “I landed from a flight from Mel18, I joined the junior company of the Batsheva Dance Company,” Shechbourne the night before, so I was as jetlagged as you get. And we just had that ter says. “And Yehezkiel, the Tevye, meeting and had a conversation. And was with me, there together. We were one elderly gentleman kept looking at dancing in that company for two years together and moved into the main Dayton Live presents the North Americompany, Batsheva Dance Company, can tour of Fiddler on the Roof, June together. And so I actually know him 21-26 at the Schuster Center, 1 W. 2nd very well. I didn’t know that he speaks St., Dayton. Tickets are $26 to $109 and English and had become an actor.” are available at daytonlive.org.

— Marshall Weiss

PAGE 26

The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival 2021 Film Critics Jury Prize winner Neighbors is on the 2022 Dayton JCC Film Fest schedule

The JCC’s 22nd Film Fest returns to its pre-Covid format of screening films in person, with the post-Covid addition of making each film available for viewing at home.

Festival organizers have also returned to presenting the series over the course of a month, nine films from June 2 to 26.

San Francisco-based movie reviewer Michael Fox, who has written about Jewish and Israeli films in The Observer for two decades (including in this issue), says he’s impressed with this year’s lineup.

“I’ve seen four of the nine films — Plan A, Neighbors, Wet Dog, and 200 Meters — and they are all solid dramas,” he says.

Three other films on the schedule for Dayton — One More Story, Berenshtein, and Cinema Sabaya — were featured selections of the 35th Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles in May. The JCC Film Fest, in person and online, June 2-26. Opening night tickets $18, rest of series $12 each. $75 for in-person or online film pass. Go to jewishdayton.org.

Dayton’s JCC Film Fest opens at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 2 at the Dayton Art Institute with the 2021 Israeli documentary That Orchestra with the Broken Instruments, a pre-movie program with Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Artistic Director Neal Gittleman, and a dessert reception following the screening. The cost, $18, includes dessert.

All other films are $12 in person or online.

Guest speakers for other films will be Elliot Ratzman, chair in Jewish studies at Earlham College, following Neighbors, 7 p.m., Thursday, June 9 at The Neon; novelist Martha Moody Jacobs before Cinema Sabaya, 9:30 a.m., Thursday, June 16 in partnership with Dayton Hadassah at The Neon; and Holocaust Education Committee Chair Renate Frydman after I Am Here, 7 p.m., Thursday, June 23 at The Neon.

The Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs will screen Berenshtein at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 15, the evening before it’s shown at The Neon.

Festival passes for in-person or online films are available for $75.

— Marshall Weiss Go2Films

Producer/director Yuval Hameiri’s Israeli documentary That Orchestra with the Broken Instruments opens this year’s JCC Film Fest

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

2022

LINEUP OPENING NIGHT: THAT ORCHESTRA WITH THE BROKEN INSTRUMENTS 2021 • 1hr 19min • Documentary, Musical Film • Hebrew/English/Arabic (with subtitles)

Thursday, June 2 @ 7:00 p.m.

The Dayton Art Institute 456 Belmonte Park N Dayton, Ohio 45405

A broken string, fractured echo chamber, rusting valves. One brilliant conductor, three gifted composers, and 100 musicians meet for four days of rehearsals. They speak different languages.

Their instruments are broken. An orchestra of professional and amateur musicians, young and old, prepare, against all odds, for a one-time-only concert for the Mekudeshet festival. A poetic, engaging take on broken and whole presents an eclectic array of Jerusalemites and their determined attempt, even if it’s just for one night, to create harmony out of a discordant city.

Available online June 2, 7:00 p.m. to June 4 7:00 p.m.

$18.00 per person Includes dessert

JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL PROGRAM WITH NEAL GITTLEMAN, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE DAYTON PHILHARMONIC, BEFORE THE FILM, AND A DESSERT RECEPTION AFTER IN THE DAI LOBBY.

PLAN A Tuesday, June 7 @ 7:00 p.m. at The Neon Available online June 7, 7:00 p.m. to June 9 7:00 p.m.

NEIGHBORS Thursday, June 9 @ 7:00 p.m. at The Neon Available online June 9, 7:00 p.m. to June 11, 7:00 p.m.

Guest speaker: Elliot Ratzman ONE MORE STORY Monday, June 13 @ 7:00 p.m. at The Neon Available online June 13, 7:00 p.m. to June 15, 7:00 p.m.

BERENSHTEIN Wednesday, June 15 @ 7:00 p.m. at The Little Art Theater in Yellow Springs June 16 @ 7:00 p.m. at The Neon Available online June 15, 7:00 p.m. to June 18, 7:00 p.m.

CINEMA SABAYA Thursday, June 16 @ 9:30 a.m. at The Neon Available online June 16, 10:00 a.m. to June 18, 10:00 a.m.

In partnership with Hadassah, featuring a pre-movie program with Martha Moody Jacobs and a coffee reception.

200 METERS Tuesday, June 21 @ 7:00 p.m. at The Neon Available online June 21, 7:00 p.m. to June 23, 7:00 p.m.

I AM HERE Thursday, June 23 @ 7:00 p.m. at The Neon Available online June 23, 7:00 p.m. to June 25, 7:00 p.m.

Guest Speaker: Renate Frydman WET DOG (CLOSING NIGHT) Sunday, June 26 @ 7:00 p.m. at The Neon Available online June 26, 7:00 p.m. to June 28, 7:00 p.m.

ALL FILMS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AND ONLY IN OHIO ON EVENTIVE, A SECURE VIDEO ON-DEMAND WEBSITE.

TICKETS

$18.00 Opening Night – both in person and online $12.00 All other nights - both in person and online $75.00 For festival pass – includes Opening Night and can be used for either in-person or online films

Jewish Community Center OF GREATER DAYTON

Thank you to our festival sponsors!

To purchase tickets or a festival pass, visit jewishdayton.org. All ticket and festival pass purchases will be online through Eventive.

For more information or assistance, contact Helen Jones at hjones@jfgd.net or 937-610-5513 Limited tickets available day of the event at the venue.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

PAGE 27

Arts&Culture

Plan A dramatizes real plot to kill millions of Germans as payback for Holocaust

By Rich Tenorio Times of Israel Max, a German Jew who lost his wife and child in the Holocaust, has gotten a job with the Nuremberg water supply department in the aftermath of World War II. While rebuilding the war-ravaged facilities, he comes across a blueprint of the entire system. Using his artistic skills, he quickly copies it on paper and brings it back to a secret Jewish group that’s plotting a massive act of revenge for the Shoah.

It may sound like a largerthan-life thriller, but this story is actually true — and it’s the subject of a new film, Plan A,

by Israeli fraternal directors Yoav and Doron Paz. While Max is a fictional character created for the film, he’s based on Abba Kovner, leader of the underground group Nakam.

The group — whose name means revenge or vengeance in Hebrew — aimed to poison the water supply in several German cities, including Nuremberg, and kill millions of Germans in retribution for the dead of the Holocaust.

The plan ultimately failed, and Kovner became more famous for his Israel Prize-winning poetry than his plotting.

Now, the Paz brothers retell the grim narrative of these “avengers” in Plan A, which will be shown as part of Dayton’s JCC Film Festival.

“Of course, in today’s (perspective) it was a horrible plan… killing innocent civilians, women and children,” Yoav Paz said in a joint Zoom conversation with his brother.

“For so many years, they kept it a secret. They know how it sounds today, how horrible it sounds.”

According to Yoav Paz, the members of Nakam “wanted revenge on a biblical scale.”

“Revenge is a subject that is still relevant, unfortunately, today,” Doron Paz said. “And The JCC Film Fest presents Plan A at 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 7 at The Neon, 130 E. 5th St., Dayton and online from 7 p.m., June 7 to 7 p.m., June 9.

Tickets are $12 and are available at jewishdayton.org.

PAGE 28

not just in Israel. You can see revenge…reading the news around the world — a vicious cycle of violence, endless violence going on. We want to raise the question about this subject.”

“Our goal in the movie was trying to portray the human side of the revenge,” he said.

“A perspective that was not too much the (Quentin) Tarantino kind of revenge, shallow. There’s a lot of depth in revenge. It’s what you were feeling, what the people were feeling, living among Germans killing everyone around them, suffering, all the pain having gone through. This interested us.”

The Paz brothers first came across the subject of revenge in August Diehl as Max in Plan A the Holocaust many years ago through the personal account of explains, indicate that he is a friend’s grandfather, who had anything but a natural born lost his family in World War II killer. after a man betrayed them to However, Max learns that the Nazis. After the war, the his wife and son have perished. grandfather tracked down the He’s already reeling from man and killed him. Havfinding out that his home is ing never previously heard a now occupied by a German story of people taking revenge family, who violently turn him during or after the war, the away when he tries to return. brothers looked for other such Homeless and alone, Max accounts. falls in with a friend, and they They learned about Naserendipitously stumble upon kam through a book by Prof. the encampment of a unique Dina Porat, the Alfred P. British army unit — the Jewish Slaner Chair for the Study of Brigade.

Contemporary Antisemitism The soldiers take in the Menemsha Films and Racism at Tel Aviv University, as well as the chief historian at Israel’s Holocaust memorial and museum, Yad Vashem.

The brothers interviewed surviving members of Nakam, although many of them have since died during the years it took to make the film — which Yoav Paz describes as a historical thriller and Doron Paz (L) Yoav Paz, directors of Plan A not a documentary.

Plan A tells its story in wanderers and encourage them large part through Max — porto go to what was then British trayed by August Diehl, whose Mandate Palestine. Yet Max becredits include the Tarantino comes intrigued by their secret Holocaust revenge film Inglouproject of taking revenge on rious Basterds. Initially, Max just Nazi war criminals. He starts wants to find his missing wife helping them with the bloody and son. He uses his talent for reprisals, but during one such drawing to create an evocative undertaking, he encounters portrait of them that he posts another group with revenge in publicly in the hope that somemind — Nakam. one will recognize them.

“For us, we were really lucky Max’s character was inspired to find in our research that the

by Kovner’s background as a two groups met on one special former art student. His sensinight,” Yoav Paz said. “Abba tive artistic skills, Yoav Paz Kovner went to see the Jewish

Menemsha Films

Brigade. He asked them to help with his plan. They refused.

They knew his plan was much bigger and darker than their revenge.”

Thankfully thwarted

In the film, one member of the Jewish Brigade, Moshe Mishali (Michael Aloni), is particularly horrified by Nakam’s goal and entrusts Max with infiltrating the group and spying on its plans.

As Max moves into their safehouse in Nuremberg, his allegiance shifts and he gets to know a member of the group named Anna (Sylvia Hoeks, whose credits include Blade Runner 2049 and whose character is based on Kovner’s wife Vitka Kempner).

Max bonds with Anna after learning that both lost a child to the Holocaust and they develop a romance. With a project to rebuild the bombed-out city underway and the Nuremberg Trials approaching, Anna and Max both land jobs working for the water supply company.

According to the film, Nakam plotted to poison the water supply in five German cities — Nuremberg, Munich, Weimar, Cologne, and Hamburg. “(Nuremberg) had the most advanced cell,” Yoav Paz said.

“That’s why we concentrated our film on Nuremberg. There’s the importance of Nuremberg — everything started there, the Nazis, the trials of course. It’s a very symbolic city. It’s why we decided to focus on the Nuremberg cell, people working undercover in the cell, waiting

for the poison to arrive.”

Kovner had gone to pre-state Israel to acquire the poison with which to carry out the plan, but was forced to jettison half of it from the ship he was sailing on back to Europe when British authorities called his name over the public address system. He gave the rest to a co-conspirator, who successfully conveyed it to Nuremberg where Nakam implemented its “Plan B” — the poisoning of thousands of loaves of bread served to German prisoners of war in the Langwasser internment camp.

Roughly 2,000 German POWs were reportedly sickened, but none were said to have died as a result of the poisoning. In the end, it’s not clear if Kovner was even questioned by the British in relation to Nakam, and he was released after two months. He did not resume his vengeful activities.

“The leadership in Israel, David Ben-Gurion…disagreed with (Kovner’s) approach,” said Yoav Paz. “It would be a big mistake if successful, even partially (successful)…Some historians say Ben-Gurion snitched and told the British authorities about Abba Kovner and that’s why he was caught.”

“The majority of Holocaust survivors took their revenge through positive situations,” even former members of Nakam, he said. “For them, the real revenge was starting a new family, having careers, seeing the State of Israel moving forward. That was the real revenge.”

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

Alaa Aliabdallah

I Am Here: Lessons from Palestinian a Holocaust survivor

father takes long way home in 200 Meters Ali Suliman in 200 Meters

By Michael Fox Special To The Observer It boggles the mind that fiction films that humanize Palestinians are still controversial in some circles.

Or perhaps not, because those who see and define them solely and simply as enemies of Israel are rattled by any depiction of Palestinians as human beings.

Still, it’s difficult to imagine Ameen Nayfeh’s heartfelt debut feature riling even the most ardent American Jewish supporters of Israel. The neo-realist tale of a dedicated West Bank father and husband determined to circumvent the labyrinth of checkpoints and permits to visit his son in a Jerusalem hospital, 200 Meters devotes more attention to Palestinian family life than to the occupation.

Of course, by virtue of its setting, 200 Meters is inevitably a political film. But its core concerns are personal, not polemical.

200 Meters, which was Jordan’s official entry for the 2021 Academy Award for Best International Film and received the Human Rights Jury Prize at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, screens with Dayton’s JCC Film Festival June 21.

Mustafa (Ali Suliman) and Salwa (Lana Zreik) are happily married with three children, but have separate homes in their respective West Bank villages.

Salwa was born and lives on the Israeli side of the wall, but Mustafa — a go along/get along kind of guy who never evinces a political identity otherwise — won’t apply for Israeli citizenship.

He sees his family in person after each day’s labor at an Israeli construction site, and every night from his roof.

In an absurdist bedtime ritual, they all flick their respective lights on and off while saying good night via cellphone.

The first half-hour of 200 Meters presents Salwa and Mustafa’s warm-hearted domestic drama as a love story that’s complicated, like many marriages, by long working hours, child-raising The JCC Film Fest presents 200 Meters at 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 21 at The Neon, 130 E. 5th St., Dayton and online from 7 p.m., June 21 to 7 p.m., June 23. Tickets are $12 and are available at jewishdayton.org.

concerns, and scarce opportunities for intimacy.

Mustafa is a preternaturally patient man, even when he’s denied entry at a checkpoint because his ID is expired and stands to lose a day’s work and pay. But his conformist adherence to rules goes out the window when he learns that his son has been hit by a car. Desperate to reach the hospital, he decides to pay a smuggler to get him into Israel.

While this situation readily lends itself to an indictment of Israeli policies and practices, and the demonization of uncaring, unfeeling soldiers, Nayfeh is refreshingly disinterested in clichés and villains. He keeps his editorializing to a minimum: a blink-and-you-missit declaration of antipathy for settlers, the petty and foolish theft of an Israeli flag, a glimpse of a roadside billboard of Trump and Netanyahu shaking hands.

The filmmaker devotes much more time to the opportunism and greed of the gouging smuggler and his unhurried indifference to Mustafa’s urgency.

If you relish movie shorthand, just the way the smuggler slips off his sunglasses tells us he isn’t a card-carrying member of a human-rights NGO. It’s harder to discern the motivations of the couple who show up and ante up for a van ride to the other side. The woman speaks English and says she’s a German filmmaker; her Palestinian escort defends her continual filming with a caustic “Let her show the world our ‘happy life.’”

The movie does contain a brief, blunt critique of Israelis, specifically those well-intentioned people — guilt-ridden bleeding hearts, to apply an American pejorative—whose opposition to the occupation is more cosmetic than confrontational.

200 Meters is at its best when it relegates politics to the back seat, and lets Ali Suliman’s unwaveringly decent Mustafa carry the film. In addition to being the rock-solid moral center, he anchors this unexpectedly generous film in the everyday problem-solving dilemmas of ordinary people.

Mustafa is the furthest thing from a sandwich board for idealistic slogans, yet he emerges at the end of his ordeal as an archetype of coexistence. Tip your cap to Ameen Nayfeh, for keeping hope alive.

By Marcia G. Yerman, Times of Israel As the last Holocaust survivors die, despite documentation and recorded oral histories, the connection to lived experience disappears with them.

In I’m Still Here, the story of Ella Blumenthal is recounted against the backdrop of her 98th birthday. (She is currently 100 years old.) Surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and friends, for the first time she fully reveals the details of her five-year ordeal during World War II. She has previously withheld them from those closest to her.

The cheerful demeanor of an older woman in a green running suit may be the image she presents to the world, but her personal history is always with her: like the 24 relatives she lost in the Holocaust.

The story of each person who lived through Nazi horrors has similarities and differences. What they have in common is that moment when a person or circumstance interceded, saving them from death.

Director Jordy Sank interweaves Ella’s monologues of revelation with personal photos, archival material, and animated sequences in earth tones, greys, and black. The latter serves to move the narrative forward, conveying the gruesome aspects without feeling exploitative.

Bella’s story begins with her birth in 1921 into a Warsaw household where she was the youngest of seven children.

Her days included singing, dancing, kayaking, and a happy Jewish home life. Despite warnings from her brother that it was time to leave Poland, there was a belief that nothing could happen to them. That ended in 1939.

A year later, the Nazis pushed the Jews into the Warsaw Ghetto, where they faced malnutrition and starvation.

Deportations to Treblinka, from which people didn’t return, accounted for the

loss of most of her relations.

After the Warsaw uprising was crushed, buildings were set on fire, making hiding impossible. Bella explains that the sights, sounds, and smells are always in front of her. “I can never erase it from my mind.”

Along with her father and niece Roma, she was shipped to Majdanek in 1943, when she was 21. She and Roma were chosen to live. Her father was not.

It was the last time Ella saw him.

Public hangings established the fate of prisoners who tried to escape. A brush with the gas chamber ended only at the last second. Bella describes “German orderliness” as what saved her.

There were instructions to exterminate 500 women, not 700. She was part of the 200 that received a reprieve.

Bella relates, “I never lost hope. Never. Not even in the darkest times of my life.” Her emotional fortitude prevented Roma from killing herself on electrified barbed wire. That strength kept them both going during the final two years of captivity, which began with a transfer to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1943.

After having her head shaved, Bella was tattooed with the number 48632 and a triangle beneath, signifying that she was Jewish. A Christian Polish childhood friend, serving as a nurse in the camp, prolonged her chances of survival.

Outdoor conditions were brutal. Bella tried to get work indoors and was offered the opportunity to be the “head of a block.” Responsibilities included hitting other inmates and turning over the sick and weak girls for the gas chamber.

She refused.

Finding a loose page from a Haggadah gave her renewed resolve. She still has the piece of paper today. “Someone up there is looking after me…I don’t think it was just luck.”

In 1945, she and Roma were transferred to Bergen-Belsen. While working in the kitchen, a Russian prisoner saved Continued on Page 30 Blue Fox Entertainment

Animated scene from the documentary I Am Here

The JCC Film Fest presents I Am Here at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 23 at The Neon, 130 E. 5th St., Dayton and online from 7 p.m., June 23 to 7 p.m., June 25. Tickets are $12 and are available at jewishdayton.org.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

PAGE 29

I Am Here

Blue Fox Entertainment

Continued from Page 29 her from punishment after she stole potatoes. Her obsession that “no food must be wasted” never ceased.

When Bella witnessed the gradual disappearance of German guards at the towers and the systematic destruction of records and papers by camp personnel, she realized that a shift was coming. In April 1945, American soldiers liberated the camp.

A trip to her home in Poland confirmed that no one had come back. After going to Paris with Roma, Bella traveled to Palestine by boat. There, she met the South African man who would become her husband, Issac Blumenthal.

Ella Blumenthal in I Am Here They married after a 13-day terms of antipathy toward “the other.” whirlwind courtship. “It was like a Ella notes, “There is more that unites dream,” Bella recounts. us than divides us. I want to underHer new in-laws in Johannesburg suggested that she have her tattoo stand human nature…What difference surgically removed and forget the past. does survival make if you didn’t learn a She didn’t discuss her experiences or lesson about humanity?” the truth behind the scar on her arm, It was hard not to think of parallel but her sons and daughter innately conditions when she spoke of Jewish understood that something about their land requisitioned in Poland. mother was different. Her screams in Bella’s experiences are connected to the middle of the night confirmed their her Jewish heritage; however, it doesn’t intuitions. (She finally explained that prevent her from seeing beyond the they were the product of dreams where tragedy that impacted the Jews. She Nazis took her children.) repeats her top insights in various iteraSeveral of the film’s scenes were shot tions and expresses them most succincton site at the Capetown Holocaust & ly in the following thoughts: Genocide Centre. The setting creates a “The hatred is not only for Jews. The connective tissue between the lessons of hatred. That’s what’s causing all the the Holocaust and injustice in all forms. problems in the world. So we must love The museum’s mission is to serve as a people around us. Not find fault with platform for dialogue about additional the color of skin or different beliefs. genocides, the history of apartheid in Love everybody. Be kind to everySouth Africa, and issues of morality in body.”

Duke University

Continued from Page 20 was packed to the brim — and I was then subjected to intense questioning, a period that was extended three times past the limit.

DSG claimed that SSI had been vetoed based on social-media misconduct, but the hearing had nothing to do with that.

Classmates and students I thought were my friends started bashing Zionists and Israel, accusing Israel of “apartheid” practices and “human-rights violations,” among other falsehoods.

One student gave a terrifying speech, arguing that SSI did not deserve a place on Duke’s campus because we perpetuate “the Zionist strategy: a cycle of perpetual victimhood and refusal to see complexity, tied to a narrative that safety can only be achieved through constant violence.” Arguably even more frightening than the speech itself was the fact that the student delivering it was Jewish.

I then sat through three grueling hours of speeches by students and senators vehemently making the case against SSI’s existence at Duke. The worst part was that I wasn’t allowed to respond.

I was targeted and harassed in front of the 200-person hearing as every value I stood for was delegitimized. SSI lost the vote by a landslide, receiving support from just the three Jewish senators on DSG. The hostility in that room was traumatizing. No student of any religion, political standing or belief system should ever have to experience something like this for merely standing up for what is right.

After months of fighting what truly felt like an uphill battle, I was excited when our SSI chapter was reinstated at the end of February. Furthermore,

the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s resolution that passed through our student government and the mandatory antisemitism training that senators attended provided me with a sense of hope that DSG was finally moving in the right direction.

Yet actions that have occurred since then, such as DSG approving $16,000 to fund Students for Justice in Palestine’s “Israel-Apartheid Week” events, including a $5,000 honorarium for a notorious antisemite, Mohammed El-Kurd, have made me and other Jewish students feel betrayed and endangered.

The university has justified these actions as free speech, claiming that any other speaker would have been treated the same. Discussion and civil discourse are wonderful things; hateful rhetoric filled with untruths is not.

According to FBI statistics, Jews make up less than 2 percent of the U.S. population, yet are victims of 58 percent of religiously motivated hate crimes. Free speech is important; the exchange of ideas is important. So is my safety.

As I wrap up my freshman year, I come away knowing that Duke is an incredible institution with a vibrant community of Jewish and Zionist students. However, given the experiences I have had with antisemitism, anti-Israel rhetoric, and polarization on campus, I also come away knowing that these sentiments are omnipresent and very ugly.

Most importantly, it’s bolstered my conviction to fight this scourge more than ever. As a proud Jewish and Zionist, I call upon others to help me. We need to advocate for our people and for those who don’t know how to advocate for themselves. We need to teach our own people to have strong voices and convictions and to wear their religious identity with pride.

The Dayton Jewish Observer New & Renewing Voluntary Subscribers April 6 - May 4 Renewing Guardian Angel Brenda Rinzler New Guardian Angels Marvin & Susan Mason Renewing Angels Debby & Bob Goldenberg Dr. & Mrs. Stephen Harlan Ralph E. & Sylvia S. Heyman Rachel Jacobs Cantor & Mrs. Jerome Kopmar Laurie & Eddie Leventhal Richard & Marcia Moyer Sumner Saeks New Angels Mrs. Jack Goldberg Edye Leuin Double Chai Jack & Maryann Bernstein Neil Friedman John & Fran Hoover Mort & Phyllis Levine Levy Family Franklin & Cheryl Lewis Marnie Prigozen Lowden Patty O’Connell

Lillian Ohlbaum Dr. Judith Ribak Martin Robins Barbara Sanderow Susan & Alan Witte (Fitterman) Subscribers Barry & Janet Block Judy Cohen Janis Dodson John Gardner Marc Gilbert Rick Goldberg Helen Ostreicher Halcomb Donna Holt Ruth Meadow Linda & Dennis Patterson Edie Pequignot Lauren & Neil Schmidt Bob & Stevie Schriber Annie & Craig Self Dr. Edward Sperber & Ms. Amy Munich Sheila & Lawrence Wagenfeld Mary & Gary Youra Current Observer Champions Howard Michaels Milton Nathan Andrea Scher Rabiner

Current Guardian Angels Congregation Anshe Emeth Dr. Douglas & Mrs. Bethany Einstein Tara & Adam Feiner Marni Flagel Bella Freeman Elaine & John Gaglione Robert & Vicky Heuman Drs. Perry & Renata Lubens Gary Pacernick Bernard Rabinowitz Greg Schreck Zerla Stayman Steve & Shara Taylor Current Angels Jeffrey Abrahams Elaine Abramson Ken Baker, K.W. Baker & Assoc.

Skip & Ann Becker Elaine Bettman Sylvia Blum Frieda Blum Buck Run Doors & Hardware Inc. Roger Chudde Natalie Cohn Betty Crouse Howard & Sue Ducker Esther & DeNeal Feldman

Bruce & Debbie Feldman Lynn Foster Cathy Gardner Kim & Shelley Goldenberg Lynn & David Goldenberg Rochelle & Michael Goldstein John Gower Dr. Arthur & Mrs. Joan Greenfield Harold & Melissa Guadalupe Linda & Steve Horenstein Michael Jaffe Marc Katz & Julie Liss-Katz Susan & Stanley Katz Allan & Linda Katz Don & Harriet Klass Todd & Gabriele Leventhal Ellie Lewis Judy Lipton Sis & Joseph Litvin Beverly A. Louis David & Joan Marcus Brenda & Scott Meadow Suzi & Jeff Mikutis Irvin & Gayle Moscowitz Bobbie & Jack Myers Dr. Ronald & Susan Nelson

In honor of Natalie M. Davis RN NICU Neonatal, Cedar Sinai Hospital, L.A., granddaughter of Martin Nizny Phil Office Cindy Pretekin & Jeff Froelich Sharyn Reger Susan & Nathaniel Ritter Helen Ross Dr. & Mrs. Gerald Rubin Jan Rudd Goenner Diane Lieberman Slovin Maggie Stein Marc & Maureen Sternberg Col. Jeffrey Thau, USAF, (Ret.) & Rina Thau Bob & Suzanne Thum Louis & Doris Ullman The Waldman family Judith Weber Donald & Caryl Weckstein Michael & Karen Weprin Ronald Bernard & Judy Woll

Thank you for your generosity.

To make your Voluntary Subscription, go to daytonjewishobserver.org or see Page 10.

PAGE 30

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

OBITUARIES Barbara Gerla, nee Ullman, age 65, passed away May 7, beloved daughter of Louis J. and Doris Ullman, devoted wife of Harry Gerla, loving mother of Rachel (Adam) Wilson and Kenneth M. Gerla, dear sister of Alan J. (Margie) Ullman and Howard (Rimma) Ullman and dear sister-in-law of Lisa G. (James) Feder. Barbara is also survived by her beloved dog Buttons, and her beloved cats Pumpkin and Cole. Barbara was a 1977 graduate of Miami University and a 1980 graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law. She practiced in the area of business law from 1980 until her retirement in 2004. After her retirement, Barbara served as a volunteer mediator for the Dayton Mediation Center and as a volunteer for a number of community organizations. Memorial contributions to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, Temple Beth Or, Isaac M. Wise Temple Cincinnati or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society would be appreciated.

anyone the shirt off of her back if recipient of the 2017 God Squad they needed it. She would often Award. Shirlee did SO much for our Jewish community! Whenever give more money than she had to others in need because she had the a new idea for a program or event biggest heart. She loved flowers was presented to Shirlee, she was and gardening and do-it-yourself always receptive and willing to crafts. Her favorite flower was plan anything she felt was in the carnations and she absolutely loved best interest of the entire community. She was on multiple subcom- the color pink. She would often spend her free time crocheting gifts mittees including the JCC Fundfor the people she loved. She loved raising Committee, the Women’s to love and be Seder Committee, and the Cultural loved. She was Arts and Book Festival Committee. an avid painter Shirlee was wonderful at planand photograning JFS holiday outreach bags, pher. She would Active Adult activities, L’Chaim regularly invite events, and so much more. She people over to will be dearly missed. Besides her come and fill community involvement, the most her walls with important thing in Shirlee’s life was family. She was always supportive personal paintings. Trisha Naziri is of her sons, Marc Gilbert (Annette survived by her daughter, Tzipporah Miriam Naziri; her husband, Nathan), Jeff (Cathy) Gilbert, and Dr. Micah Naziri; her wife, Shante Heath (Rachel) Gilbert; 12 grandNaziri; their children together, children, Travis (Penina), Erica Elijah, Gideon, Pepper, Judah, (Nate) Bachman, Sarah (Nate) Hulse, Michael, Zach, Avi, Chava, Taliyah, and Zoharah; as well as by her girlfriends, Lynn Jimenez, Zeke, Livy, Alexis, Cate, and Brianna; and five great-grandchildren, Jaira Bivens, and her best friends Shaeli Spurlock and Shanice DorjeEfrayim, Esther, Yehudah, Daniel and Menachem; and her nephews, Chang. These were her chosen Shirlee C. Gilbert, age 87 of Scott and Steve (Kinthea) Cooper. family. Interment was in Columbus, where she was born. While Trisha Dayton, passed away May 1.

She was preceded in death by her did not mean for her death to hapShirlee was born to Morris and parents, brother Marvin Cooper, Rose Cooper in Canton on May 2, and husband, Ronald. Interment pen, she would not have been in the 1934. She graduated from Canton dark place she was, that led to her was at Riverview Cemetery. MeMcKinley High School and atmorial contributions may be made death, had it not been for the years tended The Ohio State University to the Jewish Federation of Greater of darkness and abuse she suffered where she majored in education Dayton, Temple Israel or a deserv- since infancy. If anyone you know or love is suffering from mental and was a member of Delta Phi Ep- ing charity of your choosing. health issues, please remind them silon Sorority. While at OSU, she regularly of how loved they are, met her future husband, Ronald.

Trisha Naziri (born Patricia Cavassure them that you are there for They married on Dec. 26, 1953. In endish), age 26, passed away on them, and that there is much work 1959, Shirlee April 27. Trisha was an incredible and Ron moved mother, wife, lover, and friend. She left to do here. to Dayton when loved everyone with every fiber Debra Saidel, age 64 of Dayton, he joined the of her being. Trisha was a politipractice of the cal revolutionary and activist. She passed away on May 10 at Miami Valley Hospital with her family by late Dr. Charles fought for human rights and the Thomas. Shirlee rights of marginalized peoples. She her side. Debra was born to Alice was a doer. was a secretary for the nonprofit the and Burt Saidel on Feb. 21, 1958 She served as Hashlamah Project and was an ad- in Dayton. She graduated from president of vocate for unifying Jews and Mus- Meadowdale High School in 1977 and went on to Sinclair Community the Women’s lims. She was heavily involved in Auxiliary of the homeless outreach and would give College, where she took courses Ohio Optometric Association and worked at Dayton Optometric Center. She was very involved with the Jewish community of Dayton, serving as president of Temple Israel, chair of the JCC board, helped to From Generation To Generation. settle Russian immigrants, chaired the Women’s Division of the JewLICKLER ish Federation of Greater Dayton, and also served on its board, and UNERAL was the adult president of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization. She OME also served on the Jewish Family Services Advisory Board. In 2004, & REMATION Shirlee and Ron were presented with the Robert A. Shapiro Award ERVICE from the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton. In 2012, Shirlee Larry S. Glickler, Director was the JCC Volunteer of the Year.

Dayton’s ONLY Jewish Funeral Director She was involved with Hadassah, 1849 Salem Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45406-4927 served as a Temple Israel Sun(937) 278-4287 lgfuneralhome@gmail.com day School teacher, and was the

L’dor V’dor.

G F H C S

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022

in early childhood education. She worked as a teacher’s aide at the Jewish Community Center’s preschool, because her love of children was a driving force in her life. Debra was a member of Temple Israel, where she sang in the choir and volunteered at the Sunday school, and she enjoyed her membership in the Dayton Knitting Club. She was also known by thousands for sending cards to remember birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions. Family meant everything to Debra. She is survived by her parents, Alice and Burt Saidel, her sister Beth, brother-in-law Joe Profaci, nephew Oliver Saidel, aunt Lois Severin, uncle Stuart and aunt Nina Levitt, and her many beloved cousins and friends. She will be dearly missed by all whose lives she touched. Interment was at Riverview Cemetery. Contributions in Debra’s memory may be made to Temple Israel, Jewish Family Services, or Echoing Woods, where she lived and was cared for over the past seven years.

Fredrick E. Weber of Dayton passed away on May 1 at the age of 90. Born Feb. 17, 1932 in Baltimore to Lillian and Leslie Weber, Fred made a lasting impact on the Dayton community, where he lived for more than 60 years. Graduating from The Ohio State University in 1954, he remained a die-hard Buckeye fan his entire life. He began his career at Mayor’s Jewelers and later founded Weber Jewelers. Both family businesses in Dayton thrived under his leadership, earning him a reputation for exceptionally fine jewelry. While he was an accomplished businessman, earning the coveted Shipley Award from the American Gem Society, his real passion lay in serving the needs of the community and helping to

shape the city he knew and loved.

He was city commissioner and served on numerous boards, most notably as chairman of the Premier Health Board (1997-2004), chairman of the Miami Valley Hospital Board of Trustees (1988-1992) and chairman of the Wright State University Board of Trustees. Recognizing a pressing need for geriatric care, he was instrumental in creating a new Department of Geriatrics at Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University in 2006, a visionary concept at the time.

Fred’s ability to succeed was apparent from an early age; he earned his Eagle Scout badge at 14. Until his final days, he stayed abreast of political races throughout the country and advocated for effective leadership in government. He also made ample time for golf and skiing, excelling in both sports into his late 80s. He is survived by his wife, Judith Weber; former wife, Loretta Weber; his sister Nancy Meyer and her husband Terry of Columbus; children Rick Weber and his wife, Susan, of Santa Ynez, Calif.; Lisa Greenberg and her husband, Jeffrey, of Weston, Mass.; Stephanie Weber and her husband, Andrew Blazar, of Dayton; David Corson and his wife, Kristin; and Wendy Lew. Fred was blessed with six grandchildren: Alison Greenberg MacIntyre and her husband, Ryan; Zachary Greenberg; Laura Greenberg; Mack Weber and his wife, Emily; Nell Weber, Brody Corson; and one great-grandchild, Emma MacIntyre.

Interment was at Riverview Cemetery. The family would be honored if you would consider donating to the Miami Valley Hospital Foundation, mvhfoundation.org.

BLESSED MEMORY

Headstone, Gravestone Preservation & Cleaning

Our Family Serving Your Family For More Than 90 Years

Funeral Homes, Inc.

Janet Leden 937-241-9527 blessedmemory37 @gmail.com

Pre-need Arrangements Pre-paid Funeral Trusts Cremation Services • Transfers North Main Chapel 1706 N. Main Street Huber Heights Chapel 5844 Old Troy Pike

For Both Locations Call 937-275-7434 PAGE 31

New look, same great service!

Notice anything different?

You’ve come to know us as your local go-to experts in Medicare and individual health insurance plans.

None of that has changed.

It’s more than a plan, it’s a partnership.

While we may “look” a little different, what isn’t changing is our unwavering commitment to you. Our team of experienced advisors will make sure your health care needs are covered now and later, allowing you to focus on the things that matter most to you.

The best part? Our services are available at no cost or obligation to you.

All you have to do is call.

937.915.0476 retiremed.com/djo

The right plan for where you are now.

The right partner for where you want to go.