The Dayton Jewish Observer, March 2023

Was David a Butler Co. magistrate firedAfter for being Jewish?

A federal Moss designs Grace Meals in comic book jury formsaid p.yes.

22 p. 7

THE DAYTON Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton

March 2023 Adar/Nisan 5783 Vol. 27, No. 7

OBSERVER

The Miami Valley’s Jewish Monthly • daytonjewishobserver.org

Ohio-based Nazi homeschool network

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Where are the Jews of the Miami Valley?

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From the Shoah to the American Dream, via basketball

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Dan Grunfeld

This Purim, make a GIANT hamantash

Address Service Requested

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

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DAYTON

Federation launches video for those considering move to the Miami Valley

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PAGE 2

Screenshot of a PJ Library family event from the Jewish Federation video, Are there really Jews in Dayton?

To showcase Jewish life in the Miami Valley for those considering a move here, the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton launched a threeminute video, Are there really Jews in Dayton?, on Feb. 9 at jewishdayton.org, YouTube, and social media sites.

The video, directed by native Daytonian Stephen Levinson, features members of the Jewish community sharing what they love about Jewish life in the Miami Valley.

It also shows cultural and recreational amenities, and emphasizes the affordable cost of living in the region.

According to Jewish Federation CEO Cathy Gardner, the video came about through the Federation's Jewish Dayton Dreams Big project a few years ago.

"One of the initiatives was to market Dayton as a great place to live Jewishly," she said, "not only to our community, but to those who may be thinking of relocating to the Miami Valley."

The project manager for the video was Patty Caruso. The Jewish Federation held a video premiere party the evening before its official launch, at the Downtown Dayton Metro Library.

— Marshall Weiss

Humor & hope in Bible, Jewish Christian dialogue, theme of Ryterband Symposium Smith College Jewish Studies Prof. Joel S. Kaminsky and Hartford International University President Joel N. Lohr will lead the 43rd Annual Ryterband Symposium in Judaic Studies, Thursday, March 30 at United Theological Seminary.

Joel S. Kaminsky Joel N. Lohr The symposium is coAt 4 p.m., Kaminsky will sponsored by The University present the lecture God Has of Dayton, United Theological Brought Me Laughter: Exploring Seminary, and Wright State Humor & Hope in the Bible.

University.

At 7:30 p.m., his talk will be Jewish/Christian Dialogue is no Joke...Or is it?, followed

by Lohr's lecture, Is Christian Humor Even a Thing? What I’ve Learned from Jewish-Christian Dialogue.

Both sessions are free and open to the public. UTS is located at 4501 Denlinger Rd., Trotwood. For more information, contact UTS Prof. Anthony Le Donne at acledonne@united. edu.

Make reservations for congregational Passover Seders It's not too early to make reservations for community Passover Seders across the Dayton area.

Chabad will host its Erev Passover Seder at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 5. The cost is $36 adult, $20 child. No one is turned away because of the inability to pay. Chabad also offers Seder at Home kits and/or full Passover meals to go.

RSVP to chabaddayton.com or call 937-643-0770.

Beth Abraham Synagogue will hold its Second Seder at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 6. For details and reservations, go to bethabrahamdayton.org.

Arts & Culture.........................23 Calendar..................................19

Temple Israel will hold its Second Seder at 6 p.m., April 6, prepared by Bernstein's Fine Catering. The cost is $36 adult, $20 ages 3 to 12. RSVP

by March 27 to 937-496-0050.

Temple Beth Or's Second Seder, also catered by Bernstein's, begins at 6:30 p.m., April 6. For prices and reservations, go to templebethor.com.

And Temple Sholom in Springfield's Second Seder, also by Bernstein's, begins at 6 p.m., April 6. The cost is $25 adult, $12.50 child. RSVP by March 24 to 937-399-1231.

Family Education....................22 Obituaries........................... 26

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

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

DAYTON

After years of shrinking, ID'd Jewish population plateaus But number of children with area Jewish congregations down by 45.6% since 2015

By Marshall Weiss Jewish population.

The Observer Those age 60 and up on the Based on data from the list comprise 1,259 people, Jewish Federation of Greater 47.7% of the known populaDayton, the identified Jewish tion, which, according to Ira households and population Sheskin — director of the across the Miami Valley have hit Jewish Demography Project of plateaus after decades the Miller Center for of shrinking.

Contemporary Judaic The Observer's analyStudies at the Universis of the Jewish Fedsity of Miami — shows eration's database puts more about those who the number of identichoose to connect with fied Jewish households the organized Jewish in the Miami Valley at community than the 1,534, a slight increase actual number of Jews of 2.8% from 2015. in the Miami Valley.

The number of identiAs in 2015, Sheskin fied Jews in the Miami Demographer estimates the total JewValley is 2,641, a slight Ira Sheskin ish population of the decrease of 2.9% since Miami Valley at 4,000, about a 2015. third more than we know of.

The number of children ages Since 2006, Sheskin has newborn through 19 on the Fed- served as editor of The American eration's database, down only Jewish Yearbook. He helped The six from 2015, is now 387, 14.7% Observer analyze the Federaof the current total identified tion's list in 2015 as he now has

Miami Valley identified Jewish population, February 2023 Total ID’d households: 1,534 Total ID’d people: 2,641

Source: Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.

Estimated Jewish population by demographer Ira Sheskin:

4,000

in 2023.

"There are a lot of households not even on the Federation list," he says.

In 2015, the Miami Valley's identified Jewish population had declined by more than half over the previous 20 years.

The causes at the time were younger Jews who began leaving the Miami Valley in the wake of the recession of 2008, and elderly Jews moving or passing away.

Here are key findings of The Observer's analysis of the Federation's database.

Continued on Page Four

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The Core: 61.7% of ID'd Jewish households, 64.8% of ID'd Jewish people in the Miami Valley live in these contiguous communities

Communities • Centerville/Wash. Twp./Bellbrook/Springboro/Miamisburg (45458, 45459, 45305, 45066, 45342)

Households

People

429 (45.3%)

789 (46.1%)

• Kettering/Wash. Twp./Centerville/Oakwood/Dayton south (45409, 45419, 45429) 346 (36.5%)

627 (36.6%)

• Kettering/Fairborn/Beavercreek/Xenia (45324, 45385, 45430, 45431, 45432, 45434, 45440)

172 (18.2%)

296 (17.3%)

947

1,712

Percentages are against entire ID’d Jewish households/people across the Miami Valley.

Zips not listed each comprise under 4.2% of both households/people.

Source: Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.

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What’s a

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From the editor’s desk

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Oh no. c O Menachem

Happy Purim!

Total:

Here are some notes to help you digest this month's cover story: • You'll see the term "identified Jews" frequently. This is intentional. When it comes to analyzing the Jewish Federation database, it's key to remember we're not talking about Marshall every Jew or every Jewish household in the Weiss Miami Valley. We're talking about those our organized local Jewish community has identified. This article only refers to the entire Miami Valley Jewish community with demographer Ira Sheskin's estimate that it likely encompasses a third more people than we know of.

• Zip Codes sometimes overlap municipalities. I've done my best to identify all within each Zip Code I mention. If I've missed any, please let me know.

• With the Jewish Federation database, I looked at youths from newborn to age 19. With congregations, I looked at newborns to age 18.

• My special thanks go to Jewish Federation's database guru, Sheila Myers, for pulling together the information for this article, and to our congregations, Chabad, and Hillel Academy for participating once again.

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PAGE 3

DAYTON

THE DAYTON

The Core: Ages of ID'd Jews by Location Age Ranges

Centerville/Wash. Twp./ Bellbrook/S'boro/M'burg

Kettering/Oakwood/ Dayton south & east

Fairborn/ Beavercreek/Xenia

0-19

122 (16.6%)

108 (18.5%)

44 (16.7%)

20-39

104 (14.2%)

76 (13%)

46 (17.4%)

40-59

143 (19.5%)

123 (21%)

55 (20.8%)

60+

366 (49.8%)

278 (47.5%)

119 (45.1%)

Source: Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.

of known Jewish children ID'd Jewish population in •the70.8% Miami Valley (newborn-19) live Continued from Page Three

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PAGE 4

ID'd Jews live in 77 Zip Codes across the Miami Valley.

But in only four Zip Codes are the number of Jewish households and Jewish people above 4.2% of the identified Jewish totals in the Miami Valley. Those four are: • 45429: 169 households (11%), 268 people (10.1%) • 45459: 166 households (10.8%), 273 people (10.3%) • 45458: 153 households (10%), 325 people (12.3%) • 45419: 135 households (8.8%), 292 people (11.1%) A core of households & population follows I-675 from south to east.

A solid majority of the Miami Valley's known Jewish community now lives along I-675, from Springboro to Xenia. This is in addition to the already established core running from Oakwood through Kettering, Centerville, and Washington Township. This contiguous, now expanded core is home to 61.7% of ID'd Jewish households and 64.8% of ID'd Jewish people in the Miami Valley.

The core is growing.

Since 2015, the number of ID'd Jewish households in this expanded core has increased by 15.2%; the number of known Jewish people in the core is up 7.2%.

Beavercreek and Fairborn now comprise 10% of ID'd Jewish households and people in the Miami Valley. That's because of an increase in ID'd Jewish households of 50% and an increase in ID'd Jews of 42% in Beavercreek and Fairborn since 2015.

Miamisburg is now home to 41 ID'd Jewish households with 62 people, increases of 28.1% and 31.9% respectively since 2015.

Xenia and Springboro have held steady with slight increases since 2015: Xenia is home to 18 ID'd Jewish households with 32 Jews, and Springboro has 52 ID'd Jewish households with 97 Jews.

So too has Bellbrook, with 17 ID'd Jewish households and 32 Jews.

A deeper dive into the core:

in the core.

• 69.5% of ID'd Jewish adults ages 20-39 live in the core.

• The largest concentration of children (newborn-19) in the core is in Centerville/Washington Township Zip Codes 45458 and 45459, with 93 children, 35.9%.

Pockets of community across the region achieve some growth.

Since 2015, areas that have had modest increases in known Jewish population are Tipp City (21 households, 36 people), Yellow Springs (35 households, 59 people), and Springfield (29 households, 61 people).

Downtown Dayton, 45402, comprises 29 households and 48 people.

Shrinking areas are still a presence.

A generation ago, the majority of the Miami Valley's Jewish community lived in the suburbs northwest of Dayton. Though these population centers have shrunk significantly, pockets remain in Englewood (53 households, 87 people), Vandalia (19 households, 30 people), Dayton 45405 (30 households, 37 people), and Dayton 45415 (65 households, 96 people).

Declines at Jewish congregations reflect the national trend.

The Miami Valley's synagogues and temples provided The Observer with data that indicate shrinking memberships and numbers of children, which demographer Ira Sheskin says is in line with national trends he sees.

The total number of Miami Valley primary congregation memberships by household is down 14.8% since 2015, from 911 household memberships to 776. This represents 50.6% of the number of Miami Valley households on the Federation list.

Within these congregations, the number of children (newborn-18) has decreased 45.6% since 2015, from 309 to 168. This is about 44% of the number of Miami Valley ID'd Jewish children on the Federation list.

Sheskin points out that the number of U.S. Jews who are affiliated with a Jewish congregation is 35 percent, according to the Pew Research Center's Jewish Americans 2020 study,

Since people get married later, they have fewer children.

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

Cathy Gardner CEO The Dayton Jewish Observer, Vol. 27, No. 7. 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

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

DAYTON and that number has remained steady over the past 30 years.

"Everybody thinks that the percentage of households with synagogue members is way down, that numbers used to be really higher," he says. "It turns out that since 1990, it really hasn't changed."

In combination with that figure, the Jewish birthrate in the U.S. has dropped according to Pew. "Something that is clearly happening is that the number of children in the Jewish community is down because the number of children that Jewish women are having is down in a pretty significant way," Sheskin explains.

"Basically, the age at first marriage in the United States — both Jews and non-Jews — has gone up in a significant way.

My parents' generation, people got married out of high school.

My generation, I'm 72, people got married more often out of college. And today, people are waiting until they are well out of college before they get married."

He says that since people get married later, they have fewer children.

"The average number of children that Jews are having today in the United States is 1.5 children each. And it's 1.7 for all Americans. For a population to replace itself from shrinking, it's 2.1. Fertility among Orthodox Jews nationwide is quite high, 3.3 children."

According to Pew, the birthrate for Jewish women in the United States who aren't Orthodox is 1.4 children each. Sheskin says this significantly impacts synagogue membership.

"That's one of the reasons I think you have fewer people belonging to synagogues. Because people tend to join when they have kids. And if you have fewer kids, you belong for a shorter period of time. You have fewer kids in the (religious) school."

More congregants are Reform.

Data provided by the Miami Valley's Jewish congregations show the Reform movement's expanding reach here, albeit with fewer total children.

Currently, 74.1% of primary local congregational memberships are with the Reform movement. That's up from 68% in 2015. And 84% of children (newborn to 18) whose families

are primary members of local Jewish congregations are affiliated with the Reform movement, up from 78.3% in 2015.

According to Pew's 2020 report, 37% of U.S. Jews identify as Reform, 17% as Conservative, 9% as Orthodox, 4% as another branch, and 32% as no particular branch.

Hillel Academy & Chabad Adding to the contours of the Miami Valley's Jewish community is Hillel Academy Jewish day school, with 43 students enrolled from kindergarten through grade six, twice the number of students enrolled there when the school moved from Harrison Township to

Oakwood a dozen years ago.

Chabad of Greater Dayton, which, like all Chabad centers, does not have a membership model, notes that 268 households participated either through programs or donations in 2022, and that there are 114 children in those households.

Sheskin says that 38% of U.S. Jews participated in programming with Chabad last year, according to Pew. "What's interesting here, 10% of the (U.S.) Chabad participants are Jews of no religion. Of the 90% of Jews of religion who go to Chabad, a quarter are Orthodox, a quarter are Conservative, a quarter are Reform, and a quarter are just Jewish."

Ages of ID’d Jews across Miami Valley Newborn-4: 34 (1.3%) 5-9: 116 (4.4%) 10-14: 130 (4.9%) 15-19: 107 (4.1%) 20-29: 191 (7.2%) 30-39: 134 (5.1%) 40-49: 206 (7.8%) 50-59: 267 (10.1%) 60-69: 454 (17.2%) 70-79: 503 (19%) 80-89: 213 (8.1%) 90+: 89 (3.4%) Unknown: 197 (7.5%)

Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Source: Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.

Miami Valley primary congregation memberships by household — down 14.8% since 2015

Primary congregational affiliation of Miami Valley children newborn to age 18 — down 45.6% since 2015

Beth Abraham: 156 (20.1%) Beth Jacob: 44 (5.7%) Temple Anshe Emeth, Piqua: 16 (2.1%) Temple Beth Or: 190 (24.5%) Temple Beth Sholom, Middletown: 22 (2.8%) Temple Israel: 310 (40%) Temple Sholom, Springfield: 37 (4.8%)

Beth Abraham: 21 (12.5%) Beth Jacob: 4 (2.4%) Temple Anshe Emeth, Piqua: 3 (1.8%) Temple Beth Or: 67 (39.9%) Temple Beth Sholom, Middletown: 0 Temple Israel: 73 (43.5%) Temple Sholom, Springfield: 0

Total: 776 household memberships

Note: Doesn’t include out-of-town memberships. Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Sources: Congregations

Total: 168 newborn to age 18

Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

Sources: Congregations

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

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PAGE 5

DAYTON Hillel Academy

Second and third-grade students at Hillel Academy Jewish day school received their own siddurim (prayer books) at a ceremony, Feb. 3. They demonstrated their understanding of the Hebrew prayers, leading them and sharing descriptions of them. The students also shared their thoughts about what it means to them to receive their own siddur.

Front (L to R): Eliana Lader, Amelia Rodriguez, Adi Atzmon, Vivian Larsen, Lior Hakim. Back: Judaics Teacher Sandy Sloane Brenner, Stella Atkin, Moshe Simon, Zeke Gilbert, Joel Zeisloft, Toby Pachman, Director of Judaics Rabbi Levi Simon.

Temple Israel

The Dayton Jewish Chorale, conducted by Anna Vinnitsky, performed a musical Shabbat service at Temple Israel, Feb. 3 to celebrate Shabbat Shira. The chorale is facilitated by Temple Israel Music Director Courtney Cummings (R), and Beth Abraham Synagogue Cantor Andrea Raizen (2nd from R).

Chabad

Temple Israel

During Temple Israel's trip to Israel in January, congregant Carol Graff (R) was called to recite the blessing over the Torah at the Women of the Wall's Rosh Chodesh service (for the new month) on the women's side of the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Twenty people took part on the trip.

Chabad Women's Circle hosted a Tu B'Shevat dinner Feb. 5 featuring a sabich bar and a charcuterie board woodburning craft. Shown here with the fruits of their labors (L to R): Osnat Katz, Hallie Greenfield, Juliet Glaser, Monica Rodriguez, Angela Gruenberg, and Chabad Co-Director Devorah Mangel.

PAGE 6

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

THE REGION

Was a Butler Co. magistrate fired for being Jewish?

A federal jury said yes.

By Andrew Lapin, JTA Kimberly Edelstein, who alleged six years ago that she had been fired because she was an observant Jew, has won $1.1 million in damages after a federal jury sided with her.

She had been working as a magistrate in Butler County when she asked her supervisor — a judge — for eight days off during the fall High Holidays, according to the lawsuit she filed in 2017.

“Holy cow, eight days!” Common Pleas Judge Greg Stephens yelled back at her, according to the lawsuit. She was fired four days later and claims the judge and two prosecutors named in the lawsuit disparaged her to other employers, making it difficult for her to find work.

Her lawsuit spun through the court system where she once worked for the next several years. Judges dismissed Edelstein’s claims against one prosecutor and ruled against her appeal of the case against the other. But they allowed her religious discrimination claim against Judge Stephens to go forward to a jury trial, saying there was evidence that could find the judge’s dismissal “at least in part” motivated by Edelstein’s desire to observe the Jewish holidays.

The trial against Judge Stephens began Jan. 23 and included testimony from a rabbi. The jury returned its verdict late on Friday, Feb. 3, taking less than a day to deliberate.

“The jury’s finding is an important reminder that the law provides protections to those seeking accommodations for religious beliefs and practices,” Rabbi Ari Ballaban, director of the Cincinnati Jewish Community Relations Council, said in a statement.

“Neither employers nor government institutions may retaliate against Jews (or other religious minorities) for seeking to exercise their protected religious rights.”

The jury’s finding comes amid growing attention to workplace antisemitism.

A recent nonscientific survey found that a significant portion of hiring managers said they are less likely to advance candidates who are Jewish; while the survey had flaws, it ignited a conversation about whether workplace antisemitism could be rising alongside other expressions of antisemitism in the United States.

Edelstein’s case has cost Butler County, located outside Cincinnati, at least $100,000 in legal fees to date, according to local reports, and more than 200 documents have been filed. It may not be totally over.

“We strongly believe that the evi-

dence didn’t support the verdict and we’re considering options,” an attorney representing Judge Stephens told the Journal-News in Butler County.

Edelstein’s case had been met with some skepticism from the local legal community. She “had a very poor reputation around the courthouse,” Daniel Phillips, a Jewish former assistant prosecuting attorney in Butler County, wrote in a 2019 letter to Cincinnati’s Jewish newspaper, the American Israelite.

“Many people advised Judge Stephens to terminate her when he took office. He rejected that advice and gave her a clean slate and an opportunity to succeed,” Phillips wrote at the time.

“When she failed to act in (a) professional manner and produce quality work, he fired her. Because of her failures she is now besmirching three good men with the taint of racism. That is shameful.”

Phillips was elected to the position of county juvenile court judge last year.

Court filings show that Edelstein accused Stephens, who is also a Baptist pastor, of “extreme Christian” beliefs and of following a doctrine with an “attitude toward Jews,” and also said that his court had made fun of her description of Passover preparations.

In 2019, as her lawsuit was making its way through the courts, Edelstein told the Cincinnati Enquirer she had experienced suicidal thoughts after being unable to find work. She applied for nearly 200 jobs in the aftermath of her firing but didn’t get any of them, she said, adding that she had resorted to using food pantries to feed her family.

Court documents showed that Jewish Vocational Services, a local nonprofit, was reluctant to help her for fear of litigation.

“I’ve lost my career and I didn’t do anything to deserve this,” she told the Enquirer. She also reportedly told friends she wished she wasn’t Jewish and stopped going to synagogue.

Subsequent posts on her Facebook page indicate she has continued to observe at least some Jewish practices.

Edelstein did manage to briefly land one legal job, in a courthouse near Bowling Green, but lied to her bosses about being fired from her previous job and was forced to resign months later.

Edelstein has mostly represented herself in these proceedings. She briefly retained the services of a local attorney who left the case after five weeks, telling the judge that “the client does not cooperate with counsel.”

The jury's finding comes amid growing attention to workplace antisemitism.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

2022-23 RYTERBAND SERIES CONTINUES

March 12 David Gold

March 19 Dr. Soumya Neravetla

What Do You Do Here in the Winter? The Lives of the Real Catskill Jews

The Battle Against Lung Cancer

The Dorothee and Louis Ryterband Lecture Series continues this month with a wonderful pair of speakers.

A light breakfast of bagels, schmear, coffee, and tea, begins at 9:45AM and the speakers start their presentations at 10:15AM. Cost is $7 per person.

A Wild West Purim Celebration!

Monday, March 6 from 6:00 - 8:00PM

We are planning a great time for our Megillah Reading & Purim Carnival!

The festivities begin at 6:00PM inthe sanctuary and then we will shuffle down to the Great Hall for dinner and fun for all ages.

Cost for dinner is $5/adult, $3/children ages 4-12, and FREE for kids 3 and younger.

RSVP for dinner by March 2

NEW this year, we have a special concurrent event for adults, complete with food, wine tastings, trivia, crafts, and games.

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

PAGE 7

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Street food tour Walking tour of Neve Tzedek M&H Whiskey Distillery tasting Explore the Agam Museum

$4,500 PER PERSON (EXCLUDES AIRFARE) Single Supplement $1,900

A pre-tour for first time visitors or enthusiasts is also available November 3-5! For a complete itinerary, frequently asked questions, and application information, visit our website at jewishdayton.org.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

THE REGION

Now taking your Ohio homeschool group head: Nazi curriculum ‘sick parenting issue’ Passover Seder orders

Parents decide curriculum, course of study under state law

Screenshot via Telegram

By Susan Tebben Ohio Capital Journal The leader of an Ohio homeschooling group that once included an Upper Sandusky couple reportedly using a neo-Nazi curriculum has now condemned it and said homeschooling shouldn’t be judged by one “sick parenting issue.”

The couple, who use the aliases “Mr. and Mrs. Saxon,” was A lesson plan shared by the creator of the neo-Nazi group Disreported to the Ohio sident Homeschool Network, in which children learn cursive by Department of Educacopying a Hitler quote, Nov. 22, 2022. tion, which said it was Homeschooling Parents’ Facebook page looking into them after an initial news said “fringe groups” do not represent story by Vice. the homeschooling community at large.

Asked for an update of that investi“Parents teaching their children crazy gation, the department did not prothings can happen regardless of the vide specifics, but said that parents or educational placement, since evenings, guardians who decide to educate their weekends and summers still exist and children at home are responsible for life is not just 8-3 Monday through Frichoosing the curriculum and course day,” the post, dated Jan. 31, stated. of study, and that and no direct state Calls for increased oversight into financial assistance is provided to famidecision-making and curriculum aren’t lies who choose this option. new to Gerth, who has homeschooled Homeschooling curriculums and all three of her kids, the youngest of participation are largely at the discrewhich is now 16. She said any time an tion of those leading the homeschoolisolated incident connected to homeing, something that is enshrined in schooling comes about, it can lead to Ohio administrative code regulating a desire for more supervision of home home education. education.

Deborah Gerth, head of the Ohio “You don’t make a law based on the Homeschooling Parents group, said one outlier, or based on the one wackaKatja Lawrence, alleged leader of the doodle,” Gerth said. “It’s a horrible “dissident homeschooling” along with situation, but you can’t judge the 99 by her husband Logan, was a “non-active” the one who makes the rest look bad.” member of their group, but once the allegations came to light, she was Curriculum freedom banned.

Homeschoolers enjoy a kind of freeThough the only comments Katja dom when it comes to deciding how Lawrence made as part of social media their children are taught, and what subdiscussions within the group were jects take the forefront in homeschoolabout her love for the Dutch language, ing. There are many different types of the news reported by Vice compelled homeschooling, from traditional unitGerth and other members of the group based study to “unschooling,” which to remove the couple. focuses on student-led learning.

“There’s no room here for bigotry; Ohio's administrative code states that there’s no room for hatred of any kind,” parents who elect to homeschool their Gerth said. “We’re not giving her a child need to notify the superintendent platform for anything.” of their local district before the first Gerth also said members of the group looked into the 2,500 members of week of school for traditional public the Dissident Homeschool group on the schools in the area, or one week after a social network Telegram and concluded child is withdrawn from school.

There are commercial curricula that that many of the members don’t live in homeschool teachers can use and there the United States.

While the condemnation of the group are other less stringent courses of study that can be led by the parent or the is warranted, Gerth said the criticism of child, based on growth goals. homeschooling overall isn’t.

Ohio homeschoolers must follow “That’s a parenting issue. It’s a sick guidelines spelled out in the state’s parenting issue,” Gerth said. “The vast administrative code, which says homemajority of home educators are doing school teachers must give assurance this because we want to do what’s best that certain subjects are covered: for our children.”

Continued on Page 10 A message posted on the Ohio

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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.

Purim According to

Elvis

Monday March 6

We’re All Shook Up! Don’t be a Hound Dog!

5:15 Dinner 5:45 Carnival 6:20 Costume Parade 6:30 Shpiel with full megillah reading to follow

Put on your Blue Suede Shoes & Come Along for a Never-Ending night of food and fun!

Wear your favorite costume, bring family & friends & be ready to party.

Social Action: Bring macaroni & cheese boxes for groggers & we’ll donate them to the Foodbank.

Dinner: Shushan-ati Chili (Cincinnati style), with spaghetti & cheese, salad & sides, & hamantashen. $10 adults, $7 children 3-12.

RSVP.

Men’s Club Annual

Kosher Deli Dinner

Movie & Raffle

Sunday, March 26, 6 p.m. $20.

Featuring a docu-comedy about Jewish comedy in America. R.S.V.P. by March 20.

THE REGION

Nazi homeschooling

Continued from Page Nine • Language, reading, spelling, and writing • Geography, history of the United States and Ohio; and national state and local government • Mathematics • Science • Health • Physical education • Fine arts, including music • First aid, safety, and fire prevention But Ohio’s administrative code on home education, last updated in 2019, provides exceptions for “any concept, topic, or practice that is in conflict with the sincerely held religious beliefs of the parent.”

A “brief outline of the intended curriculum” is also asked for, though “such outline is for informational purposes only,” according to state code.

The Upper Sandusky Exempted Village Schools superintendent sent a letter to parents after the Lawrences' alleged curriculum came to light, saying the district “vehemently condemns any such resources” and that the district board of education’s policy is “to maintain an education environment that is free from all forms of unlawful harassment based on protected classes.”

Upper Sandusky Exempted Village Schools Superintendent Eric Landversicht said he learned about the allegations against the group after a reporter requested information on homeschooling.

The district’s response explained that the district must receive written notification and assurances from parents, but what the children study is up to the parents.

A homeschooling teacher is qualified with a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate, but can also qualify under state regulations with “standardized test scores that demonstrate high school equivalence” or “other equivalent credential found appropriate by the superintendent.”

Ultimately, individual school districts keep tabs on the homeschoolers in their districts, through notification letters and annual documentation, along with assessments at the end of a school year, often led by a certified teacher.

It’s the local superintendents who can initiate truancy actions if parents aren’t providing the necessary documentation, but before any action takes place, districts can send reminder letters if parents have missed a deadline or remediation requests if the district isn’t sure a child has met educational standards.

“It’s a structure that gives us the freedom to do what we feel we need to for our kids, but also we know we can get help if we need it,” Gerth said.

Senate Bill 1

305 Sugar Camp Circle Dayton, Ohio 45409 937•293•9520 www.bethabrahamdayton.org PAGE 10

As debate over homeschooling continues amid the controversy of the reported neo-Nazi curriculum, homeschooling groups are keeping a sharp eye on the legislature, and potential

measures that could affect them.

Senate Bill 1 would overhaul the entire state Department of Education, including the State Board of Education’s authority, and move leadership of the department to a position within the governor’s cabinet.

Gerth said she and other home educators are against the bill, despite discussions related to the bill that have specifically mentioned homeschooling.

SB 1 sponsor, state Sen. Bill Reineke said, in introducing the bill to the Senate Education Committee in January, that it would “guarantee homeschooling families the ability to home-educate their child by exempting a child from compulsory school attendance when that child is receiving instruction in core subject areas from their parents.”

Another bill being considered in the Ohio Senate is Senate Bill 11, primarily a private school voucher expansion, that would also give homeschoolers up to $2,000 in state tax credits.

“It’s really important that we don’t take the tax credit,” Gerth said. “We don’t want state funding; we don’t want their help.”

She sees state funding as “a target on our back” and a way to bring about more scrutiny to the homeschool community.

“If we start taking a tax credit for homeschooling, then we have the opportunity to be open for criticism of how we use that money,” Gerth said.

Instead, the homeschooling group will continue following the law, according to their leader.

The post condemning the Lawrences on the Ohio Homeschooling Parents’ Facebook page also directed members to “know the law, and follow it *strictly and minimally*” (asterisks theirs).

It also advised members not to “take the dangling carrots of ‘tax credits’ or ‘school choice money’ when that is offered.”

ODE response

When asked for an update on the ODE investigation into the Lawrences, a spokesperson for the state agency said, “parents or guardians who decide to educate their children at home are responsible for choosing the curriculum and course of study” and no “direct state financial assistance” is provided to families who choose this option.

The ODE also provided an “overview of statutory and regulatory requirements connected to home education," directly taken from Ohio law.

The response did not specifically name the Lawrences or the investigation.

The department had previously said it “does not review or approve home school curriculum.”

Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction Stephanie K. Siddens said in a statement she “emphatically and categorically denounce the racist, antisemitic and fascist ideology and materials being circulated as reported in recent media stories.”

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

THE REGION

Rabbi arrested, banned from Cleveland universities over anti-Palestinian activism

By Andrew Lapin, JTA For days, students and police at Cleveland State University had been trying to figure out who stole a banner belonging to a campus Palestinian rights group.

The banner, which belonged to the student group Palestinian Human Rights Organization, read “CSU Solidarity for Palestinian Rights” and was illustrated with an outline of Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip collectively emblazoned in the Palestinian flag. A dove holding an olive branch appeared on top of the image.

Then, on Jan. 19, police charged their top suspect: a local Orthodox rabbi, whose presence on campus had become all too familiar. A few days later the man confessed to the theft on Instagram, announcing that he had stolen the banner from the school’s student center “as an act of civil disobedience.”

Rabbi Alexander Popivker with his wife, Sarah, mounting a pro-Israel “This incitement to annihilation of Israel display on the campus of Cleveland State University. should have never been permitted at CSU,” Rabbi Alexander Popivker, a 46-year-old Cleveland accused of harassing anyone he perceived as a threat Heights resident whose neighborhood is six miles to Israel, including students who had never sought from the school, wrote on social media accompanied him out directly. by a picture of the flag he stole.

The Ohio chapter of the Council on AmericanIt was far from Popivker’s only recent run-in with Islamic Relations has spoken out numerous times local university students. A handyman and part-time against Popivker and praised university police for arrabbi for a Russian-speaking Jewish community, Popresting him; a petition the group backed, labeled Stop ivker has become known around town as a vigilant harassment on campus and mentioning Popivker by and omnipresent pro-Israel advocate. He can often name, has garnered close to 700 signatures. be spotted counter-protesting at local pro-Palestinian Jewish groups, including civil rights groups, have demonstrations, or putting on displays of his own, been less forthcoming about the situation. Hillel with his wife, Sarah, on hand filming every contenInternational declined to comment for this story, and tious encounter. Before moving to Cleveland, the Pop- the directors of Cleveland’s regional American Jewish ivkers operated what they called a Chabad outpost in Committee and Jewish Community Relations Council Naples, Italy, though he was never an official emissary offices did not return requests for comment. Jewish on of the Orthodox movement, according to a ChabadCampus, a nationwide university antisemitism watchLubavitch spokesman. dog group that tracks what it defines as anti-Zionist One major theme of his protests, and his worldsocial media harassment of Jewish students, also did view, as he explained to JTA: “Palestinians and Nazis not return a request for comment. are the same thing.”

Jared Isaacson, executive director of Cleveland For the last year, Popivker had been making weekly Hillel, said the center was “not very familiar with this trips to Cleveland State, occasionally accompanied by story.” Cleveland Hillel coordinates Jewish student life other students or community members, to give public at a consortium of Jewish universities including Clevedemonstrations that elaborate on that idea — someland State and Case Western, where its student center times with the aid of swastika-emblazoned props. is located, as well as at least one other school where In the early going, the university provided him with Popivker has made his presence on campus known. police protection and said his visits to campus were But, Isaacson said, “Cleveland Hillel is deeply protected by free speech laws. committed to countering antisemitism and hate in all But he also sought out students online and in-performs, and we believe that no student — Jewish or son whom he deemed to be “brainwashed” by antiotherwise — should ever feel threatened or intimiZionist messaging. One such online campaign against dated because of their identity.” a law student prompted the student to file an order of Popivker says he has support from the New Yorkprotection against Popivker last fall, an order supbased Lawfare Project, which bills itself as an “internaported by a prominent Jewish dean at the university. tional pro-Israel litigation fund.” He said it's “watchPopivker promptly violated the order by returning to ing over my cases and providing guidance.” campus.

In a statement, the Lawfare Project called Popivker In late January, university authorities arrested “a Jewish civil rights activist” but did not confirm that Popivker and, following a hearing, declared him it is backing him, saying only that the group is “curpersona non grata on campus, banning him from the rently reviewing the matter.” university grounds for at least two years. Popivker has The group, which frequently files lawsuits on behalf also been banned from nearby Case Western Reserve of students who allege antisemitism on their camUniversity, where he had advocated before focusing puses, said in a statement that the order of protection on Cleveland State. was a “double standard” that “should be alarming to In the midst of a nationwide university climate anyone who cares about the fight against Jew-hatred.” in which pro-Israel advocates claim Jewish students Lawfare recently settled a multi-year lawsuit with face regular antisemitic harassment for their real or San Francisco State University over student reports perceived Zionist beliefs, here was a documented case of antisemitic harassment on campus stemming from of the opposite: a Jew and outspoken Zionist, who has anti-Zionist activists disrupting an event featuring the Continued on Page 12 no affiliation with the schools at which he advocates,

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

‘The cemeteries are the history of my community.’

— Susie Katz with her husband, Eddie

F

or most of her adult life, Susie Katz has been a passionate fundraiser for Jewish organizations in our community. Yet, none of them has seemed as compelling as the current Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton campaign. “We owe this effort to those who are buried in our cemeteries,” said Susie.

After learning about all of the research and data that went into creating this independent organization, she soon became one of the campaign’s earliest donors. “I know we were approaching this campaign correctly,” Susie remarked. “There will be a day when our congregations will not be able to support their cemeteries by themselves. We need to be prepared and feel the urgency, even if it’s not today.”

Reflecting on her family and friends who are buried in all of Dayton’s Jewish cemeteries, Susie commented that “protecting these beautiful surroundings is important to me. We can’t miss our opportunity to care for them.”

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

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

Preserving our Past Ensuring Our Future

daytonjewishcemeteries.org 525 Versailles Drive • Centerville, OH 45459 PAGE 11

There’s a place for your child at Hillel Academy.

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Now accepting K-6 applications for the 2023-2024 school year. daytonhillel.org • 937.277.8966 • dkmecoli@daytonhillel.org PAGE 12

THE REGION

Rabbi banned Continued from Page 11

into campus,” a student member of the Palestinian Human Rights Organization group told the Cauldron. “I’m forced to mayor of Jerusalem. The settlement com- be on constant edge and take the longer pelled the university to hire a coordinaway to class in order to avoid him.” tor of Jewish student life.

Another student told a different campus Popivker will have his work cut out newspaper, “It’s almost as though he defor him if he fights the charges. He had liberately looks for Palestinian individuexhibited “behavior detrimental to the als just to target them.” university community” by stealing the The chair of the law school’s National Palestinian banner and separately affixLawyers Guild student chapter told the ing an Israeli flag to university property, Cleveland Jewish News that their group’s Matthew Kibbon, Cleveland State’s asefforts to engage Popivker in reasonable sociate vice president of facility services, dialogue failed when he began using wrote in the university’s decision declar- “racial slurs and insulting language.” ing him persona non grata.

In images from one Popivker demonThe rabbi “was not banned for the stration, the rabbi can be seen drawing a content of his speech, but how he chose swastika with a Sharpie marker on what to exercise it,” a Cleveland State spokes- the Cauldron reported was a keffiyeh, a person told JTA in a statement. The scarf worn by Arabic men, but which university also provided JTA a list of Popivker told JTA was a Palestinian scarf recent campus police interactions with with no spiritual significance. He has him, including the initial Jan. 11 report also yelled phrases including “Palestinof the banner’s theft; Popivker’s visit to ians are Nazis” and “Palestinians are campus on Jan. 18, during which police the KKK,” and constructed a stage with advised him that the student’s order images further linking Palestinians to of protection did not permit him to be Naziism, according to reports. Popivthere; and his return visit on Jan. 25, ker’s own Instagram videos show him during which he was arrested. approaching groups of students to argue From Popivker’s perspective, he is about Israel as he films them, calling simply speaking out on Israel’s behalf some of them “terrorists” when they go for a campus that has a large pro-Palesafter his flags. tinian activist presence but few JewCleveland State increased its safety ish students. His goal is to educate, he protocols as a result of Popivker’s activisays, informed by his status as a Jewish ties, locking some additional entrances refugee from the Soviet Union. And he around campus. But much of his activibelieves he is being targeted by local ties have been online, too. pro-Palestinian activists, who, he said, Last fall Popivker trained his attenhave gone after his kipah and Israeli tion on a law student who was involved flags. with campus Palestinian rights groups “I never attacked anyone. I never and had made some anti-Israel posts raised my hand up to anyone,” he said, online, including sharing an image of saying that he was motivated by civil a child whom pro-Palestinian groups rights icons Martin Luther King Jr. and claimed had been a victim of an Israeli John Lewis. “I’m going to a public bombing, and sharing a socialist group’s university. I’m staying in the free speech post quoting, “From the river to the sea, zone. And I raise awareness about Palestine will be free.” what’s going on. There’s a bunch of stuDocuments show that Popivker dents that have become my friends that emailed and called the student’s emcome to study with me regularly.” ployer and law school seeking to have One of those students, senior Tyler her disciplined for her beliefs, writJarosz, said he became friends with ing among other things that she was a Popivker after seeing him visit campus “mouthpiece of terrorism and racism to advocate for Israel. Not knowing against Jews.” He also made Instagram much about Jews or Israel himself — posts targeting her. In response, the stu“I thought Israel was a very peaceful dent filed for and received the order of state,” Jarosz said — the student was protection against him, which Popivker taken with Popivker’s demonstrations later claimed was unwarranted because and said he learned a great deal from he had never met the student in person. them.

At the order of protection hearing, a “He didn’t just lecture me like a teach- transcript of which Popivker sent to JTA, er would,” Jarosz said. “He was actually a key witness who advocated for the revery engaging. He asked questions.” striction was law school dean Lee Fisher, Jarosz said he never witnessed the a former attorney general and lieutenant rabbi harassing anyone on campus. He governor of Ohio. Fisher is Jewish. recalled one Popivker visit to campus “We share a hatred of antisemitism,” for Israel’s independence day, when Fisher told Popivker during the hearing, the rabbi was offering falafel to stuaccording to the transcript. The dean dents, and said he saw a student throw also identified himself as “pro-Israel, the falafel back at him and threaten to very much so.” But Fisher made clear “rape” him. he was critical of Popivker’s activities Other students tell a different story. on campus. Asked by Popivker about One campus paper, the Cauldron, rea specific social media post the student ported that the rabbi has targeted visibly had made, Fisher responded, “Even if Muslim and Arab students on campus, she made a mistake by posting it, it did demanding to know their views on Isra- not warrant the kind of reaction I believe el. Popivker “makes me wary of coming that you had.”

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

March JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

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Sunday, March 5, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. — JFGD Men’s Philanthropy Happy Hour Sunday March 5, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. — CABS Event - Dan Grunfeld Thursday, March 16, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. — Women’s Seder Sunday, March 19, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. — JYG Afternoon at Scene 75 (for 6th-8th grade)

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SAVE THE DATE : SUNDAY, APRIL 23 @ 4:00 P.M.

YOM HASHOAH OBSERVANCE 2023

RESILIENCE& STRENGTH

EXPERIENCE

ISRAEL like never before

Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Israel’s Independence

Sunday, April 23 @ 4:00 p.m.

Temple Beth Or 5275 Marshall Road, Washington Township, 45429

Admission is FREE! Experience Israeli food,

3:00 p.m. Teen Program Survivor Renate Frydman leads an interactive discussion with local teens 3:00 p.m. Max May & Lydia May Memorial Holocaust Art & Writing Contest Works on display 4:00 p.m. Community Yom Hashoah Program Featuring some of our own Dayton survivors

innovations, culture, music, activities, and fun for ALL AGES!

Yom Ha’atzmaut

Sunday, April 30, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Boonshoft CJCE 525 Versailles Drive, Centerville, 45459

4:00 p.m. PJ Library and PJ Our Way Program Spreading Kindness

In partnership with: Beth Abraham Synagogue, Beth Jacob Congregation, Dayton Sister Cities, Hadassah, Hillel Academy, Jewish War Veterans, Temple Beth Or, and Temple Israel

For more information, call Samantha Daniel at 937-610-1555 or email Jane Hochstein at jhochstein@jfgd.net.

This program is proudly supported by the Israel Engagement Fund: A JCC Association of North America Program Accelerator

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

PAGE 13

March JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

A Women’s Freedom Seder

HEALING OUR BODIES, HEALING OUR SOULS

SUNDAY, MARCH 5 @ 7:00 P.M.

DAN GRUNFELD The Carillon Brewing Company 1000 Carillon Blvd, Dayton, 45409 $5 per person. RSVP at jewishdayton.org/events Interviewed by longtime Dayton Daily News sportswriter Marc Katz.

When Lily and Alex entered a packed gymnasium in Queens, New York in 1972, they barely recognized their son. The boy who escaped to America with them, who was bullied as he struggled to learn English and cope with family tragedy, was now a young man who had discovered and secretly honed his basketball talent on the outdoor courts of New York City. That young man was Ernie Grunfeld, who would go on to win an Olympic gold medal and reach previously unimaginable heights as an NBA player and executive. In By the Grace of the Game, Dan Grunfeld, once a basketball standout himself at Stanford University, shares the remarkable story of his family, a delicately interwoven narrative that doesn’t lack in heartbreak yet remains as deeply nourishing as his grandmother’s Hungarian cooking, so lovingly described.

PAGE 14

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

March JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

SHARING YOUR JOY

@PASSOVER

Do you have a favorite photo of nature that brings you joy? Share that joy with others! Submit your photos to Jewish Family Services now through March 10, and we will use them to create Passover cards as part of our holiday outreach. Email hi-res photos to Jacquelyn Archie at jarchie@jfgd.net.

NOW TAKING ORDERS! Orders Due - Friday, March 10 Pickup - Wednesday, May 10

Flowers will be from Furst the Florist. Contact eceflowersale@gmail.com for an order form.

INNOVATION GRANTS HEUMAN SCHOLARSHIP

INTEREST-FREE STUDENT LOANS

Completed applications are due Friday, March 31.

Are you a member of the Dayton Jewish community who plans on attending a two-year or four-year college, technical program, or graduate school in the academic year 2023-2024? If so, you may be eligible to apply for a college scholarship and/or interest-free student loan through the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.

For more information on the Heuman Scholarship, contact Alisa Thomas at 937-610-1796 or athomas@jfgd.net. If you have questions specific to interest-free student loans, please contact Tara Feiner at 937-401-1546 or tfeiner@jfgd.net.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

Contact Tara Feiner at tfeiner@jfgd.net or 937-401-1546 to request an application packet. Completed applications should be emailed to Tara Feiner by noon on Friday, March 31. The application packet includes: • Innovation Grant application (Adobe PDF) signed by the senior officer of the organization(s).

• Innovation Grant Budget application (Microsoft Excel) • First-time applicants must supply a copy of the organization’s IRS tax exempt ruling (501(c)(3)) for all groups involved if there is a collaboration. Prior Innovation Grant awardees do not need to resubmit their tax-exempt status.

For more information, visit jewishdayton.org.

PAGE 15

March JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

Legacies, Tributes, & Memorials FEDERATION ANNUAL CAMPAIGN IN MEMORY OF › Jim Levinson › Dr. Armando Susmano The Weiss Family JOE BETTMAN MEMORIAL TZADIK AWARD IN MEMORY OF › James Levinson Jean and Todd Bettman Elaine Bettman

JFS JFS DISCRETIONARY FUND IN MEMORY OF › Ernest Kahn Robert Kahn

JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON

JCC CAROLE RABINOWITZ CAMP FUND IN MEMORY OF › Amy Fingerhut’s mother › Jim Levinson › Paul Berger Bernard Rabinowitz LINDA RUCHMAN PERPETUAL ANNUAL CAMPAIGN FUND IN MEMORY OF › James Levinson Marshall and Judy Ruchman

MEN’S PHILANTHROPY HAPPY HOUR Sunday, March 5, 6:00 p.m.

The Carillon Brewing Company 1000 Carillon Blvd, Dayton, 45409 No Cost: Appetizers, drinks, and CABS admission included.

Please join us for a Men’s Philanthropy happy hour before the CABS event featuring Dan Grunfeld: By the Grace of the Game: The Holocaust, a Basketball Legacy and an Unprecedented American Dream.

RSVP to Samantha Daniel at 937-610-1555 or sdaniel@jfgd.net

June 5 - July 28 Camp Shalom is planning a summer full of excitement! We are offering a variety of specialty camps including tennis, golf, magic, art and theatre. We have field trips planned to fun destinations throughout the Miami Valley.

And we’ll celebrate Israel’s 75th birthday!

See JewishDayton.org for more information.

Register at: app.campdoc.com/register/jccgreaterdayton Do you know someone 16 or older who is looking for a meaningful, challenging and FUN summer work experience?

Camp Shalom is hiring summer staff! Interested candidates should contact Meryl Hattenbach at mhattenbach@jfgd.net or 937-401-1550 for instructions on how to apply.

PAGE 16

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

OPINION

There are differences How Jewish comedy found religion,

By Robert B. Kahn While the Jewish community of greater Dayton prepares for its annual commemoration of the 6 million innocent Jews murdered

by Germans and their allies, I am reminded that in 2021, Germany celebrated 1,700 years of Jewish life in Germany. There, in front of the bima (stage) on the beautiful Cologne Synagogue, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced the official opening of festivities. Funds were set aside to defray the cost of anniversary programs for each of the 16 German states. Some thousand programs and projects took place during that national anniversary year.

When I was a young boy asking my dad to explain something to me, he would basically say, “as you become older you will better understand.” And now, as I approach my 100th year, perhaps I am too old to understand.

Especially when our plans for Yom Hashoah are in memory of Jewish life and 6 million Jews in Germany and greater Europe who were murdered. On the other hand, Germany staged a yearlong anniversary to celebrate 1,700 years of Jewish life there, based on a surviving edict by Roman Emperor Constantine in the year 321 allowing Jews to be appointed to Cologne’s city government.

In addition to the anniversary celebration, the German postal service issued a stamp and collector’s envelope Germany's postage stamp with the significant to commemorate 1,700 and meaningful years of Jewish life there.

Hebrew word chai, life, also rendered in German. We say the Hebrew l'chaim, to life, as a wish and blessing for good health and wellbeing, especially when offering a toast.

None of this provides a rational explanation for the anniversary celebrations declared by the German government supposedly to draw attention to and make visible German Jewish history, culture, science, and religion — to promote a new and stronger normalcy between Jews and the German people. The festivities were supposed to be a strong signal against the rise of renewed antisemitism. It was an attempt, so stated, to provide a way from the Shoah to the flourishing again of Jewish communities which have arisen and are estimated at approximately 150,000 persons. This has created questions and some confusion of what underlies the real motives of the German government, if not to diminish the genocide of Jews through the murder largely by the German people.

As for me, I look forward to the solemnity of our own Yom Hashoah program, where in the synagogue, we honor, grieve, and say Kaddish (the mourner’s prayer) in unison for those 6 million innocent lives who were tortured and killed by German criminals by the most horrible means.

Robert B. Kahn lives in Kettering.

So, what do you think?

from Philip Roth to Broad City

An interview with UC Judaic Studies Chair Jenny Caplan on her new book

By Andrew Silow-Carroll, JTA In the 2020 comedy Shiva Baby, a 20-something young woman shows up at a house of Jewish mourners and gently offers her condolences. When she finds her mother in the kitchen, they chat about the funeral and the rugelach before the daughter asks, “Mom, who died?”

While Shiva Baby explores themes of sexuality and gender, the comedy almost never comes at the expense of Jewish tradition, which is treated seriously by its millennial writer and director Emma Seligman (born 1995) even as the shiva-goers collide. It’s far cry from the acerbic way an author raised during the Depression like Philip Roth lampooned a Jewish wedding or a baby boomer like Jerry Seinfeld mocked a bris.

These generational differences are explored in Jenny Caplan’s new book, Funny, You Don’t Look Funny: Judaism and Humor from the Silent Generation to Millennials. A religion scholar, Caplan writes about the way North American Jewish comedy has evolved since World War II, with a focus on how humorists treat Judaism as a religion. Her subjects range from writers and filmmakers who came of age shortly after the war (who viewed Judaism as “a joke at best and an actual danger at worst”) to Generation X and millennials, whose Jewish comedy often recognizes “the power of community, the value of family tradition, and the way that religion can serve as a port in an emotional storm.”

“I see great value in zeroing in on the ways in which Jewish humorists have Jenny Caplan engaged Jewish practices and their own Jewishness,” Caplan writes. “It tells us something (or perhaps it tells us many somethings) about the relationship between Jews and humor that goes deeper than the mere coincidence that a certain humorist was born into a certain family.”

Caplan is the chair in Judaic Studies at the University of Cincinnati. She has a master’s of theological studies degree from Harvard Divinity School and earned a Ph.D. in religion from Syracuse University.

Let me ask how you got into this topic.

I grew up in a family where I was just sort of surrounded by this kind of material. My dad is a comedic actor and director who went to (Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s) Clown College. When I got to Syracuse and it came time to start thinking about my larger project and what I wanted to do, I proposed a dissertation on Jewish humor.

The key to your book is how Jewish humor reflects the Jewish identity and compulsions of four sequential generations. Let’s start with the Silent Generation, sandwiched between the generation whose men were old enough to fight in World War II and the baby boomers born just after the war.

The hallmark of the Silent Generation is that they were old enough to be aware of the war, but they were mostly too young to serve. Every time I told people what I was writing about, they would say Woody Allen or Philip Roth, two people of roughly the same generation.

The Roth story you focus on is Eli, the Fanatic from 1959, about an assimilated Jewish suburb that is embarrassed and sort of freaks out when an Orthodox yeshiva, led by

a Holocaust survivor, sets up in town.

Roth spent the first 20 to 30 years of his career dodging the claim of being a self-loathing Jew and bad for the Jews.

But the actual social critique of Eli, the Fanatic is so sharp.

It is about how American Jewish comfort comes at the expense of displaced persons from World War II and at the expense of those for whom Judaism is a real thriving, living religious practice.

That’s an example you offer when you write that the Silent Generation “may have found organized religion to be a dangerous force, but they nevertheless wanted to protect and preserve the Jewish people.” I think that would surprise people in regard to Roth, and maybe to some degree Woody Allen.

Yeah, it surprised me. They really did, I think, share that postwar Jewish sense of insecurity about ongoing Jewish continuity, and that there’s still an existential threat to the ongoing existence of Jews.

I hear that and I think of Woody Allen’s characters, atheists who are often on the lookout for antisemitism. But you don’t focus on Allen as the intellectual nebbish of the movies. You look at his satire of Jewish texts, like his very funny Hassidic Tales, With a Guide to Their Interpretation by the Noted Scholar from 1970, which appeared in The New Yorker. It’s a parody of Martin Buber’s Tales of the Hasidim and sentimental depictions of the shtetl, perhaps like Fiddler on the Roof. A reader might think he’s just mocking the tradition, but you think there’s something else going on.

He’s not mocking the tradition as much as he’s mocking a sort of consumerist approach to the tradition. There was this sort of very superficial attachment to Buber’s Tales of the Hasidim. Allen’s satire is not a critique of the traditions of Judaism, it’s a critique of the way that people latch onto things like the Kabalah and these new English translations of Chasidic stories without any real depth of thought or intellect. Intellectual hypocrisy seems to be a common theme in his movies and in his writing. It’s really a critique of organized religion, and it’s a critique of institutions, and it’s a critique of the power of institutions. But it’s not a critique of the concept of religion.

You write that the baby boomers are sort of a transition between the Silent Generation and a later generation: They were the teenagers of the counterculture, and warned about the dangers of empty religion, but also came to consider religion and tradition as valuable. But before you get there, you have a 1977 Saturday Night Live skit in which a bris is performed in the back seat of a luxury car, and the rabbi who performs it is portrayed as what you call an absolute sellout.

Exactly. You know: Institutional religion is empty and it’s hollow, it’s dangerous and it’s seductive.

Jerry Seinfeld, born in 1954, is seen as an icon of Jewish humor, but to me is an example of someone who never depicts religion as a positive thing.

Seinfeld is more a show about New York than it is necessarily a show about anything Jewish. The New York of Seinfeld is very similar to the New York of Woody Allen, Continued on Page 26

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

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MAZEL TOV! The YWCA Dayton and the Women of will honor Susan Influence Committee, Gruenberg with based on her continits 2023 Lifetime ued contributions to Achievement Award the community. at its 25th annual Women of Influence Native Daytonian Awards luncheon Miriam Weiskind, on March 9 at the owner and pizDayton Convention zaiola at The 'Za Center. Sue has volReport in Brooklyn, unteered with more will compete on Susan Gruenberg than 35 nonprofits the Food Channel's in the Dayton area Chopped competition including the Junior League, at 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 28.

Daybreak, Ronald McDonald The episode, Wanna Pizza Me? House, Friends of the Dayton features Miriam and three other Arcade, American Red Cross, "brilliant pizza pros" racing the Dayton Art Institute, Jewish the clock in a showdown for Family Services, and the Day$10,000. Miriam, the daughton Ballet. ter of longtime These days, she Daytonians Dr. focuses her volunRay and the late teering on SoroptiHyla Weiskind, mist International began baking pizof Dayton, to help zas as a full-time find missing and career during exploited children.

Covid, giving The YWCA first them to people in honored Sue as a her building who Woman of Influneeded a meal. ence in 2003. The Miriam writes awards celebrate "For Mom" and Miriam Weiskind women who have draws a heart made a difference inside each pizza in our community through their box lid as a tribute to her late dedication to the YWCA mismother. sion of empowering women, eliminating racism, and proCenterville City Schools has recmoting peace, justice, freedom, ognized Melissa Hoffheimer, a and dignity for all.

French teacher at Watts Middle Sue was chosen for the lifeSchool, as its 2023 Teacher of time achievement honor from the Year. She'll represent Centhe past Women of Influence terville as a finalist for the Ohio honorees by YWCA leadership Teacher of the Year competition

this spring.

Steve Markman has published his fifth book, The Long and The Short, a compilation of articles he's written for the Dayton MG Car Club newsletter. He digs into the evolution of engines, fuels, paint, lubricants, glass, and other things that make the car what it is today. "I also go off topic on some of these articles and talk about human factors," he says, "how Queen Elizabeth II learned to maintain trucks, and even how I restored my player piano." It's available on Amazon.

Jewish National Fund's regional office in Cincinnati recently hired Jennifer Bain as its campaign director.

Submissions to the 2023 Max May & Lydia May Memorial Holocaust Art & Writing Contest are due by March 31. Each year, students in grades five through 12 attending public, parochial, or homeschool in the Miami Valley are invited to submit their entries. This year's theme is: What valuable lessons have you learned from the Holocaust? Winners will be honored at the Dayton Area Yom Hashoah Observance, April 23 at Temple Beth Or. For contest entry forms, go to daytonholocaust.org/ resourcesexhibits/contests.

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

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

CALENDAR Classes

Beth Abraham Classes: Mondays, noon: Lifelong Learning w. Rabbi Glazer. Saturdays, following noon kiddush lunch: Psalms w. Rabbi Glazer. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood.

937-293-9520.

Beth Jacob Classes: Sundays, 2 p.m.: Conversion Class w.

Rabbi Agar. Tuesdays, 7 p.m.: Weekly Parsha w. Rabbi Agar.

Thursdays, 7 p.m.: Thursdays of Thought-Jewish Law w.

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

Chabad Classes: Wednesdays, 7 p.m.: Talmud Class in person. Thursdays, noon: Zoom Lunch & Learn. Fridays, 9:30 a.m.: Women’s Class in person. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. Register at chabaddayton.com. 937-643-0770.

Temple Beth Or Adult Classes: Sundays, 12:30 p.m.: Adult Hebrew. Sat., Mar. 4, 10 a.m.: Apocryphal Study in person & virtual class. Thurs., Mar. 9, 7 p.m.: Chai Mitzvah on Zoom.

Sat., Mar. 18, 10 a.m.: Apocryphal Study on Zoom. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. templebethor.com. 937-435-3400.

Temple Israel Classes: Tuesdays, noon: Talmud Study in person & virtual. Wednesdays,

10 a.m.: Social Justice Commentary w. Rabbi BodneyHalasz at home of Cathy Lieberman. Saturdays, 9:15 a.m.: Virtual Torah Study. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. tidayton. org. 937-496-0050.

Family

Temple Israel Prayer & Play: Fri., Mar. 17, 5:30 p.m.: Infants2nd grade. Contact Rabbi Sobo, 937-496-0050. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.

Children & Teens

Temple Israel Youth Social Event: Sun., Mar. 12, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.: PreK-2nd grades.

1-2:30 p.m.: 3-5th grades. Free.

130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 937496-0050.

Jewish Youth Group Afternoon at Scene75: Sun., Mar. 19, 2 p.m.: $18 includes game card.

Grades 6-8. RSVP to jewishdayton.org or 937-610-1555. 6196 Poe Ave., Dayton.

Women

Chabad Women’s Circle: Sun., Mar. 12, 5:30 p.m. $36. Guest speaker Rivkie Brikman, When the Steering Wheel Gets Tight.

2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. chabaddayton.com. 937-6430770.

Women’s Seder: Thurs., Mar. 16, 6 p.m. $40. RSVP to jewishdayton.org or 937-610-1555. At

S. Euclid police investigating gun incident outside kosher restaurant

By Courtney Byrnes Cleveland Jewish News Law enforcement is investigating a Feb. 12 incident in which a suspect pulled a gun on four Jewish children outside Arova, a kosher restaurant at the Cedar Center shopping plaza in South Euclid.

The four children, three who are 14 years old and one who is 13 years old, were outside the restaurant when a Arova, a kosher restaurant in South Euclid red sedan drove past them and a Black male in the passenger seat pointed a black handgun at them. He yelled at them, but they could not hear what was said, according to the South Euclid Police.

The incident was reported around 11:34 p.m. Feb. 12 by a Beachwood resident who witnessed it. South Euclid Police are investigating the incident, but said more information needs to be obtained to determine if it is a hate crime.

Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s security arm, JFC Security, was notified of the incident and has been in contact with South Euclid police, Cleveland FBI’s hate crime unit, and the AntiDefamation League, Jim Hartnett, director of community-wide security for the Federation, said.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

Beth Abraham Synagogue, 305 Sugar Camp Circle, Oakwood.

Men

Chabad Bagels, Lox & Tefillin: Sun., Mar. 5, 9:30 a.m. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. 937643-0770.

Men’s Philanthropy Happy Hour w. Dan Grunfeld: Sun., Mar. 5, 6 p.m. Free. Appetizers, drinks, admission to 7 p.m.

CABS program w. Grunfeld included. Carillon Brewing Co., 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton.

RSVP to jewishdayton.org. 937610-1555.

Purim

Chabad Kids Club Red Carpet Purim: Sun., Mar. 5, 4 p.m. Free. Ages 5-11. RSVP to chabaddayton.com/ckids. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. 937643-0770.

Beth Abraham’s Purim According to Elvis: Mon., Mar. 6, 5:15 p.m.: Dinner $10 adults, $7 children 3-12. RSVP for dinner.

305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood.

937-293-9520.

Harry “Chaim” Potter Comes to Beth Jacob for Purim: Mon., Mar. 6, 6 p.m. Free. RSVP to Tammy Evans, 937-274-2149.

7020 N. Main St., Harrison Twp. Temple Israel’s Wild West Purim: Mon., Mar. 6, 6 p.m.

Dinner costs: Adults $5, Children 4-12 $3, Children 3 and under free. Game tokens 3/$1 or 20/$5. Includes free wine & cheese party for adults during kids' carnival. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. RSVP for dinner. 937496-0050.

Chabad Purim in Jerusalem: Tues., Mar. 7, 5:30 p.m. $15 adults, $5 children. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. RSVP for dinner to chabaddayton.com.

937-643-0770.

Community

JCC Cultural Arts & Book Series presents Dan Grunfeld: Sun., Mar. 5, 7 p.m. $5. Interviewed by Marc Katz. Carillon Brewing Co., 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton. Register at jewishdayton.org/events.

Temple Israel Ryterband Brunch & Speaker Series: Sundays, 9:45 a.m. $7. Mar. 12: Retired historian & attorney David Gold, What Do You Do Here in the Winter? The Lives of the Real Catskill Jews. Mar. 19: Dr. Soumya Neravetla, The Battle Against Lung Cancer. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. tidayton. org. 937-496-0050.

Temple Beth Or Corned Beef Lunch: Tues., Mar. 14, 11 a.m.1:30 p.m. $18 meal, $20 lb., $5 cheesecake. Call for delivery options. Order at templebethor.

Humor & Hope in the Bible & Jewish Christian Dialogue 43rd Annual Ryterband Symposium in Judaic Studies Thursday, March 30 United Theological Seminary 4501 Denlinger Rd. Trotwood, OH 45426

Joel S. Kaminsky Morningstar Family Prof. of Jewish Studies, Smith College, Mass.

com/event/corned-beef-lunch.

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

Beth Abraham Men’s Club Rick Pinsky Brunch Speaker Series: Sun., Mar. 19, 10 a.m., UD English Prof. Miriamne Krummel, Three 13th-Century Jewish Dates & Chaucer’s Prioress’ Tale. $7. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. 937-293-9520.

Chabad Presents Judaism: The Soundtrack: Sun., Mar. 26, 4 p.m. Song, storytelling, inspiration. RSVP to chabaddayton.com/rsvp. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. 937-643-0770.

Beth Abraham Men's Club Kosher Deli Dinner, Movie & Raffle: Sun., Mar. 26, 6 p.m. $20. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. RSVP by March 20 to 937-293-9520.

43rd Annual Ryterband Symposium in Judaic Studies: Thurs., Mar. 30. 4 p.m.: Exploring Humor & Hope in the Bible

by Prof. Joel S. Kaminsky. 7:30 p.m.: Jewish/Christian Dialogue is no Joke...Or is it? by Prof. Kaminsky. What I've Learned from Jewish-Christian Dialogue by Joel N. Lohr, president, Hartford Int'l. Univ. At United Theological Seminary, 4501 Denlinger Rd., Trotwood. Free. Sponsored by UD, UTS, WSU.

Joel N. Lohr President, Hartford International University, Conn.

4 pm: God Has Brought Me Laughter: Exploring Humor & Hope in the Bible by Prof. Kaminsky 7:30 pm: Jewish/Christian Dialogue is no Joke ...Or is it? by Prof. Kaminsky Is Christian Humor Even a Thing?

What I’ve Learned from Jewish-Christian Dialogue by Prof. Lohr Co-sponsored by The University of Dayton, United Theological Seminary, & Wright State University Both presentations are free & open to the public For additional information, Prof. Anthony Le Donne at acledonne@united.edu

PAGE 19

CONGREGATIONS

RELIGION

Beth Abraham Synagogue

Embracing our particularity & uniqueness

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

Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.

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

Beth Jacob Congregation

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

7020 N. Main St., Dayton.

937-274-2149. bethjacobcong.org

Temple Anshe Emeth

Reform Rabbinic Intern Anna Burke 320 Caldwell St., Piqua.

Fri., March 3, 7:30 p.m.

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

Temple Beth Or

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

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

Temple Beth Sholom

Reform Rabbi Haviva Horvitz 610 Gladys Dr., Middletown.

513-422-8313. templebethsholom.net

Temple Israel

Reform Senior Rabbi Karen BodneyHalasz. Rabbi/Educator Tina Sobo Fri., March 3, 6 p.m.

Fridays, March 10, 17, 24, 31, 6:30 p.m.

Sat., March 11, 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

By Rabbi Nochum Mangel Chabad of Greater Dayton An old Jewish joke describes all Jewish holidays in a few words: “They tried to kill us.

They failed. Let’s eat.”

Just as our enemies were not the same, the way they tried to kill us was different as well.

Our enemies varied, and their means of getting rid of us differed too.

On Jan. 27, the editorial board of the Louisville CourierJournal published an opinion headlined, Holocaust Remembrance Day is a time to remember more than one atrocity.

You can commemorate International Holocaust Memorial Day, they said, but “only as

Perspectives a day commemorating every genocide that is carried out upon any group based on skin color, religion, gender identity, and ethnic background…Jews do not have a monopoly on persecution and atrocities.”

“Hitler was just one of many dictators,” they wrote.

They argued that “if we as a community only focus on one religion, only on one event, we are denigrating and trivializing the horrors of the past and the injustices of today.”

Commonly, antisemitism is understood as hatred, prejudice, and hostility directed at Jews as a distinct people, nation, or race.

Then there is religious antisemitism or anti-Judaism, when the animosity and resentment are directed at Jews for their Jewish beliefs and practices. These haters can live with Jews as a people, but demand that we dive into the melting pot, shed our Jewish identity, and assimilate into the majority culture. They accept Jews whose Jewishness is not obvi-

March • Adar/Nisan

Chabad of Greater Dayton

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

Yellow Springs Havurah

Independent Antioch College Rockford Chapel.

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

Shabbat Candle Lightings March 3: 6:13 p.m.

March 10: 6:20 p.m.

March 17: 7:27 p.m.

March 24: 7:35 p.m.

March 31: 7:42 p.m.

PAGE 20

ous, but not Jews who insist on Be cultural Jews, they said, but being particularly Jewish. not religious ones. The Greeks Throughout our long and were more anti-Judaism than storied history, we have exanti-Jew. amples of both kinds of hatred.

The Romans hated the Pharaoh feared that we Jewish desire for religious would overthrow him, so he independence. They viewed enslaved us and drowned our our unwillingness to make children in the Nile, hoping offerings to Roman gods or to demoralize and weaken us take part in Roman religious through hard labor. Pharaoh festivals as disloyalty. Because saw us as a threat to his throne. the Holy Temple and Jerusalem Amalek simply hated us. represented this independence, Although we were they ransacked and not threatening destroyed both, exiling him on our journey or enslaving whoever from Egypt to Sinai, survived their murAmalek couldn't derous legions. The tolerate seeing free Romans hated the Jews as an indeJews for their unwavpendent nation, so ering religious indehe attacked from pendence. behind, targeting Early and medieval the weak and the Europe under Chrismost vulnerable. tian rule would not His animosity was Rabbi Nochum Mangel accept our clinging plain unvarnished to our belief in one Jew hatred. unified God. Since we would In the story of Purim, Hanot convert to their religion, we man resented the Jews because were tortured, massacred, and we wouldn’t accept him and our towns pillaged. bow to him as a god. So, infuriIn Islamic countries, a Jew ated, he devised a genocidal was only a second-class citizen, plan to annihilate all the Jewish subject to special taxes and people — women, men, and restrictions under the Pact of children — a plot foiled by Umar, tolerated but not equal.

Queen Esther. Haman loathed Napoleon, in the modern Jews. We were different and, era, offered some political therefore, not valuable. To him, freedom as long as we aswe were intolerable. similated into French society The Syrian Greeks in the and culture. He was disturbed story of Chanukah did not by our loyalty to Torah, its understand Jewish worship of mitzvot (commandments), and an undefinable and intangible our allegiance to God, which God, nor did they appreciate represented a force beyond his our observance of Jewish laws earthly power. and values based on the auNapoleon welcomed the thority of that God. Theirs was Jews as French citizens loyal to a rationalist worldview: they his rule but despised Judaism worshiped nature through their as a distinctive religion since it many gods, and the human puts loyalty to God first. body was the measure of all Hitler and the Nazis considthings. Attacking the Jewish re- ered both Jews and Judaism to ligion, the Greeks forbade Jews be humanity's greatest dangers, to practice any religious ritual a cancer, and they set out to they considered to be irrational. eradicate both. Influenced by

Torah Portions Purim

March 4: Tetzaveh (Ex. 27:20-30:10; Deut. 25:17-19)

March 7/14 Adar Commemorates the rescue of the Jews in ancient Persia. The reading of the Book of Esther, costumes, grogers (noisemakers), and eating hamantashen are part of this festival.

March 11: Ki Tissa (Ex. 30:11-34:35; Num. 19:1-22)

Feast of Lots

March 18: Vayakhel-Pekudei (Ex. 35:1-40:38; 12:1-20) March 25: Vayikra (Lev. 1:1-5:26)

pseudo-science, they attempted to create a perfect, eternal Aryan race. Hitler hated the Jews, Judaism, and everything they represented.

So, bearing all this in mind, can one consider the editorial opinion of the Courier-Journal antisemitic?

I think so, and I don’t throw around the accusation liberally.

I believe if we accuse everybody or anything we don’t like or disagree with of being antisemitic, eventually, the charge loses its power.

However, arguing that Jews should or must be universalists and don’t focus on our uniqueness — expecting that all of our commemorations and celebrations include all other persecuted and oppressed groups, and requiring that we dilute and sacrifice our particularity on the altar of universalism — all of these deprive us of the meaning of our lives and our history.

As a Jew and a child of a Holocaust survivor, I feel deeply for all those who are marginalized and persecuted. We must constantly fight for justice and respect for every human being with heart and vigor.

Yet we must not give up the power of the particular. We, as Jewish people, know that the universal God created a world of particular people and invested each human soul with infinite worth. The universal and particular go hand in hand.

I focus on our history during Jewish holidays and remember and mourn those whom we lost at our memorials. That doesn’t make me any less sensitive to the plight of others. If anything, it makes me more so. If my own people’s sufferings have a powerful meaning, then so will the particular suffering of others. To negate the meaning of our particular sufferings cannot but negate the meaning of others as well.

As we rise to defend Jewish people around the world, we must stand up to defend Judaism as well. History has proven that first they come for our Judaism, and then they come for us — Jews ourselves.

We must speak up and call out any form of antisemitism by writing to the editor, calling talk shows, or posting on social media, and most importantly, we must continue to practice Judaism proudly for all to see.

Our particular cause is the cause of all humanity.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

This Purim, make a GIANT hamantash

Giant Hamantash Pie Crust 2½ cups flour 1 tsp. sugar ½ tsp. salt 1 cup unsalted butter/margarine ½ cup cold orange juice 1 egg beaten (set aside for egg wash) Add flour, sugar, salt, and

butter to a food procedure.

Process until combined. Add orange juice and process again, until the dough holds together and forms a wet ball. Don’t over-process, just combine.

Remove dough and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for two hours.

Apricot Levkar I don’t recommend storebought jam here — it’s too runny. This recipe from Tori Avey cooks up quickly and easily.

4 cups dried apricots 2 cups water ½ cup orange juice 1 cup sugar Stir ingredients together in a large pot. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn to low, cover and let simmer for one hour. Once they are cooked and soft, mash apricots with a potato masher or a wooden spoon until it has

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Giant hamantashen are much faster to make than all those little ones.

By Carly Pildis, forward.com Purim always sneaks up on me. I find myself relaxing in post-Chanukah bliss, drinking cocoa with no holidays on the horizon. Then the snow melts and BAM! Time to get ready for Purim! Time to get organized for Passover! Make mishloach manot! See that tulip? Now bake 600 hamantashen!

This time of year goes from relaxed to hectic fast — and I'm always caught unprepared.

While I love the taste of hamantashen, making dozens of them can be tedious and time consuming.

This year I’m giving myself a break by making one giant hamantash.

My giant hamantashen are technically like the crostata marmelatta — a lovely Italian freeform jam tart. I shape it like smaller hamantashen, add orange juice to the dough for that classic fruity taste, and bake it up into one huge treat.

This easy dessert is perfect for any time you have a lot of company.

The great thing about this recipe is it doesn’t look or feel like a time-saving hack — it feels special, spectacular, and silly. It's perfect for Purim.

When I brought it out at dinner my 5-year-old daughter laughed hysterically. "It's the biggest cookie ever!" she giggled. It’s Purim-tastic.

Spring

a jam-like consistency. Then it's ready to use. (If you end up with leftovers, you can use this in couscous or to glaze a chicken breast.)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Once the pie dough is cool, roll out some parchment paper. Dust your rolling pin with flour and spread some on the surface of your paper too. Roll your dough out into a circle.

Place all of the filling in the center and spread evenly into a triangle shape.

Carefully roll up the sides into a hamantashen shape. You can trim them to be extra neat if you like.

Brush the sides with egg.

This tart is big, so carefully use the parchment paper to lift it onto your cookie sheet.

Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the dough is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Cool and enjoy.

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PAGE 21

JEWISH FAMILY EDUCATION

Improbable endings The Power of Stories Series

After Velvel didn’t return home from school, his parents discovered that he had been forcibly conscripted into the czar’s army where, for 25 years,

Candace R. Kwiatek he would also be pressured to accept baptism.

Even if he survived, he would be lost to his family and to Judaism. His family fell into despair, an unbearable,

hopeless vortex of agony and blackness.

Meanwhile, with a satchel of honey cake and a bottle of vodka, Velvel’s sister walked to the training camp. She curtsied to the sentry and asked if she could give a treat to her brother, a new recruit. When the guard hesitated, she offered him the vodka and honey cake.

She found her brother, hustled him into an empty latrine, and instructed him to put on the dress, hat, and shoes at the bottom of her satchel. “Just walk out past the sentry, carrying my bag as if you’re me,” she instructed him. “I’ll wait for

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• Organize regular meetings with JCC preschool & Hillel administrators to coordinate promotional activities & communication of Hillel & PJ Library events at JCC preschool • Work with teachers & parent ambassador representatives to ensure communication with new families & students to promote a comfortable transition to our school.

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PAGE 22

you.”

Velvel’s sister snuck out of the camp, soon joined by her brother. The entire family promptly defied the czar’s laws and fled to the United States.

Dr. Iskra Fileva describes despair as “when the pain of the current situation—limited to a specific circumstance or encompassing one’s entire life—seems intolerable, the future appears to hold no hope, and the internal will to fight withdraws.”

For nearly a half century, despair has been viewed as an expression of malfunctioning biochemical processes in the brain, correctable through medical treatment.

However, mounting evidence suggests this medical model is incomplete, science writer Michael Begun notes.

It doesn’t account for human agency: the power of human beings to think, make choices, act with intention, self-reflect, imagine, and especially to hope.

Human agency propels the Jewish story, an ongoing narrative filled with moments, lifetimes, even eras of great despair.

Yet, like the weekly Torah readings, the Jewish story never ends on a tragic note.

Consider Joseph, filled with despair as a hated brother, slave, and forgotten prisoner who rose to become viceroy of Egypt and reunited with his family.

And Jeremiah, who despaired when the people ignored his message and publicly humiliated him, but whose prophecies of a hopeful future sustained Israel in Babylonian exile where they forged the foundations of Torah-centered Judaism.

And the despairing Jews, devastated by Jerusalem’s destruction and scattered across the Iberian Peninsula, whose descendants became the scientists, mathematicians, physicians, and scholars of the Jewish Golden Age; the translators who helped spread Greco-Arabic knowledge; and the astronomers and mapmakers who guided Spanish and Portuguese explorers.

Comparable Jewish stories are endless. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks notes that "To be a Jew is to be an agent of hope in a world serially threatened by despair.” He likewise describes Judaism as "the refusal to give way to despair," illustrated by the following stories.

The switch. Circumcision is outlawed, decreed Emperor

Hadrian, upon pain of death. was spellbound. And only the The Jews of Israel fell into secret Jews recognized the soardespair. Nevertheless, the great ing calls of the shofar within sage Shimon ben Gamaliel the crescendos of the final secretly performed a circumcipiece, 100 blasts in full keepsion on his new son, naming ing with Jewish tradition. For him Judah. the first time in years, Spain’s Upon discovery by the losecret Jews were able to fulfill cal Roman governor, Rabbi the mitzvah (commandment) of Shimon’s baby and wife were hearing the shofar. ordered to appear before The Foundation. In May Hadrian to be judged. On the of 2001, teenage friends Koby way, Judah’s despairing mother Mandell and Yosef Ishran shared her story with an innskipped school one day to keeper’s wife, the new mother go hiking in caves near their of Antoninus. homes in Tekoa, an Israeli “Take my uncircumcised son settlement in the West Bank. to Rome,” she offered, “and The boys’ bodies were found leave your child with me so his the next day, brutally stoned life might be spared.” When to death. Awash in grief and the infant was examined in the despair, Koby’s parents, Sherri emperor’s court, no circumciand Rabbi Seth Mandell, strugsion was evident. gled to pull themselves out of Summarthe abyss. ily dismissed, Sherri penned 'Don't think you mother and a poignant meminfant returned understand the oir, The Blessing homeward, stopof a Broken Heart, ping at the inn to story of your life that was later exchange babies. at halftime.' adapted into a Eventually stage play.

Antoninus, emThe couple peror of Rome, met Judah the established the Koby Mandell Prince, editor of the Mishnah, Foundation for bereaved chiland they became friends, a dren and adults, offering sumrelationship that brought welmer and year-round camps, come protection to the Jewish retreats, support groups, and community. other programs to families The concert. Faced with affected by terror and other conversion or exile, many Jews tragedies. during the Inquisition opted “Sometimes we’re given to remain in Spain and sethese horrible tragedies and cretly practice their Judaism. As we’re able to turn them into Rosh Hashanah approached, something tremendously the secret Jews of Barcelona generative. To rise from the despaired. Unable to hear the ashes and grow. It’s possible to shofar yet again, they resented transform the worst things into a special concert scheduled for light,” Sherri concludes. the holiday eve. Not attending To this day, there is a would be tempting death. sign over the entrance to the To open the concert, Don Bratislava synagogue, Rabbi Fernando Aguilar, conductor Edward Feinstein notes: "Jews of the Royal Orchestra and may not despair." It evokes a secret Jew, announced the words of advice from Rabbi performance would comprise Sacks: “Don’t think you unhis own compositions featuring derstand the story of your life the music and instruments of at halftime. Life is filled with varied cultures. The audience improbable endings.”

Literature to share A Persian Passover by Etan Basseri. This lively children’s tale of a mishap while preparing for Passover is a lovely introduction to the sights, smells, and traditions of a Seder in 1950s Iran. The preparation of matzah figures prominently in the story, as do the traditions of generosity and inviting guests to the Seder. At the end is a delicious Persian charoset recipe you’ll want to try.

People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn. “People love dead Jews. Living Jews, not so much.” Based on the author’s research, travels, and personal experiences, this is a collection of essays in which Horn addresses the unbalanced portrayal of Jews through the lens of death while erasing living Judaism. In Horn’s own words, “I had mistaken the enormous public interest in past Jewish suffering for a sign of respect for living Jews. I was very wrong.”

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

Arts&Culture

From a Budapest attic to the NY Knicks: A Holocaust survivor’s family journey

By Louis Keene, forward.com For the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, the irony of Dan Grunfeld’s first contract offer to play professional basketball was a bit on-the-nose. It was not just that it came from Germany. The team that wanted him was from Oldenburg — the first state to put the Nazi party in power.

Grunfeld’s new book, By the Grace of the Game: The Holocaust, a Basketball Legacy, and an Unprecedented American Dream, is about these full-circle moments.

Alternating among the stories of his grandmother, now 96, who hid in a Budapest attic as Nazi soldiers executed thousands of Jews outside; of her son, Ernie Grunfeld, a Romanian immigrant who became an NBA ‘lifer’; and his own, Grunfeld tells a powerful tale of Jewish American redemption through basketball.

In the annals of Jewish basketball players, Ernie Grunfeld is as accomplished as they come — a nine-year playing career with the Bucks, Kings, and Knicks and a gold medal with Team U.S.A., followed by decades as a team executive. At the heart of this book is his assimilation into American life on the streets of Queens, and the pride his son — whose birth was scheduled around Knicks road trips so Grunfeld could attend the bris — takes in retracing his family’s steps.

like people and that’s what I’ve always learned from my grandma and my dad.

How did this book come about?

I interviewed my grandma and my dad for a year and a half. And I didn’t tell them exactly what I had in mind. I needed space to kind of make sense of it all, and I don’t know if I could have written it if everyone was kind of aware.

So I did the research, wrote the book, and then I shared it with my family.

My dad is very proud of me, very grateful that I’m telling this story. I talk a lot in the book about privilege, like that’s one of my privileges — I have a generation of separation from this tragedy and trauma, so I can go back and talk about it. So, I think he’s grateful for that, but it’s difficult.

Between your father’s basketball story and your own, the contrast is pretty dramatic.

Yeah, my dad’s career and my career are kind of inverted in certain ways. My dad was born in Romania under communism, came to the United States, was a gold medalist for the U.S. and played in the NBA. I was born in an affluent suburb outside of New York City, played for the Romanian national team, and made my career in Europe.

Was it hard playing for a German pro basketball team considering the Holocaust’s place in your family history?

I’m probably the only professional player who had to ask his grandmother’s permission to sign his first contract.

When I asked if she was OK with me playing in Germany, she said sons are not responsible for the sins of their fathers, and I’ll never forget that. That perspective really had an impact on me, because I can’t say that it wasn’t in the back of my mind at times, especially when I would meet some of the older folks in Germany, wondering what their histories were.

But as it relates to my teammates and the friends I made, I just treated them

You played in Germany, Spain, and Israel in your career. What was your favorite overseas playing experience?

I was lucky — I played in really good countries with strong leagues. But Israel was my favorite. When I was playing in the Maccabiah games in 2009, I remember telling my sister, I’m going to finish my career here. It was just such a special, meaningful experience. As I wrote in the book, my dad and my grandparents had passports to emigrate from Romania to Israel, but at the last minute were able to come to the United States. But the majority of the rest of our family settled in Israel. So to be able to reconnect with that history, to be able to understand the State of Israel and the history there, I just had a wonderful time. And the food’s amazing, too.

The JCC Cultural Arts & Book Series presents Dan Grunfeld, 7 p.m., Sun., March 5 at Carillon Brewing Company, 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton. Interviewing Grunfeld will be retired Dayton Daily News sportswriter Marc Katz. The cost is $5. Register at jewishdayton.org/ events.

At 6 p.m., the Jewish Federation will host a Men's Philanthropy Happy Hour with Grunfeld. RSVP for this free event to Samantha Daniel at sdaniel@jfgd.net.

You experienced withdrawal as your basketball career wound down. I’m curious how long that lasted. To what extent is the game still a part of your life?

I was really burnt out by the time I retired. I didn’t touch a basketball for a year, though I was working for the NBA at that point. I think I needed that space.

But after some time, I started shooting around a bit, playing a bit. And now I play once a week, when I’m in the Bay

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

Area, and I have a pickup game with some folks that I enjoy playing with.

And listen, I have a great time. You know, basketball is one of my greatest loves, I still love to play it. I love to watch it and read about it — it’s in my blood.

And this is how my book starts, right?

I was born around the NBA schedule, you know, and Judaism, right? So my dad could be there for my birth and my Dan Grunfeld bris. From the beginning, basketball has been there, and it’s not going anywhere. family story is a small part of that. The Holocaust wasn’t that long ago, and it wasn’t that far away. And we need to do There are fewer living Holocaust sureverything that we can to make sure it vivors every year. And concerns about doesn’t happen again. antisemitism and antisemitic attacks are growing. Do you talk about this If there’s one thing people take away with your dad and grandmother? from your book, what would you want Yeah, we definitely talked about it. I remember speaking to my grandmother it to be?

There’s darkness in the book, but after the terrible shooting in Pittsburgh there’s a lot more light. You know, years ago, and she said, “I couldn’t ultimately, this is a hopeful story. I’ve sleep.” always drawn inspiration from what For my grandma, she had seen what my grandmother overcame, what my can happen. So if there’s a synagogue dad overcame, and from what the game that’s desecrated, or a fire started in a of basketball has done for us. So I hope sacred Jewish place, it’s upsetting. when people read it, it has that same We try to think about ways to make effect. a difference, and for me, telling my

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PAGE 23

Arts&Culture

Female artists explore memory, identity, heritage at The Co

George Chinsee

When you want to remember, say, lines from

By Hannah Kasper Levinson a speech, you visualize the imagined location Special To The Observer in your mind and commit each part of the New exhibitions by three female artists are on display at The Contemporary Dayton through March 26. speech to an object, such as a vase or a chair.

Uniting the works of Becky Suss, Carmen Winant, and Similarly, objects in Suss’ paintings are signifiers of memory and narrative.

Yael Bartana are their varied interpretations of femiBooks are also a recurring theme in Suss’ nism and Jewish heritage. paintings; on view are a few intimately sized Their art ranges from painting to collage to video canvases depicting book covers of personal installation. significance to the artist.

Becky Suss is a Philadelphia-based painter of doDescending from Russian mestic interiors who combines real Jews, Suss grew up with an spaces from her childhood memories interest in Old World versus with invented ones. Her exhibit, New World. In one paintHome, is rendered with meticulous ing at The Co, Suss portrays attention to detail. Suss’ canvases the cover of the novel Mary show off crisp architectural lines,

by Yiddish author Sholem elaborate patterns, and intentional Asch, who was her greatcolorways referencing different eras aunt’s uncle. Mary is one in a of personal significance. trilogy by Asch about Jewish The space we occupy, particularly life and early Christianity in of that in which we dwell, has had a the first century C.E. long and varied appearance throughDuring her artist talk at out art history; Vermeer, Matisse, The Co with art historian and Van Gogh are a few examples in Becky Suss in front of Hallway, 2017, oil on canvas. and guest curator Greer PaModern art. gano, Suss rooted her love of books in space.

Though Suss’ interiors often depict Carmen Winant, a collage and installation artist who her Jewish background. “I was raised nostalgic objects —rotary phones, teaches studio art at Ohio State, has for this exhibit creJewish,” the secular artist said. She Snoopy watches — these scenes are described her family as “people of the ated 30 light boxes illuminating collages of women. lonely, quiet rooms. The emptiness All the material in Winant’s work is found and colbook. A family that was very intent on serves as an alluring suggestion of The Neighbor, The Friend, The lected. Her images at The Co come from “old maganarrative. It encourages the viewer’s Lover, 2020, found double-sided im- education.” zines, books of Martha Graham choreography, femiSuss explained that her initial reause of imagination, positioning one- ages on paper by Carmen Winant. nist literature” and so on. “I’ve spent years looking for son for creating paintings from books self in the vacant interior. Walking was that as a child, the bookshelves of her parents’ and full bleed, double-sided images that hold my attenthrough the gallery, Suss’ large-scale paintings could grandparents’ homes were symbols. "This book was an tion,” says Winant. “I hold it all up to the window, be experienced as a sequence of images in succession, thousands of images now over time.” object that represented this value system" of knowla walk through the rooms of a house.

The feminist theory of the male gaze presents edge and learning. There is storytelling in an object, The concept of walking through imaginary rooms Suss said, not just within the narrative of the book, but women as objects for the pleasure of the male, heteroin connection to memory has classical origins. The sexual viewer. Perhaps the most famous example in in the book as a signifier. “memory palace” mnemonic device is at least 2,000 art history is Manet’s Déjeuner sur l’herbe (The LunDespite intellectual themes behind her work, the years old. Items to be remembered are mentally ascheon on the Grass) of 1863. The painting depicts a painter is determined to make her work accessible, sociated with specific objects in imagined locations. naked woman picnicking with two fully dressed men. both to children and others who don’t necessarily Works by Yael Bartana, Becky Suss, and Carmen Winant She stares directly at the viewer. Winant disrupts the frequent art galleries. are on exhibit at The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth voyeurism of looking on the female nude with raw imSuss' nod to gender lies in her interest in the value St., through March 26. Admission is free. For more inforages of childbirth, juxtaposing different ideas of female of domesticity and the legacy of the women in her mation, go to codayton.org or call 937-224-3822. sexuality. family as homemakers cultivating a strong familial Winant, also secular, says “Judaism — as a culture, as a history, as a spiritual guide, informs the fabric of my being. Particularly the concept of tikun olam (repairing the world), and intentional repair. My interest in feminism is rooted in this same commitment — a desire to make the world a safer and more communal place for us all.”

Israeli artist Yael Bartana’s video installation, The Undertaker, is a 62-minute rumination on confronting systemic violence with action. A slow, deliberate performance piece, its participants carry rifles whose muzzles appear to have been wrapped so as to be rendered useless.

They march through modern-day Philadelphia in white garments, pacing toward a cemetery to perform a ritual burial of the weapons. The movements are inspired by Israeli choreographer Noa Eshkol and her 1953 performance in remembrance of the Holocaust.

In the case of all three artists, there is a sense of stillness: whether it is a vacant interior, a photographed moment frozen in time, or a solemnly methodic performance piece.

They require human presence to become reanimated. Visit The Co to breathe further life into these thoughtful works.

Still from The Undertaker, 2020, 18-minute film transferred to single channel video with sound by Yael Bartona.

PAGE 24

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2023

Arts&Culture

The History of the World: Part II is going to be so Jewish

Seth Rogen as Noah in The History of the World: Part II

viewers to join his master class.

By Lior Zaltzman, kveller.com But perhaps most importantly, there I regret to say that I was in my late are the hysterical (and Jewish!) Ike 20s when I finally watched The History Barinholtz, Sarah Silverman, and Nick of the World: Part I. I truly can’t believe Kroll, wearing Star Trek-ian outfits it took me that long — all the years I adorned with Jewish star pins and deprived myself of the rolling laughter flanked by a gigantic dreidel in what we that comes along with the experience of watching the classic 1981 Mel Brooks can only hope is an actual Jewish space laser. film.

Barinholtz and Kroll are also signed I vow not to make the same mistake with History of the World: Part II, the long on as producers, along with the fabulous Wanda Sykes, who you can see on the awaited sequel that will be released spaceship with them in this scene (she on Hulu in March as an eight-episode, also plays Shirley Chisholm and Harriet four-night television extravaganza. I will binge it the moment I can, and not a Tubman).

Some other fun Jewish moments from second later. the trailer include a scene in which a Now, History of the World: Part I was crowd is eating matzah on a stick and a very Jewish. There’s, of course, the famous Jews In Space song, which we all Fiddler-esque dance.

Nick Kroll also plays Judas in the fondly reminisced about in 2021 when Jesus scenes of the movie, congresswoman MarjoLooks like it which should be interestrie Taylor Greene shared an unhinged conspiracy could be — dare ing.

The cast also features theory about a Jewish I say? — even some of our absolutely space laser.

There’s Mel Brooks as a funnier than its favorite hilarious Jews.

Hannah Einbinder plays very clumsy Moses, with Amelia Earhart, Josh Gad the Ten Commandments, predecessor. plays Shakespeare. Our talking to God — who is favorite chanter of Hebrew prayers, Jack voiced by Jewish legend Carl Reiner (may his memory be for a blessing). And Black, is seen in a fun musical moment as a soviet leader. of course, there’s the Spanish InquisiWe also get a glimpse of the wondertion.

But, much to my delight, it looks like ful Jason Alexander with a fab mustache and beard. Other Jews in the cast the next chapter of The History of the include our favorite dad, Andy Cohen, World will be even more Jewish.

Michaela Watkins, Emily Ratajowski, The two-minute trailer is chock full of Jewish moments. There’s Seth Rogen David Duchovny, and more.

History of the World: Part II looks like it as Noah, who is obsessed with getting two of every breed of dog on his ark (he could be — dare I say? — even funnier than its predecessor. And it’s premiering can’t help but sneak in an extra pug).

There’s Jewish dad (and jaddy) Taika on March 6, the eve of Purim — aka the Waititi as Sigmund Freud, who indulges funniest Jewish night of the year. That can’t be a coincidence. I can’t wait. in a little Freudian slip when he invites

Weekly podcast

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

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PAGE 25

OBITUARIES Marilyn K. Gans passed away on the morning of Jan. 12 at the age of 91. Marilyn was born in Pittsburgh to parents Buck and Jane Krauss and sister Ruth.

She attended the University of Michigan where she met her first husband, Robert Matusoff, with whom she had one son, James. In 1982 she married William Gans with whom she lovingly remained until his passing. Marilyn was always surrounded by her many loving friends, always busy, full of life, and a lover of the arts and education. All who knew her, knew of her excellence as both a tennis player and a bridge grand master. She is survived by her son and daughter-inlaw, James and Laura; their children Kyle and Sarah; her great-grandchildren Mason and Maddox; and her sister Ruth Feldman and her children Mitchell and Lynn.

Sheila M. Wagenfeld, age 84, passed away Feb. 14. Sheila was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and moved to Dayton in 1960.

She was a lifelong member of Beth Abraham Synagogue. She was preceded in death by her parents, Barney and Etta Gales.

Beloved wife of 65 years to Lawrence Wagenfeld. Beloved mother of Steven and Taryn Wagenfeld, and Richard and Hilary Wagenfeld. Beloved grandmother of Brandon, Alexis and Jordan. Sheila had many cherished friendships over her 60-plus years living in Dayton. Interment was at Beth Abraham Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Beth Abraham Synagogue.

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and this is all terrible.

Jenny Caplan hollow But then there’s this bat Continued from Page 17 peopled almost entirely by White, middle-class, attractive folks. It’s a sort of Upper West Side myopia.

But there’s the bris episode, aired in 1993, and written by Larry Charles. Unless you are really interested in the medium, you may not know much about Larry Charles, because he stays behind the camera. But he also goes on to do things like direct Bill Maher’s anti-religion documentary Religulous, and there’s a real strong case for him as having very negative feelings about organized religion which feels like a holdover from the Silent Generation. And so in that episode you have Kramer as the Larry Charles stand-in, just opining about the barbaric nature of the circumcision and trying to save this poor baby from being mutilated.

The few references to actual Judaism in Seinfeld are squirmy. I am thinking of the 1995 episode in which a buffoon of a rabbi blurts out Elaine’s secrets on a TV show. That was written by Larry David, another boomer, whose follow-up series, Curb Your Enthusiasm, is similarly known for its irreverence toward Judaism. But you say David can also surprise you with a kind of empathy for religion.

For the most part, he’s classic, old school, anti-organized religion. There’s the Palestinian Chicken episode where the Jews are rabidly protesting the existence of a Palestinian-run chicken restaurant near a Jewish deli, and where his friend Funkhouser won’t play golf on Shabbos until Larry gets permission by bribing the rabbi with the Palestinian chicken.

There, rabbis are ridiculous and can be bought and religion is

mitzvah montage where for one moment in the entire run of this show, Larry seems happy and in a healthy relationship and fulfilled and enjoying life.

It was much more in line with what we’ve been seeing from a lot of younger comedians at that point, which was religion as an anchor in a good way — not to pull you down but to keep you grounded.

So for Generation X, as you write, Judaism serves “real, emotional, or psychological purpose for the practitioners.”

I wouldn’t actually call it respect but religion is an idea that’s not just something to be mocked and relegated to the dustbin. I’m not saying that Generation X is necessarily more religious, but they see real power and value in tradition and in certain kinds of family experiences. So, a huge amount of the humor can still come at the expense of your Jewish mother or your Jewish grandmother, but the family can also be the thing that is keeping you grounded, and frequently through some sort of religious ritual.

Who exemplifies that?

My favorite example is the 2009 Jonathan Tropper novel, This Is Where I Leave You. I’m so disappointed that the film adaptation of that sucked a lot of the Jewish identity out of the story. In that book, where a family gathers for their father’s shiva, the characters are horrible people in a dysfunctional family writ large. They lie to each other. They backstab each other. But in the scene where the protagonist Judd describes standing up on the bima (synagogue stage) to say Kaddish (the mourner’s prayer) after the death of his father, and the way he talks about this emotional

L’dor V’dor.

From Generation To Generation.

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catharsis that comes from saying the words and hearing the congregation say the words — it’s a startling moment of clarity in a book where these characters are otherwise just truly reprehensible.

Which brings us to Broad City, which aired between 2014 and 2019. It’s about two 20-something Jewish women in New York who, in the case of Ilana Glazer’s character, anyway, are almost giddy about being Jewish and embrace it just as they embrace their sexuality: as just liberating. Ilana even upends the Jewish mother cliché by loving her mother to death.

That’s the episode with Ilana at her grandmother’s shiva, which also has the B plot where Ilana and her mother are shopping for underground illegal handbags. They spend most of the episode snarking at each other and fighting with each other, and her mother’s a nag and Ilana is a bumbling idiot. But at the moment that the cops show up, and try to nab them for having all of these illegal knockoff handbags, the two of them are a team. They are an absolute unit of destructive force against these hapless police officers.

I think all of your examples of younger comics are women, who have always had fraught relationships with Jewish humor, both as practitioners and as the target of jokes. You write about “The JAP Battle” rap from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which both leans into the stereotype of the JewishAmerican Princess — spoiled, acquisitive, “hard as nails” — and tries to reclaim it without the misogyny.

Rachel Bloom’s character Rebecca in Girlfriend self-identifies as a JAP, but she doesn’t actually fit the category. It’s her mother, Naomi, who truly is the Philip Roth, Marjorie Morningstar Herman Wouk model of a JAP. So Bloom is kind of using the term, but you can’t repurpose the term when the original is still there.

So as an alternative, I offer up a new term: the Modern Ashkenazi American Woman.

It’s very New York, it’s very East Coast, it’s very particular to a type of upbringing and community that in the 1950s and ’60s would have been almost exclusively Conservative Jews, and then may have become a bit more Reform as we’ve gotten into the ’90s and 2000s. They went to the JCC. They probably went to Jewish summer camp.

But even that doesn’t even really speak to the American sense of what Jewish is anymore, because American Jews have become increasingly racially and culturally diverse.

There is also something that’s happening historically with Generation X, and that’s the distance from the two major Jewish events of the 20th century, the Holocaust and the creation of Israel.

The Silent Generation and baby boomers still had a lingering sense of existential dread — the sense that we’re not so far removed from an attempted total annihilation of Jews. Gen X and millennials are so far removed from the Holocaust that they don’t feel that same fear.

But the real battleground we’re seeing in contemporary American Judaism is about the relationship to Israel. For baby boomers and even for some older members of Gen X, there’s still a sense that you can criticize Israel, but at the end of the day, it’s your duty to ultimately support Israel’s right to exist. And I think millennials and Zoomers (Gen Z) are much more comfortable with the idea of Israel being illegitimate.

You’re teaching a class on Jewish humor. What do your undergraduates find funny?

Now that Woody Allen is better known for having married his adoptive daughter and for the molestation allegations brought by another adoptive daughter, do they look at his classic films and ask, “Why are you teaching us this guy?”

For the first time I’m not including Woody Allen. I had shown Crimes and Misdemeanors for years because I think it’s his most theological film. I think it’s a great film. And then a couple years ago, I backed off, because some students were responding that it was hard to look at him with all the baggage. He’s still coming up in conversation because you can’t really talk about the people who came after him without talking about him, but for the first time I’m not having them actually watch or read any of his stuff.

They have found things funny that I didn’t expect them to, and they have not found things funny that I would have thought they would. They laughed their way through Yidl mitn fidl, the 1936 Yiddish musical starring Molly Picon.

I also thought they’d enjoy the Marx Brothers’ Duck Soup and they did not laugh once. Some of that is the fact that Groucho’s delivery is just so fast.

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PRESIDENTS

DINNER 2023

KERRI STRUG is an Olympic Gold Medalist who earned nationwide stardom for her heroic efforts at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. After injuring her ankle on her first vault attempt, Kerri needed to land her second and final vault in order to seal the victory over Russia for the team combined gymnastics gold medal. With millions of people watching, and two torn ligaments in her leg, Kerri got the job done with a solid landing before collapsing to her hands and knees.

She was carried to the award ceremony where she received her first gold medal. It was the first time the U.S. Gymnastics Team won gold.

Kerri received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and a Masters Degree in Social Psychology at Stanford University. She currently works for the United States Juvenile Justice Department and formerly worked at the White House in Student Correspondence. Kerri is the mother of two young children.

Kerri will talk about her career and touch on the role Judaism has played in her life. Kerri was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. She is one of only three gymnasts to receive this honor.

DATE: Sunday, May 21 TIME: 6:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Boonshoft CJCE 525 Versailles Dr, Centerville 45459