Lessons in leadership at Hillel p. 5 March 2014 Adar I/Adar II 5774 Vol. 18, No. 7
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Survey: 42% of Jews agree good sense of humor essential to being Jewish But 110% can’t agr (#1) The dream. Moshe was talking to his psychiatrist. “I had a weird dream recently,” he says. “I saw my mother but then I noticed this so worrying that I immediately awoke she had your face. I found and couldn’t get back to sleep. I just stayed there thinking about it until 7am. I got up, made myself a slice of toast and some coffee and came straight here. Can you please help me explain the meaning of my dream?” The psychiatrist kept silent for some time, and coffee? Do you call that a breakfast?” then said, “One slice of toast (#2) The beggars. Two beggars are sitting on the pavement in Ireland. One is holding a large Cross and the other a large Star of David. Both are holding hats to collect contributions. As people walk by, holding the Star of David but drop moneythey lift their noses at the guy one hat is nearly full whilst the other hat in the other guy’s hat. Soon A priest watches and then approaches theis empty. men. He turns to the guy with the Star of David and says, “Don’t you realize country? You’ll never get any contributions that this is a Christian in this country holding a Star of David.” The guy holding the Star of David then turns Cross and says, “Hymie, look who’s trying to the guy holding the to teach us Marketing.” (#4) Gourmet food. Harry was walking down Regent Street and stepped into a posh gourmet food shop. An impressive salesperson in a smart morning coat with tails approached him and politely asked, “Can I help you, “Yes,” replied Harry, “I would like to buySir?” a pound of lox.” “No. No,” responded the dignified salesperson, “You mean smoked salmon.” “OK, a pound of smoked salmon, then.” “Anything else?” “Yes, a dozen blintzes.” “No. No. You mean crepes.” “Okay, a dozen crepes.” “Anything else?” “Yes. A pound of chopped liver.” “No. No. You mean pate.” “Okay,” said Harry, “A pound of pate then and I’d like you to deliver all of this to my house on Saturday.” “Look,” retorted the indignant salesperson, “we don’t schlep on Shabbos!”
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(#15) The dog. Rivkah, a little old lady get on an El Al flight a bag, a purse and a little dog in a box. She to Israel. She’s carrying sits down and puts the box on the seat next to her. A stewardess approaches Rivkah and says, can’t keep the dog here. I’ll have to take it “I’m sorry Madam, but you and put it in baggage.”
Best footwear for shul: good for the Choos?
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ee on what’s funny
Rivkah agrees. What else can she do? During the flight, the stewardess looks in the dog is dead. She informs the pilot whoon the little dog, and Oy Gevult, tells the director who decides that they willnotifies Tel Aviv airport who this one. The little old lady will never know.get an other dog to replace When the plane lands and Rivkah goes to box, they bring her a box with a new dog, the baggage hall to claim her “This is not my dog”, Rivkah exclaims. an exact replica of her old dog. “Why yes it is,” the captain tells her. “See, it has the same markings.” “This is not my dog”, Rivkah insists. “How do you know this isn’t your dog?” asks the captain. “My dog is dead!”
(#16) The thinker. After months of negotiation, Avraham, a Jewish scholar from Odessa, was granted permission to visit Moscow. He boarded the train and sat down. At the and sat next to him. Avraham looked at thenext stop a young man got on fellow doesn’t look like a peasant, and if young man and thought, This he isn’t a peasant he probably comes from this area. If he comes from this because this is, after all, a Jewish area. On area, he must be Jewish the other hand, if he is a Jew, where could he be going? I’m the only one from our area to be allowed Wait - just outside Moscow there is a little to travel to Moscow. don’t need special permission to go there. village called Samvet, and you But why would he be going to Samvet? He’s of the Jewish families there, but how many probably going to visit one Samvet? Only two - the Bernsteins and the Jewish families are there in a terrible family, so he must be visiting the Steinbergs. The Bernsteins are But why is he going? The Steinbergs have Steinbergs. only girls, so maybe he’s their son-in-law. But if he is, then which daughter Sarah married that nice lawyer from Budapestdid he marry? and Esther married a businessman from Zhadomir, so it must be Sarah’s husband. Which means that his name is Alexander Cohen, if I’m not mistaken. But if he comes from Budapest, with all the anti-Semitism they have there, he must have changed his name. What’s the Hungarian equivalent of Cohen? Kovacs. if he changed his name he must have someBut special status. What could it be? A doctorate from the University. At this point Avraham turns to the young and said, “How do you do, Dr Kovacs?” man “Very well, thank you, sir” answered the startled passenger. “But how is it that you know my name?” “Oh,” replied Avraham, “it was obvious”. (#17) Seder warning. Medical experts from London have published Seder participants should not eat both choppeda paper that concludes that liver and choroses. Their research shows that if they do, it can lead to Charoses of the Liver. (#18) New cheese factory. Did you hear about the new facility Kraft Foods is building in Israel? It’s called “Cheeses of Nazareth”.
Demographer sez: ‘Yuks ain’t yucky’
(#6) Kol Nidre night. Sidney telephones Rabbi Levy. He says, “Rabbi, I know tonight is Kol Nidre night, but tonight Spurs are in the European Cup quarter finals. Rabbi, I’m a life long Spurs fan. I’ve got to watch the Spurs game on TV.” Rabbi Levy replies, “Sidney, that’s what video recorders are for.” Sidney is surprised. “You mean I can tape Kol Nidre”? (#7) Come & get me! Isaac and Sarah got married and left on their honeymoon. When they got back, Sarah immediately telephoned her mother “Well,” said Leah, “how was the honeymoon,d Leah. “Oh mum,” Sarah replied, “the honeymoon arling?” was fantastic. It was so romantic, and ..and...” Then Sarah started to cry. “Oh mum, as soon started using terrible language. He said thingsas we got back, Isaac I’d never hoped to hear, all those 4-letter words. Please mum, get into your car now and come and take me home.” “Calm down, darling,” said Leah, “tell your awful. Don’t be shy, tell me what 4-letter mother what could be that “Please mum, I’m too embarrassed to tell words Isaac used.” Just come and take me away.” said Sarah. you, they’re terrible words. “But bubeleh, you must tell me, you must tell me what the 4-letter words were.” Still crying, Sarah replies, “Oh mum, he used words like WASH, COOK, IRON, DUST, ...”
Betting on peace
It’s the little things in life that count How to teach your newborn higher math
ח
Secretary of State John Kerry
Kosher bakery struggles
Funny? 7% say yes
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Marc Katz
Exclusive interview
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(#19) Three Jewish Mothers Three Jewish mothers are sitting on a bench centre talking about (what else?) how much in Brent Cross shopping Sadie says “You know the Chagall painting their sons love them. My son, Arnold, bought that for me for my hanging in my living room? 75th birthday. What a good boy he is and how much he loves his mother.” Minnie says,”You call that love? You know Mother’s Day? That’s from my son Bernie. the Mercedes I just got for Shirley says “That’s nothing. You know my What a doll.” with a psychoanalyst in Harley Street. Five son Stanley? He’s in analysis session a week. And what does he talk about? Me.”
Wouldn’t you rather have a nice knish?
(#20) The Priest And The Rabbi A priest and a rabbi were sharing a compartment on a train. After a while, the priest put down his book and said in your religion you’re not supposed to eat to the Rabbi, “I know that pork... but have you really never ever tasted it?” The rabbi closed his newspaper and replied, “I must tell you the truth. Yes I have, on the odd occasion.”
Continued on P.
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Funny? 51% say no
John and Rinaldo Stolfo
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By Marc Katz Special To The Observer In the early 1970s, Rinaldo’s Bake Shoppe on West Fairview Avenue in Dayton used to turn out 180 to 200 challahs a week – along with counter shelves full of other goodies – selling out long before Shabbos lights were kindled. Today, John Stolfo, the second generation to own and bake in the shop, hopes he can sell 30 a week. The recipe has not changed. The light tan challahs with the smooth, cake-like texture and taste are as good as ever. What has changed are his customers — not so much changed as moved away. And that’s not the only thing that has changed for the bakery, which was born in 1970 out of the old Owens Bakery when John’s father, Rinaldo, broke John and Rinaldo Stolfo in their bakery away from Owens, where he to be. On a recent morning, Dennis Day, had worked since 1965. Beth Abraham’s custodian, was in the Owens, which had kosher certificabake shop purchasing five challahs for tion for a while, was run by Claire and John Owens, who eventually closed their the synagogue. For a while, the neighborhood where business. Today, Rinaldo’s is certified as a kosher pareve bakery by Rabbi Shmuel Rinaldo’s stayed turned rough, although John said the area is much safer now Klatzkin of Chabad. than it had been just a few years ago. In the days of the shelves full of chalWith all those factors coming into lahs, there were also plenty of cookies, play, the bakery struggles to stay open, doughnuts and cakes to be had as well, fare that could only be bought at a small relying on a cake business and some outside sales, mainly from Cincinnati. establishment such as Rinaldo’s or a “Customers just aren’t coming in grocery. like they used to,” John said recently. Today, gas stations have become convenience stores for one-stop shoppers “It seems like I get larger orders from who fill up their tummies while also fill- Cincinnati. As far as leaving, I don’t ing their vehicles. Rinaldo’s never moved want to close. I don’t know what else I would do.” as the Jewish community closed or sold Although the shop seems full of good several north facilities that used to shop things to eat, Stolfo long ago cut down Rinaldo’s on a regular basis, including the Jewish Community Center and Cov- to two counter persons and his “retired” enant House nursing home in Trotwood, 85-year-old father, the store’s namesake, works for no salary. Hours of operation Hillel Academy when it was on North Main Street, and Shomrei Emunah Syna- have also been cut, although John insists he has no plans to close. gogue on Salem Avenue. Rinaldo’s has had satellite shops “The Jewish community is pretty strong, but it doesn’t have (all the) family from time to time, including one in the Dayton Arcade and one in Kettering, dinners anymore. Everybody’s on the but doesn’t operate them anymore. John fly,” John said. The JCC, in a different configuration, is does go to the farmer’s market on Philanow in Centerville; Hillel is housed atop delphia Drive to sell goods there. “A lot of it is the community is leavBeth Abraham Synagogue, which moved to Oakwood; and Beth Jacob Synagogue ing (town),” John said. “Some people membership is much smaller than it used don’t know we’re still here.”
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Kve l l i n g Co r n e r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 8
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
DAYTON
Food projects renew body and spirit By Marshall Weiss The Observer For 20 years, Chabad of Greater Dayton Co-Director Devorah Mangel has been preparing Shabbat meals for individuals in hospitals or at home following surgery or illness, or when they are in mourning. Now, she and volunteers with the Chabad Women’s Circle will expand the project with a new program, Loves Of Love And More. On Feb. 16, Women’s Circle volunteers came together at Chabad in Oakwood to prepare 30 kosher meals — challah, chicken, kugel, and cookies — which they froze to keep on hand for delivery when needs arise in the Jewish community — and not just for Shabbat. “I thought, what a wonderful opportunity because it’s human nature to want to help others,” Mangel said. “We always want to be on the giving end. The more people we involve also allows us to give more, and to see where the needs are.” Loaves Of Love And More is the latest of several foodrelated-projects that local Jewish organizations offer to those in financial or spiritual need, for the Jewish and general communities. All local synagogues, along with Chabad and Hillel Academy Jewish day school collect non-perishable food for the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton’s Food Pantry, housed at Covenant Manor in Trotwood. The pantry is available to anyone in financial need in the general community. During
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Volunteer Wendi Pavlofsky helps prepare meals on Feb. 16 for Chabad’s new Loaves Of Love And More program
March and April, the Feinstein Foundation of Cranston, R.I. will match all food and monetary donations to the Federation Food Pantry as part of the Federation’s Hametz for the Hungry campaign. Mary Ann Hemmert, director of Jewish Family Services — the Federation agency that oversees its food programs — said those who use the food pantry come from all age groups and include families and younger people. She said she’s seen the needs increase over the past few years. “I think it speaks to the demographics of the Montgomery County area,” Hemmert said. JFS also oversees the Federation’s kosher lunch site at Covenant Manor and its kosher home-delivered meals program. “We’re the only kosher meal site in Montgomery County,”
SHARK
Mitzvah Boy Not sure I like where this is going...
Happy Purim! c O 2014 Menachem
Hemmert said. “We serve kosher meals at the nutrition site, through Bernstein’s Fine Catering, five days a week.” Hemmert said JFS staff ask lunch site clients to provide a donation of $2 per meal, but no one is turned away. Those who come to the meal site, Hemmert said, tend to be over 50. Those who use the home-delivered meal service tend to be elderly, “because most of those individuals are homebound,” she added. The charge for each homedelivered kosher meal is $5 for private-pay clients; Hemmert said Medicaid pays for meals for low-income individuals. Funding for these services comes from the Federation’s annual campaign, the Montgomery County Human Services Continued on Page Six
From the editor’s desk
Everyone’s talking about Pew. Since the Pew Center released the results of its survey of U.S. Jews in September, Jewish community leaders on the local and national level have plunged into Marshall parsing the data, absorbing and Weiss debating their significance, and beginning to shape priorities for the future. On the whole, no one would claim surprises came out of the study. But one of the funniest figures resulted when participants were asked what elements are essential to being Jewish: 42 percent agreed that having a good sense of humor is essential to being Jewish. This stands in relation to 28 percent who said being part of a Jewish community is essential. Sometimes there’s nothing funny about being funny; it’s our way of coping with adversity, to survive for another day. Other times humor has everything to do with joy for joy’s sake. Either way, here’s hoping your Purim is one of good cheer this year.
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
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DAYTON Editor and Publisher Marshall Weiss MWeiss@jfgd.net 937-853-0372 Contributors Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin Michael Fox Rachel Haug Gilbert Rabbi Haviva Horvitz Marc Katz Candace R. Kwiatek Mark Mietkiewicz
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In January, Temple Israel’s confirmation class participated in the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism’s annual L’Taken Seminar in Washington, D.C. Nearly 2,000 high school students participate in the program each year, which exposes them to Jewish values surrounding several public policy issues and trains the students to be effective advocates. Shown here (L to R) Hannah Stickel, Lake Miller, Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz, Julia Caruso, Sami Adler.
Chabad to celebrate 20 years in Dayton with Founders’ Dinner Devorah and Rabbi Nochum Mangel will be the honorees when Chabad of Greater Dayton celebrates 20 years in Dayton at its Founders’ Dinner on Wednesday, March 19 at 6 p.m. at the Dayton Convention Center. In 1993 the Mangels arrived in Dayton to establish a Chabad center. Chabad-Lubavitch is a Rabbi Nochum and 250-year-old Chasidic Devorah Leah Mangel Jewish movement originally based in Russia, and since the early 1940s, in Brooklyn, N.Y. The movement is known for its outreach programs and services for Jews of all backgrounds. Approximately 4,000 emissary families lead more than 3,300 Chabad institutions around the world. For reservations to the dinner fund-raiser, call Chabad at 643-0770 or go to chabaddayton.com.
Beth Abraham Synagogue will host the panel discussion Philosophical and Theological Underpin-
Community rabbis to lead panel at Beth Abraham nings of Judaism, led by rabbis from across the Dayton community, on Sunday, March 2 at 7 p.m. Rabbis participating in the panel will be Judy Chessin of Temple Beth Or, Joshua Ginsberg of Beth Abraham, Nochum Mangel of Chabad, and David Sofian of Temple Israel. Each rabbi will discuss the perspective of his or her Jewish movement on a variety of topics. The program is free and open to the public and will conclude with a dessert reception. For more information, call Beth Abraham at 293-9520.
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The Dayton Jewish Observer Policy Committee Joan Knoll, chair Chuck Kardon Marc Katz Larry Klaben Dr. Marc Sternberg Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton Dr. Gary Youra President Judy Abromowitz Officer David Pierce Officer Melinda Doner Officer Mary Rita Weissman Officer Cathy Gardner CEO The Dayton Jewish Observer, Vol. 18, 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 guest columnists, in readers’ letters and in reprinted opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Dayton Jewish Observer, The Dayton Jewish Observer Policy Committee, the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton or the underwriters of any columns. 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 departments, United Jewish Campaign, synagogue affiliation, Jewish education and participation in Jewish and general community affairs. • To provide an historic record of Dayton Jewish life.
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
DAYTON Hillel Academy
It’s not just about academic founded to help small the Torah.” achievement.” businesses focus on sucAnother guest speaker from During his talk to the class, cess — Sammy Caruso the general community was Ginsberg asked the students, started his paper on the Andrew Shepherd, director of “When you’re gone what do project, “Aileron is a the unmanned aerial systems great community, but program at Sinclair Community you want to leave behind?” That might be a lot to ask how does it relate to College. these students, but Kathy me?” “We still have lessons in doesn’t think so. That’s just the kind of grammar, but we write about “We want the sixth graders conversation Elizabeth life in Hillel, “ Kathy said. “We wants to start, backed by want to create life-long learners. to be leaders,” she said. “We’re developing values and asking the Mecolis’ enthusiasm. We don’t want them to finish students to think at an early The program is new a class and say, ‘great, I don’t to Hillel this year, and so have to take that class anymore.’ age.” Hillel Academy far is only for fifth and sixth graders, the highest grades at the school. Before students speak with visitors or go on field trips, they carefully prepare questions. “We’re trying to do real things,” Kathy said. “We want these stuRabbi Joshua Ginsberg of Beth Abraham Synagogue discusses qualities of Jewish leadership with fifth- and sixth-grade students at Hillel Academy as part of dents to ask questions their year-long writing project about leadership about leadership so they will be leaders in their community some day. This is By Marc Katz Mecoli, Kathy’s husband. the first time we’ve done this, Special To The Observer Following the visits and exWithin the structure of a writ- tensive talks with Elizabeth and although we’ve had leaders, mainly in the arts, as part of our ing class, Elizabeth Weizman Kathy, the sixth graders write staff. teaches more than just writing papers about the visits. “We want these students to to a group of eager fifth and Along the way, the students become part of the community sixth graders at Hillel Acadmay discover higher goals for and be Jewish leaders,” she emy, housed on the expansive themselves. Hillel Academy students visit Aileron in Tipp City. Front (L to R): Rikki added. “Rabbi (Joshua) Ginsthird floor of Beth Abraham Following a recent trip to Mangel, Nina Jacobs, Jordan Vandersluis, Devorah Schwartz. Back: berg (of Beth Abraham) came in Aileron’s Kelly McCracken, Edin German, Sammy Caruso, Ethan Synagogue at Sugar Camp in Aileron — businessman Clay and talked about references in Zappin, Hillel Writing Instructor Elizabeth Weizman. Oakwood. Mathile’s Tipp City campus Even the kids in the class know this. “To say my goal is just to Staffing Needs? Call The Professionals! get my homework done is too easy,” Devorah Schwartz said. “I want to expand (my goals) to the rest of my life.” The class is part of what CoNoble Staffing Principal Dr. Kathy Mecoli calls Solutions “project-based learning.” 228-0060 228-8271 Instead of having a teacher stand in front of a class explainJeff Noble ing all the rules and regulations www.mridayton.com • email: info@mridayton.com of writing, Weizman invites guests in and the class takes field trips to entice students to learn more and express their knowledge of what they’ve learned. The Jewish day school makes sure to involve community leaders — not just Jewish leaders — on the speaker list, which Kathy hopes will encourage KEVIN A. BRESSLER, CFP®, MBA interest in leadership among the Financial Advisor students. CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner Before Dayton’s mayoral • 28 Years of Experience election, candidate Nan Whaley • 2003 Ameriprise Hall of Fame visited the class. • 2013 Exceptional Client Satisfaction Award Only a few days after Whaley’s opponent, A.J. Wagner, lost 10050 Innovation Drive, Ste 310 the election, Wagner met with Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results. Miamisburg, OH 45342-4933 the students. He spoke about 937.312.8008 Brokerage, investment and financial advisory services are what it was like not to reach immade available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. kevin.a.bressler@ampf.com mediate goals. Member FINRA and SIPC. ameripriseadvisors.com/kevin.a.bressler “The kids got to know him © 2013 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. CA Insurance: #0823959 as an incredibly gracious and committed politician even in defeat,” said Co-Principal Dan
Lessons in leadership at Hillel Academy
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Food projects
“There is a teacher at Englewood Elementary, Lisa Wertz, who took it upon herself to Continued from Page Three look out for the kids who are on Levy, and the United Way. school lunch/breakfast proWith inclement weather, grams at her school,” Beth AbraHemmert said, the needs inham Synagogue Cantor Andrea crease for all services. The Federation also allocates Raizen explained. “She was concerned about funding to JFS that includes spewhat happens on weekends. So cific assistance for members of the Jewish community. In addi- she started her own collection of tion to providing funds for rent, food to send home bags of food with them on the weekends. utilities, and medical expenses The school lets her use a closet on an as-needed basis, JFS case managers distribute Kroger gift space to keep non-perishable items. Helen Abramowitz got cards to clients in need. me connected with her and she “We have been fortunate came to talk to the religious since I have been here not to school kids in the fall. We decidhave to turn anyone away,” Hemmert said. “But my sense is ed we wanted to help her and that there’s more need out there did a collection at Tu B’Shevat and delivered a nice amount of than we’re aware of. People food to the school.” want to be as independent as Temple Israel’s social action possible and we applaud that and recognize that. But if you’re committee prepares “mitzvah meals” for its members in need in a bind and if there are issues and serves meals at St. Vincent that come up and you’re not sure where to turn, at least give de Paul; Beth Jacob congregants us a try. Give us a call and see if also serve meals at St. Vincent de Paul. And students in Temple we can help in any way.” Israel’s religious school prepare Another Federation-related meals for clients at Daybreak. project to combat hunger is Each year, Temple Beth Or overseen by the Federation’s focuses on a theme connected to Jewish Community Relations tikun olam, repair of the world. Council. The JCRC runs the Rabbi Judy Chessin said this only kosher site for the Dayton year’s theme is environmental community’s annual Day of concerns. At this point, she said Caring Breakfast fund raiser, the plan is to create a sustainscheduled for Feb. 23 this year, at the Boonshoft Center for Jew- able garden to provide produce for those in need, a project the ish Culture and Education. JCC summer camp has also unArea synagogues also idendertaken for the past few years. tify hunger-related needs and JFS volunteers also prepare tailor projects to do their part. and deliver more than 100 gift bags with holiday treats for homebound seniors at Purim, the High Holy Days and Chanukah. This, Hemmert said, is a reminder that the Jewish community is thinking of them. Wendi Pavlofsky chairs the project. At Chabad, Mangel said she’s looking for more volunteers to help with Loaves Of Love And More. Seed money for the project came from Chabad, Wendi and Erv Pavlofsky, and an anonymous donor. Marci Vandersluis volunteers to coordinate the program. Mangel said girls with Chabad’s Bat Mitzvah Club will also help out, to teach them about bikur cholim (visiting the sick) and acts of kindness. “I’m hoping when people see all this happening, it will be self-funding,” Mangel said. “We want to make sure those who receive meals know this isn’t on a financial-need basis. We all end up on the receiving end at one point in our lives. We’re all happy to have extra thoughts from friends.”
New Israel trade rep.
Dayton, Montgomery County, and the Dayton Development Coalition have contracted Hadas Bar-Or of Tel Aviv to serve as business development director for the Dayton Region Israel Trade Alliance office. Bar-Or, formerly the trade representative to Israel for Massachusetts, has signed a contract to represent the Dayton region through the end of 2015. An economist, Bar-Or has worked for Israel’s Chief Scientist’s Office, the Bank of Israel, and has lectured at Tel Aviv University. She coordinated the Dayton Region Israel Trade Alliance’s business development mission in October 2013. “We spent the week with Hadas,” said Dayton Development Coalition Aerospace and Defense Executive Vice President Maurice McDonald, who took part on the mission. “She is very well connected Hadas Bar-Or with numerous companies in Israel that we have some interest in. She will be a great addition to our team in helping us bridge communications to Israeli companies.” Dayton, Montgomery County, and the Development Coalition have invested $234,000 in Bar-Or and office expenses in Tel Aviv over the next two years, with each entity providing a third of the funding. She takes over the trade office from Uri Attir, who served in Israel as the region’s first trade representative, in Haifa, from 2010 to March 2013. Funding to establish the office originally came from private donors. “We believe there’s enough potential for the public return on investment that it’s worth the county’s time and the city’s time and the coalition’s time and money to invest in this,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Dan Foley. “As opposed to having private dollars invested in the contract, we would like those private dollars invested in business transactions and business collaborations between folks here locally and Israeli companies,” added Montgomery County Administrator Joe Tuss. — Marshall Weiss
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
THE NATION Rabbi Avi Weiss, an Orthodox rabbi in Riverdale, to ordain female Orthodox clergy. The ordination call was preceded by Orthodox minyans that took a second look at halacha and decided that allowing women to lead certain parts of worship — Torah reading, the introductory morning prayers known as Psukei D’zimra and a few other rituals — did not violate the letter of the law. It’s difficult to say when it all began. Was the original Bais Yaakov school for girls, opened in Poland in 1917, the first breach, breaking the traditional ban on giving girls a formalized jeans and T-shirts. Torah education? What united them was a The school, which by today’s stated commitment to halacha — standards would be considJewish law traditionally defined ered ultra-Orthodox, was then — and, of course, self-definition seen as groundbreaking. Only as Orthodox. the imprimatur of the widely In recent years, however, a respected Rabbi Yisrael Meir visible divide has been emergKagan, known as the Chofetz ing over a single issue: the role Chaim, helped stem the controof women. It quickly is becomversy that greeted its establishing a line in the sand, pitting ment. the reformers against the tradiIn America, a key milestone tionalists. came in the latter half of the The decision by SAR High 20th century when Orthodox School, located in the Riverdale schools began offering girls the section of the Bronx, is just same Jewish education offered the latest development on this to boys. For many years — and front. this is still the case in many Before it came the decision by Orthodox institutions today
SAR tefillin policy tip of iceberg for Orthodox women By Uriel Heilman, JTA NEW YORK — The announcement in January that SAR, a modern Orthodox high school in New York, is allowing girls to lay tefillin is helping expose an increasingly sharp fault line within Orthodoxy. For decades, it has been difficult to sort out the precise dividing lines between the varieties of Orthodoxy — ultra, haredi, centrist, modern, liberal. Each elastic category bled into others, and the movement has been broad enough to encompass everyone from black hat-wearing rabbis with long beards to young women in
— only boys were allowed to study Talmud, the central text of Orthodox Judaism. But when Orthodox schools began allowing girls to study Talmud, under the authority of Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik of the Maimonides School near Boston, it opened the door to a new way of thinking about the role of Orthodox women. Continued on Page Nine
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SHARING TRADITIONS | EXPERIENCE PASSOVER
A Taste of Passover
Monday, March 31 5:30-7PM @ Boonshoft CJCE Join friends and family as we nosh over traditional Passover foods, make Charoset, decorate Elijah Cups, share in singing Passover songs and help us find the Afikomen. Experience Passover is the fifth in the Sharing Traditions series that brings families together across the generations. This event has been made possible through funding provided by The Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton Innovation Grant
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
THE NATION
SAR tefillin policy Continued from Page Seven Many of the logical conclusions followed. If an Orthodox girl could study Talmud in high school, why couldn’t she in college? By the early 1980s, Yeshiva University, the flagship institution of modern Orthodoxy, was offering elective Talmud classes at its Stern College for Women, though it wasn’t until 2009 that Stern opened a master’s program in biblical and Talmudic interpretation to women. In 1984, the Drisha Institute, a New York institution under Orthodox leadership, opened the first full-time women’s kollel study program. The glass ceiling of female Orthodox spiritual leaders began to shatter, too. In 1992, Drisha began offering a threeyear program “paralleling rabbinic ordination” to certify female scholars. A few years later, Nishmat, an institution in Jerusalem established in 1990 “to open the gates of higher Torah learning to women,” inaugurated a program to certify women as yoatzot halacha — consultants on Jewish law. The consultants mainly ministered to women on laws pertaining to sex, Shabbat and kashrut. In 2009, Weiss pushed the envelope even further by ordaining Sara Hurwitz, later conferring on her the title of rabba, a feminized version
it’s looking increasingly like Orthodoxy is undergoing a schism. of rabbi. The move was conThe more traditionalist eledemned immediately — not ments of the Orthodox comjust by the haredi Orthodox, munity view the reforms as but by leaders of the centrist beyond the pale, a threat to the Orthodox Rabbinical Council integrity of their halachic comof America. munity. “The ordination of women This is why Weiss and the as rabbis represents a serious yeshivas he has established, and inappropriate breach with including the liberal Orthoour sacred tradition and is dox rabbinical school Yeshivat beyond the pale of Orthodox Chovevei Torah, have faced Judaism,” said Rabbi Steven so much Orthodox opposition Pruzansky, a rabbi in Teaneck, — from the RCA, which does N.J., who was not recognize vice president As liberal Orthodox Chovevei of the RCA at ordination, to Jews support new the time. Israel’s Chief For a long Rabbinate, roles for women, time, it had which recently particularly in been unusual questioned for one sector synagogue, it’s Weiss’ Orthoof American looking increasingly dox credenOrthodoxy to tials. like Orthodoxy is condemn anIncidentally, other, despite undergoing a schism. SAR is not the differences in first Orthopractice and even ideology. dox school to allow girls to Many families span the various lay tefillin; the Ramaz School kinds of Orthodoxy, no one’s in Manhattan made such an quite sure of what the contours allowance as far back as the of modern Orthodox are, and early 1990s, though it made no it’s not unusual to find haredi public announcement about it Orthodox Jews worshiping in until SAR did. modern Orthodox shuls and And eight centuries ago, the vice versa. (Neither consider daughters of Rashi, the mediit acceptable to worship in eval French rabbi, famously Conservative or Reform synawere said to have worn tefillin. gogues.) While the more public But as liberal Orthodox Jews battles have been over women support new roles for women, being ordained, laying tefilparticularly in the synagogue, lin or reading from the Torah,
there are innumerable issues related to women both large and small with which Orthodoxy is grappling. It’s not just about clergy but also women serving as synagogue presidents, making the blessing over bread or wine on Shabbat, or dancing with Torah scrolls on Simchat Torah. While initially considered aberrant, some of these practices have gradually gained acceptance in mainstream Orthodox circles. Will the changes considered controversial today gradually gain mainstream acceptance, too, or are they fated to remain a fringe Orthodox phenomenon? In an elastic movement with no central governing authority or membership structure, it’s hard to say. Clearly the haredi Orthodox will stand against change.
The question is which way the modern Orthodox and the institutions associated with them — the RCA, Yeshiva University, the Orthodox Union and the National Council of Young Israel, to name a few — will swing. There is, perhaps, one factor that may play an outsize role in determining this: leadership. If the change agents within Orthodoxy become educators, role models and leaders of the next generation of modern Orthodox Jews, successfully pass on their commitment to both halacha and egalitarianism, and continue to live a life committed to Jewish law, they could transform the face of modern Orthodoxy. But if they fail, then those who have been arguing all along that these changes have no place in Orthodoxy will see vindication in that failure.
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
PAGE 9
OPINION
Let’s bet on peace By Sharon Brous John Kerry isn’t naive. I met him recently at a luncheon at Georgetown University with a small group of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish faith leaders brought together to hear the secretary of state’s frank reflections on the peace process. While deeply aware of the complexities and obstacles to peace, Kerry is undeterred by the acrimony and intransigence that imprison Israelis and Palestinians in a devastating, soulcorrupting status quo even as the Middle East shakes around them. “At some point,” he said, “you just have to bet on peace.” There are many legitimate reasons to be skeptical of this latest round of peace talks. To reach a lasting, negotiated two-state solution, both sides will have to make excruciating choices on core issues from refugees to security to settlements to Jerusalem. This is a rare moment — a precious opportunity for the American Jewish leadership to improve the prospects for
lasting peace and security by providing the principled support that can embolden Israel to take the necessary steps to achieve both goals. Instead, too many leaders have opted for muted support of these efforts, shying away from the ardent, sustained, public backing that will tap into our community’s desire for a negotiated twostate solution — offering instead quiet criticism, muttered cynicism or silence. Driven by fear, distrust and even disdain, some in the Jewish community see the quest for peace — an independent and viable state of Palestine alongside a secure and Jewish Israel — as driven by reckless naivete and arrogance. I don’t see it that way, nor do most American Jews — the quiet majority, all-too-often marginalized when it comes to public discourse on Israel. We love Israel, believe peace is possible, and see its pursuit not as a sign of weakness but as an expression of courage, compassion and faith. More young people identify with this camp, unwilling to abide an untenable status quo that leaves Israel increasingly
insecure, isolated and vulnerable to extremism. These young people are rightly convinced that a two-state solution is the only way Israel can live up to its own greatest aspirations as a Jewish and democratic state, end the corrosive occupation and have their Israeli counterparts grow up free from war and terrorism. For these people, respect for the dignity of the Palestinian people and their national ambitions does not conflict with or undermine their deep love of Israel, but rather is an essential dimension of it. If Kerry succeeds, it will be because his plan honors the narratives, agonies and legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. It will be because his tireless and seasoned envoy, Martin Indyk, cares deeply and passionately about the security and dignity of Israelis and Palestinians alike. It will be because the bipartisan vision of a negotiated twostate solution — hailed by both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama — serves the national interests of Israelis and Palestinians far better than the Continued on Page 24
Kerry’s perilous path to failure By Jonathan S. Tobin Secretary of State John Kerry has come under attack from prominent Israelis and American friends of the Jewish state for some of the methods he has adopted in his determination to find a solution to the Middle East conflict. Such criticism strikes the Obama administration, as well as many friends of Israel, as absurd. After all, what better favor could the United States do for Israel than to help it find the peace for which its people have hungered since the birth of their state? But while Kerry’s defenders are right to scorn those who seek to question his motives, the way he has tried to strongarm Israel has neither enhanced the chances for peace nor strengthened Israel’s security. Though the quest for peace is, in principle, a noble endeavor, Kerry has set in motion events that are strengthening those who seek to delegitimize and boycott Israel and may even increase the chances of a new round of Palestinian violence. Kerry came into office determined to take up a chal-
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dayton Hadassah is here
Though our office is shuttered, Dayton Hadassah is not closing. We are simply evolving in response to the changing needs and circumstances to better serve Hadassah and our Jewish community. While Hadassah’s centennial was celebrated worldwide in 2012, we are proud that our own Dayton chapter has existed continually for 89 years. For the last 19 years, the proceeds from our bingo allowed us the luxury of renting office space. Due to unexpected circumstances beyond our control, we terminated our bingo operations 18 months ago. Dayton Hadassah has not become “office-less,” but mobile. We have learned that the office is not the heart of Hadassah. In reality, it is all the remarkable women in the group working together which make up our wonderful organization. We will adapt ourselves to functioning differently and we welcome the changes and challenges in this transition. We pride ourselves in playing an enriching role in the Dayton Jewish community. We have offered community-wide programs focusing on health, Israel, Zionism and social events as well as provided supplies for needy Jewish families. Hadassah represents Jewish National Fund in Dayton, raising money to plant thousands of trees in Israel. We supply the Blue Boxes which create additional funds for JNF. We sponsor a monthly book group, a share shoppers stock club, and a movie with the JCC’s Dayton Jewish International Film Festival. In 1912, the first Hadassah women laid down the foundation of the Hadassah Medical Organization and other vital projects in Israel and around the world. Today, Hadassah members meet, make friends, discuss and learn as they support the two Hadassah hospitals in Jerusalem, Hadassah College, Youth Aliyah, and other medical and educational programs. The Dayton chapter is full of vibrant, intelligent women committed to continuing Henrietta Szold’s vision and legacy in making a difference in the world. Dena Briskin is working for us out of her home. We are here for you. — Cherie Rosenstein Treasurer, Dayton Chapter of Hadassah
PAGE 10
Spiritual dimensions of mikvah
In the February Observer, which I enjoyed reading and found very informative as usual, there was one point I saw that I’d like to clarify for your readers. In Diminished bingo…brings temporary closure of north mikvah facility, it states, “In accordance with halacha (Jewish law), a mikvah is a ritual purification bath where observant married women immerse themselves following their monthly cycle.” Mikvah is one of three mitzvot (commandments) given specially to women, highlighting their unique and important role within the family and community. Mikvah connects us to God, our Matriarchs, and a chain of thousands of Jewish women who have used and continue to use the mikvah today. Mikvah is a place where a woman is enveloped in pure spiritual water, gathered in a special way, with no separation between her and God. Mikvah is an intimate place, free from the world’s obtrusions, where a woman can feel close to God and pray for blessings for herself, her husband and her family. Here, a woman can free herself of her hectic lifestyle and indulge in a spa-like atmosphere that refreshes and restores body and soul. Recently, there has been a notable resurgence in mikvah use among women of all Jewish affiliations, from sophisticated professionals to stay-at-home moms — even among those who are not observant yet in other areas. What these women have in common is a spiritual need to connect with God. Mikvah allows just that, infusing holiness into the union of husband and wife and through them to their children and grandchildren, those born already and for those yet to be born. We live in a fast-paced, demanding world. A couple, although sitting in the same room, can be in different worlds, immersed in their smartphones and tablets. It is not surprising that couples should be seeking more in their married lives. Mikvah provides the married couple with its special once-a-month ritual that allows the woman to create time and space for true holiness and intimate connection in their marriage. — Devorah Mangel Co-Director, Chabad of Greater Dayton
lenge his predecessor, Hillary Clinton, did her best to avoid. Clinton assessed chances of peace between Israel and the Palestinians in the foreseeable future in the same manner as most foreign policy hands: slim to none. With the Palestinians hopelessly split between the Fatahruled West Bank and Hamasrun Gaza, there seemed little leeway for Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas to sign an agreement that would end the conflict. Since the Palestinians had already turned down offers of statehood in almost all of the West Bank, Gaza and a share of Jerusalem in 2000, 2001 and 2008, there seemed no reason for Israel to make further concessions, to be turned down a fourth time. But Kerry was undaunted by these realities and set out to restart Israeli-Palestinian talks. He has persuaded the sides to negotiate and may get both Abbas and the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a framework to extend the talks, slated to last only nine months. Kerry may even coax the Israelis to offer, as has been reported, the Palestinians a state in 90 percent of the West Bank plus territorial swaps of land inside Israel. If so, he may be as close to cutting the Gordian Knot of Middle East peace as any of the Americans who preceded him. Even if he fails, this would seem a praiseworthy endeavor. But those who care about Israel shouldn’t cheer. What Kerry has forgotten — or never knew in the first place — about the failures of his predecessors is that peace initiatives don’t occur in a vacuum. The dynamic of every negotiation to broker an end to the conflict is that in the eyes of international public opinion, progress is only measured in terms of Israeli concessions. That means that rather than bolstering Israel’s image and support around the globe, every such effort — including Israel’s three generous offers of Palestinian statehood, as well as the Gaza withdrawal — only served to make Israel Continued on Page 24
What do you think? Send your letters (350 words max., thanks) to The Dayton Jewish Observer 525 Versailles Drive Dayton, OH 45459 MWeiss@jfgd.net
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
THE NATION
Obama administration enlisting Jewish groups to counter attacks on Kerry By Ron Kampeas, JTA WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is pushing back hard against Israeli critics of its peace efforts, enlisting American Jewish groups to respond to personal attacks on Secretary of State John Kerry. In recent weeks, administration officials have strongly condemned Israeli critics of Kerry’s peace bid. In response to some of the harshest antiKerry rhetoric, Jewish groups weighed in with their own denunciations. Obama administration insiders and Jewish communal officials say some of those rebukes followed direct solicitation by administration officials. But the responses from the Jewish groups also reflect a concern that the tone of some of the Kerry criticism could damage relations between the administration and the Israeli government. “Even if people, be they in
tapped sympathetic Jewish figIsrael or in the United States, ures and groups to prepare the have disagreements with what ground in the Jewish commuJohn Kerry is proposing, it’s nity for the difficult comproabsolutely essential that those disagreements are expressed on mises on territory and Jerusalem that will be embedded in the substance and not through the framework peace plan. personal attacks,” said Nathan Robert Wexler, a former Diament, the Washington diFlorida congressman, is travelrector of the Orthodox Union, ing to Jewish communiwhich issued a stateties around the country ment condemning a advocating for the small number of Israeli compromises likely to rabbis who warned appear in the framethat Kerry could face work proposal. J Street, divine punishment. the dovish Israel policy But defending group, has launched a Kerry’s future proposcampaign of town hall als may be the one of Secretary of State meetings across the the motives behind John Kerry country to support a the administration’s two-state solution. aggressive pushback. The harshest public attacks Administration officials and on Kerry — the ones that Jewish groups sympathetic to drew the rebukes from centrist Kerry’s initiative say there is a American Jewish groups — longer-term agenda in prehave come from fairly marginal empting attacks on the frameIsraeli figures. U.S. officials, work peace agreement that however, also are upset by the Obama administration is criticism of Kerry coming from expected to propose soon. more significant figures within The administration has
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the Israeli government. Senior Obama administration officials told JTA that Kerry has made his unhappiness clear in the daily phone calls he has with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The prime minister has been responsive. According to The Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu told a party faction meeting that the best way to disagree with the Obama administration is by “substantively discussing the issues and not by engaging in personal attacks.” Israel’s foreign minister, Avigdor Liberman, told a group of businessmen in Tel Aviv that Kerry is a “true friend of Israel.” “We deeply appreciate Secretary Kerry’s commitment to Israel’s security and to helping Israel achieve a lasting and secure peace with the Palestinians,” Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador to Washington, told JTA. “Throughout his nearly 30-year tenure in the U.S. Senate and as secretary of state, Secretary Kerry has been a staunch supporter of Israel and of strengthening the U.S.Israel alliance.” Most of the statements from centrist Jewish groups were
triggered by remarks in January by Moti Yogev, a backbench Knesset member from the Jewish Home party who said in an interview that Kerry’s “obsessive” focus on the talks “may have antisemitic undertones.” The American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League and World Jewish Congress condemned Yogev’s remarks. The ADL’s national director, Abraham Foxman, called the comments “offensive” and “ beyond the bounds of legitimate critique.” The Orthodox Union’s statement, which it issued with the Rabbinical Council of America, condemned the Israeli rabbis who had put out a letter likening Kerry to Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king who destroyed the First Temple, and warning that the secretary of state could face “heavenly retribution.” The letter was issued by a group calling itself the Committee to Save the Land and People of Israel, which said on its website that “dozens” of rabbis had signed on, though it named only five who are all affiliated with Israeli municipalities.
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
PAGE 11
SAVE THE DATE
CHA HABAD OF GR GREA GREA EATE T RD TE DA AYTON
THE NATION
Phila. incoming Federation head’s Dayton connections
HONORING
Rabbi Nocchumm andd Devorah Manngel
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 DAYTON CONVENTION CENTER
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When she takes office, Adler of systemic change that would will have the distinction of beimprove the lives of victims of poverty and crime. So she began ing the only woman to head a to dream of running a nonprofit major Federation in the country. Adler grew up in a family organization that could directly steeped in Jewish roots tackle those issues. and Holocaust stories. She shifted tracks Her grandfather was once again, venturHugo Chaim Adler, an ing into the world of Antwerp-born cantor nonprofits, ultimately who composed Jewish landing two successacred music. sive CEO positions at Her father is Samuel two separate New York Adler, a renowned chapters of the United composer and conducWay. Naomi Adler tor whose family fled Now, at the age of Nazi Germany. She proudly 47, she’s about to become the notes that her mother, an author new chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater and poet, is a “fourth-generation Reform Jew.” Philadelphia in May. Adler was raised in Rochester, N.Y., in what she termed a “very religiously educated household,” where she studied with her father every Shabbat. She was also active at her temple and sang in its choir. When she decided to shift careers from practicing law to nonprofit fund-raising, she initially focused on Jewish causes. Her first post brought her to Dayton, Ohio, where she headed the Community Relations Council and the Women’s Division at the Federation there. It was in Dayton, she recalled, where a mentor taught her “what it means to sit across a kitchen table and ask for a Lion of Judah gift,” a high-level donation from a woman. She later pursued an opportunity at Rutgers University, where she raised funds for the Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life. Adler said she isn’t put off by the reputation of Philadelphia as a hard town for an outsider to break into and one that doesn’t raise Federation funds commensurate with other cities of comparable size. She said she welcomes the challenges that await her. 135 Ascent Circle Oakwood “We need to be inclusive and New construction by R.A.Rhoads Homes open to serving the needs of all $593,000 MLS#554105 Jews” as well as the larger community that interacts with Jews, she said. Her husband, Rabbi Brian Beal, and their three sons, a 13-year-old who recently became a Bar Mitzvah and 10-year-old twins — will be moving from Nanuet, N.Y., north of New York City. Beal is 146 Pointe Oakwood Way the senior rabbi of Temple Beth New construction by Peebles Homes Torah, a Reform congregation in $409,000 MLS#574934 Upper Nyack, N.Y.
By Lisa Hostein The Jewish Exponent PHILADELPHIA — As a cantorial soloist, Naomi Adler could have followed in the footsteps of her grandfather and father, both renowned conductors and composers of Jewish music. But instead of pursuing a career in music or Jewish communal service, as she once contemplated, she chose a different beat: She became a lawyer, using her voice to defend the rights of victims of domestic violence and child abuse. As an assistant district attorney in upstate New York, however, she began to realize that she couldn’t effect the kind
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
SOUTH FOR THE WINTER: A Gem City Reunion
Jewish Federation of GREATER DAYTON Sunday, March 2 › Tzedakah Sunday 9:30AM-NOON @ Boonshoft CJCE Give back to the community by taking to the phones on Tzedakah Sunday. Breakfast will be served. March 16-18 › JFNA TRIBEFEST @ New Orleans $350 subsidy available for Jewish Dayton residents between the ages of 21 & 45.
I am fourth generation from Tampa, Florida. So why does that matter? This revelation is only important when I get together with native Daytonians and those who consider themselves to be natives. With my family and historical ties to the Jewish community of Tampa, I can appreciate with a full heart, what I hear from those who have lived, loved and raised families in Dayton. I certainly got a treat last month when I had the opportunity to spend time with Daytonians living either full-time or part-time in Florida. My first trip was to Naples, Florida to a Gem City Reunion hosted by Stevie and Bob Schriber. They have recently made Naples their permanent home. Stevie gave me a special tour of their new home before the guests arrived. I can only say that her artwork, family heirlooms and décor were spectacular. Then the guests arrived. We shared many stories of family ties and stories from “the good ole days”. What impressed me the most is that the connections to the friends from Dayton are still strong even
while migrating to a new part of the country. Thank you to all who attended and to our hosts for helping to revive a special tradition. My other reunion occurred the following week in Boca Raton. Many more folks from our home town live there and we were flooded with a wonderful crowd at the home of Esther and DeNeal Feldman. The food table was loaded with very special treats. But the most special item on that table was the day-old photos of their new great grandchild, Ava Madeline. It was a night of new connections and great stories. We need to continue sharing these memories as they keep alive a spirit of love and family that is stronger than any other bond. I hear that Gloria Saeks has several scrapbooks she is compiling from days gone by in Jewish Dayton. I look forward to seeing these displayed soon.
LEFT TO RIGHT, FIRST BELOW: Jimmy and Diane Duberstein. SECOND BELOW: Debby Goldenberg, Carole Rabinowitz, Bob Goldenberg, and Bernie Rabinowitz. THIRD BELOW: Esther and DeNeal Feldman. BOTTOM LEFT: Lois Harris, Stevie Schriber, Sue Zulanch, Harley Ellman, Don Zulanch, Ralph Heyman, Bob Schriber, Sylvia Heyman, Marianne Ellman, Ellen Katz, Larry Katz. UPPER LEFT: Ellen Saeks, Gloria Saeks Jeffrey Saeks, Shirlet Levitt, Herman Levitt, Shirley Mazer.
Cathy L. Gardner CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton
Saturday, March 22 › YAD @ Pies & Pints 8PM-@ Pies & Pints Join us for some weekend mingling and delicious pizza. Cost is on your own. Sunday, March 30 › Women’s Afternoon Tea 3-4:30PM @ Ahiska Turkish American Community Center
(1306 E. 5th St., Dayton) Enjoy a cup of tea and pastries as we meet and learn about each other’s culture and customs.
Volunteer Corps › Clothes That Work Mon, March 24 10AM-NOON @ Clothes That Work 1133 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., Dayton The Federation has become a donation site for Clothes That Work. Please drop off new and gently-worn men and women’s clothing and accessories here at the CJCE. RSVPs are due at least 1 week before event. Events with no price listed are free. PLEASE CONTACT KAREN STEIGER REGARDING ALL FEDERATION EVENTS: 610-1555, ksteiger@jfgd.net
Tzedakah Sunday is March 2 @ the Boonshoft CJCE The Talmud says “All Jews are responsible for one another.” Tzedakah is fundamental to Judaism. In past years, we’ve dedicated one day a year to calling members of our community to ask for their support. This year, we are expanding Tzedakah Sunday to the internet to make it easier for you to donate. Help us raise necessary funds by going to www.jewishdayton.org/tzedakahsunday between now and March 2nd to make your pledge to the 2014 Annual Campaign. If you prefer to make your pledge by phone, we’ll call you on March 2nd. You can pay when you pledge, or you may choose to pay later (by December 31, 2014).
We cannot do what we do without you! Every gift makes a difference! Tzedakah Sunday volunteer positions (caller and non-caller) are still available, March 2nd from 9:30am – 12pm at the CJCE (525 Versailles Drive, Centerville). Includes breakfast and complimentary childcare. Please contact Alisa Thomas at 937-610-1796 or anelligan@jfgd.net for more information. Your generosity allows the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton to meet its mission of caring for those in need, strengthening Jewish life, and creating connections among Jews locally, in Israel and around the world – plus SO much more. Thank you. - Alisa Thomas
Israeli photographer, teacher, artist, and curator Yochanan Kishon is coming to Dayton to hold two special events with the help of Partnership2Gether, (the Western Galilee Central Area Consortium) and the JCC. The events will be held Friday, April 4th at 9:30AM and Sunday April 6th at 12:30PM, and will include workshops, lectures on photography, Israeli culture, and a Q&A session. For more details, please contact Rachel Wilson at rwilson@jfgd.net.
JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON AGENCY NEWSLETTER
BELOW: Jaclyn Nyikon, Logan MacDonald, and Seth Schwartz take advantage of the snow as they go sledding down the field at the Boonshoft CJCE during Early Childhood gym class. REMINDER! Early Childhood enrollment is open to new families for the 2014-2015 school year. PHOTO CREDIT: Kathryn Lagasse
Jewish Community Center of GREATER DAYTON March 7, 8 & 9 › Women’s Retreat @ Glen House Inn Get ready for a weekend full of world-class pampering and introspection for the coming year. Rates vary depending on length of stay & room selection. Saturday, March 22 › JCC Kids Overnight 8:45PM @ Boonshoft CJCE (pickup Sunday, March 23 @ 8AM) Kids grades 5-8 are invited to join us for an evening of laser tag, games, movies, food & fun. $25 per person. Sunday, March 23 › Yiddish Club
1:30PM @ Boonshoft CJCE Cursing in Yiddish. Over the past 1,000 years, Yiddish has developed magnificent curses as a way to discharge anger. Partering with Active Adults. Wednesday, March 26 › Smart Investing 7PM @ Boonshoft CJCE The Better Business Bureau presents a discussion about various types of investment scams, and how to protect yourself. Monday, March 31 › Sharing Traditions Passover Experience 5:30PM @ Boonshoft CJCE Join with friends and family as we share our Passover traditions and songs. › Early Childhood Scholastic
Book Fair runs March 3-7
› Early Childhood Flower Sale
orders are due by March 9
RSVPs are due at least 1 week before event. Events with no price listed are free. PLEASE CONTACT KAREN STEIGER REGARDING ALL EVENTS: 610-1555, ksteiger@jfgd.net
EARLY CHILDHOOD: Mail’s here!
ABOVE: Our very own Rachel Schubeler, a teacher in the Mitzvah Cheder, submitted lesson plans to an early childhood publication called “The Mailbox.” She has received notification that it will be featured in a future publication. Mazel tov, Rachel! We are so proud of you! PHOTO CREDIT: Marshall Weiss
JCC Welcomes New Programming Hire This month we welcome our newest part-time JCC staff member, Ehud Borovoy. He will work with the JCC’s Early Childhood Care and Education department, as well as coordinate programming for the JCC’s Youth, Teen & Family programs and community events. Ehud’s first community programming event will be teaching a new dance class at the Boonshoft CJCE starting March 10. The dance class will offer Salsa, Merengue, Cha Cha, Rumba, Bachata and swing and will be offered on Mondays from 4:45 to 5:45PM. The class will require a partner and will be $5 per person. Please contact Karen Steiger at ksteiger@jfgd.net or (937) 610-1555 for more information.
›Mamaloshen
A little bit of Yiddish to share with friends, courtesy of the JCC Yiddish Club, in memory of Lynda A. Cohen.
Shukh : \SHUKH\ Noun A shoe. Phrases related to shukh: 1. Ale shusters geyen borves - All cobblers go barefoot (the irony...). 2. Az a Yid ken nisht vern a shuster, troymt er khotsh fun vern a profesor - If a Jew can’t become a cobbler, he dreams of at least becoming a professor. 3. Nayn rabonim kenen keyn minyen nisht makhn, ober tsen shusters yo - Nine rabbis cannot make up a quorum [for certain ritual observances], but ten cobblers can (the point being that even the most ignorant members of society are still valued parts of the religious community).
JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON AGENCY NEWSLETTER
2014 OPENING NIGHT
THURSDAY, APRIL 24 @ THE NEON (130 East 5th Street, Dayton)
RECEPTION » 6:45PM | Film » 7:30PM (auditorium opens at 7PM) FEATURING A STRING QUARTET WITH MEMBERS OF THE DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, FOLLOWED BY THE FILM THE ZIG ZAG KID. $9 FOR ADULTS | $8 FOR STUDENTS | $72 FOR A SEASON PASS CONTACT: KAREN STEIGER, 610-1555
2014 DAYTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL LINE-UP APRIL 24 - OPENING (NEON) – The Zig Zag Kid APRIL 29 (NEON) – Aftermath MAY 1 (NEON) – Bethlehem MAY 6 (NEON) – Quality Balls: The David Steinberg Story MAY 7 (YELLOW SPRINGS) – When Day Breaks MAY 8 (NEON) – Suskind MAY 12 (NEON) – The Prime Ministers:
The Pioneers MAY 13 (NEON AM) - Esther Broner: A Weave of Women (In memory of Kathy Ellison and Partnering with Hadassah) MAY 13 (YELLOW SPRINGS PM) – The Zig Zag Kid MAY 15 (NEON) – White Panther MAY 18 - CLOSING (NEON) – The Third Half
For more information, visit jewishdayton.org
HAMETZ FOR THE HUNGRY
S U P P O R T TH E J E WI S H FA M I LY S E RV I C E S FO O D PA NTRY A l l d o n a t i o n s m a d e d u r i n g M A R C H & A P R I L w i l l b e m a t c h e d by t h e F e i n s t e i n F o u n d a t i o n . N o n p e r i s h a b l e f o o d d r o p - o f f b a r r e l s a r e l o c a t e d a t D ay t o n s y n a g o g u e s a n d F e d e r a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s . M o n e t a r y c o n t r i b u t i o n s a r e a l s o a c c e p t e d ; c o n t a c t K a r e n S t e i g e r ( k s t e i g e r @ j f g d . n e t , 9 3 7- 0 3 7 2 ) o r S i m o n e S o f i a n (s s o f i a n @ j f g d . n e t , 9 3 7- 6 1 0 -1 7 9 5)
Cheryl Benson keeps shelves stocked & ready food pantry and the lunch site is a task that Cheryl makes look easy, but takes a lot of thought and time to accomplish. Thanks to area synagogue food barrels and generous contributions from community members, the shelves in the food pantry are always stocked well. In 2013, the food pantry provided 1,291 bags of food for those in need. Monthly totals can vary according to the weather and economic factors. Cheryl sees the looks of appreciation on the faces
ABOVE: Cheryl Benson keeps shelves stocked and organized for the Jewish Family Services Food Pantry
when people arrive to pick up their food and she enjoys knowing that she helps to make an important difference in someone’s life that day. The food pantry is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 pm-3:30 pm by appointment
only. The lunch program takes place at Covenant Manor Monday through Friday at 12:00 noon. Please call Cheryl at 854-6319 for more details. Janice Kohn
SEINIOR PROGRAM DIRECTOR Jewish Family Services of Greater Dayton
DID YOU KNOW? »TRANSPORTATION MARCH IS SOCIAL WORK MONTH
According to the National Association of Social Workers: In the 19th century, the social work profession began as a way to ensure that immigrants learned skills to avoid poverty. Social workers are helping professionals and make every attempt to help people help themselves. They help children to the elderly in all situations and from all walks of life. Social workers around the world believe that people should be treated with respect and that they have
the right to lead a fulfilling life. People should be given the opportunity to cope with and overcome obstacles through social services and advocacy. Every day, people face difficult challenges such as poverty, physical and mental illness, loss, divorce, and unemployment. Social workers attempt to prevent crises and assist individuals and families cope with life’s stressors. Contact Jewish Family Services at: 937-610-1555 We are here to help!
Tuesday, March 4 12:30PM @ Covenant Manor Piano and Vocals with Lou James Friday, March 7 NOON @ Covenant Manor Fresh Friday- Delicious home cooked meal prepared by Bernstein’s Fine catering 12:30PM Food Safety Part 3, presented by Katie Schroeder, OSU Extension Services
NUTRITION SITE COORDINATOR HELPS FAMILIES AND SENIORS ACROSS THE MIAMI VALLEY
Meet Cheryl Benson. Cheryl is the Nutrition Site Coordinator at Covenant Manor. In addition to managing the nutrition site, Cheryl is also the Food Pantry Coordinator. Cheryl has been working for the Federation for 2 ½ years. When a person calls the food pantry to set up an appointment, the first voice they hear is Cheryl’s. As a friendly and natural people person, she enjoys the interaction with the people that she meets on a daily basis. Keeping up with the many details of both the
Jewish Family Services of GREATER DAYTON
Thanks to a generous grant from The Tala Arnovitz Fund of The Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton Foundation, Jewish Family Services transportation hours are being expanded through the spring of 2014.
In addition to transportation for medical appointments, grocery shopping and recreational activities, the new expansion specifically covers rides — evenings and weekends — to and from synagogue religious services and other synagouge events, depending on driver availability. There is no fee for rides to and from religious services, but it is very important that reservations be made at least one week ahead or as soon as you know that you will need a ride.
Tuesday, March 11 12:30 @ Covenant Manor Know the Signs: Early Detection Matters, presented by the Alzheimer’s Association Miami Valley Chapter Wednesday, March 12 1:30PM @ Covenant Manor Quilting class with Maryann Bernstein Tuesday, March 18 12:30PM @ Covenant Manor Honor Flight Dayton presentation by Al Bailey Friday, March 21 NOON @ Covenant Manor Fresh Friday- Delicious home cooked meal prepared by Bernstein’s Fine catering 12:30PM Bingo Tuesday, March 25 12:30PM @ Covenant Manor Sinatra, Seriously, Musical Entertainment with Bob Kohn Wednesday, March 26 NOON @ Covenant Manor Quilting class with Maryann Bernstein
This service is available for community members 55 or older and those with disabilities. RESERVATIONS CAN BE MADE BY CALLING JOYCE ANDERSON, TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR, AT 937-853-0377.
PLEASE CONTACT CHERYL BENSON REGARDING ALL COVENANT MANOR EVENTS : 854-6319
JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON AGENCY NEWSLETTER
B’NAI TZEDEK: Teaching the next generation the power of giving
Jewish Foundation of GREATER DAYTON
GRANT & SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES: INNOVATION GRANTS
› Request for proposals (programs taking place between July 1, 2014 June 30, 2015) are currently being accepted. Applications can be requested from Jodi Phares, and applications are due to Jodi Phares by March 15. (610-5513, jphares@ jfgd.net) Awarded grants will be announced in May. JEWISH RESIDENTIAL CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS › Available to local youths to participate in a Jewish residential camp program. Funding made possible through the Joan and Peter Wells Summer Camp Scholarship Fund and by a generous donation from Carole and Bernie Rabinowitz. Applications can be requested from Alisa Thomas, and applications are due to Alisa Thomas by noon on March 28. (610-1796, anelligan@ jfgd.net) Awarded grants will be announced in May. JEWISH FOUNDATION COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS › Available to Jewish undergraduate and graduate students for the 2014/2015 academic year. Applicants must demonstrate both academic achievement and financial need. Funding made possible through the Heuman Scholarship Fund. Applications can be requested from Alisa Thomas, and applications are due to Alisa Thomas by noon on March 28. (610-1796, anelligan@ jfgd.net) Awarded grants will be announced in May.
We are grateful to the generous members of the Dayton community who have established endowment funds or provided donations that offer support for us to recognize and reward deserving community members.
The mitzvah of tzedakah is fundamental to Judaism. Many consider it the most important commandment. A child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah is the perfect time to introduce them to the Jewish Foundation of Greater Dayton’s B’nai Tzedek program, which not only teaches young people about the importance of tzedakah, but also allows them to show what they care about and let their voice be heard. The B’nai Tzedek program is simple and fun. Here is how it works ~ when a child has their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, they can open a B’nai Tzedek Fund in their name with a contribution of $180 or more. The Ida Fay & Luba Gretel B’nai Tzedek Youth Fund of the Jewish Foundation of Greater Dayton will contribute $320 to the child’s fund, so each fund begins with a minimum balance of $500! Every year, the child can donate 5% of their fund balance to one of a number of approved charities. Jeremy Bettman, son of Jean and Todd Bettman, opened his B’nai
Tzedek Fund in 2013. As Todd explains, “In my family, for four generations now, tzedakah and philanthropy have always been central to our values, to the point where many years ago my parents began giving a tzedakah box as a gift to every Bar and Bat Mitzvah child in the community. And so, it was only natural that we would want Jeremy to have his own named B’nai Tzedek Fund, so that he could continue the tradition of giving within our family.” “I just like to help people!” says Jeremy. “I know that charity and philanthropy have always been an important thing in my family, and I have always taken pride in seeing my parents’ and grandparents’ involvement in both Jewish and non-Jewish causes, so I knew when the chance came to be a philanthropist myself, it was something I wanted to do.” An added benefit of the B’nai Tzedek program is that it develops leadership among the participants. They are able to connect with each
ABOVE: Jeremy Bettman is continuing his family’s legacy of giving through his own B’nai Tzedek fund through the Jewish Foundation of Greater Dayton. PHOTO COURTESY: JEAN BETTMAN
other and put the lesson of tzedakah into action. We hope your child will take part in this meaningful program. If you or your child would like more information, please contact Hilary Zappin, Community Outreach
Manager, at 937-610-1555 or hzappin@jfgd.net.
Alisa Thomas
Development Coordinator Jewish Foundation of Greater Dayton
Legacies, Tributes, & Memorials FEDERATION CAMPAIGN IN HONOR OF › Special birthday of Marvin Leshner Judy and Dr. Mel Lipton › Speedy recovery of Dr. Robert Goldenberg › Speedy recovery of Maureen Sternberg Barbara and Jim Weprin IN MEMORY OF › Rabbi Jim Isaacson › Janice Garfunkel › Chuck Jenefsky Judy and Dr. Mel Lipton › Chuck Jenefsky Debby and Dr. Robert Goldenberg Ellie and Bob Bernstein › Father of Libby Weprin Debby and Dr. Robert Goldenberg ROBERT & MOLLIE FITTERMAN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND IN HONOR OF › Special birthday of Louis Weintraub Susan and Alan Witte BOARD DISCRETIONARY ENDOWMENT FUND IN HONOR OF › Speedy recovery of Dr. Robert Goldenberg Cathy Gardner
JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON AGENCY NEWSLETTER
PJ LIBRARY IN HONOR OF › Birth of great-granddaughter, Ava, to Esther and DeNeal Feldman Marcia and Ed Kress IN MEMORY OF › Norman Katz Marcia and Ed Kress JCC ACTIVE ADULTS IN MEMORY OF › Chuck Jenefsky Shirlee and Dr. Ron Gilbert Rachel and Dr. Heath Gilbert HELEN AND CHARLES ABRAMOVITZ JEWISH CAMP FUND IN MEMORY OF › Stephen Friedberg Cathy Gardner FILM FESTIVAL IN MEMORY OF › Stephen Friedberg Jane and Dr. Gary Hochstein BEN & DOROTHY HARLAN CHILDREN’S FUND IN HONOR OF › New grandchild of Barbara and Dr. Ira Kushnir › New grandchild of Debbie and Bruce Feldman Marla and Dr. Stephen Harlan
FAMILY SERVICES SENIOR SERVICES IN HONOR OF › New granddaughter of Michelle and Morry Weiner Beverly and Jeff Kantor SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE IN HONOR OF › New granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herb Moss › Speedy recovery of Dorothy Shane Hyla and Dr. Raymond Weiskind SOCIAL SERVICES IN MEMORY OF › Chuck Jenefsky Jane and Dr. Gary Hochstein FOOD PANTRY IN HONOR OF › Birthday of Rick Carne › Birthday of Bruce Feldman Melissa and Tim Sweeny FOUNDATION JEREMY BETTMAN B’NAI TZEDEK YOUTH PHILANTHROPY FUND IN MEMORY OF › Chuck Jenefsky Jean and Todd Bettman
»The Wolfe Marcus Travel to Israel Scholarship application deadline has been extended to March 28th @ noon. »PLEASE CONTACT ALISA THOMAS FOR MORE INFORMATION (610-1796 or anelligan@jfgd.net)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Classes
Beth Abraham Synagogue Classes: Sat., Mar. 1, 12:30 p.m.: Why Jews Do What They Do w. Rabbi Ginsberg. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. 293-9520. Temple Beth Or Classes: Sun., Mar. 2, 9, 23 & 30 1 p.m.: Adult Hebrew w. Rabbi Chessin. Sun., Mar. 9 & 23, 10:30 a.m.: Tanach w. Rabbi Chessin. Sun., Mar. 9, 9:45 a.m.: Adult Ed. Genealogy. 3 p.m.: Fusion Families w. Rabbi Chessin. Wed., Mar. 5, 12, 19, & 26, 6-9 p.m.: Israeli Folk Dancing w. Janifer Tsou. Wed., Mar. 5, 7 p.m.: Men’s Circle w. Rabbi Burstein. Wed., Mar. 12, 7 p.m.: Spirituality w. Rabbi Burstein. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 435-3400. Temple Israel Classes: Mondays, 1:15 p.m.: Knitting & Crocheting. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.: Lattes & Legends w. Rabbi Bodney-Halasz at Wash. Sq. Dorothy Lane Mkt. Noon: Talmud w. Rabbi Sofian. Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.: Torah w. Rabbi Sofian. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 496-0050.
Discussions
Temple Israel Brotherhood Ryterband Lecture & Brunch Series: Sundays, 10 a.m. Mar. 2: Dr. Jason Kalman, HUC-JIR, Moses Wrote the Book of Job. Mar. 9: Marshall Weiss, Dayton Jewish Observer, Jewish Connections
to Titanic. Mar. 23: Dr. Adam Karnesar, HUC-JIR, Ideology of Religious Pluralism in Antiquity. $5 per brunch. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 496-0050. Philosophical & Theological Underpinnings of Judaism: Sun., Mar. 2, 7 p.m. Panel with Rabbis Chessin, Ginsberg, Mangel, and Sofian. At Beth Abraham Synagogue, 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. 293-9520.
Children
JCC Kids Overnight: Sat., Mar. 22-Sun., Mar. 23, 8:45 p.m.8 a.m. Grades 5-8. Laser tag, games, movies. Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. $25. R.S.V.P. to Karen Steiger, 853-0372.
Women
Jewish Federation/Chabad Women’s Retreat: Fri., Mar. 7-Sun., Mar. 9. Glen House Inn, Yellow Springs. R.S.V.P. to Karen Steiger, 853-0372. Volunteering with Women’s Philanthropy for Tzedakah: Mon., Mar. 24, 10 a.m.-noon. Clothes That Work, 1133 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd. R.S.V.P. to Karen Steiger, 853-0372.
Young Adults
YAD at Pies and Pints: Sat., Mar. 22, 8 p.m. R.S.V.P. to Karen Steiger, 853-0372.
Seniors
Jewish Family Services Events: See Federation newsletter in center spread. JCC Lynda A. Cohen Yiddish Club: Sun., Mar. 23, 1:30 p.m. Cursing in Yiddish. Starbucks, 2424 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. R.S.V.P. to Karen Steiger, 8530372.
Community Events
Jewish Federation Tzedakah Sunday: Sun., Mar. 2, 9:30 a.m.-noon. Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. R.S.V.P. to Alisa Thomas, 610-1555.
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Chabad Founders’ Dinner: Wed., Mar. 19, 6 p.m. Dayton Convention Center, 22 E. 5th St., Dayton. R.S.V.P. to 643-0770. Beth Abraham Men’s Club Deli Dinner, Movie & Raffle: Sun., Mar. 30, 6:15 p.m. $18 dinner & movie, $5 movie only. R.S.V.P. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. 293-9520. JCC & Chabad’s Sharing Traditions Passover: Mon., Mar. 31, 5:30 p.m. Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. Free. R.S.V.P. to Karen Steiger, 853-0372.
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Sensitivity. Dignity. Compassion. CEDAR VILLAGE HOSPICE Services that are designed uniquely for each individual; care that is based on comfort and support; a team of dedicated professionals and volunteers focused on meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of both the patient and family—that’s what Cedar Village Hospice is all about. Built on a foundation of Jewish values, Cedar Village Hospice is here to help you or your loved one, in your own home, with the quality, sensitivity, dignity and compassion that have long been the hallmarks of Cedar Village. Cedar Village is a nonprofit retirement community, located in Mason, Ohio.
5467 Cedar Village Drive Mason, OH 45040 Tel: 513.754.3100 www.cedarvillage.org
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
PAGE 17
KVELLING CORNER
LIFECYCLE Friedman-Chessin Brett Chessin and Liora Friedman were married on Jan. 4 at Temple EmanuEl, Birmingham, Ala. Brett will graduate Wake Forest University School of Law, and Liora recently finished a twoyear commitment to Teach for America in North Carolina. Brett is the son of Rabbi Judy Chessin and Dr. Michael Cook, and Liora is the daughter of Richard and Sally Friedman of Birmingham. The ceremony took place under the Henry S. Jacobs Camp chupah, reserved for couples who met and fell in love at the Union for Reform Judaism’s summer camp (in Mississippi), where Brett and Liora worked for five years. Rabbi Judy Chessin officiated.
Hillel Academy has hired Patty Caruso as its director of development. She’s assisting with fund raising, marketing, public relations, publicity, and outreach to continue the Jewish day school’s already growing enrollment. Elaine Bettman is one of eight honorees for this year’s YWCA Women of Influence Awards Luncheon, to be held March 13 at the Dayton Convention Center. The couple will reside in Birmingham, where Brett will work at the law firm of Lloyd Gray Whitehead and Monroe, and Liora will pursue her career in education.
Send lifecycles to: The Dayton Jewish Observer, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville, OH 45459. Email: MWeiss@jfgd.net. There is a $10 charge to run a photo; please make checks payable to The Observer.
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At the Annual Community Scout Shabbat Service on Jan. 31, Temple Beth Or’s Rabbi Judy Chessin received the Noah Faust recently had his toy Shofar Award from the Dayton invention, Conjoynts, sold on Jewish Committee on Scouting zulily.com, an online retailer, as and National Jewish Committee part of its Kid Inventors Day. on Scouting. The Shofar Award Noah has since participated recognizes outstanding service with Zulily on two other sales by adults in the promotion of events. “I came up with the idea Scouting among Jewish youths. in my high school engineering More than 100 Scouts and adult class,” Noah says. “The school Scouters attended this year’s had recently purchased a service, which was held at laser engraver, which inspired Temple Beth Or. me to try and create a more open-ended version of those Send your Kvelling items to Rachel wooden puzzles you see in at kvellingcorner@gmail.com or to science museum gift shops. Rachel Haug Gilbert Using AutoDesk Inventor The Dayton Jewish Observer and some scrap plywood, I 525 Versailles Drive worked out the tolerances Centerville, OH 45459
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Rachel Wilson has the title role in the play Expecting Isabel at The Dayton Theatre Guild Feb. 29 through March 16. This marks Rachel’s eighth show with The Guild.
and created the toy.” He also credits encouragement from his high school engineering teacher and a successful Kickstarter campaign (online entrepreneurial fund raising). He manufactured 500 Conjoynts sets and shipped them to backers in countries all over the world. Noah has been selling Conjoynts on his website, conjoynts.com, and to various retailers around the Midwest. In February, he pitched Conjoynts to WakeUp StartUp, a monthly entrepreneurship gathering in Columbus. Noah is a sophomore honors student at Ohio State studying electrical engineering. He is the son of Sara and Mitchell Faust.
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Ann Berger is coordinating the chefs for The Ronald McDonald House of Dayton’s 4th Annual Doors of Compassion Fundraiser on March 29. Ann served as the event’s first chair in 2011, as co-chair in 2012, and as an honorary co-chair last year. The program begins with dinner prepared by one of several chefs, served in a private residence. “What makes this event so unique is that our guests will not know who’s home they are going to until a couple days before the event,” Ann says. Following dinner, guests meet for an after party, with the location revealed only after the meals. Among the chefs participating this
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Two full refreshment bars Multi-media center Podium with microphone Surround sound audio system Two 10' front projection screens
Rachel Haug Gilbert
year are Adam Baumgarten of Bernstein’s Fine Catering and Jeff Blumer of Bellyfire. Erv Pavlofsky of ProduceOne provides the salad greens for the dinners and allows event planners use of ProduceOne warehouse space to organize and distribute the food items to the chefs. Those opening their homes for the dinners include Gary and Fifi Froelich, Lauren and Aaron Hamer, Marilyn and Larry Klaben, and Andi Rabiner. Arlene Stine is on the chefs committee. Ann says that kosher and vegetarian meals will be available upon request.
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
RELIGION
Where to go, what to do this Purim Beth Abraham Synagogue A Motown Purim, Sunday, March 16. 10 a.m. Carnival, 11 a.m. Megillah reading, Noon catered lunch (R.S.V.P), 1 p.m. shpiel.
Beth Jacob Congregation Mincha followed by Shalosh Seudos and Purim Seuda and Ma’ariv, Saturday, March 15, 6:30 p.m. Megillah reading at 9 p.m.
Temple Anshe Emeth
Second Annual Purim Maccabiah, Saturday, March 15, 9:15 a.m. Relays, GaGa, other children’s games.
Temple Beth Or
Fiesta Purim, Saturday, March 15, 7 p.m. Latin dancing w. instructor, food, raffle. $20. Purim Carnival, Sunday, March 16, 9:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Temple Israel
Religious School Purim, Sunday, March 16, 8:45 a.m.-1 p.m. TIDY Purim Carnival, Sunday, March 16, 11 a.m-1 p.m.
Chabad of Greater Dayton Purim Under the Sea, Sunday, March 16, 5 p.m. Sushi bar and dinner buffet, Megillah reading. $18 adult, $5 child.
Purim’s not just for children same as God’s presence. The detail in the story. Haman chose female lead of our story is the date to destroy all the Jews known by her Persian name, based on picking lots. HowEsther. However, she also had a ever, it sounds a great deal like Hebrew name, Hadassah. Many another Jewish holiday, Yom people today have an English Kippur. name and a Hebrew name. It is If you translate the Hebrew, very common. yom means day and the prefix There are times when one is ki means like. Therefore, Yom comfortable being Jewish and Kippur(im) is a day like Purim. other times when One might think one may wish to fit that this is impossible. into his or her surYom Kippur is the Day roundings. Thereof Atonement, one of fore, it is easy for us the most solemn days to understand this of the Jewish year. Puduality. But, again, rim is a festive excuse the name of God is to dress in a costume not obviously menit is not reading the story, but and get drunk. tioned. listening to the story, which is The two seem to be On the other the mitzvah. opposite. It was a chaThe other three requirements hand, look closely at Rabbi Haviva Horvitz sidic rabbi, Menachem are giving to the needy (matanot Chapter 5, Verse 4, Mendel Morgensztern the section of the story durla’evyonim), sending food of Kotzk, better known as the ing which Esther invites King portions to friends (mishloach Kotzker Rebbe, who explained, Ahashverus and Haman to manot), and a festive meal, “Why is the Day of Atonement the first banquet, a time when including wine or other inebricalled A Day Like Unto Purim? Esther needs to have God with ating drink. On Purim we dress up in cosBut what is the real meaning her. tumes and pretend to be what Look at the Hebrew. The sen- we aren’t; on Yom Ki-Purim we of Purim? When you listen to the story, tence is: Yavo hamelech v’Haman pretend to be tzaddikim (righpay close attention and you will hayom and roughly translates to, teous).” The king and notice that someOr maybe we learn through Haman will thing very importhis comparison that God is come today. tant is missing. As available to each of us on a The worda matter of fact, solemn day like Yom Kippur ing is a bit you can Google it, just as much as on a fun day, awkward. do a Yahoo search, like Purim. However, or ask anyone So, what is Purim? Purim is when the first a festive holiday, found at the who has read the letters from entire Megillah: very beginning of spring, when each of these the name of God we need a fun release. It is an four words is does not seem to occasion that encourages each put together, appear anywhere of us to find our inner child, one of the in the entire Book to listen to stories, to eat and names of God becomes obviof Esther. drink, and to connect with God. ous. What does this mean? It So, where is God? When On the other hand, it is only Mordechai is introduced (Chap- teaches us that God is everya month until the next holiday. where, always available and ter 2, Verse 5), he is described Thus, Purim is a fun method to especially when needed, God as a “certain Jew in Shushan prepare and give away all the can be found. the castle, whose name was hametz (leavened food), which So, is that it? Does this holiMordechai the son of Jair the has to be finished before Passson of Shimei the son of Kish, a day teach us anything else? over. So we eat, we drink and The name of the holiday, Benjamite.” we enjoy! Purim, comes from the word Everyone knew him to be May you and your fampur which translates to lot, as in ily have a happy and healthy a Jew. So, God’s influence is lottery. It is named after a minor Purim. recognized, but that is not the By Rabbi Haviva Horvitz Temple Beth Sholom It is safe to say that there are many Jewish holidays which could be described as: “they tried to kill us, they failed, let’s eat.” But none more so than Purim. If you do not know the story, the Book of Esther, you are in luck because one of the four obligations of this holiday is to listen to the Megillah (the scroll that refers specifically to the Book of Esther.) Note that
Perspectives
God is everywhere, always available and especially when needed, God can be found.
March • Adar I & Adar II A Jewish leap year On the Jewish calendar, months follow the cycle of the moon. However, there are approximately 12.4 lunar months in a solar year. The solution is a 19-year Jewish calendar cycle with a second month of Adar — Adar II — added in the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th and 19th years.
CONGREGATIONS
Shabbat Candle Lightings March 7, 6:17 p.m. March 14, 7:24 p.m. March 21, 7:31 p.m. March 28, 7:38 p.m.
Torah Portions March 1/29 Adar I Pekudei (Ex. 38:21-40:38, Ex. 30:11-16) March 8/6 Adar II Vayikra (Lev. 1:1-5:26) March 15/13 Adar II Tzav (Lev. 6:1-8:36, Deut. 25:17-19) March 22/20 Adar II Shemini (Lev. 9:1-11:47, Num. 19:1-22) March 29/27 Adar II Tazria (Lev. 12:1-13:59, Ex. 12:1-20)
Purim - Feast of Lots March 16/14 Adar II 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.
Beth Abraham Synagogue Conservative Rabbi Joshua Ginsberg Cantor/Dir. of Ed. & Programming Andrea Raizen Daily services 6:50 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Fri., 5:30 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m. and sundown Sat. eve. Sundays at 8:30 a.m. 305 Sugar Camp Circle, Oakwood. 293-9520. BethAbrahamDayton.org Beth Jacob Congregation Traditional Mornings: Sun., Mon., Thurs., 7 a.m. Sat. 9:30 a.m. Evenings: Sun. through Fri. 7 p.m. 7020 N. Main St., Dayton. 274-2149. BethJacobCong.org Temple Anshe Emeth Reform Saturday, March 15, 10 a.m. Rabbinic Intern Marc Kasten 320 Caldwell St., Piqua. Call Eileen Litchfield, 937-5470092, elitchfield@woh.rr.com. Correspondence address: 3808 Beanblossom Rd., Greenville, OH 45331. ansheemeth.org Temple Beth Or Reform Rabbi Judy Chessin Asst. Rabbi/Educator David Burstein Fridays 7:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat 4th Friday, 5:30 p.m. Saturdays 10 a.m. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 4353400. templebethor.com Temple Beth Sholom Reform Rabbi Haviva Horvitz See Web site for schedule. 610 Gladys Dr., Middletown. 513-422-8313. thetemplebethsholom.com Temple Israel Reform Rabbi David M. Sofian Rabbi/Educator Karen Bodney-Halasz 1st & 2nd Fri., 6 p.m. Other Fri., 7:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat 4th Fri., 6 p.m. Sat., 10:30 a.m. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 496-0050. tidayton.org Temple Sholom Reform Fridays 6 p.m. 2424 N. Limestone St., Springfield. 399-1231. templesholomoh.com
ADDITIONAL SERVICES Chabad of Greater Dayton Rabbi Nochum Mangel Associate Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Youth & Prog. Dir. Rabbi Levi Simon. Beginner educational service Saturdays 9 a.m. adults, 10 a.m children. 2001 Far Hills Ave. 643-0770. www.chabaddayton.com Yellow Springs Havurah Independent Services 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 10-noon. Antioch College Rockford Chapel. Contact Cheryl Levine, 937-767-9293.
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
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I N 2 013 W E P ROV I D ED 1 , 2 91 BAG S O F G RO C ER I E S TO 3 13 FA M I LY U N ITS A N D TO 8 69 A D U LTS , H EL P I N G 4 2 2 C H I L D R EN U N D ER TH E AG E O F 1 8
HAMETZ HUNGRY FOR THE
S U P P O R T TH E J E WI S H FA M I LY S E RV I C E S FO O D PA NTRY A L L D O N ATI O N S M A D E D U R I N G M A R C H & A P R I L WI L L B E M ATC H E D BY T H E F E I N S T E I N FO U N DATI O N . N o n - p e ris h a b l e fo o d d ro p - of f b a r re l s a re l o c ate d at D ay to n s yn a g o g u e s a n d Fe d e rati o n f a ciliti e s . M o n e t a r y co n t r i b u t i o n s a re a l so a cc e pt e d ; co n t a c t K a re n S t e i g e r ( k s t e i g e r @ j f gd . n e t , 937- - 0 372) o r S i m o n e S of i a n (ssof i a n @ j f gd . n e t , 937- 610 -1795)
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES of GREATER DAYTON jewishdayton.org PAGE 20
Foodies across country alter hamantashen By Chavie Lieber, JTA Just because they’re the same shape doesn’t mean they have the same soul. Hamantashen, the Purim season’s traditional triangle-shaped cookie, are conventionally filled with jam, but the pastry has come a long way since its namesake ruled in ancient Persia. From New Orleans, where hamantashen centers are filled with pecans and honey, to Texas, where the pastries are stuffed with onions and chili, Jews across the country have revised, redacted and reworked the holiday treat to create a new core. “The greatest thing about hamantashen is that you can fill them with anything and they’ll taste great,” Gabi Moskowitz, a food blogger in San Francisco and author of the cookbook Brokeass Gourmet, told JTA. “You can really stick anything in there and they’ll still keep the tradition of the Jewish holiday. Even something as simple as Nutella is good.” Moskowitz’s latest creation is a pomegranate ricotta hamantashen, which she says makes the perfect dessert. The cookie dough is made with cream cheese, giving the pastry a creamy consistency that is light and flaky, Moskowitz says. Liz Alpern, a baking artisan from New York’s suburban Long Island and cofounder of the Jewish foodie site Gefilteria, has created savory hamantashen that are more side dish than dessert. These days she fills them with sautéed spinach, mushrooms, onions and cheese. The Gefilteria also makes a roasted beet and goat cheese hamantash. “It’s something I’ve been playing with over the last few years because hamantashen are a blank canvas you can just play with,” Alpern said. “My version is a savory sort of hamantashen, and I’ve incorporated them in the last few parties we’ve catered as part of the meal.” The variations on hamantashen go beyond cheese and vegetables. Alison Barnett, a food blogger from Ohio, came up with an alcoholic version, fashioning mojito hamantashen after contemplating the different ways she could expand Purim’s drinking tradition. “One of the focuses of Purim is to drink — responsibly, of course — so I thought this adult version could bring out the kid in all of us,” Barnett said. “I brainstormed some fun cocktails that I dreamed I could roll into a hamantashen because I was getting bored of the same ones every year.” Barnett’s features mint leaves and a rum curd filling with fresh lime and a raw sugar coating. She said they taste
more like a sugar-rimmed mojito with a crunch. Nechama Fiddler, a food blogger from Detroit who writes the Can’t Stop Baking blog, decided to incorporate an old dessert of apple pie into her cookie’s core. “I find that many food blogs nowadays are more about twists on old recipes than creating brand new recipes,” Fiddler said. “Someone had asked me for a homemade filling recipe, so I figured this is a great time to bring a fresh take on an old recipe of apple pie.” Fiddler noted that she never really liked to bake hamantashen because she wasn’t a fan of the traditional recipes, but after playing with some batches, she created her apple pie version, as well as a brownie-filled one, and now happily bakes them for the Purim season. Gabi Moskowitz’s Ricotta Pomegranate Cream Cheese Hamantashen 8 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened 3 oz. cream cheese at room temperature 3 Tbsp. sugar 1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 tsp. orange or Meyer lemon zest 11/3 cups plus 4 tsp. flour (plus more for rolling) 1/4 tsp. salt 2 cups ricotta cheese 1 egg yolk 1/4 cup superfine sugar 2 tsp. pomegranate molasses 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 level Tbsp. cornstarch 1/2 cup dried golden raisins Cream butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add sugar and mix for one minute. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, zest and salt. Add the flour, mixing until a sticky dough forms. Form dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour (up to three hours). While the dough chills, make the filling: Place the ricotta in a mixing bowl. Beat in egg yolk, sugar, pomegranate molasses, vanilla, and cornstarch. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the raisins. Chill until ready to use. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly flour (or line with parchment) two baking sheets. Lightly flour a work surface, then roll out the dough with a rolling pin until it is about 1/4-inch thick. Use a floured 3-inch cookie cutter (or a wine glass) to cut circles of dough. Gather scraps and re-roll the dough until you have cut all of it into 3-inch circles. To assemble the hamantashen, spoon about one teaspoon of filling in center of a dough circle and fold the dough in from three sides. Gently crimp the corners and
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
twist to ensure they stay closed while baking. Arrange on the prepared cookie sheets and bake until golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool completely before serving. The Gefilteria’s Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Hamantashen 2 small beets, roasted, peeled and finely chopped 21/2 cups white flour 2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. sugar 4 tsp. fresh thyme leaves (about 6 twigs, stripped) plus more for garnish 1 cup butter, chopped into 1-inch squares and left in the freezer for at least 30 minutes 1 4-oz. block of goat cheese Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place beets, unpeeled and wrapped in aluminum foil, on a baking sheet in the oven and cook about 40 minutes, or until a fork can easily be inserted into the beet. When beets have cooled slightly, use foil to peel off skin. Chop finely and set aside. To make the dough: Combine flour, one teaspoon salt, sugar and thyme in a food processor. Pulse lightly to mix ingredients. Add frozen butter and pulse processor until dough becomes crumbly and butter is in small chunks. Slowly add 1/2 cup water, pulsing once between each addition. The goal is not to overwork the dough. Pour mixture into a large bowl and form into balls. Wrap each ball in
plastic and place in refrigerator for at least 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out one of the balls on a floured surface until dough is about 1/8-inch thick. Work quickly, and keep the other dough balls in the fridge so they stay cold. Press out rounds using cups with about a 3-inch diameter, or larger if you prefer. Combine scraps into a ball and repeat the process. Make filling by placing chopped beets, crumbled goat cheese, two teaspoons of thyme leaves and one teaspoon salt in a bowl. Mix ingredients together and place one teaspoon of the mixture in the center of each dough circle. Wet your hands slightly and pinch up three points to make a triangle. Repeat with the other ball of dough. Arrange hamantashen on an oiled baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the hamantashen have a golden brown hue. Serve warm. Alison Barnett’s Mojito Hamantashen Dough 2 cups flour 3/4 tsp. baking powder 1/8 tsp. salt 1/2 cup Earth Balance or butter, softened 2/3 cup sugar 1 egg 1 egg yolk (reserve the egg white for assembling the cookie) 1 tsp. vanilla 1 to 1 1/2 tsp. peppermint oil 1 Tbsp. Fresh Mint Leaves, minced Raw sugar (optional)
E A R L Y
Lime-Rum Curd Filling 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup Earth Balance or butter 1/8 cup corn starch 3/4 cup fresh lime juice 1 Tbsp. lime zest 2 eggs, beaten 2 Tbsp. rum Stir together flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat butter until creamy. Beat in sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg, egg yolk, vanilla, peppermint oil and mint leaves. Beat in flour mixture until combined. Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap and refrigerate several hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 375 and line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll out refrigerated dough on a lightly floured surface, about 1/8-inch thick. Cut rounds until dough is finished. Fill the rounds with the lime-rum curd filling and with your pinkie, dip in egg white and lightly wet the edges around the hamantashen. Make the hamantashen triangle shape by folding the bottom to make two corners and folding the top to make the third (requires both hands). Brush the outer part of the hamantashen with egg white and sprinkle on the raw sugar. Bake for about 12 minutes until lightly browned. Filling: Place the sugar, Earth Balance, corn starch, lime juice, lime zest and rum in a saucepan. Heat the mixture till the butter melts. Pour some of the lime mixture into the eggs and stir together to temper the eggs. Pour the egg mixture
into the pan and whisk constantly till mixture starts to boil and thicken. Whisk for about a minute, take off heat and strain into a bowl (this will separate any egg that may have curdled from the curd itself). Refrigerate the curd till ready to use. Nechama Fiddler’s Apple Pie Hamantashen Dough: 11/2 cups butter or margarine, softened 2 cups white sugar 4 eggs 11/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 5 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt Filling: 2 apples, shredded (about 2 cups packed) 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 tsp. cinnamon 1 Tbsp. cornstarch Cream together the butter/margarine and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, vanilla and lemon juice, scraping sides occasionally. Reduce mixer speed to low and stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover and chill dough for at least one hour (don’t skip this step!) or overnight. Combine all filling ingredients in a small bowl; mix well. Lightly flour your work surface. Roll out dough to the same thickness as sugar cookies or slightly thicker. Place a very small spoonful of apple filling in the center of the circle.
B I R D
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
PAGE 21
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An ‘intercalation’ year So far this year, we’ve celebrated the holidays earlier than usual. That Chanukah, for example, coincided with Thanksgiving, made it clear that this is an “intercalation” year in which an adjustment had to be made to assure that the Jewish holidays will be celebrated in their seasonal time.
Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin
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Rosh Hashanah should fall in the autumn, Chanukah should be celebrated during the dark days of winter. Pesach should mark nature’s renewal in the spring and Shavuot should be at the beginning of summer. The adjustment of the Jewish calendar was designed by Rabbi Hillel II (359 C.E.) and is called ibur hashanah. Shanah in Hebrew means year and ibur means intercalation, conception, and growth. The word is derived from the verb iber meaning to impregnate (Job 21:10). Shanah meuberet is an intercalation year, a leap year, the year in which an extra month is added in order to adjust between the lunar cycle of 354 days and the solar cycle of about 365 days. The month added to the calendar is Adar, the very same month in which we celebrate Purim. The reason Adar was chosen is because it was the last month of the Hebrew calendar in biblical
times, marking the end of winter and ushering in the month of Nisan, the first month of the new year. In the time of the Mishnah, the rabbis changed the Hebrew calendar and declared the year begins in the fall and not in the spring, but ibur hashanah stayed in its place (Rosh Hashanah 1:1). There are a few expressions in Hebrew in which ibur is used. For example, ibur hachodesh, intercalary month, is the month in which a day is added (P’sachim 4:9) and sod haibur literally the secret of intercalation, points to the knowledge of the adjustment system itself (Rosh Hashana 20). We should also mention the phrases iburah shel ir, a city sprawl, the suburbs (Nedarim 7:8) and ibur din, transgression of the law (Sh’mot Raba 30). The consequence of having two months of Adar in a shanah meuberet is that the celebration of Purim is doubled. That is to say, during a leap year, Purim is celebrated once as Purim Katan, namely small Purim, on the 14th day of the first Adar and then it is celebrated in a big way on the 14th day of the second Adar (Megillah 6b). There are no specific instructions for the observance of Purim Katan but one does not mourn or fast on this date. A festive meal is eaten but the Megillah is not read. Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor of biblical literature at Spertus College in Chicago and an adjunct professor of Bible and Hebrew at New College of Florida.
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Please cut out and save for future reference. THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
JEWISH FAMILY EDUCATION
Mishpacha & Menschlichkeit
graphic’s overwhelming desire for relationship-based Jewish communities, not those cenThe Jewish Family Identity Forum tered on rituals or programs. Context. When a new pharaoh “who didn’t know Joseph” arose over Egypt (Ex. 1:8), he initiated the saga of the Exodus. Here we learn the critical importance of context to understanding and decisionmaking. We see the results of lack of context all the time in My middle-school students How would our lives be richer Middle East reporting. The recently expressed interest and more fulfilled if we chose seriousness of theft or killing is in learning Kabalah. A topic to live, in Pastor Rick Warren’s determined by context. We alter with the qualities of quickwords, purpose-driven lives? our easy-going or businesssand, Kabalah traditionally Community. In Genesis, proper language and dress is not studied until the age of God notes that “It is not good depending on context. 40, and even then only by the for man to be alone (2:18),” The appropriate response to most accomplished scholars. and goes on to create woman. a friend’s late arrival depends On the other hand, even teens Applying the statement more on context. Shouldn’t we insist generally, however, the meson knowing the context before sage is clear: people need other taking action or making decipeople. In that vein, Jewish traCandace R. dition teaches that one should sions? Holiness. “You shall be always study with a partner, Kwiatek holy...I the Lord am your God never alone, to enhance the (Lev. 19:2-4).” Holiness is putlearning potential. Similarly, ting “made in when I prepare have heard about this mystical lessons, design Every book in the the likeness of God’s image” tradition in its pop-culture verprograms, write Bible offers at into practice, sions popularized by celebrities articles, or desuch as Madonna and Britney velop proposals, least one word to acting more like an angel than Spears. I know I do a the wise, advice an animal. My Unwilling to settle for the better job when I favorite example commercialized “red string seek input from that transcends is that licking and blessed water” version, I others: more time and place the empty ice eventually discovered some ideas, more encream bowl isn’t authentic teen-friendly nuggets thusiasm, more and is accessible immoral or unof Kabalah wisdom applicable perspectives. to everyone. ethical, but it also to teens’ everyday lives. Families, isn’t holy. And But that discovery set me friends, social “I the Lord am your God” is a to thinking: the Bible, too, gatherings, clubs, worship often feels like quicksand to services, and community activi- reminder that, even when no one is around, when you can’t the layperson, daunting and ties are critical to our human be seen by others, or when ungraspable. Could a nugget of health. It’s no surprise that one applicable, universally appealof the names for a synagogue is “you’re not wearing a name tag,” the expectation of holy ing wisdom be distilled from beit kehillah, house of gathering. some popular biblical books in It is also interesting to note that behavior is still in effect. It’s the an easily replicable process? I today’s surveys, commentaries, biblical version of C. S. Lewis’ dictum, “Integrity is doing the decided to find out. and articles about Jewish Milright thing, even when no one Purpose. The approach of lennials highlight this demoPurim brought to mind Morhand-crafted pizzas dechai’s admonition to Queen and much more Esther as he requested her help in saving the Jews of Shushan (Esther 4:14): “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place… And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Like most royalty, it’s easy to live self-absorbed ego-driven lives. But what if we saw ourselves as part of a bigger picture? What if we approached 515 Wayne Ave. each day with the thoughts, in beautiful “What is my ultimate reason Downtown Dayton for being here? How can I make 937-496-5268 each moment count? Where Monday-Saturday will I be able to make a differ11am – 10pm ence, small or large, today? Closed Sunday In what way could I enhance others’ lives? Do I have an www.wheatpennydayton.com ‘Esther’ opportunity today?”
A word to the wise
A look at the Holy Book series
is watching.” Image. “We looked like grasshoppers to ourselves, and so we must have looked to them,” 10 of the 12 spies report (Num. 13:33). Self-image impacts how others perceive us in large part because it affects how we make decisions, who we befriend, and how we behave. At the same time, those very same factors — decision-making, friendships, and behavior — influence self-image. Since those factors are in our control, then we are largely responsible for our own self-image and others’ perceptions of us as well. Covenant. You are to “be Torah” in every generation, Moses reminds the Israelites in his closing speech: “It was not with our fathers that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, the living, every one of us who is here today (Deut. 5:3).” Clearly, his words are meant to speak directly to us, even today. The covenant at Sinai wasn’t just a momentary agreement, but an ongoing commitment to a whole new system of thinking, acting, and relating to one
another and to the world as a whole. Are we up to the challenge? Improvement. At his inaugural pagan bacchanal, the self-important Babylonian King Belshazzar became alarmed by mysterious writing on the wall: “…you have been weighed in the balance and found wanting (Dan. 5:27).” If the same writing appeared on your wall, what would come to mind? How would you respond? Every book in the Bible offers at least one word to the wise, advice that transcends time and place and is accessible to everyone. Will you search for the nuggets of wisdom that speak to you? More importantly, how will you put them into practice? Family Discussion: In Job 1:7 we read the following interchange: “The Lord said to the Adversary (Satan/ temptation), ‘Where have you been?’ The Adversary answered the Lord, ‘I have been roaming all over the earth.’ In what way is this biblical text a word to the wise?
Literature to share The Girl with a Brave Heart: A Tale from Tehran by Rita Jahanforuz and Vali Mintzi. Illustrated with playful Matisse-like images in the colors of Middle Eastern markets, this beautiful tale is an unusual twist on the Cinderella story. You won’t read it just once. For elementary ages and adults alike. Jerusalem: the Biography by Simon Sebag Montefiore. This novel-like biography of the world’s most influential city by an award-winning British author and journalist is well worth the effort. While not a quick read, it is neither overly scholarly nor partial to a single religious or political viewpoint. If you’d like to gain a better understanding of the region — its history, its characters, and its issues — this is a great one-stop shop.
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Let’s bet on peace Continued from Page 10 tragic deadlock that leaves Israel marginalized and besieged and leaves the Palestinians stateless and resentful. Kerry has demonstrated he will not be deterred by those who will never be satisfied with anything short of everything, those who prefer land to peace, stasis to security, resentment to resolution. If Kerry fails, it will be because the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships could not summon the courage to take the painful steps required for peace, security and dignity. And it will also be because those of us who so deeply want peace did not do enough to change the political climate in which the leaders are making their decisions. If Kerry fails, it will be because cynicism, myopia and a lack of urgency sabotage this opportunity to reach a negotiated two-state solution before another intifada, crisis or tragic loss of life leaves the region shaken and the parties longing
for the reasoned principles on the table now. Failure will be, in part, because we have allowed a small minority of oppositional voices to be heard over those in the United States who support the president, the secretary of state, and the majority of Israelis and Palestinians who polls show support a two-state solution. If the silent majority remains quiet now, it will implicitly allow a short-sighted and self-defeating rejectionism to rule the day. Let us not let that happen. This opportunity may not come again in our lifetimes, and the cost of failure will be unfathomably high, for both Israelis and Palestinians. Let’s help John Kerry succeed, let’s help Israelis and Palestinians succeed, by amplifying the voices of hope and possibility. Let them hear our cry and our call in Washington, Jerusalem and Ramallah: We stand with you in the fight for peace. Rabbi Sharon Brous is the founding rabbi of Ikar.
Kerry’s perilous path Continued from Page 10 even more unpopular. In the 20 years since the signing of the Oslo Accords, Israel has made concession after concession, yet international efforts to delegitimize Zionism and support the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement aimed at the Jewish state have only grown. Israelis understand the current Palestinian leadership is not likely to sign any deal that will recognize the legitimacy of a Jewish state no matter where its borders are drawn. Nor will the Palestinians renounce a “right of return” for the descendants of the 1948 refugees. No matter what Kerry pressures Netanyahu into offering Abbas, the answer will probably be the same one Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert received: No. When that happens, expect the BDS campaign to redouble its efforts and European nations to blame Israel regardless of the fact that, once again, Palestinian obstinacy will have ended negotiations,
not a lack of Israeli flexibility or generosity. Worse, by seeking to frighten the Israelis into concessions by speaking about the chances of a third intifada if the talks fail, and by predicting an upsurge in boycotts if no peace deal is achieved — while failing to acknowledge Palestinian intransigence as a possible cause of any failure — Kerry has not only tilted the diplomatic playing field against Israel. He has also signaled that if he fails, it will be Israel’s fault. While he may not have intended to encourage either violence or boycotts of Israel, that’s what he’s done. An individual with less hubris and a clearer understanding of history would have known from the start the costs of failure might be considerable. Israelis, who will pay the price for that failure, should be forgiven for thinking Kerry deserves no thanks for his part in this exercise in narcissism. Jonathan S. Tobin is senior online editor and chief political blogger of Commentary Magazine.
New & Renewing Voluntary Subscribers, Jan. 3 - Feb. 3 Renewing Guardian Angels Marilyn & Larry Klaben Bert & Jean Lieberman New Guardian Angels Bernie & Carole Rabinowitz New Angels Mr. & Mrs. Ira H. Thomsen Double Chai Mrs. Kay Cohen Bill & Melinda Doner Renate Frydman Jackie & Stan Schear Subscribers Nicki Caplan Bob & JoEllen Cohen Charles B. Fox David & Susan Gottschalk PAGE 24
Cantor & Mrs. Jerome Kopmar Ellen & Sam Lauber Bonnie Parish Ken Rosenzweig Richard & Evelyn Solgan Robert Solgan Mr. & Mrs. Henry Stern Michael Swanger Lawrence & Sheila Wagenfeld Susann & Alan Witte Current Guardian Angels Dr. Nathaniel Ritter Walter Ohlmann Mrs. Dorothy Shane Current Angels Ken Baker K.W. Baker & Assoc. Skip Becker Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Bettman Michael & Amy Bloom
Hy & Sylvia Blum Betty & Don Chernick Mrs. Betty Crouse Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Feldman Esther & DeNeal Feldman Lynn Foster M.J. & Bella Freeman The Gaglione Family Felix & Erika Garfunkel Debby & Bob Goldenberg Kim & Shelley Goldenberg Mark & Kathy Gordon Art & Joan Greenfield Sydney Gross Susan & Joe Gruenberg Dr. & Mrs. Stephen Harlan Robert & Vicky Heuman Ralph E. Heyman Steve & Rachel Jacobs Dr. & Mrs. David Joffe Rice Jones Jr.
OBITUARIES Elliott J. Heller, age 62, of Dayton, passed away unexpectedly Feb. 1 at his residence. Mr. Heller was the owner of Winkler Heller & Company CPA Firm, received his undergraduate and MBA degrees from the University of Cincinnati, and was a member of Beth Abraham Synagogue. He was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence Heller, in 2010. Mr. Heller is survived by his mother, Florence Heller of Dayton; brother, Mark Heller of St. Louis; brother and sister-in-law, Brian and Renee Heller of Pepper Pike; niece, Michelle (Mark) Rothbaum of Washington D.C.; nephews, Scott (Jaclyn) Heller and Jeffrey (Rachel) Heller, great-nephew, Aiden Heller and great-niece Danielle Heller, all of Solon; many other relatives and friends. Interment was at Beth Abraham Cemetery. Irving M. Merdinger, architect emeritus, age 85 passed away Feb. 2. Mr. Merdinger was an officer and an involved member of Beth Abraham Synagogue for more than 50 years and a volunteer for many organizations. He was the husband of the late Bea Merdinger, devoted father of Barbara Rosen, (the late Donald Rosen), Abe and Marla Merdinger, Cindy Yocum; loving grandfather of Aaron (Amanda) Rosen, greatgrandchildren Gavin, Grisham and Garrison Rosen, Deanna Rosen (fiancé Brandon Smith), grandchildren Tricia Yocum (Sarah Willis), the Rev. Canon Jason (Amy) Lewis, Kevin Yocum, great-grandchildren Zachary Yocum, Julia, Maria and William Lewis, and many nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to Beth Abraham Synagogue or the charity of choice.
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Arts&Culture
Self-conscious Monuments Men save Europe’s art from Nazis moments. By Michael Fox Metropolitan Museum of Art curaSpecial To The Observer tor James Granger (Damon) has made When The Monuments Men was bumped from a prime December release contact with a suspicious Parisian curator, Claire Simon (the splendid Cate date to February, the company line Blanchett, delivering the film’s lone was that co-writer-director-star George interesting performance). However, Clooney needed more time to properly she’s convinced the American secretly finish the film. intends to take any rescued French masNow that I’ve seen the movie, anterpieces back to New York with him. other explanation presents itself: LackSimon brings Granger to a wareing dynamic characters and offering house crammed with boxes of personal only occasional quivers of excitement, effects, where he comes across a porthe World War II saga would have trait that is plainly neither valuable nor bombed at the box office against the important. high-powered year-end competition. “What is all this stuff?” Granger asks. Adding insult to injury, The Monuments “People’s lives,” Simon replies. “What Men almost certainly would have been people?” “Jews.” pasted with the humiliation of zero The next day, Granger visits an Oscar nominations. empty apartment and, seeing where a This is not to say the movie is withpicture once hung, replaces the portrait. out value, for it reminds mainstream Simon, who has followed him, informs viewers that the Nazis stole the treahim the occupants won’t be coming sures and possessions of Europe’s Jews back. In case we hadn’t already figured — from paintings to gold teeth — with the same cold calculation that they mur- it out on our own, the word “Juden” is dered them. Claudette Barius scrawled on the wall next Based on to her. Robert M. Ed“My job is sel’s 2009 book, to find and The Monuments return art,” Men: Allied Granger says, Heroes, Nazi standing in Thieves, and the front of the Greatest Treasure portrait. “I Hunt in Hisfigure I might tory, the film as well start lands a team here.” of art experts It’s a powerin Europe after ful image, D-Day with even without the express the resonance mission of Dimitri Leonidas, George Clooney, John Goodman, recapturing the Bob Balaban and Matt Damon in Columbia Pictures’ of current battles over immense horde The Monuments Men museum-held of paintings Beth of Abraham is Dayton’s paintings that belong to the heirs and sculptures pilfered from museums, only Conservative synagogue, affiliated with their Jewish owners. churches and private collections during the United Synagogue of From this moving high point,Conservative The Judaism. the German occupation and subsequent Monuments Men descends into an awkretreat. We are an enthusiastically egalitarian synagogue. ward amalgam of tepid buddy comedy Frank Stokes (based on art historian (with Murray and Balaban sleepily deGeorge Stout and played by Clooney) We also have an energetic Keruv program that livering lame banter), taut set piece and has convinced President Roosevelt reaches out to intermarried couples and of families in our earnest treatise on the crucial legacy that, with victory assured, the goal of synagogue and in the Dayton Jewish community. preserving civilization must shift to res- art. The dramatic requirements of cuing the world’s great artworks from For a complete schedule of our events, go to movies, and the challenge of getting certain destruction. bethabrahamdayton.org. audiences to thrill to the exploits of The seriousness of Stokes’ presentaart experts, compels Clooney to tilt tion contrasts with his jaunty, tonguehis much-older-than-enlistment-age in-cheek recruitment of curators and characters in the direction of semiart historians played by Matt Damon, comic action heroes. The upshot is that Bill Murray, Bob Balaban, John GoodThe Monuments Men takes a softer, less man, English actor Hugh Bonneville (of satisfying road than such acerbic World Downton Abbey) and Frenchman Jean War II escapades as The Dirty Dozen and Dujardin (Oscar winner for The Artist). Kelly’s Heroes. By the time the self-titled MonuFor a truly great movie about saving ments Men arrive in France in the sumEuropean art, seek out The Train, John mer of 1944, the Jewish victims of the Frankenheimer’s 1964 drama about the Nazi campaign of murder and looting have long since been deported. Clooney French effort (driven by engineer Burt Lancaster) to stop a Nazi shipment of makes a genuine effort to include and honor their off-screen suffering, provid- stolen paintings from getting to Germany. ing the movie with one of its strongest
Philosophical and Theological Underpinnings Of Judaism
Rabbi Chessin Rabbi Ginsberg Rabbi Mangel Temple Beth Or Beth Abraham Chabad
Rabbi Sofian Temple Israel
Sunday, March 2, 7 p.m. Panel discussion with dessert reception to follow. Free and open to all.
Sunday March 16 A
Beth Abraham is Dayton’s only Conservative synagogue, affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
PURIM
We are an enthusiastically egalitarian synagogue. Beth Abraham is Dayton’s We also have an eneronly Conservative getic Keruv program that synagogue, affiliated with reaches out to intermarried the United Synagogue of couples and families in our Conservative Judaism. synagogue and in the Dayton Jewish We arecommunity. an enthusiastically egalitarian synagogue. For a complete schedule of Forevents, a complete our go toschedule of our events, go to bethabrahamdayton.org. bethabrahamdayton.org.
10 a.m. — Carnival 11 a.m. — Megillah Reading Noon — Catered Lunch, R.S.V.P. 1 p.m. — Shpiel
Men’s Club Deli Dinner, Movie & Raffle Sunday, March 30 6:15 p.m. Delicious kosher deli dinner followed by classic Jewish comedy film at 7 p.m., $18 dinner & movie, $5 movie only. R.S.V.P. This year’s raffle prizes: LED HDTV Two Summer Film Festival Series Tickets Two DPO concert tickets for May Dayton Dragons Gift Package
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
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THE JEWISH INTERNET FOOD
To an allergy-free Purim “The other day someone asked what my plans are for Purim. I think, like every other parent of food-allergic children, my heart skipped a beat and sunk to my feet. Not this time of year again!” writes Sara Atkins. “Purim should be filled with fun, excitement, and laughs, but for a family dealing with food allergies, it’s pure fear.” But Atkins explains how with preparation and some clever food substitutions she transforms Purim into a holiday her children look forward to (http://bit.ly/purimfood1).
Mark Mietkiewicz Debbie N. faced a different challenge: how to bake up a batch of low-carb hamantashen without artificial sweeteners that will be safe and appealing to a child with diabetes. The problem with hamantashen is that they deliver the carbs but “they don’t have enough fiber or protein to slow down the sugars and avoid a spike in blood glucose. In short, not high-quality nutrition.” After coming upon some unsatisfactory solutions she found one that makes sense: substi- Purim tuting almond meal for some or most of the flour. Check out her blog for dough and Debbie’s tricks to stretch those carbs (http://bit.ly/purimfood2). As for the filling, Nancy Pascal says, “Low carb jam works well and tastes delicious. Sugar-free chocolate chips are very good when hot, but not as delightful when cold, so you can try placing the hamantashen in the microwave for a few seconds before eating (http://bit. ly/purimfood3).” “Here it is…the allergy free, awesome, delicious, contemporary-flavored hamantashen recipe just in time for today’s holiday of Purim.” With an introduction like that, Rachel better
have something good and different. Her Lemon Hamantashen are a little bit funky and call for a half block of silken tofu. Rachel adds, “don’t be afraid, trust me, you’ll never know (http://bit.ly/ purimfood4).” Rachel’s recipe calls for flour, which of course, is a showstopper for anyone with celiac disease, an intolerance to gluten. That’s where Nancy Lapid comes in with not one but six glutenfree hamantashen recipes including a dairy variation that calls for butter, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract and an optional egg (http://bit.ly/purimfood5). No eggs? No problem. According to the Allergy Shmallergy site, here’s your substitution for two eggs: “1/4 cup applesauce and 11/2 tsp. Ener-G egg replacer combined with 2 Tbsp. water or soy milk (http://bit.ly/purimfood6).” Leslie Shupak’s No Egg Hamantashen takes more of a minimalist approach and sticks to the basics: flour, baking powder, salt, margarine, sugar, water and vanilla extract (http:// bit.ly/purimfood7). Here’s the ultimate challenge: a grain-free hamantash. Is such a thing possible? Absolutely, if you follow Jill Tieman’s Real Food Forager blog. She uses coconut and almond flour so her pastries are grain-free, ghee and coconut oil instead of butter to keep it dairy-free, and dates for taste. Jill concludes, “These small treats are truly irresistible (http://bit.ly/ purimfood8).” Aside from hamantashen, you should also take into consideration food allergies and sensitivities as you pack up the mishloach manot gift baskets or plan your menu for the seudah, the festive meal eaten at the end of the holiday. Here’s a discussion with menu ideas if certain foods are off limits: http://bit.ly/ purimfood9. Mark Mietkiewicz may be reached at highway@rogers.com.
• Irrigation • Lawn Care • Mowing • Maintenance • Hardscape • Fertilization
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
Developing and Encouraging Life-long Independent Learners and Thinkers within a Pluralistic Judaic Environment. The Hillel Academy Students Experience and Engage in: • Professional art and science residency programs • Project-based learning connected to community and civic issues • Critical thinking and leadership skill development
www.daytonhillel.org
• Hebrew Language immersion through the Tal Am Program fostering an aptitude toward language proficiency for all language acquisition Hillel provides an excellent foundation for students to thrive in all of their future academic and personal endeavors and pursuits. (Hillel students receive preference for Sinai scholarships at Miami Valley Upper School!)
Did You Know? – Hillel Academy will be having it’s second annual Zoot Puppetry inspired program on March 9. All are invited to watch the kids in this artistic, unique performance. For more information please contact:
Dan or Kathy Mecoli | (937) 277-8966 | dankathymecoli@daytonhillel.org THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014
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DAK TZE
In 2013, Jewish Family Services provided 2,052 on-site meals and 2,237 home-delivered meals to community members across the Miami Valley.
1,405 people attended the JCC Film Festival, which promotes awareness, appreciation and pride in the diversity of the Jewish people and the community at large.
The Jewish Foundation’s B’nai Tzedek program teaches young people about the importance of tzedakah and shows the powerful impact of philanthropy. Through the Federation, Innovation Grants were administered to programs developed by groups from around the Miami Valley, benefiting 11 community events.
AH!
TZEDAKAH SUNDAY IS MARCH 2. The Talmud says “All Jews are responsible for one another.” Tzedakah is a basic tenet of Judaism; it is at the very heart of who we are as Jews. Your generosity allows us to meet our mission of caring for those in need, strengthening Jewish life, and creating connections among Jews locally, in Israel and around the world – plus SO much more. WE CANNOT DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT YOU! EVERY GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE! ANSWER OUR CALL ON MARCH 2 TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE 2014 CAMPAIGN.
» DONATE ONLINE AT JEWISHDAYTON.ORG/TZEDAKAHSUNDAY « Help us on March 2 from 9:30AM - 12PM. Volunteer positions are still available, please contact Alisa Thomas at 937-610-1796 or anelligan@jfgd.net for more information. Includes breakfast and childcare. Tzedakah Sunday Co-Chairs: Cadi Polk & Andy Schwartz. Campaign: Judy Abromowitz, Campaign Chair & Mary Youra, Campaign Vice Chair.
JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON | ANNUAL CAMPAIGN PAGE 28
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MARCH 2014