Jewish Journal April 2024

As the proud president of the Federation, I am constantly amazed by the wonderful things that we do in our community. By providing engagement and learning opportunities we make a positive difference in the lives of so many in our community. But there is another aspect of our work that is equally important and close to my heart: our unwavering support of Israel.

Israel is our homeland, our history, and our hope. We have stood by Israel through thick and thin, celebrating its achievements and defending its right to exist. We have also benefited from its innovations, values, and spirit, a continual source of inspiration and Jewish pride.

My connection dates to my childhood. My father had a deep attachment to Israel as the embodiment of Jewish resilience. Dad saw Israel as a beacon of hope and freedom for our people. My parents visited Israel in the 70s and it was one of the most memorable trips of their lives. They were awed by the beauty of the land, the diversity of the people, and the richness of the culture. Their stories and enthusiasm sparked my curiosity and interest.

I first visited Israel as a college leader and returned in 2018 with our Buffalo community; during both experiences I met amazing people, visited historic sites, and witnessed the challenges and opportunities that Israeli’s face. I returned each time with a passion and a commitment to share my experience with others and to advocate for Israel.

That is why I support Israel and why I encourage you to do the same, and one way is by joining us for “Let’s Talk about Israel” on April 14 (see opposite page). Israel is a vital part of our Jewish identity and our collective responsibility. By supporting Israel, we are supporting ourselves and our community.

Marjorie Bryen, President, BJF

Am Yisrael Chai.

Marjorie Bryen

“talk about Israel.” Contact mike@buffalojewishfederation.org for more information.

The Buffalo Jewish Federation Is a proud member of the Jewish Federations of North America and the American Jewish Press Association

Let’s Talk About Israel on April 14

Over the past seven months, the Buffalo Jewish Federation has been refreshing its approach to Israel Engagement. While this work began in August, it became more important than ever after the brutal attack by Hamas on October 7.

The hallmark of this year’s effort is a full day experience on Sunday, April 14 entitled, “Let’s Talk About Israel.” The event will take place from 9 am –2 pm at the Buffalo Marriott Niagara. The planning team includes Brenda Feldstein (chair), Marni Marciano, Wendy Weisbrot, Harvey Sanders, Ezra Rich, Amelida Weinmann, and Daryl Helfman. The team has been working tirelessly to envision a space that can be created for a multitude of conversations about Israel, that will include how to talk about Israel in the workplace, how Jewish teens talk about Israel with their peers, how the history of the state of

Israel influences the events of today, and how we can take care of ourselves while advocating for the state of Israel. In addition, participants will learn from master educator Shalom Orzach and author Omer Friedlander.

Shalom Orzach is a senior educator with The iCenter, based in Israel, and serves on faculty for the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Prior, he served as the AVI CHAI Project Director

The Jewish Federation Cemetery Corporation in partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies and the Buffalo Jewish Federation has launched a unique capital campaign for Buffalo’s historic Jewish Cemeteries titled ‘Stones of Remembrance.’

The goal of Stones of Remembrance is to enlighten those who have strong ties to Jewish Buffalo about the importance of collectively raising funds for preservation and restoration projects within the Jewish Cemeteries on Pine Ridge Heritage Boulevard in Cheektowaga, NY.

Proceeds will also be invested into preservation projects at Beth Jacob, which is the oldest Jewish Cemetery that dates back to the early 19th century when Jewish immigrants arrived and settled on Buffalo’s east side in 1825.

As Jewish Buffalo prepares to celebrate the Bicentennial Anniversary of Jewish Life in the Greater Buffalo Niagara Region, the Jewish Cemeteries will be especially significant and serve as historic sites that welcome visitors and preservation enthusiasts.

The Jewish Federation Cemetery Corporation’s Board of Directors, led by Board President Jonathan Schechter, recently secured over $60,000 in proceeds for the campaign to help with urgent repairs, safety enhancements and a potential visitor center on Pine Ridge Heritage Boulevard.

Donations to the campaign are being invested into repairing headstones, restoring monuments, repaving paths, adding walkways, enhancing accessibility, fixing fencing, replacing gates, rebuilding walls, improving irrigation, and cemetery beautification.

Every dollar raised is generously being matched by an anonymous donor, and contributions can be made to the campaign by visiting: bit.ly/ SORcampaign

Questions about The Stones of Remembrance Campaign along with inquiries about signing up for spring/summer Explore Buffalo History Tours of the Jewish Cemeteries can be emailed to: remember@ jewishphilanthropies.org

for the training of staff returning to summer camps in North America, and Director of Education in the Shlichut and Israel Fellows unit for the Jewish Agency.

The son of a Holocaust survivor who grew up in the company of aunts and uncles, Shalom was shaped by their Yiddish banter, humor, and optimism. At the conference, Shalom will share historical, ideological, and religious perspectives on Israel from the last one hundred years to today, stories from Israel not covered in the media and ways we in Buffalo can support Israel from afar.

Omer Friedlander was born in Jerusalem in 1994 and grew up in Tel Aviv. His debut story collection, The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land, won the Association of Jewish Libraries Fiction Award, was a finalist for the Wingate Prize, and was longlisted for the Story Prize. Omer earned a BA in English Literature from the University of Cambridge, England, and an MFA from Boston University, where he was supported by the Saul Bellow Fellowship. His short stories won numerous awards, and have been published in the United States, Canada, France, and Israel. A Starworks Fellow in Fiction at New York University, he has earned fellowships from Bread Loaf and the Vermont Studio Center. At the conference, Omer will talk about his book in the context of the current conflict and will offer a session after the conference for participants in the Jewish Buffalo Reads group which has been meeting monthly to discuss his book.

Space is limited and registration is $36 and includes a Kosher Israeli lunch. Visit bit.ly/letstalkaboutisrael24.

Yom HaShoah and Mural Unveiling at Roswell, May 5

On Sunday May 5, the community is invited to gather in person for Yom HaShoah, the annual remembrance of the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Led by HERO – the Holocaust Education and Resource Organization – the commemoration will take place at noon in the Research Studies Auditorium at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The theme of this year’s programRemember, Teach, Empower - will honor the Ambrus, Baranski/Forgach, Bink, Feldman, Joffe, Morrison, Redlich/Stein, Weinstein, and Weinrieb families.

Following our commemoration, the ribbon cutting of our Righteous Among the Nations Mural will take place outside of Roswell’s Research Studies Auditorium. WNY was the chosen home to three extraordinary Hungarians who risked their lives to rescue, hide and save Hungarian Jews during the Shoah. Tibor Baranski, Dr. Clara Ambrus, and Sister Margit Slachta were honored and

named by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations. All three have unique stories, but their goals were the same – to defy the Nazis and save thousands of innocent Jews from extermination.

The mural project is part of a collaborative multimedia initiative led by Artists 4 Israel in which artists paint large-scale murals honoring the heroes who saved Jewish lives during the Holocaust. Physical attacks against Jews, antisemitic events and Holocaust denial have reached disturbing levels world-wide and continues to rise. By positioning murals in important and high-profile locations and using media and technology such as a scannable QR code, visitors to the mural can learn about the Holocaust and its heroes. These important art pieces can be found in New York City, Los Angeles, Portugal, Greece, and Israel. Buffalo will be the only location in the world to have three individuals on one mural. This unique piece will be painted by Hungarian artist Taker One. HERO is thankful for the generous support of Senator Tim Kennedy, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, the families of Tibor Baranski, Clara Ambrus, The Buffalo Jewish Federation, and community donors for contributing to this project.

For questions, please contact HERO’s Director, Lauren@buffalojewishfederation.org.

Shalom Orzach Omer Friedlander

BY ZAHAVA FRIED

The Perpetual Passover Story!

There’s something magical about revisiting a beloved children’s book repeatedly. Each turn of the page feels like stepping into a familiar world filled with cherished characters and unforgettable adventures, yet each time the story is told something new is discovered or a new conclusion is reached. As an adult, I feel that same wonderment when springtime fills the air after a long winter in Buffalo and I get to dust off the ultimate Jewish story book, the Haggadah, and prepare for Passover.

The story of Passover is not only a timeless underdog tale of bravery, adventure, redemption, and freedom, but it is also central to Jewish faith. According to the story, the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for generations. G-d sent Moses to Pharaoh with a series of 10 plagues, each one more devasting than the next, to persuade him to release the Israelites. The final plague was the death of each firstborn male, but the Israelites were spared this plague by marking their doorposts with lamb’s blood so that the Angel of Death would pass over their

homes, hence the name “Passover.” After this final plague, Pharaoh finally relents and lets Moses and the people go! The Israelites escape to the shores of the Red Sea, where Pharaoh makes one final attempt to stop their escape but alas, a miracle happens, and the seas are split into two allowing the Israelites to flee to the promised land.

The Haggadah is the ancient compass that carefully guides sedergoers through the detailed steps of the seder. The oldest surviving Haggadah dates to the 10th century,

and its text includes blessings, prayers, and readings, as well as instructions for symbolic foods that are eaten during the meal. Modern Haggadoth include those same prayers and blessings, but also bring in different viewpoints and stories, like those of women, LGBTQ+ folks, and people of color. These new Haggadahs aim to make Passover even

more welcoming for everyone, focusing on freedom, fairness, and equality for all.

There are several important traditions and rituals that mark this holiday. The most well-known of which is the Seder, which means Order in Hebrew. This year, Passover begins at sundown on Monday, April 22 and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, April 30.

The Seder is a ritual meal that takes place for many on the first two nights of Passover (in Israel, it is observed only on the first night). During the Seder, families and friends gather around the table to retell this epic story of the Exodus and to reflect on its meaning in their lives, nearly 400 years after the original event!

Passover is also known for its unique food traditions! Most well-known is the prohibition of chametz, or leavened bread. It is customary to clean the entire house (yay for spring cleaning!) to not come across or see any chametz throughout the entire holiday. A treasured family tradition is bedikat chametz, where small children search for pieces of chametz – like bread or cheerios - using the light from a single candle, a feather, and a wooden spoon. Another ritual item is the Seder plate which holds several foods which act as symbols or props in the retelling of the Exodus story. Matzah, unleavened bread, represents the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt. Maror, bitter herbs like horseradish, symbolizes the bitterness of slavery. Charoset, a sweet mixture of apples, nuts, wine, and spices, resembles the mortar used by the

FEDERATION

Israelites in Egypt. Karpas, a vegetable like parsley or boiled potato, is dipped in salt water to symbolize the tears shed during slavery. Zeroa, a roasted shank bone, represents the paschal sacrifice. Finally, Beitzah, a hard-boiled egg, symbolizes the festival sacrifice offered in the Temple. If you are looking to switch it up, there are some new items that can be added to your Seder plate, such as an orange to represent LGBTQ+ inclusivity, fair-trade chocolate for fair labor practices, and an olive for peace in the Middle East.

Passover is a reminder of the power of unity, redemption, endurance and creation of family traditions, and the power of a good story. As we all prepare to wish each other a Chag Sameach, let’s find joy in retelling this timeless tale in our own unique ways and making these ancient traditions and beloved story our own.

Zahava Fried is the Manager of Young Family Engagement at LiNK Jewish Buffalo, Cantorial Intern at Temple Beth Tzedek and Cantorial Student at the Academy for Jewish Religion. She can be reached at zahava@buffalojewishfederation.org.

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Leadership Briefing Highlights

Allyship

and Addressing Antisemitism

Buffalo Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) hosted a Leadership Briefing on February 9 at Temple Beth Zion to discuss how the community can work together in the fight against antisemitism and hate. Leaders from across WNY learned more about Buffalo Jewish Federation, the challenges currently facing Jewish Buffalo, how the community mobilized in the wake of October 7, and how Jewish Buffalo is in community with others to help build a more civil and caring society for all.

The briefing brought together elected officials from all branches and levels of government including New York State Senators Tim Kennedy, and George Borello, Assistant US Attorney Andrew Henning, Assemblymembers Karen McMahon and Monica Wallace, Supervisors Brian Kulpa and Gary Dickson, Legislator Chris Green, and Buffalo Councilmembers Chris Scanlon and Leah Halton-Pope. In addition to elected officials, many leaders from higher education and across Jewish Buffalo organizations also attended.

After being welcomed by Deborah Goldman, JCRC co-chair emerita, and Adam Fogel, JCRC co-chair, Rabbi Brett Gutmann from Temple Beth Zion gave an invocation. Miriam Abramovich, COO of the Buffalo Jewish Federation, shared remarks noting ways those in Western New York can speak out against hatred of Jews. She also underscored how the Buffalo Jewish Federation can serve as a resource to support organizations that are addressing issues related to antisemitism. Attendees also heard from JCRC co-chair Harvey Sanders, who spoke about the JCRC’s role in the community, stating “the JCRC is broadly centered around social justice, addressing hate and antisemitism, and building strong interfaith, intergroup, and government leader relationships.” He described ways in which JCRC works to educate, advocate and mobilize around

issues that impact the Jewish community and also the larger community, such as working towards “the passage of the bipartisan Senate bill of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) at the $500 million level, enabling communal institutions and other nonprofits and houses of worship to secure themselves in the face of rising domestic extremism and hatred.”

NAACP Buffalo Branch President Rev. Mark Blue spoke about the importance of allyship and being in relationship with each other noting the NAACP’s allyship with the Jewish community. He reminded the audience of the powerful words of Martin Luther King Jr. stating, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Reverand Blue

emphasized, “we all have the same struggles,” and how important it is to be united and “build opportunity to understand who we are as people because our differences are our strength.”

The formal event ended with Zoe Felber Bluffestone, who spoke on behalf Hillel of Buffalo and Hillel’s mission to “enrich Jewish college students’ lives.” She also described the real impact that October 7 had on students, and that Hillel is a resource for all higher education institutions in the area during times of joy and need.

Many attendees continued conversations after the formal event, while others went on a guided tour of the Temple Beth Zion sanctuary and learned about the new Blum Education Project. One attendee who reflected upon the event noted, “I am aware that antisemitism exists in our world, and has for a long time, but I had no idea of the extent to which it was hurting our local community.” Another attendee eagerly shared how glad he was to have had the opportunity to learn about the Jewish community’s deep history

For information and updates on additional events led by the Buffalo Jewish Federation, JCRC and community partners, please visit buffalojewishfederation.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Amherst Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa, Senator George Barello, Jarret Izzo, Susan Grelick

JCRC co-chair Adam Fogel, Cantor Irwin Gelman, Senator Tim Kennedy

Pastor Craig Pridgen, City of Buffalo Majority Leader Leah Halton-Pope, Barbara Gunderson Rev. Mark Blue, Tomas Aguirre

Marjorie Bryen, Deborah Goldman, Nancy Brock

Samamtha White, JCRC co-chair Harvey Sanders, Assemblymember Karen McMahon, Lauren Bloomberg

Anselm Screening at AKG, April 13-14

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is proud to present Anselm, a critically acclaimed film by renowned director Wim Wenders. The two screenings will be on Saturday, April 13 at 6 pm and Sunday, April 14 at 2 pm in the Buffalo AKG’s Stanford and Judith Lipsey Auditorium. General admission tickets cost $20 and tickets for members of the Buffalo AKG cost $15. Visit the events tab at buffaloakg.org to register for one of the screenings.

Anselm explores the art and life of Anselm Kiefer, one of the world’s most prominent artistic voices. Kiefer (born in Cologne, Germany in 1945) has spent his long and prolific career exploring the

intersection and convergence of different histories, philosophies, mythologies, and religious traditions. His thoughtprovoking, mesmerizing works, which are held in the collections of dozens of major art museums around the world, prompt us to ask foundational questions about identity and the human condition: where do we come from, who are we, and where we are going? Kiefer’s artistic practice—which encompasses painting, sculpture, and photography among other media—has been significantly impacted by Judaism and especially the writings of the German-born Israeli historian and philosopher Gershom Scholem (18971992) and Isaac Luria, a leading sixteenth-

CRS Prepares for Passover

Students at the Community Religious School (CRS) will be celebrating Pesach on April 14 – the only in-school day this month! They have been practicing the Four Questions and traditional Passover songs with Shira Zack and Morah Zahava. We hope all our families will be celebrating Passover in a meaningful way.

Learning at CRS does not just occur at the Religious School location on Sundays. Thanks to the wonderful partnership between the three sponsoring congregationsTemple Beth Tzedek (TBT), Temple Beth Zion (TBZ) and Congregation Shir Shalom (CSS) - the students have opportunities to connect through all three synagogues. This month, the students and their parents are invited to visit the Cofeld Museum at TBZ. Age-appropriate activities by experienced docents will highlight the treasures that are housed at this museum. A CRS Friday night service will also take place this month at TBZ.

For more information on our academic program for students Pre-K through 7th grade, our Madrichim program for 8th-12th graders, or to become a supporter, please contact Einav Symons, the CRS Director at (716)574-6016, or check out our website crsbuffalo.com.

century rabbi and Jewish mystic in the Galilee region of Ottoman Syria. The infinite trauma of the Holocaust that extends through time and space has been with Kiefer through his life. In his words, “The impossibility of depicting on a painting that which cannot be seen recalls another impossibility: attempts to reverse the rupture between two halves of one culture, the German and Jewish, since those who carried this culture have perished by the hands of the other. I try in my way to reverse this irreversible and brutal self-mutilation, knowing that this, too, is impossible” (The Art Newspaper, November 30, 2011).

The Buffalo AKG has four works by Kiefer in its collection of modern and contemporary art, including der Morgenthau Plan, 2012, and Die Milchstrasse (The Milky Way), 1985-1987. The vast landscapes were installed on the third floor of the museum’s new Jeffrey E. Gundlach Building as part of its inaugural collection installation.

Anselm, a film by Wim Wenders, is presented at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum by Dr. Benjamin Oppenheimer and Concierge Dental Group PLLC.

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Three works by Anselm Kiefer are installed at the Buffalo AKG (Photo: Marco Cappelletti)

Time blooms beautifully

Spring into Style with Citizen

Ohr Temimim Ski Club

The Jewish Heritage Day School / Ohr Temimim ski club is geared toward both beginner and experienced skiers and snowboarders. It has been a great way for students to get together outside of class, have fun, and build camaraderie while being active.

Temple Beth Tzedek Gears Up for Spring

Temple Beth Tzedek will be celebrating Pesach (Passover) with a variety of programs this month, including:

• A Women’s Network a special morning event exploring charoset recipes from around the world. Groups will form to make the recipes and enjoy them on Sunday morning, April 7th at 10:30 am at TBT. Please contact the Temple office to RSVP.

• A Haggadah Show and Tell experience with Rabbi Sara Rich on Wednesday, April 10 at 5 pm to explore the different ways the Passover story is told. Bring your favorite Haggadah and leave with new pearls of wisdom to share at your Seder.

• A Kesher Inclusion Outstretched Arm Passover Celebration for people of all abilities led by Rabbi Sara Rich on Sunday, April 14th at 10:30 am at Temple Beth Tzedek. RSVP to the Temple office.

Also, save the date for Rabbi Rich’s Rabbinic Installation during the Rabbi Isaac Klein Memorial Scholar-In-Residence Weekend with Rabbi Rachel Isaacs on May 10-11, 2024! Full information will be highlighted in the May issue of The Jewish Journal. Please visit btzbuffalo.org for more information about Temple Beth Tzedek’s services and programs.

Social Action at Kehillat Ohr Tzion

No matter the season or month there is always a social action project in progress at Kehillat Ohr Tzion (KOT). During the winter months we collected warm hats, gloves, and scarves for Hearts for the Homeless. Now that spring is here, we are collecting new and used sports equipment for the nonprofit Leveling the Playing Field. They distribute the equipment to schools, parks, and recreation centers in under-resourced areas throughout the city. The organization was started in Washington, DC by Max Levitt, who worked in sports management and saw how much sports equipment got thrown out rather than donated to those who could benefit from having that equipment. The organization has grown, and Buffalo is one of 12 cities where there are LPF chapters.

It’s been a tradition for years at KOT that on Purim everyone brings pasta boxes for their graggers and then the “graggers” can be donated to one of the many local foodbanks. In late summer, a collection starts for school supplies donated to a charter school in need and to The Teacher’s Desk for distribution to undeserved communities. We have had barrels in our foyer collecting food for Feed More Buffalo as well as collections of desserts and supplies for The Kevin House.

Over the years KOT has collected hats and scarves for Roswell, collected needed items for Jewish Family Services, gotten together to build beds for Sleep in Heavenly Peace, participated in The Backpack Program and worked with so many more nonprofit agencies in the area.

JCC Spotlight: Artist Deb Meier

JRT Awarded Major Grant

The Jewish Repertory Theatre of Western New York (JRT) has received a $68,000 grant from the Erie County Cultural Capital Grant Program. The grant will primarily be used to upgrade and enhance the Maxine and Robert Seller Theatre, built in 2012 at the Benderson Family Building of the JCC in Getzville. Upgrades will include brand new seats for the entire theater, new risers, new acoustic theater curtains, and upgrades to the lighting grid, sound system, and stage.

“We are incredibly grateful to Erie County for this grant,” said Adam Yellen, Director of Performing Arts at the JCC. “We are planning to refresh the entire theater space and we can’t wait to show off the final product to our subscribers and friends in the community.”

Founded in 2002, the JRT is a professional theatre whose mission is to present high-quality plays grounded in Jewish life, themes, and values. Through JRT productions, audiences of diverse beliefs and backgrounds explore both the uniqueness of Jewish heritage and cultural experiences, as well as those that are shared with others. Drama illuminates the human condition, and the JRT strives to bring this into focus through the lens of Jewish theatre. The Jewish Repertory Theatre is theatre for everyone.

“I am so pleased that the JRT has been a cornerstone of our organization for the last 20 years,” said Patricia Simonson, CEO of the JCC. “On the heels of the momentum of a great anniversary season last year, the news of this grant will help propel the JRT forward and continue to secure its future as one of the premier local theater companies in Western New York.”

The JRT’s 21st season continues with Crossing Delancy , on stage May 9-June 1 (Thursday evenings, Saturday afternoons and evenings, and Sunday afternoons). For more information or to purchase tickets, visit jccbuffalo.org/jewish-repertorytheatre/.

Deb Meier is a fine artist and an inspiration to many members of the JCC who study with her each week. This month, we are pleased to cast a spotlight on Deb and learn more about her life and work!

Debra “Deb” Meier is a retired Art Educator who grew up in Western New York. She was exposed to art early in life, tagging along with artist friends of her grandparents in Belmont, NY. One of them even led her through her first watercolor lesson at age four (thanks, Ernie Smith!). After receiving Studio Art and Speech Communication degrees from Geneseo State, she worked in radio while attending Buffalo State College part-time. This culminated in her Art Education degree, and later a master’s in art education. Deb taught for 31 years in Batavia, and upon retirement, stayed in the Buffalo area, teaching at Hyatts, while working on honing her own watercolor skills.

“Art inspiration is all around us,” reflects Deb. “I have more than a fondness for bright color, so I try to include that in every painting

that I take a brush to, whether it’s a vivid blue on the throat of a macaw, or a pop of red on a tourist’s t-shirt in a painting of “the falls.”

She exhibits paintings locally at River Art Gallery and Gifts and with groups like the Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society and the Williamsville Art Society. She is currently the president for the Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society.

Deb calls Grand Island home, where she lives in the company of two small parrots. Be they smaller than a robin, they can be twice as demanding.

Deb teaches Adult Beginner Watercolor class which introduces students to the various techniques used in watercolor painting and Studio in Art, an “open studio” class for adults in which participants create in the medium of their choice. Beginners are welcome.

For more information on these classes, visit jccbuffalo.org.

ANTHONY TRIONFO FLUTE

SUNDAY, APRIL 7 AT 3 : 00 PM

A free Gift to the Community Recital

DORIC STRING QUARTET

TUESDAY, APRIL 30 AT 7 : 30 PM

Ticket Price: $30

Program includes works by Schumann, Beethoven & Schubert

BY IRVING LEVY

I am reminded of the pivotal scene from Schindler’s List when Oskar Schindler proclaims, “I didn’t do enough! I could have got more out. I could have got more. Why did I keep the car? Ten people, right there, ten people. Ten more people.”

How many lives could we touch if we acted differently?

I’ve been privileged to witness firsthand the transformative impact of collaboration and generosity within our community, working alongside some of the brightest and most compassionate individuals has been both humbling and inspiring. But it’s not just about what we gain; it’s about what we give back and the legacy we leave behind.

I have also found the opportunity to share what I’ve learned. Recently I was meeting with someone about our Life & Legacy® program, the Grinspoon

Am I doing enough?

Foundation’s initiative to promote after life giving that we’ve been leading in Buffalo for the past 3 years.

They shared with me, “Irv, you’re talking to the wrong person. I don’t have the kind of wealth needed to move the needle.” Rarely do I voice my disagreement, but I pushed back. Individually, few if any of us have the wealth to move the needle. If we all do nothing, our community is doomed. However, if each of us does what we are capable of doing, we will have a thriving Jewish community for generations to come. The person I was meeting agreed with me! Our Jewish Buffalo seems to be experiencing a renaissance fueled by shared dedication and purpose. Programs like Life & Legacy® serve as catalysts for this renewal, sparking conversations about our shared heritage and the future we envision for generations to come.

The Life & Legacy® program has been a collaborative effort among all the Jewish Buffalo agencies and synagogues. Participants in the program are sharing how important our Jewish Buffalo community is to them, and how they want to make sure there is strong Jewish community for future generations.

Life & Legacy® is only a piece. There are major campaigns taking place to rebuild our proud legacy and strengthen our future including:

The Buffalo Jewish Federation Cemeteries campaign to restore and beautify our sacred places. (Visit the Stones of Remembrance campaign at jewishphilanthropies.org/ stones-of-remembrance)

The campaign to restore the historic Temple Beth Zion building to its full glory and increase access for the entire Jewish Buffalo community.

Jewish Family Services campaign to renovate existing space and increase capacity to expand services.

These initiatives reflect our unwavering commitment to Jewish values Tzedakah, Tikkun Olam, Gemilut Chasadim , and L’Dor V’Dor —guiding us as we strive to build a more just, compassionate, and inclusive world.

The responsibility rests with all of us. I will try to do my best, so that like Oskar Schindler, I do not look back and wish I had done more.

Irving Levy is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.

Life & Legacy® at Buffalo

Thank You, Barbara and Jack!

“It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it.”

– Pirkei Avot (Ethics of Fathers) 2:16

Total Legacy Commitments

Received: 447

Total dollar amount: $13,717,342

Total Number of Donors: 250

As of February 29, 2024

Life & Legacy® is a partnership program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF), which supports communities across the US and Canada in promoting legacy giving to build endowments that will provide stability to the organizations comprising the fabric of Jewish life.

Now is its third year, Life & Legacy® at Buffalo, a collaboration of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies and the Buffalo Jewish Federation, has worked with local synagogues, agencies, and organizations to secure the future of Jewish Buffalo.

These commitments have been obtained by making legacy giving central to Buffalo’s communal p hilanthropic culture the norm, with gifts which are meaningful to each individual, no matter the level, enabling all donors to be philanthropists.

Life & Legacy® is also utilizing a new brand, which is rooted in Judaism through the eternal burning flame, symbolizing the ongoing and future “passing the torch” from generation to generation (L’Dor V’dor)

For more information, please contact Linda Barat, Life & Legacy at Buffalo Coordinator, at Linda@jewishphilanthropies.org or 716-204-2259.

Legacy for Barbara and Jack Yellen encapsulates their past, present, and future. Drawing from the influence of their family upbringing, community, and personal role models, they are leaving a meaningful legacy for the future of Jewish Buffalo through the Life & Legacy® at Buffalo initiative.

Initially hesitant about the concept of leaving an after-lifetime gift, Barbara discovered a way to witness the impact of her generosity firsthand. Through the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies (FJP), she learned that financial contributions can be made immediately rather than waiting until after one’s passing. By directing qualified charitable distributions from their IRA (Individual Retirement Account) to a restricted endowment fund, Barbara and Jack could fulfill their philanthropic goals during their lifetimes while also benefiting from tax advantages.

Motivated by their commitment to Jewish Buffalo, Barbara and Jack enthusiastically embraced this method of giving, eager to share it with others. Their chosen beneficiary organizations reflect their diverse philanthropic interests, such as Dignity Grows™, an initiative of Buffalo Jewish Federation (BJF) that provides essential personal hygiene products to both women and men in need. Barbara’s involvement with the program underscores its significance and impact. Likewise, their support for the Jewish Repertory Theatre (JRT) underscores their dedication to preserving Jewish heritage and fostering artistic expression.

The Yellens’ volunteerism in the Jewish and wider Buffalo communities is a core Jewish value. Jack is a past president of Temple Shaarey Zedek (a predecessor to Temple Beth Tzedek), served on many committees, and was chair of the BJF Campaign for Jewish Buffalo in the early 90’s. Following in the example of his father, their son Shelly is the immediate past president

of BJF. Barbara, while a stay-at-home mother, was always volunteering for her children’s activities and programs.

Having been married for 65 years, Barbara and Jack have exemplified their values throughout their lives, passing them down to their three children and four grandchildren. As they anticipate the future with joyous simchas and continued philanthropy, their legacy gifts remain a testament to their unwavering commitment to making a difference in the Buffalo Jewish community and beyond.

Jewish Family Services Hosts Matzah Ball in May

There is a brand-new opportunity for friends of Jewish Family Services of Western New York (JFS) to come together, celebrate, and raise funds for the organization’s critical, lifesaving programs and support – the Matzah Ball!

This ticketed event is Thursday, May 16 from 6:30 – 10 pm at Temple Beth Zion at 805 Delaware Ave. and will feature food, open bar, live music, dancing, awards and more. The theme of the inaugural event is gold with guests encouraged to dress in their finest cocktail attire to match it. Think sparkly dresses and dress shirts!

General admission is $75 and includes entrance to the event, access to the open bar, food and all the fun and entertainment the event has to offer. Special friends of the organization can provide extra

support with Mensch level admission: for $500, you will be an event sponsor, receive two general admission tickets, and two tickets to a pre-event VIP reception from 5:30 – 6:30 pm.

Longtime JFS supporters Lana Benatovich and Marnie Cerrato have

along with me!” shared Cerrato. “This event is a wonderful way to celebrate the work of JFS and to provide support to allow the organization to continue to grow. It’s also important that Matzah Ball is a friend-raiser as much as it’s a fundraiser by introducing the work that JFS does to new audiences.” Funds raised from Matzah Ball will support the work of JFS and its capital campaign. “JFS is a real collaborator in the WNY community making the needed connections between people and organizations in an extremely meaningful way to provide the best support” added Benatovich. “People should know what JFS is doing and in turn what the organization can do for them through their myriad of programs and events.”

been named co-chairs of Matzah Ball. Benatovich is a former board member and Cerrato currently serves on the JFS board.

“I am excited to take on the fun challenge of the first large fundraiser ever held for JFS and to bring my mom

Since 1862, JFS has been providing all members of Western New York with critical health and human services, regardless of religion, ethnicity, cultural background, gender identification, ability, or age. As JFS grows to meet the community’s needs, the space from where they serve needed to change. It’s a critical part of the JFS mission to create an environment where everyone who comes to them for help feels safe, welcome, and empowered to reach their full potential. JFS is committed to being person-centered and culturally responsive in their approach to care and the renovated space will enable that. JFS provides services like trauma systems therapy for youth, refugee resettlement, and job training and placement.

Matzah Ball tickets and sponsorships can be purchased by visiting jfsbuffalo.networkforgood. com/events/66159-the-matzah-ball.

Volunteer opportunities for Matzah Ball are also available. If interested, please email event coordinator Emily Marciniak Louis at emily@liveinspiredevents.com.

What is a Mohelet?

BY RONNIE DUBROWIN

Eight days after I pushed my beautiful newborn son into the world, I stood in my living room in Schenectady, NY while a mohel to whom I had briefly spoken conducted the ceremony of brit milah (ritual circumcision). Brit milah is the covenant established between the Eternal and Abraham as it states in our Torah in Genesis 21:4 “And when his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him”. A few years later I became a midwife, and learned the skill of circumcision which became a regular part of the services I offered.

When my rabbi learned of this, he asked if I would train with the National Organization of American Mohalim/ Mohalot to become a mohelet, a female mohel. I did so proudly.

Since 1997 when I was credentialed, I have been honored to do many brisses. And within a few months of moving to North Tonawanda, I was asked to do my first bris here in WNY, co-officiating with Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein.

I learned so much during my son’s brit milah as well as during the many hospital circumcisions I have performed. I have conversations with each family answering all questions while supporting and accommodating them. I follow the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, validating the baby’s health and providing pain medication options, essentially eliminating the baby’s discomfort, and so reducing the family’s stress.

I have recently retired from my fulltime midwifery practice but am still proudly serving the Jewish community as a mohelet. I look forward to helping families bring their newborn sons into the covenant of Abraham in my wonderful new home of Western New York. Since October 7, this is even more important and profound, as we joyously celebrate our Judaism and the newest additions to our ranks.

Ronnie can be reached at ronmidwife@ gmail.com.

SPOTLIGHT ON Amherst Memorial Chapel

The Buffalo Jewish Federation is honored to spotlight Amherst Memorial Chapel, LLC, one of our Gold 2024 Corporate Sponsors.

A full-service funeral home built specifically to accommodate all Jewish religious practices, whether Orthodox, Traditional, Conservative, Reconstructionist or Reform, Amherst Memorial Chapel is the only funeral home in Western New York with a Mikvah for the traditional Tahara.

Owner Mitchell B. Steinhorn takes pride in assisting families during their time of need, especially when he can work with someone in pre-planning their funeral arrangements to allow the

family to focus on their grief when the time comes. This process includes determining where the funeral and shiva will be held, a location to be buried and type of casket, service details, names of pallbearers, music, readings to be shared, and a charitable organization to direct donations.

Attention to detail makes Amherst Memorial Chapel one of the most trusted funeral homes in Western New York. Call 716-636-4174 to schedule a consultation or visit amherstmemorialchapel.com.

The Village Co-op Market of Williamsville

The Village Co-op Market of Williamsville will soon open on Evans Road in Williamsville. The Co-op is a member-owned and operated food market striving to promote healthy living. They aim to provide quality products, sourced primarily from local (Western New York) farmers and food producers.

In April 2017, a small group of dedicated volunteers formed the Village Co-op, a for-profit organization dedicated to opening a full-service grocery store in the Town. Since Fall 2017, the board has been recruiting member-owners through various events. As of March 4, 2024, there are 1226 memberowners, which represents close to 5,000 residents of the community.

The goal of the Village Co-op is simple: To invest in the community by welcoming diverse cultures to come together in a space where good food is offered and an encouraging environment where ideas are welcomed and shared freely.

Every shelf in every aisle will be filled with healthy food options. Knowledgeable staff will be on hand throughout the co-op and always ready to help. Their prepared foods will be available to eat in or take out and they will offer indoor and outdoor seating for a pleasurable dining experience. Cultural cooking classes will encourage diversity. They will compost to reduce waste and help our landfills shed some pounds!

The Co-op takes its mission to heart and strives to be helpful to one another and extend kindness to all who walk through the doors. It is their intent to provide a dynamic and meaningful experience for everyone. The principles of the Co-op include:

• Voluntary and open membership—Everyone is welcome to become a member

• Democratic member control—One member, one vote.

• Member economic participation—Your shares are an investment in the co-op.

• Autonomy and independence—We are owned by members and operate for member benefit.

• Education, training, and information—Education opportunities for staff, members, and community.

If you are interested in learning more about the Village Co-op Market of Williamsville, visit villagecoopmarket.com.

The site of the new Co-op under construction at 480 Evans Road in Williamsville

Proposed floor plan of the new store

Jewish Community Organizations in Western New York

Buffalo Jewish Federation

338 Harris Hill Road – Suite 108B

Williamsville, NY 14221

716-463-5050

buffalojewishfederation.org

Rob Goldberg - CEO

Miriam Abramovich - COO

Margie Bryen - President

Buffalo Vaad of Kashrus

49 Barberry Lane

Williamsville, NY 14221

716-534-0230

bvkkosher.com

buffalo@yahoo.com, bvkkosher@gmail.com

Michael Paskowitz - President

Center for Jewish Life

Suburbs: 757 Hopkins Road

Williamsville, NY 14221

716-639-7600

jewishbuffalo.com

Rabbi Laizer & Chani Labkovski

Downtown: 1016 Lafayette Avenue Buffalo, NY 14209

716-545-6806

Rabbi Mendy & Chaya Mushka Labkovski

Chabad House of Buffalo

2450 North Forest Road

Getzville, NY 14068

716-688-1642

chabadbuffalo.com

Rabbi Moshe Gurary

Chai Early Childhood Center

757 Hopkins Road Williamsville, NY 14221

716-580-4600

chainursery.com

Chani Labkovski - Director

Community Religious School (CRS)

4660 Sheridan Drive Williamsville, NY 14221

716-574-6016

BuffaloCRS@gmail.com

Einav Symons - Director

Department of Jewish Thought

712 Clemens Hall – University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY 14260

716-645-3695

jewish-studies@buffalo.edu

jewishstudies.buffalo.edu

Dr. Noam Pines - Chair

Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies

2640 North Forest Road

Getzville, NY 14068 716-204-1133

jewishphilanthropies.org

Irv Levy - Executive Director

Daniel Kester - President

Hadassah

2640 North Forest Road

Getzville, NY 14068

716-929-6504

buffalohadassah@gmail.com

Frima Ackerhalt and Phyllis Steinberg - Co-Presidents

Hebrew Benevolent Loan Association

2640 North Forest Road in FJP offices

Getzville, NY 14068 716-204-0542

wnyhbla.org

Judith Katzenelson Brownstein - President

Hillel of Buffalo

Campus Center of Jewish Life

520 Lee Entrance/UB Commons Suite #101B

W. Amherst, NY 14228 716-616-0083

hillelofbuffalo.org

Jeff Clark - Executive Director

Dr. Iris Danziger - President

Holocaust Education Resource Organization

338 Harris Hill Road – Suite 108B Williamsville, NY 14221 hrcbuffalo.org

Lauren Bloomberg - Director

Armand Morrison - Co-Chair

Wendy Weisbrot - Co-Chair

Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo, Inc.

Benderson Family Building 2640 North Forest Road

Getzville, NY 14068 716-688-4033

jccbuffalo.org

Patty Simonson - CEO

Dr. Irwin Gelman - President

Holland Family Building

787 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14209 716-886-3145

Jewish Community Relations Council 338 Harris Hill Road – Suite 108B Williamsville, NY 14221

buffalojewishfederation.org

Mara Koven-Gelman - Senior Director

Adam Fogel - Co-Chair

Harvey Sanders - Co-Chair

Jewish Discovery Center

831 Maple Road

Williamsville, NY 14221 716-632-0467

jewishdiscovery.org

Rabbi Heschel Greenberg

Jewish Family Services of Western New York

70 Barker Street Buffalo, NY 14209 716-883-1914

jfswny.org

Molly Short Carr - CEO

Harold Star - Chair

Jewish Federation Apartments

275 Essjay Road

Williamsville, NY 14221 716-631-8471

jewishfederationapartments.org

Kathleen Haggerty - Property Manager

Jewish Federation Cemetery Corporation, Inc.

338 Harris Hill Road – Suite 108B

Williamsville, NY 14221

buffalojewishfederation.org

716-463-5050

Deborah Pivarsi - Director

Jonathan Schechter - President

Kadimah

kadimah.org

Reneé Lehner - Administrator

Kosher Meals on Wheels

757 Hopkins Road

Williamsville, NY 14221

716-639-7600

koshermow.com

Rabbi Laizer Labkovski - Director

Jeffery Pasler - President

LiNK Jewish Buffalo

338 Harris Hill Road – Suite 108B

Williamsville, NY 14221

Mike Steklof, Ed.D. - Senior Director

Marni Marciano - Chair

Ohr Temimim School

411 John James Audubon Parkway

W. Amherst, NY 14228

716-568-0226 ohrtemimimschool.com

Rabbi Shmuel Shanowitz - Principal

Sonia Gellman Young - President

Weinberg Campus

2700 North Forest Road

Getzville, NY 14068 716-639-3311 weinbergcampus.org

Robert Mayer - President & CEO

Kenneth Rogers - Chairman of the Board

Western New York Synagogues and Temples

Chabad House of Buffalo (unaffiliated)

2450 North Forest Road, Getzville, NY 14068 716-688-1642

chabadbuffalo.com

Rabbi Moshe Gurary - Director

Congregation Beth Abraham (Conservative)

1073 Elmwood Avenue

Buffalo, NY 14222

congregationbethabraham.net

Cantor Irwin Gelman

Marty Kerker - President

Congregation Havurah (Reform)

6320 Main Street, Williamsville, NY 14221 716-833-3165

congregationhavurah.org president.havurah@gmail.com

Daniel Mink- President

Congregation Shir Shalom (Reform/Reconstructionist) 4660 Sheridan Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 716-633-8877

shirshalombuffalo.org

Rabbi Alexander Lazarus-Klein

Cantor Arlene Frank

Joanne Marquisee - Executive Director

Todd Sugarman - President

JDC Shul (Unafilliated)

831 Maple Road

Williamsville, NY 14221 716-245-9520

jewishdiscovery.org

Rabbi Heschel Greenberg

Rabbi Levi Greenberg

Rabbi Yehoshua Greenberg

Kehillat Ohr Tzion (Modern Orthodox) 879 Hopkins Road

Williamsville, NY 14221

ohrtzion.org/kot

Rabbi Ori Bergman

Cheryl Stein - President

Knesset Center (Orthodox)

500 Starin Avenue

Buffalo, NY 14214 716-832-5063

chabadbuffalo.com

Rabbi Shmaryahu Charitonow

Saranac Synagogue (Orthodox)

85 Saranac Avenue

Buffalo New York 14216 716-876-1284

saranacsynagogue.org

President - Shmuel Rashkin

Vice President - Reuven Alt

Gabbai David Kunkel

Temple Beth Tzedek (Conservative) 1641 North Forest Road

Williamsville, NY 14221 716-838-3232

btzbuffalo.org

Rabbi Sara Rich

Cantor Mark Spindler

Cantorial Intern Zahava Fried

Linda Boxer - President

Kim Jones - Administrator

Temple Beth Zion (Reform)

Sanctuary 805 Delaware Avenue

Buffalo, NY 14209

Offices

700 Sweet Home Road

Amherst, NY 14226 716-836-6565

tbz.org

Rabbi Brent Gutmann

Mark Hayman - Executive Director

Ken Polk - President

Temple Beth El (Reform)

720 Ashland Avenue

Niagara Falls, NY 14301

templebethelniagara@gmail.com

niagarafallstemple.com

Rabbi Ellen Franke

Cantorial Soloist Barry Rose

Adam DePriest - President

Temple Hesed Abraham of Greater Jamestown (Reform)

Meeting biweekly at Jamestown, NY

Lutheran Church

Rabbi Allen Podet

Joe Gerstel - President (716-665-2118) valprojdg@netsync.net

The Family Shul (Unaffiliated) 757 Hopkins Road

Williamsville, NY 14221

Rabbi Laizer Labkovski 716-639-7600

Young Israel of Greater Buffalo (Orthodox) 105 Maple Road Williamsville, NY 14221 716-634-0212

yibuffalo.org

Rabbi Avi Okin

Richard Berger and Michael PaskowitzCo-Presidents

Celebrate Passover at the Center for Jewish Life

In the heart of the vibrant tapestry that is Jewish tradition, the Center for Jewish Life warmly extends an invitation to you and your loved ones to partake in a Passover celebration that promises to blend tradition with a sense of communal warmth and joy. This year, embark on a meaningful journey back through time to relive the Exodus story, not just as a historical event, but as a personal narrative of freedom and spiritual growth. The Center provides an environment where the timeless tales of Passover are shared over a four-course gourmet meal, enriching the hearts and souls of all who attend.

The first Seder, scheduled for April 22 at 8 pm, and the second Seder on April 23 at 8:30 pm, are meticulously planned to ensure an authentic and inspiring Passover experience. Attendees will be treated to hand baked Shmurah Matzah, symbolizing the bread our ancestors ate,

and four cups of wine, representing the stages of redemption. Each participant will be provided with personal EnglishHebrew Haggadahs, enabling everyone to engage fully with the Seder’s rituals and readings.

Beyond the delicious meal and the ritualistic readings, the Seders at the Center for Jewish Life are designed to offer beautiful insights into the Festival of Freedom. Through engaging stories, thought-provoking discussions, and the sharing of timeless wisdom, the essence of Passover is brought to life. These insights serve not only to educate but to inspire, reminding us of the enduring lessons of Passover that resonate with the challenges and aspirations of our own lives.

Reserve your spot at the table for yourself and your friends and family at JewishBuffalo.com for a Passover experience of community and celebration that promises to leave you moved and uplifted.

Hadassah Book Club

Thriving on Zoom

Buffalo Hadassah has a long history of having monthly book club meetings in person. Some of those meetings were in people’s homes, in libraries but mostly at the Benderson Jewish Community Center. When the Covid pandemic began, the group started holding Zoom meetings. It took getting used to having discussions in this format but it’s working since the group continues to meet monthly and in fact the attendance has increased!

Members who are traveling, members who live out of town, as well snowbirds can zoom into the discussions wherever they are. Our last meeting had participants not only from Buffalo but also from Florida, Colorado, and Arizona. Suggested book titles come from our members, book reviews, The Jewish Book Council, National Hadassah’s booklists as well as One Book, One Hadassah.

When members suggest a book they often volunteer to lead the discussion for that meeting. In March Joan Alexander facilitated the discussion of Let There Be Water by Seth Siegel. It’s a fascinating book about the ingenious methods Israel has developed to deal with water challenges in that part of the world. In April Carol Silverman will facilitate the discussion of This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub. To find out more information about Buffalo Hadassah book club email phyllismksteinberg@gmail.com.

Meet Rabbi Avi Okin

Rabbi Avi Okin became the spiritual leader of the Young Israel of Greater Buffalo last fall. Holding rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University, he also earned an MSW degree from its Wurzweiler School of Social Work. In addition, he serves as Rabbinic Administrator of the Buffalo Va’ad Hakashrus, our community’s highly respected kosher-certification organization. He is the author of Hashem: An Introduction to the Creator and His Special Connection with the Jewish People (Mosaica Press, 2023).

The Journal is grateful to Richard Laub who took time to interview Rabbi Okin so the community can learn more about him, what he has experienced to date, and what he seeks to accomplish.

RL: What are your impressions of Buffalo, and of its Jewish community?

AO: It’s a very friendly community. I appreciate how people from all its various components come together for common causes, whether joyful or sad. For example, this could be seen at a recent funeral for one of our members. Moreover, Buffalo has a beautiful, affordable quality of life with unusually rich cultural offerings. More people should be aware of what a gem we have here.

RL: What are the challenges and advantages of being a pulpit rabbi?

AO: An advantage is having the chance to give pastoral support when members of the community experience difficult situations. There is also the opportunity to teach Torah and to show how Judaism is applicable to our daily lives. Challenges include being constantly on-call and being expected to represent G-d and the Jewish people at all times. So, it is a great privilege to have this responsibility, but a challenge as well.

RL: Why did you decide to pursue an MSW along with your ordination?

AO: In rabbinical school I was advised that serving in a pulpit is like working as a glorified social worker. If so, then I might as well know my craft. I have found that having a mental health background allows me to provide research-informed pastoral support. Also, this training enables me to communicate the Jewish legal view of a communal issue respectfully. This comes from understanding that the position of the other person is informed by their background, and had I grown up in their shoes I would feel and speak the same way.

RL: How do you see your responsibilities as a rabbi?

AO: I primarily focus on providing

meaningful Judaic experiences, which include everything from a sermon on Shabbat morning to guidance for all aspects of Jewish life. I also work to enable and encourage the following of Jewish dietary standards by the general Buffalo Jewish community through our Va’ad Hakashrus.

RL: What would you like to accomplish?

AO: I would like to support the growth of the Buffalo Jewish community by marketing the advantages that reside here for the rest of the Jewish world. A very reasonable cost of living, friendly environment, and slower pace of life provide wonderful opportunities for religious growth and healthy family development.

Rabbi Avi Okin

Passover Recipes from the Federation Team

Passover begins on Monday, April 22 this year. We asked some of the professional team at the Buffalo Jewish Federation to share their favorite family recipes with you. Enjoy!

Lemon Tart with an Almond Crust

ROBIN KURSS

For the Crust:

2 cups almond flour

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

6 tablespoons coconut oil

For the Curd:

Zest of 3 lemons

1 c + 2 tablespoons lemon juice

6 large eggs, room temperature

1 1/3 cups sugar

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

For the Topping:

Strawberries

Blueberries

Blackberries

Fresh flowers, optional

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

To make the crust, mix the almond flour, salt, sugar, and coconut oil in a bowl with your hands, until completely combined, making sure there are no lumps of coconut oil.

Press the dough evenly into the bottom and slightly up the sides of an 11-inch, non-stick tart pan. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until slightly golden around the edges.

To make the curd, place zest and lemon juice into a medium saucepan. Turn on the heat to medium-low and bring to a simmer.

In a large bowl, whisk all the eggs. Pour 1/4 of the hot lemon juice into the eggs while whisking, to temper them.

Add the egg mixture, sugar, salt, and butter to the rest of the juice in the pan. Whisk until smooth and slightly thickened. Remove from the heat.

Place the cooled crust onto a large baking sheet. Pour the curd into the crust and bake in a 350° oven for 7-10 minutes, until the curd is just set.

Place the tart on a wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

Decorate your tart with fresh berries and flowers.

Keep the tart tightly wrapped and stored in the fridge. (can make 3 days ahead!) Serves 10.

Banana-Nut Kugel

MANDY WEISS

3 cups matzah farfel

4 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons sugar

1/4 cup melted butter or margarine

2 medium, unripe bananas, sliced 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Pour cold water over farfel and drain immediately so that farfel is moist but not soggy. Beat eggs with salt, sugar, and melted butter or margarine. Mix with farfel. In a greased 1 1/2 quart baking dish, place half the farfel mixture. Arrange the sliced bananas on top and sprinkle with the nuts.

Top with the balance of the farfel mixture Bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until set and lightly browned.

This can also be made in a muffin tin for individual mini-kugels. Serves 6.

Passover Halibut & Salmon

MIRIAM ABRAMOVICH

1 lb halibut filet (skinned and boned)

2 lbs salmon fillets (skinned and boned)

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 medium spanish onions peeled and diced

2 cups cold water

4 large eggs

6 tablespoons matzah meal

1 tablespoon salt

2 teaspoons ground white pepper

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons snipped fresh dill

2 large carrots peeled and grated parsley and dill for garnish

Preheat the oven to 325° F.

California Charoset

ROB GOLDBERG

WITH THANKS TO EDNA SCHRANK

1 large avocado, peeled and diced juice of 1/2 lemon or lime

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1/3 cup raisins

4 pitted dates

2 figs or 4 apricots

1 whole orange peeled, sectioned

Toss the avocado and lemon juice in a bowl.  Set aside.  In a processor or blender, place the almonds, raisins, dates, and figs. Process until coarsely chopped. Add the orange sections and process briefly to combine. Add the avocado and process for 1 or 2 seconds more.

Transfer the mixture to a glass bowl.

Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. Makes approx 3 cups.

Italian Charoset

MANDY WEISS

1 apple chopped

5 oz. dates chopped

6 oz. figs chopped

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup chopped almonds

1/4 cup pine nuts

Grated rind and juice of one orange— orange of rind only, no white pith as it will taste bitter

1/2 cup white raisins

1/4 cup chopped apricots

1/4 cup brandy to taste Honey to bind

Combine all the ingredients, gradually adding just enough brandy and honey to make the mixture bind.

Cut the fish into large chunks — place in the bowl of a food processor and pulse about 20 times (do not puree).

Place fish mixture into the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment. Heat oil in a large frying pan, sauté onions until transparent and soft (let cool).

To the fish mixture, add the onions, eggs, 2 cups cold water, matzah meal, salt, pepper, sugar and lemon juice — beat in mixer for 10 minutes at medium speed with a dishtowel covering the bowl to avoid a mess.

Add the dill and grated carrots to the fish mixture — mix well.

Pour the fish mixture into a greased 12-cup bundt pan, smooth the top with spatula and cover with foil.

Place the bunt pan into a larger pan (I use a roasting pan) filled with 2 inches of water that is almost boiling (a water bath).

Bake in oven for 1 hour or until center is solid.

Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes or until mold is cool to the touch.

Run a knife around the edges, place a flat serving plate on top and then flip over, inverting the fish mold onto a plate.

Slice and serve with herb garnish AND fresh horseradish!

Baked Apples

MIKE STEKLOF

4 apples

4 teaspoons brown sugar

4 teaspoons butter (1 per apple)

4 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons Salt

Remove the core of each apple, leaving a well. Stuff each apple with 1 teaspoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Place apples in a baking dish and top each with 1 teaspoon butter.

Bake at 350° F for 40-45 minutes until the sugar caramelizes and the apples are tender.

Swords of Iron Israel Emergency Campaign Honor Roll

The leadership of the Buffalo Jewish Federation extends gratitude to each donor who made a gift(s) to support the Jewish Federations of North America Swords of Iron Israel Emergency Campaign. Contributions to this extraordinary collective effort helped raise over $300,000 locally and more than $780 million nationally.

$10,000+

Congregation Shir Shalom Community Concert

Howard Zemsky

Arthur Gellman

Charles Shuman

Marilyn Shuman

Anonymous (1)

$1,000-$9,999

Howard Benatovich

David Blum

Judith and Joel Brownstein

Arlene Burrows

Lynn Catalano, Esq.

Antoinette Dauber

David Desmon

Brenda and Eric Feldstein

Linda Frank

Shawn and Kathie Frier

Scott Goldman

Jeffrey Hirschberg

Todd Joseph

Robert Kaprove

David and Emily Kaye

Jim Kramer

Rise Kulick

Suzanne Licata

Agi Maisel

Juliet Melzer

Bennet Myers

Alan & Isabell Posner

Kevin Pranikoff

Rabbi Sara and Ezra Rich

Brenda Rosen

Howard Rosenhoch

Lori and Rick Schkolnick

Maxine Seller

Ken Shuman

Cheryl Stein

Ellen Sterman

Joseph Sterman

Matthew Swerdlin

Gene Warner

Bruce Weintraub

Aaron and Wendy Weisbrot

Steven Yellen

Anonymous (1)

$500-$999

Paul Baginski

David Barnews

Roseanne Berger

Marc and Laurie Bernstein

Marlowe Bloomberg

Jeffrey Blum

Marc and Shira Brown

Sheila Carrel

Barbara Chazen

Gregg Davis

Robert and Eileen Fine

Stuart Fischman

Patricia Glick

Harvey Helfman

Leon and Cynthia Komm

Sara Koritz

Donald and Betsy Lesses

Audrey Nadel

Blaine Schwartz

Steven and Susan Schwartz

Lorne Steinhart

James Sterman

Harris Witkin

$1-$499

Jon and Marsha

Abramovich

Arthur Ackerhalt

Amanda Addington

Sid Alfasso

Corey and Margaret Auerbach

Jeffrey Bagel

Jordan Balsom

Wendy Baum

Patricia Beiter

Leon Ber

Jacqui Berger

Richard Berger

Linda Bergman

Fern and Steven Bernstein

Sharla Bleichfeld

Lauren Bloomberg

Rev. Mark Blue

Linda Boxer

Estelle Brickner

Linda Broenniman

Debbie Brown

Marjorie Bryen

Pamela Buehler

Susan Bundy-Myrow

Roberta Burstein-Markel

James Carr

Jo Frances Cipolla

Jeff Clark

Steve Cohen

Carilyn Craig

Tara Cross

Iris Danziger

Teresa David

Bette Davidson

Carol Davis

Amy De Lury

Cheryl DiVita

Jean DuBow

Ronnie Dubrowin

Andrew Dugan

Joseph Enis

Jeremy Finn

Armold Fish

Madeline Franklin

Brandi and David Frieman

Hannah Friedler

Jeremy Garson

Daniel Gattuso

Robin Raphael and Alan Gellin

Charlotte Gendler

Eric Glazer

Rob Goldberg

Dorothy Golden

Mitch Flynn and Ellen

Goldstein

Mark and Elizabeth Gromley

David Grayck

Alex Green

Donna Green

Jesse Grossman

Laura Grube

Robin Hall

Ralph Halpern

Jill Hamilton

Graham Hammill

Danile and Kathleen Hawrylczak

Kennedy Henry

Kirstie Henry

Elaine Higgins

Dennis and Karen Hirnle

Lynn and Richard Hirsch

Governor Kathleen Hochul

David Horesh

Jane Horowitz

Leah Hughes

Steve Jagord

Beth Ann Joseph

Seth Kaiser

Hannah Kaminker

Daniel Kantor

Judith Kantor

Robert Kaplan

Jerold Kasimov

Martin and Shelly Kerker

William Klein

Laurie Asher Knipfing

Carol Kociela

Jill and Michael Komm

Michelle Kornacki

Mara Koven-Gelman

Marcia Kraden

Barbara Kraemer

Joan Kumor

Sara Kunkes

Robin Kurss

Sandra Kusmierski

Barbara Kuzina

Kohn Laping

Michele Lash

Melanie Leberman

Stuart Lerman

Andrew Levine

Ellen Levine

Ilene Levine

Susan Levy

William Lin

Gwyn Lowinger

Annette Magid

Stephanie Maier

Lawrence Markel

Ethel Melzer

Arlene Merowitz

Liz Messer

Robyn Meyers Dobies

Margaret Mitschow

Randi Morkisz

Armand and Lori Morrison

Brenda Freedman and Martin Mutka

Joan Nemirov

Monica Neuwirt

Sharon Nisengard

JoAnne Nover

Joan Ollendorf

Jill Palmeter

Michael and Frances Paskowitz

Janet Gunner and Eli Pincus

Cheryl Pleskow

Lance Pozarny

Robert and Barbara Reden

Bernard Redlich

Susan Reeder

Tova Reinhorn

Richard Ridenour

Hon. Lisa Bloch Rodwin

Kenneth Rogers

Nancy Rosenbloom

Joel Ross

Sheila Ross

Vickie and Mitch Rubin

Shellie Rutstein

Harvey Sanders

Tom Sanderson

Jeffrey Schapiro

Sanford and Elizabeth Schechter

Sara Schultz

Morton Sclair

Stephanie Segal

Joni Shatkin

Rebecca Shaw

Timothy Sherry

Judy Siehnel

Deborah Simon

Craig Small

Brian Snyder

Charles Speier

Russel Steinberg

Theodore and Phyllis Steinberg

Linda Steinhorn

Mike Steklof

Ernest Sternberg

Sheldon Tetewsky

Michel Toomey

James Vogan

Jamie Von Ellen

Rolanda Ward

Barry and Evelyn Weinstein

Barbara Weitzner-Lin

Howard Wilinsky

Bruce Wisbaum

Lucille Wisbaum

Cheryl Wisniewski

Amy Witryol

Jessica Wittman

Gil Wolfe

Meg Wolinski

Stanley Wyner

Heidi Yellen

Jeffrey Zeplowitz

Inna Zrubovich

Anonymous (1)

1. Go on a Chametz Hunt!

It’s hide and seek with a Passover twist! Reenact the ritual of Bedikat Chametz (the search for leavened bread) with your little ones to prepare them for the real deal! Hide cheerios around your house (remember where you put them though!) and hand your child a large cooking spoon, a feather, and a flashlight. Have them “search” through the house for the cheerios and then brush the cheerios into the cooking spoon.

2. DIY Elijah or Miriam’s Cup:

Gather a plastic cup (a plastic wine glass is perfect, but anything will do!), some glue, and jewels (glitter glue works great, too!) Have your little one decorate the plastic cup as regal as can be. There! Now you have an Elijah’s and/or Miriam’s cup for your Seder table!

4. Start (re)telling the story today!

PJ Library has published a bunch of WONDERFUL Passover books for you to read with your little one! One of our favorite’s is Let My People Go! By Tilda Balsley.

5. Do the Frog Hop!

3. Sing-along Seder!

Are you ready to brush up on those well-loved Passover tunes? Simply play a Passover album whenever you’re driving your little one to school, soccer practice, Wegmans, and more! A great album is Shirlala Pesach! By Shira Kline.

One of the plagues that always gives children the giggles is the plague of the Frogs! Have your little ones do a Frog Jump relay race by leaping like a frog from one end of the room to the other! This activity takes little to no set-up but is guaranteed fun!

Remembering Marlene Glickman

Marlene Glickman passed away on January 22, 2024. Beloved wife of the late Marshall Glickman; loving mother of Cynthia Brooks and Joseph (Diana Blauw) Glickman; sister of Dolores Schoner and Joel (Cindy) Foreman; devoted grandmother of Melanie (Justin) Miller, Leslie Brooks Ph.D., Steven (Ashley) and Andrew Glickman; great grandmother of Olivia, Ruby and Eli. At her funeral service, Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein of Congregation Shir Shalom shared the following tribute.

When I came to Buffalo fifteen years ago, I knew nothing about this area. I knew I would need a guide to show me the way in my new home.

Along came Marlene, to act as a trusted historian, and more importantly a friend as I made that journey. She was not initially a congregant. I came here to be the rabbi of Temple Sinai. She was from Temple Beth Am. But, we met very early on at one of the Network of Religious Community (NRC) functions. She knew everyone there, of every faith, and I came to find out that she

Marlene Glickman

even had a role in creating the organization. She and I being the only Jews in the room, we naturally struck up a conversation. What came out was a warmth and a passion not only for the NRC and for the Jewish community here, but for all of Buffalo. Later that year, our paths crossed again at the Interfaith Passover Seder, another

passion project of Marlene’s, and what she said, at over three hundred participants, was the largest interfaith Passover seder in the world. This was another thing she had personally helped to create. What couldn’t this woman do, I thought to myself.

A few years later - in the merger of Temple Sinai and Temple Beth Am - I became her rabbi. This was a woman whose husband’s name hangs over the religious school wing, she, as Rabbi Tannenbaum told me in a phone conversation, was Ms. Temple. But without a moment’s hesitation she welcomed me in. As the chair of the music committee, a position she had held for years, she helped plan and implement the program for High Holy Days. She negotiated with the choir, helped determine many of the pieces that were included, and stood by to make sure everything went smoothly.

My favorite new experience with Marlene was seeing her on the holidays themselves. From her seat at the front of the congregation, it was as if she was in total rapture. She not only listened to the music and sang along to it, the music flowed through her. She, as she often would tell me, was one of the only volunteer members of the old Beth Am choir, a position she held for years. Trained in the Ohio State music department, she was an expert in music theory and composition in a way I could only scratch the surface of. But she never lorded it over you, always making you feel welcomed.

Through Marlene I heard about the history of Beth Am, the many plays and performances she and her late husband Marshall had participated in over the years, I heard about her time as a synagogue president when she and others had to navigate through a near collapse. I heard about her close relationships with all the many rabbis that had been part of the community. On High Holy Days, I got to hear her son Joe, and grandson Andy blow the shofar. There three generations of Glickman shofar blowers, she would remind me, holding up the newspaper account, her husband Marshall, having started the tradition. I became close with Andy as well, who was often around the synagogue, and central to our communal life.

In 2016, a few years after Shir Shalom was formed, she became part of our first Adult B’nai Mitzvah class, leading the way with her natural enthusiasm and love of all things Yiddishkeit. It was a very proud moment for her to read from the Torah itself

in Hebrew, beforehand she had only been reading in transliteration. How outstanding to learn a new skill at such a late age!

But, shortly after that experience, her health began to decline. She often retreated to Puerto Rico, her beloved home away from home, a place she had bought with Marshall. She confided in me that it was one of the only places she wasn’t in extreme pain. But, she never complained, at least not to me. Whenever I saw her, either at her home or in the synagogue, she flashed her gorgeous smile. Although she never was upset, I regretted not seeing her more. She brought so much into my life. A few weeks ago, when I saw her for what would be the last time at our Canterbury Woods Shabbat morning service, Steven, Ashley and baby Eli were with her. While her health had noticeably declined, her smile was as beautiful as ever. She was still the same old Marlene, beautiful inside and out.

To close I want to share a reflection I offered at High Holidays in 2018. I had visited with Marlene in the hospital a few days before Yom Kippur. This would be one of the first High Holy Days she had missed in over a half a century of being part of the Buffalo community. Knowing she wouldn’t

be there hurt a lot. It felt like our service would not be the same. So I read her my sermon, whose theme was “Buffalo Strong” and I could think of no stronger Buffalonian than Marlene. It’s always a hard thing to present a sermon before the holiday, but she loved it and I ended up writing about the experience in the sermon itself. Here’s what I wrote back in 2018:

“Yesterday, I had a chance to visit with one of the strongest women I have ever known, Marlene Glickman. She is in the ICU at Millard Suburban. And seeing as she would not be coming today, I read her my sermon. Having led our Music committee for years, and having sung in our choir, she is intimately connected to my experience of the holidays here in Buffalo. Holding her hand I was hoping to give her strength, but she gave me some as well. It is people like Marlene who built this place you are in and who help make Buffalo what it is. Buffalo Strong is about knowing that if it comes down to it the person next to you will run into the storm to save you, and the person next to them as well, on either side, all around the room. And, that deep in your heart you know you would do the same.”

May her memory always be for a blessing.

In Remembrance

The following individuals in our community passed away during the period from February 20, 2024 - March 18, 2024. May their memories forever be a blessing, and may their loved ones be comforted among the mourners of Zion.

Charlotte Krebs

Judy Jack Lewis

Kenneth Littman

Bruce Lubell

Aaron Oleshansky

May Pleskow

Jane Louise Ruslander

Doris Scheur

Adrain Solomon, PhD

Marian Elaine Steinberg

Demory Taylor Williams

If we inadvertently missed printing the listing of your loved one, please email jjwny@buffalojewishfederation.org and we will include the name in the next issue.

Pursuing Justice: My First Priority

BY MACIE CLAWSON

“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly now, love mercy now, walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”

Pirkei Avot 2:21

I was a first-year student in college at The University of Kansas when I first saw this quote nailed to the door at KU Hillel. I came to KU after growing up with no religious observance following my Jewish Bostonian parents moving our family to rural Nebraska when I was 4. Yet, I grew up increasingly aware and increasingly daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. My parents are avid consumers of current events, and I can remember conversations about the news at the dinner table as far back as my memory reaches. My middle and high school experiences coincided with the start and fallout of the Arab Spring, the increased normalization of school shootings, and continued tensions between race and policing in our country. As a first-year student studying political science in the Fall of 2016, the results of the election left me feeling angry, confused, and daunted by what was to come.

I started college pre-law thinking that law school would be my way to navigate the complexities of the world. Yet as I continued my studies, this path started to seem less clear. While I wrestled with questions regarding my career, I also wrestled with questions regarding my faith. I felt called to Judaism but intimidated by its practices and longstanding traditions that were brand new to me. It was the repetitive call for social justice that kept me engaged. The Torah and related Jewish texts all have a repetitive if not urgent call to seek social justice. The Jewish traditions name the search for justice as a central value through Tikkun Olam, calling upon us to commit acts of service and kindness, to take the broken shards of life around us and put it back together. I felt hope knowing that among all the brokenness of the world I was learning about, there were pieces of light in between that needed to be put back together as a collective whole. I felt comforted knowing that while things seemed incredibly tense, difficult, and divided, the sages of the Talmud were wrestling with these questions during

March 2023 Social Work Advocacy Day in Albany

a time of agony for the Jewish people following the destruction of the second temple, their spiritual home, and center. It seemed almost reassuring to know that our ancestors have seen just as scary, if not scarier, times as I have seen in my life.

I graduated from KU in the spring of 2020 with degrees in Political Science and Jewish Studies and felt called upon to continue to work for the organization that had been such a beacon for me through college. I accepted a role as the Springboard Fellow at Hillel of Buffalo and moved to Buffalo in the summer of 2020 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. My first year at Hillel was completely virtual and the loneliness and mental health challenges our students faced were alarming to me. I experienced bright-eyed first-year students drop out or disenroll to move back home heartbroken that they hadn’t made the lifelong friends they had been expecting to make. This continued to happen as I watched other sociopolitical issues continue to divide us as our phones, a device we had hoped would connect us, also worked to further us apart.

My second year at Hillel brought in-person programming and while there was palpable excitement for this, the mental health concerns that existed before and during the pandemic were just as present. Students reported a new sense of anxiety in social situations, ongoing depression, and an inability to manage executive functioning skills. It was around this time I started looking at social work as a potential field to

able to make my work as Director of Engagement at Hillel an employmentbased internship for my second-year internship for my master’s degree.

seek my master’s degree. Social work’s commitment to social justice, to work with people to honor their dignity, and to hold our colleagues and profession in high regard echoed so much of what had already been ingrained in me. By this time, my two-year contract at Hillel had ended and I decided I wanted to continue to serve the community that had welcomed me with open arms, so I enrolled at Daemen University to get my MSW. I spent the first year of my MSW working part-time at Jewish Family Services in their Jewish Community Partnership Program and completed a clinical internship at BestSelf Behavioral Health. I am so grateful for both of those experiences as I got to continue my work in the Jewish community as well as get hands-on experience with clinical work. Then, in the spring of last year I was asked to come back to Hillel of Buffalo as their director of engagement. My social work program required two years of internships, however, after working closely with Daemen University, I was

I started my new role in August unaware of the circumstances I would soon find in my new role. Since October 7th, in no way can I say that my job has been the same it was before October 7th. Students question their safety, online discourse has become entirely hostile, and many of our students find themselves in conversations they are unclear how to navigate. But again, I am brought back to my Jewish values, the values of social work, and the space in which they intersect. My job is not to be the knower of all information but instead to work alongside the students as they navigate these unprecedented times. My role is to be there and affirm their experiences and provide support where it’s needed. And I know that while I do this, I am returning to those same Jewish values that brought me into KU Hillel almost 8 years ago. There are still many joys to my work: engaging students in wellness programming, watching students come to realize there is no such as thing as not being “Jewish enough,” and so many of our amazing programs like our weekly ShaBark Shalom program that brings therapy dogs to the Hillel space. As the sages say “Justice, justice you shall pursue…” (Deuteronomy 16:20). I still am unclear about what I ultimately want to do with my career, but I know pursuing social justice, something that has woven the fabric between my personal values and professional work, will be my first priority.

Macie Clawson serves as the Director of Engagement at Hillel of Buffalo.

Mindfulness-based Yom Kippur discussion at Hillel Fall 2023