Get ‘Hugs & Knishes’ Dr. Perlman, founder The American of pediatric cerebral Israelite website grows at Stir in Montgomery by leaps and bounds, palsy clinic, dies plus this week’s Facebook winner From the numerous online tributes, it is apparent that Dr. Aaron W. Perlman made quite a difference in the lives of many. Dr. Perlman, founder of the pediatric cerebral palsy clinic at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (known since 1995 as The Aaron Perlman Cerebral Palsy Center), died March 18, 2011— the 12th day of Adar II, 5771, at the age of 96. Born on January 2, 1915, in New Haven, Conn., he was the oldest of four sons of the late Phillip and Minnie Perlman. Dr. Perlman graduated Yale University cum laude in 1935 and then continued at Laval University Medical School in Quebec, Canada, graduating in 1939. While at Laval University he studied medicine in French, a language he did not know when he entered. He did his orthopedic residency at Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati and a pediatric cerebral palsy fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.
Before The American Israelite launched the latest 3.0 version of its website, the number of visits to the site were very different from what they are now. Until January, it had averaged 300 - 500 visits a month. When version 2.0 of the site was introduced, the amount of unique visits — visits from different individuals — jumped to 1,000 a month. And now, with The American Israelite version 3.0, for the month of February, the site received 1,685 unique hits, and it is projected to reach over 2,000 hits by the end of March. Currently, the website receives a daily average of over 150 visits. We would like to thank our returning users and we look forward to continue serving as Cincinnati’s source for local
PERLMAN on page 20
WEBSITE on page 19
On Sunday, April 3, at 3 p.m., get a taste of tradition from matzo ball soup to chocolate covered macaroons. You’ll make and eat some of the most popular Passover recipes in this hands-on afternoon of family fun perfect for kids and parents, too. In addition, you can learn a little bit (or a little bit more) about Passover while meeting other families like yours. This event will take place at Stir in Montgomery. This event is free and open to families in Cincinnati Join other families with children 10 and younger, in getting together for which at least one parent is Jewish. “Hugs and Knishes” Please RSVP on the Fusion Family at Stir. website or by clicking on the Fusion Family icon the left side of the American Israelite website. Fusion Family is an initiative of The Mayerson Foundation for interfaith families in the Jewish community.
Tribefest survey: Many attendees AFMDA, Magen David Adom in Israel sign 25 year agreement were federation first-timers By JTA Staff Jewish Telegraphic Agency
By Sue Fishkoff Jewish Telegraphic Agency SAN FRANCISCO (JTA) — New data shows that Tribefest met its goal of drawing many federation first-timers to the recent Young Leadership conference in Las Vegas, federation officials said. “We’re not only satisfied, we’re thrilled,” said Joe Berkofsky, spokesman for the Jewish Federations of North America, which organized last week’s gathering. Nearly 1,300 Jews, mostly in their 20s to early 40s, showed up for three days of lectures, workshops and performances devoted to Jewish politics, religion and culture. It was a first step in what federation officials say is a new outreach strategy for the national federation organization that is aimed at bringing in new blood along with the com-
Sue Fishkoff
Delegates from the United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula prepare for a session at Tribefest in Las Vegas, March 7, 2011.
mitted donors that were targeted by previous Young Leadership conferences. TRIBEFEST on page 19
NEW YORK – On March 13, the Boards of Magen David Adom in Israel and American Friends of Magen David Adom have both unanimously approved a new 25 year agreement which gives American Friends of Magen David Adom exclusivity to raise funds for and represent MDA in the United States.
L-R: Professor Dr. Yehuda Skornick, President of Magen David Adom in Israel; Mark D. Lebow, AFMDA National Chairman; Dr. Noam Yifrach, Chairman of the Board of MDA Israel and Arnold Gerson, CEO of American Friends of Magen David Adom.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011 18 ADAR II, 5771 CINCINNATI, OHIO LIGHT CANDLES AT 7:35 SHABBAT ENDS 8:36 VOL. 157 • NO. 35 $2.00
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Local congressman embroiled in tumultuous Middle East events
Knesset hearings on J Street up ante in debate about ‘pro-Israel, pro-peace’ lobby
Gabby’s Café – American food with an Italian flair
Ohio Treasurer of State Josh Mandel welcomed State of Israel Bonds delegation
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Cedar Village to recognize Eight Over Eighty honorees Distinguished members of the Greater Cincinnati Jewish community over the age of 80 who have made, and continue to make, a difference by dedicating their time and talents to both the Cincinnati community, as well as the Jewish community have been selected to be honored at the “Eight Over Eighty” dinner on Thursday evening, May 19, 2011 at Adath Israel Congregation. Cedar Village will recognize Dr. Larry Essig; Benjamin Gettler; Murray Guttman; Eric Hattenbach; Dr. Albert Miller; Barbara Rosenberg; Freda and Pearl Schwartz; and Sue and Jerry Teller who were nominated to receive this honor. Dr. Larry Essig has been an active and dedicated member of Adath Israel Congregation where he is active in the Hazak 55 Plus group and is a founding member of a study chavurot. He also volunteers at Cedar Village, speaking Yiddish with the Russian residents. Benjamin Gettler has been a community leader for almost half a century. He served as chairman of the board of Jewish Hospital and the University of Cincinnati, and as president of JCRC. He is a founding member of the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, still serving on the board. Murray Guttman has been an active Jewish community volunteer, having served on the board of the Orthodox Jewish Home and the executive committee and board of Cedar Village where he was chair of the Building Committee. He has raised funds for the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, and has been active at Adath Israel Congregation for 60 years. Eric Hattenbach has been a volunteer at Cincinnati Shriner’s Hospital for 23 years, using his computer skills there, and has been volunteering in the Cedar Village Medical Records Department every Tuesday for 14 years. He is also active with B’nai Brith. Dr. Albert Miller served as president of Beth Israel Synagogue in Hamilton and is a board member of Jewish National Fund. He is active at the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education where he serves as a docent for Mapping Our Tears and has guided nearly 200 groups through the exhibit. Barbara Rosenberg has been active at Rockdale Temple where she served as the co-editor of three cookbooks: “In the Beginning,” “Beginning Again” and “Beginning Light.” Her current project is creating and distributing Resource/Crisis Cards for youth,
seniors, the homeless and the Spanish-speaking community. Freda and Pearl Schwartz are sisters who both individually, and as a team, have shared their time and talents first at the Orthodox Jewish Home and for the last 14 years at Cedar Village. They are among the founders of the Friends of Cedar Village and are both active on the board. Freda served as president for six years and Pearl has been an officer since 1997.
“Each of these people has made a difference in the lives of others and it will be a privilege to salute them and their lifetimes of achievement and community service.” Carol Silver Elliott
Sue and Jerry Teller exemplify a lifetime commitment to Jewish values and to strengthening our Jewish community. Sue is a past president of Isaac M. Wise Temple and the Jewish Hospital Women’s Auxiliary, and a docent at the Skirball Museum and the Cincinnati Art Museum. Jerry is a past chair of Cedar Village and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and an emeritus member of the Hebrew Union College Board of Governors. “Each of these people has made a difference in the lives of others and it will be a privilege to salute them and their lifetimes of achievement and community service. We invite the community to join us on May 19 to celebrate their accomplishments,” remarked Carol Silver Elliott, CEO/president of Cedar Village. The evening begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the program. Funds raised will be used for the expansion and renovation of Cedar Village’s rehabilitation services. Carol Leshner is chair of the event. For more information or to make a reservation for the dinner, contact Cedar Village.
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Wise Temple’s April Eitz Chayim programs Wise Temple is excited to announce its upcoming offerings for adult education sponsored by their Eitz Chayim, adult education committee. Wise Temple and the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education are honored to bring Stephen D. Smith, executive director of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education to Wise Center on Sunday, April 10, at 10 a.m. Smith will describe his own personal journey as a Christian who confronted antisemitism and the Holocaust, and how that experience changed his life. He will ask in what way the 52,000 Holocaust survivors’ testimonies in their archive will be a voice of conscience in our age—and for generations to come. He will question whether their voice will be sufficient to stem the tide of violence in our world and ask what role we can all play to reduce the toll of human suffering and wasted lives. The American Jewish Committee is participating as a publicity partner for this program. The annual program in honor of Lusia Hornstein’s memory was established by her husband and children. The Lusia Hornstein endowment fund provides an annual program in
remembrance of the Holocaust and the Human Spirit that honors Lusia’s memory and her extraordinary life of achievement, courage, optimism and goodness. On Tuesday, April 5, from noon to 1 p.m. Rabbi Shulman will be teaching a class on Engaging in Torah. In Pirke Avot we learn from Rabbi Hananya ben Teradion “when two people sit and words of Torah pass between them, the Divine Presence rests between them.” This class will explore the various techniques, approaches and skills our people have used to interpret and understand the Torah over the centuries. Jewish Views on Suffering in the World will be the topic for a Tuesday series taking place April 12, 26 and May 3 from noon to 1 p.m. Whether it is a personal challenge or a national tragedy, dealing with suffering is an inevitable part of our human experience. Over the ages, Judaism has sought to explain why we must suffer on an individual and communal scale. In this course, Rabbi Baden will offer several explanations from our tradition so that we can better grapple with the Jewish understanding of suffering. The next Live From New York’s 92nd Street Y satellite program will host Elie Wiesel on Thursday, April 7, 8 p.m. speaking on: In the Bible: A Judge Named Deborah. Wiesel will delve into the fascinating tale of the biblical Deborrah, who was a female judge in Israel at a time of a male dominated leadership. Since 1976, Wiesel has been the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University, where he also holds the title of University Professor. He is the author of more than 40 books of fiction and non-fiction. The final session in the Downtown Lunch and Learn Series on Biblical Models of Leadership will take place on Thursday, April 14 from noon – 1 p.m. This course looks at the different types of leadership embodied by a variety of biblical characters. So far the series has covered three figures from the Bible: Moses, Joshua and Deborah. This final class will look at Joshua, studying the biblical text and commentaries in order to analyze Joshua’s leadership style, method and efficacy. The class also explores what can be learned and taken from each biblical model so that we can each be more effective leaders in our own realms. For more information about these and other classes at Wise Temple, contact the temple.
‘LET THERE BE LIGHT ’ THE OLDEST ENGLISH-JEWISH WEEKLY IN AMERICA FOUNDED JULY 15, 1854 BY ISAAC M. WISE
VOL. 157 • NO. 35 THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2010 18 ADAR II 5771 SHABBAT BEGINS FRIDAY 7:35 PM SHABBAT ENDS SATURDAY 8:36 PM THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE CO., PUBLISHERS 18 WEST NINTH STREET, SUITE 2 CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202-2037 PHONE: (513) 621-3145 FAX: (513) 621-3744 publisher@americanisraelite.com editor@americanisraelite.com production@americanisraelite.com RABBI ISSAC M. WISE Editor & Publisher, 1854-1900 LEO WISE Editor & Publisher, 1900-1928 RABBI JONAH B. WISE Editor & Publisher, 1928-1930 HENRY C. SEGAL Editor & Publisher, 1930-1985 PHYLLIS R. SINGER Editor & General Manager, 1985-1999 MILLARD H. MACK Publisher Emeritus NETANEL (TED) DEUTSCH Editor & Publisher MICHAEL MAZER Sales BARBARA L. MORGENSTERN Senior Writer MIKE MCCRACKEN NICOLE SIMON Assistant Editors ALEXIA KADISH Copy Editor JANET STEINBERG Travel Editor STEPHANIE DAVIS-NOVAK Fashion Editor MARILYN GALE Dining Editor MARIANNA BETTMAN NATE BLOOM IRIS PASTOR RABBI A. JAMES RUDIN ZELL SCHULMAN RABBI AVI SHAFRAN PHYLLIS R. SINGER Contributing Columnists LEV LOKSHIN JANE KARLSBERG Staff Photographers JOSEPH D. STANGE Production Manager ERIN WYENANDT Office Manager
THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE (USPS 019-320) is published weekly for $44 per year and $2.00 per single copy in Cincinnati and $49 per year and $3.00 per single copy elsewhere in U.S. by The American Israelite Co. 18 West Ninth Street, Suite 2, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-2037. Periodicals postage paid at Cincinnati, OH. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE, 18 West Ninth Street, Suite 2, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-2037.
The views and opinions expressed by The American Israelite columnists do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the newspaper.
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New girls sports, archery at the J this spring Girls will take over the gym at the J this spring with new sports programs designed just for them. Girls (grades 1 – 8) will alternate basketball and soccer on Tuesday, and softball and volleyball on Thursday afternoons. Another new spring sports program at the J is instructional archery, just in time for kids to get a head start on this popular summer camp activi-
ty. All these programs are open to the public, and J Members pay discounted fees. The new “girls only” approach is designed to promote interest in a variety of sports, enhance skill development and self-confidence, and offer some friendly competition. JCC female coaches will lead the girls in individual drills, team skill development and scrimmage
games. Girls will be divided by age and sports. On Tuesdays, starting April 5 at 4:30 p.m., girls in grades 1 - 3 play basketball in the gym, while the girls in grades 4 - 8 play soccer outdoors. At the halfway point in the spring session, they switch. Similarly, on Thursdays, starting April 7 at 4:30 p.m., girls in grades 1 - 3 play volleyball in the
gym, while the girls in grades 4 - 8 play softball outdoors. They will also switch halfway through the session. The only exposure to archery that most kids get is a few weeks at summer camp. The new JCC instructional archery class gives kids (grades 2 – 8) time to develop their skills before camp starts. Archery class is on Tuesdays at
4:30 p.m., starting on April 5, and is held on the Camp at the J archery range. Matt Miller, JCC assistant camp director, who is a USA Archery certified instructor, leads the class. Advance registration is required for all JCC spring programs. For more information or to register, visit the website or call the JCC.
organization he and his wife created to fight indifference, intolerance and injustice. Wiesel has received more than 100 honorary degrees from institutions of higher learning. A devoted supporter of Israel, Wiesel has also defended the cause of Soviet Jews, Nicaragua’s Miskito Indians, Argentina’s Desaparecidos, Cambodian refugees, the Kurds, victims of famine and genocide in Africa, of apartheid in South Africa, and victims of war in the former Yugoslavia. For more than 10 years, Elie and his wife Marion have been especially devoted to the cause of Ethiopian-born Israeli
youth through the Foundation’s Beit Tzipora Centers for Study and Enrichment. The 92nd Street Y series originates and is fed live from New York’s prestigious Jewish cultural center, the 92nd Street Y. The broadcast is fed into Wise Temple’s Social Hall and Wohl Chapel, equipped with large screens and digital video technology capable of state-of-the-art simulcasting. The event is open to the Greater Cincinnati public. There is a cost to attend and tickets will be available at the door at 7:30 p.m. For further information and to RSVP contact Wise Temple.
92nd Street Y with Elie Wiesel Wise Temple’s next 92nd Street Y program via live satellite is Thursday, April 7 at 8 p.m., with Elie Wiesel. Wiesel will delve into the tale of the biblical Deborah, who was a female judge in Israel at a time of male dominated leadership. “The Torah: A Women’s Commentary” writes about Deborah: “Deborah leads the Israelites to victory and is the only chieftain in that period of Israelite history who is also a prophet (Judges 4:4). The poem attributed to Deborah refers to her as a “mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7). ‘She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah ... and the Israelites
would come to her for judgment’ (Judges 4:4).” Elie Wiesel was born in 1928 in Sighet, Transylvania, which is now part of Romania. He was 15 years old when he and his family were deported by the Nazis to Auschwitz. His mother and younger sister perished, his two older sisters survived. Wiesel and his father were later transported to Buchenwald, where his father died shortly before the camp was liberated in April 1945. After the war, Wiesel studied in Paris and later became a journalist. During an interview with the distinguished French writer, Francois
Mauriac, he was persuaded to write about his experiences in the death camps. The result was his internationally acclaimed memoir, “La Nuit” (The Night), which has since been translated into more than 30 languages. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter appointed Elie Wiesel as chairman of the President’s Commission on the Holocaust. In 1980, he became the founding chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. He is also the founding president of the Paris-based Universal Academy of Cultures and the chairman of The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, an
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Local congressman embroiled in tumultuous Middle East events By Barbara L. Morgenstern Senior Writer Appointed in January to chair a congressional subcommittee on the Middle East, U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, (R-Cincinnati), understood the volatility of the region and the risks to Israel. But the first district congressman never imagined that in one month’s time, seismic changes would begin to occur. So far those changes include the fall of Egypt’s autocratic President Hosni Mubarak in an unanticipated citizen’s revolution that would go viral, prompting an uprising in Bahrain and a United Nations-backed military intervention in Libya against its leader Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. Chabot, 58, of Westwood serves as chair of the House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, which is part of the House’s Committee on Foreign Relations. Second District Rep. Jean Schmidt, (R-Cincinnati), also serves on the Foreign Relations Committee. In an interview with The American Israelite, Chabot explained his views as the new chair of the committee, referencing an in-depth interview recently published in The Jerusalem Post. On succession of power in Egypt Chabot said he opposes the Muslim Brotherhood assuming power in Egypt and said the United States should condition its $1.5 billion in aid accordingly. The Muslim Brotherhood “push for Shari’a law,” he said. “They have a history of suppressing women’s rights. They’re connected with terrorist organizations and, if the U.S. is going to be continuing with a foreign aid program, then I think we should seriously consider one condition of that being the government we’re providing that aid to. And if the Brotherhood is part of that government, then I think we’re essentially turning our tax dollars over to folks who are sworn enemies of the United States.” On succession of power in Lebanon Similarly, he is opposed to aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces in a Hezbollah-backed Lebanese government, as is currently being formed in Beirut. “I think it makes no sense for us to be sending our tax dollars to entities who are completely anti-American and antiIsrael as well,” the congressman said. That stance collides with the
U.S. Representitve Steve Chabot
Obama administration’s position that United States aid to Lebanon is important to counter-balance money coming from Iran and its allies. Chabot predicted a compromise accommodating Hezbollah to some degree might result. On the Obama Administration’s sometimes “tepid” response Chabot criticized the Obama administration’s response to dramatic events in Middle East as “tepid.” “You sometimes poison the water a bit if you’re late,” he said. For example, he said while the administration voiced quick support of the ouster of Egypt’s Mubarak, it had a decidedly slower response to the overthrow of Libya’s Qaddafi. “It sort of sends a message out there that the United States isn’t as forceful, isn’t as reliable, isn’t as dependable, isn’t as powerful as we need to be in a dangerous world. I’m not for just getting us involved militarily around the globe. We’re probably overextended right now…but I do think that we’re projecting to some extent weakness instead of strength.” On the need for more spies Chabot said the United States’ intelligence has been “hollowed out” and there is a need for more “feet-on-the-ground” spies. The United States is paying the price for an “excessive reliance” on technology to gather information, he said. “Our intelligence is not what it needs to be,” he explained, blaming both Republican and Democratic administrations. “[T] he weapons of mass destruction in Iraq probably is the most blatant example. We need to have people in there ahead of time in places like Libya, so if something like this came up, we would have more intelligence and be able to act appropriately.” CONGRESSMAN on page 19
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Beyond jarred gefilte fish That’s the goal of what is being described as “the fun and enlightening Passover cooking class.” Join in the Spice and Spirit of Passover! Women of all ages and backgrounds are invited to spend two evenings in the Sarah’s Place kitchen learning
how to make Passover dishes that promise to be big hits with the whole family. At the same time, Sarah’s Place coordinators, Aviva Minster and Yehudis Polsky, will be sharing brief insights into Passover that will make for great meaningful
conversation at the Seder. A small donation to cover supplies is requested. Participants will bring home delicious samples of their success, as well as a deeper appreciation for the Passover holiday. The Spice and Spirit
classes will meet on Wednesday evenings, March 30 and April 6, at 7:45 p.m. at Sarah’s Place in Amberley Village. For more information or to hold your spot, contact Sarah’s Place or see the ad in this week’s paper.
Poet Jerome Rothenberg to introduce Xavier’s new Jewish Studies minor To celebrate the start of the Jewish Studies minor at Xavier University, and its academic partnership with Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Xavier is presenting internationally-recognized poet, translator and anthologist Jerome Rothenberg. The event will be held at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 13. This event is free and open to the public.
Born in New York City in 1931, Rothenberg is a founder of the ethnopoetics movement and a major figure in contemporary Jewish literature. He is the author or editor of more than 80 books of poetry, translations, essays and anthologies. Recent volumes include “Poetics and Polemics 1980-2005,” “Concealments and Caprichios” and the three-volume anthology “Poems for the
Millenium.” A Facebook page has been created for the event entitled Jerome Rothenberg at Xavier. The Jewish Studies minor is an interdisciplinary program with courses drawn from the departments of Theology, Philosophy, History, Classics and English. What makes this minor unique to Xavier is that many of the courses are taught by faculty of HUC. The five-
course minor consists of Jewish Civilization courses and choices from Bible, theology, history of interpretation, history, art, archaeology, literature or philosophy. Rothenberg’s appearance is sponsored by the Xavier University College of Arts & Sciences, the Ryan Writers Fund of the Xavier English Department, and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
Israel, U.S. woo Latin America after neglect leads to tilt away By Ron Kampeas Jewish Telegraphic Agency WASHINGTON (JTA) — It’s time for the West to woo Latin America — some will say it’s about time. The United States and Israel appear to be heading toward increasing their focus on the area following years of neglect that has resulted in closer ties between Latin America and Iran — and gains for the Palestinians. The shift comes amid Iran’s deepening influence in the region, as well as the successes of a Palestinian diplomatic offensive that has seen eight Latin American nations agree to recognize a Palestinian “state” in recent months. President Obama’s visits this week to Brazil, Chile and El Salvador follow on the heels of a visit to Israel last month by Chilean President Sebastian Pinera. Israeli Foreign Ministry officials and American Jewish groups that focus on Latin America say the West’s attention to the area should have come sooner. “Latin America has suffered benign neglect both from the United States and Israel,” said Dina Siegel Vann, the director of the American Jewish Committee’s Latin American Institute. “When you have a vacuum it will be filled,” she said, referring to Iran’s courting of Latin American countries that chafe under U.S. domination of the hemisphere — chief among them Venezuela. “This is the point of view of many Latin American Jewish communities who feel that they have not been treated
as a priority.” An Israeli Foreign Ministry official speaking on condition of anonymity acknowledged the neglect, saying it was primarily a function of resources diverted to peacemaking in the region since the launch of the Oslo process in 1993. That has been redressed in recent months with several highprofile visits to the continent, including Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s Brazil visit in July 2009, and then-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s return visit a year ago. The outreach is coordinated with the local Jewish communities, and Vann noted a number of successes, including the visit to Israel this month of Chile’s president and last year of Panama’s president, Ricardo Martinelli. Jewish lobbying helped moderate Chile’s recognition of Palestine with enough qualifications that the recognition was almost a moot point, Vann said. “They spoke about Israel’s right to exist within secure borders, they said negotiations have to continue and that an agreement has to be part of bilateral negotiations,” she said. “In the end, the Israelis were happier with it than the Palestinians.” Vann and her boss, AJC director David Harris, just returned from a high-profile tour of Argentina, Brazil and Chile to address issues of concern to Jewish communities. The highest-profile effort is Obama’s tour of Brazil, Chile and El Salvador. Obama did not publicly address the Middle East when he met over the weekend with Dilma Roussef, his Brazilian coun-
terpart. The visit focused on free trade with Latin American nations as the continent is showing an economic turnaround at a period when much of the West is otherwise struggling with recession. Nonetheless, the joint ObamaRoussef statement pointed to an
effort to bridge differences that erupted last year over the refusal by Brazil and Turkey to join the international effort to isolate Iran over its nuclear weapons program. The statement underscored closer defense cooperation in recent months.
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Knesset hearings on J Street up ante in debate about ‘pro-Israel, pro-peace’ lobby By Ron Kampeas Jewish Telegraphic Agency WASHINGTON (JTA) — Is turnabout fair play when Israel examines the critics who would examine its actions? Groups on the Jewish left expressed outrage last week after the Knesset subcommittee on public diplomacy voted to convene hearings on J Street, the Washington-based lobby that calls itself “pro-Israel, pro-peace.” The hearing is set to take place next week, and J Street director Jeremy Ben-Ami and Davidi Gilo, an American Israeli who is a major funder of the group, have agreed to testify. “We believe such a Knesset discussion is unprecedented in the history of Israel,” J Street said in a statement. “It appears to be one more regrettable step by a small but growing group of anti-democratic forces in Israeli politics to limit debate and to intimidate those with whom they disagree.” The reference to “one more regrettable step” was to Knesset hearings that would have targeted Israeli nongovernmental organizations tracking Israel’s treatment of
Courtesy J Street
Left to right, Knesset members Orit Zuaretz, Shlomo Molla and Yoel Hasson of the Kadima Party attending J Street’s conference, Feb. 27, 2011. The Knesset is holding hearings into the group and calling on lawmakers who attended the conference to testify.
the Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quashed those hearings after complaints by mainstream pro-Israel groups that targeting human rights watchers undercut Israeli democracy. Unlike the NGO hearings, the J Street hearings do not appear aimed at placing legal limits on the group’s activities in Israel. Rather, suggested Israeli Knesset member Otniel Schneller of Kadima, they are about clearing up whether or not J Street is misrepresenting itself when it calls itself pro-Israel. “I asked for the hearing not because of the content of J Street’s beliefs, but because I want to look into the commitment of Jewish love and support for Israel,” Schneller told The Jerusalem Post. “If they don’t love and support Israel, then they should not present themselves as pro-Israel.” Likud’s Danny Danon, the chairman of the Knesset subcommittee that will be holding the hearings, plans on asking Kadima Knesset members who attended J Street’s conference last month about their participation in the event. “During the midterms, we saw congressional candidates lose elections partially because of their support for J Street,” Commentary magazine blogger Alana Goodman wrote. “But is this a sign that J Street is now starting to hurt politicians on an international level?” Abraham Foxman, the AntiDefamation League’s national
director, said the hearings on J Street are a bad idea. “I would hope that the Israeli Knesset had better things to do than hold hearings on American Jewish organizations or American organizations,” he told JTA. “It’s inappropriate, it’s counterproductive — it’s beyond their purview and jurisdiction. There’s nothing positive that could be achieved from any of it.” But Morton Klein, the president of the Zionist Organization of America, said the hearings could be clarifying. He referred to revelations last year that J Street got a big chunk of its funding from George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist who has been harshly critical of successive Israeli governments. “It’s fine for Israel to determine who is behind this organization, who is funding it, for people to know,” Klein said. The goal of the hearings seems to be to create an atmosphere that would discourage any Israeli affiliation with the group, J Street backers warn. “After aggressively attacking dissenting voices in Israel and trying to suppress diversity at home, some Israeli legislators are now extending their intimidation campaign across the ocean,” said Debra DeLee, the president of Americans for Peace Now. “The attempt to delegitimize an American organization that supports Israel and works tirelessly to engage tens of thousands of Americans in pro-Israel activity is bad for Israel.”
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Gay community faces rift International over cancellation of a pro- Briefs Palestinian fundraiser By Nathan Guttman Jewish Telegraphic Agency NEW YORK (The Forward) — They’ve long faced off on college campuses and in the media, and now Israel’s supporters and detractors are in a pitched battle for the hearts and minds of the gay and lesbian community. This fight bubbled over earlier in March when New York’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center canceled a pro-Palestinian group’s event for which the center had rented its space. The cancellation followed complaints from supporters of Israel within the gay community. The center’s move set off a heated dispute within the gay community. In this debate and elsewhere, Israel and its supporters are highlighting the Jewish state’s progressive attitude toward gay and lesbian issues. Pro-Palestinian voices, meanwhile, accuse Israel of “pink-washing” its conflict with the Palestinians. “This is considered to be a use of gay and lesbian rights in order to deflect from, and justify, the widespread decimation of basic human rights for other populations, or even for minority queer
populations,” said Judith Butler, a professor of rhetoric and comparative literature at the University of California, Berkeley and an influential figure in the field of queer theory, in an e-mail. Butler has criticized the LGBT Community Center for canceling the March 5 event, titled “A Party to End Apartheid.” The event was organized by a group called Siege Busters in order to raise money for another flotilla to Gaza. It was part of a nationwide set of events hosted by various groups under the banner of Israel Apartheid Week. News of the planned event brought the LGBT Community Center under fire from supporters of Israel. Michael Lucas, one of America’s leading producers of gay porn movies and a right-leaning columnist at The Advocate, a leading gay publication, was the most outspoken, calling on donors to boycott the center if it did not cancel the event, which he described as anti-Semitic. “At first I thought this was a joke,” he said in a statement. “Israel is the only country in the Middle East that supports gay rights, while its enemies round up, torture and condemn gay people to death.” FUNDRAISER on page 21
Hoenlein denounces lack of outrage after naming of square after terrorist By JTA Staff Jewish Telegraphic Agency NEW YORK (JTA) — Presidents Conference leader Malcolm Hoenlein slammed governments, including the Obama administration, for not denouncing the naming of a square in a West Bank town after a terrorist. Hoenlein, the executive vice president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, made his comments Thursday in New York at a memorial service for the parents and three children of the Fogel family who were murdered March 11 in the West Bank settlement of Itamar. “If governments, even our own, do not stand out and shriek and condemn and take action when they see this kind of action by the Palestinian Authority and their representatives” — and the incitement continues despite repeated promises — then “we must make sure that our voices are heard,” Hoenlein said. “We have
to demand accountability and that there will be consequences.” Hoenlein compared those behind the killings to Nazis, and said they were “likely driven by a vicious hatred fostered by the continuous anti-Israel and anti-Jewish incitement of their political and religious leaders, starting with” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. The naming of the square, which took place just two days after the murders, drew a relatively muted response from the White House — relatively low-level officials said they were seeking clarification on the matter and denounced incitement by “all parties.” Those spokespeople, at the White House and at the State Department, responded only after calls from JTA. They called “disturbing” reports that Palestinian Authority officials attended the renaming of the square for a terrorist, Dalal Mughrabi, who was involved in killing 37 Israelis.
Argentina remembers embassy bombing BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (JTA) — The 19th annual commemoration of the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires reflected concern about the influence of Iran in Latin America. “Iran was behind the 1992 embassy attack. Iran is trying to increase its influence in Latin America,” Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a message read by Israel’s ambassador to Argentina, Daniel Gazit. Jewish leaders, Jewish school groups, and local and federal government officials met March 18 in the square where the embassy once stood to remember the March 17, 1992 attack, which killed 29 and injured 242. “I came here with my parents and met all the ambassadors of Israel. Then I came due to political persecution,” said Hector Timerman in his first appearance at the annual ceremony as Argentinean foreign minister. “Today I come as foreign minister of a government committed to justice. “It is hard for me stand up here; I am a foreign minister of a country who was attacked twice and there is no justice for the attackers.” The perpetrators of the deadly car bombing on the embassy have gone unpunished. A second attack on the Jewish community in Argentina, on July 18, 1994 at the AMIA Jewish center, killed 85. The perpetrators also have gone unpunished. Gabriel Pitchon, a survivor of the 1992 attack, expressed the commitment of family and friends of the victims to seek justice. Timerman told the crowd at the March 17 memorial that President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has appealed to the Iranian authorities to cooperate with the justice minister of Argentina in the AMIA case at the General Assembly of the United Nations in September 2010, proposing that a third country should judge Iranian citizens accused of involvement in the attack. The previous day, young Jews held an artistic and educational ceremony to memorialize the victims of the attack featuring Israeli pop star Ivri Lider, who was invited to Argentina by the Autumn Festival of music. Young media professionals prepared a video about the attack memorials titled “Justice will not stay buried under the rubble.”
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North American immigrants lead in Israel’s nonprofit sector By Dina Kraft Jewish Telegraphic Agency TEL AVIV (JTA) — When David Portowicz was a new immigrant to Israel from Brooklyn in the 1970s, he began research on poverty in Jaffa that would lead to his life’s work: the creation of a nonprofit organization that now serves thousands of disadvantaged children and their families. A doctoral student in social work at the time, the small NGO he co-founded in 1982, the Jaffa Institute, today is a veritable force of nature with 35 programs and an annual operating budget of $6 million. The institute runs afterschool activity centers to help keep kids off the streets, offers university scholarships for 170 graduates of Jaffa programs, has shelters for runaways and even provides music lessons. “It’s a mission of love,” Portowicz says. “You work hard.” Portowicz is one of many immigrants to Israel from North America who along with other English-speaking immigrants have played an outsized role in Israel’s growing nonprofit sector. For many, the same idealistic instincts that prompted them to leave comfortable lives in North America, Britain and elsewhere for Israel led them to top roles in the Israeli nonprofit sector, and they have brought with them a mixture of can-do enthusiasm, background in grass-roots activism and fundraising skills that have helped make their projects successful. “We are talking about the kind of people who are immigrants by choice,” said Alon Tal, an immigrant from the United States who founded one of the most influential environmental groups in Israel, Adam Teva V’din, Israel Union Environmental Defense. “Many of us grew up in youth movements where you are raised on the idea that you are supposed to change the world,” Tal said. “It’s a certain kind of person willing to take a chance and who could have been very successful” in their home country. “For some of us, the thought was that if you are coming here, you might as well have an adventure.” Over the last decade, the number of nongovernmental organizations in Israel has multiplied as Israel’s traditionally socialist-leaning welfare system has significantly downsized. Some 12,000 NGOs are now active in Israel. English-speaking immigrants have found their niche not only in reaching out to the socio-economically disadvantaged, but also in civil society areas like the environment, human rights, reli-
“It’s likely because Anglos come with a much more developed idea of civic society than other ethnic groups in the country, and so they get involved,” Sydney Engelberg gious pluralism and IsraeliPalestinian dialogue. “It’s likely because Anglos come with a much more developed idea of civic society than other ethnic groups in the country, and so they get involved,” said Sydney Engelberg, a faculty member at Hebrew University’s program in nonprofit management. “Part of my Zionist feeling was that if I can help anyone, I want to help children in Israel,” Portowicz said. “I think I made a bigger difference here than I thought I would make.” When Tal came to Israel in 1990 at the age of 29, he vacillated between joining the just-established Environmental Ministry or establishing an environmental advocacy organization. He went with the latter. “A large percentage of many Israeli nonprofits come from international Jewish philanthropy, so there is a home-court advantage for American immigrants in terms of English skills and cultural affiliation,” Tal told JTA. Miriam Garmaise, an immigrant to Israel from Canada, also became a prominent environmentalist. She is the executive director of Shomer for a Better Environment, a nonprofit established in 1998 by Tamar Gindis, a fellow Canadian immigrant, that focuses on national, cross-sector projects. Their current flagship project is promoting a graywater recycling initiative intended to jump-start the practice of recycling shower and laundry water as a way to save up to tens of millions of cubic meters of water a year. Garmaise traces her interest in activism to growing up in Canada, where her parents were active in the Jewish community and projects to help Israel. “The fact that people like me moved to Israel is because we consider Israel a very important place to be and to contribute to once we are here,” she said. As for the bureaucratic and other stumbling blocks they face here, Garmaise is upbeat. “I have come to respect the need for time and patience to make things happen,” she said. Portowicz adds, “You persist.
You don’t take no for an answer.” Seth Farber, a Modern Orthodox rabbi who emmigrated from the United States and founded ITIM, the Jewish Life Information Center, knows all about persistence. He fights what he says often seems like an interminably uphill battle to help Israeli and Diaspora Jews navigate the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, which holds a monopoly on issues of religion like conversion and marriage. Farber believes his American background has been helpful in his work, specifically his knowledge of how other Jewish religious leadership models work. “In Israel people don’t feel as responsible for their Jewish life, so it can sometimes have less meaning,” Farber said. “What I can bring to the table is a middle ground, an opportunity for people to have their say. “Americans put a lot of belief into the third sector to have power and make a difference,” he adds. “Because I’m a Zionist and this is the center of the Jewish people now, this is where I want to make my impact.” Another American-run Israeli NGO involved in efforts to reduce tensions between religion and state is Tzohar, founded by a group of Modern Orthodox rabbis in 1996, soon after Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish extremist. The organization’s current executive vice president is Nahum Rosenberg, an American immigrant. “It’s important to be not only bilingual but bicultural and live in both worlds,” Rosenberg said. He says Americans bring advantages when it comes to fundraising and the culture of management. “We may be nonprofits, but that does not mean we are not performance organizations. So you need to have that side,” he said, referring to professional Western standards for NGOs. “And you need to have that Israeli flair for ingenuity and perseverance with the ability to stretch every shekel as far as it can go. “If you can seize on both traits, you can use them to your advantage.”
Israel Briefs Israel files U.N. complaint over mortar barrage JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s foreign minister filed a formal complaint with the United Nations following the heaviest barrage of mortar shells on southern Israel in two years. More than 50 mortars were fired from the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning, according to reports. Two Israelis were injured by shrapnel, and homes and buildings sustained damage. The armed wing of Hamas, Izzadin Kassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for most of the explosives. Israel’s military struck several Hamas targets with tanks and aerial fire in Gaza later Saturday in response to the barrage. The strike lasted some 45 minutes, Ynet reported. The bodies of two Palestinians who were suspected of planting a bomb were found the next day near the Gaza-Israel border, according to reports. Last Friday, 10 mortars were fired on Israel from Gaza. In the complaint to the United Nations, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman decried international support for the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying that it would be a “terrorist state whose primary goal is the destruction of Israel.” He also noted that the attack on Israel came as Hamas and the Fatah Party of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas were talking about reconciliation. Israel also filed a formal complaint with the U.N. Security Council on March 18 over its seizure of the cargo ship Victoria, which was transporting concealed arms from Iran via Syria to Gaza via Egypt. Meanwhile, gunmen claiming to be from Hamas on Saturday raided the Gaza offices of the Reuters news agency, striking one employee with a metal bar, and smashing a television and other equipment. The gunmen also raided the offices of CNN and the Japanese station NHK. At funeral, Syrian protesters chant for freedom JERUSALEM (JTA) — Antigovernment demonstrators chanted “God, Syria, freedom” at the funeral of a fellow protester in the southern Syrian city of Deraa. The protesters at Monday’s funeral added to the chant, “The people want the overthrow of corruption,” Reuters reported. Black-uniformed security forces sporting assault rifles oversaw the proceedings.
It was the fourth day of anti-government demonstrations in Deraa; five protesters have been killed. Syrians also demonstrated Monday in the town of Jassem, according to reports citing activists. Thousands had demonstrated in Deraa on Sunday for political freedom and an end to government corruption. Syrian security forces killed four demonstrators on March 18 during a peaceful protest calling for the release of 15 children jailed for writing protest graffiti on buildings in the city. The children were released Monday. The protests in Syria follow uprisings in several countries in the region, including Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen and Bahrain. U.N.’s Falk says Israel is committing ‘ethnic cleansing’ JERUSALEM (JTA) — Richard Falk, the special rapporteur of the United Nations on the Palestinians, told the U.N. Human Rights Council that Israel is committing ethnic cleansing in eastern Jerusalem. Falk’s statements Monday to the Human Rights Council came as the council prepared a resolution condemning settlement building in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem. Falk called the council’s attention to what he said was the intensifying deterioration of human rights in eastern Jerusalem, pointing to the increasing number of Jews moving into homes in the area and Palestinians being expelled from their homes by courts after challenges to their property ownership. This situation “can only be described in its cumulative impact as a form of ethnic cleansing,” Falk said, according to Reuters. Israel does not allow Falk to enter the country and does not deal with him in any way because of what it considers to be his biased mandate. Israel sends medical delegation to Japan JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel has sent a medical delegation to Japan to help victims of the recent devastating earthquake and tsunami. Two doctors and an Israel Defense Forces Homefront Command officer arrived Monday in Japan to determine what is required to send a full-scale medical delegation and the necessary equipment to the devastated area, according to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Israeli team will be located in the Miyagi prefecture, about six hours north of Tokyo, which was hardest hit by the recent tsunami. The team will establish a field medical clinic geared to handle the casualties and refugees concentrated in the region.
SOCIAL LIFE
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011
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A N N O U N C E M E N TS CAREER CHANGE ohn Mendelsohn, M.D., age 74, will step down from his post sometime in August as president of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Mendelsohn was reported to have said that “this is the right time” to step down, noting that it is always best to make a change in leadership while the institution’s at the top, referring to the hopital’s No. 1 position on the U.S. News and World Report’s annual hospital rankings. Mendelsohn will remain on the M.D. Anderson faculty as codirector of the Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, a new venture that will bring together researchers, clinicians and investigators from many disciplines to tailor treatment based on the genetic signatures of patients’ particular cancers. Mendelsohn was born in Cincinnati on Aug. 31, 1936, and earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemical sciences magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1958. While there, he was a student of James D. Watson, Ph.D., one of the men credited for identifying DNA’s structure. In 1976, he was founding director of the cancer center at the University of California, San Diego. From 1985-1996, Mendelsohn chaired, reorganized and expanded the Department of Medicine at Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York. Mendelsohn served for 10 years as the founding editor of Clinical Cancer Research, and has been on numerous other editorial boards. He has authored over 250 scientific papers and articles for journals and books, and is senior editor of the textbook, “The Molecular Basis of Cancer.” When Mendelsohn came to the M.D. Anderson facility, rather than follow the advice of shutting down departments, he recruited patients and expanded the facility. Today, after nearly 15 years of his tenure, M.D. Anderson has doubled in size of budget, patients, employees, research, square feet, etc.
J
PERFORMANCE umor is serious business,” says Lenny Dave,
“H
nationally recognized speaker, author and humorist. Dave, quite literally, speaks from experience, as a practitioner, patient and student of humor. Dave is past president of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. The mission of this international association (founded in 1987) is to serve as the central “community” of professionals who study, practice and promote “healthy humor” and laughter. Starting March 27, as “Humor Scholar on Campus,” Dave will be presenting six programs in four days to diverse personal and professional audiences at the Menorah Park Senior Community in Cleveland. In a performance open to the public on Sunday, March 27 at 2 p.m., Dave will present “Laugh Goes On!” focusing on the proven benefits of ‘Healthy Humor’ in the healing and coping process. Next, residents in Independent Living, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing will be treated to their own private audiences with Lenny for “100 Years of Comedy!” Dave then concludes his scholarly campus visit with a half-day, professional workshop, “But, We’ve Always Done It This Way!” The workshop (for CEU credit) is geared toward administrators and professional staff working in Senior Care, Elder Care and Nursing Homes. From there, Dave will continue on a national tour. What is “Healthy Humor?” Dave explains, “It’s humor that is non-offensive and non-hostile – it’s tolerant and benevolent – it enhances relationships and is often philosophical. It’s inclusive and supportive – it encourages laughter with others – it builds bridges, not fences – it reduces tension and stimulates new ideas. AATH focuses on humor and laughter that is healthy and helpful, not humor which is hurtful and harmful and uses laughter as a weapon at someone else’s expense.” Beyond the physical and physiological benefits, Dave reminds his audiences not to underestimate the emotional and psychological benefits such as simply improving one’s mood. “In my opinion, people going through the healing and coping process need a break from all of those sterile, ‘symptom seminars.’ There comes a point where
the intense, medical techno-jargon creates a genuine sense of numbness and nausea. Every so often, people just need to relax, lighten up, have a few good laughs and forget about things for a while.” Twice nominated as “Speaker of the Year” by Campus Activities Magazine, Dave admits, “I’m not a doctor, but I do occasionally perform successful surgery on the human spirit!” Patient Dave understands this perspective all too well. “If you’re going to have a heart attack, you might as well try to find some humor in it – and I made sure that I did!” Finding the lighthearted side of his 2005 heart attack, “Without question, the humor highlight came in the operating room. I wanted the medical staff to know that I was still very much alive. I’m told they like that! Moments before my procedure, as I lay on the operating table awaiting the ‘happy juice’ to start flowing into my IV, I tilted my head to look over at the skilled, cardiac surgeon whom I really had only met briefly up in the Emergency Room the day before. He was all prepped in his gown, rubber gloves, and what looked like an OSHA-approved welder’s mask. Now, I knew full well that this guy had probably performed this procedure thousands of times. But, with a semi-straight face, I just had to ask him, ‘So Doc, have you ever done one of these things before?’ With an even straighter face, with perfect vaudevillian timing and without missing a beat, the guy says, ‘Well, I tried it yesterday on the dog!’ ” Having seriously researched the lives and careers of The Marx Brothers, Harpo in particular, Dave was invited to spend a day with Mrs. Harpo Marx and her son in Palm Springs, California. “Meeting them was the culmination of years of study for me. I felt as if I already knew them. Harpo, my favorite Marx Brother, was, from all accounts, a prince of a fellow.” Harpo died in 1964. “Meeting his family confirmed everything I had read and come to believe.” Back in Cincinnati, Dave has also served for several years as Master of Ceremonies for the late December “Comedy Night,” which featured national comedy talent such as Robert Klein, Cathy Ladman, Mark Schiff, Steve Mittleman, Hugh Fink and Bobby Tessel.
Classic Contemporary Landscapes Opening Friday April 1st, 2011 • 5-8 pm Guest Curator: Daniel Brown Featuring twelve Cincinnati Artists: Ursula Brenner, Brian Burt, Beverly Erschell, Shannon Godby, Paula Risch Head, Kay Hurley, Carol MacConnell, Lisa Molyneux, Frank Satogata, Stacie Seuberling, Valerie Shesko, and Tim Tepe Exhibition continues through April 29th
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CINCINNATI JEWISH LIFE
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Rockwern boys excelled during basketball season With the completion of the Cincinnati Area Youth Basketball League (CAYBL) season in mid-March, Rockwern Academy’s Fourth Grade Boys’ team proved undefeated in their division, and are second place runners up for the league’s tournament title. In addition, the Sixth Grade Boys’ team are league champions by placing third in the league, finishing with 8 wins and 2 losses for the season. On March 13, a spaghetti banquet was held at Rockwern for the students who participated in basketball for the season. Each player received a medal and a certificate. The players on the fourth grade team each received a trophy and signed their names on a basketball, on which their season record was inscribed. The signed ball will be placed in the Rockwern sports trophy case.
The Rockwern Academy 4th Grade Boys’ Basketball team Back: Solomon Kravitz, Ben Bader, Asst. Coach Jim Miles, Matthew Youkilis, Coach Fred Wittenbaum, Sam Miles, Jeremy Wittenbaum, Brad Gallop Front: Noah Garfunkel and Ben Peri.
The Rockwern 6th Grade Boys’ Basketball are 2010-2011 CAYBL Tournament champions Asst. Coach David Moss, Daniel Moss, Max Broxterman, Evan Weisser, Jonathan Mason, Micah Bachrach, Jared Sandow, Max Torem and Head Coach Steve Broxterman.
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DINING OUT
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Gabby’s Café – American food with an Italian flair By Marilyn Gale Dining Editor Gabby’s Café is very cute, nestled in the bright petite shopping area in the village of Wyoming. Owner Dino DiStassi is a man who likes to feed people. He has a chef who likes to create and is conscious of the new trends in eating, a wine supplier who only offers a wine made from baby grapes in the Tuscany area, and he offers his own generosity. Wisely, he credits his mother for all his good traits; her photo is inside the menu. Not surprisingly, business is good and thriving. Gabby’s Café has been in existence in Wyoming for seven years. In a somersaulting economy, Gabby’s has continued to grow. What is the secret? “Constant change, keeping the staples and revising the menu. Whole wheat pasta is in, gluten free as well, and then barbeque brisket. I try to cater to my customers,” said DiStassi. Chris Singleton is still the chef, dabbling now in lighter menu options. DiStassi’s marinara sauce is sold all over town at IGA, Jungle Jim’s, Country Fresh, Avril’s to name drop a few places. I can vouch for its robust flavor. Toss in some fresh vegetables, and it becomes diet friendly. What are the new food combinations offered here?” I asked. The day of my interview the special dish was sautéed mahi mahi, topped with panko and parmesan cheese, served atop whole wheat vermicelli pasta with a light herb cream sauce, priced at $17.99. A staple is the hamburger. Did I know that the Certified Angus burger came in at No.13 on Cincinnati Magazine’s last summer poll of the best burgers in the Queen City, asked DiStassi, a very tall man, whose ancestry is Northern Italian, where height is statuesque? Did I imagine his voice was slightly challenging? A twinkle in his eye was evident. No, I said, searching for the ultimate burger has not been a quest of mine for many years. Burgers had been a more youthful pursuit. “You have to try ours,” insisted DiStassi. I did and old taste buds were reactivated. Delicious, a sandwich you have to position properly before taking a bite. I was truly satisfied by the tender, flavorful meat that was being
(Clockwise) Comfortable neighborhood dining awaits you at Gabby’s Café; Owner Dino DiStassi likes to make his customers happy; Certified Angus Beef burger is satisfying for lunch or dinner; Eggplant parmesan is hearty, flavorful and loaded with cheese.
comfortably digested in my belly. But what is Certified Angus Beef? At this stage of my life, I need to know what I am eating. So I looked on the computer and found the answer. According to Wikipedia, the American Angus Association set up the “Certified Angus Beef” brand in 1978. The goal of this brand was to promote the idea that Angus beef was of higher quality than beef from other breeds of cattle. Cattle are eligible for “Certified Angus Beef” evaluation if they are at least
51 percent black and exhibit Angus influence, which includes black Simmental cattle and crossbreds. Black Angus is the most popular beef breed of cattle in the United States. Simmental are a versatile breed of cattle originating in the valleys of western Switzerland and among the oldest (since the Middle Ages) and most widely distributed of all breeds of cattle in the world. However, they must meet all 10 of the following criteria, which were refined in January 2007 to further enhance product consisten-
cy, in order to be labeled “Certified Angus Beef” by USDA Graders: – Modest or higher marbling – for the taste that ensures customer satisfaction. – White “flecks of flavor” in the beef that ensure consistent flavor and juiciness in every bite. – Only the youngest classification of product qualifies as “A” maturity – for superior color, texture and tenderness. – 10- to 16-square-inch ribeye area. – Less than 1,000-pound hot carcass weight. OUTDOOR DINING AVAILABLE
– Less than 1-inch fat thickness. – Superior muscling. – Practically free of capillary ruptures (ensures the most visually appealing meat). – No dark cutters (ensures the most visually appealing meat). – No neck hump exceeding 2 inches (safeguards against variability in tenderness). Gabby’s burger is priced at $8.49 and you can choose two toppings. Pick sautéed onions and mushrooms, eat it open faced, ask for the bun to be toasted, and you will dine divinely, sleeping well on a full stomach. Gabby’s menu is full of intriguing items. Saratoga chips with barbeque sauce for dipping is a good sharing starter at $4.99. Pair it with wine or beer and you now have the modern adult version of French fries, ketchup and coke. The Italian wine, Centine Rosso, is a blend of carbernet, merlot and sangiovese, three different grapes off younger vines in Tuscany. A glass is $7. Pizza is also on the menu, whole wheat or traditional crust. The base is a three cheese combination, mozzarella, parmesan and provolone. The Mona Lisa pizza offers sliced roasted eggplant, creamy goat cheese, the three cheese blend and roasted garlic for $12.95. The Mediterranean portabella sandwich has a marinated and grilled portabella topped with feta cheese and pesto mayonnaise served on a ciabatta roll for $7.99. Monday night features Italian specialties; Tuesday is barbeque, try the brisket or chicken. All menu choices are under $20. There is also a full children’s menu. Gabby’s also caters; a complete menu is available on the website. Open seven days a week, with live jazz featured on Saturdays. Future plans are to develop a DiStassi vegetable burger and bruschetta. I suggested a dance floor for baby boomers, too, as this fun-loving neighborhood restaurant is a natural setting for an all around good time. Come to Gabby’s Café hungry. Portions are large; this is a place for comfort food. Dino DiStassi and crew are happy when the customer is well fed and smiling. Gabby’s Café 515 Wyoming Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45215-4400 513.821.6040
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DINING OUT
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20 Brix 101 Main St Historic Milford 831-Brix (2749)
Ferrari’s Little Italy & Bakery 7677 Goff Terrace Madeira 272-2220
Padrino 111 Main St Milford 965-0100
Ambar India Restaurant 350 Ludlow Ave Cincinnati 281-7000
Gabby’s Cafe 515 Wyoming Ave Wyoming 821-6040
Parkers Blue Ash Grill 4200 Cooper Rd Blue Ash 891-8300
Andy’s Mediterranean Grille At Gilbert & Nassau 2 blocks North of Eden Park 281-9791
Izzy’s 800 Elm St • 721-4241 612 Main St • 241-6246 5098B Glencrossing Way 347-9699 1198 Smiley Ave • 825-3888 300 Madison Ave Covington • 859-292-0065
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OPINION
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Point of View
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Rabbi James A. Rudin
(RNS) Japan was the scene of the devastating opening chapter of the atomic age, and now it may be writing the closing chapter on the world’s quest for secure nuclear energy. It is the only nation to have suffered atomic bomb attacks when our nation struck Hiroshima and Nagasaki three days apart in August 1945 — bombings that hastened the end of World War II. Now, the current Japanese nuclear catastrophe caused by the earthquake and tsunami may stop any future construction of nuclear power plants on our beleaguered planet. The United States has 104 of the world’s 443 nuclear plants, and the Japanese calamity has surely ended the arrogant predictions that such facilities can survive similar natural disasters, or that nuclear energy can wean us away from our addiction to foreign oil and dangerously mined coal. If wars are too important to be left to generals, then nuclear policy is too important to be left to politicians, utility company executives and technicians. Maybe it’s time for religious leaders to publicly declare there are certain things human beings are incapable of achieving — like building the biblical tower of Babel or safely harnessing atomic energy. During the 1960s I was an Air Force chaplain in Japan, where my duties included monthly visits to the Atomic Bomb Causality Commission (ABCC) facilities in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The U.S. Public Health Service established the ABCC in 1948 to study two separate control groups: individuals who survived the atomic bombs and those who were not exposed to radiation. Not surprisingly, those who lived through the attacks were struck by cancer, birth defects, skin deformities, genetic abnormalities, psychiatric problems and other maladies far in excess of the nonexposed group. Large numbers of Japanese distrusted the ABCC because it was an American-run facility. In addition, it did not provide medical treatment for the victims; its
(Rabbi Rudin is the American Jewish Committee’s senior interreligious adviser.)
Do you have something to say? E-mail your letter to editor@americanisraelite.com
Dear Editor, A little over a week ago, five members of an Israeli family— Ruth and Udi Fogel and three of their six children, Yoav age 11, Elad age 4 and Hadas age 3 months, were brutally murdered by Arab terrorists. Their throats were cut while they slept. Candy and sweets were distributed by the killers’ supporters in Gaza. Yesterday, I received this week’s edition of the American Israelite. The front page stories dealt with an advice column, a community-wide day of service, the annual convention of the Young Leadership Division of the Jewish Federations of North America, a forth coming casino party, and the antics of Charlie Sheen and John Galliano. The killings of the Fogel family were reported on page 10. I expect this type of insensitivity from the New York Times, surely not from our country’s oldest Anglo-Jewish newspaper. Michael G. Rapp Cincinnati, OH Dear Editor, Throughout the Middle East, citizens of Sudan, Oman, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen are all forcefully demanding their rights as human beings. Suppressed and violated, citizens of the region are unable to stand up for their basic rights and live in freedom. Amidst such chaos, Israel
stands alone as the only true democracy in the Middle East. With gay and women’s rights on par with those of our own country, as well as unprecedented religious and political freedoms, Israel exemplifies our national values. While Israel respects democracy and equality, its neighbors are known for their gross abuses of power, violations of human rights, and strangulations of freedom. With increased cooperation between the United States and Israel, their alliance has remained strong for more than six decades. Israel leads by example with its democratic justice system and its government’s efforts to create peace in a war-torn and unstable region. Israel embodies everything the United States stands for, and it frequently does so under the worst of circumstances. Under constant existential threats, Israel maintains and upholds liberty and justice for all. America depends on Israel not only for economic reasons, but as its reliable ally in a volatile and unstable part of the world. Tensions in the U.S.-Israel relationship are small compared to significant challenges in America’s friendships with other Middle Eastern countries. From a security standpoint, a strong alliance with Israel is enormously beneficial to the United States. With Israel’s advanced technology and military strategy, sharing information and working with Israel to achieve common defense objectives is a significant
advantage to the United States. The two countries work together to develop robust missile-defense technologies that strengthen the security of the United States. Every branch of the U.S. army has had training from the Israeli military. With joint military technological cooperation, Israel and the U.S. have a mutually beneficial defensive relationship, and both work to protect one another. Israel is America’s indispensable homeland-security partner. America’s Transportation Services Administration adopted Israeli security techniques long before introducing full-body scanners and other security procedures in American airports. The FBI, U.S. police departments, the National Guard, and FEMA have all received Israeli training, and are all more adequately prepared to recover from a medical, humanitarian or environmental problem. The list of benefits the United States receives from Israel continues to grow, strengthening America’s preparedness for terrorist attacks and other disasters. America alone can achieve great things, but working with Israel makes it greater. America relies on Israel to strengthen its security and ensure progress in the Middle East. Because of Israel’s critical support for American interests, the United States must work to ensure a strong and vibrant U.S.-Israel alliance. Lauren Goodtree Cincinnati, OH
T EST Y OUR T ORAH KNOWLEDGE THIS WEEK’S PORTION: SHMINI (VAYIKRA 9—11) 1. How many signs are there for a kosher animal? a.) One b.) Two c.) Three 2. How many signs for a kosher fish? a.) One b.) Two c.) Three
4. What issues are discussed about food in Chapter 11? a.) Eating b.) Deriving benefit without eating c.) Ritual purity of food d.) Slaughter e.) Mixing of meat and milk 5. Which character attribute is mentioned in Chapter 11? a.) Kindness b.) Tolerance c.) Patience d.) Holiness
3. How many signs for kosher fowl? a.) Zero b.) One c.) Two d.) Three 3. A The Torah lists all the non kosher birds. 4. A and C, B,D,E are mentioned elsewhere in the Torah 5. D 11:44 By keeping the laws of kashrut, one can curb his desires and empower his soul. R Bchai
Smiles faded by time and nuclear disaster
staff only “studied” the problems created by radiation. The commission was closed in 1975. Many ABCC personnel were American doctors, including enough Jews at both locations to constitute viable congregations. In Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I conducted worship services for the doctors and their families, set up religious education for Jewish youngsters, provided kosher food and in some cases counseled Americans who experienced psychological problems living and working in the sites of such horrific destruction. Frequently, I was the sole Westerner inside the A-bomb museums in Hiroshima and Nagasaki — the only nonJapanese person gazing at the frightening photographs of eerie shadows embedded in concrete, all that remained of people who were instantly vaporized and thrust into buildings and streets. Sometimes I was the lone Westerner visiting the iconic Genbaku Dome in Hiroshima, the only physical structure that survived the atomic attack. I was often the only American who watched Japanese children linking their paper cranes into a chain as a symbol of hope and reconstruction. Visiting Hiroshima and Nagasaki each month for two years brought me into contact with several Japanese clergy: Christian, Shinto and Buddhist. I especially remember one Protestant minister who survived the bombing of Hiroshima, during which he lost his parents, wife and children. Stunned and dazed from the attack, he sought the comfort of some relatives who lived in the southern port city of Nagasaki. A day after arriving, he witnessed the second atomic bomb, this time destroying much of his supposed “city of refuge.” In one of its many efforts to build Japanese-American friendship, the Air Force designated me to present the minister with several Louisville Slugger baseball bats for his church team. A faded black-and-white photo taken during the ceremony shows both of us smiling. Back then, he and I were confident Japan and the world had survived the worst of nuclear disasters. If he were alive today, I am certain his smile would be gone. I know mine is.
ANSWERS 1. B 11:3 The signs are split hooves and regurgitating its food from its stomach to its mouth. 2. B 11:9 A fish must have scales and fins
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Written by Rabbi Dov Aaron Wise
JEWISH LIFE
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011
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Sedra of the Week By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Shmini
Efrat, Israel — “And when Moses heard [Aaron’s argument] it found favor in his eyes” (Leviticus 10:19). Our biblical portion opens with the exalting and exultant ceremonies of the consecration of the desert sanctuary, closely followed by a description of the tragic death of Aaron’s two eldest sons. These events lead to a fascinating halachic discussion between Moses and Aaron which has important ramifications for our religious attitudes today. The sin-offering of the New Moon was brought on the first day of Nisan, which was also the eighth day of the consecration, the banner day on which the sanctuary stood erect and completed. It was also the day of the tragic death of Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu. After seeing to the removal of their bodies, Moses immediately inquired after the meat of the New Moon offering. Hearing that it had been burned rather than consumed by Aaron and his two remaining children, he “became angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the remaining sons of Aaron. Why did you not eat the sin offering in the sacred area? After all, it is the holy of the holies, and it was given to you [to eat] so that you might bear the sin of the congregation, and bring them forgiveness before the Lord” (Lev. 10:16, 17). Aaron countered, “Behold this day they [Eleazer and Ithamar] have brought their sin offering and whole-burned offering before the Lord, and then such [tragic things] have befallen us; had I eaten the [New Moon] sin offering today, would it have been pleasing in the eyes of the Lord?” (ibid 19). Moses and Aaron both understood that despite the great loss of his sons Nadab and Abihu, the High Priest and his remaining sons must continue to fulfill their priestly duties, especially during this period of consecration. Their mourning must go on in silence (“And Aaron was silent” 10:3) and their public functions must continue uninterrupted. Despite their personal sorrow, they are public servants whose service to the nation must continue unabated. And so Moses commands them: “Do not dishevel [the hair on] your heads and do not tear your garments lest you die and anger strikes the entire community... You must not go outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting
Leviticus 9:1-11:47
And so Moses commands them: “Do not dishevel [the hair on] your heads and do not tear your garments lest you die and anger strikes the entire community... You must not go outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting lest you die, for the Lord’s anointing oil is upon you” (Lev. 10:6, 7). They cannot ritually defile themselves by attending a funeral or a burial; they cannot express any outward signs of mourning. lest you die, for the Lord’s anointing oil is upon you” (Lev. 10:6, 7). They cannot ritually defile themselves by attending a funeral or a burial; they cannot express any outward signs of mourning. They must remain within the sanctuary, and see to the proper functioning of the ritual. Moses understood that the divine law, which prohibited them from outward mourning and demanded that they continue to officiate in the sanctuary, included not only the requirement of bringing the sacrifices, but also their consumption. Hence, when Moses sees that although they offered the New Moon offering, they burned the meat instead of eating it, he becomes angry with them. He chides the remaining sons, so as not to embarrass his elder brother, but his displeasure is directed at all three. Aaron responds forthrightly and even a bit sharply (the verb vayedaber is used to refer to strong and even harsh speech), insisting that they brought all of the commanded sacrifices that day, thereby fulfilling all their obligations. However, he reminds his brother that their family was also struck by an unspeakable tragedy that day. Would God who took the two boys have approved of their father and brothers demonstrating all the requisite rejoicing engendered by eating a sacrifice from “the table of the most high,” in the fellowship of the divine? Moses himself referred to the boys as “those near to God, through whom God is to be sanctified” (10:3).
Aaron contends that although in the face of tragedy, we must continue performing our official duties, we cannot be expected to celebrate with God as well. “And Moses heard, and [Aaron’s words] were pleasing in his eyes.” Rashi cites the midrash “Moses accepted Aaron’s argument, and was not ashamed to say that indeed, he had not received a divine directive compelling the mourning high priest to partake of the sacrificial meal” (Lev. 10:19, 20, Rashi ad loc). Aaron’s argument that the law also takes into account human feelings and emotions is accepted. Perhaps it is on this basis that my revered teacher Rav Soloveitchik was wont to explain the halachot of an onen (one whose parent, sibling, child or spouse has died, during the period between death and burial). He suggested that such a person is forbidden to perform the commandments (pray, make blessings before eating, etc.); not only because “one who is occupied with a mitzva (in this case, burying the dead) is not obligated to perform another mitzva at the same time,” but also because God gives the mourner an opportunity to be angry at Him. God removes from him the obligation to serve Him with the usual commandments when he has been struck by the death of a close and beloved relative in a world which is not yet redeemed. Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Chancellor Ohr Torah Stone Chief Rabbi — Efrat Israel
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JEWZ IN THE NEWZ
Jewz in the Newz By Nate Bloom Contributing Columnist THE PARTIAL “411” ON CASEY ABRAMS Casey Abrams, 20, is one of the 13 finalists in this year’s “American Idol” competition. Pundits have rated him as having a very good chance of winning the contest if he stays healthy (he suffers from ulcerative colitis). Speculation that Abrams is Jewish has run high since a 2008 student short (fictional) film appeared on the ‘Net. It’s about a yarmulkewearing Jewish guy who works at a Jewish deli (Abrams). This Jewish deli clerk is sweet-on a Jewish young woman who also works at the deli. My friend, the arts editor of the Detroit Jewish News, knows a famous Jewish rock producer who’s working with “Idol” contestants. At her request, this producer asked Abrams if he is Jewish. Abrams replied that his father, a film production professor, is Jewish. His mother isn’t Jewish. The producer didn’t inquire further into Abrams’ religious upbringing. A KOSHER KID PLAYS WIMPY Opening on Friday, March 25, is the teen-oriented animated/live action film, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.” This film is a sequel to “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” which came out last year and was a surprise box-office hit among the “tween” set. (Some critics were unkind. However, Roger Ebert and others loved it). The original and sequel are based on best-selling novels by Jeff Kinney. The central character of both films is Greg Heffley. In the first film, Greg entered middle school (6th grade) convinced he was going to be the most popular kid in the school. For most of the movie, things went wrong for Greg. But, at the end, he healed a rift with Rowley, his somewhat geeky best friend, and he ended up pretty popular at school. He still hadn’t healed a rift with his older brother, Rodrick, who always bullies him. As the sequel begins, Greg is now in 7th grade and trying to deal with his parents’ misguided attempts to have him and Rodrick bond. ZACHARY GORDON, who just turned 13, played Greg in the original and reprises his role in the sequel. Gordon, who has a big list of TV and film credits (starting when he was 8!) was recently interviewed by Babaganewz, a website for Jewish kids. He was
born and raised in Southern California. When asked what sort of Jewish background he has, he said: “My family and I keep kosher. We always have. When we were in Vancouver both times (filming ‘Wimpy Kid’ and ‘Rodrick Rules’), we went to a synagogue on the weekends and for Yom Kippur. I go to a Jewish summer camp in Malibu called Hess Kramer Camp. It’s a sleepover camp with the Wilshire Blvd. Temple. I do a lot of fun things there. We say prayers every day. We celebrate Shabbat and sing songs.” About bar mitzvah plans, he said: “The rabbi is helping us plan my bar mitzvah now. It will probably be later this year. I’m going to have a big party. And my brothers have given me some advice about preparing for the Haftarah: ‘Relax and have fun with it. It will probably go by faster than you think.’” MILDRED PIERCE RETURNS The 1945 film, “Mildred Pierce,” with Joan Crawford in the title role, was a huge hit. Aided by her salty talking female friend, Ida, Pierce starts as a waitress and builds from scratch a small chain of successful restaurants. Pierce was forced to be her family’s breadwinner, and to support her two young daughters, after her marriage to her indolent and mostly unemployed husband ended in divorce. Pierce’s growing wealth allows her to give her older daughter Veda almost anything she wants. But Veda, an ungrateful monster, thinks her mother is “low class” and her work “déclassé.” A murder opens the film and the story of Pierce and her family unfolds in flashback. The original was brilliantly paced by director MICHAEL CURTIZ of “Casablanca” fame. “Mildred Pierce” stands out as almost the only film of its era in which the heroine was both a divorcee and a businesswoman. HBO has re-made “Mildred Pierce” in a five part mini-series that begins on Sunday, March 27 and runs each successive Sunday through April 10. Kate Winslet stars as Pierce; MARE WINNINGHAM, 51, a devout Jewby-choice, plays Ida. Playing Veda is EVAN RACHEL WOOD, 23 (Wood’s mother is a Jew-by-choice and Wood identifies as Jewish). The talented cast includes Guy Pearce (“Hollywood Confidential”) and recent Oscarwinner Melissa Leo. (The series will also come out on DVD.)
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FROM THE PAGES 100 Years Ago Mr. Alvin Lehman and Miss Lucie Schwab were married Sunday evening at the Cincinnati Club, Dr. Philipson officiating. Miss Hazel Wise will arrive on Saturday from Vassar, to spend her vacation with her parents on South Crescent Avenue, Avondale. Miss Sadie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. Rosenberg, 500 Hale Avenue, Avondale, and Mr. H. Benjamin Marks, of Indianapolis, will be married at the Hotel Sinton, Wednesday, March 29.
Maurice J. Freiberg has been elected president of the Receivers’ and Shippers’ Association. Mr. Freiberg is a prominent distiller and has for years been active in the movement of Cincinnati shippers to secure equitable freight rates. Leo M. Frank died Monday at his home, Rockdale and Burnet Avenues. He was for many years connected with the wholesale whiskey business in this city, but retired several years ago. He leaves a widow, Mrs. Sybilla Frank.
Funeral was held Wednesday from the mortuary chapel, United Jewish Cemetery. Mr. David Hartveld, son of Mr. and Mrs. D. Hartveld, and Miss Gertrude, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Wise, were married at the residence of the bride’s parents, 915 Lexington Avenue, Avondale, Sunday evening. Dr. Grossmann performed the service in the presence of a large attendance of friends and relatives. — March 23, 1911
75 Years Ago Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin S. Katz, formerly of Larchmont, N.J., and now of Cincinnati, entertained with a supper dance honoring their young daughter, Miss Marilyn Doris, at Hotel Alms Saturday, March 21st. Guests at the affair, chaperoned by the host and hostess and their sister, Miss Isabelle Martin, included: the Misses Marilyn Jacobs, Janet Levine, Helene Schwartz, Sue Rosenthal, Eleanor Schwartz, Rollie Friedman, Elaine Frankel, Betty
Harteveld, Betty Nathan, Margery Baum, Hester Hays, Jean Abrahamson, Barbara Oldenberg, Nellie Freidman, Gladys Kane; and the Messrs. Julian Hirschberg, Fred Wolf, Robert Shott, Aaron Goldstein, Orren Hoffman, Tommy Heldman, Arnold Durlacher, Stuart Levine, George Fabe, Robert Garfield, Alfred Heldman, Wynn Williamson, Stanley Kaplan, Robert Silver, Robert Altman and Edward Schiff. Larry Lee, internationally famed orchestra leader, is recovering from
an appendectomy he underwent Sunday, March 22nd, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. I.E. Levine, 670 S. Crescent Avenue. His orchestra is now playing at BeverlyWilshire Hotel, Beverly Hills, Calif. Yale undergraduates who are at home for the spring vacation include the Messrs. Stanley Strauss, Julius W. Freibert, Jr., James N. Heldman, David J. Joseph, James J. Reis, Jr., Thomas Stix, Herbert Block, Jr. and Frank M. Fox.— March 26, 1936
50 Years Ago Dr. and Mrs. Maurice R. Handler announce the engagement of their daughter, Jacqueline, to Mr. Richard Snyder, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Snyder of Lancaster, Ohio. Miss Handler and Mr. Snyder will be summer graduates of Ohio State University, where she is affiliated with Sigma Delta Tau and he with Sigma Alpha Mu. A late summer wedding is planned. Mrs. Florence Wolf Olman, 810 N. Crescent Avenue, passed away Saturday, March 18. Survivors include: two sons, Morton W. Olman, a Cincinnati realtor, and Bernard J. Olman, of
Cincinnati; and a brother, Moses Wolf, of Atlanta. Funeral services were held at the Weil Funeral Home, Monday, March 20, Rabbi Meyer Lovitt officiating. Interment was in United Jewish Cemetery, Clifton. Mrs. Robert L. Westheimer has been named hostess chairman for the anniversary dinner to commemorate 65 years of social service by and for Cincinnati’s Jewish community. AJA, the central planning group for eight local health and welfare agencies, is the descendent of United Jewish Charities founded here in 1896. Names of nine vice chairmen of
hostesses were also announced by Mrs. Harold K. Moss and Mrs. I. Mark Zeligs, co-chairmen of the 65th Anniversary Committee. The nine, representing AJA and its eight affiliates, are: Mrs. Robert Levinson, Bake Shop; Mrs. Louis T. Block, Big Brothers; Mrs. Philip T. Cohen, Camp Livingston; Mrs. Harold Raab, Jewish Community Center. Also, Mrs. Sol Goodman, Jewish Family Service Bureau; Mrs. James Heldman, Jewish Vocational Service; Mrs. Eugene Weston, Home for Jewish Aged; Mrs. Joseph Gantz, Sheltering Oaks; Mr. M. Herbert Oettinger, AJA board. — March 23, 1961
25 Years Ago Mrs. Ruth Menschof of 7610 Reading Road passed away March 22. She is survived by: her husband, Bert; three sons, Dr. Sanford Menschof of Chicago, Dr. Irwin G. Menschof of Waukegan, Ill., and Dr. Louis Menschof of Santa Rosa, Calif.; four grandsons; five granddaughters; and three great-grandchildren. Mrs. Menschof was a member of Roselawn Synagogue and Sisterhood and a former president of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of Talmud Torah. Graveside services were on March
24 at Kneseth Israel Cemetery, Rabbi Max Newman officiated. Weil Funeral Home was in charge. Jacob R. Marcus, director of the American Jewish Archives and a leading authority on American Jewish history, has a favorite way of describing Jewish plurality in this country. “There are six million Jews in the Untied States,” he says, pausing, “and six million Judaisms.” Hyperbole or truth? Merely a catch phrase, or is there an element of reality behind the quip? For those who
attended the Bronstein Colloquium at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion last week — a three-day marathon of discussions, lectures and symposia of JewishChristian dialogue involving scholars and clergy from around the world — Dr. Marcus’ observations may have been apropos. Indeed, the final topic of the series, “Who Speaks for Whom When Jews and Christians Meet?” seemed tailor-made for his quote. — March 27, 1986
10 Years Ago Congregation B’nai Tikvah, southwestern Ohio’s only Reconstructionist congregation, has purchased land to build its first permanent home. Now in its third year of existence, the congregation has approximately 50 member families and hopes to attract more members as it builds its new home. The congregation currently meets in space provided, at no cost, by St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in West Chester. Rabbi Abie Ingber celebrated his 25th year as executive director of
Cincinnati’s Hillell Jewish Student Center March 2. After Friday evening Shabbat services, the students went outside to sing “Lecha Dodi,” which they customarily do, like the Kabbalists of Safed. However, on this evening, Ingber was surprised outside by his four daughters, who were holding a banner reading “Mazel Tov on your 25th Year.” Rebecca Sabo Macy, 67, passed away March 12, 2001. Mrs. Macy was born in Middletown, Ohio. She
was the daughter of the late Jonathan and Esther Sabo. Mrs. Macy is survived by her children, Jocelyn, Lisa and David. She is also survived by five grandchildren and one greatgrandchild. In the early part of her life, Mrs. Macy played with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. She was also a talented writer. At one time, she had her own column, “Becky’s Bylines,” in the U.S. Air Force publication. — March 22, 2001
CLASSIFIEDS
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011
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COMMUNITY DIRECTORY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS Access (513) 373-0300 • www.jypaccess.org Big Brothers/Big Sisters Assoc. (513) 761-3200 • bigbrobigsis.org Beth Tevilah Mikveh Society (513) 821-6679 Camp Ashreinu (513) 702-1513 Camp at the J (513) 722-7226 • mayersonjcc.org Camp Livingston (513) 793-5554 • camplivingston.com Cedar Village (513) 754-3100 • cedarvillage.org Chevra Kadisha (513) 396-6426 Fusion Family (53) 703-3343 • www.fusionnati.org Halom House (513) 791-2912 • halomhouse.com Hillel Jewish Student Center (513) 221-6728 • hillelcincinnati.org Jewish Community Center (513) 761-7500 • mayersonjcc.org Jewish Community Relations Council (513) 985-1501 Jewish Family Service (513) 469-1188 • jfscinti.org Jewish Federation of Cincinnati (513) 985-1500 • shalomcincy.org Jewish Foundation (513) 792-2715 Jewish Information Network (513) 985-1514 Jewish Vocational Service (513) 985-0515 • jvscinti.org Kesher (513) 766-3348 Plum Street Temple Historic Preservation Fund (513) 793-2556 Shalom Family (513) 703-3343 • www.myshalomfamily.org The Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education (513) 487-3055 • holocaustandhumanity.org Vaad Hoier (513) 731-4671 Workum Fund (513) 899-1836 • workum.org
CONGREGATIONS Adath Israel Congregation (513) 793-1800 • adath-israel.org Beit Chaverim (513) 984-3393 Beth Israel Congregation (513) 868-2049 • bethisraelcongregation.net Congregation Beth Adam (513) 985-0400 • bethadam.org Congregation B’nai Tikvah (513) 759-5356 • bnai-tikvah.org Congregation B’nai Tzedek (513) 984-3393 • bnaitzedek.us
Congregation Ohav Shalom (513) 489-3399 • ohavshalom.org Golf Manor Synagogue (513) 531-6654 • golfmanorsynagogue.org Isaac M. Wise Temple (513) 793-2556 • wisetemple.org Kehilas B’nai Israel (513) 761-0769 Northern Hills Synagogue (513) 931-6038 • nhs-cba.org Rockdale Temple (513) 891-9900 • rockdaletemple.org Temple Beth Shalom (513) 422-8313 • tbsohio.org Temple Sholom (513) 791-1330 • templesholom.net The Valley Temple (513) 761-3555 • valleytemple.com
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EDUCATION Chai Tots Early Childhood Center 513.234.0600 • chaitots.com Chabad Blue Ash (513) 793-5200 • chabadba.com Cincinnati Hebrew Day School (513) 351-7777 • chds.shul.net HUC-JIR (513) 221-1875 • huc.edu JCC Early Childhood School (513) 793-2122 • mayersonjcc.org Kehilla - School for Creative Jewish Education (513) 489-3399 • kehilla-cincy.com Mercaz High School (513) 792-5082 x104 • mercazhs.org Reform Jewish High School (513) 469-6406 • crjhs.org Regional Institute Torah & Secular Studies (513) 631-0083 Rockwern Academy (513) 984-3770 • rockwernacademy.org
ORGANIZATIONS American Jewish Committee (513) 621-4020 • ajc.org American Friends of Magen David Adom (513) 521-1197 • afmda.org B’nai B’rith (513) 984-1999 Hadassah (513) 821-6157 • cincinnati-hadassah.org Jewish Discovery Center (513) 234.0777 • jdiscovery.com Jewish National Fund (513) 794-1300 • jnf.org Jewish War Veterans (513) 204-5594 • jwv.org NA’AMAT (513) 984-3805 • naamat.org National Council of Jewish Women (513) 891-9583 • ncjw.org State of Israel Bonds (513) 793-4440 • israelbonds.com Women’s American ORT (513) 985-1512 • ortamerica.org.org
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WEBSITE from page 1 Jewish Community news. If you have yet to visit the site, please try it now. In addition, sign up for the E-sraelite, which you can access by going to the bottom of the American Israelite site’s homepage and typing in your email. We are currently planning TRIBEFEST from page 1 Results from 150 participants who took a post-conference survey showed that 30 percent of them were not already federation donors. Forty-two percent said they had never participated in or helped organize a program at their local Jewish federation and 45 percent had ever served on a federation committee. Sixty-two percent said Tribefest was their first national federation conference. Berkofsky said that because these are only the initial survey results, and probably come from CONGRESSMAN from page 6 On Israel bashing at the U.N. Chabot said criticism of Israeli settlements is a “diversionary tactic” so Palestinians don’t have to deal face to face with Israel and actually work toward a peace settlement. President Obama’s 2012 budget request includes $400 million for the Palestinian Authority, according to The Jerusalem Post. Chabot also has traveled to The Hague to defend Israel when the International Court of Justice there considered the legality of the West Bank wall. In response to what he views as the “ongoing campaign to delegitimize Israel,” Chabot said he also traveled to Florida a month ago with former congressman Robert Wexler, (D-Fla.), to participate in discussions. Instead of leveling constant criticism of Israel, terrorists
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production@ americanisraelite.com contests to go along with that sign up as well as the “like” us on Facebook contest. Also, congratulations to Sandy Geltner-Hatfield, this week’s “like” us on Facebook contest winner. Sandy has won a $50 gift certificate to Embers Restaurant. Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook for your chance to win. the most involved participants, who are typically the first to answer such surveys, “The later numbers should show even more people not previously involved, which is what we hoped to see.” Follow-up is a major part of the federations’ outreach effort. As participants entered each event, their badges were scanned and their identifying information was electronically stored. Those details will be given to their local Jewish federations for concerted follow-up. “We want to keep the momentum going, to capitalize on the energy,” Berkofsky said. should be challenged to stop raising their children to be suicide bombers, he said. He described Israel as the United States’ “closest, strongest ally in the region.” “We need to make very clear to Israel that we’re dependable… We also ought to reiterate that Israel has the right to defend itself and to have defensible borders.” The United States provides Israel with more than $3 billion in aid yearly, according to news reports. A Roman Catholic who is firmly anti-abortion and who, news reports say, supports the teaching of creationism alongside evolution, Chabot acknowledges not all Jewish people support him. However, he said dialogue is important to him and he is willing to meet with constituents in Washington or Cincinnati to discuss all matters affecting the country.
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March 24 Gaucher disease community summit On March 24, you and your family are invited to attend the Shire Community Summit for the Gaucher community at the Marriott RiverCenter in Covington, Ky. Dr. Gregory Grabowski will dis-
cuss VPRIV, a treatment for type 1 Gaucher disease. Dr. Grabowski will be joined by Rhonda Buyers of the National Gaucher Foundation and senior staff members of Shire who were involved in the development of VPRIV.
We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about this therapeutic option. If you are not able to attend the reception in person, please note you can join in on the summit by phone or via the web.
March is Red Cross Month For nearly 100 years, U.S. presidents have called on people to support the Red Cross and its humanitarian mission. President Obama’s proclamation of March 2011 as Red Cross Month continues a tradition begun in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Cincinnati Region of the American Red Cross has been helping those in need for 106 years. The nation’s largest nonprofit humanitarian organization, the Red Cross, responds to an average of over 600 disasters every year, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities. The Red Cross teaches thousands of
During March, people can join that effort by becoming a Red Cross volunteer, taking a preparedness class, or making a donation.
people lifesaving skills like first aid, CPR and water safety. March is the perfect time to take one of these classes. The Red Cross provides a round-the-clock link between those in the military and their families wherever help is needed. During March, people can join that effort by becoming a Red Cross volunteer, taking a preparedness class, or making a donation. With the help of nearly 2,000 volunteers, the Cincinnati Region of the American Red Cross serves 2 million people in 25 counties in the tri-state area. To find out more information, please visit the Red Cross website.
Ohio Treasurer of State Josh Mandel welcomed State of Israel Bonds delegation
Ohio Treasurer of State Josh Mandel welcomed a State of Israel Bonds delegation to his office on February 17. Treasurer Mandel reaffirmed his commitment to Israel and Israel Bonds. L – R: Kathe Turiel, Registered Representative, Israel Bonds; Michael Broidy, Vice President, Schottenstein Stores; Joyce Garver Keller, Executive Director, Ohio Jewish Communities; Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel; Thomas Lockshin, Ohio Executive Director, Israel Bonds; Larry Berman, National Director of Corporate and Institutional Sales, Israel Bonds.
PERLMAN from page 1 Dr. Perlman was a medical officer in both the Army and Air Force during WWII, where he was stationed outside of London, England. He commented that the only danger he was ever in was crossing the Atlantic, because of submarines. His cousin Bernice reminisced, “I can still remember him coming home to New Haven and standing in the parlor in his Army uniform. Tall and handsome and I, as a kid, was in awe of my ‘big cousin.’” After the war he rejoined his uncle, Dr. Robert Perlman, at Freiberg Orthopaedics, where he lived at the hospital for three years! He was a consultant at the Convalescent Hospital in 1951 and established a pediatric cerebral palsy clinic at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He was the hospital’s founding director and chief of the division of orthopedics between 1965 and 1978 and he established an ongoing connection between Freiberg Orthopaedics and Children’s Hospital. “Dr. Perlman was a marvelous example of a highly competent orthopedic surgeon who was caring and kind. Aaron had such a winning personality that he remained friends with many of his patients long after their treatment ended,” said Dr. Richard A. Freiberg, partner at Freiberg Orthopaedics. “I met him at age 9 and spent my entire career as a partner of his until he ultimately retired in great part because declining vision would not allow him to read x-rays. Despite endless personal tragedies and medical handicaps, he never ceased being active personally and professionally and never stopped saying, ‘I am a lucky man to have had the wonderful life, family, and friends I have been blessed with.’” Dr. Perlman began teaching at the UC College of Medicine during 1949 and continued to do so until his retirement in 1990, after which he was an emeritus faculty member of the division of orthopedic surgery. His legacy at the UC College of Medicine is The Aaron Perlman Award, presented every year to the resident who “shows the greatest compassion for patients and exemplifies the highest quality of patient care.” “Aaron told me that the best decision he ever made was when he focused his practice exclusively on pediatric orthopedics. He said it was the most fun he ever had,” said colleague Dr. Alvin Crawford, co-director of the Crawford Spine Center and professor of pediatric orthopedic surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Dr. Perlman and Dr. Crawford sat together for the
Dr. Aaron W. Perlman
weekly Pediatric Orthopaedic conferences at Children’s hospital for the past 33 years. While at Yale University, Dr. Perlman was on the swim team under legendary coach Bob Kiputh. He also enjoyed skiing, fishing, sailing and hiking. Dr. Perlman married Betty Finn of Dayton, Ohio, in 1949, and they had three children. “I remember when he was getting ready to visit Betty in Dayton and he was so excited. He couldn’t stop talking about her so it was no surprise when he asked her to marry him,” remarked Joan Katz, a lifelong family friend. Dr. and Mrs. Perlman were ardent outdoor people and supported the Ohio chapter of the Nature Conservancy, the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati, and Oxbow, Inc., on whose board Dr. Perlman sat. The couple enjoyed collecting modern art, especially photography, and supported the Cincinnati Art Museum. They loved to travel and they were supporters of Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park, the Cincinnati Symphony and the Lasalle Quartet. Dr. Perlman was an active member of the Greater Cincinnati Bonsai Club. He continued most of these activities, including classes at the UC Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and regular social activities until shortly before his death. A lifetime member of Wise Temple, Dr. Perlman was also a strong supporter of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. “The three things that were most important to him were his work, his family, and his community. He had a voracious appetite for learning and life and extraordinary energy and endurance that lasted until the very end. We were all touched by his values and the impact he had on so many people,” said his daughter, Amy. “He was indomitable. Even as he lost many loved ones over the PERLMAN on page 22
FOOD
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011
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Preparing your kitchen for Passover All About Food
By Zell Schulman Recipe Editor Passover will begin at sundown, Monday, April 18. Since I was younger, preparation always began a few days after Purim. I always start by making lists: cleaning list, Seder table shopping list, guest list, Passover pantry list, food shopping list, and a cooking timetable list. Then everything is marked on a special calendar. With the variety of kosher cleaners, modern cleaning utensils and overwhelming variety of Kosher for Passover products, today’s preparation is easier than when I was a child. I remember my mother bringing big rolls of white paper home from my Uncle Eddie Jacobs’ (of blessed memory) Triangle paper FUNDRAISER from page 9 Lucas, 39, was born in the Soviet Union and after moving to New York in 1997 became a porn star and successful producer of gay adult entertainment. He also emerged as a forceful supporter of Israel. In 2009 Lucas produced “Men of Israel,” a pornographic movie filmed in Israel featuring gay Israeli men. He then proceeded to lead gay tours to Israel. Lucas’s threat of boycott and complaints from other gay Jews eventually led the LGBT Community Center to call off the event. In a statement, the center’s executive director, Glennda Testone, said the dispute surrounding the event “began to distract from our core mission.” Many supporters of Israel in the gay community applauded the center’s move. But the cancellation also brought accusations of censorship, with a number of prominent gay activists signing a petition protesting the center’s decision. On the day that the event had been scheduled to take place, a group of 150 proPalestinian activists staged a protest outside the center. “Personally, I would not want to be part of a queer community that does not support rights for every person, including Palestinians,” said Hannah Mermelstein, an activist with Adalah-NY, a group that supports boycotting Israel. “For me this does not square with the values of the LGBT community.”
bag factory. These were measured to fit shelves for the refrigerator, shelves for the pantry, shelves where the pots and pans sat, for the china closet, and any places where cleaning supplies were kept in the kitchen. Each place was washed and scrubbed until it shined, then was covered with the paper. Days before the first Seder, special areas were off limits to daily cooking and preparation. These were for Passover only. The day the boxes were brought down from the attic was one I cannot forget. The boxes contained china, glassware, silverware, pots, pans, cooking utensils and linens plus all the ceremonial items for the Seder table. Every now and then, the newspaper wrappings contained an article, which would have my mother asking, “Do you remember when….” Happy and sad memories were recalled. As the last box was emptied, I knew the following days would be filled with wonderful cooking odors and lots of running up and down the stairs, putting things in the freezer. We didn’t have a microwave but the ovens were koshered, then the racks covered with heavy aluminum foil. The empty boxes
would be loaded up with Chametz-prohibited foods—items which contain leavening agents. For Conservative and Orthodox families keeping Passover, the following general guide to food for Passover is adapted from the Passover guide of the Rabbinical Assembly Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, accepted on December 12, 1984. • Bread, cakes, biscuits, crackers, cereal and coffees containing cereal derivatives are forbidden because they are made with leavening products. • Wheat, barley, oats, corn and rye are forbidden because they are grains similar to those which are used to bake bread. • All beverages with ingredients made from grain alcohol are forbidden due to the grain. • For those of Ashkenazic persuasion: rice, corn, millet and legumes such as beans and peas all have kernels, which swell or rise when cooked and the grains are used to bake bread. • For those of Sephardic persuasion: rice and legumes, being a protein source and part of the main diet, never were forbidden in their communities. Once the range, ovens and
Supporters of the Palestinian cause within the gay community argue that Israel and its supporters are deliberately trying to shift the discussion toward the issue of gay rights in Israel instead of talking about the conflict with the Palestinians. “This is the core of pink-washing,” Mermelstein said. “My question is, so what? Does this mean that people should support Israel and not the Palestinians?” But supporters of Israel disagree. “Pink-washing is a fundamental misnomer because there is nothing to wash," said David Kaufman, a New York-based journalist who has covered Israeli culture and society for the past decade. "Israel actually is progressive when it comes to LGBT rights. So there is nothing to wash. You can’t pink-wash a fact.” Kaufman was among the first to describe Israel as a gay-friendly haven in the Middle East. An interactive map on Amnesty International’s website drives home this point. It shows Israel as the only country in the region that not only refrains from legally persecuting gays and lesbians, but also has laws preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation, allows gay and lesbians to serve in the military, and permits gay adoption. All Arab countries surrounding Israel, including the Palestinian Authority, limit the rights of gays and lesbians. Butler, however, said it would be “quite simplistic and false” to
assert that Palestinians are homophobic and Israelis are not. She said that there are “modes of living as queer” within Palestinian areas and “modes of virulent homophobia
microwave are koshered, the chametz removed and the pantry filled with Passover products, you’re ready to begin your cooking. Each year, new Kosher for Passover products are available. Others are removed or replaced. If you’re concerned, you can consult with a rabbi for certification. Matzo Products Whole Matzos: Plain, tea, egg, yoke-free, whole wheat Matzo Cake Meal: Finely ground matzos Farfel: Broken pieces of matzos Matzo Meal: Coarsely ground matzos Baking Products Unopened jars and boxes that do not have additives (including salt or sugar), if purchased before Passover, can be used for cooking and require no Passover certification. Potato Starch Also used for thickening, Vanilla Sugar: These come in packets
not have additives, may be used for cooking and require no Passover certification. There are many types of fresh herbs available in the produce departments of your supermarkets and specialty stores. Special Product Notes • Condiments—Mustard seed grows in pods, so it is considered a lentil, therefore, mustard cannot be used at Passover. • Oils—Corn is one of the prohibited foods because it is one of those foods, which is used with leavening for bread baking. • Powdered Sugar—Only powdered sugar made with potato starch, not cornstarch, is permissible during Passover. This product has limited distribution. •Vanilla Extract—Regular vanilla extract contains grain alcohol. Kosher for Passover extract is prepared without an alcohol base, is available, but has limited distribution.
Herbs and Spices Unopened jars and boxes of herbs and spices that were purchased before Passover, and that do
I will be sharing several of my family’s favorite recipes in the April 7 issue of All About Food from my cookbook, “Passover Seders Made Simple.” Our Seder meals and celebration wouldn’t be complete without them.
among right-wing religious people” in Israel. “So the dichotomy is false,” she concluded. Israel’s liberal approach to gay
issues is viewed both by Israeli diplomats and pro-Israel activists as an asset in its campaign to brand Israel as a progressive country with Western values.
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DEATH NOTICES PRITZ, Louise A., age 88, died on March 18, 2011; 12 Adar II, 5771. SWILLINGER, Erwin, age 80, died on March 18, 2011; 12 Adar II, 5771. PERLMAN, Dr. Aaron, age 96, died on March 18, 2011; 12 Adar II, 5771.
OBITUARIES LOFTSPRING, Marjorie Marjorie (Marge) Nathan Loftspring possessed a loving spirit matched only by her larger than life personality. She passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on March 6, 2011 – 1
Marjorie Loftspring
Adar II, 5771 – at the age of 86. Born on September 11, 1924, Marge was the first daughter of the late Abraham and Esther Nathan. Marge lived her entire life in Cincinnati, where she had a talent for knowing most Jewish families in the city. She graduated from Hughes High School in
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1942 and the University of Cincinnati in 1946. Her senior year of high school, Marge received a call from a young man in college – a friend of a friend – asking her on a date. “My name is Harris Loftspring,” the young man told her on the telephone, “and I am Jewish.” Their courtship was interrupted by Harris’ service in World War II, but immediately after his discharge in 1946, Marge and Harris were married. Prior to Harris’ passing in 2000, the two celebrated 53 wonderful years together. Nothing brought Marge more pleasure than her children and grandchildren, to whom she taught the importance of family. She was a constant presence in the lives of and is survived by her children, Dr. Edward and Ina Loftspring and Randy and Bonnie Loftspring, and her grandchildren, Rachel, Blair, Drew, and Nina Loftspring. She is also survived by her adored sister, Beverly Nathan Rosenberg. Marge was continually surrounded by family and her multitude of dear friends, drawn to her warmth, perpetual energy, and unabashed tendency to share her opinion. Determined to live each moment to its fullest, Marge was known to say, “you can’t keep a good woman down” and “you take the bitter with the sweet.” Marge will be missed deeply by all who had the good fortune to know her. Services were held at Weil Funeral Home on March 9, with Rabbi Ilana Baden of Wise Temple officiating. Interment was at United Jewish Cemetery in Montgomery, officiated by Rabbi Lewis Kamrass of Wise Temple. The family would appreciate memorial contributions to Hospice of Cincinnati or to the charity of one’s choice. POLASKY, Dr. Saul Dr. Saul Polasky, age 81, passed away on March 7, 2011— the 1st day of Adar II, 5771. Born in Cincinnati on June 26, 1929, PERLMAN from page 20 course of his long life, and even as he lost sight and hearing, he continued to make new friends and pursue his interests. He never complained about things most of us would find unbearable and often said that he lived a charmed life until my brother Matthew died.” Dr. Perlman was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Finn Perlman; his daughter, Sally Perlman; his son, Matthew Perlman, and his brothers, Harold and Elliot Perlman. Surviving relatives include his daughter, Amy Pearl (Skip) Parodi
he was a son of the late Benjamin and Rose Polasky, a couple who had emigrated from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Joan Polasky, and by his sister Marsha Polasky. He is survived by his wife, Lois Klein Polasky; his children, Les (Molly) Polasky, Mark (Eileen) Polasky, Beth (Sam Furgang) Polasky and Karen (Richard) Goodman; his step-children, Ellyn (Israel) Grober, Mark (Suzy) Klein, Sherry Klein and Julie (Mike) Reid; his 18 adoring grandchildren; and his brothers, Nathan and Harold Polasky. Dr. Polasky grew up in Avondale, attending Avondale Elementary School and Hughes High School. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati and continued on to graduate from the University of Cincinnati Medical School. He was chief resident at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and spent time in the Army in Mineral Wells, Texas, where he was the base physician. Upon his return to Cincinnati in 1960, he opened a private internal medicine practice in Deer Park with his brother, Nathan. He continued practicing medicine until the late 1990s and, up until his retirement, he was one of the few doctors who still made house calls. His trademark as an office and hospital physician was singing and whistling to his
patients in an effort to make them feel better. To this day, many former patients reminisce how they miss his bedside manner and his willingness to spend as much time as needed answering their questions. Dr. Polasky met his first wife, Joan Grossman, in the early 1950s. She was a nurse at Jewish Hospital while he was in training. They married in 1955 and during their married life, they raised four children, traveled to many cities and enjoyed the cultural life in Cincinnati (including UC Bearcats football and basketball games). Dr. Polasky enjoyed being outdoors—playing sports in the backyard with his kids, and fishing and playing golf with friends. After Joan’s death in 1998, Saul was fortunate to meet and eventually marry Lois Klein. As Saul himself said many times, he was very lucky to find love two times. The combined families of eight kids and 18 grandkids have led to many simchas and family gatherings. With 18 grandchildren, Saul and Lois spent much of their free time at various school activities, sporting events or just spending time with them all at “Camp Whitetree.” Every grandchild said the same thing about Zayde Saul—“he made me feel special.” An active member of the original Ohav Shalom on Section Road, and later a member at Wise temple, Dr. Polasky was also a life member of Hadassah. He always felt a connection to Israel, which began with the first Polasky family trip in 1970, when his son Les, became a Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. He returned several more times to Israel and always was a generous supporter of Israeli causes. Funeral services were held on March 9, 2011, at Weil Funeral Home, with Rabbi lIana Baden officiating. Interment followed at Schachnus Cemetery in Price Hill. Memorial contributions can be made to the charity of one’s choice.
of Los Altos, Calif.; his grandchildren, Abby Perlman of New York City and Aaron Perlman of Cincinnati; his brother, Burton (Alice) Perlman of Cincinnati; and his daughter-in-law and her husband, Carol and Victor DiPilla; his sisters-in-law, Anita Perlman of Stratford, Conn., and Sue Perlman of East Hampton N.Y. and Palm Beach Fla.; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Maizie and Zachary Abuza of Sarasota, Fla., and many favorite cousins, nieces and nephews, including Dan and Regan Perlman of Ft. Mitchell, Ky. The family is grateful for the excellent personal care Betty and
Aaron received in the last 10 years from Andrea Houston, Kelli Tubbs and Yvette Ross. His granddaughter Abby said, “If he can pull off a plaid vest and a bow tie—he’s a Perlman man!” Funeral services were held at Weil Funeral Home on Sunday, March 20. Memorial contributions can be made to the Matthew H. Perlman Scholarship Fund at the Aaron W. Perlman Center for Children (Make checks payable to) The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 5202, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45201; or to Cincinnati’s Jewish Federation.
Dr. Saul Polasky