The New Standard Vol. 1 No. 2 by Daniel Newman

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27 Tishrei 5764 October 23, 2003 Volume 1 :: No. 2

An Independent Central Ohio Jewish Monthly

MAYOR? DOES THIS MAN FIT WRITE-IN?

2003 jewish bookfair

THE JCC HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED

Feature Lobbyist sets agenda for community By Bill Cohen

TH E N EW STAN DAR D

The photograph of Joyce GarverKeller shaking hands with President Bill Clinton is her favorite of all the photos on her office wall. She says that’s because while every other activist went through the usual silent assembly-line motion of smile, click, and leave, she used the chance to be more proactive - “nudging” Clinton to keep federal dollars flowing to social welfare programs. It’s typical Keller, who’s earned praise for her efforts and style, including accolades such as “nicest but most effective lobbyist for nonprofit organizations in Ohio.” Most Ohio Jews may not know it, but they have a lobbyist at the Statehouse, and Keller is it. She lobbies on behalf of Ohio Jewish Communities, a coalition of all the Jewish federations – in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, Youngstown, Akron and Canton. When a Jew donates to a local federation, a few pennies are channeled to Keller’s office a block from the capitol building. Her annual budget is just under $200,000. Keller has grown familiar with the tendencies of Jews statewide to move in specific political directions. It’s no secret that Jews tend to vote for Democrats, even though the average income for Jews is high - and for most other demographic groups, the higher the income, the more they vote for Republicans. Indeed, at first glance, the Jewish federations’ agenda at the Statehouse is on the liberal side. In the most recent debate over a new state budget, Keller helped lobby successfully against pushing 50,000 low-income adults off of free medical care, against slashing thousands of working-poor families off of subsidized child care, and in favor of fully funding the Passport program that provides at-home services for elderly people so they aren’t pressured into nursing homes. Keller argues those stands reflect “a broad consensus” of the Jewish community. “It’s part of the Ten Commandments,” Keller says – “Honor They Father and Thy See JOYCE Page 8

The annual Book Fair is once again taking over the Jewish Center lobby by bringing in new Jewish titles and provocative authors for this week-long event. pg

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HANK AARON Aaron will be coming to Columbus for the Diversity in Sports Award Nov. 20.

Jews split on Ohio Senate Commandments Resolution By Bill Cohen

TH E N EW STAN DAR D

God may have given the Ten Commandments to the Jewish People, but that doesn’t mean all Ohio Jews want to see the Ten Commandments declared “the moral underpinning of our state government, its laws, and the authority of the General Assembly.” In fact, two Jewish state senators are against this wording—a resolution linking the Commandments with Ohio

government, and the Anti-Defamation League is asking all legislators to vote against it. “Whose Ten Commandments are we going to be talking about here?” asks David Millstone, head of the regional ADL that includes Ohio and parts of some neighboring states. Calling the resolution “divisive,” Millstone notes that Jews, Presbyterians and Catholics each have different versions of the Ten Commandments.

It’s 11 pm. Do you know where your Challahs are?

Shmuel Nerimi, working briskly late into the night at the Torah Center at 2942 E. Broad St. preparing Rosh Hashanah Challahs, which were being sold throughout the night until late afternoon the next day.

The Christian Coalition of Ohio is backing the resolution as a response to court rulings it opposes. Those rulings have ordered an Alabama judge to remove a replica of the commandments from a court building, have ordered four Adams County schools to remove granite copies of the commandments, and have declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional in school recitations because it includes the phrase “One Nation, Under God.” As the Coalition’s Web site puts it, “There is a war being waged for the future of our nation between competing world views - one that continues the traditions of our Founding Fathers by acknowledging Almighty God and following His Word…and one that would replace biblically-based moral absolutes with moral relativism guided by shifting cultural winds.” Rep. Bill Seitz (R- Cincinnati), a cosponsor of the resolution, argued, “Our forefathers had a deeply-rooted belief that the foundation of common law was, in part, the Judeo-Christian tradition.” But the attempt to gain support for the resolution by using the phrase “JudeoChristian” hasn’t sold the ADL on the idea. “We certainly •See Rabbi Cary respect the Ten Kozberg’s Opinion Commandments, column concerning but at least the this subject on first five deal with page 14. religion - such as not taking the Lord’s name in vain, not praying to graven images, and hallowing the Sabbath,” noted Millstone. See COMMAND Page 8

Federation campaign gets personal, “less glitz” By Ruth Portnoy

TH E N EW STAN DAR D

It’s personal. It’s more focused. And officials with the Columbus Jewish Federation hope this year’s fund-raising campaign is cost-effective. Hoping to raise $8 million this fall, the Columbus Jewish Federation has made a number of changes in the operating budget. In addition to adding training for volunteers in how to talk potential donors- hoping for a more personal, one-on-one approach – officials have streamlined the operation, cutting between $400,000 and $500,000 from the operating budget – now at $1.5 million for administration and fund raising - and producing materials that aren’t as slick as last year’s. Materials for the campaign this year cost about two-thirds less than last year, said Federation spokesman Josh Platt. “One of the feedback items was we ought to be able to do this with less glitz,’’ said campaign chairman Mike Canter. “More people-to-people contact. It’s one Jew asking a second Jew, asking a third Jew – you don’t need slick marketing to

have a Jewish conversation.’’ The Federation is like a Jewish United Way – providing money to 61 local, national and international organizations that administer hundreds of programs. Funds from the organization feed more than 260,000 elderly Jews – many who are Holocaust survivors; provide food vouchers, housing assistance and job training to more than 40,000 Argentinean Jews recently devastated by the country’s economic crisis; and subsidize the services of Wexner Heritage Village, Jewish Family Services and hundreds of programs in Israel, Argentina and the former Soviet Union. The money benefits rescue and resettlement efforts, outreach programs, crisis counseling and education for children and adults and youth trips to Israel. Each fall, 200 Columbus volunteers make phone calls, talk face-to-face with donors and hold special fund raising events to garner about 3,000 gifts, said Platt. “When you think about the cooperation and all the people who participate, and all the people who depend on it (the campaign), you realize what we do,’’ said Canter. “We take care See CAMPAIGN Page 4

:: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003

The New Standard

Columbus and Ohio Committee decides: only one minyan at Agudas Achim tion in 1951. “The committee decided to go back to A group of worshippers from its roots,’’ he said. Agudas Achim got the final word late Ruben said there are other synalast month: They can no longer worship gogues in Columbus that offer a with a mehitzah at the shul, and must mehitzah - Beth Jacob at 1223 College look for a new home. Avenue, Ahavas Sholom at 2568 The dozen or so members of the E.Broad Street. and Torah Emet – or decade-old group - the chavura minMain Street shul at 2375 E. Main yan, that had prayed with the sepaStreet. There are also independent rating wall between men and women groups that daven with their own sepa- received word late last month that the rating wall, including the Torah Center style of worship did not mesh with the at 2942 E.Broad Street. “Traditional” synagogue’s phi. “The problem is losophy. we’re fragmented,’’ “We’re looking at different The mehitzah Ruben said. “How many alternatives right now,’’said chavurot can there be?” has been a Eli Ganon, a chavura memAgudas Executive ber. “We’re really scrambling. periodic point of Director Josh Klynn We were under presumptions said the board wasn’t contention. that after the renovations, we planning to vote on the would get a room.’’ minyan question, but a Larry Ruben, synagogue board member who davpresident, said the ritual committee, ens with the chavura made a motion for then the full board, voted to make the the vote. change just before Rosh Hashanah, just Ganon and members of the chaafter workers completed more than $4 vura sent Ruben and other officers million worth of renovations. of the synagogue - as well as Rabbi “What was voted on was that there Moshe Dick - a letter insisting that was to be just one minyan in the synathe Orthodox synagogue must allow a gogue, period,’’ said Ruben. mehitzah to be faithful to the moveHe said the synagogue is honorment. ing its tradition. Even though it has “We’re saying the board has no jurisallowed alternative worship, it hasn’t diction over the mehitzah because this had a mehitzah in the main sanctuary is a religious issue,’’ Ganon said. since it moved from its South Side locaBy Ruth Portnoy

TH E N EW STAN DAR D

Ruben said the Orthodox movement has many flavors. “The rules have been a moving target for years,’’ he said. “I believe we’ve been members of the Orthodox Union without a mehitzah for years, and I don’t see it as a problem.’’ The main sanctuary has allowed mixed seating for years. However, the prayer service relies on the Art Scroll, an Orthodox siddur (prayer book), and women do not participate in the main service. A response to the letter also said that in 2001, more than 80 percent of Agudas Achim members approved a change to the synagogue’s constitution that would allow the board to hire a rabbi who would work without a mehitzah. Many Orthodox rabbis insist on separated seating. The mehitzah has been a periodic point of contention. Two years ago, about 30 families left over the matter and helped found Main Street Synagogue. Frank Nutis, who has been a member of the shul for more than 50 years, said he is saddened by the change, which he believes was the result of “a power struggle’’ over the renovated building. He sees Agudas Achim as a place where people who haven’t been raised with much observance can learn more.

“I don’t feel very good about it,’’ he said. “I think the city has lost a transitional synagogue that could bring tradition to more people… People have returned to Agudas because they could be brought in from different levels (of observance). That’s gone now.’’

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city briefs The Israel Bonds to present awards Menachem Begin Leadership award will be presented to Florine Ruben at the Israel Bonds Gala dinner October 26 at the Hyatt Regency downtown. Also that night Debbie Meyer will receive the Jerome Schottenstein leadership award. Dr. David Schuller, director of the James Hospital will receive the Jerusalem of Gold award.

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 ::

Israel Solidarity Rally brings National Jewish leader to the JCC By Tami Kamin-Meyer

DAYTON J EWISH OBSE RVE R

JCC North to hold Holiday Bazaar The bazaar will feature a variety of vendors. In addition to shopping there will be a raffle for prizes donated by bazaar vendors. NCJW to hold parlor meetings on chidren’s safety The meetings are to address a range of issues from safety issues relevant to Elementary school-aged children to addictive behaviors. Columbus Eruv in financial straits The boundary that surrounds most of Bexley and Berwick which permit Orthodox jews to carry items from home to shul is in debt $5000 and needs another $5000 for operating another year. The Eruv committee is calling on all who benefit from the Eruv to donate $100 to ensure its upkeep. checks should be made out to the Columbus Jewish Foundation Eruv Fund, 1175 College Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43209. Dorthy and Rubin Silver to perform Gallery Players’ 55th season will kick off with the performance of “Laughter in Three Languages” with veteran JCC talent Dorth and Rubin Silver on Saturday Oct. 25. To be added to city briefs, please send your press releases into pr@thenewstandard.com or fax us at 614-340-7288.

election briefs Clark: I’m no rabbi’s son Gen. Wesley Clark is not descended from a long line of rabbis, as he had once claimed. The Democratic candidate said he had been given bad information before giving a speech at a New York yeshiva in 1999 claiming that he was the ``eldest son of the eldest son of the eldest son” of a rabbi. Clark, who repeated the rabbi claim as recently as January in an interview with the Forward, says he still is proud that he is descended from Jews on the side of his father. Data: Calif. Jews went for Davis Jews backed Gov. Gray Davis in this week’s California recall vote, according to exit polls. Sixty-nine percent voted against the recall effort, while 31 percent supported it, according to data collected by the Los Angeles Times. Sixty-nine percent of Jewish voters voted for the incumbent Davis in the last scheduled California gubernatorial election in 2002. Lieberman hints ‘No’ on Pollard Sen. Joseph Lieberman suggested that, if elected president, he would not support a pardon of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard. Speaking Wednesday to Jewish senior citizens in Pembroke Pines, Fla., the Connecticut Democrat said that Pollard, the former Navy intelligence officer who spied for Israel, “did get an unfair sentence when compared to others, but that’s sometimes how the system works.”

briefs from JTA wire service

What started as a speech on issues pertaining to Israel has turned into a rally for Israel by the Columbus Jewish community. The event now being called the Israel Solidarity Rally, will have as its keynote speakFile Photo Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive er Malcolm director of the Conference of Hoenlein, Presidents of Major Jewish executive Organizations director of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. The event is scheduled for 4 pm at the Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center, 1125 College Road, on Nov. 9. The Columbus Jewish Foundation is cosponsoring the presentation along with numerous Jewish agencies and synagogues in Columbus. The Conference of Presidents is the central coordinating body representing 52 national and international Jewish organizations on issues of national and international concern. Hoenlein is often quoted in the press on Israeli and Jewish concerns and advises legislators on issues relating to Israel. Although the Palestine Solidarity Movement is scheduled to hold its Third National Conference at Ohio State University Nov. 7-9, Ed Frim, spokesperson for the Columbus Jewish Federation, said the two events are not directly related. “Many members of our community who understand the issues (pertaining to Israel) felt the need to show their support for Israel while not adding to the Palestine Solidarity Movement’s ability to drum up media attention.” Frim expects the press to attend and belives this would be “a good way to focus on positive energy.” The event is not open to the public, advance reservations are required but admission is free. For reservations or further information, contact the CJF at (614) 237-7686. Reprinted with permission of the Dayton Jewish Observer. Daniel Newman contributed to this story.

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:: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003

The

NewStandard An Independent Central Ohio Jewish Monthly

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Advisory Board

Moishe Appelbaum Terri Barnett Bruce M. Bastoky Rabbi Harold Berman Jeff Covel Kyle Katz Ira Nutis Larry Pollak Seymour Raiz

The New Standard 3000-B East Main Street #270 Columbus, Ohio 43209 614-237-3600 Fax: 614-340-7288 http://www.thenewstandard.com info@thenewstandard.com Home delivery is available at $10 for 12 issues for a limited time. call 237-3600 or http://www.thenewstandard.com/subs The New Standard is published and distributed by New Standard Publications LLC the third Thursday of every month and distributed to drop off points around the central Ohio area. Views expressed by guest columnists, in letters to the editor and in reprinted opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The New Standard. Acceptance of advertising neither endorses advertisers nor guarantees kashrut. The New Standard is a free-distribution publication provided solely for the enjoyment of our readers. Any person who willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over copies of The New Standard with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading it shall be considered guilty of a crime of theft. Violators will be prosecuted. Additional copies of The New Standard can be ordered through our offices at 614237-3600 © 2003 All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of any content within without prior consent is prohibited

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COLUMBUS & OHIO

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Tifereth Israel opens the year with new Torah By Tami Kamin-Meyer TH E N EW STAN DAR D

The process for Tifereth Israel to acquire its new Torah was not as smooth as the synagogue’s leaders had hoped. Sofer (scribe) Zerach Greenfield was originally scheduled to travel from Israel, this past May, to personally deliver the Torah to the congregation. However, a general strike in Israel at the time closed down Ben Gurion Airport, preventing air travel in or out of the country. Eventually, Greenfield “shipped the Torah to the congregation in a large crate”, said Tifereth Executive Director Marc Neiwirth. Finally, on October 19, Tifereth Israel welcomed the new Torah as part of Simchat Torah services. “It’s been 40 years since we got a new Torah, which means our second-youngest Torah is over 40 years old,” said the synagogue’s rabbi, Harold Berman. Since Tifereth Israel’s seven other Sifrei Torah (Torah scrolls) were either gifts or received in other ways, this is the first time the synagogue will use a Torah created to their own specifications. “This new Torah did not exist until we commissioned it,” Berman said. Robert H. Cohen, one of two members heading up the campaign to pay for the new Torah, said the project was twofold. “We wanted to recognize the centrality of the Torah” to the lives of synagogue members and to Jews in general, he said. The Torah was commissioned to celebrate the synagogue’s 100th anniversary last year. It was also a fund raising project for the synagogue, raising a total of $1.1 million for the synagogue’s endowment fund. Cohen and his committee created opportunities for financial contributions in the form of letters, verses and books

CAMPAIGN

FROM PAGE 1

Moishe Appelbaum [Appelbaum Photography] :: TNS Rick Milenthal (left) and his son Jack, 5, look on as Rabbi Harold Berman points to the verse that they dedicated in Tifereth Israel’s newly commisioned Torah scroll.

that could be “purchased’’ to fund the project. The Torah cost $35,000 to write, Cohen said. The writing process by Greenfield, took 10 months. Greenfield lives in Brooklyn and in Jerusalem. “He came highly recommended and did an excellent job,” said Cohen. The price of the Torah depended on several factors, including the types of parchments used and the scripts employed. “We reviewed different script types, knowing that prices varied depending on the script,” said Associate Rabbi Michael Ungar. Soferim have specialized training and most visit the mikvah, or ritual bath, before writing each day. The Torah becomes the eighth one that Tifereth Israel now uses. The scrolls are shuffled between the congregation’s four arks, depending on spiritual needs in a specific part of the building. “Transferring the synagogue’s various Torahs from one ark to another

is one way to ensure their longevity,” Berman said. “Exposure to light and dust affects a Torah, so you don’t want to keep a Torah in one place,” he said. “Winding [each Torah] to a different place in the scroll is another way to maintain a Torah.” Cantor Jack Chomsky said he’s looking forward to adding another scroll to the yearly cycle of readings. “Every time I read from the Torah, I remind myself that this is the most basic Jewish act I can perform,’’ he said. “Everything else we do stems from this document, so it’s pretty exciting to have a pristine new Torah. It has a completely old sense of newness—or is it new sense of oldness?”

and is there an amount that Jews are commanded to give. Judaism suggests that whatever you do to help the community should not impoverish yourself. He talked about the notion of tzedakah, and how some people feel bad asking for

money. In fact, you are offering someone the opportunity to do a mitzvah.’’ Raising funds can be competitive, said Canter. Jews give to a variety of social and cultural causes. Many don’t feel as close to their Jewish institutions as their grandparents and great-grandparents did. Canter hopes that Jewish giving, “hits you in a different way. United Ways have a greater universe of people they’re trying to connect with. One could make the case that I have a greater responsibility to give because there are fewer of us.”

of the aged. We take care of students and youth, from preschool to college. We support Hillel and the day schools and adult study programs. It’s a huge undertak- Your campaign contributions ing.’’ To prepare for the The Columbus Jewish Federation massive fund raising spent $7.4 million during 2003 to effort, the Federation help communities locally, nationally and internationally. Here is a general held training sessions breakdown of what the money was to teach people how spent on and a sampling of agencies who received it: to feel more comfortable asking for Protection, rescue and resettlement……………… $2.8 million United Jewish Communities/Ohio Jewish Communities money. The sessions American Joint Distribution Committee focused on selling the Jewish Agency for Israel Federation’s programs Wexner Heritiage Village as products that benAt-risk program grants efit the community, and on the special Jewish education…………………………… ……. $1.4 million task of raising money Columbus Jewish Day School Columbus Torah Academy for Jewish causes. Scholarships for further professional study Gary Hill from Commission on Jewish Education Lincoln, Neb., who Supplements for synagogue and other organized adult study has trained fund raisColumbus Jewish Historical Society ers for a number of nonprofit organizaCommunity connections………………… ………. $1.7 million tions, told participants Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center Hillel “we need to underIsrael exchange programs stand what in Jewish Israel and community relations law commands us to Outreach programs do this,’’ said Platt. Federation operations, administration and fund raising costs $1.5 million “He talked about how Catholics tithe, source: The Columbus Jewish Federation

Tami Kamin-Meyer is a local attorney and writer.

corrections Cantor Baruch Shifman’s name was spelled incorrectly in an article, “A New Look for Agudas Achim,’’ on p. 18 of the September issue of The New Standard. The date of Main Street Synagogue’s “Main Event” was Sept. 14. The date was incorrect on p. 3 of the September issue. Larry Pollak’s name was spelled incorrectly on p. 1 and p. 17 in the September issue. The New Standard strives for accuracy. We will correct all factual errors we know about. Feel free to contact us at letters@thenewstandard.com.

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COLUMBUS & OHIO

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 ::

Against all odds, Besser’s sights on City Hall By Craig Lovelace TH E N EW STAN DAR D

If Ken Besser is successful Nov. 4 and becomes the next mayor of Columbus, there are going to be some unhappy people in City Hall. A Republican write-in candidate for the post, Besser is promising to slash jobs and offices he thinks are performing poorly or not essential for the city to operate. At the top of his list are public information officers, which Besser claims are costing the city $1.6 million annually. That’s a lot, Besser says, considering these lean economic times. The Mayor has declared the city expects a $50 million budget deficit. “Those public information officers need to go because they are not involved in the delivery of core municipal services,” Besser says. Besser said the positions constitute more of a want than a need. That philosophy is at the core of what the 44year-old Besser carries with him daily in his personal life and what will characterize his practices, should he unseat the incumbent Democrat Mayor Michael Coleman. Besser, a Berwick resident, will tell you he is an unlikely candidate for mayor and a long shot at best to win the November contest. An Orthodox Jew born in Wichita, Kan., and a father of six children, he has sued several public officials over access to public records. He successfully sued Ohio State Medical Center to get records related to its purchase of Park Medical Center, now University Hospital East. He won a suit against former Hilliard Mayor Roger Reynolds and his assistant over destroyed city records that same year. In September, he sued the city and Coleman for $1 million as he searched for a connection between developers and campaign contributions. Besser claims the mayor and his administration violated Ohio Open Records law by failing to turn over more than 1,000 e-mails he requested. That case was pending as of Oct. 10, though Besser said he has received some e-mails since the suit was filed. Besser, whose wife, Susan, is a family physician, spends a lot of his time raising his children, and running a clothing shop, the Excelsior, at 2359 E. Main St. in Bexley. He is an attorney, but practices sparingly. He had not considered running for mayor, until he realized the Republican party didn’t field a candidate to face Coleman, who is seeking his second, four-year term. He decided to run at the last minute – too late to file petitions. So his name will be listed as a write-in. Besser realizes defeating an incumbent is difficult enough for someone with party backing – and it will be tougher yet for a candidate on his own. To get his face and name better known in the community, Besser spent two weeks riding COTA buses quizzing passengers about their views of the city. He said the excursions led him to one conclusion: No one in City Hall is listening.

“If you really want to know what Columbus thinks, ride those buses,” he said. Besser knows what direction he wants to go if he becomes mayor, but offered few specifics in a 90-minute interview. Among his suggestions: • Spend 10 percent to 25 percent of his time on education. “We will not convince people to move to Columbus unless we change the perception of Columbus Public Schools. • Eliminate the office of Community Relations for which the proposed budget is $616,000. • Scrutinize or eliminate tax incentives for economic development. “I am a very laissez-faire about economic development,” Besser said. His opponent sees Besser’s desire to trim city jobs and services as unrealistic. Coleman’s campaign director Greg Haas said city services have been cut nearly to the bone while the level of services remains constant. “The city has done a fabulous job and keeps providing essential services,” Haas said. Haas said the number of public information officers has dropped, too – from 24 to 16 since Coleman took office. Information officers, he said, provide vital information about such items as traffic, health and safety. “I don’t think the city wants layoffs in the level of information they are getting,” he said. Haas declined to speculate about Besser’s chances, but said write-in candidates usually don’t win. Those who know Besser say if he does win, he’d tackle the job with enthusiasm. “He is someone with a lot of integrity and principles,” said Marcia Hershfield, upper school principal at Columbus Torah Academy. “He is the type of person to roll up his sleeves and get involved.” Besser sat on the Academy’s executive board from 1998 to 2000 and is actively Besser’s election materials involved with consists solely of business cards fund-raising explaining how to write him in. activities. He played a significant role in helping to send Academy students to Europe and Israel for the international “March of the Living” tour, said Susan Rosen, the school’s communications director. “Ken is a very complicated guy,” Rosen said. “He appears gruff on the outside but is gentle and caring on the inside. If this is something he obtains, he will put all of his effort into it.” Rabbi at congregation Torat Emet, Howard Zack, said Besser doesn’t hesitate to make unpopular decisions when he is convinced it’s for the common good. “He’s not afraid to buck the trend and is willing to say, ‘I see it differently,’ “ Zack said. Besser was one of about 30 families who left Congregation Adugas Achim

over the issue of mixed seating during prayer and helped found Torat Emet. Zack said Besser was instrumental in helping secure a place of worship for the fledgling congregation – a building Besser owned at 2375 Main St. The synagogue now owns the building. “I had to walk away from that building so the synagogue could survive,” Besser said. So what happens if Besser’s religious requirements conflict with the

needs of the majority of city residents? It’s a question Besser has considered. “I’ve tried to think of situations, but I cannot think of one scenario,” he said. No matter what happens Nov. 4, Besser said he’s had his family’s support throughout his political bid. “They are used to me tilting at windmills,’’ he said.

Ken Besser (left) speaks to a potential voter at a Meet the Candiates Night.

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:: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003

Here’s what you can do to

SUPPORT ISRAEL

Come hear

Alan Dershowitz

“The Case For Israel” Tuesday October 28 8:00 pm Ohio Union 1739 N. High St.

Presented by OSU Chabad In cooperation with: OSU Hillel and The Columbus Jewish Federation

Adults $20.00 Students $5.00 Advance purchase only Tickets available at: OSU Chabad - 207 E. 15th Ave. Leo Yassenoff Jewish Center 1125 College Ave. For more information please call: OSU Chabad 470-3127 chabad@osu.edu

The New Standard

From Columbusite to Israelite A l i ya h n o t e b o o k

SIMCHA SHAPIRO

high-ranking government officials, family, friends and the press. The soldiers were waving Israeli flags, singing Israeli songs. The officials were kissing babies. The press was filming and interviewing everyone. Before we knew it, a soldier had come over and was helping us with our bags. There was not a dry eye. The new immigrants were crying, the soldiers were crying, everyone was crying. Someone tried to interview us, but we couldn’t speak through the emotions. It was amazing! When we came to the end of the line of soldiers, Beth’s cousin Moshe came to greet us. It was so nice! We were so overwhelmed. The ceremony was nice, and at the same time, we were anxious to get home. When it was all over and we had collected our bags, we got a skycap (he

I am writing to you from the living room in our new home. In one direction I am looking out over the brown and rocky, yet very beautiful and strangely familiar, hills of the southern Binyamin region of Israel (just north of Jerusalem); in the other direction, I am looking at my 20-month-old daughter smiling and flirting with me over the top of an orange-juice popsicle. Upstairs is my wonderful wife, who is sleeping with our almost 6-month-old son. To read the lines, one might think that it was a dream. I am blessed twice over. What I have just described is my dream and also my present reality. Just over two months ago, my wife, Beth, our daughter Neshama Leah, our son Eliyahu Avichai, and I embarked on a journey to a far-away land, a foreign culture, a strange language, and a place that we dreamed of as our home. After an overly busy month of finishing internship, packing, and traveling for two weeks visiting family and Neshama Leah Shapiro, 1, and Israeli soldiers during the Nefesh friends, I walked into JFK airB’Nefesh welcoming ceremony at Ben Gurion airport in Israel. port feeling pretty numb. Here we were, about to board a plane refused to let us tip him because we with 300 other people who were all realwere new immigrants) and got into the izing their dream of moving to Israel. taxi the government provided to take us What did I feel? Achy from carrying to our new home. Two hours later (we all of our luggage for the past couple of got lost), we arrived home. We live in a weeks. beautiful home with two split levels that A brief ceremony marking the histor- are finished and another two unfinished ical importance of the moment, and we levels above. It has two bedrooms and 1 were all moving toward the gate. It was 1/2 bathrooms. very surreal. Some were saying goodOur community is 15 minutes north bye to family and friends. Others were of Jerusalem, 300 families, and so welgreeting friends who would be on the coming that we cannot believe it. People flight. The press was busy videotaping have been so helpful and nice. We are and interviewing. Kids were running still amazed at how wonderful people around everywhere. Zionist activists are here. Right near us are seven other were handing out pins that said “I’m new immigrant families. It is really Making Aliyah” or “Aliyah Revolution”, nice to be near other people who are while singing songs that told of longing going through the same thing. for the holiness of the land of Israel. I Right now we are trying to settle in. was along for the ride. There is a lot of buying new stuff, runOn the flight, Israeli government ning around to bureaucratic offices (then officials processed our immigration hunting the right office because I went papers, saving us weeks of running to the wrong one), and trying to accliaround to government offices. Prayer mate ourselves in general. services were held in the back of the When you come down to it, though, plane at the appropriate times (no probfor all of the transition and stress of lem finding enough people). Kosher food everything new, we are very happy with was served to all. Children were everybeing in Israel, impressed with our comwhere. Many were sleeping. Not ours. munity, thrilled with our house and Well, to be fair, our son slept quite a bit. delighted with each other. The only Neshama Leah slept for only 30 minutes thing is that we miss our family and of the 10-hour flight. Beth later related friends. to me that she had been mistakenly looking forward to getting some muchThe Shapiro family made Aliyah (emineeded rest on the flight (she must have grated to Israel) in July from Columbus been thinking about our life before we through a newly formed program called had kids). Nefesh B’Nefesh (Soul to Soul). Nefesh As difficult as the flight was, the B’Nefesh helps North Americans to move time seemed to pass quickly. When we to Israel by removing the financial, landed, the plane pulled up just outside professional and logistical obstacles a hangar where we were going to have that are preventing them from doing a welcoming ceremony. Nothing could so. You can find out more about Nefesh have prepared me for the experience B’Nefesh through their website at of getting off the plane. We walked www.nefeshbnefesh.org or by calling down the steps to a tarmac that was 866-4-ALIYAH. lined with male and female soldiers,

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COLUMBUS & OHIO

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 ::

Hank Aaron: There’s more to him than baseball National League pennant by blasting a two-run homer in extra innings. The team went on to win the World Series, and Aaron was named Most Valuable Player. Hank Aaron wants people to know he cares about It was also the same year race riots broke out in more than being the home-run king. Little Rock, Ark. The triumphant Aaron was carried “Almost all questions asked of me (for interviews) off the field by his teammates, unaware of the trouble pertain to sports, and that’s sad,’’ said Aaron, who hit occurring just a few states away. 755 career home runs and also is baseball’s all-time It would not be long before baseball fans began leader in extra-base hits (1,477) and runs batted in lashing out at him. He received hate mail from fans (2,297). “There is more to me than just hitting home who did not want to see a black man rise in the sportruns and being in pennant chases. You want to feel ing ranks. your life has been (about) more than baseball diaIn 1973, just as the chase to surpass Babe Ruth’s monds.” home-run record of 714 heated up, the volume of hate The Ohio/Kentucky/Allegheny region of the Antimail increased. Aaron hired a secretary to handle the Defamation League is using Aaron’s accomplishments onslaught, which averaged 3,000 pieces a day - more as the backdrop for its new ADL/Hank Aaron Diversity than any American outside of politics. in Sports Award. Most of the letters expressed disdain that a black Value City Department Stores will present the inau- athlete was challenging the beloved Ruth. A majorgural award during a dinner program Nov. 20 at the ity of postmarks emanated from northern U.S. cities. Hilton Columbus at Easton. And even though baseball had officially become fully “This award means a lot to me,” said Aaron, because integrated when President Lyndon Baines Johnson the League strives to eradicate bigotry and hatred. signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Aaron received death “Organizations like the ADL and the NAACP try to threats as he pursued the home-run crown. make people realize we all want an equal opportunity He worried for the safety of himself, his family and to be treated as human beings.’’ his teammates. He asked that no one sit near him on Allan Tanenbaum, a longtime friend and chief the dugout bench for fear of being hit by a stray bullegal counsel for AFC Enterprises in Atlanta, said let should some fanatic try to make good on the death Aaron has long been committed to societal betterment threats. through work with the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund, Aaron retired from baseball in 1976 after playing which created the Hank Aaron Humanitarian Sport 23 seasons. He continued to play for the Braves after Award in 2002. Aaron and his wife, Billye, founded the they moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966. He Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation. returned to Wisconsin in 1976 and played one season Aaron knew adversity early. He was born Feb. for the Milwaukee Brewers of the American League. 5, 1934, in a rundown section of Mobile, Ala. Aaron Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, Aaron played shortstop and third base in high school, then finished his career with a batting average of .305 and left before graduation in 1952 to join the Indianapolis continues to hold 12 major-league records. In addition Clowns of the Negro American League. to being the all-time leader in total bases (6,856), he is In 1954, at age 20, he joined the Milwaukee Braves the only player to hit at least 30 home runs in 15 seaand became the regular left fielder after another outsons and at least 20 homers in 20 seasons. He also was fielder broke an ankle. Aaron hit his first major-league named to play in the All-Star Game 24 times. home run on April 23. On six of those occasions, his teammate was one of On Sept. 23, 1957, Aaron led the Braves to the baseball’s most prolific pitchers and one of the most well-known Jewish players ever, Sandy Koufax. Aaron said he did not know Koufax well. However, he said the pitcher “had his own way of thinking about things. I got the impression that Sandy looked out for the less popular players, often taking them out to dinner.” Aaron said he Maybe it’s time you should. There are so many reasons thought Koufax did this because, as a Jew, he why prearrangements are a good idea. Take advantage of understood what it meant the wonderful benefits we offer, such as freezing the cost to be different. at today’s prices; various payment plans; and professional When Aaron retired, he became one of the preneed counseling. first blacks to be Why not call to learn more about prearranging and the hired for a peace of mind it can give both you and your family? position in a team’s front By Tami Kamin-Meyer TH E N EW STAN DAR D

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office. “Players still seek him out for advice,” Tanenbaum said, These days, Aaron’s life focuses on entrepeneurial pursuits. He has several successful business ventures, including the Hammer Automotive Group, which operates BMW, Honda and Toyota dealerships in the Atlanta area; and 755 Restaurant Corp., which operates numerous fast-food restaurants in Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C. Despite the effect Aaron’s baseball career had on the American social and political scene, Aaron said he wishes he had played a more conscientious and decisive role in the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. He said great inroads have been achieved in equality in American sports. But, he said, the work is not over. He laments the imbalance at the management table and called the situation “very discouraging.” “There are baseball managers of color, but we don’t have ownership,” he said. Aaron’s close friend, Michael Tollin, who directed a 1995 documentary about the player’s life, said, “Hank Aaron is prouder of the role he played in the Civil Rights movement than the role he played in baseball.” When reminded of those words, Aaron gently chuckled. The award reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner program at 7 p.m. Tickets are $250 per person and tables for ten guests are available for $2,500. Kosher meals are available upon request. For further information or tickets, contact the ADL at 614621-0601.

:: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003

JOYCE

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Mother. It’s about the quality of life for your neighbor.” The fact that there’s a higher percentage of senior citizens in the Jewish community than in the general population prompts the federations to make issues impacting the elderly their top priority: adequate Medicaid money for nursing homes, Meals on Wheels and transportation for seniors to get them to doctors’ appointments. A second priority for the federations is government money for programs to help refugees and immigrants. Keller cites the story of the Jews becoming slaves in Egypt and says it’s the community’s obligation to help others facing the same dilemma: “Once, we were strangers in a strange land.” Keller schmoozes Ohio officials to “be more aggressive going after federal funds” for the new arrivals, and the most recent success story is the one of Jewish Family Services helping immigrants from Somalia start new businesses in Columbus. Israel is another top issue for the federations’ lobbying efforts among Ohio legislators, the Governor and other state officials. Keller cites a $100,000 provision in the new state budget for an initiative to benefit farmers in Israel and Ohio. “We helped put together this shiddach (marriage match),’’ Keller says. The Israelis will share with Ohio farmers their knowledge of how to grow tomatoes even in brackish waters. In exchange, Ohio farming experts will help Israel try to beef up a fledgling cattle industry that has problems due to a lack of space and pasture land.

COLUMBUS & OHIO

the Ohio chapter of People for the While the federations’ push to American Way, the liberal nemesis of expand some government programs the conservative Moral Majority. puts added pressure on Ohio legislaSince 1990, she has headed the Ohio tors to raise taxes (and lawmakers did Jewish Communities. indeed raise the state sales tax from You might think that politically con5% to 6%), the Jewish lobby group servative Jews wouldn’t like Keller and didn’t directly call on legislators to raise taxes. In fact, the federations steer clear of pushing an agenda that might be viewed as too far left of the mainstream. That’s why Keller says the federations don’t have an official stand on capital punishment or what kind of taxes are best. While the federations generally push for more state money Moishe Appelbaum [Appelbaum Photography] :: TNS for schools, Keller Joyce Garver Keller (right) on her beat making rounds with decision makers. has been careful not to directly ally the the federations proclaiming themselves Jewish group with the school coalition as the “lobbyists for the Jews.” But that sued the state in 1991 over this one of Ohio’s most influential Jewish issue and won several rounds in court. Republicans says he and his more conThe federations are also low-profile servative activists have no problem with on the explosive issue of abortion. the Jewish lobbying effort. Keller says the group takes stands “I haven’t heard anything critionly on issues that don’t seriously split cal in the past several years,” says N. the Jewish community “so we don’t Victor Goodman, vice chairman of the speak out on everything.” Franklin County Republican Executive Keller stresses there’s another reaCommittee and a powerful 38-year son beyond Jewish unity for that cauveteran statehouse lobbyist for race tious strategy. “We have limited polititracks, nursing homes, hospitals, and cal capitol,” she says, emphasizing each building-trades unions. He is also the word. “We must spend it wisely.” father of State Senator David Goodman Keller has a long history of liberal (R-Columbus). political activism. In the 1970’s she was The elder Goodman says because associate director of the Ohio chapter of the federations focus on social welfare the American Civil Liberties Union. In issues and avoid taking stands that a the 1980’s, she was head of a women’s substantial chunk of the Jews might rights coalition and later director of disagree with, Keller’s lobbying is acceptable.

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“These are not things the state should be involved with.” Millstone added that linking the commandments with government would be a slap in the face of other religions. “The Ten Commandments don’t deal with beliefs of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, atheists and agnostics,” he said. The league invoked the specter of Jews and other minorities being hurt when governments link themselves closely with the religion of the majority. “You don’t have to go any further than Nazi Germany,” Millstone said. He also cited the Spanish Inquisition of 1492 as a classic example of a government-church alliance prompting the expulsion, torture and forced conversion of Jews. “I have a Hebrew Bible on my table (at the capitol),” said Sen. Eric Fingerhut (D-Cleveland). But he quickly added he believes the giving of the Ten Commandments to the Jewish People at Mt. Sinai is such an overwhelmingly religious event, it shouldn’t be linked to government. A fellow Jewish senator, Marc Dann (D-Youngstown) agreed. “It’s dangerous when we encourage the intertwining of church and state,” he says. The criticism of the Ten Commandments resolution from the ADL and some Jewish political leaders is drawing criticism itself from Columbus Rabbi Cary Kozberg of Wexner Heritage House. “Why, indeed, are we Jews so against

The New Standard “She does it very well,” he adds. Keller asserts the federations’ agenda isn’t all that liberal. “These are human issues,” she says. Protecting low-income Ohioans from cuts in subsidized child care and free medical care programs is simply a way of investing in people to help them become self-sufficient with jobs instead of on welfare, she says. Recalling that helping people become independent is one of the highest forms of charity, according to Maimonides, Keller notes: “To break the cycle of poverty, it’s a hand up, not a hand-out.” She notes that even the Republicans who dominate the Ohio Senate and House of Representatives viewed the situation that way and decided not to make the spending cuts. The lobbying effort by Ohio Jewish Communities may have a more subtle, long-term benefit than impacting the latest controversial issue to pop up, Keller believes: Making Ohio government officials sympathetic to Jewish concerns in general, whether they deal with social welfare, the separation of church and state, or Israel. The idea is that when Keller huddles with state legislators in the hallways of the Statehouse, arranges for them to speak to Jewish activists, or points out to lawmakers how civic-minded Jews are in the general community, that might mean that when a crisis hits, those in power will at least listen to the Jewish point of view. Keller wants to avoid a repetition of the age-old story of how Joseph and his fellow Jews prospered in Egypt until he was no longer friendly with those in power, and then the Jews became slaves. Remember that quote, Keller says: “There came a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph.” religion in the public square? Why are we so fearful of it?” he asked in a Rosh Hashanah sermon. “Why do we not yet understand that when we, as a religious community, support efforts to remove all references to God and religion from the public square and all displays that represent the shared tradition of ethical monotheism from government…that this gives a mixed message to the world about who we are and what we truly represent?” The rabbi said he understands Jewish fears about a ‘”slippery slope” that might lead to wholesale state-sanctioned evangelizing.” But he added that while a separation of church and state may help keep Jews “safe from external dangers, we are more vulnerable to dangers from within.” “Banishing all religious references from public venues puts our culture more at risk of losing touch with those ancient sources that are foundational to our American ethos of freedom and human dignity,” concludes Kozberg. “I’d rather not take a step on the slippery slope -- in either direction,” says another Columbus rabbi, Jonathan Rosenberg of Congregation Ahavas Sholom. By that, he means the status quo “is working pretty well.” Rosenberg doesn’t support the Ten Commandments resolution because it would move society closer to linking religion and government. But he also criticizes the recent federal court ruling against the “under God” phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance. Rosenberg thinks that ruling, which is being appealed to the U.S. Supreme See COMMAND Page 27

The New Standard

US digest Editor: Hollywood Jews ‘worship’ money A magazine columnist blamed Hollywood Jews for funding the bloody hit movie “Kill Bill.” Gregg Easterbrook, a senior editor at The New Republic magazine, wrote in his daily Web log that Jewish owners of Hollywood’s Miramax studio are to blame for the excessive violence of the new film by director Quentin Tarantino. While saying Christian and other Hollywood executives do the same, Easterbrook asked, “Does that make it right for Jewish executives to worship money above all else, by promoting for profit the adulation of violence?” He named Miramax owner Harvey Weinstein and Disney CEO Michael Eisner. The comment sparked a furor and prompted Easterbrook to tell The New York Times that his column had been “wrong” and “a bad choice of words.” Birthright budget cut Israel is reducing its allocation to the birthright israel program to a symbolic sum. The cut in the state’s 2004 draft budget would bring the figure down to $500,000 for 2004 from its original commitment of $14 million for five consecutive years. However, Israel will restore its full financial commitment to birthright in 2005, said Israel’s minister of Jerusalem and Diaspora affairs, Natan Sharansky, who was involved in 11thhour negotiations on the matter with Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and American philanthropist Michael Steinhardt. Funding for the program, which provides free trips to Israel for Jewish youths aged 18 to 26 who have never before visited Israel on an organized tour, is shared equally by Israel’s government; the United Jewish Communities, the umbrella federation group; and private philanthropists, as well as other Jewish groups. NPR: We’re not biased National Public Radio insists it is not biased against Israel. NPR’s president and chief executive officer, Kevin Klose, told JTA that the latest of a series of internal reviews NPR conducted of its reporting on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict revealed that of 147 interviews aired between April 1 and June 30, 53 percent were with Israelis and 47 percent with Palestinians. NPR is trying to address criticism that it is anti-Israel. It has hired a public relations firm, posted its Middle East stories online and offered an Op-Ed by Klose to Jewish media. “Journalism is not a flawless enterprise,” Klose said in an interview. “We want to be responsive to people we are eager to hear their views and understand their advocacy, especially in a difficult and I would say draining” story to cover. Jewish protesters nationwide marched against local NPR affiliates earlier this year, and many have withdrawn funding to NPR stations.

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27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 ::

Beyond Columbus Jewish group opens new office in D.C. to support minority delegations By Matthew E. Berger

J EWISH TE LEGR APH IC AGE NCY

WASHINGTON -- There’s a new kid on Capitol Hill, and he’s trying to make sure everyone gets along. The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding opened a Washington office last week, with the goal of improving relations between minority delegations in Congress. It will focus on the Jewish delegation and their black and Hispanic peers in Congress. The New York-based foundation is known for its relationships with nontraditional leaders of the black community, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, now a Democratic presidential candidate, and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. Rabbi Marc Schneier, the group’s founder and president, says it is in American Jewry’s best interests to build bridges in Washington. The growing proportions of Hispanics and blacks in Congress make it imperative to take these minority groups more seriously, he said. Instead of just seeking black and Hispanic support for Jewish priorities, such as aid to Israel, Jewish leaders must learn to reciprocate. ``I’m concerned about a certain arrogance on the part of Jewish leaders,” Schneier said. ``You can’t make demands about Israel but be insensitive to the ‘Israel issue’ of a major ethnic community.” Those issues are affirmative action for the black community and immigration for the Latino community --initiatives that Jewish lawmakers and communal leaders have not consistently supported, he said. Jewish officials dismiss Schneier’s charges.

``They come in here wanting to save,” said one official about the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. ``We don’t need saving, we have good relations.” Jewish groups say they have been working for years to foster dialogue and cooperation with minority communities Photo courtesy of The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and their rep- Sean “P. Diddy” Combs (left) speaks at a benefit for The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding resentatives in while Rabbi Marc Schneier and Russell Simmons (right) listen on. ``boutique” -- one wholly dedicated to nurturWashington. ing ties with minorities. Several groups have brought Latino ``In our own small way, we’re trying to and Jewish lawmakers together in the put this issue of demographic shifts on the last year, but relations with members Jewish community agenda,” he said. That goal of the Congressional Black Caucus have that drew support from minority leaders who been fractious recently. attended the foundation’s opening on Oct.2. Some Black Caucus members were Hilary Shelton, Washington bureau chief upset about the pro-Israel money that for the NAACP, suggested that blacks and fueled the defeat of two black Jews could work together on ``natural issues” lawmakers last year: Rep. Earl Hilliard of agreement, such as legislation against (D-Ala.) and Rep. Cynthia McKinney racial profiling and hate crimes, health care (D-Ga.). The fact that the Jewish-backed equity and funding of public education. candidates -- who won -- were also black Schneier said he hopes the foundation’s did little to assuage anger at what was Washington office, which will have two fullperceived as outsider interference. time staffers, will be able to respond to such Jewish leaders say they continue initiatives with a rapid-response communicato reach out to black lawmakers when tions network. there are opportunities for partnership. Schneier says lawmakers are excited Washington Jewish Week staff writer Eric about the new venture, which has the Fingerhut contributed to this report. backing of the World Jewish Congress. He calls other Jewish groups ``department stores” and his Washington office a

Pro-Palestinians gather off Rutgers campus By Robert Wiener

N EW J E R SEY J EWISH N EWS

WHIPPANY, N.J. -- Making good on a promise to rally on behalf of Palestinians on and off the Rutgers University campus, members of New Jersey Solidarity gathered at a free-speech area of Douglass College in New Brunswick, and four miles away at a Ramada Inn in the town of North Brunswick. As more than 600 pro-Israel activists gathered to worship at Sukkot services on Oct. 10 at the Hyatt Hotel in downtown New Brunswick as part of their Israel Inspires weekend, an estimated 200 to 300 Palestinian supporters kicked off the New Jersey Solidarity-sponsored meeting with an opening plenary session at the Ramada. On the agenda was the topic Solidarity, Resistance, and Unity: the International Movement for Palestine. Listed as principal speakers were University of California lecturer Hatem Bazian, Free Palestine Alliance coordinator Elias Rashmawi, and New Jersey Solidarity organizer Charlotte Kates. The off-campus gathering came off after a majority faction of the national student pro-Palestinian movement -- opposed to what it called New Jersey Solidarity’s ``undemocratic” tactics

and discomfited by the group’s tacit approval of suicide bombing -- voted in September to relocate its third annual solidarity conference to Ohio State University on the weekend of November 7. Several weeks later, the Rutgers administration rescinded permission for New Jersey Solidarity to meet at a campus athletic center, citing the group’s failure to comply with university regulations involving its application for on-campus space. Among the 29 panelists and speakers listed in the conference program were Palestinian and Muslim activists, college professors and civil rights advocates, an attorney, a former member of the Weather Underground, and organizers of a campaign urging American universities to shed stocks in corporations that do business in Israel. Following an eight-hour session at the motel, the convention-goers took buses to Cooper Green at Douglass College, a designated ``free-speech area” where political groups are permitted to convene for short periods without completing elaborate paperwork. In what the New Jersey daily, The Record, described as ``the most fiery” speech of the afternoon, a Montclair State University professor, Hani Awadallah of Clifton, led a chant proclaiming ``Zionism is racism” and attacked New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey for investing state pension funds in Israel Bonds. ``We are going to go after you for that, Governor,” Awadallah pledged, according to The Record. Robert Wiener can be reached at rwiener@njjewishnews.com.

10 :: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003

BEYOND COLUMBUS

The New Standard

Ford Foundation fuels anti-Israel sentiment By Edwin Black

J EWISH TE LEGR APH IC AGE NCY

The Ford Foundation disburses approximately $500 million annually through 13 offices worldwide, to grantees of all descriptions, in dozens of countries. Each year, the foundation, with an estimated $10 billion in assets, makes some 2,500 awards spanning the realms of art, education, development and social justice. In the process, Ford practices globalization just as a multinational commercial corporation would, deftly weaving monies in and out of its offices and recipients, in a complex web of funding. But the Ford Foundation’s product is not commercial — it is philanthropic. A large portion of that annual philanthropic expenditure is devoted to what it terms “human rights and social justice” — that is, not to traditional relief and aid programs, but to advocacy, activism and agitation. Ford carefully monitors all programs and materials enabled by its funds, maintains Alex Wilde, the foundation’s vice president for communications. Various grantees also confirmed that Ford requires detailed submissions of printed items and Web site development plans, sometimes two or three times per year. Hence foundation officials remain keenly aware of the fruits of their philanthropy. There is no easy way to identify how much money the scores of anti-Israel and Palestinian advocacy groups and non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, actually receive from Ford. This is because significant funds or program benefits are also channeled through other not-for-profit organizations and

even overseas government agencies. For example, the 2002 annual report of the Washington-based Advocacy Institute lists the Palestinian NGO Network, or PNGO, as a “partner.” In February 2003, the Advocacy Institute brought a group of PNGO fellows to Washington in a Ford-funded program “to strengthen PNGO’s advocacy capacity.” The program involved “message development, coalition building, media,” as well as “access and persuasion of decision makers,” according to a statement that appeared in midAugust on the institute’s main Web page. Ford records indicate that the foundation in 2000 granted the Advocacy Institute $180,000 “to strengthen the role of a network of Palestinian NGOs.” The money for PNGO is tallied among the foundation’s U.S. grants, not those of the Cairo office. Just a year later, in August 2001, PNGO was one of the main groups pushing for anti-Israel resolutions at the U.N. World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. To be sure, Ford has also granted several million dollars to American Jewish and Israeli peace groups. For example, Ford in the past has granted $500,000 to the American Reform Judaism movement’s Mideast peace program, known as “Seeking Peace, Pursuing Justice,” which seeks to mobilize North American Jewry for social justice in Israel. Ford also funds several Israeli-based dissident and human rights groups that campaign for Palestinian justice. The list includes such Israeli Palestinian rights advocates as B’Tselem, Rabbis for

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Human Rights and Hamoked. B’Tselem currently receives $250,000 for what Ford databases and reports describe as “monitoring human rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, documenting violations, and advocating for policy changes.” Rabbis for Human Rights has been granted more than $250,000 for what Ford databases and reports describe as “rabbinically-based educational and organizing activities promoting human rights policies by Israel in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.” Rabbi Arik Ascherman, the group’s executive director, said the Ford money has been used to develop a Web site, place newspaper advertising and bring other rabbis to Israel to learn about human rights. Last year, Hamoked was granted $300,000 for what Ford’s databases and reports describe, in one summary, as “advocacy and legal action to promote human rights of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories facing human rights violations by Israeli authorities.” B’Tselem and Rabbis for Human Rights, while staunchly advocating for Palestinian human rights, have also vocally and publicly condemned the campaign of Palestinian suicide bombings and other terrorism aimed at Israeli civilians. Ascherman spoke favorably of Ford, commenting, “Our experience with Ford has been very positive.” He also said that, while “it would be wrong for a funder organization to have a heavy-handed thumb editing,” in general, grant makers should “ensure the funds are spent for the goals they support, and I would like to think the goals of the Ford Foundation do not include anti-Semitism.” “We at Rabbis for Human Rights obviously abhor anti-Zionist organizations and anti-Semitism,” said Rabbi Brian Walt of the group’s North American branch. The Ford Foundation also funds the Washington-based New Israel Fund for its activities supporting and promoting social change in Israel. Since 1988, the Ford Foundation has provided more than $5 million to the New Israel Fund, a coalition of Israelis, North Americans and Europeans seeking to promote human rights and justice issues in Israel. Ford has just announced it would increase its funding to “peace and social justice groups” in Israel through the New Israel Fund with a $20 million five-

year grant to be administered by a joint Ford-NIF enterprise. Aaron Back, Ford’s former program officer for Israel, will oversee the new funding. The money is designed to “increase our funding in Israel and help build the capacity of civic organizations vital to strengthening its democracy,” according to Ford’s president, Susan Berresford. The move will shift future grantmaking from Ford offices in New York to the New Israel Fund. It is not yet clear which groups will receive money from the donor-advised fund. The overwhelming majority of Ford’s monies for the Middle East are granted to pro-Palestinian and Islamic rights groups. The list extends for pages. For example, last year, the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights in Gaza received $100,000 for what Ford databases and reports describe as “community-based advocacy work on economic, social and cultural rights in Gaza.” The Al Mezan Center works closely with the International Solidarity Movement, which stages civil disobedience actions to obstruct Israeli security forces operating in the territories. The center also operates a Web site, at www.mezan.org, that seeks to document alleged Israeli atrocities and violations of international law, and that also denounces Israel’s war against the Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas. A recent typical Al Mezan Center news release began, “The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have blatantly escalated their aggression against Palestinian civilians in the OPT during the last week.” Al Mezan is one of the many Palestinian NGOs that refer to the Israeli Defense Forces as Israeli Occupation Forces. OPT is its abbreviation for “occupied Palestinian territories.” Augmenting its Ford funding, Al Mezan also receives funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the International Commission of Jurists in Sweden, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, and several other U.N. and European Community sources. A second Palestinian agency, operating under the name Health, Development, Information and Policy Institute, received one $60,000 Ford grant under “Media Arts and Culture,” plus a second award for $75,000 under See FORD Page 11

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FORD

FROM PAGE 10

“Sexuality and Reproductive Health.” The institute operates an incitement Web site, www.palestinemonitor.org, dedicated to mobilizing world action against Israel and Zionism. Its main page offers recommended activism. For example, a page on the site, as of mid-August, sub-headlined “How can you take action for the Palestinian cause?” offered two Palestinian links, one of which is: “Boycott Israeli Goods.” Clicking on that link leads to another site, www.boycottisrael.org, which includes a list of American companies to be boycotted for doing business in Israel, including Johnson & Johnson, Disney and Starbucks. In mid-August, Palestine Monitor’s own “Activism” page offered enthusiastic coverage of a September 2002 attempt by pro-Palestinian protesters to enter Caterpillar’s Washington premises for the purpose of serving a socalled citizens-arrest warrant for “war crimes” related to selling bulldozers to Israel. A third entity, the Jerusalem Media and Communication Centre, recently received three grants totaling $365,000 to create what Ford databases and reports describe as “media services for the foreign press and a weekly electronic magazine,” as well as “enhancement of media activities related to the crisis situation.” The center publishes “The Palestine Report,” which can be found at www.palestinereport.org. This Web site employs dramatic imagery and testimony to portray Israel as an apartheid state guilty of war crimes, violations of international law and repeated mas-

BEYOND COLUMBUS sacres. As of early October, one of the center’s main Web site features was a clickable section entitled “From Revolution to Revolution,” which “focuses on internal Palestinian politics, political strengths and cracks in the armor of unity.” A prominent “Resources” list links to the Web sites of six Palestinian factions. Several of them are listed by the State Department as terrorist groups, including the People’s Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Islamic Jihad

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 ::

and Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement. When the Jerusalem Media and Communications Centre was asked whether other organizations could be listed as well, an official explained, “We only link to the biggest and best organizations.” A State Department spokesman for the Near East Affairs bureau who viewed “The Palestine Report” and its link pages to terrorist sites declared, “I am uncomfortable with the funding See FORD Page 29

Crafty Crew

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Photo by CJDS Alex Goodman (left) and Adam Soll , third-graders at the Columbus Jewish Day School, visit with Stan Sucan, a participant in the New Horizons program at the Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center. The students visited the program Sept. 30 to make sukkah decorations, then interviewed the older participants about their family histories.

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CONGREGATION TIFERETH ISRAEL

Midreshet Israel Adult Education Program

Sundays, beginning Oct. 26

Davening 101, 10:15 - 11:15 am Course Code 001 Dybbuks and Golem: from the Middle Ages to Contemporary Fiction 10:15 - 11:15 am Course Code 002 German Jewish Poets: A Cultural History 11:30 am 12:30 pm Course Code 003

Mondays, beginning Oct. 27

Chevras Shas, Noon to 1:00 pm Jewish Family Life Skills, Part I, 7:15 8:15 pm [No class session on Nov. 3]

Course Code 005 Course Code 006

Tuesdays, beginning Oct. 28

Jewish Mountain Climbing: Ascent Mt. Sinai: Learn to Read Torah 9:15-10:15 am Course Code 007

Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 29

Sisterhood Study Circle: An Amazing Century - The First (C.E.) 9:30 - 10:30 am Course Code 008 The Songs We Want To Know 9:30-10:30 am Course Code 009 Sisterhood Study Circle: Documentaries 10:30 - 11:30 am Course Code 010 Jewish Family Life Skills, Part I, 7:15 8:15 pm Course Code 011

Thursdays, beginning Oct. 30

Chumash with Rashi, 8:15 - 9:15 am Course Code 012 Study Tanakh (with the focus on Genesis) 7:00 - 8:00 pm, Course Code 013 Introduction to Judaism, 7:30 - 9:00 pm Course Code 015 (Classes begin Oct. 30 and continue into the Spring of 2004)

L Chaim Dinner Series

This semester we explore four religious systems whose names we may be familiar with, but about which we may not know a great deal. These Eastern Religions, while not being part of the "big three" Abrahamic religions, have millions of adherents worldwide. Join us as we learn with local experts on these topics. All four lectures take place on Wednesday evenings. Programs begin at 6:15 pm with dinner and continue with a 7:00 - 8:00 pm presentation. The series is priced as a package, though sessions can be purchased For class locations, more information separately. or to register, call Tifereth Israel at 253-8523. Buddhism Nov. 5 An $18 registration fee (or $50 if Course Code 016 attending the LeChayim Dinner Hinduism Nov 19 Series) is required and entitles the Course Code 017 participant to an unlimited number of Baha i Faith Dec 3 classes per semester. Classes are Course Code 018 limited to 20 students. Sikhs and Their Faith Dec 17 Registration deadline is October 17. Course Code 019

12 :: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003

The New Standard

Editorial & Opinion The

NewStandard

What If There Are No Weapons of Mass Destruction?

An Independent Central Ohio Jewish Monthly

Weis, speak for the Palestinian people!

he Palestinian conference that is to take place November 7 -9 at Ohio State University has been billed as a venue “for the promotion of hatred” by organizations such as the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Anti-Defamation League. We know from previous years that attendees of similar conferences used intimidation and threats toward the indigenous Jewish student body. The AJC states that after similar conferences at the University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco State University, presidents from 300 colleges and universities were prompted to write a statement decrying intimidation on campuses. This is not to say that such problems will occur at this conference. In fact the national organization distanced itself from the more radical Rutgers group when they chose to move the conference to OSU. This week, The New Standard received a press release from Ora Weis, a New York organizer of the event, an OSU alumna and daughter of a rabbi in Cincinnati. In her correspondence she represented a handful of Jewish peace organizations (Peace Now, a mainstream peace organization, not being one of them) that expressed their solidarity with the third annual North American Conference of the Palestine Solidarity Movement which she says has been libeled with the anti-Semitic brush when they are solely opposing Israeli policies. She wrote a very eloquent statement to this effect about opponents to the conference who “falsely invoke the wounds that our ancestors suffered to slander the organizers.” She says the group is committed to democratic principles and rejects “any form of hatred or discrimination against any group based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.” Her assertion about the intentions of the organizers will be tested in a couple of weeks. Her letter goes on to say that the conference is meant to address “egregious violation of Palestinian human rights” as documented by Amnesty International. She goes on to invoke the “Apartheid” word when referring to Israel’s building of a defensive wall. Weis, unfortunately, ignores that Amnesty International (AI) never characterizes Israel’s military action as being related in any way to an “Apartheid” action. She also ignores the scores of documents on AI’s site that detail the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) violations of human rights by way of torture and murder of Israelis and more commonly of fellow Palestinian citizens. It is telling that Hanan Ashrawi, the one-time spokesperson for the PA and no lover of Israel, left the Palestinian Authority precisely because it was governing in such a way. But, Weis ignores these atrocities while highlighting those of Israel toward the Palestinian people. Ms. Weis, Don’t you think you should fight, the good fight no matter who you feel is doing the wrong? The Palestinian Authority’s butchery is not a way for a purported “democratic” entity to act toward its citizens. You need to speak out about it when attending the conference so they do not inflict “wounds that our ancestors suffered” on the Palestinian people.

Who we are Last month was the first issue of our new publication. The New Standard is the result of a collaboration between people who love being Jewish and love to write about it. Our goal is to tell what’s happening in the community, the shul and the board room, and what it means to Jews across central Ohio. We want to get the answers and explain the issues and provide information we hope you will find useful. Read us, to find out about important classes, concerts and events; births, marriages and deaths, in Dublin, Worthington and Lancaster as well as in New Albany, Bexley and Berwick. We will accept news tips – and in fact welcome them, as we invite comments about issues of the day for our “letters’’ page and feedback about how we are doing as a news and information resource. Feel free to send us an e-mail (letters@thenewstandard.com) or pick up the phone (614-237-3600).

Thanks so much

The Publisher would like to thank all the people who have been instrumental to this endeavor. Unfortunately you are all too numerous to mention.

DANIEL PIPES Suppose for an instant that no weapons of mass destruction ever turn up in Iraq. Of course, WMD might well still appear, but let’s imagine that intelligence estimates were completely wrong about Saddam Hussein having an advanced program for chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, as well as the missiles to carry them. What would that imply? President George W. Bush’s Democratic opponents say it renders the decision to go to war a “fraud” or “hyped.” But they miss the point, for there was indeed massive and undisputed evidence to indicate that the Iraqi regime was building WMD. Defectors and other Iraqi sources nearly all agreed on his WMD program. The actions of the Iraqi government – fending off United Nations weapons inspectors tooth and nail, hiding evidence, and foregoing opportunities to have the economic sanctions lifted – all confirmed its existence. Nor is that all: Rich Lowry of National Review has shown that the entire Clinton administration leadership – as well as the United Nations and the French and German governments – believed in the existence of Iraqi WMD. If no WMD exist, the real mystery is not how the Bush administration made the same mistake everyone else did; the mystery is why Saddam purposefully created the false impression he had WMD. Why did he put himself into the bizarre position of simultaneously pretending to build WMD and pretending to hide his non-existent weapons? Presumably, his goal was to enhance his position. As the Washington Post speculates, he “may have put in place a double-deception program aimed at convincing the world and his own people that he was more of a threat than he actually was.” At a certain point, however, Saddam’s charade became self-defeating. Pretending to possess WMD meant continued economic sanctions that deprived him of billions of dollars a year, debilitated his economic base, and hollowed out his conventional arsenal. Worse from his point of view, the WMD fakery spurred his removal from power, the execution of his sons, and his own likely capture or demise. Why would a leader who reached the top of a slippery pole through supreme

guile, persist in so counterproductive a policy? His biographers, Efraim Karsh and Inari Rautsi, describe Saddam Hussein’s characteristics as “obsessive caution, endless patience, tenacious perseverance, impressive manipulative skills and utter ruthlessness.” How could he not have cut his loses, acknowledged the non-existence of his WMD program, and thereby have saved his dictatorship? This mistake can best be explained as the result of Saddam inhabiting the uniquely self-indulgent circumstance of the totalitarian autocrat, with its two key qualities: · Hubris: The absolute ruler can do anything he wants, so he thinks himself unbounded in his power. · Ignorance: The all-wise ruler brooks no contradiction, so his aides, fearing for their lives, tell him only what he wants to hear. Both these incapacities worsen with time and the tyrant becomes increasingly removed from reality. His whims, eccentricities, and fantasies dominate state policy. The result is a pattern of monumental mistakes. Two historical examples make this point. Hitler was winning World War II until he insisted, against the muted advice of his generals, to begin a two-front war by attacking the Soviet Union. Stalin responded to the buildup of Nazi forces along his border by pretending the whole thing was not taking place. Hitler’s mistake is seen as one of the turning points of World War II and a key reason for Germany’s defeat. Stalin’s error caused the deaths of many millions of his subjects. The Nazi-Soviet war was the largest, most brutal, and most deadly in human history, and it resulted primarily from the hubris and ignorance of two dictators. Saddam Hussein already has a comparable record of mistakes (recall his disastrous invasions of Iran and Kuwait), so clinging to a non-existent WMD program even as it led to his own perdition should come as no surprise. We on the outside can only imagine the ambitions and distortions that prompted his faulty decisions. The propensity of totalitarian demigods to self-inflicted wounds has direct implications for dealing with North Korea, Libya, and other rogue states. Their rulers’ vanity and isolation can lead toward a catastrophe that makes no sense to the outside world, but which has a vast capacity to do harm. Daniel Pipes (www.DanielPipes.org) is director of the Middle East Forum and author of two books on conspiracy theories, The Hidden Hand and Conspiracy

http://www.thenewstandard.com

The New Standard

OPINION

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 :: 13

The odd philosophy of Professor Oldenquist h a s b a r a

LARRY S. POLLAK A local rebbetzin told me that in past generations anti-semites would schedule pogroms right before Jewish holidays. Now, they write hateful articles in newspapers. I suppose that is a sort of progress. On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, Columbus Dispatch readers were subjected to a feature story reinforcing stereotypes about “Jewish wealth,” and yet another tendentious column by the Israel-bashing Andrew Oldenquist, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Ohio State. This was no “Shanah Tovah” greeting! Professor Oldenquist’s column, “Only America Is In Position To Influence Israeli Policy” (Columbus Dispatch, September 26, 2003), contains offensive group libels that amount to anti-semitism. It is not his pro-Palestinian sentiments or predictable condemnations of Israel that are anti-semitic. Ironically, Oldenquist anticipated being exposed when he wrote that “at the slightest criticism of Israeli policy, they are ready to cry antisemitism and retell this history from the

Diaspora and medieval myths of poisoning wells, to the Holocaust.” In the immortal words of The Bard, Methinks he doth protest too much.... “Anti-semitism” always struck me as a polite euphemism. What we are actually talking about is “Jew-hating.” It is an ugly thing, and it is spread by pernicious lies. For example, when Professor Oldenquist wrote that America’s proIsrael policy “was the main cause of 9/11,” he was making a false and defamatory statement designed to incite hatred towards Jews. Osama bin-Laden has publicly said that America was attacked because of our military presence on sacred Saudi territory. The main cause of the 9/11 attacks was Al-Quaeda’s desire to drive America out of the Middle East. Oldenqist’s mischievious distortion was not an inadvertent error; it was an intentional effort to encourage readers to blame the Jewish state. The wells are still being poisoned, and the myths continue. Oldenqist’s simplistic prescription to solve the Middle East conflict is to use American soldiers to impose a settlement on the parties, and then follow-up with United Nations’ peacekeeping troops. Anyone remotely familiar with the situation understands that Oldenquist’s plan is a non-starter. Palestinian terrorism has to be defeated if any solution ever will be viable. Professor Oldenquist advocates American “pressure” on our Israeli

allies. His philosophy is that the end will justify the means. However, Israel must be allowed to decide what security concessions it is willing to undertake. It is not the Oldenquist children or grandchildren that will have to live with the consequences of these decisions. The professor has tremendous solicitude for Israel’s enemies, naively suggesting that “America can stop this madness only by being fair to the Palestinians.” America has been more than fair. President George W. Bush publicly called for a Palestinian state, contingent only on an end to Palestinian terrorism. President Clinton persuaded former Israeli Prime-Minister Ehud Barak to offer a Palestinian state on 96% of the disputed territory, including half of Jerusalem,more than three years ago. The problem is not America’s fairness. The problem is that the Palestinians have not accepted the civilized norms that proscribe targeting civilians in pursuit of political objectives. The problem is that the Palestinians have not accepted Israel’s permanent existence as a Jewish state in the Middle East. Professor Oldenquist fundamentally misrepresented what “the special relationship” between Israel and the United States is all about. He attributes the alliance to “compassion after World War II,” “guilt about past anti-semitism” and Jewish influence over votes. The truth of the matter is that the special relationship is based on shared values. Israel is still the only

democracy and our only dependable ally in that part of the world. The American people have always supported a special relationship with Israel, and 11 presidents of both political parties have reflected that support in our foreign policy. The Oldenquist column casts aspersions at those of us who believe what the Bible has to say, referring to “the loony idea of the Lord giving The Land to the Jews.” The Professor has a lot to learn. It would have been worthwhile for Professor Oldenquist to attend the “Stand With Israel” Rally at the Statehouse on September 14th. Sponsored by the Ohio Coalition of Christians and Jews, the speakers featured elected officials and clergy committed to strengthening the special relationship between Israel and The United States. They spoke eloquently about keeping America on the right side of history. When the Jew-haters came into the shtetl to conduct pogroms before a Jewish holiday, their victims were defenseless. By comparison, the newspaper’s attempt to tarnish our holy days is just annoying. We should be thankful that we live in a country where we can fight back against the Oldenquists of this world by refuting lies with truth and defending our cause with the courage of our convictions.

Kudos to us

everyone can feel himself or herself to be part of our services. Thus if you have a Saturday morning bat or bar mitzvah, or a Sunday morning wedding, all of your guests will be close to the action. Our decorum is casual, warm and friendly. When the Torahs are paraded, everyone gets into the aisles to kibbitz. People introduce themselves to each other, and no one is a stranger. A social hour following services permits everyone to eat, get acquainted and talk. We want everyone to feel at home in our shul. We even served coffee in the new social hall during Rosh Hashanah services. For someone coming to Agudas Achim from another congregation, as we did, the transition is very easy. Attend three or four Saturday morning services in a row, and the liturgy becomes very familiar. Our friendly and learned Rabbi explains the prayers. He also comments on the Torah portion and its application to current events. Our gifted cantor sings the same traditional melodies each week. You can join in, or just relax and listen. The page number is always given from the bimah and one can not get lost in the siddur. We invite everyone who is not familiar with the new Agudas Achim to visit our synagogue family at Saturday morning services and see for yourselves. Come before 10 am., stay until services end around 11:30, and have lunch with us. As we said, we are friendly, comfortable and just around the corner.

Chavurah history at Agudas

Larry Pollak is a Columbus attorney who frequently comments on the media’s portrayal of events in Israel.

Letters to The New Standard Send us your letters...

The New Standard welcomes reader’s comments in the forms of letters to the editor and guest columns. All letters must be signed and include address and phone number for verification purposes. E-mail letters also must include a daytime phone number. Unsigned letters will not be considered for publication. The New Standard reserves the right to edit letters. You may contact our office via e-mail: letters@thenewstandard.com or regular mail: Editor The New Standard 3000-B East Main Street #270 Columbus, Ohio 43209

You certainly have set a new standard for Jewish newspapers in Columbus. My husband and I were very impressed with your publication. We have subscribed to The Forward for years now and are pleased to see that you offer current news, local. national, international and Israeli, too. We wish you much success with this endeavor, a truly great addition to the Columbus Jewish Community. –Carol Bradley Berwick

Community, welcome to Agudas Achim

Thank you for your nice article about Agudas Achim (“A New Look for Agudas Achim”, 9/25/03) We hope that many Jews who consider themselves Conservative, Traditional or even Reform will take another look at this new synagogue that is friendly, comfortable and just around the corner. Three significant recent developments should be noted. First, we are the first synagogue of Orthodox heritage to expressly incorporate equality between men and women in our constitution. Second, we are one of the few of such synagogues to not require the separation of families during any of our services. Such separation is permissive, not mandatory, and there is no wall between our family seating and our separate seating. Third, in our new sanctuary, because of its design, we have 440 seats in only ten rows, so that

–Dick and Linda Rogovin Blacklick

The Agudas Achim chavurah minyan dates back to almost 13 years. It was originally a teen minyan founded by Rabbi Hillel Fox, a former youth group director of Dayton Ohio. The chavurah minyan evolved into the downstairs minyan. In the turmoil over the mehitzah at Agudas Achim, most of the people who attended the Chavurah Minyan have moved on to Torat Emet and Ahavas Sholom. Agudas Achim has always been known as an innovator for having a number of minyanim. The main synagogue never had a mehitzah but the auxiliary minyan such as the teen minyan and chavurah minyan had the mehitzah. Additionally, Agudas Achim has the women’s teffila group lead by Judith Kanfer. It is sad that the ritual committee of Agudas Achim has recommended to the board that there will not be a mehitahat the newly renovated synagogue. This is a loss to the Columbus Orthodox Jewish community. Now, we speculate Agudas Achim is re-branding themselves as Modern Orthodox. The question is: will it remain under the Orthodox Union auspices? On a positive note, the Agudas Achim chavurah minyan had more than 70 men and women from all walks of life for the first day of Rosh Hashanah. In addition, Agudas Achim chavurah minyan extended invitations to the Jewish Russian community. –Eli Ganon Bexley

14 :: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003

A higher authority RABBI CARY KOZBERG Several years ago, many of us were pleasantly surprised to see a television advertisement for Hebrew National hot dogs. With all of the memorable ads for treyfe hot dogs (Michael Jordan hawking Ball Park Franks and the “Oh, I wish I was an Oscar Meyer wiener…”jingle), it was nice to see Hebrew National’s commercial for kosher hot dogs, which implied that kosher hot dogs, namely Hebrew National kosher hot dogs, were better because, “We answer to a higher authority.” To be sure, marketing kosher hot dogs not just to Jews but to non-Jews seems to be yet another sign that Jewish life and culture is not necessarily foreign or exotic to the larger culture. It seems to be another sign that yes, we Jews “have arrived” - that our place at the table of American life is more secure than ever. This commercial came to mind several weeks ago, as I followed the brouhaha involving the removal of the Ten Commandments from the courthouse in Alabama. You’ll remember that Chief Justice Roy Moore of Alabama’s Supreme Court also invoked a “higher authority” as he refused to comply with a federal court order to remove the 5,300-pound monument. There was a hue and cry from those who supported the tablets’ removal. They believed religious references and displays have no place in the public sector. Not surprisingly, among these have been lots and lots of Jews. To be sure, there are good arguments that, though the judge’s stated objective might have been a noble one, his tactics were inappropriate. Even a conservative source like the Wall Street Journal asked why a judge sworn to uphold the law did not with humility recuse himself if he felt more connected to his faith than to his judicial duties, instead of grandstanding. But for us Jews, this ruckus raises other questions: Why, indeed, are we Jews so against religion in the public square? Why are we so fearful of it? Why do we not yet understand that when we, as a religious community, support efforts to remove all public references to G-d and religion, and all displays that represent the shared tradition of ethical monotheism from government venues - and we do so IN THE NAME OF JUDAISM - that this gives a mixed message to the world about who we are and what we truly represent? Why do we think that it’s clever to appeal to a Higher Authority when we’re selling hot dogs, but wrong to do so when we’re promoting morals and ethics among our fellow citizens? If we truly are supposed to be “the chosen people,” why do we not yet understand that, although we may disagree on some issues, we do indeed share some things with other faith communities? Why do we not understand that when we don’t engage them - if we only mock their religious devotion instead of seeking common ground with them - that we are giving them exclusive rights to speak for all religious traditions? Why do we not yet understand that when we support efforts to banish reli-

The New Standard

OPINION

gion from public venues, that we are really stifling, not promoting, religious and cultural diversity. And we are shirking our unique responsibility as Jews: to be “a light to the nations.” Perhaps our response is based on fear. Throughout most of our history, we have not had good experiences with overt religious expression in the public sector. And given our collective memory of 2000 years of religious persecution, we fear deep in our kishkes that our place at the table of American life really is not as secure as it seems. Perhaps we still are trying to deal with the fact that, while more non-Jews may have developed a taste for kosher hot dogs and maybe even have developed a bit more appreciation of “the joys of Yiddish,” still the culture in which

we live is suffused with strong Christian influences which seem to be getting stronger - and our memory is a long one. We are different and small in numbers, and therefore vulnerable, with only an abiding faith in the Constitution and Bill of Rights to guarantee that we won’t be swallowed up. But the truth is that while we may be safe from external dangers, we are more vulnerable to dangers from within. As Michael Beran recently suggested in an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal, banishing all religious references from public venues puts our culture more at risk of losing touch with those ancient sources that are foundational to our American ethos of freedom and human dignity. And if it is true that “progress is always nourished by antiquity,” then

losing touch with those ancient sources means our culture will stagnate and decay. Beran reminds of us of two famous Americans who understood how vital the connection is between our American ethos and its scriptural foundations - two men who were quite comfortable weaving scriptural language and motifs into their speeches and writings: Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson. Lincoln’s constant references and quotes from Scripture, as well as his moral vocabulary and sentence rhythm show a conscious decision to reflect the Bible’s language and style in his oratory. And Jefferson’s immortal words “all men are created equal…and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights….” also reflect a comfort with utilizing biblical concepts See KOZBERG Page 15

Photos by: Joshua Haruni and James Nubile, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee; Lloyd Wolf, Jonathan Levine, Joel Fishman, United Jewish Communities. The Columbus Jewish Federation also wishes to express our gratitude to our central Ohio Jewish community partners for supplying photos, and to thank all of the members of our community whose pictures appear on this page.

A Campaign For Serious Times…

As the Jewish people turn to the community in these serious times, the community turns to you. Your gift is critical to our Jewish future, because every gift to the Columbus Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign changes lives. One gift, your gift, builds creative, community-based responses to crises, such as poverty, terrorism and anti-Semitism. One gift, your gift, protects the most vulnerable members of the Jewish community, through the Federation, our agencies & synagogues, and the world’s largest and most effective Jewish network of social service providers. One gift, your gift, provides connections and learning opportunities that build a more vibrant community and ensure our future. We are truly a privileged Jewish community, with unequaled financial, intellectual and emotional resources. In serious times, the Jewish people turn to the community. Now, the community turns to you. Your donation empowers you to make an impact, to change the world. Give generously, because our Jewish future is in your hands. 1175 College Avenue Columbus, OH 43209 Phone: 614-237-7686 Fax: 614-237-2221 www.jewishcolumbus.org

The New Standard

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 :: 15

Adolf Hitler, Interior Decorator ian [who] neither drinks nor smokes” and who was burdened with “the hardest job that ever a man could undertake.” A New York Times columnist who interviewed Hitler in the summer of 1933 wrote of his “curiously childlike and candid” eyes and his voice that was DR. RAFAEL “as quiet as his black tie.” MEDOFF Homes & Gardens was not the only publication captivated by Hitler’s vacation house. Just six weeks before the In November 1938, the month that Homes & Gardens article appeared in the Nazis’ “Kristallnacht” pogroms November 1938, the New York Times devastated the German Jewish compublished a dispatch from one of its munity, the British magazine Homes Berlin correspondents in which he & Gardens ran a fawning three page could barely conceal his admiration photo-spread lavishing praise on Adolf for Hitler’s “mountain retreat.” The Hitler’s vacation home in the Bavarian home “is simple in its appointments Alps. and commands a magnificent highland The article is the focus of a growing panorama ... Herr Hitler in principle international controversy, because the detests the big cities, where ‘the current editors of Homes & Gardens houses are thick and the sewhave pressured a British journalist, ers annoy the air.’ He Simon Waldman, to remove the craves moderate article from his web site, where altitudes he had posted it earlier this and year. high“This bright, airy chalet ... land commands the fairest view breezof all Europe,” the Homes es.” & Gardens article Articles declared. “There is a depicting softness of greenery, Hitler as a with snow-white fashionable cascades and forinterior decoest-clad pinnacles rator or an ... The guest affable counbedrooms are try gentleman hung [with] helped dull the Fuhrer’s American and own water-colour British public sketches ... The Fuhrer consciousness has a passion about cut about the flowers in his home, as Nazi menace. well as for music ... This They were is the only home in which also an omiHitler can laugh and take nous prelude his ease --or even ‘conduct to media covtours’ by means of the erage of the tripod telescope which he Nazi genohimself operates on the cide, a topic terrace for his visitors.” Wyman Institute which will “The Fuhrer is his own British Home and Gardens Magazine- Nov. 1938 be explored decorator, designer and furin depth in Laurel Leff’s forthcoming nisher, as well as architect,” Homes & study of the New York Times and the Gardens readers were informed. “The Holocaust, to be published next spring curtains are of printed linen or fine by Cambridge University Press. damask in the softer shades ... The It was wrong for Homes & Gardens gardens [are] planted with flowerto whitewash Hitler’s image in 1938, ing shrubs as well as roses and other and it is wrong for Homes & Gardens blooms in due season,” and the gardento try to hide the historical record from ers “are not so much servants as loyal public view today. The public has a friends” with whom Hitler chats amiright to know that some segments of the ably each morning. The article went Western media published puff pieces on to describe the “savoury and rich” that made Hitler look fashionable and dishes served by Hitler’s chef, the “fine made it harder for people to recognize wine and liquors” offered to guests, the Nazi danger. and the “pedigree Alsatians” raised by For that reason, the David S. Wyman the Fuhrer in his “model kennels.” On Institute for Holocaust Studies, which some days, the article revealed, the focuses on how America and its allies dogs are “allowed the run of the house” responded to the Holocaust, has posted while “the Squire himself [Hitler] will the full original article on its own web stroll through the woods into hamlets” site, www.WymanInstitute.org . nearby, where he “gives a ‘Fun Fair’ to There, readers can see for themselves the local children.” a shameful example of how some segSome American periodicals likewise ments of the Western press reported on published articles during the 1930s Hitler. And they can ponder the signifithat depicted a kinder, gentler Nazi cance of the recent attempts to suppress Germany. A Christian Science Monitor public access to this disturbing historifeature about life in the Third Reich in cal document. 1933 spoke of its “quietness, order, and Dr. Medoff, who taught Jewish history civility,” trains that “arrived punctuat the Ohio State University from 1991 ally,” traffic that was “well regulated,” to 1993, is director of The David S. and policemen in “smart blue uniWyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, forms.” A New York Times corresponwhich focuses on issues related to dent, speaking on CBS radio that year, America’s response to the Holocaust / emphasized that Hitler was “a vegetarwww.wymanInstitute.org

KOZBERG

FROM PAGE 14 in order to make his point - not to mention the little-known fact that Jefferson advocated for the state-subsidized teaching of the religious principles common to all the monotheistic faiths. As the new year begins, may we as a community understand the larger challenge that faces us as. Though our beliefs may differ from many around us in the larger society, the shared challenge of secularism calls us to join together - to promote, and not banish, what these sources teach; and to work toward making what we recite today and everyday into a reality: “May all who live be convinced that to You every knee must bend, every tongue vow loyalty; before You may all bow in reference, proclaiming Your glory, accepting Your sovereignty.” And may this happen soon….because ultimately my friends, for us and for our world, this is a whole lot more important than hot dogs. Rabbi Cary Kozberg is Director of Spiritual Care for Wexner Heritage Village and has taught in the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School for 14 years. He received ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (Cincinnati) in 1977. His essays and poetry have appeared in a number of publications. This selection was a sermon during Rosh Hashannah.

world digest Swiss Jewish group charged A Swiss Jewish group was charged with racial discrimination because of a letter saying Islam seeks to control the world. Observers say this may be the first application of that country’s anti-bias laws against a Jewish group. At issue is an open letter Luebke penned after the November 2002 bombing of a Kenyan hotel owned by Israelis . Signed by 138 Jews and Christians, the letter which referred to “Islamic terrorist madness” and termed the attacks an example of “IslamicArabic-Palestinian manic butchery against the Jewish-Israeli civil population” was sent to the Swiss government and Parliament. In late 2002, a Swiss Palestinian filed charges against Luebke. Swiss Jewish leaders had refused to sign the letter. Malaysia defends remarks Malaysian officials defended the country’s prime minister, who said Jews rule the world and called on Muslims to defeat them. Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar defended Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who said Oct. 16 at a summit of Islamic leaders that “Jews rule the world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them.” As criticism of the remarks mounted, Albar called the controversy a “misunderstanding.” “Islam has never advocated being anti-anybody, including the Jews,” he said. The dogs go to the Nazis A German man was arrested for teaching his dog the Hitler salute. The British news service Ananova reported that a Berlin man was charged with teaching his black sheepdog, named Adolf, to lift his front paw straight up in the infamous “Sieg Heil” gesture. The man was charged with using symbols belonging to banned groups and faces three years in jail if convicted.

Digest from JTA wire service

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16 :: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003

O N

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The New Standard

Arts & Entertainment

F I L M

SHELDON GLEISSER “Costly Grace is the Gospel,” wrote Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “It costs people their lives. It cost the life of God’s son. And nothing can be cheap to us which is costly to God.” The new documentary Bonhoeffer, about a German pacifist theologian who defied the Nazis, is all about the cost of things. Although this cost is not necessarily monetary, even that figures in when one thinks about the harsh peace of the Versailles treaty. It is that treaty that threw Germany

Documentary demands our attention into the economic chaos that spurred Hitler’s rise. It is Hitler’s rise that would lead to Germany’s even greater destruction at the end of World War II. It is resistance to Hitler that would lead Dietrich Bonhoeffer to pay the ultimate price. This film presents the parallel rise of two contradictory men. The first, Hitler, is a dark- haired, dark- eyed, gnomelike autocrat who speaks of the virtues of blond-haired, blue- eyed Aryan warriors. Hitler becomes the leader of a

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nationalist religion with himself as its God. The other man, Bonhoeffer, is a blond-haired, blue-eyed, thoughtful Christian pacifist who becomes a threat to Nazism by declaring Christ as the true Fuhrer. Bonhoeffer soon comes to the conclusion that the only way to truly be a pacifist in such difficult times was to kill the leader of his nation. Director Martin Doblmeir uses a combination of archival footage, archival interviews, still photos, and contemporary interviews with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Lutheran pastor and passifest participated in the people such as John plots to assassinate Adolf Hitler DeGruchy, Geffrey Kelly, tutions were lining up to make deals and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to build with an evil regime, Bonhoeffer took this story. Doblmeir doesn’t stretch the his religion as the higher authority. He boundaries of documentary technique, had a lot of backbone at a time when it but he doesn¹t have to; it fits the quiet was plenty scarce, and that’s why this authority of his subject. film demands our attention. It does Those who know this story know the what the best documentaries should do: end to which Bonhoeffer came. It is the Illuminate little known corners of our telling details between his beginning world and our history without trying to and his end that this documentary illuslant our view of either. minates best. At a time when his counBonhoeffer Opened October 17 at Drexel try was so aggressively closing itself off East at 2256 East Main from the world that it came to embrace Nazism, Bonhoeffer chose an expansive Sheldon Gleisser is a Columbus-based view, seeking to find how other cultures film and video producer. You may comused Christianity to better their ways. ment on this review by sending an e-mail In the United States, Bonhoeffer to letters@thenewstandard.com. attended the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. There he witnessed the rhetorical and philosophical style of the Reverend Clayton Powell Sr. This broadened his perspective, leading him to observe that “the Black Christ is preached with rapturous passion and By Tom Tugend vision.” It also leads him, inescapably, to J EWISH TE LEGR APH IC AGE NCY the comparison of the plight of AfricanAmericans in this country with that of “Nowhere in Africa” is a stunningly Jews in his own. visual and dramatic film, which Friends, fearful for Bonhoeffer’s life explores the trials and triumphs of a in Nazi Germany, arrange for his pasGerman Jewish family forced to flee sage to America as well as a job, but their native land in the 1930s, between Bonhoeffer is uneasy with his choice. Hitler’s rise to power and the beginning When he reads a passage in Isaiah of World War II. It is returning to which says, “He who believes does not Columbus since its general release in flee,” he decides to go back to Germany, 2002 which one it an Academy Award managing to take literally the last boat for Best Foreign Film. The German in before War is declared. “I do not picture is being shown durring the JCC regret this path in any way,” he writes, bookfair (see next page) on November but his fate is sealed. 15 at 7:15 pm. A sequence that sticks out is an The theme, lacking the sheer lifeexamination of a photo of the Bonhoeffer and-death tension and horror of the family taken in March 1943. This was Holocaust itself, has been largely just before the attempt on Hitler¹s life neglected by moviemakers. that would cost Bonhoeffer so dearly. It is 1938, and the thoroughly The family smiles brightly for the camassimilated Redlich family, consisting era, all except for Dietrich and his fellow of Walter, an attorney, his pampered conspirators, who look to the lens with a wife, Jettel, and their 10-year old frank and weary gaze, as if to show the daughter Regina, finally realizes that it’s world the weight of the moral choices time to leave the country, despite the they have made. It is astounding that assurances of grandfather Max that the film can go on from there, but it the Nazis will be booted out in one or does. two years. It is hard not to be moved by this Their unlikely destination is Kenya, film, hard not to feel that one knew where a friend has secured a job for Dietrich Bonhoeffer when the viewing is the urbane Walter as caretaker on a completed. See AFRICA Page 29 At a time when nations and insti-

Acclaimed film returns to Columbus for one day at JCC

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The New Standard

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 ::

2003 jewish bookfair

Browsing Hours:

November 8 - November 16

Monday-Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. The JCC’s annual Jewish Bookfair is one of Central Ohio’s largest and most popular literary events. From November 8 through November 16, Bookfair will bring an exciting combination of well-known authors and intriguing topics to Columbus. In addition to author visits, highlights of the week include a feature film presentation and a family concert for young children. Browse through a huge selection of books by Jewish authors and with Jewish themes, take advantage of the opportunity to meet internationally known writers, and engage with them during programs scheduled throughout the week.

Friday 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Sundays 10:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Cup O’ Joe Coffee Bar Hours: November 8 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. November 10-13 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center 1125 College Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43209

Photojournalist focuses on Jewish exile condition By Joe Berkofsky

J EWISH TE LEGR APH IC AGE NCY

A man with a chiseled face and Roman profile gazes into the light amid a roomful of Greco-Roman busts that could be of his ancestors. A silver-haired Indian merchant sits in his opulent Calcutta living room, a servant holding his tea tray. Jewish school students stand atop a pyramid alongside a faux Sphinx and palm trees in Las Vegas. During a recent interview, photojournalist Frederic Brenner sifted through these images, stopping to point at one blackand-white image of a young Italian Jew whose visage seemed to morph into the marble statues. “This capacity of becoming the Other - this is what the whole project is about,” he says. The project Brenner is referring to is “Diaspora: Homelands in Exile,” a twovolume set of photographs and essays from Harper Collins. In many ways, it encapsulates his life´s work. Brenner, 44, is the controversial chronicler of world Jewry who for 25 years roamed five continents living with and photographing indigenous Jews - from Azerbaijan to Yemen and Brooklyn to Jerusalem. It was his 1996 “Jews/America/A Representation,” which included a roomful of Groucho Marx impersonators, a chapter of Harley-Davidson riders and a table of semi-naked women displaying their mastectomy scars, that brought his name to the coffee tables of many American Jews. The book also exposed a debate over the nature of this new form of Jewish documentary. For Egon Mayer, a noted sociologist whose 2001 survey of American Jewish identity was widely seen as a benchmark study, Brenner´s highly stylized portraits of U.S. Jews recorded a whimsical, irreverent but loving slice of life. “These are not photographs either

of or for comfortable Jews,” he wrote, but unearth “the layered personae” of American Jewry. There were photos of Jewish Civil War enthusiasts, Jews at a Catskills singles resort, and famous Jews like Dustin Hoffman and Henry Kissinger. But author and commentator Leon Wieseltier, writing in The New Republic, said the Jews in the book were “exploited in a cheap culture game.” “Brenner´s pictures adore themselves. They believe themselves to be fresh, shocking, paradoxical, controversial,” he wrote. “See how they blow the lid off American Jewish identity and go behind the conventions of American Jewish existence and boldly reveal it to be riddled” with

irony. Still, Mayer says Brenner´s latest work surfaces at a crucial moment after the release of the National Jewish Population Survey, a $6 million study said to provide the most comprehensive statistical snapshot of U.S. Jewry ever. Brenner´s art captures something facts and figures cannot, Mayer says. He “can do artistically what we social scientists are trying to do by asking 1,000 questions,” Mayer says. Whether it´s the photo of Russian immigrant taxi drivers lining up their cabs on Coney Island or a picture of the lesbian daughters of Holocaust survivors, Brenner “is trying to capture a complexity that Jewish institutional organizations are uncomfortable with,” Mayer says. This latest collection features more than 500 of Brenner´s photographs, and

for the first time in any of his five books includes commentary by such figures as French philosopher Jacques Derrida and black-Jewish professor Julius Lester, as well as his own notes. For Brenner, his pictures always represented “the enigma of identity” for Jews, “of dispossession and dispersal that is not only passively experienced but deep within us.” He points to one photo in particular, from the Soviet Union in 1983. Brenner saw beyond the stereotypical Iron Curtain of urban refuseniks by trekking to then-unmapped Central Asian republics, among the first Western photographers allowed in, he says. In Azerbaijan, he found mustachioed Jewish men in a local tea house looking much like their countrymen. “Jews take the shape and color of where they are. All identities are invented, even ours,” he says. His mission to explore that identity began in 1978, when Brenner, 18, the assimilated son of French parents, launched his own search for identity with a trip to Israel. His maternal grandparents came from Algeria and his paternal grandparents from Romania and the Ukraine, assembling a familial “puzzle” he´s been piecing together since. Schooled as an anthropologist, he began taking pictures, including of the

fervently Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood of Mea Shearim. There, he recalls, white, European Jews “reproduced a shtetl” in the Land of Zion, but he saw it as only a fragment of the whole Jewish picture. Armed at first with foundation grants, Brenner began traveling in the early 1980s to the Soviet Union to learn how Jews retained their ethnic identities. That turned into a 12-year marathon to more than 80 countries driven by a desire to record communities of “vanishing” Jews. Whether it was Ethiopia or Uzbekistan, he found “an incredible reservoir” of Jewish culture intertwined with other worlds, and he was determined to unravel that thread before it disintegrated. One haunting image comes from a community of rural Yemenite Jews. A grandfather reads a Jewish text with his young grandson. Years later he found that boy, a teenager named Mazal - Hebrew for “fortune” - in an Israeli absorption center. Mazal, then 16, along with his 14- yearold wife and infant daughter, are transplanted to Israel, but they seem hardly changed outwardly. Today that baby girl is 12. She lives with her religious parents and four siblings in the Tel Aviv suburb of Rehovot. See BRENNER Page 27

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18 :: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003

The New Standard

An Interview with Rabbi Tirzah Firestone

Bookfair schedule Sue Fishkoff –– Saturday, Nov. 8 • 8:30 p.m.

The Rebbe’s Army: Inside the World of ChabadLubavitch – Published in 2003, this book goes behind the scenes of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement of Judaism, and explores the nuances of daily life. Julia DeVillers & Tammy Niehart –– Sun, Nov. 9 • 2:00

p.m. The author of GirlWise and several other books that empower, Julia DeVillers gives girls the information and the encouragement to become confident and in control. Also, listen to a first-hand account of Tammy Niehart’s experience of overcoming domestic violence. Niehart is the founder of Boyfriend Cosmetics. Program followed by reception and opportunity for brief make-up consultation. Levana Kirschenbaum –– Monday, Nov. 10 • Noon

Lunch Levana’s Table: Kosher Cooking for Everyone – Filled with color photographs, this recently published cookbook reflects the French Moroccan flavors that have influenced the author, known for the restaurant and catering business that bears her name. Frédéric Brenner –– Monday, Nov. 10 • 7:30 p.m.

Diaspora: Homelands in Exile – This French born and educated photographer and author has photographed and exhibited throughout the world. Program includes a slide show of photographs depicting Jews of the world. Ari Goldman –– Tuesday, Nov. 11 • 7:30 p.m.

Living a Year of Kaddish – This best-selling author addresses loss that inevitably affects everyone by exploring the emotional and spiritual aspects of saying Kaddish after the loss of his father.

author of THE RECEIVING: Reclaiming Jewish Women’s Wisdom

Yaacov Lozowick –– Wednesday, Nov. 12 • 7:30 p.m.

Right to Exist: A Moral Defense of Israel’s Wars – In this recently released book, the author describes his evolution from a liberal peace activist into a reluctant supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Rochelle Krich –– Thursday, Nov. 13 • 7:30 p.m.

Dream House – Krich is the author of ten highly acclaimed suspense novels. Titles include Blues in the Night, Shadows of Sin, Dead Air, Blood Money, and Where’s Mommy Now? Tirzah Firestone –– Fri., Nov. 14 • Noon Lunch &

Lecture The Receiving: Reclaiming Jewish Women’s Wisdom – This book chronicles seven Jewish women from the past 1900 years and their uniquely feminine spiritual lives. Movie Night: Nowhere in Africa –– Sat., Nov. 15 • 7:15

p.m. Winner of the 2002 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, this love story follows a Jewish family as they flee Nazi Germany for a remote farm in Kenya. Based on a true story. Admission includes popcorn and candy. Marc Rossio Family Concert–– Sun, Nov. 16 • 4:30 p.m.

Children’s entertainer Marc Rossio, will delight children and parents alike with his lively and energetic show. Bryan Mark Rigg –– Sunday, Nov. 16 • 7:00 p.m.

Hitler’s Jewish Soldiers: The Untold Story of Nazi Racial Laws and Men of Jewish Decent in the German Military – Powerful and moving, Rigg’s book draws on research to reveal the inconsistent policies regarding Jewish identity within the ranks of Hitler’s military. Includes slide show presentation.

By Andrew Young

SOU N DS TR U E PU B LICATIONS

Andrew Young: How does The Receiving depart from your first book, With Roots in Heaven? Tirzah Firestone: With Roots in Heaven was a personal memoir. Tirzah Firestone The Receiving brings what I’ve learned in my return to Judaism - its deep root truths - out into the public domain so that women and men who have been disaffected or disenfranchised from the Jewish tradition can hear and apply these truths. The book also serves another intention of mine. Jewish history and scholarship for thousands of years has been pronouncedly absent of women. The holy women, the female sages and miracle workers - they’re almost completely absent from our history. I wanted to correct this terrible omission. AY:: Why is this subject so important today? TF: We’re in an unprecedented time in history when women are going to rabbinic seminaries, cantorial schools and enrolling in adult education in large numbers. For the first time, all the doors are now opening for women to learn everything from the Talmud to Kabbalah to Jewish history and the arts. And because women have become See FIRESTONE Page 19

Scholar stirs controversy on Jewish German soldiers By Peter Ephross

J EWISH TE LEGR APH IC AGE NCY

In the summer of 1992, Bryan Mark Rigg, then a student at Yale, was in Germany researching his family history when he attended a screening of “Europa, Europa.” Since his German wasn’t so good, he asked an elderly man sitting next to him to translate the film, which tells the story of Shlomo Perel, a Jew who survived the Holocaust by falsifying his identity - and who served in the German army for part of World War II. After the movie, the man told Rigg that his story was similar to Perel’s. Over a drink, the man told Rigg about his experiences as a “quarter-Jew” who had served for Germany on the Russian front. The conversation fascinated Rigg and spurred him to investigate whether there were more soldiers of Jewish descent in the Nazi army. He began checking - and sure enough, there were. What’s more, little scholarly work had been done on these mischlinge, as the Nazis called Germans with Jewish roots. “They suffered the same fate in academic life that they did in the Third Reich. Nobody wanted them. Nobody claimed them. So nobody knows about them,” Rigg, 31, told JTA recently.

The encounter launched a 10-year odyssey for Rigg that culminated in “Hitler’s Jewish Soldiers,” which is making waves in both the media and academia. The Chronicle of Higher Education printed a lengthy article on Rigg and his book, and he is slated to be the subject of a segment on NBC’s “Dateline” this month. In the book, Rigg tells the strange-but-true story of these wartime German soldiers with Jewish roots. Based on interviews with more than 400 of these former soldiers, along with some statistical extrapolation, Rigg concluded that more than 100,000 such soldiers - who were considered Jewish, according to Nazi racial laws - served in the German military. Many researchers consider this number an exaggeration and dismiss Rigg, who teaches at the online American Military University, as publicity-hungry. “This is not a bombshell,” Raul Hilberg, one of the deans of Holocaust scholarship, recently told The Chronicle of Higher Education. “We have known that there were thousands” of men with Jewish roots “in the German army.” Some also have taken aim at the book’s title. After all, Rigg himself says that only 60 percent of the “half-Jews” and only 30 percent of the “quarterJews” who served as soldiers were Jewish according to Jewish law. Many didn’t even know they were

Jewish because their families had assimilated. But many scholars support Rigg in his contention that his book, based on his doctoral dissertation at Cambridge University in England, casts new light on Nazi policy and the Holocaust. Rigg’s “diligent” and “sustained” research calls into question some previous assumptions about Nazi policy during the Holocaust, Holocaust scholar Michael Berenbaum told JTA. Rigg’s book “shows that there was a greater degree of flexibility in the anti-Jewish policy than previously realized,” says Berenbaum, author of “The World Must Know: The History of the Holocaust.” Berenbaum highlights the importance of Rigg’s evidence showing that, as late as 1943, Hitler was spending his time pondering the fate of individual soldiers with Jewish roots. While the German war machine was focused on battling allied forces, Hitler was “deciding whether this guy’s face is Jewish. It’s unbelievable,” Berenbaum says. Rigg admits that it’s a bit unbelievable that he became a Holocaust scholar. “Ten years ago, if you had asked me that this was going to happen, that we’d be sitting here talking about this, I’d be like, ‘No way.’ “ Tall, fit and square-jawed - and prone to use the words “honored” and “gentlemanly” in conversation - Rigg looks more like a former football player and Marine from Texas - which, in fact, he is. As a teen-ager, Rigg attended the Ft. Worth Christian Academy and spent time on Protestant missions. See RIGG Page 29

The New Standard

FIRESTONE

FROM PAGE 14

leaders of communities - rabbis, cantors, Jewish educators - there is no stopping our urge to correct this long history of being unheard. But the work has only begun. It’s critical that there be a tikkun, a “repair,” to make known to the public that, yes, indeed, there were remarkable women spiritual leaders, scholars and mystics in the past, too. In this way, we’ll have something to share with our daughters and the upcoming generations who would otherwise find an enormous absence in the history books. AY: These stories are by no means idyllic accounts; in fact, many are poignant and even heartbreaking. How are the struggles and even failures of these women sages of value to us? TF: It might sound sentimental, but I believe that we have a sacred obligation to these women, to bring their stories forward into the light of day, to teach our daughters and women friends about them so they are not lost to history. Many of these women’s struggles happened because they were so disempowered within their communities. The Virgin of the Green Hut for example, was literally excommunicated and banished from the Jewish community of Ukraine. There are other examples here, too, of women who struggled within the male-dominant society that they lived in and succeeded in maintaining their spiritual connection to the Divine. To me these are very powerful teaching stories about persevering amidst the outer forces in the world. These stories also teach us that women had their own way of doing �� things. They did not let anger deter

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 :: 19 their lives - because they had too much to accomplish! That is an important lesson for us. AY: Tell us more about the spiritual teachings in The Receiving. TF: My deeper purpose for writing The Receiving was to begin to put forth the Jewish mystical legacy for women - the woman’s Kabbalah. I wanted to convey the beauty and innately balanced principles of Kabbalah in a way that could be applied in a practical, down to earth way. AY:: What is the Kabbalah? TF: The Kabbalah is the large and evolving body of Jewish mystical work, not just a single book. It was originally an oral tradition that comes to us through several different volumes that were written beginning in the 1100s with the Bahir and then in the 1200s with the Zohar. The Kabbalah has been transmitted largely from men to men for hundreds of years. Now, this is beginning to change. AY: What does the Kabbalah offer to women? TF: The essential principles of the Kabbalah are deeply balanced and are all about healing. They teach the necessity and responsibility of healing the opposites in life, particularly between the masculine and feminine approaches

to life. But because these teachings have been transmitted exclusively by men and for men for so long, they have taken on a very masculine garb. That’s to say, the language and terminology of the Kabbalah is often layered in stiff, formal, abstract and often masculine clothing. This is not the Kabbalah’s intrinsic nature, though! Its true wisdom is very much about the masculine-feminine balance. AY: Today, Jewish women can choose from many spiritual lineages that embrace the feminine dimensions of spirituality. Why would someone want to return to a tradition that has been largely preserved and practiced by men for 3,000 years? TF: I hope that this book will be a homecoming for so many of us who have turned away from our tradition to seek wisdom elsewhere, who have thought that Judaism is intrinsically out of balance. The book comes to teach that Judaism’s most powerful teachings are about what is universal. Ultimately, they are about achieving wholeness and opening ourselves to receive a direct spiritual experience. AY: Before you wrote this book, what resources were available for someone looking for teachings on the Kabbalah taught by women and for women? TF: For women and by women? Well, that’s just it; there really has been nothing available. Until now, if a woman wanted to study Kabbalah in a serious way, she would go to a teacher or

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AY: This emerging face of the feminine in Jewish spirituality: how do you see it influencing the course of events in our world today? TF: That’s an important question. I don’t want to be grandiose, but I will say that the imbalances that we are suffering from now in the world have so much to do with this ripping, this tear, between opposites. And the power of mending and healing these rifts has everything to do with how we might heal the conflicts we are witnessing today. Clearly, the feminine principle, which has everything to do with relating to those around us heart to heart - is very much what we need right now. Tirzah Firestone will speak at Bookfair at noon Nov. 14 Admission is $6 for the lecture and $6 for lunch. She will also at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at OSU Hillel (46 E. 16th Ave) and will participate in the Shabbat minyan at 10 a.m. Nov. 15.

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author such as Gershom Sholom, Moshe Idel, Eliot Wolfson. These are wonderful male scholars, but the writing can be impenetrable even to a dedicated student. And rarely is there any allusion to how the teachings relate to a woman’s perspective, her daily life, her feminine rhythms. In The Receiving, I have attempted to present the clear essence of the Jewish mystical vision, stripping each teaching of its masculine and hierarchical outer garments, to reveal its innately balanced perspective. The seven stories I tell each serve as a springboard into a particular aspect of Judaism’s mystical wisdom, such as the ten centers on the Tree of Life, the journey of the soul, reincarnation and the Kabbalah’s mystical practices.

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ACTIVISM Meet the Candidates Night - East Open to the entire community. 6:30 reception, 7:00 program. Presented by Columbus Jewish Foundation & Franklin County Consortium for Good Government. Temple Israel, 5419 E. Broad Street. Contact Ed Frim 559-3240 (efrim@tcjf.org)

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OCTOBER 23

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BOOKS

dynamic and fun discussion on issues like: belief in G-d, the role of organized religion, intermarriage, and the reasons behind Jewish observances. Based on Prager and Telushkin’s, “The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism”. Barnes & Noble Easton, 4005 Townsfair Way. 476-8480

OCTOBER 26

NOVEMBER 20

Jewish Book Discussion Group Lively discussion about contemporary and classical Jewish literature. A different book each month. Contact Janet Golder for this month’s book (janetgolder@netzero.net.) Room 4 of Beth Tikvah at 9:15 am

J-Link’s Book Bunch Meetings held on the third Thursday of the month. 7 pm at Stauf’s in Grandview, For more information call Lindsay Folkerth at 559-6228

Please send calendar entries to calendar@thenewstandard.com

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Avrom Weiss, M.D., Director of Hadassah Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit gives an update on Hadassah’s new Center for Emergency Medicine and Hadassah’s hospitals in Israel. Coffee and danishes, 8:30 – 9: 30 am, program from 9:30 –11am. The Hyatt, 75 E. State St. RSVP to Maureen at 933-8700

OCTOBER 28

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Introductory offer is valid until November 20

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Alan Dershowitz Speaks on “The Case for Israel” at 8 pm at the Ohio Union, OSU, 1739 N. High St. Presented by OSU Chabad House. Must buy tickets in advance, $20 adults, $5 students. For tickets call Chabad at 470-3127 or JCC at 231-2731

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or online at http://www.thenewstandard.com/subs

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The New Standard

TNS Calendar

OCTOBER 26

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20 :: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003

Jewish Children’s Literature Program. Teachers, librarians and the rabbi share their favorite books for children; preschool through grade school; light breakfast served. Program by the Temple Israel Sisterhood, Sunday 9:30 – 11 am; Temple Israel 5419 E. Broad St. 866-0010.

EXHIBITS ONGOING ‘TILL JULY 31

Lawrence Weiner Weiner inscribes an enigmatic message using black bricks inlaid into existing brick paving located at an intersection of pedestrian paths. The text creates a subtle surface image for OCTOBER 27 - 31 students and visitors to ponder on as they make their way. Wexner Center CJDS Scholastic Book Fair for the Arts, The Belmont Building 330 Many books for sale. Great place to West Spring Street Near the Arena pick up kids Jewish subject books. Oct. District, Tue-Wed: 11 am-6 pm, Thu-Fri: 27 3-6:30 pm, Oct. 28 11:30 - 1 pm, 11 am-9 pm, Sat-Sun: Noon-6 pm Oct. 29 3 - 6:30 pm, Oct. 30 11:30 - 4: 30 pm, Oct. 31 11:30 - 3 pm. contact Jill Herman for details 939-5311 ONGOING ‘TILL NOVEMBER 2

Meet the Candidates Night - South Open to the entire community. 6:30 reception, 7:00 program. Presented by Columbus Jewish Foundation & Franklin County Consortium for Good Government. Westland high school, 146 Galloway Road. Contact Ed Frim 559-3240 (efrim@tcjf.org)

The life works of Alfred Tibor A retrospective exhibition presented OCTOBER 28 by the Worthington Arts Council “How can you be a Lesbian? – You’re featuring 80 small and medium sized Jewish”. sculptures. Tibor’s work pays homage Award – winning author Leslea to humanity and the celebration of life. Newman offers insight into the Marian Hall, St. Michael Church, 5750 intersection and collision between N. High St. Worthington Hours: Monday the two. 7:30 pm at Hillel, 46 E. 16th – Friday 8 am – 6 pm, Saturday 10 Ave. For more information contact am – 7:30 pm, Sunday 3 pm – 7 pm. hillel@osu.edu or 294-4797 Artist’s lecture, Sunday November 2 at 2 pm

NOVEMBER 2

OCTOBER 29

Friendship’s Circle Activity day A volunteer network of teens providing assistance to children with special needs and their families. friends and siblings will have a fun filled afternoon of sports, music and art with FC volunteers, from 1:30 – 3:30 pm at The Chabad Center at 6220 E. DublinGranville Rd., New Albany, For more information call 939-0765

Hadassah Halayla evening book group Discussing Gerard Nachman’s Seriously Funny. Kosher deli pot luck. 6:30 pm at a private home in Bexley Call Arlene Armstrong to inform what dish you will bring, 235-8111

NOVEMBER 6

Friendship Circle volunteer event Bowling and pizza dinner at 6:30 pm at AMF Main Lanes, to RSVP call 939-0765 or rabbimeir@friendscolumbus.com

NOVEMBER 12 Nine Questions, Nine Months, Nine Answers. Rabbi Ungar will present an informal,

ONGOING ‘TILL END OF NOVEMBER Exploration of Ethiopian-Jewish life in Israel - In photos OSU’s Hillel Foundation displays the photo and text exhibit of Win Robins’ at the Wexner Jewish Student Center. The exhibit examines the struggle to resettle in Israel and Ethopians’ challenges to integrate into Israeli society. 46 E. 16th Ave., For more information call 294-4797

Kosher church event Bob Bennett, Member of the Brookwood Presbyterian Church’s Hospitality ministry watches over the buffet at the Franklin County Consortium for Good Government’s meet the candidates night on October 9.

NOVEMBER 9 Friendship Circle training session for teens. Get involved with a very special volunteer network of teens providing assistance to children with special needs and their families.register by calling 939-0765 or rabbimeir@friendsc olumbus.com

David Watters, who organizes the church’s activity with candidates night says that the food ends up costing double of what they would normally buy.

NOVEMBER 16 Friendship Circle Shabbat Spectacular Family Fun Day An event for volunteers and families, make your own Shabbat candles, bake challah, design a kiddush cup, The Chabad Center at 6220 E. DublinGranville Rd., New Albany, from 1:30 – 3 pm. For more information call 9390765

“It is worth it to best serve the Bexley and Berwick communities” Watters said, “We have a high representation of Jewish participants.” The Church has been catering the event Kosher for the past 4 years. Cantor Jeff Siegel of Beth Jacob supervises over the kitchen for the event

DANIEL NEWMAN :: TNS

The New Standard

FILM ONGOING WEDNESDAYS Documentaries A course on documentary films that deal with cultural subjects of interest to Jews. Some videos that will be seen each week are “At Home on the Range: Jewish Chicken Farmers of Petaluma,” “Postville: When Cultures Collide,” and a stimulating new video about Southern Jews. Discussion after videos. 10:30-11:30 am. Sally Brown & Paulayne Epstein will facilitate through the Sisterhood Study Circle at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad Street. There is a fee for this course; call Rabbi Ungar to attend 253-8523 x 113.

OCTOBER 28 Sallah Shabbati Enjoy this free showing of the comedy, starring Chaim Topol (Fiddler on the Roof) as a Sephardic immigrant arriving in Israel with his beloved family and great expectations. 1:30 pm at the JCC, 1125 College Ave. For more information call Ilana at 559-214

OCTOBER 29 Small Town Melodies Facilitated discussion by Eran Rosenberg on this Israeli film, English subtitles. The film is about the lives of nine young people from the town of Shderot in the Negev. 1:30 pm at the JCC 1125 College Ave. $7 JCC members, $9 non members. For more information call Ilana at 559-214

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 :: 21

Hans Blix offers to find White House leak B O R OW I T Z R E P O RT

ANDY BOROWITZ In a press conference in his native Sweden, former U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix today offered to come out of retirement to search the White House for the source of its embarrassing leak about the identity of a CIA agent. Mr. Blix said he was in touch with several of his fellow retired weapons inspectors and indicated that they were all “tanned, rested and ready” to search the White House for its leak. “Let the inspections begin,” Mr. Blix told reporters. The former weapons chief, known for his patience and diplomacy, said he was confident that he could obtain cooperation from the White House in his search for phone logs, but warned that the inspection process could take time. “Searching the White House is no small task,” Mr. Blix said. “In terms of square footage, it is larger than the nation of Monaco, and only slightly smaller than Michael Jackson’s

estate.” Mr. Blix added that the Clinton administration proved that it was easy to hide things in the White House, “especially phone logs.” While the Bush administration publicly said it was “considering” Mr. Blix’s offer to search the White House, privately aides groused that the weapons inspector was merely looking for something to break the monotony of an increasingly tedious retirement. As evidence, the aides pointed out that Mr. Blix had appeared over the weekend at the Frankfurt Book Fair to hawk a proposal for his first children’s book, “The Little Weapons Inspector Who Could.” Elsewhere, California Governor Gray Davis said that in the last days of his campaign he started groping women and praising Hitler, but it was too little, too late. Andy Borowitz, a former president of the Harvard Lampoon, is a regular humor contributor for The New Yorker, The New York Times, and NPR’s “Weekend Edition”. He was the creator and producer of the hit TV series “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and producer of the Oscar-nominated film Pleasantville. He is the author of the just released book Who Moved My Soap? The CEO’s Guide to Surviving in Prison available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, and other Columbus bookstores.

ONGOING THURSDAYS

OCTOBER 26–29

The L’Chaim Chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous meets at Beth Tikvah at 8 pm. 6121 Olentangy Rd. 885-6286

Sephardic Jewry A week of discovery, as the New Horizons 50+ program of the Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus presents a unique learning opportunity for adults. The Jewish Learning Institute (modeled after Elderhostel) will offer four days of seminars on the fascinating history and magnificent traditions of Sephardic Jewry. For more information, call Ilana Klamka, New Horizons 50+ Director, 559-6214.

LECTURE & LEARN OCTOBER 22

World – renowned sculptor and Holocaust survivor Alfred Tibor Gives a lecture entitled, Hope and ONGOING Celebration of Life, detailing his life. He will expound on his belief that his Yoga, Pilates, Ashtanga Yoga destiny is to design memorials to the Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center, offering yoga at 9:00 and 10:00 Holocaust. 7:30 pm in the Wehrle am Mondays and 9:00 am Wednesdays Gallery of Ohio Dominican University, and Fridays. Offering Pilates at 5:30 pm 1216 Sunbury Rd. 1-800-955-OHIO Mondays and 7:00 pm Wednesdays. OCTOBER 23 Ashtanga Yoga is at 10:00 am on Discussion and stories of recent Sundays. $3-$10 per session 559-6207 Columbus mission to Israel Cycling Presented by Carol Folkerth at 12:30 at Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community the JCC. 1125 College Ave. For more Center. Sundays 9:00 am, Mondays & information call Ilana at 559-6214 Wednesdays 6:15 am, Tuesdays 6:00 am, Lunch Cycle Wednesdays 12:15 am, and Cycle Express Thursdays 10:30 am. $3-$10 per session. 559-6207

FITNESS & WELL BEING

OCTOBER 27 Pardes Days Learning - Daniel Roth Downtown & East Side “Your Anger and My Anger” will be the topic 12:00 noon- 1:30 pm at 22 W. Gay Street. On the East side at 7- 9:00 pm at Columbus Jewish Foundation Board room 1175 College Ave.

OCTOBER 28

topic 7:00-9:00 pm , 79 N. High Street, New Albany

NOVEMBER 1 Monthly Women’s learning group Jewish topic, 1st Saturday of the month at different homes in community, this Sat. at 3 pm Chani Lowe at home of Sonny and Ellen Romanoff 99 S. Harding Rd. For more information contact Batya Burr at 237-4360 or nbburr@juno.com

NOVEMBER 5, 19 & DEC. 3 L’Chaim Dinner Series Explore four Eastern religious systems. Programs begin at 6:16 pm with dinner and continue with a 7 – 8 pm presentation at Congregation Tifereth Israel. Nov. 5 – Buddhism - Patricia Bright, Nov. 19 - Hinduism - Shive Chaturvedi, Dec. 3 – Baha’i Faith David Hansen. 4th topic in Dec. 1354 E. Broad St. Fee for dinner series. For more information call 253-8523

Pardes Days Learning - Daniel Roth New Albany “Your Anger and My Anger” will be the

Family Karate Stretching, basic techniques, katas (forms), and self-defense with Sensei Bob Jabour. Ages 5 to adult. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm at the JCC Aerobics Room, Room 122. PACE, people with arthritis can exercise. New program will focus on gentle movements designed to increase mobility and range of motion. Classes begin November 4 – December 25 at the JCC. 1125 College Ave. For more information call Jody Decker at 5596207

To Life

by Todd a nd El iza Del m an

ONGOING TUESDAYS Kabalates Stands for Kabbalah and Pilates (get it?) An intense workout for your body and soul. Pilates class for women with a ten-minute Kaballah lession by Sarah Deitsch. 7:00-8:15 pm The Schottenstein Chabad House, 207 E. 15th Ave. Space is limited. Call Sarah 378-6217.

When Noah promised his wife a world cruise, he left out a few details.

22 :: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003

The New Standard

Is it against Jewish law to video tape the deceased? VHS or DVD? A s k

time companion. Is there a way to end this siege without being cruel, or am I forced to choose between being his friend and having my privacy?

W e n d y

WENDY BELZBERG I recently received a brochure from a Jewish funeral home offering a service I find appalling: a personalized video of the deceased that can be viewed at the funeral and on demand whenever you visit the gravesite. Surely this cannot be in keeping with Jewish law. Consulting Jewish texts about the “legality” of videos for the dead is like asking the framers of the Constitution if they made allowances for Internet dating. Against Jewish law? No. Against any semblance of good taste, religious or secular? Absolutely. Tacky. Embarrassing even. Are there special effects? Serial rights? Are the producers members of the Writer’ Guild ? This is the kind of thing that makes the Dark Ages look good. And with good reason. Tempting though it may be to immortalize your loved one this way, a family picture album, sprinkled with bobka crumbs at the kitchen table, is probably a more tasteful way to go. No one needs a posthumous Emmy, after all. I have a neighbor who is mentally challenged. He is unable to obtain a driver’s license or keep a job, and will probably be dependent on his family for the rest of his life. The problem is this: I have been willing to establish a friendship with him, but now he knocks on my door many times a day, every day. I don’t want to end the friendship; I just don’t want to be a full-

NOVEMBER 11 Roles of today’s Jewish woman Join other Jewish women of both OSU and Columbus community to experience an opportunity of growth and development, discussing the various roles of today’s Jewish woman. Sponsored by the Jewish Women’ s Collective. Hillel, 46 E. 16th Ave. RSVP to Melanie at ouziel.1@osu.edu

ONGOING SUNDAYS Daily services The community is invited to join Wexner Heritage Vilage residents in worship. Rabbi Cary Kozberg. For more information call 231-491 Mishna Be’rurah Class First volume. Taught by Rabbi Rosenberg Sunday through Thursday

Your new friend sounds like he is either taking advantage of a commodity that is in short supply in his life or he may have some difficulty understanding boundaries. Or both. Assuming he still lives at home with his parents, why not walk next door and have a chat with your new friend’s mom or dad? Explain that you would like him to call before he drops by; that you are pleased with the friendship but that your time is in short supply. Otherwise, the next time his parents come to visit take the opportunity to have that chat. You’ve done something wonderful, and shouldn’t feel you have to pay the price for having opened your heart and door. Neighbors everywhere should take a page from your generous book. My mother is extremely sensitive to remarks she considers to be anti-Semitic. But when we went out to dinner last week, she made a disparaging remark about the individual who served our dinner. She fails to see that she is as guilty of prejudice and bigotry as the next person. Most people are blind not only to their own shortcomings, but to their own double standards as well. You can gently point it out if you are that kind of daughter--and if she is the kind of mother who will not only hear your point, but will take it well. Otherwise, I am a believer that it is difficult to teach old dogs new tricks. Your mother has got away with this bias for some time; it’s unlikely you will change her now. You needn’t point out the error of her ways in the expectation she will change hem. You do need to speak up loudly enough to let your mother know that you are uncomfortable with her hurling slurs in your presence. Write to “Ask Wendy” at 954 Lexington Avenue #189, New York, N.Y .10021 or at wendy@thenewstandard.com

after Shacharis and Mincha. Congregation Ahavas Sholom, 2568 E. Broad St. 252-4815

ONGOING SUNDAYS Bagels and More A potpourri of everything Jewish for beginners with Rabbi Goldstein 11:00 am at the Columbus Community Kollel. No reservations necessary. 237-7133 Davening 101 Learn the basic words and melodies for the major prayers recited on Shabbat and weekdays. 10:15–11:15 am. Jerry Benis at Tifereth Israel, 1354 East Broad St. 253-8523 Sunday Night Kabbalah Class Introduction to the Holy Zohar 6:00-7: 00 pm ($90 ten weeks, $60 six weeks) Rabbi William Goldberg, Breslov Synagogue and Kabbalah Centre,

Infomaven, LLC �� Eli Ganon CTO Corporate: 614-236-4593 j2/Fax: 888-522-6947 maven@infomaven.net ��

2671 E. Main Street. 231-8671 Dare to Daven Learn how to lead Tephilot, taught by Rabbi Epstein, 8:45 am at the Main Street Synagogue, 2375 E. Main Street 238-6778 Parent/Child Parsha Program A family review of the week’s Torah portion for grades 3–6, with Rabbi Zvi Katz 8:00 pm at the Columbus Community Kollel. No reservations necessary. 237-7133

Study of sometimes bizarre Midrash of the weekly Torah portion, with Rabbi Tzvi Tuchman 9:00 pm at the Columbus Community Kollel. No reservations necessary. 237-7133 Dybbuks and Golem: from the Middle Ages to Contemporary Fiction Look at some medieval Jewish folk tales about spirits of the dead possessing the bodies of the living (dybbuks) and about artificially created human beings (golems), and discuss a variety of stories by contemporary writers such as Isaac Bashevis Singer and Cynthia Ozick who incorporate this folklore in their work. 10:15-11:15 am. Led by Steven Fink through Directions for Youth and Family at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad Street. There is a fee for this course; call Rabbi Ungar to attend. 253-8523 x 113 German Jewish Poets: A Cultural History A review of aspects regarding the history of Jewish life in Germany, from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day, by focusing on the works of poets. Poems by the likes of Heinrich Heine and Else Lasker-Schuler will serve as starting points for discussing a range of issues relevant to understanding the situation of Jews in Germany. 11: 30 am-12:30 pm, led by Nina Berman through Directions for Youth and Family at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad Street. There is a fee for this course; call Rabbi Ungar to attend. 253-8523 x 113 Women’s Torah Class with Rabbi Zack at 10 am at Torah Emet. 2375 Main St. 238-6778

ONGOING MONDAYS Mars, Venus & Universe of Relationships A fun, relevant, Jewish learning experience at Teen Learning Center geared for 8th graders 8:00-9:00 pm at the Kollel, 2501 E. Main St. Contact Rabbi Tzvi Tuchman 237-7133 (rabbit uchman@thekollel.org) or Mrs. Esther Pransky 231-1208 (ylpransky@juno.com)

Biblical Personalities Study of various personalities in the Scripture by Rabbi Doniel Pransky 8:00 pm at the Columbus Community Kollel. No reservations necessary. 237-7133

Ten Habits of Successful Teens A fun, relevant, Jewish learning experience at Teen Learning Center geared for 9/10th graders 8:00-9:00 pm at the Kollel, 2501 E. Main St. Contact Rabbi Tzvi Tuchman 237-7133 (rabbit uchman@thekollel.org) or Mrs. Esther Pransky 231-1208 (ylpransky@juno.com)

Talmud Class Tractate Ta’anis taught by Rabbi Rosenberg at 8 pm at Congregation Ahavas Shalom. 2568 E. Broad St. 2524815

All Women Study A detailed study of the book of Samuel with Rabbi Zvi Katz, 8:00 pm at the Columbus Community Kollel. No reservations necessary. 237-7133

Kabbalah: An Introduction to Jewish Mysticism This class introduces the basic beliefs, practices and history of Jewish Mysticism through representative texts, stories, commentaries and testimonies. Taught by Rabbi Huber from 8 – 9 pm at Beth Tikvah, 6121 Olentangy Rd. Call Temple office at 885-6286, ext 10 or csinger@bethtikvahcolumbus.org

Chevras Shas Talmud – Tractate Ketubot. Using the Steinsaltz edition of the Talmud, we will look at laws of betrothal and marriage, customs and traditions. No prior experience is necessary; knowledge of Hebrew reading is helpful but not required. Rabbi Harold J. Berman, 12: 00 noon at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad Street. There is a fee for this course; call Rabbi Ungar to attend 253-8523 x 113

Jewish Learning Instutite with Chabad 8 part course on Talmudic ethics Starts Oct 27 in the Harry C. Moores Campus center (on Pleasant Ridge Avenue) at Capital University in Bexley at 7:15-9 pm call 294-3296 The Midrash Says...

Jewish Family Life Skills, Part I Would you like to add Jewish rituals and values to your family life? In this three-part course, we will study texts and theology of Jewish Holidays and Values and the practicalities of making Jewish holidays and rituals

The New Standard

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 :: 23

relevant and meaningful for families with children of all ages, for couples, or for singles. 7:15 – 8:15 pm. Led by Shirly Benatar through Directions for Youth and Family at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad Street. There is a fee for this course; call Rabbi Ungar to attend 253-8523 x 113

ONGOING TUESDAYS Talmud (Mystical Aspects) 7:00-8:30 pm (Fee By Donation) Rabbi William Goldberg, Breslov Synagogue and Kabbalah Centre, 2671 E. Main Street 231-8671 TNT (Tuesday Night Torah) Led by Rabbi Zack, 8:00 pm (will start October 21) at the Main Street

Synagogue, 2375 E. Main Street 2386778 Morning Brew of Parsha A review of the week’s Torah portion with Rabbi Henoch Morris 8:40 am at the Columbus Community Kollel. No reservations necessary. 237-7133 Hebrew Classes for Adults Advanced level at 7 pm at Beth Tikvah. 6121 Olentangy Rd. 885-6286 Yiddish Classes Beginners at 7 pm, Intermediate at 8 pm, at Beth Tikvah. 6121 Olentangy Rd. 885-6286 Jewish Mountain Climbing: Ascent Mt. Sinai Learn to read Torah. This class will

CROSSWORD

by Kathi Handler

bookssss@aol.com

break Torah reading down into its constituent parts and build it back into a coherent and holy whole. Led by Cantor Jack Chomsky at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad St Fee for course. For more information call 253-8523 Jewish Learning Instutite, with Chabad 8 part course on Talmudic ethics Starts Oct 28 at 7:30-9 pm at a private residence in Powell, call for details 294-3296 Lunch and Learn at Easton with Chabad 12 – 1 pm, call for details 294-3296 Senior Studies Mitzvah Medley -- Is a mitzvah just a good deed? Learn about the 613 commandments or mitzvot that the Torah requires of all Jews with Rabbi Yaakov Weinrach 2:30 pm at the Columbus Community Kollel. No reservations necessary. 237-7133 Beis Midrash Program for Men Chavrusa (Partner) studying of Jewish texts the way your Great Grandfather did. Facilitated by Rabbi Doniel Pransky, any block of time you have between 8:30-10:00 pm at the Columbus Community Kollel. No reservations necessary. 237-7133

ONGOING WEDNESDAYS

Parsha of the Week (Mystical Bent) Class 6:00-7:30 pm (Fee By Donation) Rabbi William Goldberg, Breslov Synagogue and Kabbalah Centre, 2671 E. Main Street 231-8671 Talmud Class Led by Rabbi Epstein, 8:00 pm at the Main Street Synagogue, 2375 E. Main Street 238-6778 The Shabbat Table Tefilla class for women, with focus on rituals around the Shabbat table,

blessings, and songs led by Linda Zack. (Will start October 22) Main Street Synagogue, 2375 E. Main Street 2386778 Florence Melton Adult Mini-School Graduate Class “Divine Addresses and Human Responses: An Introduction to Sefer Aggadah”. This class will peruse and discuss the text of Sefer Aggadah, a compendium of Talmudic and Midrashic texts arranged by various themes, and seek to understand how the beliefs and attitudes of how Judaism evolved. Class meets bimonthly on Wednesdays at the JCC at 7:15pm at the JCC, 1125 College Ave. For fee information or to register, call Eliza Delman at 559-6233.

Hebrew Classes for Adults Intermediate level at 6:30 pm at Beth Tikvah. 6121 Olentangy Rd. 885-6286 An Amazing Century – 1st CE It was one of the most pivotal eras in world history and certainly in Jewish history. It was the rise of Christianity and the beginning of the Judaism we would inherit – of the Pharisees. Explore, share some history, and look back at the times that created much of what still inspires the world in which we live. Led by Rabbi Harold J. Berman through Sisterhood Study Circle at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad St. Fee for course. For more information call 253-8523 The Songs We Want To Know Learn those songs that you “run into” at Jewish occasions – or should run into! Learn the significance of a body of song that helps define the State of

�� Across 1. Barney Ross move 4. Sarah once 9. Paley’s network 12. Hearts on Rosh Hashanah 13. Israelite column 14. Solo for Bubbles 16. Purim month 17. Biblical garb 18. Tzedakah 19. Actor / Director 21. Neil Simon milieu 22. Hatikvah poet 23. The Amidah at times 24. Not with meat! 27. Havdalah light 29. Fewer 30. Dickens’ character 31. Shikker’s sip 34. Travel club 35. “Sea” to Wiesel 37. Milk __ honey 38. Anger 39. Cured by chicken soup? 40. Shofar blast 42. Gadites or Danites 43. Craft for Arkia 44. The Amidah at times 46. Jacob 49. Purim must

51. Arks 52. French actress 56. Deceased 57. “Orphan in History” writer 58. Japheth’s dad 59. E’er to Ha-Levi 60. Center of the Seder 61. Preserve from harm 62. Sin (Eng) 63. JPSA founder, Cyrus 64. Prior Down 1. Yael Arad sport 2. Ishmael progeny 3. Fruits of the Myrtle branch 4. Sopher (Eng) 5. Moses on the mount 6. Singer Peters 7. Violinist Leopold 8. Freud inventions 9. Chazzan 10. Shatter 11. Masada event 12. Herman Barrron’s score 15. Magic Carpet base 20. Mems (Eng.) 21. Use your shekels 23. Sov

24. Mezzuzah scroll 25. Mission for Salk 26. Edom 28. Artist Yaacov 30. Drescher 31. Bloody river 32. Esther’s kingdom? 33. Books of Moses: abv. 35. Orthodox minyan 36. AIrline 41. Jewish __, movement 42. Prepare for Pesach 43. Jerusalem Post and the Times 44. Commandment breaker 45. Sort of? (ending) 46. Immigrant’s Ellis 47. Nazirite no no 48. Levite domain 50. Emulate Abba Eban 52. As Judah Maccabee 53. Sound from Daniel’s den 54. Brenner or Brubeck 55. “__ Promise”, by Potok 57. Auditor

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24 :: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 Israel as well as the state of the Jews in the U.S. and the world. Led by Cantor Jack Chomsky at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad St. Fee for course. For more information call 2538523 Jewish Learning Instutite with Chabad 8 part course on Talmudic ethics, starts Oct. 29 from 8:00-9:30 pm at Chabad Center 6220 E. Dublin- Grandville Rd. New Albany, This course is approved for a total of 6 hours of CLE credit. (3 hours Ethics, 3 hours Prof.) by the Ohio state Supreme court commision on continuing education. Call for details 294-3296 Torah One Topic at a Time Understanding a Torah lifestyle and topics of the day with Rabbi Tzvi Tuchman 10:00 am every other week (Starts Oct.22) at the Columbus Community Kollel. Please call to confirm 237-7133 Mitzvah Medley (for Men and Women) Answers to Crossword on page 23

the beginning of the Judaism we would inherit—the Judaism of the Pharisees. Come and explore, share some history, and look back at the times that created much of what still inspires the world in which we live. 9: 30 am-1:30 pm Led by Rabbi Harold J. Berman through Sisterhood Study Circle at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad Street. There is a fee for this course; call Rabbi Ungar to attend 253-8523 x 113

ONGOING THURSDAYS Contemporary Jewish Issues A fun, relevant, Jewish learning experience at Teen Learning Center geared for 8th graders 8:00-9:00 pm at the Kollel, 2501 E. Main St. Contact Rabbi Tzvi Tuchman 237-7133 (rabbit uchman@thekollel.org) or Mrs. Esther Pransky 231-1208 (ylpransky@juno.com) Chumash with Rashi Study the construction of the Tabernacle, its Ark, and its Menorah, and we will see how the Rabbis found inspiration in the smallest details. Knowledge of Hebrew is helpful but not necessary. Everyone is welcome. Led by Rabbi Harold J. Berman 8:15–9: 15 am Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad Street. There is a fee for this course; call Rabbi Ungar to attend 2538523 x 113 Parsha Perspectives Ongoing, 9:00 pm. This weekly class covers the people, places, and events of each weekly portion as well as the essential ideas and concepts in each portion. This class is discussion style, lively, and participatory. With Rabbi Avi Methal 9:00 pm at the Columbus Community Kollel. No reservations necessary. 237-7133 An Amazing Century – The First (C.E.) It was one of the most pivotal eras in world history and certainly in Jewish history as well. It was the rise of Christianity, but it was also

Good Bet

Hebrew Classes for Adults Beginners at 7 pm at Beth Tikvah. 6121 Olentangy Rd. 885-6286

Hebrew for Traveling Every trip is more enjoyable when you know the language of the country—especially in Israel, where everyone will be willing to help you speak Hebrew correctly. This course will give you practical vocabulary and phrases. Taught by Zilla Loon 7:00–8:00 pm at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad Street. There is a fee for this course; call Rabbi Ungar to attend 2538523 x 113 Introduction to Judaism This class is designed for those interested in learning the very basics of Judaism and Jewish life. Introduction to Judaism serves a prerequisite to those seeking conversion to Judaism under Conservative auspices, but the course is open to Jews by birth and those who are curious. There are additional charges for this class; a beginning Judaic library is included in this fee. 7:30–9:00 pm at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad Street. There is a fee for this course; call Rabbi Ungar to attend 253-8523 x 113

ONGOING SATURDAYS (SHABBAT) Shabbat Torah Study Group Arthur Ksienski leads a discussion of the week’s Torah portion every Saturday at 2:30 pm in the Beth Tikvah Library, 6121 Olentangy River Road, Worthington. Contact Barb Krumsee (Krumsee.1@osu.edu) for additional information.

ONGOING WEEKDAYS AND SUNDAYS Gemora Class Rabbi David Ginsberg leads a Gemora class in Massechet Gitten at congregation Ahavas Shalom, 2568 East Broad St., after daily morning services. Shachrit begins 6:45 am Tuesday and Wednesday, 6:40 am Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and 8: 15 am on Sunday. Call Ahavas Shalom office for details 252-4815

New Horizons at the JCC is hosting a unique learning opportunity for adults. Eight educators over three days help participants discover the history and traditions of Sephardic Jewry. The cost for the entire week is $50 for JCC members and $75 fornonmembers, which will include lunch daily.

Study Tanakh (with the focus on Genesis) Explore biblical text from different viewpoints. The goal of these sessions will be to read biblical text with “bifocal lenses” by being aware of our modern attitudes yet keeping in mind religious traditions that shaped the texts. Led by Ilana Maymind 7:00–8: 00 pm Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad Street. There is a fee for this course; call Rabbi Ungar to attend 2538523 x 113

Melachim II Class Women’s class. Taught by Rabbi Rosenberg at 10:30 am at Congregation Ahavas Shalom. 2568 E. Broad St. 252-4815

Is a mitzvah just a good deed? Learn about the 613 commandments or mitzvot that the Torah requires of all Jews with Rabbi Yaakov Weinrach 8:00 pm at the Columbus Community Kollel. No reservations necessary. 237-7133

The New Standard

Classes can also be taken al la carte for $7 for JCC members and $9 for nonmembers each class. There is a free film screening of Sallah Shabbati on Tuesday, October 28 at 1:30pm. For more information or to register conatct Ilana Klamka, director of New Horizons, 559-6214

MUSIC

NOVEMBER 2

NOVEMBER 7

Columbus Torah Academy dinner To Honor Eydie and Don Garlikov for their service to the community and the school. For further information contact Karen Tannenbaum at 864-0299

Folksinger Bill Cohen A year-by-year trip through the 1960’s. Hot chocolate, tea, coffee, snacks. 7: 30 – 10:30 pm at King Ave. Methodist Church. 299 W. King Ave. $10 donation goes to Mid-Ohio Food Bank. For more information call Bill at 263-3851

NOVEMBER 12 A tribute to Benny Goodman at Ohio State University, Weigel Hall. The OSU Jazz Ensemble with Richard Stoltzman on Clarinet, 7:30 pm For more information call 292-2870

ORGANIZATIONS OCTOBER 23 Women’s Campaign’s Lion of Judah Dinner through the Columbus Jewish Federation. Special guest: Dr. Ellen S. Cannon, VP of American Jewish Congress and Wexner Heritage Foundation, Professor of Political Science. Dinner at 6:30 pm at the home of Eydie Garlikov, 251 S. Dawson Ave. TCJF: 237-2686

NOVEMBER 2 Parlor meetings on school safety First in a series of three “parlor-style” meetings by National Council of Jewish Women aimed at bringing women together to learn about issues important to families and the community. The first such meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2003, 7:00 PM, at the New Albany home of NCJW Member Esther Chipps. Deputy Joe Vince, of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department will be the featured speaker addressing the topic of Safety Issues Relevant to Elementary School-Aged Children. Officer Vince will also be available to answer questions from the audience. Reservations for the November 5th meeting can be made now by contacting the NCJW offices at 2319241. Prospective NCJW members are also invited to attend.

OCTOBER 26

NOVEMBER 2

State of Israel Gala Tribute Dinner

Mother-Daughter - You are Beautiful National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) will be sponsoring a special mother-daughter event in conjunction with the Jewish Bookfair at the Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center, 1125 College Avenue. Julia Devillers, best-selling author or Girl Wise: How to be Confident, Capable and in Control, will speak about pertinent issues for young women, such as body image, dealing with bullies and college scholarships. Along with Devillers will be California native, Tammy Neihart, creator and owner of Boyfriend Cosmetics. 2-5 PM,$8.00. Reserve your tickets now by contacting contact the JCC at 231-2731

To honor Bernard and Florine Ruben, Debbie Meyer, The Authur G. James Cancer Hospital, and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. Hyatt Regency in downtown Columbus, 5:30 pm. Contact Jeanne Zipser for more information 231-3232 Avrom Weiss, M.D., Director of Hadassah Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit gives an update on Hadassah’s new Center for Emergency Medicine and Hadassah’s hospitals in Israel. Coffee and danishes, 8:30 – 9: 30 am, program from 9:30 –11am. The Hyatt, 75 E. State St. RSVP to Maureen at 933-8700

OCTOBER 27 Celebrate 50+ years with Wexner Heritage Village (WHV) WHV has teamed up with CAPA to present an evening of music, dancing and fun for all, at the Southern Theater and a dessert reception after at the Westin Great Southern Hotel. Show your support for all WHV has done for the community. Call Matt Minkin at 559-0226.

MUSIC NOVEMBER 7 Folksinger Bill Cohen A year-by-year trip through the 1960’s. Hot chocolate, tea, coffee, snacks. 7: 30 – 10:30 pm at King Ave. Methodist Church. 299 W. King Ave. $10 donation goes to Mid-Ohio Food Bank. For more information call Bill at 263-3851

The New Standard NOVEMBER 12

A tribute to Benny Goodman at Ohio State University, Weigel Hall. The OSU Jazz Ensemble with Richard Stoltzman on Clarinet, 7:30 pm For more information call 292-2870

SOCIAL OCTOBER 23 Kosher wine tasting Wines for Thanksgiving. 5:30 – 7:30 pm at Sher Bliss. $25. Call 221-9636 Women’s Campaign’s Lion of Judah Dinner through the Columbus Jewish Federation. Special guest: Dr. Ellen S. Cannon, VP of American Jewish Congress and Wexner Heritage Foundation, Professor of Political Science. Dinner at 6:30 pm at the home of Eydie Garlikov, 251 S. Dawson Ave. TCJF: 237-2686

OCTOBER 26 State of Israel Gala Tribute Dinner To honor Bernard and Florine Ruben, Debbie Meyer, The Authur G. James Cancer Hospital, and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. Hyatt Regency in downtown Columbus, 5:30 pm. Contact Jeanne Zipser for more information 231-3232 Jewish Singles 40+ Meet for dinner at The Asian Star, 277 Brice Rd. For more information call Janice Jennings at 866-3265 or jjenning s@wideopenwest.com

NOVEMBER 2 Columbus Torah Academy dinner To Honor Eydie and Don Garlikov for their service to the community and the school. For further information contact Karen Tannenbaum at 864-0299 Jewish Singles 40+ Meet for dinner at Paul’s Restaurant. For more information call Janice Jennings at 866-3265 or jjennings@wide openwest.com

NOVEMBER 4 The Jewish Business Network Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro will speak at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road. 11-1:00 pm $15 kosher box lunch.

NOVEMBER 6 & 7 Holiday Bazaar Food, fun, shopping and raffles at the JCC North. 1985 Swansford Dr. Dublin. Thurs. 5:30 – 8 pm. Fri. – 8:30 am –12. For more information call Deena Goldstein at 764-2414.

NOVEMBER 9 Jewish Singles 40+ Bagel Brunch with Carol Ross, Senior Real Estate Designation, to present on housing changes, i.e. moving to a condo, assisted living, reverse mortgages, etc. 10:30 am at the JCC. For more information call Janice Jennings at 866-3265 or jjennings@wideopenwest.com

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 :: 25 NOVEMBER 10

6224.

Dinner at Sunflower Chinese Restaurant Northside Hadassah Chapter, 7370 Sawmill Rd., at 6:30 pm. For Jewish women of all ages. Must call 235-8111 by Nov. 7

Jewish Singles 40+ Meet for dinner at Mad Greek, 4210 E. Broad St. For more information call Janice Jennings at 866-3265 or jjennings@wideopenwest.com

NOVEMBER 10 Hadassah meeting for women 55+ “Comments & Challah” at Sammy’s Bagels. 40 N. James Rd. For more information contact Bebe Lavin Pink bx2@att.net or call Arlene Armstrong at 235-8111.

NOVEMBER 14 Holiday beer tasting 5:30 – 7:30 pm at Sher Bliss. $25. Call 221-9636

NOVEMBER 15 Jewish Singles 40+ Movie and dessert at Easton. Meet in front of movie theaters at 7 pm. For more information call Janice Jennings at 866-3265 or jjennings@wideopenwe st.com Dublin area Treasure Hunt The “treasure hunt” has begun and now the destination will be in Dublin at the home of Harry & Trixie Friend. 8:00pm, a dairy/vegetarian potluck dinner. Come and meet other Jewish families living in this area. The “clue” is to bring a dairy dish to the party. Please RSVP to get specific directions: 873-1548 or tfreind@columbus.rr.com.

NOVEMBER 16 Eastern European Kosher family dinner JCC. 1125 College Ave. Reserve at the front desk, 231-2731 or with Tina at 559-

Agudas Achim Dedication Gala Agudas Achim will clear away the sawdust to show off their new digs. 2767 E. Broad Street. 237-2747.

NOVEMBER 19 Yiddish club Yiddish is not just a language, it’s a culture. Join this group every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1 pm at the JCC. 1125 College Ave. For more information call Ann Rubin at

NOVEMBER 20 ADL/Hank Aaron - Diversity In Sports Award Dinner Inaugural dinner honoring Hank Aaron. Business Attire. Hilton Columbus at Easton. Reception 6:00 pm Dinner 7:00 pm. RSVP by November 3. For info call 621-0601

NOVEMBER 22 Jewish Singles 40+ Watch the OSU-Michigan football game at the home of Marcia Glaser, 5023 Smoketalk Lane, 890-2761. 11:30 am

NOVEMBER 23 Jewish Singles 40+. Meet for dinner at Hoggy’s Restaurant, 1416 W. 5th Ave. For more information call Janice Jennings at 866-3265 or jjennings@wideopenwest.com

ONGOING SUNDAYS

B’nai B’rith Bowling Men’s League IBBBA affiliated. 9:30 am at Holiday Lanes, 4589 E Broad St. Contact Jeff Wasserstrom 760-0025, Lawrence Binsky 235-7575, or Ken Kerstein 235-7865 to join in.

ONGOING TUESDAYS B’nai B’rith Bowling Mixed League IBBBA affiliated. 8:00 pm at Main Lanes, 4071 E Main St. Contact Jeff Wasserstrom 760-0025, Lawrence Binsky 235-7575, or Ken Kerstein 235-7865 to join in.

ONGOING WEDNESDAY Modern Israeli Dance no experience necessary. People of all ages. At 7 pm in Hillel’s auditorium, 46 E. 16th Ave. Call for more information, 294-4797

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS NOVEMBER 2 The Cartoonist as Playwright Lecture by Jules Feiffer, and reading of Morrie Brickman’s unpublished play Coming of Age at 2 pm at OSU Faculty Club, 181 South Oval Dr. For more information call the Melton Center at 292-0967

NOVEMBER 6 Generalizing German-Jewish History Lecture by Prof. Robert Liberles, Ben Gurion University at 3:30 pm at 347 University Hall, 230 N. Oval Mall, OSU. For more information call the Melton Center at 292-0967

NOVEMBER 14 Real and Imaginary Jews in Maps Prof. Andrew Gow, from University of Alberta, Canada. 1:30 pm at 122 Main

26 :: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 library, OSU, 1858 Neil Ave. Free and open to the public. For further information call the Melton Center at 292-0967

NOVEMBER 14, 6 PM; NOVEMBER 15, 10 AM Rabbi Tirzah Firestone The Jewish Mystical Tradition. Rabbi Firestone is the founder of the Jewish Renewal Community of Boulder. She is an author, a Jungian therapist and national speaker. Hillel, 46 E. 16th Ave. For free tickets call 294-4797. In cooperation with the Jewish Book Council.

NOVEMBER 20 Tavis Smiley of National Public Radio Looking at Race in America. One of the most important political voices of his generation; his show offers intelligent talk, news and commentary, from politics to pop culture. Hillel, 46 E. 16th Ave. For free tickets call 294-4797. Co-sponsored by The Abraham Joshua Heschel Society of Columbia

SENIORS

about a Jewish girl, whose Christian neighbors come down with scarlet fever during Christmas It is a story of a loving gesture and rewarded in kind. Production put on by The Phoenix Theatre for Children, 464-9400

OCTOBER 25 Laughter In Three Languages The Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center’s Gallery Players opens its season with Laughter In Three Languages, presented by Reuben and Dorothy Silver, using English, Yiddish, and Yinglish to share stories of immigrant parents and grandparents who cheerfully butchered the English language. The evening is a celebration of the 55th season of Gallery Players and a fundraising event to continue the Gallery Players tradition. Reception with the Silvers after the performance. JCC Roth/Resler Theatre, 1125 College Avenue. Contact Allison Green 5596248 (agreen@columbusjcc.org)

TOTS

OCTOBER 26 - 29

OCTOBER 25

Sephardic Jewry A week of discovery, as the New Horizons 50+ program of the Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus presents a unique learning opportunity for adults. The Jewish Learning Institute (modeled after Elderhostel) will offer four days of seminars on the fascinating history and magnificent traditions of Sephardic Jewry. For more information contact Ilana Klamka, New Horizons 50+ Director, 559-6214. NOVEMBER 4 Stepping Stones Program Intergenerational fun for Moms, tots and residents at Wexner Heritage House, 10 am, 1st Tuesday of the month at Wexner Heritage House

Torah Tots Parents, join your children and the Main Street Shul baby-sitting group for story time and sing-along. Led by Penny Wenger. Cookies and juice included. 11:00 am at the Main Street Shul, 2375 E. Main Street.

NOVEMBER 5 Franklin Conservatory and Chihuly Tour. Enjoy a tour of the gardens and see the glass sculptures of Chihuly. Leaves at 12 noon from the JCC. 1125 College Ave. For more information call Ilana at 559-6214

NOVEMBER 10

Mighty Mite’s New Year’s party For kids ages 3 – 5 years old, night includes swimming and games, from 7: 30 – 9:30 pm at the JCC 1125 College Ave. For more information call Syndy Levine at 559-6279

OCTOBER 27 - 31 CJDS Scholastic Book Fair Many books for sale. Great place to pick up kids Jewish subject books. Oct. 27 3-6:30 pm, Oct. 28 11:30 - 1 pm, Oct. 29 3 - 6:30 pm, Oct. 30 11:30 - 4:30 pm, Oct. 31 11:30 - 3 pm. contact Jill Herman for details 939-5311

NOVEMBER 4 Stepping Stones Program Intergenerational fun for Moms, tots and residents at Wexner Heritage House, 10 am, 1st Tuesday of the month at Wexner Heritage House

Home Modifications Becky Bell of OSU Extensions gives information on how to adapt your own home to your changing physical needs. 11 am at the JCC. 1125 College Ave. For more information call Ilana at 559-6214

NOVEMBER 7

NOVEMBER 19

“Carmen” Group leaves together from the JCC to see Opera Columbus’ performance of Carmen. 1125 College Ave. For more information call Ilana at 559-6214

ONGOING TUESDAYS Senior Studies Learn about the book of Joshua with Rabbi Yaakov Weinrach, 2:30 pm at the Columbus Community Kollel. No reservations necessary. 237-7133

THEATRE NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 14 The trees of the Dancing Goats A book by Patricia Polacco and adapted by Steven Anderson. A story

Tot Shabbat services at Beth Tikvah From 7 – 7:45 pm, 6121 Olentangy River Rd., For more information call Karen Elson at 885-6286,ext 17

NOVEMBER 22

NOVEMBER 23 Youth program at Agudas Achim for Pre-K, K-2, social activities and community action, meetings at 1-2 pm 4th Sunday of the month, 2767 E. Broad St., Contact Shelly Aframian at 237-2747, ext 24 or saframian@agudasachim.org

The New Standard

Laughter in Three Languages Using a lot of humor and a combination of Yiddish, English and “Yinglish,” Dorothy and Reuben Silver will perform their show, Laughter in Three Languages, on Saturday, October 25 at 8:00pm at the JCC. A talented and dynamic theater couple from Cleveland in a special, one-night performance in Columbus. For nearly half a century, the Silvers have been staples of the Cleveland theater scene. Over the years they have worked as performers, directors, administrators, teachers and mentors Tickets to the show are $25 for JCC members, $35 for nonmembers, $20 for JCC senior members, and $30 for senior nonmembers. Admission includes a reception following the show and the opportunity to mingle with the Silvers. For tickets or more information, callAllison Green at 559-6248. pm at Temple Israel, 5419 E. Broad St., For fee schedules and to register call Agin at 866-0010 ext 113 or email at familyed@templeisrael.org

ONGOING – WEDNESDAYS We Joy Sing Sing along, from 9:45 – 10:15 am for two to three year olds, from 10:30 – 11 am for one to 12 month olds, from 11: 15 – 11:45 am for 13 to 24 months, at the JCC 1125 College Ave. For fees and to register call Nikki Henry at 5596289 Sing-Along and Dance Along for preschoolers Children can move and groove with Joanie Calem, from 1:15 – 1:45 pm at Temple Israel, 5419 E. Broad St., For fee schedules and to register call Agin at 866-0010 ext 113 or email at familye d@templeisrael.org

ONGOING - THURSDAYS Sensory Time for Infants for those six weeks through 18 months, 10:30 am at the JCC 1125 College Ave. For fees and to register call Nikki Henry at 559-6289 Toddler Time Dramatic play, group time, art, snack and music for parents and toddlers, 8 weeks beginning Oct. 23 from 10 – 11: 15 am, ages 16 months – 2 years, for fee and to register call Debbie or Linda at 764-2414

ONGOING - FRIDAYS Tot Shabbat Welcome the Shabbat each week with blessings over wine and challah and music! 10:30 am, JCC ComputerQuest Basic computers for 3 – 5 year olds at the JCC North, for fee and to register call Debbie or Linda at 764-2414 Yoga for 2! parent-child yoga classes with Tracey Gardener from 1 – 1:30 pm at Temple Israel, 5419 E. Broad St. For fee schedules and to register call Agin at 866-0010 ext 113 or email at familyed@ templeisrael.org

KIDS

ONGOING – MONDAYS

OCTOBER 25

Tot Tennis Instruction by Pam Lippy from 1:30 – 2

New Year’s party For kids in kindergarten through

grade 2, night includes swimming and games, from 7:30 – 9:30 pm at the JCC 1125 College Ave. For more information call Syndy Levine at 5596279 Jr. NCSY oneg Shabbat Song and social at the home of the Shapiro family, 207 S. Remington Rd. at 4:15 pm new members welcome. call Main Street Synagogue 238-6778. Havdalah Under the Stars Families gather at the Perkins Observatory at 6:45 pm. reservations by Oct. 13 through Beth Tivkah with Elson at 885-6286, ext 17

OCTOBER 26

Stars of David Support and social group for Jewish families with adopted children with. Meeting at Circle S. Farms from 2- 5 pm, For more information call Gail Rose at 239-1424 or gailrose@wideop enwest.com or Wendy Avner at 9395656 or wavner@aol.com

NOVEMBER 8 Saturday Night Movie & Ice Cream Movie yet to be determined but will be fun whatever is on the screen. Takes place at Main Street Synagogue 2386778. New members welcome.

NOVEMBER 9 Youth program at Agudas Achim For 5th – 6th graders, social activities and community action, meetings at 1-3pm 2nd Sunday of the month, 2767 E. Broad St., Contact Shelly Aframian at 237-2747, ext 24 or saframian@agud asachim.org

NOV. 14 -16 Shabbaton in Cleveland with NCSY details still being worked out. Contact Main Street Synagogue 238-6778. New members welcome.

NOVEMBER 16 Youth program at Agudas Achim For 3rd – 4th graders, social activities and community action, meetings at

The New Standard 1-3pm 3rd Sunday of the month, 2767 E. Broad St., Contact Shelly Aframian at 237-2747, ext 24 or saframian@agud asachim.org

NOVEMBER 21 Junior Congregation services From 6:45 – 7:45 pm at Beth Tikvah, 6121 Olentangy River Rd., For more information call Karen Elson at 8856286,ext 17

TEENS

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 :: 27 OCTOBER 31 Oneg Shabbats Social event with Congregation Torah Emet, rotates among MSYers’ homes, at the home of David Ciranni, 302 S. Kellner Rd at 8:30 pm

NOVEMBER 2

ONGOING

Youth program at Agudas Achim For 9th – 12th graders, social activities and community action, meetings at 2 – 4 pm 4th Sunday of the month, 2767 E. Broad St., Contact Shelly Aframian at 237-2747, ext 24 or saframian@agud asachim.org

Kaleidoscope After school program for those in first through sixth grade, daily from 3 – 6pm, includes a variety of activities at the JCC 1125 College Ave, also at JCC North and in New Albany. For more information call Rachel Fox at 559-6266

OCTOBER 28 Summer program info session On Camp Ramah and all of USY programs at Tifereth Israel at 6 pm. 1354 E. Broad St. To reserve call Shani Close at 253-8523

Tell them you responded

Youth program at Agudas Achim For 7th –8th graders, social activities and community action, meetings at 1-3 pm 1st Sunday of the month, 2767 E. Broad St., Contact Shelly Aframian at 237-2747, ext 24 or saframi an@agudasachim.org

OCTOBER 26

Jews and Java at Loew’s Rabbi Loew will play a song, discussion to follow. recurring event. At 8:30 pm at Rabbi Loew’s home, 262 S. Broadleigh Rd.

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ONGOING - THURSDAYS Mars, Venus & Universe of Relationships A fun, relevant, Jewish learning experience at Teen Learning Center geared for 8th graders. Kollel, 2501 E. Main St. Contact Rabbi Tzvi Tuchman 237-7133 (rabbituchman@thekollel.or g) or Mrs. Esther Pransky 231-1208 (ylpransky@juno.com) Ten Habits of Successful Teens A fun, relevant, Jewish learning experience at Teen Learning Center geared for 9th/10th graders. Kollel, 2501 E. Main St. Contact Rabbi Tzvi Tuchman 237-7133 (rabbituchman@th ekollel.org) or Mrs. Esther Pransky 2311208 (ylpransky@juno.com)

to their ad in The

NewStandard An Independent Central Ohio Jewish Monthly

COMMAND

FROM PAGE 8 Court, would move society too far away from a link between religion and government. Those who think there shouldn’t be any link at all “are being foolish,” says Rosenberg. This latest debate over religion and government may heat up, as the Christian Coalition pushes its campaign to have Ohio officials and lawmakers display framed copies of the Ten Commandments in their capitol square offices. So far, more than 50 have accepted the gold-framed copies. Passage of the resolution declaring the Ten Commandments the basis for Ohio government might help officials defend the public display of the commandments, predicts State Rep. Mike Gilb (R-Findlay). He said, “That certainly could help support that effort if it gets to a court challenge.”

BRENNER

FROM PAGE 17 She loves to roller blade. Brenner embraces these stories of exile and home with a spiritual fervor of his own. He recounts the story of Abraham, who obeys God´s commandment to “Lech l´cha - “Go forth” - by journeying into the wilderness of Canaan. And God in Deuteronomy commanded the Jews to remember the laws of Israel by affixing a mezuzah to the doorposts of their homes. Brenner points out that the word mezuzah derives from the Hebrew verb “zuz,” or go. Jews “are both sedentary and nomads,” he says. “This injunction, ‘Lech l´cha,´ is not a curse - it´s truly a project, a vocation. History unfolds and enables the Jewish people to accomplish this vocation.” Often Brenner finds Jews at their place of work, like the Tajik barbers in a local barber shop from his first trip to Tajikistan, and later the same group after they had immigrated to Israel posing in the Dead Sea. In another photo, he shows Italian Jews at St. Peter´s Square outside the Vatican, selling pictures of the pope. “Not only didn´t they succumb to the temptation to idol worship - they are selling the idols,” he says. The more he sees, Brenner says, the less he understands about the world´s Jews. Frederic Brenner will be speaking at Bookfair on Monday, November 10 at 7: 30 pm. Admission is $6.00

28 :: 27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003

The New Standard

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Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a saucepan. Thinly slice 1 yellow onion, 1 red onion, and 1 shallot. Caramelize the onions in the oil. Add garlic, broth, and wine. Bring to a boil, then lower temperature. Simmer for 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat additional oil in a sauté pan. Pull the leaves from the parsley and fry them until crisp. Set aside on paper towel to absorb some of the oil. Thinly slice 1 yellow onion, 1 red onion, and 1 shallot. Separate the rings, coat them in cornstarch, salt and pepper them, and then fry them until crisp. Set them aside on a towel to absorb some of the oil. Place onion soup in six bowls, and top with fried onions and fried parsley. Cooking the onions in 2 different ways will give the soup more depth of flavor.

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Peel and parboil the onions in salted water 10 minutes, remove, and drain. When cooled, gently remove the center of each onion. Chop centers and add beef, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper. Fill the onions with the mixture. Brush the tops of the onions with the melted margarine, and sprinkle with cracker crumbs. Place in a shallow baking pan lined with parchment paper. Cover and bake at 350° F for about 1 hour or until onions are tender. Uncover and continue baking until brown.

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oil for frying 2 yellow onions 2 red onions 2 shallots 4 cloves roasted garlic, sliced thin 1⁄4 cup cornstarch (or more, depending on the size of your pan) salt and pepper to taste 2 oz white wine 6 cups chicken broth 4 sprigs parsley

6 large onions 1 cup raw hamburger 1 cup soft breadcrumbs salt and pepper to taste 1 egg 1 tablespoon water 1 tablespoon melted margarine 1⁄4 cup cracker crumbs

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6 portions

6 servings

or fill out the form below

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Onion Soup

thenewstandard.com/subs

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Stuffed Onions

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Chef Lana will be addressing different food-related questions and topics each month. If you have any questions or comments, she can be reached at ChefLana@thenewstandard.com

*Drawing will take place January 1, 2004

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once married, if I couldn’t get the housework done, I should fry some onions in schmaltz and when my husband came home, the smell would be so wonderful that he wouldn’t notice that the housework wasn’t done. I would assume that this politically incorrect advice is not being passed on to today’s children. Directions for cultivating onions can be found as far back as the first millennium. A recipe dating from the 11th century consists of onions, leeks and chickpeas,

Send your submissions to recipes@thenewstandard.com .

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Onions have been used as a staple in many cultures. The diet in biblical times was the early Mediterranean diet of grains, legumes and wild plants. Leeks, onions and garlic grew wild. Though now virtually worldwide, onions were indigenous to Palestine and have been cultivated for thousands of years. Onions are described in the Bible. It is said that the Jews longingly remembered the leeks, onions and garlic that they ate while in Egypt. It is later reported by the Greek historian Herodotus that onions, radishes and garlic were part of the staple diet of the Jewish laborers who built the pyramids. Onions are an aromatic member of the lily family and have over 600 different species. Thirty species are regularly used for eating. Some of the more common species are white onions, red (purple) onions, yellow onions, shallots, pearl onions, leeks, scallions, chives and garlic. Almost every culture incorporates them into its cuisine as a vegetable and for flavoring. Onions can be eaten raw, steamed, fried, baked, sautéed, pickled, grilled, stuffed, or caramelized. They can be eaten alone as a main vegetable, or they can flavor other foods. In Europe, the

and on special occasions it can be enlivened with oil. In the 12th century, onions were considered to have favorable effects on fertility by generating sperm in men and lactation in women. The trend now is to caramelize onions. Caramelizing is the heat-induced browning of a food that contains sugar. Sugars are simple carbohydrates used by plants and animals to store energy. High temperatures and dry heat are required for browning; therefore, most foods will brown only on the outside. The temperature to caramelize sugar is between 338˚ F and 365˚ F. Water cannot be heated to above 212˚ F, so foods cooked with moist heat do not get hot enough to caramelize. The original classic European onion soup was not made with cheese or beef broth. The cheese was added and the broth changed to beef when the recipe was introduced to the French. The original recipe has a wonderful flavor and very little had to be changed to make it a delightful kosher soup. As onions were plentiful, another dish - stuffed onions - became very popular. This dish was served in many homes during the Depression, but it is a trendy comfort food now. Both recipes have been modified for a kosher kitchen.

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CHEF LANA COVEL

French were the first to use the onion as a seasoning rather than a food in its own right. The flavor of onions can be very sharp or mild. When caramelized, their flavor can be sweet. This versatility has made it very easy for Jews throughout history to incorporate onions into their cuisine no matter where they lived. One of the best smells of my childhood was that of my Bubbie frying onions in schmaltz. Then my Zadie would spread the schmaltz on rye bread, put on a slice of a raw onion and enjoy. Bubbie even said that

Submit your scrumptious food ideas and if it hits the mark, we’ll publish it in this section with your name. We will also add your name for a drawing to win a copy of Spice and Spirit or price equivalent cookbook.

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So many onions, so little time

Share your favorite recipes with us

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Food & Recipes

The New Standard

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 :: 29

AFRICA

FROM PAGE 12

The

NewStandard An Independent Central Ohio Jewish Monthly

Reaching a dynamic lucrative market of over 15,000 influential, educated, and affluent customers. The New Standard reaches this market with razor precision at a very reasonable cost. Contact us today. 239-7709 or sales@thenewstandard.com

remote, drought-stricken farm. He tries to make the best of it, while Jettel, completely unprepared for the rigors and spartan conditions of their new life, yearns for a return to Germany. Only daughter Regina, a shy but curious little girl, is fascinated by the new environment and quickly forms a friendship with the native cook Owuor. “Nowhere in Africa” is based on the autobiographical novel of the same title by German-Jewish journalist Stefanie Zweig, drawing on her childhood experiences with her refugee family in Kenya. The film swept top honors at last year’s German academy awards and was recognized at the Jerusalem International Film Festival. It is opening in March and April in cities throughout the United States.

FORD

FROM PAGE 11 of this site and especially these links — very uncomfortable.” Yehudit Barsky, director of the American Jewish Committee’s division on Middle East and international terrorism, added, “I think this demonstrates that we in the United States have not paid attention — foundations can be used in a way no one can imagine. Here we see a Web site promoting terrorist organizations. The Ford Foundation just did not care.” During this investigation, Wilde, the Ford Foundation communications vice president, refused to answer any questions regarding PNGO, the Policy Institute, the Jerusalem Media and Communications Centre or any other aspect of the foundation’s involvement with Palestinian NGOs. Nor would Thea Lurie, the foundation’s deputy media director, or media associate Joe Voeller. But in a six-page written response to questions that the foundation released only after this investigation was completed, Wilde said: “We are a grant mak-

ing organization. We support grantees for agreed-upon activities and do not dictate what they should say.” The statement also said: “Our human rights work reflects a commitment to principles that go beyond partisanship and politics, to basic rights and protections that human beings possess by virtue simply of being born.” During a visit to Ford’s headquarters in New York, foundation officials brushed off questions about anti-Israel agitation. Quipped one senior Ford official: “Anti-Zionism is in the eye of the beholder.” Edwin Black is the author of the newly released “War Against the Weak: Eugenics and America’s Campaign to Create a Master Race” (Four Walls Eight Windows), which investigates corporate philanthropic involvement in American and Nazi eugenics. In May 2003, he won the American Society of Journalists and Authors’ award for best book of the year for his previous book, “IBM and the Holocaust” (Crown Publishing, 2001).

RIGG

FROM PAGE 14 While researching his family history that summer in 1992, Rigg found some records indicating that many of his mother’s ancestors were Jewish. “I have some ancestors who were running around in skirts in Northern Scotland hacking up each other. That’s part of my tradition as well. I also have some tradition going to the Temple Mount,” he says. But it wasn’t just his Christian upbringing that made him an unlikely candidate for research into the Holocaust. Throughout his research, he spoke to many scholars who dissuaded him from his work. He was told that the subject matter was either too tangential or would cause problems for Jews, Rigg recalls, but he turned the criticism into a challenge. It wasn’t his first academic obstacle: As a young child, he failed first grade twice. Only when he was placed into a university-affiliated school did he begin to flourish. After high school, he was rejected from the Ivy League schools he had

dreamed of attending. So he spent a fifth year of high school studying and playing football at an East Coast private school, and then was accepted at Yale. Even today, Rigg appears to be motivated by the discouragement he says he received from some scholars. At a lecture last month at the Leo Baeck Institute in New York, Rigg says some scholars “exuded an air of academic arrogance that irritated me.” In an interview with JTA, he discussed his time spent in “the bowels of the academic establishment.” Armed with this motivation, as well as some encouragement from his family and from scholars such as Jonathan Steinberg, his doctoral adviser at Cambridge, Rigg persevered. After spending time with some of the soldiers, Rigg felt he owed something to them - and to what he calls truth, which he uses without an ounce of irony. See RIGG Page 31

Copycat Fashions: Is it ethical to sell or buy knockoff products? JEWISH ETHICS

desirability; it is unethical for the competitor to take a free ride on this investment. Furthermore, if the knock-off is of inferior quality then this will reflect RABBI DR. unfairly on the name-brand manufacASHER MEIR turer. Business Ethics Center Buying these items is also improper, of Jerusalem since it encourages fraud and is part and parcel of the debasement of the Q. Since name-brand items are so brand name. Scripture tells us that expensive, many enterprising indi“One who splits with the thief hates his viduals market look-alikes. Is it ethi- soul” (Proverbs 29:24), and this practice cal to sell or to buy these knockoff is in some ways similar. products? However, there is no ethical obstacle to selling copy-cat items. The fact that A. In order to answer this question prop- a major brand of a cola soft drink uses erly, we have to make clear that there is brown food dye and a red label shouldn’t a crucial differstop me from making ence between a brown-colored cola two kinds of drink with a red label. “look-alike” As long as it is clear to products: all that my soft drink is not the name brand, 1. Counterfeits. there’s nothing wrong These are with using some seconddesigned to ary characteristics to fool the buyer Graphic used by many publications as a header for help the customer know this column. into thinking what kind of product I’m that the prodtrying to compete with. uct is a genuine name-brand item. Indeed, the “Jewish Ethicist” name and logo (not typically used in this pub2. Copy-cats. Everyone knows that this lication as a header for this column.) product is not the original name brand, were chosen to hint at a superficial but the similarity in design informs the resemblance to the New York Times customer that this copy is designed to Magazine “Ethicist,” to inform new readfunction or appear like the original. ers that this feature adopts a format similar to that of the NYT Magazine colIt is certainly unethical to sell or buy umn. This is proper because the differcounterfeit items. Besides being illegal, ences are as important as the similarithis practice falls afoul of several prohities: this column provides answers from bitions in Jewish law. a traditional Jewish approach as hinted First of all, selling counterfeits conby the name Jewish Ethicist and by the stitutes fraud towards the customer benevolent, grandfatherly rabbinical figknown is Jewish law as “geneivat da’at.” ure smiling from the logo. The Talmud tells us that it is forbidden (There is also an intermediate category to sell someone a lower quality item if of “status-seeker” items: the buyer the purchaser would assume that it is knows that the item is a knock-off, but the higher quality type. This is forbidden he or she wants to make a display of even if for this particular purchaser the using a high-status name brand item. difference is completely immaterial, and Perhaps we will devote a further column even if he or she will never find out. For to this intriguing case.) example, it would be forbidden to sell synthetic vitamins as if they were natuSOURCES: Shulchan Arukh Choshen ral, even if a careful chemical analysis Mishpat 228; Rambam reveals that there is no difference. Mishneh Torah Geneiva 5:1; Rabbi Second of all, this kind of practice Aaron Levine, Case Studies in Jewish constitutes unfair competition towards Business Ethics page 331. the original manufacturer. The name brand invests large sums in associating its name or trademark with quality and

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The New Standard

Torah In a world that allows us to be in or out D ’ VA R T o r a h

tive connection. “We’re really Jewish,” Leah’s mother announced, explaining that their family RABBI HOWARD was descended from the Jewish populain Portugal that had been forced APOTHAKER, Ph.D tion to convert to Catholicism centuries ago. Although they practiced the Catholic faith, her family had secretly kept alive its Jewish identity. Each of the first several weekly por“We had a wonderful family involved tions of the Torah speaks of new beginin Christianity,” said Shimon, 25, who nings. Beresheet narrates the creation lives in Alexandria, Va. “But finding out of the world. Noah describes a new start for organic life. Lech Lecha depicts that the family was Jewish completely lined up with the different feelings and the initial call of the first Jew. Vayera experiences she had all her life. Her portrays the life of Abraham after the family had taught her a love of Israel as covenant of circumcision. And Hayyei the land of the Bible, respect for Jewish Sarah recounts the purchase of the first people. . . . She finds this out, and it all piece of burial ground for the Israelite nation, the beginning of the relationship made sense.” The revelation sparked a spiritual between Isaac and Rebekah and, at the end of the sidra, Abraham’s new life and journey for Leah and her four children that led all of them back to Judaism. family with his second wife, Keturah. “It was deeper than Some of these new beginnings began emotion, thought or with a human initiative, some with knowledge,” Shimon divine help, and others some mixture of said. “It is all the both. I’d like to report on one that bore more significant for this mixture, as paraphrased from a us because in the recent article in the Washington Post: back of our minds As a child, Shimon Richmond was is the reality that raised in the Christian faith of his parour family, which ents. He also grew up knowing that his for two generations mother, Leah, had a keen interest in all was lost to the God things Jewish. She gave her four chilof Israel and lost to dren Jewish names, was deeply moved our identity has in by Holocaust stories and liked to read the past generation about Judaism. returned.” But it was only 13 years ago, when While her husLeah’s own mother was dying of cancer band was alive, and felt the need to disclose a family Leah Richmond said secret, that Shimon and Leah discovhe encouraged her ered why she had always felt this intui-

Paul Palnik has permitted The New Standard to republish his award winning work to run along with our other religious features. Palnik, born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1946, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts degree in Graphics from The Ohio State University in Columbus. He has worked as an artist and writer for American Greeting Corp. in Cleveland and as a cartoonist for The Jerusalem Post in Israel. Palnik exhibits his work in art shows throughout the U.S. He is the creative director of meltonarts.org which is a coalition of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, the OSU Melton Center for Jewish Studies in Columbus and Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Nobel prize winners Isaac Bashevis Singer and Ellie Wiesel praised Palnik’s work. Singer is quoted as saying, “He is in his own way an artist who expresses his philosophy in images and fantasies drawn with originality.” Ellie Wiesel said of the artist: “Palnik’s... words and drawings is a gift, a beautiful gift.” You can contact Paul locally at 239-8710 or nationally toll-free at 1-800-cartoon. His works are available online at www.1800cartoon.com.

decision to return to Judaism and urged his children to learn Jewish practices. “We started having Shabbat dinners, and he learned to say the prayers in Hebrew,” Leah said. Scholars continue to discover information about the Jews in Iberia and its colonies, many of whom were forced to become Catholic during the Inquisition that began in the 15th century. While the converts openly practiced their new faith, many continued to keep Jewish traditions in their homes, lighting candles on Fridays, not eating pork, shunning work on Saturdays -- the traditional Jewish Sabbath -- and sometimes circumcising male children. Leah’s grandparents emigrated from the Azores to New Bedford, Mass., where they raised Leah’s mother as a Catholic. “My grandmother used to bake challah bread. She called it Jewish

sweet bread,” Leah recalled. “She also had a habit of lighting two candles every Friday night, but it was something nobody talked about.” On a trip to the Azores, Leah visited the grave of her great-grandmother, where she discovered that someone had visited the grave. Leah wrote in a recent essay, “somebody remembered . . . and unobtrusively carved a small Star of David on the back of her tombstone…. [T]he testimonial they left on that piece of rock spoke volumes to an American great-grandchild.” Shimon was 12 when his mother learned of her family’s Jewish heritage. He began a serious search for his Jewish roots at age 16. Gradually, he came to feel comfortable as a Jew. “There was this inner voice, that when I prayed as a Jew and in the synagogue with a Jewish community, it was just right,” he said. “The return to Jewish life is much more than just an overnight or quick decision. It’s a long, involved process,” he said. “It involves a lifelong change.” Years ago, Rabbi Harold Schulweis noted that most of today’s Jews are Jews by choice. We live in a world that allows us to choose to be in or See APOTHAKER Page 31

The New Standard M Y T H O U G H T FO R T O DAY

MARC LEVISON (Readers will please note that we have not edited the message below. The New Standard)

SOME OF ARE DREAMS CAN BE ONLY WITHIN ARE HEARTS. I SEE IN DREAMS LIFE AS WE KNOW IT IN, MUSIC, HOPE, AND FUTURE. MUSIC HOLDS US TOGETHER AND HOPE OPENS THE DOOR FOR US LOOK FOR AND TO WALK IN. THE FUTURE IS A DIFFERENT STORY, BUT IS NOT TO BE FORGOT AS IT IS THE ONLY ONE WE CAN COUNT ON AND CHANGE. I KNOW THIS WORLD IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD IS UP TO EVERYONE ONE OF US TO MAKE IT BETTER. I HAVE COVER ALLOT OF GROUND IN MY LIFE, MORE THEN MOST. WHEN I LOOK BACK, ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT

27 Tishrei 5764 :: October 23, 2003 :: 31 IN MY LIFE, WHEN I WAS IN VIETNAM ON THE BACK OF THE SHIP AT THE TAIL GATE, WITH PLANES LANDING 4 FOOT AWAY FROM MY BODY I SAID TO MYSELF HOW CAN I GET THIS OVER SOON, I WHAT TO GO HOME. MY THOUGHT FOR TODAY, WELL I AM HOME NOW, I GIVE ANYTHING TO BE THERE AGAIN. YOU SEE MY FRIENDS, YOU CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE, YOU MIGHT LIKE IT, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DREAM IT MIGHT COME TRUE, ENJOY, MARC

MY THOUGHT FOR TODAY, -- ENJOY, MARC Marc Levison suffers from ALS, a fatal neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness resulting in paralysis. He has had ALS for thirteen years and has been typing his thoughts via his computer for 5 years. He emails his “Thought for Today” on a periodic basis. If you would like to receive his thoughts, email him at ML60@YAHOO.COM

Lifecycle events births CLUBOK

FREED

Rose Hannah Clubok

Maxwell Ethan Freed

Laura Faye and Kenneth Clubok gratefully announce the birth of their daughter Rose Hannah Clubok on September 19, 2003 in Columbus. Rose Hannah (Hebrew name Chaya Shoshana) is the granddaughter of Barbara and George Harris of Wayland, Massachusetts, and Miriam and Arthur Clubok of Athens, Ohio. Rose Hannah is named after her two late great-grandmothers, Rose Rosof and Rose Clubok, and her two great-great grandmothers, Helen Berman and Hannah Cecil Wengrow.

unveilings ZELDIN The unveiling for Solomon D. Zeldin will be held at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, October 26, at Agudas Achim Cemetery, Alum Creek and Performance Parkway. Rabbi Moshe Dick will officiate. Solomon is the late father of Marvin (Ivy Konel) Zeldin of Ellicott City, Maryland; Howard (Marcie) Zeldin of Gahanna: and Ilene Zeldin of Arlington, Virginia. He is the late grandfather of Julie and Wendy Zeldin of Gahanna, Ohio.

Rachel Slovut and Daniel Freed announced the birth of their son, Maxwell Ethan on Sept 26 in Columbus. Maxwell Ethan (Hebrew name Lev Annon) is the grandson of Maureen and Bernard Slovut of San Marcos, CA., and Roberta and Louis Fried of South Euclid, Ohio. Maxwell Ethan is named after his four late great-grandparents Max Whitfeld, Loius Slovut., Eleanor Fried and Arnold Edelman send us your Lifecycle events: via email: content@thenewstandard.com or by mail: The New StandStandard Lifecyles 3000-B East Main Street Columbus, Ohio 43209 We post your information for free. There is a $10.00 fee to include a photograph.

S h a b b at t i m e s

Eruv Hotline 898-2807

Shabbat Bereshit October 24 Candlelighting October 25 Shabbat ends Shabbat Noach October 31 Candlelighting November 1 Shabbat ends Shabbat Lech Lecha November 7 Candlelighting November 8 Shabbat ends Shabbat Vayera November 14 Candlelighting November 15 Shabbat ends Shabbat Chaye Sarah November 21 Candlelighting November 22 Shabbat ends

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FROM PAGE 30

Rabbi Howard L. Apothaker, Ph.D., is the rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom in New Albany. Rabbi Apothaker is the author of the recent book on the initial book of Jewish Midrash, Sifra: Dibbura deSinai, published by the Hebrew Union College Press.

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RIGG

APOTHAKER out. Though we may have a genetic strain, we lack many of the cultural constraints that used to speak for us. And so, like Ruth of old, being Jewish, taking Judaism seriously is a personal choice. Ultimately no outside force can make us say, “Wherever you go, shall I go.” Leah and Shimon and their families made a choice to reinitiate and reorient their lives. But there was something in the final decision that reflected the divine. And even for those bearing dominant Jewish social genes, this process takes time. The Richmond family began by listening to the story and then by doing the deeds. Next came the “inner voice,” the still, small voice of the divine with which they felt bidden to harmonize. And, at that moment, the deeds became mitzvot; actions turned to answers reaching back to God. Each time we listen to that inner voice, we hear the same voice as Abraham did when God called to him, “Lech Lecha, go ahead for your own sake.” Begin again. The year is still new. The calling is ancient. May you do again what you are doing for the first time and may you do for the first time that which you have always done.

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Rigg himself contributed to “personal truth” - “outing” some of these soldiers’ Jewish roots to their own families. Some of the soldiers Rigg learned about became interested in their Judaism after the war, but others died without telling anyone - and Rigg was the one to inform their families. Even if many of his subjects didn’t consider themselves Jewish, their experiences during the war highlight a gray spot in the world of the Holocaust, Rigg says. “Are they perpetrators or are they victims? Do they share the guilt or do they share the victimhood?” he asks. “They’re between two stools all the time.” So is Rigg, in many ways. Raised a fundamentalist Protestant, he studied at the Ohr Sameach Yeshiva in Jerusalem while conducting his research, and says he now professes that he believes in no specific religion beyond general “tolerance.” His time at a yeshiva was just one of the turns Rigg’s life has taken during the last decade. He also spent time in a program the Israeli Army runs for volunteers from abroad, and even did a stint in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1999 to 2001. But, he says, he made a commitment to his subjects to tell their story. He has done that both through his book and through an archive in the German city of Freiburg that he has filled with the fruits of his research. “Now I’ve honored that commitment and I can walk away after all this is done, and be happy,” he says.

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The New Standard