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Volume 101, Number 21 www.kcjc.com May 27, 2021 16 Sivan 5781

jewish chronicle The KANSAS

CITY

Rally at the JCC supports Israel after recent rocket barrage from Gaza

By Mike Sherry Editor

Approximately 250 attendees rallied Sunday afternoon at the Jewish Community Campus in Overland Park to stand behind Israel after the country endured days of rocket fire from Gaza during the recent conflict with Hamas. “We gather today to express and demonstrate our support and unity with our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael — those who over the last few weeks bore the onslaught of more than 4,000 missiles fired from Gaza and endured civil unrest and violence in their streets,” said Michael Abrams, immediate past board chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. “Many of us in the Jewish community have felt under attack and isolated this week — but as we can see here today, we are not alone,” said Gary Wolf, board president of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee (JCRB|AJC). “We stand united, together, as a people who desperately desire peace for Israel and her neighbors, yet who remain crystal clear about the realities on the ground.” The roughly 45-minute rally included songs and prayers — and several minutes of the hora at the end — mixed in with the remarks. The persistent rain that had drenched the region during the past week largely held off, save for a few

Attendees at Sunday’s pro-Israel rally at the Jewish Community Campus in Overland Park dance the hora after the 45-minute program wrapped up. (Mike Sherry) sprinkles. Jewish Federation organized the event in partnership with the JCRB|AJC and the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City. Israelis living in the local community participated in the event, including Gil Nevat, a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces. He offered a prayer for the IDF. In addition, another Israeli, Nissim Mina, led the musical accompaniment for the rally. Joining him were brothers Yoni and Daniel Israeli. The show of support for Israel came as a fragile ceasefire took hold May 20, with clashes between Palestinians and

Israeli police reported just hours after announcement of the agreement. About 230 Gazans and 12 Israelis died in the exchange of fire that began on May 9 with Hamas launching rockets into Israel, toward Jerusalem. The fighting in Gaza and Israel, and the unrest, followed weeks of protests in eastern Jerusalem and Jerusalem’s Old City. Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli police multiple times on the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site, which Muslims revere as the Noble Sanctuary, and which is the site of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. There were also protests in the east-

Gary Wolf, board president of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee, addresses the crowd at the Sunday rally demonstrating support and unity with Israel following the recent hostilities with Hamas. (Drew Coleman/Bring it on Productions) ern Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, which some Jews refer to as Shimon Hatzaddik, over the pending eviction of Palestinian families from homes owned by Jews. Jewish leaders, both in Kansas City and nationally, have decried a spike in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. in the wake of the hostilities. See RALLY, PAGE 8

Living history

Jewish youth with KC ties helps tell stories of Holocaust survivors in ‘Witness Project 2021’ By Jerry LaMartina Contributing Writer Memories captured in stories are part of history. Preserving those memories for future generations helps keep history’s lessons alive. In that spirit, the documentary film “Witness Project 2021,” in which the stories of five Holocaust survivors are told with the help of nearly 50 students, will premier June 9 on Zoom. The film has a Kansas City connection through Jared Chapman, 17, one of the project’s participants. Jared’s father, Mark Chapman, is from here. Mark’s father, Paul Chapman, lives in Leawood, and Mark also has extended family living in the area. Mark and his family live in

Roslyn, New York. The UJA-Federation of New York sponsors the film, which is part of a Long Island Witness Project fundraiser for Holocaust survivor services. An anonymous donor pledged to match all donations dollar for dollar up to $100,000 through June 30. “The program keeps the memory of the Holocaust alive in the hearts and minds of the next generation and helps the survivors come to terms with their past,” organizers said in promotional material for the film. The project began in 2018. It was held again in 2019 as a stage performance and art exhibit, and in 2020 as a film, said Nancy Powers, a project coordinator. Jared learned of the Witness Project

soon after returning home from having his bar mitzvah in Israel. A friend who had taken part in the project told him about it, and Jared became interested in participating. A trip to Yad Vashem during his bar mitzvah trip spurred an interest in the stories of Holocaust survivors. At the museum, he was given a “twin.” That was a person who shared a birthday with Jared, but who died in the Holocaust. Jared learned about the person. “It’s kind of sad to see the parallel between my life and someone who had to live such a tragic life and die so young,” he said. Jared said he knew his generation was one of the last ones who could learn Holocaust survivors’ stories from firsthand accounts. Students in the project also get to know “what they’re like as a person, what they do in their free time, how they were able to overcome such a tough challenge in their life and become successful.” Although many people have suffered during the coronavirus pandemic, he said, “it really doesn’t even compare to what some of these people went through.” In applying for the project, Jared was

The camera is rolling on Jared Chapman, 17, as he recites the story of a Holocaust survivor his group met as part of “Witness Project 2021,” which premiers on Zoom June 9. (Courtesy Jared Chapman) asked what made him right for the program, why he deserved to take part and why it was important to him. See STUDENTS, PAGE 2

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

jewish chronicle The KANSAS CITY

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listening post KSHB WINS AWARD FOR HOLOCAUST FEATURE Local news station KSHB-TV 41 Action News won a 2021 Regional Edward R. Murrow award in the Large Market Television Feature Reporting category. The award-winning story, titled “75 years after Auschwitz liberation, Holocaust survivor ‘cannot keep quiet,’” was a feature on local Holocaust survivor Sonia Warshawski. Known in the community as “Big Sonia,” Warshawski explains in the story how she never talked about her Holocaust experience as a prisoner in Auschwitz until she heard about Holocaust denial. “This was just an awakening for me,” she said in her interview with KSHB. “Like a thunder to my brain saying, ‘Sonia! This is the reason you survived! You cannot keep quiet!’” The story also included an interview with Jessica Rockhold, executive director of the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education. You can watch the story at: kshb. com/longfor m/75-years-after-auschwitz-liberation-holocaust-survivorcannot-keep-quiet. LOCAL SURVIVORS HONORED

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May 27, 2021

Last week, Warshawski, along with fellow local survivors Elizabeth Nussbaum and Adela Dagerman, was honored in a tribute at Union Station. The survivors and their families were seated in front of an authentic WWII-era railway freight car that was recently installed as part of the “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far Away” exhibition, which opens at Union Station on June 14. They were joined by Union Station’s board chairman, Ramón Murguía, Union Station’s president & CEO,

George Guastello, Brian Platt, city manager of Kansas City, Luis Ferrerio, Auschwitz exhibition producer and Rabbi Joshua Leighton. Family members, donors and media who gathered heard the history of the freight car — the kind that transported millions of people to ghettos, concentration camps and killing centers — and had the chance to visit with Warshawski and Nussbaum (Dagerman was unable to attend the event). JFS STARTS NURSES SUPPORT GROUP Nurses are on the front lines all the time taking care of people. Often, caring for others can bring stress — especially since the onslaught of the pandemic. Jewish Family Services invites registered nurses to join with a group of their peers and a JFS licensed clinical professional to share their thoughts, issues and concerns in a safe and confidential space. Providing coping skills is also part of this support group. The Nurses Support Group meets virtually from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. The next sessions are on May 13 and 27. To join this free support group, email nursespeersupport@ jfskc.org. OP NATIVE PUBLISHES TRIBUTE TO HER FATHER ON HUFFINGTON POST Lisa Kanarek, a freelance writer who grew up in Overland Park, recently had a piece published on the popular news site Huffington Post. In the piece, a personal essay, she shares her experience of interviewing her late father, Joseph Kanarek, about his time in Auschwitz. Joseph, who passed away last year, was 94 before he was ready to tell his

story. “... I opened my laptop and watched him disclose the secrets of his childhood I’d waited decades to hear. For two years, I videotaped my father revealing stories that had been too painful to share sooner,” she wrote. The video of Kanarek’s interview with her father was recently added to the video archive collection of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Kanarek’s Huffington Post essay, along with other pieces of her work, can be found on her website, lisakanarek. com. PRIYA OFFERS DISCOUNT FOR GENETIC TESTING Thanks to the generosity of the Romotsky-Price-Cortes Genetic Testing Fund, Priya is able to offer a discounted price for the genetic testing. This allows for more growing families in Kansas City to be better informed when beginning their family planning journeys. Priya, which provides support to Jewish individuals, couples, and families struggling with infertility, is working closely with JScreen to help the Kansas City community learn more about the importance of genetic testing. Based out of Emory University, JScreen provides low-cost genetic testing to adults 18-45 who are planning to start or expand their families. The comprehensive test covers more than 200-plus genetic diseases. It is a simple saliva test sent to your home, you return it, and a few weeks later you meet with a genetic counselor to discuss your results. For more information about genetic testing, visit Jscreen.org. To receive a discount code for the testing, email priya@jfskc.org.

Students share Holocaust survivor stories in upcoming Zoom documentary from page 1 Jared is interested in journalism and described in his application that he had learned while working on his school newspaper the importance of finding first hand sources and talking with “someone who smelt, heard, felt … everything that went on (and that) it really just has different meaning.” One of the survivors he met had lived in hiding from ages 2 to 8. Nazis murdered his father. Hearing the survivor tell the story and become emotional after so many years “was very sad.” Knowing survivors’ stories underscores the importance of youth understanding history and “real facts, particularly with what’s going on in the world, people’s selective choice of what facts they’re going to listen to,” Mark said. He expressed pride in his son for participating in the Witness Project and in “anything that involves understanding humanity and the importance of acceptance and avoiding the cruelty that somehow people manage to force others to suffer.” “No one will believe it ever could happen without understanding it has hap-

pened,” he said. Some of the survivors said they had not told their stories for decades “because of the horrors of it or embarrassment,” Mark said. The project served as an outlet and even an inspiration for them. After he started telling his story, one of the survivors took his family to his old neighborhood in Poland to show them where he had come from. “If I went through that kind of experience, I can’t imagine ever wanting to go back,” Mark said. “I certainly understand there’s human nature, and in his particular case I think he had lost all but one sibling or cousin.”

Many of the survivors’ positive attitudes surprised him. “They’ve moved on,” he said. “They’ve overcome the adversity. Many of them are very funny. They make jokes. … They talk about the good things that have come about in their life, as well. I found it very uplifting.” Jared wants viewers of the film to take with them the knowledge of how fortunate they are “to be able to live such a happy life and not have to worry about what some of the people throughout the Holocaust went through.” “Let people see how truly lucky they are.”

DETAILS FOR “WITNESS PROJECT 2021” • Who: Five Holocaust survivors and nearly 50 students • What: A free Zoom premier of “Witness Project 2021,” a documentary that tells the survivors’ stories • When: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. CDT time on June 9 • Register online for the Zoom premier at www.bit.ly/3fdM3eG. • Donate money to the project at www.bit.ly/3fdjei8. • Watch highlights of the 2020 film at www.bit.ly/3uNVic5. • Discuss your pledge with Sherri Candel at 516-762-5896 or Nancy Powers at 516762-5870 or by emailing them at witness@ujafedny.org.

May 27, 2021

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

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community news

‘Let There Be Light’ is a work of art, piece of B’nai Jehudah history

Editor’s note: The Michael Klein Collection, which includes roughly 1,000 pieces of Judaica, is housed at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. The collection, in the hands of the congregation since late 2019, is meant to be an educational asset for the community. During cataloging, The Michael Klein Collection will provide periodic summaries to The Chronicle, with the hope of helping readers deepen their understanding of — and connection to — their Jewish heritage. For more than four decades, a large tapestry has graced the walls of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, inspiring and awing congregants with its rich colors and symbolism. The tapestry, titled “Let There Be Light,” is the work of local fiber artist Janet Kuemmerlein. It was commissioned and gifted to the congregation by member Rosemary Lustig. Kuemmerlein had previously created a tapestry for Congregation Beth Shalom, which is how Lustig knew of her work. Kuemmerlein said the design of the piece was a collaboration between her, Lustig and then-rabbi William B. Silverman. “I’m not Jewish so I couldn’t go ahead and do something out of my head, I had to rely on their input. I got a lot of information from them, then I

This tapestry, a piece by local artist Janet Kummerlein, has been a part of B’nai Jehudah for more than 40 years. combined it with my artistic view,” Kuemmerlein said. The tapestry includes multiple symbols of Judaism, including the Tree of Life and the Lion of Judah. Next to the lion is the burning bush through which God spoke to Moses. The bird is an eagle, referring to Exodus 19:4: “You have seen what I did

to the Egyptians, and [how] I bore you on eagles’ wings, and I brought you to Me.” The sun’s rays, located at the upper right corner of the piece, come from the tapestry’s name. The tapestry, which measures 13.5 feet by 8.5 feet and weighs an estimated 50 pounds. The piece was completed in sections; Kuemmerlein machinestitched silk, wool and nylon fibers to each section, and then hand-stitched the sections together on a background of wool. Kuemmerlein started the piece in 1975 and completed it in 1976. Once finished, the congregation held an unveiling ceremony for the tapestry. The tapestry belongs to B’nai Jehudah, and is used both for display as well as for educational purposes by the Michael Klein Collection of B’nai Jehudah. The tapestry hung on the walls of B’nai Jehudah’s 69th Street and Holmes Road location until it was moved to the congregation’s current location in Overland Park in 2000, where it hangs on the east-facing wall of the congregation’s social hall. “Simply put, ‘Let There Be Light’ is a timeless piece that adds beauty to our worship space. This unique interpretation of various Jewish symbols helps bring Torah stories to life,” said Abby Magariel, educator/curator of the Michael Klein Collection.

JCF event explores how charitable giving changed in 2020 Last month, several Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) fundholders met online for the foundation’s latest Connecting Our Giving Community experience, “The Pandemic Changed Everything: What About Our Giving?” Hosts Janet Mark and Frank Lipsman facilitated the conversation about how the events of 2020 — including COVID-19 and increased awareness of racial justice issues and systemic income inequality – have impacted charitable giving. “We were impressed by the wide range of organizations people have found to support during the pandemic,” said Lipsman. “Everything from food and shelter, to supporting small business, social justice, and cultural arts. The session confirmed for us that there does not need to be one ‘correct’ way to give during a pandemic, as long as we all commit to supporting our community in some way.” Many participants shared that they had continued to support their usual favorite charities, but also donated to several additional nonprofits they might not have donated to before. Funding social service organizations was a priority of many, as well as supporting charities that typically rely on earned income such as memberships or ticket sales. Organizations serving urban and minority communities, and those working to strengthen the electoral process and increase representation in elections were also a large focus. It was

Hosts Frank Lipsman and Janet Mark facilitated a discussion about philanthropy at JCF’s recent Connecting Our Giving Community event. noted that though the pandemic may be waning, its impact on the nonprofit community will likely be felt for years to come. JCF fundholders made a generous contribution to the charitable landscape in 2020. More than $28.5 million was distributed from JCF funds in 5,633 separate grants to 1,181 unique nonprofit organizations last year. Of that amount, nearly $1 million went to a wide range of local and national organizations providing pandemic relief. “2020 was a unique year in terms of grantmaking,” said Roberta Goller, JCF grants manager. “It’s not unusual to see charitable action in times of need, however, the pandemic response was significantly greater. The challenges of

last year really mobilized our fundholders to respond to current events and emerging needs and look for additional ways to make a difference through their philanthropy.”

COMPASSION • CARE • LOVE COVID 19:

CDC GUIDELINES OBSERVED

Connecting Our Giving Community is a series of social and educational experiences organized by JCF fundholders, for JCF fundholders, that brings together charitably minded people to discuss philanthropic topics. Previous events have explored the increasing role of women in philanthropy, and how to create a family legacy plan. Connecting Our Giving Community experiences are exclusively open to those with JCF donor advised funds, personal charitable giving accounts that simplify giving, increase charitable impact, and offer valuable tax benefits. Hundreds of donor advised funds have been established at JCF by community members of varying ages, financial means and with widely diverse giving interests. For more information about Connecting Our Giving Community or donor advised funds, contact Josh Stein, JCF director of philanthropy, at 913-3278121 or jstein@jcfkc.org.

Thanks to the Jewish community for welcoming our care team into their homes.

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INFO@CARINGCOMESFROMTHEHEART.COM

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

celebrations BIRTH

Ryan Louis Mankiewicz Rachel and Christopher Mankiewicz are very proud to announce the arrival of their son, Ryan Louis Mankiewicz, on April 7, 2021 in San Francisco, California. Rachel Fehr is formally from Rye Brook, New York. Grandparents are Stephanie and Donald Fehr, Rye Brook, NY, formerly of Overland Park, Kansas and JoAnna and Leo Mankiewicz of Surprise, Arizona. Great Grandparents are Irene “Dolly” Gulko Fehr and the late Louis A. Fehr of Leawood, Kansas, and the late Sylvia Ruth Eveloff Feldman, Overland Park, Kansas, and the late Allen M. Feldman of Jacksonville, Florida, and Anthony Ciccolini and the late Josephine Ciccolini of San Francisco, California, and the late Eufemia and Joseph Mankiewicz of Clifton, New Jersey. B’NOT MITZVAH

May 27, 2021

community news

Local nonprofit Tikkun-KC announces new board of directors

Tikkun-KC, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming blighted blocks of urban houses into quality affordable housing for deserving homeowners, has announced a new board of directors. Tikkun-KC was founded in 2018 by long-time urban renovator Larry Myer, who believes that providing ownership of affordable housing is the key to resolving urban blight. Through his company, Inner City Realty, Myer has 36 years of experience in renovating more than 1,800 distressed and abandoned urban core houses and apartment buildings in Kansas City, Missouri. A Missouri and Kansas real estate broker, Myer is a regular guest speaker for several national real estate investment podcasts and seminars. He is a member of the Urban Neighborhood Initiative as well as local and national real estate organizations. He also is president of Congregation Beth Torah. New Tikkun-KC board members include: Alan Edelman, who has served on numerous local, regional and continental advisory committees, and served as a guest theologian in many churches, universities and seminaries. Edelman served as associate executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City prior to his retirement in 2017. He currently serves as the Jewish director on the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council and is a member of the board of directors of the Center for Practical Bioethics, Avodah, EmberHope, Schechter Institute and The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish

Learning. Lon Lowenstein, of Lowenstein Financial Solutions, Inc., a QuickBooks expert who works with businesses and nonprofits. Lowenstein is past president of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City, a trustee of the Jewish Community Foundation, treasurer of KU Hillel and treasurer of Happy Bottoms. Jeremy Applebaum, an expert in both resale and new construction with experience in home building and the real estate brokerage business. Applebaum has extensive knowledge of the greater metro area on both sides of the state line and has sold more than $150 million dollars in real estate since 2010. Applebaum and his family sponsored the construction of a Habitat for Humanity home in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2006. He currently serves on Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City’s board of directors and its allocations committee. Cynthia Wilson Conner, grant writer and compliance coordinator for Mattie Rhodes Center. With an interest in urban health, public health policy, and ethics, Conner has more than 20 years of experience with community outreach and fundraising. Conner is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Greater Kansas City and Nonprofit Connect. She is also a member of Congregation Beth Torah. Rabbi Doug Alpert, spiritual leader of Congregation Kol Ami. Rabbi Alpert is on the Missouri Coordinating Committee for the Poor People’s Campaign,

the Missouri executive committee of the NAACP and received the Harold Holliday Civil Rights Award from the NAACP KC branch. He is a board member of Missouri Faith Voices, the faith co-chair for Missouri Jobs With Justice, the immediate past president of Missouri Healthcare for All, an ally with Stand Up KC and a member of MORE2, the metropolitan organization for racial and economic equity. Tikkun-KC — whose motto is “Repairing our corner of the world one house at a time” — cost-effectively renovates dangerous urban houses to create quality, affordable homes. Completed properties are occupied by deserving low-income individuals who are given the opportunity to become homeowners. Tikkun-KC tackles houses that are often scheduled for demolition, saving taxpayers the $10,000 to $12,000 cost of demolishing each house. Tikkun-KC also fixes the exteriors of nearby properties owned by long-time residents who cannot afford repairs. The nonprofit’s renovations spur private investors to renovate surrounding properties that they previously shunned. Tikkun-KC works to provide training and employment opportunities to local contractors and residents of the neighborhoods it restores. Participants in its apprenticeship program benefit from employment and an opportunity to learn skilled trades leading to careers in the construction industry. To learn more about Tikkun-KC, please visit www.tikkun-kc.org, email info@tikkun-kc.org or call 816-287-8800.

JVS announces new virtual coffee club

Maggie Goldberg

Gracie Goldman Margaret (Maggie) Goldberg and Gracie Goldman will have a b’not mitzvah May 29 at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. Maggie is the daughter of Dan and Kim Goldberg. She is the granddaughter of Greg and Trudie Goldberg, and the late Richard and Brenda Porter. Gracie is the daughter of Lauren and Stuart Goldman. She is the granddaughter of Rene Goldman and the late Thomas Goldman, and Trudie and Greg Goldberg.

Jewish Vocational Service Career Skills and Connections is excited to announce its new virtual coffee club. The first event will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on June 7. The club is a free event where attendees will have opportunities for networking, connecting with guest speakers, learning from industry leaders and hearing educational content focused on best practices to increase marketability. The June 7 topic is “HR Recruitment 101,” and will feature speakers

Adidja Suleman, director of physician recruitment and retention for St. Luke’s Health System; Bret Fischer, senior director of talent acquisition for Netsmart; and Kajuan Cummings, assistant principal at Hogan Preparatory Academy. The Coffee Club is open to anyone who is interested. You don’t need to be a current client of Career Skills and Connections, but it is a great opportunity to learn more about the program. Jewish Vocational Service en-

gages, encourages, and empowers people to achieve social, cultural, and economic integration, through community integration, health and wellness and workforce development programs. Career Skills and Connections offers one-on-one services to local job seekers, helping them market themselves to land their next opportunity. To learn more or RSVP for the event, email Sabrina Simon at ssimon@jvskc.org. Please RSVP by June 2.

Jewish Experiences launching LGBTQIA steering committee After hosting a successful Lag B’omer picnic for LGBTQIA members of the Jewish community and their allies, Jewish Experiences is launching a steering committee to organize future events and foster further participation. The goal is to create more opportunities for gatherings and allow for more LGBTQIA community members to join

in. Steering committee members will help generate ideas and be ambassadors for future events/programs. If you are interested in participating in this committee, please email Samantha Hammontree at samanthah@thejkc.org with your name and preferred contact information. Once the steering committee is formed, Jewish Experiences will facilitate a Zoom meeting

to brainstorm ideas, communication methods and a potential calendar of events. Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J, has also started a private Facebook group for LGBTQIA community members. Those interested can visit facebook. com/groups/714089346140372 and request to join.

May 27, 2021

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

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national news

At 73, legendary NHL announcer Sam Rosen is still calling the plays By Howard Blas JNS Legendary New York Rangers playby-play sportscaster Sam Rosen is best known for his call in 1994 when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 54 years. New Yorkers can recite his call by heart: “The waiting is over—the New York Rangers are the Stanley Cup Champions! And this one will last a lifetime!” Yet this famous call is only one of many great moments in his 73 years thus far. The personable, knowledgeable Rosen recently spoke to JNS about his love and affection for the Rangers, sports, Judaism, coping during the coronavirus pandemic, and yes, his late mother. Sam Rosen was born Samuel Rosenblum in 1947 in a DP camp in Ulm, Germany. His father left Poland just before the Nazi invasion in 1939 and escaped to Russia, where he worked as a tailor sewing uniforms for the Russian army. Rosen’s brother, Stephen, five years Sam’s senior, was born in Russia in 1942. The Rosen family immigrated to America in 1949, where young Sam quickly got his start playing and watching sports. “My father was a tailor and got into dry cleaning. My mother got us off to school and helped out in his store until 7 p.m. We lived in Boro Park, across from PS 160. Sports occupied our time. We’d go out in the mornings on Saturdays and Sundays, and over the summer and stay out all day—until our mother yelled for us to come in for dinner.” Rosen fondly recalls playing “all sports,” including stick ball, punch ball, baseball, softball and basketball. “It was a great way to avoid trouble and stay healthy,” he notes. Rosen also went to Hebrew school in the neighborhood and had what he called a “fairly small” bar mitzvah, celebrated at a catering hall on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. He says he is proud of his Jewish identity—visiting Israel several times, where he has relatives, and reporting that his children and grandchildren also attended Hebrew school and celebrated b’nai mitzvahs. He and his wife have attended New City Jewish Center in New City, N.Y., for years, affectionately recalling their late, longtime Rabbi Henry Sosland, who died in 2019. “He was a mainstay and a rock. It was sad to see him pass,” says Rosen. As Rosen became more active in sports as a teenager, his attendance at religious school and synagogue dropped precipitously, saying “it became too much with high school baseball.” Rosen attended the prestigious Stuyvesant High School, where the catcher served as captain of the baseball team, ran track and played intramural basketball. He also played baseball at the City College of New York. In addition to playing sports, Rosen began attending athletic events. His amazing recall for events that took place more than 60 years ago seems to reflect an encyclopedic knowledge and a deep love for all things sports. Rosen remembers

Sam Rosen (MSG Network) attending various events at the old Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, including college basketball, NBA double-headers and Rangers games. “There would be a game at 6, and the Knicks would play at 8. We’d take the subway to MSG, get out at 49th Street and get in early when the doors opened at 4:30 to get a good seat—we’d run up the balcony!” In those days, Rosen reports that hockey was played only on Wednesdays and Sundays. “I was a regular,” he says, looking back fondly on those days. “It was a different time. It was a great time!” Even his Eastern European parents began to warm up to American sports. “My father became a baseball fan. He watched the Brooklyn Dodgers on TV. One time, we had an argument over curve balls. He said there is no such thing! He couldn’t understand.” The Rosen parents proudly attended Sam’s summer league and American Legion baseball games. They even began to understand his broadcasting career—somewhat. From an early age, Rosen taped himself doing play-by-play of Rangers games. Rosen, who still has a clear, booming voice, was the studio host on Rangers games from 1982 to 1984, and began doing play-by-play in 1984. He is known for his extensive knowledge of hockey and for his signature phrase: “It’s a power play goal!” He reports that “my father understood my broadcasting career. He was proud of my work with Channel 8 in New Haven, Connecticut.” Rosen covered sports on the weekends. He notes that his mother—not unlike many Jewish mothers at the time—encouraged him to go to law school. But he reminded her that he was “doing well in my MSG job, doing nicely.” He never did attend law school. While each season offers great moments and memories, Rosen acknowledges that “nothing beats taking part in the championship season.” He reflects on all of the highlights of that special season. “To have grown up following the Rangers and to see years of frustration until finally winning a championship season—54 years! To see it unfold at MSG with the building electric and literally shaking. To be part of it—the parade down the Canyon of Heroes and to City Hall for a huge celebration … ”

And he’s known some personal fame, too. On June 8, 2008, Rosen was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. On Nov. 14, 2016, Rosen was enshrined as the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winner for outstanding contributions as a broadcaster by the Hockey Hall of Fame. The past two seasons, which have taken place during the pandemic, have been a bit frustrating as they have impacted Rosen’s ability to meet with the team and others in the sports world in person. “I remember when the season first got suspended on March 20,” recalls Rosen. “The team was in Denver, where we lost to them in overtime in an exciting time in front of a packed house. There were rumors that basketball was being suspended. When we got to the airport, we were either going to Phoenix to play in two days or back to New York; we went back to New York.” The season was suspended, and Rosen and his wife spent March through the end of June in Florida during what he says was “a strange and unsettling time.”

He returned to covering hockey on Aug. 1 last year as the Rangers competed in the first round of the NHL playoffs. He says he was more than happy to return to hockey this season “in our own arena and not in a bubble.” And while the schedule resuming in January was a relief, like so many others, he misses a full arena of fans. He says he can’t wait for the postCOVID era, when he can return to getting to know and develop relationships with the hockey players he has historically spent so much time traveling and socializing with. “I miss sitting with them in the locker room, learning about a player growing up in Russia or Finland. I miss this part,” says Rosen. And while he hasn’t yet sat at length with Jewish Rangers player Adam Fox, he hopes to do so, noting that “Fox has become a star in his second season in the league. He is now a top player in the league.” As far Rosen goes, the septuagenarian has no plans to retire anytime soon. “I just love what I do—I still do as much as on my first day. And thank God, my health is still good!”

Mr. CANsas event benefits JFS food pantry A beauty pageant with a can theme? That’s what students at Shawnee Mission East High School recently hosted, and the Jewish Family Services food pantry ended up being the big winner. SME students in the SHARE program organized the Mr. CANsas pageant, incorporating a food drive that collected 751 pounds for the food pantry’s two locations. The Mr. CANsas pageant is a senior service day effort at the high school. Among the student organizers were Sullivan Goettsch, Ellie Peters, Rose Kanaley, Clay Fought, Jack Hays, Emmett Liljegren, Meredith McGannon and Libby Hise. Sam Fountain was crowned as Mr. CANsas. SHARE is one of the largest not-for-profit, student-led, school-based youth volunteer organizations in the country. Special thanks to JFS volunteer Sheryl Kaplan for making the connection with the SME students. If you are interested in hosting a food drive for JFS, please contact JFS pantry director Jo Hickey at jhickey@jfskc.org.

Shawnee Mission East High School students recently organized the Mr. CANsas pageant, which collected food for the JFS food pantry.

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

May 27, 2021

important dates Friday May 28 Candle-Lighting Time Sivan 17, 8:18 p.m. Beth Torah’s Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Javier Cattapan Join Beth Torah for “Cucina Ebraica: Not Your Mother’s Gefilte Fish”, when we will ask Rabbi Cattapan about Jewish Cooking! This “Ask the Rabbi” session will take place during our Erev Shabbat Service, which will be streamed on our Facebook page (https://facebook. com/CongregationBethTorah) and our Virtual Sanctuary (https://beth-torah.org/virtual-sanctuary). Please email connect@beth-torah.org to submit your questions about Jewish Cooking! 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday May 29 Kehilath Israel Synagogue Pirkei Avot Ethics of Our Fathers taught by Rabbi Moshe Grussgott. The widespread Jewish tradition is to study Pirkei Avot in the spring and summer months between Pesach and Rosh Hashanah. By internalizing its ethical teachings, we enter Rosh Hashanah with uplifted hearts and minds! Pirkei Avot Class is followed by Mincha and Parsha of the Week Class. 7:30 p.m. Kehilath Israel Synagogue Parsha of the Week Parsha of the Week Class with Rabbi Moshe Grussgott. Enhance Shabbat by gaining deeper understanding of the weekly Parsha. This class will be taught between Mincha and Maariv. Please note: Seudah Shlishit has not yet been reinstated due to COVID-19. 8:15 p.m. Beth Torah’s Sichat Shabbat This Shabbat, join Congregation Beth Torah to explore halacha (Jewish Law) of childhood and coming of age under the larger theme of Halacha of Life Cycle Events. Please email connect@beth-torah.org to request the Zoom link. 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Sunday May 30 KI Memorial Day service Memorial Day services led by Rabbi Moshe Grussgott. It is a custom in Judaism to show our respect for our ancestors, our family and our friends who are no longer with us. Whether it’s the National Memorial Day, a day of Yahrzeit, or a day when we recite the Yizkor prayer, any day we go to the cemetery and visit the graves of our mishpacha, we perform the mitzvah of Kovod Hamet. To be held at K.I. Blue Ridge Cemetery – 1901 Blue Ridge Blvd. in Independence, MO. 11:00 a.m.

Monday May 31 Happiness Habits The Greater Kansas City Mental Health Coalition, based at Jewish Family Services, and the Kansas City Public Library are offering a free program to make your days better. Happiness Habits is a half-hour program held on Mondays via Zoom. The focus is how to manage the uncertainty of our daily lives with simple habits fostering happiness regardless of our circumstances. Each half-hour interactive program has a theme. The

program is open to anyone, but registration is required through the library’s website, kclibrary.org/events-activities-calendar. 3 p.m.

plore Pirkei Avot, the Ethics of Our Fathers. Please email connect@beth-torah.org to request the Zoom link. 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday June 1

Sunday June 6

Author Event Kansas City-area author Martha Gershun will participate in a panel on “Saving a Life: Judaism’s View of Organ Donation” with Dr. Ron Wolfson and Rabbi Elliot Dorff as part of B’Yachad Together: Spirited by American Jewish University (AJU). Free registration for the event is available through the AJU website: https://bit.ly/3e57U7q 8 p.m.

Beth Torah’s Meet and Greet for Fourth & Fifth Graders and Their Families Join Congregation Beth Torah at Meadowbrook Park to meet new friends and learn about the Weiner Religious School’s 5782 School Year! Please email mkleinman@beth-torah.org for additional information. 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Virtual Annual Meeting Kansas Interfaith Action holds its 2021 annual meeting. The featured speaker will be Keith Ellison, Minnesota attorney general and former congressman. Get your tickets here: (bit.ly/KIFA-AE21) 7 p.m.

Monday June 7

Beth Torah’s Midweek Song Session Join Lezlie Zucker to take a deep breath and sing some songs together! Please note that Mid-Week Song Session has moved from Wednesdays to Tuesdays, and will ONLY occur on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Mid-Week Song Session is streamed on our Facebook page (https://facebook.com/CongregationBethTorah) and our Virtual Sanctuary (https://bethtorah.org/virtual-sanctuary). 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Wednesday June 2 Jewish Experiences The community is invited to “Listening, Un-Learning + Re-Learning Race In The Jewish Community,” a virtual presentation. Using principles from psychology and sharing stories from her own experience as a black American Jewish woman, Buffie Longmire-Avital, associate professor of psychology and coordinator of the African & African American Studies program at Elon University, will lead this conversation on what it means to have a racial identity within the Jewish community. Visit TheJKC.org/ RaceInJewishKC to register. 7:30 p.m. JFS Grief and Loss Group The ongoing support group, which meets the first and third Wednesday of the month, is for individuals grieving from the death of a loved one. The group provides an opportunity to address issues of loss and grief within a Jewish spiritual context in a warm and confidential environment. The program is co-facilitated by Lauren Glass, LCSW and Rabbi Mark Levin To register for this support group contact Molly McGurk, LCSW – JFS Director of Mental Health Services phone: 913-327-8298 email: mmcgurk@jfskc.org. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Friday June 4 Candle-Lighting Time Sivan 24, 8:23 p.m.

Saturday June 5 Beth Torah’s Sichat Shabbat This Shabbat, join Congregation Beth Torah to ex-

Golf Tournament Kehilath Israel Synagogue hosts the Allan Greenberg Memorial K.I. Golf Tournament at the Deer Creek Golf Club. Check-in and lunch are at 11 a.m. A shotgun start begins at 12:15 p.m. You can register for the event online at (https://files.constantcontact.com/a61cc04b001/97fb19f8-2707-41d4-bb3b7e4b8c8d5427.pdf)

Thursday June 10 JFS Nurses Virtual Support Group Join a group of your peers along with a JFS licensed clinical professional and a registered nurse for: safe and confidential space, peer support, and coping skills. To join this free support group, email: nursespeersupport@jfskc.org. The group meets virtually the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Friday June 11 Candle-Lighting Time Tammuz 1, 8:27 p.m.

Monday June 14

Virtual Coffee Club Jewish Vocational Service Career Skills and Connections is excited to announce its new virtual coffee club. To learn more or RSVP for the event, email Sabrina Simon at ssimon@jvskc.org. Please RSVP by June 2. 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

“Auschwitz: Not long ago. Not far away.” This exhibit opens at Union Station in Kansas City. This groundbreaking exhibition brings together more than 700 original objects and 400 photographs from over 20 institutions and museums around the world. Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. is the most comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the history of Auschwitz and its role in the Holocaust ever presented in North America, and an unparalleled opportunity to confront the singular face of human evil—one that arose not long ago and not far away. For more information, see (https://unionstation.org/event/auschwitz/)

Tuesday June 8

Wednesday June 16

It’s Not Fair Sara Christensen will share her shock and sorrow over the death of her friend and colleague Assistant Prosecutor JoEllen Engelbart. In January, Engelbart died from complications of COVID-19 at just 32 years old. She left a husband and newborn son. Register at www. faithandgrief.org/gatherings. Hosted by Kansas City Area Faith & Grief Congregations. For more information, call 816.381.9249. Noon to 1 p.m.

JFS Grief and Loss Group The ongoing support group, which meets the first and third Wednesday of the month, is for individuals grieving from the death of a loved one. The group provides an opportunity to address issues of loss and grief within a Jewish spiritual context in a warm and confidential environment. The program is co-facilitated by Lauren Glass, LCSW and Rabbi Mark Levin To register for this support group contact Molly McGurk, LCSW – JFS Director of Mental Health Services phone: 913327-8298 email: mmcgurk@jfskc.org. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday June 9 Vital Conversations: Waking up White This month’s discussion focuses on “Waking Up White,” the book author Debbie Irving wishes someone had handed her decades ago. By sharing her sometimes cringe-worthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, she offers a fresh perspective on bias, stereotypes, manners, and tolerance. As Irving unpacks her own long-held beliefs about color blindness, being a good person, and wanting to help people of color, she reveals how each of these well-intentioned mindsets actually perpetuated her ill-conceived ideas about race. She also explains why and how she’s changed the way she talks about racism, works in racially mixed groups, and understands the antiracism movement as a whole. For more information, please contact David Nelson at humanagenda@gmail.com. A Program of the Human Agenda, Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council, CRES, and Mid-Continent Public Library - Antioch Branch. Online: us02web.zoom.us 1 p.m.

Friday June 18 Candle-Lighting Time Tammuz 8, 8:29 p.m. Kosher Shabbat Curbside Meals to Go Kosher Shabbat curbside “meals-to-go” will be available for pickup from noon-1:00 at the Jewish Community Campus theatre circle drive. Orders must be received by Tuesdays at 11:00 p.m. of the week ordering. Order your meal and pay online with a few quick clicks at (https://rabbiskc.regfox.com/shabbatmeals-to-go-monthly). This project is sponsored by the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City in partnership with the J Heritage Center, Jewish Family Services, Vaad HaKashruth of Kansas City and Jewish Federation.

Outside the Kansas City area:

May 27, 2021

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

page 7

spotlight

Sweet Celebration

Indoor Groundbreaking ABOVE: The renovation of The New Reform Temple building has officially commenced. Despite the stormy morning, the NRT community gathered on May 16 for a groundbreaking — indoor version. The presence of Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and City Manager Brian Platt was most appreciated. They emphasized how important The New Reform Temple is to the foundation of the civic life of Kansas City. The ceremony also recognized committee members who helped make the project a reality. The restoration will likely take four to six months months to complete. Pictured are (from left) Platt; Ryan Warman, Pearce Construction; Tom Isenberg, president; Lynn Poskin, chairperson; Dominique Davison DRAW Architecture; Rabbi Alan Londy; Lucas.

O TLIGHT SPO PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to laceys@jewishkc.org Please write spotlight photo in the subject line.

BELOW: Last week, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy celebrated its class of 2021 graduates during an in-person graduation ceremony that was also live-streamed. HBHA graduates (l to r) Nina Baran, Mt. Holyoke College; Avi Velasquez, Louisiana State University; Nina Schultz, University of Missouri; Anna Clauer, Reed College; Ilana Fingersh, Northwestern University; Abby Kreisler, Loyola University – Chicago; and Abbie Davis, Loyola University – Chicago, are now off to their next adventures! Viewers can watch a recording of the graduation on HBHA’s Facebook page, facebook.com/hbhakc.

ABOVE: Congregation Beth Torah picnicked and worshipped together in celebration of Shavuot. Members fulfilled the minhag (custom) of eating dairy-filled ice cream cones, with Lactaid pills! (Masks were required when attendees were not eating or drinking.)

BELOW: Challah for Hunger and KU Hillel donated more than 100 pounds of food to the Jewish Family Services food pantry. The food was collected from students moving out for the summer. Hillel co-presidents Sophia Misle and Ariel Cohn dropped off donations last week.

Congrats, Grads!

Helping With Hunger

page 8

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

May 27, 2021

local news

Rally in support of Israel draws approximately 250 people to Jewish Community Campus

from page 1

Jasamine Hodge, a member of Congregation Beth Israel Abraham and Voliner, helped organize Sunday’s rally. (Drew Coleman/Bring it on Productions) A pro-Palestininan rally on the Country Club Plaza May 15 angered members of the Kansas City Jewish community when protestors tore down an Israeli flag along Ward Parkway. The Kansas City Star reported that about 250 marchers took part in another pro-Palestinian gathering on Saturday. Speakers at the JCC Sunday denounced accounts of the conflict in the media and online as biased against Israel. “The demonization and double standards, the lack of context, the outright falsehoods, the calls for Israel’s

This was the scene outside the main entrance of the Jewish Community Campus in Overland Park as the crowd gathered before a pro-Israel rally Sunday. (Mike Sherry) destruction have been disheartening at best — dangerous at worst,” Wolf said. Israel and Hamas are in no way comparable, he said. “There is no moral equivalency between a group that uses their own people as human shields,” Wolf said, “and one that calls residents of buildings in advance of air strikes to avoid civilian casualties.” Strong support for Israel does not equal anti-Palestinian sentiment,

Wolf said. “We grieve for the people of Gaza who are held hostage by this genocidal terrorist organization.” Jasamine Hodge, an Overland Park resident and a member of Congregation Beth Israel Abraham and Voliner, said the violence against Israel spurred her to urge members of the community to rally on behalf of the country. Her initial goal was modest, maybe a gathering of 100 people or so. But the response to her entreaties was tre-

mendous. “The Jewish people and supporters of Israel on every level came forward and showed exactly who we are. They came to offer help, new ideas, abilities and resources to create the event before you,” Hodge said. “A safe place for all of us to mourn the lives lost in this tragic event, a place to stand to show support for Israel, and a place to change the portrayal of Israel.” The Jewish Telegraphic Agency contributed to this report.

Israel resumes supply of goods to Gaza

By Ariel Kahana and Lilach Shoval JNS

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz has issued instructions to resume shipments of humanitarian goods into the Gaza Strip for the first time since “Operation Guardian of the Walls” ended in an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that took effect at 2 a.m. on Friday. The supplies, slated to enter through the Kerem Shalom border crossing on Tuesday morning in coordination with political officials, include food, medical equipment, medicine and fuel for private use. As of late Monday, no exports would be allowed out of Gaza into Israel. Also starting Tuesday, the Erez crossing was to open to allow Gazans requiring life saving medical treatment, international NGO workers, and foreign journalists to move back and forth between Gaza and Israel. The government also decided to allow fishing off the coast of Gaza up to a distance of six nautical miles starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Israeli officials stressed that the decisions were conditional on continued calm and stability from Gaza. Earlier Monday, a high-ranking official in the U.S. State Department said the United States would ensure that the goods transferred to Gaza were used to rebuild the region and did not fall into the hands of Hamas.

A truck loaded with humanitarian aid, passes through the Kerem Shalom crossing, the main passage point for goods entering Gaza from Israel, May 21, 2021. (Abed Rahim Khatib/ Flash90) In a phone conversation, the official said that the U.S. would use U.N. personnel “already on the ground in Gaza” to distribute humanitarian aid donated by foreign nations, “in conjunction with the Palestinian Authority.” The official said he believed that Egypt would also play a part in distributing the humanitarian donations. The U.S. representative did not have a coherent answer about how, exactly, Hamas could be

prevented from hijacking the supplies earmarked for the civilian population, as the organization has total control over the Gaza Strip and what occurs there. “Everything has been done to ensure that the aid goes to the people of Gaza who need it more than anyone,” he said, nevertheless adding that there were “no guarantees.” He also said that though Hamas has “veto power,” the U.S. believes that cooperation with U.N. personnel will “make things happen.” “We aren’t talking with Hamas,” he added. Simcha Goldin, father of the late Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was killed in Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in 2014, and whose remains, along with those of the late Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul, are being held by Hamas, as are Israeli captives Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, attacked the government’s decision. “The Israeli leadership has simply lost its moral compass and its ability to distinguish between good and evil. They send supplies to a terrorist organization while it is brutalizing the citizens of Israel and keeping IDF soldiers who set out to fight for and defend their homeland. This is a total loss of values.” Goldin called on Gantz and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi to “wake up immediately and recalculate. The people of Israel won’t let this abandonment pass quietly. Bring the soldiers back to Israel immediately.”

May 27, 2021

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

page 9

national news

Rep. Cori Bush won’t speak to St. Louis Jewish newspaper, its editors say (JTA) — Missouri Rep. Cori Bush, the progressive freshman Democratic congresswoman who has made many statements critical of Israel, is refusing to participate in an interview with the St. Louis Jewish Light, the leading Jewish newspaper in the city, according to its editors. In a May 12 editorial, the paper’s editors said they have been ignored by the congresswoman’s staff in their efforts to interview Bush about her views on Israel and other topics. The lawmaker’s staff last communicated with the biweekly in an April 20 email. Bush’s response to their interview requests “should trouble our readers,” the unsigned editorial said. The editorial did not clarify how long the Jewish Light had been trying to speak to Bush. Bush, who was elected last year, is among the few House members who have expressed support for the Boycott, Divest-

U.S. Rep. Cori Bush ment and Sanctions movement targeting organizations that do business in Israel. Her campaign website deleted a page supporting BDS during the 2020 campaign after her primary opponent challenged her on the issue. The Jewish Light said its goal is to clarify Bush’s views on the topic, as well as her social media posts comparing the

Israeli-Palestinian conflict to racial justice protests in the United States. “What of Bush’s concern for her St. Louis Jewish constituents, who may see her linking Black people’s struggle in the United States with Palestinians’ struggle in the Middle East as an unfair conflation of two separate, complex issues?” the editorial wrote. “Or her concern for Israelis?” Most recently, Bush tweeted about the ongoing violence in Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, writing May 18 that the Israeli army is committing “an outright massacre … that we must immediately stop funding.” She also echoed New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s description of Israel as an “apartheid state.” Bush is a member of “The Squad,” six progressive Democrats including Ocasio-Cortez as well as two others who back BDS, Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Min-

nesota. “As someone who has been brutalized by police, I continue to stand in strong solidarity with Palestinians rising up against military, police, and state violence,” Bush wrote on May 11. In its editorial, written before Bush’s most recent tweets, the Jewish Light pointed out that Bush’s staff has separately “engaged” with the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis, and that her local Jewish supporters have also declined interview requests. Jewish Light editors declined to comment to JTA on the editorial, saying they preferred to let the piece speak for itself. A Bush spokesperson did not address the Jewish Light’s editorial directly, but said the congresswoman “work(s) in close partnership with members of St. Louis’s diverse Jewish community and with local and national Jewish groups.”

Federal court strikes down Georgia’s anti-BDS law

(JTA) — A federal court struck down a Georgia state law that required contractors with the state to swear not to boycott Israel, the latest in a series of legal defeats for an anti-boycott campaign that pressed hard for laws targeting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. “The requirement … that parties seeking to contract with the state of Georgia sign a certification that they are not engaged in a boycott of Israel also is

unconstitutional compelled speech,” said the ruling filed Friday by Mark Cohen, a U.S. District Court judge in Atlanta. Cohen was ruling on a lawsuit brought by Abby Martin, a journalist who is harshly critical of Israel and embraces BDS. In 2019, Georgia Southern University had invited Martin to be the keynote speaker at a media conference for a $1,000 honorarium, then withdrew the invitation when she would not sign a contract swearing off BDS, as required

by state law passed in 2017. The ruling was the latest blow to a surge in anti-BDS laws passed with the help of a number of pro-Israel groups, particularly Christian pro-Israel groups, in the middle of the last decade. In addition to Georgia, courts in Arizona, Kansas, Texas and Arkansas have ruled antiBDS laws unconstitutional. Civil liberty groups have mounted legal challenges to the laws. Martin was joined in her lawsuit by

a number of organizations opposed to anti-BDS legislation, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, J Street, the rabbinical human rights group T’ruah and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law School. “My First Amendment rights were restricted on behalf of a foreign government, which flies in the face of the principles of freedom and democracy,” Martin said.

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page 10

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

May 27, 2021

national news

Non-Jewish victim in LA restaurant attack: ‘I do everything for my friends’ By Tabby Refael JNS On the evening of May 18, a pro-Palestinian mob attacked a group of diners at the Sushi Fumi restaurant on La Cienega Boulevard. Video footage showed the assailants shouting racial slurs and throwing glass bottles before physically assaulting several diners, three of whom were young Iranian American Jewish men. The fourth, a local photographer, was a young man who identifies as an Armenian-Lebanese Christian. A witness told CBSLA that dozens of assailants stepped out of their vehicles and that one of them asked diners, “Who’s Jewish?” On May 21, the police, with the help of the U.S. Marshal Service, arrested the primary suspect on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, and the LAPD is investigating the incident as a hate crime. The Jewish Journal spoke with the sole non-Jewish victim of the attack, a 36-year-old Los Angeles resident who is being touted as a hero for defending the Jewish diners. For safety concerns, he asked that only his first name, Mher, be used. Q: Let’s begin with the most important question: How are you feeling, physically and emotionally? A: I feel pain everywhere in my body. They beat me in my shoulders, stomach, back and ribs, which especially hurt. My head has a big bump. It makes sense since four people beat me. And it’s been hard to sleep; I only slept two hours in the last 48 hours. I keep seeing everything that happened again and again, and I dream about what happened. And I keep asking myself, “Maybe I could have done more?” Q: What brought you to Sushi Fumi Tuesday night? A: We were there to discuss wedding photography since I’m a photographer. One of the guys is a friend; I took photos for his wedding a few years ago. Another one, who also became my friend, booked me for his wedding in June. We became close, so we all went out to dinner, along with one of their friends, to catch up and talk about the wedding. Q: You’re an immigrant from Lebanon. Can you share more about your background? A: I was born in Beirut and I’m an Armenian-Lebanese Christian. As a result of the Armenian genocide in 1915, some of my family fled to Syria and others to Lebanon. I love my country, but I had to leave. I left in 2011 when I was 26. The Armenians I knew in Beirut lived in fear and always thought, “Tomorrow, will we die?” It was mostly from Hezbollah. In 2010, my friend and I got into a fight with some Hezbollah members. Eventually, they surrounded us and came after us with guns. I’ve known my friends in Lebanon for decades; I know they’d die for me and always defend me. But I decided that this was no life; there was no humanity there. We [Armenians in Lebanon] were only raised to fight

Attendees at a pro-Israel rally in New York City on May 23, 2021 also condemned antisemitic attacks like the one in Los Angeles. (Ben Sales) and defend ourselves, because we’re a minority. That’s why I decided to leave. Q: What happened during the attack on May 18? A: We were having a good time, talking, as friends do, around the table. Then, one of my friends said that he saw some protesters near us waving Palestinian flags. I turned my back and saw cars approaching us. Then they stopped. I assumed my Jewish friends were targeted because we were in a pretty Jewish area [Beverly Grove]. The men started cursing against Israel. They yelled, “You guys are killing children! You’re raping our women! You have to feel ashamed of yourselves!” Then they started throwing bottles. We got lucky because one of my friends was sitting in front of me. I saw one guy throwing the bottle and it almost hit my friend in the head. I myself have cuts, probably from the glass. And then, one of them said, “Who’s Jewish?” I knew they could be violent, so I came closer to them and started speaking in Arabic. Q: What did you say? A: I said, “You want to protest? Protest peacefully. We’re having dinner. We’re not in a war zone.” But they didn’t respond. I went closer to them and asked them not to throw glasses. Then, two guys jumped out of a car and ran toward me. I yelled in Arabic, “Chill out!” One of them heard me speaking Arabic and seemed to calm down. Then, I saw about 15 people coming toward me. That was not a situation that I could control by speaking Arabic. A big guy threw a bottle at me and tried to punch me. When I saw that they were beating one of my friends on the floor and kicking him in the head, I knew I had to do something, so I grabbed a stanchion and tried to scare them away. We got my friend off the floor, but four of the men started beating me. Q: Why did you feel compelled to join the fight? A: Because I’m human and they’re my friends. The way those guys approached us … throwing glasses at us …

if you’re in a war zone, that’s a different story. But we were having dinner. We weren’t harming them. Why were they kicking us in the head? I had to do something. I thought, “Whatever I can do, I must do.” Yesterday, I joked with a rabbi that I only joined the fight because my friend was getting beaten up and since he’s the groom (and my client), and I’m doing the photography, I didn’t want his face to be black and blue at the wedding. That would have been a lot of photoshop work for me! Q: What happened after the attack? A: My hand and forehead had cuts on them, but I don’t know from what … maybe the bottles. A medic came, but didn’t even treat my wounds, and then left. The police officers came and did their job. I came home and showered. As soon as the water hit my face, my eyes and then my whole body felt like they were on fire. For 20 minutes, I thought I was in hell. I was burning everywhere and I realized that one of the attackers had pepper-sprayed my hair. Because I had scratches all over, I burned even more. I called 911 and they said they couldn’t do anything, and that the burning would go away on its own. So, around 1 a.m., an ambulance took me to the hospital. They took an X-ray and MRI of my head to check for internal bleeding. The doctor said that my shoulder muscles were hurt pretty badly and that my body would hurt for a while, but that my head was okay. Q: Prior to the attack, did you know much about anti-Semitism? A: I knew, and I also knew what was happening between Israel and the Palestinians. I’m all about peace on both sides. But when something like that attack happens, you realize you’re not prepared. I don’t think I was targeted, but I was with Jewish people who were targeted. I just didn’t want to see my friends getting beaten up. In Beirut, the Armenians always fought with the Arabs; I was raised to always defend my friends. After the attack, I got texts from

friends in Beirut saying, “We’re not surprised. Again, you decided to defend your friends.” On the streets of Beirut, you defend yourself. I do everything for my friends. My mother, who’s in Canada, called me and said, “Again? You did it again?” I told one news source that I don’t get the point of people like those attackers. If they left another country to come here, didn’t they come to Los Angeles for a chance at a brighter future? I approach people without seeing religion or color. I want peace everywhere, not only in Israel and Palestine. The Hamas rockets cost millions of dollars … and they were used to kill. It’s unbelievable. These people are weak and brainwashed. Every person has a family in this world and loved ones they care about. I’m nobody in this world, but it’s important that everyone knows that God gives us life to live it, and we have to love and respect each other. Q: How do you respond to being called a “hero”? A: I’m not a hero. I was there at the right time to protect my friend. If I would be called a loyal friend, it would be better than being called a hero. I was invited to speak at a synagogue this [coming] Friday evening. I’ll do it, but told them that I’m not a speaker. Q: What will you say during your talk? A: I’m not going to talk about race or color, but about humanity. We need to do good deeds while we’re still alive, not after we die. I pray every night that we’ll all be healthy and safe. I do everything for love. If someone is nice, he’s nice. I’m colorblind. Q: A friend of one of the diners started a GoFundMe campaign that raised $36,000 in less than 48 hours to help with your medical expenses. How do you feel about this? A: I don’t know what to say. I really don’t know. My head isn’t here right now. I don’t want to take advantage of what happened. I’m not that kind of guy. Q: The Los Angeles Police Department has announced that it has arrested the primary suspect in the attack. What are your thoughts on this? A: I hope that the police and the justice system will make an example out of this guy. If they let him go, others will be motivated and they’ll never give up this kind of violence. If I see him and the other attackers locked up, then I’ll feel safe. But I’ll also say this: Just give me an hour with him in a closed room, one on one; not four against one. Q: Will you still be the photographer at your friend’s wedding? A: Of course. The wedding is in June. Before the fight, I did the couple’s prewedding pictures and their wedding shower. I’m going to do my job. Today, my body really hurts, but 20 years from now, they will still see those pictures. After I do my job at the wedding, I can enjoy dancing with them.

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May 27, 2021

global news

30 Years Later: “Operation Solomon” Two of the 14,325 stories behind ‘Operation Solomon’

By Noa Amouyal JNS Ethiopia was in the midst of a brutal civil war in 1991 when Israel decided to launch an intrepid mission that would bring 14,325 Ethiopian Jews to Israel over the course of 36 hours. The covert operation used 35 aircraft to do so, with the Israeli Air Force and its national carrier El Al having stripped its planes of seats to cram in as many souls on board as possible. It was accomplished while Yitzhak Shamir was prime minister. While “Operation Solomon” was the third major mission (after “Operations Moses” in 1984 and “Operation Joshua” in 1985) bringing Ethiopian immigrants to Israel, it was also the largest and most complex aliyah mission to date, according to those involved. The Jewish Agency for Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Mossad and the Israel Defense Forces all worked alongside the Jewish Federation of North America and the American Association for Ethiopian Jews to bring this group of men, women and children home and save them from a fate where, at best, they were certain to be subjected to political upheaval. But behind the logistics are very real emotions regarding what people felt 30 years ago during that time and what they’ve held in their heart since. Below are just two of so many different stories. AVI MIZRACHI: THE MAN ON THE GROUND As the Jewish Agency official in charge of operations at Addis Ababa airport where those 35 planes were set to whisk Ethiopian Jews to Israel, Avi Mizrachi had his work cut out for him. A year earlier, in September of 1990, the 38-year-old was sent to Ethiopia to help set the stage for the mission that would take place six months later. “I couldn’t sleep all night when the authorities approved the operation because I knew at 6 a.m. sharp, I would need to help usher thousands of people onto the plane in an efficient and quiet manner,” he remembers. “I was up with my staff all night. I think we slept maybe an hour.” At dawn, the Ethiopians began to trickle in, and his heart sank when he saw many of them with suitcases. Because of weight limits, they were instructed to leave their belongings at home, save for a few Judaica items. “We had to confiscate the suitcases and put them aside; that was not an easy choice. These families had nothing, so taking anything from them felt cruel, but it’s what we had to do if we wanted to get everyone safely on the plane,” he lamented. Thirty years later, he marvels at the Ethiopians’ patience and compliance, many of whom had never left their city, much less ever seen a plane before. “ ‘Operation Solomon’ couldn’t have

New immigrants from Ethiopia after their arrival in Israel as part of Operation Solomon. (Alpert Nathan/GPO) Racheli Tadesa Malkai (Courtesy) happened with any other ethnic group other than Ethiopians,” said Mizrachi. “Nobody pushed or shoved to be first in line; I never heard a single child cry, even though there were many of them. They were orderly, quiet and paid attention to instructions. “And when they landed in Israel, they immediately kissed the ground,” he added. “I’ll never forget that moment.” Although Mizrachi no longer works for the Jewish Agency, he makes a point of greeting every single flight of Ethiopian new olim, who as a people carved a huge place in his heart. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the first flight or the 20th, the heightened emotions are still the same,” he said. “I’ll never be immune. It’s like having another child; every time you come home with the baby in your arms from the hospital, it’s a life-changing experience.” RACHELI TADESA MALKAI: THE VOICE FOR ETHIOPIAN WOMEN Today, Racheli Tadesa Malkai runs a successful nonprofit organization that encourages and empowers Ethiopian women to become independent and self-sufficient in their personal and professional lives. But at 8 years old, the little girl who tentatively boarded a plane for the first time certainly didn’t know what the future would hold in the land of “milk and honey.” “I had seven brothers and was the only daughter. It was expected of me to help a lot around the house, so I grew up very fast,” she explained. “This made me very independent and why I care so much for women. I want them to know that they don’t need to wait for someone to give them permission to change their lives. They can do it themselves.” Malkai, though, believed that had she stayed in Ethiopia, this realization of female empowerment would never have dawned on her. Not only because in Ethiopia she wouldn’t have had the freedom to become a self-starting entrepreneur, but also because diving into the deep end

Avi Mizrachi (left) with Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, then-deputy chief of staff and commander of “Operation Solomon.” (Nomi Levitsky) of the aliyah pool at a young age made her acquire instant adult life skills. “I was the one responsible for helping my parents with the language [Hebrew] and adjusting to life here. The older generation had more of a difficult time acclimating to life in Israel. They often left their entire career back home and never really started up again when they arrived here,” she said. “So the younger generation had to look out for them.” Although the mission was a successful one, adjusting to Israel’s modern lifestyle, customs and traditions proved challenging for Malaki and her peers. Adding to the adjustment process, upon arriving in Israel, she was asked to change the Ethiopian name her parents gave her, Amevet, to the one she goes by today. That, of course, was common in the early days of Eastern European immigration and the original Zionist pioneers, and even for Americans who moved to Israel after the establishment of the modern-day state in 1948, but harder for children. She noted that “subsequent olim from Ethiopia are not expected to change their names, and many bring over their traditions from back home with pride.”

In many ways, she said “Operation Solomon” sparked an evolution of Ethiopian aliyah where transitioning to Israeli life became markedly easier, both because Ethiopians knew what to expect from Israel and vice versa. “Luckily, olim today don’t have to go through the same drastic changes we did. We were so naive, and we didn’t know we could push back. Now we know to fight for what’s ours. So with every operation, each oleh is a little bit more empowered.” Still, maintaining Ethiopian identity is one of the driving forces in Malkai’s organization. “This is one of the reasons I want to preserve our identity. Connecting to one’s heritage is so important because once you know where you’re from, only then can you really know where you’re going,” she added. And despite the hardships, Malkai stressed that she is grateful for the ground she walks on. “I’m so happy to be here. I never even think back to what my life would have been if I stayed in Ethiopia. Even with Israel’s faults, this is my country,” she said. “I’m a Zionist, and I’m always thinking about how I can make life better here for my community, who dreamed for generations to be part of Am Israel—“the People of Israel.”

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global news

Arab woman receives kidney from a Jew killed in Lod riots Deadly riots in the mixed Jewish and Arab city of Lod claimed the life of 56-year-old Jewish electrician Yigal Yehoshua on May 17. He died of head injuries sustained when he was struck by a brick on his way home from a Torah dedication ceremony. But his tragic death led to a medical miracle, as Yehoshua’s organs saved four lives. Two Muslim surgeons at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem successfully transplanted one of Yehoshua’s kidneys into a Christian Arab mother of six. “Yigal will go straight to heaven, to a better place,” said the recipient, 58-year-old Randa Aweis, after her surgery. “Here we must all, Christians, Muslims and Jews, strive for peace. All of us. I can’t wait to host Yigal’s family in my home,” added Aweis, who had been

Hadassah’s Kidney Transplantation Service Chief Dr. Abed Khalaileh with Randa Aweis, the Christian Arab recipient of Yigal Yehoshua’s kidney. (David Z. Harris/HWZOA)

awaiting a kidney transplant for nine years. Dr. Abed Khalaileh, director of Hadassah’s Kidney Transplantation Service, performed the surgery, together with Dr. Ashraf Imam. In an interview with Channel 12 news, Khalaileh thanked the family of the donor “in what was such an appalling situation,” and expressed his wish for health and peace for all. “Medicine in general and transplantation, in particular, symbolizes humanity,” he said. “In this case, a woman received a new lease on life.” Yehoshua’s other organs saved additional lives. His second kidney was transplanted into a 67-year-old retired career soldier, his liver into a 22-year-old woman, and his lungs into a 69-year-old man. Each of these patients had no other hope for survival.

‘Israel destroyed 62 miles of Hamas tunnels and killed 25 top operatives’

(Israel Hayom via JNS) In the 11 days of “Operation Guardian of the Walls,” the Israel Defense Forces destroyed some 62 miles of Hamas’s tunnel network in the Gaza Strip, according to IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Hidai Zilberman. Speaking hours after an Egyptianbrokered ceasefire took effect on May 21, Zilberman reported that some 200 Hamas operatives, including 25 highranking members, had been targeted and killed in IDF strikes during the fighting in Gaza. Israeli forces also demolished some

340 rocket-launchers and 70 multibarrel rocket-launchers, as well as 35 mortars, according to the IDF. Ten Hamas government offices were destroyed, as well as 11 buildings belonging to its internal security forces and five banks used by Hamas. Israel also targeted and destroyed “dozens” of training camps and outposts, a command and control center and nine high-rise buildings that housed Hamas infrastructure, added Zilberman. The IDF also destroyed several dozen anti-tank targets and two unspeci-

fied “maritime threats.” Zilberman also said that two drone attacks by Hamas had been thwarted and that Hamas’s manufacturing and development capabilities had been degraded. As for the performance of Israel’s Iron Dome missile-defense system, Zilberman said that over the course of the operation, the system had intercepted 90 percent of incoming rockets deemed to pose a threat to populated areas. After Israel’s Diplomatic-Security Cabinet voted on May 20 to accept the

ceasefire, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said, “the defense establishment maintains its willingness to defend the citizens of Israel, and the security forces and the IDF are deployed in the field, on all fronts, for defense and offense. The reality on the ground will decide how we continue to operate.” Gantz said that the IDF and Israel’s other security forces had secured “military achievements unprecedented in their power, precision and strategic significance” during the operation.

Third Annual Annual Third

The Jewish Federation Golf Classic is back for its third year! Join us at Oakwood Country Club on June 14. Register at jewishkansascity.org/golf2021

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May 27, 2021

commentary

A Sabbath for Earth: Restoring the ocean Nature’s crisis entwines with social violence

By Mary Greenberg Contributing Writer Standing at the seashore, I looked to where the deep water met the hazy afternoon sky. A jellyfish, bobbing along on waves washing the beach, caught my attention. Looking more closely, I realized that it wasn’t a living being but a swollen, blue-tinted plastic bag. Today both the water and marine life are stressed. Plastic dumped into the ocean is as if we emptied a truckload worth every minute. Think of it! Fish, turtles, dolphins, and whales perish by swallowing plastic objects, or suffocate, starve or drown getting tangled in plastic nets. One million seabirds are killed by plastic waste each year. A photo of a dead seabird, its stomach filled with plastic, made me recoil at this unnatural and disturbing image. Overfishing, trawling (scouring the ocean floor for seafood), mining, and noise pollution, also, contribute to the crushing stress that is jeopardizing the ocean. Water covers 70% of this Earth’s surface. A healthy marine environment has the capacity to support a variety of organisms, from small species to large

ones, that have ample food sources. We depend on the oceans for 50% of the air we breathe. Water must, therefore, be clean and free from chemicals that can decrease oxygen for living beings. Living in habitats that are free from loud motor noises help sea life identify sound cues for survival. A healthy environment includes habitat space at the shoreline, too. A shoreline with ample sand must be maintained for shore birds and sand dwellers to thrive. We Jews have a deep history of respecting water and its value for humankind and other living beings. Prayers and appeals for rain are among the earliest Jewish religious writings. And, “Blessed are you, eternal our God, ruler of the Universe, who made the great sea,” is a prayer specifically for the seas and oceans. To be closer to the world around us, we recite these blessings regularly in our homes and when we worship together. When we teach blessings to our children and our children’s children, day by day and little by little, we live more peacefully with nature and by the covenants of our faith. Being closely connected with the natural world matters. In 2004, the National Intelligence Council (NIC) presciently predicted the current deadly pandemic and its disruptive outcomes.The outcomes we face now are societal and global suffering, and deteriorating civil unity.

Furthermore, trends of intolerance, like casting blame on marginalized groups, have become a terrible reality. In its most recent report, the NIC predicts these same trends going forward. Unless we stop nature’s collapse, expect violence to continue. Intolerance is, consequently, tied to COVID-19, a significant signal of our broken relationship with this Earth. The coronavirus apocalypse forcibly heightens our anxiety. Most concerning is extreme anxiety, a deep-seated fear for one’s survival. How do humans cope with a primal sense of dread? Intolerance. Responding to the threats of a worsening environment, some individuals and destructive groups attack others. These attacks aim to confirm a notion that they are more deserving than others for a decreasing supply of natural resources. Attacks often baselessly target minority people like Jews. Focusing on minorities does nothing to solve our insistent real problems with our planet. To fight the toxic environment in the ocean and deadly pathogens, we must repair the world. That means recognizing that not only tough economic and political times cause trouble for minority groups. Trouble can arise from other people’s dread of extinction, the end of civilization. Fear for one’s survival can incite violence. Survival, by contrast, actually de-

pends on repairing our damaged relationship with the Earth before the consequences make it impossible to fix. Let’s start with what we Jews know and practice — the Sabbath. During Shabbat, we separate from our daily activities, we seek rest, and make time for refreshing ourselves. We enjoy a peaceful Sabbath each week and throughout the year. Let’s boldly start a Sabbath for the Earth. A Sabbath that invokes blessings and provides the ocean opportunities to restore abundance. A Sabbath that repeats right through the year. Cut down on eating seafood. Cut down on using plastic products; repurpose instead of recycling that plastic. Take fewer plastic bags from stores. Keep reusable cloth bags in the car for both groceries and all other purchases. Look around your home and life to come up with other useful ideas. Let’s make a sincere commitment to the words we recite in prayer, “we are thankful for the Earth,” with actions. Guided by the strength and resilience of Jewish values, a Sabbath for our Earth can show nature the love and respect that it deserves.

ous foundations so I could do outreach in our community regarding domestic abuse. Whether you call it domestic abuse, domestic violence, or high family conflict, it all boils down to a pattern of one person having power and control over another. Abuse takes many forms: physical, emotional, financial, psychological, medical. It can include any or all of the mentioned forms. Rabbi Rudnick and several other area rabbis serve as strong advocates for victims of domestic abuse and can help if you think you live in an abusive situation. In addition, you can call

JFS, 913.327.8250, or a metro area wide emergency abuse number, 816-HOTLINE. Knowledge is power. Again, compliments to Rabbi Rudnick for making us all aware that this problem still exists. Susan Lebovitz Prairie Village

ues for mankind and in a direction of harmony and peace. World opinion should condemn violence and support a right to defend oneself, a fight for survival against Machiavellian, narcissistic sociopaths who obfuscate and rally the naïve masses; those who manipulate, propagate and escalate an inertia of hatred by any means for selfish gain of power and control. Israel uses its rockets to protect its population while Hamas uses the Palestinian population to protect its rockets. John Fasbinder Lenexa, Kansas

Mary Greenberg, Ph.D., serves on the State of Kansas Holocaust Commission. Her speaking engagements on preventing anti-Semitism are based on her research that advances the study of the Jewish people in the Diaspora. She is dedicated, also, to writing about how a Jewish perspective, with deeply principled values, enriches our contemporary lives.

reader’s forum DOMESTIC ABUSE IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY Yahsher Koach to Rabbi Rudnick for an article he wrote (“Take time to focus on loving healthy relationships,” March 11) honoring Rabbi Dr. Twersky’s work regarding domestic abuse in the Jewish community. When I worked at Safehome, he and I talked about its presence in our community along with discussions I had with Rabbi Harris, Rabbi Glickman, Rabbi Steigman, and Rabbi Nemitoff. For the better part of my 19 years, the agency received grants from vari-

FIGHTING “NARCISSISTIC SOCIOPATHS” We recently celebrated Shavous, which commemorates God’s gift to the world of the 10 Commandments/Torah, thus creating a foundation of val-

Knesset approves legislation for government probe into Meron disaster By Israel Hayom JNS Israeli lawmakers on Monday approved a bill to establish a governmental commission of inquiry into the deadly Lag B’Omer stampede last month at Mount Meron. The bill, sponsored by Knesset member Mickey Levy of the Yesh Atid Party, passed by a majority of 1913 in what was described as a “heated” session. Some lawmakers associated with the right-wing Likud bloc walked out as soon as the vote was announced, while others were later removed. The bill was one of several exempted by the Knesset Arrangements Committee on Monday from a mandatory 45-day waiting period, allowing for an immediate vote to be held. Among other bills exempted by the committee were

United Hatzalah emergency-service workers attempt to evacuate the injured in Meron in northern Israel after Jewish worshippers were crushed during Lag B’Omer festivities, April 30, 2021. (United Hatzalah) proposed amendments to Israel’s Basic Law: The government would set term limits on Israeli prime min-

isters and impose restrictions on who can be tasked with forming a government. Others involved unemployment benefits for selfemployed workers; the imposition of a minimum sentence for possession of an illegal weapon; free education for children and toddlers; and several others. All of the proposed bills were passed. Itamar Ben-Gvir of the right-wing Otzma Yehudit Party, who together with two other Knesset members from the same party was ordered out of the session by Knesset Arrangements Committee chair Karin Elharar, accused the Yesh Atid lawmaker of exploiting her position to stifle opposition. “Russia is here. It is unacceptable that Karin Elharar is taking advantage of her position to shut people’s mouths. What happened [here] today is just a preview of what’s ahead if the left comes to power,” he said.

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obituaries CORINNE C. ROPE On Sunday May 23 Corinne C. Rope, born and raised in Kansas City, passed away peacefully at the age of 92. Corinne was the daughter of Sonia and Louis Hoffman and was married to Herbert Rope who passed away at 89 a few years ago. Corinne was a lover of music and education. She attended University of Wisconsin, where she studied education and later earned an MS in education. For a number of years she taught Montessori preschool and in later years was a piano teacher in both private and public/ private schools. Corinne is survived by her three sons, her brother Irwin, and six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. A private family only service is planned. Please send donations to charity. SUSAN ELLIS WASKOW Susan Ellis Waskow was a woman of action whose adventures ended at age 59 on May 17, 2021. She was born in Syracuse, NY on November 17, 1961 to Eric Ellis, Ph.D., and Barbara Ellis, M.A. both of blessed memory. From

1964 on, she spent her formative years in idyllic Sewanee, Tennessee. She graduated from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA in 1983. Always independent, she lived in diverse locales such as Anchorage, AK, Buffalo, NY, Coconut Grove, FL, Princeton and Hopewell, NJ. She was a creator. She had a fulfilling first career as a costume designer and seamstress. It was while working at the Alaska Repertory Theatre that she met the love of her life, Darryl Waskow. Darryl and Susan were married for more than 30 years. Nothing surpassed Susan’s love of her husband and her two wonderful children, Harry and Dorothy. She worked for numerous Princeton University organizations, including the Office of Religious Life, Engineering, the Art Museum, and Outdoor Action. Susan’s lifelong love of Judaism led her to be an active leader at Congregation Kehilat Shalom in Belle Mead, NJ where she chanted Torah, served as adult education chair, ritual committee chair, and ultimately as synagogue president. Fueled by a deep sense of justice, Susan dove into projects with passion and gusto. She took part in numerous political campaigns and activism including the 2017 Women’s March in Washington, DC where she took pride in engineering the tallest possible

signs for herself and fellow marchers. Her husband Darryl introduced her to sailing, and they enjoyed racing Snipes and Lightnings in regattas at the Jersey Shore and Caribbean. She enjoyed the sailing community as much as the competition. With her passion for the outdoors, she also delighted in camping, hiking, and kayaking. Susan lived with great enthusiasm and a can-do attitude. She learned how to play flute in her 40s. She knitted numerous blankets for Project Linus, loved learning new dance steps and cooked Iron Chef style concoctions. Like her father, she was the family storyteller. Once prompted, she could animatedly retell a story ripe with nuances and long forgotten details. Susan was a protector. As the sibling closest in age to her special needs brother, Richard, she once confronted a bully, armed only with her trusty metal lunch box. As an adult she continued to take care of him through the remainder of his life, including through her service on the board of directors of Franklin County Adult Activity Center in Winchester, TN. She had close relationships with her siblings, both biological and through marriage. She maintained lifelong friendships and made new friends wherever she was. Susan was always giving to others. In tribute to her father, a heart

transplant recipient, Susan made her intent to become an organ donor clear. She lived life to its fullest. She was predeceased by her parents Barbara and Eric Ellis and her brother Richard. The memory of her inimitable personality will be a comfort to her survivors. They include: her husband Darryl Waskow, her son Harry and his fiancé Samantha Davidson, and daughter Dorothy all of Hopewell, NJ; her brother Ralph Ellis and his wife Angie of Peachtree City, GA and their children Abigail and Samuel; her sister, Beatrice Ellis Fine and her husband Steve of Leawood, KS and their children Benjamin and Eric; brother-in-law Steven Waskow and his wife Valerie of Princeton, NJ; and sister-in-law Rosalind Hansen and her husband Michael also of Princeton, NJ. In lieu of flowers you may make contributions to the charity of one’s choice, Congregation Kehilat Shalom, 253 Belle Mead-Griggstown Road, Belle Mead, NJ 08502; or the Sourland Conservancy, 83 Princeton Ave, Suite 1A, Hopewell, NJ 08525. Donations may also be made to help train those preparing for careers working with special needs clients through The Richard Ellis Memorial Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City, 5801 West 115th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66211.

Biden taps Tom Nides, an Obama administration official, to be ambassador to Israel WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Joe Biden will name Tom Nides, a deputy secretary of state in the Obama administration, to be his ambassador to Israel. The Times of Israel first reported the decision. Multiple sources close to the Biden administration confirmed to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that Nides was the pick for ambassador and would be announced soon. The White House said it had nothing yet to announce. It was down to Nides and Robert

Wexler, a former Florida congressman who for years has helmed the Center for Middle East Peace, a group that advocates backchannel diplomacy between Israel and the Palestinians. A number of centrist and liberal pro-Israel figures were pushing Wexler, believing he had the deeper experience because of his ties and frequent visits to the region. Both Nides and Wexler are Jewish. Nides, a banker, was the deputy secretary of state for management

and resources from 2011 to 2013 and had good relations with Israeli diplomats, although he was less involved in substantive diplomacy. Michael Oren, the Israeli ambassador in his book “Ally” chronicling his ambassadorship, described Nides as “irreverent, hard-working, highly intelligent, and warm.” Oren said Nides quickly earned his “affection and trust.” Wexler in an interview said he called Nides to congratulate him and was ready to assist him in any way he needed.

The former congressman said his experience in the region, which included outreach to actors on both sides perceived to be extremist, was that the United States would have to accommodate more “illiberal” elements if it wanted to advance peace. “It’s critical that the policymakers of the U.S. government engage with illiberal actors in the Palestinian territories and in Israel,” Wexler said. “That’s how we will alter the political dynamics in a favorable manner.”

New York City public school principal draws criticism after urging staff to support Palestinians (JTA) — The principal of a Brooklyn middle school has apologized to her staff after sending an email last week calling on them to support Palestinian liberation — even as some of them say they did not think an apology was necessary. Amanda Bueno, who heads M.S. 136, emailed teachers and administrators at her school last week amid the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, urging them to take action. The letter included several options, among them attending a vigil and calling on government officials to place sanctions on Israel, according to the New York Post, which broke news of the letter and has since covered the school’s saga closely. Public employees in New York City are prohibited from using their roles

or education department resources to engage in political activity, and Chancellor Meisha Porter criticized Bueno publicly over the weekend. Shortly afterward, Bueno sent her staff an apology email, the Post reported Monday. “As the Principal of a diverse school community who is committed to social justice causes and human rights concerns, I want to apologize for using school email to strongly communicate my personal views and not being as inclusive and mindful of other perspectives as I could have been,” Bueno wrote. “It was not my intention to inflame tensions on this sensitive issue. I apologize for any added hurt, anger, or misunderstanding my email may have caused.”

Some Jewish staff members had complained to the Post about the letter, and Jewish elected officials from the area publicly criticized it. (M.S. 136, located in the Sunset Park neighborhood, enrolls few if any Jewish or Palestinian children.) But some school staff members appear to be siding with Bueno — and raising questions about whether the school district is applying its rules barring political activity evenly. “The email that Amanda sent out does not require an apology,” said a note signed by “A group of MS 136 staff members” that someone identifying herself as a staff member posted to Twitter in response to Porter’s statement. The note emphasized that Bueno did not make any demands of her

staff and said Bueno routinely shares resources with staff members as part of the school’s efforts to “celebrate all cultures and religions.” Finally, the note raised questions about how Porter’s reprimands can coexist with her commitment to “undoing the systems of injustice” that affect city students. “How can we — as teachers, leaders, and humans — solve and dismantle injustices if every time someone takes a ‘side,’ they are reprimanded?” the note said. The city said Bueno’s email had been referred to a special investigator tasked with looking into misconduct by school employees. That office has the power to fine employees or recommend that they be demoted or even fired.

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

May 27, 2021

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