HAKOL - October 2023

Student to Student: Preventing antisemitism from the start

By Aaron Gorodzinsky Director of Campaign and Security Planning

What if we could prevent antisemitism before it even begins? That’s the goal of Student to Student, a program empowering high school students to share their experiences of Judaism with non-Jewish high school students.

During the Summit to Combat Antisemitism in March of this year, our community learned about an initiative called Student to Student. Student to Student is a program of Be the Narrative, a national nonprofit organization that develops interactive educational programs connect-

ing Jewish and non-Jewish peers to learn about Judaism and dispel stereotypes.

After several conversations with the organization, our community is about to launch its own chapter of Student to Student. Naomi Schachter, our lay leader for the initiative, and I anticipate assembling a team of 12 local Jewish students to be trained and begin presentations next spring.

How does the program work?

The 12 students will be chosen to create a diverse group representing a mix of different movements, including Reform, Conservative and Orthodox. The

Older Adult Task

By Rabbi Allen Juda Chair of the Older Adult Task Force

The New York Times printed

the article “A Home for Aged Notes 100th Year” in its May 3, 1970, issue. “One hundred years ago this month,” the article stated, “with thanks to the many ‘benevolent and charitable ladies of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, under the leadership of Mrs. Henry Leo,’ the Home for Aged and Infirm Hebrews first opened its doors on West 17th Street….” There are those who think this was the first Jewish nursing home facility in the United States.

How times have changed!

In the past few years, Jewish

Force:

intention is to have a variety of voices in the room, each presenting their own perspective of Judaism. These students will form into three groups of four students each to participate in a training session led by Rabbi Andrew Terkel and Fawn Chapel from Be the Narrative. They will then visit predominantly nonJewish schools to present Judaism to students, sharing what their personal Judaism looks like, with the goal of preventing antisemitism before it takes root. The idea is that the more you get to know someone, the less likely you are to harbor misguided notions about them. The Jewish

teens will also have the opportunity to learn about various Jewish practices from one another, gaining knowledge just as the non-Jewish teens will.

Student to Student began 30 years ago as a program of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis. Starting in 2015, with the assistance of a grant from the Natan Fund, the

program expanded to four other communities. It soon outgrew its structure within the St. Louis JCRC, and the spinoff organization Be the Narrative continued the work of bringing Student to Student to additional

How did it begin? Where is it headed?

skilled nursing and older adult facilities operated for decades by the Jewish communities in the Philadelphia area, in Harrisburg and in Pittsburgh have been sold. The combination of inadequate reimbursement by Medicaid and the increasing challenge of staffing, especially during the Covid years, made the operation of these facilities financially impossible.

The current realities highlight the wisdom of our Jewish community in the days of Beth Tikvah. A joint project of the Jewish Federation and Jewish Family Service, Beth Tikvah was a Jewish wing in a forprofit nursing home. Our only capital expense was to pay for

kitchen equipment for one of the two kosher kitchens. When Beth Tikvah closed, we simply walked away from the building with no debt.

Following a major demographic study of the Lehigh Valley Jewish community in 2007-08 and a subsequent strategic plan, the Federation recognized that the future for older adults was to “age in place.” Working cooperatively with JFS, the Federation continues to develop concrete services that will make it easier, safer and more comfortable for our Jewish older adults to remain in their homes as long as possible.

For several years, JFS has been delivering Mazel Meals to older adults who can no longer prepare meals for themselves and may be alone for holidays and Shabbat. The Mazel Meal program provides touch points including reminder phone calls and interactions with volunteer drivers. The JFS Case Management program connects older adults to other resources such as transportation and guidance about residential options, and to other programs and services in the community. For older

adults seeking counseling, our licensed clinical social worker accepts Medicare. Expanding all these efforts and providing new services is a hope for the future. But as with all programs, we will need to turn to the community for additional financial support.

The joint Jewish Federation-Jewish Family Service

Older Adult Task Force has already established a minor home repair referral service and a leaf raking project for this November. And in early October, a random sampling of Jewish older adults across the Lehigh Valley will be receiving a very brief email survey that will help determine the future direction of the task force. If you are randomly selected, please take a couple of

minutes to fill out and return the email survey.

As a Jewish community, we strive to keep in the forefront of our planning the mandate of our tradition to respect and take care of our older members. The Torah (Leviticus 19:32) teaches us, “You shall rise before the aged and show deference to the old….” Commenting on this verse, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel once wrote, “What we owe the old is reverence, but all they ask for is consideration, attention, not to be discarded and forgotten.”

We in the Lehigh Valley Jewish community are committed to remembering and revering our older adults.

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Here for Good

From Shalom Baby, early childhood Jewish education and PJ Library to teen programming and VISIT Israel, to young leadership engagement, to Jewish community events including Women’s Philanthropy and Maimonides Society, to Life and Legacy, and to our older adults, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley welcomes and supports a cross-generational approach to Jewish communal life. The breadth and scope of involvement of individuals of all ages only serves to enrich and enhance the vitality of our community.

Shalom Baby, chaired by Amy Sams, always does a beautiful job of welcoming our youngest (newest) community members. This year, the wonderful gift bags for Shalom Baby have gotten an upgrade with new merchandise and goodies. PJ library celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, and we are delighted that under the leadership of Abby Trachtman, we continue to offer interesting and engaging PJ programs throughout the community. We are also pleased to be launching a new teen initiative called Student to Student, a signature program of Be the Narrative. Student to Student is a proven, classroom-based experiential program that brings Jewish and non-Jewish high school stu-

dents together to learn about Judaism through personal storytelling. Under Aaron Gorodzinsky and our Community Relations Council, and led by Naomi Schachter and her son Isaac Dahan, this is an important program in our ongoing commitment to fighting antisemitism.

Our Women’s Philanthropy, led by Laurie Wax, continues to present dynamic and informative events and helps to build our annual campaign, as does our Maimonides Society, chaired by Zach Goldsmith, who has made it a priority to increase participation of women’s healthcare professionals. Women’s Philanthropy and the Maimonides Society will be cohosting a Chanukah event on December 3. Please watch for details.

Our young leadership group is being revitalized under the guidance of Lee Kestecher Solomon with Rachel Levin, Lyell Scherline, Aviva Marlin and Chelsea Busch, and events are being planned to engage and involve young families in the work of our Jewish Federation. In addition to the social, educational programming, we are especially excited to offer a family trip to Israel, June 6-14, 2024. A travel experience you won’t want to miss!

This program year, we look forward to shared, community-wide celebrations

MAJOR GIFTS DINNER

THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 6:30 PM

Muhlenberg College Hillel

and to welcoming individuals of all ages. Our community-wide Sukkot dinner will take place on October 4 at the Jewish Day School, and our community Chanukah event will take place at Temple Beth El. Please watch for additional information about community-wide celebrations as we come together to share in these special activities.

On Thursday evening, November 30, the Jewish Federation will be hosting an enjoyable event for all ages. Our Main Event will feature Joel Chasnoff. Chasnoff is an American-born standup comedian and writer who made aliyah in his 20s. He mixes standup comedy with favorite stories from his new book, “Israel 201,” and explains how his relationship with Israel deepened in unexpected ways while writing it. Joel bases his humor on real experiences and a deep love for Judaism and Israel. We can’t wait to see you at this entertaining and fun event!

Our Older Adult Task Force, convened by the Jewish Federation and Jewish Family Service and spearheaded by Rabbi Allen Juda, continues to explore programs and services for our older adults living in the Lehigh Valley. The purpose of this important task force has been to assess the needs of our older adults so we are

better positioned to offer the desired and needed services. Identifying the following areas was a first step in the process, and those areas are: home maintenance, transportation, home healthcare, meals and socialization. As you may know, we are also in the process of surveying an anonymous, random sample of our older adults to help further inform our decision-making as we move forward.

I mention these initiatives for our youngest and our oldest community members because we are truly blessed to be able to provide programs to meet the needs of these populations. These groups represent both the future of our community and the roots of our community. It is incumbent upon us to welcome and engage our young community members in order for us to be vibrant and relevant into the future. However, we must not lose

sight of those “who planted for us,” and as our community ages, we must ensure the proper services for our older adults in order for them to continue to enjoy life with dignity in the Lehigh Valley.

The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is Here for Good to ensure that our Jewish community thrives from dor l’dor. Good doesn’t just happen on its own. It comes from our collective dedication, to the promise of a flourishing Jewish future. It is also our commitment to cross-generational programming so that we can learn from one another, count on one another and continue to help good grow. Just as we have in the past. Just as we will in the future.

HAKOL STAFF CARL ZEBROWSKI Editor

CHARLENE RIEGGER

Director of Marketing

HAKOL is published 11 times per year for the Jewish communities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and vicinity by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. COMMUNITY SUBMISSIONS

Submissions to HAKOL must be of interest to the entire Jewish community. HAKOL reserves all editorial rights including, but not limited to, the decision to print any submitted materials, the editing of submissions to conform to style and length requirements, and the placement of any printed material. Quotes may be edited for grammar and clarity. Articles should be submitted by e-mail or presented as typed copy; “Community Calendar” listings must be submitted by e-mail to hakol@jflv.org or online at www.jewishlehighvalley.org. Please include your name and a daytime telephone number where you can be contacted in the event questions arise. We cannot guarantee publication or placement of submissions.

WILLIAM THOMPSON

Digital Marketing and Graphic Design

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DIANE McKEE

Account Representative TEL: 610-515-1391 hakolads@jflv.org

JFLV EXECUTIVE STAFF

JERI ZIMMERMAN

Executive Director AARON GORODZINSKY Director of Campaign & Security Planning

DENISE AHNER Director of Finance & Administration

JULIA UMANSKY Director of Gift Planning & EITC

LEE SOLOMON Director of Community Engagement

ROBBY WAX JFLV President

*Open to households pledging $5,000 or more to the 2024 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs

Special Guest Speaker: GIDEON WEISS Vice President, International Business Development, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Ltd. Details to follow.

The Lehigh Valley-Yoav Partnership Park in Blessed Memory of Mark L. Goldstein

We gratefully acknowledge those individuals who have offered expressions of friendship by requesting that trees be planted in the Mark L. Goldstein Friendship Park, a Yoav-Lehigh Valley Partnership Forest.

IN MEMORY REBECCA BINDER (Wife of Chuck Cohen) Marsha and David Gordon

JODI BROOKS (Sister-in-law of Francyne Bernfeld) The Mah Jong GirlsAnnette, Margie and Robie

EVA LEVITT (Wife of Larry Levitt, mother of Adam and Marc Levitt and Lora Vaknin)

Jeanette and Eduardo

Eichenwald

Marsha and David Gordon

Debbie, Jon, Lean and Naomi Shore

Arlene and Richard Stein

SHELLEY MILLER (Sister of Barry Russin)

Marilyn Claire

TO ORDER TREES, call the JFLV at 610-821-5500 or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org

MAIL, FAX, OR E-MAIL TO: JFLV ATTN: HAKOL 702 N. 22nd St. Allentown, PA 18104 Phone: (610) 821-5500

Fax: (610) 821-8946

E-mail: hakol@jflv.org

Member American Jewish Press Association

WENDY EDWARDS Office Manager GINGER HORSFORD Donor Services Associate

All advertising is subject to review and approval by The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley (JFLV). JFLV reserves the right to decline, withdraw and/or edit any ad. The appearance of any advertising in HAKOL does not represent an endorsement or kashrut certification. Paid political advertisements that appear in HAKOL do not represent an endorsement of any candidate by the JFLV.

JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY MISSION STATEMENT

In order to unite, sustain, and enhance the Lehigh Valley Jewish community, and support Jewish communities in Israel and around the world, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is dedicated to the following core values:

• Supporting Jews in need wherever they may be.

• Supporting Israel as a Jewish homeland.

• Supporting and encouraging Jewish education in the Lehigh Valley as a means of strengthening Jewish life for individuals and families.

• Supporting programs and services of organizations whose values and mission meet local Jewish needs.

To accomplish this mission the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is committed to the following operating guidelines:

• Raising and distributing funds to support the core values.

• Developing Jewish leaders.

• Building endowments to support implementation of core values.

• Committing to ongoing Jewish community strategic planning. Fostering cooperation among organizations and community building.

• Evaluating all decisions with respect to fiscal responsibility. Identifying unmet needs and investing in community initiatives to help get them started.

• Coordinating and convening a community response as an issue or need arises.

• Setting priorities for allocation and distribution of funds. Acting as a central address for communication about events, programs and services of the Jewish community as a whole.

Approved by the JFLV Board of Directors on November 15, 2000

calls for giving to Federation at opening event

Amy Oselkin went public with news of her poetry book for the first time in the pages of Hakol’s April issue. Five months later, on September 7, she brought her regional book promotion tour back around to the Lehigh Valley Jewish community with a presentation after a board meeting of the Jewish Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy.

“I do feel a lot of closure with this journey coming full circle,” she said after the board’s first meeting of the Federation’s new campaign year and the first with Laurie Wax as president. “I’m super grateful to Hakol and to the Jewish Federation because these were the places that immediately supported me.”

Oselkin came to talk with the women about the subject matter of “The Story Behind the Poem: A Reflection on Mommyhood, Miscarriages and Marriage,” the collection of poems, stories and family photos that she released in time for Mother’s Day. The native of Los Angeles and married mother of three also had a lot to say about the Valley Jewish community.

“Coming here was the

first time I understood what community meant,” she said about moving to the Valley in 2017. “This was a new community that I was welcomed into. My family was welcomed.”

One of the main reasons she published the book was to connect with women who’ve had similar experiences, the good and the bad. The audience on this particular night was not mostly strangers.

“A lot of these are familiar faces and are real good friends,” she said, looking around the room before her presentation, “but I don’t think we always talk about a lot of the harder topics all the time in our day to day lives. Tonight I hope we can talk a little and share and maybe learn more about each other.”

She took the occasion to encourage support of the Jewish Federation and its mission of raising and distributing funds where help is needed locally and around the world. “The Federation gives to everything,” she said. Making a donation is good for you, just as it’s good for those being helped. “Even when you’re not feeling your best,” she said,

“giving sometimes makes you feel better.”

Laurie Wax recapped some of Oselkin’s points in wrapping up the night of community women connecting and heading forward into the Federation’s new campaign year. “Amy spoke about the healing process and how writing her book of poetry, combined with the community support around her in her time of need, made the difference,” Wax said. “It is just one example of how important it is to have a strong Jewish community here for us when we need it. We should remember how crucial it is to support our local Federation, which supports all of our Jewish agencies, locally and abroad, and is able to help when needed and to help others who are less fortunate.”

For information about Women’s Philanthropy or to make a donation to the Federation, visit jewishlehighvalley.org/ women.

The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Women’s Philanthropy is seeking volunteers to pack reusable tote bags with essential supplies for women in need on November 2 at the JCC.

This mitzvah project is part of Dignity Grows, sponsored by the Maimonides Society of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. Dignity Grows empowers women in need by providing them with hygiene supplies such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and

toothpaste, and menstrual products. Federal benefit programs do not cover these items, and people rarely think to donate them to food pantries. This program helps improve self-esteem and self-confidence.

This is the third year the Women’s Philanthropy has been hosting Dignity Grows tote-packing parties. This is the first party of 2023-24.

Founded in Hartford, Connecticut, in 2019, Dignity Grows has quickly become a national leader in addressing “period pov-

erty,” an overlooked form of health inequity that impacts one in three American women.

The Women’s Philanthropy is looking for volunteers and sponsors for this meaningful program to keep going.

If you’d like to be a part of the November 2 totepacking party or sponsor dignity grows tote bags, contact Lee Solomon, the Federation’s director of community engagement, at lee@jflv.org.

Student to Student

continued from page 1

communities, including the Lehigh Valley.

A Typical Presentation

At a typical Student to Student presentation, the Jewish students speak about “what Judaism means to me.” They come prepared to discuss the

Jewish life cycle, Shabbat, kashrut, antisemitism, the Holocaust, Israel and, if time permits, holidays.

Typically, the presentation about Shabbat begins with biblical sources and then transitions to practices such as lighting candles, reciting

Meet Tim Brooks

By Carl Zebrowski Editor

You’ll probably meet Tim Brooks in person someday. He should strike you right away as focused and unflappable, someone you could depend on in a serious situation.

It might not surprise you, then, to find out he’s the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s new security advisor. The Federation has hired him as regional security advisor in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg and the Secure Community Center, the security organization for the national Jewish community.

In this newly created role, Brooks will work to keep the synagogues, agencies, camps and other Lehigh Valley Jew-

ish community sites safe. He’ll being doing the same for Harrisburg.

“The first few weeks have been a literal whirlwind,” Brooks said of his time on the job since being hired this summer. He was on the road (and in the air) a lot, visiting Harrisburg and other places, learning best community security practices and making plans to implement them.

“My short-term priority is to complete threat vulnerabilities and risk assessments for all the brick-and-mortar facilities so they can apply for various financial assistance,” he said. “My specific goals are to engage with law enforcement in our facilities’ jurisdictions to ensure open communications. I also want to conduct training to as many organiza-

kiddush and sharing challah (with props: the students bring challah for their audience to enjoy) and other rituals.

Then the presentation delves into the personal: “What do I actually do for Shabbat?” Some Jewish students might share that they do not observe the rituals and that their Shabbat closely resembles what non-Jewish

tions within the Federation community as possible. I want everyone to know what the best practices are.”

Brooks brings decades of military and police experience to his new role. He joined the U.S. Army at age 17 and became a member of the military police. He later spent 20 years with the Bethlehem Police Department. Meanwhile, he served with the Pennsylvania National Guard, giving him a total of 36 years with the military.

“Early in both careers, I was taught how to respond to various incidents,” he said. “As I got more experienced, I learned how to mitigate certain events and was able to empower citizens. I look to continue that here.”

Of course this is just the

students do on a Friday night, while others might talk about “dinner with the folks” or how they refrain from driving, turning lights on or off, or using their phones. This wide range of practices highlights the diversity within the Jewish community.

The presentation usually also includes discussions about interests and activities, as well as explanations of the

work part of his life. Once you talk with him, you start learning the other side. He loves to be outdoors, especially playing disc golf or riding his motorcycle. Outdoors for a concert is good too; he went to Musikfest this year to see the Goo Goo Dolls play at the Wind Creek Steel Stage.

So what brought Tim Brooks to the Lehigh Valley Jewish community to focus on keeping its people, places and events secure? “I was facing retirement from the military and needed to continue my service to others,” he said. “I am blessed to have been hired to continue my service to all of you and am grateful to be a part of this community.”

The Jewish Federation of

different branches of Judaism. When discussing Israel, students talk about what Israel means to them personally.

To learn more about the Student to Student program or if you know someone who should be a presenter, please get in touch with aaron@jflv. org.

the Lehigh Valley is starting a fundraising campaign exclusively to fund this project to keep the community safe. The campaign needs to raise $65,000 for the year 2023-24. To make a donation, visit jewishlehighvalley.org/security.

Fast arrival and CPR saved school employee’s life

In early 2022, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Maimonides Society of healthcare professionals donated an ambucycle to the mostly volunteer United Hatzalah emergency services in Israel in memory of Dr. Michael Ufberg z”l. Ambucycle No. 1283 and its rider, EMT Yonatan Auoat, continue to make a life-or-death difference with speedy responses through

the congested streets of the city of Netanya

By Avaraham Sacks United Hatzalah

It was midday on a Thursday when an employee at a local school went outside for a cigarette break. He wound up collapsing on the ground in the throes of cardiac arrest.

Auoat had just returned home on a break from work when dispatch alerted him to the emergency. Hurrying back to his ambucycle, he flipped on the sirens and sped to the address.

He found the 45-year-old patient showing no signs of breath or pulse and launched into emergency CPR. Additional responders joined him

on location to assist with the rescue. The team provided three electric shocks from the defibrillator, interspersed with chest compressions and assisted ventilations.

Eventually, the team of first responders managed to restore a steady pulse and stable blood pressure — the patient was alive! He was intubated, loaded into an

intensive care ambulance and evacuated to the Laniado Medical Center for emergency catheterization.

This year, we will continue to reach out to those in need, find innovative ways to engage with our community and make sure GOOD grows at home, in Israel and around the world.

Because of your generosity GOOD continues to grow throughout our community.

For almost 70 years, Federation has been HERE FOR GOOD.

Give

Help

JFLV MAIN EVENT: With Comedian Joel Chasnoff! NOVEMBER 30 6:30 - 8:30P.M. More information to follow! SAVE THE DATE! Champion sponsor

Israel expert gives update on judicial reform and more

By Carl Zebrowski Editor

Longtime Israeli political journalist David Horovitz discussed the most critical current affairs in Israel and the Middle East during a September 11 Zoom briefing sponsored in part by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.

The founding editor of the current affairs website the Times of Israel, award-winning author and frequent lecturer at international venues offered detailed explanations and analysis during the hourlong event. His main topic was the Supreme Court of Israel hearings scheduled to begin the next day to weigh

the recent judicial reform to limit the power of the court to overturn legislation and other government decisions.

Before the reform passed early this year by unanimous vote of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition in the Knesset, the court had the ability to overturn a government action based on “reasonableness” — if the court deemed an action unreasonable, it could rule against it. The reform, if allowed to stand, would give the Knesset the power to reverse a court ruling with a simple majority vote. A now-infamous several months of public protests followed the passing of the reform.

Compromise on this issue is one of the possible outcomes, Horovitz said. Netanyahu has pledged that if a viable compromise is reached,

“he’ll make it work.”

Horovitz noted that this sounds simple, but the reality is likely to prove far more complicated. “The cynical take on the new talk of compromise is that Netanyahu wants to be seen as advocating broad consensus, which is what President Joe Biden has been urging him to do in the last few months, but that when push comes to shove … the hard line will resurface.” Horovitz said he expected the court to render a decision within months, explaining that technical issues related to one judge’s retirement impose a de facto deadline on the hearings. “So,” he concluded, “beyond January it will not go.”

Of course Horovitz was asked how he thought the 15-judge court would rule.

“If I had to guess,” he said, “I don’t think it’ll be a 15-0 decision one way or another, especially not if it’s a dramatic decision.” At that point, if the court overturns the reform legislation, the question could become: Will Netanyahu and his coalition accept the ruling? But that’s

another story… The briefing then turned to the economy (“not in a good place”), the Abraham Accords (“the partnerships are still there, but they’re not being celebrated in the same way”), the recent earthquake in Morocco and its climbing death toll (“Israel has arguably the world’s most efficient and mobile search-and-rescue teams…. They haven’t gone. I think Morocco has turned down a lot of assistance being offered, not just by Israel”), and the repeating pattern of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’s antisemitic comments (“He said it because he believes it, and he said it before, and that’s what he thinks”).

This online briefing by Horovitz was the first in a series cosponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley that continues

into 2024. The other dates for his Zoom talks on current affairs in Israel and the Middle East are November 13, 2023, and January 22, March 11 and May 13, 2024. To make sure you don’t miss any of these, follow the Federation’s weekly events emails. Sign up to receive those at www. jewishlehighvalley.org/ email-sign-up.

JDS Evening of Tribute honorees

The Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley has announced the honorees for its 70th anniversary celebration this year. JDS salutes this group of exceptional people for their unwavering loyalty, dedication, commitment and generosity nearing 50 years. This year’s honorees are:

Eduardo and Jeanette Eichenwald

Roberto and Eileen Fischmann

Harold and Sandra Goldfarb

Suzanne Lapiduss

Eva Levitt z”l and Larry Levitt

Michael Notis z”l and Ruth Notis

Michael Ufberg z”l and Eileen Ufberg

Arthur and Barbara Weinrach

Everyone is encouraged to join in the Evening of Tribute at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, at Temple Beth El, 1305 Springhouse Road in Allentown. JDS is looking forward to celebrating its wonderful honorees, who have given of themselves and their hearts.

David Horovitz.

Rosh Hashanah story comes to life for PJ Library kids

PJ Library families gathered at Congregation Brith Sholom on Sunday, September 10, to learn about Rosh Hashanah.

Rabbi Michael Singer led the group in song, read “Today Is the Birthday of the World” by Linda Heller and blew the shofar. Families then visited craft and activity stations that made the story come alive.

It wouldn’t be Rosh Hashanah without dipping apples in honey, so the group did that too.

IN HONOR

WENDY AND ROSS BORN

In honor of your granddaughter

Lilah’s Bat Mitzvah

Jeanette and Eduardo

Eichenwald

Aaron Gorodzinsky and Jennie

Schechner

Evelyn and Jay Lipschutz

Vicki Wax

LISA AND ANDREW ELLIS

In honor of your daughter Lilah’s Bat Mitzvah

Aaron Gorodzinsky and Jennie

Schechner

NEIL GLICKSTEIN

In honor of a speedy recovery

Jane and Arthur Kaplan

CAROLE LANGSAM

In celebration of your Special Birthday Marlene and Arnan Finkelstein

ALICE AND MARK NOTIS

In honor of the birth of your granddaughter, Mikvah Rose

Vicki Wax

DEENA AND MARK SCOBLIONKO

In celebration of your Special Birthday

Marlene and Arnan Finkelstein

ABBY AND ALAN WEINER

In celebration of your grand-

daughter Gabriella’s marriage to

Ariel Sheets

Eileen Ufberg

IN MEMORY

EVA LEVITT

(Wife of Larry Levitt)

Marilyn Braunstein and Family

Evelyn Brown

Ann and Myron Falchuk

Roberta and Lewis Gaines

Jane and Arthur Kaplan

Judy and Marty Krasnov

Linda and Harold Kreithen

Ann and David Packman

Judy and Larrie Sheftel

LILLIAN NISSENBAUM

(Mother of Edward Nissenbaum and Marc Nissenbaum)

Arlene and Dwight Griffin

CAROLE MARDER

(Mother of Alice Notis)

Aaron Gorodzinsky and Jennie

Schechner

Eileen Ufberg and Family

Vicki Wax

BENJAMIN WEINBERGER

(Father of Elizabeth Levy, Julie Hettleman and Joseph Weinberger)

Eileen Ufberg

MARGO WIENER

(Wife of Steve Wiener)

Cheri and Rick Zettlemoyer

HELEN AND SOL KRAWITZ HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FUND

IN MEMORY

SHEILA TOPOLSKY

(Wife of Saul Topolsky)

Susan Engelson Friefeld

We gratefully acknowledge those individuals who have offered expressions of friendship through recent gifts to the Lehigh Valley Jewish Foundation. The minimum contribution for an Endowment Card is $10. Call 610-821-5500 or visit jewishlehighvalley.org to place your card requests. Thank you for your continued support.

COME SHINE WITH US AT GLOW BOWLING!

Strike up some fun with your peers! Adults only!

Scan to Register!

SATURDAY 18 NOVEMBER 7:30 P.M.

Registration Fee: $18 Per Person

Registration is required

Long-term care residents enjoy Rosh Hashanah visits

Volunteers for Jewish Family Service made their annual round of visits to Lehigh Valley long-term care facilities for Rosh Hashanah. They delivered goody bags filled with treats and made presentations to residents of Kirkland Village,

Country Meadows Forks, Legend of Allentown, Moravian Hall Square, Phoebe, Country Meadows Bethlehem, Luther Crest, the Vero, Traditions of Hanover and Country Meadows Allentown.

Unlimited pizza, wings, soda. Vegetarian and kosher options will also be provided.

Steel City Bowl

1770 Stefko Blvd. (Lower Level) Bethlehem, PA 18017

QUESTIONS? Reach out to Lee@jflv.org!

holiday cards for goody

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11 5:15-7:15 P.M.

TEMPLE BETH

Students of Muhlenberg Hillel baked and made

bags.

Howard Nathanson visits Tikvah House and teaches Ally Bergstein about Rosh Hashanah.

Rabbi Allen Juda led several Rosh Hashanah programs at longterm care residences.

A teacher in the works

Caroline Block will become a bat mitzvah on October 14 at Temple Beth El in Allentown.

The eighth-grade student at Springhouse Middle School has always wanted to be a teacher. When plan-

ning her mitzvah project, she knew she wanted to help younger children, so she contacted the JCC to see how she could help at JLounge.

JLounge is the JCC after-school program that

DAYCARE RESULTS TRAINING BOARDING

includes homework help, healthy kosher-style snacks, games, indoor and outdoor recreation, crafts and more. Transportation is provided from many area schools. Vacation camp and visits on snow days and holidays are available too.

Caroline will be volunteering once a week at JLounge, helping younger students with their homework. “I went to the JLounge when I was younger, and I’ve had a lot of great teachers there and elsewhere,” she said. “At my bat mitzvah party, instead of giving favors, I’ve decided to buy school supplies to donate to JLounge. We will put signs on the tables to share with my guests this idea of giving back.”

In addition to helping with homework at JLounge, Caroline is an aide at her religious school on Sundays, working with the younger grades. She’s also a mentor at Springhouse Middle School. She gives tours of the school to incoming students over the summer,

and during the school year she visits homerooms of sixth graders to tutor those who have requested it.

“We have Timberwolf time,” Caroline said. “We have one hour before class on Wednesday and Thursday, and I help out younger students during that time.”

Christy and Andrew Block, Caroline’s parents, are so proud of the intelligent, generous and loving young lady she is becoming. “Caroline is the last one in her class to become a bat mitzvah,” they said. “She’s been to many simchas. We’re so proud she’s chosen to donate school supplies to JLounge. Why not spend money on something much more meaningful to do for others?”

Caroline concluded, “I would much rather do for

others!”

In addition to the mitzvah project, Caroline has made her first adult gift of tzedakah to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

For help developing your mitzvah project, contact Abby Trachtman, project coordinator, at abbyt@jflv.org, or call her at the Federation office at 610-821-5500.

Teen helps out at animal shelter

Maya Zelson, an eighthgrade student at Eyer Middle School, will become a bat mitzvah on October 7 at Congregation Keneseth Israel in Allentown.

Maya runs cross-country and track at her school and swims for the Lower Macungie Lazers. She loves animals, but since a family member is allergic to dogs and cats, she can’t keep a pet at home. For her mitzvah project, she has been volunteering at the Sanctuary at Haafsville, helping to care for dogs and give them lots of love before they get adopted. “I’ve wanted to be a vet when I grow up since I was six or seven,” Maya continued, “I love animals. I want to help animals and spend time with animals.”

The sanctuary provides a nurturing environment for animals in need. It is a financially conservative, volunteer-based organization, which allows it to provide exceptional care to their resident animals. They are funded by fundraising efforts, donations and partnerships, and Maya is asking community members to donate (thesanctuarypa.org).

Maya has volunteered at the sanctuary, along with her mom, Carolyn Zelson, for three Sundays. “I mopped and cleaned the

outdoor enclosures,” Maya said. “I walked and fed dogs too, but mostly I gave them lots of love.”

Carolyn Zelson added, “We’ll be volunteering more as our schedule allows.”

Larry and Carolyn Zelson are very proud of their daughter. “We are happy to see Maya grow and feel a part of the Jewish community and faith through the JCC, the Jewish Day School and Keneseth Israel,” they said. “It’s been a joy to see her mature and

become more responsible, while at the same time retain her childlike enthusiasm and energy.”

In addition to the mitzvah project, Maya has made her first adult gift of tzedakah to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley Annual Campaign for Jewish needs.

For help developing your mitzvah project, contact Abby Trachtman, project coordinator, at abbyt@jflv. org or call her at the Federation office at 610-821-5500.

Caroline Block.

Maya Zelson.

Thanksgiving season has arrived. Celebrate Sukkot!

By Cantor Ellen Sussman Temple Shirat Shalom

where we went to different congregants’ homes where a sukkah had been built. It was a fantastic sight to see them all.

The holiday of Sukkot is mentioned in our Torah, but much of the ritual comes from the Rabbinic Age. Leviticus (23:40-43) states,

We have just experienced the most intense period of the Jewish calendar, the High Holy Days. It is a time of introspective, communal evaluation and soul searching.

Immediately following Yom Kippur, the 10 Days of Repentance, comes a season of joy and thanksgiving, Sukkot. In our t’fillah, the Sukkot festival is referred to as chag HaSukkot hazeh, z’man simchateinu, the holiday of Sukkot, our season of joy. After Yom Kippur ends, we are enjoined to begin the building of our sukkah that very night. After spending days inside our synagogues worshipping, what a relief it is to spend seven days outdoors eating in our sukkahs surrounded by nature.

I love Sukkot because it brings to mind many wonderful memories. I remember I started building my own sukkah when I entered seminary. It was very exciting and hard to do in a little apartment in New York City. Then I married, had children and purchased my own home. That’s when I got my father, of blessed memory, to schlepp from Long Island to Old Bridge, New Jersey, to help my husband build the sukkah. He came for many years. I remember the parties we hosted, the fun we had with our children and their friends decorating and eating in the sukkah. When we moved to Allentown, I helped institute a new synagogue event, sukkah hopping,

“On the first day you shall take the fruit of the goodly trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. You shall observe it as a festival of the Lord for seven days in the year; you shall observe it in the seventh month as a law for all time throughout the ages. You shall live in the booths seven days; all citizens in Israel shall dwell in the booths. In order that future generations may know that I made the people of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I am the Lord your God.”

The beginning of this quote mentions the lulav and

the etrog, the other important symbol of Sukkot. The tradition understands “the fruit of the goodly tree” to be the etrog, “the branches of the palm” to be the lulav, “boughs of leafy trees” to be the myrtle and “willows of the brook” to be the willow. We are to take all these plants from nature and in a prescribed way wave them in all directions. My favorite

explanation for this is to say that God the Creator of the Universe, the architect of our world, and the source for our food and beautiful plants is everywhere in all directions.

Sukkot is a very rich and complex holiday with many rituals and beautiful symbols. In our community we have many opportunities to celebrate this holiday. I encourage everyone to do it;

it is worth the effort.

Sukkot is our holiday of thanksgiving. Being in the sukkah fulfilling the ritual of shaking the lulav and the etrog is to remind us of all that we should be grateful for — the gift of life, the gift of our tables filled with food and the gift of our beautiful world. At this holiday season let us all take the time to offer thanks to our God.

For a Special Simcha

ECE Celebrates Rosh Hashanah With Some Sweet Guests

By Jackie Weiss Early Childhood & Jewish Education Coordinator

Our ECE students had a sweet second week of school! For Rosh Hashanah this year, a couple of our ECE classes gathered in the gym for a special honeybee presentation (minus the bees).

Dr. Robbie Roeshman, a master beekeeper for 35 years, along with his wife, Adrienne London, are beekeepers in the Lehigh Valley. The presentation was a fun and interactive experience with props, beekeeping supplies, a honeybee song, and a waggle dance! The students enjoyed pretending to be bees and buzzing around the gym. The students learned that honeybees get all their food from flowers and the food consists of nectar and pollen. Afterwards, the students had the opportunity to look at a container of nectar and a container of pollen. The students now know that nectar is a liquid and pollen looks like dust.

Additionally, the students had the opportunity to smell a honeycomb and learn how honey is made!

The honeybees collect nectar from flowering plants and bring the nectar back to the hive. Once the honeybees are back in the hive, the nectar is stored inside the empty combs made of beeswax.

The honeybees then flap their wings very quickly to remove the excess moisture. Afterwards, the honeybees make a wax to create a seal over the honeycomb for protection. Finally, beekeepers harvest the honey by collecting the honeycomb frames and scraping off the wax cap that seals the honey. The frames are then placed in an extractor to spin honey out of the comb. After the honey is extracted, it is strained to remove any remaining wax or other particles. After straining the honey, it is time to bottle, label, and bring it to you! How does honey connect to the High Holidays? Because eating apples and honey is a tradition on Rosh Hashanah, of course! We

wish all of you a happy and healthy new year. If you’re looking for a sweet way to celebrate, local honey is available all year round at the Game Preserve Apiary, which is located at 4542 Game Preserve

JSeals Is Back, Making a Splash This November

By Jodi Lovenwirth Aquatics Director

Every year during late fall, the aquatics center at the JCC comes alive with smiling faces, cheering children, and blooming friendships. It’s swim season, featuring the JSeals Swim Team! This year is going to be packed with team building parties, swim meets, and lots of ruach (spirit). For anyone who doesn’t know what the JSeals is about, we are more than just a swim team, we are a family. This is a place for swimmers to build their skills while they grow their friendships. This close-knit group of friends all share their love of swimming while cheering on their teammates and watching them progress throughout the season. The 2023-2024 JSeals season begins on November 27. Each member has the opportunity to practice up to three times a week to build their swimming skills. Practices will consist of clear, concise, proven workouts,

Road, Schnecksville, PA 18078. Contact Dr. Robbie Roeshman and Adrienne London at 610-360-4191 or 13beekeeper@gmail.com for more information.

instructed by qualified coaches. Our participants will also get to compete against other JCC swim teams in the Mid-Atlantic region, including Baltimore, Harrisburg, Cherry Hill, and Delaware. These exciting competitions consist of home and away meets, leading up to the championship meet in Delaware, where the swimmers get to show off their swimming abilities and hard work.

To have some fun throughout the season, we will have various parties including a holiday party, pizza party, and the coveted DipN-Disco, which is scheduled for January 13, 2024. Mark your calendars, you won’t want to miss it! One of my proudest moments as Aquatics Director is not only watching the swimmers earn their trophies and medals, but watching these children become a family Registration is now open for the JSeals 2023-2024 season. For more information, call the JCC at 610435-3571 or visit lvjcc.org/JSeals.

Phyllis Ringel Memorial Lecture with Barbara Yudis, LSW

The annual Phyllis Ringel Memorial Lecture took place on September 10 with guest speaker Barbara Yudis, LSW discussing Adolescents & Social Media: The Parenting Dilemma.

Yudis began by noting some of the benefits social media offered during the pandemic such as allowing people to maintain longterm relationships, connecting them with other like-minded individuals, helping shy individuals feel more comfortable, and benefitting marginalized populations like children with disabilities and the LGBTQIA+ community. However, social media can also negatively impact mental health.

Screen time inhibits children’s ability to develop empathy needed for non-verbal cues, stay physically active, and play creatively. Social media use increases the risk of obesity, behavioral problems, isolation, and cyber-bullying, which is worse than in-person bullying and has been linked to depression, loneliness, and suicide.

Cyber bullying is particularly widespread in the LGBTQIA+ community. Social media has been linked to a wide variety of mental health conditions including depression, loneliness, suicide, eating disorders, self-harming, and anxiety. More time spent on social media correlates to more mental health symptoms, especially among girls.

Adolescents may become vulnerable to thrillseeking behavior as their middle brain develops and may then engage in risky behavior to get more “likes.” A study showed that getting “likes’’ for risky behavior decreased prefrontal cortex reasoning and increased harmful behaviors.

What can be done to reduce these risks? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for children under 2 and less than one hour a day for ages 2-5 (with the exception of video chats with family members) for educational or physical activity programming. For older children and adolescents, consider if your child is ready for social media,

Volunteer Spotlight: Gia Jones

Gia Jones first learned about Coats & Cocoa, the annual community-wide new coat drive for schoolaged children run by JFS, during the pandemic. She felt drawn to the program and started buying a few coats in 2020. The following year she began asking others to contribute. This year marks her second year as chairperson and she has already begun collecting. “Once I have a few coats,” she says, “I post my growing collection on social media to thank people for their donation. When others see my posts they are inspired to

help, too.” Last year she was excited to be able to personally hand out coats, and was thrilled that parents were able to pick the coat they thought their child would like. Gia says it’s important to set an example for her children of helping others without expecting anything in return.

“My daughter Gemma loved helping me last year. I’m looking forward to meeting families again this year who are benefitting from the JFS community-wide coat drive.”

To learn more about donating coats or contributing financially, go to jfslv.org or call Chelsea Karp at 610.821.8722.

set all platforms to private, research video and computer games, and institute a phonefree bedtime. “Friend” your children on social media, watch their stories, understand viral trends, talk about respecting people online and how to discern accuracy. Parents also need to be mindful of their own social media behavior and usage. Encourage children to join groups such as religious or cultural organizations and volunteer in their community. Parents shouldn’t be afraid to reach out to other parents and should be patient when helping children navigate the social media world. The American Academy of Pediatrics and commonsensemedia. org are great resources

for parents and children. Social media can be used for good, but it will take education and perseverance to help our children navigate the online world. Educating our children about the risks can lead to better adjusted and wellrounded children who feel confident in their ability to use social media for good.

JFS Gives Back: A Day on the Farm

JFS staff visited our partners at Monocacy Farm Project to say thank you for supplying fresh produce to the JFS Community Food Pantry. While there, they helped harvest onions and learned more about this growing farm.

We thank those individuals who have graciously supported Jewish Family Service by sending tribute cards:

IN HONOR

WENDY AND ROSS BORN

In Honor of the Bat Mitzvah of granddaughter Lilah

Linda and Jim Wimmer

LILAH ELLIS

In Honor of Lilah’s Bat Mitzvah

Lisa and Andrew Ellis

LOUIS AND RHODA FRYMAN

Lynn and Michael Rothman

GEORGE KATZ

In Honor of Special Birthday

Audrey Nolte

MARION REITZ

Anna Ganteaume

DIANE SILVERMAN

In Honor of Special Birthday

Susan and Henry Lehrich

IN LOVING MEMORY

CAROLYN HOFFMAN

Barbara and Arthur Hoffman

EVA LEVITT

(Wife of Lawrence Levitt)

Jane and William Markson

Audrey and Rick Nolte

Barbara and Fred Sussman

LILLIAN NISSENBAUM (Mother of Marc and Ed Nissenbaum)

Elizabeth and Jeff Greenberg

MICHAEL NOTIS (Husband of Cooky Notis)

Elizabeth and Jeff Greenberg

LAINIE SCHONBERGER

Barbara and Fred Sussman

SHEILA TOPOLSKY (Wife of Saul Topolsky, Beloved Mother and Grandmother)

Sheila Berg

Follett Products, LLC

David Jeffery

Margaret Jeffery

PHYLLIS WEINSTEIN

Pamela and Anthony Casciani

MARGO WIENER

(Wife of Steven Wiener)

Elizabeth and Jeff Greenberg

A wonderful way to share your thoughtfulness with family and friends, the minimum contribution for a JFS Tribute Card is $18. Visit www.jfslv.org/tributes to place card orders. Questions? 610.821.8122. Thank you for your continued support.

Barbara Yudis, LSW

Left to right: Farmer Anton Shannon, Carol Wilson, Jennifer Oxfeld, Doug Trachtman, Farmer Eli Stogsdill.

JFS is collecting new (tags on) winter coats for local boys and girls in kids’ sizes 2T through 18, and adult sizes for teens. NOW THROUGH

1. Purchase coat(s) and place in collection point boxes or drop off at the JFS office.

2. Purchase coat(s) online and ship to JFSLV at 2004 W Allen Street, Allentown, PA 18104.

3. Make a donation of any amount toward purchasing coats in this year’s drive at jfslv.org and select “Coats & Cocoa” in the fund dropdown. Also accepting hot cocoa mix, of course. Please contact Chelsea Karp at info@jfslv.org or 610.821.8722 with any questions.

YourTime

The fullness of life at a memory care facility

By Adina Re’em Temple Beth El

I recently called a friend I hadn’t seen in many months. Surprisingly, her husband answered her phone. He informed me that just weeks earlier she had moved into a memory care unit at a long-term care facility in town. I

promised to visit, but did nothing.

What’s the right thing to say? What’s the best way to engage under these new circumstances? Why do I feel so vulnerable in the face of the many “what ifs”? I was concerned about all this, but mostly there was gnawing fear. Would I walk away sad

and depressed from seeing her in decline? I tried to tell myself to ignore the preconceptions and let the story write itself.

The mere knowledge of a friend or a loved one living in any sort of care facility seemingly shuts a gate in the mind, as though it’s necessary to pass a stern gatekeeper to get through. I wanted to break the barrier, but I wasn’t sure how.

It was the eve of Yom Kippur. The weighted significance of the day approaching was all I needed to finally make the trip. Once the possibility popped into my mind, I answered my own hesitations with the advice I often give my children: Do the right thing. I left the house before giving myself any longer to contemplate.

Years ago I moved far away from my family before I could understand how meaningful the moments we get with family are, despite all the difficulties. Even without physical distance, generational separation is built into our society in many ways. In short, there are many reasons to stay away.

Dementia, it turns out, can expose unfiltered

emotions, often in a destructive way. By the same token, it can deliver raw goodness. Uninhibited by adult conventions, the conversation between my friend and me was broken time and again for hugs of genuine gratitude. The welcome I received never ended as my friend showered me with excitement, and snuck some tiny tomatoes into my bag.

We shared family stories from long ago, hers peppered with Yiddishisms that I somehow managed to make out, which made me feel “in the know.” Mine recalled comic mo-

ments, which made her laugh out loud. I didn’t hesitate to share some personal struggles, inviting an honest, open exchange.

I know it could have been different. I know it will be different. That’s OK. I also know I can do this because the emotional burden is different from that which comes with taking care of family.

To anyone whom my experience may help get over the initial resistance, know that the reward is no less than an embrace of the fullness of life.

The author took this photo in a Jerusalem park last year. “Doesn’t this picture of intergenerational interaction make your heart ache a bit?” she asks.

YOAV CALLING!

Improving the lives of our older adults in Yoav and LV

By Nurit Galon Partnership2Gether

When did “senior citizen” or “older adult” become a title? And when did being an older adult become a way of life?

When I was a little girl, my grandmother lived in our house (or perhaps we lived in hers). The situation was the same for most of my friends. There was never a question of what to do with grandparents: Who should look after them? Should we put them in a nursing home? They were an integral part of the family.

Somewhere along the line, golden-agers became a group with rights, buying power and the desire to be independent. They became a marketing target. Older adults who were relatively independent financially called for and received access to a much more active life. They could participate in and create organizations.

Almost overnight, they became a more influential part of society.

Of course all is not perfect. What do you do with seniors who don’t have families to help and advise them? What about growing medical costs, the need for special housing, loneliness?

In Yoav, where we have a large number of kibbutzim and moshavim (cooperative settlements), society was organized with older adults as an integral part. They have had a right to their own housing. Today municipalities have special departments, often manned by older adults, whose task it is to honor those of this “third age” and all they have done to build Israel and its communities. Older adults enjoy college-level courses, participation in art and music groups, and local travel and even trips abroad that cater to their special needs.

To address the concerns of aging, almost every

community has a day center and tries to find solutions for improving the quality of life of its older adults, many of whom do not have family nearby. In the last few years, the government has become more aware both of the votes of older adults and of the responsibility to address their needs. Pensioners now enjoy free transportation, a huge financial savings for them that enables travel to visit families or to see the country. Many of our communities display a determination to give seniors the best help possible, as their right rather than as charity.

In the last municipal elections in Yoav, goldenagers were an important focus of the mayoral candidates, acknowledging their growing numbers and integration into community life. I am always proud to see that both Lehigh Valley and Yoav make many efforts to be at the forefront

of improving the lives of our older adults. (The Valley’s new Older Adult Task Force just began its mission to help those aging at home by taking on some home maintenance tasks and raking leaves this November.)

Life is good…

To all our family and friends in Lehigh Valley, we send our heartfelt wishes for a happy and healthy new year, with much to be thankful for.

Life is good when you can spend time with family and friends, when there’s always plenty to do and when delicious professionally prepared meals are served restaurant style. Our residents enjoy entertaining activities and opportunities to engage with the community both inside and outside our campus, always knowing assistance is never more than a few steps away, if needed. To learn more, call or visit us today. Life is good… at Country Meadows.

…when you can take your pick of fun things to do

…when new neighbors seem like old friends

…when family and friends come to visit

…when there’s always someone there to help if you need it

…when you have your favorite pet by your side

… when the food is fresh, tasty & nutritious

Your Time

The Blue Zones

Blue Zones research. Blue Zones are regions of the world where people consistently live longer, healthier lives, often well into their 90s and even past 100.

By Dr. Lynn M. Wilson Maimonides Society

As a primary care geriatrician (medical specialist focused on the health and well-being of older adults), I have a profound interest in the fascinating realm of

The allure of Blue Zones lies in the invaluable insights they offer into the secrets of longevity and quality aging. The term was coined by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic fellow and author who identified five such regions around the world: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Icaria, Greece; and Loma Linda in California. These areas share several common characteristics that contribute to the remark-

able health and longevity of their residents. These geographic areas provided researchers a treasure trove of data and lifestyle practices that can inform

geriatric care, helping professionals better understand the factors contributing to prolonged vitality and facilitating the application of these lessons to

improve the lives of aging populations worldwide.

In essence, Blue Zones research holds the promise of enhancing geriatricians’ ability to promote not just longevity but also the maintenance of a high quality of life in later years.

One of the most significant discoveries is the pivotal role of lifestyle factors in determining longevity and well-being. Blue Zones diets are typically characterized by vegetables, legumes and whole grains. These diets are naturally rich in antioxidants, fiber and essential nutrients, which support overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Researchers also noted that physical activity was woven into the daily lives of Blue Zones inhabitants. They engage in regular, low-intensity activities like walking, gardening and manual labor, which help them maintain strength and mobility well into old age. Blue Zones communities place a strong emphasis on social interactions and support networks. Regular social engagement is believed to reduce stress and promote mental wellbeing. Finally, researchers found a sense of purpose as another common thread among Blue Zones residents. Through family, work or community involvement, they feel a deep sense of meaning in their lives, which contributes to their overall well-being.

Furthermore, the relatively low rates of chronic disease like heart disease, diabetes and dementia in the Blue Zones have been the interest of geriatricians and other healthcare professionals, as these findings suggest that adopting a Blue Zones-inspired life-

The Blue Zones. (Netflix)

The Blue Zones

Your Time

The Blue Zones

continued from page 20 style can potentially reduce the burden of age-related illnesses and improve the quality of life for older adults. These profound insights into the interplay of genetics, environment and lifestyle in promoting longevity make Blue Zones research an invaluable resource for geriatricians.

The Blue Zones Project worked to create a new Blue Zone in Albert

Lea, Minnesota, which was a huge success, serving as a testament to the transformative potential of the Blue Zones approach. The community embraced the principles of healthy living, promoting plant-based diets, regular physical activity, strong social connections and a sense of purpose among its residents. As a result, the region witnessed remark-

able improvement in overall health and well-being with lower rates of chronic disease, increased life expectancy and a palpable sense of vitality among its inhabitants. The project has since expanded to several cities across America.

The success of the Blue Zones Project not only underscores the adaptability and effectiveness of the Blue Zones model, but also offers a beacon of hope for communities nationwide seeking to prioritize longevity and quality of life

for their residents. Netflix recently turned this research into the four-part docuseries “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones,” which introduces the evidence for living better, longer lives. I highly recommend watching it and thinking about how we can change our lifestyles and our community here in the Lehigh Valley so that we become the next Blue Zone

of America.

Lynn Wilson, DO, FACOFP, FAAFP, AGSF, is the Lehigh Valley Health Network section chief of geriatrics in the Department of Family Medicine and program director of the geriatrics fellowship. She is a member of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Maimonides Society of healthcare professionals.

By Sandi Teplitz Special to Hakol

We all want to eat healthfully. But it can be so challenging, with busy schedules, fussy people to cook for, and food rights and wrongs continually changing. Sometimes you just need to use a little of this and a little of that to produce a knockout dish that everyone can enjoy and not feel guilty about. This dish allows the chef to make easy subtractions or additions to attract vegans or carnivores.* Happy eating!

4 small cucumbers, peeled and diced

5 large heirloom tomatoes, diced

1 each red, yellow and orange pepper, seeded and diced

3 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons chopped parsley

9 ounces Israeli feta cheese, cut up

4 ounces chili peppers, cut up

6 assorted olives, cut up

Just toss and serve. Garnish with your favorite grated cheese, if desired. Serves 5.

* If adding meat, eliminate the cheese

The Blue Zones. (Netflix)

BOOK REVIEWS

Superman, Marilyn Monroe and a flight from Nazis

“The American Way: A True Story of Nazi Escape, Superman, and Marilyn Monroe,” by

Helene Stapinski

and Bonnie Siegler, Simon and Schuster, 2023.

By Sean Boyle

Special to Hakol

Memoir author Helene Stapinski partners with award-winning graphic designer Bonnie Siegler for

“The American Way: A True Story of Nazi Escape, Superman, and Marilyn Monroe,” an expansion of their viral New York Times article about Siegler’s grandfather’s escape from Berlin the day before the Kristallnacht and his one-of-a-kind film of Marilyn Monroe.

Siegler had grown up hearing about a famous film that her grandfather had taken of Marilyn Monroe, but had never seen it and believed it was just a family leg-

end — until the day she discovered it after helping move him to a new apartment. In 2016, wanting to write an article about his escape from Nazi Germany, she, with Stapinski’s help, tied-in the recently discovered film of Monroe to increase the likelihood of publication. After the article went viral, she discovered that her family was connected to Superman and asked Stapinski to help her expand the article into a book.

Although the book is a Holocaust memoir of Siegler’s family and is centered around her grandparents’ escape from Germany, their life in the United States and reports of what happened to family left behind, it is also a game of Jewography that connects Marilyn Monroe, Superman, DC Comics, Joe DiMaggio and immigrants. Superman was created by two high

school friends who were sons of Jewish immigrants, and DC Comics, created around Superman, was founded by a publisher whose parents were Jewish immigrants. Although Harry Donenfeld was famous for publishing pulp fiction and also dabbled in publishing indecent magazines and in other nefarious behavior, he was at the same time sponsoring dozens and possibly hundreds of Jews escaping from Europe in the 1930s, including Siegler’s family. Stapinski writes in a style that uses period slang, and the book reads like pulp fiction from the 1930s-1960s. Her desire was to write a story about immigrants and surviving the Holocaust, and to make it stand out from other family Holocaust memoirs. She also wanted the Jewography aspects to highlight how interrelated everyone is and to fight the xenophobia trends that are becoming more prevalent. Highly recommended for ages 16-120, especially for anyone who loves Jewography, Superman or Marilyn Monroe.

Teen struggles with new life

By Sandi Teplitz Special

to Hakol

Navigating one’s way through the novel “The Marriage Box” chapter by chapter is akin to traveling through a foreign country, meeting people your age, thinking you’re going to have multiple commonalities, but realizing ultimately that your unique differences separate you and prohibit the closeness you would like to establish.

When Casey, a rebellious teenager, goes too far as she tests her parents’ rules and regulations, her parents decide to come full circle and return to their religious Syrian Jewish roots in Brooklyn. She is angry and frustrated as she attempts to make the adjustment from the liberal Reform Judaism of New Orleans to the strict tenets of tightly knit ultra-Orthodox community life in New York. Though just 18 years old, she recognizes

that the norm in this new world is to marry, not to continue to pursue a dream of higher education. She struggles with strange new challenges in friendship and customs, making room for new networking patterns. Ultimately, she gives in and marries.

The Marriage Box is an actual place where nubile girls go to show off their assets as they seek male companions to settle down with. The book’s title takes on an ironic meaning as Casey, the antihero, feels closed in while accepting her new fate.

Author Corie Adjmi sensitively explores the divide between religion and secular life, between teens and adults, letting readers reach their own conclusions, though the process is inherently nebulous.

“The Marriage Box” is

appealing with its various scenes that women and men can identify with on a personal level. Along the way, Admji can be both humorous and incisive in the same paragraph. Ultimately, the quality of her writing makes for a vivid depiction of life’s vignettes.

Sandi Teplitz provides a recipe for each issue of Hakol and regularly reviews books.

Sean Boyle is Congregation Keneseth Israel’s librarian and serves as vice president, presi-

dent-elect, of the Association of Jewish Libraries.

“The Marriage Box,” by Corie Adjmi, She Writes Press, 2023.

Community Calendar

To list an event in the Community Calendar, submit your information on our website, www.jewishlehighvalley.org, under the “Upcoming Events” menu. All events listed in the Community Calendar are open to the public and free of charge, unless otherwise noted. Programs listed in HAKOL are provided as a service to the community. They do not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. The JFLV reserves the right to accept, reject or modify listings.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, AND SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1-FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6

Celebrate Sukkot at the JCC Noon, 1:30, 5:30 and 7 p.m. daily except Sunday, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., JCC Reserve a time slot in the JCC’s sukkah to bring a kosher meal to enjoy with your family. Each reservation is 90 minutes, and there’s a maximum of two families per time slot. All ages are welcome and there’s no fee. Make a reservation at lvjcc.org. For information email Jackie Weiss at jweiss@ lvjcc.org.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3

Women of KI Sukkot

7-9 p.m., KI sukkah

Join the women of Congregation Keneseth Israel to sip wine, munch cheese and crackers, hear music by Alan Salinger and Donna Fisher, and learn about Sukkot with Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg. No RSVP required.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4

Community Sukkot Dinner

5-7 p.m., Jewish Day School

Join the community for dinner in the JDS sukkah, fun activities, music and more to celebrate the Sukkot holiday. $5 per person ages 10 and up; free for children 9 and under. RSVP at jdslv.org/sukkot.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5

Lions and Pomegranates Fall Event

6:30 p.m., home of Eileen and Roberto Fischmann

Liza Wiemer will speak at the first Lion of Judah and Pomegranate event of the new campaign year about the antisemitism themes in her novel “The Assignment.” Open to those who have donated a minimum of $1,800 to the 2024 campaign. Dinner will be served. Register now at jewishlehighvalley.org/calendar.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8

Continuing Education: Jewish Symbols

1-2:30 p.m., Brith Sholom and via Zoom

From the Star of David to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, the Jewish people have spent thousands of years collecting and refining a visual dictionary that connects the past to the future. Join Rabbi Alex Malanych and Congregation Am Haskalah at Congregation Brith Sholom for a dive into the story of some the most enduring Jewish symbols (and a few less common ones) and consider the magic and mystery they continue to hold for the Jewish people. Email AmHaskalahDirector@gmail.com for any accommodations. Register for Zoom at us02web.zoom.us/ meeting/register/tZEkde-grz4oGNWttlYCyH0glLSAw-DSlO0V.

TUESDAYS, OCTOBER 10-24

KI Taste of Judaism

7-9 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel

This three-session mini course explores Reform Judaism’s big ideas: Jewish spirituality, Jewish values and the Jewish community. The course is designed for those with little or no experience of the Jewish faith. Free and open to the public, it is taught by Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg, who will encourage participation. Registration is required; no walk-ins will be admitted. For questions or to register, use the form at kilv.org.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11

Integrating Legacy Giving into Your Organization

5:15 p.m., Temple Beth El

Leaders from local Jewish agencies, synagogues and other organizations are invited to attend this free interactive community workshop. Hosted by the Jewish Federation, the Life and Legacy program and the Lehigh Valley Jewish Foundation. Register at jewishlehighvalley.org/calendar.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15

Advanced Practitioners: 21st Century Medicine

10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., JCC

Margo Lightman, a nurse practitioner with St. Luke’s Neurological Associates in Bethlehem, and Andrea Reich, a physician assistant with Advanced Dermatology Associates,

will present this Maimonides Society Brunch and Learn. Open to the entire community. No cost for Maimonides members and spouses; nonmember cost is $10 per person. Register at jewishlehighvalley.regfox. com/maimonides-society-brunch-and-learn.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15

KI Annual Harvest 5K 11 a.m., Cedar Cedar Beach Park Congregation Keneseth Israel is holding its 9th annual Harvest 5K in Allentown. All are invited (even friendly dogs) to participate in this 3.1-mile walk/run along the park’s mostly packed and paved course. Proceeds will go to the city’s Central Elementary School, where the families of almost 90% of the students are classified as low income. To sign up to participate as a walker/runner, volunteer or sponsor, visit runsignup.com/ Race/PA/Allentown/Harvest5Ki.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19

Women’s Philanthropy mitzvah project

Noon-1:30 p.m., JCC

Join the Women’s Philanthropy for a Mums and Muffins mitzvah project. Help beautify the community by planting fall flowers at the JCC. Enjoy muffins and schmoozing too! Please bring a small gardening shovel and gloves. Rain date is Oct 20. Register at jewishlehighvalley.org/calendar.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22

TBE Sisterhood and Men’s Club Kickoff

Event

9:15 a.m.-noon, Temple Beth El

Speakers Sara Kanoff Martinez and Jason Sizemore will discuss “Building a Mindful Community.” Q&A to follow. Kosher café with yogurt bar, coffee and small bites. Also, create your own Kosher charcuterie board to take home with you. The first 24 people who sign up will receive a wooden board with handle. The event is free but RSVP is required at bethelallentown.org. Babysitting is available for ages 2 and up.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22

Panel discussion: ‘On Being Mortal’

10 a.m.-noon, Congregation Keneseth

Israel

Join Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg, Dr. Ed Rosenfeld and Dr. Kelly Hudock at Congregation Keneseth Israel in a discussion about some of the hard conversations prompted by the book “On Being Mortal.” A light brunch will be served. Follow the instructions at kilv.org to RSVP and purchase the book by October 18.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22

Satori: Daniel Pearl World Music Day concert

2 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel

Using the power of music to promote tolerance and inspire respect for differences, the annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days has grown to include more than 5,000 performances in 101 countries. The program features oboe, flute, violin, viola and cello with music by Haydn, Mozart and more. The Daniel Pearl Foundation was formed in memory of journalist and violinist Daniel Pearl, killed in the Middle East in 2002. Adult tickets are $15 ($10 for KI members). Tickets will be available only at the door.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28

TBE Casino Night

7:30 p.m., Temple Beth El Casino Night features several different games, including poker, horse racing, slots and blackjack. Drinks, hor d’oeuvres and desserts will be served. Tickets purchased in advance are $54 per person. Door open at 7 p.m. Visit bethelallentown.org for more information.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29

Women of KI mitzvah project and brunch

10 a.m.-noon, Congregation Keneseth

Israel

Join the Women of KI for brunch and their Caring for our Community mitzvah project. $18 per person ($54 for nonmembers) covers food and craft supplies for the totes that will be assembled. Register at kilv.org.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29

Lauren’s Sunday FUNDay Football 12:30 p.m., JCC Come out to watch the Philadelphia Eagles play the Washington Redskins and sup-

port the Lauren Pearl Harper Hospice Fund: Bringing Everyday Joys. Cheer on “Lauren’s Eagles” and help celebrate her life and what her fund has done for others. Lunch and refreshments will be provided under Lehigh Valley Kashrut Commission supervision. All proceeds benefit the fund. $20 for ages 16 and up, $10 for kids 4-15, free for kids under age 3. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. RSVP at laurenpearlfund@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1

An evening with Michael W. Twitty, author of Koshersoul

5:30 p.m., Iacocca Hall at Lehigh University

Spend the evening hearing from Michael W. Twitty, culinary historian; Washington, D.C., food writer; and author of the 2022 National Jewish Book Award-winning “Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew.” A reception will follow. Free and open to the public. Registration is suggested but not required.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2

Dignity Grows Packing Party

6:30 p.m., JCC

Join the Women’s Philanthropy for a mitzvah project that’s part of Dignity Grows, sponsored by the Maimonides Society of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. Volunteers will pack totes with essential hygiene supplies to be distributed to women in need. Register at jewishlehighvalley.org/ calendar

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12

Leaf raking for older adults

11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Hillel members from Lafayette College, Lehigh University and Muhlenberg College are volunteering to rake leaves to the curb. If you are 65 years or older, you can register for this service by emailing mailbox@jflv.org. If you do not use email, or have questions, call the task force chair, Rabbi Allen Juda, at 484-626-2212.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30

Federation Main Event: Comedian Joel Chasnoff

6:30 p.m., JCC Kline Auditorium

Join us for the Jewish Federation’s Main Event of the new year of the Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs. Comedian Joel Chasnoff, coauthor of the popular book “Israel 201,” is coming in from Israel for one of his regular tours of the United States, and we’ve got him booked. Details to come.

ONGOING EVENTS

2ND SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

Bnai Shalom cash bingo fundraiser

1-4 p.m., Congregation Bnai Shalom Doors open at 12:15 and games start at 1. There’s no game in October. For info email office@bnaishalomeaston.org.

MONDAYS Yiddish Club

2 to 3:30 p.m., JCC via Zoom

Experience the joys of Yiddish via Zoom as part of “Adults at the J.” The group meets weekly to discuss topics like cooking, humor, music and all kinds of entertainment in the Yiddish language. Participants Zoom in from 5 states. No cost. Contact Janis Mikofsky at the JCC of the Lehigh Valley, 610-435-3571, ext. 501.

MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS

Online Jewish yoga studio

Mondays 11 to 11:45 a.m., Thursdays 4 to 4:45 p.m., Institute for Jewish Spirituality

Mindful body practices help us find shelter right where we are, in our bodies in this very moment. Join yoga teacher and IJS faculty member Rabbi Myriam Klotz or Cantor Lizzie Shammash as she guides you in an alllevels yoga and movement session informed by Jewish spiritual teachings and designed to relieve stress as we increase awareness of breath and grounding through our bodies. Open to all, no experience needed. Sign up at jewishspirituality.org/get-started.

TUESDAYS

Weekly Torah study

11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Institute for Jewish Spirituality

Rabbi Jonathan Slater will lead a weekly program: “Torah Study to Sustain The Soul,” aimed at addressing an aspect of spiritual life that will help us navigate this time of

uncertainty and isolation. Open to all, no previous knowledge needed. Sign up at jewishspirituality.org/get-started.

WEDNESDAYS

Yoga with Miriam Sandler: Chair-Supported Yoga

1 to 2 p.m., Congregation Brith Sholom in person and via Zoom

Open to the public in person and live stream available to all via Zoom. *$10 drop-in fee payable to Congregation Brith Sholom. For information email mbserow@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAYS

Torah Studies: A Weekly Journey into the Soul of Torah

7 p.m., Chabad of the Lehigh Valley in person and via Zoom

Torah Studies by the Jewish Learning Institute presents Season Four 5783, a 12-part series, in person and via Zoom. Cost is $54 for the course, including textbook. For more information, call 610-351-6511 or email rabbi@chabadlehighvalley.com.

EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY Hadassah study group

12:30 p.m., via Zoom

We discuss short stories from an anthology. Always welcoming new participants! Contact Marilyn Claire at mjclaire@gmail.com or 610-972-7054 to sign up.

THURSDAYS

Basic Yiddish class

4 to 5:30 p.m., JCC via Zoom

Learn to read, write, speak and comprehend Yiddish. Textbooks from Yiddish Book Center available for purchase. Contact Janis Mikofsky at 610-435-3571, ext. 501.

FRIDAYS

Kol HaEmek

8:30 to 9:30 a.m., WMUH 91.7

Radio show with Cantor Kevin Wartell. For information go to muhlenberg.edu/wmuh.

3RD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

KI Shabbat B’Yachad

5:30-7 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel

Art projects, songs, snack stories, prayer and dinner. Geared toward kids ages 5-10, but perfect for younger siblings too. RSVP at kilv.org.

SATURDAYS

KI Torah Study

9:30-10:30 a.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel

Join Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg for a study session making sense of the week’s Torah portion. Enter the building through the 23rd Street door. For more information, contact Rabbi Tornberg using the form at kilv.org/ form/contact-rabbicall.

SATURDAYS

Wisdom of the Talmud class

After Shabbat Lunch and Schmooze, Congregation Brith Sholom

Join Rabbi Michael Singer in a discussion about Jewish law, ethics, customs and history as found in the pages of the Talmud. No previous Talmud study required. For information email tammy@brithsholom.net or call 610-866-8009.

DAILY Jewish Broadcasting Service

JBS is a Jewish television channel featuring daily news from Israel and more.

DAILY Congregation Sons of Israel minyanim

Shacharit on Mondays and Thursdays 6:30 a.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays

6:45 a.m.; Sundays 8:30 a.m.

Congregation Sons of Israel welcomes all to the daily Shacharis and Mincha/Maariv services which are conducted in the main sanctuary of the synagogue. For more info, call the synagogue office at 610-433-6089.

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

Daily online meditation

12:30 p.m., Institute for Jewish Spirituality

One of their master teachers will lead a live daily guided meditation. Open to all, no experience needed. Sign up at jewishspirituality.org/get-started.

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