Hakol - June 2023

The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community

www.jewishlehighvalley.org

| Issue No. 466 | June 2023 | Sivan/Tammuz 5783 AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977

Officials, community members and supporters gather at Allentown City Hall for Jerusalem Day flag raising. p10

2023

Congratulations to the Class of 2023! See who’s getting their high school diplomas. p23

FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN p3 WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY p4 LVJF TRIBUTES p8 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p17 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p18-19 JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p20 COMMUNITY CALENDAR p31

Lions launch Lion Behind the Pin program at luncheon

By Dr. Carol Bub Fromer Lion of Judah

It was 1970, in Miami, when Norma Kipnis-Wilson z”l envisioned a path for elevating women’s significant leadership in the field of collective philanthropy. She strongly believed in creating an avenue and opportunity for women “to make significant financial and personal commitments to effectuate positive change.”

In a groundbreaking effort, she and her close friend Toby Friedland z”l, along with the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, succeeded in launching a $1 million woman’s campaign. A Lion of Judah would become the symbol, as Norma said, of “the strength of Judaism and the Jewish people.”

The gold Lion pin was created as a piece of jewelry that is proudly worn by each member and recognized worldwide.

Today, the Lion of Judah community has grown to nearly 18,000 women from 146 Federations around the globe.

Every two years, many of those Lions gather at an International

Lion of Judah conference in the United States. It was at the most recent conference, in December 2022, that I heard whispers of a new program that was about to be launched by the Jewish Federations of North America called the Lion Behind the Pin. The concept was intriguing to me.

The idea of the program was born through an alltoo-familiar story, when a Jewish woman in Memphis stumbled across a gold Lion pin in an estate sale at a local jeweler. The jeweler knew nothing about it, except that it was brought to him by family members of a deceased relative. The Jewish woman, herself a Lion of Judah, suspected there was more to the story and notified the local Federation, which retrieved the pin and was able to iden-

tify its original owner. It turned out that the pin belonged to one of the founding members of the Lion of Judah program in Memphis.

Shelley Robbins and DebLions of Judah Lisa Fraenkel, Dr. Carol Bub Fromer, bie Lazarov, Laurie Wax and Valeska Zighelboim. two Lions in Memphis were The gold Lion is certainly especially touched and beautiful and impressive. It is moved by this event. “Maybe neither delicate nor nuanced. our families don’t understand It is, for sure, a “statement why we’re wearing it,” said piece,” as it was intended to Marlene Gerson, another Lion be. However, the Lion Behind member. So, they set out to the Pin program aims to shift create an initiative, as Shelley the attention from the pin, to said, to answer the compelthe woman wearing it. Each ling question “How do we tell Lion receives a special kit, the next generation what the Lion Behind the Pin value is in the person wearing continues on page 4 the pin.”

Laurie Wax is the new president of Women’s Philanthropy Laurie Wax has been appointed as the next President of the Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, succeeding Beth Kushnick. Wax has been actively involved in Women’s Philanthropy and served on its board. She expressed her desire to continue the work of involving new members, following the example set by Beth Kushnick.

Wax and her husband, Robby, who is the president of the Jewish Federation, moved to the Lehigh Valley in 2002.

They were already familiar

with the area, as they had attended Jewish Federation events and listened to speakers in Allentown while Robby was a law student. Upon settling in the area, they enrolled their son Ben in the JCC early childhood education program, and Laurie joined the ECE committee to get involved. Four years later, their son Danny was born and he followed in his brother’s footsteps.

Inspired by her in-laws, Stan z”l and Vicki Wax, who were dedicated volunteers, Laurie Wax took on various volunteer roles over the years.

Non-Profit Organization

702 North 22nd Street Allentown, PA 18104

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She served on numerous committees and held positions such as Chair of the Lion of Judah and Pomegranate divisions within the Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy. Additionally, Wax was a board member at Temple Beth El and served as president of the TBE Sisterhood for several years.

She emphasized the importance of volunteers in the success of Jewish organizations.

Wax has worked closely with her good friends and Women’s Philanthropy past presidents, Beth Kushnick and Dr. Carol Bub Fromer, throughout her involvement. Her personal goal as the President of Women’s Philanthropy is to continue working with veteran members who understand the significance of giving their time and support. Wax acknowledges her in-laws, Stan z”l and Vicki Wax for leading by example. “I knew I had to follow their lead because without volunteers, our Jewish organizations would not thrive as they do,” she said. As her mentor, Laurie credits Vicki for teaching her the values of

giving back to Jewish organizations and “what it means to think with a Jewish heart”.

“She always said it is our job to continue in the footsteps of those who came before us.

Vicki did so and more when she moved here and I intend to continue that.”

The primary goal of the Jewish Federation is to raise funds supporting organizations that care for people locally, in Israel, and worldwide.

Wax aims to recruit new members to Women’s Philanthropy and to educate individuals about the importance of the Jewish Federation. She emphasized that the funds raised are not for personal gain but to benefit the community and less fortunate Jewish individuals worldwide.

The Lehigh Valley’s Jewish community directly benefits from the fundraising efforts of Women’s Philanthropy.

Organizations such as the JCC, Jewish Day School, Jewish Family Service, synagogues, Hillels, and camp scholarships receive allocations from the Federation. Wax stressed that

without these allocations, the Jewish community in the Lehigh Valley would not thrive.

Women’s Philanthropy played a critical role in the Federation’s 2023 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs, raising $750,000, which accounted for more than onethird of the total campaign.

Wax expressed her hope that others would join her in the upcoming year to ensure the strength and vitality of the Jewish community and its agencies.

Women’s Philanthropy photos on page 11

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A community celebrates!

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would like to highlight.

One major milestone was our first Summit to Combat Antisemitism, held at Muhlenberg College with guest speakers from major national Jewish organizations, law enforcement, homeland security and elected officials.

Another major milestone was our coming together as a community to celebrate Israel@75 with a torchlighting ceremony. It was a momentous occasion shared across agencies and including our synagogues. We also celebrated Jewish American Heritage Month with a flag raising at Allentown City Hall attended by elected officials and featuring our Jewish Day School students singing the national anthems.

It was gratifying this year to see our synagogues’ religious schools joining forces to celebrate Purim together at the JCC with a Super Funday

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Jewish life is rich with many different milestones as communities gather to celebrate in times of joy and to comfort one another in times of sorrow.

There are life-cycle events such as births, b’nai mitzvah, confirmation, graduation, marriage, death and mourning, and, of course, Jewish holidays. All these events provide opportunities to come together to honor our connections to one another and to acknowledge a “whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts.”

And then there are times when the community itself has a milestone to mark. It might acquire a new Torah scroll, elect new board members or reach a significant anniversary. As we wind down the 2023 Jewish Federation program year and celebrate our community with an annual meeting, there are a number of milestones that I

carnival, once again demonstrating that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We welcome opportunities like these in the future when we can come together to celebrate Jewish holidays.

This year, we convened a new task force on older adults to implement programs that will help them to age in place. In partnership with Jewish Family Service, we will be launching a new initiative. Please stay tuned to learn more about this important initiative and the positive impact it will have on our community.

Coming to fruition will be another collaborative effort employing a regional security advisor to serve across our Jewish community. This enhanced community security program is designed to significantly increase safety and security for all our agencies, synagogues, JDS, JFS, JCC and other centers of

Jewish life in and around the Lehigh Valley.

And finally, we look forward to celebrating another productive year at our Community Celebration and Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 8, at 6 p.m. at the JCC. We hope you will join us to acknowledge and pay tribute to our award winners and to celebrate our community!

Our community has been blessed to complete another program year working with our beneficiary agencies. On June 30, we will wrap up our 2023 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs. Your generous support of our campaign enables us to ensure the strength and vibrancy of our Jewish communal agencies through the allocations we make to our JCC, JDS and JFS. Your generosity allows us to support Jewish Family Life Education at our synagogues, Hebrew Family League funding, program-

MAKING A DIFFERENCE 2021-2022 TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS: $2,530,616

Local Distributions: $1,287,338 (see boxes below)

Overseas Distributions: $391,200

Fundraising Expenses: $313,578

Local Distributions Designated Gifts: $265,500

LOCAL DISTRIBUTIONS: $1,287,338 Jewish Community Center: $342,000 Jewish Day School: $322,000 Jewish Federation Community Building: $216,956

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

Overseas Distributions Designated Gifts: $273,000

Jewish Family Service & Jewish Fund for Human Needs: $113,800 Jewish Education Services & Jewish Continuity Grants: $31,500

Bethlehem & Easton Community Grants: $29,000 Other (Institute for

Religious & Cultural Understanding, LVKC, Orphan Cemeteries: etc.): $21,250

Federation Admin: $197,832 University Hillels: $13,000 Designated Gifts $265,500

(not included in local total)

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 HONOR CAROL AND BOB WILSON SHERYL BLOCK In honor of Ben’s graduation from Thank you for your 35 years of the University of Pittsburgh service Eileen and Roberto Fischmann Temple Beth El IN MEMORY PAULA LINN HOWARD SOKOL Thank you for your service and (Husband of Midge Sokol) leadership Chahaine Marvi Temple Beth El TO ORDER TREES, call the JFLV at 610-821-5500 or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org.

ming for college students at our Hillels, camp and Israeltravel scholarships, and our collective participation with 145 other Jewish Federations supporting regional and national initiatives as well as Israel and overseas projects.

Each of you makes an important difference. If you haven’t made your gift yet, we hope you will do so by June 30 so we can continue to provide robust and meaningful Jewish programming in our Lehigh Valley. Many thanks for your generosity — we are Here for Good because of you!

Warm regards to each of you for a relaxing and peaceful summer!

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.

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

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 Associate Director of Development ROBBY WAX JFLV President WENDY EDWARDS Office Manager GINGER HORSFORD Donor Services Associate

Member American Jewish Press Association

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

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2023 3

WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY

Mussar expert spells out 4 musts for personal growth thing you do when no one else is around. “It’s low stakes,” she said. “Practice “The fact that God brought your skills when the stakes you into this world is proof are low so you’ll know what that you were needed.” That to do when the stakes are was how Ruchi Koval opened high. The mistake most of us her talk to the Jewish Federamake is we think the small tion of the Lehigh Valley’s moments don’t matter. The Women’s Philanthropy divibig deal is those are the pracsion about applying concepts tice.” of mussar, the ancient Jewish Friends are also critical. tradition of self-cultivation, to “It’s something the Torah one’s life. talks about many times,” If you weren’t needed, Koval said. She went on to the cofounder and associexplain that we choose friends ate director of Congregation “because they have value” JFX (Jewish Family Experiand that we need to put in ence) in Cleveland told the the time and effort to make audience, “there would have sure we choose good ones. been no purpose for you to “When you’re going to invest be created.” That leads each in a significant purchase,” she person to the question, “What continued, “you spend time is my unique purpose in this thinking about it and reworld?” searching it and making sure Koval based her presentait’s the right fit for you. What tion at the Chai Club ($180 the Torah is teaching us is that we should do the same thing with friends.”

Loyal and helpful friends are a good investment in life.

“If you have a person in your life who does you a big favor and makes you feel like you did them a big favor by letting them Beth Kushnick, outgoing Women’s Philanthropy president; Kimberly Valuntas, event cochair; Ruchi do you a favor,” Koval, speaker; Tracy Sussman, event cochair; and Lee Solomon, associate director of development.

By Carl Zebrowski Editor

level and up) dinner event, “Becoming the Best Version of Yourself,” on parts of her 2021 book “Soul Construction: Shape Your Character Using 8 Steps from the Timeless Jewish Practice of Mussar,” which itself is rooted in her two decades as a Jewish educator and leader of self-development groups.

She listed four elements of effective self-improvement for the audience: self-awareness, practice, friends and mentor.

“Self-awareness precedes everything,” she said. And you may not have it. “If you don’t have it,” she explained, “you don’t know that you don’t have it.” In that case, you’d need to rely on the insight of someone you trust. Of course that’s hard to do. “In real life,” she said, “we rarely solicit feedback. It’s too scary.”

Practice comes next, the

Lion Behind the Pin

continues from page 1

which includes a velvet-lined case for the Lion pin, along with a letter, to be written by the owner, of what the Lion means to them. There is also an option to bequeath the pin to someone special, as well as information on endowing the pin for a future recipient.

What a wonderful way to create a legacy, to impart meaning to future generations. It was not long before I came across an example of that very concept.

While preparing for our May 18 Lion luncheon, where we launched the Lion Behind the Pin program, I came across an article called “Exploring My Identity with My Bubbe’s Lion of Judah Pin.” The author writes, “My Bubbe’s sense of purpose and self was tied to her connection with her local Jewish Federation, so she was quick to become a Lion of Judah. Because (she) didn’t work a paying job, her name was never on a paycheck and she never made co-worker friends. Instead she found an intellectual community with shared values and made a name for herself in a way that she was passionate about….

Now, glancing

at my late Bubbe’s Lion of Judah pin reminds me of this strong, feminist leader who did her part to contribute to her community.… My Bubbe taught me not only to wear the lion but to be the lion: empowered, confident, aggressive, protective and fearless.”

This article is part of the Jewish Women’s Archive’s Rising Voices Fellowship and was written by Dodie Altman-Sagan, the granddaughter of Phoebe Altman z”l who lived in Easton and was a very active member of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. I cried tears of joy when I discovered the connection, as Phoebe was such an important mentor to me when I moved to the Lehigh Valley, and I have such fond memories of her.

Fast-forward to last week, when I had the honor of hosting our local Lions at my home for the luncheon.

It had been quite some time since our local “pride” had gathered, and I thought that springtime presented the perfect opportunity to reawaken our sisterhood. Our Lehigh Valley Lions are an incredible bunch! They are not only loving, fun, smart and engaging women, but in 2022, their charitable donations amounted to over $580,000, almost a quarter of our annual

4 JUNE 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

campaign. In a community of our size, that is quite an impressive feat.

The room was abuzz with laughter and chatter and the warmth and camaraderie of old friends who had not seen one another in-person for a while. It never ceases to amaze me how powerful the bond of philanthropy is and how sustained altruism creates such strong friendships, connections and respect among women, even if they don’t one another on a regular basis. This natural and nurturing environment offered the perfect opportunity for me to introduce these special ladies to the Lion Behind the Pin program, and it was very well received and sparked a spirited conversation among them.

I want to thank all the Lions of our Lehigh Valley community, not only those who attended the luncheon, but also those who were unable

she said with a smile, “keep that person in your life.”

The fourth and last element is mentor. A mentor is different from a friend. A friend is your equal, while a mentor is someone you consider more experienced and wiser than yourself. “A mentor can give you advice that a friend cannot,” she said. She continued that this is what a business is doing when it elects its leadership. “By the way,” she said as though speaking to a hypothetical mentor, “you’re on my board Ruchi Koval, speaker. of directors.” on-one sessions soon turned She advised consulting into a class. The whole experithe mentor in situations such ence felt natural and inspiring as when disputes arise in reto him. He paid attention to lationships. “When you have that and acted on it, deciding an argument,” she explained, to become a rabbi. Today he is “you decide you’re going to the rabbi of Congregation JFX. consult with your mentor.”

The evening ended with You already know you value Beth Kushnick, then-president that person’s judgement, so of Women’s Philanthropy, you seriously consider any advice. In the end, though, the thanking event cochairs Tracy Sussman and Kimberly decision is yours.

Valuntas for pulling everyKoval closed her talk with the idea that you’re presented thing together. She said the idea of having Koval come with much of value throughand speak to the community out your life. What matters is came up before COVID-19. what do you do with it when Tonight it’s time had finally it appears? come. She looked over at When she and her husKoval: “Nothing is better than band were living in Israel having you here today.” early in their relationship, for example, he decided to give back to the community by volunteering to tutor young adults in Hebrew. The one-

to. Your level of commitment and dedication continues to inspire me. Thank you for setting an example by your actions, your kindness and your strong belief in a Jewish future for generations to come. You made May 18, 2023, a most memorable and special day for me.

Comedy Night with Modi draws big, buzzing crowd

By Carl Zebrowski Editor

It was one of the biggest Lehigh Valley Jewish community events since COVID-19: the Jewish Federation’s Main Event featuring the nationally in-demand comedian Modi at the JCC on May 4.

“This is the first time since the pandemic that we are all together,” said Vicki Wax, cochair of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Annual

Campaign for Jewish Needs.

“We’re back in business in person!”

The JCC’s Kline Auditorium was abuzz with schmoozing before and after Modi began performing. The place was transformed for the night into a New York comedy club, complete with stage backdrop featuring a realistic brickwork motif. The lighting added to the effect.

Modi took the stage wearing a dark suit and bright gold belt buckle, no tie, kvetching, as a comedian will. He poked fun at his makeshift dressing room. “They gave me a room with no curtains to get changed,” he said.

Anyone who’s been in the JCC’s offices knows the

exterior walls of the rooms facing 22nd Street are mostly glass (although, as those of us who work here might point out, brand-new roller blinds had just been installed).

More than once during the one-hour act, noise from Tilghman Street, behind Modi, caught his attention. There was an emergency vehicle siren. There was also a revving engine that demonstrated the Doppler effect as it came and went. “What,” asked Modi, “is there a NASCAR track

here?”

He did thank his Jewish Federation host for the short video it showed before his performance, depicting happy people interacting with other happy people in clips of the Federation doing its work to help those in need. “I’m so used to following sad movies,” he said.

Modi joked about a lot of topics easily relatable to the Jewish audience: Ashkenazi vs. Sephardic Jews, honorees, shiva. The crowd ate it all up, including a non-Jewish member of the audience who he singled out (good-naturedly) a few times. His bit on organization cochairs

peaked with a punchline about how long a volunteer would selflessly suffer in the unwanted position: “I wasn’t going to do it this year, but they begged me.”

By coincidence, the community member chosen to take the stage to wrap up the night was none other than Vicki Wax, who announced, “I’m the cochair.”

Hot dogs! Kosher hot dogs here!

Jewish Heritage Night at the IronPigs returns for its 8th year Jewish Heritage Night at the Lehigh Valley IronPigs is back again. Jewish Day School kids will sing “Hatikva” before the game and kosher food will be served when the Philadelphia Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate plays the Toledo Mud Hens on Tuesday, June 13.

Admission includes a Jewish Heritage Night cap or backpack made especially for this occasion. Glatt kosher hot

dogs will be available.

First pitch is 7:05 p.m., but get there early for the pregame festivities; doors open at 6.

Community members will be among those lining up at the mound to throw the game’s “first pitch” (i.e., there are lots of “first” pitches).

The JDS kids will assemble at home plate to sing Jewish songs, leading up to the Israeli national anthem.

“A classic returns, bring-

ing together America’s two favorite pastimes: watching baseball and eating hot dogs,” said Aaron Gorodzinsky, director of campaign and security planning for the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, sponsor of the event.

“It’s a rare opportunity for members of our Jewish community to be able to attend a game and have a kosher hot dog.” $22 tickets include a field-

level seat, a voucher for a glatt kosher hot dog certified by the Lehigh Valley Kashrut Commission, and a Jewish Heritage Night backpack or hat; $16 tickets include a field-level seat, a $2 ballpark credit, and a backpack or hat. (Please, no mixing of different-price tickets within a family.)

Most Lehigh Valley synagogues are selling the tickets, as are the JCC and JDS. Or

you can buy them at jewishlehighvalley.org/calendar.

TUESDAY, JUNE 13, at 7:05 PM LEHIGH VALLEY IRONPIGS VS. TOLEDO MUD HENS Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers

$22 TICKETS INCLUDE:

FIELD LEVEL TICKET | FOOD VOUCHER* JEWISH HERITAGE NIGHT BACKPACK OR HAT

*A Glatt Kosher meat meal under the supervision of the Lehigh Valley Kashrut Commission

$16 TICKETS INCLUDE:

FIELD LEVEL TICKET | $2 BALLPARK CREDIT JEWISH HERITAGE NIGHT BACKPACK OR HAT

TO PURCHASE DISCOUNTED TICKET PACKAGES, CONTACT THE FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONS: Chabad of the Lehigh Valley Congregation Am Haskalah Congregation Bnai Shalom Congregation Brith Sholom Congregation Keneseth Israel Congregation Sons of Israel Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley Temple Beth El Temple Shirat Shalom Or contact the Jewish Federation at 610-821-5500 or aaron@jflv.org or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org/ironpigs

Sponsored by

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2023 5

Federation to present annual awards, celebrate the past year

Rachel Levin

Fay Kun

Aaron Gorodzinsky

The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley will present its annual awards and vote on nominees for its board of directors at its Community Celebration and Annual Meeting on June 8.

The event to celebrate the award winners, leaders and volunteers begins at 6 p.m. with an Israeli-style picnic.

Attendance is free and all are invited to attend, thanks in part to sponsorship by the St. Luke’s University Health Network.

Rachel Levin will receive the George Feldman Award for Young Leadership. Levin has been a member of the Federation’s board of directors and of the Women’s Philanthropy division board.

She led the division’s Dignity Grows initiative to fill and distribute tote bags full of essential supplies for women in need.

The Schiff Award for Prejudice Reduction will be presented to Fay Kun. After the death of her mother, Frieda Fried, in 2011, Kun became a Holocaust educator, teaching people about the unthinkable tragedy that became reality when prejudice was allowed to grow and spread. She has visited local schools and other sites to tell the story of her mother’s experience as a teenager surviving the concentration camps.

Aaron Gorodzinsky will

get the Mark L. Goldstein Award for Jewish Communal Professionals, named in memory of the longtime executive director of the Jewish Federation. Gorodzinsky, the Federation’s director of campaign and security planning, has led the annual campaign and the Jewish Community Relations Council as well as managed the Maimonides Society of health-care professionals and other important Federation efforts.

The Federation’s current board of directors will vote on new nominees to join the board. The board nominating committee has recommended Bruce Reich, Vickie Semmel and Deborah Weiner for three-year terms as board members, and Robert J. Grey, Rita Scheller and Jean Weiner for one-year terms as honorary board members.

The officers nominating committee has recommended Robby Wax as president; Aliette Abo, Dr. Bill Markson and Dr. Israel Zighelboim as vice presidents; Beth Kozinn as secretary; Iris Epstein as treasurer; Vera Schiff as trustee; Ross Born as honorary president; Roberto Fischmann as honorary treasurer; and Leonard Abrams, Wendy Born, Daniel Cohen, Barnet Fraenkel, Murray Goodman and Robert Hammel as honorary vice presidents.

Marketing department welcomes 2 staffers

Billy Thompson

The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley welcomes two new staffers to its marketing department: Billy Thompson and Christine Patriarca.

Billy Thompson has joined the marketing department as graphic design associate. He is currently a Northampton Community College student pursuing an associate’s degree in marketing. He plans to pursue a bachelor’s in business administration.

He led a team to victory in a 2023 competition against many four-year colleges.

The team won the Business Excellence award from Northampton Community College’s Dean of Business.

This reward was received in conjunction with the Capstone Excellency award he received for his contribution as copywriter and major

Christine Patriarca

events person in his marketing simulation class.

Christine Patriarca is an enthusiastic graphic designer with training in a wide range of graphic, UI/UX and web design skills. She joins the Federation having been the head of marketing and design for Lauren Miller, a realtor in North Carolina. She is currently working on a certification in user experience design from Cornell University and is certified in graphic design as well as in user interface design. She has an associate’s degree in fine arts from Raritan Valley Community College.

She enjoys expressing herself creatively and playing with color. She believes design is the perfect harmony between expression and functionality.

OUR CAMPAIGN YEAR IS COMING TO A CLOSE Help us be HERE FOR GOOD by providing support for our Jewish community!

To make your pledge

by June 30 for the Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs, email mailbox@jflv.org or visit jewishlehighvalley.org/ campaign.

www.JewishLehighValley.org

FEDERATION IS HERE FOR GOOD. 6 JUNE 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

WE HAVE BEEN FOR ALMOST 70 YEARS.

AND WE WILL BE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

Women health-care workers carve out niche in Maimonides

By Dr. Karen Dacey Maimonides Society

“I’ve been hoping for something like this for 10 years,” said one participant in the roundtable discussion of women health-care professionals on Sunday, May 7, at the JCC. This summit of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Maimonides Society brought together nutritionists, nurse midwives, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, psychologists and physicians. The morning was planned and moderated by me, Dr. Andrea Goldsmith, nurse practitioner Margo Lightman, and art therapist and bereavement counselor Lauren Rabin.

The brunch started with a welcome from Goldsmith,

who framed the morning as an opportunity to foster camaraderie and community. Dr. Zach Goldsmith, president of Maimonides (and Andrea’s husband), shared the mission of the society.

I asked the 15 participants to consider how the society and the greater community can support them in their work and, in turn, how they can contribute to the larger mission of the Jewish Federation. Lightman spoke about the importance of women working in health care and cited studies that show improved health outcomes for patients when women are an integral part of the healthcare team. Rabin then led the women in a focused group discussion, drawing on feedback from participants.

The participants spanned generational lines, with

clinicians who have been in practice 20-plus years and others who are earlier in their careers, facing challenges such as balancing work with raising a young family. Many of the participants liked that space was carved out for women to support women professionally. Some believed the organization can look inward to its members for support and outward to the larger community as a service to those in need. Outpatient clinicians were happy to connect with colleagues who are not otherwise a part of their dayto-day life. Others were happy to reconnect with the Jewish community after a hiatus. One participant expressed appreciation for the childcare that was provided for this event as essential to her being able to attend. All in all, the participants were excited about

shaping the future of the Maimonides Society with diversity, inclusivity and warmth.

Jeri Zimmerman, executive director of the Jewish Federation, encouraged the women to build on the strong foundation established at this event. The Federation wants to respond to the needs of the community and understands that female clinicians are an integral part of it. The participants all agreed with Zimmerman’s sentiment that a strong Federation makes for a strong Jewish community, which can then attract other Jewish individuals and families to the Lehigh Valley.

The morning was a success in capturing the essence of female clinicians in the Lehigh Valley and carving out a niche

the JCC. While contributions to the program are typically limited to businesses, the Lehigh Valley Jewish Foundation has created a Special Purpose Entity (SPE), the Lehigh Valley Jewish Scholarship LLC, to allow individuals access to the state-offered tax credit.

The SPE acts as a separate entity whose sole mission is to provide needs-based scholarships to the JDS and JCC. “This is a fairly straightforward program that provides a win-win situation for all involved,” said Julia Umansky, director of gift planning and EITC at the Jewish Federation. “Let’s say you owe $10,000 in state taxes as an individual tax payer. You apply to the Jewish Foundation’s SPE to be

a contributing member and send a $10,000 check to the entity. This money is distributed to the local schools the Federation supports, and you receive a 90% state credit — a 90% state tax credit in this situation. It’s that simple.”

Since participating in the Pennsylvania EITC program, the Jewish Federation has been able to distribute over $3 million in scholarships benefitting low-income families of the JCC and JDS. Since the establishment of the SPE in 2019, it has raised and contributed over $700,000 in scholarship money to local schools. This equates to over $630,000 in tax credits being applied to individual contributors.

The deadline for first-time business participants is July 1,

and Umansky is available to walk you through the application process to make it easy and straightforward.

You can contact her directly at julia@jflv.org or 610-821-5500, ext. 331.

For individuals, there’s almost always an opportunity to participate, and Umansky will help you with this process and any questions you may have. The SPE is always looking for donors in the community to sign up as contributors and it takes contributions on a first-come, first-serve basis. The foun-

for women health-care providers within the Jewish community. The feedback from it will shape future planning and growth within the community.

Within days of this summit, two women health care professionals joined the society.

For information about joining, contact Dr. Zach Goldsmith at zach.g.goldsmith@gmail. com or Aaron Gorodzinsky at aaron@jflv.org.

Dr. Karen Dacey, a former president of the Maimonides Society, is an ophthalmologist with the Valley Eye Group in Bethlehem who specializes in cataract surgery.

Fund kids for Jewish school just by paying taxes — really!

By Julia Umansky Director of Gift Planning and EITC

It’s true! Individuals and businesses can direct their personal and/or business taxes — money you would need to pay anyway — toward Jewish school scholarships.

Here’s how it works: Eligible taxpayers can receive tax credits of up to 90% through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program for contributions to a scholarship organization. In the Lehigh Valley, the Jewish Federation serves as a local supporting organization administering EITC scholarship monies to the Jewish Day School and

dation encourages you to communicate with your tax adviser to determine your estimated taxes before making your contribution to the SPE. For more information, application forms and step-by-step instructions, you can also visit jewishlehighvalley.org/ eitc.

MAIMONIDES SOCIETY Community Celebration

& ANNUAL MEETING

Happy Hour

JOIN THE JEWISH FEDERATION for an Israeli-style picnic at the JCC to celebrate our 2023 award winners, leaders and volunteers!

THURSDAY, JUNE 8 6:00 P.M. @ THE JCC

Register at jewishlehighvalley.org/calendar

5:30 - 7:00 PM WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2023 GRILLE 3501 SCAN TO REGISTER

SCAN TO REGISTER

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2023 7

IN HONOR LORI AND HOUMAN AHDIEH In honor of your daughter Bayley’s college graduation Vicki Wax

SUZANNE LAPIDUSS In honor of your grandson Mason’s Bar Mitzvah Karen Kuhn and Family Laurie and Robby Wax

LORI AND HOUMAN AHDIEH In honor of your daughter Sydney’s engagement Laurie and Robby Wax Vicki Wax

DUANE AND GARY MILLER In honor of your grandson Jake’s Bar Mitzvah Roni and Tom Englert

DANNY COHEN In honor of receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Lafayette College Aaron Gorodzinsky and Jennie Schechner MARLENE AND ARNAN FINKELSTEIN In honor of your 60th wedding anniversary Linda and Harold Kreithen

ELAINE AND LEON PAPIR In honor of your grandson Al’s Bar Mitzvah Karen Kuhn and Family ISRAEL ZIGHELBOIM In honor of earning your executive MBA from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Aaron Gorodzinsky and Jennie Schechner

MAZIE FLEISCHAKER In honor of your Bat Mitzvah Gloria Lowy

IN MEMORY HOWARD CENTER (Brother of Larry Center) Vicki Wax

EMILY AND BRIAN FORD In honor of your son Al’s Bar Mitzvah Karen Kuhn and Family

HOWARD SOKOL (Husband of Midge Sokol) Randi and Donald Senderowitz

LYNDA AND STUART KRAWITZ In honor of your son Joshua’s marriage Margo and Eric Lightman

STEVE WIT (Father of Eric Wit) Elaine and Leon Papir

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 www.jewishlehighvalley.org to place your card requests. Thank you for your continued support.

Learning should be fun!

DAYCARE FUN AND FITNESS FOR YOUR POOCH

4 Yoav teens will arrive soon to work at Camp JCC The Lehigh Valley community will soon welcome four teens from Israel to work at Camp JCC this summer.

Noa Li Or Kafri, Ori Shosan, Shira Morag and Zohar Menashe are arriving from Israel’s Yoav region, the Lehigh Valley’s Parternship2Gether counterpart community in Israel, on Sunday, June 25. Yoav chose them as the best of the best to send, and they will remain here through August 13.

The teens will get an introduction to American culture and, in turn, share their experiences as Israelis living in Israel. Community members are encouraged to get to know them by hosting them for dinner, inviting them to an event, taking them to visit a local tourist site or something similar.

For more information contact Aaron Gorodzinsky, director of campaign and security planning at the Jewish Federation, at aaron@jflv.org.

Zohar Menashe

Shira Morag

Noa Li Or Kafri

Ori Shosan

JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY

Nominees for the 2023-24 Board of Directors Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

ANNUAL MEETING Thursday, June 8, 2023 6 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center The Board Nominating Committee recommendations are: (as of May 23, 2023) DIRECTOR, 2-YEAR TERM (ENDING IN 2025) Dr. Eric Fels DIRECTORS, 3-YEAR TERMS (ENDING IN 2026) Bruce Reich Vickie Semmel Deborah Wiener

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The Officers Nominating Committee recommendations are: President Robby Wax

HONORARY President Ross Born

Vice Presidents Aliette Abo Dr. Bill Markson Dr. Israel Zighelboim

HONORARY Treasurer Roberto Fischmann

Secretary Beth Kozinn

Trustee Vera Schiff

HONORARY Vice Presidents Leonard Abrams Wendy Born Daniel E. Cohen Barnet Fraenkel Murray Goodman Robert Hammel

Treasurer Iris Epstein Pursuant to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley by-laws, “any twenty (20) members of the Federation may, by petition, present to the Secretary the name of any one qualified member for nomination. No member may sign more than one such petition. No person shall be eligible for election as a member of the Board of Directors unless his or her name shall thus have been submitted to the Secretary or nominated by said Nominating Committee.”

Am Haskalah celebrates 45 years of open arms

By Liz Fear Congregation Am Haskalah

Congregation Am Haskalah recently celebrated its 45th year with a festive banquet in Bethlehem.

The event was held at Congregation Brith Sholom, which Am Haskalah has made its home for the past several years. Members old and new gathered to nosh, schmooze and honor all that the congregation has achieved and experienced so far, while also brainstorming about all the potential for the next 45 years.

The Oneg committee outdid itself with a large spread of innovative, delicious, healthy food accompanied by an array of decadent desserts, all highlighting a congregational commitment to the tikkun olam (making the world a better place) ideals of sustainability and a reduced carbon footprint.

In the 1970s, after a need was identified for Jewish youth education that embraced a diverse set of learners, a group of local families banded together to devise a solution. They may not have initially realized they would be founding an entirely new Jewish space for the Lehigh Valley,

from scratch, but in the end, they rose to the challenge, crafting an enduring, radically welcoming home for Jews that may not be found elsewhere.

As founding member Arnan Finkelstein told the audience, “45 years ago, we never could have imagined that this is what Am Haskalah would look like today, but we are so, so incredibly proud of it.” He recalled the congregation initially meeting in members’ homes before moving to a church basement and the JCC. He recounted the first Simchat Torah. The group had not obtained its first Torah scroll yet. So instead of the tradition of dancing with the Torahs, they dressed all the children in costume as scrolls, complete with paper crowns, and danced, carried and paraded them around the room. The children truly were the vessels of joy and Torah.

Am Haskalah soon became an affiliate of the organization now known as Reconstructing Judaism and was able to grow and

evolve as a congregation.

Reconstructionist Judaism is the only Jewish religious movement that has been founded in America. It’s based on the teachings of Mordechai M. Kaplan, beginning over 100 years ago. With many innovative concepts about Judaism, divinity and peoplehood, a movement began to grow around the concept of Judaism as a living, growing and essentially progressing civilization. The movement has always been quite religiously progressive: Kaplan was the first American rabbi to preside over a public bat mitzvah celebration — for his daughter, Judith, in 1922 — and the movement’s rabbinical seminary has always been at the forefront of change as the first

seminary to accept openly gay students and students in interfaith marriages.

The proximity of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, founded in 1968, has been a blessing to Am Haskalah.

By welcoming student rabbis (often a new one every year!), Am Haskalah has been where dozens of Reconstructionist rabbis have experienced many of their “firsts,” conquering new challenges and growing into their essential selves as people and as rabbis. With that, Am Haskalah has had an immeasurable effect on the movement itself.

In fact, members recently learned that the very first Reconstructionist experience ever of one Deborah Waxman was being enthu-

siastically welcomed by Am Haskalah. Now she serves as the first female rabbi ever to head a Jewish congregational union and seminary, as well as the first lesbian to do so. She has led the entire movement as president and CEO of Reconstructing Judaism since 2014.

As the evening of the 45th anniversary banquet closed, smiles were on every face, no doubt with pride for the founding members and excitement for the promise of the new generation ready to carry the torch into the future.

Whatever that future may be, Am Haskalah will be there with open arms.

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Rally ’round the flag

Community, supporters raise Israel’s colors at city hall

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk and State Rep. Mike Schlossberg were part of the strong turnout of the Jewish community and its supporters on May 19 for the raising of the Israeli flag at Allentown City Hall. The event celebrated Jewish Heritage Month, Israel’s 75th birthday and Jerusalem Day. Bruce Reich, head of the Jewish Community Relations Council, opened the ceremonies by welcoming the crowd for the return of what had been an annual tradition of raising the Israeli flag here.

“Together we are united in our commitment to honor the legacy of the Jewish people in America and to build a brighter future for generations to come with deep love for our country and for the state of Israel,”

he said.

Jeri Zimmerman, executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, highlighted “the contributions of Jewish Americans to form the fabric of our history, culture and society.”

“We have not been able to have this celebration for a number of years now,” she said, “and it’s so wonderful to be here. And we’re delighted to have our next generation, the students of the Jewish Day School, to join us as well.”

Mayor Tuerk stepped up to the mic and pointed out some officials in attendance, including Police Chief Charles Roca, City Council Vice President Cynthia Mota,

Amy Cozze from U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s office and Lehigh County Judge Zachary Cohen.

Tuerk looked around through the crowd. “As you can see here in Allentown, there is a tradition of Jewish American achievement, and we’re incredibly proud of the people how have joined us today,” he said. “I want to finish by extending my gratitude to the Jewish American community for your invaluable contributions to our city.”

Rep. Schlossberg was next. He said he’d been to many flag raisings over the years. This was the first that was personal for him. He expressed appreciation that Allentown has a mayor who promotes diversity, viewing the day’s event in part as a public declaration against antisemitism. “This was always a city where I’ve felt safe,” he said. He took a few moments

to impress on the JDS kids the importance of treating people the right way.

Mariska van Aalst, deputy district director of the U.S. House, was there to represent U.S. Rep. Susan Wild.

She read a statement from Wild. “The story of Jewish America is the story of America itself,” she said. Like Schlossberg, she brought up antisemitism, thanking the Jewish Federation for all it has done and is doing to combat it.

Rabbi Moshe Re’em of Temple Beth El invited the JDS kids up in front of the speakers’ podium. “Democracy is something we cherish as Americans and we cherish as Jews,” he said. Rabbi Seth Phillips (retired) offered a prayer in Hebrew along with its translation into English.

Rabbi Yaacov Halperin of Chabad of the Lehigh Valley said he was humbled to be part of the ceremony, with its message of togetherness. He shared a memory of unity from his youth in Israel. “I remember walking to the Western Wall on

Shabbat mornings with our Arab neighbors,” he said.

Tuerk moved back to the front and invited Zimmerman to join him in sending the colors up the pole. “We are going to raise the flag for the first time in years,” he announced.

When the flag reached the top, the JDS kids sang the Israeli national anthem, accompanied by their music teacher, Sumer Noel, on violin. The ceremony concluded with the crowd turning to the Stars and Stripes and the kids leading the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

My textual transformation

By Adina Re’em Temple Beth El

As a transplant to the Lehigh Valley without family nearby, I often experience holidays as a time of memories. A particular one from my high school years strikes me now as we mark graduations and the holiday of Shavuot.

My friends and I, at the first hint of dawn, hurried to wrap up our activities and get on our way. A moment earlier you could hear conversations spinning text study into passionate arguments. There were verses quoted, statements of one Talmudic sage or another, and opinions of prominent intellectuals, the “influencers” of the day. Everything was at stake and everything was ideological. But from the distance of an ocean and the years, I tell you, social status, friends, even selfworth were on the line those nights.

Eventually, a long, slow stroll to the Kotel (Western Wall) began. Individuals and couples, like drops of water, soon joined the river of people, through streets, neighborhoods. We passed the small triangle of our downtown center and continued onward to the Old City through the Jaffa Gate.

Some first timers, some veterans like us, all pilgrims of the night. Do not mistake all this as solely sacred. Mostly we were teenagers trying to maximize our social time together.

In this way we combined two of the many aspects of Shavuot, Temple and text.

Ours was a pilgrimage in the footsteps of the ancient Judahites who ascended the Jerusalem hills carrying the first fruit of the season.

Aptly the book of Numbers refers to Shavuot as “Yom Habikurim” (Day of the First Fruits), for the fruit brought to the Temple as an offering. On our walk, of course, there were no baskets of fruit in sight. The story of how Shavuot almost entirely shed its agricultural identity and came to be associated with the pivotal moment at Sinai is somewhat convoluted. Suffice to say it was a postbiblical development when Shavuot evolved to be celebrated chiefly as Z’man Matan Torateinu (the Time of the Giving of Our Torah).

Have you ever been part of a crowd in motion on a mission? There is a palpable thrill, an emotional charge.

Yet my crowd, dressed in their holiday best, knew well that what we had just experienced when engag-

10 JUNE 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

ing with words of Torah was the-real-thing. Coming to the Kotel was symbolic of times long gone. We no longer bring first fruit or sacrifices, but we do daily engage with Torah, the text.

In the subculture in which I grew up, Israeli Religious Zionism, nothing held greater value than engaging with the text of Torah. What do we talk about when we talk about Torah?

It seems to be one of those words that can mean many things to many people. Our ancient texts encompass the vast sea of biblical and rabbinic literature. Referred to as the written and oral Torah, it is all made of letters and words.

Diverse in genres, at times conflicting and often confounding, it was all largely inaccessible to me.

Obstacles turned into barriers that I carried in my heart and mind. I learned calligraphy and drew the letters I loved, letting the lines of ink lead the way to a form or flow. I held on to their physicality knowing there was so much more hiding within.

Few texts are more intimidating than Torah, with its ancient language, jargon and compact style.

No text is more welcoming than Torah, inviting one

and all into a conversation about what matters most. I cannot tell you the moment I was ready to reenter the text again. Like most good things, it was a long process.

At some point I committed to meeting a new friend weekly over text over Zoom.

Knowing that texts have a way of hiding their agenda, even telling lies to produce “truths,” I was ready. If I once struggled with the meaning of the text, my middle-aged self was looking for multiple points of view, more than one meaning, even flat-out conflicting “truths.” Like returning home, returning to the text is not uncomplicated. There are challenges — possibly competition hangs in the air — and there are doors that still may be closed.

Yet, where the power

of my youthful crowd was once, now there was an intimate study space: two people and one text. A setting perfect for an ongoing process of discovery: Who am I? Who are we? Who do we want to be? Don’t look for a clear line between the text and the conversation, both called Torah. It rises in multigenerational voices, many paths taken and so many yet to be trod, it pulses with possibility.

Adina Re’em is an Israeli American who has been part of the Temple Beth El community for 20 years. She leads a weekly Shabbat study group there that is open to all, this year exploring Parsha with Prophets. She works as an RN Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital, Raker Center.

Women’s Philanthropy pictorial year in review

SPONSORED BY THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY’S WOMEN’S DIVISION

If you’re expecting, know someone who is, or have a new baby, PLEASE LET US KNOW! Contact Abby Trachtman, 610-821-5500 | abbyt@jflv.org HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2023 11

Momentum memories

Travelers consider the bonds formed in Israel and at home

By Julia Umansky Director of Gift Planning and EITC

A little over a year ago, I was asked to lead a cohort of women from our community on a partnership trip with Momentum Unlimited. After 10 days in Israel, exploring the country, what it means to be a Jewish woman and mother, and bonding with our trip mates, we embarked on the rest of our journey at home here in the Lehigh Valley.

As a young adult new to this community, this trip was an opportunity for me to connect with other like-minded women in my age group and build some sense of community for myself. After our return from Israel, the other women and I gathered monthly to discuss Jewish values, celebrate holidays and explore what community means to us and how we could create the world we want to live in. As we round out our Year of Growth together, I have asked the women to reflect on their time in Israel and the past year of connection. Here are their stories: Tracy Sussman I am a Jewish mom who grew up in the Lehigh Valley.

Growing up in Macungie, I was one of only two Jewish kids in my high school

graduating class. Outside of my synagogue, Congregation Keneseth Israel, I felt spiritually and culturally Jewish, yet no connection to the Jewish community in the Lehigh Valley. When I got married and became a mom, the first thing I did was head to the JCC to make sure my family would be part of the JCC’s preschool program. The day my oldest son started preschool started my journey into a feeling of belonging in the Jewish community. I became entrenched as a volunteer in my synagogue and at the JCC. This led to me eventually taking on a professional role at the JCC. It wasn’t until I began working at the JCC that I understood the role of Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and the desire to visit Israel.

I realized that although I was living life very Jewishly, I hadn’t felt a connection to Israel. This slowly changed as I learned more about Israel and then was blessed to make my first visit there as a JCC staff member in 2017. It brought new meaning to my Jewish identity and the connection to the history and culture.

My second visit to Israel was through Momentum last summer. I was not prepared for how different this visit would be, taking this journey with all women, connecting as individuals, moms and wives.

After all, I was one of the

older participants, with my youngest son about to head off to college and facing what the next phase of my life would look like. The words continually shared — fostering unity without uniformity — really took on meaning to me. It was an emotional journey on which I felt deeply connected to the women I traveled with here and in Yoav and that helped me realize that no matter what stage of life I am in, I am always Mom. The journey has helped me reflect on my family, professional life and community. I am proud that my sons have a sense of their Jewish identity and experienced meaningful bar mitzvahs and confirmations. They both have a deep love for the lifelong friends they have made through the JCC, synagogue, sleepaway camp, BBYO and now, at college, Hillel. They volunteered through BBYO and Friendship Circle at Chabad and at Jewish Family Service. My older son spent the entire summer of 2022 immersed in Israel through Birthright Educational Journey and its Onward program.

It further sparked the energy and passion I bring to my professional role at the JCC and channel into the community as well. I have hosted teens from Yoav and became close with the community shlichim (Israeli liaisons).

I have taken on volunteer roles with the Federation to connect with our Partnership2Gether program with Yoav in Israel, whether it be for a meal, a day or longer. I was on the Women’s Philanthropy board for the Federation and led the Chai Club initiatives.

This journey helped me realize that the same warm, inviting home that I opened to family, friends and community will be there as I move into this next chapter and further lead to deeper and new connections within our community that help us all grow.

Jessica Volchko Anxiety! That’s what I felt the first time someone asked if I was interested in going to Israel without my family. No way! Looking back over the past few years, I can’t believe how far I’ve come and how much has changed. I made the commitment to go twice.

(There was a COVID-19 cancellation, and I almost chickened out the second time.) Through our pre-trip meetings, and bonding with

12 JUNE 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

the girls on our trip, I realized I may be leaving my children and husband at home, but I had family to help me through this journey.

Upon arrival in Israel, I felt overwhelmed with emotion.

However, my anxiety was replaced with pride and excitement. I was doing something I swore I could never do. Of course the trip was better than I could have imagined. I took home a love of the country, many lessons learned and a sisterhood that I will never forget.

I couldn’t wait to tell my family about my journey to Israel and the connection I now feel to the country and the family in Yoav that welcomed us with so much love and joy. I came home with such a renewed sense of connection to our own Jewish community. I am so excited to take my whole family back one day. I would love for them to have the same experience and emotional connection that I now feel.

Susan Kolpon I was sitting on a Momentum bus in Israel in July 2022, bumping along to our next site, surrounded by vibrant Jewish women from the Lehigh Valley, Boston, Florida and beyond when it struck — a sudden deep, intense sense of gratitude. I felt moved almost to tears by the unbelievable sweetness of the moment I was experiencing right there on that bus.

It was midway through our trip. It had been another terrific day — thought-provoking, educational, spiritual, energizing, bonding — but nothing specifically precipitated that moment. Perhaps it was precisely the ordinary feel of that time on the bus as we chatted, napped, checked on family, anticipated our next destination that left me almost breathless, completely overwhelmed with thankfulness.

This gratitude was not simply the return to normalcy after COVID, though certainly that did play a part. I believe what struck me so deeply is the way the “normal” of our world has changed enormously, even without the pandemic. Community, especially, is different in the present day than it was in the past.

The change has occurred gradually for our generation, but here in 2023, daily life for the average parent seems to have reached a new level of busy. Many of us now engage in life virtually for much of our week. Even with our “real life” friends and family, we communicate daily by text and social media. This virtual contact can absolutely be extremely convenient and even bonding in many ways.

But it is also different, and not a replacement for the feeling when you are physically together, truly there for each other.

This quiet “new normal” very much extends to Judaism and Jewish community.

While my husband and I strive to make Jewish life a priority in our family, I have noticed that it can still too easily become another “not in person” part of our busy lives. Texting “Shabbat shalom” is sweet, but it is no rejuvenating Shabbos dinner with family or friends.

Momentum took away that distance without any pomp and circumstance. (Well, maybe some pomp and circumstance. There was much dancing!) But primarily, it took Jewish women from all different backgrounds and simply put us together, right where we needed to be — no distractions. The uniqueness, the sweetness of that wonderful, normal, sisterly communal experience showed me how important it is to make “in real life” part of our everyday Jewish life.

Momentum memories continues on page 12

Kaplans endow chair at LVHN in honor of Dr. Lawrence Levitt The Lehigh Valley Health Network dedicated its newest endowed chair on May 3 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest.

Arnold and Deanne Kaplan created the Endowed Chair in Multiple Sclerosis in honor of Dr. Lawrence Levitt.

The holder of the chair is Dr. Dmitry Khaitov, a neurologist who focuses on treating MS patients and codirects the LVHN MS Center with Dr. Gary Clauser. The chair will provide funds to expand MS educational programs, health and wellness programs for MS patients and clinical research for the Multiple Sclerosis Program at Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute. The Multiple Sclerosis Program

is recognized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as one of its Centers for Comprehensive MS Care.

Dr. Brian Nester, LVHN president and CEO, said LVHN neurology saw almost 1,500 a patients annually over the past three years, and. “Every week,” he said, “approximately three to four new patients with MS seek care at LVHN either as a new diagnosis or as a transfer from another institution.”

Arnold Kaplan, a former member of LVHN’s board of trustees who has generously supported the Lehigh Valley Jewish community over the years, spoke at the dedication ceremony about how his wife, Deanne, has

multiple sclerosis and by 1972 needed a wheelchair to get around. At that time, he worked at Air Products and Chemicals, having been hired by its founder, Leonard Parker Pool. The visionary behind what is now LVHN, Cedar Crest Pool, connected the couple with Dr. Levitt, a neurologist at LVHN who would “do whatever it took to help Deanne,” said Kaplan.

“Little did we know then the impact Dr. Levitt and Lehigh Valley Health Network would have on our family,” Kaplan said. “It is a great honor to present this endowed chair today and to complete the circle that began 50 years ago.”

Levitt, for his part, pointed to his relation-

ship with the Kaplans, and their gift in honor of him, as highlights of his career.

Nester said endowed chairs are critical to the mission of LVHN, helping to recruit and retain the best national talent. He said it has become increasingly difficult in the post-COVID-19 world to recruit physicians — primary care, specialists and surgeons.

“The endowed chair holders are among the health network’s best physicians who are engaged

our shelf.

That inner voice must have been loud enough for other moms to hear in the Lehigh Valley when we moved here with two young kids.

These moms embraced and encouraged me to listen to that voice and join them on the Momentum trip to Israel.

I built my confidence as a Jewish mother touring Israel with other moms, including the women we partnered with from Yoav. It was so natural connecting with these women from the other side of the world, as if we were long lost sisters reunited. I felt so much love. I learned that there’s no such thing as being “Jewish enough.” Every household is different. It’s up to me to speak up and make memorable Jewish traditions for my family.

Since the Israel trip, that quiet inner voice now sings out loud in harmony with my family as we light those Shabbat candles, no longer collecting dust on a shelf, but providing a bright, joyous tradition to our home. The best part: I feel the support of other Jewish moms right here in the Lehigh Valley who experienced the journey, and the triumphant roar, with me. As I said to my husband when we moved to the

Lehigh Valley, this is where our family life begins. These moms are an extension of our family.

Momentum memories Continues from page 11

The “simple” act of bringing together Jewish mothers was enriching, spiritually nourishing, and it taught me the important value of appreciating the beauty of the current moment we are in now. Our Momentum journey was very much a “come as you are — you are enough” experience.

No matter our imperfections, no matter our worries and obligations, now is the right time to reach out and be together.

There was a great deal to our Momentum journey.

Among many other aspects, it revived and updated my relationship with Israel, and the timeline on which I hope my husband and children can experience it too. It refreshed my adult relationship with Judaism, with all its ups and downs and complexities. Our journey together this year has created a wonderful bond with sensational women here in the Lehigh Valley. I also owe my endlessly supportive family some homemade shakshuka and other delicacies from the trip — big time!

Yet, when I think of the many wonderful outcomes of the Momentum trip, I inevitably think of the spirit and enthusiasm, and of that ordinary, incredible moment just sitting there on the bus with my Momentum sisters.

It was an extraordinary gift

to be reminded that even in the modern day, so much of a beautiful Jewish life is just showing up, making time for our lives with others and finding how incredibly strong we are together.

Hinei ma tov uma na’im Shevet achim gam yachad.

How good and pleasant it is For brothers and sisters to sit together.

Selene Robinson My journey with Momentum finally allowed me to hear my voice. It took me from an appreciation of Judaism to a deeper connection within myself, my family and my community.

At the beginning of our trip, I was secretly worried I wasn't “Jewish enough.” Other than lighting the hanukiah for Chanukah, my family lived a typically secular life.

Yet there was always this inner voice, yearning for more.

That voice quieted for years as I focused on my career and moved from city to city. It wasn’t until I met my husband, Ethan, that my voice finally spoke up, asking, “What are you doing with your life?” We wanted a Jewish household and we even received beautiful Shabbat candles for our wedding, but I didn't have the slightest idea what to do with them; they became pretty knickknacks on

Lynn Wilson Choosing to be Jewish has been, for me, a unique perspective. It has been a process over more than 10 years of searching, learning and growing within a culture that feels like home and at the same time foreign to me. Unlike many others who are born into Judaism, I do not have memories of family events or celebrations to fall back on. I do not have traditional challah recipes to serve on Fridays or recollections of my family lighting Shabbat candles. However, this year-long trip has shown me pieces of the depth of the Jewish connection to Israel, connection to family and the local Jewish community. In all these places, I have never been made to feel like an outsider; my Jewishness was never questioned. And yet, at times I feel the need to prove who I am and why I am here.

This experience with Momentum has allowed me to share love of Judaism with my family and strengthen my connection to Israel. I appreciate the trip most to help me understand the connection Jewish people have with Israel and continue to

and focused on patient care, education, and research and lead the way in health care not only here at home but nationally,” he said.

This latest endowed chair is LVHN’s 21st.

spend time every month with the women who had the same experience while deepening my knowledge of Jewish traditions. I am hopeful that my children will be able to have memories of family celebrations and challah on the holidays.

These women have taught me many things during our year together. They’ve taught me that mothers are fierce and a force to be reckoned with. Connection transcends language, geography and background. That Judaism is more than a religion you may have been born with but rather a conscious choice to practice and engage with daily. And most importantly, they’ve taught me that community is what you make of it and what you put into it. I am thankful to be a part of the Lehigh Valley Jewish community with people who work hard to make it the best it can be; we are only as strong as the effort and connection we put in, so I encourage you all to get involved in a way that works for you and create the community you want.

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All proceeds benefit projects in Israel:

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For prices or to place an order, call Eva 610-398-1376.

All payments are made payable to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2023 13

KI to honor Vikki Dunn for 11 years of service Congregation Keneseth Israel honor Vikki Dunn for her years of service to the congregation and the Jewish community on Saturday, June 17, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Everyone is invited to join in the evening of dining and entertainment.

KI hired Dunn as its new temple administrator in 2012, and over the past 11 years she has put her own mark on the position to the extent that it was changed to executive director. She is extremely well organized and can juggle many tasks at the same time.

She is a good listener and can see the potential in new ideas.

She is very flexible and does not get upset when changes are needed. She always finds a way to resolve problems to get things done.

Dunn was born and raised along with her brother and sister in the very Jewish community of West Hartford, Connecticut. She attended religious school and became

extremely active in the National Federation of Temple Youth. One summer, she attended NFTY Kutz Camp for a month and was so active and enthusiastic that the camp leader petitioned her temple to help pay for her to stay for the second month.

After high school, she attended the University of Connecticut, where she got a degree in marketing, but developed a love of writing.

She wrote a column for the campus newspaper. Postgraduation, she got a job with RR Donnelly and was soon transferred to New York City to work in the magazine prepress division.

On her third day there, while waiting for the subway, she met a nice man named David. It turned out they worked only a few blocks from each other on Wall Street. They talked the whole way to their stop and when they got off the train, he gave her a business card. She never

called.

David, however, was not so easily put off. She had told him that she worked for Donnelly, and he managed to track her down there.

He called and invited her to lunch.

Lunch went well, and after several more, they knew they had feelings for each other. A year later they were married.

Vikki Susman became Vikki Dunn, and they lived in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Two years later, David got a new job, in Weston, Connecticut, and they decided it was a good time and place to start a family. Henry and Sarah came along in short order, and Vikki stayed at home to raise the children while David worked. She came to realize that she wanted more children, but David was happy with just the two.

Then David was offered a wonderful job opportunity, but it involved moving to Toronto. He really wanted to take the job, but Vikki was happy where they were. She told David that she was willing to uproot, but only if he agreed to have another child.

He took the position, they moved and they had another child, named Matthew (a Canadian citizen).

They joined a small congregation just outside Toronto where the two older children began religious school. Vikki was very active there, on the board and in the queue to become president, but it was not to be. David’s company was bought out and he was let go, though with a great severance package.

David and Vikki decided to buy a small business in Brattleboro, Vermont, where they stayed for 18 years. Vikki accepted a position as director of operations at the Mary Meyer Stuffed Toys company, where she stayed until they moved to Allentown. She told me the job was very similar in nature to the position of administrator at KI and that the skill sets she developed there helped her prepare for her current position. One thing

SUMMER fa ll

she learned quickly at KI was that interacting with congregants is a bit different than dealing with stuffed toys.

While in Brattleboro, she became a soccer mom, complete with a minivan, and she volunteered at the kids’ schools, in the town and at the synagogue. She was on the board of Shir He Harim (Song of the Mountains) for many years, including a two-year stint as president.

All three children had their b’nai mitzvot there and Vikki became an adult bat mitzvah there. She maintains close ties, and her daughter Sarah was married there last October.

Their children are now spread out, with Henry and his wife Sara in Connecticut; Sarah and her husband, Boykin, in Juneau, Alaska; and Matthew and his wife, Gina, in Brooklyn. Vikki and David have seven grandchildren: Nora, Mabel, Ellerby, Mobi, Cora, Beatrice Pawder and Otto von Bisbark (Nora and Mabel are of the twolegged variety; the rest are four-legged).

The Dunns moved to the Lehigh Valley because David got a job at Lehigh University.

He saw a classified ad in the Morning Call for an institution looking for an administrator. It stated that any applicant “must be comfortable dealing with Jewish people.”

They still laugh today because if that phrase had not been in the ad, Vikki would have paid it no attention. Once she called and found out more, she saw it as a way to bring her family life, her Jewish life and her work life together for the first time.

One of Vikki’s favorite parts of the KI position is that she gets to make a real difference in the lives of many congregants, interacting with them as they plan for life cycle events. She loves that there are so many facets of the work that she’s never bored. Her comfort level with change has served her well in her interaction with two rabbis and six presidents, all

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of whom had different leadership styles.

Vikki feels proud of many things that occurred during her tenure, but a few really resonate with her. The COVID-19 pandemic was especially disruptive to everyone and everything involved with KI, and it was very challenging to maintain a sense of order and continuity. She teamed with the rabbi and the lay leadership to put Shabbat services online. She helped organize new programs such as virtual wine tasting and Chairs on the Stairs, where congregants would meet on KI’s front steps to watch the fireworks on July 4.

She also wrote a grant request for federal funds to improve the security of the building. That request was approved, and KI is now a safer place because of her actions.

She brought more volunteers into the office to ensure that congregants and anyone else who contacted KI had a personal and pleasant experience. She played a role in reformatting the KI Bulletin and the email blast and rebuilding the KI website. She also worked to open the building so other Jewish organizations could hold events at KI. As Vikki retires as executive director, she has some suggestions for her successor, John Perry: always remember that KI is not just a business, but also a Jewish home and community. And lead with your heart as well as your head, be optimistic and maintain a sense of humor.

What’s next for Vikki?

Her plans include more babysitting and visiting the grandchildren (of both varieties), a lot of cooking, continuing with her book club and gourmet group, walking and exercising, traveling with David and staying open to new volunteer possibilities. However, she is most excited about taking over as president of the Women of KI, and invites women of all ages to join.

If you are a KI member, you should already have received an invitation to the event. If you would like to join in honoring Vikki, call KI at 610-435-9074.

Joanna Powers named interim head of JDS

Joanna Powers has been named interim head of school at the Jewish Day School as the search begins for a permanent replacement for the departing Amy Golding.

Powers will begin in her new role on June 12 and will remain in it for the 2023-24 school year, the school’s board of directors decided unanimously.

“Her familiarity with our students, faculty, staff, parents and greater community all serve as an asset,” said Dr. Marc Berson, president of the board. “We are looking forward to a successful search and a bright future for our school and our community.”

Powers has been at JDS since 1997, starting out as a kindergarten general studies teacher. Over the years, she has taught all grades. In 2016, she took on an administrative role as director of Hebrew and Judaics.

“After so many years,” said Powers, “the JDS has be-

come like my home, and the faculty and staff are more like family than coworkers.

There are students who I've known nearly their entire lives and others that have made their way into my heart after only a few years. I am truly humbled and grateful for the opportunity to help guide the JDS through this transition."

Her curriculum vitae also includes licensed teacher and alumna of the prestigious You Lead Prizmah Leadership program and the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s “Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership” program.

Joining Powers in the transition to new leadership for the school will be a transitional administrative team of current JDS staff: Krista Gerbasio, assistant director of the lower school; Brian Goldman, curriculum and instruction coordinator; Ariel Solomon, director of Hebrew and Judaics; Adrienne Weaver, executive office manager and director of human resources.

Golding became head of school at JDS in 2016, returning to Allentown from New York City to lead the school

she attended growing up. For her work and accomplishments at JDS, she received the Jewish Federation’s Mark L. Goldstein Outstanding Jewish Professional Award in 2019. Her new role is associate vice president of philanthropy and donor engagement at the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

"We will all miss Amy deeply and appreciate everything she has done for our school,” Powers said.

A committee to search for a permanent head of school includes: Hartley Lachter and Marc Bernstein, cochairs; Tama Tamarkin, past JDS board president; Dustin Nash, JDS board member

Muhlenberg College professor; Sara Schonbach, director of admissions and academic life at JDS; and Gwen Hartnett, math teacher at JDS. As the search process moves forward, there will be opportunities for input from the entire community.

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A note from Amy Golding Serving as the first graduate of JDS to become the head of school has been an honor. Together, we have accomplished so much over the last several years. We strengthened our budget, expanded our lower school program, renovated our campus into a modern sleek and warm space. Our faculty received numerous awards from Harvard and Da Vinci Center and others. Our students entered

and won contests, including Mathcounts Future Engineers and Regional Scripps Spelling Bee. Our graduates were selected as recipients in the National Merit Scholarship program and of Parkland’s Tony Stark Young Genius Award and many more.

How lucky are we that Joanna Powers, a seasoned educator and an active member of our community, will take on the role as interim head of school. Under her leadership, JDS will continue to flourish.

I look forward to continuing my involvement with JDS as a parent and lay leader.

Coming Soon!

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HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2023 15

Mile marker 0 on the journey toward a better tomorrow

Rabbi Seth Phillips

A birth, a bris, a bat mitzvah, a marriage, a graduation, a birthday ending in a 0 — we rightly use the expression “milestone.” As with so many words from days of yore, milestone’s origin tells a fascinating story.

As can still be seen across Europe and in museums, milestones were just that,

stones marking distances along Roman roads. “All roads led to Rome” because distances were measured from the Golden Milestone in the Roman Forum.

This column marks a milestone of sorts for me. It’s my first in 20222023 (to the chagrin of my colleagues who had to double up to keep this monthly column going) and my first as a retiree.

As I hoped a year ago, I was able to retire from a wonderfully fulfilling “job” after 10 years, but not from the Lehigh Valley Jewish community.

Connections and friendships, trust for life-cycle events, new students to learn with and from all carried over from my

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working past. I shed the responsibility for the Jewish future to a new generation of leaders and became what I had not been since 1973 — a Jew in the pew. Despite my oft-repeated joke that I was looking to arrive late, sit in the back and complain, I must have listened to myself the rabbi, for I did none of them.

The good advice that I received was that a retiree not only retired from something, but also had to retire to something.

Becoming an active saba (grandfather) took a surprisingly long time to come to. Making up for lost Jewish time is perhaps a surprising admission for a rabbi to make, but that is what I retired to.

The rhythms and rituals of Judaism are measured out in daily doses.

They may be more or less important than, as the retired admiral and author William H. McRaven advised, making one’s bed every morning, but they are meant to be practiced daily. Not weekly, not two days a year, not three days a year, but daily.

Comparing the mitzvot to bed making might be seen as sacrilegious or trivial, but in reality, they both express a commitment to a sense of order and a hands-on acceptance of external standards and goals.

For me, in this milestone retirement year, the mitzvah I chose was Daf Yomi. Literally, the “daily page” put me on

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the same universally read page of Jewish learning.

Since September 11, 1923, learners young and old have committed to the same page of Talmud in a sequence that takes 2,711 days to complete. As the adjective “talmudic” has a pejorative meaning (overly detailed or subtle, hairsplitting), some might question my choice of this retirement activity. Yes, there are head-splitting pages, days when the difference between the world of Babylonia circa 400 C.E. and today is unbridgeable. Not differentiating between the baby and the bathwater has been the all too common reaction of “modern” Jews.

In choosing to stick with something that is a struggle, that is often outside my comfort zone, the fact that I need an awful lot of help even to understand the English translation could be seen as masochism. But through my struggle with Hillel and Shammai, Rav and Shmuel, with a world that ended in 70 C.E., what I am really learning about is myself. As Alexander Pope wrote, “The proper study of mankind is man.”

I might have turned to the stars or to therapy for that understanding, but I chose a daily encounter with my people’s struggle to understand their place in HaShem’s creation. Realizing that I am not alone

on this journey, that there are spaces in Allentown and Baltimore where fellow pilgrims gather, has kept me in community.

I am certainly happy to share the many yomi (daily) Jewish learning programs that now exist.

There are shorter commitments and texts that address human yearnings and desires for meaning more directly than the Talmud. My offer to be your guide is not meant to compete with my stillworking colleagues, but to be a small way to repay the kindness and trust that you have shown me over these years.

We measure our lives by the milestones that we encounter. Presumably we judge our success by the increasing numbers on those markers. In urging you to find a time or a topic that could bring you meaning and order, the milestone we need most has a 0 on it to signify the start of our journey to a better tomorrow.

610.821.8722 | www.jfslv.org

Reflecting on 10 Years by Debbie Zoller I am celebrating 18 years of being a Jewish Family Service Executive Director – the first eight at JFS of Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina and the past 10 as your JFSLV Executive Director.

Wendy Rapoport, MSW, LCSW, and Marcia Schechter, MS, RN, are the only current staff members who were at the agency before I came. The staff size has doubled to 16 strong and I am proud of the incredible individuals who are so motivated and dedicated to the agency.

I have served under five presidents: Michael Weinstock, Patty Glascom, Wendy Born, Rabbi Allen Juda, and current board president Robin Rosenau.

These leaders have presided over strong boards, and each left an indelible footprint on the organization.

When I arrived here, client records were stored in paper files. Today, we have technology which has

enabled us to increase the quality of data collection to help connect clients to our complement of services.

In 2012, one clinical social worker operated the food pantry, which consisted of a few shelves of primarily Kosher food and a staff refrigerator. Food was delivered or donated sporadically, and clients dropped by the office to receive one bag of food.

Today, the pantry has three commercial refrigerators and two commercial freezers to store food delivered bimonthly by our partners at Second Harvest. JFS is committed to ensuring that food pantry clients receive milk, eggs, and butter at every visit, along with shelfstable products, produce, and protein. JFS receives donations from Giant, Not Just Bagels, Wawa, and Wegmans. Clients select foods in a grocery storestyle pantry, complete with shopping carts. Nearly two dozen volunteers support the food pantry

along with the Food Pantry Coordinator.

The JFS Mazel Meal program was launched in 2018 as a Jewish Federation Super Sunday Mitzvah Day. Today, JFS volunteers deliver Jewishthemed meals each month to 60 older adults across the Lehigh Valley. This program provides a social and spiritual connection through multiple monthly phone calls, which help relieve social isolation and challenges with meal preparation. Along with our partnership with JFLV, JFS works with ShareCare Faith in Action and GoGo Grandparent for older adult transportation.

JFS has become a leader in creating a more inclusive community by hiring an Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator. Social work students from Cedar Crest College, Delaware Valley University, and Marywood University are mentored by staff as part of JFS’s internship program. The

volunteer program has grown from eight to over 80, with a designated Volunteer Coordinator.

There have been many challenges over the past 10 years – the rise of social media, increases in depression and anxiety, recognition of the importance of LGBTQIA+, a rise in antisemitism, and the changing landscape of Jewish community life. Each of these topics is worthy of attention and discussion.

Life now looks very different from the way it did three years ago. Our amazing JFS staff was able to pivot to serve our clients during the pandemic. They learned how to operate the food pantry safely and our social workers moved to a teletherapy model to deliver services.

As individuals feel more comfortable with in-person events, JFS will continue to provide more opportunities for socialization such as our retired men’s group,

Schmooze and Schmear.

Volunteers are once again leading holiday programs at long-term care residences.

I am grateful to live in the Lehigh Valley and be part of a vibrant Jewish community. I love the work of JFS and the individuals I interact with. While I am well aware that I cannot solve everyone’s problems, I appreciate the opportunity to listen compassionately.

In the words of Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

JFS congratulates this year’s scholarship winners: The Torah instructs us, “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the corners of your field.” JFS provides you with the opportunity to plant an extra row of produce in your garden to donate to the food pantry through its Plant A Row program.

Food Pantry Coordinator Doug Trachtman speaks regularly with clients, and fresh produce is consistently one of the most requested foods. “JFS has been participating in this program for many years,” he says, “and the impact it makes in our clients’ health, budgets, and overall quality of life cannot be overstated.”

To learn more about the Plant A Row program and how you can help, contact foodpantry@jfslv.org or visit https://www.jfslv.org/produce .

Q: A:

How does JFS ensure that its food pantry clients have access to fresh fruits and vegetables?

Our community is wonderful about donating fresh produce, either store bought or homegrown from their gardens (see the “Plant A Row” story). Contact foodpantry@jfslv.org for more information. The Community Garden at Temple Beth El, run by Myron Levenson, donates hundreds of pounds of produce to JFS every year. In addition, Monocacy Farm Project, in partnership with Congregation Brith Sholom, grows and donates healthy produce to 12 different hunger projects throughout the Lehigh Valley, including the Community Food Pantry at JFS. Individuals and families can volunteer at Monocacy Farm to harvest vegetables with Farmer to join the team.

Eli.Contact Contactvolunteers@jfslv.org Eli Stogsdill, manager@monocacyfarmproject.org for additional information.

MARTIN PHILIP MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Talia Markowitz GAINES FAMILY FOUNDATION PRIZE IN ENGINEERING Noah Oxfeld We thank those individuals who have graciously supported Jewish Family Service by sending tribute cards:

IN HONOR

IN LOVING MEMORY

EMILY & BRIAN FORD In Honor of Al’s Bar Mitzvah Audrey & Rick Nolte PHYLLIS & JAY KAUFMAN In Honor of Alec’s graduation from Temple University Medical School Debbie Zoller, JFS Staff & Board ANGELA LEVY In Honor of 90th birthday Debbie Zoller, JFS Staff & Board AUDREY NOLTE In Honor Dara Collins & Donna Miller-Small ILENE & STEVE RUBEL In Honor of the birth of grandson, Tatum Debbie Zoller, JFS Staff & Board CAROL & BOB WILSON In Honor of Ben’s graduation from the University of Pittsburgh Debbie Zoller, JFS Staff & Board

HOWARD CENTER (Brother of Larry Center) Debbie Zoller, JFS Staff & Board MORRIS JALAZO (Father of Carrie Glazier) Barbara Gahry Gloria Ginsburg Carol & Barry Halper Edith Miller Alice & Mark Notis Debbie Zoller, JFS Staff & Board ANDY KOPYT (Wife of Nelson Kopyt) Debbie Zoller, JFS Staff & Board IRENE SHOMBERG (Mother of Ruth Nathanson) Debbie Zoller, JFS Staff & Board

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 or call 610.821.8722 to place card orders.

Thank you for your continued support.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2023 17

A Year of Changes: Facility Improvements Enhance JCC Programming state-of-the-art equipment!

Upstairs, we installed our new Executive Director Golf Simulator room, which kept This has been a year of change for many of our members physically the JCC. And unlike past changes, active and social during the winter months, and remains available this year’s have primarily been upgrades and improvements to our for use by members on nights and weekends. Down the hall, we physical facility. As the central address for the Jewish community, have completed our new Trexler Media Center, and we will soon we have strived to make our install a Sensory Room thanks to 65-year-old space bright and grant funding from LVHN. Behind welcoming and add features that the building, we have added the will be useful to our members and Toff Family Pavilion, creating an community. outdoor classroom space for our If you’ve been to the JCC young learners. In the basement, recently, you likely noticed one change immediately upon entering. we have converted the old Men’s Locker Room, which had been We have refreshed the exterior closed for 2020, into our new landscaping, removing overgrown Family Changing Area. This hedges and planting new ones. As beautiful space now features five you enter the lobby, you almost private changing rooms for parents surely noticed the new flooring and children, a private family that was updated for the first time restroom, and three privacy shower in our building’s history, and immediately makes our space seem stalls.

In the coming months, we will more spacious and inviting. Further into our building, we have replaced also undertake a new Outdoor Adventure Pavilion for camp carpeting in the administrative funded in part by the Harold offices, and all of the 40-year-old blinds on the main floor and upper Grinspoon Foundation’s JCamp180 level facing the 22nd St. side of the program, a new low ropes course and upgraded archery range building. What a difference! supported by grants from the You don’t have to walk far to IronPigs Charities, lobby security see the next set of upgrades. In upgrades made possible by state the Kline Auditorium, we have grant funding, and an LED lighting upgraded the sound board and conversion project for the entire speakers (some of the equipment campus to lower our energy was original to the building!). We consumption. It has been a busy also installed stage lights, which year indeed and our board and staff had been missing for decades, have worked tirelessly to ensure to illuminate the front portion of that our facility still feels as new as the stage. Soon, we will also be replacing the stage curtains. In the it did in 1958 when it opened.

And if you haven’t been to the kitchen adjacent to the auditorium, JCC recently, we hope you’ll come we have taken delivery of new by soon for a tour and see the many refrigerators, warming ovens, and vibrant spaces and programs that a stove. The Kline Auditorium is are thriving. ready to host your next event with

Eric Lightman

Discover New Interest and Meet New Friends After-School With JLounge Rachel Doyle

Youth and Camp Director

Summer is off to a fantastic start.

School is winding down and camp is on everyone’s minds. However, the fun doesn’t stop at camp.

At the end of the camp season, many families are searching for extracurricular activities to keep their kids active. The JCC is the hub for all your child’s after-school

18 JUNE 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

needs. The JLounge after-school program runs throughout the school year and includes homework help, healthy kosher-style snacks, games, indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities, crafts, and more led by our team of caring and dedicated counselors. Transportation is also provided from many area schools to the JCC. While here at the J, kids can enjoy multiple enrichment programs

like chess club, messy art, brick masters, music lessons, various sports clubs, and swimming.

In addition to regular after-school care, on days when there is no school we offer full-day Vacation Camp! Each Vacation Camp resembles a mini summer camp day featuring all your summer favorites including swimming, seasonal activities, baking, arts, sports, and other fun games and programming.

All with the summer day camp spirit the JCC is known for.

All of these amazing programs coupled with our summer camp experience offer year-round fun, unique activities, and enrichment opportunities all in a safe and caring environment that the whole community can enjoy. To learn more about the JCC’s after-school enrichments and JLounge program, visit lvjcc.org/JLounge.

Hanukkah is onHammel the horizon Bobby and Bonnie Honored With Campus Dedication Ribbon Cutting Jackie Weiss Jeff Fleischaker

Early Childhood and Jewish JCC President Education Coordinator The Jewish Community Center of So,Lehigh whatValley is Hanukkah and the will have much to celebrate on June 11.

We will why do we celebrate this fun beginjoyous by honoring and celebrating and holiday? the contributions of Bobby Hanukkah is an eight-and Bonnie Hammel to our day celebration thatorganization by officially re-dedicating our commemorates the victory property with its new name, the of the Maccabees over Hammel Campus. Immediately King Antiochus IV and his following that event, at 10:30am soldiers.

After their victory, we will celebrate the past year of the Maccabees rededicate accomplishments at the JCC and the in Jerusalem. startTemple looking forward to what isAon new menorah built, but tap next with ourwas Annual Meeting. there was only a tiny jar of Simply put, the JCC would not be enjoying thelooked success and oil, which likegrowth enough of the yearsHowever, without to lastpast forfew a day. the contributions and vision of a great miracle happened!

Bobby Bonnie Their The oiland lasted forHammel. eight whole

days.

For that reason, a candle on the menorah or Hanukkiya is lit for each of the eight nights of the holiday to Maggie Schutzler commemorate the miracle.

Development Director For that reason, Hanukkah is referred to as The Festival of The JCC to announce Lights!

It isisexcited a custom to light the creation of a group for alumni the menorah near a window, of Camp JCC! Our hope is to where it can be easily seen, create a space that allows Camp and each night, thetogether light JCC Alumni to come from the candles continues and connect, share memories, and to grow, which serves as a help camp continue to flourish for

wonderful reminder me continued dedication andto generosity cosmetic improvements inside to ourhope organization has sustained and out, upgrades to the sound that never fades, it can and lighting systems in the us through some of our darker only grow stronger. financial times,isand allowed us Kline Auditorium, new kitchen Hanukkah a favorite to enjoy, appreciate, and generate equipment, a new golf simulator, Jewish holiday of many and an increased investment in the successes that weitare children because is currently a experiencing. While the monument our great staff. It has been a great custom for kids to receive honoring them has been in place year, and we are excited to share gifts for all eight nights! In our successes with you. We will at the corner of Washington and addition, many Tilghman for a fewdelicious months now, also share our vision of continued traditional foods are made on we are very excited to have the Hanukkah.

Potato pancakesin chance to show our appreciation or latkes, jelly donuts, person on Sunday morning.and chocolate coins, known as And honoring their contributions could not be done than Hanukkah gelt,any arebetter mainstays the Annual Meeting whichcan is that the entire family to follow. we will spendthat enjoy!

InThere a heated debate time reviewing all the various many Jews find themselves achievements of theside pastof, year, on the opposite it is including renovations to the Early a question of whether latkes Childhood Education classrooms, go better with applesauce or the new family changing room, sour cream. While we won’t take sides in this article, there are cases for both!

Another staple is the dreidel, a four-sided spinning top winner receiving a pile of with Hebrew letters on each chocolate had flagpolecoins. and then it was off and community their side that standthey forspent the phrase JCC ofwethe Lehigh toThe the woods went!

We spent summers in. We would talk a lot “a great miracle happened Valley will be building celebrating hours and hours forts and about our previous experiences there,” with “there” referring getting as dirty as possible. I was of being campers and/or working Hanukkah with our to in Israel also fortunate thatHanukkah even though I forIsrael camp, (Fun what’sfact, changed, what’s annual Family the letters are different with was a troublemaker at camp they new, and then they would typically Celebration and Community “here” “there!”). decided to offer me a jobSunday, when ask for areplacing tour. This wasn’t a tour Candle Lighting on Traditionally, games of I was old enough.

I was3pm-5pm. camp to check out the facilities as much December 18 from dreidel director for two summers in Center as it was are to goplayed back in for timestashes and We will be celebrating in style Valley, and my fondest memories relive their experiences as a the child of Hanukkah gelt, with

Q & A With Camp JCC Alumnus, Mike Smith

years to come. We are gearing up for a Camp JCC Alumni Reunion in August and hope all Camp JCC alumni will be able to join us for an evening of reconnecting & fun.

We asked Camp JCC Alumnus and current JCC Board Member Mike Smith to give us his thoughts on this new group and share some memories:

or young adult. Camp is a special place where special bonds are created, and I loved hearing the stories they shared. Now that we have an alumni group, we can hear more of those stories and probably have a few laughs along the way!

were our Friday BBQ where we would have dance parties and allcamp free swim in the afternoon along with whatever the special event was for the week. It was a very fulfilling job where I further honed my supervisory, planning, and interpersonal skills that have served me well since. When hiring staff I would always highlight the skills they would get to learn during the summer, because I truly believe that camp skills are LIFE SKILLS. Now I work as an Early Education Manager for Head Start using those same skills I learned back when I was 15 years old.

Stagemakers cast explores indigenous culture

Q: Why is the idea of a Camp JCC Alumni group exciting to you?

As a former camp director for Camp JCC, I always loved when alumni would choose to send their children to the same camp

Q: What were your favorite memories of Camp JCC?

As a child, I was a bit of a troublemaker at camp. (Anyone who grew up with me at camp will probably get a laugh out of me saying that.) My fondest memories as a camper were in my 3rd and 4th grade years. I feel like we spent Q: What do you hope the Camp the entire day in the woods. We

of Indian Culture. Stagemakers would like to thank PBS39 for Program Director their support of the staff’s work to The cast of Disney’s “Moana Jr.” educate the cast about indigenous cultures and lifestyles. PBS39 wowed the audience and was able provided educational resources to fully embrace their roles with the help of PBS39 and the Museum based on the series and character

Heather Lavin

Molly of Denali. In addition, the organization funded the cast’s workshop with the Museum of Indian Culture’s educator Christine Applegate, who taught indigenous life skills and advised on the production’s dramaturgy.

growth for the JCC for the year to come, introduce new members of the Board of Directors and give thanks for those who have served and whose time on the board has lapsed.

Sunday June 11, 2023 will be a great, celebratory day for our JCC and we look forward to sharing that experience with you.

with games, crafts tables, doughnuts, hot latkes and JCC Alumni group can bring cocoa, liveofentertainment, and to the JCC the Lehigh Valley acommunity? dance party! Register online at lvjcc.org/SpecialEvents or I hope can610-435-3571. bring people call thethat JCCit at together and to allow forum for We hope seeayou there them to share their experiences and wish everyone a chag and love of camp. I always dreamed sameach! of creating such a group, and I am thrilled that the JCC is doing it.

There is no better place to send your child in the summer for camp, and I think it will give the new program more visibility. I think people will be amazed at seeing the different camp offerings the JCC now gives to the community, whether it’s traditional day camp or a specialty camp.

If you’d like to join our Camp JCC Alumni Group, please fill out the form found at lvjcc.org/alumni or by scanning the QR code below!

Any questions can be directed to Maggie Schutzler, Development Director at mschutzler@lvjcc.org or 610-435-3571.

Participants worked on hand weaving baskets, fishing line, and nets which were used for props and created masks and symbolic stamps to hand-stamp linen, which became part of the costumes for the production.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2023 19

we’d be here only a few weeks at most. As

demic as built-in playmates a

as built-in playmates andJDS friends. we’d be here only a few weeks at most.

As demic bethat hererela o has we’d enabled the pandemic continued, we made deci- The The JDS has enabled that relationship to the pandemic continued, we madesion decithe pandemic after decision to establish roots and strengthen – they check in on oneach the playground and love build a life strengthen here in Pennsylvania. sion after decision to establish roots and – they check in on other sion after decit When iton came for Joseph, in the hallways.

It’s aher joy the time playground andourloveother to see each build a life here in Pennsylvania. build a life now five-year-old son, to get back into older children care for the you JDSisisa abeneficiary beneficiary agency the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh When it Lehigh came time for Valley Joseph, our other in the hallways. It’s a joy to see the When it ca JDS agency of theofJewish Federation of the Valley an early childhood education program, Evelyn is always so proud wh now five-year-old son, to get back into olderintimate, children care for the younger ones. now five-yearJDS is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley JDS is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley the welcoming, and warm en- the “big kids” helps her with Evelyn is always so proud when one of an early childhood education program, an of early the child day, a vironment at JDS was an obvious place pack at the end the welcoming, intimate, and warm enthe “big kids” helps her with her backthe welcoming for us to turn. The administration and talks about his “reading bu worked tirelessly to adhere ever-day,stantly! pack at the end oftothe and Joseph vironment at JDS was an obviousstaff place vironment at J changing guidelines from the CDC and One of the major of for us to turn. The administration and talks about his “reading buddy” confor us tenets to turn still make the magic of school very real a devotion to the developmen staff worked tirelessly to adhere to ever- stantly! staff worked ti for its students. Joseph FLOURISHED confident students who are we One of the major tenets of the JDS is This couldn changing guidelines from the CDC and changing guid in this environment, and now that he’s in to meet the world.

By Megan Hyman a devotion to the development of bright, still make the magic of school very real still make the his third year as a student (kindergarten!) representative of our experien confident are well prepared for students.

Joseph FLOURISHED for its instudents Sadly, our chapter Allento dynamic students and joyfulwho learnheitsdecision parents make about he loves the “What do you want to ing tobe a close.

Forthis professional ing experience he’s the had world. there. I’ll never to send their and children to meet This couldn’t more inwhere this environment, now that he’s inHyman in environr By be Megan Hyman Byfor Megan are moving back to Texas at a t forget when he came home to recite the school is often one of the most stressful representative of our experience. his third year as a student (kindergarten!) his third year when you grow up?” and difficult. Will the school strike the full Pledge of Allegiance and knew all the sion of the school year. Our l our chapter is comlearn- heSadly, he loves the d he decision parents make about he loves the dynamic and joyful words decision parentsin Allentown make about This is one of the most common questo the Hatikvah at three years old! community that Amy Golding right balance between quality of educaing to a close.

For professional reasons, we experience he’s had there.

I’ll never ing experience where to send their children for tioning where to send their children for tions we ask children. When I was a child, have created wi This year, his sister Evelyn was able and volunteers and overall child development? How back Texas the concluwhen heLuckily came for home to recite the forget whenwe’ h school ismoving often one oftothe mostatusstressful I thought about becoming an astronaut, school is often one of the most stressful willforget forever.

The friendships to join theare three-year-old program with our child fit in? our fama love family the school same several sion of and the school year.

Our forthrough the of great Allegiance and knew all the full Pledge of w A in aPledge period of uncertainty, the the and teachers difficult.

Will the younger school strike the or a stop sign. But it never entered my and difficult. Will the school strike the ily, full and we know these memories siblings of her brother’s class.

She was decision to choose the Jewish Day School community that Amy Golding, her staff, words to the Hatikvah at three years old! words to the H right balance between quality of educaright balance between quality of educamind that when I grew up, I would rebring us joyThis for years to co shy first, but quickly overcame easiest “yes!”wasvery volunteers have created will willHow stay with This Valley year, was his the sister Evelyn able year, h tionatand overall child development? turn to my elementary school, the Jewish tion and overall child development? How of Lehigh For any parent grappling wit that and truly gets ready for school with we’ve ever said. us The forever. made as to join the three-year-old programenthusiasm. with to join the thr will our child fit in? Luckily for our fam- We will our child fitThe in? friendships Luckily forwe’ve our famDay School, to be the head of school. school has supported sion of where to send your chil arrived in Allentown in late March a family through the school will remain thewith same teachers and several younger the same ily, in a period of great uncertainty, the When I think back on my time as a ily, in a period of great uncertainty, the 2020 in the Lehigh Valley, we teac foun her love of art, singing, and she’s made a 2-year-old son, Joseph and and wechoose know these memories made here siblings ofdaughter, her brother’s siblings of plac her decision to the Jewish JDS student, I have so many memories. decision to choose the Jewish Day School 4-month-old thewas sweetest friends.

We LOVE gettingDayanSchool extremely supportive Evelyn. class.

Having She the uncertainties updates on Class Dojo in from Dallas, be closerovercame willphotos bring usthe joy forthe years to from come. very shy at first,Texas but toquickly very shythat at we fi of and Lehigh Valley was easiest “yes!”

I recall my third grade mock wedding of Lehigh Valley was the easiest “yes!” flown our daily lives, andand the truly perfec throughout day. to family (Adam’s parents, Dr. David Forthe any parent grappling with the decithat and truly gets ready for and schoolapp with that we’ve ever said. to Alex Smith and the time I threw up we’ve ever said.

Our kids became extremely close dur- ment to instill a love of learnin Susan HymanThe who have livedhas in Alof where to send your child to school enthusiasm. school supported enthusiasm. T We arrived in Allentown in late March Mrs. Wesion arrived in Allentown in late March when Greg Feig burped in my ear after lentown for nearly 50 years), we assumed ing the quarantine stage of the pan- ish values. in the Lehigh Valley, we found the JDS her love of art, singing, and she’s made 2020 with a 2-year-old son, Joseph and her love of ar eating green beans (and even though the 2020 with a 2-year-old son, Joseph and an extremely supportive place, a refuge the sweetest f 4-month-old daughter, Evelyn.

Having green beans made by Chefs Ron and 4-month-old daughter, Evelyn. Having the sweetest friends. We LOVE getting the uncertainties we closer all face in updates and p flownfrom in from Dallas, Texasthat to be Feather from our Sunshine Café are deli- flown in from Dallas, Texas to be closer updates and photos on the Class Dojo our daily lives, and the to family (Adam’s parents, Dr.perfect David environand app throughou cious, from what I’ve heard, I still can’t to family (Adam’s parents, Dr. David and app throughout the day. instill a who love have of learning Our kids became extremely close durMrs.ment SusantoHyman lived inand Al- Jew- Our kids be eat green beans). While I was building Mrs. Susan Hyman who have lived in AlIn just for thisnearly past week we: we assumed School what hasstage madeofourtheJDS so one would notice.

But we when the town ish values. ing theand quarantine paning the quara 50 years), lentown for nearly 50 years), assumed a career in New York, my connection to lentown • Raised five chicks from a local Amish successful, it is our community partnerpresented the rabbi with the large barrel, my beloved grade school never waned. guage that my kids have – only because of Editor’s note: On Saturday, February 4, JDS parfarm Each and every aspect of the JDS all that came outvery was water. because we have the ability to important ent Anastasiia Zavodnyk, was invited to beships. a guest I would drive by the school when visit• Learned from local winemaker Kevin has grown because of the relationships The lesson is simple; each us Imust with their roots, of which hadn’t in my childh speaker at Refugee Shabbat at Temple Beth El. ing my parents, as so many graduates help and support made ustoconfident in ou Here are her remarks.

Danna how to make wine by underwe have built and the investment we have contribute, we must each do our part do, and remembered my picnics on the here, in the US!not rely on standing microbiology and the role of received from our community. enhance the moment and JDS grounds with Abby Sussman during So,us. what is the difference So, who is the refugee?

It’s me. I can’t speak for everyyeast as fungi in nature You donated books, clothes, and others to do so for Our beloved JDSbetween me as Passover break (there was no fence securand other people who came here as immigr one, only for myself and my family. But let my story be • Explored the history behind Judaism’s canned food. You volunteered for lunch is so lucky to besons thewhy benefactor many ing our campus back then). we came. of I love Ukraine, it’s my ho something that can show the general picture. influence in the comic book medium duty and pulled weeds to beautify our pitchers overflowing with the gift of love guage that my kids have – only because of you.

It past is generations Editor’s note: On Saturday, February 4, JDS parEditor’s note: On Saturday, February 4, JDS parof my children and many The beginning of 2022 It was a happy time for me.

When past president Tama Tamarkin from Joshua Steinhouse, a young facampus.

You donated, on an ongoing and of support. my husband’s family.

We miss our home a lo I had a beautiful house near Kyiv, capital of Ukraine.

I very important because we have the ability to reconnect ent Anastasiia Zavodnyk, was invited to be a guest ent Anastasiia Zavodnyk, was invited to be a guest called to interview me for a position as fore February 2022 we Your never thought abou had awho garden full of fruit trees and berry speaker bushes.

I had ther just moved to town basis, to fund-a-need projects includFor seven and a half years I had the with their roots, which I hadn’t in my childhood. speaker at Refugee Shabbat at Temple Beth El. at Refugee Shabbat at Temple Beth El. interim Head of School, I knew this was ing abroad, we simply didn’t want to, becau great plans – I was opening my own cafe and bakery • Held an afterschool Shabbat garden ing our library, our Evening of Tribute, honor and the privilege to serve as Head help and support made us confident in our presence Here arecareer her remarks.

Here are her remarks. the right move for me. I not only satisfied with our lives and happy in Ukraine store, I was setting up a big greenhouse to plant many party sponsored by AmeriHealth our Mishloach Manot drive,here, and inpathof School and to work so closely with our the US! had a desire to return home but a deep the US because it was the best option of a vegetables there. My children went to great preschool • Built a music wall (pictured above) for way of love (our latest endeavor, a brick community.

It has been of a and it is hard So, speak what for is Jewish the difference between me as aIt a gift refugee So, who is thetorefugee? me.I Icould can’t to speak forand everySo, started who istothe refugee? It’s me. I can’t everycommitment doing allIt’sthat the most difficult. was hard, afterschool smart classes. My daughter our youngest students out of upcycled campaign laying the foundation to the lifetime and as I mark this transition from and other people who came here as immigrants?

Reaone, only for myself and my family.

But let my story be one, only for myself and my family.

But let my story be because of usual immigrant’s difficulties suc go to ballroom classes at the best dance school in the build this school. A few days later I met materials donated by members of the entrance of our school).

You substitute ent language, different culture, finding job, area.

My husband had a very important role with great Head of School to lay leader, I pause to sons why we came.

I love Ukraine, it’s my home, home something that can show the general picture. something that can show the general picture. the executive committee and JDS staff local documents, impossible life without a c career opportunities in the biggest energy company in you were community taught, one of our 150 guest share a card that recently arrived in my of my children and many past generations of my and The beginning of 2022 It was a happy time for me.

The beginning of 2022 It was a happy time for me. and was deeply moved by their commitUkraine.Friendship to our little par- you helped forge deep relation- office from a first Visited Circleouratfriends the JCC grader.

She writes, husband’s family.IWe miss impossible our homelife a without lot.

Anda credit be- score, but th I had aand beautiful near Kyiv, capital of• Ukraine.

I We used to invite I hadspeakers, a beautiful house near Kyiv,my capital of Ukraine. ment passionhouse for building a strong ficulty is not being allowed to go out of the U ties at home, used to see our parents when we wanted to meet our pen-pals after a year-long ships with Crayola, Da Vinci Science Mrs. fore February 2022 we Golding, neverfor thought emigrathad a gardencenter full of here fruit trees berry bushes. had a garden berry bushes.Dear I had educational in theand Lehigh people, about who decide to come here, who to. IIthad was really a very great period of life; I was truly full of fruit trees and letter writing experience as part of Center, PPL, Rotarians, and Community Thank youdidn’t for being bestwho principal ever.

I amhere and can st webakery simply want to, because we great plans – I was opening my own cafe andhappy. bakery great plans – I was opening my ing ownabroad, cafe and bigthe goal, choose towere live Valley. the Better Together Grant Music School, to name a few.

You atgoing to miss so much.

Whenthis I We grow up, I dream” cam satisfiedtowith our lives and you happy intoUkraine. chose store, was setting up a big greenhouse many I was plant many thing make “American then, on 24th of February, all wasstore, ruined.

The setting up a big greenhouse We Iwere faced with hurdles: enroll- to plant And it is very hard for us, refugees, war started.

And what did we know about war?

Only • Sang Hatikvah and the Star Spangled tended our events deliciously catered by want to be a head of school just like you. the US because it was the best option of all, but also forced migra vegetables there.

My children went to great preschool vegetables there.

My children went to great preschool ment, middle school stability, cafeteria evening weclasses. needed to the shut all lights, because our terheart isit still at ourNot home with our friends, historyto WW2 fromHall bookstoand movies…and some horBanner at City mark Jewish the Sunshine Café.

You read our weekly Love, Mara most difficult.

It was hard, and is hard. only and afterschool smart classes.

My daughter started and afterschool smart My daughter started to costs, security, building maintenance, ritorial defense was looking for hiding russian soldiers.

I parents, houses and gardens. rible stories from our grandparents.

We decided to stay, Heritage e-blast and were in what our JDS students: yousuch canasrun ourAnd only your of usualinTo immigrant’s difficulties differgo tofunding ballroom the Yet besta dance in the Month, Israel’s 75th birthgo toFriday ballroom classes at theengaged bestbecause dance school the and to classes name aatfew. deep school because it was our home. We thought that our village realized that I couldn’t stand any more. I couldn’t pre- our life here more like at home (through rela day, and Jerusalem Day in partner-if they was happening on our campus. school, our ourcare hospitals, our ent different culture, finding job, getting all Because at the area. My husband very important My husband had a very important role with great commitment from had our ateachers and ourrole with tend as nothing serious waslanguage, happening and it was safecountry, versations, and support). wasgreat now a target for the enemy and even area. would ship with the Jewish Federation of the My mom is a storyteller and many of theaters, our world.

You can make the local documents, impossible a car,things almost career opportunities in the biggest energy company career opportunities energy in for the kids.biggest The worse for mecompany was to let then feel life day without most important are not material t come. in We heard stories from our grandparents who enough in parents, student camaraderie, a rigorous Lehigh you have heard tellour the famous story world a better place.

Youbut are the equipped to and soul with fear, to feel war.

It’s friends not whattochildren should willscore, never ever fill your remembered a time when their homes were under ocimpossible without anot credit realheart difUkraine. We used to ainvite to our little par-Valley Ukraine.

We used toher invite ourlife little par-feel, academic program, love our of friends learning, until they are enough old to understand everything and ness and happiness. cupation during WW2 so we kind of could guess how • Organized a morning meet-and-greet of the town that wanted to honor their be anything want it’s an ficulty is not allowedyou to go outto ofbe, theeven US.ifMaybe ties at home, usedtotoour see past our in parents ties at home, used to see our parents when webeing wanted and a connection order when to we wanted not be hurt by it.wine I want mypeople, childrenwho to astronaut be decide happy, toto become So,here, Isign), wantwho toorsaysomething a big, huge it could be in our including case. But we were Repwrong, very very with politicians State rabbi with a barrel of big enough (or a stop for has it like thank you one to.

It was really a very great period of life; I was truly to.

It was really a very great period of life; I was truly build a better future were all vibrant. wrong. Because in village aren’t many people – it’s dif- confident and have strong and healthy mental health. to all of you! I am grateful for the ability to resentative Mike Schlossberg, State to last him a lifetime. The town you have discover. big decided goal, who choose toyet livetohere and can stand everyhappy. happy.

Together, we worked to push our day, in a safe, beautiful and ambitious place, t ficult to feel panic. We heard sounds of missile strikes, So, I asked my husband to leave our home.

Senators Nick Miller and Jarrett to share responsibility for filling the barTo our faculty, staff to you, our comthing to make this “American dream” came true, but And then, on 24th of February, all was ruined.

The And then, on 24th of February, all was ruined.

The We left on 7th of March and on 8th of March rus- grateful toand strengths to new heights. We became a all of for listening to my sto the house was shaking every time, but personally I really Coleman, and Mayor Matt Tuerk in rel by asking every person to bring one munity: we have developed a school that it is very hard for us, refugees, forced migrants, who’s war started. school, And what know about war? war started. war? Only sians*what camedid to we our know house. about They occupied all village, porting my family and Ukraine. I believe th feltOnly it on the second week, end of February.

I needed to And benchmark not did justwe when comrecognition of daughter the we first-ever pitcher wine.

Instead, each person killed men, raped stole lot some ofatthings, ruin evening ourwith end soon, that resource.

I can see homebeca and takehormy youngest to doctor.Jewish So,shut we were going isour an important community evening needed to all lights, our ter-women, we needed to finally shutWe all my lights, heart is astill home our friends, neighbors, historytoWW2 books and movies…and some history WW2ofbecause from books and movies…and horpared otherfrom Jewish schools, but to all houses… it lasted 4 weeks.

So, it was nothing like occufriends and neighbors.

But I, as all Ukrainian by car there.

It wasn’t far but we needed to go through Day School week in Pennsylvania figured that with everyone else bringing continue to defense rally to made bring forstories hidingfrom russian I parents, ritorial was looking for hiding russia housesmust gardens.

And onlytogether your help rible stories ourtograndparents.

We decided to stay, ritorial defense was looking rible our soldiers. grandparents.

We decided toand stay, schools.

Thefrom secret our success? Each pation during WW2… it was worse, much worse.

And community in that fatal February, in pre-war when w a checkpoint which on was the created as seven a part of wine, country When I think back past they could get away with bringing our beloved Jewish Day realized that I couldn’t stand any more.

I couldn’t prerealized that I couldn’t stand anydays, more.

Ic our life here more like at home (through relations, conbecause it was our home.

We thought that our village because it was our home.

We thought that our village of you. our land, in our home; happy, confident in t protection actions. There I saw real soldiers, guns, bul- it is still. awould half years of as mynothing time asserious Head of water,a target which was much cheaper, and ifnothey School to new heights. tend was happening and it was safe tend as nothing serious was happening and versations, care and support).

Because at the end of the was now a target for the enemy and even if and theylets was now for the enemy and even would Now we are here. And we are very lucky, because we days, full of ambitious plans. laying on the ground, tanks for the first time in my enough for kids.

The worse me to people let then feel enough formaterial kids. The worse for me was to daygrandparents mosthearts important things are not things, they come. We heard stories from our grandparents We heard stories from met with veryour big open full who of love and life. who And it wasn’t museum exhibition, itcome. wasfor real lifewas to was feelthat war.something It’s not remembered what should feel, not fear, to feel war.

It’sinstead not ofwhat children shou people whohomes helped us with sofill many things. will never ever your heart and with love, kindremembered a time when their homes were under oc- Butfear, time when their were under oc*I usesoul little letter capital on purpose.

I situation. worst just flychildren above akindness, People from Jewish Day School, Jewish Community of this people anymore and it’s even hard for me to call my head and then I heard and felt shot near me.

It was to understand andkindness happiness. cupation during WW2 so we kind of could guess how until they are enough oldcupation duringeverything WW2 so we of and could guess how until they are enough old to understand eve Valley, Community Center. enough have done and are still doing doeh enemy drone.

It be scared I never ever be feltintoLehigh not hurtmebytoit.death, I want children be happy, toJewish be not hurt what by I want my children to be So,wrong, I want to sayNot a big, hugebebecause thank youit.they one more time it could be in our case. But we were wrong, very very itmycould our case.

But we were very very like this before. Next weeks were very scary for me. The words to describe how grateful we are for it. And this they are humans at all to me. And because it is my sto confident and have strong and Because healthygreat mental health. confident and have strong and to allJewish of you! amdifgrateful forhighlight the ability to be here to- healthy me wrong. Because in village aren’t many people –enemy it’s difwrong. in village aren’t many people –I it’s to know traditions facts and lanit as my relation to them. soldiers were closer and closerBiblical to our village.

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20 JUNE 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Why JDS? Why JDS? Why JDS? Why JDS?

By Amy Golding

T

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Who is the refugee? It’s me.

Who is the refugee?

WhoIt’s is the me.refug

Grant expands Israel education at day schools

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2023 21

Federation, Schlossberg welcome WH antisemitism plan Jewish Telegraphic Agency with Hakol reports

President Joe Biden unveiled on May 25 a multifaceted and broad strategy to combat antisemitism in the United States that reaches from basketball courts to farming communities, from college campuses to police departments.

“We must say clearly and forcefully that antisemitism and all forms of hate and violence have no place in America,” Biden said in a prerecorded video. “Silence is complicity.”

The 60-page document and its list of more than 100 recommendations stretches across the government, requiring reforms in virtually every sector of the executive branch within a year. It was formulated after consultations with over a thousand experts, and covers a range of tactics, from increased security funding to a range of educational efforts.

In creating the plan over the last few months, the White House consulted with large Jewish organizations throughout the process. The finished document embraces proposals that large Jewish organizations have long advocated, as well as initiatives that pleasantly surprised Jewish organizational leaders, most of whom praised it upon its release.

State Rep. Mike Schlossberg of the 132nd District in Lehigh County offered his appreciation. “We’ve never had a national antisemitism strategy before,” he said, “and it’s to the White House’s credit that they’ve gone so far out of their way to pull in so many diverse Jewish groups and develop what I think is a pretty comprehensive and holistic strategy,” Among the proposals that Jewish leaders have called

for were recommendations to streamline reporting of hate crimes across local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, which will enable the government to accurately assess the breadth of hate crimes. The proposal also recommends that Congress double the funds available to nonprofits for security measures, from $180 million to $360 million.

One proposal that, if enacted, could be particularly far-reaching — and controversial — is a call for Congress to pass “fundamental reforms” to a provision that shields social media platforms from liability for the content users post on their sites. The plan says social media companies should have a “zero tolerance policy for hate speech on their platforms.”

In addition, the plan calls for action in partnership with a range of government agencies and private entities. It says the government will work with professional sports leagues to educate fans about antisemitism and hold athletes accountable for it, following instances of antisemitic speech by figures such as NBA star Kyrie Irving and NFL player DeSean Jackson.

The government will also partner with rural museums and libraries to educate their visitors about Jewish heritage and antisemitism. And the plan includes actions to be taken by a number of cabinet departments, from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the USDA. An array of Jewish organizations welcomed the strategy with enthusiasm.

“The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley appreciates the White House for crafting a broad plan to address rising antisemitism that embraces many of our policy priorities, including increased fund-

ing for nonprofit security that helps houses of worship protect themselves, full funding for the Jabra-Heyer No Hate Act, and ensuring quality Holocaust education,” said Aaron Gorodzinsky, the director of campaign and security planning. “We look forward to working with the administration and with our bipartisan elected officials to move these initiatives forward in Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff speaks during the release of the Biden administraour community.”

Schlossberg said the tion’s antisemitism strategy on May 25. plan “shows that The Biden administration anti-Jewish bigotry are those the resources of the federal will seek to ensure accommo- focusing on when Israel critigovernment are matching dations for Jewish religious cism is antisemitic, including the fear and the hate of the observance, the accompanywhen “double standards” apmoment.” ing fact sheet said, and “the plied to Israel are antisemitic.

“Almost more than the Department of Agriculture Advocates on the left say specifics of the strategy,” he will work to ensure equal those clauses turn legitimate said, “developing a strategy access to all USDA feeding criticism of Israel into hate is a broad statement. We’re programs for USDA customspeech; instead, they pushed acknowledging antisemitism ers with religious dietary to include references to the at the national level and needs, including kosher and Nexus Document, a definidevoting resources to stophalal dietary needs.” tion authored by academics ping it.”

In the months since that recognizes IHRA, but The administration began Second Gentleman Doug seeks to complement it by working on the initiative last Emhoff, who is Jewish, further elucidating how antiDecember, after years durconvened a roundtable to Israel expression may be antiing which Jewish groups and launch the initiative, the semitic in some instances but the FBI reported sharp spikes Biden administration has not in others. Others sought in antisemitic incidents. pivoted from focusing on the to include the Jerusalem The strategy was originally threat of antisemitism from Declaration on Antisemitism, planned for release at its the far-right to also highlight- which rejects IHRA’s IsraelJewish American Heritage ing its manifestation in other related examples.

Month celebration a week spheres — including amid In the end, the strategy earlier, but that was delayed, anti-Israel activism on camsaid the U.S. government in part because of last-minute puses and the targeting of recognizes the IHRA definiinternal squabbling over visibly religious Jews in the tion as the “most prominent” whether it would accept a northeast. Those factors were and “appreciates the Nexus definition of antisemitism evident in the strategy.

Document and notes other that some on the left said In the weeks before the such efforts.” chilled free speech on Israel. rollout, a debate raged online Jonathan Greenblatt, the Some right-wing groups and behind the scenes amid Anti-Defamation League were deeply critical of the Jewish organizations and CEO who was closely connew strategy for not acceptactivists about how the plan sulted on the strategy, said it ing that definition to the would define antisemitism. was predictable that groups exclusion of others.

Centrist and right-wing on the left would take the Some of the initiatives in groups pushed for the plan win and that groups on the the plan focus less on directly to embrace the International right would grumble — but confronting antisemitism and Holocaust Remembrance that it was also beside the more on promoting tolerance Alliance’s working definipoint. IHRA, he said, was of and education about Jews. tion. Among its examples of now U.S. policy.

white-nationalist National Day of Hate and its call for antisemitic action. “They were so scared that I found them in the halls crying,” she said. “When I went to meet with them, they looked down at their uniforms and asked if they should take them off out of fear of being identified as Jewish.

“While I assured them they were safe, that our campus was secure, something shifted for them and for me.”

It wasn’t long after that that Schlossberg, who represents part of Lehigh County in the Pennsylvania House and whose daughter attends JDS, presented a resolution in the House to establish Jewish Day School Week.

“Pennsylvania is currently home to a historically high number of 30 Jewish day schools spread across nine coun-

ties,” he said in support of the resolution. “Please join me in this effort to express appreciation and gratitude to Jewish day schools across this commonwealth and bring awareness to the role Jewish day schools play in the lives of many children and families.”

JDS fifth-graders went to the podium to introduce each of the speakers for the event.

When Tuerk came up, he talked about inclusivity and the pursuit of justice.

“All of us have a role in making that happen,” he said.

“Allentown makes sure the police force knows what antisemitism is and how to fight it. We all have a responsibility to call out antisemitism for what it is when we see it.”

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, who represents parts of Lehigh and Bucks Counties, and State Sen. Nick Miller, who represents parts of Lehigh

JDS kicks off PA’s first-ever Jewish Day School Week

By Carl Zebrowski Editor

State Rep. Mike Schlossberg, Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, Jewish community members and students and teachers of the Jewish Day School gathered on the morning of May 30 to kick off Pennsylvania’s Jewish Day School Week in Pennsylvania.

Amy Golding, head of school at JDS, began by telling the audience about the day a few months ago that her fifth-grade students heard in advance about the

PA Rep. Mike Schlossberg and Amy Golding, outgoing head of JDS.

22 JUNE 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

and Northampton Counties, addressed the gathering. JDS students sang “Hatikvah,” the Israeli national anthem, as well as other songs.

Beth Kushnick, director of outreach and engagement for JDS, closed the event with praise for Robert Kraft, owner of the NFL’s New England Patriots, for his $25 million Stand Up to Jewish Hate initiative calling atten- Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk Some of the items were tion to antisemitism and enavailable for the taking at the couraging people to respond to it. TV commercials, a social event. “Grab a pin on your media campaign, signs, stick- way out,” Kushnick said, “and stand up to hate.” ers and lapel pins are all part of the initiative.

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2023 2023 GABRIEL BLIKSHTEYN

SHAYNA BLIKSHTEYN

MEGAN GROB

MATTHEW HAZAN

KYLIE KNAFO

ZOE LACHTER

TALIA MARKOWITZ

NOAH OXFELD

KELLER POOLEY

ARI POWERS

MITCHELL DAVID ROSENTHAL

LUISA SUNSHINE

TATYANA ULMAN

TALIA VAKNIN

GABRIEL BLIKSHTEYN Son of Yakov Blikshteyn and Ilana Rachshtut PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Gabriel will attend Muhlenberg College to study sports medicine and play soccer.

SHAYNA BLIKSHTEYN Daughter of Yakov Blikshteyn and Ilana Rachshtut PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Shayna will attend the Pennsylvania State University to study medicine and radiology.

MEGAN GROB Daughter of Robert and Tracy Grob JACK M. BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY DECA Business Club president, regional vice president of BBYO, Widener Memorial Club president, math tutor, Young Entrepreneur Club president, varsity tennis captain, Friendship Circle volunteer, Camelot volunteer, French Club president.

Megan plans to attend Wake Forest University.

MATTHEW HAZAN Son of Adam and Sally Hazan EMMAUS HIGH SCHOOL National Society of High School Scholars award Matthew is planning to attend college as a premed student.

KYLIE KNAFO Daughter of Heidi and Jerry Knafo PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Law Club founder and president, student council president, student senate secretary, Parkland Community Advisory Council, Parkland School District Student Leadership Council, Mathematics National Honor Society, National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Country Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center volunteer, Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley volunteer Kylie will attend Muhlenberg College in the fall.

ZOE LACHTER* Daughter of Jessica Cooperman and Hartley Lachter LEHIGH VALLEY CHARTER SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS Valedictorian, National Honor Society, editor in chief of the Performer school newspaper, editor of the school literary magazine Rukus, Student

Diversity Council, Senior Literary Arts Council, Moxie feminist club, Chess Club.

Zoe plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania.

TALIA MARKOWITZ* Daughter of Lisa and Dr. Moshe Markowitz JACK M. BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY Lehigh Valley Hospital volunteer, Jewish Family Service Food Pantry volunteer, JFS Better Together program participant, JCC lifeguard, Congregation Sons of Israel youth group babysitter, Super 8 Film Club founding member, Jewish Philosophy Club founding member, NCSY Israel ID, school cafe musical performances.

Talia will attend the University of Maryland, College Park, in the fall, majoring in kinesiology.

NOAH OXFELD Son of Gary and Jennifer Oxfeld PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL National Honor Society, Mathematics National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, senior class officer, Jewish Culture Club founder and president, Future Business Leaders of America vice president, Investing Club president, Entrepreneurship Club president and vice president, Lehigh University High School Scholar, Kenneth Leventhal StandWithUs Intern, Allentown AZA Gadol and Moreh, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Student of the Year co-candidate, varsity tennis.

Noah will attend Northwestern University.

KELLER POOLEY Daughter of Jeff Pooley and Karen Beck Pooley LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL Diving team captain and 2023 district champion placing fifth at the state championship, National Honor Society, Special Olympics volunteer.

Keller plans to attend Colorado College.

ARI POWERS* Son of Joanna and Jonathan Powers JACK M. BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY Jewish Leadership Initiative, NCSY, varsity lacrosse.

Ari will attend the University of Hartford

MITCHELL DAVID ROSENTHAL* Son of Jarrod and Nicole Rosenthal JACK M. BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY DECA vice president, Jewish Leadership Initiative, Gabbai school minyan, Mini-Thon treasurer, varsity lacrosse, Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake lifeguard and camp counselor.

Mitchell will enroll in the Columbia UniversityJewish Theological Seminary Joint Program to pursue a dual degree in computer science and Talmud.

LUISA SUNSHINE* Daughter of Feather Frazier and Ron Sunshine WILLIAM ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL National Honor Society, Mathematics Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Student Government, Canary Ambassadors, Canaries for Life, William Allen Construction Company, homecoming queen, HALA. She will attend the Drexel University College of Arts and Sciences.

TATYANA ULMAN Daughter of Janet and Michael Ulman BRANDYWINE HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL Girl Scout Gold Award, Girl Scout Trifecta Award, Tri-M Music Honor Society president, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Spanish Club secretary, Key Club vice president, choir president, concert band president, marching band, founder of Brandywine Heights Clothing Circle (provides free clothing to the community), Brandywine Heights School Board student representative, Congregation Keneseth Israel Madrahim (Hebrew teacher).

Tatyana plans to attend Franklin and Marshall College to study biology on a premed track with a Spanish minor.

TALIA VAKNIN* Daughter of Lora and Sharone Vaknin JACK M. BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY Israel Club president, swim team, BBYO Allentown BBG president, Camp JCClifeguard, StandWithUs intern, Jewish Day School volunteer.

The will attend the University of Maryland, College Park. *ATTENDED JEWISH DAY SCHOOL HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2023 23

GIVE A MITZVAH, DO A MITZVAH

Harley Schippell shares experiences with dyslexia

Harley Schippell became a bat mitzvah on May 13 at Temple Beth El in Allentown.

Harley, twin sister of Samantha Schippell, attends AIM Academy outside Philadelphia, a private college-prep school for children with language-based learning differences. She enjoys art, acting and theater.

AIM Academy students thrive in classrooms that offer multisensory and experiential learning. Programs are designed to foster self-esteem and social responsibility.

Academic and intellectual

development is further enhanced by extracurricular activities and enrichment in the arts, athletics and community service. The goal is that upon graduation, students are prepared for the challenges, complexities and choices they’ll face in college and beyond.

Harley’s mitzvah project is unique. She wrote an essay on her personal experience of what it’s like learning with dyslexia. She was inspired by graphic novels about people who have struggled in some way and worked through it.

Her goal was to do as they do: educate in a way that’s fun and accessible.

“Classmates, teachers and even family members sometimes say things that feel so critical without realizing how much it hurts,” she said.

“I also hold a lot in and am learning that it helps to talk about it.”

Her parents, Ed and Pamela Schippell, said, “We are so proud of all Harley’s accomplishments and how hard she works every day to learn and grow. Her superpowers are kindness and

empathy for others, creativity, and humor.”

In addition to her mitzvah project, Harley has made her first adult gift of tzedakah (charity) to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

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

Samantha Schippell became a bat mitzvah at Temple Beth El in Allentown on May 13.

The seventh-grade Springhouse Middle School student, twin sister of Harley Schippell, loves dancing and playing lacrosse and basketball.

When planning her mitzvah project, she thought of the children who don’t have the equipment to play the sports she loves. She found out she could help other kids get what they need simply by asking. She and her parents, Pamela and Ed Schippell, did some research and found Leveling the Playing Field.

Leveling the Playing Field was founded in 2013 in

response to the growing inequity between those who can afford to play sports and those who cannot. It turns out that a lot of oftenexpensive sporting equipment used by young kids all the way up to professional sports franchises goes to waste. Max Levitt, founder of LPF, decided to develop what is essentially a food bank for sporting goods. The organization collects equipment and distributes it to youth sports and recreation programs in under-resourced communities.

Samantha is collecting new and gently used sporting goods to donate to Leveling the Playing Field.

“I chose this project because playing sports means a lot to me,” she said, “and I want those who aren’t playing sports because they can’t afford equipment to have an opportunity to play and enjoy sports as much as I do.”

She has a collection box at Temple Beth El and is seeking equipment for all sports, including soccer, baseball, softball, football, basketball, hockey, field hockey, golf, tennis and lacrosse.

You can contact Samantha at sammitzvahproject6@ gmail.com to arrange for a pickup. You can also donate money directly to Leveling the Playing Field by sending a check to Temple Beth El,

Samantha Schippell collects sporting goods

1305 Springhouse Road, Allentown, PA 18104 and marking the envelope “Samantha Schippell Mitzvah Project.”

Or you can donate on the LPF website at levelingtheplayingfield. networkforgood.com. Please make donations by the end of June.

“We are so proud of Samantha for thinking of others and wanting to make sure anyone who’s interested has the same opportunity to play sports that she has had,” Pamela said.

In addition to her mitzvah project, Samantha has made her first adult gift of tzedakah (charity) to the JFLV Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

610-882-8800 embassybank.com

24 JUNE 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

GIVE A MITZVAH, DO A MITZVAH

Mason Billig tutors younger kids in mathematics Mason Billig is a seventhgrade student at the Jewish Day School who became a bar mitzvah on May 21 at Temple Beth El in Allentown.

Mason is a sports enthusiast who loves football and baseball. He pitches and plays third base in the South Parkland baseball program.

He is a wonderful and patient big brother to his three younger siblings. Mason and his mother, Tracey,

spent time thinking about a mitzvah project and conferred with Amy Golding, head of school at JDS. She suggested Mason become a tutor, since he is good at math and terrific with younger students.

“Mason loves math,” Tracey said. “He’s great with it. It’s a natural thing for him.”

Mason said, “I’m tutoring first and second graders for an hour after school every Tuesday. They are really cute, and they struggle with addition and subtraction. I love to

be the math teacher helper.

There is a small group of children who need help, and I sit with them one on one and explain the concepts. I encourage them to keep trying.”

Tracey and Mason’s dad, Jason, said they’re proud of Mason becoming a bar mitzvah. They said he worked hard this past year, studying weekly, playing sports, being active in school activities and never complaining about his busy schedule. They are proud of everything he has

achieved and is yet to achieve.

In addition to his mitzvah project, Mason has made his first adult gift of tzedakah (charity) to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

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

Alana Magida cares for dogs in the shelter

donation. out the past year; she is for Jewish Needs.

Carina and Alana’s dad, ready for adulthood.

For help developing a Bruce, say they’re so proud In addition to her mitzmitzvah project, contact of their daughter. She has vah project, Alana has made Abby Trachtman, project codemonstrated not only a her first adult gift of tzedaordinator, at abbyt@jflv.org tremendous capacity for kah (charity) to the Jewish or call her at the Federation caring, they said, but also a Federation of the Lehigh office at 610-821-5500. hofreid_20_009_Hakol Newspaper_ads v2final.pdf 2 2/25/21 10:42 AM strong work ethic throughValley Annual Campaign

Alana Magida, a seventh-grade student at Eyer Middle School, became a bat mitzvah on May 20 at Temple Beth El in Allentown.

Alana is on the school’s lacrosse team and student council and in its orchestra. She cares deeply about animals, especially those without a home.

For her mitzvah project, she has been volunteering at the Sanctuary at Haafsville, helping to care for dogs until they find a permanent home.

The sanctuary is home to both cats and dogs. It is run by volunteers and financed by fundraising efforts, donations and partnerships.

“I have been volunteering every Sunday,” Alana said.

“We get up very early. My mom takes me and helps there too because I’m too

young to volunteer alone.

“I walk dogs, feed them, clean their runs and play with them. I help move supplies around too.”

Alana’s mom, Carina Magida, said, “They are wonderful there. They really make sure the animals are well taken care of and healthy. Recently there has been a canine virus going around. Alana had to carefully clean each dog stall, and all the dogs had to be vaccinated. I’m very impressed with how they are organized, and Alana has been loving volunteering there.”

Alana is asking community members to donate to the sanctuary. Please check the organization’s website at thesanctuarypa.org for further information or to plan a

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HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2023 25

Shalom Baby families meet to play, schmooze

By Abby Trachtman Project Coordinator

Shalom Baby families met on the Washington Street field at the Jewish Community Center on Sunday, May 21, for an afternoon of play, snacks, crafts and schmoozing.

The sun was shining as the group played with bubble wands and heard stories. Every baby attending got registered for PJ Library, which regularly sends Jewish children’s books to members.

Shalom Baby is a program of the Women’s Philanthropy division of the Jewish Fed-

eration of the Lehigh Valley.

Program volunteers visit new babies with a bag of gifts to welcome them to our Jewish community.

Is there a new baby in your home? Contact Abby Trachtman at abbyt@jflv. org to arrange a visit from Shalom Baby.

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Danny Cohen receives honorary doctorate

Daniel Cohen received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Lafayette College during the school’s commencement ceremony on May 20.

A member of Lafayette’s class of 1965, Cohen is an attorney and partner at the Hof and Reid firm, which specializes in personal injury law, in Bethlehem. Within the Lehigh Valley Jewish community, Cohen has served as president and board member of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, the Lehigh Valley Jewish Foundation and B’nai Abraham Synagogue (which was merged into Congregation Bnai Shalom).

A native of Easton, he graduated from Easton High School and Lafayette College, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania Law School and began practicing law in 1968, partnering soon afterward with Norman Seidel in the firm Seidel and Cohen, which became Hof and Reid.

Cohen has served as a member of a hearing committee of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He also has served on the board of directors and as president of ProJeCt of Easton as well as on the boards for the Hugh Moore Canal Commission, Premier Bank (now Fulton

Bank), Friends of the State Theatre and the City of Easton Police Practices Commission.

He has been admitted before the trial and appellate courts of Pennsylvania, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania.

His practice has concentrated in land-use law, business organizations and corporate matters, transactions and wills, trusts, and estates.

At Lafayette, Cohen has volunteered for Gateway Career Center in various capacities, including job fairs, internships and the 1826 Law Society.

He is married to Nancy Cohen, and they have two daughters. They live in Easton.

KI and TBE Sisterhood hold plant swap

By Sharon Land Congregation Keneseth Israel

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It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning in May when the Women of Keneseth Israel held its third annual plant swap with Temple Beth El Sisterhood next to its community garden.

The group received house plants, seeds, bulbs, vegetable seedlings and perennials.

Women talked about their plants and traded gardening tips. They especially enjoyed the adorable service-puppyin-training.

Beth El’s master gardener, Myron Levenson, talked briefly about TBE’s beautiful garden, already planted with early spring produce. All the vegetables are donated

to Jewish Family Service. He took some seedlings from the swap for the garden.

The swap participants took advantage of Beth El’s religious school pick-up time and offered plants to the arriving parents. Several were very interested. Maybe the next Jewish generation will become interested in gardening?

For KI or TBE gardening resources, contact Sharon Land at sharonsrland@gmail. com.

2023!

MAZAL TOV BARRACK CLASS OF

Rose Bat-Chen Shapiro Ackerman Harrison Joshua Andelman Niva Pfaelzer Cohen Benjamin Ilan Diamond Lila Abby Elkins Raphael Benjamin Englander Nicole Arielle Epelboim Noah Zachary Erlbaum Talia Rachel Erlbaum Benjamin Austin Gelwarg Joshua Noah Graub Abigail Jolie Greenspan Megan Emily Grob Kate Elana Hoffman Filler

Maxwell Nathan Kanefsky Jonah Benjamin Kosloff Maya Sadie Koval Ellie Peyton LaVoe Claire Ann Mansheim Talia Esther Markowitz Andrew Max Meltzer Samuel Emmet Menkowitz Rebecca Maia Miller Carmen Nadav Noah Luke Pomerantz Ari Powers Jack Gabriel Rabinowitz Sophie Joy Romisher

Jenavieve Tianmei Rose Mitchell David Rosenthal Noah Gabriel Rosenthal Aiden Joseph Sandler Abigail Devorah Schurman Jonah Paul Shapiro Eden Singer Sophie Lyla Sussman Jenna Lee Ufberg Talia Vaknin Talia Raquel Willner Benjamin Neil Zelnick Samantha T Zivitz

Our 41 seniors have received 166 offers of admission from 86 colleges and universities.

The following colleges and universities have offered admission to at least one member of the class of 2023.

Schools that members of the class of 2023 have chosen to attend are in bold.

Agnes Scott College American University Amherst College Arcadia University Arizona State University (Main Campus) Bard College Binghamton University Boston University Bowdoin College Brandeis University Brown University Bucknell University Colby College Cornell University Dartmouth College Drexel University Duke University Eckerd College Elon University Florida State University Franklin & Marshall College George Washington University Harvard University

Imperial College London Indiana University (Bloomington) James Madison University Jewish Theological Seminary of America/Columbia University Johns Hopkins University Kent State University Kenyon College King's College London Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Lehigh University Massachusetts Institute of Technology McGill University Michigan State University Muhlenberg College New Jersey Institute of Technology New York University Northeastern University Penn State University (Abington) Penn State University (University Park) Princeton University Purdue University Fort Wayne Purdue University Northwest

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rochester Institute of Technology Rutgers University (New Brunswick) Skidmore College Smith College Stanford University Syracuse University Temple University The College of William and Mary The Ohio State University The University of Texas at Austin The University of Warwick Thomas Jefferson University (East Falls Campus) Tufts University Tulane University of Louisiana University of Arizona University of Colorado Boulder University of Delaware University of Florida University of Hartford University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Maryland (College Park) University of Massachusetts (Amherst) University of Michigan University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh (Greensburg) University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh) University of Rochester University of Vermont University of Virginia (Main Campus)

University of Washington (Seattle Campus) University of Wisconsin (Madison) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Wake Forest University Washington University in St. Louis Wesleyan University West Chester University of Pennsylvania Williams College Yale University

Partnering with Accredited by Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) and Secondary Schools.

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2023 27

Justin Sheftel Memorial tourney back for its 19th year The annual Justin Sheftel Memorial Fund Softball Tournament is returning for its 19th year on June 17 at the Lehigh County Athletic Fields at Cedar Crest Parkway West outside Allentown.

Sixteen teams will compete in four divisions followed by playoffs and a championship matchup.

Meanwhile, there will be games, all-star baseball and softball clinics, and other activities throughout the day. It all begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m.

“On June 17, we will mark the 19th anniversary of the tournament,” said Linda Sheftel, Justin’s mother and president of the fund’s board of directors. “We find this hard to believe. We feel so blessed that 18 years after a drunk driver struck Justin, we have the support of our community, and we are able to honor and remember him.”

The three all-star clinics, cosponsored by St. Luke’s University Health Network — baseball for

middle and high schoolers, baseball for fourth and fifth graders, softball for fifth- through eighth-grade girls — are free to participants in youth, school or Little League organizations. Registration by June 15 is required. There will be prizes, including two bikes donated by Bike Works.

Other attractions include the food vendors NV Donut, Take a Taco and Vince’s Cheesesteaks; a silent auction of sports memorabilia, game tickets, toys and more; tie-dying (free for kids under 6; $10 for kids 7 and over); face painting, lawn games, a buzzed-driving demo where participants can wear simulation goggles; a 50/50 raffle; and a Mocktail Mixoff sponsored by Red Robin.

The tournament

was founded in 2006, after a group of Justin’s friends approached his family two months after his death in 2005 with the idea of starting one in his honor. “How they were able to organize this event continues to amaze us,” Linda said. “The tournament has grown into a significant community event which everyone looks forward to throughout the year.” The mission of the fund is “to celebrate Justin

by providing athletic and educational opportunities for underserved youth in the greater Lehigh Valley.”

For more information and to register for the clinics, visit the fund’s website at justinsheftel.com.

Temple Beth El opens new play area

By Cindy Schneider Temple Beth El

Temple Beth El celebrated its new fenced-in children’s play area on May 9 with a Lag B’Omer picnic and a retirement commemoration honoring Sheryl Block and Paula Linn.

Block is retiring after 35 years of service to the temple, and Linn has directed its religious school for the past year.

The main event of the day was the opening dedica-

Sheryl Block

Paula Linn

tion of 18 panels of the fence adorned with artwork created by religious school children, teachers and parents, Jewish Family Service, the Jewish Day School, the JCC, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, and temple board members, staff and sisterhood. Each panel of the fence represents a middah (value). The selected middot are written in both Hebrew and English.

The design process began in March with community artist Ellen Alt inspiring the group with creative ways to express the middot.

In April the group revisited the drawings they made on large paper templates. The drawings were traced onto contact paper in wild and wonderful colors. The contact paper was then pasted onto a panel of outdoor vinyl. Finally, the 18 pieces of art were hung inside the fenced area, and the entire project came to life.

Temple Beth El thanks everyone who contributed to this group effort. It was a creative learning opportunity that allowed participants to have fun.

28 JUNE 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Federations rally for Putin to release Jewish reporter Jewish Telegraphic Agency

The Jewish Federations of North America hosted a virtual rally on May 8 for the release of Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal correspondent imprisoned by Russia in March on charges of espionage.

In conjunction with this rally featuring U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and others, the parent organization of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him “to take very step in your power to bring Evan home.”

“For us, this is personal,” the letter reads. “Evan and his family are members of our American Jewish community.

We are very concerned about Evan’s well-being, particularly given the record of Russian detention of Americans in various cases for months and years.”

Paul Beckett, chief of the journal’s Washington bureau, said that while Russia has detained Americans, it hasn’t imprisoned a journalist since 1986, during the Cold War. “That should tell you something about how significant this is,” he said. “And it’s a reflection of a trend that we have seen in Russia in the stifling of independent reporting. These kinds of arrests are designed to have a chilling effect on the broader

community.”

“The charges that he is in on are bogus,” he said, “but we don’t expect anything to change, so we expect its continued detainment that will lead to a trial that we expect will lead to a conviction.” On May 23 the court extended the date for that trial to August 30.

Russia is holding Gershkovich in the notorious prison Lefortovo. “It’s extremely isolating, and it’s isolating by design,” said Jodie Ginsberg, president of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Bail has been denied, as is typical in these situations.

Beckett said it’s been hard to get updates about Gershkovich, but journal lawyers visit him periodically.

Letters are being delivered, too. “We know that Evan is receiving communications,” said Ginsberg, “and we know that that is an incredible morale boost. I know from the very many people we’ve spoken to who’ve been in prison for any length of time.”

An overarching message of the rally was that it’s important to keep up all the efforts supporting Gershkovich over the long haul. “Unfortunately, these cases can go on for some time,” said Ginsberg. “And if convicted, he could face up to 20 years in jail.”

Beckett said American Jews should be a big part of these efforts. “One of the

things that we have heard is that the Russian government and (President Vladimir) Putin do pay attention to the reaction and voices of the global Jewish community and the American Jewish community,” he said. “So that really does make a difference.”

Gershkovich’s parents know Russia intimately.

They are natives who escaped four decades ago, during the years when it was the Soviet Union. “The story is one that I think all American Jews can relate to our families,” said Jen Weiss, CEO of the Jewish Federation of New Jersey. “All came to this country from somewhere.”

The Gershkoviches didn’t know each other when they left Russia separately in 1979. But both landed in New York City, where they met at work. Soon they were married and settled in New Jersey with two kids, whom they raised with the Russian language and traditions. The family visited Russia together in 1999 for the parents to share their roots with their children.

Seventeen years after that trip, Evan started reporting for the New York Times. In 2017 he moved to the Moscow Times and in 2020 to Agence France-Presse. At the beginning of 2022, he joined the Wall Street Journal, working out of its Moscow bureau and covering the war in Urkaine.

“Evan traveled across Russia to shed light on one of the biggest news events in a generation, talking to citizens who ralThe Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich appears lied behind in a court in Moscow on April 18, 2023. (Sefa Karacan/Anthe military adolu Agency via Getty Images) effort and Putin that he will make an those who opposed the invaexchange for Evan.” sion,” said Evan’s mom. “In The Jewish Federations December [2022] he publetter to Secretary Blinken lished a detailed piece about moved toward its concluthe mindset of President sion with a reminder that Putin and his inner circle. I Gershkovich’s parents fled think when the article came the Soviet Union “seeking out, it got me worried a lot.” freedom and opportunity in Senator Menendez was the United States.” asked what it will take to get “Like many in our comGershkovich released. “What munity, Evan was raised we have learned so far from with a deep appreciation for engaging with Russia under the promise of the American Putin is that it ultimately is dream,” it continued. “His transactional,” he said. “It’ll story is one that all American be ‘can’t do’ until we have Jews can relate to and has individuals or other items galvanized our community to sufficiently of interest to act to ensure his safe return.”

Recipe: Japanese Potato Salad & Rice Krispies Treats

By Sandi Teplitz

I recently traveled to Japan and decided to do a recipe inspired by my visit. With summer right around the corner, this Japanese potato salad will have you prepared. Accompany it with salmon sushi and a chilled glass of Riesling. Make the finale a scoop of Häagen-Dazs green matcha ice cream and my version of Rice Krispies Treats. Then say sayonara to the cool weather.

POTATO SALAD INGREDIENTS:

4 large red potatoes 4 extra-large eggs 3/4 cup mayonnaise 1/4 teaspoon wasabi powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup celery, diced Grated carrots TECHNIQUE:

Boil the potatoes and peel and cut into small cubes. Hard-boil the eggs, mash while warm and add to the warm potatoes. In a separate bowl, mix the mayonnaise, wasabi powder, celery and salt. Add to the potato-and-egg mixture. Place in a 9-inch springform pan and chill slightly. Remove sides and pat grated car-

rots around the side. Chill for an hour.

DESSERT INGREDIENTS:

5 1/2 cups Rice Krispies 10-ounce bag Dandee vegan marshmallows 1/4 teaspoon matcha powder 1/2 teaspoon vanilla Häagen-Dazs green matcha ice cream TECHNIQUE:

Melt the butter with the marshmallows and matcha powder.

Add the vanilla and mix in the Rice Krispies. Place in a buttered 13-by-9-inch pan. Cut into squares and chill until served along with the ice cream.

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BOOK REVIEW

NPR’s Ari Shapiro tells the untold story in memior

“The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening,” by Ari Shapiro, HarperOne, 2023, 256 pages.

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piro’s memoir, “The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening,” is primarily a love story to journalism, but like any great story, it’s much more than that.

Although the introduction, titled “Thank you for listening,” gives the reader a Cliffs Notes’ summary of Shapiro’s life, it is actually more of a tease of what’s to come in the rest of the book. His public speaking career began in first grade, when his brother and he were the only two Jewish children in the entire school, and they would go classroom to classroom with a menorah and a dreidel to explain Chanukah. This desire and ability to help others understand different cultures and experiences through storytelling became a passion that expanded beyond his radio journalism

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work.

As expected from a trained journalist and gifted artist, each chapter is an engaging experience that helps the reader more deeply understand the multiple roles he plays in his life and how the interaction between them raises the whole beyond the sum of its parts.

Shapiro is married to his college sweetheart, Michael, who is also a West Coast Jewish Yale graduate. Theirs was one of the first legal gay marriages, in 2004, which was later voided by the California Supreme Court. They then had a religious ceremony officiated by both of their hometown rabbis. His experiences as a Jewish gay man has helped his journalism career and his part-time career as a professional singer.

A chance encounter followed by a sing-along with the founder of his favorite band as a teenager, Pink Martini, led to his being invited to record a song on their next album.

He quickly agreed and has now been on four of their albums, singing in multiple languages, and even made his live debut with the band at the Hollywood Bowl. He also performs internationally with Alan Cumming, presenting their show “Och and Oy! A Considered Cabaret,” which features songs and storytelling.

As an award-winning journalist, Shapiro shares both his amazing successes and his occasional humbling experiences. On his first flight on Air Force One, he packed away his recording equipment under his feet while eating

lunch and was suddenly surprised when President Barrack Obama came up to him, asking if he had any questions he would like to ask. Shapiro had to ask another reporter for a copy of the recordings afterward so that he could file his report.

Among the principals that guide his work, Shapiro writes, are to try to find the story not being covered and, through his storytelling, to build empathy for and understanding of others.

Highly recommended for ages 16-120, ideal for anyone wanting to learn more about journalism and about teaching empathy using multiple methods of storytelling.

Sean Boyle is Congregation Keneseth Israel’s librarian and also serves as vice president, president-elect, of the Association of Jewish Libraries.

Coming Soon!

EMPOWER OTHERS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• Synagogues • Family Groups • Offices • Gyms • Manufacturing • Senior Living • Any Organization

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JFS H M

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.

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

Jewish Community Celebration and Annual Meeting

6 to 8 p.m., JCC Join the Jewish community for an Israeli-style picnic to celebrate 2023 award winners, leaders and volunteers. Register at jewishlehighvalley.regfox.com/community-celebration-annual-meeting-june-8-2023.

SUNDAY, JUNE 11

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 information email the synagogue office at office@ bnaishalomeaston.org.

A Gathering for Growth at KI

MONDAYS

TUESDAY, JUNE 13

2 to 3:30 p.m., JCC of the Lehigh Valley 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. All are welcome to join this lively, weekly discussion. There is something for everyone no matter if you know a few words or are a fluent speaker. Enjoy fun, fellowship, stories and more. Participants Zoom in from 5 states. No cost. Contact Janis Mikofsky at the JCC of the Lehigh Valley, 610435-3571, ext. 501.

10 a.m.-noon, Congregation Keneseth Israel Meet KI’s new executive director, John Perry, and help brainstorm how to grow its membership as it begins to write its next chapter.

There will be food and prizes. Register at kilv. org/event/a-gathering-for-growth.html.

Jewish Heritage Night at the IronPigs

7:05 p.m., Coca-Cola Park Come out to the ballpark in Allentown with the Jewish community. See friends and watch the Iron Pigs play the Toledo Mud Hens. $22 tickets include a field-level seat, a voucher for a glatt kosher meat meal certified by the Lehigh Valley Kashrut Commission, and a Jewish Heritage Night backpack or hat; $16 tickets include a field-level seat, a $2 ballpark credit, and a backpack or hat.

(Please, no mixing of different-price tickets for a family.) Buy tickets at jewishlehighvalley. ticketspice.com/jewish-heritage-night-at-theironpigs-june-13-at-705.

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

Justin Sheftel Memorial Fund Softball Tournament

8:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Cedar Crest Parkway West The charity tournament returns for its 19th year, at the Lehigh County Athletic Fields outside Allentown. Sixteen teams will compete throughout the day, culminating in a championship game. There will also be food and games and other attractions, as well as allstar clinics for participants in youth baseball and softball organizations. For information visit justinsheftel.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

KI gala honoring Vikki Dunn

5:30-9 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel Keneseth Israel invites everyone to an evening of dining and entertainment to honor Vikki Dunn for her years of service to the synagogue and the community. If you’d like to attend, call the KI office at 610-435-9074.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19

Maimonides Happy Hour

5:30-7 p.m., Grille 3501 Join the members of the Maimonides Society of health-care professionals to celebrate the group’s impact and contributions for the year. Spouses and prospective members are invited to attend. Vegetarian and kosher food will be served. RSVP by July 10 at jewishlehighvalley.regfox.com/maimonides-happyhour-july-19-2023.

SUNDAY, JULY 30

PJ Library and Shalom Baby Pool Party 3:30-5 p.m., JCC outdoor pool Join PJ Library and Shalom Baby to splash and schmooze and maybe hear a story or two. Registration is required at jewishlehighvalley.org/calendar. The JCC limits each session to eight families, so the first eight families registered will be allowed to attend.

Yiddish Club

KI Seminarion

7-9 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel via Zoom Join Rabbi Phil Cohen for this Zoom class. For information, contact Vicki Dunn at 610-4359074 or vdunn@kiallentown.org.

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 all-levels 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.

8:09 pm 8:14 pm 8:17 pm

Friday, June 23 Friday, June 30 Friday, July 7

Torah on Tuesdays with Bnai Shalom

12:30 p.m., at a private home Torah on Tuesdays interactive Torah study group. Contact office@bnaishalomeaston.org for more information.

JBS is a Jewish television channel featuring daily news from Israel; leading Jewish figures, issues and events of Jewish importance; call-in programs; Jewish studies; 92nd Street Y; live Friday and holiday services for those at home; children’s programs; films; music; books; and entertainment. jbstv.org.

DAILY

Congregation Sons of Israel minyanim

7 p.m., Chabad of the Lehigh Valley in person and via Zoom Torah Studies by the Jewish Learning Institute presents Season Three 5783, a 12-part series, in person and via Zoom. Cost is $36 for the course, including textbook. For more information, call 610-351-6511 or email rabbi@chabadlehighvalley.com.

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 Covid-19 safety. Please check the synagogue at sonsofisrael.net for the weekly listing of the starting time for Mincha/Maariv. Face masks are not required, but strongly recommended. If you have any questions, call the synagogue office at 610-433-6089.

EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

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 610972-7054 to sign up.

12:30 p.m., Institute for Jewish Spirituality One of their master teachers will lead a live daily guided meditation. Join with people from around the world to share 30 minutes of Jewish mindfulness. Open to all, no experience needed. Sign up at jewishspirituality. org/get-started.

WEDNESDAYS

Torah Studies: A Weekly Journey into the Soul of Torah

THURSDAYS

Daily online meditation

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.

3RD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

Belonging to Bethlehem: A Jewish Story Sampler

1:15-2:30 p.m., Congregation Brith Sholom or virtual In this six-session workshop, you’ll hear the stories that made the Bethlehem Jewish community, starting from 1890. You’ll also learn writing techniques and have time to write stories from your life or family. $10 per session. Light refreshments served. Instructor Jennifer Lader is a writer, storyteller and author. Registration required at tammy@ brithsholom.net or 610-866-8009.

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.

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

WEDNESDAYS

Judaism for Our Time with Bnai Shalom 11 a.m., Congregation Bnai Shalom via Zoom Register in advance for this meeting. For information call 610-258-5343.

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. The fall-winter class begins a new volume of the Talmud: “Mesechet Megillah.” Books are available in the synagogue office. No previous Talmud study required. For information email tammy@brithsholom.net or call 610866-8009.

Stay Updated!

8:19 pm 8:19 pm 8:17 pm

DAILY

Jewish Broadcasting Service

3RD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

TUESDAYS

Shabbat & Yom Tov Candlelighting Times Friday, June 2 Friday, June 9 Friday, June 16

1 to 2 p.m., Congregation Brith Sholom in person and via Zoom Be seated in a comfortable chair, preferably armless (folding works well). Some standing poses holding onto the chair are offered, though students may choose to remain seated. Modifications are given. Open to the public in person and live stream available to all via Zoom. *$10 drop-in fee payable to Congregation Brith Sholom. For more information email mbserow@gmail.com.

Hadassah study group

MONDAYS

Celebrate the beauty of Shabbat

WEDNESDAYS

Yoga with Miriam Sandler: ChairSupported Yoga

Stay in touch with the Jewish community! Don't miss out on important news and upcoming events.

Sign up at www.jewishlehighvalley.org/ events/weekly-email

with Cantor Wartell FRIDAYS 8:30-9:30 AM WMUH 91.7

muhlenberg.edu/wmuh | 484.664.3456

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | JUNE 2023 31

Kailyn Mann, DO

Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute

Our five health institutes.

Where what’s next happens.

At our five specialized health institutes, we’re always evolving. Here, you’ll find

advanced medical techniques and technologies, the latest clinical trials through alliances (with innovators like Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) and a dedicated team – your team – focused on getting you better. Five institutes. Five more reasons why

we’re the leading health network in the region. Learn more at LVHN.org/institutes.

HEART AND VASCULAR | CANCER | NEUROSCIENCE | ORTHOPEDIC | SURGICAL 32 JUNE 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY